Chapter 457 – 449. The Last Spark. (4)

“Good! Let’s go!”

“You can do it!”

A desperate situation with no outs on first and second base. The two home assists, which came in a situation where the team could have conceded a key point, brought vitality to the dugout. The can-do attitude spreads throughout the dugout.

“Isn’t this a familiar situation? In the bottom of the 9th inning, the batting order starts with Dongjin.”

“I see. “It looks very familiar, right?”

“Okay. You guys will be familiar with this too. Make yourself familiar with the ending.”

“Yes!”

“Let’s go!”

“Dongjin! “You can do it?!”

“Of course.”

Kim Dong-jin entered the batter’s box with everyone’s expectations in the dugout.

[As expected, this player, the guardian god of the volcano and the finishing god guardian, will enter the volcano mound.]

[Shin Su-ho, really, is like a player who was born to finish from the name of his name, right? His regular season record was 3 wins, 1 loss, 41 saves, and an ERA of 2.06, and in the post season, he appeared in 3 games and allowed 3 scoreless innings.]

[Shin Su-ho appeared in all 4 games by pitching today.]

[You can think of it as a four-game series, but since there was a day off, Shin Su-ho is probably familiar with this situation.]

On the mound is Shin Su-ho, the next-generation closer to succeed Go Young-hwan. It is safe to say that he was the best finisher in the country, throwing a fastball with an average of 152-4, a fast and sharp curve, and a cutter. In addition, after learning the changeup from Seonghyun this season, he has become more stable and is rumored to challenge the major leagues someday.

In addition, Shin Su-ho’s postseason record was 3 scoreless innings. It was such a situation that it would not be strange at all even if Shin Su-ho ended the game like this.

However,

‘I think it’s worth doing…’

Kim Dong-jin had no such thoughts at all. There is no evidence, but it feels like I will win. The smell of victory that started from the dugout, or rather from catching the Shinra Triggers, strongly irritated the tip of his nose.

‘From the curve to the change-up. It is disadvantageous if the ball count is long.’

The opponent is a pitcher who is strong at fastballs. Will he actually throw a breaking ball from the first pitch? The probability of that happening was low. The pitchers, especially the closers, were guys full of pride. A finisher like that is a fastball pitcher? It was clear that the first pitch was going to be a fastball.

… With that in mind, I waited a few seconds for the pitcher to wind up. In Kim Dong-jin’s mind, the catcher sitting at home plate comes to mind.

‘… What if you are courageous?’

The catcher sitting at home plate wearing a catcher’s mask is Korea’s best catcher Lee Yong-gi. The hit was also a blow, but Kim Dong-jin, who was on the same team until last year, knew that.
What a smart person he is.

‘For the Yonggi hyung I know, this is a curveball here. I don’t know what kind of ball it is, but it’s a breaking ball.’

And just as Kim Dong-jin thought, Lee Yong-gi was asking the pitcher for a breaking ball. A fastball from the first pitch? It was good, but it was a big risk. But that didn’t mean he could throw a clumsy, slow breaking ball.

So the ball chosen was a cutter, a type of modified fastball. The velocity was around 145-6 and the angle was pretty good, so it was a pretty good pitch in this situation. But…,

[Ah, Shin Su-ho is shaking his head.]

Shin Su-ho did not like that ball combination. The opponent bats first. He didn’t want to drag the game out for no reason, and it felt like a burden. His first fall baseball since his debut. And his fourth appearance. Each game was 10 times heavier than usual. He feels the pressure on him even more than when he faced the United States at the Olympics…

Although he was the finisher who was responsible for the team’s backdoor throughout the season, he is still a young player. A feeling of fear was dominating Shin Su-ho’s mind, as if he would go over the fence if he threw a slow ball for no reason. What brought him to his current position is his average velocity in the low to mid 150s and his fastball reaching up to 158.

In such burdensome situations, it is human instinct to look for the most familiar thing. Even Shin Soo-ho couldn’t go against that instinct.

‘Here, I just want to throw a fast ball.’

‘… It can’t be helped.’

Finally, Shin Su-ho nods his head. And, that satisfied nod was captured by Kim Dong-jin.

‘What? Are you going for a fastball?’

