Chapter 373 – Episode 365. Lucky Day. (1)

-Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maengho! Ji Maengho!

“And! “What is a home run?”

“Isn’t it almost a line drive? Did you get it right?”

When I come back after hitting a home run, my teammates welcome me. After the wild celebration, Choi Jin-cheol, whom I had talked to yesterday, spoke to me before leaving to bat.

“Meng Hao, didn’t you say you wouldn’t push it until yesterday?”

“First, we have to win the season. Hehe.”

Until yesterday, I never wanted to push myself like this. In fact, until I went to practice today, I was planning to keep watching the pitchers’ pitches to adjust my timing, but today I couldn’t hold back.

“Young. “It was a good home run.”

“Yes, senior, please hit a home run too!”

Honestly, I was lucky to hit a home run. I didn’t think I would pass it, so I pushed it, but the outside ball came, and it seemed like the timing was good.

‘You seem to be in good condition today.’

‘Even if it’s not good, I have to pass on it.’

‘Huh?’

‘It’s a place to meet idols. ‘It’s good to make a good first impression, right?’

Moreover, Joohee’s ideal type, whom we will meet today, is someone who is sexy while doing her day job. I was sure because I searched it before the game started and confirmed it was true. That said, it was clear that if you showed a great performance inside the baseball stadium, you would get extra points.

‘Because you’re an idol, they won’t give it to you easily, right? Let’s get some points here.’

It was a bit like that because Leah had been Zia’s friend since we first met, but she wasn’t even Zia’s friend. I couldn’t miss this opportunity. Now that she thought about it, she was glad she didn’t mess with Joo Seung-cheol because they were such a good match, but she didn’t want to turn down the opportunity to have sex with her idol.

“Do Meng Hao’s eyes look strange today?”

“Brother, he was always like that.”

“What’s strange? Anyway, just trust me in today’s game.”

While I was talking loudly to my colleagues, Junhu, today’s starting pitcher, approached me.

“Brother… Is it because it’s my game?”

“What bullshit. “I’m getting ready to throw the ball.”

I ignored Junhu who was making random noises and focused on Na Seungyoon’s pitching form as he was throwing the ball.

‘As expected, it’s the perfect ball for my current condition.’

… But that didn’t seem to be the case for others. This was because the top of the first inning ended with Ki Ki-joo and Choi Jin-cheol receiving consecutive outs.

‘Good. Good flow.’

Normally, I would have been a little annoyed by such behavior, but not today. Because I was able to clearly show Joohee my cool side.

‘You said you just turned 20 this year, right? They looked cute and sexy when they danced, but what about in bed?’

When I thought of her on the bed, I felt like I was going to get an erection already.

‘Huh, let’s be patient. There are still a lot of games left.’

As she thought about this, she couldn’t afford to look away. Because I had to be completely focused for today’s game.

‘They seem to be more focused than the Korean series.’

‘Of course. You can win at any time. If you miss this opportunity, it could be the end for you as an idol.’

‘Hehe, that’s right. ‘A past opportunity never comes back.’

For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had a connection with Rossby. Now I was more focused than ever so as not to miss the opportunity.

Ta – Aak!

Therefore, it didn’t matter even if Joo Seung-cheol’s batted ball went over the fence. It was immediately overturned to 2:1, but it was actually an opportunity. I can stand out.

And then came the second at-bat.

-Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maengho! Ji Maengho!

The opportunity came with 8th batter Baek Jeong-jin getting on base with 2 outs and runners on first base. As I step into the batter’s box, I hear loud cheers from the fans, but then it quiets down. Of course, the fans were probably still screaming and singing my song, but to me, it felt like it was just me, the pitcher, and Mr. Rossby.

‘What about the ball?’

‘It’s a fastball.’

“Strike!”

Na Seung-yoon’s fastball hits the body from the first pitch. The speed stamped on the electronic display board is 153 km/h.

