Chapter 8
After our win against Akikawa, we quickly cleared the bullpen and cleaned it up for the next team. We had made it to the best 8.
As we were leaving, Ichidai San High's team arrived and their coach greeted Kataoka.
"Congratulations on making it to the best 8!!"
Kataoka replied with a simple nod. Despite our win, the atmosphere was intense. Our entire team was focused on our next opponents. There was no time for celebrations.
We soon left the stadium to get refreshed. There was no way anyone was going to miss the next match.
[We're about to begin the 3rd match. Ichidai San vs Yakushi. Please, begin your warm up.]
We took our seats in the bleachers as the teams were warming up.
"Take a good look at Ichidai's line up!" Miyuki exclaimed.
"They're different from Akikawa's line up who only relied upon You."
I looked at Miyuki and asked, "What about their opponent?"
Chris, who was standing behind us silently like a vampire, began saying, "A team strongly focused on offense. It hasn't bunted even once yet. They won the first game as a called game. Last year in speing their coach changed and they built up in strength. Their scoring abilities aren't to be looked down on, but, in overall strength, Ichidai is better after all..."
Surprisingly, the team's clean up crew was changed entirely to firt years. The number fourth batter, Todoroki, was in fact the son of the coach.
As the match was about to begin, I quickly decided to go over the progress I had made.
[Congratulations on having 25 strike outs in official matches.
Rewards:
Pitcher talent: Pin Point
Hit blockade talent has leveled up.
Batter talent: Slugger power
Road runner talent has leveled up.
[STR: 395 (475)
INT: 360 (440)
MNT: 415 (495)
DEX: 380 (460)
Pitcher stats-
SPD: 312 (432)
H DOWN: 312 (432) ---> (462)
XBH DOWN: 213 (462)
HR DOWN: 715 (805)
CTRL: 300 (480)
STM: 323
Pitcher lvl: B5
Pitch type:
Four-seam: A1 ---> A2
Cutter: B5
Two-seam: B5
Curve: B4 ---> B5
Forkball: C4
SFF (Split finger fast) ball: C4
Change-up: F4
Choice skills:
Super left arm: lvl 3 - Increased SPD and CTRL by 120.
Pitcher's resolve: lvl 3 - Learn what it takes to be a pitcher - Increases all stats by 80.
Double step: lvl 3 pitching style - Increases H DOWN by 90.
Talents:
Hit Blockade: Skillfully prevent a hit -
(lvl 1-->lvl 2) Increases H DOWN by (30-->60).
Speed Control: Being able to rest well is also a skill - lvl 2 - Increases stamina recovery after each inning.
Heavy ball: Enhances ball movement and power - lvl 2 - Increases XBH DOWN by 60.
Monstrous Pitch: Throws a freakishly powerful ball - lvl 3 - Increases HR DOWN by 90.
Bold: Gains courage to overcome pressure - lvl 2 - Increases SPD by 70 at first pitch.
Alert - lvl 4 - Greatly increases pick off rate.
Steel arm: Efficient pitching is the key to victory - lvl 3 - Reduces STM use during each pitch.
Accuracy control: Accurately throws the ball to any part of the strike zone - lvl 2 - Increase CTRL by 60.
*Pin Point: Improves Four-seam fastball proficiency - lvl 1 - Increases CTRL when throwing a Four-seam]
[Batter stats
H UP: 300
HR UP: 323
MOV SPD: 225 (273) ---> (321)
CATCH: 239
XBH UP: 305 (395)
BAT CTRL: 312 (402)
THROW: 286
Choice skills:
Full swing: Batter stance - lvl 3 - Increases XBH UP by 90
Talents:
Tenacity: Don't let any situation bother you - lvl 3 - Increases BAT CTRL by 90
Four-seam hunter: Gains confidence facing certain pitches - lvl 3 - Increases H UP by 60 when opposing pither throws a four-seam.
Target sighted: Stays focused when at bat - lvl 2 - Increases HR UP by 35 against the first pitch.
Provoke: A psychological warfare begins! - lvl 2 - Provokes the opposing pitcher to moderately loose stamina.
Roadrunner: Get some swift moves -
(lvl 1-->lvl 2) Increases MOV SPD by (48-->96).
*Slugger Power: Carrying good momentum is crucial - lvl 1 - Increases HR UP by 15 if you hit a home run in the previous at-bat]
'That's... very good progress. Once my curveball goes to higer tier, it'll be faster and move with a greater radius. I can barely wait for it.'
By the time I was done reviewing, the match had begun with Ichidai batting first.
It was top of the very first inning and things were not looking good for Yakushi. The third baseman, Todoroki Raichi, who was also the clean up, was a terrible fielder.
Yakushi barely managed to stop Ichidai at 6 runs.
"Bet the game will be called." Someone from the third years said.
But...
*CLANG*
[It's a home-run!!! What a monstrous swing by Todoroki Raichi!!!]
Manaka, Ichidai's ace, a pitcher admired by Tanba and many others, was decimated by Todoroki's hit.
Yakushi truly was an offense oriented team. Against the 6 runs scored by Ichidai, Yakushi scored 4 in the bottom of the first inning.
By the top of the sixth inning, Ichidai had scored 11 runs while Yakushi was chasing closely having scored 8 runs. Manaka had already been switched to the outfield with Ichidai's relief pitcher, Misaki.
Bottom of the seventh inning, the score was 12/9. Manaka had returned to the mound and was ready to go all out against the turbulant but effective offense of Yakushi.
And then disaster struck.
Todoroki swung hard against one of Manaka's pitches and sent it directly towards the pitcher who bravely stopped it with his bare shoulder.
That was it for Ichidai.
They lost to Yakishi with a score of 12/13.
One thing was certain.
I was going to have fun pitching against Yakushi.
(RE:PLAYBALL!)
A/N: Terribly sorry about no updates. Med school is no joke and when there are so many patients around and so many cases to study, you tend to be very busy.