The Hitting Zone-Novel

Bottom of the second had a bit of a late start with Mitchell being the last out. It gave Dave an extra second to calm down after Noah's verbal attack. Dave started with batter five, getting him to go down swinging for his first strikeout of the game. I saw him glance back to smirk at Noah. Unfortunate move on his part. The next two batters hit grounders to Noah, making him responsible for two of the three outs in the inning.

And Noah let him hear it as they jogged back to the dugout. "That's what I'm talking about! Throw the splitter more. I want all the grounders!"

Mitchell chuckled, earning a glare from Dave. Mitch shrugged helplessly. "What? Your splitter doesn't have enough break yet, so they keep getting the top part of the ball. It's not like I can control where the grounders go."

Dave stormed to his bag, switched his gear, and headed for the dugout exit with his bat. He passed Garret on his way out.

Garret gave him a thumbs up. "Nice pitching."

Dave snorted and left.

Garret was taken aback. "What's his problem?"

"Hes not getting strikeouts." Noah answered, putting his own helmet on. He grabbed his bat and went out too.

Garret and Bryce got ready a little bit slower. I just sat by my bag, hand on my helmet. Ideally, I want bases loaded before I come up.

Dave was called to the plate. He fouled off the first pitch...the closest he ever got. I don't want to say that Noah called it, but...

He came back, glaring at Noah as they switched places. Noah shrugged innocently. Garret went to the on deck circle and Dave was back in the dugout. He stopped to talk to Coach before stopping beside me, running his fingers through his hair. "That guy can work the plate alright. Don't trust him."

I nodded, eyes on Noah who just showed a bunt before the pitcher even straightened up. The catcher changed the signs and the corner infielders shifted in.

"He'll throw a ball." Dave noticed what I was looking at it and started observing too.

His guess was correct. A ball outside. Noah took back his bunt in time. The catcher threw the ball back and squatted again. The pitcher got set and Noah showed bunt again.

"What is this idiot doing?" Dave muttered.

This time the pitcher threw a pitch in the zone. Noah bunted it foul, sprinting as soon as the bat made contact. I squinted at him as he went back to pick his bat up and get in the batter's box. 1-1 count. "He's faking it."

Dave tilted his head. "What? You think so?" He watched as the pitcher got set. Noah showed a bunt again. "The corners are going to start moving in as soon as the pitcher throws."

"Exactly." I grinned and preemptively got up.

As soon as the pitcher released the ball, the corner infielders made a move in. However, Noah withdrew his bunt and did a quick swing, connecting with the ball. He popped it over the first baseman's reach and sprinted to first base without issue.

"That's the way, Noah!"

"Good hit!"

"Show your speed kid!"

Dave laughed and pulled me in. "You guessed it!"

I grinned, happy too. "Noah is all about deception. When his bunt went foul, he didn't look too upset about it. It looked intentional. He was baiting them to come in."

"Noah has guts!" Dave pumped his fist. He let me go and headed for his bag. He still had to put his helmet away and think about pitching next.

I started to get ready for my at bat. Garret was up at the plate and Bryce was in the hole. With Noah on and one out, we were in decent shape. It would be better if...

Mr. Miller flashed the sign for Noah to solo steal. Garret had to take a pitch. Risky. But it would rule out the double play if it succeeds.

The pitcher nodded at his catcher and got set. He checked over his shoulder at Noah. Noah leapt a foot forward. The pitcher took his foot off the rubber. Noah stayed where he was. Dave was right; Noah has guts. The pitcher threw to his first baseman and Noah dove back, not afraid to get his jersey dirty. The first baseman threw the ball back to the pitcher and everyone reset.

Noah was a little cautious as he led off again, looking wary as he inched. But it was just an act. As soon as that ball left the pitcher's fingertips, Noah took off. Garret swung and missed, throwing in acting of his own. The catcher jumped to his feet as he transitioned the ball from glove to throwing hand, however the throw was off because of Garret's presence in the lefty's box. Noah was safe.

The few fans in the stands cheered, while the guys in the dugout yelled out compliments for Noah. Mom and Dad could even be heard.

The pitcher must have not like the steal by Noah. He did two check throws to second before throwing Garret his second pitch. Garret ripped it to right-center field. Noah took one look back before taking off. He knew the outfielders weren't in any position to catch this fast liner. The center fielder was the one to get to the ball first and chose to throw it over his cutoff, aiming straight to home. Garret went to second to make it a double. Noah slid into home just as the catcher got the baseball. 1-0. Our dugout lit up with excitement.

Noah was welcomed back with plenty of smiles and slaps on the back. I didn't have time to say much as it was my turn to go out on deck. Bryce was up. Mr. Miller gave him the sign to try for a sacrifice bunt. Garret would take off for third as soon as the pitcher got rid of the ball. He wanted to catch OLU off guard after that RBI double.

The pitcher did two check throws to second. Not fast enough to make Garret dive in the dirt though. Just trying to keep him closer to the bag? Or maybe trying to calm down before facing Bryce. When he finally did face Bryce, he was stunned at the sudden bunt that Bryce laid down. It was the first baseman who had to come in, get the ball, then threw to the second baseman covering first. Bryce was out, yet Garret was safely on third.

I bumped Bryce's fist on his way back to the dugout. As I took one step towards the box, the catcher was already walking to the mound. He wasn't the only one. The whole infield joined. I took a few steps back to Sean at the circle now.

"Think they'll walk you?" He asked me.

I nodded slowly. "Probably." I gave him a look.

Sean sighed. "Yea, I know. I'm an easier target to get out."

"Not all the time." I hurried to comfort him. "When you do get the ball in the air, it's been a homerun more times than not." He had a powerful swing. It's just...the connection point wasn't always good.