After Hideki Kuriyama, who will lead the Japanese national team at the WBC (World Baseball Classic), which will be held in March next year, will be the first professional baseball selection under the age of 23 to take command. We won 8-6.
This game was held to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the introduction of baseball to Japan by American Horace Wilson in 1872. This is the first time since Kuriyama, the representative director, took office in December last year.
The starting pitcher for the professional baseball selection was Chunichi's pitcher Akira Neo, who turned to pitcher in the middle of this season.
As a fielder, Rakuten's third-year infielder Fumiaki Kurokawa, who started as No. 6, hit 2 in a timely two-base hit in the 3rd inning, performing well with 4 hits and 2 RBIs.
Furthermore, in the 6th inning of 5 to 1, Yuki Akabane of Yakult, who has a strong hitting power and just became a controlled player from a training player three days ago, was appointed as a pinch hitter and hit a two-run home run. The baseball team won the university/professional selection by 8 to 6, marking Kuriyama's first match.
The Japan national team is scheduled to play a warm-up match against the Australian national team at the Sapporo Dome in November in preparation for the WBC in March next year.
Director Kuriyama ``At least one of them will be on the Japanese national team''
Hideki Kuriyama, manager of the Japan national team, who led the under-23 professional baseball selection team to victory in their first game, said after the game, "The young players were playing hard and moving beyond the boundaries between professional and amateur. I believe that even one of these players will become a member of the Japanese national team and play an active role." was talking
Pitcher Neo "Thanks for letting me start"
Chunichi pitcher Akira Neo, who was the starting pitcher for the professional baseball selection for under-23 players and held down the first inning with three players, said, "I pitched with the feeling that I had to hold back because I was the starting pitcher in a game that was attracting attention." I looked back.
Pitcher Neo, who turned to pitcher in the middle of this season and is appointed as a relief pitcher, said, "The preparation method is different from usual as a starter, and I was nervous about pitching as a professional baseball selection. I am grateful for that," he said.