Short Summary[]
The Mariners' hits off the Tokuchi machine improve when they use a bunting stance.
Long Summary[]
The Mariners are stunned by Amami’s hit. Brooklyn scoffs it was only one ball and probably just a fluke. Takami says they will try another 20 balls. The team are shocked this one change could be answer to hitting Tokuchi’s pitching. To hit from a bunting stance and swing a buster. Amami hits 17 of the 20 throws.
Takami’s pleased with the results. He explains there are two merits to the buster. One is you can identify the pitch with both eyes, which is why catching pitches is much easier. A bunting stance will allow them to face the pitcher and use both eyes. The other advantage is there will be no wasted movements during the swing as the distance is shortened to the point of impact. This gives the batter more time to judge the pitch.
The other Mariners take turns with the machine and agree it’s easier to see and hit. Everyone’s hitting percentages improve; but the increase is only from 0% to 10%. By the end of the day, the only players whose hit rate is over 50% are Takami, Amami and Kitaooji. After the session, Takami is still disappointed. He wanted one more person to get it. 50% against the machine will probably translate to 25% in an actual game.
Coach Muragachi calls him greedy. The reason Amami and Kitaooji mastered it so suddenly is because they were originally ‘hit the pitches that come’ types of batters. On the other hand, Thomas is a ‘read the ball’ type whose skill lay with change ups. In three years, his total batting percentage is .364 and he’s hit 110 home runs. Brooklyn is a power hitter and sloppy when it comes to keeping up with the ball. They’ll take longer but will get it with time. Takami says there are eleven games left between the lycaons and Mariners. They don’t have the time to prepare slowly. A Mariner player suddenly bursts into the room. Tokuchi has just announced he will be starting in the first game against the Mariners.
By the first match between the two teams, the Lycaons are only in the lead by 0.5 games. The Mariners have switched up their batting order. Yamakawa is up first. To the Lycaons’ shock, he gets into a bunting stance. Takami laughs from the dugout. Tokuchi’s normal means won’t be enough to deal with their lineup.
Characters[]
- Takami
- Kitaooji
- Amami
- Brooklyn
- Thomas
- Yamakawa
- Tokuchi Toua