480 CIF Semifinal: Anderson HS 6 (2/2)

My heart started to pound. Please don't have a super pitcher waiting to come close us out.

The new pitcher came from the bullpen and took some practice pitches on the mound. He was...was nothing special. I sighed with relief. I looked to Zeke with hope.

Zeke caught me looking, then flashed me a grin. I blinked in surprise. Was he...confident? Did he know what I was aiming for?

”Zeke! Zeke! Zeke!” A chant started as Zeke stepped up to bat. I couldn't tell who started it first, our dugout or the fans in the stands, but soon it was all I could hear.

The pitcher checked us runners before staring down Zeke. He took a deep breath and nodded at the catcher's sign. Then he started his motion. The pitch was fast, high—then it took a dive. What good movement! It was a breaking ball, but before I could even try and think what type of pitch it was, Zeke had swung and connected, sending the ball high into the sky.

My jaw dropped. I watched as the ball seemed to fly with the wind, clearing the outfield fence like it didn't belong here. Just like that, Zeke pushed us to take the lead. With one swing!

I couldn't help but to smile as I ran the bases, happy that I made the right bet. Mahki and Julian were waiting by home plate, with matching grins. We high-fived then waited for Zeke. As soon as Zeke touched home, the two other seniors pounced on him, practically carrying him back to the dugout.

I couldn't hear anything with everyone yelling from both dugouts, the crowd, and the players on the field. I just followed my seniors back to the dugout where everyone was waiting to celebrate with Zeke.

”Listen up!” Zeke commanded in the middle of the dugout, surrounded by the majority of the team. ”We're not done yet. We play to the end!”

”Yeah!” The team agreed.

I put my helmet away and sat down just as Noah was putting on his batting gloves.

”You didn't get any RBIs.” Noah said.

Unsure what he meant by that, I stayed silent.

”I would have. If I were you, I would have totally shown off my batting skill.” Noah went on.

”Zeke was the better choice.” I smiled at him. ”You would have chosen Zeke too.” I looked out to watch Garret's at-bat. ”Maybe if Julian didn't get walked, I would have tried for something different. It all worked out in the end.”

Noah grinned. ”It always does.”

I would like to think so. But I know that isn't always the case. After today, someone will be going to the finals while the other won't have another game to play. It's not going to work out for one of us.

There was the sound of the bat connecting with the baseball and the crowd was rowdy again. I watched as Garret legged it out to second base as the ball rolled in the outfield to the fence. He reached second without needing to slide, earning himself a double and a round of cheers.