Original subtitles

July 25

Game 4 - Yakushi vs Chigusa -

Yakushi Chigusa

Replacing Mino-kun is Number 6, Sanada-kun.

Sanada-kun, pitcher.

Then, this pitcher threw until the seventh inning,

when the game was called with a score of 12-3.

With the momentum from defeating Ichidai,

Yakushi made the quarter-final.

This right-handed pitcher also pitched the last two innings

in the Ichidai game.

He throws aggressively to the inside

and has a shootball that comes right into your chest.

Number 18, Shunpei Sanada.

He's undoubtedly the real ace of this team.

He throws a shootball? That's rare.

Why doesn't he pitch from the start?

Is he injured?

I'm not sure why, but...

...changing the cleanup while saving the ace for the end is practically unthinkable.

If it's all well-thought-out strategy,

then it's safe to assume they'll do something for our game.

And this batting lineup...

Number 3, Mishima.

Number 4, Todoroki.

Number 5, Akiba.

These three cleanups have scored eight runs with seven hits.

Just because they're first-years doesn't mean they're not formidable.

First-years...

The team has stolen bases seven times?

Yes.

They don't bunt, so they aggressively run.

We must be wary of their aggressive runners

while still keeping focus on their powerful batters.

Their lack of bunts actually adds pressure to the pitchers.

Yakushi High School...

...may be a much tougher opponent than we expected.

Money Tree

Tokyo, Suginami City - Yakushi High School -

All right, boys!

Final round!

If you can't bunt in practice, I'm not using you!

So you'd better get cracking!

This is a surprise.

They haven't bunted a single game, but they're practicing bunts.

Hey, don't underestimate baseball, tall girl.

Tall?

"I could bunt in my sleep."

Having that confidence lets them swing all they want.

In the end, baseball depends on the players.

Those who want to play

just need to do whatever they enjoy doing out there.

Be sincere and strict in practice!

Enjoy baseball to the fullest in games!

That's my motto.

Got it?

I see...

At first, their baseball seems completely unreasonable,

but he has his own strong principles toward baseball.

Coach Todoroki, you played amateur baseball until you were forty, correct?

Yeah.

I'm surprised you knew.

Why did such an amazing player like yourself quit your job

and remain unemployed after you retired from baseball?

You did too much research!

My whole life, all I had done was baseball.

So I was teaching baseball to kids by the river.

I lost all my money, and my wife left me because of that.

I'm so glad this school found me!

H-He's a good-for-nothing!

He's just a baseball freak!

Oh, I don't see Raichi-kun around.

Yeah, he's getting nutrients.

He's eating?

Yeah, something like that.

Since he was little, he's always felt hungry.

Have you been teaching him baseball since he was little?

The only thing I did was give him that bat.

This?

You can hold it, tall girl.

Money Tree

"Money Tree"?

How heavy is this bat?

This is heavier than the common heavy bats.

It's the bat I used when I was training.

Money Tree

Raichi-kun's been swinging this bat every day?

I didn't have money to send him to little or senior league,

and his junior high school didn't have a baseball team.

That's no good.

You're just swinging the bat.

I can't see the pitch you're hitting.

That won't get you money for food.

Banana, omelet...

Raichi, do you know what a 160 km/h pitch feels like?

Rice ball, banana...

It's super fast.

Like a bullet train.

The swing speed to hit such a ball is as fast as sound.

Maybe even light speed.

Sound? Light?

The only reason I got by without a job

was that bat and the strongest pitchers in my imagination.

Still, he continued to swing the bat.

Because he's an idiot.

There's no limit to imagination.

What he got out of that was the ultimate image training.

A 160 km/h fastball.

A slider that breaks right in front of you.

A cutter.

A knuckleball that falls like a leaf.

He's been swinging every day without rest

against the monstrous pitchers he imagined in his head.

His hunger isn't like your average little boy.

He'll make money.

Unlike me, he'll make millions with just a single bat.

These guys are first-years like us.

This Furuya guy throws crazy fast.

They also have a sidearm and a right-handed ace.

It's annoying how they're all different types of pitchers.

What? You guys are still watching that?

Sanada-senpai.

Raichi's dad told us to study it.

The coach did?

It's funny how thoroughly he makes us do this.

You guys were watching Manaka-san's video to hell, too.

His pitch was amazing and just as I imagined.

Really...

And how about Seido?

You got them in your head yet?

These two are interesting!

Two?

I can understand Furuya,

but this southpaw, too?

I can't quite put a finger on it from the video,

but there's something the video can't capture.

Seido High School!

I want to play them now! Like, right now!

Sheesh.

I don't know anyone who's more hungry for baseball.

Could it be that you didn't work to nurture Raichi-kun's hunger?

Yeah!

July 26 - Day Before Quarter-Final -

Yeah!

He seems to be in good form.

He must've gained confidence in the Akikawa game.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Shut up!

You want to call it a day, Sawamura?

No, please stick with me a little longer!

Hey, you have a game tomorrow!

I still mess up my control sometimes,

and I feel like I can't beat him without throwing perfectly.

It's the quarter-final!

Who says you're gonna throw?

If I say I will, I will!

Well, it's not bad.

A slide step to counter the steals?

I figured Yakushi would like to play mind games.

This form might help him stay relaxed.

His speed drops a little, but his control is good.

Might turn out to be useful.

I have to work on my stamina roll.

Sorry!

Don't worry about making it bounce, Kawakami!

If you can keep the balls low, you can avoid long hits.

Okay.

Kawakami's the best at keeping the balls low!

Right, Ono?

Right...

I'm a little worried about Furuya-kun's stamina,

but these three are in pretty good condition.

Indeed.

Now we just need...

Still off.

Yes, sir.

