Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2011 03:28:13 +0000
From: Douglas DD DD <thehakaanen@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Perfect Game   Chapter 41

It is now do or die for the Titans. They are a game behind the Kentburg
Bulldogs and a loss to them means they have virtually no chance to finish
first. The game is at home, the stands are full of parents, kids, faculty,
and interested townspeople. The time had come for the young Titans to show
what they were made of.

Be 18 to read and be safe.

Send comments to Douglas   thehakaanen@hotmail.com


CHAPTER 41
BULLDOGS VS TITANS

Friday night saw some of the usual weekend pairings.

Marty spend the night at Rich's house, fucking his ass hard three times as he
let out the sexual tensions that had built up inside of him. Rich, who was
getting to really enjoy getting fucked, did all he could to make his friend (or
was it boyfriend?) happy. At that he was very successful. When they finally
were too exhausted to go on they held their naked bodies together on Rich's
bed, unwilling to let go of each other, falling asleep in a tangle of lanky
adolescent arms and legs.

Eric stayed at Scott's house. Scott told Eric he was willing to let Eric be the
top, but Eric smiled and said it wasn't time yet; for now he was happy letting
Scott be "the man". So Scott did to Eric what they both were enjoying more
and more, pounding his rear with his athletic body. They were both unaware
that Scott's sister Lindy was sitting outside the bedroom door wearing just a
long t-shirt. She listened to the sex in her brother's bedroom and fingered
herself to a quiet orgasm as she literally bit her lip to keep from screaming
out.

Bobby spent the night at Noah's house and he let Noah go up his ass. He
found out quickly that Noah's little cocklet didn't do near as much for him
as his brother Tyler's 15 year old cock did. He was upset over his
disappointmet in Noah's dick, but it was still good and in some ways it was
better than Tyler's, because there was nobody in the world he loved more
than Noah.

Danny went over to Carl's house after he was finished with practice and
dinner. They went through their running and exercise routine. Carl was
putting more and more effort into his routine each time they did it. One thing
that pleased Danny was something Carl's dad said to him after he and Carl
had showered off the sweat of their workout, together in the same shower.

Carl had asked Danny if he wanted to stay the night. Danny was pleased to
be asked and Carl was even more pleased that Danny assented. The boys
were now sitting in the family room when Avery Benson, Carl's father came
in. He greeted the boys and then asked Danny if he could speak to him in his
den for a minute. Danny got up, his heart thumping with fear. He knew what
this was going to be about. Carl's father was going to give him shit about
showering with Carl, or maybe even sleeping naked with Carl, or he might
even say something about him having sex with Carl. Except for maybe the
showers, he didn't know how Carl's dad could know, but he was sure that he
knew what the conversation was going to be about; Dr. Benson was going to
ask him to leave and not come back.

Dr. Benson pointed to a leather chair that was next to his large, polished
wooden desk. The room had wood paneling and lots of shelves, which were
full of books. Carl had shown him the room before and he had been
intimidated by it. But now he was more than intimidated, he was frightened
by it. He sat in the chair, his back straight, his heart thumping as he waited
for Carl's dad to humiliate him. Dr. Benson was a large, sometimes gruff
looking man. But he was also Danny's dentist, and Danny knew, in spite of
his looks, he was really nice in his dentist's office. That knowledge was the
only thing that was keeping him from pissing his shorts and messing up the
nice leather chair.

"I just wanted to thank you for everything you've been doing for Carl," Dr.
Benson said.

"You do?" Danny croaked out.

"Yes, I do. You've been a great friend to him. You're getting him to do
things nobody else has been able to do. And he is happier than I have seen
him in a long time. I just wanted you to know it's been noticed and
appreciated."

"Oh." Danny couldn't think of anything else to say. He waited for the other
shoe to drop.

"Not very many boys your age would suddenly decide to do what you are
doing for Carl. I didn't know that you two were such good friends." Avery
Benson gave Danny a steady look, indicating he was expecting more than a
one or two word answer.

