novelnext Chapter 160: Sixth Round (9)
Chapter 160: Sixth Round (9)
WOOSH
PAH
"Strikeout! 3 outs, changeover!"
"Yeeaaahhhh!" - Takumi roared after once again closing the inning without allowing a single run, even with a runner on third base.
"Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga!"
"Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga!"
Kasuga's crowd grew even louder after the inning ended, boosting the morale of all Kasuga's players.
"Imai, start warming up, your turn is coming!" - Kasuga's coach called from the dugout as he looked at the boy with the number one on his back.
"Yes, Coach!" - Shota Imai, Kasuga's ace, responded as he climbed the dugout steps and headed to the bullpen to warm up his shoulder.
"Huh? My time's up already?" - Takumi was returning to the dugout when he saw Imai heading to the bullpen. He couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed, wanting to pitch a little longer, but deep down, he knew this was the right time to be substituted. After all, it would be tough to hold Shoto's lineup for a third round without giving up runs.
"You did a great job, Takumi! Leave the rest to Imai and take a break." - Kasuga's coach said, placing a hand on Takumi's shoulder.
"Yes, Coach!" - Takumi replied quickly, then entered the dugout and sat down on the bench.
"Ahhhh, man! Seems like I'm still not good enough..." - Takumi sighed as he took a deep breath. He looked over at Shoto Junior High's dugout and saw Shun returning to the field. Even though he hadn't given up any runs, Takumi couldn't help but feel a bit defeated when comparing himself to the blue-eyed boy.
After all, in four innings, Takumi had allowed runners to reach third base three times, coming close to giving up runs. Compared to Shun's flawless performance so far, both pitching and hitting, Takumi could only admire his opponent, while a strong desire to improve grew in his heart.
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WOOSH
POFT
"Strike!" - The umpire announced as the first batter swung and missed, trying to make contact with the slider that dropped to the ground.
"Damn it!" - The batter muttered, but he quickly took a deep breath to focus.
"Let's finish this here, Senpai!" - Daigo thought as he made a signal and positioned his glove. With the count tied at two balls and two strikes, he was aiming to eliminate Kasuga's leadoff batter with this pitch.
"HA!" - Shun shouted, whipping his arm toward home plate.
"Fuck!" - The first batter thought as he saw the ball rapidly approaching, seeming like it was headed straight for him. His first instinct was to jump back to avoid it, but remembering the other front-door sliders Shun had thrown in this game, he fought the impulse, swinging his bat and hoping the pitch would break to the inside of the strike zone.
WOOSH
DONG
"What?" - Daigo stood up in surprise, unable to believe that a left-handed batter had hit Shun's front-door slider. He watched nervously as the batter sprinted toward first base, then looked up to see the ball flying toward center field.
PAH
"Out!" - The ball landed in Jiro's glove, who easily caught the fly ball. A collective sigh echoed from Kasuga's dugout and crowd as the first batter returned to the dugout, frustrated, he had genuinely thought he'd get a hit with that swing.
"Phew!" - Daigo breathed a sigh of relief after seeing the ball end up in Jiro's glove. Yet he couldn't hide his surprise and concern. Shun's pitch had been very well executed, but the batter still managed to make contact and send the ball to center field.
"Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga!"
"Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga!"
Shun received the ball back on the mound as he watched Kasuga's second batter step into the box. Even though he had gotten the out, the leadoff batter's at bat had given Kasuga's crowd a spark of hope, and they kept up their loud cheering.
Shun took a deep breath, doing his best to stay calm. He could feel the pressure mounting on the mound with each inning, and the intense sun beating down on him didn't help his situation at all.