In the stadium, it was a noisy afternoon, dazzling sunshine, and thousands of people were sitting in the stands under the blue sky. Along with the sound of the radio announcement, cheers and discussions rang out from the auditorium.

Meeting scene.

Tetsu Nishino stood in the queue at Hakusan High School, secretly observing left and right, feeling filled with emotion.

Hundreds of teenagers from 61 high schools gathered here. Under the guidance of College Field Football League staff wearing white ball caps, 61 teams stood at predetermined positions and lined up in rows.

The school nameplates held when entering were also put down and stood in front of each team.

Yokkaichi Chuo Technical High School, Akeno High School, Uji Yamada Commercial High School, Kuwanai Nishi High School, Matsusaka Commercial High School, Mie High School, Tsuda Gakuen, Kaisei High School, Hakusan High School, Ueno High School, Komono High School...

Among them, there are teams pursuing consecutive championships; there are teams waiting for revival; there are teams eager to win...

This moment that countless teenagers have been waiting for has finally arrived!

Is this conference a conference calling for chaos?

What will happen this summer?

Players, spectators, organizers, supporters, no one can predict it.

After the representatives of the High School Field Football Federation, the Asahi Shimbun and various guests from Mie Prefecture spoke, it was the turn of the oath-taking session for the representatives of the participating players.

in the team of players.

Ota Rikuxiang, the captain of Tsu Commercial High School, took a deep breath, walked out of the team and jogged to the rostrum, bowed to everyone, walked up to the rostrum, and spoke into the microphone.

"Oath!"

“I stand here in this special year of the 100th National High School Wildball Players’ Rights Commemorative Conference...”

Ota Luxiang slowed down his speech and tried hard to recall the manuscript he had memorized for several days.

"...Now my heart is full of pride. We will devote our enthusiasm to every game with the spirit of one goal, and convey to everyone the passion of fighting for the top!"

After Ota Luxiang took the oath, the meeting-like process was almost at the end, and each team left the field in order.

Walking in the exiting team, Tetsu Nishino recalled Ota Rikusho's oath, the oath that all baseball boys were fascinated by and fought for.

"The passion to fight towards the top!"

No matter which team it is, the moment they step onto the court, they will have the passion to fight for the top, but in the end, only one team can realize their dream.

Tetsu Nishino's face became solemn, and the pressure in his heart doubled. He felt the cruel side of high school baseball.

A single knockout tournament ends when you lose one game.

In summer high school baseball, there is no competition system such as lower bracket and resurrection bracket. There is only elimination, elimination, elimination...

If you want to get to the end, you must eliminate the opponents in front of you again and again, either win or go home.

No matter how many reasons there are, how much regret and reluctance there is, as long as you lose one game, the whole summer is over. For many ordinary people, it is the end of the entire baseball career.

Walking in the players' tunnel, Hiroki Tsuji turned his head and noticed something strange about Tetsu Nishino next to him, and felt a sense of guilt.

During the period when he came into contact with baseball, no matter how excellent Tetsu Nishino's performance on the field was or how calm he was when playing with the ball, he was still just a 16-year-old boy.

It's normal to feel uneasy and wavering.

In high school baseball, many junior players pay more attention to the results of the game than their seniors, and junior players who are able to play will always be more demanding on themselves.

Even the senior players don't cry as much as the junior players when they lose. It's often the juniors who cry and say "I'm sorry" while the seniors comfort them.

The belief that "you cannot let the summer of your seniors be ruined by your own hands" makes juniors like Tetsu Nishino work harder and suffer more uneasiness.

Moreover, other high school junior players only play as fielders or substitute pitchers, and their error tolerance rate is relatively higher.

Tetsu Nishino comes on as a first-year catcher and will inevitably become a key breakthrough for his opponents.

At the same time, the rare identity of a first-year catcher will also bring a lot of public attacks on Tetsu Nishino, and his mistakes will be amplified. Even if Hakusan High School takes another first-round tour, all passers-by may blame Tetsu Nishino.

Tsuji Hiroki wanted to say some words of comfort and encouragement, "Xiao Zhe, a real man? How about..."

"I can do it!"

Tsuji Hiroki's answer was Nishino Tetsu's firm words, which revealed his stubbornness and confidence.

No need to change positions!

I can do it!

It's not that the team wants me to be the catcher, but... I want to be the catcher myself!

"That's it, I understand, let's work together!"

Tsuji Hiroki originally wanted to ask Nishino Tetsu to change his position to a relatively relaxed outfielder, and let him serve as the team's catcher.

But this only strengthened Tetsu Nishino's determination to play the catcher position.

Or ambition!

Not only the pitcher feels like monopolizing the pitcher's mound, the catcher also won't give up the catcher's bench easily!

Walking from the players' tunnel to the outside of the stadium, Hiroki Tsuji squinted his eyes under the dazzling sunlight and glanced at Tetsu Nishino who raised his hand to block the sunlight.

Tsuji Hiroki, who switched from baseman to catcher, finally felt relieved.

It's been almost seven or eight years.

The Hakusan High School baseball club, which couldn't find enough people to get close to the abandoned club, finally had a real regular catcher among the temporary catchers.

...

afternoon.

Hakusan Town, Hakusan High School Baseball Club.

As soon as the meeting ceremony ended, everyone in Baishan returned to school. Tomorrow, July 14th, in the afternoon of July 14th, they will play the first round of the three major conferences at the Tsu Municipal Stadium.

There is less than a day left to rest and prepare for battle.

Hakusan High School's opponent in the first round was Yokkaichi Minami High School.

Yokkaichi is in the Hokkaido area, which is located in the northern part of Mie Prefecture. It is nearby Nano City and Kuwana City. This area is densely populated and has many high schools, and many teams have played in Koshien.

Yokkaichi Minami High School's results in the 2017 Triple Major Conference were semi-finals, that is, the top 8, which was better than Hakusan High School's results in the top 16 in three rounds.

But, that was last year's results.

Unlike Hakusan High School, which is getting stronger year by year, Yokkaichi Minami High School's strength has declined seriously, especially after the retirement of the third grade class in 2017.

In this year's 2018 spring meeting, Yokkaichi Minami High School was unable to even qualify for the Yokkaichi regional preliminaries, and its strength is no longer what it once was.

Although Hakusan High School lost the first round, at least they qualified in the regional preliminaries, unlike Yokkaichi Minami High School, which didn't even have a chance to draw lots.

Tomorrow against Yokkaichi Minami High School, Hakusan High School still has the strength and confidence to win.

While the people in the baseball club were analyzing the strengths of the two schools, bursts of music came from the teaching building, and the members of the instrumental club were spending the last time practicing a cheering song for the baseball club.
Chapter completed!