On the Koshien field.
After two weeks of intense battles, the final two teams are about to face off in the ultimate showdown…
These two teams are the reigning champions, the Seidou High School Baseball Team, and the strongest challengers from Hokkaido, the Komadai Fujimaki High School Baseball Team.
Their confrontation naturally draws significant attention.
Previously, if these two teams had met, the vast majority of fans would have unquestionably supported the Seidou High School Baseball Team.
The Komadai Fujimaki High School Baseball Team, while exceptionally outstanding recently, still has a significant gap when compared to the powerhouse Seidou High School Baseball Team.
Whether it's their past performances or the history of matchups between the two teams, the Komadai Fujimaki High School Baseball Team has always struggled to compete against Seidou.
But now, those preconceived ideas have been completely shattered.
People now clearly understand that the Komadai Fujimaki High School Baseball Team is incredibly strong!
They have demonstrated fierce offensive and defensive capabilities in their previous games.
Looking at their record alone, they have even outperformed the Seidou High School Baseball Team.
Although Seidou High School Baseball Team also won all their previous matches, if they hadn't, they wouldn't have made it this far.
However, their victories weren't easy.
Many of Seidou's opponents have put immense pressure on them during the games.
On the other hand, the Komadai Fujimaki High School Baseball Team has breezed through their matches with ease.
It's not that their opponents were weak—take, for instance, the Hakuryu team, ranked first in national mobility.
That team is by no means weak.
Yet, despite facing such a strong opponent, the Komadai Fujimaki High School Baseball Team easily defeated them.
Their strength is enough to pose a real threat to the Seidou High School Baseball Team.
Looking at the performance records, their abilities may even surpass Seidou's.
Without even the need to say a word, under the gaze of everyone on the field and beyond the screen, all the players of Seidou gathered and formed a circle.
Miyuki wanted to push Sawamura this time too, but Sawamura was ready, and with Maezono, Kuramochi pushed Miyuki to the middle of the circle instead.
It was their last game in high school, and they wanted to end it on their terms.
"You guys…" Miyuki didn't know what to say about those teammates of his.
Even in his ink black heart, there is too much emotion going around.
'Alright, one last Time…!' Miyuki thought as he took a deep breath!
If they are saying goodbye to their youth, they have to do it in style!
"TODAY!! WE WILL EXCEED OUR SENPAIS AND WRITE OUR NAMES IN HISTORY!!!"
"YEAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"YEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
No need for elaborate words, they all know what they are here for.
And it is not just the players on the field, all the teammates, classmates, alumni who came to cheer on them, plus all the fans across the country who knew and cheered with them.
For this is the rise of a new legend, the birth of history!!
"THEN TELL THEM WHO ARE WE??!!!!!"
"THE KING SEIDOUUUU!!!!!"
"WHO SHED SWEAT MORE THAN ANYONE???!!!!!"
"SEIDOUUUUUUUU!!!!!!"
"WHO SHED TEARS MORE THAN ANYONE???!!!!!"
"SEIDOUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!"
"ARE YOU READY TO FIGHT?????!!!!!!"
"OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
"BEARING PRIDE IN OUR HEARTS, WE ONLY HAVE ONE GOAL! THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!! LET'S GOOOOO!!!!!!!"
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The Game Begins.
The Seidou High School Baseball Team takes the initiative to attack.
The first batter for Seidou is, as always, their unshakable leadoff hitter, Kuramochi.
Standing in the Batter's Box, Kuramochi eyes his opponent.
Hongo still wears his usual expressionless face.
It's hard to read any complex emotions from his face.
'What a bother!'
An expressionless pitcher like Hongo is a significant challenge for any batter.
You can't figure out what he's thinking inside his head.
When preparing to face such an opponent, a batter naturally wants to predict the outcome.
But with an expressionless pitcher, the batter has no idea whether their approach will work or not.
Will it be effective or not? What will the result be in the end?
