Adversity. The only word that is perhaps as important to Toshi is "baseball," seeing as how he's the captain of All-Out High School's team, but because the team's record is all losses and no wins, the Principal has made it clear to Toshi that their days are over. Their precious baseball field will be handed over to the soccer team (an unbearable bunch of undeserving jerks!). But nothing seems to motivate Toshi like adversity - his family name, Fukutsu, means "fighting spirit" - and he defiantly tells the Principal that his team will challenge the undisputed champs, Sunrigh High, and if the All-Out team wins, they will keep their field. Toshi's visions of glory are not initially shared by his teammates, but with a little encouragement - okay, a whole gut wrenching mountain of overwrought drama - Toshi gets them on the field to confront Sunrise. It's raining, however, and the frightening Sunrise team shows up just long enough to tell the All-Out gang that they've won by forfeiture. Could things be looking up for the team? Possibly, but more likely, they'll be facing a whole lot of adversity.

The All-Out Nine: Field of Nightmares

Following a tip, Manabu Yazaki loses his last money betting on the older "banba" horse "Unryu" (jockied by Makie, a legendary jockey's daughter) in a draft-horse race held in his childhood home of Obihiro on the island of Hokkaido.