Chapter Summaries

Seidou and Kyoma traded strong defensive plays as Tanba and Hongo led a tense pitching duel. Kyoma ended the fifth inning with a runner on base but failed to score, leaving Seidou still protecting its lead.

• Sendou caught Enjo's hit to end Kyoma's fourth-inning rally after Seidou had allowed one run.
• Hongo struck out Shirazu, Kuramochi, and the next Seidou batter in the top of the fifth.
• Coach Kataoka told Tanba to keep pitching, and Seidou's players rallied around their goal of winning the national title.
• Tanba struck out Hongo and Aku in the bottom of the fifth.
• Nishi reached first base on a grounder that nearly became an out, but Tanba struck out Matsushita to end the inning.

In the top of the sixth, Seidou’s cleanup hitters faced Hongo Masamune as Kyoma trusted its ace to stay on the mound. Sendou launched a deep drive that Aku caught at the wall, leaving the showdown scoreless and the stadium stunned.

• Tanba finished the inning without allowing a run, and his teammates celebrated by roughing up his bald head.
• Coach Nitta kept Hongo Masamune on the mound, and Hongo began adjusting his condition with several full-speed pitches while facing Isashiki.
• Hongo walked Isashiki, setting up Sendou with no outs and drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
• Sendou fouled off Hongo’s 148-kilometer-per-hour fastball and an inside fast forkball before driving a low outside fastball deep toward center field.
• Aku caught Sendou’s towering hit at the wall, and the stadium fell silent.

Sendou nearly hit his second home run, but Isashiki's hit brought him home and gave Seidou a fifth run before Hongo shut down the rest of the sixth inning. The story left off as Kyoma began its turn to bat against Tanba, with Suzuki fouling off his first pitch.

• Sendou's deep fly ball fell short of a home run, and he admitted he had rushed his timing against Enjo's 150-kilometer fastball.
• Captain Tetsu hit a double down the right-field line, scoring Isashiki from second and extending Seidou's lead to five runs.
• Coach Nitta told Hongo to use his remaining strength to finish the inning, and Hongo struck out Masuko and Miyuki to end Seidou's offense.
• Sendou revealed that he had told Tetsu Kyoma might open with an inside forkball or an outside fastball, then teased Miyuki about his strikeout.
• Coach Kataoka sent Tanba out to face Kyoma's cleanup hitter, Suzuki, who fouled off Tanba's first pitch.

Tanba struggled as Kyoma loaded the bases, and Coach Kataoka replaced him with Sawamura. Sawamura entered the Koshien final with one out and the bases loaded, facing Enjo Renji.

• Suzuki and Ishizaki hit safely, and Kyoma advanced runners to second and third with a sacrifice fly.
• Tanba walked Taninaka after a long at-bat, loading the bases and forcing Coach Kataoka to call for a substitution.
• Coach Kataoka sent Sawamura in to replace Tanba, drawing confusion from spectators who barely remembered him.
• Miyuki and the Seidou players gathered around Sawamura, while Tanba urged him to take over as their ace.

Sawamura relieved Tanba with one out and the bases loaded, then retired two batters without allowing a run. Seidou kept a 5–1 lead as the game entered its final three innings.

• Tanba reacted anxiously when Tetsu suggested Sawamura take pressure off him, while the Seidou players and spectators joked about their strange ritual.
• Sawamura warmed up with Miyuki and entered with one out and the bases loaded against Kyoma Daifuji Maki High School.
• Enjo swung at Sawamura’s first pitch and popped it up, and Sawamura caught the infield fly for the second out.
• Hongo watched Sawamura’s first pitch, then fouled off several pitches before taking a ball as he struggled to find the timing.
• Miyuki called for an inside-corner cutter, Hongo hit it toward third, and Seidou completed the out to end the inning without allowing a run.

Seidou’s offense failed to score in the top of the seventh, while Sawamura struck out theatrically and Kyoma’s defense held firm. Kyoma began a patient attack against Sawamura in the bottom half, but its first two batters were retired.

• Tanba praised Sawamura after his pitching, and Coach Kataoka told him to pitch the next inning as Kyoma replaced Hongo with Hasebe.
• Sendou teased Miyuki about his poor hitting and said Seidou needed to win its final game, while Miyuki insisted they would return to Koshien.
• Hasebe struck out Sawamura, and Kyoma’s infield turned a double play to retire Shirazu and Kuramochi.
• Coach Nitta told Kyoma’s batters to choke up, stand at the front of the box, and wear down Seidou’s pitchers with foul balls.
• Sawamura struck out Aku, and Kyoma’s next batter was retired after hitting a ground ball to Seidou’s defense.

