"Smack!"
The baseball bounced after hitting the ground.
The Seisho High players, though desperately rushing to where the ball landed, were still a step too slow. By the time they got there, they could only watch the baseball fly past their eyes—and they were powerless to stop it!
Seeing this outcome, the first to get excited were the supporters of the Seido High School Baseball Team in the stands.
Everyone had guessed that the 4th inning might be the turning point. But in the top of the fourth inning, Zhou Hao used his incredibly powerful pitches to get out after out. Seisho High, a top national powerhouse, ultimately had no answer for the Seido High School Baseball Team.
It was also at that moment that another thought began to sprout in everyone's minds. Would this stalemate continue?
Thinking about it carefully, it wasn't impossible. In the past three games, the Seido High School Baseball Team had scored a lot. Their offensive power had been recognized by fans nationwide. But to be honest, most of their hits and runs were scored in the second and third games.
In their first game against the Osaka Kiryu High School Baseball Team, they didn't score many runs. It was only at the very end that they barely managed to turn the tide and win. And in that game, the Seido High School Baseball Team's opponent was Kuroda, one of the three great star pitchers.
Now their opponent is Akutsu, also known as one of the three great star pitchers. Through the first round of exchanges, the players of the Seido High School Baseball Team had clearly realized that this opponent's pitches were not easy to hit. Even the core power hitters of the Seido High School Baseball Team couldn't hit his pitches cleanly. And it was all of their power hitters who failed.
This had never happened in the Seido High School Baseball Team's previous games. Even when playing against the Osaka Kiryu High School Baseball Team, such a situation had not occurred. Perhaps this game would be like the one between Seido and the Osaka Kiryu High School Baseball Team. It would have to wait until the very end to determine the winner.
If that were the case, the final outcome of this inning might differ from what they imagined. Thinking of this, the supporters of the Seido High School Baseball Team inevitably felt downcast.
It was at this moment. Zhou Hao stepped forward. As before, he cleanly blasted the ball away at a crucial moment. Upon seeing this, the supporters of the Seido High School Baseball Team felt as if they had suddenly found their backbone.
They didn't need to be pessimistic, nor did they have any reason to be. Zhou Hao was still on their team and had blasted the ball away. So, even if there might be twists and turns in today's game, the final result would definitely be their victory.
"Zhou Hao! Zhou Hao!!"
The excited fans directly shouted Zhou Hao's name from the stands. It felt as if they were calling out to a hero on the field.
The reporters in the stands once again truly felt Zhou Hao's influence.
"This player will definitely become a superstar in the future!"
Zhou Hao, who had just hit the ball, now released his bat and sprinted forward rapidly. The eyes of the reporters and fans were almost uncontrollably drawn to Zhou Hao. In their eyes, Zhou Hao at this moment was radiating light all over.
Too handsome! They could imagine how powerful Zhou Hao's charm would be once he joined the professional league. How many young girls would go crazy for him? How many fans would become Zhou Hao's supporters?
He possessed terrifying skill and almost invincible good looks. Besides that, Zhou Hao also had a popularity that would make everyone envious. This was a very mystical thing. But in any sport, such things are common. Some people just unconsciously become the focus of the arena.
Just like in figure skating. There was a figure skater who only got fourth place in the Olympics, not even making it to the podium. But during interviews, his area looked like a press conference, densely packed with reporters from all over the world. Conversely, the champion's side was deserted.
Just like in football, that star player who was good at kicking curved shots. Although his skills were good, he was definitely not the best of his era. However, his commercial value was more than double that of the best of his era at the time. It's cruel, but this is reality. A reality that everyone must accept.
How popular is Zhou Hao? Just by looking at the reactions of these fans in the stands, one can know clearly. And this is the result with not much commercial operation. Once Zhou Hao enters the professional arena, and once he enjoys professional commercial operations, Zhou Hao's fame is bound to skyrocket.
Moreover, Zhou Hao is different from those two players. As long as the situation continues to develop like this, Zhou Hao will most likely be the number one player in baseball in the future. Strength and fame are equally important. He will be an unparalleled baseball superstar!!
Just as everyone couldn't help but imagine, Zhou Hao sprinted all the way, directly reaching second base. If it weren't for the incredibly fast reactions of the Seisho High players, with Zhou Hao's speed, he could have even run to third base.
"Safe!" One out, runner on second base.
The scenario the Seisho High Baseball Team least wanted to see finally happened before them. The players in the Seisho High dugout all had grim expressions. Especially their Coach, who at this moment felt the urge to vomit blood again.
To be honest, his disciples had already tried very hard. But why was the final result like this? This was too far from what they had imagined.
"Zhou Hao, Seido!"
Could it be that they truly couldn't stop the offense of this team?
In previous games, the Coach and players of Seisho High wouldn't have been so conflicted. Even if they gave up one or two runs, what then? They would always catch up with the score eventually.
As one of the top national powerhouses, Seisho High was known for its ironclad defense. But this absolutely did not mean that their offense was weak. Their batting strength ranked among the top few even nationwide. In this situation, catching up in runs would be as easy as flipping a hand, wouldn't it?
It's just that today's game felt a bit off. Thinking of their opponent, Zhou Hao, especially thinking of Zhou Hao's pitching on the field, they always felt a lingering fear. How difficult would it be to get a hit from Zhou Hao's hand, and then score runs? They could fully imagine.
This also meant that they were destined not to score many runs in today's game. Once they gave up runs, let alone a lot of runs, even giving up one or two runs would have unimaginable consequences.
"We must stop them." The Coach and players of Seisho High were extremely firm on this point. They had to stop the Seido High School Baseball Team's offense no matter what, and not let the opponent do as they pleased. Not even a single run could they allow.
