With Dave's prompting, I hurried upstairs to find some practice clothes. I also grabbed two new bats to put in my bag and brought it down with me. Dad and Mom were at the table with the twins, eating the breakfast that was set out. Just as a sweaty Zeke and Noah showed up, Mom and Dad got up to leave.
"Where are you going?" Noah asked his dad, surprised that he was leaving with Mom.
Dad was equally surprised. "Well, the office. To get some work done. Did you need me for something?"
Noah glanced at Zeke, then back at Dad. "I just thought you'd be working on our closet today?"
"We will." Dad nodded. "Later though." He grinned. "I heard Zeke has some plans for today so it'll have to be an evening project."
Noah looked at Zeke with a frown. "What plans would you have?"
Dave laughed as he chimed in. "It's not like you have friends to hang out with."
"Burn." Kyle laughed too.
"Coach asked if I could come to the fields today." Zeke paid no attention to the insult. "So I'll be driving us today."
Kyle rolled his eyes. "Why do you get to drive? Just sit in the passenger seat and relax."
"Why does Coach want you to come?" Noah asked.
"I just like how you aren't denying the fact you don't have friends." Dave kept grinning.
Dad and Mom left the kitchen, leaving us on our own.
Zeke looked around at all of us. "I think you guys should hurry up and eat breakfast before we're late." He got up with his empty plate, taking it to the sink. He passed by us again on his way to the stairs. "I'm going to change and grab my bag." Up he went.
"Grab his bag? Does that mean he expects to play?" Noah asked.
"Why else would Coach ask him to come?" Kyle replied. "Do you think they really need an extra coach?"
Dave looked at Noah. "You're the only one who hasn't had much to eat. You should really hurry."
The question of why Zeke was coming only got more muddled when we showed up to the freshmen field. The four of us were left behind as Zeke went to join a few familiar faces: Mahki, Julian, James, and Kelvin. A group of players who had graduated in June.
"What is going on?" Kyle mumbled. For once, he didn't go see Marie beforehand.
"It's gotta be a game!" Noah started to bounce in place.
"But how?" Dave scratched his chin. "And with who? Are they playing together? Or being spread out like as captains?"
There was a lot of speculation as we got our cleats on, but no one could really answer our questions besides Coach. Yet, when he showed up, he merely said a few words to Zeke, then Zeke took over.
Zeke didn't have a whistle like the other coaches. He just raised his voice. "Time to warm up! Follow me!" He took off, starting to jog around the circumference of the field.
Everyone stopped what they were doing, and hurried after him. All returning players knew who Zeke was, while the freshmen just followed the crowd. I could hear some talk among the freshmen as they realized who Zeke was. MVP of the varsity team. MVP of the league. MVP of the CIF Northern Section, Division Three. He was the star of our program and the surrounding area. With him in the lead, warmups went smoothly.
As we stretched, Coach started to address the whole camp. "As everyone can see, I invited some special guests for today. These graduates helped carry the team to the championship last year." He introduced each one personally to those who didn't know.
"Today, they're going to be the opposition." Coach went on to explain. "Instead of drills this morning, we're going to start with scrimmages. And those going up against our graduates will be my first attempt at putting together the new varsity team."
The whole group started whispering to one another, making Coach raise his voice. "Now, now. This isn't anything official. This is still just a scrimmage and no roster is being set. We have a few more months of practicing but for now, this is the home team's starting lineup: Noah Atkins at short, Jake Atkins at second, Garret Knudsen on the mound, Sean Isner at first, Korrey Alvarrez in center field, Andy Wilson in left, Logan Porter in right, Jason Morris at third, and Mitchell is catcher. There are a few others designated for the bench..."
Coach went on, but I was stunned. For multiple reasons, but most importantly he called me Jake Atkins. I turned to look at Noah. "Did you hear?"
Noah grinned and patted me on the shoulder. "Get used to it. In a couple of weeks, it'll be official."
"Jake Atkins has a nice ring to it!" Dave told me.
I looked at him, worried. "I didn't hear your name. Or Kyle's."
Dave waved his hand around, not worried. "Probably bullpen work."
He got swatted on the shoulder by Mr. Miller. "If you were listening, you would know that Garret may have the first three innings, but you'll have the next three. Then Kyle will have the last three."
"Nine innings! A full game!" Noah started to bounce around, excited.
Mr. Miller hit him next. "Shut up and listen."
Everyone near us quieted down in time to hear Coach announce the other starting lineup, "Julian Wilson at first, Mahki Holstrom in left, Zeke Atkins in center, Kelvin Bender catching, Michael Tye at short, Jesse Shipman at third, Dalton Nelson at second, Tanner Erikson in right, and James Lohr will start on the mound."
More surprises. Especially Dalton. He had won most improved from the freshmen team. He was someone the freshmen coach didn't want, but Coach Wilcox let him join the team anyways. He played the same position as me.
As Coach started to announce more bench players and pitchers for the bullpen, Noah took off. He went to talk to almost everyone on our team: Garret, Sean, Jason, and Andy. Andy was the only freshman named to be a starter for either team.
I went over to him as well. "Congrats."
Andy nodded, not showing any excitement. "Thanks."
"Come on! Aren't you a little bit happy?!" Noah poked him.
Andy shook his head. "Like Coach said, nothing is final. It's a good starting point, but I still have a lot to prove." He turned away. "I'm going to get my bag and head down. See you guys there." He walked away briskly.
"He's pumped up." Noah noted with a grin. "He's got that whole serious vibe going on. Hopefully he's not to uptight to play for a little bit."
"Little?" I asked.
Noah shrugged. "Well, yea. Andy's the low guy on our team. When Garret gets picked off the mound for Dave's turn, then it's probably Andy heading for the bench and Garret heading to the outfield."
I nodded. That makes sense. Garret is batting third. Coach obviously doesn't expect him to leave the lineup. It'd be way too strange to put either twin there in the order.
