Linus nodded again at Coach's words, feeling a surge of confidence mixed with excitement as he left their conversation. He'd earned this spot. Coach believed he was ready, and that meant something. As he jogged over to join his teammates for fielding warm-ups, he couldn't help but feel his determination settle within him.
The thought of batting lower in the lineup, watching his teammates' approaches, and easing into his first official start felt reassuring. It was a chance to get a feel for the game's rhythm without all eyes immediately on him. Coach was right; he needed to take it all in, focus, and trust himself.
As Linus joined the rest of his team for fielding warm-ups, he took his place and focused on the routine that Coach Chris emphasized. The team was split into infield and outfield groups, each focusing on their specific pre-game drills to get in rhythm before facing the Örebro Spartans.