<186> The Awakening of the Cutter Pitch!

Chapter 186: The Awakening of the Cutter Pitch!

The players of Yakushi High School's baseball team were utterly stunned.

Although the game had only reached the 4th inning and wasn't even halfway through, they couldn't find any way to turn the tide no matter how hard they tried.

Their opponent was simply too strong!

Just facing Furuya alone was enough to crush their confidence.

Fortunately, the players of Yakushi High School had already mentally prepared for this.

A first-year pitcher who could be called a "monster" was within the realm of their imagination.

Even though their team didn't have an identical pitcher, they did have a similarly monstrous batter.

He was also a first-year, a rookie with overwhelming strength.

Even when Raichi lost in a head-to-head clash against Furuya, the Yakushi players didn't waver in the slightest.

Having faced numerous strong opponents and possessing considerable strength themselves, their experience and insight were exceptional.

They were confident that the duel between Raichi and Furuya wasn't over yet.

Not just in future games, but even in today's match, they were certain the two would face off again.

When that fiery clash happened once more, who would emerge victorious?

For now, it was still an unknown.

This confidence gave Yakushi players a sense of anticipation for the remainder of the game.

However, what they had envisioned didn't unfold as expected.

The Seidou High baseball team made a surprising move.

They pulled their ace, Furuya, off the mound.

Instead, they sent another first-year pitcher to take his place.

For Yakushi High, this decision was like a gift from heaven, a pillow handed to someone yearning for sleep—perfect timing!

They had almost no chances left, but now their opponents had handed them a golden opportunity on a silver platter.

How could they refuse such a favor?

Their spirits were high, and they wasted no time taking action.

Adding to their optimism, Yakushi's three strongest batters were up next.

Under the circumstances, nearly everyone on Yakushi's team believed that a breakthrough was imminent.

Even if they couldn't score a large number of runs, just securing one or two would be a huge boost.

It would be enough to lift the gloom, enough to let them face the rest of the game with their heads held high.

But harsh reality slapped them hard in the face.

So hard, in fact, that many Yakushi players were left dazed.

Raichi was struck out by Seidou High's other first-year pitcher.

Not only that, Yakushi's top three batters were retired in succession.

Even the players of Yakushi High School couldn't help but give a thumbs-up to Sawamura's outstanding performance.

In such a situation, how could the players and supporters not feel their minds go blank?

They genuinely had no idea how to proceed with the game.

On the other hand, Seidou High School's baseball team not only secured five runs early on but also continued to dominate, even after Yakushi sent their true ace, Sanada, to the mound.

Sanada conceded another run while pitching, further compounding Yakushi's troubles. To say it was "adding insult to injury" would not be an exaggeration.

Thus, the game entered the bottom of the fourth inning.

Although Seidou's ninth batter was up, the lineup was about to circle back to their leadoff hitters.

In Seidou's dugout, the starting batters were all fired up and ready to go.

Seidou High School players never knew the meaning of "mercy." Whenever given an opportunity, they would ruthlessly teach their opponents a lesson.

"What should we do?"

"How do we approach the rest of the game?"

Truthfully, when it came to fighting spirit and perseverance, Yakushi High School's team could rank among the top three nationwide.

If it were any other team, they might have been so demoralized by now that they'd mentally check out of the game.

But Yakushi's players never entertained such thoughts.

Their fighting spirit still burned brightly, and their desire to win hadn't wavered.

The problem was that Seidou's overwhelming strength and almost supernatural tactics left Yakushi's players utterly baffled. Their minds were blank as they struggled to figure out what to do next.

"Sorry for holding everyone back earlier. Please take care of the defense from here on!"

As Yakushi's true ace, Sanada took the mound with a smile on his face.

Not only that, but his words were particularly inspiring.

Even Seidou's players were impressed by his ability to uplift his team with just a few words.

Despite the fact that conceding the run wasn't entirely his fault, Sanada took full responsibility without hesitation.

This act significantly alleviated the pressure on his teammates.

It even made them feel a bit guilty.

In such a situation, it was only natural for them to strive for better performance to make up for their shortcomings.

This mutual support and understanding greatly boosted the team's morale and cohesion.

And indeed, that's what happened.

Perhaps because Yakushi's players weren't the sharpest, Sanada's words easily resonated with them. Their previously tense expressions softened, replaced with determination.

"Sanada-senpai, just pitch!"

"I'll stop the ball no matter what, even if I have to use my body!"

One by one, the players displayed renewed vigor. The team's overall momentum climbed to a new level.

Sawamura, who replaced Shirasu as Seidou's ninth batter, teared up when he witnessed this scene.

This feeling of being outmatched in terms of skill yet giving everything you've got to compete was one Sawamura knew all too well.

It was as if he was back in his junior high days, fighting alongside his teammates with unwavering determination.

"You're so inspiring, Yakushi!"

To show his respect for his opponents, Sawamura raised his bat high.

As soon as the white ball came flying, he was determined to give it his all and send it soaring.

"Bring it on! I'm ready! Let's settle this like men, right here on the field!"

Sawamura's dramatic declaration was brimming with confidence, almost too much so.

In Seidou High's dugout, his teammates watched nervously, their hearts pounding in suspense.

At that moment, Sanada decisively made his pitch.

The head-to-head showdown between these two spirited players began.

"Strike!"

"Strike!"

