บท 226: [226] Starting Lineup Arrangement
Chapter 226: Starting Lineup Arrangement
As the quarterfinals approach, all necessary preparations are essentially complete.
Strategic plans, tactical guidance, and player analysis for the eight teams have been finalized.
Now, everything depends on the players' performance on the field and the strategic decisions of their head coaches.
Tomorrow's four quarterfinal matches will determine the final four teams, with each game being a decisive showdown.
At the hotel where Seidou High School was staying.
In the usual meeting room, the Seidou team had gathered for a pre-match meeting.
Over the past two days, they had focused their training on Ikuei High School.
The players thoroughly memorized details about Ikuei's roster, with the batters practicing against simulations of Ikuei's pitching duo, and the pitchers preparing for Ikuei's unique batting characteristics.
Given Seidou's strong batting lineup, their preparations had been incredibly precise.
Now, it was time for Coach Kataoka to deliver the final tactical instructions and announce the starting lineup.
"These are the key points to remember for tomorrow's game against Ikuei High School. Make sure you commit them to memory. Understood?" Coach Kataoka said in a firm tone.
"Yes!" the Seidou first-string players responded loudly in unison.
"Compared to Seihou High, Ikuei's batting lineup is indeed less formidable, but that's no reason for our pitchers to let their guard down. This match requires a stable and consistent performance. That is the key to victory."
"Next, I'll announce the starting lineup for tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, most of the players in the room remained calm.
Seidou's starting positions were largely set in stone.
Unlike previous seasons, when uncertainty surrounded various positions, this team—comprising mostly third-years—had fixed over 80% of the starting spots.
Unless injuries occurred or a player's performance declined significantly, there was little chance for substitutes to break into the lineup.
Knowing this, the players who weren't starters had no expectations and showed no visible reactions.
The one variable, however, was the pitching rotation.
Coach Kataoka's adjustments almost always centered around the pitchers.
This time, as Coach Kataoka made his announcement, the pitchers—Furuya, Tanba, and Kawakami—revealed subtle expressions of hope.
None of them had yet pitched on the grand stage of Koshien, and while they kept their thoughts to themselves, it was clear they all aspired to take the mound.
The only one who appeared completely unbothered was Eijun, who sat calmly with his lips pressed together, showing no particular reaction.
It wasn't that he was confident he would start; rather, he already knew from yesterday's training that he wouldn't be the starting pitcher for this game.
In fact, there was a high chance he wouldn't pitch at all unless necessary.
Eijun understood the reasons behind this decision.
First, while Ikuei's batting lineup was undeniably strong and nationally renowned, it wasn't at the very top level.
Even though Eijun had watched Ikuei's game footage repeatedly over the past two days, he couldn't shake an inexplicable sense of unease.
However, he had to admit that the source of this discomfort likely wasn't their batting lineup.
What was it, then?
Perhaps he would only understand once he stepped onto the field.
Second, Eijun had pitched in two consecutive games.
With the semifinals and finals still ahead, managing his fatigue was crucial.
Whether or not he would take the mound tomorrow depended entirely on how the game unfolded.
If Seidou's pitchers could maintain control, he wouldn't be needed.
But if a crisis arose, he would undoubtedly step in.
That said, not being able to pitch left Eijun feeling a bit stifled.
For a pitcher, the mound is where they always yearn to be.
Lastly, there was an unspoken reason that Eijun also understood.
Though Coach Kataoka hadn't mentioned it explicitly, this decision was partly a consequence of Eijun's actions in the previous game. It wasn't exactly a punishment but more of a warning.
Youthful exuberance is understandable, but as a coach, Kataoka felt it necessary to send a message.
A pitcher must be confident but never arrogant.
That one pitch Eijun threw—while justifiable—was also somewhat unnecessary.
It wasn't clear whether it stemmed from arrogance, but there was certainly a degree of recklessness.
Kataoka had noticed, and this starting lineup decision carried a subtle warning.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Sawamura couldn't help feeling a bit melancholic.
Nearby, Miyuki seemed to sense Eijun's emotions. Turning his head, he flashed a mischievous grin that only made Eijun more exasperated.
This Miyuki-senpai… what a tease!
"Other starters remain unchanged. Batting seventh, left fielder, Sawamura. Batting eighth, starting pitcher, Tanba. Furuya and Kawakami, be ready to take the mound at any moment. Understood?"
As expected, in the very next moment, Coach Kataoka announced the starting lineup, and Eijun was once again assigned to left field.
However, the starting pitcher wasn't Furuya but rather Tanba, which came as a slight surprise to Eijun.
That said, it was understandable.
After all, Tanba's skills are well-established.
While there's still a significant gap when compared to top-tier pitchers, after overcoming his mental hurdles, Tanba is now, as Coach Kataoka put it, capable of performing at the level required for the national tournament.
Another reason for this decision, naturally, is that Tanba, as a third-year ace, holds a special position on the team.
As long as his performance meets the standard, Coach Kataoka is willing to give Tanba the opportunity.
Deep down, Coach Kataoka is a sentimental person, but only if the player's skills are up to par.
Under equal conditions, Coach Kataoka might favor sentiment, but without the requisite ability, he would never grant such opportunities.
"Understood!" Eijun and the others responded loudly, and Tanba, in particular, couldn't hide the excitement on his face. It had been a long time since he last took the mound as a starting pitcher.
For Tanba, this was a rare opportunity, one he was determined to seize.
This summer, he had at most three games left.
He wouldn't allow himself to have any regrets.
He was resolved to prove that he is the true ace of this team—not just someone wearing the ace number without the skills to back it up.
This was Tanba's determination!
On the other hand, while Eijun himself felt somewhat frustrated about being sent to left field instead of starting on the mound, there was another third-year player who shared in the frustration—Ichirou Sakai, the team's left fielder wearing jersey number 7.
His reason was simple: every time Eijun wasn't starting on the mound, he almost always ended up playing left field.
This essentially meant that Eijun was "stealing" Sakai's spot.
In a team where even another third-year was competing for the same position, Sakai had only managed to secure his starting spot thanks to his slightly better batting skills.
Unfortunately, this summer, it felt like Eijun had played just as much left field as Sakai, if not more.
Occasionally, even Furuya would make a guest appearance in left field.
This left Sakai constantly wearing a gloomy expression.
Why did it feel like he had the lowest presence among all the starters?
Sakai let out a sigh, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and resignation.
Combined with his rather rugged features, his expression was somewhat intimidating.
As Seidou High finished their final preparations before the next match, on the other side, Ikuei High was also ready to go all out. In this do-or-die battle, Ikuei High aimed to defeat Seidou High head-on.
Tomorrow, at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, eight teams, four matches.
A spectacular and passionate battle was about to begin!
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