The youth of high school baseball is eternal! Memories of childhood are revived by the destiny that transcends time in Keio vs. Tsuchiura Nichidai!

I love high school baseball.

And this year's high school baseball is reaching its climax.

Tomorrow, Keio and Sendai Ikuei will face off in the final.

Will it be Keio's first championship in 107 years?

Or will it be the second consecutive title for the champions, Sendai Ikuei?

Either way, I'm looking forward to it.

It's a shame I can't watch it in real-time because of work.

But I thoroughly enjoyed high school baseball this summer up until the semifinals.

Especially thanks to Keio and Tsuchiura Nichidai, who both advanced to the semifinals.

I entered Keio from university, so I am not a graduate of their high school,

but my heart still raced at their incredible run, the first in over 100 years.

Kiyohara Jr. is on the bench, and the team is full of other star-quality players.

The intensity of the massive cheering squad in the Alps stand is breathtaking!

It must be even more overwhelming at Koshien stadium itself.

A friend from my university days went to Koshien and was even on TV, haha.

Also, all the Keio players have silky hair and are quite handsome.

In particular, the leadoff hitter, Maruta, is a complete player in offense, base running, and defense, with an on-base percentage over 50%.

But he is surprisingly fair-skinned and handsome, and is called the Prince of Keio.

The team that this star-studded Keio squad faced in the semifinals was Tsuchiura Nichidai.

And actually, the team I was rooting for in my heart was Tsuchiura Nichidai.

Why?

It is partly because I am from Ibaraki Prefecture,

and partly because my family was affiliated with them for a time,

but more than that, they brought back a distant memory of mine.

In 1984, Toride Daini High School defeated PL Gakuen, which boasted the KK duo of Kiyohara and Kuwata, in the final,

achieving a miraculous national championship.

Under the guidance of manager Kiuchi, also known as 'Kiuchi Magic,' the underdog team from Ibaraki played carefree baseball and defeated the overwhelming favorites, PL Gakuen.

And, believe it or not, the third baseman from that championship team is the current manager of Tsuchiura Nichidai.

It is Manager Kosuge.

Thirty-nine years ago, I was an elementary school student who loved baseball.

And I was born and lived in Toride City, just a 10-minute walk from Toride Daini.

I watched that final against PL Gakuen live.

In fact, I had been keeping score for every game since their rapid advance through the regional qualifiers.

The final was so intense that I was so nervous,

I almost wet myself, and when PL Gakuen tied the game in the bottom of the 9th, I was so scared they would win with a walk-off that I instinctively turned off the TV. Haha.

Then, I went to my mother's room and turned the TV back on, only to witness the miraculous 3-run home run in the top of the 10th inning after they had survived the bottom of the 9th.

Even now, I remember the thrill of that moment.

Players from a school in my neighborhood had defeated the PL Gakuen of the KK duo...

The key player of that team is Tsuchiura Nichidai's Manager Kosuge.

Yes, to me, Manager Kosuge is the very embodiment of a high school baseball miracle.

Tsuchiura Nichidai does not have any flashy, star-like players.

However, ace pitcher Fujimoto has nerves of steel on the mound and sharp pitching when it counts.

And captain Tsukahara, who was hit in the head by a pitch in the Ibaraki tournament semifinals and rushed to the hospital, missing the final, has been outstanding at Koshien, with his overflowing spirit being truly wonderful.

Then there is their offensive power, which creates big innings repeatedly in the second half and becomes unstoppable once they get going.

Tsuchiura Nichidai became stronger as they advanced, and the more I watched them, the more their charm grew.

But more than that, the presence of manager Kosuge shook the depths of my heart.

With three-bunt squeezes and surprising base running, the 'Kosuge Magic'—reminiscent of the legendary 'Kiuchi Magic'—was truly exciting.

Now, that Tsuchiura Nichidai team faces the star-studded Keio squad in the semifinals.

Moreover, that Keio team includes the second son of Kiyohara, who played for PL Gakuen, the team defeated by Toride Daini 39 years ago on this very day, August 21st.

What a coincidence!

What a destiny!

I watched that Kiyohara play at the stadium yesterday, and it is fate that manager Kosuge, who was a player when his team defeated PL Gakuen on August 21st, 39 years ago, is now facing his son. By the way, PL Gakuen went on to win the national championship by defeating Ube Sho on the same day the following year.

Toride Daini - PL Gakuen - Kiyohara - Keio - Tsuchiura Nichidai.

The depth of high school baseball history is connected in a single, taut line.

And in that game, Keio won 2-0.

Tsuchiura Nichidai was also truly wonderful.

It was a great game filled with nerve-wracking tension.

However, Keio's second-year pitcher, Oyake, was perfect.

Today, the Tsuchiura Nichidai players will return to their hometown of Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture.

For Ibaraki Prefecture, this is truly their first final four appearance in 20 years.

And 20 years ago, Manager Kiuchi, who led Joso Gakuin, won the championship.

In Ibaraki, no one other than Manager Kiuchi had ever reached the final four, but

his protégé, Manager Kosuge, has now reached the final four for the first time in 20 years.

I want them to return home with their heads held high.

You have truly inherited the miracle of Ibaraki Prefecture high school baseball,

and you have created a new history.

Wow, I was shown something truly wonderful.

Tomorrow is truly a battle between grand champions.

Keio versus Sendai Ikuei.

They also fought in the Senbatsu, but at that time Keio suffered a walk-off loss,

and they have fought their way up to this point with the goal of defeating Sendai Ikuei.

The gaze of Manager Forest, who has 'Enjoy Baseball' as his motto, is also sharp.

The stage is perfectly set.

And no matter who wins, the best drama awaits.

Good luck to both Keio and Sendai Ikuei!

Why was high school baseball more intense this year than in previous years?

I think it is because cheering aloud was finally allowed again for the first time in a while,

and the enthusiasm from the Alps stands was added to the mix.

That enthusiasm and the players' seriousness became one,

showing us moments of miracles time and time again.

And, although tomorrow marks the final day,

There is no end to the youth of high school baseball.

As long as we are alive,

Again and again,

They will show us the greatest drama.

Just like the connection between me and my home prefecture of Ibaraki,

The summer of Koshien is something that people from all 47 prefectures can empathize with.

I intend to keep enjoying it for the rest of my life.

Yes, let me say it once more.

High school baseball is truly the best!