Original subtitles

So young.

I can see right through...

Work harder!

...your heart.

Ball four!

We're still up by two runs.

I just need to pitch how I always...

How I...

Pitcher change!

Kawakami!

Roles

Yakushi Seido

A home run!

We're up by two runs again!

Yes! That's why you're the captain, Yuki!

That one was too close to the middle.

I guess he's not nice enough to give me a pass.

Tetsu-san!

You've gotta be kidding me, man!

Wow...

Raichi's a monster,

but they have a monster of their own, too.

He occasionally throws meatballs.

Yeah.

He's never been a starter in this tournament,

so perhaps he has an endurance problem.

Sanada-senpai.

Sanada.

Shunpei.

Wow! They're really strong.

I'll probably cause you a little more trouble,

but forgive me in advance.

Sanada.

Don't worry about a thing, Sanada-senpai!

You can cause us as much trouble as you want!

Oh, I don't want to hear it from you.

Why?

Raichi, don't drag him down!

Shut up, old man!

Yes, he hit a home run,

but what's important is how you handled it.

This...

Yakushi Seido

...is how an ace pitches.

Nice throw!

Nice pitch.

After seven innings, Yakushi is down by two runs.

They got a run from Yuki-kun,

but their pitcher stayed strong afterward and held the score.

Yeah.

Kawakami-kun barely managed to get through the seventh inning,

and it doesn't look like he's doing well.

This game is so close that it's going to come down to the wire.

This is bad.

He's breathing heavily.

When he throws, he pulls the ground with his left foot,

and he transfers all of his power from the ground to his upper body.

By doing so, his pitch speed increases,

but the burden on his left leg

is several times the amount the average pitcher feels.

The left calf he injured in spring hasn't fully healed yet.

Even so, he uses every ounce of power he can

to keep the team strong when he walks on.

His existence

is such a huge part of our team.

Guys, go turn the game around this inning.

Let's score like crazy

and give Sanada an easy time for the rest of the game!

Yeah!

Knock the cover off!

You've got this!

Put some heart into it, Kawakami!

Let's get aggressive!

Nori has a stiff face today,

and his usual ball control is nowhere to be seen.

Don't tell me...

Is the home run Sawamura gave up

replaying in your mind?

Furuya,

have your shoulder and mindset ready.

Depending on how Kawakami plays,

I might put you back on the mound.

I can throw one more time!

It's in your head.

It's all in your head, Kawakami.

Four runs allowed in seven innings.

Furuya, Sawamura, and Kawakami have been throwing very well.

Now, it's up to how calmly you can pitch on the mound.

Ball!

We're up by two runs with two innings to go.

In this game, there will come a time when you are needed,

as a third-year, and more importantly, as the ace.

Ball four!

Damn! They didn't want to fight.

This is fine.

If your head isn't sorted, we should let him walk.

Keep it strong, Nori!

You've got this!

One at a time, Kawakami!

He ran away from Raichi!

Hey, don't run away!

The pitcher's scared!

Kawakami-senpai.

The count is 1 ball, 1 strike.

They're down by two runs,

but will they be doing a bunt here?

I'm not so sure.

By showing the bunt once,

they can greatly expand their offensive strategy.

A steal?

No, a slash and steal.

Don't look at the runner, Nori.

Swing your arm fully!

Slam it, Akiba!

Safe!

That was close!

He just barely made it!

That was close.

That catcher.

He took a few years off my life.

Damn.

I didn't make it in time.

The runner advanced to second,

but I managed to make him swing into a strike when he thought he had it.

You swung your arm well, and your control was good.

Walking Todoroki has let him clear his head.

The count is 1 ball, 2 strikes with no outs and a runner on second.

How will Seido get through this?

If that pitch comes again,

I have to swing even if it might go out.

I have to get Raichi to third, no matter what.

Smash it down, Akiba.

Let's go.

Low and away.

I'm not letting Tanba throw tomorrow.

Keep that in mind and carry out your duties tomorrow.

That's right.

My duty is to connect with those behind me.

Safe!

I need to throw until the end of the game,

and connect to Tanba-san's next game.

I can't let Tanba-san's summer end with...

...this game!

I can't let Tanba-san's summer end with...

...this game!

Yes, nice height.

He pulled it by force.

Can we get third?

No.

Ball first!

Yes! The runner went to third!

Nice hit!

Nice hit, Akiba!

Are these guys really first-years?

Their batting is really well polished.

These guys are special.

I've had my eyes on them since they were kids,

and I trained them by the river.

Though his parents reported me once.

Batting third, first baseman, Mishima-kun.

He's also my son's first friend.

Hit the ball, Mishima!

Shut up!

Stop saying it like that!

One out, runner on third.

Even with a single, they can score a run.

They might make a surefire squeeze play.

No, there are only a few innings left.

I'm sure Yakushi is trying to turn the game around this inning.

Even if they score with a squeeze play,

they'll have two outs with no runners on base.

They have to hit and score if they want to keep the pressure on Seido.

Focus on the batter!

Don't worry about the runner!

