Chiben Wakayama Win Fourth Summer Koshien Title After Late Comeback
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Chiben Wakayama scored twice in the eighth inning to beat Kendai Takasaki 4-3 and claim their fourth Summer Koshien championship. Manager Jin Nakatani also made history with his second title as a manager.
Chiben Wakayama captured their fourth Summer Koshien title after producing a dramatic late comeback against Kendai Takasaki in the final of the 108th National High School Baseball Championship at Hanshin Koshien Stadium.
Kendai Takasaki led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, but Chiben Wakayama responded with two runs to regain the advantage and eventually secure a 4-3 victory.
The championship is Chiben Wakayama’s first Summer Koshien title since 2021 and adds to previous victories in 1997 and 2000.
Chiben Wakayama Take Early Lead
Chiben Wakayama opened the scoring in the second inning.
Kazumasa Kawahara doubled with one out before Kohei Yamashita drove him home with a triple. Yusei Nagatomo then added another run with a two-out RBI double, giving Chiben Wakayama a 2-0 advantage.
Kendai Takasaki reduced the deficit in the fifth inning when first-year outfielder Rengi Kano hit an RBI double.
The score remained 2-1 until the eighth inning, setting up an exciting finish.
Kendai Takasaki Move Ahead
Kano started the eighth inning with a single before captain Yusei Ishida delivered the game’s biggest hit for Kendai Takasaki.
With one out and a runner on second, Ishida hit a two-run home run over the right-field fence. The home run put Kendai Takasaki in front 3-2 and appeared to give the Gunma representatives the momentum.
Chiben Wakayama, however, responded immediately.
Two-Run Eighth Inning Secures Championship
Chiben Wakayama tied the game in the bottom of the eighth.
Kawahara laid down a squeeze bunt, allowing Yamada to score the tying run as Kawahara reached safely. With runners on the corners, a wild pitch then allowed Kusumoto to cross home plate.
That gave Chiben Wakayama a 4-3 lead.
Reliever Ryota Kuba entered late in the eighth inning and successfully protected the advantage in the ninth, completing the championship victory.
Strong Performances From Both Teams
Chiben Wakayama finished the final with nine hits and one error, while Kendai Takasaki recorded eight hits and two errors.
Chiben Wakayama starter Shinkai Nagai allowed one run over five innings. Shota Waki then worked 2.2 innings before Kuba took over and recorded the final four outs.
The championship game attracted 44,700 spectators and lasted two hours and four minutes.
Fourth Summer Koshien Championship
The victory marked Chiben Wakayama’s fourth Summer Koshien title, following championships in 1997, 2000 and 2021.
The school also won the Spring Koshien in 1994, giving Chiben Wakayama five national championships across Japan’s two major high school baseball tournaments.
Jin Nakatani Makes History
The victory was also a major personal achievement for Chiben Wakayama manager Jin Nakatani.
Nakatani previously played professional baseball for the Hanshin Tigers, Rakuten Golden Eagles and Yomiuri Giants. He also guided Chiben Wakayama to the Summer Koshien title in 2021.
With this latest triumph, Nakatani became the first former professional baseball player to win the Summer Koshien championship twice as a manager.
The 108th National High School Baseball Championship featured 49 schools representing Japan’s 47 prefectures. The tournament was held from August 5 to August 22 and followed a single-elimination format.
