The Old Baseball Player System

Chapter 130: Third Round (11)

Shun watched the first batter of Aoba step into the box, gripping his bat tightly. The boy's face was focused, but Shun could sense the uncertainty in his movements. He had already dominated this batter once, and he could do it again.

Shun then lifted his right leg while driving his body forward. He planted his foot firmly on the ground, twisting his body and whipping his arm toward home plate, throwing the first pitch of the inning.

PAH

"Strike!" - The umpire called, and the first batter froze, shocked by how quickly the ball had broken into the inside corner. Shun didn't give him time to recover, already winding up for the next pitch.

This time, he went for his horizontal slider, letting the ball sweep across the plate. The batter hesitated, unsure of whether to swing, but by the time he realized it was a strike, it was too late.

PAH

"Strike two!"

The tension in the air was thick. Shun stepped off the mound for a brief second, gathering himself. He couldn't afford to lose focus now. He exhaled, stepped back on the mound, and let his third slider fly, aiming for the outside.

WOOSH

PAH

The bat cut through the air, but the ball had already dropped out of reach.

"Strikeout!" - The umpire declared, and the batter cursed under his breath, frustrated that Shun had outplayed him again.

The second batter stepped into the box, more cautious this time. He'd seen what happened to his teammate, but he wasn't about to let Shun dominate him the same way.

Shun locked eyes with the batter, feeling that familiar rush of adrenaline coursing through him. This was the challenge he lived for.

He began his windup and threw another horizontal slider, but this time he aimed lower, hoping to trick the batter into chasing it.

WOOSH

The batter flinched, his bat twitching forward, but he managed to hold back.

"Ball!" - The umpire called.

Shun nodded to himself, adjusting his strategy. He needed to throw something more deceptive. He wound up again, this time opting for his vertical slider. He knew it was his most dangerous weapon, and now was the perfect time to use it.

The ball darted towards the plate before suddenly dropping off as if it had fallen off a cliff. The batter swung wildly.

WOOSH

PAH

"Strike!"

The batter looked flustered now. Shun could see it in his eyes. He had him cornered. With a calm confidence, Shun threw another vertical slider, just a bit higher this time, hoping to catch the batter off guard again.

The batter hesitated, unsure of whether it would drop out of the zone or stay up. In his hesitation, he didn't swing, and the ball clipped the top of the strike zone.

"Strike two!" Enjoy exclusive adventures from mvl

Shun could feel the momentum shifting in his favor. He glanced at Daigo, who gave him a subtle nod. He knew exactly what Shun was thinking. It was time to end this.

Shun threw the slider one more time, this time aiming for the outside corner. The batter swung, desperate to make contact.

WOOSH

PAH

"Strikeout!"

The second batter had barely finished his swing before he realized the ball had already escaped him. Two down.

The third batter, approached the plate.

The first pitch was another slider, low and inside. The third batter didn't bite, standing firm and letting the ball pass.

"Ball!" - The umpire called.

Shun adjusted, bringing the next pitch higher, but still inside. The third batter swung hard, hoping to send the ball flying.

WOOSH

PAH

"Strike!"

Shun wasted no time, sending the next pitch, a horizontal slider, zipping across the plate. The third batter swung again, but once more, Shun's slider broke at the last second, slipping past the bat and into Daigo's glove.

WOOSH

PAH

"Strike two!"

The third batter gritted his teeth, clearly frustrated. He wasn't used to being dominated like this. He glanced at his coach in the dugout, who gestured for him to stay patient.

But Shun wasn't about to give him that chance. He threw another vertical slider, this time making it break even sharper than before.

The third batter swung with all his strength.

WOOSH

But once again, the ball was already gone.

PAH

"Strikeout! 3 outs, changeover. " - The umpire shouted, and the Aoba dugout fell into a stunned silence. Shun had just struck out the top of their lineup in dominating fashion.

Shun walked off the mound with a quiet intensity, his teammates cheering him on as he entered the dugout. He had done his job. Now it was up to the offense to take advantage.

