[200] On the Field

Chapter 200: On the Field

When Coach Kataoka shifted his gaze to Furuya and made the announcement, the reaction among those present was telling.

Most displayed a hint of surprise, while only a select few—such as Rei Takashima, Chris, and Miyuki—remained calm and collected.

Even Yuuki's pupils briefly reflected astonishment. Generally, the consensus had been that Eijun would start this match.

From every angle—be it form, skill, or overall ability—Eijun seemed the obvious choice.

If one had to suggest an alternative, Tanba would have been the next likely candidate.

But to everyone's surprise, Coach Kataoka chose Furuya to start in this critical game.

Even Furuya himself wore an expression of utter disbelief, as if he couldn't comprehend that he had been given the starting position.

"Yes, sir!"

After a brief moment of shock, Furuya quickly replied in a soft yet firm voice.

Unable to understand the decision, he decided not to dwell on it.

For Furuya, just being on the mound was enough.

Since joining Seidou High, another desire had taken root within him: the will to keep winning alongside this team.

Beyond that, Furuya rarely overthinks things—it simply doesn't suit his straightforward personality.

After all, he's just a pure-hearted kid.

Coach Kataoka nodded, a hint of satisfaction appearing on his face.

At that moment, Eijun couldn't help but display a trace of confusion.

He had been ready to respond affirmatively, fully expecting to start.

The announcement caught him off guard.

However, after a moment of reflection, he began to grasp Coach Kataoka's reasoning.

Firstly, while Furuya's performance could be inconsistent, his blazing fastballs and newly mastered split-finger fastball—the so-called "magic pitch"—could effectively shut down Seihou High's batting lineup for at least one cycle.

This was the foundational premise of Kataoka's decision.

Secondly, as previously discussed, facing a powerhouse like Seihou required overwhelming them with momentum.

Even on defense, Seidou needed to project an aggressive stance, disrupting Seihou's rhythm with a fast-paced approach.

This strategy might create offensive opportunities for Seidou.

Thirdly, in the previous game, Eijun had already pitched seven innings.

As the tournament progressed and matches became more frequent, managing the pitching rotation became crucial.

If Seidou aimed for the pinnacle of victory, distributing the workload among their pitchers was essential.

Relying on a single pitcher for the entire summer would be unrealistic.

Even before the team's limits were tested, the pitcher would be worn out—an unsustainable strategy.

Thus, utilizing a relief pitching strategy became a necessity.

The specific approach would vary depending on the team's dynamics and the skill gap between the pitchers.

For Seidou, their diverse pitching roster allowed for such flexibility.

With four pitchers of distinct styles, the team could adjust to various scenarios, giving them a tactical advantage.

Of course, this was all theoretical.

The actual plan would depend on how tomorrow's game unfolded.

After understanding these points, the crowd collectively displayed expressions of realization.

"Lastly, Sawamura," Kataoka turned his attention to Eijun. "You'll start as the left fielder. Warm up your shoulder and be ready to step onto the mound at any moment. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" Eijun replied loudly.

Internally, however, he couldn't help but feel a bit amused.

It was exactly as he had predicted—he would start, just not as a pitcher.

It seemed that if he ever lost his spot on the mound, transitioning to an outfielder might not be a bad career move after all.

Eijun internally chuckled to himself, muttering a lighthearted self-criticism.

"Seihou High is a team that can unleash fierce attacks even in desperate situations. Until the final moment of the game, as long as victory isn't secured, no one is allowed to relax. We must give everything to crush them—victory is ours to claim!"

Coach Kataoka's sharp gaze swept over everyone present as he delivered these solemn words.

"Yes, sir!" Seidou's first-string players responded in unison, their voices loud and resolute.

The night was tranquil, bathed in bright moonlight, as the tension ahead of the epic clash between Seidou High and Seihou High grew palpable.

...

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight lit up the horizon, the area around Hanshin Koshien Stadium was already bustling with excitement.

Over the next two days, this iconic field would host eight thrilling games, each a fierce contest between top-tier teams.

From Seidou High's face-off against Seihou High to the battles between Komadai Fujimaki High and Hakuryuu High, Osaka Kiryuu and Yoshinaga High, and five other equally compelling matchups, the nation's baseball fans were captivated.

Every game promised to be a showcase of youthful determination and competitive spirit, making this summer's tournament the pinnacle celebration of the sport.

The first game of the day featured Komadai Fujimaki High against Hakuryuu High.

Komadai Fujimaki, the northern powerhouse, faced Hakuryuu High, known for its exceptional base-running speed.

For the spectators, this game promised to be an electrifying spectacle.

From the outset, both teams fiercely contested every single point, hit, and pitch.

Hakuryuu High's incredible base-running speed, averaging 4.1 seconds to reach base, initially allowed them to control the game's tempo.

Their first two batters, both capable of reaching base in under 4 seconds, put immense pressure on Komadai Fujimaki's defense with their aggressive running.

In the first inning, second-year batter Soichirou Mima reached base with an infield hit and, relying solely on his legs, dashed home to secure the first run.

This early lead gave Hakuryuu the upper hand in the initial phase of the game.

However, after that lone run, scoring became increasingly difficult for Hakuryuu High, even with additional hits and runners on base.

Meanwhile, Komadai Fujimaki's batting lineup gradually began to put pressure on Hakuryuu High's third-year ace pitcher.

The turning point came in the sixth inning. With runners on first and second, Komadai Fujimaki's cleanup hitter, delivered a three-run home run that smashed into the electronic scoreboard, completely reversing the flow of the game.

In response, Hakuryuu High's Coach Sasaki quickly substituted pitchers, bringing in second-year reliever Shintarou Ouno, who managed to halt Komadai Fujimaki's offense temporarily.

However, Ouno was unable to effectively suppress Komadai Fujimaki's batting lineup, and in the eighth inning, they scored another two runs, sealing Hakuryuu High's fate.

Even in the bottom of the ninth inning, Hakuryuu High gave it their all, managing to score one run off Komadai Fujimaki's closer, Masamune Hongou. However, it wasn't enough to change the outcome of the game.

The final score of the first match was 5-2, with Komadai Fujimaki High emerging victorious and becoming the first team to advance to the quarterfinals!

-----------------

If you want to read 10 advance chapters ahead.

Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Leonzky