Ace of Diamond: Return of the Pitcher

V6_Chapter 28: So Exceptional

No Outs, runner on first base!

The runner on first is Kuramochi. Ugumori players believed that Kuramochi wouldn’t stay put on first base and would actively try to advance to the next base.

So, from pitcher Umemiya to the fielders, they all kept a close eye on Kuramochi, ready to react aggressively at any move he made.

But unexpectedly, Kuramochi remained firmly on first base, surprising everyone. Not only were the Ugumori players puzzled, but so were the spectators.

Owada Akiko frowned and asked, “Kuramochi-kun, aren’t planning to steal the base?”

Fujio nodded affirmatively. “I think Coach Kataoka must have other plans.”

Fujio was right. Coach Kataoka had indeed planned something different; he signaled Haruichi to use a sacrificial bunt.

Ping!

Given Kominato’s skill, the bunt was executed without difficulty, advancing Kuramochi to second base. However, Kominato’s slow speed led to him being Out at first.

One Out, runner at second base.

This move surprised Owada Akiko. “Haruichi’s sacrifice bunt did move the runner to the next base. Is this really Coach Kataoka’s tactic?”

It seemed overly cautious. After all, Seidou was trailing by three runs. Wouldn’t he be in a hurry?

“Even though they are down by three runs, it’s still the first inning, so there’s no need to rush,” Fujio explained.

“Coach Kataoka wants to show the players that the score can be recovered gradually. Instead of risking a stolen base, a tactical play like this better demonstrates the strength of a strong team.”

Fujio didn’t mention that this approach not only restores Seidou’s players' confidence but also gradually applies pressure on the opponents.

In Ugumori’s dugout, Matsubara Nao, with sweat on his face, admired Seidou’s calmness. He realized that if Seidou had rushed to close the three-run gap, they would be more prone to mistakes, giving Ugumori more opportunities.

However, Seidou’s steady approach made things challenging for Ugumori.

“Third batter, outfielder, Shiratsu-kun.”

With the coaching staff opting not to play Sawamura, the third hole was vacant. They decided to promote Shiratsu.

Though his performance hadn’t been outstanding recently, he had been steady and reliable. Promoting him was a recognition of his efforts and a sign of trust in his ability.

Ping!

The white ball was hit and soared high. Shiratsu’s face turned grim. He hadn’t anticipated the large drop in ball speed, which caught him off guard, especially the slow curveball at 100 km/h.

Caught by surprise, Shiratsu hit a pop fly and was Out.

Two Outs, runner at second base!

Seidou was strong, and Ugumori High School was not merely on the defensive. Their Ace, Umemiya, was fully focused on challenging Seidou.

“Fourth batter, catcher, Miyuki-kun.”

Now it was Miyuki’s turn to bat. With Shiratsu out, the Ugumori players were energized.

“Two Outs!”

In the center of the field, Umemiya raised his hand to signal his teammates.

“Two Out! Ume-chan”

“Let’s do it!”

The response from his teammates made Miyuki, stepping into the Batter’s Box, uneasy. Umemiya, being Ugumori’s key player, could boost their team’s momentum if he succeeded.

Miyuki faced Umemiya with determination.

Whoosh!

Umemiya threw a slow ball with a strong spin, creating a dangerous feel. Miyuki let the first pitch go by.

Snap!

The ball landed in the catcher’s Mitt.

“STRIKE!”

“Nice pitch, Umemiya!”

“Let’s get him Out!”

The Ugumori players cheered.

With Seidou trailing by three runs and two Outs with a runner on second, they needed at least one hit.

Fujio remarked thoughtfully, “This game won’t be easy for Seidou. That pitcher is good at using speed variation. Though his pitches aren’t unhittable, getting consecutive hits will be tough.”

A three-run difference is still quite significant!

Whoosh!

Ping!

“FOUL!”

The ball was hit and flew out of bounds.

Miyuki, with a serious attitude, faced the challenge head-on. As the team’s fourth batter, he needed to deliver results.

‘Two Strikes behind!’

Trailing by three runs, and with core player Sawamura not playing, Miyuki, as the fourth batter, couldn’t afford to be easily Out.

If he failed, the following batters might assume Umemiya was a pitcher of a high level. And engaging in a pitching duel with a three-run behind would be problematic.

The position of team captain or vice-captain didn’t matter; their performance on the field would define them.

With two Strikes and two curves thrown, Umemiya delivered a fastball.

