Ritsumeikan Keisho High School, which reached the semifinals of the Hokkaido tournament last fall, opened its spring campaign with a dominant 9-2 mercy-rule victory over Hokusei Gakuen University High School in seven innings on May 12 at Sapporo Asabu Ground.
The team, powered by a two-run homer from fifth batter and right fielder Shinnosuke Yoshikawa (third year), exploded for nine runs on nine hits to seize control early.
Ritsumeikan Keisho grabbed momentum in the first inning. After leadoff hitter and designated hitter Nagi Nakata (third year) singled to start, the team loaded the bases with no outs and took the lead on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. They added more runs on a timely hit from sixth batter and left fielder Seina Kikazawa (third year), plating five runs in the opening frame.
In the second inning, with one out and a runner on first after adding another run, Yoshikawa crushed an inside fastball. “I barely got the tip of the bat on it, but I felt it had enough angle to go out,” he said. The ball sailed into the right-field grass seating area, marking his second official home run since hitting one last fall at Daiwa House Premist Dome. The blast made it 8-0, giving the team a huge early lead.
Yoshikawa participated in a training trip to Taiwan last December as a member of the Hokkaido select team, raising expectations for a big final high school season. However, he suffered a lower back injury in March and missed nearly a month. He only began playing in practice games around Golden Week and wore jersey number 22 in this tournament. Despite limited game action after returning from injury, Yoshikawa reflected, “In our practice games, we often scored early but then couldn’t add runs and got reversed. I really wanted to get that first run, so it feels great to succeed.”
This season, the team aims for its first spring Hokkaido title in 17 years and a debut appearance at the Koshien tournament (spring or summer). The slugger, determined to make a full comeback, said, “Of course the goal is to win the championship, but I want to gain as much experience as possible before summer. I want to grow through the spring games.”
