Original subtitles

You guys think so, too?

I give him credit for his strong fearless mentality,

but it's not exactly a reliable trait.

The last game could've rolled either way,

so his luck is bound to run out soon.

What you need is a breaking ball.

The strikeout pitch.

Adding a change-of-pace pitch to his in and out...

It's something I have been thinking about.

I'm sure the coach thinks the same.

Here.

Make the "okay" sign with your hand.

Okay?

Then you grab the ball like this.

The change-up.

This is the most basic grip.

You can grip the ball with the middle and ring fingers,

grip it with all five,

take the index and middle fingers off the ball...

So long as it slows down the pitch, it doesn't matter.

You can do whatever.

Do whatever?

However, you have to swing your arm properly.

The faster your arm swing and the slower the pitch,

the more confused the batters will get.

Sawamura, try a bunch of different grips.

Find one that works for you.

Yes, sir!

Seriously?

Right before the game?

Miyuki-senpai's going with it?

Let's start with your usual fastball grip.

I can grip as I want?

I used to do that before I learned the four-seamer.

But no one liked that pitch, so...

Throw gently!

I can't tell where your pitch goes, and it's scary!

It comes naturally to some.

If it doesn't, then it means he doesn't have talent.

I can grip as I want!

Winging It

Sawamura, you look stiff!

You're just playing catch!

Gotta relax!

Gotta relax...

...like always!

Something's not right!

What is it?

You're way too stiff, idiot!

You got stiff right before you pitched.

Well, I can't relay any power to the ball with this grip.

That's the whole point.

What?

Is that right, Kanemaru?

We've been saying that this whole time!

Sawamura.

How can you be so unbelievably dense?

He knows he just has to swing his arm down like pitching a fastball,

but he probably thinks the ball won't reach

and tries to throw really hard.

Tojo!

Can you show him how it's done?

Okay.

Ready?

You don't grip the ball tight,

but you swing the arm as hard as you can.

Did you see that?

That's what I'm talking about.

He swung his arm down completely, right?

Well done!

I think you can actually use it.

Yeah, I surprised myself.

It was so easy.

Sawamura, you wanna let Tojo pitch instead?

No!

I want a change-up, too!

Here I go!

If we do too much, it could badly affect his form.

I might have to call it off soon.

You're just standing.

That's not your normal form.

You're not putting any weight onto your lower body.

Throw like you're on the mound.

Make sure you shift your weight.

Shift my weight?

Let him pitch some more, Captain.

Okay.

I guess letting him try until he's satisfied

will keep his head in the game.

Stand on your pivot leg,

and don't force anything.

Just shift your weight,

and use the power from my lower body

into my upper body!

What?

My arm felt really light!

That was nice.

Yeah, good arm swing.

So you can do it if you try.

Though it might've been a fluke.

That small bit of advice helped him throw?

He made Sawamura think about his legs

in order to detract his focus from his grip.

Don't throw a party from just one pitch.

Yeah! That face!

That dumb face is perfect!

Shift my weight onto my front leg,

and swing aggressively!

That was a good swing, and the pitch was slow!

You've got it!

Sawamura learned a breaking ball!

Thank you!

Thank you!

I love you all!

I love you all!

Hurry up and keep pitching!

You gotta beat it into your body before you forget!

You're stupider than you think!

That's right!

Stupider than I think!

Hurry before you forget everything!

Okay, Kanemaru!

Wait! Who's stupid?

Hurry up, man!

You're starting to forget it!

Can he keep the pitch low?

That's the hard part.

Yeah.

But since Oya doesn't have data on his breaking ball,

it'll catch them by surprise.

Well.

It could work as a bluff.

That's more than enough.

Wait. Did you honestly think he'd get it?

Of course.

What was that silence?

Sawamura, change the grip now.

Try different things and find the one that works for you.

Then I'll go with this!

This is how I used to pitch when I started playing baseball.

The palmball?

