Professional baseball team Hanshin won the Central League championship on the 14th, and pitcher Yu Iwasaki, who became a torso raiser, lifted the uniform of Shintaro Yokota, who passed away in July at the age of 7.

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The moment Hanshin clinched the championship, the players ran to the mound to raise Okada's torso.

On this occasion, the players held aloft the uniform with the number "24" worn by Mr. Yokota, who is from Hioki City, Kagoshima Prefecture, when he was an active player.

Holding up Mr. Yokota's uniform number "24"

In addition, pitcher Iwasaki, who joined the team at the same time as the pitcher who served as a suppressor, held up this uniform and flew in the air when he was lifted up.

According to Yokota's mother, Manami, the uniform was sent to Koshien in a hurry on the 12th when pitcher Yuta Iwasada, who joined the team, contacted him, so he hurriedly sent it to Koshien in time for the moment of victory.

Manami said that she was watching this situation at her home in Hioki City, and on the night of the 14th, she told NHK with a trembling voice:

Yokota's mother, Manami:
"For a moment, I was happy to see my son soaring in his uniform. I thought that my son must be in Koshien as well. While the players worked hard to win on the biggest stage, I am truly grateful that they also thought of my son and allowed me to be in the circle at the moment of the championship in the form of a uniform. It reminded me that my son was playing baseball surrounded by wonderful people."

Iwasaki pitcher in Yokota's song "Bridge of Glory"

In addition, when Iwasaki took the mound in the ninth inning, Yuzu's "Bridge of Glory," which Yokota used as a song during his playing days, was played, and the fans were enveloped in a large chorus.

Yokota's mother, Manami: "As soon as I heard the song, I cried, and I didn't expect them to make it this far, and I think my son is very happy that the fans also sang 'Bridge of Glory.'
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