Original subtitles

August 20

Mei-kun!

Carlos!

Tsubasa-kun!

Yoshi!

Carlos!

Mei-kun!

People are still here this late?

Do they have the hotel surrounded?

Don't wave at them, idiot!

Hey!

He loves the attention.

He's like a little kid.

Outsider

We're quickly approaching the end of the summer nationals.

In game one of the semifinals,

the ace at Inashiro, Narumiya, pitched well

and took down Ikuei 7-4.

Just one game away from the top.

They're only focusing on you!

What's with that face?

Hey, Mei.

Why are you still up?

You need to rest for tomorrow.

You're going to be pitching two days in a row.

It's not even eight yet.

I can't sleep yet.

I'm saying you need to rest your body.

That's no fun.

It's our last day staying here.

I bet you were one of those people who slept early on school field trips.

Shut up!

The upperclassmen aren't acting any different, even at nationals.

I've been feeling like I'm up in the clouds.

I know!

The crowd is so huge here!

And all the teams we've played are so famous.

And we've made it to the final.

One more win, and we'll be national champions.

But for some reason,

when I'm with these guys,

I'm not surprised we've made this far.

They should be feeling more exhaustion compared to us who aren't playing, yet...

I'm sure they'll do it.

I can't imagine them losing.

Oh, man!

tension

Maybe I'll go to bed since you're so loud!

jitter

Yes! Go to sleep!

Sleep like a pool of mud!

I think.

Oh, I forgot to say one thing.

Iguchi-san.

With so many hot days,

I couldn't have made it here alone.

I'm really grateful.

Yoshi-san and Tsubasa-kun.

I can feel relaxed with you defending behind me.

I think the team we have this year is the strongest team ever.

Please bear with me for one more day.

It was just for a moment, but Mei lowered his head!

Masa-san.

Let's take the top.

Of course.

We've already made it this far.

Don't strain your neck sleeping.

Okay.

Well, good night!

Good night!

I bet it's not that he can't go to sleep.

He doesn't want to.

You know?

Okay! I'll take tomorrow's game by storm!

Tomorrow's game will be the last game we'll play together.

It's the last game he'll pitch to you.

Win or lose,

we just give our very best tomorrow.

I think the team is more than happy already...

August 21

...for being able to go into our last game like this.

Hanshin Koshien Stadium

This summer, only one school can go without losing once,

and be at the top of 4,059 schools.

Let's go!

Yeah!

Both teams are looking energetic today.

This is the national tournament final!

Will Inashiro from West Tokyo take it?

Or will Komadai Fujimaki from South Hokkaido take it?

Okay, okay.

Ichidai Third High

Let's watch this game closely today.

We will be the ones standing there next year.

The starting pitcher for Inashiro is the Tokyo Prince!

Mei Narumiya!

Going all the way to the final means they'll have a late start for the new team.

Sensen Academy

Mutter Mutter

Though I'm sure Kunitomo-san has some sort of a plan,

this could be our chance to go to the fall invitiational, Maki.

I'm sure he's exhausted from pitching so much at the nationals.

Yakushi High School

It's your chance to destroy him in the fall prelims and get famous, Raichi!

Akikawa Academy

The entire nation has its eyes on this second-year ace!

What will he show us today at the national final?

And it's play ball!

The national final...

What is it like to stand on the mound there?

Just like any other game,

the target is so big.

Now, let's go look at...

...the scene from the top.

Yeah!

It's the beach!

Let's swim, baby!

I'm gonna get a real tan!

There aren't many people here.

Even though it's the beach.

No surprise there.

It's past the Bon Festival.

No one swims at the beach, anymore.

Jellyfish also come out.

You didn't change?

What?

I wanted to do something summer-like for once!

Your fault for wanting to come to the beach.

Hot!

Damn it.

I should've suggested the pool.

Idiot!

Idiot!

Mom, why are only their arms and faces tanned?

They're baseball boys.

They're here to try to make summer memories.

Sorry, Koichiro.

For inviting you out of the blue.

You're stuck with these guys, too.

Well, I hadn't been out lately,

so it's a nice change.

You haven't been practicing?

What about tryouts?

I applied for one tryout,

but I don't really have high hopes for that.

I didn't even do much the last tournament.

So I'll probably just take the exam.

I see.

Well, our guys are in the same shoes.

We lost pretty early, so some started focusing to studying early.

I got hit by a line drive and forfeited the mound.

You got switched out from a leg cramp.

In the end, we had nothing but regrets.

Come back!

A ukulele?

I wonder if...

...the national final is done yet.

I can't quit.

I can't quit baseball like this.

Can you?

August 22

Narumiya Loses Steam

A Four-Pitcher Relay

A four-pitcher relay

Komadai Coach Nitta's Victorious Calls

held Inashiro down to two runs.

