Ace of Diamond: Return of the Pitcher

Three Outs, offense and defense exchange.

After a player from Kasugaichi recovered a point, Seidou High School's pitcher Kawakami, supported by his teammates, rallied his spirits.

He secured three Outs and defended the inning.

After six innings, the score stood at 2:1, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the teams were evenly matched.

Although Seidou's lead was slim, they held control over the game, leaving Kasugaichi completely stifled.

It seemed like winning was as easy as reaching into a pocket.

However, it now appeared that things were not so straightforward. Kasugaichi still maintained the strength of a top-tier Tokyo team.

While it was possible to slightly suppress them with just the substitute players, achieving a clean victory would likely not be easy.

If the game continued in this manner, Seidou even risked losing their lead.

This couldn't go on! Kataoka quickly devised a countermeasure.

"Go warm up and get ready!" he said casually.

It was unclear who exactly he was addressing, but the players on the Seidou baseball team didn't care…

No matter who it was directed at, being prepared at this moment was certainly wise.

Several former main players in the Seidou dugout stood up and began their warm-up exercises.

This scene stirred the audience's excitement.

"SEIDOU!"

"SAWAMURA!"

"SAWAMURA!!"

"MIYUKI!!!"

They hoarsely shouted the names of those in the dugout, as if trying to convey their energy to the players on the field, pressuring Coach Kataoka to substitute these players in.

On the other side, in the Kasugaichi dugout, their Coach wore an uneasy expression.

'Wasn't Seidou's Coach too impatient? We had just clawed back one point, and now the opponent planned to switch in these players at the last moment?'

'If that was the case, gaining more advantage might prove difficult.'

He looked up at the score on the field.

The score was now 2:1, and the game had reached the final innings.

It didn't matter if Seidou sent in their main force; Kasugaichi never intended to win this game. In fact, just managing to score a point and completing nine innings against Seidou was a victory for them.

Kasugaichi's strategic goals had all been achieved.

It was somewhat embarrassing to be competing against Seidou's substitutes. Nevertheless, as long as they didn't voice it, who would know?

Now, Seidou had replaced their main players.

The situation became even more favorable for Kasugaichi.

Faced with Seidou's changes, the Coach of Kasugaichi High remained unfazed.

This scenario perfectly aligned with his interests.

Of course, if his players could suddenly step up, firmly suppressing Seidou's main force in the last three innings and winning the game, that would be even better.

'But that was unrealistic!'

Placing hope on such unattainable outcomes only indicated an immature mindset.

The Coach of Kasugaichi High, who had studied psychology, believed his mental state was sound and mature enough.

He wouldn't indulge in such daydreams…

The changes in the dugout were quite a stimulus for the players of Seidou on the field.

Coach Kataoka could no longer sit still.

Despite his reluctance to leave Kasugaichi without a clean victory, the substitutes understood their limitations.

One must be aware of their own capabilities to avoid excessive disappointment after failure.

They also needed to recognize their shortcomings and understand how to improve.

The substitutes at Seidou High School clearly grasped all of this.

Thus, while they were a bit reluctant about Coach Kataoka's decision, they could still understand it.

If they were in Coach Kataoka's position, they certainly wouldn't allow the game to remain so stagnant.

With only three innings left and just a one-point difference, the situation was far from comfortable.

As the game progressed into the top of the seventh inning, it was Seidou High School's turn to bat.

Previously, Seidou's lineup ended at the seventh batter.

So this inning began with the eighth batter.

"Eighth batter, pitcher, Kawakami-kun!"

Kawakami, the pitcher, didn't leave the dugout at all. Instead, it was Coach Kataoka who emerged to inform the committee of the substitution.

"Seidou High School has substituted; the eighth batter, Shiratsu-kun, will take the field."

At that moment, Kawakami was replaced directly by Shiratsu.

Shiratsu stepped into the Batter's Box with a blank expression.

After taking his position, he raised his bat high and focused intently on the pitcher's mound.

Seeing Shiratsu like this, Kasugaichi's Ace pitcher frowned subtly.

'This one is difficult!'

They had thoroughly collected information on Seidou's players beforehand, and they knew how formidable this batter was.

