[139] Inashiro Match – The Sharp Edge of the Pitch
Chapter 139: Inashiro Match – The Sharp Edge of the Pitch
As the ball left his hand and the umpire's voice confirmed the out at first, Eijun finally breathed a sigh of relief. Watching Carlos, who gave him a quick look before heading back to the Inashiro dugout, Eijun wiped an imaginary bead of sweat from his brow.
Fortunately, he chose the right angle.
If that grounder had even slightly hugged the boundary line, it might have been questionable whether he could secure the out, Eijun thought to himself, casting another glance at Carlos' retreating figure.
After all, that grounder had practically been a straight shot to the pitcher, and Carlos had still made it halfway to first. A small difference in direction or distance, and Inashiro's lead-off hitter might've easily landed safely at first.
"Sawamura, one out!" Miyuki called out from home plate, raising a single finger.
"Got it." Eijun adjusted his cap and nodded.
"Second batter, second baseman, Shirakawa-kun."
Shirakawa stepped into the batter's box with a dark expression, as if every person owed him five million yen. But Eijun knew that this batter's mastery of hitting techniques rivaled his own teammate, Ryousuke Kominato.
In some ways, this hitter was going to be a tricky one.
To face a batter like this, he needed an even sharper pitch.
Miyuki's gaze glinted subtly, and he signaled with a finger tucked discreetly below.
Eijun's eyes showed a flicker of understanding, and he nodded slightly.
Hiding his hand behind him, his fingers adjusted, and he shifted his footing.
The next moment—
"Whoosh!"
With his arm raised, Eijun sent a white blur streaking out.
The flash of white cut through the air.
Shirakawa's eyes narrowed. Remembering Carlos' earlier struggle, he kept his focus away from Eijun's arm motion, relying on his sense and the sound of the pitch to judge.
As he heard the ball slicing through the air, Shirakawa quickly pinpointed the release moment and gripped his bat tightly.
A look of intense concentration in his eyes, he tracked the ball's path.
Inside pitch!
Shirakawa swiftly widened his stance, shifting his position.
With all his strength, he swung his bat.
"Crack!"
The sharp sound echoed.
But Shirakawa's expression changed. The pitch had a kick he hadn't expected. He estimated the ball to be around 135 km/h, assuming it wouldn't pack much punch.
Especially since this pitcher's actual speed was below 135 km/h.
But reality proved him wrong.
The pitch had such force that the ball seemed to jolt erratically on his bat, making it impossible for Shirakawa to hit it squarely.
Just 0.1 seconds of contact.
The ball ricocheted off, bouncing hard onto the ground.
"Foul!"
See? I told you, the pitch might not be fast, but it packs a punch.
In the dugout, Carlos chuckled, shaking his head.
"Whoosh."
"Crack."
"Thud."
"Foul!"
Damn, every pitch has a different movement!?
"Whoosh."
"Pop!"
"Ball!"
"Whoosh."
"Crack."
"Thud."
"Foul!"
Damn it, I can't control this pitch's power.
"Whoosh."
I'm going to miss it!
"Pop!"
"Strike! Batter out!"
One fierce pitch after another, like an unstoppable tide, poured down on Shirakawa, leaving him struggling to respond. In a brief opening, Eijun seized the advantage.
A fastball right down the middle, securing Shirakawa's out!
"Ohhh! Nice pitch, Sawamura!"
"Two outs! Two outs!"
"Well done, Eijun!"
"Sawamura, keep it up! Let's go!"
"Just one more! Finish it clean!"
Facing Inashiro, Eijun's fearless stance and his bold plays leading to two outs immediately stirred up an even more intense round of cheers from the Seidou bench.
Shirakawa snorted, casting a glance at Miyuki's smug grin beside him. He bit his lip, gripped his bat, and retreated to the dugout.
"Third batter, third baseman, Yoshizawa."
Narumiya's strength, Eijun's resilience.
In this moment, their presence seemed to align, embodying a pitcher's pride, a relentless dedication to the mound, and an insatiable hunger for victory!
"No one will stop me here!"
"Whoosh!"
A blazing white pitch, a glint of gold in its wake.
Only one crown—there's no room for two kings!
Eijun's eyes shone with his own brilliant, golden determination.
"Whoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Strike! Batter out!"
"Three outs, switch sides!"
The home plate umpire's booming call was met with a frustrated, tight-lipped expression from Inashiro's third batter, Hideaki Yoshizawa, after he swung and missed.
"Ohhh! He went for a low outside pitch for the final out. Seidou's first-year pitcher, Eijun Sawamura, has retired the reigning champs, Inashiro Industrial, in three straight batters in the opening inning!"
"Seidou! Seidou! Seidou!"
"Sawamura!"
"Ha! You're in top form today, huh, kid!"
"Eijun!"
"Nice pitch! You're on fire!"
With sharp pitches and confident throws, Eijun let Inashiro Industrial see firsthand why Seidou had chosen to start this first-year pitcher on the championship stage.
For no other reason than that Eijun had the skill, the strength they could trust!
In Inashiro's dugout, Coach Kunitomo looked calmly at Yoshizawa as he returned. "So? That pitcher's throws?"
"The power and tail are more intense than expected. Especially with that form—his release point is invisible, and the movement on his 'moving ball' is completely unpredictable. Every pitch shifts differently. To reduce the risk, the best approach would be to choke up on the bat and stand at the front of the box, but then he also has a changeup… really tough to handle," Yoshizawa said, taking off his cap and frowning.
Carlos and Shirakawa, who had just experienced his pitching firsthand, shared the same grave expression.
Coach Kunitomo turned his neck slightly, producing a sharp crack.
"In the first round, just get a feel for the pitches," he said calmly.
"Yes, sir!"
Narumiya's gaze landed on Eijun's back, a hint of fierce determination glinting in his eyes.
A challenge from a kindred spirit.
As he watched Eijun command the mound, Narumiya sensed the same aura—a rival's energy.
That guy!
On the other side, in the Seidou dugout.
"Your control's razor-sharp today," Miyuki said, removing his catcher's gear with a grin.
"Maybe because I'm in an especially good mood today," Eijun replied with a faint smile.
"In a good mood?" Miyuki blinked.
The first inning. I wonder, Narumiya-senpai, did you get my message?
The main event is just beginning!
Eijun's eyes flashed with a cold glint as he looked toward the Inashiro dugout, as though sparks were igniting in the air between them.
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