Original subtitles

Strike!

Oh no, the count is 3-2! Sanders is cornered!

Strike out!

Sanders was struck out!

The Bats miss their chance to put the game out of reach in this inning too.

Don't swing at such a weak pitch!

All right! A one-run difference in the last inning.

Let's rally and win right away in this inning!

Attention please, now pitching, number 56:

Goro Shigeno!

Come at me with all you've got!

Closer!?

Yes.

As the Bats are right now, we need a reliable closer.

And therefore, I want to entrust you with that task, Shigeno-kun.

If you become our closer, we can realistically

aim for victory this time! That's why-

I refuse.

You think I could stand being a closer?

If you're a pitcher, you should pitch the whole game!

You should know that I'm a pitcher that pitches with all I've got from the start.

Shigeno-kun, you're surprisingly old-fashioned.

W-What?

Every game, it's a serious battle to not allow even one run.

No matter how outnumbered you are, if you step

onto the mound, you have to hold the opponent back.

It's truly correct to call it the team's fortress.

Well, if you can't handle that pressure, the matter is different.

Hey! Who said that!?

Do I have that much pressure on me?

Closer? Just what I wanted!

I'll take it on!

That little girl, she says whatever she pleases.

As long as I hold them back,

there isn't a problem!

Strike!

What...

is that Asian?

Nice pitch, Shigeno-kun!

With this pitch, it's over!

Strike out! Game over!

He struck out all three players.

You did it!

You did it, Shigeno!

You really are the best!

Stop it, old man! That's disgusting!

Don't be shy!

Let go of me, you geezer! I'll fall!

Hi! Hello, everybody!

Today we're reporting from the Tokyo Warriors' camp in Miyazaki.

This year's big sensation was...

drafted at number one from Kaido High School-an able player right from the start.

And to top it off, he's really good looking too!

Hey!

Ta-da! Rod-chan is here!

Stop it, Rodman-san, you're in the way!

Please move!

Toshi-kun! Don't move!

Oh, it seems like Sato's batting practice is starting!

I've finally made it here:

the pro world that I've been dreaming about!

With this I can repay my grandfather and grandmother!

He's sure hitting it far.

Just what you'd expect from the genius rookie.

He's hitting it nicely.

Yeah.

He trained hard in the off-season.

It looks like his body has developed along with his skill.

He might even be a starter when the curtain rises.

Those people...

You're in the way!

Y-Yatabe-san!

You're here looking for material for another stupid article again, aren't you?

You don't have to say it that way!

If you've got time to do things like that, you

might as well help with ground maintenance.

Let's go.

Yeah.

Yatabe-san!

Good morning!

Don't take your eyes off the ball.

Y-Yes, sir!

Yatabe-san, good morning!

Morning!

Good morning!

Oh! How're you feeling?

So-so.

What do you mean, so-so?

As usual, he's only cold towards Sato.

Yeah, maybe.

"Maybe"?

You don't think the old guy is afraid?

That his star status might be stolen by Sato?

Aota!

It was just a joke... A joke!

Don't take it seriously.

Thank you very much!

Sato!

Y-Yes?

In tomorrow's Red-White game, you'll wear the

starting catcher's mask for the White team!

The pitcher will be Kamihira.

I'm going to form a battery with Kamihira-san, the ace?

Isn't that great, Sato?

It's your chance to show off your skills!

Y-Yes!

Coach Araki!

Can I borrow some video and the scorebook from last year?

What? Um, sure. I don't mind.

Thank you!

And then, Tanioka received a present that was

this huge, and he was floating on pink clouds!

And then that girl was all, "P-Please give this to Toshi-kun"!

When I picture Tanioka's face then, I...

It couldn't be helped!

I haven't received something like that since I was a rookie!

How sad!

Shut up!

Well? What was in it?

Well... it was...

A stuffed panda, wasn't it?

How did you know?

A panda, huh?

This guy is going all "Pan-chan" in his room!

You cute boy.

I'm telling you that I don't do things like that!

Well, we each have our own tastes.

Even you're saying that, Uchimura-san!

Are you running away?

I'm telling you, that's not the case.

Hey!

We've got a gift from our local fans: mangoes!

Mango!

Time to eat!

This is the best!

We are now beginning the Tokyo Warriors' Red-White game.

Toshi-kun, do your best!

Top of the first inning: leading off for the Red team...

Batting first: left fielder, Aota.

Just what you'd expect when the genius rookie debuts in a real game.

Lots of girls have come to watch.

Aota-san.

If you hit the ball, they'll hate you.

That'd be a problem.

Well, for now, can you show me...

how the genius rookie leads?

Play!

Kamihira-san gets uneasy at the beginning of games.

I have to take special care that the quick Aota-san doesn't get on base.

Everyone... What a level of concentration!

Is this what the pros are?

Is this the tension of the pros?

It seems like it's best not to try to get a

strike right away, since it won't be easy.

First, we'll...

Strike!

A ball, huh?

This is Kamihira-san's ball.

He throws it so well, even now.

True to his reputation.

Okay! This time, we'll...

Strike two!

It isn't coming where I want it.

Even Aota-san can't do anything against this pitch when it's in this location.

Okay!

Then we'll challenge him for the third strike!

Safe!

Well done, Aota!

Nice bunt!

I can't believe he'd bunt with it 0-2.

No, this is my mistake.

I got so preoccupied with Aota-san that I didn't

notice Uchimura-san behind him looking worried.

Concentrate.

Concentrate!

This is a free fansub.

Not for sale or rent.

