Such arguments didn't gain much recognition at the time. After all, it was only the Spring Tournament—far from enough to prove anything.
It wasn't until Seidou won the Kanto Tournament, and then consecutively defeated Ichidai Third High and Inashiro Industrial, two national-level giants in the Summer Regional Tournament, that the media finally aligned.
Almost everyone unanimously acknowledged the claim:
Kanzaki Ryou was truly the strongest pitcher of his generation.
Even though they weren't from the same region, Hinata Hayato had researched Kanzaki Ryou long before most. As the ace of Sagara High School, he had watched Kanzaki's games closely.
A pitcher who threw freely—with an almost casual arrogance—
paired with a catcher like Miyuki Kazuya, who was just as unpredictable…
The two always produced something outrageous.
At first, Hinata didn't take it too seriously.
After all, Seidou entering Koshien was a rare and difficult feat.
But who would have expected—
The first-year pitcher he casually observed out of curiosity…
was now standing before him as Seidou's ace.
And Seidou had become Sagara High School's greatest threat.
Turning the ball in his fingers, Hinata locked eyes with Kanzaki across the field.
Both felt the pressure radiating from the other.
This pitcher… might surpass even Narumiya Mei.
And this batter… is no weaker than Azuma Kiyokuni.
A heartbeat later—
Hinata fired the baseball, and Kanzaki swung without hesitation.
Bang!
"Foul ball!"
A sharp outside Slider—fouled off cleanly.
Hinata immediately frowned.
That pitch was tricky.
Fast.
Precise.
And Kanzaki caught it on his very first look.
This guy's pitch selection… is insane.
At the batter's box, Kanzaki glanced at the speed gun.
148 km/h.
Not only fast, but heavy.
Every pitch had bite.
The only reason he managed to catch it was because of his exceptional dynamic vision.
Power-wise, he still couldn't compare to Azuma, and in pitch selection he was inferior to Kominato Ryosuke.
Kanzaki exhaled deeply and refocused.
Slider was first…
What next? Straight? Fast Forkball? Changeup?
Hinata's entire pitching arsenal flashed through his mind.
Seeing his concentration, Sagara's catcher grew tense as well.
Outside corner. Safe and tight.
He called for another pitch.
Hinata nodded.
Facing Kanzaki Ryou was dangerous.
If Kanzaki reached base, Seidou's lineup would fight tooth and nail to bring him home.
They had to stop him here.
Whoosh!
The pitch flew in.
"Hit it!!" Sagara's fans roared.
Kanzaki swung instantly.
Pop!
"Strike!!"
A Fast Forkball.
Kanzaki let out a sharp breath.
Two strikes.
A Slider, then a Fast Fork. Both outside.
The next pitch should logically be—
Inside low Changeup.
Kanzaki anticipated it—
But baseball rarely rewarded the obvious.
The catcher signaled firmly.
Finish it here.
After two outside pitches, an inside pitch was natural.
And the best option was indeed the Changeup.
Hinata agreed.
Even if Kanzaki prepared for it—
knowing isn't hitting.
A Circle Changeup wasn't a Palmball; its late break made it brutal.
Hinata glared at Kanzaki.
If you have the guts—hit it.
He threw.
At first glance, to most people, it looked like a straight ball.
But Kanzaki's dynamic vision was abnormal.
He immediately sensed the small drop in velocity.
Changeup!
He delayed his swing by a fraction—
Then unleashed it.
Bang!!
A shockwave rippled.
Boom!
The ball rocketed upward, slicing the air in a clean white arc.
"Center field!!" the catcher shouted.
Damn it—
The center fielder sprinted backward, eyes locked on the ball—
But it sailed over his head before he could reach it.
Kanzaki didn't hit it perfectly, but it was powerful enough.
He dashed to first, then immediately aimed for second as the ball kept rolling.
"Safe!!"
"Kanzaki with a hit!!"
"Nice batting!!"
His teammates roared with excitement as thunderous applause filled Koshien.
"Yosh! I'll send you home, Kanzaki!!"
In the top of the second inning, Seidou's leadoff man, Kanzaki Ryou, delivered a perfect start.
Up next—
Isashiki Jun.
He bowed politely to the umpire—
Then instantly switched to his usual savage expression.
"Come on!!"
"Ha!!"
Sagara's catcher flinched at his sudden roar, clicked his tongue, and gave the sign.
Whoosh!
"Strike!"
Swish!
"Foul ball!"
Bang!
"Foul ball!"
Three swings.
Three monsters.
The catcher stared at Isashiki again.
They knew from the scouting report he was reckless.
But seeing it in person—
This guy was pure madness.
Anything that wasn't blatantly outside the zone—
He swung at with the same force he'd use to chop down a tree.
And he actually connected twice.
Whoosh!
"Ball!"
See? He could pick pitches.
The catcher sighed and returned the ball.
Changeup.
After four pitches, Hinata's fastball rhythm should be burned into Isashiki's mind.
A Changeup now would crush him.
"Throw it!!" Isashiki screamed internally.
Swish!!
The pitch came.
Isashiki raised his bat—
And chopped down with a savage diagonal swing.
Bang!!
"Wha—?!"
The catcher froze.
He had never seen such a violent swing used on a Changeup.
The ball wasn't hit perfectly, so the speed was slow…
But it made it past First and into the empty shallow outfield.
Because Isashiki's power forced Sagara's infield to play deep,
no one could reach the ball in time.
Thump! Thump! Thump!!
Kanzaki took the chance and sprinted straight to third base.
Seidou now had a huge scoring opportunity.