Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 351: Teito Battle – One-Sided Domination

"Ohhh, incredible! He took down Teito's cleanup hitter so cleanly and decisively," Seto exclaimed with a touch of admiration in his voice.

"Following a series of fastballs with a changeup like that… Even if the batter is fully aware mentally, before their body can adjust, it's difficult to react effectively. Besides, Teito's cleanup hitter was likely still wary of the fastball Sawamura-senpai threw in the previous inning," Okumura remarked calmly, a peculiar glint flashing through his eyes.

"You mean the fastball that looked like it suddenly sped up?" Seto turned to him, seeking confirmation.

"Yes, but it didn't actually accelerate out of nowhere. It maintained nearly the same velocity from release to the plate due to its high-speed spin, preventing any loss of speed. Normally, fastballs lose some velocity as they travel, but in this case, the pitch appeared to speed up midway. He likely achieved that effect by utilizing high spin rates. With such a special fastball, Seidou's battery can effectively use the difference in velocity to handle batters."

Okumura truly lived up to his reputation as a prodigious catcher from his junior high days. His insight into baseball far surpassed that of most players his age.

Of course, Eijun's "accelerated fastball" wasn't something that could be executed solely through high-speed rotation.

Under the guidance of Coach Ochiai, it also required precise adjustments in stance, weight distribution, grip, and release point.

Still, just recognizing this aspect of his pitching was already impressive.

"So, does this mean Seidou has a high probability of winning this game?"

"Hard to say, but at the very least, they've taken control of the early innings."

On the first-base side of the field, inside Teito High's dugout, Coach Okamoto furrowed his brows. He realized he had underestimated Seidou's ace.

Whether it was his fastball or breaking pitches, could a mere first-year pitcher really command them at such a level? And in the rain, no less, maintaining such stability in his throws…

Was this kid really the same player the scouting reports described? A pitcher with no formal training in junior high? He looked more experienced than even some of the most polished pitchers who had come up through elite youth programs.

Though Coach Okamoto's expression didn't change much outwardly, he inwardly shook his head in amazement.

"Batting fifth, center fielder, Sumida-kun."

Coach, what's the plan? Should we adjust our strategy now, or go for an all-out attack?

It's only the second inning, and we're trailing by just one run. No need to rush. Focus solely on the fastball. Ignore the tricky breaking balls.

After careful consideration, Okamoto decided to stick with their original plan. As Sumida glanced toward the dugout, the coach subtly clasped his hands together, signaling the directive.

Sumida nodded firmly, gripping his bat as he stepped into the batter's box.

As Teito's fifth batter, Sumida was known for his sheer power. His swings were as spectacular as they were forceful.

But more than just raw strength, he also possessed remarkable control over his power, making him one of the top high school hitters in Japan.

In a way, for Eijun, a batter with refined power control posed a greater challenge than someone with just brute force.

And if that batter also had elite-level swing mechanics? That was the kind of opponent Eijun found most troublesome.

At this moment, Teito's fifth batter, Sumida, might even be more difficult to deal with than Kengo. Perhaps even more so.

Whoosh!

Ping!

Thud!

"Foul ball!"

The powerful swings of Teito's No. 5 hitter forced Eijun to furrow his brows slightly.

Pitching in rainy conditions was already frustrating enough for a pitcher. Having a batter relentlessly foul off pitches only added to the irritation.

"What an annoying brute-force swing," Eijun muttered to himself. "He can make solid contact even without hitting the sweet spot of the bat. And with the added advantage of a metal bat, this is a real pain."

Taking a deep breath, Eijun let out a small sigh.

If this were Furuya handling it, he'd probably have an easier time than me.

"Hey, hey, hey! This is the middle of a game! And against the fifth batter, no less! You totally zoned out just now, didn't you?"

Having worked together for so long, Miyuki had developed an instinctive connection with Eijun. Immediately sensing something was off, he rolled his eyes in exasperation.

Eijun flashed a slightly awkward smile. "Don't worry, Miyuki-senpai. I won't get careless."

"This batter is clearly locked onto your fastball. There's some risk involved, but we need to throw something that disrupts his timing. Go with the five-seam fastball. It doesn't have to be in the strike zone, but whatever you do, don't let it drift high and inside, Sawamura."

Three straight fastballs had already been fouled off.

With the batter completely dialed in on his fastball, Eijun couldn't rely on the changeup he had just used in the previous at-bat. And his accelerated fastball, which still wasn't 100% stable, wasn't the safest option either.

That left the five-seam fastball as the best choice.

After all, pitching is always about calculated risks, isn't it?

As soon as Miyuki flashed the signal…

Eijun's lips curled into a slight smirk. His slightly crouched posture straightened instantly, his tall frame moving forward with a powerful step. His fingers pressed tightly against the seams of the ball as he shifted his weight forward.

Whoosh!

His left arm whipped forward.

A streak of white light shot out like a blade slicing through the air.

At home plate, Sumida's expression changed instantly. The release angle, the trajectory of the pitch—

It was completely different from anything he had seen before.

Could it be…?

In a split second, Sumida processed the situation in his mind.

Regardless of whether this was the pitch he suspected, there was no time for hesitation. He adjusted his stance slightly, lowering his body and angling the bat downward.

His footwork remained compact.

Swish!

Unfortunately, while Sumida correctly anticipated the pitch type—

He had completely underestimated its sheer sharpness.

At this moment, as Eijun's command and control reached a new level of precision, the movement of the pitch had become even more devastatingly refined.

The sudden deceleration as the ball broke upward at the inner corner made it impossible for Sumida's bat to make solid contact.

His bat swung through empty air, missing by mere millimeters—the perfect miscalculation of timing. Sumida could only watch helplessly as the ball zipped inside and landed flawlessly in Miyuki's mitt.

Pop!

"Strike three! Batter out!!!"

Pinpoint command, refined movement, masterful sequencing, and seamless chemistry—

Seidou's battery had completely shut down Teito's cleanup and fifth hitters in succession.

A one-sided domination!