Shows like Major put you through the wringer, just like the big-time dramas such as Boku no Hero Academia do – it’s just a different sort of agony.  Not having any kids of my own I live and die with the travails of the Shigeno Daigo’s and Oota Shou’s (maybe it’s no coincidence that the Dolphins’ and Predators’ team colors are the same) of the world – but only when the writing and direction is strong enough to make those moments feel real.  With Mitsuda and Watanabe behind Major that was never really even a question, and episodes like this one can be a bit of an emotional roller-coaster to say the least.

The thing about Daigo is that he’s a very rare sort of protagonist in sports manga.  Not only is he not that naturally gifted (which is uncommon but not truly rare), but he’s also the son of someone who famously is.  A more cliched approach would have been to have Daigo rebel against the idea of being a ballplayer at all, but even when he was on-strike Daigo’s love for baseball was never remotely masked.  He always wanted to play – he was just at the limit of his tolerance for disappointing people (including himself).

The first step towards rehabilitation from his grievous boner in the seventh is for Daigo to get on base  in the 8th.  As we saw that quest started out rather badly, but the arrival of Hikaru (who tells his papa that he arrived late on purpose so as not to be asked to play) changes the dynamic of the moment.  Between the inspiration provided by the son and the instruction by the father, Daigo has what it takes to handle the moonball pitcher he’s facing on the mound – he just has to settle his nerves and focus on the task at hand.  Which, if we’re honest, is much of the battle with little league baseball.

Daigo manufactures a run in as classic a grinder way as possible – a hustle double, advancing to third on a ground ball to the right side, aggressively tagging and scoring on a sacrifice fly.  Andy showed enough in his one inning on the mound to suggest he could protect that lead, but events conspire against him – starting with a sloppy error by Urabe behind the plate (he’s only saved from a second by Daigo alertly backing up first base from right field).  Andy then injures his calf trying to field a bunt, leaving the Dolphins up a creek without an oar – only Maruyama is left to pitch, and he’s a nervous wreck when he’s throwing batting practice.

Legal though it may be (Toshiya was very careful to cover all his bases, so to speak) it does strike me a a bit dodgy to have Hikaru come in and pitch.  Hikaru knows this of course – he’s more concerned than anyone about being a carpetbagger.  But opportunity and need are conspiring powerfully here, and when Urabe proves pitifully unable to catch Hikaru’s warmup tosses, narrative urgency joins the queue.  This is the moment when Major 2nd truly begins, and from the first it proves to be glorious sports anime.

Let us not forget, both Komori and Kaoru started out as catchers because no one else was able (or willing) to catch Goro’s pitches.  I’ve said it before, but catcher is the most important position in little league baseball, not pitcher.  And this inning gives us a perfect illustration of why that is.  It’s a feat in itself for a 12 year-old to be able to handle 140-kmh pitches with ease (though Toshiya’s training was the key there, Daigo still had to do it).  But the catcher has to be able to control everything both physically and strategically – he’s the center of everything.  And for all his lack of self-confidence, as soon as Daigo slips the mask on, he slips into the role as seamlessly as a bird taking flight.

Hikaru may have the flash, but it’s wonderful to see Daigo win the game (and praise even from Urabe) the way he does – sacrificing his body, taking charge of the defense, and making a crucial decision in the moment when his coaches were frozen by indecision.  Hikaru’s inability to throw from the stretch is no surprise – if you’ve never done it, it’s extremely unnatural.  Daigo is 100% right – Hikaru needs to be able to pitch like himself or nothing else matters anyway.  Daigo the hero is a new thing for Major 2nd, and his smile (and that of his mom) are an ample reward for all the angst the series has put he and us through.  It may be a wringer, but the rewards can be pretty special.