The game entered the sixth inning.
Before this game, probably no one had anticipated such a development.
By the end of the fifth inning, the score was surprisingly 4-1. The Seido High School Baseball Team had been dragged into the latter half of the game, still unable to secure the victory.
Although the score difference between the two sides was not small, Ushimaru Agricultural was not without a chance of a comeback.
As long as the opportunity was right and their players performed well enough, they had hope of catching up.
If the Seido High School Baseball Team were to self-destruct at this point, it wouldn't be impossible for Ushimaru Agricultural to truly turn the tide and win.
Even the die-hard supporters who had originally been fully confident in Seido fell silent. They too didn't know how the rest of the game would unfold.
They couldn't help but worry.
However, in the Seido High School Baseball Team dugout, the players' spirits were not as low as outsiders might have guessed.
They were all eager and ready for action.
Coach Kataoka gave Zhang Han a look before he went up to hit.
Zhang Han immediately understood.
He nodded to Coach Kataoka, took his bat, and walked to the plate.
No outs, no one on base.
This was his third encounter with Aikawa on the pitcher's mound.
Baseball is truly interesting.
You never know when a powerful opponent will emerge. Even within the same game, an opponent's strength can change with their state and the flow of the game.
Some start out outstanding but later collapse completely.
Others start off mediocre but suddenly turn the tide in the later stages.
What was interesting was that Aikawa didn't belong to either type. His type was much rarer. He had actually achieved a breakthrough during the game.
The current Aikawa had grown considerably compared to when they first faced him.
Watching his pitching in the previous inning, Zhang Han had even felt like he was back in a Koshien game.
Zhang Han eagerly observed his opponent, constantly simulating Aikawa's pitching in his mind.
Although the overall style and characteristics hadn't changed much, the power behind his pitching had increased by a full level.
Even Zhang Han, if he were to swing carelessly, could very likely make a mistake.
He couldn't swing with full power like before.
Although doing so had yielded great returns, a Homerun would directly score a run.
But the risk was also great.
If he swung with full power, it would be difficult to ensure his posture didn't deviate, and he couldn't guarantee the bat would precisely hit the center of the ball.
The greater the range of motion, the higher the probability of hitting off-center.
This was a natural law no one could avoid.
And now, if Zhang Han took a big swing and made a mistake, it would inevitably boost the opponent's momentum.
Zhang Han choked up on his bat.
Catcher Hase, seeing this, felt a little excited.
In his eyes, Zhang Han was simply a perfect, unassailable opponent.
Trying to deal with Zhang Han, he couldn't even think of a way, let alone find one.
But now, Zhang Han himself had revealed a weakness.
He wasn't planning on taking a full swing. So they would compete on power, which was Aikawa Kazuo's greatest strength.
Originally there was no opening, but now Zhang Han had brought the opportunity to their doorstep. How could Hase not seize it?
Hase gave the signal.
Aim for the strike zone with the most powerful pitch.
Aikawa, receiving the signal, nodded slightly.
Although he didn't know the reason, he had great trust in his partner's pitch calling.
Aikawa took his stance and threw the baseball with everything he had.
Having found his rhythm, he was very fluid when pitching, everything coming naturally.
"Swish!"
The white ball whizzed toward him.
Zhang Han aimed precisely and swung his bat.
"Ping!"
The moment the bat hit the baseball, Zhang Han's expression stiffened.
This guy.
His pitching was actually this heavy.
Having choked up on the bat, Zhang Han couldn't use his full strength, and as a result the baseball didn't even go forward.
It grazed his bat and bounced behind the catcher and umpire.
"Foul!"
Seeing this, the Ushimaru teammates' eyes lit up. They never expected Aikawa to be so capable.
He had actually suppressed Zhang Han.
Even now, the Homerun that flew out of the stadium still lingered in their minds.
That ball had clearly demonstrated the huge gap between them and the Seido High School Baseball Team.
And yet Aikawa's pitching could actually suppress Zhang Han?
That Koshien super rookie, the most formidable hitter in Tokyo at this stage.
Did this mean their game wasn't over yet? That they still had a chance to turn the tide completely?
"Go for it!"
"He's suppressing the batter."
"Let's finish off that monster in one go!"
Ushimaru Agricultural's momentum surged.
Their Ace, Aikawa, stood like a dragon-slaying warrior, receiving the support and adoration of everyone around him.
In the stands, several fans who had come to support Zhang Han were fuming.
"These guys are too hateful. They're bullying Zhang San."
Fortunately, the players of Ushimaru Agricultural couldn't hear those words. Otherwise, they would have fainted from anger.
This was a knockout game. The two teams were on opposing sides. There was no bullying involved.
Encouraged by his teammates, Aikawa Kazuo felt filled with energy.
Hase observed Zhang Han's grip. There was no change. So he gave the fastball signal again.
After Aikawa nodded slightly, he threw the baseball with everything he had.
He felt very comfortable with this pitch.
Aikawa even thought this might be the strongest pitch he had thrown all game.
It arrived in front of Zhang Han in the blink of an eye.
Zhang Han kept his focus entirely on Aikawa. Perhaps because of that focus, Aikawa's movements seemed to slow down before him.
He read the entire pitching motion clearly.
The ball was heading for the inside corner.
Zhang Han stepped out, completely opening up his stance.
This way, he could increase the range of his swing.
"Whir!"
A low sweeping sound passed Hase's eyes.
"So fast!"
The incoming baseball was fast, and the outgoing bat was even faster.
Just as the baseball reached home plate, it was forcibly swept away by Zhang Han's bat.
"Ping!"
The baseball soared into the sky, crossing nearly a hundred meters and landing in the left field stands.
Zhang Han's expression at the plate was one of surprise. Although he had tried his best to put power into the swing, he was using a choked grip and hitting an awkward inside pitch.
By his own estimate, getting it to the outfield would have been good enough.
He hadn't expected to blast it out entirely.
How had it gone that far?
Zhang Han himself was surprised, but the supporters didn't care about the how.
They only cared about the result.
It flew out.
It flew out again.
Zhang Han had hit his second Homerun of the game, helping the team score their fifth run.
The total score became 5-1.
Ushimaru Agricultural's players were much more capable than anyone had previously imagined. They would admit that.
But so what? Their opponent was the Seido High School Baseball Team, with the best offense in the country.
Compared to Seido, Ushimaru Agricultural still had a long way to go.
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