Chapter 53

                                    

                                          
Wednesday was quick to come around, and so was the first practice of the Spring baseball season. Throughout the whole day, Scott seemed really happy about something, and Clay couldn't help but laugh at the jock's not-so-subtle excitement when they were around each other. The school day went by pretty fast, and soon the students of Liberty High were packing up their things to head home to do whatever they pleased. Hannah had left soon after her last class of the day ended, because her parents had asked for her help with something at the store. Once the halls of Liberty High were completely empty, the Jensen boy made his way towards the locker room where Coach Rick had asked to meet him to officially welcome him to the team by personally giving him a uniform.
                          
Entering the guy's locker room, Clay instantsly saw other teammates dressed in their uniforms and ready for practice to begin. Glancing around, the 19-year-old spotted Zach, Ramón, and Troy talking. Briefly looking up, the Dempsey boy noticed his friend and offered a smile before ending his current conversation and walking over to him. "Hey, Clay." The tall boy greeted kindly. "Hey, Zach." The smaller male replied back. "Scott tells me you'll be quite an improvement to the team." Zach said. "He did?" The 19-year-old questioned. The Dempsey teen chuckled a little. "Yeah. He did. He said you really impressed the coach back during tryouts, too." The taller male added just as Coach Rick entered the room with Scott right behind him. 
                          
"Alright, boys, listen up!" The man exclaimed loudly, gaining the full attention of the team as they all fell silent in an instant and turned to him. "I want every one of you to treat our newest teammate like he's a part of this family, and has been from the very start. I've already seen what he can do, and I think this team could use a player like him." The coach stated, his team nodding at his little speech. "With that being said, I'd like to welcome the newest member of the Liberty High Tigers baseball team, Clay Jensen." Rick stated proudly, smiling at the teen as he spoke his name. The room stayed silent for a couple seconds, but soon applause sounded. Taking a small glance around the room, the 19-year-old soon saw that Zach and Scott were the ones appluading him. The boy gave his two friends a small smile. and soon, the other jocks and Coach Rick joined in on appluading the newest Liberty High Tigers teammate as well. 
                          
Clay smiled as he walked over to the baseball coach after being gestured over. "Welcome to the team, Clay." Coach Rick stated as he held out a uniform to the younger boy. Glancing down, the first thing that grabbed the teen's attention was the number on the jersey. Right below his last name, a large number eleven was clearly seen in the Liberty High dark blue color. The number stuck out to the boy most as it had been Anthony's jersey number during the time he played the sport. "Well, go try it on." Scott said happily, urging his friend to get changed and test out the uniform. Briefly giving Scott a grateful look and a genuine smile, the 19-year-old took the uniform from his coach and walked back over to where has bag was before changing while everyone else grabbed their equipment and began making their way out to the awaiting baseball field. 
                          
After he was changed, the teen looked down at the white and dark blue uniform he was wearing. The 19-year-old gave a small, flat smile when he took notice of a small, dark blue circlular patch on the front of the jersey that had the number sixteen on it. Seeing the number, the Jensen teen thought back to the time when he had watched the team hang his baseball-loving friend's jersey up in the gym. After thinking about both Jeff and Anthony for a minute or two, the boy sat down on a small bench nearby. Clay then removed his usual sneakers before putting on the black and white baseball cleats that he had purchased on Monday afternoon after school had ended for the day. Once his cleats were laced up, the 19-year-old placed the dark blue Liberty High Tigers baseball cap on his head before picking up a light brown baseball bat and dark brown baseball mitt that he had bought the other day as well. Smiling to himself, the teenager soon left the locker room and made his way outside to join the others on the field.