Chapter Summaries

Sawamura struck out Maki to end Sensen’s sixth, and Seidou widened its lead with a huge seventh-inning rally led by Sendou. Seidou held a ten-run advantage, while Sensen finally put a runner on base in the next inning.

• Sawamura threw Miyuki’s risky inside fastball past Maki for the third strike, ending Sensen’s scoring threat in the sixth.
• Kataoka told Sawamura he would pitch the next inning, and Sawamura reunited with his friends before Seidou’s offense began.
• Miyuki and Shirazu reached base, and Sawamura’s bunt advanced both runners before Seidou’s batters added more hits.
• With two outs and runners on first and second, Seidou replaced Maki; Sendou drove in three runs with a timely hit, pushing the lead to ten.
• Sensen escaped further damage when a long hit landed in the center fielder’s glove, then managed a baserunner after one out in the next inning.

Seidou defeated Sensen by mercy rule in the seventh inning and advanced to the finals, where they were expected to face Inajitsu. After celebrating the victory, the team met Sawamura’s middle-school friends, and Kuramochi discovered that Wakaba was the girl texting Sawamura.

• Sawamura finished the game with Sensen scoreless as Seidou won by ten runs and advanced to the finals.
• Seidou’s players and the commentators praised the team’s batting and pitching while anticipating a likely final against Inajitsu.
• Coach Ugai admitted Sensen had lacked confidence and said Seidou and Inajitsu were exceptionally strong.
• Seidou celebrated outside the stadium, where Sendou drew a crowd of fans and reunited with his middle-school friends.
• Kuramochi recognized Wakaba among Sawamura’s friends and reacted with jealousy.

Seidou’s players reunited with Ozawa before turning their attention to the final against Inajitsu and its ace, Narumiya Mei. As the teams prepared for the game, Sendou welcomed the challenge of facing a powerful opponent.

• Sawamura’s teammates reminded him that Seidou needed one more win to reach Koshien, and he admitted he wanted to keep playing with the upperclassmen.
• Ozawa arrived to watch Seidou, praised their game, and told Sendou she would attend the final against Inajitsu.
• Isashiki and Kuramochi teased Sendou and Sawamura before the players headed back to prepare for the next game.
• Seidou entered the stadium and watched Narumiya Mei warm up, prompting Miyuki to ask Sendou whether he could hit Narumiya’s pitches.
• Sendou said he was excited to face a strong opponent, while Seidou’s hitters assessed the difficulty of Narumiya’s fastball and changeups.

Sendou analyzed how Narumiya Mei’s pitching and Inajitsu’s composure would overwhelm Sakurazawa, while Chris explained the Knuckleball to Sawamura and Furuya. Inajitsu’s pressure broke down Sakurazawa’s defense, and Harada’s Three-Run Home Run left the game nearly decided as Sendou returned to the stands.

• Seidou’s players ate lunch while watching Sakurazawa face Inajitsu, and Sendou identified the gap between Sakurazawa’s weak hitting and Narumiya Mei’s pitching.
• Sendou predicted Sakurazawa would grow impatient against the Knuckleball, while Chris explained how the pitch moved and Sawamura compared it with his own pitches.
• Narumiya Mei struck out Sakurazawa’s batters, and Sendou and the others joked that he resembled Sawamura.
• Carlos used a relaxed, arm-driven swing to send a fly ball far away, prompting Miyuki to ask whether Sendou could hit the Knuckleball that way.
• Sendou left to buy a drink as Sakurazawa’s defense faltered under pressure and its pitcher lost the Knuckleball’s required composure.
• Harada hit a Three-Run Home Run, and Sendou returned just in time to see his victory pose.

Sendou studied Narumiya Mei’s pitches as Inajitsu overwhelmed its opponent, then vowed that Seidou would answer Mei’s boast by winning on the field. After the game, Sendou learned that Mei had recruited his Inajitsu teammates after middle school, and teased Miyuki about his own recruiting efforts.

• Sendou left to drink cola and mentally reconstructed Narumiya Mei’s pitches while Inajitsu continued batting.
• Inajitsu extended its lead to eleven runs, and Narumiya Mei finished the five-inning mercy-rule game while showing off his pitches for Sendou.
• Sendou silently rejected Mei’s claim that Inajitsu would be Japan’s number one, while Sawamura shouted that Seidou would win and the team vowed to repay last year’s loss.
• Miyuki accompanied the first-years to the restroom, where they encountered Narumiya Mei and other Inajitsu players.
• Sendou asked about the group’s middle-school days and learned that Narumiya Mei had recruited them for Inajitsu, then mocked Miyuki for not recruiting more players for Seidou.

