Chapter 454 – 446. The Last Spark. (1)

[2 outs, 3rd base, Lee Eun-chong at bat! You hit it! At first base! At first base! Three leaves! Eunchong Lee’s headfirst sliding! Shinra Triggers is back again! Score 5:4! Now, Daejeon is one step closer! … Three out! However, in the beginning of the 14th inning, Lee Eun-chong, who had been sluggish throughout the season, made a comeback and made a timely hit, and Shilla Triggers took the lead!]

“Coach Kim! What about Wonho? “Is Wonho ready?”

“Yes. “I’ve been warming up since episode 13.”

After the pitching coach finished speaking, Won-ho Kim, who had been warming up in the bullpen, walked out to the front of the bullpen. Although he was the manager of the Shilla Triggers, who did not usually go out of the dugout, he could not just watch the ace heading to the mound to protect the victory in a situation where the team’s advancement to the playoffs was at stake.

“Wonho, can you do it?”

Just before going out to the mound, Silla’s coach put his hand on Wonho’s cheek and asked a question.

“I have to do it. “Because he’s a pitcher.”

Wonho’s words contained strong confidence. In fact, this situation was familiar to Wonho. Situations like this have always happened to Wonho, who has been Ace since elementary school.

“… “I’m sorry.”

Silla’s director offered Ace a sincere apology. Wonho’s starting pitch was 3 days ago. Because it was an unreasonable use that cannot be denied even if you criticize it as abuse.

However, there were no more pitchers left for Silla, who was leading the game to overtime. Kim Won-ho also knew this, so he shook his head at the director who apologized to him.

“Don’t say you’re sorry, just think about Seungri’s interview. “Director.”

So, the ace headed to the mound to protect the team’s victory.

[Wow, I didn’t know it would be this intense starting from the semi-playoffs.]

[I see. This series itself was truly a masterpiece, right? The Hancheol Grizzlies, who won two games first, and the Shilla Triggers, who followed two games without giving up. And this is one inning before the Shilla Triggers reverse sweep the series.]

As the broadcasters said, the semi-playoffs between Shilla Triggers, who defeated the Charlotte Blue Mariners in the wild card game, and Hancheol Grizzlies, who were waiting for Shilla Triggers by maintaining third place throughout the season, were different from the original expectation that Hancheol would easily win and head to Daejeon. It was intense.

The series went as experts predicted until Hancheol recorded two consecutive wins at its home stadium, Jamsil, but it was in the third game that the situation took a turn.

Kim Won-ho, who had shut down Charlotte’s batting lineup in the wild card game by allowing one run in seven innings, turned the situation around with a shutout, and foreign ace Doer pitched well in Game 4, tying the series.

And then the fateful fifth round began. Hancheol took a three-run lead from the top of the first inning thanks to Joo Seung-cheol’s three runs, but Shilla Triggers did not give up and followed each run, and after putting all the pitchers on the mound, they finally took the lead for the first time in the game in the top of the 14th inning. I was able to score points.

[The situation is one point behind. At the end of the 14th inning, Hancheol’s attack begins. The pitcher on the mound for Shilla Triggers is: Wonho Kim! This is Wonho Kim!]

-Wow!!!!

-Kim Won-ho! Wonho Kim! Kim Won-ho!

And, when ace Kim Won-ho, who turned the series around, came on the mound, Jamsil Stadium was filled with enthusiastic cheers.

[Hey, Kim Won-ho is finally on the mound. There are no pitchers left anymore, right?]

[Kim Won-ho, who came on the mound two days ago and boosted the team’s momentum with a shutout win, came on the mound to close out the game.]

[Given 1 run in 7 innings in the wild card game and 9 innings without a run in Game 3. He’s showing very well this fall, allowing 1 run in 16 innings, right?]

`

[Kim Won-ho is a player who can be said to have stepped up by more than one level, no, two levels by installing a two-seamer after the Olympics. Additionally, he once pitched 9 perfect innings, an unofficial perfect game record, against the AT, the league’s best power hitter.]

[And Shilla Triggers will be hoping to achieve that perfect record once again this inning.]

[However, the Hancheol Grizzlies’ batting lineup is good. Starting with No. 1 hitter Kim Dong-jin, Kim Jeong-hyeon, a member of the national team, and Joo Seung-cheol, who is aiming for the major league after this season. This is a batting line that cannot be taken lightly. Besides, I’m worried about the fatigue from throwing the ball two days ago.]

“Please! Wonho! Let’s just block it for one inning!”

Silla’s fans prayed that their ace would safely cover the first inning,

“Please, just one person survives. Just live as one person in front of Joo Seung-cheol.”