What kind of coach did he have?

I think I'll be able to throw my arm better!

Here I go!

Considering it's technically just a slow pitch,

it's risky.

But if I let him pitch a few when there aren't any runners...

Oh, this one's bad.

The speed didn't drop as much.

How was that?

It felt better on my arm!

That looked like a weird break.

I'll try this next.

Hold it between my middle and ring fingers...

This feels so awkward.

Everyone's breaking balls are different.

Here I go!

Hand size, finger length, physique,

pitching form, personality... It all depends on the person.

Even if ten people threw the same type of breaking ball,

there would be ten different breaking balls.

Damn!

It didn't reach!

Sorry!

That one's a no-go!

It broke even more than the last one.

Miyuki-senpai let the ball go behind him?

It's your own unique pitch

no one else can copy.

Sawamura's original pitch.

His arm swing is the same every time.

He just changes his grip, and it breaks differently.

But I'm sure

the Oya batters will have a hard time against Sawamura's moving fastball.

Yeah, about that...

The pitch doesn't move as much as it used to in his previous form.

I think it's because he learned the four-seamer.

Is this...

...the next level of his moving fastball?

Can I keep trying new grips?

I wanna keep going while my swing feels good!

Jingu Secondary Stadium

Today's Games: Oya vs Seido, Seiko vs Sensen

Seido Oya

Ball!

Another forkball?

He's using it to get strikes?

He's using it a lot.

Ball two!

Good eyes, Kominato!

Seven pitches on the first batter and six on the second.

Damn.

So much effort for every out.

A fastball!

Out!

A grounder to third!

Three for three!

Wakabayashi's starting off well.

Nice pitch, Go-chan!

Nice pitch, Go-chan!

You're using your shootball already?

He's not swinging at my forkballs.

It wasn't planned?

As expected. They're tough.

Yeah.

It's going to take everything I have.

Was that last one a fastball?

No, it broke like a shootball.

A shootball?

If he purposely threw it, that could be a problem.

Especially for righties.

Ignore the low balls, and aim for the fastballs.

Anything around belt height is a ball to swing for.

Yes, sir!

Sawamura.

Focus on each batter.

Get the strikes with your outside pitch.

Once you get rolling and have early strikes,

give it a try.

One-hole and shortstop Yoichi Kuramochi

The first batter's important.

Two-hole and right fielder Kenjiro Shirasu

Yes, sir!

Five-hole and first baseman Kenta Maezono

Pitch to contact.

Three-hole and second baseman Haruichi Kominato

Don't forget to look around.

If it all goes like practice, the opponents are in for a surprise.

Six-hole and center fielder Hideaki Tojo

I won't let any ball pass me.

Seven-hole and third baseman Shinji Kanemaru

Give me all the hits!

Eight-hole and left fielder Takeru Aso

Dugout Shoji Higasa

I'm so small!

No comment.

Four-hole and catcher Kazuya Miyuki

All right, let's do this!

Yeah!

Nine-hole and pitcher Eijun Sawamura

Just like you predicted, their fastball pitcher is sitting out.

I thought they'd come with the sidearm pitcher.

Are they looking down on us?

Bring it on.

He may have a weird form, but he just has his fastball.

Here I go!

A...

...change-up?

Sawamura, give me a fast change-up!

Okay!

A fast one?

Well, it's actually more like his moving fastball.

Apparently, gripping in his palm helps him throw.

In his palm?

I shift my weight onto my front leg,

and swing fast!

I think these are the ones that are decent already.

We tried other things,

but he can't control them yet.

There's more?

His break isn't vertical or horizontal.

It breaks for depth.

It'll really depend on the catcher,

but I'm sure the captain will use them wisely.

And you taught him the change-up?

He wanted to learn a breaking ball,

so I gave him a bit of advice.

His break changes by changing his grip.

I was honestly taken aback at first,

but if he can master all of his pitches,

I'll have to re-evaluate his worth as a pitcher.

