Chapter 47 – Episode 47. Phoenix Waiting Finals (1)

“Wheecheol. You are the center fielder tomorrow. I thought about it a lot, but everyone probably knows that defense is important in the finals. Whicheol-ah, please tomorrow.”

“Yes? Director?”

“I know everything you’ve worked hard for. Show your true worth tomorrow. And you have a talent for guessing. Go out and harass the pitcher!”

“Director…. All right.”

Hot tears flowed from the eyes of the boy he called Huicheol at the unexpected announcement of the coach’s lineup. The final that every high school baseball player dreams of. It’s starting out there!

For three years, he played as a big defense and a big runner, and when this year was over, it was like a dream for a boy who was thinking about quitting baseball.

‘Maybe it’s because of that?’

Words that were only handed to the director before the start of the phoenix. A decision that only the coach knows about, not even friends or juniors.

– ‘I’m going to quit baseball. I have no talent.’

He had a knack for putting the ball into the bat, but his batted ball didn’t reach the outfield because he didn’t have the strength. Limits of talent. The boy realized the limits of his talent at the young age of a senior in high school. So he decided to quit baseball, which he had dedicated his youth and life to.

-‘No! Wheecheol! You have talent, but it’s just that I couldn’t bring your talent to life because I was a bad director. Sorry…. But, Whicheol, shouldn’t I go to college?’

-‘Sorry…. I guess I’ve come this far.’

Did he influence the gay lineup who said he was quitting baseball? Whicheol looked at the director.

‘Not. Wheecheol. It’s your skills that won the starting position.’

It seemed that the director’s inner thoughts were conveyed in his eyes. Thank you…. Director. I will definitely repay you. While Hwi-cheol was making a promise, a team member who was the main center fielder at Gunsan Technical High School approached him.

“Bastard. Congratulations.”

Your skills must be better than mine…. Hwichul’s heart felt heavy at his friend’s words. Wasn’t this guy supposed to be on the field tomorrow?

“… Sorry.”

Hand the apple

“What do you have to be sorry about? We all know that you are the best defense in our school.”

“Anyway, you were the main player.”

“Hey! It’s been a week so far, is that important? It doesn’t matter if the team wins tomorrow. Dude, wipe away some tears.”

His friend’s words remind him that he has been playing baseball for a long time. Seungri, the name I only dreamed of. Last year, I remembered that the team suffered an unfortunate fate due to a mistake in the final.

‘Even then, I had no choice but to watch from the bench.’

Jeong Hwi-cheol, who was a sophomore at the time of the runner-up, had no choice but to look at the tears of his seniors. Would it have been different if I had been able to compete? The nights I spent in tears at that thought.

Even though it was a great defense for 2 years, if I tried, would I be able to turn that scene into laughter? It was a year that I spent blood and sweat with such thoughts.

Even though he only went out with a big rain, every time he caught an out count in the field, his efforts were not wrong. He was good at playing baseball. He thought so And tomorrow, the end of baseball, which supported youth, is approaching.

It’s sad, but I feel relieved. It seemed that my heart, which had been heavy for so long, had become lighter.

‘Okay, let’s show everything tomorrow and retire lightheartedly.’

The phoenix finals to be held tomorrow. The opponent is Korea Physical Education High School, which conquered the Golden Lion and the Blue Dragon. Hwichul was thinking of pouring everything in his youth on the field where the match was held.

*

[The 50th Phoenix National High School Baseball Tournament. The long-awaited final. A confrontation between Korea Physical Education High School, which conquered the Golden Lion and the Blue Dragon, and Gunsan Technical High School, a master of reversal! The curtain rises.]

[Korea Physical Education High School can be seen as the best high school baseball team of the year in name and reality, and Gunsan Technical High School can be seen as a team that boasts strong teamwork.]

[Kunsan Technical High School, which reached the finals based on the organic structure of the batting line and defensive power, and Ji Maeng-ho of Korea Physical Education High School, who boasted a tremendous sense of hitting with a batting average of over 50% during the tournament. Which team will be the winner?]

[You will have to look at the game to know, but it is expected that Korean sports high schools will prevail.]

[That’s right. Now that the Youth Baseball World Cup is being held, most of the good high school players have been selected for the national team. ?]

[Yes, it is. Both players are over 18 years old because their birthdays have passed. However, Gunsan Technical High School also benefited from it. In fact, Gunsan Technical High School has no members selected for the youth national team, but with its unique strong teamwork, it advanced to the final by defeating strong teams. That’s why I’m looking forward to this confrontation more.]

[Now let’s take a look at today’s lineup. It is an attack by Korea Physical Education High School in the beginning of the first inning. Batter No. 1 Ji Maeng-ho, batter No. 2…. Hit 3 times………….. Unusually today, Ji Maeng-ho came out as the first batter?]

[Director Lee Ki-cheol, the director of Korea Physical Education High School, put a strong point. In fact, Ji Maeng-ho has a good sense of hitting, so he went on base with walks close to intentional walks in most of his at-bats. That’s why he seems to have started as the number one hitter at all. In fact, skipping the first hitter with a walk in one inning requires great determination. As coach Lee Ki-cheol, who has been called a master of ball mixing since his active days, he seems to have used a very good strategy.]

