Chapter Summaries

Sendou Akira frustrated Narumiya Mei and Harada with an unpredictable at-bat, then used a sudden safety bunt and his speed to reach base. Seidou gained a chance to extend its three-run lead, shifting the momentum against Inajitsu.

• Sendou Akira and Narumiya Mei exchanged challenging looks as their at-bat began, and Narumiya struck Sendou out swinging on an inside Forkball.
• Sendou choked up on the bat and repeatedly fouled off pitches, irritating Narumiya and Harada while keeping the at-bat alive.
• Sendou relaxed his body and turned his swing into a safety bunt against Narumiya's Changeup.
• Sendou sprinted to first base before Shirakawa could throw him out, giving Seidou a scoring opportunity with one out.
• Owada and Mine Fujio noted that Seidou had seized the momentum, while Azuma Kiyokuni urged the team onward and entrusted them with the dream he had failed to achieve.

Sendou used his speed to steal his way from first to third, helping Seidou add a run against Inajitsu. After Sendou scored, Coach Kunimoto introduced a rule to limit the threat he posed on the bases, and Carlos became even more determined to face him.

• Miyuki realized Sendou had worn down Narumiya Mei before bunting onto first, and Coach Kataoka instructed Masuko to focus on hittable pitches while Sendou pressured the defense.
• Sendou repeatedly took larger leads at first, frustrating Narumiya Mei with pickoff throws before stealing second on a pitch that became a ball.
• Sendou stole third as Masuko swung and intentionally missed, blocking Harada's throwing lane and helping Seidou advance him safely.
• Sendou scored on a later bunt while Inajitsu got Masuko out, giving Seidou a 4–0 lead.
• Coach Kunimoto introduced Sendou's First Law: unless there were two outs, a runner had to be on the base ahead of Sendou whenever he was on base.
• Carlos recognized Sendou's ability and grew more motivated to compete against him.

Narumiya struck out Miyuki to end Seidou’s turn, and Inajitsu began its second trip through the lineup against a tiring Furuya. Carlos drew a walk and advanced to second, but Sendou caught Yoshizawa’s deep hit for the second out, leaving Inajitsu’s cleanup hitter to face Furuya.

• Miyuki fouled off several pitches from Narumiya, but Narumiya struck him out with a full-power fastball to end the inning.
• Carlos used bunt threats to unsettle Furuya, who walked him after Miyuki’s timeout failed to calm him.
• Carlos advanced to scoring position on a bunt as Inajitsu sought to exploit Furuya’s reduced velocity and power from the set position.
• Furuya regained some composure with encouragement from his teammates and got one out.
• Yoshizawa hit a deep ball to center, but Sendou caught it and stopped Carlos from advancing, giving Seidou its second out.
• Coach Kunimoto told Harada not to overthink his role as cleanup hitter and to hit any pitch he could drive.

Seidou narrowly kept Inajitsu from scoring when Sendou’s relay stopped Carlos at third after Harada’s hit. Narumiya Mei came up next as Furuya’s stamina and control began to falter, leaving Coach Kataoka unaware of how exhausted his pitcher was.

• Miyuki changed the pitch selection against Harada, and Furuya struck him out with a Fast Forkball after Harada fouled off a pitch.
• Harada pushed a dropping Fast Forkball through the infield, but Sendou fielded it and threw to Miyuki before Carlos could attempt to score.
• Sendou’s relay energized Seidou and pressured Inajitsu, while Kuramochi worried about his injured foot after failing to reach the ball.
• Narumiya Mei stepped up to bat and vowed to score, while Furuya hid his exhaustion and Coach Kataoka decided against making a pitching change.
• Miyuki recognized that Furuya’s stamina was draining and limited his plan to fastballs, but he had not noticed how badly Furuya was breathing.

Seidou’s defense limited Inajitsu to two runs in the fourth, though Narumiya Mei was thrown out trying to stretch his hit to third. Seidou changed pitchers and threatened to score in the fifth, leaving Kuramochi facing Narumiya in a two-strike count with a runner on third.

