Chapter 130: Leaving the Field Due to Injury

"Argh!"

Huangqian Yangyi instantly felt a sharp pain in his waist, his entire body curling up like a cooked shrimp as he knelt to the ground.

"Nii-chan!!"

In the stands, Huangqian Kumiko shouted anxiously.

"No, it can't be."

"At a time like this."

"The luck is too bad."

The spectators whispered to one another about the sudden incident.

In the Seido dugout, the complexion of Coach Kataoka turned deathly pale in an instant; he rushed out in a few strides and immediately shouted: "Doctor!!"

The teammates on the field also swarmed toward the Pitcher's Mound at this moment.

"Huangqian!"

Tanaka Wataru, who was closest, knelt on the ground and supported Huangqian Yangyi's shoulders.

Dong Qingguo, Yuki Tetsuya, Kominato Ryosuke, and others also surrounded them in an anxious circle.

"No, I'm fine." Huangqian Yangyi gritted his teeth and said; although he was hit by the baseball, fortunately, it was in the fleshier part of his waist, so it shouldn't have injured the bone.

At this moment, the Ichidai Sanko Third Batter on First Base also stared at this scene with vacant eyes; of course, this was not his fault, but as a baseball player himself, he knew very well how heavy a baseball hit by a bat was. If this ball led to the other party getting injured or even ending their professional career, he might live in the shadows for the rest of his life.

"Ah!"

Huangqian Yangyi, who had barely managed to stand up, had a forehead full of sweat; the pain from his waist made it impossible for him to even stand straight.

"Huangqian, don't move!"

"Quick! A stretcher!!"

Dong Qingguo turned his head and roared.

Soon, a stretcher was brought over, and the medical staff carefully and steadily placed Huangqian Yangyi onto it. Just as they were about to leave the field, Huangqian Yangyi suddenly raised his head and said: "Wait."

"Huangqian, go to the hospital quickly!" Coach Kataoka said with a grim face; if one looked closely, they could see his lips trembling.

"I, I want to say something to Kazuya." Huangqian Yangyi squeezed out a difficult smile on his face and said.

"Miyuki!" Coach Kataoka shouted. Miyuki Kazuya immediately stepped out from the crowd; at this very moment, his expression was incomparably serious.

Seeing Miyuki come over, Huangqian Yangyi reached out his hand toward him, and Miyuki immediately reached out to grasp it.

"Kazuya, I'm counting on you."

Feeling the strength coming from his hand, Miyuki nodded heavily.

"You rest well, leave the rest to me!"

"Heh."

Huangqian Yangyi smiled, and then he was sent out of the venue on the stretcher.

"Coach, I'll go to the hospital with him!" Takashima Rei said, then turned and chased after them.

"I'll go too!" Chris said.

"Go." Coach Kataoka nodded.

In the stands, seeing Huangqian Yangyi being carried away on the stretcher, Huangqian Kumiko and Huangqian Mamiko both stood up, left the spectator area, and ran toward the venue entrance.

With Huangqian Yangyi leaving the field due to injury, the entire Seido team fell into an extremely oppressive atmosphere.

Although he was incomparably worried inside, Coach Kataoka had to steady his emotions; the game was still ongoing, and if he were to lose his composure and affect the players because of this, that was absolutely not allowed.

"Tanba!"

"Here, Coach!"

"Are you ready?!"

"Yes!"

"Get on the field!"

In this brief exchange, Tanba Koichiro's eyes were now incomparably firm; never before had he been so thirsty for victory.

That kid Huangqian!

To actually hand the game over to Miyuki when leaving the field?!

What could that First Year brat even do!

It wasn't just him; the First String seniors of Seido were currently worried for Huangqian Yangyi, yet also felt angry—or perhaps embarrassed—by the words he left behind. With so many of them here, he actually said "I'm counting on you" to Miyuki?!

What was that supposed to mean? Did he not trust them?

On the other side, the players of Ichidai Sanko were looking toward the Seido side with some unease; such accidents were not uncommon in baseball games, but it was a lie to say they didn't care when it actually happened to them, especially the person who hit the ball.

Seeing that his players' emotions were off, Coach Tahara sighed, took off his hat, and nodded toward Coach Kataoka's direction. After seeing Coach Kataoka respond, he turned and said: "Boys, this was just an accident; you don't need to have any psychological burden. Play the game with peace of mind!"

"Yes, Coach!"

"Go, it's time to counterattack!" Coach Tahara said.

Soon, Tanba went on the field to warm up, and the game continued.

The Ichidai Sanko Fourth Batter stood in the Batter's Box. Tanaka Wataru nodded at Tanba; it was the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs, and they only needed to retire one more batter to end the inning.

Tanba glanced sideways at the signal Tanaka Wataru was giving with his hand and lightly nodded his chin. *Hoo—ha—*, Tanba adjusted his breathing. Facing the Fourth Batter right from the start, he had to bring out his best pitching to retire him.

Whoosh!

The baseball flew out, a four-seam Fastball aimed at the inside corner.

Pop!

"Strike!"

The batter remained motionless. Tanaka Wataru frowned; it was hardest to call pitches when the batter didn't react at all, as it was impossible to tell what the other party was planning.

However, not swinging at a Fastball—were they waiting for a Curveball? Or were they waiting for an outside pitch?

Regardless of what pitch the opponent is waiting for, not knowing that Tanba has a new pitch, you are going to be in big trouble, Tanaka Wataru curled his lips and immediately gave the signal.

Vertical Curveball!

The pitch speed is the same as a Curveball, but the horizontal break is smaller, the downward drop is greater, and it is not easily hit for an Extra-base Hit.

The baseball left his hand and flew toward home plate; the Ichidai Sanko Fourth Batter's pupils constricted—he was waiting for a Curveball!

Whoosh!

The bat swung out fiercely.

Yes! I can hit this!

The Batter had caught the trajectory of the Curveball, and just as the bat in his hands was about to make contact, the baseball suddenly vanished before his eyes.

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

The Batter looked at the Pitcher's Mound in surprise; it was actually a new pitch! This Tanba had also mastered a new pitch!

Vertical Curveball!

Heh!

Seeing the look of surprise on the Batter's face, Tanaka Wataru laughed to himself: How about that, were you scared?

This was something Tanba had mastered only after practicing hard every day during this period; perhaps it was a chemical reaction, as ever since Huangqian Yangyi joined, the Seido Pitchers had all been chasing strength and working harder than ever before.

"Hey, hey, this Tanba has mastered the Vertical Curveball!"

"Haha, Tanba, well done."

"Great job!"

"Strike him out!"

The Seido fans had originally been worried because Huangqian Yangyi left the field due to injury, but seeing Tanba's pitching now, they were invigorated once again.

That's right, even if the ace is temporarily gone, they, Seido, still have other formidable Pitchers, such as Tanba Koichiro standing on the field right now, or Nanjo Taishi, the third-year former ace of Seido who is currently warming up in the Bullpen!

After this pitch, having secured two Strikes, the expression on Tanba's face visibly relaxed, and his eyes became even more confident.