Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter

Chapter 152: The Match After the Rain

The notion that this was a "prelude to the finals" was little more than wishful thinking on the part of a few enthusiasts.

The gap in strength between the two teams was already evident.

However, even with such a disparity, there was still a chance for an upset—baseball is known for its unpredictability.

The light rain that fell the previous night only added to the variables on the field, with the slightly damp grass and infield dirt introducing uncertainties that could affect defensive plays.

Due to Sawamura losing a game of rock-paper-scissors, Akagi Junior High would bat first.

When both teams took their respective sides of the field, they were met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. Following a brief warm-up session, the game began in earnest.

...

"Who would have thought that in such a short time, the balance of power between us and Akagi would shift so dramatically? Still, no game is decided until it's played," Coach Kunimi of Tokugawa Junior High gave a motivational speech to his players.

"Last year, even with the odds heavily stacked against them, they almost knocked us out. Let's show them our resilience!"

"Yes, sir!"

...

On the other side of the field, a different kind of pep talk was taking place.

"Sen-chan?" one of Akagi's players called out.

"Hmm?"

"Say something to the team! The other side looks ready to fight!"

"Is that so? Alright, let's win," Sendo said plainly.

"…That's too simple!" Sawamura yelled.

"Fine, then. Let's crush them completely!"

"Yeah!!!"

"Line up!" Sendo called out, and the Akagi players took their positions.

"Let's go!" Kunimi shouted to his team.

"Yes, sir!"

"Time to roll!" Sawamura roared from the Akagi dugout.

"Yeah!!!"

...

The first inning began with Akagi's offense.

"Leading off, shortstop, Ohno-kun!" The announcer's voice echoed.

"Alright! The game is finally starting! Now stepping up to bat is Akagi Junior High's leadoff hitter, shortstop Ohno-kun. Akagi's batting lineup has shown improvement in recent games, so let's see how they start today!"

The first pitch came in hot.

"Strike! Tokugawa's pitcher-catcher duo wastes no time probing!"

Ohno swung at the second pitch.

"Ping!"

"He makes contact! But… it's weak! Out!"

The ball was a soft infield pop fly, easily caught. Ohno was retired after just two pitches.

Next up was Aoki, who struck out on a slider after being forced into a two-strike count.

The third batter, Kondou, didn't fare any better, and the inning ended without Akagi managing to put anyone on base.

Unlike the teams Akagi faced earlier in the tournament, Tokugawa was on a completely different level. This result was expected.

...

Having retired three batters in a row, Tokugawa's pitcher Hori breathed a sigh of relief, though he couldn't help but glance nervously at Akagi's dugout, where Sendo was waiting.

But Sendo had already turned away, paying no attention to him.

For Sendo, the game was just getting started.

On the mound, Sawamura was ready to unleash his full power.

Having followed Sendo's explosive training regimen since the fourth grade and spent years honing his running stability, Sawamura's lower body was incredibly strong.

Though his control wasn't perfect, he could reliably pitch within the strike zone.

His average velocity of 130 km/h was enough to frustrate Tokugawa's lineup.

Sawamura made quick work of Tokugawa's batters, sending them back to the dugout in rapid succession.

Even Tokugawa's ace pitcher was having trouble deciphering his pitches.

...

The second inning began with Akagi back on offense.

"Now batting, cleanup hitter, catcher Sendo-kun!"

As soon as the announcer finished, the entire stadium erupted with cheers.

Tokugawa's players felt an almost oppressive pressure, as if they were playing in enemy territory.

After all, baseball fans love power hitters, and Sendo wasn't just any slugger—his ability to maintain pinpoint accuracy at the plate made him a nightmare for pitchers.

Even Tokugawa's ace, a veteran of countless games, had to take deep breaths to steady himself.

Rei Takashima, observing from the stands, couldn't help but let her emotions slip as the tension mounted.

When Tokugawa's catcher crouched into position, the crowd's volume doubled.

"Alright! Don't mess this up! No runners on base, so we can't start with an intentional walk. Let's test his condition first!" Hori signaled cautiously.

"The first pitch! Here it comes!"

"Ball! A clear miss on the outside corner. Sendo doesn't swing."

The second pitch was delivered.

"Ping!"

"He makes contact! He hits the low vertical slider! It's going far!"

