One Out, and a runner on second base!
At this moment, the offense for the Seidou High School baseball team is not over yet.
However, the points they have already scored are enough to secure the victory.
5:0
This is a score that surprises everyone who sees it.
Considering that it's only the top of the fifth inning.
In this critically important game, the Seidou High School baseball team might even end the game early.
Although they still have a bit to go to reach a ten-run advantage, in the next two or three innings, as long as Seidou High School scores two more points than their opponent, they should be able to meet the conditions for an early ending of the game.
Although such a situation has occurred in the history of West Tokyo, it's not something that happens all the time.
However, seeing it today in this match, between Seidou and Yakushi, still shocks the spectators.
Especially when comparing Seidou High School's baseball team with the former powerhouse, Ichidaisan High School, who once stood side by side with them.
The shock is even greater.
As one of the three great powerhouses in West Tokyo, Sankou High School was struggling when they faced the Yakushi High School baseball team.
Sankou High School was caught completely off guard and was beaten by a first-year pitcher from the opposing team.
Now, the same opponent faces the Seidou High School baseball team.
And the result is completely different.
The Seidou High School baseball team only needed five innings to secure the win.
Although the scoreline changed significantly in the last inning, with Seidou High School scoring four runs in a row,
It's undeniable that the strength of Seidou High School compared to Sankou High School is starkly clear.
Is Sankou High School really that weak?
Of course not. As a top national powerhouse, even a dying camel is bigger than a horse.
Moreover, Sankou High School is still among the best, both in terms of batting lineup and defense.
If we're being honest, the situation here is that Seidou High School's strength has simply increased.
The same goes for Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team.
In contrast, Sankou High School just hasn't kept up.
"DRAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
Maezono, who had already reached second base, shouted loudly after standing there for more than ten seconds.
The surrounding people were all startled.
The spectators in the stands were equally thrilled.
They didn't know exactly what had happened to Maezono, but it seemed like something interesting had occurred.
No one could really understand what Maezono was feeling right now—only he knew.
The small flame of anger in his heart had finally exploded.
It seemed that this hit might erase some of the stains on his previous performance.
If he can have a few more moments like this, no one will ever doubt him again.
The sense of relief he felt made Maezono feel so good that he almost forgot himself.
"Not calm at all!"
Coach Kataoka muttered while crossing his arms.
Although he complained, there wasn't a trace of anger on his face.
"He's had a rough time lately, too."
The team President, Ota, awkwardly explained.
The team President of Seidou High School's baseball club had a bit of an easy-going, good-natured vibe.
While the Seidou High School baseball team was light-hearted, the atmosphere around the Yakushi High School baseball team was tense.
When Seidou High School scored their second run, they had already realized that their chances of a comeback were almost non-existent. Now, Seidou had a 5-point lead.
The players of Yakushi High School had completely lost their confidence.
In the stands, Baseball Kingdom magazine's reporter, Owada Akiko, had been cheering along with the Seidou fans.
After the cheering stopped, she turned to ask her senior.
"Does Yakushi High School's baseball team still have a chance?"
When she asked this, Owada Akiko already knew the answer in her mind.
Yakushi High School's baseball team had no hope left.
None at all.
Fujio didn't disagree with her.
With a 5:0 score, Seidou High School's pitcher on the mound is Sawamura Eijun.
From any angle, Yakushi High School had no chance.
The only question now is what they'll do.
'Will they make a substitution? Or will they leave the pitcher in?'
These two options represent two very different attitudes from Yakushi High School.
Fujio was curious about what the Coach, Todoroki Raizou, would choose.
His choice could reveal Yakushi High School's next strategic move.
In the dugout, the always laid-back Raizou finally stood up and took action.
"Yakushi High School's players are shifting positions and outfielder Sanada…"
At that moment, Sanada was substituted onto the pitcher's mound.
Igarashi Sora, who had been hit with a super long hit, was immediately taken off the mound without even a second's pause.