"One out, one out!"
"Change your mindset, just focus on getting the batter out first—"
The players of Seisho High began cheering for their pitcher on the field. In this situation, their pitcher had to pull himself together. No matter what, they couldn't allow the Seido High School Baseball Team to get consecutive hits.
Akutsu, on the pitcher's mound, took a deep breath, then exhaled heavily. He was more aware of this than anyone else on his team. Zhou Hao actually hit his pitch? Akutsu was naturally surprised.
He was extremely confident in his Bullet Ball. Even if the opponent was Zhou Hao, he didn't believe Zhou Hao could completely see through his pitch, let alone blast it away. But Zhou Hao just did it. No matter how unhappy he was, he had to admit. This guy, Zhou Hao, was stronger than he had imagined.
"Calm down, just get the batter out first."
The situation was a bit unfavorable, but Akutsu still forced himself to calm down. Panicking at this time was not only meaningless, but it could also expose his weaknesses. He couldn't do that. He had to wholeheartedly deal with the opponent.
"Third batter, number 3, first baseman, Yuki Tetsuya."
Standing in the batter's box at this moment was Yuki. Any opponent playing against the Seido High School Baseball Team would not underestimate Yuki. Akutsu was naturally the same. But not underestimating the opponent didn't mean giving a walk. At least according to Akutsu's thinking, his primary goal was still to get Yuki out.
Even though the Bullet Ball had just been hit, out of confidence in his own pitching, Akutsu still chose to throw the Bullet Ball directly.
"Whoosh!" The pitch, like a white Bullet Ball, instantly arrived in front of Yuki. Yuki, who always swung his bat very actively, watched the baseball fly past his eyes without making any reaction.
"Smack!"
"Strike!!"
The pitcher led with one strike. The Seisho High players and supporters silently breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.
Just now, Zhou Hao hit Akutsu's most prized Bullet Ball. Everyone's biggest fear was that Akutsu would be affected. The Bullet Ball was Akutsu's pitching lifeline. Once he showed even a slight hesitation or doubt when throwing the Bullet Ball, Akutsu's entire pitching state would inevitably be greatly affected. That outcome, just thinking about it, sent shivers down one's spine.
Although they had only played four innings, the Seisho High players and supporters already had a certain understanding of the Seido High School Baseball Team. They were indeed the team that defeated the Universe Team, Osaka Kiryu. Their strength was incredibly formidable.
The most important reason why Seisho High had been able to play neck and neck with the Seido High School Baseball Team until now was their Ace, Akutsu. Once Akutsu's pitching had problems, their entire team would fall into an abyss. Once such a situation occurred, the Seisho High players felt chills throughout their bodies just thinking of it. The Seido High School Baseball Team would definitely not miss the opportunity to crush them.
Fortunately, their worst fear did not materialize. Akutsu's pitching remained sharp. He also had no psychological burden when throwing the Bullet Ball. The baseball whistled out, its power even greater than before.
As long as their Ace's pitching didn't have problems, all the Seisho High players and supporters firmly believed, they would definitely see a change. No matter how strong the Seido High School Baseball Team's strength was, they would definitely find an opportunity to fight to the end with the opponent, and even turn the tables and win.
Just as they were thinking this, Akutsu threw the second pitch, "Whoosh!"
The pitch was as sharp as ever, and compared to the previous pitch, this one's angle was much trickier. Yuki, standing in the batter's box, swung his bat with difficulty.
"Ping!" The hit ball didn't fly forward, but instead fell in front of the batter.
"Smack!"
"Foul ball!!"
The pitcher led with two strikes; the batter was in a tough spot. The Seisho High players and supporters were extremely excited when they saw this scene. This was the result they wanted! Heaven had indeed not let down their expectations and presented this result directly before them.
"Let's finish off the opponent in one go!"
Although Yuki was not Zhou Hao, as a core power hitter for the Seido High School Baseball Team, as long as Akutsu could successfully get him out, the morale of the Seido High School Baseball Team would also take a heavy blow.
"In one go, don't give the opponent any chance to breathe." This was the will of Seisho High at this moment. They wanted to minimize the impact of Zhou Hao's hit. And at this moment, as long as they could get Yuki out, they could basically achieve their wish.
Akutsu on the pitcher's mound, at this moment, had almost the exact same thoughts as his team's players and supporters. He pulled back his arm fully and threw the ball very decisively.
"This is it!"
Akutsu was not unaware that Yuki's batting ability was not ordinary. But he still firmly believed that his Bullet Ball was enough to deal with this monster in front of him.
"Whoosh!"
The Bullet Ball-like pitch appeared again. Seisho High's main catcher, squatting in the catcher's position at this moment, looked at the rapidly approaching baseball. A thought suddenly sprouted in his mind. Perhaps the game would be rewritten from this moment on.
However, just as he was thinking this, Yuki, standing in the batter's box, suddenly moved. Motionless as a mountain, moving like thunder!
"Boom!"
The whooshing sound of the bat swinging scared Seisho High's main catcher immensely. He felt as if his heart had skipped a beat. How terrifying was this guy's swing?
Just as he was thinking this, the bat hit the baseball.
"Ping!"
The Bullet Ball had movement, and Yuki didn't hit the sweet spot. However, even though he didn't hit the sweet spot, his terrifying swing still sent the ball flying.
Seeing the baseball fly out, Seisho High's fielders wanted to stop it. But the baseball flew out too fast; they had just made preparations to intercept and hadn't even started sprinting yet. The baseball had already fallen in front of them like a white meteor.
Then bounced away.
Just as Seisho High's main catcher had predicted, the situation on the field was rewritten. Only, it wasn't rewritten in their favor.