Original subtitles

In the end, you were the only one who didn't join me.

But...

Even without you, we have the ultimate team this year.

We're going to nationals.

Just live with regret for not joining us.

Ten years, or even twenty years down the line.

Seido High School Practice Field

Didn't they have a game today?

They sure work hard.

Shouldn't you stop them?

They're all too excited for the game.

They've also grown over the past year.

Seido Spirit Dorm

At the Dorm...

In the end, he only threw four change-ups.

White-hair.

Three forkballs, seven sliders,

and his main pitch was a fastball.

Sakurazawa's batters sucked,

but he pitched, knowing full well that we were watching.

That's a crossfire pitch into right-handed batters.

He used that pitch well.

What's up, Eijun-kun?

Crossfire...

The name vaguely sounds familiar.

Are you serious?

You pitched it in today's game.

I did?

The last pitch you threw at Maki in the bottom of the sixth.

That?

A southpaw-only pitch that goes into right-handed batters' chests,

while crossing the diagonal of the plate.

That's the crossfire pitch.

You threw that, and you didn't know?

Of course I did!

The fireball's been my best pitch all along, and...

It's crossfire...

Yeah, that!

Kuroko fighter.

No.

Though that wasn't an ordinary crossfire,

he wouldn't understand, even if I explained it to him.

You're so stupid.

I feel sorry for you, Chris-senpai.

Thanks.

M-Master!

So...

What do you think, as the only one who got a double off Narumiya last year?

We have...

...two batters in the front who can disrupt the opponent.

We have batters who can adapt to the situation,

and most importantly, everyone knows to swing with confidence.

This year,

we'll be able to take Narumiya down.

Let's play our baseball until the end.

Yeah!

Wow! Look at the energy.

Way to go, Captain!

Yuki-kun.

Let's do our best, too.

Yeah.

It's true.

Even against Narumiya-kun,

I feel like our batters will work something out.

Now...

Chris, Miyuki.

I want to have a pitchers' meeting.

Can you join us?

Tanba-san is setting up a meeting?

Yeah.

Both of you and Sawamura each gave up a run today.

I was going to do a meeting regarding that, anyway.

Sawamura, Furuya.

Let's go.

Yes, sir!

I didn't pitch.

Furuya-kun.

Your aura is spewing.

Kado.

I think I'm gonna watch the video some more.

Sure. I'll stay, too.

He has a lot of breaking balls, so I'll target a specific pitch.

Wanna swing together, Kenjiro?

Yes, sir.

Me, too.

Let's go to nationals!

Look.

The brass band made it for us.

Wow! A thousand cranes!

That's a lot.

Anyway, we're gonna be done for the night.

Wait, managers.

Thanks for everything you do.

Let's keep working hard for two more days.

Isashiki-kun.

Senpai.

We'll be cheering for you guys all the way!

It's not just two more days, Jun.

We've gotta go even—

Shut up!

For now!

It's actually your job to say this, you know?

I'm saying this 'cause you're a shy boyー

You won't have much of a summer break.

I hope you're ready.

Stop getting ahead of yourself!

Until the end of August.

That'd mean going all the way in nationals!

Well, that's true.

We have two batters in the front who can disrupt the opponent.

I won't let you down.

Ryo-san, are you free—

Ryo-san?

Inashiro Vocational High School Baseball Team Dormitory

I'm so sleepy.

Can I sleep now?

It's only eight.

Only if you've memorized the data on the Seido batters.

The average score for their past three games is 7.7 runs.

Unlike our previous opponents,

their batters are at a national level.

Then let's just say it's a pre-show for nationals.

That kind of overconfidence will cost us—

First batter.

Kuramochi's speed is something to worry about,

but he's not a threat if he doesn't get on base.

Kominato-san, who's up next, is the real threat.

He can hit any pitch.

Third, Isashiki-san,

often swings from the first pitch, even if it's a ball.

Masuko-san, in the five-hole position, is good against fastballs.

I also need to worry about Kazuya

if he's up when Seido is in a position to score.

But...

The biggest threat on their team

is their clean-up and captain, Tetsu-san.

He got a clean one off me last year, too,

If I can get him out,

we can build momentum.

Do I need to know anything else?

That's good.

Make sure you get a massage before you sleep.

Okey dokey.

When did Mei read up on Seido's batters?

He has a good grasp on each of them.

He likes keeping tabs on the batters he wants to face.

He leaves everyone else to me, though.

Wow! That's rough.

I'm used to it now.

Still,

he never even thought

about being in the catcher's shoes last year.

Will they come with Tanba as their first pitcher?

I'm not sure.

Tanba occasionally throws meatballs.

I wonder what Coach Kataoka's view on that is.

Still,

I'm impressed he's made a comeback after that pitch to his face.

I'm sure they'll be switching pitchers often.

A pitcher relay.

You could say it's only possible with an abundance of good pitchers,

but it also means that they don't have a pitcher who can carry a game.

If we crush Seido's pitchers, we can win.

This is something for all of you.

Four balls.

Many times, a four-ball walk leads to a run.

Tanba, you were pitching carefully,

but you still made mistakes.

Kawakami, you became too careful and gave up two walks.

Sawamura, you let the first batter walk,

and that led to a run.

The batters are able to hit your pitches to the outfield.

You should avoid giving batters a free pass to the base.

Hit to the outfield.

That only made your pitch harder to time,

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

You're only starting out as a pitcher.

Are you listening, stupid?

Shut up!

I want to tell you something.

