บท 100: 100. Friendly Game (VII)

The first batter was Takeo. Getting into position and gripping his bat tightly, Takeo had his eyes on getting to a base. Rei asked first pitch to the edge. Izumi pitched it to the edge and Takeo left it. It was a smart move from him, cause it would have only been a foul at best.

Rei threw the ball back and asked for a low pitch this time. Izumi nodded and threw the pitch, but Takeo was able to bring his bat down and connect it to the ball. The ball found a gap between the Tanaka and the third baseman. Takeo reached the 1st base but did not push it further and take a risk.

Rei just sighed and got ready for the next pitcher. It was another club player, and this time Rei did not let his guard down on any of them and asked for a pitch to the inside. As Rei asked for the pitch, he couldn't notice the batter choking the bat. He decided to swing his batter quicker to connect it.

Izumi nodded as he pitched to the inside, but the batter could react and swing quicker because of choking up and connecting the ball. The ball flew as Takeo ran towards the second base. The ball flew over the third baseman and before he could turn back with the ball, Takeo settled at 2nd and CP at 1st.

The next batter came up and Rei asked for a lower pitch. Izumi delivered the pitch and the batter couldn't get his bat to connect making it a strike. The next pitch was to the inside, producing the same result and the last one to an outer corner for a swinging strikeout.

Finally getting an out Rei felt relieved. The next batter came up and Rei got ready for another out. He asked the first pitch right down the middle in the hope to make him jam the swing. As expected, when the batter noticed it was right down the middle he swung his bat but the power behind the pitch got him jammed and the ball went right to Izumi for a catch.

Both the runners did not move from their spots and felt relieved that they did not. With him out, their rotation was back to the start with the first batsman coming in again. This was the same person who started off last inning and whom Rei did not take in mind during the last inning. This time he was more focused to end the inning here. If not, next would be Tanaka and the probability of his hitting is high.

As the batter came up, he exhaled slowly getting ready and tightened his grip. Rei asked a pitch right down the middle once again and Izumi accepted. Like the last batter, he also swung his bat, but unlike him, he had enough force behind his swing to send the ball back towards the left field. All of them ran and the left fielder caught it after a single bounce.

He threw it to third, but Takeo dove at the plate, escaping a tag out. The third baseman looked at the other bases, but the runners were able to reach on time and were safe. He threw the pitch back to Izumi as Tanaka stood in the box.

Rei exhaled slightly as the worst situation occurred with all bases loaded and a batter who can hit came up. A sudden thought occurred in his mind to walk Tanaka and deal with Suzuki, who was up next. But he threw the thought away as he noticed Izumi's grin and fire in his eyes.

Taking a deep breath once again, he asked for an inside pitch and Izumi nodded. He pitched correctly towards its direction and Tanaka bought his bat, but what shocked everyone was that he went for a bunt. This shocked everyone at Takeo in third base and ran towards home and the ball rolled towards first base.

Izumi ran for the ball to get Tanaka out, but as he took the ball, Takeo jumped on the home plate for a single. Izumi could only grit teeth and throw it at first base to get 3 outs. The run was valid as it was before Tanaka got out and the score was now equal with 2 runs each.

Rei slowly went back to the bench, wondering about Tanaka's sudden discussion to go for a bunt. Observing the runners' expressions, he knew even Takeo did not expect that. But he shook his head in the end as that did not matter as it tied the score with both the teams going into the final inning with 2 runs each. They needed a run this inning and by the looks of it, he will get a chance this inning.

Rei got out of his gear and took his helmet before doing some swings at the side. This was their last inning, and they needed to make it count. The first batter went up but did not stay long as he came back getting a strikeout. Daichi made his way into the box as Rei went into the deck circle.

Daichi fouled the first 2 pitches but was able to connect the 3rd one. The pitch unluckily went directly to the 1st baseman. Getting two outs simultaneously, Suzaku's morale was high, and the burden fell on Rei.

He stood in the box as he took a deep breath. He got ready and Suzaku pitched the first ball for a low one. Rei did not swing his bat down as he knew this can not be a big shot even if he connects it. The next pitch was to the inside and Rei left that one, getting 2 strikes.

He was waiting for a pitch which would get him a triple or a double not a single and the last pitch was just what he wanted, a pitch to the outside. Expecting this pitch, Rei swung his bat, and it connected, blasting off towards the right field. He dashed to the first base, and he noticed the ball still in the air and ran to the 2nd base.

He did not stop there and ran to the 3rd one. The 1st baseman acted as a cut-off man, but he could not throw the ball to 3rd base in time. Rei stood at third base as he gave a nod to Akira to bring him home.