Chapter 85: Overwhelming Confrontation Against Akikawa
"Ugh, what terrible luck that guy has," Isashiki Jun said, returning to the dugout, clearly annoyed. After all, that hit should have been a clear long drive to left field.
If Isashiki could have made it home, not only would he have scored first, but Seidou High could have continued their offensive momentum, putting them firmly in control from the start.
However, who would have guessed that fate would side with Akikawa High at such a crucial moment?
While it's true that 99% of sports depend on effort and skill, that remaining 1% of luck cannot be ignored. Sometimes, it can turn the tide in critical moments.
"Isashiki-senpai," Eijun thought, shaking his head with a smile.
Isashiki was always straightforward; whatever he was feeling was reflected on his face.
"Sawamura, let's focus on attacking the inside corner this inning. Since they've handed us such a gift, we have to make the most of it," Miyuki said as he put on his gear, standing next to Eijun with a grin.
"Right, Miyuki-senpai," Eijun replied, slightly taken aback, then nodded in agreement.
The strong presence of the catcher was unmistakable on the field, and that was Miyuki Kazuya, known as Seidou High's savior.
While that might be a bit exaggerated, it was mostly based on solid truths.
Eijun couldn't help but admire this; no wonder in the original story, the two pitchers were completely obedient to Miyuki's guidance.
It wasn't just that—on the baseball field, Eijun and Furuya had an unshakeable trust in him, especially in terms of in-game decision-making.
Of course, in this life, Eijun wouldn't merely follow orders like in the original.
He aimed to be a true ace pitcher, one who understood the catcher's signals and formed a genuine pitcher-catcher partnership, rather than just a pitcher who blindly obeyed the catcher's commands.
Eijun had his own thoughts.
"The top of the second inning, Akikawa High's turn to bat. Cleanup hitter, right fielder, Shiratori-kun."
"Coach, what's the plan this inning?"
As he stepped into the batter's box, Shiratori, the team's cleanup hitter and captain, looked toward the dugout for guidance.
"Let's stick to our original strategy and focus on attacking that pitcher's inside pitches during the first round," Coach Ozaka gestured from the dugout.
Shiratori nodded lightly.
It seemed they were committed to a single strategy. Behind home plate, Miyuki squinted slightly, discerning the nuances of the game.
Miyuki's sensitivity to these subtle details ranked him among the top catchers in all of Japan's high school baseball.
In the original story, he was even referred to as an "ultra-high school-level catcher."
Of course, this was also due to the overall lower quality of Akikawa's players, aside from You Shunshin.
As Miyuki would say, it was too easy to see through them.
"Let's not hold back, Sawamura. Keep it precise, keep attacking those inside pitches!!!"
Miyuki seemed determined to maintain the aggressive strategy this inning, which made Eijun admire him once again.
Miyuki was a catcher who knew how to seize opportunities and continuously exploit weaknesses to expand their advantage.
Moreover, he was bold enough to go head-to-head, fully aware of the opponent's tactics.
Of course, this confidence was based on a thorough assessment of both teams' strengths and trust in the pitcher's abilities. Otherwise, it wouldn't be courage; it would be recklessness.
"Okay," Eijun said, slightly bowing his head.
In the batter's box, You Shunshin squatted calmly, his expression unreadable as he focused intently on Eijun on the pitcher's mound, as if he aimed to dissect his every move.
Whoosh!
An inside pitch!!!
Shiratori's expression sharpened as he quickly stepped forward.
"Whoosh!"
The sound of the bat slicing through the air created a sharp gust of wind.
"Ping!"
He swung too late!
Shiratori frowned.
"Whoosh!"
"Bang!"
"Foul!"
"Wow, what a powerful inside pitch on the first ball! Seidou's battery remains aggressive against Akikawa's cleanup hitter this inning!"
Shiratori thought to himself, This stance makes this pitcher's speed seem several kilometers faster than it actually is. The power and tailing effect of the ball are more intense than I imagined!
Shiratori gritted his teeth, realizing that this guy didn't play like a first-year pitcher at all!
He looked at the mound, where Eijun wore a faint smile, and thought, Today, this guy's tailing is exceptionally clean. No, it's cleaner than ever! Has he been inspired by You Shunshin?
Miyuki caught the ball and raised an eyebrow.
Heh, that's a good sign.
For the second pitch, let's aim for a high inside ball. As long as it's high enough to intimidate this batter, it doesn't matter if it's a ball!
After getting that first strike, Miyuki decided to apply pressure.
This worked perfectly for Eijun, who understood that in baseball—especially high school baseball—players must demonstrate their personal momentum and the team's overall dominance.
Isn't it just a direct confrontation?
Who's afraid of whom?
Next, they would face Yakushi High, where every player was a strong hitter, especially Todoroki Raichi, who was outstanding among them.
Akikawa was the best stepping stone before facing Yakushi, sharpening his skills for the real battle.
A glimmer of cold light flashed in Eijun's eyes.
With a beautiful arm motion, he put everything into the pitch. He lifted his leg high and stepped forward, the dazzling white light sparkling in the sky.
"Whoosh!"
The chilling light raced off the mound, causing Shiratori's breath to hitch at that moment.
As the white light quickly approached, Shiratori's pupils suddenly constricted, and a shiver ran down his spine. The incoming pitch felt as cold as ice.
Almost instinctively, Shiratori swung his bat, raising it defensively in front of him.
"Ping!"
A crisp sound rang out, contrasting sharply with the unease in Shiratori's heart.
Oh no!
"Whoosh!"
The ball ricocheted off his bat, shooting straight back toward the mound.
Eijun sidestepped, extending his left hand with the glove, securely catching the ball.
"Thud!"
"Out!"
In the batter's box, Shiratori looked up at Eijun, who had raised his gaze slightly. He could sense the raw pressure emanating from the mound, which instantly turned Shiratori's face pale.
As the team's cleanup hitter, he had been easily and brutally overpowered by a first-year pitcher, resulting in a simple catch for an out!
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