"Um...well, we weren't exactly."

"Oh? So why the sudden interest?"

"Well...um...you see...," Danny was trying to come up with a good excuse
that would cover up the fact that he had been talked into helping Carl by the
school's baseball coaches. He decided to skirt as close to the truth as he
could. "You see...Carl got cut and everything and everybody knows how
good he hits and that he should be playing baseball, but we all know that he
is...um...well...you see that he is..."

"Fat and lazy?" Dr. Benson asked.

Danny gulped and slowly nodded his head yes. That evoked a big smile
from the man sitting behind the desk.

"It's okay that you think that. I have a feeling that the only people who
didn't see how far Carl had declined were his mother and I. We knew he had
his weight problem but we didn't realize how much we'd spoiled him. We
wanted to blame everybody but Carl and us when he got cut from the school
team."

Danny nodded again as he had no idea what to say in response.

"Anyway, that's our issue. So you are just helping Carl because you're
selfish and want his bat on your team next year."

"Yeah...I mean, no...I mean he's a good hitter and all and I just wanted to
help him and he didn't want me to but he kind of let me anyway and all of a
sudden we got to be best friends and that's why I'm staying the night..."

"...Even though you live just a couple of house away," Dr. Benson
concluded.

"Yeah."

"Well, Mrs. Benson and I are happy with how you and Carl have bonded.
Carl has his friends of course, but nobody like what you have suddenly
become. You're welcome to our house at any time. I understand you are
quite the athlete."

"I guess."

"You certainly look it. You are a very handsome and very fit looking boy.
I've noticed that when you've been in the dentist's chair. On top of that your
perfect record of no cavities shows you also take good care of yourself in
other ways than just being in good athletic shape."

"I try, sir." Danny said, blushing some.

"You and Carl make quite the contrast right now. Carl will never be skinny,
but maybe if he gets into shape you two won't be so much the physical
opposites you are now."

Danny wasn't quite sure what Carl's father was getting at, so he simply said,
"I'm glad me and Carl are friends now. He's really cool and I like we do
stuff together. I guess we could have been best friends earlier."

"Some things have to happen in their own time. Go on back out and be with
your friend. And if you ever need any help whipping him into shape of if he
ever gives you any grief just let me know." Dr. Benson got out of his chair
and as Danny stood up. He ruffled Danny's hair and gave him a surprisingly
tight hug and left the office.

Danny wasn't sure what to make of the conversation or about what he meant
about helping with Carl, but he did know he was happy he wasn't in trouble
for the other stuff he did with Carl. He headed for the family room and sat
next to Carl on the sofa.

"What was that about?" Carl asked.

"Oh, your dad was just telling me how happy he was that we're good friends
and that I was actually kicking your ass and getting you to run and stuff like
that."

"Dad doesn't give people compliments much, so that's pretty cool. Let's go
up to my room."

The boys went to Carl's room and were soon stripped and playing around
with each other on the bed, grabbing, fondling, licking, and kissing each
other. It wasn't long before Danny was dry humping Carl's ass crack as he
became more and more sure that what he really wanted was to put his dick in
Carl's ass and fuck him.

As for the twins, Kevin ended up at Justin's house where they jerked each
other off and than did some active mutual cock sucking on the floor. Kevin
spent the night with Justin while Kraig was stuck at home with Korey and
Chandler. The two fourth graders let Kraig have sex with them and he ended
up being sucked off by each of them. He wanted to fuck them both, but
Korey wanted Chandler to do it to him before they fell asleep. Instead, Kraig
fell asleep alone in his and Kevin's room, a little depressed because he
didn't get to fuck either of the two younger boys, but even more depressed
because he didn't have a friend his own age he could overnight with that
night. What he wanted was to sleep over with Hunter, but he knew that
wasn't going to happen, Danny was busy, and he didn't want to butt in on
the two pair of boyfriends. He wished he could have turned out for the select
team. He might have found somebody there to hook up with.

