Princess Nine Discussion Thread

[bci110]

A tradition that I held every year since 2005 and with the baseball season just around the corner, it's once again time for my annual rewatch of this great baseball anime series. But Princess Nine is more then just about an all-girl baseball team with a dream of making it to Koshien and proving that they can complete with the boys on an even playing field. There's also an excellent love triangle within the main story, and each of the team members have their own struggles and issues to deal with as they work as a team to achieve their goals.

Every year I do something different when I watch Princess Nine. Last year I watched this series over Easter weekend, marathoning the 26 episodes over 2 days. The year before that I listened to the Japanese dub (I usually listen to the English dub), and so on. For this year I decided to start a discussion thread for this show. The plan is to watch one episode per day starting tonight. I think the official website or the one ADV had is long gone so I had to make due with whatever link ANN had on the P9 Encyclopedia page.

So with that here are the links:

ANN Encyclopedia entry (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=298)
Fansite (http://www.nifty.com/animefan/fanclb/pri9/)

As usual, please try to follow these three easy forum courtesy habits when replying:
1) If you're the first person to post about an episode in any given week, please respond to the root post (this post) and indicate in the subject line which episode you're posting about.
2) If someone has already posted about an episode before you, please respond to that post (or a relevant reply to that post). Keep in the right subthread.
3) Don't use the blue "Post Reply" button because it causes your reply not to correctly inherit the subject line of the post you're replying to. Just click "Quote" to the post you want to reply to.

[bci110]

OK, let's get this started!

- Wildcats are in trouble! Holding on to an 8-5 lead over the Dolphins in the bottom of the 9th, but their pitcher's out of gas.
- Where's their secret weapon?!?!
- No time to change, Ryo! Wildcats need you!
- Dolphins come within a run with the bases loaded.
- Just in time! Ryo enters the game in relief.
- Dolphins lol! A girl pitcher?!?!
- Three wide ones. Ryo needs to warm up.
- Mysterious observer on the hilltop.
- Strike 1! Now she's found her spark!
- Strike 2!
- Strike 3! Wildcats win!!
- "She really does have her father's gift."

- Ryo is happy that her boyfriend got accepted to Kisaragi High, but Ryo doesn't plan on attending high school so she can stay and help her mom at their oden bar.
- News report showcasing a couple of rising new sports stars at Kisaragi - baseball slugger Hiroki Takasugi and tennis ace Izumi Himuro.
- Ryo's dream - to be the best waitress in Japan :bigsmile: !

Eyecatch feature stats on Ryo Hayakawa and Hikaru Yoshimoto. I liked that the eyecatches in the series displayed the team members in order of when they joined the team.

- Rumors of Izumi and Hiroki as a couple? No comment!
- Mystery women turns out to be the chairwomen of Kisaragi high - and Izumi's mother.
- Plan on a special announcement
- Izumi wonders - what kind of announcement? Is this what a canary in a cage feels like?

- Back at the Hayakawa oden bar, some of the Wildcats remember the day they first discovered Ryo.
- Two imtimidating baseball players enter looking to challenge Ryo.
- Mystery man at the back of the bar suggest settling their dispute on the diamond.
- Ryo accepts the challenge!
- Hiroki's bike gets a flat tire, but then discovers the ballpark lights are on - but there's no game scheduled.
- Chairperson Himuro sent the thugs to challenge Ryo?
- First thug was no match for Ryo's fastballs.
- Second thug managed to foul off one of Ryo's pitches.
- Hiroki hits the foul ball back. Such bat control!
- Hiroki volunteers to sub for the thug player. He wants to challenge Ryo!
- Game on!

Great setup for the series. Ryo is a plucky 15 year girl that lives a simple life balancing school and helping with her mom at the oden bar, all the while possess a golden left pitching arm. She was willing to forgo high school to help out, but her skills on the diamond has caught the attention of several people, including Chairwoman Himuro and Hiroki. I definitely felt the intensity between her and Hiroki at the end of the episode. Pretty much a preview of things to come in this series.

[Keith Palmer]

I managed to track down used copies of the Princess Nine DVD "singles" a while back, but held off on watching them (in part because I was watching Touch, and then Cross Game and Taisho Baseball Girls, and then both series of Big Windup, and didn't quite want to pit too many baseball anime series "head to head") until not that long ago, so I suppose this thread is arriving at just about the right time for me. However, while I enjoyed the series as its own entity, I'm not quite sure how many comments I'll be able to add... although I'll certainly be interested in this thread as it continues.

[Jimmie M]

I just finished watching Episode 1 a short while ago & I have to tell you, I had chills up my spine even as the OP was playing! In fact, it wasn't until the next episode preview was playing that I realized that I had been standing the whole time, almost like I was watching a Braves game even though I knew it wasn't one. I almost forgot that it was Chairman Himuro who set up that confrontation between Ryo & the "thugs" & the Dolphins' reaction to Ryo's pitches was classic. It has indeed been too long since I last watched Princess Nine & I'm looking forward to the next episode! :)

[GundamWingMan]

Isn't interesting that an animated series made in JAPAN that's all about the AMERICAN pasttime features music by the WARSAW Philharmonic Orchestra? Globalization at its best! HA! For anyone who watched Princess Nine dubbed, here's some dap for Hillary Haag, the English voice of Ryo as I thought this was her best performance. For anyone who's familiar with Ms. Haag from past roles in dubbed shows, then you know she's an....acquired taste as she can make nails on a blackboard sound like Susan Boyle, but on this show, I thought she was great.

P9 was the very first anime about sports I had ever watched, and since it was about baseball, my all-time favorite sport, I just had to watch to see if this show would be true to the game I've loved since I was a child. And the show starts off with a bang as Ryo makes like Mariano Rivera, coming in from the bullpen to notch that game ending punchout. Outside of Sora Naegino from Kaleido Star, Ryo is one of the pluckiest anime heroines I've ever seen as she attracted me from the get go, willing to forego her own future to help her mom. I mean, who longs to be a top waitress? Meanwhile, that episode ending first meeting between Ryo and Hiroki was classic!

[Spirit Of The Stage]

I just finished watching Episode 1 a short while ago & I have to tell you, I had chills up my spine even as the OP was playing! In fact, it wasn't until the next episode preview was playing that I realized that I had been standing the whole time, almost like I was watching a Braves game even though I knew it wasn't one. I almost forgot that it was Chairman Himuro who set up that confrontation between Ryo & the "thugs" & the Dolphins' reaction to Ryo's pitches was classic. It has indeed been too long since I last watched Princess Nine & I'm looking forward to the next episode! :)

I recently marathoned the series - you're not the only one who had chills when that OP played.

First ep was also not a standard ep as it introduced a few of the main characters (obviously all the girls you see in the openign are gonna be shown later in the series) but Ryo definitely got my interest after her pinch in the sandbox game, and how Hiroki takes an interest in her...both for her pitching skills and...other reasons. :)

I think this was the role that defined Monica Rial as one of my favourite VAs in English as well as Izumi - more on her as the series goes along, but P9 remains one of my favourite dubs of all time - Hilaary Haag, Vic Migogna, Andy McGavin and Kelly Manison we also hear in main roles in that ep, all of them among their best performances.

[Victor Lewandowski]

Great setup for the series. Ryo is a plucky 15 year girl that lives a simple life balancing school and helping with her mom at the oden bar, all the while possess a golden left pitching arm. She was willing to forgo high school to help out, but her skills on the diamond has caught the attention of several people, including Chairwoman Himuro and Hiroki. I definitely felt the intensity between her and Hiroki at the end of the episode. Pretty much a preview of things to come in this series.

I can't really think of that many other pitchers that throw left-handed in anime. I haven't seen Touch, Cross Game, or Big Windup and I still need to watch my set of Taisho Baseball Girls. I do know of two people from other anime that do throw left-handed. Mizuki Takase in Comic Party Revolution (but I suspect that this was intended to mimic Ryo Hayakawa) and Videl Satan in Dragon Ball Z (right after Gohan starts attending high school, they are playing baseball in gym class).:sweat:

[Shsway]

Isn't interesting that an animated series made in JAPAN that's all about the AMERICAN pasttime features music by the WARSAW Philharmonic Orchestra? Globalization at its best!

The participation of this group, along with Amano Masamichi's compositions and a helping hand from Franz Schubert, really make this soundtrack stand out. I was checking a fact in the Anime Encyclopedia recently, and the authors wrote something about composers like Kanno Yoko being responsible for some shows staying out of the dirt where they belong. In this case though, I feel like things are just that much more enhanced by the lovely score.

P9 was the very first anime about sports I had ever watched...You know, I think that it was my first one too, because this was long before Ippo arrived and because I haven't yet had the pleasure of seeing Touch.

...Ryo is one of the pluckiest anime heroines I've ever seen as she attracted me from the get go, willing to forego her own future to help her mom. I mean, who longs to be a top waitress?It certainly helps the audience get behind the character from the start. Even her recognition of her own skill and the drama behind her decision to skip high school are surprisingly downplayed. Nothing about her attitude makes you want to roll your eyes or feel sick. And it's great to hear a female lead, in the first preview of a show, say that she's "never been one to back down from a challenge." Yay! :bigsmile:

Meanwhile, that episode ending first meeting between Ryo and Hiroki was classic!Yes! The way he just bats his way into her life is great.

The other classic shot of the episode, for me, is the very first running shot of Ryo as she heads home from school.

Other (hopefully brief) observations):
- Beyond the music, the flashback toss at the very beginning of the OP ranks as classic now too, as does the animation of Izumi and Ryo crossing paths, with Izumi turning back to regard her rival
- I love Hilary Haag's "If you insist" line when Matsu requests her help as relief pitcher
- The server at the cafe that Ryo and Seishiro go to, after school, is wearing the plainest uniform that I've seen in anime in a LONG time
- The eyecatch says that Hikaru was born on Valentines day. :)
- Chairperson Himuro and Izumi have the most amazing hair. ;)
- What does the "W" on Ryo's cap stand for?
- I like that the animators thought to show Hiroki looking a little scared of the thugs, as they approach him after he challenges their ability at the plate. Makes him less than perfect without taking much away from his boyishly cool factor

[bci110]

A Baseball Team at a Prestigious Girls' School?

-Hiroki inherits a two strike count in the challenge against Ryo.
-Outside fastball - Foul!
-Inside fastball - Foul!
-Not only can Hiroki read pitches, he's good at getting in the pitcher's head.
-Next pitch: Line drive right at Ryo! Ryo somehow catches it. Ryo wins the challenge.
-Force of the pitch shattered Hiroki's bat.
-The chairperson had seen enough. Time to move forward with the plan.
-Nice game, Ryo! Let me carry you home.
-Put me down, Hiroki!
-Nice to meet you, Hayakawa-sama. I'm Hiroki, your daughter's boyfriend!

-Board of Directors meeting at Kisaragi High
-Himuro: "I want to establish a baseball team at Kisaragi Girls High"
-Oh, you mean a softball team. Great idea.
-No, a baseball team with the goal of winning Koshien in three years' time.
-But baseball's a man's sport. We teach girls to be proper ladies.
-Principal and VP begin steps to foil Himuro's plan

Eyecatch show bios of Yuki Azuma and Seira Morimura

-Why start a girls' baseball team? It's because of Ryo, isn't it?
-I want to see Hidehiko Hayakawa's daughter on the mound at Koshien. That's my dream.
-Here's a list of girls and full scholarships that I want on the team. Start recruiting.

-Ryo sees a fancy car and a couple of suits taking to her mom
-A full scholarship to Kisaragi High?
-But only if you play on their baseball team. Interview is tomorrow.
-Dad was an ace pitcher? And won at Koshien?

