Chapter 683 - 683: Can't Hit
"Strike!"
Two strikes, no balls, two outs.
The batter was cornered.
With just one more strike, Zhang Han could easily close out this inning.
By this point in the game, the players from both baseball teams, having focused all their attention on the confrontation between them, had unknowingly quieted their cheering.
Other baseball team players from various powerhouses across the country, who had specifically come to observe the game, also aimed their photographic equipment at the pitcher-batter showdown.
As the commentator for this game originally wanted to say a few words to help the fans analyze the situation.
Unexpectedly, the on-site person in charge of recording put his index finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture.
At this point, any cheering or commentary would be pale.
Everyone's attention had already been drawn to the players of the two baseball teams, to their confrontation.
In this situation, doing anything would be redundant and only counterproductive.
"Let the fans enjoy the upcoming confrontation, shall we?"
Did the swing miss?
Harada hadn't yet recovered from his previous shock.
In that instant, the bat was about to hit the baseball, but the baseball vanished?
Zhang Han was already a formidable roadblock for the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team players.
Now, the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team players were pleasantly surprised to find that this roadblock was even stronger than they had imagined.
They couldn't think of any way to score before, but now, let alone a way to score, they didn't even know how to attack?
How could the baseball suddenly disappear?
Harada composed himself and refocused his gaze on Zhang Han.
This pitcher, who had not yet played, this pitcher who the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team players thought would likely not play.
Why did he have such strong abilities?
Why did he possess such a pitch?
"Look at the big screen!"
In the stands, someone excitedly pointed to the electronic display.
People followed, turning their gaze there.
"158.5 kilometers!"
Earlier, some had questioned whether Zhang Han's pitch, being so powerful, would result in much greater physical exertion than other players.
Therefore, his pitch speed would get slower and slower.
Although Zhang Han's pitch occasionally fluctuated afterward, the overall trend was as those people had guessed.
Compared to the 159-kilometer super Fastball he first threw.
Zhang Han's other pitches, at their fastest, seemed to be just over 157 kilometers, rarely reaching 159.
But now, Zhang Han had once again thrown a pitch approaching 159 kilometers.
He proved with his actions that these few pitches would not affect his stamina and pitch speed at all.
Harada also noticed.
Harada, who had been completely lost, silently breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he still didn't know why that pitch had suddenly disappeared?
Why didn't his bat hit the ball?
But judging by the pitch speed, it was a Fastball.
As long as he knew this, he would have a little confidence in hitting Zhang Han's Fastball next.
At least he wouldn't be completely helpless like before.
In the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team's dugout.
Coach Kunimoto's expression was even colder than before.
However, he always had a poker face; unless one had a good understanding of the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team, or was one of their own, it would be difficult to notice such a change.
"So scary…"
Narumiya Mei had an animalistic intuition; he instantly sensed danger and distanced himself from his Coach.
He didn't want to be caught in the crossfire.
"At least, hit the ball!"
The Baseball Club Coach of Inashiro, with his receding hairline, didn't have such good composure.
He muttered the thoughts of the Inashiro players.
It was already seven strikeouts.
If Zhang Han also got a strikeout from Harada on top of that, it would affect more than just the offense.
Next, the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team players, even when they went out to field, would probably bear considerable pressure.
This was something the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team was absolutely unwilling to see.
And what they were unwilling to see was precisely what the Seido High School Baseball Team wanted to pursue.
On the pitcher's mound, Zhang Han lifted his leg high, took his stance, and released the pitch.
"Whoosh!"
The baseball, as always, flew over like a streak of white light in an instant.
Harada accurately aimed at the baseball's trajectory and raised his swing amplitude.
Before, because Zhang Han was different from typical Fastball pitchers, Harada hadn't deliberately adjusted his swing amplitude.
He was aiming to hit the Fastball.
But just now, the baseball seemed to disappear?
According to Harada's guess, it was very possible that after Zhang Han increased his pitch speed to nearly 160 kilometers, he also developed characteristics similar to those other Fastball pitchers.
For example, the baseball would float slightly because it flew too fast.
In fact, during the final confrontation between Inashiro and the Seido High School Baseball Team last autumn, Zhang Han's pitch had already begun to show such characteristics.
However, at that time, Zhang Han did it unconsciously. Since he never used similar characteristics again, the Inashiro Industrial players didn't take it too seriously.
Now, encountering such a situation.
Harada immediately recalled the confrontation last autumn.
Two balls above the Fastball.
He raised his swing amplitude, aiming to hit two balls above the Fastball.
Even if Zhang Han's pitch was as they guessed, Harada had a good chance of forcibly sweeping the ball away with his powerful swing.
Last time, not only did Harada feel like the baseball had disappeared, but many other Inashiro players watching the confrontation also felt as if the baseball had suddenly vanished.
It made them break out in a cold sweat then, and they still found it unbelievable to think about.
However, this time, the scene they witnessed was even more unbelievable.
Last time, although the bat didn't hit the baseball, the distance between them was actually very close, only one or two centimeters, or even a few millimeters.
But this time, the baseball suddenly dropped before approaching the strike zone.
And Harada had raised his swing amplitude.
As a result, the distance between them was about ten centimeters; neither could touch the other, and they passed each other by.
"Thwack!"
"Strike!"
"Strikeout!"
Three outs, change of sides.
Bottom of the eighth inning, it was the Seido High School Baseball Team's turn to bat.
But at this moment, Harada was completely unable to switch roles.
He stared blankly at Zhang Han on the pitcher's mound, his eyes filled with confusion.
Why?
Why did the Fastball drop, and with such a large drop?
Although the pitch speed was not as astonishing as the previous pitch, it still exceeded 155 kilometers.
Logically speaking, this absolutely could not be a forkball.
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