The crowds were brimming with excitement as it looked like the scores where finally going to change in the game.
Yokohama had come alive and now had bases filled with no outs.
"Looks like Seido's gonna have to give up some runs this inning." someone in the crowd said.
"Yeah, it would be too tough in this situation to get away unscathed." Another replied.
Then they suddenly heard an announcement.
*Seido High School has called for a switch in players. Switching out Tanba for the pitcher, Sawamura. Batting ninth, pitcher, Sawamura*
"Wait what? They're switching pitchers in this situation?"
"Sawamura? I haven't heard of him before."
"Wait! Is he a first year?"
"Has the coach given up on the game? Why would he call up a first year?"
***
In the crowd, with the other Seido players, Haruichi, Kanemaru and Tojo were sitting together.
When they heard the announcement, they were all shocked, as were the rest of the Seido cheer squad.
"Wait, Sawamura's coming up now? In this situation?" Kanemaru said with his eyes wide.
"There's no way I could handle that pressure!" Tojo replied.
"Eijun-kun is really going up now? Wow, I'm jealous!" Haruichi said with a slight smile.
***
In the dugout for Yokohama, the coach and the team were surprised by the change.
"Do they take us for idiots?" The coach asked himself. "They're bringing out a first year to the mound in this situation. GUYS! Show that rookie what high school baseball is about and crush his spirit."
"Yes, Coach!" The players of Yokohama replied with smirks.
***
I felt the pressure of the crowd and opposition as I jogged onto the field.
Everyone's eyes were on me at this moment.
But I didn't feel uncomfortable or nervous by this.
I felt calm and determined.
There was no way I was going to let coach demoted me to the second-string after my first game.
'Not a chance.' I thought as I got close the mound.
The whole infield of the team were on the mound at this point, looking at me as I approached.
Only Tanba had his head down.
As I got to the mound, I looked towards Tanba.
He was unmoving, like he didn't want to leave the game like this.
I walked up to him and spoke.
"Tanba-senpai, don't worry. I'll pay them back tenfold for you."
He looked towards me and saw my eyes were glowing radiantly and my face was calm.
'Ah, he looked the same during the scrimmage.' Tanba thought.
"Do you remember what you said to me at the start of the game, Tanba-senpai? Put your trust in us. We've got your back." I said to him with a smile, holding out my glove for the ball.
He sighed slightly and handed the ball over to me.
Before he left, he turned to me and spoke.
"Good luck, rookie. Don't disappoint the Coach's trust of putting you on the mound."
"Don't worry senpai. You just have a look at the Yokohama batter's faces after I strike them out. It'll give you a good laugh." I said with a grin.
He slightly chuckled and then started walking towards the dugout with his head lowered, obviously disappointed with his performance.
When Tanba left, I turned and looked at the rest of the players on the mound.
There was Miyuki, Yuki, Kominato, Kuramochi and Masuko.
They all had very serious expressions at this time, probably wondering why the coach would put me on the mound in this situation for my debut match.
"Did the coach say anything for you to tell us?" Miyuki asked.
"He didn't say anything. So, I will tell you about the promise I made to him to make him put me on the mound in this situation." I replied.
They all looked at me, waiting for the answer.
"Not a single run until the end of the match. I promised coach that we wouldn't give up a single run until the match finishes. Even in this inning." I said, looking at every one of them.
Silence.
They all looked at me like I was crazy for making such a promise.
"What? You're not confident we can do it? I think we can. I fully believe that we can get out of this unscathed. Don't worry, senpais, I won't let them have a chance at touching my pitches." I continued with a serious face after seeing their faces.
They all suddenly started having chills run down my spine when they heard my words.
"YAHA! You brat, what're you making promises like that for?" Kuramochi asked with a chuckle whilst walking away from the mound.
"Cocky first year." Kominto stated with a smirk, walking away.
"Sawamura-chan, I believe in you." Masuko said, turning himself.
"Sawamura, we've got your back. Throw without fear." Yuki said.
They left the mound and just left me and Miyuki there.
I turned to him and spoke.
"This is our first official battery debut, right? Let's show them the art of true pitching, Miyuki."
I then held up my glove to him.
"Let's go monster hunting, partner." I continued, looking at him with my glowing eyes.
"Haha, alright let's pay them back." Miyuki said with a chuckle, hitting my glove and jogging towards home plate.
I then turned towards the field, looking at all my teammates there.
