Chapitre 227: [227] Clash Between Prestigious Teams
Chapter 227: Clash Between Prestigious Teams
August 18th, Hanshin Koshien
Today, the entire stadium was packed to capacity.
Not only were the seats inside the stadium completely filled, but the pathways, as well as the areas outside the stadium, were also teeming with crowds.
These included general spectators, school cheering squads, drum bands, cheerleaders, and more.
By the time the summer Koshien tournament had reached the quarterfinals, the event had already reached its climax.
Eight teams, seven matches in total.
This summer's champion would soon emerge.
Every spectator wore expressions of excitement and anticipation, eager to witness the upcoming seven matches.
Each game featured a powerhouse team, each with unique characteristics.
No one wanted to miss a single moment of these spectacular battles.
They wanted to personally experience the thrilling plays, the joy of victory, and the sorrow of defeat.
This was the true essence of summer for these young athletes.
When the final team of 18 boys lifts the championship flag, the entire stadium—and even the entire nation—will erupt in cheers and applause.
First Match: Komadai Fujimaki High School vs. Kamijo Academy
Second Match: Osaka Kiryuu High School vs. Yoshinaga High School
Third Match: Hanada East High School vs. Yamamori Academy
Fourth Match: Seidou High School vs. Ikuei High School
Eight prestigious teams.
Four epic battles.
All unfolding today at Hanshin Koshien Stadium.
From 8 a.m., the atmosphere unique to summer tournaments filled the air at Koshien.
The opening match between Komadai Fujimaki High School and Hounaga High School set the tone, and the excitement only grew from there.
Komadai Fujimaki i High School: The Dark Horse
Komadai Fujimaki High School, undoubtedly the dark horse of the tournament, showcased their resilience once again.
From the start of the Koshien tournament, they had already eliminated two powerhouse schools—Teito High from East Tokyo and Hakuryuu High from Gunma Prefecture—both strong contenders for the championship.
Komadai began the quarterfinals with an aggressive offensive stance.
However, Kamijo came prepared with a strategy of airtight defense.
Despite appearing passive, Kamijo managed to hold off Komadai's relentless attacks, keeping the game scoreless through the first five innings.
However, for seasoned spectators, it was clear that Kamijo was on the verge of collapse.
Their coach, fully aware of the situation, had no viable countermeasures.
What was initially planned as a defensive counter-strategy turned futile as Komadai gave them no opportunities to strike back.
By the fifth inning, the disparity became evident.
Kamijo's batting lineup was still in its second cycle, while Komadai's was already well into its third.
The opposing batters were beginning to fully adapt to Kamijo's ace pitcher.
Twice, Komadai had runners on third base, narrowly avoiding giving up runs thanks to their tenacious defense and a bit of luck.
But as the game progressed, Kamijo's hopes dwindled.
In the top of the seventh inning, the stalemate was finally broken.
Komadai's second-year second baseman, Nishi Hideo, hit a double to get on base, igniting their batting lineup.
A flurry of hits followed, including a home run, leading to a staggering six-run inning.
Kamijo's fragile defenses were completely overwhelmed.
The game ended with a decisive score of 9-0, marking Komadai's third consecutive victory over a prestigious team and securing their spot in the semifinals.
Osaka Kiryuu High School vs. Yoshinaga High School: A Slugfest
If the first match was a testament to Komadai's strength, the second match between Osaka Kiryuu High School and Yoshinaga High School was a dazzling display of offense.
Osaka Kiryuu High School, last year's runner-up and boasting the nation's most powerful batting lineup, faced Yoshinaga High School, another team famed for its offensive prowess.
From the very first inning, both teams launched fierce attacks, igniting a heated battle for runs.
The intense competition showcased the strength of both teams' batting lineups, as well as the resilience of their ace pitchers.
Ultimately, Osaka Kiryuu High School outperformed Yoshinaga in both offense and defense, emerging victorious in this explosive showdown.
As the day progressed, the anticipation for the next two matches, including Seidou's battle against Ikuei High School, only continued to grow.
Osaka Kiryuu High School's formidable batting lineup broke through Yoshinaga High School's ace in the fifth inning, forcing them to substitute their second pitcher. However, even the new pitcher couldn't withstand Osaka Kiryuu's relentless offense.
When the third pitcher was called to the mound, they barely managed to stabilize the situation, but in the eighth inning, Yoshinaga's defense was once again torn apart by Kiryuu's overwhelming attack.
On the other side, Kiryuu's ace, Tachi, who had seemed shaky in the early stages of the game, conceding three runs, regained his composure by the fourth inning.
Though Yoshinaga High School continued to hit sporadic singles and managed to add a few more runs, their offense lacked the strength to truly overpower Tachi's pitching.
In the original story, Seihou High School's Shuuzo Sano delivered a decisive hit in the final stages to defeat Osaka Kiryuu. However, in this scenario, Yoshinaga's batting lineup lacked a monster like Sano, leaving them unable to truly break through Tachi's pitching.
The final score was 11-6, with Osaka Kiryu High School securing a decisive victory and advancing to the semifinals.
This set the stage for the next matchup in the semifinals: the winner of Seidou High School vs. Ikuei High School would face Osaka Kiryuu, a powerhouse team from Osaka renowned for its mighty batting lineup.
Third Match: Hanada East High School vs. Yamamori Academy
In the third match, Yamamori's second-year pitcher-catcher duo, the Kotari Twins, showcased their prowess by suppressing Hanada East's batting lineup.
The game concluded with a final score of 5-3, securing Yamamori Academy's spot in the semifinals as the third team to advance.
Yamamori's victory also determined their semifinal opponent: Komadai Fujimaki High School.
The Final Match of the Day: Seidou High School vs. Ikuei High School
With three semifinalists already determined, the remaining teams—Seidou High School and Ikuei High School—were ready to battle for the last spot in the semifinals.
As the ultimate showdown of the day, the stadium buzzed with anticipation.
The other semifinalists, Osaka Kiryuu, Komadai Fujimaki, and Yamamori, would undoubtedly be watching from the stands, eager to see which team would emerge victorious in this clash of titans.
The entire stadium held its breath as the curtain prepared to rise on the final match of the day!
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