Chapter 19: Intrasquad Game 2
[Mission: Intrasquad Game
Strike out a 3rd year
Reward: 30 coins
Penalty: Deduct 2 Speed Stats]
Rei nodded after reading the blue screen. He walked to the mound with determination. He was definitely going to strike them out because he couldn't handle the penalty. He already had less stamina.
"Who's That, I've never seen him before?".
"Which junior high is he from?".
Discussed various players on the sidelines.
"Finally, he's up", said a random 3rd year.
"How's he…going to pitch…against these fearsome batters?", thought Sawamura looking at Rei.
Chris was observing the match from the sidelines.
Rei made eye contact with Chris and smirked.
"Oh, how cocky. He sure seems confident", thought Chris.
The 3rd year batter came up to the batter's box and stood on the right side taking his position.
"Play!", said the umpire.
The catcher got ready.
Rei winded up his glove, raised his left leg, swung back his arm with force, and released the ball.
The ball went 140 KM hitting the strike zone.
The catcher couldn't catch the ball.
The ball collided with the catcher's helmet causing the helmet to fall to the ground.
"What…in the world was that? I thought it was low when he threw the ball…but the ball rose…", thought the catcher as his heart was racing.
All the players on the sideline were shocked to see his pitch.
Some players came to the catcher and helped him while asking if he was ok.
Kataoka smiled and said, "You pass Rei. You can practice with the first string tomorrow".
Rei smiled thinking that he had successfully secured a spot on the first string.
[You have been rewarded 30 coins]
Rei ignored the notification.
Everyone was shocked to hear the coach's response.
"The first string?", questioned Sawamura.
"Lucky him…He passed", said a pink hair dude sitting in the bullpen while wiping his bat.
"Pitcher Change! Furuya Satoru come to the mound", announced Kataoka.
All the 3rd years pleaded to the coach If Rei could continue pitching because they thought that they can hit his pitch.
"There's no first-year who can catch his pitch", said Kataoka.
The 3rd years couldn't deny it because the catcher in the current game couldn't catch Rei's pitch and he was the best within the first years.
"Won't let anyone hit it, huh? Well technically It was true", thought Miyuki observing the match. Yesterday in the cafeteria he overheard what Rei was saying.
"Tanba, you're done, too", ordered Kataoka.
Tanba was shocked at the coach's decision and was about to say something.
"If you can pitch without being overwhelmed, you can do well at the nationals. Be more confident", said Kotoka.
"Yes, sir!", said Tanba feeling enlightened.
Furuya came to the mound and struck out every batter leaving everyone speechless.
"Where do these monsters keep coming from", said the catcher. He could barely catch Furuya's pitch. He had bruises on his hands because of the pitches.
As expected Kataoka passed Furuya as well.
Now everyone was getting restless since there were only 4 spots on the first string available and 2 had been taken already.
[Score:
5 innings
1st years: 0-0-0-0-0
2+3 years: 5-2-3-7-1]
"I got the results I wanted. No point in continuing the game.", thought Kataoka. He wanted to end the game now because he didn't think anyone else in the first years could pass.
There were still 4 innings left and it was Sawamura's turn to bat.
Kawakami was pitching against him.
Sawamura was struck out twice by Kawakami. On the last pitch, he grazed the ball with his bat and made it to the first base safely.
"Nice Run", said the pink dude smiling, sitting in the bullpen.
Kawakami struck out everyone not giving them a chance to score.
In the bullpen.
Furuya got up and said, "Excuse me. I don't have anything to do, anymore. May I go train on my own?".
Kataoka nodded permitting him.
"You not coming", asked Furuya.
"Nah, kind of interested in how this is going to go. You, go ahead, see you later.", said Rei. He didn't want to miss watching this memorable scene.
Furuya nodded and left the bullpen.
All the first years were left distraught.
Furuya left because he thought the match had ended already. He didn't think one man, Sawamura who was on the base could lead them.
