Chapter 79: Only You Can!

Two Outs, with a runner on third base.

Like this, Narumiya just needed to get the final Out. No matter whether Lee-Hyun returned to home plate, it wouldn't matter.

The Seidou High School baseball team's dugout was completely silent.

It couldn't be said that Lee-Hyun performed badly; it was just that he wasn't as cunning as Narumiya.

Narumiya had clearly planned everything, which was why he stopped Tadano from holding Lee-Hyun on base.

In this way, after Tadano quickly returned the ball, Narumiya pitched as fast as possible.

Lee-Hyun, who had just managed to reach third base, couldn't react that quickly. He needed a moment to adjust, find his stance, and regulate his breathing before he could attempt to steal the base.

Moreover, Maezono had already been pressured with two Strikes and was left with only one more chance to bat.

Considering his batting style, to avoid missing the ball,

he would definitely go for a bunt!

In this case, if Narumiya Mei threw what looked like a good pitch, but was actually a grounder,

he could easily claim the needed two Outs of the inning.

It would be a perfect two-for-one!

Having witnessed Lee-Hyun's base stealing, Narumiya, and Tadano, as a pair, were clearly already prepared!

On the stands, Fujio, a veteran reporter from Baseball Kingdom magazine, jotted down notes in his small notebook.

Although Sawamura, the Ace pitcher, was almost invincible at this point,

Narumiya, the Tokyo Prince, was also a force to be reckoned with.

His performance in this game was absolutely breathtaking. Despite the intensity, he maintained a calm head throughout the match.

Truly impressive!

Though he usually appeared a bit hasty and not very composed,

when it came to actual competition, Narumiya's performance was an entirely different story.

"The draft next spring will be full of blood and sweat."

Fujio sighed and then refocused on Lee-Hyun at third base.

'What a shame!'

Although this kid's talent was a bit unconventional, it was undeniably outstanding.

It seemed that he was about to become a star in this game. Unfortunately, he ran into Narumiya Mei, an experienced veteran, who outsmarted him.

Compared to those seasoned base runners like Kuramochi, Lee-Hyun was clearly still somewhat inexperienced.

If Kuramochi were in Lee-Hyun's place, he would never have allowed Narumiya to get that kind of advantage.

If he had handled that last pitch better, stealing the base would have been entirely possible...

Back in the Seidou High School dugout, the once lively atmosphere suddenly turned quiet.

The players of Seidou High School's baseball team had cold looks in their eyes.

They gazed at the Inajitsu High School team's dugout as though looking at corpses.

If they had another chance, they would do everything in their power to take down Narumiya and help the team score that point back.

As for now, they could only place their hopes on Shiratsu.

Though there were still some capable players left in the dugout, at this moment, no one seemed the right fit to replace Shiratsu.

Sawamura sat alone in the corner, his fists clenched in frustration.

After being struck out by Narumiya, he remained calm and even shared information on Narumiya with Miyuki.

It seemed as if he hadn't let that pitch affect him at all.

But in reality, he was seething inside.

Why did he have to force that pitch and hit it out of bounds? Couldn't he have just let it go?

If Sawamura had let that pitch pass, it would have only been one strike, and he could have continued facing Narumiya.

But because of his competitive nature, he ended up hitting that ball out of bounds.

And just like that, Narumiya made an easy break.

The result was completely heartbreaking.

If it weren't for the ongoing game, Sawamura would have slapped himself right now.

'Don't be so stubborn next time!'

If Seidou High School lost this game today, it was entirely his fault.

When he saw Lee-Hyun reaching third base, Sawamura was excited.

If they could score this point, even if Miyuki didn't come up to bat, he'd have the confidence to keep fighting Inashiro.

But unexpectedly, Maezono and Lee-Hyun were outsmarted like that.

The bird that was nearly in hand had flown away!

Sawamura had a sharp sense of the game, perhaps even too sharp.

Though Seidou High School's teammates displayed unyielding determination,

Sawamura knew very well that from the moment Narumiya recorded that Out,

Seidou High School would enter a very hard hill fight!

This wasn't pessimism, just pragmatism.

