Shigeno Daigo is a grade schooler who`s father is a professional baseball player. Being enamored with his father Goro, who once even played in the Major League, Daigo joins the "Mifune Dolphins" baseball team. However, with the pressure of measuring up to his father, he can`t improve enough and quits after less than a year and turns to an uninspired lifestyle. Then, in the spring of 6th grade, a transfer student from the United States arrives. The new baseball anime you`ve heard so much about is finally ready to play ball! Source: crunchyroll

Satou Hikaru, the transfer student from the United States, is actually the son of Satou Takuya, the eternal friend and Major League teammate of Daigo`s father, Goro! Right away, Hikaru asks Daigo about advice for joining a local baseball team, but being Daigo, being completely off-put by baseball, gives Hikaru a rude answer. That evening, Daigo`s mother, Kaoru, receives a request for help from the Dolphins` manager, Fujii: "We don`t have enough players for the practice match this weekend, can we borrow Daigo?" Source: crunchyroll

Hikaru, the son of a big Major League batter Satou Toshiya, just got back from the homeland of baseball is already being put in as the outfielder during the practice match. Daigo, Fujii, and Tashiro all watch Hikaru`s first play with baited breath, but he flubs a completely basic fly and then follows up with a huge mis-throw. In reality, Hikaru is a complete baseball noob. But Hikaru just calmly enjoys his very first real baseball experience. On the other hand, Daigo is in awe of Hikaru`s physical and athletic prowess. Source: crunchyroll

After seeing Hikaru`s excellent affinity for baseball during the practice match, Daigo is depressed that they so far apart. Hikaru encourages Daigo and appeals to his love for baseball, and invites him to the Dolphins` practice. On the weekend, Hikaru and Daigo get together in the morning at the river bank to play catch. From afar, the Dolphins` star player Urabe and his catcher Andy are watching... Source: crunchyroll

Hikaru says he wants to be a pitcher because "it looks fun". Despite his terrible grip and form, his brutally fast balls are something to be reckoned with! After appointing Daigo his training partner, Hikaru casually suggests that the two of them form a battery. Daigo refuses the idea as impossible, based on his arm being weak. However, his sister Izumi points out that his personality and knowledge of baseball would actually make him a good catcher. Source: crunchyroll

With his mom suddenly being out of commission, Daigo has no choice but to go practice catching fast balls at the batting center. While there, the ex Major-Leaguer Satou Toshiya`s appearance stuns Daigo! Not only was he the excellent player who formed a battery with his father, but he also happens to be Hikaru`s father. Apparently Daigo`s father Gorou asked Toshiya to check up on him. And right away, Toshiya begins coaching Daigo at the batting center. Source: crunchyroll

When Daigo plays catch with Hikaru, he once again gets a feeling that they could form a battery. However, at practice the next weekend, he`s shocked to find out that Hikaru has suddenly moved to his mother`s hometown in Gunma. Disappointed in Hikaru for not even saying a word before leaving the Dolphins and transferring schools, Daigo lashes out at Mutsuko when she tries to talk to him. Daigo refuses Toshiya`s special catcher training and holes up in his room. There, he gets a visitor.... Source: crunchyroll

My name is Sakura Mutsuko. I`m in class 6-2 at Mifune Grade School, so I`m classmates with Shigeno Daigo-kun. As my brother played for the local Dolphins team, I`ve loved baseball since I was a small! Seeing Shigeno-kun and Hikaru-kun practice, the urge to play baseball became overwhelming. With the middle school entrance exams coming up, my father was not too happy, but I managed to get approval and am now a member of the Dolphins! Now I just need someone to properly teach me baseball... Source: crunchyroll

The Mifune Dolphins improve their teamwork a bit during a practice match before the summer tournament, which improves their confidence. On the other hand, having had to transfer to his mother`s hometown in Gunma, Hikaru is separated from his Dolphins teammates and was having unhappy days. In front of his grandfather and mother he bravely put up a cheerful front, but even when he is invited to join the school baseball team, he refuses right away, saying he`s not in the mood. Source: crunchyroll

