Unfair Ball

"Unfair Ball" (激闘! ソニック野球軍) is the tenth episode of the anime series, Sonic X. It first aired on 8 June 2003 and 8 November 2003 in Japan and US respectively.

Characters

 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Miles "Tails" Prower
 * Knuckles the Echidna
 * Amy Rose
 * Cream the Rabbit
 * Cheese
 * Chris Thorndyke
 * Chuck Thorndyke
 * Mister Tanaka
 * Ella
 * Albert Butler
 * Elmer Johnson
 * Scarlet Garcia
 * Doctor Eggman
 * Bocoe
 * Decoe
 * Bokkun
 * E-21 Ballios

Japanese version

 * Sonic Drive - Opening theme
 * Mi-Ra-I - Closing theme

English version

 * Gotta Go Fast - Opening theme (USA and CAN)
 * "Sonic X" - Opening theme (AUS, NZ and UK)
 * Gotta Go Fast (shortened) - Closing theme

Plot
The episode starts with Tails piloting the X Tornado above Station Square for a test. It flies very well now that he has installed the green Chaos Emerald as a power source. Suddenly, the emerald starts reacting with something and the plane is forced down towards a baseball stadium called Diamond Stadium. Tails lands and encounters the groundskeeper, Albert Butler, who was initially frightened by the sight of Tails until the fox convinces him otherwise. Albert converses with Tails that he has worked in Diamond Stadium for thirty years but unfortunately it is scheduled by authorities that the stadium must be demolished soon. Tails says that he is looking for Chaos Emeralds and Albert reveals that he found one in the stadium earlier. When the two emeralds are brought together, they start glowing and shoot a bright light into the sky.

All around Station Square, people notice the light from the two Emeralds. Dr. Eggman also notices and sees that it is emitted from the baseball stadium. Meanwhile at the Thorndyke mansion, Ella is attempting to teach proper dining manners to Sonic and co. over dinner. Amy and Cream learn quickly, but Sonic believes it is a waste of time. Bokkun, dressed up as a baseball player, arrives with a message from Eggman, who challenges them to a winner-takes-all baseball game to win the two Emeralds. Bokkun starts batting balls at the heroes while they struggle to avoid them.

Eggman arrives at Diamond Stadium, but when he sees that only Tails is there, he assumes that Sonic has forfeited the game. Using a mechanical hand on his Egg Mobile, he steals Albert's Chaos Emerald and nearly steals Tails' as well, until Knuckles arrives and smashes the giant robotic hand. Sonic and the others arrive shortly afterwards, so Eggman brings out the rest of his team: an army of E-21 Ballios. Eggman wants to take both Emeralds if he wins a baseball game, but nobody wants to play except Chuck, who happens to be a huge baseball fan, who accepts on their behalf. Tails objects for fear of ruining Albert's stadium, but Albert says it is okay, as the stadium will be demolished soon anyway. Knuckles also doesn't like the idea, but is convinced to play when his pride is threatened by everyone.

The match between Sonic's team and Eggman's team starts and naturally, Eggman's team doesn't play fair and takes an early lead, mainly because of the robots' powerful throws and swings. Nevertheless, Sonic's team eventually makes ground. Reporter Scarlet Garcia, who witnessed the bright light earlier, follows them to the stadium and starts reporting on the game pretty soon. The stands are then filled with people cheering for Sonic. When Sonic's team finally edges into the lead, Eggman decides to take matters into his own hands. He remotely activates one of his robots, which attaches itself onto Sonic's head and claims that it will soon explode. Knuckles manages to knock it off at the last second, saving Sonic, but during the distraction Eggman takes his cyan Chaos Emerald and escapes.

The crowd has really enjoyed the game and starts cheering wildly. Elmer Johnson, the owner of Diamond Stadium, arrives, having seen the game on TV and says that it was all thanks to his friend Albert Butler's dedication. He offers Albert a new job, which Albert gladly accepts.

Dubbing changes

 * The groundskeeper's name is Alfred Butler in the Japanese version while in the English version, it is changed Albert Butler.


 * The groundskeeper finds the Chaos Emerald in the grass in the Japanese version while in the English version he finds the emerald next to a dumpster.


 * When it was Cream's turn to step up into the field, Cream tells one of the Ballios robots who is a pitcher that she loves him in the Japanese version while in the English version, she tells it to take it easy on her.


 * Elmer Johnson leaves the care of Diamond Stadium in Alfred's hands in the Japanese version while in the English version, Elmer Johnson offers Albert a new job at his new baseball stadium across town.

Trivia

 * When Eggman activates one of his E-21 Ballios robots to launch its head and attach it to Sonic and claims that it will self-destruct, which shares a similarity with the Grabber's method of attacking in the games.