Chapter Summaries

Ugumori scored again against Furuya, narrowing Seidou’s lead to five runs as their aggressive hitting continued. Coach Kataoka kept Furuya on the mound and shifted the outfield to prioritize getting outs.

• Sawamura warned Miyuki about the runner taking off, but Ugumori executed a hit-and-run that sent the ball into right field.
• Inubushi Kouta scored on the hit while the batter advanced safely to second, cutting Seidou’s lead to five with no outs.
• Miyuki wondered whether Ugumori had changed its approach after the batters attacked low pitches and swung at first pitches.
• Coach Kataoka ordered the outfield into a shallow central alignment to secure outs and gave Furuya the chance to work through the inning.

Ugumori’s batting lineup built momentum against Furuya, and Ariga drove in another hit to extend the rally. With four consecutive hits and a runner reaching third, Seidou struggled to stop the inning.

• Mine Fujio thought Ugumori’s momentum could turn the game around if the rally continued.
• Furuya faced Ariga while Nishi took a large lead from second, but Miyuki told Furuya to focus on the batter.
• Furuya threw a ball outside the strike zone, and Nishi retreated to second without attempting to steal.
• Ariga remembered how much he enjoyed playing baseball with his teammates and decided to contribute to Ugumori.
• As Nishi attempted to steal third, Ariga hit Furuya’s pitch toward the left side, and Kuramochi could not stop the play.
• Nishi reached third safely, Ariga reached first, and Ugumori celebrated its fourth consecutive hit.

Ugumori’s rally continued as a string of aggressive plays cut Seidou’s lead from seven runs to four without an out. Furuya struggled to stay composed, and the chapter ended with Ugumori loading the bases after another lucky bounce.

• A-Zhen stepped into the batter’s box as Ugumori’s bench and the crowd urged the team on, while Coach Kataoka told Seidou not to lose their heads.
• Ugumori used a hitting squeeze play, and the ball struck the first-base bag before the runner from third scored.
• Shirazu’s throw hit Ariga’s helmet, allowing Ariga to reach base and A-Zhen to advance to second as Ugumori’s rally reached five consecutive hits.
• Miyuki visited the mound to steady Furuya, whose confidence had been shaken by the rally and the hostile crowd.
• Ugumori attempted a double steal, and after Furuya’s pitch took an irregular bounce off Koharu’s glove, the runners were safe and the bases were loaded with no outs.

With Ugumori threatening to tie the game, Miyuki and Furuya faced Kondo Daiki with the bases loaded and no outs. Furuya struck him out after a tense at-bat, leaving the decisive showdown unresolved.

• Miyuki called for an infield shift to confront Ugumori’s momentum and try to stop the rally.
• Miyuki opened the at-bat with an aggressive forkball despite the runner on third.
• Furuya followed with a high hanging pitch and another strike, putting Kondo Daiki in a two-strike count.
• Furuya missed outside, and Kondo Daiki abandoned his all-out approach to wait for a pitch he could hit.
• Miyuki recognized that Kondo Daiki had settled down and prepared for a direct showdown.

Seidou struggled as Ugumori scored twice in the eighth, cutting the lead to two runs, but Furuya stayed on the mound with his teammates' support. Furuya and Kominato then turned a hit-and-run into a double play, ending the inning and giving Seidou a chance to answer.

• With the bases loaded, Kominato fielded Kondo Daiki's ground ball and Kuramochi forced out the runner at second, but Seidou failed to complete the double play and allowed two runs to score.
• As Ugumori's crowd roared, Sawamura rallied Furuya, while Sendou and Miyuki reassured him and relayed Coach Kataoka's decision to keep him pitching through the inning.
• Furuya ignored the runner and focused on the batter as Ugumori stole a base, leaving a runner in scoring position.
• Miyuki called for a low pitch, and Kominato stopped the batter's hard-hit ball before Furuya and the defense completed a double play to end the inning.

Furuya finished the eighth inning after allowing eight runs, and Coach Kataoka chose Sawamura to pitch the ninth. In the bottom of the eighth, Sendou hit a home run off Umemiya, widening Seidou’s lead as the tense showdown continued.

• Furuya returned to the bench after completing eight innings, and Coach Kataoka told him he would not pitch a complete game.
• Coach Kataoka ordered Sawamura to warm up for the ninth inning, while Miyuki urged the team to meet Ugumori’s intensity.
• Umemiya struck out Kominato and allowed Shirazu to reach first as Ugumori’s crowd roared.
• Sendou battled Umemiya’s pitches and blasted a power curveball over the center-field scoreboard for a home run.
• Sendou warned Miyuki that Umemiya remained unfazed, and Miyuki went to bat with one out as Ugumori continued cheering.

