Most guys can't wait for the start of baseball season. But not Mihashi. For this young pitcher, the crack of the bat is the sound of yet another failure.
Mihashi wants to be an ace, but he's got no confidence. That's where Abe comes in. Every pitcher needs a good catcher, and Mihashi's new teammate is magic behind the plate.
Mihashi still doubts himself, and Abe always has to be the boss. If the Nishiura nine want to beat Mihashi's old team, pitcher and catcher must learn to trust each other.
Mihashi takes the mound, but he's shaking in his stirrups. His old teammates weren't his biggest fans, and they can't wait to take some vicious cuts against him.
The game is scoreless through three innings, and Mihashi's locked in a pitcher's duel with his old backup. As usual, Abe is at the center of all the action.
Mihashi's mowing down batters until an error by the left fielder gives his old team new life. With their lead cut in half, the Nishiura players start to tense up.
Team Nishiura is stoked about playing in the prestigious summer tournament, but there's a catch - they have to play Tosei, the defending champs, in the first round.
A Nishiura rally in the second puts runners in scoring position, but it means Mihashi's gonna have to step into the batter's box - the one place Abe can't help him.
A close game quickly becomes a chess match with both coaches anticipating the other's next move. Mihashi's hitting his spots, but the opposing team's strategy leads to crowded base paths.
Tosei put some serious pressure on Mihashi in the bottom of the fourth, but stingy defense and Tajima's instincts help them escape without allowing a run.
He's pitching a good game, but Mihashi's starting to wear down. Tajima and Abe have noticed he's not quite right, and Tosei's getting closer to figuring out his pitches.
When a pitcher doesn't have great stuff, he has to be crafty. But even with Abe's game plan, the momentum shifts to Tosei in the bottom of the seventh.
As the final inning begins, things look bleak for Nishiura. They've fought and clawed and left everything they've got on the field, but Tosei leads by a run.
Abe wasn't a fan of Haruna, but there's a lot to like about the guy. He's tall, good-looking, has a one-in-a-million arm, and he wants to win no matter what.
