"Gather up…"
In the dormitory, the sounds of gathering were bustling.
Hundreds of players filed out.
Normally, when it was time to gather, the players were very proactive. They were afraid of being even a second or two late and getting noted down by Coach Kataoka and the coaching staff.
The Seido High School Baseball Team's individual training was no joke.
If anyone truly dared to challenge it, Coach Kataoka and the coaching staff would certainly make them realize how brutal high school baseball could be.
Player Sawamura, a first-year, understood this deeply.
As soon as he heard the call to gather, young Sawamura ran faster than anyone, quickly getting dressed and ready to leave the dormitory.
In the dormitory corridor, Sawamura met Jinguuji and Kominato Haruichi, who were in the same year.
Sawamura was quite curious; although these two weren't as diligent as he usually was, they were definitely not lazy.
Why weren't they in a hurry today?
"We're going to be late! Why aren't you guys moving faster?"
Kominato Haruichi hesitated, about to speak but stopping himself.
Although Jinguuji was worried about his own future, he still patiently explained.
"Don't worry, we won't be late today."
"Why?"
Sawamura was full of questions.
"Look at the upperclassmen."
Sawamura listened to Jinguuji's words and began to observe the upperclassmen around him.
Whether it was the second-year or third-year players, their movements were very slow.
Every step they took was incredibly heavy.
"What's going on today?"
Sawamura was truly confused by the scene before him.
Jinguuji looked at the bewildered Sawamura and gave up on explaining further.
Currently, players of every year were under immense psychological pressure.
Their nerves were highly strung, and a single word from him could potentially cause unnecessary trouble.
It was better to keep quiet.
"Let's go gather; you'll find out soon enough."
Players as naturally oblivious as Sawamura were, after all, very few.
This year, the internal competition within the Seido High School Baseball Team was extremely fierce.
Almost every position had two or more excellent players vying for it. Before the final roster was announced, no one knew where they would rank in the new team.
Under these circumstances, it was impossible for the players to be in a good mood.
Especially the third-year players.
Before the actual roster was announced, even if they knew that with their strength, there was no hope of remaining in the First string lineup, there was still a tiny glimmer of hope.
Now, once the roster was announced, everything would be settled.
The third-year players who had worked hard for over two years in the Seido High School Baseball Team, no matter how unwilling they felt, if they weren't on the roster, they would basically have to say goodbye to their high school baseball career.
Under these circumstances, how could their mood not be heavy?
The players arrived late, and Coach Kataoka and a few key figures arrived even later. Although they had called the players to gather, by the time they arrived, ten minutes had already passed.
Following behind the key figures were the four managers of the team.
And Takashima Rei, with a stack of numbers in her hand.
"So that's how it is."
No matter how naturally oblivious Sawamura was, upon seeing this, he already understood Coach Kataoka's intention in gathering everyone.
Currently, there were 24 players in the First string.
Coach Kataoka also didn't, as before, finalize the twenty-man roster before announcing the numbers.
This, invisibly, left a huge suspense.
In other words, all players originally selected for the twenty-four-man roster had a chance to get a number.
After Coach Kataoka arrived, all the players immediately fell silent.
Coach Kataoka scanned the area carefully, seeing that all the players, no matter how eager they were inside, could look at him calmly.
This meant that these players would not have any unnecessary thoughts about the upcoming arrangements.
They all believed in the fairness of the team.
They were also willing to win a starting position based on their own strength.
Coach Kataoka said nothing, first bowing deeply to all the players present.
The players' expressions immediately became solemn.
They also bowed deeply in return.
Coach Ochiai, who witnessed the entire interaction, scratched his head.
He had always felt that Coach Kataoka was very skilled at winning people over.
In truth, training under Kataoka was incredibly demanding…
The Seido High School Baseball Team players prided themselves on shedding more sweat and more tears than anyone else.
This was absolutely not an empty boast; Coach Ochiai had personally witnessed how these players achieved it over the past eight or nine days.
They truly put in effort that pushed their bodies to the limit.
They were all teenagers, each with their own thoughts.
Occasionally slacking off was actually a normal occurrence.
But on the Seido High School Baseball Team, no one would ever do that.
They all completed their training with quality and quantity.
In this, Coach Kataoka's contribution was immense.
He could often ignite the flame in a player's heart with just a few words, making them willingly practice on the field.
"To become the Coach of this team, there's a lot to learn," Ochiai vaguely thought.
"Thank you for all your hard work during this period. In the past week of intensive training, not a single one of us fell behind. And despite being extremely fatigued, you all defeated the practice game opponents who came to challenge you. I am proud of you."
They clapped while recalling their previous efforts.
Facing Coach Kataoka's praise, they could proudly admit that they had truly achieved it.
They were also proud of themselves.
"There are only 20 spots for the Summer Tournament. Therefore, we cannot take everyone with us; some players are destined to be eliminated. But don't be discouraged; even if you are eliminated, you are still the best."
Coach Kataoka spoke a lot today.
Zhang Han, standing in the crowd, listened carefully to his Coach's words and couldn't help but give a thumbs-up.
