Ko and Nakanishi organize a sandlot game with some old friends from elementary school. Ko stands on the pitcher's mound with Nakanishi as catcher. But after Ko throws a few practice pitches...

It’s the Portables vs. varsity! Ko takes the mound in the bottom of the first. He uses Aoba’s notes to his advantage and strikes out the first two batters, but later in the game, Azuma hits a home run off of him. And Senda...

The Portables' not-so-stellar record has the principal thinking it's the perfect chance to get rid of the Portables and fire Coach Maeno. But Coach Maeno challenges Daimon's team to a scrimmage...

There is a rumor going around that Aoba and Mizuki are dating. But Mizuki is jealous of Ko's relationship with Aoba. Meanwhile, Seishu's baseball team raises the intensity with their new members.

Ryuou Gakuin's ace Matsushima starts off with a bang, pitching a 1-2-3 inning. But Ko strikes back with three strikeouts in a row. The crowd goes wild, but Aoba doesn't seem amazed... yet.

Ko and his friends ring in the New Year by visiting a shrine. But they find themselves chasing after a pickpocket that victimized Junpei and Ichiyo.

Aoba gets a call from the national women's baseball coach with an unexpected invitation. Meanwhile, Ichiyo tells Junpei her one condition, which drives Junpei to coach Seishu as hitting coach.

Aoba and Akaishi visit Akane in the hospital to tell her of their victory in the quarterfinals. There, they find out that she has made plans for a date with Ko.