Seeing Nanjo Taishi choose to confront him head-on, Tanaka Wataru nodded and immediately gave the signal for an outside cutter.
A pitch that flies towards the outside edge, and after entering home plate, veers out of the strike zone — perfect for testing Ishihi Yohei.
Nanjo Taishi twirled the baseball in his hand, calm. With a runner on second and a power hitter at the plate, this wasn't new to him.
The first pitch needed to be sharp. Aiming at the outside edge made it difficult to tell if it was a strike or a ball. If the batter swung, he would most likely miss. Even if hit, it wouldn't be clean.
If he didn't swing, giving up a ball count wasn't a problem.
Nanjo Taishi committed and fired the pitch.
The ball shot sharply toward the outside corner. Ishihi Yohei swung with his thick arms and a low growl, aura fierce like a lion.
Just before contact, the ball veered outward, landing squarely in Tanaka Wataru's glove.
"Strike!"
Hmph. Ishihi Yohei pulled his bat back, frustrated. He was half a ball off.
Tanaka Wataru swallowed. The swing was monstrous — if that connected, it would have been a huge hit.
He threw back to Nanjo Taishi and signaled for an inside fastball. Outside then inside — classic. Big players generally struggled with inside pitches.
Nanjo agreed instantly and threw.
The pitch was sharp, the speed solid.
Yosh, this one should be fine—
Just then, Ishihi Yohei adjusted his stance, created a tiny opening, and unleashed a violent swing.
"HAA!!"
CRACK!
The ball flew over shortstop.
"Left field!!"
Kanzaki Ryou charged forward. But Kundi Galka at second was already rounding third — clearly going for home.
"RYOU!!"
As Kanzaki scooped the ball, Kundi exploded past third. Throwing to the infield then home would be too slow.
Are they about to lose the first run?
All eyes were on the African exchange student, sprinting like a cheetah.
But Seido looked only at one place — the outfield.
If a miracle was going to happen, it could only be him.
FWOOOOSH—
Kanzaki Ryou stepped, inhaled, and whipped his arm like a snapping cable, launching the ball with explosive force.
WHOOSH!
The baseball shot through the air like a guided missile, cutting between second and third, blazing straight toward home!
It arrived before Kundi Galka!
Tanaka Wataru spun and slapped the tag on the runner in the same motion.
OUT!
The stadium froze.
Silent.
For several seconds.
Then—
"UOOOOOOHH!!!"
"Laser arm!!"
"Kanzaki Ryou is insane!!"
"Kirin Arm!!"
"Monster throw!!"
The crowd erupted. Teammates roared like wild animals.
The display board lit up — three bold digits:
156 km/h
A 156 km/h laser throw from the outfield.
In high school baseball, that was unheard of.
Kanzaki Ryou grinned and waved.
"Hehe… sorry, I stole the spotlight even from the pitchers."
Nanjo Taishi nodded gratefully. That throw saved him. He thought they'd lost that run for sure.
Cheers continued as Seido returned to the dugout. Ishihi Yohei glared at Kanzaki — that kid had just erased his RBI.
Azuma Kiyokuni immediately grabbed Kanzaki the moment he sat down.
"GYAAAHAHAHA! Kanzaki, that was amazing! Did you SEE Ishihi's face?!"
"And Nanjo!! I thought you'd avoid him! A head-on fight, you former Ace!"
He slapped backs left and right, high on adrenaline.
Bottom of the first — Seido's leadoff, Shida Shota, stepped in.
Takasaki High's ace, Suzuki Yu, was ready.
Hmm?
Shida noticed a trace of contempt in Suzuki Yu's expression.
This guy… is he looking down on me?
Annoying.
But it sharpened Shida's focus. According to their scouting, Suzuki Yu relied entirely on vertical-breaking pitches:
Fast Forkball
Vertical Slider
Vertical Curveball
He liked inducing grounders — and looking smug while doing it.
How would he open?
Shida felt a flicker of curiosity.
Suzuki Yu lifted his leg and fired.
Shida instantly swung at the lower edge — he guessed it!
Fast Forkball.
CRACK!
The ball bounced toward third base.
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Merry Christmas Everyone! 😘🎄🥳