Chapter 243: Sawamura's First Appearance

In the top of the fourth inning, as Yuki Tetsuya returned to home plate to score, with runners on first and third, Masuko Toru swung with great force, and Huangqian Yangyi strolled back to home plate, rewriting the score once again to 18-0.

However, after this, Shirasu hit a soft ground ball, and Mishimen High School seized the opportunity to turn a direct double play!

The game reached the bottom of the fourth inning, and Coach Kataoka walked out of the dugout to request a substitution from the umpire; not only the pitcher, but with such a large lead, Seido sent out three First Year players all at once.

"Let's go!"

As the most mature and thoughtful among the First Years, Arima Kazusa draped an arm over Sawamura's shoulder and walked onto the field together with Kominato Haruichi.

"Haruichi! Do your best."

Hearing this voice, Kominato Haruichi jerked his head back; he could hardly believe these words had actually come from his older brother, Kominato Ryosuke.

But upon seeing the smile on the other's face, Kominato Haruichi was instantly filled with motivation, nodded heavily, and immediately turned to dash onto the field.

"I told you, brothers need to communicate more. Kominato-senpai acts like a tsundere all day long; no wonder Haruichi both loves and fears you."

Huangqian Yangyi, who had also been substituted off the field, stood to the side and teased.

"Hey, hey, Huangqian, are you tired of living?"

"Haha, Ryosuke-senpai, hurry and give Huangqian a taste of your power."

Hearing the teammates around him stoking the fire, Huangqian Yangyi quickly hid behind Coach Kataoka.

At this moment, the game on the field had already begun, and seeing that Seido had sent out another First Year Pitcher, those fans who had come for Huangqian Yangyi were deeply disappointed.

"Let's see how this guy performs."

The spectators held this thought as they cast their gaze toward the field.

Whoosh~

Taking a deep breath, Sawamura spread his arms.

"I'll let them keep hitting the ball, I'm counting on everyone for the defense behind me!!!"

The loud shout echoed throughout the stadium, immediately causing a stir.

"This guy has quite a personality."

"Haha, I've already started to like him a bit."

"I hope his pitching content is also interesting."

"Did you notice? This kid is a left-handed pitcher."

On the field, after finishing his shout, Sawamura cast his gaze toward home plate, and Chris nodded, immediately giving the sign.

"Come on, just like in training, throw the ball into my glove!"

The battery connection between Chris and Sawamura was activated, and the latter immediately understood.

Zoom!

When the first pitch was thrown, the batter was instantly stunned—how could this be!

The release point was invisible!

Pop!

In the blink of an eye, the baseball entered Chris's glove, and the batter looked back, as if confirming whether it was real or not.

They had originally assumed this First Year who was substituted in wouldn't be as formidable as the previous pitcher, but the result shocked the Mishimen team.

The batter was shocked by the inability to see the release point, while those on the sidelines were shocked that the batter hadn't even swung at such a slow pitch, instead wearing a terrified expression as if he had been frightened.

What happened?

Coach Chiba Junichi frowned as he looked at his player.

"Ha, haha..." On the pitcher's mound, seeing his pitch leave the batter unable to swing, Sawamura couldn't help but get excited.

"Calm down, keep your feet on the ground and throw one pitch at a time!"

Chris returned the ball, and after Eijun caught it, he immediately suppressed the excitement in his heart.

"Let's continue, this time, it's low and outside, throw it in!"

Sawamura nodded, his raised right leg striding forward, his toe pointing toward home plate.

Zoom!

The baseball flew again, and this time the batter calmly observed Sawamura's movements; it was true, the release point was indeed invisible!

Pop!

"Strike!"

The baseball shot precisely into the outside of the strike zone, and the batter swung a beat too late.

Having achieved two strikes in a row, although the spectators on the sidelines didn't understand why Sawamura's pitch speed was so much slower than Furuya's, the batter still couldn't hit it.

But this didn't stop them from being excited, shouting, and cheering for Sawamura.

Some fans with more baseball experience, however, frowned and pondered Sawamura's pitching content; with such speed, yet being able to make the batter swing and miss, there must be other factors involved.

"This year's Seido is even more terrifying."

At the very top of the stands, reporter Fujio and his female assistant were also watching this game.

"Why is that? Although these two First Years are impressive, against a powerhouse team, they should still be lacking, right?" Miss Akiko turned her head to ask.

Watching Sawamura, who had retired three batters and was running off the field with a beaming face, Fujio said: "They are indeed not mature enough yet, but they are already enough to cause trouble for most opponents. With their addition, Seido's First String has a total of 5 pitchers, and there are more choices in terms of tactics."

"Most importantly, this can greatly help reduce the burden on the ace."

Hearing this, Miss Akiko stroked her chin thoughtfully: "So that's how it is. Unimportant games are left to the two First Years to accumulate experience, and at critical moments, Tanba Koichiro and Kawakami Norifumi can step up. Only when facing true powerhouses, like Ichidai Sanko or Inashiro Industrial, or when Seido is in a desperate situation, will the Seido ace take the mound, and it will be an ace with their stamina fully preserved!"

Fujio looked at Miss Akiko with great surprise, "You, you've improved quite a bit."

"That's right, I've been studying hard too." Miss Akiko tilted her chin proudly, "After this game, Seido will face Mingchuan High School next, right? I heard their ace pitcher is a handsome guy with glasses; I'm so looking forward to it!"

Fujio sighed; this woman, as expected, was still the same as ever.

On the field, after Sawamura successfully retired the three Mishimen batters, Seido launched another attack.

Sawamura, who had just come down from the pitcher's mound, hurriedly put on his batting gloves and, carrying his bat, walked toward the batter's box.

Because they were leading in the score, Kataoka did not force Sawamura to bunt, letting him hit however he wanted.

Sure enough, Sawamura did not disappoint everyone; under the incredibly serious gazes of the Mishimen Catcher and Pitcher, Sawamura swung with an extremely ugly batting form.

Hm?

Is this a mistake?

The Catcher still couldn't quite believe it; it was impossible for Seido to have someone with such poor batting!

However, after the next two pitches, Sawamura swung boldly and missed.

The Catcher slapped his forehead hard; why, how could a guy like this make it onto the Seido First String, it's so frustrating.

Sawamura, having been sent off after a Strikeout, walked to the Dugout in a huff like a crab.

"What an amazing pitch, I actually couldn't hit a Home Run; hmm, I underestimated him!"

Sawamura, with white smoke puffing from his nostrils, turned his head and looked seriously toward the direction of the Pitcher's Mound.

Everyone was speechless upon hearing this; where did this guy get the confidence that he could hit a Home Run, he said it as if it were true.

"Sawamura, it's fine to fool us, but don't fool yourself too," Huangqian Yangyi said earnestly.