Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter

Chapter 144: Claiming the Championship

"Let's head back," Sendo said to everyone as the match concluded.

"Alright!" The group nodded solemnly.

They had realized that their earlier evaluation of Susabano's strength was slightly off.

Strictly speaking, Susabano was on the same level as Akagi and Tokugawa, though with some notable weaknesses.

Still, the final match wouldn't be an easy one.

Since it was the championship, the game was scheduled for next week, giving them time to prepare.

...

"Hey, Sendo!" Sawamura called out on their way back.

"Hmm?"

"Are you playing in next week's game?"

"Well... hmm, fine. I'll play." Sendo thought about it and decided to join the game.

Although staying under the radar might have kept opponents guessing about his true ability, this was the final.

Winning the championship could boost the team's confidence.

Sawamura lit up with excitement.

"But," Sendo interrupted, "I refuse."

"I didn't even say anything yet!"

"You didn't need to. I already know. I'll play as a second baseman. Outfield defense doesn't make much of a difference." Sendo decisively shut down Sawamura's hopes of going all out as a pitcher.

With Sendo in the lineup, Akagi's batting order would no longer lack explosive power and consistent output. Scoring wouldn't be a problem.

While Sawamura might not be able to completely suppress Susabano's batting lineup, he could at least keep the score within a manageable range.

Susabano relied heavily on a few key players for scoring and defense.

Disheartened, Sawamura walked away dejectedly.

...

Later, what was meant to be a simple celebration turned into a grand feast, as the principal decided to cover all expenses.

The event included Wakana's two friends and even classmates who had come to cheer. Lunch was lively and boisterous.

Everyone raised their glasses for toasts—though only with juice. Only the principal and Sano were allowed alcohol, adhering to strict Japanese laws prohibiting minors from drinking.

Sendo's popularity skyrocketed as the hero of the match. Reiko, taking advantage of the moment, teasingly clung to him, saying embarrassing things that even made Sendo feel awkward.

It wasn't entirely her fault—today's game had been thrilling and nerve-wracking, even if not as intense as the summer match. It was enough to give anyone with a weak heart a scare.

Hearing everyone's praise, Sendo felt a little embarrassed.

...

After the meal, the crowd dispersed, leaving the Akagi baseball team to gather at school for a brief recap in the clubroom.

Practice was out of the question—the day's intense battle had been exhausting, and overtraining would only lead to injuries.

...

The next day, training resumed. The match against Tokugawa had highlighted Akagi's weaknesses and instability. Without Sendo's unexpected pinch-hit, their autumn tournament run would've ended.

Falling to their rival Tokugawa once again would have been a major psychological blow.

Watching the team's renewed determination, Sendo was secretly pleased. Even he didn't slack off, repeatedly reviewing footage of Susabano's games.

...

During Sunday's meeting, strategies were finalized.

"The focus should still be on these five players. They're former little league stars, and Susabano's strong batting lineup relies entirely on their top five hitters.

"Especially the third batter, Obayashi; the fourth, Ogiyama; and the fifth, their captain, Takase.

"These three combined are even more explosive than Tokugawa's core hitters!

"And their ace, Namu, is even stronger now. His hitting power isn't exceptional, but his batting average is high. As a pitcher, his control and feel for the ball are outstanding."

At this point, Sendo fell silent, thinking of a certain eccentric in their own lineup.

"In short, treat them as equals, and we'll be fine. Let's take them down, claim the championship, and aim for the national tournament this summer!"

"Yeah!!!"

...

Sunday: Nagano Autumn Tournament Finals

Lady Luck was on Akagi's side. Sawamura won the toss, securing the last-batting advantage for Akagi once again.

The match began with Susabano's first-years launching an aggressive offensive.

Though they couldn't capitalize fully, they managed to create some momentum.

Despite their efforts, Akagi secured three outs, leaving two runners stranded.

However, failing to score in the first inning cost them. Facing Akagi's complete batting lineup, not converting opportunities meant losing the upper hand.

In the bottom of the first, both Ohno and Aoki were quickly out, but Kondou managed to get on base.

However, when Sendo stepped up to bat, the first pitch was deliberately outside the strike zone, preventing him from swinging.

Takase, showcasing his improved skills as a catcher, quickly picked off Kondou, who hadn't anticipated such a sharp play. Sendo, standing at the plate, could only shrug in frustration.

...

In the second inning, Sawamura easily handled Susabano's batters, even striking out their eighth hitter for the final out.

Sendo led off the bottom of the second. While the audience, including Reiko, didn't fully understand the situation, they could feel the tension.

Susabano's battery didn't back down, deciding to challenge Sendo directly.

As Namu crouched to deliver his pitch, players from Susabano and the defeated Tokugawa Middle School watched intently.

The result?

The same as before—a slider, a massive home run, and an explosion of cheers.

"Counting the last game, that's two consecutive at-bats with home runs for Sendo!"

"Hah!!!" The audience was in a frenzy.

Sendo, unfazed and calm as ever, rounded the bases while fans—now numerous enough to form an official fan club—cheered wildly.

The momentum shifted decisively.

Namu, shaken by the home run, began to lose focus.

Akagi took advantage, with even Sawamura laying down a successful bunt, pushing for four quick runs.

