Capítulo 24: [24] The Only Choice Is to Attack
Chapter 24: The Only Choice Is to Attack
The freshmen's performance in the fifth inning left the spectators murmuring in amazement.
Originally, everyone thought that having someone as talented as Furuya Satoru among this year's first-years was already a stroke of luck. But now, the emergence of this new pitcher far exceeded everyone's expectations.
"Come on, Asou! Show this kid what we're made of!"
"Asou, just get a hit!"
"Get it done, Asou! If you don't, you're skipping lunch today!"
"You've got this, Asou! Stay on it!"
Enough already! I know!
Takeru Asou, a second-year left fielder, showed a hint of irritation on his face.
This kid's pitch trajectory is really tricky! And that pitching form—it completely hides the release point! Damn it!
One strike, one ball. What's next?
On the mound, Eijun's eyes gleamed with determination as he lightly tapped his right upper arm. Behind the plate, catcher Kariba nodded slightly.
With a fluid motion, Eijun lifted his leg and swung his arm, completing his delivery without a hitch.
"Whoosh!"
A flash of light burst from Eijun's hand.
Here it comes!
An inside pitch!
Asou's expression sharpened as he carefully tracked the ball's trajectory, adjusting his stance and preparing to swing.
"Whoosh!"
The bat sliced through the air. This one's good!
"Crack!"
A sharp sound echoed as the bat connected with the white flash.
But the immediate sensation in Asou's hands caused his expression to change.
"Whoosh!"
The ball shot back towards the field.
"Third base!" Eijun suddenly turned and shouted toward third base.
The third baseman barely needed to move. He extended his glove and caught the ball squarely within its pocket.
"Thwack!"
"Out!!!"
"Damn it, Asou, what are you doing!?"
"A line drive to third? That just gives the first-years even more momentum!"
"Asou, I hereby declare that you're skipping lunch today."
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!"
The pitching form that completely obscured the release point, combined with those unpredictable moving pitches, made Eijun a challenge even for the upperclassmen. However, being experienced players, they gradually began to understand his style after a round and a half of facing him.
But just because they understood it didn't mean they could easily counter it.
In the top of the sixth inning, following Asou's out, the subsequent batters were all methodically shut down by Eijun. It wasn't that his pitches were completely unmanageable, but rather that they required an adjustment period. Eijun had effectively exploited the upperclassmen's unfamiliarity with him to execute his surprise attack.
"Whoosh!"
"Thwack!"
"Strike! Batter out! Three outs! Change sides!"
The final pitch was an outside fastball, a ball that caused the batter to swing and miss, completing Eijun's second consecutive scoreless inning. No runs, no hits!
"Great pitch, Sawamura!"
"Nicely done, Sawamura-kun."
"Well played, Sawamura!"
"Haha, you've got some real talent, kid."
The smooth rhythm of Eijun's pitching, combined with solid defense, had boosted the first-years' morale. Holding the upperclassmen scoreless, Eijun had lived up to his words, and as a result, many of the first-year players now stood a little taller, daring to meet the eyes of their senior counterparts on the bench.
"The upperclassmen's momentum has been stifled."
"Sawamura Eijun, huh? What an interesting kid."
"Last year we got Miyuki, a strong catcher. This year, we've got two strong pitchers—Furuya and Sawamura. Haha, they really do fit in well."
"The first-years have really found their stride."
"Now, the most important thing is whether they can score a run."
"Just one run. If they get that, this game is going to get really interesting."
"And the lineup is bound to come back around to that kid..."
As the chatter filled the air, all eyes gradually focused on Eijun, who stood near the first-year bench.
"Bottom of the sixth inning, first-years up to bat. Seventh batter, pitcher, Sawamura Eijun"
Hiss... Hoo...
Just one run. This inning, they had to score at least one run. As the seventh batter, if Eijun could just get on base, the lineup would surely cycle back to Haruichi Kominato, the leadoff hitter.
This was their best chance to score—a chance they absolutely couldn't miss!
Eijun stepped out of the dugout with determined strides.
He had to get on base, no matter what. After all, an ace is the one everyone pins their hopes on.
There was only one choice: Attack!
"Here he comes!"
At home plate, Miyauchi's eyes flashed with intensity. This kid had nearly managed to get a hit off Tanba in his last at-bat, and his pitching in the last two innings had also left Miyauchi feeling frustrated.
This time, he wouldn't let him off so easily!
"Please guide me!"
Eijun stood in the left batter's box, slightly bowing as he spoke in a low voice. He then lifted his gaze to face Kawakami on the mound, his eyes burning with fierce determination.
Kawakami couldn't help but smile.
"This kid is still the same as back then—glaring at his seniors."
Eijun took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. The metal bat in his hands lightly tapped the home plate, and then he fixed his gaze straight ahead, settling into his batting stance.
The first pitch was an outside fastball.
Got it.
Kawakami nodded slightly, moving his right leg as his arm followed through with a swift motion.
"Whoosh!"
The white ball shot out from his fingers like a bullet.
Eijun's eyes narrowed, and without thinking, he swung the bat forcefully.
"Swish!"
The straight white light of the ball and the swinging bat crossed paths in the next instant.
"Thwack!"
"Strike!"
A low outside pitch! Eijun's body wavered slightly after his swing, his expression changing subtly. Kawakami-senpai's control was truly impressive.
Eijun gritted his teeth, thinking this to himself.
The second pitch was aimed at a similar spot, just a little further outside.
"Whoosh!"
The white ball sped toward him, and Eijun's eyes quickly shifted, his bat halting mid-swing.
"Thwack!"
"Ball!"
Seeing that Eijun didn't swing, Miyauchi's brow furrowed slightly.
Miyauchi could keenly sense that Eijun's batting ability—whether in terms of power or technique—wasn't particularly strong. However, as a pitcher, his sense of the ball far exceeded that of an average batter. Coupled with his sharp intuition and decisive judgment, he appeared to be more troublesome than he actually was.
With that in mind, this next pitch would be the one!
"Whoosh!"
"Crack!"
The bat connected with the white ball, and Eijun's expression changed.
"Whoosh!"
"Thud!"
"Foul ball!"
Perfect. He's being pressured now.
This isn't good. I'm being cornered.
Almost simultaneously, the same thought flashed through the minds of Miyauchi and Eijun. However, while one had a hint of satisfaction in his eyes, the other had a furrowed brow.
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