Strike! Batter out!
He finishes with a high inside fastball!
Raichi Todoroki has struck out twice in a row!
Narumiya's perfect pitching hasn't allowed a runner on base since the first inning!
Yakushi High School, one of the Invitational semifinalists, is being overpowered
by Inashiro Industrial's ace, Mei Narumiya!
Meiji Jingu Stadium
Narumiya's pitching was overpowering.
Yeah, he completely shut down Todoroki-kun.
Inashiro had a very strong showing, more than the score indicates.
Yeah.
In the eighth inning, Yamaoka-kun's double gave them their third run.
Narumiya-kun was walked, and Tadano-kun's RBI hit gave them a fourth.
Inashiro
Yakushi
In the last inning, Akiba-kun led off and popped to the center fielder.
It ended with Masuda-kun's strikeout.
Before their cleanups, Mishima-kun, Todoroki-kun, and Sanada-kun, could bat,
Yakushi High School had lost.
Yakushi were semifinalists in the Spring Invitational,
but they could only get two hits this game.
Inashiro is built around their impeccable ace,
but the other players are able to show their skills as well.
That's enough.
Inashiro is looking strong again.
Carlo!
Narumiya-kun!
The next team's coming.
Tomobe, let's go!
Damn it!
We lost!
They're too strong.
Yeah, they weren't a team you could beat on sheer momentum alone.
I hate this.
I hate this more than when we lost at Koshien Stadium.
Sanada...
Sanada-san...
Pissed, eh?
While he stepped it up a gear when he took the mound,
he always seemed so passive when it came to baseball, but now...
We're the same age.
There was our loss in the fall, then Koshien Stadium...
and now your pitching duel against Narumiya.
The harder you try at baseball, the more frustration you face.
But even so, you're a pitcher who can expect more from yourself.
Going from having nothing to lose
to winning because you deserve to is not at all easy.
No result is set in stone.
But you can prepare so you don't have any regrets.
We should thank Inashiro for knocking us down after celebrating
too much over our games at Koshien Stadium.
Jerks.
We're heading out!
Let's get to work! Summer will be here before you know it!
Yes, sir!
I'm gonna knock Mei Narumiya and Inashiro flying!
Third base line Baseball office Competition office Officials room Locker room
First base line Broadcast room Executive suite Locker room Jingu Tournament Headquarters
Meiji Jingu Secondary Stadium
Kuroki! And you, Hayakawa!
Didn't you say you were going to Seido?
Meiji Jingu Secondary Stadium
Third base line Baseball office Competition office Officials room Locker room
First base line Broadcast room Executive suite Locker room Jingu Tournament Headquarters
They said Yakushi would be getting some players this year.
Well, you never know what life has in store for you.
You just couldn't meet the academic requirements, right?
Mitsuishi, what are you grinning about?
You're still such a loudmouth, Taniguchi.
It's not like you first-years won the game.
Don't go getting a swelled head.
We're not.
Save it for when you've got a spot on the bench.
Same to you.
I think that's Tomobe.
Sakito Tomobe from Chonan Senior.
I won't let it end like this.
The next time we play, our team will win.
Yeah, let's meet on the ground next time.
Seido Spirit Dorm
Yes, I believe Sanada was pitching his best.
It's just that Narumiya's pitching today was impregnable.
Inashiro shut down Todoroki?
Yes, sir.
I think they were focused on him.
They didn't let him get a single hit.
Oh, Carlos.
Is that when they took the lead?
Todoroki strikes out in two straight at-bats.
Yakushi is held to just two hits.
Nabe-san, please show me the scorebook!
Sure, here you go.
What pitches did he throw, and where?
Oh, they can read a scorebook.
I didn't expect that.
I-I'm not making progress.
Nabe-san, please explain!
I figured you'd ask.
Thank you!
Well, the outcome was pretty obvious.
If anything, Sanada deserves praise for holding their batters to four runs.
What are you smiling about?
Inashiro has tightened up their game since last year!
