For the third pitch, throw one to the corners and see if he had any urge to attack. The catcher flashed the Signals.
The number 11 pitcher nodded. Looking at Kōshū in the Batter's Box, he felt a fierce competitive drive. He had heard about this pitcher before spring training, back in the autumn after some game, when the opposing team's pitcher suddenly mentioned, "By the way, there's a really tall pitcher in our age group. He's Kinoshita Little League's next ace. No idea where he came from. Do you know him?"
It was the first time the number 11 pitcher had heard of it, so naturally, he shook his head. "Really tall? How tall?"
"Like, at least 180 centimeters. And he looks so serious—I didn't even dare ask him for his contact info after the game."
"Ah! A second-year middle schooler?" With 180 centimeters plus the Pitcher's Mound's twenty-centimeter height, the ball would practically be coming down from two meters up. Their group was all 150 or 160 centimeters tall. Wouldn't facing a pitcher like that be like playing against an adult?
They were both in West Tokyo, and he had thought they would not get a chance to meet until the Spring Tournament. Unexpectedly, they ran into Kinoshita Little League during spring training. After playing against that pitcher, he found it just as hard to adapt as expected—those fastballs, that velocity. But in the later innings of that game, the pitcher had thrown only fastballs, seemingly testing something in a real game, so he had ultimately failed to pitch a shutout.
After today's game, I should ask for his email address! The number 11 pitcher released the ball with all his might, aiming for the Outside Low Corner.
Kōshū decided to change his approach. Today, he would hit