章 196: [196] Post-Match Tidbits
Chapter 196: Post-Match Tidbits
The second round came to an end, and Seidou High School secured their second victory with a dominating performance.
While the national audience marveled at Seidou's consistently powerful batting lineup, most of the attention was focused on the standout player of the match—a first-year left-handed pitcher, Sawamura Eijun.
This match marked the true beginning of Eijun's emergence into the public eye.
Baseball fans across the nation couldn't help but remember Eijun's name. His performance in the game against Yokohama Kouhoku Academy was nothing short of sensational.
Shutting out Yokohama Kouhoku without allowing a single run was an extraordinary feat, leaving a deep impression on everyone watching.
So much so that fans eagerly dug up footage and reports of Seidou's games during the West Tokyo Regional Tournament to review his previous performances in detail.
It was only then that they fully realized who the real ace of Seidou High School was.
Eijun's standout performance in the regional finals, in particular, left people in awe.
Not only Asahi Shimbun, but various other major media outlets and news magazines began labeling Eijun as one of the most threatening pitchers of this summer.
While there were still some areas where he could improve, his potential and bright future were enough for everyone to acknowledge this first-year rising star.
Fans and experts alike had ample reasons to believe that Eijun, who already displayed the control and dominance expected of an ace pitcher in his first year, would develop into an even more formidable player by his second and third years.
Even professional scouts started taking note of Eijun. In the previous game, they had just discovered a promising talent in Furuya, a pitcher with incredible potential for development.
And now, in this game, Eijun's brilliance shone even brighter.
That said, compared to the general public's enthusiastic praise, professionals were more reserved in their evaluations.
Furuya's natural talent, particularly his blazing fastball, gave scouts a sense of confidence in his future.
In the current era of baseball, speed isn't everything—control, pitch variety, movement, and power are equally important.
However, velocity remains one of the key factors influencing a pitcher's success.
And Furuya, a player whose fastball might one day reach 160 km/h, represents the ultimate romanticism of pitching.
Moreover, Furuya also shows potential as a strong batter, making him an incredibly high-value prospect. From the scouts' perspective, investing in Furuya seemed like a guaranteed win.
In contrast, while Eijun's current performance and potential were impressive, they hadn't yet reached the level where scouts were ready to make decisive moves.
First, it was still early—he was only a first-year student, and his future remained uncertain.
Second, Eijun hadn't shown anything that truly set him apart from a professional standpoint.
The gap between high school baseball and the professional leagues is significant, after all.
So, although Eijun's performance was more consistent and outstanding than Furuya's at this stage, the scouts still held higher expectations for Furuya's future.
This was the prevailing consensus among professionals.
Of course, this was partly because Eijun hadn't fully demonstrated his potential yet.
Once his Numbers series pitches were unleashed, there was no doubt that Eijun's value could rival—or even surpass—that of Furuya.
For the general public, however, such detailed considerations weren't necessary.
Based on his current performance, Eijun clearly garnered more admiration.
After all, isn't an ace pitcher defined as someone who can lead the team to victory and serve as its backbone?
The ace pitcher of Seidou High, the king's team, was undeniably Eijun.
In this context, a quiet consensus was reached, and Eijun's status as the ace pitcher was universally acknowledged.
The day after the game, at Seidou High School's lodging, the players were ready for their next step forward.
After finishing his self-training session, Eijun soaked in a bath, refreshing both body and mind.
Feeling rejuvenated, he returned to his room only to find Miyuki seated at the desk, deeply engrossed in some documents.
Curious, Eijun approached quietly and asked, "Miyuki-senpai, what are you reading?"
Miyuki had already noticed Eijun the moment he walked in.
Hearing his question, he smiled and waved the newspaper in his hand, a mischievous grin on his face. "Just some reports about yesterday's games. Almost all the papers mentioned you. You're a national sensation now, Sawamura."
Raising an eyebrow, Eijun took the newspaper from Miyuki.
Just as Miyuki said, the entire page was filled with reports about baseball matches.
The four second-round games held yesterday were all briefly summarized.
On the front page, the headline boldly read: "King Seidou Defeats Kanagawa's Powerhouse—First-Year Southpaw Shines."
The featured photo, placed prominently in the center, captured the moment Eijun struck out Yokohama Kouhoku Academy's cleanup hitter.
The dynamic shot was full of energy and presence, making it a perfect highlight.
Being a teenager at heart, Eijun couldn't completely suppress the bubbling excitement within him as he read the article.
Every young athlete dreams of being a hero, and seeing himself in such a spotlight brought undeniable joy.
His lips curled into a faint smile, betraying his inner emotions.
However, Miyuki's teasing grin from the side quickly brought him back to reality.
Clearing his throat, Eijun tried to compose himself, forcing a calm demeanor. "Hmm, the report is pretty detailed," he said nonchalantly.
But it was too late. His initial reaction had already given away his true feelings.
Miyuki leaned closer, still grinning mischievously. "Heh, you're happy, aren't you? Feels like a real accomplishment, doesn't it?"
"Not at all," Eijun replied awkwardly, trying to maintain his composure. "The tournament's not over yet. Let's talk about achievements after it's all said and done."
Having his thoughts exposed made him feel a bit embarrassed, especially in front of someone like Miyuki, whose sly nature only added to his discomfort.
All Eijun could manage was a dry response, hoping to deflect the conversation.
Miyuki burst into laughter, his loud chuckles only deepening Eijun's embarrassment.
His face darkened as he glared at his senpai, muttering to himself, This guy will never have friends in his lifetime.
Read the room! Read the room!
Eijun inwardly screamed, his embarrassment now mixed with frustration.
"Alright, alright, let's get to the point," Eijun quickly shifted the topic, knowing Miyuki would continue teasing him if given the chance.
Talking about baseball was always a reliable way to steer the conversation back on track.
Miyuki's passion for the game was undeniable, and even if he knew Eijun was changing the subject, he wouldn't resist.
"I've been thinking about my pitching from yesterday's game," Eijun said, successfully grabbing Miyuki's attention.
Miyuki's expression turned serious.
He had already noticed some things during Eijun's performance yesterday and had planned to discuss it with him today.
Now that Eijun brought it up himself, it was the perfect opportunity to exchange thoughts and perhaps even test some ideas.
Of course, Miyuki had one more thought in mind: We can always get back to teasing after we're done talking shop.
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