Original subtitles

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.

However, the poor results...

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

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 practice games left 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!

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.

The Kick

August 27, Practice Game:

Seido (W. Tokyo) vs Chiba Shodai (Chiba)

Seido Chiba

Strike! Batter out!

Seriously?

He's only a first-year?

When's the last time those three scored together?

A while ago.

At least you scored!

Shut up!

I haven't felt this good in a while.

Way to go!

About time you showed something!

This team has some explosive power.

Yes.

Our players are, by no means, bad.

The batters didn't look that good before.

What happened?

A practice game with Yakushi?

Yes.

It was a sudden request from them,

and I've decided to accept.

Eijun-kun.

You've got yourself an early rematch.

Hot!

Against Chiba, Furuya and Sawamura will pitch.

Against Arita, Kawakami will pitch.

As the final game of the summer break,

I'll use every player I can for the Yakushi game.

Everyone, be prepared.

Yes, sir!

Damn! I want to play against Yakushi, too.

Yeah, since their team's made up of mostly first-years.

It'll depends on whether we can show off before the Yakushi game.

Yeah.

If we can impress the coach,

maybe he'll use us.

Let's make some good plays.

Yeah.

Whoa! An RBI hit!

Todo got another hit!

Damn.

Seido Chiba

Right?

Shut up!

Furuya.

You're in left field for the sixth inning.

Shocked

Sawamura.

You're going in next inning.

Yes, sir!

Sawamura, what's your theme for today?

Theme?

My theme is freedom!

I know you've never been good at control,

so I won't ask for too much,

but you've had way too many wide pitches lately.

You have a unique form, so you're doing well in the practice games,

but it's not going to work against you-know-who.

Anyway, look at my mitt carefully, and pitch with confidence!

Winning is important,

but we're more worried about technique.

Like pitching an entire—

Yes, sir!

My theme will be a challenge for freedom!

Seido High School Practice Field

Say what?

I'm sorry!

Could the game against Yakushi be raising their motivation?

Looks like I was worried over nothing.

Let's go!

Don't give away any free walks!

They're excited to test their strengths.

They want to know where they're at.

I don't know why they wanted to play against us,

but these kids are all equipped with strong hearts to take them head-on.

Tokyo Suginami-ku, Yakushi High School

Two homers in a row?

Who is this kid?

That ball flew so fast!

Raichi!

Did you touch the base?

Oh, damn!

How does he forget to touch the base?

He lost a home run once because of it.

Nice! Very nice!

Looks like his leg's doing fine.

Sanada, rest for today.

Prepare for tomorrow.

I never expected they'd say yes.

Let's pay them back for our loss this summer tenfold!

Furuya, Sawamura, Kawakami, and...

...Tanba!

I'll destroy you all!

Tanba's already gone!

Game one against Chiba Shodai.

6-2 with Furuya and Sawamura.

And Team B also fought well afterward, but...

Anyway, you guys still pitched well.

Sorry.

If we'd won, it would've been our tenth win.

Don't fret it.

He's sleeping!

Let's win both games tomorrow and end the break on a good note.

Looks like you know very well what your problem was today, Sawamura.

2 Outs Runners on 2nd and 3rd

His form is unique,

but his actual pitch is nothing compared to the last guy.

I just need to tap it.

First base is open, and we have some runs.

Inside pitch, Sawamura.

Run! Run!

It was an outside pitch.

Luckily, they jammed a pitch later, and we got away,

but against Yakushi, it won't be that easy.

Furuya, you need to practice pitching when there are runners.

He's awake!

Kawakami, you need to practice baiting with your low pitches.

I have a lot I want to try,

but we have two more games during the break.

Let's go win them like they're the real deal.

Someone is always swinging his bat somewhere.

You can't create this kind of atmosphere overnight.

Did they learn from the previous generations?

August 28

Arita Seido

Game 1: Arita (Chiba) vs Seido (W. Tokyo)

Two outs! Two outs!

We've got your back, Nori!

Hey, nice save!

Younger Kominato!

It really helps the pitcher when he can make saves like that.

Looks like Ryosuke's brother is doing a good job filling his shoes.

No way.

He's still a first-year.

He needs to get way better.

Kawakami's not at his best,

but the team's looking pretty good.

Kawakami, rest after this inning.

You're gonna pitch again next game.

Yes, sir!

Nice, Kawakami!

Kawashima, you're going in next!

Yes, sir!

Kaneda, you get ready, too!

Yes, sir!

No! Not like that!

Harder!

I could stretch on my own better!

Ow! That hurts!

Wow! They have two fields!

With such a huge practice area, you could practice all you want.

Hey.

Since you're here, you guys are pitching against us, right?

Who's going first?

Which is it?!

I'll smash you either way!

Don't stand in front of me! Move!

Bow before walking on the field!

Yo.

How many wins during the break?

If we win today, it'll be our twentieth consecutive win!

Are you bragging?

I got one off each of you last time,

so I'll get five off each of you today!

That's a lot of runs!

