Perfect Finale -1
The long-awaited World High School Baseball Championship final.
In front of the stadium today, Americans were swarming about. Most of them were brimming with anticipation.
Honestly, this year's winner? America.
Damn right, this year's U.S. national team is the strongest.
Anticipation-filled Americans.
It's not that they're ignoring Korea.
But this year's America is just too strong!
That was their claim.
And they weren't making it up out of thin air.
Crack!!
With a sharp crack, the batted ball soared over the fence.
America's cleanup hitter, Dillon, was sending every practice swing over the massive Wembley fences.
The U.S. national team, which had combined for 20 home runs during the tournament thanks to their cleanup crew, boasted a nuclear lineup averaging a whopping 10.7 runs per game. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they'd demolished every pitching staff they faced.
Of course, their pitching staff is a bit weaker compared to the bats... But...
They brought over Tae-bin Lee from Korea, the top starting pitcher!
Name: Lee Tae-bin
Nationality: USA
Age: 19 (High School Senior)
Height: 186cm
Affiliation: Baekro High School
Skill: The Snake (S+)
Breaking ball movement increases in crisis situations.
Potential Keyword:Heavenly Pitcher Physique (EX+)
# Pitching Stats (*Potential)
/Lefty Three-Quarter
Stamina: A+
Control: S (*S+)
Fastball: A
Pitch Power: A+ (*S)
Breaking Balls: S (*S+)
- Changeup: S
- Knuckle Curve: S
- Cutter: S
His strengths were overwhelming breaking ball completion and control. Not a power fastball guy, but his insane feel for the ball covered it all. No wonder the projections had him going in the first round, top three picks.
[Lee Tae-bin takes the mound for the U.S. side! He's no pushover, but I believe our Korean national team will figure him out!]
[Let's take a look at South Korea's lineup!]
# South Korea National Team
1. Je Yunchan SS
2. Choi Hyuk-su 3B
3. Ma Cho-won LF
4. Park Taeje 2B
5. Choi Seok-ho 1B
6. An Hyo-min DH
7. Hwang Tae-gang C
8. Han Ju-won CF
9. Lee Je-jun RF
Starting Pitcher: Geum Seong-muk
The announcers read through the lineup.
They noticed something different from usual.
[Huh, Geum Seong-muk, who's started every game at the plate, isn't in the order...!]
[According to manager Shin Cheol-hyung, Geum Seong-muk will hand off the outfield spot after finishing his opener role!]
[Ah, that makes sense—it lets him focus purely on pitching early. Too bad not to use hitter Geum Seong-muk at all; his bat is too good...!]
[#1 hitter Je Yunchan steps up! He's from the same Baekro High as mound ace Lee Tae-bin, right?]
[Yes, first time facing as enemies. What will the result be...!]
Strikeout...!
...Tch.
Having gone to the same school, Je Yunchan knew Lee Tae-bin's stuff all too well.
'Lee Tae-bin's in top form today. Not gonna be easy to crack.'
Scoring off him today would be no small feat. And it wasn't just nerves.
Thwack-!
Strikeout...!
...Kuh.
Lee Tae-bin's breaking balls danced in and out of the zone with insane movement. Choi Hyuk-su and Ma Cho-won whiffed helplessly, going down swinging.
[Top of the 1st ends KKK. U.S. fans cheer for Lee Tae-bin...!]
[Now, South Korea's starter, Geum Seong-muk, takes the mound!]
[But as mentioned, he won't go deep today.]
[He threw about 110 pitches three days ago, so he'll hand off after locking down the first 1-2 innings!]
Geum Seong-muk climbed the mound and toed the rubber.
The announcers introduced the U.S. lineup.
# USA National Team
1. Cody Stock 2B
2. Hunter Martin RF
3. Carlos Wisdom CF
4. Dillon Wright 1B
5. Mason Hall DH
6. Bryce Adams 3B
7. Forrest Long C
8. Benjamin Wright LF
9. Kyle Anderson SS
Starting Pitcher: Lee Tae-bin
[9 out of 10 starters, including the pitcher, are aces from Korea's top high schools...! What do you make of this lineup?]
[Name value alone, they're the only national team worldwide that matches up evenly with Korea!!]
The U.S. team's firepower was immense. All eyes were on whether Seong-muk could hold them.
U.S. hitters gathered in the on-deck circle.
Leadoff Cody Stock asked #3 Carlos.
Hey, Carlos. You've faced that guy before, right? How was it?
Carlos, from Hancheong High, had matched up against Seong-muk in the spring semis for a Sejong Cup ticket. He shuddered at the memory.
...Don't even. He's creepy as hell in every way. Good thing he's just the opener today.
First time hearing you whine! You, the high-and-mighty Carlos Wisdom...!
Cody Stock cackled.
They bantered as they headed to the plate.
Watch your big bro smack it, Carlos.
...Yeah, do whatever the fuck you want.
