บท 260: [260] A Back-and-Forth Battle with Kiryuu

Chapter 260: A Back-and-Forth Battle with Kiryuu

Accompanied by Eijun securing the three outs for Kiryuu High School in the bottom of the second inning, the momentum briefly shifted into Seidou High School's favor.

However, Kiryuu High School was no pushover.

In the top of the third inning, when Seidou High aimed to build on their momentum and extend their lead, Kiryuu High quickly counterattacked.

Their first batter, Shirasu, faced immense pressure from Kiryuu's pitcher-catcher duo, who capitalized on the unique qualities of Tachi's pitches.

His terrifying pitch velocity and heavy movement overwhelmed Shirasu, forcing him into a defensive position.

After barely holding on through four pitches, he had no choice but to swing at an outside fastball, resulting in a line drive toward third base, where it was easily caught for an out.

Learning from the previous inning's duel with Eijun, Kiryuu's catcher Shibata adjusted his strategy, reducing low pitches while using them selectively for effect.

This allowed Tachi to fully utilize his strengths.

First batter Kuramochi still struggled against Tachi's overwhelming pitch quality.

Cornered, he gambled on a swing but was decisively struck out by a breaking ball.

Next up was Ryousuke, but he also faced difficulties against the raw power of a pitcher like Tachi.

Although he managed to handle such situations during previous practice games, the increased pitch velocity and sharpness in this match made things far more challenging.

Despite using his skills to extend the at-bat, Tachi ultimately secured another out.

In the top of the third, Seidou's aggressive offense was quickly met with a firm response from Kiryuu High, who sent a clear message: the game had just begun, and the outcome was still up in the air.

"That's Kiryuu High School for you," Eijun muttered from Seidou's dugout, watching Tachi jog back to the bench.

"They were last year's runner-up team and this year's championship favorite. If we want to beat them, we need to be even stronger, even more dominant," Miyuki declared, fully geared as he stepped out of the dugout, his expression serious.

"Got it, Miyuki-senpai," Eijun responded with a bright smile. His slightly narrowed eyes shone with his characteristic confidence.

Bottom of the Third Inning – Kiryuu High School's Offense

"Batter number seven, center fielder, Katou."

Kiryuu's strong power lineup demanded an equally strong response.

To suppress them, Seidou needed to face them head-on with sheer force.

While risky, this approach aligned perfectly with Eijun's pitching style—one that thrived on decisive battles within the strike zone.

His unique quirks, including his flexible arm mechanics, formed the foundation of his pitching, paired with an unyielding willpower.

Against Kiryuu's lower lineup, Eijun showcased his full strength, exuding an imposing aura and commanding presence on the mound.

"Whoosh!"

"Ping!"

"Thud!"

"Foul ball."

Even with just his fastball, Eijun made Kiryuu's lower lineup feel overwhelmed and unable to grasp the timing.

Paired with his deceptive changeup, he pushed his abilities to the limit.

Three pitches later, Eijun struck out Katou for the first out.

The eighth batter followed, misjudging the timing of a single changeup.

Although he barely made contact, it resulted in a grounder to first base, leading to an easy out.

Facing the ninth batter, Eijun needed just two pitches to force a fly ball to right-center field, which Shirasu successfully caught for the third out.

"Out!"

"Three outs!"

"Switch sides!"

Eijun's outstanding performance seemed to ignite Kiryuu High School, pushing them to step up their game.

Their stellar defensive capabilities and Tachi's brilliant pitching were no less impressive than Eijun's display.

Both teams entered a stalemate, with neither willing to back down, trading blows in offense and defense.

Top of the Fourth Inning – Seidou High School's Offense

The batting order began with third batter Isashiki Jun, presenting Seidou with an excellent scoring opportunity.

However, Kiryuu High School wasn't about to give Seidou any easy chances.

Ace pitcher Tachi went all out in this inning.

Even though Seidou managed to push runners to third base, they were denied the opportunity to score.

When Eijun stepped up to the plate again, Kiryuu's catcher Shibata left no gaps for Eijun to exploit.

After a brief struggle over two or three pitches, Shibata's nearly flawless pitch selection targeted Eijun's weaknesses.

Reluctant to swing at tricky pitches, Eijun could only watch the final fastball land cleanly in the glove, taking a called third strike.

Isashiki remained stranded at third base, and Masuko at first, as Seidou missed a prime chance to extend their lead.

Three outs later, the sides switched again.

Bottom of the Fourth Inning – Kiryuu High School's Offense

Eijun wasn't about to give Kiryuu's top lineup any room to capitalize.

As the second round of batters began, leadoff hitter Tsuchikata stepped up to the plate for the second time.

Determined to counter the unpredictability of Eijun's quirky pitches, Tsuchikata shortened his grip on the bat and stood at the front of the batter's box.

This adjustment didn't escape Miyuki's sharp observation.

Adapting their approach, Miyuki changed the pitch sequence from the first round, focusing on throwing an overwhelming number of breaking balls, particularly changeups.

Eijun, understanding Miyuki's strategy, perfectly executed every pitch as instructed.

Tsuchikata, unable to decipher their intentions, succumbed to hesitation and was struck out after four pitches.

Miyuki knew exactly how to handle a power hitter like Tsuchikata without wasting unnecessary effort.

The second batter followed but failed to make any impact either.

A mix of changeups and five-seam fastballs, with an occasional straight pitch thrown in, disrupted his rhythm completely.

Compared to his first at-bat, Kiryuu's second batter couldn't adapt to Seidou's new tempo.

Three straight swings and misses later, he too was struck out, giving Eijun consecutive strikeouts against the first two batters.

This performance boosted Seidou's morale to an all-time high.

However, Kiryuu's third batter was not as easy to handle.

Even in his first at-bat, he proved troublesome.

With exceptional pitch recognition, power, technique, and the advantage of a metal bat, he was a formidable opponent.

This time, he capitalized on the first inside fastball Eijun threw while trying to establish the count, smashing it with raw power.

The ball flew toward deep center field, landing for a long hit.

The third batter advanced to second base, putting Kiryuu High in scoring position for the first time in the game.

Now, the fourth batter, Tachi, stepped up to the plate. For the first time since the game began, Kiryuu High School had their best scoring opportunity!

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