Yuki Saito, a former professional baseball player who led Waseda Jitsugyo in West Tokyo to the championship in the 88th tournament, will serve as the opening ceremony for the opening game of this summer's national high school baseball championship.
Saito is 34 years old from Gunma prefecture.
In the final of Waseda Jitsugyo's ace in West Tokyo, who participated in the 88th tournament in 2006, he played against Komadai Tomakomai High School in South Hokkaido, which currently has pitcher Masahiro Tanaka of professional baseball Rakuten, and two games including a draw rematch. And led the team to victory.
He was also nicknamed "Prince Handkerchief" because of his refreshing appearance of wiping his sweat with a handkerchief in his pocket during the game, and played until last season with Nippon Professional Baseball, which he joined after working at Waseda University.
Mr. Saito said, "I am very happy to be able to return to the Koshien mound in this way. I hope this summer will be a hot and special summer for high school baseball players and those who love high school baseball. I will do my best to do my best. "