With my mind settled and the team present, we got ready for the game more seriously. Everyone was dressed and on time. Even Kyle and Oscar, who were already playing in the bullpen came to the dugout.
"Hey Coach, I think you're right about them expecting me to start today." Kyle said lightly with a smirk. "Saw a few wandering eyes looking at the bullpen and some satisfaction on their faces."
Dave laughed. "Sucks for them." He nudged Mitchell. "Let's mix the splitter in. Kyle doesn't have it so they won't be expecting it."
Mitchell grinned and nodded. He liked the idea.
"It's not like it's a huge surprise." Coach said. "They'll eventually see Dave warming up too. If anything, they might think Kyle hurt himself in the bullpen. Kyle, Joey, and Tyler should be ready to be called upon if Dave gets into a tight spot." Coach instructed.
Garret led us out for our pregame routine in the late afternoon sun. The sun wouldn't set until mid-game. Hopefully it didn't affect my fielding at second base.
1 SS Noah Atkins
2 2B Jake Atkins
3 LF Bryce Finn
4 CF Garret Knudsen
5 1B Sean Isner
6 3B Jason Morris
7 RF Brian Swoope
8 C Mitchell Torres
9 P Dave Atkins
Before taking the field to start the game, Coach had a talk with Dave. Then he turned to Mitchell. "If your hand hurts when catching or hitting, let me know. Oscar is in the bullpen and ready. Noah's a decent backup too. He works well with the twins."
Noah rolled his eyes but couldn't dispute.
Mitchell adjusted the straps on his gear. "I know, Coach. Don't worry."
Coach looked to Dave one more time. "For the sake of god, just don't get hurt this game. Don't break a nail. Don't dislocate your finger. Don't get stepped on."
"Coach, it's starting to sound like a curse you're putting on me." Dave stopped him. "I'm not injury prone. Just a little unlucky."
"Sounds synonymous to me." Noah laughed.
Dave reached for him, but Noah dodged and headed out to take the field. It was time. Our names and positions were announced as we jogged out and started to throw the ball around.
"At second base, Jake Atkins."
I tried to play blind, deaf, and dumb. Fielding a ball back to Sean at first as people clapped and cheered for me. Everyone had varying amounts of cheers, but no one was left out. Even Brian, who surely didn't expect to be in the lineup today.
The umpire called for the game to start and the first Servite batter stepped up to the plate. Dave threw a fastball in the outside of the zone for a called strike one. The batter got a piece of the second pitch, popping it up. Sean backed up and made the catch before the outfield grass.
The second batter got cornered on an 0-2 count when Dave showed his first splitter of the game. It dipped low and would have been a ball, but the batter swung and missed. Dave's first strikeout of the night. The third batter made contact early, pulling a short fly on the foul side of the third baseline. Jason was there to make the catch and we all jogged back. Dave gave us a good start and kept his pitch count low.
Noah and I got ready simultaneously before heading for the exit.
"Jake. A second." Coach called me to the side.
Noah left me behind and I went up to Coach. "Yea?"
"I've been thinking about what was said earlier in the clubroom." He said, looking me in the eyes.
I knitted my brows together. "Yea?" I repeated.
"If Noah doesn't get on before you, I want you to aim for the fences." He instructed.
I was taken aback. "But...you know that guy will only throw me curves. I can't hit a breaking ball that far yet. I need it fast."
Coach reached out and put his hand on my shoulder. "It's okay to fail. I want you to see that. But that's only if Noah is out. If he's on, advance the runner."
"What if I don't fail?" I started to feel a little stubborn.
"Then we'll have a one run lead and the team will be ecstatic." Coach squeezed and let go. "Do your best. Don't worry about what comes next."
"Okay." I nodded and left the dugout for the on deck circle.
Seeing Cody back on the mound didn't feel real until I heard the solid 'plop' sounds the warmup pitches made in the catcher's glove. Still got that speed.
Noah had the idea to attack fast and early before the curve came out. He made contact on the very first pitch, but it was a weak grounder down the line towards third. The third baseman was able to barehand it and throw Noah out at first. Just barely. Noah was fast and it was close, but the ump said he got him.
Noah jogged it back and I moved to the batter's box. Mr. Miller gave out some fake signs, but we knew it was up to my discretion. Coach already said to try for the fences, and maybe I would, but I also knew I wanted to rack up the pitch count against this guy. He's good and he can last awhile. Servite still had other good pitchers, but maybe we could capitalize on a mistake later on.
I chose to be a righty. I started fouling a few pitches right away, placing myself in an 0-2 hole. Cody didn't miss very many pitches from the strike zone even when consistently throwing a curve. It was scary how good his control was. As a sophomore too.
I couldn't let anything close pass by in case the ump gave me a bad call and call me out on strikes. I eventually got into the zone of fouling off, only snapping out it when the crowd yelled, "Ten!"
I didn't realize what they meant until I fouled the next one. "Eleven!"
"Twelve!"
"THIRTEEN!"
"FOURTEEN!"
It was time to start looking for a decent one. Preferably that landed in the middle or higher. To give me some more help on the home run. Seventeen was the magic number. I hit it to the opposite corner in right field. Having a good view...of the outfielder making the catch.
The cheers turned into groans and sighs. I picked up my bag and started to take the batting gloves off as I headed inside.
"Very smart thinking out there. Good work." Coach told me.
I gave a tight grin and went to my bag.
"I think you have the right idea with the foul balls today." Noah told me when I joined him. "These guys are good but you can fend them off. Make them work."
"Yea, but they have a lot of good pitchers." I said, putting my stuff away before sitting down.
"Who cares?" Noah shrugged. "It's not just a physical workout. It'll put some pressure on them mentally."
Yea, maybe it could.
Bryce made contact, hitting a grounder to short. It was a routine play to end the inning.