• Narumiya Mei drove in two runs with a hit off Furuya, then was tagged out at third by Masuko when he tried to advance farther.
• Yabe and Coach Kunimoto reprimanded Narumiya for his baserunning, while Seidou prepared Tanba to replace Furuya and had Sawamura and Kawakami warm up.
• Coach Kataoka rallied Seidou to keep attacking Narumiya, and Sendou resolved to beat him in their personal contest.
• Furuya opened the fifth with Seidou’s first double, and Itai’s bunt advanced him to third for one out.
• Narumiya struck Kuramochi out swinging at an outside forkball and forced a foul with an inside fastball, putting him in a two-strike count.

Inajitsu exploited Tanba's vulnerable fastball, and Yamaoka hit a home run soon after Tanba took the mound. Sendou took Yamaoka's celebration as a provocation and held back his anger as Inajitsu began its counterattack.

• Narumiya Mei struck out Kuramochi with a changeup, then struck out Kominato despite Kominato's injured foot.
• Kominato returned to the bench in pain, and Tanba replaced Furuya on the mound while Furuya moved to left field.
• Tanba opened against Yamaoka with two curveballs, putting him down two strikes as Miyuki confirmed the pitch was working.
• Miyuki called for an outside fastball, and Yamaoka drove it into the stands for a home run.
• Yamaoka celebrated at home plate, and Sendou felt provoked but restrained himself.

During Seidou’s game against Inajitsu, Sendou Ichiro learned from Coach Nakanishi how exceptional his son Sendou was, while Senior Tanba struggled under pressure and walked two batters. Sendou’s blunt reminder that it was the seniors’ last summer jolted Tanba into a furious roar, leaving him fired up to face the next batter.

• Coach Nakanishi explained baseball’s pressure-filled endings to Sendou Ichiro and said Seidou needed a wider lead because its pitchers struggled mentally.
• Coach Nakanishi revealed that Sendou had hit five home runs in the Summer Preliminaries and predicted he could become a Major League Hall of Famer and a contender for baseball’s greatest player.
• After Yamaoka’s home run, Miyuki and Seidou’s players tried to encourage Senior Tanba, but Tanba walked Hirai and then Fujikawa, putting Inajitsu’s upper lineup on deck.
• Sendou shouted that Tanba could not let the seniors’ last summer end this way and promised the team would recover any runs Tanba gave up.
• Senior Tanba was jolted out of his hesitation, clenched his fists, and roared into the sky.

Miyuki helped Tanba recover his fighting spirit, then caught Inajitsu off guard with a daring play that ended the inning and energized Seidou. As Seidou began the top of the sixth, Narumiya struck out Isashiki’s rhythm with a changeup and prepared to finish the at-bat.

• Miyuki called a forkball that led to a poor bunt and an out at third, leaving runners on first and second with one out.
• Miyuki followed Sendou’s advice and called breaking balls against Carlos before using a fastball as part of a surprise play that caught the runner on second and ended the inning.
• Miyuki and Sendou exchanged praise as Seidou returned to the bench, where the team celebrated the play and prepared to widen its lead.
• At the top of the sixth, Narumiya opened against Isashiki with a changeup, then induced a foul with a fastball.
• Narumiya smiled confidently as he prepared his next pitch against Isashiki.

Seidou’s third trip through the lineup stalled when Carlos robbed Yuuki’s deep fly, leaving Sendou to face Narumiya Mei with two outs and no runners on. Sendou fouled off Mei’s first pitch and dodged a wild second pitch as their duel continued.

• Narumiya Mei lost his temper after Sawamura and Jun-san touched his changeup, and Harada prepared to face Yuuki without relying on it.
• Yuuki battled through a long at-bat and drove a fastball deep, but Carlos leaped against the fence to catch it and end the threat.
• Sendou came up with two outs and no runners on, determined to challenge Narumiya Mei rather than bunt.
• Sendou fouled off Mei’s first-pitch slider, then dodged an inside ball that missed the strike zone.

Sendou was struck out by Narumiya Mei but stayed excited about the game, helping Seidou’s teammates recover their resolve. In the bottom of the sixth, Tanba opened with a strong fastball against Shirakawa but eventually walked him, leaving Inajitsu’s offense on base.

• Narumiya Mei struck out Sendou with a forkball, shifting the momentum toward Inajitsu.
• Sendou reassured Miyuki that he was not discouraged and said the game still excited him.
• Sawamura rallied Seidou’s fielders, and Tanba prepared to face Inajitsu’s batters under heavy pressure.
• Tanba threw Shirakawa an aggressive first-pitch fastball for a strike, strengthening Miyuki’s confidence in his pitching.
• Shirakawa battled Tanba through several pitches and drew a walk, advancing to first base.

