Chapter 234: The Performance Begins!
Bottom of the fifth inning, Inashiro Industrial High School is on the offense.
Seido High School's baseball team made an unexpected pitching change.
Their original ace, Furuya, was moved to the outfield, replacing Sakai.
Sakai left the field.
The first-year rookie pitcher, Sawamura Eijun, stepped onto the mound.
In the stands, the supporters of Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team were grinning from ear to ear.
"Has Seido run out of ideas?"
"They actually sent another first-year rookie to the mound."
"Do they think everyone is Furuya?"
From the perspective of these fans, they clearly couldn't understand Seido High School's decision.
However, for those who understand baseball, especially those familiar with Seido, witnessing this scene filled them with awe.
"This is unbelievable!"
"Seido High School's baseball team is really lucky!"
Regardless of what Coach Kataoka said, or how the team was arranged, when Furuya's stamina became an issue and someone needed to step in to pitch, the player Seido High School sent out was the most trusted one on the team besides Furuya.
Furuya is one thing.
That kind of monster can't be analyzed with normal logic.
But for a first-year like Sawamura Eijun to be sent onto the mound in such a critical situation?
This was truly shocking to them.
This is also why the professionals praised Seido's good fortune.
Although this first-year rookie is in no way comparable to Furuya, it's undeniable that...
Him being sent out at this moment indicates that in some aspect, this first-year rookie has surpassed Tanba.
The young man stepped onto the pitcher's mound, looking a bit nervous.
Just as the other members of Seido High School's baseball team were pondering how to comfort him, the young man raised his finger on his own.
This gesture not only left Seido High School's teammates puzzled...
Even the fans in the stands couldn't help but feel puzzled.
What was he trying to do?
Just as people were wondering, Sawamura shouted at the top of his lungs.
"I'll keep letting them hit the ball! I'm counting on everyone's defense behind me!!"
Hearing these words.
The fans in the stands were left dumbfounded.
They couldn't help but think, "Is this first-year rookie who just got substituted in some kind of fool?"
His words seemed utterly lacking in restraint.
Team Manager Ota nervously scratched the back of his head.
"Sawamura is still too young. In a situation like this, we should have Tanba or Kawakami..."
Manager Ota had no personal issues with Sawamura.
In fact, to some extent, he quite liked this cheerful and lively young man.
But liking someone is one thing.
When it comes to the actual game, Manager Ota clearly preferred to trust the team's former ace and main pitchers.
Coach Kataoka remained silent.
The rest of the Seido High School baseball team also didn't show much reaction.
Standing at the far end of the field, Furuya couldn't help but curl his lips into a slight smile.
To others, Sawamura Eijun, as a first-year rookie on the team...
...and being thrust into such a crucial situation, he must be feeling anxious.
Even Furuya himself, for a brief moment, had similar thoughts.
But it was just a fleeting thought.
Furuya knew very well that his rival would never give up so easily.
Having finally gotten this opportunity, there was no way he would let it go.
Now, it seems this guy is exactly as he thought—completely unfazed by pressure.
Even when facing the players of Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team, he still exudes confidence.
"Let's teach that guy a lesson, so he knows his place..."
In the dugout of Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team.
The players, reminded by their coach, had already anticipated this scenario.
If Seido High School's baseball team didn't want to self-destruct, they would inevitably opt for a rotation.
To be honest, this timing was a round or two earlier than they had expected.
It seems that the one-point lead has given Seido High School's baseball team a lot of confidence.
Even taking on a bit of risk is not unacceptable to them...
As Coach Kunimoto put it.
No matter what the other side is thinking?
For them, this is an opportunity.
If Furuya maintains his good condition, scoring against this first-year monster would be incredibly difficult.
Although not entirely hopeless.
The chances are slim...
They are well aware of this.
Therefore, the timing of Seido High School's pitching change is undoubtedly their best opportunity to score.
The window is one to three innings, most likely two.
With limited chances, they must seize them firmly.
Stepping up to the batter's box is Inashiro Industrial High School's sixth batter.
This is a player with exceptional power...
Even if he doesn't hit the sweet spot of the ball, there's a high probability he can still send it flying.
Once he steps into the batter's box, he immediately rests the bat on his shoulder.
His intention to hit the ball out of the park is unmistakable.
Crouching behind home plate, Miyuki can't help but frown slightly.
It seems the players of Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team came prepared.
They are brimming with confidence about hitting the ball.
"So confident?"
Given the caliber of Inashiro Industrial High School's players, such confidence is not surprising.
"Come on, it's your time to prove yourself!!"
The opponent is on a completely different level from before.
Although Sawamura Eijun has shown commendable performance on the mound in previous games, will his pitching still hold up against this current opponent?
Even Seido High School's own teammates dare not guarantee it...
Everything has to be tested.
The only thing that offers a slight sense of reassurance to Seido High School's players and supporters is the current score.
The total score is 2:1.
They are leading by one run.
On the pitcher's mound, Sawamura can clearly sense that the batter in the box is not to be trifled with.
Not to mention the batter's previous hitting footage, just the bulging muscle lines on the batter's body are enough to sense his terrifying explosive power.
Facing such a monster, a slight misstep could result in a home run.
"Has Furuya been battling monsters like this all along?"