-Hiroki calls Ryo "Tofu" for the first time :bigsmile: .
-Why are you calling me Tofu?
-Ryo, I hope you pass the interview tomorrow.
-Let's go see Izumi overwhelm two guys on the tennis court.
-Hey, who's that girl with Hiroki?
-Izumi notices Ryo. Start of the rivary.

Second episode had a lot of intensity and funny moments. Loved the way Hiroki acted like a Prince Charming after accepting defeat and carrying Ryo home. Plus he calls her Tofu for the first time in this episode. But I though the best part was at the end when Ryo sees Izumi for the first time. The look in their eyes and the red background made for a very chilling and intense scene. The flashback scenes were also very good. Ryo looked so cute as a kid :P.

[bci110]

- What does the "W" on Ryo's cap stand for?

I always though it stood for "Wildcats" - the amateur team Ryo pitched for.

[bci110]

Great setup for the series. Ryo is a plucky 15 year girl that lives a simple life balancing school and helping with her mom at the oden bar, all the while possess a golden left pitching arm. She was willing to forgo high school to help out, but her skills on the diamond has caught the attention of several people, including Chairwoman Himuro and Hiroki. I definitely felt the intensity between her and Hiroki at the end of the episode. Pretty much a preview of things to come in this series.

I can't really think of that many other pitchers that throw left-handed in anime. I haven't seen Touch, Cross Game, or Big Windup and I still need to watch my set of Taisho Baseball Girls. I do know of two people from other anime that do throw left-handed. Mizuki Takase in Comic Party Revolution (but I suspect that this was intended to mimic Ryo Hayakawa) and Videl Satan in Dragon Ball Z (right after Gohan starts attending high school, they are playing baseball in gym class).:sweat:

I haven't see Touch either, and I'm going to watch my copy of Taisho Baseball Girls on Monday. I know that the pitcher in Big Windup! is right-handed. I only seen a couple episodes of Cross Game, but I'm pretty sure that Aoba is a righty. So yeah, I think you're right in saying that there aren't a lot of southpaws in anime. Ryo could very well be the only one :bigsmile:.

[GundamWingMan]

Great setup for the series. Ryo is a plucky 15 year girl that lives a simple life balancing school and helping with her mom at the oden bar, all the while possess a golden left pitching arm. She was willing to forgo high school to help out, but her skills on the diamond has caught the attention of several people, including Chairwoman Himuro and Hiroki. I definitely felt the intensity between her and Hiroki at the end of the episode. Pretty much a preview of things to come in this series.

I can't really think of that many other pitchers that throw left-handed in anime. I haven't seen Touch, Cross Game, or Big Windup and I still need to watch my set of Taisho Baseball Girls. I do know of two people from other anime that do throw left-handed. Mizuki Takase in Comic Party Revolution (but I suspect that this was intended to mimic Ryo Hayakawa) and Videl Satan in Dragon Ball Z (right after Gohan starts attending high school, they are playing baseball in gym class).:sweat:

I haven't see Touch either, and I'm going to watch my copy of Taisho Baseball Girls on Monday. I know that the pitcher in Big Windup! is right-handed. I only seen a couple episodes of Cross Game, but I'm pretty sure that Aoba is a righty. So yeah, I think you're right in saying that there aren't a lot of southpaws in anime. Ryo could very well be the only one :bigsmile:.

Akiko Ogasawara, the pitcher from Taisho Baseball Girls is righthanded. Yeah, I think that Ryo is the only anime southpaw.

Meanwhile, the "clash" between Ryo and Hiroki was amazing, sorta like Cliff Lee facing down Albert Pujols, and Lee won that battle! Heh! Already, you could see sparks fly between Ryo and Hiroki!

I found it amusing how old stereotypes still exist in Japan as evidenced by the indignation over Himuro's plan to establish a baseball team at Kisaragi. I mean, those knuckledraggers were only one step away from saying that "proper ladies" should be barefoot, pregnant and consigned to the kitchen. Sheesh! Thank goodness Keiko's far more forward thinking than that!

Next up, "Tofu's" interview to get into Kisaragi!

[Shsway]

So, observations:

- Don't you think everyone has pretty unique and colorful eyes in this show, even for anime? Maybe it just throws me off because of the character designer and art director's obvious attempts to make every character distinct
- I think this is the first time that I've noticed that small teardrop sparkle in Chairperson Himuro's eyes (after she sees Ryo pitch)
- "I can't believe your pitch broke my bat." That line, along with Hiroki's "debt of honor" speech are pretty memorable to me. So it's love at first strike-out? :)
- Is it really John Gremillion who plays the VP? He has a great voice for this character
- "It's the girl, isn't it?" Another memorable line, this time by Andy McAvin as Kido
- The first time Ryo and Izumi make eye contact? DESTINEEE!!

- What does the "W" on Ryo's cap stand for?

I always though it stood for "Wildcats" - the amateur team Ryo pitched for.

Oh yeah...that didn't even occur to me (didn't get the impression that she was a regular player for 'em or anything).

[bci110]

Following in the footsteps of a great Japanese pitcher, who also happens to be Ryo's late father.

This episode can be divided into 2 parts. The first half revolved around Ryo's interview with Chairwoman Himuro at Kisaragi Girls High. The interview goes off well with the two talking about idol groups and oden and having a great conversation. Then Himuro asked Ryo about her father. Ryo told her that she doesn't have very many memories about him since he passed away when she was only 5 years old. But she does mentioned that he taught her about the game of baseball and always strive to do your best. Himuro was impressed with Ryo's poise and enthusiasm and told Ryo that she passed the interview.

-Izumi is still perplexed. Why give that girl a scholarship? Why start a girls' baseball team? Isn't having a star tennis player for a daughter enough?
-This girls baseball team is my dream, Izumi. I let you pursue your dream of being the best in tennis. Please let me pursue my dream.
-Ryo receives her schedule. Practice every day, even on Spring Break.

Eyecatch features bios on team manager Nene Mouri (who has too many hobbies) and Koharu Hotta (who only has one hobby).

In the second half, Hiroki and Seishiro meet for the first time and Ryo has her first encounter with Izumi.

-Kido is stuck as the girls' coach. But he's glad to accept.
-Two other girls accepted their scholarship offers. No word yet on the others.
-Principle insists that Hirumo stop with this insanity.

-Izumi is having another intense tennis practice. But the ball get loose over the court and lands next to Ryo.
-Ryo pitches the ball back. It goes through the fence and stuns Izumi
-She surprised you, Izumi!
-Ryo is impressed with Izumi's tennis skills. Izumi is not amuse.
-You think tennis is easy, Ryo? Why don't you try it?
-Show some mercy, Izumi! But after a few serves Ryo figured out Izumi's pattern.
-Ryo returns the next serve. It's out, but the observers are stunned that Ryo actually returned Izumi's serve.
-Kido arrives and challenges Izumi to try Ryo's sport.
-Aggressive women run in the family :P !
-Izumi accepts. Three pitches.
-Whiffs on the first two, but Kido advised Izumi to balance her arms and stabilize her lower body. Swinging a bet is different from swinging a tennis racket.
-Izumi hits the third pitch out of the court.
-What would the outcome be if we used a baseball instead of a tennis ball?
-Izumi, you should be swinging a bat instead of a racket.

Another good episode. Ryo officially became the first member of the new Kisaragi Girls team and the rivals meet for the first time. We also have the first appearance of Nene, a bubbly, energetic girl who's impressed with both Ryo and Izumi. There's obviously a very fragile relationship between Izumi and her mom, which probably explains her vicious and intense play on the tennis court. But is Kido really serious that Izumi should play baseball instead of tennis?

Next episode the team gets 3 new members.

[bci110]

Ryo graduates middle school and meets 3 of her teammates.

The episode begins with Ryo's and Seishiro's middle school graduation ceremony. Seishiro's the class valedictorian.

-Let's celebrate our graduation together, Ryo!
-Look at the time! I have to get ready for practice tomorrow!
-Maybe next time
-Wildcats wish Ryo best of luck at high school and will be supporting her
-First day of practice!
-So Hiroki does know Ryo's real name. Doesn't let up with the Tofu nickname, though :P.
-Stop calling me Tofu, you big lug!
-Here's you towel back, Hiroki. And some cookies!
-Tofu's cookies are the best!
-Izumi expressing some jealousy?

Ryo arrives at the practice field and meets a couple of her teammates - Hikaru Yoshimoto, a spunky twintail brunette who was the MVP of the Junior High Softball Tournament, and Yuki Azuma, a quiet and spacy girl. The three quickly become friends.

-Where's the rest of the team?
-You're the only three thus far.
-Our lockerrrom reeks of alcohol
-Hikaru to Kido: Get out of here, you drunk! Our coach is arriving soon.
-Wait, YOU'RE OUR COACH!?!?!
-As expected, application to enter the Kisaragi Girls team to Kochien has been rejected. Keiko is not surprised, but isn't phased by the rejection.

Eyecatch feature bios of Yoko Tokashiki and Mao Daioji

Second half of the episode focuses on Seira Morimura, an Olympic-bound track star who suddenly stopped competing.
-Your mission, Kido, is to recruit this girl to join our team.
-Some trouble at the bar Seira and her friends hang out.
-You're not my type, old man
-Hand over you wallet, old man!
-It's full of newspaper! He tricked us!
-Hurry, go get Seira!
-How devastating and cold! Seira's mother never wanted her.
-More thugs to cause trouble.
-You got quite an arm there, Seira!
-What's the point of trying and competing if nobody cares?
-Meet me at this address - Kido tossed Seira a piece of paper.

-Wait, this can't be right.
-You're Seira Morimura, right? You're gonna join out baseball team?
-Wait, you're a baseball coach? You tricked me!!!

And with that, Seira became the 4th member of the Kisaragi Girls baseball team.

With this episode, the team is starting to take some shape. Seira was obviously recruited for her speed and athleticism and Hikaru has some experience with her softball playing. Not much was revealed about Yuki, though. Seira's backgound and issues with her parents was pretty sad, especially about her mother not wanting her.

Next episode: The Wave Motion Swing arrives!

[GundamWingMan]

Kido was seriously cool, and sneaky as the day is long as evidenced by how he got Seira to join the team. And no wonder Seira has a monster attitude, what with her dreadful past. Meanwhile, with the team slowly beginning to take shape, it's fun to learn more about the girls while watching them interact, not to mention the budding rivalry between Ryo and Izumi. That particular aspect of P9 was what attracted me most to the show.

[kijakusai]

I can't really think of that many other pitchers that throw left-handed in anime.
So yeah, I think you're right in saying that there aren't a lot of southpaws in anime. Ryo could very well be the only one :bigsmile:.
Yeah, I think that Ryo is the only anime southpaw.
　
Just for your information. For example, Hoshi Hyūma (http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200609/13/76/f0072176_2250383.jpg) (Kyojin no Hoshi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_the_Giants)), Banba Ban (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000FP2T3G.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
) (Samurai Giants (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BE%8D%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%82%A4%E3%82%A2%E3%8 3%B3%E3%83%84)), Mizuhara Yūki (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00006JOKS.09.LZZZZZZZ.jpg) (Yakyū-kyō no Uta (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%8E%E7%90%83%E7%8B%82%E3%81%AE%E8%A9%A9)) are southpaws.
　
I wrote about Mizuhara Yūki also in another thread related to baseball.
http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showthread.php?s=&t=100709
　

[bci110]

Just for your information. For example, Hoshi Hyūma (http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200609/13/76/f0072176_2250383.jpg) (Kyojin no Hoshi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_the_Giants)), Banba Ban (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000FP2T3G.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg</p><p>) (Samurai Giants (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BE%8D%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%82%A4%E3%82%A2%E3%8 3%B3%E3%83%84)), Mizuhara Yūki (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00006JOKS.09.LZZZZZZZ.jpg) (Yakyū-kyō no Uta (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%8E%E7%90%83%E7%8B%82%E3%81%AE%E8%A9%A9)) are southpaws.
　
I wrote about Mizuhara Yūki also in another thread related to baseball.
http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showthread.php?s=&t=100709
　

Three anime series I most likely won't get a chance to watch. But thanks for the info, anyway.

