Top of the third, with a 1-0 lead, Kyle started us off . But in reality, he stood no chance against Sanchez . He struck out on three pitches and didn't even have the decency to look ashame as he walked back to the dugout .
Noah rolled his eyes for me to see as I came out to stand in the circle and he moved for the batter's box . He was no longer wishing that Kyle did poorly, but I was starting to see how he can get annoyed with Kyle so easily . It's funny to think that Noah used to call him the 'nice' twin . I mean, he's not as physical and aggressive as Dave . . . but there's a small feeling, in my mind, that Dave cares more .
Noah didn't live up to his bragging during his second at-bat . Sanchez threw every pitch in the zone and with speed . He definitely didn't want to give Noah a free pass to get on base again . Noah went down swinging; our second out of the inning already .
With a sigh, I moved to the batter's box . I stayed with batting from the right, taking some extra time to even out the dirt . I think I may be a little ocd about this . I wonder if Dr . Moore could help me in this aspect . It's not like we have to talk about my family anymore . Soon enough, my family will be the Atkins family .
Feeling high from that thought, I swung and connected on the first pitch Sanchez delivered, sending it to right field . I dropped my bat and sprinted to first base, making it safely as the right fielder threw the ball in .
Advertisement"That was quick . " Coach Luis remarked .
Embarrassed, I rubbed my nose and avoided eye contact . Coach Luis knew the routine: foul off pitches to tire out the pitcher . Luckily for me, he didn't pick at my sudden hit . He just clapped a few times for Garret, who was next up to bat .
I took a small lead off the base, mostly just for show since I had no confidence to run against a left-handed pitcher . Sanchez was able to stare me down before peeking at his catcher for a sign, then glared in my direction before going through with his pitch . I shivered and scooted an inch or two or three back to the base . I'm not Noah . I can't steal bases . Best to play it safe .
Garret got cornered into a 1-2 count, and made contact, putting the ball into play . At the sound of the bat connecting, I took off for second base . Unfortunately, Garret had hit a grounder to the shortstop . All the shortstop had to do was flip the ball to the second baseman for the easy out at second .
I slowed up and eventually came to a complete stop . I sighed and headed back to the dugout . Noah passed me on his way out of the dugout and waved with his glove . I nodded .
I switched out my gear and tried to catch up with my teammates that were already warming up again .
"Jake . A moment . " Coach held me back .
I paused beside him at the dugout entrance/exit . "Yes?"
Coach looked down at me so we could make eye contact . "I won't pick on your batting . You do great almost every time you're up and I can't complain about your hit . I just want to take a second and ask about what happened afterwards . "
I furrowed my eyebrows . What happened afterwards?
"About how much you stepped off the bag for your lead . Or your lack thereof . " Coach crossed his arms over his chest . "You should take a minimum lead off the base of, at least, three feet . " He untangled his arms to hold up three fingers to emphasize his point . "Do any less and I'll pull you . "
I gulped . "I was . . . playing it safe . . . " I stuttered out .
Coach shook his head . "No, you were playing scared . " He sighed . "I let you get away with these little things, but they add up, Jake . "
I fiddled with my glove . "Garret got to the shortstop anyways . No matter what, I'd be out and the inning would be over . "
Coach narrowed his eyes . "That kind of thinking is dangerous, son . " He opened his mouth to say more, but was cut off by a surprise appearance from James . James came jogging in from the bullpen, drawing attention from Coach, pushing me out of the danger zone . "Jake, go play . " He patted my shoulder .
I tugged on my baseball cap, thankful that's James saved me from a scolding . Coach seemed upset . It wouldn't be good if he pulled me so early . Especially for something so small . I jogged to my position before peeking back at our dugout . Coach and James were in a deep conversation, and then I saw Coach motion for Coach Luis and Mr . Miller to join them . Something must be going on .
"Jake?" Noah called out, making me jump .
I looked around and saw that the whole infield was looking at me, including Kyle up on the mound . I waved my hand a little to signal that I was ready before putting my attention on the batter . Inside, I was cursing myself for getting distracted so soon after a scolding . I don't need to invite anymore trouble my way .
Kyle's pitching didn't look as sharp as it did in the first inning . Not that he was doing poorly; he was getting the pitches to land in the strike zone . The problem is that they were also being put into play . The first batter up was eighth in the order, and he hit a nice long fly to right field . It was high though so Mahki had the time to get under it and make the catch for the first out .
Batter nine was Sanchez . The last time Kyle pitched against Servite, it was only the cleanup hitter that was abled to get a hit off of him . Not today though . Batter three had a double, and now, so did Sanchez . He rocketed one to the left field fence and reached second base quickly . That brought us back to the top of the lineup .
Kyle got the first batter to groundout to Jason at third, which helped keep Sanchez at second . With two outs, the second batter in the lineup order sent one of the pitches back up the middle, catching Kyle off guard . I was scooted over though, playing closer to second base in order to keep Sanchez closer to the bag as well . I fielded the ball and threw to Julian at first to end the inning .
"Good work!" Noah was the first to congratulate me as we jogged to our dugout . The rest of the guys sang similar tunes, but I wasn't feeling too proud . Coach's scolding was still fresh .
I looked over to see what Coach and James was doing now, only to find that James was running back to the bullpen . Whatever he had said, apparently didn't need him to stay with us in the dugout . My curiosity was growing . I looked to see what Coach was doing and found that he had walked over to Zeke, who was preparing to lead us off this inning .
Chapter end
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