Though Susabano's defense eventually found their footing, Akagi's lineup had transformed since last week. Playing cautiously was now a losing strategy.

In his second at-bat, Sendo was intentionally walked.

Yet, with his blazing speed, he stole multiple bases effortlessly, ultimately scoring with Sawamura's help.

The crowd erupted once again.

Coach Kunimi and Tokugawa's players could only feel immense pressure.

There was simply no answer to Sendo's dominance.

Pitching to him was a risk; walking him was another problem altogether due to his speed.

Even with some weaknesses in Akagi's lineup, Sendo's constant movement disrupted Susabano's rhythm, exhausting their defense.

In the end, Susabano had no choice but to concede defeat, leaving the field with no complaints.

With the game in their hands.

By the time the match entered its seventh inning, Susabano had all but given up on pitching to Sendo.

Another home run could completely break their ace pitcher's mentality.

Despite the match lasting the full seven innings, the final score was 8–3. It was evident to everyone watching that the addition of a powerful and swift player like Sendo elevated Akagi's offensive strength by several levels.

The clear MVP of the match was none other than Sendo, acting as both player and unofficial coach.

Akagi relentlessly pushed batters forward. Even without scoring, they made the most of hits, bunts, and safe plays to ensure more opportunities for Sendo to bat.

Their ability to score consistently put immense pressure on Susabano's players.

The fear of allowing any hit, let alone a mistake, made them overthink and commit more errors.

This pressure snowballed into greater mistakes and lost points.

While the score seemed like a blowout, anyone who watched the game knew Akagi's victory was largely thanks to Sendo's strategic running.

His speed and awareness wore down Susabano's defense.

Teams now realized that to beat Akagi, they couldn't rely on shutting down their offense—they would need to outscore them, which seemed increasingly difficult.

...

Not only was Sendo a near-unstoppable force on offense, but his defensive abilities also reached absurd levels.

His explosive speed, reaction time, and spatial awareness gave him an unparalleled defensive range.

Incredibly, he could cover more than 50 meters in the four seconds a fly ball stayed in the air.

Considering the distance from home plate to the outfield in middle school is only 80 meters, Sendo essentially covered the entire outfield.

Spectators joked that Sendo shouldn't even be playing outfield in middle school—he should just join the MLB and stop bullying kids.

Against a team like Akagi, with both unrelenting offense and an impenetrable defense led by Sendo, any attempt at a pitcher's duel was a losing battle.

...

After the match, Nagano's team rankings were reshuffled.

Akagi firmly claimed the top spot, surpassing both Susabano and Tokugawa.

Though the gap between Akagi and their rivals wasn't vast, it was undeniable.

With Sawamura not even fully unleashing his potential, the gap would likely grow further in the summer tournament.

However, stronger opponents awaited Akagi in the summer.

Meanwhile, Akagi's players, limited by their talent ceiling, might struggle to achieve significant growth.

Still, a win was a win.

Akagi broke Tokugawa's decades-long dominance over Nagano's summer and autumn championships, finally taking the crown.

...

As the game ended, everyone—including Sano, who often felt more like a mascot—rushed toward the pitcher's mound to celebrate with Sawamura.

Even the school principal, despite the school's limited budget, treated the baseball team and their cheering squad to a barbecue feast.

After the celebration, Sendo announced a break from tough practice games until the summer tournament.

The team finally had a few days to relax.

Susabano's captain, Takase, requested a practice match before summer, knowing Sendo wouldn't play but still eager to face Akagi. Akagi's only significant opponent before summer was now Susabano.

...

The autumn tournament taught Sendo and his teammates that their time together was limited.

With only 8–9 months left, including the national tournament, Sendo's words about treasuring their days together began to sink in.

"Three years feels long, but it passes in the blink of an eye," he often said. Even high school would feel fleeting.

...

Following the autumn tournament, Sendo announced a week-long break from training to allow time for exams.

Though it was really an excuse for Sendo to slack off while giving the team time to study.

Sendo aced all his exams, maintaining his reputation as the top student.

Meanwhile, Sawamura failed spectacularly, setting a new record for being at the bottom of the class.

His failed retests meant he spent most of the winter break in supplementary lessons.

...

As winter break approached, Wakana noticed Sendo's frustration over Fumino's increasing demands on his time.

Fumino even declared she would visit Nagano for New Year's and accompany Sendo to a shrine visit.

Sendo, adamantly opposed, claimed he wanted to sleep in on New Year's Day.

But under Fumino's withering glare, he reluctantly gave in.

"This life is unbearable!" Sendo muttered frequently during autumn and winter.

What Sendo didn't know was that Fumino was considering moving to Nagano for high school to attend the same school as him.

If that happened, it wasn't just frequent phone calls anymore—she would likely move in nearby. For Sendo, the thought of "cohabiting" with someone he saw as a sister and daughter was both thrilling and tormenting.

Wakana, amused by Sendo's complaints, suggested mischievously, "Why don't you find her a boyfriend or something?"

"..."

Sendo fell silent, deep in thought.

"What if she did have a boyfriend?" Wakana teased.

"Who is it? I'll kill him!" Sendo's eyes flared with a terrifying intensity.

"Pfft! Hahaha!" Wakana burst into uncontrollable laughter.

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