novelraw Chapter 120 : Sports Day (4)
Chapter 120 : Sports Day (4)
Baseball is a pitcher's game.
This ancient axiom has proven itself countless times throughout the long history of baseball.
Moreover, in short tournaments, the influence a single powerful pitcher has on the outcome is truly more than half the battle, no exaggeration.
'And Class 2 has Ace Song Min-kwon, who played Little League baseball.'
I thought to myself.
'Song Min-kwon is not the kind of pitcher who should be playing with inexperienced people here.'
First off, he knows how to properly grip and throw the ball, has decent control, can skillfully use breaking balls, and stands at a fairly tall 187cm.
Not to mention his hellish binary choice of excellent four-seam fastballs and fork balls with significant drop.
He's equipped with a pretty useful slider as his third pitch, and the curve he occasionally throws at about 5% frequency lacks polish but is suitable for catching batters off guard and controlling tempo.
'What is this, a baseball video game?'
For high schoolers who played baseball as a hobby, his velocity, pitch selection, and control were all on another level.
'At least everyone has exceptional athletic reflexes to respond.'
But that alone isn't enough.
Thanks to that, baseball was the event where Class 1 had the lowest winning percentage across numerous iterations.
'Even if I play well, if runners don't get on base before me or if our pitcher collapses, there's almost nothing I can do.'
From the start, baseball is a game where changing the tide with just one batter's power requires both luck and timing to align.
'But if runners accumulate before my turn, I can definitely turn the game around.'
Not only had I observed Song Min-kwon's pitching patterns through hundreds of iterations, but I also had Eye Power, a cheat-like skill.
"Well, let's see which side luck favors."
"Play ball!"
The game began with Class 2 batting first.
Due to time constraints, the rules limited the game to 6 innings and prohibited stealing bases.
'In amateur baseball like this, allowing base stealing would quickly turn it into a mess.'
Nam Tae-hoon took the mound for our class, with Seong Do-kyeong as catcher.
Kang Geon-woo at first base, Kwon Seung-yeon at second, Hong In-hyeon at shortstop, and I played third base.
Han Soyul in center field, Lee Yu-jin in left field, and Kwak Dong-ho was assigned to right field.
Hwang Ji-su and Seo Jun-seong were on the bench as infield utility players and pinch hitters, while Jeremy McGarr waited in the bullpen.
"Class 1, fighting!"
"Fighting!"
Our starting pitcher Nam Tae-hoon could be classified as a finesse pitcher (at the amateur level) with good hand skills.
His velocity was around 130 km/h, but his tactile sensitivity allowed him to throw sliders, curves, changeups, and even a somewhat unrefined splitter.
But perhaps because it had been too long since he last pitched...
"Base on balls!"
After Nam Tae-hoon walked the first batter due to control issues, Hong In-hyeon shouted:
"Nam Tae-hoon, focus! Throw strikes even if they hit them!"
"Whoa, whoa, don't worry too much. I was just gauging the umpire's strike zone."
"That guy's attitude makes me even more nervous."
I nodded at Kwon Seung-yeon's remark.
'He's too excited.'
But it only took three pitches for Nam Tae-hoon to prove those concerns unfounded.
Crack!
The second batter chased an outside slider and produced a weak ground ball, which second baseman Kwon Seung-yeon fielded and threw to second base.
"Out!"
Hong In-hyeon quickly touched second base for the first out, then avoided the runner's slide and threw to first, completing a clean double play.
"Great job!"
Having quickly created two outs and eliminated the runner, Nam Tae-hoon cockily swaggered.
"All according to plan."
But perhaps he was overconfident.
Crack!
The first-pitch curve to the third batter, a left-handed hitter, hung over the middle of the plate and turned into a clean line drive single that dropped in front of the center fielder.
"Hey, are you seriously not focusing?!"
Kwon Seung-yeon shouted angrily.
"Eek. My mistake."
"Why did this guy's personality change so much once he got on the mound?"
"Such an attention seeker."
'It's because Choi Mina is watching.'
Only I, knowing the reason, let out a deep sigh.