Because they'll be fun to beat. Doesn't that fire you up?
Shut up, idiot!
Look here.
He's throwing the changeups he used to throw in the first half in the second half.
It seemed like he was saving them for the end against Todoroki.
His fastballs were sharp today, so the changeups were highly effective.
You could look at it the other way, too.
Having this pitch made his fastball better.
A changeup that drops like a sinker...
Instead of worrying about other people, I need to focus on myself.
They hit a home run off of Sanada-san.
Thank you for the food.
Oh, you ate it all?
I feel ready to burst.
How did he finish first?
What's his stomach made of?
Inashiro Industrial's Mei Narumiya...
I want to see him from the field instead of from the stands.
April 8th
Yeah!
Looking good, Sawamura.
You're finally hitting the ball.
Only when you start from a bunt stance, though.
The pitcher is the ninth fielder, after all.
Hitting, pitching, running!
I'll show you the new and improved Sawamura!
Whiff
Hey, eye on the ball!
Wh-Whoa!
So that's a real batting drill!
It's so much more intense!
What do you mean, real?!
Those two are getting along great.
Looking good.
Zono's hitting the ball more accurately.
There's no telling who will start the next game!
The upperclassmen are unbelievable.
Makes sense, after how badly Yakushi got beaten.
We might have to play Inashiro in this tournament, too.
They're really focused.
Still...
The reason the team is on its toes right now is because
we've only registered 18 players for the spring tournament, same as the Invitational.
The spring tournament allows 20 players, two more than the invitational.
Even though the coach can add two players, he hasn't.
After not making the roster for the Invitational, Mimura-senpai...
Kawashima-senpai...
and the other third-years who are graduating...
must be dying for one of those spots.
The coach intentionally left those two spots open.
That must mean...
This is tiring...
We knew what we were getting into.
And what about the meals?
I can't eat three bowls of rice every morning.
I'd rather be doing batting drills.
But one of them is always swinging a bat.
Senpai came back to the room after midnight.
Really?
That's hardcore.
Th-Those two again!
Stop increasing the pace!
Hey!
Koshu!
So that's how it's gonna be.
No one wants to be left behind.
Idiots. If you go all-out now, you'll regret it at breakfast.
The running's turned into a sprint!
Remember when we were like that?
Remember?
You're still like that.
I'm getting the urge to run myself!
Let's go, Furuya!
No.
The first-years are itching to join our practice.
Wouldn't they benefit from a separate training regimen?
They need to develop their bodies to deal with the rigors of high school baseball.
It will help prevent injury later on, too.
But I see a few that are head and shoulders above the rest.
Ugh.
Damn, I went so hard I can't eat.
You reap what you sow, idiot.
Hey, what's the holdup, first-years?
Your chopsticks aren't moving!
There he is!
The demonic overseer Kanemaru
who forbids leaving even one grain of rice!
Shut up!
Make sure you eat so you have energy to train!
~Eating is part of training!~
Eat so you replenish the energy you spent in practice!
Otherwise you'll lose weight and be unable to perform during practice!
I know it's tough, but think of your meals as part of your training and eat!
This will benefit you in the long run!
Yes, sir!
Kanemaru sure knows how to encourage the younger players.
He's a good mentor.
They're going to be Kanemaru's army.
Looks like a lot of them are having trouble eating.
We did too, of course.
I still don't like eating.
Someone like me will eat like this...
The second bowl of rice is as high as a mountain!
I'm a level above you wimps, with your light portions!
Wow, good for you.
So you eat breakfast here.
Yeah, but I pack my lunch.
Spirit
I saw the large box you brought.
It was my brother's.
I had a rice ball before practice.
This way, I can get some protein immediately after practice.
Yep. Do you take any supplements?
They're expensive, so I just take BCAA.
I want to get as much of my nutrition from food as possible!
More, please!
Me, too!
More eating monsters!
Don't go too hard, Koshu.
I watched the DVD of yesterday's game.
