On the fourth day of the summer national high school baseball tournament, Kamimura Gakuen from Kagoshima emerged victorious against Kisarazu Sogo High School from Chiba, securing their advancement to the second round with a final score of 8 to 5.
In the sixth inning, Kisarazu Sogo High School’s Riku Inoue delivered a crucial two-run double. Reflecting on his at-bat, Inoue shared, “I knew I had to step up when the opportunity arose. I was prepared for both a curveball and a fastball, and when the curveball came, I managed to connect with the sweet spot of the bat.”
In regard to the opposing pitcher, Inoue noted, “We hadn’t faced a left-hander in previous tournaments, but I felt confident at the plate despite the challenge. I want to express my gratitude to those who have supported me in my practice.”
Yuto Chiba, Kisarazu Sogo High School’s starting ace, acknowledged the strength of the opposing batting lineup, stating, “Their lineup featured powerful hitters, and I approached the game with precision and awareness of their potential.”
Chiba also expressed regret over his inability to prevent the errors committed by his fielders, saying, “As an ace, I felt responsible for the mistakes made in the field. I hope the younger players will learn from this experience and strive to reach Koshien next year.”
Coach Takumichi Goto expressed his disappointment over the errors committed by his players at second and third base, stating, “This isn’t our usual style of play. The opponent’s lineup was strong and efficient, making it crucial for us to score multiple runs and maintain the lead, but we were unable to do so.”
Goto also acknowledged Inoue’s impressive two-run double, saying, “The opposing pitcher’s release point was challenging to track, but Inoue hit the ball well despite the difficulty.”