Original subtitles

I think it's my duty to finish you off.

Eh, Chris?

Z-Zaizen...

I...

haven't done...

anything for Chris-senpai yet!

You're in the First-String

I'll shut him down, no matter what!

Zaizen...

Naoyuki Zaizen!

He struck me out every at-bat once in a game back in middle school.

Yeah,

he used to be untouchable.

Seriously?

Neither of you could touch him?

What kind of monster is he?

Why is a big shot like that playing pinch hitter?

We met once at a hospital, didn't we?

How's your shoulder been since then?

I see.

They were actually coming after me.

One out and runners on first and third.

What's their strategy?

Go long or pull off a squeeze bunt?

Or make the runners run

to toy with me?

Damn it! I'm ashamed.

I knew I couldn't play the way I used to.

Chris-senpai!

Let's focus on the batter!

Well said.

Balls are gonna come flying to you,

so I'm counting on you guys!

Not again!

Okay!

It's what you're best at!

Let's go!

Bring it on!

You're way too exciting, kiddo!

That does it!

I'll make you cry!

You'd better be ready!

What a guy...

He's more calm than I am in this pinch.

Don't underestimate him, Zaizen.

His pitch isn't that easy to hit.

That idiot.

He ignored me and called himself up to bat.

God damn it.

I'm so irritated.

That first-year with sparkles in his eyes

and how much faith you have in him pisses me off!

Focus on the batter?

You idiot!

Squeeze bunt off the bat?

A bounce pitch?

A wild pitch?

Out!

Squeeze bunt failed!

Didn't that bounce pitch go wild?

It basically turned into a wasted pitch!

Hats off to the catcher!

Th-They saw through our signs?

No. No way.

That pitcher?

What a kid he is.

It's just like that time.

The moment he saw the bat position,

he threw the ball into the ground.

An adjustment that's only possible

with a strong lower half and his unique pitching form.

Not to mention...

He has unwavering faith

that Chris-senpai will stop anything he throws.

I'm sorry.

I just instinctively...

Seriously...

You try catching something like that.

But it wasn't bad judgment.

Looks like they actually make a pretty good pair.

Though I'm sure Chris-senpai is having a rough time.

Yep.

Eijun-kun never ceases to amuse me.

It's such a waste that this is a second-string game.

Wouldn't you say, Furuya?

I just want to pitch in a game.

Not bad, crazy boy.

The runner advanced, but there are two outs now.

You can focus on the batter without any distraction.

Give me your best pitch.

Yes, sir!

Let's all go to the first-string together!

How many fouls is he going to hit?

He's really fighting it out.

Freaking kid.

You throw really disgusting wavy balls!

His control's still rough,

but he's starting to get strikes consistently.

It's a battle of wills, Sawamura.

The batter is struggling just to make contact!

Are his pitches really that hard to hit?

I wonder how his ball moves.

I really want see it from the batter's box.

Well, look at him now.

I bet he got conceited and slacked off during practice.

He used to be better in middle school.

Damn it.

I still have it.

I know I do.

This can't be my end.

Damn it.

His legs...

Zaizen...

Zaizen...

Our ace and cleanup from his first year...

I had so much hope for his talent.

Originally,

you would've been the highlight of this summer...

But you tore the ligament in your right knee.

If only that accident hadn't happened

in the prelims last summer.

Foul!

That was close!

Nice! Your timing's right!

You've got this, Zaizen!

Zaizen!

Stop getting so hot over this pathetic game.

You guys are all so petty.

I guess I need to take you to the nationals.

Zaizen...

Hey, Chris.

Which school are you going to attend?

If you and I team up,

we could easily take the nationals.

I've already decided on going to Seido.

I could never go somewhere that far away.

I'll be going to Kokudokan nearby.

Then it looks like we'll be in different districts.

Yeah.

So we'll only be seeing each other at the nationals.

Don't let me down, Chris.

I won't.

But don't let me down, Zaizen.

Man, I'm so lame.

All that talk, and I can barely play a game.

Yeah, likewise.

Don't give boring signs to the pitcher and run away from this fight.

Don't worry.

I don't even know what he'll throw.

What the hell?

Bring it on,

you random kid!

Kokudokan Seido

This is my last inning of this game.

Please teach me baseball.

Give me your best pitch.

The old pitching form!

I've only been pitching for three innings,

but was I able to show Chris-senpai...

that I've improved, even a little?

Was I able to get even a little bit closer...

to the crown, the ace number, that's still miles away?

Bring it on!

For now, I'll just throw my best pitch into his mitt!

Your original form of raising your knee high and your new wall form...