They really have no clue.
Playing against such an opponent will certainly be tough.
Not to mention, Hongo's pitch speed already exceeds 150 km/h, and his control is precise.
Plus, he has sharp breaking balls.
Even without facing him head-on, just analyzing his stats on paper, one can tell his power is extraordinary.
Kuramochi is well aware that defeating an opponent like this in one fell swoop is unrealistic.
To win, two key conditions must be met first.
First, getting used to his pitches.
From a third-party perspective, a pitch traveling over 150 km/h may seem unremarkable.
But from the position of a batter or catcher, it feels completely different.
That ball moves so fast that it seems to devour everything in its path.
In this case, getting used to the pitcher's speed becomes especially crucial.
Second, improving swing speed!
In order not to be easily overpowered, Kuramochi must increase his own capabilities as well.
At 150 km/h, the batter's reaction time is extremely limited.
If he doesn't improve his swing speed, even if he sees the ball, he won't be able to hit it.
Before the game, the Seidou High School Baseball Team had already conducted a detailed analysis of this situation.
Their conclusion was clear: if they couldn't launch a surprise attack early on, the only way to succeed would be to thoroughly adjust to Hongo's pitch speed.
Roaaar!
Hongo's pitches are impressive, no matter when they're thrown.
In a flash, the small baseball crosses the distance of several meters and appears right in front of the batter.
'Fast!'
This is the only feeling Kuramochi has.
Though he had already suspected Hongo's fast pitch speed before, it still caught him off guard.
After all, this isn't their first encounter—they know each other's strengths well.
In their previous matchups, Kuramochi was unable to hit a single ball.
To face a pitcher who can be compared to the mighty Sawamura Eijun, it's clear that this opponent won't be easy to overcome.
No one understands this better than Kuramochi himself.
Watching the incoming baseball, Kuramochi chooses to let it pass.
The facts from earlier matches have proven that Hongo's pitch is not easily hit.
In light of this, the Seidou High School Baseball Team has decided on a particularly cautious strategy.
Run up the pitch count!
While the Komadai Fujimaki High School Baseball Team has indeed been unstoppable in their previous matches, dominating everyone in their path, they've also exposed a few weaknesses.
For example, they are overly reliant on their Ace pitcher!
The Komadai Fujimaki High School Baseball Team's pitching staff is actually quite solid. They could easily rotate pitchers during the games.
But instead, they rarely make changes, and Hongo has been pitching almost every inning.
Although there have been some minor adjustments and rotations, the Ace hasn't received much rest.
This is different from Seidou High School, where Sawamura hasn't pitched many times.
This difference in strategy also has a huge impact on the outcome of the matches.
Had Sawamura been on the mound as often as Hongo, Seidou's record would have been much stronger.
Hongo, however, hasn't received sufficient rest.
Though this tactic is somewhat underhanded, Seidou High School has decisively employed it to conserve energy for the later stages of the game.
By running up the pitch count, they aim to wear Hongo down.
According to the team's analysis, they expect to see results as the game nears its conclusion.
In the Komadai Fujimaki High School Baseball Team's dugout:
Their Coach, Nitta, looks stern.
As expected, the Seidou High School Baseball Team has immediately adopted a strategy to exhaust their pitcher.
The legendary Seidou High School Baseball Team wastes no time in attacking any slight weakness they spot in the opposition.
Not to mention, the Komadai Fujimaki team has shown major flaws.
'However, if Seidou believes their tactic will be enough, then they are mistaken!'
Does Komadai Fujimaki not know their own weaknesses? Of course, they do!
They not only know but are acutely aware of them.
Given this, their Coach sticks firmly with Hongo as the team's primary pitcher.
There's a reason for this decision.
Every player's style is different, influenced by their personal characteristics and personality.
Hongo is like a beast that is never satisfied, hungry for victory.
The reason he's been on the mound so much is that his Coach wants to tap into this emotion.
