The narrator tells us that the Yokohama team has been defending their title for two years in a row. They've switched from a right-handed batter to a left-handed one, and they've also switched back and forth between pinch-hitters and first-basemen. The narrator says that the first pitch is the most important pitch of the game because it's where the bases are. If the first batter gets a hit, he says, that's the end of the first inning. If they go to extra innings, they should just go out and win the game. He says he's going to get the baton and pass it on to the other players. The first batter is out, and the other team has a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. The captain says he doesn't want the game to end in this way. He wants to stay alive. He's not going to let his team lose in this spirit. He asks the captain if they can get the leadoff hitter out. The second batter is good, but the third batter is also good. The leadoff batter is a tough hit, but they manage to get out the second batter. The other team is down to their last two batters, so the captain asks if they'll be able to get them out of the way.