He managed to make it sound like kicking four people out of the First string was an unavoidable necessity.
This way, the eliminated players would surely feel a little better.
"Now, I will announce the roster and numbers for the new team. Please forgive those who were not selected. But please believe that in my heart, you are disciples I am proud of."
With Coach Kataoka saying this, what more could the players say?
They could only clap continuously until their palms turned red.
"Number one."
The first to be announced, of course, was the Ace of the team.
As soon as Coach Kataoka called out those two words, everyone's gaze was already fixed on Tanba and Zhang Han.
Although there were more than just the two of them who could pitch in the team now, the other three players, whether the two first-year newcomers or second-year Kawakami, were still very far from the Ace position.
In the process of competing, these two each had their own advantages and their own shortcomings.
It seemed that either choice would work.
It just depended on what the selection criteria truly were.
Coach Kataoka glanced at Tanba.
Tanba felt his heart clench fiercely.
Although he had been the team's Ace before, getting the Ace position this time still held different significance.
For him, as a third-year, this was his last chance, and he absolutely could not let it go.
As long as he got this number, even if it meant burning out his entire baseball career, Tanba would not hesitate.
He would definitely contribute to the team.
But Kataoka's gaze only lingered on him for a second or two before quickly shifting to Zhang Han.
This matter had caused intense disagreement among the top members of the coaching staff.
Ultimately, it was Coach Kataoka who made the final decision.
"Zhang Han!"
The Ace's number was decided.
Everyone's eyes were all on Zhang Han.
"Me?"
Zhang Han pointed at himself with his finger, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Could it be that Coach Kataoka was throwing caution to the wind in order to reach Koshien and dominate the nation this summer?
One had to know that Coach Kataoka had previously sworn to Zhang Han that the Ace number was his to lose, but it was also going to be challenging to balance the load on his body with the tight schedule.
"We will not sacrifice any player's future for the team's immediate benefit."
At that time, when Kataoka said those words, Zhang Han felt he was incredibly cool.
He himself was deeply moved.
Unexpectedly…
"Hurry up and get it."
Takashima Rei urged.
Although Zhang Han was puzzled, he ultimately didn't ask anything and stepped forward to accept the number.
Looking at the number one, Zhang Han felt like he was dreaming.
He remembered when he was in Matsukata Little League, he was already the most important Ace of the team, but due to some special reasons, he never got that number.
Unexpectedly, after entering high school, Zhang Han had once given up on becoming a pitcher.
Yet he had now received this long-desired number.
It truly felt like a dream.
"Use your pitching speed to help the team win, Ace!"
Kataoka said seriously to Zhang Han.
"Yes!"
Although he still had lingering doubts, Zhang Han tightly clutched the number.
Almost subconsciously, Zhang Han glanced at Tanba.
He couldn't say why, he just did it instinctively.
Senior Tanba's expression was not as shocked as Zhang Han had imagined; instead, he looked as if a weight had been lifted.
Then the players erupted in enthusiastic applause.
"We're counting on you, Ace!"
"Dominate the pitcher's mound!"
Zhang Han, feeling dazed, took the number and returned to his spot.
So much so that he didn't really listen to the player roster and numbers announced afterward.
"Number two, Miyuki Kazuya."
Although Chris's performance after his return was excellent, Miyuki was clearly superior in both hitting and regular practice games.
To say that half a year of absence had no impact, how could it truly have no impact?
Ultimately, number two was still given to Miyuki.
Next, number three was the least suspenseful, given to Yuuki Tetsuya.
Number four, Kominato Ryosuke.
Number five, Masuko Toru.
Number six, the position of starting shortstop was originally somewhat uncertain.
Zhang Han returning to practice at shortstop was not news.
If Coach Kataoka had intended for him to play shortstop, then Kuramochi would probably have to give up his position.
But now, Zhang Han had already secured the number one jersey.
Therefore, he naturally could not serve as shortstop.
Kuramochi Yoichi naturally became the team's starting shortstop.
The remaining starting positions remained unchanged from before.
Although the performance of the starting players was somewhat impacted during training, they basically stabilized the situation and held onto their current positions.
Instead, the substitutes underwent a series of chemical changes.
"Number 10, Koichiro Tanba."
This uncrowned king's number was not given to Chris, but directly to Tanba instead.
Everyone looked at Tanba with concern, wondering if this guy would change after losing the Ace position.
Tanba seemed normal; he naturally accepted the number.
It was Kataoka, instead, who specifically kept Tanba back and spoke a few words to him.
These few words were not only for Tanba but also for everyone on the team.
"Although Zhang Han's pitch is excellent, because his pitching is too fast, the doctor suggested that he should not be allowed to pitch in consecutive days for long periods. It is very easy to cause indelible damage to his body. Therefore, we will not let him pitch in consecutive games unless absolutely necessary. The pitching in the other games will depend on you. Can you shoulder this important responsibility? In other words, you are also here to carry this team."
Tanba, who had been a little dispirited, had a complete change of expression after hearing his Coach's words.
"Yes!"
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