[Spirit Of The Stage]

Ah yes, Hikaru....*wuv*

Ahem, sorry.

Actually, both my faves outside of the main two were introduced - as well as Hikaru...

*wuv* SLAPS SELF. Sorry, will refrain....

...and Yuki, who is IMO the most interesting characters in the show especially later in the series. Izumi/Ryo dynamic is established, Takasugi is not a jerk jock and surprisingly like the guy, and Seira is an interesting addition being the teen badass she is. I must admit that my favourite overall apart from...er, the one I swoon at...is Coach Kido. He's not your average drunk guy so to speak and what develops when you learn a bit more about him is that he's quite a lovable rogue so to speak, and this was definitely hinted at in the rather interesting dynamic that he and Seira share.

Now, I finish before I swoon again...

[GundamWingMan]

I can't really think of that many other pitchers that throw left-handed in anime.
So yeah, I think you're right in saying that there aren't a lot of southpaws in anime. Ryo could very well be the only one :bigsmile:.
Yeah, I think that Ryo is the only anime southpaw.
　
Just for your information. For example, Hoshi Hyūma (http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200609/13/76/f0072176_2250383.jpg) (Kyojin no Hoshi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_the_Giants)), Banba Ban (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000FP2T3G.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
) (Samurai Giants (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BE%8D%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%82%A4%E3%82%A2%E3%8 3%B3%E3%83%84)), Mizuhara Yūki (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00006JOKS.09.LZZZZZZZ.jpg) (Yakyū-kyō no Uta (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%8E%E7%90%83%E7%8B%82%E3%81%AE%E8%A9%A9)) are southpaws.
　
I wrote about Mizuhara Yūki also in another thread related to baseball.
http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showthread.php?s=&t=100709
　

Well, well! I learned something new today! Many thanks!

[bci110]

The Wave Motion Swing arrives at Kisaragi High!

-Beer Breath - err, the Coach, gave us 3 new players, Mom.
-I'm off to practice, Dad!
-Morning, Seira! Nice outfit.
-I can't play in a miniskirt and boots. I don't want to give Beer Breath a free show.
-Quiet! There's a strange noise in the locker room
-Good Morning! I'm Nene Mori, your new manager!
-12 boxes, Nene? You never done laundry, have you?

-Hiroki spots Tofu and hit a pop fly right at her
-Sorry, Tofu! I though you would catch it :sdsmiley:.
-Thanks for the cookies. They were the best I ever had!
-You're hopeless, Hiroki.
-Don't hide behind that ice princess facade for too long, Izumi.

-We found a new recruit in Shikoku.
-Amazing swing. Wait - that's a girl?
-Kido and Ryo watch a tape of a player named Koharu Hotta. She was called the Secret Weapon of Tosa due to her special swing called the Wave Motion Swing.
-Let's go get her! Off to Koshi!

Eyecatch feature bios on the final two players on the team - Kanako Mita and Izumi.

Second half of the episode focus on Koharu and Ryo's attempts to convince her to leave Tosa and join the Kisaragi Girls team.
-Coach, where are you?
-Go by yourself.
-Ryo stood up at the airport (and at this point Hillary Haag gave one of her best one-liners I've ever heard :cool:)
-Very friendly dog - Hey! Give me back my shoe!
-Koharu and the Wave Motion Swing
-Sorry, ma'am. I don't play baseball anymore
-I'm not going back until you agree to join us
-So the Wave Motion Swing is born of the sea
-Seems Koharu has the same situation as Ryo - she decides to forgo high school so she can help her father's fishing business.
-But she still enjoys playing baseball, as evident from her coaching a bunch of local kids
-I though you said you got tired of baseball
-You don't know nothing
-Koharu's worried because her father got sick last year and wanted to stay with him and help out with the family business. But her dad wants her to pursue her dreams.
-A challenge, Koharu! Your Wave Motion Swing vs. my pitching
-3 strikes, and Koharu freezes on all three pitches
-Wait, the salt was in my eye on the third pitch.
-You lost, Koharu! Your failure proves that you're not ready for the sea. Please go with Ryo and pursue your dream.
-Really, Dad? OK, I'll go with her.

The last scene shows Ryo, Hikaru, Yuki, Seira, and new member Koharu at practice.

The addition of Koharu adds a powerful bat to their lineup. Love the addition of the bubbly Nene as the girls' manager. Among the supporting characters she was one of my favorites in the series (and I loved Jennifer Earheart's portrayal of her in the series - one of my favorite English dub performances ever).

I do agree with you guys about Hiroki. He definitely wasn't the typical jerky or dumb jock that we usually see. He was actually a very intelligent and nice young man that has a good romantic side. He shown to have some feelings for Ryo but at the same time doesn't really want to hurt Izumi. One of my favorite male characters in anime.

Next episode - An aspiring pop idol and a judo star join the team.

[Jimmie M]

With this episode, the team is starting to take some shape. Seira was obviously recruited for her speed and athleticism and Hikaru has some experience with her softball playing. Not much was revealed about Yuki, though. Seira's backgound and issues with her parents was pretty sad, especially about her mother not wanting her.


5 more to go! I agree about Keiko's response to the committee's rejecting their application-In fact, it would really have been surprising if they DID accept it! It's just the first step to the larger goal of eventually playing in Koshien so the rejection wasn't really all that big a deal. And Ryo's new teammates-You have to like Hikaru's enthusiasm (Even with their oddball coach Kido), Seira's athleticism & toughness, and Yuki-Well, we'll learn more about her as we go along.

[bci110]

With this episode, the team is starting to take some shape. Seira was obviously recruited for her speed and athleticism and Hikaru has some experience with her softball playing. Not much was revealed about Yuki, though. Seira's backgound and issues with her parents was pretty sad, especially about her mother not wanting her.


5 more to go! I agree about Keiko's response to the committee's rejecting their application-In fact, it would really have been surprising if they DID accept it! It's just the first step to the larger goal of eventually playing in Koshien so the rejection wasn't really all that big a deal. And Ryo's new teammates-You have to like Hikaru's enthusiasm (Even with their oddball coach Kido), Seira's athleticism & toughness, and Yuki-Well, we'll learn more about her as we go along.

Yeah, I liked Keiko's reaction to the rejection, too. She knew that the committee would reject the application, but she acted as if it was part of her plan anyway.

Seira was pretty awesome in this episode, and of course being the team's badass she did bring that aura of toughness to the team. That just made them respect her more.

[kijakusai]

Three anime series I most likely won't get a chance to watch. But thanks for the info, anyway.
Well, well! I learned something new today! Many thanks!
　
It's a pleasure.
The staff of Samurai Giants is rather interesting. It included Nagahama Tadao, Dezaki Osamu, Tomino Yoshiyuki, Ōtsuka Yasuo, Kobayashi Shichirō, Kikuchi Shunsuke, and Miyazaki Hayao.
　

[bci110]

Two new girls join the Kisaragi team, and the first strike in the Ryo-Hiroki-Izumi triangle has landed.

-Episode begins with the beginning on the new school term at Kisaragi Girls High. Ryo is glad that she decided to enroll in high school after all.

-Kido comments that Shiro's quite a looker when she's all dolled up, which gets a negative response from Seira.

-Nene bumps into a big girl named Mao Daidoji. She looks imposing but is quite timid.

-Scene shift to an idol audition for Yoko Tokashiki - and the series' first real display of fanservice :P.

-Yoko didn't pass the audition and is raging mad. But also upset because she promised that she wouldn't return home until she became a star. Then she notices the Kisaragi team ad in the paper - Come be the next baseball star!

-Keiko has another board meeting. The board is worried that the whole world will laugh at Kisaragi for attempting to send a girls' baseball team to Kochien. But Keiko insists that they will succeed.

-Ryo and Seishiro walk to school together. Seishiro mentions that he joined the art club to help improve his skills.

-Hiroki arrives and again annoys Ryo with his Tofu nickname. Ryo suggest using another part of oden, like the fish part, to use as a nickname for her. Hiroki laughs hysterically. Meanwhile Izumi's groupees are steamed that Ryo is taking Hiroki for granted.

-At practice Hikaru and Koharu can't catch Ryo's pitches.

-Kido received Yoko's application to join the team.

-Nene informs the team that she might have found someone that could catch Ryo's pitches. The girls then go watch the judo club and see Mao in action.

-Mao definitely has the right body type, but is beaten by a girl half her size.

-Kido and Keiko believe that Mao could help out the team; it's just that she lacks self-confidnece. Ryo is shocked to learn that Mao is enrolled at Kisaragi on a judo scholarship despite watching her get beat at judo practice.

-Later in the day Ryo meets Mao and have a nice conversation. Ryo tells Mao that it's not whether you win or lose that matters, but being part of a team and having the support of your teammates that matters the most.

Eyecatch shows Ryo and Hikaru. This starts the 2nd rotation of the player bios.

-Kido and Keiko interview Yoko. Yoko aspires to be a baseball player that can sing and dance.

-Yoko gets a trial practice run, but proves to have absolutely no baseball skills whatsoever. The rest of the team can't believe it. Seira quirks that her playing is worse then her dye job.

-Yoko pleads with Kido to let her join the team.

-Kido caves and let her join. His explaination is that he saw "infinite possibilities" in her (though I think it was because of her attractive body that Kido caved).

-Next up is Mao. Her test is to try to catch one of Ryo's fastballs.

-Mao's judo teammates watch and starts jeering and insulting her.

-Ryo explains to Mao that a pitcher and a catcher are a team within a team, and the relationship between pitcher and catcher will help the team perform stronger. Ryo offers words of encouragement to Mao. Let's show those girls that they're wrong about you.

-Ryo sends the pitch - Mao catches it! And she didn't budge an inch! She passed!

-Kido states that it's in Mao's nature. During individual judo events Mao struggled, but in team competitions she was unbeatable. Mao put the needs of the team first over any individual accomplishment. Kido knew that Mao was the one that could catch Ryo's pitches because they understand the concept of teamwork. Plus as a former catcher, it was pretty much instinctive.

-Mao officially joins the team. Hikaru requests to drop the formalities and starts introducing everyone. Yuki's the talkative one :P.

-After practice Ryo runs into Izumi's groupees. They tell her that Hiroki and Izumi are secretly engaged and will get married once they graduate. They warn Ryo to stay away from Hiroki.

-The team's uniforms arrived! Team photo op!

-Ryo can't shake the thought of Hiroki and Izumi engaged.

Next episode: The principal's daughter wants to play, and the first practice game is set.

[bci110]

Rumors are flying around about Hiroki and Izumi, the team gains a new member, and the first practice game is set. Oh, and Izumi discovers something shocking about her mother.

-Ryo can't shake off the though that Izumi and Hiroki are engaged that she lost her appetite.

-On her way to school, she runs into Hiroki. He gives his usual Tofu greeting, but Ryo disregards him; even calling him Takasugi-san. Hiroki is shocked.

-The team wears their uniforms for the first time. Gets instant approval from Kido.

-Also the team performs actual baseball practice for the first time. Mao is having trouble handling Ryo's pitches. Fielding practice is going alright (despite Seira yelling at Kido for hitting a grounder she had to dive for), but Yoko dodged a fly ball hit right at her.

-Seira begins to question Yoko about her commitment to playing, and they start fighting. Meanwhile the VP is shown spying on them.

-Also observing the practice is a bespectled girl from a tree, but she runs away after Ryo spots her.

