[Congratulations! Juku High School Baseball Team Koshien Victory] [On the Koshien Victory] The Two Days Necessary for Growth: The Baton Twirling Club's Koshien

2023/10/11

The game against Koryo High School, a title contender, was scheduled for August 15. However, due to concerns regarding Typhoon No. 7, the student cheering squad had already entered Osaka on the 14th. The typhoon hit the Kansai region directly, and the game was cancelled. The game postponed to the following day was a nail-biting affair; although Juku High School took an early lead, they were caught in the final stages. Batting first, Juku High School managed to snatch three runs in the top of the 10th inning during the extra-inning tie-break, and successfully held off the opponent in the bottom half to win the fierce battle.

It is customary for the Baton Twirling Club to hold a short meeting after cheering for a game to review the match and point out any concerns regarding the cheering. Perhaps because it was such a tense and excellent game, several girls were crying with emotion. This would not do. I immediately told them, "The baseball team is fighting under the slogan 'KEIO Japan's Number One.' There is still more to come; it is too early to cry."

The quarterfinals were three days away. We, the cheering squad, had changed our plans to stay in Osaka if we won. This decision proved successful. I heard that the Tokaido Shinkansen schedule remained disrupted, and some parents and alumnae were unfortunately unable to return home and had to stay in Osaka. We were able to avoid exhausting ourselves and secured two full days of rest before the quarterfinals. This was a good thing.

I heard it was an idea from the Juku High School brass band students, but since they were still feeling shy and their voices weren't loud enough—meaning cheering instructions weren't getting through—they wanted to rent a studio in Umeda to practice cheering. I expressed two concerns. One was a hesitation to let students rent a studio and practice by themselves in an unfamiliar city. The other was the risk of students contracting infectious diseases in a closed studio while shouting loudly. I discussed this with the students many times, but they would not back down. There are currently no third-year members in the Baton Twirling Club. This is because during the COVID-19 self-restraint period, new members at the time did not stay, as they were either unable to go cheer due to no-spectator policies or were only allowed to clap without shouting. After all, now that they are allowed to actually go cheer and use their voices, it is a precious time. I permitted the practice on the condition that they practice hard and ensure proper ventilation. In the end, they reportedly practiced for about four hours.

While the team went on a winning streak from the quarterfinals onward, I believe the Baton Twirling Club was able to maintain their composure and cheer consistently in the Alps stands. I feel that those two days after the Koryo game allowed them to grow significantly. This summer was hot, and above all, it surely became a passionate memory.