Ace of Diamond: Return of the Pitcher

In the top of the ninth inning, with two Outs, the score was 4:1!

The Seidou High School baseball team, trailing by three runs, was just one Out away from losing the game.

At this point in the game, almost everyone believed that the Seidou High School baseball team's chances had run out, and there was no hope of a comeback.

Even though the recently substituted Sawamura had been unstoppable on the mound, blowing away the Texas team's players with ease, and had hit a home run when he came to bat, the large gap in the score was still undeniable.

Seidou's defeat seemed inevitable…

However, no one had expected that, due to a fortunate turn of events, the situation would suddenly change!

First, it was Kuramochi who reached base, and then, the pinch hitter, Kominato Haruichi, stepped up and showcased his impressive pinch-hitting abilities, sending Lincoln's pitch flying.

He successfully got a hit!

Naturally, Kominato Haruichi easily reached first base,

And Kuramochi, who had been on first, didn't stop running!!

He sped past second base and headed straight for third!

"THIRD BASE!!!!"

The Texas team's catcher, hoarse from excitement, yelled.

'If Kuramochi made it to third, the consequences would…'

The outfielder didn't need anyone to tell him as he was already throwing the ball to the third base!

It was then the situation turned into a race between the ball and Kuramochi.

And Kuramochi was already at his top speed, charging toward the third base like a streak of lightning!

Before the ball reached third, Kuramochi, like a hunting cheetah, dove for the base.

"SAFE!!!!"

With two Outs, Seidou now had runners on first and third!

Even though the situation had changed, it wasn't necessarily an advantageous one for the offense. While there were runners on first and third, with two Outs, the pitcher didn't need to worry too much about them.

As long as he could retire the batter, everything else would be fine.

But the situation had dramatically shifted from two Outs with no one on base. Now, with two Outs, Seidou's players were steadily reaching base, and the Texas team's position was looking increasingly precarious.

The most crucial factor was that the next batter for Seidou High School was Eijun Sawamura, who had hit a home run before.

If there was one player on Seidou's team that made the Texas battery duo nervous, it was undoubtedly Sawamura.

Up until this point, Lincoln and his partner had yet to figure out Sawamura's true capabilities. They still didn't understand how Sawamura managed to hit that previous ball, the one from their last encounter.

At this moment, facing Sawamura in the Batter's Box, they had little confidence.

They exchanged a glance, and both their eyes reflected an unspoken unease.

With two Outs and runners on first and third…

Considering that the current batter was Sawamura, someone they couldn't easily figure out, and the next batter was Yuuki Masashi, who, despite his fiery spirit, was much more predictable, it made sense for them to intentionally Walk Sawamura.

After all, compared to Sawamura, Yuuki would be much easier to deal with.

Lincoln glanced towards the stands.

Coach Abel was sitting there, watching the game.

'As the Coach of a professional team, what was Coach Abel hoping to see?'

'Was it his team fighting fearlessly against the opponent, or was he hoping for a more rational approach to the game?'

The answer was obvious, but Lincoln didn't want to accept it.

For professional baseball players, it was important to assess the situation.

In terms of probabilities, intentionally Walking Sawamura and facing Yuuki Masashi for the last out was by far the most successful option.

Coaches in professional baseball focused on one thing: winning, and achieving the ultimate championship. They eliminated any factors of uncertainty.

No team would do whatever it took just to entertain the crowd or to let the players enjoy themselves.

At least, the Chicago White Sox weren't that kind of team.

No matter the season, the White Sox always aimed for the championship.

Sure, there were times when things didn't go their way, but their ambition never wavered.

If Lincoln wanted to please Abel and win this game, his choices were limited. In fact, there was really only one option.

Walking Sawamura was the best choice.

After a brief hesitation, Lincoln reluctantly accepted reality.

He took a deep breath, set up, and pitched to Sawamura.

As Sawamura stood in the Batter's Box, he watched the ball approach his head, and a flicker of surprise flashed across his eyes.

He and Lincoln hadn't been close before his regression, and they didn't know each other too well. But even so, they had spent over ten years, both as teammates and opponents, learning each other's style.

Sawamura had some understanding of Lincoln.

Although Lincoln's pitching style was gentle, his personality was far from it. He was a man with a fiery spirit.

Logically, someone like Lincoln should have fought back in the face of such adversity, standing tall and going all in.

'There was no way he would back down.'

'Was there some kind of scheme here?'

This was the first thought in Sawamura's mind, but he quickly dismissed it.

Lincoln's condition on the mound wasn't good. He was panting heavily, and his rhythm was completely thrown off.

Sawamura could tell, even just from standing in the Batter's Box, that Lincoln was drenched in sweat.

It was clear: he was exhausted.

In this state, how could he have any tricks or schemes? It would be like asking for his own fall.

Sawamura stepped back a little to avoid the ball feeling regretful inside.

But what could he do? If the opponent wasn't going to face him head-on, all hope for victory now lay with Yuuki Masashi.

To be honest, Sawamura didn't have much confidence in his younger teammate.

But this was reality.

There were no reliable pinch-hitters left in the Seidou dugout.

After Sawamura was Walked, Seidou's chances of winning this game were all but lost.

Watching the situation unfold, Sawamura couldn't help but feel a deep sense of helplessness.

But what could he do?

After all, baseball wasn't a game that could be played by just one player.

Not even by someone like Sawamura.

