Original subtitles

Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium

Yakushi High School has announced a swap in positions.

Yakushi Ichidai

Didn't they just do that?

Their coach is making quick calls.

Am I already done?

I've only gotten two outs!

Don't cry about it. You're a big boy.

Replacing Mishima-kun as pitcher

is Sanada-kun.

Sanada. You're going in this inning.

We can't let their pitcher get rolling even more.

It's rare for the coach to be so cautious.

Priorities

Shortstop!

What a rough pitcher.

Yakushi Ichidai

Yakushi sent their ace onto the mound in the bottom of the third,

and the game has calmed down, compared to the first two innings.

Seeing how Amahisa pitched after giving up a home run to Todoroki,

their coach knew they couldn't let them score any more runs.

Todoroki-kun got a hit on his second at-bat, too.

How will Amahisa-kun pitch against him this time around?

If it were me, I'd walk him every time.

He's a monster slugger with seven home runs this tournament.

To be honest, Yakushi's nothing special if Todoroki can't hit.

In our last game, if Seiko had avoided pitching to Miyuki until the end,

they might have been the ones advancing to the final.

Were you there the entire time?

I was hoping someone would notice me,

but I couldn't help giving my input.

Would you like to sit?

I'm bitter, so no, thank you.

Did they redefine what PR mascots are?

New ones keep popping up, looking for attention.

You can't just make them, one after another.

The batter can't react to the low and away!

That's the third strike!

This pitcher isn't letting the strong batters at Yakushi do anything!

Two strikeouts in a row so far,

and next up is Todoroki, the only Yakushi batter who's scored today!

He reacted really well to a forkball last time and hit a double.

He hasn't swung at Amahisa's slider yet.

If it were me,

how would I pitch against him?

First pitch, a low and away!

Even without any runners, would you still walk him?

Of course.

He could hit a home run.

Which one?

Is this the pitch

you're waiting for?

A high slider?

It goes into the zone from there?

He reacted to that?

Then what about a low one?

Can you hit it?

It's going toward the shortstop!

The hit was slow, so this could be close!

Safe!

He gets on base with an infield hit!

He's three for three today!

Damn. He hit that, too.

Even Raichi could barely hit his slider.

So I can't hit it.

In that case...

I'm going for his fastball!

Shoot!

Yeah!

Sanada-san!

If you only look at Raichi, you're gonna get hurt.

Hey!

Stop! Stupid!

He's going too far.

Out!

He dived for the plate, but he didn't quite make it.

Yakushi couldn't score yet again.

Good!

You got too greedy!

Know your limits!

What a waste.

Don't underestimate them.

Next time.

I'll get you next time, for sure.

Don't try to laugh it off!

Yakush Ichidai

The game's still 1-2 as we move closer to the end.

Which team will come out victorious and advance to the final?

The second and third batters consecutively hit,

and it's now one out with runners on first and second.

Ichidai's batters are going after Yakushi's ace, Sanada!

Their cleanup, Hoshida, is up at bat!

Will Ichidai get a run here?

My goodness.

Hoshi-san, let's go!

He swings the bat like crazy every day.

I bet it's a part of him now.

Hey, Kosei.

Why aren't you coming to practice?

The summer's right around the corner.

What are you thinking?

I don't really know, either.

But I can't get fired up.

It's not for me, right now.

I can't be like you guys.

See ya.

After the spring tournament, he said that he was leaving the team,

and I couldn't understand why.

A lot of people on the team may still have something against Kosei.

Everyone knows how hard he's worked since coming back to the team,

and everyone knows he's a genius.

There's no one else on the team to wear the ace number.

However,

we also have the pride that comes from training every single day.

Foul!

Whoa!

That was a good swing!

No matter how well the pitcher does,

if the batters don't score, you can't win.

Kosei.

We'll turn you into a true ace.

Hoshida boy, you have a good expression.

Ichidai's batters have adapted the second time around.

