In 2021, due to the success of the Japanese national team players, attention to “softball” and “baseball” increased. Therefore, we asked the active players of the Iyo Bank softball club VERTZ and the Shikoku Bank hardball baseball club in Shikoku to look back on the past games of both teams and teach them their charm and how to enjoy them through self-explanation.
This time, Yamanaka and Kikuchi talked about “baseball” from the Shikoku Bank baseball club. (Last time, pitcher Kuroki and Yasukawa of Iyo Bank Softball Club VERTZ appeared and talked about the charm and enjoyment of softball.)
What you talked about
▼ Yamanaka
A graduate of Keio University, he has been playing with a bat since he was little because of his father’s influence. I want to play baseball! With a strong feeling, I started baseball in earnest from the third grade of elementary school.
There was a difficult time when he became a substitute for the first time in college, but he liked baseball and had no idea of ”quitting baseball.” Now, as a member of society, I am seriously facing baseball.
▼ Pitcher Kikuchi
Born in Ryukoku University In an area where softball is popular, many of my friends around me played softball when I was in the third year of elementary school, so I started playing softball and then switched to baseball.
Pitcher Kikuchi has been working on switching his feelings with the voices of his friends, even if he was injured and couldn’t play the game and had a hard time. Personally, I also participate in the training camp for Japanese baseball players, so my goal is to be selected as a Japanese national team player.
1. What is the appeal of baseball that active players talk about?
1-1. Baseball is attractive for “drama” and “team play”
1-2. Focus on “first and nine offenses and defenses” and “bargaining” in baseball games
2. Self-explanation of the match against Hanamaui in the first round of the 2020 Intercity Baseball Tournament
2-1. A home run that came out of the desire to “get on base somehow”
2-2. 7 backs-home is also a big point
3. Impressions of watching the match between Iyo Bank Softball Club YERTZ and Bic Camera Takasaki
3-1. The first pinch survived in the best possible way
3-2. Overcome pressure and feel strength in tenacious places
3-3. Support message from Shikoku Bank baseball club to Iyo Bank softball club
4. Schedule of upcoming games
1. 1. What is the appeal of baseball that active players talk about?
-There are many opportunities to watch and broadcast professional baseball games on TV, but some people are not very familiar with baseball. We asked about “how to enjoy baseball for adults” and “fun”.
1-1.”Drama” and “team play” are attractive for baseball
― “Baseball” is a sport familiar to Japanese people, and professional baseball is also broadcast on TV. The Japanese national team won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics the other day and received a lot of attention, but in fact, some people are not very familiar with it. Please tell us “the fun of baseball” and “how to enjoy baseball for adults” for such people.
[Yamanaka]
What is common to baseball and softball is that unlike soccer and basketball, there is no time limit.
Also, unlike volleyball and table tennis, it is not a sport where you aim for a specific score and compete for points.
In baseball, the one who gets a lot of points before getting 27 outs wins.
I think that the point that the rules are very different from other competitions is “sports where various dramas are easy to be born”.
[Pitcher Kikuchi]
I think that it is common to sports, but I think that the fun and fun of watching a game is that there is such a brink that one game divides heaven or hell.
Sharing heaven and hell with the team, one mistake leads to the loss of the team, one person’s activity leads to the great leap forward of the team, such seemingly “individual play”, but from the whole I think that the team play is attractive.
1-2.Focus on “first and nine offenses and defenses” and “bargaining” in baseball games
-Are there any points that you think are “interesting” that you would like us to pay attention to when watching a baseball game?
[Yamanaka]
I think that the players who are playing “first offense and defense” and “9 times offense and defense” are extremely nervous and the most difficult innings. For those who watch the game, I think it’s an exciting and exciting inning.
I think the most notable point is the “first time” that influences the flow of the game, so I think it’s the timing when the fun of baseball is conveyed to the viewers.
[Pitcher Kikuchi]
Baseball is a sport with “bargaining”.
From the pitcher’s “what kind of ball, such as a straight or a walk,” to “competition with a batter,” or “whether to walk the next batter with a foreball and compete with the next batter” If you think about it, it will be really fun to see.
2. Self-explanation of the 2020 Intercity Baseball Tournament Round 1 vs. Hana Maui
-This is a review of the match against Hanamaui, the representative of South Kanto, in the first round of the 91st Intercity Baseball Tournament held on November 26, 2020.
He talked from the player’s point of view, such as the feelings when hitting a home run and the points of the game.
2-1. A home run that came out of the desire to “get on base somehow”
-Yamanaka’s home run during the three attacks, which was the only goal scored in this game, was a wonderful batting. It was the next turn at bat after the runner came out with the first hit, but how did you feel when you entered the turn at bat?
