Chapter 263: Counterattack Begins
"Whoosh."
"Ping!"
Heavy. So heavy. Damn, that hurts!
"Thud."
"Foul ball!"
The gleaming white ball flew off once again, landing outside the foul line.
Kuramochi, grimacing, showed an expression of frustration.
Without hitting the ball's sweet spot, such a strike was a challenge for Kuramochi.
Every pitch felt so heavy that he could feel his arms trembling.
Yet, the opposition continued to...
Chapter 262: The Impact
"Pop!"
"Strike! Batter out! Three outs! Change of sides!"
As the umpire’s voice echoed across the field, Tachi in the batter’s box was visibly stunned, and the crowd couldn’t contain their excitement, letting out waves of astonished exclamations.
Three pitches.
Once again, just three pitches.
The first-year left-handed pitcher from Seidou was continuously redefining everyone’s expectations.
Another strikeout...
Chapter 261: A New Pitch in the Battle Against Kiryuu!
"Fourth batter, pitcher, Tachi."
"Two outs, a runner on second base, and Kiryuu High School's core player, their cleanup hitter Tachi, steps up to the plate. In this crucial moment, can his swing turn the tide of the game? Will it tie the score or perhaps even achieve a dramatic comeback?"
"Go for it, Tachi! This is your moment!"
"Don't overthink it, Hiromi. You're the strongest out there!"
"Ace and clea...
Chapter 260: A Back-and-Forth Battle with Kiryuu
Accompanied by Eijun securing the three outs for Kiryuu High School in the bottom of the second inning, the momentum briefly shifted into Seidou High School's favor.
However, Kiryuu High School was no pushover.
In the top of the third inning, when Seidou High aimed to build on their momentum and extend their lead, Kiryuu High quickly counterattacked.
Their first batter, Shirasu, faced immense pressure from Kiryuu’...
Chapter 575: Hachiman the Self-Appointed Mentor
"Want to come up and sit for a while?"
"Sure."
Hachiman naturally wouldn't refuse the girl's invitation, especially since it had been a few days since he last saw Yukino.
Ever since the Service Club activities were put on pause, the two of them rarely met. Given that neither of them was the type to take the initiative, it wasn’t like they’d casually visit each other’s classrooms without a reason.
When the...
Chapter 259: Sawamura Strength Against Kiryuu
“Bottom of the second inning, Kiryuu High School’s turn to bat. Stepping up is the cleanup hitter and ace pitcher, Tachi.”
“Having just conceded the first run of the game, Kiryuu’s ace now takes the batter’s box. Not only the ace but also their cleanup hitter, Tachi, faces Seidou’s starting pitcher, Sawamura. What kind of thrilling duel will this showdown between titans bring us?”
“Boom!”
A gust of ...
Chapter 258: Secure the Lead
“Ping!”
“Whoosh!”
As a streak of brilliance flashed across the sky, the crowd couldn’t suppress their gasps of astonishment, their gazes fixed on the dazzling trail piercing through the heavens.
"Center fielder!!!"
At home plate, Kyohei Shibata couldn’t afford to focus on anything else.
His face turned grim as he jumped up, shouting toward center field.
The blazing white streak in the sky was clearly ...
Chapter 257: Eijun's Offense Against Kiryuu
Sawamura Eijun stepped into the batter's box, his determined expression catching the attention of Kiryuu High's battery.
Although Eijun wasn’t considered one of Seidou High's strongest hitters, his keen sense for the ball and quick reaction time made him a batter to be wary of.
In this summer tournament, he had already delivered several standout performances at the plate, including hits off Narumiya Mei—a feat not to be und...
Chapter 256: Pure Power Against Kiryuu
Top of the Second Inning: Seidou High School's Offensive, Cleanup Hitter, First Baseman, Yuuki Tetsuya.
Eijun quickly shut down Kiryuu High's offense in the first inning, setting the tone for Seidou High's attack in the second.
Offense and defense are inherently connected.
While one doesn’t directly determine the other, a strong defensive performance can often provide momentum for an offensive push.
Eijun's dominan...
Chapter 574: Hachiman's Game Outlook
After dinner, Hachiman also excused himself to leave.
"Mrs. Miura, I'll be heading home for today."
Perhaps because of the awkwardness caused by the earlier bathroom incident, Mrs. Miura didn't try to persuade him to stay.
She simply nodded and then spoke to her daughter.
