Chapter 38 — Pressure on the Hawks
The Hawks weren't used to this.
They weren't used to being behind.
They weren't used to being outplayed.
And they weren't used to a team of "nobodies" taking control of the game.
But here they were—
Dodgers 2
Hawks 0
Runners on first and third.
One out.
And Hunter Knox, the Hawks' ace, was rattled.
For the first time all season.
Zach could feel it.
PING.
"Opponent Emotional State: Unstable."
Stress • Frustration • Confusion • Pressure."
Emma glanced toward the mound.
"He's annoyed."
Blake nodded.
"He's adjusting his glove more. And tapping the mound with his foot."
Noah added,
"He looks like someone stole his favorite toothbrush."
Tyler gasped.
"THAT'S THE LOOK OF A MAN IN DESPAIR!"
Everyone ignored that.
Except Bryan, who nodded sympathetically because he always nodded sympathetically.
The Hawks Huddle
Mason Hayes stepped out of the Hawks dugout.
Captain.
Catcher.
Leader.
He called time and walked onto the mound, mask tucked under his arm.
The stadium buzzed.
Zach leaned forward.
Blake muttered,
"Oh boy…"
Emma nodded.
"Here comes the real problem."
Mason's Presence
Mason reached the mound.
Hunter didn't look up.
Mason spoke calmly, voice low:
"You're changing your timing.
Stop it."
Hunter clenched his jaw.
"They're reading me."
"No," Mason said firmly.
"They're not reading you."
He pointed his glove toward the Dodgers' dugout.
"They're reading each other."
Hunter finally looked up.
"…Shared Focus."
Mason nodded.
"I don't know what it is, but they're moving like a single unit."
Zach felt a chill.
Mason continued,
"Doesn't matter.
We adapt."
Hunter exhaled slowly.
Some of the tension faded.
Mason stepped back toward home plate.
And then—
he looked directly at Zach.
Not angry.
Not hostile.
Just assessing.
A measuring stare.
A stare that said:
I see you.
I understand you.
And I won't let you win easily.
Zach swallowed.
Emma whispered,
"He's smart."
Noah added,
"He's scary smart."
Tyler screamed,
"HE'S LIKE A BASEBALL WIZARD!!"
The Next Batter — Micah
Micah "The Brick" Alvarez approached the plate.
Big.
Strong.
Surprisingly gentle.
He tapped his bat twice and nodded respectfully toward Mason.
Mason nodded back.
This was going to be a duel of heavy hitters—
but not in the traditional sense.
Pitch 1 — Mason's Trap
Hunter pitched.
Not a fastball.
Not a curveball.
A sinker.
A nasty one.
Micah swung—
CRACK
The ball shot on the ground toward short—
BUT—
Something unexpected happened.
The Hawks shortstop panicked.
He bobbled the easiest grounder of his life.
The ball slipped between his legs.
He dove—
MISSED.
Emma sprinted home.
SAFE!!!
Bryan took second.
Micah thundered into first.
And the score changed:
DODGERS — 3
HAWKS — 0
The stadium ROARED.
Tyler screamed,
"HE DROPPED IT BECAUSE OF OUR OVERWHELMING TEAM AURA!"
Zach blinked.
PING.
"Opponent Error — Caused by Pressure Stacking."
"Team Synergy Overload Active."
Pressure…
caused the mistake.
The Dodgers' synergy wasn't just emotional—
It was imposing.
But Mason Doesn't Flinch
The Hawks shortstop apologized.
Hunter clenched his fist.
The entire infield felt shaken.
Except Mason.
Mason calmly tossed the ball back to Hunter.
"Reset," he said softly.
Hunter nodded.
The Hawks settled.
Emma whispered to Zach from the dugout area:
"He's unbelievable."
Zach nodded.
"Mason's stabilizing the entire team."
Next Up — Tyler
Tyler stepped into the batter's box.
He spun the bat like a nunchuck.
Accidentally hit himself in the leg.
Made a pain noise.
Then gave Hunter a thumbs up like nothing happened.
Hunter blinked.
Mason muttered to himself:
"…This kid is a problem."
Tyler grinned at him.
"HELLO, MASON! I WILL HIT THE BALL SO HARD IT WILL CRY!"
Mason sighed very loudly.
Shared Focus Flicker
Zach felt the link shift.
Tyler's chaotic energy sparked across everyone's minds.
Emma: "Stop thinking so loud."
Bryan: "I'm scared again."
Micah: "He's going to get hurt."
Blake: "He's going to hurt someone else."
Noah: "GO TYLER PUNCH THE BALL!!"
Zach:
"…This is fine."
Ping.
"Shared Focus Instability Detected."
Tyler was too chaotic.
But Mason Has a Plan
Mason positioned himself low.
He signaled for an inside fastball.
Hunter nodded.
Tyler grinned maniacally,
"YES. THROW IT."
Zach felt his stomach drop.
"Oh no."
Emma whispered,
"Oh no."
Blake muttered,
"Oh no."
Noah yelled,
"OH NO!!"
Hunter threw—
Tyler swung—
CRACK!
The ball shot STRAIGHT UP.
High.
High.
Higher.
A towering pop-up to the catcher.
Mason removed his mask.
Calm.
Steady.
He caught the ball with crisp precision.
"OUT!"
Tyler pumped his fist like he just hit a home run.
"I HELPED THE TEAM BY SHOWING THEM WHERE NOT TO HIT!"
Emma facepalmed.
Two Outs — Inning Still Alive
Next up:
Zachariah Miller.
The crowd hushed.
Mason lowered his mask and stared at Zach again.
Assessing.
Planning.
Hunter drew a deep breath.
Zach stepped into the box.
Shared Focus surged through him like electricity.
All his teammates' emotions—
fear
excitement
confidence
chaos
determination—
flowed into him like a river.
He gripped the bat.
And Mason whispered behind the mask:
"Let's see what you really are."