At Hachioji Stadium.
Today, the West Tokyo Quarter-Final is taking place, where Yakushi High School faces off against Sensen High School.
Sensen Academy is a traditional powerhouse in West Tokyo, usually making it to the top eight or top four in major tournaments.
Although they have never been able to progress further, their strength is recognized by many fans.
This team is often called the "all-rounder," meaning they don't seem to have any particular weak spots, no matter which team they face.
Even against the top-tier teams, they can hold their own.
They previously played against Seidou and caused quite a bit of trouble for them.
Sensen Academy's Ace pitcher is the towering Maki, who stands over 1.9 meters tall and is often referred to as "The Giant."
He is quite famous in the Tokyo area, and it's said that several scouts from professional baseball teams have already shown interest in him.
They've already started trying to contact him!
After losing to Seidou High School's baseball team last year, it's said that they have been silently training hard, waiting for a chance to pull off a stunning upset this year.
Especially their Ace pitcher, Maki, now in his third year, is facing his last chance.
Maki has already resolved to go all in.
Sensen Academy's opponent today is Yakushi High School!
If Sensen has always been a strong school in West Tokyo, second only to the three major powerhouses, then Yakushi High School represents the strongest underdog.
In recent years, they are the only team that has broken the dominance of the three major powerhouses in West Tokyo.
They've defeated the powerhouse Sankou twice, stepping over their corpses to reach their current position.
They made a huge splash in the Spring Koshien by reaching the top eight.
Whether it's against Inashiro or Seidou, they have never been at a disadvantage.
In the media's ranking of the top ten high school baseball teams, Yakushi High School is ranked eighth.
So, while Sensen has always been a strong team in West Tokyo, most people don't hold high hopes for them in this game.
Of course, Sensen Academy's Coach, Ugai Kazeyoshi, doesn't think this way.
When they met Seidou, the team that returned as champions, he was determined to take them down. There's no way he's going to underestimate Yakushi, an underdog team.
In his view, the players and coaches of Yakushi High School are quite capable.
Especially their batter, Raichi!
At present, there are very few batters in the country with such strength.
But that doesn't mean this batter has no weaknesses or problems.
A team centered around this batter also has some significant issues.
Even though Yakushi High School has shown dominance in all their previous games, it seems like they have really caught up with Seidou and Inashiro.
They seem to be able to hold their own against these two teams.
But is Yakushi really that strong?
Probably not.
People only see the strengths of this team and forget about their weaknesses. Yes, Yakushi High School is strong, but their weaknesses are also glaring. If they can exploit those weaknesses while avoiding their strengths...
Coach Ugai believes that if they plan well, it's not impossible to outplay Yakushi High School.
Before the match started, he specifically had Maki crouch down and patted his shoulder, saying, "As long as you can hold them off in the first inning, after that, I'll make sure the advantage shifts in our favor."
"Yes!"
Maki eagerly agreed.
He still wants revenge on Seidou's baseball team. There's no way he's going to stumble here.
No matter how difficult, he's determined to win this game!
It's his final year of high school, and he must make it to Koshien.
He wants to use his pitching to show everyone that Koshien is not just a playground for the big teams.
Sensen too has the right to be there.
On the other side, in the rest area, Yakushi's Coach looks very laid-back.
Before the match, he even yawned twice.
"Has Seidou's game ended?"
Bored, he turned to ask the assistant coach behind him.
"It's already over! That master-and-apprentice battle ended with the apprentice winning. 11-2, seven innings of effective play!"
The assistant coach, who had just received the scout's information, immediately replied.
When Raizou, who had been lazy before, heard this news, he instantly became energized.
His eyes widened, and there was a gleam of excitement in them.
"As expected of Seidou, they're strong!!! Alright, guys, Seidou has already won. Now it's your turn. They finished their game in seven innings; how about us?"
Mishima smiled and answered, "Coach, don't worry! If Seidou can do it, we can do it too. Not just finish early, we'll do it in five innings!!"
Hearing Mishima boast like this, the players from Yakushi High School didn't feel uncomfortable. Instead, they nodded and smiled.
It was as if they didn't even see their opponents as a threat.
"I've got my eyes on you, Mishima!"
Coach Raizou nodded in satisfaction.
"Then it's five innings!"
"Since Seidou High School's team can finish in seven innings, we can finish in five. Let's see what you guys can do!!!"
Coach Raizou looked pleased as if moved by his own players' words.
Ending the game in five innings, just thinking about it gets him excited.
But the players of Yakushi High School didn't let their heads get heated!
They all had incredulous looks on their faces.
Even Mishima, who had just said they would finish in five innings, looked utterly stunned.
Did their coach lose his mind?
Does he really think they can beat Sensen in just five innings?
Don't joke, Sensen is no pushover!!
Coach Raizou sat lazily on the chair.
He didn't look like he was joking; he was stating a fact.
The game began!
With the task from their Coach in mind, the first batter for Yakushi, Mishima, felt the pressure.
If they were really going to end the game in five innings...
The boast he made had to be upheld no matter what.
