A female announcer from a local TV station threw the ceremonial first pitch, and then the game began. From that moment on, a tense atmosphere filled the stadium. I crouched down in my second base defensive position, ready for action. It was finally here—my first professional start.
The leadoff batter for the Tokyo Chariots was center fielder Sakai. He was known for his speed, solid hitting, and strong defense. He rarely struck out, making him a constant threat on the bases with a high on-base percentage. In short, he was a batter that pitchers found annoying.
After two balls, Sakai fouled off two pitches to even the count. The fifth pitch was another foul. He wasn't trying to walk; he was gauging his timing. But Sugisawa, despite being only in his third year as a professional, had already won over 20 games. His finishing pitch, a low slider, caught Sakai swinging for strike three.
Next up was Kaku, one of the league's best hitters and the Chariots' third baseman. Recently, it had become a trend in Major League Baseball to place a strong hitter in the second position, and the Tokyo Chariots had followed suit. Kaku consistently hit over 25 home runs each year and had decent speed. His defensive range wasn't wide, but he was solid. However, he tended to swing early, meaning he often swung at the first pitch if it was a strike, lowering his on-base percentage. Throwing a soft pitch to him on the first pitch was a no-no.
The first pitch was a high and inside fastball. A satisfying *crack* echoed through the stadium as the ball soared towards right-center field. Takeshita, our center fielder, sprinted after it with all his might. The ball seemed to head straight for the reddish-brown warning track near the fence. But just before it landed, Takeshita made a brilliant catch. The ball hadn't traveled as far as it initially seemed. Sugisawa's pitching had won out.
The third batter was the new foreign player and designated hitter, Duerer. With one ball and two strikes, Sugisawa threw a low, outside slider, and Duerer swung and missed. All three batters were retired, and the ball never came to me. I returned to the bench feeling both disappointed and relieved.
Batting ninth, I knew I wouldn't get my turn unless our team launched a strong attack. I stretched and jumped behind the bench, watching the monitor to prepare for the next defensive inning.
In the bottom of the first inning, Tajima, our second batter, got a hit, but the next batter was out, and we ended the inning with no runs. Sugisawa kept the score at zero in the top of the second inning, and once again, no balls came my way. Our next attack ended in three strikeouts, and my turn to bat came in the bottom of the third inning.
The Tokyo Chariots' lineup started with their seventh batter, shortstop Hirama, in the top of the third. With a full count, Sugisawa threw a low changeup, resulting in a grounder to short. Arai handled it easily for the first out.
The eighth batter was catcher Furuma. Known for his strong arm and leadership, his batting wasn't as impressive. With no balls and two strikes, he hit a foul fly to third base, making it two outs.
The ninth batter, right fielder Okatani, was a left-handed hitter with power and speed, but his batting average was always in the low .200s. The first pitch was a bit high and down the middle, resulting in a sharp liner between first and second base. I dove for it—a gamble. I felt the ball hit the tip of my glove.
"Out!" the umpire called.
Applause filled the stadium. As I stood up and returned to the bench, Sugisawa was waiting for me. "Nice play," he said, tapping my glove with his.
I glanced into the stands and saw my family cheering, my mother with tears in her eyes and my sister focused on her smartphone while eating ice cream. What were they here for?
Now it was my turn to bat. I got up from the bench, put on my batting gloves, helmet, and stepped into the on-deck circle.
The eighth batter, Taniguchi, was up. I hoped he wouldn't reach first base. If he did, I'd likely be asked to bunt. But Taniguchi walked, putting me in a situation with no outs and a runner on first. Executing a sacrifice bunt in this situation was a crucial role.
I stepped up to the plate, determined to make the most of my first professional start.
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