622 V2 ch94 (1/2)

”Let me try to throw you nothing but sliders!” Rhys demanded. ”I want to know what the outcome would be!”

I hesitated. ”Can I...try from both sides..? I want to know what would be better...”

”Sure!” Rhys hurried back to the cage and collected the very few balls he had thrown to me. He was back on the mound in no time.

I followed along, eager to try my best to hit his slider. I got set in the lefty's batter's box first and looked to Rhys.

Rhys looked beyond me towards Zeke and Noah. ”Hey Zeke, you're in charge of the balls and strikes calls. This way it's fair. I have to get it in the strike zone and Jake has to use some of his judgement to swing or not.”

”Alright.” Zeke agreed.

Rhys calmed down and prepared to pitch.

Knowing that it was going to be a slider, I tried to watch more closely. I needed to get a better grip on the trajectory of this pitch. I gripped my bat, but held back as the pitch came.

”Ball.” Zeke confirmed my guess.

Rhys rubbed his nose as he stood on the mound. ”Troublesome.”

I couldn't tell if he was talking about me or his own pitch.

He grabbed another baseball and got set. He repeated his motion and the ball cane my way. I really couldn't see any difference between this pitch and the last one, so I held back.

”Strike.” Zeke stated.

I glanced back at him. ”Wasn't it the same?”

Noah looked unsure, glancing at Zeke too.

Zeke shook his head.

”1-1!” Rhys hollered.

”Tsk.” Noah snorted. ”Jake, don't mind him. You've got this!”

I thought so too, but that's when hitting the fastball was an option. Now I'm working with a difficult pitch that still had a lot of speed. I haven't even attempted to swing yet.

Rhys got set again and threw the ball.

I tried reaching it with my bat, but lost my balance and completely whiffed.

”Strike two!” Rhys flexed.

I fixed my posture and looked back to Zeke. ”Would it have been in or out if I didn't swing?”

”In.” Zeke told me. ”But just barely. Umpires would have judged it differently, depending on their strike zone.”

I sighed. It's my turn to say, troublesome. I got set in the batter's box again.

Rhys was already set. With me in position, he started his motion again. Slider. It's been low and away every time, so there shouldn't be so much difficulty. I know the speed, I know the location. I frowned and started my swing as soon as he released the ball. I timed it perfectly, but still whiffed.

”Strikeout!” Rhys grinned down at me.

”Right side.” I told him, moving to the other side of the plate. This might be easier. Even though Zeke missed, it was because he was unprepared. I know the speed, location, and pitch type. What isn't working?

Rhys grabbed a new ball and got set.

Rhys began his motion and the pitch came. I kept my hands together and swung my bat lower, knowing the general location of the pitch. I got a piece of it...and it got a piece of me.