[leongsh]

Just finished watching Episode 4. Oh my... I'm enjoying this show a lot.

The practice game with Mihoshi starts in earnest and it's very nicely setup and done. There's a fair bit of catcher's strategy given as Abe's thought processes are verbalised in his choosing of pitches for Mihashi to pitch.

If the first 3 episodes have not given you any indication that Momoe is a very savvy coach, this episode will leave you in little doubt, if any.

Spoiler for More on Momoe:

She explains to Hanai why he should not be directly competing against Tajima as Tajima has very good baseball sense and ability. It would be better that he and the others concentrate on what they can actually do to help the team. This, gets Hanai to accept it and refocus.

What I did enjoy was the part when the team members in the dugout trying to decide how to cheer Tajima's 2-base hit off a forkball. When they did decide and did their cheer, Momoe gave off a very satisfied sigh. Love that scene.

It's nice to see how Mihashi starts to do really well by trusting Abe. He gets praise from his team mates at the end of each inning he pitched and it's something he never had experienced. His growth in confidence feels naturally done.

It's not all about Nishiura players. Kanou, the Mihoshi pitcher, has his own demons to exorcise too.

Spoiler for More on Kanou:

He is determined and desperately not to lose this match and thus lose to Mihashi. He does not want to be seen as really being not as good as Mihashi after being the second/relief pitcher behind Mihashi throughout middle school.

Roll on Episode 5.