Zhang Han changed his equipment and re-entered the game. This greatly relieved the fans who had been very worried about him.
"Zhang Han has returned to the game; he seems to be fine."
Even the commentator's voice seemed to let out a sigh of relief. No one wanted to see such a genius get injured.
In the Seido High School Baseball Team dugout, Manager Ota looked at his coach in a dilemma, wondering if he should express his opinion. This wasn't the Summer Tournament that determined the team's survival, so there was no need to push so hard.
Even if Zhang Han was taken off the field, they might not lose. And even if they did lose, so what? This was just a Tokyo Spring Tournament after all. Having already secured a seed spot, the remaining championship for a powerhouse like Seido was almost like a chicken rib: flavorless to eat, yet a pity to discard.
"Coach, why did you..."
Finally, Manager Ota asked the question in his heart.
Coach Kataoka glanced at him and said, "I originally wanted him to come off directly, but did you see that child's eyes just now?"
His eyes? Ota really hadn't noticed that.
"What about his eyes?"
"That child doesn't want to come off; he wants to keep playing!"
Coach Kataoka's eyes were filled with admiration. Why should he stop a young man's ambition to play? Not to mention that person was Zhang Han, the Zhang Han he previously thought liked to go easy in games, the Zhang Han he thought lacked fighting spirit.
When Zhang Han's competitive spirit ignited, Coach Kataoka naturally had to carefully nurture it, not allowing the flame that had finally ignited to be extinguished again.
Zhang Han's tendency to hold back was closely related to his life experiences. But life experiences were not entirely unchangeable; they constantly evolved as a person grew. In this situation, as long as they could cultivate Zhang Han's ambition within Seido High School Baseball Team, then everything would be worth it.
The game on the field entered a heated stage.
Yakushi High School Baseball Team had forced Zhang Han off the pitcher's mound and scored three runs in a row. Now their morale was soaring. Facing Tanba, who had just come on, they would not hold back.
The fourth batter stood tightly against the inside corner, completely blocking the inside pitch. When Miyuki saw this, he couldn't help but feel impressed. Yakushi High School Baseball Team had truly prepared thoroughly before their game against Seido.
Not only did they anticipate Zhang Han possibly pitching, but they also had a clear understanding of Tanba's pitching. With this stance, Tanba's deadly Curveball simply couldn't be thrown. Otherwise, one careless mistake would result in a hit by pitch.
A hit by pitch, compared to the strength of both sides, actually tested courage more than skill. As the saying goes, when rivals meet, the brave one wins. When Yakushi High School Baseball Team went all out and stood close to the inside corner, they had already won on the courage front.
Tanba couldn't possibly keep intentionally throwing those pitches. Even if he did, if the opponent would rather take a hit to get on base, what else could you do? Moreover, if there were too many hit by pitches, not only would the pitcher be affected, but the umpire wouldn't allow it either. At that point, even if you said it wasn't intentional, it would be hard to explain.
Thus, they could only use Fastballs to decide the outcome.
Miyuki gave the signal. Although the high breaking ball couldn't be used, a regular Fastball to the inside corner was still fine. As long as such a pitch was thrown, with the current stance of the Yakushi High School Baseball Team batters, it would be very difficult for them to hit.
"Whoosh!"
Tanba threw with all his might. Watching Zhang Han's seemingly divine and rapidly increasing pitch speed from the dugout, Tanba's inner competitive flame was also burning fiercely. It was precisely because of this surging fighting spirit that he threw his fastest pitch from the very beginning of his appearance.
Although his pitch speed couldn't compare to Zhang Han's, it still startled the Yakushi High School Baseball Team's batter. The opponent didn't even have time to react and just watched the baseball fly past.
"Thwack!"
"Strike!"
Just as Miyuki expected, although the opponent blocked the high breaking ball, they were powerless against this inside Fastball. With such an awkward stance, they simply couldn't hit a flying Fastball.
Very good, keep going.
Having tasted success, Miyuki naturally wouldn't give up. He once again signaled for an inside pitch. But this time, he miscalculated. The Yakushi High School Baseball Team's fourth batter, the third-year who had been suppressed by Zhang Han and hadn't shown anything, suddenly took a step back, aimed for the inside Fastball, and swung the bat directly.
"Ping!"
