The Ace Walks On
Sanada comes on and reveals he has a dangerous cutter, shutting down Seido's batting strength. Chris tries to figure out why Sanada isn't being used from the start of games. Ichidai players continue to slowly join in and are shocked to see that Seido has shut down Yakusi so far and leads 5-1. Tanba starts warming up in the 5th inning in the bullpen, giving Seido an additional threat. Yakusi's batters are unable to figure out the timing of Sawamura's pitch. Seeing no other choice, Raizou recommends they each get two strikes to get used to the speed of his pitch before swinging. The #8 man gets on base. Then the #9 batter calls for a bunt, the first bunt Yakusi has made in the tournament. Raichi now comes up for his third at bat. A homerun will make it 5-3 and could ruin Seido's momentum. People in the stands begin to wonder if Sawamura will be switched out. As Raichi comes to bat, a mysterious foot comes out of the dugout. Is Sawamura's day over?
Aired 15/06/2014EP 36 - The Ace Walks On
Ace of the Diamond
With a stray pitch that completely missed the batter, Eijun Sawamura loses his final middle school baseball game. Frustrated by this defeat, Eijun and his teammates vow to reach the national tournament once they are in high school. But everything changes when a scout unexpectedly invites him to Tokyo's prestigious Seidou High School after seeing the potential in his unusual pitching style. Encouraged by his teammates, Eijun accepts the offer, ready to improve his skills and play at a much more competitive level of baseball.
However, now surrounded by a large number of skilled players, Eijun struggles to find his place on the team. He declares that he will one day become the team's ace, but that's only if fellow first year Satoru Furuya doesn't take the title first, with his breakneck fastballs that earn him a coveted spot on the starting roster. With the addition of these talented new players to an already powerful lineup, the Seidou baseball team aims to become the best in Japan, facing off against a number of formidable foes that stand in their way.
(Source: MAL Rewrite)