Former manager Mitsuo Maeda (center) participating in a seat knock for the Teikyo alumnus team on November 29th at Koshien Stadium.
Koshien, where he was supposed to stand with his mentor, Koshien, where he was supposed to leave his name in history. In response to the cancellation of the National High School Baseball Championship in the summer of 2020 due to the new coronavirus pandemic, an exchange event was held at the Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, “Reclaim that Summer National High School Baseball Tournament 2020”. 2023”. Former baseball players gathered at this sacred place with dreams and aspirations that they were unable to fulfill at the time, and took a new step forward. (Shohei Sakai, photo also)
◆Irreplaceable time with my mentor
On November 29, the first day, each school played a five-minute seat knock, and the then-coach and former coach of Teikyo High School (Itabashi Ward, Tokyo), Mitsuo Maeda (74), took the bat. Former captain Takuya Kada (21) said, “I wasn’t able to play in the game, but I’m glad I was able to receive the coach’s knock at Koshien,” expressing gratitude as he played the ball during an irreplaceable time with his mentor, who boasts a total of 51 wins at Koshien. followed.
Teikyo OB team marching into the entrance
Kada, who is from Osaka Prefecture, knocked on the door of a prestigious school in the spring of 2018 to fulfill his dream of participating in Koshien. He was on the bench in the summer of his first year, but was removed from practice in his second year due to his strength. “If you want to go back, be captain.” He was surprised by the conditions presented to him by Maeda, but he took it as a message to him to “grow as a person,” and took on an important role in bringing the team together.
Runner-up in the fall 2019 metropolitan tournament. He was one step closer to achieving his dream, but the following spring’s selection tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, and his path to Koshien was closed the final summer as well. He almost lost sight of the meaning of fighting, but Maeda’s words, “In the end, let’s get to the top,” inspired him, and he won a tournament unique to East Tokyo. To participate in this event, we asked Mr. Maeda, who retired from the front line in the summer of 2021, to play the role of Knocker.
This is Maeda’s first Koshien in 12 years. He thanked his students and encouraged them, saying, “They worked really hard. I want them to make today a good memory and continue playing baseball.” Kada, who is the mainstay of his university’s hardball baseball team, has set a new goal: “I want to become a professional and play at Koshien again.”
The Sayamagaoka OB team heads towards the seat knock with a firm expression on their faces.
◆ Emotions filled with dreams and friends
Sayamagaoka High School (Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture) won the prefecture for the first time in the 2020 Saitama Prefecture independent tournament. Yuto Kaneko (21), who was in his third year at the time, said, “I still had some regrets about not being able to play in Koshien,” but once he stepped onto the dream stage, the emotions he had suppressed began to overflow.
Saitama is one of the most competitive battlegrounds in the country, with over 140 schools competing against each other. The school had not been able to break through the top four for many years, but Kaneko’s generation had many good players, and there were hopes that the school would achieve its dream. She overcame the tough training sessions by encouraging each other with her teammates, and she was proud to say, “She practiced more than anyone else.”
Sayamagaoka OB team marching into the entrance
Even though the summer Koshien tournament was canceled in 2020, the team changed its mindset and worked together toward its goal. And we achieved our first victory at the prefectural tournament. His parents told him, “Even if you become a phantom Koshien baseball player, it doesn’t change the fact that you won the championship.” Even after graduation, he continued to live a positive life.
Koshien, where he wore his alma mater’s uniform and stood with his teammates, said, “It was the best stadium. I was really happy.” At the same time, he realized that somewhere in his heart, he felt a sense of regret that he had not been able to write his name in history. Kaneko is still chasing white balls in college. “I was able to end my high school baseball career with no regrets and fond memories.” His expression was clear.
2023-12-06 12:00:57
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