Sawamura escaped the eighth inning without allowing a run, though Kyoma’s patient hitters pushed him into a long battle and Nishi Hideo reached second. Seidou began its reply against Hasebe, and Kominato Ryosuke opened the inning with a hit, putting a runner on first with no outs before the Center Batting Lineup came up.

• Nishi Hideo worked Sawamura for a walk, and Matsushita followed with a long at-bat before Isashiki caught his jammed ball for an out as Nishi advanced to second.
• Sawamura struck out neither batter in the inning but retired Suzuki on a ground ball, ending Kyoma’s attack without a run.
• Coach Kataoka praised Sawamura, then urged Seidou’s upper lineup to get runners on base and pressure Kyoma’s pitcher before the fourth and fifth batters came up.
• Hasebe began Seidou’s eighth-inning offense by pitching to Kominato Ryosuke, who hit a low inside curveball past the third baseman to reach first with no outs.
• Enjou called a timeout and went to the mound as Seidou’s Center Batting Lineup came to bat with a runner on base.

Kyoma Daifuji Maki’s Hasebe and Enjo faced Seidou’s cleanup hitters after Isashiki’s hit and Oni-san’s steal put runners on first and second. Hasebe found his composure against Sendou, but the count reached two balls and two strikes as the crowd suspected an intentional walk.

• Enjo reassured Hasebe that Seidou’s runners and powerful lineup made the situation difficult, but urged him to stay focused.
• Isashiki choked up on the bat and hit Hasebe’s pitch while Oni-san stole second, putting runners on first and second.
• Coach Nitta ordered Hasebe and Enjo to challenge Sendou rather than walk him, and the stadium erupted as Sendou came to bat.
• Hasebe calmed himself by accepting that mortals could still fight geniuses, then threw two inside pitches outside the zone and earned two balls.
• Enjo called an inside fastball that Sendou watched for a strike, followed by an inside curveball that missed, leaving the count at two balls and two strikes as Chris sensed something was wrong.

Sendou’s two-run triple widened Seidou’s lead, and Kyoma intentionally walked Yuuki and Miyuki before Sawamura’s bunt brought Sendou home. Seidou ended the eighth inning ahead 7–1, but Kyoma’s players remained fired up.

• Sendou drove Enjo’s slider to left-center for a two-run triple, making the score 7–1.
• Hasebe calmed a shaken Enjo, who returned to the mound and intentionally walked Yuuki.
• Nishi Hideo stopped Masuko’s hard-hit ball and helped Kyoma record an out at second, though the double play failed.
• Enjo intentionally walked Miyuki to load the bases with one out and bring Sawamura to bat.
• Coach Kataoka signaled for a squeeze play, and Sawamura bunted as Sendou scored before Kyoma turned a double play.
• Seidou finished the bottom of the eighth with a seven-run lead while Kyoma’s players continued to show fighting spirit.

Seidou replaced Sawamura with Sendou on the mound for the final innings, stunning the stadium and revealing that Coach Kataoka had trusted Sendou as a hidden pitching option. Sendou began warming up with Miyuki as his catcher, though he admitted he had never learned pitching signals.

• Coach Nitta urged Inajitsu to overcome Seidou’s seven-run lead and attack Furuya in the final two innings.
• Seidou announced that Itai replaced Sawamura in left field, Isashiki moved to center field, and Sendou took the mound as pitcher.
• Harada revealed to Narumiya Mei that Sendou had been a star pitcher in elementary school and had struck Harada out three times when Harada tried to hit him.
• Seidou’s seniors cheered as Sendou took the mound, while Ozawa explained that he hated pitching but was a true genius.
• Mine Fujio realized Coach Kataoka had arranged his pitchers around his faith in Sendou as a final option.
• Sendou began warming up with Miyuki and asked him to teach him pitching signals, saying he had never used them before.

Sendou accepted Coach Kataoka’s request to pitch the final innings after learning the third-years had prepared a glove and arranged extra vacation for him. He opened against Kyoma Daifuji Maki with a 151-kilometer-per-hour strike, stunning the crowd and scouts.

• Miyuki called for a high inside fastball, but Sendou shook off the signal and chose a low outside pitch.
• Coach Kataoka told Sendou that the third-years wanted him to pitch, and their thanks, a prepared glove, and six extra days off persuaded him to agree.
• Sendou took the mound for the bottom of the eighth and prepared to throw his first pitch of the game.
• Sendou fired a 151-kilometer-per-hour outside-corner strike, drawing a roar from the stadium and amazement from spectators and scouts.