The ball flew toward the stands.

"Thud!"

"Foul! Just a few centimeters away from being a home run! What a pity!"

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

"Sendo sure loves targeting decisive pitches! Most of his home runs have come from his opponent's go-to breaking balls!"

"Damn! That scared me!" Hori muttered, staring at Sendo in disbelief.

Knowing he couldn't risk pitching to Sendo any further, Hori made a quick decision.

"We can't go head-to-head with him. He nearly turned the slider into a home run! This is the right call," he thought, signaling for an intentional walk.

The announcers filled the lull with commentary. "This reminds me of last autumn, when Sendo stepped off the bench for the first time. No one knew anything about him, and yet he hit a towering home run off Kanda's vertical slider during his first at-bat!"

...

"Ball four!"

"Sendo gets a free pass! Now stepping up to the plate is Sawamura-kun! With Sendo's baserunning and Sawamura's bunting ability, Akagi has one of the most reliable scoring duos in this tournament!"

"Tokugawa is shifting to a shallow infield defense!"

"Sendo is stealing!"

As the first pitch was thrown, Sendo predictably stole a base.

The opposing team was well aware of his tendencies, but stopping him was another matter.

Their best course of action was to focus on securing favorable pitch counts.

However, the rain from the previous night introduced variables that even the strongest teams couldn't fully control.

The unthinkable happened during a no-out situation with Sendo on third base.

While attempting to run home, Sendo's footing slipped on a damp spot, causing him to lose balance for just a fraction of a second.

The ball was fielded quickly, and Sendo was tagged out at home plate. For the first time, the iconic Sendo-Sawamura duo failed to score.

Though Sawamura managed to reach base, Tokugawa's ace pitcher Kanda held the following batters in check, stranding Sawamura on base.

...

In the bottom of the second inning, Tokugawa capitalized on the wet field.

Their cleanup hitter drove a fast ground ball that wasn't fielded cleanly, allowing him to reach second base.

Then their fifth batter, Egawa, hit a ball that took an unpredictable bounce off the wet infield, causing Akagi's defense to falter again.

These errors allowed Tokugawa to score two runs, energizing their team and shifting the momentum in their favor.

From then on, both teams played cautiously. The game became a tense battle of attrition.

...

By the fourth inning, Sendo stepped up for his second at-bat with two outs on the board.

Tokugawa's battery, unwilling to challenge him, opted for another intentional walk, prioritizing their two-run lead over a direct confrontation with Akagi's cleanup hitter.

Akagi remained scoreless through the fourth inning, but the team's resolve, led by Sawamura, intensified.

Sawamura completely shut down Tokugawa's offense, preventing even a single baserunner.

Meanwhile, Sendo quickly adjusted Akagi's defensive strategy, urging his teammates to focus on blocking the ball with their bodies if necessary, ensuring no further errors from unpredictable bounces.

While Akagi's offense managed to string together occasional hits, they couldn't produce a rally.

However, through sheer determination and teamwork, they scraped a single run off Tokugawa, cutting the deficit to one.

Even Rei Takashima, observing from the stands, was impressed by Akagi's coordination. Few high school teams could match their technical and tactical execution, let alone a junior high team.

The synergy among Akagi's players was almost unbelievable.

...

By the seventh inning, the score remained 2-1, with Tokugawa clinging to a narrow lead. Akagi's lineup began with their eighth batter, Takada.

"Ping!"

"Takada makes contact! The ball is flying deep! Tokugawa's outfielders are retreating rapidly! Will it—?"

"Out!"

The ball was caught just shy of the warning track.

A few more feet, and it would have been at least a double, if not a home run. But sports are unforgiving—split-second moments often decide outcomes.

Next up was the ninth batter, Shin.

"Let's go, Shin! You've got this!" his teammates cheered.

The tension was palpable. For the losing team, this could be their last chance to keep their summer alive.

"Strike three! Batter out!"

Reality was cruel. Shin struck out on three pitches.

Tokugawa was now just one out away from victory.

---

The commentary summed up the stakes: "Who would have thought the supposed favorites would be trailing after breaking the stalemate in the second inning? Tokugawa Junior High is now one out away from avenging last year's loss!"

