To hold Senbatsu High School Baseball Corona measures "Make the most of your knowledge"

Senbatsu High School Baseball will open on March 19th at Koshien Stadium.

On the 29th, a selection committee was held to decide the participating schools, and 32 participating schools were decided.

Preparations will be made while the future is uncertain as to what will happen to the infection status of the new coronavirus.

With thorough infection control

The Japan High School Baseball Federation and other organizations held a steering committee meeting for the Senbatsu Tournament on the 13th of this month, confirming the policy of aiming to hold the event with spectators on a scale in line with the government policy.

Specifically, in

order to prevent lines from taking seats, all reserved seats are sold in advance, and

▽ Alps seats are sold only to school personnel.

After that, we decided to raise the admission fee, such as changing the central reserved seat behind the back net from 2500 yen to 3900 yen.

This is to cover the cost of future infection control.

In addition, at the opening ceremony, as in the usual year, all participating schools will not participate in the entrance march, avoiding close contact when changing teams and spectators, and disinfecting benches, etc. We decided to increase the interval between games from 30 minutes to 40 minutes.

In addition, the combination lottery for participating schools, which was originally scheduled for March 12, has been moved forward on February 23 so that participating schools can prepare for the tournament with plenty of time.

Unpredictable situation

However, in 11 prefectures including Hyogo prefecture, where Koshien Stadium is located, the infection of the new coronavirus continues to be unpredictable, such as the declaration of an emergency.

Yoshimasa Ogura, the secretary general of Japan High School Baseball Federation, said, "The infection situation is getting tougher, but I want to hold a national tournament at Koshien," based on the fact that he made a difficult decision to cancel Koshien in the spring and summer last year. I have a feeling. I have experience in infection control for the past year, so I would like to prepare for the tournament with the help of everyone. "

In order to fulfill these thoughts, it is necessary to calmly assess the future infection situation and devise measures as much as possible.

This year's tournament

Under these circumstances, 32 schools to participate in the tournament were decided on the 29th.

Of these, 10 schools have participated for the first time in nearly one-third, and it is the first time since 2011 that they have been doubled, except for the commemorative competition where the number of participating schools increases.

Osaki High School (Nagasaki), the first Koshien school in the spring and summer, is a remote island school with a population of about 5,000.

Kyoto International High School (Kyoto), which was also the first Koshien, has its roots in Kyoto Korean Junior High School, and its school song is Korean.

Miyazaki Commercial (Miyazaki), which has participated in the tournament for the first time in 52 years, was also selected.

In addition, in the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Sendai Ikuei High School (Miyagi) and Shibata High School (Miyagi) were selected by the general selection, and Hachinohe Nishi High School (Aomori) was selected in the 21st century.

Among the players, a full-fledged right pitcher who throws the fastest 152 km, pitcher Kenta Kozono of Municipal Wakayama High School (Wakayama) and Ukyo Maekawa who hits the center from the spring of 1st year at Chiben Gakuen (Nara) who won the Kinki tournament. Expectations are gathered in.

Furthermore, at Joso Gakuin (Ibaraki) and Tenri High School (Nara), the former director who won the national championship died last year, and the highlights are the directors of the students who inherit their will.

“Making the most of your knowledge”

Eiji Hatta, Chairman of Japan High School Baseball Federation, expressed his intention to do everything in his power to hold the event at a press conference after the selection committee that decided 32 schools.

Japan Koyaren Hatta president

"is also through such as its own tournament, which was held in the summer have gained the knowledge to the new coronavirus. I want to prepare it by taking advantage of the maximum"

and, the future for specific measures, and experts After discussing and summarizing the guidelines, "The opening ceremony will be held only in a limited number of schools to avoid crowding, and in some cases, it is safe to consider the health management of athletes with a view to conducting PCR tests. The biggest challenge is to create an environment where you can do it. "

The tournament will start on March 19th at Koshien Stadium after a combination lottery on the 23rd of next month, and will be held for 13 days including a two-day rest day.