Chapitre 60: 60. Training Start (V)

Rei looked confused but did not say anything in return. Shirogana simply smiled and turned towards Meiko, "Meiko! Pitch some balls directly to the mitt." and squatted down wearing his glove.

He turned towards Sora and said, "Sora! Act as the umpire and tell if the pitch is a strike or not." and Sora went behind him.

Shirogana then opened his glove and gave a signal to Meiko telling her to pitch. Meiko pitched the first ball directly into the mitt and Shirogana caught it flawlessly. Sora immediately shouted, "Strike."

Shirogana threw the ball back and Meiko pitched the ball again making Sora call it a strike again. Meiko continued to pitch for some time until Shirogana stood up indicating her to stop. He turned towards Rei and asked, "Did you see what I did there Rei."

Rei stood there not understanding what to say. He was confused about what happened. Shirogana noticed this and asked, "Come and stand like a batter, it will be helpful for you to understand clearly."

Rei nodded and stood like a batter. Shirogana got into stance and asked Meiko to pitch again. Meiko threw the pitch and it was quick but Rei was able to see it clearly due to his eyes. He saw the pitch had a fifty-fifty chance to be called a strike.

But to his astonishment, Sora called it a strike. Thinking it was his bad luck he got ready to observe the next pitch. Meiko threw another pitch and it was even more outside the strike zone then the last one. He was confidently thinking it was a ball Shirogana confidently caught the ball and Sora deemed it as a strike.

Rei was flabbergasted he turned towards Sora and said, "Hey that was a sure ball." but to his disappointment, Sora shook his head and replied, "No it looked like a strike to me."

Rei was dejected hearing him and Shirogana grinned seeing this. He threw the ball back and got ready for the next. Meiko threw the ball directly at the mitt and Rei was sure it was a ball even more so than the previous one. But Sora told strike.

Rei started to wonder if they planned this before. Rei noticed this and told, "We did not plan this at all. This is Pitch framing. You make even a ball look like a strike and catchers are valued for this." throwing back the ball to Meiko.

Meiko continued to throw more pitches and most of them were guaranteed balls but all of them were called as a strike. Rei was flabbergasted at how all of them were called strikes. He looked at Shirogana for an answer.

Shirogana looked at him and said, "Now I will teach you how I did it." and got ready in his stance. Rei bent down to get a better view beside him.

Shirogana took the ball and held it in the air. He started his explanations, "Now Rei there are 2 parts to this. As I told you before, the momentum of the ball tends to take the glove of the catcher away from making it a Ball. Now instead of taking your glove towards the pitch, you should be there beforehand. Being there beforehand will stop the momentum of the ball, you should keep your wrist and elbow rigid to completely stop it from moving the mitt.

If the mitt is moved even the slightest the pitch can be called a Ball. So the first step is to be prepared beforehand on where the pitch should land instead of moving the mitt towards it."

Rei nodded understanding the first step completely. Shirogana continued, "Now the second step is more difficult to do. After catching the ball you should slowly and naturally bring the mitt into the strike zone for t to be called as a strike. This is only possible if you are good with soft hands. The motion of the mitt should look completely natural for making the umpire believe in you. See like this." demonstrating how to do it.

Rei now completely understood what happened before. All the balls Meiko pitched were Balls but due to Shirogana, they looked like a strike for the umpire. This was a huge deal, if Rei could master this he would be able to perform better than many.

Shirogana sat and told Rei seriously, "Rei, remember one thing a pitcher can only shine his best when a catcher is good enough. If you are not good enough you would not be able to bring the best out of the pitcher. So if you are not good the pitcher is also not good."

Rei nodded and Shirogana said, "Ok now Rei you try. I will throw a tennis ball for you."

Rei squatted down and opened his glove at the edge of the strike zone indicating the placement. Shirogana nodded seeing this and threw the ball with force. Rei was able to catch it but his mitt was forced back.

Shirogana shook his head and reminded Rei, "Rei the mitt should not move when you catch. Keep your wrist and shoulders rigid."

Rei threw the ball back and nodded understanding the mistake. He framed the pitch once more in the same position and Shirogana threw it with the same force. This time Rei was able to catch it but he couldn't smoothly bring it inside the strike zone making it obvious for the umpire.

Shirogana corrected his mistake again, "Rei, don't be too rigid and use soft hands to create a smooth motion. If the umpire sees you doing this he will have a bad impression of you and call all near strikes Balls."

They continued to practice and Rei was constantly making mistakes mostly because of his lack of practice with soft hands. His movements were easy to catch for an umpire. Shirogana patiently corrected his mistakes every single time.

Narumi came out to the backyard and reminded all 4 of them, "Come back in and get freshened up. Lunch is ready." and went back in.

Noticing it is already noon they made their way in.