1 SS Noah Atkins
2 2B Jake Hollander
3 P Garret Knudsen
4 CF Zeke Atkins
5 C Jordan Sanders
6 LF Mahki Holstrom
7 1B Sean Isner
8 3B Chris Ludwick
9 RF Tony Perkola
"Garret, I want you to focus on pitching even though I put you in the number three spot, okay?" Coach focused on the junior across the room. "Don't take that to mean that it's okay to strikeout, but work on transitioning."
Garret nodded. "Yes, sir."
Coach looked around. "I want everyone to warmup properly. Any slacking, and I won't hesitate to replace you, understand?" The team nodded and so did I. I wouldn't put it past Coach to bench anyone at the last second. He was always looking for ways to win regardless of who was playing. "Zeke, lead them out. Drop the bags off in the dugout and start with some easy jogging and throwing. I'll divide you boys into two groups to take turns fielding and batting in just a bit. So make sure to stretch properly."
Zeke stood up with his bag hanging off his shoulder. He motioned for the team to follow him out and they did. I was still tying my shoes when I noticed Coach standing nearby.
Coach had walked over to me and Noah, looking like he had something to say. "Jake, it's high altitude here again so if you feel sick, let me or the other coaches know."
I nodded obediently.
"Don't worry, Coach." Noah patted his own chest. "I'll keep an eye on him."
The corner of Coach's lips turned up. "I know, kid. I just don't want Jake to feel like he has to fight through it." He looked me in the eye. "There are a lot of good players on this team so you're not alone. Think long term. I don't want to lose one of my best hitters for a month when he needed to just take one game off, get it?"
"Got it." I nodded again.
"Good." He smiled. "Now get going!"
He scared the pair of us away. I chased after Noah as he ran on ahead. He dumped his bag by the visitor dugout, grabbed his glove, and took off for the outfield where our team was. I tried my best to keep up, but felt slowed down by the heavy sweatshirt. I didn't take it off though; it was a very cool evening and the temperature was only going to drop from here on out.
It wasnt until after the warmups, that I took off the sweatshirt and put it with my bag. The team cleaned up the dugout and got settled before game time. As visitors, we would get to bat first so there wasn't a hope that I could stay warm for an extra few minutes.
Noah and I stood by the on deck circle, watching the pitcher do his warmups pitches as an announcer called out the names of the starting players taking the field.
"Now batting for Watsonville High, leadoff, shortstop, Noah Atkins." The announcer called out last. There were a few claps as he walked to the batter's box, hinting that his parents had arrived, plus a few others.
Noah dugged his back foot on and stared the pitcher down, ready for the first pitch. Or what looked to be ready. The pitcher blew three fast ones by him, getting him to swing and miss at the first two, and caught him looking for the third.
Noah dragged his feet and bat back to the dugout only minutes after leaving the on deck circle. He was certainly no match for this pitcher.
I tried to find the words to comfort him like he does me, but I wasn't as quick-witted as Noah. He was already back at the dugout and my name was being announced to come up to bat. I got in the lefty's box and eyed the righty on the mound. He was as tall as any other pitcher we've come across, and seemed a little more fit than the usual lanky kid we face.
He completed his motion and threw a fast one by me for a called strike. Definitely nearing the high 80's. I don't know if Noah just couldn't keep up or if he couldn't see it well enough. Technically I should be able to help him hit, right...?
The pitcher came at me with a low fastball and I let it pass for ball one. Like coach kept telling me, I should build up the pitch count. Especially when he only used three pitches to get Noah. So I made him work a bit in return. The count came up to 3-2 in no time and then I started to foul some down the third baseline. On the eleventh pitch, I noticed the third baseman cheating towards the third base bag, probably thinking he might save one that comes far. But by doing that, he left a nice big space between him and short for me to aim for.
I tried my best, connecting on the next pitch and snuck a ground ball right between them even with the shortstop diving at it. I dropped the bat, and sprinted to first, rounding the base a bit. But then quickly headed back after seeing the left fielder already throwing the ball back in.
"Good work." Coach Luis smacked the top of my helmet rather hard, making my head bobble. "Let's score early." His statement sounded less like a suggestion and more like a command.
I didn't reply, and put my attention on Mr. Miller over by third. He gave out some signs to Garret, but I didn't see any for me specifically. Which means I didn't have to try and steal or anything. Just run on contact, yet watch for a flyout or lineout.
Garret fouled off the first four pitches, before missing and coming up with a strikeout. I don't think that's what any of the coaches had in mind, but there wasn't any redos in baseball. Zeke came up with two outs. Mr. Miller signed for him to swing and for me to run at any contact since there were already two outs.
Zeke didn't get the chance to follow through on the order though. The catcher had stood up and held his right hand out and away from Zeke, asking for an intentional ball. He repeated the process for all four balls giving Zeke the intentional walk, bringing Jordan up.
Jordan didn't look bothered by the fact that the other team thought he was an easier out than Zeke. I guess I wouldn't be either. Zeke could smash homeruns. He had more by himself than the rest of our team combined.
Mr. Miller dealt out the same signs, Jordan gets to swing as he pleased, and the runners would go on contact. Jordan didn't take any pitches like I did, and came out swinging. The first one was a swing and miss, but he bounced back and hit a line drive to center field.
My eyes stayed on Mr. Miller as I sprinted towards him at third. He was doing a windmill motion, waving on for me to go home. I tagged third and tried my best to speed up to go home. The catcher was standing in front of the plate, waving for the ball, and just behind him was Mahki, who was motioning for me to slide. "Down! Go down! Slide! You have to slide!"
I grimaced and tried my best to avoid the catcher as I started my slide. I heard the sound of the ball hitting the catcher's mitt and felt a heavy hit on my shoulder as I was sliding in. Soon, the heavy hit turned into heavy weight as the catcher had thrown his whole body at me.
I coughed as the wind was really knocked out of me.
"Safe! Safe!" The home plate ump motioned, extending his arms out.
"Crap." I heard the catcher mumble as he pushed off me.
"Jake! Nice!" Mahki was pulling me to my feet and shaking me excitedly.
I kept coughing and tried to get the dirt off my face and away from my eyes. This was so much harder than sliding on cardboard with Drew. It didn't take very long for Coach to come get me and help me back to the dugout as Mahki had to go up for his own at-bat.
"You did great kid. That was a good run." He told me as he sat me on the bench. "Hang tough for a moment. Drew will be here soon."
Drew came? Oh right...okay, good. I lifted my hands on my head and started to take some deep breaths.
"Jake? How are you feeling?" Drew was beside me in less than two minutes.
"I'm not bad." I told him, feeling better given some time to relax. "The catcher just hit me too hard and then landed on me."
"Does it hurt?" He felt my chest, occasionally pushing down a little harder than normal. "Any trouble breathing?"
I shook my head. "Not really. Just a little sore. I think I might have a bruise tomorrow."
A laugh from nearby told me Noah was close. "It should be a big one by the size of that catcher. It looked like you were squashed and almost swallowed."
I cracked a smile. "But I scored."
Noah smiled right back and patted me on the shoulder. "You did! I've never seen such an ugly slide score a run before." He burst out laughing at my frown. "Don't mind it too much. It worked and that's the only thing that matters."
"Noah's right. The scorecard and scoreboard won't state how bad the slide was so you can just forget it." Drew told me.
My frown deepened and so did their laughs. It must have been the ugliest slide in existence. Great. I sighed.
