Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter Has Arrived

Chapter 474: Controlling the Referee

Bottom of the third inning, Seido High School Baseball Team's offense.

First to step into the batter's box was Seido High School Baseball Team's second batter, Kominato Ryosuke.

Previously, Kikuta Nao's performance had been very good. Not only did he successfully retire Seido High School Baseball Team's eighth and ninth batters, but when facing Kuramochi for the second time, he also forced him to hit an infield grounder with his powerful pitching. As a result, in the second inning, Seido High School Baseball Team's three batters were all out, three up and three down. They made no contribution whatsoever.

Now it was Kominato Ryosuke's turn to step into the batter's box for the second time.

Kikuta was quite confident in dealing with Kominato Ryosuke. Whether looking at the opponent's physique or the information he had memorized beforehand, all of it fully proved that this player named Kominato Ryosuke, despite having extraordinary hitting skills, was hampered by his physique and weight, resulting in a lack of power. And what Kikuta Nao was best at was his momentum.

The biggest characteristic of his pitching was its heavy ball weight. Facing Kominato Ryosuke, he could fully display his characteristics and forcefully compel him to swing. He didn't even need Kominato Ryosuke to miss entirely. As long as Kominato Ryosuke didn't hit well, Yakushi High School Baseball Team's goal would be achieved. They were quite confident in their defensive ability.

Kikuta Nao's confidence was almost written all over his face. The nervousness and apprehension from the start of the game were now hard to find in him. After two innings of adaptation, the young man had gradually fallen in love with the feeling on the pitcher's mound.

Although all of his opponents in this game were terrifying, it was precisely because of this that he felt the greatest joy as a pitcher. Solving powerful opponents one by one felt like playing a video game, passing through one level after another. Every time he passed one, he gained a joy he had never felt before.

That's it, that's the feeling.

Kikuta had fallen deeply in love with it, and he greedily thought that he would not give up the pitcher's mound in this game. He believed that as long as he could maintain a good state and ensure the team didn't concede runs, the coach would likely not take him out.

Opportunities are earned.

At this moment, Kikuta felt that he had waited for the opportunity he had long desired. As long as he could get rid of Kominato Ryosuke, get rid of Zhang Han, get rid of Yuuki Tetsuya, he could stay on the pitcher's mound forever.

"Whoosh!"

Kikuta squeezed out every last bit of strength in his body and threw with all his might. The baseball was already approaching 140 kilometers per hour. The most amazing thing was that his ball speed was clearly more than ten kilometers slower than Zhang Han's, but it felt like his momentum was no less. The baseball flew over with an intimidating presence.

Kominato Ryosuke had a smile on his face. However, his smile at this moment didn't feel friendly at all. On the contrary, it was like the gaze of a demon.

It seemed Kikuta Nao didn't consider him an opponent at all.

Kominato Ryosuke was very angry.

Originally, he hadn't intended to use his special technique to deal with Yakushi High School Baseball Team's pitcher. At least, not this pitcher. However, the opponent had successfully caught his attention. Kikuta had retired Sakai and Kuramochi very cleanly.

Even though he gave up three runs in the first inning, his performance in the second inning was remarkable. Now, facing him again, the opponent was very calm and showed no hesitation in his pitching. Kominato Ryosuke had to admit that this was an opponent worth taking seriously.

Of course, if Kikuta Nao knew what method Kominato Ryosuke intended to use against him, he probably wouldn't want that attention at all.

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

"Ball!"

"Strike!!"

Kominato Ryosuke was easily put in a tough spot. However, he wasn't flustered at all, calmly watching Kikuta Nao on the pitcher's mound from beginning to end. Waiting for him to throw the decisive pitch.

And then, Kikuta really did throw it. However, this time, Kominato Ryosuke still didn't swing.

"Pop!"

"Ball!!"

Yakushi High School Baseball Team's catcher felt a jolt in his heart. Earlier, when studying Seido High School Baseball Team's data, they had also discovered Kominato Ryosuke's characteristics. Once this player got serious, he was definitely one of the most difficult opponents to deal with. It turned out that for the past few pitches, he wasn't observing. He was waiting for the count.

This player wanted to draw a walk.

For most people, this would be very difficult to understand. How could there be someone who specifically forces opponents to throw four balls? But the reality was, such a person did exist. That was the one in front of them, Kominato Ryosuke, called the Demon Batter by fans. He was called a Demon not because his hitting was so terrifying, nor because he had hit many Homeruns. It was because of how difficult he was to deal with.

As long as he was determined to get a walk, he would keep tangling with the pitcher. For others, this might be very difficult to do, as you could easily be struck out if you weren't careful. But Kominato Ryosuke just had that ability. He could accurately foul off the incoming baseballs.

"Foul!"

"Foul!"

"Foul!!"

The Yakushi High School Baseball Team's catcher, who was initially somewhat unconvinced, had to admit by the seventh pitch that the not-so-tall man in front of him really had a knack for it. He was actually able to foul off Kikuta Nao's incredibly powerful pitches. And the most miraculous thing was that all these fouled balls, without exception, landed out of bounds.

"How did he do that?"

Was this something a normal human could do?

"Ping!"

"Foul!"

The eighth pitch.

"Ping!"

"Foul!!"

The ninth pitch.

The Yakushi catcher, still holding on, grew increasingly anxious. It was like being on a guillotine; you didn't know when the blade would drop. And that feeling was the most tormenting.

Finally, on the tenth pitch, the terrifying Kominato Ryosuke no longer swung. The Yakushi High School Baseball Team's catcher was so excited he wanted to jump up. He finally saw the light.

"Pop!"

Just as he thought he was about to get the out, a voice came from behind him.

"Ball!"

The count was two strikes, three balls. Full count.

Yakushi High School Baseball Team's catcher looked back at the umpire in surprise. Did that pitch just now deviate from the strike zone? Thinking back, it seemed to be a little off, but not by much. According to normal logic, that pitch could have been called a strike or a ball. Why did the umpire call it a ball?

"Is there a problem?"

The umpire asked directly.

Yakushi High School Baseball Team's catcher quickly waved his hand and turned back. He glanced at the opponent standing in front of him. The opponent's not-so-burly figure suddenly seemed to grow tall in his eyes. It wasn't the umpire's problem; it was this player's problem.

Because he continuously fouled off good pitches, even the umpire had subconsciously acknowledged his discerning eye for pitches. Kominato Ryosuke didn't swing, so the umpire subconsciously called it a ball.

When he hadn't figured it out, the Yakushi catcher felt confused but didn't think much of it. But after he figured it out, he found that he was even less willing to face this short opponent.

Who exactly was this person in front of him? He could even influence the umpire. How were they supposed to play like this?

The two sides tangled for fourteen pitches, until Kikuta Nao threw his fourth ball, and only then did the showdown come to an end.

"Ball!"

"Walk to First Base!"

Seido High School Baseball Team's dugout went crazy. Kominato Ryosuke had given them a good start. If they still couldn't defeat this pitcher named Kikuta Nao after this, they might as well each buy a piece of tofu and smash their heads in.

No outs, runner on First Base.

"Third batter, pitcher, Zhang Han!"

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