Date: Thu, 5 May 2011 19:07:57 +0000
From: Douglas DD DD <thehakaanen@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Perfect Game   Chapter 17

Greetings and welcome back for another chapter. As I said when I initially
introduced the story the story started up as a baseball story with sex
attached to it, but turned in to a sex story with baseball attached to
it. It's taken some time, but baseball has arrived as the boys of Mayfield
Middle School play their fist two games. That doesn't mean there isn't any
sexual banter or sexual groping here, because there is. What it does mean
is we get to see the boys as baseball players, athletes, and most
importantly, as members of a team.  Enjoy and feel free to write comments
to thehakaanen@hotmail.com

CHAPTER 17
FIRST GAMES

Nobody on the JV baseball team got a good night's sleep. The night before
the first game of the season has a way of doing that to seasoned veterans,
not to mention pubescent boys. Alarms went off, showers were taken,
breakfasts were eaten, and equipment bags were checked and
rechecked. Everybody tried to make the morning routine, but it was
impossible to do.

Scott picked Eric up at the usual time and the two boys trudged to
school. They talked baseball and shared their excitement about the
afternoon's game. They said nothing about the "boyfriend" conversation of
the night before.

The JV sixth graders were so stoked about baseball that the groper's club
died for the day. At lunch the topic of conversation shifted from baseball
to Danny and Tama, as the boys tried to find other topics to alleviate
their nervousness.

For Eric the afternoon seemed to creep by, but the time for him to leave
class finally arrived. He quietly gathered his books and left while his
fellow students busily worked on an assignment. He headed for the gym where
he changed into his uniform. Marty was changing a couple of aisles
away. The two of them met Coach Sanders to help take the equipment to the
bus stop. By the time that task was completed the bus arrived as did the
rest of the JV team along with the varsity girls.

Coach Sanders's policy was not give the starting line-up until just before
taking infield, except for the starting battery. He always named that at
the end of practice the day before.  He wanted his starting catcher and
pitcher to be mentally ready and felt that giving him twenty-four hours
notice was one way to insure that. He was also aware doing it this way
could also create a huge case of nerves, but overall the policy had worked
well for him.  He had named Rodney, a 5'6 seventh grader with immaculately
kept blond hair as the starting pitcher. Rodney was what Marty wished he
could be, the heartthrob of the seventh grade girls. Kevin would be the
starting catcher. Even as a sixth grader he was the best catcher on the JV
team. He was sturdy, smart, athletic, assertive, and fearless.

The players boarded the bus, with the girls getting the front of the bus
and the boys the back. Eric sat next to the window and Scott took the seat
next to him. They didn't say much as they both were working at putting on
their game face and getting into game mode. Eric knew that even if he
didn't start he stood a good chance of playing. The philosophy of the
program was to let the players on the JV team play as much as possible.
While winning was important, developing players was the priority. There
were some starters on a very good high school varsity team who, when they
were on the Titan JV team, might have been overlooked if winning came first
but who started to shine and become noticed because they had the chance to
play.

The ride to Pine Lake Middle School took about a half hour and the bus
arrived 40 minutes before game time. The girls got off first and headed for
the softball field while the boys went to the baseball field. Like most
middle school fields in the area, it had a dirt infield so games with
varying base path lengths could be played on it. It did have nice wooden
dugouts. The Titans would be using the first base dugout.

As everybody got their equipment situated the home Panthers started taking
their infield practice. Coach Sanders had their teams gather around and
gave the starting lineup. Eric was disappointed, but not surprised, that he
wasn't starting. He was pleased, however, when he heard Scott's name
announced as the number seven hitter. He would be playing right
field. Scott, Danny, and Kevin were the only sixth graders starting the
game. Kevin was batting in the nine hole. Danny, who matched Scott for
athletic ability among the sixth graders, was starting at shortstop and
batting eighth. Eric noted that Marty was the starting third baseman and
would be batting third.

The team started warming up and took infield practice as soon as the
Panthers were finished. The umpire arrived, the ground rules were gone
over, and the game started.

