[215] The Tightly-Paced Battle Against Seihou
Chapter 215: The Tightly-Paced Battle Against Seihou
With a two-run lead secured, Seidou High School's defense became even more assertive, and Eijun's pitching displayed an overwhelming dominance with each throw.
Top of the 5th Inning: Seihou's Offense
Seihou High School's sixth batter took an aggressive approach right from the first pitch.
Adjusting their tactics in this inning, Seihou abandoned their earlier strategy of cautious observation.
After losing runs in the previous inning, their opportunities appeared far fewer than they had initially thought.
With that realization, they decided to prioritize offense immediately, making adjustments on the fly—a hallmark of Seihou's aggressive style.
Whoosh!
Ping!
Bang!
"Foul ball!"
Even after seeing three pitches, the batter couldn't seem to adapt to the situation.
Wiping sweat from his forehead, the sixth batter muttered to himself internally.
He was already feeling pressured, knowing Eijun had a dangerous changeup in his arsenal.
If that pitch came next…
Whoosh!
Pop!
Oh no!
"Strike! Batter out!"
An inside crossfire pitch!
The sixth batter of Seihou was completely caught off guard.
He had been overly cautious of Eijun's changeup, but in the blink of an eye, he was struck out by a fastball.
Heh.
Your expression gave you away. You were too focused on my changeup. Did you really think I'd give you the pitch you wanted?
Eijun tilted his head slightly, flashing a confident grin.
"Seventh batter, left fielder, Harada-kun!"
Whoosh!
Pop!
"Strike!"
Damn it, a changeup right on the first pitch? This annoying first-year pitcher!
Whoosh!
Ping!
Bang!
"Foul ball!"
"Whoa, two strikes already! He's really putting pressure on the batters!"
"Amazing, this kid's only a first-year, and he's already pitching like this!"
"Seriously, this is no joke. Seihou might really be in trouble here."
"Especially since Seidou is still in the lead!"
Whoosh!
Pop!
"Strike! Batter out!"
Eijun sealed the seventh batter with a low outside fastball.
His excellent control made it feel as if the strike zone had expanded infinitely, seamlessly transitioning from inside to outside corners.
With the batter unable to respond effectively, he was struck out after just seven pitches.
Now came Seihou's eighth batter, who managed to capitalize on a rare moment of opportunity.
He connected with a fastball on the first pitch—perhaps a stroke of luck.
The ball sped toward the infield, narrowly slipping past Kuramochi, who was a split second too late to react.
The ball rolled into left field, allowing Seihou to finally secure a hit and put a runner on first base.
But that was as far as they got.
The ninth batter, Narakoshi, found himself completely overpowered by Eijun.
Two quick fastballs cornered him, and a cutter aimed at the inside sealed the deal.
Swinging too early, Narakoshi hit a weak grounder directly back to the pitcher.
Eijun deftly fielded the ball and threw it to first base, securing the out.
Whoosh!
Pop!
"Out!"
"Three outs! Change sides!"
Back in Seidou's Dugout
"Great pitching, Sawamura!"
"That's the rhythm we want!"
"Keep it up, keep it up!"
Eijun's teammates cheered as the team maintained its momentum.
Seidou's defense had successfully shut down Seihou's offense, solidifying their control over the game.
After securing a two-run lead, Seidou High School maintained their momentum both offensively and defensively.
Their tightly coordinated rhythm allowed them to firmly grasp control of the game.
Bottom of the 5th Inning: Seidou's Offense
The inning began with Miyuki stepping up to bat.
Perhaps inspired by his upperclassmen's performance over the summer or motivated by the hard work of his teammates, the future cleanup captain seemed to be undergoing a remarkable transformation.
With no runners on base, Miyuki sent a solid hit to center field, landing a clean single and successfully reaching second base.
The Seidou dugout and cheering section erupted in thunderous applause, leaving even Eijy in awe of Miyuki's rapid evolution.
"Is this guy breaking out already? He's already showing the qualities and abilities expected of a core hitter," Eijun mused. "At this rate, the fourth spot for next year is locked in for him, just like the original story."
With no outs and a runner on second, Seidou once again found themselves in an excellent scoring position.
However, this time, Seihou High School was well-prepared and refused to give Seidou any easy opportunities.
They attacked Eijun with a relentless barrage of fastballs, suppressing his ability to make solid contact.
Forced to swing with precision under these conditions, Eijun struggled to adapt to the sheer power behind the pitches.
Whoosh!
Pop!
"Strike! Batter out!"
After a grueling six-pitch battle, Eijun was eventually struck out by a low inside fastball.
Next came the eighth batter, Furuya.
While Furuya possessed raw power, his free-spirited and somewhat unpredictable approach to batting led him to swing wildly at a slider on the second pitch.
The ball soared into the outfield, only to be cleanly caught by Seihou's center fielder.
Finally, it was Shirasu's turn.
Seihou's defense demonstrated their sharp skills, utilizing precise pitch placement to prevent Shirasu from finding a good opportunity to swing.
Forced to adjust to a tricky pitch, Shirasu hit a weak grounder to the infield, which Seihou's shortstop promptly fielded and threw to first base for the out.
Seihou High School successfully shut out Seidou in this inning, preventing any further scoring and ending Seidou's offensive push.
...
Top of the 6th Inning: Defense Takes Center Stage
The sixth inning marked a critical point as both teams' lineups returned to the top of their orders.
Seihou's lineup was on their third cycle, while Seidou's was on its fourth.
This inning showcased the stellar defensive abilities of both teams.
Eijun's pitching, in particular, continued to dominate, effectively neutralizing Seihou's lineup.
The first batter was retired after just two pitches.
The second batter, overwhelmed by a sudden fastball after two consecutive changeups, struck out swinging.
The third batter posed a much greater challenge.
With a combination of power, technique, and sharp judgment, he refused to chase any bad pitches.
Ultimately, during a direct confrontation with an inside cutter, the batter used his strength to send the ball flying.
Despite the powerful hit, Isashiki Jun, stationed in deep center field, caught the ball with precision, securing the out.
...
Bottom of the 6th Inning: Seidou's Turn
When it was Seidou's turn to bat, their top order stepped up once again.
However, Seihou's defense quickly matched their efforts, resulting in a swift three-up, three-down inning.
While the sixth inning featured intense back-and-forth battles, it ultimately ended on a calm note, with neither side gaining an advantage.
...
Entering the Final Three Innings
As the game transitioned into the final three innings, the tension in the air was palpable.
The upcoming moments would determine the game's outcome.
For Seidou—and specifically Eijun—the next inning would be the most critical.
His upcoming showdown against Seihou's cleanup hitter, Sano Shuuzou, marked the second time these two powerhouses would face each other.
The result of this encounter could very well decide the outcome of the entire game.
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