Chapter Summaries

Sendou hit a towering bases-loaded home run off Ino, giving Seidou a 7–0 lead and leaving Yokohama Kohoku Academy shaken. Ino and Shirau resolved to keep fighting, while Yokogaku intentionally walked Captain Tetsu to face Seidou’s next batter.

• Sendou dodged Ino’s dangerously inside slider, then used the near hit-by-pitch and the ensuing matchup to provoke a confident pitch.
• Sendou launched Ino’s pitch over the center-field scoreboard for a four-run home run, making the score 7–0.
• Sendou returned to the dugout, where he told Miyuki he had manipulated the matchup to draw the pitch he wanted.
• Ino admitted that Seidou had beaten him head-on, then rallied his teammates to keep fighting and avoid regrets.
• With two outs and no one on base, Shirau intentionally walked Captain Tetsu to set up a decisive matchup with Seidou’s next batter.

Seidou widened its lead to nine runs as Masuko hit a two-run home run, while Sawamura took the mound in the seventh and allowed Yokohama Kohoku Academy to put two runners on. Sendou ended the inning with a spectacular catch, and Coach Kataoka prepared to bring in Kominato for the next inning.

• Masuko hit a two-run home run off Ino, pushing Seidou's lead to 9–0, and Ino resolved to keep fighting despite the score.
• Miyuki grounded out to end Seidou's sixth-inning attack, and Coach Kataoka decided Sawamura would pitch the seventh before a planned pitching change.
• Sendou caught Shin Nami's hard-hit ball, and Miyuki induced Kajiyama to ground out for the first two outs.
• Sawamura gave up hits to cleanup hitter Furano and Sonomura, putting two Yokohama Kohoku Academy runners on base.
• Sendou made a leaping catch on Komura's deep fly ball to end the inning, while Coach Kataoka prepared Kominato to pitch next.

Seidou kept the pressure on Yokohama Kohoku Academy in the bottom of the seventh, then brought Tanba in as its ace to start the eighth. Tanba stood on the mound determined to finish the opening game, while Yokohama faced one of its last chances to score.

• Sendou's catch ended Yokohama's seventh-inning attack, and Shirau saw Ino's confidence and focus collapse.
• Kominato Haruichi pinch-hit for Sawamura and doubled to right field, putting Seidou's offense back in motion.
• Kuramochi's squeeze-play attempt ended in a pop-up that Yamada caught, completing a double play and keeping Yokohama scoreless.
• Yokohama replaced Ino with Yamada, who escaped the bottom of the seventh and gave his team a brief lift.
• Seidou sent Tanba to the mound to begin the eighth, and Tanba recalled Coach Kataoka's instruction to finish the game as the ace.

Tanba struck out Yokogaku’s side in order, and Seidou continued attacking in the bottom of the eighth. Sendou revealed a pitch he had been holding back and hit a three-run home run, giving Seidou a 12–0 lead.

• Tanba struck out Yokogaku’s seventh, eighth, and ninth batters to end the top of the eighth inning.
• Kataoka urged Seidou to keep attacking, and Kominato Ryosuke drew a walk against Yamada.
• Isashiki singled on a hit-and-run, leaving Seidou with runners on first and third and no outs.
• Yokogaku shifted its defense and called a mound conference before Yamada faced Sendou.
• Sendou anticipated Yamada’s curveball and hit a three-run home run to left field, making the score 12–0.

Seidou routed Yokogaku 18–0, then advanced through the third round to the Koshien quarterfinals as its lineup and pitching depth drew national attention. The quarterfinal draw paired Seidou with Kiryu first, followed by a likely path through Seihou and Kyoma, leaving Sendou to lament the difficult bracket.

• Mine Fujio explained how batting Sendou fourth and Yuuki fifth could break pitchers’ spirits and help Seidou overcome deadlocks.
• Yokogaku walked Captain Tetsu after Sendou’s home run, but Seidou kept scoring as Tanba struck out all six batters he faced.
• Furuya hit Seidou’s fourth home run, and Seidou defeated Yokogaku 18–0.
• Seidou beat its third-round opponent 15–0, rotating Furuya, Kawakami, and Tanba on the mound before advancing to the quarterfinals.
• Captain Tetsu drew Kiryu as Seidou’s quarterfinal opponent, with Seihou or Ikuei next and Kyoma likely waiting in the final.