It turned out to be a good game. Rodney was throwing well and so was the
pitcher for the Panthers, a lanky seventh grader named Sean, who Eric
couldn't help but notice was quite cute. He chided himself for the
distraction, but was also accepting the fact that he thought a boy was nice
to look at.

The score was tied at three as the teams headed into the top of the fifth
inning. Coach Sanders told Eric to be ready to pinch hit for Jin if his
turn came up. Jin was slated to be the fifth batter of the inning. He was
the starting second baseman and was batting second in the order. Right away
Eric felt a huge surge of adrenalin flow through him.

Scott was slated to lead off the inning, but Mitch, a seventh grader, hit
for him. He singled, bringing up Danny, who drew a walk. Bobby then pinch
hit for Kevin and dropped a nice sacrifice bunt up the third base line,
moving the runners to second and third. That brought up Jerome, the center
fielder and leadoff hitter.. He popped up to left.  Mitch faked going home
to draw the throw but was unable to tag up and score. That made the
situation runners on second and third and two outs.

Eric had gone through his routine in the on-deck circle as Jerome took his
turn at bat, his heart racing out of control. He looked over at the third
base coach's box was, wondering if Coach Sanders might change his mind and
bat Jin, who had two hits in the game. But all he did was flash a
meaningless sign and shout encouragement. Eric announced himself to the
umpire, who noted the change on his lineup card. He couldn't believe that
his first at bat for the Titans was in a key situation.

As he took his position in the batter's box he worked to shut out
everything around him but the pitcher. He knew his mom was there. She was
doing what she had done for every team he had played on, keeping score. He
had seen his dad, who left work early, arrive in the third inning. But as
he worked to focus on his at bat they had been relegated to another
planet. It was now him and the pitcher.

His heart raced as the first pitch came in, a fastball up in his eyes. He
took a wild swing, missing the ball by a foot. His focus was so lost he
could hear his dad's groan and his admonition to "make him pitch to you,
son!" The pitch was the hardest thrown ball he had ever seen as a hitter.

He knew better than to swing at that kind of shit. He was a smart hitter
and had a good idea of the strike zone. He knew that and he told himself as
much as he got set for the next pitch.

The pitcher looked in for the sign. The first pitch had gotten away from
him, but this time the catcher wanted a fastball, up. After all, if he went
for the first one he might like another one. That would prove not to be the
case as Eric let the pitch go by for ball one.  The next pitch bounced in
and Eric didn't offer. The count was now two and one. Eric figured the
pitcher would have to come in, not wanting to go three and one to a bench
player when the team's number three hitter was on deck.

He was not disappointed. The pitch came in right where he liked it, waist
high and on the outside corner. The pitcher had thrown it his hardest, but
Eric timed it perfectly and lined a shot slightly to left center. Since
there were two outs, Mitch and Danny both had taken off on contact. The
ball split the left and center fielders. It was the centerfielder who got
to it. He turned and saw Danny rounding third and heading for home. Instead
of throwing to the cutoff man the fielder unleashed a high, wild throw
which was not only late but flew over the head of the catcher. Eric, who
was running full speed out of the box, rounded first, saw the ball go over
the catcher's head and took off for second. While the pitcher nicely backed
up the play at home, by the time he got to the ball Eric was already
sliding in safely into second.

Like the center fielder, the pitcher forgot his fundamentals and threw
behind the runner, his throw sailing into center field. By the time it was
run down, Eric was standing safely at third. He could hear his mother's
distinctive cheer and his dad's hollering. It was amazing how he could
always pick out their voices in a crowd.

The Panther's coach asked for time and went out to change pitchers. Coach
Sanders complimented Eric on his great job of clutch hitting. Eric stood on
the bag, noticing that the third baseman was very cute. Once again the
thought didn't bother him. Maybe it was because he was so excited about his
hit and to be playing ball again. What he didn't know is that the third
baseman had a few erotic thoughts about the slender blond standing on third
base.

After the new pitcher got his warm-ups in Marty came to the plate. He
immediately drilled the first pitch into the gap in left for a double and
Eric scored standing up, making the score 6-3.

