Gyeonggi Whimoon Academy claimed a title, defeating Seoul Songpa-gu 14-3 in the U-13 Cheongryong final of the 5th Cheongchun Yanggu Youth Baseball Tournament on November 8, Starnewskorea reported.
The championship victory solidified Whimoon Academy’s status as a force in youth baseball. The team, based in Dongtan, Hwaseong, secured the title thanks in large part to two home runs from standout player Park Se-won.
111 Teams Competed Across Eight Fields in Korea
The Korea Youth Baseball Federation, led by President Lee Sang-geun, organized the six-day tournament, which ran from October 30 to November 8. A total of 111 teams participated across eight fields, including the Hari Baseball Stadium in Yanggu County, Gangwon Province.
Game Breakdown
Seoul Songpa-gu scored two runs on consecutive hits in the bottom of the third. They scored seven runs in the bottom of the third inning, fueled by a home run from Park Se-won and hits from Kim Yun-jun, Kim Ha-il, Kim Ji-soo, and Song Ji-hoo.
Park Se-Won Earns Tournament MVP Honors
Park Se-won was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. The young athlete compiled 4 hits in 13 at-bats for a .308 batting average and drove in 9 runs. As a pitcher, he threw 7 innings, allowing 3 earned runs with 10 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.86 over two wins. He also hit consecutive home runs in the championship game.
Kim Ha-il of Whimoon Academy and Kim Si-woo of Seoul Songpa-gu were also honored with the Best Player award.
Park Se-Won and Coach Park Young-Ju Celebrate Victory
“We are very happy because our sixth-grade team has won the Cheongryong Youth League for the first time,” Park Se-won said. “We could not have done it alone, but I believe it is the result of not giving up until the end and giving it our all together with my friends.
I always keep in mind the phrase ‘no player is greater than the team’ and will always be a player who fulfills my role.”
Whimoon Academy coach Park Young-ju, who was named the tournament’s Best Coach, emphasized the importance of teamwork.
“First, I am very happy and honored that our team has achieved the valuable results of winning the Cheongryong Youth and Dream Tree Cheongryong categories in this tournament,” Park Young-ju said.
“I believe that baseball is not a sport where you can win just by being good individually, but a sport where you can overcome when all members of the team do their best in their positions and trust and support each other.”
Federation President’s Comments
Korea Youth Baseball Federation President Lee Sang-geun highlighted the tournament’s presence and its role in developing young talent. He noted that after 10 players were selected by KBO professional teams last year, this year the number reached 11.
“We have been holding the youth baseball tournament in Yanggu for 13 years,” Lee Sang-geun said. “With the active support we received during a period when attention was needed, 11 players were selected by KBO professional teams this year.”
Lee credited the tournament’s success to local governments like Yanggu and Hwaseong. He added that the federation will continue to expand the youth baseball base and revitalize the local economy.
Full List of Tournament Champions
The 5th Cheongchun Yanggu Youth Baseball Tournament concluded with champions crowned across multiple age divisions:
- Sae-sit League (U-9): Champion – Seoul Songpa-gu Mainball (Coach Lee Hong-gu). MVP: Jeong Min-chan.
- Dream Tree Cheongryong League (U-11): Champion – Gyeonggi Whimoon Academy (Coach Park Young-ju). Runner-up – Paju, Gyeonggi. MVP: Kim Do-hyung.
- Dream Tree Hyeonmu League (U-11): Champion – Yonsei, Seoul (Coach Yoon Jang-sul). Runner-up – Gyeonggi Big Dream. MVP: Woo Seong-min.
- U-13 Cheongryong League: Champion – Gyeonggi Whimoon Academy (Coach Park Young-ju). Runner-up – Seoul Songpa-gu. MVP: Park Se-won.
- U-13 Baekho League: Champion – Asan, Chungnam (Coach Hwang Min-ho). Runner-up – Gyeonggi Big Dream. MVP: Shin Ji-won.
- Junior League (U-16): Champion – Sejong Public SC (Coach Kim Seung-gwon). Runner-up – Namyangju Yanol, Gyeonggi. MVP: Seong Jeong-woo.
The tournament was sponsored by the Yanggu County Sports Foundation, SOOP, and baseball equipment company Yaying-sa. The championship finals were broadcast live on SOOP, with commentary from So Dae-soo and former Doosan Bears batting coach Choi Kyung-hwan.
