First came a squeeze play, then a home run.
Seido High School Baseball Team scored two runs right at the start of the game, getting off to a perfect opening.
At this point, whether it was ordinary spectators, media reporters, or anyone else, most believed that Seido High School Baseball Team's offense would end here.
Although they had only scored two runs, it was already shocking enough.
The coordination among Seido High School Baseball Team's offensive players drew widespread praise, and Azuma Kiyokuni's terrifying individual power left everyone in awe.
Too strong.
In fact, Shinko High School's performance was very solid.
From an outsider's perspective, there were no obvious problems with Shinko High School's players. The pitcher's pitching was sharp, the fielders' skills were solid, and their reactions were timely.
Logically speaking, with such a lineup and such performance, they should have secured three outs smoothly.
But the reality was that they gave up two runs.
This was the kind of power Seido High School Baseball Team displayed.
Although the game had only just begun, many people already felt that the outcome seemed decided.
With the offensive power Seido High School Baseball Team had shown, Shinko High School would likely find it very difficult to avoid giving up more runs later.
Conceding runs was only a matter of time.
Kuse Hikaru was good, no one denied that.
But relying on him alone to contend with Seido High School Baseball Team's entire batting lineup was simply unrealistic. His stamina would not last, and even if it did, his strength alone would not be enough.
In short, Shinko High School conceding more runs later was almost inevitable.
On the other hand, Seido High School Baseball Team's situation was completely different.
Their ace, Hidezawa, had been shining throughout this tournament, and everyone knew how difficult it was to get a hit off him.
Not to mention that behind Hidezawa stood Seido High School Baseball Team's ironclad defense.
Anyone with even a basic understanding of baseball could see that if Shinko High School did not have any hidden trump cards, then the outcome of this game was essentially already decided.
In Seido High School Baseball Team's dugout, everyone enthusiastically surrounded Azuma Kiyokuni, who had just hit a home run.
Several teammates gathered around him like fans, handing him water they had just poured.
"Haha!"
Azuma Kiyokuni accepted the cup with a grin and shot Zhang Han a smug look.
If Takako, the second-year team manager, did something like this, it might be charming. But for Azuma Kiyokuni, a burly man weighing close to two hundred pounds, it was a bit disgusting.
Worse still, he smugly extended a finger toward Zhang Han.
Earlier, the two of them had made a bet to see who would score more runs in this game.
Azuma Kiyokuni was clearly telling Zhang Han that he had already scored one run.
Originally, Zhang Han thought he would stay calm.
He knew that Azuma Kiyokuni was sometimes like a child. Even though he was two years older, his mental age was not particularly mature.
This kind of situation was not unique at Seido High School and was actually quite common.
Teenagers who devoted themselves entirely to baseball often lacked emotional intelligence to varying degrees, and their mental maturity tended to lag behind.
In manga, characters often appear mentally mature regardless of age, but that only exists in fiction.
In reality, there are not that many prodigies.
Azuma Kiyokuni, at heart, was simply someone who had not fully grown up yet.
At most, he only looked a bit more mature.
But despite understanding all this, Zhang Han could not remain calm.
Looking at Azuma Kiyokuni's smug finger, he felt his insides swell with anger.
How infuriating.
This senior had no sense of restraint at all.
Since you are acting like this, don't blame your junior for not showing respect.
Zhang Han put on his batting gloves and helmet and walked to the on-deck circle.
Although Seido was leading by two runs, Shinko High School's performance had actually been quite good.
With two outs, most people at the scene believed that Seido High School Baseball Team's offense would end here.
After all, one more out was all Shinko needed to complete the inning.
But Zhang Han did not think so.
Kominato Ryosuke had drawn a walk. Tanaka and Yamada had coordinated to score.
Azuma Kiyokuni had even hit a home run.
Kuse Hikaru had a great reputation, but his true strength should not be that overwhelming.
Otherwise, Azuma Kiyokuni's home run and the earlier sequence would be hard to explain.
Since Azuma Kiyokuni and the others could hit his pitches, Zhang Han believed that he and Yuuki could as well.
"Ping!"
Yuuki did not disappoint Zhang Han's expectations. He made solid contact, sending the ball flying.
Shinko High School's fielders tried their best to chase it down, but the ball was simply too fast.
By the time they reached the landing spot, it was already too late. They could only watch as the baseball bounced in the outfield.
"Safe!"
Yuuki Tetsuya smoothly slid into second base.
Two outs, runner on second base.
The fans who had believed Seido High School Baseball Team's offense would surely stop now stared wide-eyed.
They had been wrong.
Seido High School Baseball Team's offense showed no sign of slowing down.
"Sixth batter, shortstop, Zhang Han."
Zhang Han stepped into the batter's box.
As he did, he deliberately glanced back at Azuma Kiyokuni.
Just wait, senior.
"Wow, wow, this is so unfair. This kid even has a runner on base when he bats."
Azuma Kiyokuni shouted unhappily.
His home run had only scored one run.
If Zhang Han hit a clean home run now, that would be two runs.
Doing the same thing but scoring double the runs, how could Azuma Kiyokuni be satisfied?
"Batting later in the order has its advantages," someone commented.
Zhang Han had not even swung yet, but Azuma Kiyokuni already seemed convinced he would hit a home run.
What was even stranger was the reaction in Seido High School Baseball Team's dugout.
After hearing Azuma Kiyokuni's words, everyone looked as if it were only natural.
As though Zhang Han hitting a home run were the most ordinary thing in the world.
Zhang Han himself did not realize his teammates had such absolute confidence in him.
At this moment, he actually felt a little nervous.
Azuma Kiyokuni and Yuuki had both hit Kuse Hikaru's pitches in their first at-bats.
As one of the core batters, he absolutely could not fall behind.
Since they could hit the ball, then he definitely could too.
************************************
Upto 50 Chapters In Advance At: P@treon/Vividreader123