Chapter 468 CIF Quarterfinal: Northwood HS 9

"You can't think like that!" Noah slapped me on the back. "We're still winning! One more inning to go!"

"Yea!"

"Let's get them!"

"Start us off strong, Jason!"

The guys in the dugout were hyped as the game was in the final stretch. Noah and I went to sit in our normal spot so he could start putting on his helmet and stuff.

"We're almost there." Noah grinned, tugging his batting gloves on before getting back up.

"Do you think Brian is going to pitch the last inning?" I snuck a glance to the entrance of the dugout where Coach stood. Brian and Alex were chatting with him, but it was too hard to hear in our rowdy dugout.

"Nope." Noah said with confidence. "Brian only gave up a run, but he gave up two hard hits. Coach won't risk that in the bottom of the inning. He'll bring someone in."

"Garret?" I asked, looking for him.

Noah shook his head. "No way. If it was Garret, Coach would be telling him to get his butt to the bullpen right now."

True. I nodded.

"Alright." He picked up his bat. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck." I told him sincerely as he left for the on deck circle. He would need some after all...this pitcher was a tough one.

Just as I had that thought, Jason connected on the very first pitch given to him, sending it to center field. The ball bounced before the outfielder could reach, allowing Jason to reach first base safely. The rowdy dugout brought it up another level, clapping and cheering for Jason's hit. Noah moved to the batter's box and Sean went to the on deck circle.

Sean? Oh. He must be pinch hitting for Brian in the ninth spot. I looked around and found Brian sitting with the twins; no doubt talking about his pitching. I wonder who Coach will decide on to put on the mound in the last inning.

Noah's batting didn't miraculously improve, nor did the pitcher slip up. It was a one-sided beatdown, watching Noah swing and miss at the fastballs. On an 0-2 count, the pitcher threw a breaking ball that worked in Noah's favor. The breaking ball was much slower and Noah's timing matched. He grounded the ball to the second baseman, who was able to turn the double play with his shortstop and first baseman.

The cheering stopped and an audible sigh could be heard throughout the dugout.

"Hey!" Garret yelled sharply. "Heads up!"

The sighs stopped and the depression didn't reach the surface of everyone. It was instead overshadowed by the fact that we were winning. Winning an important playoff game in a do-or-die situation.

Noah came back with Jason. Both put their gear away and brought out gloves and baseball caps. "If only I could get a little more air under the ball. Could have easily turned into a line drive." Noah muttered as he slumped in his seat.

My lips twitched. "You can't think like that." I told him, repeating his earlier words with ease. It felt pretty good to throw that back into his face so soon.

Noah laughed and relaxed his tensed posture. "Yea, you're right, therefore I'm right." He watched Sean's at-bat. "In fact, I should feel good about a groundout. I could have easily struck out with the way he was blowing that speed ball by me."

"Dude." Garret threw a water bottle at him. "You grounded into a double play. That's nothing to be proud of. You got two outs with one swing instead of one out. You brat."

The guys nearby all laughed. The dugout was in pretty good spirits. Even when Sean grounded out to end our half of the inning, most of the players took the field with a smile.

"Defense!" Noah hollered as we got into position. Julian threw the ball in the dirt at us to help warm up and keep sharp. Coach walked up to the umpire to announce a pitcher change as James came jogging in from the bullpen.

Like always, James kept his warmup light and easy. Him and Alex had a quick meeting at the mound before the umpire called for the game to resume and for the batter to step up. James got to start with the lower end of the lineup, with batter number six up first.

James pitching had always intrigued me since he stuck with straight curves for the most part, unlike other high school pitchers who rely heavy on their fastballs. James got the first man up to swing and miss three times in a row for the strikeout.

James wasn't a one at-bat star. He took down the whole side with his curveballs and ended the seventh inning in nine pitches. Noah was the first to throw up his glove after the umpire called game and declared us as the winners. Noah then sprinted to the mound and hopped onto James, making him stumble. The rest of the team wasn't far behind.

I smiled and laughed a little as I picked up Noah's glove from the ground for him. I watched from a safe distance as the team bounced around and pushed one another in excitement.

"We're moving on!!" Garret sprinted from left field and squeezed his way in the pile of players. The bullpen players weren't too far behind.

I glanced over my shoulder to right field and saw Mahki jogging in with Zeke.

"Felling happy, Bambi?" Mahki grinned down at me as they slowed up when they reached me at second base.

I nodded. "We get to play again, don't we?"

"We do!" He pushed my cap down over my eyes before running into the pile on the mound.

I fixed my hat and peeked up at Zeke. "Are you going to join them?"

Zeke smiled gently as he watched his team act like a bunch of little kids. "No. I'll save the celebration for when we win it all." His grin didn't fade as he looked at me. "Are you really happy? Sincerely?"

I blinked. Mahki had just asked if I was happy and I nodded. Did he not see? Looking back at his meaningful expression, I suddenly understood. I nodded again. "Yes! This is one of the happiest moments of my life!"

His expression faltered before settling on a smile. "Don't worry, there's more to come." He put his arm around my shoulders and walked me over to the team to celebrate in their peripheral.

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