Chapter Summaries

Seidou expanded its batting practice and gave the players a chance to relax while preparing for upcoming opponents. The next day, Sendou taught the team how to read pitchers during stolen-base drills, while Sawamura’s pickoff feints and refusal to pitch left the practice in chaos.

• Rei-chan arranged five batting nets, and Coach Kataoka and Head Manager Oota praised the new setup as the players began batting practice.
• Sawamura and Furuya volunteered as batting practice pitchers, and Kanemaru hit Furuya’s fastball after focusing on the role and skills Sendou had encouraged him to develop.
• Sendou crushed Sawamura’s pitch for a home run and continued batting successfully by reading Sawamura’s expressions, while Haruichi took his turn next.
• During the following day’s stolen-base practice, Sendou explained how runners could read a pitcher’s arm motion and muscle tension to judge whether he was pitching or attempting a pickoff.
• Sawamura fooled Higasa with a pickoff feint, then grew frustrated and stopped pitching during Miyuki’s turn, prompting Sendou to say that Sawamura’s mind had broken.

Sendou monitored Furuya’s foot soreness while Seidou prepared for its game against Nanamori, and Coach Kataoka settled the starting lineup. Sawamura was named the starting pitcher, while Sendou was ordered to run laps whenever he swung at a bad pitch.

• Sendou noticed Watanabe wrestling with doubts about quitting the team, but Watanabe chose not to tell him about his conversation with Miyuki.
• Sawamura practiced late into the night, slept through class, and later continued competing with Kawakami in training.
• Sendou ordered Furuya to stop self-practice and massaged his sore foot, after which Furuya angrily pounded a ball into the ceiling while practicing alone.
• Coach Kataoka decided Furuya would play left field against Nanamori and told Sendou to report any signs that Furuya’s condition worsened.
• Coach Kataoka named Sawamura the starting pitcher and warned Sendou that every swing at a bad pitch would cost him ten laps around the Sports Field.
• Coach Kataoka announced the lineup, including Haruichi batting third, Furuya in left field, Kanemaru at third base, and Sawamura on the mound.

Seidou prepared for its game against Shichimori Academy, and Sawamura tested a new inside-and-outside pitching sequence ahead of his first start. Seidou opened the game with a quick lead, and Sendou capped the first inning with a two-run home run.

• Miyuki won rock-paper-scissors, and Seidou chose to bat first while Shichimori’s Hara welcomed the chance to face their altered lineup.
• Sawamura practiced an inside-and-outside pitch sequence that Sendou had taught him, impressing Miyuki and Kuramochi despite shaky control.
• Narumiya urged Inajitsu to beat Ugumori quickly and vowed that they would defeat Seidou and Sendou.
• Kuramochi singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt before Seidou’s center-lineup batter drove him home.
• Sendou hit a two-run home run to center field, extending Seidou’s lead and thrilling the crowd.

Seidou scored five runs in the first inning, but Sawamura struggled with his control during his first start and put Shichimori Academy in a bases-loaded threat. With two runners aboard and no outs, Miyuki and the defense urged Sawamura to settle down as Shichimori waited for pitches.

• Sendou, Miyuki, and Maezono hit safely before Kanemaru drove in the runners with a long hit, giving Seidou a five-run lead.
• Sawamura struck out after Kanemaru's hit, then took the mound as Seidou began defending its lead.
• Sawamura walked Shichimori's leadoff batter, then walked the second batter after focusing repeatedly on the runner at first.
• Miyuki and the Seidou fielders encouraged Sawamura to trust the defense, while Coach Ochiai chose to let him work through the crisis.
• Sawamura threw another ball, leaving the bases loaded with no outs as Shichimori's batters continued watching his pitches.

Sawamura settled down after a shaky start and helped Seidou shut out Nanamori 16–0 in five innings, earning his first-start victory and praise from Miyuki. With Seidou preparing for tomorrow’s rematch with Inajitsu, the chapter left the team facing reporters while awaiting information about its summer rival.

• Sawamura escaped a first-inning threat by striking out Gouda with an inside pitch after setting him up with outside pitches, then Furuya caught the final fly ball to end the inning.
• Seidou’s batting lineup kept scoring as the game progressed, while Sawamura’s pitching improved and Nanamori failed to threaten him.
• Sendou hit a grand slam in the fifth inning, giving Seidou a 16–0 lead before Sawamura struck out the final batter to end the game early.
• Miyuki told Sawamura that he had reached the starting line in the fight to become Seidou’s ace, while Furuya and Kawakami responded with renewed determination.
• Seidou prepared to leave without watching Inajitsu’s game and planned to await Watanabe and the others’ report before facing Inajitsu the next day.

