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Short Summary[]

Tokuchi purposely fumbles several catches in order to prevent Johnson stealing home.

Long Summary[]

It’s the bottom of the first in the Lycaons’ third game against the Bugaboos. With Tokuchi just having successfully put out Johnson again, Coach Shirooka concedes it’s time to change their attack. The players aren’t happy, saying it was just one mistake. Shirooka says that first inning was everything and now the whole ‘war situation’ has changed. Making sure Johnson steals home will no longer be a priority.

Johnson’s outraged. Tokuchi may have under-handed little tricks but he still hasn’t lost. The others agree; Tokuchi has not been able to pull off the same tactic twice and they’ll have him next time. One of the players turns and shouts across to Tokuchi, taunting he’s run out of ways to dodge Johnson’s legs. Ideguchi tells Tokuchi to ignore him but Tokuchi responds he’ll face Johnson as many times as they want.

The commentators notice the exchange. One says it’s a case of sour grapes, but the other argues Tokuchi hasn’t yet been able to stop Johnson’s legs with his power, only little tricks. Kinouchi won’t easily allow himself to get two strikes next time.

At the bottom of the second, the Bugaboos are on the attack. Imai picks up a grounder and throws to Tokuchi on first base, but Tokuchi drops it. The bugaboos in the dugout are shocked. Their earlier heckling must have really shaken Tokuchi. He must have indeed run out of plans. The error does not directly affect the game, but at the bottom of the third Tokuchi makes another. Johnson bunts and runs to first and Tokuchi misses Fujita’s throw. Johnson makes it all the way around to third base.

Mihara announces a pitcher change. The commentators say this is lucky for Tokuchi. With two outs, Tokuchi can battle directly with the batter without worrying about Johnson attempting to steal. The Bugaboos are annoyed by Tokuchi’s luck.

Neither team have scored a point by the bottom of the sixth. The Bugaboos’ Miyama hits a grounder straight to first base but Tokuchi fumbles again. The Bugaboos at the dugout triumph at Tokuchi’s shaken nerves, but Shirooka can’t believe they’re being serious. Johnson’s base stealing has two prerequisites. The first is there must be either one or no outs when he bats. The second is he can’t have a runner ahead of him since he can’t advance if the next base is occupied. Tokuchi’s errors put him in control. This is what Shirooka meant when he said the war situation had changed in the first inning. Johnson opened the batting; it was his only chance. He barks at the players not to worry about it; they’ll have to do something.

Characters[]

  • Tokuchi Toua
  • Coach Shirooka
  • Manager Mihara
  • Saikawa- Owner of the Lycaons
  • Ideguchi
  • Johnson
  • Miyama
  • Commentator Kindaichi

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