Ugumori ended Seidou’s eighth-inning offense with a four-run lead, and Seidou brought Sawamura in to pitch the final inning. The chapter left Ugumori preparing for a last-inning comeback against Sawamura.

• Miyuki battled Umemiya to a full count, but Kondo caught his fly ball at the fence for the second out.
• Maezono struck out on Umemiya’s mix of pitches, ending Seidou’s offense with the score still separated by four runs.
• Sawamura joked with Kominato about lucky items and zodiac signs, then fled Sendou after teasing him about Scorpio.
• Coach Kataoka replaced Furuya with Sawamura, while Ugumori’s players and fans rallied around their hopes of a final-inning comeback.
• Umemiya and Minami discussed Sawamura’s pitching style and welcomed the chance to face him head-on.

Sawamura entered in relief to face Ugumori in the top of the ninth, but a strict call, a wild pitch, and an embarrassing infield hit tested his composure. He settled himself before facing Umemiya, while Maruyama took an enormous lead at first and both teams prepared for the confrontation.

• Miyuki and the Seidou players encouraged Sawamura as Ugumori's crowd roared, and Sawamura admitted the away-game atmosphere was frightening before he and Miyuki traded wicked jokes.
• Maruyama watched Sawamura's first pitch pass for a ball, and Sawamura grew visibly rattled after his next pitch became a Rebound Ball.
• Miyuki guided Sawamura toward the strike zone, and Maruyama fouled off a hittable pitch before chopping another ball that Sawamura mishandled into an infield hit.
• Miyuki ran a laughing Sawamura through a mound conference and warned him not to let Umemiya provoke him, reminding him of Umemiya's home run off Furuya.
• As Umemiya stepped into the Batter's Box, Sawamura regained his focus and threw to first when Maruyama took an enormous lead, but Maruyama was called safe.

Sawamura and Umemiya pushed each other through an intense at-bat as the crowd rallied behind Ugumori’s comeback hopes. Miyuki finally called for an inside cutter, and after the pitch was hit, the match ended.

• Sawamura opened with a nasty inside ball, then Umemiya fouled off several outside pitches while growing more excited.
• Sawamura steadied himself under the crowd’s pressure and threw fierce outside pitches that Umemiya continued to foul off.
• Miyuki noticed Umemiya adjusting to the outside pitches and decided to trust Sawamura with an inside pitch.
• Sawamura accepted Miyuki’s inside-corner signal and threw the pitch, which Umemiya hit as the match ended.

Sawamura struck out Umemiya with a daring inside Cutter and helped Seidou defeat Ugumori, advancing the team toward the fall tournament semifinals. The chapter also recapped other tournament results and left Ugumori determined to prepare for its final chance in summer.

• Sawamura trusted himself and threw an inside Cutter to Umemiya, whose ground ball became a double play when Kuramochi fielded it and completed the relay.
• Sawamura retired Inubushi to end the game, and Seidou celebrated its victory as Ugumori's players mourned their loss.
• Sendou and Miyuki discussed the decisive pitch, while Tadano Itsuki resolved to watch Seidou and learn from Miyuki.
• Sensen advanced behind Amakusa's fifteen strikeouts, and Yakushi narrowly beat Meikawa 2–0 on Raichi Todoroki's two home runs.
• Umemiya remained haunted by Sawamura's performance and wanted Ugumori to grow stronger before its last chance in summer.
• Seidou looked ahead to conquering the Tokyo tournament and reaching next spring's Koshien, with its remaining schedule appearing more favorable after Inajitsu's elimination.

Seidou celebrated its 12–8 win over Ugumori, while Sawamura recounted his decisive relief appearance and the team confronted tensions over Abe. The next day, Miyuki sought Captain Tetsu’s advice, and Furuya’s worsening foot pain came to light.

• A Fu recounted Seidou’s comeback win, including Sendou’s two home runs and Sawamura’s tense ninth-inning relief, prompting Narumiya Mei to vent about his plans for revenge.
• Sawamura excitedly described his performance at dinner as Ono asked Miyuki how he had called the final cutter, and Sendou encouraged Furuya to keep striving to be the ace.
• Furuya realized his right foot hurt constantly but hid his concern, while Miyuki and Maezono argued over Abe’s role until Sendou urged them to talk things through.
• Sendou advised Miyuki to speak with Tetsu, and the following day Miyuki asked Captain Tetsu for a conversation as Jun-san went to talk with Maezono.
• Kudou-senpai discovered Furuya’s foot problem and took the first-years to question them, while Narumiya texted Sendou to praise his performance and renew their rivalry.

