Practice Match (1)

The next day, Sendou was announced as a member of the First Team, though he would not train with them.

Over the following week, Sendou improved rapidly. He mastered all the catcher's basic techniques and grew accustomed to his pitching form, though his batting stance had yet to be fully refined.

In the coach's words, with the tournament approaching, they would first let him use the stance that felt most comfortable to him. Then, the coach would help him correct it while finding a batting stance that suited him, or reference the stances of certain batters.

Coach Nakanishi, who had come from the Major League, knew very well that some common beliefs in Japan were mistaken.

For example, pitchers often ran long distances, which could indeed help strengthen their lower bodies, but the belief that it could steadily increase pitching speed was wrong.

What directly affected pitching speed and ball power was explosive strength—the ability to concentrate the power of the entire body into a single instant.

Long-distance running only strengthened the lower body and improved control.

Likewise, the notion that endurance gained through long-distance running could increase a pitcher's stamina was also wrong.

Pitchers relied on explosive strength, just as sprinters and long-distance runners trained for different events.

The energy expenditure of exhausting oneself in an instant differed from that of sustained output. That was why pitchers could run so much yet still be unable to throw many more pitches. Only when the body became accustomed to those instant bursts could it be done.

(To give a simple example, someone might be able to jog ten kilometers, but if they tried one-hundred-meter sprints, they would probably collapse after only a few runs.

That was the difference between sustained endurance and explosive sprinting.)

The most common drills on Sendou's training regimen were exercises for instantaneous explosive strength.

Long-distance running was not suitable training for Little League and Little Senior League players. Elementary and middle school were for learning technique; high school was when players began building up their physical foundation.

Of course, while he did plenty of explosive-strength training, it was all within what an elementary school student's body could handle.

It could be said that Coach Nakanishi had constantly observed Sendou's physical reactions after training. He had also contacted friends in America for help. He had no intention of ruining everything.

Sendou joined several combined practices along the way, and his batting and pitching immediately earned the entire team's recognition. After his form was corrected and he grew used to it, he improved by leaps and bounds, becoming the Wildcats' ace and Cleanup Hitter despite the exception made for him. No one objected.

Even Coach Nakanishi had not expected such a rate of growth.

"Sendou, we have a Practice Match tomorrow. Our opponent is Sailors Little League. I'll have you start as the Starting Pitcher, so go home early today."

"Got it!"

The next day was Sunday. Prestigious teams like the Wildcats, which had their own bus, often traveled out for Practice Matches. The summer tournament was also drawing near.

The Wildcats' catchers were weak only depending on how one looked at it. For an elementary school team, they were already good enough. Elementary school pitch calling still followed the textbook, with only flexible adjustments.

"Today, the Sailors Team's coach has something to do, so the Practice Match has been postponed until next Sunday!"

Such was life. Things like that happened.

A week later,

"Supervisor Nakanishi, your Starting Pitcher is actually a newly joined fourth-year player, and he's also batting fourth. That isn't your style, is it?

Don't the Wildcats win through absolute teamwork?" The opposing coach had clearly noticed the oddity in the lineup.

If they merely wanted a talented player to get used to the atmosphere of competition, they would not make him the Cleanup Hitter.

What was more, this was the first time he had heard of the Wildcats allowing a fourth-year player into the First Team.

"Coach Yasuda, this year is a little unusual."

"I see!"

For even Coach Nakanishi to say that... Is he an individual force capable of surpassing the team?

Then I'll wait and see. A player whose individual strength can surpass the Wildcats Little League—the supposedly absolute King.

"Play ball!"

The Sailors Little League had First Attack in this game.

Because the coach had arranged it beforehand, Sendou would hold back while pitching and use the game to train their defensive coordination.

No matter what, the Wildcats Little League had always won through professional-level tactics, extraordinary teamwork, and flawless execution.

Though Sendou was an independent variable added to their defense, his reaction speed was no burden.

So even though the opposing batters could easily make contact, the Wildcats' infield defense was no joke. The First and Second Batters were easily forced out. The third batter reached base with an Infield Hit, and then it was the fourth batter's turn. Their Cleanup Hitter was a very sturdy-looking boy.

The catcher first called for an Outside Corner Ball, a pitch kept as low as possible. That was a common pitch selection when facing an unfamiliar batter.

After all, there were too many unknowns in youth and junior baseball. No one knew whether a talented player might suddenly emerge, so probing was necessary.

And the Sailors Team's Cleanup Hitter was quite well-known among catchers.

But that had nothing to do with Sendou. He did not even know any of his own teammates. During regular practice, everyone called out to one another by position.

That was also a Wildcats rule, meant to prevent coordination errors caused by names when new members joined the First Team.

"Whoosh!"

"Smack!"

"Ball!" The batter cautiously did not swing.

Sendou's control was not good enough for him to deliberately throw a ball that just grazed the Strike Zone, even though any part of the ball passing through the Strike Zone counted as a strike.

"Second pitch, Inside Corner Ball, in the Strike Zone!"

Seeing the Signals, Sendou silently recited the first set. It seemed they had matched the signs correctly. He nodded and glanced at the runner on first.

"Steal!"

Just as Sendou turned his head back and began his pitching motion, the runner on first suddenly stole second. But once he had started his motion, he could not stop.

"Whoosh!"

"Smack!"

"Strike!"

"Smack!"

"Safe!"

Though the catcher quickly made a Pickoff Throw, the runner still successfully stole the base.

That scared me to death!

I thought that no matter how talented he was, he was still a beginner. There was no way he could have mastered all kinds of pitching forms. His previous wide-open pitching form would have given runners opportunities to steal.

But this fourth-year kid's arm speed is way too fast. That instantaneous explosive strength is terrifying.

Luckily, that catcher isn't the strong-armed type. If it were our team's Masa, he probably would've gotten him.

With that kind of explosive strength, he doesn't need to use a set position even with runners on base. Coach Yasuda could now see that Sendou had been holding back before. His arm speed was on an entirely different level from earlier.

"I know the weaknesses of beginner pitchers very well. But with this kid's physical talent, even with all the problems a rookie has, he won't be easy to exploit."

How could Coach Nakanishi fail to guess the opponent's intentions? Stealing bases and bunting were among the things beginner pitchers hated most and were most easily broken by. But after two weeks of intensive training, coupled with Sendou's inhuman explosive power, those weaknesses could not be exploited at all.

"Next pitch, inside again. Throw a ball, but don't make it too obvious."

"Steal!"

"Whoosh!"

"Smack!"

"Ball!"

"Another steal?"

"Smack!"

"Safe!"

They're going this hard from the very start? Two outs, runner on third, Cleanup Hitter at the plate, two balls and one strike, Sendou thought.

I can't exploit this pitcher, but this catcher's weak arm has been exposed. Then I won't hold back, Coach Nakanishi.

Still too obvious. Next pitch should be an Outside Corner Ball! We'll settle it in the Strike Zone!

At that moment, Sendou shook his head. From the opponent's overall movements, it was obvious he was waiting for an outside pitch. After an inside pitch came an outside pitch—the sort of sequence any catcher would call. The opposing batter was a catcher too, and he had watched both the inside strike and ball go by.

When the previous pitch had just been thrown, Sendou noticed the batter showing signs of extending his foot, though he had not done so in the end. Still, Sendou had seen everything.

Some familiar faces would appear in this Practice Match. I think many of you have already guessed who they are! Also, if I can finish the Practice Match in three chapters, I'll rename the chapters Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.