However, Nam Tae-hoon's composure finally began to disappear when his 2-1 count, fourth pitch to the cleanup hitter—a fastball high and outside—became a hit through the gap between first and second base.
Now it was two outs with runners on first and third.
With one hit or wild pitch potentially giving up a run, Nam Tae-hoon's face turned pale.
"...Su-hyeon."
"Yeah."
"I'll, um, try to throw inside to induce a pull, so please save me."
"Are you confident about your control?"
"Leave it to me. Who do you think I am?"
Nam Tae-hoon said as he wiped away his cold sweat.
"I'm warmed up now. I'm confident in my control."
"Good. Your pitching pattern is being read, so change it up a bit."
"Got it."
The fifth batter stepped into the batter's box.
"Foul!"
"Ball."
Nam Tae-hoon threw two consecutive sliders that ran away from the right-handed batter, creating a 1-1 count.
It was a timing where anyone could predict a fastball would come as the third pitch.
"Hm!"
At that timing, Nam Tae-hoon executed a changeup that dropped well below the right-handed batter's knees on the inside.
'Got it!'
Seeing the batter's bat following through, I focused on the direction of the hit.
Tick!
The fifth batter, having lost his timing, hit a weak ground ball toward third base.
"My ball!"
I scooped up the hit with smooth footwork and fired a laser throw to first base.
"Out!"
"Ahhhh!"
"So close!"
Agonized groans came from the Class 2 dugout as they missed a good opportunity with two outs and runners on first and third.
"Everyone saw that."
Nam Tae-hoon, having caught his breath, said loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"This is the art of pitching efficiently."
"Please just shut up."
Kwon Seung-yeon dismissed him.
Bottom of the first inning.
Hong In-hyeon, batting first, watched Song Min-kwon's intense outside fastball go by.
Bang!
The sound it made hitting the mitt was extraordinary.
"Strike!"
"Wow."
"That's disgustingly fast!"
Class 1 cadets murmured in surprise at the fastball's velocity.
'As expected of Song Min-kwon.'
I secretly admired the pitch from the on-deck circle.
'It's definitely impressive to throw a ball like that without mana or skills.'
Even I, who surpassed human physical limitations, couldn't confidently say I could easily handle a 140 km/h ball observed with the naked eye, not on a monitor.
'It would be different if I used Eye Power.'
And of course, I planned to activate Eye Power when facing him.
Thwack!
The second pitch was also a fastball, low and outside. Hong In-hyeon barely reacted but only managed to foul it behind the catcher.
"Damn it."
Count: 0-2.
'It's over.'
"Strike out!"
Hong In-hyeon didn't have the plate discipline to lay off a fork ball that started toward the middle of the plate before dropping sharply in such a dire situation.
"Damn it."
Hong In-hyeon shook his head as he struck out on three pitches.
"That guy's no joke."
"It's okay, you did well."
I encouraged him as I headed to the batter's box.
"Wow, how does he pitch so well?"
After just one batter, the Class 1 dugout began to stir, sensing the difference in skill level between Nam Tae-hoon and Song Min-kwon.
'Well, let's watch the first pitch.'
I activated my Eye Power skill and calmly waited for the pitch.
Song Min-kwon, with a compact pitching form that had good deception, powerfully delivered the first pitch.
Bang!
"Strike!"
A fastball boldly attacking the inside part of the plate.
"Hmm."
I nodded.
'I can see it.'
And I could see it very well.
However, my demeanor must have seemed provocative, as I noticed Song Min-kwon's eyebrow twitch on the mound.
'Giving me that look won't help.'
The second pitch was a slider that perfectly faded away outside, but...
Having seen the ball's rotation and determined both the pitch type and trajectory, I didn't move at all and took the pitch.
"Ball!"
Count: 1-1.
The third pitch was a curve intended to deceive the eye, but it wasn't enough to fool me.
"...?"
Song Min-kwon's expression seemed to say, 'Why isn't he chasing?'
Crack!
"Foul!"
I pushed an outside fastball, intended to test me, for a large foul ball.
'That must have unnerved him.'