There is only one reason to shake your head and nod here. Kim Dong-jin’s mind becomes brighter. The ball to aim for is a fastball.

[Shin Su-ho throws out the first pitch!]

In this way, Shin Su-ho threw the ball he was most confident in toward the zone the fastest this fall baseball season.

Perfect!

However, as he was the fastest, he was driven to the center and could not escape Kim Dong-jin’s bat, which was aiming for the ball.

[Kim Dong-jin’s batted ball! It falls in front of right field! Leadoff hitter hits! Kim Dong-jin raises his fist! The tying runner is on base!]

Fortunately, however, the ball Shin Su-ho threw was alive, so it did not result in a long hit.

[Now the batter is Kim Jeong-hyun.]

[Kim Jeong-hyun gained momentum with a great home assist in the previous inning, so be careful.]

‘Suho, listen to me. Fuck.’

With such earnest heart, Lee Yong-gi signs his autograph.

‘Even if I wasn’t pushed to the center… You have to throw it as little as possible.’

However, Lee Yong-gi’s desperate request for death did not reach Shin Su-ho. This was because the pressure of the fall baseball stage was putting pressure on Shin Su-ho. In fact, this was the first proper save situation on the fall baseball stage.

In the first and third games, the team was losing, and in the second game, the team was winning big, so it was the first save in fall baseball in my life. My field of vision had no choice but to become narrow.

“Ball.”

Therefore, Shin Su-ho tried to hit the ball as close to the borderline as possible,

[Three balls, one strike, Shin Su-ho’s ball! It won’t stick! Ah! This is where the walk comes in! 1st and 2nd bases safe! Now even the come-from-behind runner is on base. And Joo Seung-cheol at bat!]

“Suho. Come to your senses!”

Bottom of the 9th inning, no outs, 1st and 2nd bases. And the batter is Joo Seung-cheol. Feeling bad, Lee Yong-gi came to the mound to comfort Shin Su-ho, but it seemed difficult to come to his senses. At that time, a memory passed through Lee Yong-gi’s mind.

A match against the United States, where the country’s advancement to the finals is at stake. Even back then, Shin Soo-ho was in a panic like this. And what awakened Shin Su-ho’s spirit was Ji Maeng-ho’s blow. A punch filled with soul.

Mate!

As the memory of that time suddenly came to mind, Lee Yong-gi slapped Shin Su-ho on the cheek, hoping that he would come to his senses like he did back then.

“Evil! Senior!”

“Shin Soo-ho! Have you come to your senses?!”

“Yes, yes! “I came to my senses!”

Only then did the team, which seemed to have lost its soul, seem to come to its senses.

“Suho. Just trust your brother and throw it. Those bastards are a mess. I was on the same team until last year. I know all my weaknesses. All you have to do is throw what your brother tells you to do. I will take full responsibility. You just throw the ball as I tell you. Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes. Ah… “I’m sorry.”

“Bastard. A pitcher doesn’t apologize on the mound.”

‘This is effective. If Hyun-hyung doesn’t come to his senses later, I’ll have to give him a beating.’

Lee Yong-gi comes down from the mound with a happy smile after seeing Jang-gi come to his senses. However, that happy smile did not last long. Because of the face of that guy I saw on the way back.

“Brother, is it Ji Maeng-ho? “Isn’t that what Meng Hao did?”

“Pay attention.”

Joo Seung-cheol. Even when he was on the same team, he was hitting at a level higher than other hitters. Somehow this season, he was a guy who showed a batting ability that was not just one, but five moves above him. Moreover, Lee Yong-gi felt that Joo Seung-cheol was more difficult than Ji Maeng-ho, the best hitter in the league.

Ji Maeng-ho is a batsman who hides his sly spirit like a snake under his beast-like face. I don’t know how he reads his ball mix, but he was a hitter who could read his ball mix well. It’s probably because of his constant analysis and effort.

Therefore, Lee Yong-gi was preparing a completely different and special ball combination to deal with Ji Maeng-ho. It would be difficult for him to break the target, but a hitter like Ji Maeng-ho was not that scary when the target was broken.

