The next few innings unfolded as Fujio had predicted.
Only two innings left in this quarter-final game, and no team wanted to give up.
Neither Osaka Kiryu wanted to give up he game, nor did Seidou want to stop the score like this.
After Maezono's three-run hit, Seidou pushed on.
Shiratsu attempted a bunt, but after Morishita pitched, he pulled the bat back and hit the ball again.
A slash bunt!
The action wasn't just from Shiratsu; Maezono at second base joined in.
Though this duo hadn't cooperated much before, they were reliable in key moments.
A hit-and-run.
Having already scored 5 runs, Seidou wasn't satisfied.
They kept looking for ways to increase the lead.
However, the Osaka Kiryu players weren't pushovers either.
Although Maezono successfully reached third base,
the Osaka Kiryu players stopped him at home plate.
Toujou and Kanemaru, although they managed to get a hit, were stopped by Osaka Kiryu's magnificent defense using a miraculous double play.
Seidou's eighth-inning offense ended like that.
It seemed like a bit of a fizzling out.
The game moved to the bottom of the eighth.
The Osaka Kiryu players were up for their turn.
The first batter was the much-anticipated Hakumatsu.
No one knew where he had come from, but his strength was incredible.
Even Sawamura had to stay on his toes during their encounters.
If Sawamura wasn't careful, he could easily lose.
As Fujio had guessed, the Osaka Kiryu players weren't going down without a fight.
Though it seemed like they couldn't handle Sawamura before, that wasn't true.
The Osaka team had figured out Sawamura's pitching tricks.
They had just been waiting for the right moment to strike.
If the score difference was too big, one or two sudden attacks wouldn't work.
But when the score gap was only two runs.
If they seized the opportunity, there was still a big chance to close the gap.
Of course, that was no longer possible.
Now, even if they managed a surprise attack and got a run or two,
It wouldn't mean much.
The loss was inevitable.
Despite this, for the sake of Osaka Kiryu's honor and their own dignity, Hakumatsu decided to execute their pre-arranged strategy.
But unfortunately, Sawamura didn't give him the chance to display his skills.
As the game neared its end, Sawamura seemed to enter his unstoppable mode.
He stopped using his usual Magic ball and switched to clean, sharp breaking balls.
And then, he finished off with a Changeup.
Hakumatsu, who had been confident, was now totally befuddled by Sawamura.
He didn't even know what kind of pitch was coming next.
"STRIKE!"
"STRIKE!!"
"STRIKE! BATTER OUT!!!"
"STRIKE! BATTER OUT!!!!"
"STRIKE! BATTER OUT!!!!!"
Hakumatsu, who had been brilliant against Seihou, now stood defeated against the "Demon King" Sawamura.
In the eyes of the fans in the stands, this was a classic matchup of top-tier players.
Many were passionate about the duel.
But in the end, Hakumatsu, who had been so brilliant before, seemed like a train that had run out of steam.
Indeed, the nation's number one pitcher was still their Demon King.
Even compared with Akashi, one of the best pitchers in the country, everyone used to think pitchers of that caliber would be nearly equal to Sawamura.
But now, they had all been proved wrong.
It was clear: The Demon King was the Demon King!
Even top-tier pitchers, when compared directly with Sawamura, were at a disadvantage.
"Game over! The Seidou High School baseball team defeats Osaka Kiryu High School in a classic showdown. Final score: 5:0…"
The announcer's voice was hoarse from excitement.
The Seidou fans in the stands celebrated jubilantly.
After one hour and 15 minutes of intense battle, the game came to an end.
The final spot in the Koshien finals was secured by Seidou High School's baseball team.
On the field of Koshien.
The players of the Osaka Kiryu High School baseball team were crying uncontrollably, tears and snot flowing freely.
Logically, securing a spot in the top 4 of Koshien should have been something to be proud of, with no regrets left.
Moreover, their old friends from the Seidou High School baseball team had shown mercy at the last moment, preserving their dignity and not kicking them while they were down.
Not kicking them while they were down doesn't mean the Seidou High School players lacked the ability to do so.
In fact, by the end of the game, Morishita's stamina had completely collapsed.
This first-year rookie, despite conserving a lot of energy earlier, had obviously never experienced such a brutal match before.
Though he had done an excellent job throughout the game, this impressive performance came at a price.
His 15-year-old, tender shoulder was on the verge of breaking down.
If it hadn't been for the mercy shown by Seidou High's players at the last moment, it's possible this young man's arm might have been completely ruined.
For someone at 15, this level of intense competition was just too early for him.
The final score was 5:0, and the team they lost to was the mighty Seidou, securing a place in the top 4 of Koshien.
Such a result, such an outcome…
It would be enough for 99% of teams across the nation to feel satisfied.
