# 13 - Batting First
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GYX0MZ58R/ace-of-the-diamond)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
**[00:05] @Miyuki**
Furuya...
**[00:07] @Miyuki**
What did you see at Koshien Stadium?
**[00:12] @Miyuki**
Are you chasing after that game
you pitched against Hongo?
**[00:18] @Miyuki**
Control, speed, and focus...
**[00:21] @Miyuki**
Only four hits allowed in nine innings.
**[00:24] @Miyuki**
It was the best I'd ever seen you pitch.
**[00:29] @Furuya**
But we lost.
**[00:31] @Furuya**
We lost because of the runs I gave up.
**[00:36] @Furuya**
I want my pitching to be even
better than it was that day.
**[00:49] @int_Miyuki**
*Aiming even higher...*
**[00:53] @int_Miyuki**
*You push yourself to walk a thorny path, huh?*
**[01:01] @Miyuki**
Sorry you had to wait, Sawamura.
**[01:03] @Miyuki**
Shall we get to it?
**[01:04] @Sawamura**
What are you trying to do?!
**[01:06] @Sawamura**
After you put me on the back burner?
**[01:10] @Furuya**
I don't intend to give up the mound.
**[01:13] @Miyuki**
You don't get to decide that.
**[01:16] @Miyuki**
The coach does.
**[01:21] Okumura**
You're not following your own advice.
**[01:24] @Miyuki**
Huh?
**[01:25] Okumura**
He wanted to keep pitching.
**[01:27] @Miyuki**
Yes, he did.
**[01:30] @Miyuki**
Pitchers are troublesome creatures.
**[01:36] @Miyuki**
That's what makes this fun.
**[03:10] Okumura**
You're not following your own advice.
**[03:13] @Miyuki**
Huh?
**[03:14] Okumura**
He wanted to keep pitching.
**[03:16] @Miyuki**
Yes, he did.
**[03:18] @Miyuki**
Pitchers are troublesome creatures.
**[03:24] @Miyuki**
That's what makes this fun.
**[03:29] @Miyuki**
Wouldn't you say?
**[03:35] @Sawamura**
Okay, let's go!
**[04:02] @Sawamura**
Okay, six more!
**[04:08] (Flashback) @fb_Miyuki**
Well, you'll learn what Sawamura
is like once you catch for him.
**[04:25] int_Asada**
* He might seem loud and*
* overly assertive at first,*
**[04:28] int_Asada**
* but he can throw the ball right*
* to your chest from any distance.*
**[04:33] int_Kuki**
*He looks like he has good ball control.*
**[04:37] Seto**
What made you want to do this, Koshu?
**[04:41] Seto**
I can't look away.
**[04:56] @Sawamura**
Okay, I'm feeling good!
**[04:58] @Sawamura**
I'm ready, Miyuki-senpai!
***SIGN*** National champions
***SIGN*** Learn today Devote every moment
**[05:07] @Miyuki**
Do you want to catch some more?
**[05:09] @Miyuki**
Then go get a protector and a mask.
**[05:13] @Miyuki**
Sawamura, throw a few more with Okumura!
**[05:17] @Sawamura**
Huh? Sure, since I'm on the back burner.
**[05:22] @Miyuki**
Are you still on about that?
**[05:24] @Sawamura**
I'd like to try number eleven today.
**[05:27] @Miyuki**
I know!
**[05:28] @Miyuki**
Be patient.
**[05:31] @Yui**
Stay focused. In a way,
**[05:35] @Yui**
his pitches are harder to deal
with than Furuya-san's.
**[05:38] @Yui**
I've never seen pitches
that were so hard to catch.
**[05:44] Kuki**
What are these numbers?
**[05:45] Asada**
It seems like they're giving
numbers to the breaking balls.
**[05:48] Seto**
Oh, man...
**[05:48] bg_Asada**
I don't know much about them.
**[05:52] @Miyuki**
Start with number four!
**[05:54] Okumura**
Number four?
**[05:56] @Miyuki**
A four-seam, like the name implies.
**[05:59] @Miyuki**
Outside for a right-handed batter.
**[06:09] @Sawamura**
This won't be like warmups, young Okumura.
**[06:13] Narrator**
*Their eyes...*
**[06:14] Okumura**
I can't wait.
**[06:18] Narrator**
*...looked forward,*
**[06:22] Narrator**
*unwavering.*
**[06:25] @int_Miyuki**
*Furuya, you're fortunate*
**[06:30] @int_Miyuki**
*to have come to this school*
**[06:32] @int_Miyuki**
*the same year as Sawamura.*
**[06:36] Narrator**
*Even if they see different things...*
**[07:01] @Sawamura**
I love that sound!
