652 V2 ch124 (1/2)

”You'll succeed!” Noah assured me. ”Remember the championship game?”

I thought about it. I've been feeling good with my strength, speed, and endurance. It's not like there are any outfielders playing against me either. Just me, the pitcher, and a catcher. Almost like batting practice. ”Okay.” I said, more sure of myself. ”I think I can do it too.”

”That's the spirit!” Noah slapped my shoulder.

”You really think you can hit a homerun just because you're good in the cages?” Someone asked. The guy was near the back of the line, having come back from his first at-bat. ”This is nowhere near the same.”

”Mind your own business.” Noah huffed as I shied away. ”Him saying he'll hit a homerun has no bearing on your score.”

The guy turned away to talk to the person behind him.

”Don't mind him.” Noah told me. ”He's just jealous.”

”I'm jealous too.” Travis laughed. ”Jake, I can see why you're on a varsity-level team. Seeing you in the cages was like watching someone on replay. Your swing and hit were all identical.”

”It's like he's a machine, right?” Noah grinned.

He nodded. ”Precisely!” He glanced at me. ”I know the cages isn't the same as a game, but I also don't know anyone else who can do what you did. Over a hundred pitches, increasing speed, and you didn't even look tired.”

I shook my arms. ”I'm kind of tired.” My muscles definitely got some work in today. ”It's harder to control where a fast pitch goes.”

”Are you going to do it from the right side?” Travis asked. ”I heard you tell Chandler that you're a switch hitter. And then your conversation with Coach Leroy...you said you would even it out by batting right.”

I shrugged. ”Yea, might as well.”

”He has hit a homerun here before.” Noah elaborated. ”During our championship game over a month ago. He had to do it from the right side then too so maybe it's a sign.”

I rolled my eyes. Noah and his superstitions.

Noah slapped my shoulder again. ”Man, you're even in better shape than back then. As long as you don't get an unfavorable matchup, I think you'll be perfect.” Noah couldn't say more, heading to the batter's box for his turn.

”Hey...do you mind if I ask what your batting average was during the season?” Travis asked.

I shrugged. ”I don't know it.”

Someone snorted.

”How was your batting average against Zeke?” Someone else asked.

”Oh. Better than his, but he had more homeruns.” I told them honestly.

The group got silent so I figured they didn't have anymore questions. I faced forward to watch Noah's at-bat. He was up against a pitcher who had given up a walk and a grounder.