【高校野球・東東京】八丈－大森学園　台風乗り越え、島一丸で勝利目指す八丈

The Tokyo High School Baseball Tournament, aiming for the Summer Koshien Tournament, continues with fierce competition every day. Hachijo High School, a metropolitan high school located on Hachijo Island in the Izu Islands of Tokyo, which suffered damage from a series of typhoons in the fall of last year (2025), played its first game in the East Tokyo Tournament on July 10th. We followed the baseball team closely as they fought, carrying the hopes of the island's people. On July 9th, the day before their first game of the summer tournament, the Hachijo High School baseball team arrived at Haneda Airport. Their goal was their "first victory" as a new team. Hachijo High School captain Tetsusei Nagatoji (3rd year) encouraged his teammates at Haneda Airport upon arrival, saying, "Get the first, second, and third batters on base. Then Ayuma Kimura and I will definitely bring them home! OK? That's the plan." Last October, Hachijo Island was hit by a typhoon. The baseball field where they practiced every day was closed off due to the adjacent park being used as a temporary storage site for disaster waste, and the schoolyard nets remained torn for a long period, making it difficult to practice adequately for about six months. The team members continued training at home and practicing on their own, and adults on the island also helped out as practice partners, supporting the baseball team. Carrying the hopes of the island, they faced Omori Gakuen in their first game of the East Tokyo Tournament at Ota Stadium. Many people, including parents and alumni, traveled across the sea to cheer them on, and a brass band formed by Hachijo High School alumni also provided support with their music. Their opponent, Omori Gakuen, was a strong team that had reached the top 16 in the East Tokyo Tournament the previous year. From the first inning, ace pitcher Watanuki was hit hard by Omori Gakuen's lineup, and by the end of the third inning, they were trailing by 12 runs. Nevertheless, the Hachijo High School players fought hard, responding to the passionate cheers from the stands. In the top of the 4th inning, Hachijo High School's leadoff hitter, No. 2, Momokawa, drew a walk, and No. 3, pitcher Watanuki, reached base on an error by the opposing team, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Stepping up to the plate in this opportunity was No. 4, captain Nagatoji. In the stands, Nagatoji's grandmother, Yuriko, who will turn 80 this year, had traveled from the island to watch. He let the first pitch go by, the next two were balls, and the third and fourth were foul balls. Then, on the fifth pitch, he swung hard and the ball flew in front of the pitcher, resulting in him being out, but the runner advanced, putting a runner on third for the first time in the game. With the opportunity extended, first-year player Kimura stepped up to the plate. Here, just as Captain Nagatoro had said at Haneda Airport—"Get the first, second, and third batters on base. Then Kimura Ayuma and I will definitely bring them in!"—Kimura, with the determination to "bring them in if they get on base," hit a ball to center field on the third pitch after being down two strikes. A sacrifice fly, carrying on the hopes of his seniors, gave Hachijo a run. After the game, Kimura reflected, "My first thought was to get one run back. I've learned so much from my seniors up until now, so I wanted to repay that with my play." Although Hachijo High School managed to score a run out of sheer determination, their comeback ended there. The game ended 1-15 in a five-inning mercy rule game, and Hachijo High School's summer season came to an end in their first game. Kimura, shedding tears, said, "I've known the third-year students, especially Captain Tetsusei, since elementary school, so it's very sad to see them leave the baseball club they've been in for so long. I wanted to do my best and help them win." Furthermore, Nagatoji's grandmother, Yuriko, praised him, saying, "They did their best. They were supported by everyone, and thanks to that, they were able to safely complete three years." Despite not being able to practice as much as they wanted, the Hachijo High School baseball team persevered, aiming for this summer. Their efforts seem to have brought strength to the island, which is still in the process of recovery. Ace pitcher Watanuki's father, Masato, said, "I think they really worked hard for three years. Due to the typhoon damage, we couldn't use the good artificial turf field, and batting practice was difficult, but during that time, the alumni and fathers all pitched for us, and everyone flew in from the island. Even though we lost like this, I think it gave the islanders some encouragement." After the game, facing those who had cheered them on, Captain Nagatoji said, "It's not that I have no regrets about this loss, but I hope that the first and second-year students will use this experience in their baseball careers in the autumn and spring tour...