Pallet vs Viridian
Friday arrived faster than Ash expected. The week had been filled with school, baseball practice, and more time spent getting to know May. They'd hung out a few times since that evening in Pallet Town, and Ash couldn't shake the excitement he felt whenever he saw her smile. But now, it was time to focus on baseball.
The big game against Viridian High was only hours away, and the stakes were high. Viridian's team had a reputation for being tough, quick on their feet, strong hitters, and an even stronger defense. Ash, Brock, Gary, and Paul were all in the locker room, gearing up for the game. There was a buzz of anticipation in the air, each of them mentally preparing for what lay ahead.
"This is it," Brock said, pulling his jersey over his head. He glanced at Ash with a serious look. "We've been preparing for this all week. Viridian's no joke, but we've got what it takes."
Gary smirked from his locker, already dressed in his uniform. "They may be tough, but we've got the Ketchum factor." He shot Ash a teasing glance, clearly confident in their star pitcher.
Ash grinned, adjusting his cap. "Let's hope the 'Ketchum factor' is enough to get us through. I've heard their pitcher, Derek, throws some serious heat."
Paul, who had been lacing up his cleats, spoke up. "Derek's good, no doubt, but we've got more than just one player. If we play smart and stick to the plan, we can take them down."
Ash nodded in agreement. They had been practicing hard, working on their teamwork, their batting strategy, and focusing on getting hits off Derek's fastball. It wasn't going to be easy, but they had a real shot.
The Coach entered the locker room, clapping his hands together. "All right, team! Gather up!" His voice echoed in the room, commanding attention. The boys quickly finished getting ready and circled around him.
"This is a big one," Coach began, his expression stern but encouraging. "Viridian's no pushover, but neither are we. You've trained for this, you've studied their plays, and I know each and every one of you has what it takes to win today."
Coach paused, letting his words sink in. "But remember, it's not just about individual talent, it's about working together as a team. Ash, you'll be on the mound. Keep those pitches tight. Brock, call the game behind the plate, trust your instincts. Paul and Gary, be ready for anything in the field."
The team nodded, soaking in the advice.
Coach glanced at his watch. "All right, we've got about fifteen minutes before we head out to the field for warm-ups. Get your heads in the game, and remember, stay focused, stay sharp."
As Coach walked out, the locker room buzzed with last-minute adjustments and stretches. Brock grabbed his catcher's gear and started packing it up. He caught Ash's eye and grinned. "You ready for this?"
Ash gave him a determined look. "More than ready. I've been thinking about this game all week."
"You better be ready," Gary chimed in, chuckling. "I've got a whole cheering section in the stands, and I promised them a win."
Paul smirked. "Let's hope you're as good on the field as you are at running your mouth, Gary."
The banter between them was familiar, easing the tension of the upcoming game. Despite the pressure, Ash felt confident. His mind flashed back to the nights he'd spent practicing his pitches, going over the game plan with Brock, and running drills with the rest of the team. They had put in the work, and now it was time to show what they were capable of.
As the minutes ticked down, Ash took a deep breath, focusing on the moment. He could hear the distant rumble of the crowd outside, eager for the game to begin. His mind wandered briefly to May, she'd told him she would be there, sitting with Dawn, cheering him on. The thought made him smile, and he felt a little extra motivation to perform well.
"Let's do this," Ash said, standing up and grabbing his glove.
Brock slapped him on the back. "Let's go win this thing."
Together, the four of them walked out of the locker room and onto the field. The stadium lights were already on, illuminating the field in a bright, white glow. The bleachers were filling up fast, with both Pallet High and Viridian High fans eager to watch the game. Ash could hear the cheers from both sides, but he tuned out the noise, locking in on the task at hand.
They began their warm-ups, tossing the ball back and forth, practicing their swings, and stretching out their muscles. As Ash took his spot on the mound for some practice pitches, he felt the familiar surge of adrenaline. This was his stage, his moment to shine. He glanced up into the stands and spotted May and Dawn, both waving at him from their seats. He waved back, feeling happy to have that support.