I'm sure there were differences in the strength of individuals,

but doesn't it prove that your strategy wasn't wrong?

Nitta Magic Makes Komadai Champions

Huh?

Why are there so many people right after the nationals?

Good luck, guys!

You guys are the only team that took four runs from Narumiya!

We're counting on you, Seido batters!

I see.

So that's what's going on.

That was only because of the third-years...

Sheesh.

Why couldn't they just win nationals?

It might've demotivated Narumiya for next year.

Yeah, right. He's not the type.

I'm sure he'll come back even bigger.

Why are you so happy?

Hey, look!

They came early, and they're running!

We're practicing all day today.

Do they want to die?

Come on!

Narumiya was pitching, and we couldn't win.

Everyone accepts the loss.

Regrettably, we couldn't help Narumiya by scoring more runs.

He was our ace until the very end.

I'm sure he wouldn't accept my thanks,

but I want to tell him, "Thank you."

Nationals...

I want to stand on that mound, too.

Hey! Don't run in front of me!

You're too slow!

Wait up!

Sawamura is as loud as ever.

It just means he's healthy again.

I was a little worried for a bit.

Excuse me.

Are those two first-years?

What?

Did you not watch the final?

No.

The taller one's Satoru Furuya.

Water...

Wait...

His fastball is monstrous, despite being just a first-year.

huff huff

And the loud one is Eijun Sawamura.

He's a valuable southpaw for the team.

And Norifumi Kawakami is our right-handed sidearm pitcher.

If these three grow, the new team should do pretty well.

Three pitchers, each with a unique style.

You're not a Seido alumnus, are you?

Yeah, sorry.

I'm an outsider.

You guys aren't scoring at all in the scrims!

You'd better swing until your hands rip off!

Maezono, First Baseman, Batting Third 21 At Bats, 3 Hits (BA .142) (In the Past Five Games)

Damn.

I can't help going for the outside curveball.

At this rate, I might even be taken off the roster.

Kuramochi, Shortstop, Batting First 24 At Bats, 5 Hits (BA .208)

I need to practice my right hitting.

Kominato, Second Baseman, Batting Second 21 At Bats, 12 Hits (BA .571)

If I can't get on base before him, there's no point.

For some reason,

Miyuki, Catcher, Batting Fourth 22 At Bats, 6 Hits (BA .272)

no one's able to swing decisively.

BA/RSP .222

Though I'm not really one to talk.

I guess practice is different from playing actual games.

Our average score in scrimmages is less than three.

Compared to last year's team, we definitely don't sound like a batting team.

Idiot.

We've gotta take advantage of that.

The bottom of the order is always changing.

I'm sure the current team isn't set in stone yet.

We'll start game-simulated batting practice at 1:30 PM!

Let's stay focused and do it like a real game.

Yes, sir!

Nori, can you warm up your shoulders?

I want the batters to be able to hit cleanly today.

You can go a little easy on the control, but I need strong, live pitching.

Just between you and me, I can't ask the first-years to do something so hard.

Okay?

Okay, I'll try.

Thanks.

I'm counting on you.

Miyuki-kun's trying to put Kawakami-kun back on his feet by making him pitch to batters.

It's a very catcher-like idea, and maybe it'll work.

Kawakami will be fine.

His form isn't broken, and he knows the position he's in.

He's a keen observer.

He keeps the perfect distance between himself and the players.

He's the only coach I know who's so good at doing that.

All right! Time for lunch!

I-I'm gonna melt.

Are you okay, Furuya-kun?

Hey, boys.

What time do you practice until?

Until six, I believe.

From nine in the morning?

That's long.

Isn't it tough?

Well...

It's hot, and I don't get to pitch much,

so I do have complaints.

Yet this team is so energetic.

Well, of course.

We're practicing because we don't want to lose.

We can't complain about the weather or being tired.

Excuse us!

But you'll lose.

In a competition, most people lose.

It's like you're playing to lose.

You train so hard, sweating gallons every day,

and I have to say it's commendable.

But you guys are, you know...

...huge masochists.

What?

Athletes are all masochists and narcissists.

You just like the idea of working hard.

Otherwise, you're all just idiots.

Idiots!

You're working so hard under the scorching sun,

and I bet you'll still keep practicing even if the world were to end tomorrow.

What the hell are you trying to say?

Eijun-kun, let's go.

Damn it.

Who was that old man?

He got on my nerves really fast!

Don't worry about him.

Some people are just like that.

A new assistant coach, sir?

Yes.

He's not an alumnus coach like the ones who come sometimes.

He'll be here as an official assistant coach.

What are we talking about?

We're getting a new coach.

