Chapter 812 - V3 ch47 (VS Lowell HS 2) (2/2)
He gave a small nod. ”Really. Stop thinking like a batter, and think like a pitcher. Pitchers want to get in good on the count after two walks. Batters are probably thinking, don't bother swinging until this guy throws a strike. Which is a good rule to go by normally. But you want a homer.”
”Okay.” I believed in what Garret had to say. He's a pitcher too after all. He knows the coin on both sides.
The umpire broke up the small meeting on the mound and called me to the batter's box. In the righty's box, I slowly got set, trying to give off an impression that I wasn't going to swing. I was going to watch and wait. I don't know if my indifference mattered to the pitcher or catcher, but Garret was right to predict that the first pitch would be a fastball in the strike zone.
The pitche was a little high, but that just made it easy on me. I swung my hardest and pulled the ball to the left field line and started my run to first. As I rounded first I had a good view of the ball going over the fence. I kind of assume that Rhys would be the outgoing type to try to catch it, but it was Jeremy chasing after the ball. He caught it with bare hands then held it up for me to see.
I grinned and rounded second base. After tagging home plate, Noah and Sean were there to give me high-fives before going back to the dugout together, where we were greeted by more high-fives.
”Dang, they're already pulling the pitcher?” Mitchell's comment grabbed everyone's attention as all eyes drifted to the mound.
The head coach for Lowell was already taking the ball from the pitcher's hand and waving at his bullpen.
”He did give up two walks and a homerun.” Jason shrugged before walking to the on deck circle with Garret.
Mitchell shook his head. ”Only ten pitches though. Ten pitches, then they pulled him? That's gotta hurt the self-esteem of any pitcher.”
”High school baseball is cutthroat.” Coach said, bringing down the atmosphere in the dugout. ”I don't say this to be mean, but winning is important in high school sports. It points out the champions. The best around. It gives even more exposure to athletes trying to get into colleges or the big leagues.”
”I don't know what you all are being sentimental for.” Noah grinned and raised his voice. ”We did that. We took a pitcher out before he even got his first out. We're just that good.”
”You got a walk.” Sean laughed. ”Don't act like it was us. It was all Jake. Putting them down by three runs in the first inning? That sucks...for them.” He grinned too.
”Hey, it's not my fault the guy didn't want to throw me any strikes.” Noah rebutted.
The two bickered and joked as the new pitcher threw some warmup pitches off the mound.
”Hey, that was your brother with the catch, right?” Mitchell scooted closer to me after I sat down on the bench.
My lips twitched as I thought of Jeremy beyond the outfield, making the catch on my homerun. ”Yea..”
”Wow. I can't believe he came.” Mitchell murmured. Then stiffened up. ”Not that I think he shouldn't come watch you. I just mean, that, I feel like, he should, I don't know, be preparing for baseball season?”
I let out a small laugh thanks to Mitchell's stumbling on what to say. ”No. I understand. I didn't think he would come either. But he lives close by. And it's the weekend.” I thought about it. ”Coach hasn't announced it to the team yet, but he's going to treat the whole team to lunch today.”
”Wow.” Mitchell's eyes widened in disbelief. I understood. Sometimes I couldn't believe it either. Not that Jeremy was some baseball star, but that he was a star that wanted to be apart of my life. To watch my high school games, donate a gym to my school, call to talk about my classes. Sometimes none of it felt real. The Atkins taking me in, getting me into baseball, then adopting me. I've been on a lucky streak as of late.