Vince, who was playing first and was the cleanup hitter flied out to left
ending the inning.  Coach Sanders told Eric to take his glove out to
second. Scott re-entered the game to pitch in the seventh inning and got a
1-2-3 inning including a routine grounder to Eric at second. The Titans had
come up with a nice 6-3 win and it was the new kid, Eric, who got the big
hit.

That hit was bigger than Eric realized. Even though Eric was acknowledged
to be a good ball player and even though he was quickly making friends with
the sixth graders on the JV team, there was still a bit of a cloud around
him, mostly with the seventh and eighth graders as well as Danny. Eric was
the new kid in town and he had taken a spot on the team that would
otherwise have gone to a long-time town boy. While Eric had proven himself
to the coaches and to most of his sixth grade peers, he wasn't totally
accepted by all.

Even Noah making the team had stirred up less resentment. Noah had grown up
in the town, was a native town boy, and while he had been ostracized for
most of the school year, his attitude and abilities on the field instantly
won over the skeptics. The other members of both the varsity and junior
varsity acknowledged Eric's talents and the fact that he was a likeable kid
who was fitting in. But he wasn't a townie. Even more than Noah, he had to
prove himself. His game winning single did just that. While not yet a
local, he was on his way.

The girls' game had finished a half-hour before the boys' game was
completed. The girls sat in the bleachers and cheered the boys on and
waited on the bus while the Coach Sanders gave a quick post-game
talk. Marty and Eric got help getting the equipment gathered and on the bus
and soon the boys were loudly taking over the back.

As Eric got ready to grab a window seat a hand reached around him and
squeezed his dick and balls. He figured it was either Scott or one of the
sixth grade gropers. He was surprised when he sat down and took a look at
who it was. Danny sat beside him with a big grin on his face.

"Hey," Eric said, somewhat confused about Danny's grope.

"Nice hit. Way to come through big," Danny said.

"Thanks." Eric wasn't entirely sure what to say next.

Danny sensed Eric's discomfort and said, "I hope you don't mind the grope."
Danny knew Eric was part of the club, but thought maybe he had gone too far
considering the two of them barely knew each other.

"No. It was cool. Just surprised me is all. I heard you weren't going to
get into doing that stuff."

"Well, I wasn't. But, well, I kinda had to, you know, let you know that I
liked...um...the hit and all."

"So it's not kid's stuff?"

"Well, it is. But, you know, I got to thinking and figured out that I'm in
the bottom class in middle school, so maybe I'm kind of like still a
kid. Maybe."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Are you gonna join us for lunch tomorrow?"

"I want all us sixth graders to celebrate winning our first middle school
game. So, yeah, I want to sit with you guys...my teammates...and, well, do
it."

"What does Tama think?"

"She's not my boss. I'm just gonna tell her we all want to celebrate at
lunch and I'm sitting with you guys."

"Cool."

The bus was making its way down the highway to Mayfield. Danny had a look
like he wanted to say something else. But he seemed hesitant, as if saying
more would was even more difficult than facing an 0-2 fast ball. Eric
noticed Scott, who was a couple of seats ahead of him, turn around and look
at him quizzically. Eric smiled at him and Scott smiled back, realizing
that whatever was happening in that seat, it was good. Scott knew Danny's
keeping his distance was more than just his being smitten with a strawberry
blond girl. He was certain it had to do with the presence of Eric. In fact
he wondered if maybe Danny was a little jealous of his budding friendship
with the new boy.

Finally Danny took a deep breath and spoke. "Can I tell you something?"

"Sure, Danny, go ahead."

"Do you promise you won't get mad?"

"Well, I don't promise I won't, but it would have to be something pretty
serious to get me mad."

"I don't want you mad at me," Danny said.

"Okay, look, just say what you want to say. Unless you say something bad
about my mother I promise I won't get mad, okay?"

Danny nodded. "I wasn't sitting with you guys at lunch
because...well...um...because I didn't like you."

Eric felt his face starting to burn, but he said nothing and let Danny go
on.

"You were new and all. And you were good. And I figured you were going to
take somebody's spot that I liked, and then you did and I didn't want you
on the team."

"Oh," Eric said somewhat meekly.

"But, I was wrong."

