Bab 211: [211] The Clash Against Seihou - The Ace's Intimidation
Chapter 211: The Clash Against Seihou - The Ace's Intimidation
Five-Seam Fastball.
Eijun's signature pitch, reserved for crucial moments.
Against Seihou's cleanup hitter, Sano Shuuzou, Miyuki had no intention of holding back.
"Fwoosh!"
The piercing glint of the fastball reflected in Sano's eyes as he tracked it.
A slightly inside pitch—this was a ball he couldn't afford to let go.
"Swoosh!"
With a decisive swing, Sano launched forward with a powerful step, his bat slicing through the air toward the incoming ball.
But just as it seemed the pitch's path was clear, the ball appeared to warp mid-flight, abruptly decelerating.
Sano's pupils shrank.
A changeup?
No…
The thought barely formed in Sano's mind before the ball's trajectory shifted again.
This time, it rose unexpectedly, veering off its apparent path and narrowly avoiding the bat.
The ball zipped cleanly into Miyuki's glove.
"Pop!"
"Strike three! Batter out!"
The umpire's booming call rang out, followed by a brief moment of stunned silence in the stadium.
Then, like a tidal wave, the crowd erupted in deafening cheers.
"Strikeout! Without hesitation or wasted pitches, the first-year southpaw, Sawamura Eijun, strikes out Seihou's cleanup hitter, Sano Shuuzou, on just three pitches!"
"Whoa! Great pitch, Sawamura!"
"Haha, that's how it's done! Amazing, Sawamura-kun!"
"Eijun-kun, that was beautiful!"
"Outstanding, Sawamura! Keep up this momentum!"
The Seidou dugout erupted with jubilant cheers, and the audience murmured in astonishment.
No one had expected such a highly anticipated showdown to end so decisively.
Three pitches.
Three strikes.
It was almost too clean and efficient to believe.
As the crowd refocused on the pitcher's mound, they took in the sight of Eijun standing tall and proud, exuding an aura of unwavering confidence.
For many, this was their first glimpse of the unique pitch that had baffled Yokohama Kouhoku during their game—a pitch so deceptive it couldn't even be fully deciphered through video analysis.
The pitch seemed straightforward at first, but at the last moment, it exhibited a subtle rising movement akin to an inside-floating ball.
Coupled with the reduced speed of a changeup, it was a nightmare for any batter.
Even if they could locate the release point, the speed of Eijun's arm swing made it nearly impossible to anticipate the pitch type.
And if he chose to follow the same motion with a straight fastball?
The batter would have no choice but to gamble—and possibly lose.
Sano glared at Sawamura with a mix of frustration and caution before retreating to the dugout, clearly shaken by the experience.
As he left, Eijun raised his left hand high and called out confidently:
"Two outs! Two outs!"
The infield echoed his words with vigor:
"Two outs, two outs!"
From the dugout, his teammates cheered:
"One more, Sawamura-kun! Just one more!"
Both managers and the audience, including Ochiai in the stands, wore distinct expressions at that moment.
Coach Kataoka looked satisfied, Coach Nishidera was filled with apprehension, while Ochiai let out a sigh of admiration.
"With a left-handed pitcher like this in the same year, it's going to be tough for Furuya to stand out..."
The next batter stepped up.
"Batting fifth, catcher, Misaki-kun."
In Seihou's dugout, Coach Nishidera issued instructions:
"Don't rush to decide the outcome. Observe this pitcher's ball movement closely, especially his special breaking ball and changeup trajectory."
Misaki nodded solemnly in acknowledgment.
However, Miyuki and Eijun had no intention of giving him such an opportunity.
"Fwoosh!"
"Ping!"
"Bang!"
"Foul ball!"
"Fwoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Strike!"
"Fwoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Strike three! Batter out!"
Every pitch was a fastball, precise and relentless.
"Damn it, this pitcher... every pitch is perfectly placed! And that catcher... he's the most infuriating of all!"
Misaki swung and fouled off one pitch, but watched helplessly as two fastballs zipped by, perfectly placed and impossible to hit.
Frustrated, he glanced at Miyuki before grinding his teeth and leaving the batter's box.
The combination of Miyuki's sharp game sense and Eijun's pinpoint control dictated the rhythm of this inning.
The authority of kings.
The intimidation of an ace.
It was on full display in the top of the fourth inning.
"Three outs! Side retired!"
Seidou High had successfully shut down Seihou's fourth and fifth batters, shifting the momentum firmly in their favor.
...
The murmurs in the stands grew louder.
"Those were some clean fastballs."
"His control is rock-solid. No wonder he shut out Yokohama Kouhoku. This lefty is no joke."
"By the way, did anyone notice the last pitch to Sano? Don't you think it looked like an inside-floating ball?"
"An inside-floating ball? I don't think so..."
"It showed up a few times during the Yokohama game too, right? But I've rewatched the footage and still can't figure out what type of pitch it is."
"It's strange. The movement is really unusual."
"It might be similar to a gyroball?"
"Pfft, no way. That would be impossible."
"Now I'm curious. What kind of pitch was that? Sano's swing clearly showed he was caught off guard."
"I guess we'll find out eventually."
...
Back in Seidou's dugout, the atmosphere was buzzing with energy.
"Nice pitch, Sawamura," Chris said with a smile.
"Thank you, Chris-senpai," Eijun replied, grinning.
Miyuki, removing his gear, spoke in a more serious tone:
"Sawamura, your pitch placement was a bit off earlier. Make sure to tighten it up next inning. Sano clearly wasn't used to your pitches this time, which is why you got him so easily. That won't be the case in his next at-bat."
Even after striking out Seihou's fourth and fifth batters in quick succession, Miyuki maintained his focus, pointing out areas for improvement.
It was a stark contrast to his more laid-back demeanor off the field.
"Got it, Miyuki-senpai," Sawamura nodded earnestly.
...
In Seihou's dugout, Coach Nishidera raised an eyebrow.
"Was that last pitch the same uncertain breaking ball from the Yokohama game?"
Sano, seated nearby, nodded firmly.
"Yes, Coach. That breaking ball is bizarre, unlike any existing pitches. I believe it's a unique pitch developed by this pitcher, likely tied to his peculiar grip and throwing motion."
Coach Nishidera nodded in agreement. His initial suspicions were now confirmed by Sano's firsthand experience.
"So... can you hit it?" Nishidera asked bluntly, cutting to the heart of the matter.
Sano didn't hesitate, clenching his fists as he replied with conviction:
"Even if that pitch reaches perfection, I'll crush it. No question about it!"
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