"Heh!
I could see more clearly than usual, had greater control over my body, and the ball seemed slower in my eyes!
Wasn't this... the zone?!
Had this guy's focus already reached this level?" Sendou grinned to himself.
At this point, Sawamura could already be regarded as a powerful batter.
This was also something often seen in high school baseball: an unknown ninth batter from a weak team facing an ace from a powerhouse and delivering an extraordinary performance like a Home Run.
Today was probably the day Sawamura awakened. His usual fundamental training was the confidence behind this sudden burst of strength.
"Four Balls!!"
Amakusa was having an extremely difficult time in this at-bat. Combined with his earlier fatigue, Sawamura's persistence eventually earned him Four Balls.
"All right!!"
"The leadoff batter got on base!!!"
"That was incredible!!"
"You're Sawamura, right?
You're that Sawamura, aren't you?!!"
Anyone who knew better would know it was Sawamura. Anyone who did not might have thought Shirazu was the one steadily taking pitches in the Batter's Box!
"Ninth batter! Third baseman, Kanemaru-kun!"
"Kanemaru, watch the ball carefully!!
Ahahahaha!!!" Sawamura was thrilled on first base.
"What a noisy guy." Amakusa smiled softly, almost indulgently.
"All right! I'm running!!" Sawamura put on a show and shouted when he saw Amakusa looking at him.
But the distance he kept from the base revealed Sawamura's lack of confidence...
Maybe Takami's pickoff attempts had frightened him earlier!
Amakusa ignored him, raised an arm to wipe away his sweat, and looked at his opponent, Kanemaru.
"Whew!" Kanemaru was under a lot of pressure too. With no outs, he certainly did not want things to end like this.
Kanemaru steadied his heartbeat. His gaze at Amakusa was filled with fighting spirit.
"Smack!"
"Strike!"
"Smack!"
"Ball!"
"Ping!"
"Foul!!"
After three pitches, the