544 V2 ch16 (1/2)

My fear of seeing a division one or two champion came true. To make it worse, it was a team we knew. University Prep.

Noah and I weren't the only ones to notice their entrance. Our whole team got a lot quieter as more of our teammates realized who else was here.

”I didn't know that they won their championship too.” I whispered to Noah.

Noah shrugged. ”Why would we care? We're in different divisions.” He folded his arms across his chest. ”Who cares anyways. We're champions too. They aren't better than us just because they're in a higher division. Just means their school is bigger.”

Uh, the fact that they destroyed us a couple months ago says otherwise. I kept the comment to myself.

Our Coach went up to greet theirs. As they talked to one another, our team got closer together and started to gossip.

”This is crazy.” Brian said in a low tone. ”I can't believe they won their division.”

”I can.” Bryce looked pale. ”The way they destroyed us. I'm actually glad that they won their championship. Makes me look a bit better, right?”

”No way, kid.” Dave rubbed his head. ”Who likes saying that they like to get beaten by a champion? That's not the kind of attitude to have.”

”Really?” Sean asked. ”Then what kind of attitude are we supposed to have? They mercy ruled us in five innings. We-”

”We didn't have the whole team.” Kyle cut him off.

Garret nodded in agreement. ”I couldn't pitch. Neither could Kyle. Dave wasn't even allowed on the bench thanks to that ejection.”

”Hey!” Dave said. ”I wouldn't have been abled to pitch without the ejection anyways. Why you gotta bring it up?”

Garret shrugged innocently. ”Because it's funny?”

Dave rolled his eyes. ”Zeke didn't play either. And Jake...” He looked at me. ”Sorry.”

”It's okay.” I shuffled my feet, looking down. ”I wasn't good that game. I know.”

”That's because you didn't sleep well.” Noah remembered.

”Zeke.” A deep, unfamiliar voice called out, breaking up our teams chatter. We looked and saw that one of the University Prep players came over.

Zeke excused himself from the coaches he was talking to and greeted the guy that called out to him. ”Seth.” They shook hands. ”Congrats on winning your championship game.”

”You too.” Seth grinned. I recognized him as the pitcher that went up against us. ”I read in the news that the other team tried holding you down to intentional walks. That's insane.”

Zeke shrugged. ”It happens.” He glanced at me. ”Luckily my team carried me to the win. It's a good way to end senior year.”

”No kidding.” Seth answered. He glanced down at me, catching Zeke's look. ”Is this the freshman that had the game-winning home run?”

Zeke nodded. ”This is Jake. You played against him a few months ago. In the Foothill Classic.”

”It's okay.” I mumbled, moving closer to Noah.

Something clicked from within when he saw us so close together. ”Wait! You two are the middle infielders. I remember now. You're both freshman so I think we talked about it during the game.”

”In a good way or a bad way?” Noah asked, arms still crossed.

Seth's smile faltered. ”Well, I can't recall the whole conversation. Either way, it doesn't matter. Talk is talk. But you guys walked the walk. CIF champions is a good title.”

Noah didn't like that answer at all, frowning.