H2
	 Volume 22
	  Chapter 1 (209)
	   That Doesn't Help

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(Ch. 1) That Doesn't Help

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Scoreboard: Senkawa
	    Ibasho

Tsukigata: It'll be 1-0, no matter who wins...

Shimizu: Was it extra innings in your simulation?

Tsukigata: ...no.

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Shimizu: Well, that doesn't help anymore.
	Thanks to you, I'll get one more chance in the batter's box.
	If we lose, blame it on me.

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Announcer: Three outs!
	That's it for Senkawa, just one run!
	But for Ibasho, this run bears the weight of life or death!
	The opposing pitcher is Senkawa's ace, Kunimi Hiro, who hasn't allowed a hit in the Koshien yet,
	so who knows if they'll even be able to get a hit, much less a run!
	Ibasho's in a pinch now,
	but their one saving grace is the lineup.
	Tsukigata, Shimizu and Tani, the cleanup hitters...

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Announcer: If they can't do it, nobody on the team can.

Tanabe: Come on, Tsukigata,
	get on base for Shimizu.

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Announcer: Oops, a bounder before the plate!
	Was that a failed forkball from Kunimi?!

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Announcer: The 1-1 pitch!

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Announcer: Uh-oh!
	It's a pop-up!
	One out!
	Kunimi gets the leadoff hitter, #3, Tsukigata!

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Tsukigata: Jin.

Shimizu: What?

Tsukigata: No,
	nothing.

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Announcer: Here we go!
	Last time up, Shimizu was walked with two outs!

Hikari: They won't...

Hideo: If they do it and win, they'll be villains.  If they lose, they'll be a laughingstock.
	He'll come out pitching.

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Ump: Ball.

Tanabe: Good.

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Tanabe: He'll be waiting for a fastball.
	Shimizu's got the timing on Kunimi's fastball.

Player: What if he pitches all curveballs?

Tanabe: He won't risk the danger.
	Kunimi's offspeed pitches don't have Tsukigata's control.
	If he pitches in the wrong spot, Shimizu can still take him deep.
	He'll throw a fastball.

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Shimizu: {Good!
	That's the timing...
	What?!}

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Announcer: It dropped in!  The ball drops!
	The ball floated over the secondbaseman's head and dropped into the shallow outfield...

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Announcer: That was a ball that could have been fielded...
	But it's a hit!
	The first hit Kunimi has allowed in the tournament!
	Shimizu twists his neck, at first base.
	He must have been frustrated by that at-bat.

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Tsukigata: If you do a sac bunt, do it in front of the pitcher.

Tanabe: Come on,
	you should know how good Kunimi's fielding is.

Tsukigata: Oh,
	yes, that's right.

Tanabe: You have a good reason?

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Tsukigata: No,
	not really.
	Not at all...

Tanabe: Time!

Announcer: They call the batter back to the bench.
	Probably determining signs.  This is a crucial point for Coach Tanabe.

Tani: Leave it to me.  I've been practicing my bunts.

Tanabe: I know.
	Drop it within the pitcher's fielding range.

Tani: Huh?

Tanabe: Make sure Kunimi fields it.
	Got that?

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Tani: Yessir!

Tsukigata: Coach!
	I really don't have any proof.

Tanabe: I know that.
	You didn't say anything.
	This is my decision.

 - Chapter 1 End -