Chapter 266: Sanada Shunpei

"Home Run!!"

"The Seido Captain and the Ace, hitting home runs one after another!"

"A terrifying batting lineup! Is this the true strength of the kings, Seido!"

The commentator's voice was incredibly passionate, and the spectators at the scene were cheering and jumping as if they had taken stimulants.

"Huangqian!"

"Whoa~ too strong."

"The Seido batting lineup has exploded!"

On the field, Huangqian Yangyi ran around the bases slowly, waving his hand as he returned to home plate. This pitcher Yakushi sent out was truly not very good; he lacked speed and his control was average. Against a pitcher of this level, Seido's batting lineup was more than enough.

After scoring a run and leaving the field, following Huangqian Yangyi was the fifth batter, Chris. After several games, Chris's form was getting better and better, and at this moment, he easily knocked a single to left field and reached second base.

With the fifth batter finished, Yakushi hadn't even managed to get a single out, and some spectators in the stands had already begun to pity them.

In the Yakushi dugout, everyone wore a heavy expression. How were they supposed to play this?

Just then, the sixth batter, Masuko Toru, locked onto the incoming pitch, his muscles erupting with powerful force. Boom! The bat bit hard into the flying baseball—a home run to the center field stands!

"A, another home run!!"

Seeing the little white ball fly into the stands, the commentator stood up with a start.

The spectators also hadn't expected another home run to occur, and after being stunned for a few seconds, they reacted and immediately gave Masuko Toru a round of applause.

Three home runs in the first inning, and keep in mind the opponent hadn't even recorded a single out yet. Such a powerful batting lineup exceeded everyone's expectations. Just two days ago, Yakushi and Ichidai Sanko had fought to a draw, and Yakushi had even ended up winning.

Could it be that, as fellow powerhouse teams of West Tokyo, the gap between Seido and Ichidai Sanko was already this large?

Looking at the score, 7:0, would the game be called early after five innings today?

It wasn't just the spectators; on the field, Huangqian Yangyi noticed the score and grew a bit anxious, worried that the game would end too early and the others wouldn't have a chance to play.

Especially Senior Tanba, who was holding his breath, wanting to avenge Zhenzhong Yao.

After Masuko Toru, the usually steady Shirasu also made solid contact with the ball. The baseball flew in a line drive toward third base at high speed. Just as everyone thought it would be a hit that pierced the infield defense, a glove appeared abruptly and caught the baseball.

"Ha, haha, what a great ball!" Todoroki Raichi held up his glove, looking excited; catching that ball just now was purely instinctive.

"What?!!"

"That kid's reaction is so fast!"

"What a pity."

"Boom!!"

"Raichi!"

The spectacular flyout ignited Yakushi's passion, and the silent atmosphere was swept away.

Shirasu shook his head helplessly and walked off the field, after which the ninth batter, Sakai Ichiro, came up and hit a single.

"Hahaha, it's my turn again." Kuramochi Yoichi walked to the batter's box, looking smug. Unfortunately, he didn't hit it well this time, grounding out with a weak infield grounder, and Yakushi seized the opportunity to turn a double play.

The first inning ended there, with the score at 7:0.

"This feels even easier than the last game."

"Nonsense, you're comparing this pitcher to Yang Shunchen? Can those be the same?"

"Is Yakushi's ace really this weak?"

"What do you guys know? Although the one on the field is number 1, the real ace is number 18!"

The spectators discussed it heatedly. Some who had originally looked forward to a dark horse upsetting a powerhouse no longer had such thoughts. In the Yakushi dugout, Todoroki Raizo stepped out to request a substitution. The pitcher Sanada Shunpei was sent in early; if they waited any longer, they probably wouldn't even have a chance to play.

In the Seido dugout, Huangqian Yangyi put on his glove and walked back onto the field. In the top of the second inning, Yakushi's batting lineup had almost no power to resist. The heart of the order still couldn't touch the ball once, and soon the fourth and fifth batters were retired one after another.

Next, the sixth batter, Sanada Shunpei, walked to the batter's box.

Huangqian Yangyi looked at the only handsome guy on the Yakushi team and suddenly felt a sense of mutual sympathy.

And in the batter's box, Sanada Shunpei didn't think he could cause Huangqian Yangyi any trouble. He wouldn't force it against pitches even Todoroki Raichi couldn't hit. Holding this mindset, Sanada Shunpei was perhaps in the best state of the Yakushi lineup. Gently gripping his bat, Sanada Shunpei looked down at Chris and said, "With such a formidable pitcher, Seido's defense must be really relaxed."

Hearing this, Chris looked up and smiled: "I think so too."

After saying that, Chris looked at Huangqian Yangyi and set his glove to give the signal. Compared to the kind of batting Todoroki Raichi relied on—mostly instinct—Sanada Shunpei was definitely a cerebral batter. What kind of pitch would he want to hit?

Let's try testing him with an outside breaking ball first.

Huangqian Yangyi nodded slightly. Although Sanada Shunpei's swing wasn't as imposing or scary as Todoroki Raichi's, Huangqian Yangyi didn't dare to underestimate him in the slightest. Perhaps among those he had faced so far, Sanada Shunpei's strength wasn't the greatest, but his mature, steady personality and stable mindset were definitely top-tier.

Whoosh!

The little white ball left his fingertips and flew toward home plate. Within his line of sight, Huangqian Yangyi was shocked to find that Sanada Shunpei's bat had swung out early, and it was aimed at the outside corner!

Lucky!

Sanada Shunpei smiled. Bang! The bat whipped into the baseball.

So heavy!

The moment the bat made contact with the baseball, a numbing sensation traveled up his hand. The little white ball flew toward first base, soaring over Yuki Tetsuya's head.

"Sanada!"

The Yakushi players shouted at the top of their lungs. Sanada Shunpei sprinted toward first base. In right field, Shirasu quickly scooped up the ball after it landed and threw it back, but it was a step too late; Sanada Shunpei reached base safely.

"This guy, he's too bold." Huangqian Yangyi whispered while looking at Sanada Shunpei. On that pitch, the opponent's swing was decisive; could it be he just picked a spot at random and swung early?

Heh heh~

Sanada Shunpei smiled at Huangqian Yangyi.

As expected! This bastard was definitely guessing.

Huangqian Yangyi sighed inwardly. There was really no helping such luck. But for the opponent to swing so decisively and catch the contact point—if that was his real strength... He turned his head back toward home plate. Reach base if you want; it won't be so easy for you to come back home.

Glancing at the batter, Chris gave instructions to the defense, and the outfield and infield all moved in to prevent a bunt.

Swish!

The baseball flew out. Yakushi's seventh batter, the catcher Watanabe Tatsuya, did not choose to bunt. Just like every other batter for Yakushi, he swung his bat with all his might.

Crack!

"Strike!"

Swinging and missing, Watanabe Tatsuya was not discouraged; he merely cast a glance out of the corner of his eye at Sanada Shunpei, who nodded as if he understood, and as Huangqian Yangyi prepared to throw the second pitch, Sanada Shunpei took off running!