<32> High School Level Offensive and Defensive Battle!

Chapter 32: High School Level Offensive and Defensive Battle!

"Bunt?"

The Yokohama Kohouku players quickly realized Kuramochi's intention. They were not surprised.

The moment Kuramochi changed his batting stance, several Yokohama Kohouku infielders swiftly charged forward.

"Ping!"

The baseball was tapped and bounced toward third base. A gleam of delight flashed in Kuramochi's eyes.

"Fortune favors me!"

His bunt wasn't particularly skillful and was prone to interference, or even a potential miss. This time, although he didn't control the ball's speed well, he managed to direct it at an advantageous angle. For him, this was already an impressive bunt.

After tapping the ball, Kuramochi instantly tossed his bat aside and, like a cheetah, sprinted toward first base.

"So fast!"

"This guy must be a reincarnated cheetah, right?"

The fans in the stands couldn't help but marvel at Kuramochi's speed. From their perspective, Kuramochi seemed better suited for track and field.

Becoming a baseball player seemed a waste of his talent.

Though Kuramochi was incredibly fast, the Yokohama Kohouku players reacted quickly too. The third baseman charged forward, scooped the ball into his glove, and whirled around to make the throw.

The baseball covered several dozen meters, landing precisely in the first baseman of Yokohama Kohouku's glove.

"Pop!"

Almost simultaneously, Kuramochi's foot hit the base bag.

The supporters of both teams were momentarily left in shock.

Was it really that close?

They all turned their gaze to the first base umpire, seeking an answer.

"Out!"

Although the audience couldn't see clearly, the umpire evidently saw it all.

Despite Kuramochi's cheetah-like speed, he wasn't faster than the baseball.

In the end, Yokohama Kohouku's players had the edge.

"One out, no runners on base."

The path for Seidou High School's comeback seemed anything but smooth.

In the stands, some fans expressed their disappointment.

"That first-year pitcher performed so well; it's such a pity..."

With Yokohama Kohouku needing just five more outs to secure the game, time was running out for Seidou.

Meanwhile, the ace of Yokohama Kohouku, the tall and slender pitcher who wielded six types of breaking balls, seemed nowhere near his limit. He maintained firm control over the rhythm of the game, and Seidou High School's batters seemed unable to find an answer.

"Damn it! It's all because Tanba gave away too many runs earlier!" Some fans, who had long been displeased with Tanba, seized this opportunity to criticize him.

"It's not over yet. Keep watching. These Seidou guys won't easily accept defeat," a fan who had previously watched Seidou's games confidently remarked.

In the dugout, the expressions of Seidou's main team players grew somber. They had boasted earlier, but that didn't mean they weren't prepared for the challenges ahead. They clearly understood who their opponents were, even before the game began.

"My turn!"

Batting second, second baseman, number 4, Ryousuke Kominato.

This upperclassman wasn't tall, officially just over 160 centimeters. As for his actual height, that remained a secret. With a friendly, smiling face, he seemed approachable. However, the players from Yokohama Kohouku were wary; the two runs they had conceded were directly linked to this seemingly cheerful player.

Ryousuke had managed to stubbornly face over twenty pitches from their ace already. If their ace hadn't had such robust stamina, this guy might have driven them insane.

"Stay focused. This is going to be a long game!"

Before facing Ryousuke, the Yokohama Kohouku pitcher kept encouraging his teammates, using the break as an opportunity to recover his energy.

Once he felt ready, he assumed his stance and threw the ball.

"If you think you can wear me down in a long game, you're dreaming!"

As this thought crossed the pitcher's mind, the ever-smiling Ryousuke swung his bat decisively.

"Your intentions are too obvious!"

"Ping!"

This time, Ryousuke didn't try to wear the pitcher down. Instead, he sent the ball flying, and the white baseball soared into the outfield. Despite his smaller stature, Ryousuke demonstrated remarkable batting power.

"It went through!"

Ryousuke made it to second base.

Next up for Seidou High School was their third batter, Jun Isashiki, with his signature mustache.

"Ping!"

He also swung at the first pitch, but the ball ended up in the infield.

"Damn, that cunning fellow!"

The Yokohama Kohouku ace's breaking ball was too sharp, causing even Seidou's main players to stumble. Fortunately, Ryousuke used this opportunity to advance to third base. Isashiki's hit wasn't completely in vain.

With two outs and a runner on third, it was time for the fourth batter.

"Fourth batter, first baseman, number three, Tetsuya Yuki."

In a high-pressure situation with two outs, Seidou's strongest batter and team captain stepped up to the plate. As soon as he did, an intimidating aura emanated from him, captivating everyone present. It was clear to all that Seidou's fourth batter was formidable.

In his previous at-bats, he had already secured two hits and an RBI.

"No need to go head-to-head with this guy! The next one will be easier to handle," signaled the Yokohama Kohouku catcher, suggesting an intentional walk.

However, the ace on the mound shook his head. Intentionally walking such a threatening batter was a sound tactical decision, but it would also lead to two outs with runners on first and third. That situation was too risky. Moreover, Seidou's fifth batter was also no slouch, known for his powerful swings that could clear the bases.

While his breaking ball was sharp, facing a batter who could deliver a powerful hit—even luck could cause a mistake. If they conceded a big hit, they could lose two or three runs in one fell swoop.

Even though everyone knew that the first-year pitcher Furuya couldn't maintain his terrifying speed for much longer, the game was nearing its end. This meant Yokohama Kohouku was unlikely to score more runs before the ninth inning concluded.

"We can't back down! We can't allow ourselves to be overtaken. Now, we have to confront him head-on. Even if we give up a run, we can take the game into extra innings, where it's doubtful that Seidou's first-year pitcher can hold out."

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