To put it bluntly, he was definitely one of the three toughest batters at Seidou.

Most importantly, his hitting style was particularly effective against their Ace pitcher.

Compared to Kawakami, Shiratsu posed a significantly greater threat.

'We absolutely can't be careless!' Kasugaichi High's catcher signaled to his partner.

The opponent was a well-rounded player, so they couldn't just focus on his hitting.

They had to be aware he might draw a walk or even attempt a bunt.

All these scenarios needed to be guarded against.

Seeing Shiratsu, Kasugaichi's battery became increasingly apprehensive. Under this pressure, they grew more and more nervous.

When pitching, they lacked the previous fearlessness.

Whoosh!

The pitch thrown was weak and lacking in power.

Shiratsu, who intended to watch this first ball, originally didn't plan to swing.

However, as the ball approached, he found it impossible to restrain his urge to swing. For a skilled batter, facing such a perfect pitch left no room for restraint.

If he couldn't seize the opportunity on a pitch like that, he wouldn't be a good batter.

Chasing the ball's shadow, Shiratsu decisively swung his bat.

The ball, about to enter the strike zone, was sent flying by the bat.

Ping!

After being struck, the ball flew awkwardly behind the shortstop.

Shiratsu's expression was somewhat grim.

He didn't rejoice in hitting the ball and getting on base; instead, he felt a bit self-reproachful.

His response had been slightly delayed, causing him to swing late.

Otherwise, his performance should have been better.

But it didn't matter; his performance still held meaning.

Shiratsu smoothly reached first base.

No Outs, runner on first.

"Woah!"

"He made look so easy!"

"He got a hit from the first ball!"

"That is Shiratsu for you!"

"Man, Seidou is amazing!"

This situation naturally surprised the audience.

Before the substitution, Seidou High School had scored two points, and few players had actually reached base.

But Kasugaichi's Ace pitcher had performed well and stopped them on time, preventing the lineup from connecting.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Seidou made a substitution, his performance faltered.

It felt like a joke but Shiratsu had easily reached base.

"Damn, is this the strength of Seidou's main force?" the main catcher of Kasugaichi High gritted his teeth inwardly.

Shiratsu's impressive performance clearly exceeded his expectations.

The opponent had caught up to his partner's pitching rhythm on the first pitch, as easily as an adult playing with a child.

Initially, the main catcher of Kasugaichi High believed that even if Seidou High's players were better than them, they shouldn't be that much stronger.

Yet, in actual combat, it was a completely different story; the main players of Seidou High were exceptionally powerful.

There was an unmistakable feeling that these players were beyond their reach.

After all, it wasn't the Ace Sawamura Eijun or the Hero Miyuki Kazuya of Seidou on the field.

Those are top national star players.

Instead, it was the low-key Shiratsu from Seidou High.

"Forget about him; our opponent is next."

"Ninth batter, shortstop, Kanemaru-kun."

The players from Kasugaichi High initially thought Seidou High would continue substituting players.

To their surprise, they did not; the one still up to bat was Kanemaru.

Kuramochi in the dugout was clearly ready, but Coach Kataoka did not issue any instructions for substitution.

Sawamura and Miyuki exchanged glances, both surprised by the situation.

Kanemaru's position seemed to have been preserved temporarily.

The fact that Coach Kataoka left this player on the field indicated he had high expectations for his performance.

Previously, Kanemaru had recorded a hit and showcased excellent fielding.

In the absence of other main players, his performance was commendable.

Under these circumstances, it seemed reasonable for Coach Kataoka to allow him to remain in the game.

"It's not enough; if he wants to stay on the field, he needs to perform even better," Sawamura muttered.

It's true that gold will always shine, and there's nothing wrong with that.

However, it's not all pure 24k gold; it needs careful verification.

Even if Kanemaru remains on the field, it only means Coach Kataoka is still evaluating him.

It doesn't guarantee he will definitely become a mainstay at Seidou High.

'Come on, Kanee!' In his mind, Sawamura silently offered his support.

'You can do it Party Boy!'

…

T/N: The Chapters are a bit lightweight today, but the Game and the Volume will end tomorrow.

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