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| Hakoyama Haruto, my favorite for this Summer Koshien |
Tomorrow is the first day of Summer Koshien this year! Yaay!!!
Let me be excited first please I want to enjoy this annual hype I've been waiting for each year.
And then, since I did realize most of fans out there have no clue on who or what team to look up in this tournament, I will give you a guide through some of notable players this year (referenced from Draft Kaigi). Start from day one since I can't review all at once lol.
Game 1 : Arita Kogyo vs. Shiga Gakuen
First is Ishinaga Koki (石永煌希) from Arita Kogyo. He's actually capable to hold double role both as fielder and pitcher, but he's the ace of the team now. He started pitching in the game by second year, although the outcome wasn't that good. He started to pitches as SP in third year and showing a good improvement.
He began to decrease the hit count and pressing up the run he allowed from opponent below 2 runs, and unexpectedly stolen more K in one game. Had the stability as a SP and good control. Notable stats, he stole 12 K and only allowed 5 hits and 1 run in a complete game against Kanzaki (2024 Saga summer preliminary). He usually bat at 7th and was wearing number 7 last year, so we can expect more from his defense & offense.
Next is Iwai Tensuke (岩井天史) from Shiga Gakuen. He's one of notable shortstop that has been attracting pro scouters' attention and plays both as a pitcher too. His top speed is 144 km/h with a record of 125 m long-throw and 6.0s in 50 m track record. A powerful shortstop with strong arms and speedy legs. Not only that, he also bat at 3rd and recorded BA of .467 in the latest summer preliminary with an OPS of 1.223 in four games played on.
Game 2 : Eimei vs. Kendai Takasaki
Eimei
There are a lot of notable players I'd like to mention from Eimei, such as Seike Jun (清家準), Suzuki Sora (鈴木昊), Todo Aiki (百々愛輝), and giant sophomore Uegami Taiga (植上大雅). Seike is much a utility player which focused on position as a pitcher. Having a confidence in his breaking balls and topped at 143 km/h, he contributed a lot both in the spring and fall tournament last year.
In the final game of Kagawa summer preliminary, he had a notable stats as a SP, pitched a complete game against Takamatsu Shogyo and despite allowing 8 hits, he manage to hold up 3 runs and stole 10 K from Takasho's batters.
For Suzuki and Todo (which already noted since last year as a rookie player), they both focused on the excellent batting ability. While Todo still hasn't put up a notable stats this summer, Suzuki recorded BA of .500 (10-20), 4 RBI, and 1 SB. Suzuki had his confidence on his speedy legs too (6.2s in 50m).
Uegami Taiga is a potential sophomore pitcher with a height of 190 cm and weight of 86 kg. He doesn't outstand so much in speed, but he has a nice form and quick-tempo of pitching, without showing any stiff movement. Of course since he's still in his second year, we can still expect more of his growth in the future.
Kendai Takasaki
The most highlighted player from this team, or even in this whole tournament soon, is the captain himself, Hakoyama Haruto (箱山遥人). A potential catcher with a brilliant leads, strong arms, and powerful batting. Already performed since second year, he managed to participate in Spring Koshien (Senbatsu) for two years in a row with his team.
His last stats in Senbatsu this year is .444 (8-18), 6 RBI, and OPS 1.056 in five games. In this year's summer preliminary in Gunma, he was become a sensation in internet when he hits a big homerun which was out of the stadium. His highlight of course lies on his powerful batting.
Not only the captain, two sophomore pitchers of this team were also contributed so much in leading their team as a champion of this year's Senbatsu. They are Ishigaki Genki (石垣元気) and the ace Sato Ryuga (佐藤龍月). Ishigaki has been shining bright this year, mostly performed as reliever and a SP sometimes.
In the final game of Gunma summer preliminary, he started the game against Maebashi Shogyo. After pitched up to 6 innings, he only allowed 4 hits and 1 ER while stolen 8 K from the lineup. Topped at 153 km/h, he has a potential to growth even more in third year and further soon.
Sato Ryuga has become a solid fondation of the team as a young ace in his sophomore year.Topped at 146 km/h, he depends more on the breaking of his slider to make his opponent batters swung off their bat. He become reliever in the last three innings of Gunma final and stole 3 K.
Despite the glorious victory he got together with his team, unfortunately Sato had to be pulled off from the team due to his injury and will be conducting a surgery ASAP, and will be absent from this Summer Koshien :(
Praying for your speed recovery, Ryuga.
Game 3 : Gifu Johoku vs. Chiben Gakuen
There is a clean-up batter which also roles on as pitcher-outfielder, Nakamoto Haruto (中本陽大) from Gifu Johoku. He mainly performs as pitcher and sometimes as outfielder (RF and LF). He was started the game against Gifu Shogyo in the Gifu summer preliminary final.
Pitched until 6 innings, he came through a tenacious game against Gifusho while allowing 12 hits and 4 runs in total. Not only contributed in pitching stuff, he also often to bat in clean-up order (4/6th recently) but still hasn't show any progressive stats in his batting yet this summer (except against Gifu Daiichi he hit 1 for 2 in the game).
From Nara representative, there are Tajika Fuga (田近楓雅) and Chibana Rukia (知花琉綺亜) from Chiben Gakuen. Tajika is the ace of the team, which leading on as a pillar of the defense. Notable stats in Nara summer preliminary, he pitched alone in 9 innings full in the final game against Nara Daifu, allowed 10 hits and 4 runs while also managed to stole 9 K from the opponent's lineup.
Chibana is a utility-type fielder that mostly covered up all positions in infield area, but then he focused more on third-baseman position. Not only such a versatile ability in defense, he also had a big role in the offense. In the Nara summer preliminary, he recorded total BA of .400 (8-20), 2 RBI and 1 SB. Along with a stable batting and good defense, he totally become the team's foundation both as a utility player and a captain himself.
And that's all for tomorrow. You can correct me up in the comment or any else. And also I wrote this as a note for the upcoming draft soon, since maybe some of these player got noted from the scouters as well. Just get a well sleep and get ready for tomorrow's morning guys, we gotta be ready in a good style and bright face since it's Summer Koshien soon!
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