And this wasn't just any game—Seidou was already trailing by four runs when Sawamura first stepped onto the field.

Now, they were just one out away from being eliminated, trailing by three runs.

From every angle, Seidou's defeat seemed inevitable.

"That's impressive!"

At that moment, Sawamura flashed a small smile towards Lincoln on the mound.

Sawamura swore that this smile was 100% sincere.

After all, this was the first time he had been forced into such a position.

Sawamura never had felt this helpless before.

He didn't know what to do next, and it felt like no matter what, the outcome was already sealed.

This deep sense of helplessness made Sawamura raise his thumb in a gesture of respect to his opponent.

It wasn't a big deal to acknowledge his opponent when they played well—this was simply a sign of appreciation.

However, Lincoln saw the smile and misinterpreted it.

"Is he looking down on me?"

The smile on Sawamura's face made Lincoln feel uncomfortable. It didn't seem like admiration at all, but rather mockery.

It seemed as if Sawamura was mocking him, taunting him for lacking the courage to face him directly.

Originally, Lincoln had been mindful of Coach Abel in the stands, but after seeing Sawamura's smile, his mind went blank.

Being openly mocked by his opponent, Lincoln couldn't let it slide. He had to show his pride.

"You little…!"

'It was just a lucky home run earlier. Did you really think he was some kind of hitting prodigy?'

Lincoln's gaze sharpened, and his breathing, despite his exhaustion, steadied.

He looked at Sawamura like a foe in front of him, ready to strike.

He threw the ball, his actions impulsive, showing no restraint.

But this was the nature of youth.

A young man, a hot-blooded Cowboy from Texas, couldn't simply let someone disrespect him like that.

If Sawamura's actions were meant to provoke, it was clear they had worked.

Without hesitation, Lincoln wound up and threw the ball directly into the strike zone.

Whroosh!

Sawamura, who hadn't been planning to swing, was momentarily stunned as the ball came at him.

'Why was it suddenly a pitch he could hit?'

He was genuinely curious.

Based on his previous assumption, Lincoln and the catcher should have already decided to Walk him.

If that was the plan, why throw him a hittable fastball now?

'Had he changed his mind?'

Before Sawamura could fully process his thoughts, the baseball had already flown over the plate, perfectly into the catcher's Mitt.

Snap!

"STRIKE!"

At this moment, Lincoln, despite looking physically exhausted and drenched in sweat, still exuded an imposing presence from the mound.

His momentum stunned the entire crowd.

Many who had previously figured out his plan were now even more surprised.

How could he possibly throw a strike at a time like this?

The meaning behind this act was loaded with significance.

"Idiot! This fool!!!"

The Texas team's Coach in the dugout was furious.

He wasn't unfamiliar with his prized player's temperament.

He knew that asking Lincoln to Walk someone was extremely difficult.

The better the pitcher, the harder it was to intentionally Walk someone.

Excellent pitchers are confident in their abilities. They believe that they can defeat anyone, regardless of who it is.

Such confidence is crucial.

Once pitchers gain this confidence, they can push beyond their limits and perform at their best, no matter the opponent.

This is the power of confidence!

However, if Lincoln lost in this direct confrontation with Sawamura, the consequences would be dire.

A lack of ability to suppress Sawamura wouldn't be fatal.

But if Lincoln lacked the ability to suppress Sawamura and still overestimated himself, that would be a different story.

At that moment, the Texas Coach's heart was in his throat.

He watched the duel on the field intently, praying to God that his Ace would succeed.

Sawamura in the Batter's Box who, realizing that Lincoln wasn't going to Walk him but was instead ready to face him directly, brightened.

'So he had the guts!'

To return the favor, Sawamura decided to go all out.

He raised his bat high and focused entirely on Lincoln.

'Here it comes!'

When he focused on the baseball coming toward him from a distance, the direction of the ball, the spin it carried, all of this became clear.

'A Curveball!'

On the second pitch of this face-off, Lincoln brought out his signature move.

Though American pitchers generally rely on fastballs as their primary weapon, with breaking balls like Curveballs as secondary tools, most pitchers use fastballs as their decisive pitch.

But Lincoln was different.

Although, like most American pitchers, he didn't possess a wide array of complex breaking balls, it didn't mean his curveball wasn't sharp.

He had honed this curveball to an exceptional degree.

Now, when he used it, it truly packed a punch.

Unfortunately for him, his opponent was Sawamura.

Sawamura had faced this ball countless times before his regression.

It had already taken root in his mind.

When the baseball came flying toward him, he took a step forward.

Shuuuuuuuuuuu!!!

Then, he swung his bat with all his might, sending the ball flying.

PAAAAKKK!!!!

The bat connected perfectly with the ball's sweet spot, and with tremendous force, it flew off.

Whrroosh!

The baseball soared faster than it had come.

By the time it was out of sight, it had already disappeared over the outfield fence.

"OooooOHHHHH!!!"

"WAAAHHHHH!!!"

"YEAAAHHH!!!!"

"IT FLEW AWAY!"

"IT'S GONE!!!"

The first to react were the teammates of the Seidou High School baseball team.

Although it was a home run, this one was completely different from the last.

The previous home run Sawamura hit had no runners on base.

But this time, Seidou had two runners on base.

This meant that Sawamura's home run wasn't just one point, but three!

In the blink of an eye, Seidou High had closed the gap with the Texas team.

…