You both need to practice with catchers besides me.
Preferably a first-year.
On another note...
If you want to pitch, come see me.
I'll do my best to help.
Hey, Okumura!
I'm pitching for the batting drills today.
Wanna catch?
Wow, he came to ask in person.
Yeah.
No, thanks.
I haven't made the first string yet.
This is practice! I'm here asking you to catch!
That's why I have to refuse.
I promised to catch for you when I was on the first string.
You're such a pain―such a finicky guy!
When did he make a promise like that?
A powerful barrier! I can't get any closer!
Sawamura-senpai.
Would you mind if I played catcher?
That would be great, young Yui!
Just call me Yui.
Are you some kind of angel?
Do you have wings on your back?
No.
Then were you an angel in a past life?
You both need to practice with catchers besides me.
Preferably a first-year.
I'm pitching in the bullpen today.
Do you want to catch?
Furuya-san...
Don't, Furuya. You're asking the wrong guy.
I asked him to and he refused.
It's like trying to tame a wild wolf.
Are you okay with me catching for you?
Sure.
Thank you.
Don't thank him!
Why did you say no to me but not to him?!
This makes it seem like you hate me! Are you okay with that?!
I've never caught one of Furuya-san's pitches yet.
I see!
As a catcher, I'm curious what his pitches are like.
Furuya-san...
I'll see you there.
Right.
Why am I so ticked off?!
Why are those two pairing up with first-years?
Is this your doing?
I wanted to see how well they can teach the first-years.
I didn't think they'd up with that combination, though.
If it goes well, they'll improve quickly,
and even if it doesn't, it's still valuable experience.
I'll question them about it after practice.
Hey!
I can't wait to hear what they have to say!
There's so much malice in your voice.
Seido Practice Field
You're enjoying this way too much.
The biggest game on the schedule for Golden Week
will be the one against Hakuryu, who were at the Invitational.
They're one of the best small-ball teams in the country.
This will help us prepare for the summer.
The second string has a lot of games coming up.
They're all very excited.
Have you decided who will start the Hakuryu game?
Yes. Since this game was by invitation, they'll probably be expecting Furuya.
But I'll let the pitcher who's looking the best start the game.
He's more intense than I imagined.
His pitches move so much, they naturally go to the four corners.
If you don't frame them right,
pitches that paint the black could be called balls.
His pitching lays the extent of a catcher's ability bare for all to see.
That is Satoru Furuya.
He's good.
He's catching Furuya's pitches the first time they're practicing together.
Nice pitch.
He makes me comfortable.
Next is a vertical breaking ball.
Yes, sir.
Practice Field A Batting Drills
Sawamura-Yui Battery One Out, Runner on First
Batter Kominato
Runner Kuramochi
I won't make it easy for you to run!
Different strategies depending on the count.
It's exactly what Miyuki-senpai told us about yesterday.
The runner could take off at any time.
The batter is focused on the right side.
We can't look for a double play or pitch carelessly to the outside.
Steal!
Near-right field!
The runner has advanced to third base!
The pitch was inside, but he swung late to hit it the other way.
What advanced bat control.
They were worried about You-san's running, so they threw more fastballs.
It's up to the hitter after him to consider how to use that advantage.
Damn you, Haruichi! You tricked me!
I might be able to use that.
Two Outs, Runner on First
Batter Miyuki
Runner Tojo
There are two outs.
If they take the risk and steal second,
they can try to score with the cleanup.
If they're going try it, they'll do it early in the count.
Let's try some outside pitches.
We can't beat him just by pitching outside.
With two outs, we really need to focus on getting the batter out.
Okay.
Make sure to check the runner.
We'll start with some aggressive inside pitches, and finish on the outside.
An extra-base hit down the first base line!
Everyone wants to throw their best pitches in high-pressure situations.
You had inside pitch written all over your face.
Damn it!
I thought he could only pull it foul from that location,
but he hit a double in one swing.
These guys are good!
A battery with a first-year is quite the interesting idea.
Yes.
Miyuki suggested it to help the pitchers become more independent.
It's okay! Worry not, young Yui!
I have the quirks of all these batters inside my head!
You're in good hands!
But wouldn't they know our quirks, too?
We're all on the same team.
O-Okay, let's take a breath and calm down.
A breath?
It's the best thing to do in a pinch!
In...
and out...
May 1st
Practice Field A Batting Drills
Kawakami-Ono One Out, Runner on First
Batter Kanemaru
Runner Aso
I'd like you to pitch outside to the batters
who have a hard time hitting the ball the other way.
It can be any pitch you like.
Throw whatever you think would be hard to hit.
Only to the outside.
It's a tall order, but let's use as many variations as we can.
Strike!
What's wrong, batter?
If you let strikes go by, the runner can't advance!
That makes the count 2–2.
If they're gonna try to finish it with a breaking ball...
Steal!
Oh, yeah! A strike-out double play!
Way to get the out after he ran like that!
That was a ball!
If you're gonna swing, you'd better make contact at least!
I can't say he's wrong.
Nori-senpai, nice pitch!
Ono-senpai, that was awesome!
Wow, even though they're limited to outside pitches,
they stay just inside the strike zone.
After they had two strikes,
they used a slider wide of the strike zone as a ball.
They used fastballs and breaking balls to get the better of the batter.
