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Diamond no Ace: Coach, I Want to Be a Batter, Not a Pitcher!

Chapter 78 78: Preliminary Round 1 — Chris Starts · Nov 12, 2026

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Chapter List (248)

Page number / 5

51 Chapter 51 51: Seido’s Tradition 2026-11-12
52 Chapter 52 52: Intensive Training — Begins!!! 2026-11-12
53 Chapter 53 53: The Sweat of Youth and Passion 2026-11-12
54 Chapter 54 54: The Determination of the Starting Lineup 2026-11-12
55 Chapter 55 55: That’s It? Getting Old? 2026-11-12
56 Chapter 56 56: Silver Sinker 2026-11-12
57 Chapter 57 57: Seido vs Kiryu 2026-11-12
58 Chapter 58 58: Miyuki’s Sin 2026-11-12
59 Chapter 59 59: Osaka Kiryu’s Shock ( 100 Power Stone) 2026-11-12
60 Chapter 60 60: Who Doesn’t Have a Hidden Skill? 2026-11-12
61 Chapter 61 61: Seido’s Fourth Batter 2026-11-12
62 Chapter 62 62: Seido’s Ace and Fifth Batter 2026-11-12
63 Chapter 63 63: The Cunning Miyuki 2026-11-12
64 Chapter 64 64: An Unfathomable Pitch! A Powerful and Fearless Throw 2026-11-12
65 Chapter 65 65: The Cutter’s Surprise for Kiryu 2026-11-12
66 Chapter 66 66: A Surprisingly Low Pitch Count 2026-11-12
67 Chapter 67 67: The Sinker’s Despair for Kiryu 2026-11-12
68 Chapter 68 68: The Power of the Sinker 2026-11-12
69 Chapter 69 69: Inashiro Ace, King Narumiya Mei 2026-11-12
70 Chapter 70 70: Narumiya Mei’s Tricks 2026-11-12
71 Chapter 71 71: Narumiya Mei’s Provocation 2026-11-12
72 Chapter 72 72: A Head-on Clash! A Strong Response to the Provocation 2026-11-12
73 Chapter 73 73: Who Said These Are All My Trump Cards? 2026-11-12
74 Chapter 74 74: Shootball 2026-11-12
75 Chapter 75 75: The Summer Preliminaries Begin 2026-11-12
76 Chapter 76 76: Blind Cannon — Masashi 2026-11-12
77 Chapter 77 77: Masashi — Dangerous and Addictive 2026-11-12
78 Chapter 78 78: Preliminary Round 1 — Chris Starts 2026-11-12
79 Chapter 79 79: Good Swing. Don’t Swing Like That Next Time. 2026-11-12
80 Chapter 80 80: Chris Is Excited 2026-11-12
81 Chapter 81 81: The Trust of the Senior Students 2026-11-12
82 Chapter 82 82: The Arrogant Outfield Trio (100 Power Stones) 2026-11-12
83 Chapter 83 83: Addicted, Chris 2026-11-12
84 Chapter 84 84: An Inside-the-Park Home Run 2026-11-12
85 Chapter 85 85: The Speechless Trio 2026-11-12
86 Chapter 86 86: A Howl! The Outfield Interception! 2026-11-12
87 Chapter 87 87: The Shootball That Excited Chris 2026-11-12
88 Chapter 88 88: Your Goals as First Years 2026-11-12
89 Chapter 89 89: Untitled 2026-11-12
90 Chapter 90 90: The Evolutionary Direction of the Shootball 2026-11-12
91 Chapter 91 91: Two People Came to Ask for Advice 2026-11-12
92 Chapter 92 92: Silver Home Run 2026-11-12
93 Chapter 93 93: Signing In for 100 Days 2026-11-12
94 Chapter 94 94: Chris’s Rice Crackers Are Mine ( Bonus Chapter) 2026-11-12
95 Chapter 95 95: Pitch Pairing Strategy 2026-11-12
96 Chapter 96 96: A Powerful Offense 2026-11-12
97 Chapter 97 97: Playing with the Opponent 2026-11-12
98 Chapter 98 98: The Precise Machine — You Shunshin 2026-11-12
99 Chapter 99 99: If You’re So Good, Then You Do It! 2026-11-12
100 Chapter 100 100: A Powerful Response! 2026-11-12

The next day marked Seido’s first game in the Tokyo West District qualifiers.

As a seeded team, Seido High School had received a bye in the first round, just like Inashiro Industrial.

Their opponent—

Mishima High School.

”The second-round match between Seido High School and Mishima High School is about to begin…”

The stadium announcement echoed across the field.

Both teams began entering the stadium.

Coach Kataoka stood before his players, lineup sheet in hand.

Before announcing the starters, he glanced at Ushijima Wakatoshi.

