Chapter 6

Chapter 6

6. The Official Tournament

One day before the roster announcement.

Cheongryong High School’s head coach, Choi Dong-il, silently stared at the player reports lying on his desk.

A freshly lit cigarette hung from his mouth.

A Weekend League? What a pain in the ass! Players are supposed to train all day if they want to show their true ability. What a useless system!”

The Weekend League.

It was a system introduced in 2011.

The association had created it because of concerns over students’ right to education and the excessive abuse of young athletes.

Classes continued until 3 p.m.

Training began after that.

Things were now different from the period before the school year started.

League games were also held once or twice on weekends.

At least this prevented coaches from abusing starting pitchers by sending them out in every single game like before.

Choi Dong-il hated the system, but men like him were strangely weak against authority.

Hoo. People who don’t understand baseball made this stupid system.”

He complained and picked up the records again.

Naturally, the name written at the top of the first report belonged to the freshman who had shaken the entire team.

[Seo Ji-tae]

Numbers that were hard to believe belonged to a high school student were clearly written there.

Maximum velocity, 152 km/h. Fastball spin rate, over 2,150 RPM; Major League average is around 2,200. Contact allowed, zero percent. Hah, this bastard is insane.”

He cursed crudely while sounding impressed.

To be honest, I don’t like that arrogant kid either.”

The young pitching coach continued.

A freshman who had ignored the head coach’s instructions and done whatever he wanted from his very first day.

Considering the strict discipline of high school baseball, he should have been forced to pack his bags and leave immediately.

If he had been an ordinary student.

But he’s a complete monster.”

The pitching coach grew excited.

A 152 km/h rising fastball and a high-speed splitter.

He only uses two pitches, but both the velocity and the stuff are overwhelming.

Our third-year cleanup trio got swept away like leaves in the wind while doing nothing but swinging at air.

Does that even make sense?”

Choi Dong-il let out a deep sigh and crushed his cigarette into the ashtray.

His baseball philosophy was built around strict hierarchy and blind sacrifice from players.

But Seo Ji-tae’s overwhelming stuff was attractive enough to make even that outdated mindset disappear.

Arrogant bastard. But if we want results in the Weekend League, I have no choice.

The closest national tournament was the Golden Lion Tournament.

A team needed good Weekend League results to qualify.

Choi Dong-il was an opportunist to the bone.

Would he rather leave a stain on his coaching career because people said the team lacked discipline?

Or use this freshman monster and be praised as a great coach?

The answer was obvious.

Then Seo Ji-tae will start the opening game of the Weekend League.”

The coaches’ eyes widened at Choi Dong-il’s decision.

What? But the third-years will strongly object. Especially Dong-min and Yeon-woo. They were both aiming for the starting position.”

So what if they complain! Can any of those bastards throw 150 km/h?”

Choi Dong-il slammed his fist against the desk.

A dull sound echoed through the coach’s office.

We’re putting Seo Ji-tae on the mound because we want to win. I don’t care how much of a pain in the ass he is; his skill is real!”

That was true.

Every coach in this room knew there was no second-year or third-year pitcher better than Seo Ji-tae.

It was simply a shocking decision for a baseball club with such strict seniority.

Understood.”

The meeting ended.

A few days before the Weekend League opener, the entire Cheongryong High School baseball team gathered on the field.

Everyone’s face was filled with tension.

Today was the day the opening-game roster and jersey numbers would be announced.

Only one person, Seo Ji-tae, standing at the very end of the line, looked bored enough to suppress a yawn.

Ahem.”

Head Coach Choi Dong-il cleared his throat and opened the roster.

The starting pitcher for the opener will be first-year Seo Ji-tae. Dong-min and Yeon-woo will support him after that.”

The line immediately erupted into whispers.

A freshman starting an opening game was almost unheard of.

Seo Ji-tae alone nodded as if it were obvious.

Unlike professional baseball, high school teams rarely use a proper starting rotation.

