The Hitting Zone

Chapter 1210 V4 ch58 Kyle’s Second Start

We rarely ate in the living room as a family, but this was very much needed so we could 'watch' Kyle take the mound. I tried to picture what he would look like as he started to go through the opposing team's lineup. It got easier to do when Dave got up and start to mimic what Kyle would be doing.

Mom and Dad let him reenact the first inning but when Kyle gave up a solo shot to left field in the second, Dave dramatically dropped to his knees with a look of despair. Then he grabbed his chest and pretended to drop dead.

"Okay. I think that's enough of that." Dad declared with a look of disapproval.

"It's what he's feeling on the inside." Dave shrugged and said before plopping down on the couch with me and Grampa. He picked up a new slice of pizza and started to eat. "Just wait. He's going to be mad and walk the next guy."

In silence, we watched as the screen changed to the next batter. Kyle missed the strike zone four times in a row.

"Don't worry. He'll do a check throw and try to calm himself down." Dave said. "He knows he put himself at a disadvantage. Stupid."

Kyle did two check throws to first before facing the next batter. He threw a fastball down the middle for a called strike one.

Dave clapped his hands together. "See? Now he's back. Just look. The batter is going to think he'll throw another one down the middle, but he'll go inside."

The next pitch showed up as a swinging strike. Inside. Just like Dave predicted. He kept going throughout Kyle's start, sharing some specific insight that only an identical twin would know. Kyle bounced back with a strikeout and finished off the inning without anymore mishaps.

His team scored a few runs for insurance while he held down the mound, only giving up that one run. He did give up another hit in the six innings he had pitched, but it was still a very good performance. He averaged a strikeout an inning and it looked good on paper.

When he called us after though, he expressed his frustration with being taken out too early. "This coach is just-UGHHHH." He groaned. "I'm not a wimp. 80 pitches is nothing to me. I'm coming off my best high school season and this guy is treating me like I'm made of glass."

Noah grinned in Dave's direction. But before he could open his mouth, Dave lightly slapped him in the back of the head.

"Oww. I didn't even say anything." Noah defended himself, taking a swipe at Dave.

Dave dodged. "Yea, but you were thinking it."

"I think you did very well, kiddo." Grampa spoke over the bickering two so Kyle could hear him. "This is just a stepping stone. Don't think about doing too much, too soon. Stay steady, stay consistent. Show your strengths, but take your time."

"Yea, it's not like you can just jump to the majors." Dave came back to the phone. "Just keep that ERA low and work on your WHIP."

"My WHIP is still under one." Kyle defended himself quickly.

"Yea, but will it stay that way?" Noah butted in.

"Not if he keeps worrying about homers given up." Dave answered.

"Shut up." Kyle muttered. "It's not easy to forget a homer."

"Have Jake hit some off you in the winter." Dave said.

"No way." Kyle immediately rejected.

"Do you have any plans for Saturday, Kyle?" Mom interrupted. "Will your team do an event?"

"Yea. Another game. I don't know, Mom, maybe they do fireworks after? I haven't heard anything." Kyle told her.

"What about going out with your teammates?" Dad asked.

"Not really interested." Kyle said. "These guys won't be lifelong friends or anything. Heck, I barely know their names. If nothing is happening right after the game, then I'm probably just going home and going to bed. Recovery days are more important than ever." Kyle talked more about how he spends his days between starts, sounding more and more like he was getting into a routine. After another half hour, he said his goodbye and we let him go.

"I'm a little worried that he's not making friends out there." Mom expressed, looking to Dad.

Dave spoke up. "It's not like he's making enemies either, Mom. It's probably just the way things are. Everyone is there for baseball. Trying to move up another level. They're basically competitors against one another."

"I still think it's good to be on friendly terms." Mom said. "It's important to connect with each other. Be more than just a baseball player."

"More than just a baseball player?" Noah repeated and laughed. "Come on, Mom."

"I'm serious, Noah James." Mom stood up, high above us. "I want you to look at Zeke and tell me he's just a ball player. He chose to further his education. He has other interests and hobbies. Dave is also going to college, where he'll take some classes and figure out which major suits him. Jake loves math and found a class to take this summer. I want you to be a little more outgoing and active in trying new things. If you don't find something to do by Monday, I'll find something for you."

"Hey! I have hobbies." Noah stood up too, in order to defend himself. "I'm learning how to drive. I go to the arcade and cages with Jake. I hang out with friends like Alisha and Kaylee. We have plans to go to the A's game on Sunday." He pointed at Grampa. "Grampa and I will go bowling more."

"No complaints here." Grampa chuckled. "Mary, if you ask me, I think it's good to have such focused children. The kids know what they want and they're going to chase after it."

"But what happens when and if they fail?" She asked.

I looked to Noah.

"I won't fail. I'll keep trying until I make it." Noah declared.

"Not everyone makes it, Noah." Mom hit him with a hard truth. "This is why we got Kyle set up with an accountant and financial advisor. So he can set away most of his signing bonus money into investments so that it can accrue dividends and interest. He'll have a security blanket if it doesn't work out like he had hoped."

"I'll do the same." Noah said. "And if I don't make it all the way, then I can always take over the family business." He laughed. "Join you guys in real estate."

Mom looked to Dad, sharing a look of uncertainty.

Dad pushed himself up from the couch, now the tallest in the room. "Alright, we don't need to have all the answers in a night. It's getting late and tomorrow is a full day for everyone. You boys need to help Grampa with some more prepping and get this downstairs sparkling clean. Dave, Jake, I hope you two get another chapter done tomorrow. If you have any questions, find out early. Don't wait until the last minute. Noah, bowling will not count as an extra summer activity for you since Jake does it too. I think your mother is right to have you doing something else this summer. I'm not saying it has to be a class or another sport. Just try something new."

"Okay." Noah finally accepted the task.