"Another one hit out?!"
In the stands, a player from Ichidai Third High School, who had come specifically to observe Seido's game, muttered to himself. Before coming, he had not taken this long–standing powerhouse very seriously. Ichidai had maintained its glory for years, while Seido's situation in recent years was anything but optimistic.
If you looked at their results over the past few seasons, Seido could almost be removed from the list of true powerhouses.
The school still sent someone to scout, but without much interest. Manager Ota himself had gone to scout Inashiro's game. Scouting Seido was left to the second–string Ichidai players who could not even make their own school's starting lineup. This difference in treatment said everything.
Ichidai did not consider Seido a real opponent for the Summer Tournament.
At the start of the game, the scout held this belief firmly. Even after the first couple innings, his opinion did not change. Seido's players had shown strength, yes, but in his eyes it was only average. He fully believed that if Ichidai were the ones playing today, the situation would look completely different.
Ichidai's strength, he thought, was still far above Seido's.
But as the game continued, especially when Seido blasted three consecutive home runs in the fifth inning, the scout suddenly felt something shift.
This Seido team looked… very similar to Ichidai. Especially their hitting.
Both teams possessed offensive power that surpassed ordinary high school standards.
And the more he watched, the more unease he felt. The hitting power Seido displayed might even surpass Ichidai's.
As if confirming that thought, Seido's lineup exploded even further.
Isashiki Jun, who had failed in his previous two at–bats, finally connected for a single. The second–years watching him quietly let out a long breath. If he still could not get a hit, his newly acquired starting position would probably vanish. His defense and throwing were excellent, among the best on the team, but without hitting, he still could not hold a regular position.
Then Miyuki followed with another hit.
No outs. Runners on first and third.
For a first–year rookie, Miyuki's debut was flawless. Even though Zhang Han had hit a home run, the overall impact Miyuki had was even greater. First, he perfectly filled Chris's role, patching Seido's biggest weakness. Then, in three plate appearances, he recorded two hits and one RBI. His performance on both offense and defense showed presence far beyond a rookie. He was not inferior to Chris at all.
Seido's strong showing today owed a great deal to him.
Next, the ninth batter, Kou Shunmin, dropped a bunt to bring Isashiki home.
Seido scored its ninth run.
9:2.
Captain Tanaka followed immediately with a long double to bring in another.
10:2.
Ace pitcher Hidezawa refused to be left out. With a powerful swing, he launched Seido's fourth home run of the inning.
12:2.
Starting from the third batter, aside from Kou Shunmin's bunt, every Seido hitter delivered either a home run or a single. Their offense was overwhelming, unstoppable. The fans were fully engrossed. If Musashi had not collapsed mentally, no one knew how long Seido's attack would have lasted.
Kuriyama Minami was completely broken.
Musashi finally sent in their original ace pitcher. They no longer dreamed of turning the tide. They only hoped not to lose too miserably. But Seido did not plan to grant even that small hope.
"Boom!"
A terrifying swing ripped through the air, and the ball soared out. Azuma Kiyokuni hit his second home run of the game.
The score jumped to 14:2.
Seido now led by twelve runs. Even Seido's director could not continue watching calmly.
"This score is enough for us to end it early. Why don't we let the kids…"
Manager Ota, kindhearted as always, wanted to stop while ahead. Coach Kataoka shared the idea… just not yet.
He intended to adjust only after Yuuki Tetsuya and Zhang Han completed their at–bats. You never pull back during a team's strongest hitting rhythm.
It was a good thought. But the two players he relied on let him down unexpectedly.
Yuuki unleashed a thunderous swing that startled Musashi's fielders, but the ball dropped directly in front of one of them.
"Pop!"
"Out!"
Yuuki was caught before he could reach first.
Zhang Han was even more unlucky. He smashed a deep hit all the way toward the fence. The Musashi outfielder, terrified by Zhang Han's previous power, had already backed up far into deep field. Because of that positioning, he caught the ball about a meter from the fence.
The Seido players could only sigh.
Hitting relies on skill, but luck matters just as much. Their earlier nonstop rotation through the order required incredible skill, yes, but they had also been lucky. Without that luck, they would not have scored so many runs in a single inning.
Bottom of the fifth inning.
"Ping!"
"Out!"
"Ping!"
"Out!!"
"Strike!"
"Strike!!"
"Strike!!!"
"Strikeout!!!"
"Game over! The West Tokyo Tournament, Round Two: Seido High School defeats Musashi High School! Final score 14 to 2, victory by five–inning mercy rule!"
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