Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 278: Seidou's Surprise Attack in the Finals

"Out! Three outs! Change sides!"

"The final pitch was a straight fastball right down the middle! Seidou High's first-year southpaw, Sawamura Eijun, successfully retired the third batter, Iguchi Gakuto, with a clean strikeout! Three up, three down—an absolutely perfect start for Seidou High! The powerhouse Seidou defense has held Komadai Fujimaki High to a scoreless first inning without giving them a chance to break through!"

"Ha ha! Three up, three down! That was brilliant pitching, you idiot, Sawamura!" Isashiki Jun laughed heartily as he jogged back from the outfield.

"Don't get too cocky, Sawamura," Kuramochi said with a grin, giving Eijun a strong pat on the back.

"Great job, Eijun-kun."

"Nice pitching, little Sawamura," Masuko added with his usual good-natured expression.

"Keep it up," Captain Yuuki said with a smile.

With their pitcher off to such a strong start, the morale on Seidou High's side soared.

In a game like this, a pitcher's performance is critical, and at least for the first inning, there was nothing to worry about.

From the Seidou dugout to the cheering section, thunderous applause erupted.

"Thanks," Eijun responded with a bright, sunny smile, nodding confidently.

...

Komadai Fujimaki Dugout

"What do you think?" Coach Nitta asked calmly, his hands clasped behind his back.

"His pitch velocity is strong, and his control is very stable," Komadai's leadoff batter, Nishi, analyzed seriously. "There's also a subtle movement in his pitches just before they reach the plate, and the finishing power of the ball is intense—it's not easy to hit."

"And that rumored special cutter—its break is significant. It's tough to track the ball's trajectory."

"Not to mention his changeup. It's a real headache, hard to gauge the timing for a swing," added Taninaka, the second batter.

"His pitching motion is also tricky. While it might only take a few pitches to adjust, any minor lapse in focus makes it difficult to time the swing properly," Iguchi, the third batter, said in agreement.

Coach Nitta nodded slightly. "No need to worry too much. This game was always expected to be a grinding battle. One or two runs may decide the outcome. It's only the first inning; for now, let's focus on solid defense. Komadai's greatest strength is our patience."

"Understood!"

...

Bottom of the First Inning: Seidou High's Offense

"Now batting, the leadoff hitter for Seidou High School, shortstop, Kuramochi-kun!"

"Go, Kuramochi!"

"Time to show your true power, Cheetah-sama!"

"Kuramochi-kun, make sure to get on base! We're counting on you!"

"Charge, Kuramochi! Attack, attack, attack!"

"It's time for the Flying Legs to showcase the art of speed!"

Kuramochi walked to the batter's box with a faint smile on his face, gripping his bat.

Behind him, a thunderous wave of cheers erupted, capturing the attention of every spectator in the stadium.

...

The most dangerous lineup in the nation—Seidou's batting order.

This is now universally acknowledged.

Facing them is the strongest defensive lineup in the country—Komadai Fujimaki's quartet of pitchers.

This, too, is widely recognized.

The team with the most runs scored versus the team with the least runs allowed.

The sharpest sword against the sturdiest shield.

Every fan in the stands eagerly awaited this historic clash.

As Kuramochi stepped into the batter's box, an electrifying sense of anticipation spread throughout the stadium.

Would the sword's edge prove sharp enough to pierce the shield, or would the shield's resilience be enough to block the sword?

All eyes were on the field as the battle was about to begin.

...

Don't hesitate. Swing at the first pitch. Don't fear striking out. If you spot the right ball, attack boldly!

From the dugout, Coach Kataoka gave a subtle hand gesture.

Kuramochi smirked mischievously, adjusting the brim of his cap.

Meanwhile, in the dugout, Eijun began preparing for his next turn on the mound.

His calm gaze fixed on the field, and a faint golden glint flickered in his eyes.

This was a crucial moment for Seidou High.

"Whoosh!"

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

"The first pitch—a straight fastball right down the center, clocking in at 141 km/h! Komadai's battery wasted no time launching an aggressive attack."

What a sharp location.

Kuramochi's pupils flickered slightly as he exhaled a steady breath, resetting his stance in the batter's box.

The infield shifted, wary of a potential bunt, determined to prevent Kuramochi from exploiting his speed.

At home plate, catcher Kanemoto directed the infielders with a serious expression.

Komadai Fujimaki High's players were fully aware of Kuramochi's strengths and characteristics.

They knew they had to shut down his advantage in speed at all costs.

However, Komadai Fujimaki overlooked a crucial detail.

"Whoosh!"

As the next pitch sped toward the plate, Kuramochi's eyes narrowed sharply.

A low outside pitch.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward and swung his bat aggressively.

"Swish!"

What!?

The bat cut through the air, leaving a shadowy trail, and collided with the ball in the next instant.

At home plate, Kanemoto's face immediately changed.

"Ping!"

The loud crack of impact echoed, the ball's fierce tailspin and velocity causing Kuramochi to frown momentarily. But he powered through, muscling the ball into play.

The ball soared high into the sky, quickly clearing the infield.

"Left field!" Kanemoto shouted, jumping to his feet and calling toward left field.

But Kuramochi had prepared for this.

The ball streaked toward left field, landing in front of the fielder as Kanemoto and Iguchi exchanged grim looks, while Coach Nitta frowned slightly.

"Thud."

The "Flying Legs" made their presence known.

Turning a routine single into an aggressive display of speed, Kuramochi breezed into second base with ease.

"He did it! He did it! On the second pitch—a low outside ball—Kuramochi swung decisively, driving it to left field for a hit! And with his exceptional base-running speed, he successfully reached second base! No outs, runner on second! Seidou High has their best scoring opportunity right in the first inning!"

"Ha ha! Beautiful hit, Kuramochi!"

"That kid can get it done when he sets his mind to it."

"Runner on second—time to bring him home now!"

"Ryousuke, it's your turn! Another one, Ryousuke!"

That decisive swing—was Kuramochi waiting for an outside pitch?

At home plate, Kanemoto appeared deep in thought.

A double wasn't too concerning on its own, but allowing Kuramochi on base was troublesome.

Even more critical was discerning if Seidou had a deeper strategy in mind.

"Now batting, second baseman, Kominato-kun!"

Unfortunately, Kanemoto hesitated to read Seidou's intentions, giving them another chance to seize the initiative.

"Whoosh!"

A sharp inside fastball.

In the batter's box, Ryousuke's eyes lit up as he swiftly stepped and swung. Despite Kanemoto's growing frustration, the sound of contact rang out.

"Ping!"

Ryousuke frowned slightly.

The tricky pitch nearly escaped his grasp, and the ball didn't leave the infield.

"Whizz!"

"Thud!"

The ball hit the ground hard, intercepted by Komadai's second baseman Nishi. But by then, Kuramochi had already raced to third base.

With no choice, the ball was thrown to first.

"Snap!"

"Out!"