Chapter 17
—
Park Dong-hwan was not in a good mood today.
Was it because, no matter how often they won the Seoul B Region, they always got knocked out of national tournaments by other high schools, earning them the nickname “Haneul High’s knockoff version”?
No.
Was it because, back in middle school, the title of top catcher prospect was always stolen by Yang Eui-ji, who was just a first-year?
There was a little bit of that, but it wasn’t the main reason for his bad mood.
His batting practice was perfect. Whether it was because of the better stadium compared to Seoul High’s field, his condition was at its peak.
Seoul High’s track record against Haneul High made it hard to call them rivals. However, Seoul High was one of the few schools in the Seoul region that could even get close to Haneul High’s reputation.
Park Dong-hwan saw this as an opportunity to close the gap in their head-to-head record with Haneul High. (Of course, since it was only a practice game, it wouldn’t be recorded officially.)
Their opponent was Kim Si-hoo, evaluated as the top left-handed pitcher among the current freshmen.
The elite of the elite, he had taken the Haneul Elementary-Haneul Middle-Haneul High path.
Rumors were circulating that Major League scouts were already keeping an eye on him because, at the age of 17, he was already throwing close to 150 km/h, even though his control was still lacking.
Park Dong-hwan could have been nervous, but the moment he saw the first pitch, he was sure.
Compared to Seoul High’s ace pitcher Lee Sang-hwi, who formed a battery with him, Kim Si-hoo was nothing special.
-Thwack!
With a full swing, the bat connected.
Well, there was a reason he was still called a prospect. Just before making contact, the ball’s movement dipped, so it was slightly mis-hit, but for Park Dong-hwan, that could have been a lucky blooper hit.
The center fielder had moved up, seemingly underestimating him.
A ball that normally would’ve been a routine flyout seemed like it would be recorded as a lucky hit.
“…What is this?”
Before he could process it, Haneul High’s center fielder suddenly sprinted at insane speed, watching the ball as if he knew exactly where it would land.
He ran diagonally, then leaped backward and snatched what should’ve been a mis-hit blooper hit out of the air.
It was an incomprehensible play.
Even starting from a normal position, it would have been nearly impossible to make that catch. Yet he started from a forward position, ran back, and still caught it?
Haneul High’s #11.
From what the coach had told him, he was the monster who pitched a perfect game against Lee Soo-rin in the entrance test.
But there was no information that he could also play defense like that.
The hope that Seoul High could beat Haneul High and the delusion that he would be at the center of it all.
The grand dream of finally besting Yang Eui-ji.
All those plans collapsed like a sandcastle facing a tidal wave.
“This baseball is f***ing ridiculous.”
“Right? I’d think the same if I were on the opposing team.”
In front of Haneul High’s first baseman Oh Han-il, Park Dong-hwan muttered his highest praise yet.
Meanwhile, the one who made the play didn’t feel much about it.
…
…
“That was a little risky.”
I did catch it with a slightly awkward backward leap, but if this hadn’t been a dome stadium…
“If I’d been a bit later, it would’ve been a hit…”
“That was always going to be a hit. The fact that you caught it is crazy.”
From the outfield, Hyun-bin clapped and cheered.
“Wow, I knew it during practice, but you’re really insane.”
After I tossed the ball around to loosen up my awkward grip, I saw Park Dong-hwan walking back with a deflated expression.
Oh Han-il, watching him, gave me a thumbs-up.
If it weren’t for me, Kim Si-hoo would’ve given up at least a double.
As for Kim Si-hoo, he subtly tipped his hat toward me, which was about all I got as a thank-you.
‘Or maybe that’s his way of giving his best possible thanks.’
-Clap
I returned the thumbs-up to Oh Han-il and slowly watched the next batter, Ryu Ji-hyuk, step into the batter’s box.
-Boom!
The first pitch, Kim Si-hoo’s four-seam, shot into Yang Eui-ji’s mitt as if it was sucked in.
Unlike the right-handed Park Dong-hwan, Ryu Ji-hyuk was batting from the left side, where left-side pitching was the worst matchup for him.
It would be hard to hit such a pitch.
As if to confirm this, the second pitch was a slider inside for a strike.
If the slider had curved even slightly less, it would’ve slammed into Ryu Ji-hyuk’s body at 130 km/h. Realizing this, Ryu backed far out of the strike zone.
-Whoosh!
“Hmm, he’s out.”
It was the same pitch, but in a different location.
Ryu Ji-hyuk swung like a fan and tumbled over comically, striking out.
Kim Si-hoo roared as if he had just pitched a shutout, despite this being only the second out.
He then struck out the third batter as well and walked back to the dugout.
“Alright, let’s go crush them.”