Sendou provoked Narumiya Mei and Inajitsu before their game, then revealed he hoped to exploit Mei’s irritation when he faced him. The Seidou players returned to their bus, where Sendou rested and Sawamura kept accusing Miyuki of being a spy.

• Sendou traded barbs with Narumiya Mei, upsetting him and leaving the Inajitsu players amazed.
• Sendou challenged Inajitsu over Koshien and questioned whether Itsuki could replace Harada after the summer.
• Narumiya Mei left with his teammates after threatening Sendou, who promised Mei would cry regardless of the result.
• Sendou explained to Miyuki that Mei might lose control when facing him, giving Sendou a chance to exploit a mistake.
• Sendou followed Miyuki down the wrong path because he wanted to look cool, then returned to the bus and rested.
• Sawamura continued accusing Miyuki of being a spy until Kuramochi’s loud voice drowned him out.

Seidou reviewed Narumiya Mei’s pitching and rallied around Captain Tetsu’s confidence as the team prepared for the final against Inajitsu. Sendou considered how to exploit Narumiya’s stamina, received encouragement from Coach Nakanishi, and learned that Narumiya’s team was studying Seidou’s lineup ahead of the game.

• Seidou watched footage of Narumiya’s game, and Sendou pointed out that Narumiya’s stamina and his coach’s judgment could create an opening.
• Captain Tetsu rallied the team by insisting they could defeat Narumiya, and the managers gave the players a paper-crane wreath.
• Sendou escorted the managers home, then Coach Nakanishi called and reminded him of his past connection with Inajitsu catcher Harada Masakatsu before encouraging him to face the final with confidence.
• Harada reviewed Seidou’s dangerous lineup for Inajitsu, while Narumiya showed his personal resentment toward Sendou.

Inajitsu and Seidou prepared for the West Tokyo final as media coverage hyped Narumiya Mei against Seidou's powerful Yuuki-Sendou batting combination. Seidou continued practicing, while Sendou asked Miyuki to keep him company that night, leaving his reason unexplained.

• Coach Kunimoto assessed Seidou's pitching and batting strengths, concluding that Inajitsu needed Narumiya to suppress Seidou's lineup.
• On Inajitsu's media open day, Mine Fujio observed the team's confidence and published a report presenting Narumiya Mei against Yuuki and Sendou as the final's central matchup.
• Narumiya enjoyed the attention but reacted sourly to the report's praise of Seidou's two batters, while Mine predicted Inajitsu would be favored without claiming the outcome was certain.
• Sendou asked Miyuki to keep him company that night, and Tetsu said Sendou's rapidly improving swing made him confident about the team's future batting lineup.
• Seidou's pitchers and batters practiced for the final, with Sawamura throwing his best pitch in a simulated clutch situation and the lineup facing 150-kilometer-per-hour pitches.
• Coach Kataoka urged Itai to stop holding back and swing fully during batting practice.

Sawamura struggled to hit during morning practice, then joined the pitchers’ meeting to study Inajitsu before asking Miyuki and Senior Chris to help him learn a Changeup. Sendou secretly practiced bunting to expand his batting options against Narumiya, and the chapter left him preparing to keep training before the team’s next gathering.

• Sawamura missed during batting practice while Furuya and Kominato made solid contact, then Miyuki called for Sawamura to lay down a bunt.
• Coach Kataoka ended morning practice and scheduled defensive practice for the afternoon, while Senior Tanba gathered the pitchers to review Inajitsu’s lineup.
• Senior Chris and Senior Tanba warned the pitchers about Inajitsu’s fast first two batters and its willingness to use any tactic to win.
• Sawamura admitted that he wanted to learn a Changeup, but Miyuki and Senior Chris slipped away to begin afternoon practice.
• Sendou used Miyuki’s pitches to practice bunting, explaining that he wanted to make Inajitsu’s defense account for both his long hits and a possible Safety Bunt.
• Senior Chris agreed to help Sendou practice, and Sendou asked Miyuki to keep his new training secret.

Sendou practiced bunting in secret and met former Seidou slugger Azuma Kiyokuni, who had returned from the pros. Azuma agreed to watch Seidou’s upcoming game, then stepped into the Batter’s Box to face Sawamura as Miyuki prepared to test a pitch.

• Sendou quickly learned to bunt by copying Sawamura’s stance, then practiced swings near the Bullpen while the team worked on defense.
• Azuma arrived at Seidou carrying drinks, and Sendou startled him by revealing he had never been a reserve and was now Seidou’s fifth batter and center fielder.
• Azuma encouraged the seniors to reach Koshien and agreed to attend their game the next day after Sendou invited him.
• Azuma entered the Bullpen and clashed with Sawamura, who recognized him as the fat senpai who had beaten him up before.
• Miyuki asked Azuma to stand in the Batter’s Box for a pitching test, and Coach Kataoka ordered him to put on protective gear before Sawamura prepared to pitch.

