The Old Baseball Player System

Chapter 134: Fourth Round (2)

The second inning began with Sora back on the mound, maintaining the same calm and focus he had shown in the first. Suiren Junior High was trying to adjust to the young pitcher's precise and varied pitches, but Sora's control and his synchronization with Daigo proved impenetrable.

Suiren's fourth batter, eager to reach base and give the team a chance to recover, took his position in the box with a firm stance. After a brief analysis, Daigo signaled for a low fastball outside the zone. Sora nodded and quickly started his wind-up, delivering with precision.

PAH

"Ball!" - The umpire announced.

Unfazed by the initial ball, Sora followed Daigo's call for a screwball down the middle. The screwball, with its unexpected break, had been his secret weapon, and Sora knew it would continue to pose challenges.

WOOSH

PAH

"Strike!"

The Suiren batter hesitated, clearly struggling to read the screwball's spin, especially with the coordination between Sora and Daigo.

With a slight nod, Daigo called for a curve, and Sora, without hesitation, pitched. The ball came in high and dropped sharply.

WOOSH

PAH

"Strike!"

Now, the batter found himself cornered. On the final pitch, Sora threw another screwball, but this time he kept it low, drawing the batter into a full-force swing, hoping for contact.

WOOSH

PAH

"StrikeOut!" - The umpire declared, and the Suiren batter lowered his bat in frustration, yielding the first out of the inning.

The next Suiren batter, determined to break Sora's rhythm, stepped in with a more defensive stance, clearly aiming to avoid a strikeout. Daigo signaled the fastball again.

Sora pitched with precision, and the ball passed through the zone with a slight spin, enough to deceive the batter.

PAH

"Strike!"

With the batter more cautious, Sora followed Daigo's call and threw a curveball. The ball broke at the last moment, but the batter held back, waiting for an easier pitch to try a hit.

PAH

"Ball!" - The umpire called.

At a 1-1 count, Daigo called for the screwball. Sora took a deep breath, refocusing, and delivered the ball firmly. The screwball's deceptive movement made the batter swing too early, missing as the ball dropped out of his reach.

WOOSH

PAH

"Strike!"

Cornered, the batter tried to regain composure. On the final pitch, Sora went for a high fastball, increasing speed to catch the batter off guard.

WOOSH

PAH

"StrikeOut!" - The umpire announced, and Shoto's dugout erupted in applause, feeling Sora's dominant rhythm.

The sixth batter entered the box, attempting to break the streak of outs. Daigo decided to start with a curveball, and Sora pitched.

WOOSH

PAH

"Strike!"

Without delay, Sora delivered another screwball, fast and accurate. The batter, impatient, swung again, but the ball slipped out of his range.

WOOSH

PAH

"Strike!"

Sora focused for the final pitch, determined to keep the bases clear for Shoto. With an agile movement, he pitched a high fastball.

WOOSH

PAH

"StrikeOut! 3 outs, changeover!"

In the bottom of the second inning, Takeya stepped up confidently, aware of the importance of paving the way for Shun and the others. Suiren's pitcher, visibly pressured by Shoto's lead, threw a fastball. Takeya stayed attentive, holding a defensive stance.

PAH

"Ball!"

The pitcher tried a splitter, but Takeya waited, letting the ball pass.

PAH

"Ball!" - The umpire called again.

With the count in his favor, Takeya focused on the next pitch. A high, central fastball came, and he swung with precision, sending the ball to right field with a line drive.

WOOSH

DONG

Takeya ran determinedly, safely reaching first base.

Shun stepped into the box calmly, studying the Suiren pitcher. On the first pitch, Shun observed the fastball at the top of the strike zone and swung without hesitation.

WOOSH

DOONG

He sent the ball in a line to left field, and Takeya sprinted from first to third. Shun reached second safely, leaving two runners in scoring position.

With the opportunity to extend the lead, Ren stepped into the box with visible determination. The Suiren pitcher, clearly under pressure, threw a fastball. Ren didn't hesitate and, with a powerful swing, made solid contact.

WOOSH

DOONG

The ball sailed toward center field. Takeya dashed to home, scoring another run for Shoto, and Shun followed suit, crossing home as well. The young samurai Ren stopped at second base, raising his fist proudly.

The scoreboard now read 6-0, and Shoto's dugout was buzzing with excitement. Jiro entered the box, knowing a hit could widen the lead even more. He watched the first pitch, a splitter, pass outside the zone.

"Ball!"

The pitcher, trying to regain control, threw a fastball, but Jiro was ready. With a precise swing, he sent the ball toward right field.