A mile or so away, Hunter lay naked on his bed jerking off. Like Marty
earlier in the day his brain didn't go the way he wanted it to. He wanted to
think of when he and Tama showered together. Instead he thought of being
horny with Kraig the weekend before while he humped him through their
clothes and then stood in front of Kraig while Kraig rubbed on his boner.
Just before he shot his pre-teen load he wondered if maybe he could have
Kraig spend the night just so he'd be there as a friend, but with nothing
sexual happening between them. Maybe, he thought as he was ready to
shoot, I should find out soon. When he blew his light cum his thoughts were
all about Kraig's hand on his cock.

++++++++++
The boys did not ride together to Centralia for the first full select team
turnout. Danny, Eric, and Scott rode with Eric and Danny's fathers. Eric's
father drove his SUV. Kevin was riding with his father and his brothers
Kraig, Korey, and Keith. After practice they were all going to the Centralia
high school field where this year's District Tournament was being held. The
Mustangs were scheduled to play the Harborview Tides from the southwest
part of the state.

Kraig sat sulkily in the back. His slight depression from the night before
became full-fledged depression when Kevin came dancing home around 10
o'clock, bragging to him about the number of cums he had the night before
as he and Justin jerked and sucked each other off.

"We're going to fuck pretty soon," he had told Kraig.

"I'm happy for you," Kraig had replied sullenly. Kevin was so giddy he
didn't notice his twin brother's attitude which made Kraig even more
depressed.

As he sat in the back of the SUV he wished he had a boyfriend. Kevin had
been his boyfriend since they both discovered sex and now Kevin had his
own boyfriend. Even his little brother Korey had a boyfriend. Keith had
hooked up with a girl, so even he had somebody. All he had was Hunter,
who was straight and kept teasing him sexually, even if the tease wasn't on
purpose. For the first time in his life he felt lonely.

To make it all even worse Kraig was going to select team practice and he
hadn't even been invited. Sure he'd said he was cool with it because of
basketball and soccer camps, but the truth was he would give both of them
up in an instant to play baseball with Kevin. They had played together in
every sport since they were old enough to play organized sports. He said he
was cool about the situation so Kevin wouldn't get upset. Now he wished
he'd gotten mad about his not being invited, about how unfair it was. Just
from habit he had brought his equipment bag, hoping that somebody might
want to play catch during a down time or better yet hoping that half a dozen
of the kids turning out suffered broken bones from multiple accidents.

The twins' dad parked in the middle school parking lot. They headed out to
the field where practice was going to be held. As practice started he noticed
there were far fewer than the expected twenty some kids who were supposed
to be turning out. He counted only 14 kids. Kevin's dad asked Adam where
everybody was.

"It appears the kids from Cedardale and Brookline decided to turn out for the
Harbor team. They thought they would have a better chance of making it
there, it was closer, and they wanted to play with their friends" Adam said.
"It would be nice if Mayfield could put a select team like that together. We
used to do it. Anyway, I guess we'll get some of kids who were supposed to
turn out for the other Centralia team, but we could still use even a couple
more."

Kraig, who was sitting behind his dad, tried to make himself noticeable. He
apparently succeeded because Adam looked up at him and said, "You
interested Kraig? I know you didn't get invited, which I think was a mistake.
But we'd be happy to give you a look. I think you deserve it. You're a good
ballplayer."

Kraig tried to look nonchalant, but his entire body shook with delight.
Maybe this lousy day might turn out okay after all. "Yeah, I guess," he said,
trying to sound cool.

"You guess or you're sure?" his dad asked. Kraig ignored the question.

"We can get you some equipment," Adam said at the same time.

"I got equipment in the car," Kraig said.

"I think that means he's sure," Adam offered.

Kraig took off to the car faster than he could ever remember running. Adam
told Kraig's dad he would give him the permission slips and paperwork after
practice.

