Original subtitles

How can I...

...avoid giving up runs?

Please give me some advice.

Well, damn...

Scrap the limit.

He isn't even close to giving up.

Kiryu Seido

Games Are Fun

Nice one, Tachi!

Nice pitch!

Hiromi Tachi, the ace of Kiryu...

He's throwing faster as the game progresses.

He's a really good pitcher.

The hellish running...

The hellish pitching...

The hellish weight lifting...

The hellish practice...

This is the stage where I show it all off.

Games are so fun.

Wh-Why is he smiling?

There it is!

Our Tachi's scary smile!

He's on a roll right now!

Strike! Batter out!

Oh, man! Three for three!

I can't leave this game up to someone else!

Just calm down...

The ace and the cleanup who's scored two runs so far.

He's the one supporting the team.

Hey, Furuya.

I told you to hold a ball with your fingers

while you were banned from pitching, right?

We never practiced it, but throw it.

Hey, now...

Don't walk me to first now, little first-year!

I guess he really loves games.

He looks really scary, though.

But it's time we started having some fun, too.

Don't worry.

He won't swing. I promise.

Strike!

Come on!

Don't throw a slow ball just because you can't get a strike.

Not like you'll swing until you have two strikes.

Little twerp...

Sure thing.

Blow it out of the park.

We need to strike him out

to break the spirit of the other team.

This forkball is going to be just for show.

Let's plow through this situation

and create momentum for our team.

Come! Come! Come! Come!

A fastball?

Thank you!

What was that pitch?

A fastball dropped?

I-I'm not sure.

But it's the first time I've seen Miyuki miss a pitch.

There's no way I could catch that on the fly.

The ball traveled really fast

and dropped right in front of the batter.

It was closer to that other pitch than to a forkball.

The breaking ball that came out at the end of the 20th century...

The split-finger fastball.

That idiot...

He was afraid of letting the ball slip

and didn't put it in deep enough.

Simply unprepared

But it was a lucky accident.

We wiped that smirk right off his face.

D-Don't tell me Miyuki...

...made Furuya throw that pitch without any practice.

I assume so.

Seeing as he failed to catch it.

That's insane!

What is he thinking?

Seriously...

You sure know how to be bold.

You're teaching Furuya a lesson about control through experience

while simultaneously trying to draw out his full potential.

You sure know how to utilize a practice game.

Now that we've cornered the batter,

it's smooth sailing from here.

Throw your most comfortable pitch

and strike him out.

The tides have changed.

Nice pitch!

Nice throw!

That was your best pitch today.

You should've thrown that from the start!

Don't ever hold back!

Nice pitch!

Not bad, kid!

Yeah.

Feels good, huh?

That's how it feels to hear your teammates' support.

Whether or not you grow is all up to you, though.

Touched

Hurry up and throw!

Furuya-kun is really something.

I've never seen a forkball like that.

Don't get hot-headed over a first-year.

You're our ace.

You can prove it tomorrow.

Miyauchi.

He finally got his head in the game!

This inning was perfect!

I see.

I can see why Kataoka-han loves him so.

He was like a different man this inning.

So this is his true nature.

He really is amazing.

Sawamura.

Once Furuya bats, you're up.

Are you ready?

Y-Yes, sir!

We don't have to switch.

Shut up!

I know you're tired!

Go strike out for all I care!

Ignored

Damn.

I've gotta calm down.

This is my first time pitching in the first-string.

I can't mess up.

You're finally going out as a first-string.

Hey, you look really stiff.

Don't tell me you're nervous.

Me? Impossible!

It's went over!

That was a long one!

Deep in center field!

A... home run?

Looks like he put an end to the pitcher

who was feeling down after striking out.

Tachi!

This is the national level.

There are still many more interesting people in this world.

Well?

You glad you came on this little excursion?

That's right, Tachi!

This is what we came here to see!

Be yourself and have some fun!

Let's have fun, Tachi!

Let's kick their butts!

Tachi-senpai, I just love your smile!

This is why he's one of the best coaches in Osaka.

He easily got the pitcher back on his feet.

Don't be so tense, Sawamura.

I-I'm not tense! Damn it!

You might want to watch your mouth...

I want to see how your ball moves,

so let me catch a few.

O-Okay.

But...

Brings back memories, huh?

You and me forming a battery.

Rei-chan,

can I catch his pitch?

You looked so sure of yourself.

That was my first impression of you.

Man, your pitch is really hard to catch.

It's also really high,

so we won't have a good game like this.

Because of your new form,

your arm comes swinging late.

You need to release a little later.

Like you're trying to throw the ball into the ground.

Okay.

I'm at Seido today

Strike! Batter's out!

because I met him.

Oh, looks like we're up.

Well, let's have fun.

Kiryu Seido

I'd like to call for a change in players.

Replacing the pitcher from Furuya to Sawamura.

What?

He's switching out the pitcher who just picked up his rhythm?

Furuya, go into left field.

I'll play you like this in the summer tournament, too.

Go defend with that in mind.

Left field?

He lacks endurance as a pitcher,

but his batting is too good to bench.

The coach definitely has plans for Furuya this summer.

Sawamura, you're...

Y-Yes, sir?

Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump

Just... do your best.

That's it?

He's not expecting anything from you.

