H2
	 Volume 20
	  Chapter 9 (198)
	   Such Unrealistic Expectations

 - Page 149 -

(Ch. 9) Such Unrealistic Expectations

 - Page 150 -

Announcer: Ibasho's Tsukigata and Shimizu,
	Senkawa's Kunimi.
	Meiwa Ichi's Tachibana,
	Atsusho Academy's Udagawa.
	Today's Koshien is jam-packed with excellent teams and noteworthy players...
	Early morning crowds have already jammed the stands completely full.

 - Page 151 -

Announcer: And now,

Ump: Play ball!

Announcer: The umpire raises his hand to begin the first game of the day.
	Can you tell from the cheers of the crowd?
	This is a highly anticipated match-up.
	North Tokyo's representative, Senkawa High School,
	and Kochi's representative, Iba Shogyo.

 - Page 152 -

Announcer: In the first round, Tsukigata pitched a two-hit shutout for Ibasho,
	and as you know, Senkawa got a no-hitter from Kunimi.
	These are two second-year pitchers that are already receiving attention from professional scouts.

 - Page 153 -

Announcers: Which means, commentator Nehori-san,
	that this will be a pitching duel.
	Well,
	a lot of people are certainly counting on that,
	but I'm not so sure.
	These are still just high schoolers, and their performance can vary wildly from day to day.
	And with a second round several days later,
	you can't assume they will pitch the same way they did in the...

Umpire: Strike three, batter out!

Announcer: That was a dangerously high pitch.

 - Page 154 -

Announcer: At any rate, they both pitched far too well in their first games,
	so a bit of overestimation is to be expected...
	Tsukigata easily gets the first two batters out.
	Indeed.
	Anyways, we cannot afford to make such unrealistic expectations...

 - Page 155 -

Announcer: Even 3rd-batting Kunimi is down 1-2 in the count.

 - Page 156 -

Announcer: Three outs, the side is retired!

 - Page 157 -

Announcers: Well,
	I suppose his special curveball must be quite effective today.
	He hasn't thrown it yet.
	Oh?
	Those were all fastballs,
	no curveballs.

Koga: What's going on?

 - Page 158 -

Koga: Did he outguess you
	or something?

Hiro: It wasn't a lazy fastball.

Announcer: I suppose the problem will be Kunimi-kun.

 - Page 159 -

Announcers: He has a pattern of terrible losses right after setting records.
	After all, he is still a high schooler,
	and he could be afraid of misguessing his own abilities.

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 - Page 161 -

 - Page 162 -

Announcers: Three strikeouts!
	Three straight strikeouts earned with the same kind of pitching he showed us in the first round!
	My my.
	I suppose this will be a pitcher's duel, as expected.
	You're the commentator, Nehori-san.
	It's a pleasure to be here.

 - Page 163 -

Scoreboard: Senkawa
	Ibasho

Hideo: Good!

Meiwa Coach: All ready?

Hideo: Yeah,
	any time.

 - Page 164 -

Meiwa Coach: All right, then.  Everyone on the bus.

Hikari: Yes sir.
	How's your stomach, Coach?

Meiwa Coach: Don't worry.  It was just a bit of overeating.
	Don't lag behind.
	You'll be late to the birthday party.

Hikari: Oh?

Announcer: Leading off the top of the 2nd,
	Senkawa's #4 hitter, the catcher, Noda...

 - Chapter 9 End -