Kevin was happy to see Kraig taking part in the turnout. He suspected that
Kraig was unhappy because he hadn't been invited even if he wouldn't say
so. He had even thought about not playing on the select team because Kraig
hadn't been invited. Kevin loved his twin brother all the more because he
knew he was trying hard not to make him feel badly about turning out. He
didn't yet understand that baseball was just one of Kraig's issues and that his
relationship with Justin was also factored in. But for now all was well
between the twins.

One-third of the 15 kids practicing were from Mayfield and the Mayfield
boys liked that. They knew they were good and would help make this a good
team. Scott, Eric, and Danny were all glad to see Kraig being offered a
chance to try out. The other 10 boys were all good players. They had played
against all of them either in summer league or this year in middle school
ball. And they all noticed that the other 10 boys were not only good
ballplayers they nice kids and were quite cute as well---well maybe all but
Danny noticed the cuteness.

When practice ended the other select team had gathered for their turnout.
There was a big meeting and volunteers were solicited to move over to the
team that had the Mayfield boys. A head count indicated that if two boys
were willing to switch teams the coaches wouldn't have to make any cuts.
The two boys who were from Evans volunteered. Eric noted that they had
both played well against them in school ball and that they were also a cute
and sexy looking pair.

Kevin noted that one of them was Lars, the sexy blond he had chatted with
during the game against Evans. He didn't remember seeing him at the
meeting but he did remember exchanging phone numbers with him after the
Evans game, though neither one had made a call. He was happy to see the
cute Lars on the team. He couldn't help but think this might lead to
something very interesting.

The teams then broke up into two separate team meetings. "It looks like
everything is settled already as long as all of you are ready to make some
sacrifices." He gave them the usual speech that family came first, that
missed practices and games had to have a family oriented reason, an injury
reason, or that it was something they were already committed to like a camp.
With that he dismissed them, letting them know that practice would be next
Saturday at noon.

Kevin wanted to talk to Lars, but all he could do was say a quick greeting
since the Mayfield group was heading for the Centralia High School Field. It
was the only field in the county as nice as the one in Mayfield and the only
one other than Mayfield to have enough seating for a District Tournament.

Eric and Scott were ready to root for the Dawg and Donkey. Both of the
sophomores started, Ryan at second and Mike at first. But the Mayfield
team, while talented, was young. They had Paul, a senior and their best
pitcher, starting. However they couldn't generate any offense and lost 3-1.
They would now have to win two games the next day and one more on
Monday in order to make it to the State Tournament.

After the game Eric and Scott had a chance to chat quickly with Mike and
Ryan before the two high school players boarded the team bus. They had
both played well in the field but had both gone hitless at the plate.

"Tough loss," Eric said, not knowing what else to say.

"We'll be back tomorrow to kick ass and take names later," Mike said with
confidence.

"It'll be tough having to win three games," Eric said.

"Not as tough as losing one would be," Mike chuckled. "You guys switch
off on the sex yet?" he asked the two sixth graders quietly.

"Not yet," Scott said.

"You will soon. I feel it in my ears." Mike said they had to get on the bus,
but before he left he promised to be at the Kentburg game on Tuesday if they
didn't make it out of districts. "But I'm starting the second game tomorrow
if we get by the first one, so we should be good to go."

He and Ryan headed to the bus while Eric and Scott met the rest of their
group.

"It looks like you're getting to be good friends with those two." Eric's dad
said.

"Yeah, they're really nice and don't treat us like little kids," Eric replied.
Eric's dad wasn't real sure how to interpret that comment and elected to say
nothing. Everybody got into their vehicles, deciding to stop off at the
Centerpiece Café for a late lunch. The topic at lunch and for the entire drive
home was baseball. Some of it was about the Mayfield Mustangs, but most
of it was about the big game on Tuesday for the Mayfield Titans.

That night Scott stayed at Eric's where they stuck to oral sex followed by
dry humping. Bobby was still at Noah's. Perhaps most importantly, Kevin
and Kraig had sex and slept together for the first time in over a week. It was
just the two of them and felt almost like old times to Kraig. He gladly
bottomed for his twin. He wished Kevin was still his boyfriend, but he knew
deep in his heart that it was a silly wish. If he couldn't have Kevin he wished
he could have somebody...anybody to be his boyfriend.

