Chapter 250: Seido VS Mingchuan!

After Huangqian Yangyi and Yang Shunchen chatted for a while, they were both pulled back to their teams by their respective teammates; the truth was, they felt that if they didn't stop them, these two could have kept talking until the game started.

"Hey, hey, I'm asking you, when did you learn Chinese?" Miyuki looked astonished, and even Chris looked over curiously. Sharing a dorm with Huangqian Yangyi, he knew this guy had good grades, but this was truly unexpected.

"I was born knowing it; it's useless for you to be jealous," Huangqian Yangyi said, lifting his chin proudly.

"Tch, you just wait, I'll learn it and show you sooner or later," Miyuki said, unconvinced.

After entering the venue, the two teams separated to the left and right to head to their respective locker rooms.

"By the way, since Tanba-senpai is starting today, how does Chris-senpai plan to call the pitches?" While changing clothes, Huangqian Yangyi asked casually.

"I'll see how the situation on the field changes, but today we will try Tanba's new pitch," Chris said.

"A forkball? Tanba-senpai has been working hard enough these days." Huangqian Yangyi turned his head to glance at Tanba, who was packing his things over there. Ever since he came to Seido, Tanba's position had been a bit awkward—neither here nor there. Tanba himself had noticed this, and he had been even more desperate in training to prove himself, and his pitching level had grown a lot.

As if hearing the two talking about him, Tanba looked back. He had been looking forward to today's game ever since Coach Kataoka announced the starting lineup last night.

Being able to stand on the field with Chris, and being able to have Chris call his pitches and catch for him—Tanba had been looking forward to this day for a long time.

Kawakami, who would also be playing today, was humming a little tune at this moment; being able to play in a game was undoubtedly a very happy thing.

"Kawakami, you're in a good mood," said Miyuki, who was about to be Kawakami's partner, as he closed his locker.

"It's been a while since I've played, and today's game should be very exciting. That ace from Mingchuan looks very strong," Kawakami said.

Miyuki looked at Kawakami for a long while. "Kawakami, you've changed. You're now actively seeking excitement."

Hearing this, Kawakami was also stunned for a few seconds. Indeed, it seemed his personality had changed imperceptibly.

"That's a good thing. Keep it up, and don't go back to being hesitant like before," Miyuki said.

Everyone finished their preparations, walked out of the locker room, and entered the stadium through the tunnel.

On both sides of the field, behind the Seido dugout, the spectators who filled the seats immediately shouted loudly to cheer for the team after seeing the players come out; the cheerleading squad and the brass band also exerted their efforts at the same time.

Conversely, there were only a sparse few spectators in the stands on the Mingchuan High School side.

"Yeah, first is envy, Seido Baseball Team."

"Yeah, compared to them, we are just minor characters that no one pays attention to."

"Haha, my mom even told me to stop playing baseball."

"My family is the same, saying that sending me to Mingchuan wasn't for me to play baseball."

"Well~ it was fine before, but ever since Shunchen came to Mingchuan and tasted the flavor of victory, I'm a bit obsessed now."

The players of Mingchuan High School leaned on the guardrail in twos and threes, chatting and laughing.

Seeing that everyone was not intimidated by the cheering from the opposite side, the Mingchuan High School coach smiled with satisfaction and turned his head back. "Shunchen, how is your condition?"

Yang Shunchen took off his headphones and said indifferently: "The same as usual, no difference. Pitching as usual, suppressing the batters as usual—this is the pitcher's responsibility, no matter who the opponent is."

In the stands, reporter Fujio and reporter Akiko also arrived at the game site.

"Today's game will definitely be wonderful. I wonder if Yang Shunchen of Mingchuan High School can suppress Seido's powerful batting lineup," Akiko said, looking toward the direction of Mingchuan High School.

"I really don't want him to lose, the handsome guy with glasses."

"Don't you also like Seido's Miyuki?" Fujio said.

"Yeah, yeah, I don't want him to lose either, what should I do?"

Hearing this, Fujio shook his head helplessly. "Speaking of which, if Seido's ace Huangqian Yangyi doesn't play today, Mingchuan might have a small chance, though the hope isn't big."

"Seido's current batting lineup is too strong, and the pitchers Tanba and Kawakami are also extraordinary in strength. If it eventually turns into a slugfest, it will be quite disadvantageous for Mingchuan."

Akiko nodded in agreement. By comparison, Seido's hard power was far too much for Mingchuan. If Mingchuan didn't have a Yang Shunchen, they would probably just be a first-round exit level team.

After the two teams finished their simple warm-ups, the game started quickly.

Top of the first inning, Mingchuan bats first.

Seido's starting nine arrived at their respective positions; Huangqian Yangyi was sent to the field as Left Fielder again.

"I hope Tanba-san can suppress Mingchuan's batting lineup well. Even if they hit it, don't let it fly toward me; it's really hot today."

It was clearly not even 11 o'clock, but the sun in the sky was already very scorching, and the temperature had reached 33 degrees Celsius.

Thinking of this, Huangqian Yangyi turned his head and glanced at Furuya in the dugout. This kid was clearly in the shade, yet he still had a sleepy look.

At this moment, on the Pitcher's Mound, Tanba gently blew on the baseball in his hand, then looked toward the Batter's Box at Mingchuan's leadoff Batter, the outfielder, Ninomiya, a left-handed batter.

Tanba didn't really take this team seriously. It could be said that, except for that Yang Shunchen, the others were nothing but a rabble. Of course, Tanba would not be careless because the opponent was weak; he would despise the opponent strategically and respect the opponent tactically.

"Heh heh, Seido really didn't send out their ace, but this Tanba is also really hard to deal with," said Mingchuan High School's coach, Ogata Issei.

"Hit the ball when it comes. Today, no matter who the opponent's pitcher is, we can only face the enemy head-on. If we play little tricks, we will only lose more miserably," Yang Shunchen said indifferently while sitting in the shade.

Whoosh!

The game on the field began. Tanba's first pitch was a four-seam Fastball on the outside corner for the left-handed batter.

Pop!

"Strike!"

The baseball flew into Chris's glove; the Batter's swing was a bit slow.

Chris glanced at the Batter. Sure enough, this level was still lacking; a fully-conditioned Tanba was not something this kind of batting could solve.

"Nice ball!" Chris said as he threw the ball back.

Hearing Chris's praise, a rare smile appeared on Tanba's cold face. Hmm, he was a closeted guy.

Pop!

"Strike!"

Pop!

"Strike!"

Three consecutive outside pitches, from a Fastball to a Curveball, and then to a Vertical Curveball; the Batter swung three times and missed three times.

"Batter Strikeout!"

Having easily dealt with Mingchuan's leadoff Batter, Tanba proudly raised his head and looked at the second Batter, Mingchuan's Third Baseman, Hashimoto, who was also a left-handed batter.