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【High School Baseball Team】The Road to the Kyoto Tournament Championship and a Request for Your Donations and Support
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●Back to Koshien After Three Years! We Appreciate Your Support!
We are delighted to announce that the Ritsumeikan Uji Senior High School Baseball Team has earned a place in the 108th National High School Baseball Championship (Summer Koshien). This marks the team's first appearance at the Summer Koshien tournament in three years, since 2023. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued understanding, encouragement, and generous support, without which this achievement would not have been possible. Koshien is the ultimate dream and goal for high school baseball players, and qualifying for the tournament is also a tremendous source of pride and joy for our students, faculty, and staff. Our players are currently training with unwavering determination each day, striving for victory on the greatest stage in Japanese high school baseball. We are confident that they will make a significant contribution to the proud tradition of our school. As the representatives of Kyoto Prefecture, we sincerely ask for your warm and enthusiastic support so that our players can compete at their very best in Koshien.
●A Request for Your Support Through Donations
The Ritsumeikan Academy is committed to providing its fullest support to our team as it represents Kyoto Prefecture at the National High School Baseball Championship. To this end, we are currently seeking donations to support the team.
We sincerely ask for your understanding of and support for this initiative, and would be most grateful for your generous cooperation and contribution.
▶For Individuals Wishing to Make a Donation
▶For Companies and Organizations Wishing to Make a Donation
Please refer to the donation prospectus here.
After completing the donation application form, please send it by email to the Ritsumeikan Academy Donation Office (rgiving@st.ritsumei.ac.jp).
Please attach the completed application form to your email when submitting it.
●About the Baseball Team
Founded: April 1968
Team Members: 69 (20 first-year students, 25 second-year students, 24 third-year students)
Club Director: Toru Nishida
Head Coach: Shogo Satoi
Team Captain: Masato Ebara
●Past Koshien Results
【Uji High School】
1979 (61st National High School Baseball Championship) – Second Round: Lost 0–8 to Seiryo High School
1982 (64th National High School Baseball Championship) – First Round: Lost 0–12 to Waseda Jitsugyo High School
【Ritsumeikan Uji Senior High School】
2004 (76th National High School Invitational Tournament) – First Round: Lost 4–5 to Aikodai Meiden High School
2010 (82nd National High School Invitational Tournament) – First Round: Lost 6–7 to Koryo High School
2015 (87th National High School Invitational Tournament) – First Round: Lost 1–7 to Shizuoka High School
2019 (101st National High School Baseball Championship) – First Round: Defeated Akita Chuo High School 1–0
Second Round: Lost 3–6 to Seiryo High School
2023 (105th National High School Baseball Championship) – First Round: Lost 2–10 to Kamimura Gakuen High School
●About Our School
For basic information, our history, and student enrollment, please click here.
●The Road to the 108th National High School Baseball Championship
▶Second Round (July 8)
Ritsumeikan Uji (home) 11–1 Kyoto Prefectural Technical High School (visitor) [Called after 5 innings]
Kyoto Prefectural Technical HS 010 00｜1
Ritsumeikan Uji 720 20｜11
Starting Battery
Pitcher: Eita Taniguchi
Catcher: Masato Ebara
Highlights
Ritsumeikan Uji's batting lineup came alive from the very first inning, scoring seven runs to take firm control of the game. Despite being given a substantial lead, starting pitcher Eita Taniguchi remained composed and delivered an excellent performance, allowing only two hits and one run over five innings. Taniguchi worked quickly without issuing a walk and shut down the opposing lineup with consecutive strikeouts in the closing stages. The offense continued to add runs, securing victory in the opening game under the five-inning mercy rule. It was an ideal start to the tournament, with both the pitching and offense performing in perfect harmony.
▶Third Round (July 13)
Ritsumeikan Uji (home) 8–1 Mineyama (visitor) [Called after 8 innings]
Mineyama 000 010 00｜1
Ritsumeikan Uji 130 002 02x｜8
Starting Battery
Pitchers: Eita Taniguchi → Yu Sakamoto
Catcher: Masato Ebara
Highlights
Ritsumeikan Uji opened the scoring in the first inning when Masato Ebara delivered an RBI single to left with one out and a runner on first. In the second inning, Chiharu Kojima successfully executed a squeeze bunt to add another run. Ebara then drove in a run with an infield single, followed by an RBI single to center from Yusei Masuzawa, giving the team three runs in the inning and extending the lead to 4–0. Mineyama scored one run on an RBI double in the top of the fifth, but starting pitcher Eita Taniguchi provided six strong innings, allowing only one run. In the bottom of the sixth, pinch hitter Kotaro Miyamoto added a sacrifice fly, and a balk by the opposing pitcher brought home another run, shifting the momentum firmly back to Ritsumeikan Uji. In the bottom of the eighth, Kota Fujikawa delivered an RBI single, followed by an RBI infield single from Kentaro Miyakawa, bringing the mercy rule into effect and sending the team comfortably through to the fourth round.
