Original subtitles

On the final day of camp,

Seido Inashiro

we held a three-way round robin between Seido, Inashiro, and Shukoku.

Ball!

Damn.

He's so intimidating.

Kawakami.

Put some heart into it!

Five runs in the eighth inning alone.

They've finally caught up.

Summer's right around the corner.

We lost to Kiryu yesterday, too.

Are we going to be okay?

Not to mention, this isn't just a practice game.

It's against our biggest rival in the West District, Inashiro Vocational High School,

led by Coach Hiroshige Kunitomo.

Fate

Inashiro and Ichidai 3rd

have robbed us of our chances at the nationals for the past five years.

If we keep playing like this, we're definitely not going this year.

Coach!

Kawakami-senpai's at his limit!

He's tired from camp, too!

Sawamura, stop!

If you give me the green light, I'll happily go out there!

I don't have any plans for you today.

Go away.

No plans?

I'm not doing anything today?

Come with me, Sawamura-chan.

drag

drag

You idiot!

The coach knows Kawakami's at his limit.

He's seeing if Kawakami has the spirit to finish a game even in his exhausted state.

But that team's strong!

So I have to go out there!

Where do you find so much confidence?

You seriously don't understand anything.

They don't have their best players playing today.

No one's stupid enough to show his entire hand right before the season.

We have our non-starters playing, too.

Th-That much thought went into this?

So complicated.

We all have each other

on our minds.

Also, Kawakami has the skills

but lacks the heart.

Throwing an entire game against Inashiro should give him confidence.

He's been doing well so far.

I'm sure you're exhausted, but...

don't give up, Kawakami.

Hey.

Wh-Where are you touching, Miyauchi-senpai?

Seems like you've still got a pair down here.

Then your should be fine.

Your pitching is getting slower,

but you've made it this far on your own.

Throw with more confidence.

Um... Sir...

Can you please let go?

Yeah, you'll be fine.

Just throw your arm down as hard as you can.

I'll catch whatever you throw at me.

Don't lose heart.

Yes, sir!

I'm playing in the first game, sir?

Yeah.

We'll be up against Inashiro.

Support Kawakami with offensive calls.

What about...

Tanba will form a battery with Miyuki for the second game.

Okay?

Yes, sir.

I'll do my best.

I can't call plays like Miyuki, nor can I hit like him.

I figured that out long ago.

But if I admit it, I'll...

I'll...

never allow a ball to pass.

This is the only thing I can do.

The mitt looks bigger than usual.

That's more than enough for me, Miyauchi-senpai.

Strike!

Outside on the frame?

He's regained his strength.

Nice throw, Kawakami!

Let's be confident!

Pull it together, Nori!

We've got your back!

Throw with confidence!

We'll turn this game around!

Let's do this, Kawakami!

So they get back on their feet without the help of their coach.

They're well-trained.

They'll be a tough team to beat, yet again, this year.

Seido Inashiro

Thank you!

Hey, Sawamura.

Hurry up and clean up the dugout.

Yes, sir.

We're all watching the game between Inashiro and Shuhoku.

Inashiro's probably bringing out their best next game.

A three-way round robin...

This is a first for me.

Shuhoku Inashiro

I'm getting really excited.

I want to play, too!

Furuya and Harucchi are playing!

Hey, you there with the energy.

Yeah, you.

Is Furuya throwing today?

I hear he throws like a monster even though he's a first-year.

Inashiro?

He wasn't in the previous game.

I figured I'll check out how fast he actually throws.

You're just worried he might throw faster than you.

You're such a small guy.

Shut up!

I'm just genuinely curious!

So small.

What's up with these two?

He's not throwing today.

Seriously?

That was all I came here to see.

He got six strikeouts against Yokohama Academy, right?

Yeah, I guess.

Hey, how'd he do it?

What's his top speed?

What breaking ball does he throw?

Man, shut up...

Why isn't he throwing?

Is he not feeling well?

Or are you just keeping him secret?

All he cares about is Furuya!

Seido High School Practice Field

Don't you two know about

Seido's other new amazing pitcher?

Who's that?

Well, you see.

We had a game against Osaka Kiryu yesterday, and...

Against Kiryu?

Indeed.

And Furuya pitched in the game.

But the result was horrible.

He lost eleven runs in five innings.

That's eleven runs!

You're lying.

Not at all.

It's the truth.

And when everyone thought it was over, a hero came to the rescue.

Me! Sawa—

Thai kick!

Stop talking about our team, you idiot!

Wait! That was all true?

He just gave away secrets to a rival team.

Is he an idiot?

Yeah, it's the truth.

Furuya's not doing very well right now.

Kazuya.

When you say it, it sounds like a total lie.

So you're pitching today, right?

I sure am.

Time to get some valuable data, then.

Are you all friends?

Let's go, Mei.

I don't like him.

Oh, yeah.

Last summer, Kazuya's calls completely shut you—

Shut up.

Let's go.

Well, see ya.

Sawamura.

As a fellow southpaw, don't miss his pitching.

Last summer, in the semi-finals...

National High School Baseball Championship, Tokyo Qualifier

Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium

You little...

Strike!

Batter out!

He's our fated rival.

If we don't take him down,

we can't go to nationals.

Strike!

He's the second-year ace of Inashiro Vocational High School.

Mei Narumiya.

Strike!

Wh-What are you doing?

You've gotta swing to hit it!

Even if you say that, what pitch do I aim at?

Shuhoku have been picking up speed in the East District, but they're being dominated.

Shuhoku Inashiro

He's given up five hits in six innings,

but he gets outs when he needs them.

