Chapter 5 — Positions and Tensions
The next practice fell on a warm Thursday afternoon. Kids rushed around the field, laughing, dropping their gloves, chasing each other, and occasionally remembering that baseball was supposed to be happening.
Zach stepped onto the dirt with a bounce in his step.
Today was special.
Today, Coach Ramirez would assign positions.
Zach didn't know where he'd end up—he liked catcher, he liked pitcher, he would've happily played center field or shortstop or water boy if it meant baseball.
Tyler jogged over, breathless and excited. "Hey! Coach said we're doing real drills today! Like actual baseball!"
Zach grinned wide. "I'm ready!"
Tyler nodded. "Just, uh… maybe don't throw at max power again."
"I wasn't!" Zach defended. "That was only, like… eighty percent."
Tyler stared. "What does that even mean?!"
Zach shrugged. "Feels… like a number."
Tyler groaned into his glove.
Coach Ramirez Assembles the Team
"Alright! Everyone! Line up on the foul line!" Coach Ramirez shouted.
The kids scrambled into a crooked line. Ramirez paced in front of them like a drill sergeant, whistle hanging around his neck.
"We're doing position evaluations today. That means I'm watching how you throw, catch, move, and think."
Blake smirked confidently at the "throw" part.
Tyler gulped nervously at the "catch" part.
Zach smiled at all of it.
Coach pointed his clipboard at the group.
"First up—catchers. Anyone who wants to try it, step forward."
Zach stepped forward instantly.
Tyler blinked. "Wait—you want to be catcher too?"
"Yes!" Zach said happily. "Catcher controls the whole game."
"That's… actually kind of cool," Tyler admitted.
Three other kids stepped forward, including Blake, who swaggered like he owned the position.
"You?" Tyler whispered. "But Blake's the pitcher."
Blake overheard. "And I'm the best catcher too."
Tyler sighed. "Dude, pick a struggle…"
Catcher Tryouts Begin
Coach Ramirez had them squat behind home plate one at a time while he tossed pitches.
The first kid missed half the balls.
The second kid did okay.
Blake stepped up third and crouched confidently.
"Alright, Blake, show us what you've got," Ramirez said.
He tossed the ball. Blake caught it cleanly.
Another. Clean.
Another. Clean.
Parents clapped.
Blake smirked over his shoulder at Zach.
Then it was Zach's turn.
He crouched, feeling the dirt under his cleats. The borrowed glove was slightly big, but he loved it anyway.
Coach Ramirez wound up and threw a moderate fastball.
Pop!
A clean catch.
Another pitch.
Pop!
Blake's eyebrows twitched.
A curve.
Pop!
A low one.
Zach shifted smoothly.
Pop!
Coach Ramirez paused mid-throw.
"…How long have you been catching?"
Zach shrugged. "Today."
Blake spluttered. "WHAT?!"
Tyler muttered under his breath, "What kind of final boss am I teammates with…"
Coach stood slowly. "Alright. I've seen enough."
Positions Are Assigned (Sort Of)
Ramirez blew his whistle.
"Listen up! Positions aren't final yet, but here's what I'm thinking."
Kids leaned forward.
"Blake… you'll remain the starting pitcher—for now."
Blake puffed out his chest.
"And Zach—"
Blake froze.
"—you're splitting time between catcher and pitcher."
The field went silent.
Tyler mouthed "oh no."
Parents whispered in surprise.
Blake's eyes went wide, then narrowed dangerously.
"THAT'S NOT FAIR!" Blake shouted. "He's FIVE!"
Ramirez raised an eyebrow. "Yes. And?"
"And he shouldn't pitch! Or catch! He's too small!"
Coach crossed his arms. "His size isn't the issue. He's got skill."
Blake stomped his foot. "I've been pitcher for TWO YEARS!"
"And you still are," Ramirez said calmly. "But Zach's talent is undeniable. I'd be a fool not to train it."
Zach stepped forward, hands raised awkwardly. "I can play somewhere else! I don't want to take anyone's spot!"
Blake rounded on him. "Yes, you do!"
"No I—"
"STOP LYING!" Blake screamed.
Zach flinched.
Silence fell over the field.
Blake's Frustration Explodes
Blake's dad marched forward from the bleachers.
"What's going on here?" he demanded. "Why's my son yelling?"
Coach Ramirez kept his tone even. "It's just a misunderstanding. I'm evaluating all the players."
Blake jabbed a finger at Zach. "He's FIVE, Dad! And he's taking my position!"
His father frowned at Zach as if the boy had committed a crime.
"Coach," he said stiffly, "surely you're not serious. A five-year-old pitching? That's dangerous."
"For who?" Ramirez asked flatly.
Blake's dad blinked. "Well… for him, of course."
Ramirez's voice dropped. "I watched him throw yesterday. Trust me. He's not the one in danger."
A couple parents laughed nervously.
Blake turned bright red, humiliated.
"This is stupid!" he shouted. "I'm better than him and everyone knows it!"
Zach took a timid step back.
He didn't want this.
He didn't want anyone angry.
He just wanted to play baseball.
Blake shoved him.
Zach stumbled but didn't fall.
"STOP IT!" Tyler yelled, stepping between them. "Zach didn't do anything!"
Blake shoved Tyler too. "Stay out of it!"
"HEY!" Coach Ramirez barked.
Everyone froze.
"That's enough. Blake, grab your gear. We're talking privately."
Blake scowled and stomped away, his father following angrily.
System Response
As Zach watched Blake leave, guilt churned in his stomach.
Ping.
"Quest Update: Social Challenge Encountered."
Outcome: You stayed calm under pressure."
Reward: +1 Mental Resilience."
Zach blinked.
"Mental… what?"
He certainly didn't feel resilient. His chest felt tight.
Tyler nudged him. "Dude, don't worry. Blake's always like that. You didn't do anything wrong."
"Are you sure…?" Zach whispered.
"Positive," Tyler said firmly. "You're amazing, Zach. People get mad when someone new is better. It's like… a science law."
"That's not a science law," Zach said.
Tyler shrugged. "It should be."
Zach snorted a tiny laugh.
Coach Returns
After a few minutes, Coach Ramirez came back alone, rubbing his forehead.
He gathered the kids again.
"Alright. We're continuing practice. Blake will be back next time. Everyone clear?"
The kids nodded.
Ramirez crouched down next to Zach.
"You okay, kid?"
Zach looked at his cleats. "I don't want anyone mad at me."
Coach sighed softly. "Zach… no matter what you do, someone will get mad. Especially when you're talented."
Zach's eyes lifted.
"But your job isn't to make everyone like you. It's to work hard and be a good teammate. And you're doing that."
Zach breathed out slowly.
"Okay," he whispered.
Ramirez ruffled his hair. "Good. Now let's get to work."