Chapter 435 Game: @ Golden West 5
Chapter 435 Game: @ Golden West 5
The crowd was still making noise for their team as we switched to defense. When Garret took his practice pitches, I could tell that he was still distracted by his run to home in the last half inning. So could Coach. He came out after the practice pitches, and went to the mound, waving for us all to join him.
"What's up Coach?" Garret asked, gripping the baseball. Probably scared that he might be pulled.
The rest of us fielders surrounded them, Coach versus Garret.
Coach stared him down. "Are you sure you want the ball?"
"Yes." Garret hid it in his glove. "I can do this."
"Are you sure? Because to me, it looks like your head is somewhere else. On the last play, perhaps?"
Garret shrugged, looking guilty.
Coach laid his heavy hand on Garret's shoulder. "I'm telling you now, if you give up one hit, I'll pull you. I don't care how well you have done so far. If you're not here mentally, you can easily lose us this game."
"Wow, Coach." Garret grimaced. "No pressure, huh?"
Coach wasn't bothered. "Yes. There is pressure. Lots of it, too. If you can't perform well this inning, you could cost us this game. If you cost us this game, you might put us out of the race for first place in the league. This is all on you. I'm asking you now, can you handle it?"
Garret straightened up. "We'll win. We'll win it all!"
"That's what I want to hear!" Coach patted his shoulder and let go. He looked around at all of us. "Forget the last play. You can't go back and change it. There are no replays or redos. You can only focus on the present and look forward to the future."
"Yes, Coach!" The other infielders agreed. I nodded to show I understood.
"Time." The umpire walked up to us. "You all need to break it up."
"We've got your back, Garret!" Noah smacked Garret's back with his gloved hand. Julian and Jason did the same as we all headed back to our positions and Coach went back to the dugout.
Garret got lucky that he would begin with the bottom part of their lineup first. So even if he was shaken by his failed slide, he doesn't need his best stuff just yet. He started with batter number eight. He wasn't much of a challenge. He got jammed and popped the ball up. Noah came in to the inner grass just behind the mound and made the catch.
"One out, two to go!" He tossed the ball to Garret.
Garret tipped his cap and grinned.
Batter number nine was Brady. With him batting this inning, it looks like they'll be keeping him in. They want him to finish out the game I guess. Not like he's been doing poorly. He only gave up three hits over six innings. Only one run.
As Garret faced him, I realized...Garret still has the no-hitter going! My heart started to pound. Noah kept telling me not to talk about it so it slipped my mind, but, yea...the only baserunner was the walk from the first inning to that lefty that bats second.
'Ding!' The ball soared off Brady's bat. Noah jumped, but it was too high.
Did I just jinx Garret?
No!
Zeke was sprinting in from center field. He dove at the hit from an angle, then rolled in the grass. He popped up, back on his feet, holding up his glove triumphantly. The crowd clapped for the amazing play regardless of what team they were cheering for. Zeke threw the ball back in to Noah, who threw it to Garret.