-Nene screams upon seeing the VP, and the girls give him a beating.

-The VP reports to Prinicipal Mita that the girls' practice was terrible and the girls were savage.

-Mita scoffs after hearing the report. Keiko's a fool for starting a girls baseball team.

-We learn that the young girl watching the practice was Mita's daughter Kanako. Both Mita and the VP comment on how a proper lady she is and how well she's studying to become a doctor. But Kanako has different thoughts.

-Ryo and Hikaru were discussing about how bad practice was until Kanako shows up. Ryo recognized her as the girl that she spotted earlier at practice, but Kanako takes off before Ryo gets a chance to talk to her. Hikaru mentions that there's something familiar about her.

-Next day at practice, Ryo catches Kanako watching. They bring her into the locker room, and Hikaru recognized her as an excellent shortshop during the regionals. The team invites Kanako to join. Kanako would love to, but there's no way her father will let her play.

-Nene comes up with an idea - have Kanako wear a disguise (an ugly green wig and no glasses) and play under the pseudonym Tami Kanata.

-Then Principal Mita arrives and notices "Tami". He doesn't recognize his daughter in her disguise. It worked...for now.

Eyecatch: Yuki and Seira

-Hiroki and Izumi are seen heading out to an opera sponsered by Hiroki's father. Ryo observes them.

-At home Ryo fantasized being with Hiroki in the fancy dress that Izumi was wearing, but snaps out of it when she drops the dish.

-Hiroki's bored with the opera, so he and Izumi leave despite Izumi wanting to stay.

-A couple of ruffians appear to cause trouble, but Hiroki easily dispatches them. Izumi then calls security and they chase the thugs away.

-Izumi thanks Hiroki for protecting her from the muggers. Hiroki tells Izumi that he will always protect her. She's like a sister to her. Claiming that he had something important to take care of, Hiroki then takes off, leaving Izumi behind. Izumi is crushed.

-Ryo does some late night jogging and returns home only to see Hiroki having some oden.

-Ryo askes Hiroki about his relationship with Izumi. Hiroki tells her that his engagement to Izumi is just a rumor. He loves Izumi, but he loves Izumi more like a sister and doesn't have any romantic feelings for her. Meanwhile we see Izumi sitting down in a depressed state.

-Keiko informs Kido that the girls' first practice game is set. They'll play against Meio Junior High, a veteran team that placed second in the regionals last season. Though the team only have 8 players and one potent bat in Koharu.

-So it's time to recruit the 4th batter, and Kido has a good idea who it could be.

-Keiko takes a nap in her office and drops the locket she was wearing.

-Izumi walks into her mother's office and notices the locket. She never seen that locket before, and opens it only to see a picture of a man Izumi doesn't recognize.

-During an intenst tennis practice session, Izumi asked herself, "Who is that man in the locket? And why is my mother carrying him?"

-Ryo arrives and asks, "Please join our team. We need you, Izumi!"

Next episode: The Ryo-Izumi rivalry heats up, and Keiko's secret is revealed.

[GundamWingMan]

--Ahh! Things are sure heating up here, especially with the Ryo/Izumi/Hiroki triangle!

--Maybe it's just me, but I always got the impression Ryo was dreadfully uncomfortable regarding the attention Hiroki pays her.

--I loved Mao from jump street! It takes an imposing figure to handle Ryo's power-packed pitches!

--That first practice was quite the catastrophe, but hey, you gotta learn to crawl before you can walk, and walk before you can run.

--You could see the yearning in Kanako's eyes regarding her love for playing baseball. Gotta love the goofy disguise! HA!

--What a shock, Ryo asking her "rival" Izumi to join the team! Oh, yeah! The team's uniforms are mondo cool!

[bci110]

Intense rivalries, shocking secrets, and a challenge with the Kisaragi team - and Ryo's academic future - on the line. And we haven't even started playing baseball yet :) .

-Episode starts where we left off in Episode 7. Ryo asks Izumi to join the baseball team. Despite negative responses from Izumi's groupees and her tennis partners, Ryo explains that the team needs another strong batter and was impressed with Izumi's power during their little challenge.

-As expected, Izumi coldly turns her down. "Stop insulting me, Hayakawa! I want you to fail!"

-Later Izumi asks Keiko's assistant Yanagaida about the man in Keiko's locket. Yanagaida hinted that he knows who the man is, but wouldn't tell Izumi due to his loyalty towards serving Keiko and promising not to reveal her secrets.

-Kido muddles on the lineup. He's set on Seira as the leadoff hitter for her speed and Hikaru to bat second as the team's switch hitter. Koharu will bat 3rd, but the 4th position is blank.

-Izumi approaches him and demands information about the man in the photo, of which she declares as her mother's lover. While he didn't reveal the man's name, Kido does inform Izumi that the photo was taken 20 years ago.

-Izumi is sitting on a bench at school grounds when Ryo approaches.

-Once again Ryo asks Izumi to join. Izumi again says no.

-Ryo refuses to accept no for and answer and keeps pressing and persuading Izumi to join. Izumi finally gets fed up with Ryo's constant annoyance and begins to storm off when she inadvertently drops the locket.

-Ryo picks up the locket and recognizes the photo - It's her dad!!!!

-Ryo asks Izumi, "Why do you have a photo of my father?"

-Izumi is shocked. Her mother's lover was Ryo's father! She snatches the locket from Ryo and runs off.

-Izumi then barges into Keiko's office and demands the truth.

-Keiko tells her story. The man in the locket is Hidehiko Hayakawa, an ace baseball pitcher whom she dated for two years. After they broke up she never saw him again. She was with Hidehiko when he pitched at Kochien, and when she saw his daughter Ryo pitching the spark was rekindled inside her. Seeing her lover's daughter on the mound was the motivation for starting the girls baseball team - to see Hidehiko back in Kochien reincarnated as his daughter.

-Izumi asks, "Did you loved him? More than my father?" Keiko said that she still loved him, but that's all in the past now.

-Izumi figured out Keiko's reasoning for starting the baseball team and is heartbroken in believing that her mother loves Ryo instead of her.

-Kido walks in to see Keiko in tears. Keiko doesn't want to keep hurting Izumi. Kido reasoned that it's because you and Izumi are so much alike.

-More quarreling among the team, and again it's centered around Yoko. This time she can't find her hairbrush.

-Hikaru asks Yuki about that strange doll she's carrying on her hip.

-Hey, Yuki speaks for the first time :cool: ! She explains that her friend is Fifi. Fifi is an alien from the planet Yukara, which is 18 light years away. Wow, now I'm starting to act like Yuki. Ah, who cares - I still love Yuki, even if she is strange :) .

-The team is all set for practice when Izumi shows up at the door with a dangerously scary look on her face.

Eyecatch: Nene and Koharu

- Izumi: "I had it with you, Ryo! You don't belong here!"

-Team is ready to defend Ryo.

-Kido laughs hysterically. Ready to join the team, Izumi? Isn't that why you're here?

-Me join her? Never!

-Kido then offers a challenge: Ryo's pitching vs. Izumi's batting. Ryo wins if Izumi strikes out. Izumi wins if she can reach first base safely.

-Conditions: If Ryo wins, then Izumi must join the team. But if Izumi wins, then the baseball team must disband and Ryo must quit school permanently.

-Ryo accepts the challenge.

-Both Izumi and Ryo train intensely for their showdown. Seishiro offers snacks and support for Ryo. Ryo appreciates his support.

-Izumi's training is much more brutal. She underestimated the force of hitting a baseball. Bruises cover most of her body and she's exhausted and hurt - up to the point that blood drips down from her hand. Both her tennis coach and Keiko herself plea her to stop. But Izumi ignores them and presses on. Keiko then tells Yanagaida that the challenge will go on as scheduled.

-Ryo's training session is also brutal, but it's more focused. Her teammates are impressed. That's because she has a specific opponent to focus on.

-Izumi has had enough and is about to quit when Hiroki shows up at the batting cage. Hiroki informs Izumi that she has the power but lacks the finesse.

-He blows on Izumi's injured hands, which sparks a memory from Izumi's childhood.

-Hiroki begins to train Izumi about the art of hitting.

-Afterwords Izumi cleans up and gives a wry smirk on her face. Looks like she's ready.

-The day of the challenge is here. The team is ready in full uniform, and Izumi arrives. She's walking with the grace and confidence of a princess. The team notices the bruises on Izumi's body and wondered what happened to her. She's like a completely different person.

-Izumi steps up to the plate. Ryo delivers the first pitch. The challenge has begun!

Next episode: Ryo vs. Izumi - will the dream die before it has a chance to bloom?

[GundamWingMan]

I thought that episode 8 was one of the most emotionally gripping episodes of the whole series as things with Ryo and Izumi come to a head after Izumi's shock and outrage over learning that Keiko's lover was Ryo's father. Clearly that didn't go over well with the spoiled Himuro daughter since her mom was romantically involved with the father of her hated rival. Izumi's obsession over wanting to perfect her skill with a bat to defeat Ryo in the challenge was positively gripping, working herself into exhaustion, I even cringed when her hands started bleeding, and yet, she refused to stop. And what's with Hiroki, playing both ends against the middle by giving Izumi advice? Hmm! Still, there was some room in ep 8 for a little humor as provided by Yuki and her "friend" Fifi. Heh! Even with an actual game having been played, P9 delivered the goods as a great show like a blazing fastball!

[touma]

<Snip Episode 8 spoilers>

Your posts do not have the right subject line. I could not tell that you were talking about episode 8 until I had read some of the post.

Are you using the "Post Reply" button instead of the "Quote" button?

[bci110]

The challenge between Ryo and Izumi begins!

-All of the significant spectators are in their positions: Kido is home plate umpire, Seishiro will ump at first base, Hiroki is on the first base sideline, Principal Mita and the VP are in the stands, and Keiko is watching the action beyond centerfield.

-First pitch: Pop foul to right field. Yoko doesn't go after it for fear that the ball will hit her face. The team - well, actually Seira - yells at her.

-Ryo noticed that Izumi improved on her swing, though Hiroki observed that she was still swinging up.

-Second pitch: Swing and a miss.

-Ryo realized that Hiroki was coaching Izumi on her batting.

-Third pitch: Foul! The ball bounced off the rubber and landed in foul territory.

-Ryo is about to throw a screwball when Mao calls time. She informs Ryo that the last swing nearly wiped Izumi out and she can see the blood dripping out of her hands. She suggest throwing another fastball in belief that Izumi will not make contact.

-Before setting up for the next pick, Ryo wonders why Izumi hated her when she realized that it was because of the locket with the picture of her father. Keiko's relationship with Hidehiko upset Izumi, and Izumi is taking that hatred out on Ryo.

-Ryo delivers the next pitch, but Hiroki notices that something's wrong.

-Izumi swings and grounds to short.

-Konako snags the grounder and throws to first.

-Izumi dives to the bag....Seishiro calls her SAFE! Izumi wins the challenge. The baseball team must be dissolved and Ryo must leave school.

-Principal Mita and the VP are pleased with the results. How ironic that Keiko's own daughter was the one that destroyed her dream.

-Ryo is devastated that she lost the challenge and let her team down, despite encouraging words from her teammates.

Eyecatch: Yoko and Mao

-Izumi is proud of her win, but Hiroki mentioned that Ryo let Izumi win. The first three pitches that Ryo threw were at her normal speed. But the 4th pitch was a gimmie. She intentionally threw a slow pitch so that Izumi could hit it.

-Later at Keiko's office, Keiko honors Izumi's wish and calls the board of directors to have the baseball team dissolved. But Izumi cuts off the call.

-Hikaru suggest that the team should march over to the board and demand not to disband the baseball team. The rest of the girls agreed.

