This match undoubtedly had a huge impact on the freshmen.
Even when they previously followed high school baseball, it was as outsiders. They could easily discuss it from a distance.
Now, however, it's different. They must view this high school game from the perspective of Seidou High School players.
The viewpoint is instantly changed!
Watching their Senpais battle on the field, they can't help but imagine themselves in those moments. How would they have performed if they had played in the last match?
Upon reflection, it's not so simple.
The strength forged through countless trials is something they can't yet hope to match.
With a nearly heavy but hopeful heart, the freshmen returned to school alongside the players.
The insights gained from today's game are far from over; they will have to work even harder in the days to come.
Without the strength to defeat those Senpais on the field, how could they hope to become part of the first team?
The players who came to Seidou High School must have arrived with that belief.
No one comes here just to be a substitute.
Their initial target was the first-string team of Seidou High School. Many talented players even investigated beforehand to find out if Seidou High School favored merit over Senpaiity.
The results show that Seidou High School is undoubtedly a meritocracy.
Almost every year, freshmen break into the first-string team; this has become a tradition of Seidou's baseball team. Last year, three newcomers joined at once.
The Maou Sawamura Eijun, The Monster Furuya, and the exceptionally skilled Kominato Haruichi.
This year, even if they can't surpass last year, they should at least be close!
But even if there are three or four spots waiting for them, there are over 60 freshmen, not counting the observers.
Standing out among so many newcomers is no easy task.
Not to mention competing with those Senpais…
This is the immense impact today's game has had on the freshmen; of course, these are just thoughts for later.
As Seidou High School triumphed over their opponents, the rivals needing their attention emerged one by one.
The scouting team at Seidou High School dispatched a total of six groups.
Of course, there are more than six teams in the Tokyo area that warrant Seidou High School's attention.
But they simply have no one left.
Other teams see Seidou High School as their primary target, so they will send someone to scout regardless.
The Seidou High School baseball team would like to do the same, but their opponents are not limited to just one.
There are many teams that could attract their attention, so they must make choices.
For example, Akikawa Academy!
That's the team led by Yoh Shunshin.
The players of Seidou High School have a strong impression of that team.
Especially their match against Yakushi High School left the Seidou players shaken.
No matter how their previous encounters went, the Seidou players fully acknowledge the strength of Yakushi High School.
Akikawa managed to suppress Yakushi High School's ferocious lineup without letting them show any response.
That alone is enough to draw Seidou High School's attention.
However, the scouts who came to observe were immediately stunned.
Yoh Shunshin, the Ace pitcher of Akikawa High School, known as the Clockwork was now serving as a ball boy.
A ball boy picks up the balls!
They are responsible for retrieving foul balls and such.
This is simply unbelievable!
The audience was equally baffled.
Ninety percent of the people who came to watch Akikawa High School's game were there to see Yoh Shunshin.
Now that the player they were looking forward to is picking up balls, it's hard to accept.
Later, they learned that Yoh Shunshin hadn't enrolled in Japan for the semester at all. He had studied for half a year in Taiwan and then came here as an exchange student.
According to his student status, he's almost graduated!
But in terms of actual study, he still has a whole academic year left. (Taiwan's academic year ends in July.)
Due to regulations, he is no longer eligible to play.
After a hard-fought battle, the players from Akikawa Academy ultimately lost to their opponents 5:3.
And thus, their spring tournament came to an end.
Keep in mind, that this was just a third-round match.
Even in Tokyo, known for its competitive battle zone, this level of competition is not overly intense.
Not to mention that the opponents Akikawa faced were not very strong.
Yet, even so, they were still easily defeated.
Back when Yoh Shunshin was their Ace pitcher, Akikawa Academy was a strong team capable of contending with Yakushi and Seidou High Schools.
Although they were generally at a disadvantage in overall strength, they could still compete.
Without Yoh Shunshin, there is not even a need for comparison.
If it were a race, they couldn't even catch up to their heels.
It's truly disheartening.
In contrast to the tragic fate of Akikawa Academy, the other teams under Seidou's watch have fared relatively better.
First and foremost is Yakushi High School.
Originally, everyone thought this team had been exhausted in Koshien.
But it turns out that was far from the case!
Raichi was adjusted to the lead-off spot, and they secured a strong start.
BANG!!!!!