I can see Tanba-kun really wants it,

but he's still not in his best condition.

His comeback will be big for the team.

Maybe the only way to get his senses back is to play in real games.

Learn Today

Devote Every Moment

About tomorrow's starting pitcher...

We'll go with Furuya, like usual.

However,

considering your stamina, we'll go with a quick switch.

You'll start from the fourth, Sawamura,

and you'll start from the seventh, Kawakami.

Yes, sir.

National Champions

Depending on how the game goes, it'll probably change a little.

Be ready early.

D-Does this mean you have high expectations of me?

Boss, I can start, if you'd like!

No.

And don't call me "boss."

A relay of three innings per pitcher.

They've been pitching the past three games,

so if we can aggressively change the pitchers,

then we can prevent the enemy batters from getting used to our pitchers.

Though that means they have to throw well in the first place.

What about Tanba, Coach?

You didn't call him here.

In his current state, I can't put him on the mound.

N-No!

He's been working so hard for the quarter-final!

Either way, I'm not letting Tanba throw tomorrow.

Keep that in mind and carry out your duties tomorrow.

Yes, boss!

I'll meet your expectations!

Don't call me "boss."

Yes, boss!

What's wrong, Tanba?

Throw something real for once!

He's throwing some good ones here and there.

Well?

You want to wrap up?

No, one more round.

Let me throw one more round.

Don't tire out before the game.

Though we'll tag along for as long as it takes.

Yeah, for as long as it takes.

Rumble

Your stomach says otherwise.

Tanba-san's working hard.

The game's already tomorrow.

Hey, that was a good pitch!

Tetsu couldn't even swing!

That was a ball.

No, that was a strike!

Boys, it's time you got some rest.

Also, that was a ball.

Yet another fiend...

I'll help you stretch, Tanba-san.

Are you still not satisfied with how you are?

The fifth inning.

Start warming up in the fifth inning.

Yakushi is a strong team.

Tomorrow's game might turn into a brawl.

If that happens, I'll need you on the mound.

You're the ace of Seido, after all.

Show me what you've been doing...

...these three years.

I see.

He tells the youngsters that Tanba-san won't throw

to make them understand their duties.

And he comes here to make Tanba-san realize that he's the ace of the team.

This is what he wanted.

Now, call it a day.

Want me to help you stretch, Tanba?

Is that a no?

Take his offer, Tanba!

You're the ace, after all.

If only I were the ace...

You look more nervous than before a game.

Guys!

The only thing on his mind

was to play with everyone on the team.

July 27 - Quarter-final -

Kataoka-san!

Tetsu!

Miyuki-kun!

All right! Let's go!

Don't stand in front of me!

Yakushi Seido

There are quite a few people here.

It's the game that decides the strongest four in West Tokyo.

It's no surprise that people want to watch.

Yakushi beat Ichidai and became the center of attention.

And Seido is trying to make nationals again,

after their last opportunity six years ago.

Who do you think will win this game?

In terms of momentum, Yakushi.

But only in terms of momentum.

If it doesn't turn into a hitting game like Ichidai's game,

Seido will have the upper hand.

However, their ace, Tanba-kun, hasn't thrown a single time.

If the Seido pitchers can't hold down the energetic Yakushi lineup, then...

What's with their lineup?

Are they playing around?

It's completely different from the Ichidai game!

So they've made their move already.

Yeah.

Number 1, third baseman, Raichi Todoroki.

He got demoted from the cleanup!

No.

They're using him first for a reason.

So he can bat more than anyone else.

What's the trick there?

Because he's the first batter...

Don't get so fired up, Furuya.

They might be hoping for that.

You, too, Sawamura.

Remember what the coach said.

Our pitch relay is to win.

Just think about connecting to the next pitcher today.

We're going to win!

Win.

No matter what!

My head hurts.

I drank too much yesterday.

Sake, shochu, and even awamori.

Coach, you can't drink.

What? I don't remember.

He was probably watching the Seido video all night.

Hey, Raichi.

Don't eat so much before the game.

I let you bat first because you were so eager to hit.

If you don't show results today, you're not eating dinner.

That's unforgivable!

Stop, Raichi!

Then hit!

Smash Seido!

We will now begin the quarter-final

between Seido High School and Yakushi High School.

All right!

It's your turn to work now!

Hit for yourself!

Defend for yourself!

And go get a taste of victory!

Yeah!

Your throws, your steps,

and your swings reflect who you are.

Throw away all doubt!

Believe in your baseball!

Yeah!

Everyone's glaring at you.

What did you do, Raichi?

Bow!

Let's play!

All right! Let's go!

To the bullpen!

That was unnecessary, Sawamura!

Don't make a big deal out of going to the bullpen!

He's an idiot!

I'll kill him later!

Being energetic is his only selling point.

He's fun to watch.

He's our mood maker!

Or is he?

Let's see how Furuya-kun starts.

This is key, Miyuki-kun.

Not to mention he's the first batter.

They've sure done it.

To think they'd use him first.

He's more like a nuclear missile than a spark.

Though I know your pitch isn't all that easy to hit.

Let's do this, Furuya.

Kill him, Furuya!

If we can hold him down this inning,

we can take the upper hand.

You understand that, Furuya?

The only other pitcher who's worth your time in West Tokyo...

...is Mei Narumiya from Inashiro.

That's probably it.

Furuya.

Destroy...

...him!

Play ball!

Our quarter-final game has finally begun!

Leadoff man, Raichi Todoroki, comes after Furuya!

No way! He hit Furuya-kun's pitch...

I can't stand just watching!

Let me go, Muscle-senpai!

Calm down, Sawamura.

They're not the type to just take a beating.

Especially that guy.

Which guy?

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: Reliable Teammates.

Reliable Teammates

Let's win the national title!