On the eve of the Summer Preliminaries final, Seidou’s players finished their last practice, learned the starting lineup, and spent the night preparing and joking together. Azuma agreed to watch the game, Kawakami gained confidence from Azuma’s praise, and Sendou’s parents returned to Japan to attend the match.

• Sawamura’s pitch struck Azuma during batting practice, and Azuma recognized Sawamura’s potential while Coach Kataoka told him to study Sendou’s dodging and named Sendou a future cleanup hitter.
• Azuma praised Sendou’s batting and told Kawakami to pitch with confidence, then accepted Chris’s invitation to watch Seidou play the next day.
• Seidou completed its final practice, and Coach Kataoka announced that Furuya would start while Sawamura and Kawakami would be ready in relief.
• The players gathered around Sawamura’s phone, teased him about Wakaba, and caused a commotion that left the Second Years baffled when they came to ask for batting advice.
• As Seidou and Inajitsu prepared for the final, Azuma and other supporters looked forward to the game, while Sendou’s parents returned to Japan with company guests to watch him play.

On the night before Seidou’s Regional Preliminaries final against Inajitsu, Sendou could not sleep and spoke with Coach Kataoka about the game. His confidence in the team and advice to adapt to the circumstances prompted Coach Kataoka to rethink his plan, leaving the decisive match set to begin the next day.

• Sendou could not sleep, took Miyuki’s Pikachu eye mask, and went out for a walk before Coach Kataoka invited him into the Supervisor’s Room.
• Sendou admitted that Narumiya Mei was the first opponent he did not think he could beat, but Coach Kataoka told him he had improved enough to hit Narumiya’s pitches.
• Rei-chan estimated that Seidou had a disadvantage and outlined a pitching plan, prompting Sendou to argue that the game’s changing conditions made the outcome fifty-fifty.
• Sendou told Coach Kataoka to adapt to the game as it unfolded, avoid obvious weaknesses, and trust the players’ hearts and decisions.
• Coach Kataoka reconsidered his game plan and voiced his determination to take the team to Koshien, while Sendou discovered that he was wearing Miyuki’s Pikachu eye mask.

Inajitsu and Seidou prepared for their West Tokyo qualifier final, with Coach Kunimoto studying Sendou as a major threat and spectators filling Jingu Stadium. The teams entered the field, greeted each other, and the decisive game officially began.

• Sendou slipped away after surprising Head Manager Oota, while Coach Kunimoto reviewed Sendou’s batting record and prepared ways to limit him.
• On July 31, Sendou’s family, friends, coaches, and other spectators arrived at Jingu Stadium to watch the final.
• Sendou Ichiro met Coach Nakanishi and Coach Sakaki, who explained the teams and the tournament to him and his companions.
• The captains chose Seidou to bat first and Inajitsu to bat second, and both teams entered to loud cheers.
• Sendou advised Seidou’s pitchers to prepare for the heat, while Narumiya Mei glared at Miyuki and Sendou from across the field.
• Both teams bowed before the crowd, returned to their dugouts, and began the game.

Seidou attacked Narumiya Mei early, using Kuramochi’s speed and Jun’s hit to take the lead before Yuuki Tetsuya faced the Inajitsu ace. The chapter left Tetsuya in a two-strike-count battle as Sendou anticipated Narumiya’s next pitch.

• Narumiya Mei opened on the mound for Inajitsu, while Kuramochi drew a walk by holding his bunt stance against pitches outside the zone.
• Kuramochi stole second, and Kominato Ryosuke bunted him to third before Jun hit a Slider into the gap to score Seidou’s first run.
• Sendou explained that he had predicted Harada’s pitch choice, then headed to the on-deck circle as Yuuki Tetsuya came up to bat.
• Narumiya struck Tetsuya out swinging at a fastball, then threw two balls and an outside fastball that Tetsuya fouled off.
• Sendou predicted Harada would call for Narumiya’s Changeup next, while Tetsuya remained at bat.

Sendou faced Narumiya Mei in a tense first-inning showdown, while Seidou watched him challenge the ace’s varied pitches. Sendou reached a two-strike count and prepared to attack Narumiya’s next pitch.

• Tetsu guessed Narumiya’s changeup but struck out when the pitch dropped away from his bat.
• Sendou fouled off Narumiya’s slider and a near-150-kilometer-per-hour fastball, growing excited by the challenge.
• Sendou refused to swing at a low changeup for a ball, astonishing Narumiya, Harada, and the Seidou bench.
• Harada called for an outside slider, but Sendou fouled it off after the pitch broke sharply.
• Narumiya suddenly fired a full-power fastball toward Sendou as he prepared to swing.

