NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo Prefecture–Okinawa Shogaku won its first National High School Baseball Championship title at Koshien Stadium on Aug. 23, defeating Tokyo’s Nihon University Third High School 3-1.
Okinawa Shogaku is now the second high school from the southernmost prefecture to capture the coveted tournament. Konan High School won in 2010.
The Tokyo school was trying for its third title.
Eimu Ginoza was a power with the bat and behind the plate in leading Okinawa Shogaku to victory.
With the score tied 1-1 in the sixth inning, Ginoza, batting cleanup, singled in the runner who had stolen second for the go-ahead run.
In the eighth inning, Ginoza rapped a double to drive in Okinawa Shogaku’s third run.
As catcher, Ginoza called the pitches for the two second-year pitchers who limited the Tokyo school to just six hits and one run.
Right-handed starter Yuito Arakaki pitched into the eighth inning and ace southpaw Ryosuke Sueyoshi got the final four outs.
Ginoza, a third-year player, was a clutch hitter throughout the tournament.
He had hits in five straight games from the second round.
While he batted seventh in the first two games played by Okinawa Shogaku at Koshien Stadium, Ginoza gained the confidence of his head coach, Koya Higa, who moved him up to bat fifth in the third game and quarterfinals. For the last two games, Ginoza batted cleanup.
AloJapan.com