Original subtitles

Strike! Batter out!

Game set!

Nice pitch, Tanba-san!

Nice pitch!

Nice game!

Nice pitch, Tanba!

Boss!

Kataoka-san!

Just two more!

Let's go to nationals this year!

You guys have the power!

Seido is the best!

Game set!

Inashiro Vocational School advances to the semifinals!

What a magnificent shutout as the ace, Narumiya, passed on the baton to Iguchi.

All four stadiums have finished their games,

and now, we have our four semifinalists.

National High School Baseball Championship West Tokyo Qualifiers 120 Schools

From Block A,

Seido High School, with a relay of four pitchers.

From Block B,

Sensen Academy, the veteran quarterfinalist of the west.

From Block C,

Inashiro Vocational, the winners of last year's tournament.

And from Block D,

Sakurazawa High School, a school with top-notch education

and the only public school of the four.

Meiji Jingu Stadium

National High School Baseball Championship Tokyo Qualifiers

Which school will win a ticket to the dream stage?

It's the Semifinal

Which school will win a ticket to the dream stage?

Meiji Jingu Stadium

National High School Baseball Championship Tokyo Qualifiers

The first game will start at 10:00 AM in two days—

That's it.

With Inashiro's win, we have all four semifinalists.

So we're up against Sensen.

A formidable school that always makes

quarterfinals or more with over eighty members on the team.

This spring, they lost a low-scoring game to Ichidai Third High by one run.

They have a really tall pitcher, right?

Yeah.

Like over two meters tall!

He's been their ace since his first year,

and even the pro scouts have their eyes on his high potential.

Yosuke Maki, the giant.

His fastball comes flying down from a high angle,

and they say his curve ball has the highest release point of any in Japan.

In Japan?

He's tall, and he throws a curve ball?

Sounds like...

Height: 185 cm

Best pitch: Curve ball

About our starting pitcher in the semifinal.

I'm thinking about going with Tanba.

Can you do it?

Yes, sir!

Nice job.

You're finally back.

It'll be a curve ball battle.

You already lost the height battle, so don't lose the curve ball battle.

Your head definitely has a better shape.

The shape doesn't matter.

Tetsu-san, you're the best!

The shape?

By a landslide.

And the texture, too.

Don't rub it!

I'm going...

...with Sawamura this inning.

After he said that,

I was taken off the mound.

I've failed him once already.

I'm not getting another chance.

Kawakami, I know it's a tough job,

but be ready to go like usual.

Yes, sir!

Thanks, Kawakami.

I'll do my best.

Sawamura, you, too.

I'll throw you in whenever I see the opportunity.

Be ready early.

M-Me, sir?

But I gave up a home run today.

But I...

I want to let Furuya rest, since he's been pitching every game.

He doesn't know it, but he's fatigued.

Wait! I'm on a break?

Tanba, Kawakami, and Sawamura.

The semifinal will be up to you.

Got it?

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's it for the first-string players.

Seido Spirit Dorm

Finish up early and get a lot of rest.

I'm sorry, I wasn't listening—

Yes, sir!

Coach!

What is it?

Today's Lesson: Key Things on the Mound - What to do after you give up a hit - Knowing what inning you're in - Knowing the score and outs.

It's baseball, so you'll always allow some hits.

Today's Game Review

You're a pitcher, so you'll allow some runs.

If you feel like you're gonna panic on the mound,

then look around first.

You can talk to other members to try to calm down.

Some pitchers walk around the mound to calm down.

I know a guy who talks to the ball to concentrate.

But don't mess around in the bullpen.

Next time you do it, I'll kick you.

I'm not playing in the semifinal.

Are you listening?

One voluntary participant Kawakami

Um...

Why was I given another chance?

What?

Learn Today

Devote Every Moment

Why are you thinking so hard?

You're bad at that stuff.

You usually get happy about being able to play.

But I brought the whole team down today.

Don't tell me you're afraid to pitch now

because you gave up a home run.

Didn't I tell you?

That was all my fault.

Well, you don't look like you're sorry!

Miyuki, he's not smart enough to figure out what's happening.

