"What great defense!"
"That first-year kid has quick reactions!"
"Yeah, that third-year almost got an infield hit, but the other first-years' defense is still a bit lacking."
After Kominato Haruichi's excellent reactions and defense, the third-year Senpai looked at him resentfully before reluctantly leaving the field.
"Kominato, is that guy Kominato-senpai's younger brother?"
"What? He's Ryosuke-kun's younger brother?"
"Hmm, no wonder his movements look so familiar!"
The Senpai in the second and third-year dugout, after seeing Kominato's defensive movements, couldn't help but think of Kominato Ryosuke, the starting Second Baseman for the first string!
"Kominato! From this moment on, you are Haruichi!" Sawamura Eijun said with a loud laugh from the pitcher's mound, hands on his hips, making Kominato look incredibly embarrassed.
"Eijun-kun..." Kominato's originally fair complexion instantly turned crimson.
"Wahahahaha!"
Although Aj didn't know what was happening in the infield, he could still see Kominato's performance, and then Sawamura's characteristic silly laughter came again. Aj immediately covered his face and rubbed his forehead, "Oh my god, can't this silly kid rein in his silliness?"
For some reason, Aj even felt a sense of shame.
Just then, a brawny figure rose from the on-deck circle, his honest face revealing a powerful aura that didn't match his appearance!
Third-year, first-string regular, former fifth batter Masuko Toru!
The moment Aj saw that figure, even though he couldn't make out his face clearly, his physique alone told Aj who it was!
He was also the most threatening and terrifying batter for the first-years in this Red and White Battle!
And in Aj's opinion, a batter like Masuko Toru was Sawamura's natural nemesis! A power hitter combined with the characteristics of a metal bat—a showdown between roommates!
A hint of seriousness appeared on Aj's face. That time, Sawamura had been hit for a Home Run by Masuko Toru. That hit, although it didn't cause Sawamura any despondency.
But Aj didn't want to see such a scene. That's right, the current Sawamura Eijun was just a raw gem, a raw gem with infinite potential. It was indeed difficult for him to deal with a national-level batter like Masuko Toru.
However, Aj still didn't want to see Sawamura hit for a Home Run. There was no reason, just a simple thought, an ambition, from the depths of his heart.
Masuko Toru was the kind of batter who could exert immense pressure on the catcher and Pitcher just by standing in the batter's box. His brawny physique and the whistling sound of his swing could indeed make people feel intimidated, as if there was no pitch he couldn't hit.
"Hey, hey, hey, this batter is no ordinary person. He used to be a regular in the first string and a clean-up hitter! You can't pitch like that anymore, right?" Kariba Wataru looked at the incredibly oppressive Masuko Toru, his face showing a look of extreme fear.
"What's wrong with that? Of course, we'll face him head-on! My Baseball doesn't allow me to run away!" Sawamura Eijun said confidently, his white teeth flashing.
Kariba Wataru instantly had a bewildered expression. "No way, you're still going to do that? Are you kidding me, big brother!" Kariba Wataru was on the verge of tears!
Sawamura took a big step with his right foot, swinging his left arm forcefully!
With a "whoosh," it was still the same pitch, a Fastball down the middle, though not a true Fastball.
The ball strangely curved outwards just as it was about to reach the batter. For an ordinary batter, this pitch would be 100% missed, either swinging too late or too early.
However, in front of Masuko Toru, such a problem did not exist.
"Clang!" It seemed as if he had easily captured the trajectory of Sawamura's pitch. With a powerful and bold swing, the first pitch was sent flying, and the ball speed was quite fast, almost the moment Sawamura himself had just thrown the ball.
Sawamura was horrified to find that the ball was rapidly flying towards the sky, looking like it was going out.
"Foul!"
The instructor standing at the boundary looked at the ball's trajectory, raised his hand, and shouted, indicating that the ball was out of bounds!
"Phew!" Sawamura immediately let out a sigh of relief, but the look of horror still lingered on his face. "Is this the strength of Seido High School's Baseball first string?"
Amidst his shock, Sawamura felt himself getting excited! This is how it should be. Why did he come here? Wasn't it for this?
Sawamura's face became very excited and agitated!
Masuko Toru looked at Sawamura, who, after a moment of shock, revealed an excited expression, and was slightly startled. Masuko Toru could even see the burning fighting spirit in Sawamura's eyes!
"Little Sawamura..." Masuko Toru smiled slightly. "This is more interesting! Come on, little Sawamura, let's have a showdown!" After personally experiencing that last pitch, Masuko Toru had a better grasp of the characteristics of Sawamura's pitches.
He moved a few steps forward, unlike the previous third-year senpai, Masuko Toru chose to grip the bat shorter.
Kariba Wataru looked at Sawamura, who still had glowing eyes, the lingering fear on his face still not gone. "Hey, hey, no way. You almost got hit for a Home Run, and you're still going to do that?"
Hey!
The little catcher said he was very sad. This was truly the first time he had seen such a disobedient Pitcher. Well, fine, Kariba Wataru admitted his own skill level wasn't very high...
But, but, alright, alright, looking at Sawamura's extremely excited expression, Kariba Wataru gave up. "As long as you're happy," Kariba Wataru thought, tears streaming down his face.
"Phew!" Sawamura let out a small breath. His roommate was a very formidable batter, second only to that terrifying man—Azuma Kiyokuni!
He had personally experienced this after that last pitch!
He had to use all his strength to deal with him. This was a game, and the place he stood was the pitcher's mound! It was his duty as a Pitcher not to let batters get hits!
Aj, in Left Field, looked at Sawamura's back, the conflicted expression on his face becoming more and more apparent. He hadn't expected the script to be completely different, yet the scene of these two guys' showdown was still pretty much the same. If this continued, the possibility of being hit for a Home Run would be as high as ninety-nine percent.
But should he not let Sawamura and Masuko Toru face off? Walk him? That seemed too soft. An aggressive four-pitch walk? That didn't seem like a good choice either, given Sawamura's current control... Well, he was overthinking it....
Neither by Sawamura's personality nor by Aj himself did he want such a choice to appear, because the Pitcher was Sawamura Eijun!
Aj gritted his teeth and made up his mind!
Sawamura Eijun on the pitcher's mound stared intently at Masuko Toru in the batter's box. "Remember! Remember! The last pitch of the showdown with that guy. I finally managed to launch a counterattack. I absolutely cannot fail here!"
"Sawamura! You are the Ace of our team! pitch with all you've got! I believe in you!"
Just then, Sawamura heard a voice coming from the outfield. He turned back in surprise, looking at a figure in Left Field.
Everyone on the field also looked at the shouting Aj with astonished eyes.
After a brief moment of Stunned, those first-years also started shouting one after another.
"Go, Sawamura!"
"Ace, it's up to you!"
"Eijun-kun, let him hit it!"
"You scoundrel! We believe in you!"
Sawamura Eijun looked in surprise at the first-years who were all shouting encouragement for him. At this moment, Sawamura genuinely felt that he was truly standing on the pitcher's mound as the Ace of the team.
That slight feeling of suppression suddenly vanished. "I am the Ace! Then I cannot let down their expectations!"
The slightest impurity in Sawamura's eyes completely disappeared, and he looked at the batter's box with clear eyes!
The showdown! Is about to begin!