[374] The Ambition of Oda Nobunaga

Chapter 374: The Ambition of Oda Nobunaga

"Based on the current data we've gathered, Sawamura Eijun is a left-handed pitcher and right-handed batter, with a pitch speed of over 135 km/h. Thanks to his exceptional joint flexibility and unique pitching form, batters can't see his release point clearly, making it extremely difficult to track the ball's trajectory. To the naked eye, his pitches appear to be more than 5 km/h faster than they actually are. He throws a rare type of 'quirk ball' for high school players—pitches that exhibit unpredictable movement after release. What's truly terrifying about this ace of Seidou High is that he seems to have begun controlling the movement of these quirk balls. His command is outstanding, capable of precise control at all corners of the strike zone. According to our analysis, his breaking balls appear to be advanced variations of his quirk ball. Whether it's a changeup, a cutter, or that unique two-seam fastball, they all possess the characteristics of a quirk ball. Furthermore, judging from the preliminary matches and the game against Teito, it seems this pitcher has developed new pitches. Just look at this pitch here, and that one from earlier..."

Matsubara explained these insights about Eijun while selectively showing clips of his pitching.

Though the recording angles made it difficult to discern finer details, some small clues were still visible. With these snippets, Matsubara was able to piece together a fairly accurate picture of the truth.

"High-speed, non-decelerating fastball," Matsubara labeled Eijun's signature fastball. In reality, the pitch wasn't literally accelerating—it just maintained a consistent velocity from release to the plate, creating an optical illusion of increased speed.

"Oh, maintaining speed through high rotation? That doesn't sound too hard," Seiichi said, his eyes lighting up as though he'd discovered a new frontier. His eager expression made it clear he wanted to try replicating it.

But Matsubara shook his head.

"Sei, you won't be able to learn this pitch."

"Huh? Why not?"

"While this pitch does rely on high rotation to maintain speed, that's not the whole story. I suspect it's also tied to the pitcher's unique delivery, the ball's natural properties, and his grip technique. These details can't be gleaned from a recording alone. High rotation alone isn't enough," Matsubara explained seriously.

"This pitch is someone else's specialty, Sei. Don't try to emulate it. Otherwise, you'll only mess up your own pitching mechanics."

There was a note of caution in Matsubara's tone.

"Yeah, I get it, Nao."

Despite their easygoing demeanor, Ugumori's players were known for their unshakable resolve. Even against a powerhouse like Seidou High, they wouldn't give up easily. Their sheer determination was a defining trait throughout the original story's tournament.

Among all the teams in the autumn tournament, Ugumori High would likely top the list for mental toughness.

That said, Matsubara's in-depth analysis inevitably weighed on them. They felt the pressure, though they rarely showed it outwardly.

No matter how daunting the challenge ahead, Ugumori High was determined to push forward.

"That said, we have an excellent opportunity we can take advantage of," Matsubara suddenly said with a smile, snapping the team out of their deep contemplation. His words sparked a gleam in everyone's eyes.

"An opportunity? You mean a chance to beat Seidou?!" Seiichi asked eagerly.

"Yes, there's an eighty percent chance that Seidou's ace won't start on the mound, but rather in left field. That is our opportunity," Matsubara said, raising one finger as he spoke. "It's also our only chance to win."

"Not pitching?"

Seiichi and the rest of Ugumori's team echoed the words in low voices.

After a moment of consideration, most of them suddenly understood, their eyes lighting up with clarity.

"That does seem like a plausible scenario."

"I'm not sure whether to be happy or annoyed about that."

"Well, for us, it's ultimately a great opportunity, isn't it? Just as Matsubara said, if we can seize this moment, we have a chance at victory."

"A second-year sidearm pitcher, Kawakami Norifumi, and a first-year power pitcher, Furuya Satoru. Both are tough opponents, but compared to Sawamura Eijun, they're easier to deal with at this stage. Based on Seidou's usual strategy, if they started Kawakami in the second round, then it's likely that this time they'll start the first-year power pitcher. He performed well in the summer tournament—his 150 km/h fastball is his strength, and his out pitch is a sharp splitter. However, this pitcher has a critical weakness: his control is unreliable. His control did improve during the preliminaries, but it's still a potential vulnerability. And with his limited pitch selection, Furuya Satoru is a more predictable target. If we can adapt to his velocity and at least neutralize the power of his fastball, then scoring off him becomes a realistic possibility."

Matsubara spoke confidently, outlining his analysis step by step.

"Over the next week, all of our batting practice will be adjusted to simulate 160 km/h pitches. The goal isn't necessarily to hit them, but to get used to that speed. Additionally…"

Matsubara had clearly prepared a detailed plan from the start. He calmly laid out the week's training schedule as well as the game-day strategy for the upcoming match.

The Ugumori players listened intently to their "strategist," trusting him as much as he trusted them.

Seiichi extended his right hand, placing it in the center. Kondou, Inubushi, and the others exchanged smiles before adding their hands on top.

"So, are we trying to conquer the world now?"

"Haha, feels a bit like we're Tokugawa Ieyasu, huh?"

"No, we're Toyotomi Hideyoshi!"

"Wouldn't Oda Nobunaga be cooler?"

"Alright, whatever you say."

"The stage is set, and the world is waiting for us. Now that we've come this far, let's win this match. If we beat Seidou, victory is right within our grasp!"

"Yeah!!!"

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