Original subtitles

Day Before the Game

Furuya's playing left field in the next game?

Yes.

Then who's starting?

Excuse me.

You called for the crippled Sawamura?

Wh-What can I help you with today?

If it's about sleeping through nearly the entire class today,

then I'm deeply repentant.

You did?

Wait! It's not about that?!

C-Coach Kataoka!

You don't mean to say...

Did You Just Pitch...

October 9

Seido vs Nanamori Academy

The monster's playing left field?

They probably want to try things out before they face Inashiro.

Nanamori Academy Head Coach Tatsuomi Hara

I see.

So they're looking down at us.

Why do you look so happy?

Bring it on!

Seido Nanamori

I'm worried about today's starting pitcher.

Here's today's starting lineup.

Batting first and shortstop, Kuramochi.

Yes, sir!

Second and right fielder, Shirasu.

Yes, sir!

Third and second baseman, Kominato.

Yes, sir.

I'm in the three-hole?

It's the result of how you've been playing,

so be sure to swing confidently!

If you get too tense, you won't be able to swing properly.

I'm getting mixed vibes from you.

What are you talking about?

Fourth and catcher, Miyuki.

Yes, sir!

Fifth and first baseman, Maezono.

Yes, sir.

Fifth?

I've moved down.

Sixth and left fielder, Furuya.

Yes, sir.

Seventh and center fielder, Tojo.

Yes, sir!

Eighth and third baseman, Kanemaru.

Yes, sir!

Furuya, let's show them!

Make some big plays!

It's your starter debut.

Yeah, I'm a little scared.

You want to use this?

Blue Warriors

No. I'll just be loud.

Ninth and pitcher, Sawamura.

Yes, sir!

Okay!

Looking good!

Are you going to breathe every ounce of air in here?

Looking pretty good, Sawamura.

Though it's all about how you pitch on the mound that counts.

No need to tell me right before the game!

What? Don't tell me you're nervous.

Of course I am.

It's my first time starting.

And there's something I want to try, too.

He's been using his head in practice lately.

I see him coming up with pitching sequences.

Now that he knows his outside pitch is effective,

his thoughts on the inside pitch have changed.

Though for Sawamura,

he probably understands it better with his body than with his head.

Let's go!

I'll look at your pitch from the box.

Thank you!

It's just like him to have to experience it firsthand to understand it.

He could only go aggressive with his inside pitches,

but by combining it with outside pitches, he gets more options,

and more room to work with.

Now that he's gained confidence in his outside pitches,

he really wants...

You fell right for it, Kuramochi-senpai!

That is a trap!

Now that you've seen how close the pitch is,

the outside pitches will feel like they're miles away!

Now, I just need to calm down and throw low and outside!

That's just preparation to finish you off with an outside pitch at the end!

Wait a minute.

Did you just pitch...

Did you just pitch...

...to the inside?

Eh?

Currently At Ota Stadium

Ugumori Inashiro

Okay! Pretty good!

You've got him cornered, so no need to play around!

Take him down by force!

Shut up, left field.

Does he think everyone can pitch like him?

Dumb ace.

Ignore the voice from left field!

You've got it!

Get it, third baseman!

Out!

All right!

Time to bat!

Good job, Hirano!

Nice pitch, Hirano-san.

Your slider looks good today.

Let's pitch some more—

Hey! Hey!

They're swinging late on your fastball!

Push them around with it!

You're asking for way too many breaking balls.

You're pitching way too many balls!

I'm catching for Hirano-san right now.

Excuse me?

Are you telling me I'm irrelevant?

Don't get upset just because you're not starting.

Goodness.

I'm not sure if these two make a good pair or not.

But really,

I can pitch comfortably because I know you've got my back.

I'll do the best I can for as long as I can.

You sure understand well who the ace is.

Why are you actually blushing?

A bunt on the first pitch!

The throw to first wasn't even close!

Let's go, Shirakawa!

There's the hit!

Go for it, Yamaoka!

Good distance!

First run of the first inning!

They're perfect.

They got that run so easily.

No wonder they're the favorite.

The hit didn't go as far as I thought.

I wonder if he missed the sweet spot.

Inashiro's a pretty crazy team.

I already gave up my first run!

One out! One out!

Don't worry about it!

One run isn't good enough.

We need to get a whole bunch, so Hiranocchi can pitch without pressure.

H-He's so fast.

His impression

Mr. Consistent! Shirasu-senpai!

Right to center field!

Nice one, Kominato!

Nice RBI hit!

That's our lucky boy!

He followed my advice to a T!

Advice?

Stop playing dumb!

He's living up to the three-hole position.

Yeah! Another hit!

Oh.

About time he realized his role in the lineup.

Nice hit, Miyuki!

One out and runners on first and third!

Batting fifth and first baseman, Maezono-kun.

That's right.

Three-hole... five-hole... It doesn't matter.

I just...

...do the swing I practiced.

Right along the left field line!

Nice long shot!

Third run!

He got a hit to the left field edge again!

We might be seeing more of those from him!

He's a natural pull hitter,

but he knows to swing a little late,

which keeps the hit from going foul.

An inside pitch specialist.

Looks like his talent's finally starting to bear fruit.

If that's the case,

then it's all thanks to you for using him patiently.

