Zhang Han struck out Sanada, successfully dealing with him.
The players watching the game on the side were very excited, constantly shouting Zhang Han's name.
"Zhang Han! Zhang Han…"
Mixed in were a few girls' screams.
On the other side, the players of the Yakushi High School Baseball Team looked completely demoralised.
Although they were still in the lead, and by a full three points, the Yakushi High School Baseball Team was inherently a very offensive team. Their style was derived from their fierce attacking power.
Zhang Han completely curbed their offense, and the Yakushi players suddenly felt like tigers with their teeth pulled out.
For the rest of the game, they didn't even know how to play.
"Don't look so down in the dumps; we're still in the lead. It's time for you to learn the next lesson: how to maintain a lead until the end of the game. This is also important game experience. But this doesn't mean you should give up on offense. The more crucial the moment, the greater the impact of offense. All of you, cheer up! If anyone messes up here, or if anyone doesn't want to play, we have plenty of people in the dugout who can replace them."
Todoroki Raizo was often very casual when directing the game.
He preferred to let the players play on their own.
But now, facing such a crisis, Todoroki Raizo felt that he absolutely could not direct as he had before.
If he continued as before, completely trusting the players and letting them play on their own, then they could raise the white flag and surrender now.
If they didn't want to surrender, at this moment they only had one path to take.
That was to fight with all their might against the Seido High School Baseball Team.
Some players in the Yakushi High School Baseball Team had lost their fighting spirit, but not all of them were so spineless.
For example, their current Ace Pitcher, Sanada Shunpei.
The young man's eyes never for a moment left the Seido High School Baseball Team's dugout.
Todoroki Raizo felt a surging fighting spirit from this child.
Sanada hasn't given up yet.
As long as the Ace Pitcher of the team hasn't given up, then the Yakushi High School Baseball Team cannot be said to have given up.
After seeing Zhang Han's pitch, the Yakushi High School Baseball Team had already begun to find ways to change their strategy.
At the same time, the Seido High School Baseball Team also began to plan a counterattack.
The game reached the sixth inning. The score stood at 5:2, with the Seido High School Baseball Team trailing by a full three points.
The opposing Ace Pitcher, Sanada, had been performing very well.
Although he gave up two runs, overall, he hadn't shown any major weaknesses.
The Seido High School Baseball Team was able to score these two runs entirely due to the individual skill of their players.
In this situation, if the Seido High School Baseball Team still wanted to tie or even overtake the score, relying solely on the individual hitting skills of the players would not be enough.
The score difference was too large; one or two Homeruns simply couldn't catch them up.
They needed an opportunity, an opportunity for an all-out offense.
As the Ninth Batter was about to step up to the plate, Coach Kataoka began to act.
He focused his gaze on the two rookies.
Jinguuji and Kominato Haruichi, who had just joined the First string.
The two youngsters also knew this was a test from the Coach, and they all raised their heads, looking at Kataoka with eager eyes.
Kominato Ryosuke hid far away, squinting his eyes as he watched his younger brother.
This year, there were an unexpectedly large number of excellent rookies.
As a result, the opportunities available to each person were very limited.
Especially in such a crucial moment, whoever Coach Kataoka gave the opportunity to was someone he valued more.
Of course, the Coach's valuing alone was not enough; the player himself must also have real skill.
Otherwise, even if the opportunity is given to you, you won't be able to seize it.
Jinguuji's achievements in middle school were dazzlingly impressive. Even the second and third-year upperclassmen of the Seido High School Baseball Team dared not underestimate this first-year rookie junior.
"Kominato Haruichi, if it were you, how would you plan to hit once you're on the field?"
Coach Kataoka was clearly hesitant.
Although he was a bit disappointed with Jinguuji's performance when he got the chance before, this player's usual practice was very impressive.
The very important reason why he didn't perform on the field was that the opponents were too strong. Narumiya was just too strong.
It wasn't just Jinguuji; the other players of the Seido High School Baseball Team also performed poorly when facing those monsters.
Only Zhang Han and Yuuki, no matter which team's Ace they faced, could steadily overpower them.
