After the top of the first inning, the outcome of the game was almost clear. If things continued like this, the second team would win by a large margin.
No matter how hard the freshmen tried, they might not be able to catch up or even get close.
The hole they had dug in the first inning was simply too deep.
"Such strong hitting, is this for real?"
Tojo couldn't help but comment. He didn't understand why these seniors were taking things so seriously, especially the eighth batter on the opposing team.
That was a second-year player from Seidou High School, serving as the starting third baseman for the second team.
He was a senior to both Tojo and Kanemaru from their time in the Matsukata Youth Baseball Team.
Facing his junior, he showed no mercy at all.
Tojo had given it his all against his senior, but still couldn't touch him.
Back in middle school, Tojo had opportunities to suppress him, but this time he was hit for a two-run home run by his senior.
Was there really that much difference between middle school and high school?
Counting it all up, this senior had only been training at Seidou High School for just over a year.
Yet his improvement had already left Tojo in the dust.
In the bottom of the first inning, it was the freshmen's turn to attack.
Zhou Hao could hardly bear to watch.
The rest of the game would likely consist of strikeouts.
Zhou Hao believed they wouldn't be able to score against Tanba.
Tanba was originally Seidou High School's ace pitcher.
The strongest pitcher at Seidou High School!
He had only been demoted to the second team due to a slump in form.
What could this group of first-years possibly use to compete against him?
Was it their youthful fearlessness?
Zhou Hao rested his hands on the chair and glanced back.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a boy who seemed out of place among the first-years.
While the other freshmen were loud and boisterous, this one sat quietly, polishing his bat.
"A wooden bat?"
Zhou Hao felt a surge of curiosity.
Are there still players using wooden bats among the freshmen?
Bats come in two types: aluminum and wood.
The advantage of aluminum bats is that they make it easier to hit the ball; even if you don't hit the sweet spot, you might still get a hit.
They also make it easier to hit home runs.
Compared to aluminum bats, wooden bats have a lower ceiling and are less likely to produce home runs.
Otherwise, the major leagues would be filled with home runs.
If you miss the sweet spot even slightly, you'll end up hitting a pop-up or a ground ball.
In simple terms, aluminum bats allow for some margin of error, while wooden bats do not.
In middle school, almost no one chose wooden bats; everyone preferred aluminum.
Zhou Hao walked over with curiosity.
After all, the current situation was already quite clear.
He didn't believe anyone could hit Tanba's pitches.
"Hello."
Zhou Hao approached and greeted the boy.
He felt that this boy looked somewhat familiar.
With pink hair, it seemed he had seen him somewhere before, but he just couldn't recall where.
"Um? Is there something you need, classmate?"
The boy replied politely.
"Not really, I was just curious about your wooden bat."
Zhou Hao explained his intention.
"Oh, this?"
The boy stroked his bat as if he cherished it.
"Yes, it's really rare to see wooden bats in the first-year team. Why do you prefer using a wooden bat?"
"Ah? Well..."
At this point, the boy hesitated a bit.
In fact, he was Kominato Haruichi, the younger brother of the first-string second baseman, Kominato Ryosuke.
He chose to use a wooden bat because he saw his brother using one and decided to give up aluminum bats.
But he didn't dare mention this to others.
He didn't want to always be in his brother's shadow; he wanted to stand on his own.
In truth, after coming to Seidou High School, the phrase "always following in my brother's footsteps" might accompany him throughout his high school life.
He had indeed chosen Seidou High School because of his brother.
"If you don't want to share, that's fine. Let's just watch the game."
Zhou Hao didn't want to pressure Haruichi, so he turned his attention back to the game.
"Ha."
Haruichi sighed in relief, patting his chest.
This small gesture caught Zhou Hao's attention, and he sensed something was off.
"Interesting."
Zhou Hao snorted softly.
With a personality so different from the other freshmen, combined with the use of a wooden bat, he was indeed an interesting first-year.
Zhou Hao returned his focus to the game.
During the time he was chatting with Haruichi, Tanba had already recorded two strikeouts.
Zhou Hao didn't feel particularly surprised.
In the face of absolute strength, this group of kids was indeed lacking.
What if they were all stars?
They were still knocked down by Tanba's curveballs.
"How terrifying."
After the second batter came up, he wore a pained expression.
"His pitches are really scary."
Zhou Hao walked up to him with a radar gun in hand.
"Tanba-senpai's fastball speed is only 138 km/h. While that's rare among middle schoolers, as a player from a prestigious middle school, I'm sure you've seen faster."
"You're kidding!"
The second batter's eyes widened in disbelief.
That last pitch looked like it was at least 140 km/h; how could it only be 138 km/h?!
Zhou Hao didn't feel the need to explain further.
No matter how much he explained, it would just be a waste of breath.
The game unfolded just as Zhou Hao had anticipated, quickly getting out of hand.
By the fifth inning, the score was 25-0!
The second team averaged five runs per inning.
Because of this, Tanba was replaced after the fifth inning.
His performance had already been beyond doubt.
Returning to the first team was just a matter of time; there was no need to waste time now.
Replacing him was the second-year relief pitcher, Kawakami Norifumi.
He was also a first-string pitcher.
And in the final moments of the game against City University High School, he had saved Seidou High School from disaster.
In the top of the sixth inning, the second team added three more runs, extending the score to 28-0!
The pitchers had changed several times.
The first-year players had already been beaten down to the point of losing their bearings.
"The game should be about over; there's no point in continuing."
The second-year catcher, Ono Hiroshi, ran to the catcher position and asked Coach Kataoka behind him.
"Not yet."
Ono was puzzled.
The strongest first-years should have already batted in the first inning; how could there still be more?
"First-year pinch hitter!"
Coach Kataoka shouted towards the first-year lounge.
"Zhou Hao!"
"Yes!"
Upon hearing his name, Zhou Hao picked up a bat, stood up, and walked toward the batter's box.
Zhou Hao hadn't expected that his appearance would be as a pinch hitter!
This was the strongest hitter among the first-years!
This pinch hit was a strong bat!