Chapter 299: The Dazzling Shortstop

Bottom of the second inning, Batter Narumiya Mei, the count is two strikes.

Seeing the sign Miyuki gave for an inside pitch, Huangqian Yangyi couldn't help but twitch his brow. Brother, you really trust me, don't you? With such a close positioning, aren't you afraid I'll send your old flame to the hospital?

After the silent complaint, Huangqian Yangyi twirled the baseball in his hand; if he wanted to throw it to the spot Miyuki requested, it was impossible to do so without lowering the ball speed.

Looking at Narumiya Mei, Huangqian Yangyi sighed. As a Pitcher, and a promising ace at that, to make such a dangerous move during a game—this guy is truly crazy, and the rest of Inashiro is crazy too. Isn't Manager Kunitomo afraid his precious disciple will get hurt?

Or perhaps, the obsession with entering Koshien has already made everyone at Inashiro, from top to bottom, irrational.

Thinking no more of it, what Inashiro does is none of his business. Huangqian Yangyi nodded at Miyuki, and suddenly, Huangqian Yangyi moved, his raised arm whipping out, and that little white ball leaped forth.

Narumiya Mei in the Batter's Box timed the baseball's release perfectly, and the moment it flew out, he saw it was an inside pitch.

The next moment, the bat was set. Seeing this, Miyuki's expression changed—it was a bunt!

Bam!

Narumiya Mei turned his body slightly to make room for the hit, his bat positioned with extreme precision in front of home plate, tapping the ball toward the direction of second and third base.

"Kuramochi!" Miyuki shouted.

Having already moved forward the moment he saw Narumiya Mei preparing to bunt, Kuramochi Yoichi rushed toward the baseball with the speed of a cheetah. Scooping up the ball head-on, Kuramochi kept his peripheral vision fixed on Narumiya Mei; the guy had already run half the distance, and if he had to stand up to throw, it would definitely be too late.

Throw it directly!

Kuramochi lunged forward, throwing the baseball toward First Base in an extremely awkward posture.

"Mei!!"

"Safe!!"

"Faster!"

Inashiro fans clasped their hands together, praying for Narumiya Mei.

However, the ball Kuramochi threw was fast and accurate, landing in Yuki Tetsuya's glove while Narumiya Mei was still two steps away from the base.

"Out!!"

As the umpire's voice rang out, a collective sigh echoed from the Inashiro stands.

Narumiya Mei looked back, unwilling, at the Shortstop with his fist raised to the sky. He was just a step away from being safe; when did that guy move in to cover?!

"Nice pitch! Mr. Ace!"

"Huangqian!!"

"Speedy legs are amazing!!"

"Kuramochi is so cool!"

"Seido! Seido!"

"Two outs! Two outs!"

Amidst the chaotic cheers, Kuramochi heard the voice praising him as cool—it was a girl! Kuramochi hurriedly scanned his surroundings, wanting to see which young lady had such good taste.

In the Seido Dugout, the moment Narumiya Mei was tagged out, First Year students Sawamura and Arima Kazusa were already leaning over the railing, shouting excitedly, while Kominato Haruichi stared intently at Kuramochi. Such a Shortstop—he really wanted to be his partner in a game.

Furuya, who was the least expressive, looked calm, though his darting pupils betrayed his current desire to take the mound and pitch.

After Narumiya Mei left the field, Inashiro's next Batter stepped into the Batter's Box.

"Sixth Batter, First Baseman, Yamaoka-kun."

Terrifying ball speed, precise control, plus varied Breaking Ball and Changeup pitches—Yamaoka Riku looked at Huangqian Yangyi across the way and mentally reviewed his pitch data.

So nervous!

Yamaoka Riku's palms were covered in sweat. As the 6th Batter and part of the heart of the lineup, his hitting ability was highly anticipated.

But facing this person, Yamaoka Riku knew that defeating him in a head-on confrontation would be very difficult; he could only pray for a pitching error.

Whoosh!

Pop!

"Strike!"

Zoom!

Pop!

"Strike!"

Whoosh!

Bam!

"Jianjie!"

Whoosh!

Pop!

"Strike!"

"Batter out!"

Inashiro's 6th Batter, Yamaoka Riku, only managed to make contact with one ball after a desperate struggle, and it was a Jianjie.

Damn it!

Yamaoka Riku clenched his fists in frustration. What an absurd pitching performance!

Three normal Fastball pitches, one accelerating Fastball.

From inside high to inside low, then outside high, and outside low.

And the inside pitches were slow, while the outside pitches were incredibly fast!

The width, height, and depth of the strike zone were all utilized, combined with varying ball speeds. Yamaoka Riku had never felt so powerless; and this was just with the Fastball.

Walking off the field with complex emotions, in the bottom of the second inning, Inashiro was once again retired in order. Huangqian Yangyi had completely suppressed the opponent's lineup once more.

"Hahaha, if it weren't for me just now, that kid Narumiya Mei would have reached base."

Kuramochi laughed as he ran up to Huangqian Yangyi to claim credit.

"Mm, thanks," Huangqian Yangyi said with a smile.

"That was truly impressive just now," Miyuki said.

"I didn't even react, and Kuramochi had already caught the ball," Masuko Toru said.

"The throw was very accurate!" Yuki Tetsuya said.

Having received everyone's praise, Kuramochi laughed triumphantly as he returned to the dugout.

"Senior, the Inashiro players are all standing very far forward today," Arima Kazusa suddenly said to Huangqian Yangyi.

Huangqian Yangyi nodded slightly, "Mm, I know. They are likely trying to shut down my inside pitches."

"It's a pity that you are bold and meticulous, Senior; their scheme didn't succeed," Arima Kazusa said.

"When did you learn to butter me up, kid?" Huangqian Yangyi smiled and sat down on a chair.

Arima Kazusa consciously walked behind Huangqian Yangyi to knead his shoulders and help him relax.

Inashiro dugout.

"Damn it! How on earth are we supposed to hit that bastard's pitches!" Narumiya Mei shouted in the dugout, furious after seeing his side go three-up, three-down again.

"If his pitch speed stays around 150 kilometers, it's actually very similar to Narumiya's, and since you are also a left-handed Pitcher, logically you should have an even greater advantage."

"But this guy keeps spiking his pitch speed every now and then, making it very difficult for you to judge the timing for hitting."

The Inashiro team members each expressed their own opinions.

At this moment, Manager Kunitomo spoke up: "In these two innings, you should have fully felt the opponent's pitching strength. Not only the Pitcher, but that Catcher who is always able to be unexpected must also not be ignored. From the variation of pitch types to the selection of pitch paths, he can even flexibly utilize every current condition to create opportunities for the Pitcher's pitches."

"In short, starting from the third inning, don't worry too much about the pitch types. Just like before, use your positioning to create pressure and shut down inside pitches, and look to hit a single pitch type. Additionally, if the opponent throws an inside pitch, as long as it's in a hittable spot, swing without hesitation!"

Manager Kunitomo stood in front of the bench with his hands behind his back and a serious expression.

"Yes!!"

The loud roar of the Inashiro team reached the stands, conveying their determination to the fans.

This is a game where there is no coming back if you lose; even when facing the powerful Seido, they will never back down!