<76> Advancing to the Finals!

Chapter 76: Advancing to the Finals!

"That Tanba got really lucky…"

In the dugout of the Inashiro Industrial High School baseball team, a cheerful young player muttered under his breath.

He thought he was speaking very quietly.

However, several of his teammates were sitting right beside him, and they heard his words perfectly.

The players of Inashiro Industrial looked on in confusion, especially as they watched Tanba Koichiro perform magnificently at the last minute of the game. They didn't understand the young boy's comment.

"Narumiya, what did you just say?" the captain of the Inashiro baseball team asked in a low voice.

"Ah, I didn't say anything…" Narumiya Mei shook his head vigorously.

"Don't play dumb, everyone heard it," the captain insisted.

Seeing the questioning eyes of his teammates, Narumiya realized that there was no point in denying it any longer.

Sighing in resignation, he spread his hands in front of them.

"Okay, okay, since you all insist on knowing! Seidou High's Tanba…"

"You should refer to him as 'senpai'!" the captain corrected sternly.

"Fine, fine! Tanba-senpai."

Narumiya complied obediently, even though, in his heart, he clearly didn't agree with the formality.

He had already called him 'senpai' once before. Why should he have to say it again?

"The thing is, Tanba-senpai was already falling apart. Anyone could see it; he was making the same mistakes as before. If it were anyone else, they would've either crumbled under the pressure or been pulled off the field. Hmph…"

As Narumiya Mei spoke, he couldn't help but think of their own coach back home with his stern expression.

In comparison, though their coach was highly skilled, his personality left much to be desired.

"But Tanba got lucky. Not only was he saved by his own rival, but Coach Kataoka also gave him absolute trust."

While Narumiya never regretted his decision to join Inashiro Industrial and felt his baseball career shone even brighter as a result, he sometimes couldn't help but wonder what it would be like.

To have a coach like Kataoka, who had infinite patience and trust in his ace.

"That game solidified Tanba-senpai's place on the team..."

The players of Inashiro Industrial High School listened intently, their expressions turning serious.

Compared to the Seidou High team they had faced before, Seidou seemed different now.

They not only had a first-year prodigy but even Tanba appeared transformed!

Previously, Seidou High School's team wasn't much of a threat due to their lackluster ace pitcher.

But now, Seidou High School's team was clearly a different beast.

"There's nothing to fear. The real challenge is on the field!"

"Hehe, exactly!" said two Inashiro Industrial players, one dark-skinned and one fair-skinned, grinning as they spoke.

Facing a stronger Seidou, they felt not the slightest bit nervous; instead, their eyes were filled with anticipation.

"True, everything will be settled on the field."

The captain of the Inashiro Industrial High School baseball team spoke in a low but resolute voice.

"Ah, as long as I have all of you, I'm at ease!!"

Looking at his strong teammates, even Narumiya began to look forward to facing Seidou again. That day didn't seem far off.

Seidou was practically guaranteed to advance. Inashiro, on the other hand, hadn't begun their semifinals yet.

But Narumiya was confident that victory in the semifinals would belong to them. After all, they were Inashiro Industrial.

The true dominators of Western Tokyo and a perennial powerhouse at Koshien.

The game on the field continued.

By the 9th inning, the ace from Kokai U Sagara High School, Oda, gave it everything he had, just barely preventing any runs.

In the bottom of the ninth, Kokai U Sagara High School was on the offense.

Seidou High School still hadn't changed their pitcher, and by that time, no one dared to underestimate Seidou's ace. He radiated an aura that warned others not to trifle with him.

Even the game commentators offered high praise for Seidou's ace.

"It's well-known that Seidou has a first-year monster pitcher whose speed can reportedly reach 155 km/h! I believe many came here to see him, but unfortunately, Coach Kataoka isn't granting that wish. He let Tanba, the ace, pitch the entire game! But because of this, we've witnessed the fighting spirit of Seidou's ace. Despite facing challenges, more than once, with help from his teammates, he not only overcame them but grew more formidable each time..."

The commentator's words flowed seamlessly, making it sound like he was describing an ancient general rather than a team's ace pitcher. Who wouldn't be inspired by such rhetoric?

On the mound, Tanba felt his entire body brimming with strength.

Despite the challenges of the game, and coming close to giving up runs, it didn't diminish the weight of this victory.

They were in the Kanto Tournament semifinals facing Kokai U Sagara, a team with national powerhouse strength.

In such a game,Tanba pitched through to the ninth inning.

And so far, he hadn't allowed any runs.

It felt like a student everyone assumed was holding the class back suddenly scoring in the top 10 of the whole school.

"Am I really this strong?"

This was the first time Tanba had such a clear realization.

With this newfound confidence, Tanba seemed truly transformed.

The balls he pitched were even stronger than in the previous inning.

The batters from Kokai U Sagara High School were caught off guard.

In this situation, merely making contact with the ball would be difficult, let alone achieving a base hit.

"Crack!"

"Out!"

"Out!!"

"A strikeout!!!"

Against the final batter, Tanba delivered a decisive pitch, successfully striking out his opponent.

"Three outs, game over!"

Even though everyone anticipated the outcome, only now could the game truly conclude.

"The first semifinal of the Kanto Tournament: Seidou High versus Kokai U Sagara High. After nine intense innings, the final score is 4-0. Seidou High, from Western Tokyo, wins and advances to the finals! Congratulations to Seidou for advancing smoothly to the finals!"

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