But unfortunately, the Osaka Kiryu High School baseball players didn't belong to that 99%.
They were part of the 1% who weren't content.
This defeat marked the complete end of the Osaka Kiryu High School baseball team's 30-year era.
No matter how glorious the achievements were or what the historical win-loss record was…
They lost to Seidou High's baseball team.
Who could understand the thoughts of these players who had just buried their own school's era?
Even though they made it to the Koshien top 4 and performed impressively during the game, none of that could fill the regret.
The Osaka Kiryu High School players had every reason to cry.
Naturally, the Seidou High School players had every reason to celebrate.
The fall of the Osaka Kiryu High School era meant the official rise of Seidou High's baseball team's own era.
This game, though not as intense, was nonetheless incredibly meaningful, and it was all achieved by the players themselves.
Looking back, they couldn't help but feel excited for themselves.
They were lucky enough to be born in a great era!
Being able to join the Seidou High baseball team was a blessing, especially to be in the same era as Sawamura Eijun.
The honors and experiences they gained over their three years in high school would undoubtedly become invaluable assets for their future lives.
How lucky they were!
At this moment, the Seidou High baseball team's resting area had turned into a sea of joy.
Sawamura himself, however, seemed relatively calm.
Before the game, Sawamura had been quite eager.
He had originally thought the team that defeated Akashi would bring him a significant challenge.
But as it turned out, it wasn't that special after all.
During this game, Sawamura didn't even use 100% of his strength; in fact, he didn't even use 80%.
The Osaka Kiryu High School players were already falling apart.
If it weren't for the fact that Seidou's players showed mercy in the final moments, considering Osaka Kiryu was also their friendly school, the situation could have been much worse.
Had the two teams truly gone all out, the difference in strength was so vast that Seidou would've likely won by at least 10-12 runs.
The gap between them was unfathomable.
It was hard to believe that such a team had once defeated Seihou.
Could Seihou's current baseball team still be a worthy opponent for Seidou?
Sawamura had doubts.
The level of high school baseball was increasingly becoming insufficient for Sawamura.
At this point, he was desperate for a higher level of competition.
But he was still young to be in the Minor Leagues, let alone the Major Leagues.
Even if he wanted to join Japan's Professional Baseball, he would have to wait until January of the year after next.
Whether he liked it or not, it was inevitable!
That's just life.
Whether you want it or not, you eventually have to do it.
Shaking his head, Sawamura dispelled these unpleasant feelings from his mind.
He knew very well that he couldn't think like that.
Though he had been through nearly two years of high school training, and his strength had steadily improved, now far beyond the high school level…
As the saying goes, pride comes before a fall!
If Sawamura allowed himself to be complacent and underestimate any potential opponents he might face, he could easily stumble and fail.
To be honest, though Sawamura's current strength had reached a truly terrifying level, it was still not enough to crush every other high school player.
In fact, even among high school students, there were still many who could pose a significant threat to him.
To eliminate these threats once and for all, Sawamura couldn't afford to slack off. He had to keep pushing himself and improving!
Not far away, the Osaka Kiryu players were crying their hearts out.
Some had even collapsed to the ground in tears.
Perhaps next year, or maybe during the Spring Koshien, this immature Osaka Kiryu team would have fully matured.
At that time, they could very well give Seidou's baseball team a lot of trouble.
Without foresight, one would soon encounter troubles.
With this in mind, Seidou's baseball team needed to study and prepare for Osaka Kiryu early.
But that was something for the future.
The next time they would meet in an official match, it would be at least several months away.
After the Fall tournament ends, when the Jingu Tournament begins…
Based on the strength Osaka Kiryu had shown so far, they still had a lot of hope.
At that time, they could potentially pose some threat to Seidou High's team.
But that was all in the future.
Sawamura wasn't willing to waste too much energy thinking about it.
At the moment, his focus was entirely on their next opponent in the finals.
Hokkaido's Komadai Fujimaki High School.
Life was truly strange.
Before Sawamura's regression, Seidou's baseball team was always overshadowed by Komadai Fujimaki, with only the teams from Osaka, Osaka Kiryu, and Osaka Seiseisha as their rivals.
They had faced the three teams, and Seidou lost twice.
Since the retirement of the golden generation of Inashiro, these three teams, along with Seihou, had been the strongest in the country.
Their confrontations were even considered classic battles!
In his memory, the Komadai Fujimaki High School team was incredibly strong back then.
They were unstoppable, they almost made the legend that Seidou is now trying to achieve.
And now, they will be facing each other in the finals.
"The match will definitely be interesting," Sawamura muttered to himself.
…
T/N: This game is completed, and the Finals should start Tomorrow!
As always, Thank you all for reading!!
See you Tomorrow!
Until then, take care!
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