Considering this situation, Jinguuji's performance didn't seem entirely unreasonable.
At the very least, he made contact with the ball, didn't he? He just didn't get a hit.
Although Kominato Haruichi's performance in the second team was commendable, he also had this kind of problem. A very important reason why his hitting was so outstanding was that the opponents in the second team's practice games were not strong enough.
If Jinguuji were to play practice games in the second team, his achievements might not be inferior to Kominato Haruichi's.
Because of this, the Coach was conflicted.
So much so that he had to question both of them separately to confirm his judgment.
"I don't think about anything; I just hit the flying baseball!"
Kominato Haruichi, who looked not at all tall and generally spoke timidly, was exceptionally serious when answering Coach Kataoka's question.
Although this little guy was a full head shorter than him, Kataoka didn't feel that Kominato Haruichi was particularly small.
On the contrary, he felt that this first-year youngster was much taller than his previous impression of him.
Kataoka's mouth finally curved into a slight smile.
"Very good! With that resolve, go up to bat."
The Seido High School Baseball Team made a pinch-hitter change, and the first to step into the batter's box was Kominato Haruichi.
Another first-year rookie.
In the dugout of the Yakushi High School Baseball Team.
Todoroki Raizo looked enviously at the dugout of the Seido High School Baseball Team.
He remembered how he had to teach Mishima and Akiba how to swing for a long time just to trick those two guys into joining the Yakushi High School Baseball Team.
Look at the Seido High School Baseball Team; they don't need to go through all that trouble. They can simply pick and choose talented players at will.
Although the two rookie pitchers, both freshmen, didn't perform perfectly, they showcased their extraordinary talent.
Given time, their future achievements are absolutely immeasurable.
Jinguuji was already well-known even before he joined the Seido High School Baseball Team.
This current small freshman, although they had never heard of him before, must also be an incredible player.
The Seido High School Baseball Team would never send a player to the field without strength or cultivation value.
If the opponent were a pitcher, it might be possible for him to be sent to the field like the previous two players, due to his cultivation value.
But the opponent wasn't; he was a batter.
Moreover, he was a pinch-hitter sent out in a crucial situation.
This indirectly proves that the opponent's hitting ability is absolutely extraordinary.
Don't underestimate him, Sanada, just because he's a freshman.
Todoroki Raizo's will seemed to instantly transmit to Sanada.
Sanada carefully sized up his opponent.
Zhang Han's previous pitch was a very heavy blow to the Yakushi High School Baseball Team.
Although they are still in the lead, the team's situation is not optimistic; it can even be described as precarious.
All of this is thanks to Zhang Han.
After the atmosphere on the field reversed, Coach Kataoka specifically sent this freshman to play.
What did Sanada think?
This matter is not simple.
He had to be extremely vigilant and cautious in his response.
He couldn't underestimate him just because the opponent was a freshman.
"Let's test him first!"
Although Sanada didn't want to waste pitches, he had to be extra careful when facing a player like Kominato Ryosuke, whose strength was completely unknown.
So, his first pitch was to the upper inside edge of the strike zone.
This kind of corner-control pitch is very easy to throw as a ball, and even Sanada wasn't sure he could control it.
Therefore, he was very likely to waste a pitch.
However, from a long-term perspective, this wasted pitch was very necessary.
The batter's reaction to this pitch could basically allow Sanada to discern some of the batter's strength characteristics.
He could also see if the opponent was aiming for an inside pitch.
Once these were determined, Sanada could naturally come up with a proper way to deal with the opponent.
"Whoosh!"
Sanada considered everything very thoroughly.
Facing the freshman batter, he did not underestimate him, but instead pitched cautiously.
Unbeknownst to him, it was precisely this choice that led him into someone's trap.
"When facing an opponent of unknown strength, use an inside high Fastball."
Kominato Haruichi actually guessed Sanada's plan and the angle of the incoming baseball from the very beginning.
Spotting the incoming baseball, Kominato Haruichi directly took a step out.
As he stepped, the bat in his hand was not idle either, following closely and swinging out.
"Ping!"
The bat solidly hit the baseball, sending it flying.
