Chapter 7 Progress

At home, Shinjiro sat at his desk, surrounded by the quiet of the evening. The soft, golden light of his desk lamp illuminated his open notebook, where his handwritten notes sprawled across the pages like a detailed map of his journey. The pages were a mix of meticulous observations and personal reflections, each line a testament to his dedication.

Shinjiro looked over his notes, reflecting on the past few months of practice. The notes outlined pitches he'd mastered:

1. Four-seam fastball: Straight, fast, easy to track.

2. Two-seam fastball: Predictable sink.

3. Curveball: Large, slow break, manageable.

4. Cutter: Slight movement, can adjust bat angle.

5. Sinking fastball: Steady drop, good for timing.

6. Slider: Manageable if not too sharp.

He leaned in closer, eyes tracing over the latest entry from his training session. The drills were detailed in the way only a true enthusiast would document them. His handwriting was precise, almost obsessive:

Drills Focus: Timing and Reaction

Variable Speed Pitching Drill:

Description: The machine alternated speeds—fastballs, curveballs, sliders, and changeups.

Observations:

Fastball: Timing is improving, but I need to get my bat through the zone faster. Feels like I'm always a fraction behind.

Curveball: Struggled with the drop; I need to recognize the curve earlier. It's like chasing shadows. Practice is essential.

Slider: Better control today. I managed to adjust to the break, but it's still inconsistent. More repetition required.

Changeup: This has become manageable. I'm not over-swinging as much, but there's still room for polish.

Colored Ball Reaction Drill:

Description: Tossed balls of various colors; had to identify and react quickly.

Observations:

Improved at identifying colors under pressure. Reaction speed has definitely increased.

Hand-eye coordination is better, but I need to stay sharper to avoid late swings.

Tennis Ball Drill:

Description: Denji tossed tennis balls at varying speeds; I used a small bat to hit.

Observations:

Reactions are quicker; the small bat is helping with precision.

Still need to work on tracking the ball's trajectory to maintain consistency.

Key Takeaways:

Timing Adjustments: Sync swing with pitch speed better. More focus needed on off-speed pitches to avoid late swings.

Visual Tracking: Improve tracking from the pitcher's hand to the plate. Colored ball and visual drills have been useful but require ongoing focus.

Swing Mechanics: Maintain a consistent swing path. Practice with resistance bands to build strength and improve swing speed.

Goals for Next Practice:

Increase Reaction Speed: Incorporate reaction light drills to boost speed further.

Refine Curveball and Slider Timing: More practice on breaking pitches to improve timing.

Strength and Conditioning: Continue bat speed exercises and core strengthening.

Shinjiro closed the notebook and let out a deep breath, feeling the weight of his progress and the promise of improvement. The pages, filled with his reflections and goals, were a reminder of how far he had come and how much further he aimed to go. As he set the book aside, his gaze drifted to the baseball bat resting against the wall, a silent promise of dedication and the endless pursuit of excellence.

With a renewed sense of determination, Shinjiro felt ready for the challenges ahead, knowing that every swing and every practice session brought him one step closer to mastery.

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Shinjiro paced around his small living room, the hardwood floor creaking beneath his feet as he stretched his legs. His living room was cluttered with training gear—dumbbells stacked in the corner, resistance bands draped over a chair, and a baseball bat leaning against the wall. The faint glow of the TV illuminated the dim room, flickering with the fast-paced images of the game. In the background, the announcer's voice buzzed like a distant echo, but Shinjiro's focus was divided between his exercises and the tension gripping the final match for the Hyogo Prefecture.

It was the last game of the month, the end of July, and the stakes were sky-high. The winners would be heading to Koshien, the ultimate goal for any high school baseball player. Shinjiro had been sidelined for the past few games, his injured wrist keeping him out of the starting lineup. He felt a pang of frustration as he dropped to the floor to do push-ups, his breath steady, but his mind racing. Each rep brought with it a sense of urgency, not just for his recovery, but for his future.

The scoreboard flashed on the screen: Suma Tomogaoka 1, Nehimon Seimei 1. Bottom of the ninth inning, two outs, and the weight of the game sat on everyone's shoulders. Shinjiro's muscles burned from his workout, but he couldn't bring himself to stop. He had been glued to the screen for hours, watching his team claw its way through a nerve-wracking match. His heart pounded in sync with the rhythmic thud of his push-ups, but his eyes kept darting to the screen.

The camera zoomed in on Kenji Tadeka, his best friend and the star batter for Nehimon Seimei, stepping up to the plate. Kenji's expression was calm, his eyes locked on the pitcher, his bat hanging loosely by his side as he prepared for what could be the defining moment of the game. The announcer's voice, thick with anticipation, echoed through the room. "Kenji Tadeka, Nehimon Seimei's star hitter, is up to bat. Two outs, bottom of the ninth. This could be it, folks."

Shinjiro froze mid-push-up, his arms trembling slightly as he watched Kenji dig his feet into the dirt. The pressure was suffocating, but Kenji looked composed, like he was born for this moment. Shinjiro could almost feel the tension on the field through the TV screen. His palms were sweaty, gripping the floor as he slowly rose to his feet, wiping his brow. He stood there, motionless, every muscle in his body tense, mirroring the anxiety of the game.

The pitcher wound up, his form smooth and calculated, and the ball streaked toward the plate like a bullet. Shinjiro could feel his own breath catch as the ball approached Kenji. Time seemed to slow down for a moment, the sound of the world falling away, leaving only the sharp focus of the game. Kenji's bat moved in a swift, clean arc, slicing through the air.

Ping!

The sound of the bat connecting with the ball echoed through the living room. Shinjiro's heart leaped into his throat as the fastball soared into the sky, disappearing into the stadium lights. The ball climbed higher and higher, cutting through the air with a perfect arc. Shinjiro leaned forward, his fists clenched, his breath held in anticipation. His mind raced. Is it going to clear?

"Swishhh…" Shinjiro whispered under his breath, as if willing the ball to keep flying, to carry just a little further. It felt like an eternity before the announcer's voice exploded with excitement.

"It's gone! It's a home run! Kenji Tadeka sends Nehimon Seimei to Koshien with a stunning walk-off home run!"

Shinjiro let out a whoop of pure joy, his earlier frustration evaporating in an instant. He pumped his fists in the air, his heart pounding with exhilaration. Kenji had done it. Nihimon Seimei was going to Koshien!

On the screen, the field was chaos, teammates rushing to Kenji as he rounded the bases, jumping on him, celebrating. The crowd erupted into cheers, the atmosphere electric with the joy of victory. Shinjiro watched, grinning ear to ear, his own heart swelling with motivation.

As the celebration unfolded, Shinjiro's gaze drifted to the corner of the room where his bat leaned against the wall. The sight of it reminded him of the work he still had to do. Even though his team was heading to Koshien, he wasn't part of that moment—yet. The reality stung a little, but it also fueled his determination. Watching Kenji smash that home run reminded him why he was pushing himself hard.

Shinjiro glanced at the clock—it was late, but there was still time for more drills. He needed to keep his edge, to sharpen it. He needed to be ready for when his time came again. Grabbing his bat, he moved to the small space in the corner of the room and practiced his swing, visualizing the pitches, feeling the rhythm in his body, and letting the noise of the TV fade away into the background.

The echo of Kenji's victory still rang in his ears, and Shinjiro made a silent promise to himself. Next time, it'll be me rounding those bases. I'm going to Koshien.