Ace of Diamond: Return of the Pitcher

Chapter 26: Spring of Youth

In West Tokyo, spring tournament are naturally less valued than summer tournament and autumn tournament which can determine who can play at Koshien.

Especially after entering the top sixteen in the Tokyo spring tournament and having determined the seeded quota for the summer tournament, this emphasis is even lower.

Of course, this is not to say that it is not taken seriously at all. After all, the top two teams in Tokyo can participate in the Kanto Tournament. Although the Kanto Tournament is not as famous as Koshien, it is also the top tournament in the Kanto region.

To be able to play in the Kanto tournament and get a good honor is also very tempting for the Giants in Tokyo. Another point is that most of the powerhouses in Kanto have National-level strength. It is also a very rare tournament object for the Tokyo Famous schools who are preparing for the summer tournament.

Therefore, after the top sixteen, some big teams in the country who are interested will not mind going further.

Seidou High School is ambitious this time, and naturally will not miss such an opportunity. They want to play in the Kanto Conference no matter what and challenge the national powerhouse.

So this semi-final, Seidou is still very attentive.

As for the tactical training and field cooperation, a lot has been carried out this week.

As a pitcher of the First String, Sawamura naturally had to follow along. Not only him, but also Furuya.

At this time, the gap between the two freshmen pitchers became obvious.

Sawamura performed very well in every aspect. Furuya, except for his terrifying pitching, at the pitcher’s position, doesn’t know anything at all.

This time too, he, who was supposed to fill at first base, made a mistake when he caught the ball.

“Do not mind!”

Furuya Satoru didn’t know whether it was because he was too thick-skinned, or was stupid, and even signaled to his teammates not to mind too much.

“Who? You are the one who made the mistake, you shameless.”

“Even if we don’t ask you to be like Sawamura, you can’t make mistakes when you need to fill up.”

“How do you play the game like this?”

“Also, don’t put on an indifferent expression, It’s you! it’s your fault!!!”

The players of the Seidou First String unceremoniously started the mode of complaining at Furuya.

At this time, Tanpa was still very senior, telling Furuya to pay attention to the defense and to prepare for the defense the moment the ball was thrown.

“After the ball is thrown, the pitcher is the ninth fielder on the field, never forget that.”

On the other hand, Sawamura’s performance was different.

Pinning, stealing, passing, guarding, filling…

When he started to engage in defense training, Sawamura’s performance was enough to make everyone look at him. His skills, his completeness, did not look like a fifteen-year-old boy who had just graduated from middle school. (He isn’t, at least mentally.)

Seeing Sawamura’s performance, Manger Ota's delight could hardly be hidden.

“Sawamura-kun can be used as an Ace. I believe it will be fine to give him some key scenes.”

That’s what he suggested to Kataoka.

Takashima Rei hugged her chest, also satisfied. You know, Sawamura was invited to join the team after a lot of hard work.

“Don’t underestimate the honor Sawamura has achieved in middle school. Although the intensity and rhythm of middle school games are not as good as high school, their tactical arrangements are also very good. As the team’s Ace and coach, Sawamura can lead the team. His experience and mentality are also a huge asset as the team won the national championship two years in a row.”

This means.

There is no problem in handing over key scenes to Sawamura, but they are people who have won the national hegemony. Even if high school baseball has received more attention, the national hegemon is the hegemon, and they have the experience of reaching the top.

Will the person who can win the national hegemony be nervous in the high school game?

This is of course impossible.

In this regard, Kataoka has nothing to say. Although Tanpa’s pitching is good, since he regained his fighting spirit, it can be said that it is getting better and better.

But when it comes to comprehensive Skills, he may not necessarily be comparable to Sawamura, who is two years younger than him.

Sawamura is too complete, especially after getting his new Form (Wall-Making Form), his pitching strength has risen rapidly.

In terms of strength, the current Sawamura is Seidou’s most trustworthy pitcher.

“If we can win in the semifinals, I will arrange for him to play in the Kanto Tournament. If his pitching skills are almost the same, let him try being an outfielder.”

In the end, Kataoka made such an arrangement.

“Outfielder?”

Ota looked at Kataoka in surprise.

For him, letting Sawamura go to guard the outfielder is a bit too much.

Takashima Rei was surprised.

Not only pitching but even Sawamura’s Batting, was Kataoka taken a fancy to?

If the Ace pitcher wants to be on the field all the time, it is generally arranged in two positions, the mound and the outfielder. It’s rare in the pros, but in high school, it’s all too common for Ace pitchers to be outfielders.

There are mainly two aspects to consider.

The first is that even if the Ace pitcher is on the field, even if he doesn’t get on the pitching mound, he can give other players psychological comfort. Another is that, in case the substitute pitcher fails and encounters a crisis, the Ace pitcher can immediately replace the pitcher mound.

Therefore, the real high school Ace will never be out unless the opponent is too weak!

Otherwise, if you replace the Ace, you will be helpless in a crisis. The rules of high school baseball, however, are that once a player is off the field, he must never play again. It’s not like basketball or football. (T/N: I also think this is the same in football, maybe the author made a mistake.)

Kataoka has made up his mind to cultivate Sawamura as an Ace.

Of course, he did it for other reasons. For example, being an outfielder is also good for training Sawamura’s long passing and ball speed. There is also a very important point. Even if Seidou is so strong now, Kataoka still can’t turn a blind eye to Sawamura’s Batting.

Amazing!

Although Sawamura is not a strong Batter, he has a batting average of more than 60% and has flexible tactical batting skills.

Ordinary opponents are nothing, Sawamura’s attacking skills are an unparalleled weapon in the offensive.

Regardless of that aspect, Kataoka believes that Sawamura has the strength to become the main fighting force in Seidou.

It was still Chris who supervised the execution, and Sawamura began to get in touch with outfielder defense, and it was also Furuya Satoru who practiced with him. As an outfielder, Furuya Satoru did a good job. He has no problem catching and passing the ball, he is still very talented.

Sawamura is even better.

He has also been an outfielder in Akagi, and he is very familiar with outfielder skills.

When Sawamura in the first string gradually showed a sense of existence, Seidou ushered in their spring semifinals.

The day before the game.

Kuramochi left the classroom, ready to go to practice.

At this time, a little beauty with shawl hair suddenly appeared behind him.

“Hee hee, Sakurako-chan, what’s up?”

Recognizing the person, Kuramochi was elated, but he didn’t expect that this uncle Kuramochi would also have a day when the peach blossoms flooded.

When Sakurako shyly glanced at Kuramochi, that made the young man’s heart flutter when he looked at her.

“Well, Kuramochi-kun, you are on the baseball team, right?”

“yes.”

“Then do you know Sawamura-kun?”

…

T/N: “Youth Is A Lie.” –Hikigaya Hachiman.