Recaps

Hayakawa used his signals and changing pitches to help Hirano strike out Kuramochi and retire Shirazu, then Kominato grounded out to complete a three-up, three-down inning. Seido turned its attention to defense as the game continued.

• Hayakawa repeated the outside-corner signal, and Hirano struck Kuramochi out with a slider.
• Kuramochi warned Shirazu to stay alert against Hayakawa, but Shirazu grounded out for Inashiro’s second out.
• Hirano threw Kominato a high inside pitch that grazed past his hair for a ball.
• Kominato barely hit Hirano’s high-angle slider, then grounded out to end Seido’s inning without reaching base.
• Kataoka told Seido to focus on defense because the game had only just begun.

Furuya struggled with his control against Inajitsu’s Carlos but recovered after Miyuki called a conference, ending the first inning without a run. As Seido came to bat, Hayakawa weighed how to pitch to Miyuki and signaled for a bait ball.

• Furuya opened the bottom of the first with two balls to Carlos, prompting Miyuki to call time and help him settle down.
• Carlos swung at Furuya’s high-inside bait ball and was retired, and Furuya recorded the next two outs to end the inning.
• Seido took the field to bat, and Miyuki stepped up as the cleanup hitter while Eijun led the cheers.
• Hayakawa considered Miyuki’s hitting and his own pitching tendencies, then gave the signal for a bait ball.

Miyuki hit a single, but Hirano and Inajitsu turned Maezono’s failed bunt into a double play. Kōshū then worked a thirteen-pitch at-bat before driving the ball deep and reaching second, leaving Lang Zhi up with a chance to bring him home.

• Miyuki hit Hayakawa’s pitch over the shortstop for a single.
• Hirano fielded Maezono’s bunt and threw to Shirakawa, who completed a double play with the first baseman.
• Kōshū fouled off pitches until the count was full, then drove an outside-corner ball deep behind the right fielder.
• Kōshū reached second base as Shirakawa fielded the ball, and Lang Zhi came up to bat with Kōshū ready to score.

Inashiro nearly picked off Kōshū at second, but Lang Zhi read Hirano’s pitches and drove a hit between first and second before the right fielder stopped it. With two outs and Kōshū still at second, Hayakawa chose to keep Hirano in against Tōjō.

• Hirano and Hayakawa coordinated a pickoff attempt at second, but Kōshū dove back safely.
• Lang Zhi recognized three balls and then hit Hirano’s next pitch between first and second; the right fielder fielded it.
• Haruichi praised Lang Zhi’s recent batting, while Eijun jokingly asked him for a secret batting manual.
• Hayakawa considered bringing in Narumiya Mei, but Kunimoto Manager signaled him to continue with Hirano.
• Hayakawa looked at Tōjō and formed a new idea for the next pitch.

Inajitsu’s battery used changing pitches and pressure on the runners to wear down Tōjō and end Seido’s scoring threat. Tōjō struck out with runners on first and third, and the inning ended with Seido scoreless.

• Kōshū edged farther off third while Tōjō faced Hirano with two outs and runners on first and third.
• Tōjō checked his swing at Hirano’s inside pitch for a ball, then hesitated on an outside pitch and was called out on strikes.
• Hayakawa called for a pitch down the middle, and Tōjō watched it enter the strike zone as Kōshū dove back to third.
• Hirano threw an outside Slider, and Tōjō swung and missed for the third strike, ending the inning.

Seido faced Inajitsu in the bottom of the second inning, where Furuya struck out cleanup hitter Yamaoka with sharp control and a varied pitch sequence. The chapter ended with an author’s personal note about struggling with work and wanting to quit.

• Eijun and Kōshū encouraged Tōjō after he returned to the dugout, while Lang Zhi joked about catchers with good pitching strategies.
• Kataoka Manager told the team to focus on defense, helping Maezono set aside his worries about batting.
• Miyuki guided Furuya through two inside pitches against Yamaoka, and Yamaoka fouled off the second one toward first base.
• Miyuki called for an outside-corner pitch, which Yamaoka barely fouled away.
• Furuya followed with a high pitch that Yamaoka missed, striking out Inajitsu’s cleanup hitter on four pitches.

Miyuki and Furuya outmaneuvered Inashiro’s batters, retiring Narumiya Mei and Hayakawa in the second inning. Seido began the next inning against Hirano, and Furuya opened with a hit into the outfield.

