145 Game: VS Lincoln High School 8 (1/2)

Kyle stepped up to bat with the same face he uses against batters. The kind of face that says: I'm going to own you.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Noah putting on his helmet. I turned to look as he put on his batting gloves.

He caught me looking. ”What?”

I shrugged. I didn't have anything in particular to say.

But that didn't stop Noah from explaining his actions. ”Kyle will get on. The odds of me coming up to bat is pretty high. I need to make up for my first two at-bats.”He held up his bat. ”Check my grip for me?” He stood up and found some room to get in a batting stance.

”Swing halfway.” I said in a low voice. ”Like where your bat would meet in the strike zone.”

He held his bat like I asked.

I got up and nudged his hands higher up on the handle. ”Choke up on your bat and you'll have a more compact swing.”

He did so. Then he pulled his bat back and swung halfway. ”Feels different.”

I nodded, then sat back down as he messed around with his swing. He looked up at me, ”Aren't you going to get your helmet on? You'll come up too!”

I raised an eyebrow. Noah had a lot of confidence in his brother. Even if he got on, there would be Kelvin, Chris, and Noah before me. There was plenty of ways the inning could end before I even get a chance to go up.