-Ryo lies in her futon all sad and depressed when she receives a phone call from Hikaru. Hikaru states that she has some news to share with Ryo and asks her to come downstairs.

-Downstairs at the oden bar Hikaru and the rest of the team are there to tell Roy that the baseball team will not be dissolved. Seems that Izumi had a change of heart.

-Later at the school hall Ryo runs into Izumi. Ryo denies Izumi's claim that she threw the match. Then Izumi explained that the locket actually belongs to her mother, and that she and Ryo's father dated for a while. She ordered Ryo not to let Keiko down during their practice game in a couple of days.

-The team has a spirited practice, and both Kido and Hiroki agree that Ryo is very special.

While not as intense as the prior couple of episodes, this one had some good, dramatic scenes and some excellent baseball action. Izumi showed some potential that she could be a great hitter thanks to her grit and determination. Ryo also showed that she is an emotional roller coaster when she's out on the mound, especially when she loses.

Next episode: The first practice game.

[bci110]

Well it's time for the Kisaragi Girls' first practice game against Meio Junior High.

-The girls are all pumped and excited for their first-ever game.

-But are disturbed to see their manager Nene in a baseball uniform! Kido states that since they don't have enough players yet, Nene will have to stand at third base. Which means that Kanako will have to cover third as well as short.

-Keiko, Principal Mita, and the VP are in attendance, as well as Hiroki, Seishiro, and a couple of reporters covering the game.

-The teams meet and wish each other good luck and a good game.

-Meanwhile Izumi is having another intense tennis practice with her groupees looking on. Hiroki coyly shouts to her, "The game's about to start!"

-The first Meio batter steps to the plate and promtly strikes out on 3 pitches. The Meio team can't believe how hard Ryo can throw.

-Ryo ends up striking out the side with only 9 pitches!

-Bottom of the first and Seira leads off. She hits a weak grounder to first, but thanks to her speed beats out the throw for an infield hit.

-Next up is Hikaru and she gets a bunt single.

-Koharu is next. She whiffs on the first pitch but lines the next pitch to center field for a solid hit. Seira slides home ahead of the throw to score the Kisaragi Girls' first run.

-Next up is Nene. Kido gives her these instructions: Close your eyes after you enter the batters box. And when the umpire says "Batter Out!" you come back to the dugout.

-But Nene wants to be aggressive and try to drive home another run. After a couple of practice swings, the Meio catcher signs for a slow pitch.

-Nene's overagressiveness come back to bite the girls as she swings wildly and grounds into a double play. Kisaragi ended up scoring just the one run in that inning.

-During tennis practice, Izumi overhears her fangirls updating the score of the game. 1-0 Kisaragi in the 4th inning.

-Hiroki and Seishiro notice that Ryo is starting to struggle and the Meio batters are figuring out her pitching patterns. Hiroki notices that Ryo can't pitch to her full potential because Mao is having trouble catching her pitches. Not only that, Koharu and Kanako have to literally play two positions because of Yoko (right) and Nene (third). So it feels more like the Kisaragi 7 instead of 9.

Eyecatch: Kanako and Izumi

-Along with figuring out Ryo, Meio's coach spotted the other holes in the girls team. He instructs the next batter to hit a slow grounder to third, which he does. Kanako fields the grounder but can't make a throw.

-Next the coach instructs to hit a fly ball to right. After a couple of fouls that Koharu can't flag down, the next fly ball falls out of her reach.

-The next batter distracts Mao with his bat before Ryo makes her delivery. The slight distraction ruins Mao's train of thought and she mishandles Ryo's pitch. Two runs score for Meio and they take the lead.

-Back at tennis practice, Izumi overhears that the girls team is training 4-1 in the 7th and are in deep trouble. Hiroki asks, "Izumi, aren't you happy that your rival is losing?"

-Ryo pitches to the next batter, but she leaves the pitch wide open over the plate. The batter send a long fly to left field. Advised by an "alien transmission", Yuki catches the ball and then make a strong, straight throw to home for a double play.

-The other Meio baserunner is caught in a rundown. Mao throws to Kanako covering second, who instructs Nene to hold out her glove. Nene catches the throw and tags out the runner to complete the triple play.

-Bottom of the 9th. Seira, Hikaru, and Koharu are on base with two outs. But Nene is at bat. She can't bat because the force of catching Kanako's throw injured her hand, and she can't grip the bat.

-With no healthy players left, Kido is about to concede when he gets help....

-...from Izumi! And she arrives in full uniform!

-Pinch-hitting for Nene, Izumi is locked in.

-First pitch she sees, she launches it over the left field wall and hits the lightpost! A walk-off grand slam! Kisaragi wins 5-4.

-Ryo wonders why Izumi came to help the team and thanked her. Izumi mentioned that she didn't came to bail Ryo out, but that she couldn't stand the sight of her biggest competitor lose a game because she was short a player.

-From that point Izumi officially became a member of the baseball team. The Kisaragi 9 is complete.

Next episode: The road to Kochien begins, but with a major twist.

And now that Izumi joined the team and the 9th member, the batting order for the Kisaragi Girls team is set:

1. 2B Seira Morimura
2. 1B Hikaru Yoshimoto
3. CF Koharu Hotta
4. 3B Izumi Himuro
5. LF Yuki Azuma
6. SS Kanako Mita
7. RF Yoko Tokashiki
8. C Mao Daidijo
9. P Ryo Hayakawa

[Jimmie M]

Have you all noticed that the vice principal looks like a rat (And acts like one too)? :P And calling the girls "savage"-What did he expect after being caught peeping into their locker room? The disguise for Kanako was a good idea but the green wig was a little wild even though it worked. And yeah, I agree that Hiroki's a good guy-If only he wasn't such a public figure I think he could have wiped the floor with those two punks that were giving him & Izumi a hard time in the parking lot. 3rd base is now the only position left to be filled but that will happen soon enough. ;)

[bci110]

The girls' quest for Koshien begins, and the Himuro women prove why they're the most stubborn and headstrong characters in the series :P.

-Ryo is on cloud nine after winning their practice game, and pays her respects to Hidehiko before heading off to school. Then Kido arrives to pay his respects to his fallen friend and tell him about the game.

-Izumi burns her tennis rackets. No turning back now.

-On a windy day as Ryo heads to school, she sees an elderly man in trouble. His hat flew off his head and landed in a tree, and he can't reach it.

-Ryo offers her assistance and gets the hat down by tossing a baseball at it. The hat lands squarely on the man's head.

-The man thanked Ryo for her help, and after a quick look at her watch Ryo bolts off to school.

-Just as Ryo left Hiroki arrives. Turns out the elderly man is Hiroki's grandfather. Hiroki boasts to his grandfather that the cute girl that help him is an ace pitcher on the Kisaragi girls team and Hiroki's girlfriend, the girl that he'll marry someday.

-Izumi arrives for her first day of practice with the team. She's sporting a new hairstyle, cutting off her luscious long locks for a shorter style that will make her feel more comfortable wearing a cap.

-Izumi mentions to Kido that while she's comfortable with her hitting, her fielding needs work and request an individual training session. Kido agrees, but tells Izumi that he won't go easy.

-During a meeting with the National High School Baseball Association, Keiki continues to pursuade the board to accept her request to allow the Kisaragi Girls team to participate.

-The board unanimously refused her request. Reason: The Koshien tournament is a prestigious event, and to have a girls team participate would be nothing more than cheap entertainment.

-Keiko insists that it won't be cheap entertainment, and that the girls have every right to play with the boys.

-The board doesn't care if the girls play or not; they don't want the girls playing against the boys.

-Then Hiroki's grandfather arrives at the meeting. He is revealed to be Konosuke Takasugi, one of the tournament's big sponsors. Konosuke wants part of the meeting; however the board mentions to him that while they would be honored his presence, the matter is closed. Keiko insists that it's not.

-Meanwhile Izumi is getting pounded at fielding practice.

-Back at the board meeting, Keiko wants to prove that the girls can compete with the boys on equal terms. To prove this, she proposes a match with one of Koshien's regular participants - Rinkai High.

-The board is outraged upon hearing the proposal, but Konosuke believes that the real reason why the board is balking is that they are afraid to be proven wrong.

-While the team watches Izumi's struggles, Yoko sneaks off claiming to be sick. She looks at a magazine to see where they are holding the next idol auditions.

Eyecatch: Rotation #3 begins with Ryo and Hikaru

-After leaving the board meeting, Konosuke loves the idea of a girls baseball team at Kochien. You can tell where Hiroki got his charm from.

-The girls are shocked to hear that they have to play mighty Rinkai High and beat them just to be admitted in the tournament.

-Rinkai is an all-boys school that recruits top baseball players from around the region. There's no way we can beat them.

-Izumi: Then focus on the 1% chance of winning. I rather have a 1% shot of winning then have a 99% shot of losing.

-As expected, Rinkai refused the request. Reason: They're afraid that lowing their standards by playing a girls team will ruin their reputation.

-Keiko then plays her trump card.

-Soon Rinkai's principal and the NHSBA head chairman watch a news report that Rinkai High declined the proposal because they were afraid of the Kisarigi pitcher's "magic ball". Calls are flying off the hook about how cowardly Rinkai is acting. The chairman is furious - Keiko outfoxed him :bigsmile: .

-Facing more possible public humiliation, Rinkai caves and accepts the match. The Kisaragi girls have their first official game.

-While walking home with Seishiro, Ryo is worried about Mao and her slump. Then a group of reporters ambush them and start asking questions about the magic ball. Ryo has no idea what they are talking about.

-Hiroki: They're shameless, aren't they. The press then asks Hiroki if he knew anything about the magic ball. "No comment", he replied.

-Ryo finds Keiko and asks her why she told the press that she can throw a magic ball. Keiko told her that it was so that they can have their game against Rinkai. She also tells Ryo the the magic ball does indeed exist.

-Ryo finds out from Izumi that the magic ball reference came from when Keiko was dating Hidehiko, and that he was a professional baseball player at the time. Ryo didn't realize that her dad was a pro baseball player.

-Back home Ryo eavesdrop on a conversation Shiro and Kido are having about Hidehiko, and that it was 10 years ago to the day that the incident happened.

-Ryo barges in and wants to know more about her father and what both her mother and her coach are hiding about him. Shiro ignores her and tends to a few customers that arrived at the bar, and Kido tells Ryo that he and her father were best friends and teammates. But that was a long time ago and he hadn't seen him in years.

Next episode: A 100 pitch challenge!

[bci110]

The day before the big game, a 100 pitch challenge!

-Episode starts with Yoko practicing for an toupee commercial audition in front of Kanako and Nene. Nene performs Yoko's routine and actually does it better.

-Fielding practice is going great for the team. Yoko still can't catch any fly balls, but at least her shouting is getting louder.

-However, Mao is still having difficulties behind the plate, dropping throws and stumbling on a pop foul. After practice Izumi confronts Mao and coldly tell her that she's dragging the team down.

-Ryo watches film of Rinkai with Kido, but doesn't seem into it.

-Ryo tells Kido that she lacks confidence in beating Rinkai with the pitches that she has and wants to play a trump card. So she asks Kido to teach her the magic ball.

-Kido says that the magic ball was something to tell the media so they can have their game with Rinkai. Ryo mentions that she heard from Keiko that her father was able to throw a magic ball.

-After a brief pause, Kido tells Ryo that the pitch does indeed exist and it's called the Lightning Ball, a legendary pitch that Hidehiko could master.

-Ryo begs Kido to teach her the Lightning Ball.

-Kido agrees to teach Ryo the pitch on one condition - she has to till a rough patch of soil that Kido purchased for his garden, and she has to till it herself or the deal's off.

-Ryo reluctantly agrees and begins work on the garden.

-Ryo is having trouble removing a stump when Seishiro arrives. He offers to help but Ryo declines.

