27. Bonus chapter: before he leaves (part 7)

💠"and we back!!! And right about now, the first half inning of the match is about to begin"

❇️"for those who may be new to the game, a inning is made up of 2 separates rounds called half innings, were one team bat's on the 1st half inning and the second team follow suit on the 2nd half inning, for more information about the game please do make reference to 'baseball handbook' written by Ascimos which are on the stands by the spectators seats, but pardon me for saying this, I do think that the book does require some necessary adjustments here and there"

Acimov Pov:

"well, can't argue with that, if the book was more easier to comprehend maybe I wouldn't have spend as much time teaching them the basics as I had"

Saying that I looked at my team who were all sitting in the dug out(a place were players who aren't in the field stay) 

With only one person cheering for me

Yeah, my mom

"woah!!! go Ascimos !!!send that ball flying to next week"

|.... Easier said than done, our first obstacle is Sir with ward after all... |

❇️"now for the this half inning, we have Ascimos on the batting team, how would this youngster fair against a skilled player, such as Sir Withward, Layla, I may not be the only one thinking this, but is this Ascimos first time of playing the sport in a game as big as this one"

💠"yeah, that is right,and not just in this game but in every other games included although he was the one to introduce the game, he never did partook in it, mostly due to the fact that he was too small to participate at the time, but he looks more ready now, and as the first batter of his team what does he have in store for us"

I touched the head of the ground gently with my bat and took a square stance on the home plate

Sir withward who was on the pitcher's mound also took his stance as he raised a leg up and prepared to throw the ball.

In less than a second he threw the ball to the strike zone.

❇️"The ball's heading towards the strike zone,which for those who may not know is the area that makes up the catcher's gloves"

I tightened my grip as I swung my bat with all my might

|...upon spending time practicing alot of swings yesterday,I came to the realization that...|😎

"I'm a bad batter"😭

"Strike one"

The umpire shouted

❇️"And he seems to be underwhelmingly terrible"

I heard a little chuckle from my back,and it was from Subaru

|... what's he laughing at....|

"You sure you're can do this Ascimos?"

Subaru asked but I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or truly concerned

"Well,I have to"

I told him exactly what i thought 

💠"That ball swing may not have been good,but let's us try cuting,him a slack,it is still his first time"

"Thank you aunt Layla"

I took my stance again for the next strike,I mean hit

Uncle Withward threw the ball again,but this time it seemed the speed was a tad bit slower

|....wait,is he taking it easy on me?...,still yet..|

"Strike two" the umpire shouted again as he showed two of his fingers to emphasize his point 🤞

After missing that,I could see a look of disappointment on Mr withwards face

Withwards thought 

|....why did I bother helping,well guess there's no point....|

❇️"And he misses again,one more strike and he is out"

💠"Well they do say third time's a charm"

"Okay one last time"

I spoke to myself calmly as I gave Mr Withward the stink eye but he just stared at me in confusion 🤨as he prepared to take his next pitch

"Here it comes,I...can....do.... this!!!!...."

I shouted at the top of my lungs

"Strike three,and you're out"

I collapsed on all fours as soon as I heard that

❇️"And that's it for Ascimos, time for the next batter to come in"

💠"I really thought he would get that one with his motivational scream and everything "

|...well, that's it for me..|

I walked back to the dug out as I heard whispers from the spectators

Upon getting to the dug out I sat down next to my mother who tried to cheer me up

"Don't worry ,you'll get them next time"

She said with a calm smile😊

"Wow,you really were right when you said you're not a good player"

Tony said with a laugh

"Batter not player,I can pitch pretty

well..." I corrected him

"Even after all the training you did yesterday,I was sure the results would show"

Mandy added as she looked at the blisters in my hand that was gotten from swinging the ball all night yesterday 

"Yeah,yeah it's my turn,after all we did anticipate this,you just watch from the side lines and prepare our game plan,after all you're the coach"

Tony said as he took the bat from my hand and walked towards the field

💠"And their next batter is Tony,I wonder why their coach would bring him up so early in the match"

❇️"Well,he does have a good build,so he is suited for the role more than Ascimos, what I am wondering is,why he wasn't brought out first?"

💠"Well I am sure Madam Emilia have her reasons"

|...it was mom's idea that she would be annouced as the coach,I don't know why but that's how it is on paper,I decided to just roll with it,besides I don't really mind....|

"So Ascimos do you have a concrete game plan now"

Mom asked as she tilted her head still looking at the field

"No,not yet, I need more time to watch"

I said as I calmly clenched my fist together and began observing the game and assimilating every bit of information I could for our next strategy, that's why I opted to bat first,so I could get a feel of the game"

Mom stared at me as she sighed gently

|...I decided to be the coach,so in a situation we lose ,I would take the heat of the blame,but on the possibility that we win, I would annouce Ascimos as the one who was really calling the shots....I hope I am being a good mother...|

💠"Alright, everyone is set with Tony now on the offensive for team Emilia"

Tony's POV:

"Okay,all I got to do is hit the ball really hard"

I shifted my right leg back a bit as I prepared to take a swing

"Should be easy enough"

Sir Withward's POV:

I wonder why they decided to put him second,what does their team have in mind,well whatever,I won't be taking it easy again,I am sure that is what they would all want

I raised up my right leg as I pulled my left hand back to give the ball a greater momentum and threw it with great speed at Tony

"Sorry Tony but this is war"

"Strike one" The Umpire said 

Tony Pov:

"Tsk.."

|... should have gone a bit lower...|

"Definitely the next one"

I said as I pumped myself up for the next swing

Sir withward took his stance again as he threw the ball at me with the same momentum he used the last time the only thing that was different was that...

