Practice Makes Perfect
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the baseball field as Ash Ketchum jogged onto the diamond. He felt the familiar anticipation that always came before practice, a buzz of energy in his limbs. His baseball glove was snug on his hand, and his cap was pulled low over his brow. Brock, Paul, and Gary were already out on the field, warming up.
"Let's see what you've got today, Ketchum!" Gary shouted from second base, twirling his glove as he awaited the first pitch.
Ash chuckled, trotting up to the mound. "You better be ready, Oak! I'm not going easy."
Brock, who was crouched behind home plate in full catcher gear, gave Ash a thumbs-up. "Bring the heat, Ash. Let's see if your arm's still got that fire from the game!"
Nearby, May and Dawn made their way up the bleachers, finding a good spot to watch. May hadn't expected to enjoy watching sports so much, but there was something about baseball, about watching Ash that made it more exciting than she'd imagined. She leaned forward, her eyes focused on the field as the guys warmed up.
"This is going to be fun," May said, smiling as she rested her elbows on her knees. "I've never watched practice up close like this before."
Dawn grinned, leaning back with a sense of pride. "You're in for a show, May. Ash is something else on the field, and his team is just as good. Plus, I'm sure he's going to show off a little extra with us watching."
May laughed. "I wouldn't mind seeing that. He seems like a hard worker."
Back on the field, Ash shook off any lingering thoughts and focused on his first pitch. He glanced at Brock, who gave him the sign for a fastball. Ash nodded, wound up, and sent the ball speeding toward the plate. It whizzed through the air, and Brock's glove made a sharp pop as it connected.
"Nice one, Ash!" Brock called, tossing the ball back. "Your arm's looking strong!"
Paul, standing out in the outfield, squinted at the trajectory. "That's got some serious speed. Keep it up, Ketchum. You'll be unhittable by the time we hit playoffs."
Gary, always the one to poke fun, shouted from second base, "That is, if anyone can catch my steals and grounders!"
Ash laughed and set himself up for another pitch, this time throwing a curveball. It spun perfectly out of his hand, curving right as it crossed the plate. Brock caught it with a grin, standing to toss the ball back with a nod of approval. "Your curve's looking good, too."
Up in the stands, May watched intently, her eyes tracking every movement Ash made. She could see how focused he was, how in sync he was with his team. It was almost mesmerizing, the way he moved on the mound, commanding the space around him.
"He's really good," May said, mostly to herself, but Dawn overheard.
"Told you," Dawn replied with a smirk. "He's been playing baseball since he was little. It's kind of his thing."
May leaned back, impressed. "Yeah, I can see that. I didn't know he was this talented. I can't wait to see what he does when it really counts."
Ash could feel their eyes on him from the stands, and it only pushed him to perform even better. After a few more fastballs, Brock signaled for Ash to switch to hitting practice. The rest of the team gathered around as they rotated positions. Gary grabbed a bat and stepped into the batter's box, while Ash switched to the outfield.
Brock tossed a few soft pitches for warm-ups, and Gary knocked them easily into the outfield. Ash caught one, sending it quickly back to Paul, who was now standing at third base. The practice was smooth, each player falling into their role effortlessly.
After Gary's turn, it was Ash's turn at bat. He grabbed his bat, giving it a few swings as he approached the plate, feeling a rush of excitement as he prepared to face Brock's pitches.
"All right, Brock, don't hold back!" Ash called, adjusting his stance.
Brock grinned and nodded, winding up for a fast pitch. The ball came hurtling toward Ash, but Ash was ready. He swung the bat, making solid contact. The crack of the bat echoed across the field as the ball sailed into the outfield, a clean line drive.
Up in the stands, May's eyes widened in admiration. "Wow, he's good."
Dawn leaned forward, enjoying the show. "I told you. Wait till you see his home run swing."
Ash smirked as he jogged toward first base, satisfied with the hit. He could feel May watching, and it made him want to push himself harder. As he rotated through more practice rounds, hitting and fielding, Ash's confidence grew.
After a few more turns, Brock tossed a ball that had home run potential written all over it. Ash read the pitch, locked in, and swung with all his might. The ball shot off the bat, arcing high into the sky. Everyone's eyes followed it as it soared over the outfield fence, landing in the grass beyond.
The team let out a collective cheer, and even May and Dawn clapped from the stands.
"That was incredible!" May said, her excitement bubbling over. "I can't believe how far that went."
Dawn nodded, her grin wide. "He's got that kind of power when he's in the zone."
Ash jogged around the bases, a wide grin on his face. He could feel the adrenaline rushing through him, knowing that he'd impressed both his team and the girls in the stands. As he rounded third and headed for home, he glanced up at May, catching her eye for just a moment. He tipped his cap toward her direction as a symbol of dedication that meant that homerun was for her.
As practice began to wind down, the team gathered near the dugout for some final words from their coach. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the field, and the cool evening breeze made it a perfect end to a good day's practice.
"Good work today, everyone," the coach said. "Keep that energy up for Friday's game. You all know what's at stake."
The team nodded in agreement, their spirits high. They knew the importance of their upcoming game against Kanto High, it was one of the toughest teams in the league, and they would need to be at the top of their game.
As the team started packing up their gear, Ash wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling a sense of satisfaction. He grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder, turning to see May and Dawn making their way down from the stands.
"You were amazing out there, Ash!" Dawn called as they approached. "I told May she'd be impressed."
May nodded, still smiling. "Yeah, that was incredible. You make it look so easy."
Ash blushed slightly, scratching the back of his head. "Thanks, but it's all practice. We've got a big game coming up, so I've got to be at my best."
"You're definitely getting there," May said with a playful grin. "I'll be rooting for you on Friday."
Ash's heart skipped a beat at that. He hadn't realized how much it would mean to him to have her watching. "Thanks, May. That means a lot."
Gary smirked as he walked by. "Looks like you've got yourself a fan, Ketchum."
Ash shot him a look, though he couldn't help but grin. "Jealous much, Gary?"
Gary just chuckled, heading off toward the parking lot with the rest of the team.
As the group made their way off the field, Brock and Paul joined in, talking about practice and preparation for the game. Dawn stepped in to hear their conversation. But Ash found himself walking a little slower, hanging back with May.
"I'm really glad you came today," Ash said after a moment, his voice a little quieter. "It was cool having you there."
May glanced up at him, her eyes warm. "I'm glad I came too. You're an incredible player, Ash. I can tell how much you love the game."
Ash nodded, feeling a little nervous but also a little excited. There was something about May that made him feel like he could be himself, like she understood his passion for baseball and appreciated it.
"Are you busy tomorrow?" May asked suddenly, breaking the moment of silence.
Ash blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, no, not really. Why?"
"Well," May said, smiling a little shyly, "I was thinking maybe you could show me around Pallet Town. You know, since I'm new here and all."
Ash's heart raced at the thought. "Yeah! I'd love to."
They exchanged a few more words as they headed off the field, walking together toward the parking lot. As they all parted ways, Ash couldn't stop smiling. Not only had it been a great day of practice, but he'd also gotten the chance to spend more time with May. He couldn't wait to show her around town and maybe get to know her better.