Chapter 245: Media Pre-Promotion
In the Coach's Office at Inashiro Industrial High School
"So, Tanba will still be the starting pitcher the day after tomorrow, right?" said Masayoshi, the head of Inashiro's baseball team.
"It's hard to say! Tanba's fastball occasionally ends up in hittable zones. How will Coach Kataoka evaluate his control? Still, considering the impact of that hit-by-pitch, it's impressive that he's recovered to this extent," explained Coach Kunimoto.
"In that case, they'll probably go with a pitcher rotation strategy," Masayoshi added after hearing Kunimoto's analysis.
"A bullpen game? On the positive side, it shows they have depth in their pitching staff. On the negative side, it means they don't have a reliable ace to trust in critical situations. Our first priority is to break through Seido's pitching staff!"
"Next, we need to figure out how to handle their powerful batting lineup. Honestly, it's impossible to completely shut them down. If the game goes into extra innings, it's anyone's guess who will come out on top. I expected that first-year to become a formidable opponent, but I never thought it would happen this soon. The combination of him and Yuuki, paired with their high on-base percentage at the top of the lineup (starting with Ryo-san), will put a lot of pressure on our defense. The game the day after tomorrow will be a battle for runs. Defense will be crucial. Our pitchers and batting lineup are strong, but Seido is a bit extreme—their batting is unnaturally strong, while their pitching staff is less reliable."
"You're right. Having two batters of Harada's caliber on the same team is hard to imagine!"
"Harada's caliber… huh?" Coach Kunimoto didn't fully agree. He felt that Sendo's rapid improvement was unusual.
It was clear that he hadn't received professional training before, and now that he was exposed to it, his evolution was happening at an astonishing rate.
With every game, his growth was remarkable, which could only mean one thing: his talent was extraordinary.
This uncertainty made Kunimoto uneasy. He had no idea how much Sendo had changed after the Sensen game, and that unknown factor was terrifying.
"Each of their pitchers has obvious weaknesses, so our lineup should be able to score enough runs. But to completely suppress their batting, it will all come down to Narumiya's performance," Kunimoto concluded.
As always, his analysis was sharp and to the point.
There was a reason Narumiya Mei chose Coach Kunimoto. In just five years, he had taken an ordinary high school team to the quarterfinals of Koshien.
Now, in his tenth year as the coach of Inashiro Industrial, he had led the team to Koshien fourteen times.
Over the past decade, even if West Tokyo secured one spot in the Spring Koshien each year, there would only be twenty spots in total for both spring and summer tournaments.
Of course, there were exceptions, like when Teito was eliminated and West Tokyo took two spots, but the fact that Inashiro had claimed more than half of the Koshien opportunities in the past decade spoke volumes.
Even when Kunimoto first took over, despite Inashiro's inherent strength, it wasn't easy to maintain such dominance.
If there were a few years when they didn't make it to Koshien, it only highlighted how formidable Inashiro's—and Kunimoto's—reign had become.
...
The Next Day: Media Open Day at Inashiro Industrial High School
The next day was Inashiro Industrial High School's media open day, which drew a swarm of reporters. What happened next hardly needs elaboration.
Through the interviews, Mine Fujio once again became acutely aware of just how formidable Inashiro Industrial was.
A coach with a proven track record holds an irresistible appeal for talented players. Their exceptional guidance ensures that each year's new team quickly grows stronger, achieving even greater results. This virtuous cycle has led to Inashiro Industrial becoming increasingly dominant.
The players' confidence grows deeper with each success, and their performances continue to improve. From every angle, Inashiro Industrial is thriving in a positive feedback loop.
["Fighting in Koshien is a given for us!" This unwavering fighting spirit and pride have been ingrained in the players' very blood, making them incredibly confident and powerful. Confident individuals always perform beyond their usual level, and this is the secret behind Inashiro Industrial's strength.]
On the same day, July 30th, Mine Fujio's report for Baseball Kingdom was published. His article was prominently featured, and its focus was naturally on the two teams competing in the West Tokyo finals.
However, rather than evaluating the teams as a whole, the article compared individual players, creating hype for the upcoming final.
Headline:
"East Japan's Best Left-Handed Pitcher vs. The Nation's Strongest Hitting Duo!"
Main Content:
"Narumiya Mei, widely regarded as the best left-handed pitcher in East Japan, has solidified his position as the top lefty. With an average fastball speed of around 145 km/h and a peak speed of 148 km/h, his arsenal includes a slider, forkball, and changeup—each of which is exceptionally refined. He is set to become one of the most challenging pitchers to face in the nation."