-After hard work with little to show for it, Ryo is about to quit when Hiroki shows up. Ryo tells him that she's lost confidence and believes that they won't beat Rinkai. Hiroki rebuked her and then gives a little pep talk. Ryo misinterpreted Hiroki's speech as him being rude.

-Back at practice, Yoko asks Kido if she can be excused, which only angers Seira even more.

-Kido tells Yoko that there will be reporters and TV crews all over the stadium, and for her to be noticed she has to play well.

-Yoko is back on the field all motivated to play. Though she still can't catch any fly balls.

Eyecatch: Yuki and Seira

-Principle Mita sees her daughter Kanako heading to the library with a rather large book. He offers to help her carry it, but Kanako declines. The heavy-looking book is where Kanako is hiding her wig. Kanako is relieve that she wasn't caught, but is getting frustrated with having to keep wearing the disguise.

-Ryo finally finishes her job. Kido is impressed....

-...but he doesn't remember how to throw the Lightning Ball. Ryo is furious! All that work for nothing! But at least Kido will have a great garden full of fresh veggies.

-Mao's slump continues, despite encouraging words from Ryo and the others. Izumi though had had enough with Mao's struggles and Ryo's lack of cofidence and offers a challenge.

-Ryo must throw 100 pitches at full power. If Mao can catch at least one of Ryo's pitches, then she proved her worth to the team. But if she can't, then Mao must leave. The team is livid by Izumi's cold behavior, but Mao accepts the challenge without hesitation.

-Throughout the course of the challenge Mao gets more and more frustrated and depressed with every pitch that she drops. Izumi stands in the batters box from Pitch 1 and just stands and watch Mao failing.

-At Pitch 75 Izumi swings. Mao asks why she did that, and Izumi tells her that she should expect the batter to take a crack at a pitch every time. She swings again at Pitch 90.

-Mao begins to think that this task is impossible to complete when she notices the bruises on Izumi's hands from fielding practice. But Izumi never budged or complained and kept at it despite the pain. Now with a new sense of motivation. Mao continues the challenge.

-With the remaining pitches, Mao is starting to concentrate on the flight of the pitch, all the while gaining more confident.

-Here come the 100th and final pitch - Mao catches it! She passed the challenge!

-Mao thanks Ryo and Izumi for believing in her. Izumi said that she didn't needed her thanks; she didn't want Mao to drag the team down.

Very good episode showcasing the battery of Ryo and Mao and how they have to fight their inner struggles to better themselves. They both were about to quit there respective challenges (Ryo with the tilling; Mao with the 100 pitch challenge) but found inner strength to finish the task and succeed. A good baseball team is founded by how well the battery performs, and this little challenge will make both Mao and Ryo much stronger on the field.

Next episode: Game On!

[Shsway]

Okay, playing catch-up:

- Hiroki uses as smooth a method of passing a girl a phone number as I've ever seen :)
- The thumbs-up grin with the *Pling* sound effect...gets me everytime
- So Ryo think's Izumi's elegant, does she? It amuses me that Monica Rial goes on to play a character from a different series who is a mite obsessed with such a level of refinement...
- And Chairperson Himuro thinks it's odd for Ryo not to have had a boyfriend by that age, huh?
- The mixing on this first batch of episodes is such that I find it REALLY hard to hear Kelly Manison's lines. It's always bugged me, although the problem seems to disappear as the show goes on
- I wish that I had the sung version of "Wings", the piece that plays when the Chairperson asks Ryo to take the team to Koshien
- Another classic line, when Izumi talks about the potential of Ryo causing trouble "...with boys, or something."
- Even Izumi doesn't believe that a girls team can compete with the boys!
- Ryo's pupil isn't colored in during the convo with Seishiro about the other girls on the team
- Just what is the Chairperson's personal secretary doing, working the desk at the Registrar's Office? (And that thing with Ryo's pupil is happening again here)
- Come to think of it, why does the Chairperson even have an office at the school?
- Hiroki on Izumi: "Well, there she goes, playing with boys again."
- Kido's logic and math may have actually prevented Ryo and Izumi from shaking hands/becoming friends after the challenge. A rip in the space-time continuum?? ;) :P

[Shsway]

- I didn't remember the opening scenes of this episode looking so cheap :sweat:
- Seishiro's persistence in his pursuit of Ryo beyond their sweet friendship is admirable. I mean, he's mentally prepared for a "next time" already
- Even Izumi thinks that Ryo (Hilary Haag) and Hiroki (Vic Mignogna) are being too freaking loud with their remarks, on the way to school
- Check out the poorly-drawn locker room door!
- "Goofball coach", the tune that plays the first time that the "team" meets Kido (and in the background of the P9 DVD menus), is one of my all-time favorite anime character tunes
- Now it's really getting A League of Their Own-ish in here!
- Holy cats, is Seira's hair long in that flashback or what?
- From the get-go, Kelli Cousins is magnificent in the way the she inhabits this character. It must be hella fun playing a show's signature juvenile delinquent
- "Take out that trash, will you girls." :>
- Tiffany Grant really sells Seira's blonder flunkie, Rumi, as some kind of threat to the coach
- The silliness of the pool ball attacks, and the huge guy's ridiculous matching shirt and hat, are offset by the coolness of Kido's awesome catch, yes (and I liked the visual and sound of the one ball shattering on the wall behind him, too)
- Ryo's jogging suit confuses me, as the design looks like an "IHI" rather than just an "H" - for Hayakawa, I assume

...Coach Kido. He's not your average drunk guy so to speak and what develops when you learn a bit more about him is that he's quite a lovable rogue so to speak, and this was definitely hinted at in the rather interesting dynamic that he and Seira share.

I agree, his lighthearted and responsible reaction to her careless suggestion that they could date does make for an interesting relationship between the two. I really liked the line that Matt Greenfield put in at the end of the episode, about what Seira thought she was coming for. The delivery. :bigsmile:

[Shsway]

- So, "Beer Breath" as opposed to "Coach Drunk" in the subs (I've never watched this show in Japanese, so I've been curiously spot-checking a few moments)
- The door to the locker room is made of metal now! Or something
- I'd forgotten that Nene's dad is on the board of trustees of the school
- Hiroki's getting Ryo's first-ever batch of cookies? Cool.
- Yeah, the character's sensitivity really shows when he says he doesn't do line and through his obvious concern for Izumi's well-being
- Zenjiro on Koharu: "She's not wanting to leave her father alone to play baseball." - I've always found the way this line was said memorable
- I love how the animators made Ryo's chemise twirl in the wind, as she prepares to pitch to Koharu

[Shsway]

- So if the class of '98 is only just now matriculating, does that mean that Ryo and the girls have been coming to practice (long?) before the start of the term?
- Ryo's sheepish expression, as she admits to being happy to be in high school, is one of the best seen on the character
- Nene notes that it's common for the catchers in manga to also be Judo students. Is this truly the case?
- I'm glad that Ryo makes the comment about Kisaragi even having a girls Judo team, as they oppose one for baseball so vehemently. I mean, I know I was feeling a bit confused about that
- The "Benten Beer" ad at Shino's oden bar is great! :bigsmile:
- The "team within a team" talk that Ryo has with Mao more than makes up for the cheesiness of her earlier speech on the subject. More heartfelt, I guess
- Izumi looks a bit jealous, as she watches the situation unfold :P
- I believe that this is the first time that we hear of Kido having been a catcher himself
- OK, it is kind of impressive that Nene actually foresaw the need to acquire a uniform big enough for Mao

[Shsway]

- Ryo looks so cute in that scene where Kido sees what they all look like in the new uniform. Mao looks lost :P
- Seira: "You picked the wrong window, shorty."
- Kanako is, like, the first person who wanted to play on the team purely for playing's sake. It was way to convenient, however, that her father, the principal, chose to visit the baseball field right when the girls were testing the subtle disguise
- Once more, Hiroki refers to himself as Ryo's boyfriend. And he uses the "l" word so easily...can it be both charming and creepy (although not so much that second one, the way that it's played)
- Another face-off shot of Izumi and Ryo, with a lot more surprise on her face (her smile in the ED stills is almost shocking)
- Speaking of images from the ED, Hikaru is hella skinny.

"Passionate Days" is a lovely song, BTW.

[bci110]

What time is it? - GAME TIME!!!

Today's the day of the big game between Rinkai High and the Kisaragi Girls School. A win by the K-Girls will grant them permission to enter the NHSBA Tournament. A loss, and their Koshien dreams will be shattered.

-The girls arrive at the stadium and are all psyched up and ready to play. Later the Rinkai team arrives. The girls are somewhat intimidated by the size of their opponent.

-On Hiroki's advise, Ryo greets the Rinkai pitcher. She's about to shake hands with him when the Rinkai coach appears. He teases at Ryo, stating that he's looking forward to seeing her "magic ball".

-A capacity crowd is on hand for this historic game. Among the spectators are the NHSBA chairperson, Rinkai's president, Principal Mita and his yesman, Keiko and Konosuke, Seishiro, Shiro, and some members of the Wildcats team.

-The Kisaragi boys are at a practice session, but Hiroki is thinking about how the girls are doing.

-Kido reveals his strategy for the game - Conventional play won't work against Rinkai, so let's use a different approach.

-The K-girls finally make their way to the field. They're acting all girly and feminine, though.

-Rinkai bats first.

-Ryo strikes out the first batter on 3 pitches. The Rinkai players are in a state of shock, but their coach is somewhat indifferent.

-Meanwhile the K-boys are going to take a break to watch the girls game, but it's mainly to scout Rinkai.

-Ryo retires Rinkai in order.

Eyecatch: Nene and Koharu

-Bottom of the first and Seira is up. Against her wishes she starts to flirt with the Rinkai battery (and on a personal note, this was one of my favorite scenes in the series). The pitcher is so distracted with Seira's sex appeal that he walks her on four pitches.

-Hikaru's flirting was a bit sexier (thanks largely to how Cynthia Martinez voiced Hikaru in that scene - very sexy!). She stumbles into the catchers and gets his hormones racing. The catcher orders an outside pitch that Hikaru hammers to right for a clean hit.

-Koharu and Izumi drive them home with RBI singles. 2-0 Kisaragi Girls at the end of the 1st inning.

-Top of the 2nd: Ryo intentionally walks Rinkai's strongest hitter. Hikaru begins her sexy flirting tactics, which worked to perfection. Rinkai's best hitter is too immobilized in love that he gets tagged out.

-So far the girls stratagem is working. Yoko uses her charm to perform a successful swing-and-run. Yuki walks to first and covers Fifi with her uniform, showing her sexy midriff to the first baseman. The distraction allows Kanako to get a clean hit down the first base line. Meanwhile Ryo is keeping the Rinkai hitters in check.

-However, despite the success of the girls' charms, they only managed to score those two runs in the first. After 5 innings the K-Girls still lead 2-0.

-The Rinkai coach chews out his players. Stop letting your hormones get the better of you and just play as you normally do. Plus it's possible that the girls might have boyfriends.

-Hiroki, Seishiro, and Kido all feel that the stratagem had ran its course and Rinkai could be poised for one of their famous comebacks.

-Top of the 6th: The leadoff hitter reaches base on a base hit. Hikaru tries her flirting, but this time the Rinkai player complains to the umpire that she's distracting him. Looks like Rinkai has seen though the girls' act.

-The episode ends with the game at the top of the 6th inning. The K-Girls are still leading 2-0, but Rinkai has runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs.

Next episode: The pitch of legends returns.

[bci110]

We're now entering the second half of the series. From here I plan on watching 4-5 episodes a week (skipping the weekends), but I will attempt to get this finished before the NCAA basketball tournament starts on March 17.