---

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Takeya stepped up to the plate, determined to make something happen. But Aoba's pitcher had other plans. The first pitch was a sinker, and Takeya barely made contact, sending a weak grounder to the shortstop.

WOOSH

DING

PAH

"Out!"

Takeya walked back to the dugout, disappointed. He had wanted to set the tone for the inning, but Aoba's defense had been too sharp.

Shun then stepped into the batter's box, gripping the bat tightly. He glanced around the field, noticing how the outfielders had shifted left, clearly expecting him to pull the ball like he had in previous at-bats.

A small smile crept onto his face. He knew exactly how to exploit this.

WOOSH

DOONG

The pitcher delivered a sinker, low and outside, but Shun wasn't fooled. He swung early, driving the ball to the opposite field, down the right-field line.

The ball flew past the first baseman and hugged the foul line, rolling deep into the corner of right field. Shun took off, his legs pumping as he rounded first base. The right fielder scrambled to retrieve the ball, but by the time he got to it, Shun was already sliding into second base.

"Safe!" - The umpire called, and Shun dusted himself off, a grin on his face. He had just put himself in scoring position.

Ren, next in the lineup, stepped into the box. He could feel the momentum shifting, and he wasn't about to let it slip away. The pitcher, feeling the pressure, wound up and threw another sinker.

Ren didn't hesitate. He swung hard, making solid contact.

WOOSH

DONG

The ball shot through the infield, a clean line drive into center field. Shun took off from second base, sprinting toward third without looking back. The center fielder charged the ball, but Ren's hit had too much power. Shun rounded third and sprinted toward home.

The throw from center field was strong, but it wasn't fast enough.

PAH

"Safe!" - The umpire declared as Shun slid across the plate, his teammates roaring in celebration. The deadlock had been broken, Shoto had taken the lead, 1-0.

Kenta, with renewed determination, stepped into the batter's box. The pitcher tried to regain control, but Kenta was ready. The next pitch was a high fastball, and Kenta didn't hesitate.

WOOSH

DOONG

He sent the ball screaming into left field, bouncing off the wall. Ren took off like a bullet, rounding second base and heading for third. The third base coach waved him home, and Ren, with his quick legs, sprinted toward the plate without slowing down.

The relay throw came in late, and Ren slid into home safely.

"Safe!" - The umpire called, as Ren popped up from his slide, pumping his fists. Shoto was now up 2-0.

The momentum had fully shifted, and Aoba's defense was starting to crack under the pressure. With Kenta standing at second base, Daigo stepped up to the plate. He knew his role, to move Kenta to third base and give Jiro a chance to bring him home.

Daigo eyed the pitcher, ready for the challenge. The pitcher, struggling to regain his rhythm, delivered a fastball.

Daigo swung, sending a high fly ball into right field. Kenta waited, tagging up at second base as soon as the ball was caught.

PAH

"Out!" - The fielder caught the ball, but Kenta had already tagged and was racing toward third.

He slid safely into third base as the throw came in late. Shoto had a runner in prime scoring position once again.

Jiro stepped into the box, gripping the bat tightly. With Kenta on third and two outs, the pressure was on him to deliver. The pitcher, feeling the weight of the situation, threw a sinker, but Jiro was ready.

WOOSH

DOONG

He made solid contact, sending a line drive into left field. Kenta took off from third, sprinting toward home with all his might. The left fielder charged the ball, but it was too late. By the time the fielder made the throw, Kenta was already sliding into home plate.

PAH

"Safe!" - The umpire called, and the Shoto dugout erupted in cheers once more. Kenta had scored, pushing Shoto's lead to 3-0. The dugout was filled with energy and excitement as the players celebrated their captain's run.

Jiro stood proudly on first base, having delivered the clutch hit that gave them a comfortable lead. Shun, watching from the dugout, felt a wave of relief wash over him. His teammates had stepped up in a big way, and now they had a decent cushion going into the later innings. But he knew the game was far from over.