Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter Has Arrived

In the dugout of Seido High School Baseball Team.

All the teammates felt their hearts sink…

Zhang Han's Homerun had tied the score, and they had thought victory was already within their grasp.

They hadn't expected such an unexpected turn of events.

Although Zhang Han had only said it 'might' be affected, the players of Seido High School Baseball Team were very familiar with their teammate's character.

If Zhang Han hadn't believed the impact would be significant, he wouldn't have spoken up so easily.

Now that he had said it, Seido High School Baseball Team had to be prepared for an extra-inning game where Zhang Han might not be able to play.

The thought of Zhang Han potentially being unable to play.

Even though they had already pushed Narumiya Mei to extreme fatigue, their teammates still didn't have much confidence in securing a victory for the team.

Compared to Inashiro, the only trustworthy pitcher they had left was Kawakami.

Recently, Kawakami had been practicing very diligently.

But their teammates didn't believe he could shoulder the heavy responsibility of pitching.

Especially when their opponents were those guys from Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team.

"We must find a way to end the game in this inning."

Ochiai also sensed the urgency of the situation and leaned over to Coach Kataoka to speak.

Zhang Han's dynamic vision improving was a very happy occasion for Seido High School Baseball Team.

However, behind this good news, a huge crisis was also hidden.

If the players of Seido High School Baseball Team couldn't resolve this crisis, their future situation would likely be very difficult.

It was possible that this victory, which was already within their grasp, would have to be handed over to someone else.

They had played this far, tied the score, and were on the verge of victory.

Coach Kataoka was also unwilling to let go.

He nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.

They still had two outs, and although there were no runners on base at the moment, considering the upcoming batters—one being the unpredictable Isashiki Jun, and the other Miyuki Kazuya, who performed exceptionally well with runners on base—

Overall, they should still have a chance.

As long as Isashiki Jun could hit the ball, Seido High School Baseball Team would have a very high probability of scoring an additional run.

Once they scored another run, Seido High School Baseball Team would have truly completed the comeback.

"Isashiki!"

Coach Kataoka said nothing, only patted Isashiki Jun's shoulder heavily.

At this moment, all the players on the pitcher's mound of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team were gathered together.

They watched their opponents without a word.

After Coach Kunimoto called a timeout, he hadn't given them any instructions.

Everyone started looking at each other, and then seeing the Seido High School Baseball Team dugout celebrating wildly, they unconsciously turned their gaze over.

Those guys from Seido made no attempt to hide their excitement.

Looking at their expressions, it was as if they had already won the game.

Although the players of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team had to admit that Seido High School Baseball Team's probability of winning was undoubtedly much higher now.

Zhang Han's Homerun not only tied the score but also pushed the game into extra innings.

If it went into extra innings, Narumiya Mei, who had been pitching since the start of the game, would undoubtedly become Inashiro Industrial's biggest hidden danger.

On the other hand, Zhang Han was in high spirits and could easily pitch another two or three innings.

The scales of victory, unknowingly, had tilted significantly, beginning to favor Seido High School Baseball Team.

But knowing it in their hearts was one thing; seeing it with their own eyes was another.

The players of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team, looking at the Seido players who seemed to have already secured victory, felt the small flame of anger burning fiercely within them.

As arch-rivals from the same region, now meeting in the Kanto Tournament finals, for these two baseball teams, this should be the highest-level showdown they could play.

They would rather lose to anyone else than to these guys in front of them.

"No matter what, we can't lose to them!"

Shirakawa muttered.

"Well said!"

Narumiya Mei immediately nodded in agreement.

"Do you want to see those guys swaggering in front of us? No matter what you think, I can't stand it. Don't worry about extra innings; even if I pitch fifteen innings, I will never let them have the Kanto Tournament championship."

Seido High School, Inashiro Industrial.

Divided into the same district, and both having so many star players join.

Their stories were destined to be intertwined, and if no surprises, they would be intertwined for a long time.

It was imaginable that the Kanto Tournament finals would basically be the highest level of all their matchups.

They couldn't lose to the other team in this game, no matter who else they lost to.

This was not just about face, but also about belief.

Their own Ace had already said so, so what reason did the players of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team have not to fight with all their might?

Their eyes were red, and they showed a desperate posture.

"That's right, we're tired, and so are they."

"Next time, we'll definitely hit Zhang Han's pitch."

In the dugout of Inashiro Industrial.

The Baseball Club manager with the receding hairline was initially very confused.

Why did the Coach not give instructions to the players on the field after calling a timeout?

Even if there was no specific plan, some words of encouragement would be good.

But Coach Kunimoto seemed to have forgotten about it, not saying a word or making any arrangements from beginning to end.

He curiously leaned over to Kunitomo, and just as he was about to ask, he saw the players on the pitcher's mound inexplicably gain motivation.

"When playing against Seido, we don't need to say any words of encouragement to the players. Just give them a little time, and the flame in their hearts will ignite on its own."

They were all hot-blooded teenagers; where did they need these people to point fingers?

The flame in their hearts would burn on its own.

Especially when the opponent was the other team, the flame in their hearts would only burn more intensely.

"Fifth Batter, center fielder, Isashiki Jun."

At this moment, the batter for Seido High School Baseball Team was the highly unpredictable Isashiki Jun.

In previous games, there were times when even Yuuki and Zhang Han couldn't hit the ball immediately, but he could make contact and hit it.

Therefore, none of Seido High School Baseball Team's opponents would overlook his presence when playing against Seido High School Baseball Team.

"Please guide me!"

Isashiki Jun stepped into the batter's box and almost yelled when greeting the umpire.