On Sunday Eric's dad took him, Scott, Danny, Carl, Bobby, and Noah to
Centralia to watch the Mustangs play, not knowing if they were going to be
watching one or two games. The first game was a hard fought 5-3 win for
the Mustangs. While the Harbor Ridge team took infield and the Mustangs
took a break Eric's dad took the boys through a nearby drive-though for
burgers.

In the second game the Donkey threw his best game of the year, pitching
with great maturity for a sophomore. He was pleased to have Zach, who was
also a sophomore, as his catcher. Zach had been his favorite catcher since
they were in fifth grade and he was also a good friend. He was one of only
two friends who knew the real story behind the Dawg and the Donkey's
relationship from its very beginnings. Mike went all the way, giving up only
three hits and two walks as the Mustangs coasted to a 7-1 win.

All six boys greeted the Dawg and Donkey before they got on the team bus.
Scott introduced them all and they all praised the Donkey's pitching.  Two
other players had been walking with them. They stepped back a little but
they didn't walk away.

"If I get those big ears of mine into the exact right position you never know
what a Donkey can do," Mike told them. Ryan stood behind him just
shaking his head and smiling.

"I hope you win tomorrow," Eric said, "even if it means you'll  miss our
game on Tuesday."

"You guys are going to kick ass," Ryan said, "with or without us."

On the ride home Eric wondered about Mike and Ryan and their two best
friends, Zach and Cody. The Donkey had told them that he and the Dawg
messed around with two of their best friends. Zach and Cody were both
sophomores and seemed to hang with Mike and Ryan a lot. He was pretty
certain they were the two friends the Donkey had told them about. He
wondered when and how he would find out. He and Scott discussed it later.
Scott had wondered the same thing. They both admitted that Zach, the big
catcher, and Cody, the slender outfielder, were good looking guys and that
they wouldn't mind getting into an orgy with them and the Dawg and the
Donkey. Of course they both knew that was unlikely to happen.

++++++++++

Monday couldn't go by fast enough for the Titan JV players. They were
beyond stoked for the game against Kentburg the next day. Their focus was
such that the topic of sex didn't even come up at lunch, which surprised Carl
and Hunter. But the two of them could quickly see the looks forming in the
eyes of their friends, especially Hunter, who had been in that kind of space
before.

Coach Sanders was pleased with the crispness of the drills in practice. There
was none of the joking or horsing around that was often a part of the down
time that happens in a baseball practice. The intensity and focus was beyond
what he had seen in this team before. He had noted a change of gears when
Marty had shown up for the Friday practice when the team thought he was
going to skip it. Today they stepped it up another notch with the only
negative being Mitch turning his left ankle during the end of a situational
drill.

Before the end of the practice meeting Coach Sanders and Coach Ecklund
met. Mitch's parents had been called and his mom had come by to pick him
up. It was apparent that Mitch wouldn't be suiting up for the game. The
good news was the coaches decided as a result to not move a player up to
varsity for the day so that the entire team could be together for the game.
That brought a big cheer from everybody. Nobody was surprised when Rich
and Kevin were announced as the starting battery. After the meeting the
boys headed for home, sad for Mitch, but totally ready to play.

The forecast for Tuesday was for a beautiful spring day, sunny with
temperatures in the mid to upper seventies. The boys stayed in their routines
Monday night, though concentrating on homework wasn't easy. Danny
wanted to skip the after practice workout with Carl, but was surprised and
pleased when Carl insisted on doing it, so he went running with his friend.
Carl broke his own record for a lap around the track. He wasn't even playing
in the game, yet even he was psyched. For all the boys the number of
orgasms that night totaled zero.

