Chapter 385: Master and Apprentice Duel

"Here they come!"

"Seido!!"

"Finally waited for this!"

"The kings, Seido!"

"Coach Kataoka, win until the end!"

"Huangqian! Take the fifth consecutive championship!"

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh! Go, Seido!"

Just as they stepped into the stadium, the wave-like cheers from the stands immediately swept over them. The members of Seido, long accustomed to such scenes, merely smiled, while on the opposite side, the players of Yura Sogo Technical High School were quite terrified; they had never personally experienced such a scene before.

This aura was too terrifying.

"Haha, as expected of Seido." Coach Sakaki looked at Coach Kataoka on the opposite side and laughed loudly.

"Coach, we..."

"Scared?" Coach Sakaki turned his head to look at his own team members.

"Seido being able to have such support is something they earned with their hard work and sweat; there is no need to feel unbalanced in your hearts."

"As long as you can win the game here and win more games in the future, you will also reap such cheers and applause," Coach Sakaki said.

The team members nodded heavily upon hearing this. The game hadn't even started, and the pressure from Seido was already making them struggle to cope, but the coach was right. Envy? Jealousy? Unwillingness? Throw all these things to the back of your mind; if you want to gain the audience's expectations, you must create them with your own hands.

Coach Sakaki nodded with satisfaction. For this game, from tactics to psychology, he had already done his best. What kind of result would be achieved in the end would depend on these children themselves.

First Base side, Seido dugout.

"Furuya, pay attention to your control of the ball at the start. The opponent will definitely launch a strong attack at the beginning; don't give them a chance to grab."

"Yes!"

"In terms of defense, infielders, keep your spirits up. Although the opponent's batting lineup lacks power hitters, they are very good at finding loopholes. Pay attention to every gap; don't get caught off guard."

"Yes! Coach!" the nine starters shouted in unison.

"Very good!"

"Then let's go!"

"Buzz buzz buzz~"

As the words fell, a shrill air-raid siren sounded.

"Line up!"

Both teams rushed into the field and stood in two rows facing each other.

Feeling the aura and pressure emanating from the Seido members, Higashiyama, Chida, and the rest of the Yura High School players all swallowed their saliva involuntarily.

This is, the kings, Seido!

Just a single encounter, before the game had even started, they had already been suppressed in terms of momentum.

"Salute!"

"Please treat us well!!"

The 90th National High School Baseball Championship, West Tokyo Regional Tournament, third round, first game, Seido High School vs. Yura Sogo Technical High School, officially begins.

First Base side, Seido High School, batting second.

Third Base side, Yura High School, batting first.

Seeing the starting lineup on Seido's side, Coach Sakaki touched his chin thoughtfully. It was not much different from what he had expected; Seido had indeed sent out Furuya Satoru.

On the field, Miyuki and Furuya Satoru were also whispering about the precautions for the opening.

"Miyuki-senpai, I understand."

I don't know what Miyuki said, but Furuya was currently particularly excited.

Miyuki gave a hehe smile and ran toward home plate.

As long as he could go 5 innings without giving up a run, perhaps the coach would let him pitch a complete game.

This was the whisper Miyuki said to Furuya.

The kid was tricked into being foolish.

A complete game!

Although he had experienced many complete games, Furuya still hoped to pitch more complete games. Of course, he also needed to put on a better performance.

He usually didn't like to talk, but in his heart, Furuya's desire for the ace position had always been very strong. Even with Huangqian Yangyi pressing down in front of him, his and Sawamura's persistence for the ace position had not faded at all.

"Furuya! Go for it!"

"Solve them one by one!"

"Be careful!"

"Don't walk them!"

"Furuya! Suppress them with your fastball!"

The audience's cheers came, and Furuya adjusted his cap, then looked at the first batter of Yura High School.

Yura High School's first batter, Arai.

Standing in the Batter's Box, feeling the atmosphere of the scene, Arai was truly a bit envious.

They were originally just a weak team, but after Coach Sakaki came to their school, the baseball team immediately underwent earth-shaking changes. This experienced coach, who once coached the powerhouse Seido, made their team feel like they were reborn. They broke through the qualifiers all the way to earn a spot in the Summer Tournament, and achieved two consecutive wins in the main tournament.

At this moment, the opponent was Seido, the team known as the kings. They knew their chances of winning were very small, perhaps even almost impossible, but no matter what, in this game, they had to bring out what they had learned, their own baseball, and must not lose face for Coach Sakaki.

Even if it was Seido, the matter of a teacher losing to a student—perhaps Coach Sakaki himself didn't care, but they, the team members, cared very much.

Arai stepped back one step behind the Batter's Box, and this single step triggered many thoughts in Miyuki's eyes.

Wait for the ball to come in before hitting? Strive for more swing time?

"Playball!"

The home plate umpire's voice rang out, and Miyuki took the opportunity to signal the signs from below.

Regardless of what the opponent was planning, how could he pretend not to see it? Since he couldn't guess Coach Sakaki's intentions, he could only meet force with force!

Come on! Furuya!

A high inside Fastball!

Yes!

Furuya nodded heavily; the next moment, he lifted his left leg high and then slammed it violently into the ground, putting the strength of his entire body into his fingertips.

Whoosh!!

The little white ball, like an exploding whirlwind, swept toward the Batter with terrifying pressure.

Hm?

The moment the ball came out, the Batter Arai knew he had to swing, but his body couldn't keep up at all; his reaction was a half-beat slow, and the baseball flashed past his eyes and slammed into Miyuki's glove with a pop.

"Strike!"

Arai's pupils, which had shrunk sharply, trembled violently.

So fast, and it moves so much!

It arrived right in front of him in a flash; even though he had prepared himself mentally, he still had no way to track the baseball.

This is a ball thrown by a real person; even though they had practiced against 160 km/h balls using a pitching machine before the game, it was completely different from the 155 km/h ball thrown by this power Pitcher in front of him.

Furuya's pitching was as if it had a life of its own; not only was it fast, but it also moved, carried terrifying power, and even rose after entering the home plate area.

There was no time to think; having received the return throw from Miyuki, Furuya was already prepared to throw the second pitch.

Whoosh!!

This time, it was a Forkball!

Arai swung and missed, and the third pitch followed suit.

"Strikeout!"

The sharp pitching quickly disposed of the first Batter from Yura High School, giving Seido a great start.