Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter Has Arrived

Chapter 473: 2nd Duel

"Strike!"

"Strike!!"

"Strike!!!"

"Strikeout!!!"

Zhang Han secured three consecutive strikeouts, successfully retiring Yakushi High School Baseball Team's ninth batter. Even though the game was only in the third inning, he had already recorded five strikeouts, indicating he was in incredible form.

Zhang Han himself could feel just how good his condition was. His entire body was brimming with energy, a feeling difficult to describe in words. If he had to put it into words, Zhang Han felt as if he had entered a super state. In this condition, no matter what kind of opponent he faced, he should be able to deal with them effortlessly. Even Raichi Todoroki, who had previously hit his pitch for a Homerun.

"Gahahaha..."

That young man, whenever he stepped into the batter's box, was always so flamboyant and confident, as if he could hit any pitch out of the park. His eyes were full of anticipation as he looked at Zhang Han, without the slightest hint of fear or timidity. Raichi expressed himself very directly. He just wanted to hit Zhang Han's pitch out of the park.

Like a flash of light, the Fastball instantly pierced through the batter's bat.

In the dugout, Todoroki Raizo watched his son with anticipation. At this moment, he also realized that Zhang Han was even more troublesome than he had imagined. If Zhang Han continued to maintain this nearly invincible state, they might as well give up.

If they didn't want to concede defeat just like that, they had to create a change. In Todoroki Raizo's opinion, the best point of change currently lay with his son. As long as Raichi could hit Zhang Han's pitch, the situation on the field would definitely trigger a chain reaction.

Yakushi High School's teammates would re-evaluate their opponent and be surprised to find that he might not be as impregnable as they imagined. On the other hand, Seido High School Baseball Team would also re-evaluate the current situation.

Raichi Todoroki was the breakthrough point for Yakushi High School Baseball Team, and he was all their hope. If even Raichi Todoroki couldn't do it, then Yakushi High School Baseball Team's game today might truly be in jeopardy.

"You're very excited, aren't you! Then don't disappoint me, hit it well!"

A Fastball exceeding 155 kilometers per hour was rare, not just in high school, but even in professional games. How could Raichi Todoroki not anticipate such a pitch? When he saw Zhang Han's pitch coming, Raichi Todoroki's eyes lit up. It was as if two bright incandescent light bulbs had switched on in the dark, shining directly on Zhang Han.

Here it comes.

Although Zhang Han's pitch speed was fast, his pitch was not as imposing as that of typical Fastball pitchers. The ball he threw was more like a hidden weapon. It didn't seem like much, but by the time the opponent reacted, the baseball had already reached the batter.

So fast.

Even Raichi Todoroki was momentarily startled. By the time he recovered, the baseball had already reached him, about to fly past.

"Gahahaha..."

Accompanied by a strange laugh, Raichi Todoroki swung his bat without any hesitation. Todoroki Raizo in the dugout was startled by his son. That was too reckless. Raichi Todoroki didn't need to be in such a hurry; he could have observed one pitch first, and then swung.

From this perspective, swinging on the first pitch was a bit rash. However, aggressive hitting was his characteristic. Even Todoroki Raizo couldn't say anything about that. He could only hope Lady Luck would be on their side today.

"Ping!"

The hit ball flew far away. However, the baseball went completely off-line and landed out of bounds.

"Foul!"

Miyuki, at the catcher position, felt his heart sink. This guy, on the very first pitch, had actually caught the rhythm of Zhang Han's full-power Fastball. Even if Zhang Han's Fastball didn't have many special features, it was fast. That last pitch should have also exceeded 150 kilometers per hour. How could he, seeing it for the first time, accurately make contact?

Miyuki was deeply shaken.

Zhang Han, on the pitcher's mound, didn't look any better. He had just felt his pitching was perfect, yet it was still hit. Zhang Han was a person who was good at self-reflection. He instantly calmed down, forcefully pulling himself out of his previous complacent state.

That feeling of being invincible was not the reality; it was merely an illusion born from his rapid improvement and increased strength. This was too dangerous. If that pitch hadn't gone foul, if he had continued to maintain that state, Zhang Han didn't even dare to think about where it might have led. What kind of situation would the game ultimately turn into? No one knew.

The more uncertain the game, the more precious the runs became. Zhang Han would never allow himself to give up runs carelessly. Even if he couldn't pitch until the end, his goal was to give up as few runs as possible. He didn't dare to dream of a shutout. But as long as the total runs given up stayed within a certain range, Seido High School Baseball Team should be able to firmly control the initiative of the game.

