[190] Yokohama Kouhoku Match – The Straightforward Batter
Chapter 190: Yokohama Kouhoku Match – The Straightforward Batter
"Whoosh!"
"Thud!"
A pitch wildly veered off its trajectory, darting toward the inside corner.
Even though Miyuki reacted quickly to avoid it, the ball still struck his left arm guard with a dull thud.
Miyuki winced, his face contorted in pain.
"Hit by pitch! Runner advances to home!"
"Whoa! Yokohama Kouhoku's ace pitcher just lost control in this critical moment, hitting the sixth batter! Seidou High scores the first run in this unexpected turn of events!"
"No way! A hit-by-pitch? At a time like this?"
"They just scored? And it's still bases loaded with no outs. Unbelievable!"
"The pressure must've gotten to the pitcher."
"Seidou High really knows how to apply pressure. If Ino collapses here, Yokohama Kouhoku could be in serious trouble."
"Seidou has the upper hand now: 1-0, taking control of the game—and it's still bases loaded!"
The Seidou dugout erupted in cheers, while the Yokohama Kouhoku players wore stunned expressions. On the mound, Ino's face darkened.
"A hit-by-pitch? Did I really throw that?"
Catcher Shiraha immediately called for a timeout and rushed to the mound.
Stabilizing Ino was critical.
If Ino fell apart here, it would mean complete disaster for Yokohama Kouhoku.
Shiraha doubted their backup pitcher could handle this kind of high-pressure situation.
In the on-deck circle, Eijun let out an exasperated chuckle.
"A hit-by-pitch to score a run—what an unexpected development. Looks like that pitcher's starting to crack. This could be a golden opportunity."
"Seventh batter, left fielder, Sakai-kun!"
With one run already secured, Seidou High's immediate goal was achieved.
Now, they aimed to push the pitcher even further.
From the dugout, Coach Kataoka decisively signaled for a squeeze play.
With no outs, sacrificing one or even two outs to add runs was acceptable.
Sakai lightly touched the brim of his cap in acknowledgment of the strategy.
"Whoosh!"
"Crack!"
Unfortunately, Yokohama Kouhoku's Coach Yamagake saw through Seidou's squeeze play.
In a critical moment, Sakai managed to adjust his swing, but his line drive toward third base was caught straight off the bat.
"Thud!"
"Out!!!"
Seidou's attempt to add more runs was thwarted, though they avoided a double play.
This defensive play slightly lifted Yokohama Kouhoku's spirits, which had been flagging.
Eijun's sharp gaze fell on Yokohama Kouhoku's pitcher-catcher duo, who exchanged glances of understanding.
A glint of determination flashed in Eijun's eyes as he turned toward the dugout.
Coach Kataoka gave him a slight nod.
Eijun's lips curled into a knowing smile.
"Eighth batter, pitcher, Sawamura-kun!"
With steady steps, Eijun strode to the batter's box.
"This opportunity won't go to waste. Trying to regain momentum? Not on my watch!"
Eijun tapped the home plate lightly with his metal bat, then pointed toward the mound where Ino stood, his expression seemingly calm again.
Eijun assumed his batting stance with unwavering focus.
Shiraha glanced at Eijun, his expression calm and composed. He exhaled deeply, readying himself for the next pitch.
"It's fine, Ino. Trust me. It's just one run. The situation isn't the worst yet—we're only in the fourth inning. We still have chances ahead. Stay calm. All we need now are outs. We've already got one, so take it slow!"
"Yes!" Ino wiped the sweat off his forehead and nodded firmly.
This was no time to back down. Yokohama Kouhoku came to Koshien for one reason—victory.
"A mere first-year rookie—what could you possibly understand about this stage!"
"Whoosh!"
The ball streaked through the air like a flash of white light—a furious roar from Yokohama Kouhoku's ace.
At the plate, Eijun's expression turned serious. He stepped forward forcefully, gripping his metal bat tightly.
The sound of the bat slicing through the air, sharp and aggressive, indicated Eijun's determination.
"Swoosh!"
The ball flew in, gleaming under the sun, avoiding Eijun's swinging bat by a hair and landing precisely in Shiraha's glove.
"Pop!"
"Strike!!!"
A high inside fastball.
If Eijun hadn't swung, it might've been called a ball. He had been a little impatient.
Adjusting his bat with a light flick, Eijun reset his stance.
"You've got this, stay focused!"
"Don't rush, Sawamura, watch the ball carefully."
"We're counting on you!"
"Alright, this rhythm is good. Ino, you've got it. Second pitch, inside cutter, just keep it low."
"Whoosh!"
The ball shimmered as it sped toward the plate.
Eijun steeled himself, stepping into the pitch. His bat swung with full force.
"Crack!!!"
The collision of ball and bat echoed loudly, but Eijun frowned. He could tell immediately—he hadn't hit it cleanly.
To avoid a pop-out, he jerked his hands, driving the ball toward the left side.
"Whoosh!"
"Thud!"
"Foul ball!!!"
The bat vibrated violently in his hands.
Eijun's expression remained unchanged, but internally, he felt a hint of amazement.
"Even in this situation, Yokohama Kouhoku's ace can control his pitches so precisely?"
The next pitch: another inside fastball, tight near the chest, making it hard for the batter to swing effectively.
"Whoosh!"
The ball gleamed as it hurtled toward the plate.
"Crack!!!"
The pressure was mounting. Now, Eijun had no choice but to swing at anything in the strike zone.
"Whoosh!"
"Thud!"
"Foul ball!!!"
"Whoosh!"
"Crack!"
"Thud!"
"Foul ball!!!"
Even a changeup now? Damn it! His batting stance was starting to falter under the relentless pressure.
"This isn't good… I'm getting pushed into a corner."
Eijun's eyes shifted slightly, his expression growing more troubled.
His power wasn't enough to overpower the pitcher's fastball, and his technique wasn't sharp enough to exploit any gaps in the pitcher's approach.
This situation was undeniably unfavorable for Eijun.
"Huff… puff…"
Gripping the bat tightly, Eijun closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.
"If I can't hit it, I can't hit it. Overthinking will only hurt me."
He made up his mind:
"The fastball. I'll put everything on the fastball."
At this moment, Eijun wasn't a pitcher—he was a batter. He needed to focus on doing what he could do as a hitter.
"Alright, it's decided. The next pitch, I'll stake everything on the fastball. Let's settle this once and for all!"
With a surge of determination, Eijun stepped firmly forward, positioning himself at the very front of the batter's box.
On the other side, Yokohama Kouhoku's pitcher-catcher duo, Ino and Shiraha, also exuded an unyielding aura. Neither side would back down.
"Whoosh!"
The ball streaked through the air, a dazzling white light piercing the sky.
"Crack!!!"
The bat collided with the ball with a resounding impact, sending the white blur soaring high into the sky.
In that moment, every spectator held their breath, their hearts caught by the dramatic arc of the ball as it flew into the heavens.
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