I jogged back to my dropped bat, picked it up and hurried back to the dugout with my head down.
"Don't mind it." Mahki patted over my helmet as he strode to the batters box.
Don't mind? How can I not? Batting is the only time I feel like I belong.
"Jake. Hold up." Coach greeted me as soon as I walked into the dugout. "Come here for a second."
I shuffled over to him, still keeping my head down, a little afraid to make eye contact.
I heard a sigh, then watched coach's knees bend to bring him eye level with me. "Son, don't get down on yourself. That was a good hit down the line. It's just unlucky that the third baseman was playing closer to the line. Maybe if it was also faster, it could have gotten through. But no matter. The play is already done. All you can do now is look up and look forward to your next at bat."
I tilted my head up, not too surprised that Coach knew what I was thinking.
