Three weeks have passed since the summer national high school baseball season ended.
On the 11th, a practice match was held between retired third-year students from Tenri High School and Ikoma High School, who competed for the Nara national team.
In the final in July, when both teams played against each other, Ikoma was forced to replace a large number of members due to the influence of the new coronavirus, and was defeated 0-21.
A new bond was born between the players for a special match that was realized with that regret.
An unexpected final
On the 11th, Tenri and Ikoma played a practice match at a stadium in Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture.
In July, we met in the finals of the Nara tournament, where we qualified for the summer Koshien.
It was a match that attracted attention whether Tenri would demonstrate his ability as a regular Koshien school or whether Ikoma would decide to make his first appearance in the 60th year since the club was founded, but an unexpected event was waiting just before.
Ikoma was forced to replace 12 of the 20 members as the new corona infection spread within the team.
As a result of the lack of core players in both pitching and hitting, Ikoma conceded many points from the beginning, and the batting lineup did not perform well with only 2 hits, resulting in a crushing loss of 0-21.
Tenri's players who decided to participate in Koshien also had mixed feelings and could not be happy.
Former Captain Tenri Leiji Toi
“After the match was over, I called my teammates to line up immediately instead of being happy. Honestly, I wanted to play the match with all the members together.
Souma Kumada, former captain of Ikoma
, said, “
I am very grateful to the Tenri players for their consideration of us. was
"Connecting hearts as one"
However, after this final, the exchange between the two teams deepened.
Tenri's first round at Koshien Stadium.
At the Alps seats, a banner was hung with the words, "Connecting with one heart."
Ikoma gave it to Tenri, and it combines Tenri's creed of "connecting" with the slogan of "one heart" that Ikoma has cherished.
In addition, in the second round, the third-year students from Ikoma, who were unable to participate in the finals of the Nara tournament due to the new coronavirus, recovered and rushed to support.
Kumada, former captain of Ikoma
"I was very happy to be able to come to Koshien, which I have been aiming for, and to support Tenri. I was moved by the feeling that we will fight together."
Tenri Former captain Toi:
“We fought with the feeling that the Ikoma players from the Alps were watching us and cheering us on.
Planning a “rematch” for the final
While deepening exchanges, a plan was raised between the two teams.
That is a practice match by retired third-year students.
Tenri manager Ryoji Nakamura proposed a special rematch of the Nara final, thinking about the regrets of the Ikoma players who could not play in the match due to the corona virus.
Ikoma welcomed this proposal, and it came to fruition.
Especially for the players who were trying to end their high school baseball career without being able to burn it completely, it was great news.
Ms. Riku Shinoda, who was entrusted with the 4th catcher, is one of them.
She had a batting average of over 50% until the semi-finals, and was the driving force behind the team's progress.
However, the day before the final, I had a fever and was confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus.
The baseball club started a new team after the Nara tournament, and Ms. Shinoda retired, but she prepared for the practice game by practicing catch and batting while studying for the exam. did
Riku Shinoda from Ikoma
“I regretted not being able to play in the finals and not being able to play with all of my high school baseball players. I want to do my best with all my heart."
A practice match is a good game where one point is contested
Then came the practice match.
Completely different from the final in Nara, it turned out to be a good game where we fought for one point.
In the 6th inning, after chasing 1 point, Ikoma scored 2 points with 3 consecutive hits from 2 outs and turned around, and Shinoda, number 4, came to the turn at bat.
Mr. Shinoda said, "I wanted to bring the flow with a home run at once," and caught the high ball with a full swing.
Unfortunately, he was left-flyer and could not score another point, but Shinoda-san smiled at the fact that he was able to do his best.
After that, Tenri scored two goals with a home run, etc. to turn the match around.
At the end of the game...
Then, when Ikoma's last attack had two outs, the defending Tenri players gathered on the mound.
What we discussed here was that if we win, we will be happy with all our might.
In addition, one of the players sent a signal to the opponent's bench to welcome the Ikoma players into the circle.
In fact, even in the finals of the Nara tournament, Tenri's players gathered on the mound when they were one man away from winning.
At that time, I decided not to be happy even if I won the game, but this time, I was trying to share the joy of playing baseball with my rivals.
That feeling was also felt by the Ikoma players.
And when the match ended with Tenri's victory, the players from Tenri and Ikoma jumped off the benches all at once, creating a circle of joy among the third-year students of both teams.
Former Captain Tenri Leiji
Toi
“I think that being able to play our last match with Ikoma, with whom we have a connection, will help us in the future
. I said to the third graders, ``We can't afford to lose as a team that has played in Koshien.
Former captain of Ikoma Souma Kumada:
“Although I still regretted not being able to play with everyone in the final, I am more than happy because we were able to finish with everyone laughing. From now on, I want to support Tenri's players in their baseball careers.”
Ikoma Manager Sadao Kitano
“I felt that everyone's strength has become real. I don't have words to say. I want you to show me the feeling of not running away that you've worked hard in baseball for your next course."
A bond that was born because of the corona disaster
After the game, all third-year students from both teams took a commemorative photo with a banner that read, "Tsunagi Kokoro ni ni ni ni."
The players of both teams have deepened their bond by firmly facing the reality that they were confronted with while being swung around by the new corona.
It was a summer that connected our thoughts and made our hearts one.
(Osaka Broadcasting Station reporter Yasuhiro Namimatsu / Nara Broadcasting Station reporter Ryuga Hiratsuka)