Haneul High’s offense began.
…
…
At bat was the first batter, Heo Kang-min.
I was batting 6th, so I’d probably come up in the bottom of the second inning.
“………”
-Whack!
[149 km/h]
‘Information window.’
***
<Player Information>
Name: Lee Sang-hwi
Age: 19
Position: Starting Pitcher (SP)/Left-Handed Pitcher and Batter
Pitching Stats
Control: 75
Velocity: 151 km/h
Stamina: 78
Pitch Quality: 74
Mental: 80
Skills:
Wild Horse (H) (Locked)
Fireball (E)
Ace (E)
Fireball (E): Increases fastball velocity. Higher chance of swings and misses.
Ace (E): Greatly decreases the hit probability for six innings after taking the mound.
***
‘So he is a first-round draft pick.’
It seemed like the system interface had undergone a patch midway, as it was now revealing even the locked skills. Yang Eui-ji had Captain (H), which was impressive.
Unexpectedly, Kim Si-hoo had Big Unit (H), which was still locked, but seeing that shocked me.
All the others only had domestic skills, yet that third-generation chaebol somehow managed to snag a skill from Randy Johnson – a crazy overachiever.
Returning to the story of Lee Sang-hwi…
His mentality was already at a professional level, and his control and velocity stats were excellent as well.
Although still locked, his History-grade skill would blossom if he underwent hardships and grew.
He would definitely become a pitcher who makes his mark in history. If I make it to the pros later, I’ll surely face him again.
The first batter, Heo Kang-min, held out until the fourth pitch but eventually struck out swinging at a high fastball.
The second batter, Oh Ji-hoon, was struck out looking on three pitches.
Yang Eui-ji managed to hold out and get on base, but Lee Soo-rin’s hit was caught perfectly by Seoul High’s center fielder, Lee Byeong-gyun, and the inning transitioned.
“…That guy’s pretty good too.”
***
<Player Information>
<Name: Lee Byeong-gyun>
<Age: 19>
<Position: Center fielder (CF)/Left-handed pitcher and batter>
<Hitter Stats>
<Power: 74>
<Speed: 79>
<Stamina: 78>
<Accuracy: 80>
<Defense: 78>
<Skills>
<Red Hare (H) (Locked)>
<Professor (L)>
<Fast Legs (R)>
<Red Hare (H) (Locked)>
<Professor (L)>
Displays the ball’s trajectory and drop point proportional to defense stats
<Fast Legs (R)>
Slightly increases speed stats
***
‘He has a History-grade skill too, though it’s still locked.’
Those two are guaranteed to become amazing players. With skills like that, there’s no way they’ll fail.
I had already decided which skill I’d copy with the Skill Copy Ticket.
‘I’ll take Fireball (E).’
To achieve that…
<Ongoing Quest>
<Seoul High is one of the top 16 high schools nationwide. Prove your ability!>
<Achieve a multi-hit (0/1)>
<Hit at least one home run (0/1)>
<Show exceptional defense (1/1)>
<Reward: Epic-grade Skill Copy Ticket>
“I’ve got to show what I can do.”
I already fulfilled the exceptional defense count earlier with that catch.
Now all that was left was hitting at least one home run and achieving a multi-hit with two or more hits.
“Ball four!”
On the first pitch, Seoul High’s cleanup hitter drew a walk against Kim Si-hoo. Frustrated, Kim Si-hoo struck out the fifth batter on three pitches.
“Strike, batter out!”
And then came the sixth batter, Lee Byeong-gyun.
-Whack!
“Nice, Yu-ta! Catch it!”
“Got it, Han-il!”
Though Lee Byeong-gyun perfectly hit Kim Si-hoo’s first pitch, Oh Ji-hoon, whom I’d previously advised on positioning, caught the ball cleanly.
He tossed it to the second baseman, Lee Yuta, who then threw it to first base for a double play, ending the top of the second inning in an instant.
“Yu-ta! Nice hit!”
‘When did those two get so close?’
Maybe it was thanks to Oh Ji-hoon’s encouragement, but Lee Yu-ta successfully laid down a surprise bunt, quickly making it to first base.
“Smash a big one out there.”
Handing me the black bat, Yang Eui-ji spoke confidently.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make it happen.”
<Ongoing Quest>
<Seoul High is one of the top 16 high schools nationwide. Prove your ability!>
<Achieve a multi-hit (0/1)>
<Hit at least one home run (0/1)>
<Show exceptional defense (1/1)>
<Reward: Epic-grade Skill Copy Ticket>
‘This at-bat… I’ll hit a home run or a hit no matter what.’
Haneul High’s sixth batter, Lee Seo-jun.
Stepping up to the plate.
—
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