The training camp continues. The first-years can barely keep up with the harsh training. As Sawamura improves little by little, he is called to Miyuki's room for some reason. There, he found his upperclassmen waiting, and...

Sawamura keeps training hard. However, it was obvious to everyone that he was overworking himself. Chris calls Sawamura over to give him a warning—the best thing Chris could do out of concern for Sawamura's body. As the training camp of hell begins, Sawamura...

Sawamura's opponent batter Zaizen makes an unexpected play. However, Sawamura fixes his pitching and avoids the worst. Being on a roll, Sawamura throws his final pitch. What of the ball that Sawamura throws with everything he wants to tell Chris?

Chris's father Animal comes to watch the game. He tries to stop his son from pushing himself to play. However, watching Chris make dangerous plays sends him back to the days he was a pro, and...

What Sawamura throws from the mound is an amazing moving fastball. However, his control's going haywire. When it looks like he might be getting replaced, the man who comes in is Chris. What is the "plan" that Chris takes when it appears all is lost?

Chris tells Sawamura to improve on his specialty. While Sawamura started this relationship being an arrogant prick, Chris has been a catcher to him from the start; the training menu Chris gave him was a menu specifically for him. Sawamura puts in the effort to improve because he wants Chris to see his growth before Chris graduates from the team. At the first-string try-out game, Sawamura asks Chris for a favor. What will Chris say?

After learning the truth about Chris, Sawamura follows him around to get him to teach Sawamura baseball. Chris finally gives in to Sawamura's persistence and decides catch his pitches. The pitch Sawamura decides to throw is the fastest pitch he can. But in response, Chris asks, "What is your specialty?" Sawamura can't throw breaking balls or amazing fastballs. What kind of pitch should he throw? He asks around his teammates for help, and he arrives at an answer.

"You won't ever be the ace." Sawamura receives a grim statement from Chris after seeing Furuya's performance in a game. Chris leaves Sawamura with a difficult training menu and leaves before anyone else. All Sawamura sees in him is a man who has given up. However, the moment he makes that comment out loud, Miyuki loses his cool. What ticked him off? What is Chris hiding?

Sawamura and Furuya are called to the bench. They are to incorporate the pitchers' training menu into their practice. Sawamura is excited by this addition, but unfortunately, Miyuki is partnered up with Furuya. While Sawamura is showing discontent that he isn't Miyuki's partner, a suspicious looking man there stands with a cold look. He is the other catcher, Chris. "Nice to meet you, poor pitcher," mutters Chris with a gloomy voice. Sawamura senses something eerie.

The scrim continues. Sawamura has finally based. It was thanks to the advice from Haruichi Kominato. As he steps into the batter's box, he declares to score a run. His batting turns out to be amazing. To answer the call, Sawamura sprints and makes it back to the plate. The first-year team gains momentum, but the Head Coach is ending the game mid way. However, he will let the game continue if the entire first-year team wants to keep playing. How will they respond?

A game between the first-years and the second and third-years is being held. While Sawamura worries about whether or not he can play, he chances upon the Head Coach in the bath. "I don't want to see anyone but me standing on the mound." The Head Coach gives Sawamura one more chance in response to his statement. On the day of the game, the second and third-years are playing with everything they have. The first-year team looks pale, but Sawamura is pumped for his first game. Sawamura seems to be full of energy, but perhaps it isn't being put to good use...

Seidou High School faces off against Ichidai Third High School, the school that beat them last year. While their top-level offense rakes in runs, the ace Tanba isn't doing too hot. The game turns into a batting game. On the other hand, Sawamura is back at school, training by himself. During his training, Furuya, another first-year pitcher approaches him. Showing sympathy to Sawamura's peculiar training method, Furuya offers to play catch with him. Sawamura is in a cheery mood with Furuya's kindness, but the speed of Furuya's throws far exceeds his expectations.

Sawamura is nervous being roomed with his older baseball teammates. However, their unexpectedly warm welcome makes him feel right at home. Next day, he feels too much at home, and ends up sleeping in for his first practice! There, he reunites with Miyuki who also overslept. Unfortunately, Miyuki's advice on resolving the situation only makes it worse. The head coach himself tells Sawamura that using him as a player is out of the question. However, recalling the messages from his teammates back home, he declares to the coach, "I came here to become the ace of this team!" So the head coach gives him a challenge.