Original subtitles

Wow.

It's batting practice, but he's very thorough with every pitch.

A team like this will be quite formidable once they pick up momentum.

They have more than a small chance to beat Seido.

Seido High School Practice Field

Anti-Furuya Strategy

To prepare for the game tomorrow, we're wrapping up practice.

The game begins at 10:00 AM.

We'll do a light warm up and enter the stadium by 8:30 AM.

It's going to be above thirty degrees again tomorrow,

so don't practice too much and get plenty of rest.

That is all.

Thank you!

We're done already?

But we have a game tomorrow.

It's because we have a game tomorrow.

Hey, Tetsu.

Want to watch the Akikawa video again?

No, I've already done the simulation.

I just need to swing like I always do tomorrow.

That's our captain.

Oh, Jun-san!

I want to watch the video!

I want to simulate base stealing.

Gotta check his slide step, too.

Masuko, you're running, too?

Are you serious?

Haruichi.

Join me when I hit off the tee later.

I can join you?

What are you saying?

You can hit, too.

So, later.

O-Okay.

That's rare.

Ryo-san's talking to his brother.

Well, they are brothers.

Wait right there, Kazuya Miyuki!

Seido High School Practice Field

Don't you want to catch my new and improved fastball?

Shut up!

Don't call me by my full name!

I already caught your pseudo-fastballs yesterday.

It's not pseudo, you bastard!

Where are his manners?

Hey, Furuya.

Forget the idiot and let's go.

Hey, wait!

Oh, forgot he's an oddball, too.

Let's pitch a few after the sun sets.

I want to see how your forkball is, too.

After the sun sets?

But don't go all out, okay?

That's right.

He just came from Hokkaido this year.

It's his first summer in Tokyo.

Could it be...

...his body isn't used to this temperature?

Are the high temperatures worsening his fatigue?

He hasn't been throwing for too long, but he has played in two games.

But his pitch hasn't gotten weaker.

It's a tough call.

Kawakami, be ready from the first inning tomorrow.

Yes, sir!

Fatigue from the heat and pressure

are unavoidable as we advance.

That's why we need everyone's strength to win these games.

The entire team's strength.

You seem to be swinging without any doubts.

During the game, don't just babysit Sawamura,

and be ready to go anytime.

You were pinch hitter in the first game, remember?

The coach uses the players who are doing well in practice.

Oh, you haven't swung yet.

Don't worry about me.

Practicing at this point won't really help me.

I just need to give my all tomorrow.

Here, swing more.

But I've been swinging for almost an hour...

But it's a little nostalgic.

I haven't talked with him like this for ages.

Man, Sawamura's pitch really moves.

Yeah...

Not even Sawamura himself knows how it'll move.

All right!

Sawamura, four-seamer.

Right!

This is like this, so...

It's this!

You... had better not do that in a game.

Let's be done after ten pitches.

It just barely missed me.

Sawamura!

You don't care if you hit me, do you?

Huh? Should I?

Of course you should!

Inside pitch practice toward left-handed batters...

Are you practicing for the Akikawa line-up?

G-General!

Who are you calling "General"?

Goodness...

Isn't it a little late to be practicing, Chris?

My apologies.

Don't get carried away.

Hey!

Give me your bat and helmet.

Wait, Coach...

Show me your inside pitch.

It's not safe!

That helmet won't save you when his pitch hits you!

I don't care.

Try me!

Seriously?

Could it be that he's...

...seeing if Sawamura will be useful tomorrow

because Furuya is unreliable?

What's wrong?

Hurry up and pitch.

Are you afraid of hitting me?

So much pressure.

I couldn't throw here.

B-But if he can throw to the inside under this pressure...

I'm glad I came to check on him.

It's looking very interesting.

Sawamura, you're going?

Fuchu Municipal Stadium

Seido vs Akikawa Yakushi vs Ichidai Third

It's really hot.

And it's only nine in the morning.

It'll get hotter today, too.

We play like we talked in the meeting.

Don't forget to check the signs.

Yes, sir!

Stay hydrated

and players in the dugout should support those playing by any means.

Yes, sir!

We need everyone's strength to win from this point on!

Furuya, you're starting.

Yes, sir.

Kawakami and Sawamura,

be ready to go anytime!

Yes, sir!

Huh? Did he just say Sawamura?

That's unexpected.

I wonder if something happened with the coach yesterday.

Or it wouldn't make sense, right?

Man, he's sharp.

Why are you hiding in the corner?

Make sure you stay inside the dugout, Shiny-head.

You're blinding.

Careful not to burn your head with no hair protection.

Guys...

Let's go!

They're here!

It's Seido!

Isashiki!

Masuko!

Tetsu-san!

Furuya-kun!

Wow! They get cheers.

There's a big crowd over there.

They have a brass band and cheerleaders.

But look at our side...

Well, everyone's busy with summer class.

My parents told me to quit baseball!

Makes you want to cry.

Mine, too.

"We didn't send you to Akikawa so you could play baseball."

Well, not like we joined to do it so seriously, either.

But...

We can't quit now after coming this far.

After meeting Shun, we've learned the sweet taste of victory.

I love Yuming.

Soothes my heart.

Yuming?

You really love Japan, don't you?

You know, Shunshin...

How are you today?

How am I?

The usual.

I throw like the usual

and get outs like the usual.

That is my job as the pitcher.

No matter... who we're up against.

Your words are truly reliable.

You know...

Just as Shunshin said, no matter who we're up against,

we just do our own baseball!