‘#1 batsman Ji Maeng-ho…. Isn’t it bad? As expected, Lee Ki-cheol has a good head. He’s quick on his feet, and it’s hard to miss his walks. Not bad.’

Soyoung, who was listening to the relay through her earphones, nodded her head to the lineup of the Korean Physical Education High School.

‘If you have a lineup like this, wouldn’t it be bad as a battery coach? For some reason, the general manager made a good deal.’

“Wow! It’s Ji Maeng-ho!”

“Maengho! Look here!”

“Kyaaaaagh! Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maeng-ho!”

[Cheers are heard from the stands. To hear so much noise in high school baseball….]

[In fact, people are not very interested in high school baseball these days, right? But this year, since stars such as Jang Woo-joo, Kim Won-ho, Ji Maeng-ho, Park Ji-hwan, and Shin Jung-hoon are active, many people seem to be interested.]

When Ji Maeng-ho entered the plate, screams erupted from all over the audience. A handsome face, a height of nearly 190 cm and a muscular body. And decisively, the ability to chew high school baseball. There could be no fans.

Of course, those external factors weren’t everything. After being nominated for the first round, it was also helpful that the internet heated up saying that he was a cheeky rookie through an interview, and that Ji Maeng-ho’s tragic family story became known to the public.

On the day of the entrance ceremony, the story of losing his parents in a car accident, a year of rehabilitation due to injuries, and a story of growing into the best hitter in high school baseball by exploding his talent in his senior year after wandering for two years.

For heavy baseball fans who enjoy high school baseball, looks, skills, and stories. After he caught three things, he couldn’t help but fall for the fierce tiger.

‘I’m already driving around with personal fans. I’m sure even if I fail, I’ll sell my uniforms well.’

AT Thunders has traditionally been a club with a lot of handsome men. The reason why they were so popular in Seoul in the 1990s was not only because of their skills, but also because of the looks of the players. Even now, the tradition is maintained, and there are quite a few good-looking players.

Thanks to that, even if the grades weren’t good, the crowd mobilization was always ranked at the top. If Ji Maeng-ho is added to that….

‘The head of the marketing team will like it. Are there any other players that deserve to be on the list as well?’

The rookie draft is held after waiting for the phoenix. I had already checked all the players and worked out a draft strategy with the general manager and scouting team leader. However, because there was a good system of reporting players, it was necessary to properly monitor undrafted players.

‘At Gunsan Technical High School, 25/35 is the highest. To be able to make it to the finals with those skills.’

No matter how much high school level players were left out of the Youth Baseball World Cup, Gunsan Technical High School’s potential was great.

[The first pitch is a strike! Ji Maeng-ho looks at you.]

[It seems that he came out as the number 1 batter and tried to watch the ball for a long time. Now, the catcher asked for it outside, but it seems to be stuck toward the body.]

“Junhyun Kim of Kunsan Technical High School, your ball is quite good. He also has the guts to hit a straight ball against Ji Maeng-ho. I think it will probably be picked in the 3rd or 4th round.”

As soon as the first ball was hit, team leader Hong, who was holding a speed gun, spoke to So-young.

“Early picks are not allowed.”

Haha, I don’t necessarily want to choose…. Right-handed pitcher, injury-resistant form, mid-140 velocity. Are you okay?”

“But, for now, we’ll stick to our strategy.”

“Okay, I understand.”

‘You’re a mean bitch, anyone who sees you will think that Ji is the scouting team leader, very. Ha…. How did AT end up like this…. Jeop, I should prepare for a job change next year.’

While the two AT Thunders frontmen were talking, Kim Jun-hyun continued pitching.

Right!

[Second ball! Maeng-Ho Ji made a foul on this ball. A large foul home run that slips off the side of the pole! After all, isn’t the hitting feeling unusual?]

[No matter how small the ground is at Mokdong Stadium, Maeng-Ho Ji is amazing as he hits home runs in every game.]

[Okay?]

[Yes. Looking at Ji Maeng-ho’s swing mechanism, he is an extremely pulling full-swing hitter, but he improved his contact ability by not using a leg kick. It seems like a pretty good choice for a player who can make a home run even if he pushes. Plus, he’s far better at home plate than average players, and he’s far better at dealing with inside balls. And now, did you see the outside ball kicked right now? His arms are long, so he is very good at dealing with outside balls.]

[Aren’t you saying that the high school baseball stage is narrow?]

[You’re right. Besides, I tend to make an upper swing, but I have a good pioneering eye and rarely touch high balls, which is another advantage. Ji Maeng-ho can be seen as a complete hitter in terms of his batting form. Where did he learn that form?]

[I also learn under coach Lee Gi-chul, the legendary catcher of professional baseball… , The moment I speak! Ji Maeng-ho kicked up the fourth ball!]

The ball left the pitcher’s hand and flew into the catcher’s mitt. Ji Maeng-ho’s bat split the field in half and floated high into the deepest part of the field.

