Chapter 690 - 690: Useless Bunt
Bunt, he didn't even touch the ball.
In the dugout of the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team.
All the players looked at each other.
You know, even though he was at the batter's box, he was one of their team's lower-ranked hitters. If he were in an ordinary baseball team, he could be used as a cleanup hitter.
What's more, Hirai himself is a very versatile player; he's not just good at hitting.
Bunting, base running, fielding…
He has trained well in every skill that can be applied on a baseball field.
Who has the best bunting skills on their baseball team?
Hirai might not be the absolute best, but he can definitely rank among the top three.
On the surface, it seemed that Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team's use of a bunt was just to salvage a last bit of dignity.
But in reality, the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team made that choice because there was a certain probability that Hirai could get on base if his bunt was successful.
The Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team was truly pushed to a corner by Zhang Han, which is why they resorted to such a desperate measure.
Unexpectedly, Hirai's bunt couldn't even touch the ball?
When this scene appeared, not only were the fans in the stands stunned, but all the players in the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team's dugout were also stunned.
What kind of magic did Zhang Han's seemingly ordinary Fastball possess to achieve such a legendary performance?
They couldn't figure it out.
Time didn't allow them to think much.
After Zhang Han threw the first pitch, he immediately threw the second pitch after receiving the ball.
Hirai's gaunt face showed determination.
He was unconvinced, and he didn't believe in evil.
He refused to believe that his bunt couldn't touch the ball.
"Ping!"
This time, Hirai, putting all his strength into it, finally touched the baseball with his bat.
But it was only a touch.
The touched baseball soared high and landed behind the umpire.
"Foul ball!"
The hitter was pressured while attempting a bunt?
The fans in the stands had never seen such a sight. Their eyes widened, staring incredulously at the showdown on the field.
They didn't know what would happen next.
But it didn't matter; it didn't hinder their anticipation for the upcoming showdown.
"Two strikes, the hitter is pressured."
Hirai, the Seventh Batter for the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team, gritted his teeth tightly and continued to set up for a bunt, unwilling to give up.
He refused to believe that he couldn't get the ball to the front.
Just then, Zhang Han raised his leg high and threw his third pitch.
This is it.
Spotting the direction the baseball was flying, Hirai extended his bat early.
Facing a baseball exceeding 150 kilometers per hour, the young man's face showed no fear.
To be good at bunting, not fearing the baseball is a prerequisite. If you fear the baseball, no matter how exquisite your bunting technique, it will be difficult to stop the ball well.
Hirai was someone who didn't fear the baseball, and he believed that this time he would definitely be able to get the ball out.
However, just before the baseball reached the strike zone, it suddenly changed.
A drop?
Without even thinking, the moment he saw it, Hirai's body reacted.
His bat dipped down.
But his bat still couldn't touch the baseball. The baseball flew above his bat, almost grazing his arm.
"Thwack!"
"Strike!"
"Struck out!"
In the stands, the loyal supporters of the Seido High School Baseball Team didn't know how to vent their emotions.
Zhang Han of the Seido High School Baseball Team indeed lived up to their expectations. He successfully recorded his eleventh strikeout, just one shy of Narumiya Mei's twelve.
Considering that Zhang Han only came on in the sixth inning, achieving such a record was nothing short of a miracle.
In the stands, the scouts who had specifically come to watch the Seido High School Baseball Team's game had eyes like searchlights, fixed firmly on Zhang Han.
From this young man, they smelled the sweet scent of money.
The reporters were no different, snapping away at Zhang Han with a flurry of clicks.
No matter what the final outcome of today's game was, Zhang Han's personal honor would not be affected in any way.
He hit a Homerun during the offense, and the other run was also driven in by him.
Such an offensive performance was undeniably excellent.
Appearing as a relief pitcher, he stepped up when the baseball team was in a critical situation and recorded a total of eleven strikeouts.
Although there was an element of coincidence, it was more a testament to Zhang Han's individual strength.
He not only perfectly completed his defensive task but also boosted the baseball team's morale by forcefully getting strikeouts.
Currently, the Seido High School Baseball Team is still trailing the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team by one run.
And the Ace of the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team is performing exceptionally well.
However, no one at the scene believed that the Seido High School Baseball Team would definitely lose.
Until the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team gets the final out, and until the Seido High School Baseball Team gets the game-winning hit, people wouldn't be surprised by anything that happens in this game.
"The players from both baseball teams are performing exceptionally well."
"This is truly an evenly matched battle."
Some media outlets, including the commentator for this game, gave very high praise to these two opponents.
It seemed as if it was only right, no matter who won this game.
These two powerful teams happened to be in the same district. One, the strongest hitting lineup in the nation, and the other, the Spring Koshien champion.
Competing in the same district, one of them was destined to become a tragedy.
But for these two teams themselves, wasn't this also a kind of fortune?
To be able to meet such an evenly matched opponent in the same district…
"Bottom of the ninth inning. Seido High School Baseball Team offense. Third batter, First Baseman, Yuuki Tetsuya."
When the bottom of the ninth inning truly began, the fans in the stadium instantly quieted down.
Although the supporters of the Seido High School Baseball Team desperately wanted to continue cheering for their players, by this point, they didn't dare to be too loud. They were afraid that their voices would be too loud and affect the performance of the players on the field.
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