After Seidou learned that Ugumori had upset Inajitsu, the team watched the game footage and analyzed how Ugumori's teamwork overcame Inajitsu's individual talent. Coach Kataoka named Furuya the starter against Ugumori, while Sendou identified Inajitsu's internal problems and prepared Seidou for the next game.

• Seidou learned that Ugumori had beaten Inajitsu 2–1, and Watanabe reported that Narumiya's condition seemed fine but the pitcher-catcher signals had problems.
• Sendou warned Seidou that Ugumori's chemistry and fighting spirit made them dangerous despite their reckless play.
• Coach Kataoka announced that Furuya would start against Ugumori and told the team not to relax against the high-morale opponent.
• Seidou watched the footage, and Miyuki criticized Narumiya for ignoring his catcher's pitch plan before Umemiya Seiichi hit the winning ball.
• Sendou concluded that Inajitsu lost because its players lacked trust and coordination, comparing their individualism to Seidou's past mistakes.

Sendou intervened in a confrontation between Miyuki and Maezono over Watanabe’s intentions, helping Miyuki understand that teammates had different reasons for staying in the baseball club. Afterward, Sendou learned Furuya had felt stabbing pain in his right foot and told him to rest and see a doctor.

• Sendou returned to the cafeteria and found Maezono confronting Miyuki over Miyuki’s response to Watanabe.
• Maezono argued that Miyuki had dismissed Watanabe’s worries, while Miyuki realized he had misunderstood why Watanabe wanted to speak with him.
• Sendou explained that Watanabe might feel lost because he loved baseball, even if he did not aim to play professionally, and urged Miyuki and Maezono to discuss the matter with senior players after the next game.
• Sendou left to see Coach Kataoka, then met Furuya, who reported brief stabbing pains in his right foot during the game and while running.
• Sendou told Furuya to stop practicing, rest, and go to the hospital with Head Manager Oota the next day.

Sendou reported that his batting feel had nearly recovered, while Furuya's ankle proved to be only mildly twisted and mostly healed. Seidou began its game against Ugumori, and Furuya struck out the first batter before Kondo Daiki prolonged the next at-bat and began disrupting his rhythm.

• Sendou told Oota that Furuya had felt a brief stabbing pain in his foot, then admitted to Kataoka that his batting slump had mostly passed and accepted extra batting practice.
• Oota took Furuya to the hospital, where the doctor found only a slight, nearly healed ankle twist that was likely aggravated by fatigue.
• Seidou arrived at Edogawa Ballpark, watched Oya defeat Fukutoku, and prepared to face Ugumori in the next game.
• Miyuki and Maezono remained awkward after their disagreement, but Sendou signaled that the team could move on and focus on the game.
• Umemiya rallied Ugumori with a speech about advancing toward the national stage, and both teams roared before play began.
• Furuya struck out Ugumori's leadoff batter, but Kondo Daiki fouled off several pitches and began to unsettle Furuya's rhythm.

Furuya struggled with his control as Ugumori’s baserunning and small-ball tactics disrupted Seidou, but he recovered enough to record the first out. Umemiya then challenged him with an aggressive swing, and the chapter ended as Kondo attempted to steal again.

• Furuya’s borderline pitch to Kondo was called a ball, and Kondo drew a walk after fouling off difficult pitches.
• Kondo disrupted Furuya with a huge lead and fake steals, helping the next batter draw another walk and putting runners on first and second.
• Minami Tomo attempted a surprise safety bunt, but Miyuki called for fastballs that helped Furuya strike him out and settle down.
• Umemiya came to bat, and Miyuki chose not to challenge him with a fastball down the middle.
• Umemiya fouled off Furuya’s first pitch, then Kondo attempted a steal as Furuya threw again, and Umemiya swung.

Umemiya hit Furuya’s mistake pitch for a three-run homer, but Miyuki and Sendou got Furuya focused again and Seidou ended the inning. In the bottom of the first, Kuramochi reached base against Umemiya with a fast ground ball, giving Seidou an early chance to respond.

