The total score was now three to one.
Seido High School Baseball Team had clawed back a run.
Although that single run could not completely reverse the tide, it dramatically changed the atmosphere within the team. The pressure that had weighed heavily on their shoulders finally loosened.
The players were no longer as tense as before. Their movements grew steadier. Their breathing slowed. Their expressions regained clarity.
They had not been crushed.
They had proven that Osaka Kiryuu was not untouchable.
In the dugout, Matsumoto Takahiro observed everything carefully. He was extremely perceptive, and he quickly noticed the subtle shift in Seido's demeanor.
"They adjust quickly," he thought.
It had only been two months since their last practice game against Seido. Yet the difference now was striking.
Back then, Seido had talent. Now, they had composure.
During this Summer Tournament, not only had their strength improved, but their confidence had grown as well.
Their mental resilience had transformed. A team like that, once it found momentum, could unleash terrifying destructive power. To ensure safety, Osaka Kiryuu needed to widen the score gap again.
Three to one was not secure enough.
In the first two innings, Osaka Kiryuu's lineup had already gone through one full rotation. This inning would begin with their core second batter.
Matsumoto turned to the players behind him.
"You've adapted, haven't you?"
They exchanged brief glances and nodded confidently.
With intelligence gathered from practice games and careful scouting, even though Hidezawa's ability had improved significantly over the past month, they were not unfamiliar with him.
They admitted that he was stronger than before. Much stronger. But not unbeatable.
If they committed fully, they believed they could still score against him. On that point, Osaka Kiryuu's players had absolute confidence.
Of course, they also knew that their own pitcher was not at a level where he could completely suppress Seido. Seido might struggle temporarily. But eventually, they would score again.
That was inevitable.
The key was delay.
If their rotation strategy could slow Seido's momentum long enough, and if Osaka Kiryuu's offense continued to add runs, the outcome would favor them.
Offense was their greatest weapon.
It was their trump card.
As the inning resumed, Osaka Kiryuu's hitters displayed aggressive intent.
They attacked decisively.
In their eyes, Hidezawa's pitches had power, but power alone did not equal invincibility. Coincidentally, Osaka Kiryuu was filled with star hitters recruited from across the country.
In terms of batting ability, they conceded to no one.
Seido's lineup was praised as the strongest. But to Osaka Kiryuu's players, that title meant little.
They understood the nature of the media.
If you performed brilliantly, reporters would elevate you endlessly. If you faltered once, they would tear you down just as quickly.
Praise and criticism were equally exaggerated. To deal with such attention, one needed emotional stability.
Osaka Kiryuu believed they handled it well.
They did not underestimate Seido. Nor did they overestimate them.
They trusted their own eyes. And from what they had seen, Seido was strong.
Their ace pitcher was among the nation's best. Their hitters were dangerous.
But Osaka Kiryuu's style happened to counter them.
Seido focused on powerful individual hitters. Osaka Kiryuu was a team composed entirely of powerful hitters.
Their second batter stepped up.
Over one hundred eighty centimeters tall, built solidly, resembling an enraged bull.
Even from more than a meter away, Miyuki Kazuya could feel the oppressive presence radiating from him.
Osaka Kiryuu's hitters were formidable. If allowed to swing freely, they would be devastating.
Miyuki understood this clearly.
In the first round, Seido had suffered heavy damage.
They believed they were prepared. They were not.
They underestimated Osaka Kiryuu's explosiveness. That miscalculation cost them three runs.
But this was now the second round. And it was not only Osaka Kiryuu that had gathered information.
Seido had done the same.
Especially Miyuki.
During the first rotation, he had carefully observed every batter.
Their timing preferences. Their weaknesses against certain pitch locations. Their tendencies under pressure.
He reached a firm conclusion.
Strikeouts were unrealistic. These hitters were too skilled. Attempting to overpower them would only backfire.
There was only one viable path.
Induce contact. Trust the defense.
Hidezawa agreed with this approach.
The pitch came.
"Ping!"
The ball was hit sharply toward the outfield.
But Isashiki Jun had already anticipated the trajectory.
He positioned himself perfectly beneath it.
"Thwack!"
"Out!"
One down.
The third batter followed.
Another solid hit. Another well placed defensive alignment. Another out.
The fifth batter stepped in.
The same strategy. The same result.
Three outs secured through disciplined defense. However, not everything went smoothly.
Osaka Kiryuu's fourth batter connected perfectly on one pitch. The sound alone signaled danger. The ball soared deep. And this time, there was no stopping it.
Home run.
The scoreboard shifted to four to one.
The gap returned to three runs.
Yet something unexpected happened.
Seido's momentum did not collapse.
Instead, it stabilized.
They had executed their defensive plan successfully. They had proven they could contain Osaka Kiryuu's lineup through coordination rather than force.
The dugout remained calm. The fielders exchanged determined looks. Confidence did not waver.
Matsumoto Takahiro noticed this immediately.
"So troublesome," he murmured inwardly.
Although his team had scored again, the feeling was not entirely satisfying.
In the second rotation, his core hitters had not overwhelmed Seido as decisively as before.
They were scoring, yes. But they were being guided. Controlled. Led by the nose.
That feeling irritated him. Just moments ago, Seido seemed on the verge of collapse. Now, they looked revived.
He sensed it. An opportunity for Seido was forming. He turned calmly toward his bench.
"Komochi, you'll pitch in the fourth inning."
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