With a bang, the white ball soared out of the field after being hit.
"A home run!"
"The man who tied Sawamura's record with five home runs in Koshien is showcasing his strength once again."
"The first to score was Yakushi High School!"
Starting from Raichi's home run, Yakushi High School displayed their explosive lineup's characteristics.
They dominated their opponent throughout the game.
By the end, the score had widened to a 14-point lead.
The match concluded with a score of 14:2, ending in the fifth inning.
The reason they conceded two points wasn't that their Ace pitcher, Sanada Shunpei, was on the bench.
It was Mishima's fault.
The Coach of Yakushi High School, Todoroki Raizou, never limits his players' potential.
In other teams, players typically stick to fixed positions unless there are special circumstances.
But it's completely different at Yakushi High School; infielders, outfielders, pitchers, even catchers…
As long as the position is right, it doesn't have to be perfect.
What position players end up in is uncertain.
"Amazing!"
"Impressive!!!"
A group of excited freshmen from Yakushi High School cheered with joy.
Perhaps they are rejoicing in their hearts, thrilled to be part of Yakushi High School.
"Tomobe, we should get our chance soon too!"
A sharp-faced freshman asked an unremarkable boy beside him.
"You will for sure, but as for me, it's uncertain!"
The boy named Tomobe held a book in his hand.
While speaking, he turned to glance at a particular direction among the Yakushi freshmen.
There stood a very tall boy.
He was at least 190 cm, towering like an iron tower.
"I didn't expect such a person to join our small team!"
'Damn, if I knew I'd run into him, I might as well have joined Seidou directly.'
'Anyway, it's a nightmare-level challenge; isn't it all the same?'
'Even if you defeat that monster here, there's no guarantee you'll stand out.'
'But at Seidou—the Kingdom Of Pitchers—if you can truly excel on the mound…'
That would certainly pave the way for fame.
Even if Seidou High School faces tough luck and doesn't achieve great results.
Just being able to squeeze into Seidou's pitching lineup would be enough to make a name for yourself.
"Yeah, I didn't expect someone like that to join the team!"
The boy named Taniguchi looked at the tall figure with apprehension.
In the dugout of Yakushi High School,
Coach Todoroki Raizou lay lazily on the bench.
'Making it to the Spring Koshien was fantastic.'
'Thanks to their great reputation, recruiting new talent has gone much more smoothly.'
'There are even unexpected gains.'
Thinking this, he glanced at the tall boy in the stands.
'Who would have thought such a powerful force would join?'
'my luck is getting good lately, should I buy a lottery ticket?'
In addition to these two teams, Seidou is also keeping an eye on Teito!
Teito High School, which lost to Seidou High School in the first round of the Fall Tournament, has experienced the longest offseason in history.
During that time, their players have made significant progress.
Today's match shows some of that.
7:0!
Led by their pitcher, Teito High School triumphed over a strong opponent.
The game is called after seven innings.
Although their offensive power isn't as strong as Seidou and Yakushi, it's clear they played very well without exhausting their full strength.
They are clearly hiding their true capabilities.
Under the leadership of the little giant Maki, Sensen Academy also decisively defeated their opponent.
Ugumori, Seiko, Ouya, Sousei…
All the strong teams took down their opponents one after another.
In an area like Tokyo, dark horses are hard to come by.
There are too many strong players here; without enough strength, it's easy to be knocked down.
But if a dark horse does emerge, they are bound to be remarkable.
Unfortunately, this time, no dark horse has appeared.
Almost all winning teams are well-known and strong schools.
The remaining 32 teams, even if they haven't faced Seidou before, have surely heard of their reputation.
These are the Heroes Of Tokyo.
Of course, among these so-called heroes, there are certainly these two teams.
Ichidai Sankou and Inashiro Industrial.
Both are nationally renowned top-tier schools, and their clashes are highly anticipated.
Over the past year, Sankou has lost to both Seidou and Yakushi, with their performance consistently lacking.
In contrast, Inajitsu, under the pressure of Seidou High School, not only managed to defeat Seidou once but also took second place in the previous Spring Koshien.
Their strength cannot be underestimated.
One is at the peak of their game, while the other is slightly overshadowed.
On the surface, it seems Sankou has less chance of winning.
But when these two teams face off, they still provide an unparalleled sense of excitement.
...