章節 130: [130] Advancing to the Finals!
Chapter 130: Advancing to the Finals!
After the fifth inning, Seidou High School completely took control of the game's rhythm.
In the top of the sixth inning, despite some adjustments in Sensen High School's defensive formation, they barely managed to prevent any runs from being scored. However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, they did score one run against Furuya, who had just taken the mound, reducing the lead to four runs.
But in the top of the seventh inning, Seidou High School quickly responded.
"Whoosh!"
Clang!!!
A powerful sound echoed.
At the plate, Eijun swiftly connected with a fastball thrown by Sensen High School's second pitcher, Hino, sending it out with a powerful swing.
Bang!
The ball shot through the gap between first and second base, landing in front of the right fielder.
Thanks to Eijun's hit, Miyuki, who was on third base, raced back to home plate to score. This added another run for Seidou, following the earlier run driven in by a senior's hit.
The scoreboard flickered in the top of the seventh, showing "3," as Seidou widened their lead to seven runs.
"Great hit, Sawamura!!!"
"Kid, you're on fire today!!!"
"Wow, that's your second RBI, right!?"
"Haha, maybe you should switch to playing outfield! Your defense is getting sharper too!"
"Yeah, exactly."
As Eijun quickly reached first base, various playful remarks came from the dugout, causing him to grimace.
I'm supposed to be on the mound, not in the outfield!
Eijun thought with some frustration. He had, after all, been stuck playing outfield for seven innings that day.
Eijun's timely hit turned out to be the final blow for Sensen High School. When even a first-year pitcher from Seidou's lower lineup could manage a hit, it dealt a significant psychological blow to Sensen.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Furuya, who had been holding back frustration from not being able to pitch earlier in the game and from conceding a run in the previous inning, unleashed his full strength.
With a fastball clocking in at 150 km/h, Sensen High School's batters stood no chance.
Moreover, thanks to Eijun's rapid progress, Furuya's control had also improved.
Though he still struggled with the corners, his ability to keep the ball low and within the strike zone showed significant improvement.
Adding a splitter as his finishing pitch, Furuya, though not yet ready to face top-tier hitters, had no trouble shutting down Sensen's lineup.
The run he gave up in the previous inning was simply due to his lack of rhythm from not having pitched in a while.
In the bottom of the seventh, a fully adjusted Furuya brought tremendous pressure with each pitch.
His fierce fastballs and overwhelming presence left Sensen's players quietly lamenting inside.
This guy doesn't feel like a first-year pitcher at all.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, apart from one walk, Furuya shut down the other three batters. The seventh inning ended without further runs.
Whoosh
Pop!
"Strike, batter out."
"Game over!!!!!!"
"With the first-year pitcher Furuya securing the final out, Seidou High School wins 10-3 in a decisive game, defeating Sensen High School. After three years, Seidou is advancing to the finals once again!!!!!!"
"Whoa!!! We won!!!"
"The finals, here we come!!!"
"Haha, this time, we're definitely going to Koshien!!!"
"Furuya!!! Nice pitch!!!"
"Seidou! Seidou! Seidou!"
Seidou High School secured victory in the first semifinal match against Sensen High School, advancing to the finals. The dugout and cheering section erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.
"Line up!!"
"Salute!"
"Thank you for the game!!!"
The contrasting expressions and spirits of the two teams marked the end of the semifinal at Jingu Stadium—Seidou celebrated, while Sensen was left in sorrow.
Seidou had smoothly advanced to the finals, where their final obstacle would be the reigning champion of West Tokyo—Inashiro Industrial.
Eijun's eyes gleamed with a special light as he clenched his fists before releasing them.
This time, Seidou would claim the one and only ticket to Koshien. It was time for the king to rise again and show the world what they were capable of!
Eijun's teammates also cheered along. Although they hadn't seen him pitch, his dynamic presence in the outfield and his impressive performance at the plate, along with the team's victory, brought immense joy to everyone.
"We won, Eijun won!"
"So, next up is the finals, right?"
"Wow, just one more win, and it's off to Koshien?"
"Yeah, yeah, that's right!"
"Let's go, Eijun should be coming out soon, right?"
Eijun's friends were eagerly anticipating his appearance. After more than four months, they were finally seeing him again.
They were especially curious to see what kind of reaction Eijun would have when he saw them.
Outside Jingu Stadium, Eijun was momentarily taken aback when he saw them, then rubbed his forehead with a smile, shaking his head.
How could he have forgotten? This scene had even appeared in the original story.
Seeing his friends suddenly appear before him, Eijun's lips curled into a warm, soft smile.
"Eijun!!!" Every one of them beamed with genuine smiles when they saw him.
Time might pass, but their pure friendship would never change.
"You're here? Why didn't you tell me?" Eijun walked over with a smile.
"Hehe," Shin and the others scratched the backs of their heads and grinned without saying much. But their expressions made it clear they had wanted to surprise him.
Beside them, Wakana had been smiling gently the whole time. When she saw Eijun, she flashed a radiant smile, her youthful beauty shining through.
For a moment, Eijun was slightly stunned.
Short-haired girls could be both cute and charming.
Of course, his momentary distraction quickly passed, and none of his friends, including Wakana, noticed.
"You were awesome today, Eijun!" Shin gave him a thumbs up, laughing. "But it's a shame we didn't get to see you pitch."
"Yeah, Eijun, I almost thought you switched to playing outfield instead of being a pitcher."
"That hit just now was amazing, Eijun! It's just like you!"
Surrounded by his friends, all of them brimming with excitement, Eijun felt a warm and comforting atmosphere in his heart. These were his close friends, the ones who had grown up with him.
"Yeah, it was the coach's decision today, but in the next game, I'll definitely be pitching!" Eijun said with confidence, waving his hand as he smiled.
"Yeah!!!"
His friends, who had always seen him as their hero, believed him without question.
"Just one more game, Eijun, and you'll be going to Koshien!"
"Yeah, just one more!" Eijun's eyes flickered with a golden glow. "I'll win that game and let you see me pitch at Koshien!!!"
"Yeah!!!"
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