I put both my arms up in the in a V-shape above my head, my finger on my left hand pointing upwards.
I then drew in a big breath.
"I'LL BE PITCHING AGGRESSIVELY, SO PLEASE BACK ME UP!!" I shouted out loudly with a big grin.
The whole crowd heard it and became silent.
"SHHHAAA!! SAWMURA, CRUSH THOSE BATTER'S SPIRITS!!" Isashiki shouted back from the outfield.
"Yaha, get them Sawamura!" Kuramochi said.
"One out at a time, rookie." Kominato said with a smirk.
I then closed my eyes and turned towards Homeplate.
I took a deep breath to completely calm myself down.
When I opened my eyes, they were filled with fire, glowing the brightest they had been today.
My face was completely calm, and body and shoulders felt light.
'Okay, I'm in a perfect condition.' I thought as I looked at Miyuki.
I then looked at the batter coming up to the plate.
He had a cocky smirk on his face.
'I'll wipe that smirk off your face, just you wait.' I thought.
He then stepped into the batter's box with confidence.
He then turned to Miyuki to speak.
"Looks like Seido has another tough year if you have to call up a first year in situation." He said with his cocky smirk still appearing on his face.
"Haha, go easy on us." Miyuki replied.
Miyuki then turned to Sawamura on the mound and saw his calm face with flaming eyes and grinned.
'Don't be surprised. From this day forward, you guys won't forget his name.' He thought as he called for the first pitch.
I then looked at Miyuki as he gave a sign for a high inside four-seam.
I nodded immediately and started my windup, planted my foot.
THUUD
And threw with everything I had.
WHOOOOOOOSH
BAANG
"Strike!" The umpire called.
The Yokohama batter's face was filled with confusion.
He hadn't even attempted to swing.
No, it was more like he couldn't, he wasn't ready for a pitch like that.
'W-What the hell was that?' He thought. 'That was really fast.'
"Nice pitching Sawamura!" Miyuki called, throwing the ball back.
I nodded and got into position.
Miyuki then called for a low and away four-seam.
I nodded and started my windup, planted my foot.
THUUD
And threw.
WHOOOOOOOSH
BAANG
"Strike two!"
The batter didn't swing again.
He was getting flustered.
'I'll start my swing faster in this next pitch.' He thought.
I then nodded at Miyuki's next call and threw.
Whoosh
The batter was shocked when he saw that the ball wasn't anywhere near him as he swung through.
Pah
"Strike, batter out!" The umpire called.
"YOSH!" I shouted.
"And that's a strike out for the rookie first year of Seido, Sawamura Eijun! What a beautiful change up to throw the batter's timing off. Maybe Coach Kataoka hasn't given up the game after all, as some people will have thought when he called up a first-year rookie for his debut in a very tough situation of bases loaded with no outs. Now, Seido have one out with bases loaded." The commentator said into his mic.
The batter's face was twisted with confusion and depression, he was played with entirely with that last pitch.
Tanba, who saw the batter's face, almost burst out laughing.
'He was telling the truth when he said to look at their faces. I nearly lost composure.' He thought.
The next batter for Yokohama came up to the plate.
When he asked the previous batter what the pitch was like, he just said he didn't know and left.
'What's with this guy's pitching to make Taichi not swing.' He thought as he stepped into the batter's box. 'Either way, I got a good look at his timing while I was on deck, I'll swing for his first fastball.'
I nodded at Miyuki's call and threw.
Whoosh
The batter had already committed and swung way before the pitch.
Pah
"Strike!"
'What? A change up on the first pitch? They got me!' The batter thought as he looked at Miyuki.
Miyuki just smiled in reply.
Miyuki then turned to me and called a low inside four-seam.
I nodded and threw
WHOOOOOOOSH
BAANG
"Strike two!"
The batter was shocked when he saw the fastball up close.
'Holy shit! That was fast! The ball just appeared.' He thought.
Miyuki then called for a high outside four-seam.
I nodded and threw.
WHOOOOOOOSH
BAANG
"Strike, batter out!"
The batter went down looking, he didn't even attempt to swing at the last pitch, it just appeared, and it was already too late to swing.
"YOSH!" I shouted again, pumping my fist.
"He finishes with an outside fastball! The sixth and seventh batters have struck out! Can This rookie help Seido come out unscathed in this inning, it's now up to the eighth batter of Yokohama to change that!" The commentator started shouting into his mic, even he was getting excited by the plays this kid was making.
