Original subtitles

Hey, Captain.

What are we gonna do?

About what?

Sawamura! What else?

He fell apart in the Yakushi game,

but he's an important southpaw on our team.

Don't we need him in order to win through the fall?

Hmm...

You're worried sick about him.

No, I'm not!

I just don't want him being gloomy in my room!

We have other priorities right now,

like improving our weak batting line-up.

Well, yeah, but...

He brings life to the team, you know.

With the tournament coming up,

we need to prioritize the team over individuals.

The coach said he'll use players who are doing well, didn't he?

I know that!

But, as his upperclassman, we can't just leave him alone!

H-Hey, Kuramochi.

In the Yakushi game,

it's partly my fault that Sawamura fell apart.

Over the summer break,

I was always nagging him about his control.

Against Yakushi,

I'm sure he went in with big objectives.

Especially since his rival performed so well before his eyes.

He'd already lost mentally before he walked on the mound.

I-If you knew that much, then why?

Because we need him.

My expectations for him are high,

and we need him to get better.

We can't afford to lose him to some dumb yips.

You just said two completely different things.

I know.

September Sky

September 4, Fall Tournament Group Selection

The 260 schools from east and west Tokyo are split up into four tournament groups,

and the top two schools from each group advance to the final tournament.

The team that wins earns a ticket to the national invitational.

Seido High School Practice Field

So our first game's on Sunday?

We're hosting, so it's nice that we can stay here,

but it doesn't really feel like an official game.

Whoa!

Yakushi's in the same group as Kokudokan.

That's tough.

We don't have any strong schools in our group.

Miyuki got really lucky.

Looks like we won't have problems winning.

What are you talking about?

We have to make them all called games.

If we don't set high standards, we can't take the top.

Well, you need to hit first.

That's exactly right!

Let's practice bunts and steals.

Yeah.

Man, I want a hit!

Are you still training on your own?

Yeah.

Well, take it slow.

A pitcher needs his lower body strong, anyway.

Sawamura.

Join the batting and fielding practice starting today.

Good for you.

You get to practice with balls now.

But you're going to be in the outfield.

Make sure you throw to the infield after every catch.

Got it?

Sawamura in the outfield?

Is he off the fall roster?

Yes, sir.

Eijun-kun...

He talks a lot less

and isn't his usual self anymore,

but he's calm.

I guess he's come to terms with where he is.

Furuya.

You're gonna pitch in the fielding practice today.

Yes, sir.

Make sure you run for cover and bunts, too.

I'll go all out, sir.

Don't.

He...

...hasn't come to terms with it, at all!

Seido High School Practice Field

Sawamura, forward!

Your first step is late!

Throw it back the moment you catch!

Good! Nice throw!

At least your throw is good, Sawamura!

Sawamura, you've got to run to the ball first.

You're so nice.

I don't think I'll ever lose to Sawamura!

Right?

So he's in the outfield now?

You put him back with the team sooner than I expected.

He's been running this past week,

and it's helped him regain his will.

If he had no will to improve,

he'd just continue staring at the ground.

That's why you had him run?

In the end, it all comes down to his will.

I was sent to the outfield because I wasn't good enough.

I get scared because I'm not good enough.

Damn it!

That's way too forward!

And over the head.

Man...

I'm so terrible.

Damn!

You're crying for real!

Don't get even more depressed coming to the outfield!

He's resigning after the fall,

but he's still thinking about Sawamura's future.

September 12

We discovered what we lacked against Yakushi,

Fall Tournament Groups, Game 1 Seido (W. Tokyo) vs Toyosaki (E. Tokyo) at Seido

and we go into our first official game

with a lot of worries on our minds.

Strike! Batter out!

Seido Toyosaki

He's head and shoulders above everyone on the field.

Gotta pace himself,

but with the uniform number he got,

he probably can't help going all out.

I can't see it.

Don't worry, it's there.

Another RBI!

Is he gonna win this game on his own?

Wow! Furuya's in the zone.

He's looking really good with the third-years gone.

It was crazy yesterday.

Oh, Furuya, right?

He walked off in the seventh inning, but he was still going strong.

We might be able to go pretty far with just him alone.

Yeah, but I don't understand the roster at all.

Why's Sawamura on the roster?

He's not pitching at all right now.

Maybe he's on standby as an outfield?

No way! Not even close!

Even grade schoolers can play better than him.

Honestly, his only weapon is his moving fastball.

The only thing he had was energy, but he's lost even that these days.

He should give up his spot on the roster.

Sawamura!

H-How long were you there?

But it's all true.

Don't make that face!

Hey.

Baseball boy's studying!

Shut up! Of course I am!

Study hard!

Right back at you!

Damn.

What happened to enjoying a normal high school life?

Oh, yeah.

The group stage started.

That's right.