Inajitsu rallied against Tanba in the bottom of the sixth, with Narumiya tying the game and Yamaoka forcing in the go-ahead run. Furuya’s laser throw stopped Inajitsu from scoring again, leaving Seidou trailing 6–4 as the inning continued with two outs and runners on second and third.

• Tanba struck out Yoshizawa, then Isashiki and Sendou combined to turn Harada’s hit into an out at first.
• Narumiya switched from a bunt stance to a hit-and-run swing and drove in the tying run, advancing the runner to third.
• Yamaoka drew a walk under pressure, loading the bases, and Hirai’s squeeze bunt brought Inajitsu’s fifth run home.
• Bon hit a first-pitch single that scored Inajitsu’s sixth run, but Furuya’s throw from left field stopped the runner at third.
• Narumiya complained that Furuya had stolen his spotlight, while Sendou praised Furuya’s relay throw.

Seidou escaped Inajitsu’s seventh-inning rally with Kuramochi’s midair catch and throw, then Tanba shut down Inajitsu in the bottom of the seventh. The game remained close as Tanba neared his limit and Narumiya prepared to face Seidou again.

• Kuramochi backed up Ryo, caught a weak grounder barehanded, and threw to first for the third out, preventing a run from scoring.
• Sendou checked on Ryo’s injured leg and told him that Kataoka seemed to be letting him play without regrets.
• Seidou’s batters kept attacking Narumiya, and Furuya singled to right, but Tanba’s strikeout ended their inning without a run.
• Tanba struck out Carlos with a surprise fastball, then Ryo stopped Shirakawa’s line drive despite his injured leg.
• Tanba struck out Yoshizawa to end Inajitsu’s seventh, while Narumiya noted that Tanba was nearing his limit and prepared for the next inning.

Kominato Ryosuke asked to leave the game because his injured foot kept him from playing at his best, and Haruichi replaced him as a pinch hitter. Haruichi broke his bat but got a hit into left field, putting Seidou’s powerful center of the lineup up with one out and a chance to rally.

• Ryosuke told Coach Kataoka to replace him, explaining that his foot injury would only hold the team back, and asked Kuramochi to look after his younger brother.
• Sendou advised Kuramochi to bat left-handed and anticipate Narumiya’s outside fastball, but Kuramochi’s ground ball was fielded by Shirakawa and Yoshizawa for an out.
• Seidou announced Haruichi as Ryosuke’s pinch hitter, and Ryosuke encouraged his younger brother as they passed each other.
• Haruichi crowded the plate and swung at Narumiya’s inside fastball, breaking his bat but sending the ball into left field for a hit.
• With one out and Haruichi on base, Seidou’s powerful center of the lineup came up to bat.

Isashiki walked and Captain Tetsu was retired, leaving Seidou with two outs and Sendou at the plate against Narumiya Mei. The chapter ended as the two first-years faced off, with the game and their battle still far from over.

• Isashiki fouled off Narumiya Mei’s pitches, forced a full count, and earned a walk to put a runner on first.
• During the timeout, Narumiya Mei joked with Harada but accepted his warning not to underestimate Captain Tetsu or Sendou.
• Captain Tetsu hit Narumiya Mei’s fastball hard, but Inajitsu’s first baseman caught it for the second out.
• Sendou stepped up as Seidou’s last hope in the inning while Narumiya Mei resolved to strike him out and lead Inajitsu to Koshien.
• Sendou met Narumi Mei’s fighting spirit with his own confidence, and the chapter noted that their fourth showdown—and the game—was not over.

With Seidou trailing in the top of the eighth, Sendou battled Narumiya Mei with two outs and runners on first and second. Sendou hit a three-run home run to put Seidou ahead, and the team erupted in celebration as the game continued.

• Coach Nakanishi rallied for Sendou, while Harada prepared to challenge him with two outs and runners on first and second.
• Sendou fouled off Harada’s Slider and Forkball, then moved farther back in the batter’s box to give himself more time to read pitches.
• Narumiya Mei threw a low Changeup that Sendou recognized and left alone, bringing the count to one ball and two strikes.
• Sendou read Narumiya Mei’s outside Slider and struck it toward center field as the Seidou runners took off.
• The ball sailed over Carlos and struck the center-field scoreboard for a three-run home run, giving Seidou the lead.
• Seidou’s players, coaches, and supporters celebrated wildly while Isashiki charged home and tackled Captain Tetsu.