• Umemiya hit Furuya’s high inside fastball for a three-run home run, while Sendou leaped at the outfield wall but could not catch it.
• Miyuki scolded Furuya for ignoring his lead, and Sendou backed him up; Furuya regained his composure and finished the inning with three outs.
• Sendou and Miyuki encouraged their teammates, and Seidou took the field to bat in the bottom of the first.
• Kuramochi watched Umemiya’s slow curveballs, then hit a fast grounder between the middle infielders and reached first base with his speed.

Seidou mounted a first-inning comeback against Ugumori as Kuramochi advanced to third and Sendou Akira hit a two-run home run. The deficit shrank from three runs to one, and Sendou’s confidence rallied Seidou as they prepared to keep attacking.

• Kuramochi stole second, and Shirazu pulled back his bunt before laying one down to advance Kuramochi to third.
• Kominato was thrown out after Umemiya stopped his hit with his foot, leaving Kuramochi stranded at third with two outs.
• Sendou watched several pitches and fouled off outside balls while Minami Tomo tried to predict his approach.
• Sendou swung at Umemiya’s slow outside pitch and drove it over the center-field fence for a two-run home run.
• Sendou struck an archer’s pose to reassure Seidou, then returned to the plate as Kuramochi congratulated him and the team vowed to erase the remaining one-run deficit.

Miyuki battled Umemiya through a full count and hit a sharp Vertical Slider into center field, reaching second base and extending Seidou's rally. His hit confirmed that Sendou's home run had shaken Umemiya, and Seidou's counterattack began.

• Sendou encouraged Miyuki not to get out easily after Sendou's hit gave Seidou confidence.
• Miyuki fouled off Umemiya's pitches and kept battling despite struggling with the changes in speed.
• With the count full, Miyuki anticipated Umemiya's Vertical Slider and hit it through the infield into center field.
• Miyuki reached second base because Kondo Daiki's outfield throw and the relay could not stop him.
• Miyuki realized that Sendou's home run had affected Umemiya's control of the Vertical Slider.

Miyuki, Maezono, and Sendou sparked Seidou’s comeback with consecutive hits, tying the score before both teams settled into a tense pitching duel. In the bottom of the third, Sendou’s hard-hit ball was caught for an out, and Miyuki’s next swing sent the chapter into a cliffhanger.

• Miyuki reached second, and Maezono drove him home with a long hit down the left-field line as Seidou tied the game.
• Umemiya struck out Furuya to end Seidou’s first-inning rally, and both teams later retired their opponents through the next innings.
• Kondo Daiki reached on a safety bunt and stole second, but Furuya struck out Umemiya to end Ugumori’s third-inning threat.
• Komaru got an infield hit, but Umemiya retired Sendou when his powerful curveball was caught by the shortstop.
• Miyuki came to bat with the crisis still alive, and his swing sent the ball through as the chapter ended.

Miyuki’s home run gave Seidou momentum, but Umemiya and Furuya kept the game close as both teams battled through the fourth and fifth innings. Seidou’s lineup mounted another rally, and the chapter ended with Sendou fouling off Umemiya’s vertical slider in their tense showdown.

• Miyuki hit a two-run home run off Umemiya, but Umemiya struck out Maezono to end Seidou’s rally.
• Furuya retired Inubushi and helped Seidou shut down Ugumori in the fourth, while Umemiya beat Furuya to first base and provoked him.
• Furuya issued Kondo Daiki a walk in the fifth, then struck out Ugumori’s next two batters to end their scoring chance.
• Kuramochi reached base and stole second during Seidou’s fifth-inning rally, and Seidou scored its sixth run before Kominato was retired.
• Sendou drew two balls from Umemiya, then fouled off two pitches as Umemiya continued their head-to-head battle.

Seidou extended its lead over Ugumori after Umemiya intentionally walked Sendou and Miyuki, then Maezono drove in another run. Furuya grounded into a double play to end the inning, leaving Seidou ahead 7–3.

• Umemiya intentionally walked Sendou, then Miyuki, loading the bases to avoid giving the dangerous batters pitches to hit.
• Maezono hit a ground ball past Umemiya, bringing Sendou home and putting Seidou ahead by four runs.
• Furuya grounded into a double play with the bases loaded, ending Seidou’s inning.
• The commentators praised Seidou’s lineup and speculated about a future game against Inajitsu.
• In the dugout, Sendou praised Miyuki’s growth, and Miyuki asked how Sendou had nearly hit Umemiya’s difficult pitches.