However, it's just something he learned overnight.

Overnight?

It might not be all that effective in a real game.

Sawamura, don't forget to breathe!

I'd like to let the batters hit,

I'd like to let the batters hit, So... Um... but it may not work out that way! All the fielders, please be prepared for... prepared for... How should I say this? Be prepared for anything...

but it may not work out that way!

So... Um...

All the fielders, please be prepared for... prepared for...

How should I say this?

Too long!

Think before you talk!

Be prepared for anything...

Sawamoron!

You came to watch?

Yeah.

The captain invited me.

It's the real deal now.

He just learned the new pitch.

Will it work in our favor?

Or will it fail on us?

Strike!

Nice low and outside.

That was a good pitch.

Harucchi!

I got jammed?

Out!

Sweet!

One out!

Nice job!

Sawamura, pitch to contact!

This feels new.

I can feel the ball

until the last second.

Strike!

Sawamura's looking good.

His pitch looks fast.

Nice pitch!

Not bad.

In fact, it's better than usual.

Maybe after all the change-up practices,

he's gotten better at releasing with his fingertips.

Damn.

This is fun.

It feels good.

I love pitching fastballs!

Strike!

Batter out!

Wow! He finished with an inside.

Wow!

Two outs already?

It's going too well!

This can't be a good sign!

Please just sincerely celebrate!

A high and inside after a low and outside.

He's pitching to the ins and outs.

He's really grown.

Maybe this is why Miyuki wanted you to come.

Two outs!

His pitch is faster than it looks.

Once he gets rolling, it's gonna be hard to stop him.

In or out...

Let's focus on one and get some hits.

Two strikes now!

Is he going three for three?

Two outs and no runners.

The count is 1-2.

It's the perfect chance to try it.

Already?

You're not very patient, Captain.

Time to show my change-up.

The sooner, the better.

If he throws it here, we can surprise Oya.

The batter's only looking for a fastball.

Go.

Something's different.

Calm down.

Don't get excited.

Just like usual.

Gotta relax.

Slap

Hiding the ball...

Whoa!

What was that?

That bounced really far from the plate.

Y-Yeah!

H-He's so stiff.

Sawamura!

What was that?

I don't know.

I think he was trying something new.

I'm so embarrassed.

A breaking ball?

Was it too soon?

No.

There's no better practice than the real deal.

Why?

I practiced so much in the pen!

Hey!

Switch gears!

You have cat eyes!

Ball four!

What a waste.

He had him cornered, too.

Damn it!

Damn it!

What are you doing?

Switch gears!

What's going on now?

What happened to the pitcher?

I don't know why,

but he's stepping on his own toes.

Batting fourth and first baseman, Kasuga-kun.

Don't let him get away, Hiro.

A bunt? He's a cleanup!

Toward third! That's really good!

Will he make it?

Bad throw!

Runner's heading to third now!

This is bad!

I thought he was on a roll,

but runners are on first and third now!

Calm down, Sawamura!

Two outs!

Deep breaths!

Batting fifth and right fielder, Yamazato-kun.

Let's get it, Yama-chan!

Let's get the first run!

Two outs, Sawamura!

Focus on the batter!

We've got your back, Sawamura!

Damn.

What am I doing weighing him down?

Don't worry about the runners.

Your fastballs are good.

Just pitch like before, and we can get him out.

Don't worry about them?

Isn't that kind of a big lead?

You've got his attention.

Go even bigger, Hiro.

It's the fall quarterfinal.

We've quickly cornered ourselves against Oya,

and they have runners on first and third.

The great wall of private schools? The public schools' limits?

Give me a break!

Use your head and challenge yourselves.

That's where the dream lies.

They have the strength to trust their baseball.

We can't underestimate them.

We're the masters of our own fates!

Let's go!

Next time on Ace of the Diamond Season 2: School Academic Level.

School Academic Level

Let's win the national title!