You're right.

I've gotta be straight, especially with him.

Listen, stupid.

Don't call me stupid!

You got a new pitching form three months after joining, right?

Yeah.

All thanks to Chris-senpai!

But that only made your pitch harder to time,

and it didn't make your pitch any faster or heavier.

Some people will still jam your pitch to the outfield,

or if people get their timing right, they'll get a home run.

Ball control, speed, and experience.

The list goes on and on.

You're only starting out as a pitcher.

Oh, your stupidity's on the list, too.

Do I have anything I'm good at?

And I'm stupid?

With all that...

With all that, what the coach really wants from you is here.

Your unwavering spirit.

Furuya.

Part of a pitcher's job is to rest.

The coach wants to play

this summer with four pitchers until the very end.

Sheesh.

You're both already valuable players on the team.

National Champion

Let's go to nationals together.

You always do well in the qualifiers,

and they were the runner-up in spring.

You've really been getting their name known,

as one of the best schools along with Ichidai and Seido.

Oh, no. Not at all.

We're still nowhere near their level.

We barely won the last game.

It'll be an honor to be able to play Seido tomorrow.

Coach Ugai,

do you have any statement to make for tomorrow's game?

A statement?

All our players are players who were never invited to other schools.

mumble

I have to solve their inferiority complex first,

and then I can finally begin teaching them baseball,

but by that time, they're already graduating.

So I have to figure some special way to beat other schools,

but, of course, that's not easy.

I try something new that works every day.

Excuse me.

You have a special game tomorrow for a ticket to the final.

Seido practices very hard, and they have a strong team every year.

Our boys need to be spanked to even get them working.

Not literally, of course.

Hey, he's not practicing.

He sure mumbles a lot.

However...

You don't know how the game will go until you try.

If people knew the results beforehand, they wouldn't make any effort.

So that's what he actually thinks.

Hey, where's your spirit?

He's coached at many schools across the nation,

and he's reached the fortieth year of his coaching career.

His teams lack pizzazz, but he's well known for making teams that get things done.

Coach Kazuyoshi Ugai.

Oh, yeah.

Coach Kataoka's known for his enthusiastic coaching,

but I feel like he trusts his players too much.

I watched yesterday's game on the video,

but he made some questionable choices.

Yakushi Seido

Top of the eighth with two outs and runners on first and third.

That was the key moment in the outcome of the game,

and he brought out a boy who'd never pitched a single game this tournament.

I don't care about the reasons, like he's the ace or he's the only guy left.

Yes, he managed to get the out and win the game,

but that was a huge gamble.

He would've died along with the ace if he wasn't lucky.

I guess that's one weakness I can take advantage of.

His inexperience as a coach.

Ouch!

Aren't you throwing a little hard today?

Your pitch feels heavier today.

We have a game tomorrow.

You should call it a day, Maki.

Hino-san.

Why did you come to Sensen?

Why not Ichidai or Seido?

Do you have to ask?

They didn't invite me.

If Seido had invited me, maybe I would've gone to them.

I'm the same.

I also wanted to go to Seido.

But...

In the end, they didn't invite me.

Seido High School...

I don't want to lose

to that school, no matter what.

You pitched in yesterday's game, right?

That's amazing!

To: Eijun Subject: Semifinal! Eijun, congratulations on making the semi.

Just two more wins, and you'll make nationals!

We're enjoying our break already after losing in the first round,

but everyone's doing their best on the new team.

We'll all go cheer you on tomorrow.

We're looking forward to see you pitch.

With all that, what the coach really wants from you is here.

Your unwavering spirit.

Yeah! I'll show you!

I'm going all out!

That idiot.

Shouldn't we stop him?

He has a game tomorrow.

A curve ball thrown from the highest point in Japan.

I really can't imagine it.

We've never played a scrim against them either.

You idiot!

You're supposed to just move around lightly!

You need to listen better!

That... was light for me.

You need a babysitter.

First-string boys!

Everyone, go to Field B!

You're going to practice hitting steep throws!

Yes, sir!

Yeah, a little more.

Over there.

