A substitution. And it involved the pitcher.
The fans in the stands exchanged bewildered looks. They simply could not understand what Seido High School Baseball Team was doing.
Although Koichiro Tanba's performance in previous games had been inconsistent, at least in today's match he had fulfilled the team's strategic objective. He had endured pressure and limited the damage as much as possible.
Such a crucial piece, removed at this moment?
Or was there an even stronger pitcher hidden in Seido's dugout?
Of course not. That was only idle speculation.
If such a player truly existed, Seido would have deployed him long ago. Whether to preserve Hidezawa's stamina or to stabilize the rotation, they would never have hesitated. They would not have waited until this desperate point.
Just recall how exhausted Hidezawa had looked when he left the mound. If someone capable of replacing him had been available, Seido High School Baseball Team would never have forced itself into such a dire predicament.
Then why did Coach Kataoka still insist on making the change?
At first glance, it made little sense.
"Seido's players don't have the stamina for extra innings."
A knowledgeable spectator nearby quietly explained.
"Coach Kataoka's move may look reckless, but it is actually logical. He knows very well that Seido High School Baseball Team cannot endure extra innings. This inning is their last chance. It is do or die."
Victory and defeat had been staked on this single frame.
Since that was the case, and Tanba's batting ability was unreliable, Coach Kataoka had no reason to let him hit.
A substitution was necessary.
Only by sending in a pinch hitter capable of producing a hit could Seido extend the batting order. Only by rotating the lineup back to the core hitters would they have even a sliver of hope.
Thus, Sanada stepped up.
In such a critical moment, being entrusted with this responsibility was proof of his strength. Coach Kataoka did not gamble blindly.
On the opposite side, in the Osaka Kiryuu High School Baseball Team dugout, Director Matsumoto Takahiro frowned briefly.
Then he stood decisively.
"Substitution."
Osaka Kiryuu also changed pitchers.
Komochi, who had been stationed in the outfield, returned to the mound. Tachi Hiromi shifted to the outfield to temporarily cover.
At this decisive juncture, Matsumoto placed his ace back on the mound without hesitation.
In Seido's dugout, the players were momentarily stunned.
They had to accept yet another unexpected turn.
To be honest, Matsumoto Takahiro had given them a vivid lesson today. During practice games, he had seemed approachable and gentle, smiling often and speaking in a refined manner.
They had not expected that on the Koshien stage he would reveal such sharp decisiveness.
This smiling director was frighteningly shrewd.
Every substitution he made had produced tangible results.
No matter how hard Seido fought, they always seemed to be reacting rather than dictating.
Even when their plays were brilliant, the scoreboard stubbornly favored Osaka Kiryuu.
"What an infuriating opponent."
The frustration in the dugout was palpable, yet they were powerless to change the flow.
"It does not matter. The priority now is to get a hit."
Coach Kataoka quickly suppressed the wandering thoughts. Overanalyzing the opponent would not alter the immediate reality. He refocused the team's attention on the only thing that mattered.
Face the pitcher.
Produce results.
Sanada stepped into the batter's box under enormous expectations.
However, facing Osaka Kiryuu's ace for the first time was very different from facing Tachi Hiromi.
The strategy designed for Tachi no longer applied.
Zhang Han, watching from the dugout, was not surprised.
Every pitcher possessed unique traits. Sanada was particularly effective against pitchers whose momentum was explosive but less controlled. Coach Kataoka's earlier decision had been a calculated match.
Against Komochi, however, that advantage diminished. Komochi was experienced, steady, and powerful in a different way.
The outcome unfolded quickly.
Two outs. No one on base.
Seido High School Baseball Team's hopes dimmed further.
Osaka Kiryuu stood only one out away from victory.
In the stands, Osaka Kiryuu's supporters were radiant with excitement. Earlier, they had worried about the possibility of Seido's batting order cycling back to its terrifying trio.
Azuma Kiyokuni. Yuuki Tetsuya. Zhang Han.
The destructive force of those three had already left a scar in their memory.
They did not want to relive that nightmare.
Now, as long as they retired Yamada, the game would be theirs.
Just one more out.
In Seido's dugout, silence settled heavily.
Their understanding of the situation was no less acute than that of Osaka's supporters. In fact, they comprehended it more deeply.
Even if Yamada managed to secure a hit, the probability of a comeback remained slim. And judging by Komochi's current condition, even getting that single hit would be extremely difficult.
At the plate, Yamada stood quietly.
Behind him, Azuma Kiyokuni called out.
"It's up to you. Hit it, Yamada."
Others had risen from the bench as well. They leaned forward anxiously, their composure forgotten.
Yamada forced a faint smile.
The encouragement was sincere.
But deep down, did anyone truly believe he could deliver?
When Seido's three third-year pillars once defined the lineup, he had not been their choice. Later, as Yuuki and Zhang Han emerged, even Tanaka had been pushed out of the central hitting role.
As the team's third batter, a position traditionally reserved for a cornerstone, his batting average among the regular starters ranked near the bottom.
Isashiki Jun was lowest.
Kou Shunmin next.
He was third from last.
When had he become this kind of player?
The realization gnawed at him.
So unwilling.
So unwilling to accept that this was his ceiling.
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