The match between Waseda Industries and Hanasaki Tokuharu High School has completed six innings.

The score on the field remains 0:0—this outcome is beyond the expectations of many spectators.

After all, although Hanasaki Tokuharu has been strengthening year by year recently, they still lack some tradition and depth; facing such an opponent, the Senbatsu High School Baseball Tournament champions should naturally control the field and then smoothly win the game.

So, what's the reason for the match becoming like this—a simple answer could be the X factor, precisely the first-year starting catcher of Hanasaki Tokuharu High School, Wakatsuki Kensha.

Due to it being his debut appearance with no previous data available, Waseda's players, including Lin Guanglai, were completely unaware of this first-year catcher—everyone instinctively assumed that the manager of Hanasaki Tokuharu was giving a rookie a chance to train, not considering the possibility that this rookie might have secured the starting catcher position through sheer skill.

There are multiple reasons for the current stalemate in the game. Firstly, continuous games can indeed slightly diminish player status, leading to an overall mediocre batting performance today, rarely connecting the order as needed;

Another point is the suppression of Waseda's stealing tactics by Hanasaki Tokuharu—they have a strong-armed iron-walled catcher.

With the batting lineup struggling to connect, players on the bases need to boldly attempt to steal bases to advance into scoring zones, creating pressure on opponents and aiding teammates. However, the presence of the opposing catcher makes Waseda's players hesitant in their choices on the bases.

In the first six innings, Wakatsuki Kensha successfully stopped several base-stealing attempts at second base, greatly impacting Waseda's morale; repeated successful stops by the catcher also somewhat affected the players' confidence.

In this back-and-forth, there's been a reversal of momentum between the teams—Waseda rushed to break the deadlock but fell into the mire constructed by the opponent; conversely, Hanasaki Tokuharu was greatly inspired by consecutive successful stops, allowing batters to focus more on offensive rounds due to having a superbly defensive catcher.

As expected, after Waseda's unsuccessful offense in the top of the seventh inning, Hanasaki Tokuharu launched a streak of attacks in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a precious 1 point from the newly substituted Tanaka Justice—leading the attack wave for Hanasaki Tokuharu was the seventh batter, Wakatsuki Kensha:

Initially hitting a single from Tanaka Justice, he later personally scored a run to home plate with teammate assistance, making him the top contributor for Hanasaki Tokuharu this round.

In the bottom of the seventh, it was Waseda's turn to attack again.

Before entering the batting area this time, Lin Guanglai specifically waited for a moment in place. He squinted towards Wakatsuki Kensha behind home plate, then walked into the batting area expressionlessly.

Since the opponent had already set an example, naturally Lin Guanglai, as their opponent, must also make his response.

First, there is the response as a batter.

"Clang!"

At the start of the first pitch in the batting area, Lin Guanglai decisively chose to swing, hitting the ball towards third base in the opposite field, and successfully reached first base before Hanasaki Tokuharu could perform the putout.

In this match, Hanasaki Tokuharu, confident in their powerful catcher, didn't shy away from a direct confrontation with Lin Guanglai but instead adopted a pitching strategy to suppress long hits:

As long as they don't allow a home run or triple, with Wakatsuki Kensha's arm strength, they can ensure stable defense without losing points—Hanasaki Tokuharu is now full of momentum, entirely giving the stance of "if you dare steal a base, we will certainly stop you."

If it were an ordinary player, facing such a defensively strong catcher, they might indeed feel intimidated, leading to a mental imbalance and hesitation between aggressive and cautious plays, ultimately missing the timing;

But Lin Guanglai is different—as a recognized "offensive, defensive, and running" all-around player, at least in high school baseball, Lin Guanglai's threat goes far beyond the batting area; on bases, his height and long legs are fully utilized, making the opponent's defense troublesome.

Standing on first base, Lin Guanglai symbolically moved a few steps outward, pressuring the opponent from a relatively safe distance; then he gestured with his right hand on his left arm in several motions, sending a signal to Mitsuo Hagiyama preparing to bat at home plate—

This pitch, he plans to steal!

Focusing entirely on Sawafuji Kazuji on the pitcher's mound, the instant his front leg lifted, Lin Guanglai rapidly started, and like lightning, he dashed towards second base.

At home plate, Wakatsuki Kensha quickly rose after catching the ball, adding a step and a swing, hurling the baseball towards the position of second base—where Hanasaki Tokuharu's shortstop was already poised.

In a flash, dust flew, and Lin Guanglai slid swiftly on the ground, extending his foot to touch the base before the glove holding the white ball could touch his body.

The second base umpire raised both hands, indicating a successful steal.

After confirming he was still in contact with the base, Lin Guanglai slowly got up from the ground, dusted off the dirt on his body, and signaled "OK" towards his teammates near first base.

Upon confirming that Hanasaki Tokuharu's shortstop returned the baseball to the pitcher, putting the game in a dead ball state, Lin Guanglai again left second base, taking a few steps toward third base.

On the pitcher's mound, Sawafuji Kazuji had his back to him and didn't know what was happening, but through Wakatsuki Kensha's eyes, the bold act of seemingly going for third base was undoubtedly a provocation to the catcher—

Compared to stealing second base, stealing third base is faster due to its closer distance to home plate and because most catchers are right-handed; rarely do baserunners choose to steal third base against a top catcher; at most, they employ a hit-and-run tactic.

Unknowingly, Wakatsuki Kensha didn't realize his mind was somewhat unsettled.

Nodding towards Sawafuji Kazuji and his infield teammates, Wakatsuki Kensha indicated to relax their defense—if Lin Guanglai dared to steal, he had the confidence to get him out.

Suddenly, a breeze began to blow in Ichihara City's ballpark, intensifying the atmosphere.

The focal players were pitted against each other across most of the field, gradually heating up this match.

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