"This year's Seido High School batting lineup is undoubtedly the strongest in the school's history. Last year, despite having a monster hitter like Kazuma Kiyokuni, Yuuki Tetsuya, who batted in the lower order, had not yet fully developed. This year, however, Yuuki has grown into a top-tier hitter, unquestionably one of the best in the nation. Fewer than five teams across the country can boast a hitter of his caliber."
"But what truly makes Seido terrifying is the presence of their first-year left-handed hitter, Sendo Akira. In five games, he has hit five home runs. Since his enrollment, his batting average has been close to 0.9, with a slugging percentage of 1.1. While the quality of his opponents in the early games varied, there is no doubt that Sendo, as a first-year, is on the same level as Yuuki. Unlike Yuuki, who focuses on maintaining a high batting average, Sendo's power-hitting is what truly stands out."
"And as for his batting average, whether it will decline as the number of games increases—a common trend for power hitters who typically don't maintain high hit rates—will significantly impact his evaluation!"
"In any case, Seido's cleanup duo (fourth and fifth batters) can be likened to last year's Kazuma Kiyokuni combined with this year's Yuuki Tetsuya! Anyone who has watched these two play can imagine just how thrilling this matchup will be!"
"Of course, for their opponents, we can only sympathize with their misfortune.'
"Seido High School versus Inashiro Industrial: a clash between the strongest shield and the sharpest spear. On one side, you have Narumiya Mei, the best left-handed pitcher in East Japan, supported by a star-studded defensive lineup. On the other, you have Yuuki and Sendo, a left-right duo of national-level hitters, forming the most formidable offensive combination."
"The ultimate showdown will take place tomorrow at Jingu Stadium in the championship game!"
When Narumiya Mei read this article, the section about himself made him as happy as a child who had just been given candy.
However, when he saw Seido's duo being referred to as the "Left and Right Demon Kings" by the media (the Japanese do love their dramatic titles), he couldn't help but smirk slightly.
Overall, the media exposure was a huge boost to his ego, and he couldn't resist adding a bit of flair to his statements, making the scene even more intense.
This led to him saying some things that greatly annoyed Harada.
On Seido's side, the reaction was much more subdued.
They had always known how strong Sendo was.
They had witnessed firsthand his growth—from being placed in the fifth spot in the lineup for tactical reasons and development, to unexpectedly staying there and improving with every game during the summer qualifiers.
No one had anything else to say about it.
However, the entire Tokyo baseball fanbase was sent into a frenzy by this Baseball Kingdom article.
The idea of two top-tier hitters appearing on the same team, facing off against an equally elite pitcher, was a spectacle even Koshien had never seen.
There was no reason to miss this game!
As expected, tickets for tomorrow's game would be incredibly hard to come by. Fans of both teams were already worried.
While they could still watch the game on TV if they couldn't get tickets, how could anyone settle for watching such a historic showdown on a screen?!
After the interviews, Mine Fujio leaned slightly toward Inashiro Industrial in his predictions.
However, this didn't mean he believed Inashiro would definitely win. Baseball is full of uncertainties, and high school baseball is even more unpredictable.
Inashiro's strength only represents their stability, but no one knows what might happen—Seido's form, unexpected events, and so on.
His point was simply that this game would be more challenging for Seido.
They were the challengers, regardless of their past achievements. From a mental standpoint, that's just how it was.
The challengers are the unknown, while last summer's champions are the established powerhouses.
That's all.
If the two teams were to play ten games, each one would likely be a fierce battle. Mine Fujio believed Inashiro would win at least six, possibly more.
But high school baseball is always a single-elimination game—win or go home.
The winner isn't necessarily the stronger team overall, but they will have proven that they were the better team on that particular day.
...
Today, Sendo took the initiative to approach someone.
"It's rare for you to actively seek someone out. What's up?" Miyuki said, surprised.
"Are you free tonight? Even if it's late, that's fine. Can you keep me company?"
"Originally, I wasn't free, but since you're asking, I guess I can sacrifice a bit of sleep."
"Won't it affect your condition?"
"No way!"
"Good!" Satisfied with the answer, Sendo left.
He still had to practice his batting! He was the only one practicing hitting in the morning. Since his defense wasn't a concern, Coach Kataoka was more than happy to let him focus on improving his batting, which had shown rapid growth in recent games.
