Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter

Chapter 140: A Reversal of Fortunes

"Top of the 7th inning, Tokugawa Junior High's attack."

"Ninth batter, pitcher, Kanda!"

"Ninth batter, pitcher, Kanda!"

"The game has reached the final inning! The score is tied at 4-4! Tokugawa Junior High starts with a strong lineup, and now Kanda, the ninth batter, steps up to the plate!"

"Let's give it our all!" Shin and Sawamura, the battery, steeled their resolve simultaneously.

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

The first pitch was a fastball that Shin barely managed to catch.

However, with the increased velocity, Sawamura's control had become more erratic.

The pitch, intended for the inside corner, veered toward the middle, landing somewhere between the inner corner and the center of the plate.

"Damn! (with excitement) That's fast!"

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

The second pitch was an inside fastball at Sawamura's original speed.

"One fast and inaccurate, one slow but precise. Mixing these two pitches makes it hard to hit the sweet spot," Kanda thought.

Not giving Kanda any time to think, the third pitch came flying toward home plate.

"It's in the strike zone; I have to swing!"

"Ping!"

"Pop!"

"Out!"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

Getting an out on just three pitches significantly eased the pressure building up from the previous innings.

"Keep it up, Ei-chan!"

"Let them hit it our way!"

"You've got this, Ei-chan!"

The team rallied behind Sawamura from the field, sending him words of encouragement.

"We'll back you up, Ei-chan!" This thought echoed simultaneously in the minds of all the players.

"Even though the speed difference is just a few kilometers, the fastball after a slower pitch feels much faster. And even the slower pitches aren't exactly slow!"

"Damn it! They've been hiding this kind of trick all along!" Kanda muttered as he returned to the dugout, frustrated not just by Sawamura's increased speed but also by Akagi's clever strategy of keeping this ability hidden until now.

"Kanda, don't overthink it. I doubt they deliberately kept it a secret," his teammate reassured him.

"What do you mean?"

"Think about the catcher's reaction and movements when handling those faster pitches."

"...Wait, could it be?"

"Exactly! That catcher struggles to catch Sawamura's faster pitches. He's barely managing to handle them! The increased speed likely makes Sawamura's pitches move more unpredictably. This isn't about hiding their strength—it's about the catcher's limitations in handling Sawamura's full-power fastballs."

"I see!"

This brief exchange helped the Tokugawa bench piece together the situation.

Meanwhile, on the field, Tokugawa's second batter found himself quickly cornered by Sawamura.

"Keep up the pressure, Ei-chan! Shin!"

"Let's finish them off in the bottom half!"

With two strikes already on the batter, Sawamura prepared for the fourth pitch.

"Pop!"

"Strike three! Batter is out!"

"Yes!"

"Well done!"

Two outs!

The crowd roared in excitement, knowing only one more out was needed to end Tokugawa's inning.

With Akagi batting in the bottom half, they only needed one run to clinch the game.

"This really feels like a championship preview!"

"No doubt! Akagi's three-run burst in the first inning was shocking, but Tokugawa's resilience in clawing back one run at a time has been incredible! Watching two equally matched teams that rely on more than just defense—it's such a treat!"

"It seems like Akagi has the upper hand now, right?"

"Not yet! Baseball really starts with two outs, and the upcoming batters aren't pushovers!"

The neutral fans began their spirited discussions, acknowledging the fierce rivalry between Tokugawa and Akagi.

In Nagano, the Tokugawa-Akagi rivalry was already legendary.

Most believed the victor of this game would dominate Nagano until Akagi's current roster graduated after summer.

The only wildcard?

Susabano Junior High, whom the winner of this game would face tomorrow. On paper, Susabano had the strength to beat both Tokugawa and Akagi.

"Second batter, second baseman, Nakajima!"

"Second batter, second baseman, Nakajima!"

The announcement pulled the spectators' attention back to the field.

"Hold them down, Ei-chan!"

"Don't give up, Tokugawa!"

The stadium filled once again with cheers from both sides.

"What now?" Nakajima recalled his team's earlier discussions and the coach's advice. He decided to aim for Sawamura's original slower pitch instead of the faster ones.

