The Hitting Zone-Novel

1 1B Sean Isner

2 SS Noah Atkins

3 2B Jake Atkins

4 LF Bryce Finn

5 P Garret Knudsen

6 3B Jason Morris

7 RF Jesse Shipman

8 CF Korrey Alvarrez

9 C Mitchell Torres

Coach gave out the lineup and let us warmup with Noah taking the lead since Garret had to go to the bullpen.

Last year we beat Porterville twice. Most famously, it's where we traveled with the girls for the first time and challenged them with stats. Marie had a great game, but Dave was even better, going perfect through five as we mercy-ruled them, 11-0. At home, we beat them 9-2 with Garret getting the win.

"You guys traveled with the girls when you played at Porterville?" Alisha asked as we prepared to take the field.

"Yea. So you won't be the only girl all the time." Noah grinned. "Though I don't know whether Coach will allow you to sit with the other players even if they're girls. You fall under staff if you ask me."

"I've got to sit with Kaylee every chance I get!" Alisha said with determination. "She's moving and I feel sad about it."

Noah shrugged. "It's a shit hand, but you know, in a couple of years, we'll all go our own way anyhow."

Alisha slapped him on the arm. "She's our friend. That's leaving. Be sad about it."

Noah looked offended. "Of course I'm sad. I said it first, it's a dumb move by her parents. But there's nothing we can do about it. Not her either. She'll have to make the most out of it. For two years."

Alisha sighed.

I also started to feel uncomfortable. "It doesn't sit right with me...that her parents can just uproot her life and move her."

"Shit parents." Noah said. He glanced at me. "There are worst out there."

"Yea, but it still doesn't make it right." I frowned.

"Like I said, two years. Then she's an adult and can go wherever she wants." Noah sighed. "This wouldn't be a problem if Marie just stayed local."

"UCLA has one of the best softball programs around." Dave joined our small conversation. "You can't just ask her to give up her dream. It's the best decision for her. You can only blame the selfish parents. They're obsessed with how good she is and how far she can go. If anything I feel bad for Marie. She can't escape them."

Our numbers and names started to be announced, signaling that it was time to take the field. We all shared a look, knowing that we had to put this conversation behind us. For now.

Noah and I left the dugout with the other starters. Garret was on the mound, throwing his practice pitches to Mitchell. He started the top of the first strong, getting the first batter to strikeout. The second batter popped up a short fly that Sean had to take a few steps back for, catching it before he could even hit the outfield grass. Garret finished it off with another strikeout, using his cutter to get the guy to completely whiff.

We jogged back and started to change gear. Sean and Noah were the first to leave the dugout as Bryce and I gathered in the hole.

Sean ripped a pitch down the third baseline, but somehow the third baseman got to it to make the stop, and threw him out at first. Sean came back, Noah went up, and I went to the on deck circle. Noah made solid contact on a pitch too, but this time it was out of reach for the third baseman. Noah took off as the left fielder chased the ball down. Noah stood safely on second when the ball made its way back to the infield.

The dugout and stands got rowdy as I made my way to the batter's box. It soon turned into a chorus of 'boos' after the catcher stood up and told the umpire, "We're going to intentionally walk him."

I sighed. Ditched the bat and jogged to first. Bryce came up with two on and only one out. Just no double play.

"Let's go, Bryce!"

"Make them pay!"

"This guy doesn't have it!"

Everyone seemed to be yelling in support for Bryce. We didn't have a huge stadium like Servite or the other private schools, but our families and friends definitely showed up for us.

Bryce let the first two pitch pass, getting to a 1-1 count. He pulled the third foul down the line, falling to 1-2. The fourth pitch he blasted to left field, clearing the fence for a three-run home run. Bryce really did make them pay! Noah tagged home, I followed, and we waited for Bryce before giving him some high fives. Back in the dugout, he got the most attention as everyone congratulated him for a job well done. Coach picking him to be in the lineup despite mainly being a pitcher was really paying off.

"It's gotta be hard on the outfielders to see guys like Garret and Bryce do so well." I sighed, mostly to myself, as we put our batting gear away.

"Coach said it before, baseball is cutthroat." Noah shrugged. "He does what he can to help us find a winning lineup. The guys are still on the team. If they want to start again, they have to make the most of their chances." He grinned. "I'll be in a similar position when we try out for the regional team."

"That double was well hit." I told him. "If you can keep that up..." I trailed off.

Noah nodded. "Yep. That's exactly what I'm gonna have to do. Speed will be easy to show off in a tryout. I have to succeed at the plate though to get a foot in the door." He pointed at me. "You can't slack off either. We're going to be seeing all kinds of players at this thing. In a tryout, there's a lot of fielding that needs to be showcased."

I shivered. "Yea, I know."

Garret hit a single, distracting the both of us. Unluckily, Jason quickly followed up with a ground ball to short. The shortstop flipped it to the second baseman who threw it to first to complete the double play. 3-0 is a strong start though so no complaints.