章 184: Game One: Sunset Preparatory (6)

Bottom of the fourth started with Sunset's number two batter who popped out foul in the first inning. This at bat, he made Garret work and throw strikes by fouling off what was close and letting balls pass. With a 3-2 count he sent a line drive right up the middle. Both Noah and I were too short and too far away to make a play for it. Zeke was running in to field it, so Noah jogged out to be the cutoff man, and I covered second base right behind him. In the corner of my eye I could see the batter rounding first and running as fast as he could to me.

Zeke caught the ball on the hop and threw a bullet to the infield, bypassing Noah, and aimed straight for me. I caught the ball with my glove and swung my arm to try and tag the player who had already started to slide into the bag.

"Safe!" An infield umpire declared.