Rei looked at Kai with shock flashing across his face.
"Screwballs still exist?" Reu mumbled.
A screwball is a type of pitch in baseball that is thrown by a pitcher to deceive the batter. It is a breaking ball that moves from the pitcher's left to right, or from the pitcher's right to left, depending on the handedness of the pitcher. A right-handed pitcher will throw a screwball that moves from left to right, while a left-handed pitcher will throw a screwball that moves from right to left. The screwball is a difficult pitch to master, and it is not commonly used by pitchers.
The main reason why pitchers don't use screwballs anymore is the potential damage they can cause to their arms. The twisting motion of the pitch can put immense stress on the arm and elbow, leading to injuries such as torn ligaments and tendons, and even Tommy John Surgery.
With the increased awareness of arm injuries among pitchers, coaches, and trainers now discourage throwing screwballs. Moreover, a screwball is now a myth because the majority of pitchers today have never even attempted to throw one. It is a difficult pitch to learn and even harder to master.
The skill required to throw a screwball is demanding, and it takes years of practice to perfect the motion. It involves using the hand's pinky finger to create an extra twist of the ball, which can put additional pressure on the arm. The pitch's injury risk, combined with the difficulty of throwing it, has caused it to become a lost art in modern baseball.
However, for those pitchers who can throw a screwball effectively, it can be a devastating pitch that can leave batters swinging at the air.
Hence the reason why Rei was so surprised, the last screwball pitcher retired three years ago, and no one has thrown one ever since.
The only reason Rei was even able to hit that pitch in the first place, was because Rei himself was a myth in general, especially since he's a batting prodigy.
"Suprised?" Sora laughed at the utter shock on Rei's face as if he was watching a comedy.
"Okay then since, I think we don't need to see any more batting, let's move on to pitching." Coach Helios clapped his hands before turning over to one of the coaches, "Go get the starts, tell them to get their bats."
Coach Elliot nodded before heading over into the outfield.
Rei also regained his calm, as he switched his bat for a glove and a ball.
As he walked onto the mound during practice, the air around him seemed to turn icy. He exuded an aura of coldness that made those around him shiver involuntarily. His sharp features and piercing, calculating gaze gave off an impression of aloofness and indifference that sent shivers down the spines of his teammates.
He was a man of few words, and his cold personality was palpable in the way he carried himself. Even his movements were precise and calculated as if he was always plotting his next move. As he took his position on the mound, his expression hardened, and his eyes narrowed, revealing a fierce determination to succeed.
The way he gripped the ball with his long, sinewy fingers seemed to suggest that he was ready to crush his opponents without mercy.
His muscles tensed, and his body language exuded a sense of power and control that made it clear he was not to be trifled with.
Rei started his warm-up keeping it light, mostly focusing on his body, as his pitches were all just fastballs around 86 mph.
After a few throws, Rei nodded toward the coach.
"HAHA get ready for a slugfest rookie." Dawson laughed as he stepped into the left batter's box.
Rei ignored Dawson completely as he was solely focused on Sora's mitt.
Rei took a deep breath, letting the adrenaline pump through his veins as he prepared to throw his first pitch. Dawson adjusted his stance, eyeing Rei with fierce determination.
He wound up, his arm coiling back before unleashing a powerful 93mph fastball. The ball whizzed through the air, cutting through the wind with ease. Dawson swung his bat with all his might, but it was too late. The ball had already flown past him, leaving him swinging at thin air.
Retrieving the ball back, he took his next breath, started his motion, and unleashed a forkball, a pitch that was designed to break away from the batter's reach at the last possible moment. The ball spun through the air like a top, the red seams blurring as it hurtled toward the plate. Dawson swung again, but this time, his bat connected with nothing but air. The ball flew past him, leaving him grasping at nothing but empty space.
0-2
Rei knew that he had the upper hand, though he wasn't content to rest on his laurels.
He took a deep breath, his eyes locked on Sora's glove and released a split-finger change-up. The ball flew towards Dawson's feet, a blur of white against the green grass of the diamond.
Dawson took a deep breath and focused on the ball as it came hurtling toward him. His eyes locked onto the ball, watching it approach with a keen sense of anticipation. With a confident smile on his lips, Dawson swung his bat with all the power he could muster, determined to hit the ball out of the park.
But just as the bat was about to connect with the ball, the unthinkable happened. The ball dipped and swerved, leaving Dawson swinging at nothing but air.
The shock on his face was palpable as he stood frozen at the plate, unable to believe what had just happened. The sound of the ball hitting the catcher's mitt echoed through the field, punctuating the moment with a deafening silence.
Everyone watched Dawson, waiting to see how he would react. Would he get angry? Would he throw his bat in frustration? But instead, Dawson simply stood there, staring in disbelief at the spot where the ball should have been.