The selection committee for the 93rd Selected High School Baseball Tournament (opening March 19, Koshien) will be held on the 29th, and 32 participating schools will be announced. Before “Fate Day”, the players of Mishima Minami, a candidate for the 21st century frame in the Tokai area, practiced at the school on the 28th. I couldn’t use the ground because of the rain on that day, but I did some swinging in the school building and sweated for about 2 hours.

The team finished 4th in the prefectural tournament last fall. Although he missed the Tokai tournament, he was the only public school to make a good start in the top four. In recognition of community contribution activities such as exchange meetings with preschoolers through baseball, which began in the winter of 2014, he was selected as a candidate school for the 21st century for the first time in 100 years since the foundation.

There is a possibility that he will participate in the first Koshien in the spring and summer, and the players are feeling uplifted. Captain Ito Samurai (2nd year) said with a bitter smile, “I’m more nervous than excited. To be honest, I couldn’t concentrate on my practice.” Pitcher Ginji Maeda (2nd year), who is the team’s main gun and ace candidate, smiled, “I’m thrilled, but I can’t wait.”

“If I’m chosen, I think I’ll be upset and use my strength, so I’ll go to bed early tonight,” said Captain Ito. I left the school building quickly after the practice to welcome the moment of joy.[Moehiko Kawai]