Given Masuko's build and speed, his only real option was a deep outfield hit.
If he couldn't send the ball far enough—
The result would simply be a routine catch, ending the inning.
And with two outs, even if Yuki crossed home plate—
The run wouldn't count.
All the pressure fell onto Masuko.
"Bang!"
He swung with everything he had.
The ball soared high into the outfield.
Masuko immediately sprinted toward first base.
"Outfield!" You Shunshin called out, turning his head to track the ball.
"Get down… get down!" Yuki, running toward home, shouted anxiously.
Ushijima jogged toward second—
Already reading the play.
The center fielder had positioned himself perfectly beneath the falling ball.
"Snap!"
Clean catch.
Out.
"…Damn it."
Masuko clenched his teeth in frustration.
"A great defensive play from Akikawa!"
"They shut down Seidou's scoring chance with a runner on third!"
The Seidou bench fell silent.
Frustration lingered—
But there was nothing they could do.
Top of the Sixth
Ushijima Wakatoshi returned to the mound.
Facing the bottom of Akikawa's lineup—
He dominated.
Three batters.
Three strikeouts.
Clean. Efficient.
"Is that his 13th strikeout of the game?!"
"Unbelievable… Ushijima is completely shutting them down!"
Through six innings—
Akikawa had no answer.
Bottom of the Sixth
Seidou managed to get runners on base—
But failed to score.
Top of the Seventh
Akikawa's lineup came around for the third time.
But nothing changed.
Ushijima continued to overwhelm them.
Three up.
Three down.
Again.
Bottom of the Seventh
This time—
Seidou adjusted.
After six innings, the batters had begun to read You Shunshin's rhythm.
They started getting on base.
Not because Seidou was weak before—
But because You Shunshin had been pitching at an exceptional level.
Even after losing runs—
He had only grown sharper, more composed.
Completely free of pressure.
Still—
Seidou managed to break through.
Starting with Miyuki, followed by Shirasu, Furuya, Kuramochi, and Kominato—
They pieced together enough offense to score two runs.
Score after 7 innings:
Akikawa: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Seidou: 0 1 0 2 0 0 2
A 5-run lead.
Not enough for a mercy rule.
The game would continue.
Top of the Eighth
Ushijima remained untouchable.
Using a mix of four-seam fastballs, sinkers, and cutters—
He dismantled Akikawa's core lineup once again.
Three up.
Three down.
Bottom of the Eighth
Seidou went back on offense—
And this time, they exploded.
Isashiki led off with a single.
Yuki followed with a powerful hit to center—
Runners on second and third.
Then—
Ushijima stepped in.
Perfect so far in his at-bats.
You Shunshin delivered.
A 142 km/h fastball—
Low and inside.
Ushijima swung—
Slightly off balance.
"Bang!"
The contact wasn't clean—
The ball stayed in the infield.
But it was enough.
Isashiki dashed home.
Run scored.
Ushijima reached first safely.
Yuki advanced to third.
The pressure continued.
No outs.
Runners on the corners.
Masuko stepped in again.
This time—
He didn't hesitate.
"Bang!!"
A powerful drive to right field—
All the way to the wall.
Yuki scored easily.
Ushijima ran aggressively—
First to second—
Then to third.
He stopped there.
Because next—
Was Miyuki.
And with a runner on third—
Miyuki was at his most dangerous.
"Bang!!!"
Miyuki delivered.
A deep hit.
Ushijima scored.
His third run of the game.
However—
Shirasu's at-bat ended in disaster.
A double play.
Masuko, too slow to return—
Was caught.
Miyuki, attempting to advance—
Was also cut down.
Two outs in an instant.
Akikawa was barely hanging on.
Then—
Furuya stepped up.
"Bang!"
A powerful hit to the outfield.
Another run scored.
The fourth run of the inning.
Kuramochi followed—
But failed to reach base.
The inning finally ended.
End of the Eighth
Seidou now led by 9 runs.
Top of the Ninth
Akikawa's final chance—
Batters 7, 8, and 9.
But Ushijima gave them nothing.
No hits.
No hope.
Game over.
Final Score:
Akikawa: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
Seidou: 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 4 X — 9
A complete game.
Total domination.
Ushijima Wakatoshi—
Ruled the field from start to finish.