So, fun fact, I actually got a 15:45 earlier on in the session that produced this run, but accidentally recorded my desktop audio together with the game audio, meaning the Runescape video I was half-watching while playing was audible the entire run. So I faced a choice: learn how to mute the video and wait for it to render, or get a better run. I chose the latter, and succeeded by two seconds. :P

Anyway, behold the fruits of my research! Pitcher Laser Beam! It turns out it's just barely possible to have Waluigi intercept and rethrow a ball headed for home plate. The initial throw needs to be FAST, though. As in, Pianta (second strongest fielding arm in the game after Petey) with Laser Beam AND chemistry on catcher AND a smash input (i.e., pressing down and A at the same time rather than holding down and pressing the A button. A smash throw gets a hefty speed multiplier). It also helps to do this against literally the slowest character in the game, which Pianta R and Pianta Y are tied for along with Petey, Bowser, and three of the Magikoopas.

I haven't tested Pitcher Laser against the Nokis and I fear that it's not possible because those lil gals are speed demons compared to their palm-tree pals, but if it's viable it's a way to get this match done in 1 inning rather than 2. That's more or less the last big improvement remaining for the route for Waluigi. We'll see how it develops.

Gameplay-wise, I'm mostly happy. I made batting with the Piantas look much, much, much easier than it actually is and it felt great to strike Luigi out with just three pitches. That said, there's plenty of room for improvement for both offense and defense in the Mario match. You WANT to throw slower strikeouts to secure Waluigi MVP, but you might not NEED them, is the thing...

PP and CCS went fine, WB was literally free, BOD was the expected 4-bomb, and I handled as well as I could some very underwhelming patterns in BB, so no big complaints for the minigames.