692 V2 ch164 (1/2)

”You can do that another time.” Kyle told him. ”Today, I want to see what I can do. Especially against Dave.”

Everyone conceded to Kyle.

I probably understood the best on our team. I watched Kyle go from camp to camp, and even begged to go to this expensive camp. He needed some assurance that it was worth it.

The top of the first inning, Garret headed for the batter's box, stretching on his way there. I stood outside the dugout to take some practice swings even though there weren't any circles to stand in.

Dave finished his warmup pitches off the mound and waved for Garret to step up. ”Come on! Let's see how rusty you've gotten this summer!”

Garret's lips pursed as he got into the lefty's box.

Dave got set, as did everyone else. Mr. Miller squatted behind Mitchell. Dave started his motion and started Garret off with a fastball right down the middle. I furrowed my brows as Garret grinned and swung his bat, making contact. The contact hit the bottom part of the barrel, and bounced to Noah at short. Noah fielded the ball in time, beating out Garret's run.

”One pitch, one out!” Noah hollered. ”Oops. I meant, one out, two to go!”

Garret picked up his dropped bat before coming back to the dugout, frowning.

I moved up to the batter's box, getting in the right-handed side.

Dave whistled. ”Feeling nervous, Jake? I just got Garret out.” Dave was really having some fun out here today, talking smack to us batters.

I shook my head as a smile creeped to my lips. ”Name a time you've gotten me out. I'll wait.”

My comment made a lot of the guys laugh. From both my team in the dugout and Dave's team on the field.

”He's got you there.” Noah laughed the hardest.

”You little punk.” Dave squinted at me as he got set.

I fixed my footing and scanned the field. I had to get the ball to the outfield, but nowhere near the center where Zeke was. Left field was Brian, while Sean played in right field. Sean has experience playing everywhere. Brian has experience playing in left field too, but it was rare. Dave was a little smarter than Kyle, picking pitchers that have some fielding experience. Who else does he have?

I thought a little bit more as Dave threw his pitches. I let the count become 2-2, fouling off a couple of pitches. I didn't want to aim for a homerun just yet, especially when Dave showed some pitching changes. He had improved.

Theo, playing third, caught my eye. He wasn't guarding the line very well, almost in Noah's territory. Seeing the opening, I made a decision. On the next pitch...just kidding, he threw inside for ball three. Okay, the next pitch. I was set. Dave went through his motion and threw the ball, low and outside.

Noah tagged me with his glove, but wasn't even close to getting me out. He grinned. ”Nice hit.”

I smiled back at him.

”Hey! Don't compliment him!” Dave scolded Noah from the mound.

Noah shrugged and threw the ball back at him. ”It's not my fault he got the hit.”

Dave turned his back to us, facing home plate as Mahki stepped up. Dave got him swinging and missing the first pitch, but Mahki made solid contact, hitting a line drive to the corner of left field.