I turned towards my teammates on the field.
"TWO OUTS!!" I shouted to them.
"SHAA! Keep it going Sawamura!" Kuramochi shouted back.
"YOU'VE GOT IT IN YOU, SAWAMURA!! CRUSH THEM ALL!!" Isashiki shouted.
"Let them hit!" Shirasu shouted from right field.
"Two outs!" Kominato shouted.
"One more Sawamura-chan!" Masuko said.
Yuki just nodded.
I then turned back to Miyuki as the batter got into the batter's box.
My face was completely calm, ready for Miyuki's next call.
He gave it, a high, inside four-seam.
I nodded and threw.
WHOOOOOOOSH
BAANG
"Strike!"
The batter didn't swing, trying to gauge the timing of the pitch.
'Okay, I didn't see his arm, but I think I've got the timing down. I've just got to make sure that it's not a change up before I swing.' He thought as he got ready for the next one.
Miyuki looked at him for a little before calling the next one.
I nodded and threw.
WHOOOOOOOSH
The batter saw that it was a fastball and started swinging.
Just as he was about to hit the ball…
SHUM
BANG
The ball dropped down with speed, completely missing the bat and landing in Miyuki's mitt.
Miyuki looked at the ball in his hand and shivered a little.
'I'm getting goosebumps. Every pitch has been perfect so far. How the hell is Sawamura doing this without getting nervous. He was dropped into his debut in the toughest situation a pitcher could be in, and he just nods at every call and executes them perfectly? This is crazy!' He thought, looking up to Sawamura, seeing his glowing eyes and calm face.
Miyuki got goosebumps again looking at him.
'This brat! I'm going to have to start putting on extra layers if he keeps making me get goosebumps all the time!' Miyuki thought with a wide grin on his face.
He then looked at the batter.
The batter still looked like he was ready to swing even after the splitter.
'Okay, let's go with a disappearing act.' Miyuki thought as he called for a cutter.
I nodded immediately at the call.
'Last pitch, make sure its's perfect.' I thought as I started my wind up.
I planted my foot.
THUUD
And threw.
WHOOOOSH
The batter looked at the ball coming at him with joy.
'This guy messed up, easy meatball, I'll be taking this!' He thought as he swung with all his strength.
SHHWWIIIP
'Huh? Where'd the bal-'
BANG
The batter turned his head in disbelief as he saw the ball in Miyuki's mitt.
The sound echoed around the stadium.
Everything was silent for a moment.
The crowd, the scouts for other teams, the commentator, the teams in each dugout, all of them had their mouths wide open.
"Strike! Batter out!" The umpire broke the silence.
"SHHHAAAAAAA!!!!" I roared as I jogged off the mound, pumping my fist.
The crowd responded with their own roar.
Every corner of the stadium was filled with loud shouts and cheers as they were marvelled by the display this rookie had shown them.
The seido cheer squad, especially, were going wild! Kanemaru, Tojo and Haruichi were jumping around pumping their fists with the rest of the team.
"Unbelievable! Absolutely stunning! The rookie pitcher form Seido has completely turned the tides of the inning and struck out the three batters of Yokohama, three up, three down! He didn't even let them touch his pitch once, all strikes! Perfect pitching out of the bullpen when his team needed it most! First-year southpaw, Sawamura Eijun!!!" The commentator shouted down his mic whilst standing from his seat.
He had lost composure from the excitement of the moment.
Around the stadium, everyone was looking at this unknown first year like he had just created a miracle.
The journalists who covered high school baseball were murmuring to one another.
"Hey, what was that guy's name again?" Someone asked.
"I think it was Sawamura?" Someone replied.
"Hopefully he can keep this up for the rest of the game. I can feel a juicy story brewing."
As I was jogging back to the dugout, I was suddenly struck on my backside and my head at the same time.
I turned to see that Kuramochi had just kicked me and Kominato had just chopped my head with his hand.
"Nice pitching, ya bastard!" Kuramochi said.
"Cocky but can back it up, nice pitching." Kominato said.
I grinned at both in reply.
I then turned to Miyuki who had to just walked up.
"Nice calls, partner. They didn't have a clue what was coming next, you played with their heads so much, haha!" I said to Miyuki while holding my glove.
He instantly smacked it and spoke.
"It wouldn't have worked as well if you hadn't pitched everything perfectly like that. Nice pitching!"
"We've got more to come yet!" I replied with a grin. "This game is just getting started."