• Narumiya Mei struck out after Miyuki mixed a high inside pitch, an outside fastball, and a changeup.
• Hayakawa guessed Miyuki would target the outside corner, but Miyuki’s forkball baited him into a swing and miss.
• Narumiya Mei rebuked Hayakawa, who admitted he had been thrown off by Miyuki’s pitch calling.
• Both teams remained scoreless after two innings, and Seido’s dugout planned to put Hirano under pressure with runners on base.
• Furuya swung at Hirano’s pitch and sent the ball over the first baseman into the outfield.

Kuramochi grounded into a double play, allowing Hirano and Inashiro to retire Seido in the top of the third before Narumiya Mei took the mound in the bottom of the fourth. The chapter ended with Narumiya meeting Kōshū’s gaze as he prepared to pitch.

• Hayakawa guided Hirano through a difficult at-bat against Kuramochi, who fouled the slider into a double-play grounder.
• Inashiro’s defense completed the double play and quickly retired Seido in the top of the third.
• Inashiro brought in its regular left fielder to pinch-hit for the ninth-place pitcher in the bottom of the third.
• Inashiro added another zero to the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, and Narumiya Mei took the mound.
• Narumiya met Kōshū’s eyes, then dug his cleat into the dirt as he prepared to pitch.

Hayakawa steadied Narumiya Mei before he faced Seido's central lineup, and Narumiya struck out Haruichi with aggressive inside pitches. The chapter ended as Miyuki entered the batter's box with the count of the game turning to his at-bat.

• Hayakawa reassured Narumiya Mei that he felt more at ease catching for him, and the two agreed to work together to get Seido out.
• Narumiya opened against Haruichi with a forceful inside pitch, and Haruichi fouled it off while adjusting to the timing.
• Hayakawa called for Narumiya to keep attacking inside, and Narumiya put Haruichi at two strikes with consecutive pitches.
• Haruichi swung at Narumiya's low inside pitch, and Inajitsu's infield easily fielded the ball for an out.
• Miyuki stepped into the batter's box as Seido's teammates cheered, while Hayakawa tried to draw Narumiya's attention back to him.

Miyuki faced Hayakawa and Narumiya Mei in a tense at-bat but struck out after misreading their plan. As the sides switched, Kōshū watched Narumiya and reflected on the gap between their experience, leaving his thoughts on pitching.

• Miyuki held back against Hayakawa’s inside fastball and outside Slider, then fouled off a strike to reach a two-strike count.
• Miyuki expected Hayakawa to throw a Bait Ball, but Hayakawa called for a low inside fastball that forced him to swing and get out.
• Miyuki advised Maezono to focus on the pitch he was waiting for instead of being influenced by the catcher’s strategy.
• Kōshū headed to the on-deck circle, considered Narumiya Mei’s growth and his own pitching rivals, and Maezono returned empty-handed as the sides switched.

Kōshū questioned his confidence as Furuya continued pitching against Inashiro, whose batters tried to force Seido into changing pitchers. Furuya overcame his hesitation to throw inside, but his next pitch drifted over the plate and was hit.

• Kōshū recognized that his impatience came from comparing his progress with his teammates' and reminded himself that he had not yet tested his form in a game.
• Carlos tried to reach base against Furuya but was called out, then warned the next Inashiro batter that Seido's pitcher remained in good condition.
• Miyuki called for a low inside pitch, and Furuya threw it close to Shirakawa, earning a strike as the batter stepped back.
• Miyuki called for a high inside pitch, but Furuya lost his control and the batter struck the ball toward the catcher.

Furuya lost his feel after giving up a hit, and Inashiro scored before Kataoka replaced him with Kōshū. Kōshū took the mound with the runners still on base and told the team to trust his pitching.

• Shirakawa hit Furuya's pitch to the wall and reached second base, prompting Miyuki to calm Furuya and call for a pitch outside.
• Furuya doubted his release and gave the Inashiro batter another high pitch over the heart of the plate, which was hit to bring Shirakawa home.
• Shirazu threw the ball back from right field, but the runner scored safely, and Kataoka signaled a pitching change.
• Kōshū took over on the mound as Asou moved to left field, while Furuya handed Kōshū the ball and apologized.
• Kōshū joked that Kataoka relied on him in difficult moments, then told the infielders that the plan was to believe in the pitcher's pitches.

Kōshū returned to the mound for Seido and faced Inashiro’s cleanup hitter with a runner on second. He struck Yamaoka out with a precise first pitch, then forced him to bunt the next pitch toward the mound.

