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

Chapter 142: Opening Tactics · Nov 12, 2026

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Chapter List (248)

Page number / 5

101 Chapter 101 101: I Anticipated Your Prediction 2026-11-12
102 Chapter 102 102: The Showdown Continues 2026-11-12
103 Chapter 103 103: Battle of Wits 2026-11-12
104 Chapter 104 104: The Changes in You Shunshin 2026-11-12
105 Chapter 105 105: Isashiki — The Joy of Not Being the One Getting Scolded 2026-11-12
106 Chapter 106 106: Two Types of Cutter 2026-11-12
107 Chapter 107 107: Stealing All the Way 2026-11-12
108 Chapter 108 108: The Silent King — Narumiya Mei 2026-11-12
109 Chapter 109 109: Guessing 2026-11-12
110 Chapter 110 110: Sawamura, Who Isn’t Very Smart 2026-11-12
111 Chapter 111 111: You Shunshin’s Last Summer 2026-11-12
112 Chapter 112 112: Untitled 2026-11-12
113 Chapter 113 113: Complete Game 2026-11-12
114 Chapter 114 114: The Next Opponent — Yakushi High School 2026-11-12
115 Chapter 115 116: Seidou Goes Berserk 2026-11-12
116 Chapter 116 115: Raizō’s Provocation 2026-11-12
117 Chapter 117 117: The Loud Senior Gets Struck Out 2026-11-12
118 Chapter 118 118: Sawamura’s Enviable Talent 2026-11-12
119 Chapter 119 119: Narumiya Mei Is Being Manipulated 2026-11-12
120 Chapter 120 120: Seido vs. Yakushi High School 2026-11-12
121 Chapter 121 121: Raichi Todoroki 2026-11-12
122 Chapter 122 122: A Powerful Start 2026-11-12
123 Chapter 123 123: Isashiki’s Roar 2026-11-12
124 Chapter 124: One Inning Crushes Yakushi High School 2026-11-12
125 Chapter 125: The Ace Takes the Stage 2026-11-12
126 Chapter 126: A Powerful Showdown Between Pitchers 2026-11-12
127 Chapter 127 127: The Two Aces Feel the Pressure 2026-11-12
128 Chapter 128 128: Provocation? 2026-11-12
129 Chapter 129 129: Is This Retribution? 2026-11-12
130 Chapter 130 130: Head-on Showdown! Suppressing Raichi Todoroki 2026-11-12
131 Chapter 131 131: A Stunning Performance 2026-11-12
132 Chapter 132: Raichi Todoroki Strikes Out 2026-11-12
133 Chapter 133: The Sharp Cutter 2026-11-12
134 Chapter 134: The Match Ends 2026-11-12
135 Chapter 135: Ushijima, Do You Know How to Throw a Curveball? 2026-11-12
136 Chapter 136: I Shouldn’t Have Asked 2026-11-12
137 Chapter 137: The Noisy Training Routine 2026-11-12
138 Chapter 138: Slider 2026-11-12
139 Chapter 139: Quietly Doing Big Things 2026-11-12
140 Chapter 140: Digging a Trap for the Seniors 2026-11-12
141 Chapter 141: I Must Get to Koshien This Year 2026-11-12
142 Chapter 142: Opening Tactics 2026-11-12
143 Chapter 143: I’ll Give You a Taste of Ups and Downs 2026-11-12
144 Chapter 144: The More Provoked, the Tougher They Become 2026-11-12
145 Chapter 145: The Oppressive Presence of 195 cm 2026-11-12
146 Chapter 146: The Game Within the Game 2026-11-12
147 Chapter 147: The Double Pressure of Base-Stealing 2026-11-12
148 Chapter 148: Sensen’s Provocation 2026-11-12
149 Chapter 149: The More Provoked, the Stronger He Becomes 2026-11-12
150 Chapter 150: Pitcher Duel 2026-11-12

At 10 a.m., on the day of the semifinals—

The Seidō High School baseball team arrived at the stadium by bus.

Wearing his training uniform, Ushijima Wakatoshi looked as calm as ever.

