Miraculous back home 28th year of truth Koshien final Matsuyama Commercial x Kumamoto Technical February 13th 18:51

``Why was this legendary play born?''

``What kind of influence did it have on the lives of subsequent players?''

1996 summer Koshien final ``Matsuyama Commercial vs. Kumamoto Industrial.''

The legendary play ``The Miraculous Back Home'' that is still talked about today was born.

Bottom of the 10th inning, bases loaded with one out, Matsuyama Commercial defended. The big fly to right field convinced everyone that Kumamoto Kogyo would win.

However, the winner was Matsuyama Commercial. It was Katsushi Yano, the right fielder who took his place at the last minute, who saved him from losing the walk-off. He stabbed Kumamoto Kogyo's third base runner, Takashi Hoshiko, at the back home.

28 years after the fierce battle at Koshien, the original members gathered together again, and new facts were revealed one after another.

(Matsuyama Broadcasting Station Director Kensuke Nakamoto)

Koshien final: “Things to carry” for Matsuyama Commercial and Kumamoto Technical

Koshien in the summer of 1996. Matsuyama Commercial played in the Koshien final for the first time in 10 years.

Until then, he had won four summer championships and was nicknamed the "Summer General," but he continued to struggle.

Matsuyama Commercial is known for its strong defense, but with the introduction of metal bats into high school baseball, the team continued to struggle against power baseball players like Ikeda High School in Tokushima, and for 27 years they were away from winning the championship.

Katsuhiko Sawada, manager of Matsuyama Commercial at the time, said, ``

At that time, there was criticism that you couldn't win with Matsuyama Commercial's baseball anymore, and that you couldn't win with Sawada's baseball.Even so, while valuing the traditional 'steady defense', he refined his running, attacking and defending skills. The goal was to hone the precision of baseball and defeat the popular power baseball.It was a battle to prove that ``Matsusho Baseball'' was viable.''

On the other hand, Kumamoto Kogyo also had a reason not to lose.

Although they are said to be a strong team, they have never won Koshien in the summer. Although he has reached the finals twice in the past, he has finished as runner-up both times.

Tetsuji Kawakami, who was active in professional baseball and was known as the ``god of batting,'' was a member of the Koshien runner-up team both times.

Before the 1996 final, Mr. Kawakami directly called Kumamoto Kogyo coach Hisayuki Tanaka and encouraged him, saying, ``Kumamoto should win the Koshien of their dreams.''

The players are inspired by the encouragement.

Expectations for Kumamoto Prefecture's long-awaited first victory were so high that even star professional baseball players were eager to win.

After the “miraculous back home” Katsushi Yano (Matsuyama Trading)

Katsushi Yano (Matsuyama Trading Light), the man behind the miraculous back home, is currently the sales manager at the local Ehime Asahi TV station.

Even now, when I walk around town, people I pass say to me, ``Oh, that's Mr. Yano, the miraculous back homer.''

His victory at Koshien and his ``miraculous back home'' became a source of pride for the people of Ehime Prefecture, and he became a local celebrity.

This became an unexpected hindrance in Yano's later life.

Katsushi Yano

: ``Even after I went to university and got a job, every time I met someone, I was told, ``Mr. Yano is a miraculous background player.'' At first, I felt good, but then I started to think, ``You're such an amazing person.'' I had high hopes, but when I met him, I was often told, ``You're normal.'' On the contrary, I was disappointed.Because of that play at Koshien, I was always asked to do more than I was capable of, and that put pressure on me and made it difficult for me to do well. I had a hard time in my 20s and 30s because I couldn't respond."

What happened to the “tragic third base runner” Takashi Hoshiko (Kumamoto Tech)

Takashi Hoshiko (Kumamoto Tech), a tragic third base runner, was prevented from winning by a miraculous home run.

I run a sports bar in Kumamoto city.

When Hoshiko failed to run the bases from a touch-up to win Kumamoto Prefecture's first summer Koshien victory, she was subjected to cruel comments.

She asked, ``Did you drive slowly?''

``Did you get a late touch-up start?''

``Wouldn't it be safe if you went around?''

She looked like a war criminal.

After graduating from high school, she played professional baseball, but retired after two years. After that, she moved from job to job and started working at restaurants to avoid public attention.