Seidou and Ugumori remained locked in a tense, scoreless battle as Furuya battled through exhaustion and both teams squandered chances to score. The chapter ended with Ugumori’s leadoff hitter Kondo reaching base for the fourth time, putting pressure on Furuya and Seidou.

• Miyuki urged Seidou to shut down Ugumori’s cleanup hitter Umemiya, and Furuya struck him out before Miyuki threw out Inubushi trying to steal second.
• Furuya’s fatigue became evident as Ugumori put runners on base, but he escaped the top of the sixth without allowing a run.
• Tojo reached base on an error in the bottom of the sixth, and Kuramochi followed with an infield hit, putting runners on first and second with two outs.
• Umemiya and Ugumori’s second baseman A-Zhen retired Kominato on a diving stop, ending Seidou’s scoring chance.
• Sendou reassured Haru after the inning ended, while Umemiya rallied Ugumori for the final three innings.
• Kondo reached base again against Furuya, extending his record to four times on base in four plate appearances.

Furuya escaped Ugumori’s seventh-inning scoring threat and appeared determined to pitch the whole game despite pain in his foot. In the bottom of the seventh, Sendou faced Ugumori’s battery, whose bold pitching decision left the at-bat unresolved.

• Kondo Daiki stole home, giving Ugumori a runner in scoring position, but Furuya retired the next three batters without allowing a run.
• Furuya concealed his worsening foot pain, while Coach Ochiai suggested he might be able to continue pitching.
• Sawamura challenged Furuya’s plan to finish the game, then stayed in the dugout as Sendou came up to bat.
• Minami Tomo chose to face Sendou rather than walk him, and Sendou let the first outside pitch go for a ball.
• Ugumori’s battery regained confidence and used changeups against Sendou, who fouled one pitch before tracking the next as it dropped.

Seidou’s lower batting lineup scored three runs against Umemiya, stretching the lead to seven as the game entered its final innings. Ugumori rallied around Umemiya despite learning he faced a hundred laps of punishment for the runs he had allowed.

• Sendou stole third, but Miyuki struck out without bringing him home; Maezono then reached on an infield hit and Sendou scored Seidou’s eighth run.
• Tojo hit a ball over center fielder Kondo Daiki, putting runners on second and third, and pinch hitter Shouji Higasa’s lucky single brought in two more runs.
• Sawamura teased the seniors, and Sendou put him in a chokehold before forgiving him after he pleaded for mercy.
• Ugumori’s messenger told Umemiya he would run ten laps for every run allowed, leaving him with a hundred laps as the team vowed to win and lessen the punishment.

As neutral spectators rallied behind Ugumori, Sendou embraced the villain role and Seidou’s players became more fired up. Furuya took the mound in the eighth, and Umemiya opened Ugumori’s offense by patiently taking two low pitches for balls.

• Neutral spectators began cheering for Ugumori, and Sendou welcomed the chance to play the villain and crush their hopes.
• Umemiya kept pitching through the eighth inning, and Kuramochi reached first while Shouji Higasa was forced out at second.
• Furuya asked Coach Kataoka to let him pitch through the end, and Coach Kataoka made his chance to pitch the ninth depend on his performance.
• Sendou told Miyuki that the crowd’s noise made him want to silence everyone with his strength, and Seidou’s players were fired up by his attitude.
• Minami Tomo advised Ugumori’s batters to attack early and told Umemiya to lay off low pitches against Furuya.
• Umemiya took Furuya’s first two low pitches for balls, giving Ugumori an early advantage in the eighth-inning at-bat.

Umemiya and Inubushi sparked Ugumori's comeback with consecutive hits in the top of the eighth, cutting Seidou's lead to six runs. Ugumori kept rallying as the chapter ended with Nishi coming up to bat.

• Umemiya hit Miyuki's Fast Forkball into the gap and reached second base with no outs.
• Inubushi Kouta swung at the first pitch and sent the ball into the outfield, allowing Umemiya to score and advancing himself to second.
• Ugumori's players howled like a wolf pack, stirring memories of Akagi Middle School in Sendou and Sawamura.
• Ugumori's bench urged Nishi to attack the first pitch and keep the rally going.