108th National High School Baseball Championship: Chiben Wakayama and Yokohama coordinate for the semifinals

The 108th National High School Baseball Championship was held on the 19th, a rest day before the semi-finals. The players from Chiben Wakayama and Yokohama, who will compete in the semi-finals, prepared through their respective practices.

Chiben Wakayama prepares with a 170km+ machine

Chiben Wakayama practiced at their school's ground in Wakayama City. As a countermeasure for Yokohama's right-hand ace, Shoki Oda, who hit 156 km, the fastest in Koshien history, he set the hitting machine at 170 km to get his eyes used to it.

He usually practices at around 160km, but this is his first experience running over 170km.

No. 4 Yamada Ritora said, ``(Oda's) fastest pitch is 157km/h. He throws a really fast ball, so I want to make sure he doesn't fall behind.''

"A stage for revenge"

For the team, this semi-final will be a revenge for the opponent they lost 4-11 in the final of last spring's selection tournament.

In that game, Oda was the starting pitcher for Yokohama. Yamada, who played as the No. 6 catcher, was held to no hits in two at-bats.

"It's a stage for me to take revenge for something I couldn't do anything about. I want to give it my all."

He is eager to defeat his rival, who also formed a battery at the high school Japan national team candidate training camp in April.

Yokohama sweats during batting practice, Oda doesn't hold the ball

Yokohama, aiming for their third national title, sweated it out for about two hours at a field in Osaka city.

Ace Shoki Oda, who clocked 156km/h, the fastest at the Koshien tournament, and shut out Hanamaki Higashi (Iwate) in the quarterfinals on the 18th, did not hold the ball.

Walk barefoot on the outfield grass and stretch on the mat. ``I'm tired, but I had a great day,'' he said with a smile.

“I want to thoroughly promote baseball in Yokohama.”

During batting practice, the fielders hit ground balls and hits to the right while imagining the situation. Captain Shuntomo Ono, who leads the team as the team's No. 1 batter with eight hits and seven RBIs in four games, says, ``From here on out, it's going to be a clash of wills and wills. I want to play Yokohama baseball to the fullest.''