Clicking his tongue at Carlos, leadoff Cody Stock stepped in. A five-tool player with contact stats A to S. Plenty to test Seong-muk.
...Alright, let's go.
No hesitation needed.
Seong-muk unleashed his power right away.
User's stats enhanced by Solar Divine Vein!
Circle Changeup stat boosted from S → S+!
Fastball stat boosted from A+ → S!
The first pitch fired.
Thwuuuuck---!!
...!
Cody Stock flinched at the inside fastball.
He glanced at the scoreboard and whistled.
-160km
Haha, not bad...!
Fiercer than rumored.
The already quick pitch came alive.
Still, U.S. national team material.
He figured he'd adjust eventually.
He swung at the second pitch too.
Crack!
Foul...!
Foul ball into the right-field stands.
Here, Cody thought.
'...Might as well work the count.'
His S contact made him unhittable. Mess with him, and pitch counts ballooned to near 10 per plate appearance easy.
Seong-muk wasn't the type to nibble after two strikes either, so he'd foul off near-zone pitches to gain favorable counts.
Hup...!
The third pitch left Seong-muk's fingertips.
The world debut of an S+ Circle Changeup.
'Fastball...!'
Cody committed.
But as his bat started forward, his brain froze.
'What the—!?')
Picture it.
A car barreling at you suddenly screeching to a halt without warning.
That's this pitch.
It just... stopped dead. Uncanny movement.
Before the hitter could process, it dropped again.
Whoosh—
Perfect angle, like a dot on the corner of the plate.
All Cody could do was a wild, kid-like swing.
Thwack-!!
Strikeout...!!
Whoaaa...!!
Three pitches, three strikes.
Seong-muk pumped his fist and roared.
The announcers were floored.
[Three-pitch strikeout!! Leadoff Cody Stock's bat spins in vain...!! What was that? An insane pitch...!]
[Looks like the Circle Changeup. Let's watch again!]
Slow-mo replay of Seong-muk's Circle Changeup. The announcers' jaws dropped at the movement.
[I-Is this a high schooler's pitch? Pros would eat this up right away...!?]
[Yes, if he keeps throwing like this, it's a surefire pro weapon of mass destruction...!]
The booth praised Seong-muk's Circle Changeup with spittle flying. They wondered if it was just a lucky beauty shot, but it sure as hell wasn't.
Thwack-!
Strikeout!!
Thwack-!
Strikeout...!!
Whoooaa...!!
All three batters struck out.
Even these nationally acclaimed contact guys couldn't touch Seong-muk.
Fuck...!!
Carlos Wisdom slammed his bat down.
He'd gotten shelled by Seong-muk in the spring too, and now another storm of Ks. Curses flew.
'Damn, good thing I don't gotta face him next at-bat...!'
Grumbling, Carlos trudged to the dugout.
Seong-muk shut down the 1st clean, grinned, and stepped off.
Ooh, nice pitching...!
Good work, Seong-muk!
Aah, thanks.
The team and coaches showered him with approval. Seong-muk credited the pitch power, but also one key factor in quick outs.
'...Doyeon noona's report is the real deal.'
Do Doyeon had sent U.S. team analysis upon UK entry, no request needed.
With national team data too, quality was leagues ahead—2-3x the edge.
'Even more fired up than usual.'
Practically dissected the U.S. team. Spoon-fed like this? Only idiots wouldn't eat.
Seong-muk took the mound for the 2nd too.
First batter: strikeout.
Next: strikeout.
Third: strikeout.
Six straight Ks.
Seong-muk's roar echoed through Wembley.
Gulp—
Pitching coach Bae Jun-ho swallowed hard.
Seong-muk was in peak form today.
After Bae's help leveling up the Circle Changeup, he'd become far deadlier.
It was shining—fresh S grade plus Solar Divine Vein boost. U.S. felt it hardest.
So Bae suggested to the manager.
Manager, how about Seong-muk for the 3rd?
Hmm...
Manager Shin Cheol-hyung pondered.
Plan was strict: pull after 2nd for bat. But this good? Changes things.
'...One more inning maybe.'
Shin nodded.
Seong-muk for the 3rd locked in.
Seong-muk, you good for the 3rd?
Of course, feeling fresh.
...Don't push it. You threw over 100 just recently.
Seong-muk bowed and smiled.
After a silent top 3rd, he remounted.
[Whoa, Geum Seong-muk back on the mound...!]
[His stuff's too good today; pulling after 2 seems wasteful!]
[So they'll give him this inning. Can he shine again...!]
Pat-pat—
Seong-muk bounced rosin off his hand.
This inning was crucial.
'...Any sign of trouble, I'm out.'
He didn't wanna come down yet.
Routine outs wouldn't cut it.
Domination. Pure domination to stay up.
Answer was clear.
'Gotta K 'em all.'
Seong-muk resolved.
This inning too—all strikeouts.