【甲子園への道 福岡】「当たり前じゃなかった」大怪我を乗り越えた主将、涙の復活。折尾愛真・岩下選手が背番号「8」に込める想いとは

Taiga Iwashita, captain of Orio Aishin High School, had been a regular player since his freshman year, leading the team until he suffered his first major injury in his baseball career. While the captain's absence initially threatened his ability to continue playing baseball, it brought about significant changes for both him and the team. This article delves into the captain's comeback story, as he overcomes hardship and, with gratitude in his heart, once again wears the number "8" jersey. ■ "Without Iwashita, this team can't win": The tragedy that befell the captain Orio Aishin High School aims for its second appearance at Koshien. Leading the team is captain Taiga Iwashita. With an impressive physique of 176cm and 84kg, he boasts powerful hitting ability. He's been a regular player since his freshman year, a cornerstone of the team. He enjoys the deep trust of his teammates, who praise him with comments like, "He's reliable, and without Iwashita, this team can't win," and "He's a cool captain who leads everyone and is very dependable." He's a reliable captain on the field, but off-field he has a playful side, often cracking jokes. This past February, however, a tragedy struck that shook his baseball career. ■ "Will I be able to play baseball anymore...?" His first setback and the loss of his number "8" In February of this year, he suffered a severe injury, tearing his right posterior cruciate ligament (CL) after a headfirst slide. It was a serious injury requiring three months of recovery. Recalling this first long-term absence in his baseball career, Iwashita says, "My leg really wouldn't move, so I was very worried about whether I could play baseball anymore." He was also unable to wear the number "8," a number he'd taken for granted since his freshman year, during the spring tournament. Without their absolute captain, the team was defeated in their first game. He felt frustrated at not being able to stand on the field and regretted not being able to lead the team to victory. ■ "It wasn't something to take for granted": Gratitude and team growth brought about by the injury However, this adversity led to significant growth for both Iwashita and the team. Iwashita said, "I realized how grateful I am to be able to play baseball and how thankful I am for being healthy. Things I took for granted weren't actually guaranteed." He reaffirmed his sense of gratitude. Meanwhile, his teammates also shifted from a situation where they "left everything to Iwashita" to one where "everyone is working together to create a team where everyone can be a central figure." Iwashita himself feels the team's transformation, saying, "Lately, it's not so much that I'm leading, but rather that everyone else is leading." The absence of their captain became a catalyst for strengthening the team's overall unity. ■ "The most weighty number" he felt: Wearing the number "8" for his final summer After diligent rehabilitation, he returned to playing in May. Then, on the day the summer tournament roster was announced, the coach called out, "Number 8, Taiga Iwashita." Receiving the number "8" from the coach, he said it felt the heaviest of all his high school years. With gratitude for his teammates and the opportunity to play baseball, he will take on his final summer challenge. "I was very disappointed that I couldn't participate in the spring tournament, so my desire to participate in this summer tournament is very strong. I want to play my best so as not to disgrace the single-digit jersey number." Their first opponent is Tokiwa High School, the team they lost to by one run in the spring tournament. Can they get revenge against their rival and pave the way to Koshien? All eyes will be on Captain Iwashita's final summer. #RoadToKoshien #HighSchoolBaseball #OrioAishin