The first match of the summer tournament is finally here! For Daigo and the other 6th graders, it`s the last tournament for them with the Mifune Dolphins. The Dolphins, who`ve been being beaten out in the first match the past years, are about to face the Tanikawa Eagles. Coach Tashiro, acknowledging his growth, puts in Daigo on the right field and 2nd batter. However, the star player Urabe and Nagai, now bumped down to 8th batter for Daigo, are not thrilled that someone riding on his father`s coattails is on the starting line up, and glare at Daigo. Source: crunchyroll

In the first match of the summer tournament against the Tanikawa Eagles, the Mifune Dolphins keep a 4 point lead all the way to the final innings. Urabe and catcher Andy are doing the brunt of the work, fueled by their desire to win their way up the tournament in order to get revenge on the Touto Boys, the team they once belonged to. The outfielders are also giving everything to protect their lead, but in the last inning, Urabe seems to have finally run out of stamina... Source: crunchyroll

In their first match of the summer tournament, the Mifune Dolphins lost all of the four point lead they had due to Daigo`s grave mistake. Daigo is completely demoralized and depressed about that mistake, when an unexpected voice makes him look up at the fence. Unbelievably, Hikaru had come there all the way from Gunma! Slightly awkward, as he left the team behind back then, Hikaru was there without a uniform just to cheer the team on. But what`s that in Hikaru`s bag?! Source: crunchyroll

In part thanks to Hikaru and Daigo`s battery, the Mifune Dolphins win their first match of the summer tournament. Head coach Tashiro can`t hold back his tears after finally achieving the victory of his dreams. However, Andy`s injury from the match puts him out for 10 days, which makes the team uneasy when thinking about the 2nd match next week. Amidst all of that, Mutsuko, who was only able to watch the team win the first match from the bench, couldn`t fully banish the unpleasant feelings when she thought about how Daigo and Hikaru got to help the team on the field. Source: crunchyroll

The Mifune Dolphin`s opponent for the 2nd match of the summer tournament will be the Nijigaoka Beatles. The Beatles` ace player Tamaki is exceptionally tall for a grade schooler and brings his arcing slow ball to the fight. As he had gone to observe them before, Urabe could warn the team of the odd style pitches. On top of that, the Beatles` coach Komori had once been a solid enough player to be battery with Daigo`s dad, Gorou, and he even used to coach the Dolphins before... Now Daigo has to face a team full of tricks and surprises! Source: crunchyroll

Bunts, stealing bases, and other tricks define the Nijigaoka Beatles` playstyle, also known as small ball. The Dolphins lose 2 points from the get go as their opponents exploit the weak bond between Urabe and Daigo, as it`s their first time being a battery. On top of that, the Beatles` ace player Tamaki throws ultra slow balls, which make hits hard, but even when a hit is made, their defense easily takes care of that. Daigo puts his brain into overdrive trying to somehow figure out some pattern in their defense lineup, but will he find anything? Source: crunchyroll

Faced with the slow pitches of the Beatles` Tamaki that throw off their timing, the Dolphins continue to bat poorly. Andy is swapped in to replace Daigo as pitcher, and while this gets the defense back on track, the match nears the final inning. However, when preventing any additional points is so crucial, right fielder Mutsuko falls for a trick of the opponent and allows them to score! The Dolphins have to overcome a 3 point lead, and in the 6th inning, first to go to bat is their number 9, Mutsuko... Source: crunchyroll

The Mifune Dolphins best their tough opponent of the 2nd match in the summer tournament, the Beatles, thanks to Hikaru`s outstanding homerun with fully-loaded bases. However, with barely time to rest in the lunch break, match 3 against the Sharks is upon them. Since Urabe was on the mound in the 2nd match, he`s barred by regulations to continue, so Hikaru is the pitcher. Also Mutsuko, despite her extraordinary batting sense, is also on the bench to let the old regular Nagai get some playtime. Source: crunchyroll

Thanks to Hikaru`s shut-out, the Dolphins advance to the quarter finals. Their next opponent is going to be the famous team, Touto Boys, where Urabe and Andy once played. This powerhouse of a team`s main pillars are the left-handed ace Mayumura Michiru and her twin brother Wataru as the catcher. The Mayumura siblings` fahter Mayumura Ken is a famous pitcher who once fought against Daigo`s dad Gorou in the World Series. The Dolphins are visibly shaken by Michiru`s and Wataru`s oppressive presence. Source: crunchyroll

