We eventually made our way down to the varsity field, taking up space in the home team dugout.
"Almost feels like a real game!" Noah exclaimed as he pulled out his glove. He hit me lightly with his glove. "Let's go play catch!"
I got my own glove out and followed him out of the dugout. We had already jogged and stretched so it made sense to start tossing the ball. We were the first ones out there, but Garret and Mitchell were a close second. Seeing us already throwing, the rest of our team followed even though we didn't have a coach to instruct us. Coach still had to name the other teams on the lower levels so it would take him some time to get down here.
I could already see Mr. Miller on the visitors side, watching his team warming up as well. He didn't need to do much with Zeke taking the lead.
When Noah saw their team take the field for a more in-depth warmup, like normal pregame, he motioned for us to go back to the dugout. "Grab your bats and helmets for some bp. Pitchers can go to the bullpen. Garret-" He paused.
Garret grinned. "As much as I would like to get some batting practice in, I have to focus on warming up. Mitchell and I will follow gameday routine."
Noah nodded. "Sounds good." He looked around at the rest of us. "What are you guys waiting for? Can't you see the other team already preparing for the game? If we want to prove that we're the new varsity team, we have to beat these old guys. Or you'll lose your spot to those stuck on that team with the graduates." He jogged to the dugout.
I hurried after him, not needing to think about it too much. We grabbed our gear and went to the batting cages beside the field. The rest of our team followed. I could feel some resistance from those who weren't on varsity last year, but as long as they didn't talk back to Noah, that was fine by me.
After a little bp, we switched to the field and got accustomed to our positions, fielding the ball, having someone from the bench throw it around like it was hit. I knew everyone in the infield so I was feeling comfortable. This scrimmage might be the toughest this week, but I felt pretty good with our team.
Coach eventually made it to the dugout. With Alisha. The two of them sat on the end of the bench, closest to home plate. He stood up and addressed us as a team before we got ready to officially take the field. "I understand the pressure some of you may be under. Don't think too much out there and play your game. If there's one piece of advice I want to give out, it's a small reminder not to be called out on strikes. If it's close, swing. You have two strikes? I want to see you defending that plate." He looked at Garret. "You ready?"
Garret grinned. "Heck yes."
"Get out there!" Coach slapped Garret on the back, sending him to the exit with an extra push. The rest of us starters followed him out, jogging to our positions.
Garret's first three opponents were all graduates: Julian, Mahki, and Zeke. They're college players now. Garret didn't slack off for a second, throwing his cutter on the very first pitch, getting Julian to swing and miss. Garret surprised me by throwing an inside fastball next, instead of sticking with the cutter like he usually does. Julian was surprised too. He got jammed, popping the ball up down the first baseline. Sean dove for it, making the catch and getting dirty on the first play of the game.
"Out." The umpire confirmed.
Sean jumped up and threw the ball back to Garret.
Garret nodded at him before getting set on the mound again.
Mahki was up next. He was a little more patient than Julian, watching a cutter come inside for a ball and then another for a strike. A fastball inside for another ball. He fouled off a cutter for strike two. Fouled the inside fastball. Count still 2-2. Garret changed it up with his fastest pitch down the middle. Mahki saw it clearly and swung. The ball came right back at Garret, making him dodge. Behind Garret, Noah was there to snatch the line drive out of the air, preventing the ball from going to the outfield.
"Out." The umpire declared.
"Nice grab!" Garret clapped with his glove.
Noah got up with a grin. He threw the ball back to Garret. "Nice dodge. Mahki was trying to take your head off."
Garret nodded in agreement. He turned to see Zeke stepping up the plate. "Got a tough one here. Make sure the outfielders are back."
Noah turned to the outfield and motioned for them to backup.
Garret got set. Nodded at Mitchell's pitch selection. He started off with his cutter again, but got burned. Zeke had opened up his stance and pulled the ball down the left field line. All of us could only watch it go over the left field fence. Andy had no chance at it. A kill shot to put us down by one.
"Don't mind." Noah called out to Garret. "That's as expected."
Garret glared at him for a second before facing Kelvin. Kelvin wasn't too tough to handle, but he still got a piece of the ball. A routine grounder for Noah to field with ease to end their first inning.
We jogged back to our own dugout. Unexpectedly, no one was down about losing that one run.
A lot of the returners just laughed it off, giving Garret a little grief.
"Just wait for the next inning." Garret said as he put his helmet on. "I'll shut them down with some strikeouts."
"How about you go get that run back first?" Jason joked.
"Nah, that's Jake's job." Garret laughed when he caught me looking at him. "What? It's the truth. You're on a hot streak and you can handle James without a hassle."
"Garret's trying to ditch some responsibility, Coach!" Noah said as he left the dugout with his helmet on and bat in hand.
Coach rolled his eyes. "Can you guys act with a little more decency? We're losing here." He looked to me as I headed out for the on deck circle. "Don't hold back, Jake. No matter if Noah gets on or not, try your best to aim for the fences."
I nodded obediently and stepped out.
James is a curveball specialist. He was our closer for most of the season, shutting out guys with his killer curve. It had a lot of movement. But with him on the mound, I could guess what was coming.
Noah could too. He swung at the first pitch, fouling the ball back for strike one. He fouled another down the line. Noah made solid contact on the third curve, hitting a line drive. Right. Into. Julian's. Glove.
Dang.
"Lucky!" Noah spat out as he came back to the dugout.
"You don't get to write 'lucky' down in the scorecard." Coach said.