He hit it out?
A hint of surprise flashed in Sanada's eyes.
He knew all too well how serious the consequences would be if their team made a mistake at this moment.
He quickly called for his teammates' help, but how could it be in time?
The white baseball passed through the defensive gap and bounced into the outfield.
Kominato Haruichi, playing his first practice game for the First string, presented a big gift to the Seido High School Baseball Team.
It should be noted that up to now, Sanada had only given up two or three effective hits in total.
This included Zhang Han's Homerun.
The reason why the Seido High School Baseball Team is so disheveled now, and has not been able to conquer Sanada, is also one of the important reasons.
Of course, the most important reason is that the players are too tired to fully unleash their previous strength.
"This little guy is simply awesome!"
"Nice hit!"
"What's the name of that short guy? He's quite capable."
"Kominato Haruichi! It is said that he is from Kanagawa…"
People naturally turned the topic to Kominato Haruichi.
But what people didn't know was the true meaning of this hit.
When a freshman, unaffected by the training camp, performs well and gets a hit.
In the dugout of the Seido High School Baseball Team, the whole place was boiling.
The players' expressions became very strange. This was especially true of the third-year players. Their eyes were different.
"First Batter, Shortstop, Kuramochi Yoichi."
At this time, the Seido High School Baseball Team's batting order returned to their First Batter.
The teammates in the dugout, including the Seido High School Baseball Team players around the field, shouted slogans excitedly.
"Seido! Seido!"
When they shouted slogans, their voices were unusually uniform and full of rhythm.
With runners on base, the batting order came to the Seido High School Baseball Team's upper batters.
The impact of this on the game is absolutely immeasurable.
The Seido High School Baseball Team players seemed to have already seen the grand occasion of their own scoring.
They just didn't know if it would be one or two runs this time, or if they could score more.
"Hee-haw!"
The fighting spirit of the Seido High School Baseball Team greatly affected the reactions of the Yakushi High School Baseball Team players.
Kuramochi seized this point and abandoned a frontal confrontation.
Facing Sanada's inside pitch, he did not hesitate to use a bunt.
"Ping!"
The white baseball landed with a thud and bounced towards third base.
Then Kuramochi, like a hunting leopard, sprinted towards first base.
Kominato Haruichi, who was originally at first base, had already started moving towards second base when Sanada was pitching.
Anyone with eyes could see that this was no coincidence.
This tactic was agreed upon by the Seido High School Baseball Team players: a double steal.
At third base, Raichi Todoroki just then, for some unknown reason, didn't chase the ball immediately.
By the time he heard his teammate's reminder, chased the ball, and threw it to first base, it was already much too late.
Most importantly, his throw was also off, and Mishima's receiving position was three or four meters away from first base.
"Safe!"
"Safe!"
Kominato Haruichi and Kuramochi Yoichi both successfully reached base.
The situation became no outs, with runners on first and second base.
During this process, Sanada absolutely had no intention of holding back. Before facing Zhang Han and Yuuki, he certainly did not want anyone to get on base.
But now, whether he wanted it or not, all of this had become a reality, and it was the kind that could not be changed.
"Second Batter, Second Base, Kominato Ryosuke."
Kominato Ryosuke hit all the corner pitches foul and let all the balls pass.
Sanada, who was already greatly disheartened, was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
They only tangled for seven or eight pitches, and he had already thrown four full balls.
"Ball, four-ball walk!"
Kominato Ryosuke, relying on his specialty, forced Sanada to throw four balls.
Not to mention the players in the Yakushi High School Baseball Team dugout, who were already dumbfounded.
Even the Seido High School Baseball Team's own teammates couldn't quite believe what was happening before their eyes.
Even though they had guessed before that the Seido High School Baseball Team would definitely launch a counterattack.
But they also had to admit that the opposing Ace's performance today was truly dazzling.
They had placed all their hopes of counterattacking on Zhang Han and Yuuki.
As a result, before these two batters even came to the plate, the Seido High School Baseball Team had already loaded the bases.
No outs, bases loaded.
"Third Batter, Pitcher, Zhang Han!"
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