Chapter 189: Chapter 73: Complete Cycle Hit (Double-Length) (Part 3)
The count is 0 balls and 1 strike.
Receiving the ball returned from the catcher’s hand, Nagata Ryudou made a slight adjustment, then quickly threw the second pitch, which was way off the mark again, allowing Lin Guanglai to let it pass.
"Ball."
The count is 1 ball and 1 strike.
The third pitch was hit by Lin Guanglai and rolled foul, counted as another strike.
ball, 2 strikes.
The fourth pitch, facing an adverse situation of two strikes and the pitcher’s pressure, Lin Guanglai once again showcased his nerves of steel—Nagata Ryudou’s outside slider didn’t trick him into swinging, and it eventually slid out of the strike zone, marking it as a ball.
balls, 2 strikes.
The fifth pitch, thrown by Nagata Ryudou, was fouled off forcefully by Lin Guanglai again, keeping the count unchanged.
Still 2 balls, 2 strikes.
In these back-and-forth rounds, both sides demonstrated unparalleled determination, with the spectacular duel between the pitcher and the batter capturing the full attention of the audience, creating a massive soundstage within Koshien Stadium.
Supporters from both sides were cheering for their players:
Tokai University Sagami’s white and green formation continuously built momentum, hoping their ace pitcher could strike out Lin Guanglai, shattering the opponent’s perfect hit dream;
On Waseda Jitsugyo’s side, the Alps Stand, adorned in chestnut and white, erupted with a wave of chants, as thousands of people simultaneously uttered one word:
"Hit!"
Amidst the gaze of tens of thousands, the at-bat reached its climax:
On the pitcher’s mound, Nagata Ryudou took a deep breath, expelling all distractions from his mind, and focused entirely on delivering the decisive pitch.
In the batter’s box, Lin Guanglai also took a deep breath, accurately gauging the direction of the incoming ball, and swung the bat with full force.
"Crack!!!"
This pitch, thrown by Nagata Ryudou, was of very high quality—the ball rapidly sank just before reaching home plate, carrying with it an intense spin.
Faced with such a pitch, Lin Guanglai had to exert all his effort just to keep up with its path, and thus was unable to hit the ball deep.
The ball landed and then headed towards first and second base.
As soon as the ball was hit, Lin Guanglai threw down the bat and sprinted towards first base, while the entire infield defense of Tokai University Sagami mobilized, standing in position to ensure he was out at first base.
Sprinting at full speed, Lin Guanglai resembled a runaway truck, and at almost the exact moment he set foot on the first base bag, the ball flew into the glove of Tokai University’s first baseman, Morioka Shouhei.
"What’s the call on this one?" Seeing this, the commentator on the panel was the first to ask; next were the spectators at the scene; afterward, thousands of baseball fans at home glued their eyes to the screen, anxiously anticipating the first base umpire’s decision.
Several seconds later—
"Safe on base!!! Safe on base!!!"
"Lin Guanglai, he did it!!!"
"Spring Koshien, only the 2nd time in history, a complete hit, achieved!!!"
Under the midday sun in spring, amidst the cheers of over forty thousand spectators in Koshien Stadium, the boy on first base raised his hands high, shining brilliantly; around him were the Tokai University Sagami players, lowering their heads and sighing silently.
The noon sunlight poured down as if draping a golden cloak over the boy—"click," in the media area, professional photographers captured this moment with their cameras.
This match is destined to be the coronation ceremony for this young boy.