Chapter 71: Steel Balls

No Outs, runners on first and third!

According to common sense, any pitcher in this situation would find it difficult to stay calm.

After all, this is the best scoring opportunity for the offensive side!

However, for the defensive side, it's practically the eve of a catastrophe…

Even Walter, the Coach of the New York team, admits that if he were facing such a situation, it would be impossible to remain composed.

But oddly enough, most of the players from the Seidou High School Baseball Team remained calm.

Especially their pitcher and catcher, Sawamura and Miyuki.

The two of them acted as though everything was perfectly normal, completely disregarding the looming crisis.

"Something's off…" Walter thought.

Based on Walter's past experiences, when Seidou acted so fearlessly, there were only two possible reasons.

One possibility was that the opponent was foolish, unaware of the gravity of the situation.

But clearly, neither the Seidou Baseball Team nor Sawamura himself could be classified as such.

So that left only one other possibility, one that Walter, unwilling to believe, had to reluctantly accept.

The most likely explanation was that the opponent had full confidence.

As long as the Seidou players were confident in their abilities, they would naturally show no fear.

Even in the face of a crisis with no Outs and runners on first and third, they seemed to have complete assurance…

Walter stared at Sawamura on the mound and Miyuki behind the plate, growing more and more convinced that their composure was truly enigmatic.

Eventually, he clenched his teeth. Whether or not the opponent was as mystifying as they seemed, he knew one thing for sure: he had to take action!

Walter knew he had to communicate this to his players on the field, and also come up with a way to score.

For someone of Walter's caliber as a world-class Coach, this was not a difficult task.

He used their team's unique signals to communicate with the players on the field and urged them to take action quickly.

Having just thrown a Strike and preparing to strike out Allen, Sawamura keenly noticed the shift among the Dream Team players.

First, Mike, the runner on first base, started to stir. He quietly left the base and began moving toward second.

Noticing this, Sawamura didn't immediately react. Instead, he looked back toward third base.

As expected, Bill, the runner on third base, also began to make his move.

Allen, the batter in the Box, seemed to have lost his mind and quietly changed his stance to a bunt.

The three players on the field were practically executing their moves like a coordinated team, each showcasing their skills.

Their actions indicated that they were willing to do whatever it took to score a run.

'These guys are getting anxious!' Miyuki, the catcher, thought. The tension in the air was palpable.

He understood exactly what this meant. The Dream Team had become determined to score. More precisely, they were finally taking the game seriously. It was no longer just the players, but the entire team, from the Coach to the players, giving everything they had.

This was the real Dream Team—the legendary team that had dominated the world.

Miyuki's heart started pounding faster. He couldn't help but feel excited.

No Outs, runners on first and third.

With the Dream Team intent on scoring, everyone was united in purpose, giving their all.

What were they going to do?

Even if you could only think with your toes, you'd understand. They were determined to score this run.

To do this, the entire team's power was being brought to bear.

And at this point, the Dream Team had too many strategies available. The options were countless.

For example, the runner on first base could simply steal second base, regardless of the risk.

As soon as Sawamura went to cover second, the runner on third could attempt to steal home.

Alternatively, the batter could lay down a bunt, forcing the third baseman to go home.

The most devastating strategy would be to employ all of them at once!

The New York team now held three cards, while Sawamura only had one baseball in his hand.

If they acted together, Sawamura could only handle one.

Over 60,000 spectators were present, and some of them were professionals.

In fact, all the scouts from the American Major Leagues had their eyes on this game.

As professionals, they could see much more than the average fan.

Although the Dream Team's coordination seemed somewhat casual at first, as though they were only reacting to pressure, it was anything but.

Their coordination was flawless, with perfect timing between players. No matter what action Sawamura took, it seemed like the Dream Team players had an opportunity to score.

This level of skill, coordination, and tactical execution was so extraordinary that even if you looked at it as just a high school game, it was far beyond ordinary.

This was a team that could easily survive in the professional world.

No matter how strong the Seidou Baseball Team was, they could never stop them.

The strength of the Seidou baseball team, while formidable, is still within the realm of high school players.

The vast majority of their players are simply talented high school athletes.

After witnessing the Dream Team setting up an intricate offense against Seidou High School, several scouts in the stands had already made their judgment.

It seems that Seidou School's baseball team might be in trouble today.

Even though they currently lead by one point, the outcome might end up contrasting sharply with the current score.

Once the Dream Team truly gets serious, it seems unlikely that a high school team could cope with them.

Not even Seidou High!

Even Seidou's own players could feel the tremendous pressure from the eerie atmosphere.

The opponent now had too many ways to score, and Seidou's players had to stay on high alert.

All their attention was focused on the enemy.

This heightened concentration placed a significant mental strain on them.

In just a few seconds, Seidou's players could already smell the smoke of battle.

The opponent's offense was about to begin!

They knew this, but the Dream Team players still didn't make any moves.

They couldn't figure out what the opposing team was plotting in their minds.

For the Seidou players who had prepared for every challenge, the passing of time felt like a torment.

It didn't matter if they couldn't stop the opponents—they just wanted them to act already!

Occasionally, someone would glance at Sawamura.

