29: First Debut

"The starting freshman left fielder?" The supervisor of Yokohama scrutinized the batting lineup of Seidou in his hand, a flicker of puzzlement crossing his face. "Hmph, trying to test the mettle of their freshmen in an event like the Kanto Tournament?"

"I've heard that Seidou's Coach Kataoka is quite the distinctive figure. Seems like it's true," sneered Yokohama supervisor, his expression tinged with disdain. His words held a trace of dissent toward Coach Kataoka.

And it wasn't without reason. As the coach of Seidou, Coach Kataoka faced not just skepticism from the school's administration but also from other high schools' coaches who had reservations about him. It wasn't just because Coach Kataoka was young; more importantly, Seidou's recent performance hadn't been up to par.

Six years! Six years without making it to Koshien! For a prestigious institution, that's a devastating blow! A year or two without qualification is common, but a full six years! Such a prolonged drought would lead to rather dire consequences.

This is also the primary reason why some outsiders question Supervisor Kataoka's supervisory abilities.

"Huh." Alejandro took a deep breath. The competition! This is an official game.

"Feeling nervous?" A gentle voice came from beside his ear at that moment. Alejandro turned his head and found himself face-to-face with the smiling third-year student, Ryosuke Kominato. This person always seemed to be wearing a smile, no matter the circumstances.

"Ah, Kominato-senpai! Well, I'm a bit nervous. It's my first match, after all," Alejandro admitted openly, not concealing anything.

Although Alejandro really wanted to perform well in this initial match, he couldn't help but recall whether he had scored two points in the first seven or eight rounds.

In essence, the pitcher from Yokohama on the opposing side is pretty solid. The seniors and others only managed to score two points against him in this lineup. Of course, did they manage a comeback in the ninth inning? Alejandro couldn't remember at all, and he didn't seem to be saying anything.

This left Alejandro feeling quite uneasy about whether he'd be able to perform.

"We've all noticed your consistent training. You're doing well, so don't burden yourself too much psychologically." Suddenly, another steady voice sounded from the side. Alejandro turned his head and spotted a serious-faced figure—Yuki Tetsuya!

"Yes, Yuki-senpai!" Alejandro responded energetically and immediately. He found the captain and third-year member of Seidou, Yuki Tetsuya, to be quite a commanding and composed individual. This wasn't just based on comics or what he had seen on screen; it was tangible.

The head captain nodded, refraining from further words.

"Just give it your best shot. I think you understand what the coach is hoping to see, right? Let's go, it's time for us to take the field." Kominato Ryosuke patted Alejandro on the shoulder and smiled, then moved to the side to get ready. Yokohama would start their attack, and Seidou would be on the defensive!

Alejandro took a deep breath, adjusted his cap and ball glove, and strode towards the outfield with a resolute expression.

It's worth noting that the Yokohama team adopts a more cautious approach to their batting, unlike typical high school baseball which often revolves around aggressive offense!

Their batting strategy primarily focused on targeting specific ball paths or meticulously aiming at trajectories before taking their shots. However, for this type of approach, it appeared that Miyuki was adept at handling the incoming balls.

"Pong!"

A fly ball soared from left field. Alejandro spotted it and sprinted, sliding to make the catch!

Observing the ball secure in Alejandro's glove, the umpire who had rushed over raised his hands to signal an out!

"Three outs! Switching sides!"

In the first half of the opening inning, it was now the turn of the fifth batter. It seemed that Miyuki's pitch selection wasn't that easy for the opponents to decipher. The second batter from the opposing team had advanced to third base, the fourth batter had opted for a walk strategy, and then the fifth batter attempted a high fly ball that Alejandro caught. Generally speaking, this kind of start was relatively precarious.

It appeared that Tanba-senpai's condition wasn't as impressive as it seemed on the surface. Could it be that he hadn't quite reached his optimal state yet?

As Alejandro made his way back to the bench area, he noticed the glistening beads of sweat on Tanba's forehead and wondered silently.

