Kwansei Gakuin Claims First Title in Four Seasons
The victory capped a grueling postseason stretch that included a 12-inning, 160-pitch scoreless draw by ace left-hander Taisei Iida on October 13 and a subsequent tie in the fourth game on October 21.
Trailing by a run entering the sixth inning of the fifth game, Kwansei Gakuin turned to Iida out of the bullpen for his third relief appearance of the series. Iida retired the side in order in the sixth before the offense erupted in the seventh frame.
Taisei Iida Secures Rare Triple Crown Despite Draft Disappointment
Iida finished the autumn league campaign with a 5-1 record and a 1.36 ERA across nine appearances, sweeping the league's Most Valuable Player award, Best Pitcher award, and the Best Nine selection at pitcher.
Despite his collegiate dominance and a submitted professional registration, Iida went unselected in the Nippon Professional Baseball draft on October 22. The draft outcome was influenced by an agreement tied to his upcoming career path, as he has already accepted a corporate team position with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries East. Reflecting on draft night with his teammates in the school dormitories, Iida noted that his peers affirmed his status as the top pitcher, fueling his ambition to prove himself over the next two years.
Tough Competition Against Top Draft Picks
Iida spent his senior season matching up against the conference's elite arms, several of whom heard their names called early in the NPB draft.
Iida held his own against the conference’s premier draft prospects during head-to-head duels. He earned a win against Arima on September 5 by allowing just one run over six innings, and outdueled Miyahara on October 11 by throwing a complete-game three-hitter in a 1-1 contest. Although he dropped a decision to Yonezawa on October 12, Iida relied on his seasoned pitch-craft and tactical approach to get through the conference's hardest lineups.
Kwansei Gakuin Advances to Regional Championship
Having hoisted the championship trophy for the first time since his sophomore spring season, Iida and the Kwansei Gakuin squad immediately pivot toward national qualification.
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