Intimidating Adversity: Day 9

Word Count: 54,013

Summary of Events:

Lane called Erving and worried about failing against the Lexington Legends until Erving called him a coward and made him mad. Lane went out and succeeded in pitching a shutout against the Legends while his teammates scored seven runs to with the game. The next day it was Spencer's turn to start as they continued their series against the Legends . . . 

Excerpt of the Day:

"His teammates did a good job in hitting, but Spencer's pitching wasn't near as strong as it'd been in other games — such as against the Tourists — it was like he was trying to pitch the way Lane pitched, when that wasn't the way he needed to pitch to be a good pitcher.

Lane remained silent during the top of the second, even though he felt like he should tell Spencer to pitch his way, and not a different way. He'd succeeded in not getting that many players on base, and the ones on base hadn't gotten back home thanks to the stellar fielding job of the guys around him, but still, Lane could tell it wasn't natural.

In the second Spencer's pitching job was just as poor, and this time the Legends got a couple of runs off of it, which brought renewed vigour and enthusiasm to the Lexington faithful — not the sort of thing Lane thought was good.

The Legends, he was sure, had been shell-shocked by his shutout the day before; they'd been stunned that they could actually get beat by such a poor team, and now Spencer was giving them new life.

When Spencer came in, angry and frustrated, as everyone went to hit for the top of the third, Lane moved close to him. Spencer noticed and moved away. Lane tried throughout the half to get close to Spencer, but Spencer would have none of it.

Eventually the bottom of the third began and Lane watched with a pained expression as Spencer let a homer get hit, that really got the crowd roaring, they even started a chant of the team's name.

Spencer swore and threw his glove to the floor as he strode in. He sat down away from Lane and despite Lane's best efforts to get close to him once again, he moved away every time.

When it was time for the bottom of the fourth Spencer stormed out.

"Wait guys," Lane said before the fielders could join him. "I want to talk to Spencer, so when it's the top of the fifth, don't leave him any place to sit other than beside me."

Everyone nodded and headed out. Spencer swore at them profusely, upset that they hadn't followed him out right away. Lane watched as the bottom of the fourth saw the score become five runs to two for the Legends, which really got the crowd going.

Lane sat down before the last hitter went up, and waited as everyone hurried into the dugout and sat down, leaving only one space for Spencer, right beside Lane.

Spencer stormed down into the dugout and spotted the only space available beside Lane. He walked further down the line and asked Frasier and Normie to separate.

"Why?" Frasier asked. "You're not part of the batting rotation."

"It's not like we didn't leave you room," Campbell added.

Spencer glared at them all and swore before sitting down heavily beside Lane."