Short Summary[]
The Lycaons go up against Johnson’s defensive abilities. Tokuchi hits for the first time.
Long Summary[]
Since they’re in the top of the fifth, Johnson likely has two more at-bats to go. Imai reckons Johnson must surely be useless as a batter, but Tokuchi doesn’t agree. When practising before yesterday’s match, he bunted 50 balls against against the pitcher. If Johnson is decent at bunting, there’s no preventing him from getting on base. The Lycaons go silent but Tokuchi tells them not to be discouraged; he’s considerably lacking in all other skills in baseball.
Lycaons’ batter Kondou steps up to the plate, and Kojima tells him to aim towards Johnson, the weakness in the Bugaboos’ defence. But the infielders all shift to the left and the ball travels straight towards the shortstop, who puts Kondou out. Kojima says this proves they’re worried about their left field defence. Ideguchi hits next, successfully getting the ball to fly between centre and left fielder. He passes first base and intends to run to second when, to the Lycaons shock, Johnson suddenly rushes forward and catches the fly ball. Imai and Fujita convince themselves it was a fluke, and Tokuchi asks them why Johnson is defending so far into the outfield, almost to the stands. Imai sees he’s right and tells Inomachi he should hit the ball over the shortstop’s head since there’s now an empty space in front of Johnson, but Tokuchi says that’s not why he asked. Imai asserts Johnson just doesn’t know where the left fielder is supposed to stand. Inomachi manages to hit the ball over the shortstop’s head, but Johnson sprints from his position, dives and catches it.
The Lycaons realise the perceived weakness in the defence doesn’t exist and they hit badly after that. By the seventh inning, they have no runs. Kojima tells them to cheer up but they say they can’t. Johnson’s speed makes his defence range scarily wide and the pitcher has been in perfect form. But at the top of the seventh, the Bugaboos’ Ninomiya has a lapse in control and throws two dead balls. Kojima shouts that this is a perfect chance, but a depressed Fujita points out who their next batter is. Because he was put on first base, Tokuchi now has to bat, his first time in an official game. They ask Kojima how Tokuchi was as a batter in Okinawa and with horror Kojima tells them he only ever pitched. Imai, Fujita and Ideguchi fight over where he should hit. Fujita thinks if Tokuchi sucks he might serendipitously swing late and hit to the right field. Ideguchi snaps that the pitcher’s control is all over the place right now and a careless swing might result in a double play; Tokuchi should stand still and hope for a walk. Saejima signals to Tokuchi to stay put. Ninomiya throws and Tokuchi swings. It flies to the left, a foul, and Johnson sprints forward to catch it, but runs head first into the stands instead. The audience are impressed at the defensive performance even so. Tokuchi laughs to himself; he’s just spotted Johnson’s ‘fatal flaw’.
Characters[]
- Tokuchi Toua
- Johnson
- Ideguchi
- Imai
- Fujita
- Kojima
- Saejima
- Ninomiya