The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 48

48. Except for Him (6)

Mid-July.

The scorching midday sun beat down on Mokdong.

Both the pitcher on the mound and the batter at the plate dripped with heavy sweat.

Top of the 8th inning.

Jo Gyu-chan stepped onto the mound once again. It had only been a little over an hour, but his face clearly showed signs of fatigue. Despite this, his pitches still had power.

105th pitch.

-Bang!!

“Strike!!!”

He finished his last allowed pitch of the day with a strike.

A brief moment.

Jo Gyu-chan lowered his head, glanced at the mound, took in the catcher beyond home plate, all the infielders, and even the outfielders in the distance, before finally looking at the scoreboard.

1:0

The numbers remained unchanged.

-Grind

He clenched his teeth.

He felt wronged.

‘I still had strength. I haven’t lost. Not yet.’

However, high school baseball rules forced Jo Gyu-chan off the mound. The fact that this might be his last pitching appearance in his high school baseball career made him furious.

“Good job.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Jo Gyu-chan passed the mound to Lee Ji-min, the second pitcher from Kyung-ho High, filled with resentment.

Lee Ji-min, who newly ascended the mound, was also a skilled player who could easily be drafted in the 3rd round. In most teams, he would be good enough to be the ace. That’s why Kyung-ho High’s coach Choi Joong-chan wanted to advance to the finals with Lee Ji-min in perfect condition, at least physically.

But they were losing 1:0 in the 8th inning. It was no time to be picky.

Lee Ji-min, who had already thrown about 30 pitches in the bullpen to warm up, faced the batters from Joongang High.

-Clang!!

Attack the first pitch from the new pitcher.

Surprisingly, Jo Yu-jin made contact with Lee Ji-min’s first pitch. As always, the batted ball didn’t travel far. But perhaps constant tapping would eventually open the way? The ball rolled exquisitely along the third base foul line, leading him to first base.

“Safe!!”

Jo Yu-jin clenched his fist on first base.

Three and a half steps. He was constantly looking for a chance to steal.

-Whoosh!!

The dugout’s signal had already been given.

The following first batter vigorously swung at a ridiculous pitch. Jo Yu-jin had already started running towards second base.

Jeong Byeong-cheol, receiving the ball, didn’t get up. His right knee slammed onto the ground. The kinetic energy generated from kneeling combined with the power of his core.

38.79m from home plate to second base.

The ball, released from Jeong Byeong-cheol’s hand, was sucked precisely into the second baseman’s glove like a clothesline.

-Bang!!!

“Out!!!”

A sitting throw that only someone with a naturally strong shoulder could show.

Jeong Byeong-cheol clearly demonstrated why he was the No. 1 high school catcher.

Was it thanks to the catcher’s great play that the momentum increased?

Lee Ji-min struck out and grounded out the following first and second batters, ending the inning.

Bottom of the 8th inning.

Choi Soo-won took the mound again.

***

There was still one undershirt left.

I think I did well to bring four just in case. If I had only brought three, I would have had to go up to the mound feeling uncomfortable during the game, or go home feeling uncomfortable after showering after the game.

The upper batting order was almost over, and now only the most difficult opponent remained.

Jeong Byeong-cheol entered the batter’s box.

The total number of pitches I’ve thrown so far is 97.

Considering his at-bat in the 5th inning, the pitch he’s aiming for was clear.

Fastball.

And in the 5th inning, he couldn’t touch my fastball. It’s only natural. At that time, my fastball was at its peak. My highest speed was 156km/h. Or maybe it was 157km/h. Fast speed is a powerful weapon in itself. It’s not for nothing that KBO [Korean Baseball Organization]-born major leaguers go to MLB [Major League Baseball] and come back because they can’t hit fastballs.

But…

I clenched and unclenched my palms several times.

I was definitely losing strength. My grip strength had decreased, and my lower body was a bit weak. I slightly regretted stopping Gyuhyuk from buying another set of 1.25kg plates, saying that he could lift 2.5kg more at this point.

