# 3 - Not Qualified to Be a Pitcher?
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.)
**[00:14] Eijun**
All right!
**[00:16] Eijun**
I'm gonna do it!
**[00:22] Rei**
That idiot...
***SIGN*** Not Qualified to Be a Pitcher?
**[02:00] Rei**
Private Seidou High School
**[02:01] Rei**
Sawamura-kun, be sure to get
a good rest after you finish moving in.
**[02:07] Rei**
Our practice will wear you out
even during the spring break.
**[02:12] Eijun**
I'm very well aware of it!
**[02:15] Rei**
Is that so?
**[02:17] Rei**
Well, my job as a recruiter ends here.
**[02:21] Rei**
You might come across speed bumps
being in a new environment,
**[02:26] Rei**
but I believe in what I saw.
**[02:30] Rei**
Good luck, our future ace.
**[02:34] Eijun**
A-Ace?
**[02:38] Rei**
Also, it'll be a student-teacher
relationship from now on.
**[02:42] Rei**
If you don't speak with some manners,
I'll beat some sense into you.
**[02:46] Eijun**
You serious?
**[02:48] Eijun**
...Ma'am?
***SIGN*** Seidou Spirit Dorm
***SIGN*** Seidou Spirit Dorm
**[02:52] Eijun**
Seidou Spirit Dorm...
**[02:55] Eijun**
Dorm?
**[02:57] Eijun**
It looks more like an apartment.
**[03:02] Eijun**
Who's drying laundry here?
**[03:11] Eijun**
A baseball life? Bring it on!
**[03:17] Eijun**
Wait! I gotta find my room.
***SIGN*** Tohru Masuko Yoichi Kuramochi Eijun Sawamura
**[03:23] Eijun**
Here it is.
**[03:28] Eijun**
Rooming with the upperclassmen...
**[03:32] Eijun**
Considering the level of this school,
I bet they're both amazing people.
**[03:36] Eijun**
I'm getting nervous.
**[03:39] Eijun**
* Once I open this door,*
* a new life begins for me.*
**[03:46] Eijun**
*I'm a little scared.*
**[03:47] Eijun**
*I thought I'd made up my mind.*
**[03:52] Eijun**
*Let's do this.*
**[03:53] Eijun**
*For my new future.*
**[04:05] Eijun**
A ghost!
**[04:09] Kuramochi**
Great success!
**[04:11] Kuramochi**
Don't hate me for this.
**[04:13] Kuramochi**
I was in your shoes last year.
**[04:17] Kuramochi**
Welcome to the Seidou
High School Baseball Team.
**[04:24] Eijun**
Thanks.
**[04:26] Kuramochi**
I'm Kuramochi, eleventh grade.
**[04:28] Kuramochi**
This guy here is Masuko, twelfth grade.
***SIGN*** Nice to meet you.
**[04:32] Eijun**
N-Nice to meet you as well.
**[04:35] Kuramochi**
Don't mind his strange practice.
**[04:37] Kuramochi**
He made an error yesterday,
so he banned himself from talking.
**[04:41] Kuramochi**
Crazy, right?
**[04:45] Kuramochi**
Don't just stand there!
**[04:46] Kuramochi**
Come in!
**[04:48] Kuramochi**
Where did I put it...
**[04:51] Kuramochi**
And the other one...
**[04:54] Kuramochi**
Okay, let's do this!
**[04:57] Kuramochi**
A video game tournament
welcoming the newcomer!
***SIGN*** Bring it on.
**[05:01] Kuramochi**
Let's get this over with quickly.
**[05:03] Kuramochi**
We've got an early practice tomorrow.
**[05:08] Eijun**
* I was totally expecting a super strict,*
* military-like atmosphere, but...*
**[05:14] Eijun**
I'm not gonna lose!
**[05:18] Kuramochi**
If you lose, you're gonna
be our gofer for a year.
**[05:22] Eijun**
Did I just hear something very scary?
**[05:25] Kuramochi**
You're just hearing things!
**[05:26] Kuramochi**
Come tomorrow, we'll still be buddies!
***SIGN*** Looking forward
to tomorrow.
**[05:30] Eijun**
Yeah!
**[05:33] Eijun**
*Well...*
**[05:35] Eijun**
*They're really nice people!*
**[05:49] Newbies**
Good morning!
