715 V2 ch187 (1/2)
Garret nodded. ”I'm going to name my commitment on National Signing Day. November 11th. But if my draft number is good, I'm going pro.”
”No matter what team picks you?” Noah asked.
Garret shrugged. ”Just because a team drafts me, doesn't mean I'll get a chance to play for them. I could just be a chess piece in one of their trades.”
”Have you been in contact with any scouts?”
”A few have shown interest but nothing definitive. I need to have another great season.” He then asked. ”What about the twins? They went to see a bunch of schools this summer, right? Did they decide on any particular one?”
Noah shook his head. ”Nope. They might not even pick before signing day. Zeke waited for the last minute to decide. They might do the same.”
Garret shook his head back at us. ”Zeke could afford to make a last minute decision. Any school would be willing to have him and might save a scholarship just for players like him. The twins aren't nearly as good. If they want to earn an athletic scholarship, the schools might be asking them to make a decision a little sooner.”
We talked a little more about colleges and making commitments until our half of offense ended. After my three-run homer, there wasn't any other hits. Ollie, a junior from JV and our current center fielder, grounded out to Michael at short. Andre grounded out to Sean at second. Then Luke struck out swinging.
”Looks like Joey had settled down.” Noah commented as we started to take the field.
”You scared?” Garret grinned.
Noah scoffed. ”No way. I'm not one to be scared. That's Jake's.”
They looked to me.
”Scared of him as a pitcher? No.” I told them. ”Scared of him as a person? Yes.”
”Typical Jake.” Garret laughed as he got on the mound and started to throw some warmup pitches with Ethan.
Garret must have gotten through to Ethan, because there was a lot less head shaking and a lot more fluidity. Garret shut down their clean up hitter, Michael Tye. The former captain of the JV team and winner of the Best Sportmanship for that team, struck out swinging, unabled to keep up with the cutter.
Joey came up next. He got jammed on a fastball, popping it up in my vicinity. I got under the ball and made the catch without any difficulties. Garret ended the inning by striking out Tanner. He was coasting! Really showing off why he was and is our number one pitcher.
”Looking good!” Noah complimented Garret when we got back in the dugout. ”Four strikeouts over two innings! I can already hear the twins groaning and grinding their teeth.”
Garret laughed. ”I don't know about that. You can almost make a case that the best hitters are on these two teams here.”
Noah looked around our dugout, skeptical.
Noah grinned at the thought. ”They better not give up any hits then.”
I nodded in agreement. Garret has a point. ”I feel bad for the freshmen then.”
”Eh, I'm sure Andy will be fine.” Noah shrugged.
I sincerely doubt that. Andy couldn't do much against them all summer. Even during Saturday's showdown, he went 0-3 against Kyle.
”Their heads are going to swell. I can already guess.” Garret said.
Noah slapped me on the shoulder. ”No worries! Jake will keep them leveled.”