Seidou High School defeated Bunkyo High School with a score of 7:0.
The match lasted a full seven innings.
Throughout the game, several players delivered stunning performances. For example, Sawamura hit two home runs, showcasing an impressive batting.
On the other hand, after pitching seven innings, he prepared to leave the mound, having allowed no Bunkyo High batter to reach base during the game.
As a result, the game ended after just seven innings.
Sawamura Eijun finished the game and pitched a Perfect Game.
With one more Perfect Game on his record, he improved his record once again.
He is now very close to becoming the high school player with the most Perfect Games. Considering he is only a second year, it's only a matter of time before that record is broken.
With an increasing number of games, Sawamura is likely to set a terrifying record that has never been achieved before.
On the other side, first-year student Nishiyama played as the main outfielder.
In today's match, his performance was nothing short of perfect.
While he didn't have many chances to showcase his defensive skills—primarily because Sawamura pitched so well that the ball rarely came his way—he managed to hit cleanly twice, significantly contributing to Seidou's offense.
Although he didn't earn any RBIs, his hitting performance was perfect for a first year.
He can be described as a rising star.
While both players had remarkable performances, they weren't the most outstanding in the game.
The highlight belonged to Kominato Haruichi, who delivered a walk-off hit at the last moment.
A clean shot across the first baseline!
Haruichi unexpectedly achieved the goodbye hit.
The audience who watched today's match may forget many things in the future, including Sawamura's home runs and Nishiyama's breakout performance.
However, they would find it hard to forget the moment when Kominato Haruichi hit the ball at the end.
With no final Out recorded, the game concluded early with a strong offensive display.
Such scenes are difficult to forget, even years later.
"Beautiful job!"
In the stands, Owada Akiko clapped her hands excitedly.
"It's impressive he can hit the ball that far with a wooden bat!" Akiko remarked.
For them, the conflict between Coach Ochiai and Kominato Haruichi was no longer news.
Even from an observer's standpoint, it was difficult for Akiko to judge who was right or wrong.
However, since Haruichi could deliver such excellent performances with a wooden bat, it's unlikely Coach Ochiai could say much against him.
Fujio, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.
"On the surface, metal bats seem to have the advantage. After all, if you can touch the ball—even if you don't hit it perfectly—you can still send it flying. But that doesn't mean wooden bats are useless! If you hit the sweet spot, a wooden bat can launch the ball just as far."
In professional baseball, there are countless players who use wooden bats.
The biggest challenge lies in making contact.
To put it simply, it's about hitting the sweet spot!
For outstanding professional players, this is no easy feat, let alone for a high school student like Kominato Haruichi.
"Maybe this shy boy will become a big star in the future!" Fujio mused.
Currently, in the Seidou High School first team, aside from freshmen, there aren't many players who realistically hope to become professional baseball stars.
To put it bluntly, besides Sawamura and Miyuki, Furuya has the highest potential.
As for the others, their prospects look dim.
It's not that their skills aren't good enough; they just lack distinguishing characteristics that would allow them to thrive in professional baseball.
Next came Kuramochi.
Kuramochi's awakening during the spring tournament even caught the attention of some professional scouts. And with this being the third and final year, it is very likely that he will get so many offers soon.
After Kuramochi's awakening, it seemed Shiratsu or Maezono would be next, given their established technical styles and firm determination.
No one expected that the first to shine would be Kominato Haruichi!
Haruichi has started to gradually showcase his style.
'Additionally, he is considerably taller than his brother.'
'Considering he is only 15 this year, there's a chance!'
'As long as he grows a little taller and stronger in the next year, Kominato has a good shot at making it in professional baseball.'
Fujio lightly surveyed the jubilant crowd at Seidou and emptied his thoughts on his note.
Meanwhile, on the field.
The players of the Seidou High School baseball team were also very excited.
In today's match, they faced a formidable opponent, not an easy team to beat.
Even if the Seidou players wanted to win, it was no simple task.
Although the score suggested a crushing victory, the reality of the game was far from it; both teams played vigorously.
After such a fierce battle, Seidou successfully defeated their opponent.
Is there anything more satisfying than the process and the result?
Thus, after the game, the Seidou baseball players celebrated with great enthusiasm.
On the other side, the players from Bunkyo High School didn't seem too disheartened.
For most of Bunkyo's players, this outcome was expected. If they had actually defeated Seidou High, even they wouldn't have believed it.
Only Aoki Sugimoto and a few exchange students felt a bit sad.
As the saying goes, only those who put in effort have the right to be upset over failure.
If you didn't invest anything, you have no reason to be sad about losing.
After a brief moment of tears, their emotions calmed down somewhat. When they made the greeting bow to the Seidou players, they acted quite composed.
"Excuse me!" Emil said, shaking hands while grabbing Sawamura's hand.
"Huh?" Eijun looked at him, puzzled.
"You should understand me, right?" Emil asked earnestly in English.
"Of course!" Eijun replied with a smile.
Though he didn't have a talent for languages, he had learned for a long time with his good friend Raichi, after spending over ten years in the Major Leagues, he had definitely picked up English.
And thanks to his agent, his American English was particularly authentic.
That "vampire" had tried everything to secure more endorsements.
Hearing familiar words, Emil sighed in relief and looked at Eijun seriously.
"Do you have time in the future? I want to invite you on behalf of our Academy. Are you interested in playing an exchange game in the U.S.?"
With that, he glanced back at his teammates.
"We haven't been together for long, and their skills…"
The dark-skinned young man shrugged.
If Eijun weren't familiar with Emil, he might think the latter was looking for an excuse. But he knew Emil enough to understand that he wasn't the type to make such excuses.
His statement showed genuine feelings.
"I can't decide that, but I can help you consult our Coach. But can you make such a decision? Will your Coach agree?"
"Yes! Our coach is very approachable." Emil nodded.
"Also, I heard there's going to be an exchange match in Tokyo?" Eijun shrugged helplessly.
People can't remember everything they have seen or heard, and Sawamura was no exception. However, he did remember the exchange game for some special reasons.
The reason was that his partner Miyuki had collaborated with his arch-nemesis/friend Narumiya during that exchange game.
"The players who come here are what you can say the second-string! If you're interested in going, I can introduce you to some truly talented players from our side!"
Emil said this somewhat discreetly.
Eijun's eyes suddenly lit up.
Top players in their age group.
Having been in the Major League for over ten years, he knew this was an era filled with stars.
"The Team of American Prodigies!"
In the American Prodigies team, there are five members around the same age.
The other four are seniors. If their skills weren't so terrifying, there might even be substitutes in the same age group.
'It's them!'
Since Eijun entered the Major League, the members of Team Prodigies have scattered.
They belong to different Major League teams.
Eijun has faced them individually but has never played alongside them.
Even in national team games, these guys have never come together.
Now, he suddenly has a chance to face the legendary dream team, which excites Sawamura immensely.
He is, of course, very interested in going.
'Only…'
This isn't something he can decide on his own.
It also depends on Coach Kataoka's opinion.
And it seems even Kataoka doesn't have the authority to decide something this significant.
Ultimately, it rests with the school and the board.
"I'll help convey your invitation! But there's no guarantee it will happen…" Sawamura said seriously.
Emil nodded with a smile, revealing his bright white teeth.
"I hope that when the time comes, I can see your true strength!"
"There will be a chance!" Sawamura replied with a wide smile.
Even if the game doesn't happen, as long as they haven't given up on baseball, they will meet again someday.
…