Before the War Council, Sawamura tried to test whether pressing two buttons on the Vending Machine would produce a prize, while Haruichi and Sendou watched and bantered with him. Oni-san won a prize and left with the others behind; Sawamura then forgot why he had come to the machine.

• Sawamura told Haruichi and Sendou about his plan to press two Vending Machine buttons at once and test what happened.
• Sawamura and Haruichi discussed their families, and Haruichi told Sawamura that he wanted his older brother to remain his brother.
• Oni-san arrived, teased Haruichi, bought apple juice, and won a Vending Machine prize.
• Oni-san gave Haruichi the prize, which turned out to be tomato juice, then left.
• Oni-san struck Sawamura several times, and Sawamura later forgot why he had come to the Vending Machine.
• Sendou bought two bottles of cola and left.

Seidou and Kiryu held separate war councils before their quarterfinal, studying each other’s strengths and preparing for a fierce contest. Both coaches rallied their teams to believe they could win, leaving the matchup set for the next day.

• Sendou and Hirobi Tate exchanged messages about facing each other again and complained about their difficult tournament schedules.
• Senior Chris warned Seidou that Kiryu had a powerful, balanced batting lineup and analyzed Hirobi Tate’s pitching and the limits of their earlier Practice Match.
• Coach Kataoka named Tanba as Seidou’s starter and told Furuya, Kawakami, and Sawamura to remain ready in the Bullpen.
• Coach Matsumoto reviewed Seidou’s game against Inajitsu and warned Kiryu about Furuya, Sawamura, and especially Sendou’s hitting and speed.
• Hirobi Tate agreed to Coach Matsumoto’s plan to limit runners ahead of Sendou and avoid giving up a Home Run.
• Coach Matsumoto urged Kiryu to win, telling the players that defeating Seidou’s rising stars would be a lasting source of pride.

Seidou and Kiryu prepared to face each other in a championship-contender matchup after Seihou defeated Ikuei, and Seidou fielded its full starting lineup for the first time that summer. The game began with Seidou defending, and Tanba opened against Osaka Toin’s Amasawa with a well-placed fastball.

• Coach Matsumoto judged Seidou’s center batting lineup to be slightly more reliable than Kiryu’s and considered using extreme measures against Sendou and the other First Years.
• Sendou, Sawamura, and Miyuki joked on the bus as Seidou arrived at Koshien for its game.
• Seihou defeated Ikuei 8-2 after Sano drove in a run in the fifth inning and Ikuei’s defense collapsed in the sixth.
• Seidou’s complete starting lineup took the field against Kiryu, with Tanba pitching and Sendou playing center field.
• Tanba struck Amasawa Junichiro with a low outside fastball, and Miyuki called for Tanba’s signature curveball next.

Tanba struck out two Kiryu batters and retired their center of the lineup in the first inning, showing Seidou he could challenge their powerful offense. In the bottom half, Kuramochi grounded out against Hirobi Tate, and Kominato Ryosuke began his at-bat with a strike.

• Tanba struck out Amasawa and Hirata, then Isashiki caught Ishizaki's fly ball to end Kiryu's first inning without a run.
• Hirobi Tate came out to bat for Kiryu as Seidou began its turn at the plate.
• Kuramochi tried to get on base but grounded a fastball to the third baseman for an out.
• Kominato Ryosuke stepped into the batter's box and took a high inside fastball for a strike.

Sendou used a safety bunt to exploit Kiryu’s defensive positioning and reached first base against Kan. He stood on base as Yuuki came to bat, while White Dragon’s coach prepared to time a possible steal.

• Tanba struck out Kan, and Sendou caught Kiryu’s final fly ball to end the top of the second without a run.
• Sendou came to bat against Kan as Kiryu shifted its infielders to guard against a safety bunt.
• Sendou hit a foul ball near the third-base line, then judged that Kan’s pitching power had slightly suppressed his swing.
• Sendou bunted Kan’s changeup between the pitcher and shortstop, and the delayed throw let him reach first safely.
• White Dragon’s coach watched Sendou and readied his stopwatch as Yuuki stepped up to bat.

