Original subtitles

I think...

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

I'll start asking for forkballs next inning.

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.

Emergency

Strike! Batter out!

Nice pitch!

Nice pitch!

I can do this.

My pitching...

...is good.

In terms of speed and angle,

it was the best I could've imagined.

Now, it's much easier to call plays in the second half,

Tanba-san.

Wow!

I want to throw.

Tanba's really looking well!

He's doing well with Miyuki, too!

Looks like he's prepared well for the summer.

It's a huge improvement over his forkball I know.

True, he's doing well so far.

But...

Yokohama Seido

Tanba-kun's biggest weakness is his fragility after he gives away a hit.

The question is whether or not he can conquer it.

Seido Shuhoku

Miyuki.

Let's focus on throwing more forkballs the last three innings.

I think that pitch alone was effective enough.

Do we really need to throw more with Inashiro watching?

His pitch slows down in the second half.

I don't want to use the forkball too much,

as it requires a lot of grip strength.

We should use the forkball to scare them,

but I think it's best to center the plays

around your fastball and curveball.

No, I want to throw forkballs.

I don't have a lot of opportunities left to throw them in a real game.

Oh, come on.

I thought they were doing well,

but it looks like they're not on the same page at all.

Tanba.

Are you saying that as a pitcher representing the team?

Or are you saying that for your own good as a baseball player?

Which is it?

Tell me.

If...

...you're saying it for your own good,

then I can't give you the ace number.

But, Coach!

I think it's both.

Hey, Tanba!

What are you saying?

I know...

I tend to put myself down in the second half,

and I understand that Miyuki is thinking about me.

But if I don't conquer my weakness with my own strength,

I can't stand on the mound with confidence.

It is in order to become the true ace.

That is my honest answer.

Tanba.

Tanba-san.

Very well.

If that's the case,

I'm with you all the way until the very end.

I can't ignore a pitcher's opinion...

...when it's this strong.

Where did you learn to talk big like that?

If you give up a run now,

you'd better take responsibility.

You'll shave your head all the way!

Oh, that's good.

I'm in.

I'm in.

Or you could grow your hair long.

Hey! Knock it off!

You give up a run, you shave your head.

You lose two runs, you shave your eyebrows, too.

I'll write it down.

Chris! Not you, too!

Chris-senpai, you're awesome!

Three runs, and you grow your hair long?

Tanba-kun...

was tall when he joined,

and we had high hopes for him as a pitcher.

But he was extremely shy,

and couldn't even look us in the eyes sometimes.

But look at him now.

I'm always ready, sir.

With summer right around the corner,

it looks like he'll be ready just in time.

It's not about proving myself.

The one everyone recognizes...

...is the ace.

Trust...

Next batter!

Hurry up, please.

Oh, Tanba-senpai's up next.

We're sorry.

He'll be there in a second.

When did Shirasu-senpai get on base?

You weren't watching?

And Sakai-senpai is back in the dugout.

Shut up!

I'm sorry I hit straight to third base.

Tanba!

Hit it!

But don't try too hard!

It'll affect your pitching!

Damn.

Those guys don't think I'll hit.

I want to play baseball for as long as possible.

I want to win...

...as many times as possible.

I don't want to see the days I devoted to baseball

go down the drain.

Everything is about getting to the stage.

We're definitely going...

...to nationals.

Tanba-san's determined to hit.

Though I hope he strikes out, so it won't affect his pitching.

Why?

What makes us so different from them?

Seido Shuhoku

We've been working hard for the past three years, too.

Damn it.

Damn it!

You've gotta be kidding me! Damn it!

You've gotta be—

Crap.

The ball slipped out because of the sweat.

Hey, didn't that hit his face?

Right in the face as he was about to swing.

That fall didn't look very good.

Director Ota, get the car!

Right away.

Don't move, Tanba.

I'm fine.

I can stand.

Just stay put.

Where's the stretcher?

It was Chris last year.

This year, it's Tanba.

Not even luck is on Seido's side.

I am terribly sorry.

Especially right before summer.

It was an accident that happened during a game.

It's not your pitcher's fault.

However, would it be okay...

...if we ended this game here?

Yes, that's perfectly fine.

I'm sorry about this after you came all this way.

Hey, let's get ready to leave.

Y-Yes, sir.

I feel really bad for them,

but I didn't get to see Furuya pitch.

Tanba.

With the summer right around the corner,

I'm sure this accident will heavily influence the team.

I'm truly disappointed, Kataoka-san.

I wanted to play you in the prelims in your best condition.

The tournament drawings are today, right?

Yeah.

Tetsu and the director are going.

I see.

It's really going to start.

This is our last summer...

Faculty Office

I'm sure everyone's already heard about Tanba-kun's condition.

People are more shaken up than I'd imagined.

If we don't get them to switch gears, they may not be able to recover.

I've just returned, Coach.

The brackets for the summer are set.

There are so many schools.

Tokyo's split up into east and west, so it's not that bad.

There are much more competitive districts in the nation.

Five games to get to the final.

We won't play Inashiro until the final.

We'll play Ichidai in the quarter-final.

Are the upperclassmen going to be okay?

