章節 199: [199] Preparation and Decision

Chapter 199: Preparation and Decision

The matters concerning Komadai Fujimaki High School were soon left behind by Seidou High School's players.

Because the list of their next opponent had been revealed, and it was a formidable one.

So formidable, in fact, that no one on the Seidou team had the time or energy to think about Komadai Fujimaki High School anymore.

This time, their opponent was Seihou High School—one of the most widely acknowledged strongest teams this summer, and a top contender for the championship.

A team that boasted the monstrous slugger, Shuuzo Sano!

Representing Aichi Prefecture from the Tokai region, Seihou High School was a team that embodied the spirit of relentless offense.

Their lineup revolved entirely around Shuuzo Sano, a monstrous batter whose career total home runs in high school had already reached 67, nearing the 70 mark.

In the world of professional baseball, he was already seen as a top-tier prospect and was recognized as one of the strongest batters of the current era.

It seemed as though no pitcher of this era could throw a ball he couldn't hit.

In the original storyline, Shuuzo Sano had crushed last year's champions, the powerhouse team from Osaka—Kiryuu High School—on the summer Koshien stage.

He even hit a home run off Hiromi Tachi, Osaka Kiryuu's ace pitcher.

Although Seihou eventually lost to Inashiro Industrial High School, and Shuuzo Sano was struck out consecutively by Narumiya Mei, this did not diminish his incredible strength.

Moreover, the fact that Narumiya Mei struck out Sano, while Yuuki took a hit off Narumiya, didn't necessarily mean Yuuki was better than Sano.

Baseball is not a sport where comparisons can be drawn so simply.

Besides, in the original storyline, Narumiya Mei had grown significantly stronger after defeating Seidou High School, fueled by Yuuki's critical hit.

In short, Shuuzo Sano was a terrifyingly strong player. While it might not be fair to call him the absolute best batter, he was undoubtedly one of the top three batters of the current era.

Facing a lineup led by such a formidable player was a significant challenge for Seidou High School's pitchers and defenders.

This was going to be a tough battle, where the slightest mistake could lead to Seidou's defeat.

In the original storyline, Narumiya Mei was able to suppress Seihou High School's batting lineup.

But this didn't mean Seidou's pitchers could do the same.

Especially for Eijun, despite Seidou's victory against Inashiro Industrial in the regional finals, that win was hard-fought and even owed partly to a bit of luck.

Eijun was well aware of the gap between himself and Narumiya.

The difference was evident—Eijun's control wasn't as precise, his pitching speed wasn't as fast, and his mastery of breaking balls wasn't at Narumiya's level of effortless command.

The only edge Eijun had was his unique quirk pitches and his pitching motion.

But in terms of overall skill, Narumiya still outclassed him.

This realization was the source of Eijun's anxiety when he learned that their next opponent was Seihou High School.

To defeat Seihou, it was essential to suppress Shuuzo Sano.

This was a non-negotiable condition.

Moreover, even Inashiro Industrial had to wait until the bottom of the eighth inning to score two crucial runs off Seihou High School's ace pitcher to secure victory.

By comparison, the difficulty for Seidou High School to break through this ace pitcher was expected to be just as formidable.

Seidou High School's scouting team sprang into action, while the coaching staff deliberated over strategies for the upcoming game, including player rotations, strategic focuses, and tactical approaches. Everything needed to be meticulously planned.

A battle of strong batting lineups and solid defenses.

This was likely to be a game where a single run could decide the outcome. No mistakes could be afforded by Seidou High School, especially in the crucial role of the pitcher.

Of course, given Seidou High School's current roster, their options were somewhat limited.

On the evening of August 14th, at their lodging ahead of the game, Seidou High School held their usual pre-game meeting.

When it comes to devising tactics against Seihou High School and figuring out how to handle Shuuzo Sano, these are critical points.

Against a team like Seihou, it's crucial to control the pace of the game. Taking calculated risks is unavoidable. At the very least, Seidou High School cannot afford to be weaker than Seihou in offensive intensity.

Seihou High School is a team that excels at leveraging any small advantage and amplifying it to an overwhelming degree.

Their offensive waves come relentlessly, one after another, leaving their opponents struggling to catch their breath.

The first inning will be crucial. Unlike regular games, even if Seidou temporarily cedes the initiative, as long as the disadvantage isn't too significant, they stand a good chance of turning the game around.

But Seihou High School is different.

Once they seize control and their momentum builds, Seidou could face a total collapse. Avoiding this scenario is imperative.

Even if Seidou can't establish an advantage in the opening, maintaining a balanced game is acceptable.

In the usual conference room, the eighteen players of Seidou's first-string team sat quietly in their seats, their expressions solemn.

Not a single sound could be heard as everyone attentively listened to Chris's presentation on Seihou High School's overall strategy and their key players to watch out for.

"That concludes the information on their pitcher. As for the rest of Seihou High School's batting lineup, the details were distributed to everyone yesterday. I trust you've all reviewed them thoroughly," Chris said warmly.

He continued with a serious tone, especially addressing Eijun, Furuya, Tanba, and Kawakami. "Pay close attention to their pitchers and batting strategy. This lineup excels at using bunts to unsettle pitchers. When they can, they will go for aggressive plays, but when bunts are a viable option to advance the game, they won't hesitate to use them. Everyone in their lineup, aside from the cleanup hitter, is capable of executing bunts effectively."

The four pitchers nodded solemnly, their expressions grave.

"As for this player," Chris-senpai said, highlighting Shuuzo Sano, "he's the cornerstone of their team and the most crucial element. With 67 home runs in high school so far, he's a monstrous hitter. In terms of raw power, he's arguably the strongest among all Japanese high school players right now."

"What's even more frightening is his uncanny ability to read pitches and anticipate pitch types and trajectories. Any slight mistake in control will be punished severely. To deal with him, the most fundamental requirement is perfect control—there is zero room for error."

After finishing his explanation, Chris stepped aside.

Coach Kataoka then strode to the front, his sharp gaze sweeping over the players. Their posture straightened even further, and all eyes were firmly fixed on him.

"Seihou High School is famous for its aggressive offensive style. Against a team like this, we must not lose in terms of momentum. The initiative must never be handed over to them. Do you understand!?"

"Yes, sir!!!"

"For tomorrow's game, the starting lineup remains unchanged. As for the starting pitcher… Furuya, you'll take the mound!"

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