"Who is this kid?"
The sudden appearance of this kid from Ichidaisan Third High School left most of the people present bewildered.
He wasn't a well-known first-year rookie player, nor was he Ichidaisan Third High School's previous substitute pitcher.
How did this second-year, who seemed to have popped out of nowhere, inexplicably become Ichidaisan Third High School's Ace?
Had their Coach gone mad?
Although Manaka Kaname's strength wasn't particularly formidable, it was at least decent.
Ichidaisan Third High School had managed to smoothly advance to the quarterfinals in the Spring Invitational Tournament against national-level powerhouses.
Manaka Kaname had played an indispensable role in that achievement.
Seido High School Baseball Team replaced their Ace Pitcher for a very important reason: their original Ace Pitcher indeed had significant problems. Anyone playing against Seido High School Baseball Team would treat that Ace as Seido High School Baseball Team's obvious weakness.
The replacement Ace was Zhang Han, who had long been famous.
Even so, everyone couldn't help but wonder when they saw him, believing that Seido High School Baseball Team would definitely face considerable challenges ahead.
What was Ichidaisan Third High School doing?
They forcefully removed the Ace Pitcher who had achieved great feats for their team and replaced him with a player they had never heard of before, nor had he showcased his strength in any official game.
They were insane, absolutely insane.
Could it be that Ichidaisan Third High School, facing the strong rise of Inashiro Industrial and Seido High School Baseball Team, had chosen to give up?
But shouldn't giving up happen in the autumn?
For Omae, Manaka, and other third-year players, this was their last Summer Tournament in high school. Was Ichidaisan Third High School really going to give up?
This inexplicable young man, who caused countless speculations in everyone's minds, ignored everyone around him and went straight to Zhang Han.
"I remember you were a shortstop, weren't you? Couldn't make it, so now you're a pitcher? Your talent would be wasted if you were a pitcher…"
The young man said this with a sincere expression.
But these words stunned everyone around him.
Zhang Han's talent isn't good?
Where did this guy come from? Does he only have 2G internet at home?
Anyone who pays a little attention to high school baseball now would surely know that Zhang Han is currently the fastest pitcher among high school students nationwide.
Everyone was bewildered by this young man in front of them.
They really couldn't understand where this guy came from.
And how did he become Ichidaisan Third High School's Ace Pitcher?
Narumiya Mei looked at the simpleton in front of him in disbelief, then pointed at Zhang Han, as if asking, "Do you know this crazy person?"
It must be said, this person in front of him had indeed changed quite a bit.
If Zhang Han hadn't fought alongside him before, he might not have even recognized him.
His hair was dyed back to black, and his long hair was shaved off; now it was a buzz cut…
"Long time no see, Kousei."
At first, no one recognized him. But after Zhang Han said that, the eyes of the second-year players around him widened instantly.
"This man is Amahisa Kousei?"
As players of the same generation, although this guy was a bit neurotic, his pitching was truly outstanding.
Many people had faced him in middle school, and some had even suffered losses at his hands.
It was only now that they first learned that this guy, upon entering high school, hadn't given up baseball or disappeared.
Instead, he had joined Ichidaisan Third High School and become their team's Ace.
"Speaking of which, your Coach has a lot of guts to actually replace an Ace who has sweated and contributed to the team."
Zhang Han was still very shocked.
Even at Seido, many teammates understood why Coach Kataoka and the coaching staff decided to change the Ace.
But they still had considerable feelings about a second-year player becoming the Ace. Especially those third-year seniors, who now greeted Zhang Han with less enthusiasm than before.
How much determination did Ichidaisan Third High School have to make such a decision?
"I wasn't willing at first, after all, Senior Manaka's pitch was also good. But Senior and Coach insisted that I wear this number, so I had no choice."
That's what he said.
But Amahisa Kousei still revealed his true thoughts through his expression and tone.
Senior Manaka's pitch was just good, while his pitch was clearly more than just good.
Amahisa firmly believed in his heart that it was only natural for him to become the team's Ace.
He had that kind of confidence.
Facing this arrogant guy, the group of second-year players around him didn't know what to say.
A reporter nearby took a photo of the grand scene with a camera.
Before the opening ceremony officially began, many things could not be guaranteed or confirmed. This included the player selections for some important positions in the powerhouse high schools.
In other words, from the beginning, many people's attention was focused on this point.
They had previously envisioned all sorts of possible scenarios.
But no one could have imagined that the final result would be like this.
"The West Tokyo Three Great Powerhouses, including Yakushi High School Baseball Team, which is subtly gaining momentum, all have second-year players as their current Aces. This means that their fierce competition will not be limited to this year."
There would be another one next year.
The reporter who thought of this news point was very excited.
After the opening ceremony, because Seido High School Baseball Team had virtually no games the previous week, the teammates were well-rested and trained according to their daily rhythm.
