Original subtitles

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

Your unwavering spirit.

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.

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.

The Giant Looks Down

Shoot.

The game's already started.

If we don't hurry, we're gonna miss him play.

Let's hurry.

That was a long walk from the station.

I told you we should've gotten off at Gaien-mae.

So this is the Jingu Stadium.

I can't believe he's pitching here.

Wakana-chan, let's go!

Seido Sensen

This is the first game of the semifinals.

Both teams started out with their respective aces,

Seido Sensen

and Sensen Academy took an early lead.

Two outs!

Two outs!

Kill him!

Runners on first and second.

This is Tanba's first time starting this summer.

He doesn't want to concede any more runs here.

They took advantage of his bad fastballs.

Yeah.

They're not swinging at the hard pitches.

Perhaps that's their strategy.

Why did he stop at second?

He should've ran for third.

Oh, well.

We have the upper hand now.

Listen up.

Their pitcher's looking insecure.

Now's our chance.

Be tenacious when you're at bat.

Yes, sir!

I must say. The coach is still green.

He may have closed the last game well,

but you're putting too much faith in him to let him start right after.

That pitcher wasn't throwing good fastballs in the quarterfinal, either.

We would've been in trouble if they'd used one of the other pitchers, to be honest.

Strike!

Okay! Okay!

Nice pitch, Tanba-san!

That thing bends like crazy.

And it's a different type than Maki's curveball.

Nice pitch!

Nice one, Tanba!

I don't need curves.

Give me a fastball.

Come on!

At least pretend like you're trying for the curveballs, too.

You're practically telling them what you're after.

Fastball!

Yes!

Strike out!

He didn't throw any fastballs.

Seido managed to pull themselves out of a sticky situation.

Nice pitch, Tanba-san.

What'd I tell you?

They outplayed you.

Their players are able to think on their own.

If I had kids like them, I guess I'd want to try trusting them, too.

Hey, Maki.

Their batters haven't adjusted to your pitching yet.

They were all hitting grounders their first go-around.

If you keep throwing with a good tempo,

you'll effortlessly rack up outs.

Play with confidence.

Don't worry.

You're in the zone today.

Keep your head held high.

I don't have any trust in my players.

Sometimes, they'll play great,

and sometimes, they'll play horribly.

After all, they're only human.

But I've gotta say, Maki's really in the zone today.

I've never seen him pitch with so much energy.

Seido Sensen

Oh, no.

Seido conceded the first run of the game.

I wonder if Ei-chan's already pitched.

It's still the fourth inning.

Wow! This place is huge.

I can't see the dugout from here.

There he is.

Look! In the bullpen.

I'm ready to go any time!

Let's get 'em back, one run at a time!

Eijun.

Wow!

He's really wearing the Seido uniform!

Hey, Ei-chan—

Hey! Sawamura!

You're being disruptive!

Don't mess around in the bullpen!

Tanba-san is pitching right now!

You're not gonna get a turn!

Don't get cocky!

Just be quiet and warm up, you idiot!

How's his pitch?

Can you guys handle him?

Yesterday's practice made it a lot easier to adjust.

His curveball's a little bit different,

but it's well within our expectations.

Should we go after his highly acclaimed curveball?

I see you guys are all calm.

Keep your hits low and powerful.

If you get on base,

go for the next base aggressively.

Yes, sir!

No matter how tall anyone is,

if we take out their legs, they'll fall.

Understood?

Beard-senpai, eyes on the ball!

Shut up!

Seido is having a tough time hitting.

Yeah.

He's throwing low from such a height.

Bring it on!

His pitching form fully utilizes his 195 cm height.

He keeps his lunge narrow

and keeps his chest high, unlike the contemporary Japanese form.

By doing so, his release point gets even higher.

The lower he throws,

the steeper the angle of his pitch becomes.

Pretty good, Maki.

Your weight shifting is very smooth,

and your arm swing is great.

Now...

Just throw your curveball and finish him off.

Oh, so close.

A liner to third.

Beard-senpai, better luck next time.

Shut up, stupid!

He perfectly hit...

...Maki's curveball!

Batting fourth, first baseman, Yuki-kun.

Don't fight him head on.

Keep the pitches low.

Another hit curveball.

Damn!

The hit's too fast.

That's a hit!

It's going deep into left field!

Don't tell me they're...

...going after Maki's curveballs!

Nice one, leader!

Nice double!

The hits are getting faster.

I'll stop them with my body.

Can the team follow up on Yuki's magnificent hit?

Their fifth batter, Masuko, is up.

But he's a power hitter!

Safe!

Masuko ambushes with a safety bunt!

Runners on first and third with only one out!

Th-They're hitting his pitches!

Yes.

Careful observation in the first go-around is paying off.

Don't play at their pace, boys.

They haven't put on too much pressure yet.

Sorry.

Just switch gears.

Come on, Miyuki!

The spotlight's all yours!

Come on, Miyuki!

The spotlight's all yours!

Aim and swing!

They're avoiding the battle.

The Sensen battery is strategically loading the bases.

