Keio Defeats Waseda 7-3 in Tokyo Big Six Fall Fresh Tournament Final

Waseda fell 7-3 to Keio in the Tokyo Big Six Fall Fresh Tournament final at Jingu Stadium on November 13, finishing as tournament runners-up.

Shusei Tanaka started on the mound for Waseda, but the right-hander struggled against Keio’s lineup from the opening frame. Kato Yugo opened the bottom of the first with a long hit before Inatomi Ruki drove him in with an RBI single to give Keio an early lead, according to Waseda Sports.

Tanaka continued to yield runs through the third and fourth innings before manager Mitsumasa Watanabe made a pitching change. Tanaka was charged with four runs and 11 hits across 3 and 1/3 innings of work.

Yuto Tawaratsumida entered in relief with one out and runners on first and second in the fourth. Making his Tokyo Big Six debut, Tawaratsumida retired both batters he faced on just eight pitches to halt the rally, then retired the side in order in the fifth.

Waseda’s offense managed only two hits through the first seven innings against Keio pitching. Trailing 4-0 in the fifth, So Yoshida drew a walk, advanced on a sacrifice, and scored on a wild pitch to put Waseda on the board.

Waseda cut the deficit to one run in the eighth inning. Shunei Nakamura notched his first hit of the tournament, followed by an RBI double from Yuta Ishimatsu and an RBI single by Rui Ogoe off left-hander Chihiro Shinagawa.

Keio answered in the bottom of the eighth against reliever Kosei Matsuda. Yuta Yamamoto hit a home run—his fifth hit in five at-bats on the day—highlighting a three-run frame that extended Keio’s lead to 7-3.

Waseda loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth via three walks, bringing Ogoe to the plate representing the tying run. Ogoe made contact on the first pitch, grounding out to first base to end the 2-hour and 46-minute contest.

Ogoe spoke about the result and his final at-bat after the game, pointing to areas for personal improvement during the upcoming offseason.

“I felt a lack of ability to lead the pitchers as a catcher as the tough, hard-hit innings continued, though closing the gap to one run late was good work,” Ogoe told Waseda Sports.

Reflecting on his final plate appearance with the bases loaded, Ogoe added: “I was conscious of swinging aggressively at a loose ball. However, thinking it was a ball, my bat stopped and hit it, and in the end, it turned out like that, which I am sorry for.”

Ogoe also addressed the team’s catching competition moving forward into winter training.

“Right now, I am inferior to Ogata in everything,” Ogoe said, referring to teammate Juto Ogata. “I need to level up in stability on defense and batting to reach a position where I can compete, so I will work hard in everything.”

The loss ended Waseda’s bid for their first Fresh Tournament title in five years, leaving the young squad with a runner-up finish. The players will look to use the experience gained during the autumn schedule as preparation for the spring season.

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