Whoosh!

The ball sped toward Miyuki like a direct assault. Miyuki, in an awkward stance, managed to hit the ball.

Ping!

Though his posture limited his power, Miyuki made a beautiful hit to center field.

Long hit to the outfield!

Kuramochi didn’t waste time and returned to the home plate, helping Seidou High School get their first run.

Miyuki advanced to second base.

Two Outs, runner at second base.

The score was 3:1!

The previously unreachable gap had been closed to a manageable range. And Seidou High School’s offense was far from over.

“Even though his swing was a bit off, he still managed to hit the ball deep into center field, allowing the runner on second base to score…”

“Thanks to the powerful hit from the fourth batter, Seidou is beginning their comeback!”

On the field, countless spectators raised their arms, excitedly waving their horns and drink bottles.

They expressed their emotions freely.

“Seidou!”

“Seidou!!”

“Miyuki!!!”

cheers could be heard from all over the stadium.

The frustration that Ugumori High School had previously imposed was now fully released.

“Seidou had simply had a momentary lapse, which gave Ugumori the chance to take a brief lead.”

“Once Seidou regained their focus, how could a small team like Ugumori pose any real threat?”

“After all, Seidou is the reigning summer Koshien champion. No mere team can match them.”

For Seidou's fans, this moment was undoubtedly thrilling.

But the reality was less optimistic.

Sawamura nodded at Miyuki. His partner’s growth was evident to anyone who wasn’t blind. He had become a worthy fourth batter of a Famous Team.

But this single run didn’t solve all of Seidou’s problems.

Umemiya’s problem and Ugumori’s challenge weren’t so easily overcome.

‘Not to mention, Umemiya still has hidden cards he hasn’t used yet.’

Of course, these aren’t the most critical issues. The most crucial fact is that Seidou was still trailing by two runs.

Being behind means you’re at a disadvantage! Until the score is leveled, Seidou High School will remain at a certain disadvantage.

On the field.

Umemiya, who had just given up a hit, wore a fierce smile.

“Damn, with such a big difference in ball speed, they still managed to react in time!”

‘They are really a strong team.’

After Kuramochi reached home plate, Maezono stepped up to bat.

“You need to step up too, Zono!”

Kuramochi reached out and high-fived Maezono.

Of the three team captains, two had already made an impact; now it was Maezono’s turn!

In the stands.

“Was Miyuki-kun deliberately waiting for that pitch?”

Owada Akiko was amazed by Miyuki’s skills.

“When the team needs it, hitting a pitch from the opposing ace is the job of the fourth batter. Miyuki-kun has finally shown the mindset of a true fourth batter!” Fujio nodded.

Although it was just a small run, Seidou had regained some control of the game, no longer as completely passive as before.

“Zono, give it your all!”

“It’s up to you now!”

“Show us what you’ve got!”

Even though Maezono was moved to the fifth position, he hadn’t yet delivered any noteworthy performance, particularly in the last game where he played a purely inconsequential role.

Such performance would typically be disappointing.

However, Maezono still received plenty of support from the rest area and the stands.

This indicated the respect he held within Seidou High School.

At that moment, Maezono wasn’t focused on the support. His mind was occupied with replaying Miyuki’s previous performance.

‘He had managed to motivate pitcher Furuya with just a single comment! He had even managed to secure a hit at a crucial moment…’

Among the second-year players, Miyuki was undeniably ahead of the rest.

‘Even with a legend like Sawamura Eijun on the team, Miyuki’s presence was still this big.’

And it was precisely because Miyuki was so exceptional.

‘I feel even more frustrated!’

Maezono had his reasons for frustration.

Before Maezono could think further, a small white ball flew toward him.

In stark contrast to the previous rhythm, Umemiya’s first pitch was not a Curveball but a sharp fastball on the inside corner.

Although Maezono’s mind was still chaotic, he showed no hesitation in his swing.

He puffed out his cheeks and swung his arms with determined intensity.

While swinging, he reduced the rotation of his waist.

Following Sawamura’s earlier advice, he relied on the strength of his arms rather than his body’s rotation.

He aimed to hit the ball cleanly!

Reducing the movements of the waist made the swing faster and more precise.

Of course, this approach had its downsides, particularly in terms of power.

BUZZ!!!

But Maezono’s strength was his greatest asset. Even without utilizing power from his lower half, he could still hit the ball long.

PING!!

…