Takashi Hoshiko

: ``There's no way anyone would be able to get away with it in the Koshien finals, let alone in that scene.However, wherever I go, I'm stuck with my touch-up failures at Koshien, and even once I was told, ``We lost because of you.'' It wasn't even twice. I was tired of playing baseball. Baseball, which I thought I loved, had become difficult for me. Even after I retired, it was hard for me to touch baseball, and I couldn't even watch Koshien broadcasts for a long time. Ta"

The miraculous back home carried a cross for both winners and losers.

The two will meet again in 2013, 17 years after Koshien. When Mr. Yano went to Kumamoto for work, he visited the store where Mr. Hoshiko worked.

As we exchanged drinks, we talked about what was on our minds until the morning, such as how we had been troubled by the stress of that play.

Takashi Hoshiko

: ``Since I was on the losing side, I can imagine that people would say something about me, but Yano, who won, was also asked to do more than he was capable of, and for the first time in his life, he felt tough while under pressure. I realized that I was with you, and that I wasn't the only one who was having a hard time, and I felt like I was being patted on the back.Then, instead of being bitter about that play, I decided to look forward. When I talked to Yano to try to turn things around, it was a turning point in my life.''

Katsushi Yano

: ``There was a part of me that was thinking too much about the miraculous back home, thinking, ``I have to continue to be an amazing person.'' But when I talked to Hoshiko, I was able to change my mind. ``Rather than getting bogged down in past glory, what's important is being proud of who you are now.'' Since then, people have told me, ``Mr. Yano, the miraculous back home guy, seems normal when you meet him.'' Look at me now.'' I was able to respond with pride.I started thinking in a positive way, hoping that play would lead to excitement at work, which would lead to better sales results.''

Although it was the first time they had met in 17 years, they were surprised at how much they felt like they were old friends.

Six months after their reunion, Hoshiko opened her own store, a sports bar.

Her name is "Tacchiappu".

Takashi Hoshiko

: "It felt like the most me, and it felt right. On the contrary, I think it's good for Sagi. I'm determined to carry that moment at Koshien on my back."

Mr. Yano also congratulated him by giving him the uniform he wore at Koshien.

Nowadays, it is a popular gathering place for high school baseball fans, and is bustling with customers from outside the prefecture.

◆New testimony (1) “Replacement Light Yano”’s decision was based on a reversal idea

Just before the miraculous home run, why did Yano, who was on the bench, be brought in?

Director Sawada had a clear aim there.

In high school, Yano's shoulder strength was among the top on the team. However, there was one weakness. It's a back home from the outfield.

Normally, the theory is that outfielders relay to infielders and back home, but Yano wasn't good at that.

Katsuhiko Sawada, manager of Matsuyama Commercial at the time,

said, ``The theory is to connect a low, fast ball to the infielder's cutman and back home.However, no matter how many times Yano throws it, he just can't do that. I couldn't break the habit of pitching directly to home."

The scene just before the miraculous home run in the Koshien final. Bottom of the 10th inning, tied 3-3, Matsuyama Commercial defended. A pinch with one out and the bases loaded.

Kumamoto Kogyo is on the offensive, with the fast runner Hoshiko on third base. And at the bat was Daisuke Honda, the No. 3 left-handed batter who is the scariest in the opponent's batting lineup. It has a reputation for pulling strikes, increasing the probability of it flying to right field.

Matsuyama Commercial would be in a desperate situation if they returned the runner on third base. At this time, Yano was on the bench and had given up, saying, ``I won't have a chance to play.''

Just before the pitcher is about to start pitching, Manager Sawada makes a move.

The decision was made to bring in Yano, who was not good at relay play and had to repeatedly play directly back home.

Katsuhiko Sawada

: ``Yano doesn't like throwing to the relay cutman and has a habit of throwing directly to home, but there's only one situation where it's correct. In the case of a walk-off, the only way to do it is to go direct. We won't be able to make it in time. This is the only scene where we can take advantage of Yano's 'ability'. Switch to Light Yano!"

◆New testimony (2) Right fielder Yano “I threw the ball without seeing home base”

Mr. Yano was suddenly told that he would be replaced. He couldn't catch a single ball, and without being able to build up his shoulder, he circled his right shoulder and went to the right field defense.

