In the top of the seventh inning, Waseda Jitsugyo's offense was fruitless, completely shut down in three up three down by Koushing Academy. The smoothness of the whole process was devoid of the shadow of the fierce team seen in the earlier innings.

Having played six intense innings under the scorching sun, coupled with the team's efforts to help Lin Guanglai chase a complete game achievement, the Waseda Jitsugyo players had to exert a higher than usual level of focus just for defense. With their physical strength waning, maintaining the same sharp offense as in the previous innings was unrealistic; such a situation was merely a necessary sacrifice.

The bottom of the seventh inning arrived.

After six and a half innings, Koushing Academy's lineup order was reset for the third time in the entire game—each of the following innings was going to be a significant challenge for Waseda Jitsugyo, who was aiming to create a new history.

At least in Lin Guanglai's eyes, there was an aura emanating from the Koushing Academy's leadoff batter, Sawada Tatsushi, as he walked towards home plate that completely didn't match the mood they ought to have at the moment.

The Koshien spectators created such a massive commotion, initially unnoticed by the Koushing Academy players; but upon being informed of the specific reason behind the cheers, the expressions of everyone in the players' area turned grim.

Indeed, a perfect game, a once-in-a-century occurrence, was certainly worthy of the audience's cheers. If they were neutral spectators in the stands, they would similarly cheer for Lin Guanglai.

But they were not!!!

They were the other participating team in this final! They were the champions who defeated 47 other teams to get here, the champion among champions! They also bore the hopes of all the people of Aomori and all the people of the Northeast!

Being treated like this by the opponent on the stage of the finals, the players of Koushing Academy felt complex emotions at this moment: humiliation from being underestimated, frustration at their own inadequacies, anger... These chaotic and complex feelings intermingled with each other, surprisingly lifting the team's morale from a near downturn.

The Koushing players in the team's area resolved: regardless of the final result of this match, they must ruin Lin Guanglai's plans—he absolutely, positively cannot achieve a perfect game against them... Absolutely not!

The chief umpire's call initiated the start of the seventh inning's pitching duel—the entire audience was holding their breath in anticipation, and Koshien instantly fell silent.

"Play Ball!"

"Whoosh—" As soon as the words were spoken, Lin Guanglai on the pitcher's mound instantly began pitching, swiftly throwing the ball towards home plate.

Despite Sawada Tatsushi's high concentration, he was still caught off guard by the pitch—its speed was just too fast!

The baseball passed through the strike zone on the outside line, flying straight into the catcher's glove; Sawada Tatsushi in the left batter's box had barely reacted before hearing the "strike" call from behind.

Exclamations erupted from the stands. Marked by this pitch at 151 km/h, Lin Guanglai, in his upcoming pitches, demonstrated his resilience: even when aiming for a complete game, he was unafraid to go against the batter head-on with a fastball!

First pitch, 151 km/h, fastball.

Second pitch, 150 km/h, fastball.

Third pitch, 152 km/h, fastball.

With three consecutive blazing fastballs, Lin Guanglai perfectly handled Koushing's first batter of the seventh inning.

Under such hot weather and immense game pressure, after consecutively pitching for six innings, to still throw fastballs over 150 km/h in the seventh inning was truly an eye-opener for the audience in the stands, who fervently cheered for Lin Guanglai.

Facing the temptation of witnessing the first complete game in Summer League history, the previously neutral supporters of Koushing Academy in the stands began defecting; from this inning onward, every good pitch by Lin Guanglai was met with waves of applause from the stands—adding considerable pressure to the batters stepping up.

Using a curveball to coax the second batter, Wada Shouma, into hitting a ground ball towards the pitcher's mound, Lin Guanglai caught the rolling baseball and smoothly delivered it to the glove of Hagiyama Mitsuo at first base.

After completing this out, he refocused his gaze on Kawakami Ryohi, who was about to take the stage next.

The atmosphere at the scene gradually became more solemn; evidently, the audience knew if anyone could put an end to the hopes of a perfect game, it was highly likely to be Kawakami Ryohi—conversely, if Lin Guanglai could successfully get past Kawakami Ryohi, the road ahead could be described as a smooth sailing.

As Kawakami Ryohi slowly stepped into the right batter's box, shouts from his teammates in the players' area at first base rang out:

"Go for it—Ryohi!!! Hit the ball out and show them!!!"

"We're counting on you!!! Please, Ryohi!!!"

"Everyone's cheering for you!!! Hit the ball out!!!"

The voice carried hope and encouragement, but also tinged with a bit of solemnity.

Nodding heavily towards the direction of his team, Kawakami Ryohi stepped forward into the batter's box, readying himself for the match.

"Play Ball!"

Again launching the initial strike, simultaneous with the chief umpire's call, Lin Guanglai threw the baseball aiming for the inner corner of Kawakami Ryohi's strike zone.

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