Top of the fifth, Kyle took the mound with a look of determination. He had to start with the cleanup hitter, someone who had previously got a single. This time, he couldn't even touch Kyle's pitches and went down swinging. Batter five fouled off one, but also went down swinging. Batter six straight up missed all three pitches and became victim number eight. Kyle went back to the dugout, putting a hand behind his ear as he looked to the stands. Almost as if to say: I can't hear you.
"What a show-off!"
"Marie can do even better than that!"
"Try not to lose the shutout."
A bunch of comments came down from the girls.
"You can do it, Kyle!" Only Marie sounded supportive.
Garret, one of the last to get into the dugout, laughed. "I don't think I want them to show up for me on Saturday. They're more like a firing squad than a cheering squad."
"They've just never forgiven him for dumping Marie." Dave laughed too from his spot on the bench.