You won't get that many chances.

Let's play!

Let's play now!

Calm down!

Are you a dog or something?

Well, see you later.

Let's go all out.

Furuya!

How many consecutive wins are we at now?

I forget.

This is so frustrating!

Thank you for coming all this way today.

Not at all.

We asked for the game, after all.

Let's have a fun game.

Yakushi, as in the Yakushi?

I heard it was decided, like, yesterday.

Are you serious?

I'm so glad I came today!

We might be playing them in the fall.

Is this okay?

The game itself is more important than the outcome.

Everyone's up for the game,

so I think it'll be fine.

From the fourth inning, Furuya will move to the left.

Then Sawamura and Kawakami will pitch, in that order.

Yes, sir!

I get to start.

You got the starting roster.

Go put your name in that spot for good.

I'll just have to do my best.

He's using almost everyone who just played a game.

He's really going after a win here.

We don't need to test out the waters.

We just tackle head-on, and the stronger team will win.

Line up!

August 28, 1:00 PM,

Seido (W. Tokyo) vs Yakushi (W. Tokyo)

Seido Yakushi

Last pitch!

Hey, didn't he play first base in the summer tournament?

Starter...

That catcher was playing outfield, too.

Don't get too tense, Miss-shima.

I'm ready to go anytime.

I won't need your help!

And don't call me "Miss-shima"!

Pitchers don't get mad so easily, Miss-shima!

We'll take back whatever we lose!

Go ahead and take a beating, Miss-shima!

Let's go!

Shut up!

Don't say that before I pitch!

And don't call me "Miss-shima"!

Even in the new team, Sanada isn't starting?

But...

...he's undoubtedly the ace.

Gotta drag him out as soon as we can.

Play!

He's gonna bunt, Raichi.

Okay.

I get it.

I got two hits last game.

I'll get aggressive today.

I made a secret oath to myself when I joined this school.

There's only value in a real goal.

Ace and cleanup...

I'll take them both!

What?

Yes! Right to center field!

Nice hit, Kuramochi-senpai!

Hide-san, hurry!

He's going for second!

Seriously?

In your dreams!

He took second with that hit?

He didn't even pause for it.

He's on a roll today.

That was a good one.

I'm in a scoring position now.

What's the plan, younger brother?

Was that pitch a little weak?

Damn.

Looks like I'm a long way from being the ace!

A bunt?

That's good!

Didn't know he could do that, too!

One out, Miss-shima!

That was luck!

Pure fluke!

He has way more errors than great saves.

That was crazy acceleration.

It was a pretty good idea,

but do it like this!

Like this! Like this! Like this!

One out and a runner on third.

It's the first inning, but he could squeeze bunt here.

Let's go!

Strike! Batter out!

They were all forkballs.

A strikeout?

That's two outs already.

Way too stiff, Maezono!

That forkball drops quite a bit.

Yeah.

It's fast, too.

Two outs!

Even with a runner on third,

they're pitching low breaking balls.

They make a pretty good battery.

Ideally, I want to score off his forkball,

but I shouldn't be greedy.

Let's hit a clean one into the center.

Damn.

He's got presence.

Looks good, too.

Let's go, Miyuki!

You're not a cleanup if you can't hit here!

Can he do it?

Can he become a true leader?

We're getting aggressive, right, Yuta?

Of course.

I'm always getting aggressive!

Shoot.

A passed ball on the first pitch!

An easy run for Seido!

What's done is done!

Switch gears, battery!

And make up for it with your bat!

Yes, sir!

What's done is done!

Switch gears, battery!

Shut your face, dumbass!

They haven't changed their ways, at all.

A fly to first?

He never gets better.

I aimed for it too much.

He never hits without a runner!

He doesn't hit at all now.

Seido Yakushi

Only one run this inning.

Thanks to their error.

The real game starts now.

How well can they hold Yakushi down?

Let's go!

What do you need?

Can I pitch until the end of this game?

My assignment is to get the stamina to pitch many innings.

Three isn't enough.

Please.

No.

Pitching nine innings?

Getting even one more out for the team is much more important!

This isn't a game just for you.

But...

Depending on how well you pitch, I may give you more innings.

Is his idea of an ace to be the one to pitch all nine innings?

Let's go!

Man, you're hilarious!

Your expression doesn't change, but it's obvious what you're thinking!

Nine innings by himself.

How reliable.

He must have a lot of confidence and resolve to say that.

Yes.

I'm always surprised by him, as well.

He has a lot of attachment to the mound.

Strike! Batter out!

There it is!

Two strikeouts in a row!

Going all out from the start again!

What a lucky opportunity we have.

They're not hiding anything against us.

Be thankful when you're batting, boys.

Hey, how about some action, Akiba?

Furuya-kun's in the zone!

Nice pitch!

His experience in the summer tournament really helped.

He has more faith in his pitch and is much more relaxed.

He's really improving.

Furuya, I won't lose!

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: The Ace Title.

The Ace Title

I won't let anyone else take the mound.