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"The sponsors and spectators of the Tulare Invitational is proud to have these two teams competing for the championship.

" The organizer of the tournament was giving a speech right before the last game of the weekend. Both teams were already properly warmed up and was just waiting on this guy to say that we could play. His speech was all about sportsmanship and playing to the best of our abilities.

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"Now we'll let the announcer read off the starting lineups to introduce our future champions.

" He spoke into the microphone and then walked to stand with a few other men off to the side.

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"You step out and wave when they call your name.

" Noah mumbled. Our whole team was standing on the first baseline as part of the introduction. As the lower ranked team for this game, we were marked as visitors and had to bat first.

nParadise preparatory stood on the third baseline, looking proud and....huge. They all looked like Zeke, tall and muscular, like they were looking to go pro right after high school.

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"For Watsonville High School,

" an announcer started to say over the speakers.

"We have leading off and playing left field, Mahki Holstrom.

" Mahki stepped forward, and waved to the stands and received a nice round of applause. I raised an eyebrow at Noah. Why is Mahki leading off instead of him?

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"Batting second and at second base, Jake Hollander.

" I took the smallest step forward and then quickly went back to my original spot. Noah rolled his eyes at me.

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"Batting third, in center field, Zeke Atkins.

" Zeke stepped forward and received more cheers of encouragement than Mahki and I did combined. He stepped back.

nI looked at Noah with total confusion now. Not only was Noah not batting first, but now Zeke wasn't in the cleanup hitter spot? Noah just shook his head at me.

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"Batting fourth, playing in right field, Sean Isner....batting fifth, at first base, Julian Wilson...batting sixth, at third base, Chris Ludwick...batting seventh, at shortstop, Noah Atkins...batting eighth, behind the plate, Jordan Sanders...and batting ninth, starting on the mound for Watsonville High, Garret Knudsen!

"

nCheers came raining down and the applause for our team soon came to an end. The announcer moved on to introduce the number one seed, Paradise Prep. Once called, they would take a huge step forward and then back. Without waving, and with their hands behind their back, they looked serious.

nAfter the announcements, both teams headed back to their respective dugouts. I grabbed my helmet and bat and stood near the entrance of the dugout with Mahki and Zeke.

nZeke looked ready to go like us two. He looked down at me.

"Hit as much as you'd like. Clear the bases if you can. Then be prepared for me to send you home.

"

nMahki looked from him to me and then back to him.

"You've been holding him back?

"

nZeke rolled his shoulders back and stood tall.

"I was letting him get accustomed to live pitches. This weekend is his first for seeing curves and other breaking balls.

"

nMahki patted my helmet.

"Work hard.

" He left the dugout first so he could take some practice swings.

nI started to follow him out but Zeke put a hand on my shoulder to stop me. Bewildered, I looked up at him, unsure of what he wanted. He leaned down and in a low voice he told me,

"We have to score early. They'll start with easy pitches so foul just a few, but once you get a full count, send a hit to open space.

"

n...That's a bit specific. But I nodded along. I didn't mind fouling a few extra pitches as long as I get the satisfaction of actually getting a hit.

nHe patted my back and sent me out of the dugout. I took my spot in the on deck circle and lightly swung my bat, putting my focus on Mahki who stepped up to the plate.

nMahki took the pitch as a called strike. Then a ball to the outside. A ball too high. Another called strike. He stepped out of the batters box and took a couple of practice swings to time with the speed of the pitching. Then he steadily got back into place. He was able to foul the next pitch down the third baseline. Then another pitcher too high. A 3-2 count. Did Zeke tell him to do the same thing as me..? The pitcher was on his seventh pitch. He completed his motion and in went in the dirt. Four balls, a walk. Mahki tossed his bat towards our dugout and jogged to first.

nI nervously gripped my bat as I got in the righty's box. For most of the weekend, I stood in the right handers box, except for my one hit. I figured I should stay the same for right now unless Zeke says something about it.

nI got set and faced the pitcher. He nodded at the signs given and did his motion. A nice speed around 75mph would be my guess. I let it pass for a ball. Ball. Ball. My eyes narrowed. Were they going to walk me? When I finally just got a chance to hit? I watched the next pitch closely; it looked a bit high, but I didn't care, I fouled it back. It went high and back into the stands.

nThe catcher gave me a funny look before throwing the pitcher a new ball. I loosened up and got set once more. This time the pitcher sent the pitch a bit low...I didn't want to give the umpire a chance to call it a ball and make me walk, so I lightly fouled it down the first baseline.

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"Are you really that much of a sucker?

" The catcher mocked as he got back into position behind the plate.

nI glanced at him, then at the ump. But the ump didn't say anything, so I turned my focus back to the pitcher. He was smirking like I just made a fatal mistake. Between the catchers comment and the pitchers confidence, I started to feel nervous.

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