With two outs and runners on first and third, Isashiki Jun failed to adjust to the opponent's pitching rhythm and was quickly struck out.
The inning ended without further damage.
As the game entered the bottom of the seventh inning, Coach Kataoka made another substitution, replacing Miyuki Kazuya with Tanaka Wataru behind the plate.
Holding a three-run lead, Coach Kataoka chose Tanaka not only for his catching, but also to strengthen Seido's batting lineup.
On the mound, Nanjo Taishi began the inning against Sagara High sixth batter.
He pitched with authority.
Strikeout after strikeout—no runners allowed.
The inning ended cleanly.
Leading off the eighth inning was the substituted seventh batter, Tanaka Wataru.
After seeing a four-seam fastball and a sinker from Kukune Mirai, Tanaka stayed patient. On the third pitch, he followed a vertical slider and lined a clean base hit, reaching first.
Next:
Araki Keita struck out.
Then, Seido's ninth batter stepped up—Kanzaki Ryou.
Kanzaki tightened his grip on the bat and glanced at Tanaka on first.
Tanaka nodded.
In the batter's box, Kanzaki spread his arms wide, inhaled deeply, and made an exaggerated motion that instantly drew attention from the crowd.
"Ha!!"
With a sharp shout, Kanzaki settled into his stance.
Kukune Mirai became alert immediately, glancing back at Tanaka on first base.
Seeing Tanaka standing obediently, he turned back to Kanzaki.
At that exact moment—
Tanaka quietly took two steps off the base.
Kukune spun his head back instantly.
Tanaka chuckled and stopped moving. Even if Kukune threw over, he could return safely.
Annoying…
Kukune refocused on Kanzaki.
Then—
Tanaka took another step.
Whoosh!
The pitch came.
Tanaka dove back to first.
Safe.
After the ball was returned to the mound, Tanaka stepped off again.
So irritating!!
"Focus on the batter!" Kukune's teammates shouted.
Finally, Kukune forced himself to ignore the runner.
The first pitch came in low.
Kanzaki stepped forward and started his swing—
Clap!
"Strike!"
A sinker.
Kanzaki pulled his bat back just in time.
Good thing I didn't hit that—would've been a grounder.
Without hesitation, Kukune threw again.
Fast rhythm. No pause.
Kanzaki swung.
Bang!!
The outside vertical slider was crushed.
The ball soared.
Tanaka had already taken off at full speed.
After a few steps, Kanzaki slowed down.
There was no need to rush.
"Ohhh!!"
"It's gone!!"
"Home run!!"
"Two-run shot!!!"
Tanaka, already rounding third, glanced back.
It had cleared the fence cleanly.
The two crossed home plate one after another.
Score: 6–1.
The stadium erupted.
A three-run lead was dangerous—but a five-run gap?
A comeback now seemed almost impossible.
And Seido wasn't done yet.
Unfortunately, luck didn't favor them further this inning:
Shida Shota struck out.
Kominato Ryosuke was forced out.
The top of the eighth ended.
Nanjo Taishi allowed a leadoff hit to Sagara High sixth batter.
But after that, he shut the door completely.
The next three batters were retired.
Seido showed no intention of easing off.
Yuki Tetsuya opened with a single.
Then—
Azuma Kiyokuni stepped up.
Bang!!!
A home run.
Two more runs scored.
Score: 8–1.
After that:
Nanjo Taishi grounded out.
Isashiki Jun struck out.
Tanaka Wataru singled.
Araki Keita battled hard before getting out.
The crowd sighed in regret.
If only the lineup had rolled back to Kanzaki Ryou…
Coach Kataoka made his final substitutions:
Azuma Kiyokuni → Masuko Toru
Kominato Ryosuke → Yanagiya Ikki
Shida Shota → Kusunoki Fumiya
Kanzaki Ryou → Sakai Ichiro
The stadium buzzed with excitement.
This was Koshien.
Even half an inning here was a dream for substitutes.
"Ugh—Masuko-senpai, you're way too excited," Sakai laughed.
Masuko patted his own stomach proudly.
"My handsome face is finally on the Koshien stage!"
"When this gets broadcast, I'll gain tons of fans."
"You're shameless," Yanagiya muttered.
"Let's go already," Sakai said eagerly. "Time to play."
Sagara High refused to surrender quietly.
Their leadoff batter singled.
The next batter attempted a bunt—but failed.
Masuko fielded the ball quickly and fired it to second, where Yanagiya Ikki completed the double play.
Two outs.
No one on base.
Then Maya Yamato stepped up and lined a single to left.
The crowd stirred.
Even in defeat, Sagara High showed backbone.
Next came Shunsuke Furukawa.
Bang!!!
Nanjo's high-speed slider was smashed.
A home run.
Two runs scored.
Even if it couldn't change the result, the fighting spirit earned thunderous applause.
Finally—
Nanjo Taishi struck out the last batter.
"Koshien Tournament Quarterfinals!"
"West Tokyo representative—Seido High School!"
"Kanagawa representative—Sagara High School!"
Final score: 8–3.
The team advancing to the semifinals is—SEIDOU HIGH SCHOOL!!