‘Huh, let’s think you saw a ball.’

‘The next ball is a slider.’

‘I understand.’

Thinking that it would be nice to get it in the zone, I stay focused and wait for his pitch. Na Seung-yoon does a windup without paying attention to the runner, perhaps because it is a two-out situation. And the guy’s arm swings wildly.

‘Huh?’

A slider that seems to break and fall. Since I was thinking of a breaking ball in the first place, it was a ball that suited my timing perfectly. The swing that I practiced countless times is swinging beautifully,

Ta – Aak!

In his hands, he feels as if he is resonating with a bat he hasn’t felt in a long time. As I threw the bat according to the texture of my swing and watched the hit, Joo Seung-cheol, who was chasing my hit, stopped at some point and started looking toward the electronic display.

Empty!

Is it my imagination that I can hear the sound of the ball falling after hitting the electronic display up to here? And as soon as that sound is heard, the enthusiastic cheers of the audience are heard penetrating the eardrums.

-Wow!!!!

-Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maengho! Ji Maengho!

I raise my fist towards the fans who are enthusiastically chanting my name and then head to first base. And on the way back home. You can see Leah sitting at the table and Joohee who threw the first pitch today. Although she was wearing Hancheol’s uniform, even she looked beautiful.

‘Joohee, you are watching, right?’

Na Seung-yoon, who is in the spotlight as Hancheol’s next-generation ace, threw such a glitch, I felt perfect today.

‘Okay, let’s make a good first impression today!’

I still have a minimum of two at-bats and a maximum of three at-bats left. I somehow felt like I could show you something more today.

*

[Ji Maeng-ho’s huge home run that hits the electronic display board! With this, we turn the tables again!]

[Hey, Joo Seung-cheol hits a home run, and Ji Maeng-ho immediately follows him? It is a game with a lot to see.]

[Hey, you hit a home run like that? It almost seems like the electronic display board was set up as a line drive, right? According to the data just released, the exit speed was a whopping 194.3 km/h. This is the best record this season.]

[Hey, did the home run that went over the center fence come at that speed? Normally, that kind of speed comes out when you hit a pull, but the fact that he went over the center fence at this speed seems to indicate Ji Maeng-ho’s current hitting ability.]

[A home run by pushing in the first inning, and a home run over the center fence in the third inning. Home run king Ji Maeng-ho. Isn’t this really amazing? Hand it over anywhere.]

[He’s a terrifying hitter. In my personal opinion, I think Korea is too narrow for this player.]

[I also want to quickly see this player compete against major-leaguers on the Olympic stage. The Olympics are just around the corner.]

[You’re right. Barring an injury, he is a guaranteed member of the national team. Ji Maeng-ho.]

Ji Maeng-ho’s two-run home run in the top of the third inning seemed to have tilted the mood in Jamsil toward the AT Thunders, but Hancheol, who has been riding a wave of momentum recently, showed considerable potential.

[Kim Dong-jin and Kim Jeong-hyun’s consecutive hits! Hancheol welcomes the opportunity to reach 1st and 3rd base with no outs. And this guy at bat. Joo Seung-cheol comes in.]

[Joo Seung-cheol, despite coming out in mid-June, has appeared in 63 games this season and has a batting average of .309.2, 20 home runs including a home run in the bottom of the first inning, an on-base percentage of .408 and .705. With a slugging percentage and 53 RBIs, he is ranked first in all batting categories excluding stolen bases and runs this season.]

[Wow, that’s a really great record.]

[Last year, Ji Maeng-ho raised the expectations of fans watching baseball, and Joo Seung-cheol’s record is also quite rare to see. Of course, I don’t know what will happen if Ji Maeng-ho, the off-the-field batting king, fills the required number of at-bats, but it still doesn’t change the fact that Joo Seung-cheol is a great player.]

