Chapter 149: The Unexpected Battle Against Inashiro
"Whoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Strike! Batter out!!!"
"Three outs, switching sides!!!"
"In the end, a fastball down the middle was chosen, and Seidou High School's battery secured the third out. This inning, they returned the favor with a three-up, three-down! The teams switch sides, and Seidou High enters the latter half of the game with a one-run lead!!!!"
Inashiro Industrial had been relentlessly pressing, constantly applying pressure, trying to slowly wear down Eijun. To be fair, this strategy showed some effectiveness, but it also appeared somewhat futile.
Eijun still stood firm atop the pitcher's mound.
From the bench, Coach Kunitomo watched Eijun's figure with a slight furrow in his brow, sighing internally. Why couldn't this pitcher be with Inashiro Industrial High?
If he had joined, they would have a solid ace lined up after Narumiya Mei.
Of course, this thought merely flickered through Coach Kunitomo's mind.
And now, Seidou's counterattack began!
In the top of the sixth inning, the leadoff batter, Ryousuke Kominato, targeted Narumiya's fastball. Without hesitation, he took a strong stride and swung hard.
With a loud crack, Ryousuke Kominato made precise contact with Narumiya's fastball.
He drove it into left field, and with Narumiya's expression changing in shock, he safely reached first base.
Following this, Seidou's cleanup hitters seemed as though they had locked onto Narumiya's fastball. Unaffected by the previous inning's changeups, they stepped in confidently and swung without hesitation. In this third at-bat, Jun Isashiki hammered another hit off Narumiya.
A long drive deep into left field.
As that white ball streaked across the sky, the stark contrast on Harada's face at home plate was evident. If he hadn't realized their strategy had been read by Seidou, then he wasn't fit to be the renowned catcher and team captain for Inashiro!!!
No outs, runners on second and third – Seidou now had an excellent chance to score!!!!!
"Cleanup hitter, first baseman, Yuuki-kun!"
"Let's go, Captain!!!"
"Yuuki, finish it here!!"
"Bring in the big one!!!!"
Seidou's side erupted in fervent cheers, and the audience's eyes were glued to home plate.
This was the decisive moment in the game!
In this inning, in this at-bat, the outcome might very well determine the game's winner.
However, unnoticed by all, in Seidou's dugout, Coach Kataoka's pupils contracted subtly, and on the field, Captain Yuuki's typically solemn gaze glimmered with a trace of resolve.
At this moment, Seidou High's choice caught everyone by surprise.
"Whoosh!"
As the ball soared through the air, the third base runner, Ryousuke Kominato, bolted forward, while the cleanup hitter in the batter's box, Seidou's powerhouse Yuuki, bent down and squared for a bunt. This left the entire audience in shock.
Inashiro hadn't anticipated that Seidou would opt for a bunt to force a run in this situation.
It wasn't that bunting was a bad choice, but the current setup was perfect – no outs, runners on second and third, with the cleanup hitter up. Yuuki Tetsuya, an incredibly strong cleanup hitter, was bunting here? This revelation left Harada's face etched with utter disbelief.
This move demonstrated how badly Seidou wanted this win – they were willing to use any strategy necessary.
The crowd, all wearing expressions of shock, fixed their gaze on home plate.
"Pop!"
A precise bunt. With a sharp sound, the ball bounced forward as Yuuki dropped the bat and sprinted towards first base.
Meanwhile, Ryousuke was closing in on home plate, and Harada's eyes narrowed sharply.
"Thud!"
The ball hit the ground.
"Mei!!!" Harada shouted immediately.
The synergy between pitcher and catcher was about to be perfectly displayed.
Narumiya Mei dashed forward, reaching the ball swiftly. He knew that simply picking it up wouldn't be fast enough, so with his glove hand, he scooped it up, then immediately flicked his wrist, propelling the ball as soon as it touched the glove.
"Whoosh!"
The white streak shot toward home plate, landing in Harada's glove.
It was an intense play, and Seidou High School wasn't going to let this golden opportunity slip by!
With a resounding "pop," Ryousuke Kominato had already slid to the side of home plate, extending his right hand to touch the base without hesitation.
"Safe!"
The home plate umpire spread his arms wide, loudly announcing the call.
Ryousuke Kominato's triumphant gesture, raising his right hand in victory, sent the audience into an uproar. Everyone was visibly shaken.
Harada gritted his teeth, and Narumiya's expression darkened in frustration, fully revealing their emotions.
"Wow! An unexpected forced run! Even with Inashiro's quick reaction, Seidou's genius bunt by their cleanup hitter was unstoppable. Seidou scores again, securing their long-awaited insurance run in the top of the sixth inning!!!"
"And now, with only one out and a runner on third, Seidou High School has completely taken control of the game!!!"
Though Harada managed to turn and get Yuuki out at first base by the slimmest margin, the lost run left Inashiro's players in disbelief.
A bunt from the cleanup hitter? At this critical moment? And it worked?
Honestly, for a moment, they were all stunned, unable to process the situation. Carlos, Shirakawa, and others exchanged looks with deep meaning as they glanced toward the pitcher's mound.
They knew very well that this was the most dangerous moment for their team in the entire game.
"Seidou! Seidou! Seidou!"
"Well done, Captain! Ryousuke!"
"Yes! Another run!"
In stark contrast to Inashiro's tense atmosphere, Seidou High School's side was filled with cheers and laughter. No matter how it happened, the result was all that mattered.
They had scored, extending their lead.
That alone was enough to bring smiles to their faces, and with runners still on base and another powerful hitter stepping up, they believed they could keep the momentum going.
They would press their advantage and secure the victory in this game!!!
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