18 strikeouts of the masterpiece Returned “spiritual strut” to the first victory of the long-cherished desire September 6, 2:33

Japan won 5: 1 against Canada in the first round of the second league at the World Cup under 18 in baseball in Korea. It was pitcher Akinobu Okugawa of Seiryo High School that blew Japan's Koshien in the summer that led Japan to victory. In consideration of the fatigue thrown up to the final, there was no tournament boarding, but it was an overwhelming pitch that took 18 strikeouts in the first start.

“I was worried because I was not used to the scenery from the mound where the batter was standing for the first time in a while.”

Pitcher Okukawa looked back on the actual mound for the first time in two weeks since the Koshien final on August 22.

The rise was “straight is one barometer. I wanted to try how far I could push”, and the pitch was straight.

I took eight strikeouts by three times, such as taking a swing with a straight of 151 km.

The 4th batter in Canada caught a 146 kilometer straight and was hit by a home run, but he said, “I tried not to lose my concentration” and effectively used a sharp slider after the middle. Up to 2 hits and 1 hit, up to 16 strikeouts.

Here, the number of pitchers by Okugawa reached 90.

In this tournament, one pitcher can throw up to 105 balls in one game. When this number is reached, rest is required for 4 days until the next climb.

On the other hand, if you keep it within 104 balls, you can climb in 1 day, so Director Yuji Nagata was told before the game, “Please keep within 104 balls. I want you to go up to 7 times”.

Seven times I took 2 outs with 10 balls, but only 4 more can be thrown.

“I don't want to give the mound to the next pitcher in a halfway way,” Okukawa pitched the last batter.

I was delighted to hit the grab when I stopped with the 18th strikeout.

Nagata said, “Okugawa has never used it in the game, but it is a spiritual strut that he has experienced in the Asian Championship last year.

Pitch Okugawa “I still do n’t want to be satisfied”

After the match, pitcher Okukawa said, “We were all connected so far, so there was a pressure that we had to hold down.

Still, “I don't want to be satisfied yet. My arms are loose when I throw a ball that changes. If I can't control my arm by shaking my arms, I can't control my strong opponents. I looked forward.

To the first victory of the longing that has not been achieved yet.

A “mental strut” that is reliable in Japan has returned to the mound.