episode_0098

[At the top of the first inning, Japan attacks. Japan’s lineup features the number one hitter, Sosuke Genda. Second batter, Sohei Ohtani. Third batter, Munetaka Murakami. Number 4 hitter, Yamakawa Hotaka. Batter number 5, Seiya Suzuki. 6th batter, Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, 7th batter, Maki Shugo. The 8th hitter is Masataka Yoshida, and the 9th hitter is Takuya Kai. Japan’s lineup doesn’t seem to have changed much from the last game against Korea, right?]

[you’re right. Actually, there is no need for Japan to change their lineup. However, the difference is that Ohtani moved to right field and Yoshida became the designated hitter.]

[Then, let me explain Korea’s defensive position. A battery of Seonghyun and Lee Yong-gi, Koo Jin-mo at first base, Ji Maeng-ho at second base, Choi Joo-tae at shortstop, and Kim Su-ho at third base. The outfield is from left field to Ki Ki-joo, Lee Eun-chong, and Joo Seung-cheol.]

[The batteries of Seonghyun and Lee Yonggi are the same as in the last game against Japan, but the difference is that Eunchong Lee was in center field.]

[What do you think is the cause?]

[Perhaps left-handed hitter Lee Eun-chong was added to the lineup to target right-handed pitcher Darvish? In fact, except for Choi Joo-tae, the built-in number 1 hitter, Lee Eun-chong, Ki Ki-ju, and Koo Jin-mo. By setting up three left-handed hitters, it looks like they are preparing for Darvish, a right-handed pitcher.]

[yes. okay.]

[under… . Seonghyeon needs to show a good side… . You only need to pass it once. Seonghyun, who went past the first inning, is a different pitcher.]

[In fact, didn’t you have a lot of trouble in the first inning in the last game against Japan?]

[you’re right. I’ll have to go through with it this time… .]

*

widely!

Fuck, are you getting beaten up again? Please reach!

I just chased after the slightly missed batted ball.

“My ball! My ball!”

And the running center fielder and right fielder. I stopped right after hearing the call, but the hit hit unfortunately fell in a position where none of us could catch it. And right fielder Joo Seung-cheol picked up the ball. I immediately bent down to make it easier to throw, but the runner on second base had already entered the groove.

“Ha, fuck. “If only it weren’t for two outs.”

Joo Seung-cheol’s low muttering. The numbers went up again on the electronic display board. Top of the first inning, two outs. The score is 3:0.

… Seonghyeon collapsed.

Back-to-back hits by No. 1 hitter Genda and No. 2 hitter Ohtani put runners on first and third base. And a hit that would not have been surprising if it became a home run ended up being a sacrifice fly, resulting in 1 point. Otani, the runner on first base, advanced to second base, and after Yamakawa, the fourth batter, walked, Japan added another run with Seiya’s single.

Somehow, he struck out the 6th batter, Tsutsugo, but now the 7th batter, Maki, hit a hit for Texas, bringing the score up to 3:0.

‘Seonghyun, no, Seonghyun senior. Please stop it!’

If we give up any more points, today’s game is essentially over. I looked at Seonghyeon with an earnest heart.

“Base on balls!”

And walks. Now two outs and bases loaded.

“are you okay! are you okay! You’re doing great! “The next batter is Takuya, so let’s get an out and go to the dugout!”

Choi Joo-tae encouraged Seong-hyeon, but Seong-hyeon, who was sweating profusely, seemed not to hear.

And then the manager came on the mound.

“Hyuna. This is Takuya Kai. Even in Japan, he’s a hitter who hits .200. A defensive catcher. “Let’s come to our senses and focus.”

“… yes.”

Seonghyun’s unsure tone of voice. Fuck, he’s a pitcher who won 95 major games! Without realizing it, I walked up to the mound where the coach and Battery were talking.

“senior. “If you don’t have confidence, you’ll fall out.”

“huh?”

“Ji Maeng-ho! What is he saying now!”

“… … .”

As I went up to the mound, other infielders began to gather. Fuck, that’s right, if I pulled out a sword, I’d have to cut down a bunch of people.

