Chapter 291: The Final, Begins!

As the time gradually approached one o'clock, amidst thunderous cheers, the players of the two teams, Seido and Inashiro, slowly walked out from the player tunnels on both sides of the dugout.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

"They're out!!"

"Seido!!"

"Inashiro is the strongest!!!"

"Beat Seido!!"

"It's up to you! Coach Kunitomo!"

"Coach Kataoka! Lead Seido to Koshien again this year!!"

Fans shouted for the players and coaches of both sides, and the brass bands of both teams also played their respective team anthems at this moment.

On the First Base side, the Seido players walked onto the field wearing blue and white uniforms, and walking at the very front was none other than number 1, the ace Huangqian Yangyi.

And on the opposite side, Inashiro Industrial also walked out in red and white uniforms; the appearance of the two teams instantly ignited the entire stadium, with screams and shouts rising one after another.

"Huangqian!! Win the game!"

"Narumiya Mei! You have to win!"

Listening to the cheers of the spectators, Huangqian Yangyi's gaze met with Narumiya Mei's; both smiled at the same time, then turned their heads and became serious and solemn.

After a simple warm-up session, there was less than two minutes left until ten o'clock sharp.

First Base side, Seido High School, first to bat.

Third Base side, Inashiro Industrial, second to bat.

"Let's do it, Jiecheng."

In front of the dugout, Coach Kataoka suddenly said.

Upon hearing this, everyone's blood began to boil; for the entire summer, up until now, they hadn't shouted their slogan yet, and now that it was the final of the Nishitokyo Regional Tournament, if they didn't shout it now, when would they?

"Yes!!"

Jiecheng turned around to look at the teammates in front of him.

"Come on, everyone, circle up."

Hearing this, the three First Year students who hadn't shouted the slogan yet were all a bit excited, and each of them walked out of the dugout under the lead of their seniors to form a circle.

Jiecheng's gaze swept over his teammates one by one, and after taking a deep breath, he shouted.

"Who are we?!"

"Kings Seido!!!"

"Who sweats more than anyone else?!"

"Seido!!"

"Who sheds more tears than anyone else?!"

"Seido!!"

"Are you ready?!"

"Awoooooooo!!!!!"

"Carrying the honor of Seido High School! What is our goal?!"

"Three-peat!!!"

"Awoooooooo!!!!!"

Seido's kingly slogan once again brought the enthusiasm of the entire audience to a new climax.

"Three-peat!!"

Hearing this goal, Seido's fans were trembling with excitement.

Yes, the current Seido absolutely possesses such strength; the players lack neither talent nor effort, and from the coaching staff to the team facilities, everything is top-tier.

Under these circumstances, the goal of a three-peat sounds like a logical conclusion.

"Damn it! These Seido guys, it's too much!"

"The game hasn't even started, and the momentum has already been pulled over by Seido."

"These guys, they do this every time they play against us, it's so annoying!"

Originally, the Inashiro players would envy Seido's slogan and think it was cool.

But after losing for a whole year, now when they hear Seido's slogan again, they only find it grating.

"National High School Baseball Tournament, Nishitokyo Regional Tournament final; under this midsummer blue sky, the players from both sides have already taken the field."

"Last year's champion seeking a second consecutive summer title, Seido High School!"

"And Inashiro Industrial High School, wanting to wash away last year's humiliation with the goal of advancing to Koshien."

"Both sides are nationally famous baseball powerhouses; which team will be the one to dominate this battle?"

As the commentator's voice rose, the players from both sides rushed onto the field.

"The players have rushed out of the rest area full of momentum! The audience has also given the warmest applause; this is an expression of respect for the teams that have won all the way here, and also an anticipation for the upcoming game!"

The teams from both sides rushed to the center of the field to line up and salute.

"Please take care of us!!" ×2

The game officially began; the first to take the field for defense was Inashiro Industrial, and standing on the Pitcher's Mound was, without a doubt, the absolute ace of Inashiro Industrial, who had not given up a single run in this tournament so far, Narumiya Mei!

And the one responsible for catching for this ace was naturally the Captain and Fourth Batter, the third-year, Harada Masatoshi!

"For the first three innings, don't worry about the Changeup in terms of batting; focus on hitting the Fastball. Before two Strikes, don't rush to swing at pitches that aren't easy to hit; don't be afraid of a Strikeout, and focus on attacking the pitches you've set your sights on."

"It's so hot today, even for Narumiya Mei, once the pitch count increases, he will definitely throw a bad pitch. This game is a test of patience; wait for the opportunity, seize the opportunity, and use the bat in your hands to create opportunities!"

Before taking the field, Coach Kataoka instructed everyone like this.

"Kuramochi."

At this moment, Ochiai Hiromitsu suddenly called out to Kuramochi Yoichi, who was preparing to take the field.

"Here, Coach." Kuramochi turned around.

Ochiai Hiromitsu stroked his small mustache: "In your first plate appearance, you can try to show a desire to bunt, demonstrating your intent to reach base; remember, it's a bunt stance, not a posture."

Hearing this, Kuramochi Yoichi was stunned for a moment, then a wicked grin appeared on the corner of his mouth as he nodded and said: "I understand, Coach."

"Top of the first inning, Seido High School's attack, leadoff hitter, Shortstop, student Kuramochi."

Accompanied by the sound of the broadcast, Kuramochi, acting as Seido's leadoff man, stepped into the left Batter's Box, shouldering his bat, and looked at Narumiya Mei with a smile on his face.

On the Pitcher's Mound, Narumiya Mei was expressionless; he was familiar with every single one of these people in the Seido batting lineup.

Kuramochi, whose foot speed was as fast as Carlos', was also a left-handed batter who was closer to First Base; once a guy like this successfully reached base, Seido's subsequent offensive would surely strike one after another like a violent storm.

At home plate, Catcher Harada Masatoshi noticed Kuramochi's stance and posture; was this movement an attempt to bunt and then force his way onto base using his foot speed?

Thinking of this, the vigilant Harada Masatoshi quickly gave the signal.

The first pitch, a high, outside Fastball, a ball, Mei!

Narumiya Mei, who also sensed Kuramochi's desire to bunt, nodded slightly.

Whoosh~

A sharp glint flashed in Narumiya Mei's eyes, his high-raised right leg dropped rapidly, the power of his entire body gathered at his fingertips, and the little white ball shot out in an instant.

Swish!!

In the Batter's Box, seeing the baseball fly over, Kuramochi kept Coach Ochiai's words firmly in his heart.

His body moved slightly and then immediately stopped, giving the impression that he wanted to bunt but wasn't confident in doing so.

Pop!

"Ball!"

Harada Masatoshi, who caught the ball, frowned; this pitch was deliberately intended to make Kuramochi bunt, but it looked like the opponent had the idea but gave it up.

Was the pitch too far off, making it impossible to bunt to the desired spot?

Harada Masatoshi pondered as he stood up and threw the ball back.

"One more, Mei! This time, don't make the pitch too far off."

"I know."