Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 221

Inevitable Showdown (5)

The screen showed a recent Pelicans game.

The batter was So Young-jun.

-So Young-jun! Don’t go! So Young-jun! Don’t go!

The words ‘Pelicans’ Eternal Ace, So Young-jun,’ formed by card sections, appeared and disappeared repeatedly.

“No, what is this!”

So Young-jun, his eyes wide, couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

“It’s one of the best moments our agency picked. It was a really touching scene. Let’s watch it together.”

I clapped my hands, turned my head, and gave a thumbs up.

“It’s a moment that will remain in the history of not only the Pelicans but also Korean professional baseball. I wish I could become a player like that.”

Oh Seok-hoon couldn’t stop the laughter that was bubbling up.

“Ah… is there anywhere to hide?”

So Young-jun covered his eyes with his hands and bowed his head deeply.

Soon after, the fans’ cheering scene ended, and it moved on to an interview video.

“Agh! Stop! Just stop there!”

So Young-jun, realizing what scene was coming next, screamed and ran towards the production staff outside the camera.

I, of course, along with Oh Seok-hoon, Choi Jung-hwan, and Jang Su-young, burst into laughter.

“How do you stop this? Who’s in charge?”

Despite So Young-jun’s desperate cries, the video continued to play.

-The hottest topic in the baseball community these days is the rumor that you might be traded to the Jaguars. Are you preparing yourself?

-Don’t go!

-Please stay!

-I’m supporting the Pelicans because of So Young-jun!

The screen echoed with the desperate cries of the Pelicans fans.

“The Pelicans fans are really cheering you on so earnestly, right? So Young-jun’s expression shows he’s thinking a lot.”

I didn’t miss So Young-jun’s fleeting expression and conveyed it.

-I will stay with the Pelicans.

-Yes? Do you really have no intention of transferring?

-Yes. I don’t want to go.

“Kya [an exclamation of excitement or surprise]. Our protagonist has finally made a decision. He’s thrown out an important word.”

I slammed the desk once.

-But I understand that negotiations are already underway? If it’s concluded, the trade will proceed regardless of the player’s will.

-Are you watching, CEO Kang Hyun-woo? I don’t want to go. If the trade hasn’t been finalized yet, please stop it. I’m serious!

“Look at So Young-jun’s expression. You can really feel his determination and desperation. It’s a point where you can clearly feel the change in his emotions.”

“Ugh!”

So Young-jun’s desperate cry from the corner sounded even louder than before.

-Is there a reason why you suddenly changed your mind?

-I think everyone would know if they watched today’s game…

“Now, the most decisive word is coming. Everyone, please focus!”

We all perked up our ears and focused on what he would say next.

-What am I that you guys cheer for me so passionately? It feels too irresponsible to just leave like this.

“Ugh!”

As soon as the climax of this video came out, we slammed the desk and burst into laughter.

“Please stooooop!”

So Young-jun screamed, covering his face with both hands and hiding in the corner.

Our production team didn’t miss this sight of So Young-jun and filmed it.

└ LOL He looks like he wants to crawl into a rat hole.

└It was definitely cool that day, but it’s so cringe when I see it like this LOL

└I’m crying because it’s so funny LOL It’s even funnier because it’s So Young-jun.

└I’m a Pelicans fan. I’m touched and crying.

-What am I that you guys cheer for me so passionately? It feels too irresponsible to just leave like this.

The production team also showed the sense to replay the last word.

“It’s an important scene, so it’s coming out again.”

So Young-jun, who took another hit at the end, eventually collapsed on the floor as if he had fainted.

Choi Jung-hwan and Jang Su-young, who burst into laughter until their faces turned red, approached and lifted So Young-jun up.

“Then shall we focus on the game again? So Young-jun, please come over here.”

I gestured towards So Young-jun and said.

So Young-jun trudged back with a tattered expression.

“Please get me some water.”

So Young-jun said in a weak voice, and one of the staff members quickly ran over and handed him water.

So Young-jun, who received a bottle of water, drank it in gulps with glazed eyes.

While we were chatting and enjoying ourselves, the top of the 6th inning began.

Go Ji-hoon and Scott continued to suppress the batting order in the 6th inning as if they were competing.

The balance of the game, which seemed to be tight until the end, cracked in the 7th inning.

Top of the 7th inning, the Jaguars’ attacking inning.

Go Ji-hoon’s control faltered slightly, and the Jaguars’ number 3 hitter walked.

No outs, runner on 1st base.

“In a game like today, it’s the timing for a sacrifice bunt strategy. But the next batter is the number 4 hitter. What choice will the Jaguars make?”

The number 4 hitter at the plate received a sign from the coach and nodded.

The moment Go Ji-hoon bent down to throw the ball,

The batter gripped the bat short and tapped it.

Tock.

Although he barely made contact, it was difficult for the number 4 hitter, who was not used to bunting, to successfully bunt Go Ji-hoon’s squirming ball.

-Foul!

“They’re instructing the number 4 hitter to bunt. It seems like the Jaguars are making a gamble.”

“There’s a high possibility that it will be a one-point game, and the next batter is Donald Watson. I think they judged that it’s important to get the runner into scoring position first.”

The batter tried to bunt again on the second ball coming in, gripping the bat short.

Tock.

But this time, he didn’t make proper contact and it went out of the foul line.

-Foul!

“Now he’s in a situation where he’s down to two strikes. Since he’s the number 4 hitter, it seems difficult to try a three-bunt.”

