Disclaimer: I don't own Ace of Diamond

"Strike! Batter Out"

In the midst of huge stadium filled with people the declaration of referee came following that the huge uproar of the audience was heard as Akagi Junior High had just won the nationals. As all the people of Nagano and players from Akagi Junior High were celebrating, middle of them was blond and pompadour haired Sawamura Eijun.

He was happy that they have won the Nationals just now by score of 0-2, but despite winning the national instead of enjoying like his teammates he had only one thought in his mind.

'Southpaw, huh… I think now it's time'

During the phase of learning pitching and practice matches he had come to realize that there were lefty pitchers too. But he had made much more progress using right handed pitching, so his coach Azuma and he himself decided that after winning his first nationals, he will add left handed pitching training in his already prepared training schedule.

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Unknown to Sawamura there was a lady in the midst of supporters and her name was Takashima Rei. She was here to just enjoy the nationals of junior highs. But after the tournament she was ecstatic to find the pitcher that just shut down all the batter with number of hits being 0 but also hit the homer. As a assistant director of the Seidou High School Baseball Team for 4/5 years she was experienced for finding talents in the field of baseball. She knew that at the moment Seidou was suffering from pitcher crisis and after finding Sawamura she knew that she had found the one to improve the crisis.

'Sawamura Eijun. He is talented, that's for sure. He is sure the high school baseball or higher material and I can also feel that he was repressing his ability to play fully because of lack of powerful opponents and challenge. If he can play in the environment with competition he will flourish to be well known pitcher.' Was the present thought of Rei. If Sawamura was able to hear her thought than he would be astonished she was spot on.

It was for some time that he had realized this problem as he was not challenged, he was unable to evolve. So after discussing this with his coach his coach had devised plan in which Azuma would put ban in various ban and conditions on Sawamura like not throwing change up and breaking balls, not exceeding pitching speed of 135 kmph etc. because of which he had play handicapped. Due to which he was fully challenged.

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"Eijun! Eijun, there is someone to meet you", Sawamura's grandfather called.

At that moment Sawamura was exercising his shoulder by pulling an elastic rope in pitching motion with his left arm. This exercise was the exercise that he did and still does in regular basis for right arm (Disclaimer alert This concept is from Cross Game).

It has been two months (sorry if time frames are wrong) since nationals. During national games he had to make his hair that looked like of his father and bleached it blond when he lost in a bet against his coach. But now after two months and trimming his hair it was back to normal.

After returning from nationals he has been practicing for playing baseball using left handed, and despite being natural lefty because of lack of exercise and body motion experience it was not at the level of his right handed way.

After continuous drills he is able pitch fast ball at the speed of around 140 kmph as his lower body was strong due years of training. But he knew that he will reach the level of his right hand pitching which was at 152 kmph and which will increase in near future.

And funnily his problem of right hand pitching where when he pitched fast ball the ball moved weirdly near plate occurred in the left handed pitching too which frustrates Sawamura and mainly his friends to no end. Because of moving fastball Sawamura was pushed to pitch two seam fast ball to minimize movement. And it was progressing rather well as he was in process of stabilizing it with proper control training.

As there was addition of southpaw training, his training menu was decreased and at moment he will only pitch with his right and do towel drills to maintain sharpness, speed and control of his pitches. For body training his training included running, lower body exercises, batting drills, pushups, pull ups and many other exercise that focus on body balance, agility, stamina, dexterity and strength. For southpaw his training menu were balance, towel drill, pulling elastic bands, ball control and recently added breaking ball.

Despite knowing variety of pitches his favorites were curve ball, sinker, cutter, slider and splitter. But his absolute best and most used was change up. Each of his pitches were personally trained by his coach and as he only liked absolute best, so Sawamura had trained these pitches very passionately as well as diligently most of his pitches were as dangerous as they can be.

And for his southpaw change up is the first breaking ball he wish to train in because it will provide more sharpness and strengthen his fast ball.

"Ok gramps, I'll be there in a minute." Replied Sawamura.

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"So you are Sawamura hmm, My name is Rei Takashima. I'm assistant director of the Seidou High School Baseball Team. We would love to have you in our team. " said Rei.

In the hall room of Sawamuras home there a small table and all family member were sitting in front of Rei in one side of table and she was at other.

"Seidou? Isn't it a famous baseball school that's been to nationals numerous times!" with surprised look exclaimed Sawamura as he remembered a conversation with his coach.

Flashback(this is only conversation snnipet)

"WHAT! You want me to go to Tokyo for High School studies. Why?" asked Sawamura angrily.

"No need to be angry. I know you want to go to koshien with your friends but you know that they are only invested in baseball for you. And despite me training them it was you who carried them towards victory in nationals." Replied Azuma.

"Listen, in Tokyo there are many high school that primarily focus in baseball and competition is also high and I know that you are not feeling much competition in here. So go to Tokyo, and thrive there. With better equipment and competitive environment you will enjoy baseball there. At least think about it." Said Azuma.

Flashback end

"So, when would you like to pay us visit? We're going to get busier as time goes on, so it would be nice if you could come as soon as possible." asked Rei, as she broke Sawamura's thought.

"Anyway, you should come see one of our practices. From what I saw, you didn't have competitive environment or rivals who drove you to strive to improve or thrive at your junior high school."said Rei.

'Rivals, I have been playing games with many teams as I accumulated experience and won many of them too and leaded my junior high team to nationals and won too. I even played against first string powerhouse high school teams, clubs in pro league. Even if I was not able to win them but I learned and experienced many scenarios. Because of these things I am what I am in baseball. I think she does not know about that, wonder why? And it is better not to tell her about that' thought Sawamura.

"Before visiting Seidou I will like to tell you that,I want to be ace that would lead his team to nationals and win as that is my dream. And one more thing I will only pitch with my left." Said Sawamura.

"WHAT! But why? You would be sensational pitcher if you pitched with right hand as you are great with it. Why change it to left then? And when will that scenario be?" asked surprised Rei.

"As you see I am natural lefty but from small age I learned to play baseball from right hand due to lack of knowledge. After learning about lefty players I asked my coach about that and he and I decided to withhold southpaw practice till I win nationals. So after winning nationals I have been training in southpaw ways of baseball. As for the scenario I will tell you when time comes. And please don't tell anyone that I can also pitch with right hand even coach and players of Seidou." Requested Sawamura.

After looking deeply in Sawamuras eye she was moved by determination and she agreed to his request and said with a sigh, "Ok. I will agree to that but don't complain if could not succeed in playing baseball as regular."

'fuuu, its good that she agreed, I don't want other to pester me to play using right. Now let's take a good look at your "top level"' thought Sawamura.