In other words, once they chose one ace, they used that pitcher again and again.

That was why overuse happened so often.

It was one of the unfortunate realities of high school baseball before pitch limits were introduced.

Even so, Seo Ji-tae as the starter…”

The expressions of the third-year players became sharper.

But Choi Dong-il was not finished.

And Seo Ji-tae will wear number 1.”

What?!”

Through the team manager, Choi Dong-il handed Seo Ji-tae the uniform with number 1, the symbol of the ace.

The expressions of the third-year seniors instantly became hostile.

Number 1 represented the ace.

Traditionally, it was worn by the best and most senior third-year pitcher.

Giving that number to a freshman who had just entered school was practically an insult to the upperclassmen.

Unable to endure it, third-year pitcher Joo Dong-min stormed out of the dugout.

Coach! This isn’t right! Making a freshman the starter is already too much, but number 1 too? This ignores both the third-years and the team’s traditions!”

He’s right! No matter how fast his pitches are, this crosses the line!”

Captain Kang Tae-ho and cleanup hitter Park Jin-cheol joined in.

Choi Dong-il frowned.

You bastards are talking back to the head coach now? Is that how you want to act?”

The third-years immediately quieted down under the pressure of his absolute authority.

That was when another voice entered.

Seriously. If you just shout at them, they’ll only become more unhappy.”

Seo Ji-tae walked forward with the number 1 uniform casually draped over his shoulder.

Tradition?”

Seo Ji-tae looked at Joo Dong-min with a smile no one would expect from a junior.

What does school year have to do with anything on the mound? If you’re better than me, then start. But you’re not.”

W-What? You crazy bastard!”

The faces of the third-years turned red with rage.

The atmosphere became so dangerous that someone could throw a punch at any moment.

But Seo Ji-tae’s eyes did not waver.

Basically, there was no pitcher on the team who could beat him.

Everyone had already experienced that during the training camp.

Seo Ji-tae tilted his chin toward the seniors.

If you have a complaint, prove it. Baseball players prove themselves through baseball.”

…”

We can divide into Blue Team and White Team right now. If you pitch better than me, take the spot.”

A suffocating silence followed.

He was living proof that even a correct statement could sound extremely rude.

But no one could answer him.

Seo Ji-tae tapped the number 1 printed on his uniform.

Besides, it’s impossible for one pitcher to handle an entire tournament alone.

You seniors,m will still get chances as the second or third starter.

If you perform better during the tournament, take number 1 back. I’ll give it to you anytime.”

Seo Ji-tae’s arrogant attitude quickly silenced the seniors’ complaints.

He had said he would give up the position anytime if someone proved they were better.

No one could keep whining after that.

With the complaints gone, Choi Dong-il was able to assign the jersey numbers without further trouble.

That afternoon, at the bullpen.

The ball left Seo Ji-tae’s hand and violently tore through the air.

Hup!”

With a heavy thud from the mitt, starting catcher Kang Tae-ho’s upper body shook.

He could not completely absorb the force of the violently spinning baseball.

Eventually, Kang Tae-ho dropped the ball onto the dirt.

You really throw some nasty pitches.”

Kang Tae-ho groaned without realizing it and slapped his glove a few times.

This is driving me crazy. What kind of fastball moves like that?

Kang Tae-ho cursed inwardly.

He was Cheongryong High School’s starting catcher and captain.

He had been catching Seo Ji-tae almost like a personal catcher, but even receiving the ball properly was difficult, never mind blocking it.

Seo Ji-tae looked down at Kang Tae-ho from the mound with cold eyes.

Senior, what kind of receiving is that?”

What? Hey, your pitch moves so damn much! What do you want me to do?”

When did I ever say I would throw easy pitches for the catcher?

If the catcher is so scared of the pitcher’s ball that he closes his eyes, how am I supposed to work on my control?”

Kang Tae-ho was silenced by the brutal truth.

