Chapter 416: The Ouya Battle – The Showdown
"Whoosh"
"Snap"
A flash of light streaked across the field.
The ball soared toward left field, where Eijun sprinted into position.
With a leap, he extended his glove and securely caught the ball.
"Out! Three outs, change of sides!"
"Nice catch, Sawamura!"
"Great pitch, Kawakami!"
"Perfect defense, well done, everyone!"
"Keep up this rhythm!"
In the bottom of the third inning, facing the lower part of Ouya High's lineup, it seemed like they had suddenly seized an opportunity.
The seventh batter, Ito, connected with Kawakami's first-pitch slider, driving it to the gap between left and center field.
Eijun and Tojou reacted quickly, but the ball landed in the no-man's-land between them, allowing Ito to reach second base safely.
Ouya High, riding the momentum, pressed further.
The eighth batter, Maki, also targeted Kawakami's slider, which followed a fastball.
To Miyuki's surprise, Ouya High's batters were able to read the pitch's trajectory perfectly.
A sharp grounder slipped through the gap between first and second base.
With no outs and runners on first and third, Ouya High suddenly found themselves in a prime position to score first, shocking the entire stadium.
Just as everyone thought Seido High was about to concede a run, Kawakami surprised them once again.
The introduction of his sinker.
Earlier, when Kawakami had approached Miyuki about using the sinker, even Miyuki had been taken aback.
Now, on the field, the pitch left everyone stunned.
The moment the sinker came into play, the momentum shifted dramatically.
Wakabayashi Gou, expecting a slider, swung with the timing and trajectory of a slider in mind.
But the sudden drop of the sinker as it approached the plate caught him completely off guard.
A grounder to third base.
Kanemaru quickly fielded the ball, firing it home to prevent the runner from scoring, and then to first base for the double play.
The situation changed instantly.
The next batter was quickly retired with a fly ball to left field, which Eijun caught with ease, ending Ouya High's rally.
The appearance of Kawakami's sinker left Ouya High scrambling, clearly demonstrating that the strength of the reigning champions was truly unfathomable.
They were reminded that Seido High had their own preparations as well.
Coach Araki, on the Ouya High side, furrowed his brow, realizing a critical issue: Kawakami, now armed with a sinker, would be even more challenging to handle.
On the first-base side, in Seido High's dugout.
"That's a pretty good team. If it weren't for Norifumi's sinker, they might have scored just now," Miyuki said as he removed his gear, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"They're really good at seizing small opportunities, Ouya High," Kuramochi added with a nod.
"But now, it's our turn," Eijun, who had just returned from the outfield, said with a faint smile.
As soon as Eijun finished speaking, Miyuki, Kuramochi, Maezono, Haruichi, and the others all smiled.
Three innings, one round through the lineup.
They had finally confirmed that Ouya High's defensive shifts matched what Watanabe had reported. While some of their defensive movements were still unclear, the outfielders' shifts to the right, combined with their verbal cues, were clear indicators of an outside fastball.
This was something Seido High could now confidently exploit.
Of course, Eijun had known from the start, but he couldn't just outright say he was certain. Besides, during his first at-bat, Wakabayashi had tricked him with a sidearm pitch, leaving him with no solid evidence to back up his claims.
Now, however, things were different.
Nine batters, one full rotation through the lineup, had not only focused on attacking but also on gathering information.
The results were promising.
"The game has reached the middle stages. It's about time we scored. This is our chance—let's make sure we seize it," Miyuki said firmly to the team.
"Ooooooh!"
As Seido High prepared their long-planned offensive, Ouya High remained oblivious.
Just as Wakabayashi had said in the original story, from Ouya High's perspective, prestigious schools like Seido weren't supposed to play with such strategic depth.
This bias, however, would cost Ouya High dearly.
"Top of the fourth inning, Seido High's attack. First batter, shortstop, Kuramochi-kun."
"This second round is crucial."
"Yeah, if Ouya can hold them off this inning, they might be able to control the game."
"I wonder just how precise that sidearm pitch of Ouya's ace is."
"Will Seido break through first, or will Ouya maintain control? This inning is the turning point."
"Hmm."
The defensive positioning is shifted toward the middle?
The third baseman is playing in, clearly guarding against a bunt.
Kuramochi tapped his right foot on the dirt of the batter's box, his sharp eyes scanning Ouya High's defensive setup. A faint glint of determination flashed in his eyes.
Get on base. This time, I'll definitely get on base. I'll show you just how dangerous I am.
A cold light flickered in Kuramochi's eyes as he recalled Coach Ochiai's lazy but pointed remark. His grip on the bat tightened.
"!"
Just like before, be cautious of this guy's bunt. Ideally, get him out with a fly ball or a strikeout. Avoid force-outs if possible—too risky.
In the dugout, Coach Araki subtly gestured with his fingers, signaling his players.
The Ouya High players nodded, adjusting their positions slightly.
Wakabayashi, standing tall on the mound, looked down at Kuramochi with a confident gaze.
"Whoosh"
As the catcher's sign matched his intent, Wakabayashi stepped forward, his arm whipping through the air.
Why bother with all the fuss? A scrub like this can be dealt with in a few pitches!!
The ball shot forward like a streak of light.
At the plate, Kuramochi's eyebrows raised as the ball approached.
Just as he began to swing, his eyes narrowed, and he quickly adjusted his stance.
The ball grazed past him, landing neatly in Sumi's glove behind the plate.
"Snap!"
"Strike!!!"
What a sharp angle.
In the dugout, Eijun, preparing for his turn at bat, couldn't help but twitch his eyebrows as he watched the pitch.
This pitcher has a bigger heart than I expected. To throw such a decisive inside pitch like that—it takes guts.
I have to admit, Wakabayashi Gou has some real skill as a pitcher.
And his ability to stay calm and handle situations with a clear mind only adds to his strength.
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