In high school, I was confident in my batting skills, and I was looking for a university where I could continue playing baseball even through the general entrance exam. That's when I heard that "Obirin University offers equal opportunities," and I decided to go there thinking that if I worked hard, I might be able to play in games. However, when I actually joined the team, I found that the level of the other players was very high... I hit a wall right away, but it motivated me to think, "The only way to play in games is to hit." The low barrier between seniors and juniors was also one of the factors that allowed me to dedicate myself to baseball.

Team practice is only 2-3 hours a day, sometimes just in the morning. It's shorter than other universities, and it's an environment that demands self-reliance. Because of this, independence is important, and I think I was able to grow as a person. Whenever I had time, I would practice batting in the indoor practice facility, and by getting results when I had the chance, I gradually started to get playing time in games. Now that I'm a fourth-year student, the upperclassmen, led by Captain Matsue Kyo, take the lead in gathering on the field to prepare for practice. By giving the underclassmen more leeway, I feel that the team atmosphere has improved and the team's strength has also increased.

Although I'm now playing in the first team games, last spring I was still a second-team player. I was determined to make it this year, but a hamstring injury forced me out of action. To make matters worse, the spring league was canceled due to the coronavirus, and we had to stay home. A heavy atmosphere hung over the team, and I myself felt anxious that my college baseball career would end without me achieving any results.

Amidst all this, I decided to improve my batting form as a way to shift my mindset to a more positive one. I took inspiration from Major Leaguer Javier Báez, a player who uses a batting style that puts more power into the ball than he naturally possesses. At the same time, to compensate for the lack of power I was lacking as a long-ball hitter, I also dedicated time to physical training and gained 5-6 kg in weight. As a result, in practice after the self-isolation period ended, the distance of my hits increased, and my batting average improved. I was also able to produce results in actual games, and I got more opportunities to play in first-team games. When I was finally told I would be a starter in the fall league, I was certain that my efforts had not been in vain.

"Your barometer of performance is whether you can swing the bat from the first pitch." This was advice from last year's captain, Hamano Oozora. I've always had a personality that makes me think negatively as soon as I don't get results, and it seems that was showing in my at-bats. He immediately saw through my hesitation and the way my arms were tensed up. Even now, I take these words to heart, and in practice, I try to imagine a "crucial" situation and make sure I can swing the bat hard from the first pitch.

We were able to win the spring league of the first division of the Tokyo Metropolitan University Baseball League this year. When we lost the first game of the league against Teikyo University and the first game against Nippon Sport Science University towards the end of the season, everyone remained cheerful and went into the next game with a positive attitude, and we were able to win, which I think is characteristic of Obirin University this year. We will aim to be the best in Japan at the All Japan University Baseball Championship that follows. As a batter, of course I want to get hits and I want to aim for home runs as well. But more than that, I want to become a player that my teammates can rely on when I step up to the plate, someone they can say, "Nakano will do something about it." I will continue to swing the bat with all my might and earn the trust of everyone.