396 Golden West @ Servite (6)

Noah's jaw dropped. Mine too. We looked at Zeke in a whole new light. There's someone he hasn't scored on? But then I remembered what was said before, Zeke had trouble against Servite. A slump. Because they had really good pitchers. 

"If he's so good, why doesn't he pitch the whole game?" Noah folded his arms across his chest. 

"He was a starter last year." Zeke said. "Now, as a senior, he wants to stick with being a closer. That's what he has set his sights on. And it seems to be working."

"But why?"

Zeke shrugged. "Maybe he's afraid of doing too much and injuring himself. Look at Rhys. He lost a years worth of baseball. Not everyone thinks that high school ball is important." Zeke looked to me. "Go down and get a better look. Try and get to stand right behind the fence."

I stood up and started to do what he asked. 

Noah stood up as well. "I'll go with. Just in case someone tries to yell at you."

"Thanks." I smiled lightly. 

We went down the bleacher and got close to the fence. Noah found a spot for us to stand, just to the right of the umpire. 

"Let's go E.J.!" From our spot, we could hear the Servite dugout clearly. "Shut them out and shut them down!"

That's exactly what he did. It was three up, three down for Golden West. Ernest only used nine pitches, all in the zone. It was like his pitch could avoid any swing and could move on its own. 

"Why the frown?" Noah nudged me. "Is he formidable in your eyes?"

I looked at him. "Anyone that can make Zeke struggle, scares me. And.." I frowned. "Something about his pitching bugs me. Was it the ball movement? Or the way he threw?

Noah patted my shoulder as we turned around to go back up the bleacher. "We play them Thursday. That'll give you a few days to think it over."

I don't think that's enough time. As soon as we got back to Zeke, he was looking at me expectantly. I was helpless though. "It was weird."

"Yea, I think so too." He agreed so easily, surprising me. "What did you think?"

I shrugged as I sat down. "I'm not too sure. I guess, nothing. It's more of a feeling. A feeling that something isn't right." His speed was high, but not high enough to make me worry. 

"Don't think about it too much." Zeke knocked me on the head. "I just wanted you to get a feel for it before Thursday. It's not like he'll pitch the whole game. We'll have to settle on getting an early lead and then holding it."

I nodded in agreement. Ernest only faced the last three batters of Golden West's lineup, but I felt like he could do it to any three. 

Brady came onto the mound for the bottom of the seventh. Just three outs away from winning the game. He stayed consistent and tight, not letting any wild pitches happen by mistake. Groundout to short. A swinging strikeout. Then a short fly out to center. They won. Golden West won the away game at Servite. They had also beaten us at home. They definitely had the advantage in the standings now. 

Zeke had us wait in our seats until the crowd started to disperse. 

Willie was also staying in his seat. Same with a few others. 

"Are they also scouts?" Noah asked Willie. 

He nodded. "Yep. Common for big games like this. Especially with well known players like Brady, Sanchez, and Williamson."

"Are you staying to talk to any of them?" Noah questioned, wanting to know more. 

"Not me." Willie shook his head. "It's enough that I got to watch them in person. I'll send my report in to my boss, but all of today's significant players were pitchers. We currently have good pitchers coming up in the system so it's not our main focus." He eyes Zeke. "I'll see you next week to see how you boys fair against Servite."

"We'll be crushing it." Noah boasted. 

Zeke just nodded in response. 

Willie laughed, then got up and headed out as well. 

We didn't wait long after he left until we got up to leave as well. Just as we were exiting, we came across Golden West, who were preparing to get on their bus back to their school. 

Some of them looked our way. Probably thanks to Zeke. He was so tall and noticeable. 

Noah made a face of disgust when he saw they were looking. "I can't wait for the rematch with them." He glanced at me. "You can't get sick anymore, understand?"

I nodded obediently. 

Zeke led us back to the car and drove us home. After spending most of the day at the field, I was kind of tired, but mostly hungry. Technically I had nothing in my stomach after throwing it all up. 

Coincidentally, Mr. and Mrs. Atkins arrived at home the same time we did in the late afternoon. 

"How was it?" Mr. Atkins asked. 

"It was alright." Noah replied before looking to his mom. "What's for dinner? I'm starving."

"How can you be starving when you ate the majority of the snacks?" Zeke rolled his eyes. 

"You didn't share?" Mrs. Atkins raised an eyebrow at her youngest. 

Noah looked away, feeling guilty. "Well, Jake got sick. Then he and Zeke were gone for so long. I was stress-eating."

Mrs. Atkins immediately approached me. "Jake, you were feeling sick again? Was it stomach issues?"

"No." I spoke up honestly. "We were just talking about dads and I felt sick to my stomach. Then I threw up. Then Zeke made me feel better." I looked at them, and found that both parents were still waiting. "That's it. The end."

Mr. Atkins laughed lightly and patted my head. "Okay. Just checking. As long as you feel better."

"Just hungry." I answered.

"I'll go make some snacks." Mrs. Atkins hurried to the kitchen. 

"I see how it is, Mom!" Noah called after her. He shook his head. "I get no respect around here."

I laughed as Mr. Atkins and Zeke rolled their eyes at him. They both went to the office room after Zeke mentioned that Willie was at the game. 

"Let's do our ab workout after dinner." Noah told me as we walked in our room. He sat at his desk and started his laptop. "I want to look up how adopting a foster kid works." He eyed me. "If that's okay with you?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "I want to know too."

Noah grinned. "Good. We'll figure out how to tell Mom and Dad once we do the research. They won't need too much convincing."

I shuffled my feet. "What if...I put them in an awkward spot? What if they don't want to adopt me?"

"Have you met my mom and dad?" Noah laughed. "They like you so why would they say no? Come here...let's see what we got to get them to do." Noah started to tap on the laptop. 

"Boys." Mrs. Atkins's voice could be heard outside our door. Noah immediately shut the laptop. "I have some snacks ready for you two on the dining table. If you don't eat soon, you won't be hungry for dinner."

"Yes, Mom." Noah answered. He stood up and whispered to me. "Another time then."

I nodded.