Chapter 181: [181] National Spotlight
Chapter 181: National Spotlight
August 12th, the second round of the Koshien tournament, and the first match of the day was set to begin at 8 a.m.
This game had successfully captured the attention of the entire nation.
It was Seidou High versus Yokohama Kouhoku Academy—a clash between two powerhouses.
Seidou had made a triumphant return to the national stage, utterly crushing Nanagamari Tech in their first game, reestablishing their dominance.
On the other hand, Yokohama Kouhoku was a perennial championship contender, a true baseball powerhouse from Kanagawa.
The matchup between these two titans instantly filled the stands at Koshien.
The crowd, packed to capacity, was a clear testament to the anticipation surrounding this game.
It was undoubtedly the most high-stakes battle of the second round, as no other match featured two elite teams going head-to-head.
Of course, the spectators weren't aware that Komadai Fujimaki High was a hidden dark horse.
Judging solely by surface-level factors, the outcomes of the other matches seemed predictable.
Only the game between Yokohama Kouhoku and Seidou was a true toss-up, making it the center of attention.
Journalists from various news outlets and baseball magazines swarmed to cover this match.
For them, this clash was premium material, not to be missed.
The sheer number of cameras set up along the front rows illustrated the intense focus on this game.
And that wasn't even counting the countless fans across the country gathered around their TVs, eagerly awaiting the live broadcast.
To say the nation's attention was fixed on this game would be an understatement.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!"
"They're here! They're here!"
"It's Seidou versus Yokohama Kouhoku!"
"Seidou! Seidou! Seidou!"
"Yokohama! Yokohama! Yokohama!"
The cheers from the crowd erupted as the two teams slowly made their way onto the field and into their respective dugouts.
The players' appearances instantly captured the eyes of every fan in the stadium and those watching on TV.
The glory of champions.
The pride of a powerhouse.
This highly anticipated clash was about to unfold on the grand stage of Koshien!
As Eijun stepped out of the dugout, he couldn't help but feel the weight of the aura emanating from Yokohama Kouhoku's third-base dugout.
It was overwhelming, making him momentarily hold his breath.
This sensation was on a completely different level from their first-round opponents.
It was, without exaggeration, reminiscent of the game against Inashiro Industrial.
Eijun's eyes grew sharp and focused.
"How does it feel? Completely different, yet somehow the same, isn't it?" Miyuki said as he walked up to stand beside Eijun, a grin on his face.
Although Miyuki's words seemed contradictory, Eijun immediately understood their meaning.
He nodded slowly. "Yeah. This team is strong—very strong. They won't be easy to beat. But I'll prove that we're stronger!"
The absolute confidence and determination in Eijun's voice made Miyuki chuckle.
"Haha."
This kid—should he call it confidence, or arrogance?
But that's exactly the kind of energy they needed right now.
As Eijun and his teammates observed Yokohama Kouhoku Academy's dugout, the opposing team's head coach, Yamagake, was also intently watching Seidou High's dugout.
In his hand was Seidou High's starting lineup.
"The starting pitcher is a first-year lefty? Goes by the name Sawamura Eijun?" commented Ishigoka, their leadoff batter and second baseman, as he glanced toward Seidou's dugout with an intrigued smile.
"Wearing jersey number 11, a left-handed pitcher—interesting," he added.
"I thought Furuya would start. Didn't he perform exceptionally well in the first game a few days ago?" catcher Shiraha remarked with a chuckle.
"Honestly, I was hoping for Furuya. I still have a score to settle from the Kanto Championship. Even though we won in the end, it left a bad taste in my mouth," grumbled Kajiyama, their third batter, his tone carrying a hint of frustration.
"And their ace, Tanba, isn't starting either. It seems their coach really trusts this lefty."
"Well, considering he started and completed the regional finals, holding Inashiro Industrial's lineup to just three runs, it makes sense," another player chimed in.
"Coach Kataoka's decision to have him start here speaks volumes," said one of the players with a respectful tone.
Despite the cautious undertones in their words, the players of Yokohama Kouhoku Academy radiated confidence, reflecting their identity as a powerhouse team.
At that moment, Coach Yamagake addressed his team.
"The true ace of Seidou High is this left-handed pitcher. You've all seen the footage of the regional final against Inashiro Industrial. The fact that he held their lineup to just three runs in a complete game should tell you everything about his capabilities," he said, his tone carrying a subtle sternness.
"Yes, sir!" All the players straightened up, responding loudly and with focus.
"So, the starting pitcher is Sawamura Eijun?"
"What? Not Furuya Satoru? He was so outstanding in the last game. Why isn't he starting? What is Seidou's coach thinking?"
"Clearly, you don't know. The real ace of Seidou High is Sawamura Eijun."
"Are you kidding? Isn't their ace supposed to be that third-year pitcher? And Furuya can throw over 150 km/h!"
"You're the one kidding. In a critical game like this, it's obvious they'd start Sawamura. In the regional final, he faced Inashiro Industrial's lineup for nine full innings and only gave up three runs. That's the performance of a true ace."
"Exactly. Seidou sending Sawamura as their starter shows they're going all out from the beginning."
"Really? I have a feeling this game might go into extra innings."
"Pfft, that's some wild prediction."
"All right, all right, stop arguing. The game's about to start!"
"Man, this is getting exciting!"
As the starting lineups appeared on the massive electronic scoreboard above the outfield at Koshien, the spectators erupted into discussions.
Those unfamiliar with Seidou's regional performance expressed their skepticism about Eijun's inclusion.
However, many others were eager to see how Eijun would fare against Yokohama Kouhoku's formidable lineup and how Seidou's scorching-hot offense from the first game would break through Yokohama's renowned defense.
At that moment, all eyes across the nation converged on this very field.
The air buzzed with anticipation as the sound of the air-raid siren blared through the stadium.
"Salute!"
"Let's give it our all!"
With the players' resolute voices echoing and the siren fading into the background, the curtain was officially raised on Seidou High's second-round match at Koshien!
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