However, Joo Seung-cheol was a different type of hitter than Ji Maeng-ho. Perhaps because he inherited his father’s blood, he was a true ‘beast-like’ hitter who wielded his outstanding physical ability and wielded the bat. If the match with Ji Maeng-ho is a battle of brains, then the match with Joo Seung-cheol is a match of strength versus strength.

From the catcher’s perspective, these hitters were really difficult. Moreover, Joo Seung-cheol’s batting skills are at their peak. Although he was blocked by Seonghyun today, his batting quality was unusual.

‘If you let your guard down just a little bit, it will go away.’

Even so, I couldn’t give him a walk. A game between 1st and 2nd bases with no outs by 1 point. Here, Shin Soo-ho had to do his part. This momentum could be put to rest only by completely suppressing Joo Seung-cheol with force.

‘Suho, let’s give it a try.’

The first pitch is a curve. Joo Seung-cheol’s bat stops on the falling curve. The beast-like power to retract the bat…

“Swing?”

“No swing!”

I waited for the decision with some anticipation, but the ball count went up by one.

‘So, you’re aiming for a fastball too, right?’

It is clear that they are aiming for a fastball. However, with Joo Seung-cheol’s momentum and bat control, it seemed like he could easily kick a slow breaking ball. One hit and the score is tied. I’ve worked hard to keep my mentality in check, but if there’s a tie here, I can’t control it.

‘Here, it’s a fastball.’

Just get out of the zone. It is not too late to put it in the zone after accumulating strikes. And Shin Su-ho’s fastball was thrown. Shin Su-ho’s fastball is perfectly controlled and flies to the outside low side.

[Shin Su-ho throws the ball!]

Ta – Aak!

And Joo Seung-cheol’s body slightly bent, and the ball was kicked away with a strong hitting sound.

[This batted ball! Center field! Center field! I’m following! Ah! I can’t catch it! Hit the fence with one bounce and the ball comes out! Second base runner Kim Dong-jin is home! First base runner Kim Jeong-hyeon continues to run! And… !]

Kim Joo-yeop catches the ball. However, Kim Joo-yeop’s arm was not good enough to connect from the fence to the home plate in one go, and the shortstop ran to relay. And the shortstop’s ball was thrown. Lee Yong-gi takes a seat and waits for the shortstop’s throw.

However, the ball did not come.

“Safe!”

[As the shortstop’s throw falls out! This is how this match ends! Joo Seung-cheol’s walk-off double! Miracle Hancheol! Hancheol’s miracle and Joo Seungcheol’s miracle lead the team to victory once again! Joo Seung-cheol!]

The ball thrown to catch Kim Jeong-hyun used more force than usual, and the throw deviated high. A mistake that can happen again and again during the season. However, the result was fatal.

[In the end, the difference in defense determines the outcome. Hancheol. This is a terrifying team. It was a match worthy of Hancheol’s nickname Miracle.]

[Then let’s meet today’s hero, Joo Seung-cheol.]

Another winner interview was conducted while absorbing the tears of the other team. The main character this time was Joo Seung-cheol.

“… “Then, finally, please tell us about your determination for the Korean series.”

“First, I will definitely win. I spoke with Maeng Ho on the phone before the series started, and he laughed at me for being so excited. They say we are more comfortable than a volcano or something. I would like to say something to Meng Hao as well. Meng Hao, you’ve waited a long time, right? My brother has come. “I’ll show you that it’s not okay for you.”

Although he spoke while staring at the camera, Joo Seung-cheol’s eyes were burning redder than ever toward Ji Maeng-ho, who was watching him beyond the camera.

*

“Hey, did you see the interview yesterday?”

“What interview?”

“Seungcheol left a message for you. “Didn’t you watch the game yesterday?”

“Why am I watching that? It wasn’t even a day of rest. “Where is the crazy guy who watches baseball again after training?”

“… “What about the article?”

“It would be better to have sex one more time while reading the article.”

There was no need to look at it unless it was my article. Because it was just a trivial story about boring guys.

“… “It’s just you.”

“So, what did you say? “My senior said that, so I’m curious.”

Still, since Seungcheol was not a trivial hitter, he was willing to listen to what Sangju senior told him.

“That’s it. You can find it on your own.”

Well, it must have been a useless statement. It didn’t matter if I didn’t see that anyway.

… Because we will win.