The total score is 4:0!
If the previous three points had pushed Hirotaka High School into the corner, then the home run scored by Sawamura and the extra point was tantamount to the beating that followed the cornering.
Making Hirotaka players completely hopeless.
In the rest area of Seidou High School, even the more cautious coach Ochiai thought that there could be no more variables in this game.
He suggested to Coach Kataoka next to him: "Considering tomorrow's final, it is better for Sawamura to conserve his physical stamina right now."
He didn't give the decision directly. As a deputy, it would be stupid to give the decision directly. A skilled deputy will conceal his thoughts, subtly embedding them within suggestions.
From this point of view, Coach Ochiai did a great job. When he was in Kanagawa, he originally did this, and he was very familiar with it.
Coach Kataoka nodded.
He understood what Coach Ochiai meant, but it seemed a little early to replace Sawamura now.
Turning his head and taking a look, on the bench, three pitchers are looking at Sawamura walking on base and are eager to play too. Coach Kataoka's eyes finally fell on Kawakami, who had not shown much before.
This year's Koshien, Sawamura Eijun is naturally a success. In the previous game against the champion candidate Seihou High School, he threw the whole game, showing the strength of the top pitcher in the high school.
And the other two substitutes, Tanpa have also got a bit of attention.
Right now, it is very dangerous to let Tanpa Koichiro come off the bench. He has a good performance, but it is just the icing on the cake, once the performance is not good, the fame accumulated before may dissipate, and the losses outweigh the gains.
If Tanpa Koichiro is an indispensable Ace at Seidou High School, Kataoka may also send him on the field at this time.
But Tanpa is not!
In this way, the value of Tanpa playing again will not be great.
On the contrary, it is Furuya, if the score is really big enough, there is still value in playing.
The most favorite candidate is Kawakami.
With such a score difference, it is most beneficial for Kawakami to play.
Not only can he nurture him, but with his skills, he will not suddenly collapse.
"Kawakami, start preparing from the fourth inning. If there is no special change in the game, you will start pitching in the fifth inning."
"Yes!"
Of course, Kawakami was excited.
Ochiai glanced at Coach Kataoka clearly.
'So cautious!' he approved.
In this game, Hirotaka High School's strong batters were all adjusted to the top three.
According to the arrangement of Superintendent Kataoka, Sawamura will hand over the pitcher's mound to Kawakami after finishing them.
In this way, Kawakami and the core batters of Hirotaka High School will only fight once, at most twice.
Very secure!
As the Koshien finals approach, Kataoka's performance becomes increasingly level-headed and cautious.
It must be acknowledged that it is indeed a positive thing.
On the other hand, Hirotaka High School, which was 'awarded' additional points, did not completely collapse but ignored the pressure of losing.
They also know that their chances of being able to reverse this game are very slim. In this way, their players have completely let go.
They all lost anyway, so why should they be so stiff?
Letting go of the burden in their mind, their eyes became extremely burning.
Right now, they didn't think about how to win anyway, they only thought about how to play a game worthy of their efforts.
Do your best to show yourself!
You have to say that Koshien is really a very magical place. It is possible to play games here. Even if there is no hope of winning the game, the players are very willing to do their best.
Ping!
"OUT!"
"OUT!"
"OUT!!!"
Kosuke Ishizue, who let go completely, began to show his strength as a Moving ball pitcher. The batters at Seidou High School kept making contact with his pitching and then kept getting Outs one after another.
The more anxious he is, the more Kosuke wants to get rid of the batter, and the more mistakes he makes.
The more relaxed he is, the easier it is for the ball to break, which is the characteristic of a Moving ball pitcher.
There was no way to solve the battle in a short time, and Coach Kataoka immediately changed his strategy.
"Don't be in a hurry!"
"Don't even think about getting a hitting streak, which is very dangerous with pitchers like him."
"As long as there is a chance, focus on scoring points!"
This year's Koshien, Coach Kataoka is not without growth.
He deeply learned to understand a truth.
It doesn't matter how many hits you get. Earning points and suppressing the opponent is the most important thing.
In the first half of the third inning, Hirotaka High School attacked.
At this moment, they fully understood what Kosuke said at the beginning, and they must not let Sawamura continue to get Strikeouts like this again.
If the average pitcher wants to strike out, he will definitely throw a lot of Balls to trick the batter into swinging. Because he needs to earn enough Strikes, after all, it takes three Strikes to get a strikeout.
The scary thing about Sawamura is that he doesn't throw Balls at all, he throws all Strikes.
But even if someone throws a Strike, you can't hit it.
Time and time again, the bat failed, destroying the confidence of Hirotaka High School players again and again.
They were like those jumping clowns in a circus, constantly waving their bats, and being dealt with by Sawamura Eijun again and again.
'No!'
'Absolutely not!'
After making a plan, the players of Hirotaka High School started to use bunts shamelessly.
'Surrendered this fast!' Miyuki also looked down on Hirotaka High School's shameless action.
You must have confidence that you can hit the bases by running. Or you have subtle bunt skills that can hit the ball in great places, then you can use the bunt!
But it was not the case. The reason why Hirotaka High School players used bunts was because they swung normally and couldn't hit Sawamura's ball at all.
The purpose of the bunt was never to hit base, but to disrupt Sawamura's pitching rhythm.
'But who is afraid of whom?'
'You have made it clear that you are going to give us the number of Out in this inning, what is there for Seidou to be embarrassed about?'
'Besides, Sawamura didn't want to set a new strikeout record today.'
"OUT!"
"OUT!"
Two bunts in a row, one to the front of Sawamura and the other to the front of the third baseman.
Sawamura and Masuko would be embarrassed if they didn't catch these easy balls.
The two took the ball in their hands and passed it to first base.
Two Outs, no one on base.
When it was the ninth batter, the batter of Hirotaka High School finally stopped sticking to the bunt.
Perhaps in their opinion, they have completed the task perfectly. Destroyed Sawamura's pitching rhythm.
'Ignorance is a bliss!' Miyuki was smirking at their superficial views.
If it was really Sawamura Eijun's super rhythm before, then they should be happy about it.
But this was actually Sawamura's normal pitching.
A good rhythm needs to be found, but in normal pitching, where does he need to change it?
"STRIKE!"
"STRIKE!"
"STRIKE BATTER OUT!!!"
The Maou Sawamura Eijun is still going strong.
In the rest area of Hirotaka High School.
Everyone's faces including their Coach were looking really bad.
...