Scrimmage (7)

Linus felt really happy with his at-bat, though he didn't show it outwardly. He had executed well, being patient at the plate and capitalizing on a favorable count to make solid contact. The pitcher had been forced into a corner, throwing him an easy fastball, but even then, Linus had executed his swing perfectly, earning his first ever hit in a real game. 

Now, with two runners on base—Linus standing on first and the runner ahead of him on second—there was still one out in the inning. The score was 5-2, but Linus could feel the momentum shifting in their favor.

His mind briefly flashed to the system that had been glowing from a mission completion since he got his first hit. He hadn't given much thought to the idea of hidden missions before, but now it was clear that they existed—since he had now completed 2 of them. Also completing them would help him improve faster than just practice alone. He could already see the upgrade from mission reward.

[Batting]: E 

- Contact: E+

- Power: E

- Bunt: F+

But there wasn't time to dwell on it. The game was far from over, and his focus needed to stay sharp. He glanced over to 2nd base, where the other runner was crouching low, ready to sprint to the next base on any contact. Linus did the same, shifting his weight and preparing to take off at any moment.

The next batter was the team's relief pitcher, batting ninth in the lineup. From what Linus had seen in practice, most pitchers weren't strong hitters, and this one was no different. As expected, the pitcher squared around to bunt. The tension rose as the pitcher eyed the field, trying to place the ball perfectly to advance the runners without risking an out. The pitcher's bunt was executed cleanly, a soft tap down the first-base line.

Linus took off, sprinting toward second base as the first baseman charged in to field the ball. His legs pumped hard as he heard the second baseman's shouts from behind him, urging him to run. The ball rolled cleanly toward the first baseman, and the play at first was made easily, but Linus was already safely standing on 2nd.

He looked up just in time to see the other runner slide into third. The sacrifice bunt had worked perfectly—now, with two outs, both runners were in scoring position. The excitement was building in the dugout, and Linus could feel the energy shift in his teammates. They were one hit away from turning this game into a real comeback.

With runners on second and third and the top of the lineup coming up to bat, the pressure was on. The next batter, the team's leadoff hitter, had made solid contact earlier in the game, and everyone in the dugout was hoping for another hit. Linus took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, but his muscles were coiled, ready to explode into action the moment the ball was put into play.

The pitcher, clearly feeling the pressure, checked the runners, then wound up and delivered a fastball low and inside. The batter swung aggressively, making contact with a sharp ding as the ball shot down the left-field line. Linus took off, sprinting toward third as the ball curved foul. He quickly jogged back to second, trying to keep his focus on the next pitch.

The next delivery was a changeup, a deceptive pitch that the batter swung through, missing completely. Linus grimaced. It was a smart pitch, throwing off the batter's timing, and now the count was 0-2. The pitcher seemed to have regained some control, and the pressure was mounting on the batter to make something happen. Linus could hear his teammates shouting encouragement, urging their leadoff hitter to stay focused and battle through the count.

The pitcher delivered again, this time throwing a fastball on the inside of the strike zone. The batter didn't hesitate. Ding! The ball sailed toward left-center field, and Linus didn't wait to see where it would land—he took off as soon as the bat made contact since there were already 2 outs. His legs moved fast, driving him toward third base as the ball soared through the air. He could see the outfielders scrambling to get to it in time, but the ball was dropping fast, and Linus knew they wouldn't catch it in time.

He rounded third base with a burst of speed, eyes locked on home plate. His heart pounded as he raced down the base path, legs burning but adrenaline pushing him forward. The ball dropped into the outfield, bouncing just in front of the left fielder, and Linus knew he had a chance to score.

He charged toward home, fully expecting the throw to come. His mind raced with scenarios—would he need to slide? Would he have to dodge the catcher? But the throw never came. The left fielder was too far out, and Linus crossed the plate standing up. He heard the umpire shout, "Safe!" just as the dugout erupted into cheers.

The runner from third had already crossed home plate a few seconds before him, and Linus glanced over to see the batter sliding safely into second. They had scored two runs, cutting the lead to 5-4, and the team's energy was electric. The dugout was alive with noise, and Linus couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. His hit had set all of this into motion, and now they were back in the game.

As Linus jogged back toward the dugout, he exchanged high-fives with his teammates. The mood had shifted—what had once seemed like a nearly unwinnable game was now within their reach. Linus couldn't stop the grin from spreading across his face. His first hit, his first run, and now his team was just one hit away from tying the game.

As he sat down on the bench, catching his breath, he stole a glance at the system interface again. The numbers hadn't changed since his last check, but now he was thinking ahead. What other hidden missions could be waiting for him? The system seemed to reward him for his performance, and with every hit, every run, he was inching closer to becoming the player he wanted to be.

The next batter stepped up to the plate, his face tense with concentration. Linus watched carefully, knowing that a single could bring in the tying run from second base. The pitcher, now visibly rattled, took a deep breath and delivered a fastball.

Ding! The ball rocketed off the bat, a hard line drive close to the second baseman. Linus was on the edge of his seat, heart pounding in anticipation, but just as it seemed like they were about to tie the game, Elias—the opposing team's second baseman—made a diving catch. His glove snagged the ball out of the air, just inches from the ground.

Linus's heart sank. The inning was over.

The dugout collectively sighed, and Linus felt the disappointment wash over him. They had been so close. One more hit, and they could have tied the game. The other team celebrated lightly—there were no over-the-top cheers, but their relief was obvious. They had been pushed to their limits, and they knew it.

Linus got up, grabbing his glove and walking toward the field. Despite the loss, he couldn't help but feel proud of what he had accomplished. His first hit, scoring his first run, and playing a role in a near-comeback—it was all a big step forward. He felt stronger, more confident, and even though they had lost this game, Linus knew this was only the beginning.

As he walked off the field after the final out, Elias, the second baseman, came over to him. "Nice hit out there, Linus," Elias said with a grin. "You almost had us."

Linus nodded, appreciative of the compliment. "Thanks. That was a great catch at the end. You really stole away our chance to tie the game."

Elias smiled, giving Linus a quick fist bump before heading back to his own team. Linus lingered for a moment, watching the other team pack up. He could hear his teammates talking quietly behind him—some frustration, some disappointment, but overall, there was a sense of pride. They had fought hard, and despite the loss, they had given it their all.

As Linus packed up his gear and walked toward the edge of the field with his team, he couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed since he first joined the team. Baseball was starting to feel like something he could truly excel at. With the system by his side, pushing him to improve, Linus knew that this was just the start of his journey. There would be more games, more challenges, and more opportunities to prove himself.

He glanced up at the evening sky, a calm sense of determination settling in. Today had been a good day—his first real breakthrough in the game. But Linus knew he couldn't get stuck in today's success. To move forward, he had to focus on his shortcomings and keep improving.