Tuesday was as beautiful as predicted. The morning sky was bright blue and
cloudless. For the ballplayers the day dragged on even worse than Monday
had, but the end of the school day finally arrived. It seemed they were in the
gym and changing into their uniforms the same instant the dismissal bell had
rung.

The Kentburg bus arrived as they were taking infield practice. The fact that
the seventh grade pitcher who had shut them out was with the team, as was
the big seventh grader Eric had given the intentional walk to, was not missed
by any of them.

Kevin noted that the umpire was the same young one who had umped their
game against Evans. After the pre-game home plate meeting the Titans ran
out onto the field.  The umpire got behind Kevin as he started warming up
Rich in order to get his timing down.

"Well, I see I have you again," the ump said.

"You do, and today I am going to be totally serious," Kevin said.

"This is a big game?"

"This is a big game. We gotta win it to have a chance at first. So the only
thing I am thinking about today is catching my pitcher."

"I like the attitude."

"But I'll make a deal with you," Kevin said.

"And what would that be?"

"You call a good game and the next time you ump behind be for school or
summer ball I'll not only talk sex with you I'll let you grab my butt."

There was a long moment of silence as the next pitch from Rich came in.
Kevin threw the ball back to Rich as the umpire said, "Then I'll make a deal
with you. I'll call the best game I can like I always do, and that is how it will
be."

"Good," Kevin said. "Because we're going to do the best job we can do and
get into a tie for first."

The stands were full of parents, students, teachers, and members of the
community who were fans of the baseball program. People were sitting in
chairs along the out of play area beyond the dugouts and others were
standing behind them.

Mike and Ryan were wandering the out-of-play area with their friends and
teammates Cody, Matt, and Zach. The Mustangs had shown their youth and
lack of depth on Monday as they lost their District game 10-5, ending their
season.

The game got off to an auspicious start as the big seventh grader gave the
Bulldogs a quick lead. Kevin wanted Rich to pitch inside some, but Rich
ended up throwing a meatball down the middle that quickly ended up over
the fence for a 1-0 Kentburg lead.

Even as a sixth grader Kevin had the respect of the seventh graders who
pitched. He came right out to the mound after the home run to hand Rich a
new ball and settle him down. Marty came over from third base and stood
beside the two of them.

Kevin had his say and started back to the plate area. He overheard Marty say
to Rich, "It's all good, dude. Remember what I told you last night. However
and wherever you want it." By the time Kevin got back to home Marty had
returned to third. He gave Marty's statement only a quick thought, but he
had a pretty good idea what Marty was hinting at. It was the only time all
game that Kevin had a thought about sex.

Between innings Kevin and Rich both agreed to pitch more carefully to the
big seventh grader as well as the big sixth grader who had the grand slam
against them in the first game.

The game stayed 1-0 until the fourth inning. Rich got through the top of the
inning giving up only a two-out walk to the big seventh grader. Rich struck
out the sixth grader to end the inning.

The Kentburg pitcher had had his way with the Titans allowing only a walk
through the first three innings. But in the bottom of the fourth home plate
started moving around on him as Eric drew a lead-off walk and Marty
followed with a walk. Scott, who was batting clean-up, struck out on a two-
two pitch in the dirt, cursing himself for not being patient with a pitcher who
had suddenly gotten wild.

That brought Rich to the plate with runners on first and second and one out.
The Kentburg pitcher was still having problems throwing strikes and he fell
behind two-and-oh. Rich narrowed his strike zone like he was taught. He
was ready to help himself out at the plate.

The Kentburg pitcher, not wanting to load the bases, decided to get a strike
now. He tried to blow a pitch down the middle past Rich. The pitch went
right where Rich was looking. His eyes lit up, he swung his bat, the ball
headed for the left-center gap and when the dust settled he was standing on
second with a double, and the Titans had their first hit and a 2-1 lead. After
Kevin drew a walk the coach came out for a chat with the pitcher. Following
the time-out Danny rapped a hard single to left and the lead was 3-1.

