The Kisarazu Comprehensive team, dejected after losing to Kamimura Gakuen, heads off the field at Koshien Stadium
The summer Koshien ended in a disappointing first-round defeat for Kisarazu Comprehensive (Chiba). In the 106th National High School Baseball Championship on the 10th, they lost to Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima) with a score of 5-8. An incident involving a key player shifted the momentum in the second half. (Azusa Hirano)
◆ Strong Pitching with Number “1” on His Back: Yuto Chiba (3rd Year Pitcher)
Yuto Chiba, the starting pitcher for Kisarazu Comprehensive in the match against Kamimura Gakuen
The starting pitcher, Yuto Chiba (3rd year), wore the number “1” for this tournament. In response to Coach Takuto Gotou’s expectation that the number should be earned based on performance, Chiba dominated the opponent’s left-handed batting lineup with his aggressive pitching, limiting them to just one run in the early stages.
Chiba also made several impressive defensive plays. In the second inning, Tera Hayashi (3rd year), a player with professional potential, hit a sharp ball, which was caught diving by left fielder Zen Yamaguchi (3rd year). In the fifth inning, second baseman Souma Yoshizawa (3rd year) made a quick throw to retire a ball hit towards the second base and shortstop area.
Despite taking the lead in the sixth inning, Kisarazu Comprehensive suffered a setback when catcher Teppei Hane (3rd year) experienced discomfort in his right foot, leading to an eight-minute treatment break. This change in momentum allowed Kamimura Gakuen to take control of the game. In the seventh inning, Chiba faced a barrage of hits from the opponent’s batting lineup, resulting in four runs after an infield error.
In the ninth inning, Kisarazu Comprehensive attempted a comeback with pinch hitters, but they could only score one run, ending their counterattack. “There were too many mistakes, and it wasn’t our kind of baseball, but they fought well,” Coach Gotou said. The game also saw Katsuya Kawabata (2nd year) achieve a new personal best with a speed of 148 km/h, raising expectations for the new team.
Kisarazu Comprehensive players greet the cheering section after the match