Unexpectedly, KJ was on the mound for the girls. Not Marie. A lot of eyes looked to Kyle for answers. He merely shrugged and said Marie can't pitch every game. They should save her for the important ones. I guess that makes sense. It just felt weird since softball doesn't have pitch limits or rest days like we did so Marie could pitch every game if she wanted.

They ended up not needing her though. KJ had things under control; she kept the opponents down, racking up some strikeouts along the way. I liked how our team cheered for her and the girls both ways. It definitely felt more unified than last year.

Noah was the loudest despite his competition with Kaylee. He still cheered for the girls, including her plate appearances too.

"It doesn't matter much if she does well. I just have to do better.

" He told me after Kaylee got on with a leadoff double.

It would be hard to do. Kaylee finished her game going 3-3 at the plate in five innings. A pair of singles and one double. No RBIs, but she scored all three times thanks to Marie. Oh, and one stolen base that Noah claimed should have been an error on the catcher. He complained about it as we got ready for our game, up until it was time to warm up. Then he was focused.

1 SS Noah Atkins

2 2B Jake Atkins

3 CF Bryce Finn

4 1B Sean Isner

5 3B Jason Morris

6 LF Brian Swoope

7 RF Logan Porter

8 C Oscar Garcia

9 P Garret Knudsen

Coach may have sounded like he was keeping the status quo with Garret pitching but our lineup held a few surprises. Brian in the outfield? Logan too? Weird combo. Bryce makes sense since he's been getting a lot more plate appearances this year. But also putting Garret at the end is a new one. Especially against a team he's done well against on both sides.

Garret made a face, but didn't complain. He accepted the arrangement and focused on warming up with Oscar. Come game time, the pair were sitting in the dugout together while the top of our lineup got ready.

Noah led us off with a hard hit double to left field. Mr. Miller gave us the green light for a hit and run. As soon as the pitcher was committed to throwing the pitch, Noah was off. The pitch came and I hit the ball to the gap. Noah scored off my single, making it 1-0. No outs.

"Good job.

" Coach Riley said to me as I stood on first. I nodded back at him, still finding it weird without Coach Luis. Coach Riley was okay though. We didn't interact much before, but he still knew me and my situation so he never stepped over the line and kept his distance. It was comfortable.

Bryce was up next. He worked the count until he took a bad called strike three. He had to go back to the dugout and Sean came up. He also worked the count, but got a better result: a walk. I jogged to second base and Jason moved to the batter's box. Jason popped out to the shortstop and we couldn't leave our bases. Thankfully, Brian came through with a double, scoring in me and Sean, pushing the score to 3-0. Logan struck out to end the inning.

Garret had a clean first inning, going three up, three down. The first batter grounded out to Jason at third. The second batter went down swinging. The third batter made solid contact, but Noah was there to snatch the line drive out of the air before it could get to the outfield.

Top of the second. Oscar led off. With a swinging strikeout. But that was okay. I still had Garret and Noah in front of me. Either of them get on, and I get my second at bat so soon. Garret pulled through with a single. Noah matched it with one of his own, pushing Garret all the way to third. I knew what Noah wanted when the opportunity presented itself so I held my bat back and didn't swing. On a 2-1 count, Noah stole second with the catcher not even attempting a throw. How could he with Garret on third, ready to run?

With the pieces in place, I attacked the next best pitch I saw, hitting a hard line drive into the outfield fence. I ditched the bat and started to run. I tagged first and rounded to see the outfielder overthrowing his cutoff man. I went for two. I slid into the bag, hugging it to stay on, but no tag ever came down. They went for Noah who went on home. However Noah was too fast and was safe. Him and Garret scored two runs making it 5-0. I called for time and dusted myself off as I caught my breath. The air was thin, but my body was doing okay and reacting very well.

Sean lined out to the third baseman. Then Jason popped out to the shortstop. Again. He looked frustrated as we jogged back to the dugout and made the switch to defense.

Garret started the bottom of the second with the cleanup hitter. He hit a groundout to. Pay. The fifth batter got his hit to the outfield, only for Logan to catch the fly out. Garret got the sixth guy to go down swinging. His second of the game. Good pace.

Porterville did a pitcher change to start the third to try to hamper our scoring prowess. They found a guy that worked. Brian flew out to center. Then Logan and Oscar both had swinging strikeouts. It wasn't pretty and it was definitely clear where our weakest part of the lineup was.

Garret redeemed us by dealing with the bottom of their lineup perfectly. Like really perfect. Three swinging strikeouts. None of them stood a chance against him. Especially with him bouncing between the cutter and slider more smoothly.

Garret clapped Oscar on the back as they headed into the dugout together.

"Good work. Your reflexes are top tier.

"

"Thank you.

" Oscar answered politely. He took a seat as Garret started to get ready for his at bat.

"I think my batting is holding me back from overtaking Mitchell though.

"

Garret laughed.

"You're honest with yourself and that's a good start. Work harder on the hitting drills and maybe go to the cages more often.

" He put his helmet on and headed out with a bat in hand.

"Better tell Mitch to watch his back.

" Noah whispered dramatically as we also got ready.

"I would hate to have a freshman coming after my starting spot so soon after taking control.

"

"You were that freshman, you dope.

" Jason hit Noah on the top of his helmet.

Noah laughed.

"It's all part of the game. The better player plays. Gotta be on top of things.

"

Jason frowned and went to sit down.

I elbowed Noah.

"That wasn't nice.

"

Noah gave a small shrug.

"That's baseball. Jason needs to get hot or he's gonna sit like some others.

" He glanced down a ways at a sullen Korrey.

I grimaced.

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