315 Game: VS OLU 3 (2/2)

I fought back a laugh. I don't think it's funny that he got hit...just funny where he got hit. Mahki jogged to first and shared some words with Coach Luis, probably saying that he was okay. Hopefully. He stayed on first and Zeke stepped up to bat.

Coach sent us away and put his focus back on the game. I went back to my bag to put away my helmet and bat, and Noah followed.

”Don't listen to Coach, that was a good swing. It was just unlucky that it went straight to the center fielder.” Noah tried to console me.

I let out a smile and repeated what he had said. ”Don't listen to Coach?”

Noah looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before replying. ”If he gets mad, just say 'sorry, my bad.' Coach isn't as tough as you think. As long as we win in the end, will it matter how it happened?”

I shrugged. I guess so.

We both watched on as Zeke did what I should have done at the plate: make the pitcher work. His total pitch count had easily reached 20 in the first inning alone. It could have been more if I was thinking.

Sadly, with one on and two outs, Zeke couldn't get anything going. He sent a hard grounder between second and first, but the second baseman made an amazing grab and threw him out at first.

”I should have done that.” I mumbled.

”Nah. You made the right decision to go for the double play.” Noah patted my shoulder as we headed out. ”Like Kelvin said, it's still early.”

We parted ways and went to our respective positions in order to start the second inning. Theo faced off with the sixth batter in the lineup, conceding another single after a drawn out battle. The other at bats looked to go the same way, but Theo was able to get them out with a little help.

Batter number seven hit a hard, long fly to center, but Zeke was able to track it down for the first out. The runner advanced to second on the tag, but couldn't go any further after that. Batter eight had tried to bunt, yet it went right to Theo for the second out. Brian was good at keeping an eye on the runner just in case he needed to throw to third too. The pitcher, who bat ninth like most, was easily struck out by Theo, giving him something to smile at as we went back to the dugout.

Bottom of the second, we had a hot start with a lead off walk by Brian, followed by a single from Jason. The momentum died with Sean hitting into a 4-6-3 double play. Seeing their second baseman make great plays in each inning so far made me want to practice a little harder. Just to be prepared like him. I wouldn't be such an embarrassment to my team, Noah, and the Atkins.

The inning ended with Kelvin striking out, leaving Brian stranded on third.

As we started the third inning, Theo looked more comfortable on the mound. He faced the top of the lineup once again, but with a little more confidence. The leadoff batter hit a hard grounder to Noah at short, but Noah was smooth and efficient in the fielding, practically making me look like a little leaguer.

Theo got the second batter to strikeout, looking. And the third batter went down swinging. Three up, three down. Theo was practically bouncing back to the dugout, happy with his performance.