Orix Buffaloes pitcher Ryugetsu Sato (18) of Kendai Takasaki has vowed to become pitcher can handle tough situations. On the 4th, during a day off from the Miyazaki training camp, he and other rookie players experienced making "nerikuri," a local dish of rice cakes mixed with sweet potatoes, in Miyazaki City. "It's so delicious. I'm very happy to be treated to food in the place where we're having our training camp," he said, expressing his gratitude and describing his ideal image of pitcher.

He won the Senbatsu in 24 years and became pitcher, and after that, he overcame the medial collateral ligament reconstruction surgery of his left elbow (commonly known as Tommy John surgery) as a 147 kg left-hander. Like rice cakes, he emphasized that 'persistence' is important in pitch aspects. "I think the pitcher pitcher that can closer to zero after putting out runner is the that can be firmly 'sticky' and zero, and I wanted to use this kind of meal as an opportunity for that pitcher." The 153 kg right-hander Fujikawa (Nobeoka Gakuen), who is in first place, also agreed with a smile, saying, "It's important to become a winning pitcher."

"I want to eat lots of white things (like mochi) to get a win," said second-place 153 km/h right-hander Mori Akira (Osaka Toin High School), nodding. On the 3rd, the final day of the first training session, all three pitchers faced catcher for the first time in bullpen, throwing 30 pitches. The trio of high school graduate pitcher born in 2007 will compete with each other and carry the future of Orix Buffaloes on their shoulders. (Nambu Shunta)