Chapter 49 – Episode 49. Phoenix Waiting Finals (3)

[Chogu, watch. Cheek.]

[It would be difficult to filter in a situation with the bases full. Of course, if you are the usual Maeng-Ho Ji, it might be better to win a hard game and only give 1 point. But now it’s different. A score of 1 is a tie, a score of 2 is a reversal. Fortunately for Gunsan Technical High School, today’s Ji Maeng-ho has no hits in 5 at-bats. Gunsan Technical High School should take this opportunity.]

[That’s right. If you stop this inning, you win. Players of Gunsan Technical High School should not give up even if the bases are full. The spirit of not giving up, that is the spirit of high school baseball.]

As the commentators said, the fighting spirit was visible in the eyes of the Gunsan Technical High School players. Top of the ninth, two out. With a 1:0 lead. If you catch one out count, you will win the dream you dreamed of. All players at Gunsan Technical High School were fully immersed in the game.

The first baseman who goes up to the third grade next year thinks.

‘I don’t want to retire seniors who suffered for three years through defeat.’

3rd year, I think about the catcher who is scheduled to go to college after this tournament.

‘Let’s raise the honor of our alma mater by winning a championship that we couldn’t do for 10 years with our own hands.’

Think of an ace starting pitcher with a strong draft pick.

‘Please, stop it! Can you do it Sorry, I couldn’t throw it all the way. It’s an ugly claim, but I’ll ask you just this time!’

Thinks of the shortstop who went through hell over the summer and barely made it to the first team.

‘Send only to me. I’ll catch them all. … Can do! Let’s believe in the drops of sweat I shed!’

And I think of the center fielder who has never been able to start, but was recognized for his defensive ability and started in the final.

‘I can’t finish baseball like this. Please only on the ground…. Please please.’

And there were no outstanding players, but Park Jung-hwan, the coach of Gunsan Technical High School, who gathered the members together and raised the team to the finals through hellish training, thinks.

‘Remember, boys! The hot drops of sweat shed this summer. And the tears shed for three years!’

And memories of the past flash through Jung-hwan’s head like a kaleidoscope.

-‘Oh, Jeonghwan, are you coming back to your alma mater? I knew you could coach in the pros.’

-‘No. Master. I want to work hard for my alma mater like Master.’

-‘Yes, if Jung-hwan were you, I could trust him and entrust him with the director’s position.’

It’s been 3 years since I returned to my alma mater. Jung-hwan’s alma mater, Gunsan Technical High School, was performing poorly befitting its name as a prestigious baseball team. Now you are an old gentleman. Local up-and-comers transferring to big cities.

But Jung-hwan did not give up. He worked tirelessly

The first disciples who are now in high school. The first time is always memorable, as always. Jung-hwan said he wanted to present the championship he had tasted to his first disciples. And last year.

-‘Don’t cry. There’s a tournament next year too.’

-‘But, the seniors….’

– ‘We’re fine. But you must win. Don’t lose last like us. Director. Thank you so much!’

– ‘Next year, definitely… !’

The runner-up achieved with those students. Last year, I was just one step short. If only I had gone one step further… !

And now, students who exercised twice as much as in previous years. Each one was clearly embedded in his memory. They didn’t have any special talent, but that’s why they worked harder.

‘Believe. Guys….’

And since he had no special talent, he was even more desperate to win. I didn’t have the confidence to watch the guys who worked hard fail to go to college and give up baseball. Surely all but a few will quit baseball or something?

‘I can’t do that! How hard they work… !’

But if you win, the story is different. If you win, chances are you’ll use your winning record to send a few more to college!

‘Please! One, one out count!’

Jeong-hwan looks at Choi Jun-cheol, the team’s closer.

The pitcher, who blamed himself for losing the final due to his throwing error, became the team’s finisher and blocked his back door.

‘The draft will be tough, but the college is good enough…. If we win, we don’t even know about the draft… !’