[Yamanaka]
He was the number one batter and was the first batter to attack three times, but basically it is best to go to base.
I had a hit in the previous at-bat, but I entered the at-bat to hit back toward the center with the idea that I wanted to get on base anyway.
I think that the ball I hit was not a course that I was not good at originally, but as a result of hitting it compactly without making a big swing with a ball that approaches the body, I think that I was able to make a home run.
2-2. 7 times back home is also a big point
―Hana Maui’s attack in the 7th inning gives Hana Maui a scoring chance. The hit before the left was out on the home base with Shibata’s return ball on the left, but what about the play at this time?
[Yamanaka]
I think left fielder Shibata was good.
I take the ball in a short bound and back home, but it is one of the difficult points as an outfielder to decide whether or not the runner will thrust into the home base.
If I had to wait a little longer and then throw the ball over there, it might have been a play that didn’t go out.
In that sense, I think it was a good play for a player who protects the same outfield.
[Pitcher Kikuchi]
This time, the runner was advanced to the second base and the flow until the pinch was reached was bad, so I thought that “it seems to be a hit”.
Until then, the opponent’s hitting line was suppressed to 0 points, but I was given a little leeway, saying, “It can’t be helped if one point is scored.” As a result, Shibata gave me a good return, which was really helpful later.
Impressions of watching the Iyo Bank softball club game
-Iyo Bank Softball Club VERTZ won the match against BicCamera Takasaki, to which Japan Women’s Softball pitcher Ueno belongs, in the first division league on May 7, 2021.
He talked about the points that he thought “wow!” From the perspective of a baseball player and “what to do if he falls into the same situation” about this game.
3-1.The first pinch survived in the best possible way
-Iyo Bank Softball Club VERTZ will be in a pinch for the first time, and players will gather at pitcher Kuroki. What would you discuss in a similar situation?
[Pitcher Kikuchi]
Since this is the first time, I may not be impatient and may talk about “I can’t help getting points, I’ll take each one carefully”.
In such a situation, I think that the double play of Third Goro was able to survive in the best possible way, even though it was said that the first time was difficult.
[Yamanaka]
With 1 out, 1st and 2nd base, the batter is also 4th, and it is difficult for an outfielder to come out in front.
There is also a pitcher’s request, but first of all, I think that the outfielders will talk about “how to get out”, “where to get out”, “where to fly and where to throw the ball”.
3-2.Overcome the pressure and feel the strength where you are tenacious
-The big mountain was the first offense and defense, but there was a scene where you caught a foul ball in the left direction in the final round. I think this play is also one point, but from the perspective of a player (who is playing similar ball games) throughout, what is the point?
[Yamanaka]
The first three points are the final points, but perhaps he threw the remaining innings while thinking about how to protect the lead points.
It was a match where Iyo Bank felt the strength of being tenacious, or “not allowing an additional point” at the game place, even though there were many pinches.
[Pitcher Kikuchi]
It is quite possible that the first time will have a tail, so the first time is an important point in baseball.
I think the point is that Iyo Bank defended 3 points until the end and overcame the pressure while being caught up by 1 point.
3-3.Support message from Shikoku Bank baseball club to Iyo Bank softball club
-Please give a message of support to the members of the Iyo Bank Softball Club.
[Pitcher Kikuchi]
I think that “baseball” and “softball” are the same teams working hard in Shikoku.
Let’s deliver good results to Shikoku so that good players can gather for the development of Shikoku.
[Yamanaka]
I don’t think softball has a large competitive population, but I think it’s something that little girls playing softball can aim for.
We also want to be a team that makes people want to play baseball at the Shikoku Bank in Kochi Prefecture.
I think that becoming a corporate team that is the goal of each other for small children will lead to the development of sports in Shikoku, so let’s do our best while enhancing each other.
Four.Schedule of upcoming games
-Please tell us your plans for future games.
The Intercity Baseball Tournament, which was held at Tokyo Dome in the summer until 2019, has been held from last year to autumn and winter due to the holding of the Tokyo Olympics.
We will continue to practice so that we can become a regular player in the Intercity Baseball Tournament.
Depending on the game, you may be able to watch the game at the baseball stadium, so it would be a great help if you could visit the baseball stadium and watch the game live.
Thank you for your support.
The Shikoku Bank Baseball Club has decided to participate in the Intercity Baseball Tournament at Tokyo Dome from November 28, 2021 for the second consecutive year.
Thank you for your support.
Shikoku Bank and Iyo Bank will continue to make various efforts for the development of sports in Shikoku.
(Provided by: Eye Create
）
