Diamond Ace's Passionate Swing

Outside Jingu Stadium, the atmosphere was bustling with noise.

As the Seido High School bus came into view, the crowd erupted in cheers.

"Ah, here it comes! It's Seido!"

"Coach Kataoka!"

"Senior A-Zhe!"

"Lin Xiao!"

Countless eyes were focused on this highly anticipated team, and the air was filled with tension and anticipation for the upcoming battle.

The first match of the semifinals.

The stands at Jingu Stadium were already packed, the air seemed to freeze, and only anticipation and tension silently swelled.

Sensen Academy vs. Seido High School.

Both teams fielded their ace pitchers as starters.

On Seido's side is former ace, Tanba.

"Oh, Tanba's the starting pitcher today!"

"Really? I wonder if it will even work!"

"Lin Xiao went to right field!"

"Let's hope Tanba doesn't mess things up."

No one expected that it was Sensen Academy that broke the deadlock and scored the first points.

On the electronic scoreboard, a glaring "1" lit up.

"Two games!"

"Two games!"

The cheers from the stands were so loud they almost lifted the roof off.

"annihilate them!"

A loud shout came from the rest area of ​​Xianquan.

On the bases, there are runners from Xianquan on first and second base.

This summer, former ace Koichiro Tanba, who is making his first start as a pitcher, is facing a tough test.

Sweat trickled down his temples, soaking the collar of his jersey.

He pursed his lips, trying to dispel the shadow of the lost points.

"We must stop them."

"We absolutely cannot afford to lose any more points."

Miyuki's coded signal was received.

"The opponent is clearly waiting for an easy straight shot."

"They didn't even bother to swing at those tricky corner shots."

"That's probably their strategy."

Inside the Xianquan rest area.

"Why did you stop at second base! Couldn't you have gone for third base?!"

The coach watched the situation on the field with dissatisfaction.

"Fine, we still maintain control this way."

He turned to his teammates.

"Listen up! The opposing pitcher is off his game, seize this opportunity!"

"Use your sticks to tie him up!"

"yes!"

Coach Xianquan glanced at Danbo on the pitcher's mound, a barely perceptible sneer appearing on his lips.

"So young."

However, this was because they managed to keep a clean sheet in the previous game thanks to their rookie ace.

They managed to get their former ace back into the starting lineup so easily.

Kataoka still trusted his players too much.

To be honest, if they replaced him with another pitcher, the threat would be even greater.

"nice shot!"

The referee's voice rang out clearly.

Tanbo's breaking ball pierced the strike zone.

"Very good! Very good!"

"Well done! Tanba-senpai!"

Encouraging voices could be heard coming from the rest area of ​​Seido.

The dull thud of Miyuki's gloves carried a chilling weight.

Xianquan's batter: "That shot was powerful..."

"It's not even in the same league as Maki's curveball."

"Well done!"

"Not bad, Tamba!"

Chris shouted from the sidelines.

The attacker from Xianquan gritted his teeth.

There is only one goal...

"Straight ball."

"Throw a fastball!"

"Couldn't you at least pretend you were about to shoot a curveball?"

Miyuki silently complained to himself.

"This is such an obvious target, really."

"Straight ball..."

Miyuki's gloves were placed in the inner corner.

Batter: "Here it comes! It's a fastball!"

The batter swung the bat with great force.

The wind whipped up by the baseball bat whistled through the air.

However, the tip of the stick missed.

"Snapped!"

The baseball landed smoothly in Miyuki's glove.

The batter stared in astonishment at Miyuki's pitch: "It's not a fastball."

"It's a changing ball."

"Strikeout!"

The batter stood frozen in place, staring incredulously at the pitcher's mound.

"Wow... they're all changing balls..."

Seido High School narrowly escaped the crisis of losing points.

"Well done! Tanba-senpai!"

Sawamura jumped up in the rest area.

Coach Xianquan frowned.

"See? The other side immediately changed their ball distribution strategy."

"really."

"The Seido athletes compete by relying on their own thinking."

"With players like that around, if it were me, I'd probably want to trust them too."

He turned to his own ace.

"Maki, come here."

Hikaru Maki listened intently.

"The opposing batter can't keep up with your pitching rhythm right now."

"Didn't they play a bunch of weak groundballs in the first round?"

"If you just control your pace, they will naturally be eliminated."

"Pitch with confidence."

The coach's voice carried an undeniable authority.

"No problem, you're in great shape today."

"Go throw with your head held high and chest out!"

Maki nodded vigorously.

Coach Xianquan watched his retreating figure with a deep gaze.

"I will never trust the players 100%."

"There are good times and bad times."

"Everyone would do that."

"However, Maki is in really good form today."

"This is the first time I've seen him throw so hard."

In the stands, some people noticed the score.

"What's going on? Seido has fallen behind?"

Seido Rest Area.

Coach Kataoka looked at the batter who had just come off the court.

"How was their pitch? Did they hit it?"

Masuko wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Luckily, I practiced yesterday, so it was relatively easy to predict the shot."

"The curveball's trajectory was slightly different, but still within the expected range."

Coach Kataoka nodded.

"Should we aim precisely for the curveball, the deciding shot?"

His gaze swept over the team members.

"You guys seem quite calm."

"When you swing, lower your center of gravity and swing with force!"

"Those who have reached base should actively strive to advance!"

"yes!"

The team members responded in unison.

"No matter how tall a giant is, if he doesn't stand firm, he will fall. Do you understand?"

"yes!"

[Seido's starting batting order]

First batter: Shortstop Kuramochi

Second batter: Second baseman Ryosuke Kominato

Third batter: Center fielder Izashiki

Fourth batter: First baseman Yuki

Fifth batter: Lin Xiao, right field

Sixth batter: Third baseman Masuko

The seventh baton: Catcher Miyuki

Eighth batter: Kominato Haruichi, left outfield

Ninth Baseball: Pitcher Dambo

It was Izashiki's turn to bat.

Lin Xiao's voice came from the side.

"Bearded senior, watch the ball's trajectory carefully!"

"Shut up!"

Izashiki yelled back irritably and strode toward the batter's box.

The other side of the stands.

Taiwada and Fujio were also watching the game.

"It seems like Seido is having a tough time."

Taiwada said.

"Yes," Fujio said, looking at the numbers on the scoreboard, "after all, the ball was thrown from such a high place."

Jun Isashiki got into position in the strike zone.

He stared fiercely at the pitcher's mound.

Bring it on!

"Furthermore," Fujio continued, "his pitching form cleverly utilizes his 195cm height advantage."

"Among Japanese pitchers, this is a rare narrow lunge stance, and the center of gravity is relatively high."

"This puts him at a very high point in the game."

"The lower the trajectory of the ball, the greater the angle and drop of the throw..."

On the mound, Maki began his pitching motion.

Coach Xianquan nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad, Maki."

"The shift in the center of gravity is very smooth."

"The arm swing is powerful enough."

Next, use a curveball to finish him off!

"Ping!"

A crisp sound of the ball hitting the ground rang out.

However, the ball did not fly far.

"Third baseman!"

The catcher shouted.

Xianquan's third baseman moved quickly and caught the ball steadily in his glove.

"Out!"

A sigh rang out from the stands.

"What a pity!"

"I'm annoyed," Kanemaru said.

"Caught out by the third baseman."

Lin Xiao called out to Isashiki, who was walking back.

"Please don't mind him, Mr. Beard!"

"Shut up, you bastard!"

Izashiki's anger was reignited.

The garrison at Xianquan breathed a sigh of relief.

But the next moment, their hearts jumped again.