Bottom of the fifth inning — Inashiro Industrial was swinging back.
Score: 3–0 to Seidou, with two outs and a runner on second.
Though Seidou had worked to record two outs, Inashiro's offensive firepower still flickered.
Their cleanup hitter stood at the plate—resolute, focused, ready to change the game's fortunes.
Yoshida unleashed the pitch.
The batter swung immediately.
But—
"Ping!" The ball flew directly into the second baseman's mitt.
"Pop! Out!"
The hit evaporated.
Three outs — side retired.
Chris, behind the plate, shook his head in disbelief.
Even in spot form, Yoshida delivered.
How had he doubted his command?
Top of the sixth inning — Seidou back at the plate.
With Inashiro resurfacing offensively, Seidou's players knew the threat was real.
They couldn't rely on narrow leads anymore.
They needed insurance.
"Let's add one more run!"
Standing at the plate: Azuma Kiyokuni, Seidou's cleanup slugger.
"Let's show these rookies how high school baseball is played!"
He narrowed his eyes, settled in—and swung fiercely.
Narumiya Mei, pitching for Inashiro, stared down the challenge.
He'd been tested earlier by Seidou's batters—and passed the trial.
Now, Azuma Kiyokuni aimed straight at the deep outfield.
He belted the ball fiercely.
"Ping!"
The hit was powerful, but it drifted foul—over seventy meters past the field.
Narumiya smiled grimly.
"That's Kiyokuni-senpai for you!"
He wound again—
"Don't look down on me!"
Another pitch.
Azuma readied himself.
"Ping!"
He swung... but this time struck a forkball, not a fastball.
The movement caught him off guard.
One out. Runner on second.
Azuma's expression hardened.
Seidou's seniors and fans grimaced.
Narumiya was proving deadly in this matchup too.
Next came Shimoi and Chris—Seidou's sixth and seventh batters.
Even Chris, Seidou's strategic mind and a solid hitter, couldn't land a hit this time.
Narumiya had reached a new level.
Bottom of the sixth inning — Inashiro again stepping in.
The clock was ticking.
Three and a half innings left.
They weren't counting on comebacks anymore—just survival.
Still up first this inning: Narumiya Mei, batting eighth.
Even Seidou's players, now respectful of his pitching, doubted his bat.
But as the pitch came in:
"Ping!"
Narumiya crushed it.
Everyone gasped.
"He hit it cleanly?"
Before Seidou's fielders could react, the ball had bounced perfect.
Narumiya dove—but didn't need to.
Standing tall at second base, he flashed his trademark salute.
"Safe."
No outs. Runner on second.
Seidou's dugout tightened.
If Inashiro scored now, momentum would swing.
Chris called timeout.
He walked to the mound.
Yoshida met his gaze and nodded.
"I got too intense earlier… Focus is slipping. I won't let it happen again."
Chris risked a breath:
"But we might need to send in Zhou Hao for this lesson."
Yoshida understood the concern.
"Let's finish these three innings clean first."
Chris returned to his post, locking eyes with Inashiro's seventh batter.
He signaled firmly.
Yoshida nodded.
He delivered.
"Whoosh!"
The batter didn't hesitate.
"Ping!"
The ball flew toward first.
Yuki leapt—and caught the throw, just barely.
"Out!"
Two outs. Runner on second.
The tension felt like it would never let up.
Seidou still led, but Inashiro clearly refused to yield.
"Next up—Inashiro's seventh batter."
Chris dialed in another signal.
Yoshida retook focus.
"Whoosh!"
The pitch flew.
That batter's eyes lit up with intent.
This inning was still open.
Just then, Coach Kunitomo Hiroshige issued a call from the Inashiro dugout:
"Pinch-hitter!"
Their ninth batter was pulled.
In came a muscular, dark-haired player—clearly foreign or mixed-race.
"Carlos," the announcer confirmed.
"A bold choice... a powerful hitter in a clutch spot."
The first-year storm continued.
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