"Is that muscular young man who hit the home run also from Matsukata?"
For well-informed fans, there are no secrets when it comes to star players. It was an open secret to anyone paying attention.
Kameshima addressed it directly, smiling in front of the millions watching on Tokyo Television.
"That's right. Today's game features three players who previously came through Matsukata. Zhang Han of Seido, and Hoshida and Miyakawa of Ichidaisan Third High School. All three were core hitters for Matsukata Little League two years ago."
His fellow commentator nodded along with a smile.
"Matsukata Little League's success rate is remarkable. One Koshien super rookie and two core players at powerhouse schools. Makes you wonder if there are others."
"I can't speak to other players, but the talent and ability of these three are genuinely top-tier."
Kameshima went on to explain for the viewers at home.
"Matsukata Little League reached the national tournament two summers ago and finished as runner-up. That Matsukata squad became known as the Golden Generation, and these three players were its standard-bearers."
The mention made Matsukata Little League famous overnight.
Matsukata had always been a nationally ranked Little League powerhouse, but its recognition had hovered somewhere between tenth and twentieth. That might not sound low, but context matters. Tokyo alone was home to three teams ranked in the national top ten. Within that landscape, a team that ranked fourth or fifth in the city was easy to overlook.
This was not unusual. When people talked about top-ranked teams, recognition concentrated at the very top. First place was known by everyone. Second place had some recognition, though far less than first. Third place a little less still. After that, most people couldn't name a team if asked.
Matsukata had lived in that gap.
It was only when they reached the national tournament two years ago that they picked up any real recognition. Now, three of their alumni were appearing in two powerhouse teams at the same time, all three as core contributors, all three meeting in the finals of the Tokyo Spring Tournament. With Kameshima and his partner framing it that way for the audience, Matsukata's name spread faster than it ever had, surpassing even the recognition they had earned as national runner-up.
In the future, young players joining Matsukata Little League would be able to say with pride:
"I'm at Matsukata. You know Matsukata, right? Zhang Han's team."
The game continued.
In the eighth inning, both sides went quiet. No runs scored. They were saving themselves for the ninth.
In the top of the ninth, Kominato Ryosuke, Zhang Han, and Yuuki hit back-to-back-to-back singles and pushed across two more runs. The score moved to 13:7. The lead was back to six.
Ichidaisan answered immediately.
In the bottom of the ninth, they launched a full counterattack. Miyakawa and Hoshida hit consecutive singles, and then Omae connected for his second home run of the game. Three runs in a blink. The gap was down to three.
13:10.
In the stands, Seido's supporters could hardly believe what they were watching. Kawakami had pitched three innings and given up six runs in total. The comfortable cushion had nearly been wiped away.
Ichidaisan's momentum was surging, and they weren't done. By the time Seido recorded one out, a runner had already reached third base.
One out, runner on third.
The batter dropped into a bunt stance. The intention was obvious. They were going to try to force a run.
In the dugout, Coach Kataoka, who had not originally planned to bring Zhang Han to the mound, looked out at the stadium. The flashbulbs in the stands. The scouts from across the Kanto region who had made the trip specifically to watch.
His resolve shifted.
If they gave up another run, he would send Zhang Han out. Even if Zhang Han could only use his right arm right now, not his left. He made the decision.
In this game, both pitchers had far exceeded his expectations. Tanba, whom he had half-expected to struggle, had been remarkable. Three runs in the first inning, and then nothing, inning after inning, with no meaningful flaws. He had matched Manaka more closely than anyone would have predicted.
Kawakami, on the other hand, had not held up under Ichidaisan's desperate offense. Six runs. His pitching had come apart completely. Part of that was Ichidaisan's terrifying lineup, but the bigger problem was that Kawakami had failed to perform at his own level when the pressure was highest.
"Whoosh!"
The pitch came in.
The Ichidaisan batter, who had been in a bunt stance, pulled the bat back and swung through.
"Ping!"
A fake bunt. It caught Seido's defense completely off guard. The ball climbed high into the outfield.
The outfielder tracked it quickly and got into position. The batter accepted his fate. He was going to be out. But his job wasn't to get a hit. His job was to bring the runner home from third.
"Thwack!"
The moment Zhang Han caught the ball, he caught the runner breaking from third in the corner of his eye.
"Bring it on."
His left arm was unavailable. His right arm was not.
"Whoosh!"
Sixty meters. The ball cut through the air like a bolt.
"Thwack!"
Miyuki took the throw with a wide smile, spun, and swept the tag.
The runner ran straight into his glove.
"Out!"
"Double play!"
Two outs in one motion. The game was over.
The final score: 13:10.
By any measure, the quality of this game was right alongside Seido's clash with Yakushi. A genuine hitting battle, start to finish. Two offenses at full force, and in the end, Seido had been the one left standing.
"Game over! The winner of the Tokyo Spring Tournament is Seido High School Baseball Team!"
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