<69> A 70-Meter!

Chapter 69: A 70-Meter!

"It's a hit!!!"

The supporters of Kokai U Sagara High School exclaimed in excitement.

Throughout the earlier part of the match, they had been heavily suppressed...

This was a moment they had longed for in their hearts for a long time.

Now, it had finally happened!

In the Kokai U Sagara dugout, their coach excitedly touched his nose.

"Seido's ace often faces issues around the sixth or seventh inning. Switching to a pinch hitter at this point really paid off!"

Hearing their coach's analysis, the other players of Kokai U Sagara High School felt a heavy weight lifted off their hearts.

They had been dominated by Seido's ace until now.

Finally, they could hold their heads high and let out a roar towards their opponents.

"Who knows who will win in the end!"

Beyond just making progress in their offense, there was another crucial reason Kokai U Sagara's players were suddenly fired up.

They had managed to keep the run loss down to just one throughout the game.

This gave them the confidence to potentially surpass Seido.

Conversely, in the Seido High School dugout, Director Ota was pale.

"What should we do now? Koichiro…"

The issues with Tanba were more well-known to the Seido team than anyone else.

Precisely because they understood, it made them even more uneasy.

If Tanba were to fall back into his old habits during the match, everything they had planned would amount to nothing more than an illusion.

It just wouldn't hold...

Not only was Director Ota worried, but the substitute players in the Seido dugout were extremely tense.

Tanba serving as the starting pitcher represented not just himself, but also Seido's second and third-year students.

To put it plainly, he was the face of the upperclassmen players.

Everyone wanted to prove their strength and show that even without Furuya, their team could beat any opponent.

Tanba was a crucial part of this.

Should he falter, all their plans would turn to dust.

"There won't be any issues, right?"

Even his teammates in the dugout were on edge, not to mention the players still out on the field.

From the catcher's position, Miyuki resolutely signaled the pitcher.

"That was just a coincidence; no need to dwell on it. Stay calm. The power of your pitches has not diminished!"

In critical moments like these, he couldn't criticize his partner.

If friction arose within their team, the opponents could easily exploit it.

This was precisely something they couldn't afford to happen.

Miyuki thought it through carefully.

Although the pinch hitter earlier was tough, managing to seize a chance at bat, it was just that—a single chance.

The remaining eighth and ninth batters for Kokai U Sagara weren't particularly formidable.

By handling them correctly, they could secure two easy outs.

Then they would face Kokai U Sagara's leadoff hitter again.

By then, Tanba-senpai's mindset would likely be back on track.

Also, they knew that batter quite well, which gave them a good chance of navigating through this challenge smoothly.

The catcher's calmness played a significant role in stabilizing Seido's position. This is the impact an excellent catcher has on the field.

The Seido High players still had great trust in their ace.

Once they saw Miyuki's signal, the team settled down again.

"It's still not enough. Abe, you're up next!"

Just as Seido High School was about to clear this hurdle, Kokai U Sagara's coach made a decisive move to undercut their momentum.

Their pinch hitting lineup wasn't limited to one player; it included a second one as well.

Unlike the first, this was a tall batter.

He didn't step up immediately but waited until the eighth batter used a bunt to advance the runner from second to third base, before taking his turn at bat.

Now, the situation on the field had progressed to one out, with a runner on third.

Kokai U Sagara substituted a second pinch hitter...

Their intention to equalize the score couldn't have been clearer.

"No one expected Kokai U Sagara's coach to be so aggressive!"

Fans in the stands were somewhat captivated by Kokai U Sagara's game plan.

No wonder they were one of the top four teams in Kanto. Not only were their players on the field outstanding, but they also had strong substitutes in the dugout.

Two pinch hitters stepping up consecutively gave them a chance to tie the game even when it seemed most unlikely.

In the Seido dugout, the teammates were exchanging worried glances.

"Kokai U Sagara's substitutions seem so haphazard..."

"Their bench is stacked with too much talent!"

Although the teammates might voice complaints, they were fully aware in their hearts.

The danger was already looming over them.

Whether they liked it or not, this was a reality they had to face.

"Are we really going to concede a run?"

From the catcher's position, Miyuki could clearly sense his partner's hesitation.

As long as there were no runners on base, Tanba-senpai's pitches usually surpassed expectations.

It was as if he was the ace of a top-class national powerhouse.

However, Tanba hadn't become such a person and was instead seen as a well-known weakness within the Seido High School baseball team.

This perception existed because, when runners were on base, Tanba's performance seemed to change entirely.

That was the situation they were facing now.

And in these circumstances, there wasn't much Miyuki could do as a partner.

All he could do was try to encourage him.

"Don't worry, your pitching is fine!"

Tanba seemed to take this to heart, putting his all into the next pitch.

"Whoosh!"

The white baseball zipped forward.

Facing the incoming fastball, the batter named Abe swung the bat with all his might.

"Ping!"

The white baseball was struck cleanly.

Miyuki's expression turned grim.

"That pitch was too easy to hit!"

Even with encouragement, Tanba-senpai's pitching was being affected.

And this was something they couldn't change.

Was it over?

The white baseball soared through the air for a good 60 to 70 meters before finally falling.

An outfielder from the Seido High School team was positioned early at the ball's landing spot and caught it smoothly with his glove.

"Pop!"

"Out!"

Seido High School successfully secured the second out.

But at that moment, none of them could smile.

The instant the ball landed in the glove, the runner on third base from Kokai U Sagara took off.

Given the distance and even with the ball being relayed back immediately, it was enough time for the runner to safely reach home.

Kokai U Sagara was determined to score this run!

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