episode_0314

“It’s down to one game. Win this one game, and you can become the heroes. Remember all the hard work you’ve put in so far. Think back to the days when we couldn’t even play fall baseball, when we were mocked as a team that was bound to fail. Everything changes with this one game. Let’s leave all our struggles from the past games behind in this one. UG? Yes, they are a tough opponent. They’ve made it to the Korean Series every year for the past five years. But we are not weak either. You are strong. So give it your all. And don’t hold back any strength for the future.”

Coach Lee Soo-hyun’s words spread through the locker room before the game began. The players, each with a determined expression, nodded along as they listened to the coach.

“Are you all ready?”

“Yes!”

“We’re ready!”

“Invincible!”

“AT!”

“Let’s go! Let’s win and head to Jamsil!”

“Got it!”

“Let’s go!”

The decisive game for the championship in the Korean Series, Game 7. Team members were trying to shake off their nerves in different ways, shouting loudly to ease the tension. And I…

“I’m not as nervous as I thought I’d be.”

I felt surprisingly calm. If my condition had been the same as yesterday, I wouldn’t have been this composed, but today, feeling at my best, the nerves weren’t getting to me. With this mindset, it felt like I could hit a home run with every at-bat.

“Mang-ho, how’s your condition?”

“I want to go out there right now.”

“Still, hold on a bit.”

“Yes. Please prepare a lot of food for me.”

“Sure, I’ll be counting on you.”

Today, I’m batting fourth. After adjusting my zero-point yesterday, I requested to bat from the most familiar position I’ve held throughout the season, and Coach Lee Soo-hyun readily granted my request. Thus, I found myself back in the fourth spot in the lineup.

I wanted to show up for the fans who came all the way to Incheon.

“Surely they won’t bench me just because I hit one yesterday, right?”

With a hint of unease, I left the locker room for the dugout, where the stands were filled with fans who had come to watch the game. Of course, being in the away dugout, these were home fans cheering for UG. As I emerged from the dugout to greet our fans, I could hear their cheers.

– Ji Mang-ho! Ji Mang-ho! Ji Mang-ho!

“Our fans have come in numbers too.”

Our fans clearly dominated the third base side. As I waved to them, the cheers grew louder.

-Wow!!!

-Ji Mang-ho! Fighting!

-Mang-ho oppa! Win today for sure!

Hearing the cheers of these fans reignited my desire to win. The final game with the championship on the line. Regardless of the game’s outcome, both sets of fans would surely go home in tears – one in sorrow, the other in joy. I hoped our fans would shed tears of joy.

And that’s what I wanted to provide. It was the least I could do as a repayment for our fans’ support over the past year.

“Let’s line up. National anthem.”

As I steeled myself while looking at the fans, Yoon Sung-tae approached.

“Okay.”

“Aren’t you nervous?”

“What’s there to be nervous about? It’s just one game anyway.”

“I’m so nervous I could die.”

“Well, I have a remedy for that.”

“What is it?”

“Did Jun-hyung also snap out of it with this?”

“What is it? Oh… a slap? Are you crazy? Fine. Hit me.”

“It might snap you out of it. Kaboom.”

While chatting with Yoon Sung-tae, the national anthem played, and as I closed my eyes and sang along, it ended.

“Well, that was short.”

Yoon Sung-tae indeed seemed visibly tense. I could tell by his muttering to himself. And as the game began, today’s leadoff hitter Kim Ju-yeop stepped up to the plate with his bat in hand. Today, UG’s starting pitcher was the foreign player Benjamin.

Benjamin was a left-handed pitcher with a height close to 2 meters and a unique form with a high ERA. Despite his towering stature, he was not a fireballer but rather a traditional finesse pitcher, making him the ideal opponent for me. Of course, facing left-handed batters would be challenging.

“Kim Juyeop! Kim Juyeop! Kim Juyeop!”

“Hit it, Kim Juyeop! Hit it, Kim Juyeop! AT’s Kim Juyeop!”

The cheers for Kim Juyeop echoed as the game began.

Thud!

After a 5-pitch battle, Kim Juyeop made contact with the ball, but the high fly ball couldn’t escape the net-like UG outfield defense.

“Well, I expected it would be tough to face left-handed batters. But if it were Suho or Sangju seniors…”

Next up was Kim Suho at bat.

“Strikeout!”

After an intense 8-pitch duel, Kim Suho struck out.

“That was a missed opportunity.”

“I should have hit that, sorry.”

“How was the pitch?”

“It looked over the plate, right? If you throw like that, it’s a three-inning game. Well, it’s the final match, so it’s expected.”

“Got it.”

As Kim Suho had mentioned, watching Benjamin’s pitches from the on-deck circle gave the impression that he wasn’t concerned about controlling his pace. However,

Thunk!

A timely swing of the bat by Yoonsungtae pushed Benjamin’s pitch past the infield, allowing a runner to reach base with two outs. And with a runner on first and two outs, the UG battery had a decision to make…

“Intentional walk.”

“Tsk.”

Naturally, it was an intentional walk. Even if they were willing to compete, the UG dugout’s decision not to engage in a showdown with bases empty was evident.

