Chương 213: [213] Seidou's Fierce Assault Against Seihou
Chapter 213: Seidou's Fierce Assault Against Seihou
The infield defense shifted to guard the middle, while the outfield positioned themselves to prevent long hits.
This batter from Seidou High School was their most well-rounded hitter, leaving no room for carelessness.
On Seihou's side, Coach Nishidera maintained a solemn expression as he directed the defensive strategy.
Seihou's fielders moved into position, knowing the situation—a runner on second with only one out—posed a high probability of conceding a run.
They had to guard against every possible scenario.
Be cautious of this pitcher's low pitches, Shirasu-senpai, Eijun thought, his sharp eyes fixed on Narakoshi's back on the mound.
He crouched slightly, ready to sprint at any moment.
If the ball managed to get through the infield and wasn't placed too perfectly, scoring from second base wouldn't be a problem.
The outcome now depended on Shirasu's performance—whether he could push this pitcher to the edge.
A low fastball was tricky to handle, but Eijun believed Shirasu could afford to let those pitches go, forcing the pitcher into a tight spot.
Of course, there was a risk—if those low pitches landed in the strike zone, it would give Seihou an easy out.
This was determined by the pitcher's control and the umpire's subjective judgment.
Edge pitches often straddled the line between strikes and balls.
Thus, luck played a part in baseball, particularly in high school games where there was no Hawk-Eye system.
The umpire's decision was final, and players and coaches couldn't challenge it.
The first pitch, aim for a low inside fastball, Narakoshi.
Got it.
Narakoshi nodded solemnly from the mound.
Whoosh!
A streak of light zipped toward the plate, showcasing Narakoshi's composure and the poise of an ace. His confidence didn't waver.
Here it comes, an inside pitch.
Shirasu narrowed his eyes, widened his stance, and swung his bat with force.
Ping!
A solid sound echoed as the ball ricocheted off the bat.
Bang!
"Foul ball!"
A lower pitch than before?
Shirasu frowned slightly.
The pitcher's control seemed to be improving.
Even if he hadn't swung at the last pitch, it would likely have been called a strike.
The pitcher's smooth arm action and the catcher's precise glove work created a crisp sound that could influence the umpire's decision.
This made things more challenging for Shirasu.
Now, he couldn't afford to let tricky pitches go; otherwise, he risked watching a called strikeout.
Second pitch!
Whoosh!
The ball roared as it hurtled toward the plate with undiminished power.
A sharp swish of the bat followed.
Shirasu, relying on his experience, made a last-moment decision.
Pop!
"Strike!"
"Well done, Narakoshi!"
"You've got this, Narakoshi-kun!"
"Don't rush—take it one pitch at a time."
"We've got your back!"
Seihou High School's infielders shouted in unison, cheering for their ace on the mound.
Whoosh!
Another sharp streak of light flew toward the plate.
Pop!
Shirasu hesitated, starting to swing but forcibly stopping mid-motion.
"Ball!"
"Tch, so he didn't fall for it?" Misaki bit his lip, feeling a hint of regret.
Shirasu's expression remained calm, but internally, he was sweating bullets.
He had almost been fooled by that slider, and it was pure luck that the pitch missed the strike zone.
Otherwise, his decision not to swing would have resulted in a strikeout.
This is the way.
Don't let them get easy outs.
Keep piling the pressure on the pitcher, forcing him to throw more pitches.
From the dugout, Coach Kataoka nodded slightly in approval.
Whoosh!
Ping!
"Foul ball!"
Whoosh!
Ping!
"Foul ball!"
Whoosh!
Pop!
"Ball!"
"Persistent and tenacious—Seidou's ninth batter, Shirasu Kenjirou, keeps holding his ground against Seihou's ace, relentlessly fouling off pitches."
"He's really putting up a fight."
"The count is two strikes and two balls, huh?"
"The pitcher and catcher still have the upper hand, don't they?"
"But the tricky part is, Seihou's battery doesn't seem to know what pitch Shirasu is targeting."
"Yeah, that's what makes this so tough."
Whoosh!
Pop!
"Ball four! Walk!"
As the crowd discussed the matchup, the battle on the field seemed to wear on Narakoshi's patience.
His control faltered slightly, resulting in two consecutive balls and a walk to Shirasu.
The spectators, many of whom had predicted this outcome, were left speechless.
They had expected it, but not this quickly.
Perfect, just like this.
Keep the pressure on them, bit by bit.
Coach Kataoka maintained a relaxed demeanor, but on the other side, Coach Nishidera frowned deeply.
With one out and runners on first and second, the top of Seidou's lineup was up again.
And it was only the fourth inning.
If something went wrong here, it would be unacceptable for Seihou High School.
The infield moved to guard the middle, wary of bunts.
They couldn't allow the runners to advance easily.
"First batter, shortstop, Kuramochi-kun."
Wary of a bunt, are they?
Kuramochi raised an eyebrow, a sly smile spreading across his face.
On the bases, both Eijun and Shirasu touched the brims of their caps, fully prepared to dash at a moment's notice.
Their readiness put visible tension on the first and second basemen.
Seihou was in a precarious position this inning.
If they couldn't contain the situation, the consequences could be disastrous.
For the first pitch, Seihou's battery chose a cautious outside corner.
Whoosh!
Ping!
Kuramochi stepped forward aggressively and swung his bat with force.
A loud impact echoed.
The ball ricocheted off the bat.
"Foul ball!"
That angle was sharp!
Kuramochi adjusted his cap and gripped the bat firmly again.
No sign of the runners moving?
This guy seems fully intent on an aggressive attack...
Misaki narrowed his eyes.
Regardless of the situation, they needed to overpower him with sheer force.
If they could dominate with pitch power, even a bunt attempt would be nearly impossible.
Misaki silently formulated his plan.
Next pitch: a breaking ball, inside corner. Let's shake him up a bit here.
Misaki subtly signaled with his fingers.
Narakoshi nodded, lifting his left leg slightly before swinging his arm forward.
At that moment, on the bases, a sharp glint flashed in the eyes of both Shirasu and Eijun.
Their tense bodies exploded into motion.
Both runners dashed toward the next base with incredible speed.
"Stolen base!!"
Whoosh!
The metallic bat shimmered coldly under the sunlight, reflecting a dazzling brilliance.
Seidou High School's aggressive assault had begun!
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