<10> The Intrasquad Match

Chapter 10: The Intrasquad Match

Due to dissatisfaction with their ace pitcher's performance during games, Coach Kataoka decisively ordered two main pitchers be reassigned to the second string and initiated an intrasquad match.

This match involved second and third-year players competing against the first-years.

The slightly chubby Director Oota, rubbing his modest hairline, was deeply concerned.

"Isn't it too early to have these newcomers face off against the older players? Their hard-earned confidence and pride from junior high achievements might crumble…"

Even though he might not be an expert in baseball, Director Oota had watched countless matches between junior high players and their second-string team over the years as the Director of Seidou's baseball club.

Typically, the intrasquad match occurs two months after the new students enroll, a time when the third-years are about to leave, making it a fitting sendoff. Additionally, with the summer tournament approaching, the team can choose new talents from the freshmen. Even if there aren't any immediate standout players, they would pick one or two promising newcomers for focused development. This is a tradition in prestigious teams.

Holding the match so soon felt unfair to the newcomers who had just joined Seidou's baseball team and hadn't yet found their footing.

They hadn't even fully grasped what high school baseball entailed.

A woman with a well-defined figure adjusted her glasses and remarked in a cool tone, "It's in these situations that we identify players valuable to the team. If they can't perform on the field due to pressure, they wouldn't be of use to this Seidou team anyway."

She was typically reserved, but when it came to baseball, it was like she transformed. In this regard, she aligned well with their coach.

"But they've only been in school for less than a month. They've only been doing basic training and physical conditioning; they haven't even handled the ball much," Director Oota continued to express his doubts.

However, despite his concerns, the decisions made by the other two were already set, leaving him with no way to prevent the match.

The intrasquad match arrived as planned.

Neither team was assigned a coach during the match; they had to adjust on their own.

Coach Kataoka took on the role of the chief umpire.

"You should all take your positions on the field, except for Satoru Furuya..."

Coach Kataoka suddenly mentioned a name.

Both the freshmen and the second and third-year players turned their attention to Furuya.

As a well-known freshman capable of throwing over 130 meters, Furuya was naturally in the spotlight. Even the team's ace, Tanba, saw him as a potential rival.

"Here!" Furuya stood up from his seat.

"You won't be going in yet."

Hearing Coach Kataoka's directive, the second and third-year players expressed their frustration with sullen looks.

"Coach!"

"Let that arrogant kid play. We've been looking forward to this."

In response to the older players' request, Kataoka gave a nearly imperceptible nod.

While these players ultimately didn't make it to the main roster for the first string, it was undeniable that during their time with Seidou High School's baseball team, they had been rigorously trained.

Even when faced with intimidating statistics from their opponents, they didn't falter. Instead, they were filled with determination, eager to compete.

"This is to test the newcomers and to test you. Get on the field one by one!" Coach Kataoka stated tersely.

That sentence alone was enough.

The second and third-year players who had been clamoring to play finally quieted down.

Meanwhile, Furuya noticed that Sawamura, who had been relegated to running laps as a penalty, had somehow sneaked onto the field.

"Is the wheel of fate starting to turn? I wonder if this will be your best performance," Furuya mused with a slight smirk, feeling an itch to compete as well.

The first pitcher for the freshmen was Tojo, who was considered the biggest asset to Seidou High School's baseball team this year.

He was the ace of the national junior baseball tournament's top four!

With such a prestigious accolade, expectations for Tojo's performance were naturally high.

Not only coaches and senior players but also all the first-year newcomers were eagerly watching.

Tojo's fighting spirit was intense.

Before stepping onto the mound, he deliberately turned to look at Furuya, signaling a fierce sense of competition.

However, once Tojo took the field, he realized just how naive he had been!

While these second and third-year Seidou players hadn't made it to the first string, they were essentially the core of the second string.

The intrasquad match was ostensibly to introduce new players and send off the third-year students.

But that was just the official reason.

In reality, it was a crucial assessment for entering the first string before the summer tournament.

If you wanted to represent Seidou High School's baseball team in the summer tournament, first, you had to be part of the first or second string. Only then could you participate in practice matches representing Seidou.

Only by participating in matches can your performance be noticed.

Otherwise, during the summer high school tournament, you wouldn't even qualify to be on Seidou's first string.

The freshmen might not be aware of this, but the second and third-year seniors on Seidou's baseball team understood it clearly.

They started the game with full force.

Strictly speaking, Tojo's pitching wasn't bad.

However, the hitting power of the second and third-year players was evidently superior.

These seniors on the field had consistently performed well in the team and were all contenders for a spot on the first string.

Their skills were not to be underestimated.

Confronted with such intense offense, Tojo inevitably lost his composure.

As a result, once his control wavered, every pitch he threw was targeted and exploited.

In just the first inning, Tojo gave up eight runs.

The second and third-year players of Seidou High School's baseball team went through their batting order with ease.

As for their attack, facing Tanba's pitching, the first-year newcomers of Seidou had no answer.

Their opponents were overwhelmingly strong, shockingly so.

Furuya sat on the bench, repeatedly visualizing the scene of him facing these senior players.

In junior high, Furuya had never pitched at full strength. Even while restraining his pitch speed, he was still Hokkaido's standout pitching star.

However, after seeing Tojo's performance on the field, Furuya felt a chill in his heart.

Even if he were to be put on the mound and didn't give it his all, his outcome might not be any better than Tojo's.

On the surface, the second and third-year team was composed of second-string players from Seidou.

In reality, this team was far stronger than it appeared.

For the newcomers, this was a scenario of extreme difficulty, akin to a nightmare level challenge.