No.

He's far from consistent.

Oh, no! Furuya!

You got tense!

Out!

Ball four!

Two outs and bases loaded!

What an opportunity on your first at-bat!

Get 'em, Kanemaru!

The stage is set for you, Shinji.

The first pitch after base on balls.

Go for it.

Right between left and center!

The runners are coming home!

Kanemaru!

Seido Nanamori

Look at the score in the first inning!

That was his first RBI hit on his first at-bat,

but he doesn't look that happy.

Yeah.

Is he saying it was a piece of cake for him?

Cocky.

I know how you feel.

That felt good.

I'm amazing.

That was too cool.

This is a big change from the previous order.

Looks like the change worked well.

It's too early to say that.

Nice batting, Kanemaru!

I'm coming...

...right...

...after...

He's walking back like nothing happened.

Seido Nanamori

Sawamura!

The defense here is important.

If we can't keep them down here,

it'll give the opponent a fighting chance.

Forget about the five runs.

Yes, sir.

If I can!

Also, inside pitches.

I won't ask you to make it your finishing pitch,

but I'll ask you to pitch some on the mound.

It's not over yet.

It's the first inning!

We have plenty of time to turn it around!

Let's fight back patiently and calmly!

Let's go! Man power!

The little mound looks fresh.

So this...

...is the starter's mound.

Damn, Furuya.

You stood here like this all the time?

Once something happens, it's too late to stop it.

Balls will come flying your way,

so fielders, thank you for your support!

Let's go!

He didn't forget.

Nice.

You pitched it in the bullpen.

You've got it.

Go get 'em!

Keep your spirits up!

Strike!

Nice pitch!

Yeah!

He's looking good!

Huh?

It...

Strike!

This pitcher throws weird!

Ball!

That was a ball?

Damn.

And his tempo...

...is fast!

Another outside pitch?

He managed to touch it.

Don't let them play at their pace.

He's throwing outsides only again.

I'm sure it's all he can do,

but how long will they last like this?

This is preparation to finish him off with an outside.

That's what you said.

Then don't think too hard.

Give it to me here!

Damn, Miyuki.

An inside pitch already?

It's nothing special.

Go for it, Sawamura!

I just need a ball.

But if he swings, then awesome.

Hit by pitch!

Damn, what a waste!

He had him cornered, too!

He hit the first batter.

He was pitching at a nice tempo, but what an outcome.

Is he nervous to pitch as the starter?

I'm sorry!

But did he just...

...pitch to the inside, sort of...

I guess?

Oops.

Batting second and third baseman, Nishi-kun.

Seido Nanamori

Again?!

Eijun-kun, that's too much.

He's not taking that big a lead.

Focus on the batter, Sawamura.

If you don't...

Ball four!

See?

Base on balls!

No outs yet!

Don't look mad! Calm down!

Would you look at this?

Baseball is unpredictable.

Five runs doesn't mean anything.

If we can get a run here,

we'll be able to turn it around.

No outs!

There are still no outs!

He's given multiple walks since the first batter, and he's cornered himself.

It's his first time starting,

so maybe he's lost his cool after he hit the batter.

Calm down, Sawamura.

Let's restart from the outside.

Strike!

Nanamori doesn't bunt at all.

I thought they'd come to score here.

The pitcher's falling apart on his own.

We don't need to give them a free out here.

Focus...

...on just one pitch!

He jammed it right to first base.

But the hit has no speed.

Out!

He got the batter out!

But the runners all advanced.

They're in scoring positions now.

Perfect!

Batting fourth and first baseman, Goda-kun.

Giant!

Let's go, cleanup!

What a generous gift to a team that's five runs down.

How will Sawamura get through this his first time starting?

He's only been pitching outsides since he hit the first batter.

Sawamura, pitch to contact!

We've got your back!

Could it be that he doesn't want to pitch to the inside?

Foul!

That was a foul?

Phew!

It would've been bad if it'd been fair.

Sawamura.

I swung late?

This looks bad.

Calm down!

You have cat eyes!

He stepped in without a second thought.

Is he thinking we'll only pitch to the outside?

I would love to pitch some inside and get him off his game.

But is Sawamura ready to do that right now?

We have some runs, and this is the first inning.

I personally want Sawamura to overcome the yips, too,

but we should play it safe and go outside here.

Eijun-kun.

Sawamura.

He didn't hesitate as he stepped in for the swing.

Even I understand what he's thinking.

He doesn't think I'll pitch inside.

You...

We have to go inside right here.

This batter's not expecting any inside pitches.

He'll fall back even if it's not in too much.

Give me a strike!

With Giant's power, he can hit to the outfield.

Double check the fielders' positions.

Just like usual.

Gotta relax.

I'm confident I won't lose in power.

Relax my entire body.

And focus on just one point.

Right here!

Ugumori faces the summer champions, Inashiro.

Their ace is Seiichi Umemiya.

Inashiro's not using their ace?

That's some confidence they have.

I'm on standby right behind you!

You can't lose in baseball if you don't give up any runs.

Why don't you stay there till the end, Mei Narumiya?

Because this game is ours!

Next time on Ace of the Diamond Season 2: The Underdog Story.

The Underdog Story

Let's win the national title!