"Yumiko, see Hachiman off."
"I know."
The girl didn't refuse.
She stood up and walked out of the living room with Hachiman.
Chapter 255: The Clash of Power in the Battle Against Kiryuu
"Oooooohhhhhh!"
"The first pitch, a high inside fastball, misses the strike zone—it's a ball! Seidou's pitcher and catcher demonstrate their strong-willed approach right from the start, showing no fear in the face of Kiryuu's formidable batting lineup. Seidou's battery refuses to yield even an inch!"
The audience let out a collective gasp, unable to suppress their amazement.
The boldness of the first p...
Chapter 254: Kiryuu Confronts Power Directly
Isashiki Jun has a knack for hitting balls to the right side.
When it comes to using his power, he possesses unique insights and strengths.
This makes him one of the hitters Shibata Kyohei dislikes facing the most.
Even when his stance breaks down, Isashiki can still make contact with the ball.
At first glance, his swing might seem reckless, but his control is incredibly precise.
His ability to select pi...
Chapter 573: In the Bathroom...
"It's just washing some vegetables, nothing that requires experience, right?"
"W-Washing vegetables?!"
Hearing Hachiman's words, Yumiko's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You just wanted me to help wash vegetables?"
Hachiman found her reaction a bit odd. "Yeah, what else did you think I wanted you to do?"
"..."
Their eyes met, and the atmosphere suddenly grew silent.
Yumiko opened her mouth to speak, but no wor...
Chapter 253: Kiryuu's Offensive Initiative
On the first-base side, in Seidou High's dugout:
“Kiryuu’s ace, you all know his pitch types by now,” Coach Kataoka addressed the gathered Seidou players.
“At this stage of the summer tournament, he’s bound to feel the strain of consecutive games, no matter how good his stamina is. Early in the game, don’t rush things."
"Wait for pitches you’re comfortable with, and swing decisively. Today’s heat will take...
Chapter 252: Before the Battle
The next day, as the first rays of morning sunlight illuminated the earth:
In Hyogo Prefecture, Nishinomiya City, Hanshin Koshien Stadium was already teeming with a sea of people.
The densely packed crowd, the overwhelming cheers, and the countless banners waving in support of their teams created a vibrant scene.
This gathering of baseball fans from all walks of life signified that the most intense moment of this summer was about to...
Chapter 251: The Kiryuu Strategy
Cutter Kai/Improved Cutter
History often repeats itself, or perhaps it's inertia.
In some ways, the patterns remain unshakably strong.
Somehow, even though it wasn’t Eijun himself who came up with the name, this pitch ended up being called exactly the same as in the original story.
A faint smile, one only he could understand, tugged at Eijun’s lips.
"Alright, let’s move on to confirming the other pitches..."
Chapter 250: A Step Forward in Evolution
A Perfect Pitch.
An impeccable changeup. Haruichi's eyes flickered with amazement.
At least in his perspective, Eijun's changeup now rivaled Narumiya Mei's in terms of visual impact.
The only noticeable gap lay in the value of their fastballs.
Narumiya Mei's fastball speed far outstripped Eijun's, complemented by his exceptional control and consistency in pitch trajectory.
These factors lent more potency to ...
Chapter 572: In the Kitchen...
"Good afternoon, Hachiman-chan," Mrs. Miura greeted warmly.
Hachiman raised an eyebrow at her choice of words.
"What's with the 'chan'? What's so little about me?"
Oh, you mean my age? Fine, that's acceptable.
Noticing Hachiman staring at her directly, Mrs. Miura tapped her delicate cheek with her finger, looking rather troubled.
"Young people really are full of energy. Hachiman-chan, are you feeling so unsatisfied that ...
Chapter 249: Adjusting the State
After Coach Kataoka gave some final instructions on minor details, Takashima Rei followed up with information about tomorrow's semifinal schedule and other related notices.
With that, the members of Seidou High School began to disperse in small groups.
"Miyuki-senpai, do you have a moment?"
As the crowd thinned, Eijun approached Miyuki with a serious tone.
"Planning to throw a few pitches?" Miyuki asked with a knowing smile....
Chapter 248: Determination and Starting Role
"Overall, Kiryuu High School's lineup is primarily power-focused. Each batter has the ability to deliver extra-base hits, and even the lower part of their lineup swings for the fences, making home runs a constant possibility. Both pitchers and outfielders must exercise extreme caution."
