Everyone got their cleats off and packed their bags. The guys from the bullpen had showed up and helped us take out the trash and team equipnt.
"You didn't let down, Davey!" Kyle gave Dave a good shake, grinning like he was the one that got the win.
Noah squinted at him. I knew he was skeptical. Because I was too. Kyle would normally give Dave a hard ti no matter how well he did. Especially in this kind of ga where he gave up so many hits and even hit a guy to walk in a run.
"Don't mind him." Matt said, rolling his eyes. "Kyle collected so benefits in the bullpen because he bet that Coach wouldn't replace Dave."
Tyler, a fellow senior, sighed. "Coach just likes playing favorites. I really thought we would have a chance today."
Garret raised his eyebrows. "What benefits? Shouldn't Kyle have been resting?" He had pitched in the first ga of the day.
"I think you've forgotten how uncomfortable so of these bullpens can be." Tyler answered. "One small bench can't fit all of us. So either have to stand or sit in the dirt." His eyes drifted to Oscar, the only freshman on the team right now. He was a backup catcher and always in the bullpen. His jersey had a lot of dirt on it for soone who didn't play.
Garret shook his head. "You guys better not be bullies in there. You're a senior, take control."
"You can't control Kyle." Tyler shrugged. "Even I sacrificed my jacket as a cushion for him after that disastrous fifth inning."
I looked to Noah. "Why does it sound like Kyle was making bets in the bullpen?"
Noah grinned. "Sounds like we've got so leverage for the future."
I smiled and shook my head.
Everyone started to leave the dugout in smaller groups. This ti Noah and Garret stuck on either side of . The twins trailed right after us, talking about so of the challenges Dave ran into earlier in the ga like how the opponents were very swing-happy.
Beyond the gated entrance to the field, adults stood around talking to one another, players were around in smaller groups, and even little kids were running around. It was very lively, especially as the sun was getting ready to set. Gas still had to be played.
"Hello Jake." A man stopped us by standing in the way. He held a small notepad and pen. A reporter. "I'm Rayhan Farrell, from Sports Page Magazine. Can I have a mont of your ti?"
Noah frowned.
Garret spoke up first, sounding neutral. "I'm sorry, sir. We just finished a ga and need to et up with our Coach. Can you save your questions for later?"
The man looked at Garret and nodded. "Sure. Of course. I wanted to ask him so questions too."
Garret took the lead and started walking again. Noah and I kept close. As we walked towards the coaches and so of the team, I could feel countless eyes on . On us. It was like we were surrounded. I stuck a little closer to Noah and kept my eyes forward, on Coach. We joined the group and sat down, with the exception of Garret, who went to stand with Coach, talking in a low voice.
"Pretty sure you're going to have to talk to so of these vultures." Noah mumbled under his breath as we waited for the rest of the guys to show.
I shrugged, helpless. "Can't we just say no?"
"They'll just keep bugging you then." Noah shook his head. "Let's see what Coach says."
After everyone took a seat or a knee, Coach clapped his hands once to silence us. He looked around at the team. "It was a great day, boys. Kyle kept us in the ga against University and our bats were alive against Heritage. Tomorrow, we'll strive for the sa outco: a win. We don't have an opponent yet. Their ga is about to start so if anyone wants to hang back with and so of the coaches, we'll stay as a group. For those going ho or a nearby hotel, rest up. Tomorrow, we're bound to play a team on a similar level to University Prep." He nodded at Garret just a few feet away from him. "Garret will start ga three."
"Didn't he hit the fence kind of hard?" Joey asked. "Why not let him rest for ga three and save him for the finals?"
"I'm good to go. No problems." Garret spoke up, looking at Joey. "We'll worry about finals when we get there."
"Exactly." Coach nodded in agreent. "As for Sean," all eyes went to our team who had limped his way here. "He'll be on the bench for sure. Jason will cover first. As for the rest of the lineup, I'll determine that after knowing the next opponent. I'll send out a text with tomorrow's information regarding opponent and ga ti as soon as I know." He said a few more sentences about the pair of wins today before letting us go.
Before Noah and I even got up to talk to Coach, several n approached him.
"Coach Wilcox."
"Hey, Coach."
"Do you mind answering so questions?"
"I also have so questions."
Ehhh. I looked to Noah but he also was surprised. We've never seen our coach sward like that.
Coach was completely calm, holding up his hands, signaling for them to quiet down. "Yes, yes, I know." His eyes drifted to Garret. "Join us, Garret." He then looked my way. "You two as well. Jake. Noah."
"I'll go get Mom and Dad." I heard Dave say from behind .
I dragged my feet as I went with Noah to join the crowd. It seed to get a little bigger when Coach invited us over. Like even more people wanted to talk to us. I looked up at Coach, unsure of what was next.
"If there are any coaches or scouts that want to talk about interest or future commitnts, I just want to say that now is not the ti." Coach addressed. Over half of the group seed to collectively backup.
I sighed with relief. But then felt a little anxious. That many people want to talk about my future? I resisted the urge to turn away. They had already backed up. There was nothing more I could do.
"Okay, then." Coach looked around. "What do you all want to talk about?"
"I specifically wanted to ask you about your team's win over University Preparatory High School." A man spoke up. After getting a nod from Coach, he continued. "With beating the number one team in the Northern Section, do you have so expectation for your team this tournant? This season?"
Coach answered directly. "Yes. I expect my boys to try their best. Winning has, is, and will always be the goal."
"There's no denying that you have a stacked roster this year with a great senior rotation. Do foresee your big three seniors to repeat similar numbers last year?"
"Absolutely." Coach nodded. "Garret, Kyle, and David are the best pitchers I've seen co through Watsonville High School. The three of them will only get better throughout the season as we get them back in shape."
"Are you saying that to comfort David Atkins, who had a less than stellar performance in the second ga today?"
"David put in the work today. He did seven innings and gave up only three runs. He got the win. There's not much more I can ask of him." Coach sounded relaxed. "No pitcher is perfect and I don't ask mine to be despite their history of a couple perfect gas among them. A feat that hasn't been accomplished in over a decade. As long as my boys keep a steady mind and work hard, the results will co."
"Last year, your team was rcy-ruled by University Preparatory." Soone else spoke up. "This year, you've won with a little bit of cushion. What was so of the key differences to get this kind of turnaround?"
"First off, I consider us lucky to face them so early on in the tournant this year." Coach started. "Last year, we t in the semifinals and had lost so star players. None of the big three pitchers could go and our forr number one player was hurt. Being able to co out with our best lineup was a big difference maker."
"I have the box score from last year with . It says Jake Hollander went 0-2. Is this the sa player, Jake Atkins? Can we ask him about this?"
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