Chapter 7

23rd July. 9:30 am

We had arrived at the stadium for the game.

Kataoka was doing his thing.

"We'll do as discussed in the meeting. Don't forget to confirm the signs!"

"Yes!!"

"I want people on the bench to support the players by supplying them with water. We're going to win this game with the strength of thw whole team!"

"Yes!!"

"Sawamura will be pitching first! I take it you're ready?"

"As ready as I can ever be!"

"Also, Kawakami and Furuya, make sure you're ready anytime, too."

I could how pissed Furuya was for not being allowed to pitch. I sighed and thought, 'It's your own fault for being arrogant and hot headed. How many times were you told to pace yourself? If our opponents were any better, they'd have seen how abysmal your control is ove your pitches.'

As we entered the stadium, we were greeted with thunderously with the brass band and the cheerleaders. Meanwhile, the opponent's side had a dozen or so spectators at best.

We were waiting for the offical to give the signal to start the match.

Miyuki, who was crouching near me, asked, "Are you still angry?"

I glanced at him and said, "The coach knows what's best for the team. I understand his reasons. If there's any anger left in me, I'll release it through my pitches."

"LINE UP!!"

10:00 am, the match Seidou vs Akikawa began.

[Top of the first inning, Akikawa begins its offensive. Number 1, center, Ninomiya-kun]

As I was preparing on the mound, I thought, 'They must have prepared for Furuya, given that they are talking about the machines. I don't exactly remember how the game went in canon, but, I have no plans of showing any mercy to them.'

Indeed, Akikawa's bullpen was surprised that I was chosen as the starting pitcher. Some even seemed angry, thinking that they were being looked down upon for chosing a 'batter' to be the starting pitcher.

"Playball!!"

'First pitch, out low.'

[Four seam: A1]

*BANG*

[Speed: 160 kmph]

Akikawa players were shocked.

The spectators were as lively as ever.

"Ohhhh... Another monster pitcher!!"

"That sounded like a gunshot!!"

'Second pitch, keep it low and at the edge of the strike zone.'

[Four seam: 159 kmph]

*BANG*

"Strike two!"

'They must have planned for Furuya. Knowing his wild pitches, they must have planned to not swing their bat at the high pitches. Now, their plan is in shambles. Well played, Kataoka.'

'Third pitch, in high.'

[Four seam: 161 kmph]

*BOOM*

"Strike three! Batter out!!"

The crowd went crazy.

"Ohhhhhh!!!!!! It's like he's shooting with a sniper rifle!!"

"Holy shit! Is this even possible?!"

"Seidou really started this match with a bang!!!"

[Number 2, third base, Hashimoto-kun.]

'First pitch, inner side.'

[Four seam: 159 kmph]

*BANG*

"Strike!!"

'A swing and miss. Guess they abandoned their plan now that Furuya is not pitching.'

'Second pitch, in low.'

*BANG*

"Strike two!!"

'If the batter is any smart, he would realize that the next pitch will be a pitch to the ouside. But, it's very obvious. So, the next pitch will be again, an in low.'

As I predicted, Miyuki positioned his mitt to the in-low corner.

*BANG*

"Strike three. Batter out!!"

The next one didn't fare any better. They swung and missed on all of my pitches. It was a flawless inning.

Then, it was Akikawa's turn to pitch.

[Bottom of the first, Seidou High School's turn to attack. Number 1, shortstop, Kuramochi-kun]

Kataoka's instructions were clear. Use steals and bunts as much as they could be used. Kuramochi took that quite literally and used a bunt on the very first pitch.

'Tch! You may be fast, but, thinking a bunt will work? Oh well, we are 0 - 0 so we can take a few risks. His bunt wasn't perfect too.'

When he came back to bullpen, I said, "Where the hell were you hitting it?! It needs to be closer to the line!!"

"Shut up!!"

[Number 2, second base, Kominato-kun]

And so began the mean one's tenacious streak of fouls. Then, they changed their strategy. I was very impressed You Shunshin's accuracy and so was the umpire. A slight shift in catcher's positioning while still throwing the pitch outside the strike zone, he managed to fool the umpire into thinking that it was a strike.

"Batter out!"

(RE:PLAYBALL!)

Shunshin was a scary player. Along with his amazing pitching, he was also a good batter. He managed to hit my fastball even though he was unable to reach the first base.

By bottom of the third inning, no team had scored a point. While Isashiki and Miyuki had managed to land successful hits, the batters following them were unable to convert those to runs.

Finally, it was my turn to bat.

[Number 9, pitcher, Sawamura-kun]

He threw the first pitch. It was at the extreme edge of the strike zone. I was not going to take any chances so I hit a foul. I was planning to tap all the pitches that were too close to the strike even if they were balls. The umpire had been influenced by You's clever pitching.

I was not going to leave the home plate until I had managed to hit the pitch with all of my strength.

[Tenacity - lvl 3]

Foul after foul I intercepted his pitches. The pitch count had passed fourteen. You was getting frustrated but be maintained his composure. Somewhere around the ninth pitch, he had begun throwing breaking balls. Yet, no matter what he threw at me, I expertly sent the ball out for a foul.

Then it arrived.

An opportunity.

[Provoke - lvl 2]

Shunshin threw a fastball. It was a bit too inside the strike zone for a batter to confuse it with a ball. I finally got the pitch I was looking for.

[Four-seam hunter - lvl 3]

*CLANG*

The whole stadium watched as the ball sailed through the air without any intention of slowing or falling down. And as it went over the wall, the crowd went bananas.

We had taken the lead. Things only got worse for Akikawa after that. Yes, Shunshin was a great pitcher. But, in front of someone who was aiming to become the greatest baseball player in the world, his skills fell short.

Shunshin gave his all while pitching. It was his last year of playing Japanese baseball.

At the bottom of the fourth inning, we managed to get another two runs, thus increasing the lead.

At bottom of the fifth, it was once again my turn to bat.

I didn't need to hold out for long before I hit the pitch hard and sent it right into the wall. I had managed to reach third base by the time the ball came back to the home plate.

Shunshin only got more tenacious after that. It was like he had found his second wind. Kuramochi, Kominato and Isashiki were either struck out or couldn't manage to send the ball into the outfield.

Bottom of the seventh, Kataoka made his move sent the younger Kominato as a pinch hitter, subbing for Sakaki. He played Shunshin like a fiddle and sent the ball into the outfield, managing to reach second base.

It was time to hammer in the final nail in the coffin.

[Number 9, pitcher, Sawamura-kun]

I wasn't going to wait. The very first pitch, a fork ball and I swung hard.

*CLANG*

The ball sailed all the way to the back wall. Of course, I did not wait for the ball to hit the wall. I had begun running the moment it left my bat.

The crowd cheered as Kominato junior made it back to the home plate. But, they were in for another treat. I was already at third base by the time the outfielder had the ball in his hands.

I was running back to the home plate.

The catcher had caught the ball when I was merely a foot away. I twisted my torso around his glove and touched the plate, scoring another run.

[An Inside-the-park home run!!!]

With my fist held high I smiled and ran back to the bullpen where my teammates were going crazy over the stunt I pulled.

We had effectively shut down Akikawa.

Kawakami closed the match with his reliable pitches and with a score of 8-0, we had won the match.