Chapter 220: Facing Sawamura

Time flew to the end of April. In a training match against Kurotsuchikan High School a few days ago, because of Zaizen's injury, Kurotsuchikan's strength shrank significantly, and they were unable to mount an effective resistance against Seido's Second String.

In this match, Sawamura and Chris paired up for the first time, and their performance could be called perfect.

Furuya's pitching also perfectly suppressed the opponent's batting lineup, and Arima Kazusa and Kominato Haruichi each secured hits; the First Year quartet all had eye-catching performances in the training match, which made the coaching staff very satisfied.

This day, after Huangqian Yangyi finished defensive training and was just about to go to the Bullpen for pitching practice, Fujiwara Takako trotted up to him and said, "Yangyi, the Coach wants to see you."

"Okay."

Arriving at the Dugout, Coach Kataoka was chatting with Coach Ochiai about something.

"Coach."

"Hmm, Huangqian, you've been focusing on batting practice lately, right?" Coach Kataoka said.

Huangqian Yangyi nodded, "Yes, I've gotten used to the weighted bat."

Hearing this, Coach Kataoka stepped forward and squeezed Huangqian Yangyi's arms and shoulders, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile, "You have indeed gotten stronger."

"Starting today, stop pitching practice and let your shoulders rest properly until the Kanto Tournament."

"Oh, okay." Huangqian Yangyi responded obediently. Since the Spring Tournament ended, he had still been maintaining pitching practice and simulated live battles against First String starters every day. Although he didn't feel tired himself, looking at the Coach's expression, it was clear he was preparing to give his shoulders a break.

Patting Huangqian Yangyi on the shoulder, Coach Kataoka said, "During the Second String's pitching practice later, when it's Sawamura and Furuya's turn, you go up to bat."

"Me?" Huangqian Yangyi was very surprised. Pitching from these two, and he was going to hit? Wasn't he afraid of ruining the kids?

"Sawamura and Furuya's pitching has improved a lot recently. I want to see to what extent they can perform when facing you, and whether they have the guts to pitch," Coach Kataoka said.

Huangqian Yangyi understood; this was to see how these two little guys performed when facing a power hitter.

"BOSS, should we call Yuki-senpai along too?" Huangqian Yangyi felt the pressure from just one person wasn't enough for them, and immediately made a suggestion.

Coach Kataoka smiled, "I have already notified Yuki."

Uh...

It seemed the Coach really held high hopes for these two kids, starting them off against the two strongest hitters as opponents.

"Should I go easy on them?" Huangqian Yangyi asked.

Although he knew Coach Kataoka was doing this to see how Sawamura and Furuya would fare against a powerhouse, this could also directly crush their self-confidence.

"No need. If they are crushed by this kind of training, our Seido doesn't need pitchers with such poor mental fortitude," Coach Kataoka said expressionlessly.

Heh.

Huangqian Yangyi was truly speechless. Our Coach has also gotten carried away; little does he know that if it weren't for his own existence, Seido would really be counting on these two little guys.

Now with him, plus Kawakami whose strength was steadily improving under his influence, Seido really didn't need to worry about the pitching staff in the short term.

Less than half an hour later, the Second String's pitching practice began.

Huangqian Yangyi came onto the field, swinging his bat while waiting for Coach Kataoka to call him up.

"Huangqian, try this one."

Yuki Tetsuya walked over with a smile and handed over a bat. Huangqian Yangyi turned his head to look, then took it with some confusion.

Hmm??

So heavy!

"Captain! This of yours..."

"Didn't expect it, did you?" Yuki Tetsuya smiled. After learning that Huangqian Yangyi and Miyuki were using weighted bats, he had quietly ordered one for himself as well, and it was three times as heavy!

"Heh, Captain, your competitive spirit is quite strong," Huangqian Yangyi said with a helpless smile, swinging the bat in his hand a few times; the feel was actually not bad.

"You and Miyuki are both working so hard; if I didn't keep up, it wouldn't make sense," Yuki Tetsuya said.

"Well, Yuki-senpai, your batting is already so amazing. If you keep training like this, you'll definitely be able to become a professional player in the future."

Hearing this, Yuki Tetsuya smiled noncommittally. He hadn't considered much about what would happen after graduation; whether to go to university or enter professional baseball was a difficult choice.

Just then, Sawamura Eijun's pitching and batting practice began. The young man walked to the position full of confidence, and before he could say a few lines of bravado, Coach Kataoka on the side suddenly shouted, "Huangqian, Yuki, you two come over to bat!"

"What!" Sawamura turned his head and looked at Coach Kataoka in surprise.

"Hey hey, no way, you're actually going to let the Captain and Huangqian hit?"

"Sawamura is done for."

"I bet on three home runs! Three each!"

"What a pitiful kid."

"What's pitiful about it? Do you think just anyone can get this kind of treatment? This is the Coach valuing him."

The Second String teammates all started discussing with those around them when they saw this scene.

Huangqian Yangyi and Yuki Tetsuya came to Coach Kataoka's side. The two reached out their hands in tacit agreement, "Rock, paper, scissors!"

"I won! I'm hitting first!" Huangqian Yangyi said triumphantly.

Yuki Tetsuya shrugged indifferently. The two's casual demeanor made Sawamura so angry that smoke was coming out of his head. Was his pitching that easy to hit? To look down on him like this!

"Hehe, little Sawamura, do your best," Huangqian Yangyi said to Sawamura as he stood in the Batter's Box.

"Aniki! I won't lose to you!" After saying that, Sawamura trotted to his position.

He had seen how powerful Huangqian Yangyi's batting was, but why, why did the Coach want them to hit his pitches?

Could it be? Because he was too strong? That there were no more opponents in the Second String? That the Coach wanted to promote him to the First String?

Was this a test?

Yeah! It's possible!

Sawamura's simple train of thought had actually guessed it roughly right.

Consequently, Sawamura got excited, and even his hand holding the ball trembled slightly. Could he make it to the First String? Could he participate in matches?

Ehehe~

"What are you laughing at? Hurry up and pitch!"

Huangqian Yangyi was holding his bat and getting ready, but it turned out this kid Sawamura was actually standing opposite him giggling.

"Oh, oh, okay!"

Regaining his senses, Sawamura spread his arms, looked up at the sky, and took deep, heavy breaths.

He was a little nervous; the Batter was Huangqian Yangyi, and there was no Catcher, so he felt very uncertain.

Calming the nervousness and excitement in his heart, Sawamura looked toward home plate, deciding to throw an Inside Fastball first to test things out.

Sawamura remembered Chris saying that as a left-handed Pitcher, when facing a right-handed Batter, a Fastball jammed diagonally into the Batter's chest was very threatening.

Decided, that's how he would throw it!

From Huangqian Yangyi's perspective, Sawamura slowly lifted his right leg, and his arm rose as well.

Whoosh!

The baseball flew out!

Huangqian Yangyi's gaze remained fixed on Sawamura's left arm; the release point was indeed difficult to gauge.

Even though the ball speed was under 140 kilometers, with this pitching form, the feeling for the Batter was that the ball was significantly faster than it actually was.