WOOSH

DONG

Ren ran to third base and, following his coach's signal, advanced to home, raising the score to 7-0 as Jiro stopped at first base.

Kenta was next up, and with renewed confidence, he read the pitch accurately, sending the ball to center field with force.

WOOSH

DOOONG

As soon as he heard the crack of the bat, Jiro ran, but as the ball sailed over the stadium's outfield fence, he slowed down, trotting to home plate. It was a two-run home run from Kenta, bringing the score to 9-0.

With the score in their favor and confidence high, Daigo took his position in the batter's box, focused on keeping the momentum going and securing an even greater lead for Shoto Junior High.

Ever since Ryosuke left the team, Daigo had felt the pressure to perform and ease the burden on the third-year players. He knew that each run counted to solidify their victory, and he also knew that scoring would only become more difficult in future games. As the hitter following Kenta, Daigo understood how crucial it was for him to keep hitting well.

Suiren's pitcher delivered a fastball down the middle, trying to catch Daigo off guard, but Daigo read the pitch perfectly and swung hard.

WOOSH

DOONG

The ball soared high toward left field, flying over the left fielder's head and into the stands.

"Yeeahh!" - Daigo roared, raising his fist proudly as he jogged around the bases to home plate. A solo home run that extended Shoto's lead to 10-0.

With the determination to contribute to the team with his batting, Sora stepped into the box, ready to face Suiren's pitcher. The first pitch was a fastball, and Sora waited patiently, watching its trajectory.

PAH

"Ball!" - The umpire announced.

On the second pitch, the pitcher tried a splitter, but Sora didn't hesitate. He swung his bat and made solid contact, sending the ball to right field.

WOOSH

DONG

Sora reached first base safely, continuing Shoto's hitting streak. However, the lower part of Shoto's lineup couldn't keep up the pressure. Hisashi and Tomo were both struck out after a series of fast and well-placed pitches. Takeya, the ninth batter, made contact but was caught on a fly ball to the infield, ending the inning with Sora on base and the score at 10-0.

The third inning began, and Sora returned to the mound with the same confidence and control he had shown in the previous innings. He knew that the end of Suiren's order didn't pose a significant threat, but he remained vigilant to avoid any mistakes.

Suiren's seventh batter entered the box with an offensive stance, clearly attempting to put the ball in play by any means. Daigo signaled a low screwball, and Sora pitched with precision, making the ball break out of the batter's reach.

WOOSH

PAH

"Strike!"

Without wasting any time, Sora threw the second pitch, a high curveball that dropped at the top of the zone.

WOOSH

PAH

"Strike!"

The batter, now cornered with two strikes, swung desperately on the third pitch, hoping for a miracle. Unfortunately for him, Daigo had called for a high fastball at the top of the zone. Unable to adjust in time, he swung and missed.

WOOSH

PAH

"StrikeOut!"

The eighth batter stepped into the box with a worried expression. He knew Suiren was struggling, and any chance of putting the ball in play seemed increasingly unlikely. Sora, keeping the rhythm, threw a curve that broke in the strike zone, confusing the batter and forcing a desperate swing.

WOOSH

DING

PAH

"Out!" - The umpire announced the second out as the eighth batter sent the first pitch he saw directly to Kenta's glove.

The last batter in Suiren's lineup, determined to avoid a quick end, entered the box with a tense stance. Daigo signaled for an outside fastball, and Sora pitched firmly.

WOOSH

PAH

"Strike!"

The ninth batter couldn't make contact, putting Sora ahead in the count again. For the second pitch, Daigo called for a curve in the middle of the zone, and Sora delivered precisely that.

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PAH

"Strike!"

"Damn!" - The batter muttered in frustration as he swung his bat in vain, finding himself cornered with just one more pitch left.

Not wanting to be struck out on only two pitches, the ninth batter did his best to remain calm and avoid chasing pitches too far outside the zone. Unfortunately for him, as he stood at two strikes, Daigo already had a plan to finish him off.

Daigo signaled for a screwball and positioned his glove on the outside corner of the zone. Sora nodded quickly and pitched as directed.

"Outside!" - The batter thought as he eyed the ball. But as a right-handed batter, he was particularly vulnerable to the screwball's break, which veered unexpectedly toward him, breaking into the edge of the zone at the last moment.

PAH

"StrikeOut! 3 outs, changeover!" - The umpire called, leaving the ninth batter momentarily frozen in disbelief, struggling to process what he had just seen, a backdoor screwball.

Shoto Junior High's team returned to the dugout with the same dominating energy, ready for another offensive inning.