In a swift play, the top three batters of Tokai University Sagami High School were neutralized, putting Waseda Jitsugyo up to bat in the bottom of the first inning.
Last sumr, Tokai University Sagami managed to reach the Sumr甲 finals largely due to their then-ace pitcher Ichiyotai Shintaro’s individual performance—Ichiyotai Shintaro, a third-year student, was an indisputable "fireballer," capable of consistently throwing fastballs exceeding 150 kiloters per hour, single-handedly suppressing entire lineups of many teams.
However, the new Tokai University Sagami, having lost their ace pitcher Ichiyotai Shintaro, is now developing into a more cohesive unit.
Their new ace is Nagata Ryudou, a left-handed pitcher who just entered his third year this year.
Compared to his predecessor, Nagata Ryudou is inferior in terms of velocity, with his fastest pitch barely breaking 140 kiloters per hour; however, his solid control skills among players of the sa age, along with the inherent rarity of left-handed pitchers, support him as Tokai University Sagami’s number 1 jersey holder.
Perhaps due to excessive nervousness, Waseda Jitsugyo’s top three batters, composed of third-year players, seed indecisive in the bottom of the first inning, displaying multiple instances of half-hearted swings, and the umpire repeatedly judged them as having gone too far with their swings—not only providing the opponent with a striking advantage but also affecting their own ntality.
In the bottom of the first inning, Tokai University Sagami also showcased their outstanding qualities as a strong team, achieving a three-up three-down against Waseda Jitsugyo.
Seeing such scenes, Izumi Minoru lightly sighed in the players’ area.
Indeed, this is the finals! No matter how they had reminded everyone pre-ga to maintain a correct mindset, the feeling is entirely different when on the field—let alone this match being the Koshien championship that countless people across Japan spend a lifeti yearning for.
By now, Izumi Minoru could only hope for his team to stabilize their defense first, and then gradually shake off the pressure brought by such a major match during the ga.
However, as the saying goes, fear what you will encounter, just as Izumi Minoru was thinking this, Waseda Jitsugyo’s defense first showed problems.
In the top of the second inning, Tokai University Sagami took advantage of Waseda Jitsugyo’s defensive loopholes, launching a significant offensive threat:
Facing Tokai University Sagami’s cleanup hitter, catcher Sato Daikun, Lin Guanglai gained an early advantage of two strikes with a sudden change in tempo; on the deciding pitch, he deliberately threw a highly tempting outside pitch and successfully hooked Sato Daikun into swinging.
The baseball, hit by Sato Daikun, bounced several tis on the infield dirt, and after losing most of its montum, rolled towards third base.
Logically speaking, for a well-trained Waseda Jitsugyo player, this was supposed to be a very simple play: the third baseman fielding the ball and then throwing it to the first baseman’s glove to put out the batter—such situations have been practiced thousands of tis in training.
However, perhaps due to the tension in the air, third baseman Egami Kenji, after fielding the ball, threw it wildly to first base—even though first baseman Hagiyuta Mitsuo had already abandoned the base and completely leapt up in an attempt to catch the throw, he ultimately failed.
Sato Daikun, initially prepared to be put out, seeing this situation, imdiately accelerated his sprint and dashed towards second base.
By the ti Hagiyuta Mitsuo retrieved the ball and regained control, Sato Daikun was already standing firmly on second base, waving toward his own team’s player area on the third base side—responding to him was the rolling green wave of supporters in Tokai University Sagami’s cheering stands.
With Waseda Jitsugyo’s defensive error, Tokai University Sagami gained a huge advantage right at the start of the second inning, allowing their tactics to be fully deployed.
Outside of the players’ area at third base, Tokai University Sagami’s coach Monma Keiji waved his hand broadly, signaling his players to execute the pre-devised strategy—despite having a powerful hitter in the fifth spot, Sugano Goushi, Monma Keiji unhesitatingly ordered him to sacrifice bunt.
After the sumr concluded last year, Monma Keiji, as part of the coaching team for the Japan High School Team, spent so ti with Lin Guanglai—as an experienced professional, he of course recognized the imnse talent of Lin Guanglai.
Paving the way as a high school sophomore capable of throwing fastballs exceeding 150 kiloters per hour and breaking balls over 130 kiloters per hour, talents that many Takayama pitchers dream of achieving their entire lives.
Facing a pitcher with such a significant influence on the ga, Monma Keiji is well aware that even if the bases are loaded, Lin Guanglai has the ability to defuse the crisis—compared to that, securing a score in the most economical way seed more sensible.
Precisely because of this, upon gaining this opportunity, Tokai University Sagami changed their previously bold swinging stance and patiently played small-ball tactics against Waseda Jitsugyo, using bunts and short hits to constantly test their defense.
Even though Lin Guanglai promptly increased his speed and forcibly struck out a batter, Waseda Jitsugyo still couldn’t withstand the relentless offensive of Tokai University Sagami in that inning, as if being sliced by a dull knife.
With the full support and cooperation of his teammates, Sato Daikun beca the first batter to return to ho base in this finals, simultaneously delivering a precious 1 point for Tokai University Sagami.
On the outfield scoreboard, the score followed with a change.
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