317 Game: VS OLU 5 (1/2)

Noah was extremely focused on the pitcher. I wouldn't say that it was a good thing though. If it's his sole focus, he won't do well like how I didn't do well just focusing on getting a hit. His stance looked tight like he was too wound up. It was almost similar to his last at bat, with him not adjusting his stance. I couldn't find the words to say or figure out how to say them.

I also lacked time. Noah swing haphazardly, easily earning two strikes. On the third pitch, he made a lucky connection, only to hit a line drive right to the first baseman. I had no words of comfort as he hung his head and shuffled his feet, going back to the dugout. He's been in a slump, but besides going to the cages for practice, what else can I do?

I sighed to myself and moved to the batter's box. The pitcher by this point was drenched in sweat in the cool morning. Just looking at him made me feel tired. I know I should make him work, but...he already looks worn out. I let him push me to a full count before hitting a single to left field.

As I stood on first, proud for showing some mercy to the kid on the mound, I made eye contact with Zeke in the on deck circle. He tilted his head and I quickly dropped the smile. Sometimes it was like Zeke was a psychic and knew what I was thinking. He's like that with the twins and Noah too.

As I led off first base, preparing for a run just in case, I heard Coach Luis yell, ”Back!”

Without thinking about it, I dove on first base, practically hugging the bag. Soon a pat on my back with the first baseman's glove let me know it really was a check throw.

”Safe.” The umpire stated.

I peeked up and saw the first baseman throw the ball back to the pitcher. Then I slowly got up and dusted the dirt off. I went easy on him and this is how he repays me? Making me dive in the dirt? Rude. My lead off first base became shorter just in case he wanted to throw back again.

He didn't. He put his focus on the batter, Mahki. Mahki let a couple pass by for balls before swinging and connecting. He ripped one right to the shortstop and I took off sprinting.

The shortstop was smooth fielding the ball on a hop, then tossing it to his second baseman before I reached second. The second baseman then threw perfectly to the first baseman to complete the double play to end the fifth inning. Darn it.

I should have fouled every pitch till they pulled him and put somebody else in. Granted, another pitcher could probably still get the same result.

As we switched to defense, Coach came out and put Kyle in for the new pitcher. Kyle was just as efficient as Dave, but not nearly as impressive. The second batter in the lineup grounded out to Jason at third. The third batter hit a line drive to Mahki in left field. And the cleanup hitter smacked one to the outfield fence, but Zeke was able to catch it at the warning track.

Bottom of the sixth started with batters four, five, and six. Zeke was first up and first out, after hitting a high fly to center field. He steals a home run from the other team and gets one stolen. Such is life. Brian has also hit a fly ball to center field but it didn't have the distance. The center fielder sprinted in to catch the second out. Jason, who was 2-2 on the day and was looking sharp, ended the inning by striking out. Looking. The umpire was too generous to the pitcher if you ask me.

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Top of the seventh brought about new pitching. Coach made Kyle sit just like he had with Dave, and then put James in. The junk thrower. Someone who didn't rely on fastballs like the twins. He would start with batters five, six, and seven.

The fifth batter was a righty, and stood and the very back of the box. I stand near the back too, but not on the line like him. It was like he wanted to be the furthest he could possibly get from James. I shared a questioning look with Noah but all he could do was shrug.

We soon found out what the other guy was trying to do. James threw a pitch, the batter had a delayed swing and just as it was about to get past home plate with kelvin reaching with his glove, the bat grazed the glove and whiffed the pitch. The ump called the play dead and pointed at first. Before I could even realize what was going on, the batter dropped his bat and headed to first while Kelvin popped out of his squat to speak with the ump.

Even Coach came out of the dugout to share some words.