Sendou’s speed and signals helped Seidou take an early lead, but Coach Matsumoto recognized the danger and adjusted Kiryu’s strategy. Tanba then struck out Kiryu’s dangerous leadoff hitter, and Matsumoto told his team to consider intentionally walking Seidou’s fourth and fifth batters.

• Sendou stole second without sliding, and Captain Tetsu’s double brought him home for Seidou’s first run.
• Coach Matsumoto inferred that Sendou’s steals signaled pitches to Yuuki and decided Kiryu must keep Sendou from reaching second again.
• Kan retired Masuko, Miyuki, and Tanba to end Seidou’s half of the inning.
• In the top of the third, Tanba held firm against Tenzawa’s fastball-focused approach and struck him out.
• Coach Matsumoto urged Kan to allow intentional walks to Seidou’s fourth and fifth batters if necessary, without calling for them directly.

Seidou struggled to extend its lead as Hirobi Tate shut down its batters, while Tanba and Miyuki worked to contain Kiryu’s lineup. After Tate hit Tanba’s curveball for Kiryu’s second hit, Tanba resolved to cherish the team’s final summer and leave no regrets.

• Hirobi Tate struck out Shirazu and retired Kominato Ryosuke to end Seidou’s inning without another run.
• Miyuki called aggressive pitches that helped Tanba strike out Hirata and retire Ishizaki on a fly ball.
• With two outs, Tate hit Tanba’s curveball to reach second base, giving Kiryu its second hit.
• During a defensive timeout, Tanba told Miyuki not to blame himself for the hit and urged him to focus on the batters ahead.
• Tanba reflected that Seidou’s final summer together was nearly over and resolved to cherish it without regrets.

Kiryu High School took the lead with a home run off Tanba, but Tanba recovered his fighting spirit and helped Seidou end the inning with Ryo-san's sharp fielding. Seidou began its bottom-of-the-fourth attack with Isashiki at bat, and Nagumo struggled to read his approach.

• Sudou hit Tanba's inside fastball for a two-run home run, putting Kiryu High School ahead.
• Miyuki realized Tanba had changed and trusted him to stay on the mound; Tanba struck out Nagumo with an aggressive inside fastball.
• Ryo-san fielded a ground ball with a quick, seamless play to record the third out, and he encouraged the emotional Tanba.
• Coach Kataoka praised Tanba, urged Seidou's batters to keep pressuring Kiryu, and sent Isashiki to lead off the bottom of the fourth.
• Isashiki held back against a slider, then missed a fastball that followed the same path before breaking; he refused to swing at the next ball, leaving Nagumo puzzled.

Isashiki battled Hirobi Tate to reach second base, putting the tying run in scoring position for Seidou. Sendou nearly hit a home run but was caught out, and Captain Tetsu came to bat with Seidou still trailing.

• Isashiki fouled off several pitches before driving a single to right field and advancing to second base.
• Sendou faced Hirobi Tate, took three balls, then hit an outside fastball deep toward the home run wall.
• Kiryu's center fielder caught Sendou's fly ball just short of the wall, retiring him.
• Sendou returned to the dugout, where Coach Kataoka reassured him and Sendou promised to get a hit next time.
• Captain Tetsu stepped in to bat as the fifth batter, with the threat from Seidou's lineup still looming.

Kiryu’s tactics kept Seidou from scoring, but Coach Kataoka identified a pattern in Hirobi Tate’s pitches and told the batters to target low outside pitches. Seidou began its fifth-inning attack with Shirazu reaching base, leaving Kuramochi at the plate as the offense pressed on.

• Kiryu avoided challenging Tetsu directly, walked him and Miyuki strategically, then got Miyuki out to end Seidou’s scoring threat without conceding a run.
• Coach Kataoka encouraged Tanba and prepared Furuya and Kawakami to relieve him, while Seidou’s players took his confidence as a sign that the team expected to win.
• Tanba struck out Nakai with a sharp curveball and completed the inning without letting Kiryu’s lineup reach its top batters.
• After reviewing Hirobi Tate’s pitch patterns, Coach Kataoka told Seidou to target low outside pitches while hiding their plan; Sendou and Yuuki were allowed to choose their swings freely.
• Shirazu hit an outside pitch and reached first on an infield hit, bringing Kuramochi up as Seidou began its next attack.

