Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 221: A Fundamental Problem

Eijun scratched the back of his head awkwardly, letting out a sheepish laugh.

He had thought the issue with his pitch might stem from his grip or his stance, leading to the instability and lack of precision he was experiencing.

Yet, it turned out to be a fundamental problem—control.

This realization left him a little embarrassed, but it also deepened his respect for Coach Kataoka's insight.

In the original story, many fans often saw Ochiai overshadowing Coach Kataoka when it came to instructing players.

While it was true that Ochiai had exceptional coaching abilities, this didn't mean Coach Kataoka was lacking.

After all, the current team, led by Yuuki and his peers—once considered a "lost generation"—wouldn't have reached their current strength without Kataoka's guidance and cultivation.

While Yuuki and the others' hard work was undoubtedly the main factor, Kataoka's role in shaping their growth couldn't be overlooked.

People often forget that Kataoka himself was once the ace pitcher of a Koshien runner-up team and a star player during his university years.

His dual talent in pitching and batting made him more than capable of coaching high school players.

This time, while neither Chris nor Miyuki had been able to pinpoint the issue, Coach Kataoka immediately zeroed in on the core problem with sharp precision.

His ability to diagnose the root cause reaffirmed why he was the head coach of Seidou High School, recognized and appointed by his predecessor, Coach Sakaki.

"Try raising your arm slightly higher," Kataoka suggested.

Control couldn't be mastered overnight.

While Eijun's control was decent, adapting to new grips and stances required time.

Still, small adjustments could help stabilize his pitches in the meantime.

"Don't shift your entire weight downward; release slightly later."

"Keep your body balanced and lean forward just a bit."

"Now, release!"

Whoosh!

Following Kataoka's step-by-step corrections, Eijun adjusted his grip and once again delivered the five-seam fastball.

Pop!

Miyuki caught the pitch cleanly, nodding with approval.

The delivery was smoother and more precise than before.

While imperfections remained, Kataoka's suggestions had refined Eijun's mechanics.

Ultimately, it would still take consistent effort for Eijun to develop complete mastery of his control—a foundational skill for any pitcher.

Control was the cornerstone of a pitcher's success.

In the original story, You Shunshin, though lacking extraordinary talent, dazzling breaking balls, or blazing fastball speed, relied on his exceptional control and sharp intellect.

He could hold Seidou's lineup at bay for two rounds and, in the autumn tournament, single-handedly shut out Yakushi High's powerful batting lineup for eight innings.

This demonstrated just how critical control was for a pitcher.

Under Coach Kataoka's guidance, Eijun repeatedly practiced his five-seam fastball.

Though it wasn't yet perfect, his control had clearly improved compared to his performances in the Yokohama and Seihou matches.

Besides the five-seam fastball, Eijun also began experimenting with other pitches, like an improved cutter and a two-seam fastball.

Progress wasn't instantaneous, but Eijun approached it methodically.

It was like farming: while perfecting one field was essential, preparing the soil for others was equally important.

Once the first field was fully cultivated, he could then focus on developing the others step by step.

Eijun's current goal was to establish a foundational Numbers series template within this year.

That way, by his second year, he could refine and master them as reliable weapons.

By his third year, he aimed to further enhance them, creating a complete arsenal of perfected pitches.

This plan wasn't just about dominating high school baseball—it was about laying the groundwork for his future in professional baseball.

This was Eijun's ambition and the life plan he had set for himself.

"Find the most suitable release timing and angle. The key is to quickly adapt your body to this grip and posture," Coach Kataoka said in a deep voice, a rare hint of admiration flashing across his face.

"Yes," Eijun nodded lightly, his eyes glimmering with excitement.

Today was not only about addressing a fundamental issue; it also allowed Eijun to make significant progress in refining his five-seam fastball.

What remained now was filling the gaps with time and experience—something that couldn't be rushed.

But Eijun believed that with enough time, the future would undoubtedly belong to him!

Standing nearby, Coach Kataoka also allowed himself a rare smile, nodding slightly.

Eijun had already brought many surprises to Kataoka.

While he didn't express it openly, he knew in his heart that Seidou High School's success thus far owed much to Eijun.

Without him, Seidou's defense would have a glaring weakness, and the pitching staff's lack of depth would have been exposed.

Without Eijun, even advancing past the quarterfinals against Yakushi High, let alone the finals against Inashiro Industrial, would have been a daunting task.

Eijun's presence gave Seidou's batting lineup the confidence to play at their own pace without rushing to score, knowing that their ace pitcher would hold the line.

Their trust wasn't in the pitching rotation—it was in Eijun. His stability gave Seidou's offense the breathing room it needed to maintain its aggressive approach.

Now, Eijun had once again delivered a pleasant surprise: an upgraded version of his unique pitches—a personalized arsenal of breaking balls.

And not just one type; every pitch he developed seemed unconventional, each carrying unique quirks.

If anything, all of his breaking balls could be categorized as quirk pitches.

Some even combined the characteristics of two or three different breaking balls, such as the five-seam fastball he had just mastered.

Coach Kataoka had every reason to believe that Eijun would be the key to Seidou's success on the national stage over the next two years.

Of course, at this stage, Furuya was also steadily showcasing his potential and prowess as a power pitcher, with a future just as bright.

As a traditional-style pitcher, Furuya would typically receive more attention from coaches, including Kataoka.

In the original story, Furuya overshadowed Eijun during their first and second years, remaining dominant until the summer tournament in the sequel when Eijun finally caught up to him.

However, things were different in this timeline.

From the very beginning, Eijun had displayed absolute dominance.

Whether in terms of potential or current ability, he had consistently outperformed Furuya.

Guided by his core principles, Kataoka couldn't help but place higher expectations on Eijun.

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