Blue Dragon Cup Finals (1)
It was the Blue Dragon Cup finals. Mokdong Stadium had a completely different vibe from usual. For one, the stands were more than half full, and pro baseball scouts were dotted everywhere, catching the eye. On top of that, what looked like students were filling in the seats—probably from our school, Seoul Jeon-san High, or the opponents, Suseok High.
The Jeon-san High players were finding this atmosphere a bit unfamiliar right now. We didn't have much experience playing in front of so many people. Some were glancing around awkwardly, while others, looking a little shy, kept ducking in and out of the locker room and dugout.
I could feel my heart beating a little faster too. I didn't have much experience with this either. If I had to think of something, it was back in elementary school. Though I remember those crowds weren't there to watch us—they were there for pro players like my dad.
Before the game, there was some good news: the captain had recovered enough to hit as the designated batter. He couldn't take the mound, but just having his name in the lineup lifted everyone's spirits. I could really feel how much the third-years relied on him. He was definitely someone worth learning from—and yeah, a bit enviable.
As game time approached, the director gathered the players and said, "Do your best today. Let's go for the win." Pretty standard, clichéd stuff. But Seoul Jeon-san High's baseball team was in this awkward middle ground. The director, the coach, the players—we were all kind of in-between. Prestigious teams make finals like this all the time, but for us, who knew when we'd get here again. That's why those clichéd words felt the most sincere.
"Everyone, fighting!"
"Fighting!"
The captain and vice-captain raised their hands, pumping everyone up, and we all shouted back in response.
"Fighting."
I nodded along in the middle of it all, murmuring softly. A faint sense of... responsibility settled in.
As we headed out to the field, the tension started building. Countless camera lenses were pointed our way, and I could almost feel the scouts' and reporters' gazes on my skin. Climbing the mound, my shoulders felt stiff for no reason.
That's when I swept my eyes over the stands and spotted a familiar face. Yoo Sera. Even from far away, even with the crowd packed tight around her... she just stood out. How was that possible? Wasn't that something from dramas or movies?
No doubt about it—I was totally smitten. Knowing she was here calmed my heart. No need to overthink it. Nothing to be nervous about. I just need to look good for one person. I repeated that to myself inwardly, and my breathing steadied.
Top of the first. Before stepping onto the mound, I took one last deep breath in the dugout and glanced at the opposing batters. Their practice swings weren't relaxed—they were aggressive. Fierce glares in their eyes. Looked like my interview provocation had worked. This meant an easy early game.
Everyone predicted the third-year ace, Lee Seok-hyeon, but Kim Jeong-ui declared in his interview that he'd start—and it wasn't a smokescreen. He's actually out there.
Probably because he did great against Suseok High before. Gave up two runs, but then struck out six in a row. Not easy against their lineup.
The leadoff was a righty. After checking the sign, I went with an inside fastball right away.
Whiiip!Pop!
"Strike!"
The ball clipped the inside corner for the call. I'd talked plenty with today's catcher, the vice-captain, about game plan. With my provocation making them aggressive, we'd exploit that from the start.
Nod.
Whiiip!
The next was a sinker. Same trajectory at first, then diving low and right, burrowing even tighter inside. A pitch you shouldn't touch—but the fired-up batter swung anyway, thinking it was the same spot.
Tick!
The batter made contact. A weak mishit rolling toward shortstop. The shortstop charged quick, fielded clean, and fired to first. First out, smooth as silk.
Kim Jeong-ui retires the leadoff easy. Second batter, a lefty. No hesitation just because he was left-handed. His eyes looked even more aggressive, so I picked a slider diving inside.
Whiiiip!
It started in the strike zone then hooked sharply in. He swung on reflex.
Tick!
Contact, but just a grounder right in front of second. The batter pulled it, but second charged and handled it. Two quick outs.
Third batter, righty. Back to the same pattern: inside fastball for a strike.
Tick!
Dangerous. Cleanup hitter, huh... But no big deal. Still too aggressive—he couldn't lay off pitches he should.
Whiiip!
Tick!
"Out!"
The first-base ump's call left the batter looking deflated as he slowed to a stop mid-run. Tsk tsk. If you wanna do well, you can't do that. There's a saying: hot head, cool heart. ...Wait, no, opposite. Anyway, stay calm. Thanks to it, I cruised through the top of the first easy.
Top of the second began. Unfortunately, our hitters couldn't score. Opposing pitcher's throwing tight. Expected that. Time for me to step it up.
This inning was their 4-5-6 heart of the order. Still a stacked lineup. The batters stepping up had a different look from the first—less reckless charge, but now with clear intent. Like they'd gotten word in the dugout.
Strong lineup for a reason. They share info, fix weaknesses fast. Solid team. But... I planned for this too.
The one to watch, their 4-hole, stepped in. Big frame, sharp swing path.
Tricky, so I had something special. Shake off. Nod.
Whiiip!
I threw a changeup dropping low and away.
Whoooosh!Pop!
"Swinging strike."
Came in like a fastball, slowed and dropped. Their leadoff timing completely fooled, empty swing. Sharp. Probably expected inside. But I went away—and he still swung. Fastball might've been crushed. Good thing changeup.
Alright then...
Shake off. Shake off. Shake off. Nod.
For a high-level guy, high-level pitch.
Whiiiip!Pop!
A backdoor slider coming from outside.
"Strike!"
"Ah... Hoo..."
Suseok's cleanup Oh Dan-hwi let out a small sigh at the ump's call.
You can't hit that. Backdoor slider tailing in like that? No choice.
Two strikes. Good count. Options galore.
[Outside fastball that falls away]
Nod. Yeah.
Whiiiiiip!
The ball flew fast out of the zone. Easily a ball and a half off the plate. But...
Whoooosh!Pop!
He swung anyway.
"Swinging strike three!"
Perfectly fooled—trajectory matched the backdoor slider.
Nice, big hurdle cleared. 4-hole down, 5-hole up. Lefty, so plan as before.
Whiiip!
Whoooosh!Pop!
"Strike."
Outside changeup. 5-hole swung desperately too, timing robbed.
Whiiiiiip!Pop!
"Strike!"
He tried to lay off, but it caught the outside bottom corner—another yellow light.
Last pitch.
[Outside sinker that falls away]
Nod.
Whiiiip!
Whoooosh!Pop!
"Swinging strike three!"
Two three-pitch Ks, but no time to celebrate. Stamina's not great—need grounders or flies to eat innings, not Ks. Next up, 6-hole, righty. Eyes full of greed to hit.
Whiiiip!
Tick!
Slider fat and hittable outside—mishit toward first.
I hustled to cover first, but got the "all good" sign from him and stopped.
Whew. Saving pitch count. Good start. Maybe I really can show off for Sera.