Original subtitles

Only those who do well make it.

The others have to wait for the next opportunity.

You're not the only one who feels hopeless.

However, a promise is a promise.

I can't let him participate in practice as a pitcher yet.

Make him run until the sun sets.

"Yet," huh?

Are You Like Me?

Shortstop!

Well? How are our first-years this year?

Looks like quite a catch this year.

Tojo and Kanemaru from the Matsukata Senior League

went to the semifinals in the national.

Really?

Also, there's a really tall, playing-it-cool kind of—

Goodness, really?

Not again, Haruno...

I-I'm sorry.

You're still in training.

Don't make more work for us.

We'll take care of this.

So could you go prepare the drinks?

You're such a handful.

Therefore,

we can narrow down the possible answers

to A and D for the first multiple choice question.

It's been a week since I started high school.

I'm finally the manager I've always wanted to be, but...

Not again!

I'm always getting yelled at by my upperclassmen.

And I'm too scared to talk to any of the players.

I'm starting to think I'm not cut out for this.

I'm only going to be a pain in the neck for everyone.

Hey! You again?!

Is my lecture really that boring?

Eh, Sawamura?

Oh, hey...

He's the guy who's always running around the field.

H-Hey!

Stop sleeping when I'm standing here!

Wake up!

It's no use, teacher.

He's apparently here on a baseball scholarship.

What?

Really? That's amazing.

Our baseball team is famous.

I hear practice is really tough.

You moron!

That's more reason I can't let this slide!

Everyone's gonna know who you are, so so you'd better act appropriately!

Teacher, he's not on our team.

What?

What do you mean?

Yeah, what do you mean?

His entrance to the team hasn't been accepted yet.

He's still in training.

Don't compare him to us.

Are you serious?

He's on a scholarship, and he's in training?

What does that even mean?

That's kind of sad.

Don't look at me with pity like that!

No one's acknowledged me yet,

but one day...

I'll be the ace of the team, and my name is Eijun Sawamura!

And you'd better remember my name!

Is he crazy?

What's telling us gonna do?

So hot! Hotheaded, that is!

Be the ace?

Stop dreaming.

Your time's already passed.

Shut up!

I'm not—

Old man, stop laughing at me!

My time is just beginning!

Damn it all!

Is Sawamura like me?

I'm sure you all understand well.

Compared to the biggest summer tournaments and the fall invitational,

the spring prefecture tournament isn't very important.

However,

Today, we're up against the team we lost to in the fall, the Ichidai Third High.

We'll pay 'em back the humiliation we received － tenfold!

Yes, sir!

Yuki, do the usual.

Yes, sir!

Seidou

Who are we?

Seidou, the champions!

Who's shed the most sweat?

Seidou!

Shed the most tears?

Seidou!

Are you ready for the fight?

Yes!

Bearing pride in our hearts, we have just one goal!

The national championship!

Let's do this!

Yeah!

W-Wow...

They just have a completely different air around them.

They're so awesome.

I've always wanted to do that.

Man, I really want to be in the first string!

We're leaving soon.

If you want to come watch the game, get on the bus.

Yes, sir!

Yo, Sawamura.

You're not gonna come see us rock?

Hurry up!

Even if you're in training, you're still allowed to watch the games.

I will stay.

If I don't practice when you don't,

I'll never be able to get there.

You heartless fiend.

Well, have fun.

Sheesh.

Is he haughty or just super straightforward?

Either way, his personality would make a good ace.

Oh, no! Watch out!

I'm sorry!

Are you okay?

Why was I hit by a tire?

Oh, just...

I thought in baseball, you'd use a tire when you run.

I was moved yesterday.

You told everyone your goal, despite everyone laughing at you!

I think it's wonderful that you can be so stupid!

Stupid?!

You see, I've...

Stupid?

I've been having problems doing a manager's jobs.

I'm so clumsy, and I get yelled at a lot.

I'll never be able to be as cool as the upperclassmen.

But it's always been my dream.

I've always wanted to support the players who are working so hard for one shared goal.

No matter how much I'm laughed at or yelled at,

I'm going to work hard to make dreams come true.

Just like you.

So, here.

You just have to become the ace!

I'm rooting for you!

This is perfect!

I was starting to get tired of just running.

I will happily use it!

But since I'm aiming to be the ace, one tire won't be enough!

Let's add another one! Double tires!

What? Will you be all right?

Wow...

Hey, what are you doing, Haruno?

The bus is leaving!

Oh, I'm sorry!

Don't rush.

Look straight ahead.

Just you wait.

I'm coming straight for you.

The count is 1 ball, 2 strikes.

We threw two in a row to the outside to bore the batter.

Now, pitch a fast slider to the inside!

Strike him out with your best pitch!

Yes! The perfect pitch!

Whoa! It's in!

A three-run homer in the first inning!

So that's the famous Kazuya Miyuki.

Wow!

He can turn a slider to the inside into a home run?!

Oops, it went in.

No way...

You anticipated that pitch and swung for it!

Manaka is speechless for having his best pitch hit right off the bat.

Pure luck.

It won't go as well the next time.

Luck alone can't hit that pitch out of the park.

You don't even think it was luck!

Now, he'll be more reluctant to throw the slider.

Aim for his fastballs.

Yes, sir!

Meiji Jingu Stadium 2

Top of the second, Seidou High is on offense.

The lineup begins with the first batter again.

Seidou Ichidai

Batting first: Kuramochi, shortstop.

H-He's... so fast.

Batting second: Kominato, second baseman.

The runner's on the move!

The ball goes right between first and second base!

Safe!