I heard Furuya outdid himself.

Seido Toyosaki

But they only got six runs

and played all nine innings.

It wasn't a called game?

What are the second-years doing?

They need to score more!

Seriously.

I guess the team isn't meshing well yet.

I heard the coach said

he'd change the starting lineup after the Yakushi game,

but he didn't make any changes in the end.

Despite what he says, he doesn't stop believing in the players.

I guess I'll have to go whip them into shape.

You just want to play around.

It's not like we were good from the start.

The fall is all about discovering new problems every game.

Well, yeah, but...

Damn.

I really want to hit hard right now.

Yeah, but I don't understand the roster at all.

Why's Sawamura on the roster?

Why did I make the roster?

I don't even know myself!

I can't play the outfield,

and I haven't pitched in days.

What does the coach want from me?

Furuya.

In the end,

I couldn't pitch until the end.

I may have gotten the ace number,

but it doesn't mean the coach sees me as the ace.

I won't let anyone question me.

Not my plays and not the numbers.

I'll make everyone acknowledge me.

Y-You...

Don't run...

Don't run in front of me!

Their warmup turned into full sprints.

Looks like Sawamura's not as gloomy as I thought.

He must not want to show Furuya his weak side.

We don't have time to worry about the first-years.

We need to score as much as we can.

As if we're not trying already.

Guys, practice just started.

You need to pace yourselves.

I forgot.

That's one of my problems.

Looks like you guys are all warmed up.

Y-Yes, sir.

Sawamura, go in the bullpen today.

Nice pitch!

It's looking good!

Sawamura's pitching just fine.

All right.

I'll stand as a batter next.

Throw inside.

Since he kept Sawamura on the roster, I figured he would do this,

but does he plan to use him in the fall?

Make sure you get his form on video.

Yes, sir.

Let's go.

Sawamura wants to make this pitch.

So is his form the problem?

The moment the coach stepped in, he...

Why is Coach Kataoka putting so much care...

...into this useless pitcher?

This is the form without any batters.

And this is

the form with the coach.

It looks the same in the beginning,

but in the end,

his arm isn't swinging down enough.

Right here.

What? Are you sure?

I'm good at finding differences.

It would be a lot easier if it was more obvious,

but with this subtlety, we can't say much to him.

Mental problems depend on the person, so they're difficult to solve.

The slightest thing can make them evaporate, too.

Though maybe he's being overly conscious of the inside pitch,

and it's preventing him from throwing his arm down.

Maybe I pushed him too much.

Sawamura, you should stop thinking so much.

It's not like you had good control anyway,

and you're stupid.

M-Miyuki-senpai, that's...

Why do you look so surprised, Sawamura?

Isn't that the truth?

That was on the nose!

Oh... So you have data on batters, too?

Only their starting roster, though.

This is great.

I wonder what happened?

Why does he want data on the strong teams in Tokyo?

Oh.

How was practice today, Coach?

Good.

Some players are staying late.

The second-years have been working really hard lately.

I see Maezono swinging his bat a lot.

Kataoka-san.

In all honesty,

how high are you aiming to go this fall?

I've been quietly watching all this time,

but objectively, this team isn't weak.

Everyone has high motivation

and has very good training habits.

Your coaching must be working well with everyone.

However,

it'll be difficult for the current team to take the fall tournament.

H-He... came right out and said it.

If I were the coach, I would aim for nationals next year.

I'd leave the team's fate in Furuya's hands.

Make him ace and cleanup, since his batting is good, too.

No matter how badly he's playing or how many runs he gives up,

I'd make him pitch every game on his own.

A-Are you saying you'd give up on the fall season

just to let Furuya grow?

Yes.

If he can get experience and awareness as the bigwig of the team,

that's all we need.

He has that much potential.

Raise him as the ace.

I think that's the quickest way to go to nationals.

The presence of the ace.

I know how big that can be for a team.

However, these games are for the players to play,

and this fall is one of few chances to try for nationals.

I won't sacrifice the team just for Furuya alone.

Hey!

We're done for the night.

Make sure you finish up soon, too.

Yes, sir! Good night.

I'm hungry. I just ate, too.

I'll bring him something to drink later.

Sawamura, you should stop thinking so much.

It's not like you had good control, anyway,

and you're stupid.

How dare he say whatever he wants!

Doesn't he realize he's the captain?

Damn it!

But... He's exactly right.

It's not like I had good control, anyway.

I see you're throwing a lot.

When you pitch,

do you check your grip every time?

Why don't you throw me some?

Didn't you call me because you don't care about hitting me?

This isn't even good dodging practice.

Thanks, Kanemaru,

but I don't plan on hitting you.

Shut up!

To match your aggressive style,

this is the pitch I really want you to learn.

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: The Final Lesson.

The Final Lesson

I still have so much to learn.