Sendou turned Harada and Narumiya Mei’s carefully planned pitches into an inside-the-park home run, giving Seidou a three-run lead in the first inning. Inajitsu regrouped, and Narumiya retired Masuko to end the inning as the teams changed sides.

• Sendou drove Narumiya Mei’s pitch into the outfield, and Isashiki scored as Sendou raced around the bases.
• Carlos’s throw arrived as Sendou slid into home, but the umpire called him safe for an inside-the-park home run and Seidou’s third run.
• Sendou celebrated with his teammates, while Harada called a timeout and questioned how fast Sendou had run.
• Harada warned Narumiya not to pitch out of spite, and Narumiya resolved to shut Sendou down next time.
• Narumiya struck out Masuko to record three outs and end the inning.

Seidou entered the bottom of the first inning with a three-run lead and Furuya on the mound, while Sendou encouraged him to control his pitching rhythm. Furuya opened against Inajitsu with a blazing fastball that startled Carlos, and his next pitches began to stray as Miyuki anticipated a difficult at-bat.

• Sendou advised Furuya to focus on controlling his rhythm and assured him Seidou’s defense could handle balls in play.
• Furuya said he would rely on his teammates, then vowed to focus on pitching and take down Inajitsu’s batters.
• Harada warned Inajitsu’s lineup about Furuya’s fastball and fast forkball, while Narumiya insisted Furuya would lose control.
• Miyuki ordered Seidou’s infield to guard against Kamiya’s safety bunt and prepared Furuya for the leadoff hitter.
• Furuya threw a high fastball that startled Carlos into swinging late, then followed with an inside ball and a pitch that nearly became a pop-up.

Furuya struck out Inajitsu’s first three batters in the opening inning, giving Seidou momentum as they defended a three-run lead. In the second inning, Narumiya got Miyuki and Furuya out, and Inajitsu prepared to send its cleanup hitters to the plate.

• Furuya struck out Carlos, Shirakawa, and Yoshizawa in succession, relying on his powerful fastballs and keeping the Fast Forkball in reserve.
• Coach Kunimoto told Inajitsu to stay calm, prevent Seidou from scoring again, and gradually make up the deficit.
• Sendou checked Inajitsu’s batting tendencies, then went to the Bullpen while Tanba warmed up.
• Narumiya struck out Miyuki with a Changeup after two fastballs, and Sawamura teased Miyuki when he returned to the dugout.
• Furuya fouled off Narumiya’s center-cut fastball, but Narumiya then used pitches across the Strike Zone to get him out; Itai also made an out before Inajitsu’s cleanup hitters were due up.

Furuya struck out Inajitsu’s cleanup hitter, Harada, with his fastball and deceptive Fast Forkball, then challenged Narumiya Mei with two overpowering pitches. The chapter ended with Furuya’s fighting spirit rising as he faced Narumiya, while Miyuki hoped he could keep pitching deep into the game.

• Harada choked up on his bat to prioritize reaching base, but Furuya’s Fast Forkball dropped late and struck him out.
• Furuya failed to trap the pitch afterward, while Miyuki recognized how difficult the Fast Forkball was for batters to read.
• Miyuki decided that making Furuya last longer would increase the pressure on Inajitsu’s lineup and reduce the time they had to face Seidou’s other pitchers.
• Tanba continued loosening his joints instead of returning to the bench, reducing the risk of his previous-life ankle injury.
• Narumiya stepped up to bat, and Furuya overpowered him with two fastballs as his competitive spirit began pushing him to add force again.

Furuya struck out Inajitsu’s batters to preserve Seidou’s three-run lead, while Narumiya Mei answered by striking out Tetsu in the fourth. The chapter ended as Sendou came to bat against a fired-up Narumiya Mei, with the momentum of the game riding on their confrontation.

• Furuya struck out Narumiya Mei and Yamaoka, bringing his total to five strikeouts as Inajitsu failed to score in the second inning.
• Kuramochi, Kominato Ryosuke, and Jun-san were retired in the top of the third, and Harada warned Narumiya Mei not to relax.
• Furuya retired Hirai Tsubasa, Bon, and Fujikawa in the bottom of the third, reaching seven strikeouts after throwing fifty pitches.
• Narumiya Mei struck out Tetsu in the top of the fourth with a sequence of pitches that used the strike zone and changing speeds.
• Sendou stepped up to bat as the crowd roared, and Narumiya Mei prepared to face him with revenge on his mind.