Chapter 467 - CIF Quarterfinal Northwood HS (8)

Bottom of the sixth, we took the field. Alex and Brian came jogging in from the bullpen as Coach spoke with the umpire about the player changes. 

"How's the arm holding up?" Julian asked me, as us four infielders stood in a group behind the mound, watching Brian throw some practice pitches. 

I glanced down at my wrapped up arm. "It's okay. Doesn't hurt. Slightly itchy."

"Itchy means it's healing." He nodded. 

"Or that there's an infection!" Noah exclaimed dramatically in a joking manner. 

Julian whacked him on the head with his gloved hand. "Don't fool around. There are still two innings left."

"I know." He pouted, rubbing his head. "I was just trying to be funny."

"It's not the time to be funny." Julian lectured. "This is the time to be serious." He glanced to the outfield, looking at the scoreboard. "If things go wrong or if we mess this up, this could be my last game. The seniors last high school game." He swung his head back to Noah to glare at him. "So stay focused."

"Yes, sir." Noah saluted him. Then quickly jogged back to his position to avoid getting whacked again. 

Julian sighed and shook his head. "He's like the energizer bunny. He just keeps going and going and going. It's like he doesn't have an off switch."

"He wouldn't be Noah otherwise." Jason laughed. 

They both jogged back to their positions and I backed up to mine. Brian only had a few pitches left so it was time to get ready. 

I glanced to Noah on my right and he gave me a thumbs up with the biggest grin on his face. I cracked a smile and got set as the umpire called the batter up. 

Brian had to start from the second batter. The batter was 0-2 for the game, but that didn't mean anything against a new pitcher. Especially when Brian delivers a nice, easy pitch for him to smack to the outfield. The hit bounced once before Garret could get to it. Garret was quick to return the ball back to the infield, keeping the batter to a single. A lead off single. 

"Don't mind!" Noah told Brian, relaying the baseball to him on the mound. 

Brian gave a short nod before facing the third batter. This guy was also 0-2 for the game, but again, that was only against Dave. Brian seemed to put in more effort, aiming his pitches to hard spots, but his speed was lacking. The batter got cornered into a 1-2 count, and ended up striking out on a pitch outside of the zone. One out. 

With the cleanup batter next, Noah and I backed up to the edge of the infield. I shifted more left to cover the ground that Julian couldn't since he was holding the runner to first. It was all for naught; the batter hit a nice line drive above my head, to right field. Mahki got the ball in as fast as he could, but the runner from first still made it to third on the batter's single. He got up from the slide into third and dusted himself off as the crowd cheered. They were one base away from scoring. 

Julian called time out and walked to the mound, waving to us infielders to join in too. Alex came running up from behind home plate. 

"Sorry, guys." Brian was looking slightly pale. "This is all my fault. I can't get the ball to do what I want to."

"I'm not here to scold you or to blame you." Julian knocked him on the shoulder. "This is how it goes sometimes. I need you to calm down and straightened yourself out."

Brian nodded solemnly. 

"Bro, they haven't even scored yet." Noah slapped him on the back. "One out. Two to go. We can flip a double play still."

"If not," Jason spoke up. "So what? We can afford to give up a run. Just stay levelheaded."

"Coach trusted us to come in and take over." Alex said. "Let's get it done!"

"Yeah!" Brian perked up a little bit, gaining some color in his cheeks. 

"Alright. Play is at second and first. Those are priority. We'll try for the double if doable." Julian clapped twice and we all went back to our spots. 

Brian stretched, rotating his shoulders, before stepping on the rubber. He checked both baserunners on first and third. Alex signaled for the pitch and Brian delivered a fastball outside. Swing and a miss. 0-1. Brian repeated the process, making sure the runners didn't go too far. Another fastball outside, but this time the bat connected. The hitter didn't get a good handle on it and it ended up being a grounder down the first baseline. 

The runners took off and everyone went into motion. Brian was in an awkward spot with just finishing his motion so Julian went out to get the ball as I moved to cover first base. 

"Go home!"

"Safe!"

"Hustle!"

"Move it!"

Shouts came from all around; so much so that I couldn't recognize who was saying what. Julian spun around, ball in hand, tossing it my way to get the batter out. I made sure to have my foot on the base to ensure the out. I then transferred the ball to my throwing hand as I watched the runner on third sprint for home. 

I stuttered step, by accident. Realizing I would be too late to throw home, my shoulders started to sag. 

"TO THIRD!!" I heard Noah's voice cut through the background noise. 

Without thinking too much or taking a close look, I followed his command and threw the ball to Jason on third the best I could. Only after did I realize that the runner from first had rounded second and tried for third. Jason caught the ball and started to chase him back to second base. Then he threw the ball to Noah, and Noah proceeded to chase the runner to third. It was a pickle!

A pickle! I haven't done this before. I turned to look to Julian for help, only to see him moving to cover second. Noah threw the ball to Brian who was covering third after Jason had moved to second base after his throw. Like this, they took turns chasing the runner between the bases and throwing the ball to one another. I could only stand there awkwardly, trying to decide whether I should jump in or not. 

Finally the runner slipped up and Julian laid down the tag. 

"Out!"

We got him! A double play to end the inning. I clenched my fist as I watched the guys walked back to the dugout, looking a little tired from the short sprints. 

"Nice throw, Bambi!" Mahki clapped me on the shoulder, surprising me. I flinched a little as he led me to the dugout. "That was smart thinking out there. We didn't give up a run for nothing!"

I frowned. "We wouldn't have given up the run if I was just a bit faster." Or maybe more agile. Or not so hesitant. I had an urge to bury my head in my shirt to hide my embarrassment.