Baseball: A Two-Way Player-Chapter 611 - 153: Championship Showdown, Lin vs Ohtani! (Part 2)

Based on data from statistical experts, if Lin Guanglai wants to lower his ERA to below 1 in his last game of the season, he needs to pitch at least four innings without allowing any runs. Even a single point of lost ground would turn this dream into nothing.

For other pitchers facing the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters' hot batting lineup, this would be considered impossible; but if this person is Lin Guanglai, then there will be a large group of people willing to believe in this name—because in the past three years, Lin Guanglai has proven his strength with his absolute dominance on the pitcher's mound.

"The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters' starting lineup is out!" The program director's excited voice came through the host's earpiece; soon, the related press release was quickly produced and placed on the teleprompter.

"Ladies and gentlemen..." The male host suppressed his excitement as a Nippon Professional Baseball fan and began to speak in the calmest and most objective tone possible, "Just now, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters announced their starting pitcher for tonight's game—he is Ohtani Shohei, who comes from Hanamaki East High School and challenges professional baseball with Dual Swordsmanship!"

"Viewers, the showdown we've been anticipating between Lin and Ohtani is finally here—these two superstar dual swordsmen will have a face-to-face confrontation in this ultimate battle to decide the champions!"

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In the afternoon, when Lin Guanglai arrived at the Yahoo Dome on time to start preparing for tonight's game, almost as soon as he got out of the car, he was surrounded by a throng of reporters.

Instructing his life assistant Sanada to park the car, Lin Guanglai stayed behind alone to deal with the media—inquiries that had been talked about repeatedly in recent times, none other than about his confidence in winning the championship, as well as topics related to his ERA challenge in the 0-range.

While answering their questions, Lin Guanglai appeared quite relaxed, showing no pressure from the impending big match.

"Confidence in winning? Of course, I have absolute confidence, our team has been in great form recently, everyone is working for the championship, the dream of three consecutive victories is within reach, and neither I nor my teammates will let the opportunity slip away—tonight's game, the winner will definitely be us!"

"For me, the only goal right now is to beat the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters tonight and help my team achieve three consecutive league championships. As for the goal of an ERA in the 0-range, I think I can achieve it, but if sacrificing this record can help the team win, then I would happily do so."

"This season is my last season with SoftBank in Japan, and I will do my best to end my Nippon Professional Baseball career on the perfect note—SoftBank fans rest assured, the Pacific League victory is my first promise to you, and we will surely achieve Japan's Number One in October!"

In front of the camera, Lin Guanglai spoke such bold words; but surprisingly, feeling the aura emanating from this superstar, the reporters surrounding him all seemed willing to believe what he said.

On the other side, the Nippon-Ham Fighters, with Ohtani Shohei as the team's most watched young star, also expressed his views.

"My thoughts are the same as Lin's, which is that the winner of this season's Pacific League victory will definitely be our Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters—since midseason, the team has been in increasingly good form, and we have confidence to finish this season with a grand finale! I believe my teammates and I have this ability, we will defeat SoftBank tonight, and then in front of our home fans in Sapporo tomorrow, lift the victory flag!" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

After saying these things, Ohtani Shohei seemed to think of something happy, and spoke tough words towards Lin Guanglai in front of the camera: "Guanglai-kun, in tonight's game, not only will our Nippon-Ham Fighters beat your SoftBank, but I will also score your 21st lost point of the season, ending your dream of an ERA in the 0-range!"

"This year, for both myself and my teammates, has been our best year—we want both the Pacific League victory and Japan's Number One!"

The core players of both teams declared their victory statements to the media, further heating up the atmosphere for this match.

At five o'clock in the evening, the sun began to set, the entire skyline of Fukuoka was dyed orange-red by the twilight, and the crowd outside the stadium was like a flood breaking its banks, converging from every subway station and street towards the Yahoo Dome at the center.

Even though the game was still some time away, home SoftBank fans had already arrived early to set up their support, and banners with slogans such as "Congratulations on the victory" and "Achieving three consecutive wins" they had prepared in advance were already placed in the field.

The air was filled with the fragrance of stir-fried noodles and beer, with beer girls busy running up and down the stands; most people wore the home team's white or black jerseys, with the number of their favorite players printed on the back—among these, Lin Guanglai's number 21 was the most conspicuous and numerous; over the past three years, with record after record, championship after championship, he had long since etched his name and image into the hearts of every SoftBank fan.

When there was still half an hour before the game started, the hardcore fan group "Eagle Road United" members were already in place:

They wore uniform haori attire, moving in unison, energetically waving their arms while standing in the front row of the lineup, continuously singing support songs—from this moment until the end of the match, these people would not sit down; they would continue cheering their beloved team on throughout the game, and put pressure on the challengers who dared come to their home ground.

The electronic screen of the Eagle's Vision replayed highlights of the team from this season, including base hits, home runs, exquisite defense, and every time Lin Guanglai struck out an opponent, passionately clenching his fist and raising his arms in triumph; each scene on the screen could ignite another wave of cheers from the stands.

In stark contrast to the volcanic enthusiasm on the stands was the almost suffocating concentration in the first-base-side home team dugout.

The players had finished their group warm-ups and were making final preparations individually: some were doing final stretches with the help of resistance bands, some wore headphones, closed their eyes, and attempted to block out external noise; others, unable to calm down, took their bats to do swing practice in an open space.

Logically, these players had already tasted the sweetness of victory and should not be this excited about winning another league title; but this season was different, not just because the turbulent events in midseason made the players cherish their current situation even more, but also because everyone hoped to bid a perfect farewell to Lin Guanglai with two three-peats.

Under the escort of Nippon Professional Baseball officials, the Pacific League championship flag and trophy had already arrived at the Fukuoka site—as long as SoftBank can beat the Nippon-Ham Fighters at home tonight, they will be the champions of the 2016 season!

As the clock's hands pointed to six o'clock, surrounded by the wildest cheers and applause of over forty thousand people, Lin Guanglai stepped forward with steady and resolute strides, walking towards that brightly illuminated pitcher's mound.

The team's moment of coronation, the final chapter of his season, was officially unfolding right here and now.