After Chris provided a detailed analysis of Kiryuu High School's individual batters, he emphasized the unique characteristics of their lineup.
Chapter 247: Preparations on All Fronts
At the hotels where each team was staying, a calm before the storm quietly brewed after the day’s games had concluded.
This moment marked the final preparations for all four teams as they geared up for the decisive matches ahead.
Even a team as strong as Komadai Fujimaki, when facing Yamamori, wouldn’t dare show the slightest complacency.
Their philosophy was to present the best, strongest, and most complete version of t...
Chapter 246: Heated Discussions and Popularity
For Furuya, the problems are as vast as the ocean.
Setting aside the less critical issues, two major problems remain his most fatal weaknesses: stamina and control.
These two limitations heavily restrict his current performance.
Against strong batting lineups, Furuya might only survive until the second round of the lineup, if even that.
In most cases, he likely wouldn’t make it through the second round.
Chapter 571: Mrs. Miura, the Master of Catching Cheaters
"Ha, a hero?!"
Upon hearing Hachiman's words, Yumiko froze for a moment before speaking up with some dissatisfaction.
"Do you take me for a fool?"
Hachiman wasn't surprised by her reaction. After all, the whole thing sounded so fantastical that it was hard to believe.
"I'm not lying to you."
To prove his point, he extended a hand, and a soft golden light began to glow in his palm.
"See? T...
Chapter 245: News Report
"Good morning, everyone! Welcome to our regular broadcast. Today, we’re fortunate to have Wada-kun with us. The quarterfinals concluded yesterday, and the four semifinalists have been decided. What are your thoughts on yesterday's matches, Wada-kun? Were there any surprising outcomes or results that exceeded your expectations?"
"Yesterday’s matches? If we’re talking about surprises, it would have to be the third game between Hanada East High and Ya...
Chapter 244: Advancing to the Final Four
“Whoosh!”
“Pop!”
“Out!”
“Game over!”
In center field, Jun Isashiki firmly caught the high fly ball speeding in from home plate.
With this final out, the quarterfinal match reached its conclusion. The umpire’s voice echoed across the field as the game officially ended.
On Seidou High’s side, thunderous cheers erupted, a stark contrast to the somber and pained expressions of Ikuei High...
Chapter 243: The Battle of Ikuei - The Essence of Offense
"An outside pitch? He swung at it! Oh, it's a hit! It's a hit! In the end, Seidou High's Kuramochi chose a low outside pitch and delivered an unexpected strike—a base hit to right field! As soon as the ball hit the ground, the runner on third, Sawamura Eijun, dashed home, scoring the tying run! Seidou High has finally evened the score in the top of the seventh inning! And with just one out, they still have runners on second an...
Chapter 242: The Battle of Ikuei - Tying the Score!
"First batter, shortstop, Kuramochi-kun."
With one out and runners on second and third base, Seidou High's choice of offensive strategy was unpredictable, creating an extremely difficult situation for Ikuei High.
Forced scoring, a sacrifice fly, or an aggressive attack—no matter the strategy, Ikuei High would find it hard to defend against.
Their best option was to strike out the next two batters consecutively,...
Chapter 570: All for the Sake of Learning
After the graduation ball ended, there were no more large-scale events, and Hachiman's life returned to its usual calm.
However, with the final exams approaching, the atmosphere in the class had become noticeably more serious.
As the bell signaling the end of class rang, the teacher left the classroom.
Yumiko stood up from her seat, stretched lazily, and walked over to Yui, teasing her with a playful tone.
"Oh? Latel...
Chapter 241: The Sudden Offensive in the Battle Against Ikuei
It must be said, as the starting catcher of a powerhouse team, Matsushita had a keen sense of crisis.
Without hesitation, he decided to take a risk and speed up the pace. If they let Seidou High dictate the rhythm, Ikuei High would lose their edge.
"This pitch will decide everything!"
A sharp glint flashed in Matsushita’s eyes as he signaled subtly with his fingers.
On the mound, Kimura’s pup...
Chapter 240: The Strategic Battle
“Safe on base!!”
By the time Ikuei High School’s right fielder managed to retrieve the ball, Eijun’s figure was already near the first base.
As the ball zipped towards first, Eijun firmly planted his foot on the base.
The sharp sound of the umpire’s call echoed across the field.
Ikuei High School's players couldn’t hide their displeasure, especially Kimura on the pitcher’s mound and Coach Natsume in the dugout...