Sendou learned about Furuya’s injury and joked with Haruichi and Fumino before agreeing to check on Watanabe. After Furuya returned from a day of examinations, Seidou held a war council to study Toritsu Oya and plan for the game.

• Haruichi told Sendou that Furuya had hidden an injury and had hoped it would heal after one night of sleep; Sendou and Fumino laughed at Furuya’s reasoning.
• Haruichi repeated Sawamura’s claim that a little spit could cure a minor injury, and Sendou vomited into a plastic bag.
• Senior Chris told Sendou that Miyuki, Tetsu, and Isashiki were helping address Watanabe and Maezono; Sendou said he would speak with Watanabe, his dormmate.
• Furuya returned after a day of examinations, and Head Manager Oota brought him to report on his condition before the team’s war council.
• Watanabe described Toritsu Oya’s ace Wakabayashi Gou and its batters, while Sendou noticed the team shifted its defense without visible Signals.
• Watanabe agreed to investigate Toritsu Oya’s defensive Signals, and Coach Kataoka urged Seidou to rely on solid play and pressure rather than get drawn into the opponent’s tactics.

After Furuya’s ankle injury threatened his place in the Autumn Tournament, Sawamura and Kawakami worked to prepare for their chances to pitch while Miyuki and Maezono tried to support Watanabe. The chapter ended with Sendou considering how to help Watanabe choose a role he would not regret.

• Coach Kataoka said Furuya’s damaged ankle ligament could keep him out for one to three weeks, making him likely to miss the quarterfinals and semifinals.
• Sawamura encouraged Furuya, while Miyuki thanked Watanabe for his scouting data and Watanabe continued working on the hitters’ analysis.
• Sendou complained about being assigned to baserunning drills as Miyuki enjoyed batting practice, while Kanemaru and Higasa asked for extra hitting time.
• Coach Ochiai reassured Furuya about his injury, and Kawakami volunteered to pitch live batting practice to sharpen his control.
• Maezono awkwardly told Watanabe he could refuse unwanted work, and Watanabe said he was happy to help the team.
• After practice, Sendou watched Watanabe and considered how to help him make a choice he would not regret.

Sendou overheard Coach Kataoka confronting Watanabe and two other seniors about giving up playing to become managers, then urged them not to abandon their remaining time as players. The seniors reconsidered their decision, while the chapter also touched on Coach Kataoka’s concerns about the team and the players’ futures.

• Miyuki asked Sawamura why he had not asked to pitch, and Sawamura explained that he was resting his shoulder because Furuya was unavailable.
• Sendou overheard Coach Ochiai criticizing Kominato’s use of a wooden bat, then went to the Supervisor’s Room and found Coach Kataoka reviewing team matters.
• Rei-chan said Coach Ochiai had questioned the team’s roster limits, while Watanabe and two other seniors delivered scouting information on Oya Valley’s batters.
• Watanabe, Kudou, and Higashio told Coach Kataoka they were considering becoming managers or trainers because they felt outpaced by the newer team.
• Coach Kataoka inspected their calluses and urged them to keep playing while they still had the desire, pointing out that they continued to practice.
• Sendou told the seniors they could pursue coaching later but would not get another chance to enjoy high school baseball, and his words helped them decide not to give it up.

Sendou helped Watanabe-san reconsider becoming a manager, and Watanabe chose to keep playing baseball. The next morning, the second-years discussed a meeting, while Watanabe delivered his scouting notes and thanked Sendou in his thoughts.

• Sendou, Coach Kataoka, and Rei-chan discussed the players’ worries and Sendou’s role in helping Watanabe-san avoid a choice he might regret.
• Rei-chan teased Sendou as they left the Supervisor’s Room, then headed home with a family member picking her up.
• The next morning, Maezono proposed a meeting for the second-years to share their true feelings, and Sendou invited himself into the discussion.
• Watanabe-senpai brought the team batting data, explained the opposing lineup’s aggression against fastballs, and reassured everyone that he would not quit baseball.
• Sendou told the group that Watanabe-san had considered becoming a manager but had decided to remain a player, and Watanabe silently thanked him.

With Furuya ruled out of the quarterfinals, Coach Kataoka named Sawamura the starting pitcher, and the team tried to keep both Sawamura and Kawakami focused. The chapter ended with Sawamura recognizing that his pitching still needed work and deciding to call together his first-year teammates for advice.