"What did you two talk about?" Tetsuya approached after Sendo left.
"He asked me for a private favor. Wants me to keep him company tonight," Miyuki replied without joking, knowing Tetsuya's straightforward nature wouldn't get any hidden meaning.
"I see! By the way, Miyuki, have you noticed something? Or maybe it's just my imagination..."
"What?"
"Ever since we advanced to the finals, Sendo's swing has been getting faster and faster."
"Sorry to disappoint, Tetsu-san, but that's not your imagination!"
"I see! That's great news!"
"Tetsu-san, if this keeps up, he might even take your spot in the lineup, you know?"
"That would be fantastic!"
"Huh?" Miyuki was taken aback. He had expected Tetsuya to fall into deep thought, maybe even show some competitive spirit, but instead, the captain responded instantly with a look of genuine anticipation.
"I've never thought I'd always be stronger than him. That guy's growth rate is insane. With him around, I feel at ease knowing the team's batting lineup will always have a solid foundation. Doesn't that make you feel reassured?"
"Yes!" Miyuki dropped all his usual playful demeanor and answered seriously.
"Though, the new team won't be formed until late August..." Tetsuya, who had just been teased by Jun-san the night before, was still deeply focused on their goal of conquering the nation.
On the Pitching Side:
During yesterday's pitching staff meeting, Tanba-senpai's statement, "The one standing on the mound is the ace!" had greatly boosted the morale of the pitching staff.
When Chris-senpai asked Sawamura to throw the final pitch, he set up a scenario with one out and a runner on third, facing Harada. Sawamura, thinking back to all the pitchers he had encountered so far, delivered his best pitch yet.
In the Afternoon:
The entire team shifted focus to batting practice. Everyone took their turns at the plate, facing pitching machines that fired fastballs at 150 km/h.
As the saying goes, to compete against a pitcher throwing at a certain speed, you need to be able to hit at least 80% of the balls from a pitching machine set to that same speed and trajectory.
While practicing against a machine has its limitations, it's incredibly helpful for getting used to the speed of the ball. It's similar to how Akikawa High used 160 km/h fastballs to help their batters adjust and track pitches like Narumiya's.
After all, Narumiya's fastest pitch clocks in at 148 km/h, and since all his breaking balls rely on the effectiveness of his fastball, the fastball is the core of his pitching.
Except for Sawamura, who doesn't distinguish between his fastball and breaking balls, and doesn't have the issue of overusing certain pitches. For Sawamura, it's all about his condition.
To him, a breaking ball is a fastball, and a fastball is a breaking ball. If he's in good form and the batters can't hit him, he could throw nothing but modified cutters and still dominate.
In the afternoon, a large crowd of Seido fans gathered nearby to watch the team's batting practice.
Tetsuya, Jun-san, and Pudding-senpai, who excels at hitting fastballs, all made solid contact and sent the ball flying.
Sendo, as usual, launched a ball clear over the fence.
However, Sakai struggled, getting overpowered by the ball's velocity and only managing to hit a grounder.
"Sakai, you're overthinking it! You need to fully commit to your swing!" Coach Kataoka's advice was clear: don't try to guide the bat to meet the ball, as it causes you to lose power. Even if you make contact, the ball won't go far.
It's like cracking a whip—the extra kinetic energy comes from the full motion.
If you deliberately slow down or guide the bat, you lose that momentum and rely solely on arm strength, which isn't enough.
In theory, a fast swing colliding with a high-speed pitch should send the ball flying, but only if your hands can withstand the force of the impact at the moment of contact.
A full-power swing uses the entire body's explosive strength, combined with the acceleration of the bat.
Batters with strong explosive power or raw strength can handle more of the ball's force, while those who struggle are said to be "overpowered by the pitch."
Essentially, it means their bodies can't generate enough force at the moment of contact, and the bat isn't stable enough.
"Listen up! Half-hearted swings only boost the opponent's confidence. Even if you strike out, I want you swinging with everything you've got!" Coach Kataoka shouted this to the entire team.
A full-power swing, even if it misses, puts pressure on the pitcher.
Think of Seiko's cleanup hitter—the sheer sound of his bat cutting through the air on a miss would make any pitcher uneasy.
After all, even a lucky hit can send the ball flying, and sometimes hitting really does come down to luck. If a pitcher isn't feeling the pressure, something's wrong.
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