I quickly gauged the strength and direction of the wind and positioned myself in a deep position where I could hit the back home directly with my strong shoulder.

In other words, if the ball goes backwards from this position, it is a borderline situation where you are likely to lose.

On that first pitch, a mercilessly large fly hit the "back" of Mr. Yano, who had just taken over.

It was a moment when everyone was so sure of Kumamoto Kogyo's victory that even the live announcer said, ``Wow, there's no doubt about this.''

Katsushi Yano

: ``The moment I was hit, I instinctively knew it was over my head, so I turned my line of sight away from the ball and ran desperately toward the fence, and when I looked back, I saw that it had been blown back into the wind. Rather than a parabola, it felt like the ball was coming straight down from where it had come up.So, it felt like I was catching it with my glove open and pointing straight up.I caught the ball about 10 meters diagonally to the left and back of my normal position.The ball was pushed back. , I stepped forward and used the recoil to get into a throwing position with all my strength."

However, at the moment of transition from catching to throwing, he can't even see home plate or even the catcher.

So why was he able to throw a strike into the catcher's mitt 90 meters away?

Katsushi Yano

: ``Of course you can't see home plate from that position, and you can't see the catcher clearly either.However, since the second and first pitchers were playing live, there was a relay play between them, so I believed that if I threw over their heads, I would be at home plate. .If my teammates were in the wrong position, of course I would also be throwing in the wrong position.The miraculous home run was a one-play made by believing in my teammates and teamwork.''

◆New testimony (3) The driving force behind the miraculous back home is “teamwork”

A “miraculous back home” achieved through teamwork.

A valuable photograph proving this was displayed in the living room of the then director Sawada's home.

This photo was taken by chance by a spectator who was watching the game from behind the back net.

The photo showed the relay team lined up in a straight line from right fielder Yano, second player Yoshimi, first player Imai, catcher Ishimaru, and even pitcher Watabe, who would cover the ball in case the throw went errant. .

Katsuhiko Sawada, the manager of Matsuyama Commercial at the time, said,

``The secret of Matsuyama Commercial's strength lies in this one shot.In that desperate situation, no one gave up, and we set up a relay system until the very end, making perfect preparations. When I saw everyone doing what they were supposed to do behind the miraculous home field, I was really happy and proud of the players. All credit goes to Coach Myori. .That's why this photo is a treasure that I cherish.''

Become a hero with “just two balls”

Matsuyama Commercial Co., Ltd. narrowly escaped death. Immediately after, in the top of the 11th inning, Yano was the first batter. He can't contain his excitement at the big play, which was bigger than he expected.

By mistake, he picked up pitcher Nitta's bat, put on pitcher Nitta's helmet, and went straight to the batter's box.

He confidently swung the first curve ball and hit two bases to left field. A smiling fist pump on the base. This single hit gave the team momentum and they scored three points in one go, winning their fifth summer championship in 27 years.

Mr. Yano was substituted in the middle of the game and miraculously hit the back home on the ``first pitch'' while playing defense, and then he stepped up to bat and hit the ``first pitch.'' He became a hero with just two pitches.

Actually, Mr. Yano had a shy personality and was not good at showing his strength in front of people.

He didn't fist pump in games, and he didn't actively hit the first pitch.

Coach Sawada wanted to change that somehow, and during practice, he had Yano practice every day in front of all the club members by hitting a walk-off home run in the air and doing a fist pump.

Yano felt embarrassed and had trouble performing the air, but the miraculous back home was such a big deal for him that he said, ``It gave me confidence and courage, and changed my life after that.''

In the top of the 11th inning, Coach Sawada saw Yano hit a two-base hit that would lead to the game-winner, and see him smiling and pumping his fists.

``That's right, this is what I've always wanted to see from Yano. He took flight at the very end.''

Manager Sawada, who was called a ``demon'' due to his strictness, smiled on the bench at Koshien. It was a moment.

◆New testimony (4) Third base runner Hoshiko “Avoid contact with catcher, loss”

There was also a drama unknown to third base runner Hoshiko.

A fast 50m runner of 5.8 seconds. Until he got out at Koshien, he never failed to run a base from a touchup.

Takashi Hoshiko

: ``I could clearly see the big ball hitting right field from above the third base base.I was confident that I could be safe with my feet at this distance, so I started off with a flying start.''