Batting second: second baseman, Kidokoro.

Play!

No outs, and a runner on first base.

He'll most likely try to sacrifice bunt here.

But...

if I take Aota-san's legs into consideration,

it's very likely that he'll try to steal a base.

For the time being, let's have the first pitch miss and study the situation.

It's a duel between Aota's legs and Sato's arm.

This'll be a sight to see!

Ball!

He's not going to run?

What will he do next? A sacrifice bunt?

Which one?

At any rate, if Aota-san is going to run, we'll raise the count first.

He's taking a bigger lead than before.

Is he going to go for it?

He is!

Ball!

Hey, Kurogome, isn't Sato being too cautious?

It's Aota's legs; a rookie sees them as a threat.

Bunt!?

No, he's faking, so Aota-san can run again.

If we go for a strike here, in the worst case scenario, he'll sacrifice bunt.

It doesn't matter if it gets to one out with a runner on second.

Wha-

Nice batting!

Okay! This is good!

Keep it going!

You've still got a way to go.

It was clear it'd come to this when you

easily fell into a no out, two on situation.

Batting third: first baseman, Rodman.

Hey, cute boy! Let's get along.

No outs, and a runner on first and second.

Okay, here we'll get him to hit a ball that's

in the middle and low and get the double play!

Damn it!

Thank you, Sato.

Safe!

That was dangerous!

Cute boy, your ball almost hit me! Please be more careful, okay?

Are you implying that what I'm saying is false?

I apologize.

Because of my mistake, they were able to score two runs on us.

Don't worry about it. We'll get them back for sure.

Yeah...

There's no need to pout like that!

The real game starts now, right?

Y-Yes!

To first!

Safe! Safe!

That wasn't Kamihira's fault.

His pitching has a good edge to it; it's not bad.

Is the problem Sato's lead?

It's the pressure of the pros, isn't it? It's his first real game after all.

Batting seventh: catcher, Yatabe.

With no outs, a runner on second and third, Yatabe-san comes up.

His batting average is only .200, but he's strong

when there are runners in scoring position.

Taking the next batter into consideration,

there's no reason to challenge him head on.

We'll try to use a sneaky pitch here. In the worst case scenario, we'll walk him.

Ball!

You're timid.

Getting all the way to me, the seventh batter, in the

first inning and going with a bases-loaded strategy...

Is that Kaido's baseball manual?

Kaido's baseball isn't all that great after all.

Well, for a team that can't win if they can't crush

their opponent's pitcher, I guess that's all they can do.

Yatabe-san!

You're wrong!

Our baseball isn't like that!

I'll get you out for everyone's sake!

First, we'll attack Yatabe-san's weakness. A

rising pitch down the middle on the first pitch!

Safe!

Nice batting!

It can't be that Yatabe-san said that on purpose to agitate me!

Damn it!

Why did I get drawn in by that provocation?

I just had to think a bit, and I would have understood that!

What am I doing?

Batting eighth: right fielder, Yoshioka.

If I remember correctly, Yoshioka-san has a habit of

letting the first pitch go if it's a breaking ball.

We'll start with a curve that moves away...

and raise the count!

Center!

Out!

One out! One out!

Out!

Out!

Kamihira-san!

I apologize.

I'm sorry for my worthless lead.

Don't worry about it.

My balls aren't as sharp as they usually are either due to camp being at its peak.

Also, this is a Red-White game.

It isn't the real deal.

Ball!

Ball!

Ball! Ball four!

Okay! No outs with a runner on!

Tanioka! Slide!

Kurai! Don't mind, don't mind. Gather

strength from this failure for the next pitch.

No outs and the runner is the swift Miura-san.

It's the same situation as the upper half of the inning.

What kind of lead will Yatabe-san use?

To first!

Out!

He managed to deal with a sacrifice bunt situation so easily.

What in the world is Yatabe-san?

Out!

I see! They've got six runs!

First, he'll make sure to get some outs to let the pitcher get a grasp on the pace.

Out!

Okay!

Well done, Kurai!

That was excellent.

He skillfully controlled Kurai-san, who has trouble at the beginning of games!

I don't know about this.

Sato isn't standing out at all.

And his defense in the first inning was full of holes too.

Yeah.

And he struck out twice, was walked, and hit into a double play once as well.

Strike! Batter out!

I guess the star is still Yatabe, huh?

Batting seventh: catcher, Sato.

Go for it, Toshi-kun!

We'll count on you to hit a big one, Sato!

I can't let it end like this!

I'll help us tie it in some way!

Aren't you straining yourself too much?

Well then, where will the pitch come from?

Don't let him provoke you!

Concentrate!

Sakada-san's out-pitch is a slider with good movement.

Most likely his first pitch will be a fastball.

Strike!

He used the slider right away!?

The next one will be high and inside...

or maybe another slider outside?

Foul!

A slider again on the second pitch?

Again!

Safe!

He followed that nicely!

He's doing quite well!

Batting eighth: second baseman, Tsukioka.

If I get home, it'll tie it up.

Their defense isn't shallow enough that I can easily do that.

If the ball gets out of the infield, I'll score that one run!

Sato! Don't look around and just slide!

Out!

Pathetic.

Playing half-heartedly because you're scared?

You're not a pro!

Pining for the polished play of a pro right away,

Toshiya is depressed.

An exhibition game is scheduled during that period.

Don't just stay depressed!

If it's you, you can do much better than that!

Get a hold of yourself, Toshiya!

Next time, on Major:

Challenger.

Run to the stage of your dreams!