You completed your own style at the very end.

Nice throw!

I just got a compliment from Chris-senpai!

I've done it!

That's your priority?

Six walks in three innings.

By overcoming one pinch after another,

he gave up no runs and no hits.

What kind of pitching is this?

Stop screaming already!

What a crazy form.

I wonder if I can hit that.

Gotta spar with him later,

so he doesn't get overconfident.

He really did it...

Wow! He's really amusing.

He's an idiot, and I can't even begin to imagine what he'll do.

If you don't get serious, he'll catch up fast.

Not even once...

have I thought...

I was better than him.

Can I...

change my personal menu to running and start now?

Yeah, run!

Run till you die!

You have zero endurance.

And you're ignoring me again!

Zaizen!

Zaizen!

Stop huddling around with that stupid look.

You guys are really petty.

The game's just getting started.

Hurry up and get in the field, you idiots.

Stop crying already!

I'm gonna do it!

Gonna work really hard!

I get it, but walk on your own!

You're done for today, Sawamura.

Play some catch, then ice your shoulder.

Kokudokan Seido

But what about our offense at the bottom of the inning?

Or am I no good to you anymore?

You're done. Period.

Chris,

you're done, too.

Okay?

Yes, sir.

Thank you very much.

Makihara.

Saito.

Kuwata.

You start this inning.

Go wild.

Yes, sir!

Hey!

Nakata!

Bring us to the batter's box!

You don't wanna know what'll happen if you don't!

Only two spots open in the first-string.

I wonder who the coach will take.

The combat-ready,

the veteran,

or a diamond in the rough?

Not like they'll be regular starters even if they come up.

That's when the real battle begins.

No doubt about that.

The pre-summer training camp of hell.

It's not something we can avoid.

We have no time to worry about those guys.

Let's go back to practice.

The coach decides who to take.

But...

Personally speaking, I want...

You've already made your choice?

You know who to take?

Kokudokan Seido

Yes.

The summer battle's already begun.

I can't spend time selecting two people.

Gather everyone immediately.

Hmm...

Why are we here?

I will now announce the players moving up to the first-string.

Right, first-string.

Now?

Based on the past scrimmages,

I have chosen these people personally.

The two people I call

will need to carry the weight of our school name.

Those who are not called,

I'd like you

to support the first-string this month until summer starts.

Only two?

Wow! I'm nervous.

The new first-string players...

are first-year, Haruichi Kominato,

and another first-year, Eijun Sawamura.

That is all.

Wait a minute...

What about Chris-senpai?

Totaling twenty first-string players, we'll play through the summer.

You may now leave to get rest for practice starting tomorrow.

Third-years who weren't chosen, please stay.

Hey!

Don't stand there looking lost.

Let's go.

You've all worked really hard

these past two years.

Practice was tough.

Competition was fierce.

Pain and frustration followed you everywhere you went.

But you didn't quit.

You stuck with me till the very end.

Don't ever stop...

making me so proud.

I was ready for this.

Even if I wasn't chosen...

I swore...

not to regret anything.

Still...

It... sucks.

This is where

our summer... ends.

Chris.

There's a path for you out there as a baseball player.

So first, focus on completely healing your shoulder.

With that in mind,

I want you to support the catchers like Miyuki and Miyauchi.

I'd also like you to watch over all the pitchers.

Can you do that?

Am I really the right guy?

My coaching may be stricter than yours, Head Coach.

Yeah.

Take care of them.

And everyone else!

I'd like you to support the first-string team as fellow Seido players.

Yes, sir!

Of course, sir!

I have no regrets.

In my last moments,

I was able to receive the best pitch...

I've ever had as a player.

Why?

Why was I chosen?

I only pitched well today

because Chris-senpai was there.

He's the one who's amazing!

He drew out my potential.

What are you gonna do out there?

Resign?

No matter what anyone says,

you were acknowledged by our head coach.

That you have what it takes.

You were chosen.

What are you gonna tell those who weren't?

There's only one thing we can do.

We have to get stronger,

so we can fight for those who can't!

Now...

You don't have any time to look back.

Not just you...

Me, too.

I'm going to fight till the very end.

The fight Chris-senpai couldn't.

This goes for both of us.

So get stronger.

Stronger.

I'm in the first-string?

Why me and not Chris-senpai?

How long are you gonna mope about this?

If you don't straighten up soon, I'll kick you into the ground!

But!

Ignoring his inner conflicts, the training camp begins.

Can Sawamura survive the unimaginably merciless practice?

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: Training Camp Begins!

Training Camp Begins!

Let's win the national title!