They've looked completely defeated since yesterday.

Considering they've been training together all these years,

what happened yesterday must've really hit them hard.

It had to happen...

...when we were supposed to heighten our spirits for the summer.

I'm sure you've all heard,

but Tanba's chin was cracked by the accident yesterday.

Luckily, it's not a complete fracture,

and his brain was not affected, either.

But he might not make it to the prelims.

To be honest, I still feel unsettled.

He was finally starting to recognize his position as the ace,

so I'm sure he's feeling upset about it as well.

This is my sincere opinion as the coach of this team,

and the decision was not influenced by my personal emotions.

I am giving the ace number to Tanba.

Until he comes back,

we will fight the battles as one team!

With that in mind, Kawakami is a must, but...

...Furuya and Sawamura.

You two first-years will be playing more frequently, as well.

When that happens, I want the third-years to take the reins,

and help support these two.

Let's do this.

Yes, sir!

Who knows if Tanba-kun can come back in his best state.

But this type of accident

can sometimes help unite the team.

If we can achieve that...

I need...

...stamina roll.

I'll... get to play?

But...

Am I even ready...

...to play in his stead?

Looks like you know what you're missing.

Then it should be fine.

Miyuki.

I think you understand, but we don't have time.

We have to focus on training their fielding and ball control.

Indeed.

Let's get them ready by summer.

It's simple,

but it's the best way to get the feeling on your fingertips down.

From now on,

do this whenever you have time.

Yes, sir.

Pivot-Leg Jumps

One-legged jumps to strengthen your pivoting leg.

Jump straight up and pause at the landing.

Yes, sir!

Can we really be doing something so basic when we don't have time?

I want to pitch more.

Lunge & Turn

Lunge and turn.

Push the ground with your foot and turn your hips.

This is a necessary action in pitching.

Yes, sir!

Thera-Band Training

Dumbbell Training

Menko Exercise

Okay.

Next, go join situational field practice.

We'll have a thorough meeting on fielding.

Yes, sir!

Thorough...

We don't have time, but don't rush.

You lack many things both physically and technically.

But rushing won't help you attain them sooner.

First, you recover from the camp.

Then we'll selectively strengthen what you need for pitching.

Now, go practice your fielding like it's a real game.

Chris-senpai.

That's right.

He always...

...coaches in our best interest.

We just need to trust him and follow him.

Yes, sir, Chris-senpai!

Yes, sir.

Don't forget to study, too.

Finals are coming up.

Substitute x = y, and...

I'm lost.

I don't know anything.

If you fail, you have to take the makeup.

The more makeups you need, the less practice you get,

and you won't get to play in the games.

A-Are you serious?

The other classroom

Stop.

Learn to face reality.

Ka-Kanemaru!

Help me out here!

My head's already full from Chris-senpai's baseball lessons!

It's your fault for always slacking on schoolwork!

I guess I could help you out with your studies.

Chris-senpai asked me to help, too.

And I hate to admit it,

but he's...

...really doing his best.

We don't have much time until summer.

And you really might have to play in the games.

I don't care if you just cram it or whatever,

but stuff everything into your head!

Kanemaru.

You're not just representing the team.

You're representing all us first-years, too.

The team, as a whole, isn't shouting very much.

Perhaps they haven't fully switched gears yet.

Get Yuki and Isashiki.

Do you...

...understand what the team's situation is?

Yes.

Yes.

Then...

...why aren't you two the first ones shouting?

You're the top players of the team.

With Tanba's incident,

the entire team is feeling down.

Shouldn't you third-years be the ones firing up the team?

Yuki.

Isashiki.

You two...

...should do pitching practice in the bullpen every day starting today.

In reality,

after the camp, we should be switching to a lighter training menu.

But in order to win with this current team,

we're going to need your strength even more.

I know I'm putting a lot on your plates with more practice as well,

but no one else can do it.

No pitching practice today either...

I'm allowed to go running, right?

How's that, Miyuki?

Like my bazooka ball?

They're all balls, sir.

What?

Ironic that you throw strikes from the outfield.

Move aside, Jun.

This is how you throw a strike.

You throw like a fielder, too.

Jun-san's looking lively again.

So that's what the coach was going for.

They both have a high sense of responsibility.

If the coach says it's for the team,

of course, they wouldn't stay feeling down.

What's wrong, Kawakami?

If you're not gonna throw, let's switch!

I will!

Miyauchi-senpai, I'm going.

Just hurry up and throw!

And...

to provoke the actual pitchers.

What's wrong?

Yuki-senpai and Isashiki-senpai are...

No matter what you say, you're not pitching today.

More importantly, we need to reflect on your field practice today.

Tanba.

You'd better come back to the first-string.

This time, we'll be the ones waiting.

For our ace...

...to come back.

You're representing all us first-years, too.

I don't have a choice.

I have to get ready by summer!

We still don't know when our ace, Tanba-san, can come back.

We'll have to get by with what we have for a while.

There's another obstacle standing tall in our way!

The final exams!

Will Furuya and I manage to get passing grades?

And the summer district tournament begins!

The battle for nationals is on!

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: To the Dream Stage.

To the Dream Stage

Let's win the national title!