Chapter 794 - V3 ch29 (Challenges 2) (1/2)

Alisha should be happy. For the first ten pitchers, I knocked their first pitch out. The most time consuming part was the pitcher getting a few warmup pitches off the mound. I understand that it made it fair, but I saw it as a waste of time. I just had to patiently wait for the better pitchers to show up.

The catcher eventually changed to a familiar Junior I've seen around. He hung out with Mitchell, but that didn't mean he was as good as him. He did stand out more than the earlier freshmen and sophomores though so that's something. He also had slightly better pitchers paired up with him. I say slightly because I handled all of them with ease.

I got to face a special sophomore. Someone I completely recognized and didn't like. Marshel. Marshel Butler. Friends with Austin. He stood out to me from the bus incident and winning 'best sportsmanship' award on the freshmen team in the spring. What a joke. A hypocrite.

Simply putting his pitch into fair territory wasn't enough for me. I smacked his first pitch as far as I could, dead center. With no outfield fence, the ball rolled until the grass slowed it down to a stop. Definitely would have been a homerun. I smiled to myself as Marshel walked off the mound with his head down. Too bad Austin isn't a pitcher too because I'd like to give him the same treatment.

The first pitcher that required more than one pitch was Matt. He was now a senior like the twins and Garret, but he was hardly used last year during the season. Just a few relief spots here and there. He worked hard regardless of his play time though so he stood out.

Seeing how almost everyone tried starting me off with a fastball, Matt went a different route, throwing a curve outside. I chased, getting a piece of it, but the ball dribbled foul.

I stepped out of the box and glanced back at Coach. ”Is it too late to switch batting sides?”

Coach shook his head. ”As a switch hitter, you can change sides during an at-bat as long as it's not during the pitcher windup. To be safe, always declare 'time' and then switch.”

I nodded. ”Time.” Then walked behind the catcher and Coach so I could bat as a lefty.

”Make sure to note down his switch.” Coach called out to the home team dugout. Alisha nodded obediently and scribbled on her paper.

”Is the switch significant?” The catcher glanced back at Coach to ask.

Coach shrugged. ”Maybe, maybe not. We'll see.”

Everyone got set again.

I didn't think the switch was necessary, but I thought it would be easier. Trying something new. It'd be cool to incorporate switches in games when I find out what the pitcher can throw instead of just waiting for my next at-bat. Not that I expect to struggle enough to warrant changes. It would just be nice to realize I have this option and not to be embarrass when I want to try it out.

Matt throws curves away from right-handers, so what will he do now that I'm a lefty?

Matt started his motion, and the ball came my way. Literally. He threw a fastball inside, trying to jam me up. It's not easy to hit something coming right at you. But...it should be a ball. I let it pass.

”Ball.” Coach confirmed.

The catcher threw the ball back to Matt. Matt got set again, shook off the catcher's first sign, then nodded at the next. He started his motion and the ball came out of his hand. Another curve. I watched as it broke in towards me. I brought my bat down and hands in, swatting the ball to where a second baseman would probably be. Not pretty, but my only job was to put it in play.

Matt left the mound in a relaxed manner. He met me off to the side, near the dugout Alisha was in. ”Hey, I thought for sure you would let that one pass too.”