Chapter Summaries

Sawamura took over for Furuya with a runner on second and no outs, then struck out the side using sharp outside-corner pitches. He returned to the bench after turning the momentum toward Seidou and urged the team to launch a counterattack.

• Sawamura took the ball from a sulking Furuya and pushed him off the mound.
• Sawamura opened with a sharply placed low outside pitch that caught the batter looking and lifted Seidou’s spirits.
• Sawamura struck out the fifth batter with another outside pitch, then retired the next batter for the second out.
• Sawamura finished the inning by striking out the final batter, completing a perfect relief appearance against three batters.
• Kuramochi smacked Sawamura for shouting in the bench, and Sawamura called for a full-on counterattack anyway.

Seidou’s new pitcher, Sawamura, held Teitou scoreless with outside-corner pitches, and Tojo sparked the sixth inning by reaching base with an unexpected one-handed hit. Kuramochi then battled Mukai through a long at-bat but struck out, leaving Seidou’s plan to wear Mukai down and set up Sendou unresolved.

• Okumura assessed Sawamura’s outside-corner pitching, while Miyuki and Coach Kataoka agreed to center the pitches there against Teitou.
• Shouji Higasa grounded out, but Tojo hit Mukai’s screwball one-handed and reached base as Sawamura claimed his advice had helped.
• Tojo answered Mukai’s dismissive attitude with a resolute look, affirming that he had not given up on baseball or pitching.
• Kuramochi fought through an eleven-pitch at-bat, but Mukai struck him out with a controlled screwball on the lower inside edge.
• Coach Okamoto noted that Mukai had thrown eighteen pitches in the inning, while Coach Kataoka continued relying on the plan to wear him down before Sendou came to bat.

Seidou rallied against Mukai Taiyou as Kominato hit a single to put runners on second and third, bringing Sendou to the plate with two outs. Mukai refused to face Sendou and instead challenged Shirazu, who swung at a high pitch and was called out, leaving Seidou's rally unfinished.

• Kominato hit Mukai's first pitch into left field, and Seidou's third-base coach sent the runner to third as the outfield throw was delayed.
• Seidou brought runners to second and third with two outs, and Sendou joked with Miyuki before stepping into the batter's box.
• Mukai decided not to face Sendou, whom he acknowledged as a frightening hitter, and focused on winning the game for Teitou.
• Mukai and Qian challenged Shirazu with a high pitch after he had avoided low pitches, and Shirazu swung.
• The pitch clipped the top of Shirazu's bat and the umpire called him out.

Mukai Taiyou shut down Seidou’s scoring threat with a daring high pitch, and Sawamura answered by retiring Teitou in order while mixing in an unexpected inside pitch. As the bottom of the seventh began in heavier rain, Sendou headed to the plate amid a surprise cheering song, determined to get on base.

• Mukai struck out Shirazu with a high hanging ball and ended Teitou’s scoring threat, drawing praise for his control and boldness.
• Sawamura retired Teitou’s next three batters, relying on outside pitches before catching Kajiyama with an inside fastball.
• Seidou’s stands surprised Sendou with a cheering song combining the songs he liked.
• Sendou walked to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, resolved to get on base.

Sendou refused to swing at three straight pitches, then crushed Kenken Ken and Mukai Taiyou’s attempt to steal a strike for a home run to left field. Seidou scored a run, and the chapter ended with the narrator saying the day’s attempt had failed but there was still a chance to try again tomorrow.

• Kenken Ken and Mukai Taiyou opened Sendou’s at-bat with three balls as Sendou watched each pitch without swinging.
• Miyuki realized Sendou might have been waiting to observe the pitches before the count forced the battery to change its plan.
• Kenken Ken called for a low outside pitch, hoping to catch Sendou off guard and get a strike.
• Sendou hit Mukai Taiyou’s pitch over the left-field fence net and into the grass for a home run, giving Seidou a run.
• The narrator said the day’s attempt had failed and planned to try again tomorrow.

Sendou explained how he read Mukai Taiyou and hit his pitch, then received Coach Kataoka’s support for the strategy of letting three pitches go by. The game paused for Teitou to regroup, while Seto Takuma teased Okumura about joining Seidou.

