No outs, runner on Second Base.
The score on the scoreboard was 13:9. It was still a large gap, but compared to before, it no longer caused despair. Especially with Seido High School Baseball Team's momentum soaring, their hope of catching up had greatly increased.
"That was an amazing hit!"
"That's it, let's win this game in one go!"
As the game neared its end, the supporters of Seido High School Baseball Team had already given up twice. Of course, that was not truly their choice. The situation on the field had been too despair-inducing. Even with absolute confidence in their own players, they had to admit that the team's chances of a comeback were almost zero.
But now it was different. Although the hope still felt slim, there was at least a chance. Even if that chance was one in ten or one in a hundred, they were willing to give one hundred percent effort. They would not hold back their cheers. They would not restrain their belief.
On the other side, the Osaka supporters, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, subtly changed their expressions.
"What's so great? They only got one run back. It's not like they can win the game."
"Exactly. A bunch of country bumpkins who haven't seen the world."
Their words were harsh, yet that harshness only revealed the pressure they were feeling. If Seido High School Baseball Team truly posed no threat, there would be no need for such defensive remarks.
And the greatest pressure was on Osaka Kiryuu High School Baseball Team's pitcher and catcher duo.
Tachi Hiromi was still relatively composed. After all, this was his first time facing Seido High School Baseball Team's three core hitters. Catcher Shibata was different. He had faced Seido several times before. In fact, this was already his fifth encounter with their core lineup.
Those three again.
Why again? Because the memories Shibata carried from facing them were simply too painful.
Seido's scoring was at least seventy percent related to those three, and the proportion could arguably be even higher. Especially in this game, their offensive power felt even stronger than Osaka Kiryuu High School Baseball Team's own core lineup. Their strength clearly suppressed the opponent, yet the score stubbornly refused to widen.
One of the most important reasons was that Seido High School Baseball Team's three core hitters were never cleanly retired. In five at-bats, they had almost produced a score every time.
Facing opponents like that, Shibata felt utterly speechless.
It was not only him. The team's Assistant Coach was also suffering from a splitting headache. He turned to Director Matsumoto beside him.
"If it doesn't work, just walk him. Now is not the time to insist on a head-on confrontation."
Zhang Han's performance today was even more dazzling than Azuma Kiyokuni's. The Assistant Coach truly did not want to continue entangling with such a batter. They had not gained any advantage so far, so why persist?
"No," Matsumoto Takahiro replied firmly. "If Hiromi walks a batter, the entire pitching rhythm will be disrupted. More importantly, what matters now is not just the score, but the batting order."
Although a head-on confrontation carried great risk, Matsumoto did not want Seido's batting order to continue flowing smoothly. That would be even more dangerous.
Humans make mistakes. Even horses stumble. Who could guarantee that they would not give up a hit in the next confrontation?
In the current situation, walking Zhang Han would mean they could not afford to give up another hit afterward. Such a decision was too risky.
If they did not resort to small tricks, even facing Seido High School Baseball Team's core hitters would still be acceptable. But if they used such methods and ultimately failed, the consequences would be too cruel.
Osaka Kiryuu High School Baseball Team could not accept that outcome.
So there was only one choice left.
A head-on confrontation.
Even if they gave up runs, they would not hesitate.
The more critical the moment, the more it tested a team's composure.
On the other side, Seido's players, trailing by four runs, remained surprisingly calm. Some teammates even had the leisure to envy Zhang Han's luck.
"This guy has ridiculous luck. Almost every time he comes up, there are runners on base."
Zhang Han's new scoring record had already reached an outrageous level. As a first-year rookie, he had scored over a dozen runs on the Koshien field. It was truly a case of comparison making others feel inferior.
Compared to him, they felt like supporting characters. Zhang Han was undoubtedly the true protagonist. His luck and opportunities left them far behind.
Miyuki Kazuya's eyes were nearly red with jealousy.
Putting everything else aside, if he had been given such opportunities, he would not have failed to score by now. The thought made him feel unwilling.
It was not that he had no runs at all. There had been one walk. But Miyuki refused to take pride in that. He had merely done what any competent player should have done in that situation. Anyone in his position would likely have achieved the same result.
"It's up to you!"
"Don't disappoint us, Mr. Clutch!"
The teammates in the dugout shouted their encouragement to Zhang Han. Though they grumbled, they sincerely hoped he would deliver a hit and bring the team closer. After all, they were one unit with a common opponent.
Zhang Han paid no attention to the dugout's emotions. At this moment, all his focus was locked onto his opponent.
Tachi Hiromi, who had just given up a hit, showed no trace of timidity. The devil-like smile still lingered on his face, unsettling as ever.
How interesting.
Zhang Han had seen many pitchers, but this was the first time he had encountered someone like Tachi. He wondered whether the pitch itself would be as intriguing as the man throwing it.
The answer came quickly.
The white ball whistled toward him.
The instant Zhang Han saw the baseball leave Tachi's hand, his pupils contracted sharply.
Here it comes.
For a brief moment, it felt as though he could see the entire trajectory of the ball unfolding before him. The pitch was tight to the inside. An inside fastball.
What nerve.
Ever since Zhang Han had made a name for himself with his batting, very few pitchers dared to challenge him inside, let alone with a fastball. Perhaps this was the drawback of being famous. When you were too good, opponents avoided your strengths entirely.
Were Shibata and Tachi deliberately doing the opposite?
Zhang Han had no time to analyze their intentions further. The baseball was already screaming toward him. The opponent had made his move. If he did not respond, it would be disrespectful.
Without hesitation, he swung.
"Ping!"
The crisp sound of contact echoed across the field.
The white ball soared high into the sky, carrying the force of Zhang Han's swing. It flew for a long time, climbing higher and higher, before finally crashing heavily against the back wall with a resounding thud.
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