Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter

Chapter 184: The Real Match

"Seriously!" Miyuki couldn't help but laugh at Sendo's comment.

He knew it wasn't that his expressions were overly readable; it was that Sendo had an uncanny knack for observation.

"You really are impossible to beat!" Miyuki admitted, though it was clear he wasn't talking about baseball.

...

"Let's summarize quickly. This pitcher has the following repertoire: a fastball with barely passable four-corner control, a slider with minimal break, a slow curveball with a slight bend, and a forkball as his finisher. The catcher is cautious and lacks information on me as a batter."

"The most likely first pitch? An outside pitch, low in the zone—either a curveball, slider, or fastball. Three choices." As Sendo adjusted himself in the batter's box, he was deep in thought.

"No, there's only one answer!" he concluded internally just as the pitcher began his motion, preparing to release the ball.

Step.

Swing.

Ping!

"He swung? At that low ball?"

"He hit it! If it stays fair, it's a long hit!"

Before the commentators could finish, Sendo had already dropped his bat and was sprinting.

On second base, Yuuki observed Sendo's reaction, quickly realizing the ball wouldn't be caught and trusted his judgment, taking off as well.

"Fair ball!" the umpire called loudly.

By then, Yuuki was nearly home.

"The runner from second scores! Seidou takes the lead!"

"Yeah!!!" Yuuki was immediately mobbed by his teammates as he reached home plate.

And Sendo?

His speed left everyone in the stadium speechless. By the time the left fielder prepared to throw the ball, Sendo was nearing third base.

In the roughly nine seconds it took for the ball to fly, land, and be retrieved by the outfielder, Sendo had covered nearly 90 feet per base, averaging an incredible three seconds per base—despite wearing protective gear on his right leg and side.

If the fielder had been even a second slower, or lacked a direct throw to the infield, Sendo might have been waved home for an inside-the-park home run.

"Safe!" The umpire signaled as Sendo reached third base standing, not even needing to slide.

"This guy is so fast! If the defense had been any slower, it would've been an inside-the-park homer!"

"This first-year is amazing at both hitting and baserunning!"

"Seidou's lineup this year is unbelievable with such a standout first-year!"

"And wasn't that pitch a ball?"

"Yeah, it was clearly outside the zone!"

"What just happened?"

"I have no idea!"

The crowd erupted in excitement.

Neutral fans, in particular, quickly became fans of Sendo.

They didn't necessarily root for specific teams but often became devoted to individual players who impressed them.

With his dynamic hitting and baserunning, Sendo's popularity was bound to skyrocket.

If he maintained a high batting average, he could turn any game into his personal showcase.

Neutral fans vastly outnumbered the loyal fans of any prestigious school, as seen in the original story, where Raichi's performances turned games into something akin to his personal concerts.

...

After reaching third base, Sendo began removing his gear with help from his seniors.

By then, neutral fans in the stands were already cheering for him.

While Yuuki's batting skill was superior, his style leaned more toward singles and doubles, which lacked the flashiness of Sendo's frequent triples and home runs.

Scout teams in the stands took note, scribbling down in their notebooks:

Sendo Akira, Seidou High, First-Year, Seventh Batter.

Long-hitting ability: ✔️

Speed: Special A (marked with emphasis).

His overall batting skill wasn't rated yet, as it was only one at-bat, but the scouts knew he was worth monitoring.

...

On the field, Yuuki, after removing his helmet, extended a fist toward Sendo, encouraging him with a rare gesture.

Sendo, typically expressionless even after hitting a big shot, couldn't help but smile back.

It was rare to see Yuuki strike such a celebratory pose.

"Alright!!!" shouted Ota and Jun with fierce enthusiasm from the bench.

That one run was crucial.

In a deadlock, breaking through first often gave a team not only the lead but also a significant momentum boost.

In student baseball, where morale played a vital role, such breakthroughs often prompted aggressive plays, even without high odds of success.

...

"Batting eighth, right fielder, Shirasu-kun!"

After a brief celebration, the announcer resumed. Despite scoring a run, Shirasu—known for his consistency—found himself with limited options under these circumstances: two outs and the first round of the batting order.

Facing the opposing pitcher head-on, even Shirasu couldn't create much. Despite the pitcher just conceding a hit, he quickly regained control and retired Shirasu.

Two hits, one run. Though both hits were long ones, they didn't significantly rattle the pitcher's mental state.

...

"Nice hit, Sendo!"

"Nice hit, you bastard!" Jun yelled jovially as Sendo returned to the bench, where he was immediately swarmed by his teammates.

"Nice hit! That run was crucial!" Even the ever-stoic coach Kataoka spoke up, surprising Sendo.

Sendo knew the run was important, but Seidou wasn't particularly invested in the outcome of the Kanto Tournament.

With their current pitching lineup, they lacked the strength to dominate.

Until Furuya matured, the team's success heavily relied on their explosive batting lineup, which was arguably one of the best in the nation.

"Thanks!" Sendo replied politely, acknowledging Kataoka's rare praise.

