Chapter Summaries

Seidou faced Yakushi in the West Tokyo quarterfinal, with Sendou’s defense and Miyuki’s quick thinking helping contain Yakushi after Raichi opened the scoring. Yakushi took a one-run lead, but its momentum faded, leaving the pressure on Mino Yuta as Seidou prepared to bat.

• Before the game, Raizo Todoroki warned Yakushi that Seidou’s powerful lineup and defense would be difficult to overcome, and told Sanada Yo he might need to take the mound early.
• On July 27, Sendou eased Seidou’s nerves about Yakushi’s changed lineup, and both teams began the quarterfinal with Furuya pitching for Seidou.
• Raichi hit Furuya’s high pitch toward center field, but Sendou retrieved it and made a strong throw that held Raichi to a double.
• Akiba drove in Yakushi’s first run, but Miyuki caught him stealing second with a sharp play, restoring Seidou’s momentum.
• Yakushi scored only once in the inning, and the pressure shifted to Mino Yuta, who had previously allowed six runs in the first inning against Ichidai San.

Seidou overwhelmed Yakushi with a barrage of hits and home runs while Furuya and Sawamura held Yakushi’s lineup in check. By the bottom of the third, Seidou led 6–1, with Sendou batting and no outs.

• Kuramochi reached base and stole second, then Ryo advanced him with a bunt and Jun tied the score with a hit to center.
• Sendou drove in a run, Masuko hit a two-run homer, and Seidou took a commanding early lead.
• Furuya hit a home run off Yakushi’s scoreboard and continued pitching as Seidou’s defense shut down Yakushi’s batters.
• Yakushi replaced Mino with Sanada, who walked Ryo before Jun hit a line drive to third for the final out.
• Sawamura entered to face Todoroki and got him out on a fly ball, then Akiba also went down.
• Jun hit a solo home run off Sanada, making the score 6–1 as Sendou came up with no outs.

Sendou battled Sanada’s unpredictable pitches, reached base with his speed, and advanced to third after Sanada hit Masuko with a pitch. Miyuki’s hit-and-run ended in a double play, leaving Sendou on third with two outs as Furuya came up.

• Sendou fouled off Sanada’s Cutter, then beat out a ground ball to reach first.
• Sanada’s wild pitch hit Masuko, putting Sendou on second and Masuko on first.
• Miyuki came to bat with runners in scoring position as Sendou took a wide lead.
• Miyuki attempted a hit-and-run, but Yakushi turned it into a double play, leaving Sendou on third with two outs.
• The chapter ended with Furuya due up and Yakushi having regained its momentum.

Miyuki identified Sanada’s cutter and Seidou prepared to target his fastball, while Sawamura took the mound and shut Yakushi down. In the bottom of the fourth, Sawamura struck out after mistaking three fastballs for cutters; by the top of the fifth, Kobayashi was trying to adjust to Sawamura’s pitches.

• Miyuki struck out on Sanada’s cutter, then explained that Sanada’s unstable fastball was the weakness Seidou needed to attack.
• Sanada struck out Furuya and stranded Sendou on third, while Sendou and Miyuki joked about how to handle the cutter.
• Sawamura took the mound at the top of the fourth and retired Mishima with a ground ball to end the inning.
• Sawamura struck out swinging at three fastballs in the bottom of the fourth, then returned to the bench loudly insisting he would hit one next time.
• Sawamura retired Sanada and the seventh batter in three pitches each at the top of the fifth, then took a strike on Kobayashi as Miyuki built the count with a fastball down the middle.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Sawamura faced Raichi as Yakushi began a dramatic comeback. Raichi hit a three-run home run that cut Seidou’s lead to two, and after Sawamura faltered, Coach Kataoka replaced him and urged him to learn from the setback.

• Kobayashi reached first on a ball that fell between Seidou’s defenders, and Oota later reached first when his hit glanced off third base into fair territory.
• With two outs and runners on first and second, Coach Kataoka sent Haruichi to tell Sawamura to finish the inning, and Seidou’s teammates encouraged him to face Raichi.
• Raichi fouled off Sawamura’s low outside pitches, then drove Miyuki’s high pitch over the left-field wall for a three-run home run, cutting Yakushi’s deficit to two runs.
• Akiba hit Sawamura’s next pitch through the infield, and Sawamura then walked a batter, prompting Coach Kataoka to make a pitching change.
• Coach Kataoka and Chris encouraged Sawamura to focus on his response to being hit, and Kataoka told him to use the setback to grow.