**[05:56] Kataoka**
I'm Kataoka, the head coach.
**[05:58] Kataoka**
Is this all the new members this year?
**[06:01] Newbies**
Yes, sir!
**[06:03] Kataoka**
Introduce yourselves one at a time.
**[06:06] Newbies**
Yes, sir!
**[06:07] Kuramochi**
I'm sleepy.
***SIGN*** Was it okay to leave
him there like that?
**[06:11] Kuramochi**
Not our problem.
**[06:13] Kuramochi**
It's his fault he didn't
wake up on time.
**[06:17] Rei**
*What is he doing?*
**[06:20] Eijun**
Crap! I overslept!
**[06:22] Eijun**
I can't believe
I'm late on my first day!
**[06:25] Eijun**
Why in the world didn't
my roommates wake me up?
**[06:27] Eijun**
They're the reason I was up so late!
**[06:30] Atsushi**
Atsushi Takemoto
from Minami Junior High!
**[06:33] Atsushi**
I'd like to be the left fielder!
**[06:35] Atsushi**
It's a pleasure to meet you!
**[06:37] Takaoka**
Next.
**[06:38] Hiroshi**
Hiroshi Oshima
from Miyagawa Senior League.
**[06:41] Hiroshi**
I'd like to be the shortstop!
**[06:43] Hiroshi**
I have confidence in my defensive abilities!
**[06:48] Eijun**
*I can't walk out in this atmosphere.*
**[06:51] Eijun**
*What are you doing, you idiot?*
**[06:53] Eijun**
* How do you explain yourself*
* to your friends back home?*
**[06:57] Miyuki**
Crap! They've already started.
**[07:00] Miyuki**
I just couldn't stop watching that video.
**[07:05] Miyuki**
Wait... Aren't you that kid?
**[07:10] Eijun**
Kazuya Miyuki!
**[07:12] Miyuki**
Be quiet!
**[07:14] Miyuki**
They'll catch us!
**[07:16] Eijun**
I-I'm sorry.
**[07:19] Eijun**
*What a surprise.*
**[07:20] Eijun**
*Never thought I'd see him again like this.*
**[07:24] Miyuki**
Anyway, why are you here?
**[07:27] Eijun**
Why am I here?
**[07:28] Eijun**
Because I joined this school!
**[07:32] Miyuki**
Wow! So you're late
on your first day here?
**[07:35] Miyuki**
You have a big attitude wherever you go, huh?
**[07:37] Eijun**
I don't want to hear it from you!
**[07:39] Miyuki**
Well, more importantly...
**[07:41] Miyuki**
You're in a pretty tight spot.
**[07:45] Miyuki**
Our head coach, Tesshin Kataoka,
**[07:48] Miyuki**
is extremely strict about being punctual.
**[07:51] Miyuki**
We have over one hundred
people on our team, so...
**[07:54] Miyuki**
Worst-case scenario,
he'll never remember your name.
**[07:58] Eijun**
That's bad!
**[07:59] Eijun**
That's really bad!
**[08:01] Eijun**
Should I go out there and get on my knees?
**[08:03] Miyuki**
No, just calm down.
**[08:05] Miyuki**
A tardy is a tardy even if you apologize.
**[08:08] Miyuki**
It won't make your sentence lighter.
**[08:11] Miyuki**
However,
**[08:13] Miyuki**
what if you sneak into that line
without anyone noticing?
**[08:22] Miyuki**
So...
**[08:23] Miyuki**
Take a good look at how they're lined up.
**[08:26] Miyuki**
They're doing introductions
from the far end to the close end.
**[08:28] Miyuki**
Once the first row is done,
**[08:31] Miyuki**
it goes back to the far end of the second row.
**[08:34] Miyuki**
While the farthest guy is doing his intro,
everyone will be looking at him.
**[08:38] Eijun**
Right.
**[08:39] Miyuki**
Take that chance to run quickly
**[08:42] Miyuki**
and quietly into the line like a ninja!
**[08:45] Eijun**
N-Ninja?
***SIGN*** Tardy
**[08:51] Ninja**
Yay!
**[08:52] Eijun**
Are you sure?
**[08:54] Eijun**
Wouldn't I be in bigger trouble if I fail?
**[08:56] Miyuki**
Don't worry.
**[08:57] Miyuki**
I made it last year.
