Gone are the days when Nishogakusha Daisuke had a bitter cup ten times in the finals of the East Tokyo Games.
Manager Katsuto Ichihara says that the rise of retired Seiya Suzuki (Hiroshima Toyo Carp → Chicago Cubs) in professional baseball had a strong influence on his juniors.
“In the summer of 2014, Seiya’s two-year junior players made it to Koshien. It gave me courage and confidence.”
It is said that the presence of Suzuki, who is struggling in the major leagues, Ryuusei Oe, Yuto Akihiro (both Yomiuri Giants), and Shoun Akiyama (Chiba Lotte Marines) is encouraging to his juniors. After deciding to participate in Koshien this summer, Suzuki gave T-shirts to 70 members along with the message “Please do your best without being stiff.”
After defeating Sapporo Otani 3-2 in the first round, Nishogakusha Daitsuke will face local Hyogo representative company on August 14th. Although he was caught up in the final stages, he won the auction 7 to 5.
Katai, a first-year student who hit a home run in a company game and plays No. 4 for Nishogakusha University.
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Kaito Katai, who hit No. 4 despite being a freshman, added momentum to the team in this match. 375 with 7 RBIs and 1 home run at the East Tokyo Games. The giant right-handed batter, 175 cm and 97 kg, ended the first round with no hits in two at bats, and was sent as a pinch hitter in the fourth at-bat. It is difficult for a player who was a junior high school student until five months ago to play as usual at Koshien for the first time.
Coach Ichihara said after the match with the company.
“When Katai’s first at-bat (third-grounder double play) ended today, I thought it would be tough, but he changed it. He’s a batter who can hit wide-angle both to the right and to the left. “Your specialty is softness.” What is it?’
In the third inning, after Daimu Seya’s RBI hit in the 3rd hit made it 3-0, Katai hit a home run to left center. The home run of the 4th hitter in the first grade was the third achievement in the history of the tournament.
Katai, who hit two bases in the third at-bat and scored an additional point, said, “I lost my chance in the first at-bat, so I thought I’d try to come back in the second at-bat. The home run was the best feeling I’ve ever had. ‘ said.