Then he shifted his gaze to center fielder Jeong Hwi-cheol. The guy who hurts you the most.

The center fielder, who had silently played great defense and runners for three years, made his tears go away by saving a home run in the first inning. Maybe it was because I remembered the guy’s words that he would give up baseball for the last time in this tournament, so I cried even more.

‘Wheecheol, shouldn’t you go to college too….’

Then, slowly, he shifts his gaze to the beasts. One person, one person. Everyone’s situation comes to Jung-hwan’s mind.

Players sweating hard in the hot summer sun…. Jung-hwan, who was looking at the players, unknowingly put his hands together and prayed to the sky. I used to be uneducated, but now it didn’t matter.

‘God, Buddha, no, anyone, please help our children win! I wish so earnestly. Please!’

[The pitcher’s second ball is a curve! Roll up! High! Far! And the fence! Outside! But the ball curves to the left! It’s a big foul home run! Maeng-ho Ji, who seems to be protesting that he is still in good health, although he went 0-hit in 5 at-bats today! But alas, it’s a foul! The count is one strike, one ball.]

[This is a pity for Ji Maeng-ho today. If you’re a normal player Maeng-Ho Ji, it’s a ball that will always be a home run, but today, strangely, you’re out of luck. Fortunately for Gunsan Technical High School!]

The coach of Gunsan Technical High School, who was praying, looks at Ji Maeng-ho, who blows a crazy ball.

‘Why is a player like that in front of us….’

Golden Lion Flag, Blue Dragon Flag MVP. And a brilliantly talented hitter who is likely to be the MVP in this phoenix season. Even in this tournament, he was a monster hitter with a batting average of over 50% and 4 home runs before the final.

The coach of Gunsan Technical High School, who was a pinch hitter who hit 1,700 hits during his 15-year professional career, felt it instinctively. Ji Maeng-ho’s talent is different from other players. I’ve never seen a monster like that in the pro.

‘Swing form that seems to have been perfected even as a high school student. A fastball on a straight ball, a breaking ball on a breaking ball. The target of the devil who seemed to know the type of pitch. The power to go over the wall even if it is a direct hit. He’s already the perfect hitter. It’s too harsh on my kids.’

How did a hitter with such talent appear in front of our kids?

The manager of Kunsan Technical High School knew because he had 1,700 hits. Talent is the fear of the wall. In front of brilliant talent, insignificant talents lose their light. And he knew that once he knew he couldn’t surpass that brilliant talent, the light wouldn’t shine forever.

He himself eventually chose to retire in front of that wall.

As with all things, nothing is fair. And baseball wasn’t even more fair. Even if you wake up at 6 a.M. Every morning, exercise, and swing your bat until 2 a.M., There is an opponent you cannot beat.

Even if the opponent doesn’t train at all except for team training, if the baseball god favors mediocre talent, you can never win even if you try. Just like he did

… But fortunately, Ji Maeng-ho’s condition was not good today. No hit in 5 at-bats. A golden opportunity!

Junghwan erased the negative thoughts. And he prayed fervently again. He prayed earnestly, very earnestly, that the common sense he had believed to be the truth would be shattered by his lovely disciples.

‘Show me, boys! Show that even ordinary talents like us can do it if we try! Please show me that you get results as much as the sweat you shed!’

[Gunsan Technical High School’s finishing pitcher, Choi Jun-cheol, chose the third ball, a four-seam that falls outward. One strike to ball. Ji Maeng-ho is not even moving.]

[This is Ji Maeng-ho’s greatest strength. He never swings a ball he’s not aiming for. Choi Jun-cheol’s ball fell out very slightly and was enough to dazzle the batter, but Ji Maeng-ho didn’t even blink.]

[A pioneering plan as if he knew it was going to be a ball. Commentator Kim Hyung-gi was a pitcher, right? What do you think of when you see a batter picking out balls like he knows what to throw?]