Earlier, Raizou had said if he couldn't do it, Mishima might be benched for the semi-finals and finals.
That would be worse than death.
Everyone knew Mishima loved playing in games, especially high-profile ones. He loved the spotlight.
To be denied the chance to play would feel worse than being killed.
"Sorry about this!"
Coach Raizou had given a direct order, and Mishima had no choice but to make sure to hit the ball and try to reach base.
Whoosh!
On the mound, Maki stood tall.
The ball he threw wasn't straight but came in a curve.
This kind of pitch is hard to handle.
And this year, Maki's speed and ball power had improved quite a bit.
His pitch came down like a stone from a mountain, incredibly intimidating.
Mishima gritted his teeth and swung his bat at the pitch.
Ping!
The small baseball hit the bat, but it rebounded into foul territory.
Mishima's face darkened.
Maki's pitch was much harder to handle than he had originally anticipated.
At this rate, hitting Maki's pitch and sending it out wasn't going to be so easy.
He rolled his tongue and licked his dry lips.
Mishima's expression grew serious.
'It's here!!'
As the baseball flew toward him, Mishima remained exceptionally composed, appearing to be in no rush at all.
He patiently waited for the baseball to reach his hands, only then did his body start to move.
His lower body remained completely still, with no rotation or leverage used at all.
He relied purely on the strength of his arms and wrists to swing the bat.
Just as the coach had advised before the game, the opponent's strength was no joke. With such a tall stature, it would definitely be difficult to hit the ball once it was pitched!
"But that doesn't mean his pitching can't be cracked."
At this point, the sound of a malicious laugh burst from Raizou, unable to contain himself.
As Raizou's student, although Mishima didn't approve of his teacher's methods, he still complied.
He, too, let out a malicious laugh.
If you listened carefully, you would notice how perfectly their laughs matched, almost like a duet, the rhythm synchronized.
"The ball falling from high above would be harder to hit if you rushed to swing."
"So, there was no need to swing forcefully; just steadily push the bat out and find the right point of contact."
At this moment, Mishima focused all his attention on this.
He quietly waited for the baseball to reach his hands, then decisively swung the bat.
Ping!
He caught it!
Mishima's heart skipped a beat, and he struck the ball with all his might.
The small baseball flew out, tracing a not-so-perfect arc.
On the pitcher's mound, Maki looked slightly stunned.
His pitch had a unique quality. In previous games against other teams, even if the ball was hit, it usually happened in the second round of the lineup.
But this time, in the first round, on the very first batter, the ball was hit.
Such a situation was rare, especially considering it was still the first inning.
Mishima dashed toward the first base.
When he reached first base, a smug grin spread across his face, and he waved to Raizou in the dugout.
"Coach, did you see that? I hit the ball! Coach!!! Am I the next cleanup hitter? Hahaha!!!"
In the dugout, Raizou wore a face of complete despair.
How unlucky he was to have such a student. He had never seen anyone so shameless…
And this was his student! It was maddening!
Compared to that, his beloved son was much more lovable.
Though a bit silly, at least he wouldn't embarrass him like this.
No Outs runner on first base.
Next up to bat was the second hitter, Akiba Kazuma.
Akiba was also a very important batter at Yakushi High.
His batting average was very high, and Yakushi placed him in the second spot for a clear reason.
But Maki was no slouch.
Although Mishima had made it to first base, that didn't mean he was going to let everyone from Yakushi get on base.
The crisis didn't cause Maki to falter; on the contrary, it fueled his fighting spirit.
Before playing against Yakushi High, Maki had made sufficient preparations.
They had once pushed Seidou High's national champion baseball team into a tough situation.
Maki certainly wouldn't underestimate Yakushi; neither could they afford to.
Sensen Academy had struggled for years without making it to Koshien, while Yakushi High, which had only recently risen, had already made it to the top eight in the spring Koshien, despite not even being around for a full year.
Comparing the two, it was clear.
Facing such an opponent, Maki felt a sense of determination.
He had trained hard, originally planning to use his skills against Seidou and Inashiro's teams, but now he would try them out on Yakushi.
Whoosh!
After getting two Strikes with a high-drop ball, Maki pitched his carefully crafted vertical Slider.
The effectiveness of a breaking ball varies depending on the pitcher.
Maki's height made his vertical slider resemble a waterfall falling rapidly.
It caught the batter off guard.
"STRIKE! BATTER OUT!!!"
Akiba swung at the last pitch but missed and was struck out.
The situation now was one out, one runner on first base.
Sensen Academy's morale rose dramatically with their Ace's brilliant performance.
What did it matter if they were up against the three great teams?
What they needed to do was knock those giants down.
Now, it was time for Yakushi's third batter to take the plate.
The third batter was none other than Raizou's precious son, the core of Yakushi's lineup.
Raichi!
Initially, Raichi hadn't given much thought to facing Maki.
Lately, he had been fully focused on his desire to face off against Amahisa, Narumiya, and Sawamura.
However, he didn't expect Maki to present him with such a surprise.
