"Strike, out!" As the umpire made the call, the bottom of the eighth inning came to an end—the score remained 1:3, with Waseda Industries trailing by two runs.
The television commentators kept providing live commentary on the game, filled with admiration for Lin Guanglai:
"Well, though he's just a freshman, Lin doesn't seem like someone who just entered high school—honestly, his pitching level already surpasses that of most high school pitchers. He's truly a player with great potential!"
"Yes, being able to pitch a fastball over 140 kilometers per hour as a high school freshman, and what's key is his control skills are also quite impressive, and his repertoire is continually expanding. Such a pitcher is rare even in professional baseball; his future growth is indeed very promising."
After praising Lin Guanglai's performance as a substitute, the commentators shifted their focus back to analyzing the game situation:
"However, the situation is not very optimistic for Waseda Industries—the eighth inning is over, and they're still two runs behind."
"If they can't score in the top of the ninth inning, Waseda Industries will have to say goodbye to this summer, and possibly their entire high school baseball journey... If the score remains this way until the end, it must be said, this will be the biggest upset of the West Tokyo Conference so far!!!"
"So, dear viewers, will Waseda Industries pull off a comeback, upholding their reputation, or will Practical Academy accomplish a miracle by toppling a higher-ranked team for the first time in the tournament?"
"Let's turn our attention to Hachioji City Stadium, where the match between Waseda Real and Practical Academy is about to enter the ninth inning!"
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In the Waseda Industries' player preparation area, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense—as the game reached this point, everyone knew it was now a do-or-die moment:
Either send at least two of their batters home to fight for a glimmer of hope, or leave this summer and potentially their entire high school baseball career with regret.
In fact, in the past few innings, Waseda's batting line-up had noticeably been warming up: Both their hit success rate and number of base hits had significantly improved compared to the earlier innings;
But the resilience of Practical Academy's defense far exceeded the expectations of Waseda's players—especially their starting pitcher, Mitake, who seemed to be in top form today, as if energized: As a control pitcher with not very fast speed, Mitake had already struck out six batters so far, and his breaking balls were exhausting the Waseda batters.
Izumi Minoru, usually a gentle and amiable old man, gathered all the players, using all the strength his frail body could muster to shout:
"I am very angry right now, extremely angry!"
"I'm not angry because we've been trailing, but because you are all acting like cowards."
"Look at your dejected faces! Is the game over? Do you think just because we're two runs behind, we should admit defeat? If that's what you think, I'll go to the umpire right now and forfeit! We won't play anymore!"
"Is that the result you want? Huh? Answer me!!!"
"No... we don't want..." came a weak voice from the crowd.
"What? I didn't hear you clearly!"
"No! Coach! We want to win! We want to go to Koshien!" Lin Guanglai was the first to lift his head and respond loudly.
Following his lead, the other players also raised their heads and shouted out their desires: "No!!! Coach!!! We don't want to!!! We want to win!!! We want to go to Koshien!!!"
"Then fight like men! Don't hesitate, don't doubt, when you decide to swing, give it all you've got!"
"Now, get ready to go up! I have only one requirement!"
"Hit that damn baseball out of the park!!!"
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"Number 9, pitcher, Mr. Lin." As the broadcast announced, Lin Guanglai put on his batting gear and slowly walked into the batter's box at the home plate—in this inning, he was the team's lead-off batter.
Hot sweat gradually slid down his skin, and the blood coursing through his veins was rapidly boiling—today's weather was as hot as a sauna.
Standing in the batter's box, Lin Guanglai assumed his batting stance, his whole body tense to the extreme; he could faintly hear the rapid beating of his heart.
As the lead-off batter, Lin Guanglai was acutely aware of the responsibility on his shoulders: Only by getting a hit first could his team's subsequent strategy proceed smoothly.
Lin Guanglai gripped the bat tightly with both hands, raising it high over his shoulder, stepping his right foot forward in a lunge, while his body's weight was centered on his back left foot;
His gaze was fixed firmly on the figure in a white jersey number 1 on the pitcher's mound—he was panting heavily.
Clearly, after pitching a complete game through eight innings, the opposing pitcher was very fatigued; this was exactly his chance.
The first pitch, high. Clearly a bad ball, the baseball's release point was obviously too early, and Lin Guanglai naturally didn't swing.
0 strikes, 1 ball.
The second pitch flew towards his inside corner, from the perspective of the batter's box, this pitch was a bit too inside, and Lin Guanglai still didn't swing—the umpire behind home plate also judged it to be a ball.
0 strikes, 2 balls.
Having thrown consecutive balls, Mitake on the pitcher's mound was under increasing pressure—his arm grew heavier, and every part of his body continued to sound alarms of reaching their limits, but as Practical Academy's sole ace pitcher, he had to persevere;
Moreover, they were just three outs away from creating a miracle.
Practical Academy's catcher signaled to Mitake on the pitcher's mound, indicating to try for a strike with the third pitch—Mitake nodded and then threw a high fastball.
In the eyes of Practical Academy's pitcher-catcher combo, with the count at 0 strikes 2 balls, facing this high deceptive fastball, it was very likely that Waseda's ninth batter wouldn't swing.
Lin Guanglai gave his response.
He gently lifted his stepping right foot, then swiftly lunged forward, with the combined force of his arm and body's torsion, he swung the bat, making intimate contact with the incoming baseball—Lin Guanglai decided to chop this ball towards the ground.
"Clang—"
After being hit, the baseball rolled rapidly along the ground towards the area between first and second base.
Practical Academy's second baseman lunged onto the field, trying to use his body to block the ball, but unfortunately, he was a bit too slow, and the baseball slipped through the gap under his outstretched glove.
The ball that passed through the infield was fielded by the advancing right fielder, but it was too late—Lin Guanglai's foot had already landed on first base.
As the lead-off batter in the top of the ninth, Lin Guanglai sounded the call for Waseda Industries' counterattack with a base hit to first.