“If you’re not confident, leave. No hits, no hits, no walks. What are you doing? Are the beasts behind you assholes? Or did they throw the game just because they gave 3 points?”

Once I opened the door, the thoughts that had been filling my head came out of my mouth without passing through my brain.

“What are you doing? it’s crazy?”

Gu Jin-mo.

“hey! It’s okay to be considered the youngest! “Aren’t you going back to your seat?”

Choi Joo-tae.

“… … .”

Suho Kim.

“Director, let’s leave him out, right? “Just welcome it, right?”

Lee Yong-gi.

Everyone was cursing me. But the director and Seonghyun were not saying anything.

“Director. “If the pitcher doesn’t want to fight, what does the fielder do?”

Since we’ve come this far, pulling back seems like a piece of cake, right? Anyway, the die was cast.

puck!

Gu Jin-mo’s glove hit the back of my head. Pain felt in the head.

“Aren’t you covering your eyes? These are all your seniors! Do you play baseball alone? Did you do well alone? This idiot… !”

“Stop, stop!”

Lee Geum-hyeon shouted. And the referees, who noticed our commotion, were gradually approaching us.

“First of all, we have to play the game. Hyuna, it’s okay… .”

“sorry. I came to my senses after hearing what my youngest said. Director. “I’ll try again.”

After interrupting the director, Seonghyeon opened his mouth. It seems like his eyes have changed somehow.

I didn’t mean to think that I had awakened Seonghyeon’s spirit. Because I was just letting out my fucking feelings.

“hey. “I’ll see you when I’m done.”

“Are you watching it now?”

“This bastard until the end!”

“Goo Jin-mo!”

“sorry. “Director.”

“… sorry.”

When Koo Jin-mo apologized first, I had no choice but to look at the director and say I was sorry. Anyway, I didn’t mean to fight now. I just wanted to play baseball.

‘I thought he was just a grandfather, but he seems to have some charisma.’

‘Well, he’s a coach who treats winning like a meal.’

‘But is it okay to do that to that bastard?’

‘If I lose here anyway, I won’t be the one to watch it.’

‘Hehe, that’s right. But why did you do this even though I didn’t ask you to?’

‘It’s annoying. ‘Korea’s ace comes out and gets pummeled by Japan.’

Sunghyun has been the biggest star since I was young. I’m just annoyed that a player like that is struggling against Japanese players without even being able to compete.

“Now, go back and focus.”

After the manager’s visit to the mound, we all returned to our defensive positions.

‘Please, throw the ball properly!’

You may unluckily lose by hitting consecutive hits or hitting a home run. However, I couldn’t bear to be trembled and scolded without being able to compete properly on this important stage. Also the best pitcher in Korea. Seonghyeon, the veteran of veterans, the most senior.

And then Seonghyun’s helmet began.

“strike!”

Seonghyeon boldly put a four-seamer into the middle.

“nice!”

“Sir, let’s just keep going like this!”

“Nice ball, nice ball!”

‘Let’s throw it like this from the beginning.’

Perfect!

And shortstop Choi Joo-tae handled a high batted ball in the infield, ending Japan’s long first inning.

“Hey, follow me back.”

When I returned to the dugout, Kim Soo-ho, who had a quiet personality and didn’t talk much, called me and dragged me to the back of the dugout. It wasn’t unexpected. But I thought Gu Jin-mo would call me… .

“hey. Do you think something happened to you because you became a national team member?”

Although he was shorter than me, Kim Su-ho, who was quiet, spoke, I felt my heart pounding. I feel like I did something very wrong… .

Yes, I was wrong. He’s not an amateur and he’s being mean to the pitcher on the mound. I couldn’t control my emotions because it was a game against Japan, which I had lost to once.

It seems like I was the only one who developed a sense of rivalry with Otani.

“… no. sorry.”

Pak.

Kim Su-ho’s glove touched the brim of his hat. My head lowered itself due to the weight of the glove.

“Do you think your seniors are easy because they ask you to come?”

“no.”

Pak.

“Do you just want to win?”

“no.”

Pak.

