I took a seat on the bench. Noah trailed after and sat down too. I looked at him, expecting a pep talk of so sort. He noticed looking at him and looked right back at . We stayed that way for a beat too because Kyle noticed.
"Are you two practicing your twin telepathy?" He ca over and questioned. "Why are you staring at each other like that?"
Noah snorted. "We don't need practice. I know all there is when it cos to Jake."
I nodded in agreent. Noah was pretty good at reading my mind. He was the easiest to communicate with because he didn't always require to talk.
"So? What is it then?" Kyle leaned in and did an exaggerated whisper. "Are we talking shit on Garret for nearly giving the ga away halfway through?"
A half-empty water bottle hit Kyle.
"Ow! Hey!" Kyle narrowed his eyes on the culprit: Garret. "That's abuse of power! I'll get you impeached." The guys nearby let out so laughs.
Another water bottle was thrown; this ti it was completely full. Kyle caught it. He walked it back to Garret and started to talk to him. No doubt giving him a hard ti for that last inning.
"I don't think you made any mistakes in that last half." Noah told now that Kyle was gone.
"Maybe not officially." I sighed. "But you probably could have fielded that grounder."
"We all have our talents." Noah laughed. "I don't compare my hitting to you, so don't do the sa to my fielding. Plus, it was a hard play. If you aren't anticipating, then it's probably a 50-50 chance."
"How do you anticipate sothing like that?" I asked, a little exasperated.
Noah shrugged. "Instincts. I don't know. It's a feeling." He gave my shoulder a light pat. "You probably just need more ga experience. You've only played a season. You're great. Don't sweat the small stuff."
"I want to be better." I kicked my cleats together, a little anxious. I don't an to nitpick or refute everything Noah was saying, but I don't like knowing I could have done more.
"Then we'll practice more." Noah answered simply. "Honestly I would grade your fielding on par with anyone else on our team and in our league. Not every ball that cos your way is going to be an all-star play. Get the ones you can. If anything, I think you should put in extra practice on your slides. Especially getting walked like that all the ti. If they walk you, you should go steal second. Every ti. Make them pay."
That's not the extras I was hoping to do for the team.
Noah laughed at my look of distress. "Stop. It's not that hard. You get used to it. Wouldn't it be aweso to punish the opposing team every ti they walk you?"
Punish them? Or myself. Noah had a point, but I was a little unwilling.
Bottom of the fourth. Mitchell struck out swinging. Jesse popped up to the second baseman. Tanner did the most work by making the pitcher throw ten plus pitches before poking a single right up the middle. Wheatland's coach ca out of the dugout, signaled for a pitcher change, and went to the mound.
That was quick. We didn't do much damage to the pitcher's ERA or WHIP but we got him to step down. Before Garret too.
The new pitcher ca in. There wasn't much we could see as Korrey was called out on strikes. The umpire's strike zone was definitely a little questionable.
"Back to basic, boys." Coach instructed as we got ready to take the field again. "Don't worry about stretching out your at bats, and worry more about getting on base. New pitcher, new mindset." He gave Garret a pat on the back. "Finish strong out there."
Garret nodded. He did his best, going three up, three down. The first guy got a solid line drive off him, but it went right to Jesse in center field. The last batter in the lineup hit a routine grounder to Jason at third. Back to the top of the order. The guy randomly dropped down a bunt, thankfully right in front of Garret. He made a spectacular grab and throw to first to end the inning and his outing.
"Damn. They really want off the mound." Garret wiped the sweat off his forehead under his hat. "That bunt had to be intentional. Who bunts in that situation?"
"Anyone who notices that the corners are hanging back and are playing flat-footed." Coach answered, sending looks to Sean and Jason.
Sean let out a self-conscious laugh. "Looks like I'm first up. Better go get ready!" He scampered away to his bag, leaving Jason alone for the lecture.
Noah and I went to our bags too. Hats off, helts on.
"Better be getting so gloves on, Jake!" Coach hollered from the entrance of the dugout.
I stiffened up. I'm not used to them.
"Wear them." Noah grabbed a pair from a smaller pocket of his bag and handed them over. "It's not like it'll matter. Chances are, they'll probably intentionally walk you again. But maybe you'll have a chance to steal so protect the skins of your hands."
I sighed, and reluctantly accepted the gloves. They were used and already broken in. Much thinner than I thought. I opened and closed my hands a few tis before picking up my bat. Wearing gloves isn't sothing I should draw the line on. I warily looked at Noah's bat as he led the way towards Coach. That's where I draw the line.
Sean was first up, facing the new pitcher that ca out at the end of last inning. He took a few practice swings as did Noah, who went out to the on deck circle. The ump called for balls back and for Sean to step up to the plate.
He got in the lefty's box and showed a bunt.
Garret laughed as he joined near the dugout entrance. He wasn't the only one. Half the guys in the dugout chuckled and joked how Sean was ssing with the guy because of their last batter.
Wheatland corners hesitated but were still drawn in. The pitcher started his motion and Sean drew his bat back real quick. The pitch ca and Sean swung, blasting the ball out of the infield. Then the outfield. A horun!
The guys went crazy cheering for him as he rounded the bases. The crowd was just as loud. I high fived Sean on his way in and on my way out. He pumped his fists and greeted the team in the dugout.
4-2.
That was Sean's second hor of the day. Ga one, he went 0-3, but for the rest of the tournant he hasn't been shutout at the plate. He has the power to get the ball out of the park. He was only behind in hors. Then again...only the two of us have hored in this tournant. Garret had one from the Christmas tournant, but it was starting to look like he was going more for contact and getting the ball to empty spots around the field.
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