[203] Clash of the Seihou Battle
Chapter 203: Clash of the Seihou Battle
"Clang!!"
A sharp and explosive sound rang out, causing Tano's expression at the batter's box to subtly change.
A fastball straight down the middle?!
"Whoosh!"
"Bang!"
"Foul ball!"
The powerful vibration that traveled through his palm and the piercing pain it brought made Yamaguchi keenly aware of just how terrifying Furuya's pitching power was.
If only the pitcher before him had even a bit more control—able to consistently aim for the four corners and keep the ball low—things would have been much harder for batters like him.
Still, for now, it was within a manageable range.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Yamaguchi readjusted his stance, his unwavering expression causing Miyuki to feel a tinge of frustration.
Was that pitch really not deceptive at all?
Moreover, the trajectory of that hit ball went so deep.
For the next pitch, Miyuki signaled decisively to Furuya:
"Throw it here. It's fine if the pitch is slightly higher, but make sure it stays to the outside. If it strays inside, we're doomed."
On the mound, Furuya nodded lightly in acknowledgment.
"Whoosh!"
With a sweeping motion of his arm and an electrifying burst of energy, Furuya threw the ball with his full effort once again.
The rushing sound of wind pressure and the piercing crack of the ball tearing through the air demonstrated the raw power of his fastball.
As the ball neared home plate, gleaming with sharp intensity, a flash of determination crossed Yamaguchi's eyes. He swiftly stepped forward and swung his bat with full force.
In that moment, the bat trembled, and Miyuki's lips curved into a faint smile.
Yamaguchi's heart sank.
By the time he realized it, it was too late to adjust his swing.
"Clang!!"
The impact told Yamaguchi he hadn't hit the sweet spot.
Frustrated, he realized the trajectory of the pitch had deceived him.
The ball had been slightly outside—he had been played by the catcher!
"Whoosh!"
The ball soared high, rising above the infield.
In left field, Eijun tracked the ball's arc with his eyes, his body shifting slightly to position himself under it.
Judging the ball's trajectory perfectly, he jogged into place for the easy catch.
A high fly ball like this, completely overpowered by Furuya's pitching, had little speed or distance.
"Smack!"
Stretching out his glove, Eijun securely caught the ball.
"Out!"
"Haha! Nice pitch, Furuya!"
"Good catch, Sawamura."
"Two outs! Two outs! Two outs!"
"One more! Let's finish this, Furuya!"
With two pitches, both confrontational and unyielding, Seidou High secured the second out with ease, leaving Yamaguchi with a frustrated expression.
Meanwhile, Seihou's coach, Nishidera Yuu, watched thoughtfully from the bench.
Then came the third batter, known for his powerful swings.
Miyuki, taking a bit more time this time, successfully lured him into a swing-and-miss on the fifth pitch—a sharp, high-speed forkball.
"Whoosh!"
"Smack!"
"Strike three! Batter out!"
"Three outs! Switch sides!"
With a stellar performance in the first inning, Seidou High effectively ended Seihou High's offense, achieving a perfect start.
Furuya's composed and stable pitching quelled the worries of those in the audience who had feared an opening-inning disaster.
While no one expected Furuya to completely dominate Seihou's lineup—it wasn't a realistic demand—at the very least, they hoped he could avoid unnecessary mistakes.
And for now, he had done just that.
It's acceptable to lose due to a lack of skill, but losing because of excessive mistakes is hard to swallow.
Based on his performance so far, Furuya has shown that he's capable.
His impressive display against Nanagamari Tech wasn't because of weak opposition, but because Furuya genuinely possesses the skills to dominate.
In the stands, Ochiai nodded in satisfaction.
Calm yet fierce, aggressive yet measured—while much credit goes to the catcher, Miyuki, for his excellent guidance, Furuya's performance in this inning has been remarkable.
As he jogged back to the dugout, Eijun glanced at Furuya's back, his eyes gleaming with a complex light.
Was this guy finally awakening step by step?
Deep inside, Eijun felt a sense of urgency, as if Furuya were closing the gap between them, applying increasing pressure on him.
There's no room for complacency. Hard work and perseverance are what build true strength.
...
"Bottom of the first inning. Seidou High School's offense. Leading off, shortstop, Kuramochi!"
Kuramochi adjusted his cap and smirked slightly, his lips curving into a confident arc.
Unlike his aggressive demeanor on defense, his approach in offense followed coach Kataoka's instructions to stay composed and strategic—something that might surprise the spectators.
In the first inning, Seidou High chose a steady and probing offensive strategy, contrary to Seihou High's expectations.
This approach seemed to unsettle Seihou's ace, Narakoshi, who had been bracing himself for an all-out assault from Seidou's potent lineup.
Having studied Seidou's batting order extensively through videos and reports, he was well aware of their formidable collective strength.
He had mentally prepared himself for a barrage of attacks, only to be faced with a calm, measured start.
This gradual buildup seemed to throw Narakoshi off balance temporarily.
Fortunately for him, the psychological dissonance wasn't insurmountable.
Despite allowing Ryousuke to reach base and advancing runners to third through hits by Isashiki Jun and Yuuki, Narakoshi managed to hold his ground by suppressing Masuko's strong hit attempt.
In the end, Seidou High left two runners stranded and missed a golden scoring opportunity in the first inning.
...
"Strong defense, a versatile pitching rotation, and a powerful batting lineup… I see now. Coach Kataoka has built a terrifying team," mused Nishidera, Seihou's coach, as he glanced toward Seidou's dugout. His red nose twitched slightly, his pupils gleaming with contemplation.
"Especially those two first-year pitchers. How did Coach Kataoka train such talent? That power pitcher is impressive enough, but the left-handed first-year pitcher who played against Yokohama Kouhoku was also extraordinary. His defense in left field was solid too. You'd never guess he's just a first-year."
Letting out a quiet sigh, Nishidera shifted his gaze to the bench.
"Still, that power pitcher isn't untouchable."
His thoughts paused as his eyes settled on Sano Shuuzou, gripping his bat tightly, his eyes burning with determination. A faint smile tugged at Nishidera's lips.
"The next move is yours, Shuuzou."
-------------------
If you want to read 10 advance chapters ahead.
Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Leonzky