Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 270: Final Preparations

After Komadai Fujimaki High School's victory, today's games officially came to an end.

This year's summer tournament has reached its final stage, leaving just one mystery unresolved: who will rise to the top and claim the crown of victory? This is the only question that remains for the national audience to focus on.

After their game concluded, Seidou High School wasted no time.

They packed their belongings and began to leave the field.

Eijun ran into his grandfather and Wakana outside the venue, sharing a brief conversation before rejoining his team on the designated bus.

They departed from Hanshin Koshien and returned to their hotel.

Both Seidou High School and Komadai Fujimaki High School players shared the same resolve: the next time they set foot on that field, it would be for the final match of summer.

When they leave the field after that game, they will carry the pride of victors.

This was their determination and their oath.

Having come this far, they could not afford to hold back.

How could they not give it their all?

At Seidou High School's hotel, the team conducted a brief review of the day's game before dispersing.

Some players went to rest, while others chose to engage in light, self-directed training.

Technically, Coach Kataoka had prohibited any strenuous activity to ensure the players maintained their condition.

However, he allowed controlled, basic training, understanding that athletes often feel out of sorts when suddenly idle.

A little activity could help relieve pressure and improve focus, but overexertion was strictly off-limits.

With such an intense match earlier and the finals ahead, any mishap could jeopardize their chances.

In the meeting room, after most of the team had left, Eijun remained behind, accompanied by Chris and Haruichi.

Meanwhile, Miyuki and Furuya had gone to a nearby open area to practice pitching and catching, unable to resist their usual dynamic.

Eijun's reason for staying was to rewatch the game footage of Komadai Fujimaki's match against Yamamori Academy.

He wanted to analyze their lineup and the performances of their three pitchers, hoping to glean insights or strategies.

His focus, naturally, was on how to approach Komadai Fujimaki's batting lineup from a pitching perspective.

Haruichi stayed behind with similar intentions, hoping to better understand their opponent, perhaps even anticipating a chance to play in the finals.

For him, any additional preparation was worthwhile.

"Here, this pitch," Chris pointed to a moment in the fourth inning, where Komadai Fujimaki's leadoff hitter delivered a deep hit to the outfield. "Yamamori's ace didn't make a mistake in control, but the pitch was slightly high, giving the batter an opening. Komadai Fujimaki's hitters aren't overly aggressive, but their ability to capitalize on opportunities is remarkable. High pitches are their bread and butter."

"Yes, Chris-senpai," Eijun nodded solemnly. It was almost certain that he would be the starting pitcher in the finals. That was why Coach Kataoka had substituted him during today's game to conserve his energy. The plan was to ensure he could pitch at his best in the finals.

Although the team had other pitchers prepared, Eijun was the most reliable option at the moment.

The remaining choices—Tanba and Furuya—were less consistent, and figuring out how to effectively use them in the finals was a critical point of concern for Coach Kataoka.

As the game footage continued to play, Eijun meticulously analyzed every detail, aided by Chris's guidance. Haruichi, equally focused, absorbed everything with a serious expression.

Komadai Fujimaki's seamless pitching rotations and adaptable strategy were on full display, showcasing their strength in leveraging such tactics effectively.

This adaptability would undoubtedly be a key challenge for Seidou High School in the finals.

From the collected data, it's clear that this team, from the regional tournament all the way to the national championship, hasn't had a single pitcher complete a game.

At most, their ace, Gakuto Iguchi, pitched until the fifth inning during the regional finals before being substituted in the sixth inning by another pitcher.

As for the other three pitchers, most of them were rotated out after pitching three to four innings.

In some cases, if the opposing batters seemed to have adjusted to their pitches or there was a risk of giving up runs, Coach Kozo Nitta would decisively pull the pitcher after just two innings.

Masamune Hongou, the stubborn prodigy, was well known to Eijun, who was familiar with the original story.

Hongou's personality was undeniably rebellious and difficult to control, almost defiant at times.

However, despite his temper and lack of respect for authority, he always carried out his duties as a pitcher and followed Coach Nitta's instructions when it came to the game.

This compliance with his role as a pitcher was why Coach Nitta didn't concern himself with Hongou's attitude.

As long as a player obeyed orders, fulfilled their responsibilities, and contributed to the team's victories, Coach Nitta saw no reason to dwell on trivial matters like temperamental behavior.

This approach is what allowed Hongou, as a first-year student, to secure a position as a regular pitcher during this summer tournament.

After all, Komadai Fujimaki High School was a completely different powerhouse compared to Seidou High School.

For instance, Komadai Fujimaki's ace, Gakuto Iguchi, not only had superior skills but also a more stable mindset compared to Seidou's Tanba.

With two additional mainstay pitchers, Komadai Fujimaki High School didn't face the same struggles as Seidou, which had to rely on a first-year pitcher due to a lack of experienced and reliable options.

Of course, in this alternate storyline, Eijun's abilities are far stronger than they were in the original series, making this comparison less relevant.

However, in the original narrative, it was apparent to any keen observer that unless Tanba was injured, the chances of Furuya or Sawamura stepping onto the mound were incredibly slim.

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