After I became fond of baseball, I watched Koshien (The National High School Baseball Championship in Japan) on TV all day during the summer vacation.
In 1997, in the summer of my 5th grade at elementary school, Heian High School in Kyoto won second place at this Championship.
Watch the player in this Championship, I began to yearn for the position of a pitcher and Heian High School.
I also thought I wanted to be a great pitcher and play well in Koshien (The National High School Baseball Championship in Japan).
The following year, 1998.
I watched "PL Gakuen vs Yokohama High School", the quarter-final of Koshien, which is still handed down as one of the best game, on TV.
I was rooting for the home team, PL Gakuen.
Nowadays, Osaka Toin High School is by far the strongest baseball team in Osaka, but at that time, it was PL Gakuen.
Therefore, I was surprised and shocked at the loss of PL Gakuen.
On the other hand, I thought that Yokohama High School, which won the PL Gakuen, was really strong.
I also watched the semi-final "Yokohama High School vs Meitoku Gijuku" on TV.
Until the end of the 7th inning, Yokohama High School lost 0-6.
In the 8th inning, Matsuzaka pitched and changed the atmosphere of the stadium.
Most of the people at the stadium were cheering for pitcher Matsuzaka and Yokohama High School.
The stadium had a strange atmosphere.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, Yokohama High School scored 4 points, and the difference with the opponent was 2 points.
Even though I was watching this game on TV, I felt heat and the excitement of the stadium and expected "Yokohama High School will come from behind to win!"
After all, Yokohama High School won this game.
Then, in the final match, I was completely glued to Matsuzaka, who struck out the last batter, turned around and raised his clenched fists.
I thought, I wanted to be a professional baseball player and a superstar like Matsuzaka who can attract people not only in the stadium, but also watching on TV, men and women of all ages, give dreams and hopes and change the atmosphere of the stadium!
In this way, I found my two goals, "Win the Championship and Raise my clenched fists" and "Success as a professional baseball player" in the 6th grade of elementary school.
to be continued...
