The Keio Senior High School Baseball Club battled their way to a 7 - 5 victory against Toko Gakuen High School in the Kita-Kanagawa Regional final held in Yokohama Stadium on Monday, July 30, to secure their place in the 100th National High School Baseball Championship of Japan (commonly known as the 'Summer Koshien'). This will be their 18th appearance in the Summer Koshien, and marks their first since 2008.
Home runs by Keio's Miyao and Hirose helped extend the team's lead after one inning through the second and third innings. While the gap had been closed to within two points by the bottom of the eighth, successive relief pitching by Keio aces Namai and Watabe secured a magnificent victory. At the stadium, the cheers of the many spectators present, in particular members of the baseball club, current students, and alumni, helped share the jubilation of a place in the Summer Koshien with the baseball club which follows on from this spring’s selection. Expectations are high for the Keio Senior High School Baseball Club's appearance at the Summer Koshien.
The draw is to take place from 16:00 on Thursday, August 2.