Garret dominated the third inning. Tanner hit a fast grounder to Noah, but Noah didn't struggle at all. He fielded the ball cleanly for the first out. James should have been next, but a pinch hitter was put in for him...Joey. Garret didn't give up any hits to him on Monday, and things didn't change by Friday. He got Joey to strikeout, swinging. Top of the order, Julian came up again. Garret got him to strike out too, effectively and efficiently ending the inning.
Back in our own dugout, the top of the order got ready for our turns at the plate.
"Dave's coming in next?" Garret wanted to confirm with Coach.
Coach nodded. "He's already warming up."
"Who is he going in for?" Garret asked, holding his bat.
Coach looked at him with raised eyebrows. "It depends on who's the last out."
"Ha!" Noah exclaimed. "I'm safe!" He jogged out, first up to bat.
I gave Garret a sympathetic look.
Garret pulled me back. "Hey, you better not get out."
I held back a laugh and shrugged. "I can't help it. If Noah gets out, I get on, then you hit into a double play, is it really my fault if I get out?"
Garret squinted at me. "You little doomsayer."
"Okay, that's enough." Coach pulled Garret's hand off of me. "Let him go get some swings in. It's up to your own power not to be the last out."
Garret sighed. "I know, I know." He moved his shoulders up and down, trying to get loose. "Joey isn't a big opponent. We've dealt with him before."
"Show some respect." I heard Coach say as I went out to the on deck circle.
Before I could even take my first practice swing, there was the sound of a ball being hit. I looked on as the ball went right up the middle and bounced in front of Zeke. Noah had sprinted out of the box, and rounded first base, eager to try for second, but Zeke's fast throw to the infield put a stop to that. Noah hurried back to first and stayed. You can't run on Zeke. His arm and accuracy is a bit too much. Even for Noah's quick speed.
I stepped up next. I stuck with being a lefty, unsure if Noah wanted to try to steal a base against Kelvin.
Kelvin got up and surprisingly held his glove out over the righty's box. He was calling for an intentional walk. Against me. Even more surprising, Joey complied, completely skirting around facing me. I was sent to first after four balls, pushing Noah to second.
I just couldn't believe it. It's a scrimmage, isn't it? Why walk me?
I stood on first, only inching off when Joey was prepared to face Garret. At least Garret wouldn't be the third out of the inning. Unless some freaky triple play happens. He must be happy.
Joey struggled to find the strike zone after walking me. He missed two pitches outside, giving Garret a favorable 2-0 count. He then tried correcting himself by sacrificing speed for accuracy. Big mistake. Garret took advantage of the meat ball and smacked a line drive to right-center field. Noah and I took off running.
Noah made it home, I stopped at third, while Garret slid into second base, making it a RBI double. And making the score 2-1. Heh. Got the lead.
I dusted myself off as Kelvin got up and went to the mound to talk to Joey. It wasn't a long conversation, just a few words then Kelvin went back. Sean was up next.
Sean didn't waste time, swinging at the very first pitch, launching it to left-center field. Knowing that neither outfielder was going to make the catch, I ran home. Garret came in at a much faster speed. Zeke was the one to throw the ball back in, and Michael snatched it out of the air. Michael threw home to Kelvin just as Garret came sliding in under the tag.
"Safe!"
Garret jumped up and pumped his fists. We went back to the dugout together, leaving Sean at second base. The score was now 4-1.
"What a great feeling." Noah grinned as I put my stuff away. "We're beating Zeke."
I nodded.
"Garret got lucky that Michael messed up the relay throw." Noah noted. "His transition was ugly. I don't know whether he got nervous or what, but it wasn't pretty."
I stared at him blankly. "I thought it was okay."
Noah laughed. "Of course you did."
I scratched my head under my hat. Maybe it's something only experienced ball players can judge. I probably look even worse.
The game continued with Korrey. He also made contact, sending a long fly ball to center field. Zeke made the catch for the first out of the inning. But he wasn't done yet. He threw a bullet to third, catching Sean who was trying to tag up on second and advance to third. Jesse got the tag down before Sean could reach.
"Out!" The umpire decided.
Two outs. Technically a double play. By Zeke.
Andy came up next. He struck out, swinging. He was the third out of the inning. I could only watch with sympathy as Coach benched him.
"Take a rest, Andy." Coach said once he got back. "Korrey move to left field. Garret, you're in center."
Leaving Andy behind, the rest of us took to the field. Dave had already came in from the bullpen and he met up with Mitchell on the mound. They talked for a second to get on the same page, then Dave threw some practice pitches off the mound.
Dave had a tough start, facing Mahki and Zeke first. Mahki hit a single to left field, then Zeke added a double on top of that. Mahki didn't try for home, knowing that Garret could make the throw from center field without a cutoff man. Just as I was starting to think about what to say to Dave, he got Kelvin to hit a pop up to Noah. No difficulties.
Then he really bounced back, striking out Michael and Jesse to end their attack. Michael had swung and missed while Jesse was caught looking. Dave was feeling himself on the way back to the dugout, grinning like he won.
Dave walked right up to Garret.
Garret looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "What are you so happy about?"
"I'm going to have more strikeouts than you." Dave declared before sitting down.
Garret was stunned. He shook his head to snap out of his daze. "Excuse me?"
"That's my goal for today." Dave grinned as he explained. "We each get three innings, right? I've already given up more hits than you, but I could still beat you in strikeouts. You only had four. I'm already at two."
Garret pursed his lips. "That's lame."
"Maybe." Dave shrugged. "But it's going to happen." He was smiling like a fool.
While the pair talked about their pitching stats, our offense was on the decline. Joey wasn't in good shape, but we couldn't get any hits. Both Logan and Jason flew out to Zeke in center field. Mitchell also hit a fly ball, but Mahki made a nice grab at the wall.
(END OF CHAPTER)
***
Just wanted to leave a slightly longer note here for you guys. Some information on the story I'll be posting in patreon, which will be ready tomorrow night.
Title: The Last Curve
Synopsis: Rhys has it all: family, friends, good grades, and most importantly, he's good at baseball. Not just good, but great. He has learned pitching from his father since he was young. Whether it was talking about pitching or practicing pitching, it's his whole life. When the unexpected happens, his life seems to crumble right before his very eyes. It's going to take a lot for him to recover all that he has lost.
