Chapter 813 - V3 ch48 (VS Lowell HS 3) (2/2)

Noah laughed as we put our batting gear away. ”Yea, we could tell. You almost looked like Jake, practically hugging first base.”

”Hey!” Dave defended himself. ”My strides are longer than his. I was definitely further out.”

Garret patted me on the head. ”For being the batting leader for our team, you get picked on a lot. By your own brothers too.”

I shoved his hand away. ”Like you don't participate too.”

Garret laughed and took a defensive stance. ”Wow. Be careful boys. Bambi is growing some horns.”

”You mean antlers.” Mitchell corrected.

”Are you guys playing baseball or not?” Coach raised his voice.

All of us broke it up and took the field in a hurry with the exception of Dave. He casually walked to the mound, used the rosin bag, then threw a couple of warmup pitches to Mitchell. I don't know why he slowed his pace down, but it worked. The bottom of their lineup didn't stand a chance. The first guy hit a routine grounder to Noah at short. Batters eight and nine struck out, swinging.

”Pitch count, Coach?” Dave immediately asked when he got back to the dugout.

Okay so him slowing down may have something to do with him being conscientious about keeping his pitch count low. Low enough to do another inning? Garret only got to do three yesterday, so Dave might be trying for four?

Coach turned to Alisha. ”Tell him.”

”36.” Alisha told Dave clearly. ”Statistically, you could do another inning.”

Dave looked to Coach with a grin.

Coach nodded. ”I'll pull you at 49 just to be sure though. I don't care whether that's in the middle of an at-bat, if I have to.”

”Three strikeouts, nine pitches. That's all I need.” Dave went to sit down on the bench.

Noah snorted. ”So ambitious.”

Dave smirked. ”Remind me again, which of us have a hit this game?”

Noah tugged his batting gloves on and tightened them. ”Just wait. I'll get a hit in just a second.” He grabbed his bat, and with his helmet on, headed out to the field.

I tugged my helmet on too.

Garret knocked his bat against his cleats. ”Just so you know, you're not the only Atkins's brother with a hit. Jake's got you beat.” He laughed and dodged a water bottle thrown at him by Dave.

”Jake doesn't-” Dave stopped himself at the sight of me. He coughed. ”I mean, I wasn't comparing myself with Jake. Just Noah. I think we can all concede to Jake's dominance at the plate.”

I glanced at him. ”But if we have to compare?”

Dave took a righteous stand. ”Then it's by how many hits you've gotten to how many I've given up. One to one.”

I left the dugout with a laugh. I don't think I've ever had so much fun in the dugout. Today was something special. Everyone is in a good mood. We're winning and playing well.