"I should have leaned in and taken a hit to the arm." Noah muttered as he stuffed his batting gloves in his bag.
I elbowed him. "That's technically illegal. The umpire can call it a strike if it's still in the zone. Instead of leaning in, open up your stance and put your left foot out more."
Noah suddenly grinned. He grabbed his glove and threw his arm around me as we left the dugout together. "Look at you! Starting to know all the rules!"
I pushed him off, slightly embarrassed. I didn't know all the little rules, but I really did pay attention to ones that surrounded batters.
Bottom of the third. Kyle handled them extraordinarily well. Batter seven hit into a groundout to Noah. Then it was back-to-back strikeouts again for Kyle. Four through three innings. He pumped his fists excitedly as we went back to the dugout together.
"How's his control?" I heard Coach asking Mitchell in a low voice.
Mitchell was smiling. "Impeccable."