Unless Inashiro made a big mistake, and unless Narumiya Mei didn't engage in a tough duel,

with his new pitch and Inashiro's current momentum, Seidou will have to climb a steep hill in a very short time.

Many others shared Sawamura's thoughts. Coach Kataoka trusted his players deeply and often let them act according to their own judgment.

This helped the Seidou players develop a strong ability to read the game.

They all knew just how unfavorable the current situation was for Seidou.

While their determination hadn't waned, it was inevitably tinged with a sense of tragedy.

Clearly, they had realized that Seidou was in a very dangerous position.

At this moment, only Kuramochi, at the front of the team, stared eagerly at Lee-Hyun.

Lee-Hyun glanced back at the Seidou dugout and met Kuramochi's gaze.

"What would you do if the opponent already had two Outs and you were standing on third base?"

It was a quiet night, and Sawamura hadn't been training with them. Only Kuramochi and Lee-Hyun were present.

"I don't know!"

Lee-Hyun answered honestly.

"Remember this method! I'm only telling you once. Even I don't use it often in actual games. My speed isn't enough. I can't run the 20-meter distance in less than three seconds. But you're different. Your speed is enough. As long as you execute it well, you'll succeed."

SNAP!

"STRIKE!!"

Narumiya's pitch successfully dodged Shiratsu's swing and landed right into Tadano's mitt.

They successfully recorded the first Strike.

"Good…"

Tadano looked up at third base, where Lee-Hyun stood, still making no moves.

Tadano then got up and passed the ball back to Narumiya.

But just as he passed the ball, Lee-Hyun, who had been calmly standing on third base, suddenly moved!

He began running with intense speed toward home plate!

"Ah, STEAL!!!" Yabe the third baseman shouted in alarm!

Lee-Hyun was stealing the base!

Such a bold move left everyone in the stadium in stunned silence and excitement!

"NOW?"

"DON'T They WANT THE HIT?"

Seidou High School had three effective hits, and the final batter was going to be Sawamura.

This was Seidou High School's last hope.

If Lee-Hyun failed in this steal, Seidou would lose their last chance.

Snap!

The ball was passed to Narumiya, his eyes cold with murderous intent.

"YOU'RE ASKING FOR IT!"

He wasn't unaware of Lee-Hyun's speed, but Lee-Hyun was still a normal human. Though his speed exceeded Carlos and Kuramochi's, he hadn't surpassed human limits!

As long as he was human, Narumiya couldn't let him take advantage.

Roaar!!

SNAP!!!

The ball flew into Tadano's Mitt.

At that moment, Lee-Hyun was only four or five meters away from home plate.

"We won!"

Tadano's eyes lit up as he swung his Mitt to guard the plate.

And Lee-Hyun, his eyes fixed on the home plate, dashed forward.

"Crazy! This isn't professional baseball!"

Sawamura stood up in excitement from the dugout.

In professional baseball, such a move could work if you could knock the ball out of the catcher's hand.

But in high school, such a direct collision with the catcher was considered a foul.

As Lee-Hyun charged, Tadano didn't back down an inch.

Even if the person was not Lee-Hyun but a mountain of muscle, Tadano would never retreat.

As they were about to collide, Lee-Hyun suddenly pushed off with his feet and dived, slipping past Tadano's body.

'What?'

Tadano was stunned. He never imagined that a rookie could pull off such a maneuver.

Luckily, he had been through many games and quickly lowered his body, reaching for Lee-Hyun with his Mitt.

Just as the mitt was about to touch Lee-Hyun's stomach, Lee-Hyun instinctively moved his waist and dodged mid-sliding.

He narrowly avoided Tadano's Mitt.

At the same time, his hand firmly touched the home plate.

"SAAAAAFFFFFEEEEE!!!"

At that moment, the entire Jingu Stadium erupted in thunderous noise.

A player named Lee-Hyun emerged, stunning the entire Japanese baseball world.

In the stands, Ji-Hoon and Hyo-Lin excitedly waved their arms shouting.

"LEE-HYUN!"

"LEE-HYUN!!"

"SEIDOU!"

"SEIDOU!"

"SEIDOU!"

Not just them the whole Jingu Stadium and many of those who are watching the game on the screens are going crazy!

…