Hancheol’s fans were earnestly praying that if it weren’t for Ji Maeng-ho, there would be runners in front of Joo Seung-cheol, who was sure to be this season’s MVP and who hit the first three runs in the top of the first inning.

And Kim Won-ho’s first pitch was thrown.

[Cheek! It’s a ball. The first ball is a ball that exits high.]

[Because Kim Won-ho came up shortly after taking the mound as a starter, he may have accumulated fatigue. However, you have to control the ball.]

‘Sweet, it’s definitely a pain, isn’t it?’

The speed recorded on the electronic display board was 144 km/h. Perhaps because it had just been a while since he started as a starter, he was not in perfect condition. Usually, the velocity that comes out when throwing an all-out pitch in one inning is in the low 140s to low 150s. Wonho also knew that his condition was not normal.

But, I couldn’t give up. Because it’s the ace’s job to somehow block the inning. Plus, he had no pitcher to come up if he went down. There was a foreign mercenary called Door who pitched in Game 4…

‘There’s no way a mercenary would do it right.’

Wonho erased the rest of his mind and focused on typing again.

‘The batsman is Dongjin. He’s fast on his feet, so it’s tricky when he goes out. Ha, it was like this during the Qing Dynasty…’

Hancheol’s number one batter at the plate, Kim Dong-jin, was the 2022 Rookie of the Year and was a quick hitter who recorded more than 40 stolen bases every year. In addition, he is a typical hitter with good contact, hitting .300 for four years in a row.

It was also annoying. The ball Wonho chose to deal with such a troublesome hitter was a two-seam. Wonho’s two-seamer was thrown in anticipation of a ground ball being trapped in the infield.

Ta – Aak!

[Kim Dong-jin’s batted ball! Fence! Ah! Get off the pole! Kim Dong-jin’s foul home run! You seem to regret it very much.]

Although it went off the foul line, it was a big hit that made you wake up. However, Wonho actually felt like he had seen the answer sheet.

‘The swing is big. ‘I know my condition is not normal, and I am aiming for something big.’

A big batted ball that is not suitable for Kim Dong-jin, a substitute hitter. If he had swung with the intention of getting on base like usual, it would have been more annoying, but it was easy to deal with a batter who was obviously aiming for a home run. For batters who are aiming for a big hit…,

Kim Won-ho’s splitter fell exactly near Kim Dong-jin’s knee, and Kim Dong-jin’s bat missed wide. After that, he used the ball count as much as possible and put pressure on Kim Dong-jin,

[Swing strikeout! Kim Won-ho catches an out after a full count match! Wonho Kim adds an out count heading to Daejeon! Now the batter is Kim Jeong-hyun!]

In the end, he succeeded in striking out the difficult first batter.

Now the batter is Hancheol’s right fielder Kim Jeong-hyeon. He was a right fielder who was regularly selected for the national team, and he was also a player who made the team in this Olympics. One of the league’s leading outfielders who won two Golden Gloves with a record of close to .300 and 20-20 in the 19th and 20th seasons.
He was not an easy opponent.

‘Ha, it’s a mountain beyond the mountain.’

Wonho was also fully feeling the pressure. However, his remaining count of outs is only two. He couldn’t give up here, even if it was for the sake of the team’s victory.

[Wonho Kim’s first pitch is thrown! Foul! … Foul! … Foul! Kim Jeong-hyun clears the ball once again in a full count! A persistent battle continues.]

Kim Won-ho’s velocity was lower than usual, but he had perfect borderline control with greater concentration than usual, and Kim Jeong-hyun received the eighth opportunity by continuously clearing away Kim Won-ho’s balls.

‘Ha, stop kicking it and die, really.’

And the eighth ball thrown. That ball was faster than any ball Kim Won-ho threw today.

“Base on balls!”

However, it just went outside the zone.

[Kim Jeong-hyun gets a walk! Now it’s 1 out and 1 base! And at bat, it’s this batter! This is Joo Seung-cheol!]

-Joo Seung-cheol! Joo Seung-cheol! Joo Seung-cheol!

-Ah~ Ah~ Ah~ Joo Seung-cheol! Joo Seung-cheol of Hancheol! (Home run~! Joo Seung-cheol!) Ah,~ Ah~ Ah~ Joo Seung-cheol! Joo Seung-cheol of Hancheol! (Home run~! Joo Seung-cheol!)

Jamsil vibrates with Joo Seung-cheol’s name and cheering songs. Just by looking at the size of the shouts, you could tell how much expectations Hancheol’s fans had for Joo Seungcheol.

And such expectations were natural expectations.

0.342/0.450/0.747/1.197. A slash line that is breathtaking just to look at and the power to hit 51 home runs. Clutch ability with 133 RBIs. In addition to 37 stolen bases and the athletic ability to see center field in Jamsil.

