บท 224: [224] Ikuei's Reaction
Chapter 224: Ikuei's Reaction
As Seidou High School prepared for their quarterfinal match, and even looked ahead to the semifinals and finals, the other teams were far from idle.
Each team had its goals, ambitions, styles, and levels of strength, but they all shared one common trait, even the teams that had already been eliminated: a relentless pursuit of victory and an unshakable belief in their own brand of baseball.
Regardless of their background, all the teams and players, even as mere high schoolers, carried a serious attitude. Teams that approached Koshien with a casual mindset would never make it to this prestigious stage, a symbol of the pinnacle of youth baseball in Japan.
While Seidou aimed for the championship, other teams harbored the same aspirations. Information gathering, strategic planning, and tactical adjustments—these efforts were not exclusive to Seidou. Every team was working tirelessly, unwilling to fall behind.
Northwest of the Hanshin Koshien Stadium, directly south of Seidou High School's accommodation, lay another lodging facility—where Seidou's upcoming quarterfinal opponent, Ikuei High School, was staying.
While Seidou's Chris had meticulously compiled all available data on Ikuei, the same could be said of Ikuei's efforts in studying Seidou.
Even the backup players who hadn't appeared in recent games weren't overlooked.
Ikuei was keenly aware of their position: Seidou, who had defeated Seihou High, clearly possessed superior raw strength.
Thus, Ikuei focused on dissecting every detail about Seidou's players to maximize their own chances of victory.
This meticulous approach had long been Ikuei's hallmark.
Their triumph over Ichidaisan in the Spring Koshien tournament was a testament to this method.
By maintaining composure during games and seizing crucial opportunities, they executed a decisive, game-changing play.
This philosophy was deeply ingrained in the coaching style of Ikuei's head coach, Natsume.
Under Natsume's leadership, Ikuei High School had risen from a regional team to one of the nation's premier powerhouses.
At their lodging, while Ikuei players were busy with their training, Natsume sat in a meeting room, calmly watching footage of Seidou's match against Seihou.
A table in front of him was cluttered with sheets of paper filled with names, statistics, charts, and mysterious symbols that only he could understand.
Surrounding him were Ikuei's assistant coaches, as well as the team's key players, including ace pitchers Sato and Kimura, and captain Yanagishita.
The footage on the screen was from Seidou's victory over Seihou in the Round of 16. It was a match that any team with a potential encounter against Seidou would study closely.
This game provided valuable insights into Seidou's strengths.
Facing such a formidable team as Seihou, it was evident that Seidou had given their all to secure the win.
The early innings had been tightly contested, and it wasn't until the bottom of the seventh that Seidou's powerful offense finally broke the stalemate.
The final two innings appeared easier for Seidou, but this match was an excellent resource for analyzing their players and developing strategies.
"What's your take on Seidou's batting lineup?"
With his hands clasped on his lap, Natsume asked the question with a faint smile, glancing around at his players.
Although the room was filled with team members, it was clear that the question was primarily directed at the two main pitchers, Sato and Kimura.
Both pitchers remained silent, their expressions serious.
After watching Seidou's game against Seihou and imagining themselves on the mound, they realized a chilling truth: they might not last past the fourth or fifth inning.
Seidou's batting lineup was simply too strong—so strong it sent shivers down their spines.
On their own, they assessed the odds of victory against Seidou to be as low as 1:9.
"They're incredibly strong, and their batting lineup's synergy is near perfect. Every batter has their own unique characteristics, and they all understand exactly what to do in any given situation. What's particularly terrifying is that even their lower-order batters have the ability to hit home runs," said Kimura, the third-year, after carefully choosing his words.
"That's true," agreed Sato, a second-year, following Kimura. "Seidou's batting lineup is most dangerous not because of their cleanup hitters but their lower-order batters. The cleanup hitters' power is evident, and if we can't face them head-on, we can walk them. But the lower-order lineup is different. If we can't handle them effectively, it could lead to a vicious cycle. I believe we should focus on shutting down their lower-order batters. If we can do that, even if their cleanup hitters get hits, we can keep their scoring within acceptable limits."
"Hmm." Coach Natsume initially nodded in approval, but then he shook his head, surprising everyone in the room.
What did the coach mean by this?
"Sato, your point isn't wrong, but you need to understand something," Natsume began, his tone carrying a hint of criticism. "The lower-order batters are still lower-order batters. Shutting them down only reduces the likelihood of Seidou scoring but doesn't actually lead to defeating them. To suppress this team, the focus still has to be on containing their cleanup hitters. This principle holds true in baseball no matter the opponent. Do you understand?"
Coach Natsume wanted his players to grasp the essence of what mattered most.
While the lower-order batters were a threat, the core of Seidou's offensive power lay in their cleanup hitters.
It's akin to the dilemma of whether or not to intentionally walk a batter. Everyone knows that walking certain "monster" batters is a viable tactic, but why, then, do teams sometimes choose to face them even with no runners on base?
Besides the fact that high school players are driven by passion and a desire to prove themselves, the main reason lies in the flow and morale of the game.
While a single intentional walk might not hurt, consecutive walks could disrupt the team's rhythm and drain their fighting spirit.
Furthermore, a team that habitually walks the third and fourth batters is unlikely to be strong enough to win consistently.
Their mentality would suffer, and they'd risk being mocked for their overly cautious approach.
One infamous example comes from a real-life Koshien tournament game years ago.
A team repeatedly walked the opponent's cleanup hitter in every at-bat.
Although they won that game, the relentless criticism they faced broke the players' spirits.
They lost the very next game, unable to handle the pressure.
That match, remembered as a "shameful strategy," left a lasting impression on everyone.
Therefore, while intentional walks can be an effective tool, they must be used judiciously and sparingly.
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