147 Game: VS Lincoln High School 10 (2/2)

”Watch his pitches closely. Maybe you'll want to foul some off so you can see more. But that'll be a risk for you. It might work against you and you could end up like the others.”

”The others?” I tilted my head.

Zeke pointed past me. I turned in time to watch Noah strike out. ”Just think. He hasn't given up a hit yet. This could be your first out.”

”Should you be adding pressure to him like that?” Sean jumped in.

”It's no pressure.” I scratched my cheek. ”I only find him odd. Not really difficult. Interesting at best.” I gripped my bat. ”I'm going to go hit now.” I left them and came face to face with Noah, who was coming back to the dugout.

”You get to hit?” Noah asked.

I nodded.

”What do you think you'll do?”

I shrugged. ”A single most likely.”

Noah nodded and patted my shoulder as we moved past each other.

I stepped in the lefty's box without a practice swing. The left fielder turned pitcher wasn't surprised. Or maybe he didn't remember what I hit before. He just got set and threw his first pitch, a fastball outside. Ball. He had something extra compared to the first pitcher. A fastball down the middle for a called strike. Not only did he throw faster, but he didn't have any breaking pitches. Ball. With a 2-1 count, he came after me with a fastball down the middle, I fouled it back. 2-2. He gave a smile as he got the ball back. Maybe he did have a breaking ball? I watched closely. He started his motion and the ball came out of his hand. It had movement. Not much, but it was going further down and a little away. So a two-seam fastball. Also known as a sinker. He mixed it well with his four-seamer. I remember reading that sinkers were used to get strikeouts and groundouts. I shouldn't disappoint. I swung and connected, sending a hard grounder between third and shortstop.

It squeezed between the two infielders and I safely reached first. Claps and cheers came from the stands, but no one could outdo Noah. He yelled the loudest and clapped the most. I turned red and tried to remain focused.

Sean moved up to the box and Zeke to the on deck circle. I looked to Mr. Miller for the sign. He signaled for me to lead off and run as soon as the ball was hit. Sean faced the pitcher and got in the lefty's box. The pitcher started off with a two-seamer, luring Sean to hit the same pitch as me. He did so, hitting a grounder right to the shortstop. I was sprinting as fast as I could, but it was no use. The shortstop tossed it to the second basemen, who tagged second base and threw to first.

”Out!”

”Out!”

I sighed along with the crowd. A double play. Zeke wouldn't get to come up again unless the other team tied the game up and forced us to bat in the seventh. I jogged back to the dugout and switched gear.

”Were you satisfied?” Zeke stood nearby.

I shrugged. ”I guess. He used both a two-seam and a four-seam fastball. He uses the same motion and throwing mechanics but it doesn't hide the stitches.”

Zeke raised an eyebrow. ”You could see the stitches that clearly?”

I nodded, not understanding the significance. And Zeke said no more. We ran out onto the field with our teammates for the top of the seventh inning.