Japan’s U-18 Team Faces Off Against University Squad in Thrilling WBSC Warm-Up Game

In their final test before the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025, Samurai Japan faced off against the Japan University National Team at Okinawa Cellular Stadium Naha. The high school team struggled, losing 8-1 after a tough seventh inning.

This matchup was one of two send-off games for the U-18 team, which will play in the tournament from September 5 to 14 in Okinawa. Up until the late innings, the U-18 squad held their own, even out-hitting their university opponents. However, the experience of the college players became evident as the game progressed.

Manager Masayoshi Ogura praised his team, saying, “Everyone showed their true colors.” On the mound, Kensin Shimoshige struck out three but allowed a solo home run. Reliever Daito Nakano faced challenges, giving up two runs while also recording three strikeouts. The middle relief by Shota Morishita, Ryusa Tsuji, and Saku Hayase kept the game competitive for six innings.

Offensively, Kaito Fujimori stood out, driving in the team’s only run with a clutch single. He and Yota Abe combined for four hits, leading the team’s seven hits by the sixth inning, outdoing their university rivals at that point.

The game changed dramatically in the seventh inning. With the bases loaded, the university team scored four crucial runs, driven by Kyudo Yamagata and Koichiro Oda. After that, the college players’ pitchers took control. Yoshihisa Arima, Yasunari Suzuki, and Gen’ei Sato delivered strong performances, with Sato striking out the final batter using an impressive 156 km/h fastball.

Despite the score, Ogura found positives in the game. He highlighted the pitchers’ performance and noted that the batters showed improvement in swing trajectory since recent bat standards changed. He emphasized the need to maintain composure, especially with two outs.

University manager Tetsuya Horii echoed the sentiment, praising the U-18 team’s capabilities. “They showed high batting ability and strong pitching,” he said. “I hope they believe in Japanese baseball.”

As the World Cup approaches, the U-18 team is busy preparing. They will practice at Okinawa Cellular Stadium before their next send-off match against a team featuring Koshien champions from Okinawa Prefectural High School.

The anticipation for this World Cup is significant. Historically, Japan has had strong performances in youth baseball, and many newer statistics underline the nation’s continued dominance. A survey from a recent sports report noted that over 70% of fans are excited to support the youth team, believing in their potential to showcase the future of Japanese baseball on the international stage.

For more insights into the team’s preparations and the tournament’s history, you can check official updates from the WBSC.

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