Chapter 105: Early Appearance in the Battle Against Yakushi
Yakushi High had effectively cracked Tanba's pitching, to the point where Coach Kataoka was considering a pitching change.
On the other side, Seidou's batting lineup, not to be outdone, didn't settle after scoring three runs in the first inning.
Though they failed to score in the second inning with their lower order, the third inning saw Seidou's top order showcase their true power after Yakushi tied the game.
Kuramochi got on base for the second time in the game, Ryousuke Kominato followed up with a hit, and Isashiki earned a walk, loading the bases.
In this critical moment, the cleanup hitter and team captain, Tetsuya Yuuki, delivered a timely hit, driving in two more runs and helping Seidou reclaim control of the game.
Their performance reaffirmed what a true powerhouse batting lineup looks like.
"Tch, can't hold them off anymore? If the gap keeps widening, we're in trouble," Coach Todoroki muttered as he watched Yuuki's hit bring the runners home, with runners still on second and third.
Unhappy that his plan was being disrupted, Coach Todoroki reluctantly stood up. "Sanada, it's your turn to pitch now. Although this wasn't according to the original plan, I'm counting on you."
"Haha, this is my job, Coach," Sanada replied with a relaxed smile as he adjusted his cap. His words were lighthearted but conveyed his confidence and sense of responsibility.
"Time out! Pitching change!" Coach Todoroki called from the sidelines, signaling the switch.
"Now announcing the pitching change for Yakushi High. Taking over for Mino is pitcher Sanada Shunpei, pitcher Sanada."
"Good luck, Sanada-senpai!"
"Take them down, Sanada!"
"Shunpei, go get them!"
"Let's go!"
Yakushi's bold move to change pitchers in the top of the third inning immediately stirred up a buzz of surprise among the spectators.
"They're switching pitchers this early? No way."
"Well, they've already given up five runs by the third inning, so I guess they don't have much choice."
"Yeah, if this turns into a slugfest, Seidou will definitely have the upper hand."
"Besides, Yakushi's real ace is Sanada. Did you see him in the previous games?"
"Yeah, that fastball is something else."
"He's got decent control, and his speed's over 140 km/h, but why isn't he wearing the ace number?"
"Maybe because he's not a third-year?"
"Could be. But now things are getting interesting. Let's see if Seidou can figure him out."
Not far away, Fujio Mine gave instructions to Akiko to focus on filming and recording. Now, the real battle between the two teams was about to begin.
Compared to the excited crowd, the atmosphere on Seidou's bench was quite different.
"Hmph, so he's finally out, huh?" Jun Isashiki growled menacingly, staring at the tall figure stepping onto the mound.
"He's here, the real ace," Ryousuke Kominato said with a grin.
"Haha, if we crush this guy, we'll win the game for sure," Kuramochi cackled.
"This seems like a forced switch," Chris remarked softly from the front of the bench, a faint smile on his face.
Coach Kataoka nodded slightly. "Kominato, go to the bullpen and tell Sawamura to get ready."
"Understood!" Haruichi, briefly stunned, quickly put on his cap and sprinted toward the bullpen.
They didn't know that Sanada was still recovering from an injury and couldn't handle pitching too many innings at high intensity.
However, based on his limited appearances in previous games, especially in the crucial match against Ichidaisan High, it was clear that Yakushi's true ace had a reason for not being able to pitch longer stretches.
Perhaps it was due to stamina, an injury, or some other reason. Regardless, Seidou was certain of one thing: the sooner they could force Sanada off the mound, the better.
This would allow them to wear him down, bringing them closer to their ultimate goal.
Now, in just the third inning, Seidou had already forced Yakushi to bring out their ace, Sanada, placing them in the driver's seat. With Yakushi having been forced to make a drastic move, Seidou needed to press the advantage.
Not far away, in the bullpen, Eijun watched Sanada take the field, his eyes reflecting a new determination. Just then, Haruichi arrived to relay Coach Kataoka's instructions to him. A flicker of excitement appeared in Eijun's eyes as he nodded.
"Is it finally my turn? Sanada Shunpei and Raichi Todoroki... I'll be facing them soon," Eijun thought to himself, glancing at the figures of Yakushi's ace and their cleanup hitter, Raichi.
On the mound, the third-year ace, Mino, watched as Sanada jogged over. With a look of guilt on his face, Mino spoke apologetically. "I'm sorry, Sanada. I couldn't hold out until the fifth inning."
Despite being a senior, Mino had to rely on his younger teammates, something that left him feeling both frustrated and regretful.
"Senpai, what are you talking about? You did great. Leave the rest to me!" Sanada replied, flashing a bright and infectious smile. His confidence was evident.
Mino nodded firmly, passing the ball to Sanada. "Alright, it's in your hands now."
"Yes, leave it to me!"
Sanada lived up to his reputation as one of the most mentally composed aces in the series.
Despite the pressure of a no-out, second-and-third base situation, he remained calm.
His aggressive approach, however, led to a slight mishap on his first pitch—it got away from him and hit Masuko, loading the bases.
As the crowd held its breath, many started to worry for Sanada, especially with Seidou's best chance at the plate: Miyuki, known for seizing opportunities to deliver clutch hits.
But Sanada had an ace up his sleeve—a cutter that he had been hiding. With it, he secured outs against Isashiki Jun at third base and Miyuki himself, executing a double play and quelling Seidou's momentum.
He followed that up by striking out Sakai Ichirou, the seventh batter.
With no outs and the bases loaded, Sanada managed to escape unscathed, preventing Seidou from scoring. His performance sent a clear message to Seidou: they were up against the real ace of Yakushi High.
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