The first pitch came after two pickoff attempts. Taniguchi let the high fastball go by. Ball one.
Kurata glanced back at me before delivering the second pitch but decided against another pickoff. I got a great jump, sprinting towards second base. *Yes, the steal was successful!* But then I heard the crack of the bat. Taniguchi had connected with Kurata's forkball, sending a sharp liner to center field. I froze on second base, mouth agape.
*That guy… he just erased my first professional stolen base.* As the ball sailed past the center fielder, Taniguchi pumped his fist and took off running. The stadium erupted with the loudest cheers I'd ever heard. It hit me: this was a walk-off hit.
Taniguchi's teammates gathered around home plate, eagerly waiting for him to score. Uncharacteristically, he had a broad smile on his face as he rounded third and headed home. The moment he stepped on home plate, his teammates mobbed him, shouting and laughing.
"This bastard, you finally did it!" someone yelled, ruffling his hair.
"Yo, great actor!" another teammate teased, slapping him on the back.
"Hey, why did you stand out at the end?" joked another, giving him a playful shove.
"Finally, he hit it. This .100 batter," someone else chimed in, grinning.
"You wiped out my stolen base. Buy me a meal," I added, joining the fray and punching Taniguchi on the back. My first stolen base attempt as a pro was canceled, but I didn't mind. I knew I wouldn't get any punishment for something like that.
"You thieving cat, took all the glory," another teammate laughed, shaking his head.
"Next year, hit ten times as much," said one of the veterans, patting Taniguchi on the shoulder.
Taniguchi looked genuinely happy, his face flushed with excitement. Despite numerous opportunities, he hadn't achieved good results this season. He practiced harder than anyone, often when no one was watching. Watching him strive and struggle had pushed me to improve as well. His success felt like my own, even if it ruined my first professional stolen base.
"You really did it, man," I said, smiling as I gave him a light punch on the arm. "We all knew you had it in you."
The Player of the Game interview focused on Taniguchi, who stepped onto the platform in the Shizuoka Oceans' light blue colors. The male announcer held a microphone and smiled broadly, the crowd's cheers echoing around the stadium.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today's hero is Taniguchi, who hit the walk-off home run. Congratulations on your first walk-off home run since turning pro!"
"Thank you," Taniguchi replied, his voice barely audible over the roaring crowd.
"That was a great hit in the final game of the season. Was that the pitch you were aiming for?"
"No, actually, I saw Takahashi, our runner on first, going for a steal, and I swung the bat to help him. It just ended up being a hit," Taniguchi explained, grinning sheepishly.
The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers. I couldn't believe it—he was trying to help me steal a base, and it turned into a walk-off home run.
"What type of pitch did you hit?"
"I think it was a forkball that didn't drop as much as expected," Taniguchi said.
Takeshita and I exchanged glances, shaking our heads in disbelief as we prepared for our next move while listening to the interview.
"This is a great way to end the season," I said, smiling.
"Yeah, it was a tough season, but all's well that ends well," Takeshita replied.
"Finally, please say a few words to the packed house of fans," the announcer prompted.
"Thank you for coming to the stadium today. I look forward to seeing you all again next year," Taniguchi said, waving to the fans.
"Today's hero was Taniguchi, who hit the walk-off home run. Please give him a big round of applause!" the announcer declared.
As applause thundered through the stadium, Takeshita and I sneaked up behind Taniguchi, each holding a large basin of water. In unison, we dumped the water over his head, drenching him completely. It was the Shizuoka Oceans' traditional baptism for the Player of the Game.
Taniguchi stood there, stunned and soaked, but grinning from ear to ear. The crowd went wild as he posed for a commemorative photo with the mascots, Doru-kun and Fin-chan. I made sure to sneak into the background, laughing along with everyone else.
"Nice job, hero," I said, patting him on the back.
"Thanks," Taniguchi replied, still beaming. "And thanks for the assist."
Afterwards, there was a ceremony marking the final game, with a video montage of the season playing on the big screen. Sadly, I wasn't in it at all. But considering I only played in nine games this season, it made sense. Compared to last season's hitless two games, I got my first hits this season, so I had made progress.
My stats for the season: 3 hits in 10 at-bats over 9 games. Batting average .300, 0 home runs, 3 RBIs, 0 stolen bases, 2 errors.
Finally, there was a retirement ceremony for Honda. The team will move on to the Climax Series, but my season is over.
*Next season, I'll definitely become a regular on the first team.* With that thought, a new determination welled up within me.