736 V2 ch208 (1/2)

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Noah taking off. I could also tell that Ethan was moving. Moving too early. I pulled my bat back as the ball crossed the plate.

”Oof.” I heard Ethan gasped shortly after a thud. I looked and saw that the baseball bounced off of him, then into the dirt.

Noah slid into second before Ethan even had a chance. Noah got up on his feet and faked going to third. Ethan rushed his throw to Bryce. Bryce stood on the mound, looking back at Noah. Noah went back to second base obediently.

I glanced back to the umpire.

”That was a strike.” He said.

Tsk. What a liar.

”Don't make that face.” He told me.

Embarrassed, I looked back to Bryce to see if he was ready for the next pitch. Bryce was waving for Ethan to join him on the mound. Ethan got up and jogged up to the mound. The infielders went too

I took a step out of the batter's box and took some practice swings to kill time. It was weird to be waiting on a meeting at the mound. Well, more awkward I guess, because I don't know what to do. I didn't know the guy batting behind me very well so it wasn't like I could go over and talk to him.

I glanced at Noah on second base. He was coincidentally looking at me. He touched the brim of his helmet. He was going to go on the next pitch. I could tell. I nervously hit my bat against my cleats, knocking the dirt off.

The umpire went out to the mound to tell them to play ball. Even though this was a scrimmage and there was a lot of leeway, you still had to treat this like a real game.

Everyone went back to their positions and the game resumed. I stepped back into the batter's box, while Noah started to lead off second base. In less than a second, Bryce had whipped around and threw the ball to the second baseman, who was covering second. Noah had dived back at the base as the tag was brought down.

”Safe.” The umpire behind me had called out.

”He was out!” Ethan stood up and confronted the ump.

I took a step back.

The umpire shook his head. ”Tie goes to runner.”

Before Ethan could come up with a rebuttal, a coach from his dugout yelled out. ”Play on!”

Ethan gritted his teeth and got back into position, crouching behind home plate. Bryce had the ball back in his hands, looking at Ethan. He nodded at the sign. They must have discussed a more thorough plan out on the mound. Bryce checked on Noah at second base. Noah was hanging closer to the bag than before, looking stationary. It was all for show.

”Strike.” I heard the ump say.

The throw was high. The third baseman had to jump to snatch it out of the air. By the time he came down, Noah was safe after his slide. The third baseman threw the ball back to Bryce.

Bryce was really calm for someone who just gave up two free bases on the last two pitches. He looked at me and called out. ”Two strikes.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. Normally, I never worry when I have two strikes on me. It means nothing. But...this was an exception. You can't bunt foul when you have two strikes or you'll be out. I learned that in my first tournament.

Just has to be fair.

I showed bunt early as Bryce just started his motion. I thought it would throw him off, and maybe make him throw a ball outside or something, but nope. He threw a fastball right down the middle. Almost daring me to swing. But I had promised Mr. Miller a bunt.

I positioned my bat and bunted the ball down into the dirt. Noah had long ago taken off while my focus was on the pitch. I dropped my bat and headed to first, unable to watch what was going on.

All I could hear was ”Out!”

In disbelief, I turned around and saw a mess. Noah was laying on home plate with Ethan on top of him. Bryce was also laying on the ground, probably from fielding my bunt. But...what went wrong?