One out at a time!

Five more outs!

Sawamura.

Eijun-kun.

Kawakami-senpai is gonna let some hits through,

so fielders, thank you beforehand!

You've gained valuable experience.

Now, make something of it.

The coach was kind enough to tell me that,

but I'm the one who started this negativity.

The only thing I can do from the bench is cheer them on.

The batter looks strong,

but the outfield hasn't moved out.

The infield hasn't, either.

No, they're moving up.

They're putting pressure on the batter with an offensive defense.

They made a double play in the sixth inning like this,

so that should give the runner some hesitation.

They don't plan on running away with the advantage.

They're going to beat them fair and square.

Idiots!

Offensive baseball is our forte!

Hit the ball over the infield, Mishima!

Why do they both say my name like that?

Let's hold him off, Nori.

Mishima!

Let's go, Mishima!

He's hanging on with fouls.

Yeah.

It's not exactly easy to pitch to those spots.

I could've made that one a hit, Mishima!

Shut up! You just shut up!

They've been pitching to the outside.

The count is 2 balls, 2 strikes.

What's next?

A high and inside ball?

That was close.

That one, you hit like this.

Shut up!

You're finally looking calm.

A low slider.

Even if it bounces, I won't let the ball go behind me.

I know you'd never let a ball go behind you.

If I can distract the pitcher a little,

maybe he'll mess up a little.

Ignore that.

Stop moving around, Raichi.

I'll bring you home with my bat.

Ever since I was a kid,

I was the ace and clean-up.

I was always number one.

I wasn't going to lose to anyone my age as a batter.

But...

You and your dad completely changed that.

Baseball Classes 100 Yen/Class

Everything.

Everything!

Let's see.

How about 1,000 swings every day from you?

You should do 1,500.

What?

1,000 swings every day,

and I'll get a little closer to Raichi?

You've gotta be kidding.

I don't want to be closer to him!

I chose this school to beat him!

It's a hit!

An RBI to center field!

Just one more run now!

He got that low slider?

You have to give that one to the batter.

Nice one, again!

Nice one, Mishima!

Mishima!

One at a time, Kawakami!

Don't lose focus!

Focus on the batter!

Switch gears right here!

Focus, captain.

Don't bother about where the ball comes.

Swing at the first pitch.

Your defining quality is your wholehearted swing!

He hit the first pitch!

They just hit balls, too?

It's going long!

Yeah!

Isashiki-kun!

Nice catch!

Don't get cocky with us!

Safe!

Wow! That was close.

But that was amazing, Izashiki-senpai.

Nice catch, Jun-san!

Damn.

One more run!

Beard!

Beard-senpai!

You've got everyone behind you!

Let's not give up, Nori!

Hold it together, Nori!

Two outs!

They were defending toward the right, accordingly to Miyuki's plays.

The fielders always answer when they're needed most.

Should make the pitchers feel strong.

Batting fifth, second baseman, Fukuda-kun.

Let's swing like we mean it!

Yeah.

One more run.

No,

we want two, three, even ten more runs.

For Sanada who's doing such a good job.

Hey, Fuku!

Stop looking so tense!

Enjoy this moment!

It won't be easy to find

another intense situation like this in your life!

Coach.

Why do you guys play baseball?

You want to go to nationals or something?

Nationals?

Us?

No way.

What, you guys were doing this without a goal?

If you're going to do something, have a goal.

Then you'll like it more,

and it'll excite you more.

Next year, we'll have my special players joining us.

Along with my super cute son.

So your goal is to take me to nationals.

You guys are the ones playing on the field.

So do me that favor, okay?

"Take me to nationals."

A normal coach wouldn't have said that.

He increased our practice hours,

and he made us swing till we dropped.

But...

The more I practiced seriously,

the more I wanted to play baseball.

It's a hit!

Safe!

Runners on first and third!

You're the man, Fukuda!

Nice hit, Fuku-san.

And now, I'm up?

Batting sixth, pitcher, Sanada-kun.

That's intense.

I wonder if the baseball gods are telling me to hit.

In the moment that may turn the game around,

the ace is up at bat.

Yeah.

This is another thing about baseball.

Seido is making a move!

So Seido knows this is the turning point, too.

Seido High School has announced a change in players.

The right men for the right moments.

Replacing the eighth batter and pitcher, Kawakami-kun...

...is Tanba-kun.

Batting eight and pitcher, Tanba-kun.

Top of the eight.

Two outs and runners on first and third.

The ace walks on for the first time in this tournament.

This is intense.

You really know how to make things exciting.

You're the best.

This is a difficult situation,

but there's no one else better for this moment.

Tanba-san.

The game-changing runners are on base.

In this situation, Tanba-san takes the mound.

He may be the ace, but it's his first show this tournament.

I'm sure he wants to know how he'll fare.

Tanba-san, Yakushi's batters swing from the first pitch.

Let's focus on the first pitch.

The coach told me to swing at the first pitch.

Give me a strong one!

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: Expectations of an Ace.

Expectations of an Ace

Let's win the national title!