If it hadn’t been for Timon’s great defense in the 7th inning, the no-hitter would have been broken. At that moment, he looked so lovely that I almost forgave him for being my lackey.

In fact, the difficulty of baseball lies in playing games every day.

Sometimes people compare baseball with basketball or soccer, but I think it’s similar to comparing a sprint with a long-distance run. The difference between a game where you run hard for a little over an hour and rest for three days and a game where you have to run for three hours every day? I’m not even defending those guys in the KBO who have a thicker layer of fat in their abdomen than muscle… Some fat is necessary, but honestly, that’s crossing the line…

Anyway, instead of playing games every day, baseball had times where you could take a break during a game, concentrate for a moment, and then relax again. Especially in my case, since I played as a designated hitter, I had quite a long time to rest. But it was definitely different for pitchers, especially starting pitchers. There’s a reason why there are rest days.

First pitch.

The course was pretty good. A pitch going high inside.

-Bang!!

But the batter’s bat didn’t come out. The umpire’s hand didn’t go up either.

The bat could have swung, and a strike could have been called, but it wasn’t good.

1-0.

Jeong Byeong-cheol stepped away from the plate for a moment and tightened his gloves.

Could he be aiming for a fastball?

No, that can’t be. Even if I’m tired, my speed will still exceed 150 km/h. It’s not a pitch you can hit if you’re aiming for a slider. And the proportion of fastballs I’ve thrown in today’s game exceeds 80%.

Jo Yu-jin pounded his mitt.

He must be tired too, wearing such heavy equipment in this scorching heat and constantly sitting and standing. But maybe it’s because of that upper and lower body separation hitting method and the failed steal that I saw a little while ago? I don’t feel sorry for him at all.

Second.

Similar course.

But it was a little more towards the center of the zone.

-Clang!!

Jeong Byeong-cheol’s bat hit the ball.

The high fly ball hit the first base infield stands. Was it because it was the semi-finals? Or was it because it was a game between us and Kyung-ho High? Someone among the fairly large crowd picked up the ball and jumped up and down, happy. Although it was far away, it was clear from the figure and the surrounding reactions that she was a beauty.

Huh?

But that person?

***

“Yes!! Sis, it’s okay if I take this, right?”

“Yeah, Jina. It’s okay. So let’s calm down and sit down.”

Park Eun-jin, wearing a hat pulled down low, was momentarily flustered.

It seemed like she had made eye contact with Choi Soo-won. Besides, the expression wasn’t clear because it was quite a distance away. But for some reason, Park Eun-jin thought Choi Soo-won was smiling.

‘Damn it… Was he laughing at me?’

Honestly, the fact that she came here was a blow to her pride.

No matter how she thought about it, the fact that he turned the conversation to life advice at that timing clearly meant that he was trying to block the confession in advance. So, in effect, it was no different from being rejected before even confessing.

But even so, the look in his eyes as he stared straight at her when he said, ‘So don’t give up. You’re still too young to do that,’ was so vivid that she couldn’t bear it.

‘I’m just checking. I’m just seeing how he manages to overcome luck with skill that’s three or four times better than others.’

So she just thought she’d secretly watch the game for a while. She wanted to see how he was implementing his words against Kyung-ho High School, which was said to be the strongest in the nation. But Yang Jina, who stubbornly clung to her, drew the attention of those around her.

“Wow, I’m glad I came to the baseball stadium. So this is what they call a home run ball?”

“Yeah, Jina, it’s not like that.”

***

I couldn’t help but smile.

Originally, I thought I knew idols very well. Of course. How many idols or former idols have I met? But I didn’t know the kids who were working hard to become those idols at all.

That’s why all I could do for Park Eun-jin that night was to encourage her.

Of course, in the process of that encouragement, there were also pieces of advice full of experience and lessons that an adult could give. And I was very pleased to see her return to practice, moved by the advice that became her blood and flesh. She probably was satisfied with my advice as well. So that’s why she took the time to come and support me like this.

