<36> Commotion, The Rising Rookies

Chapter 36: Commotion, The Rising Rookies

The Yokohama Kohouku catcher watched Furuya with disbelief. This green first-year seemed to lack self-preservation awareness, daring to swing against Yokohama Kohouku's ace. Not even Seidou's formidable lineup could easily get a clean hit off him. What chance did Furuya think he had?

Despite his skepticism, the Yokohama Kohouku catcher kept his eyes fixed on the incoming baseball and Furuya's swinging bat. Before the ball entered the strike zone, it suddenly broke away, but Furuya seemed to have anticipated this.

He stepped forward and swung with all his might.

"So naive! Does he really think our ace uses these pitches to test opponents without a reason?" The catcher felt certain of the outcome. Their ace chose these pitches because even if opponents predicted them and acted, they were still unlikely to make good contact. At best, they might knock it foul.

As the Yokohama Kohouku catcher awaited Furuya's impending misfire with confidence, something unexpected and unprecedented occurred.

Indeed, Furuya didn't strike the ball's sweet spot, and true, Yokohama Kohouku's ace was reputed for a reason—the pitch had a surprising break. Nonetheless, Furuya predicted the location and managed to connect with the baseball, even without hitting it squarely.

In the catcher's eyes, the ball was destined to hit the ground and Furuya would soon be out. But he underestimated the power behind Furuya's swing. Despite not hitting dead-center, he sent the ball flying.

It was only then that the catcher realized Furuya had switched to the largest metal bat, a detail he had overlooked.

"Second baseman!"

Seeing the ball heading outward, the Yokohama Kohouku catcher called for backup, surprised by Furuya's ability to pull the seemingly foul ball back into play. His astonished teammates hesitated for a split second before the second baseman dove towards the ball.

However, due to that brief hesitation, the second baseman missed the opportunity to stop the ball, which landed right in front of him and bounced away.

The ball cleared the second baseman, leaving nothing but open field behind.

"You've got some insane luck there!"

Furuya actually managed to hit the ball through? Even Miyuki found it hard to believe. But whether he believed it or not, he knew exactly what to do the moment the ball zipped through the gap.

He sprinted off toward third base without hesitation. By the time he reached third, the base coach was signaling for him to keep going.

Apparently, the Yokohama Kohouku outfielder had positioned himself too far back, unable to cover the play in time.

With home plate in sight, Miyuki couldn't contain the excitement coursing through his veins and raced onward.

Meanwhile, the Yokohama outfielder finally picked up the ball, but it was too late to throw Miyuki out at home. All he could do was relay the ball to second, preventing Furuya from advancing any further.

"Safe!"

Furuya stopped at first base, while Miyuki successfully reached home, giving Seidou High School the go-ahead run and changing the score to 3-4.

Seidou High School had completed a comeback!

The die-hard Seidou supporters in the stands were on the verge of going wild at the sight. Furuya's recent power was fresh in their minds.

When the score was tied, the Seidou faithful's greatest fear was not being able to score the decisive run before the ninth inning ended.

Although they might not admit it openly, these supporters were acutely aware that Furuya's fierce pitching couldn't last indefinitely. Even if he were a seasoned third-year ace, sustaining such a relentless style would be taxing.

His aggressive pitching style carried significant risks. If the game went to extra innings, and with Tanba and Furuya both potentially reaching their limits, Seidou would lose its chance for victory.

Now, their most dreaded scenario seemed unlikely.

Yokohama Kohouku's typically upbeat coach closed his eyes in frustration once more.

The Yokohama Kohouku coach needed to take a moment to compose himself. He feared he might not hold up in this final inning otherwise.

In the stands, the second and third-year players of Seidou High School were filled with excitement and anticipation. Their team had been stagnant for several years. This year seemed to have the most potential, but due to issues with their ace, Tanba Koichiro, their hopes had been somewhat diminished.

But now, things had changed. They had a new pitcher! Not only that, but this pitcher also possessed excellent batting skills. Just with his hitting ability, he had earned a chance to be promoted to the first string and become a key player.

Although Furuya might not be able to pitch many innings, his batting skills meant he could still contribute as an outfielder when not on the mound. This provided Seidou with a powerful ace who could step up to pitch at any time.

Reaching Koshien was no longer a dream for Seidou.

Amidst the exhilaration, many second and third-year players vying for a spot on the first string understood that their opportunities were dwindling. Now that Furuya Satoru had secured his place, only two spots remained open for promotion.

Competing for these last two positions were not only the outstanding senior players but also two promising first-year rookies. Sawamura Eijun had played in several practice games, and although he had a rough start, he was gradually adapting and performing better. Haruichi Kominato, on the other hand, seemed unstoppable. His performance in the second string had completely outclassed the current second-string starter at second base, both in hitting and fielding.

"Go, Seidou!!!"

"Let's go! Let's go!!!"

Amid the cheers, the game reached the bottom of the 9th inning. After scoring one run, Seidou High School's team was struck out three times in succession by Yokohama Kohouku's fired-up ace. Their core lineup also stepped up to the plate with renewed determination.

"I have an idea that will definitely allow us to hit that monstrous kid's pitch," said the Yokohama Kohouku coach seriously as he reopened his eyes.

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