• Sendou joked with Qian after reaching home plate, then told Miyuki that he had predicted Mukai would challenge him with an outside-corner ball.
• Sendou refused to give Miyuki batting advice and tapped his helmet with Miyuki’s bat, while the team recognized how much pressure Sendou had drawn from them.
• Seto Takuma asked Okumura whether he would consider attending Seidou, but Okumura kept watching the game without replying.
• Teitou called a timeout to give Mukai time to recover after allowing a run.
• Coach Kataoka praised Sendou for deliberately letting the first three pitches go by, and Sendou said he had done so to observe Mukai and make the battery anxious.

Seidou tried to tie the score in the seventh inning, but Mukai and Teitou’s defense stopped their rally, and the rain did not end the game. Sawamura took the mound for the eighth and retired Teitou’s first two batters before facing Qian, with both teams placing their hopes on the fourth batter.

• Miyuki hit a single, then Sawamura’s bunt stalled in the muddy dirt, and Miyuki was tagged out at third while Sawamura reached first.
• Maezono worked the count against Mukai’s low pitches, but Mukai struck him out with a high pitch and Teitou’s infield completed the out.
• The umpires allowed play to continue despite the rain, and Sawamura began the eighth inning on the mound.
• Sawamura retired Teitou’s leadoff batter and third batter, leaving two outs and no runners on base.
• Qian came up to bat as Teitou and Mukai rallied behind him, trusting him to keep their hopes alive.

Sawamura faced Teitou’s dangerous Kenken Ken, survived a tense at-bat that put runners on first and second, then regained his composure and ended the inning with a catch for the third out. Seidou left the field encouraged by his resolve and effective pitching.

• Sawamura challenged Kenken Ken with inside pitches and a cutter, but Kenken Ken fouled off several pitches before slicing a hit into left field and reaching first base.
• Sawamura fixated on Kenken Ken and made a pickoff throw, then gave up another hit that put runners on first and second with two outs.
• Sawamura rallied Seidou’s defense with a shout, admitted to himself that he had to fight with the strength he had, and faced the next batter with renewed determination.
• Sawamura struck the next batter with a low outside pitch, then induced a hit that Miyuki caught for the third out.
• Sawamura ran back toward Seidou’s dugout as Kuramochi praised his pitching.

Sawamura finished a scoreless eighth, and Seidou fought to erase Teitou’s one-run lead in the final inning. Kanemaru reached base with a hit, and Kuramochi reached on a bunt and a throwing error, leaving Seidou with a chance to tie the game.

• Sawamura returned to the dugout after shutting Teitou out in the eighth, and Coach Kataoka praised him before naming Kanemaru the next inning’s pinch hitter.
• Sendou advised Kanemaru to target Mukai Taiyou’s fastball and avoid his changeup, while Coach Okamoto prepared Miyagawa in case Teitou needed a pitching change.
• Kanemaru followed Sendou’s advice, stayed patient through a full count, and hit a ball into play to reach first base.
• Mukai struck Tojo out at second, then faced Kuramochi as the Seidou crowd cheered and Kanemaru took a cautious lead.
• Kuramochi surprised Teitou with a two-strike bunt, and the throw went astray, allowing him to reach base as Seidou seized a chance to score.

Seidou tied the game in the eighth inning with an aggressive double steal and hit-and-run play, despite Mukai Taiyou pitching sharply. Shirazu was retired on a brilliant defensive play, ending the inning before Sendou could bat.

• With runners on first and second and one out, Mukai struck out Kominato with two pitches in the strike zone.
• Seidou launched a double steal, then Kanemaru hit a grounder that Kajiyama fielded as both runners advanced.
• Kanemaru charged home on Sendou’s signal and scored safely, tying the game while Kuramochi advanced to third.
• Kenken Ken checked on Mukai, who insisted he was fine, and Shirazu came to bat with two outs and a runner on third.
• Kajiyama stopped Shirazu’s hit with his glove and threw him out, ending the inning before Sendou came up.

Seidou held Teitou scoreless in the top of the ninth after Kanemaru’s error put a runner on second, with Sawamura and Sendou combining to end the threat. As Seidou prepared to bat in the bottom of the inning, Sendou reminded Sawamura of their old scoring strategy, but Sawamura misunderstood and promised to hit a home run.

