It's over!
Given the direction and speed of the hit, returning the ball to home plate was almost impossible.
Sure enough, as the runner charged home, Yoshikawa Junpei finally picked up the baseball and hurriedly threw it to first base, attempting to secure an out. Unfortunately, he was a step too late. Yuki caught the ball and immediately fired it back to home plate.
One run scored.
On the mound, Nanjo clenched his fists, his palms inexplicably slick with sweat.
And yet, the situation was still two outs, bases loaded.
Seidou was still standing at the edge of danger.
"Focus on the batter!"
"You can do it, Nanjo!"
"Don't be nervous!"
"Pitch it and let him hit!"
Cheers rang out from behind him.
Nanjo gripped the baseball tightly, exchanged a firm glance with Tanaka Wataru, and went into his pitching motion once more.
After two Niceballs, Nanjo decisively threw a cutter.
Whoosh—
The batter swung and missed.
Strike three!
The third out finally arrived, bringing the chaotic first inning to an end.
"Phew—"
Both Seidou fans and Osaka Kiryu supporters let out a collective sigh of relief.
It was only the first inning, yet both teams had already reached their seventh batter.
The intensity was terrifying.
Don't let the 3–1 scoreline fool you. If not for Kanzaki Ryou's miraculous catch earlier, the situation could have completely reversed.
From the scoreboard, Seidou was leading.
But from the flow of the game, Osaka Kiryu was clearly applying pressure.
Back in the Seidou dugout, the moment Kanzaki Ryou returned, Nanjo immediately wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"Hehe, Senior," Kanzaki said with a grin, "if you really want to thank me, treat me to a big meal after Koshien."
Nanjo slapped his chest boldly. "No problem! Three meals!"
"Hahaha! Nanjo, you almost couldn't hold on back there, huh?" Azuma Kiyokuni laughed loudly.
Nanjo nodded honestly. "Yeah."
"Osaka Kiryu's lineup is scary," Tanaka Wataru added. "Their power is obvious, and their pitch selection is sharp. They're hitting the pitch path directly."
"Just do your best," Shida Shota said, patting Nanjo's shoulder. "They're strong, but we'll just score more than them."
Coach Kataoka's gaze swept across the players before stopping on Nanjo.
"Don't feel pressured. Pitch freely. Whether we win or lose today depends on the batting lineup. Even if you give up runs, it's fine."
Nanjo nodded heavily. "Understood."
Coach Kataoka then glanced toward Kanzaki Ryou, who was chatting casually with Miyuki, completely unconcerned.
He had wanted to praise Kanzaki's catch—but seeing his relaxed attitude, he simply turned away.
The game continued.
Top of the Second Inning — Seidou Offense
After regaining his rhythm, Matsugi Musashi's pitching turned ferocious.
He struck out the eighth batter, Yoshikawa Junpei, and the ninth batter, Nanjo, consecutively.
Shida Shota then managed an infield hit.
But Kominato Ryosuke was struck out soon after.
Bottom of the Second Inning — Osaka Kiryu
Though Nanjo lacked Matsugi's overwhelming suppression, he still worked smoothly with his fielders, retiring three batters in a row.
Top of the Third Inning
Yuki wasn't favored by luck this time, going down on three straight swings.
Next up—
Azuma Kiyokuni.
Matsugi had no intention of walking him.
The first pitch was a sharply dropping curveball.
Swing and miss.
The second pitch, an inside-low two-seam fastball—Azuma didn't bite.
With two Strikes, Matsugi hesitated briefly before following the catcher's call.
A high-speed slider on the outside corner—
A ball.
"Ha!!"
Azuma roared as he chased the pitch.
Bang!
The baseball rocketed toward left field.
Azuma reached first base safely.
"Tch…"
Matsugi clicked his tongue.
Even from that angle…
And next—
That annoying first-year.
Kanzaki Ryou stepped into the batter's box with a sly smile.
To Matsugi, it looked like pure provocation.
Calm down. Don't get carried away.
Matsugi steadied himself.
Kanzaki felt a slight pity when he noticed Matsugi didn't fall for it.
With the previous lesson in mind, Matsugi clearly wasn't going to rely on sheer speed anymore.
Fine.
A pure battle of skill, then.
Come on—throw whatever you want.
The pitch came.
Kanzaki swung decisively.
Bang!
A foul.
Tch—his tracking is abnormal.
Matsugi changed tactics.
Second pitch—vertical drop curveball.
Kanzaki swung without hesitation.
Bang!
The ball shot through the infield and landed cleanly in the outfield.
"OH!!"
Amid the cheers, the slower Azuma barely reached second base, while Kanzaki safely reached first.
Kanzaki grinned at Matsugi, even wiggling his eyebrows.
Matsugi's face darkened.
Bastard…
He vented his anger on Tanaka Wataru, striking him out.
Two outs. Runners on first and second.
Isashiki Jun stepped into the batter's box, teeth bared like a beast.
Matsugi was speechless.
Are all Seidou players insane?
Whoosh—
"Strike!"
Whoosh—
"Ball!"
Thwack—
"Strike!"
Two strikes, one ball.
Isashiki swung at everything.
Reckless. Nothing to fear.
Matsugi fired a straight ball straight at Isashiki's chest.