Because the game was at a neutral location between two schools, who weren't too close to one another, we only had to stay at school for a half day. We packed up the bus and left at lunch time with instructions to eat on the bus...there would be plenty of time. It was a two hour drive to the neutral site.
With it being a CIF game, only the varsity team would get to travel, so we had the bus to ourselves. We each got our own row to spread out and get comfortable for a long drive.
"Will your parents still come to the game?" I asked Noah as I looked over the homemade meal Mrs. Atkins had packed for me.
"Yep! Of course! It's the playoffs!" Noah started eating from his own seat across the aisle.
"Don't say it like that." Julian leaned over his seat in front of Noah's. He reached over to flick him on the ear, making Noah flinch away. "Not everyone's parents can make the trip regardless what kind of game it is."
"You know my parents..they don't miss a game, especially if it's playoffs." Noah rubbed his ear, looking defensive. "I didn't mean to imply anything else."
"Just because you didn't mean it, doesn't mean it didn't hurt any less." Julian lectured.
"Is-is your parents not coming..?" I asked, scared he might get mad at me.
"No, too long of a drive." Julian replied. "They said if we make it to the finals, they would take a day off from work."
"Wow." Noah said. "They must really believe in us."
Julian cracked a smile. "Kind of. In their eyes, we've only lost once so what's the chances of us losing again?"
Noah's face twitched. "Oh."
Julian laughed. "Don't look so sorry for me. They let me play and that's good enough. If they can make it for my last game, that would be special enough."
"Are you playing college ball?" Noah asked. "What schools have you gotten into again? Have you committed?"
Julian grinned. "I'm not going anywhere just yet. Local community college for two years first."
"What? Why!" Noah looked surprised.
"Money." Julian shrugged. "It's cheaper to go to a community college for the first two years. I don't want to drown in loans."
"What about getting a baseball scholarship?"
Julian shook his head. "Not everyone is like Zeke, earning a full ride to wherever he wants. Even if I earned a 50% ride, I would still have to take out loans, plus room and board, it adds up."
"Don't listen to him." Mahki called out, a few seats in front of us. "Julian is just a baby and doesn't want to take chances."
Julian glanced at him, not feeling shy under all the looks coming his way. "There's nothing wrong with a community college."
"A big school would be cool to go to though!" Bryce chimed in. "I want to go to a SEC [1] school!"
"You'd have to be a star just to make the cut." James snorted. "Those big schools don't care about your future. They only use you to make a profit."
"Well, can't we use them instead?" Brian asked. "Like get a small piece of baseball scholarship, a partial academic scholarship and then some private scholarships to cover the rest. Then use their state of the art facilities to train and become a better player to have a chance at the pros."
"You can lose your scholarship if you don't listen and follow their demands though." Troy spoke up. "Better to be a big fish in a small pond, than a small fish lost in the ocean."
"Would Zeke be considered a shark in a puddle then?" Garret joked, making the guys laugh. "No, seriously. Zeke could have gone to a top ten school and picked a somewhat local big school instead."
Some of the guys turned their heads to the front of the bus where Zeke sat. He glanced back, then actually joined in the conversation. "I picked what was best for me. Where I can see myself succeeding. My dad told me this before, don't make a life decision based off of money. Good or bad. Education or jobwise. There's plenty of time in the future to make sacrifices; do what you want now."
The guys broke off in pairs to discuss their futures. I looked to Julian and saw him thinking to himself. He didn't look back to me and Noah anymore and instead, pulled out his phone. I was curious if Zeke had inspired him to do something different, but was still a little shy to ask. Noah was too preoccupied with his lunch, no longer interested in the college talk.
I followed his actions and started to eat my own lunch. I didn't know if I was playing yet, and I don't want to be hungry even if I'm on the bench. Food is fuel.
After the long drive, the bus finally pulled into a somewhat empty lot. There was another bus already present with a big group of boys getting out with baseball bags on their backs. They must be Northwood.
"Listen up." Coach stood up after we parked. "As the home team, Northwood has already requested the third base dugout. Take your gear towards the entrance near first base, put your cleats on and follow Zeke's lead." His eyes found me. "Jake, you work with Drew. We'll make the decision ten minutes before game time so Sean, keep your focus."
Sean nodded. He looked my way for a second, but I couldn't tell what he was thinking or feeling.
"Okay, get moving."
With his command, all of us got off the bus with our bags and headed for our dugout of the game. The stands were still empty for the most part since it was an hour before game time, but a few strangers were spread out, watching.
Everyone got ready and headed out of the dugout, almost quicker than when we came in. I could only watch from afar as they left me behind.
"Jake? Let's check the wound." Drew approached me with his medical bag.
I rolled the sweatshirt up and showed him.
"No pain?" He asked, looking it over.
"No pain." I nodded.
"Grab your bat and glove. We won't do anything too strenuous. Just a few throws and a few swings." He got up. "Follow me."
I quickly grabbed my stuff and followed him to a secluded side near the empty bullpen in right field, just passed where the team was warming up.
"Swing from both sides and see if either way hurts. Or one more than the other." Drew instructed, dropping his bag off to the side. "Let's just start with five swings from each side first."
I dropped my glove and held my bat as a lefty first. Five swings. Switch. Five swings as a righty.
"Did either hurt?" He asked, scrutinizing me.
I knocked my bat against my cleats. "I felt some pulling when I extended my arms, but I can't say that one side hurt more than the other."
"Let's see you throw a little." Drew pulled out a glove and a ball.
Surprised, I could only blink. I dropped my bat for a glove and backed up a few yards.
"Don't try to throw too hard. Just play catch." Drew threw me the ball.
I caught it, then used my right to throw. I frowned. We continued for five minutes and then he jogged to me.
"How was it?" He reached for my hand.
I held it up and show him the injured arm again. "It hurts more to throw than to swing, but nothing too awful. I think-" I stopped.
"Be honest with me Jake." Drew saw my hesitation. "I know you want to play. And I want you to play too, but your safety comes first."
I swallowed. "As long as I don't have to throw too hard or do a double play, I really think I'll be okay."
Seeing me come clean, Drew nodded. He took hold of my hand and turned it this way and that. "Alright. I don't see any cause for concern about straining muscles or ligaments. Your stitches are healing nicely too, but it's probably best to wrap them and keep them covered." He dragged me over to his medical bag. "I don't want you to roll in the dirt and accidentally rip them open. And maybe, by keeping it compact, there'll be less risk of them opening."