Yakushi broke the tie in the seventh inning when Akiba and Mishima-zai drove in runs against Kawakami, putting Seidou behind 8–6. Seidou’s Jun caught Fukuda’s fly ball and threw to third, nearly turning it into a double play.

• Seidou stopped Yakushi’s fifth-inning rally, and Sanada retired Seidou in order in the bottom half.
• Kawakami held Yakushi scoreless in the sixth, while Sanada kept Seidou from scoring; the teams entered the seventh tied.
• Miyuki intentionally walked Raichi, but Akiba’s fake bunt and Raichi’s steal disrupted Seidou’s defense before Akiba hit a go-ahead two-run single.
• Mishima-zai drove Kawakami’s slider through the infield, scoring Akiba and extending Yakushi’s lead to 8–6.
• Mitsune sacrificed a runner to third, then Jun caught Fukuda’s fly ball and threw to third, nearly completing a double play.

Seidou replaced Kawakami with Tanba, who struck out Sanada in three pitches to stop Yakushi’s scoring chance. In the bottom of the seventh, Haruichi sparked a Seidou rally, and the lineup erupted to take a three-run lead as the inning continued.

• Seidou substituted Tanba for Kawakami with two outs and a runner on third, and Tanba struck out Sanada on three pitches.
• Seidou sent Haruichi in as a pinch hitter, and he doubled off Sanada.
• Tanba bunted Haruichi to third, then Kuramochi singled him home to cut Yakushi’s lead to one run.
• Ryosuke reached base on a throwing error by Raichi, and Jun, Tetsu, Sendou, Masuko, and Miyuki followed with hits.
• Seidou recorded seven consecutive hits, reclaimed a three-run lead, and continued batting as the lineup returned to Haruichi.

Seidou extended its seventh-inning rally against Yakushi, but Sanada ended it with a double play and kept the score at 11–8. Tanba took the mound in the eighth as Raichi waited to bat, leaving the game at a tense turning point.

• Haruichi hit Sanada’s first-pitch Shootball, putting runners on first and second, but Sanada then induced Tanba to ground into a double play.
• Seidou replaced Haruichi with Shirazu in right field and moved Isashiki to left field before Tanba took the mound for the eighth inning.
• Tanba struck out Yakushi’s seventh batter, and Kominato caught the eighth batter’s hit for the second out.
• Raizo urged Yakushi to get runners on base before Raichi’s turn, while Raichi stepped toward the on-deck circle and unsettled Tanba.
• Miyuki encouraged Tanba to get the final out before Raichi came up, as Oota Takumi prepared to bat with two outs.

Tanba struck out Raichi with a forkball to end Yakushi’s eighth-inning threat, and Seidou began its own offense with a three-run lead. After Kuramochi grounded out, Coach Kataoka urged Sendou to balance thought with instinct as he considered how to become a stronger batter.

• Oota tried to reach base ahead of Raichi, but Tanba gave up a hit to Raichi and Yakushi’s dugout erupted.
• Sendou’s shouted claim that Raichi was Yakushi’s last hope distracted Raichi and made him feel the team’s expectations, while Tanba built the count against him.
• Tanba threw a forkball, and Raichi struck out; Seidou celebrated before taking the field to protect its three-run lead.
• Sanada retired Kuramochi on a grounder to record the first out of Seidou’s bottom of the eighth.
• Coach Kataoka told Sendou to set aside his thoughts in the batter’s box and find his strongest swing, leaving Sendou to consider the advice.

Sendou used Coach Kataoka’s question to devise a way to combine deliberate pitch planning with instinctive batting, then tried it against Sanada in a high-pressure at-bat. With runners on first and third, he fouled off Sanada’s first pitch with a powerful swing, leaving Yakushi facing a newly dangerous version of him.

• Sendou realized he could plan which pitches to attack before batting, then rely on instinct to swing when he saw their trajectories.
• Oni-san drew a walk, and Isashiki advanced the runners with a hit that left him out at first and Oni-san safe at second.
• Captain Tetsu came up with two outs and runners on base, then hit Sanada’s pitch to center field for a single that put runners on first and third.
• Sendou stepped in and, after mentally preparing his new approach, swung at Sanada’s first pitch and fouled it off with enough force to alarm Mishima.

Sendou hit a three-run home run off Sanada in the bottom of the eighth, giving Seidou a six-run lead and leaving Yakushi needing a near-impossible comeback. Tanba shut down Yakushi in the ninth, and Seidou won the game.

