The impassioned speech from the newly appointed captain, Miyuki Kazuya, reverberated throughout the field, igniting the hearts of everyone present.
Players, spectators, and even reporters felt the unyielding spirit of a reigning champion emanating from Seidou High School's baseball team.
"Truly, as expected from Miyuki-senpai," murmured Eijun, a faint smile playing on his lips as he watched Miyuki's rare solemn deanor.
"Alright! Let's begin today's training!"
"Yes!"
"Warm up first! Keep in formation and shout loud!"
"One, two! One, two!"
Seidou's journey forward as reigning champions left no room for complacency. Driven by past regrets and unfazed by past glories, the team recognized their shortcomings and acknowledged the strength of their opponents.
Step by step, they were determined to ascend the peak once again, defending their hard-earned title.
This assembly of the new team had turned into a declaration of their ambition for the upcoming autumn tournant.
The intensity radiating from Seidou was palpable to all onlookers.
"Seidou truly is a terrifying team," comnted Akiko, a familiar face at Seidou and a dedicated reporter for Baseball Kingdom. Her eyes lingered on Miyuki and Eijun as she spoke.
"A strong team isn't just built on talented players," said Fujio, waving his fan thoughtfully. "What really matters is the soul of the team. That's the true legacy of a powerhouse school. The spirit passed down through generations is what sustains their dominance."
Akiko tilted her head in confusion. "Eh? I don't really get it..."
Fujio shook his head with a wry smile. "This girl... great at her job but still clueless about certain things," he thought.
"Just make sure you get good photos," he reminded her.
"Of course! Leave it to !" Akiko clenched her fist confidently.
"The new team is built around Sawamura and Miyuki. With the batting lineup weakened this season, the team's success will heavily depend on these two," Fujio muttered, eyes narrowing as he watched the players train.
Defensively, Seidou seed solid, but the lack of a powerful cleanup lineup posed a critical challenge.
The departure of three core batters was not easily redied.
Moreover, Fujio recalled his recent visit to Inashiro Industrial for an interview.
The atmosphere there was intense, with the team already hitting their stride in joint training.
Inashiro had retained most of their core players, and their ace pitcher, Narumiya i, had only grown more formidable since the grueling sumr tournant.
His evolution into an even more mature and dominant player was a daunting prospect for Seidou and the entire Tokyo region.
"Hey, hey, Fujio-senpai, do you think Seidou can win the autumn tournant again?" Akiko asked eagerly while snapping photos.
"Win, huh?" Fujio's gaze grew distant and contemplative.
"Maybe," he replied thoughtfully.
"Maybe? What kind of answer is that, Fujio-senpai? Hey, are you even listening?" Akiko's voice trailed off as Fujio continued observing the spirited Seidou players, lost in thought.
Ignoring Akiko's murmuring beside him, Fujio fixed his gaze on the dugout, where Coach Kataoka and Coach Ochiai stood.
If Seidou High School wanted to succeed this autumn, beyond the performance of its pitcher-catcher core, the key factor would be how much Ochiai, the newly appointed coach, could transform the team.
Equally critical was what kind of brilliant strategies and tactical decisions Coach Kataoka, who had just led Seidou to the pinnacle of victory, would deliver.
This autumn was shaping up to be a season of intense competition.
The question lingering in everyone's minds was: Who will erge victorious in the end?
On the field, the Seidou players continued their energetic warm-up drills, their chants loud and powerful. As the scene unfolded before the onlookers, a single thought echoed in their minds:
Can the champions rise once again and defend their glory at the top?
By evening, the first joint training session began.
Since it was the first day for the newly ford team, there were no high-intensity drills or exercises requiring strong teamwork.
Under Kataoka's instructions, all 20 first-string players focused on basic training to help them get familiar with each other.
No matter who eventually secured a starting spot, the minimum requirent was for everyone to develop a certain level of understanding and teamwork with their fellow players.
After all, even the most talented player wouldn't be able to perform on the field without teamwork. Baseball, at its core, was a sport that required nine players to work in unison to win.
Once the basic training concluded, players moved on to individual practice, including free batting and fielding exercises based on their personal preferences.
Coach Kataoka and Coach Ochiai still needed to discuss and finalize detailed joint training plans.
Among all the players, Eijun's practice drew the most attention.
Having taken on the responsibility of wearing the prestigious No. 1 jersey, Eijun had beco the undeniable core of Seidou both symbolically and in practice.
His outstanding and remarkable performance during the sumr tournant had already captivated countless fans.
Now, the questions on everyone's mind were: Can Eijun surpass his sumr performance this autumn? Has he recovered from the exhaustion of the sumr tournant?
Every movent he made now pulled at the heartstrings of many.
After all, this was the ace pitcher who had led Seidou to the national championship and earned fa across the country.
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