After that, at a 2-2 count, Song Min-kwon tried to win with a perfectly dropping fork ball, but...
"Ball!"
I easily took this pitch too, creating a full count at 3-2.
'He'd hate to walk me here at all costs.'
I was certain the next pitch would be in the strike zone, so I concentrated all my focus on hitting it.
Sixth pitch.
Woosh!
The fastball leaving Song Min-kwon's hand flew high and outside.
Crack!
The ball, hitting the center of the bat, drew a high arc and easily cleared the fence.
"Woooooaaaaah!"
"Home run! Home ruuun!"
The Class 1 cadets watching from the dugout jumped up and down.
"Hmm."
As I casually rounded the bases to home plate, I high-fived the next batter, Lee Yu-jin, and said:
"I can see well."
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
The lead continued until the second inning, but as Class 2 cadets became accustomed to Nam Tae-hoon's pitches after going through the batting order once, they began producing stronger hits, causing our lead to waver.
For a pitcher who can't overpower batters with velocity, the only options left were outsmarting them and pitching to contact, but...
The problem was that Class 1's defensive capabilities were also somewhat less cohesive compared to Class 2.
"Aigo!"
"He dropped it again!"
"This is ridiculous, are you not going to focus?!"
With three defensive errors in a single inning, Nam Tae-hoon gave up four consecutive runs and was pulled before even completing the third inning.
"Wow, totally collapsed."
"It's okay. Mina wasn't really watching the game anyway."
"Is that supposed to be comforting?"
I patted Nam Tae-hoon on the shoulder.
"Pitcher change, Jeremy McGarr!"
Jeremy McGarr was a right-handed pitcher who could throw a ball nearly as fast as Song Min-kwon, while also commanding both curve and slider.
And the Class 2 batters, who had grown accustomed to Nam Tae-hoon's pitches, couldn't handle Jeremy McGarr's much faster and heavier pitches, ending the inning right there.
"Good job, Jeremy!"
"Hm, it's more manageable than I thought?"
"Don't say that in front of Tae-hoon."
Bottom of the sixth inning, with defeat looking imminent.
Thanks to Kwon Seung-yeon's clean leadoff hit, Class 1 managed to load the bases with two outs, setting the table for the second batter, Su-hyeon.
"Su-hyeon! You're our only hope!"
"Hit a home run!"
Two outs, bases loaded, down 1-4 in the final attack.
While everyone watching had already pictured Class 1's defeat in this situation...
Only Su-hyeon wore a faint smile.
'He'd rather challenge me than give up a walk and force in a run.'
Su-hyeon, who knew Song Min-kwon's pride well, thought to himself.
'His annoyed face when he gave up a walk in the previous at-bat is still vivid.'
And so, the first pitch.
Wary of Su-hyeon's hitting prowess, Song Min-kwon threw a slider that broke outside but came flat into the strike zone. Seeing this, Su-hyeon unleashed a fierce swing as if he would split the ball.
Craaack!
This hit created today's longest distance, shooting like a bullet over the outfield fence.
"Woooooaaaaaah!"
"Suhyeeeoooooon!"
"Huooooong!"
After pausing briefly to admire his hit, Su-hyeon stylishly tossed his bat and leisurely rounded the diamond.
A walk-off grand slam, totaling 2 hits, 1 walk, 2 home runs, and 5 RBIs in 2 at-bats.
It was the moment when Class 1 defeated Class 2 by 5-4 and claimed victory in baseball as well, thanks to Su-hyeon's performance that single-handedly ended the game.
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
After Class 1's sweep of the ball games, track and field events followed.
Tug-of-war ended with Class 1's victory, followed by the three-legged race.
Tweet!
Su-hyeon's team—Kim A-yun, Su-hyeon, and Hwang Ji-su—fell behind the leading group when Kim A-yun's feet got tangled at the start.
"S-sorry!"
Kim A-yun, on the verge of tears, hurriedly moved her legs but got them even more tangled due to her poor motor skills.
"At this rate we're done for, do something!"
"I'm sorry, guys!"
"No choice."
