On the pitcher's mound, Kanzaki Ryou stared at Hada Kazuki, their eyes meeting in the air; one wanted to quickly resolve the opponent and end the game, while the other, bearing the last hope of his entire team, swore to hit the ball out.
Miyuki, in the catcher's position, coughed twice to draw Kanzaki Ryou's attention to his glove, then gave the signal.
The Inajitsu third batter and Captain, in this critical moment for the team, his determination to hit was unquestionable; if there was any flaw in the pitch at this time, he could very likely hit it, and Inajitsu's counterattack momentum would also surge.
"Captain, hit it out!"
"We're counting on you, Captain!!"
"You must hit it!!"
...
Whether it was the Inajitsu fans in the stands or the players in the Inajitsu dugout, all of them were now exerting their maximum strength and voice to cheer for Hada Kazuki.
When the team was in trouble and about to lose the game, the team's Captain stepped up to the batter's box, bearing everyone's expectations; everyone hoped he could turn the tide.
Seeing the signal given by Miyuki, Kanzaki Ryou nodded; facing a batter like Hada Kazuki, who carried the team's hope and had firm conviction, a normal pitch would be very dangerous, yet Miyuki made a bold pitch call at this moment.
A Fastball!
The first pitch was a Fastball aimed at the edge of the strike zone!
Kanzaki Ryou took a deep breath, concentrating intensely, his left leg slowly lifted, and his whole body stood steadily on one leg on the pitcher's mound, like a sculpture.
The next moment, Kanzaki Ryou lowered his center of gravity, took a big step forward with his left leg, and threw the baseball with all his might with his swinging right arm.
Whoosh!
The baseball flew towards home plate.
Hada Kazuki dared not miss any opportunity; his bat swung decisively!
Thwack!
The baseball suddenly shifted and curved towards Hada Kazuki's leg before entering Miyuki's glove; this was an inside Two-seam fastball !
"Strike!"
Hada Kazuki swung and missed, but his face showed no expression; he remained as firm and serious as ever.
"Bastard! Why did Kazuya call for a Strike right away!" Narumiya Mei gritted his teeth, glaring at Miyuki.
"He's banking on the Captain mindset; at this critical moment, the Captain desire to hit is too obvious," Shinkawa Kenichi said.
In the batter's box, after swinging and missing the first pitch, although Hada Kazuki showed no reaction on the surface, he knew in his heart that his thoughts had been seen through; however, even so, would an ordinary person really dare to call for a strike on the first pitch at such a crucial moment?
Hada Kazuki had no time to think more; Miyuki had already given the signal for the second pitch.
Kanzaki Ryou tilted his neck and stretched his shoulder, then quickly threw the second pitch!
Whoosh!
The baseball flew rapidly, and Hada Kazuki's bat also swung at this moment, aiming for the outside corner!
The baseball flew rapidly, making an exaggerated curve in front of home plate; it was that strange ball. Hada Kazuki's eyes narrowed, and he extended the bat in his hand with all his might.
Thud!
The bat barely reached the white ball.
"Haa!"
Hada Kazuki shouted, actually carrying the baseball out.
"Run!"
In an instant, the entire stadium echoed with the shouts of Inajitsu fans.
Hada Kazuki sprinted quickly towards first base step by step; at this moment, his eyes only saw that base, he had no mind to look where the baseball in the sky was flying.
The white ball passed through the infield and landed on the ground; Isashiki quickly stepped forward, picked up the ball, and threw it to first base.
"Safe!"
Hada Kazuki slid into first base before the baseball was caught by Yuki Tetsuya.
"Woo-hoo!!!"
"Captain!!"
"Inajitsu!"
Inajitsu's supporters completely erupted, and the players in the dugout also jumped up excitedly; an uninformed person seeing this scene would have thought they had won the game.
Standing on first base, Hada Kazuki was panting heavily; it was too exciting, he had only instinctively extended his bat on that last pitch to barely make contact, and hitting a single was beyond his expectation, but the final result was clearly not bad; he successfully got on base, and the next batter was the fourth batter, Shinkawa Kenichi.
On the pitcher's mound, Kanzaki Ryou looked helplessly at Miyuki; both sighed at the same time, shaking their heads with a bitter smile. There was nothing wrong with that last pitch; Miyuki saw it clearly — Hada Kazuki's swing was aimed at a Straight ball, but he was able to forcefully change the trajectory of his swing to hit the baseball. It could only be said that the opponent's desire to win was too strong.
Top of the ninth inning, Inashiro Industrial attacking, score 2–1, two outs, runner on first.
At this moment, all the spectators in the stadium were staring intently at the game; the Seido High School Baseball Team was seemingly on the verge of victory, who would have thought that Inajitsu would get a runner on base at the last moment, perfectly embodying the uncertainty of the game.
Hada Kazuki getting on base reignited Inajitsu's comeback momentum; if it couldn't be suppressed in time, the final direction of this game would be truly hard to say.
In Seido's dugout, Coach Kataoka still maintained his composure as if a mountain were collapsing before him; beside him, Ota was already sweating profusely, and Takashima Rei was tightly clutching the pen in her hand.
The substitute players were even more worried, anxiously leaning on the railing, looking towards the pitcher's mound.
"Clingy!"
"Why don't those Inajitsu bastards just surrender, wasting time!"
"Hmph, dying struggles!"
On the field, Kanzaki Ryou also felt that these Inajitsu guys were very difficult to deal with; there was only one out left, and now a variable had appeared.
Behind him, his teammates also concentrated, waiting for his pitch.
Shinkawa Kenichi stepped into the batter's box; Miyuki silently glanced at him, then gave a signal that surprised Kanzaki Ryou.
Changeup!!
Kanzaki Ryou was stunned for a moment, then he understood Miyuki's meaning; this Changeup had been hidden for several months — was it time to use it now?
After thinking for a moment, Kanzaki Ryou shook his head at Miyuki; it wasn't time yet. This was still only the semifinals, and the Ichidai Third High players were also watching this game; if it was used prematurely at this moment, it would only give Ichidai Third High information for free.
Trust me!
Kanzaki Ryou gave Miyuki a look; the latter smacked his lips, nodded helplessly, and then gave the signal for an outside Four-seam fastball Straight ball.
Soon, Kanzaki Ryou threw the ball.
Shinkawa Kenichi remained motionless, showing no intention of swinging.
Thwack!
"Strike!"
Miyuki threw the ball back; Shinkawa Kenichi's composure put some pressure on him — this Inajitsu fourth batter was too calm.
For the next pitch, Miyuki again called for an outside pitch, but this time it was a Slider.
Kanzaki Ryou swung his arm, and the white ball flew towards the edge of the strike zone.
Shinkawa Kenichi swung!
Whoosh!
The wind generated by the bat whistled past Miyuki's ears.