| Anti-Furuya Strategy | |
|---|---|
| Season 1, Episode 25 | |
| |
| Air date | March 30, 2014 |
| Written by | Takeshi Konuta |
| Directed by | Mitsuyuki Masuhara |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous Precision Machine |
Next Miracle Akikawa |
Anti-Furuya Strategy (Furuya Kōryaku, 降谷攻略) is Episode 25 of the Diamond no Ace Anime series. The Episode follows the storyline from chapter 72 to 75 of the manga.
Summary[]
Seidou wraps up practice then makes their final preparations. At game time, Akikawa's batters aren't swinging at Furuya's high pitches. Miyuki thought this might happen but it's a bad situation that they're faced with. He asks for forkballs to help loosen up Furuya.
Synopsis[]
Kataoka wraps up practice and the players do their final preparations for the game the next day. Kuramochi will be watching Akikawa's video once more with Isashiki and Masuko. Ryosuke is taking some time after practice to do some batting with Haruichi, and Miyuki and Furuya are practicing the forkball after the sun sets. Rei, Chris and Kataoka have a talk about Furuya's stamina to which Kataoka instruct Kawakami to be ready. Fatigue and pressure are unavoidable, hence Kataoka would need everyone's strength as they advance.
In the evening, Haruichi practice with Ryosuke while Sawamura practice throwing fastballs to the inside with Chris and Kanemaru. His control is poor as always, however. Kataoka sees them and steps up to the plate challenging Sawamura's inside pitch.
Before the match, Kataoka gives his players some reminders. In Akikawa's dugout, the players compare the crowd behind Seidou with theirs. At game time, despite having practiced hitting a pitch at 160km/h, Furuya’s high fastball still surprises Akikawa’s first batter. But Furuya walks the first batter without him taking so much as a swing. Miyuki notice the batters aren't holding their bats short despite seeing Furuya's fastball and realizes that they’re just not going to swing at Furuya's pitches.
Miyuki starts calling the splitter and Furuya starts throwing strikes after walking the first two batters. With four pitches, Furuya strikes out the third batter. Akikawa's fourth batter is up who looks for the coaches sign. Coach Ogata signals to wait and keep it up for the inning.