Where we left off from the last episode, the Kisaragi girls were up 2-0 in the Top of the 6th inning. The girl stratagem was working, but Rinkai figured it out and are now starting to play to their capabilities. They have runners on 1st and 3rd with one out.

-Rinaki has the reputation of always turning the tide of a game in the late innings. That's exactly why Keiko wanted her girls to play them - so they can test their skills against one of the premier teams in the country.

-Ryo is having trouble controlling her pitches, and she walks the bases loaded.

-The next batter hits a liner to short. It looks like Kanako will field the grounder, but her wig starts to fall off. As she tries to adjust it, the ball scrapes off her glove and into center field. Rinkai scores 2 runs on the play and tie the game 2-2.

-Frustrated that her wig cost them 2 runs, Kanako takes off the disguise to everyone's shock. But the most surprising reaction came from Principal Mita, whose expression is....happy?!?!

-Ryo is starting to tire, and with every huff and puff she puts more self-pity, believing that it's her fault that Rinkai tied the game.

-Hikaru orders a throw to first. Hikaru starts to flirt with the runner, but he's not going to fall for it. However, Hikaru does trick him as she never threw the ball back to Ryo and tags him out to end the inning.

-Ryo thanked Hikaru for saving her butt. Hikaru said it's no big deal, but Izumi had other thoughts. Seems that she can't figure out the difference between baseball and tennis in that baseball is more team-oriented unlike tennis. Izumi decrees that Ryo has to suck it up and give it her all.

-Despite literally running on fumes, Ryo manages to keep the game tied in the 7th. At the bottom of the inning, Ryo hits a 2-out triple to left center.

-Seira though leaves the go-ahead run at third as she strikes out to end the inning.

-One of the Kisaragi boys players tells Hiroki to get back to practice, only to see that Hiroki has left.

Eyecatch: Yoko and Mao

-Top of the 8th and the K-girls have a team meeting. As she watches Ryo struggle to maintain her composure and stamina, Izumi notices the slide mark that Ryo made on her triple. She finally figured it out.

-Middle of the inning, Izumi finally realized that Ryo is doing everything herself because the rest of the team is not pulling their own weight. She rallies the team: "One inning left - We must take the lead right now. We cannot let this game go into extra innings."

-Hiroki shows up at the stadium and sits next to Keiko and his grandpa. He left practice because he knew he had to be here to support Ryo. What a sweet guy.

-Kido gives Ryo some words of encouragement - albeit in his own somewhat sarcastic way. He mentions to Ryo that a couple of lightning balls would be great here. Ryo didn't want to hear any of it.

-Kido then said to Ryo that her father save his best pitches for the end of the game. You have a knack for pitching and use techniques that can baffle any hitter. But against veteran hitters that can read pitching patters those tricks don't always work. That's when the lightning ball was at its best.

-Meanwhile in the bottom of the 8th after Hikaru was retired, Izumi stretch a single into a double. Yuki then walked. Kanako then laced a single to right. Izumi scored the go-ahead run as the K-girls retake the lead 3-2.

-Top of the 9th. Ryo can't figure out Kido's metaphore. She's exhausted both physically and mentally. It was like the time in the garden where she was tired and wanted to quit, but somehow managed to will herself to finish the job.

-Wait, that's it! That's how you throw the lightning ball! You have to will yourself to throw it!

-Here it comes......THE LIGHTNING BALL!!!! 3 batters, 3 strikeouts with 9 lightning balls! Kisaragi wins 3-2!

-Keiko to the NHSBA chairperson: "I delivered my end of the bargin, now it's your turn."

-The chair still refused, calling the K-girls victory a fluke. But Konosuke points out that the Rinkai players were giving their all. They were taking this game seriously and played like it.

-Ryo thanked Kido for the pep talk and the gardening job, thinking that the job was great training for the lightning ball. Kido said that the gardening job was just mindless work that had no purpose, and he was just abusing his power as coach. Hiroki though believes that Kido was being too modest, and he told Ryo that the gardening exercise was a great way to build stamina and shoulder and wrist strength.

With that, the K-girls passed their test and won the right to be accepted into the national high school baseball tournament. The road to Koshien can now begin.

Next episode: A scandal surfaces, and two players might leave the team.

[bci110]

Just as the K-girls earned their greatest victory, their greatest crisis begins. And it might cost them 2 members.

-The girls are buzzing about all of the media attention and are still glowing with pride after their victory over Rinkai. However Izumi said that the team needs to gather real strength in preparation for the preliminaries.

-The girls head out for the night, but Izumi stays. Later she's outside the locker room practicing her swing.

-A stealth Hiroki coaxed Ryo away from the girls and into the back of the school grounds. Good thing, too, because just as the rest of the team is about the leave the grounds, they get ambushed by reporter. Yoko uses this moment to shine the spotlight on herself.

-Ryo and Shiro go off to visit Hidehiko's grave. They run into Keiko, who's leaving the graveyard. Both Ryo and Shiro were curious that Keiko was around the vicinity of Hidehiko's grave.

-At Taito Sports - the newspaper that's covering the K-girls - the retired reporter remembers covering an ace pitcher named Hayakawa who was a genius pitcher with a magic ball. Ryo is starting to receive that same reputation. But something happened to Hayakawa that caused him to leave the game.

-Principal Mita is upset and afraid that Kanako's baseball playing will interfere in her studies. Despite Kanako pleading that it's not the case, Mita grounds her.

-The team is wondering why Kanako is not at practice. There was word that she had a cold, but the team doesn't buy it - especially Izumi. Kido mentioned that if Kanako was more committed to the team, she wouldn't let her father prevent her from playing.

-Yoko gets an offer from a talent agency. It looks like that she's going to accept.

-Ryo encourages the others that Kanako and Yoko will come back. Meanwhile Taito Sports dig up an old article about a baseball scandal involving Ryo's father.

Eyecatch: Kanako and Izumi

-Running late (as usual), Ryo runs into a couple of reporters. They ask about her father and why he betrayed baseball. Ryo has no clue what they are talking about.

-The scandal involving Hidehiko Hayakawa was revolved around game-fixing. He and 5 other players were accused of fixing games for a bookie, and a ton of cash was found in Hayakawa's locker. Though there was no evidence that Hayakawa and the players were involved, the players were suspended. Being the daughter of the ace pitcher who's building a reputation for being a gifted pitcher, Ryo got thrusted into the heart of the 20-year old scandal.

-Ryo asks Keiko about the scandal and her father. Keiko refused to tell Ryo because the team needs to focus on the prelims in a few weeks, and didn't want an ancient scandal to be a distraction.

-Seishiro and Hiroki were amazed that Ryo's dad was a legendary pitcher who could've gone down as the greatest pitcher ever if it wasn't for the game fixing scandal.

-Izumi is worried that the resurfaced stories about Ryo's dad will have negative effects on the team. Keiko tells her not to worry.

-Kido suggest taking the team to a retreat in the country for some training before the prelims. Keiko agreed that time away from the school would do the team some good.

-Mita and Keiko have another little meeting. Mita is outraged that Keiko is still supporting the program despite the stories and fingerpointing. Keiko insists that the scandal has nothing to do with the girls and that they should focus on the prelims.

-The Parents Association are not too pleased with the stories and are having a meeting at the school's factuly room.

-The girls don't like the volatile situation and start to argue amongst themselves (mainly Seira). Koharu suggest that they do some practice to take their mind off the situation.

-Later in the day Ryo is sitting on the river bank crying. She can't believe that her father would be involved in something so scandalous. Depressed and confused, she sits there in sorrow when Seishiro spots her. He offers an ear but Ryo turns him away.

-Afterwords, still in a depressed state, Ryo wonders what should she do next?

Next episode - Is Ryo really going to quit baseball? A hasty retreat for some soul searching.

[bci110]

The students of Kisaragi Girls High are gossiping about the scandal about Ryo's dad and that she doesn't belong there anyway. The team can't help but overhear the rumors. While it's not affecting most of the members, for Ryo, it's having devastating effects on her psyche.

-Members of the Parents Association meet with Keiko and Konosume about the baseball team. They demand that the team be disbanded for the scandal is having negative effects on the students. Both Keiko and Konosume insist that Ryo and the team have nothing to do with something that happened 20 years ago. But the stubborn mules of the PA won't hear of it.

-The team is pretty much in limbo with the recent developments. Kanako can't get out of the house, Yoko snuck away for a photo shoot (which is going very well for her), and Izumi is out jogging. But the team's main concern is the state of Ryo.

-The Parents Association members barge into the girls' locker room and demand that they clear out. Seira and the others blast them for their rudeness, but the PA members used the girl's aggressiveness against them. The old lady trips over one of the gym bags, but accuses Seira of tripping her. Seira had to be restrained by her teammates.

-Having accomplished what they wanted to do, the PA members take their leave. They order the team to clear out within 24 hours.

-Ryo then arrives at the locker room. The team is thrilled that she's back, but Ryo - still in a state of depression - apologizes to the team for causing them trouble and heads off.

-The team tries to go after her, but Izumi stops them. Ryo needs to figure this out on her own; there's nothing we can do for her.

-Later in the evening Ryo sits on a bench with the thoughts of her father's scandal and the Parent Association's rude demands weighting down on her mind.

-A couple of jerks start to harass Ryo.

-Hiroki arrives and saves the day.

-After driving off the jerks, Hiroki offers a healing shoulder for Ryo. He tells her that the scandal involving her father was ancient history and doesn't involve her.

-Ryo responds that it's not simple to forget about the past. My father taught me about baseball, and now people are saying that he was involved in a game fixing scandal. How can I keep playing this game? I hate this game and don't want to play anymore!

Eyecatch: Ryo and Hikaru (Rotation #4)

-Shino calls Ryo for breakfast, but Ryo is not in her room!

-Izumi arrives at the team's locker room to discover that the team found a letter of resignation - from Ryo!

-Ryo's nameplate was removed from the wall. Is this your answer, Ryo?

-Ryo retreats to the town where her father was born.

-While viewing the lovely scenery, a kid shouts at her to toss a loose ball that landed by her feet. She tosses the ball back to the kid - but does it underhand.

-Ryo then hears a kid shout, "I'm going to throw the Lightning Ball!"

-Ryo is shocked to hear that, but the caretaker of the orpahange, Sakurai, explains that a great pitcher named Hidehiko Hayakawa - famous for throwing the Lightning Ball - used to come to the orphanage all the time during his free time to play with the kids. Hidehiko also inspired Sakurai, who was one of the kids at the orphanage at that time, to do your best.

-That was, until the scandal where he was forced to retire from the game.

-Sakurai explained that Hidehiko didn't come to the orphanage for free publicity or fame. He wanted to keep a low profile and did it from the good of his heart.

-When Sakurai heard about the scandal, he and the orphans never believe that he was guilty. How could the same man that willfully spent his free time playing with the kids do something like that? Sakurai firmly believes that Hidehiko is 100% innocent.

-Hiroki arrives at the oden bar to see the K-girls helping out Shino.

-Kido received a call from Ryo. He knows where Ryo is staying.

-Hiroki volunteers to go get her.

-Hiroki spots Izumi eavesdropping - to which Izumi denies - and gives her the address where Ryo is staying.

-A severe storm hits the area where the orphanage is. Sakurai goes out to start searching for 3 kids that didn't check in.

-One of the kids return to the orphanage in a state of panic. Two kids are trapped by the swollen river!

-Ryo goes out to save the kids. They're trapped on an island in the middle of the swollen river, and the island is starting to crumble.

-Ryo dives into the river to rescue them.

-Both Yuki (through Fifi) and Hiroki have a bad feeling that something bad is about to happen....

Next episode: A life hangs in the balance.

