Nick smirked . "Sure you will, kid . " He looked at me . "Let me see the reaction ball . "
I dug it out of my pocket and handed it over .
He looked back at Noah . "It doesn't look like we can use the field right now but we could play a little in here . " He gestured to the area between the fake mounds and home plates . "If we go across, fence to fence, that should be about the distance from a batter to a shortstop playing in towards the grass . Best out of five?"
Noah snatched the reaction ball out of his hand . "The same person should roll or bounce it every time to keep it fair . We can just stay on the same side and switch accordingly . " He handed the ball to me . "Here Jake . You can do it . "
AdvertisementI pouted and eyed my ice cream that I was still licking .
Shawn grabbed the ball out of my hand; not like I was going to fight him for it . "I can do it . Let the kid eat . I'll throw it the same way every time . As a pitcher, I can guarantee it . "
Noah, who had been impressed with the handstand performance beforehand, acquiesced . He and Nick moved to one side of the bullpen and Shawn headed to the other side . To get out of the way, I moved to where the twins were . They were both sitting up now, with their legs crossed, ready for the mini competition between their younger brother and a college player .
"Who do you think will win?" I asked .
"Obviously Nick . " Dave snorted at my question like it was a no brainer .
"Noah is at least seven to eight years younger, half a foot shorter, and just not as experienced . You could say that Nick has played with and against future pros . " Kyle lectured .
"Can't we say the same if Zeke goes pro?" I asked, tilting my head to look at them . "Noah said before that age is just a number . Which I believe . I'm the same age as him and nowhere near as good . "
"In fielding . But your batting is better . " Dave nodded . "I see what you're getting at . Talent is also a factor at play . Raw talent helps a player learn and adjust quicker compared to someone who could only rely on hard work . "
Kyle glanced at us . "Yea, but . . . Nick could have talent too . And a higher level at that . I still say experience matters the most . "
"Ready?!" Shawn asked, making all eyes go to him . He waved my reaction ball in the air, looking at the two competitors . Nick and Noah had set up cones about ten to fifteen feet apart . "If it hits the fence, you don't get a point . Make the catch with two hands, one point . One-handed is two points . Who'll go first?"
"I will!" Noah placed himself right in the middle of the cones . Nick stepped to the side . "Ready!"
Shawn grinned with a glint in his eye . He started an underhand throw, but instead of releasing it like a ground ball, he threw it up . He didn't throw it too high as we were in an enclosed bullpen . But still went up enough to catch Noah off guard . It came down and bounced, but of course it wasn't a normal bounce . As soon as it hit the ground, it skirted to Noah's right .
Noah dove to his right side, but it was no use . The ball hit his forearm and then the fence behind him for no points . Noah got back up on his feet, dusting the dirt off his clothes . Surprisingly, he didn't yell for foul or cheat or whatever . He just accepted it as is and switched places with Nick . Nick picked up the ball and threw it back to Shawn .
"Ehhh, who knew the kiddo could be so mature?" Nick smiled as he took his spot .
"Shawn said he'd be fair . And, you can never be sure how a grounder will come at you . " Noah crossed his arms over his chest . "I do regret not going second though . Now you'll know that he'll be unpredictable as well . "
Nick laughed . "Shawn is always unpredictable . Don't worry, he won't go easy on me either . If anything," He looked at Shawn . "He'll play even more tricks on me . "
Shawn laughed, but I noticed how he didn't deny it . "Ready?" Nick nodded . Shawn whipped the reaction ball at him with a sidearm throw, without wasting a second . The ball skipped towards Nick, bouncing whichever which way, showing no signs of rhythm .
Nick moved like a crab towards his right and scooped up the ball with both hands . "One point . " He declared, straightening up, and throwing the ball back to Shawn in the air .
Noah and Shawn frowned at the same time . I could understand why Noah was upset . . . because he was already down by one . But as for Shawn, I couldn't say . Maybe he's just very competitive like the whole Atkins family?
Chapter end
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