**[08:59] Eijun**
You've done this before?
**[09:01] Miyuki**
Do you want to give up on high school
life because of a single tardy?
**[09:05] Miyuki**
Just trust me.
**[09:09] (Flashback) Miyuki**
Nice pitch.
**[09:14] Eijun**
Okay.
**[09:19] Miyuki**
Watch closely.
**[09:20] Miyuki**
You'll only get one chance.
**[09:22] Shinji**
Shinji Kamimaru
from Matsukata Senior League!
**[09:25] Shinji**
I'd like to be the third baseman!
**[09:27] Shinji**
It's a pleasure to meet you!
**[09:32] Takaoka**
Next.
**[09:33] Miyuki**
Go.
**[09:35] ---**
Like a ninja!
**[09:37] Miyuki**
Nice sprint.
**[09:42] Miyuki**
He came here late, but he's
trying to sneak into the line!
**[10:00] Rei**
That idiot.
**[10:01] Eijun**
There's a good explanation—
**[10:06] Eijun**
*When did he...*
**[10:09] Eijun**
*Did he use me as a distraction?*
**[10:14] Takaoka**
Kid.
**[10:17] Takaoka**
You've got some guts
being tardy on the first day.
**[10:20] Takaoka**
And you've got a twisted mentality
for trying to sneak in, to boot.
**[10:26] Takaoka**
Go run for the rest
of the morning practice!
**[10:28] Eijun**
Everything's working against me!
***SIGN*** You deserve it!
**[10:32] Kuramochi**
Wow! He's an idiot!
**[10:34] Kuramochi**
So hilarious!
**[10:35] Takaoka**
That goes for the two older
guys rooming with him.
**[10:40] Takaoka**
And the idiot who jumped into line
while we were busy with him.
**[10:48] Takaoka**
You guys run, too.
***SIGN*** Ahhh—!!
**[11:00] Eijun**
I'm never trusting
a single thing you say!
**[11:04] Miyuki**
Thanks for the compliment!
**[11:05] Eijun**
It's not!
**[11:07] Rei**
I'll have to slap him later.
**[11:09] Rei**
Good thing his grandfather taught me well.
**[11:12] Eijun**
Damn it!
**[11:19] Guy1**
Can I get seconds?
**[11:21] Guy2**
Can I get seconds as well?
***SIGN*** You must eat at least three bowls of rice per meal!
**[11:26] Miyuki**
What's wrong?
**[11:28] Miyuki**
If you don't eat, you're not gonna
last through the afternoon practice.
**[11:34] Miyuki**
Are you okay?
**[11:35] Yamazaki**
Don't barf here!
**[11:43] Eijun**
I feel sick.
**[11:45] Eijun**
I was running all through morning practice,
**[11:48] Eijun**
and I had to eat three bowls of rice...
**[11:54] Miyuki**
International flamingo!
**[11:57] Eijun**
He had three bowls...
**[11:59] Kuramochi**
You're not hitting anything past me!
**[12:02] Eijun**
So did he...
**[12:04] Guy1**
Masuko!
**[12:06] Guy1**
Show some spirit!
**[12:08] Eijun**
He had six bowls...
**[12:11] Eijun**
Are they all monsters?
**[12:14] Eijun**
They all ran as much as I did,
**[12:16] Eijun**
but they're practicing like it was nothing.
**[12:19] Eijun**
They're only a year or two older,
**[12:21] Eijun**
but I have no endurance compared to them.
**[12:25] Mutou**
Tenth graders!
**[12:27] Newbies**
Sir!
**[12:28] Mutou**
We'll have you group into your
preferred positions to see how you fare!
**[12:32] Mutou**
Change into your spikes
and meet me at Field B.
**[12:34] Newbies**
Yes, sir!
**[12:36] Eijun**
Does that mean...
**[12:37] Eijun**
*This is the moment!*
**[12:40] Eijun**
*I get to test my strength!*
**[12:44] Kataoka**
Kid.
**[12:46] Kataoka**
Where are you going?
**[12:48] Eijun**
Where?
**[12:49] Eijun**
To test my own abilities?
**[12:52] Kataoka**
You don't have to participate.
**[12:54] ---**
If you're bored, you can run.
**[12:58] Eijun**
Why do I get special treatment?
**[12:59] Eijun**
The other three have already
joined the practice!