"It's not like we want to play this losing game either", said one of the 1st years.
"So…what exactly did you come here to do? The coach only wants to see results. How good you were in junior high is irrelevant. It's about time you figured that out", said the pink hair dude.
The 1st year was about to argue when the pink hair dude threatened him saying, "if you don't want to play then let me".
"Excuse me. We'd like to call a member change. I'm playing as the pinch hitter", said the pink hair dude.
The pink hair dude was called to the batter's box.
People in the gallery were shocked that he was using a wooden bat. Wooden bats are harder to control for batters.
"Another interesting guy showed up", thought Miyuki looking at the pink hair dude.
"let's have a good fight", said the pink hair dude stepping into the batter's box.
The pink hair dude tried to converse with Sawamura using signs, but he didn't understand it.
"I'll try to hit it and get you to the home plate", declared the pink hair dude shocking everyone on the field.
They all thought he couldn't do it because he didn't seem like a hard hitter. Except for Rei he fully believed in him.
"GOOD LUCK!", yelled Rei from the bullpen.
Sawamura and the pink hair dude smiled receiving a cheer from their bullpen and felt more pumped up.
"Who is that boy? Did he stand out in the physical ability tests?", asked Director Oota.
"He's from Yoko Junior High in Kanagawa. Kominato Haruichi. His batting average in junior high was 0.635.", said Takashima.
"What! 0.6?", said Director Oota shocked.
Kawakami pitched and Haruichi hit it thinking that it was an easy pitch.
Sawamura started running as soon as Kawakami pitched.
While the outfielders were getting the ball, Sawamura passed the 2nd base already.
The outfielders grabbed the ball and were about to throw it back to the base.
Sawamura passed the 3rd base, running straight for the home plate.
"Go!", said Haruichi.
"You can do it, Sawamura", yelled Rei from the bullpen.
Determined to score Sawamura ran to the home plate, even though it was only 1 run.
Sawamura touched the home plate at the same time the ball came in the catcher's hands.
"Safe!", said Kataoka.
Everyone cheered as the First years finally scored a run.
The catcher was thinking about how reckless Sawamura is using his body, he could have injured his hip or shoulders.
Haruichi was glad that Sawamura made it to the home plate.
Sawamura came to the bullpen and cheered his teammates up saying that it wasn't the end.
"Both teams line up", yelled Kataoka.
This announcement caused the first years to be confused as they had just scored a run against the upperclassmen.
"Coach!", said a 1st year trying to argue.
"Wrap it up. Even if we keep playing, the gap will only get wider", said Kataoka.
[Score:
6 innings
1st years: 0-0-0-0-0-1
2+3 years: 5-2-3-7-1-]
"I agree with the coach. This one run was only luck. Face it the upperclassmen are winning. It's impossible to even think of you guys winning at this point", said Rei getting up from the bullpen and grabbing his stuff.
All the 1st years looked at Rei with hateful gazes.
"What, it's just my opinion. Whatever, I'm gonna go train now. This match is going to end soon anyway", said Rei as he waved goodbye to them.
The match continued and the coach allowed Sawamura to pitch.
Suddenly 4 noisy people came to the field.
"What's with this turnout against the first years? You should be up by 200 runs!", said Jun.
"Yaahaa…Jun-san 200 is impossible", said Kuramochi.
"What an embarrassing game. Makes me sad.", said Ryosuke, Haruichi's brother.
"Let's switch!! I'll play!!", said Jun.
"Jun-san, you just finished lifting!", said Kuramochi trying to hold him back.
Sawamura started pitching and started well, raising the team's confidence.
Masuko came to bat and hit a home run off Sawamura.
Unlike other people's expectations, Sawamura wasn't affected by the homerun and continued pitching.
Meanwhile with Rei.
Currently, Rei was in his dorm room playing games on his phone. He didn't feel like training right now, he was going to later though.
Rei had successfully gained the 30 coins from the mission reward and decided to save them for later.
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