Chương 85: 85. First Match (III)

Rei was the first one to talk as he saw the first batter up.

"If you want my honest opinion, this match will be very hard for us to win."

Shindou could only clutch his hand as hard as he could and be quiet.

Rei continued, "Even though your aim is good, your speed is severely lacking. We were lucky in the 1st inning, as the batters were not yet used to your pitch. But according to my calculations, Ito-senpai might hit it in the next inning."

*DING*

Hearing the metal bat, Rei looked up to see their first batter jammed right to the pitcher, giving an easy out.

"For now, we can only coordinate better and I will help you as much as I can. So, for now, go get ready, you might have time to bat this inning."

Shindou got up and walked over to his helmet. He kept thinking about what Rei said, and even if he did not like it, he could not deny the fact. He wore the helmet as he saw the 6th batter barely getting a single.

Rei sat on the bench and looked out over the dugout, still in his gear. He thought about various ways to counter Akhira in the next inning. He knew that if a pitcher could not perform well, then it is partly also the catcher's fault.

He noticed the 7th batter giving a catch straight to third base, and Shindou taking some practice swings. He saw the batter by first base successfully reach second base. Shindou then stepped into the box and got ready for the first pitch.

The first pitch was right to the middle, which Shindou swung but too early, making it a foul. He got back into position and Suzaku pitched the second ball to the low outside corner, making Shindou leave it.

Suzaku received the ball back and then pitched the last ball. This time Shindou could not connect it and got his third strike making 3 outs. Rei could only sigh and get up. He knew most of the players were bad at batting and couldn't do anything about it.

All the players got back to the ground and Rei saw Akhira coming towards the box as he sat. He observed Akhira taking a couple of practice swings and started to think harder on what to do.

Akhira finally completed practice swinging, and the Umpire gave the signal to pitch. Rei slowly kept his mitt at a low position but still within the strike zone to get an easy strike. Shindou nodded and slowly threw the ball.

As the ball came near, Akhira brought his bat down quickly and hit the ball straight to a barely foul at first base. Rei could only see the ball making contact and barely making it into the foul territory.

He sat back down as Shindou received the ball. He then asked the next pitch to the inside, hoping it would be harder to hit. Shindou slowly bought his hand down and pitched the ball at the place Rei asked for.

This time Akhira did not move his bat and let it pass for a strike. Rei felt relieved and threw the ball back. Shindou received the ball and noticed Rei asking for the next pitch in the same position.

Shindou then pitched the ball again to the same position, but this time Akhira brought his bat down and hit the ball. He got jammed but the force behind the swing was enough to fall in between Tanaka and the Right fielder giving an easy single.

Rei felt a bit frustrated at his poor pitch selection but calmed down and saw the next batter was Daichi. He slowly sat back down and asked the next pitch a bit higher. Shindou took a deep breath as he noticed Akhira taking a big lead at first base.

He left Akhira alone and pitched right where Rei asked him. Daichi swung his bat down but wasn't able to make contact with the ball, earning a strike. Rei stood up to see Akhira back at the first base and threw the ball to Shindou.

Rei could only take a deep breath and ask for the next pitch. This time Rei was going to the outside corner. Shindou nodded and ignored Akhira once again when he saw his big lead. This time Daichi was able to bring the bat down and make contact but was a fool to the back.

Rei stood up, took the ball and threw it back to Shindou. Being in 2 strikes, Daichi felt a bit nervous as he held his bat tighter. Shindou threw the next ball a bit higher than Rei asked for, and Daichi was finally able to make contact.

Akhira started running towards the 2nd base as he saw Daichi making contact. The ball went straight to Tanaka at shortstop, but unfortunately, Akhira made it to 2nd base and threw it to 1st for an out.

Daichi made his way back a bit disappointed but cheered up as he saw Akhira making it to 2nd base. The next batter was Suzaku, and Rei observed him as he took his swings. Rei knew Suzaku could also hit properly and stayed a bit cautious.

Shindou took a deep breath and pitched the first pitch. Suzaku left the pitch untouched, only observing it. Rei stood up as he tried to see Akhira's position and threw it back to Shindou when he saw Akhira at 2nd base. He was a bit cautious of Akhira's base-stealing as he did not want him at 3rd base.

With Akhira on the 3rd base, Shindou would only feel more pressured and it could affect his pitching, which Rei wanted to avoid. Shindou then got ready and pitched the next ball. Rei this time asked it inside and near Suzaku's chest.

Shindou pitched it and Suzaku brought his bat and was able to make contact with it. But unfortunately, the ball went straight ahead to Shindou. Seeing this, Rei stood up and shouted, "To the 3rd" pointing at it.

Shindou did not waste any time and threw it straight to 3rd base. The baseman caught it and tagged Akhira out and threw it to First base and got Suzaku out. Rei clapped his hands as they made their way back.

"GOOD WORK. NOW GO OUT THERE AND SCORE SOME RUNS NOW." said coach clapping on their backs.

Rei just sat down as he saw their first batter getting ready along with Chino and Tanaka. Rei started to slowly remove his gear as he might have a chance to bet this inning. He checked the scoreboard and realized 2 innings had already gone by with both sides, still with zero scores on the board.

He noticed the first batter already up and Suzaku throwing the ball. Unfortunately for him, Suzaku got a swinging strikeout. Next up was Chino who fouled a couple of balls till he was able to hit to the outer field.

But the ball went straight into the right fielder's glove. Rei stood up, took his helmet and bat, and made his way to the deck circle. He stood there and saw Tanaka standing on the box taking a couple of swings and only wished him to get into the base.

Rei wanted to score in this inning to make it easier for Shindou to bat. He then slowly noticed Tanaka fouling some balls and missing the last ball for a strikeout. Rei could only sigh and get back to the dugout.

He quickly wore his gear and came back into the field. He sat behind his plate and looked up to the first batter. He saw him in the left box and thought about some ways to get him out. Rei asked the first pitch to the middle and luckily the batter fouled it towards the first base.

Rei asked the next one a bit higher, and the batter plopped it towards the third base for an easy catch. The next batter struck at the first ball as he came, and it was able to squeeze through the first and second baseman for an easy single.

As the next batter came in, Rei noticed the runner taking a big lead and asked the ball completely outside the zone to throw it to first base for a quick out. Shindou nodded and threw the ball outside the zone, and Rei threw it to first base as soon as he caught it while getting up.

The runner did not expect this and could not react in time. The first baseman was easily able to catch it and tag the runner out for the 2nd out.

Rei sat back down as Shindou received the ball and got ready once again. Rei asked for a low ball and the anxious batter tried to hit it on the first pitch. The ball went directly to Shindou for an easy out, and they made their way back to the dugout.

SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO
Project_Zero

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