▶Fourth Round (July 18)
Ritsumeikan Uji (visitor) 10–2 Nissei (home) [Called after 8 innings]
Ritsumeikan Uji 130 110 22｜10
Nissei 000 200 00｜ 2
Starting Battery
Pitchers: Risuke Nakao → Kaito Nakajima
Catcher: Masato Ebara
Highlights
Ritsumeikan Uji took the lead in the first inning on an RBI double by Masato Ebara. In the second, Kota Fujikawa and Ebara each delivered RBI hits, adding three runs and giving the team a 4–0 advantage early in the game. One more run scored on a ground ball by Yusei Masuzawa in the fourth, and Mondo Mimura added a sacrifice fly in the fifth as the lead steadily grew. Starting pitcher Risuke Nakao allowed two runs on consecutive hits in the fourth inning but quickly regained his composure and went on to record ten strikeouts through seven innings. In the seventh, Mimura added an RBI single and Ryuto Iida contributed a sacrifice fly, effectively putting the game beyond reach. In the eighth, Kentaro Miyakawa cleared the bases with a timely double, as Ritsumeikan Uji pulled away from Nissei with a powerful 15-hit, 10-run offensive display.
▶Quarterfinal (July 22)
Ritsumeikan Uji (visitor) 9–4 Fukuchiyama Seibi (home)
Ritsumeikan Uji (visitor) 300 100 005｜9
Fukuchiyama Seibi (home) 400 000 000｜4
Starting Battery
Pitchers: Risuke Nakao → Yu Sakamoto
Catcher: Masato Ebara
Highlights
Ritsumeikan Uji opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-run RBI double by Keita Azuma, followed by an RBI hit from Shunsuke Yasuda, taking an encouraging 3–0 lead.
However, in the bottom of the inning, Fukuchiyama Seibi began its comeback with a sacrifice fly and went on to score four runs, overturning the game to lead 4–3.
Trailing in the top of the fourth, Ritsumeikan Uji tied the game at 4–4 when the runner on third scored on a ground ball to shortstop by Daiki Okada with one out. From that point onward, the pitching combination of Risuke Nakao and Yu Sakamoto proved highly effective, holding the Fukuchiyama Seibi lineup scoreless from the second inning onward.
The game shifted decisively in the top of the ninth. With two outs and the bases loaded, Keita Azuma delivered a two-run go-ahead single, allowing Ritsumeikan Uji to regain control with a 6–4 lead.
Pinch hitter Kotaro Miyamoto then added an RBI single, followed by consecutive RBI hits from Mondo Mimura and Kentaro Miyakawa, as Ritsumeikan Uji scored five runs in the inning. The late offensive surge put the game beyond Fukuchiyama Seibi's reach.
Although Ritsumeikan Uji surrendered the lead early, the team remained composed and battled tenaciously throughout the game. Behind a clutch offense led by Keita Azuma's four RBIs and a strong recovery from the pitching staff, the team earned a dramatic comeback victory and advanced to the semifinals.
Key Players in This Game
・Keita Azuma: Drove in four runs with a two-run double to open the scoring and a two-run go-ahead hit in the ninth inning.
・Shunsuke Yasuda: Delivered an RBI hit for an additional run in the first inning.
・Daiki Okada: Brought home the tying run with a ground ball in the fourth inning.
・Kotaro Miyamoto: Came off the bench with two outs in the ninth and delivered a crucial RBI hit.
・Mondo Mimura and Kentaro Miyakawa: Added consecutive RBI hits in the ninth inning to seal the victory.
・Risuke Nakao and Yu Sakamoto: After allowing four runs in the first inning, they combined to hold the Fukuchiyama Seibi lineup scoreless for the remainder of the game.
▶Semifinal (July 25)
Ritsumeikan Uji (visitor) 6–2 Kyoto Shoei (home)
Ritsumeikan Uji (visitor) 101 001 012｜6
Kyoto Shoei (home) 200 000 000｜2
Starting Battery
Pitchers: Eita Taniguchi → Yu Sakamoto
Catcher: Masato Ebara
Game Highlights
Ritsumeikan Uji opened the scoring in the first inning when cleanup hitter Yusei Masuzawa delivered an RBI single to right with two outs and a runner on second. The heart of the order, which had been in excellent form throughout the tournament, once again gave the team early momentum.
