<68> Shocking the Crowd!
Chapter 68: Shocking the Crowd!
The match entered the bottom of the sixth inning.
Although the score remained 1:0, the momentum of both teams was markedly different.
The Seido High School baseball team had already managed several hits but had been unlucky, leaving the score at 1:0.
In contrast, Kokai U Sagara High School's offense hadn't been effective at all.
This fact was not lost on Kokai U Sagara High School's coach and players.
As a result, they made a decisive decision to send in a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth inning.
"At this moment?"
The fans in the stands were puzzled to see Kokai U Sagara High School sending in a pinch hitter, their eyes full of confusion.
Some knowledgeable baseball fans confidently explained, "Of course, it's now or never. If they wait until the third round of batting, Kokai U Sagara might not have any more chances. If their pinch hitter fails, they'll have no choice but to accept defeat."
Kokai U Sagara High School's pinch hitter was a seemingly average, technique-based player.
Neither Miyuki nor Tanba had any data on him.
"A secret weapon?"
Although they were reluctant to accept this, Miyuki and his team understood that this explanation was reasonable.
In previous matches, Kokai U Sagara High School, much like Seido, hadn't exerted their full strength, leading their opponents to defeat without needing to reveal their ace cards.
Under these circumstances, the team's carefully prepared strategies remained hidden.
Up until this moment, when their team faced a crisis, the Kokai U Sagara High School players could no longer hold back.
They had no choice but to reveal their hidden strategies.
"Be careful, senpai!"
Miyuki signaled to Tanba!
However, Tanba was unfazed.
His fighting spirit was extraordinarily high.
Today's game had allowed this ace pitcher of the Seido High School baseball team to regain his past confidence.
There was nothing wrong with his pitching.
Although he has been honing his new secret weapon, Tanba's pitching is formidable enough to compete with the nation's top batters, even without using it.
"He's just a backup who couldn't get on the field; there's no need to worry about him!"
With bold confidence, Tanba delivered a pitch. It was just an ordinary fastball, yet it felt like a decisive throw.
The pinch hitter from Kokai U Sagara High School grit his teeth and swung the bat.
"Ping!"
The ball was hit and bounced foul.
"Foul!"
In the Seido High School dugout, the players were all full of excitement.
"Awesome!"
"As expected of you, Tanba-senpai!!"
Watching the ball bounce away, a trace of struggle flickered in Miyuki's eyes.
He could clearly sense that there was a problem with his partner's mentality.
Tanba was too engrossed in the power of his own pitching.
But to be fair, Tanba-senpai's pitches were incredibly high-level.
Even though it was just an ordinary fastball, he threw it with the aura of a decisive pitch.
"There's no time to adjust his mindset now; even if it's wrong, we'll have to roll with it."
During regular practice, Miyuki wouldn't care about his senior's pride and would unhesitatingly point out the issue.
But this was a game.
The time to point out problems would have to wait until after the match.
Right now, his priority was to work with the pitcher to deal with the opponent.
"Good pitch, let's do another!"
Miyuki acted as if everything was normal.
Everyone in the audience believed the fastball was part of a well-planned strategy between the two.
The battery of Seido High School showed incredible harmony and synergy.
On the pitch, Kokai U Sagara High School's pinch hitter furrowed his brow involuntarily.
"Not a probing ball but a straight, clean fastball! What terrifying guys!"
He also assumed Tanba's previous pitch was part of a plan with Miyuki.
Little did he know, that wasn't the case at all.
Tanba's second pitch came quickly, a high-breaking curveball.
The batter swung but missed.
"Pop!"
"Strike!!"
In just two pitches, the pinch hitter, whom Kokai U Sagara High School had high hopes for, was cornered by Seido.
The players on the field and in the dugout were astonished to see that.
"When did our ace become so reliable?"
The sudden joy was so unexpected that even Seido High School's players couldn't quite believe it.
After cornering the opponent, Tanba didn't wait for Miyuki's signal and directly threw the third pitch.
"Whoosh!"
"What a quick tempo!"
Although it was already the sixth inning and Tanba's pitch count had surpassed 70, he still appeared fresh and vigorous, as if he had just stepped onto the field.
The white baseball whistled forward and, in the blink of an eye, appeared in front of the batter.
This time, the batter didn't hesitate and decisively swung his bat.
"With two strikes ahead, the third pitch is typically aimed to deceive with a ball out of the zone. The trick pitch location is the low-inside corner limit but slightly outside!"
There was a clear comprehension from watching the game unfold...
Plus prior study of the data and strategy documents.
The pinch hitter for Kokai U Sagara clearly anticipated Tanba's pitch.
He even guessed the placement of the pitch.
"Oh no, this guy!"
The batter took a determined half-step back, which made Miyuki realize that the previous bluffs were mere posturing.
What he intended to hit all along was this inside corner trick ball after the two-strike lead.
This was a known habit of Tanba-senpai, although utilized only once in this game.
It seemed Kokai U Sagara's players not only studied this match but had likely analyzed previous game recordings of theirs as well.
"Ping!"
The trick ball was struck, flying toward third base.
"Gah!!!"
Masuko exerted his full strength and leaped less than fifty centimeters.
He watched helplessly as the baseball flew over his head.
"Pop!"
The baseball landed behind third base, and Kokai U Sagara's pinch hitter ran swiftly to second base.
No outs, runner on second.
Kokai U Sagara High School finally secured their first hit, and their runner reached scoring position.
At this time, they didn't need much.
Just a good play would allow the runner to return home, helping their team equalize the score.
"Wow!!!"
"This pinch hitter is pretty impressive."
"Didn't see that coming, really didn't..."
The fans in the stands shook their heads in awe and admiration.
------------
If you want to read 20 chapters advanced.
Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Shu_21