Top of the second inning, we were back in the dugout and back on offense. Noah was first up...and first out. He struck out swinging at a high ball. I shook my head, but didn't know what to do to help. He didn't like the idea of batting left handed and it's not like that would have stopped the strikeout.

Sean was slightly better in his at-bat, in which he connected with the ball, but it was a line drive right to the third baseman. I don't know anything about Alex and how he hits so I turned to Noah to ask.

Noah shrugged.

"How can I know? We play different positions. Plus I only watched varsity games because of my brothers. When would I see him?

"

"I don't know...in a scrimmage? My middle school would do something like that. Divide the players into teams for small scrimmages.

" I never joined, but I would occasionally watch. That's where my limited baseball knowledge came from.

"We don't scrimmage within the program.

" Noah told me.

"Coach says it's detrimental to team building since you're basically hoping your own teammates suck.

"

We watched on as Alex struck out swinging.

"He isn't worse than me.

" Noah cracked a smile and a joke.

I tried to fight back a smile as we grabbed our gloves and hit the dirt. Kyle dominated with even more power, getting the fourth batter, the supposed cleanup hitter, to strike out, swinging. Batter five put some fear in me as he ripped a line drive to right field, but Mahki ran back and caught with ease. Batter six was another strike out, but looking instead this time.

"He's only doing well to show off to Marie.

" Noah whispered to me at our bags.

"Everyone should be thanking me for his performance right now.

"

I smiled.

"Sure, but do you really want them to blame you if things take a turn for the worst?

"

Noah wrinkled his nose.

"You're such a pessimist.

"

I put on my helmet and held my bat in my lap as the top of the third inning started. Kyle led us off. On a 1-2 count, he sent a line drive right to the second baseman. Wow. I got up and moved to the spot by the dugout entrance just as he came back in.

"Too bad.

" Garret told him on his way out.

"Nice power behind it.

" Mahki told Kyle as he walked in.

"Needs more lift.

" Zeke patted his shoulder.

"Focus well on your pitching.

"

Kyle didn't bother with their input and just went back to his spot.

I turned to see how Jason was doing. Except...the game was paused. The Etna Coach came out and spoke with the ump before going to the mound. He took the ball from his pitcher and sent him to the dugout. A new pitcher from their bullpen came in and was handed the ball. The ump gave him ten pitches off the mound for a practice as their coach went back.

I turned back to look at Zeke. He was waiting near me as he would hit after me.

Zeke saw me looking, but didn't say anything.

"Why did they switch pitchers?

" I spoke up.

Zeke cracked a smile like he was waiting for me to speak up.

"It's what they do. Each pitcher will get to go through a lineup once. They won't let a pitcher face the same player twice.

"

"But...why?

"

Zeke looked out onto the field.

"To be a more well-rounded team? I'm not sure. We only face them once a year since they're not in our conference. Just think of it as practice. They're letting you face different pitchers and pitch types all in one game.

"

I nodded. I can see why he wasn't worried about me working the pitch count up. The most batters each pitcher would face is nine. Unless I did something mean like foul the ball off forty times, it really wouldn't matter.

The ump called for the game to resume and for Jason to step up. Unlike before where he had hit a fly ball, this time he struck out without even grazing the ball. The leadoff spot kind of gave me the feeling that it was cursed.

Garret moved to the lefty's box and I moved to the on deck circle. Garret was the only other lefty on the team, and the only one who threw left handed. He was also good at everything he tried to do. 'DING!' The bat seemed to echo after he crushed the ball to center field. He leisurely dropped the bat and started to jog the bases, as the ball soared over the outfield fence. A solo shot, home run! 2-0.

I wanted to go out to be the first one to greet him at the plate, but he had dropped his bat almost where he stood. I swallowed hard and stared at the aluminum bat. I should move it. It's my job as the next batter to get it out of the way.

A figure walked passed me. He reached for Garret's bat and picked it up off the dirt. Then he waited for Garret to touch the plate before holding out his hand for a high five. Zeke acted like it was the plan all along as he followed Garret back to the dugout. I didn't react in time to raise my hand for a high five and ended up just getting slapped on top of my helmet by Garret.

Zeke walked by with Garret's bat. I wanted to say thanks, but the umpire was calling for me to get in the box.

I gripped the handle of my wooden bat. Right. Got a game to play. I got in the lefty's box as Garret once did. But unlike Garret, I didn't hit a homer. I hit a cheap shot just over the shortstop, getting away with a bloop single.

Zeke stepped up next with one on, and two outs. Even with a new pitcher, he made the same movements and pulled the ball in the same direction. The shortstop was able to grab it again, throw the ball to the second baseman, who tagged second base before I could. Dang it.

I jogged back. Noah handed me my hat and glove and I quickly switched.

"Is there a reason Zeke keeps hitting to the shortstop?

" I asked as we jogged out.

Noah gave me a funny look.

"What? It's not like he's doing it on purpose.

" He fought off a laugh.

"You can't believe everyone can do what you can do. You're special. One of a kind. But so is Zeke. He'll adjust. You'll see it in his next at-bat.

"

I nodded. Sure. Hopefully. I don't want to see him go hitless this game.

We ran to our positions and Sean threw us some easy grounders to warm up. The bottom of the third was a continuation of Kyle's domination. If batter's one thru six couldn't do anything, it'd be weird if the bottom of the lineup could. Batter seven hit a fly ball just passed the dirt, but Noah tracked it down and made the catch. Batter eight fell victim to being strikeout number four for Kyle. And the ninth batter got out by Sean chasing his foul fly ball to the other teams dugout. Nine up, nine down. He was perfect. So far.