• Captain Tetsu stole second, and Sendou drove Sanada’s pitch into the left-center stands for a three-run home run.
• Sendou and Miyuki’s flashback revealed their bet: Sendou won by hitting a home run, while Miyuki had wagered to throw pitches at full power in the indoor practice field.
• Seidou celebrated Sendou’s hit, and Sendou encouraged Tanba to stay patient as he recovered.
• Yakushi began the ninth with Akiba, but Tanba struck him out; Mishima then hit a pitch before the following batter struck out to end the game.
• Seidou celebrated Tanba’s victory as the players crowded around him.

After defeating Yakushi, Seidou celebrated its advance to the semifinals and prepared to face Sensen, while Sawamura reflected on his pitching and Sendou considered his family’s promise to attend the final. The chapter ended as Kataoka gathered the starters to practice hitting high-angle pitches.

• Sawamura congratulated Raichi and exchanged contact details with Yakushi’s players, while Sendou and Mishima made peace with him.
• Seidou’s players, alumni, and fans celebrated the win, and Miyuki announced a reflection meeting for Sawamura and Furuya.
• The team learned that Sensen, led by towering ace Yosuke Maki, would be their semifinal opponent, and Kataoka named Tanba as the starting pitcher.
• At the reflection meeting, Miyuki explained Sawamura’s pitching shortcomings and reminded him that his courage was the reason Kataoka had faith in him.
• Sendou remembered that his grandparents and parents planned to attend the final, then struggled to understand why he had anticipated a cutter in his last at-bat.
• Kataoka called the starting lineup together to practice hitting high-angle pitches ahead of the game against Sensen.

Seidou held batting practice with Coach Kataoka pitching from a mound the Third Years had raised to match Maki’s height, giving the team a chance to study his pitches. The next morning, Sendou woke unusually early and the players continued preparing for their game.

• The Third Years covered the Pitcher's Mound with dirt to raise it, and Coach Kataoka began pitching to the team.
• Sendou took the first at-bat against Coach Kataoka, hit a powerful foul ball, and kept batting until Captain Tetsu and Jun-san pulled him away.
• Coach Kataoka’s pitches let Seidou’s players study Maki’s trajectories, while Sawamura spent the day teasing the coach.
• Sendou woke early the next morning and walked with the seniors to the cafeteria as they recalled the previous day’s practice.
• Sawamura invited Ken-senpai to work hard with him, then set off for a run with Furuya following, while Kuramochi and Miyuki’s mother scolded the players.

Seidou arrived at Meiji Jingu Stadium for its semifinal against Sensen Academy, after Masuko’s accidentally shaved head turned breakfast into a laughing fit. Maki’s steep, powerful pitches shut down Seidou’s first batters, while Tanba kept Sensen scoreless in the opening inning; Captain Tetsu was retired, and Sendou came up next.

• Masuko entered breakfast with his head completely shaved, and his teammates and Coach Kataoka laughed when he explained that he had forgotten to attach the guard.
• Seidou traveled to Meiji Jingu Stadium for its semifinal against Sensen Academy, and Sendou told Jun-san he expected to adjust to Maki’s fastball quickly.
• Maki used his height to throw steep, powerful pitches, striking out Kuramochi and helping get Kominato Ryosuke and Jun-san out as Seidou followed Coach Kataoka’s instructions to observe.
• Tanba allowed two Sensen runners to reach base in the bottom of the first but held them scoreless with Seidou’s defense.
• Maki caught Captain Tetsu’s high-bouncing ground ball and threw him out at first, leaving Sendou to bat with one out.

Sendou hit a double, stole third, and scored Seidou’s first run with a sudden acceleration after faking a steal. He returned to the dugout to praise and a scolding from Sunglasses Uncle over the dangerous move.

• Coach Ugai warned Maki and Yagi to keep pitching low and off target against Sendou, who fouled a breaking pitch.
• Sendou hit Maki’s repeated outside pitch into left field and reached second base.
• Sendou stole third after reading Maki’s delivery, despite Sensen’s quick pickoff attempt.
• Sendou faked a steal as Maki pitched, then charged home when Masuko hit a ground ball.
• Yagi threw to first, but Sendou scored safely as Seidou took the lead.
• Spring Commander praised Sendou’s baserunning, while Sunglasses Uncle scolded him and asked whether his knees were all right.

Seidou adjusted to Maki’s limited pitches as Sensen took a two-run lead, then Tetsu’s double put runners on second and third in the fourth inning. Sendou came up with a chance to score, and the chapter left his curveball swing in play.

