Chapter 642 - 642: Practice

After the bus returned to Seido High School, the players first took a shower and changed their clothes.

Although it was not yet the hottest season in Tokyo, by late May, the average temperature was already approaching twenty to thirty degrees Celsius.

They played one game and watched another in such temperatures.

Having spent over five hours under the sun, the Seido High School Baseball Team players' clothes had been soaked with sweat countless times.

Even after the game, when they had just changed their shirts, they still felt a bit sticky and uncomfortable.

Taking a shower and changing into fresh clothes at that moment completely changed their mental state.

After tidying up, the players gathered in the meeting room to discuss the game against Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team the day after tomorrow.

Their opponent was one they knew intimately. Even though Inashiro Industrial had just won the Spring Koshien and their strength had increased, the Seido High School Baseball Team's teammates knew Inashiro Industrial so well that even with their growth, the players could predict the direction of their improvement.

Moreover, the Seido High School Baseball Team players believed that while their opponents had grown during this period, they themselves had not been idle.

If they truly met, who would win was still an unknown.

"The most crucial factor is the new players! Both we and Inashiro Industrial are too familiar with each other. At this point, what can cause a significant variable might be the new players. In the game the day after tomorrow, Furuya Satoru will pitch first. Regardless of how many innings he pitches, after one round, he will hand over to Tanba. Tanba, you should start warming up from the very beginning of the game."

Coach Kataoka had clearly thought out the strategy for playing against Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team while watching the game.

The players only discussed a few sentences before he directly announced his plan.

Announcing the pitcher selection for the day after tomorrow in advance also helped the Seido High School Baseball Team's subsequent training.

They could cooperate with the pitcher to devise various tactics.

While assigning the pitchers, Coach Kataoka did not even glance at Zhang Han.

Initially, the Seido High School Baseball Team's teammates still held expectations. After all, Zhang Han's pitching speed was evident, and even now, he was the true Ace candidate in the hearts of many players on the Seido High School Baseball Team. On top of that, he had just pitched an inning earlier that day and had done relatively well.

But as Coach Kataoka chose the starting pitcher and then informed Tanba about his position, everyone seemed to gradually accept the reality that he might not pitch again, at least not early in the match.

"This afternoon and evening are for rest. Everyone can watch game footage. Tomorrow, we will practice tactics. The morning training on the day after tomorrow is canceled. After eating, everyone will be on the bus on time."

After the meeting, Coach Kataoka also assigned the tasks for the Seido High School Baseball Team for the next two days.

Although he said so, how many players would truly follow his instructions was another matter.

The Seido High School Baseball Team was not lacking in training fanatics. Even during rest, they did not allow their bodies to slack off.

Even Zhang Han was no exception to this.

There was no other way; the general environment was like this. Neither Miyuki nor Zhang Han actually liked to practice in crowded places.

If it was free practice, they preferred to find a quiet and cool place to train and improve their strength.

But with all their teammates practicing together, it seemed inappropriate for them to go off on their own.

There was nothing they could do; the two of them could only train with everyone else.

In such a grand environment, people would unconsciously strive harder. Sometimes Zhang Han would think that Mencius's mother moving three times in ancient times made sense.

Environment truly can change a person.

Just like him, when he was at Matsukata, he stayed with all his teammates unless the Coach instructed practice or a game.

When training privately, he was always alone. But now, he also started practicing with everyone at Seido.

This was change.

After training, the teammates went to eat.

Those who weren't satisfied, after eating, would simply digest and continue practicing.

Zhang Han noticed that the first person to finish eating and run off to train was not one of the third-year seniors, but a first-year junior.

Sawamura Eijun.

He was actually the first to run out, without interacting with anyone around him throughout.

This was completely different from the impression Sawamura had previously given Zhang Han.

"This junior from your room is very hardworking!"

Zhang Han said to Kuramochi, feeling inspired.

"It's just that he's been cheering us on during the Kanto Tournament, and after seeing the performance of other teams, this guy keeps complaining that he's not good enough, and his training is completely unrestrained."

Kuramochi complained unhappily.

Precisely because of this guy's relentless nature, he also suffered a lot of fatigue.

Kataoka and Coach Ochiai, who was in charge of the second team's training, had both approached him, asking him to help keep an eye on Sawamura, so that this guy wouldn't accidentally harm himself.

There had been players on the Seido High School Baseball Team who were injured due to overtraining and unable to play.

"Are the current juniors all this dedicated!"

Zhang Han originally thought that according to his training rhythm, he couldn't claim to be at the very forefront of the Seido High School Baseball Team, but if he counted on his fingers, he should also be ranked.

But now, Zhang Han suddenly realized that he might have overestimated himself a bit, let alone comparing himself to those third-year seniors who were about to graduate.

Even compared to the first-year juniors, his effort seemed insufficient.

This realization was of extraordinary significance to Zhang Han.

Originally, he wanted to sleep in the evening and wake up tomorrow morning to train an hour earlier.

Compared to staying up late, Zhang Han preferred to wake up early.

But now, seeing the hardworking junior, Zhang Han couldn't bring himself to go back to the dormitory and lie down to rest.

He also had to work hard.

A suddenly increased training plan was not that easy to find content for.

After choosing among physical exercise, batting, and pitching, Zhang Han finally focused his attention on pitching.

Everyone left after finishing dinner.

Except for the third-year seniors, mainly the second-year players, generally, after the extra training in the afternoon, they did not plan to continue extra training in the evening.

Miyuki was the same.

This guy's training rhythm was similar to Zhang Han's; compared to working hard in the evening, they preferred to wake up early.

Just as Miyuki got up to take a shower, Zhang Han suddenly stopped him.

"Do you have time? Accompany me to practice pitching."

Zhang Han took the initiative to invite, and Miyuki's expression barely changed as he readily nodded.

"Alright!"

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