0 balls, 2 strikes.

Since it would be an out if he tried to bunt and it went foul, the batter, as expected, gripped the bat long as usual and took a stance to attack.

The ball thrown by Go Ji-hoon came in like a strike and then curved far away.

It was not an easy ball for the number 4 hitter, who would have been impatient due to the failure of the plan, to endure.

Whoosh-

-Strike out!

“In the end, he struck out with a swing and a miss.”

“The Jaguars’ bench took a strong move by instructing the number 4 hitter to bunt, but they didn’t get the desired result.”

“Now, it seems like they have no choice but to look forward to Donald Watson coming in.”

-Waaaaah-

-Watson, hit! Watson, blow it away!

Donald Watson approached the plate, receiving enthusiastic cheers from the Jaguars fans.

This time too, Go Ji-hoon and Watson faced each other at the plate without losing their composure.

Finally, the game began.

Bang!

-Strike!

“As expected, Go Ji-hoon doesn’t shake easily even in a crisis situation.”

0 balls, 1 strike.

Go Ji-hoon exchanged signs with the catcher for a long time and threw the ball carefully.

However, the changeup was not dropping as expected and was flying at an ambiguous height.

Of course, there was no way Watson would miss such a mistake.

Thwack!

The batted ball flew quickly towards the outfield.

“Oh oh! The batted ball is stretching out!”

Meanwhile, the runner on 1st base was running with all his might.

The batted ball, which seemed to be going over, hit the farthest fence and bounced out.

Confirming this, the runner passed 2nd base, went to 3rd base, and ran straight to home.

The Buffaloes’ center fielder picked up the ball and threw it towards the cut-off man.

However, it was impossible to get the runner out who was running home.

And Watson, who arrived at 2nd base with ease, raised the atmosphere by hitting his chest with his hand.

-Waaaaah-

-Watson! Watson! Watson!

“Safe! Safe! Donald Watson’s cool long hit has succeeded in scoring an important point for the Jaguars!”

“The atmosphere could have sunk because the previous hitter failed to sacrifice bunt. Watson has definitely solved it.”

Go Ji-hoon tried not to show it on his face, but it was difficult to completely erase the regret of the mistake.

The score changed to 1:0.

As Seo Seong-min was about to approach the plate, the Buffaloes’ pitching coach received the ball from the umpire and went up to the mound.

Go Ji-hoon talked to the pitching coach for a while and went down the mound.

“Go Ji-hoon unfortunately gave up a point, but he showed really good pitching.”

“Go Ji-hoon is awesome!”

We clapped our hands together and cheered for Go Ji-hoon.

And Seo Seong-min, who followed, sent a sharp batted ball, but third baseman Park Seong-ju’s picture-like defense prevented it from becoming a hit.

The 1:0 score continued until the 9th inning.

Despite the Buffaloes’ desperate efforts to score until the end, they could not penetrate the Jaguars’ shield.

In the end, the winning team of the first game of the semi-playoff was the Jaguars.

* * *

The second game, which took place the next day.

The Jaguars succeeded in completely taking the series atmosphere by winning the second game.

However, the Buffaloes, cornered on the edge of a cliff, poured out all their players and succeeded in winning the third game.

The fourth game, with the Jaguars leading 2 wins and 1 loss.

Park Seong-ju, who was under intense check, could not use his strength, and the batting line did not explode.

In the end, the Jaguars succeeded in an upset with 3 wins and 1 loss and became the winner of the semi-playoff.

Now the Jaguars will play the Dragons in the playoff.

The main point of interest was the batting showdown between Na Jun-ho of the Dragons and Donald Watson of the Jaguars.

In the first game, the Dragons, who had enough stamina and waited, won.

However, Michael Scott’s good pitching, who had gained confidence as he continued to pitch in the post-season, began to shine even more.

The 3rd and 4th games were also fiercely fought without either team taking a clear lead.

2 wins and 2 losses.

The game continued until the final 5th game.

Both teams used all available power to play the game.

The Jaguars succeeded in scoring the first point.

Then, the Jaguars launched an all-out war to protect the lead by mobilizing all available pitchers.

The best scene was the Dragons’ last attack in the bottom of the 9th inning.

The Jaguars had already put in all the bullpen pitchers to protect the lead.

The pitcher who went to the mound in a desperate situation was Michael Scott.

I was worried because it was the situation that he went to the mound 3 days after starting, but he perfectly blocked 1 inning and finished the 5th game with a victory.

Bang!

“Strike out!”

In the end, the Jaguars defeated the Dragons and caused an upset in which the 4th-place team advanced to the Korean Series [championship series].

The Jaguars fans, who had not only returned to the post-season after a long time but also advanced to the Korean Series, were literally ecstatic.

The tickets for the first game of the Korean Series were all sold out in just 2 minutes, showing the hot atmosphere without regret.

And the long-awaited Korean Series unfolded.

The Wolves, aiming for their second consecutive championship, and the Jaguars, aiming for a miraculous upset.

The Wolves were much more advantageous in terms of physical strength, but it was difficult to ignore the momentum of the Jaguars, who had defeated their opponents from the wild card decision.

The Jaguars made the Wolves chill with aggressive tactics and the fighting spirit of pitchers and hitters.

In particular, Michael Scott enjoyed the moment he stood on the mound like a fish in water.

However, it was difficult to win 4 games first because the players’ stamina was low and the Wolves had a solid power.

In the end, the Wolves won the Korean Series once again with 4 wins and 2 losses.

Another season ended like this.