Ball four!

The bases are loaded with just one out.

He looked like he wanted to fight.

Nice walk, Kazuya Miyuki!

That's not a compliment!

Don't get sour, Maki.

This is for the team.

It's important for pitchers to have that

"I'd rather concede a hit than intentionally walk" spirit,

but baseball is all about probability.

You should always avoid facing batters who hit often.

Don't underestimate me!

A fly off the curveball!

It's going far!

Yes!

I did the least I could do.

Runner on third is tagging up.

Go!

Onuma!

Yagi!

Tagged out!

Yes!

Yeah!

What a beautiful cut-off play from Sensen Academy!

Seido had a huge chance to score with one out and bases loaded,

but it just fell short!

Follow the data and get the definitive outs.

In the end, this is the strongest way to play.

Go over!

Three for three!

Seido is unable to score again!

Don't let it get to you!

You almost had it!

Huh?

Damn it!

Be patient! That's the key!

You'll get another opportunity again.

Let's go!

Come on! Switch gears.

Stay strong, everyone!

Yeah!

Tanba-san's sweating like crazy.

He's back after a long break.

As the catcher,

I can tell he's using a lot of energy on each pitch.

Seido hasn't scored after five innings.

They're struggling to score today.

Behind by a run.

They're struggling.

Sensen's baseball is boring but definitive.

Not to mention their pitcher, Maki.

I'm sure his steep throws are a challenge to hit.

He's just tall.

More importantly,

they should switch Tanba-san out.

He's getting by with his breaking balls,

but his fastballs are trash.

If they keep this up,

they're going to take a fatal blow.

See?

That was a close call.

Kazuya sure has it rough.

Mei.

I've told you before,

but you're underestimating Tanba too much.

Unlike before, he doesn't look distraught.

After he took a ball to the face,

he came back even stronger.

Their ace is howling!

Tanba-san!

Nice pitch!

Yes!

Seido's Tanba is showing us a lot of energy!

You can't pitch with your spirit alone.

I'm gonna go buy a drink.

He's running away.

Come back here, Mei!

That's Inashiro, right?

Yeah, I've seen that uniform on TV.

Wow.

Wakana-chan.

Are you sure you don't need to say hi to Ei-chan?

He's right there.

Man, it's hot.

If we go say hi right now, he might get nervous.

Let's stay quiet and cheer him on from here.

Ei-chan always puts up a front around us,

so I bet he'll try to show off if he sees us.

Besides, he might not even get to pitch.

That's true.

If he comes out in a game this close,

it'll make us nervous.

3 4 5 6 7

I can do this.

I can take on Seido with my pitch.

I'll beat this team

and prove I'm better.

Yeah! Nice throw!

Nice one, Maki!

The batter can't time it right!

Nice pitch!

His arm swing, pitch angle, and weight shifting are all great.

He's on a roll today.

When I saw him back in junior high, I saw a diamond in the rough,

but he didn't know how to use his body at all.

I knew I could transform him into something great.

Good thing I emphatically invited him to my team.

He might turn into a monster today.

Maybe you're on a roll today,

but if you throw the same pitch over and over,

you're gonna get hurt.

Yeah!

Nice hit, Ryo-san!

I've got the timing down on his curveball.

It's time I put you in your place.

With fatigue building up for Tanba,

we need to do something this inning.

Kominato.

Go warm up your swings.

If there's an opportunity to score, I'm sending you in.

Y-Yes, sir!

And tell Sawamura to be prepared to go in.

What? Me?

Of course!

Are you ready?

I was born ready!

Eijun's taking the mound?

Seido Sensen

Eijun, are you really going to pitch?

In this close game?

Really?

Get out of my head!

Right now!

That's a hit!

There it is!

Nice hit!

That's our leader!

One out and runners on second and third!

He hit again!

Wow!

He has a different air around him.

He is the model cleanup!

Captain Yuki creates an opportunity with his bat!

Carry the torch, Masuko!

Your liner to left field wasn't bad either, Jun-san.

Shut up!

This batter's a problem, too.

But it's too risky to load the bases and face him next.

You'll need to face him, fair and square.

We've got your back, Maki!

Let's defend this!

Sensen infielders are moving in!

Hit to the ground.

If he throws a curveball, hit it to the ground.

There's the curveball!

Third base!

That's crazy.

He's running with a grounder to third?

Home!

He's covering the base.

You...

Safe!

Seido has tied the game!

He slid right into me.

He's really aggressive.

Nice run!

Nice run, Ryo-san!

Brother.

Brother!

He slid with that tiny body!

And he won the tackle.

"Brother"?

Ryosuke, nice run!

That was almost an obstruction.

Way to make things difficult.

Nice run, Ryosuke!

I'll do it, too.

We finally scored!

It's tied up now!

Let's turn it around!

One out and runners on first and third.

Couldn't have it any better.

Wait. Seriously?

It's too soon for you

to be wearing that uniform, first-year!

I can't let everyone down!

I won't let anyone say something like that again.

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: Revenge.

Revenge

Let's win the national title!