"Pop!"

"Pop"

"Strike!"

The first pitch, a faster fastball, slipped past Shin, but he quickly recovered the ball after it bounced off his protective gear.

Sawamura glanced at Shin, silently asking if he was okay.

"I'm fine!" Shin signaled with open arms, urging Sawamura to keep pitching. With renewed confidence, Shin called for another fastball.

On the second pitch, Nakajima swung, timing it for the slower speed he anticipated.

But it was too late.

The faster pitch arrived quicker than he expected.

"Ping!"

"Yes! Shortstop!" Sawamura shouted as he turned around, only to realize the ball had landed in a tricky spot.

With two outs in the top of the 7th inning and the score tied, Tokugawa finally got a runner on base.

"Third batter, first baseman, Sumiyoshi!"

"Third batter, first baseman, Sumiyoshi!"

The pressure mounted as Tokugawa's core lineup came up with a chance to break the tie.

The announcer's voice boomed:

"With two outs and a runner on base, Tokugawa's power hitters step up! Can Akagi hold them back and take the game into the bottom half still tied?"

From the field, Shin shouted to Sawamura:

"Focus on the batter, Ei-chan! We still have the bottom half to win this! Don't let the pressure get to you!"

Sawamura gritted his teeth and replied:

"I know we've got the bottom half! But does that mean I should let them score now? No way! Absolutely not!"

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

Sawamura fired his pitch with all his frustration and determination, channeling the intensity into his throw.

"Ping!"

"Huh?"

The moment the sound of the ball colliding with the bat rang out, Sawamura wore a complicated expression as he turned toward home plate.

"It lands! That's three hits today! Sumiyoshi is absolutely on fire!"

In stark contrast to Sawamura's reaction, the Tokugawa bench erupted with cheers.

In an instant, what was a two-out, runner-on-first situation turned into two outs with runners on second and third.

The game, which had been slightly favoring Akagi, flipped on its head. Now, Akagi was in a critical situation!

"Fourth batter, center fielder, Ike!"

"Fourth batter, center fielder, Ike!"

Shin glanced toward Sendo in the dugout.

In moments like this, the team's true anchor was always that man on the bench.

Sendo shook his head in response to Shin's look, signaling for the game to continue as it was.

"It's fine. Eijun's eyes are still alive, full of determination. This guy is used to these kinds of crises. So, trust the game to him. This kind of pressure is a form of growth too," Sendo thought as he observed Sawamura's resolute expression.

Seeing Sendo's response, Shin looked at Sawamura and confirmed it—his gaze was steady and unyielding.

If the two leaders had no objections, Shin wouldn't either.

It was ironic, really—the two most influential figures on the team were also its least technically skilled players. It validated a favorite saying of Sendo's:

"Talent is the most unreasonable thing, and geniuses are the most unreasonable people."

The batter they now faced, Tokugawa's fourth hitter, had only managed an infield single so far today.

However, no one would underestimate him just because of some bad luck.

"If they want to decide the game now, we have to pitch cautiously," Shin thought, signaling to Sawamura.

But—

"First-pitch swing!"

"Ping!"

"Center field!" Shin's voice echoed across the field.

"It's through! A deep hit to center field!"

"The runner from third base is home!"

"The runner from second is sprinting for home as well!"

"Safe! Both runners score! Tokugawa's cleanup hitter, Ike, delivers a clutch two-run double!"

This hit not only brought the score to 6-4 in Tokugawa's favor but also triggered unwelcome memories for Akagi's players—memories of their bitter summer loss.

For Sawamura, Wakana, and Sendo, it was a moment of determination, but for the rest of the team, it was a haunting flashback of frustration and helplessness.

"Fifth batter, second baseman, Egawa!"

"Fifth batter, second baseman, Egawa!"

The Akagi bench suddenly stirred.

Sendo stepped out, drawing everyone's attention.

"What is Sendo up to?" the announcer remarked as the cameras zoomed in on the Akagi dugout.

"Sen-chan!"

"Sendo!"

Akagi's players immediately noticed him and called out.

