Switching offense and defense.
Hikigaya squatted in the catcher's area, observing the scene before him.
The entire baseball field was visible at a glance.
After this period of training.
In Hikigaya's understanding.
A catcher needs not only an understanding of baseball and strength.
The most important things are the command ability to oversee the overall situation, the ability to read the opponent's psychology, and the ability to take care of team members.
The first batter is indeed Hirata Yosuke.
Class C was thinking the same thing as them.
By having the fast-footed Hirata Yosuke serve as the first batter, he can apply a lot of pressure after getting on base.
As the school's "stat king."
All his abilities are at a high level, so his performance should be very stable.
Deeply trusted by everyone.
Given Hirata's personality, he likely also has the idea of not failing everyone's trust.
In that case.
Let's test him first.
Although he can't compare to Sudo, Sumida's ability is fine; he belongs to the type that is good at breaking balls.
It's just that his state of mind is relatively weak.
He doesn't like taking responsibility and is easily influenced by the surrounding environment.
It's probably better to be a bit more stable first.
Hikigaya made a hand signal.
One of the pitch types Sumida is good at.
Right down the middle.
A two-seam fastball, which is a sinker.
It will be slightly slower than a four-seam, and it will move toward the inside corner when entering the zone.
Sumida nodded, raised his left leg high, and his flexible arm swung like a whip.
Just at this moment.
A gust of wind swept past his face; Hirata swung abruptly, and the ball entered Hikigaya's glove a second later.
"Strike!"
128 KM.
Hikigaya glanced at the panel and threw the ball back to Sumida.
Although it can't compare to Sudo's nearly 150 KM pitch speed, Sumida's condition today is perfect.
No problem.
However, Hirata did swing.
As expected, it's because he's used to watching Sudo's high-speed balls, so he can see them clearly.
However.
Unfortunately, Sumida's ball is not as fast as Sudo's.
Based on this logic, Hikigaya began to call the pitches.
A curveball right down the middle.
"Strike!"
This time.
Hirata couldn't even manage a swing.
Did he mistakenly think it was a ball?
"Sorry."
Hikigaya threw the ball back, and at the same time probed softly: "Our ace doesn't have as much ability as Sudo."
"How is that possible? A curveball with this much curve, it's the first time I've seen one."
Hirata's expression was slightly solemn as he took a deep breath and set his stance again.
Even if he doesn't like it in his heart, he will still respond properly.
The first time...
Hikigaya's gaze was deep as he squatted on the ground.
Two strikes.
Should I do a waste pitch to test Hirata's ability?
No.
His side just went three up, three down.
Although Shibata and the others didn't show anything, the people in Ando Sayo's study group were clearly a bit worried; it's better to do his best to boost morale.
Inside corner.
Four-seam fastball.
Thump.
A white light flashed past; Hirata leaned his body back and couldn't even manage a swing.
"Strike!"
"Great, keep it up, Sumida-kun!"
Struck out.
Although the styles are different, Sumida can also do it.
A slight arc couldn't help but rise on the corners of Hikigaya's mouth.
It can work.
Class C's second batter, Miyake Akito.
Other than the last time, the two of them hadn't had any more contact.
Miyake Akito seemed to have become much steadier than before; his stern face gave off a feeling of fortitude.
He was struck out without even swinging the bat.
It just gave Hikigaya the feeling that he was observing.
Third batter, Sudo Ken.
The one waiting as the fourth batter was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
It actually made Hikigaya a bit surprised; he originally thought Sudo would be the ace, but unexpectedly Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was serving as the fourth batter.
Was it because Ayanokouji showed his ability during training?
Is he prepared to display his strength?
Regardless of whether this judgment is correct or not, in any case, he absolutely cannot let Sudo get on base here.
Inside corner fastball.
Sudo swings.
Middle cutter.
Sudo swings.
Middle four-corner fastball.
Sudo swings.
"Foul..."
After two strikes, the foul ball count remains unchanged.
What concerned Hikigaya was that this guy seemed very aggressive in swinging; it felt like he would swing at anything.
Let's test it.
Hikigaya's gaze was deep as his glove moved close to Sudo.
Inside ball.
Only the area above home plate, between the batter's shoulders and knees, counts as the strike zone; anywhere outside that is a ball.
But if the batter swings, it is uniformly recorded as a strike.
However.
Sumida shook his head somewhat hesitantly.
If there's a control error, it would easily hit Sudo's body, so he was unwilling to throw it.
Hikigaya frowned.
There was no point in arguing with Sumida here; it was just a simple test.
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya still changed his mind and chose the outside corner, a barely-there ball zone.
Fastball.
Seeing this, Sumida then nodded in agreement, raised his left leg high, and threw the baseball.
With a swish sound.
Sudo swung abruptly.
"Strike, batter out! Switching sides!"
Mashima-sensei waved his fist and announced the end of this inning.
"Dammit."
Sudo walked off the stage with a look of displeasure.
Watching this scene, the corners of Hikigaya's mouth rose slightly.
Although it was still hard to be certain, he had a guess in his heart.
Second inning.
Hikigaya stood in the batter's box.
At this time, there was 1 out and one person on base.
It was precisely Ichinose Honami, who had used her right to advance directly to base; Sumida, the fourth batter, was also struck out.
It couldn't be helped.
Sudo threw a 151 KM super-fast ball.
As expected, it was still too fast.
Even as a veteran, Sumida found it difficult to deal with in the first inning.
Looking at Sudo on the pitcher's mound, Hikigaya took a deep breath.
Anyway.
Let's first try that 150 KM fastball and see.
Sudo was seen raising his left leg high, hiding the ball behind his glove.
With a clap sound.
A crisp sound rang out from behind him.
"Hmm?"
Hikigaya turned back with a face full of amazement, only to see that the ball had already steadily entered Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's glove.
So that's how it is.
This is the 150 KM super-fastball?
When watching from outside the field, it only felt fast, but he just discovered it's simply impossible to react to.
This guy is practically cheating.
Is this a speed a human can hit?
He only saw a bit of white light; he didn't even see a shadow.
How can you even play this?
But.
To win the game.
Sudo's high-speed ball must first be overcome.
The batting abilities of Moriyama Takuya and Watanabe Norihito behind him are both better than his.
The original plan was for him to use a sacrifice bunt, and then Moriyama and the others behind him would continue the offensive.
Therefore.
During this period of time.
Hikigaya had also only practiced bunting and hadn't practiced hitting at all.
But given the current situation.
Even with a bunt, given Ichinose's speed, whether she can run to second base... it's probably not possible.
Even Sumida can't manage right now; Moriyama and the others behind him are also unlikely to deal with Sudo's high-speed ball.
Thinking carefully about whether there are loopholes in this batting lineup.
It couldn't be helped.
There aren't many people who are good at baseball.
Some omissions are inevitable.
After a moment of hesitation.
Hikigaya still decided to use it!
At least he must give Sudo some pressure; being struck out like this all the time is truly a bit of a blow to morale.