V7_Chapter 30: Focused Mind

By the end of the seventh inning, the score remained 3-0, with Seidou High School still in the lead.

Sankou High School's prospects for a comeback were looking increasingly bleak at this stage.

Although they had a somewhat lucky hit earlier, Sawamura’s spectacular double play had negated that hit.

By the time the game reached the eighth inning, Sankou High School had only cycled through their lineup twice, with the third round reaching their fourth batter.

In contrast, Seidou High School had already cycled through their lineup four times by the eighth inning.

For Seidou High School, this inning’s offense wasn’t particularly critical; it was mostly about expanding their lead.

However, for Sankou High School, it was a different story.

This was almost their last chance to attack.

If the middle-order batters, positions four, five, and six, couldn’t produce any results now, their game would essentially be over.

Relying on the lower-order batters to hit against Sawamura’s pitching to score runs was a desperate hope.

The players and coaches of Sankou High School dared not even imagine such a scenario.

Such a scenario was too beautiful to contemplate.

Before the start of the eighth inning, both teams’ coaches rallied their players.

Coach Kataoka of Seidou first scrutinized the opponents and then turned to his own team.

“There is no doubt that we control the game. As it nears its end, your task is very simple: give your all, score runs, and extend our victory. Understood?”

“Yes!”

Seidou High School’s players had no reason not to agree.

They all nodded confidently and affirmed their commitment.

In the top of the eighth inning, Seidou High School began their offense.

The first batter was Asou, the ninth batter.

Ping!

“OUT!”

He failed to create a miracle and was quickly retired.

One Out, no one on base.

Now it was the turn of the first batter, Kuramochi.

He stepped up to the plate to face Amahisa Kousei’s challenge.

Whoosh!

The white ball, accompanied by a sharp whooshing sound, appeared before Kuramochi.

Kuramochi puffed out his cheeks and swung his bat with all his might.

Ping!

The moment the bat hit the ball, Kuramochi felt his hands sink, nearly losing his grip on the bat.

Without pitching count management due to pressure, Amahisa’s pitching had far exceeded that of Sawamura.

Up to now, he had thrown nearly a hundred pitches.

‘Unexpectedly, his pitch speed and power remained as strong as ever.’

Kuramochi was forced to contend with the opponent’s power as he swung.

The ball struck the bat and flew out, bouncing towards third base.

Snap!

Sankou’s third baseman caught the ball securely and threw it to first base.

“OUT!”

Two Outs, no one on base.

In the latter part of the inning, Kousei was outstanding.

He effectively suppressed Seidou’s rising lineup.

“This guy!”

Kuramochi glared at his opponent with a grim expression.

In this game, he had only reached base once. If that hit didn’t turn into a score, Kuramochi would feel embarrassment for the training he did.

‘Amahisa Kousei!’

Even during Kuramochi’s time in Koshien, there were only a few pitchers with this level of skill.

“Second batter, second baseman, Kominato-kun!”

At this moment, it was Kominato Haruichi’s turn.

When he stepped into the Batter’s Box, he seemed to enter an inexplicable state.

The bat was raised high, and his eyes were locked onto the pitcher’s mound.

No one knew what Haruichi was thinking at this moment.

Perhaps he was thinking of nothing at all.

The only thought in his mind was to hit the incoming baseball.

Whoosh!

Amahisa’s pitching power remained undiminished.

Haruichi was equally determined.

He gritted his teeth and struck the ball hard.

Paak!

No one knew exactly what he was timing, but his swing was precise.

The bat made accurate contact with the center of the ball, sending the white ball flying.

“Nice!”

“Well done!”

“Kominato!”

Haruichi was stunned as he watched the ball soar.

‘Good, very good.’

At this moment, getting a hit and extending the lineup to Sawamura and Miyuki Kazuya had significant strategic value.

Kominato trotted to first base after his hit.

The situation was now two Outs with a runner on first base.

“Third batter, pitcher, Sawamura-kun.”

Now it was Sawamura’s turn to bat.

Whenever Sawamura stepped into the Batter’s Box, the crowd’s cheers became particularly synchronized.

“Sawamura!”

“Sawamura!!!”

With strong support from Sawamura Eijun’s two major fan clubs, the crowd chanted his name in unison.

They never grew tired of it.

In the last corner of the stands, Lee Hyun watched in admiration.

It was exhilarating for him!

Being in the spotlight and enjoying the cheers of thousands was unparalleled.

He wanted that too!

While the audience was lively, Sawamura remained focused.

He didn’t let himself get carried away by the crowd’s excitement.

He focused intently on Amahisa on the mound, waiting for the pitch.

Bring it!!!

At this moment, Sawamura’s mind was extremely calm.

His intense focus made him seem oblivious to everything around him; he couldn’t hear or see anything else.

In his vision, there was only Kousei on the mound and the white ball in his hand.

Let me hit it!!

He couldn’t wait for the ball to come.

At this moment, Sawamura felt his vision sharpen slightly; he could see every bead of sweat on Amahisa’s face and the direction in which it flowed.

Including the ball that Kousei was about to pitch.

‘Here it comes!’

After what felt like countless moments, the ball finally flew over.

Eijun had waited so long for this moment that it seemed like time had stopped.

Fortunately, the ball finally came.

The pitch just thrown was a vertical slider.

Even though Sawamura had hit this pitch before, Amahisa still believed in it.

‘He was so confident in his pitching that he trusted it would win the game.’

At a critical moment, how could he abandon his winning shot?

‘You really are a fool!’

Timing it perfectly, Sawamura Eijun used all his strength to smash the ball.

PIIIIING!!!!!

The ball soared high into the sky.

All eyes in the stadium were locked onto the ball, following its ascent and descent with bated breath.

“Hey!”

A collective sigh of disappointment swept through the Seidou High School fans, especially Sawamura’s supporters.

What a shame.

The ball was just five or six meters away from leaving the field.

Had it gone out, it would have been a two-run homer, enough to secure victory.

But now, unfortunately, no home run benefit would come.

Since Sawamura had hit the ball so far, the players from Sankou High School had retreated thoroughly.

Their outfielders quickly retrieved the ball and threw it back.

The solid hit only allowed Haruichi and Sawamura to advance two bases.

It was a small disappointment.

The crowd was disheartened, but Sawamura understood what was happening.

The recoil from the bat was still very strong in his hands.

Even now, his palms were slightly numb.

Had he not seen it with his own eyes, Sawamura would have had a hard time believing that someone could throw a breaking ball with such sharpness.

‘It was simply incredible.’

No matter what Sawamura thought privately, the fact was that he lacked the strength to hit such a powerful ball out of the field.

If he wanted to elevate his hitting further, Sawamura needed to work hard in this area.

…