Chapter 331: The Arrival of Autumn

Two days later, the newly formed Seido First String welcomed their first practice game.

Seido High School vs. Meisen Academy High School.

Because of the promise made with Yang Shunchen, the arrangement of this practice game went very smoothly.

"Long time no see."

"Indeed. I had thought I would come to your Seido after the regional tournament ended, but I didn't expect to wait an extra month," Yang Shunchen said while shaking Huangqian Yangyi's hand.

"Good things are worth the wait. Today's practice game will be very interesting," Huangqian Yangyi said.

"I am looking forward to it."

Soon, the two teams gathered, and after a simple warm-up, the practice game began.

Top of the first inning, Meisen attacked first.

The starting lineup for Seido.

First batter, Shortstop, Kanemaru Shinji.

Second batter, Second Baseman, Kijima Mio.

Third batter, Right Fielder, Seki Naomichi.

Fourth batter, Pitcher, Furuya Satoru.

Fifth batter, Catcher, Ono Hiroshi.

Sixth batter, First Baseman, Yamaguchi Ken.

Seventh batter, Third Baseman, Higasa Shoji.

Eighth batter: Left Fielder, Asou Takeru.

Ninth batter: Center Fielder, Chuan Dao Qianwu.

Hmm?

Seeing this starting lineup, Huangqian Yangyi suddenly turned his head to look at the Coach.

Kanemaru Shinji! Shortstop!

"Coach, this, is there no mistake?" Huangqian Yangyi actually asked.

The corners of Coach Kataoka's mouth curled slightly, and then Ochiai Hiromitsu, who was stroking his mustache beside him, spoke up: "Kanemaru-kun has good vision, speed, and quick reactions; practicing the shortstop position also has a lot of promise."

At this time, Takashima Rei also said: "For the third base position, there is the third-year Higasa Shoji, as well as Arima Kazusa who is in the same year as Kanemaru; it won't be easy for Kanemaru-kun to compete for a position."

"Yes, a few days ago, Kanemaru came to me on his own initiative and said he wanted to switch to practicing shortstop; that is the reason he was able to enter the First String," Coach Kataoka said.

Hearing this, Huangqian Yangyi clicked his tongue a few times. This guy Kanemaru really has fighting spirit and perseverance; in order to be able to play in games, he didn't hesitate to change his position.

Hajikin, you guy!

Huangqian Yangyi stopped talking and looked at Kanemaru Shinji. He had to admit that he was smart; in the shortstop position, there were not many people among the First Years who could compete with him, and they were not as excellent as him.

Although Kuramochi's starting position was very stable, as long as one could enter the First String and become Kuramochi's substitute, there would always be opportunities to play.

On the opposing bench, seeing that Huangqian Yangyi was not playing, Meisen also did not send out Yang Shunchen. Having trained in Yang Shunchen's hands for another summer, the strength of the other Meisen players had also improved.

Without the ace playing, after 4 innings, the score against Seido reached 6:4, with Seido in the lead.

"Not bad, the people on your team have improved by a level compared to before," Huangqian Yangyi said, sitting beside Yang Shunchen while holding a sports drink.

After the game started, the two of them had left their respective teams to gather together and chat.

"Of course, although they don't have much talent, they are all working very hard," Yang Shunchen smiled slightly.

"It's a pity that you, this guy, are graduating and leaving this year," Huangqian Yangyi sighed. If Yang Shunchen could stay, next summer would definitely be even more spectacular.

"There is nothing to regret; I will come back in the future! I will enter professional baseball here! By then, we will still be opponents," Yang Shunchen said with full confidence, a white light flashing across his glasses.

Huangqian Yangyi was stunned for a moment, not expecting to hear such news today.

"Alright! I'll wait for you!"

The first practice game ended quickly, with Seido winning 13:8 over Meisen Academy.

After a half-hour break, the second game began. After making simple adjustments, Meisen turned their eyes to the opposite side; Seido's starting lineup had changed.

First batter, Shortstop, Kuramochi Yoichi.

Second batter, Second Baseman, Kominato Haruichi.

Third batter, Right Fielder, Shirasu Kenjiro.

Fourth batter, Third Baseman, Arima Kazusa.

Fifth batter, Catcher, Ono Hiroshi.

Sixth batter, First Baseman, Maezono Kenta.

Seventh batter, Left Fielder, Asou Takeru.

Eighth batter: Center Fielder, Tojo Hideaki.

Ninth batter: Pitcher, Eijun.

The game proceeded quickly, and after the second game ended, the score was 15:7.

Next, after a break, for the third game, the starting pitcher this time was Kawakami, the catcher was Miyuki, and the opposing Meisen also switched in their ace, Yang Shunchen.

The final score of the third game was 4:3, with Seido winning.

After three games, whether it was Seido or Meisen, the team members were all quite exhausted.

Until the evening, Yang Shunchen found Huangqian Yangyi full of resentment; he had been deceived, as this guy hadn't played a single day!

He had originally thought he could face him in the practice game, but it turned out this guy sat on the sidelines for the whole day.

"Hehe, don't be angry. Today was to train the underclassmen. Next time, there will be another chance. Let's have more exchanges in the future and have more practice games," Huangqian Yangyi, feeling in the wrong, hurriedly appeased Yang Shunchen.

Seeing Huangqian Yangyi's attitude, Yang Shunchen couldn't say anything else, only agreeing to have another practice game before the start of the Autumn Tournament proper.

In the following days, because there wasn't much time, Seido organized just one more practice game. All the First String members got the chance to play, and the Coach and staff clearly wanted to determine the team's starters and jersey numbers in this way.

Finally, before the Autumn Tournament Regional Qualifier, Coach Kataoka announced the jersey numbers for the players for this autumn in the meeting room.

Number 1, Pitcher, Huangqian Yangyi.

Number 2, Catcher, Miyuki Kazuya.

Number 3, First Baseman, Maezono Kenta.

Number 4, Second Baseman, Kominato Haruichi.

Number 5, Third Baseman, Arima Kazusa.

Number 6, Shortstop, Kuramochi Yoichi.

Number 7, Left Fielder, Asou Takeru.

Number 8, Center Fielder, Tojo Hideaki.

Number 9, Right Fielder, Shirasu Kenjiro.

Number 10, Pitcher, Kawakami Norifumi.

Number 11, Pitcher, Furuya Satoru.

Number 12, Pitcher, Sawamura Eijun.

Number 13, Catcher, Ono Hiroshi.

Number 14, First Baseman, Yamaguchi Ken.

Number 15, Second Baseman, Kijima Mio.

Number 16, Third Baseman, Higasa Shoji.

Number 17, Shortstop, Kanemaru Shinji.

After the jersey numbers were announced, Huangqian Yangyi held his number 1 ace jersey, feeling somewhat at a loss, because this time there was no Fujiwara Takako to sew the number on for him; it felt so strange!

"Yoshikawa-san, I'm sorry to trouble you."

The jersey number definitely had to be sewn on, and it had to be sewn by a beautiful girl!

Thus, Huangqian Yangyi found the new First Year Manager, Yoshikawa Haruno.

Although this girl was clumsy, needlework should still be within her capabilities.

"Eh? Huangqian-senpai, me?"

Being personally requested by the Captain and ace, Yoshikawa Haruno was truly at a loss, trembling all over from nervousness.

"Yes, it's you, sorry to trouble you."

"I will do my best!"

The young girl made a solemn promise as if she were heading to the battlefield.