"Second batter, second baseman, Kominato!"
In the top of the third, Kominato Haruichi stepped up to the plate amid the sweet voice of the announcer. Seido had hit both smoothly and frustratingly over the first two innings. They had racked up plenty of hits, yet for one reason or another, they had scored only one run.
The road ahead won't be easy. Their ace is about to find his rhythm too.
Haruichi raised his bat, his sharp eyes fixed on the opponent. Since they had already guessed that Seido was focusing on Amakuhisa's Slider, then his Pitching Strategy from here on out—
Wait for the fastball!
But he couldn't make that signal too obvious. If he didn't even move his bat when the pitch came, Ichidai Third's catcher would immediately figure it out. Even if he didn't swing, he had to load up early and stop only midway through.
Ichidai Third's catcher was also making guesses. Seido knows that we know they trained against the Slider. So no matter what, we need to avoid the Slider. If we eliminate that option, then what pitch is this batter waiting for?
Use other Changeups to shift Seido's hitters' attention! Slip in a difficult fastball and test whether he was waiting for one!
Come on, first pitch, a slow Curveball! Throw off his rhythm.
The tension in Haruichi's chest tightened, only to fall into disarray the moment the ball arrived. The small white ball arced high and landed precisely at the upper inside corner.
"Strike!"
The batter and catcher at Home Plate both jolted.
A Curveball? Haruichi had not anticipated it at all and could only take a step back.
That kind of control? Ichidai Third's catcher, Takami, gripped the ball tightly as his heart began to race. *Your condition has finally returned,