"Coach, Kanzaki Ryou's hitting is also very powerful," someone said.
Hearing this, Coach Yamamoto frowned. He, of course, knew about Kanzaki Ryou's hitting, but he had already chosen to intentionally walk the third and fourth batters. If he were to intentionally walk a first-year student as well, it would be too embarrassing.
Just as Coach Yamamoto was hesitating, Ochiai Hiromitsu spoke, "Decide based on the situation on the field. If necessary, you can choose to intentionally walk him."
Coach Yamamoto shot Ochiai an unhappy look. Although they had worked together for many years, he still couldn't bring himself to be as shameless as Ochiai when it came to securing victory.
"Then tomorrow's starting pitcher will be Hayato Hinata!" Coach Yamamoto decided, stopping himself from dwelling further and announcing tomorrow's starting lineup.
"Suppress Seidou's batting lineup fiercely!"
"Don't worry, Coach!" Hayato Hinata was full of confidence. Aside from the three batters he needed to intentionally walk, he believed he could handle everyone else.
The next day, the first quarterfinal match—Seidou High School versus Sagara High School—officially began.
Both teams stepped onto the field amid thunderous cheers from tens of thousands of spectators.
"Line up!"
"Salute!"
"Please guide us!"
After a brief handshake filled with mutual respect, the players returned to their dugouts, preparing to battle.
"It's starting, it's starting! A clash between prestigious schools!"
"Wooooh!"
"There's a strong smell of gunpowder!"
"This match is going to be good."
The spectators gazed excitedly at the field. By the quarterfinals, no team was weak—every game was a high-level showdown.
Top of the First Inning — Seidou on Offense
"Leading off, shortstop—Shida Shota!"
Shida gripped his bat and stepped into the box, fixing his gaze on pitcher Hayato Hinata.
Hinata, recalling Shida's data, frowned slightly.
A third-year, stable leadoff hitter since sophomore year. Fast, reliable, dangerous even without power. If he made contact, he could force his way onto base through pure speed.
Best solution: strike him out with overwhelming pitches.
Behind the plate, Sagara's catcher Sugii Yuta signaled.
First pitch: inside four-seam fastball.
Let's see how he reacts.
They'd studied Seidou well—Shida always "watched" the first pitch or two.
Hinata nodded. He wound up and fired.
And then—
A bat suddenly dropped horizontally in front of the catcher.
A bunt?! On the first pitch?!
Bang!
Shida's surprising bunt caught Sagara completely off guard. The ball rolled quickly between the mound and third base.
"Shida! Run!!"
"First base!"
Sagara's shortstop sprinted in and scooped the ball cleanly. As he raised his arm—
Shida was already a blur.
Damn it! So fast!
He fired to first.
Both the ball and Shida arrived at almost the same moment—
Slap!
But Shida stepped on the bag a heartbeat earlier.
"Safe!!"
The crowd exploded.
On the mound, Hinata's expression darkened.
This guy always starts by observing pitches… but today he attacked immediately with a bunt?
Fine. You want to play tricks?
Let's play.
Second Batter — Kominato Ryosuke
"Double play… we need a double play," Hinata muttered.
If Kominato reached base, he wouldn't be able to intentionally walk Yuuki and Azuma afterward.
Sugii gave the sign: outside slider.
Against a small-framed lefty with short reach, that was the natural choice.
The pitch broke wide—far from Kominato's body.
Kominato frowned but stretched his arms fully and swung.
Slap!
"Strike!"
In the dugout, Kanzaki Ryou smirked.
"They're targeting Kominato-senpai's short reach. How dirty."
Azuma Kiyokuni shook his head.
"Cheap tricks don't work on him."
"Yeah," Kanzaki said. "Kominato's a technical hitter."
On the field, Kominato adjusted—stepping closer to the plate.
Sugii narrowed his eyes.
Sure, that solved the outside pitch…
But what about inside?
Hinata smirked.
Second pitch—inside fastball.
Whoosh!
Kominato gritted his teeth—and swung upward at the bottom edge of the ball!
Bang!
He hit it!
The ball bounced sharply near the shortstop.
But Sagara's shortstop flashed in like a phantom—snatching the ball cleanly.
Midair, he flicked his wrist—
Slap! Shida was forced out.
Slap! Kominato was forced out.
Double play!
"Beautiful!!"
"What defense!!"
"Sagara's shortstop is insane!!"
The stadium erupted.
Seidou's dugout fell silent. A promising opening vanished instantly.
"Yuki! Send it flying!"
"Tetsu! Take it!"
Yuki stepped into the batter's box. Sagara's catcher glanced at Coach Yamamoto.
He shook his head.
With two outs, there was no need to intentionally walk him.
The catcher nodded and gave the sign—