"This game isn't over yet, and no one knows who will come out on top. Why do you predict that Inashiro will win the Jingu Tournament? What if Yakushi ends up winning?"
Kuramochi found it hard to agree with Miyuki's prediction.
Winning a championship is difficult.
Even if you have the strength, not everything can go smoothly. There is also the element of surprise, so dark horses like Yakushi actually have a better chance of winning.
Miyuki noticed the skeptical looks of his teammates but remained calm. He explained patiently.
"There are many ways to win, but the default rule for championship-winning teams is that they have a genuine Ace. A team with a real Ace is more likely to make it to the end. Of course, accidents can happen, but they are rare."
In a fiercely competitive area like Tokyo, the likelihood of an upset is even smaller.
"Yakushi isn't without an Ace; their pitcher Sanada is quite strong," Maezono said.
He wasn't just arguing; he genuinely believed that Sanada Shunpei deserved the title of Ace pitcher.
Given his ability, to lead Yakushi High School, it's not far-fetched to say he could at least give Inashiro a tough fight.
In fact, Yakushi High had won their previous practice game for just that reason.
"Sanada's strength is undoubtedly impressive," Miyuki agreed. "But he does have an unavoidable flaw."
The Seidou players looked at Miyuki in confusion, wondering what he meant.
Miyuki didn't continue, he simply looked at Sawamura to explain.
Sawamura rolled his eyes at Miyuki and explained calmly, "If Sanada-senpai can pitch the entire game, it might still be true. But given the current situation, it seems unlikely."
Sawamura had experienced Inashiro's lineup firsthand.
They are scary, but not unsolvable.
On the other hand, they are also not that hard to score from.
The game continued.
Mishima took the mound for Yakushi High, and it soon became clear why Miyuki and Sawamura had said what they said. For whatever reason, Sanada likely wouldn't be able to pitch the entire game, especially after their previous battle with Sankou.
Ping!
Before anyone could dwell on Miyuki and Sawamura's words, the game shifted.
Carlos, leading off, hit a clever single and sprinted to second base.
Shirakawa got a Walk!
And the third batter used a hit-and-run play!
Carlos safely returned to home plate, scoring the first run of the game.
The score quickly became 1-0.
Although Mishima managed to stabilize the situation, the score gap never narrowed.
By the third inning, with consecutive hits from Carlos and Shirakawa, Sanada had to come off the bench to take over the pitching duties.
Sanada's exceptional pitching managed to resolve the immediate crisis.
The following innings turned into a close pitching duel.
Neither side yielded.
Sanada Shunpei's performance at this point was on par with Narumiya.
This evenly matched situation continued into the eighth inning.
Ping!
Carlos, leading off again, blasted a home run out of Jingu Stadium. The ball soared high and far until it was out of sight.
The score became 2-0.
This home run all but secured Inashiro's victory.
Inashiro seized the chance to continue their attack.
Using strategic plays, they brought Shirakawa back to home plate.
The score was now 3-0.
Then, Tadano capitalized on consecutive hits, sending his partner, the team's Ace pitcher Narumiya, back to the plate.
The score became 4-0.
In just the eighth inning, Inashiro High School scored three runs, widening the gap to four points and sealing their victory.
At this point, Sanada was visibly exhausted.
It was apparent to everyone.
Perhaps yesterday's game had depleted his stamina, or his foot injury was hindering his performance.
Either way, the results spoke for themselves.
In the top of the ninth inning, Yakushi High School launched their final offensive.
The Yakushi players gave it their all.
Mishima reached base!
Raichi, who had been quiet until now, delivered the long-awaited home run.
The score changed to 4-2.
At that moment, the entire Jingu Stadium erupted.
Everyone raised their hands, hoping for a miraculous comeback.
"It won't happen!"
Narumiya Mei, undeterred by the home run, showed unwavering determination.
His continuous pitching didn't show any signs of fatigue.
His stamina and mental strength were still robust.
With a focused gaze, he relied on his powerful pitching to handle the opponent.
"STRIKE!"
"STRIKE!!"
"STRIKE! BATTER OUT!!!"
"In the finals of the Tokyo Fall Tournament, Inashiro High School faced Yakushi High School, and the final winner is Inashiro Industrial High School!"
At that moment, Inashiro stood triumphant.
The Tokyo Autumn Tournament concluded.
After the game, news from Kanto began to emerge.
The top four teams from Kanto were announced, while the fifth through eighth places would face off in extra matches to determine their final rankings.
The fifth-place team from Kanto would get the final Spring Koshien spot.
In Inashiro, the champions celebrated with great enthusiasm.
They aimed to carry this momentum into the Jingu Tournament.
As hosts, they enjoyed some advantages and had the potential to reach the final.
And that is what happened!
At Jingu Stadium, Inajitsu High School, the host team, emerged victorious after a series of tough matches, clinching the championship of the Jingu Tournament.
In the final game, they battled through twelve innings, securing the win with Carlos's base steal.
Their experience against Sawamura Eijun gave Inajitsu valuable insights on how to tackle top-level pitchers, laying the foundation for their victory.
Thus Inajitsu also won the Jingu Tournament.
Like this, the management of the Senbatsu(Spring Koshien) had a problem.
Unlike the Summer Koshien, which is the final of the Summer Tournament, Spring Koshien is not.
Senbatsu(Spring Koshien) is a Tournament in and by itself. The competing members receive an invitation based on their performance in the regional tournaments.
To make things more fair, the winners of the regional tournaments are of course invited. And depending on the region, more invitations will be given.
Moreover, the winner of a notable competition like the Jingu Tournament will automatically get an invitation to Spring Koshien.
Like that, Inashiro now got another invitation to Spring Koshien.
Usually, the management will extend the other invitation of Tokyo Fall Champion to the runner-up team, but the runner-up team Yakushi High School, also won the fifth place in Kanto and secured their invitation.
Usually, balance was needed. Since the runner-up team from Tokyo had already qualified, the remaining half-spot should be given to the sixth-place team from Kanto.
"That's not acceptable. Tokyo's spots are for Tokyo; they must be allocated to Tokyo teams."
This was the major opinion of the management and sponsors who are mostly from Tokyo.
After careful consideration, and to make things fair for everyone. The management finally came up with a solution that wasn't ideal but was passable.
The solution was a play-off.
The top sixth teams + two more teams from Tokyo (which means eight Teams) would compete in three rounds of elimination.
And the winner from Tokyo would vie for the remaining invitation with the sixth-place team from Kanto.
When the Eight teams were announced, online reactions were mixed.
Supporters praised the management for their fairness, while critics accused them of favoring and manipulating the process.
As Seidou High School was one of the two selected teams.
It was a clear message from the management to Seidou: "Get your losing behinds right here!"
...