Mei Narumiya does indeed seem to be one of the top pitchers in the country.
He just happens to be in our region.
And after what happened last year,
he represents the biggest obstacle we face.
Still, we'll only run into him in the finals for this tournament.
We are also very different from last year.
I expect this is the reason
you registered 18 players for the tournament when 20 are allowed.
The entrance ceremony is over, so first- years are allowed to play in official games.
I've prepared a list of first-years I feel are ready to be on the bench.
Masashi Yuki R/R Great body balance, fair running speed Kaoru Yui R/L Power, great running and throwing arm Koshu Okumura R/R Great instincts and throwing arm Kota Kagami L/L Doesn't stand out, but capable Takuma Seto R/L A+ running speed Favoring players who can make an impact on the team rather than well-rounded ones
April 9th
Could you carry this over for me, Akane-chan, Anna-chan?
Yes.
It's heavy, so carry it together.
No need to rush.
I wouldn't want you to trip and fall.
Yes.
Haruno-senpai is so nice!
It's heavy, even with two people.
When I was a first-year, Yui-senpai and Sachi-senpai would always help me—
Are you okay, Haruno-senpai?
Please watch where you're going.
I'm sorry!
She's making a mess of things.
That's Haruno for you.
There's always so many people here.
It's been like this ever since they got back from Koshien Stadium.
Is everyone here to see Furuya?
Do you think he'll be in the bullpen today?
Is it true a scout from Fukuoka is in town?
He'd be here to see Miyuki.
Are you using a wooden bat today?
Yeah.
Furuya didn't pitch in last week's game,
so I hope he'll pitch in the next one...
Some of those 150 km/h monster fastballs.
It's like a dream to see pitches that fast.
He's looking good.
I just hope he can do that in the game.
I hope Maezono can get back in there.
We need hitters with power, besides Miyuki, to give them some depth.
Oh, man. He hit that difficult trajectory like it was nothing.
Sometimes he misses pitches that should be easy to hit, though.
That guy's still on a roll.
Tojo, how close to full power was that?
80%!
It's looking good.
Thank you!
Actually, it was 90%.
After all, it's best to practice with real pitches, don't you think?
So this kid is Yuki-senpai's...
Hm? That stance...
Who is that?
Didn't he jam that?
That was a solid hit.
What a batter!
That's Masashi?
Tetsu's younger brother, Masashi Yuki!
He's a whimsical kid,
but he's way better than I was as a first-year.
Look after him for me.
More whimsical than Tetsu-san?
He must have done a lot of swings during spring break.
He hit for power with a low stance.
Who is that?
He's so small. How does he hit it so far?
Those two really are crazy.
What a sharp swing!
He hit it hard to right field!
Are they really first-years?
I'm gonna play center field!
I heard they had quite a crop this year.
You aren't kidding!
He's hitting Tojo's pitches easily!
Huh?
The first-years are practicing with us already?
We were still practicing basics during the spring tournament, right?
Yeah.
Furuya pitched in the Kanto tournament, though.
That must mean there are some talented first-years this year.
So the reason there are two spots open...
Right?
What positions do they play?
The first-years' abilities will inspire the organization.
Strengthening the team is the top priority.
It's a message from the coach that things won't stay as they are.
That's right.
We overshadowed our seniors last year, too.
In order to reach nationals,
new blood was added, and the team grew to 94 members.
For the Seido High School baseball team, this spring...
Wait... Weren't you expecting me to succeed...
began the battle for the 20 spots in the summer
and the numbers they would wear.
Challenge accepted!
I accept your challenge!
"Camphor"
"Camphor."
I can't do it.
I've just eaten.
I'm sorry.
Oh, no! I refused an order!
I didn't sleep well again.
I don't want to run.
I don't want to eat.
Then I won't leave a single bit.
I'll finish every meal.
More, please!
On the next episode of Ace of the Diamond Act II:
Next Time
"Battle, Battle"
"Battle, Battle."
Let's win the national title!