Oh, you missed a spot.

They're making a mountain on the mound?

They made the mound higher to simulate Maki's height.

Last night, these boys came to me with this idea.

They brought some dirt to the mound overnight.

You guys...

We wanted to help out the team, too.

All right.

Who's up first?

Wait! You're pitching, Coach?

I can't let Tanba pitch now, can I?

Seriously?

Looks like fun.

It's not everyday you get to hit the coach's pitch.

Tetsu, you'd better take turns!

You're all ready, too!

He pitched for a runner-up team at nationals.

If he's pitching, then it'll be great practice.

I can actually hit your pitch. Right, sir?

If you actually can.

Tetsu!

You've got this!

Don't hold back!

Show no mercy!

Damn, this is exciting.

Is this for real?

Hey, hey!

The pitcher's scared!

Eijun-kun!

Seido Spirit Dorm

Attachment for 3mm/5mm length

I'm so tired.

The coach was throwing at like 140 km/h last night.

It was definitely faster.

He pitched like 200 balls, too. And yet...

What's wrong?

Already done?

Seriously?

He's a monster.

It was great practice, though.

You can thank him by winning.

That's what it sounded like his pitch was saying.

What are you even saying?

You weren't holding anything back.

Were you able to sleep last night, Nori?

A little.

Hey, you okay?

You're our ace closer, you know?

You're gonna have to go out in a lot of tough spots,

and I'm sure you're gonna be under a lot of pressure.

Seido High School Practice Field

We all know it, you know?

You're always doing your best to do your job.

How can you say something so cheesy with a straight face?

Nori-senpai!

Let's do our best today!

Y-Yeah.

You're way too loud at this hour!

I'll hand you the baton in the best way possible today!

Sawamura.

Where is he getting that confidence?

Has he already gotten over the home run?

But his optimism is something you could learn, Nori.

Yeah.

Well, then.

I'm gonna go run to pump myself up a little!

Me, too.

Wait a minute!

Leave the tires here.

Airheads, you two!

Total victory! Two more wins! Let's go to the nationals!

Today's the 29th.

The final's on the 31st.

Two more games, no matter what happens.

We'll have our answer in two days.

Do I go to nationals...

...or do I retire?

Brother.

Tokyo?

There are many strong teams in the area, too.

Why?

I don't know. No reason.

I'm going to devote all three years to baseball, anyway.

So I might as well go somewhere I can really challenge myself.

That's all.

Haruichi.

Don't follow in my footsteps.

I had a hard time convincing Mom and Dad.

Brother.

It's our first and last chance to make nationals together.

I want to go to nationals.

Stupid.

I'm only worried you won't make the bench of eighteen people.

Only eighteen people can be on the bench at nationals.

You can't play, Mr. Nighteen.

Let's go get breakfast.

Yeah.

Tanba.

How are you feeling today?

Mentality

Not bad, I think.

You don't look tired, at least.

Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Masu-Masu!

After breakfast, we'll have a short meeting.

Yes, sir.

We'll leave by seven.

Okay, sir.

On the bus, make sure we—

Masuko.

What are you trying to prove?

Coach, that was mean!

But seriously, what happened to your head?

Are you trying a new look?

I forgot to put on my usual attachment.

It looks really good on you, Masuko-san!

You've doubled your intensity.

My abs!

Good for you.

You've made a friend.

Can't breathe.

You're laughing too much, Sawamura-chan.

What's done is done.

However, don't make silly mistakes in the game!

Meiji Jingu Stadium

National High School Baseball Championship Tokyo Qualifiers

10:00 Seido High School vs. Sensen Academy 12:50 Inashiro Vocational vs. Sakurazawa High School

Hey, it's Seido.

Kataoka-san!

Tetsu-san!

Spitz!

What a crowd.

The semifinal has finally begun.

Sensen's giant ace, Yosuke Maki, stands in our path.

I wanted to go to Seido.

So I don't want to lose to them, no matter what.

This is such a close game.

I'm ready to go any time!

Are they really going to let Eijun play?

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: The Giant Looks Down.

The Giant Looks Down

Let's win the national title!