Picking up where the original series left off, Ren Mihashi, the ace pitcher of the newly-formed Nishiura High School baseball team, and his teammates face the Sakitama High School team in the next round of the High School Baseball Invitational Tournament as they aim to play in the finals at legendary Hanshin Koushien Stadium.
 
(Source: Anime News Network)

After a falling out with his middle school team, Mihashi enters Nishiura high school with no social skill, a warped opinion of himself, and every intention to quit baseball. The newly formed Nishiura baseball team, however, needs a pitcher, and they welcome him. Most enthusiastic is Abe, a domineering catcher with his own game issues. 
And so a battery every bit as complementary as it is dysfunctional is formed. If they can figure out how to work together, they might be the answers to each other's problems-and the team might be able to win.

Mihashi moves on to high school convinced he is a lousy baseball pitcher. There he meets the catcher Abe and the team manager Momoe who together work to make Mihashi and the team shine. 
(Source: Anime News Network)
 
Notes: 
- Winner of Tezuka Osamu Cultural Award for best creative work in 2006. 
- Winner of Kodansha Manga Award for general manga in 2007.

Unaired episode 12.5 included on the 7th DVD & Blu-ray volume.
 
Kurata from Bijyou feels guilty about beating the crap out of other players. Abe’s accidental injury strikes a chord, and he no longer wants to be involved with Roka’s dirty schemes.
 
(Source: Crunchyroll)

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