The hit-and-run—a tactic where the runner takes off early while the Batter swings—requires a high level of tactical understanding and team chemistry. It cannot be executed without arduous training.
"Tch, it seems our opponents aren't pushovers either!" Todoroki Raizo muttered softly in the dugout.
"Well, if our opponents were too weak, it wouldn't be much of a practice game anyway."
"Cleanup hitter, third baseman, Kubota."
Next up was Hiyori High School's cleanup hitter.
"Hit a big one, Kubota!"
"Hit it, hit it, Senior Kubota!"
With their morale greatly boosted, the players in the Hiyori High School dugout cheered loudly.
"Don't be shy, Kubota. Give our distant guests a grand gift," Coach Takeuchi thought to himself.
On the Pitcher's Mound, all the Yakushi High School players on the field gathered.
"Senior Mino, just focus on the Batter. All infielders and outfielders play shallow—we need to get the runner out for sure," Watanabe Tatsuya said, covering his mouth with his glove.
"That's right, Senior Mino. We'll defend with all our might," Akiba Kazuma said.
"One out! One out!"
"Everyone!" Hearing the encouraging words from his teammates, Mino Hayato regained his spirits.
"Alright, then I'll leave it to everyone behind me. Let's take them down! Everyone, return to your defensive positions."
Whoosh!
Thwack!
"Strike!"
The cleanup hitter, Kubota, wasn't in a hurry to swing, choosing instead to observe the first pitch.
Whoosh!
A 140 km/h fastball plunged directly into the inside corner, aimed at Kubota's knee.
Kubota watched the pitch, which was of decent quality. Just as the baseball was about to enter the strike zone, he swung his bat with full force, scooping it upward from below—somewhat like a golf swing.
Clang!
The baseball was blasted out, flying high in the air toward the outfield.
"Outfielder! Back up!" Watanabe Tatsuya shouted.
Because Yakushi High School had adopted a shallow defense, the outfielders didn't have enough time to run back and catch the baseball.
The baseball landed in left field not far from the wall, bounced up, hit the wall, and rebounded. By the time Akiba Kazuma picked up the ball, the first two runners had already returned to Home Plate, scoring two runs. Meanwhile, Kubota had already rounded Second Base and was heading for Third Base.
Akiba quickly threw the baseball to Third Base, but Todoroki Raichi made a fatal error at that moment: he fumbled the catch.
Seeing this, the Third Base coach for Hiyori High School immediately shouted to Kubota.
"Senior Kubota, keep going for Home Plate!"
By the time Todoroki Raichi chased down and picked up the baseball, Kubota had already returned to Home Plate.
An inside-the-park Home Run sent the Hiyori High School dugout into a frenzy.
"Great job, Senior Kubota!"
"As expected of our cleanup hitter, Kubota!"
Kubota returned to the dugout to a hero's welcome.
"Keep it up, keep it up! Let's crush them in one go!"
Ultimately, Hiyori High School sent nine Batters to the plate in the first inning, completing a full rotation of their batting lineup and scoring five runs.
Watching the lively Hiyori High School dugout, which was as festive as New Year's, the Yakushi High School Baseball Team players were eager to get on the field and fight back—to avenge the five runs they had given up in the first inning.
"Now it's our turn to attack! Go get back the lost runs, you rascals!" Todoroki Raizo shouted arrogantly.
"Yes!!!"
"Hahaha! This is how a game should be—it's fun! But we won't let you succeed so easily. Let us show you Hiyori High School's ironclad defense!" Coach Takeuchi said to his players, looking at the Yakushi High School Baseball Team members who showed no signs of dejection, but rather a high fighting spirit.
"Leadoff hitter, second baseman, Fukuda Daiki."
Fukuda Daiki picked up his bat and slowly walked to the batter's box while his teammates in the Yakushi High School dugout cheered him on.
"We're counting on you, Senior Fukuda!"
"Fukuda! Show them our Yakushi High School baseball!"
"Pay attention, don't let any easy pitches get by!"
Fukuda Daiki looked at the Pitcher on the Pitcher's Mound and thought to himself, "Kid, just watch. I'm going to blast your ball out of here. You'll know the consequences of underestimating our Yakushi High School!"
Hiyori High School's Pitcher, Ishida Daisuke, raised his arm, stepped forward, and threw the baseball with his right hand. The ball speed barely reached 140 kilometers per hour.
Whoosh!
Pitches of this speed were a piece of cake for the Yakushi High School Baseball Team players. After all, the pitches from Sanada Shunpei and Kitamura Kou were at least two levels faster than this.
Fukuda Daiki quickly swung his bat, and the metal bat precisely connected with the fastball thrown by Ishida Daisuke.
Clang!!!
The baseball flew directly out under everyone's gaze, landing in the outfield and turning into a long outfield hit.
Fukuda Daiki easily ran to Second Base with this outfield hit.
"Second Batter, Left Fielder, Akiba Kazuma."
Whoosh!
Clang!!!
The baseball was hit between Second and Third Base, shooting out at an extremely fast speed.
The Hiyori High School players tried their best to intercept it but ultimately couldn't make it in time, allowing the baseball to slip past them. The ball rolled into left field, and Fukuda Daiki on Second Base easily ran back to Home Plate, while Akiba Kazuma successfully reached First Base.
Hiyori High School's Pitcher, Ishida Daisuke, gave up one run after only two pitches. Yakushi High School easily recovered a run.
The third Batter, Mishima Yuta, took advantage of the Pitcher's momentary distraction and blasted a Home Run. Yakushi High School's score rose to three runs.
On the Pitcher's Mound, the Hiyori High School players—just like Yakushi High School earlier in the inning—gathered around Pitcher Ishida Daisuke.
"Ishida, don't worry. Let's just get an out first."
"When it comes to hitting, we won't lose to them. Let's widen the score gap again next inning!"
"Your pitches are still powerful. They could only hit them because they got lucky," said Hiyori High School's catcher.
"Ah, don't worry. Mere first-year kids can't be that strong. Let's get three outs!" Ishida Daisuke said.
"Oh!!!"
"Fourth Batter, third baseman, Todoroki Raichi."
Looking at the not-so-tall Todoroki Raichi in the batter's box, Ishida Daisuke couldn't help but feel relieved. With that physique, even if he hit the baseball, it wouldn't fly too far.
Ishida Daisuke had been throwing fastballs before, but this time he decided to incorporate a breaking ball.
Whoosh!
A fairly good Slider left Ishida Daisuke's hand and quickly shot toward the catcher's mitt. Just as he was fully confident that this pitch would take care of Todoroki Raichi—
"Ka hahaha!"
Amid a strange laugh, Todoroki Raichi quickly swung his bat.
Clang!!!
The bat and baseball collided, emitting a deafening sound.
The baseball flew high into the sky, showing no signs of falling until it had flown out of the stadium.
Two consecutive Home Runs by Yakushi High School changed the score to four to five, with Yakushi High School still trailing by one run.