'A vertical slider, descending like a waterfall.'
This intrigued Raichi, who eagerly watched Maki, waiting for that pitch to come.
Maki, of course, noticed Raichi's intent and wasn't going to pitch that ball to him.
So, he used other pitches to entangle him.
"FOUL!"
"FOUL!!"
"FOUL!!"
But to his surprise, Raichi sent every pitch flying foul, each more forceful than the last.
Before long, due to continuous fouls, Raichi was pushed to two strikes.
What the batter was doing now was a bit too much.
No hot-blooded boy would stand for this; they'd certainly want to settle it with a final showdown.
And right now, it was a perfect opportunity for that.
Two Strikes against the batter, one more Strike, and Raichi would be struck out.
For Yakushi High, Raichi's importance was no less than Sawamura's importance to Seidou.
If they could take care of Raichi, they would set the tone for the match.
It would also deliver a heavy blow to Yakushi High's morale.
The temptation was too great for anyone to resist.
Maki wasn't immune, either.
Despite the coach's strict orders not to engage in a direct showdown with Raichi, Maki thought now was the time to settle it.
He would use his finely honed decisive pitch to face Raichi head-on.
Whoosh!
This time, Maki took a big step and threw the ball with all his might.
The ball was fast, reaching the batter's plate in the blink of an eye.
Before it even reached the strike zone, it suddenly dropped steeply.
It resembled a waterfall cascading from a cliff.
Fast and spectacular.
Despite the sharpness of the pitch, Raichi wasn't intimidated. Instead, he wore an excited grin.
'Here it comes!'
'This is good!!'
BUUZZZZZZ!!
His bat swung like a giant windmill, meeting the downward curve of the pitch with power.
PANG!
The bat connected with the ball, sending it flying.
The baseball soared like a rocket that had been lit, rising steadily until it disappeared from view.
After a long pause, the commentator's voice echoed throughout the stadium, filled with disbelief.
"It's gone! A deadly home run from Raichi of Yakushi High…"
At this point, the commentator didn't know what else to say, so he continued to lavish praise on Raichi.
He praised Raichi until he seemed to be the greatest player to ever exist.
Meanwhile, Raichi in the batter's box didn't care about what the commentator was saying.
He just had a big grin on his face.
"Awesome! Really awesome!!!"
Raichi wasn't exaggerating. He genuinely felt Maki's pitch was incredibly impressive.
With his vocabulary, he couldn't fully describe how impressive the pitch was.
But he was sure that Maki's pitch was comparable to the breaking balls of Sawamura or Narumiya.
Although still not on the same level as those two monsters, this pitch could definitely compete with theirs.
This was truly remarkable!!!
It was precisely because of this that Raichi sincerely admired Maki's pitching.
Luckily for him, he managed to hit it out.
Raichi truly respected Maki, and he was excited for their second showdown.
However, Maki, who had been hit with a home run, wasn't able to endure long enough to face Raichi again. He collapsed.
2:0, Yakushi High attacks.
Maki on the mound was completely out of it, looking like a zombie.
His encounter with Raichi had shattered all his confidence.
The pitches he had honed for so long, prepared to face Seidou and Inashiro, were all undone in the first inning by a home run.
Such a blow to a player's mentality was fatal.
Maki was now in doubt, questioning whether all his efforts had been worth it.
A pitcher who couldn't focus and was completely off-track couldn't possibly stand up to the rampaging Yakushi.
Maki's subsequent pitches were continuously hit out, and four runs were scored in one go.
The score became 6:0.
At this point, Sensen's Coach could no longer sit still.
Ugai couldn't bear to watch this and couldn't even forgive himself.
Seeing Maki out of sync, Ugai hesitated, wondering if he should pull Maki out.
After hesitating for a while, he ultimately decided to trust his Ace.
He hoped Maki could pull himself together.
After all, if they wanted to win this game, Maki's strength was indispensable.
However, this hesitation turned into a huge mistake, as Maki gave up four more runs.
It sent Sensen Academy to the depths of despair.
Reluctantly, Sensen had no choice but to make a substitution.
The substitute pitcher now faced Yakushi High's top hitters.
Mishima, Akiba, Raichi, and Sanada…
And so, a new nightmare began.
By the time Sensen's substitute pitcher recorded three outs, the gap between the two teams had grown so wide it was unbridgeable.
9:0!
In the first inning alone, Yakushi High had scored a full nine runs against Sensen.
Remember, Sensen wasn't a weak team. Last summer, they even made it to the top four in West Tokyo.
They also performed well in the Tokyo Fall and Spring tournaments, reaching the top 16 or better.
In all of Tokyo, except for the top giants, Sensen's strength was absolutely in the top tier.
Yet, facing off against Yakushi, they didn't even have a chance to retaliate.
They were overwhelmed by a nine-point gap.
In just one inning, the outcome of the game seemed decided.
9:0!
With such a large lead, even if Seidou High's batting lineup were called in, catching up in the remaining innings would be a challenge.
After all, Yakushi's Ace, Sanada, wasn't someone easy to score off of.
…