บท 444: Play Ball! (2)

As he made his way over to the Head Coach, Hiroki was fighting for his life in the batters box. The first ball he faced was a scorching 95mph two-seam fastball that broke at the last moment.

It was merely a few millimeters from grazing his glove, causing him to let out a sigh of relief. Being hit by a fastball on the fingers would have sucked big time.

'What the hell happened to this guy?' Hiroki thought, gripping his bat tightly.

Even without the telegraphing of his fastball, Hiroki believed that he'd be able to hit the ball. Yet something seemed to have completely shifted, turning Ryan into an entirely different pitcher.

His eyes widened as the next ball approached.

'A fastball!' 

WHOOOOOSH

PAH

Despite getting his timing perfect, Hiroki's bat sailed over the ball which seemed to have dipped at the last moment.

"Strike!"