Chapter 43: The Secret Code

"Strike, strike, strike, strikeout!"

With Oda Benson being struck out, the match between Akagi Middle School and Nagano Metropolitan Middle School entered the final stage.

By the seventh inning, the situation on both sides was almost identical. Both were one point and two hits.

In the seventh inning, it was also the third pole!

Half a catty eight taels, evenly matched.

These two words probably best reflect the strength and performance of both sides.

In the first half of the seventh inning, Nagano Metropolitan Middle School attacked.

Before the batters came on the field, Fengxiang Longyi gave everyone a final boost.

"The game is now, for us, it is not the ideal situation. But overall, it can be considered to drag Akagi into our rhythm. Although the loss of points at the beginning is surprising, it is fortunate that we also chased after. Come back. It’s still a tie, so let’s play according to the plan we negotiated before the game.”

"Yes!"

"Third stick, pitcher, classmate Mari."

At the beginning of the first half of the seventh inning, Sawamura ushered in Mari.

At this time, Sawamura was a little embarrassed. To be honest, I really can't blame Nagano Metropolitan, I can only blame Sawamura himself for not being free from the habits of his previous life.

Pitchers and catchers generally follow two rules. The first is to play the role of communication between the pitcher and the catcher, so the signal must be clear. Of course, no matter how clear the secret code is, it is not as good as communicating directly with the mouth.

But in a real game, direct communication is definitely not acceptable. Once the batter knows your ball path and defensive tactics, it's easy to target. So the password must comply with the second criterion, which is secrecy.

Ten years later, with the advancement of technology. In the major leagues, there are so many high-definition cameras and computers. Deciphering the code of the shooting partner has become very simple. Once the code is detected, the team playing at home has some way to notify the batter on the field.

Strictly speaking, this practice is definitely illegal. But as long as there is no evidence, who can know? Who will care?

Sawamura has been in the big league for so long, and naturally he has seen these things.

His ball path had been continuously guessed before. Sawamura's first thought was what little habit he had in pitching, which was undoubtedly the most likely situation. However, Sawamura's pitching posture in his previous life was adjusted by countless famous players, and it is impossible to have a small habit that can be seen with the naked eye. After comparing the computer and the high-definition camera, even if Sawamura's little habit was discovered, it was too late to notify the batter on the field. Therefore, Sawamura ruled out this possibility without hesitation.

The possibility of small habits is ruled out, and all that is left is the secret code. Sawamura subconsciously thought that his own code had been seen through, which is why this situation occurred.

Passwords, in order to keep secrets, generally have two types in the process of communication. One is the gesture password. For example, the catcher keeps playing numbers, two fingers, one finger, and then expresses different ball paths and defensive formations according to the sequence.

The catcher gives the pitcher a code, because the hitter is hard to see, so it is good to use a number code, but the pitcher gives the catcher a code back. If he uses the gesture password, he will be stared at by the beater, which is naturally not acceptable! You also don't know whether the other party can guess the meaning of your password. Therefore, the pitcher usually only nods or shakes his head in response to the batter, indicating whether he agrees or disagrees.

Of course, this is only in the catcher-based ball allocation, and in the pitcher-based ball allocation, the pitcher can't fully express himself by simply nodding and shaking his head. If you want to fully express your meaning, you also need other actions to assist. And these actions are generally hidden in the pitcher's small actions, such as touching the hat, slapping the arm, juggling the ball, shouting slogans, blinking and so on.

Of course, the pitcher is not sure whether he made small movements unconsciously, and whether it will affect the catcher's catch because of such small movements. So opening the secret code requires a specific key,

For example, if a pitcher shakes his head twice in a row, and sets this as a key, it means that the next little action is no longer an unconscious little action, but a specific code...

This is the case with Sawamura and Fengxiang. Although Fengxiang's strength as a catcher is good, he is incomparable with Sawamura, a reborn pitcher in the big league. Therefore, it is Sawamura who really takes the lead in distributing the ball among the two. Ordinary opponents, opponents who can be suppressed by straight balls and ball power, Sawamura will listen to Fengxiang's greetings. Once confronted with a difficult opponent, Sawamura will activate their specific key and play a secret code.

Just like in this game, against Mari and Tuhara, Sawamura is the main player.

Sawamura and the others did not deliberately conceal this matter, and naturally they were not afraid of anyone knowing.

Unexpectedly, it was this little habit that gave Akagi a fatal blow.

The first and second clubs of Nagano Metropolitan High School were naturally not the opponents that Sawamura needed to match with the ball. These opponents were handed over to Fengxiang Ouichi. And Fengxiang Aoyi's ball-matching habit was obviously seen through by his father.

For the first ball of the same person, if the previous round was an outside corner, then the first ball of the next round, Feng Xiangao, 180% will be an inside corner.

Feng Xiang Long Yi used this small rule to direct his disciples to swing the bat. For the words of their own coaches, the batter naturally regards them as good words and believes them.

That's why they threw Sawamura's ball and hit it out in a row.

After his own pitches were hit consecutively, Sawamura subconsciously thought that Fengxiang's pitch was seen through, and then the third was Mari. He took the right to match the ball as a matter of course and stopped it in his own hands.

Facing Sawamura's continuous changing balls, Mari did not swing at all. Even when he was about to strike out, he would rather use bunts than fight Sawamura.

From Sawamura's standpoint, this naturally confirms the possibility of them seeing through their own balls. But he knew that Fengxiang Longyi just saw that every time he throws a change ball, there are too many small movements.

As for seeing through Sawamura's password, let's not talk about it. This is the middle school softball league, not the major leagues, and there is no comparison at all. It's just that Sawamura has been in the big league for too long in his previous life, and his thinking has not changed.

Sawamura's current feeling is very similar to the shame and anger that was crushed by a three-year-old child's tricks.

So when he was fighting against Mari, he was very enthusiastic.

He didn't even use the change ball, he just bullied people with a staggered path from inside and outside corners.

"nice shot!"

"Ping!"

"The outside world!"

Two consecutive goals, especially the second one, felt the power of Sawamura's throw, and Mari's face became ugly. He had a very bad premonition faintly. He felt that they had accidentally released a wild beast.

In fact, almost.

Originally, Sawamura's pitching was very rational, the distribution of physical strength, whether the team could keep up...

In short, he has a lot to think about.

But now, Sawamura suddenly understood. His opponents are a group of thirteen- or fourteen-year-old kids who haven't even matured physically. Why is he serious with them? It is not better to directly crush with strength.

"Whoosh!"

After thinking about it, Sawamura's pitch became aggressive.