Chapitre 228: [228] The Opening of the Ikuei Battle
Chapter 228: The Opening of the Ikuei Battle
In the third game at Koshien Stadium, as the match between Hanada East High School and Yamamori Academy reached its final stages, the players of Seidou High School and Ikuei High School arrived outside the Hanshin Koshien Stadium.
The victory of Komadai Fujimaki High School was briefly set aside.
When news of Osaka Kiryuu High School's win came through, a subtle change in the expressions of the Seidou players on the bus was noticeable.
The schedule was already laid out: if Seidou advanced to the semifinals, they would face Osaka Kiryuu High School.
The two teams had previously played a practice game, making them somewhat familiar with each other.
However, that was just a practice game.
It was uncertain how much effort Osaka Kiryuu had put into that match.
Moreover, nearly two months had passed since then.
Who could say how much Osaka Kiryuu had improved in that time?
It was worth noting that Seidou's own growth had been remarkable.
Just looking at Eijun and Furuya, their development was astonishing.
After the final against Inashiro Industrial, Eijun seemed to have undergone a transformation.
Inspired by Eijun, Furuya had evolved earlier than expected.
Coupled with Tanba's improvements, Seidou's pitching lineup was now at a completely different level.
Given Seidou's own progress, it was hard to believe Osaka Kiryuu High School hadn't made any changes.
That said, these were matters to consider only after advancing to the semifinals.
For Seidou, the most pressing concern was their immediate opponent. Only by defeating Ikuei High School could they earn the right to look forward to a showdown with Osaka Kiryuu.
Otherwise, everything else would be meaningless.
Hanshin Koshien Stadium.
Even in the afternoon, many fans who had been watching since the morning couldn't contain their enthusiasm for baseball.
When the players from Seidou High School and Ikuei High School appeared outside the dugouts, the crowd erupted.
"Ohhhhhhhh!!!"
"Seidou! Seidou! Seidou!"
"Ikuei! Ikuei! Ikuei!"
"Take that last spot!"
"Ikuei, unbeatable!"
"Seidou, the champions!"
"Natsume-sensei, we're counting on you! Lead the team to victory!"
"Kataoka-sensei, go for it! We believe in you; you can win this game!"
"Kimura, Sato, we're here for you! Keep them under control!"
"Sawamura, Tanba, Furuya!"
"Yanagishita!"
"Yuuki, Isashiki!"
"Go, push forward!"
The immense Koshien Stadium resonated with the powerful cheers from both teams' supporters, each trying to outdo the other not just in skill but in morale as well.
Under this fervent support, the tens of thousands of neutral spectators joined in with thunderous applause.
Even in the last game of the quarterfinals, the enthusiasm of the audience—both in the stadium and nationwide—remained undiminished.
On the first-base side, Ikuei High School stood led by Coach Natsume. Captain Yanagishita was at the forefront, followed by Kimura, Sano, and others in a solemn line, all facing Seidou High School with serious expressions.
On the third-base side, Seidou High School was equally composed. Coach Kataoka stood with his arms crossed, and Yuuki led the lineup, with Eijun and the others forming a straight column, mirroring the solemnity as they faced Ikuei High School.
Two powerhouse teams, equal in attention but different in style, shared the same goal. There could be only one winner.
...
"On the field, there are no absolute victors, nor are there destined losers. We are here not to collect souvenirs but to claim victory! No matter who our opponents are, we must always uphold our baseball philosophy. Our methods may change, but our beliefs must remain steadfast. Push forward! Victory belongs to those with unshakable faith!" Coach Natsume passionately exclaimed.
"Yes!!!"
...
"We've made it this far not because of anything else but because of our own strength. Trust yourselves on defense, trust yourselves when swinging the bat. Hard work never betrays you. The opponent is strong, but we must be stronger. Step forward with courage. Victory will be ours. Do not fear, do not hesitate, do not falter. Believe in yourselves, and we will reach the pinnacle we've been aiming for. Now go!"
On this side, Coach Kataoka also raised his voice passionately, addressing the Seidou players.
"Yes!!!" Yuuki, Eijun, and the rest of the team responded loudly, refusing to be outdone.
On the field, the players' resounding shouts ignited the sparks of battle between the two teams.
"Line up."
"Salute."
"Please take care of us!!!"
The roaring sounds of the crowd surged.
The fourth game of the Summer Championship quarterfinals was about to begin: Seidou High School vs. Ikuei High School.
...
"Top of the first inning, Seidou High School on the offense. Leading off, shortstop, Kuramochi-kun!"
According to the draw, Seidou would bat first, while Ikuei would defend.
This was precisely the situation Seidou wanted.
Their strategy was clear: start with an aggressive offense to establish an early lead.
The plan was to disrupt the opponent's pitching rhythm as soon as possible, forcing them to bring out their ace pitcher early.
If they could achieve this, the scales of victory would tip in Seidou's favor.
From the dugout, Coach Kataoka made a gesture as if gripping a bat, his expression calm as he watched the field.
Kuramochi adjusted his cap, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips as he stepped into the batter's box.
"Please take care of me," Kuramochi said politely, touching his cap and bowing slightly before shifting his focus to the pitcher's mound, where Sato stood.
Kuramochi assumed his batting stance with unwavering determination.
Behind the plate, Ikuei's catcher gave Kuramochi a cautious glance. Subtly, he signaled a few signs to Sato, who nodded with a serious expression.
Of all the Seidou players, Kuramochi was the one they absolutely could not allow on base.
His threat level was far too high.
If he got on base, it would be as dangerous as giving up a home run—guaranteeing Seidou a run. No matter what, they had to suppress him during this first at-bat.
...
When it came to scouting and analysis, Ikuei High School was no less thorough than Seidou—perhaps even more so.
This had already been proven in previous matches.
The defensive players of Ikuei had memorized every detail of Seidou's player characteristics.
...
Whoosh!
Ping!
Bang!
"Foul ball!"
The interaction between Sato and the catcher was entirely focused on exploiting Kuramochi's weaknesses.
Kuramochi's lack of power hitting was currently his biggest flaw. While his batting eye was decent, it still lagged behind players like Ryousuke.
Ryousuke once commented that Kuramochi was an overly ambitious player.
He wanted to improve in all aspects, which led to most of his abilities—aside from his elite-level speed and bunting skills—hovering around the average mark.
Thus, Ikuei's strategy targeted these very vulnerabilities, determined to neutralize Kuramochi's impact.
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