Original subtitles

Kuramochi.

Seido Oya

Individual Minds

He smacked the first pitch!

Nice work, lead-off man!

That was one lucky hit!

Shut up!

He stepped in with zero hesitation.

Batting second and right fielder, Shirasu-kun.

Is he gonna bunt here?

I'd appreciate that a lot.

I hate having him on base.

If you think you can steal, go ahead and try!

Strike!

A forkball!

He didn't try to bunt.

His slide step is fast.

And his first pitch was a forkball.

It's difficult to bunt or steal off that pitch.

Kenjiro Shirasu.

Calm and consistent.

He knows when to sacrifice himself for the team.

If he's going to swing, he'll probably try to hit toward the right.

In that case, I'll pitch to the outside.

Go-chan, focus on the batter!

Pitch to contact!

One at a time!

He hit it straight on!

They hit a fastball again?

Nice!

The first two both hit!

Our best batters are up next!

This doesn't feel good.

It's like they know my habit.

Why are the baseball gorillas using their heads?

This is the critical moment.

You guys hads better be ready.

All right!

Let's go!

Let's stop them here, Go-chan!

Damn.

Is he not bunting, either?

Give me an easy out like before.

Then I could walk the cleanup to load the bases,

and get an out off the one-trick pony five-hole.

Strike!

All right.

One strike.

I could keep pitching forkballs,

but they'd get used to them toward the late game.

The key will be...

...how I use the fastball!

A shootball.

I was caught off guard by this new pitch, but...

Seido Spirit Dorm

Whoa! Are you serious?

It's only based on the video, so I can't say for sure, though.

That's awesome, Nabe!

Good find!

Thanks.

But you'll have to double check it from the field.

I'm sure of it now.

Oya switches up the fielding positions based on the batter.

They have a lot of data on every batter.

Pitch to contact!

I don't know if they're trying to make the batters hit somewhere,

but they all move in one direction when they're throwing a fastball.

Your pitch looks good!

Let's keep it going, Go-chan!

It's coming.

In order to keep the tempo of the pitch,

Go-chan, we've got you covered!

they quickly, and drastically, change positions

as they yell to the pitcher.

They're going to the right.

So you just need to hit that pitch!

Right over the second baseman!

You're kidding me!

These guys were focusing on Go-chan's fastball!

Throw home!

Yeah!

Kuramochi scores!

We're tied!

Three hits in a row, and the game's tied!

Nice hit, Kominato!

Just give me your elbow guard.

All right! Let's go!

They knew it was coming.

They all hit the outside fastballs.

That might've even been a ball.

I'm sure the pitcher's feeling uncomfortable.

It's like they know his habits.

Is it my form?

No, I've never had anyone say that.

I really have to commend Watanabe for his keen eyes.

It's not something you notice instantly.

I'm sure he watched the game videos over and over.

What he noticed was a very small detail,

but for the team, it was a super play.

We can be tougher

and more tenacious.

This isn't our best.

We can become much better.

Seido Oya

Ball four!

Boo!

Batting fifth and first baseman, Maezono-kun.

Don't let it get to you, Zono.

They're trying to make you apathetic.

They say it's not as easy as it seems

to score with no outs and the bases loaded.

The fielders' job becomes very simple,

and the batters don't want to ruin the chance.

It probably makes them bat with a little more care.

Can he swing like he does in practice?

Maezono-kun's ability as a batter is going to be tested here.

If he can hit here, it'll be impressive.

Maezono has been a part of scoring in every game in the final tournament.

I think we can count on him here.

He was able to hit with his natural swing against Teito,

and he's grown as a batter.

If you just think of him as a good pull hitter,

you're gonna get hurt.

What?

The coach was surprised, too,

but they may have noticed the fielding change.

Are you serious?

Those gorillas are learning?

Go-chan.

Yeah, I know.

In that case, let's give them a piece of our minds.

Against this gorilla boss,

I'll get the strikes with inside pitches that'll always foul

and finish him with a forkball to the outside.

I need to be wary of the next batter.

I figured he'd swing at it.

Too bad it's just a foul.

Into left field!

Third base runner scores!

Let's go!

Gorilla boss, damn it!

Yes! Nice hit!

Since when could Zono hit like that?

He didn't open his body and kept his elbow back.

If he had, it wouldn't have dropped there.

He waited to open up until the last moment,

so it didn't go foul.

His inside batting skill is looking even better.

The time he spent trying to hit to the right actually helped.

Let's go!

Sawamura...

Maezono...

The team is evolving after every game.

However, these games are for the kids to play,

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

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

Seido Oya

Four hits in a row, and we've taken the lead!

The bases are still loaded, so we might get more!

Batting sixth and center fielder, Tojo-kun.

Let's go, Tojo! Let's go, Tojo!

Let's get another here.

Come on!

They moved to the right.

A fastball to the outside.

Inside?

Out!

A double play, out at home!

They got him with a fastball to the inside!

Tojo!

An inside after moving to the right?

That was fast.

They've already noticed.

They figured we were using their defensive movement,

so they used it against us.

Batting seventh and third baseman, Kanemaru-kun.

I can't rely on it anymore.

Damn.

I should've done this to the gorilla boss.

I knew we couldn't give them any easy runs.

