On the morning of October 5th, Qingdao Men's Hard Ball Club, A Training Ground.

"Everybody is warming up."

After the National Sports Meeting, Superintendent Kataoka, who took advantage of the night to lead the team back to Tokyo, came to the Wild Ball Club early today to guide the training of the members.

"Chris, do the actual combat form of the garrison practice today." As Chris walked by, Superintendent Kataoka turned to him and said, "Tell the pitchers to get ready." ”

"Yes!"

"The batter goes to base to practice the code and tactics," said Superintendent Kataoka, who turned back to the catcher after receiving a reply from the catcher, "put pressure on the batter from the base." ”

"Yes...", the other players immediately replied.

……

"The runner is on first base, and no one is out." Chris began to arrange the situation on the field, putting pressure on Koichiro Tanba, who was still carrying the ace on the pitcher's mound.

At the same time, Superintendent Kataoka, who was standing outside the rest area, gave a code to the runners on the field and told them to be ready to steal the bases.

"Keep the ball down a little bit."

When Koichiro Tanba stepped forward with his left leg and waved his right arm to prepare to throw the ball according to the catcher's request, Yoichi Kuramochi, who was a runner, immediately sprinted forward! Started stealing bases...

"Ping!" The hitter, Yukiichi, also swung his bat and hit the baseball thrown by Tenba senior to third base.

"Smack!" The baseball, which landed on the right side of third base, was caught by third baseman Masuko Toru in the process of bouncing upward, and then waved his arm sideways to pass the ball to second base.

"Out."

Shortstop Fumiya Kusunoki stretched out his gloves to catch the pass from the third baseman, and the runner who was close behind him and was about to go to base Hirokazu Kuramochi was killed, and the runner Miyukiichi was also on base.

"Very well, Tanbo, get rid of the beater."

"Even if there's someone on base," Chris said to the pitcher on the pitcher's mound, as soon as he got up, "just keep the ball as low as possible... But there's one more thing to remember—"

"Don't try to get the ball!"

"Hmm..."

After receiving a nod from Tanba, Chris turned his head to look at the junior next to him and said to him, "Next, Kimura..."

"Yes!" Takuya Kimura ran towards the pitcher's mound.

The summer meeting gathers the elite mature teams in the department, but the autumn meeting can only rely on the new teams that have not yet matured, and this time it depends on the ability of the team supervision.

……

On October 7th, the first day of the Autumn Tokyo Metropolitan Games, the day before the Seido vs. Hachioji match.

The indoor training ground of the Wild Ball Club, a total of 65 people in the first and second years (four more people in the first year quit the club during this time and transferred to other clubs), divided into five columns, lined up in front of Superintendent Kataoka.

"The first is Tanba..."

"Yes!" Koichiro Tanba replied loudly.

"Here's the starter list... Get ready for tomorrow's game and rest early today. ”

"Yes," the crowd replied loudly.

"Yuuki, Chris..."Jun Izaki reached out and patted Tetsuya Yuuki on the shoulder, and said to the two of them, "Welcome back to the center line." ”

(PS: One stick, Fumiya Kusunoki (Yoichi Kuramochi); Two sticks, Ryosuke Kominato; Three sticks, Izaki Jun; Four sticks, Tetsuya Yuuki; Five Sticks, Takigawa Chris Yuu; Six sticks, increase the child through; Seven sticks, Shiichi Minamigumo (Ichiro Sakai); Eight sticks, Koichiro Tanba; Nine sticks, Kenjiro Hakushu (Kadoda Masaki). )

"I'm going to say a few words to you," said Inspector Kataoka when the crowd had quieted down.

"You... The biggest enemy is yourself! ”

"Making good use of your original strength is the shortcut to victory."

"Have any of you given up during this time? Not at all! ”

"You've practiced far more than the retired juniors, no matter what happens on the field tomorrow..."

"You have to stick to the end, you can't be careless... Be proud of yourself, you can do it! ”

"Tomorrow everyone will have to give it their all!!"

“... Over, disband! ”

"Thank you Overseer!!" The Seido people bowed and thanked Superintendent Kataoka for his encouragement, and then disbanded on the spot. Some went home, some returned to Qingxinliao, and some stayed in the indoor training ground to continue practicing.

……

In the match on October 8, Qingdao won the first battle with a score of 5:1.

"The strings are finally starting to be connected."

"The most important thing is that three out of five points are scored by the center line."

At 07:20 in the afternoon, everyone gathered in the cafeteria for dinner, discussing their performance today.

"If you can't sustain it until the second battle, it's meaningless."

"It's also..."

"Considering the previous situation, it was."

……

On October 13th, the Wild Ball Club of Qingdao High School, the manager's room next to the A training ground.

"Huh? The second round of the battle gives Kimura the first start! Minister Ota was a little surprised by Kataoka's overseer.

"yes, I'll want him to be ready to play at any time." Superintendent Kataoka gave his reasons to Minister Ota.

"But as soon as he relaxes, he will be replaced immediately."

"Could it be the previous punishment schedule?" Rei Takashima, who was standing next to him, gave her own questions.

"Even if you warm up in the cowshed, the ace pitcher still has to look the way he should be."

"His every move is on the watchful eye of his teammates at all times."

"The overseer of the Tanba... There are already such requirements. Minister Ota was a little surprised that Governor Kataoka attached great importance to Tanba.

……

"Next, announce today's first slate..."

"First bat, shortstop, Kurachi;"

"Yes!"

"Second baseman, second baseman, Kominato;"

"Yes!"

"Third bat, Nakamida, Izaki;"

"Yes!"

……

"Seventh bat, left fielder, Sakai;"

"Yes!"

"Ninth baseman, pitcher, Kimura;"

"Yes!"

"Ninth bat, right fielder, Menda;"

……

"Finally... The first time it was launched. "Yoichi Kuramochi is very happy that he can win the competition with his seniors.

"Ahh

"Will it?" Regarding Kuramochi Yoichi's unusually nervousness, Nanyun Shiichi, who was standing next to him, was a little unimpressed.

"I'm going to be nervous!"

"Do you think anyone is as lucky as you kid?"

……

At 11:30 a.m. on October 14th, as a strong school at the same level as the Kuroshikan, Tsuru no Island will face off against Tokyo Metropolitan Giant Seido High School at the Edogawa Ward Stadium.

"Good shot, hitter out!"

"It's over!!"

With a score of 5:4, Qingdao won the second round.

……

On the evening of October 14, the Office of the Superintendent of the Wild Ball Department.

"In the battle against the city of Tsuru no Island, I didn't expect Tanba's pitching performance to be even better than before." Minister Ota was surprised by Koichiro Tanami's performance today.

"And it wasn't until the first half of the ninth inning that because of the lack of physical strength, there was a tendency to be attacked by the city's big crane island."

"This is Tamba's first time since the practice match!"

"In the first half of the third inning, he went on the court as a relay pitcher and scored three consecutive outs to prevent the opponent from connecting the offense."

"I'm so shocked!!"

"yes," Rei Takashima agreed with Minister Ota's opinion about Tanba-kun.