However, in the bottom of the inning, Kyoto Shoei responded with a bases-clearing RBI triple with two outs and runners on first and second, quickly turning the game around to take a 2–1 lead. Kyoto Shoei controlled the momentum in the early stages.
Ritsumeikan Uji tied the game in the top of the third when Keita Azuma delivered an RBI single to center with two outs and a runner on third. In the sixth inning, Ryuto Iida then drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out RBI single to center and a runner on second, putting Ritsumeikan Uji back in front, 3–2.
Starting pitcher Eita Taniguchi allowed two runs in the first inning, but he settled down and held the Kyoto Shoei lineup in check with determined pitching thereafter. Reliever Yu Sakamoto also kept the opposition scoreless, repeatedly giving the team opportunities to mount its comeback.
In the eighth inning, Masato Ebara added a valuable insurance run with a sacrifice fly with one out and the bases loaded. In the ninth, another run scored on a wild pitch, and Chiharu Kojima followed with an RBI infield single to extend the lead to four runs. The offense never eased its pressure, collecting 14 hits and decisively putting the game away. Although Ritsumeikan Uji fell behind early, the team steadily fought back and defeated Kyoto Shoei through a well-balanced performance in both pitching and hitting, securing a place in the final. Demonstrating the strength that had carried the team to the semifinals of the spring Kinki tournament, Ritsumeikan Uji moved to within one victory of winning the summer Kyoto tournament.
Key Players in This Game
・Yusei Masuzawa: Opened the scoring with an RBI hit in the first inning and gave the offense early momentum.
・Keita Azuma: Delivered the game-tying hit in the third inning and shifted the momentum back to Ritsumeikan Uji.
・Ryuto Iida: Drove in the decisive go-ahead run with an RBI hit in the sixth inning.
・Masato Ebara: Added a valuable late insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
・Chiharu Kojima: Sealed the victory with an RBI infield single in the ninth inning.
・Eita Taniguchi and Yu Sakamoto: Held the Kyoto Shoei lineup scoreless after the first inning and laid the foundation for the comeback victory.
▶Final (July 27)
Ritsumeikan Uji (home) 10–3 Toba (visitor)
Toba (visitor) 000 102 000｜3
Ritsumeikan Uji (home) 102 000 07X｜10
Starting Battery
Pitchers: Risuke Nakao → Yu Sakamoto
Catcher: Masato Ebara
Game Highlights
Ritsumeikan Uji created a scoring opportunity with one out and a runner on second in the first inning, sparked by a hit from Ryuto Iida. No. 3 hitter Masato Ebara then delivered an RBI single to center to open the scoring. In the third inning, Yusei Masuzawa added a sacrifice fly and Mondo Mimura was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing home two more runs and giving Ritsumeikan Uji control of the game with a 3–0 lead.
Starting pitcher Risuke Nakao battled tenaciously but allowed one run in the fourth inning on an RBI double by Haruto Ozaki. In the sixth, with two outs and the bases loaded, Koga Chida hit a two-run double to tie the game at 3–3, bringing Toba level and resetting the contest.
Facing this difficult situation, Ritsumeikan Uji brought Yu Sakamoto to the mound and prevented the momentum from shifting to the opposition. The pitching change proved effective, as Toba was held scoreless for the remainder of the game, setting the stage for a decisive battle in the closing innings.
The game was decided in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the score tied, the Ritsumeikan Uji lineup suddenly erupted, batting around and scoring seven runs to pull away from Toba. Against a Toba team that had battled tenaciously until the closing stages, Ritsumeikan Uji seized the momentum with a concentrated offensive surge.
Offensively, Masato Ebara delivered the opening RBI hit, Yusei Masuzawa added a sacrifice fly, and Mondo Mimura drove in a run after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, as the team produced a relentless attack from the top to the bottom of the order. On the mound, Risuke Nakao and Yu Sakamoto combined effectively to deliver in key situations. Ritsumeikan Uji secured a 10–3 victory and qualified for the Summer Koshien tournament for the fifth time in school history and the first time in three years.
Key Players in This Game
・Masato Ebara: Delivered the opening RBI hit in the first inning and set the tone for the final.
・Ryuto Iida: Reached base as the leadoff hitter and sparked the opening run.
・Yusei Masuzawa: Added an important insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning.
・Mondo Mimura: Brought home a valuable additional run after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
・Yu Sakamoto: Entered the game midway through the sixth inning and delivered an excellent relief appearance that shifted the momentum back to Ritsumeikan Uji.
・Risuke Nakao: Pitched with determination despite repeatedly allowing runners on base and fulfilled his role as the starting pitcher in the final.
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