**[13:02] Kataoka**
They already apologized.
**[13:04] Eijun**
Seriously?
**[13:05] Kataoka**
A guy who can't even apologize
for being late to practice...
**[13:08] Kataoka**
is not a member
of the Seidou Baseball Team.
**[13:14] Tanaka**
He totally blew it.
**[13:15] Yamazaki**
Our coach isn't going to cave in.
**[13:19] Kataoka**
If you don't like how I do things,
then don't show up.
**[13:23] Kataoka**
Ever.
**[13:26] Eijun**
*W-Wait a minute...*
**[13:29] Eijun**
*I haven't even done...*
**[13:34] Eijun**
*I haven't even...*
**[13:38] (Flashback) Oldies**
Good luck! You're our hero!
**[13:55] Eijun**
I overslept because I was naive.
**[14:01] Eijun**
I have no excuse.
**[14:03] Eijun**
But I'm... I'm...
**[14:08] Eijun**
I'm...
**[14:12] Eijun**
I'm here to become the ace!
**[14:15] Eijun**
And I'm confident that
I want it more than anyone here!
**[14:33] Takaoka**
Empty words.
**[14:36] Eijun**
Who are you to judge what I say?
**[14:37] Eijun**
I'm being dead serious here!
**[14:40] Eijun**
*Shoot! Manners.*
**[14:51] Eijun**
I was just...
**[14:55] Eijun**
Wait! What are you—
**[15:17] Tanaka**
Look at the faces of the tenth graders.
**[15:19] Yamazaki**
Of course they're surprised.
**[15:21] Yamazaki**
He kicked a pro contract to coach
the school where he graduated.
**[15:27] Yamazaki**
He hasn't lost his touch.
**[15:30] Takaoka**
You want to be the ace?
**[15:34] Takaoka**
Then words are useless.
**[15:36] Takaoka**
Prove it by action.
**[15:40] Eijun**
By action?
**[15:44] Takaoka**
It's roughly ninety meters
from the plate to the fence.
**[15:48] Takaoka**
If you can throw the ball to that fence,
then you can join practice.
**[15:53] Eijun**
A-Are you serious?
**[15:55] Takaoka**
But if you can't throw to the fence,
**[15:58] Takaoka**
give up on becoming a pitcher.
**[16:02] Guy1**
I'm requesting to play pitcher,
too, but I can't do that.
**[16:04] Guy2**
Ninety meters?
**[16:06] Guy2**
That's impossible.
**[16:07] Kuramochi**
Coach must be super pissed.
**[16:10] Kuramochi**
That's too hard for a guy
fresh out of junior high.
**[16:14] Rei**
That idiot...
**[16:16] Rei**
I told him to speak
to the coach with respect.
**[16:22] Eijun**
This place lives up to its prestigious name.
**[16:24] Eijun**
What a simple test!
**[16:26] Eijun**
I just have to throw this ball
way over that fence, right?
**[16:30] Hosoyamada**
Over the fence?
**[16:32] Hosoyamada**
Are you crazy?
**[16:33] Kanemaru**
What's your best distance, anyway?
**[16:35] Eijun**
I dunno.
**[16:38] Eijun**
But...
**[16:40] Eijun**
If I can't even do this...
**[16:42] Eijun**
then I can't be the ace!
**[16:47] Eijun**
*Give up on becoming a pitcher?*
**[16:50] Eijun**
Eijun Sawamura
from Akagi Junior High!
**[16:54] Eijun**
*What kind of choice is that?*
**[16:56] Eijun**
This will be my memorable
first throw in high school!
**[16:59] Eijun**
Thank you for this opportunity!
**[17:01] Eijun**
*Don't even blink, Coach Shades.*
**[17:15] Eijun**
*This is the start...*
**[17:19] Eijun**
*of the Legend of Sawamura!*
**[17:22] Tanaka**
Whoa! It's going pretty far.
**[17:24] Yamazaki**
It just might make it to the fence.
**[17:27] Eijun**
Go!
**[17:32] Eijun**
Why did you curve?!
**[17:50] Guy1**
He threw a curve in a long throw!
**[17:52] Guy2**
It might've hit the fence
if it didn't curve, too!
**[17:57] Takaoka**
Looks like there's your answer.
**[18:00] Takaoka**
As promised, you can give
up on being a pitcher.