[Now, Joo Seung-cheol is preparing to surpass his father’s record, and the game is on! You hit it! Joo Seung-cheol’s first pitch hit! It hits the wall and falls! All three leaves from the runner’s home! Joo Seung-cheol goes all the way to second base! Stopped at second base! Hancheol Grizzlies turn the game around by adding 2 points again! It’s a strike battle in Jamsil today!]

[Hey, Joo Seung-cheol and Ji Maeng-ho. Since last year, when the two players have met, they have shown great competition, and today is also a great competition.]

[Joo Seung-cheol made 4 RBIs in 3 innings! I don’t think Lim Jun-hoo will last long. Chan-young Kim is warming up in the bullpen.]

Lim Jun-hoo, who took the mound today to protect AT’s starting mound, sent Joo Seung-cheol home and finished today’s game by giving up 5 runs in 3 innings.

“Ha, fuck, Im Jun-hoo, I recognized that bastard ever since he was meeting women.”

“I thought he was throwing well, but he was terrible.”

“Junhoo! Aren’t you embarrassed by Meng Hao?! How many points do you have to give up to throw well?”

When even the fans gathered in Jamsil to support AT were feeling defeated and cursing at the starting pitcher, there was a player smiling in AT’s dugout, contrary to the atmosphere.

‘2 points difference? Fuck. Okay. ‘This is how it’s fun.’

It was Ji Maeng-ho who was excited at the thought of becoming the main character.

[Is Ji Maeng-ho caught on camera? Ji Maeng-ho is smiling even though his team is losing. What does this laughter mean?]

[It probably means trusting your colleagues, right?]

[It is now the top of the fourth inning, Choi Jin-cheol’s second at-bat. In his first at-bat, he recorded a fly to left field.]

[There was a fly to left field, but the batting quality was quite good, right?]

[Na Seung-yoon’s first pitch against Choi Jin-cheol. It’s a ball. … Choi Jin-cheol! You hit it! A batted ball that splits left-center! Choi Jin-cheol heads to second base! Leadoff hitter Choi Jin-cheol’s double! AT starts to lift the mood again.]

[5:3. Although it is said to be a 2-point difference, considering AT’s batting lineup, it is not a score difference that can be reassuring. Seungyoon Na needs to focus.]

[… Kim Soo-ho! This ball won’t budge! See the results! Kim Soo-ho gets on base with a walk after a full-count game!]

[Kim Su-ho got on base well.]

[Now Seongtae Yoon comes to bat. He has a season batting average of .208, 4 ERA, and 5 home runs. … Seongtae Yoon’s batted ball! Behind right field! It falls! Kim Jeong-hyun couldn’t catch this batted ball! Second base runner Choi Jin-cheol runs home, and first base runner Kim Su-ho also runs home! 5:5! Batter runner Seongtae Yoon is out at third base! But the AT Thunders tie the score!]

[Yoon Seong-tae attempted to reach third base to save a runner coming home, but Kim Jeong-hyun’s strong shoulders caught Yoon Seong-tae. Still, Seongtae Yoon looks satisfied, right?]

[AT’s dugout cheering. Oh, Ji Maeng-ho’s face looks quite serious?]

[Now that your turn at bat is approaching, you are concentrating, right? Even though the score is tied, it is still not enough. This passion for baseball is what made Ji Maeng-ho the best player in Korea, right? Haha.]

When the broadcasters were praising Ji Maeng-ho, who looked very different from his smiling appearance before tying the score, Yoon Seong-tae, the protagonist of the tying game, approached Maeng-ho’s side.

“Mind! “Your ham tied the game, but your expression is like that?”

“Mr. Don’t talk to me. Anyway, it doesn’t help.”

“… What is it? “I tied the score, but Wagrano?”

“It’s okay.”

“Ah, I understand. Mind. I miss you. I should have lived on third base. Anyway, I’m picky when it comes to playing.”

It was Seongtae Yoon who apologized to his guest, but he couldn’t realize that that wasn’t the reason Ji Maengho was angry.