252 Game: @ Porterville HS 2 (1/2)

Mahki followed up with another single, allowing Noah to score and for me to advanced to second. Unlike Noah, I wasn't daring enough to take a big lead off first base, and I wasn't confident enough to leg it out to third. I'm not a gambler...but if I was, I definitely wouldn't bet on myself. The one serious sliding practice I had just isn't enough. Base running in general is still a little foreign.

Zeke came up big with a double to the outfield fence, giving me enough time to round third and make it home safely to make the score 2-0. Good start. As the claps and cheers came for Zeke, a few of the guys patted my helmet and shoulder as I walked into the dugout.

I took off my helmet and set it down next to my bat. I slapped on my baseball cap and rested my glove in my lap, still trying to catch my breath.

Noah smiled. ”Good run! With you scoring a run, that counts as two versus the girls. So as long as we win with ten runs scored too then we beat them in that category.”

I gave him a thumbs up.

His smile started to dissipate. ”You okay? You're breathing really hard.”

I sucked in air. ”It's a little.” Another breath of air. ”Hard to breathe.” Another gasp. ”Here.”

”It's because we're in the mountains.” Sean explained. He wasn't in the starting lineup so he was one of our few bench players for the game. ”Higher altitude. Thinner air.”

”But we're not having issues? Is Jake getting sick?” Noah stood up, getting worried.

”It's because we're use to it.” Sean shrugged. ”We live by the mountains. Most of us visit the mountains during breaks. We play teams in the area. Jake just isn't use to it yet. He's from Southern California, right? Probably at sea level. So of course he's struggling.” Sean looked down the dugout. ”Hey, Coach, Jake is having trouble breathing.”

Coach stopped watching Jason's at bat and came over to take a look. I was slowly regaining a normal breathing pattern. ”Do you feel dizzy or lightheaded?”

I shook my head. ”No.” I took a few more deeper breaths and felt my heart rate return to normal.

”Then you should be okay. But don't push it too much. If you feel sick, woozy, or anything out of the normal, then come to me. We'll pull you and get you looked at.” Coach declared. His words made Noah fidget around. ”At high altitudes, the air pressure is lower, making it harder for you to pull in the air and pump oxygen throughout your body. Any trouble breathing, chest pain, or vomiting is a really bad sign, alright?”

I nodded. ”I'm okay. It was just a little troublesome from the run.”

He patted my shoulder and went back to his spot just in time to see Jason get walked, loading up the bases for Julian.

”Jake. Don't run so hard.” Noah stressed. ”Even if Zeke hits another double when you're on second and someone else is on first. Just stop at third.”

”It's fine. I'm okay. That wasn't so bad.” I told him.

”Listen to Coach.” Sean advised. ”As soon as you feel sick, it can be life threatening. Don't take that chance okay.”