At that moment, everyone present felt his enthusiasm.

At first, it might have been a bit unsettling. Especially the umpire, who was startled.

But very quickly, the supporters of Seido High School Baseball Team understood. Even those who were familiar with Isashiki Jun were startled by his sudden loud voice.

Then wouldn't Inashiro Industrial, as the opponent, feel even greater pressure?

Thinking this way, their initial discomfort immediately vanished.

Instead, they all stood up and started cheering for the batter on the field, actively amplifying the atmosphere that Isashiki Jun had created.

Harada, in the catcher position, was indeed startled at first.

He trembled slightly and turned to look at Isashiki Jun.

Although this guy's previous three greetings weren't quiet, compared to this one, those first three were simply insignificant.

The opponent's momentum was so high, and there was no hesitation in his grip on the bat.

Narumiya Mei's pitch was so fast, yet Isashiki Jun seemed completely unconcerned, showing no reaction to the breaking ball he was about to face.

When things are abnormal, there must be something strange.

He had shown no particular performance before, but now he was displaying such an attitude, as if he had found some leverage.

This made Harada unable to stop thinking more deeply.

"Don't worry about it!"

Just as Harada was thinking about how to deal with Isashiki Jun.

Narumiya Mei on the pitcher's mound shook his head slightly at him.

Although his movement was small, his attitude was exceptionally firm.

At this point, they simply couldn't afford to consider what the batter of Seido High School Baseball Team wanted to do.

They could only focus on achieving their predetermined goal: getting the out.

Everything else was unnecessary to consider.

"I've only used it four times against Zhang Han before, and never against anyone else from Seido High School Baseball Team, including Yuki. Now it can definitely be used as a trump card!"

Narumiya Mei not only wanted to get the out, he also wanted to control his pitch count.

At this moment, he had already started preparing for the upcoming extra innings.

Facing Seido, it would probably be impossible to continue holding back trump cards.

Harada nodded along.

He agreed with Narumiya Mei's plan; at this point, they could no longer hold back their strength.

As for not holding back strength, what would they do when they faced Seido High School Baseball Team in the summer?

There will always be a way when you get to the mountain, and the boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge.

They would think about that when summer came.

For now, they would focus on winning today's game.

"Swish!"

After Harada nodded, he placed his glove on the inside corner.

Narumiya Mei didn't hesitate, he immediately pulled back and threw the baseball in his hand.

The white baseball flew straight towards the inside corner.

Facing the suddenly appearing gyroball, most people would definitely need to observe it first.

But Isashiki Jun didn't.

Almost the instant he saw the baseball, his body had already reacted. Gripping the bat tightly, he swung as the baseball flew towards him.

"Ping!"

The bat squarely hit the baseball, sending it flying.

The baseball soared over Narumiya Mei's head and landed directly behind him.

In the dugout of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team, and most of the players on the field, wore stunned expressions.

He hit it on the first pitch?

How was that possible?

"You've pitched how many balls in front of me? If I still couldn't hit it, then how could I have the face to be the vice-captain?"

Isashiki Jun released the bat and ran towards First Base.

Zhang Han, who had been resting with his eyes closed on the bench, opened his eyes just as he saw this scene, and his eyes immediately brightened.

It was unbelievable.

Zhang Han had to observe that kind of gyroball for several pitches before he could hit it and get a Homerun.

He didn't expect that Isashiki Jun, seeing it for the first time, would hit the ball.

As expected, he was the most unpredictable batter in Seido High School Baseball Team.

Truly surprising enough.

But there was something even more surprising: the ball, which was about to rebound into the outfield, was pounced on by a figure after it landed and bounced.

After Shirakawa pounced on the ball, he rolled and stood up on the spot, then immediately threw the ball to First Base.

"Thwack!"

Isashiki Jun had only run about two-thirds of the way when he was stopped.

"Thwack!"

"Out!"

Two outs, no one on base.

In the stands, the supporters of Seido High School Baseball Team sighed in unison when they saw this scene.

What a pity.

The ball behind the pitcher, in front of the outfield, was actually stopped by the shortstop of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team.

How was this possible?

What was even harder for them to accept was the situation Seido High School Baseball Team was now facing.

Two outs, no one on base.

The next batter up was Miyuki Kazuya, known as "Invincible with runners on base."

Invincible with runners on base.

As the name implies, if there are no runners on base, this prerequisite for being "Invincible" is not met.

The supporters of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team, at this moment, couldn't understand what the players of Seido High School Baseball Team were thinking.

They were very happy at this moment; they felt that they were getting closer and closer to winning the game.

They would gladly accept the Kanto Tournament championship trophy.

Although the Spring Koshien selection tournament championship trophy was more attractive.

But the Kanto Tournament championship trophy was not inferior either. As long as they could get their hands on it, the die-hard supporters of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team wouldn't mind having more trophies.

"Inashiro! Inashiro!"

Fans are ultimately fans; they cannot perceive the overall changes in the game like the players of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team can.

At this moment, most Inashiro fans firmly believed that as long as Narumiya Mei could get the final out.

Even with the score tied now, Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team still had a greater probability of winning the game.

They never believed they would lose.

The supporters of Seido High School Baseball Team, needless to say, when Zhang Han hit the Homerun to tie the score.

They already believed victory was in their grasp.

Even though Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team did not collapse afterward, but instead displayed extraordinary defensive ability.

But so what?

Compared to their team's Ace, Zhang Han, who could pitch close to 160 kilometers per hour.

The scales of victory were undoubtedly still tilted in their favor.

They even less believed they would lose.

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