354 Game: @ Etna H.S. 9 (1/2)
”Keep your head in the game.” Zeke told me as we lined up at the dugout entrance. He stood behind me with his own helmet on. He was tugging on his batting gloves when I turned around. ”The only thing on your mind right now should be getting on base.”
I swallowed hard and gave a nod. Then I swirled around to have my eyes on the game. With Kyle's pop out, I might not even have an at-bat this inning if Jason and Garret don't pull through.
The pitcher for Etna finished his warmup off the mound and the ump gave the signal for Jason to step up. The new pitcher started off strong, throwing Jason straight fastballs, blowing them right by him. He struck out swinging. Garret moved up and I stepped out of the dugout.
I was happy to put some space between me and Zeke. I wanted to take his advice seriously, yet with him being too close, I couldn't help but get distracted. It's like someone telling you to look at the stars when the sun is right next to you.
Garret didn't struggle with the fast fastball pitcher; he thrived instead. He made a solid connection and got it to the outfield for a single.
My turn. I got in the lefty's box and moved the dirt around with my cleat. Something I didn't like about Garret playing: he used the same batter's box as me. He liked to dig in his back foot and practically make a ditch at the back of the box while I liked smooth, flat ground to stand on. I think that has something to do with me practicing in the cages. There's no dirt to dig into. There's only solid concrete to stand on.
I let the first pitch pass for a called strike. He had good speed. Better than the other two. The second pitch looked like the one to hit so I started my swing, yet the ball seemed to break in, connecting with the thinner part of my bat. The ball rolled to the second baseman and I took off. One, two, one, two. Only thing I should be doing is sprinting to first.
I heard a dugout groan and the other one cheer. I glanced over to see the ball rolling forward away from the second baseman. Wait. What. I made it to first safely, Garret was also safe at second base. What happened? Did my hit just defy the laws of physics? It should have been right to him. It could have even been a double play ball.
I turned to Coach Luis for help. He wasn't the friendliest of coaches, but he didn't give me much of a hard time.
”An error.” Coach Luis lowered his voice as we watch the ball be picked up and given back to the pitcher. ”Went off his glove, then off his thigh.”
Oh. That must suck. ”Is he okay?” I stood on first base, watching him rub the spot above his knee.
”Who cares? His coach isn't worried so why are you.” Coach Luis snapped at me. ”Zeke is up now. Focus more on how you can score from here.”
Ah, yea. I checked Mr. Miller for signs but he only told Zeke to hit the best he can and for us to run on any grounder. Zeke is 0-2 today with two groundouts, a walk, a run, and a RBI. Not exactly his best day. Possibly his worst.
Like I was taught, I started to take a lead of first base since the first baseman wasn't strictly guarding the bag. I inched my way out, almost leaving the bag as far as him, but still made sure I was closer. I knew I wasn't as fast as him so we couldn't be the same distance out.