The Hitting Zone

Practice came and so did Drew. After warming up with the team, Noah and I were sent to him off to the side. He has such a happy disposition for someone I consider to be a master in torture.

"Hey kiddos!" He greeted. "Wanna guess what we're going to be doing today?"

"Hopefully not running out of our minds since there's a game tomorrow." Noah pleaded.

Drew simply laughed. "Sure. I wasn't planning to run you into the ground today. Instead, I'll be helping you with your arm strength."

I peeked up. "I have weak arms. Almost as bad as my running."

Drew nodded. "Coach told me. So I've suggested to him how I have some drills and exercises that can help."

"Does this mean I can go back to the team workout?" Noah asked. "My arm strength is perfect."

"There's nothing that's completely perfect." Drew responded. "Okay, first things first, Jake. Lay on the ground, on your stomach, like you might have to start doing a push-up."

I laid on the grass, ready to start.

"Now Noah, stand by his feet, and lift his ankles to your hip level." Drew continued.

"Wheelbarrows?!" Noah exclaimed. "You want us to do wheelbarrow walks the day before a game? Are you crazy?"

I rolled over to my back so I could look up at them. "What are we doing and why is it crazy?" I asked Noah.

"Drew is going to make us do wheelbarrow walks. Basically you'll be in the plank position, I'll lift up your ankles, then I'll have to walk you to wherever he decides. You'll be walking with your hands the whole time. You're not going to be able to throw a ball tomorrow after this kind of workout."

I checked out my scrawny arms, then looked up to Drew.

Drew caught my sad expression right away. "Don't be sad, Jake! You and Noah will be switching positions often. Plus, this isn't just an exercise for arms and shoulders. It also builds up your core. A strong, balanced trunk and torso are necessary in baseball so that the limbs are able to be in control and move powerfully. It'll help you in the long run."

Knowing that there was no way I could reject him, I turned back over to my stomach side and prepared myself. Noah grumbled some more, but still ended of complying.

Practice went on. Besides doing wheelbarrow walks, Drew had us do a variety of other exercises and showed us a few stretches so we would stay loose.

By the time we finished, went home, ate dinner, and showered, my arms felt like lead and my abdomen felt like it was continuously flexing. Noah felt the same as we laid on our bedroom floor, trying to find the strength to do our homework.

"Hey Jake, did you do-" Kyle stopped what he was going to say as he walked into our room. He curiously looked down at us. "What are you guys doing on the floor? It's not like you did much running compared to Friday..."

"Arms are too sore to move." Noah sighed.

Kyle laughed. "I can't wait to see how you boys play tomorrow. Please don't be making any errors behind me." Kyle was the starter for tomorrow's game again.

Noah rolled his eyes. "What did you come here for? Jake?"

Kyle moved over to me. "Yea, I came to ask if he did his math homework. Dave and I need to see it."

"It's over there." I nodded with my head since my arms were too heavy to move.

Kyle found it in my stack of done homework. "Great. Thanks! I'll give it back later!" He waved as he walked out.

"What was that about?" Noah asked.

I shrugged. "They need help with math?"

"Then why didn't they ask for help?"

I looked at him with confusion. "They just did?"

"No, what he just did was ask to see your work. So he could copy it."

"Okay. And?" Still not getting the point he was trying to make.

"Jake!" He suddenly sat up. "Are you saying that they copy your math all the time?"

I blinked. "Well. Yea. They need help."

Noah started to laugh. "Jake. If they really needed help, they would ask for you to tutor them, not just give them the answers. What you're doing can be considered cheating."

"I thought I was helping." I mumbled.

"Oh, you for sure are helping. But now we can exploit this."

"What do you mean?"

"We can get free cages for weeks off them. They're practically cheating. Can you imagine what would happen if mom found out?"

"If mom found out what?" The only female voice in the house asked from our doorway, making the both of us flinch with surprise.

"Found out that Drew keeps trying to break us?" Noah offered up a lie.

Mrs. Atkins squinted at us, but decided to let it pass after looking at me, still sprawled out on the ground. "Should they be making you this sore all the time? I don't think any of the boys had this much trouble. Maybe we should visit the doctor or something?"

"I'm just out of shape." I repeated the words I heard all the time from Drew, Zeke, the coaches, and the other team members.

"Hmm." Mrs. Atkins looked down at me. "If you're sure?"

"Mom, Jake's okay." Noah cut in. "He's just not use to playing so much. Give him a few more months and he'll catch up in no time."

Mrs. Atkins seemed satisfied with that. "Alright. I was just worrying. What I came in here was to see if Jake was okay with Dr. Moore working at the school for a little bit?"

I shrugged.

"Why? Is he taking over for Golladay? That sounds like a demotion." Noah said.

"No, he's not taking over as a school counselor. In my text, I told you how he wants schools to start hiring school psychologists to help students with mental and behavioral support? Well, the school asked if he could volunteer a few hours a week to see how it goes."

"Okay. What does that have to do with Jake?"

"Dr. Moore doesn't want to stress Jake out by suddenly appearing or make him feel awkward about seeing his psychologist in a more social setting."

"I don't have to see him alone, do I?" I asked.

"Of course not." She replied. "This is more for the other students. You'll still be seeing him on Wednesday's with Wayne or whenever you need to. But if you want, you can also visit him at the school office if he's there."

"Okay."

"Okay as in you're fine with him being there?"

"Yea." I thought about all the students that told their experience with Golladay in yesterday's meeting. "Other kids might need him too. Dr. Moore would know what to do to help them."

Mrs. Atkins smiled at me. "Great. I'll go let him know." Off she went.