"Was that a foul ball?"
Tanba watched the baseball fly away, lost in thought.
Although it was just a foul ball, it showcased Zhou Hao's terrifying strength.
Zhou Hao's muscles weren't like those of Azuma Kiyokuni, who gained fame on the field through sheer bulk, nor were they like Kominato's, who was a skilled tactician.
He looked more like a batter in the mold of Miyuki Kazuya and Yuki.
There was no technique, no advantage in weight; he relied purely on raw power and an innate sense of the game to establish himself on the field.
That was his foundation.
Players like this were the most frightening!
Zhou Hao's muscles were large and well-defined, showing a clear difference from players like Azuma Kiyokuni.
His body fat percentage was also something that Miyuki and Yuki had never possessed.
Perhaps once Zhou Hao entered the first team, the fourth spot in the lineup would need to be reassigned.
This would undoubtedly be a shocking scene in the history of Seidou High School.
In all the years of Seidou's history, no first-year had ever secured the fourth spot in the lineup.
Seidou High School had always been a team that prioritized offense over defense.
The more reckless their batting, the more their defense would suffer.
Of course, this was in comparison to prestigious schools.
Compared to ordinary public schools, Seidou's defense could definitely be described as "impenetrable."
The lack of an ace pitcher had always been their biggest issue.
Ever since Coach Kataoka graduated, it seemed Seidou had been missing a true ace pitcher.
Coach Kataoka had once been Seidou's ace pitcher.
He had successfully taken the position in his first year and led the team to Koshien that year.
His player career was incredibly successful, but his coaching career had been quite the opposite.
Even the esteemed Coach Eijirou Sakaki of Seidou High School had not solved this problem.
"What a shame, it was a foul."
Zhou Hao muttered, clearly frustrated and dissatisfied with his hit.
Relying solely on brute strength to hit the ball that far, Zhou Hao felt he was truly living up to every muscle on his body.
Every swing was earned through sweat; every hit was a testament to youth!
"Now it's two strikes and one ball, right?"
Tanba raised his chin, looking around.
In terms of ball count, Tanba indeed had the advantage, which was the basis for his statement.
But anyone with eyes could see that Zhou Hao was undoubtedly the one exerting more pressure.
His terrifying strength had already instilled fear in Tanba.
By saying that, Tanba was undoubtedly trying to bolster his own confidence, but inside, he was already panicking.
If this first-year kid got a hit, or even a home run, it would probably be something his first-team teammates would laugh about for a lifetime.
But maybe it wouldn't be like that.
By the time Zhou Hao entered the first team and demonstrated convincing strength, perhaps no one would laugh at Tanba anymore.
"This time, I absolutely cannot let you leave with a smile."
With that, Tanba changed his grip again, switching to the grip he was most familiar with.
A circular grip!
It was also the grip for curveballs!
Tanba had an exceptional sense of the game since he was young. Although he was a substitute for Manaka in middle school, he showcased abilities far beyond his peers during the rookie tests after joining Seidou High School.
In that year's tests, Tanba was the strongest pitcher of his class!
Of course, it might have been a result of the circumstances.
During the rookie tests, standing next to Tanba was the current starting center fielder of Seidou High School, the madman batter known as "Golden Retriever," Isashiki Jun.
At that time, his first choice was to be a pitcher.
Many classmates had their first choice as pitcher, while very few chose to be outfielders.
Everyone liked the glamorous position of a pitcher; no one wanted to be an obscure outfielder.
But in the end, various reasons forced them to give up their pitcher positions and move to the outfield.
Isashiki Jun was one of them.
Isashiki had plenty of strength and fast ball speed, but his control was unstable, and the baseball often went astray.
This was why he seemed to make Tanba's pitching look very stable.
In summary, both had their flaws.
After Isashiki transitioned to an outfielder, he found his place, becoming Seidou High School's undisputed starter and a powerful hitter.
Compared to him, Tanba's career was far less perfect.
Although he became the pitcher he wanted to be, injuries in his second year, combined with the lack of a true ace pitcher's leadership qualities, had made his journey quite difficult.
"It's changing."
As Tanba's hand moved, Zhou Hao seemed to realize something.
Although he blocked it with his glove, Zhou Hao couldn't determine what type of pitch it was, but it was definitely a breaking ball.
Tanba's breaking balls were terrifying, no matter which one it was.
He was already a pitcher with a strong sense of the game, and combined with his powerful wrist strength, it allowed his breaking balls to reach a level that didn't belong to him.
To put it plainly, it allowed for a greater degree of movement on the breaking ball.
What was even more impressive was that his best pitch, the curveball, wouldn't fall out of the strike zone.
Such pitches made pitchers envious and batters dread.
Not everyone could become an ace pitcher at Seidou High School; one had to have real skill.
"Whoosh!"
The baseball shot toward him like a laser. The moment it entered the strike zone, it dropped down but hadn't yet fallen out of it.
"Great control."
As Zhou Hao praised Tanba's control, he didn't forget to swing, actively making his move, bringing the bat down from his right shoulder.
"But sorry, senior."
Zhou Hao muttered something, as if he was about to hit the ball out of the park.
His excellent dynamic vision allowed Zhou Hao to see the ball's trajectory and exact position clearly; all he needed to do was use his exaggerated strength to hit it out.
"This is the spot!"
Zhou Hao's pupils dilated, and the bat in his hand came down.
"Clang!"
A deafening sound rang out, and upon hearing it, Tanba's expression turned grim.
Perhaps it wasn't the sound that made Tanba grimace, but the sight of the baseball soaring into the air.
Zhou Hao could guarantee that he had hit the ball squarely.
Breaking balls are generally lighter, relying entirely on their movement to prevent batters from hitting the sweet spot.
Once the sweet spot is hit, the baseball flies out, and it's either a home run or a solid hit.
With his terrifying strength, Zhou Hao smashed the baseball, sending it toward center field.
"It's gone!"
Zhou Hao seemed to see the outcome and said it calmly.
The baseball, just as Zhou Hao had predicted, landed beyond the center field fence.
A home run!
And it was hit off the ace pitcher!
The value of this home run was extraordinary!
"If I'm not mistaken, that's a home run."