That was a magnificent, hit-and-run play by Seidou,

and now, they have no outs with runners on first and third.

Batting third: Isashiki, center fielder.

Let's have a good game.

Bring it!

Let's out-push him with a fastball.

Looks like a jam shot's going long!

And it's a hit!

Another run for Seidou!

Yay!

They did it, Takako!

Ichidai's pitcher, Manaka, cycled through the Seidou lineup

and took a homer in the first inning.

Looks like he's still having trouble in the second inning.

Seidou still with no outs and runners on first and third.

Now, "the clean-up" comes to bat!

Batting fourth: Yuki, first baseman.

It's going long!

Right down the middle of the left and center field!

Ichidai Third High, a quarter finalist in the fall invitational

is being dominated by Seidou High!

This is our batting lineup.

What do you think?

I-It's amazing!

Damn.

The first string gets to play a game right now?

I have no problem with staying back and training,

but I haven't even touched a ball recently.

I think I have stress building up.

Wait a minute.

I'm the only one on the field.

That means...

I can use all the bats and balls I want!

Why didn't I realize this sooner?

Wow! It's like I'm in a baseball treasure chest!

This is what I need!

Now I can finally play baseball!

I don't have anyone to play catch with me!

Damn it!

I'll just swing a bat!

Whee!

And catch!

I throw, and I catch.

The key is to throw as high as you can.

Throw! And catch!

Throw! And catch!

Throw!

And nice catch!

Hey, is that fun?

Who's there?

For how long?

I can play catch with you.

If you want.

Ball!

You're throwing well today, Tanba!

Pitch to contact!

Ball four!

Too weak!

Bring it!

Third base!

I was in the restroom, and the bus left.

Oh, well.

Not like I'm interested in a game I'm not playing in.

Since you're here, too...

Are you like me?

And nice run.

Out!

That catcher has an insane shoulder!

The runner trying to steal didn't even have time to slide!

Wow!

That ball came flying from the plate like a white arrow.

Tanba has Miyuki to thank for that one.

No way...

I had a perfect start.

I knew he'd foil my plans.

That genius Miyuki boy.

It usually takes two years to become a full-fledged catcher.

However, his amazing baseball talent is truly marvelous.

Why didn't you come to me, Miyuki boy?

You got yourself in a jam with a walk,

and then you gave up a hit from the weak pitch you threw.

Tanba,

what have you been doing these past two years?

Kawakami, you're pitching, starting next inning.

Uh... Yes!

Go all out while their pitcher's feeling weak.

Let's end the game this inning.

Yes, sir!

I've gotta say, this game turned out to be a crazy hitting game.

Just like last year's team, with their monster, Kiyokuni Azuma,

this year's Seidou batting lineup is definitely top-ranked in the nation.

They just need a pitcher who can live up to Miyuki's expectations,

in order to have a chance at the national title.

I'm sure Head Coach Kataoka feels bitter about it, too,

since he used to be a pitcher himself.

Looks like Seidou's one problem still remains the same.

They're in need of a true ace.

I can't believe catch is so fun!

It's not baseball without the ball!

You look happy.

Of course I do!

It's been a while since I've touched a ball!

I bet I could throw to the fence now, too!

I'm sorry if I'm disturbing your fun,

but can you throw properly?

Your throw is disgusting.

Disgus—

Sorry.

What do you mean by "disgusting"?

My throw is normal!

But it bends in weird ways, and...

It's hard to catch.

That reminds me...

Throw lightly, okay?

It's scary when you throw because the ball goes everywhere.

But I guess if it's hard to catch, it's hard to hit.

You might be a good pitcher.

You wanna say that again?

My shoulder's warmed up now.

So can I throw a little harder?

Yeah, sure!

You're a really nice...

guy.

Thank you for a great game!

Looks like Seidou just barely out-hit Ichidai.

Their batting relies on luck.

If they keep playing like this,

they're going to have a tough time in the summer.

Our ace, Tanba, is just coming back from an injury,

so he should be fine once he gets his feeling back.

But if he continues to play like he did today...

I understand your worries, Director Ota.

However, we only have three months before the summer tournament.

Coach,

I believe this calls for an immediate bullpen restructuring,

taking the first-years into consideration, as well.

Sorry.

I threw a little too hard.

Back home,

no one could catch my pitch.

Second-year catcher may become savior for prestigious Seidou

Then I read an article.

So I tested into this school.

I wonder...

if he can catch my hardest pitch.

This...

was my encounter with a rival I would battle for the status of ace.

Seidou Spirit Dorm

Hey, did you hear Tanba got his ace title revoked?

Seriously?

Even though we won?

We only won because Kawakami replaced him.

We only have three months until the summer.

If Tanba's not the ace,

then who's going to be our pitcher?

What was that sound?

Is he seriously a first-year?

Satoru Furuya from Hokkaido Tomakomai Junior High School.

He went as far as to test into our school in order to play here.

He's our only first-year who has thrown 120 meters in the long throw.

O-One hundred and twenty meters?

He's really not on a scholarship?

This is why baseball is so fun!

Are we done already?

Damn it!

He's already throwing in the bullpen!

I can't just stand here!

I'm going triple!

Form a team with just the first-years.

Then are we playing a game?

I'd like to see how many first-years are ready to play in the tournaments.

First-years versus the upperclassmen!

We're going to scrimmage the Seidou Baseball Team.

What's Shades thinking, anyway?

And will I get to play, too?

Though the first-string members aren't playing.

Well, let's see it, Sawamura.

Show us what you can do on the field.

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: A Clash

A Clash

Let's win the national title!