Fujio, seeing this, couldn't help but comment,
"It looks like Yakushi High School isn't giving up on this game just yet."
Beside him, Owada Akiko gave him a confused look, her eyes seemed to speak without words.
"Why?"
Although she didn't say a word, her eyes clearly expressed her confusion.
"Given Yakushi High School's situation, although their other first-year pitcher has potential, it's clear he hasn't reached the national top level yet. At least not at this moment. This means that once the third years graduate, Yakushi's next Ace should be this guy in front of us."
Igarashi Sora.
Although he still has a lot of immaturity and flaws, he possesses the qualities of a top-level pitcher.
His past experiences also give a hint of this.
After all, he had once been a pitcher of the national team. Without some real skill, he wouldn't have been in that position.
Not to mention that his current team did quite well.
They may not have won the championship, but they've been runners-up several times and have never fallen out of the top four.
With such a foundation and talent, Igarashi Sora is undoubtedly Yakushi High School's next Ace.
At 5:0, if Raizou had already given up on the outcome,
He wouldn't have been so conflicted and would have just left Igarashi on the mound.
This loss would make Igarashi grow tremendously.
From the perspective of nurturing the future Ace, keeping Igarashi Sora on the mound right now would be the best choice.
This experience would make him clearly realize the difference between high school and middle school baseball.
If he has the talent, once he realizes this huge gap, he will certainly improve even further.
However, Raizou didn't do that. He didn't leave Igarashi Sora on the mound but substituted Sanada Shunpei instead.
"This shows that, compared to developing an Ace, Raizou cares more about the outcome of this game."
Since he made this decision, they will not give up on this game.
"I wonder if Sanada can control the situation on the mound after coming in?"
Fujio's worry wasn't unwarranted.
Next up are the sixth and seventh batters, Shiratsu and Toujou.
Both have solid skills and their batting techniques are quite refined.
Sanada didn't perform perfectly in the previous game against Sankou High School.
If it weren't for Igarashi Sora's last-minute rescue, the outcome for Yakushi might have been very different.
Now, after just one night, is it really okay to have Sanada pitch in such a critical situation?
Fujio had doubts.
On the mound, Sanada wasn't thinking too much.
He was calm, neither happy nor sad, as if all outside distractions were blocked off from him.
The members of Yakushi High School's baseball team, however, showed some unease.
They looked at the pitcher's mound with a bit of worry.
After a while, Sanada suddenly smiled sincerely.
"It's actually quite a mess!"
The players of Yakushi High School, hearing their Ace's self-deprecation, could only helplessly smile along with him.
Then, Sanada opened his arms, and the once-noisy stadium fell into complete silence.
Everyone was waiting to hear what this newly substituted Ace from Yakushi would say.
"I'll let them hit it. The rest is up to you guys."
Sanada said this not with a loud shout, but casually as if it were a gentle breeze.
But for Yakushi High School's players, it felt like they had received a great charge.
They all blushed, not sure if it was from excitement or the sun.
"We'll catch the ball, so don't worry, just pitch!"
"Senpai, it's all up to you!"
"The battle against the hunting king, Seidou High School, begins now."
From that moment on, the entire atmosphere of the Yakushi High School baseball team changed.
In Seidou High School's dugout, Coach Kataoka and Coach Ochiai exchanged a look of shock.
They saw seriousness in each other's eyes.
Ever since Sanada stepped onto the mound, the style of Yakushi High School's baseball team had undergone a drastic change.
Without even pitching yet, the players had already started to reorganize around him.
"When it comes to the team's influence, Sanada Shunpei is truly the Ace of Yakushi High School's baseball team."
His words were enough to raise the team's spirits.
This wasn't the first time Seidou High School had seen something like this.
Their own Ace, Sawamura Eijun, also had a similar ability.
And interestingly, the words these two said when they stepped onto the mound were almost identical.
…