He kicked the touch-up third base with his left foot and ran at full speed. Immediately after sliding with his right foot on the 15th step, he made contact with catcher Yujiro Ishimaru's mitt. During this time, approximately 3.5 seconds.

Even considering that a normal player takes around 4 seconds to run between the bases, Hoshiko's base running speed was top class. However, he had the misfortune of hitting the ball back with a bang on the course into which he slipped.

There was a regret that Hoshiko couldn't erase.

For the first time in her 28th year, she opened up about the truth.

Takashi Hoshiko

: ``I was able to run the bases at my best.My mistake was that the catcher, Ishimaru, was positioned on my base-running line.If I continued to run like this, we would make contact, so I either hit him or went inside the base-running line. I went inside, wondering if I should avoid contact or not. That small tenth of a second turned into a fatal loss. I still regret that. However, in high school baseball, when you collide, you are considered to be blocking the defense. It was scary too.”

Yujiro Ishimaru (Matsuyama Trading Co. catcher)

``At that time, I didn't go to touch the ball, but just as I was about to catch it, he came in with a bone. Even if Hoshiko was skating on a slightly different course, the ball might have been thrown the wrong way. However, I still wonder why Hoshiko suddenly came inside from a straight base running line at that time.I got into a catching position in front of the base. If he had run straight at me and rammed me, or if I had gotten behind him, I definitely wouldn't have been able to react and would have been safe."

Q. Hoshiko said that she went inside to avoid the collision.

Yujiro Ishimaru (Matsuyama Commercial catcher)

"Is that so? A long-standing mystery has been solved. He's kind."

“28th year of playing ball” Matsuyama Commercial x Kumamoto Technical

In November 2023, the original members who fought to the death at Koshien gathered together for a match.

He had made a promise that he would play another match at the age of 45, when he would be at the halfway point in his life.

These former baseball players, now in their mid-40s, desperately chase the white ball while shaking their slightly larger bodies.

Mr. Yano of Matsuyama Commercial has been training intensively for this day. He got a hit in his first at-bat, an action that led to the first run.

Not to be outdone, Hoshiko of Kumamoto Kogyo also steals bases with her proud feet, shocking the audience.

Kumamoto Kogyo won the match 8-7, avenging Koshien.

After the game, a reenactment of the “miraculous back home” was held.

Bottom of the 10th inning, bases loaded with one out. In the at-bat was Kumamoto Kogyo's No. 3 Honda, the same as that day. The runner on third base is also the same as that day, Hoshiko. Then, the voice of Matsuyama Commercial Manager Sawada called out ``Right Yano!'' and he went on defense to cheers. The actors are all ready.

Then, I saw a slightly shallow fly in the light. Yano rushed forward, caught the ball, and returned home with the same momentum.

It wasn't the same as that day, but the ball returned home with two bounces. Immediately after, Hoshiko, the runner on third base, rushed into the home field. Unlike that day, he collided head-on with the catcher who was on base.

Judgment of “out”. Still, Hoshiko walks up to Yano and they both smile.

Takashi Hoshiko

: ``I was out again, but this time I was able to do what I wanted to do.I hit the catcher head-on, which I couldn't do at Koshien, and I have no regrets.The members from back then came together like this and were able to play the game. I'm so happy. I think I made the best mistake ever. I experienced a mistake at Koshien that no one else can experience during my high school years, and it made me stronger."

Katsushi Yano

: ``I'm grateful for the encounter we had at Koshien.My life changed due to this miraculous back home, and it's the same for Hoshiko.What started with us has now involved both teams and our bond has deepened. Until now, and from now on, I have no choice but to live with that play on my back and look forward, and I will continue to live my life.”

I regret to leave behind an ally who I would always talk to with a smile on my face.

``I want to play at Koshien when I'm 50 years old,''

they exchanged, vowing to meet again.

(Broadcast on “HimeDON” on December 15, 2023)

Director of Matsuyama Broadcasting Station Kensuke Nakamoto Director of

sports

programs and documentaries

Produces programs on athletes such as Ayumu Hirano and Yukiko Ueno

Responsible for reporting on overseas events such as the Olympics, World Cup soccer, and MLB.Currently,

disasters such as earthquakes are the subject of coverage.

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