143 Game: VS Lincoln High School 6 (2/2)

”Modesty is overrated.” Noah smirked. ”Gotta give credit where credit is due. If I didn't have your back, you'd be crying right now with all those would-be hits.”

Kyle reached for him, but Kelvin dragged him away. ”Don't get so excited. Do you want to give Dave the mound so soon? You haven't gotten halfway through the game yet.” They both went to the other side of the dugout.

I grabbed my bat and put on my helmet.

”You still trying for walks?” Noah asked.

I nodded and smiled. ”Zeke said free batting on Sunday. For the both of us.”

”What a dork.” Noah waved me on. ”Go, go. Get on first. We'll discuss your negotiation skills another time.”

I simply nodded and headed to the plate. Forcing the pitcher to walk me didn't require as much effort as before. His pitch count was getting high and he already looked exhausted. A good curve can't help you if you don't have the endurance to go along with it on the mound. I knew a little about lack of endurance. Even hitting is a struggle if you don't practice every day.

I started to lead off first base, but not too far where a pitcher would want to do a check throw. Noah could call be a prodigy al he wants, but it will forever only apply to hitting. Running the bases would be my weakest point. Weaker than my fielding, and weaker than my arm.

Sean worked the count to a 3-1, but ended up flying out to center field. I came back to first base and sighed.

”You need to work on tagging up and running to the next base.” Coach Luis grumbled.

I shrugged helplessly. I still haven't worked on tag ups. I've only seen a few examples, but that doesn't mean I'll just automatically be able to do it.

Zeke came up to bat next, looking stone-faced like always. And like always, he was able to connect with the ball and send it to the outfield. I started inching my way to second, keeping an eye on the outfielders to make sure they wouldn't catch the ball. They didn't so I took off. I glanced at Mr. Miller and saw him waving me to him, so I touched second and ran to third.

”No slide!” Mr. Miller said my favorite phrase in baseball. I stopped on third, Zeke stopped on second, and the ball was given back to the pitcher. Another stand up double for Zeke. A real monster. The best.

Julian came up next, looking eager to swing since there was only one out and runners on. Sadly, they didn't give him his chance. They intentionally walked him so they would have better odds for a double play. Which I still find silly, because it was still possible for the next batter to get a hit. Especially someone like Mahki. He even had an rbi single in the first inning.

Unfortunately, Mahki played right into their hands. He hit a sharp grounder to first. I took off for home at the first sound of contact. The first baseman barehanded the ball, threw it to the catcher at home, who touched the plate before I could. Then he threw back to first base where the second baseman came over to cover, beating out Mahki's sprint.

I sighed. End of the third inning. Up 3-0, but still lost out on a chance to score a few more runs. Oh well.