The Hitting Zone

Chapter 1174  v4 ch22

"Noah James!" Mom scolded, making him and I flinch. "Can you take an extra second to chew before you choke?!?"

We were all settled in for a late Sunday night game at Klein field. Dave, Noah, and I were able to meet up with the rest and as soon as we entered, Noah started begging for food. And I couldn't blame him with my own stomach growling. Lunch was forever ago and we didn't have much to snack on while waiting in the parking lot. Dad let us go crazy at the snack bar and we stocked up so we wouldn't have to miss a pitch during the game. This could be it for Stanford after all. If they lost…Zeke would be headed for the summer collegiate league.

"Mom, I'm almost 16." Noah rolled his eyes. "I think I know how to not choke on my food."

"Age doesn't matter." Mom said. "Either eat slower or I'll take it away."

Noah grumbled yet complied. I also consciously ate slower just in case Mom got mad at me. It's not like we were truly starving. Just hungry. I knew the difference.

Stanford got on the board early thanks to Zeke and Bradley Thompson. They kept the lead as they racked up the runs. Texas A&M had a few opportunities, scoring some runs of their own but they just couldn't close the gap. Stanford beat them 13-5, forcing a third game between them tomorrow night.

Most of the stadium was filled with Stanford fans so the atmosphere was at an all time high throughout the game. Every hit. Every run. Every strikeout.

"It won't be like this in the minors." Dave told Kyle after the game as we waited for the stadium to clear out a little. "Most of the time, it's smaller than our fans at high school."

"Dude, I don't play for the fans. I'll be fine." Kyle rolled his eyes.

"Yea, I don't need them either, but it sure makes it more lively." Noah said with a bounce in his step. "It just brings more energy. There's a sense that you've got everyone cheering for you."

"Or against you." Dave smirked. "There's some satisfaction too when I hear the people from the opposition groan as I strike out their player. Just look at Jake. That groan from your own team can really bring you down."

The muscles in my back tightened up, but I spoke up about it. "I think that's more of an anxiety thing for me."

"Yea, we should probably put you on some meds." Noah laughed.

"He can see Dr. Moore whenever he needs." Dad spoke up. "I know you all have your preferences, but if something seems off, try to talk it out with one of us. I want to remind you boys that it's not the end of the world when you lose."

"Spoken like a man who's never loved a sport." Grampa shook his head. We all stifled our laughs at Dad being scolded. "I don't know how you and Mary ended up with five very serious baseball players. To have the athletic ability and the love for the game, it's the best kind of combo."

"Zeke got them started and we've been trying to keep up ever since." Mom put her fingers to her temples and rubbed. "If I had known then what I knew now, I would have made them try multiple hobbies. I took the easy way out, letting them all play the same sport."

"At least we don't all play the same position, Mom." Noah pointed out. "The twins were bad enough fighting for the mound all the time."

"You boys playing together were the definition of the worst and best of times." Mom sighed dramatically. "So convenient not having to haul you kids to different parks at different times. But good lord the fighting…"

We made it outside the stadium. There was no plan to see Zeke, given that he's played two games today and has a very important one tomorrow. Just as we got to the edge of the parking lot, Dad held out his hand to Kyle.

"Your mother and I will be staying the night so let us use the car. You and Grampa can go home with Dave." Dad said to Kyle.

Kyle made a face. "Why can't Dave give you his keys instead? It's not feeling like 'my' car when I have to keep letting you use it."

Dave and I both took a step back to distance ourselves from him.

Only Noah didn't mind the potential confrontation. "Dude, if you have a problem with it, buy your own car."

"Maybe I will." Kyle said. He pulled out his keys and handed them over. "Maybe I should just stay too since it is my car."

"And miss the first part of finals tomorrow?" Mom asked rhetorically. "I think not mister." She looked at the four of us. "You all will go straight home and straight to bed. If I see any concerning final grades on your report card, the summer you expect, will not be happening."

Kyle shrugged and put his hands behind his head. "I'm going pro. There are no consequences for me. I get picked, I sign the contract, then hit the road."

"God, you sound like a douche." Noah rolled his eyes.

I did my best to put a little more distance, hiding behind Dave.

"You wouldn't worry about finals either if you were in your senior year and getting drafted." Kyle said back to Noah.

"Duh. But I wouldn't go out of my way to make Mom upset about it." Noah rolled his eyes again. "Legit, I hope you end up in the shittiest small town in the middle of nowhere."

"Like that would bother me." Kyle rolled his eyes too.

"Okay, then I hope your girlfriend finds something better in college and dumps your ass." Noah folded his arms across his chest.

Kyle took a step in Noah's direction, but Dad reached out to put a hand on his shoulder to hold him in place. "Why are you boys even fighting?"

"He's the one treating you guys like sh-" Noah started to curse again, but stopped himself with a look from Dad. Noah shrugged. "Whatever. You're right. I shouldn't bother about Kyle." He glanced at me, then was taken aback. "What are you doing so far away, Jake?"

"Jake sensed a fight on the horizon and got out of the way." Grampa spoke up, answering for me. "I think you boys forget how lucky you are sometimes." He gave a pointed look at Kyle.

"Ugh!" Kyle dropped his shoulders, making Dad's hand drop. "You guys always treat me like I'm the villain. Of course I'll take my finals and graduate high school. I'm not really a delinquent. God dam…"

"Sounds like everyone is tired." Grampa commented. "Let's get back home. It's been a long weekend for everyone." He looked at Mom and Dad. "Don't worry, I'll call you when we make it back. The boys and I will be cheering on Zeke from home. Make sure he knows that the season can't end here."

"Thanks, Dad." Mom went to hug his skinny frame. She whispered something and he nodded in response.