”Do you want to pitch today?”

Ushijima paused.

”Today’s opponent isn’t particularly strong,” the coach continued calmly. ”We could have Furuya start.”

That was exactly what Ushijima had been thinking.

Mishima wasn’t considered a powerhouse. Even if something unexpected happened, adjustments could be made in later innings.

If possible, resting during the early rounds would be ideal.

”Yes. That was my thought as well,” Ushijima replied honestly.

Coach Kataoka adjusted his glasses.

”But since this is still the qualifiers… I want you to take this opportunity to work on your sinker. Improve its control in a real-game setting.”

As expected.

It wasn’t about saving strength, it was about sharpening weapons.

Ushijima nodded without hesitation.

”Understood.”

Following the coach’s decision without complaint that was part of being an ace.

”Starting pitcher: Ushijima.”

”Starting catcher: Chris.”

”…Huh?!”

The team froze.

”C-Coach… Chris-senpai… his shoulder—”

Everyone knew.

Chris had been injured. During a Second String match in May, he had partnered with Sawamura and performed brilliantly but it had also made clear that his shoulder had not fully healed.

Coach Kataoka’s voice remained steady.

”I am aware of Chris’s injury.”

”But I also know this may be his last summer as a third-year.”

Silence fell over the group.

”The qualifiers have only just begun. The opponent is not strong.”

”With Ushijima on the mound, the defensive pressure will be minimal.”

”If we prevent runners from reaching base, Chris won’t need to make difficult throws.”

”He only needs to receive.”

The logic was cold.

Precise.

As long as there were no base runners, the catcher wouldn’t need to fire bullets to second base.

Just frame, guide, and receive.

Chris clenched his fist slightly.

”To be honest… I’m extremely nervous right now,” he admitted with a small smile.

”This might be the most nervous I’ve ever felt playing baseball.”

His eyes shone not with fear, but anticipation.

”Today is the first time I’ll officially receive Ushijima’s pitch in a game.”

Miyuki blinked.

”Wait… Chris-senpai has never caught for Ushijima?”

Chris shook his head gently.

”I’ve watched him during training.”

”From April until now, three full months.”

”He averages around 150 pitches a day.”

”Ninety days… that’s nearly fourteen thousand pitches.”

”And sometimes, he throws close to two hundred in a single day.”

Chris laughed softly.

”Watching his control improve… his pitches sharpen… I’ve wanted to catch for him countless times.”

”But there was never a chance.”

There was faint bitterness in his tone.

Because Ushijima and Miyuki were too in sync.

During practice, Miyuki received most of Ushijima’s bullpen sessions. Miyauchi handled batting practice. Chris had simply watched from the side.

Miyuki scratched his head awkwardly.

”Then… is this my fault?”

”Ugh!” Miyauchi snorted loudly.

Ushijima smirked and glanced at Sawamura.

”Sawamura. I’m taking Chris-senpai from you today. Jealous?”

”You bastard! Don’t say things like that!” Sawamura exploded.

”Miyuki is your partner! Chris-senpai is mine!”

”Oh? Then forget it,” Ushijima said casually. ”I won’t partner with you anymore.”

”W-What?! Chris-senpai, you can’t abandon me!”

The dugout burst into laughter.

But Ushijima’s expression soon turned serious.

”With your current pitching… can you guarantee no one gets on base?”

Sawamura froze.

”I…”

”You can’t.”

His voice wasn’t cruel just factual.

”If you’re not strong enough, you can’t protect what you want.”

”If you’re not strong enough, you won’t stand on the mound.”

”And if you’re not strong enough, you can’t even ensure that partnering with Chris-senpai won’t worsen his shoulder.”

Sawamura’s fists trembled.

”Why do you think I keep telling you to improve your control?”

”When you’re strong enough, you can carry part of the burden.”

”And then, whoever you partner with—will be the perfect battery.”

Silence.

This time, Sawamura didn’t argue.

He understood.

Strength wasn’t pride.

It was responsibility.

Coach Kataoka lifted the lineup sheet.

”Today’s starting lineup.”

”First: Kuramochi.”

”Second: Kominato.”

”Third: Isashiki.”

”Fourth batter: Yuki.”

”Fifth: Ushijima.”

”Sixth: Masuko.”

”Seventh: Chris.”

”Eighth: Shirasu.”

”Ninth: Furuya.”

”Take the field!”

”OH!!!”

Seido roared as one and charged out of the dugout.

Miyuki would not start today.

But he didn’t mind.

More than anyone, he understood Chris’s ability.

If Chris had never been injured—

There would have been no debate.

He would have been Seido’s undisputed number one catcher.

And today—

For the first time—

The ace and the forgotten genius would form a battery.

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