Following the crushing loss to Inashiro Industrial, the team begins preparing for the Fall Tournament. However, Sawamura is deeply scarred by the "deadball" (hit-by-pitch) he threw during the finals.
: His rival, who steps up as the primary force on the mound, highlighting the widening gap between them. Diamond no Ace Episode 70
: Coach Kataoka notices Sawamura's distress and pulls him from the game. Furuya takes the mound, bluntly telling Sawamura that there is "no need for two pitchers on the mound," further deepening Eijun's sense of failure. Following the crushing loss to Inashiro Industrial, the
: Miyuki explains to the coach that Sawamura’s fear of hitting batters again has compromised his pitching form, a condition often referred to as the "yips". Key Characters in Episode 70 Diamond no Ace Episode 70