The Final Scrimmage

The stakes had never been higher.

It was Friday afternoon, and the entire team knew what today meant.

One game.

One chance to prove who belonged.

Logan Carter vs. Ethan Reyes.

By the end of the scrimmage, Coach Talbot would decide who got the varsity spot at second base.

Logan had worked for this moment.

Every hour of training.

Every rep.

Every mistake.

It all led to this.

He wasn't backing down now.

Pre-Game: The Energy Was Different

Drew walked up beside Logan as they stretched near the dugout.

"You nervous?" Drew asked.

Logan exhaled. "Not gonna lie… yeah."

Drew grinned. "Good. That means it matters."

Big Mac jogged past, giving Logan a light shove. "Hey, Clutch. No pressure, but, uh… your whole baseball future depends on this."

Logan groaned. "Thanks, Mac."

Big Mac winked. "I got you."

Across the field, Ethan was locked in.

He was talking with Marcus Lee and Jimmy, but every so often, he glanced at Logan.

The message was clear: I'm not letting you take this spot.

Logan felt the fire inside him burn hotter.

Neither am I.

Game On: Defense Comes First

Coach Talbot stood at home plate, clipboard in hand. "Alright, listen up. Today's about execution. Defense matters. Hitting matters. Everything matters."

Logan and Ethan would split innings at second base.

First three innings—Ethan starts.

Next three—Logan takes over.

Then?

They both play the last three innings.

Head-to-head.

No excuses.

No room for error.

"Let's play ball," Talbot called.

Ethan's Start: Making a Statement

Ethan got his first test early.

A grounder to his right—he fielded it smoothly and fired to first.

"Nice play, Reyes," Coach Talbot muttered.

Next inning?

A double-play opportunity.

Jimmy flipped it to Ethan, who turned it perfectly.

Logan watched from the dugout.

Ethan was playing like a veteran.

This wasn't going to be easy.

Logan's Turn: Answering Back

In the fourth inning, Logan took the field.

His first challenge?

A hard-hit ball up the middle.

Logan ranged to his left, backhanded it, and fired to first.

OUT.

"Damn," Drew muttered. "He's locked in."

Then came a double-play chance.

Jimmy flipped it—Logan caught it, pivoted, and threw to first.

Smooth. Clean. Perfect.

Even Ethan nodded slightly from the dugout.

Game on.

At the Plate: A Battle of Bats

Ethan came up to hit first.

First pitch—fastball inside.

Ethan turned on it—ripping a line drive to left field.

Coach Talbot nodded. "Nice swing."

Logan watched.

He had to match him.

When his turn came, Logan stepped into the box.

Marcus Lee stood on the mound, smirking.

"Ready, Clutch?"

Logan grinned. "Always."

First pitch—fastball away.

Logan let it go.

Second pitch—slider.

Logan tracked it… waited… and SMOKED IT into the right-center gap.

He sprinted to second for a stand-up double.

The dugout exploded.

Drew laughed. "That's my boy!"

Ethan?

Unimpressed.

The Clutch Moment: The Play That Decides It All

The game stayed tight until the ninth inning.

Tied 3-3.

One out. Runner on first.

Ethan was at second. Logan was at shortstop.

The next play?

Would decide the game.

Marcus Lee delivered the pitch—a hard grounder up the middle.

Ethan charged, gloved it, and made the throw to Logan at second.

Logan caught it—BUT ETHAN'S THROW WAS LOW.

The runner was barreling toward him.

Logan had a split second.

He reached down, scooped the ball, and fired to first.

The runner slid in—but the throw was PERFECT.

Double play. Game over.

The team erupted.

Big Mac fist-pumped. "THAT'S A BIG LEAGUE PLAY, BABY!"

Coach Talbot stood near the mound, expression unreadable.

Then, he nodded.

"Carter. Reyes. Dugout. Now."

The Decision

The team gathered their gear, but Logan and Ethan stood in front of Coach Talbot.

The moment of truth.

Coach studied them both.

"You both played well," he said.

Ethan folded his arms. "So…?"

Talbot took a deep breath.

"Reyes, you've been a solid player for us for years."

Ethan straightened.

"But Carter…"

Logan held his breath.

"…you earned it."

Ethan's face fell.

Logan's heart pounded.

"You're our varsity second baseman," Talbot said. "Reyes, you'll be a utility infielder."

Silence.

Ethan's jaw tightened.

Then, after a long pause, he nodded. "Fine."

He turned to Logan.

"You played well," he said. "Congrats."

Then he walked off.

Logan exhaled.

He had done it.

He made varsity.

Drew ran over, tackling him. "DUDE, LET'S GO!"

Big Mac clapped him on the back. "Clutch Carter! Varsity starter!"

Coach Talbot smirked. "Don't celebrate yet, Carter. Season starts in a month. Now the real work begins."

Logan nodded.

He wasn't done.

Not even close.

To Be Continued…

(Next Chapter: Logan prepares for his first varsity season—can he live up to the hype?)