Although Sawamura Eijun had vaguely sensed the extraordinary nature of Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team while in the dugout, the true strength of this team is undoubtedly formidable.
Now that he's actually standing on the pitcher's mound, facing off against these players, he can even more keenly feel the pressure emanating from them.
It feels as if it could crush the pitcher.
Facing such opponents, Sawamura shows no signs of retreat.
His eyes are firmly locked onto the batter.
He takes his stance and begins his pitch.
"Push the glove out like a wall, swing the arm like a whip, just like this..."
Although Furuya hasn't received much formal training, he has at least played baseball seriously.
Coupled with his continuous self-learning, his entire pitching motion is very orthodox.
Even after joining Seido High School's baseball team, the team's coach and trainers only made minor adjustments to his technique, without any major overhauls.
Sawamura is completely different.
Although he played baseball for two or three years during middle school, his so-called baseball experience is practically non-existent.
After joining Seido High School's baseball team, everything he knows has been meticulously taught by the team's coach and trainers.
Even his pitching motion is no exception.
This was taught to him hand-in-hand by Coach Kataoka.
Originally, this pitching motion was meant to enhance the explosive power of the pitch.
Unexpectedly, in Sawamura Eijun's hands, this pitching motion has also developed a different effect.
"Whoosh!"
The moment the baseball left his hand, the supporters of Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team in the stands, along with their own players, had a glint of excitement in their eyes.
"What a great opportunity!"
The ball speed wasn't fast, and it was right in the strike zone.
For other players, this might require some observation.
But for the prodigies of Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team, such a pitch was like a gift-wrapped hit.
Any main player from Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team would never let such an opportunity slip by.
Especially not their sixth batter.
Facing this seemingly ordinary pitch, Inashiro Industrial High School's sixth batter did not swing.
He watched the baseball fly right past him.
"Smack!"
"Strike!"
This outcome was unexpected by everyone.
"Why didn't he swing?"
"It was such an ordinary pitch."
In the dugout of Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team, the players were filled with questions.
Only Coach Kunimoto, shaking his head, remained silent.
Although he said nothing, Coach Kunimoto understood the situation perfectly.
No one knew the strength of his players better than he did.
The hitting ability of their sixth batter was beyond doubt.
Yet, such a batter stood frozen on the field, not even attempting to swing.
"What you see from the batter's box is different from what we see from the sidelines..."
It must be admitted, Coach Kunimoto is exceptionally sharp.
The scene from the batter's box was indeed different for the sixth batter.
What seemed like an ordinary pitch to others appeared incredibly fast to him.
The baseball arrived in front of him in the blink of an eye.
Although the speed of the pitch still couldn't match Furuya's, it felt impressively fast to him.
"Completely unable to see the release point, making the pitch seem much faster than it actually is. This guy is more troublesome than imagined..."
The sixth batter of Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team pondered silently.
How could he possibly hit such a pitch?
"Can't predict early; must wait until the ball is near to swing."
The sixth batter of Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team made up his mind.
When Sawamura delivered his second pitch.
He did not hesitate this time.
Instead, he decisively swung his bat.
"Whoosh!"
The swing of the bat created a significant whooshing sound.
And the bat accurately connected with the baseball.
"Ping!"
The moment the bat hit the ball, many players and supporters of Seido High School's baseball team felt a chill.
If there was a most critical moment for their team, it was undoubtedly now.
Furuya had left the pitcher's mound to rest in the outfield.
They had no choice but to bring someone else in...
This naturally triggered a series of chain reactions.
If not handled well, the slight advantage they had worked so hard to build could be completely wiped out.
Just as everyone was thinking this, the white baseball that was hit flew only a dozen meters before landing and bouncing.
The moment the ball bounced up, a nimble figure sprinted to it.
"Smack!"
After the figure caught the ball, he immediately threw it to first base.
"Smack!"
"Out!!"
"One out, no one on base."
In the dugout of Seido High School's baseball team, the players were visibly excited.
"That was just too beautiful!"
"As expected of Haruichi, the younger brother of Ryousuke Kominato, his performance is equally striking."
The one who just picked up the ball was Haruichi Kominato, who replaced his older brother as the second baseman.
Many of Seido High School's teammates had been uneasy about this outcome.
They had been playing with bated breath, worried about the game.
Now it seems their worries were completely unnecessary.
Although these two first-year rookies can't be compared to Furuya, their performances were also outstanding and striking.
"The first-years' performance has already begun!"
After securing the first out, the young man named Sawamura Eijun seemed to have activated a cheat code.
He went on to secure two more outs.
The players of Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team were indeed tough; they had clearly prepared for Sawamura's pitching.
The remaining seventh and eighth batters.
They both made contact with the ball during their at-bats and managed to hit it out.
However, the results after the ball was hit were completely different from what they had expected.
"Out!"
"Out!!"
"Three outs, switch sides!!"
Sawamura Eijun, who had just been substituted into the game, secured three outs with only five pitches.
Such a stunning performance left the fans in the stands utterly astonished.
Especially those fans who had just mocked Sawamura, they felt as if they had been slapped in the face.
For Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team, this inning was particularly frustrating.
It was supposed to be a great opportunity for their team.
Yet, they failed to capitalize on it at all.
It was at this moment that the players of Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team finally realized.
They had underestimated Seido!
They had also underestimated these two first-year players from Seido High School's baseball team.
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