午夜剧场

August 23, 2023. We were fortunate enough to witness the moment of a historic achievement spanning a century—the first national championship victory in 107 years. Many people present were moved to tears, soaking in the emotion. The 午夜剧场 Gijuku Shachu cheering squad, which filled not only the Alps stands but also the seats behind the home plate, the general infield, and even the outfield, united as one to cheer on the players. In response, the Juku High School nine seemed to perform as they always do—or perhaps even better than ever.

Looking back, the "potent medicine" of losing the first round of the Spring Senbatsu had a tremendous effect. From that point on, the Juku High School baseball team transformed remarkably and grew significantly. They won the Spring Prefectural Tournament final against Soyo with a complete 11-0 victory. The strength of the team, which became the No. 1 seed for the Summer Prefectural Tournament, was wonderful; they won most matches by called games, leading up to the comeback three-run home run in the final against Yokohama.

Then came the Summer Koshien. What was happening within the Juku High School baseball team during that time? In addition to efficient practice, student coaches and reserve players who didn't make the roster were analyzing various data. Furthermore, I believe that the mental and physical training introduced about two years ago helped each individual grow their personal character.

Also, if I may say so, I feel that Manager Moribayashi changed the most and grew the most. While he embraces everyone with a kind smile, I perceive him as a quite shrewd person when it comes to baseball. That confidence naturally gave the players a sense of security, and while it seemed they were acting on their own thoughts, I believe he was guiding them in the direction he intended. This led to the comeback three-run homer in the prefectural final, helped them overcome frequent pinches in the Koshien game against Koryo, and ultimately allowed them to seize victory in the final by playing aggressive baseball without missing the opponent's fatigue.

After the tournament, I visited Hiyoshidai Stadium and was struck with fresh emotion, thinking about how they managed to become the best in Japan at this stadium. While most stadiums of powerhouse baseball teams have wings of over 100m, artificial turf, and grand night-game lighting, this is a dirt ground that draws complaints from neighbors and has a manual scoreboard... It is the polar opposite of the magnificent facilities the public might imagine, which is all the more reason why I want to support the Juku High School baseball team.

Finally, as a member of the 午夜剧场 Gijuku Shachu cheering squad, I would like to express my gratitude and sincere respect to Manager Moribayashi, the players, and everyone involved. Thank you! Wishing you even greater success in the future!