A cutter to the inside and a shootball.

He pitches confidently, but there's little variation.

I would teach him something with a drop.

They swing faster than all the other teams.

They're a scary team.

That doesn't mean...

...I can just give up.

I'm standing here with this number on my back,

so I can't give up any runs.

He pitches mainly fastballs.

I'll swing big wherever he throws!

Outside!

It dropped?

A double play!

That's three outs!

That was close.

Ichidai made a great attempt against Sanada,

but fell just a bit short!

Did that pitch drop?

Was it a two-seamer?

Yes, but the break itself was closer to a sinker.

Unlike the four-seamer where you grip firmly on the seams,

you grip parallel to the seams in a two-seamer.

You get less grip and less spin,

Four-seamer

Two-seamer

so it drops a little more than the four-seamer.

That dropped, despite the speed.

In addition to the cutter and the shootball, he's pitching a two-seamer.

His breaks are all based on fastballs.

He's your role model as a moving fastball pitcher.

A two-seamer.

He still had an ace up his sleeve.

That drop was insane.

No need to worry, guys.

You guys have the batting god on your side.

Kosei.

To be honest,

I only need a one-run lead.

I left the team for a long time,

but my team let me come back.

I can only repay them through pitching.

And he retired the side.

Yakushi Ichidai

Amahisa's sharp sliders keep the Yakushi batters off base.

I'll take you guys to nationals.

So I hope you'll truly accept me

as your teammate.

Nice pitch, Kosei!

Nice pitch!

Good pace!

Nice work, Kosei!

I was hoping he'd start running out of stamina,

but it's already the seventh inning.

This is bad.

You guys have been winning every game since summer!

I believe in you guys!

Do something.

Both aces have pitched well, and the game's coming down to one run.

The next time Todoroki-kun goes up to bat will be the climax of the game.

It's simple.

If Ichidai avoids taking on Todoroki,

they will win.

Do you think their confident-looking pitcher will do that?

It's up to the coach to convince him.

There's no reason to take the risk.

The pride of the ace or a win for the team.

Which one would you prioritize,

Coach Kataoka?

Yone!

Out!

That's three outs!

Ichidai couldn't make the best of their chance,

and two runners on bases go to waste!

Yakushi is fielding well.

They've improved a lot since the summer.

Really?

It looks like they're making high-risk, high-return plays.

Ichidai definitely has the better teamwork.

Nice play, Yone!

It would've been bad if that had gone through!

Nice catch!

They came to cheer.

Raichi, let's get one more!

What? They're here again?

I told them to stay home and study.

They made a rotating schedule during the summer break

to come help us practice, too.

It's thanks to them that our fielding got better.

Miss-shima!

Raichi!

I told them to prioritize their own lives.

Man, they're all so stupid.

Wait. Are you crying?

What, grown-ups can't cry?

Why are you guys playing baseball?

You want to go to nationals?

Nationals?

Us?

Yeah.

What?

You were all just casually playing baseball after school?

If you're gonna play, play with a goal.

Then you'll grow to love baseball even more,

and you'll experience a lot of excitement.

So your goal from now is to take me to nationals!

What?

You guys are the ones playing ball.

So it's all up to you.

Seriously.

I thought he was just a loud, old man,

but he always sounded mysteriously convincing.

I could trust him more than the adults who gave textbook responses.

Should be good now.

I'll just look like I went on a 20-km run.

I know how you feel.

I used to skip practice by saying I went on a run.

Practice is just the same boring thing over and over.

You gotta take breaks now and then.

Y-Yeah.

But...

The same boring thing you do over and over every day

will surprisingly give you strength when it really matters.

I hate how it works, to be honest.

I want to live an easier life, too,

but life just doesn't work that way.

Why are you playing like tools out there?

Use your heads more!

And if you still don't know, then come ask me!

Shut up!

Don't ask me for every little thing!

But you said to ask you.

I'm not Wikipedia!