Sendou’s home run kept Seidou alive, and his teammates celebrated before he urged Sawamura not to lose heart if Narumiya gave up a hit. Narumiya recovered his resolve, while Harada recognized Sendou after seeing Coach Nakanishi in the stands, setting up a revelation about their past.

• Sendou walked home after hitting a home run, and Seidou’s players swarmed him in celebration before helping him rest.
• Sendou told Sawamura not to let an unexpected setback shake his mentality, and Miyuki warned that Narumiya would not collapse easily.
• Harada reassured Narumiya that the pitch had been difficult to hit, and Narumiya vowed that he absolutely would not lose this game.
• Coach Nakanishi shouted praise for Sendou from the stands, and Harada recognized him and remembered Sendou Akira.

Harada remembered how Sendou had once shaken his confidence and realized he still wanted to form a battery with him. Seidou extended its lead to two runs, but Narumiya recovered his fighting spirit as Inajitsu began the bottom of the eighth with Seidou’s Tanba pitching.

• Harada recalled that Sendou’s raw talent had frightened him years earlier and renewed his desire to play alongside him.
• Narumiya walked Masuko, who stole second, then Miyuki hit a timely single that brought home Seidou’s eighth run.
• Narumiya struck out Furuya with a fastball, then vented in the dugout and resolved to help Inajitsu recover the runs.
• Tanba began the bottom of the eighth, and Harada narrowly fouled off a pitch before Seidou walked him to face Narumiya.
• Miyuki opened against Narumiya with a curveball, catching him off guard for a strike.

Narumiya Mei hit a double off Tanba to bring Inajitsu within one run, prompting Coach Kataoka to replace Tanba with Kawakami. Kawakami struck out Yamaoka briefly with two strikes but lost the long at-bat on a walk, leaving Seidou in a tense bottom of the eighth.

• Narumiya Mei hit a timely double off the left-field wall, scoring the runner from first and cutting Seidou’s lead to one run.
• Coach Kataoka replaced Tanba with Kawakami, and Tanba passed him the ball and urged him to take over as the ace.
• Kawakami took the mound with no outs and the tying run at second, while Miyuki and the Seidou players encouraged him to stay focused.
• Kawakami got Yamaoka to swing and miss for a strike, then fell behind in the count as Yamaoka fouled off pitches and resisted the pressure.
• Yamaoka drew a walk after a long at-bat, putting another runner on base and forcing Kawakami to face the next batter with the inning still threatening.

Seidou preserved its one-run lead when Masuko turned Bon’s hard hit into a double play, but Inajitsu entered the final inning with a possible way to exploit Sendou’s weakness. The chapter left the game poised for its final inning, with Inajitsu trailing by one and Iguchi warming up.

• Hirai bunted successfully, moving Inajitsu’s runners to second and third with one out.
• Bon hit Kawakami’s fastball hard, but Masuko caught it and doubled Narumiya Mei off third to end the inning.
• Sawamura led the crowd in chanting Masuko’s victory pose, boosting Seidou’s morale as the team held its lead.
• Harada told Narumiya Mei that Sendou had struggled to distinguish balls from strikes since childhood, and Coach Kunimoto said the flaw might be exploitable.
• Iguchi warmed up in the bullpen as Inajitsu prepared to bat in the final inning, down by one run.

Narumiya Mei recovered his focus and shut down Seidou in the top of the ninth, striking out Kawakami and Kuramochi before forcing Haruichi into a weak fly out. Seidou entered the bottom of the ninth under immense pressure, needing to stop Inajitsu from tying or winning the game.

• Harada told Narumiya Mei and the others how a young Sendou had dominated his team in a Little League game, and the story helped Narumiya settle down.
• Sendou went to the bullpen and faced Sawamura’s pitches so Sawamura could practice under pressure.
• Narumiya struck out Kawakami, then struck out Kuramochi after overpowering him with his pitches.
• Narumiya shook off Harada’s hesitation and used his changeup against Haruichi, who hit a weak fly ball to second for the third out.
• Narumiya left the mound amid loud applause, while Seidou faced the pressure of the bottom of the ninth with its lead at risk.