As Kenshu Yasuda stepped into the batter's box and got into position, the umpire behind home plate signaled the pitcher to start pitching:
"Play Ball."
From the Alps Stand came the loud drumbeats and the synchronized claps — sounds made by the five to six thousand Waseda supporters. Under their encouragement, the atmosphere on-site grew increasingly fervent, erasing the boundary between the field and the stands, melding them into one.
"Yasuda, clap clap; Yasuda, clap clap!!!"
The Waseda supporters shouted Kenshu Yasuda's name while clapping, hoping to cheer him on in this way—after all, they were just one hit away from victory.
Under the sway of the Waseda Industries cheering squad, many lively neutral spectators also began shouting for Kenshu Yasuda; waves of cheers and clapping erupted repeatedly, pressing immense pressure on Narita as the defending side, as if they were some kind of villains.
