Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 391: Reflection on the Contrasts in Ugumori's Battle

"Strike! The batter's out! Three outs! Side retired!"

"Just three pitches—like he's declaring his own dominance. No more chances for Ugumori High. Three pitches, three strikes, and he crushes their attempt to score further. The ace of Seidou: Sawamura Eijun!"

"Nice pitch, Sawamura!"

"Well done, Ace!"

"Ace! Ace! Ace!"

"Seidou! Seidou! Seidou!"

"Four runs isn't much. The game's just begun; we have plenty of chances."

"Now it's our turn to counterattack!"

"Let's show them our grit and strength!"

"Let's go!!!"

Sure enough, when a crisis arises, Eijun always steps up.

Though it was just one out, and it came from the bottom of the batting order, Eijun's entrance at such a pivotal moment carried weight.

Since the summer tournament, his growing prestige and presence within the team have set him apart. To Seidou's players and their supporters, his appearance was different.

Eijun's on the mound? No problem.

That's the sense of assurance and trust he's earned through his consistent performances.

From the grueling summer regional game against Inashiro to the nail-biting national finals against the underdog Komadai, and every extraordinary pitching display that exceeded expectations—Sawamura Eijun has built a reputation that inspires unwavering confidence.

To his teammates, his presence means victory. This is the aura of Seidou's Ace, Sawamura Eijun.

"Is this what they call a champion's composure?" someone muttered from Ugumori's bench.

At third base, Seiichi adjusted his gear, a mix of apprehension and excitement evident in his expression.

"After all, he's the ace who led Seidou to the national championship. Isn't that the best kind of opponent, Sei? It's the showdown you've been waiting for, isn't it?" Matsubara said, hands clasped on his knees, a knowing smile on his face.

By this point in the game, Ugumori High had already accomplished their first goal. Ace pitcher Seiichi was performing better than ever. What started as a one-sided scenario had shifted.

Matsubara could confidently say it was now even—maybe even slightly in Ugumori's favor.

Four runs.

That's a significant lead.

Against a powerhouse like Seidou, how many teams have managed to rack up four runs?

Matsubara felt at ease. The next objective was clear: just score one run—just one—off Seidou's so-called strongest left-handed pitcher (Narumiya Mei: Hey, what about me?!). If they could do that, victory would undoubtedly be theirs.

"I'm looking forward to it! Heh, the stage is mine now. Let's see what this so-called ace is made of!" Seiichi grinned widely, his expression almost menacing.

Around him, Ugumori's players all wore confident smiles. With Nao and Umemiya leading the way, they were certain they could reach the pinnacle, the grand stage of high school baseball. It was the perfect place to showcase their abilities.

Back in Seidou's dugout…

Although Eijun's strong showing had cut off Ugumori's momentum, the fact remained—they were down four runs. Seidou was on the back foot, and in a precarious position at that.

What made it harder to swallow was just how formidable Ugumori's ace turned out to be.

This stark contrast in expectations left more than ninety percent of Seidou's players struggling to accept the reality of the situation.

Once back in the dugout…

Most of the team wore solemn expressions. Furuya sat silently on the bench, head bowed, while the thoughtful Kawakami and Ono helped him with post-game exercises and cold packs—important routines for a pitcher, lest his shoulder become injured.

At that moment, all nine players on Seidou High's current lineup were gathered in front of the bench. Every face was grim.

Coach Kataoka stood before them with a stern expression. Beside him, Coach Ochiai had narrowed his eyes and was stroking his small mustache.

"We must admit that we underestimated our opponents. That was our mistake."

After a brief pause, Coach Kataoka began to speak. His sharp gaze swept over Eijun, Miyuki, and the others, sending a shiver through the group.

They knew their coach's temperament well—when he looked like that, he was angry.

Though most of his frustration was directed at himself for misjudging the situation, the team could sense his displeasure.

From Kataoka's perspective, allowing the game to reach this state was ultimately his responsibility.

As the head coach, the blame for any misjudgment in strategy or game management fell squarely on him.

He felt the weight of the current situation—it had reached a dire point.

Since the summer tournament, Seidou High had never allowed four runs in a single inning.

Even allowing four runs in an entire game was a rare occurrence (not counting practice matches).

The realization struck Kataoka like a thunderbolt—his strategic decisions and tactical approach needed to be revised and corrected in certain situations.

"That said, the game isn't over yet. We still have six innings to mount a comeback. Don't get anxious; doing so will only give our opponents more opportunities. For now, focus on scoring one run. We can close the gap, one step at a time."

"Yes, coach!" shouted Eijun, Miyuki, Kuramochi, and the others.

"The vertical slider from Ugumori's ace—treat it like a curveball. When batting, use a longer grip on the bat to expand your hitting area," Coach Ochiai said calmly, opening his previously narrowed eyes. His tone was steady, his words unhurried, yet they carried weight.

In just three innings, this seasoned coach had discerned the traits and trajectory of Seiichi's powerful breaking ball.

That pitch blended elements of a curveball and a slider, made even more formidable by Umegami's exceptional control, which allowed him to place the ball on the edges of the strike zone.

This combination made it hard for Seidou's batters to commit to a swing.

The key to countering it, however, lay in the pitch's trajectory. It followed a downward curve similar to a curveball but ended with a slider-like break that created an illusion for the batter.

By adjusting their approach and focusing on its curve-like path, the batters could neutralize its deceptive movement.

In the original story, Watanabe had to watch countless replays of Ugumori's game against Inashiro Industrial to understand that trajectory.

But Coach Ochiai had managed to glean these insights after just three innings and seven or eight pitches.

While Seiichi's delivery and technique weren't flawless, Ochiai's keen observation skills made all the difference.

His sharp insight into pitching mechanics and game dynamics was a critical asset for Seidou, proving once again just how valuable Ochiai's expertise was to the team's strategy.