Chapter 102: Top of the First Inning

"Nishi Tokyo District Baseball Tournament, first semi-final match."

"The match between Seido High School and Inashiro Industrial High School officially begins!"

As the broadcast voice faded, players from both sides entered the field.

In the first inning, Inashiro Industrial is on offense first.

The first to step into the batter's box is Inashiro's First Year rookie, the center fielder, Carlos.

Starting the game, Carlos grinned excitedly; even with Seido's third-year pitcher, the former ace Nanjo Taishi, standing opposite him, Carlos still looked eager to give it a try.

At the catcher's position, Tanaka Wataru studied Carlos for a few seconds—this guy's thighs, what huge muscles!

He is indeed a guy who can rival Kuramochi in speed; when dealing with this type, one must pin them down in the batter's box, otherwise, once the bat makes contact with the ball, even if it's a poor-quality hit, they are very likely to force their way onto base relying on their speed.

On the pitcher's mound, Nanjo Taishi was also curiously observing this dark-skinned guy; with a sturdy build, he looked like an explosive type at first glance, and his arms were thick and full of power.

Nanjo Taishi and Tanaka Wataru exchanged a glance and a signal; both had already made a decision.

Without any hesitation, after seeing the sign given by Tanaka Wataru, Nanjo Taishi threw the ball directly.

A fastball, aimed toward Carlos's hands—it was an inside pitch.

Carlos extended both hands forward, positioning his bat in front of him.

A bunt!!

Everyone was shocked to see this move; a bunt on the very first pitch? His determination to reach base is too strong.

Thwack!

The bat steadily hit the ball onto the ground, bouncing toward third base. Tanaka Wataru felt a dark shadow flash past him; his eyes followed the shadow, and by the time he could see clearly, Carlos had already sprinted quite a distance.

Third Baseman Dong Qingguo rushed forward, scooped up the ball, and quickly threw it toward first base, the ball flying in pursuit behind Carlos.

"Safe!"

Carlos stepped onto first base, and only then did the ball drill into Jiecheng's glove.

"So fast!"

"That's too exaggerated!"

"Too much! Using a bunt right from the start."

"It's a tactic, after all."

The spectators whispered and discussed, while the Seido dugout was relatively quiet.

Letting a guy with such fast footwork reach base put significant pressure on them.

"Nanjo, don't worry about it!"

"Focus on the next one!"

"Forget about him!"

His teammates behind him shouted loudly.

Nanjo Taishi glanced at Carlos on base; he didn't feel much pressure in his heart. There was nothing wrong with the pitch he just threw; it was just that he hadn't anticipated the opponent would use a bunt so quickly as a tactic.

Next, Nanjo Taishi looked toward the batter's box; Inashiro's second batter, the right fielder, was a player with a relatively petite build.

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

Having secured two strikes in a row, the batter was cornered.

Tanaka Wataru then gave the sign for a ball close to the edge of the outside corner; Nanjo Taishi nodded and threw the ball with all his might.

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

"Strikeout!"

The batter swung and missed, and Nanjo Taishi successfully secured the first out.

Next to bat was Inashiro's third batter, the Captain, Haneda Kazuki.

As a slugger, Haneda Kazuki's batting had a sense of power reminiscent of uprooting a willow tree.

"Hoo~"

Nanjo Taishi slowly exhaled a long breath, the hair on his body standing on end.

"In good form."

Nanjo Taishi muttered cautiously; the sun wasn't very scorching today, and the clouds in the sky blocked most of the sunlight.

Seeing Nanjo Taishi's expression, his old partner Tanaka Wataru also saw that he was in excellent form. Well, then let's go, take down Inashiro's Captain!

He set his glove and gave the signal with his right hand.

Nanjo Taishi's pitch flew out quickly; as the ball left his fingertips, Nanjo Taishi clearly felt the subtle sensation in his fingertips. The ball drew an arc and, with a pop, entered the glove.

Whoosh!

The bat swung out, and the arc drawn by the ball grazed past Haneda Kazuki's bat and into the glove.

"Strike!"

Haneda Kazuki pulled back his bat, a flash of surprise appearing in his eyes; the trajectory of this high-speed slider was even trickier than he had imagined.

Returning the ball to Nanjo Taishi, Tanaka Wataru immediately gave the sign for the next pitch.

Haneda Kazuki swinging so hard on the first pitch made Tanaka Wataru feel some pressure; if one didn't count Carlos at the lead-off spot, the batters from the second spot onward were all very aggressive.

With some conjectures in mind, Tanaka Wataru nodded at Nanjo Taishi.

Whoosh!

The ball flew out again; this time it was a cutter. The ball flew toward home plate, and Haneda Kazuki swung again without hesitation.

"Snap!"

"Strike!"

Swinging and missing again, with two strikes, Haneda Kazuki was pushed to the edge of a cliff; however, Tanaka Wataru did not feel relaxed, as he could feel the momentum and determination in the opponent's swing.

In this situation, if it gets hit, something bad is very likely to happen!

But, since you are swinging so aggressively, then come and try this.

For the third pitch, Tanaka Wataru used the same routine he had just employed, calling for a subtle ball.

The baseball was pitched, but Haneda Kazuki did not move at all.

"Ball!"

Haneda Kazuki chuckled; he had guessed right. After he had been swinging so aggressively, the opponent had indeed called for a ball.

With his intention seen through, Tanaka Wataru calmly returned the ball; that pitch had been a test, and Haneda Kazuki not swinging was within his expectations.

Let's try another location.

Tanaka Wataru's glove shifted a little toward Haneda Kazuki's side.

Nanjo Taishi nodded slightly, then a Fastball was jammed into the low inside corner.

Haneda Kazuki swung!

Bang!

With a crisp sound, the baseball was swept away, and at that very moment, Carlos suddenly took off, sprinting toward Second Base with a thudding sound.

"Snap!"

Just as Carlos rushed out, Seido Shortstop Zhitian Jiangtai dove and intercepted the baseball directly!

Flyout!

Before Zhitian Jiangtai had even landed, he gave his wrist a light flick, sending the baseball into the hands of Kominato Ryosuke, who then threw it to First Base.

"Double Play!"

"Whoa!!!"

"Nice!"

"Great catch!"

"Zhitian!"

Cheers erupted instantly from the spectator stands; such a powerful hit was actually snatched up by Zhitian Jiangtai—unbelievable!

Haneda Kazuki stopped between home plate and First Base, sighing as he looked at the figure still lying on the ground; how did that get caught?

Carlos had the same thought; facing a strong enemy like Seido, he had used a Bunt to get on base by surprise and was just preparing to show off his speed, only to be put out.

Conversely, the Seido Dugout erupted with all sorts of strange cries, like a zoo.

"Zhitian, you kid are something else."

"Unexpected."

"Haha, I'll credit you for this one."

As they left the field, teammates showered Zhitian Jiangtai with praise.