Chapter 77: Perfect Rhythm
After Kuramochi was caught out, Ryosuke, the second batter, also struggled.
Although he could read the trajectory of the opposing fastball, he couldn't quite adjust his batting angle due to the pitcher's low release point.
He hit a line drive towards third base that was caught effortlessly, ending in the same fate as Kuramochi with a pop-out.
Next, the powerhouse slugger Isashiki Jun also met the same outcoming.
Unable to adjust to Maimon West's number two pitcher's style quickly enough, he was struck out.
After two long foul balls, he was taken out by an outside fastball.
In the first inning, Maimon West managed to recover some ground on defense, relieving some tension and frustration from their lackluster performance at bat in the top half of the inning.
Against Seido High, they saw they could indeed put up a fight.
Most of their players felt slightly optimistic, thinking if they kept calm and waited for their chance, they might have a shot at victory against this first-year pitcher.
"Whoosh"
"Pop"
"Strike, batter out!"
What!?
Maimon West's cleanup hitter froze mid-swing, wide-eyed with shock.
The Maimon West dugout fell silent collectively at that moment.
A strikeout with just three pitches—all fastballs. Their cleanup hitter was taken down so easily, contrary to their expectations.
"Nice pitch, Sawamura."
Miyuki, catching at home plate with a grin, casually tossed the ball back.
"Pop"
Eijun caught it effortlessly, nodding slightly in response.
"Hmm."
"A first-year pitcher like this!!!" The Maimon West coach's face was already turning a shade of blue.
The sharpness on the inside, the composure on the outside – though Eijun's control didn't appear exceptional, he consistently hit the corners at crucial moments.
"Batting fifth, catcher, Miyata-kun."
Stand at the front of the batter's box. Don't let him leverage his pitch quality. Swing with all your might!!!
Coach Chiba, gritting his teeth, gave the order from the dugout. If he couldn't discern Eijun's pitching quality by now, he wasn't fit to be a coach. He knew well what peculiar traits and weaknesses the quirky pitch had.
He was confident that the first-year on the opposing team didn't have the power to suppress the metal bat's potential.
With only early 130s for pitch speed, combined with a metal bat and a strong swing, taking it on should be achievable.
The coach possessed sharp vision and his strategy was logical.
However, what Coach Chiba couldn't anticipate was that Eijun's peculiar pitch had already been tested and refined against Japan's top power batting lineup, Kiryuu High School.
"Whoosh"
"Crack"
"Thump"
"Foul!"
"Whoosh"
"Pop"
"Strike!!"
"Crack"
"Thump"
"Foul!"
With just three pitches, Eijun forced Maimon West's fifth batter into a corner.
Next up, he aimed for the outside corner.
Miyuki gave a slight gesture and positioned his mitt on the outside corner.
"Whoosh"
So far away!!!
As he watched the white blur flash toward home plate, Maimon West's fifth batter clenched his teeth. It was as though the swinging bat and the white blur existed worlds apart.
Watching helplessly as the ball sailed into Miyuki's glove, the batter could only sigh.
"Pop"
"Strike!!!"
"Batter out!!!"
An outside low pitch!!!!
The fifth batter from Maimon West sighed again, casting a deep look toward Eijun on the mound before heading back to his own dugout.
This first-year Seido pitcher's control was incredible—for his age, to so precisely target the corners...
Of course, the batter overestimated Eijun's control.
Eijun wasn't yet capable of accurately hitting all four corners.
Instead, he had taken a shortcut by focusing on mastering the most practical corner pitches: the low inside and low outside pitches.
These two pitches maximized the unique characteristics of Eijun's pitches.
Additionally, Eijun's natural knack for handling inside pitches created the illusion for Maimon West that Eijun was a pitcher with exceptional control.
"Two outs, two outs."
"Sawamura, you're in great form today."
"You struck out those batters beautifully, Eijun-kun."
"Go, Seido, go, Seido, go!"
"Keep it up, Sawamura!!!"
Eijun's back-to-back strikeouts of the fourth and fifth batters energized the Seido dugout and the support cheering from the stands.
The rhythm of the band's music and the enthusiasm of the cheerleaders reached their peak.
On the mound, Eijun's face beamed with joy—this was the allure of the pitcher's mound!
After striking out Maimon West's fifth batter, Eijun and Miyuki didn't relent against the sixth batter.
At this point, forget about inside-outside pitch strategies; a single inside pitch alone was enough to leave Maimon West utterly confounded.
Unsurprisingly, the sixth batter from Maimon West was also struck out in a dazzling display.
"Whoosh"
"Pop"
"Strike, batter out, three outs, change sides!!!"
Three inside pitches, and the sixth batter from Maimon West couldn't follow Eijun's trajectory at all. Currently, Eijun had reached a point where he could almost control inside pitches effortlessly.
Coupled with the unique characteristics of his pitches and his advantageous pitching form, it was perfectly reasonable for Eijun to suppress Maimon West's lineup in the first round.
"Nice pitching, Sawamura."
"Yahaha, you did well, didn't you?"
"Great job."
"Excellent pitching."
"Well done."
The seniors smiled, giving Eijun friendly pats on the shoulder and head.
"Good job, Sawamura."
Back in the dugout, Chris's gentle words and light pat on the head made Eijun squint his eyes briefly.
"Yes, Chris-senpai!!!"
Eijun's overwhelming performance on defense stirred a tiny competition within the seniors' pride.
If their underclassman could excel, as seniors, they certainly couldn't fall behind.
Suffering from Eijun's dominance in the first two innings, Maimon West faced further struggles in the bottom of the second inning.
Led by team captain Yuuki Tetsuya, their situation went from bad to worse.
A direct home run to left field!!!!
This was Captain Yuuki's response.
It was as if a signal had been given; after Yuuki's home run, Seido unleashed an unstoppable offensive in the bottom of the second inning.
Masuko Tooru, batting fifth, blasted an extra-base hit deep into the outfield and settled on second base.
Miyuki followed with a timely hit, adding to the score.
During Maimon West's pitcher's shaky moment, Eijun also executed a perfect bunt that hugged the edge of the third-base line.
Even though the dugout's signal was a sacrifice bunt, Maimon West's defense had already been shaken to its core.
Coupled with Eijun's precisely placed bunt, Miyuki reached third base, and Eijun made it to first base successfully.
With perfect rhythm, Seido High had taken complete control of the game!
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