“Why is he bunting with two outs? Did you tell him to do that Coach?”
Mark’s eyes narrowed and he shook his head. “I gave him free reign, I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.” He replied, though it was clear he was worried.
The crowd however, was confused. It didn’t make sense to be bunting with 2 outs in the final inning.
But Ken did not look nervous at all. In fact, he had already gotten into position for the next pitch and had his bat held out straight, ready to bunt once more.
Behind the plate, Leo was wearing a small frown. He knew that Ken was more than capable of hitting a home run in most cases. With a chance to hit a walk-off home run, why would he opt to bunt when there was so much risk?
For Leo who was used to playing the most optimal way possible, such a move was foolish. He had thought that someone of Ken’s caliber would also hold the same standards as himself, but it seemed as if he overestimated him.
Just as he was about to write Ken off his list, his body froze.
‘Wait… Is he trying to trick me?’ Leo thought, his eyes narrowing.
He moved his gaze to Ken who was patiently waiting for the next pitch, determination in his eyes. It was hard to tell what the guy was thinking.
‘Maybe its a fake bunt? Maybe he’s trying to get me to lower my guard?’
For the first time in a long while, Leo felt indecisive. Should he call for a strike and assume that Ken was going to bunt, or should he lead differently?
Leo shook his head, ‘I’ve got a way to see if he’s bluffing.’ He thought, crouching down and calling for the next pitch.
Arnold squared up and strode forward, sending a blitzing throw down the lane. Leo’s eyes were watching Ken’s every move, waiting to see what he would do.
Yet he was surprised to see that Ken moved his bat in an attempt to bunt the ball. Just before the ball reached the plate, it dropped sharply, falling directly into his outstretched glove.
PAH
“Ball.”
‘He really chased that splitter?’ Leo thought in surprise.
He threw the ball back to Arnold, but his mind was contemplating what to do next. With the count at 2-0, they were behind. As long as there were no strikes on the board, Ken would probably continue to try and bunt.
Therefore, throwing more balls was pointless if Ken wasn’t going to swing. This is the conclusion Leo reached.
While he didn’t mind walking Ken, it would be less risk with only a single runner on base. As someone who was all about optimization, the answer was easy.
With his mind made up, Leo crouched down and gave the lead to his pitcher, calling for a fastball high in the strike zone. Even if Ken were to make contact with his bunt, it would be difficult to properly control.
Leo briefly looked over at Daichi at 3rd base who had taken a considerable lead, ready to run for home plate.
‘This is it…’
He shifted his body and got ready to pounce on the ball if it was in reach.
Arnold wound up and stepped forward, sending a powerful fastball right towards Leo’s outstretched glove. Things appeared to be going according to plan until Ken’s bat suddenly disappeared from his view.
‘What!?’
Everything that happened next seemed to be in slow motion. Leo turned to see Ken had retrieved his bat and was already in the middle of his swing towards the fastball.
The sound of the wind displacement entered his ears, reminding him of a hurricane.
WHOOOOOOOSH
THWACKK!
Before he could even react, Ken’s bat flew past Leo’s face and connected with the ball in the center of the barrel. He watched it soar into the outfield like a rocket, its destination, outer space.
He saw Ken admire the shot for a few moments before he carefully threw the bat aside and began his jog towards first base.
“WALK OFF HOME RUUUUUUUN!”
The horn sounded and the ballpark came alive. The lights flickered and the roaring of the crowd and the Liger mixed, bringing the atmosphere to a fever pitch.
The Liger dugout went crazy as they stormed the field towards home plate. Daichi was given some love, but everyone was waiting for the hero of the moment, the man who had hit the home run to win the final game of the series.
As Ken rounded 3rd base, he saw his teammates lined up and waiting for him. A big grin crept onto his face as he approached, feeling the infectious mood creeping up on him.
With 10 feet to go, he slowed down and jumped right onto home plate at the end. The moment his feet touched the ground, the team piled on him. His helmet fell off, but that didn’t stop his hair from being ruffled from all angles.
“You crazy bastard! We all thought you were gonna bunt!”
“Coach was ready to sub your ass.”
“Nice homer!”
The guys crowded him, not holding anything back as they celebrated.
Meanwhile, Leo had removed his face mask and was watching on from the side, bewilderment still evident in his features. Just when he thought that he had Ken figured out, the guy had pulled the rug out from underneath him.
He could only shake his head, but he was not disappointed. In fact, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“Once again you’ve taught me not to be complacent.” He muttered, letting out a chuckle.
“You did well, Leo.” A figure said, patting him on the shoulder, “Stuff like this happens all the ti—”
Adam Boone, suddenly swallowed his words after seeing the smile upon Leo’s lips. This was not the face of someone who was depressed after giving up a walk off home run at the end of a game.
He cleared his throat, “Never mind.”
Leo took one last glance at Ken before heading back towards the dugout.
‘We will meet again soon, Ken.’