In the baseball team's foundational tests, the 100-meter sprint wasn't extensively used. If such a test were needed, one could practically run back to the home plate from the batter's box, considering the distances between bases.
There were generally three primary tests for basic speed!
The first was base running, the second was base stealing, and the third was the 50-meter dash.
On base is the speed at which you get from the hitting zone to first base, which is directly related to whether you can use a weak hit or a bunt to get on base.
When doing this test, someone also needs to throw the ball, the purpose is to be infinitely close to the actual combat.
Stealing bases, whether from first to second, second to third, or third to home.
The distance is the same, test your speed, and then judge whether you can steal bases according to the time given to you in the game!
The players of Seidou High School usually practice these two a lot, and the coaching staff and the players themselves have very accurate data.
So this time the speed test only tested the 60-meter run.
Each player ran three times, recording their best and average times. Then, the six fastest players were chosen to compete in a challenge akin to a speed king competition.
As soon as the rules were announced, the Players were very excited.
This was akin to an intra-team challenge, especially since the players who were competing for the main position were very happy.
They have long been waiting for this opportunity.
The players geared up, in groups of three, and started running.
The first group included Kominato Haruichi, Asou Takeru, and Seki Naomichi.
They lined up, the three of them stretched their legs, legs tensed, and at the signal from Coach Kataoka, a whistle sounded, and they shot forward like arrows released from a bowstring.
At this moment, the gap between the second grade and the first grade became apparent. Although Kominato Haruichi is thin and small, in fact, his running speed has increased much from the time he entered the school, and now he can even be among the best among freshmen.
But even for him, there is a clear gap between Asou and Seki.
The first to arrive is Asou!
The second is Seki.
After being five or six meters away from them, Kominato Haruichi ran over.
Their times were 6.94 seconds, 7.21 seconds, and 7.68 seconds, respectively.
The difference is more than half a second!
"I'm going, it's scary!"
"As expected of a second-year senpai, his speed is unbelievable."
"I didn't expect the gap to be so big."
Even Kominato, who was considered fast among his peers, found himself surprised by the gap between himself and the others.
So they were even more surprised.
"You go down to rest first, and start the second set of tests after everyone runs."
Even after the semi-retiring of the third grade, there are still more than 60 players in the first and second grades of Seidou High School, which is a total of 20 running groups.
One group took less than 20 seconds, and the test was completed.
This is because coach Ochiai and Coach Kataoka, constantly correct the mistakes of the players in running, otherwise, the speed will be much faster.
During the testing process of the first group, the really remarkable players began to emerge.
Everyone gradually discovered that it seemed that very few people could run within seven seconds.
Most of them are in the early seven seconds, and even a few slower ones run to eight seconds.
The four who really ran within seven seconds were Miyuki, Toujou, Asou, and Kanemaru.
Talent shines through. After just a small round of tests, the truly powerful players began to emerge.
The fastest among the four was Toujou, who ran to 6.82.
When his results came out, everyone felt very incredible. Before entering Seidou High School, Toujou was famous. But after entering Seidou High School, he was baptized by high school baseball, and he suddenly fell into the background.
In the past six months, with his solid skills and talent, he was promoted to the Second String and even became the main force of the Second String.
But in everyone's eyes, he remained relatively unremarkable.
No one expected such results in this test.
Even Coach Kataoka kept his eyes on him.
This speed could definitely be utilized!
At the end point, Coach Ochiai pinched the stopwatch.
He was also very surprised.
When we tested everyone's on-base speed and steal-base speed, the difference between them was actually not that big. Apart from anomalies like Kuramochi, the speed of the others was basically maintained at an average level. Like Toujou, they may be slightly faster, but the gap is not obvious.
Considering that Toujou and the others received formal junior club training, Ochiai thought that Toujou's outstanding performance was not necessarily due to his speed, but it is also likely that his timing judgment was more accurate.
Now stretch the original distance of less than 30 meters to 50 meters, and the differences became evident.
Again, talent always shines.
Hideaki Toujou, Shinji Kanemaru.
If the positions are right, these two should be serious contenders for the main force.
Of course, it also depends on how well they hit, throw and defend.
***
Group after group tested their run and finished, and at the end, there were only three people left.
They are Sawamura, Kuramochi, and Shiratsu.
The big names always come last, they were members of the national champions after all.
Everyone didn't want to run with them, and they were left to the end before they knew it.
Especially when Sawamura played with Kuramochi and Shiratsu, he could see the mischievous smiles in Miyuki and Kanemaru's eyes.
Not to mention Kuramochi, Seidou High School's No. 1 sprinter.
Shiratsu's speed is also not slow. He is very average in every way and solid.
On the other hand, Sawamura has the best bunt skills in the entire Seidou High School. His base-running speed was only average.
It's not to say that it's really slow, but after every bunt, he never hits base safely.
Compared with other people, although Sawamura may not be so good, it is not too embarrassing.
But compared with Kuramochi and Shiratsu, everyone no longer expected Sawamura to win. They ganged up to tease Sawamura as a payback for his earlier teasing.
They talked a bit loudly, with a look like gossiping housewives when looking at the troublemaker in the neighborhood.
"With his irritating face, it is at least 10 meters difference."
"Nonsense, did you forget his black heart, at least 20 meters."
"Man, remember all of his evil thoughts in his scheming mind, they should have the weight of all of Nagano's mountains, a 30-meter difference is not impossible."
These guys were discussing there without care if he heard them, more like they were making their voices loud enough for him to hear, and Sawamura's lungs were about to explode.
'Damn it! Those guys are so petty! And Kanemaru you bastard! I should have asked for a whole package of expensive pudding!'
'According to them, I should be crawling like a tortoise from the weight of my "sins".'
Seeing them ganging up on him to smear his 'outstanding' reputation, as the 'good' and 'honest' scion of the Sawamura family, he will not swallow this without a fight!
So he decided to run seriously, determined to get a good record. To tell those petty guys that it is not his evil thought that is fueling his speed, but his 'pure and shining'(radioactive) golden heart!
For the sake of the family's name, he will do it.
Thinking about it, Sawamura earnestly began to move his arms and legs, adopting a very determined posture.
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