Saturday, clear skies.
The highly anticipated Kanto Tournament arrived as scheduled.
Seido High School Baseball Team's first opponent was the runner-up from Kanagawa Prefecture, the only surprising dark horse of this Kanto Tournament.
Ichidaisan Third High School lost?
The Seido High School Baseball Team players who just reached the stadium received the news.
Ichidaisan Third High School, also from West Tokyo, unfortunately lost their game against Yokohama Kohoku.
"Manaka pitched very stubbornly, and Ichidaisan Third High School was still in the lead until the seventh inning. It was only later that Manaka ran out of stamina and was seized upon by Yokogaku's hitters, who launched a fierce attack and directly turned the game around. The score was 7:5, and the four runs in the eighth inning became the key to deciding the game's outcome."
Although Ichidaisan Third High School was their mortal enemy when they were in Tokyo, and they wished for Ichidaisan Third High School's misfortune every moment.
But now it was the Kanto Tournament, and as fellow competitors from the same region, they still felt bad when Ichidaisan Third High School was eliminated by someone else and not them.
Although no one said anything, their heavy hearts were unavoidable.
"As expected of Kanagawa's Yokogaku. If nothing unexpected happens, they should be our opponent in the semifinals."
7:5!
From this score, it was clear that this was an all-out contest of offense and defense between the two sides.
Yokogaku truly lived up to its reputation as a top national powerhouse, able to hold an advantage even when going head-to-head with Ichidaisan Third High School.
"Then let's bring honor to our hometown and eliminate those guys from Kanagawa, sending them home too."
Isashiki Jun said with high morale.
This time, Kuramochi, who was professionally responsible for backing up Senior Jun, had not yet spoken.
Senior Tanba was the first to step forward.
"Eliminate Shonan, then eliminate Yokogaku."
Although everyone had seen Tanba's growth during this period.
But it was the first time the players had seen him speak with such confidence.
Even his number one jersey, which originally didn't seem to suit him, now looked much more natural.
"Yes."
"That's what we'll do!"
Before the game started, the Seido High School Baseball Team players were all eager to play.
When the game truly began, looking at one familiar face after another on the opposing team.
Miyuki gave a wry smile: "This is too much of a coincidence..."
Although he had only played against a portion of them, as a top star player of the same generation, he had heard of many players on the Shonan High School baseball team, even if he hadn't interacted with them.
"Kurokawa from Kanagawa, Akai and Akiyama from Gunma..."
Miyuki called out their names one by one, and the more he called, the more his head ached.
He originally thought that Narumiya Mei gathering all the famous star players in Tokyo was already crazy enough.
Seeing the lineup of the Shonan High School baseball team, Miyuki realized he had been making a mountain out of a molehill before.
Shonan was truly insane.
Almost every position was filled by the top star players of their generation.
Some players could even be compared to Narumiya Mei.
"The opposing coach also looks familiar. Could it be Mr. Mikura, the meritorious coach from Old Kyoto?"
Mikura, a famous high school baseball coach, known as the 'Demon Commander'.
Not only did he have a knack for training players, but his on-field command of the baseball team reached a peak level of mastery.
Although he never won the Koshien championship, he was able to lead his disciples into Koshien many times and achieve very good results.
Most importantly, he had staged many miraculous come-from-behind victories on the Koshien field.
It was precisely for this reason that he was called the Demon Commander.
It was said that he possessed a magical power that could, to a certain extent, control the direction of the game.
Of course, this was just the wishful thinking of his fans.
If Mikura truly had such magical power, he would have won championships until his hands were soft; how could he have only led his baseball team to the Koshien finals once until now?
And he lost that final game.
Although he did not win the championship, Mikura's reputation and strength were genuine.
No one could question this point.
Even the Seido High School Baseball Team players were no exception.
Not only did Miyuki find the opponents familiar, but the opposing players also looked at Miyuki and Zhang Han, especially Zhang Han.
The expressions on their faces were also full of nostalgia.
Their last encounter was probably two years ago.
That was their last summer in their third year of junior high. These players all achieved excellent results that year, thus advancing to become star players.
They knew each other inside out.
Especially Zhang Han, Kurokawa, Akai, Akiyama, who made it to the nationals...
Even if they hadn't played against each other, their names were well-known.
The higher you go on the path of baseball, the narrower it becomes, and the greater the chance of meeting each other?
It's the same principle as a pyramid: the higher you go, the smaller the tip, and the fewer people there are.
Just like now, even though they each joined different regions.
But because everyone performed very well, they all stood out from their respective regions.
Haven't they reunited now at the Kanto Tournament?
"So rich!"
Miyuki sighed.
These players had no worries about finding a team.
The powerhouses in their respective areas must have extended warm invitations to them.
Under these circumstances, they didn't go to powerhouses but chose to join Shonan instead, which was very telling.
If their family or their family members had some connection with Shonan.
That would be understandable.
But in fact, Shonan was just a team that had been established for two years.
As a new team, it was impossible for those players to have any ties to Shonan.
Under these circumstances, they still joined Shonan. What do you think this was because of?
It would be strange if it wasn't for money.
Without any reputation or honors, to make these already famous star players agree to transfer and bet their future.
A small amount of money wouldn't be enough.
"Today's game probably won't be as easy as we thought before."
Miyuki mused.
The game officially began, with Shonan Gakuen on offense.
The first to step into the batter's box was Akai, a slender-looking teenager.
Two years ago, he was the fastest runner in the Junior Baseball National Tournament.
The main reason he became famous in one battle was that he broke the on-base record for the Junior High National Tournament.
Miyuki hesitated while calling pitches.
He directly instructed the infielders to take two more steps forward, narrowing the gap between the infielders.
Only then did he signal Tanba.
To avenge his good friend Manaka, Tanba was in a very excited state.
From the start, he threw his fastest pitch.
Akai had no time to react, and the white ball had already drilled into Miyuki's glove.
"Pop!"
"Strike!"
Ball count, one strike, zero balls.
"Good job, Senior Tanba!"
"He's already started suppressing the opposing players."
"Just like this, let's finish him off in one go."
The players in the dugout stood up and cheered for Tanba.
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