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T/N: The Second Chapter today!
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'We need to get this pitcher off the field as soon as possible!'
At that moment, Miyuki Kazuya and Sawamura Eijun shared the same thoughts. Having experienced the Koshien, they understood just how much a player could grow during a game.
Koji's strength was already formidable, and if he suddenly found his rhythm, it would be difficult for Seidou High School to deal with him quickly.
They needed to take him down before he got into a rhythm.
Determined to display a royal front, Miyuki decided to go all out and hit the ball.
Although he had made this decision, Miyuki remained relaxed in the Batter's Box. It was his nature: the more tense the situation, the more at ease he felt.
On the pitcher's mound, Koji was somewhat resigned to his fate.
At this point, if he Walked Miyuki, he could potentially control the score.
But even if he managed to control the score, what difference would it make? The current score was 4-0, a gap so wide it felt nearly hopeless.
Against other opponents, Eigen High School might have some confidence in catching up.
But facing Seidou High School, even if the players from Eigen had not given up, they knew in their hearts that their chances of closing the gap were virtually nonexistent.
Would they care about losing a couple more points in a situation like this?
Of course not!
'In this situation, even if we Walk the opponent, there's nothing to win. Our position is much easier; let's throw the ball to tricky spots as much as possible!'
The situation on the field was one Out with a runner on first base.
The catcher for Eigen quickly assessed the situation. In this scenario, even Walking Miyuki would be acceptable.
He thought this not because he wanted to give Miyuki a free pass, but to allow his teammate to throw freely.
'Come on, Koji! Trust your pitches!'
Although they had already given up several runs, if you counted hits, they had only allowed five hits up to now.
'Your strength isn't lacking.'
The reason Seidou High School scored so many runs was primarily due to their exceptional ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
It had little to do with your own strength.
'Believe in yourself and throw the ball into my Mitt.'
At that moment, the catcher gave the pitcher complete trust.
The burly Yasuji Koji felt like he wanted to cry.
As the team's Ace pitcher, despite the game being in such disarray, his teammates still believed in him.
'You idiots!'
His emotional turmoil transformed into a wellspring of potential energy.
At that moment, he focused all his strength on the two fingers gripping the ball.
Whoosh!
The small white ball shot out like a laser, nearly grazing Miyuki's body as it flew into the catcher's Mitt.
SNAP!
"BALL!"
That last pitch was clearly outside the strike zone.
Yet Miyuki did not feel relieved despite being ahead in the count.
He would be happy if it signaled the opponent's collapse.
But looking at the current situation, this was clearly a sign of the opponent's impending resurgence.
'Yasuji Koji!'
Faced with this almost desperate situation, instead of feeling discouraged, Koji regained his composure.
He was relaxed while pitching, fully displaying his abilities.
This was going to be tough!
The most undesirable outcome had occurred.
Although Miyuki still didn't think Koji's sudden revival could impact Seidou High School, he had to admit that Koji's unexpected performance had disturbed him to some extent.
'Now, it seemed that winning this game wouldn't be so easy.'
'Damn!'
With a frustrated sigh, Miyuki decided not to dwell on this issue anymore.
If winning the game could come easily, he would gladly take it. But if not, they would have to face their opponents seriously.
If the opponent kept throwing balls like this, Miyuki wouldn't mind being Walked.
But if the ball was in the strike zone, he wouldn't let it pass.
Just like now!
Whoosh!
The ball came flying in, nearly brushing the outside corner and entering the strike zone!
'Indeed!'
The opponent's stance showed no intention of Walking him.
Seeing the ball in the strike zone, Miyuki naturally wouldn't let it go. He shifted his stance and smashed the outside pitch.
Ping!
After making contact, the ball soared, almost skimming the sideline.
"A long hit!"
Sawamura, originally at first base, dashed directly to third base on this hit.
Miyuki also made it safely to first.
The situation shifted to one Out with runners on first and third base.
Seidou High School had a great opportunity to score.
"Seidou!"
"Seidou!!!"
Though Miyuki couldn't continue Sawamura's offensive streak with a timely hit, their attacking force was strong.
So far, no one has failed since the very first batter, Kuramochi.
Seidou High School's entire batting lineup had come together seamlessly.
"Amazing!"
"Four in a row!!"
"They said Seidou High School's batting lineup wasn't strong like the previous year, but once they connect, they're incredibly powerful."