Tanba.

– July 30th –

Tokyo Hachioji – Inashiro's Private Field –

Ambitious

Wow!

There are a lot of people here checking them out before the final.

A lot of reporters, too.

The perks of being famous with a long history.

Is something wrong?

Look at the pitchers throwing for batting practice.

A fastball pitcher is throwing from a meter closer,

and they have a sidearm righty,

a lefty with a weird form,

and the machine's throwing a big curveball.

That's...

...the style of Seido's four pitchers.

A practice only possible at Inashiro because they have so many players.

They're going to be well prepared against Seido's pitcher relay.

Not to mention, they have a lot of unique batters this year.

Let's do this, golden rookie.

The lead-off man who disrupts the opponent with his legs

and a tricky batting style,

Carlos Toshiki Kamiya, center fielder.

One out and runner on second.

Right fielder's backed up.

Bunt and run.

An all-around prodigy.

Katsuyuki Shirakawa, shortstop and two-hole.

Hideaki Yoshizawa, third baseman and three-hole.

He can create opportunities with his sharp swing.

The four- and five-holes are Inashiro's battery.

Mei, get in the bullpen.

I wanted to do more batting.

Captain and catcher, Masatoshi Harada,

and their ace, Mei Narumiya.

There's no room to breathe in this lineup.

That's not all.

Even if you make it this far,

they have Riku Yamaoka, who's a powerful batter,

and Tsubasa Hirai, who's an overall good batter.

That's a lot of tough match-ups.

Seido's pitchers are constantly going to have their backs to the wall.

No.

The batters will also have their backs to the wall.

You can't win unless you score, after all.

Narumiya-kun, how are you doing?

Anything to say about tomorrow's game?

You faced them in the semifinal last year.

My only goal is to be the best in Japan.

I'll start with Tokyo, I suppose!

Don't get cocky.

There goes Mei-san with his big mouth.

He's only putting pressure on himself.

Itsuki,

get ready for a fastball!

Okay, Iguchi-san.

Nice throw.

It's very fast!

Iguchi-san doesn't see the light of day with Mei-san around,

but he's a great pitcher, too.

He'd be the ace if he wasn't on this team.

Nice throw!

You're on a roll!

Masa-san, let's get in the bullpen!

Hurry!

He's your teammate. Don't get worked up.

Iguchi-san, I'm not gonna lose.

It only sounds like sarcasm from you.

You're the ace already.

Coach Kunitomo.

Narumiya-kun is known as the best in Kanto, at the moment,

but he didn't pitch some games last autumn due to some problems, I believe.

Was it because of that loss in nationals?

The summer nationals last year.

He pitched in both the first and second games as a reliever,

and everyone in the nation began to acknowledge him already as just a first-year.

Then the third game happened against Yatsuhiro Technical High School.

Yatsuhiro Inashiro

He got on the mound from the sixth inning,

and in the top of the eighth with the game tied at 2-2,

one out, and a runner on third...

No use making that face.

I can tell you guys are going for a squeeze.

Knew it!

Masa-san!

He knew the squeeze was coming, but he threw way too wide.

That single run decided the game,

and Inashiro's nationals ended in the third round.

He ended everyone's summer.

I heard he cried in front of everyone after the game.

Yes, after nationals,

he broke his form and suffered greatly.

However, Iguchi was able to grow in that time,

and a snooty first-year was forced

to face the harsh reality of baseball.

Masa-san! Fastball coming!

There's nothing like playing in nationals.

Some things, you can only learn by being there.

In that sense, it was a great experience for him.

Experience.

There's no better place for players to grow than nationals.

If possible, I'd love to take them there every year.

He raised Mahara High School in Tochigi

to a national quarterfinalist school in just five years,

and ten years ago,

he took the coaching position here, his home school.

Fourteen national qualifications, including both summer and spring seasons.

The coach who was employed by the school to strengthen their baseball team.

That's Hiroshige Kunitomo.

Great players gathered around his achievements,

and the coach wishes for the growth of the players more than anyone else.

"It won't be a surprise if we make nationals."

Everyone on the team has that mentality, along with pride.

This is what makes the Inashiro baseball team and their long history.

Change-up coming up next.

Stop feeding the reporters with too much material!

Look at this angle. Take a picture!

Ready?

Seido is trying to make nationals after being away for six years,

and this team will be yet another huge obstacle they'll have to face.

Seido High School Practice Field

Yes!

That was a great strike!

Just barely a ball.

However...

It was a good aggressive pitch.

And a compliment comes out!

What Tanba told him yesterday must be lifting his spirit.

I want to tell you something.

I was entrusted with the ace number,

but I couldn't make the first game.

Kawakami, Furuya, and Sawamura.

Thanks to all your efforts,

I was able to stand on the mound again.

Tanba-san.

National Champions

For the final,

whoever's on the mound at that time is the ace!

That's how we should all pitch!

Tanba.

Tanba-san.

Yes, sir!

We'll do our best!

The ace.

The ace.

Sawamura.

Yes?

One out, runners on first and third.

What's your pitch?

Who's the batter?

The clean-up at Inashiro, Harada.

The batters are able to hit your pitches to the outfield.

My best pitch.

I just do the best I can do right now.

I won't let the team down.

I can finally pitch.

The dream I couldn't achieve is in your hands now.

You guys had better make nationals!

Y-You're!

The person I completely shut down before!

Are you trying to pick a fight, twerp?

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: A Nostalgic Face.

A Nostalgic Face

Let's win the national title!