Chapter 120: Inashiro's Final Struggle

On the Pitcher's Mound, Huangqian Yangyi stared at Haneda Kazuki; their gazes met in the air—one wanting to resolve the opponent as quickly as possible to end the game, the other bearing the final hope of the entire team, swearing to hit the ball out no matter what.

Miyuki, in the Catcher position, coughed twice to draw Huangqian Yangyi's attention to his glove, then signaled.

The Inashiro third-batter Captain—at this critical moment for the team, his determination to hit was beyond doubt; if there were any slip-up in the pitch now, it would very likely be hit, and Inashiro's momentum for a counterattack would surge.

"Captain, hit it out!"

"We're counting on you, Captain!!"

"You have to get a hit!!"

Whether it was the Inashiro fans in the stands or the players in the Inashiro Dugout, everyone was using their greatest strength and voice to cheer for Haneda Kazuki.

When the team encountered a predicament and was about to lose the game, the team's Captain stood in the Batter's Box bearing everyone's expectations, and everyone hoped he could turn the tide.

Seeing the signal from Miyuki, Huangqian Yangyi nodded; facing a Batter like Haneda Kazuki, who bore the team's hopes with such firm conviction, an ordinary pitch path was very dangerous, yet Miyuki had made a bold pitch selection at this moment.

A ball!

The first pitch was a ball jammed toward the edge of the Strike zone!

Huangqian Yangyi took a deep breath, his focus absolute, his left leg slowly lifting, his whole body standing steadily on the Pitcher's Mound like a sculpture.

The next moment, Huangqian Yangyi lowered his center of gravity, stepped his left leg forward in a long stride, and swung his right arm to pitch the baseball with all his might.

Whoosh!

The baseball flew toward Home Plate.

Haneda Kazuki dared not miss any opportunity, and the bat in his hands swung decisively!

Thwack!

Before the baseball entered Home Plate, it suddenly veered, curving toward Haneda Kazuki's leg and entering Miyuki's glove; it was an inside two-seam ball!

"Strike!"

Haneda Kazuki swung and missed, but no expression could be seen on his face; it remained just as firm and serious.

"Bastard! Why did Kazuya call for a ball right off the bat?" Narumiya Mei gritted his teeth, glaring at Miyuki.

"He's got the Captain's mindset figured out; at this critical moment, the Captain's desire to hit is too obvious," said Shinkawa Kenichi.

In the Batter's Box, after swinging and missing the first pitch, Haneda Kazuki had no outward reaction, but he knew in his heart that his intentions had been seen through; even so, would an ordinary person really dare to call for a ball on the first pitch in such a critical moment?

Haneda Kazuki had no time to overthink, as Miyuki had already signaled for the second pitch.

Huangqian Yangyi tilted his neck, loosened his shoulders, and quickly threw the second pitch!

Whoosh!

The baseball flew in rapidly, and Haneda Kazuki's bat swung toward the outside corner at the same time!

The baseball flew in at high speed, and an exaggerated movement occurred before Home Plate—it was that strange pitch; Haneda Kazuki's eyes narrowed, and he stretched the bat in his hands outward with all his might.

Bang!

The bat barely reached the little white ball.

"Haa!"

Haneda Kazuki shouted, actually managing to carry the baseball out.

"Run!"

In an instant, the shouts of Inashiro fans rang out across the entire stadium.

Haneda Kazuki sprinted toward First Base step by step, his eyes fixed only on that base; he had no mind to look at where the baseball in the sky was flying.

The little white ball passed through the infield and landed on the ground; Isashiki stepped forward, picked up the ball, and threw it to First Base.

"Safe!"

Haneda Kazuki slid into First Base before the baseball could be caught by Yuki Tetsuya.

"Wooo!!!"

"Captain!!"

"Inashiro!"

Inashiro's supporters were completely boiling over, and the players in the Dugout were jumping with excitement; those unaware of the situation might have thought they had won the game.

Standing on First Base, Haneda Kazuki panted heavily; it was too thrilling—he had completely subconsciously extended his bat to barely make contact with that last pitch, and being able to hit a base hit was beyond his own expectations, but the final result was clearly not bad; he had successfully reached base, and the next Batter was the 4th batter, Shinkawa Kenichi.

On the Pitcher's Mound, Huangqian Yangyi looked helplessly at Miyuki; the two sighed and shook their heads with a bitter smile—there had been nothing wrong with the pitch just now; Miyuki had seen it clearly: Haneda Kazuki's swing had been aimed at the path of a Fastball, yet he had been able to forcibly change the trajectory of his swing to make contact with the ball; one could only say the opponent's desire to win was too strong.

Top of the ninth, Inashiro Industrial attacking, score 2:1, two outs, runner on First Base.

At this moment, all the spectators in the stadium were staring fixedly at the field; the Seido High School Baseball Team had been on the verge of victory, and who could have imagined that Inashiro would have a runner on base at the very last moment, perfectly embodying the uncertainty of the game.

Haneda Kazuki reaching base reignited Inashiro's momentum for a counterattack; if they couldn't suppress it in time, it would be hard to say how this game would ultimately turn out.

In the Seido Dugout, Manager Kataoka remained as calm as a mountain, while beside him, Department Head Ota was already sweating profusely, and Takashima Rei was clutching her pen tightly.

The substitute players were even more worried, anxiously leaning against the railing and looking toward the Pitcher's Mound.

"Sticky pests!"

"Wouldn't it be better for those Inashiro bastards to just admit defeat? What a waste of time!"

"Hmph, a deathbed struggle!"

On the field, Huangqian Yangyi also felt that these guys from Inashiro were difficult to deal with; they were only one out away, yet now a variable had appeared.

Behind him, his teammates were also concentrating, waiting for his pitch.

Shinkawa Kenichi stood in the Batter's Box; Miyuki watched silently for a moment, then gave a signal that surprised Huangqian Yangyi.

Changeup!!

Huangqian Yangyi was stunned for a moment, then understood Miyuki's meaning; this Changeup had been hidden for months—was it time to use it now?

After thinking for a moment, Huangqian Yangyi shook his head at Miyuki; it wasn't time yet—this was only the Semi-finals, and the people from Ichidai Sanko were currently watching this game; if he used it early now, it would only give Ichidai Sanko information for nothing.

Trust me!

Huangqian Yangyi gave Miyuki a look; the latter smacked his lips, nodded helplessly, and then signaled for an outside four-seam Fastball.

Very quickly, Huangqian Yangyi threw the ball.

Shinkawa Kenichi did not move a muscle, showing no intention of swinging the bat at all.

Thwack!

"Strike!"

Miyuki returned the ball; such a composed side of Shinkawa Kenichi put him under some pressure, as this Inashiro 4th batter was far too steady.

For the next pitch, Miyuki called for an outside pitch again, but this time it was a Slider.

Huangqian Yangyi swung his arm, and the little white ball flew toward the edge of the strike zone.

Shinkawa Kenichi swung the bat!

Whoosh!

The sound of the wind whipped up by the bat whistled past Miyuki's ears.