Stamina Drain
“Why so down this time, Mr. Coward?”
Ah... coward... When Kim Se-rin the cheerleader asked that, I averted my gaze for a moment before opening up honestly.
“Ah... Lately, I haven't been able to play because of my weight issue. My stats have been off recently, and now I can't even get into games because of weight... Plus, everyone else is in festival mode after sweeping three in a row against Changwon Larus. But I'm the only one stuck in the dugout again, so it reminds me of high school when I was always benched. That was... pretty tough.”
I glanced down at the ground again.
“But... talking to you just now made me feel a lot better.”
Kim Se-rin the cheerleader stayed quiet for a bit.
Hmm... this low-pressure mood is dragging on...
She'd seen me shaken by performance issues before. And she clearly knew this situation was just an extension of that.
“Still,” she said cautiously, “there's plenty of season left. If you do well from here on out, isn't that all that matters? You've done great so far.”
I started to force a small smile but stopped.
“I can't just toy with pitchers like I used to. Now they know me, so the defensive shifts change right away. You feel it the second you step in. It's not easy.”
Hearing that, Kim Se-rin scanned me up and down, tilting her head slightly.
“They say you're a smart player, right? If you try everything to win, won't a path open up? There's gotta be more you can do.”
Hmm... Honestly, I had no idea why I got that rep. I just thought in the moment, this might work, and it did... but that was luck, wasn't it? Just fluke hits...
As I sank deeper into thought, she added in a teasing tone, “You overthink more than I figured. Still a coward, huh.”
I reflexively started to deny it but shut my mouth. I knew she wasn't wrong.
“Mr. Coward, aren't you supposed to get all huffy at that?”
She let out a short hmm at my reaction.
How broken is he? This depressed? Then...
Suddenly, Kim Se-rin's eyes changed. Like she'd made up her mind.
“Then!” She raised her voice. “Let's do this.”
“Do what?”
I asked back, and she stepped closer, bringing her face right up to mine. Close enough to feel her breath. Then, in a low whisper:
“Keep it simple. If you hit .300... I'll kiss you on the cheek. How's that?”
“Huh?”
My mind went blank. I froze. I had no clue what my face looked like. But Kim Se-rin burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! What was that face? You were hoping for it—totally hoping.”
She pointed at my face.
“That split second? You looked super expectant.”
“No, I didn't.”
I whipped my head away. That's when it happened.
Mwah.
A soft touch brushed my cheek. So quick it felt like an illusion, but I definitely felt it.
I whipped back in shock, and there she was, already stepping away.
While I stood there dumbfounded, she was already a few steps back, laughing.
“That's your advance payment. So you better do it.”
She waved lightly and turned to go.
I stood there for a while, dazed, rubbing my cheek.
* * *
“Everyone, assemble! Locker room, now!”
Tuesday. After team practice before the next game, all the players gathered in the locker room.
“Everyone here?”
The rowdy chatter died down naturally as Kim Young-ho the manager walked in.
He scanned the room once before speaking.
“Good work, everyone.”
Short words, but laced with satisfaction.
“With our three-game sweep, the Gocheok Turkeys have overtaken the Daegu Eagles for sole possession of 7th place.”
Murmurs rippled through the room.
Kim Young-ho continued summarizing the situation.
“We dropped to 10th in the first half, but climbing to 7th now means solid recovery. Good work. But this can't be the end. It's mid-August. About two months left in the season—let's push for better results and make the playoffs again.”
“Yes, sir!”
The players' eyes lit up. Morale was sky-high after the three straight wins.
“This week's midweek three-game series is against the Busan Siguls. They're 6th, right on our heels. A winning series or better, and we could take 6th this week.”
Finally, he looked around again.
“This summer's been brutal—hot, and lots of road games. You're all worn out. But the teams that conquer summer make the playoffs. Let's have a good game today. Take a short break and see you on the field.”
“Got it!”
But I didn't think the Busan Siguls series would be easy. Simple reason: Their rotation was ace, number two, number three.
Two foreign pitchers and a domestic ace. Facing a team that always rolls out their top three like that is brutal. Even off-form mercenaries are better than domestic 4th or 5th starters.
* * *
The game started soon after.
First inning defense went smoother than expected. No balls my way, no big threats, inning over.
Our rotation: 4th, 5th, 1st. Looks bad, but with new guy Nam Seung-woo as our weakest third starter, it's not the worst.
Heading back to the dugout, I naturally thought about my next at-bat. And unbidden, that scene replayed in my head.
The brief, soft feel on my cheek. Truth was, it hadn't left my mind all day.
.300.
My promise with Kim Se-rin the cheerleader—and the one concrete goal I had now.
Having that clear target made the path visible.
Before stepping in, I eyed the opposing starter closely.
Foreign pitcher... and today was another humid scorcher. Uniforms would soak fast, and power pitchers burned energy quicker in this weather.
So the answer was obvious.
Foul them off, drag it out. Not head-on clashes, but slyly wearing down their stamina and focus bit by bit.
I deliberately took my time prepping. Adjusted my gloves, fiddled with my helmet, sauntered to the plate.
I felt the pitcher glance from the mound. Willy, their ace, signaling to hurry up.
What's this, good reaction right off the bat?
Time for Plan A: Just take the first two pitches.
Whiff! Pop!
“Strike!”
Hmm...
Whiff! Pop!
“Strike!”
Word on me must've spread—two quick strikes.
I called time right away. Stretched with fake swings, scanning the opposition closely.
Suddenly, my view expanded beyond the pitcher to all four infielders.
Wait... let's widen the lens.
To boost average, it's not about nailing one at-bat—it's stacking good ones. Most focus on the pitcher, but with my ground-ball tendency, I'm battling the infielders too.
Proof: They were shifted forward, locked in.
Hot day today. Drag it out, and it's not just the pitcher who tires. Battery and infield all suffer. Catcher especially would die.
Outfielders too, for good measure.
Okay. Path clear.
I stepped back in. Deep breath, choked up short on the bat.
- Kim Hu-seong's gripping the bat pretty short.
- Intentions are clear.
Tik!
- Kim Hu-seong swings! But foul.
- Here we go. Time to call it the Hu-seong game?
No big swings needed. Cut, cut again.
Goal: Stretch the inning. Drain infield stamina too.
Their focus drops, my hit probability rises.
Tak!
- Inside pitch! Pulls it!
But foul down the third-base line again.
Of course, this tires me too. Gear and helmet aren't light.
But fine. It's laying groundwork for the future.
Tuk!
- Nudges it away. Kim Hu-seong fouls off Willy's changeup!
- Ruthless. Willy fed fastballs, then tried change for the out—but Hu-seong ghosts it away. Already six pitches in.
They probably rested Monday. But fine. I got nearly a week off, light training—stamina's fuller than ever.
Alright then, Busan Siguls seniors...
Your stamina test starts now.