Bab 259: [259] Sawamura Strength Against Kiryuu
Chapter 259: Sawamura Strength Against Kiryuu
"Bottom of the second inning, Kiryuu High School's turn to bat. Stepping up is the cleanup hitter and ace pitcher, Tachi."
"Having just conceded the first run of the game, Kiryuu's ace now takes the batter's box. Not only the ace but also their cleanup hitter, Tachi, faces Seidou's starting pitcher, Sawamura. What kind of thrilling duel will this showdown between titans bring us?"
"Boom!"
A gust of wind swept across the field, accompanied by Tachi's menacing smile.
Similarly, Tachi remained the same fearsome presence—a familiar yet overwhelming aura of dominance that felt as if it could crush everything.
This cleanup hitter exerted pressure on pitchers comparable to Seihou High's monstrous cleanup, Sano Shuuzo.
Eijun had felt this intensity during their last matchup, but this time, the pressure was even greater.
The sinister grin on Tachi's face revealed a ferocious determination, signaling his intent to destroy his opponent.
Eijun instinctively tightened his grip on the ball, a thought flashing through his mind:
Relax. If you stiffen up, your arm won't swing properly.
Behind home plate, Miyuki signaled for him to stay calm, his relaxed demeanor reassuring.
Eijun took a deep breath, nodded slightly, and adjusted his stance to a more natural and composed form.
Miyuki nodded back, a faint smile on his face.
"Let's start with a surprise—a five-seam fastball. Keep it low and sharp. Sawamura, throw your best pitch, the one you've perfected, and show this old friend what you're made of!" Miyuki decisively called the signal.
Eijun's lips curled into a knowing smile.
Miyuki-senpai really knows how to fire up a pitcher.
Eijun lifted his right leg high and swung his arm with precision.
Under Tachi's intense gaze, Eijun stepped forward, the dust rising from the mound. His refined mechanics concealed the release point of the ball until the very last moment.
And then, the pitch exploded.
"Whoosh!"
A streak of light shot straight toward home plate.
Tachi's expression sharpened as he tracked the pitch.
Initially, he read it as an inside fastball and prepared his swing.
However, as the ball neared, it subtly slowed down and shifted slightly upward with an inside tailing motion.
The result?
The metal bat completely missed the ball, which slipped past and landed snugly in Miyuki's glove.
The bat's swing was just a fraction too late.
"Pop!"
The clear sound echoed like a slap to Tachi's face, jolting him awake.
"Strike!"
The pitch is faster, more precise, and his form is stricter and more polished than before.
Tachi's mind replayed Eijun's pitch in vivid detail, particularly the ball's unique movement.
This pitch was undoubtedly the rumored special breaking ball.
It's tough to handle. Tachi felt his wariness of Eijun surge to its peak.
"Second pitch—inside four-seam fastball," Miyuki signaled without hesitation.
To Miyuki and Eijun, defense was just another form of offense.
Seidou's strategy was to maintain relentless pressure.
"Whoosh!"
Once again, Eijun's arm swung, unleashing a dazzling streak of white light that tore through the air with a resounding sonic boom.
This time, Tachi was ready. Stepping forward, he swung his bat with all his might.
"Ping!"
A sharp, piercing sound followed.
Tachi's expression remained unchanged, but his pupils contracted sharply for a moment.
"Whoosh."
The ball ricocheted off the plate, slamming hard onto the ground.
"Bang!"
"Foul!"
It bounced past the first-base foul line.
The powerful inside pitch had such a sharp angle that Tachi hadn't anticipated, causing a critical miscalculation in his swing trajectory.
"Ohhh! Just two pitches in, and Seidou's battery has already cornered Kiryuu's cleanup hitter! This is exactly what Seidou's aggressive pitching is known for. Can Kiryuu's cleanup break through this relentless battery's defense?"
The Third Pitch.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Miyuki and Eijun exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.
Eijun raised his arm.
"Whoosh!"
A flash of brilliance shot forth at that moment.
The pitch exuded an unstoppable force and sharp intent, racing toward home plate with relentless precision.
It was a masterpiece of control, velocity, and movement, a perfectly executed low outside pitch.
"Swish."
The batter showcased his strength.
The pitcher unleashed his resolve.
"Ping!!!"
A powerful impact resounded across the stadium like thunder.
"Whoosh."
The ball flew back into the air, but its flight was weak and slow, arching into foul territory down the third-base line.
Masuko took a few steps and, under Tachi's now grim expression, calmly caught the ball.
"Pop."
"OUT!"
"Ohhh! They went for the fastball again on the final pitch! Just three pitches—yes, only three pitches—and Seidou's first-year southpaw, Sawamura Eijun, retired Kiryuu's cleanup hitter!"
"Well done, Sawamura!"
"Ha! You're really something, kid. Really impressive!"
"Two more to go—finish them off smoothly, Sawamura."
"Sawamura-kun, that was amazing!"
"Crush them completely, Sawamura!"
"Go for it, Eijun-kun!"
"Let's go, Sawamura!"
"Seidou! Seidou! Seidou!"
With Tachi's out, the momentum of the game became clear.
Although it was still early and the outcome undecided, Seidou High had undoubtedly seized control of the match from the very start, establishing a solid rhythm for their subsequent offense and defense.
After retiring Kiryuu's cleanup hitter, Eijun continued to build on his momentum against the next batters.
For Kiryuu's lineup, adjusting to Eijun's unique pitching form wasn't an issue anymore.
However, Eijun's growth over the past three months had exceeded expectations. His improvements in pitch types, velocity, and control left Kiryuu High struggling to adapt.
Against the fifth batter, Eijun took a bit more time but managed to strike him out with four pitches.
The sixth batter, catcher Kyohei Shibata, was cornered with two pitches before hitting a grounder directly at the pitcher.
Eijun calmly fielded it and threw to first for the out.
Thus, after Seidou's stellar offense in the top of the inning, Eijun capped the bottom half with a flawless three-up, three-down performance.
With Seidou holding both the lead and momentum, they temporarily maintained control of the game.
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