One out. Bases empty.
As he returned to the dugout, Zhang Han was filled with emotion.
For the first time, he truly understood how difficult high school baseball could be.
Before the game, he had been full of confidence. He believed Seido would definitely win in the end.
But now, it was clear they had to remain vigilant at all times, cautious when necessary, and bold when the moment called for it.
In short, if they wanted to win this game, they still had to fight hard and couldn't afford to relax for even a second.
Otherwise, the situation on the field could reverse in an instant.
That had just been proven.
After Zhang Han was retired, the crowd didn't have high expectations for Seido scoring again.
But no one expected that, even under these circumstances, Seido would still manage to get a hit.
"Ping!"
Facing an inside pitch that missed its mark, Isashiki used a chopping swing to force the ball into play.
The supporters in the stands felt their hearts leap again.
Maybe they weren't completely out of hope. Maybe they could even score another run.
Even the Inashiro players were stunned. What a joke. That pitch had only been meant to force the batter back.
In their view, even if Seido's three core hitters were tied together, there was no way anyone should have been able to hit that ball for a base hit.
But reality was cruel.
A player who had barely stood out before had managed to connect with a pitch that was supposedly impossible to hit.
The stadium erupted.
All eyes were fixed on what Seido would do next.
"Ping!"
Miyuki hit the ball straight back toward the pitcher.
Frustration surged through him. That high-breaking pitch was truly difficult to deal with.
Yet when Zhang Han faced that same pitch for the second time, he had managed to hit it foul.
If Inashiro dared to keep using it against Zhang Han, it would only be a matter of time before he sent it into the outfield.
"That kid really is a monster," Miyuki muttered sincerely.
Nishimonji fielded the ball cleanly and threw to second base. The relay went on to first.
"Out!"
"Out!"
The Inashiro players finally managed to save some face with the double play.
Otherwise, the impact of that previous hit would have weighed heavily on them. It wouldn't just have affected this inning, but the next one as well.
Three outs. Side retired.
The game moved into the fifth inning.
Although Seido High School firmly held the initiative, the situation was far from ideal.
The score hadn't widened at all. A one-run lead was almost negligible.
This wasn't a pitcher's duel. Trying to rely on a single run to win would be nothing more than wishful thinking.
They were used to being suppressed when facing Inashiro.
Now that they had the upper hand, many players found themselves unsure of how to play instead.
Their condition was shaky, and their mindset was even worse.
Before the top of the fifth inning began, Coach Kataoka felt it was his responsibility to gather the team and speak.
The players stood obediently in front of him, like children who had just made a mistake.
Coach Kataoka scanned their faces, his gaze finally settling on Hidezawa.
Who had the biggest problem on the team right now? Without question, it was their ace, who had performed brilliantly until now.
In the game against Ichidai Third High School, Hidezawa had been the biggest contributor.
If he hadn't held back Ichidai's lineup, what would the outcome have been? No one knew.
In today's game, his pitching condition had felt like hitting the lottery.
Facing a powerhouse school while holding the advantage on the mound was something Seido hadn't experienced in years.
Even Kataoka himself had been excited.
Perhaps this generation could finally produce a true ace.
But because of that, the team had encountered unprecedented trouble.
They had never experienced this feeling before, and neither had Hidezawa.
This was his first time truly being the ace. His first time throwing pitches with this much authority.
The excitement in his heart, the shifts in his emotions, the changes in his mindset.
He wasn't adapting. He wasn't used to it.
Subconsciously, he began chasing perfection.
That was understandable.
But it was also wrong.
Unfortunately, Kataoka didn't have the time to slowly help Hidezawa adjust.
He had to determine the team's response and direction in a very short window.
"How do you all feel?" Kataoka asked.
The more critical the situation became, the calmer his tone grew.
That calmness spread to the players as well.
"The opponent isn't as strong as us!"
"We'll definitely win today's game!"
Azuma Kiyokuni and Captain Tanaka spoke up.
For their straightforward, muscle-brained style, those two points were already impressive.
"Zhang Han, what about you?"
Kataoka turned to him.
"The opponent's resilience is very strong. We have to stay alert. Looking at the score, any mistake we make could flip the game."
Zhang Han's words, which boosted the opponent while dampening their own momentum, naturally didn't sit well with the others.
Cold glares shot his way, but Zhang Han pretended not to notice.
"Zhang Han is right," Kataoka said firmly. "Don't let a temporary lead go to your heads. Don't forget who our opponent is. Inashiro Industrial still has trump cards they haven't shown. We cannot relax."
He stared at the players one by one, speaking slowly and clearly.
"Think about how you usually train. Think about how you practiced hitting under the bridge. Let all that sweat and effort show on the field."
"Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!!!"
If they didn't roar at a moment like this, it would feel like wasting Kataoka's passion.
Besides, Seido's players were especially susceptible to this kind of motivation.
With reddened eyes, they stared toward the field, ready to charge out and fight.
"Hidezawa," Kataoka continued, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Your stamina and emotions are both issues right now. For the time being, make a choice. Hand all pitch-calling over to Miyuki and focus solely on pitching."
"Trust your teammates behind you. They'll stop anything that gets hit."
"Don't worry!"
"We'll stop them!"
Finally, Kataoka gave Hidezawa's shoulder a firm pat.
"This game can't be won without you. We need you."
Those words struck Hidezawa's heart like a heavy hammer.
"Yes!"
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