Now, let's enjoy baseball as much as we can!

Yes, sir!

As Akikawa going first,

I'm sure they'd like to score first and play their usual game.

But Seido is a stronger team, overall.

So how well Yeung-kun can pitch against Seido

will be the key.

Will the big-name Seido take the game?

Akikawa Seido

Or will Akikawa become the dark horse, centered around Yeung-kun?

Whoever wins will advance to the quarter-final.

We're lucky we got the early game before it got too hot.

You should be able to throw like usual.

I plan on throwing until the end today.

Man...

The scary thing is that he truly thinks he can do it.

Anyway, be sure to pace yourself today.

Hey, what's with that silence?

Line up!

Let's go!

All right!

Seido vs Akikawa Begins

Top of the first,

Akikawa Academy's offense starts with

number 1, center fielder, Ninomiya-kun.

Keep your eyes on the ball, Nino!

He can't throw faster than the machine!

Machine?

You know...

They're starting with the first-year Furuya-kun again.

They can still keep their ace on the bench in the fourth round.

What a big team they have.

It's highly doubtful that the team has that much faith in the first-year pitcher.

Their past two games have both been called at five innings,

so he didn't pitch completely until the end.

Perhaps there's a special reason

they have to send that pitcher out first.

I see. You're right.

If that's the case, then we can exploit that.

Let's drag him off the mound quickly

and make the game ours.

Play ball!

He's not holding the bat short.

He should've seen Furuya's pitch in the last game.

Well, let's see how he reacts to the first pitch.

Your favorite high pitch.

Right here.

Wow! Merciless as usual!

That's a scary sound!

Is he really a first-year?

Man, all out from the start.

I told you to pace yourself...

What was that pitch?

Unlike the machine's, it was alive, and

it came at me with a roar.

B-But...

It's not too scary.

The goal is to adjust their eyes.

You know...

Even after that pitch, he's still not holding it short.

Ball four!

Yeah! Nice job!

Nice one, Nino!

There's nothing worse than walking the first batter, Furuya!

Like you're one to talk.

He didn't even swing once.

Yeah.

Number 2, third baseman, Hashimoto-kun.

All right!

This batter's holding the bat long, too.

I thought this might happen, but this is bad.

These guys aren't planning to swing.

The runner doesn't look like he'll run.

Damn.

They plan on tiring him out by making him throw a lot.

It's a difficult start for Furuya-kun.

The opponent isn't swinging at his high balls anymore.

No, that's not what they're doing.

They don't plan on swinging, regardless of strike or ball.

Unlike pitchers who pitch to contact,

fastball pitchers who get strikeouts naturally throw more.

It's a very bold strategy with a risk of simply striking out, but...

Ball!

It's probably the strategy Furuya-kun hates the most.

That's ball three!

What's wrong, Furuya?

Get strikes like usual!

It doesn't look good for Seido.

Nice one, Hashimoto!

Eyes on the ball!

That pitcher can't throw strikes!

No surprise.

A pitcher with no control can't make the game.

Beating him is only a matter of time.

Damn...

The sweat is annoying.

Once people do the research,

and they start letting your high ball pitches pass, we're doomed.

We knew this was coming sooner or later.

If you can't overcome this situation,

you won't have a chance to throw in the future.

Split?

Now?

Furuya.

Do it!

Ball four!

Oh, no! Two walks in a row!

And that last one bounced.

Will Furuya-kun be all right?

Wasn't that a breaking ball?

In this situation when he'd want a strike?

Hey, that battery's getting lost!

They're just gonna crash and burn from here!

Number 3, shortstop, Onishi-kun.

Eyes on the ball, Onishi!

Pitcher has no control!

Again...

Just throw as I tell you to.

Sheesh...

Your drop is inconsistent, so it's really hard to catch.

But you're able to throw relaxed when you throw this.

If only you could throw your fastball the same way.

Let's be done soon.

Learn Today

Devote Every Moment

I haven't thrown a pitch I'm satisfied with.

Please let me throw a little more.

We have a game tomorrow!

Ignored

Yeah, way to ignore me.

Throwing as hard as I can is the only thing I can do.

I will throw as much as I can if it means helping the team.

I see.

He went all out in the last two games

because he was trying his best for the team.

Keep that feeling inside you for tomorrow's game.

No matter what happens tomorrow,

we'll support you the best we can.

Strike!

Did that just drop?

Yeah!

Nice pitch!

Your arm's swinging!

Now, fastball down the middle!

Strike!

Wait a minute.

What's this all of a sudden?

He's finally throwing strikes.

All right!

Nice one, Furuya!

Keep that rhythm and keep pitching—

Ball!

Don't make me eat my words!

Hey!

He's actually cheering him on.

Strike!

Batter out!

What's going on?

What happened?

The more strength you have in your shoulders,

the harder it is to control a breaking pitch.

Then that catcher called for a breaking pitch to loosen up the pitcher?

That's crazy!

He risked walking the batter for that?

All right.

Your shoulder's looking loose now.

Number 4, right fielder, Shiratori-kun.

What should I do, Coach?

Let's wait.

This inning, we'll see it out.

Kazuya Miyuki, huh?

Furuya's control has stabilized,

but Akikawa's not backing down just like that.

In order to make the game ours,

we have to destroy this batter right here.

I'm not letting anyone hit.

You all right, Furuya?

Boss! When am I up?

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: Miracle Akikawa.

Miracle Akikawa

Let's win the national title!