For Hongo, there is no better opponent than Seidou High School Baseball Team.
If he wins, he'll lead his team to legendary status.
Seidou would become the first team to win seven Koshien championships and the only one to claim three consecutive titles.
Seidou is fired up, and they're determined to give their all for the final victory!
Such a team, such an opponent—how could Hongo ever find anything better?
The prior string of victories has fully energized him.
Now, it's time to see how he destroys the opposition!
Roaar!!
Hongo shows no signs of being affected. When he throws his second pitch, it still has incredible force.
Seeing this pitch, Kuramochi doesn't remain silent as he did before. He swings!
Although it isn't a proper hit, he decisively uses a bunt.
Clearly, Seidou's tactics aren't rigid.
On the contrary, they are highly flexible!
Ping…!
The bunt makes contact, sending the ball rolling toward the third baseline.
'Great!'
Kuramochi's bluff appears to have worked.
The opponent indeed thought he was trying to run up the pitch count, only to be caught off guard by the bunt.
The small baseball rolls away, and Kuramochi dashes toward first base like a cheetah hunting its prey.
His speed is impressive, and the Komadai Fujimaki team reacts quickly.
Despite anticipating Kuramochi's plan to run up the pitch count, they chose to defend the front.
He's unpredictable, and no one knows what he might do!
The Komadai team has faced Seidou several times before, so they are keenly aware of this.
That's why they opt for the front defense.
Opportunities always favor the prepared.
The third baseman quickly grabs the ball and sends it to first base.
Snap!
The throw reaches first base almost simultaneously with Kuramochi's arrival.
Everyone's eyes turn to the first base umpire, awaiting the verdict.
After a brief hesitation, the umpire signals.
"OUT!"
One Out, no runners on base!
Kuramochi returns to the dugout, clearly displeased.
His strategy seemed perfect and should have easily resulted in a base hit.
It's frustrating to fall short at the last moment.
"Don't be upset, the game's just beginning," Sawamura comforts Kuramochi while preparing to take his turn.
But it's clear that Kuramochi doesn't need any comforting. Though upset, his spirits remain high.
PAAK!!
The second batter is Kominato Haruichi.
He lets the first two pitches go by, and on the third, he aims to hit a Foul ball.
Everything is calculated, but the moment his bat makes contact, Kominato knows.
'It's over!'
As soon as the bat hits the ball, Kominato feels as though his arms have been crushed by a heavy truck.
The baseball bounces weakly and is caught by a fielder from the Komadai Fujimaki team.
"OUT!!"
Two quick Outs.
Sawamura shakes his neck and reflects.
There are many fans who have ranked the nation's top pitchers, including Sawamura, Narumiya, and Hongo.
There are only three pitchers with true top-tier abilities in the country.
Now, it's clear that those fans weren't entirely wrong. Their rankings have some merit.
Through Hongo's dominance over Kuramochi and Kominato, his power is evident.
"Third batter, pitcher, Sawamura-kun!"
Seidou High School is fully invested in this final game.
Sawamura takes the Batter's Box.
Hongo, with a pitch speed of 150+ km/h and sharp breaking balls, will not be an easy opponent.
But Sawamura is confident.
All he needs is a chance.
Once the opportunity comes, he'll unleash his true power and show them what the Great Demon King is truly capable of.
He raises his bat high and swings it slightly, constantly reminding the Komadai Fujimaki players that he might strike at any moment.
When Sawamura strikes, it will be with devastating force.
'Here it comes!'
The baseball flies toward him.
Though Sawamura's intimidating presence is enough to shake any opponent, the Komadai Fujimaki players stand firm.
They decide to face him head-on.
Hongo's first pitch comes right into the strike zone.
'Bold!'
Seeing this pitch, Sawamura smiles broadly.
He swings with confidence.
...
T/N: Well, That's it for now!
As always, Thank you all for reading guys!
Have a good day!
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