[245] News Report

Chapter 245: News Report

"Good morning, everyone! Welcome to our regular broadcast. Today, we're fortunate to have Wada-kun with us. The quarterfinals concluded yesterday, and the four semifinalists have been decided. What are your thoughts on yesterday's matches, Wada-kun? Were there any surprising outcomes or results that exceeded your expectations?"

"Yesterday's matches? If we're talking about surprises, it would have to be the third game between Hanada East High and Yamamori High. Most people, myself included, expected Hanada East High to win. However, Yamamori High managed to pull off an unexpected victory, which was quite surprising. As for the other three games, while the processes varied, the outcomes were largely as expected."

"That's true. Before the game, most people had their bets on Hanada East. The incident in the sixth inning was a bit unfortunate, wasn't it?"

"No, I wouldn't call it an accident. It was the result of Yamamori High's well-executed strategy and the brilliant performance of the Kotari brothers. The fifth-inning pitching change completely shut down Hanada East High's offense. While the sixth inning sealed the result, the signs were evident from the fifth inning onwards."

"Indeed. Hanada East High didn't make any critical mistakes, but Yamamori High's skill was simply superior."

"So, among yesterday's matches, which one do you think was the most exciting, Wada-kun?"

"In terms of entertainment, without a doubt, the second game between Osaka Kiryuu High and Yoshinaga High. Osaka Kiryuu High's ace and cleanup hitter, Hiromi Tachi, was outstanding. His resilience as a pitcher and leadership as a batter were the keys to Osaka Kiryuu's victory."

"Yoshinaga High's batting lineup was exceptionally strong and pushed Osaka Kiryuu High to the brink. They were just one step away from victory. The most thrilling aspect was watching Yoshinaga's relentless batting attack against Osaka Kiryuu's defense, led by Hiromi Tachi. That balance of power was incredible to watch."

"As for the other three games, the match between Hanada East and Yamamori has already been discussed."

"In the first game, Komadai Fujimaki continued their dark horse run. Throughout the match, they gave Kamijo Academy no chances. From start to finish, Komadai Fujimaki, the northern powerhouse, proved their dominance. They're the biggest contender for the championship this summer."

"Finally, the game between Seidou High and Ikuei High was the most straightforward. While the first half had some unexpected moments, the outcome was predictable. Seidou High's pitching depth is impressive, but their starting pitcher choices still have room for improvement, especially compared to Komadai Fujimaki High."

"That might be due to the fact that two of Seidou's main pitchers are first-year players, which creates some challenges. Still, Seidou needs to refine this aspect moving forward."

"Of the four victorious teams, which one do you think performed the best, Wada-kun?"

"I'd say Komadai Fujimaki High. Both in terms of defensive execution and offensive precision, Komadai Fujimaki High showcased the highest level of performance among yesterday's matches."

"Can we interpret that as you favoring Komadai Fujimaki High to win the championship?"

"Well, you could say that. In terms of skill, mentality, and strategic decision-making by the coaching staff, I believe Komadai Fujimaki High, the team from the north, is the strongest and most promising of the four semifinalists. Of course, that's just my personal opinion and doesn't represent anyone else's views."

"Ha ha, you're being cautious, Wada-kun."

"Ahaha."

"Setting aside the championship discussion for now, the semifinals are starting tomorrow. Could you predict the winners and share your reasoning or analysis?"

"Hmm, in my personal opinion, I believe Komadai Fujimaki High can continue their dark horse journey. As I mentioned earlier, in terms of overall strength, Komadai Fujimaki High has what it takes to defeat Yamamori High and advance to the finals. Of course, baseball, especially in Koshien, is a sport where miracles are never in short supply. If I had to give a prediction, I'd say it's an 80-20 split in favor of Komadai Fujimaki."

"As for the other semifinal between Osaka Kiryuu High and Seidou High, looking at the overall strength, I slightly favor Seidou High. Their batting lineup in this tournament is arguably the best. The main concern, however, lies in their handling of the pitching rotation. This is a pressing issue for Seidou High."

"Whether it's the starter, reliever, closer, or even a complete-game pitcher, any mismanagement against Osaka Kiryuu High could put them in a dangerous position. If I were to predict the odds, I'd say it's a 60-40 split in favor of Seidou. Seidou's cleanup captain and their first-year left-handed pitcher are key players. These two will likely determine Seidou's chances of victory."

"So, Wada-kun, you're predicting a Komadai Fujimaki High vs. Seidou High final and favoring Komadai Fujimaki High to win it all. Would that be a fair interpretation?"

"Yes, you could say that. That's my personal viewpoint."

"Thank you for your insights today, Wada-kun. And now, dear viewers..."

Click

At Seidou High's hotel, in the meeting room, Eijun turned off the television after watching the news report. He shook his head, thinking to himself, Predictions, predictions...

In the end, sports are about performance.

Only the results on the field truly matter.

However, the program had touched on something that piqued Eijun's interest—Seidou's pitching rotation.

It wasn't that Coach Kataoka's decisions were wrong, but there were undeniable issues within Seidou High's four-man pitching staff.

Among them, Eijun himself had the least problems, but the concerns were still there.

Take Kawakami, for instance. Although part of the four-man rotation, he hasn't played in recent games, neither as a reliever nor as a starter.

His current condition is a big unknown, and Coach Kataoka is unlikely to risk relying on him in the semifinals or finals.

Tanba, the ace, has shown improvement, but his longstanding issues are not easily resolved.

He might handle the first and second rounds of the batting order without a hitch, but by the third and fourth rounds, the cracks might begin to show.

This was evident in yesterday's quarterfinals during the sixth inning.

While the defensive lapse couldn't entirely be blamed on Tanba, as pitching is a collective effort, he still bore the majority of the responsibility.

That's simply the nature of a pitcher's role.

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