"A-As if! He was over the plate, it's a strike!" Yuta argued, standing up in shock.
He couldn't believe that such a blatant miscall was made in this situation.
However, the umpire didn't seem to be having any of it. He held his hand up as if to signify that he wouldn't be taking any more complaints.
Ken stared in disbelief at the scene. He had seen the play in real time, watching as the ball glanced off Kazuhiro's wrist which was definitely in the strike zone.
As long as the ball was within the strike zone, even if a player was hit by the ball it would be a strike. This was why both pitchers and catchers were comfortable enough to call for an inside pitch when batters crowded the plate.
However, Kazuhiro acted as if he was hit further up his arm in an effort to convince the umpire that the ball was outside the zone.