Page 112 of Baseball and Shifters

D tips his mask, expression granite-serious until he turns towards the VIP box. A quick salute and a blown kiss, then he drops into his crouch.

“And at third— number sixty-four, Lucas Barker!”

That’s me.

I jog to my corner, blowing a kiss to my Moonbeam. The bond warms like the flush no doubt covering her cheeks right now.

Once all of our players have been announced it’s time for our competitors. Across the diamond, Arcane Ridge jogs into position. Their dark purple and silver uniforms sparkle under the lights, but they look dull compared to ours.

Ump settles behind Derrick. Liam toes the rubber. Bas flashes the infield sign, two quick taps, one closed fist.

We’ve got this.

When we're all in our places the first pitch flys.

Liam winds, uncoils, and the ball screams in. Perfect pitch, strike one.

Cheers explode. Pride surges through the bond so hard my chest aches.

The tournament has officially begun.

In the bottom of the second, Liam hits a line drive down center field, sliding into first just before the first baseman gets the ball. Bas is up to bat next and he waits for his pitch, getting two strikes and a ball before finally nailing the ball to left field. Elliott strikes out but Liam steals third. When D gets up to bat, the coward fucking vamp straight up hits him with the ball, walking him to first and Bas to second. He knows D’s a power hitter and didn’t want to risk him hitting it out of the park and getting three runs for it.

The next batter strikes out too, giving us two outs when I take the box with bases loaded. I swing hard, connecting with the tip of my bat, for a pop up foul ball. The next pitch goes the same. There’s no way I’m letting this fucker strike me out like the others. As long as I connect with the ball, we can keep doing this all day. Count Walk-ula must figure that out because his next pitch nails me in the fucking leg.

The crowd boos as I throw my bat to the side and jog to first, shaking my leg out.

“You gonna pitch tonight or just hand out charity walks?” Liam scoffs as he jogs home for our first run of the night.

Bases loaded yet again with two outs, Riley takes the box, tapping his foot with his bat before getting in his stance.

“Come on, Van Blair! Bring me home!” I holler from first.

He nods, lifts the bat, readying for his swing. And he misses.

Fuck!

Two more pitches and we’re back in the dugout getting our gloves to retake the field.

The next two innings go by in a flash of outs on both sides. We enter the fifth inning with only one run on the board. The only thing that makes up for this not being a complete blow out game is the fact that they can’t even make it to third, let alone home. Liam keeps their batters off guard, switching pitches from deadly fast to sweet curves, earning another satisfying groan for the Arcane Ridge dugout with yet another strike out. At the top of the next inning, Bas makes a killer catch resulting in an epic double play, getting two of the vamps out in one swift go.

Jordan Prowler, Trent’s replacement, gets a ground ball, throwing it to me with a precision Trent could never have performed.

Why the hell didn’t we move this guy up sooner?

I catch it, executing a lightning tag getting our third out of the sixth inning and the crowd goes wild. The bond lights up like a Christmas tree with Rachel’s pride and excitement and it makes it the best moment in my career so far. Feeling her exhilaration in the bond escalates my own and I lean into it, playing the game with an enthusiasm I don’t think I ever felt before her.

The Ravens come back in the top of the seventh, scoring their first run of the night. Liam sits an inning out to ice his shoulder and our backup pitcher, Blake Allen, can’t hold them off. He ends up walking the first two batters. Liam rips off the ice wrap, ready to storm the field when Allen throws the fatal pitch.

The batter hits it clear out to deep right field, nowhere near our man. By the time we get the ball and pass it to the bases, the first runner makes it home. We’ve got one on first and third when the next batter takes the box. The stadium goes silent as Allen winds up the pitch. I can practically feel Rachel chewing her bottom lip through the bond as the ball sails through the air.

The thwack of the bat making contact echos and the ball flies through the air, right to me. Diving to make the catch, I bare-hand the chopper, hurling it to D to tag out the vamp trying to steal home. With two outs and one still on base, Liam pauses play, taking over on the mound.

Liam comes out to a cacophony of cheers and Rachel’s amusement rings through the bond.

“Couldn’t even sit out a full inning, could ya?” Elliott chuckles from second base. At the same time I say, “What took you so long?”

“Sorry, Bro. Didn’t think you’d be stuck carrying the team for the whole inning. Good catch.” He nods his head toward me before turning to take his position on the mound, digging his cleats into the dirt.

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