“Don’t be immature. “Because your every move is being broadcast and the people are watching.”

“… All right.”

Come to think of it, Woo Gwan-hyung also said something like that. I remember being told to be careful in Australia because my every action represented the country.

“I guess the reason I was so mean to Seonghyeon was because I was confident, right? “I hope you show the ability to take responsibility for your words.”

“… yes.”

“And when Seonghyun goes down, be sure to apologize.”

“All right.”

Kik-ik. As Kim Su-ho finished speaking, the door to the passage opened again.

“hey! Are you crazy? “This bastard couldn’t come to his senses even after being scolded once?”

“hey.”

“… huh?”

“I scolded you, so leave it alone. If you want to do it, do it after you’re done. “Because there’s a game going on.”

Koo Jin-mo looked slightly embarrassed by Kim Su-ho’s words. And it was the same for me.

“… Let’s see once it’s over. “Just stand out one more time.”

“Senior Jinmo, you have to stand by and bat.”

“already? I get it.”

When I came out of the passage, Choi Joo-tae was at second base.

“Hey, what happened?”

“Brother, what did you do earlier? “All the seniors were upset.”

“I don’t know anything. “Just explain the situation.”

“Senior Joo-tae walked and got on base, and senior Eun-chong hit a base hit.”

So is it second base? A weather note was seen at the plate. Koo Jin-mo, who appeared as the number 4 hitter today, quickly gathered his equipment and walked to the waiting box.

“hey. “Cheer loudly.”

Before I knew it, Suho Kim had come next to me and was watching me.

“… yes. “Blow away the weather forecast!”

“You don’t?”

“Fighting, Senior Ki Sang-ju!”

Even Jang Woo-joo, who was incensed because of me, raised his voice. Yeah, let’s fucking cheer!

“Try blowing up a weather pole!”

Ta – evil!

-Wow!

And the weather forecast struck a timely blow that broke through the shift. Choi Joo-tae, with his quick feet, reached home… !

“Safe!”

Now, make up for one point! The game isn’t over yet. But Darvish was no easy opponent either. Because Koo Jin-mo struck out and Kang Han-beom hit a fly.

However, it was great to get one point early in the game. Let’s follow this step by step.

*

[Seonghyun ends the second inning with 11 balls! The Seonghyeon we know is back!]

[Ah, good! great. The ball became sharper than in the first inning. It seems that the infielders gathered together and talked in the first inning was effective.]

[What did you say then? It seems like he became a different pitcher with two outs in the top of the first inning.]

[Usually we don’t say much. Seeing that Koo Jin-mo lightly hit the youngest player, Ji Maeng-ho, they probably were joking.]

[I’m so glad Seonghyun found his original self. As expected, Seonghyun passed the first episode!]

[One thing that is disappointing is that 51 balls were thrown in the first and second innings combined. Now there are only 39 pitches left.]

[The game now goes to the bottom of the second inning.]

“Commissioner, what do you think?”

After the inning, it was commercial time. The caster asked a question to the commentator with a dark look on his face.

“Ha, it might be a bit difficult… . Even if Seonghyun goes down and Jung Woosung lasts 2-3 innings, there is no pitcher who can stop him.”

“But there are a lot of other pitchers, right?”

“Tsk. Can they survive against the Japanese kids? Well, he throws well in KBA… . To be honest, even mercenaries who fail in Japan play ace in Korea. “It will probably be difficult.”

“also… . Then at least from the batter’s side.”

“At least we have to go to a strike game. Of course, this also assumes that Otani does not appear. If the situation becomes urgent, I might throw at least one inning. Ha, I really hope I win.”

“Oh, I think it will start soon.”

Upon the PD’s sign, the caster and commentator put their headsets back on.

[Let’s start with Joo Seung-cheol, the 6th hitter in the bottom of the second inning of the Republic of Korea.]

[Joo Seung-cheol. As you all know, he is the son of Joo Hyung-jin. And what about Joo Hyung-jin? Isn’t he the player who saved Korea from danger by hitting home runs every time they met Japan at the Olympics and WBC? Joo Seung-cheol is like his father… … ]