I'm so dumb!

Out!

Nice pitch, Go-chan!

Were you even watching?

You only gave them two runs.

I thought it was nice!

Thank you.

If you hadn't noticed, I would've panicked.

I gave them a freebie, too.

I thought we were being quite careful, too,

but Seido lives up to their name.

However, it gave me a good hint.

We should go back to our basics.

Let's get one out, Sawamura.

The first batter is important.

Let's shut them down this inning.

We don't want to give them any momentum.

You all did a great job getting two runs.

I won't let it go to waste.

Stop trying to sound cool!

You look a little stiff!

We'll get more runs, so relax!

A foul on the first pitch!

They haven't gotten any hits since the second inning.

This is a key inning as they start with their lead-off batter.

Was I a little early?

No, this is the right timing against this pitcher!

Out!

Nice save, Kanemaru!

One out!

Yay

Yay, Kanemaru!

Wamura!

He hit an outside pitch to third.

Sawamura, you're looking a little tense!

Come lower!

Just swing at the fastballs.

Don't wait too long. Swing before the body.

They pulled another outside pitch.

Safe!

An infield hit!

There's one.

About time we got a runner!

Let's do this!

That's a big lead!

Take this!

Sawamura, don't mind him!

Focus on the batter!

Is it to avoid getting jammed?

They're standing really far forward.

If only we could use the change-up.

Well.

Cleared his mind

If they're going to hit so far up,

we'll get the strikes on the inside.

A foul!

Oya's swinging a lot.

They've always been aggressive,

but more so than before, definitely.

So they'll swing if it's a strike.

Then can we get him with a moving fastball to the outside?

"One, two, and three" is too late.

"One, two, three" is the timing.

Instead of drawing every pitch in,

hit it in front of you.

Damn!

It feels great to hit far.

Let's hope the soccer team doesn't come back from their camp.

How was hitting far?

Where was the easiest place to hit far?

Center, left, or right field?

For me, when I pulled hard toward left.

Me, too.

And me.

Same here.

So it's left for everyone beside Kasuga and Yamazato.

Basically, if you want to hit far, hit to the left.

Or if you're a lefty, to the right.

Then how about hitting every pitch,

both outside and inside, toward your strong side?

But the theory is to hit to the right to advance the runners,

and isn't that what's good for the team?

Don't trust the theory.

Do you think pitchers will let you hit to the right all the time?

What you should focus on is swinging the bat all the way.

In order to adapt to breaking balls, you wait for the ball to come in.

It's a batting practice influenced by the majors,

but it's not for you.

The strength and swing speed to overpower a pitch that may jam you.

You're not fully built yet, so that's more important.

We don't get to practice as much as the other schools,

so copying them won't put us above them.

Let's ignore unnecessary information,

and master the few things we can do.

No matter the situation, swing the bat all the way.

Swing hard.

Let's master that first.

It's high!

Don't wait for every pitch to come in.

Hit it before it comes in!

Straight to center field!

They were having a hard time against Sawamura,

but the second and third batters both hit off of him!

Kawakami!

Looks like we'll get to see some action now!

Batting fourth and first baseman, Kasuga-kun.

I'm sure he jammed him with the moving fastball,

but that's where the metal bat comes in.

If you swing hard, it flies.

They're getting used to his pitch, as well.

Time out, please!

He's way too distracted because of the balk in the first inning.

His pitches are way too high.

Seido Oya

I'm fine!

Don't mind me!

You all worked so hard to turn the game around.

I won't give it up so—

You're way too stiff!

Stop making a fuss over a couple of runners!

Nice kick.

It's still the sixth inning!

Pitch with composure!

Did you really have to kick me?

Words weren't gonna get through to you!

Stupid.

We were starting to acknowledge your abilities,

but it looks like we'll put that on hold.

We were all starting to think you've become pretty reliable.

Pitch with confidence!

What's gotten into him?

He's frozen.

Sawamura.

Well, well, well!

Why didn't you tell me so sooner?

I see!

I see! I see!

What have we done?

We've only just started!

He's not listening at all.

Sawamura.

Bottom of the sixth, one out, and runners on first and second.

The cleanup is up.

You know what's going on?

Oya's started to swing sooner.

They're all going after your fastball.

I see!

You're a genius, Captain!

No wonder they've been hitting!

He makes me want to kill him.

Control your throws.

Give me a good low and away.

Yes, sir!

And on top of that,

if you give me the change-up,

it'll be even better.

You can't be tense.

Isn't that right?

Just remember the first time you threw it.

I have a little faith in you.

Go get him, Sawamura.

I can feel it.

I can feel your expectations weighing on my body!

Can I do it?

Can I really do it?

Don't get carried away, stupid!

Do it before you say it!

Ouch!

Eijun-kun, stop.

Not you, too, Harucchi!

Stay focused here!

We're sparring when we get back.

Please, not today!

Let's do this.

Can I do it?

Can I really do it?

Bottom of the sixth.

With two runners on bases, their cleanup is up.

If he had an off-speed pitch here,

he could step up his game.

I'm shivering.

No, I'm excited.

Let's do it, Sawamura!

It feels so good to have people counting on me.

Next time on Ace of the Diamond Season 2: Zeal.

Zeal

Let's win the national title!