Coach Kataoka’s layered signals helped Seidou turn Kuramochi’s at-bat into a hit, then advance both runners with a bunt. The inning ended with one out, runners on second and third, and Seidou’s center of the lineup coming up against a Kiryu team in danger.

• Coach Kataoka instructed Kuramochi to feint a bunt on the first pitch while Shirazu faked a steal, confusing Nagumo’s defense.
• After Hirobi Tate struck Kuramochi out on two inside pitches, Kuramochi hit an outside pitch and reached first, putting Seidou runners on first and second with no outs.
• Kominato Ryosuke came to bat as Nagumo and Kiryu faced mounting pressure from Seidou’s lineup.
• On Coach Kataoka’s signal, a runner stole after the pitch, and Kominato bunted to advance both runners to second and third before being thrown out at first.

Seidou’s lineup rallied against Kiryu as Isashiki and Sendou drove in runs, with Sendou’s clever at-bat showcasing the judgment Coach Kataoka wanted him to develop. The story left Seidou with a growing lead and Coach Kataoka looking ahead to Sendou becoming a pillar of the team after the Third Years graduated.

• Captain Tetsu told Sendou that Kiryu’s pitcher would throw a slider, and Isashiki singled to bring in a run for Seidou.
• Coach Matsumoto and Kiryu’s teammates encouraged Hirobi Tate to stay aggressive as Sendou stepped up to bat.
• Sendou watched the first-pitch slider and the next low pitch, then dodged an inside pitch and struck it down the right-field line.
• Isashiki advanced to third, Kuramochi scored, and Sendou reached second as Seidou added another run.
• Coach Kataoka praised Sendou’s independent judgment and considered how the team would need him as a leader after the Third Years graduated.

Seidou broke the game open with a two-run hit, but Coach Matsumoto read Coach Kataoka’s strategy and struck out Miyuki and Tanba to end the inning. Coach Kataoka prepared Furuya to take over against Kiryu’s center of the lineup, while Sawamura brooded over his slim chances of pitching.

• Coach Matsumoto ordered Kiryu to intentionally walk Captain Tetsu, suspecting Sendou could signal Yuuki about Kan’s pitches.
• Masuko hit a two-run timely hit toward right field, bringing Isashiki and Sendou home and giving Seidou a 5–2 lead.
• Coach Matsumoto studied the scorebook, tested his suspicion with signals, and struck out Miyuki and Tanba by switching between inside and outside pitches.
• Coach Kataoka told Tanba to face Kiryu’s center lineup before handing the mound to Furuya, who promised to suppress the batters.
• Sawamura sulked as Furuya prepared to pitch, believing Tanba’s return had left him little chance to play this summer.

Kiryu’s offense erupted against Tanba, tying the game before Sendou’s throw stopped a runner at third and crushed their momentum. Seidou replaced Tanba with Furuya, who struggled with control as Kiryu continued to pressure him with a runner on base.

• Amasawa tripled, and Hirata and another Kiryu batter followed with hits to bring a run home and put runners on base.
• Tate hit a drive off the left-center wall to tie the game, but Sendou threw out a runner at third.
• Coach Kataoka replaced Tanba with Furuya after Sendou’s play halted Kiryu’s momentum.
• Furuya struck out Sudou with a fast forkball, then allowed him to reach first on a poorly placed hit.
• Nagumo took a bunt stance and drew a ball while the runner returned to third, as Coach Matsumoto tried to unsettle Furuya.

Miyuki steadied Furuya against Osaka Toin’s base-running tactics, and Seidou escaped the sixth inning before facing Kiryu High School in the seventh. Tenzawa tied the game with a home run, but Furuya struck out Hirata and kept Seidou in the game as both teams’ top batters prepared to face off.

• Miyuki calmed Furuya, directed Seidou’s infield to play aggressively, and called a Fast Forkball that struck out Nagumo as Osaka Toin’s runner stayed at third.
• Seidou’s defense retired Nakai to end the top of the sixth, and Kiryu’s pitcher struck out Shirazu before Kiryu’s defense retired Kuramochi and Oniisan.
• Furuya faced Kiryu’s lineup in the seventh, and Tenzawa hit his Fast Forkball over the fence to tie the score at five.
• Miyuki called another Fast Forkball against Hirata, and Furuya struck him out before the inning ended with the game tied.