The Field of Love - 12. Chapter 12

The Field of Love

Chapter 12

“And to think, that was their best pitcher,” Andy declared as he fought the urge to kiss his boyfriend right there in the dugout. He threw his arm around Joey instead and added with a triumphant grin, “Good game.”

Andy knew his dad was about to announce his run for Governor. Every move Andy made reflected on him, and there was no way he’d risk doing anything that might hurt his father’s chances.

“Thanks babe,” Joey beamed at his boyfriend. He pointed toward Sammy. “Did you see that triple Sammy hit? He was like a fighter jet racing around the bases!”

Andy laughed. “Joey, I was coaching at first base—I waved him to second, remember?”

Joey playfully punched Andy’s arm. “Don’t be a smarty.”

Sammy stood nearby, watching the two of them with quiet admiration. His chest tightened—not with jealousy, but with yearning. The way Andy and Joey laughed together, the ease of their affection, the sparkle in their eyes when they looked at each other—it was like watching sunlight dance on water.

He imagined what it might feel like to have someone’s arm around his shoulder, to be called “babe” with that kind of warmth. He saw the closeness his friends shared and hoped one day he could find the same thing. Though he'd settle for someone to kiss him into delirium while he waited.

OOOOO

A soft smile tugged at his lips as he tucked his hands into his pockets. One day, he hoped. One day, maybe someone would look at him the way Joey looked at Andy.

Mike joined the boys in the dugout and patted Sammy on the back. “Awesome game, Thunder,” he said with a grin. “Your middle name should be Lightning instead of Thunder, with how fast you rounded those bases!”

Sammy blushed at the good-natured compliment. It made him wonder—maybe, just maybe—he and Mike could have a relationship like Andy and Joey. The thought brought a smile to his face.

The umpire’s call for the home team to take the field broke up the dugout gathering.

Eric jogged to the mound while Brent shifted over to first base. The rest of the defensive lineup stayed the same—except Joey, who would be leading off against Pikeville’s left-handed pitcher in this game.

After Eric finished his warm-up pitches, Sammy and Joey met him on the mound.

“Hey, big guy,” Sammy said as he clapped Eric on the shoulder. “Just throw strikes and let the rest of us play a little defense, okay?”

Joey grinned and gave Eric a playful pat on the backside. “Yeah, let us have some fun too.”

Eric chuckled. “I’ll try not to hog the spotlight.”

Chris called over from third base, “Hey, save some grounders for me this time, will ya? I’m starting to feel like a lawn ornament over here.”

Joey laughed. “You? Please. You just like standing around looking pretty.”

Chris smirked. “Guilty as charged.”

Sammy chimed in, “As long as nobody hits it to me, we’re golden.”

Andy shouted from the dugout, “Confidence, Sammy! That’s what I like to hear!”

Sammy grinned. “Fake it till you make it, Coach.”

The boys shared a round of glove slaps and light-hearted jabs before jogging to their positions, the energy high and spirits even higher.

Andy smiled and thought to himself, Sammy has changed. He really seems more relaxed.

Eric was true to his word. He wasn’t fancy with his pitches. He just threw strikes and never walked a batter. He tried to keep his pitches low and force the batters to hit ground balls.

After the first batter struck out looking on three straight strikes, the next two batters started swinging at every pitch. The second batter hit a weak grounder to Joey who threw him out at first and the third batter hit a line drive to Chris at third.

In the dugout Sammy gave Chris a high-five. “I guess Eric isn’t forgetting you at third.”

Chris laughed and shook his head. “It was mostly self-defense. I really wasn’t ready for that hit.”

Joey chimed in. “The main thing is, you caught it.”

“Good defense, guys. Now let’s hit the cover off the ball.” Andy said just before the umpire called batter up.

The team started to back-slap one another getting fired up for their turn at bat. “Lead us off, Joey. Get a hit against this lefty.” Robby encouraged Joey.

Joey slid the batting helmet on his head before he pulled on his gloves. He grabbed his favorite bat and adjusted his gloves as he approached the home plate. He set himself as he looked down at the catcher.

“What the hell are you looking at, hillbilly?” The catcher said, just loud enough for Joey to hear.

Joey just smiled and ignored the question. But he dug in a little deeper in the box.

The first pitch was high and outside for ball one. The catcher goaded Joey. “I heard your girlfriend did it with the football team.”

Andy was too far away to hear but from the way Joey clenched his jaw, the catcher was trying to goad Joey into making a mistake. “Stay focused, Joey”

Joey nodded and stared at the pitcher. He would just ignore the catcher, for now. He watched the pitcher start his wind-up. He had decided to follow Sammy’s example and go with the pitch if the next one was on the outside part of the strike zone. The pitch was again away from Joey but caught enough of the zone that Joey went with it and drove a screaming liner just foul past the first baseman.

“"Not bad, but I heard you were better at handling balls behind the truck stop.” The catcher taunted as Joey settled back in the batter’s box.

Joey smiled as he tapped home plate with his bat and took a couple practice swings. The first two pitches had been fast balls so Joey figured the next would be an off-speed ball. It was a curve ball that would have hit Joey if he hadn’t hit the ground.

Brent stormed from the dugout and pushed the catcher who had been standing over Joey with a big grin. Both teams reacted to Brent and the knocked-down pitch and gathered around Brent, Joey, and the catcher.

Words were thrown around and a few shoves, but no punches were thrown. The umpires and coaches restored order and calmed both teams down. No one was ejected from the game, but both teams were warned that they would be, with any display of unsportsmanlike conduct from here on.