"Strikeout!"

As expected, Sawamura swung with all his might three times, missing entirely each time. He didn't even graze the ball and was struck out.

In the dugout, Kuramochi, Sawamura's senior and roommate, was so angry his face turned green.

"You idiot! It's bad enough that you couldn't hit the ball, but why did you have to say so much beforehand?!"

Because of Sawamura's bold speech, many fans in the stands, who didn't know him well, had high expectations for his at-bat.

After all, his pitching was impressive, so they assumed he might have some talent as a batter too.

Otherwise, how could his confidence be so strong?

Reality, however, proved them wrong.

When the result was clear, the overwhelming momentum Seidou High had built up, which felt like 100 points, dropped to 99.

It was no wonder Kuramochi was so furious.

The team had deliberately arranged for first, second, and third-year players to room together so that the seniors could guide and set an example for their juniors.

In simple terms, seniors had supervisory responsibilities over their juniors.

As Sawamura's supervisor, Kuramochi was directly accountable for his mistakes.

If Sawamura slipped up, coach Kataoka might punish Kuramochi as well.

Realizing this, Kuramochi's anger only intensified.

"Seidou High's leadoff batter, it's your turn!"

Noticing their squabble, the umpire intervened, reminding Kuramochi that it was his turn to bat.

Kuramochi barely managed to calm himself, realizing there was no time to dwell on Sawamura's blunder during the ongoing game.

"Hmph!"

In an instant, Kuramochi's demeanor shifted. Letting go of his frustration with Sawamura, he quickly regained his vibrant energy.

Especially when he stepped into the batter's box, his determination to crush the ball was unmistakable.

"Idiot, watch closely and see how it's really done!"

Kuramochi radiated confidence as he prepared for his at-bat.

Before the game, Kuramochi had already studied footage of Sanada's pitching, even watching him live from the stands.

Up until moments ago, Kuramochi had been observing Sanada's performance from the dugout.

But it wasn't just about watching.

In fact, Kuramochi and other Seidou players had already faced Sanada before.

Even Kuramochi had seen Sanada's pitching up close while in the batter's box.

Regardless of whether they managed to hit the ball or not, one thing was certain—each player had gathered valuable information about Sanada's pitching.

This collective knowledge was crucial, bringing their preparation to a level far beyond the struggles they faced earlier.

"Alright, let me see what you've got this time."

In their first matchup, Kuramochi had been caught off guard, barely understanding how Sanada had struck him out.

But this time, things were different.

Kuramochi was fully prepared, confident he could make solid contact with the ball.

Just as he steeled himself, Sanada made his move.

"Whoosh!"

The white ball shot out of Sanada's hand like a bullet.

In the Seidou dugout, the players furrowed their brows instinctively.

If their observations were correct, Sanada had already pitched two full innings, likely exhausting a significant amount of stamina.

Yet, his pitching speed and intensity hadn't decreased in the slightest—in fact, he seemed even sharper than before.

This realization sent a ripple of unease through the Seidou players.

They had initially believed they held an overwhelming advantage in the game, confident they were on the brink of completely crushing their opponent.

As champions of the Kanto Tournament, Seidou's goals were far loftier than those of other teams.

From the very start, their sights had been set on the championship.

For this group of players, even winning the championship wasn't their ultimate goal.

Despite Seidou's years-long drought from Koshien appearances, this current roster believed Koshien wasn't an insurmountable challenge.

Barring unforeseen misfortune, Seidou's players firmly believed they could qualify for Koshien.

With that belief, their dreams and ambitions had evolved.

They didn't just want to reach Koshien; they wanted to dominate on that grand stage.

To achieve that, they knew they had to take every game seriously, treating each matchup as a stepping stone toward their ultimate goal.

In games where victory seemed assured, or against seemingly weaker opponents, wasting too much energy felt more like punishment than competition.

Thus, they had hoped to end this game quickly.

But as the game progressed, it became clear that things wouldn't go as smoothly as they'd anticipated.

Despite having a comfortable lead in the score, Seidou High's players remained confident in their ability to secure victory.

However, it seemed the road to the win wouldn't be as smooth as they had envisioned.

Sure enough, Kuramochi was inexplicably taken out soon after.

He hesitated on the first pitch and barely made contact on the second, sending the ball straight to the first baseman.

An easy catch resulted in an out.

With two outs and no runners on base, it was now Ryousuke Kominato's turn to bat—the very "demon" who had previously tormented Yakushi's ace, Sanada.

The crowd erupted in cheers, eagerly anticipating another display of Kominato's skill.

Even if Sanada couldn't be fully unraveled in a single play, the fans were still thrilled by the prospect of watching him struggle.

But just as his teammates and the audience thought Ryousuke would deliver, he swung at the very first pitch.

"Ping!"

The white ball soared high into the air, only to land perfectly in Sanada's glove.

"Out!"

"Three outs, side retired!"

The sudden turn of events left Seidou's players stunned.

As Ryousuke returned to the dugout, his teammates immediately swarmed him.

"What was that pitch just now?"

From their position, they hadn't been able to clearly see it, but they were certain Ryousuke had.

"It was a cutter."

"A cutter? That guy can throw a cutter?"

The revelation shocked them all.

Sanada's unexpected pitch had thrown Seidou off balance, proving that the ace still had more tricks up his sleeve.

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