H2
	 Volume 8
	  Chapter 10 (79)
	   They're Up Against the Best

 - Page 167 -

(Ch. 10) They're Up Against the Best

 - Page 168 -

Paper: Hirota Pitches Second Consecutive Shutout
	Best eight teams face off today

List: Day 8, Quarterfinals
	Yoko Academy - Meiwa Ichi
	(Osaka) 8:00 (Tokyo)
	Ikeyamada - Atsusho Academy
	(Tokushima) 10:20 (Fukuoka)
	Hamamitsu - Ochisho
	(Kanagawa) 12:40 (Hiroshima)
	Eikyo Academy - Hokai Dairoku
	(Tokyo) 15:00 (Chiba)

Closeup: Yoko Academy - Meiwa Ichi
	(Osaka) 8:00 (Tokyo)

 - Page 169 -

Announcer: On the eighth day of the tournment the best eight teams
	will appear in the quarterfinal games.
	They've all got their strengths,
	but the highlight of the day is sure to be this game.

Teams: Yoko
	Meiwa Ichi

Announcer: Naturally, the top contender this year is last summer's champion, Osaka's Yoko Academy.
	However, they will have their hands full with Tokyo's Meiwa Daiichi, home to the incredible second-year batter Tachibana Hideo.

 - Page 170 -

Somebody: Suup.

Noda: Sup.

Hiro: What's the deal?  I thought today's practice was supposed to be after we watched the first game on TV.

Noda: It's no fun watching by yourself.
	All of the seniors are at the captain's house watching it, too.

Hiro: Oh,
	right.

Haruka: Hi there.

Noda: Ooh.

Yanagi: We were all thinking the same thing.

 - Page 171 -

Hiro: Except for one person.

Haruka: Oh, right.
	We should call Kine-kun.

Hiro: Oh, gosh, too bad.
	Unfortunately, I don't know his home telephone number.

Haruka: Here you go.

Hiro: Thank you, Manager.
	You've even got the unnecessary details taken care of.

Book: Address Book

Hiro: Yes?
	Oh, I see.
	Thank you.
	Goodbye.
	Gosh, too bad.
	He isn't home.

Haruka: Where is he?

Hiro: Why would I ask-

Kine: Suuup!

 - Page 172 -

Haruka: Senkawa Baseball Team.
	Perfect teamwork!

Kine: SUUUP!

Hiro: Shut up!

TV: From Osaka, the No. 1 contender for the title, the mighty Yoko Academy...

Screen: Yoko

TV: Their key ingredient for success being
	their pair of star pitchers, starter Tamaru-kun and relief man Ogata-kun.

 - Page 173 -

TV: They have never lost with these two pitching.
	Tachibana-kun might have been walked through this entire game if Meiwa Ichi was playing a different team,
	but they're up against the best.
	Yoko is in a position to easily bring home its second consecutive championship.

 - Page 174 -

Kine: You know, when it comes to cup noodles, I really prefer udon over ramen.

Hiro: YOU took it out of my pantry, so I don't want to hear YOU complain about it.

Kine: Burp.
	Got anything cold for me?

Hiro: Like my stare?

Kine: No, like a drink.

Hiro: That was a joke.

 - Page 175 -

Shuji: (ha)(ha)(ha)(ha)
	(ha)(ha)(ha)

Radio: Safe!  He's safe!
	The secondbaseman made a nice effort to get the ball, but he was too late for the out!
	One out, men on first and second!

 - Page 176 -

Announcer: It's the bottom of the 6th, and Meiwa Ichi is down two runs.  You can't ask for a better chance to catch up than this!

Teams: Yoko
	Meiwa Ichi

Announcer: Listen to the crowd!
	Yes!
	Standing in the batter's box is the cleanup hitter, Tachibana!
	Both of his previous at-bats were straight walks.
	But, commentator Nehori-san,
	it's not as if the pitcher, Tamaru-kun, has been avoiding him so far, has it?

Nehori: You're absolutely right.

 - Page 177 -

Nehori: He is pitching carefully and precisely.
	A normal batter would have swung at the pitches.
	But Tachibana-kun has a very good batter's eye.

Hiro: They don't call that avoiding him?

Kine: All you have is oolong tea,
	Kunimi.

Announcer: However, with one out and two runners on, he just can't walk the batter!
	Ball.
	Ball.
	Ball.

 - Page 178 -

Noda: They're good, all right.

Hiro: But there's one out.  Will they let a runner get on third?

Announcer: A large sigh emits from the stands.
	3-0 count.

Coach: The previous two walks were done in preparation for this situation, Tachibana-kun.
	The 3-0 count will make you think it's another walk, so you'll lose your concentration.

 - Page 179 -

Coach: And then,

Announcer: A fastball down the middle?!

Coach: The more panicked you get...

 - Page 180 -

Hiro: Fouled it off.

Coach: He's still a high schooler.
	Once lost, it's hard to regain your concentration.
	And when that happens,

 - Page 181 -

Coach: You'll start swinging at balls.

 - Page 182 -

Coach: Yes.

 - Page 183 -

Coach: No.

Announcer: IT'S
	A HOMERUN!

 - Page 184 -

Announcer: Practically a repeat of his last homerun,
	almost as if you're just watching a replay on tape...
	A three-run homerun off the scoreboard to take the lead!

Hiro: Are you gonna pitch to him, or not?
	Make up your minds.

Kine: Kunimi!
	There's no toilet paper in here.

 - Chapter 10 End -

 - Volume 8 End -