• Haruichi’s trick angered his teammates, and Miyuki ordered the infield in as Kōshū prepared to pitch.
• Inashiro’s Yamaoka followed the manager’s plan to test Kōshū and advance the runner to third.
• Kōshū reflected on his path to becoming ace and delivered a powerful pitch that caught the edge of the strike zone.
• Miyuki called for a low inside pitch, and Yamaoka attempted a sacrifice bunt.
• Yamaoka’s bunt sent the ball bouncing directly in front of Kōshū on the mound.

Kōshū and Miyuki faced Narumiya Mei with a runner on third, using Kōshū’s pitches to exploit Mei’s impatience. Kōshū struck Mei out to end the inning, and the teams switched sides.

• Kōshū’s throw to first retired the batter but allowed the runner to advance to third, leaving Narumiya Mei at the plate.
• Narumiya Mei fouled off Kōshū’s first pitch, showing he had studied and adapted to the pitcher’s rhythm.
• Kōshū challenged Mei with a high fastball, and Mei swung and missed for strike two.
• Kōshū followed with an inside pitch that Mei swung at and missed, and the first baseman caught the ball for the third out.

Narumiya Mei retired Seido's batters quickly, while Eijun's words stirred the second-year seniors to defend the honor they had won from Inajitsu. Lang Zhi was put out to end the inning, leaving Seido still searching for a hit.

• Hayakawa calmed Narumiya Mei and guided him back onto the mound, then called for fastballs against Asou.
• Narumiya struck out Asou in three pitches, and Tōjō was also put out after falling behind in the count.
• Eijun lamented that Seido was handing Inajitsu the seniors' honor, prompting the second-year players to react angrily and refocus.
• Maezono-senpai urged Kōshū to get a hit, but Lang Zhi hit the ball to Yamaoka and was put out to end the inning.

Kōshū pitched with growing confidence as Seido continued to attack Inashiro’s hitters on the inside. He retired the first batter and kept the inning moving, leaving the game’s outcome unresolved.

• Kōshū returned to the mound and took confidence from his smooth previous inning as Seido faced Inashiro’s lower lineup.
• Miyuki called for inside pitches, and Kōshū’s high fastball forced the sixth batter to pull back for a ball.
• Kōshū fooled the sixth batter with a two-seam fastball that jammed his swing, and Lang Zhi caught the ball for the out.
• Kōshū excitedly praised Lang Zhi and rallied the fielders before returning to pitch to Inashiro’s eighth batter.
• Miyuki called for an outside pitch against the eighth batter, and Seido retired the side.

Kōshū faced Narumiya Mei in the top of the sixth with Seido trailing by one run. After battling to a full count, Kōshū hit Mei’s inside pitch for a hit and reached base.

• Kōshū finished a strong inning of pitching, then came up to bat in the top of the sixth.
• Narumiya Mei’s first pitch flew dangerously close to Kōshū, drawing protests from Seido, and his second pitch was called a strike.
• Kōshū watched a changeup for a ball and fouled off Hayakawa’s fastball, bringing the count to two balls and two strikes.
• Kōshū took Mei’s slider for a ball, making the count full.
• Kōshū anticipated an inside pitch and drove Mei’s next pitch high into the field for a hit.

Kōshū advanced to third as Kuramochi’s sacrifice bunt brought Seido to a crucial scoring chance. Narumiya Mei calmed himself and focused on the next batter, while Seido prepared to send the runner home.

• Kōshū reached second base, and Hayakawa stopped Narumiya Mei from fixating on the runner and urged him to focus on pitching.
• Narumiya Mei returned to the mound, and Kuramochi bunted to advance the runners as Kōshū ran toward third.
• The umpires called Kuramochi out at first and Kōshū safe at third, leaving Seido one step from scoring.
• Kuramochi warned Shirazu that Narumiya still had plenty of power, and Shirazu prepared to bring Kōshū home.

Kōshū and Shirazu attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Narumiya Mei dove to field the ball and helped end Seido’s inning without conceding a run. Seido prepared to defend as Inajitsu’s ninth batter stepped up, aiming for right field.

• Kōshū broke from third as Shirazu bunted Narumiya Mei’s pitch, but the ball popped high into the space near the mound.
• Narumiya Mei dove to catch the ball and threw it toward home, forcing Kōshū to retreat toward third.
• The umpire called Kōshū out at third and declared the side retired, ending Seido’s attack without a run.
• Kōshū and Shirazu returned to the dugout, where Kataoka Manager urged Seido to put the previous inning behind them and focus on the present.
• Shirazu ran to the outfield as Inajitsu’s ninth batter stepped into the box, following Kunimoto Manager’s decision to hit toward right field.

