As the quarterfinals approach, all necessary preparations are essentially complete.
Strategic plans, tactical guidance, and player analysis for the eight teams have been finalized.
Now, everything depends on the players' performance on the field and the strategic decisions of their head coaches.
Tomorrow's four quarterfinal matches will determine the final four teams, with each ga being a decisive showdown.
At the hotel where Seidou High School was staying.
In the usual eting room, the Seidou team had gathered for a pre-match eting.
Over the past two days, they had focused their training on Ikuei High School.
The players thoroughly morized details about Ikuei's roster, with the batters practicing against simulations of Ikuei's pitching duo, and the pitchers preparing for Ikuei's unique batting characteristics.
Given Seidou's strong batting lineup, their preparations had been incredibly precise.
Now, it was ti for Coach Kataoka to deliver the final tactical instructions and announce the starting lineup.
"These are the key points to rember for tomorrow's ga against Ikuei High School. Make sure you commit them to mory. Understood?" Coach Kataoka said in a firm tone.
"Yes!" the Seidou first-string players responded loudly in unison.
"Compared to Seihou High, Ikuei's batting lineup is indeed less formidable, but that's no reason for our pitchers to let their guard down. This match requires a stable and consistent performance. That is the key to victory."
"Next, I'll announce the starting lineup for tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, most of the players in the room remained calm.
Seidou's starting positions were largely set in stone.
Unlike previous seasons, when uncertainty surrounded various positions, this team—comprising mostly third-years—had fixed over 80% of the starting spots.
Unless injuries occurred or a player's performance declined significantly, there was little chance for substitutes to break into the lineup.
Knowing this, the players who weren't starters had no expectations and showed no visible reactions.
The one variable, however, was the pitching rotation.
Coach Kataoka's adjustnts almost always centered around the pitchers.
This ti, as Coach Kataoka made his announcent, the pitchers—Furuya, Tanba, and Kawakami—revealed subtle expressions of hope.
None of them had yet pitched on the grand stage of Koshien, and while they kept their thoughts to themselves, it was clear they all aspired to take the mound.
The only one who appeared completely unbothered was Eijun, who sat calmly with his lips pressed together, showing no particular reaction.
It wasn't that he was confident he would start; rather, he already knew from yesterday's training that he wouldn't be the starting pitcher for this ga.
In fact, there was a high chance he wouldn't pitch at all unless necessary.
Eijun understood the reasons behind this decision.
First, while Ikuei's batting lineup was undeniably strong and nationally renowned, it wasn't at the very top level.
Even though Eijun had watched Ikuei's ga footage repeatedly over the past two days, he couldn't shake an inexplicable sense of unease.
However, he had to admit that the source of this discomfort likely wasn't their batting lineup.
What was it, then?
Perhaps he would only understand once he stepped onto the field.
Second, Eijun had pitched in two consecutive gas.
With the semifinals and finals still ahead, managing his fatigue was crucial.
Whether or not he would take the mound tomorrow depended entirely on how the ga unfolded.
If Seidou's pitchers could maintain control, he wouldn't be needed.
But if a crisis arose, he would undoubtedly step in.
That said, not being able to pitch left Eijun feeling a bit stifled.
For a pitcher, the mound is where they always yearn to be.
Lastly, there was an unspoken reason that Eijun also understood.
Though Coach Kataoka hadn't ntioned it explicitly, this decision was partly a consequence of Eijun's actions in the previous ga. It wasn't exactly a punishnt but more of a warning.
Youthful exuberance is understandable, but as a coach, Kataoka felt it necessary to send a ssage.
A pitcher must be confident but never arrogant.
That one pitch Eijun threw—while justifiable—was also sowhat unnecessary.
It wasn't clear whether it stemd from arrogance, but there was certainly a degree of recklessness.
Kataoka had noticed, and this starting lineup decision carried a subtle warning.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Sawamura couldn't help feeling a bit lancholic.
Nearby, Miyuki seed to sense Eijun's emotions. Turning his head, he flashed a mischievous grin that only made Eijun more exasperated.
This Miyuki-senpai… what a tease!
"Other starters remain unchanged. Batting seventh, left fielder, Sawamura. Batting eighth, starting pitcher, Tanba. Furuya and Kawakami, be ready to take the mound at any mont. Understood?"
As expected, in the very next mont, Coach Kataoka announced the starting lineup, and Eijun was once again assigned to left field.
However, the starting pitcher wasn't Furuya but rather Tanba, which ca as a slight surprise to Eijun.
That said, it was understandable.
After all, Tanba's skills are well-established.
While there's still a significant gap when compared to top-tier pitchers, after overcoming his ntal hurdles, Tanba is now, as Coach Kataoka put it, capable of performing at the level required for the national tournant.
Another reason for this decision, naturally, is that Tanba, as a third-year ace, holds a special position on the team.
As long as his performance ets the standard, Coach Kataoka is willing to give Tanba the opportunity.
Deep down, Coach Kataoka is a sentintal person, but only if the player's skills are up to par.
Under equal conditions, Coach Kataoka might favor sentint, but without the requisite ability, he would never grant such opportunities.
"Understood!" Eijun and the others responded loudly, and Tanba, in particular, couldn't hide the excitent on his face. It had been a long ti since he last took the mound as a starting pitcher.
For Tanba, this was a rare opportunity, one he was determined to seize.
This sumr, he had at most three gas left.
He wouldn't allow himself to have any regrets.
He was resolved to prove that he is the true ace of this team—not just soone wearing the ace number without the skills to back it up.
This was Tanba's determination!
On the other hand, while Eijun himself felt sowhat frustrated about being sent to left field instead of starting on the mound, there was another third-year player who shared in the frustration—Ichirou Sakai, the team's left fielder wearing jersey number 7.
His reason was simple: every ti Eijun wasn't starting on the mound, he almost always ended up playing left field.
This essentially ant that Eijun was "stealing" Sakai's spot.
In a team where even another third-year was competing for the sa position, Sakai had only managed to secure his starting spot thanks to his slightly better batting skills.
Unfortunately, this sumr, it felt like Eijun had played just as much left field as Sakai, if not more.
Occasionally, even Furuya would make a guest appearance in left field.
This left Sakai constantly wearing a gloomy expression.
Why did it feel like he had the lowest presence among all the starters?
Sakai let out a sigh, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and resignation.
Combined with his rather rugged features, his expression was sowhat intimidating.
As Seidou High finished their final preparations before the next match, on the other side, Ikuei High was also ready to go all out. In this do-or-die battle, Ikuei High aid to defeat Seidou High head-on.
Tomorrow, at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, eight teams, four matches.
A spectacular and passionate battle was about to begin!
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