Chapter 352: Teito Battle – A Balanced Situation
After striking out Sumida, Seidou continued their dominance.
Teito's sixth batter didn't put up much of a fight either, hitting a high fly ball toward third base on the very first fastball he saw. Shoji easily settled under it and made the catch.
"Out! Three outs! Change of innings!"
"Nice pitch, Sawamura!"
"Three up, three down—impressive, Sawamura-kun!"
"You're in good form, you bastard! Keep it up until the end!"
"Great pitching, Eijun-kun!"
In the top of the second, Teito still couldn't get a handle on Eijun's pitches. Not a single hit.
However, while most people saw Eijun easily shutting down Teito's lineup, in reality, he wasn't feeling at ease at all.
For a pitcher, all breaking balls are built on the foundation of the fastball.
And right now, Eijun was facing a serious problem—Teito had clearly adopted a straightforward yet effective strategy: focusing entirely on his fastball.
At least in the early innings, they seemed committed to this tactic, showing no fear of striking out if it meant reading his pitching patterns.
If not for the rain affecting his control, making it harder to mix in breaking balls effectively, it wouldn't be such an issue.
But in this damned rainy weather, Eijun found himself somewhat restricted.
...
"How is it?"
During the brief break between innings, Eijun had no choice but to change into a dry compression shirt—it was soaked through and unbearably uncomfortable.
At that moment, Miyuki walked over, handing him a cup of warm water. His expression was serious as he asked the question.
"I'm managing, but my fingers still feel a bit out of control when throwing breaking balls. That last five-seam fastball nearly slipped. Miyuki-senpai, for the next set of pitches, you'll have to be extra mindful of the risks when calling for breaking balls."
Eijun took a sip of warm water, letting the heat spread through his body, and spoke in a firm tone.
"Yeah, I got it."
Miyuki nodded seriously, then turned to meet the eyes of Coach Kataoka.
A sharp glint flashed through Kataoka's eyes before he gave a small nod.
...
"Bottom of the second inning, Seidou High School's offense. Batting sixth, left fielder, Furuya-kun!"
Mukai's ability to adjust mid-game was truly among the best in high school baseball.
After giving up a run in the first inning, he had already corrected himself by the second.
Facing Furuya's aggressive batting stance, Mukai remained composed, not allowing him any real opportunities.
Whoosh!
Pop!
"Strike three! Batter out!!"
After several powerful but futile fouls, Furuya ultimately fell to Mukai's precise control. A fastball placed perfectly on the outside corner sealed the strikeout.
...
"Batting seventh, center fielder, Tojo-kun!"
Next came a long-awaited duel between two players who had been rivals since their junior high days.
Tojo Hideaki, leveraging his familiarity with Mukai's pitching style and his own refined sense of pitch movement from his time as a pitcher, managed to track Mukai's screwball pitch.
With a clean opposite-field hit to left, Tojo reached second base.
One out, runner on second.
Here, Coach Kataoka decisively opted for a small-ball strategy, calling for a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner.
After all, next in the lineup was Shirasu.
With a runner on third, the offense would have far more options, and in this rainy weather, the pressure on the defense would increase dramatically.
Any mistake—especially between the pitcher and catcher—could lead to a crucial run.
Kataoka was acutely aware of this advantage.
...
Unfortunately…
Shoji made an error while attempting the bunt.
Due to the wet and muddy field, the ball rolled unpredictably and was snatched up by Teito's third baseman just in time.
Seeing the unexpected play unfold, Tojo hesitated for a split second, his face paling.
But by then, it was already too late to turn back—he was tagged out between second and third.
Shoji himself was thrown out at first immediately after.
Teito's infield defense was like a steel wall.
A flawless synchronized defensive effort resulted in a double play.
...
Pop!
"Out!"
"Double play! Three outs! Change of innings!"
With that, Teito successfully countered Seidou's attack.
The battle had now shifted into a state of equilibrium.
The unexpected double play cost Seidou the best opportunity to extend their batting order. Disappointment was evident on the faces of the players.
"Yes!!!"
On the pitcher's mound, Mukai—usually composed—couldn't help but let out a roar of emotion.
In just two innings, he had already felt the immense pressure that came with facing the reigning champions. The gap between himself and Eijun was also painfully clear.
But this wouldn't break Mukai. It would only fuel his determination.
He, Mukai Taiyou, aimed to become the strongest pitcher.
The unwavering spirit of an ace who refused to lose!
...
Third-base dugout, Seidou's bench.
"Sawamura, Miyuki."
Coach Kataoka's voice was steady as he called their names.
"Yes, Coach. We understand," Miyuki and Eijun responded in unison.
...
"Top of the third inning, Teito High School's offense. Batting seventh, right fielder, Kiriyama-kun."
Solid batting mechanics. A steady swing.
Teito High School had long been a dominant force in East Tokyo, and even their lower-order batters displayed the skill expected of a powerhouse team.
Unfortunately, today they were up against Eijun.
Whoosh!
Swish!
Pop!
"Strike!"
Damn brat… This stance makes it even harder to track his pitches than I thought.
The timing of his delivery is so deceptive.
And then there's that trajectory—the fastball that seems to speed up mid-air…
And his breaking balls aren't easy to handle either.
This guy's unpredictability is insane!
Kiriyama furrowed his brows, deep in thought. In this rainy weather, Eijun's breaking balls should be harder to control.
I'll do as Kengo said—focus entirely on his fastball!
...
A slight twitch of Miyuki's fingers beneath his mitt.
Whoosh!
Ping!
What!?
A cutter?!
Kiriyama's hands trembled from the shock.
The sharp break of the pitch and the vibration in his palms caught him completely off guard.
...
Thud!
The ball skidded across the wet field, splashing water into the air.
Kiriyama's face twisted in frustration as Eijun smoothly adjusted his stance, extending his right hand to scoop the ball into his glove.
Whoosh!
Pop!
A crisp throw fired directly to first base—
Maezono caught it cleanly.
"Out!"
Damn it… I got tricked.
Kiriyama clenched his teeth, shooting a glare at Miyuki before begrudgingly walking back to the dugout.
"Batting eighth, shortstop, Oida-kun!"
How dare this cocky first-year look so relaxed on the mound?!
Oida stepped into the batter's box, glaring at Eijun's calm expression.
His lips pressed into a tight line, his eyes flashing with sharp determination.
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