Sendou dominated Kyoma with a 152-kilometer-per-hour fastball and a Changeup, leaving the opposing batters overwhelmed as Seidou’s victory drew near. Taninaka faced Sendou’s new Fast Forkball, while Hongo reacted in disbelief.

• Miyuki realized Sendou had used a low outside fastball to demonstrate his control and crush Kyoma’s confidence.
• Sendou struck out the next batter with a 149-kilometer-per-hour fastball and then an 118-kilometer-per-hour Changeup.
• Aoyagi tried to focus on the fastball, but Sendou struck him out with three corner fastballs, ending the at-bat with a 152-kilometer-per-hour pitch.
• Sendou opened against Taninaka with a 145-kilometer-per-hour Fast Forkball, which shocked Hongo.

Sendou dominated Kyoma Daifuji Maki with overpowering pitches, while Seidou’s lineup widened its lead to 16–1 in the top of the ninth. Sendou then struck out Kyoma’s final batters to end the game.

• Sendou struck out Taninaka with a 153-kilometer-per-hour pitch that rose at home plate, leaving Miyuki and the Seidou players amazed while Sendou stayed distracted by thoughts of the victory banquet.
• Coach Nitta urged Kyoma’s players to keep fighting, and they returned to the field determined to finish the game.
• In the top of the ninth, Seidou attacked Kyoma’s defense, loaded the bases, and forced a pitching change before Captain Tetsu and the lineup pushed the score to 16–1.
• Sendou struck out Enjo with a changeup and fastballs, then retired Onishi and Kyoma’s ace pinch hitter with his varied pitches.
• Sendou struck out Kyoma’s last batter, ending the game with Seidou holding a fifteen-run lead.

Sendou’s record-breaking final pitch secured Seidou’s Koshien championship, and he celebrated with his seniors before discussing his pitching and the team’s prospects in interviews. He left for the hospital with Rei-chan to have his arm checked, while Seidou’s new team faced a difficult autumn tournament ahead.

• Sendou struck out Kyoma’s batter with a 157-kilometer pitch, setting a new Koshien speed record and winning the championship for Seidou.
• Miyuki and the Seidou players rushed to the mound to celebrate Sendou’s final pitch, then both teams saluted and Seidou formed its last Circle Formation.
• Sendou told reporters he pitched for his seniors, preferred playing outfield, and still considered Narumiya Mei stronger than Hongo Masamune.
• Sendou mentioned that his arm hurt, so Jun-san and Captain Tetsu took him to Rei-chan, who sent him to the hospital while the others collected the Victory Banner.
• In the taxi, Sendou and Rei-chan discussed the challenge of preparing Seidou’s new team for the autumn tournaments and the players who needed to improve.

Sendou and Rei-chan cleared up a taxi driver's mistaken impression that they were a couple, then joined Seidou's victory banquet, where the team discussed Sendou's injury and celebrated their victory. Sendou saw the Victory Flag and, after showering under Ono's supervision, took his seat for the meal.

• A taxi driver mistook Sendou and Rei-chan for a couple, and they explained that they were a player and a teacher at Seidou.
• Rei-chan told the team that Sendou would need at least two weeks to recover and another hospital examination to determine the full recovery time.
• Coach Kataoka and Rei-chan agreed that Sendou should follow the doctor's instructions and recover, while the team waited to see what that meant for the Autumn Tournament.
• Captain Tetsu showed Sendou the Victory Flag, and Isashiki-senpai scolded him into calling it the best.
• Ono accompanied Sendou to shower and watched over him, then Sendou joined the team for the victory banquet.

After returning from Koshien, Seidou began preparing for the Autumn Tournament while the players rested and the coaches planned the new team. Coach Kataoka asked Sendou for advice on arranging practice matches, and Sendou noticed Yakushi High School among the proposed opponents.

• Sendou spent Seidou’s last night at the hotel under watch, then returned to the team’s ballpark the next morning with the third-year players.
• Coach Kataoka gave the team two days off and scheduled training to resume on the twenty-fifth while the coaching staff prepared for the Autumn Tournament.
• Coach Ochiai joined the staff and began helping revise training plans, focusing on building the new team around its pitching lineup.
• Rei-chan introduced Coach Ochiai to Sendou, and Coach Kataoka asked Sendou to share his thoughts on the team’s plans.
• Coach Kataoka explained that he intended to arrange many practice matches to select First Team players and build team chemistry, then showed Sendou a list of potential opponents.
• Sendou spotted Yakushi High School on the list and realized that Seidou’s depleted, unfinished roster made the matchup especially challenging.