Without wasting any time, Sendo issued a signal to the infield and outfield for a forward defense formation.

There was no need for words. The players immediately felt a wave of encouragement.

Such was the strength of their bond, built over years of teamwork.

Well… everyone except for a certain airheaded player, who Sendo decided to ignore for now.

The game wasn't over yet. Akagi's actions sent a clear message to everyone: their will and fighting spirit remained unbroken.

"Ping!"

"Foul ball!"

"Ball!"

"Strike!"

"Ball!"

The count eventually reached 3-2 after seven pitches. Egawa fouled off several more pitches, dragging the at-bat into double digits.

Finally, Sawamura, standing tall on the mound, lifted his leg higher than ever before. With a powerful step, he delivered his pitch.

"Pop!"

At an unprecedented velocity, the pitch flew toward the plate. Egawa swung and missed entirely.

"Strike three! Batter is out!"

But—the catcher failed to secure the ball!

"Run!" Egawa immediately dropped his bat and dashed toward first base.

The pitch, a breaking ball with extreme downward movement, had slipped past the catcher and rolled behind him.

Takeda spun around, quickly retrieved the ball, and fired it to first base. Both sides pushed to their limits in a desperate race!

"Pop!"

...

"Out!"

A few seconds after the ball landed securely in the first baseman's glove, the umpire made the call.

"Switch sides!"

The grueling inning finally came to an end!

Though Akagi had given up two runs, their defensive players cheered loudly as they returned to the bench.

They knew that conceding any more runs at this point would have made a comeback nearly impossible.

Kanda, Tokugawa's pitcher, was in outstanding form, performing well beyond his usual abilities.

"You idiot! Throwing full-power pitches without saying a word—do you realize we almost lost because of that?" Sendo said to Sawamura with a mix of exasperation and amusement upon returning to the dugout.

Sawamura could only respond with an embarrassed laugh. His impulsive personality often led to heated decisions, especially in critical moments.

Sendo wasn't too concerned about their "ace in the hole" being exposed. Tokugawa might now suspect that Sawamura had hidden abilities, but they would likely chalk that last pitch up as a rare, max-speed effort.

They wouldn't even dream that it was actually Sawamura's new average speed when throwing at full power.

The crisis had passed, so Sendo didn't push the matter further.

"Two runs, huh? That's nothing we can't overcome. A walk-off comeback isn't out of the question. Besides, we've been holding back in this game. Winning or losing doesn't matter much. So, don't stress—give it your all!"

"Yeah!" the team responded energetically.

Finally, Sendo turned to Wakana.

"No pressure, Wakana!"

"Got it!"

"Bottom of the 7th inning, Akagi Junior High's attack."

"Ninth batter, right fielder, Aotsuki-san!"

"Ninth batter, right fielder, Aotsuki-san!"

Akagi's offense also began with their ninth batter.

For them, it wasn't the most favorable start, but it wasn't too bad either, considering the top of the lineup followed.

"Let's deal with this girl first and secure an out. The batters after her are the real threat," Hori signaled to his teammates as Wakana stepped into the batter's box.

Wakana, who had gone hitless so far today and had only a handful of hits in the entire Autumn Tournament, wasn't expected to create much pressure.

Although opponents tended to underestimate her because she was a girl, everyone on Akagi's team held her in high regard.

In middle school baseball, the physical gap between boys and girls wasn't as significant as one might think, and there were even girls in youth baseball leagues.

While Wakana's defensive skills were on par with the other two outfielders, no one expected her to get a hit off a pitcher in Kanda's current form.

The facts seemed to support that assumption:

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

"Pop!"

"Strike two!"

With Wakana in a two-strike hole, the Tokugawa players were confident they had secured the out.

But—

"Ping!"

"Bunt!"

Wakana's surprise bunt took everyone off guard.

"Pop!"

"Safe!"

She reached first base with a perfectly executed bunt!

"Nice bunt!"

"Great job, Wakana-chan!"

The unexpected play lifted everyone's spirits, wiping away the earlier concerns about a weak leadoff.

Wakana might lack the raw physicality of her teammates, but she made up for it with sharp thinking and strategic execution.

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