Keeping it simple to start with, Coach Mauve starts with no outs and no runners on. Hitting a grounder to Lunaca Romanio, the third baseman. Making the play and obtaining the first out with ease. Leo backing him up like he's supposed to, and Neo backing up any misthrows.
No changes for the next hit, coach hits the next one to Ray Blackwood, the right fielder. The ball falls short, so he waits for the one hop. Then throwing the ball to second base in order to prevent the runner from advancing.
"Runner on first, one out!" Coach Mauve announces before smoking the next ball right up the middle.
The two middle infielders couldn't reach it so Neo scooped it up and threw it to the cutoff man. No mistakes so far, its almost too easy without support items involved.
"Runners on first and second, one out!" Coach Mauve yells.
He spikes a ball into the ground for the catcher, Lance Turbo to snag and thrust to third base. Lunaca, getting the force play at third, redirecting the ball towards second base. Where Dimitri Stone receives that ball, making the second force out and redirecting it once more. The first baseman Covah Raw successfully catches the throw and secures the third and final out. Although unnecessary, the extra practice doesn't hurt. Plus its fun to watch the infielders work from the outfield.
Back to no outs and nobody on base, coach Mauve hits a rocket to shortstop, where Flint Quench prepares to take up the ball. Right as it reaches his glove it takes a bad hop, penetrating the infield's defense.
Leo doesn't hesitate to charge the baseball and make a play. Effectively swooping the ball up off the ground as if it were a princess, and making a solid throw to second. Where Flint is already prepared to receive and make the tag. And with that, the starters have all been announced.
The practice went on with each player swapping out between each play. Mistakes were made here and there, but nobody's perfect. Baseball requires a short memory. Dwelling on a play of the past will only hinder the success of the future.
Towards the end of practice, both Neo and Leo managed to make no mistakes. The bases were loaded, with two outs. A do or die situation almost guaranteed to be hit to the outfield. The question was to whom. Coach Mauve hits a hard line drive to center field. Neo pivots and pauses to get a good read on the ball. Line drives are the hardest hits to read because all depth perception is thrown out the window.
Neo manages determines that the ball won't carry, using his arms as a marker. He starts running toward the ball at full speed. Successfully catching the ball at his chest and quickly transferring to his off hand for a powerful delivery.
Now was his chance to let it rip. Not often does one get the chance to do so.
Neo gathers his momentum, driving his left elbow into his rib cage and whipping his right arm around like a slingshot. The throw was on target, looking like a dime. Until the first baseman, Covah Raw stepped in to cut it off at the pitchers mound.
"Hey! What the hell was that? Why'd you cut it off you dunce?!" Neo critics from the outfield.
Coach Mauve signals Neo to calm down and approaches Covah. "Covah, care to explain?" he asks.
"I made the assumption that the runner would had already made it home. Therefore, requiring me to cut it off and focus the attention on the lead runner making his way to third." Covah elaborates.
"Bull.. Shit.. man! Neo had his ass hosed. Where do you get off saying he was already home?" Leo buts in from left field.
"Huh, it seems that the rookie can see imaginary runners. Are we sure he's fit to start next week?" Covah asks sarcastically.
Coach visibly starts to get frustrated, "That's enough you three, you're all bitching over nothing. If this goes on, I'll have no choice but to bench the three of you on game day. So you better start getting along, is that Understood?" Coach Mauves states.
"Yes sir!" The three of them respond in compliance.
"Alright, everyone dismissed. Same time tomorrow for Support Item practice." Coach Mauve informs, then turning to Covah to talk to him personally. "Look, It's the last year of your contract Covah. You're on your way to retire soundly, so why waste the energy on the rookies?" He questions.
"You wouldn't understand. Please, just stay out of it." Covah says as he makes his way to pack up.
"You don't really still hold a grudge after all this time, do you?" Coach Mauve asks.
Covah pauses, but doesn't respond. Then decides to keep on walking.
The team packs up their equipment in the dugout and relocates to the locker room to shower and undress. Before Neo gets a chance to shower, Coach Mauve asks to see him in his office.
"I'll be right back, just don't head out without me alright." Neo states.
"Right, you got it." Leo replies before entering the shower.
Neo heads to the Coach Office and knocks before entering.
"Come on in Neo." Coach Mauve states through the muffled sound of the wood door.
Neo opens the door to a small room with a desk on the far end. On his left is a shelf with trophies, plaques, rings, pictures, and signed accolades. Dating back to when his father was still playing for them. Neo walks over to pick up a picture of his fathers old team, scanning the players from left to right.
"3005, nearly 5 years ago to the day. That was the last team picture we took before all went to shit." Coach Mauve comments.
"Covah, he's in this picture. Is he the last one left?" Neo asks.
"This year will be his last, soon enough he will retire and another rookie will take his place. That's just how it goes. A flower will grow, and eventually wither. Replaced by the seed of its successor. Its nutrients being the strength of the next. Remember that well." Coach Mauve explains.
"Yeah, I think I get it." Neo says.
"Good, but that is isn't actually why I called you in here." Coach Mauve states as he digs for something in his dusty storage bins at the corner of his office.
Neo puts the picture frame back and faces the coach.
"Ah, there it is!" Coach Mauve yells with relief.
He pulls out two support items and blows the dust off the top of them. A pair of gravity boots and a neuro-link helmet.
"Holy shit! This was my dad's support gear! I knew it had to be out there but I didn't think that you would had it." Neo exclaims.
"Yeah, I made sure to grab these and keep them safe before they fell into the wrong hands. Only one person is worthy to wear these and that would be none other than you, his son." Coach Mauve explains.
Neo inspects the items, appreciating the history in every scratch and discoloration.
"Now they are a little dated, so I would suggest investing in some of your own gear. Don't be a carbon copy of your father. Create your own image." Coach Mauve adds.
"Yes sir I will, thank you for this. I'll be sure to keep these safe." Neo states as he dashes out the office.
"You better!" Coach Mauve blurts out just before Neo is out of ear shot.
Neo walks out to see Leo already ready to go.
"You not gonna take a shower?" Leo asks.
Neo walks by to grab his belongings while Leo gets up from the bench.
"Nah I'll take one at home. Lets get outta here. I've got something cool to show you." he says with a grin.
The two of them head to the designated teleporter room and get beamed back to the real world.