Joo Seung-cheol was now a man more suited to the title of Han-cheol’s hero than Joo Hyeong-jin’s son, so he was worthy of such expectations.

When Joo Seung-cheol, who would have been the top MVP candidate without Ji Maeng-ho, came to the plate, Won-ho was feeling more pressure than ever.

‘No, isn’t it that bad? I think it was more difficult when dealing with Meng Hao.’

To overcome that pressure, Wonho thought of the face of his best friend, Mengho. When Maeng Ho’s face at the plate came to mind, the pressure he felt on Joo Seung-cheol seemed to lessen.

[The first pitch is a strike! Kim Won-ho boldly throws a strike against Joo Seung-cheol!]

[Today, Joo Seung-cheol recorded a home run, but his performance was uncharacteristic of Joo Seung-cheol, with 1 hit in 5 at-bats. He also seems to have chosen to compete rather than filter. In fact, unless you are a player like Ji Maeng-ho, there is absolutely no reason to send a runner into scoring position in a walk-off situation.]

‘Look at his eyes…’

First pitch strike. But Joo Seung-cheol’s eyes remained the same. He has a dangerous look in his eyes that can only be felt by super hitters. Wonho knew this look. With some major league hitters I met at the Olympics… Because it was the kind of look Ji Maeng-ho showed.

‘Wonho, should I take it out?’

‘No. I will put it in the splitter zone.’

‘Okay? ‘Wouldn’t it be dangerous?’

‘I don’t think I’ll be fooled by a simple trick.’

The second ball he chose against Joo Seung-cheol was his signature splitter. There was only one batter in Korea who could hit with his own splitter.

‘If it’s not Meng Hao… !’

Just like that, Kim Won-ho’s entire body flies towards Joo Seung-cheol. When first thrown, the ball flies like a fastball and begins to fall halfway between the mound and home plate. … And Joo Seung-cheol’s bat swung like a thunderbolt.

Ta – Aak!

‘Please! Please! Please!’

Wonho, who sensed that it would be a big hit the moment he hit it, turned his head and checked his hit. This is Jamsil. Jamsil was the one to block a hit that made such a sound, so I hope that happens again this time…

However,

[Goodbye! Goodbye! Goodbye! Joo Seung-cheol’s batted ball! Go over the left wall! Joo Seung-cheol’s walk-off two-run! Joo Seung-cheol! Save the team again! Now! All season Grizzlies! Heading to Daejeon! And at the center of it all is this other! Joo Seung-cheol is here!]

[Hey, did you aim correctly? Hey… Kim Won-ho’s condition didn’t seem to be good, but hey… As expected, it is Joo Seung-cheol.]

[Kim Won-ho lowering his head and Joo Seung-cheol turning around the diamond! And in front of Joo Seung-cheol, Hancheol’s players are gathered!]

Tears flow from Wonho’s eyes. Now it’s the loser’s turn to go down. Wonho walked with his hat on his head, leaving Hancheol’s players spraying water on Joo Seung-cheol.

“Wonho…”

“Sorry. Sorry. Sorry… “Sigh.”

There is only one thing the director can say to Ace, who is holding back tears and apologizing.

“No, I’m sorry. Under…”

All I can say is that I’m sorry.

“Sorry…”

In the world of competition, when someone laughs, someone else has no choice but to cry. Silla’s coach also knew Wonho’s feelings, so he just patted him on the shoulder.

[Now then, let’s finish today’s hero! Let’s meet Joo Seung-cheol! … Hello! Joo Seung-cheol!]

“Hello. “This is Joo Seung-cheol.”

And, in the world of competition, if someone cries, someone is bound to laugh. The main character of the laugh today was Joo Seung-cheol.

[How was the game today?]

“Ah, it was harder than I thought…”

The interview was conducted while enjoying the joy of victory, and before we knew it, the interview time was coming to an end.

[And for Joo Seung-cheol personally, wouldn’t this be the last fall baseball season in Korea?]

“Yes, that could be true. We talked a lot about the club and posting. This season could really be the last. “Before that, I want to try on a ring.”

[Then, please tell me your final words.]

“Hmm… In fact, in the last game of the season, Meng Ho, ah, Ji Meng Ho broke his father’s record.”

[That’s right.]

“As a son, I think I should take revenge. To do that, we really want to go to the Korean Series. Hey man! Wait there. “We’ll be there soon.”

[It was Joo Seung-cheol, who was pledging to advance to the Korean Series! Then, the 2024 semi-playoffs end here. Thanks for the help so far…]

The Hancheol Grizzlies advanced to the playoffs after a fierce battle. And Joo Seung-cheol is spending his final season in Korea setting incredible records.

Joo Seung-cheol does it for the team, for his father, and for himself. He began to burn out his last flame in Korea.