"I'm not asking you to score two runs and completely reverse the situation. Given the opponent's strength, that's unrealistic. I only have one request, and it's very simple. Listen closely. That is to tie the game. It's not a big ask. Just one run. As long as you can get one run, victory will be ours today."
The Coach of the American team spoke with absolute certainty.
The players were confused and didn't quite understand what was going on.
Sometimes, the American coach also felt helpless. After all, he was dealing with a group of players who were physically strong but not very bright. What could he do?
But his analysis made sense.
The coach of America wasn't as naive as his players.
Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.
Before and during the game, he had gathered plenty of information.
From his judgment, the earlier fight had a huge impact on the Japanese team.
Not only did it affect the players who couldn't play, but it also had a massive effect on the ones who were playing.
For example, their stamina and mental state were both greatly impacted.
Before this, the Japanese team, under Sawamura's leadership, had shown great fighting spirit, even when their momentum wasn't very strong. Their skills were truly impressive.
That was why the Japanese team had managed to keep a one-point lead over the American team until now.
The Japanese players were indeed performing excellently—this was beyond dispute.
In fact, they were performing almost as well as they did at their peak.
But this extraordinary state had a very limited time frame.
Whether it was Sawamura or the other Japanese players, their stamina and overall condition had reached a dangerous tipping point.
The intensity of the continuous battles had left the team struggling to keep up.
This meant they no longer had the strength to play extra innings.
If the American players could tie the game at this moment…
And if the Japanese team failed to seize any further opportunities in the bottom of the inning...
Then things were really going to get exciting. Just thinking about it made it feel thrilling.
In short, for the American players, they didn't even need to overtake the score. As long as they could tie the game, victory would belong to them.
With this realization, the American players gave up their previous resistance.
They had once been unwilling, but since the coach had asked, they were willing to sacrifice their pride.
The second batter for America, skilled in all-around play and not stubborn, heard the coach's instructions. Though not entirely willing, he decisively extended his bat and set up for a bunt.
At this moment, the American team's intentions were clear—to move Francis from second base back to home plate.
On the pitcher's mound, Sawamura remained expressionless.
To be honest, he was helpless in this situation.
If the American players were determined to do this, Sawamura really had no way to stop them.
Of course...
If we talk about it, with Sawamura's abilities, there might be ways to solve this problem, but all of them would require high-level breaking balls.
If he could use high-level breaking balls, even if the opponent wanted to play a bunt, Sawamura would not let them touch the ball.
Through these few rounds of confrontation, Sawamura had pretty much estimated the capabilities of the opposing team.
Although the American players were quite skilled, Sawamura still had confidence.
If he could go full throttle, he was absolutely confident that he could handle this.
However, right now, he could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything.
Paak!
The baseball was bounced away.
The American player deliberately chose to bunt for a walk, a very common strategy in baseball.
However, the American players had always been prideful, and throughout the game, they had never looked highly upon such minor tactics. They preferred to hit the ball cleanly and decisively.
But now, in order to fight for victory and control, the American players seemed to have suddenly matured.
They abandoned their reckless solo actions and turned to tactical cooperation.
To be honest, this wasn't a style the American players were particularly good at.
But despite not being skilled in it, they executed it perfectly, almost flawlessly.
This is what it means to be a star player.
Sawamura had already prepared his teammates for this.
The posture they had shown from the start was actually this.
However, the American players had not given them any opportunity.
Snap!
The baseball was quickly intercepted by the first baseman, but by then, it was already too late to throw to third base.
At this point, the American team was attacking with an intensity that was almost unimaginable.
Francis had already started running early.
By the time the ball was hit, he was already close to third base.
Although the ball was intercepted, it was impossible to throw to third base in time.
Helplessly, the receiving player could only throw to first base.
They couldn't stop Francis, so they could only stop the batter.
Snap!
"OUT!!"
The process was a bit complicated, and there was some cost involved.
Luckily, the Japanese team finally secured their first Out.
One Out, with a runner on third.
Although they had gotten the first out, the Japanese team's crisis was not over.
They still couldn't rest easy. To win the game, they needed to beat two more players.
The third batter for the American team stood in the batter's box, also adopting a bunting stance.
Compared to dignity and personal conviction, the American players had clearly come to terms with it.
These things are trivial; winning is what matters most.
In today's game, the star players from America, the so-called chosen ones, all looked disheveled.
Don't look at how, aside from Francis, the others hadn't had much success in the game.
But if you took these players and put them in America, anyone would secretly give a thumbs up when mentioning them.
They are true geniuses!
Yet, these genius players, when facing Sawamura, seemed like newborns.
They were utterly powerless.
The American players also did not want to rely on their own strength alone to defeat Sawamura and regain their pride.
But honestly, this wasn't realistic.
In terms of individual strength, this was simply not feasible.
They were well aware of this, so when they took action, they did so without hesitation.
When these chosen ones set aside their arrogance, unified in their pursuit of a good result, the fighting power they unleashed was almost invincible.
Paak…!
A standard forced run!
Sawamura could see it clearly from the pitcher's mound, but he was powerless.
The two American players acted only after Sawamura had thrown the pitch.
By that time, the ball had already been thrown, and Sawamura could do nothing.
All he could do now was watch the impeccable skills of the two American players.
Paak!
A standard bunt for a walk!
The American third batter, who looked like a gorilla, was hard to imagine as someone with such a deft swing.
But that was the truth!
Before the ball even returned to home plate, Francis had already run across to home plate.
It was tied!
2:2!!!
This was a result that the Japanese players absolutely did not want to accept.
But it was a result they had no choice but to accept.
At the climax of the game, in the final inning, the American players tied the score at the cost of two outs.
But that wasn't the end!
PPPPAAAAAAKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!
The fourth batter for America finally fulfilled his role, hitting a clean, decisive home run!
The baseball soared into the left field stands.
...
T/N: The countdown is now 3
Anyway, That's it for today.
Thank you all for reading!
Have a good day!
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