Chapter 333: Tactical Torture
"Ninth batter! Left fielder, Furuya!"
Even though it's the bottom of the order, there's a runner in scoring position—and Furuya's batting is absolutely reliable.
Pitchers generally have good feel for the ball, and as a power pitcher, Furuya's explosiveness speaks for itself.
"Why won't they let me hit?!"
Sawamura was still muttering to himself. He had noticed that the sunglasses-wearing coach had given a bunch of signs—but Furuya got to swing, while he himself only got to bunt…
As soon as Sawamura finished grumbling, Ino delivered his first pitch.
"Whoosh!"
"Ping!"
"Bang!"
The ball slammed straight into the outfield wall.
"Foul!"
"He can hit too?!"
"He sent that fastball that far?!"
That swing sent a chill down Yokohama's battery. They realized they couldn't casually throw fastballs to this guy anymore.
From the bench, Furuya had been told to drag out the at-bat as much as possible and look specifically for fastballs and forkballs.
Seido had picked up on the opposing battery's obsession with using the forkball as their put-away pitch.
"Whoosh!"
"Smack!"
"Ball!"
"Second pitch, curveball—just missed!"
"He's seeing it clearly! Really clearly!"
"Shut him down!"
"Shut him down!"
"Third pitch! Here it comes!"
"Whoosh!"
"Ping!"
"Foul!"
"Another curveball!"
"Yes! He's got him cornered!"
"Finish him, Inō!"
"Furuya! You're on time! Stay steady!"
"Whoosh!"
"Ping!"
"He got it! Furuya Satoru with an infield hit! Miyuki advances from second to third! One out, runners on first and third! And now it's Seido's top of the order!"
"Another forkball! They're copying them!"
Shiraha couldn't possibly miss it now.
Both batters had swung decisively and made solid contact. If he still didn't realize what was happening, there'd be something wrong with him.
"First batter! Shortstop, Kuramochi!"
While Shiraha was still thinking about pitch selection, the announcement rang out over the stadium speakers.
"Run with everything you've got! … Don't stop your legs…Run with everything you've got! … Don't stop your legs…Hit it out, Kuramochi!"
"Kuramochi! Kuramochi!"
As the number-one underling, Sawamura was once again pumping his little fists.
"Among Seido's top lineup, only Kuramochi has a low batting average. They might force the run. We can give up one run—but we absolutely have to get the out on this leadoff man."
Shiraha raised his glove while directing the defense.
Seeing that he kept the middle infield back and the outfield didn't move in to prevent a long hit, everyone understood—they were prepared to concede a run if necessary.
This defensive positioning was clearly guarding against a hit-and-run. Off-speed pitches are easier to bunt; fastballs are better for jamming bunts but risk getting burned by hit-and-run.
So the idea was simple: if you have to allow a squeeze play to succeed, fine—but don't let Kuramochi reach base as well.
"It's true I haven't done anything today. But at least I'll bring you home."
From the left-handed batter's box, Kuramochi glanced at Miyuki on third.
"Whoosh!"
"Smack!"
"Strike!"
"First pitch, low outside fastball! The batter didn't swing!"
"The runner didn't move! No bunt? Then what is he looking for? This lineup usually doesn't swing at balls… well… except for that one guy! Are they still targeting the forkball?"
Shiraha thought for a moment and gave the sign.
Ino nodded.
"How many pitchers in the country can trust their catcher like this?"
Shiraha couldn't help but think.
After all, most pitchers are self-centered. And he'd just called for another forkball—even after it had been hit twice.
Normally, pitchers would shake that off. Not every battery has a relationship like Miyuki and the dual aces.
"Whoosh!"
"Smack!"
"Thud!"
"Ball!"
"He didn't swing?"
Shiraha had intentionally asked for a forkball that dropped even lower, wanting to test if Seido was still sitting on it.
Now he was even more confused.
At that moment, Coach Kataoka gave a series of signs.
Yokohama saw him signaling but had no idea what it meant—squeeze? Hit-and-run? Just a decoy?
Baseball signals are complex, and a powerhouse like Seido doesn't rely on just one set.
In truth, aside from Sendo—who memorizes things easily—most first-years only know the basic signals.
Still, Seido's bench activity ratcheted up the tension.
One ball, one strike. Anything could happen.
"Go, Kuramochi!"
"Lock in!"
"Hang in there, Ino!"
With the band playing and cheers from both sides, Miyuki started taking a lead.
Seeing movement from the runner on third, the defense stiffened.
They had no idea what Seido was about to do.
"Throw one outside!"
Shiraha needed to test what that sudden movement meant.
"Whoosh!"
"Smack!"
"Ball!"
Another outside ball!
Miyuki didn't break, but the count was now unfavorable—Shiraha couldn't afford to keep testing.
"You can do this! You're the kind of guy who can do this, Kuramochi-senpai! Have confidence!"
Sawamura shouted from the bench.
Even if he paused a little awkwardly…
"Be careful!"
They might be ready to give up one run, but that didn't mean they'd hand it over for free.
"Squeeze!"
Just as Ino was about to release the ball and Miyuki broke for home, the third baseman shouted a warning.
Kuramochi squared to bunt.
"Ino!"
Shiraha jumped up and shifted outside, clearly signaling for a pitch out.
"Smack!"
"Ball!"
But it was all a fake.
Miyuki had taken only a few steps before retreating. Kuramochi pulled the bat back.
That's why runners on third with fewer than two outs have such high scoring percentages.
A pitch takes only an instant, but the runner and batter can use feints like this to force the pitcher off target.
It's psychological warfare.
If the offense loses the gamble, the defense just gains a strike.
If the defense loses, it's a run.
Unless they're certain it's a fake, it's incredibly hard to make that decision in a split second.
Of course, if a pitcher has supreme confidence in his stuff and believes a bunt won't succeed anyway, that's different.
This time, Seido won.
Three balls, one strike. The advantage belonged to Seido.
Kuramochi glanced back at the bench. Coach Kataoka nodded and gave another sign.
Miyuki, Kuramochi, and Furuya all touched the brims of their helmets in acknowledgment.
Kuramochi shot an extra glance at Sendo.
Sendo froze for a moment.
Then he remembered the joke he once made to Kuramochi.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
He couldn't believe Kuramochi was actually planning to make that old joke a reality.
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