Original subtitles

After spring next year,

he'll be ineligible to participate in high school baseball.

Go to the bullpen

to put some pressure on the other team.

Tanba.

The ace... is in the bullpen.

Winner and Loser

Are you serious?

The ace this late?

No way...

Were they saving him this long from the start

to make their move in the late-game?

No, that's impossible.

Having to switch out the first pitcher after just four innings

shouldn't be part of their plan.

But the southpaw first-year they were hiding...

...was a real curveball.

Out!

Yes!

Akikawa Seido

Two outs! Two outs!

Let's do this, Shun!

Focus on the batter!

One to the outside?

We don't need any balls.

Strike! Batter out!

Akikawa Seido

Let's get the first batter!

Sawamura, you've got this!

Pitch to contact!

It's fine if the ball control's a little off.

Come at a good pace.

Don't give them time to think.

Out!

Two outs already.

And they still have two more pitchers they can use.

One more run...

But the one more run feels impossible to get.

Three for three again?

Why can't they hit his pitches?

Isn't he only throwing fastballs?

He throws at a good pace, and it feels good to watch.

Though he acts a little dumb.

What's that first-year pitcher's name?

Eijun... Eijun Sawamura!

Well, he's really good.

Was Sawamura-kun always this good?

He's doing really well!

Nice pitch.

Nice pitching.

Wow!

The... The two big-shots of Seido just...

...just complimented me!

You get carried away, so I'm not saying anything.

Do you seriously plan to play past the ninth inning?

If you're seriously aiming for the nationals,

go get as many runs as you can before the game ends!

Yes, sir!

Seido High School has called for a substitution.

Replacing Number 8, Sakai-kun:

They're bringing out a pinch hitter.

They're making their move.

Let's have a good match.

Harucchi!

I'm right behind you!

Go crazy out there!

You just copied what I told you earlier.

During the game, don't just babysit Sawamura,

be ready to go anytime.

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

Just like my brother said, the coach really used me.

This guy...

He's standing over the plate.

Does he plan to get hit to get on base?

This isn't really like him.

Well...

He doesn't show his emotions much.

Yeah. He doesn't.

But...

When he stands on the field,

he does things I can't even think of doing.

What are you planning, Haruichi?

You use a wooden bat when metal bats are the standard in high school?

You must have a lot of confidence in your ability.

But...

How do you expect to hit an inside pitch standing like that?

Right to your knees!

He opened his legs!

He was aiming for this inside pitch...

...from the start!

Doesn't matter.

No matter how you hit it, it'll be a foul.

Yes!

A hit to the left field on the first pitch!

He can hit that pitch to the left?

Nice batting, Harucchi!

Yeung has confidence in his ball control,

which made him throw to the inside.

And he swung straight for it.

That takes a lot of talent.

Hey, he's shyly pumping his fist!

His face is red!

It's not easy...

...when you have a younger brother like him.

I'm coming right after you, Harucchi!

I'll hit a huge one right here!

What?

Me? Bunt?!

Wow! Perfect!

Straight down the foul line.

Why is he so good at only bunts?

Nice one, Bunt Master!

You're the Kawai of Seido!

Why won't he let me hit?

Damn.

I hate how he doesn't even realize he's good at bunts.

Kuramochi!

Shun, we got a free out.

You're looking stiff, boys!

Show some spirit!

Kuramochi, we don't need a big one!

Follow up cleanly!

Shunshin!

Bottom of the seventh, one out and runner on second.

A great chance for a run.

Let's go.

Kuramochi-senpai...

You've been completely shut down until now,

but it's about time you did something, Kuramochi-kun.

Listen, everyone out there's

playing under a lot of pressure this late in the game.

Don't pop a fly, no matter what.

Smash it into the right.

He pulled an outside pitch!

I won't make third base.

Kuramochi!

Whoa, he's fast!

I gotta hurry, or I won't...

Oh, his hand slipped!

Akikawa made an error!

Finally, Kuramochi!

Man, you're fast!

One out, runners on first and third!

Yes!

A lot of things could happen here.

I wonder what play Seido will make.

Their squeeze play was blocked by Yeung-kun in the fourth inning.

He's not taking any lead.

Does he not plan to run?

He's stealing without a lead?

Don't throw it!

Wow! He's like a fish swimming in water!

Like a cheetah on the hunt!

Like a rat running for the cheese!

Or um, well, er...

You're trying way too hard.

This is fine.

I can focus on the batter more if he's standing still on second.

You know, time out!

Let's all gather around for a second.

Sorry, Shun.

I felt rushed and messed up.