**[07:04] Okumura**
That was a ball, unfortunately.
**[07:06] @Sawamura**
What?!
**[07:07] Okumura**
But it wasn't bad.
**[07:11] @Miyuki**
He's got a flexible catching style.
**[07:13] @Yui**
Yes, sir.
**[07:15] @Miyuki**
His glove makes a nice sound,
which helps a pitcher throw their best.
**[07:22] int_Seto**
*Koshu always thought highly of him.*
**[07:27] (Flashback) fb_Okumura**
I think that's good.
**[07:30] (Flashback) fb_Okumura**
They have two interesting pitchers.
**[07:34] Asada**
He's way more intense than
when we were playing catch.
**[07:43] @Sawamura**
How was that one?
**[07:45] Okumura**
That was a strike, plainly.
**[07:46] @Sawamura**
Yeah, that's right!
**[07:49] @int_Yui**
* You can't see the ball's release point*
* until the last second,*
**[07:52] @int_Yui**
*and it doesn't drop as much as you expect.*
**[07:55] @int_Yui**
* The first time I caught for him,*
* my glove didn't make that sound.*
**[08:00] @Miyuki**
Okay, number two next!
**[08:02] @Miyuki**
A two-seamer that sinks like a shootball.
**[08:07] Kuki**
A two-seamer. Can you throw that?
**[08:09] Asada**
No...
**[08:11] @Sawamura**
Here it comes!
**[08:19] @Miyuki**
Nice reaction.
**[08:22] @int_Yui**
*He immediately adjusted to that pitch, too.*
**[08:26] @Miyuki**
Can you do a few more, Sawamura?
**[08:29] @Miyuki**
And how about you, Okumura?
**[08:30] @Sawamura**
I'm fine with more.
**[08:33] Okumura**
Yes, please.
**[08:35] @Miyuki**
Then, let's keep going! Number seven!
**[08:39] @Miyuki**
The improved cutter!
**[08:47] Kuki**
Improved sounds pretty cool.
**[08:48] Asada**
Yeah.
**[08:50] @Yui**
Miyuki-senpai.
**[08:53] @Yui**
How many pitches have you assigned numbers?
**[08:57] @Miyuki**
Well, most of them are imperfect.
**[09:02] @Yui**
Imperfect?
**[09:05] @Miyuki**
His pitches break a lot naturally,
**[09:08] @Miyuki**
so just by changing his grip,
he can throw various types of pitches.
**[09:14] @Miyuki**
We tried every grip there is and the ones
that stuck are the numbers we have.
**[09:21] @int_Yui**
*Every grip there is?*
**[09:23] @Sawamura**
He was helping me in the off season!
**[09:26] @Sawamura**
Miyuki-senpai doesn't mind
if my location is way off!
***SIGN*** Learn today Devote every moment
**[09:30] @Miyuki**
What do you take me for?
**[09:32] @Miyuki**
You should apologize.
**[09:36] @Miyuki**
A tight-grip changeup,
**[09:39] @Miyuki**
the zero-seamer thrown without
touching the stitching,
**[09:41] @Miyuki**
and the basic four-seamer and changeup.
**[09:45] @Miyuki**
Then the splitter he tried last game
but doesn't have under control,
**[09:49] @Miyuki**
and the improved cutter
he's about to throw.
**[09:52] @Miyuki**
Stay focused, Okumura.
The difficulty is about to go way up.
**[09:59] @int_Sawamura**
* The same cross step and full*
* follow-through of the cutter...*
**[10:04] @int_Sawamura**
*Plus this different grip.*
**[10:08] @int_Sawamura**
*Imagine boring a hole into the chest*
**[10:14] @int_Sawamura**
*of a right-handed batter!*
**[10:19] int_Okumura**
*Straight...*
**[10:37] @int_Miyuki**
*It's not just you, Furuya.*
**[10:42] @int_Miyuki**
* It wasn't just you who*
* experienced Koshien Stadium.*
**[10:49] @Sawamura**
Sorry, that was a wild one.
**[10:53] @int_Miyuki**
*He's improving at an amazing pace!*
**[11:13] _Player**
I heard rumors about Third High's
practices, but these guys...
**[11:17] _Player**
They swing the bat so many times.
**[11:23] Amahisa**
These guys think swinging
a thousand times a day for a year
**[11:27] Amahisa**
will let them call forth the
bat fairy or something.
**[11:31] _Player**
C-Call forth a fairy, Amahisa-senpai?
**[11:35] Amahisa**
Yeah, they really believe it.
**[11:40] _Player**
Hey, Kosei!
