Chapter 459: Starting Lineup Decision
Looking at Coach Kataoka, who seemed genuinely surprised, Coach Sakaki's expression softened into a faint smile— as if recalling a baseball field from over a decade ago, and a stubborn young man from back then.
"Yura Technical High School—also part of West Tokyo."
"Next year, we'll be rivals from the same district, Ironheart."
"Let me see how much you've grown over all these years."
"Don't even think about running away."
In that moment, the commanding presence that once defined Seidou's golden age resurfaced—
a trace of Coach Sakaki's unmistakable aura.
Coach Kataoka, too, for once, showed a rare flicker of emotion in his usually stoic face.
Beside them, Director Ota stood with his mouth agape, utterly stunned.
Coach Sakaki… returning to high school baseball? And not just anywhere, but in West Tokyo?
Was this a formal challenge?
Director Ota felt like his brain couldn't keep up.
Even Ochiai, standing quietly next to Coach Kataoka, narrowed his eyes slightly—
a glint of interest flashing through his gaze.
"Understood."
The student surpasses the master.
A battle between teacher and pupil—ten years in the making.
And now, it would be settled on the field.
The setting sun poured its golden light over the stadium, casting the long silhouettes of the two coaches—
stretching far, far across the field…
...
After the Red vs. White match ended, the semifinals and finals loomed just ahead.
Whether it was Sawamura honing his two-seam fastball, or Furuya working to better control his slider—
the preparation was complete, and everyone had adjusted their condition.
With only two games left, everything was ready—only the final push remained.
October 22nd, Friday.
In just two days, the final two matches of this year's Fall Tournament would be played.
Tomorrow, the semifinal matchups were set:
Seidou High vs. Seiko High
Yakushi High vs. Inashiro Industrial.
Only the winners would advance to Sunday's final.
And the lone champion would not only win the Fall Tournament, but also earn a guaranteed ticket to Spring Koshien.
Whether it was Seidou vs. Seiko,
or Inashiro vs. Yakushi—
all eyes would be on these four games.
At Seidou's dorm, in the usual dining hall meeting room, as per tradition, Seidou was holding its regular pre-game strategy meeting.
The night before each official match, important reminders were reviewed, and the next day's starting lineup would be announced.
Naturally, this time around, some players were particularly anxious.
Notably: third baseman Kanemaru Shinji, Shoji,
and first basemen Maezono Kenta and Yamaguchi Ken—
all of whom were nervously awaiting the decision.
While Maezono had, up to now, managed to hold down his spot as a cleanup hitter—
Yamaguchi's recent strong performance in practice and in the Red vs. White match had definitely started to make Maezono feel some pressure.
If he didn't push himself harder, his starting spot might not be safe anymore.
Previously, Coach Kataoka had hinted at parts of the starting lineup—
but in the end, those were just rumors.
Until the official announcement, no one knew for sure who would start.
And tonight, the tension was palpable.
...
"You should all be familiar with the scouting reports on Seiko by now."
"In terms of style, they're similar to Yakushi—
or rather, an even more extreme version of a power-hitting team."
"Throughout this tournament, they haven't laid down a single bunt. Even with runners on third, they never go for forced plays."
"At a glance, it might seem like a reckless, headstrong offense— but in reality, it's a strategy that fully leverages their strengths."
"Players with that kind of physique swinging hard every time— that alone puts enormous pressure on both the pitcher and defense."
"Our job is to endure that pressure. Got it?"
"Yes, Coach!"
Eijun, Miyuki, and the others responded in unison.
"Alright then— here is the starting lineup for tomorrow's game."
"Batting first, shortstop—Kuramochi."
"Yes!"
No matter what changes, Seidou's leadoff speedster never did: Kuramochi Youichi.
"Batting second, second baseman—Kominato."
"Yes!"
"Batting third, left fielder—Sawamura."
The room stirred.
Except for Miyuki, nearly everyone looked visibly surprised.
After all, most of them had expected Eijun to start on the mound for this game. Seiko's lineup was notorious.
The home runs hit by their cleanup, were no joke.
Logically, against a team like that, your ace pitcher should be the starter.
Left fielder?
Not the starting pitcher?
Eijun, seated below, blinked in momentary confusion.
He had been almost certain that he would be starting this game.
Considering Seiko's offensive power, wasn't that the natural choice?
Perhaps it was a matter of matchup strategy?
These thoughts flashed across his mind in an instant.
But the surprised look on his face lasted only a second.
"Yes!"
Eijun answered with composure and clarity.
"Sawamura, as our ace, you must always be ready to take the mound. Your strength will be essential in both the semifinals and finals over the next two days."
Coach Kataoka's calm and steady gaze landed on Eijun, his eyes radiating a trust so pure it held no doubt.
"Yes, Coach. I'll stay ready at all times."
Eijun replied in a deep, resolute voice.
"Good."
Coach Kataoka gave a slight nod.
"Batting fourth, catcher—Miyuki."
"Yes."
"Batting fifth, first baseman—Maezono."
"Yes."
From being unreliable in the early stages of the Fall Tournament to now delivering more stable performances, Maezono Kenta had clearly improved.
Even if he still fell a bit short of the standard expected of Seidou's cleanup hitter, his progress was visible to the naked eye.
Even the usually critical Ochiai had to admit it—
Maezono had transformed from someone who only relied on brute force into a batter who now possessed refined techniques and knew how to utilize his power effectively.
"Batting sixth, right fielder—Shirasu."
"Yes."
"Batting seventh, pitcher—Furuya."
"Yes!"
At that moment, Furuya suddenly lifted his head, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
After much discussion, Coach Kataoka and Ochiai had ultimately decided to start Furuya on the mound.
Meeting power with power—
a choice that aligned with Seidou's traditional style.
Of course, the decision wasn't made lightly. Two key factors played into it.
First, after the game against Ugumori, Furuya had managed to adjust his form well.
His vertical slider was beginning to take shape,
and with his blazing fastball and sharply dropping forkball, he had the tools necessary to face Seiko's dangerous lineup—so long as he stayed in form.
Second, and most importantly—
they had to think ahead to the final.
Whether the opponent turned out to be Yakushi High or Inashiro Industrial, Coach Kataoka and Ochiai believed that, at this stage, those two teams were stronger overall than Seiko.
The key factor was the pitching staff.
While Seiko might have a more intimidating lineup than either of the other two—
when it came to pitching depth and quality, Seiko couldn't compare to Inashiro or Yakushi.
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