Seo Ji-tae lightly tapped the rosin bag and continued hurting his senior’s pride.

If it’s hard for you to catch, it’ll also be hard for hitters to hit.

But if you’re Cheongryong High School’s starting catcher, you should be able to handle this much.

Or should I ask them to replace you with my classmate?”

Seo Ji-tae’s eyes moved toward Lee Jin-woo, who was helping the second-year players outside the bullpen.

Kang Tae-ho’s pride was wounded.

His veins bulged, but he still could not take off the mitt.

Just like the third-year pitchers, he had no intention of losing his starting catcher position to a freshman.

But Seo Ji-tae’s pitches were difficult to catch.

The horizontal movement is ridiculous too. Why does every pitch move like this? He really throws disgusting stuff.

Pitches powerful and fast enough to make even the catcher curse.

Still, perhaps sheer stubbornness helped.

After spending several days diving around the dirt like a freshman, Kang Tae-ho gradually adjusted to Seo Ji-tae’s pitches.

Hoo.”

With the tournament right around the corner, he finally managed to catch them reasonably well.

He brushed the dirt from his clothes and headed toward the dormitory.

No complaints now, right?”

For now, I’ll give you a passing grade. At least there shouldn’t be a problem during games.”

Arrogant bastard.”

Winning would be nice, wouldn’t it, Senior?”

Kang Tae-ho shook his head at Seo Ji-tae’s shameless smile.

Strong baseball schools from all over the country will be there. Don’t get careless. Make sure you practice properly on your own too.”

Kang Tae-ho left after giving that warning as captain.

But there was something he did not know.

Seo Ji-tae had already been practicing late into the night with Lee Jin-woo every two or three days.

He was not simply arrogant.

Jin-woo, here it comes.”

Seo Ji-tae held the ball in his right hand instead of his left.

His upper body tilted sharply to the right, and he sank so low that his knee almost touched the ground.

An extremely low release point, only a few centimeters above the dirt.

Seo Ji-tae’s right arm shot forward.

The ball rose violently toward Lee Jin-woo’s chest, like a snake crawling along the ground before suddenly lunging at its prey.

Whoa!”

Lee Jin-woo hurriedly lifted his mitt and caught the ball.

The inside of the glove vibrated painfully.

Lee Jin-woo pulled out the ball with shocked eyes.

Ji-tae, this is seriously insane. It looks like the ball rises from the ground. And it feels way faster than 140 km/h.”

Still not enough. It’s only in the low 140s. I need to strengthen my lower body more and throw even faster than BK.”

Seo Ji-tae wiped the sweat from his forehead and answered calmly.

Lee Jin-woo felt his heart racing.

A monster who could throw 152 km/h left-handed was preparing to throw a terrifying 140 km/h pitch from a right-handed submarine delivery.

Just imagining it would be a nightmare for hitters.

Lee Jin-woo realized how important his role was.

Just trust me!”

I will.”

A switch pitcher.

A deadly weapon for the future was slowly being forged beneath the lights.

Mokdong Baseball Stadium.

The opening game of the first-half Weekend League.

Cheongryong High School’s first opponent was their regional rival, Baekho High School.

The atmosphere in the Baekho High School dugout was relaxed.

The Baekho coach looked at the starting lineup and laughed.

Coach Choi Dong-il must be desperate. He’s sending a freshman kid out as the opening-game starter.”

I heard he threw 150 km/h in middle school. Our scout tried to recruit him but failed.”

The head coach beside him carefully mentioned it, but the Baekho coach snorted.

How many times have we seen inflated radar readings in high school baseball? He probably got lucky and hit the high 140s once or twice.”

At his words, the Baekho hitters laughed as they played with their bats.

Coach, what are you worried about? We’ll crush his confidence from the first inning and make him leave the mound crying.”

Full of confidence, they stepped toward the batter’s box, determined to break the freshman’s spirit.

Then they saw the freshman staring at them with a frightening expression.