Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 255: The Clash of Power in the Battle Against Kiryuu

"Oooooohhhhhh!"

"The first pitch, a high inside fastball, misses the strike zone—it's a ball! Seidou's pitcher and catcher demonstrate their strong-willed approach right from the start, showing no fear in the face of Kiryuu's formidable batting lineup. Seidou's battery refuses to yield even an inch!"

The audience let out a collective gasp, unable to suppress their amazement.

The boldness of the first pitch was both daring and impressive, while Eijun's exceptional control drew admiration.

In fact, that pitch barely grazed the edge of the strike zone.

Observers could argue it might have been called a strike, but the umpire likely deemed it too risky and ruled it a ball instead.

This incident highlighted just how remarkable Eijun's control as a first-year left-handed pitcher was.

While there were still other pitchers with better precision, reaching this level of control was extraordinary for a high schooler.

The high inside fastball was a pitch full of pressure and dominance.

...

In the batter's box, Tsuchikata narrowed his eyes, his expression fierce.

Despite the intimidating pitch, he stood firm, holding his position close to the plate without a hint of hesitation.

His unflinching attitude made Miyuki raise an eyebrow in mild surprise.

So this guy has the guts to stay close to the plate even at the risk of being hit? Interesting.

Miyuki's lips curved into a subtle smirk as he signaled for the next pitch.

On the mound, Eijun nodded lightly in response.

"Whoosh!"

With a flick of his hand, the ball shot forward like a streak of light, a sharp, icy glare streaking toward home plate.

...

Tsuchikata's eyes sharpened as the ball approached, and he took a strong step forward.

His metal bat swung with explosive force, the sound of the swing cutting through the air, a testament to his raw power.

Even Miyuki's expression shifted slightly, hearing the sharp sound of Tsuchikata's swing.

If he connects, this could be trouble.

However, as the ball raced toward the plate, Tsuchikata's swing missed entirely.

"Pop!"

The ball landed cleanly in Miyuki's glove, the crisp sound echoing in the stadium.

"Strike!"

...

The low outside fastball demonstrated Sawamura's masterful control, a stark contrast to the earlier high inside pitch.

From one corner to the opposite, the diagonal trajectory left even the Kiryuu bench astonished.

Matsumoto, Kiryuu's coach, observed from the third-base side with a serious expression.

Eijun's improvement in control since their last practice game was nothing short of impressive.

...

"Third pitch!"

"Whoosh!"

Another flash of light shot from Eijun's hand.

Tsuchikata's eyes narrowed in concentration as he stepped forward again, swinging with all his might.

"Clang!"

The loud crack of the bat connecting with the ball resonated, followed by the sound of the ball smashing into the ground.

"Foul ball!"

The umpire's call deepened Tsuchikata's scowl.

The edge of the strike zone was proving extremely challenging for him to handle.

...

Three straight fastballs... The next pitch could be a changeup. No, considering their aggressive style, it might even be a cutter. I have to be prepared—

Before he could finish his thought, the ball was already on its way.

"Whoosh!"

"Pop!"

"Strike three, batter out!"

Tsuchikata froze, his body stiff.

The clean, sharp fastball down the middle reached home plate before Tsuchikata could react, landing squarely in Miyuki's glove with a crisp snap.

Tsuchikata was completely thrown off.

A fastball right down the middle? Seriously? How reckless can you get?

He glared at Eijun on the mound, who wore a composed expression tinged with a faint smile.

The sight only fueled Tsuchikata's frustration.

After throwing an irritated glare at Eijun, he left the batter's box, puffing with indignation.

Eijun, noticing the glare, felt a bit wronged.

Why is he glaring at me? Miyuki called the pitch, not me!

But Eijun failed to acknowledge that he was the one who actually threw the pitch.

With Tsuchikata struck out, Eijun quickly shifted gears.

Facing Kiryuu's second batter, he picked up the pace. In just two pitches, he forced a swing, resulting in a high fly ball to left field, which Sakai easily caught for the second out.

The third batter, however, proved more troublesome.

Combining raw power with refined technique, this hitter forced Eijun to abandon the simple fastball approach he had used for the previous batters.

When the batter made solid contact with a fastball, Miyuki decisively altered their strategy and called for a changeup.

This disrupted the batter's timing, and with an outside fastball for the final pitch, they secured the third out as the batter stood frozen, unable to swing.

...

"Ohhh! Seidou's daring battery has once again showcased their bold and calculated approach! After cornering the batters, they sealed the deal with an outside fastball. The batter didn't swing—strikeout looking! Seidou High School has demonstrated their aggressive defensive style in this first inning, achieving a clean three up, three down! Both teams are proving their strength early on!"

...

The Seidou cheering section erupted in celebration.

"Great pitch, Sawamura!"

"That's it! Keep it up, Seidou!"

"Go, Sawamura!"

"Three up, three down! Nice job, Sawamura!"

Even Eijun's grandfather was shouting excitedly from the stands. "That's my grandson! That's my grandson!"

From the stands, Wakana, who had come with Eijun's parents, watched his proud and commanding figure on the mound. Her eyes shimmered with admiration, her gaze filled with a gentle warmth.

...

In Kiryuu's dugout on the third-base side, the atmosphere was far more serious.

While they had expected Eijun to be more challenging this time, they hadn't anticipated him being this formidable.

This doesn't feel like a first-year pitcher at all.

The immaturity they had seen during their first encounter was entirely gone.

This pitcher's growth is terrifying, thought Coach Matsumoto, his eyes fixed on Eijun's figure near first base.

...

In this first-inning clash of power versus power, neither batting lineup gained the upper hand.

While Kiryuu's ace, Tachi, performed as expected, Eijun's performance exceeded all expectations.

Using just fastballs and a single changeup, Eijun had shut down Kiryuu's top three batters with precision and dominance.

As a first-year player, Eijun's performance was nothing short of dazzling.

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