Chapter 27

Short Summary
The Mariners desperately think of ways to put their players out while Tokuchi tries to drag out the game. With the Mariners now playing carelessly, Tokuchi tells the Lycaons to tie the game.

Long Summary
The commentators discuss the best plan of attack for the Mariners. They predict Tokuchi will continue to throw ‘balls’ and walk the batters, which is what he does. They say the Mariners should swing no matter what, even if it means a strike, if they want to finish the game quickly. The batter, Mikawa, swings and hits Tokuchi’s pitch. The umpire unexpectedly declares him out, and a replay shows Mikawa purposely stepped outside the batter’s box when he swung, an automatic out. The commentators call this a good strategy as Mikawa managed to get put out on one pitch rather than waiting for a strike-out.

Tokuchi retaliates by purposely dropping the ball during his windup, which is a balk. The runners all advance one base. He repeats this for the next batter. Takami comes up with a counter-strategy, and on the next go the batter suddenly switches to the opposite batter’s box at the start of Tokuchi’s pitching motion, another automatic out.

Tokuchi pitches without stepping on the rubber, earning a ‘ball’. Since pitchers need to step on the rubber to officially start their pitching motion, switching batter’s boxes won’t work. Tokuchi gets four balls and walks the batter. Takami shouts to the batter to run in the wrong direction and he runs to third base, which makes the third out.

The Mariners run frantically to their fielding positions and the Lycaons laugh at how panicked they are. Kojima tells them not to get optimistic. Fujita says they should stall the game as much as possible but Kojima says blatantly delaying the game could end up in a forfeit. Imai asks Tokuchi what to do, and he tells them to score 16 points and tie the game. Whether the game is declared invalid or not, the Lycaons should end in the lead. Even if the game is cancelled, the 16-run lead will bolster the Mariner’s self-confidence and help their momentum. Catching up to their huge lead and shoving it in their faces would ‘be the end for them’. Tokuchi declares they must end this with a victory or they’ll never be the championship winners. The team look shocked at the possibility but Kojima seems pleased. Tokuchi says he let the other team score 16 runs, and now they’re so desperate to finish the game they’ll play carelessly and make for an easy win.

Characters

 * Tokuchi Toua
 * Takami
 * Mikawa
 * Imai
 * Kojima
 * Ideguchi
 * Fujita