Chapter 339: A Pitch with Depth

"Taiyo!!"

"Let's go! Taiyo!"

"Ace-sama! Don't lose!"

"I'm counting on you, Taiyo!"

Cheers rang in his ears as Mukai Taiyo stepped onto the Pitcher's Mound. Today was a perfect opportunity to prove himself; if he could just defeat Seido here!

"Against a Pitcher of Mukai Taiyo's type, don't expect any easy pitches. His precise control will put every ball in a spot that makes you uncomfortable, so as long as the ball enters the strike zone, swing decisively!"

Walking to the Batter's Box, Kuramochi Yoichi was still replaying the words the manager had said before he went up.

At the same time, he quickly ran through the intelligence data regarding Mukai Taiyo.

Mukai Taiyo, First Year, left-handed, and a side-armer at that!

Such a Pitcher was very rare even among powerhouse schools. Back in middle school, Mukai Taiyo was already a presence with both talent and popularity. Since entering Teito High School, his performance had been worthy of the name of a genius.

Hmm, also, it's said that this guy is extremely narcissistic.

"Bottom of the first inning, Seido High School's attack, first batter, Shortstop, Kuramochi-kun."

Behind home plate, Inui Kengo glanced at Kuramochi, then quickly signaled.

First pitch, keep the pitch low! Taiyo!

I know!

Mukai Taiyo nodded. After locking in the pitch he wanted to throw, the next second he lifted his leg and swung his arm.

Hiss!

The white shadow of the ball carved a streak of light from the side. Kuramochi's eyes were focused, staring dead at the ball.

Pop!

The baseball entered home plate and landed precisely on the edge of the outside corner. Kuramochi did not swing.

"Such a low pitch!!"

This guy! Kuramochi looked up at the Pitcher's Mound. His first instinct was that this pitch would be a ball, but it flew into such a low position and still managed to clip the strike zone!

And it wasn't just using the width and height of the strike zone, but the depth as well!

This guy's pitching is very different from others!

After one Strike, the look in Kuramochi's eyes as he watched Mukai Taiyo became even more full of fighting spirit. A Pitcher with such unique characteristics was rare indeed.

Whoosh!

Swish!

Mukai Taiyo's rhythm was also very fast, and the second pitch was even sharper than the last.

Bang!

"Jianjie!"

Damn it! The pitch is so hard to read!

Third pitch!

Using a Breaking Ball after getting two Strikes to corner the Batter is Mukai Taiyo's habit!

Whoosh!

It really was a Breaking Ball!

The bat Kuramochi swung barely managed to connect with the top half of the baseball.

Bang!

The baseball flew backward and slammed into the ground in front of the Shortstop.

Pop!

"Out!"

Teito High School's defense was seamless and their coordination fluid; Kuramochi was tagged out before the First Base bag.

Damn it!

Kuramochi gritted his teeth and walked off the field.

"Precise control, perfectly utilizing the width, height, and depth of the strike zone—a three-dimensional control with a very distinct personal style."

Huangqian Yangyi leaned on the railing, propping his chin with his hand as he spoke.

"He certainly has talent," Miyuki said.

"It's just that his expression is so annoying. I'm telling you, Kazuya, this kid was provoking me with his eyes before the game started," Huangqian Yangyi complained.

Miyuki chuckled and said in a flat tone, "Then let's teach him how to respect his seniors."

"Eh? Kazuya, are you angry? For my sake??" Huangqian Yangyi smirked.

"Get lost." Miyuki rolled his eyes, then picked up his bat and walked toward the on-deck circle.

On the field, the second batter, Kominato Haruichi, rose from the on-deck circle with his wooden bat and walked toward the Batter's Box.

"Let all the low pitches go. As long as a pitch comes in high, swing decisively," Kuramochi said, deliberately walking over to Kominato Haruichi as he left the field.

"Mm, thank you, senior," Kominato Haruichi nodded.

Mukai Taiyo's pitches were all kept quite low, and he was very skilled at using low pitches to alternate between Strikes and balls to bait the Batter. Rather than being led into the opponent's rhythm, it was better to actively give up on the low balls.

Standing in the Batter's Box, Kominato Haruichi lowered his head, a sharp light flashing in his eyes hidden by his bangs.

On the Pitcher's Mound, seeing the wooden bat in Kominato Haruichi's hands, Mukai Taiyo raised an eyebrow. In high school baseball, wooden bats were still quite rare, and with a build like Kominato Haruichi's, it was even harder to use a wooden bat well.

"Playball!"

The umpire's voice rang out. Inui Kengo immediately gave the signal, and Mukai Taiyo threw the ball with the intention of letting this guy using a wooden bat get a good taste of the cruelty of baseball.

Whoosh!!

The small white ball arrived in front of home plate at an extremely low angle.

Kominato Haruichi opened his eyes! This pitch was truly hard to distinguish as a Strike or a ball, so he simply did not swing.

Having gained the upper hand with one pitch, Mukai Taiyo lifted his chin, looking at Kominato Haruichi with a face full of arrogance.

Whoosh!

The second pitch was also released quickly; it was a high-floating outside pitch, and Kominato Haruichi swung decisively, but the bat missed the baseball by a distance of two balls!

So far!

"Strike!!"

It was a ball that missed the strike zone!

Kominato Haruichi took a deep look at Mukai Taiyo, then lowered his head to look at Inui Kengo; it must have been the Catcher's idea!

Knowing that he would choose to hit high pitches, they deliberately called for a high-floating outside ball.

As expected, just as senior Huangqian said, the hearts of Catchers are all dirty.

"Can Kominato do it?"

In the dugout, Arima Kazusa looked at the field worriedly and said.

"Ha, don't worry, Kominato can do it," Huangqian Yangyi said, turning his head.

"Yeah, Haruichi will definitely be able to hit it," said Kuramochi, who had just returned.

Bang!!

A crisp sound rang out.

The third pitch, a low ball from Mukai Taiyo that entered the strike zone, was tracked by Kominato Haruichi.

So heavy!

Kominato gritted his teeth tightly; Mukai Taiyo's pitch speed was not that fast, but the spin rate was incredible. The moment the bat struck the baseball, Kominato Haruichi felt it was hard to get a solid grip, and the baseball would simply not fly in the direction he wanted.

Swish!

The baseball, flying backward, drew an arc in the air and was easily caught by the Teito Second Baseman.

"Flyout!"

"Batter out!"

Sigh~

Kominato Haruichi let out a sigh, stopped helplessly after hearing the umpire's voice, returned to home plate to pick up his bat, and walked off the field.

"Leave the rest to me," Miyuki said as he crossed paths with Kominato Haruichi.

"Good luck, senior," Kominato Haruichi nodded.

At the same time, the Miyuki chant rang out in unison from the stands.

With a smile, Miyuki walked slowly into the Batter's Box.

"Well~ you've struck out our cheetah and our underclassman in a row; you're being a bit too arrogant."

Inui Kengo ignored Miyuki and gave the signs on his own.

Soon, Miyuki swung and missed twice, pushed to the brink with two Strikes.

On the Pitcher's Mound, Mukai Taiyo lifted his chin again; the third batter? Miyuki? So what? Just one more pitch and I'll finish you off.

Come on! Taiyo! Use that pitch to finish him!

Inui Kengo set his glove.

After nodding, Mukai Taiyo quickly threw the ball.