The new students of the Seido High School Baseball Team had a very tough start.
Because they had just entered high school, their physical condition and stamina were still at middle school level. In the initial stages, all the practice arranged for the new students was focused on fundamental training.
Running, stretching, frog jumps.
Sounds varied, doesn't it?
But in reality, these sessions were very monotonous and very hard.
As a baseball player, what did it feel like to not even touch a ball during practice?
Especially while watching the upperclassmen, the First String and second team players, doing simulated game practice and hitting drills every day.
With such a stark contrast, how would the new students feel?
Many of them, after more than two weeks, wondered if they had come to the wrong place.
Had they really joined the Baseball Club? Not the track and field club? Not a marathon training program?
There was indeed someone on the baseball team running marathons. A player named Sawamura Eijun, because he had previously offended the coach, was not allowed to touch a ball during practice. He couldn't even do other physical exercises with the rest of the group.
No frog jumps, no push-ups, no stretching with the other players.
He had only one practice, and that was running.
Over an hour in the morning. Over two hours in the afternoon.
Although he was allowed to rest in between, those who paid attention had been keeping track of his daily totals.
All of them exceeded thirty kilometers.
Thirty kilometers was almost the length of a full marathon.
Later, after asking their upperclassmen, the new students learned that this kind of start was standard. Only those with exceptionally outstanding talent might be promoted to the First String early.
Zhang Han and Miyuki the previous year, for example.
Everyone else, during the Spring Tournament period, could only do this kind of training.
They accepted their fate.
Perhaps all prestigious schools were like this.
Since this was the rule of the Seido High School Baseball Team, the new players had no choice but to follow it.
However, all of this changed significantly after the Seido players returned from watching the Yakushi game.
Coach Kataoka, in a moment of uncharacteristic generosity, allowed the new students to touch baseballs during practice.
He even let them do a set number of hitting drills.
"This batch of new students is too favored!"
Several second and third-year upperclassmen were extremely envious when they saw this. Why had they only gotten monotonous physical training back then, while these new students were already being given a chance to show their ability in practice?
The new students might not have fully understood what this meant. But for the older players of the Seido High School Baseball Team, they all knew exactly what it meant to have new students included in practice.
How did the Seido High School Baseball Team select First String and second team players?
One way was performance in practice games. The other was performance in daily practice.
Players who performed well in practice games received priority for promotion. Beyond that, every time players practiced, whether hitting, fielding, or base running, the coaching staff had assistant coaches specifically recording data.
These assistant coaches often seemed to have a quiet presence, but they played a very important role. Pay attention and you could find them everywhere.
They meticulously recorded each player's performance during practice.
These results were compiled into reports and submitted to Coach Kataoka.
So even when Coach Kataoka couldn't personally monitor the second team and third team practices, he remained very clear on how everyone was performing.
He could see who was in good form recently and whose strength had improved.
Outstanding players would ultimately be selected for the second team.
Joining the second team also meant being able to play practice games, and those results were compiled separately.
This was the most important data for a player seeking promotion to the First String.
On the surface, a player's promotion to the First String required only a word from the coach.
But in reality, the process was rigorous. Even Zhang Han and Miyuki, who had advanced early, had generally followed this path.
In the recent history of the Seido High School Baseball Team, only one true exception had occurred.
That exception was among the current first-year players.
Only he, after throwing just one pitch, had been directly promoted to the First String.
Having the new students participate in daily practice also meant they had joined the candidate pool.
Not only did the veteran second and third team players have complaints. Some First String players were also uneasy.
"These young ones are still too green. Isn't it too early to bring them in now?"
Isashiki Jun was genuinely puzzled, wondering why the always strict coach would do this.
"The coach has his reasons. We just need to follow his lead."
Yuuki, the captain, as always, stood by the coach's decision.
"Upperclassman, there's nothing wrong with this. Fresh blood keeps everyone more motivated, doesn't it?"
Miyuki Kazuya seemed to be enjoying the situation.
"You were promoted to the First String the moment you joined the baseball team. You never went through the normal process at all. How can you understand what the guys in the second team are thinking?"
Isashiki Jun shot back, clearly frustrated.
It wasn't about getting less. It was about fairness.
When dividing things, players didn't complain about getting a smaller share. They complained when the division felt unequal.
Everyone was the same kind of player. Why did this batch of new students get more opportunities than others had at the same stage?
When there was a sense of unfairness, complaints were understandable.
"Zhang Han, what do you think?"
Kominato Ryosuke asked with a smile.
The way he said the name felt oddly familiar, and it gave Zhang Han a small pang of nostalgia. Someone had called him that before, but he couldn't place who.
"I think the coach was probably provoked."
As soon as Zhang Han said that, everyone's expression shifted to one of understanding.
It was indeed quite provoking.
The Yakushi High School Baseball Team, with three first-year players in their lineup, had torn five runs from the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team.
The pitcher named Sanada had certainly performed excellently. But what had ultimately enabled Yakushi to win were those three first-year hitters.
Especially Raichi Todoroki.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they never would have believed that a first-year player existed whose hitting ability was not inferior to Zhang Han's.
"That swing was something else."
"But we are not Yakushi. Even if we searched through all the new players this year, it would be very difficult..."
To find three players like that.
Isashiki Jun didn't finish the sentence, but everyone understood.
"That's not necessarily true. Among our new players this year, there are also quite a few very impressive characters."
************************************
Upto 50 Chapters In Advance At: P@treon/Vividreader123