Original subtitles

Who are we?

Seido, the champions!

Who's shed the most sweat?

Seido!

Shed the most tears?

Seido!

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!

Calling for Attention

Let's go!

Yeah!

We will now begin the second round of West Tokyo Qualifiers,

between Seido High School and Maimon West High School.

Our summer's finally about to start.

I really hope no one's nervous

for this important first game.

You're the one who's nervous.

Don't worry.

I'm sure they're fine.

Dude...

Number 10?

Where's the southpaw ace?

Not to mention...

...he's a submarine pitcher.

Number 10.

Mamoru Minamidaira, third-year.

He played as a pitcher as a first-year,

but he hasn't been a pitcher in an official game since then.

It's almost unthinkable,

but he must have spent two years practicing his submarine pitch

just for this summer.

Play ball!

Kuramochi! Hit it!

Let's stir things up with your legs!

Well, what should I do?

The lead-off man's job is to get on base.

But I shouldn't simply hit off a pitcher we know nothing about...

Strike!

That's slow!

He goes lower than Kawakami.

The pitch comes up, and then it goes back down.

The lack of speed in his pitch really makes this difficult.

Do you see their faces?

Seido is looking completely lost when faced with an unknown pitcher.

Chiba's Art of War,

Rule 1.

Make the first move, no matter what it takes.

They're nervous playing their first game.

If we can shock them even a little, it's good.

It's low.

Is it just barely in?

Strike two!

Hey!

This isn't like you, Kuramochi!

Be more aggressive!

Crap.

I'm cornered.

I can't ignore the close ones anymore...

I need to show everyone what kind of pitcher he is.

Shoot!

Was it a curve? A slider?

Batter's running!

I couldn't tell because it was so slow.

Out!

Wow! A strikeout!

Shouldn't have just stood there the entire time!

The catcher was calm

in picking up that bouncing throw.

Yeah.

One out!

One out!

These guys definitely didn't form their battery overnight.

I'm sorry, Ryo-san.

I got to see that last breaking pitch.

You did your part.

Focus your hits on the easy throws.

Hey, Furuya.

Let's play some catch, just in case.

Sh-Should I do it as well?

Why?

He's got a real poker face, and I can't tell...

but is he calm or nervous?

If possible, I want a run here,

so he can be calm on the mound.

Ball!

He's not swinging at the low ones at all.

Let's throw some to the outside.

No! Too far in!

Wow! Straight to third!

Not a lucky day!

I waited too long.

Are they gonna be okay?

They're getting outs, one after another.

Maybe they're nervous?

Isashiki, you'd better hit it!

Roar!

You're the Spitz of Seido!

Who's a Spitz?

Calm down, Isashiki!

He could hear us?

From the right box, his pitch to the outside...

...probably feels really far away.

Yes!

It's going!

Run, Isashiki!

Wow! A three-for-three?

What was the right field doing so far back?

They've really studied the Seido batters.

Damn.

He only threw to the outside.

Furuya, let's go.

Yes, sir.

We didn't underestimate them.

Our guys were all just trying to do their jobs.

Seido Maimon

But I really wanted that first run.

Furuya is starting, and Kawakami is closing.

This is our best pitching order right now.

If Furuya fails to make a good start,

it's going to be a bad way to open the season.

They're underestimating us!

Maybe they think they aren't,

but deep down, they actually are!

We underdogs have got to take advantage of that!

And there's the proof!

Their statring pitcher is a first-year.

No matter how prestigious they may be,

they wouldn't use a first-year if this first game was important to them.

Hey, Furuya!

Even if you get hit, I'll be right behind you!

So get off the mound!

You don't have stamina, so just leave the rest to—

Ignore

Hey, don't ignore me!

Good, they're being themselves.

Look over here, Furuya!

Furuya.

I don't plan on playing all nine innings today.

So you can go all out from the start.

Want to strike out everyone?

Miyuki-senpai.

That was the plan all along.

Sheesh...

He hasn't changed a single bit.

That pitcher's a first-year.

Where's the ace, Tanba?

This is an important first game.

If they lose here, it's over,

so are they willing to risk it?

He can't even catch properly.

That first-year's so nervous.

He might just knock himself out throwing balls.

Listen well.

Don't swing unless it's a meatball.

Play!

You're standing rather close to the plate.

I wouldn't do that...

Now then...

Will Furuya's start...

...turn out well...

...or badly?

S-Strike!

Wow! What was that pitch?

Is he really a first-year?

How fast was that?

Strike!

You idiot!

Those are all high balls!

Don't swing!

What in the world?

I've never even seen this from a machine.

I'm scared just standing here.

I'm telling you!

Don't swing at the high pitches!