**[11:42] _Player**
Don't fill the first-years' heads
with a load of nonsense!
**[11:45] Amahisa**
I don't even like pitching to
you guys in situational practice.
**[11:50] Amahisa**
The bat fairy must be in there.
**[11:53] _Player**
I'd want one if they really existed!
**[11:55] _Player**
You'd want one?!
**[11:56] _Player**
Hayamin could do her voice.
**[11:59] Amahisa**
You're getting way too specific.
**[12:01] _Player**
Who's Hayamin?
**[12:03] Amahisa**
I'm gonna head out.
**[12:05] _Player**
Good work today.
***SIGN*** Kazutaka Kuhara (first-year)
**[12:10] _Player**
Amahisa-san said he doesn't like
pitching to them.
***SIGN*** Yusuke Abe (first-year)
**[12:14] _Player**
That means he trusts the lineup
to do their job, right?
***SIGN*** Tadashi Terui (first-year)
**[12:18] _Player**
The bat fairy...
**[12:21] _Player**
Hey, first-years!
Don't take him seriously!
**[12:25] _Coach**
The first-years are meshing well
with the team.
**[12:29] _Coach**
Defeating a powerhouse like Niogakusha
has made the players more confident, too.
**[12:36] _Coach**
We had bitter losses last summer and fall,
**[12:39] _Coach**
but they ended up making our team stronger.
**[12:45] _Coach**
You pushed them hard in the off season, too.
**[12:48] _Coach**
Yes.
**[12:49] _Coach**
You could see Amahisa's soul leave
his body in the latter innings.
**[12:54] _Coach**
Still...
**[12:56] _Coach**
There are things you can
only get by winning.
**[13:02] _Coach**
We'll gain true confidence in this tournament
to prepare for the summer.
***SIGN*** Seido Spirit Dorm
**[13:24] @int_Furuya**
* If we want to be the best in Japan,*
* there are many areas we need to improve.*
**[13:29] @int_Furuya**
* Personal goals: Don't let a runner*
* on base in the first inning,*
**[13:34] @int_Furuya**
*my set position, and staying focused.*
**[13:39] @int_Furuya**
*I lack so much.*
**[13:42] @int_Furuya**
*I can't become the best like this.*
**[13:49] @int_Furuya**
* If I'm the best pitcher in Japan,*
* I can make our team the best in Japan.*
**[14:00] _Sign**
Satoru Furuya
***SIGN*** April 26
***SIGN*** Tokyo High School Baseball Tournament
Third Base Side First Base Side
Game 1 10:00 Start Time
Seido – Ichidai Third High
Game 2 12:30 Start Time
Inashiro – Teito
***SIGN*** Tokyo Spring Tournament
Semifinals
Seido – Ichidai Third High
(West Tokyo) (West Tokyo)
***SIGN*** Meiji Jingu Secondary Stadium
***SIGN*** Third Base Line
Baseball Office
Competition Office
Umpires' Room
Medical Room
Locker Room
***SIGN*** First Base Line
Broadcast Room
Executive Suite
Locker Room
Jingu Tournament
Headquarters
**[14:28] _Umpire**
Lineups, please.
**[14:34] @Miyuki**
We'd like to bat first.
**[14:37] _Umpire**
Seido High School will bat first.
**[14:39] _Umpire**
Ichidai Third will bat second. Understand?
**[14:42] _Both**
Yes, sir.
**[14:43] _Umpire**
Please shake hands.
**[15:04] _Coach**
What? They're gonna bat first?
**[15:08] _Player**
Who's the starting pitcher?
**[15:09] _Sign**
1 | 6 | Yoichi Kuramochi
2 | 8 | Hideaki Tojo
3 | 4 | Haruichi Kominato
4 | 2 | Kazuya Miyuki
5 | 9 | Kenjiro Shirasu
6 | 3 | Kenta Maezono
7 | 7 | Masashi Yuki
8 | 1 | Satoru Furuya
9 | 5 | Shinji Kanemaru
**[15:10] _Player**
There he is: Satoru Furuya.
**[15:12] _Player**
But he's batting eighth.
Maybe they want him to focus on pitching.
**[15:16] _Player**
That first-year is in the
starting lineup again.
**[15:19] _Coach**
Great!
**[15:21] int_Coach**
*I thought you might start Sawamura,*
**[15:24] int_Coach**
* but looks like we'll both*
* be fielding our best players,*
**[15:28] int_Coach**
*Coach Kataoka.*
**[15:31] _Fan**
Man, this game is gonna be great!
**[15:33] _Fan**
Do you think we can watch
Inashiro versus Teito, too?