Don't worry about it.

What's there to be so stiff about?

We gotta play aggressively now!

Let's do this, guys!

Y-Yeah.

I'm going to pitch with full trust in your defense.

Sh-Shun.

Will I get hit here and lose the game?

Or will I get out of this to wait for our chance?

This thrilling tension...

...is what makes baseball so fun.

Play!

Shunshin.

Shun.

What a guy.

Squeeze?

S-Squeeze?

He threw it wide!

Catch it please, Sekiguchi!

Brother.

You can still hit that?

Yay!

Yes!

They got me. Damn it.

Back home!

Runner's heading for home!

We can't give two runs on a squeeze!

Safe!

Wow! Two runs!

That's some super-fast sliding!

His speed is like cheating.

S-Sekiguchi! Second base!

Nice run!

Nice run, Ryo-san!

One after another without any break...

Yeah! That's our one-two pair!

Nice run!

Welcome back.

Harucchi, you're the best!

Nice run, Kuramochi.

Though you got on base with an error.

It was a hit!

A high ability to adapt to any pitch,

and aggressive base-running performed as a team.

So this is the level of Japanese high school baseball.

You idiot.

We're nowhere near done.

Seido! Seido! Seido!

Municipal Stadium

So Seido managed to get the next run.

Seido! Seido! Seido!

Tanba and Kawakami are on standby

with two innings left.

The Clockwork of Akikawa put up a good fight,

but it's the end now.

Akikawa Seido

Let's go!

You've got this, Sekiguchi!

Don't pop it up!

We're just getting started!

Nice throw!

Nice throw, Nori-senpai!

Pitch to contact! It's two outs!

You've got this, Kawakami.

You're our ace closer.

We're leading by a lot.

Be sure to pitch your best until the end, Kawakami.

Until Tanba-san comes back to the mound,

I have to shut them all down.

No matter who they are.

Strike!

Nice one, Kawakami!

Nice pitch!

Nori-senpai, nice pitch!

You're our closer!

I was worried his mind would be tired

being on standby since the start,

but looks like he's really comfortable about relieving.

Yes.

Just gotta keep this up.

Stay calm, Sekiguchi!

Eyes on the ball!

Two outs, runner on second.

Yeung persevered and got on base,

but there's no one else on Akikawa who's a threat.

Hey, don't cry!

The game's not over yet!

Don't give up until the end!

Let's cheer him on!

A slider to the outside ball.

Let's finish it with this, Nori.

I...

I can't let it end yet.

I gotta get Shun home.

Strike! Batter out!

Game set!

Nori-senpai!

Nice pitch.

Takako-senpai, we won! We won!

Yay!

Yeah!

Come on. Let's line up.

Let's stand in line with heads held high.

Akikawa Seido

The one- and two-holes sparked a fire in the seventh inning,

and the Seido batters took off from there.

Seven to two.

In the end, Seido won by a large margin.

Nice game!

The difference in team strengths were definitely there,

but a big factor in Seido's favor

was how their two first-years lasted for seven innings.

Seido, seven to two.

Bow.

Thank you!

Shunshin Yeung.

I had a great game with you today.

See you next year.

Next year, huh?

Brace yourselves.

Where did he learn that phrase?

I never want to play you again!

Thank you for a great game!

Sorry, Shun.

We weren't very useful until the very end.

We retire as third-years, so it makes sense, but you...

Nice game!

You guys fought really well.

Get your chin up, Akikawa!

It was a good game!

Akikawa, you were great!

I was secretly rooting for you.

Me, too!

Great game, you guys!

Nice pitch!

Yeung-kun!

Good luck next year!

We're rooting for you, Shunshin!

Shunshin!

I...

I had fun playing baseball until the very end.

I don't regret...

I don't...

We still have fall.

Then the spring invitational.

That's right.

It's not over yet, Shunshin.

Not yet.

Seido!

Tetsu-san!

Kataoka-san!

Let's make nationals this year!

You guys can do it!

We'll come watch again!

Don't get cocky, Sawamura!

Today was a fluke!

Thank you for your support.

Thank you!

Seido vs Akikawa, 7-2.

Seido vs Akikawa, 7-2.

Seido High School advances to the quarter-final.

Seido High School advances to the quarter-final.

Ichidai Third High that plays next represented us

in the spring invitational.

They're probably the team we'll face in the semi.

Don't lose, Kacchan.

I want to pitch against you.

The clean-up of their opponent, Yakushi High School, is a first-year.

A first-year's batting clean-up?

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: Dark Horse.

Dark Horse

Let's win the national title!

Ehehehe