**[18:06] Takaoka**
You also can't practice.
**[18:08] Takaoka**
If you're bored, you can run.
**[18:15] Rei**
So much for becoming the ace...
***SIGN*** Seidou Spirit Dorm
**[18:18] Kuramochi**
You're still upset?
**[18:20] Kuramochi**
The coach gave you a chance
after all your disrespect,
**[18:24] Kuramochi**
yet you throw a curveball
in a long throw?
**[18:26] Kuramochi**
That was classic!
**[18:28] Eijun**
*Unbelievable.*
**[18:30] Eijun**
*Do I even know how to throw straight?*
**[18:34] Kuramochi**
You've just been running
for the past three days, too!
**[18:39] Kuramochi**
You might just end up running
for the rest of the year.
**[18:43] Kuramochi**
All of your tenth-grade peers
will be playing in official games,
**[18:46] Kuramochi**
while you just keep running every day!
**[18:49] Kuramochi**
What are you gonna do?
**[18:50] Kuramochi**
Maybe shoot for the Olympics?
**[18:52] Kuramochi**
In marathon, I mean.
**[18:58] Eijun**
Shut up!
**[18:59] Eijun**
I very well know how pathetic—
**[19:00] Kuramochi**
But...
**[19:02] Kuramochi**
You still have three years.
**[19:04] Kuramochi**
Or, technically, two and a half.
**[19:08] Kuramochi**
Notice how Masuko's been
coming back really late?
**[19:12] Kuramochi**
He's already in twelfth grade.
**[19:15] Kuramochi**
So he doesn't have any time.
**[19:18] Kuramochi**
I bet he's swinging his bat alone somewhere.
**[19:25] Kuramochi**
He made one error in the last game.
**[19:29] Kuramochi**
Just a single error,
**[19:32] Kuramochi**
and he's off the starting line-up.
**[19:37] Kuramochi**
"I want to be the ace."
**[19:39] Kuramochi**
"I want to hit fourth."
**[19:40] Kuramochi**
"I want to make the starters."
**[19:42] Kuramochi**
"I want to play in the game."
**[19:45] Kuramochi**
Everyone here wants it.
**[19:50] Kuramochi**
The reality is,
**[19:53] Kuramochi**
we have roughly one hundred
people fighting for nine spots.
**[19:58] Kuramochi**
Only those who do well make it.
**[20:01] Kuramochi**
The others have to wait
for the next opportunity.
**[20:06] Kuramochi**
You're not the only one who feels hopeless.
**[20:21] Kuramochi**
If you walk in here looking
depressed again, I'm kicking you out.
**[20:37] Rei**
Coach Kataoka.
**[20:41] Rei**
Do you really plan to make
him give up as a pitcher?
**[20:47] Rei**
He's only just joined,
and we don't know his strength yet.
**[20:51] Rei**
Isn't it a little early to give the final verdict?
**[20:55] Rei**
And...
**[20:56] Rei**
he's the junior high schooler
who struck out Azuma.
**[21:06] Rei**
Who's running so early in the morning?
**[21:17] Rei**
Sawamura-kun?
**[21:25] Takaoka**
How in the world
**[21:28] Takaoka**
did you throw such a naturally
breaking ball almost ninety meters?
**[21:33] Takaoka**
However, a promise is a promise.
**[21:36] Takaoka**
I can't let him participate
in practice as a pitcher yet.
**[21:42] Takaoka**
*Make him run until the sun sets.*
**[21:56] Rei**
"Yet," huh?
**[23:34] Eijun**
Miyuki is doing amazingly well
in the district tournament.
**[23:37] Eijun**
As I've been stamped with
the seal of unqualified pitcher,
**[23:39] Eijun**
I'm back at school practicing.
**[23:42] Eijun**
But I'm not gonna lose!
**[23:43] Eijun**
I'm gonna be the ace of this team!
**[23:46] Miyuki**
In the midst of Sawamura's
training, a fellow tenth grader,
**[23:49] Miyuki**
Satoru Furuya, approached him.
**[23:50] Miyuki**
What is he doing staying at school?
**[23:53] Eijun**
Next time on *Ace of the Diamond*:
Are You Like Me?
***SIGN*** Are You Like Me?
**[23:57] Eijun**
Let's win the national title!
**[23:59] ---**