“Jincheol senior, show us something!”

Choi Jincheol had hit three home runs in the current Korean Series. Hoping for another home run in this game, I watched Choi Jincheol step up to the plate.

“Bases loaded, ball one!”

However, it seemed that Benjamin had no intention of challenging right-handed hitter Choi Jincheol and instead delivered evasive pitches. Next up was Yoonsungtae.

“Oh, it’s Sungtae hyung here? Not expecting much. Well, it wouldn’t be fun if it were easy from the start. Ross B, tell me the pitch.”

“Sinker.”

“Okay. Sungtae hyung, it’s a sinker.”

Observing Yoonsungtae’s determined expression, it was unclear whether he saw my sign, but I signaled nonetheless. With two outs and the bases loaded, Benjamin wound up and threw the pitch. Benjamin’s sinker broke sharply towards Yoonsungtae.

Thwack!

Yoonsungtae successfully made contact with the ball. However, the hit ended up being a ground ball to the infield.

“Look at that swing path.”

Running towards third base on a routine ground ball, I suddenly heard the third base coach shout and gesture wildly.

“Jimaengho! Run!”

“What?!”

“The second baseman missed it! Run all the way home!”

Listening to Ross B’s words, I could immediately grasp the situation. I accelerated around third base and sprinted towards home plate. As I slid into home like a falling meteor, dirt and dust flew up.

“Where’s the ball?”

“The second baseman caught it!”

It seemed like Ross B’s statement was true as Baek Gyeongho adjusted his stance and prepared to throw. The remaining distance was about 7-8 meters. It was a very ambiguous distance to return to third base.

“Can I make it?”

Such thoughts briefly crossed my mind. If I were to be tagged out here, the atmosphere would undoubtedly turn cold. However…

“Damn it, why not?”

I decided to run. Baek Gyeongho, having discarded his mask, covered home plate while turning his mitt towards me. The throw from the second baseman headed precisely towards Baek Gyeongho’s mitt. His body drew closer and closer.

“Get out of the way!”

Thump! A dull sound reverberated as a wave of impact surged through my body. Spike marks were etched in the dirt at the base.

“Ah, damn, that hurts like hell. At least I think I touched home.”

When I woke up and got up, Baek Gyeong-ho was lying on home plate, and the ball had popped out of his mitt.

“The ball came out?”

“…Safe!”

‘Phew, that was close.’

If I had been a little late or if Baek Gyeong-ho had properly caught the ball, I would have been out. It was truly a close call.

“Gyeong-ho, are you okay?”

I approached Baek Gyeong-ho, who was lying on the ground, to comfort him a bit, but he didn’t respond.

‘Huh?’

“Gyeong-ho? Senior. Stop pretending to be hurt and get up. Uh….”

“Ughhh. Sh…it, th…is… su…, ughhh.”

Baek Gyeong-ho only made groaning sounds.

“Gyeong-ho hyung! Gyeong-ho hyung! Hey! Move!”

UG players and trainers rushing towards the fallen Baek Gyeong-ho. And the jeers from the spectators echoing through the stadium.

‘I didn’t intend for this to happen…’

I never meant to harm anyone. It was a fair home game, but I felt a bit uneasy.

“Mang-ho, let’s go inside for now.”

“I’m sorry.”

Following the cautious Son into the dugout first, I couldn’t help but worry a bit.

“Hey. You know it was a fair home game, right? The apology was directed towards that side. Gyeong-ho did what he had to do, and you did your part. So just…”

As we walked towards the dugout, Son, who had been listening to the jeers from UG fans, started to offer some kind of comfort.

“Why state the obvious?”

Of course, there was no need for that.

“…Don’t write it down… Oh, well. Were you not paying attention? After all, a few catchers have been carried off because of collisions with you. You might as well get used to it. Come to think of it, I think one was carried off during the WBC too…”

“Well, it seems like it was like that back then. Anyway, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m fine.”

“Yeah, no injuries?”

“If getting hit like this hurts, you should retire.”

While it was true that Baek Gyeong-ho was pitiful, sympathy aside, the game was the game.

“Mang-ho, are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Well, even though Gyeong-ho got carried off, it’s good that you’re not injured. Trainer, please check on him.”

“Understood. Mang-ho, come here. Do you hear any ringing in your ears or anything like that?”

“I feel like I’m hearing ghostly sounds…”

“He seems to have a sense of humor. Pupils are normal too. Seems alright at this level?”

After a brief examination in the dugout, the game resumed, and the catcher’s name displayed on the scoreboard had changed.

Thud!

“Out!”

And with a confused atmosphere, the inning ended.

‘Sigh, it’s a bit disappointing to give up 2 runs due to an error.’

It was even more regrettable since it was an error from UG, known for having the best defense domestically.

‘We should capitalize on these opportunities more…’

In the disappointing first half of the 1st inning, unexpectedly, it was UG that made the error, not Yun Seong-tae, who was known for being shaky.

‘Thinking like this makes me feel like a thief.’

Despite not scoring more in the first inning, thanks to the 2 runs gained from the error, the feeling of winning was getting closer.