Chapter 23: Soil From The Bullpen

"The opponent is very strong!"

Sawamura's evaluation clearly caught Furuya and Haruichi by surprise.

In fact, they also know that the opponents who are playing against them today should be good. In West Tokyo before, I could clearly feel that Konan was as strong as Inashiro.

Others, including Sensen and Yakushi, were not that good compared to Konan.

The game at Yakushi High School was difficult because Seidou underestimated the enemy. Otherwise, the result of that match must be a bloodbath and a game called at the fifth.

Furuya and Haruichi also knew this, but originally they thought they would say that Konan was tough.

Unexpectedly, the word "powerful" was said.

Seeing the shocked faces of the two, Sawamura felt natural and explained to the two.

"First of all, you have to understand one thing. The strength of a baseball team cannot be fully demonstrated through one game. There are many factors that determine the situation of a game, strength is only one of them, and of course, this is the most important factor. In addition to strength, there are luck, situation, tactics, overall strategy, the supervision of both sides…"

"If there is a problem in any one of these, it may have very serious consequences. It is also possible to show a score gap that far exceeds the strength.

Take the game between Konan High School and us for example; the reason why we scored 10:1, Of course, mainly because our own strength exceeds the opponent's hence the huge score.

However, also other factors cannot be ignored, for example, the problem of the opponent's information.

Although I don't know why Konan High School will use our Kanto Tournament data as a reference to formulate tactics. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that this has indeed helped us to a certain extent. Otherwise, Konan High School would not have been caught off guard…"

"Aside from other factors, just in terms of strength, we have a larger advantage."

Iron-clad fielder, strong line-up, top-level mobility in the country, plus talented pitcher Torajiro.

It is said that no matter which team it is, it is impossible to defeat Konan easily.

But Konan happened to meet Seidou. The Maou Sawamura and The Monster Furuya did not let the most important feature of Konan High School be used at all.

Konan's strongest attack is mobility!

Sawamura and Furuya struck them directly. Where can they find a chance to run the bases?

The attack was completely suppressed, and Defense naturally could not hold on to the Seidou lineup.

If not, it would be very difficult for Seidou to easily defeat a top national powerhouse.

The answer given by Sawamura made Furuya very excited.

Although he didn't say anything, his excited little movements still exposed everything.

Before in Seidou, Furuya had been pressed by Sawamura, and he didn't really have a clear understanding of his own level. When Seidou encounters a really difficult opponent, Sawamura usually takes care of it, and there is no chance for Furuya to play.

Therefore, Furuya Satoru has always known that he was getting better, but he is not clear about the specific level.

But now, with Sawamura's confirmation, Furuya finally understands his own strength.

It turned out that he could suppress the top tyrants in the country. Suppress a team that is very strong even for Eijun.

This realization made the blood in Satoru's body boil with excitement.

'Sure enough, it was right to come to Seidou. After joining Seidou, I really became stronger!'

'Next, just follow the guidance of Chris-senpai and Coach Ochiai and continue training. And my strength will be stronger.'

Thinking about it, Furuya set his eyes on Sawamura.

Sooner or later, one day, sooner or later, I must take the back number of the Ace.

Satisfied with Furuya's vanity, Sawamura turned to look at the Haruichi.

"So what about you?"

It wasn't just Furuya who couldn't fall asleep, but also Haruichi.

Let Furuya be happy for a while. The young man has been stressed for too long, and it is inevitable that he is a little traumatized, and it is not bad to relax properly. Moreover, he still has a long way to go in the future, and the real tempering will have to wait until he suffers a defeat before he can understand.

"I didn't play!" Haruichi was a little embarrassed to say this.

Eijun is also the best friend of Haruichi in Seidou. If it were someone else, he would never have said this.

In this game, he was irrelevant.

Kominato Haruichi originally thought that Coach Kataoka would give him a chance to play.

He is also very eager to stand on the field with his brother. Even as a substitute.

At the same time, Kominato Haruichi also knew that as the game progressed, Seidou's opponents would become stronger and stronger, and his hope of being able to play may become more and more slim.

Even if it's a substitute hitter, Kataoka usually chooses Chris or Miyuki.

After all, it is impossible for these two great talents to play catchers at the same time.

Sawamura's eyes were sleepy, but when he heard Kominato's words, he suddenly woke up.

'Oh boy, this is going to be a psychological problem!'

And it's even more serious than Furuya. Furuya's problem can be solved. If Haruichi can't play, this knot will probably be there for a lifetime.

He failed to play with his brother on the field of Koshien.

It would be fine if Seidou didn't get into Koshien. Now that they have entered Koshien, he still can't fulfill his wish.

Haruichi will probably regret it for the rest of his life.

In any case, this is also the only chance for him and his brother Ryosuke to appear in Koshien together.

Parents far away in Kanagawa, seeing their two sons, are so proud. It is estimated that you can wake up from a dream!

However, Sawamura couldn't help with this.

The problem of Furuya is just his pursuit and recognition. And he also appeared in Koshien and became famous all over the country.

As for Kominato Haruichi, this year's Koshien, I am afraid it is really difficult to have the opportunity to play.

The second round is the best chance.

If not, then it's really hard to have a chance.

From the third round, Seidou will face opponents like the champion candidate Seihou, then the intense quarterfinals.

National competition!

Even Seidou can't have the slightest carelessness. In this kind of competition, Coach Kataoka will never give newcomers a chance to participate.

"If, I mean if, until the last game, you still didn't get a chance to play, take it back with a handful of soil from the rest area," Sawamura said reminiscently.

He remembered the time when he visited Koshien for the first time, but because he didn't get a chance to play, he could only watch the mound from the bullpen.

At that time he got some dirt from the bullpen, not the mound, and not the field, but the bullpen to tell himself that this was where his strength could get him right now.

A relief pitcher.

A bystander.

'Eh?'

Furuya and Haruichi all looked at Sawamura strangely, not understanding what he was talking about.

"Isn't it too unlucky?" Furuya muttered.

Sawamura looked out the window.

There, the lights are dim…

That's what he did when he first came here.

If you are frustrated, keep trying. I can't play because my strength is not enough. When my strength is enough, I will naturally have the opportunity to stand on the field of Koshien again.

…

T/N: Thank you all for reading!! And I hope you all have a nice day!

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