One out, runner on Third Base.
Seido High School Baseball Team continued to apply pressure on their opponent. Their intent to score in the first inning was already obvious.
This was only natural. In a clash between two strong teams, whoever seized the lead would gain the advantage. It was perfectly reasonable for Seido High School Baseball Team to want to strike first and deal a blow to their opponent.
Kuse Hikaru looked at the aggressive Yamada in the batter's box and the restless Tanaka on Third Base and had to admit that he was facing a major crisis.
These two were not considered first-tier hitters in Seido High School Baseball Team's lineup. The true core hitters were the fourth, fifth, and sixth batters. Statistics showed that those three had the highest success rates and scored the most runs.
Tanaka and Yamada were only second-tier.
Even so, no one dared underestimate them, especially in this situation. Their threat was no less than that of Seido High School Baseball Team's core hitters.
Tanaka's speed had already been demonstrated during his earlier steal. With that speed, it would take him only about 3.2 seconds to run from Third Base to Home Plate.
Although Yamada's batting average was not outstanding, his intuition at the plate was excellent. He could make contact with almost any pitch, and his bunting technique was also solid.
With these two working together, stopping a run was extremely difficult.
And there was a very high chance of issuing a walk.
If that happened, it would be one out with runners on First and Third Base, and he would have to face the core lineup of Azuma Kiyokuni, Yuuki, and Zhang Han.
Tricky, extremely tricky.
Considering the situation ahead, at this moment he should…
Shinko High School's infielders did not adopt an aggressive defensive shift.
Coach Kataoka's eyes lit up. The chance to score first was right in front of them, and he had no intention of letting it slip away.
He decisively signaled Yamada to bunt.
"Ping!"
The ball was bunted cleanly. With Yamada's speed, there was no chance of reaching First Base.
But Tanaka on Third Base seized the opportunity and sprinted straight home, scoring Seido High School Baseball Team's first run.
The score became 1 to 0.
In Seido High School Baseball Team's dugout, everyone was overjoyed, as if victory were already secured.
Only a few people remained calm and restrained.
The first run had been scored.
But the situation Seido High School Baseball Team had painstakingly created was also gone in an instant. It was now two outs with no runners on base.
Kuse Hikaru could face Seido High School Baseball Team's three core hitters without any burden.
"Were they doing this on purpose?"
"We had a runner on Third Base, so it was natural to give up a run. Whether it was intentional or not, the situation was already set."
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The Director's choice was correct. Exchanging one run for strategic initiative isn't wrong."
"If it stops here, then we only have a slight advantage in the first inning."
"Will it stop here? I don't think so."
If it stopped there, Seido High School would indeed only have a slight advantage. Although Shinko High School was temporarily behind, their momentum was not broken.
However, this choice also carried significant risk.
If it did not stop there, then Shinko High School would not only have made a tactical error, but their entire strategy would fall into a huge disadvantage.
On this point, Seido High School Baseball Team's players were extremely confident.
What their team had in abundance were powerful hitters.
And what was especially interesting was that the next batters were Seido High School Baseball Team's strongest offensive corps.
Azuma Kiyokuni had lost two teeth, giving him a slight lisp. Combined with his round belly, most people could not help but laugh when they first saw him.
But once he stepped into the batter's box, no one dared to mock him.
He did not need to do anything. Just standing there was enough to generate tremendous psychological pressure.
Kuse Hikaru was feeling that pressure right now.
It was terrifying.
To others, Azuma Kiyokuni might look like nothing more than a mountain of fat. But in Kuse Hikaru's eyes, he was a monster baring its fangs. The aura he radiated alone was enough to make anyone shudder.
Fortunately, Kuse Hikaru had already resolved his burdens at the cost of one run. Now he could face this monster without hesitation.
Otherwise, he seriously doubted whether he could even muster the courage to pitch to him.
Even if he wanted to avoid him, it would be impossible. Seido High School Baseball Team was not a grassroots squad. Walking one or two strong hitters would not solve the problem.
Behind Azuma Kiyokuni stood Yuuki and Zhang Han.
They might have fewer home runs, but their hit rates were no worse. They were fully capable of matching Azuma Kiyokuni.
So walking Azuma Kiyokuni was not an option. No matter how heavy the pressure, he had to face them head-on.
Now, it was much simpler.
He could let go and show all his skills, confronting this monster directly.
"Swish!"
The white ball whistled out, maintaining Kuse Hikaru's usual style by targeting the corner right away.
"Ha!"
Azuma Kiyokuni snorted coldly.
He did not intend to observe the pitch, nor did he plan to wait.
The moment he saw Kuse Hikaru's first pitch, he swung without hesitation.
"Boom!"
As the bat swung, it felt as if a small tornado had formed in the batter's box.
The terrifying momentum stirred the soul.
Ota in the dugout closed his eyes in pain.
This was too reckless. The opponent was strong. He could have observed a few pitches first. But Azuma Kiyokuni clearly had no such intention.
"Ping!"
The bat connected.
Although it did not strike the ball squarely, it caught the lower half.
Normally, such contact would result in a fly ball. But Azuma Kiyokuni's swing was so powerful that even a poorly struck ball was forcibly carried forward for twenty to thirty centimeters.
Then the baseball soared high into the sky and landed in the left-field stands.
The entire stadium exploded.
Seido High School Baseball Team's supporters celebrated as if it were a festival.
They had already been satisfied with scoring the first run.
But now, not only had they scored a second run, it had come in the form of a home run.
The score became 2 to 0.
Kuse Hikaru and Shinko High School's strategy could not be called wrong. In fact, given the circumstances, it had been close to their best possible choice.
Otherwise, the situation would have been even worse.
Their response was reasonable.
But in the face of overwhelming strength, even the most reasonable response could make little difference.
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