The Osaka team returned to the field full of enthusiasm after receiving a morale boosting pep talk from the coach. It wasn't often that their team was in such a position, yet the suffocating pitching style from Ken had forced them into a corner.
He really had shown today that he was a force to be reckoned with in High School baseball. All the doubters who had called his run in Koshien a fluke beforehand could now only bite their tongue.
Of course there were plenty of people who had jumped on the bandwagon, some even praising him as one of Japan's rising stars who would take the world by storm in the future.
Yet Ken did not care. He looked out at the field in anticipation, wanting nothing more than to win this game and get into the finals.
All for one purpose.
"Strike!"
Yatsuo seemed to have leveled up since the last innings, throwing a 155km/h fastball right into Daichi's outstretched glove. His usual stoic and somewhat scary expression had morphed.
His emotions came to the forefront as he fought with all of his might to keep Yokohama scoreless in this innings. If they were to leak any more runs, then their comeback chances would fizzle out even before they could grow.
"Strikeout!"
**
"Strikeout!"
**
"Strikeout! 3 outs, changeover"
The arena watched on in awe as Yatsuo only threw 9 pitches to take down 3 of Yokohama's batters. Yuki, Tatsuya and Jun all wore the same expression as they were left to wildly swing at the sharp pitches.
Of course it wasn't just the mighty pitching of Yatsuo, Daichi's leads were the thing that was truly giving them a headache. Imagine someone finding out your biggest flaw, and pitching it directly to it over and over.
While the three were frustrated, there was not much that they could do. However, their consolation prize was that they were leading by 2 runs.
Ken and the team returned to the field. They only needed to get 6 more outs against Osaka to secure their ticket to the finals against Koryu High.
One could say that victory was in arms reach.
Ai felt her body tense up as she watched what was happening on the field. She had been cheering so much that her voice had begun to go hoarse along with the other managers.
She'd tried to stay under the radar and not distract Ken at all throughout the game. The only time she'd spoken up was just before he went out to face his brother in the 2nd innings.
It was as if she was compelled to, seeing the mix of emotions that had appeared on Ken's face. Yet once he stepped onto the mound, he saw a smile so pure that she'd been taken aback.
Even now she could remember that peaceful smile on his face at that time. It made her feel a lot of things.
'Is that the expression you make when you achieve your goals?' she wondered.
Once Ai saw that, it was as if a door which was once closed in her mind suddenly opened, revealing the answer she'd been hiding from this whole time.
While it may have been what she was looking for, she still couldn't help but feel bitter.
Unaware of the thoughts of Ai, Ken had resumed his pitching form. He had not grown impatient, instead he was even more deadly, like a python who was tightening its grip on its prey.
"Strikeout!"
**
"Strikeout!"
**
"Strikeout!"
"3 outs, changeover!"
The final out was Tsutomo, the 8th batter. As long as Ken could get the next 3 batters out in succession, he would be able to snuff out any and all chances for Osaka to make a comeback.
Out of their full batting line up, only Yatsuo and Daichi had been fortunate enough to get a hit off him.
Thus, the top of the 9th innings started with Yokohama up to bat.
The crowd was filled with anticipation as they entered the final innings. Despite the low scoring game, no one was dissatisfied in this moment.
Rather than a High School game, this felt more like an NPB game.
"Batting 3rd, 3rd base, Makoto"
"Let's go Captain!"
"Get us some more runs!"
Makoto stepped into the batters box with a glint in his eyes. Although he'd managed to get a hit and even secure a run in his last at-bat, he still wasn't satisfied.
This was his final shot to make an impact and seal the deal for Yokohama's victory.
However, there were two large obstacles in his way.
Yatsuo and Daichi seemed more in sync than ever before as their gazes met.
They couldn't afford to give Yokohama any leniency otherwise the game would be over. Therefore, Daichi pulled out all the stops, his eyes narrowing as he called for the next ball.
Yatsuo nodded before performing his quick pitching action and sending the ball flying forwards.
The ball was fast, yet it didn't lack movement as it began to break away from the right handed Makoto.
WHOOOOSH
The muscular figure didn't hesitate to pull the trigger, twisting his body and wringing his muscles for all the strength they had.
PAH
"Strike"
The crowd cheered at the blazing cutter that beat the muscular batter. Despite being a breaking ball, it still hit 143km/h as shown on the jumbo screen.
Even Makoto had to appreciate the lethality of the pitch.
'I can still hit it though.' He thought inwardly.
He got back into position and gripped the bat tightly. He just needed some patience, otherwise he would squander the opportunity.
Daichi called for the next ball, this time a two-seam down low.
WHOOOSH
PAH
"Strike"
'Crap.'
Makoto was starting to get a little flustered, having been baited into swinging once again. If he had have left the pitch, it probably would have been a ball.
Yet there was no point in beating himself up over it, especially since he still had another shot to get onto base. At this point he didn't care about anything but giving his team another opportunity to score.