[It feels like facing the devil. He looks like he’ll hit any ball he throws. Even if you throw a lure ball, it seems like it will pick it up. Feeling possessed by such a demon. But when he overcomes that, he can become a real pitcher. No hitter knows what pitch the pitcher is going to throw and where. They are all fantasies created by you. You have to get over those fantasies. Pitcher Choi Jun-cheol. You can!]

1 ward 1 ward is an important situation. Because the battery sign exchange was getting longer, the casters and commentators were able to vomit all they wanted to say.

[Maengho Ji, the hitter who makes me feel that way, is also amazing. It was revealed through the interview, but even the players selected in the first draft interviewed that when dealing with Ji Maeng-ho, it seems like they are dealing with a demon that penetrates their hearts.]

Right!

[The moment I spoke, the fourth ball was raised. A foul going backwards. Two strikes two balls. The ball that enters the strike zone is Ji Maeng-ho, who makes contact like a ghost.]

[Isn’t the timing a bit late? I thought it was probably a falling ball, but I think I swung the bat with an animal sense after seeing the trajectory.]

[You could say that this is the strength of hitters with fast bat speed, right?]

[That’s right. Well… , And to continue what I said earlier, there are not many professional hitters who can fight numbers like Maeng-Ho Ji. Look at Ji Maeng-ho’s expression. Aren’t you overpowering the pitcher with an expressionless expression? There must be such a calculation that simulates dozens of situations and selects the most probable option in that expressionless expression.]

Caster swallowed his saliva as he listened to the commentator. What kind of calculation is hidden in those calm eyes that look at the pitcher?

A hitter whom all the pitchers he faced unanimously called a devil. Although it is high school baseball, the level of this year’s draft is quite high, so experts praised it in unison, and a caster who broadcasted baseball for 20 years agreed with the idea.

Among such high-level players, Ji Maeng-ho was by far the standout hitter. The pitcher receives the catcher’s signature and goes into the windup. 1 pitch for everything. Both the caster and the commentator held their breath for the first pitch.

And Park Jeong-hwan, director of Gunsan Technical High School, also held his breath. It was because he had asked for an autograph before throwing the fifth pitch, just as Gunsan Technical High School’s battery had always done.

Two strike two balls. Lure timing. Best if you can get the bat out of the falling ball. But will Ji Maeng-ho, who has good aiming skills, bat? Then inside? No, there is no way that Ji Maeng-ho, who has a good track record, misses a ball like that. Then, should I ask them to guide them outward with four-seam? No, then when he gets cornered with a full count, he gets hit unconditionally.

Think. The number of cases for all the balls that the finisher Choi Jun-cheol can throw. Four-seam, curveball, changeup. In-high, in-low, out-high, out-low. At the last moment, hoping for Choi Jun-cheol to properly control it.

And at the same time, with superhuman strength, he remembered all the at-bats he had experienced while playing professional baseball for 15 years. Jung-hwan is also a pinch hitter who can hit 1,700 hits. Because he had no natural talent, he was able to make such achievements through aiming.

‘If it were me, what ball would I aim for in this situation?’

No matter how technically perfect he is, he cannot aim better than he who has been in professional baseball for 15 years! Junghwan decided to think so.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to send a permanent sign to the battery that trusted him.

And Junghwan made a decision. In this situation, the ball he seems to be aiming for! And since he recognized Ji Maeng-ho, he chose the opposite ball and sent a sign to the battery.

‘Believe! Guys!’

[After the long exchange of signs, the pitcher nods. And throw it!]

Ta-yeah!

[………….]

[………….]

The clearest sound of the batting sound heard in the stadium that day covered the stadium. At the sound of the ball, the caster, the commentator, and the cheering crowd all silently watched as the ball flew away.

[Stop all beasts! Billboard! Seconds passing! Large! Out of the box! Homer! Ji Maeng-ho tops the 9th inning! Full base to save the team! Home run! Make it! Devil of high school baseball! Ji Maeng-ho! Breaking his own home run record again!]

