Chapter 167: [167] Hiromitsu Ochiai
Chapter 167: Hiromitsu Ochiai
At this moment, a figure appeared on the grounds of Seidou High School.
While some might not recognize him, fans of Diamond no Ace would undoubtedly be familiar with this pivotal character.
He made his debut after the summer tournament as a key supporting figure and was even instrumental in Seidou's victory during the autumn tournament.
This was none other than the renowned former baseball coach of Kokai Sagara High School, Hiromitsu Ochiai.
Initially, after Ochiai's contract expired and he planned to leave his former role, many prestigious high schools extended invitations to him.
Despite rumors of his somewhat peculiar personality, Ochiai was known as a capable and experienced baseball coach, particularly skilled at developing players.
His expertise in baseball was widely acknowledged.
Seidou High School was one of the schools that reached out to Ochiai.
However, it's worth noting that the school administration's initial intent in inviting him was not entirely in good faith.
Their motive was rooted in replacing their current head coach, Kataoka.
The reasoning was simple: if Kataoka failed to deliver satisfactory results this year, he would be held accountable.
Throughout the summer tournament, it was clear from the expressions and comments of two school administrators that they were prepared to make a change if Kataoka did not lead the team past the regional level and into Koshien.
Kataoka himself acknowledged this. He had stated that if the team failed to make it to Koshien, he would take responsibility and resign.
However, things had changed.
Now that Kataoka had successfully guided the team to Koshien for the first time in six years, he had achieved tangible results.
Even if Seidou were eliminated in the first round of Koshien, the school administration no longer had any valid reason or authority to dismiss him from his position as head coach.
Additionally, Kataoka was a current faculty member at Seidou High, further solidifying his position.
On the other hand, since the invitation to Ochiai had already been extended, it wasn't feasible to have two head coaches for the same team.
Fortunately, the school had a contingency plan: while two head coaches were not an option, there was no rule against having two coaches on the team.
Ochiai was brought in to assist Kataoka, a decision the administration deemed beneficial.
To demonstrate their sincerity, both the principal and the dean personally invited Ochiai.
This gesture conveyed Seidou's commitment, which impressed Ochiai.
Moreover, the recent news of Seidou's advancement to Koshien and Ochiai's own research into the team's roster and Kataoka's coaching style made the offer even more appealing.
After thorough consideration, Ochiai responded to Seidou's invitation on the day the team departed for Koshien.
He accepted the role of a specialized coach for the baseball team, a decision that delighted the school's administration.
With a talented roster and now an experienced strategist joining the coaching staff, they believed Seidou could re-establish its dominance in baseball.
The initial contract stipulated that Ochiai would officially start in the fall, once Seidou returned from Koshien.
However, after accepting the position, Ochiai decided to visit the school early to get a preliminary look at the environment where he would be working.
This initial visit was part of his assessment process.
Ochiai was quite satisfied with the facilities at Seidou High.
The training environment and infrastructure were as good as he had anticipated. With quality equipment and promising players, Ochiai was confident that he could restore Seidou's former glory.
Having taken on this role, Ochiai was determined to make a significant contribution. His reputation as a master strategist was not just empty talk.
Even during his initial assessment, Ochiai had already identified a critical issue within Seidou's team.
After evaluating the overall situation, he formulated a plan to address this problem.
He saw this as an opportunity to establish his value within the team and gain the respect of the players.
By addressing this pressing issue, he could demonstrate his importance and potentially earn some authority in the decision-making process.
Ochiai's main goal was to prove his worth to Kataoka and gradually secure a voice within the team.
While he did not mind serving as an assistant coach, he aimed to have the power to influence decisions and play a part in shaping the team's strategy.
This was the minimum requirement that Hiromitsu Ochiai set for himself.
As Ochiai wandered around Seidou High's baseball field, he eventually made his way to the B-side training ground. There, he noticed several figures engaged in basic training. Two assistant coaches and a female manager were also present, observing the practice.
Ochiai's eyes narrowed with a hint of curiosity.
"It seems Coach Kataoka is quite aware of the issues within his own team," he muttered to himself. Ochiai was watching Tojou Hideaki, Maezono Kenta, Yamaguchi Ken, and Kanemaru Shinji from Seidou as they performed fielding drills.
At present, Seidou's team composition could be considered top-tier on a national level.
They boasted a powerful batting lineup and a rock-solid defense.
The only potential weakness had been their pitching, but Eijun's strong debut had addressed that gap.
In all aspects, the team had no glaring weaknesses.
Their overall strength made them one of the top contenders among the 49 high schools nationwide this summer.
Even a perfectionist like Ochiai had to admit that very few schools could stand on equal footing with Seidou High.
However, at this moment, neither Ochiai nor the rest of the country could foresee the emergence of a dark horse from the northern region—an underdog team that would challenge Seidou's dominance and prove itself a true powerhouse.
Returning to the current situation, Seidou High was undeniably strong, perhaps even overwhelmingly so.
However, a critical issue loomed over them: what would happen after the Koshien tournament? Of the 18 players on Seidou's first-string roster, only seven were first- or second-year students. The remaining 11 players were all third-year seniors.
While this ratio might not seem terrible at first glance, a deeper look at the team's lineup painted a grimmer picture.
The top and middle parts of the batting order were entirely made up of third-year players, many of whom also held key defensive roles, particularly in the infield—first base, second base, and third base.
Losing these players would leave a massive gap in Seidou's roster, potentially causing serious setbacks for the team moving forward.
Ochiai had already devised a plan to address this issue, and from what he could observe, Coach Kataoka seemed to be making some strategic preparations as well.
"Well, he is the coach who led the team to Koshien, after all," Ochiai remarked quietly, shaking his head with a slight smile. "Still, it looks like I'll need to make some adjustments to my plan."
With these thoughts in mind, Ochiai decided it was time to move on and conduct some more in-depth observations.
He was particularly interested in certain players whose performances he wanted to see firsthand.
This would provide a solid foundation for his future coaching strategies.
Two names stood out in Ochiai's mind: Eijun Sawamura and Furuya Satoru. These two players would be the most crucial figures for the team going forward.
With a slight, knowing smile, Ochiai opened his narrowed eyes, revealing a faint, icy glint.
He then turned and leisurely made his way out of Seidou High School, ready to continue his assessment elsewhere.
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