Zhang Han walked to First Base.
A flush of red flashed across Akiyama's chubby face in the catcher's position.
This was certainly not from excitement, but from shame.
No matter how mature his thoughts were before, at the end of the day, he was still just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy; how could he withstand the mockery of these fans?
But there was no other way; circumstances were stronger than people.
Given Shonan Gakuen's current situation, walking Zhang Han was undoubtedly their best option.
This was not just Akiyama's idea; even Aoki on the pitcher's mound completely relaxed at this moment.
Logically, the score between the two teams was tied, 7:7, so Shonan Gakuen's players shouldn't have been so timid.
But that was just an outsider's perspective.
Unless one truly stood opposite the Seido High School Baseball Team and faced their batters, it was impossible to comprehend the formidable strength of the Seido High School Baseball Team.
Just now, it wasn't just Akiyama and Aoki; many in Shonan Gakuen felt the same way.
If they directly confronted Zhang Han, the ball would definitely be hit.
How could they continue to play then?
With no other options, and to secure the final victory, walking Zhang Han was a last resort.
In fact, their choice did indeed have a significant impact on the Seido High School Baseball Team.
Kataoka, who had been as steady as a mountain, was likely calculating that with Zhang Han and Yuuki's abilities, they would surely score.
But now Zhang Han had been walked.
He excitedly took a small step forward.
At this moment, Kataoka also had a very bad premonition.
Next to step into the batter's box was Yuuki, and Shonan Gakuen's players focused all their attention on him.
Zhang Han was difficult to deal with, and Yuuki was no different.
If Zhang Han hadn't already been walked by them, they would even have wanted to walk this opponent directly.
But since Zhang Han had already been walked, and with no outs yet, they dared not rashly walk Yuuki.
After all, that would be tantamount to sending a runner to Second Base, and with one more hit, they could concede a run.
Perhaps it was precisely because Yuuki's deterrent power was too strong!
Shonan Gakuen's players focused all their attention on Yuuki, so much so that when pitching, they paid no attention to Zhang Han.
It should be noted that Zhang Han had already left First Base, and he had left by a considerable distance.
He was poised to steal.
But Shonan Gakuen's Ace and players seemed to have completely missed it.
Perhaps they had already assumed in their minds that Zhang Han would absolutely not recklessly advance to the next base.
Too arrogant!
Although Zhang Han's speed was not comparable to Kuramochi's, those long legs were not for show.
When he realized that Shonan Gakuen's players had already preemptively assumed he wouldn't steal, upon seeing Aoki adopt his pitching stance, Zhang Han directly stretched out his long legs and advanced towards Second Base.
His two long legs were not slow at all; in the blink of an eye, he had already run several meters.
Akiyama, in the catcher's position, quickly pulled open his mitt, signaling to Aoki in this manner.
Aoki's pitch had not yet been released at this moment, and he forcibly changed its direction.
"Thwack!"
Because it was a last-minute adjustment, Akiyama's catch was not smooth, and his posture was a bit off.
However, he quickly stabilized his body and, relying on his large physique, threw the baseball in his hand to Second Base.
"Whoosh!"
Akiyama was not all flesh; his throwing speed was astonishing, so much so that the young girls watching Zhang Han all opened their cherry mouths in unison, covering their mouths with their hands.
However, as fast as the baseball was, Zhang Han's speed was even faster.
Having acted a step earlier, he had already stepped onto the Second Base bag before the baseball reached the shortstop's mitt.
"Safe!"
Thunderous applause immediately erupted.
Even neutral fans couldn't help but stand up and applaud.
It was too exciting!
It was unexpected that Zhang Han, besides hitting and pitching, was also so strong at stealing bases.
Although his speed was not extremely fast, his timing judgment was incredibly precise.
It caught Shonan Gakuen completely off guard.
Fujio, a senior reporter for Baseball Kingdom Magazine, looked at his partner beside him, whose eyes were already heart-shaped.
"So cool! Zhang Han, so cool!!!"
Owada Akiko felt that the language she learned in college was already insufficient; she simply couldn't express her truest feelings at this moment.
Fujio shook his head slightly.
"This isn't just a steal; it's courage…"
With only two innings left in the game, and every out being crucial, Zhang Han, as the core hope of the Seido High School Baseball Team, still had the courage to attempt a steal.
Such decisiveness and bravery would undoubtedly deliver an incredibly heavy blow to Shonan Gakuen's players.
In fact, for these players who stand at a relatively high level, the gap in their abilities is not as large as imagined.
Every player's talent is excellent, and their daily efforts are certainly not lacking.
How is their difference reflected at this time?
It is through mindset, courage, and form.
Zhang Han has not only honed his skills to perfection, but he also possesses the mindset and courage of a star player.
"Such players are born for the game."
Only on the field do they burst forth with the most brilliant light.
As for the ordinary spectators on the field, they might not be able to summarize it as vividly and concretely as Fujio.
But for them, they could equally feel Zhang Han's handsomeness and charm.
Zhang Han, standing on the field, even without being in the batter's box, still seemed to have a halo around him.
"Zhang Han! Zhang Han!!!"
Amidst the surrounding cheers, the situation imperceptibly began to tip in Seido's favor.
No outs, runner on Second Base.
The Seido High School Baseball Team had three hitting opportunities; as long as one of them got a hit, they could essentially retake the lead.
And then secure the victory in this game.
In Shonan Gakuen's dugout.
When Coach Mikura saw this, he almost bit through his molars.
"Although I'm very reluctant to do this, since he's already on Second Base, we have nothing to worry about."
Walking Zhang Han was the players' own choice.
But now, Mikura signaled for a second intentional walk to the players on the field.
After Zhang Han's steal, they let Yuuki take the now-empty First Base bag.
"Ball!"
"Walk to First Base."
No outs, runners on First Base and Second Base.
After getting two consecutive walks, the Seido High School Baseball Team's teammates in the dugout couldn't bring themselves to be happy.
This meant that the two most crucial and reliable batters of the Seido High School Baseball Team were dealt with?
Although they both got on base…
They hadn't scored, or even gotten to Third Base.
A strange feeling inevitably arose in the hearts of the Seido High School Baseball Team's players.
They just felt like something was missing.
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