106th Summer Koshien Final: Nishimura Kazue Concludes with a Walk-off Strikeout, Kyoto International Defeats Kantō Daiichi

On the morning of August 23rd, the 106th Summer Koshien final match officially commenced between Kyoto International and Kantō Daiichi.

The final score was as follows:

Kyoto International 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

Kantō Daiichi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Neither team scored in the first eight innings. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Kantō Daiichi hit consecutive base hits and had a chance to win the game but their batters were subsequently caught out, leaving the bases loaded. The two teams ended the ninth inning tied at 0-0, sending the game into extra innings.

The extra inning rule starts with zero outs and runners on first and second base. In the top of the tenth inning, Kyoto International hit a single to first base. Then, with the bases loaded, Kantō Daiichi pitcher Sakai Ryo walked a batter, allowing Kyoto International to break the deadlock and take a 1-0 lead. They then added another run via a sacrifice fly, ending their half of the inning at 2-0.

In the bottom of the tenth inning, Kantō Daiichi chose to bunt. When the third baseman for Kyoto International dropped the ball while attempting to make the out, it resulted in no outs and the bases loaded. Subsequently, the ninth batter for Kantō Daiichi hit a sacrifice fly, bringing the score to 1-2 with one out and runners on first and third. Facing the leadoff batter for Kantō Daiichi, Hida Yūshi, Kyoto International’s pitcher Nishimura Kazue threw a hit-by-pitch, resulting in the bases loaded with one out. After the second batter for Kantō Daiichi was caught out, Nishimura Kazue struck out the batter for a walk-off strikeout, ultimately helping Kyoto International defeat Kantō Daiichi with a score of 2-1 to claim the championship.