<53> Advancing to the Kanto Final Four!

Chapter 53: Advancing to the Kanto Final Four!

The game between Seido High School and Nada High School was reaching its conclusion.

The score on the board was 13:0!

This gap was narrower than most of Seido High School's devoted fans had imagined.

Nada High School's ace pitcher collapsed completely in the second inning, conceding a total of 9 runs!

At that point, almost everyone in the stadium thought Nada High School's collapse was imminent.

Unexpectedly, Nada High School managed to hold on.

They brought in a relief pitcher.

As soon as the relief pitcher took the mound, the game's dynamics shifted unexpectedly.

Nada High School began conceding fewer runs.

Even so, they allowed another 4 runs for the rest of the game.

Thus, the score became 13:0.

During this period, Nada High School's players, especially their core sluggers, racked their brains to score.

They had some confidence in doing so.

Everyone had seen it in previous games.

The most surprising element of Seido High School was their rookie pitcher, Furuya.

Now Furuya had been moved to the outfield.

Their original ace, Koichiro Tanba, took the mound.

To Nada High School's coach and players, this seemed like a heaven-sent opportunity.

They knew well that Seido High School's strategy was intended to catch them off guard.

Seido's game plan was to lead them by the nose.

But Nada High School's coach and players didn't mind this at all.

What was Seido thinking?

They couldn't care less.

The only thing they could do, or rather, the only thing they wanted to do at that moment was to get hits and score runs.

Even if it was like drinking poison to quench thirst, achieving hits and scores was the only thing that made continuing the game worthwhile.

From this standpoint, Seido High School switching out that monstrous first-year was nothing but advantageous for them.

Their next plan was to break through and completely defeat their opponent.

If they managed to reclaim some runs, perhaps they could continue to tussle with Seido's players for a bit longer.

Nada High School's coach and players had a well-thought-out plan.

It was meticulously comprehensive.

The problem, however, was that they seemed to have underestimated the original ace pitcher of Seido High School.

Compared to Furuya, Tanba's overall pitching intimidation lacked some punch. This wasn't something that effort alone could bridge. The gap in natural talent was like a chasm separating the two.

But this didn't mean that Tanba's skills were lacking. In reality, quite the opposite was true.

Under the influence of his underclassman, Furuya, Tanba had undergone a complete transformation. His eyes were filled with determination and the will to fight.

The high-drop curveball he threw left Nada High School's batters completely baffled.

From the second inning onward, Nada High School found themselves in a tough battle. It seemed that no matter what they tried, they couldn't find a way to overcome the formidable opponent in front of them.

"Damn it!"

Nada High School's players had red eyes. They were beginning to feel as though they were under some kind of curse.

Otherwise, how could the gap between them and Seido High School be so vast? It was unreasonable. No matter how they thought about it, it didn't make sense.

But regardless of what Nada High School's players thought, the game continued. All the way to the final inning, they found not a single opportunity.

In contrast, Tanba, pitching several consecutive innings, only seemed to become stronger with time.

Even the fans in the stands were amazed.

"Wasn't Seido High School's ace supposed to be lacking in skill? From what we see on the field, that's hardly the case!"

"Do you think you're the only one who's surprised? The eyes of Nada High School's players are about to pop out. They probably never imagined Seido's ace could be so reliable."

"Incredible!"

"If it was only that monstrous first-year, no matter how strong Seido's performance, they wouldn't be this formidable."

"If it was just Tanba, even Seido High School might not fully trust their own ace..."

"But now, they have both of them together!"

"With two such pitchers, Seido High School probably couldn't avoid soaring even if they tried!"

"The super powerhouse Seido..."

In the midst of the audience's discussions, Tanba secured the final out.

"Out!"

"Three outs, game over!"

"The winners of the match are Seido High School from West Tokyo!!"

The announcer's enthusiastic voice rang out as the game concluded.

In the stands, Seido High School's die-hard supporters raised their hands high in celebration.

"We won!"

"Seido! Seido!!"

For the dedicated fans of Seido High School's baseball team, nothing could be more exhilarating than this moment. The team won, and they did so decisively.

"A 13:0 score..."

"And don't forget, the team we played today wasn't just any team. They were among the Kanto Tournament's top eight!"

Making it to the Kanto Tournament's final four, or even achieving a fifth-place ranking, grants eligibility for an invitation to the Spring Koshien.

This means that all teams in the Kanto top eight have the strength of a Koshien-level team!

Previously, there was Yokohama Kohouku, which is naturally at this level. Even at the Koshien stage, Yokohama Kohouko's baseball team is a consistent powerhouse.

Seido had also won that match, although it was not an easy victory. While their die-hard supporters were happy, they felt no further emotion beyond that.

But this game was different.

The opponent was among the Kanto top eight, and Seido achieved a 13:0 score.

It was sheer domination.

What kind of strength does the current Seido High School baseball team possess? What level of team do they belong to?

Even they might struggle to pinpoint it precisely. Yet, as Seido's ardent supporters, the fans seemed to have their own answer.

They have successfully advanced to the semi-finals.

Moreover, they did so with an overwhelming score of 13:0.

This implies that Seido High School's baseball team will likely achieve great things in the future too.

"This summer's Koshien! It's no longer just a dream; it's a goal..."

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