**[15:36] _Fan**
Honestly, I'd rather go back
for batting practice
**[15:39] _Fan**
while the seniors aren't around.
**[15:41] @Sawamura**
Yeah!
**[15:44] @Sawamura**
I'm feeling great!
**[15:46] Asada**
He's rather loud again today.
**[15:48] Kuki**
You can always tell where he is.
**[15:51] Seto**
He's preparing like he's the starting pitcher.
**[15:55] Seto**
That's how Sawamura-senpai...
***SIGN*** Grr...
**[15:59] Seto**
Sorry, it just slipped out.
***SIGN*** Grrrrrrrrr...
**[16:04] int_Seto**
*Just hearing his name sets you off?*
**[16:06] int_Seto**
*He must be frustrated about the other day.*
***SIGN*** Heh
heh
heh...
***SIGN*** Note: This is Koshu's impression
***SIGN*** Let's
switch
**[16:11] int_Seto**
*Really, the pitch must've broken really hard
for it to get past Koshu's glove.*
**[16:17] int_Seto**
*And that's imperfect?*
**[16:22] int_Seto**
* And he's not even the ace.*
* No wonder Seido is really strong.*
**[16:29] @Yui**
Are you done?
**[16:31] @Furuya**
Yeah, thanks.
**[16:34] Ono**
Sawamura, maybe we should wrap up, too.
**[16:36] @Sawamura**
No, no, no. Who knows when
Furuya will screw up?
**[16:40] @Sawamura**
I need to be ready from the first inning!
**[16:42] @Furuya**
You won't be pitching today.
**[16:46] _Coach**
Third High has the same
players as last game?
**[16:49] Sachiko**
Yes, even the batting order is the same.
**[16:55] int_Ochiai**
* With Third High's core*
* of left-handed batters,*
**[16:58] int_Ochiai**
*I thought Sawamura might start, but...*
**[17:02] int_Ochiai**
* Maybe Coach Kataoka wants Furuya*
* to show his ace pitching skills.*
**[17:12] (Flashback) @fb_Kataoka**
Furuya will start tomorrow.
**[17:15] (Flashback) @fb_Kataoka**
Kawakami, Sawamura, start preparing early.
**[17:19] (Flashback) fb_Both**
Yes, sir!
**[17:19] (Flashback) @fb_Kataoka**
Third High's batters are some of
the fastest swingers in the country.
**[17:23] (Flashback) @fb_Kataoka**
Fielders, be ready to back up
the pitcher on defense.
**[17:27] (Flashback) fb_All**
Yes, sir!
**[17:28] (Flashback) @fb_Furuya**
It's on me now!
**[17:30] (Flashback) @fb_Kominato**
Too early.
**[17:34] (Flashback) @fb_Kataoka**
Ichidai Third High's ace, Kosei Amahisa.
**[17:38] (Flashback) @fb_Kataoka**
His pitching held Niogakusha scoreless.
**[17:41] (Flashback) @fb_Kataoka**
He'll make scoring difficult.
**[17:45] (Flashback) @fb_Kataoka**
Based on the flow of the game
and how many outs there are,
**[17:48] (Flashback) @fb_Kataoka**
judge what to do for every pitch.
**[17:50] (Flashback) @fb_Kataoka**
Get ready to work together until you score!
**[17:56] (Flashback) @fb_Kataoka**
Every game we play from now on
will affect our summer!
**[18:00] (Flashback) @fb_Kataoka**
If you're serious about winning a national
championship, then win this game!
**[18:07] (Flashback) fb_All**
Yes, sir!
***SIGN*** Seido
***SIGN*** Ichidai
**[18:11] Announcer**
* It's the first game of the Tokyo*
* spring tournament semifinals,*
**[18:15] Announcer**
* with Seido High School*
* facing Ichidai Third High.*
**[18:18] Announcer**
* They are long-time rivals,*
* both from the western division.*
**[18:21] Announcer**
* You can sense the tension*
* in the packed stands.*
**[18:24] Announcer**
* Which team will win this preview match*
* for the summer tournament?*
**[18:29] _Umpire**
Bow!
**[18:30] _All**
Thank you!
**[18:33] Announcer**
*Thank you for waiting.*
**[18:36] Announcer**
* Today's first game,*
* Ichidai Third High vs Seido High School,*
**[18:42] Announcer**
*will begin soon.*
**[18:46] Announcer**
*Beginning with the fielding team,*
**[18:48] Announcer**
* Ichidai Third High's pitcher*
* will be Amahisa-kun.*
**[18:53] Announcer**
*Playing catcher, Takami-kun.*
**[18:56] Announcer**
*Playing first base, Hoshida-kun.*
**[18:59] Announcer**
*Playing second base, Miyamoto-kun.*
**[19:01] Owada**
Both teams have all their best players.
