"Don't swing at low pitches! As long as we punch it through the infield, the momentum stays with us. If we push the lead past seven runs this inning, I'll bring Kitamura in to pitch. Then we can close this game within seven innings."
Todoroki Raizo muttered inwardly, eyes gleaming.
And if Kitamura comes up with the bases loaded… victory will be even more certain.
Under immense pressure, Kawakami Norifumi finally delivered the pitch.
"Swoosh!"
"Oh no—!"
The moment the ball left his hand, Kawakami's heart sank.
I missed it…
Too high! Miyuki Kazuya's eyes sharpened. This is bad.
Akiba Kazuma didn't hesitate.
A perfect opportunity like this—there was no way he'd let it slip.
He swung decisively.
"Clang!"
The ball rocketed toward third base—
Masuko Toru exploded into motion.
With a desperate leap, he stretched out his glove—
Snap!
"Out!!! Three outs! Side retired!"
"Nice!!!"
"Masuko-senpai!!!"
"That save was huge!"
"You're a lifesaver!"
The Seido supporters finally breathed again.
That single play had dragged them back from the edge of collapse.
They still had five and a half innings left.
Plenty of time.
Plenty of chances.
"Tch… what rotten luck."
Todoroki Raizo scratched his head in irritation, though a smirk tugged at his lips.
Still… I've put enough pressure on them.
"Sanada, you good to go?" he asked.
"No problem." Sanada Shunpei smiled as he stepped forward.
"From here on, the game will likely be decided in the final inning," Raizo said calmly. "We've got the lead—pitch without fear."
He turned to Kitamura Kou.
"I planned to bring you in during the seventh inning against Inashiro… but don't relax. Seido will probably start walking you in later at-bats. That makes it harder for us to extend the lead."
His gaze sharpened.
"So we cannot let them gain momentum. If Sanada shows any sign of breaking, I'll send you in immediately."
"You know how dangerous Seido's offense is in the late game."
"Don't worry, Coach."
Kitamura Kou grinned brightly.
"I've been waiting for this moment."
Seido Dugout
"You held them off perfectly just now, Kawakami," Miyuki said with an easy smile.
"We'll take those runs back for you—yaha!" Kuramochi Yoichi added.
"Just watch, I'll crush them!" Isashiki Jun barked.
Yuki Tetsuya said nothing.
But as he watched Sanada walk onto the mound, a powerful aura quietly rose around him.
Bottom of the Fourth Inning
"Seido High School's batter—shortstop, Kuramochi!"
In both this game and the last, Kuramochi Yoichi had failed to get on base against this pitcher.
That alone was enough to irritate him.
But now—
His opponent had nearly broken his junior, Sawamura.
There was no way he could let that slide.
Kuramochi stepped into the batter's box slightly closer to first base than usual.
His eyes locked onto Sanada.
This time… I'm getting on base.
With a five-run lead behind him, Sanada showed no hesitation.
He fired the first pitch.
"Swoosh!"
A four-seam fastball screamed toward Kuramochi's chest from the inside corner.
Kuramochi didn't flinch.
He watched it calmly.
"Ball!"
Three innings in—
Sanada's stamina was beginning to dip.
And his left calf injury still hadn't fully healed.
His control was starting to waver.
But none of that mattered.
Once he stood on the mound—
He would give everything he had.
That was the kind of pitcher Sanada Shunpei was.
The second pitch came quickly.
"Swoosh!!"
Kuramochi's eyes sharpened.
Inside… four-seam.
No hesitation.
He swung.
"Clang!"
"…Damn, it's still heavy!"
Even prepared, Kuramochi felt the weight of the pitch in his hands.
Even in the fourth inning—
The quality hadn't dropped.
"Get out there!!!"
With a roar, he forced more power into his swing—
The ball soared over Sanada's head, dropping into the infield before rolling into the outfield grass.
By the time Fukuda Daiki chased it down—
Kuramochi was already standing on first base.
"RAAAAH!!!"
Kuramochi roared skyward, releasing everything that had built up inside him.
"Nice hit, Kuramochi!"
"Your first one today!"
"Keep it going, Kominato-senpai!"
"This is our chance to fight back!"
"Seido, don't lose to Yakushi!"
That single hit ignited the crowd.
For the first time in nearly four innings—
Seido's supporters found their voice again.
Kominato Ryosuke stepped into the batter's box, eyes narrowed behind his calm expression.
Even the juniors are showing this much fire…
A faint smile touched his lips.
How can I, as a senior, fall behind?
He glanced at Sanada.
Come on… let's make this interesting.
After all—
We still want to stand on that stage.
With a runner on base—
Seido's counterattack had begun.
How will Sanada Shunpei respond to Seido's rising momentum?