Miyuki hesitated a little, but quickly came up with a countermeasure and signaled to Zhang Han. Seeing Miyuki's signal, Zhang Han nodded imperceptibly. Currently, they had no retreat; they could only maintain their rhythm and go head-to-head with this monster.

Could they intentionally walk him? Theoretically, yes. One out, no one on base, facing a monster-like slugger. If there was truly no confidence to confront the opponent, walking him to First Base was not impossible. But neither Miyuki nor Zhang Han intended to choose that path. Their goal was to fairly and squarely deal with this monster.

Evasion was out of the question.

Seido High School Baseball Team currently held the advantage, leading by two runs. But even if the situation were evenly matched, Miyuki and Zhang Han would not have gone that route. As a prestigious team, Seido High School Baseball Team could not afford to lose face like that. And Zhang Han himself was unwilling to evade.

Intentionally walking a batter could very likely disrupt the pitcher's rhythm without a strong ability to reset mentally. Therefore, Miyuki did not recommend it. Even if a head-on confrontation carried significant risk, they resolutely chose to do so.

"Swish!"

The white ball was pitched almost perfectly down the middle. Seeing the baseball flying towards him, Raichi Todoroki didn't hesitate at all and swung.

"Boom!"

The hit white ball flew away at an even faster speed than it arrived. Miyuki's expression involuntarily began to tense up. The opponent had fallen for their bait pitch. They should have been happy, but they couldn't smile.

This monster's swing was too powerful. Although they had tricked him into hitting a fly ball, the baseball still flew very far, traveling over a hundred meters before finally coming down.

Miyuki's suspended heart finally dropped. Although the pitch still had the potential to be a super long hit, as long as it didn't fly out, they still had hope. And wasn't someone already running to catch it?

Isashiki Jun had been positioned far back in the outfield from the start. There was no other way; Raichi Todoroki had such an amazing swing that they had to prepare in advance, guarding against the baseball flying deep into the outfield. And sure enough, he caught it perfectly. Because it was a fly ball, the baseball dropped almost vertically at the end. Isashiki Jun had waited directly below it and steadily caught the ball in his glove.

"Pop!"

"Out!"

Two outs, no one on base.

Although the process was a bit lucky, Zhang Han had resolved Raichi Todoroki in their second confrontation. It's sports, after all. While the process is important, the result is more important.

Having successfully dealt with Raichi Todoroki, Zhang Han seemed to have a halo around him. Everyone's gaze was firmly fixed on him. The girls standing in the front rows were even more excited, waving their hands and feet.

This made the Seido High School cheerleading squad, who had specifically come to cheer for Seido High School Baseball Team, inevitably a bit jealous. They were the official ones, weren't they? Those interlopers were simply too presumptuous.

With the support of the band, they also started dancing. Both cheerleading squads danced together. Others didn't know they were in a competitive relationship; they thought they were performing in perfect harmony. Some people who didn't understand the situation looked on with envy.

"No wonder Seido High School Baseball Team plays so well; they have two cheerleading squads! With so many girls cheering for me every day, maybe I could also make it to Koshien?"

This was a typical contrarian mindset. Fortunately, most others were frantically cheering for Zhang Han at this moment, and not many paid attention to him.

After dealing with Raichi Todoroki, the next batter was Akiba. Among Yakushi High School Baseball Team's three monster freshmen, this player was the most low-key. But his strength was by no means ordinary. Earlier, after Raichi Todoroki hit Zhang Han's pitch, Akiba had immediately followed up with a base hit, performing very impressively.

A gentleman does not rest until his revenge is taken.

Facing an opponent who had previously hit his pitch, Zhang Han certainly wouldn't hold back. He threw the baseball with all his might. Facing a 155 kilometer per hour Fastball, Akiba was not as powerful as Raichi Todoroki.

He swung and missed twice in a row before barely making contact with the ball. The quality of a ball hit with such difficulty was easy to imagine. Zhang Han easily caught it in his glove and immediately threw it to First Base.

"Pop!"

"Out!!"

A reporter who witnessed this scene nodded in admiration.

"Although Zhang Han has only been practicing left-handed pitching for less than half a year, his experience on the pitcher's mound is far more than that."

His experience during middle school had undoubtedly given Zhang Han many valuable things. Those things, which might not have seemed useful at first, would eventually transform into nourishment, nurturing Zhang Han and promoting his growth.

Three outs, change of sides.

Although he gave up one run at the beginning, Zhang Han then powerfully secured five strikeouts. He also managed to retire the formidable Raichi Todoroki and Akiba. At least in the first three innings, Zhang Han's performance was flawless and worthy of everyone's praise. He was like a true Ace, completely controlling the rhythm of the game.

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

************************************

Upto 50 Chapters In Advance At: P@treon/Vividreader123