Eric was feeling his temper rise some, but he took a big breath to keep
control of himself.  He didn't want to mess this up. "You were wrong
because I got a big hit? Is that it?"

"No. I was wrong because you're really a cool guy and you're really a good
player. Yeah, the hit was part of it, because it kinda showed me I was
wrong. But I missed sitting with everybody and I guess I figured I wasn't
sitting there because I was being dumb, not because there was anything
wrong with you. I hope I'm making sense."

"You are, I think." Eric thought he was understanding where Danny was
coming from.  He was one of the best athletes in the sixth grade.

"My friend did get cut. He might have got cut anyway. He's a good football
player and wrestler, but he sucks at baseball."

"Is it Hunter?"

"Yeah. He was cooler about him being cut than I was." Danny laughed at
that. "And I thought you were stealing my friend Scott from me, too."

Oh, so he's a little jealous, Eric thought. Interesting.

"But we came together as a team today and it would really suck if I wasn't
part of it. I figure I was being stupid. I was ignoring Scott for being
your friend, not the other way around. When Scott asked me to join the
group and come eat lunch with you guys I saw that maybe I should quit being
stupid." Danny took another breath, then asked, "Are you mad at me?"

"No. I was a little, but now I'm not. Being a new kid just isn't easy. I
just figured you were just somebody who kept to himself."

"Are you okay with being my friend, then?"

"Yeah," Eric said. "I'm your teammate and your friend." To punctuate that
Eric let his right had slide onto Danny's crotch and he gave his cock and
balls a squeeze followed by a rub.

Danny gave Eric a wide grin and said, "You know, there are some really fun
things you and Scott can do together."

This time Eric grinned as he said, "Yeah, I found that out."

++++++++++

Eric's parents were waiting at the school and took Eric and Scott home once
the equipment was secured. Scott helped Eric and Marty, as did Coach
Sanders and Coach Adam. The work was done quickly.

The boys changed from their uniforms at their own houses. Scott's mom and
Eric's parents took them out for pizza at Pooh Bear's Pizza to celebrate
the win. The boys were ravenous and devoured every piece that they
could. Two seventh graders, Rich and Vince were at the pizza parlor with
their families as well, and greetings were exchanged followed by some video
game challenges.

It was close to eight when they got back to Eric's house. Eric and Scott
quickly finished their homework. Eric told Scott all about his ride home
with Danny. Scott was pleased and told Eric he had pretty much figured out
what was bugging Danny, but felt he had to wait for Danny to deal with it
himself. He knew what a stubborn butthead Danny could be at times.

On Wednesday Danny sat with his sixth grade teammates at lunch. He had
gotten in a couple of gropes during the morning, nailing Eric again as well
as Kraig.

"What did Tama say when you told her that you were sitting with us?" Scott
asked.

"She wasn't happy. I told her I am always sitting with her and her friends
so maybe once in a while I could sit with my friends and teammates."

"What did she say then?" Kraig asked.

"She shook her head and gave me this look and asked if I still wanted to go
out with her."

"Typical girl," Scott said, trying to sound wise.

"I think I might be able to get her naked during spring break," Danny said
with a leer.

"Not if you piss her off again," Kevin said.

"Don't worry. She wants me. It will be cool."

As the boys were talking Bobby had carefully opened the button on Noah's
jeans, pulled the zipper down a bit, and slid his hand inside, rubbing
Noah's hard little dick through his white briefs. Danny suddenly became
aware of that the two boys next to him were doing.  "Hey, you've got your
hand inside his pants."

"Oh, wow, so I do," Bobby said. "And it's a half ass job, too, come to
think of it." He pulled his hand up off of Bobby's crotch, then slid it
inside the waist band of Noah's briefs until he came to rest on the rock
hard almost four inch penis of his friend.

"That's a lot more than groping," Danny said.

"Yeah," Noah squeaked breathlessly.

"Do you guys do this all the time here?" Danny asked as he reached down to
adjust the growing boner inside his own jeans.

"No, just sometimes, like when we feel like it."

"Cool."

