<102> Fourteen Strikeouts that Shocked Everyone!

Chapter 102: Fourteen Strikeouts that Shocked Everyone!

At that moment, the seventh batter of the Inashiro Industrial High School baseball team felt as if he was surrounded by despair.

His vision was dark.

Even after he returned to the dugout, his expression showed no sign of improvement.

"Stop looking so dejected; it only makes the opponent think we're weak!" Harada said solemnly.

As the game had reached a stalemate, it was crucial for the team not to give in under any circumstances. They needed to keep their heads held high.

"Yes!" replied the seventh batter mechanically, straightening up his posture.

Standing at the front, their coach, Kunitomo, noticed this and rotated his neck, letting it crack audibly.

"Has even our team's core player been shaken by that kind of pitching?"

This clearly was not a good sign.

If their players began to think that this freshman pitcher from Seidou High School was unbeatable, even before stepping up to bat, they would lose their confidence entirely.

When they eventually did step up to the plate, hitting the ball would become all the more impossible.

Realizing this, Coach Kunitomo spoke up: "Although the opponent's pitching hasn't slowed down, your eyes are gradually adjusting to it."

Upon hearing this, a hint of hope flickered in the eyes of the Inashiro Industrial players, who eagerly looked towards their coach.

"Even though you haven't made contact with the ball yet, your swings are getting closer and closer."

Coach Kunitomo continued.

"That monster kid isn't invincible. Moreover, as time goes on, he's bound to face issues with his stamina."

Hearing their coach's words, Narumiya's face lit up with joy.

To bolster his argument, he turned to his partner.

"Isn't that right, Harada-senpai?"

Respectfully referring to him as Harada-senpai, he awaited a response.

Hearing this, Harada's mind replayed the scenes of their swings.

Against Furuya's super-fast fastballs, were their swings really getting closer to the ball?

It did seem that way.

Yet in truth, none of the Inashiro Industrial players noticed this before their coach pointed it out.

Was it possible they were all blind?

As members of the top-ranked Inashiro Industrial, one of the nation's elite teams, how could their main players have such poor insight?

If it wasn't a lack of awareness, it must mean the improvement wasn't obvious.

Given this situation, why was their coach so adamantly saying that?

"That's right. Next time, I'm sure I can hit it!" Harada, the team captain, clearly understood their coach's reason for making such a statement.

He voiced his support, backing up the coach's words.

With the endorsement of the cleanup hitter, the Inashiro Industrial players' eyes regained their previous sparkle.

Their greatest fear was seeing no hope.

Now, even though the hope remained faint, at least they had a direction to move towards.

"Keep at it and carefully observe their pitching," urged the coach.

"Whenever you find the right opportunity, just seize it and knock that ball out of the park!"

"They're already at the end of their rope; we definitely have a chance!"

In the dugout of Inashiro Industrial High School's team, the previous excitement returned.

Once the players could see a glimmer of victory, their attitudes changed, and a bright light shone in their eyes.

But at this very moment, Furuya began a duel with their eighth batter.

There were no flashy movements; his pitching was exactly the same as before. Even the rhythm and feel of the ball were unchanged.

Considering the caliber of players Inashiro Industrial had, dealing with such predictable pitches should've allowed them to easily knock the ball away.

This wasn't arrogance; it was simply that they possessed the skills to do so.

However, facing Furuya's pitches, the batters of Inashiro Industrial High School felt completely different.

Even though he was familiar with the pitch!

When the ball actually flew toward him, hitting it out of the park was still no easy task.

In fact, even just making contact with the ball seemed like a distant hope.

The speed of the pitch was just too fast! And the sound produced by the ball cutting through the air was like the roar of some terrifying beast.

As the eighth batter for Inashiro, he repeatedly reminded himself to stay calm and composed.

Once he panicked, it would be nearly impossible to hit the ball.

But saying it is much easier than doing it.

Facing such terrifying speed and the unnerving sound of the ball slicing through the air…

Who on the batting roster could remain unfazed?

Perhaps somewhere in the country, such a batter exists.

But it wasn't the eighth batter of Inashiro Industrial High School.

He didn't have the ability; he could only grit his teeth and swing the bat.

Yet, he missed the ball by a good dozen centimeters.

Even those in the dugout could clearly see how far off the mark he was.

The players of the Inashiro Industrial team wore grim expressions upon witnessing this scene.

Just moments ago, their coach had confidently claimed that their swings were getting closer to Furuya's pitches.

But now, it seemed that wasn't the case at all.

They were easily a dozen centimeters off from even grazing the ball.

Their swings truly getting closer? The idea seemed laughable now.

As the Inashiro players thought about this, they felt a burning embarrassment on their faces.

So humiliating!

Meanwhile, on the pitcher's mound, Furuya seemed like a deity descended from the heavens. The ball flew from his hand, and time and again, it passed through the strike zone.

"Pop!"

"Strike!!"

"Three strikes, batter out!"

"Strikeout, out!!!!"

"Three outs, change sides!!!"

Even though he appeared somewhat fatigued, Furuya efficiently secured three strikeouts.

At this moment, the announcer received the latest stats.

Already charged with excitement, the announcer's eyes sparkled as he looked at the data in his hands.

"Congratulations to player Furuya! He has just secured his fourteenth strikeout of the game! Additionally, congratulations to everyone for witnessing the birth of a new historical record at the Kanto Tournament!!"

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