Gyeongsangbuk-do punch their ticket to the final after a nail-biting game.
Kyungpook National University won the semi-finals of the 78th Cheongnyonggi National High School Baseball Championship and Weekend League Wangjoong Wangjeon against Jangchung-go in extra innings 8-7 on the 25th at Mokdong Stadium.
Gyeongbuk High School took the early lead. In the top of the first inning, leadoff hitter Kim Se-hoon drew a walk and scored on a single by Park Kwan-woo. A throwing error by the opposing catcher led to an easy first run. The throw to second base was inaccurate, allowing Kim, who was on third base, to cross home plate.
Lim Jong-seong then singled to centre field, but Jang Chung-go immediately removed Won Jong-hae and brought in “lefty extraordinaire” Hwang Jun-seo.
Gyeongsangbuk-do was held at bay by Hwang Jun-seo until the fourth inning. Kyungpook National University starter Kim Jun-won was hit by a triple off Jang Chung-go’s No. 4 batter, Ryu Hyun-jun, in the bottom of the first inning, making the score 1-3.
However, Gyeongbuk High responded in the second inning with Park Kyung-do. It was a two-run game until the fourth inning. Then, in the top of the fifth inning, the game changed. Hwang Jun-seo, who had struck out six and given up no runs in the fourth inning, collapsed.
In the top of the fifth, Park Gun-woo singled up the middle and Kim Se-hoon followed with an infield single in front of the third baseman. A Park Kwan-woo sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third, and Lim Jong-sung hit a two-run triple to tie the game.
The chances continued. Kyungpook National University’s “two-hitter” Jeon Mir, batting fourth on the day, hit an RBI single against Hwang Jun-seo. Lee Seung-hyun followed with a valuable RBI single to make it 6-3.
After giving up a solo home run to Ryu Hyun-jun in the fifth inning, Kyungpook National University scored one more run in the sixth inning.
The game did not end easily. In the dramatic bottom of the ninth, Jang Chung-go drew a leadoff walk against left-hander Kim Byung-jun and sophomore Cho Chang-yeon hit a thrilling two-run home run over the left field fence on three pitches after a one-strike, one-ball count.토토사이트
The game went to extra innings. In the top of the 10th inning, with runners on first and second, Kim Woo-hyuk sent a bunt straight to the pitcher. Jangchungo left-hander Cho Dong-wook immediately threw it to third base, putting runners on first and second.
The runners were unable to advance and one out was recorded. Pinch-hitter Shin Ji-hoo then drew a walk, giving Kyungpook a chance to load the bases. Gyeongsangbuk-do came to the plate again and Kim Min-gyun hit a sacrifice fly.
After Gyeongsangbuk-do regained the lead at 8-7, Park Gun-woo hit a ground ball in front of the second baseman to set up Jang Chung-go’s last chance.
With runners on first and second, Jang Chung-go attempted a send bunt by Kim Myung-kyu. The bunt rolled in front of the pitcher, forcing left-hander Kim Byung-jun, who allowed the tying run in the ninth inning, to take a gamble at third base. The result was an out. Runners on first and second.
Kim Yoon-ha popped up to the infield, and the runner at second advanced to third with no outs. With runners on second and third and no outs, the team advanced to the final.