"I hit it"

 half of the crowd stood up in jubilation as the ball was sent flying into the field 

💠"Woah and it's a pop out into the field"

Withward:

Looking at Tony I knew the probability of him hitting the ball was high,but that's is why is why i used a trick up my sleeve

❇️"Actually Layla, it's a foul,the ball passed the foul line, meaning it counts as a strike,now for those who may not know,foul lines are the two lines drawn on the field,at an angle of about 90 degrees?,not sure though,to each other, that even if the batter hits the ball,as long as the ball passes the foul line it doesn't count as a fair ball but rather as another strike,that is,if the accumulated strikes are below 2"

"Strike 2" and the umpire confirmed it 

And instantly each one of the crowd that stood up became disappointed as they sat back down

💠"Really,then that means this is Tony last swing in this inning"

"Last one,better make it count"

 Tony said as he took his stance again 

|...need to reduce the force a little..|

💠"Here it comes,can Tony make this one count or would another member of team Emilia,be sent packing, back into the dug out"

|There's a reason I placed Tony as the second batter..,and that's because...|

❇️"And the ball's sent flying towards the first base"

|...he learns from his mistakes....|

💠"And Tony begins to run to the first base"

❇️"And you can see a look of shock on the pitcher's face,which you don't see often "

Aunt Rachel upon seeing the ball flying held the front of her cap 🧢 with the tip of her fingers and smiled as she closed he eyes 

|...to be honest,I didn't think he would make that shot,but Incase of an event like that I decided to put up a counter measure....|

💠"Wait, what is this?!!!..."

❇️"It seems someone has caught the ball in mid air"

And the whole crowd had a look of shock on their face

"wait someone caught it...but who"

Ascimos said as he had the most shocked expression out of everyone 

❇️"It's...."

Everyone began to stand up to take a look at who could catch a thing that was about 10 to 13 feet high like that

❇️"Oscar!!!!!"

And the whole crowd began cheering as they began to chant 'Team Rachel' all over the place

"And just like that they won over the crowd"

Mom with a serious expression on her face commented

"She really is a brilliant tactician "

💠"And you know what that means..."

❇️"When a ball is caught in mid air ,the player is"

💠/❇️"OUT!!!!"

"And you're out?" the Umpire said as even he was shocked by that display of jumping strength by Oscar

Aunt Rachel then raised up her head and took a broad smile 😁

"More than anything,you have to put up a flashy entrance"

"Why is everyone so hyped about me catching the ball?"

Oscar the orange haired fellow questioned 

"I am just following Madam Rachel's instructions"

Yesterday:

"Hey, 😊 Oscar , please can I have a moment of your time?"

Rachel asked as she walked closer to me

"Yes you may ma'am"

"You're a really good jumper,you know"

She gave me a little compliment 

"Well,I usually spent my childhood jumping over walls like a kangaroo,since I was a bit of a brat back then,no matter how high the wall,I had to jump, so I won't get caught"

I said as I remember my time as a young boy

"Having watched you in our practice section,I have come to the conclusion,this will be your instruction during the game"

"And what , would that be?" I asked

"Don't let a single ball around the third base touch the floor"

Present:

"Even though I am just following orders, seeing the look on the crowd's face as I caught the ball,makes me want to even jump higher"

I looked at aunt Rachel who then looked back at me with a wink

|...Wow,she really is one of the Elites...|

Tony in the other hand having understood what had transpired walked back to the dug out slowly with his head down mumbling to himself 

Upon getting to the dug out,he gave the bat to Madam Emilia and sat down without saying a word

I tried to say something to him

"I am sorry Tony, part of...|

I stopped short of my sentence when i saw his hands shaking and he said

"Who knew,baseball ⚾ could be so fun"

|...glad to see he isn't sad...|

"Next, time, i will definitely pass the ball over his head,I have a lot of scenarios in my head of how I can do that "

|..yeah I am glad I put him second...|

"So mom, are you ready?"

I asked my mom,who was stretching as I directed my eyes back to the field

"Yeah, don't worry , I got this"

She said with look of determination and her eyes glowing with fire

"I am fired up"

|...if Aunt Rachel is that impressive,how impressive would mom be...|

"Actually we got this"

I raised up my fist 👊 and mom gave me a fist bump

"Here I go"

|That's my mom...|😎

2 minutes later;

"I don't got this"😅

Mom said nervously as she held her head with one of her hand while she sat down 

|.... that's...my mom...😅|

💠"And just as fast as Ascimos, if not faster Madam Emilia was sent off the field"

❇️"They really need to come up with a new game plan fast,if they want to have a hope of winning "

"Like mother like son"

Lolita said with a little chuckle

"Well,at least now it's our turn to pitch, Let's make sure not to allow them gain a point"

10 minutes later:

❇️"And on the first inning,we have 

Team Emilia-0 and Team Rachel-3,I am starting to think this match would end sooner than expected "

💠"And we are on to the 2nd inning,Team Emilia,will be batting again, let's hope they come back stronger than before"

"Alright I am ready "

With new found resolve in my eyes I stood up and asked everyone to gather round as we discussed our new game plan.