Ep 3. No Crying in Baseball

Design Squad season 2 episode 3 is titled "No Crying in Baseball." In this episode, the Design Squad teams up with the Worcester Bravehearts, a minor league baseball team, to tackle a special challenge. The teams are tasked with creating a device that will pitch a baseball at varying speeds without using electricity.

The Design Squad is split into two teams: The Autobots and The Decepticons. The Autobots consist of Ravin, Andrew, and Enoc, while the Decepticons consist of Vanessa, Javion, and Sarah. Each team is given a box of materials to work with, including foam, rubber bands, and cardboard.

The teams begin by brainstorming and coming up with different designs. The Autobots decide to create a device that uses a pulley system to pitch the ball, while the Decepticons opt for a machine that uses a lever to launch the ball.

As they work on their designs, the teams encounter different challenges. The Autobots struggle with getting their device to work consistently, while the Decepticons face issues with accuracy and getting the ball to travel a sufficient distance.

Throughout the episode, the Design Squad works closely with the Bravehearts, who provide feedback on the devices and help them fine-tune their designs. The teams also receive advice from mechanical engineer Nate Ball, who visits them at the workshop to offer guidance.

After several rounds of testing and tweaking, the teams face off in a final challenge. They are given ten pitches each, and their final score is determined by the number of strikes they manage to hit. In a surprising twist, one team comes up with a last-minute modification to their device that gives them a significant advantage.

The episode concludes with the winning team celebrating their victory, while the losing team reflects on the lessons they learned from the experience. Overall, "No Crying in Baseball" is a fun and engaging episode that combines science and competition in a unique way.