Urabe, the Dolphins` ace, was trained by his baseball loving father and triumphantly went on to join the big name team of Touto Boys. In the beginning, Urabe had dreams of making his mark as a pitcher, but in 4th grade, he was denied his chance because Mayumura Wataru, the son of a Major Leaguer, joined mid-seasoned, and given a fast pass to the front of the line. That`s the reason him and his friend Andy to left the Touto Boys. Right when he`s fired up and about to fulfill his dream of getting his revenge on the Touto Boys, Urabe gets a call from head coach Tashiro... Source: crunchyroll

In the quarter finals of the summer tournament, the Mifune Dolphins face the powerhouse Touto Boys, with Hikaru and Daigo as their battery. On the other hand, the Touto Boys are already planning for the semi-finals and decided to preserve Mayumura Michiru`s left arm, and send their 2nd pitcher Komatsu on the mound. After not seeing Michiru start, Urabe gets angry, thinking they`re being completely underestimated. However, despite being the 2nd pitcher, Komatsu throws intensely fast balls, impressing on Daigo and Tashiro how much talent and how rich a roster Touto has. Source: crunchyroll

The Dolphins start with Hikaru on the mound. Despite losing a point and running into the unexpected trouble of breaking his glasses, he recovers. In the top of the 3rd inning, Daigo`s sacrifice squeeze play nets them a point, showing teeth to the Touto Boys, a team capable of going national. However, in the bottom of the 3rd inning, just when they had tied, Mayumura Michiru hits Hikaru`s fast ball and gets out on base. Hikaru tries his best to control his aim better, but Touto`s offensive lineup is not one to be overcome with little tricks... Source: crunchyroll

Being outmatched by the powerful Touto offense lineup, Hikaru steps off the mound and Urabe steps up as the relief pitcher for the Dolphins. Thanks to Urabe`s clean pitching and the recovered Hikaru`s exciting homerun, they give chase, putting up an intense fight to get back into the game. And then, in the top of the 5th inning, the Dolphins` batters get a handle on Touto`s tired starting pitcher, Komatsu. Once again, it`s anyone`s game! Nobody had expected the Dolphins to be a real opponent, but finally, Touto`s ace, Mayumura Michiru, heads to the mound. Source: crunchyroll

Inui, head coach for the Touto Boys, had remained completely silent until now, viewing the Dolphins as 2nd rate. However, having them catch up, he finally stirs. He commands their number 4 batter, Mayumura Wataru, to sacrifice himself, and with a squeeze play, they rapidly add two points to their score and pull away from the Dolphins. On top of that, Touto`s ace, Mayumura Michiru, despite not being warmed up, racks up strike-out after strike-out, and the game is in the final inning. But for the Dolphins, too, Daigo and Urabe make it out on base, then with one out and loaded bases, their number 4, Hikaru, is up to bat... Source: crunchyroll

During the quarter finals of the summer tournament, where the Dolphins face off against the powerhouse, Touto boys, Nagai`s run on an uncaught third strike brings the team back from the brink of death. Then, in the bottom of the 7th inning, Urabe is under pressure by Touto, with 2 outs and loaded bases, so Hikaru gets up on the mound again. Back in form, Hikaru throws incredibly fast balls, but while trying to catch an easy fly ball, he collides with Daigo and the game is irrevocably lost. The week after the match, worried about Hikaru`s condition, Daigo heads to Gunma... Source: crunchyroll

I`m sorry Daigo-kun... I`m sorry for never telling you that I`d recovered this far already! To be honest, I wanted to keep it all secret until I was able to show you all that I`d fully recovered. Hey Daigo-kun! I wrote it in the letter too, right? That we`d form the ultimate battery some day? I can`t run yet, but in middle school, I`m going to join the baseball team. I promise I`ll get back up! So... Daigo-kun, you have to promise that you will never give up the baseball you love so much! Source: crunchyroll