Rookies

After starting teaching at Futako-tamagawa High School, Koichi Kawato volunteers to coach its troubled baseball team, but the players defy him.

Kawato stakes his job on getting the team ready for a practice game; hoping to vex Kawato, Wakana says his group would rather play soccer.

Shinjo confronts the delinquents who defaced the club room and attacked the former team members; Aniya and the others back him up, sparking a brawl.

Wakana becomes the team catcher, but he can't play the position well and storms off; Shinjo stubbornly continues distancing himself from his friends.

The practice game against Youga High begins; pitcher Aniya starts strong, but when fatigue sets in, Kawato makes a suggestion.

Down by one run with two outs at the bottom of the ninth, the Nikogaku team members pin all their hopes on their unexpected pinch hitter.