Kanamaru's dignified mound handling Asian Professional Baseball

Japan's Kanemaru pitched well, allowing two hits and no runs in the seventh inning. "He was in good condition and the pitch was in good shape. I was confident that if I threw a lot of strikes, I could stop him." He showed dignified handling on the mound, hard to believe he is only 23 years old.

Right from the start of the match, the output was high and there was a sense of stability. The first batter hit with a fastball over 150km/h and struck out with a low split. The next two players missed the center of their bats and grounded out to the infield, ending the inning with just nine pitches.

Even when he allowed the first man on base for the first time in the sixth inning, he remained calm. After one out, he caught the opponent's surprise and put the runner on first base out. It was a power pitch of 91 pitches that did not give the opponent a chance to counterattack or even step on second base.

He said of his feelings when he was entrusted with the important starting role in his first game, saying, ``I just felt like, ``Please leave it to me.'' The left-handed pitcher, who also has experience in the WBC, played his role with his strong throwing technique.