Chapter 22 — Celebration, Surprises, and New Goals
The Dodgers spilled into the parking lot after the post-game cleanup, still buzzing from their win.
Zach walked with Tyler and Blake on either side of him—Tyler talking nonstop, Blake unusually quiet but clearly happy.
Tyler flailed his arms dramatically.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE WE WON! I'M STILL SHAKING! LOOK!"
He shook his hands violently.
Blake frowned.
"You're just doing that on purpose."
Tyler gasped.
"You don't know my nervous system!"
Zach giggled softly.
Team Pizza Party
Coach Ramirez clapped his hands.
"LISTEN UP! Since you guys worked your tails off today… we're celebrating."
The kids froze.
Tyler whispered,
"Please say pizza. Please say pizza. Please say pizza—"
"PIZZA PARTY!"
The Dodgers EXPLODED in cheers.
Parents smiled.
Kids screamed.
Someone threw their hat in the air.
Tyler collapsed to his knees.
"YES! THANK YOU BASEBALL GODS!"
Blake rolled his eyes, but even he smiled.
At the Pizza Place
The restaurant buzzed with noise as the Dodgers filled two long tables.
Laughter.
Shouting.
Stories from the game.
Emma, usually quiet, told the entire table:
"And then Zach threw the changeup, and the kid SWUNG like he was trying to hit a meteor!"
Everyone laughed.
Bryan shyly added,
"And then… then I caught it…"
The whole table erupted:
"BRYANNNNN!!"
He shrank into his hoodie, embarrassed but proud.
Tyler grabbed a slice of pepperoni.
"Zach. Blake. LISTEN."
Zach leaned in.
Blake rolled his eyes but leaned too.
Tyler lowered his voice like he was revealing government secrets.
"We. Are. LEGENDS."
Zach snorted.
Blake nearly choked on his soda.
"No," Blake said, "we just won one game."
Tyler pressed a finger to his lips.
"Shhhh. Let me have this."
Coach's Speech
Coach Ramirez stood and tapped a spoon on a glass.
"Hey, Dodgers!"
The kids fell silent.
"You worked hard today. You trusted each other. And you played baseball the right way—with heart."
He gestured toward Zach.
"And our player of the game—"
Zach froze.
"—is Bryan! That catch saved everything!"
The kids CHEERED.
Bryan turned bright red and hid under the table.
Tyler shouted,
"WE REALLY NEED TO WORK ON HIS CONFIDENCE!"
Coach laughed.
"But every single one of you made a difference. I'm proud of you."
The kids beamed.
A Quiet Moment Outside
As the party wound down, Zach stepped outside for air.
The sun was setting.
The sky orange and pink.
He closed his eyes—
Ping.
The system chimed softly.
"Congratulations, Zach."
"New Long-Term Goal Unlocked."
Goal: Become the Team's Ace Pitcher."
Difficulty: Very High."
Zach's heart thudded.
"Ace…?"
He whispered it out loud.
Becoming the ace meant:
Being the team's best pitcher
Carrying games
Leading the team
Responsibility
Pressure
Growth
It felt big.
Huge.
But not impossible.
Not anymore.
Ethan Appears
Zach turned as someone approached.
Ethan stood in the parking lot, hands in his pockets.
He smiled.
"You pitched beautifully today."
Zach blushed slightly.
"Thank you."
Ethan crouched to his level.
"You know what I saw today?"
Zach shook his head.
"I saw you calm Blake down.
I saw you support Tyler.
I saw you lead… without saying much at all."
Zach blinked.
Ethan placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"You're becoming a real pitcher, Zach. Not just someone who throws hard. Someone who guides others."
Zach felt warmth rush through him.
Ethan continued:
"I'll start giving you advanced training. Angle control. Changeup refinement. You ready?"
Zach nodded immediately.
"Yes!"
Blake Joins
Blake stepped outside, hesitating.
Ethan straightened.
"Oh—Blake. Good job today."
Blake stared at the ground.
"Thanks."
Zach saw Blake's emotional bubble:
"Hope • Nervousness • Wanting to get stronger"
Blake cleared his throat.
"Hey… Zach."
Zach looked at him.
Blake tried to stand tall.
"Tomorrow… can we practice together?"
Zach's eyes brightened.
"Yes. I want that."
Blake nodded.
"Cool."
Tyler popped out the door.
"GROUP TRAINING?! COUNT ME IN! I BRING CHAOS!"
Ethan sighed loudly.
"No chaos."
Tyler gasped.
"Then I bring enthusiasm!"
Ethan groaned.
"That's worse."
The boys laughed.
System Message
As Zach walked back inside, hand on the door, the system chimed again.
Ping.
"Team Bond Reaching New Threshold."
New Feature Soon to Unlock: Team Synergy."
Zach whispered,
"What does that mean…?"
But the system didn't explain further.
Just a soft glow.
A promise of something big.
The Night Ends
As the team headed home:
Tyler talked nonstop about being a "defensive genius."
Emma walked calmly beside her parents.
Bryan carried his glove like a sacred relic.
Noah argued with Micah about who ran fastest.
Blake walked quietly, but lighter than Zach had ever seen him.
Zach held his mother's hand tightly.
Priscilla smiled down at him.
"You were incredible today."
Zach beamed.
"Thanks, Mom."
She kissed his hair.
"Let's go home. Big day tomorrow."
Zach nodded.
He glanced back once more at the field in the distance—
the place where everything was changing.
And whispered:
"I'll get even better."