{"id":175488,"date":"2025-07-14T12:18:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T12:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/175488\/"},"modified":"2025-07-14T12:18:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T12:18:16","slug":"sports-shorts-japan-wins-collegiate-baseball-championship-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/175488\/","title":{"rendered":"SPORTS SHORTS | Japan Wins Collegiate Baseball Championship Series"},"content":{"rendered":"

Japan completed an unbeaten run in the 45th Japan-USA Collegiate Baseball Championship Series<\/a> on Sunday, July 13 at Tokyo’s Jingu Stadium.<\/p>\n

In the tournament final, Japan topped the United States 6-5.<\/p>\n

The hosts jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.<\/p>\n

\"baseball\"Japan’s Kai Watabe hits a sacrifice fly in the first inning. (\u00a9SANKEI)<\/p>\n

Team USA, which holds a 24-21 all-time lead in the series, scored once in the second and once in the third to tie it up at 2-2.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the fifth inning, Zion Rose<\/a>‘s RBI single to left gave the Americans their lone lead of the game, 3-2.<\/p>\n

Japan stormed back, tacking on four more runs in the fifth to pull ahead 6-3. Nanato Sakakibara<\/a> ignited the rally with a triple and scored the tying run on a groundout. Kai Watabe<\/a> had the other big hit for Japan in the fifth, smacking a two-run triple.<\/p>\n

The visitors added one run apiece in the sixth and seventh, with Vahn Lackey<\/a> (Georgia Tech) and Roch Cholowsky<\/a> (UCLA) slugging solo home runs.<\/p>\n

Both teams had 11 hits in the final game.<\/p>\n

Team Japan reliever Taisei Suzuki<\/a>, an Aoyama Gakuin University student, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the game.<\/p>\n

\"baseball\"Japan captain Ayuto Matsushita is tossed into the air by his teammates after their victory in the tournament finale on July 13. (\u00a9SANKEI)<\/p>\n

Hosei University infielder Ayuto Matsushita<\/a> was named tournament MVP. In the series finale, he had a leadoff double in the first inning and scored Japan’s first run.<\/p>\n

“I’m really happy that we were able to win with a concerted effort, and that we were able to win the championship with five consecutive victories,” Matsushita said during the euphoric postgame atmosphere for title-winning Team Japan on Sunday night.<\/p>\n

Baseball Talent Pays Off for Japan<\/p>\n

Japan manager Tetsuya Horii<\/a> commended the team’s players for a strong overall effort in the tournament.<\/p>\n

“We managed to win out over a strong team,” Horii told reporters after the final game. “It was nothing but the hard work of our players. The fourth-year students, led by captain Matsushita and vice captain [Akira] Shigenaga<\/a>, made a cohesive team. I hope this tournament will be an opportunity for them to become leaders in the baseball world.”<\/p>\n

Shun Akiyama<\/a> of Chukyo University was Japan’s top hitter in the tournament with a .429 batting average (6-for-14).<\/p>\n

The five-game series, featuring top collegiate baseball players from both countries, kicked off on July 8 at Es Con Field Hokkaido. Japan triumphed 6-1 in the first game and 8-1 a day later at the same venue. <\/p>\n

The series shifted to Hard Off Eco Stadium Niigata on July 11 and 12. Japan’s success continued with 2-0 and 6-5 victories in succession before the series resumed in Tokyo for the final game.<\/p>\n

For the first time since 2004, Japan reeled off five victories in as many games in the tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

\"\"Japan’s Mao Hosoya scores a goal in the 11th minute against China in an East Asian Football Federation E-1 Championship match on July 13 in Yongin, South Korea. (\u00a9SANKEI)<\/p>\n

Soccer<\/p>\n

Japan Men Set for East Asian Title Clash with South Korea<\/p>\n

In the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Championship final round, Japan and South Korea will meet in the title match on Tuesday, July 15.<\/p>\n

Japan improved to 2-0 in the four-nation final round with a 2-0 victory over China on Saturday, July 13 in Yongin, South Korea. South Korea also owns a 2-0 record.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Mao Hosoya<\/a> gave the Samurai Blue<\/a> a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute, showcasing the strength of his long-range attacking skills by blasting the ball past China goalkeeper Junling Yan.<\/p>\n

Henry Heroki Mochizuki<\/a> extended Japan’s lead to 2-0 in the 64th minute.<\/p>\n

“I am glad that the players took on a good challenge and made the most of a difficult match,” Samurai Blue manager Hajime Moriyasu<\/a> said, according to Sankei Sports.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead to Tuesday’s final, Moriyasu added: “I think it will be a very difficult match [against South Korea), but we will do our best.”<\/p>\n


\n\"Japan<\/a>RELATED:<\/p>\n

\"\"Rio Takeda tees off in the final round of the Evian Championship on July 13 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (KYODO)<\/p>\n

Golf<\/p>\n

Takeda Finishes 11th in the Evian Championship<\/p>\n

LPGA Tour rookie Rio Takeda<\/a> completed the Evian Championship<\/a> with a 9-under 275, finishing tied for 11th place in the women’s golf major in Evian-les-Bains, France.<\/p>\n

Takeda was Japan’s top finisher in the tournament that wrapped up on Sunday, July 13. She had her best performance in the second round, carding a 4-under 71.<\/p>\n

“I was consistent, but I wanted to make a few more birdies,” Takeda said after the final round, according to Nikkan Sports. “If I can’t improve on the third and fourth days, it will be tough to contend for the championship. That is my challenge for the future.”<\/p>\n

Australia’s Grace Kim<\/a> shot a 14-under 270 and then won the event in a two-hole playoff against Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Also for Japan, Chi<\/a>s<\/a>ato Iwai<\/a> and Miyuu Yamashita<\/a> were among a group of players tied for 14th and six strokes adrift of the winner.<\/p>\n


\n\"Japan<\/a>Did You Know?<\/p>\n

Four Japanese starters pitched on the same day for the first time in MLB<\/a> history on Saturday, July 12.<\/p>\n

Who comprised this history-making quartet?<\/p>\n

Starting pitchers Shohei Ohtani<\/a> (Los Angeles Dodgers), Yu Darvish<\/a> (San Diego Padres), Yusei Kikuchi<\/a> (Los Angeles Angels) and Shinnosuke Ogasawara<\/a> (Washington Nationals).<\/p>\n

Previously, three Japanese pitchers were starters on the same day 30 times, according to MLB.com.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

Author: Ed Odeven<\/a><\/p>\n

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward’s dedicated website, SportsLook<\/a>. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook]<\/a> on Sundays, [Odds and Evens]<\/a> during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) \uff20ed_odeven<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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