Chapter 441: Strategic Analysis
Nightfall.
A cool autumn breeze swept across Seidou High School.
In the quiet stillness of the evening—
Inside the Seishin Dormitory, in the familiar dining hall meeting room, the team had gathered as usual.
After dinner, the regular strategy meeting was being held—this time to review their morning match against Ouya High, and to share impressions from watching the game between Seiko High and Sensen High.
It was a routine but important session—an impromptu tactical analysis meeting focused on the upcoming semifinal.
In preparation for the Final Four, Seidou needed to fine-tune not only their strategy, but also adjust the roster and player assignments accordingly.
At this moment, all 20 members of the first string were seated upright in the dining hall.
Standing before them was Watanabe, notebook in hand, leading the discussion with a focused expression.
...
"We've all seen it for ourselves—what we need to be most wary of is the sheer power behind Seiko High's swings. Their heavy-hitting lineup blasted multiple home runs off Sensen's ace, Maki," Watanabe began.
"They got knocked out early in the summer tournament, but that was mostly because they got careless," Kuramochi added, arms crossed.
"Not to mention their pitchers collapsed mentally, which cost them the game. Just proves how important pitchers are, right? Right?" chimed in Maezono, trying his best to sound serious.
"In that summer loss, they probably weren't even showing half their potential," Watanabe continued. "It was a misstep in strategic planning. But before the tournament, Seiko High was widely regarded as a top contender."
"And now, in this fall tournament, I doubt many of you know this—but in their previous games, Seiko's average hits per game have exceeded ten, and their runs per game have been consistently in the double digits. In terms of scoring capability, they're arguably the most dangerous lineup in this entire tournament."
"That's true," said Shirasu, rare seriousness in his voice. "Many predicted Seiko would at least make the Final Four. Honestly, even if they win it all, it wouldn't be a shock."
"With a lineup like that, it's no surprise—it's their greatest weapon," Miyuki nodded in agreement.
...
Over on the pitching side of the room, the trio of Eijun, Furuya, and Kawakami sat silently, lips pressed tight, faces grim.
Having witnessed it firsthand, no pitcher in their right mind could claim they'd be able to shut down that lineup with confidence.
Even someone like Narumiya Mei, paired with Miyuki, would struggle to completely suppress such a relentless offense.
Sure, their odds might be higher than others—but a 100% shutdown? That was wishful thinking.
And the situation for Seidou's current pitchers?
Furuya — had the velocity and pitch power to go toe-to-toe with Seiko's hitters. But his lack of control, his inability to target corners or keep pitches low, made him unreliable against a team that punishes mistakes.
Kawakami — had excellent control, finesse, and a wide arsenal of breaking balls. On paper, he was a good match. But the downside? His lack of raw power. If Seiko's batters caught even a slightly off pitch, their strength alone could send the ball flying.
Sawamura Eijun, their ace—
Let's be honest. He was naturally countered by Seiko's lineup. Especially with them using metal bats, it was a nightmare matchup.
Some of his signature pitches couldn't even be thrown casually.
Or rather, every pitch would need careful deliberation.
Sure, compared to the original timeline, this Eijun was much stronger—
Better speed, better control, more refined skills.
He'd have an easier time than his past self did.
But in baseball, matchups matter.
And Seiko's power hitting negated most of Eijun's usual advantages.
If he were to pitch, it would be a pure power-on-power showdown.
And with that came undeniable risk.
The three pitchers—Eijun, Furuya, and Kawakami—knew exactly what was at stake.
That was why each of them wore such serious expressions.
...
"And Seiko isn't just a team that relies on brute-force swings," Watanabe continued in a heavier tone.
"Those three home runs in the fourth inning were all off Maki's curveballs. In real-time reaction, those players—who may look slow and clumsy—actually displayed incredible reflexes and timing. If we judge them based on appearances alone, we'll pay the price. So be especially aware of this during the game."
At those words, everyone—Miyuki, Kuramochi, Maezono, Eijun, Haruichi—nodded solemnly. Having watched the match live, they knew full well:
Seiko High's players couldn't be underestimated—not in baserunning, not in defense. Their reactions and speed were far sharper than their builds would suggest.
Eijun remembered it vividly from the original timeline—
He had tried a bunt to get on base, only to be thrown out at first by that damn fat guy who reacted like lightning.
It had been a harsh and unforgettable lesson.
...
"Unlike Ouya, Seiko doesn't swing blindly. They wait for the ball to come into the zone—classic power hitters. Since every one of them takes full swings, pitchers must avoid high pitches at all costs."
As Watanabe said this, his gaze swept toward the pitcher trio—Eijun, Furuya, Kawakami.
"Yes." (Or a nod.)
The three of them answered in unison.
...
"Now for their pitchers—the core of Seiko's mound is built around Kojima, their ace, and Ogawa, the first-year lefty. Ogawa appeared briefly in the summer tournament but struggled badly and was pulled early. But ever since the start of this fall tournament, he's been pitching exceptionally well."
Watanabe flipped to a new page in his notebook.
"Ogawa now throws over 140 km/h. As a lefty, his fastballs are already hard to read, and his finisher is a spiral pitch—distinctly his own style. His main weakness is control. That's our opening."
...
"Oooohhh!!"
"Classic Hisashi—short, sweet, and clear!"
Everyone in the room smiled.
Even though many of them had already watched Seiko's game, Watanabe's detailed analysis laid it out in a way that helped the whole team grasp the bigger picture effortlessly.
All eyes glanced toward Watanabe at the head of the room—
And everyone felt fortunate to have such a reliable teammate.
...
"We're up against Seiko. On the other side, it's Yakushi versus Inashiro—our old summer rivals," someone commented.
"That match is gonna be crazy."
"Hard to say who'll win."
"Yakushi vs. Inashiro? That's gonna be a bloodbath."
"In the end, it's all about Raichi versus Narumiya. Whoever dominates that matchup will decide the game."
"Either way, whoever reaches the final won't be easy to beat."
...
"Alright, enough about the final," Miyuki stood and spoke with a firm voice.
"We focus on the match in front of us. The final won't matter if we don't make it past Seiko. Prepare with everything you've got. Let's take down Seiko—then we'll talk about the championship."
"YES!!" the team shouted in unison.
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