High School Baseball Championship Starts

As a total of 26 teams, which passed the local qualifying matches, entered into a hot competition for the 61st Golden Lion High School Baseball Championship co-hosted by Dong-A Ilbo and the Korea Baseball Association, Cheongju Segwang High grabbed the victory at the opening game held at Dongdaemun Stadium.

On June 26, Segwang High beat Ansan Technical High 5-3 with 12 hits to advance to the second round.

This year’s championship is special to high school baseball players as they hope to join the national team for the Asian Youth Baseball Championship to be held in Taiwan from August 30.

With the pro baseball league’s second draft scheduled on August 16, seniors who have not been selected yet are ready to fire up to impress pro scouts.

With their aces reserved for later, Segwang High and Ansan Technical High were tied 2-2 until the fourth inning.

Segwang High broke the tie when Park Eu-tteum, who stole a base after a walk and scored in the third inning, got a hit and stole second base again in the fifth inning. With runners on first and second after a walk, Choi Jong-hyeop had a hit to move his team in to the lead, 3-2. Another runner scored when Lee Jun-i hit safely to left field.

Segwang’s ace Choi Jong-hyeop started to pitch from the sixth inning and did not allow Ansan to take the lead.

With its ace Kim Jun-hwan pitching from two outs in the fifth inning, Ansan added another run with consecutive hits by Cho Jae-min and Lee Ji-seop in the seventh inning, but was put down when Kim allowed a run in the eighth inning.

Segwang’s sophomore Park Eu-tteum played impressively, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two stolen bases, while seniors Lee Jun-i and Cho Shi-hyeon were both 2-for-4. Choi Jong-hyeop met expectations by allowing only three hits and one run in 3 2/3 innings pitched while going 1-for-4 with an RBI at the plate.

jeon@donga.com why@donga.com