Warmups led by Zeke was always filled with the same high intensity as a practice. I was sweating even after taking off my sweatshirt before we took the field. We still had someone announced our names and positions as we took the field, but there were less cheers than normal. The only people that would come to an early baseball game on a Monday were the few parents that had a flexible schedule like the Atkins.
I ran out to my position at second after having my name called, Noah followed. Both of his parents cheered and clapped, but not just for us, but for the whole team. For every name called on our side, they made sure no one was left out.
"And representing Watsonville High on the mound, Theo Hisxon!" The announcer wrapped it up. All parents present started to clap as the game began.
Theo received the sign from Kelvin, nodded with acceptance, then threw his first pitch of the game. It was a fastball in the zone. The batter didn't hesitate to swing, making contact and sending it just over the middle to the outfield. Zeke sprinted in but only got to it after it bounced. He quickly fielded the ball and threw it to Noah as I covered second. The runner rounded first but stopped after seeing the ball get back so fast.
Shoot. A single right off the bat. Literally. One pitch and already one hit given up.
"Don't mind." Noah yelled out for Theo to hear as he threw the ball to him. "Let's get the next one."
Theo gave a tense nod before turning his back on us.
I look at Noah for reassurance.
"It's still early." He patted my head as he moved to the shortstop position and I went back to my own spot.
Theo looked shaken as he faced the second batter. His pitches started to drift away from the batter and the strike zone. Only when he made it a 3-0 count did he try and find the zone again. Unfortunately, that's what the batter was looking for. He swung his bat, quickly sending the ball in the opposite direction. My direction.
It was a hard grounder slightly to my left but definitely out of reach for Brian. I made the decision to dive at the ball, making the stop. I grabbed the ball out of my glove, turned to second to see the runner almost there. I threw it as fast as I could from the dirt. It was off. Big time.
I didn't throw the ball high enough, making Noah to try and dig it out of the dirt. There goes the double play. Then, as I watched the ball pass under Noah's glove, it continued to roll into the outfield. Both runners on first and second tried to advance.
I hurriedly got up and ran to cover second base as Noah turned to chase the ball down. By the time he got the ball and turned, it was too late...the runners had advanced safely.
My face burned as I heard the OLU dugout and bullpen cheer for their players. This one was on me. A double play had turned into runners on second and third with no outs.
"Don't mind, Jake, don't mind." Noah was quick to comfort, but how could I not mind? I messed up.
"You're just rusty!" Jason came in as we moved to the mound to give Theo the ball. "We all are. A week off and then a cheap doubleheader against a team that isn't good." He looked to Theo. "We'll get the next one, yea?"
Theo was pale in the face, hand shaking as he held the baseball. "Maybe I should sit? I'm not doing very well. The two strikes I've thrown have been hit for singles."
"Isn't it just one? The second was an error on me." I offered.
"It's only been five pitches." Brian joined our meeting on the mound. "Do you really want Dave to take over so soon? Just look at the bullpen; he's already warming up, that asshat."
Sure enough, Dave has just finished stretching and started to throw a few pitches off the fake mound.
"Ten seconds." The umpire came from home plate to break up the meeting.
"Everyone needs to get back to their spot." Kelvin spoke with authority as the only senior in the infield at the moment. "Stay calm. It's only the first inning. What are all of you worried for? We haven't even got our turn to bat yet. Are you trying to tell me that you don't think the best player in the county will score or drive in a run?"
All of us turned to look at Zeke in the outfield. He stood tall; with his hands on both hips, he looked intimidating even though he was far away.
Noah clapped his glove a few times as he backed up to his spot. "Let's go!"
The rest of us followed along and went back to our appropriate positions. Theo faced Kelvin and the batter, while the runners started to step off their bags.
Kelvin gave out the signs. I blinked, then rubbed my eye as if I was unsure of what I had seen. Kelvin had signed for a check throw to second after a high fastball. I didn't have to learn very many signs so it threw me off, seeing one that I had recognized. I desperately wanted to look over at Noah, but I was afraid I would give it away so I stayed steady.
Theo did a quick set up and motion, then threw his fastest to Kelvin. Kelvin was already crouching up, caught the ball, then threw a bullet to Noah, who was waiting at second base. He caught the ball just in time as the runner reacted. The runner tried to slide back, head first, but Noah got the tag on him.
"Out!" The second base umpire called.
The play wasn't dead yet. Noah immediately threw back to home plate where Kelvin was covering. The runner on third had tried to go, but was quick to retreat safely back to third in order to not get tagged out as well.
This time it was our dugouts turn to holler out and get rowdy. So what if you got a hit? We could still get you out.
After such an emotional, and thrilling tag out, it was a let down to see Theo end up walking the third batter. He was still all over the place except the strike zone. With the cleanup hitter inning to bat, I was getting nervous.
"Let him hit it!" Noah yelled the opposite of what I was thinking. "Bring it on!"
Theo sent a glance back to Noah, then focused back on the batter. His first two pitches were outside, but they were getting closer to where they needed to be. Even though Kelvin was signing for the pitch, I knew it couldn't be perfect. Otherwise, every high school pitcher would be drafted right away. Theo could only get it as close as he could with the proper pitch type and speed demanded of him.
The third pitch was a called strike, making Theo relax his shoulders a little. The fourth pitch would also be in the strike zone if it wasn't sent to shallow right field. I tried tracking back for it, but was quickly called off by Sean. Sean caught the fly ball for the second out, then quickly threw the ball at Kelvin at home plate. The runner on third once again rushed back to his base, no longer trying to tag up on the fly.
"Two outs! One to go!" Sean held up two fingers, walking back to his spot.
I heard some of the other guys on the field repeat it as I jogged back to my spot.
The fifth batter of the inning was apparently 'swing-happy' after seeing some of his teammates making good contact on the ball. So he came out swinging at anything close...and not so close. His third and final strike was him swinging at a curve low and away, practically in the dirt.
"Strike out!" The home plate ump announced and conducted the motion.
Time for us to be on the offensive. As a team, we rushed back to the dugout, eager to get some runs on the board. I wanted to score to cover up my throwing error. Noah wanted to score to give some comfort to Theo while he's on the mound. Zeke wanted to score so we could win.