You!

Don't say it out loud!

He wouldn't even put you in the dugout if that were true.

You have your own qualities.

Just believe in yourself and pitch.

Well, let's go.

All right!

Balls will go flying,

so thank you for devending!

You're already messing up your words!

I'll play you like this in the summer tournament, too.

Go defend with that in mind.

I'm ready to pitch again whenever.

You've done it now, Kataoka-han.

Are we just practice for your first-year pitchers, at best?

Play!

No matter what he throws, I'm hitting the first pitch.

Let's go.

Like I'm...

throwing it into the ground!

Strike!

You idiot.

What are you doing... watching that ball come down the middle?

Wh-What the...

His form...

I couldn't see where the ball came from.

Miyuki.

Yes?

I'm putting you in charge of the pitchers tomorrow.

Moving fastballs aren't good against metal bats that make hitting easy.

Considering how strong the batters of Kiryu are,

they should be the perfect team to test out Sawamura's strength.

I don't care if they focus on the easy pitches.

Just make sure they swing.

Easier said than done, sir.

Learn today

Devote every moment

But...

If his pitch works against a top-tier team like Kiryu...

Exactly.

I will decide whether I'll use him this summer

based on his performance tomorrow.

That feeling.

It's just like back then.

Don't be so happy about just one strike, Sawamura.

This is your final first-string examination.

Like I'm...

throwing it into the ground!

Crap.

I still swung too late?

All right!

That's one out!

Yes! A hit to right field!

Let's keep this rhythm, Murata!

All right!

I thought I got him out.

It was too high.

If you don't throw lower, they'll turn your pitch against you.

Be careful, Murata.

It's faster than it looks.

Didn't Chris-senpai teach you?

It's a nice opportunity to test it out.

He may be a southpaw, but he's a first-year.

If there's an opening, run for it.

His knee's facing in.

I got this!

You fell for it!

See that?

This is the pick-off I learned directly from Chris-senpai!

That was completely a balk!

Runner to second base.

Wh-Why?

I stopped!

I'm pretty sure I did it perfectly!

Your legs were completely crossed.

Anyone would call "balk" on that.

Oh, come on.

He doesn't even know how to do a pick-off?

Oh, no!

I'm making Chris-senpai lose face!

I'm sorry.

He's a slow learner.

Yeah, I know.

You never disappoint me.

Sawamura.

Switch it up.

Focus on the batter.

Another to the inside?

They'll hit far if you're not careful.

Inside and low.

Throw it right here.

Crap!

It went up again!

Wh-What kind of pitch is that?

I couldn't tell where it came from.

Right here.

Well, well...

Miyuki's obstinate about the inside low.

It's scary enough to throw there for a normal pitcher.

With what little ball control Sawamura has,

it must put even more pressure on him.

Still too high.

Shortstop!

That felt really weird on the bat.

Damn! I hate hits that come here!

He has nowhere to throw!

That's no outs, and runners are on first and third.

That pitcher's already got himself cornered!

He looks a little pale, too.

That balk really hurt.

Oh, what luck.

That could've been an out.

A hit is a hit.

It's because they always swing their bats all the way.

Not luck.

Will you give up runs slowly?

Or will you stand your ground?

This is where it counts.

Focus on the batter, Sawamura!

Let him hit over here!

I'll get one out at home!

We're not counting on a strikeout.

Yes, sirs!

Thank you, sirs!

So much respect...

But what about me?

The infield is defending close, preparing to lose a run.

I'd be desperate for an out, too, if I were them.

Murata, run to second as soon as he pitches.

Asano, you can hit it if he throws it down the middle.

Nakai, come home if you can.

That pitcher's lost himself after the balk.

Don't give him any time to recover.

Are they gonna run?

Do they want to run?

Calm down, Eijun-kun.

Listen, Sawamura.

The point of a pick-off isn't to get an out.

It's to keep the runners from starting with a big lead and a good start.

You're a southpaw, so you can see the first-base runner.

Make eye contact!

Stop him with your glare.

And make it look like a pick-off, but...

What?

Too high.

That's a goner.

The ball's inside my glove.

I caught it.

What...

do I do now?

Right! The third-base runner!

Sawamura! Second base!

Double play!

Out!

All right, a double play!

The third-base runner couldn't move!

That Sawamura kid isn't bad!

You were practicing the slide step?

I gotta say, not bad.

Yes, sir!

This is all thanks to Chris-senpai's guidance!

Don't care.

You threw it down the middle, though.

What the hell's wrong with that pitcher?

He can't do a pick-off right, but he knows how to slide step?

C-Coach!

Your true colors are showing!

He didn't forget to look at the third-base runner in that play.

I'm sure it was done unconsciously, but it was a great play.

I thought he'd blank out more, but he's calmer than he looks.

Maybe he's used to these situations

since his junior high team was so bad.

Man...

Both Sawamura and Furuya

are seriously fun to deal with.

Balls will go flying, so thank you for defending!

All right!

A double play to save our butts!

Don't be so happy so soon.

They're a top-tier team.

With your level of pitching, you'll be in another bind soon enough.

What should I do then?

I'll teach you.

There is so much depth in pitching.

Wait! That's not an answer!

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: I Hate It, But...

I Hate It, But...

Let's win the national title!