478 CIF Semifinal: Anderson HS 4 (1/2)

After Garret's practice pitches, he easily shut down the ninth batter, getting him to strike out to end the second inning. We jogged back to the dugout.

”That was brutal.”

”Not a good start.”

”Already in the hole.”

I heard depressing mumbles as I followed Noah to our bags.

”Heads up!” Zeke's command made me jump. He stood at the dugout entrance, just coming back from the outfield. ”I don't want to hear anyone giving up. There's still some baseball left to play.”

”Just gotta bounce back.” Noah added, bouncing in place.

”Kelvin. Jason. Mahki.” Coach called out. ”You three must be feeling pressured to getting on base, correct?”

Kelvin, who just took off his catchers gear, nodded.

”I want you to use that pressure.” Coach told them, then looked around at all of us. ”Use this pressure to push yourselves. Prove to me, to them, to everyone, that you want this more. You have to want to win more than they do, but you also have to prove it.”

Kelvin grabbed his bat and headed out first. ”I want this the most. I sat on the bench for too long to pass this opportunity up.” He went straight to the batter's box, taking a few big practice swings.

”Great.” Coach nodded in satisfaction. ”Jason, Mahki, you two get ready as well. We're cutting that lead down now.”

They quickly got ready to bat and moved to their spots.

”Wow. Coach is really serious.” Noah remarked, putting his glove down between us.

”Coach is always serious.” I replied, trading my hat for my helmet.

Noah shook his head. ”But it's reallyyy serious now. Almost like, if we don't score now, the fight will be even harder later on.”

I shrugged. ”Could be.”

Noah watched Kelvin's at-bat intently. ”This could be good or bad. Morale wise. Coach is really gambling on us right now. If we don't score, the morale might take another dive.”

I held my bat in my lap, unsure of what to say. I wasn't a leader. I don't know what morale is or how bad it would be if we didn't have any. Just hearing everyone else around me though, I could take a guess.

I peeked to the end of the dugout where Kyle was. Alone. In the corner. His elbows were on his knees and he was hunched over, contemplative. He looked down. A little sad, a little angry, a little frustrated. No one approached him.

'Ding!'

My head whipped back as I looked for the ball. Seeing the left and center outfielders running, I finally spotted the ball just in time to see it hit the fence.

”Go! Go! Go!” Noah jumped up and yelled.

He wasn't the only one. The whole team was urging for Kelvin to run his fastest. He slid into second as the ball was returned to the infield. A double!

I made a move to the on deck circle as Julian stepped up to bat, but Zeke held me back. ”Jake. A minute.”

I stopped beside him and Coach.

”I know we pressured you early on in your first at-bat.” Coach started off by saying. ”But now it's going to be heavier.” His eyes shifted to the field, almost as if to hint to something.