"You look even more stiff than before your first game . " Noah laughed as we jogged back to the dugout after finishing pregame warmups . It was Wednesday, about five in the evening . We all went through school and then straight to the field afterwards to start warmups .
"You know how many times I had to practice sliding?? My back, abs, quads, and hamstrings are all super sore . " I huffed . Yesterday was one of the worse days with Drew, ever . Even though we only worked on sliding, it was because we ONLY WORKED ON SLIDING . I still couldn't get up to his standards .
Noah laughed at my complaints . "It'll make you a better player so just keep working at it . " We grabbed our gloves and moved to the exit of the dugout, ready to run out on the field with the rest of the starters .
For our home opener, Coach went with the following lineup:
1 SS Noah Atkins
Advertisement2 2B Jake Hollander
3 RF Sean Isner
4 CF Zeke Atkins
5 1B Julian Wilson
6 LF Mahki Holstrom
7 P Kyle Atkins
8 C Kelvin Bender
9 3B Chris Ludwick
Yesterday, Dave rejected the idea of letting Kyle start over him, but coach didn't budge . He had to remind him who it was that pitched a perfect game and who had more days rest . Coach did say Dave would be the first choice coming out of the bullpen though, in order to cheer him up .
"So for home games, we do the cheer, and run to our positions . As we do the mini warmup on the field, the broadcaster will announce our names over the intercom . Nothing extravagant like the finals of a tournament, but still . It gets your heart pumping . "
I made a face of skepticism . "How would you know? This is your first home game here too . It's not like you could be on the team last year as a middle schooler . "
Noah's face actually turned a little pink . "Well, it's the thought that counts . Every time I think about playing under these lights, on this field, with this team, it gets my adrenaline going . "
I scratched my cheek to soothe an itch . "What's so special about it? We've been practicing under 'these lights, on this field, with this team' for the last few weeks now . "
Noah patted my shoulder . "You'll see . It's different, especially as the first home game . "
Coach turned our lineup in to the umpire, other coach, and official scorekeeper . He returned to the dugout and Zeke huddled us up . "Win on three . One . Two . "
"WIN!" The team said together . Then the starters jogged out to our positions . Kyle took the mound and Kelvin went behind home plate .
A deep voice spoke over the sound system and introduced us by batting order, then named us and our positions . Cheers and screams of encouragement from the stands grabbed my attention . The usually empty bleachers behind home plate were filled with students, parents, and others who came to watch . At the tournament, we had fans, but nothing was as one-sided as this . I felt slightly overwhelmed and it became harder and harder to swallow .
"Jake . Jake! Jakey!" Noah's voice got closer and louder, until I felt a heavy weight on my shoulder . I turned and he was leaning on my shoulder with an elbow, weighing me down . "Pay attention or its laps, remember?"
I moved my head up . And down .
He squinted at me with suspicion . "What's wrong? You were just talking a few minutes ago . C'mon, use your words!"
My face twitched . I glanced at the stands . "There's a lot of people . Here . Watching . "
"Jake . Are you getting stage fright?" He chuckled . "There's less people here than Sunday's championship game . It just feels like more because this time, they're all our fans . Just soak it in . " The umpire was calling for the balls so Noah had to go back to his own position .
I stood there and looked around, trying to take his advice of soaking 'it' in . The sun was already gone, and the stadium lights lit up the field . Every seat on the bleacher was taken and the people looked to be squished like a can of sardines . My teammates faces were tense and serious like we were already losing . I couldn't understand what Noah wanted me to soak in? The whole environment and situation was filled with anxiety . And I didn't need to suck in anymore anxiety . I had plenty of my own, even on a good day .
Chapter end
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