"After all, Seidou is a prestigious school that recruits highly promising players..."
"Once the lineup is refined, its strength becomes apparent!"
The old fans of Seidou High School buzzed with excitement.
They knew Seidou's style and routines very well, and seeing it again is still refreshing.
Meanwhile, as Seidou's opponents, the players from Eigen High School were feeling the pressure.
In the previous defense, the Eigen players had given their all, but they still felt helpless against Seidou's fierce attack.
'Too strong!'
At this moment, the Seidou High players before them seemed to glow with an almost fluorescent brilliance.
The Eigen Superintendent, who had remained largely silent, looked at the team on the verge of falling apart and decisively issued instructions.
"Walk the fifth batter and face off against the sixth!"
Instead of allowing his pitcher-catcher duo to continue fighting, he changed tactics.
'Based on the recent hits, the Seidou players had completely figured out Koji's pitching rhythm.'
'In such a situation, it would be tough for Koji to take down Seidou's fifth batter!'
'Seidou's fifth batter was a very well-rounded and technically sound hitter...'
From a tactical perspective, the Eigen Superintendent's strategy was sound.
With one Out and runners on first and third, Seidou High's baseball team had numerous offensive tactics at their disposal.
It would be better to employ a full base defense.
There's an unwritten rule in baseball that when the bases are loaded, it's harder for the offense to score.
Thus, the strategy adopted by Eigen High was reasonable.
However, this move successfully enraged one player on the field.
That player was Seidou's sixth batter, Maezono Kenta.
In past games, Seidou had encountered similar situations, but those usually involved Walking Sawamura and Miyuki to face Shiratsu.
Or when Maezono batted fifth, the opponent chose to face him.
This in itself wasn't a problem.
Even if Maezono sometimes said that his ambitions were greater than the universe, he understood the opponent's approach.
All the players at Seidou recognized this fact.
That is, Sawamura Eijun and Miyuki Kazuya held different statuses within the team.
From Maezono's perspective, it made sense for the opponent to intentionally Walk them and choose to face him.
'If I were the opponent's coach, I might do the same.'
But what did it mean to specifically Walk Shiratsu and choose to face him?
That was a blatant insult!
Maezono admired Sawamura and Miyuki.
Compared to those two, Maezono considered himself lacking in talent.
But that didn't mean anyone could walk all over him!
Even though he had a good relationship with Shiratsu, Maezono never thought his prowess was inferior to Shiratsu's.
'Damn it!'
'Damn it!!!'
With one Out and the bases loaded, Eigen's players walked Shiratsu, and Maezono stepped into the Batter's Box.
At that moment, Maezono felt like a raging bull.
His eyes burned red, filled not with tears, but with pure fury.
In that instant, he resembled an angered berserker monster.
He exuded a forceful presence.
This terrifying aura startled the battery duo of Eigen.
But remembering Maezono's past performance gave them a bit of comfort.
They had a clear understanding of their opponent's stats.
'Dealing with him shouldn't be too difficult.'
'Bring it on! Outside corner!'
Maezono was best known for hitting inside fastballs.
At this moment, the players from Eigen wouldn't let him have that.
They naturally threw an outside breaking ball.
"STRIKE!"
"STRIKE!!"
With two Strikes in a row, Maezono didn't swing at the bat in his hands.
It felt as if he had completely given up on the outside pitch.
Then came the third ball.
Suddenly, Maezono remembered Isashiki's words to him.
-"You idiot, why are you so obsessed with your form? You are strong enough, so swing more freely!"-
'Swing more freely!'
-"Everyone has the course that they are weak at, so when you face something you are not good at focus on making contact and just get a hit,"-
'Just get a hit!'
Maezono remembered Coach Kataoka's teachings.
-"With your swing speed and power, there's no need to rush; you can wait for the ball to get closer..."-
'Wait for the ball to get closer before swinging.'
-"And swing powerfully!"-
'And swing powerfully!'
The white ball came just as he thought, and Maezono swung his bat with conviction.
PAANG!!!
The ball soared high into the air.
At that moment, the crowd fell silent, all eyes fixated on the soaring baseball.
Paashh!
Finally, the white ball slammed against the fence at the edge of the field.
A long hit!
A super long hit!
At this moment, Seidou High School scored a staggering additional hit.
"DRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
A voice rang out from the Batter's Box.
…