Chapter 364: First Battle of Spring, Yongyuan High School

The Tokyo Spring Tournament, which is to say the regional tournament for the Tokyo area, has very low prestige compared to the Summer Tournament and Autumn Tournament that concern the right to participate in Koshien, and almost no teams take it seriously.

After all, the Spring Tournament only concerns the right to participate in the Kanto Tournament.

Furthermore, reaching the top 16 in the Spring Tournament grants a seeded spot for the Summer Tournament; in this regard, the major powerhouses still pay it some attention.

After all, if one carelessly fails to become a seeded team, it is possible to run into a top-tier powerhouse early in the Summer Tournament. In a single-elimination format, luck is also a part of winning; no one wants to encounter a strong enemy at the start, especially for teams like Seido and Inashiro that aim for the championship. It is naturally better if the path ahead is easier, as it allows for more strength to be reserved for later matches, or even the final.

Besides this, under normal circumstances, the major powerhouse teams in Tokyo do not value the Spring Tournament. The main players on the team can take this opportunity to recharge, especially those teams that competed in the Spring Koshien, as they are in even greater need of time to rest and adjust their physical condition.

With the main players sitting out, the substitute members of the First String get their chance to play.

Thus, the Spring Tournament has become the competition where the most major powerhouses suffer upsets; in one word: reckless.

Either they are training newcomers, testing new tactics, or integrating a new lineup; under such circumstances, it is not at all strange for a powerhouse to suffer an upset.

As for Seido, they are themselves a seeded team in the Spring Tournament and enter in the third round, skipping the low-level matches of the first and second rounds. By the third round, Inashiro, Shidai Sanko, Teito, and other strong schools join the fray, and the level of competition and entertainment value rise sharply.

In the third round of the Spring Tournament, Seido High School's opponent is a mediocre team in the Tokyo area, Yongyuan High School.

Of course, "mediocre" is relative to the fierce battleground of Tokyo; if placed elsewhere, Yongyuan High School would also be quite competitive.

The day before the third-round match, Friday, Seido High School Baseball Club conference room.

The 61 second and third-year students and 35 First Year students are all present.

In front of everyone, as the intelligence expert for the Seido Baseball Club, third-year Watanabe Hisashi is introducing all the intelligence data he has collected on Yongyuan High School.

"Good work, Watanabe," Huangqian Yangyi said with a nod.

Watanabe Hisashi smiled and gave a hum of acknowledgment; he was also very happy in his heart. His own strength was insufficient, but being able to help the team in this aspect was a great contribution.

After Watanabe Hisashi stepped down, Coach Kataoka came to the front to face everyone.

"For this match, not all the main players will start."

Upon hearing this, the 9 First String starters had no reaction; this was an expected matter.

"Although the opponent is not strong, the players taking the field must absolutely not underestimate them. As long as you stand on the field, you represent the Seido team, do you understand?!"

"Yes!! Coach!!"

Coach Kataoka nodded.

"Now, announcing tomorrow's starting lineup."

"First batter, Second Baseman, Kijima Mio."

"Second batter, First Baseman, Yamaguchi Ken."

"Third batter, Pitcher, Furuya Satoru."

"Fourth batter, Right Fielder, Huangqian Yangyi."

"Fifth batter, Shortstop, Kanemaru Shinji."

"Sixth batter, Catcher, Ono Hiroshi."

"Seventh batter, Left Fielder, Asou Takeru."

"Eighth batter, Third Baseman, Higasa Shoji."

"Ninth batter, Center Fielder, Sawamura Eijun."

"Boss, I'm playing too?"

Huangqian Yangyi had originally thought there was nothing for him to do, but it seems the Coach's determination to have him rack up home runs is quite strong.

One must know that in this Spring Koshien, Huangqian Yangyi averaged three home runs per game; his current home run count has already reached an astonishing 96. If he keeps racking them up like this, he will soon break 100.

"Do you want to rest?" Coach Kataoka asked.

"If possible..."

"Then you're playing; if you want to rest, just ask to be swapped out at any time," Coach Kataoka said.

Uh...

Huangqian Yangyi gave a bitter smile.

"Huangqian, we are all very much looking forward to the appearance of the 100th home run," Takashima Rei said with a smile.

"Is that so?"

Huangqian Yangyi turned his head to look at the others; whether they were the veterans of the second and third years or the newcomers of the First Year, they were all looking at him with expectant eyes.

"Although you took my position, I also really want to witness the birth of the 100th home run sooner," Shirasu, who was sitting behind him, said while patting Huangqian Yangyi on the shoulder.

In this era, a person with over 100 home runs in three years of high school has not yet appeared.

(In reality, Rintaro Sasaki, who joined the Stanford University baseball team this year in 2025, has 140 career home runs in high school; that guy is a real monster.)

"That's right, Captain, 100!"

"I want to see it too!"

"We must celebrate properly when the time comes!"

"We will do our best too!"

"Right, support the ace!"

Listening to the cheers of his teammates, Huangqian Yangyi finally realized the Coach's intention in insisting he play; it was not just to rack up home run counts, but also because as the Captain and ace, as long as he is on the field, the teammates' fighting spirit will always be maintained at its best state.

"I understand," Huangqian Yangyi nodded.

Against this opponent, Yongyuan High School, there is a very high probability that his 100th home run will come against this team.

The next day, match day.

For spectators in the Tokyo area, the Spring Tournament is quite friendly, as they can come to the venue to watch the games.

Moreover, in these third-round matchups, the major powerhouse teams will all make their appearances one after another. Except for the miserable office workers, this Saturday, any baseball fan would not miss the opportunity to come to the venue to watch.

Jingu No. 2 Stadium has Seido.

Fuchu Municipal Stadium has Teito.

Hachioji Stadium has Inashiro Industrial.

Or perhaps matches of other powerhouse teams; in any case, today every baseball stadium in Tokyo was filled with spectators.

"They're here, they're here!"

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh!!"

"Seido!!"

"Kings!!"

"Manager Kataoka!"

"Huangqian!!"

"Captain!"

"Miyuki!!"

Within the allotted time, the two teams, Seido High School and Yongyuan High School, walked out from the player tunnels on both sides of the dugouts.

This mountain-shaking, sea-roaring cheer made the players of Yongyuan High School swallow hard one by one, their complexions turning quite unsightly; the pressure brought upon them by this stadium, which felt like Seido's home field, instantly shattered the morale they had gathered before the match.

Suffocating!

Feeling the atmosphere at the venue, the players of Yongyuan High School found it hard to catch their breath.

Entering the dugout, Huangqian Yangyi loosened his shoulders and walked over to the side of Furuya Satoru, who was putting on his glove.