That's what a battery of third-years can do.
One out, runners on first and second!
Kawakami is looking good.
This is good practice for the batters, too.
Runner Seki
Batter Maezono
Ball!
Unlike free batting,
live practice shows who has real batting prowess.
Team-oriented batting that can adapt to any situation,
the perseverance to draw an at-bat out to create a chance,
and the ability to pressurize the opposition pitcher.
That's what it takes to bat on the first string.
Ball four!
Yeah!
One out, runners on first and second!
Batter Takatsu
Okay, I'm gonna run! Here I go!
Runner Sawamura
To stay on the first string,
I need the team to rely on me!
Nice, Takatsu!
Yeah!
Near-center field!
That was a bold step-in.
He may have more guts that I gave him credit for.
Takatsu, eh? It felt good to watch that swing.
Yeah!
Takatsu is trying to stand out.
Runner on first!
Fielders Switched
Furuya-Ono Battery
Did you tell him to pitch to the outside, too?
Yes. If he can learn to direct his potent pitches,
that alone will prove an asset.
I see.
Still, though, he's very tense.
He's forcing it more than in the bullpen.
His balance is off in the stretch, too.
His weight isn't where it needs to be.
One out.
One out!
Furuya...
Furuya-san...
Say it louder!
One out!
I'll do what I can, one thing at a time.
Steal!
Nice pitch, Furuya!
Limiting where the pitches go keeps things simple.
Two outs, runners on first and second!
When he's good, his pitches are untouchable, but otherwise they're terrible.
That kind of inconsistency is deadly in a tournament.
The ace is the one who pitches to win, even if he's off his game.
It's a challenge he'll have to overcome to become a true ace.
He doesn't normally practice batting with us.
Yeah.
Want to call it a day?
Thanks.
You really are pitching better in the bullpen.
Yeah.
This team sure practices a lot.
Yeah.
The third-years always stay until the end.
My day's not complete until I run with this!
A floating ring?! No, it's...
A-A tire!
Hey, Yui, catch for me when I pitch in the bullpen tomorrow.
Yes, sir!
Is everyone going to Miyuki-senpai's room again tonight?
No, it's his night to help me practice!
You look quite happy about it.
The captain almost never willingly practices with others!
Can you wait a little longer while I clean up?
Sorry to keep you waiting, Sawamura.
Let's get to it.
The sun's down, so we'll use the indoor practice field, okay?
Are you sure about this?
About what?
They're still practicing.
What's that? You don't want to throw the numbers?
Of course I do!
There's your answer! So...
I mean, you were practicing hard for once.
What the heck?
I was planning to go all-out with the signs during the Golden Week practice games.
We need to use them in a real game.
I want to know which pitches are good enough to use.
In that case, let's do it!
Seriously, what is with you tonight?
What number do you want to go up to?
All of them, if possible!
How ambitious.
Please!
They're going to practice the numbers.
Miyuki-senpai sure is busy. He's got his own practice, too.
We can't let him outshine us like this.
That's not it.
He's steeled his resolve, too.
You shook your head a little too much at Yui's signs.
Huh? Did I?
Yeah, you did.
Did it look that way?
Yui volunteered to catch for you, you know?
Did you explain the reason to him?
Of course I did!
Are you sure?
Too wide!
No one's gonna swing at that!
Number 6 next!
Continue.
Yes, boss!
Number 6!
Yes, sir!
Number 11!
He's got up to Number 7 pretty well under control.
Any higher and he gets less consistent.
There are a lot of incomplete numbers,
but what Sawamura showed off most in the last game
were his concentration on the mound and his increased ball control.
In order to pitch deep into the game,
he needs breaking balls that can alter the hitters' eyeline.
I'm not sure how much he can do with just the pitches up to Number 7.
I'd like to try them out on a nationally-ranked team.
Number 7 next! The improved cutter!
Bore a hole into the right-handed batter's chest!
It breaks that much at the same speed as a fastball.
That pitch is crazy.
If he can throw that anytime he wants...
That's enough for today.
Huh?
We were just getting started!
Boss, please watch some more of my pitches!
I've seen enough.
You're starting for the practice game against Hakuryu in three days,
Sawamura.
Wait, in three days?
Golden Week starts in two days, right?
Don't I get to pitch that day?
We have a doubleheader that day, don't we?
You won't be playing the first day.
Why? Why do I have to wait three days?!
What am I gonna do for three days?!
He's chosen Sawamura to start against Hakuryu,
the strongest team out of all our practice games?
A number of press outlets will be there.
Make sure you condition yourself and take the mound in the best shape possible.
Hakuryu? Hakuryu...
Where is Hakuryu from again?
Hakuryu's from Gunma. They were in the Invitational.
Huh? The Invitational?
You shouldn't be surprised by that!
In three days?!
"Chosen"
"Chosen."
We'll score enough runs that you pitchers won't have to worry.
Hakuryu is the strongest team we play during the Golden Week away series.
Just the fact that you're starting that game shows they have high hopes in you.
Tomorrow, I'm only gonna focus on helping you pitch your best.
I've wanted his acknowledgment...
Wanted to make him acknowledge me!
On the next episode of Ace of the Diamond Act II:
"One Pitch, One Second."
Next Time
"One Pitch, One Second"
Let's win the national title!
Illustration / Yuji Terajima