On the way back to the dugout, Coach Parke asked Brent, “What was all that about?”

Brent looked back at Joey as he dusted the dirt from his uniform. “Joey is an important part of the team, if I like him or not.” Brent shook his head. “Didn’t you hear the catcher saying crap to Joey?"

“I did, Brent. But that’s part of the game.” Coach Parker stopped and turned to return to the third base coach’s box.

Brent stopped too and said, “But they threw at him. That’s different.”

Andy watched Brent head into the dugout. He wasn’t sure what was said between Joey and the catcher or Brent and Coach Parker, but to say he was surprised at Brent taking up for Joey would be an understatement.

With the count two balls and one strike, Joey took his place in the batter’s box without any commentary from the catcher. Joey singled to left with a seeing eyeball that went between the shortstop and third baseman.

The hometown crowd who had been quiet since the dustup at home plate erupted with cheers.

Andy patted Joey’s bottom. “Good job, Joey.”

Taylor faked a bunt on the first pitch but took it for a ball outside. Coach Parker signaled for a hit and run play on the next pitch.

As the pitcher started his delivery, Joey took off for second. The second baseman ran to second to cover any throws, but Taylor expertly hit the ball where the second baseman had been. The ball skipped into right field with Joey headed for third base.

The crowd chanted Cougars! Cougars! Cougars! and stomped their feet, as Sammy stepped up to the plate.

Sammy smoked the first pitch to deep center field, but not deep enough as the center fielder caught it short of the warning track. However, it was deep enough for Joey to tag up and score. Cougar 1 Pikeville 0

Brent followed up with a double to left that hit in front of the fence and bounced up and off it. Unfortunately for the left fielder it bounced away from him and allowed Taylor to score from first.

Some of the basketball cheerleaders in the stands started a chant-

Double trouble, look at us go!
Runner scored, now steal the show!
Crack that bat, we’re on a roll—
Hot dogs flyin’, we’re in control!

Andy smiled at the chant and felt really good at the team support from the student body. It wasn’t like this last year.

Eric grounded out to short and Steve hit a short fly to right field where the right fielder made a shoestring catch for the third out.

Joey slapped gloves with Brent. “Good hit. And thanks for earlier.”

“He shouldn’t have tried to hit you. It pissed me off when the catcher stood over you with a shitty grin.” Brent muttered.

Joey smiled, “Thanks anyway.”

Brent answered with a shy nod of his head. “No problem.”

Pikeville managed a run in the third, but Eric shut them down the rest of the way. Sammy beat out an in-field hit after knocking a line drive off the pitcher’s leg in the sixth inning and Joey added another hit in the third inning. The final score was Pine Hill 2 Pikeville 1.

James met Brent on the way to his car in the parking lot. “You pitched an awesome game, Brent. Then you knocked in the winning run in the second game. That was so dope after Joey got bushed back.”

Brent nodded. “Thanks.”

“Speaking of that, what the hell got into you going after that catcher?” James quizzed.

Brent looked hard at James like he was trying to figure out if he could be open with him. “Look James, I know I can be an asshole.” Brent shook his head. “I don’t mean to be. It’s just…”

“What man? You can trust me. We’re teammates.” James assured Brent.

Brent stared at the cars as they drove away up the hill. “All my life my dad has blamed minorities, druggies, and rich people for him not having a job. Day and night it's all I’ve heard except get me another beer.”

“Wow. I’m sorry dude.” James’ face showed his empathy.

“It just flew all over me when Joey was thrown at. I could hear the shit the catcher was saying to him and it reminded me of me. And I didn’t like that me. You know?”

“Yeah, I do.” James bunted fist with Brent. “Listen, I’ve got to pick up my little brother from piano practice. But if you ever need someone to talk to, hit me up.”

Brent nodded. “Sure, bro.”

Andy caught up with Sammy in the locker room. “Hey Sammy. I want to invite you to my house for, uhmmm, let’s call it an after game get together.”

“I’ll need to let my father know.” Sammy replied.

Andy handed him his phone. “No problem. You can use my phone,”

“Thanks.” Sammy said and quickly called his dad. “Dad, we won both games.”

“That’s great son.” Billy Day told his son.

“I’m going to Andy’s for a while. If it’s okay?” Sammy smiled at Andy.

“Sure Sam. You’re old enough. Call me if you need a ride.” Billy said full of pride of his growing boy.

“Yes, sir.” Sammy disconnected the call and handed the phone back to Andy.

“Sweet. Let me round up the other guys and we’ll get going.” Andy smiled and turned to find the other guys.

On the way to Andy’s house, Sammy gently nudged Andy’s arm. “I don’t mean to be nosy,” he said, “but why do you have a security team? Do they drive you everywhere and stuff?”

From the front seat, Roger chuckled. “It’s to keep all his adoring fans at bay.”

Joey leaned in closer to Andy. “It’s not like that, and you know it, Roger.”

Andy met Sammy’s gaze and began to explain. “A few months ago, some men tried to break into our home. My dad and I had exposed a family’s criminal activities—both civil and criminal—and they wanted revenge. They were trying to cover up the murder of JT’s parents.”

He paused, glanced at the driver of the security team, then continued. “If it weren’t for this team, I’d be dead. I was shot during the attack. And now, with my dad about to announce his candidacy for Governor of Kentucky in a few days, things are only getting more intense.”

OOOOO