718 V2 ch190 (1/2)

Joey's next pitch came right down the middle. Noah swung and made perfect contact with the barrel of his bat. A solid 'pang' echoed. The ball went right back the way it came. Joey somehow managed to catch the line drive, landing on his butt, and rolling off the mound.

”Out.” The umpire declared the end of the inning.

Bummer.

”You alright?” Noah called out to Joey, as Sean helped the guy to his feet.

Joey brushed off Sean, and didn't say a word to Noah. He just stormed back to his own dugout. The rest of their team followed.

Mitchell said a few words to Noah, then Noah came back.

”What was that all about?” Garret frowned, glancing back to the other dugout.

Noah shrugged. ”Mitchell said that Joey was probably frustrated with the way things were going.”

”That was a nice swing.” Garret complimented him as we went back to our bags and switched out our gear. ”Would have definitely been a double up the middle with your speed.”

”Meh.” Noah muttered. ”I'm just lucky it didn't hurt the guy. That would be bad. Come backers like that are super dangerous.”

”True.” Garret put his hat on. ”But it worked out for him. No injury and it was an out. He got lucky.” With his glove on he headed out.

”Not so fast.” Mr. Miller put a stop to the little movement in our dugout. Everyone froze. This was the first time he addressed the team since the beginning of the game. ”I'm making some changes. Garret, I know I said you could pitch the whole game if you wanted, but-”

Garret waved his hand. ”It's fine. I feel pretty good about my performance. Has someone been warming up in the bullpen though? We didn't have any catcher there to work with them.”

Mr. Miller nodded. ”They pitched to each other. I'll go out and signal for one to come. Garret, you can play center. Ollie, move to left. Davin, take a rest.” He left the dugout to signal to the bullpen.

The rest of us took the field, leaving the freshman, Davin behind. The way he slouched on the bench, you could tell it was eating at him. Is he being sat for making that error in the third inning?

”You don't have to worry about him.” Noah told me as we stood by second base. Garret had jogged out to center field and started to play catch with the other outfielders. ”Mr. Miller will talk to the freshman. An error or two isn't a big deal.”

”I just feel bad for him.” I shrugged. Because I could relate to what he was feeling.

I nodded, turning my attention to the new pitcher on the mound. ”Do you know this guy?” It was someone I wasn't familiar with.

Noah took a look. ”Nope. Must be a freshman.”

A freshman to face the top of the lineup? I grimaced.

The guy warmed up with Ethan, then had a small talk at the mound before we started the inning. Sean was first up and came out swinging. He connected on the first pitch, sending the ball just over Luke's glove. The ball bounced to Connor and he threw it back in to me as Sean rounded first.