Chapter 647 - 647: Kuramochi's Moment

Seido High School Baseball Team's First Batter, Kuramochi Yoichi.

On the pitcher's mound, Kuramochi's strengths and weaknesses naturally flashed through Narumiya Mei's mind.

This is a skill he just mastered at the Spring Koshien Stadium: before a match, he reviews the opponent's characteristics, something his arrogance had prevented him from doing before.

This prevents him from getting hot-headed and pitching balls that the opponent is good at hitting.

Now, Narumiya Mei was doing quite well with it.

Kuramochi stood in the left batter's box.

He is quite versatile, capable of switch-hitting. Standing specifically in the left batter's box suggests a certain possibility of directly stealing a base.

For an ordinary player, attempting to steal a base directly when no one is on base is almost suicidal.

But Kuramochi's speed is extraordinary; if he wanted to use a bunt to directly steal a base, there is still a certain chance of success.

"If you've got the guts, just run!"

Although he knew Kuramochi might try to steal a base directly, Narumiya Mei didn't care too much. In comparison, he had more faith in his teammates' defensive abilities.

If Kuramochi didn't make a rash move, then so be it.

As long as he dared to take the risk, the players of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team had at least a seventy to eighty percent chance of getting him out.

A seventy to eighty percent chance is not small. Coupled with Narumiya Mei's full confidence in his pitch, he believed this probability would increase even further.

"Whoosh!"

The baseball sharply pierced the inside corner.

Not only was the angle tricky, but the ball's speed was also terrifyingly fast.

Kuramochi, in the batter's box, watched the baseball fly past his eyes without making any reaction.

"Thwack!"

"Ball!"

The baseball slightly deviated from the strike zone.

Kuramochi let out a heavy sigh of relief, feeling a bit more relaxed.

Given the situation just now, it was extremely dangerous. If the baseball had gone directly into the strike zone, there would have been nothing to say about him being cornered.

Fortunately, the baseball was off, if only by a little, and it was enough for him.

This gave him one more pitch to breathe and more opportunities to observe Narumiya Mei's pitch.

"The ball speed is clearly a notch below Zhang Han's, but the oppressive feeling is almost the same. This guy really hasn't been idle."

Only a little over three months had passed since the last practice game between the two teams.

Narumiya Mei's progress was clear for everyone to see.

In the Seido High School Baseball Team's dugout.

The players were all intently focused on the duel, and when they saw this scene, they also took a deep breath.

Even standing in the dugout, they could clearly sense this oppressive feeling.

"This kid has become even more troublesome!"

Miyuki gave a bitter smile.

"I wonder what has changed? Every time I see him, it's like he's evolved."

Isashiki Jun couldn't help but grumble to himself.

One could say the Seido High School Baseball Team was quite unlucky; just when they finally had a chance to make it to Koshien and dominate the nation, they ran into a roadblock like Inashiro Industrial in their own region.

"There are no shortcuts on the path to victory. No matter who stands in front of me, we will defeat him!"

Yuuki, the captain, said.

After hearing their captain's words, the Seido High School Baseball Team's players visibly relaxed quite a bit.

He was right; in a fiercely competitive region like Tokyo, their path to prominence would never be smooth.

Who could blame them when their region had such a nationally dominant team, currently ranked number one in the country?

"Hit it out..."

"Good choice, don't rush, let him throw a few more pitches."

In the Seido High School Baseball Team's dugout, the players cheered on the batter on the field.

But whether it was due to too much pressure or some other reason, their opinions diverged while cheering.

Some advocated for Kuramochi to swing aggressively, while others suggested he try to foul off more pitches.

"Are these guys useless teammates?"

Narumiya Mei looked at the Seido High School Baseball Team's dugout in disbelief.

Giving the batter two conflicting pieces of advice at the same time, how was the batter supposed to choose?

If they encountered someone with decision paralysis, they'd just be stuck agonizing. How could they even swing?

Anyway, if Narumiya Mei were in the batter's box and someone in the dugout cheered him on like that, he would definitely go back and give them a good scolding right to their face, to stop them from giving bad advice.

"A team like this can make it to the finals, you guys are really lucky!"

Narumiya Mei's second pitch was very close to the center of the strike zone.

Facing this seemingly good pitch, Kuramochi dared not rashly swing.

He wasn't sure if this pitch was a trap.

Would there be a breaking ball?

Just as he hesitated, the baseball had already flown past him and firmly settled into Harada's outstretched glove.

"Thwack!"

"Strike!"

one ball, one strike.

Kuramochi's expression in the batter's box was very grim.

It was actually a Fastball close to the dead center?

Apparently, the other party didn't even have him in their eyes. Narumiya Mei simply didn't intend to specifically use a breaking ball against him, at least not before cornering him.