I was even more surprised when Raichi joined the team.

I didn't know people like him really existed.

Just one banana.

All jokes aside,

I think this family changed our lives.

"Good game" and "well played"

go hand in hand with a win.

I mean, we can't be satisfied with average results anymore.

He'll reach 100 pitches soon.

It'll be best if we can end the inning before Todoroki's at-bat.

We have the final if we win this game,

so maybe I shouldn't feel this way...

I really want to play longer in this game.

His speed hasn't dropped in the eighth inning.

It's so frustrating because it means he's not really going all out all the time.

Yakushi needs to get a runner on base before Todoroki-kun's at bat.

Well, if the bases are loaded, they'll have no choice but to fight.

It's obvious that teams will be cautious of Raichi.

That's why we need to pressure them

by getting on base before Raichi.

Yeah.

In other words, you guys are the real key players of the team.

Show the guys who only have their eyes on Raichi...

...what you're made of!

Yeah!

Into the center field!

Akiba, the lead-off man gets on base!

There it is. The tying runner.

How will they connect this to Todoroki?

Just one run.

Yakushi isn't known for their bunts,

but it looks like they're going to bunt here.

Foul!

I won't let you have it so easy.

Looks like the ace doesn't want to put a runner on second.

That means you've really gotta stick it to him, Masuda!

The heart of our batting order is really strong,

so it makes my job very clear.

To advance the runner to the next base!

It's going!

The bunt succeeds!

Batting third and first baseman, Mishima-kun.

With a runner on second, the three-hole is up!

My time

My time has finally come!

has finally come!

Miss-shima! Go for it!

Aggressive from the start!

You've got Raichi behind you!

They could really use another runner.

Damn! He's on second now.

Hey, where are you looking?

Seriously, I think I made the wrong choice joining this team.

No matter how much I hit or pitch,

I don't stand out!

You, too. Damn it!

Don't treat me like a small fry!

Foul!

Who needs Raichi?

I'll finish it with my bat!

Don't get excited, undercard.

Crap. I'm rushing.

Calm down!

Go down already!

It'll hit me!

No, his pitch breaks from here.

Hit by pitch!

Yeah!

Sorry!

That really hurt.

In the end, I just set up the stage.

Runners on first and second now!

And now Todoroki is up to bat!

Did that slip out?

It didn't break enough.

So he is running out of stamina!

He's showing fatigue.

I have a reliever prepared, but...

What do I do?

Batting fourth and third baseman, Todoroki-kun.

Satake boy.

Yes, sir?

Relay a message.

The difference is just one run.

It'd be dangerous to have a runner on third in case of a passed ball.

The batter's Todoroki.

Walk Todoroki and load the bases?

They can't face him straight on.

Pitch to the corners and walk him if the count's unfavorable.

Can't give him a home run here.

A half-hearted plan will create confusion.

They should walk him convincingly,

so they can prepare for the next batter.

If it were me, I would face off against the five-hole, Sanada.

Walking him seems like the easiest way out of this,

but Ichidai's moody pitcher has been pitching so well

because he's had his eyes on Todoroki.

One wrong word,

and it could ruin the tension he's been enjoying.

I made the order around the assumption that Raichi will be walked.

I hope you're not nervous about this, Sanada.

Way to put pressure on me, Coach.

Pressure? Get real.

You love this stuff.

Thanks for waiting.

The pride of the ace or a win for the team.

You play to win, after all,

so grabbing the win is more important.

However, we're not the ones playing on the field.

The players aren't heartless chess pieces.

Ichidai could lose their lead with a single run

as they face Yakushi's cleanup, Raichi Todoroki.

You're gonna leave the fate of Ichidai's pride to me?

Are you stupid?

He's sitting. They're not walking him.

Hit the pitch that comes. Trust my instincts!

Like threading the needle.

Heaven or hell?

Next time on Ace of the Diamond Season 2: One Pitch.

One Pitch

Let's win the national title!