Chapter 251: The Grueling Kominato Ryosuke

Among Meigawa's 9 batters, there were actually 7 left-handed hitters.

At this moment, Manager Kataoka suddenly realized something; why not send Sawamura up to try today?

He hadn't thought much when setting the tactics earlier, just thinking that since the last game featured Furuya and Sawamura, he would let Tanba and Kawakami handle this one.

After all, with their strength, there really wasn't much to consider, and if they truly encountered a crisis, wasn't Huangqian Yangyi there to back them up?

But thinking about it now, if Sawamura were to take the mound, perhaps he could get some good training.

Thinking of this, Manager Kataoka glanced at Sawamura, who, despite not playing, was still showing himself off from time to time while warming up with Kawakami in the bullpen; it had to be said, this kid had that one good quality—he was always fighting for his own opportunities.

Before long, Meigawa's second batter Hashimoto and third batter Daxi were both dealt with, one by strikeout and one by a force out; Tanba had beautifully suppressed Meigawa's batting lineup.

"Nice, Tanba!"

"Keep suppressing them like that!"

"Don't give them any chances!"

Tanba's outstanding performance made the spectators very excited; Huangqian Yangyi returned to the dugout while yawning, not knowing why he was also a bit sleepy today—it was all this damn weather's fault.

Bottom of the first inning, Seido's attack.

Before Kuramochi and Kominato Ryosuke walked out of the dugout, Huangqian Yangyi suddenly spoke up: "Yang Shunchen's control is very precise; he can throw it almost anywhere the catcher wants. Such a performance is very likely to interfere with the umpire's judgment, so unless it's an obvious ball, you can't let go of pitches on the corners."

Kuramochi laughed and walked out of the dugout, while Kominato Ryosuke took a deep look at Huangqian Yangyi and then said, "Thanks."

Kominato Ryosuke knew these words just now were meant for him; clearly, Kuramochi's batting style was unlikely to encounter this situation, but he himself was different—precise pitch selection was his specialty. If it were really as Huangqian Yangyi said, and Yang Shunchen's control could even interfere with the umpire, then he might suffer a huge loss.

On the field, Yang Shunchen glanced at the Seido dugout; to be honest, no matter how confident he was, he didn't think Meigawa could win today's game, but even so, he was determined to force Kuramochi Yoichi out!

Looking at Kuramochi Yoichi in the batter's box, information about the batter immediately flashed through Yang Shunchen's mind: this guy had a high probability of bunting for a hit, in that case... Whoosh!

Yang Shunchen quickly threw the ball, and it was at this moment that someone suddenly shouted from the sidelines.

"Third base! Watch out for his bunt!"

Meigawa's third baseman Hashimoto immediately rushed out; Kuramochi had no choice but to bunt the ball in a different direction, but unfortunately, because his rhythm was disrupted, the ball rolled right toward the pitcher's mound. Yang Shunchen quickly picked up the ball and threw it to first base, and Kuramochi Yoichi was put out.

"Damn it! These guys are shouting nonsense from the sidelines!" Kuramochi was very angry; if it weren't for the Meigawa people in the dugout reminding the third baseman, he would have bunted toward third base, and with his speed, he definitely would have reached base.

Watching Kuramochi walk off the field angrily, Kominato Ryosuke squinted his eyes and walked to the batter's box with a smile on his face.

Kominato Ryosuke also felt admiration for Yang Shunchen, but since they were opponents, he would just have to make the other party suffer a bit.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Before long, the count reached the 8th pitch; his exquisite batting ability surprised even Yang Shunchen. This type of technical batter was the kind pitchers disliked the most, as they wasted stamina for nothing.

"Interesting~"

The entanglement with Kominato Ryosuke made Yang Shunchen, a baseball fanatic, feel his blood boiling; it was only with such opponents that it was interesting.

Yang Shunchen thought for a moment and threw a ball toward the outside corner; Kominato Ryosuke frowned. This was an obvious ball, missing by a ball's distance—was it a mistake? No! It was intentional!

The words Huangqian Yangyi said before the game flashed through Kominato Ryosuke's mind: throw a ball on purpose first to make him think it was a mistake. If the umpire was really guided by Yang Shunchen's precise control, then if he followed up with another ball on the edge and he didn't swing, the umpire might very well call it a strike!

Just at this moment, Yang Shunchen threw a pitch with full confidence, the path being right on the edge of the outside corner; Kominato Ryosuke raised an eyebrow and swung his bat.

Bang!

Yang Shunchen's pupils shook; the batter actually swung!

After entangling for so long, he also knew the opponent's pitch selection was very precise. This pitch was indeed a ball, and although it wasn't that obvious, he didn't think Kominato Ryosuke wouldn't be able to tell, yet he still swung.

"Jianjie!"

Another foul ball.

Yang Shunchen took a deep breath; even someone as calm as him couldn't hold it together after being entangled like this for so long.

Kominato Ryosuke, however, just smiled slightly and prepared to hit again, as if everything had just begun.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

After a few more pitches, when the count reached 14, Kominato Ryosuke was finally put out after hitting a ground ball.

"So annoying."

"How can there be someone so good at selecting pitches."

"Is Shunchen okay? This is too grueling."

"It's just too mean!"

The Meigawa people were all gnashing their teeth in hatred toward Kominato Ryosuke; although they got the out, it was too frustrating.

Just at this moment, Isashiki Jun let out a bold roar, drawing everyone's attention back.

Bang!

An outside curveball flew in; although his batting stance was disrupted, Isashiki forcibly pulled the ball to right field, turning it into a hit and successfully reaching base.

"Hahaha." Isashiki's laughter came from first base.

Yang Shunchen squeezed the baseball; he had to sigh at the strength of Seido's batting lineup—even when their stance was disrupted, they could still hit it out; if it were the players on their Meigawa team, they definitely couldn't do it.

But what needed attention right now was the upcoming batter, Seido's 4th batter, Captain, Yuki Tetsuya.

His immovable batting stance alone created immense pressure just by standing there; the catcher swallowed his saliva and looked at Yang Shunchen with some trepidation.

Don't be anxious, use an outside pitch to get a strike first, then use an inside pitch to finish him off!

The pitcher-catcher connection was established, and the catcher immediately set his glove.

Yang Shunchen threw the ball with a whoosh, low and outside.

Thwack!

"Strike!"

Very good, the opponent didn't swing, so next, it's time for the inside pitch to decide the outcome!

After receiving the return throw, Yang Shunchen quickly threw the second pitch; the little white ball flew toward Yuki Tetsuya's chest. The latter swung his bat very decisively, and although his swing was a bit cramped in this position, this hit still sent the ball flying.

Boom!!

Under the powerful force, the little white ball flew directly toward center field.

"Is it going out?!" Huangqian Yangyi looked at the height and speed of the ball with some anticipation; ever since practicing with the weighted bat, Senior Yuki's hitting power and swing speed had risen to another level. Although the trajectory of this pitch had jammed his swing, Huangqian Yangyi felt that, given Yuki Tetsuya's current strength, it wouldn't be strange even if he hit it out.

Everyone in the stadium looked up at the sky at this moment, and Yang Shunchen was even more astonished.

"It's out!!"

"It's a Home Run!"

"Jiecheng! That was a cool hit!"