That was the score at the end of the fourth. In the top of the fifth Coach
Sanders had Noah take second base in place of Eric who was sent to the
bullpen to warm up. Rich got into quick trouble, giving up a couple of hits
and a walk. The bases were loaded with one out.

Coach Sanders came out to remind everybody to give up a run for an out,
that outs were the most important thing on their mind right now. Nobody
had to make that choice as Rich struck out the next batter. There were now
two outs.

Rich got two quick strikes on the Bulldog batter but couldn't get him to go
fishing after an outside and low pitch. The next pitch was a little bit outside
but the batter reached for it and sent it scooting up the middle, just out of
Rich's reach. The ball was a bit to the right of second base and to the right of
Noah, a shot into no-man's land. The thought that went through everybody's
mind was Eric would have had a good chance of fielding it and shoveling it
to Danny for the out at second. But Eric wasn't at second, Noah was, and
Noah didn't have the range or sure handedness that Eric had.

Noah raced desperately after the ball. The runners had been off and running
as soon as contact was made. Noah knew he couldn't get to the ball chasing
it down, so he dove into the dirt stretching his glove hand out as far as he
could. He felt the ball hit the glove and he quickly reached into the glove, his
hand finding the ball. He didn't have time to get up and throw the ball, so he
sat got to his knees and gave Danny an underhand toss with the ball and the
runner reached the base almost simultaneously.

The umpire had run as far out from the plate as he could and watched the
play unfold in front of him. As the ball and runner arrived at the base at
nearly the same time he had to come up with the correct call. If the ump
called the runner safe Kentburg would likely have two runs and the game
would be tied. If he called runner out the inning would be over. None of
those thoughts went through his head, however---the only thought in his
head was getting the call right.  For the players, coaches, and spectators it
seemed to take forever for the ump to decide on the call. What was actually
a two second pause as the umpire looked in to make sure the shortstop had
the ball seemed like a two minute pause to those awaiting the call. The
umpire had no idea where the ball was and yelled , "Show me the ball!" to
Danny, who quickly pulled it out of his glove and showed it to the ump.

As soon as the umpire called for the ball everybody at the field who knew
anything about baseball also knew what the call was going to be. There
would be only one reason the umpire would want to see the ball and that
would be to make an out call. That thought was verified when the umpire
pumped his right fist and made an emphatic "OUT!", setting off cheers
around the field and slaps on the back for Noah as he got up from the dirty
infield, his uniform covered with the dirt of a hustling ballplayer.

The Titans ran off the field while the Bulldog coach came out to fruitlessly
argue the call. The umpire finally had to give him a warning as called for
under high school rules to get him off of the field.

Noah had to endure more slaps and high fives and fist bumps as he came
into the dugout. For the moment the little sixth grader was a big hero.

The Titans were held scoreless in the fifth as were the Bulldogs in the sixth.
With the inning over, Kevin came out to catch the sixth.

"Nice call," Kevin said, referring to the call at second that ended the fifth.

"It was the right call," the ump said.

"But it was still a nice call." The ump wondered if he would take that
thought any farther, but Kevin threw the ball back to Rich and said nothing
more. The top of the sixth was a 1-2-3 inning for Rich.

Rodney led off the bottom half of the sixth with a slow bouncing ball to third
that ended up as in infield single. Rodney broke for second as Eric laid down
a bunt up the first base line. The play went to first and Rodney never slowed
down at second, easily beating the throw into third. It was a planned play,
the bunt-and-run, and a rare two base sacrifice hit for Eric.

The Bulldog coach had his infield play in to cut off a run, but that wasn't
needed as Marty lined a hard shot to the pitcher, who made a reflex catch. If
the ball had gotten past him it would have been a sure base hit. Scott then
made up for his earlier strikeout with a line drive single to left-center,
scoring Rodney and giving the Titans a 4-1 lead.

