About the Boy || Cody Bellinger

Sixteen

Madeline's POV- June 2017

I ducked for the fourth time in a row and looked at Cody as I stood up straight.

"How were you a pitcher in High School?" I called out.

"It's been a while!"

Obviously

"I can tell! You nearly took my head off this time" I stated.

His pitches had been nothing short of wild. I almost got hit in the shoulder during his first throw. Lucky for him the speed he was throwing the pitches was not too fast. I could take a hit, what catcher couldn't? If by any chance he had hit me, I'd be fine.

"Sorry about that!"

"It's alright, I'm the idiot who keeps letting you pitch at me" I replied.

I smiled when I heard his laugh. He just smiled as I tightened my right batting glove.

"Let me go get a pitching machine"

He made his way off the mound and over to me.

"I'll set it up" I told him.

I laughed as he turned around to look at me with a smile on his face. While he did that, I took the time to look at the view. I had never been at Dodger Stadium this late at night, and I had to say it was quite peaceful. The only noises that could be heard were coming from the seats where some workers were still cleaning. I smiled at the few workers who I made eye contact with, my mom taught me to treat others the way I wanted to be treated. Treat them with so much respect that they remember you the next time.

"So your mom mentioned you pitched a game in High School"

"I pitched an inning" I corrected as I watched him make his way over.

He raised an eyebrow.

"So it happened"

I nodded as I followed him towards the mound.

"What exactly happened?"

"Our reliever got a hand cramp and our closer wasn't warmed up yet" I replied.

The other three pitchers had food poisoning.

"How'd it go?"

I scrunched up my nose earning a chuckle from him.

"I'm sure it wasn't bad"

"I mean it wasn't terrible, but it made me realize that I was meant to be a catcher" I answered.

I shrugged.

"I'll set that up" I told him.

He smiled.

"Good because I have no clue on how to use it. My dad usually sets it up and it's usually Kiké who does it during practice"

"Well lucky for you, dad taught me" I informed him.

He moved out of the way, so I could get the machine to work. Once I finished setting it up, I put a baseball in and watched it fly out.

"Let's lower the velocity. I'm a little rusty" I admitted.

Once I was done I looked at Cody.

"So are you watching? Or catching?" I asked as I gestured to his glove

"I'm watching, we will pick the balls up after"

I nodded and made my way back.

"Don't go hitting homers!"