Strike!

Batter out!

All right!

Three for three!

All out from the start!

Look!

Our opponent looks lost!

Nice pitch.

Nice pitch.

Nice one, Furuya.

Though they were mostly balls!

He's not even nervous.

He's more fired up than usual.

Maybe it's thanks to what the coach told him.

Furuya.

Do you understand what it means to have Kawakami behind you?

Just because you're starting

doesn't mean you have to shoulder everything.

Just do what you can.

Throw with confidence.

You have the strength to be trusted with our important first game.

Have the strength...

Have the strength.

Have the strength.

Have the strength.

Stop recalling it!

It's good to have spirit,

but he's throwing way too high.

It may be fine today,

but we'll have trouble later on.

Wh-What is with him?

Is he a monster?

What are you doing?

Hurry up and get out onto the field!

Yes, sir!

You have to switch gears in your heads.

If you defend tenaciously,

a path will open up for you.

Chiba's Art of War,

Final Chapter.

Always be optimistic.

Hit it long, Yuki!

Yuki! Yuki!

The shortstop is right by the second base.

What an extreme right-side shift.

Are they only going to throw to the outside for the righties?

It's possible that they might just walk him.

Boys, take a good look at Yuki's batting.

Throw to the edge of the strike zone.

If we end up walking him, it's fine.

Ball.

He didn't even bat an eye.

Crap.

It's a little in!

I knew it was coming, but...

...it was too fast.

It went through the outfield!

A strong hit that went between the right-side shift!

Yeah! First hit!

Nice hit, Tetsu!

Tetsu-san!

We don't need a long fly.

Hit low and strong,

and obliterate their defense.

All right!

Two hits in a row!

No outs and runners on first and third!

Miyuki!

Let's do this, Miyuki!

Miyuki!

Damn.

I thought they'd swing wider,

but they're swinging to connect.

They might even make a squeeze play.

A breaking ball for the first pitch.

Throw it inside and low, in case they squeeze.

Aim and swing.

He came to hit the first pitch?

It's a super low ball!

It's over!

The third base runner is safe at home!

First base runner's slowly getting to third!

Yeah! First run!

Nice run, Masuko-senpai!

Three hits in a row!

Miyuki's taking all the spotlight!

Though he only hits when there are runners.

Freaking Miyuki.

He was totally aiming for that pitch...

...that I struck out on.

What are they thinking?

Are they a team that just hits hard?

Squeeze on the first pitch?

Ball to first!

Yeah, second run!

Nice bunt, Shirasu-senpai!

And Masuko-senpai is faster than he looks!

Yay!

Wow!

Runners are coming home, one after another!

I can't stand around, either.

Harucchi!

Let's go play catch!

Are you playing today?

That, I don't know!

But it's hot today,

and who knows when Furuya might die.

D-Die?

Either way...

It's not like I'll get in trouble for warming up.

What an optimist.

This is one thing...

...I can learn from him.

Seido Maimon

They looked a little tense in the beginning,

but Furuya's pitching and Yuki's hit pushed everyone's back.

Warm

The opponents are still swinging late to Furuya's pitch.

So if we have ten runs up after five innings,

the game will be called, right?

Maybe Furuya can finish the game.

No.

Even if we have short games,

we're cycling pitchers this summer.

Have Kawakami ready to go anytime.

Y-Yes, sir.

Furuya's getting strikes with high balls.

Once the batters stop swinging at them,

he'll have to throw more.

His pitching isn't going to work against the higher-level schools

that practice with 150 km/h machines.

The coach understands that.

I feel great!

I only feel this great once every four years!

As frequent as the Olympics?

That's not good.

I'm ready to go anytime!

There's a boy who's been calling for attention.

I'm sorry.

Hey, Sawamura!

Stop idling around when you're not playing!

You're embarrassing the team!

Go back to the dugout!

Hey, you're gonna get tired if you throw so much here.

I'll be fine, sir!

I want to fight!

I think his pitch is moving more than usual.

This is going to be the last thing...

...I'll be able to teach you.

I didn't understand what he meant then,

but now I see.

This is the last tournament for the third-years.

The moment we lose, they're done with the team.

Sawamura.

The coach wants you.

What does he want?

I was having a nice time throwing.

You're going in next inning, Sawamura.

Seriously?

Shock

You're ready, right?

Y-Yes, sir!

Coach Kataoka is determined to get through this summer cycling pitchers,

and he's sending Sawamura out to the mound.

Boys!

Don't give up! Show them that we have some spine!

As the other team plays desperately,

how will you pitch?

Now that I'm standing here,

I can't lose heart!

Let's go!

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: Official Game Debut.

Official Game Debut

Let's win the national title!