Chapter 178: Chapter 67: Half Ice, Half Flame
During this at-bat, Lin Guanglai’s swing was smooth and expansive, exuding a powerful and bold aesthetic of violent beauty; the bat precisely struck the lower middle of the baseball, releasing all the strength contained in his body under the guidance of his arms.
As the baseball was fiercely hit by Lin Guanglai, making a crisp and resonant sound, nearly forty thousand spectators, including players from both teams, already had an expectation in their hearts— for many seasoned baseball fans, the sound of the bat striking the ball is a good enough indicator of the quality of the hit.
But even as their gaze followed the baseball landing in the stands, the excitement in their hearts still erupted wildly:
The ball that flew into the stands was like a stone plummeting into a calm lake, immediately sparking a frenzy among fans vying for it;
Other spectators incessantly waved their cheering props, and even without instruments, the noise they created was considerable, like thunderclouds enveloping the entire stadium;
Others even rallied unfamiliar strangers around them to play the wave across the stands; faces in the camera lenses were filled with joy and hope.
Is this not what the essence of baseball means— in this dreamland of Koshien, high school players bring youth, passion, dreams, and emotion to those fans, and the original intention of this event is to be a magnificent festival for all baseball enthusiasts.
Especially in the backdrop of the earthquake disaster, such a scene is endowed with greater meaning: a spirited youngster, facing a string of intentional walks from the opponent, like a golden lightning bolt, shattered all barriers with a single strike— this scene is undoubtedly very inspiring, capable of bringing hope to many people.
As Lin Guanglai rounded the bases and returned to home plate, the scoreboard changed once more:
With this grand slam, Waseda Jitsugyo added another 4 points this inning— the score has now widened to a terrifying gap of 10-0.
At this point, even the most steadfast supporters of Nihon University Third High would find it hard to say "we still have hope" or "stay calm, we can win"...
After Lin Guanglai cleared the bases, Nihon University’s defense players "finally" managed to get the 2 crucial outs they needed, mercifully ending this half-inning of torment; but realizing that barely 4 innings have been played so far, the players felt a bit dizzy.
The players of Nihon University Third High felt numb, some of them longing for the "early termination rule" to apply to Koshien matches so they only need to symbolically play one more inning to conclude this torment.
As the Shengong champions, Nihon University Third High’s players arrived at Koshien full of dreams for the future: since last year, they have aimed for victories in both the Senbatsu and Summer甲, and have put in unimaginable effort;
And upon knowing they would face Waseda Jitsugyo in the semifinals, the players of Nihon University did not underestimate their opponents out of pride from previous victories, rather, under the guidance of Ogura Quanyou, they prepared many targeted tactics and went all out in the match.
But just glancing up at the glaring "10:0" score in the outfield, the Nihon University players felt lost:
We prepared thoroughly, we were not complacent, then why has it come to this?
Under such emotions, the entire dugout of Nihon University Third High fell into silence, a dead silence:
Yoshinaga Kentarou, who was full of spirit before the match, now had a towel over his head, making it hard to see his expression, only his slight trembling body betrayed his feelings;
Takayama Shun, recognized as one of the strongest hitters in this tournament, also lowered his head, holding his forehead, lost in thought.
Silence, nothing but silence, the dugout of Nihon University Third High felt like it had gone through an ice age, devoid of any vitality.
Breaking this silence was the cleanup hitter and third baseman, Hirao Toshitaka. As one of the "three pillars" in Nihon University’s lineup, his strength is unquestionable, he holds a prestigious status and voice in the team— but compared to the lively Takayama Shun and Sho Hango, Hirao is more reserved, preferring to quietly support the team with his actions.
Yet seeing his teammates in such a state, even the usually reticent Hirao could not help but step up to lift everyone’s spirits— no matter the outcome, the game must continue, with five full innings left to play.
In Hirao’s view, it’s fine if they lose this match, but they must not lose without any fight— at least, at the very least, they should show a level worthy of being the Shengong champions, right?
"Everyone, can we rally? I know this game is tough for us, but are we really willing to leave Koshien in such a shameful manner?"
"At the very least, let’s score one run off Lin Guanglai, okay?"
After these words, almost a plea, Hirao did not say much more, silently picking up his bat and heading to the on-deck circle, leaving his teammates with just his back.
The fact proved Hirao’s words did have an effect because, later in the game, Nihon University did manage to score one run off Lin Guanglai—
That happened in the bottom of the seventh inning, where Nihon University finally launched a rare continuous offensive, utilizing small ball tactics to advance their batter to third base; then, Hirao fulfilled his role as the ace batter, seizing the chance of Lin Guanglai’s momentary lapse to knock in an RBI hit.
This was the only run Nihon University scored off Lin Guanglai throughout the entire game.
After this half-inning concluded, the outcome was basically set— the biggest favorite of Senbatsu, Japan University Third High School, will be defeated in the semifinals by their local rival Waseda Jitsugyo.
Around this time, Izumi Minoru also began to make substitutions:
Including Lin Guanglai, many of the starting players were taken out, stepping off the field amidst enthusiastic applause from the audience and their own supporters; taking their place were many third-year players with average skills, rarely making the starting lineup.
Izumi Minoru’s action also demonstrated the team’s care: for these substitute players who mostly get on the field as pinch runners or hitters, being able to make their debut on the stage of a Koshien semifinal is something worth cherishing for a lifetime.
Even though Lin Guanglai had been taken out, the cameras in Koshien Stadium frequently cut to his face, and many sports journalists from news media gathered at the stands near him, constantly capturing his image.
In the lens, Lin Guanglai appeared relaxed, chatting and laughing with his teammates;
As the game commentary said: "Waseda Jitsugyo, they are ready to embrace their second Senbatsu final in school history!"