Danny could see the movement of Bobby's arm as he worked on his friend's
pubescent stiffie. Noah gave another light squeak, his body shook and his
eyes rolled. Everybody at the table knew what had happened. Noah was the
second of the group to have an orgasm at the lunch table. Noah carefully
zipped and buttoned up his jeans and the boys cleaned up the table just as
the bell ending lunch rang. Noah was still dry so there was no mess to
clean up in his pants.

The afternoon was cloudy and cool, but there was no rain and practice went
quickly.  Coach Sanders reminded them that the two boys who didn't play the
day before would play tomorrow since nobody sat out two games in a row
unless they had been benched for a reason. Bobby and Noah knew the coach's
rule, but it still sounded good to hear it repeated. They both had been a
little disappointed at not playing. The coach also said that Rich would be
traveling with the varsity tomorrow, so they would have their usual 14
players suited up instead of the 15 who had suited up on Tuesday.

After Coach Sanders dismissed the team, Marty and Eric took care of their
equipment duties. As they finished Marty pulled out his protective cup and
Eric did the same, both of them relieved to remove the pressure from their
young loins.

"When are you going to get a girlfriend?" Marty asked. "I hear the sixth
grade chicks are all hot for you."

"I don't want one right now," Eric said feeling uncomfortable with the
topic.

"Playing the field, huh? I don't blame you. That's what I do. Easier to get
what you want when you want it."

"Whatever." Eric knew all about Marty's reputation, but also knew from
Scott that Marty was more talk than action.

"Maybe that boyfriend of yours is keeping you happy?" Marty said,

"Huh?" Eric tried unsuccessfully to feign surprise.

"Don't play dumb with me. Everybody on the team knows about you sixth
graders being all gay for each other. I bet you're one good cocksucker."
Marty reached for Eric's balls and gave them a hard squeeze.

"Hey, don't that!" Eric said.

"Oh. I thought you liked that."

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't. But don't do it again!"

"Okay, whatever. Chill out, dude."

Eric was more than happy that they had reached the gym and was even happier
to let the topic drop as they entered the locker room. He figured Marty was
clueless and fishing, especially with the topic bouncing from girls to
boys, but he couldn't be completely sure either.

As Eric and Scott walked home Eric told Scott about what Marty had
said. Scott chalked it up to Marty's overall weirdness. But he told Eric if
Marty grabbed his balls again without permission he would be happy to kick
the shit out of him.

They didn't stay on the topic long. They were both too happy about the end
of practice news. Scott was named the starting pitcher for tomorrow's game,
with Kevin as his catcher.

++++++++++

The next day was another cloudy day and there were some light sprinkles in
the morning.  It was not enough to affect the field and the Titans were
ready to play their first home game of the season. Their opponent was the
Clark Pass Middle School Eagles. Eric was pleased to hear his name
announced as a starter. He would be playing second base and batting
second. He almost as pleased when Coach Sanders announced Noah as the
starting right fielder, batting in the nine hole.

The game was much different than their first one. The Titans had Clark Pass
outclassed, jumping off to a 10-0 lead after two innings and finishing with
a 19-2 win that was called after the top of the 5th when the ten run mercy
rule was invoked. Eric had a good game, fielding two ground balls
flawlessly, and singling, walking, and grounding out at the plate. He even
got to pitch the fifth inning, with Kevin as his catcher. Eric didn't walk
anybody and struck out one while giving up a hit. Kraig dropped a tough fly
ball in left field allowing the player who had the hit to score an unearned
run.

Scott had two doubles and four RBI along with pitching three scoreless
innings, giving up a hit, a walk, and striking out four. Noah singled in
the hole between first and second in his first at bat, eliciting loud
cheers from his teammates. He knew better than to smile, but he couldn't
help but feel giddy after his first at bat of the season.

Coach Sanders said there would be no Friday practice and wished them a good
and safe Spring Break. He reminded them to get some throwing in and told
them they would practice at 11 in the morning on Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday the following week.

The boys all cheered and headed for the locker room. Showers were out. It
was time to leave baseball behind for a few days. Tomorrow would be a half
day at school, and then their nine day vacation would begin.

Next: "Spring Break---Marty and Steve"