The announcers avoided mentioning the field conditions, acknowledging that luck is an inherent part of baseball.

Sometimes, a gust of wind could turn a fly ball into a home run.

Such is the nature of the sport.

But Akagi wouldn't give up.

They had their own reasons to fight.

"Calm down, Ohno!" Akagi's leadoff batter muttered to himself. "Are you really going to let Sendo leave this field in defeat? No. Absolutely not. I can't accept that! Damn it!" Driven by desperation and resolve, Ohno stepped into the batter's box.

"Strike! The first pitch was an inside fastball, and Ohno let it go!"

The next pitch was a ball.

"No swing? Impressive discipline at this stage!"

On the third pitch, Tokugawa's catcher signaled for a slider to end the game. The pitcher nodded confidently and delivered.

"Ping!"

A ground ball headed toward shortstop. However, as it reached the infield, the ball took an erratic bounce due to the damp field.

"Safe!"

Tokugawa had finally fallen victim to the unpredictable conditions of the wet field.

Ohno reached base with two outs, keeping Akagi's hopes alive.

...

The Akagi bench erupted in cheers.

"Now it starts! The game begins with two outs! Let's turn this around!" they yelled, banging on the dugout railing.

The crowd, initially subdued, roared back to life. Meanwhile, Sendo called Aoki over to the side.

No one knew what Sendo whispered, but the result was immediate.

"Ping!"

"Aoki swings at the first pitch! A deep drive to right field! It's falling—"

"Safe!"

The ball landed for a double, sending Ohno sprinting around the bases. Akagi wasn't done yet.

The ball slipped past the right fielder, taking an unpredictable bounce yet again! What could have been a mere single turned into a dramatic double due to the irregular hop.

"At this stage, every out is unbelievably hard to come by!"

With two outs and no runners on base, the game suddenly turned into a high-stakes situation: two outs, runners on second and third. The next batter up was Akagi's third hitter and key player.

"Batting third, second baseman, Kondou-kun!"

"Batting third, second baseman, Kondou-kun!"

The Akagi lineup continued to apply relentless pressure on Tokugawa. At this point, it was a battle of sheer willpower. Both teams had pushed themselves to their limits.

While Kondo's pitches were still difficult for Akagi's hitters to fully capitalize on, the real question was whether he could maintain his composure under immense pressure. His mental fortitude was now his greatest enemy.

Yet Kondo had earned his reputation as Tokugawa's ace. Even in this tense moment, he radiated an unshakable fighting spirit.

"This is it! Let's settle this once and for all!" Hori, the catcher, signaled confidently, setting his glove in position.

The first pitch came.

"Ping!"

"What?!"

"A bunt?!"

Under Sendo's direction, Kondou executed a surprise bunt—a completely unexpected move. With two outs and the infield playing deep, Tokugawa's defense was caught entirely off guard. They had assumed no one would try something so unconventional in such a critical situation.

"Safe!"

The bunt turned the game on its head. Bases loaded!

Kondou, after reaching base, let out a triumphant shout, unleashing all the tension he had bottled up. The stadium erupted in cheers, the crowd electrified by the sudden turn of events.

...

The game had reached its peak excitement: two outs, bases loaded, and the batter stepping into the box was none other than Sendo Akira.

There was nothing more thrilling. Moments earlier, it seemed Akagi was on the verge of defeat.

Tokugawa's ace Kanda had been dominant, and Akagi's lineup had struggled to find answers.

The rain-soaked field had favored Tokugawa, allowing them to maintain their narrow lead.

But now, the situation had flipped.

The bases were loaded, and Akagi had its cleanup hitter—one of the most feared batters in the game—at the plate.

The fans in the stands were ecstatic, chanting Sendo's name.

Yet, in an unexpected twist, Tokugawa's battery made a shocking decision.

Intentional walk.

The entire stadium fell silent for a moment, stunned by the choice.

It became clear what Tokugawa was aiming for.

The batter following Sendo had no significant batting ability, and allowing a tying run was preferable to risking a walk-off grand slam.

This strategy, though controversial, showed just how much Tokugawa feared Sendo.

They would rather face the next batter with a tied game than risk a complete reversal at Sendo's hands.

The crowd roared in a mix of frustration and admiration as Sendo walked to first, his presence alone having reshaped the game.

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