Chapter 181: Trust

With the bases loaded, Dong Qingguo walked to the Batter's Box, carrying his bat with great joy, waiting for Katsuyama Kotaro to pitch.

This was his favorite situation; even if the Pitcher didn't want to face him head-on, it was impossible—a Base on Balls? That would mean giving up a run directly.

"Haha! Bring it on!" Dong Qingguo roared.

The expressions of Katsuyama Kotaro and the Catcher had completely collapsed; in the current situation, they could give up a run at any moment. Should their defense move back or forward? If they move forward, Dong Qingguo is a power hitter; if they move back, perhaps it's not impossible for Dong Qingguo to unexpectedly lay down a Bunt.

After thinking it over, the Catcher still signaled for the defense to move back; judging by Dong Qingguo's personality, the possibility of a Bunt from him was not high.

It was still better to prioritize defending against an Extra-base Hit; otherwise, once it was hit to the outfield, let alone one run, they might even give up two runs directly.

The best method now was to throw the ball to a spot difficult for the Batter to hit, trying their best to make the opponent hit a low-quality ground ball, and then go for a Double Play!

Having made up his mind, the Catcher immediately gave the sign: an inside-low Sinker!

Whoosh!

Bang!

Sure enough, Dong Qingguo saw the ball flying in and swung his bat, making contact!

However, the point of contact was a bit too far back, and the drop on this Sinker was quite significant; the baseball slammed heavily into the ground and bounced toward the gap between First Base and Second Base.

Seeing this, the Catcher was happy at first, then wanted to curse; this guy had hit the ball into the ground, yet it could still bounce so far away.

The Seibo First Baseman rushed out and dove toward the baseball; at the same time, Zhitian Jiangtai at Third Base was already sprinting toward home plate.

"Second Base!" the Seibo Catcher shouted.

After catching the ball, the First Baseman Rixiang Yao immediately threw it to Second Base to force out Yuki Tetsuya, and the Second Baseman also quickly threw the ball to Third Base, attempting to turn a Double Play.

However, Kominato Ryosuke's speed was not slow, and he reached Third Base safely.

As for Zhitian Jiangtai, he had already returned to home plate to score a run.

The score was 3:0!

Two outs, runners on First and Third.

Seido's offensive momentum had not ended; Huangqian Yangyi walked to the Batter's Box after high-fiving Dong Qingguo.

Looking at Kominato Ryosuke on Third Base, Huangqian Yangyi smiled; with Kominato Ryosuke's speed, as long as he could hit the ball to the right side, even if it wasn't an Extra-base Hit, he would have a chance to come home.

The problem was Dong Qingguo on First Base; if Seibo chose to force out Dong Qingguo, that would be a bit troublesome.

Thinking of this, Huangqian Yangyi felt it would have been better if the one who got out earlier was Dong Qingguo instead of Jiecheng.

Complaining silently in his heart, Huangqian Yangyi set his batting stance; with the opponent's pitch speed, he wasn't afraid in the slightest.

Having many pitch types might make it hard for others to choose, but for Huangqian Yangyi? Hilarious, he didn't choose pitches at all; good eyesight and fast reflexes were his greatest weapons.

Once Katsuyama Kotaro threw the ball, Huangqian Yangyi determined at a glance that it was a Slider flying toward the outside corner, and he smashed his bat toward the low outside corner.

Bang!

The baseball flew back, high and far, but it didn't result in a Home Run, dropping a few meters in front of the wall.

It was a bit of a pity, but it was enough; Kominato Ryosuke returned to home plate to score, and Huangqian Yangyi and Dong Qingguo stood on First and Second Base respectively.

The score was 4:0!

Seido's advantage expanded once more; at this point, many felt it was almost impossible for Seibo to turn the situation around.

Giving up two runs in the very first inning, Katsuyama Kotaro's performance made the Seibo Manager's expression look incredibly ugly. He had originally intended to let the fatigued Zhongyue Youtai go to the outfield to rest and recover, but who knew things would turn out like this.

No matter how annoyed the Seibo Manager was, he couldn't pull Katsuyama Kotaro out at this moment. Fortunately, this guy still had something left in him; after giving up two consecutive runs, he struck out Seido's Sixth Batter, Isashiki Jun, ending the sixth inning.

Returning to the Dugout, Katsuyama Kotaro immediately faced the Seibo Manager's expression, which was so serious it was almost terrifying.

After a long while, the Seibo Manager finally spoke: "You're still going in the next inning. If you can't produce a performance, then go off the field and rest."

Hearing this, Katsuyama Kotaro's heart skipped a beat. Go off the field and rest?

How could that be? This was the Koshien finals; if he were pulled off the field like this, how would the outside world view him?

However, facing the Seibo Manager, he could only nod in agreement. Next inning! He absolutely could not give up any runs!

The game continued. In the seventh inning, Huangqian Yangyi went up against Seibo's third batter, Seguchi Masato.

After throwing a high-speed fastball to the low outside corner to get one Strike, Huangqian Yangyi lowered the pitch speed, first using a 123 km/h Changeup to trick Seguchi Masato into swinging, then following up with a Two-seam Fastball jammed into the low inside corner.

Bang!

This slowed-down Two-seam Fastball was caught by Seguchi Masato and hit out. The baseball flew toward Second Base, and Kominato Ryosuke, who had already retreated, stepped forward a few paces, arrived exactly at the landing spot, blocked the ball, and quickly threw it to First Base.

Thwack!

"Out!"

The umpire shouted. Seguchi Masato stopped running helplessly, turned his head to look at Huangqian Yangyi, and shook his head with a sigh.

This guy's pitching was truly hard to hit. The first pitch was so fast, winning with speed; the second pitch was a Changeup with such a large speed difference, disrupting his hitting rhythm; and by the third pitch, it had become focused on control and placement.

Returning to the Dugout, Seguchi Masato clenched his fists, his palms full of sweat. You must get on base, Rixiang!

In the Batter's Box, Rixiang Yao looked calm, as if they weren't the ones trailing by 4 runs. No emotion could be seen on his face at all; his eyes held only Huangqian Yangyi's baseball.

This is tricky, Huangqian Yangyi thought, nodding at Miyuki. To deal with this guy, he still had to give it his all and crank up the pitch speed.

After all, Rixiang Yao was not a Blind Cannon like Seguchi Masato.

Whoosh!

The little white ball flew out; Huangqian Yangyi cranked up his pitch speed again.

Rixiang Yao's eyes narrowed, and he swung his bat with force.

Bang!

"Jianjie!"

Watching the baseball land outside the right foul line, Huangqian Yangyi turned his head to glance at the speed gun: 149, not slow at all.

Without overthinking, he quickly threw the second pitch, a Two-seam Fastball; this time it was hit again, another Jianjie.

Hmm? What does this mean? Do strong batters also tangle like this?

Huangqian Yangyi shook his wrist and complained in his heart. The moment his gaze met Rixiang Yao's, he suddenly felt a wave of pressure. This guy! His focus was too intense!

Very quickly, Miyuki gave the signal, yet Huangqian Yangyi shook his head; he could not throw a Changeup!

Huangqian Yangyi had a premonition that the opponent might be aiming specifically for a Changeup this time.

Seeing Huangqian Yangyi shake his head, Miyuki did not overthink it; in his view, since Huangqian Yangyi did this, there must be a reason, and he trusted him just as he trusted himself.