Top of the fourth inning started with Kyle, Garret, and myself. We all got our helts on and grabbed our bats. Brian finished his warmup and Kyle went up.
"Bet he strikes out again." Bryce announced.
"Shut up."
"So annoying."
"Are you jealous?"
Bryce shrugged. "What? I’m telling the truth. It’s a given that the twins suck at batting. It’s crazy how often Coach lets them hit even in clutch situations."
"He’ll make contact." I spoke up.
Bryce grinned and leaned on the fence next to . "You really think so?"
I nodded. The twins aren’t horrible at batting...it’s better to say that they don’t attach any importance to it. Especially when facing against one another. "I think if they try, they can make contact."
"But not get a hit." Bryce finished.
Jas smacked him on the head with his glove. "Dude, you don’t even have a hit yourself. You talk a lot for soone with a strikeout and a walk."
Bryce pouted. "I’ve scored a run! And stolen a base too!"
Kyle really did make contact like I thought he would. But Bryce was also correct to say that he wouldn’t get a hit. All he did was hit a pop fly to Julian playing first base. This started another round of mocking from Bryce.
I was happy to leave the dugout and move to the on deck circle. Bryce was looking for a fight and I don’t want to get in the middle of it.
Garret, at the plate, followed through on his statent, getting on base again by hitting his second single of the ga. He grinned at from first as I ca up to the batter’s box.
I guess since it’s no longer Dave on the mound, I could try to hit a horun. Brian isn’t family. Plus, he doesn’t seem as sensitive as the twins. This can be a learning experience for him.
I just have to aim for the corners. Sean in right and Dave in left. Yep...definitely going to aim for left field. Brian got set and went through his motion, but he just couldn’t compare against the seniors. I easily pulled the ball to left field and took off. The ball soared over Dave’s head and cleared the short fence for a horun. Redemption.
I smiled as I rounded the bases behind Garret. Bryce could be heard heckling Brian. The guys were all making comnts and shouting out complints as I tagged ho plate.
Garret slapped my back. "That’s the way to do it!"
"Zeke’s replacent is here!" Bryce bowed when I entered the dugout.
I laughed nervously, feeling self-conscious with all this attention. "I’m no Zeke..."
"You’re right!" Bryce had his helt on and bat in hand. "You’re Jake, batting prodigy. You’re better than Zeke." He headed for the on deck circle.
I went back to my spot to switch my gear, thinking about what he said. I am Jake, and yes, I could be considered a batting prodigy. But better than Zeke? Is that even possible? Maybe he ans my batting average is better than Zeke. Because that’s true. I just don’t think I’m a better player than him overall.
"Hey, don’t think so much." Garret nudged . "Ignore Bryce. He’s just having so fun today. You should too. There’s plenty of ti to daydream when school starts again."
My lips twitched. "You shouldn’t daydream during school."
Garret laughed.
Mahki hit another fly ball to Sean in right field for the second out of the inning while Bryce struck out for the second ti today to end it for us.
"Booo!" Everyone seed to shower Bryce with insults as we switched sides.
It didn’t get to Bryce though. He just grabbed his glove and sprinted for the mound. "Don’t worry guys! I’ll do better where I belong!"
"Against Julian and Zeke?" Jas snorted as he headed to left field. "Sure, okay. Maybe after this, Miller can take you to the doctor to treat your delusions disorder."
Bryce stuck his tongue out at Jas.
Jas was onto sothing though. He clearly understood that Bryce wasn’t good enough to take on the graduates. Bryce walked Julian then gave up a horun to Zeke. Gave up the two runs that we had just earned. Brutal. Bryce cringed, but straightened himself out to continue on.
Sean hit a single to the outfield, but after him it was the weakest part of the lineup. Theo hit a grounder to Garret at short. Garret snatched the ball and threw to , covering second base. I caught the ball then got out of the way of Sean’s slide and threw to Kelvin at first to complete the double play.
It was just the kind of big play that Bryce needed. With two outs and no runners on, he could focus on the batter. Andy didn’t stand a chance. Not because of age and experience, but just because Bryce needed to release so of his pent up frustration.
"Looking a little rusty out there, kid." Jas gave Bryce a small pat on the head when he got back to the dugout. "Do you need to take over?"
Bryce slapped his hand away. "I’m fine! Just getting ward up."
Brian was in need of getting ward up too. He had a rough fourth inning thanks to and Garret, but he got a little sharper in the top of the fifth. He got Jason to groundout to first base then hit a snag, giving up a pair of singles to Jas and Kelvin. He bounced back, striking out Alex and then got Kyle to fly out to right field.
Jas ca back to the dugout with a smirk. "A hit for , yet none for you." He told Bryce.
Bryce rolled his eyes as he headed out of the dugout, eager to take the mound again.
"You shouldn’t pick on him so much." Kyle chuckled.
Jas shrugged. "There aren’t many opportunities left for to do so."
Mahki nodded in agreent. "Get your jabs in now. Maybe we can follow the stats in the spring."
Jas shook his head. "Not possible. Do you rember our seniors keeping track and looking back? No. They were busy with their own season."
"At least we have social dia." Mahki sighed. "It’s kind of sad to go off and lose all you guys like this. We’ll have to make new friends and new teammates."
"That’s life." Jas stated. "We’ll have to do it all over again in college. If you continue with baseball in the pros, it’s also a constant change in teammates and making new friends while losing touch with old friends. Even in a regular job, you’ll lose and gain new coworkers. Maybe even change employers yourself."
"You’re bumming out." Mahki left the dugout with a heavy sigh.
"There will always be reunions." Garret told Jas, heading out as well. "It’s not like this is so final goodbye. We’ll co ho for Thanksgiving and Christmas."
My shoulders lost so tension that I didn’t know was building up. Garret was right. Everyone may be going their separate ways, but it’s not like we won’t see them ever again.
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