The summer national high school baseball tournament held at Koshien Stadium was postponed for three consecutive days due to the rain, and the coaches and players of the representative school talked about their feelings at a remote interview.
In the summer national high school baseball, it was announced that the four games of the first round scheduled due to the influence of rain were canceled at 6 am on the 14th, and the postponement for the third consecutive day for the first time in 46 years since the 57th tournament in 1975 has been postponed. It was decided.
The representative school, which was planning the match, talked about their feelings at a remote-style press conference after exercising at the indoor practice field of Koshien Stadium.
Of these, Ikumu Mashiba of Akita's Meioh High School said, "I'm spending my time thinking about what kind of game I'm going to play so as not to lower my motivation. I was able to tackle the batting task during the cancellation period, so my condition is improving." Said positively.
On the other hand, Ryota Shimizu of Obihiro Agriculture in northern Hokkaido, who is the opponent, said, "I was feeling high, but when I heard that it was canceled, I wondered if it would be extended again. I want to do it, "he said in his frank heart.
In addition, Takumi Kajisha, the coach of Gifu Commercial & Business High School, said that it was the first time that the match had been postponed for three days, including when he was a manager of baseball for adults. However, there are many players who have experienced the Senbatsu of last year's exchange game, so I am telling them that I think that the first game will be the third round following them. "
Director Shiro Mabuchi of Meitoku Gijuku High School in Kochi, who will be competing against him, said, "There is not much pressure mentally because I have no choice but to entrust it to Tendou-sama this year. I think the players are able to maintain the same condition as usual." He emphasized that he was not swayed by the repeated postponements.
The schedule change will affect the number of balls limit
The summer national high school baseball championship was canceled for three consecutive days due to the rain, and the schedule was reorganized to reduce the rest days set at the end of the tournament.
Depending on the team, if they win the final, they will play 5 games in a week, which is expected to affect the way they fight.
In particular, the use of pitchers is expected to have a major impact.
The Takano Ren = Japan High School Baseball Federation introduced a ball number limit last spring to protect pitchers from injury, limiting the number of balls thrown by one pitcher to 500 balls per week.
In addition, it is also required to avoid three consecutive games including local tournaments, and in summer national high school baseball, the rest days will be increased by one day from this tournament, the day after the third round is over, the day after the quarterfinals, the day after the semifinals and the tournament. It was set up for 3 days to coincide with the end of the game.
However, the tournament was postponed for three consecutive days on the 14th, counting four days, and the schedule was reorganized by eliminating the two rest days the day after the end of the third round and the day after the semi-final. I did.
As a result, depending on the team, if they made it to the final, they would have to complete a tough schedule of playing five games from the second round to the final in a week.
It is virtually impossible for a single pitcher to throw it out, and it will be necessary to use it with the number of balls in mind.
In addition, the number of pitches in the match between Akita's Akisakura High School and Obihiro Agriculture in northern Hokkaido, which became a no-game due to the rain on the 12th, is subject to the ball number limit.
Komatsu Otani Masato Okuno "Preparing for ourselves"
Komatsu Otani High School in Ishikawa, whose match was postponed for three consecutive days due to the rain, responded to a remote interview after practicing at the indoor practice field of Koshien Stadium on the 14th.
Mato Okuno, the main player who hit No. 4 in the local tournament, said, "When I first came to Koshien, I had a feeling that it was a dream stage, but I was able to practice at Koshien for three days in a row, so I calmed down. I got it back. "
On top of that, regarding the adjustment of the team, "I have not been able to knock on the ground, but I am devising a practice by firmly practicing the basic defense even though it is artificial turf, and by swinging in the underground parking lot of the dormitory. There are talks among the players that they want to play a match, but they are calling out to prepare for what they can do. "
Director Atsushi Hirakawa, Hokkai "I think I'm blessed and instruct to practice"
Hokkai High School in South Hokkaido responded to a remote press conference after practicing at the indoor practice field of Koshien Stadium on the 14th.
Director Atsushi Hirakawa said, "Although the postponement will continue, I instructed the players to practice because they thought it was a blessing to be able to come to Koshien four times."
For tomorrow's match against Hyogo's Kobe International University High School, which lost goodbye in the first round of this year's Senbatsu, "I played a good match in Senbatsu until the middle stage, but I lost at the last minute. I also have something to think about, so I want you to relieve the regrets of spring. "
Director Naoryu Aoki attached to Kobe International University "Maintaining the sharpness of the body"
On the 14th, Hyogo's Kobe International University High School attended a remote press conference after practicing at the indoor practice field of Koshien Stadium.
Director Naoryu Aoki said, "The match will not disappear even if it is postponed, so we are preparing to maintain the sharpness of the body."
As the number of rest days decreases due to the postponement, it is required to appoint a pitcher with the number of balls in mind, but Aoki said, "I do not know the number of balls unless I fight the first game, but there are multiple pitchers. So I don't really care about pitching. "
Takagawa Gakuen Masahiro Tateishi "The team's first postponement for three consecutive days"
After practicing at the indoor practice field of Koshien Stadium on the 14th, Takagawa Gakuen in Yamaguchi responded to a remote-style press conference.
Masahiro Tateishi, who has hit No. 4 in the local tournament, said, "This is the first time for the team to postpone for three consecutive days, but the atmosphere of practice is getting better day by day."
Takagawa Gakuen, who participated for the second time in five years, is aiming for the first victory of Koshien through spring and summer at this tournament, and Tateishi said, "The number of times I swing the bat is decreasing, but in a limited place and time. I am always thinking about enriching the content and practicing batting. In today's practice, I was conscious of the game and changed every turn at bat. A tough game is expected, but I draw the flow with my bat I definitely want to win one at Koshien. "