The stadium buzzed with excitement as the game between Pallet High and Viridian High was about to begin. The bleachers were packed, the cheers from both sides ringing through the air. Ash stood on the mound, feeling the weight of the moment settle on his shoulders, but it wasn't a burden, instead it was pure adrenaline. This was what he lived for: the thrill of the game, the chance to prove himself.
In the stands, May and Dawn sat side by side, eyes glued to the field. Ever since she started getting to know Ash, something about baseball had drawn her in. She couldn't deny that there was something captivating about watching him on the field, so focused and determined. Dawn, on the other hand, was already used to cheering for Ash and the team, but she could see the game was special for May.
"Look at him," Dawn said with a smile, nudging May. "Ash is totally in the zone."
May nodded, her eyes not leaving the field. "He really is. I've never seen someone so focused."
"This is gonna be great! Pallet looks way more prepared, this game should be an easy win for us" Dawn said with a grin.
Ash's teammates were already taking their positions. Brock behind the plate as catcher, Paul was at third base, and Gary was in center field. They were all calm and focused, but everyone knew Viridian High was a tough opponent. They had a strong lineup and an aggressive strategy, always pushing the other team to its limits. But Ash was ready. He had trained hard for this, and he wasn't about to back down.
The umpire called for the game to begin, and Ash stepped up to the mound, the ball gripped firmly in his hand. He glanced at Brock behind the plate, who gave him a quick nod. Their signals were clear, the strategy set: Ash was going to start with fastballs to test Viridian's hitters.
The first batter stepped into the box, his eyes locked onto Ash. The crowd quieted slightly, anticipation hanging in the air. Ash took a deep breath, wound up, and delivered a blazing fastball right down the middle. The ball cracked into Brock's mitt with a satisfying thud.
"Strike one!" the umpire called.
May's eyes lit up as she clapped excitedly. "Wow, that was fast!"
"Told you," Dawn said with a wink. "Ash has one of the best fastballs in the league and with Brock calling the pitches they were a dynamic duo."
Ash didn't let the momentum slip. He threw another fastball, this one low and outside, but the batter swung anyway, missing by a mile.
"Strike two!" the umpire called again.
The tension built in the stadium as Ash prepared for the third pitch. He could see the batter was rattled, unsure what to expect next. Ash decided to switch it up. He threw a curveball, and the batter swung too early, missing it completely.
"Strike three! You're out!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as the first out was recorded. Ash felt a surge of confidence. He glanced over at the stands, his eyes briefly catching May's, and he couldn't help but smile. She was clapping and cheering with Dawn, and seeing her support made him feel unstoppable.
The game pressed on, and Ash continued to dominate on the mound. He struck out two more batters in the first inning, sending Viridian's lineup back to the dugout without a single hit. As he walked off the field, Brock jogged over to him, giving him a slap on the back.
"Great start, Ash," Brock said with a grin. "Keep this up, and they won't even touch you."
Ash nodded, though he knew the game was far from over. Viridian had a reputation for making adjustments mid-game, and he wasn't about to let his guard down.
Now it was Pallet High's turn to bat, and their lineup was just as ready. Paul was up first, his stance relaxed but focused. Derek was known for his speed, but Paul had been practicing for this exact moment. Ash watched from the dugout as Derek wound up and fired the ball toward home plate.
Paul swung hard, sending the ball sailing toward left field. It was a solid hit, but Viridian's outfielder managed to catch it just before it touched the ground.
"One out," Ash muttered, a little frustrated but knowing there was still plenty of time.
Next up was Gary, who was always confident at the plate. He took his time adjusting his helmet and getting into position, his eyes never leaving Derek. The pitcher threw a fastball, but Gary didn't swing. The umpire called it a ball.
Gary smirked, clearly in control of the situation. Derek threw another pitch, and this time Gary swung, sending the ball flying over the second baseman's head. It landed in the outfield, and Gary took off for first base.
"Safe!" the umpire called as Gary reached the bag.
The Pallet High fans cheered, and Ash felt the energy of the game starting to shift in their favor. He knew it was only a matter of time before they could break through Viridian's defense.