*

Gunsan Technical High School’s center fielder Jeong Hwi-cheol saw the batted ball and ran to the end. Chin, I feel the fence preventing me from taking any more backward steps. This is the end. It seemed like the baseball god said so.

[Center field back, back, back! He has no place to retreat anymore!]

‘It can’t go on like this! Please.’

Regardless of Hwichul’s earnest heart, the audience was already excited.

“Oh oh!”

“Wow!!!!”

“Ji Maeng-ho!”

Baseball is a sport of momentum. If they hit a home run here, they’ll collapse. That’s not allowed. My first and last finals can’t end like that. In the short time that the batted ball was flying, Huicheol’s head was swirling with thoughts.

‘Stop!’

What is needed now is not a thought. Whicheol erased all his thoughts and climbed the fence. One step, two steps. And … He flew up

Humans cannot fly because they are not birds. However, the efforts of a boy who devoted his life to baseball make him fly, albeit for a moment.

Like a bird taking its first flight. The emergency was very unsettling, but… , So it was beautiful.

Puck. A heavy feeling caught in the glove.

‘… Got it!’

Sweat drips down his cheeks. Like the tears that comfort Huicheol’s baseball life.

After flapping his wings, he felt pain all over his body. However, rather than pain, the joy of preventing the team from conceding runs through Huicheol’s body. To forget all the pain.

‘You did it! I… I did it!’

Lying on the warning track, he stretched out his gloves to the sky. I got it! The boy’s silent cry reaches all the team members.

-Wow!!!

The cheers of the crowd prove that their efforts were not in vain. That thrill.

But Whicheol didn’t cry. Early in the first episode, too early to cry. It is not too late for him to cry with his medal hanging around his neck. For that impression, the boy saved his tears.

Still, the boy’s baseball is not over.

*

[Uh! The center fielder climbs the fence and jumps! This batted ball! Catch! Give!]

[Wow, is there a defense like this in high school baseball? Ji Maeng-ho must have felt like he had a home run stolen.]

[As expected, Gunsan Notice! Preemption is not allowed!]

[This is the ability of Gunsan Technical High School! Prevent conceding with a sticky defense! Great.]

“Chief Hong. Who is the current midfielder at Gunsan Technical High School? You look like a player you’ve never seen before?”

Resilience and great defense that jumps on the wall. Was there a player like that at Gunsan Technical High School? So-yeong blamed herself for not recognizing the player who played such a great defense and spoke to team leader Hong.

“Well…. That’s it, wait a minute. Center fielder Jeong Hwi-cheol. A player not in the data? Perhaps today’s match will be his first start. … Looking at it, there are only a few big defense records.”

“Jeong Hwi-cheol, Jeong Hwi-cheol, Jeong Hwi-cheol. Who is it?”

So-yeong quickly looked for Jeong Hwi-cheol in his memories. But he didn’t think of it. He tried to check Jeong Hwi-cheol’s abilities by raising his eyesight, but he was too far away and could only see approximate abilities.

’20-/45? 45 is the potential to chew up the league. But right now, my stats are too low.’

Even though he’s a high school baseball player, he’s around 20 by the time he’s in his 3rd year. No, since 20 is the lowest stat for him, most of them were 20, but players who did not reach 20 had a minus sign like Jeong Hwi-chul.

‘Is that why you haven’t been able to play as a starting player until now? First of all, I need to check the exact stats up close!’

I wanted to run to that player even now. But still playing. Still, it was not difficult to check the batter’s abilities at Mokdong Baseball Stadium, as the officials’ seats were near the home plate.

‘Jeong Hwi-cheol, Jeong Hwi-cheol. Found. Hit 9? Will it take a while?’

Today’s starting pitcher at Hanche High School is Park Young-chul, a left-handed pitcher who throws 140, and is likely to be nominated for a higher rank next year. I don’t know what Park Young-cheol’s condition is, but if he was in the same condition as usual, Jeong Hwi-cheol would not be able to enter the plate, but he should be in the 3rd inning.

[Junhyun Kim strikes out the following batter. Your condition looks pretty good?]

[This is the effect of catching Ji Maeng-ho, who is a heavy hitter, and the pitcher’s mind became stable and his command improved. Center fielder Jeong Hwi-cheol did a great job.]

[Okay. Now, Lee Joo-hyun, the number 3 hitter from Korea Physical Education High School, comes in at bat.]

“Could it be that we weren’t the only ones who couldn’t check Jeong Hwi-chul?”

“Ah, no. He is a player with no real record and confirmed that today is his first appearance.”

“How does that player look to Team Leader Hong?”

“Jeong Hwi-cheol? Well…. He’s about 180, which is fine, but I haven’t seen him hit yet. What about defense, don’t young kids sometimes do reckless defense like that? We need to see more.”

“Shall we come down to the lower rounds?”

“Yeshaha. Wouldn’t a player like that not even be picked in the draft? In only three years, he has played in one game as a starter. He must be a player with flaws somewhere.”

‘Would such a player have made it to the finals? Gunsan Technical High School isn’t a school that makes last memories for kids.’

There was no need to create a feud for nothing, so So-yeong swallowed her whispers. But Soyoung’s eyes were clearly speaking. There is something about Jeong Hwi-cheol.