Chapter 79: The Precision Machine, You Shunshin
Seidou High School easily defeated Maimon West High School, advancing smoothly to the third round.
The very next day, they faced their second match against another Tokyo Metropolitan high school, Murata East High School.
For this game, Coach Kataoka initially positioned Eijun in left field, choosing Furuya as the starting pitcher.
Just as Miyuki had guessed, Coach Kataoka intended to use these early rounds against less formidable opponents to hone the talents and experience of his first-year players, who were full of potential but lacked real-game experience.
Even Haruichi, who entered as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning against Maimon West High, got a taste of the summer tournament's atmosphere.
Like the previous game with Eijun's performance, this match began as a showcase for Furuya.
His dazzling fastballs instantly energized the entire venue.
It must be admitted, speed isn't everything, but the impact of such high-speed pitches roaring through the air provided a thrilling spectacle.
Murata East High's players were even more bewildered than Maimon's had been.
In their eyes, Furuya was a wild pitcher with zero control, hurling over 150 km/h fastballs that whizzed by terrifyingly close.
Missing swings was one thing, but just standing in the batter's box became a test of nerve Murata's players struggled to handle.
Three innings of shutout baseball saw Furuya match Eijun's earlier performance, with a more dazzling nine strikeouts.
It wasn't just that Murata's players couldn't get a hit—they struggled even to make contact, as only their cleanup hitter managed a brush with the ball for a foul tip.
The others didn't even graze the ball.
Pure power overwhelmed them as Furuya unleashed his full strength.
Meanwhile, Seidou's batting lineup started explosively, scoring four runs in the first inning. Eijun even hit an infield single and Furuya drove in an RBI.
The batting order nearly cycled through entirely in just the first inning.
By the third inning, Seidou had amassed 13 runs after Furuya completely suppressed Murata East's lineup.
In the fourth inning, Kawakami came in as a reliever.
Eijun was taken off, and Furuya moved to left field, a training tactic from Coach Kataoka.
During three innings, Eijun had two at-bats: once out on a fly ball and once with an infield single, reaching first base.
Although facing weaker pitchers, his batting skills started to show potential, differing from how he relied purely on bunts in the original storyline.
Coach Kataoka noticed this development.
Except for crucial moments when Eijun's exceptional bunting skills were needed, the coach allowed him to take his own initiative, especially notable during his time with the second string.
After all, practicing to improve the batting capabilities of his pitchers was worthwhile.
Similarly, in this game, Seidou maintained a shutout against their opponents.
Kawakami did encounter a minor hiccup in the fifth inning, allowing a hit by Murata's cleanup batter, but it was inconsequential overall.
Seidou High School scored 17 runs in just four innings.
And in the top of the fifth, after Kawakami secured the final out, it was declared:
"Game over!"
"Salute!"
"Thank you for the match!!!"
With relaxed expressions and a good atmosphere, Seidou advanced smoothly to the regional tournament's top sixteen.
"Yep, a complete shutout…the one from that first-year powerhouse pitcher."
"What? You think I'm kidding? They really pitched at 150 km/h, that freshman…I swear, come see for yourself at the next game!"
"Really, Seidou could be called a pitching powerhouse this year."
"I'm not exaggerating—this year Seidou feels unbeatable. It seems likely that they can finally achieve their long-awaited dreams."
"I know Inashiro and Ichidaisan are formidable, but this year, Seidou is no pushover."
"You don't believe it? You don't, huh? Just wait, I've got videos—I'll show you when I get back!"
After the end of the second match, Seidou High School's displayed power left scouts in awe.
This team was truly worthy of its reputation as Tokyo's premier lineup.
Now that Seidou High School is addressing the deficiencies on the mound, they are becoming an even more formidable team.
In the Seidou dugout:
"Once everyone has packed up, head to the stands to watch the next match," Coach Kataoka instructed, glancing over his team with a calm demeanor.
"The winning team will be our next opponent. Every one of you must watch the game attentively, understood?"
"Yes!!!" Eijun and the rest of the team responded enthusiastically.
You Shunshin, huh?
Especially for Eijun, the thought of this name brought to mind a figure from the original story, the first real obstacle for Seidou High School in the summer tournament.
He was a player who managed to hold his own against Seidou for several innings by himself before being defeated.
In his previous life, when reading the manga, Eijun often wondered, if You Shunshin had a reliable team—if he even just had a trustworthy catcher—perhaps Seidou would have faced much stiffer competition, even risking an upset.
You Shunshin was a pitcher to be admired in terms of skill, mentality, and various other aspects.
His exceptional pitch control went well beyond the average high school level.
"When you watch Akikawa's pitcher, pay close attention!" Miyuki and Chris advised when all of Seidou's first-string players had taken their seats in the stands.
The first-year trio often acted together as a group, just like in the original story.
Upon hearing Miyuki's words, both Eijun and Furuya nodded slowly.
Eijun understood the significance, while Furuya had developed a habitual nod from recent practices.
"You Shunshin, an exchange student from Taiwan, is the ace of Akikawa High School. While his pitch speed is only around 130 km/h, his control is what sets him apart, surpassing typical high school limits. Known as a 'precision machine,' he rarely throws anything easy to hit. He singlehandedly brought his team to the third round, with a very high probability of winning. Furuya, and especially you, Sawamura, take a good look and learn from his pitching," Chris softly added.
"Yes," Eijun replied with a slight nod, his eyes fixed on the lean figure standing confidently on the mound.
The precision machine, You Shunshin!!!
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