At Hwang Ji-su's urging, Su-hyeon tucked Kim A-yun under his arm and started running.
"Eek?!"
Kim A-yun, her feet now off the ground, was startled, but her legs were already moving on their own.
Thudududu!
What followed was a furious sprint.
"Hiyaaak!"
Without letting go of the cat-like screaming Kim A-yun, Hwang Ji-su and Su-hyeon crossed the finish line at maximum speed, securing first place.
"Is this... really a three-legged race?"
Nam Tae-hoon quietly questioned.
"100-meter dash participants, step forward!"
Each class could enter two participants for short and middle-distance races.
Class 1's representatives were Kim Ho-su and Jeong Su-hyeon.
Here, Kim Ho-su, Class 1's fastest man, took first place, while Su-hyeon secured second place by a hair's breadth, achieving an overwhelming victory.
"Wow, is Jeong Su-hyeon's speed as good as Kim Ho-su's?"
"Crazy bastard. Is he seriously a lycanthrope?"
"Not even lycanthropes can do what he does."
By this point, the cadets watching Su-hyeon had moved beyond surprise to a feeling of being overwhelmed.
Shortly after, in the 1600-meter race, Su-hyeon and were-gazelle Han Soyul represented Class 1.
Su-hyeon, a man of hellish tenacity, sprinted around the track without ever slowing his pace.
Making everyone watching feel utterly defeated, he finished first with more than a full lap's lead over second-place Han Soyul.
"Hey, seriously, wow."
Instructor Choi Seung-wook, whose blood pressure had risen to concerning levels, collapsed into a chair.
Finally, the 5x100 meter relay race was held to conclude the sports day.
Class 1's representatives were Kim Ho-su, Han Soyul, Hong In-hyeon, Hwang Ji-su, and Jeong Su-hyeon.
Originally, Kwon Seung-yeon was expected to take one position, but after she declined, stating that Hwang Ji-su was slightly faster than her in sprints, Hwang Ji-su was selected instead.
Bang!
From the start, Kim Ho-su took the lead with a storm-like sprint, and this momentum continued when Han Soyul took over. Until then, it seemed Class 1 would achieve a complete sweep of victories.
"Ahk!"
But Han Soyul and the third runner, Hong In-hyeon, mishandled the baton pass.
"Great!"
Instructor Choi Seung-wook, who had been sulking, jumped up excitedly.
"We can win this! Win! No, just kill them!"
"Instructor Choi, please maintain your dignity..."
"Run!"
"Eek!"
Hong In-hyeon, who belatedly secured the baton, tried his best to pick up speed, but it wasn't enough to close the gap.
Hwang Ji-su also couldn't create any dramatic reversal.
However.
"Here I go."
Su-hyeon, receiving the baton from Hwang Ji-su, began a frenzied sprint.
"Whoa!"
"No way!"
"He seems faster than during the 100 meters?!"
Cutting through the wind, Su-hyeon overtook the Class 3 runner.
"Nnnngh!"
He even managed to overtake the Class 2 runner just 2 meters before the finish line, gritting his teeth.
"Woooaaaah!"
Su-hyeon broke the tape first, completing a dramatic comeback and finally achieving an unprecedented sweep of all events in Academy history.
"Ah."
Instructor Choi Seung-wook muttered with a soul-drained expression.
"...Seriously, enough already."
His deflated sigh was perhaps the best expression to describe Su-hyeon's performance today.
"Well done, Jeong Su-hyeon."
"Thank you, sir."
Kim Cheol-han raised the corners of his mouth in a rare smile.
[The overall winner for first-year students is Class 1, with victories in all events!]
"Kiyathoooou!"
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
Two days later.
"Everyone, attention."
Kim Cheol-han came with a new quest for the cadets, whose excitement from the sports day had yet to fade.
"Today we have a special practical exercise."
"May I ask what kind of exercise specifically, sir?"
In response to Seo Jun-seong's question, Kim Cheol-han answered:
"Hostage rescue."
'...We just did that a few days ago.'
Su-hyeon thought to himself.
"Kik."
Nam Tae-hoon couldn't hold back his laughter.