So I couldn’t show any weakness.

I was a star. People had dreams and hopes when they saw me.

I gripped the ball.

The count was 1-1.

I nodded at Jo Yu-jin’s sign.

A slider that goes out of the outside course zone.

Jeong Byeong-cheol stopped his bat.

-Bang!!

Ball count 2-1.

In fact, around the 8th inning, pitchers get tired, but catchers, who have to wear heavy equipment and repeat sitting and standing, get just as tired. It’s not for nothing that people understand even if the catcher’s offensive power is a bit weak. But Jeong Byeong-cheol was still like steel. As expected of a batter who was evaluated as having no weaknesses except for the fact that his previous team was the Marines before the regression.

Fourth.

Similar course.

But it’s a fastball.

-Whoosh!!

“Strike!!!”

And this time, Jeong Byeong-cheol’s bat followed.

It’s certain. This guy is now distinguishing between my fastball and slider. It’s not clear whether he’s figured out my habit or is simply distinguishing by timing. What was fortunate was that this ball was much lower than usual.

Ball count 2-2.

I racked my brain. The scorching heat of midsummer made my mind dizzy, but I didn’t give in to it.

Then suddenly, I had this thought. Thinking is something that bad guys do, so why am I thinking? I did my hitting by feeling anyway.

I had a feeling.

Curveball.

And Jo Yu-jin asked with his eyes.

‘Really? At this timing? You’re going to throw that at this timing?’

I nodded.

Of course, I understand his concerns. Although I put two in the zone in the previous practice, my curveball is basically not a very useful ball. In fact, I only threw two curveballs in today’s game, and both of them slammed into the ground.

But still, I had a feeling.

This time, if it’s a curveball that passes through the zone, I’ll be able to strike him out.

Thinking is such an energy-consuming activity. That’s why people give up thinking first when they’re having a hard time. Anyway, the other person is having a hard time too.

Hitting is ultimately about timing, and pitching is about taking that timing away.

The opponent is aiming for a fastball.

So I’ll completely take away the timing.

Fifth.

The perfectly scraped ball left my hand and floated up.

And at that moment, I suddenly remembered.

Ah, the pitch I hit a home run against Jo Gyu-chan today was a curveball, wasn’t it?

***

It was so clear.

The arm and wrist turning in a circle. The trajectory floating up the moment it leaves the hand.

It was a curveball.

Even a classic slow curve.

Jeong Byeong-cheol’s gaze went to the ball.

The count was 2-2. If just one goes into the zone, it’s an out. The body’s timing was already set to the fastball. I forcibly delayed the timing.

The ball, rotating backwards and rising high, began to fall more steeply than a normal ball.

I forcibly moved my creaking body. Certainly, after wearing equipment and playing 8 innings, especially in this heat, the condition cannot be normal. But still, there’s still enough strength to swing the bat.

The stopped body moved again.

The ball fell.

Continue.

Continue.

-Whoosh!!

And so

The curveball that dropped sharply hit the ground hard and bounced up greatly.

Strikeout, but not out situation.

Jeong Byeong-cheol quickly ran towards first base.

Of course, he knew it too.

That this run was meaningless. He ran simply because he had to.

-Bang!!

“Out!!”

First base force out.

Jo Yu-jin didn’t drop the ball as always. He was a man who was not very reliable as a batter or a runner, but at least he was a wall when he wore a catcher’s mask.

The game continued.

One attack and one defense.

And finally, Choi Soo-won raised both hands above his head.

Just like Lee Jin-woo in the game before last.

The only difference was that when Lee Jin-woo came down from the mound, the numbers on the scoreboard were 5:3. And there were still 5 empty spaces until the 9th inning, but when Choi Soo-won came down from the mound, the numbers on the scoreboard were 1:0, and all 9 numbers were filled with 0s.

Kyung-ho High’s V30 thwarted.

And the moment pitcher Choi Soo-won recorded his first career no-hit, no-run game.