**[19:02] Announcer**
*Playing third base, Mori-kun.*
**[19:05] Mine**
Winning this game will guarantee
a spot in the Kanto tournament.
**[19:05] Announcer**
*Playing shortstop, Adachi-kun.*
**[19:08] Announcer**
*Playing left field, Yoshida-kun.*
**[19:08] Mine**
They don't want to show any weakness
before the summer tournament.
**[19:11] Announcer**
*Playing center field, Miyagawa-kun.*
**[19:14] Announcer**
*Playing right field, Sasaki-kun.*
***SIGN*** Seido
***SIGN*** Ichidai
**[19:21] Announcer**
* Top of the first inning,*
* Seido High School is up to bat.*
**[19:25] Announcer**
*Batting first, shortstop Kuramochi-kun.*
**[19:30] _Fan**
Train, train, running along!
**[19:33] _Fan**
Train, train, on and on!
**[19:36] _Fan**
Train, train, running along!
**[19:40] _Fan**
Train, train, on and on!
**[19:47] (Flashback) fb_Maezono**
What? You won at rock-paper-scissors?
**[19:50] (Flashback) @fb_Kuramochi**
Did you wait to throw?
**[19:51] (Flashback) fb_Shirasu**
But you never win.
**[19:52] (Flashback) @fb_Miyuki**
Well, excuse me.
**[19:54] (Flashback) @fb_Miyuki**
You know what it means to bat first.
**[19:58] (Flashback) @fb_Miyuki**
Amahisa isn't especially great
at the start, either.
**[20:04] (Flashback) @fb_Miyuki**
We need to go after Amahisa
in the first inning
**[20:07] _Fan**
Train, train, running along!
**[20:07] (Flashback) @fb_Miyuki**
and take the pressure off Furuya.
**[20:10] _Fan**
Train, train, on and on!
**[20:13] _Fan**
Train, train, running along!
**[20:16] _Fan**
Train, train, on and on!
**[20:21] int_Coach**
* He's a batter you don't*
* want on base, Amahisa boy.*
**[20:26] int_Amahisa**
*Sure, he's fast...*
**[20:31] int_Amahisa**
*But he's not that good a batter!*
**[20:50] Mine**
Kuramochi-kun has gotten
more reliable as a third-year.
**[20:54] Owada**
He pounced on that high pitch.
**[20:57] @Sawamura**
The cheetah's a little macho!
**[21:00] int_Ochiai**
*I keep telling him to focus on batting lefty,*
**[21:04] int_Ochiai**
* but he's still obsessed with*
* being a switch hitter.*
**[21:07] int_Ochiai**
*Our middle infielders are stubborn.*
**[21:10] Announcer**
*Batting second, center fielder Tojo-kun.*
**[21:15] @int_Kataoka**
* If we want to score,*
* we have to make every chance count.*
**[21:18] @int_Kataoka**
* And that depends on*
* advancing the runner to third.*
**[21:31] Higasa**
Yeah! Nice bunt!
**[21:34] @Sawamura**
That was a great bunt!
**[21:36] Announcer**
Second batter Tojo's sacrifice bunt
advances the runner to third!
**[21:39] Announcer**
Seido High School has a
chance to take the lead!
**[21:43] Announcer**
And here come the cleanup!
The third batter is Haruichi Kominato!
**[21:49] @Sawamura**
This guy can do it! I'm sure he will!
**[21:58] @int_Kominato**
*He hasn't settled into a rhythm yet.*
**[22:02] @int_Kominato**
*If he throws a meatball...*
***SIGN*** "Batting First"
**[22:16] @Miyuki**
"Batting First."
**[23:49] @Sawamura**
Looking good, Harudanji!
**[23:51] @Sawamura**
Good eye!
**[23:53] @Sawamura**
Yes, yes, yes!
**[23:55] @Sawamura**
There're two outs, Furuya!
**[23:57] @Miyuki**
Furuya, swing your arm all the way through.
**[24:00] @Miyuki**
Down the middle is fine.
Just overpower them.
**[24:03] @Miyuki**
That's your ability.
**[24:05] @Miyuki**
No matter how many runners are on base,
**[24:08] @Miyuki**
we can still hold them off!
**[24:10] @Miyuki**
On the next episode of
*Ace of the Diamond Act II*:
**[24:13] @Miyuki**
"Presence."
***SIGN*** Next Time
***SIGN*** "Presence"
**[24:15] @Miyuki**
Let's win the national title!
***SIGN*** Color illustration / Yuji Terajima