"Were you aiming for the first pitch? You were so sure it'd be a fastball?" Miyuki asked.

"Yeah..." Sendo briefly explained his thought process, summarizing the three possible pitches he'd considered. "It might seem like three options, but in reality, the answer was clear—it had to be a fastball."

"Why?" Miyuki started to ask but then suddenly realized. "Ah, I get it!"

"Then explain it already!" Jun, standing nearby, couldn't hide his curiosity.

"This pitcher's slider and curveball are poorly developed and too slow. Throwing a breaking ball on its own wouldn't have much impact, and the slower speed makes it easy to spot."

"That's why the batter had to see the fastball first," Miyuki explained with a smirk. "The catcher is cautious, and they were facing someone they had no prior data on—this sly bastard here!" He pointed at Sendo while breaking down the reasoning behind the first pitch for the rest of the team.

The goal of the first pitch was simple: to leave an impression of the fastball's speed in Sendo's mind.

The pitcher chose a low, outside fastball well out of the strike zone, assuming it would be a safe throw.

What they didn't anticipate was that this cunning player would target that exact outside ball.

As Miyuki explained the thought process, he couldn't help but admire how some players, like himself and Sendo, could skip over these layers of analysis and jump straight to conclusions.

For others, however, it was like solving an equation step by step.

Coach Kataoka encouraged such discussions.

He believed that players who fully engaged their minds and shared insights would improve most efficiently.

With the natural breaks between innings, there was always enough time for these conversations.

"You sneaky bastards! Next time, give us a heads-up too!" Kuramochi joined in with mock frustration, playing along with the team's mood.

Sendo, always quick with a jab, turned to Miyuki after the chatter subsided. "That was such a good opportunity, and you still let it slip! Leaving the big play for me, huh? Pretty lame."

Miyuki, well aware he couldn't win this verbal duel, quietly donned his gear and escaped.

He had learned that trying to retort would only escalate Sendo's mockery, so he opted for the smarter move—surrender.

A few jabs from Sendo were tolerable; engaging would only make his stomach churn.

The hierarchy in Seidou's dugout was slowly but surely taking shape, and Miyuki's retreat left some teammates puzzled and amused.

...

Top of the Third Inning

Yokohama Kouhoku's bottom lineup began their first round of at-bats.

With Miyuki calling the game and the momentum on Seidou's side, it was a quick three up, three down.

Against a pitcher-catcher duo like Tanba and Miyuki, combined with Seidou's surging morale, there was little the lower-order batters could do.

Everyone in the stadium knew the real match was about to begin.

...

Bottom of the Third Inning

The inning began with Seidou's ninth batter, Tanba, who grounded out on the second pitch.

With his out, the game's pivotal moment arrived—the top of Seidou's lineup was stepping up for their second turn.

"Batting first, shortstop, Kuramochi-kun!"

Facing a right-handed pitcher whose throws favored left-handed hitters, Kuramochi naturally chose the left-handed batter's box.

Though Kuramochi's "switch-hitter" label was mostly for show, it still posed a nuisance to Yokohama's ace.

Kuramochi, with his unpredictable bat movements during the pitcher's windup, was the kind of batter pitchers hated.

Even with his unimpressive batting average, his antics made him a frustrating opponent.

"Ball!"

The ace's concentration wavered under Kuramochi's erratic movements, leading to a wild pitch.

The second pitch was a forkball, the pitcher's signature strikeout pitch.

Kuramochi swung at it, expecting a fastball, and missed.

This misjudgment boosted the ace's confidence, and his control began to return.

"Strike!" A precise low, outside corner pitch followed, skimming the strike zone.

Kuramochi, with his shorter arms and standard bat, had no chance to reach it effectively.

"Three balls, no strikes. Time to settle this!" Kuramochi fought hard but ultimately struck out on a slider inside.

...

Two Outs, Top of the Lineup

"Batting second, second baseman, Kominato-kun!"

Despite two outs, Kominato's reputation as a relentless batter left Yokohama's defense uneasy.

The crowd murmured as they recalled his first at-bat and the psychological torture he inflicted on the opposing pitcher.

Kominato had a knack for dragging at-bats into grueling battles, fouling off pitch after pitch.

Even star pitchers like Narumiya Mei or You Shunshin had struggled against him. For pitchers without impeccable control, facing him was a nightmare.

Sendo, from the outfield, sympathetically closed one eye as he watched Yokohama's ace prepare for the duel.

He could only pity the poor pitcher.

Sure enough, within moments, Kominato had forced the pitcher into an 11-pitch duel.

The pitcher's nerves faltered, leading to a misplaced throw and a second walk for Kominato in the game.

Relief was evident on the faces of Yokohama's battery.

The psychological strain of battling Kominato was almost unbearable.

From the outfield, Sendo cheered loudly for his senior while simultaneously taunting the opposing pitcher and catcher, exuding a shamelessly smug attitude.

After all, Kominato was his teammate, and Sendo never missed an opportunity to support his own while needling the competition.

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