We showed up at the public park, got off the bus and spread out to stretch our legs. Noah and I walked to the public restrooms, and came back to the coaches passing out the food. We took our share and found a spot on the empty playground. Noah ran back to the bus to go get his bag of snacks. He shared his with me and said we could share mine on the way back home.

"I'm only going to believe you if you give me half the cookies now.

" I squinted at the first bag he had reached out for.

Noah laughed. He took half of the cookies out and handed them over.

"Don't worry. I wouldn't ever short you. Now the twins...

" He squinted and showed a wide grin.

"They deserve all the cheating in the world.

"

I laughed. Noah must have been picked on a lot as a kid. Which I can believe easily after only knowing the twins for a year. Noah spent most of lunch telling me about him versus the twins in their younger years. He was at a disadvantage for most of it unless Zeke interfered.

I had some good laughs at his expense. One thing that made me really like Noah was that he didn't ask me to share parts of my childhood with him in exchange. It's not like I had any good stories to share; just a lot of sad ones. And I don't want to make anyone feel bad. It's all in the past and I like it that way.

After eating and chilling, we got rid of our trash and went back to the bus for our bags. We moved with the team towards the field, settling for the dugout on the first base side. We were the visiting team and it was normal for the home team to want the third base side.

"Let me go over the lineup before you boys get your cleats on.

" Coach paced back and forth in front of the dugout fence as we all found seats.

1 2B Jake Atkins

2 CF Garret Knudsen

3 1B Sean Isner

4 LF Korrey Alvarrez

5 RF Logan Porter

6 3B Jason Morris

7 P Bryce Finn

8 C Mitchell Torres

9 SS Dalton Nelson

"As you can see, we're trying some new ideas.

" Coach nodded in my direction. Probably more towards Noah because he addressed his absence in the lineup.

"Noah had a good outing in the last game. His spot as a starter isn't in jeopardy. I just want to give Jake a chance to work with Dalton. You never know what can happen in the future like injuries.

" He looked directly at me.

"You have to be prepared to work with anyone.

"

I nodded. I did get some work in last summer at the Stanford camp with other shortstops. Everyone has a different style and tendencies.

"As for Jake's leadoff spot, this might be a permanent feature in our lineups. Especially if the intentional walks are happening during league play.

"

"You think they would?

" Garret asked, surprised.

Coach gave a single nod.

"It's a possibility given that his stats are easily available online. Unless every team saves their ace pitcher for us. Which is also a possibility.

" He looked at Garret.

"I don't want you thinking I'm cutting your time on the mound, but I want to use these non league games to find a solution to those who want to pitch around Jake. So our power players, guys I know who can launch the ball, will get priority to bat after Jake.

"

"My stats will get to see an increase in RBI's.

" Sean chuckled, rubbing his hands together.

"Besides Jake and Garret, everyone else will have a chance to move around in the lineup.

" Coach ignored Sean and continued on.

"Especially those at the bottom in the lineup. Because once the game gets going, those are the ones that will have a chance to get on before Jake gets up to bat again.

" Coach said a little more before leaving the dugout to let us finish getting ready.

The other team's bus had showed up and they started to unload.

"Good thing Mom and Dad didn't come after all.

" Noah sighed.

"I guess it's my turn to sit on the bench with Alisha.

" His eyes searched for her.

"Wait. Did she not come?

"

I gave a small shake of my head.

"I haven't seen her. Maybe the drive was too long.

"

Noah looked a little guilty.

"I'll send her a text. I don't want her to think we didn't even notice she didn't come.

" He looked for his phone in his bag.

"Should I text too?

" I asked.

"Nah. I'll mention you in my text.

" Noah started to type away.

"Now that I think about it, she would have been in charge of checking off the players who got on the bus instead of the coaches.

" I told him.

He nodded.

After the text was sent, we had to leave the dugout and start warming up with the team.

The game went extremely well. We went up early in the top of the first inning thanks to my leadoff walk followed by a homer from Garret. Just how Coach imagined. Right after that, Sean got hit by a pitch and there was a mound meeting. Sean wasn't hurt and the pitcher stayed in the game. Korrey popped out to the shortstop, then Logan hit into a double play.

Bryce got the first out by a grounder to Jason at third, but lost his perfect game and no hitter to the second batter's single. The third batter hit a fast grounder my way. I fielded it to Dalton at second base and beat the runner. He threw to first and completed the double play.

I jogged back to the dugout, eyes on him. He glanced back and caught me looking at him. He held out his gloved hand and gestured for me to tap it. I complied. I guess he wasn't bothered by my throw.

Sitting down next to Noah, I asked his opinion.

"Did that look okay?

"

Noah smiled and gave me a reassuring nod.

"Yep. As good as it can get. You didn't miss a beat. Didn't waste a millisecond.

"

My body relaxed as I felt relieved.