• Sawamura urged the team to practice hard as they prepared for the game five days away, while Kuramochi told Haruichi to learn when to take risks and when to play safely.
• Coach Kataoka announced that Furuya’s foot injury would keep him out of Sunday’s quarterfinal and named Sawamura as the starter.
• Miyuki and the other second-years encouraged Kawakami after he appeared disappointed about not starting.
• Sawamura celebrated his starting role and struggled to sleep, while Furuya fought the urge to pitch before he had recovered.
• Sawamura ran into Big Brother, Tanba, and Miyauchi, who encouraged him and said the former third-years planned to watch the upcoming games.
• At practice, Sawamura’s pitches missed their targets, and Miyuki and Ono criticized him; Sawamura decided to ask his first-year advisory group for help.

Sawamura asked his teammates how he could improve as a pitcher, and their criticism exposed his need for another reliable weapon. Coach Ochiai proposed teaching him a changeup before the Oya Valley game, leaving Miyuki doubtful but Sendou ready to support the plan.

• Sawamura gathered Kanemaru, Tojo, Kariba, and Sendou to test his idea of disguising inside and outside pitches, but his attempts resulted in a ball and a wild pitch.
• Sendou told Sawamura to keep his usual pitching form and explained that changing his delivery would only worsen his control and would not conceal his pitch trajectories.
• Sawamura asked the others what he still lacked, and Kanemaru and Tojo criticized his slow thinking, emotional pitching, lack of velocity, poor control, and weak pickoff moves.
• Miyuki urged Sawamura to rely on his current abilities for the upcoming game, but Coach Ochiai argued that Sawamura needed a changeup as a decisive winning pitch.
• Sendou backed Coach Ochiai’s plan, saying he would take responsibility if Sawamura’s mistakes cost runs, and Coach Ochiai began preparing to teach Sawamura a changeup.

Coach Ochiai taught Sawamura how to throw a Changeup as Seidou prepared for its game against Oya, and Sawamura gradually learned to throw the pitch with a relaxed arm motion. The chapter ended with Sawamura preparing to try another grip tied to memories of Sendou and his early days playing baseball.

• Coach Ochiai explained the Changeup and showed Sawamura several possible grips, while Sendou and Miyuki helped clarify how the pitch worked.
• Coach Ochiai asked Miyuki to catch for Sawamura as he tried the pitch, but Sawamura initially threw the ball into the ground by forcing it.
• Sendou asked Tojo to demonstrate a Changeup, and Tojo showed Sawamura how to swing his arm hard without putting force into his fingers.
• Coach Ochiai corrected Sawamura's posture and weight transfer, and Sawamura then threw two successful Changeups.
• Coach Ochiai judged the pitch could work as a bluff against Oya, and Sawamura picked up the ball to try a different grip connected to his memories with Sendou.

Sawamura tried several Changeup grips, revealing that each grip produced a distinct and sometimes wildly unpredictable movement that amazed Miyuki and the others. The next morning, Sawamura dragged Miyuki out of bed for practice and explained why he avoided waking Sendou.

• Sawamura showed the Five-Finger Grip he had used at Akagi Middle School, and its Changeup broke sharply enough to surprise Miyuki and the others.
• Miyuki asked Sawamura to try a Fork-Finger Changeup, which dropped like a Rebound Ball and left Miyuki unable to catch it cleanly.
• Miyuki and the others realized that Sawamura could produce different movements by changing his grip, though most of the pitches still lacked control.
• Miyuki called an end to practice so Sawamura could conserve his strength before the game the day after tomorrow.
• At five in the morning, Sawamura woke Miyuki and pulled him into practice, saying Sendou had a terrifying temper when disturbed during sleep.

Sawamura demonstrated two newly mastered Changeups at practice, and Seidou prepared for his first appearance with them in its game against Oya. Seidou began batting in the top of the first, but Kuramochi and Shirazu were both retired after long at-bats.

• Miyuki told the team that Sawamura had learned two usable Changeups overnight, and Sawamura demonstrated them to the coaches and players.
• Coach Ochiai explained that Sawamura had only practiced the pitches for one night and that their value in a game remained uncertain.
• On October 17, Seidou arrived at Jingu Stadium to face Oya, with Miyuki and Sendou discussing how the team would support Sawamura's debut.
• Chris joined Captain Tetsu and other former teammates to watch Sawamura pitch, while Kuramochi led off Seidou's first-inning offense.
• Kuramochi and Shirazu battled through seven and six pitches respectively before each was put out.