Twelve youth hardball teams from across four prefectures will gather in Shikoku this winter for the Kochi Baseball Futures Cup 2026, scheduled for December 5 and 6, 2026.
The Kochi Fighting Dogs baseball club announced the tournament dates and format, marking the second year for the inter-club event. Organizers designed the competition primarily for third-year junior high school players making the transition from rubber-ball youth baseball to regulation hard-ball play.
Transitioning to hard balls presents distinct challenges for young athletes advancing toward high school competition. The tournament aims to provide practical game experience while supporting the broader development of hard-ball baseball within Kochi Prefecture, according to club organizers.
This year’s tournament features a 12-team field split evenly between local squads and visiting programs. Six teams represent Kochi Prefecture, joined by six visiting clubs from Ehime, Kagawa, and Hyogo prefectures.
The local entry list includes the U15 Kochi Fighting Dogs, KOCHI EAST, Aki Oceans, SKB (Seinan Hardball Baseball Club), and Tobu BBC. The Kochi Chuo High School girls’ hardball baseball team will also participate as a guest entry.
Visiting competition comes from Ehime’s Uwajima Boys, Matsuyama Chuo Boys, Iyomishima Little Senior, and Niihama Young Swallows, alongside Kagawa’s Takamatsu Boys and Hyogo’s IWA Hyogo Pony.
Matches will take place across multiple municipal venues, including the Haruno General Sports Park Baseball Stadium, the Nippon Toto Baseball Stadium INOUE, and the Tobu Sports Park Baseball Stadium. Stand seating will remain open to the public free of charge throughout the two-day event.
Last year’s inaugural tournament featured nine teams competing at local diamonds, culminating with the Uwajima Boys claiming the first championship title.
Co-hosted and organized by the Kochi Fighting Dogs franchise under operating company Kochi Ken Co., the event receives logistical and developmental backing from the Kochi Prefecture Rubber Baseball Federation Youth Division, the Kochi-ke Diamond Sports Project, and the Kochi Chuo High School girls’ hardball squad.
Tournament organizers plan to publish ongoing match results and daily updates directly on the Kochi Fighting Dogs official web portal as games conclude on December 5 and 6.
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