Original subtitles

Monthly Baseball Kingdom

Mine-san!

Mine-san,

I need your article on the district tournament by the end of this week.

I know!

I assume you've already finished your article?

Of course I have—

Oh, no! Where did I save it?

Just like last year,

Inashiro won the West Tokyo Tournament this year,

but there were many interesting games to watch.

Like the game between Yakushi, a dark horse that took out Ichidai Third,

and Seido, the winner of the tournament six years ago.

What decided that game was...

Howling In the Summer

Furuya-kun and Todoroki-kun faced off.

Furuya-kun and Todoroki-kun faced off.

Play ball!

The ball just went "graaah."

It was so much more awesome than I imagined!

Another high fastball here.

Let's push him away by force.

Straight to the right-center fence!

We're going after...

...the pitcher's best pitch.

His fastball slows down when he throws from the stretch.

Our top batters won't have trouble hitting those pitches.

That's why I put Raichi to the front.

Stop getting mad over every hit, man.

You've got reliable teammates behind you.

Furuya!

I have to catch.

Nice cover, Furuya!

You reacted before I said it.

You're starting to get better.

You can only get experience from playing real games.

Being the starting pitcher for four games early in his first year

will be a big investment.

Man, they're owning us.

Looks like I'll have to break his heart.

When Raichi's second at-bat comes around.

They're switching him out now?

He was just getting started.

Hey...

It's only the second cycle.

You're playing aggressively, aren't you?

You're not gonna give our batters room to work with?

This is the pitcher relay for victory.

I hope you're ready.

Then Sawamura-kun went up to the mound.

Now, it's your turn.

All right. Let's go.

The Akikawa batters

were completely beaten by his pitch.

I assume it's a very tricky ball movement.

A moving fastball.

Is it wild enough to be a good weapon?

Or is it hardly useful at all?

Go check it out, Raichi.

I wanted to hit that fastball again,

but ever since I saw their video,

I've wanted to hit his pitch, too.

I can hit multiple kinds of pitches in one game.

This team is a lot of fun!

I'm not letting Tanba throw tomorrow.

Keep that in mind and carry out your duties tomorrow.

Remember what the coach said.

Our pitcher relay is to win.

Just think about connecting to the next pitcher today.

We're not gonna let them have their way.

Boys, if you want to hit a moving fastball,

you've gotta wait till the last second to swing.

One ball, two strikes.

Let's go!

The pitch you're most confident with!

A fastball to the inside!

Crap. This pitch.

I'm gonna lose.

Got it! Got it!

I got it!

Nice play!

Baiting with the moving pitch,

Nice, Sawamura!

then finishing him off with a four-seam.

His fastball's slowly becoming a powerful weapon.

Their pitcher relay worked magnificently.

Seido has the upper hand now.

Not bad, pitcher.

We're four runs down.

It's a little early, but we have no choice.

Yakushi High School has announced a change in players.

Replacing Mino-kun as pitcher is Sanada-kun.

Pitcher, Sanada-kun.

Don't let them get ahead any further, Sanada!

At the bottom of the third

with a runner on first,

Sanada-kun took the mound to reverse the tides.

That guy's... the ace!

He probably plans to get strikes on the inside,

then finish me off on the outside,

but I won't let you have your way.

Perfect timing!

First!

Yes, a double play!

Nice pitch, Sanada!

A cutter?

What's that, Chris-senpai?

It's a type of moving fastball.

Moving...

That's awesome.

So he's the upgraded version of Sawamura.

Yakushi Seido

But even then, Sawamura-kun...

I've been entrusted to pitch two more innings.

I'll shut them down and connect

to Kawakami-senpai!

Shortstop!

Yes!

Don't get too cocky, Sawamura!

Your luck's not gonna last!

By getting them out rhythmically,

he's able to play comfortably.

He's grown so much.

That's a great bunt.

First!

Nice bunt, Ota!

Nice bunt!

A runner on second now!

That's the first time I've seen Yakushi bunt.

Must mean they're serious about scoring this inning.

Not to mention the next batter's...

Batting first, third baseman, Todoroki-kun.

Here comes the crazy slugger!

Show us a big one!

What will Seido do now?

Will they be persistent about the relay,

and switch out Sawamura-kun, who's on a roll?

Or will they...

