Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 313: Personnel and Disputes

On the field, as everyone was immersed in intense training, a serious discussion was taking place just outside the dugout.

"Coach Ochiai, what are your thoughts?" Coach Kataoka finally spoke, breaking the silence.

"Heh, for most of the positions, I think your arrangements are spot on, Coach Kataoka. However, regarding some of the starting positions and the provisional batting order, I do have a few suggestions and differing opinions," Ochiai replied with a slight squint, his smile unwavering.

"Are you referring to first base and the outfield?" Kataoka asked thoughtfully, instantly understanding Ochiai's implications.

After all, unlike players like Eijun, Miyuki, and Kuramochi, whose positions were firmly set, the remaining spots required careful reevaluation.

Kataoka knew this new coach would have his perspectives. Before Ochiai joined, Kataoka had taken extra time to research his background, particularly his coaching philosophy and approach to team management.

Seidou's fate had shifted, but Ochiai's core beliefs remained firm.

In the original timeline, it wasn't until later—after witnessing the transformations of Eijun and Maezono—that Ochiai's rigid approach softened somewhat. For now, as a newcomer to Seidou, his views were unlikely to waver easily.

Over the past two days, through observation and prior knowledge, Kataoka had gained a clearer understanding of the man he was working with.

"I don't think Maezono is suited for a starting role. While his power is impressive, he lacks control over it. His stance is unstable, and his technique is still rough. He has potential for the first-string, but as a starting first baseman? That needs further consideration," Ochiai remarked bluntly, leaving no room for ambiguity.

This was a formal discussion between two coaches about team configuration, and Ochiai took his responsibilities seriously.

Having signed a contract with a high salary, he saw it as his duty to use his expertise to mold Seidou into a championship-caliber team.

From his perspective, Maezono's strengths were evident, but his weaknesses were equally glaring.

"Regarding the outfield, I suggest we try placing Tojo Hideaki in center field and adjust his spot in the batting order further up. For left field, my recommendation is to assign it to both Sawamura and Furuya, alternating them during games. What do you think, Coach Kataoka? Aside from one substitute fielder, the position can rotate between those two. After all, we can't overlook their potential as batters, can we?" Ochiai proposed, his tone calm but confident.

"As for second and third base, there's no major issue with the current starters. However, I believe it would be better to switch Kominato and Tojo's batting positions," Ochiai continued, sharing his suggestions without reservation.

While Kataoka held the final authority as head coach, Ochiai saw value in asserting his presence and expertise.

Confident—perhaps even borderline arrogant—Ochiai believed his configurations were the best for Seidou.

Kataoka furrowed his brow slightly.

He had anticipated that Ochiai would have his own opinions but hadn't expected such a stark contrast.

His interactions with Ochiai so far had already revealed the man's proactive nature, but this level of decisiveness still caught him off guard.

"The idea of alternating left field is indeed worth considering. As for the other positions, we still have three practice games before the official tournament begins. Why don't we use those games to evaluate the players' performance and finalize the starting lineup and batting order? In the meantime, we'll focus on completing the roster for the first string. What do you think?" Kataoka suggested after careful thought, taking a step back to find common ground.

While he had his principles, Kataoka knew that since the school had brought in Ochiai as a coach, it was essential to respect his input to some extent—especially since some of Ochiai's suggestions were undeniably valid.

All of Ochiai's opinions were well-reasoned, based on thorough investigation and analysis.

Even though they differed from Kataoka's own considerations and judgment, there was no way Kataoka, as head coach, could dismiss them outright.

Ochiai's arguments were sound, after all.

Besides, Kataoka wasn't the kind of person to reject others' ideas out of hand.

The original series painted Kataoka as a passionate yet level-headed coach, and this scenario further emphasized that image.

Kataoka's response made Ochiai narrow his eyes slightly.

Truth be told, Ochiai had no doubts about Kataoka's ability. Results spoke for themselves—leading the team to Koshien and securing a championship was proof enough of Kataoka's competence.

However, in some areas, Ochiai saw Kataoka as overly idealistic or indecisive.

High school baseball was a fleeting experience, lasting only two and a half years, and compared to the professional world, it was far more brutal in its brevity.

Because of this, Ochiai prioritized practicality above all else. From the school's perspective, results were everything. Consequently, he found it difficult to understand some of Kataoka's decisions.

In Ochiai's eyes, certain choices felt overly sentimental, if not outright naive.

Take Maezono Kenta, for instance. Based on his early observations and a review of relevant data, Ochiai didn't see much potential in the player.

A second-year with raw power but no natural talent to wield it effectively didn't hold much value in his eyes.

Still, Ochiai recognized his position.

Kataoka was the head coach of a championship-winning team, and Ochiai was the newcomer with no established authority or achievements to his name.

It wasn't the right time to push too hard.

With that in mind, Ochiai paused briefly, then smiled.

"Alright, let's go with your plan, Coach Kataoka."

This marked the first strategic exchange between the two coaches, where both began to lay their cards on the table and reveal their philosophies.

For now, Kataoka's authority as the head coach ensured he retained the upper hand.

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