KT Wiz, the youngest team in professional baseball, has risen to the top of the regular league after 7 years of debut in the first team.

There were many difficulties to reach the top, but we all worked together to overcome it and finally smiled broadly.




KT won the regular league 1st place match against Samsung 1-0 at the Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the last day of October and won the KBO League regular season championship for the 2021 season.

KT is yirwotgo the Samsung tie in with the regular 144 games to 76 wins 9 free 59 losses (.563 winning percentage), according to last year changed regulations

, the first single-League Finals ever

been paid for.

We had to go to Daegu as we were pushed back from our season opponents, but on this day, Lions Park received 12,244 people, the largest number since the Corona era, and 10,000 spectators, supporting Samsung unilaterally.




There was a breathtaking pitching battle between KT Cuevas and Samsung Won Tae-in. Won Tae-in, who started after 8 days of rest, put a heavy fastball with a main weapon changeup and blocked KT's lineup without a score in the 5th inning. On the other hand, Cuevas took only two days off to get on the mound, and contrary to his fears, he showed a great pitch. He also threw a two-seam fastball that penetrated the batter's body with a sharp slider and curve, and also continued a scoreless streak up to the 5th inning.

Before the game, KT manager Lee Kang-cheol said, "I've been watching Cuevas for up to four long innings. I've calculated all the pitchers who will come later."




The tight '0' balance was broken 6 times. After KT Shim Woo-jun got on base with an infield hit to shortstop, Samsung shortstop Oh Seon-jin made a mistake and arrived at second base. Two-out 1st and 3rd base opportunities gained by taking a base and walking. Signboard hitter Kang Baek-ho entered the batting table.

Kang Baek-ho, who struck out a wasted swing by Won Tae-in in the previous at-bat, and slashed his bat, succeeded in revenge in the next at-bat.

We pushed Won Tae-in's fastball into the ball and called third base runner Shim Woo-jun into the home with a clean, just-time hit. Kang Baek-ho's hit became the final hit. Cuevas was responsible for the 7th inning, and the bullpen blocked the remaining 2 innings, confirming KT's regular league championship.



As the last 27th out went up, the entire squad ran to the ground, embraced and rejoiced. Kang Baek-ho shed a lot of tears, and veteran players such as Yuhan-jun and Park Kyung-soo all shed hot tears. Kang Baek-ho said, "I really wanted to win the championship, and it seems that I cried when I remembered the hardships. I'm really, really happy." Park Kyung-soo said, "I can't believe everything. It's so thrilling, but it's the first time I've felt it in my baseball life. Thank you to everyone."




KT, the 10th youngest team in professional baseball, was founded in 2013 and entered the first-team stage in 2015.

It is the first time KT has won the regular league championship in 7 years since their first team debut.

It wasn't an easy journey.

KT made its first season as a rookie player with a special nomination in 2014, the year after its foundation, and at that time, the rookie history of the 9th team NC was evaluated as inferior compared to the players selected at the time of its foundation.

There were also a lot of problems outside the game.

KT, who was preparing to participate in the second-team league in 2014, frequently played practice matches at Sungkyunkwan University with the Goyang Wonders, led by then coach Kim Seong-geun.

I had to eat before the game, but because there was not enough space, I ate on the floor of the parking lot of the baseball field.

It was literally

'rice wet with tears'

.

As KT's 'homeless sorrow' became known through the media, Suwon City and Sungkyunkwan University belatedly provided a place to eat.

A KT official expressed joy, saying, "I am more thrilled to have won the regular season overcoming such difficulties."




KT is now dreaming bigger.

As I went straight to the Korean Series, I am determined to win the overall championship.

Kang Baek-ho said, "It's great to win, and I hope that one day I can go to the Korean Series and smile at the top. Today's victory in the first place match is thanks to the fans who came to support from far away to Daegu. Thank you always, and I hope you have a lot of expectations for the Korean Series. I hope," he promised.




(Photo = Yonhap News)