Senbatsu High School Baseball, which was held for the first time in two years, ended with the victory of Tokai University Sagami High School (Kanagawa) for the first time in ten years.

The first national tournament in high school baseball after the spread of the new coronavirus.

In addition to running the tournament in Corona, it was also significant in that many children showed remarkable growth.

The long-awaited stage

This is an oath made by Sendai Ikuei High School (Miyagi) captain, Shimanuki Akira, at the opening ceremony of


"

Koshien for two years" and

"Thinking about each throw



."

Last year, all national high school baseball tournaments were canceled due to the influence of the new coronavirus.

The Senbatsu tournament, which was held for the first time in two years, was a long-awaited stage for the children.

Operation in Corona

However, as the infection of the new corona did not subside, the road to the event was not straightforward, and thorough infection control measures were taken at the convention.


▼ PCR inspection for athletes and directors


▼ Maximum number of spectators is 10,000


▼ Brass band performance prohibited in Alps seats ▼


Only 6 schools march at the opening ceremony


.

However, with these measures, we were able to successfully complete the tournament without any infected people from athletes or related parties.

Eiji Hatta, chairman of the Japan High School Baseball Federation, said, "Although there were various restrictions, we placed the utmost importance on infection control and adopted the opinions of experts with the highest priority. That is why we believe that we were able to achieve" zero infection. " I said.

The late heroes

In the tournament, 16 games, more than half of the 31 games up to the final, were played with a difference of 2 points or less.


The biggest feature is the activity of "late heroes" such as players who could not even enter the bench in the official game last fall.

One of them is Riki Kushida of Chukyo University Chukyo High School (Aichi) who was in the top four.


He hit a running home run, which he decided to play in the first round against Senshu University Matsudo High School (Chiba) as a player who was added as a member just before the tournament, saying "I want to believe".

It was the first turn at bat in the official game.

Yakumo Tai, a second-year student at Tokai University Sugao High School (Tokyo), was also a member just before the tournament. I hit the timely two base.

Tai believes that he has a "chance" for Senbatsu, and says he has transferred the bat through his own practice.

Also, Tokai University Sagami's pitchers Eiki Ishikawa and Taro Kouko, who pitched well in the final, had almost no track record until last fall, and Senbatsu became the stage for the leap.

Tetsuya Kawarasaki, who was in charge of commentary on the NHK broadcast program, said, "Last year, there were few opportunities for actual battles such as practice games, and I think the manager could not measure the ability of the players," he analyzed as a phenomenon that occurred because of the corona disaster. ..

What to do in the future

Next, the battle for the summer Koshien will begin.


Senbatsu, which was held for the first time in two years, showed that having a Koshien stage, which is a dream and a goal for the baseball players, will lead to growth as a player.

Director Ayahei Kawasaki of Meiho High School (Oita), who won second place, said, "I hope the tournament will be held at Koshien to encourage children."

Takano Ren will continue to give top priority to infection control and aim to realize the tournament.

Chairman Hatta said, "The fourth wave will continue. Since it is not completely over in the summer, we will continue to place the highest priority on corona countermeasures. That is why we cannot survive in the summer. I'm thinking about it. "


We will continue to search for ways to connect the significance and issues that we have seen only since the event was held.