433 Game @ Golden West (3) (2/2)

"Good play!" Julian grinned at me.

"Nice one, Jake!" Noah told me from the other side of second.

I turned red with the compliments directed my way. Those two weren't the only ones to say nice words too. I heard some comments from our dugout and the stands. It just made the blood rush to my face even quicker. I did my best to block it out as Garret worked on the next batter.

Batter three had a strikeout in the first and followed it with another strikeout in the fourth. Garret grinned towards our own dugout before facing the cleanup hitter. He had also struck out in the first, but this time he got a piece of Garret's pitch. Just a piece. A small piece. He popped it up to Jason at third to end the inning.

"Three more to go." Garret taunted Dave right as we got in the dugout.

"Oh, shut it." Dave threw an empty water bottle at Garret.

I shook my head. "How does Garret have so much energy?" I asked Noah as he put on his helmet and batting gloves.

"Pitchers are just different." Noah shrugged. He grabbed his bat and headed for the on deck circle.

Jason was up first. He was sent back to the dugout after three straight strikes. Brady wasn't wasting balls anymore. He looked a little tired and it was only the fifth. He had a ways to go to finish out the game.

Noah struggled against him as he upped his speed and directness. The only advantage he had was that Brady was throwing all pitches into the zone now. He got lucky and made contact, popping the ball up.

I stood up and watched as it headed towards center field. It was a good spot. The center fielder was too far back and the middle infielders weren't back enough. But Golden West wasn't just known for having Brady. They had a good team with good players too. The center fielder sprinted forward and slid in the grass to make the catch.

"Wow!"

"Nice catch!"

"Woo-hoo!"

The stands were clapping loudly. Their team had made outstanding plays in back-to-back innings. Against both Atkins boys too. How unlucky.

Noah was groaning as he slumped in his seat. "Ugh. That would have been awesome if I got the hit. Just unbelievable."

I nodded in agreement. "It would helped give me a chance to bat this inning."

"Jerk." Noah playfully punched me in the arm, barely using any strength. "I would have had a hit against Brady! Before Zeke, too. Ughhh." He groaned some more.

Alex ended our offense by grounding out to short on just the second pitch. Brady made quick work of the inning again.

I picked up my glove and took the field with my team. Next time I'll have to make him really work. Try his best to get me out. I'll make his pitch count soar so they'll want to sit him down. He's been too dominant against everyone on my team except for Garret.

I looked at Garret on the mound. He was warming up with the same seriousness he had in the first inning. Even though he was giving Dave a hard time in the dugout, once he was on the mound he was completely focused.