Earphones in.

Music playing.

Completely unfazed.

Carrying his gear bag, he followed the team onto the field.

”Seidō’s here!”

”Is that their ace?”

”Yeah—Ushijima Wakatoshi!”

”The fastest pitcher in this year’s tournament!”

”I heard he can hit 158 km/h!”

”What?! Even Narumiya Mei only throws around 148, right?!”

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

”If Seidō keeps this up, they’re definitely making the finals.”

”Honestly, this semifinal feels like a formality.”

”Yeah… they’re just too strong this year.”

On the opposite side—

The Sensen players watched silently.

”They’re really popular…”

”Yeah…”

But their ace—

Maki Yōsuke—

Didn’t speak.

He simply stared at Ushijima.

Ushijima Wakatoshi.

Height: 188 cm.

A pure power pitcher.

Fastball max: 158 km/h.

Main arsenal:

Four-Seam

Two-Seam

Cutter

Shootball

Sinker

A pitcher who dominated with speed—

And aggressive inside pitching.

All of this information—

Maki had memorized.

He knew exactly what kind of opponent he was facing.

This year—

Ushijima had risen to fame almost overnight.

Compared constantly to Narumiya Mei—

The so-called left-handed king.

While Ushijima—

Was being called the right-handed king.

Which one was stronger?

No one knew.

The answer would come—

In the finals.

”…Tch.”

Maki clicked his tongue quietly.

They’re underestimating me.

The teams entered the stadium.

The crowd followed.

Inside the locker room—

After changing, Yuki Tetsuya spoke up.

”Masashi is here.”

”Oh?”

Ushijima raised an eyebrow.

”He doesn’t have a game today?”

”He heard we made the semifinals.”

”He came with my parents to watch.”

”They said they’ve never seen you pitch in person.”

Ushijima shrugged lightly.

It didn’t really matter to him.

Soon after—

The team headed onto the field.

Coach Kataoka spoke briefly:

”The starting lineup stays the same.”

”Let’s go.”

”YES!”

The game began.

Seidō on offense.

Senzen on defense.

Kuramochi stepped up as the leadoff batter.

On the mound—

Maki stood tall.

Very tall.

”…Whoa…”

Kuramochi’s expression stiffened.

”That’s… insane…”

At 195 cm, Maki’s height created overwhelming pressure.

The release point alone—

Was completely different.

Whoosh!

The first pitch came—

A straight fastball.

Before Kuramochi could react—

It was already in the catcher’s mitt.

No swing.

Strike one.

”…That’s fast.”

From the dugout—

Ushijima watched calmly.

Then turned to Yuki.

”Captain.”

”If this inning ends three up, three down…”

”Our core lineup will lead off next inning.”

”You’ll be first.”

Yuki nodded.

Listening carefully.

”But…”

Ushijima continued,

”We probably won’t hit him in the first round.”

”The simulation yesterday helped…”

”But it’s not enough.”

”You can raise the mound…”

”But you can’t replicate his height.”

Everyone understood.

”The real chance starts in the second rotation.”

Ushijima’s eyes sharpened slightly.

”But I want us to score first.”

”With an early lead…”

”We can control the game.”

”And reduce unnecessary risks.”

”The finals matter more.”

Yuki nodded again.

”Go on.”

Ushijima continued calmly:

”If you get on base—good.”

”But if not…”

”Don’t force it.”

”Even giving up an out is fine.”

That made a few players blink.

”Because…”

”I’ll be next.”

Ushijima pointed at himself.

”If I can’t hit cleanly…”

”I’ll bunt.”

”With my speed—”

”I can reach base.”

”And once I’m on…”

He glanced toward Masuko.

”You’ll buy me time.”

”I’ll steal second… then third.”

”And then—”

”A sacrifice play brings me home.”

Silence.

Simple.

Efficient.

Calculated.

Yuki Tetsuya smiled.

”…That’s solid.”

It wasn’t flashy.

But it was—

Reliable.

The kind of strategy that wins games.

And with Ushijima’s speed and pitching dominance—

Even a single run—

Could decide everything.

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