The Hitting Zone Chapter 693 V2 ch165

"Wrap it up, boys." Mr. Miller told us, breaking up our eting on the mound.

Kyle waved us away. "Get lost. I don’t need your sympathy or pity. I’m still a great pitcher. Even better than before. I just need to get my control back."

Garret smirked. "Let know if you don’t think you can pitch anymore." He dodged Kyle’s gloved hand and jogged back to his spot.

Kelvin patted Kyle on the shoulder. "Just get the ball across the plate. Don’t be afraid of giving up hits. We’ll play defense." He grinned. "Besides, it’s just for fun."

Kyle waved again. "Okay, okay. Get back already."

The rest of us left him alone on the mound, going back to our respective positions.

Kyle faced down Noah again. He bounced back from his wild pitch, throwing two fastballs right by Noah to earn a couple of strikes. On the next pitch, Noah got a piece of it, hitting a weak grounder to Garret. Garret charged the ball, used his barehand to pick the ball up and throw to Kelvin at first. He barely beat out Noah’s run, but who cares, one out.

Garret grinned at as he got back into position. "One out."

"One out!" The boys echoed.

Brian, who was still on second base sighed. "Man, it’s just not fair how you’re good at everything. Can’t you just stick to pitching only?"

Garret let out a laugh. "You’re a pitcher too. One that likes to hit."

Brian let out another sigh. "It’s not the sa."

He was right. It really wasn’t the sa. Garret was beyond good at everything. When he wasn’t pitching, he was still allowed in the lineup to hit. Brian only occasionally got to pinch hit or maybe if there was an injury.

Getting that out seed to help Kyle. His pitches weren’t on point, but the speed was picking up and he could get it over the plate. After fouling off two pitches, Julian got caught looking at strike three, blazing down the middle.

Kyle didn’t have ti to celebrate with Zeke stepping up to bat next. His face beca determined and his first pitch was a challenge: fastball inside. Zeke let it pass for a called strike. Kyle didn’t show any hint of satisfaction as he got the ball back and got set again.

Brian’s lead off second grew.

My hand twitched. I really wanted Kyle to look back and throw him out, but his focus was solely on Zeke. He started his motion and Brian took off. Zeke swung at the pitch, sending it back up the middle. Kyle dodged. Garret and I both dived at the ball, but it go through. Mahki ca sprinting in, fielding the ball and threw it back in. He didn’t both with us, throwing straight to Alex at ho plate as Brian ca sliding in.

The tag ca down.

"Safe!" Mr. Miller declared.

Alex didn’t pause, throwing the ball to Garret, covering second. Zeke, who had rounded first base, jogged back to first base after Alex threw the ball.

Darn it. Tied already.

Kyle didn’t say anything, turning to Sean, the next batter. Sean also made contact, but it was a routine grounder within my reach. I used my glove, transitioned the ball to my throwing hand smoothly, then threw him out at first.

We headed back to the dugout.

"Hey! You’re looking pretty confident out there." Garret threw his arm around my shoulders and leaned on . "I feel like you didn’t hesitate for a second. You’ve been practicing all sumr?"

I nodded as we got inside the dugout. "I play with Noah all the ti, but last week we went to a camp. The counselor in charge of my group really took the ti to show , I an us, how to practice correctly."

"Was he better than Noah and Zeke?" Garret asked, separating from as we sat on the bench.

I shrugged. "I don’t know. I’ve never seen him play."

Garret laughed. "I ant, is he a better coach than them?"

Oh. I shrugged again. "I guess. He was showing step by step. With Noah and Zeke...it’s like...do it until you get it right...?"

Garret, and the guys that heard , laughed.

I blushed.

Garret slapped on the leg. "It’s okay. We understand. It’s always good to get a fresh pair of eyes to check you out. See what you’re doing. Give you so insight on how to improve. I’m sure Coach will be able to personalize his coaching more this fall since we won’t be rushing to prepare for gas."

I nodded, understanding. Coach had to rely on Zeke to help with the basics. He couldn’t give all his attention. Especially not when we had two or three gas a week.

The top of the second inning started with Jas, Kelvin, and Alex.

"Do you even rember how to hold a bat?!" Bryce hollered from our own dugout.

Jas simply flipped him off before stepping in the batter’s box.

Bryce chuckled. He continued to heckle Jas after the first pitch passed by for a called strike. "Yo! You gotta swing to put the ball in play!"

Garret laughed. "Who’s team are you on, Bryce?"

Bryce cracked his knuckles. "Hey, you don’t know how much Jas has bullied in the bullpen. A few words never hurt anyone." He turned back to the field. "You have a $200 bat in your hands! Use it!"

Jas swung and missed for strike two.

Bryce’s grin got bigger. "Whew! What a nice breeze that was!"

Jas rolled his eyes.

I cracked a smile. I’ve never heard this kind of stuff before. It was almost like Bryce was a codian.

Garret laughed along with a few others as Bryce egged Jas on. "Bryce, what are you gonna do if he gets a hit?"

Bryce scoffed. "I’ll make fun of Dave for the rest of the year! Jas hasn’t held a bat in who knows how long. If Dave can’t get him out, doesn’t that an we’ll have a troubleso pitcher on the mound for the spring?"

Jas made contact with the next pitch, hitting a grounder to short. Noah fielded it cleanly for the first out.

Bryce leaned against the fencing again. "Woowww! Dave can’t even get a PO to strike out! Maybe I’ll have a chance for the starting lineup!"

PO? I turned to Garret. "What’s a PO?"

"Pitcher only." Garret answered. "ans they don’t practice batting at all. Would hardly ever co to the plate in a ga too."

Jas ca back to the dugout as Kelvin moved to the batter’s box.

"Not so easy, is it?" Bryce smirked at Jas.

Jas shrugged. "At least I made contact." He smirked. "Mr. Strikeout."

The two started to jab at one another.

I don’t know if Dave was affected by Bryce’s smack talk, but he walked Kelvin on four straight pitches. Then gave up a single to Alex right after. Maybe he’s a little rusty?

I grabbed my helt and bat, preparing to get ready. Kyle was up to bat, and Garret had already gone to the on deck circle.

Kyle has undoubtedly not practiced hitting at all this sumr besides the very occasional trip to the cages. He struck out looking, practically giving Dave a free out. Garret moved to the lefty’s batting box and I moved to the circle. I still have a chance to bat.