"I can still do it!
I can climb even higher!
I can keep moving forward!!
...With this guy...I definitely can!!"
The moment he saw Miyuki's smile, just as Okumura had said, Sawamura's emotions were instantly fired up by his pitch calling.
His heart began pounding without stop...
"Pff!"
"Whoosh!"
"Smack!"
"Strike!"
The back number danced as he charged toward even greater heights, backed by tangible improvement and soaring confidence!!
Though he had only faced three batters in today's game, this had been a game of transformation for Sawamura's heart!!!
Cheers erupted from the stands as the substitute players gave everything they had through their megaphones.
Everyone wanted victory just as badly!!
"Pff!"
"Whoosh!"
"Smack!"
"Strike!!"
**"Batter out!!!
Game over!!"**
**"A strikeout!!
A strikeout!!!
Sawamura Eijun, who took the mound at the end, closed out this game by striking out three consecutive batters!!!
Twelve to zero!!
Seidou High School wins!!!"**
"All right!!!" Sawamura threw both arms into the air, while the fielders all rushed toward the dugout.
"The control on that last batter wasn't quite perfect, but... whatever!!" Miyuki said to himself with a smile as he stood up.
"Pack up already!"
"Did we leave anything behind?"
After the game ended, Seidou's dugout was filled with peace and relief!
Except for...
"It would've been great if you could pitch like that at Koshien too!!
If you can't get ahead in the strike count from the start, there's no way you can perform well!!
Well! Today was pretty good!
But there's no guarantee you'll be able to pitch like that next time!
If you can remember how today felt, then you'll be saved!" Beneath everyone else's smiles, Miyuki began mercilessly tearing Sawamura down.
He claimed it was to keep Sawamura from getting cocky, but really, he just wanted to run