He taught for twenty years at Kokaidai Sagara in Kanagawa,

and he left the team with the head coach, Yamamoto, when he retired.

Kokaidai's a regular at nationals.

Yeah.

I'd heard that both assistant and head coaches here were mostly alumni.

And why now?

He has a lot of experience in conditioning exercises.

I plan to incorporate any good ideas he has.

The principal is so quick to find someone, or should I say, underhanded?

I'm so glad I found someone for the job.

He'd been asking this guy to come for two years already.

All in all, the plan is to get the team stronger during the summer.

Make sure you tackle your weaknesses before the fall tournament!

Yes, sir!

A new assistant coach?

I see.

So you were observing the practice today.

Yes.

So what do you think of our team, Ochiai-san?

You have a very nice facility and a lot of good players.

Yet you haven't made nationals.

It's truly mysterious.

Now that I'm here, I promise to take you to nationals.

We have his words!

Yes, sir!

I wish I was cool enough to say that.

Baseball isn't that easy.

Especially high school baseball.

All right!

Good catch!

Next!

What is this?

You're just making me run from side to side!

Hey, Furuya!

pant pant

Stop resting in the shadow of such a skinny pole!

If you don't catch five more, you're staying late!

You're pushing them hard.

The summer heat is only available to us during this season.

I always push the players during the summer season.

Quite fiendish of you.

No matter how good they may become,

they're still high schoolers.

If they can't play to the best of their ability on the field,

they'll be the ones with the bitter memories.

I think I'll just observe for now.

I haven't memorized anyone's faces and names yet,

and I want to get a feel for the kind of practice you do.

Okay.

Feel free to bring me any remarks you have.

If it'll help the team improve,

I'll set up as many meetings as possible.

Are you sure about that?

Can I change this team however I see fit?

Just kidding.

I'm actually pretty shy.

What?

Yes.

I'm sorry.

Wow.

Tojo's hitting pretty well.

Thank you for the nice pitching, Kawakami-senpai!

Crap.

I'm getting depressed.

He's got talent.

I was pretty serious.

Is that batter a first-year?

Yes, he's Hideaki Tojo.

He came here as a pitcher,

but he asked to switch to the outfield.

Still, he was a good pitcher in junior high,

You look good.

so he still has potential as a pitcher in the long run.

I can do better.

After five months at Seido,

I've already gotten a good welcome from high school baseball.

What I did in junior high doesn't mean anything here.

This is the only way I can rise up in this team.

It's the only way.

Tojo, huh?

He has a knack for batting,

and he also has a strong shoulder since he used to pitch.

Yeah! Yeah!

Gotta watch out for him!

He should've just stayed a pitcher.

Yeah.

The only definitive outfielder is Shirasu.

Shirasu, Right Fielder, Batting Sixth 21 At BAts, 7 Hits (BA .333)

Furuya usually goes into the left field, too.

What's that hand on your hip?

Which means...

Only one spot left for the outfielder spot.

Naomichi Seki

Takeru Aso

Hideaki Tojo

It's going to be mine!

Seido High School Practice Field

Right?

I'm taking it!

Outfield! Catch the flies!

August.

Seido Baseball

Our game results so far, including the second-string games,

have been 8 wins and 4 losses.

We have more wins, but we lack scoring power,

and all the games have been close.

I'm still not sure about this new team.

However, the poor results...

...gave the first-years hope to make the first-string.

Higasa, Third Baseman, Batting Seventh 20 At BAts, 5 Hits (BA .250)

Can I do another box?

Yeah. Got it.

Not everything's meshing perfectly yet,

but the hungry first-years are also pushing the second-years to strive.

The overall atmosphere isn't actually bad.

Let's get in the bullpen!

Saturday: Chiba at Seido Sunday: Arita at Seido

We only have three more scrimmages in the summer.

We need something.

Something that'll ignite the team.

What?

You accepted the offer?

Yes.

Why?

It was a sudden request from them.

You could've declined!

Especially since we could be playing against them in the fall!

I see no problem with the game.

I'm sure the players would rather play a game than do boring practice.

But...

Our team still isn't complete.

The word is that they've been going around defeating strong teams, one after another.

I-If our pitchers end up getting destroyed...

Why are you so worried?

What every team wants more than a win right now is experience.

If we may end up fighting them in a tournament,

all the more reason to play them.

But...

There's no better opponent...

Yakushi

...to see where they're at right now.

A scrimmage with Yakushi?

This could be the kick in the rear we needed.

If we win today, it'll be twenty wins in a row!

Yeah.

Furuya, how many consecutive wins are we at?

I forget.

This is so frustrating!

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: The Kick.

Furuya, Sawamura, Kawakami, and... Tanba.

The Kick

I'll destroy you all with my bat!

Tanba's already gone.