Bab 202: [202] The Battle Against Seihou Begins
Chapter 202: The Battle Against Seihou Begins
Third Base Side, Seihou High School Dugout.
Coach Nishidera Yuu watched Seidou High School take the field for defense. His red nose twitched slightly as he studied the figure standing on the pitcher's mound—Furuya. A probing expression appeared on his face.
"To think Coach Kataoka would send this power pitcher to the mound. I thought he'd start with that lefty instead. It seems that Coach Kataoka is young not just in appearance but in spirit as well, huh?" Coach Nishidera murmured, his gaze sweeping toward the first base dugout where Coach Kataoka stood.
This remark wasn't meant to belittle Kataoka.
Instead, it was Nishidera acknowledging the courage behind such a bold decision.
It was a move worthy of respect, especially since few teams dared to confront Seihou High School head-on, even those from powerhouse schools. With a lineup led by a slugger like Sano Shuuzou, most opponents approached the game cautiously.
"Heh, interesting," Coach Nishidera muttered with a faint, cold smile.
Of course, pairing his red-nosed appearance with that cold smile… well, let's just say it painted a rather comedic scene in one's imagination.
"Shuuzou," Coach Nishidera addressed the towering slugger beside him, whose broad grin revealed a menacing aura. "This will be an interesting game. Didn't you want to face that kid from Hokkaido? Consider this as an appetizer before the main course. That pitcher, Furuya Satoru—go ahead and test him."
"Yes, Coach," Shuuzou replied, adjusting his cap.
The sheer weight of his presence spread across the field as his gaze locked onto Furuya on the mound.
His eyes flashed with a sharp intensity, exuding the overwhelming aura of a cleanup hitter unlike any other.
"Top of the first inning, Seihou High School at bat. First batter, first baseman, Nakagawa-kun."
There was no need to observe the pitcher.
Swing at the first pitch.
Furuya's control isn't great—just focus on distinguishing between high and low pitches.
Coach Nishidera had no intention of dragging out the first inning.
If they were going to launch a strong attack, they'd go all in—that was Seihou High School's style.
"Understood."
In the batter's box, Nakagawa adjusted his cap, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he stared down Furuya on the mound.
This unsettling aura didn't go unnoticed by Miyuki behind the plate.
"Seihou's lineup plans to go big in the first inning, just as expected," Miyuki thought, his brows twitching slightly.
He glanced toward the bench, where Coach Kataoka gave him a subtle nod.
Miyuki understood immediately.
It was time to play aggressively.
With their strategy already set, there was no reason to back down now.
Seidou needed to seize the initiative and deliver a decisive blow to Seihou right from the start.
"Infield, be wary of low line drives. Outfield, watch for extra-base hits," Miyuki instructed. "Every batter in Seihou's lineup has the potential for long hits."
In the infield, Yuuki and Ryousuke exchanged solemn nods.
In the outfield, Eijun, Jun Isashiki, and right fielder Shirasu prepared themselves to react at a moment's notice.
Any gap left unchecked would give Seihou a chance to pile on the pressure, which would be the worst-case scenario.
The first pitch was critical.
Furuya had to control it perfectly.
Miyuki subtly signaled the pitch.
On the mound, Furuya gave a slight nod, his calm expression masking the firm grip of his right hand on the ball.
With a powerful stride of his left leg and a high-arcing swing of his arm, his body rotated, transferring all his energy into his right arm.
"Whoosh!"
The ball sliced through the air, a glimmering streak of white light flashing against the backdrop of the infield sky.
With a roaring aura akin to a laser beam, the pitch shot toward home plate like a streak of lightning, carrying an intensity that seemed to pierce the air itself.
Its sheer force brought a stinging chill that was almost palpable.
In the batter's box, Nakagawa's pupils contracted sharply.
Instinctively, he swung his bat.
"Ping!"
A sharp, piercing sound echoed as Fushimi winced in pain, his brow furrowing.
The shock reverberating through his hands made it feel as though he could barely grip the bat anymore.
"Whoosh!"
"Thud!"
"Foul ball!"
The ball flew off violently, slamming into the third-base foul territory.
The umpire's call followed swiftly.
"152 km/h!"
The roar of the pitch, the sharp metallic collision, and the speed flashing on the scoreboard drew gasps of awe from the crowd.
This speed—it was electrifying, stirring excitement in everyone present.
Nakagawa let out a grimace, baring his teeth.
This pitcher wasn't just about velocity.
The raw intensity, the power behind the ball, and the tailing action made it exceptionally challenging to handle.
Even if his control was rough, these traits alone turned his fastball into a formidable weapon.
In the dugout, Coach Nishidera furrowed his brow. He realized he had underestimated Furuya's fastball.
"Whoosh!"
"Ping!"
"Thud!"
"Foul ball!"
"Whoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Ball!"
"Whoosh!"
"Ping!"
"Thud!"
"Foul ball!"
This was proving to be more troublesome than anticipated.
The pitches were unpredictable, darting all over the place, leaving no clear pattern for Nakagawa to exploit.
A glint of determination flashed in Nakagawa's eyes.
He was starting to find his rhythm.
On the next pitch, he was sure he could—
"Whoosh!"
"Swish!"
"Pop!"
"Strike three! Batter out!"
"Wait... what?!" Nakagawa froze, his expression darkening.
He had completely overlooked the fact that this pitcher could throw a high-speed forkball!
Feeling the sting of embarrassment, Nakagawa shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips as he walked off the field.
"Great pitch, Furuya!"
"That's it! Keep that up!"
"Monster pitcher, show them what you've got!"
"This is your time to shine, powerhouse!"
The cheers from the Seidou bench filled the air as Furuya exuded confidence from the mound.
"Next up, the second batter, 2nd baseman, Yamaguchi-kun!"
"The ball tends to rise noticeably, but it stays within the strike zone, and its power is terrifying. The main thing to watch out for is that forkball. The rest, you'll need to feel out for yourself," Nakagawa said quickly in a low voice as he passed Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi nodded solemnly.
Even from the sidelines, he had already felt the fierce aura emanating from the mound.
He understood that this pitcher, Furuya, wasn't just about raw speed.
The challenge he posed went far beyond that.
Glancing back at the dugout, Coach Nishidera gave him a small nod.
Yamaguchi immediately grasped the strategy.
With steady steps, he approached the batter's box, exuding calm and confidence.
He adjusted his grip to choke up on the bat, positioning himself slightly further back in the box.
This subtle move caught Miyuki's attention.
His brow twitched as he analyzed Yamaguchi's stance.
According to the scouting report, Yamaguchi's power was second only to Sano Shuuzou in the Seihou lineup.
Choking up on the bat meant he was aiming to increase his precision at the cost of reach.
For a power hitter to take this approach, it spoke volumes about his confidence in his strength.
Was he planning to counter Furuya's fastball with pinpoint timing?
"If that's the case," Miyuki thought, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, "we'll have to overpower him with sheer force!"
Miyuki signaled his pitch with a decisive movement, his fingers barely visible behind his mitt.
On the mound, Furuya's expression shifted slightly as he caught sight of Miyuki's determined gaze.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he gave a subtle nod, acknowledging the plan.
With a deep breath, Furuya began his motion. His left leg drove forward with precision, his arm arcing high into the air.
"Boom!"
The air seemed to ripple visibly, shockwaves radiating from his powerful motion.
"Whoosh!"
A streak of white light shot toward the plate, slicing through the air like a missile, heading straight for Yamaguchi.
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