Wednesday evening.
After training, all the First-string players gathered in the Baseball Club's dedicated meeting room.
After several days of analysis and preparation, the coaching staff had already laid out Ichidai Third High School's overall situation and their corresponding countermeasures. Starting tomorrow, targeted practice would officially begin.
Before that, a meeting was held to ensure everyone had a clear understanding of the upcoming match.
It was also meant to boost morale.
West Tokyo had three nationally recognized powerhouses: Inashiro Industrial, Ichidai Third High School, and Seido High School.
For many years, not one hundred percent of the time, but at least ninety percent, these three teams had taken turns representing West Tokyo at Koshien. This was precisely how the three powerhouses earned their reputations.
Moreover, their strength was not limited to West Tokyo. All three schools had achieved impressive results at Koshien itself. Otherwise, they could never have become nationally renowned baseball powerhouses.
As the saying goes, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers.
Yet West Tokyo had three.
And they all had to fight for a single Koshien spot.
It was easy to imagine how delicate the relationship between these teams was. They were wary of one another, yet also looked down on one another.
That attitude naturally extended to the players.
They admired each other, compared themselves to each other, and at the same time, looked down on each other.
Knowing that the next match was against Ichidai Third High School, Coach Kataoka didn't even need to stir their fighting spirit. The players were already eager and fully engaged in preparation.
Before the coaches assigned specific training tasks, many players already knew which aspects they needed to focus on.
What defined a fated enemy?
What defined a sworn rival?
Frankly speaking, the players of Seido High School understood Ichidai Third High School better than they understood themselves.
Which players were on the opposing team?
What lineup would they send out against Seido?
What tactics and formations would they likely use?
Coach Kataoka didn't need to explain any of this. Many of the second and third-year players already knew it by heart.
If there was anyone unfamiliar with these details, it was probably only the two first-year newcomers, Zhang Han and Miyuki.
Aside from them, the rest of Seido's First-string had deep-rooted feelings toward Ichidai Third High School's players, tactics, and Director.
Of course, it wasn't love or friendship.
It was hatred.
Just thinking about their loss to Ichidai Third High School in the Spring Tournament made the Seido players, especially the second and third-year upperclassmen, wish they could tear flesh from their opponents.
In the meeting room, Coach Kataoka discussed Ichidai Third High School in detail. Most of it was old information, but one thing stood out.
Ichidai Third High School's two newly promoted first-year players. Hoshida and Miyakawa, both graduates of Matsukata Senior League.
Both were freshmen, and both had been promoted to the First-string in their first year. Hoshida, in particular, had become the team's starting first baseman.
First base.
This was a position typically reserved for powerful hitters. Players without real ability could not hold it. At Ichidai Third High School, it was even more unbelievable for a newcomer to directly occupy this role.
"Three games, three hits, two home runs. An on-base percentage of fifty percent. Not at all like a newcomer. He's from Matsukata Senior League, and his defensive fundamentals are also very solid."
As Takashima Rei introduced Hoshida's data, there was even a faint tremor in her voice.
Clearly, she also found it hard to believe that a first-year player could produce such numbers.
Then, thinking of Zhang Han on their own team, Takashima Rei couldn't help but wonder if all players from Matsukata Senior League were monsters.
When the third-year upperclassmen heard her introduction, many of them subconsciously turned to look at Zhang Han.
At the same time, in Ichidai Third High School's baseball club strategy room, a similar scene was playing out.
Their situation mirrored Seido's. Just as Seido understood Ichidai Third High School, Ichidai Third High School also knew Seido inside and out.
By comparing Seido's recent game footage with their Spring Tournament performance, the differences were immediately apparent.
The biggest change lay in the two first-year newcomers.
Miyuki Kazuya and Zhang Han.
Miyuki had perfectly filled Chris's vacancy, preventing Seido from declining after suffering a major setback. Their styles were very similar, to the point that Miyuki could almost be considered another Chris.
One was injured, and another stepped in.
At most, Seido's overall strength neither increased nor decreased.
But now, Seido High School's strength had clearly risen, especially in terms of offense. The media even called them the strongest offensive team in all of Tokyo.
Ichidai Third High School, which believed its own offense was number one, naturally disagreed with that assessment.
Still, they had to admit that Seido's offensive power had indeed grown significantly.
And the most critical factor behind this change was Zhang Han.
Two home runs, two walks, and several other hits.
Overall, his on-base percentage reached sixty-five percent, and his batting average exceeded fifty percent.
Such terrifying numbers made it impossible for Ichidai Third High School not to take him seriously.
When Ichidai Third High School discussed Seido, the conversation quickly centered on Zhang Han.
Although the team had past dealings with him, most ordinary players were unaware of the details. As a result, their attention focused on the two freshmen.
Hoshida and Miyakawa.
Hoshida wasn't very good with words. He scratched his head and, after a long pause, finally managed to squeeze out a single sentence.
"Zhang-san… he's very strong."
The Ichidai Third High School players nearly rolled their eyes.
Wasn't that obvious? If he weren't strong, why would they all be gathered here?
Miyakawa stepped forward to explain.
"Zhang-san is different from us. He was already a starter for Matsukata in his first year. Back then, he was a pitcher. Even when he wasn't pitching, he played the outfield. Now that he's no longer pitching and his defensive position has changed, we don't really know what his current level is."
The mood in the room grew heavier.
From Miyakawa's words, it sounded like Zhang Han's strength might have undergone a complete transformation after joining Seido.
If that was true, they would need to reassess his current ability entirely.
Just as the Ichidai Third High School players were feeling uneasy, Miyakawa, as if catching his breath, added one more sentence.
"But upperclassmen, don't worry too much. Zhang-san also has weaknesses."
At the same time, in Seido High School's meeting room, Zhang Han said something very similar.
"Hoshida, that big gorilla, isn't as strong as everyone thinks."
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