Azuma Kiyokuni and Yuuki Tetsuya were already out, and now Zhang Han was cornered.
Even those who had remained optimistic about Seido High School Baseball Team earlier felt a quiet sense of despair.
In this situation, Seido's chances of turning the tables appeared painfully slim. The atmosphere in the stadium made it even clearer.
Many spectators felt as though they had already seen the ending of this match. On the other side, the smiles on the faces of Osaka Kiryuu High School Baseball Team's supporters were almost impossible to hide.
What Seido High School? What strongest hitting lineup?
The media had praised them endlessly, almost elevating them beyond reason.
But reality seemed merciless.
Seido High School's strength, at least for now, appeared incomparable to Osaka Kiryuu High School's.
The scoreboard told the story plainly.
Two innings were nearly over. Osaka Kiryuu led by a full three runs.
Seido had not only failed to score, they had not even managed to produce a single hit.
At the beginning of the game, Osaka Kiryuu's supporters had felt cautious. Seido's reputation carried weight, and their core batters were widely feared.
But now, that caution had completely disappeared.
They looked toward Seido's players with open disdain. They were going to win this game. That belief grew stronger with every passing second.
Seido's supporters noticed those expressions clearly. Of course they understood the meaning behind those looks.
But understanding changed nothing.
What could they do?
They had no immediate answer to Osaka Kiryuu's strength. The Cosmic Team truly lived up to its reputation as a championship contender.
Their dominance felt overwhelming.
At this moment, even the most loyal Seido supporters did not dare to expect Zhang Han to hit the ball out of the park.
They only hoped that in the later innings, Seido could find a single opportunity to counterattack.
Even if they ultimately lost, they wanted to prove something.
They wanted Osaka Kiryuu's players and supporters, as well as the millions watching the live broadcast, to see that Seido High School Baseball Team was not to be taken lightly.
Just as most people had already assumed Zhang Han was about to be retired, Nakata Hisashi prepared his decisive pitch.
The closer he approached victory, the more cautious he became. Zhang Han was already backed into a corner with two strikes.
Nakata selected his most confident weapon.
A sharp curveball.
He understood Seido's scouting ability. Combined with Zhang Han's talent, it was entirely possible that they had guessed what pitch he would use to finish this at bat.
At this level, no one was foolish.
Main players at powerhouse schools had played countless games. They did not rely solely on instinct. They relied on accumulated experience.
Given the smooth flow of the inning so far, what kind of reaction would Osaka Kiryuu aim for?
It was obvious.
They would attempt to seize complete control.
Striking out Zhang Han would be ideal.
Even forcing him to hit a weak foul would suffice.
Nakata was confident.
He was not originally Osaka Kiryuu's ace. But he had never believed his ability was inferior to the ace. His inconsistency in past performances had cost him the position. Not his talent.
When he was in form, he believed he was unstoppable. And today, he felt excellent.
Each pitch flowed naturally from his arm.
His velocity had not increased, but the weight behind the ball felt heavier. He might not have exceeded his limits, but he was absolutely performing at his full capacity.
He wanted Director Matsumoto to see it. He wanted everyone to understand that he was capable of leading this team.
With determination, Nakata delivered the ball.
This pitch carried all his strength.
From his perspective, Zhang Han's figure appeared smaller and smaller.
A first year player.
Yes, he had tied the freshman home run record at Koshien.
Yes, he had shone brightly.
But that light was about to be extinguished.
Who told him to face Osaka Kiryuu? Who told him to face Nakata Hisashi?
As the baseball spun toward the strike zone, Zhang Han appeared motionless.
He stood still, as if frozen.
Shibata, Osaka Kiryuu's catcher, felt a surge of joy.
He had sensed earlier that Zhang Han might not react in time to this pitch.
Now, that instinct seemed confirmed.
No matter how brilliant Zhang Han's past achievements were, he was still a first year.
He could not possibly have faced every type of breaking ball.
He was not particularly strong against sharp curves either.
In that brief instant, Shibata imagined the strikeout.
He imagined the cheer of the crowd.
He imagined Nakata walking off the mound confidently.
A smile began to form in his eyes.
But before that smile could settle, everything changed.
Zhang Han moved.
His swing came late.
Too late, Shibata thought at first.
But as the ball approached the strike zone, its sharp downward break naturally reduced its speed slightly.
The late swing coincided precisely with that moment of deceleration.
The timing was exact.
Shibata's expression shifted from calm to surprise.
From surprise to disbelief.
In less than a second, his face changed repeatedly.
If anyone had been watching him instead of the batter, they might have praised his expressiveness.
But no one was watching the catcher.
Every pair of eyes focused on Zhang Han.
And on the bat in his hands.
"Ping!"
The sound was crisp and solid.
The bat struck the center of the baseball perfectly.
The ball shot forward.
The moment contact was made, Zhang Han released the bat.
He did not even look up to confirm the direction.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
From the feeling alone, he knew.
This ball was a hit.
Luck played a role in baseball.
Zhang Han understood that.
At Koshien, several of his most brilliant moments had involved a degree of gamble.
And each time, he had won.
Today was no different.
The ball continued rising.
"It flew!"
"It flew out!"
"Is this the third one?"
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