Caster was excited,

[Wow….]

The commentator had something to say.

‘Sorry. Guys.’

And Junghwan shed tears. The moment you hear the sound of hitting. Becauseheheard the ideal hitting sound he had been dreaming of. Jeong-hwan didn’t even think to wipe away the tears from under his sunglasses, he fell on the mound and looked at the crying pitcher.

‘Good job. Juncheol. But don’t be discouraged. It’s because an ugly director gave a stupid sign.’

It wasn’t just pitcher Jun-cheol who was hit with a home run that shed tears. All the beasts at Kunsan Technical High School were shedding tears. 2 years as short as 3 years as long as possible. Because all those efforts went to waste when Ji Maeng-ho hit a home run.

“Sniff.”

Whips could also be heard from the dugout. Jung-hwan knew their feelings. Because it was an emotion I felt countless times during the procedure.

Meeting a hitter with such talent in the finals and giving his students indelible pain…. This is all the fault of the director who signed the stupid sign. Resent me

Even while he was thinking about it, a fundamental question popped up in Jung-hwan’s mind.

‘How the hell did I get that ball?’

If he hadn’t hit him knowingly, he couldn’t have crossed the billboard with such a clear sound. In other words, it meant that his goal number was completely read.

‘How did you know the changeup that you only showed once in the ninth inning, and that it goes low? Juncheol is a two-year-old who mainly throws four-seams and curveballs….’

From Jung-hwan’s point of view, Jun-cheol’s changeup was perfect. But he had a more perfect swing than that of a fierce tiger. He only threw once in the ninth…. He perfectly rolled up a changeup that went into the lower zone on his body.

‘Yeah, I guess I have no choice but to admit it.’

He has been playing baseball for 30 years. With one goal, he endured in the pro for 15 years. However, the fact that he has the talent blessed by the baseball god to surpass his 30-year goal even before graduating from high school,

… Junghwan had no choice but to admit it.

However, he only hoped that his beloved disciples would not be hurt in front of a huge wall of brilliant talent like he used to be.

*

‘Wow, are you throwing dog poop balls there? What kind of bullshit?’

Hehe, a changeup is originally like that. If you know how to hit it, even an elementary school student can jump over a fence.’

‘About 120 speed? It was a ball thrown to pass it. Keheh. His head can’t help but spin. If you play against Lee Ji Fierce Tiger, he will be afraid of any pitcher and will have no choice but to pee.’

Hehe, you’re a completely crazy bastard.’

‘Thank you for the compliment. Kehehehe!’

*

– [High School Baseball] Korea Physical Education High School, won the 50th National High School Baseball Championship… Ji Maeng-ho reversed home run!

(Reporter Park OO, OSEX)

Korea Physical Education High School held the 50th Bonghwangdaegi. The 50th Bonghwangdaegi Finals ended with Korea Physical Education High School, the best high school baseball team of the year, beating Kunsan Technical High School, the master of reversal, 4:1. Gunsan Technical High School, which had strong teamwork, led by 1 point until they got 26 outs, but failed to catch the last one out and ended up finishing runner-up.

Meanwhile, Korea Physical Education High School achieved the splendid feat of winning three major championships by conquering the Golden Lion Flag, Blue Dragon Flag, and Phoenix Flag. At the center of it was Ji Maeng-ho, the MVP of the three tournaments.

(A photo of Ji Maeng-ho smiling broadly)
(Phoenix Waiting MVP Ji Maeng-ho photo=Reporter Park OO)
… (Syncopation)…

On the other hand, Ji Maeng-ho replied to the last home run, “I was aiming for a changeup from the beginning,” And told the opposing pitcher, “I threw well, but I met an opponent who was too strong, so don’t be discouraged.”

… (Syncopation)…

Ji Maeng-ho, who left such a great record on the high school stage, joined the AT Thunders through the ‘2023 Rookie Draft’ held this year, and great attention is being paid to what kind of footprint he will leave in the professional world.