He really has the presence of an ace.

That annoying brat...

He wasn't going all out in the first half.

He just stepped up his game.

Yeah.

A sharp slider,

a forkball that almost goes into the ground,

and what makes those breaking balls come to life...

is his fastball with a top speed of 148 km/h.

Vertical and horizontal breaks, in addition to a powerful fastball.

A truly exemplary pitcher.

Hey, watch closely.

Looks like they understand how complete his pitching style is.

As an opponent,

there really isn't anyone worse to play against.

They're watching.

They're watching with hilarious faces.

I really want to play them.

There's nothing better than surprising the batter before me.

Hey, now.

You're throwing that here?

The coach told us not to throw it, you know?

Let me throw

I'm throwing

I want to throw

He's not changing his mind.

Don't blame me...

...if the coach gets mad.

Damn.

I'm just going to go for his fastball.

Here's a little special gift.

Watch closely.

The ball isn't...

here yet.

Strike! Batter out!

A...

...changeup?

Yay!

What was that half-assed throw?

How did he miss that slow pitch?

Huh?

What's wrong, guys?

Nice, Mei.

Thanks!

Nice pitch, Mei.

I thought I told you not to give away any new information.

I'm switching you out this inning.

What?

Seriously?

Damn, that wasn't even funny.

He already has a good fastball,

and both vertical and horizontal breaks.

Now he has an off-speed pitch?

That brat.

Just how good is he going to get?

Masa-san.

I'm getting replaced.

But I'm the ace.

Of course you are, stupid.

Didn't you throw it knowing this would happen?

You've been working hard this past year to win nationals.

I don't think it was wrong of you to show Seido your determination.

Right?

I've been working hard.

But don't say so yourself.

Man, you're so small.

But we've gotten better because of experience from last year.

And we'll continue to get even better.

Those guys haven't even gone up on stage yet.

But we've experienced it first-hand.

The stage of nationals.

I want to hit him.

His overconfident face makes me mad!

Make sure you hit him with a ball.

I'm going to hit in today's game.

I'm getting excited.

There has to be a weakness somewhere.

I have to find it.

You probably threw it to scare us, but it's not that easy, Mei.

We don't get scared that easily.

We haven't lost!

I don't quite know exactly what, but we haven't lost!

I really need to hurry up and become a part of this team!

I need to train even harder.

I won't lose.

Miyuki.

Let's go warm up.

You should check out how I'm throwing today in the bullpen.

So you'll know how to call the plays.

Tanba-san.

Seido Shuhoku

Round Robin Game 3

Strike! Batter out!

Nice pitch.

Have to say, it's gonna be hard to hit a curve ball that drops so much.

Not to mention, there aren't many pitchers who can throw that.

He's doing really well.

He's controlling his curve ball almost perfectly.

We don't need any balls.

Let's let him hit, Tanba-san.

Ryo-san!

Out!

All right! A double play!

Nice, shortstop!

Nice pitch, Tanba!

He's throwing efficiently without any unnecessary balls.

Yes.

He's throwing his curve ball at all the right moments.

And the one behind his pitching is...

...that catcher, who's making the calls.

After five innings, he's thrown forty-three pitches.

He's pacing well, so far.

Nice pitch, Tanba.

Miyuki.

Let's go warm up.

So you'll know how to call the plays.

Did Inashiro's game light a fire under you?

Did you feel that Miyuki's calls were necessary for you to pitch well?

It was the first time you approached him.

He's definitely throwing with a good rhythm,

but Miyuki hasn't asked for a forkball even once, so far.

Does he not see any use for it?

Tanba-san.

I think...

...they're going to start focusing on a certain pitch soon.

I'll start asking for forkballs next inning.

One of the objectives in today's game is to throw a complete game.

We've been able to keep your pitch count low,

so let's take this chance to make this game ours.

He's been...

...planning this from the start?

The second half is the real battle.

He sounds like an actual catcher.

Is he the same guy who only asked for inside throws?

He didn't make any calls to me.

I guess it depends on the pitcher.

I thought you weren't asking for it

because you weren't confident you could catch it.

Try and catch it, if you can.

Can't Isashiki hit without a roar?

The batters are doing well, like always.

They're doing better than usual because of Inashiro's last game.

Seido Shuhoku

Damn.

Just where am I supposed to throw?

Seido Shuhoku

Man, it's so boring.

I already know that Seido can hit.

I wish I could see Furuya throw.

You're not working hard enough, Shuhoku!

Make Seido bring out the pitcher I want!

You're still talking about him?

People have the impression that Seido doesn't have good pitchers,

but both Tanba and Kawakami are good pitchers.

Stay focused and watch until the end.

But he self-destructs in the second half...

...even though he can throw really well.

It's hard to watch as a pitcher myself.

He just made eye contact.

Stop hiding.

Okay, go for the fastballs.

Do not swing at his curve balls.

Right off the bat?

You little!

Yes! A fastball!

It dropped?

Following the same path as a fastball,

it drops right in front of the batter like a sinker.

To be honest,

I didn't think it would be this amazing until I caught it personally,

Tanba-san.

Hey, who knew he could throw a forkball?

It was pretty fast, too.

I told you to stay focused.

Everyone who wants to go to the nationals is desperate.

If you take them lightly,

we just might end up getting preyed upon.

I wasn't expecting your forkball

to be at such a high level.

Miyuki, can we focus on throwing more forkballs?

I want to have it down before summer.

Wow.

The third-years are putting so much into their last tournament.

But then, something terrible happens.

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: Emergency.

Emergency

Let's win the national title!