The day before the game against Sensen High School, Coach Kataoka suddenly called everyone to gather at the B field, saying that they would start batting training.
Sawamura put down the cell phone in his hand and followed the string to the B field.
Since yesterday, he has received many text messages one after another.
The former players and teammates from Akagi Middle School in the past will come to watch him play, including the players who are still in middle school. Their summer competition also lost, Lost to Nagano Metropolitan Middle School.
If you lose, it means the summer is over. They had nothing to do, so naturally they had time to cheer for Sawamura.
Not only this semi-final but also they will also come to the final.
For three days, on the one hand, they will cheer for Sawamura, and on the other hand, they can travel to Tokyo.
Because of some advertising in the past, these Players in Akagi are not very poor. You have to say, money is really a good thing. Although it is not omnipotent, it can fill the needs of many people and give people a lot of convenience.
When they arrived at the B field, all the players in the first string were surprised.
On the pitching mound of the B course, a high mound was piled up. Moreover, it's not just piled up, the mound is also made very well.
This is going to be used as a pitching mound.
Helping to do this are those third-year seniors who have retired from the baseball team.
"You guys!"
The first-string players looked at the mound and couldn't help but feel gratitude for their teammate
"We also want to do something for the team."
In the Sensen battle, Seidou High School's opponent was Maki Yosuke, known as the nation's No. 1 giant pitcher. It is 'said' that the guy also got the eyes of professional scouts because of his talent. Especially his high drop Curve which has the highest drop in Tokyo, with it as a weapon he has overcome a lot of strong batters.
These retired third-year seniors, In order to help the first string to adapt to the high drop Curveball before the game, this pitching mound was specially made.
"They have been together for two years day and night. We can't compare such feelings."
Sawamura glanced at these third-year seniors with respect.
He knows that one day in the future they will also have such a friendship in their grade.
"Just a mound is not enough, we need a pitcher who can throw a Curveball, don't we?"
Kominato Ryosuke said.
"I'll do it!"
Coach Kataoka made preparations for some time.
Ochiai was right next to him, looking at Kataoka in surprise.
"Is Kataoka-san going to pitch in person? As practice opponent?"
"Yeah, we can't let Tanpa pitch, can we?" Kataoka said with certainty.
Ochiai sighed as he saw Kataoka walking up the pitcher's mound.
"It's nice to be young!"
After the Yakushi game was over, Kataoka especially came to thank Ochiai. At that time, Ochiai was a little dumbfounded. He didn't expect the team's Head Coach to be such an open-minded person.
Now, he sees Kataoka play as the practice target for the players.
These are far more than Ochiai imagined!
That's why he said it's nice to be young.
There are some things you can't do just by thinking about it. Also need, you really have that kind of strength.
"If the opponent is the Coach, can I fight seriously?"
The fighting spirit of the Captain immediately rose up.
"If you can hit it, that's it," Kataoka said in a challenge.
"Then I have a chance too!" Sawamura held his bat and looked at Kataoka with burning eyes.
"You have it!"
The opponent is Kataoka alone, and it is impossible for everyone in the first string to play at the same time. The main force takes turns to attack, and the others are responsible for the defense.
A pleasant training session just started.
This time, it's about adaptation, not a real offensive drill. Therefore, Seidou's lineup was not arranged according to the normal rules. Rather, it is arranged according to the first come, first served.
Unsurprisingly, Sawamura came in second.
The first, of course, is Tetsuya.
After Tetsuya into the strike zone, he did not perform well in the face of Kataoka's pitching. From the three balls, he hit one ball in total, and the ball he hit was an infield grounder.
"Yuuki, is this what you look like when you are serious? I don't think so."
On the high pitcher mound, Kataoka's words were very strict.
"Please give me another chance!"
Yuuki was also obviously motivated, and his eyes became sharp.
"Line up, and I'll let each of you swing enough."
After the Captain, Sawamura stood on the strike zone.
"Please take care of me!"
After bowing respectfully to Kataoka, Sawamura raised the bat in his hand.
Although Sawamura's batting is not as good as his pitching. However, this doesn't mean that he has no ambition for his batting, on the contrary, Sawamura is very ambitious and hopeful for his batting.
Being able to play against Kataoka is a very exciting thing for Sawamura, in terms of both personal feelings and the challenge of pitching.
'Bring it on!'
The seniors who were onlookers looked at Sawamura with high fighting spirit and were also full of inspiration.
"This stinky boy is really not easy. Even in the face of the Coach, he will not back down at all."
"That's why he is Sawamura."
On the mound, Kataoka was also delighted with Sawamura's spirit.
'This is the spirit the Ace of Seidou should have.'
"I won't hold back!" Kataoka said.
"This is what I want!" Sawamura also did not flinch at all, even if it was against Kataoka, he did not show fear at all.
Whoosh!
The white ball whistled.
On the strike zone, Sawamura's face sank.
The ball is fast, faster than expected. And it's not the usual dead pitching from the machine. There seems to be life in Kataoka's pitching.
"Awesome!"
Sawamura couldn't help but sigh in respect.
However, such a pitch could not scare him. He still counted the timing and swung decisively.
The bat swung out, but the white ball suddenly fell.
Sawamura swung his bat in vain.
This is the Curveball!
It's no wonder that when the captain was playing, two of the three balls were missed.
The ball fell from top to bottom, and it flew not in a straight line, but a bent line.
From the batter's point of view, what they want to hit is not a line, but a Curve.
The timing, the location, the strength of the swing…
All these have to be controlled to perfection!
Otherwise, it will be difficult to hit the ball Out.
"Come again!"
The bat was raised again, and Sawamura's eyes were fixed on Kataoka.
"This brat dares to glare at the Coach."
"Sawamura dare to do anything, right?"
"By the way, the speed of the Coach pitching is too fast, it is more than 140 km/h!"
…
T/N: That's it for Today.
You also can check my Patre0n for extra Chapters.
https://www.patre0n.com/ColdColt
There are +85 Chapters there.
Thank you all for reading and your support!
Have a nice day!