206 Game Three: University Preparatory H.S. 5

Top of the fourth. I took my seat beside Noah as our first three up started to prepare for their at bats. Mahki would lead off, then Garret, and Julian. On any other given day, I would think of this as a solid lineup. But against this pitcher, our lineup looks like Swiss cheese a.k.a. full of holes.

"You did well, fielding that grounder." Noah remarked as we watched Mahki step up to bat. "And Bryce looks like he settled down. Now if we could just string together some hits."

I nodded in agreement.

"Are you tired?" Noah asked. "You look a little beat. Is it because you had trouble sleeping?"

"I had a nightmare this morning and woke up too early." Too stressed. I looked around to make sure our teammates weren't too close. "My nightmare included my mom."

Noah's eyes widen. "Why didn't you say so sooner?"

I shrugged. "It's not like it happened in real life. There's nothing I can do about it. It was just a nightmare."

Noah frowned. "You could have talked about it. With me. Or with Dad. I don't know much about Dad's past, but it sounded like he went through something similar. Maybe it would help you to talk about it with him. Just think, if Dad can turn out to be an amazing person, then I think you can too."

I thought back to the time we eavesdropped on Mr. Atkins talking about my first therapy session with his wife. He was scared, nervous, and worried about letting me down. He obviously had trouble with a parent, or two, as well so he could relate. Maybe he would know some shortcuts on how to not be a nervous wreck all the time.

"I'll talk to him after the game." I conceded. "Maybe we'll see Dr. Moore and talk to him about it too."

"Include me too!" Noah pouted.

I frowned. "I don't know... It's-it's kind of personal." I don't think it's something I should share with another kid. My mother was straight out of a horror movie, with all of her abuse.

"Jake, we're best friends. And best friends share everything. No secrets. Even if you're afraid to talk about your past, I'll be here for you."

So mushy. I turned red and pushed him away. "Fine. Whatever."

Mahki hit a high fly to center field for the first out, bringing up Garret. Julian moved to the on deck circle and Sean to the hole spot. Garret swung and missed, prompting the umpire to yell out strike one. I flinched in my seat.

"Uhhh, does the umpire have something to do with your nightmare too?" Noah asked. "Or is it just a side effect of not enough sleep?"

"My nightmare started with me being at bat." I clicked my cleats against one another. "The ump was loud in calling strikes. And the catcher was talking. Almost saying the same words as yesterday's catcher in game one."

Noah frowned. "What did he say, that made it stick with you, even in your sleep?"

"Something about having a perfect batting average when I can't even keep my eye on the ball. I don't know. But I don't have a perfect average anymore so that doesn't really upset me. But in my nightmare, I struck out and Chris confronted me in the dugout again. Then he turned into my mom. And as she slapped me, I woke up."

Noah grimaced. "During times like this, you just gotta remember that dreams aren't real. Even if they have some memories mixed in."

I nodded solemnly. "I've been trying to tell myself that."

Garret's bat made the perfect 'ping' sound as it connected with the ball. We watched as it squeezed between the first and second basemen. He reached first, rounded the base and saw the ball being delivered back to the infield so he didn't push it. The dugout perked up with some excitement again.

Sadly, that's all the excitement we would have. Julian hit a hard line drive...right to the shortstop. And then Sean hit a high, short fly ball to center field where the outfielder merely had to run in to make the catch. Still losing 4-0.

Bottom of the fourth, Bryce was back to facing the top of the lineup. The first batter was daring enough to pull out a surprise bunt, getting the ball to roll down the third baseline, catching Daniel unprepared. I stood frozen, not sure what to do. Julian had immediately covered first and Noah to second. Unexpectedly, Bryce was able to react, spinning all the way around after he finished pitching. He grabbed the ball barehanded, and spun another 180 degrees and threw the call to Julian. I had a flashback to the first inning when Daniel overthrew when completing a similar play.

Bryce didn't make the same mistake. His throw was almost like a pitch, with impeccable aim. He was able to beat out the batter for the first out. A lot of claps and cheers commended him for a well executed play.

Unfortunately, those claps turned into cheers for the other team, as the second batter stepped into the box. So far he had dominated at the plate, and on the field when he was on the defensive. Definitely Zeke-tiered player. And with him batting so soon in the lineup, it was hard to pitch around him and just walk him. Because there's also the cleanup hitter to worry about. What a headache.

Bryce faces him head on, just to end up getting burned. The second batter/shortstop hit a solo shot over the left field fence for another home run. 5-0. Shoot.

"That was a good pitch, Bryce." Noah told him as we got ready for the next batter. "Good placement with good speed. Do it again."

Bryce was the only pitcher I knew that accepted Noah's encouragement unconditionally. Usually the twins would sneer, Garret would ignore or laugh, and the other pitchers just didn't want his reassurance.

Bryce took his compliment to heart, and practically gave the third batter the same pitch, except with a bit more speed. The batter replicated his teammates swing and sent the ball flying to left field. Garret tracked it down to the fence, put his hand on the gate and held up his gloved hand, catching the fly ball at the warning track. Second out.

"That's the way to get it done." Noah clapped his glove. He held up two fingers and hollered. "Two outs! Play's at first! Let's get it!"

"Yea!" Some of the guys said together.

The cleanup hitter dug in after stepping in the batter's box. What a presence. Not only was he shutting us out as he took the mound, but he has also drove in some runs. I could see how he was ranked higher than Zeke. Zeke was just an outfielder, compared to this guy who could also get things done on the mound.

Bryce was able to push him to a 2-2 count after some fouls, draining himself of some energy and pushing up his pitch count. Then it happened. The batter connected, sending a very fast and hard grounder towards my general direction. If I didn't stop this, he would easily get a double and be at risk to score a run. I rushed to get my body in front of the ball, put my glove in the dirt to try and block it from going under me. The grounder hit the palm of my glove, bouncing off at nailing me in the chest, then fell to the dirt. I picked it up, ignored the pain, and threw to first just as the runner arrived.

Everyone looked to the first base umpire, waiting for his decision. He lifted his fist and gave it a pump. "OUT!" The third out to end the fourth.

Noah was the first to get to me. "Wow! What a stop! Did it hurt?! Let me see!" He was going about a mile a minute as we jogged to the dugout.

I flopped down on my spot on the bench, dropping my glove beside me, keeping a hand on my chest, as if I was trying to contain the pain. "I've had worse." At least...worst from my mom. But a ball has never hit me so hard before; not even the one that had hit my arm. That had merely left a bruise. This one hurt more since my chest area didn't have much muscle to protect the bones.