• Coach Kataoka entrusted the final inning to Sawamura, who gave up a double when a rain-soaked field caused Kanemaru’s glove to deflect a ground ball into fair territory.
• Sawamura fielded Teitou’s eighth batter’s bunt and threw to Kanemaru at third for a force out.
• Miyuki baited Mukai into an outfield fly, and Sendou feigned losing sight of the ball before catching it and throwing out the runner at second to end the inning.
• Sendou told Sawamura that their strongest scoring play at Akagi Middle School had been for Sendou to run and Sawamura to bring him home.
• Sawamura misunderstood Sendou’s hint to bunt and boasted that he would hit a home run, prompting Kuramochi to correct him.

In the bottom of the ninth, Sendou faced Mukai in a decisive showdown but used a safety bunt to reach first base, choosing a way to pursue victory despite his poor condition. Miyuki came up next, with Sawamura waiting behind him as Seidou’s chance to score continued.

• Sawamura misunderstood Coach Kataoka’s instructions, who told him to bunt if Sendou reached base.
• Sendou told Coach Ochiai he wanted to play baseball for victory and accepted the pressure of needing to get on base.
• Sendou faced Mukai through several pitches, fouling off two balls as he struggled with his condition and analyzed Teitou’s changing pitch strategy.
• Sendou laid down an unexpected safety bunt and reached first safely, leaving Teitou’s defense without a chance to force him out.
• Miyuki came to bat and realized Sendou’s priority had been to get a runner into scoring position, while Sawamura remained on deck.

Sendou used a Safety Bunt as cover to steal second and third, putting Seidou in a winning position against Teitou. Teitou intentionally walked Miyuki and Sawamura to load the bases, leaving Maezono to bat.

• Sendou suddenly stole second while Miyuki held at the plate, then Miyuki’s swing distracted Kenken Ken long enough for Sendou to steal third.
• Teitou called a defensive timeout, shifted its infield and outfield, and intentionally walked Miyuki.
• Sawamura entered the batter’s box, forgot the Signals, and was intentionally walked to load the bases.
• Teitou chose to face Maezono next, betting that the bases-loaded situation and his weak batting would be easier to defend.

With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth and the bases loaded, Maezono faced Mukai Taiyou in a tense at-bat while Sendou waited at third. Sendou signaled that Mukai would throw a low outside screwball, leaving Maezono prepared for the pitch as the decisive duel continued.

• Coach Kataoka encouraged Maezono to stay determined, while his Seidou teammates rallied around him before he entered the batter’s box.
• Miyuki signaled Maezono to ignore difficult pitches and look for high-inside balls or outside fastballs.
• Mukai Taiyou and Kenken Ken attacked Maezono with carefully placed pitches; Maezono took two strikes, recognized a changeup for a ball, and held back on another deceptive pitch.
• Maezono fouled off an outside fastball, bringing the count to two strikes and two balls.
• Sendou analyzed the pitch sequence and signaled Maezono to expect a low outside screwball in the strike zone.

Seidou defeated Teitou 5–2 after Sendou signaled Maezono to expect Mukai’s high inside pitch, which Maezono drove for the game-ending hit. The teams departed with the result settled, while Seidou celebrated and Okumura decided to attend Seidou.

• Maezono fouled off Mukai’s close outside pitch, keeping the count at two balls and two strikes.
• Sendou signaled that Mukai would throw high and inside, and Maezono prepared for the pitch.
• Maezono drove Mukai’s next pitch into the outfield, bringing in the loaded runners and ending the game with Seidou ahead 5–2.
• Seidou celebrated the win, while Mukai struggled with the loss and Kenken Ken explained that Maezono had hit the pitch they had been targeting.
• Okumura told Seto Takuma that he had decided to attend Seidou, and the team later sent Furuya to the hospital after discovering he had a cold.

Sendou and Narumiya Mei bickered over Line after Narumiya woke him, and their argument turned into a challenge to meet in the Autumn Tournament. Sendou later joined his Seidou teammates for food and learned Furuya was resting with a mild fever.

