"spread!"

Under the leadership of the referee, the second team and the junior high team lined up in two rows facing each other on both sides of the home plate and bowed to each other. Then the defensive team entered the fielding position, and the offensive team's batters prepared in the waiting area.

An ordinary baseball game is divided into nine innings. Each inning is divided into two half-innings. In one half-inning, one team attacks and the other team defends. In the next half-inning, the two teams switch identities. After the nine-inning game,

, the one with more scores wins.

The offensive team sends batters to take turns to bat in the batting order submitted to the referee. As long as the defensive team gets the outs of any three batters in the half inning, the half inning can be ended and it is the offensive half of the inning.

Theoretically, as long as the starting nine are strong enough, they can continue the batting sequence from one to nine in an offensive half, run back to home plate and score, and even score a basketball game.

possible.

But in fact, most of the scores in baseball games are just a little more than the scores in football games, usually single-digit scores, and scores like 1:0 or 2:0 are also common.

Just now, when Tetsu Nishino played finger-picking with the opponent's captain and catcher Okada Masuki, he chose the side that attacked first. That is, in the first half of the nine-inning game, the second team attacked and the junior high school team defended.

"The game begins!"

First half of an inning.

No one is out, no one is on base, the score is 0:0.

The first batter of the second team stepped into the right strike zone.

One stick, catcher, Tetsu Nishino!

Standing in the batter's box, Tetsu Nishino breathed a sigh of relief to relieve his nervousness. After all, it was his first batting seat in his baseball career, so nervousness was inevitable. He wanted to resolve his nervousness by focusing on observing the path of the ball.

"playball!"

The chief judge gave the order.

Tetsu Nishino was very focused. He raised the metal bat in his hand and stared closely at the ace pitcher of the junior high school, Toshiya Itaguchi, waiting for the moment when he would throw the ball.

"Azhe, fight out!"

"Get on base, Tetsu-kun!"

"Hit! Hit!"

The teammates of the second team in the first base side of the pergola loudly cheered for Nishino Tetsu. In baseball, the offensive side usually provides support, so that the support of the two teams can cross. The support activities in high school baseball games are also a bright spot on the game field.

.

Junior high school catcher Masuki Okada was squatting behind home plate, thinking quickly about what ball he should pitch for the first pitch.

Nishino Tetsu-senpai?

It seems that I have just switched to baseball, so why should I serve as a bat?

Catcher Masuki Okada knows too little about Tetsu Nishino and has no game data to analyze, so he cannot make targeted ball allocations based on Tetsu Nishino's hitting characteristics.

Forget it, let’s put ourselves first.

Catcher Masuki Okada finally decided to use his own ideas to distribute the ball.

I saw him covertly using his right hand in front of his crotch to give a few signals to Toshiya Itaguchi on the pitcher's mound. Toshiya Itaguchi nodded to show his understanding, stepped on the plate of the pitcher's mound with his right foot, and prepared to throw the first pitch.

Masaki Okada adjusted his position slightly and put on his catcher's glove.

Come on, vote here!

Itaguchi Toshiya turned slightly sideways, holding a baseball in his right hand, and slowly raised his left foot. Suddenly he stepped forward suddenly, leaned his upper body forward in a coherent manner, and flicked his arm.

Throw the baseball hard!

"call out"

Tetsu Nishino keeps his eyes on the ball path!

Um?!

This ball?!

After a moment of judgment, Tetsu Nishino stopped waiting and swung the bat in his hand without hesitation.

Use all the strength in your body!

"call"

The moment the baseball hits home plate.

"Qiang!"

The crisp impact seemed to hit Okada Masaki's heart!

“Backbone!!!”

Okada Masaki quickly took off his catcher's mask and shouted at the center fielder!

The ball flew high into the air and quickly reached the center's defense area. There was still no sign of its whereabouts. The center fielder in the junior high school had no choice but to grit his teeth and quickly retreat, hoping that it would be a high-flying ball that could be caught.

Stop it!

The stalwarts of the junior high school prayed in their hearts.

"Crack!"

After passing over the head of the center fielder, the baseball hit the high blocking net with all its remaining strength!

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

"Out!!!?"

"Home run!!!?"

"First goal!!!?"

The teammates in the dugout of the Second Army were stunned and shouted out. They did not expect Tetsu Nishino's swing to be so decisive.

"A real home run!"

"It's so awesome."

"Si Guoyi!"

The teammates from the second army all cheered after reacting, very happy that their team could get ahead. They all looked at Tetsu Nishino who was running the base easily with surprised and admiring eyes.

The lounge seats in the junior high school were silent, with everyone looking at each other.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Holding the catcher's mask, he looked helplessly at Tetsu Nishino, who ran back to home plate with his right hand raised, and he was secretly complaining in his heart.

Now the situation is bad.

Sure enough, when Okada Masaki looked at Itaguchi Toshiya on the pitcher's mound, he found that Itaguchi Toshiya's face had completely changed. The slightly pulled down hat brim trying to cover his eyes and the white lips showed that he

Inner peace of mind.

The first goal was bombed!

What pitcher can stand this!

The moment he was hit by the baseball, Toshiya Itaguchi even had the urge to escape from the pitcher's mound. It was so uncomfortable, as if all his previous efforts had been shattered.

Are previous efforts still meaningful?

"Pause!"

Catcher Masuki Okada quickly called a timeout and walked to the pitcher's mound to comfort his pitcher, otherwise he would not be able to play the rest of the game.

"Feel sorry!"

"Junzai, it was my ball matching problem! I was too careless and gave you a straight ball in the middle of the strike zone."

Hearing that Okada Masuki took the responsibility on himself, Itaguchi Toshiya gradually calmed down and thought about what the problem was just now.

"I really didn't expect Nishino Tetsu-senpai to be such a hitter." Catcher Okada Masaki also said with a wry smile.

According to his understanding, the first and second at-bats should belong to the lead hitter in the batting line and play the role of a scout. Generally, he will try to watch as many pitches as possible to provide pitcher pitching information for the three, four, and five at-bats behind him.

And try to get on base.

Moreover, it takes a certain number of pitches for a hitter to adapt to the path of the ball, even if it is a straight ball. This is why most catchers dare to match the straight ball in the ball zone on the first pitch.

That's why Masuki Okada decided to play a straight ball first to try to get some good shots.

Why doesn't Nishino Tetsu-senpai follow this tactic? Doesn't he have to adapt to the ball path?

"Forget it, don't think too much, just leave the distribution to me and deal with the subsequent hitters one by one." Okada Masaki could only comfort Itaguchi Toshiya in this way.

"Um."

His expression changed from tense to slightly relaxed.

Itaguchi Toshiya's mental endurance is not as bad as he thought.

...
To be continued...