At this time, their persistent extra practice every night was halted by Coach Kataoka and the coaches of the coaching staff.
Last year, without reminders from the Coach and coaches, that group of third-year players voluntarily stopped their extra practice.
They wanted to ensure as much as possible that they wouldn't have any accidents after the Summer Tournament began.
The roster had already been submitted; at this point, even if they wanted to replace a player, it was already too late.
Voluntarily stopping extra practice and focusing training on maintaining their condition was the most reliable approach.
Originally, the Coach and coaches thought that this batch of third-year players would be the same as the previous one.
But to their surprise, these third-year players were completely different from the previous third-years.
In the days leading up to the first game, they were still doing extra practice at their usual pace.
Coach Kataoka specifically called Yuuki over and asked him with a serious face.
"Don't you know this increases the risk?"
Yuuki nodded, "I know."
"Then why are you still…?"
Ochiai asked incredulously.
Knowing it's not good, yet still doing it?
Are these current third-year players of Seido High School Baseball Team such stubborn people at heart?
Ochiai had spent a considerable amount of time with them, yet he hadn't noticed at all.
"Chris and I discussed whether everyone should stop evening extra practice. But in the end, we both gave up on that idea. For the past three years, we've lived like this every day, and our bodies are already accustomed to this training intensity. Suddenly reducing it might backfire."
When Yuuki said these words with a serious expression, Coach Kataoka and the few big figures in the room didn't know what to say.
Yes.
This batch of third-year players was different.
Although previous players also had the habit of extra practice, their extra practice was targeted reinforcement.
Only this batch of third-year players, from the time they entered as first-years, persisted in practicing their swings every night…
Kataoka slightly raised his head, "Still, you need to be careful. Don't swing more than a hundred times during extra practice every night. Quality is the most important; increasing quantity won't help you improve your strength now. You can have them do more visualization practice…"
Kataoka ultimately agreed with Yuuki and their idea.
Even Manager Ota, who usually liked to worry excessively, didn't try to persuade them.
In fact, everyone knew that what Yuuki said made a lot of sense. For these third-year players, suddenly relaxing their training might backfire.
When the first- and second-string teammates found out, they also actively requested to join the extra practice.
But without exception, they were all reprimanded by Coach Kataoka and the coaches of the coaching staff. Although the foundation and talent of these two batches of players surpassed those of the third-year players, when it came to effort, they really couldn't compare.
Among the current first- and second-year players, only two started extra practice right after entering as freshmen.
One is the current first-year rookie Sawamura Eijun.
The other is the second-year player Zhang Han.
Although other players, after adapting to freshman practice and the intensity of high school practice, quickly joined the extra practice group, most of them were influenced by the third-year seniors and peers around them before they wanted to join.
This was fundamentally different from actively doing extra practice on their own.
Yuuki, Isashiki Jun, Kominato Ryosuke…
These players, who were almost useless when they first joined the team, began to actively do extra practice on their very first day at school.
Unlike the first and second years where there was only one person, their entire cohort of main players actively did this.
"No freshmen are allowed to do extra practice except Sawamura. Sawamura is not allowed to pitch during extra practice, but he can run while dragging tires."
Coach Kataoka's answer was very ruthless.
It seemed like he was giving Sawamura a back door, but for Sawamura, this back door was probably more punishment than reward.
Zhang Han also wanted to speak up and request, but before he could, he was glared back by Coach Kataoka with a warning look.
Currently, the one person Seido High School Baseball Team could least afford to have an accident with was him.
So, even if it meant slightly changing his habits, Zhang Han had to focus on maintaining his condition during this period.
Just like that, a week passed.
Seido High School Baseball Team's first opponent was revealed.
Because the opponent was not considered a team Seido High School Baseball Team needed to pay attention to, they did not send the entire team to watch the game.
Even if they had time.
Of course, as an important opponent for their first game in the Summer Tournament, Seido High School Baseball Team did not neglect them.
They still sent out scouts.
The two people sent out were Takashima Rei, their team's Vice Manager, and Chris, the catcher.
Both of them were very capable in baseball expertise. With these two, plus a player to help record the game.
Seido High School Baseball Team's scouting unit was thus formed.
After observing the game for a morning, they returned to Seido High School.
Even with full confidence in their first game, the teammates of Seido High School Baseball Team were still very curious about who their first opponent would be.
"Mishimon High School?"
Although Mishimon was a metropolitan high school, their performance in previous years was decent. Compared to another team whose name they had never heard, this team was undoubtedly more likely to be Seido's opponent.
Takashima Rei hesitated to speak.
Chris, however, shook his head decisively.
"No."
"Today's game was truly special. Both teams were much more capable than we expected. The game went for a full nine innings, and in the end, Sakurazawa High School was superior. Two to one, they came from behind to win."
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