• Sendou woke to Narumiya Mei's messages, and the two argued about girlfriends, Teacher Takashima, and Narumiya's sisters.
• Carlos watched Narumiya lose his temper as Sendou teased him, then privately told Sendou that their ace had been driven crazy.
• Sendou reminded Narumiya that Inajitsu had to beat Ugumori before they could meet Seidou in the third round, and Narumiya went out for a run.
• Sendou went to the cafeteria, where he told Miyuki, Kuramochi, and Maezono that Narumiya had woken him and declared a challenge.
• Kuramochi told Sendou that Furuya had a mild fever and was resting after taking medicine.

After Seidou’s win, the players discussed the game and headed out for self-practice while Furuya recovered from his fever. Sendou left to meet Rei-chan, and Kuramochi and Miyuki were caught gossiping about Sendou’s closeness with her when Captain Tetsu appeared.

• Furuya said he felt better, ate little, and went running despite Sendou and Kuramochi’s concern.
• The team reviewed the game, teasing Kuramochi and Maezono while several players left to practice.
• Miyuki told Kuramochi to let Furuya run, then used Furuya’s head start to spur Sawamura into a run after Sawamura had been texting Wakaba.
• Sendou received a call from Rei-chan and went to the Supervisor’s Room, prompting Kuramochi and Miyuki to speculate about their relationship.
• Captain Tetsu overheard Kuramochi and Miyuki gossiping, and Kuramochi fled while Miyuki followed.

Sendou spoke with Coach Kataoka and Rei-chan, asked for more batting cages, and got permission to watch Ugumori play. After studying Ugumori’s win, he left with a clearer sense of their style and pitching, though he did not enjoy their reckless tactics.

• Sendou overheard Coach Kataoka explain how rivals and teammates helped each other grow before entering the Supervisor's Room.
• Sendou asked Rei-chan to increase the number of batting cages to ten, then settled for five, and asked Coach Kataoka to let him watch Ugumori's game.
• Coach Kataoka asked Sendou about Kanemaru and noticed that Sendou's leg seemed sore; Sendou said it was only a little soreness.
• Sendou attended morning practice the next day, then left early to watch Ugumori defeat its opponent 5–1.
• Sendou assessed Ugumori's ace and their base-running tactics, then left the venue unimpressed by their reckless style.

Sendou reported on Ugumori’s strengths and weaknesses, then asked Watanabe-senpai to record its next game against Inajitsu. The next day, Sendou visited Sawamura at school and told him that Oniisan wanted to see him at noon.

• Sendou told Miyuki that Ugumori had beaten its weak opponent five to one and said he disliked the team’s style.
• Sendou and Miyuki discussed the additional batting nets, which Rei-chan had already arranged to install for use the next day.
• Sendou described Ugumori’s aggressive base stealing, strong center batting lineup, and ace to Watanabe-senpai, then asked him to record Ugumori and Inajitsu’s scorebooks.
• Watanabe-senpai agreed to record the game, and Sendou later used his observations in his thoughts on the game for Coach Kataoka.
• At school the next day, Sendou tried to take Sawamura’s book, gave up when Sawamura blocked his desk, and told him Oniisan wanted to meet him at the student cafeteria’s vending machine at noon.

Oni-san teased Sawamura over his habit of addressing seniors casually by testing whether he knew his teammates’ names, then sent him off to training after revealing that even he did not know Head Manager Oota’s name. Sawamura eagerly joined practice, where Nishino came to watch.

• Sawamura told Oni-san and Kominate that Kuramochi had scolded him for disrespectful nicknames, and Oni-san explained that Sawamura’s competitiveness made him resist acknowledging his seniors.
• Oni-san quizzed Sawamura on the summer roster’s names; Sawamura answered most of them but failed to name Head Manager Oota.
• Haruichi supplied Oota’s name, Kazuyoshi, surprising Sendou and revealing that Oni-san had been teasing Sawamura without knowing it himself.
• After school, Sawamura enthusiastically headed to training, and Nishino followed Sendou and the others to watch.
• Sendou pointed Nishino to a safe viewing spot outside the fence net as Sawamura celebrated the newly built batting net.