Osaka Toin opened its fall campaign with a dominant 9-0 victory over Ryukoku Dai Heian in the opening round of the autumn Kinki regional high school baseball tournament, the qualifying event for next March’s 99th National Invitational High School Baseball Tournament.

Osaka Toin Claims Opening Game Shutout Behind Pitcher Haru Kawamoto

Opening day at the tournament featured a matchup between Osaka Toin, which swept the Osaka tournament, and Ryukoku Dai Heian, which advanced via a victory over Shiga’s Omi following a dramatic Kyoto tournament third-place playoff. Osaka Toin seized control early at the Kinki regional tournament, scoring a run in the first inning when No. 5 hitter Daisuke Ishii drove in a run off Ryukoku Dai Heian starting pitcher Shuto Mikami. A second run in the third frame extended the lead.

On the mound, Haru Kawamoto—who pitched his team to victory in this year’s invitational tournament wearing the number one uniform—shut down the Ryukoku Dai Heian lineup. Reaching a top speed of 154 kilometers per hour, Kawamoto relied on his fastball and managed runners with poise, neutralizing scoring threats before they materialized. I had a frustrating experience in last year’s Kinki tournament where I unraveled on my own, Kawamoto said regarding his preparation. This year, I wanted to show powerful pitching with the awareness of an ace.

The offense backed Kawamoto in the seventh inning with a two-out, first-and-third rally. Cleanup hitter Kantaro Imai delivered his second RBI single of the game for a 3-0 advantage, followed immediately by Ishii’s two-run double off relief pitcher Shintaro Sakai to break the game open. Osaka Toin added four more runs in the ninth to seal the 9-0 shutout and advance to the quarterfinals. Manager Koichi Nishiya praised his pitcher’s composure, noting that Kawamoto watched the opponent calmly and pitched solidly.

Akashi Shogyo Faces Wakayama Higashi

The opening round matches were held on October 17 and 18.

Osaka Toin Advances to the Quarterfinals

With the opening weekend concluded, Osaka Toin has advanced to the quarterfinals. The results of the autumn Kinki tournament serve as an important indicator for the selection of schools for the March invitational tournament.