To put it bluntly, in Narumiya Mei's view, Kuramochi wasn't even at the level that warranted using a breaking ball.

"This is too much!"

"This time, no matter what, I'm going to hit the ball!"

He couldn't lose face. The opponent was so openly bullying him; if he didn't immediately retaliate, would he still be Kuramochi?

As Narumiya Mei threw his third pitch, Kuramochi preemptively showed a bunt signal.

"A bunt at this moment?"

"There's no one on base right now. What exactly does the batter want to do?"

In the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team's dugout, the players looked at each other, unable to guess what Kuramochi was trying to do.

One should know that even with Kuramochi's incredible speed, the probability of successfully getting on base with a bunt was minuscule.

"Is he desperate?"

Shirakawa, at the shortstop position, frowned.

He understood Kuramochi's situation better; he probably saw that there was no way to hit the ball out in this situation.

So he wanted to take a risk with a bunt.

Getting out would be unavoidable then.

But if he succeeded in getting on base, he could, to some extent, change the current situation on the field and also wash away the humiliation he had suffered.

"But he's still too naive..."

Although Shirakawa understood Kuramochi's actions, he didn't believe Kuramochi's risky move would succeed.

Firstly, Narumiya Mei's Fastball was not that easy to hit. The ball speed itself was very fast, and the ball had heavy power.

Besides that, although Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team's infielders didn't move forward, they didn't do so because they were confident that once the baseball was bunted, they could rush to pick it up immediately.

With these two layers of protection, even if Kuramochi's bunt was good and his speed amazing, his chances of successfully stealing a base would not be very high.

Just as Shirakawa was thinking that, the duel on the field began.

The arrogant Narumiya Mei still pitched to the center.

He was somewhat wary if Kuramochi hit normally, but if Kuramochi wanted to bunt, then he would completely defeat him in Kuramochi's most confident aspect.

"Whoosh!"

The baseball flew over with a roaring sound.

Kuramochi, who had originally set up for a bunt, suddenly pulled his bat back.

He gritted his teeth tightly, aimed at the incoming baseball, and swung hard.

"This big shot isn't just good at running bases."

During his time on the First string, Miyuki and Zhang Han would constantly tease Kuramochi, saying that no matter how fast he was, it was useless if he couldn't get on base.

When he was told once or twice, Kuramochi relied on his thick skin to brush it off. But after being told repeatedly, he realized that he had to improve his hitting skills.

From that moment on, he had been diligently improving his swing, now practicing over two hundred extra swings every day.

Even now, if Kuramochi were to face Narumiya Mei head-on, there would still be a significant gap between them.

But if he knew Narumiya Mei was throwing a Fastball and had a general idea of the pitching range, Kuramochi could still make contact with the ball.

"Ping!"

After the baseball was struck, it zipped past Inashiro's infielders before they could react.

"It went through!!!"

In the Seido High School Baseball Team's dugout, the teammates were even more surprised than the Inashiro Industrial players.

They had just clearly seen Narumiya Mei's performance; he was in excellent form.

Their expectations for Kuramochi weren't so high as to demand a hit from him; they would have been satisfied if he could just prolong the at-bat for a few pitches.

Unexpectedly, it was this guy, who ranked low in hitting among the Seido High School Baseball Team's First string regulars, who first secured a hit for the Seido High School Baseball Team.

Moreover, because of his exceptional speed, once he reached base, the probability of the Seido High School Baseball Team scoring in the first inning would greatly increase.

This feeling was akin to a windfall.

"So cool! That's exactly how it should be!"

No matter how astonished the Seido High School Baseball Team players were internally, their reaction at this moment was incredibly fervent.

Narumiya Mei's face turned purple with anger.

"Damn it! Damn it!"

Watching Kuramochi safely reach First Base, he felt small flames of rage burning within his internal organs.

How could this be endured?

If he didn't get revenge, even if they won this game, Narumiya Mei wouldn't be happy.

"Seido! Seido!!!"

In the stands, the Seido High School Baseball Team's cheerleaders couldn't care less about anything else.

Seeing their team gain an advantage, they excitedly waved their small cheering banners, rooting for Seido.

No outs, runner on First Base.

At this moment, Kominato Ryosuke stepped into the batter's box.

Narumiya Mei assumed his stance, appearing ready to pitch.

Kuramochi, who had been on First Base, started running one step ahead as soon as Narumiya Mei raised his hand.

"Too reckless!"

In the stands, many old fans who had just applauded Kuramochi's performance now felt their hearts tighten with tension.

They never expected that this First Batter for the Seido High School Baseball Team would be so carried away.

Narumiya Mei outwardly adopted a stance of confronting Kominato Ryosuke head-on, but in reality, he had been keeping an eye on Kuramochi.