Sendou analyzed Seidou’s practice-match schedule and supported Coach Kataoka’s plan to face Yakushi, while Kataoka outlined a defense-first strategy for the Autumn Tournament. On his way back to the dorms, Sendou received taunting messages from Narumiya Mei and angrily replied, leaving Narumiya to spend the next week running laps.

• Sendou identified Yakushi as the only strong opponent on the practice-match list and inferred that the game would serve as a final test for Seidou’s new team.
• Head Manager Oota objected to playing Yakushi so soon, but Sendou supported the match, saying the players needed a hard lesson after losing their dependable upperclassmen.
• Coach Kataoka told Sendou to attend a follow-up examination and later explained that Seidou would build its defense around a strong lineup while developing consistent scoring around Sendou’s batting.
• Coach Ochiai suggested making Sendou the team’s ace and cleanup hitter, but Kataoka said he would respect Sendou’s lack of interest in pitching.
• Narumiya Mei sent Sendou a taunting congratulatory message, and Sendou replied angrily after Narumiya sent several more messages.
• Narumiya spent the following week running laps on the sports field while cursing Sendou.

Sendou learned his injury was minor and that he could recover in time for the Autumn Tournament, while Seidou’s returning players threw themselves into preparing to lead the new team. At dinner, the players debated the next captain as Sawamura declared he would become the ace and Furuya focused on training and eating.

• Sendou went to the hospital with Rei-chan, and the doctor said his muscle strain was minor and he could begin rehabilitation in about a week.
• Miyuki watched footage of the Seihou game and told Kuramochi the new team needed to improve so Sendou would not have to carry them; Kuramochi joined him in reviewing their at-bats.
• Maezono urged Kominato to begin practicing, and the two were soon joined by the other players who had stayed at school.
• Furuya told Sawamura he wanted to become the team’s ace like Sendou, and Sawamura learned that Sendou would likely be ready for the Autumn Tournament.
• At dinner, the team discussed possible captains, including Miyuki and Sendou, while Sawamura shouted that he would become the ace and Furuya choked while trying to eat more.

As Seidou prepared to restart training, Coach Kataoka announced that Miyuki would become the new captain, with Kuramochi and Maezono as vice-captains and Sendou supporting the team through his play and advice. The team faced a demanding rebuild and a new goal: winning the Summer and Spring championships consecutively.

• Kanemaru urged the first-years to work harder for a place on the new team, while Kuramochi and the other seniors watched their spirited exchange.
• Coach Kataoka reassured the team that Sendou's injury was stable, said Sendou would sit out games until the Autumn Tournament, and announced that official training and practice matches would begin the next day with a new coach.
• Sendou offered to escort the managers home after dinner, prompting teasing from Miyuki about his popularity with girls.
• Coach Kataoka told Kuramochi, Maezono, and Sendou that he intended to appoint Miyuki captain, and Kuramochi and Maezono supported the choice.
• Sendou agreed that Miyuki was the best fit and promised to help him, while Coach Kataoka named Kuramochi and Maezono vice-captains.
• Coach Kataoka set the new team's goal as the Summer-Spring consecutive championship and urged the players to overcome the challenges of rebuilding one by one.

Seidou launched its new first- and second-year team as Miyuki urged them to defend their championship and aim for a Summer-Spring Consecutive Championship. Coach Ochiai began familiarizing himself with the players, while Sendou's unexpected rapport with him and the pitchers' rivalry carried into the team's first practice.

• Rei-chan and Coach Kataoka gathered the players, introduced Coach Ochiai, and warned the new team that the autumn tournament would be difficult.
• Miyuki gave his first speech as captain, called for the team to defend its title, and set their sights on winning consecutive summer and spring championships.
• Miyuki started warm-ups, while Rei-chan and Head Manager Oota discussed why Miyuki had been chosen as captain instead of Sendou.
• Sendou left the warm-up to watch practice, and Coach Ochiai joined him; the two talked about training and observed the team together.
• The players began formal practice using facilities shared with the third-years, and Sendou noticed that the Bullpen had gained a roof.
• Sawamura and Furuya renewed their rivalry over pitching and becoming ace before joining the others for Bullpen training.