• Sendou assured Coach Kataoka that his knees were unharmed after his risky burst of speed, and Miyuki ended Seidou’s second-inning offense with a ground ball.
• Sensen deliberately targeted Tanba’s hittable fastballs in the third inning and scored two runs before Miyuki used consecutive changeups to end the threat.
• Kataoka told Seidou’s batters to focus on Maki’s curveball, and Kominato Ryosuke singled to start the fourth inning before Isashiki grounded out.
• Tetsu hit a double down the right-field line, leaving one out and runners on second and third for Sendou.
• Sendou fouled off Maki’s fastball, took a ball, then swung at a curveball and made contact.

Sendou helped Seidou take the lead with timely hits and a daring steal-and-bunt play, while Maki answered by pitching through a bases-loaded crisis and keeping Seidou from adding runs. Seidou led 5–2 entering the bottom of the fifth, where Tanba reached his limit and Haruichi came in as a pinch hitter.

• Sendou hit a two-run double to give Seidou the lead, then stole third and coordinated with Masuko on a bunt that put Masuko safely on base.
• Sensen intentionally walked Miyuki to load the bases, but Maki struck out the remaining batters and ended Seidou's scoring chance.
• Sendou caught a long fly ball for the third out, and Coach Ugai told Haruichi to practice hitting and Sawamura to get ready.
• Kuramochi made an out, Isashiki reached base, and Yuuki drove in two runs with a double before Sendou hit a two-run triple.
• Sensen walked Masuko and Miyuki, then got Shirazu out; Tanba held Sensen scoreless in the bottom of the fifth as Seidou led 5–2.
• Tanba reached his limit, and Haruichi entered as a pinch hitter to open Seidou's next offensive push.

Haruichi’s hit and Seidou’s follow-up offense extended their lead to five, while a collision at home left Sendou worried about Ryo-san. Sawamura made his debut in relief in the sixth inning, walked the leadoff batter, and then surprised his teammates by insisting that giving up runs was part of becoming a reliable pitcher.

• Haruichi battled Maki’s fastball, hit a curveball to reach second, and was bunted to third by Kuramochi.
• Captain Tetsu singled Haruichi home, and Sendou’s hard-hit ball led to Ryo-san scoring after a collision at home plate.
• Sendou remembered that Ryo-san had been injured in a similar collision in his previous life and worried about his condition.
• At the start of the sixth inning, Sawamura entered as Seidou’s reliever after Sendou warned him not to show off.
• Sawamura walked the leadoff batter, then gave up a hit-and-run single that moved the runner to third.
• When Miyuki tried to call time, Sawamura refused and said that pitchers had to give up runs to become reliable, prompting confusion from his teammates.

Sawamura returned to the mound with runners on first and third, and Sendou’s advance defensive positioning turned a Senizumi hit into an out at home. Senizumi kept advancing runners, leaving Sawamura under pressure against Maki as Miyuki challenged him to endure the inning.

• Sawamura faced Senizumi’s small-ball tactics, while Miyuki called pitches and Sendou moved up in the outfield ahead of the play.
• Ryo-san hit a high ball that Sendou fielded after it bounced, then threw home to get the runner from third out.
• Sendou checked on Ryo-san and returned to his position as the runners were left on first and second with one out.
• Senizumi bunted the runners to second and third, bringing Maki to bat with two outs.
• Furuya came out of the bullpen, and Haruichi explained Coach Kataoka’s plan to ease tension by having Masuko-senpai remove his cap.
• Miyuki urged Sawamura to withstand the pressure and keep pitching as Maki prepared to hit.

Sawamura overcame the shock of Maki’s powerful foul and continued pitching, while Miyuki kept Maki from getting comfortable by working the outside and low corners. The chapter left the at-bat unresolved as Maki’s frustration with the three powerhouse schools and the team’s competitive drive came into focus.

• Miyuki challenged Sawamura to keep pitching, reigniting Sawamura’s fighting spirit, while Isashiki dragged Sendou back to his defensive position.
• The Seidou players encouraged Sawamura, and Miyuki called for low outside pitches against the towering Maki.
• Maki drove Sawamura’s first pitch far foul, bringing Raichi Todoroki’s home run back to Sawamura’s mind and sharpening his unwillingness to lose.
• Sendou urged Sawamura to breathe and relax, and Sawamura followed his advice before continuing to pitch.
• Maki reflected on Coach Ugai’s frustration that players like him were treated as inferior to the three powerhouse schools, while Sawamura and Miyuki kept the pitches low and outside.