"The opponent's starting pitcher is the ace of the third years, and his trump card is the curveball. We discussed this yesterday. Observe the first pitch carefully! Before getting into a pinch, boldly choose how you want to strike, and don't get out of the game easily. Do you understand?" Coach Kataoka finally briefed them in the bench area.

"Yes!"

"In the bottom of the first inning, Seido High School's turn to bat. First up, shortstop, Kuramochi-kun!" The announcement was broadcasted for Seido's batters.

Whether Kuramochi, the ignition for Seido High School's lineup, could make it to the base would actually heavily influence Seido's forthcoming offensive strategy!

This aspect has been cemented since Kuramochi became the starting shortstop, and he is a constant presence in Seidou's batting order!

Kuramochi strolled up to the batter's box with an air of nonchalance, giving a slight bow as he uttered, "Please guide me."

Without delay, he faced the opposing ace pitcher with a carefree grin and readied himself for the pitch.

"This batter's footwork is incredibly quick. Infield, be prepared for a bunt!" As one of the three renowned schools in West Tokyo, even though Seido hasn't reached Koshien in recent years and some supervisors have cynically predicted their decline in the next year or two, there's still a deep regard for this high school.

The teams that these players face in their yearly training are almost the caliber that could enter Koshien with a mere kick. This implies that the competition threat they face is also at the national level. Those high schools that might contend with Seido thoroughly investigate and gather information about Seido at the most intricate level—no opponent should be underestimated!

Playing high school baseball isn't as simple as just declaring one's intent!

For Kuramochi, a shortstop who has been an active part of Seido since his freshman year in the fall, his extraordinary base-running speed is something that every college and university should be wary of!

Of course, Yokohama's coaching staff also emphasized this crucial point before the game.

Yokohama's catcher made a slight wave of his hand, signaling the infielders to step forward and defend. The infielders took a few steps forward in succession.

"Snap!"

"Strike! Batter's out! Switching sides!"

In contrast to Yokohama's performance in the first half of the inning, Seido's offense in the second half was quelled as swiftly as the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. Their bunt was anticipated, and when the infield was tightened, Kuramochi managed to barely hit a ground ball through the infield.

Ryosuke Kominato, the second batter, engaged in a prolonged duel with Yokohama's ace pitcher, but was ultimately struck out after eight pitches.

The timing of Isashiki-senpai's swing was well executed. However, there were some minor mishaps that turned his hit into a head-on pitch, which otherwise would have resulted in a safe hit.

Consequently, the rumored "Golden Retriever" team was brimming with discontent, with no outlet to channel their frustration.

The script unfolded exactly as written. The first round concluded with both sides tallying zero runs. Judging from the on-field situation, Yokohama held a slight advantage and had the momentum on their side.

Having acclimated to the field's atmosphere, Tanba showcased his prowess in the second inning by striking out three times. This significantly boosted Seido's momentum!

Then, in the latter half of the second inning, the equilibrium was disrupted.

"Crack!"

"Oh! A hit to center field! A double hit! Truly deserving of Seido's captain! Unyielding cleanup batter, Tetsuya Yuki!" As he had just entered the field, Yuki swiftly capitalized on the slight deviation of the first pitch and achieved a hit, securing his position on second base!

What transpired deviated somewhat from the initial strategy. The fifth batter, Masuko Toru, and the sixth batter, Miyuki Kazuya, consecutively hit the ball.

They seemed to have momentarily flustered the Yokohama ace pitcher.

Guided by Supervisor Kataoka's instructions, the seventh batter employed a forced scoring tactic, allowing the third-base runner, Masuko Toru, to sprint back and touch home plate for a run! An additional point scored! Moreover, a Yokohama defensive error occurred! The bases are not yet clear!

No outs, runners on first and second base!

Alejandro's debut was about to take place.

Rising from his crouch in the batter's box, Alejandro drew a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

With focused determination in his eyes, he made his way towards the batter's box!