"Game over! Line up!"
Coach Kataoka, who had originally planned for only a few innings, ultimately allowed the game to reach nine innings.
The final score was 21 to 5, which on the surface seemed like a complete defeat for the first-years. However, those present saw many profound implications in this game.
By the fifth inning, the first-years had given up a staggering nineteen runs! This meant that in the subsequent four innings, the first-year team only gave up two runs, while their entire batting lineup scored five runs!
Of course, the three biggest turning points in this game were: first, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Sawamura Eijun came to the mound with one out and the bases loaded, perfectly resolving the crisis and shifting the momentum of the game towards the first-years.
The next highlight was in the sixth inning! In the top of the sixth, the first-years' offense unexpectedly scored three runs with a Home Run!
This completely changed the situation on the field, returning the initiative to the first-years!
Then, in the bottom of the sixth inning, facing Masuko Toru, the original fifth batter who could hit a Home Run at any moment, Sawamura Eijun made a decision that shocked everyone, even Aj!
The Pitcher, who seemed to always face every batter head-on, actually chose to issue an intentional walk! That's right, it looked like an aggressive walk, but the pitch, clearly carrying the intent of a walk, made everyone present wonder if their previous definition of Sawamura's personality was wrong.
To think that someone with that personality would choose to walk a batter? It was undoubtedly a very strange thing, even if it was an aggressive intentional walk.
Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that the decision to walk was made by Sawamura himself. His previous pitches showed no intention of cooperating with the catcher. They didn't believe Sawamura would follow the catcher's instructions to walk Masuko Toru.
To be honest, the usual Sawamura would never choose to walk. In his view, the Pitcher and batter should always face off head-on. However, he was the trusted Ace; they recognized him as the first-years' Ace!
They wanted to win! They wanted to prove themselves!
As the trusted Pitcher, Sawamura would not allow himself to disappoint their expectations, just as before coming to Seido, he swore he would never disappoint the expectations of his companions in the countryside! He had to become a true Ace!
It was precisely for this reason that Sawamura ultimately chose to walk Masuko Toru. Masuko Toru expressed sadness, as he had made full preparations, but he didn't expect the young Sawamura to still choose to walk him. Masuko Toru wouldn't dare to hit such an obvious ball, as it would result in being caught out.
The result would truly be more interesting than a walk!
When Coach Kataoka saw Sawamura Eijun choose to walk, there was no expression on his face, and his heart seemed to have no emotional fluctuations. Head-to-head confrontation? Walking the batter?
Pros and cons? Was it temporarily abandoning the so-called Pitcher's dignity for the team's victory, or was it fully unleashing the Pitcher's strength to achieve a head-on confrontation?
High school Baseball is not like professional Baseball. For these children, many wouldn't choose to walk, regardless of dignity or other factors. It's simply a certain mentality of not wanting to lose, isn't that the proper attitude for a young person?
Of course, everything has a balance point. Giving and taking, isn't it precisely because there is giving that there is taking?
At first glance, Sawamura seemed to have given up his pitching style, abandoning something that shouldn't be abandoned. After all, this was just a mere Red and White Battle. However, for those who truly watched, didn't Sawamura gain something much more beneficial than this?
Kuramochi and Miyuki on the sidelines both had expressions as if they had seen a ghost. Sawamura Eijun actually chose to walk! He chose a four-ball walk!
After walking Masuko Toru.
The next two batters couldn't track Sawamura's pitches and were easily caught out. The sixth inning ended with only a runner left on First Base.
The situation was completely in the first-years' hands!
In the subsequent seventh and eighth innings, the second and third-year batters, seeing Sawamura's pitches for the first time and not having the powerful hitting ability of Masuko Toru, the former main player, were all caught out. It's worth noting that there wasn't a single strikeout....
Then, in the top of the eighth inning, the fifth batter unexpectedly caught Kawakami's Fastball and got on base directly! Aj decisively instructed the sixth batter to execute a sacrifice bunt, sending the runner to Second Base.
Immediately after, Sawamura again used the bunt stance to successfully deceive the second and third-year defense, executing a true safety bunt!
Runners on First and Third Base!
Kominato and Aj's consecutive hits directly scored two runs!
Although the score difference was still large, the first-years' fighting spirit was undiminished, almost aiming for victory!
But the second and third-years were not to be trifled with. Those who could join Seido, become members of the second team, and endure a year of hard training to remain, were definitely not simple individuals. In the second round of at-bats, almost all of them could track Sawamura's pitches!
Of course, hitting a base hit wasn't that easy, but the ninth inning still made the first-years a bit flustered.
They once again realized the terrifying batting lineup of Seido High School. It's important to remember that this was only the second team; among the main first team players, only Masuko Toru participated, and all the others did not play!
The bottom of the ninth inning finally ended with the second and third-years scoring two runs (because it was a Red and White Battle, they played all nine innings. Otherwise, in a regular game, if the score wasn't tied in the top of the ninth, the game would end, and there would be no need for the bottom half of the inning's defense).
From some perspectives, if one only compares the situation after Sawamura entered the game, the first-years undoubtedly had the advantage, with a score of five to two.
From the sixth inning until the end of these last four innings, the initiative was completely in the first-years' hands.
It must be said, this was a game with a completely opposite beginning and end!
"Thank you for the guidance!" The two teams lined up, bowed, and said loudly.
"Phew." Aj wiped the sweat from his cheeks, let out a deep breath, and a slight smile appeared on his face. It really wasn't easy, this Red and White Battle, but the gains were truly immense!
Aj subtly clenched his fist. He could finally truly consider himself standing on this stage. Just as Aj entered the dugout to pack his equipment,
A cold voice sounded in his ear: "Aj, don't forget to attend the first team's training tomorrow, understood?"
"Ah, yes!" Aj turned his head, looked at Coach Kataoka's emotionless expression, paused slightly, then immediately responded loudly.
First team! He really made it into the first team, Aj incredulously pinched his cheek, still thinking with an unbelievable expression.
"Eh, eh, eh, eh? What about me, BOSS, can I join the first team too?!" Perhaps his pitching performance in this Red and White Battle made Sawamura feel that he had also performed quite well, instantly eliminating his fear of Coach Kataoka. He bounced over to Coach Kataoka and asked loudly.
"Humph, you? You're still far from it. I can acknowledge your performance this time as a team member, but the first team? Stay in the second team for now!" Coach Kataoka's chilling voice made Sawamura stiffen.
His mouth moved, but ultimately, Coach Kataoka's deterrence prevailed in his heart.
After saying this, Coach Kataoka left Sawamura, who was left with a melancholic expression, in disarray in the wind, and departed the field.
Aj, who was nearby, shook his head almost imperceptibly. It seemed that this aspect was still no different from the original work. Even though Coach Kataoka valued Sawamura's talent and disposition, he still needed to refine him further. However, in Aj's opinion, this was also Sawamura's first and biggest qualitative change.
His life mentor — Chris! When Aj first came to Seido, he thought about whether he should gradually tell Sawamura the key points of his evolution from the original work, to help him improve faster. But later he found out that things were not that simple. Sawamura hadn't even laid a good foundation, so could he really be taught those later things? Not to mention Aj himself was a half-baked guy.
Later, he thought about it and decided to temporarily give up on that idea. It was best to let professionals guide Sawamura.
The prodigious catcher, whom even Miyuki Kazuya admitted he couldn't surpass, would be of great benefit to Sawamura after a period of refinement under his guidance.