[Jimmie M]

And now that Izumi joined the team and the 9th member, the batting order for the Kisaragi Girls team is set:

1. 2B Seira Morimura
2. 1B Hikaru Yoshimoto
3. CF Koharu Hotta
4. 3B Izumi Himuro
5. LF Yuki Azuma
6. SS Kanako Mita
7. RF Yoko Tokashiki
8. C Mao Daidijo
9. P Ryo Hayakawa
TOUCH 'EM ALL, IZUMI! What a way for Izumi to finally join the team with a dramatic home run in the bottom of the 9th to help the girls win the game against Meio. If I'm not mistaken I think it's a direct reference to the movie The Natural when Roy Hobbs hit a home run in the bottom of the 9th off the light standard to win the playoff game. Nice dramatic touch, though.

[bci110]

I sincerely apologize for not keeping this up reguarly - Pokemon Black's one addictive game :bigsmile: . Anyway I managed to will myself to give the game a break to resume the rewatch.

Where we left off, Ryo successfully rescued a couple of orphans from a swollen river, but unfortunately the rescue efforts left her at a hyperthermiatic state and is in the hospital clinging to life. Hiroki - who managed to arrive at the orphanage despite the severe weather - is the first to learn the tragic news.

-Kido receives a call from the orphanage (perhaps from Hiroki) about Ryo and informs Shino about her condition.

-Keiko arrives at the bar and offers both Kido and Shino a ride.

-The team overhears what happened to Ryo and want to go to the hospital. Nene suggests getting their in her family's RV. They pick up Seira and Konako and ran into Yoko, who ditches her party to be with her teammates.

-Meanwhile, Izumi is watching a movie, still disgusted that Ryo took the easy way out and ran off. So why does she have that empty feeling inside her now that her rival is out of the picture? Not wanting to let Ryo get away so easily, Izumi leaves the theatre and heads to the orphanage.

Eyecatch: Yuki and Seira

-Izumi arrives at the orphanage only to learn that Ryo is in grave condition. Izumi is in shock.

-Throughout Ryo's unconscious state, we view her having a conservation with her dad Hidehiko as they play catch together. Ryo tells Hidehiko that she quit playing baseball because "it's not fun anymore". Hidehiko tries to encourage Ryo to keep playing, but Ryo won't hear of it.

-Hidehiko calls Ryo's bluff - You're just as stubborn as your old man. Or don't you have the confidence to pitch like me?

-Just as Ryo accepts her father's challenge and throws the lightning ball, Ryo flatlines.

-The doctors work frantically to get her heart pumping again. They tell Shino and the girls to "prepare for the worse"

-Meanwhile Izumi's cab can't pass through the blocked road. So Izumi decides to walk despite the weather. She's struggling to walk with the deteriorating weather conditions, her body aching and sore. But she continues to press on.

-Ryo's teammates are about the lose hope when Izumi arrives and tells them not to think such things. Then she barges into the emergency room and starts shouting at Ryo - "If you die like this I'll never forgive you!!!"

-The rest of the team starts talking to Ryo, hoping that she can hear them.

-Hidehiko: "Listen to those voices, Ryo! They need you!"
-Ryo: "I don't want to leave you. Please let me stay and teach me the Lightning Ball."
-Hidehiko: "You have to make the Lightning Ball your own. I'll be watching you."

-And with that, Ryo wakes up. The team and everyone is relieved that she made it. Even Izumi sheds a tear.

Next episode: A birthday wish, and Ryo finally learns the truth about her father.

[bci110]

-Principal Mita goes forward with the Parents' Association request to expel Ryo and disband the baseball team.

-Meanwhile Kanako's birthday is coming up. Mita tells his daughter to ask for anything she wants, and he'll grant it.

-Ryo is recovering nicely. She tells her mom that she met Hidehiko and they were playing baseball. He told her how much he loved baseball, and Ryo believed that he couldn't have done what the media said.

-The two orphans and Sakuri pay Ryo a visit. Sakuri couldn't believe that Ryo was Hidehiko's daughter. Ryo reasoned that it must've been him that drover her to visit the orphanage. Then a reported comes in and takes a few snapshots of Ryo and the orphans - This will make a great story!

-Mita then reads the newspaper and is shocked to see the article about Ryo saving the kids and the new revelations about Hidehiko and his visiting the orphanage. Seems that Hidehiko was a good guy after all.

-Despite that, though, Mita and the PA heads still proceed with the hearings.

-Later Kanako reveals her birthday wish - I want the baseball team to stay, and Ryo to stay at school!
-Mita: "I can't do that!"
-Kanako: "I know you're still mad at me about playing behind your back. But I love to play baseball and I want to play with your approval. If not, then at least let the other girls pursue their dreams."

-The day of the meeting. The chair recognizes Principal Mita to the floor.

-After hesitating for a minute, Mita speaks - "I request for the proposal of the dissolution of the baseball team and Ryo's expulsion to be withdrawn."

Eyecatch: Nene and Koharu

-Everyone is shocked at Mita's request. Surely this is a mistake

-No mistake; this is what I want. Let's show support for these girls and give them a chance to pursue their dreams.

-Everyone claps except for the two PA heads.

-Nene is excited about the news and runs off to tell the team. Kanako is glowing with happiness - her wish has been granted!

-Ryo and Shino return home and run into Izumi. Izumi gives back Ryo's resignation letter to Ryo. "Don't act like a loser when you're my rival."

-Kido and Keiko pay a visit and finally tells Ryo the truth about Hidehiko. They believe that Hidehiko became too successful too quickly, and it was because of that they felt that he was set up. Ryo asked why did her father kept it hidden, and Keiko responded it was because of her. Hidehiko cut ties with Keiko in order to protect her.

-Ryo and Seishiro walk to school together. Ryo sees Hiroki, who's not in a good mood. In fact, he looks angry at Ryo for pulling that stunt of running away and letting her teammates worry about her. He suggests that she apologizes to them.

-Ryo then later apologizes to her teammates, and they forgive her immediately. Then Kido announces that very soon they will be entering training camp "from Hell" to prepare for the preliminaries.

Next episode: Hiroki's birthday is coming, and the triangle resumes.

[bci110]

After taking a back seat for a while, it looks like the Ryo-Hiroki-Izumi triangle is back at the forefront, and will be for the remainder of the series.

-After careful consideration (i.e. ladder drawing :P ) Kido chose Ryo as the captain of the Kisaragi Nine. The decision receives unanimous approval from the team (though Izumi wasn't present - she was showering).

-Hiroki's birthday is coming up, and the girls are already excited and pumped about the event. Ryo decides to give Hiroki a present - a handkerchief with his initials stitched by her.

-Kido seems to have romantic feeling for Ryo's mom Shino. Though the conversation was more about where Ryo got her indominable spirit.

-Ryo shyly offers Hiriko the present. He takes it without hasitation: "Thanks for the present, Tofu!"

-Seishiro is viewing his sketchbook when Hikaru spies on him. Hikaru is impressed with Seishiro's work.

-Seishiro notices that Hikaru cut her knee and treats it. Even give her cute knee a playful whack!

-Seishio shows Hikaru his project: a pencil sketch of Ryo in her pitching motion. He's working on a project called "The Princess of Kisaragi" and wants to ask Ryo to be his model. But Seishiro can't muster the courage to ask her, for he believes that he has no shot against someone like Hiroki. Hikaru encourages him to go for it and ask her anyway.

-During batting practice, the girls are ooohing and aaahing over Hiroki. Typical fangirls :bigsmile:.

-Hiroki sneaks out and meets up with Izumi. Guess the girls won't be able to give him any presents.

Eyecatch: Yoko and Mao

-Hiroki and Izumi are having a picnic lunch on the riverbed.

-They both reminisce about the time where they were kids at a festival and Hiroki bough a ring for Izumi, in which Izumi still head on to because Hiroki ordered her "not to lose it".

-Izumi asks, "What do I mean to you, Hiroki?"

-Hiroki replys, "I never though about it seriously. You're like a kid sister to me."

-Izumi though doesn't want to be a "kid sister" to Hiroki anymore.

-Later as they are walking home, Izumi notices the present in Hiiroki's pocket - but I thought you didn't get any presents.

-Hiroki points out that it was from a special friend. He opens it to reveal a handkerchief with his initials. Izumi immediately deduces that it came from Ryo and gives a jealous glare.

-There's also a note: "...I will be cheering for you from a distance. Ryo." The message seemed to bothered Hiroki and he takes off.

-At practice Kido asks Ryo what type of guy her mom likes. Someone that doesn't drink!

-Later that day Ryo is running late when she tuns into Hiroki.

-"This letter really bothered me. Why did you write it like that? What do you mean by cheering for you 'from a distance'?"

-Ryo: "You're so close to Izumi and I though that you don't like me anymore."

-Hiroki: "Tofu, I course I was mad - I was FURIOUS! When you almost died, I though my heart would break."

-Hiroki then gives Ryo his most prized possession - the first medal he won playing baseball. Hiroki has a new good luck charm - the handkerchief Ryo made.

-Hiroki then confesses his love to Ryo - "I love you, Tofu!"

-Next day, Ryo is still in a state of shock after Hiroki's confession. Seishiro snaps her out of it and then proceeds to ask if she would be his model for his art project. Ryo suggests asking one of the other girls like Seira or Yoko - she doesn't want any special treatment.

-Seishiro reports to Hikaru that it didn't work. Hikaru then asks if he would consider her as his model. Seishiro doesn't want her sympathy, but Hikaru tells him not to hesitiate to ask should he change his mind.

-Time for the team to board for training camp. Nene decides to bring practically her entire house to the trip.

-Izumi arrives, gives Ryo the cold shoulder, gives her a cold glare, and quips, "Get in the bus!" Looks like the bitchy Izumi is back!

Next episode: Training camp intensity is nothing compared to Izumi!

[Victor Lewandowski]

Just for your information. For example, Hoshi Hyūma (http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200609/13/76/f0072176_2250383.jpg) (Kyojin no Hoshi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_the_Giants)), Banba Ban (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000FP2T3G.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg</p><p>) (Samurai Giants (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BE%8D%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%82%A4%E3%82%A2%E3%8 3%B3%E3%83%84)), Mizuhara Yūki (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00006JOKS.09.LZZZZZZZ.jpg) (Yakyū-kyō no Uta (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%8E%E7%90%83%E7%8B%82%E3%81%AE%E8%A9%A9)) are southpaws.
　
I wrote about Mizuhara Yūki also in another thread related to baseball.
http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showthread.php?s=&t=100709
　

Three anime series I most likely won't get a chance to watch. But thanks for the info, anyway.

Here is a more notable character that pitches left-handed. Haruko Haruhara in FLCL (episode 4). Also, Naota's brother, Tasuku, is a lefty.

[Jimmie M]

Very good episode showcasing the battery of Ryo and Mao and how they have to fight their inner struggles to better themselves. They both were about to quit there respective challenges (Ryo with the tilling; Mao with the 100 pitch challenge) but found inner strength to finish the task and succeed. A good baseball team is founded by how well the battery performs, and this little challenge will make both Mao and Ryo much stronger on the field.

Next episode: Game On!
How true. I also liked the little motivation that Kido gave Yoko to get her to take her fielding (Such as it is) more seriously. Izumi comes off as more of a stuck-up brat than usual in how she treats Mao & Ryo but I think that in her own way she was trying to motivate them to do better as the team's battery. In the long run, they'll get better & be ready for their game against Rinkai High (Including Yoko!).

[Jimmie M]

Yeah, Principal Mita's expression when he finds out that his own daughter is on the Kisaragi girls' team was priceless. :sdsmiley: And Ryo finally figured out the secret of the "Lightning Ball", just in time to strike out the side in the 9th to preserve the win! Now the road to Koshien really begins but not without some more bumps in the road though, with one of them proving to be almost tragic (See above posts). P9 still as good as I remembered it & it gets even better from here!