Ace of Diamond: Return of the Pitcher

Chapter 8: A Special In-Team Match

Seidou won the match against Sankou High, but it was not easy.

At the same time, the problem of their lack of pitchers was also exposed in this game.

“I think it is necessary to promote Sawamura-kun directly to the first string!” Just after the game ended, Takashima Rei proposed.

Ota, the President of the baseball club, also thought it would be more appropriate to transfer Sawamura to the First String when pitchers were insufficient.

Through this period of observation, they also had a clearer understanding of Sawamura’s strength.

‘What a genius!’

Mentality, technique, awareness, physical strength, endurance, defensive ability, vision…

As a pitcher, you can hardly fault Sawamura. (A/N: Sawamura’s previous life has been a professional player for more than ten years. If he can’t do this, he would have been eliminated in the cruel competition.)

In addition, Sawamura’s Batting Skills is also in demand.

Sawamura showed extraordinary talent in various batting practices and tests.

Of course, if they have to be picky, Sawamura is not without faults. For example, his physical strength is not very notable in this freshman year. (Why are most famous baseball players relatively macho? It is because they need strength. So strength is also one of the important indicators to measure a player.)

Generally speaking, a Famous school like Seidou would not choose a freshman as their main force. First, they are not up to standard yet, it is usually difficult for a freshman to adapt to the intensity and rhythm of high school competition.

But Sawamura is different!

Because his achievements with Akagi Middle School are very celebrated, and his experience and skills, he can become a very good main force even in the current Seidou team.

Kataoka nodded: “Go back and immediately announce that the first-year players will form a team tomorrow, and then compete with the second and third-year players.”

'An In-team match?'

Ota raised his head in astonishment and looked at Kataoka in disbelief.

“It’s not good. After all, they have just entered school and haven’t seen what real high school baseball is. It’s not good for the confidence they accumulated in middle school, it will be hit to the point of collapse.”

High school baseball and middle school baseball are two worlds in and of themselves.

A giant like Seidou has the strength to directly challenge the level of professional teams, and the gap between them and ordinary high schools is even more obvious.

It’s hard to imagine that Kataoka will make the first-year challenge the second and third years so quickly.

Without a doubt, it is simply a super-slaughterhouse, and freshmen will be blood-bathed.

“Our first string doesn’t need players who can’t show their strength in the face of harsh conditions.”

Takashima Rei is stricter than men when it comes to baseball.

The two sang in harmony, making Ota resist the urge to roll his eyes.

'But just to find a reason to take a step back, Coach Kataoka is too cruel to freshmen!'

When Sawamura was late, it was Kataoka who said that he would not promote Sawamura to the first string before summer. Let him train his physical fitness first, and wait for Chris to return from the United States.

Now to change the original decision, of course, he has to make a big decision.

It’s just that this decision is a little cruel to other freshmen.

“It’s time for Chris to come back before the Golden Week, right?” Ota suddenly changed the subject.

“Um!” Kataoka nodded, a trace of sadness flashed in his eyes, and there was still hope.

…

After Sawamura and the others returned to school, they were immediately informed of the ‘good news’ by the team management.

'Really!'

Sawamura knew in his heart that it seemed that the pitcher mound was about to select a newcomer.

Of course, the intention of Coach Kataoka to arrange this practice game is not just that.

When eating in the cafeteria in the evening, Kominato, Sawamura, and Furuya used to sit together.

Miyuki suddenly came over and sat across from them.

“You are really calm.”

Miyuki looked at Sawamura and said with a smile: “This is a good opportunity for you to take the mound. You know?”

Sawamura rolled his eyes at Miyuki and didn’t bother to pay attention to him.

Miyuki is so black-bellied, and there are traps everywhere in his words.

Sawamura admits that although his mental age is much older than Miyuki's, he is too pure and kind, so he doesn’t want to be tricked by this guy again.

So his principle is to cherish life and stay away from Miyuki.

Facing Sawamura’s silence, Miyuki didn’t take it seriously, he laughed, and he sat down calmly and prepared to eat.

At this time, Furuya Satoru, who was sitting next to Sawamura, suddenly looked at Miyuki seriously and asked, “In tomorrow’s game, I won’t let anyone hit my ball. In this case, can Miyuki-senpai catch my Pitching?”

'Ah?'

'Uh?'

Miyuki and Eijun looked up at Furuya in surprise.

The eyes of Kominato Haruichi hidden under the flowing hair were full of surprise.

'And now the air-headed boy has gone and done it!'

Sawamura hummed in his mind and quickly prepared to leave this place.

Unfortunately, he failed to do so.

The seniors of the second and third grades are angry!

Furuya Satoru's words were so challenging that it was like slapping them in the face. They can endure Sawamura’s arrogance, because Sawamura is only arrogant on the field, and they also want to teach him a lesson on the field.

But this Furuya Satoru is different.

“Hey, what did you say kid?”

“Don’t look in the mirror before you talk big.”

“What do you think this place is?”

Seeing the indignant seniors surrounding him, Sawamura felt helpless.

'What to do now?'

Of course, from his standpoint, whether it is in public or in private, he must help Furuya Satoru. They are all freshmen, and Furuya Satoru is his friend. How can he watch his friend being besieged and stand by?

This obviously doesn’t fit Sawamura’s personality.

But he also knew that this was Furuya’s fault. Not just in this school, but anywhere else, there is no reason for anyone to keep silent if the juniors take the initiative to provoke the seniors.

To help his friend and not help the seniors, or to help the seniors and not help his friends?

What should he do?

Just when Sawamura was in a dilemma, a voice rescued him.

“Don’t put on such an unsightly behavior, we are baseball players, so let’s decide the outcome on the field.”

This sentence successfully stopped the siege of the second and third-year seniors.

Sawamura breathed a sigh of relief and then looked at the speaker.

It’s Tanpa!

Also, his opponent is tomorrow.

Obviously, Tanpa’s prestige in the team is still very high.

With one sentence, the angry second and third graders who will play against them in the match tomorrow were silenced.

“Tomorrow’s game may be more interesting than I thought.”

The next day, the day of the in-team match.

In the morning, the class was normal, and at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, all the members of the baseball club gathered on the field, divided into two teams with different aura.

One is the older students in the second and third grades, and the other is the freshmen in the first year.

But before the game starts!

“As the saying goes, a bird can’t fly without a head. Shall we choose a coach first?”

The freshmen gathered together, and Sawamura said with a sign of doing his part.

…

T/N: This Chapter has been Revised.