Eric was back in the field at second as they entered the top of the seventh.
Rich was ready to go to work to finish what he started. But a walk, an out,
and a single brought Coach Sanders out to the mound. He signaled Eric to
come in to pitch, sent Rich to shortstop and moved Danny to second with
Noah returning to the bench. Eric was suddenly in the same position he had
been the last time they had faced Kentburg as he was once again expected to
pitch the Titans out of a jam.

The number two hitter for the Bulldogs was up and he singled sharply to left.
But Adrian got the ball into the infield quickly and the runner at second had
to hold at third. The bases were loaded with one out with the score now 4-2.

The next batter was the big seventh grader who had homered in the first.
Once again Eric was in a bases loaded situation. Kevin headed out to the
mound and reminded Eric to keep the ball low and not try to overpower the
hitter. As Kevin started back to the plate he stopped and, echoing an earlier
reminder from Coach Sanders, yelled out, "We can give up a run for an
out!"

Eric got a called strike followed by a foul ball. He wanted to waste a pitch
but the hitter got his bat on the ball and hit a slow comebacker to Eric. Eric
looked at the runner coming home and thought he had a chance to get the out
there, but Kevin's reminder to give up a run for an out echoed in his head
and he threw the ball to Vince at first for the sure out allowing the run to
score. There were now two outs, the bases were still loaded, and the score
was now 4-3.

The big sixth grader who had hit the grand slam in the first meeting between
the two teams was now at the plate. Eric's chance for redemption had
dropped right into his lap.

"It ain't gonna happen this time," Kevin said as the batter got set at the plate,
referring to the grand slam.

"Watch me, I own your pitcher."

The first pitch was high and tight, moving the hitter back some, which is
what Eric and Kevin intended. The next pitch sailed way outside and Kevin
had to get up and reach for it to keep it from going to the backstop. He
thought about going out to talk to Eric, but he had confidence in Eric
knowing what to do next. He gave Eric the signal. The Titan sixth grader
nodded and hit the inside corner with a well-placed strike at the knees. Eric
had remembered to take a little off of his pitch and the result showed
instantly.

The batter fouled off the next pitch evening the count at two-and-two. Kevin
asked for time and headed out the mound.

Eric was a bit upset to be taken out of his rhythm as he asked Kevin what the
problem was. "Oh, no problem," Kevin said. "I'm just about to fake his ass
out."

"How?"

"By you throwing that nasty changeup of yours while I let him know how
hard you're going to throw."

"That won't work."

"Watch me," Kevin said quietly. He started back to the mound, then turned
and said loudly enough so he knew the batter could hear it, "Come on Eric,
you know you can throw harder than that. He hit that slow stuff over the
fence last time."

Kevin squatted behind the plate. "Having trouble with your pitcher?" the
umpire asked. Oh my, Kevin thought, the ump couldn't have made this any
easier. He had hoped to say something to make the batter think he and Eric
weren't on the same page but the umpire managed to open that door for him.

"He always thinks he can fake out batters with his junk instead of just firing
his fastball. He makes me mad sometimes. It cost us the game last time we
played these guys."

The batter smiled to himself. Kevin didn't sound as confident as he had at
the beginning of the at-bat. Kevin gave Eric the signal and Eric went to his
wind-up. He threw the ball with a little grunt as the batter got ready to swing
at the fastball that wasn't there. When he finally figured out what was there
Eric's changeup went floating past him on the outside corner.
"STEEEEEEEEEERIKE THREE!!!" the ump called out with an emphatic
arm motion.

The big Bulldog looked back, shook his head in disbelief and walked
towards his dugout as the Titans charged out to the field. They were now
tied for first place with the Bulldogs. The batter whined to his teammates
and the coach that the ball was outside but he got little sympathy. There
wasn't any doubt that the pitch was a strike. He had been totally suckered
into expecting a hard thrown fastball.

Everybody congregated on the field, parents, students, teachers, players, and
other fans. Before heading out to the field himself, Kevin had turned to the
ump and said with a lopsided grin, "I can't wait to have you behind the plate
again" It was only the second time that day that Kevin had thought about
sex. It would not be the last time.

Next: Titans vs Vikings