The third season is finally drawing to a close.
The Shizuoka Oceans secured third place and advanced to the Climax Series.
Ahead of the final match against the Senshu Blacks, Honda, who had been a regular second baseman for a long time and had set numerous records, announced his retirement. He had a total of 1,751 hits and hit .300 three times. Career batting average: .286, 191 home runs. He has won the Golden Glove award twice. He was the team's star player for a long time, but in recent years he has been plagued by injuries and has not been able to perform as well as he would have liked. Recently, he has occasionally been seen training at the minor league facilities. Honda isn't the type of player who proactively talks to younger players, and although I would say hello when we met, we rarely ever spoke.
Thomas Lowry has been the regular second baseman for the Shizuoka Oceans since the start of the season, but so far this season he has had some disappointing results, with a batting average of .263 and 10 home runs. From the middle of the season onwards, Lowry, Iida, Noda, and Uchizawa were often rotated into the starting lineup, but no player was able to firmly establish himself as a regular.
Iida's defense is stable, but he has a batting average of .227 and only one home run, so he has some issues with his batting. Uchizawa had a batting average of .243 with five home runs, while Noda had a batting average of .236 with four home runs, but their defense was no match for Iida's. Shizuoka Oceans has a large number of second basemen, but they are not fixed, so I have a chance.
Before the final game, Noda was demoted to the second team and I was told I would be promoted to the first team in his place. I have recently emerged from a slump, and my batting average has returned to .265.
*Chase the ball in front of you with all your might.* That's the only thing I've been conscious of when playing lately. The numbers went up and the errors went down. When you're in a slump, simplicity is best. I feel like I've added another tool to my repertoire.
The second starting lineup for the final game of the first team will be Honda, who will retire at the end of this season. Honda was on defense in the top of the first inning and hit a grounder to second base in his next at-bat. Thunderous applause rang out throughout the stadium, and Honda removed his helmet, bowed to the spectators, and returned to the bench. *Become a player who can play in his retirement game.* This may also be a goal. That's what I thought when I saw Honda.
From the second inning, Uchizawa took over as defense, replacing Honda. Then, during the bottom of the seventh inning, head coach Ichikawa called me over and told me to play second base for the top of the eighth inning.
In the top of the eighth inning, a ground ball was hit to second base, but I handled it safely. I did not get a turn at bat in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the ninth inning, no balls were hit to second base. The game was tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the ninth inning.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the batting order started with the eighth batter and catcher, Maehara, and it was my turn to bat, the first batter. Maehara was struck out with a grounder to short, and I put on my helmet and headed to the next batter's circle. There was a possibility that a pinch hitter would be sent in, but I decided not to look at the manager or coaches. *I want to hit it here.*
Number ninth batter, Tajima, struck out and I headed to the batter's box. Perhaps the management sensed my feelings because no pinch hitter was sent in.
I looked at the sign from the bench before stepping into the batter's box. The sign from head coach Ichikawa was "swing away." Suddenly, I looked up and saw Taniguchi in the next batter's box, and our eyes met.
Taniguchi and I had a conversation with our eyes.
*I'll definitely get on base, so you bring me home.*
*Okay. Make sure you get on base.*
*When you get on base, you can buy me a meal.*
*When I get home.*
The opposing pitcher was Senshu Blacks' relief ace, Kurata. His strengths are his fastball and forkball, both in the over 150 km/h range. His finishing pitch is a sharp forkball, so I have to hit it before I'm put in a tight spot.
The first pitch was a fastball low and on the outside corner. I made a good swing at the bat. The ball flew as a liner to second base. The second baseman is Kurosawa, one of the most talented players in the baseball world. Kurosawa jumped to meet the ball.
As I rounded first base, I saw the ball bounce in front of right field. The ball went over Kurosawa's outstretched glove. It was my first clean hit since becoming a professional. *Oh, that brings my total for this season to 3 hits in 10 at-bats. I have a batting average of .300, making me a .300 hitter.*
I stood on first base, the cheers of the crowd comfortably resting on my back. The next batter is Taniguchi. Taniguchi has 6 hits in 45 at-bats so far, with a batting average of .133 and 1 home run. The team had high hopes for him as a future power hitter and had been patiently using him, but he had not produced any results.
The green light sign came on the first pitch. It's a sign that it's okay to run if there's an opening. I have yet to record a stolen base in the first team. I want to score one last run this season and expand my chances. If there's a runner on second base, one hit is all it takes to win the game. *Taniguchi, I'm counting on you. Let's decide the winner together since we're all in the same year.*
I took the lead.