"Your intention to steal a base is written all over your face! Do you think I'm blind?"

Narumiya Mei viciously threw the ball to First Base.

When Kuramochi had tricked him earlier, Narumiya Mei had been itching to get even.

But in a single game, their actual opportunities to confront each other were few, only a handful of times.

Narumiya Mei didn't know if he would get a chance to get even in this game.

Unexpectedly, luck was so kind to him, presenting the opportunity so quickly.

"I am indeed the protagonist; side characters, go to hell!"

In the Seido High School Baseball Team's dugout.

The players, who had been extremely excited, now had gloomy faces that looked as if they could drip water.

This feeling was so awkward.

If Kuramochi had been out directly, they wouldn't have been so disappointed.

But Kuramochi had successfully reached base, and their probability of scoring the first run was very high.

Under these circumstances, Kuramochi chose to steal a base directly, and even an early steal.

Not only did he give back the base he had already secured to Inashiro, but he also had to give up an out.

This huge drop from heaven to hell made the Seido High School Baseball Team players extremely uncomfortable.

If it weren't for the current unsuitable situation, coupled with Kuramochi's explosive combat power, they would have already started a brawl.

"What a pity!"

"It's over!"

Zhang Han stared at Kuramochi, shaking his head helplessly.

Perhaps he was too nervous, and too eager to advance to the next base.

Such a mistake, while something all Seido High School Baseball Team players wished to avoid, was understandable.

However, after the game, Kuramochi would likely face some torment from Coach Kataoka and the second team third-year seniors in the stands.

Just as Zhang Han and all the Seido High School Baseball Team teammates were thinking this, something unexpected happened.

When the ball was thrown to First Base, Kuramochi didn't go back at all; he gritted his teeth and ran towards Second Base.

"How naive!"

Shirakawa wasn't idle either; he had already covered Second Base.

Yamaoka Riku at First Base, after catching the ball, immediately threw it to Shirakawa.

Although Kuramochi moved quickly, he was still seven or eight meters from Second Base at this point.

It seemed as easy as picking something out of a bag for Shirakawa to tag him out.

Kuramochi wasn't someone who wouldn't give up until he hit a wall; he gritted his teeth and turned back, feigning a run towards First Base.

When a runner is stealing a base, if the baseball is thrown back to First Base early, it's a force out.

For other bases, whether Second Base or Third Base, the defending infielder must touch the runner with the baseball to get the runner out.

This condition seems strict, but it's not difficult to achieve. As long as the infielder catches the ball in advance and blocks the runner's path, it's easy to touch him with the glove the moment he tries to run past.

So, generally, when there's no hope, people often give up resisting.

But Kuramochi didn't.

Caught between two infielders, he was like a trapped beast, stubbornly searching for a weakness.

"Get him!"

On the pitcher's mound, Narumiya Mei yelled loudly.

It was unclear if it was due to anxiety or excessive excitement.

When Shirakawa saw Kuramochi running back, his body also moved forward, and he simultaneously threw the ball back to Yamaoka Riku.

If a stealing runner refuses to give up and insists on entanglement, the infielders on the two bases will approach each other, restricting the runner's range of motion.

This is called a rundown.

Shirakawa and Yamaoka Riku were currently employing a rundown.

They wanted to reduce Kuramochi's range of motion and then tag him out.

At the same time, Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team's Second Baseman and pitcher also went to their respective bases to cover.

Just in case Kuramochi ran, they would be prepared.

From this, it's not hard to see how strict Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team's usual training is.

Even for such a special situation, which might not be encountered throughout their entire high school baseball career, their players had practiced it and could coordinate accurately.

Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team's reaction was undeniably quick.

But while their speed was fast, Kuramochi's actions were even faster.

The moment Shirakawa threw the ball to Yamaoka Riku, Kuramochi, who had just been feigning a run back, instantly changed direction and ran towards Shirakawa.

When Yamaoka Riku saw this, his eyes nearly popped out.

He didn't hesitate, directly grabbing the ball with his hand and, without any pause, throwing it back to Shirakawa.

"Slap!"

Shirakawa caught the ball, and at this moment, Kuramochi was right beside him.

The Seido players, who had just rekindled hope, once again experienced the feeling of falling from heaven to hell.

This time, it was probably completely over.

Shirakawa only needed to turn around and touch Kuramochi with his glove.

Shirakawa instinctively turned and extended his glove.

However, when his glove was still ten centimeters from Kuramochi's body, he just couldn't catch up.

In that brief instant, Kuramochi had already widened the distance between himself and Shirakawa, successfully running to Second Base.

"Safe!"

When Kuramochi's foot solidly touched Second Base, thunderous applause erupted in the stands.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

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