After all, he was the one controlling everything.

As long as the ball in his hand didn't leave his grip, even if the Dream Team had a few more daring players, they still wouldn't act rashly.

They could only begin their actions once Sawamura threw the ball.

On the mound, Sawamura displayed an unexpected amount of patience.

Scenes from his past flashed through his mind, like a movie playing in his head.

Everything happening right now almost made him feel a sense of disorientation.

It was as though he had returned to the stage of the Major Leagues.

From the moment he stepped on the mound, there was never a second to relax.

Every movement of the opponent had to be observed carefully.

Otherwise, even the slightest lapse in attention could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Now, everything felt reminiscent of that time.

For some reason, Sawamura felt a sense of relief.

He longed to return to that stage!

There were 60,000 spectators at the scene!

Given the significance of this match, it was clear that the famous scouts from the Major Leagues had also come to watch.

Even if they weren't there to see Seidou High School's team, they certainly wouldn't miss the opportunity to watch the stars of the Dream Team.

If he could give everyone a huge surprise in this game, then his reputation as the Demon King wouldn't just echo throughout the country—it would surely earn him a place in America, the baseball kingdom.

It was as if the fog in front of him had suddenly cleared, and Sawamura felt liberated.

He sensed that it was time to showcase his true skills.

With no Outs and runners on first and third base, this was undoubtedly a crisis. Even if Sawamura gave it his all, there was no guarantee that they wouldn't concede a run.

Given this, he might as well take a risk.

'Let's go!'

His connection with the catcher, Miyuki, had already reached a level where they could communicate with just a glance.

Sawamura's expression shifted slightly, and Miyuki almost instantly guessed what he was planning.

At this point, trying to solve the problem smoothly was no longer an option!

Even if they were willing, the Dream Team wouldn't allow that.

'Are you really going to do this?'

Miyuki's expression grew serious.

If they went all out, there was a certain probability they would be able to stop the opponent.

Miyuki was confident about that, but the chance of allowing a run wasn't small either.

With no Outs, it would be very difficult to deal with the runner on third base.

However, if they followed Sawamura's plan, their chances would be about 50-60%.

And if they failed, the consequences would be dire.

Of course, the higher the stakes, the greater the potential reward.

If they followed Sawamura's plan, their chances of not conceding a run would increase.

'We've already been pushed to the edge; there's no more hesitation.'

Sawamura's attitude was resolute.

Miyuki, too, was quite bold by nature.

Had he not been influenced by Chris before, he might have been even more aggressive in his pitching choices.

Seeing Sawamura's determination, Miyuki smiled.

'There was nothing more to say—let's just do it!'

After reaching an understanding, Sawamura prepared to pitch.

Just as he was about to throw, a figure suddenly sprinted.

It was Mike, the runner on first base.

The moment Mike moved, Sawamura and Miyuki immediately realized what the Dream Team was up to.

Mike's speed wasn't particularly exceptional.

Attempting to steal second base against Sawamura and Miyuki was almost like walking into his doom.

If Miyuki received the ball and threw to second base, there was a 90% chance of catching Mike.

However, Miyuki didn't move.

SNAP!

"STRIKE!!"

The ball dodged Allen's bunt diving deep almost to the ground, lodging itself into the waiting Mitt of Miyuki.

"SAFE!!"

Miyuki who caught the ball still didn't make any movement. He ignored Mike who safely reached second base.

All of Miyuki's attention was on Bill at the third base, who stood still when he saw the Ball in Miyuki's Mitt.

The situation quickly turned to no Outs with runners on second and third base.

This was even more dangerous than before.

If Allen, the batter, got a hit, the game would change in an instant.

The runner on second base was now in scoring position.

"WOW!"

"They Gave Up A Base For A Strike!"

"How Bold!"

"This Battery Has The Balls Of Steel!!"

"What Was That Pitch Just Now!"

"A Curve?!"

"No, It Should Be A Forkball!"

"That Break Was From Hell Dude!"

"So Nasty!"

Seeing this, American fans went wild with excitement.

In this moment, the players of the Dream Team were their heroes.

With them on the field, Seidou High School, no matter where they came from, seemed insignificant.

However, true professionals could see the deeper intricacies of the game.

In this duel of action and inaction, the Dream Team made the right move by acting.

But Seidou High, choosing stillness, was even more impressive.

"They're so calm!"

"Today's kids are something!"

"From a death trap to a life-saving move, they've turned the situation around by sending a runner into scoring position."

These professional scouts had to reassess Sawamura and Miyuki.

These two young players were extraordinary. Their ability to read the game surpassed most people in the stands, including the professional scouts, who had doubted whether they could make it through the match.

They were truly exceptional!

Meanwhile, in the Dream Team's dugout, everything was going according to the script.

Walter had thought he had driven Seidou into a corner, only to find they'd managed to create a new opportunity for themselves.

Frustrating!

Walter clenched his chin in annoyance, as though he might tear it off in anger.

The runner on first base had indeed stolen second, removing the threat he posed.

Sawamura no longer had to worry about the stolen base.

…

T/N: Feel free to leave a Comment guys!

And Powerstones are much much welcomed!