In a heart-stopping finish to Japan's national high school baseball championship on August 23, 2024, Kyoto International High School defeated Tokyo's Kanto Daiichi 2-1 in extra innings. The game, held at the Koshien Stadium, went for ten gripping innings before the Kyoto school won its first-ever title.
Kyoto International, a unique school that holds classes in English, Korean, and Japanese, began as an ethnic school with a South Korean affiliation. Its victory is a historic milestone—not only is it the school's first national title, but it is the first for a Kyoto-based school since Heian did it a long time ago in 1956.
Pitchers Rui Nakazaki and Ikki Nishimura were a big part of the team's win, allowing just six runs in six games in the tournament.
The championship game was tied after nine innings. In tournament play, extra innings begin with runners at first and second base. Kyoto International took advantage, scoring two in the top of the 10th.
Kanto Daiichi fought back in the bottom of the 10th, closing the gap to one run and loading the bases. But Nishimura held strong, striking out Shintaro Sakamoto to secure the victory.
"I was impressed by these boys," Kyoto International manager Noritsugu Komaki said to Kyodo News. "We had no choice but to face up to the situation (in the bottom of the 10th) and regroup. We escaped the jam with strong determination."
He went on, "I just wanted to play baseball with these kids as long as I could. To be honest, I couldn't imagine that we would go all the way. Our offense isn't so good, so we just stayed patient and played defense."
The win is not only a victory for Kyoto International but also a clear signal of how cultural diversity and sportsmanship are revolutionizing Japanese high school athletics.
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