Brock was up next, and he was determined to make something happen. He stepped up to the plate, his eyes locked onto Derek. The first pitch came fast, but Brock held off. Ball one. The next pitch came just as fast, but this time Brock was ready. He swung, sending the ball bouncing past the third baseman.
Gary took off from first base, sprinting toward second, while Brock made it safely to first. Now Pallet High had runners on first and second, and the pressure was mounting on Derek.
Ash felt his own anticipation growing as he watched the game unfold. If they could keep this momentum going, they had a real chance of taking the lead early. He glanced back at the stands, seeing May and Dawn on their feet, cheering along with the rest of the crowd.
"Come on, guys," Ash muttered to himself. "We've got this."
The next batter was up, but Derek managed to strike him out, leaving two outs with runners still on base. Ash felt the tension building. They needed a big hit to break the game open.
Finally, it was Ash's turn to bat. He stepped up to the plate, his heart pounding in his chest but his mind completely focused. He could feel the weight of the moment, this could be the turning point of the game.
Derek threw the first pitch, a fastball low and outside. Ash didn't swing, letting it go for a ball. The next pitch was a little higher, and Ash could see his chance. He swung hard, and the crack of the bat echoed through the stadium as the ball sailed toward right field.
The ball bounced just inside the foul line, skimming the outfield grass. Gary was already halfway to third base, and Brock was sprinting toward second. Ash took off from home plate, pushing himself as hard as he could.
"Go! Go! Go!" the crowd roared as the ball rolled deep into the outfield.
Gary rounded third and headed for home, Brock close behind him. The throw from the outfield came in, but it wasn't in time. Both Gary and Brock crossed the plate, scoring two runs for Pallet High.
Ash made it safely to second base, his chest heaving from the sprint. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Ash couldn't help but grin as he stood on second, looking over at his teammates in the dugout. This was exactly the kind of play they needed.
From the stands, May and Dawn were on their feet, cheering louder than anyone. May's heart was racing, her excitement contagious. "Did you see that?" she exclaimed, turning to Dawn. "He's amazing!"
"I told you," Dawn said with a wide smile. "Ash always comes through in the clutch."
The inning continued, but Viridian managed to get the third out before Pallet High could score any more runs. Still, the damage was done. Pallet High now had a 2-0 lead.
As Ash jogged back to the dugout, he felt a surge of confidence. They were in control of the game, and as long as he could keep pitching like he had been, they had a real shot at winning this.
The next few innings flew by in a blur of fast-paced action. Ash continued to dominate on the mound, striking out batter after batter. His fastball was nearly untouchable, and even when Viridian managed to make contact, the defense behind him was rock solid. Paul made a spectacular diving catch at third base, while Gary tracked down a deep fly ball in center field, preventing Viridian from getting any momentum.
By the time the game reached the seventh inning, the score was still 2-0 in favor of Pallet High. Ash was feeling the fatigue in his arm, but he pushed through, determined to finish what he started. He knew the game wasn't over until the last out, and Viridian wasn't going to give up without a fight.
In the bottom of the seventh, with two outs and a runner on second, Viridian's best hitter stepped up to the plate. The crowd was on edge, knowing this could be the moment that decided the game. Ash took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He knew this batter was dangerous, one mistake and the game could be tied.
Brock signaled for a fastball, and Ash nodded, winding up and firing the pitch toward home plate. The batter swung, sending the ball high into the air. Ash's heart raced as he watched it soar toward right field.
For a moment, it looked like the ball might clear the fence, but at the last second, Gary sprinted back, leaping into the air and making a spectacular catch right at the wall.
"Out!" the umpire called, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
Ash let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, relief flooding through him. They had done it. Pallet High had beaten Viridian, 2-0.
As his teammates swarmed him on the mound, celebrating the victory, Ash glanced up at the stands again. May was clapping and cheering, her face beaming with pride. Ash couldn't help but smile, taking in the victory with a huge amount of pride. If his team kept playing like this they might be able to go undefeated.