Todoroki!

Show us a big one!

Will they switch him out?

Or keep him in?

A m-messenger?

That's it?

Yeah, that's it.

If we could take out the reliever as he walked on,

we could've finished them off.

Don't lose to the same pitcher twice, Raichi.

Play!

I'm going...

...with Sawamura this inning.

For the first time...

...that man...

The coach is putting his faith in me.

I can't fail him.

Show me that pitch.

I'll blow it away!

Yes!

Yes!

Good thing I stayed back.

It's gone!

His pitch is hard to time,

but it's not fast or anything.

That Furuya guy's pitch was much heavier.

Sawamura.

Sorry, that was my fault.

Don't worry about that one, Sawamura.

We're still up by two runs.

Keep sending the balls our way.

He's lost all his energy.

Play!

Everyone's kindness hurts, doesn't it?

Can't forget that last hit, can you?

Don't let it get to you.

Ball four!

Pitcher change!

Kawakami!

Yakushi Seido

I see.

I couldn't meet...

...his expectations.

You gained valuable experience.

Now, make something of it.

A home run!

We're up by two runs again!

Wow! They're really strong.

I'll probably cause you a little more trouble,

but forgive me in advance.

Yes, he hit a home run,

but what's important is how you handled it.

This...

...is how an ace pitches.

Yakushi Seido

Yakushi tried to catch up,

but Kawakami-kun really persevered for Seido.

I can't let Tanba-san's summer end with...

...this game!

But the Yakushi batters slowly adjusted to his pitch.

Focus on the batter!

Don't worry about the runner!

One out at a time!

I'm the one who started this negativity.

The only thing I can do from the bench is cheer them on.

Runners on first and third!

And now, I'm up?

That's intense.

Seido High School has announced a change in players.

Replacing the eighth batter and pitcher, Kawakami-kun...

...is Tanba-kun.

Batting eighth and pitcher, Tanba-kun.

This is intense.

You really know how to make things exciting.

You're the best.

Will you entrust me to carry on your passion?

Tanba-san.

I'll just do...

I'll just do what I can do right now.

Strike!

Batter out!

That was the best pitch you could've given me, Tanba-san.

It's not over yet.

We still have another inning.

We just need to bring him up to bat.

That's all we need!

Tanba.

We're up by three runs.

It's in your hands now.

Let's go!

Yeah!

Three more outs!

Let's stay focused this last inning!

Let's focus!

You guys have faith in Raichi, too, right?

I haven't even thought for a second that we'll lose.

We can't let it end.

I have to get on base.

No matter what!

Dive for it, Ota!

Hit it hard, Raichi.

Tanba!

Raichi!

Seido!

Yakushi!

Raichi!

Seido! Seido! Seido!

Smash it!

Hit it!

Ball.

So close!

That was fine!

Smash it away!

Raichi!

Eyes on the ball!

Swing for it!

I'll get a hit.

I must!

He's...

We still have...

...a secret weapon they don't know about.

Foul!

Hit!

The entire team's depending on me.

Don't tell me that idiot's...

Raichi! Don't think!

Just do your usual thing!

Enjoy your battle with the pitcher!

I'll end this game right here.

Right here!

Raichi!

It's the same pitch.

Fastball!

This time...

...I'll smash it away!

A forkball?

Where did that come from?

No.

When we were cornered,

the game was already over.

Strike! Batter out!

Game set!

Nice pitch, Tanba-san!

Nice pitch!

T-Todoroki-kun struck out.

But didn't Todoroki-kun's swing look sluggish this time?

He usually looks like he's enjoying the battle against the pitcher.

But this time, in the last inning,

he tried to swing for his team.

A first-year felt everyone's expectations as pressure,

but a third-year turned them into strength.

Yakushi Seido

What turned out to be the key to the final showdown...

...was the amount of time they had spent with their teammates.

Bow!

Good game!

Your high school baseball career is only two-and-a-half years long.

However, even in that small time frame,

people can show incredible growth.

Mine-san! Mine-san!

Hey, don't shout into my ears!

But we're writing about the super intense tournament final next!

I know!

I hope you have the pictures ready.

Pictures? Oh, no!

Come on.

The Summer Heat Haze

Next time on Ace of the Diamond, Season 2: The Summer Heat Haze.