Kōshū retired Inashiro’s ninth batter but struggled with fatigue and the letdown after Seido conceded a run as Carlos came to bat. He used a changeup to beat Carlos, while Narumiya complained from the dugout that Kōshū’s pitch resembled his own.

• Kuramochi covered Haruichi after an irregular bounce, throwing to first in time to retire Inashiro’s ninth batter.
• Kōshū tried to recover his energy on the mound while preparing to face leadoff batter Carlos.
• Carlos watched Miyuki’s first pitch, a bait ball, and guessed that Seido was relying on changeups to conserve Kōshū’s stamina.
• Kōshū threw a changeup, and Carlos swung and missed as the pitch disappeared from his sight.
• Narumiya complained to Hayakawa that Kōshū had copied his changeup, and Hayakawa praised the pitch.

Kōshū pitched through worsening ankle pain to retire Inashiro’s batters and finish the sixth inning. He returned to the dugout looking stiff, while Haruichi suspected something was wrong.

• Kōshū threw an inside high fastball for a strike despite the pain in his ankle.
• Kōshū’s ankle sharply hurt during his next pitch, but Carlos made weak contact, and Kōshū fielded the ball and threw him out at first.
• Haruichi noticed Kōshū seemed unwell but postponed questioning him until they left the field.
• Shirakawa fouled off a low pitch, then took an outside strike and hit a fly ball that was caught for the third out.
• Kōshū returned to the dugout with the team, appearing calm but stiff in his face and expression.

Haru watched Kōshū closely, then faced Narumiya Mei in the top of the seventh and fought through a long at-bat. After fouling off several pitches, Haru sent Narumiya’s fastball toward right field.

• Haru wondered how Kōshū had known what he was about to ask and decided to observe him more closely.
• Haru stepped into the Batter’s Box, determined to help his team win, while Narumiya Mei recovered from his collision and recognized how seriously he took the matchup.
• Hayakawa and Narumiya Mei began Haru’s at-bat with an outside fastball that Haru fouled off, then an inside Changeup that caught him looking for strike two.
• Haru fouled off another pitch and took a ball, extending the count to two strikes and three balls after ten pitches.
• Hayakawa signaled for a fastball, Narumiya Mei agreed, and Haru hit the pitch toward right field.

Haruichi reached base, and Miyuki followed with a hit that put runners on first and second in the top of the seventh. Narumiya recognized his own mistake and urged Hayakawa to proceed carefully, leaving Inashiro’s battery to face Seido’s growing threat.

• Haruichi reached first after a long at-bat, and Narumiya stopped Hayakawa from going to comfort him.
• Narumiya set aside his frustration and opened with a fastball, which Miyuki watched for a strike.
• Miyuki hit Narumiya’s dropping pitch toward third base and reached safely as Haruichi advanced to second.
• Hayakawa went to the mound, where Narumiya admitted his pitch had missed its target and warned that the inning felt dangerous.
• Hayakawa suggested using Changeups now that stealing was no longer a concern, and Narumiya agreed.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Inashiro’s battery tried to finish the inning against first-year Tojo. Tojo reached two strikes, leaving him one chance to keep Seido’s scoring opportunity alive.

• Hayakawa got Maezono to fly out to center field, then Asou bunted the runners to second and third while being put out at first.
• Tojo stepped in, and Narumiya Mei struck him out looking with an inside fastball for the first strike.
• Hayakawa called for an outside slider, which he blocked safely as Tojo swung through it for strike two.
• Tojo prepared for the next pitch as Hayakawa signaled for a Changeup.

Tōjō tied the game with a hit off Narumiya Mei, but Narumiya struck out Lang Zhi to end the inning. Kōshū headed to the mound determined to endure until the final out.

• Tōjō hit Narumiya Mei’s Changeup to right field, bringing the runner home and tying the game.
• Narumiya Mei recovered his composure and prepared to face Lang Zhi with runners on first and third and two outs.
• Lang Zhi swung and missed at Narumiya Mei’s first pitch, then fouled off another before striking out on a Changeup.
• Kōshū encouraged Lang Zhi, who apologized for failing to drive in the go-ahead run, and sent him back onto the field.
• Kōshū met Narumiya Mei’s gaze and repeated to himself that the team that endured until the end would win.