Page 15 of The Perfect Hit

“We'll just see what Coach Maddox says when it's game time,” Jake said, filling in his typical captain's role of being the neutral party.

We got into groups after all the warm-ups and stretching were done, the infielders with Coach Maddox and the outfielders with Coach Davidson. We started off with a bunch of grounders, and of course, who did I end up behind? Adam Taylor. I had a feeling I was going to be sick of this kid by the time tryouts ended.

We each had to take two balls at a time, one of them to the side to show our range of motion and getting to the ball, and the other was usually right at us but a fast and hard shot. I was prepared for both and felt pretty good about it. But the next time through, I fumbled the straight shot right at me.

“Buttars,” Coach Maddox said, leaning on the bat as he stared at me. “I don't think I've ever seen you miss one of those. Get focused. This is our year.”

I nodded, pounding my fist in the palm of my glove and setting up for another rocket shot right at me. This time I fielded it just like I always did.

After going through several rotations of drills to test our abilities, I glanced around, not sure what was off about the whole thing. This didn't feel like it had in the past couple of years of tryouts. It was as if the pressure had intensified after last year's fifth-place finish in the state tournament.

My stomach was all tied up in knots as we got up to take some pitches off Coach Davidson, the pressure already getting to me. I focused on the few swings and tips I'd learned while I was at that camp, but I barely touched the ball, fouling the few times I even made contact.

My swing wasn’t working, and I didn’t know how to fix it.

9

Hazel

Nearly twenty-four hours later, my stomach was still tied in knots. I’d talked to Colt about his tryouts late last night, and he was more than excited about their chances for this year’s team. He kept saying how they’d been at the camp with a bunch of the star baseball players in the area and that he and his team now knew their secrets and weaknesses. He’d also talked about his hitting difficulties, and I wished there was something I could do for him. Theater was my jam, and I didn’t know enough to help with the baseball aspect.

I’d tried to be upbeat and not a Debbie Downer, but all I could think about was figuring out who my leads would be. Sure, we hadn’t gotten to that point in the auditions the day before, but I guess I was hoping for some fresh face to come in off the street saying he or she was a professional actor, giving my characters the treatment they deserved.

I’d pretty much hidden out in Mrs. Sanderson’s classroom since first period, going over the script again in the hopes that I would find any errors. She said she’d give me a note for my other teachers this one time, and I appreciated it more than she knew.

I tried to hold back the small lunch I’d been able to eat as I resumed my seat in the second row of the auditorium. There were so many students milling about, and I just hoped I’d know who to cast where. Leads were important, but after another go-through of the script, I realized just how much I loved the secondary characters. I glanced down, seeing that my fingers had twisted the front of my shirt into a knot.

I needed to get it together.

Ellie walked to the middle of the stage and started reading lines for the main female character. She messed up one spot, but the rest of it seemed to be really spot-on.

Once she was done, I leaned over and said, “She did a great job at that.”

Mrs. Sanderson nodded. “Probably as close to perfect as we’ll get for the role.”

Marcy Johnson went up after, and while she wasn’t as polished as Ellie, she did a great job too. People were clicking into the roles within my brain, and breathing came much easier now that I had more faith in the people auditioning.

Several other students went, and it was simpler to place them in the smaller roles. But as the characters performed, there still wasn’t anyone perfect for the male lead. Was Scott Daniels not even showing up? Is that what he meant when he said I shouldn’t guess who would be cast when we saw him at the diner Sunday?

I glanced at my watch. 5:30 pm. We’d been there for what seemed like days, but it had only been a couple of hours.

“Apologies, ladies,” Scott said, strolling onto the stage. “I got delayed by a few things.” He looked at me and winked, but instead of it being cute, it seemed more of a show.

He performed several lines, and unlike most of the group, he did it from memory. That was impressive in and of itself since the final script had just been finished last weekend. Mrs. Sanderson said she’d given out copies of what we’d had before to anyone who wanted them.

I blew out a long breath, grateful that was done. We had at least one person for every role, but no backup for Scott.

One of the backstage hands walked onto the stage. “I think that’s our last audition.”

I glanced at the group sitting in the rows behind us and had a feeling that things wouldn’t be a total disaster.

Marcy sat next to me, and I grinned at her. “You did such a great job.”

She rolled her eyes. “Except for messing up in the middle.”

I patted her leg. “Well, considering how much time you had to prepare, I’d say that’s a win.”

“Wait,” a voice from the back called. “I’m ready to audition.”

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