I felt like they went pretty easy on me for the fielding test . The coach just smacked a few grounders my way and would call out to throw it to first or second base . He'd occasionally mix in a pop up or line drive, but I didn't really have to dive in the dirt . Which is good I guess, since I've never tried . Maybe they could sense my hesitancy to do so .
"That's all we really need to see for now, kid . " Coach Wilcox called me in and I went over . He stood with Mr . Miller, Zeke and Noah . I didn't even notice when Coach Luis left . Maybe they could see that he made me uncomfortable . "We'll put you on the varsity roster . "
Noah started jumping around me excitedly . "Did you hear that, Jake? You made it! We win! Extra cookies all week!" At this point, I'm pretty sure all Noah ever thinks about is cookies .
"That doesn't automatically make you a starter . " Zeke burst the bubble of excitement . "Some players go the whole year without seeing any official playing time . The first game will be the following Saturday in a tournament we're in . League play will start the week after that . So for now, practice hard and learn what you can . "
AdvertisementI looked to Noah . I really didn't know much about baseball and league play . Heck, I never even got to watch a professional game before .
Noah just patted my shoulder . "Don't worry, I'll explain tonight after dinner . Just be happy with me! You made the team! As long as we get your fielding and baseball knowledge up to par, your batting skills can get you a spot in the starting lineup . Zeke is just being a negative Nancy . "
"Ten laps . " Zeke clenched his jaw .
Noah wagged a finger back and forth in front of him . "Nope . The betting terms said you wouldn't make me run laps anymore . "
Zeke's lips twitched, almost upturning to form a smile . "I said for non-baseball reasons . These ten laps have a baseball related reason . "
"Oh yea?" Noah glared at him . "What's the reason?"
"Jake is new . It's unlikely that his endurance is up to varsity levels . Show him what a lap looks like . Then you both can do ten to familiarize yourselves . You want to be able to play short and second with one another, right? Get going . " Zeke turned away before Noah could even sputter out a reply . Mr . Miller and the coach laughed at the captains antics and just left us to go back to the team .
Noah groaned . "What a cheat . He's just bitter that he lost the bet and that he can't get me to clean his bathroom?" Is their bathroom really that bad? Mine and Noah's seemed pretty clean .
"Better get your laps done before practice is over, or you'll be walking home . " Zeke's voice carried from across the field where the team was gathered .
Noah sent another wasted glare at his oldest brother, then turned to me . "Let's go put your glove back in the dugout and rehydrate . Every five laps is one mile . So we'll have to run two . It isn't hard . " He walked us back to the dugout .
I was debating if now was a bad time to tell him I haven't ran such a distance since before my hospitalization .
We drank some water and I left my glove with his on the bench . Then he led me to the outer circumference on the fence that went all around the field .
"Let's do this!" He took off, leaving me a few paces behind . "C'mon Jake! Two miles isn't bad compared to the four I usually get . Zeke must be going easy on us . "
Easy? I trailed behind Noah the whole first lap . By the second lap, I was gasping for air . I'm so out of shape .
Noah looked at me with concern, as he slowed up to match my jogging pace . "Do you not like running? Why do you sound so out of breath already? We're not even a mile in . "
"Haven't . Ran . In . A . While . " I gasped out, forcing my feet to keep moving forward . It'd be embarrassing if I was kicked off the team for not being able to run laps .
"You're kidding . " Noah watched me struggle . "Maybe I should tell Zeke? This might be too much too soon . "
I shook my head . Nope . I just had to fight against it . I forced air into my lungs and kept pushing myself .
Chapter end
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