The struck white ball flew high into the outfield and landed in front of the outfielder. The batter took this opportunity to successfully run to First Base.
After scoring three consecutive runs, Yakushi High School Baseball Team's offense did not stop; instead, it intensified. One out, runner on First Base.
Next up was Yakushi High School Baseball Team's fifth batter. This batter was also no pushover. Originally, when these players were facing Zhang Han, it was impossible to tell what was so great about them. They were completely suppressed by Zhang Han's pitch speed and simply couldn't display their true abilities. Now, facing Tanba, they showed their true strength.
Miyuki was surprised to realize that he had indeed underestimated the other batters of Yakushi High School Baseball Team, aside from the three first-years. The strength of these players should not be underestimated.
They swung actively, and their swings themselves were good. Once they found their rhythm, it was easy for them to get consecutive hits. Tanba suffered a loss in such an exchange, as the opponent cleanly got a hit. To solve the opponent, a more perfect pitching strategy had to be devised.
Miyuki racked his brains, trying to come up with a flawless strategy.
On the other side, the Yakushi High School Baseball Team batters were pressing hard. Their fourth batter, who had reached First Base, kept feigning a steal. In their previous game against Inashiro, although their steal success rate was close to zero, they still attempted to steal four times during the game.
They seemed to not cherish getting on base at all; as long as there was an opportunity to continue the offense, even if the final chance was very small, they would actively advance without hesitation.
These players were completely different from the opponents Seido had faced in the past. They seemed undeterred, always able to maintain a strong fighting spirit. To use a more vivid word, they were like a pack of beasts. Smelling blood, they would rush forward regardless of anything. It seemed a bit reckless, but in fact, they had a very effective method.
Miyuki didn't pay much attention to the runner and firmly gave the signal. Upon seeing it, Tanba on the pitcher's mound nodded imperceptibly, then decisively threw the ball.
"Whoosh!"
The white ball whistled past.
The opponent used the exact same approach, but this time Miyuki was careful and directly used an outside pitch. But what he didn't expect was that the Yakushi High School Baseball Team's batter didn't retreat; instead, he swung the bat directly.
Because he was standing close to the plate, the outside pitch, which would have been difficult for him to hit, became a central strike. As a result, he swung very comfortably, and the white ball was hit far into left field.
Miyuki, seeing the baseball fly out, couldn't help but question everything. Was something wrong with him, or did these guys from Yakushi High School Baseball Team just like to play unconventionally? Why were his calculations and pitch calls seen through so clearly?
If it was just once, Miyuki might not have thought much of it. After all, there could be a coincidence, or the batter might have had a flash of inspiration and guessed correctly. Miyuki had encountered such things on the baseball field before. But twice in a row, that couldn't be a coincidence, and the possibility of both opposing batters seeing through him was also low.
Something he didn't know must have happened.
Miyuki's internal alarm bells rang loudly.
The hit white ball was about to land in an open space in the defense. In the Yakushi High School Baseball Team's dugout, a group of players stood up, cheering excitedly. They always seemed so passionate; no matter what situation the team was in, their fighting spirit never wavered.
"Run!"
"Dash straight to Home Base!"
"Tie the score..."
The players in the dugout shouted with fervor and passion, as if they wished they could rush onto the field themselves. The two players on the field were also running desperately forward.
However, what happened next stunned all of them.
Just as the white ball was about to land in the defensive gap, a tall figure leaped up and, before the baseball hit the ground, caught it in his glove.
It was Zhang Han.
This player had sprinted seven or eight meters and, before the baseball hit the ground, caught it with a diving catch.
"Thwack!"
"Out!"
The moment Zhang Han raised his glove, the girls in the stands already had tears glistening in their eyes. So touching. So cool. Zhang Han, playing hard even when injured, had deeply touched their hearts.
After Zhang Han stood up, he threw the ball to First Base. The original fourth batter runner narrowly made it back to First Base just before the baseball arrived. Otherwise, he would have been forced out as well, and it wouldn't just be a catch out, but a double play.
Because of Zhang Han's diving catch, the offensive momentum that Yakushi High School Baseball Team had painstakingly built up was completely shattered.
Two outs, runner on First Base.
He had, in a way, saved Tanba once. Otherwise, given Tanba's personality, he could very well have suffered a loss against such a desperate opponent.
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