Despite being on the brink of defeat, the Hawks nine won the fierce battle

It was a fierce battle, a mirror image of this season's regular season of Pacific League League. The 2025 Persol Climax Series Pacific Final Stage (hereafter referred to as CS or CS Final) went down to the final six games, but The Hawks, who won the regular season, once again defeated The Fighters with a 4-3 victory (including advantage).

After starting with consecutive wins and putting them in a position to win early on, they have now suffered three straight losses. Manager Hiroki Kokubo spoke frankly about his thoughts, saying, "It was tough. The momentum was completely in Nippon-Ham favor."

Still, the "invincible myth" lived on.

A win means a 100% chance of winning... Akira Nakamura was selected as the number 4 player for the crucial first match.

Pacific League The Japan Series appearance of post season, which was the first time in the history of the CS that the team went 2-0, including an advantage, in the CS, had happened 20 times before and all of them had advanced to the Japan Series. With the support of data showing a 100% breakthrough rate, The Hawks was the 21st case to accomplish this.

In short, winning the first game of the CS finals was significant.

This match was also a very close one, symbolizing the battle between the two teams in 2025. The Hawks... Moinello. pitcher, The Fighters ・ Kota Tatsu pitcher extra inning The game was decided in the bottom of the 10th inning by the 33-year-old, who is in his 12th year as a pro, Hotaka Yamakawa It was a player. walk-off hit over the head of third baseman from bases loaded with one out. Yamakawa recalls, "I thought it was going to be a third strike, but I swung as hard as I could and it bounced that hard. I had a lot of greed, but I was also anxious, so I just tried to take my own swing. It was a blow that came from the detachment of a man with a wealth of experience.

And it was the 35-year-old veteran hitter, now in his 18th year, who was the spiritual pillar of the The Hawks.

In the bottom of this 10th inning, the first run came in the top of the 3rd. Ryoya Kurihara A player reached base at Walk. Next up to bat was No. 4. Akira Nakamura He was a player, and the fourth hitter laid the bat down flat and successfully sent a bunt in on the first pitch. He advanced runner into scoring position and walk-off set up the opportunity.

Heading into the CS finals, Kokubo had no hesitation in selecting Nakamura as the No. 4 player. At the end of the regular season, Yamakawa had shown signs of recovery, including 2 Home Run in three games. He has said for some time that he considers the number 4 hitter to be the center baseball of his view, and he originally intended for the main gun to sit unmovable.

However, Kokubo said.

When the CS finals started, no one thought about "No. 4 Yamakawa". It was not Yamakawa's fault, but if you consider the probability of scoring the most points in this year's competition, no one (other leaders) had any objection to it.

"Prepare to step onto ground without any anxiety"

And Nakamura did a great job bunting in this big game. Although he is a skilled hitter, he only sacrifice bunt four times during the regular season. However, Nakamura never missed practicing bunting every day during pre-game practice.

"I always prepare. That's why I can go out there with confidence. The moment you start to think, 'I wonder if I'll be okay today,' that's when you fail. I prepare so that I can go out onto ground without any feelings of anxiety."

The man who once held the league's most hit title has gotten older, and as the team's situation has changed, his position and role have diversified. Initially, he had a discussion with manager Kokubo and resolved to "put down the mitt and focus solely on pinch-hitting" this season. However, due to a series of injuries early in the season, he was forced to move into starting line-up in April. During the regular season, starting line-up started in 98 of 116 games, including 40 as the No. 4 starter.

What is needed to perform at the best possible level on ground at all times? What words and actions should be used to help the team win? Manager Kokubo has said this before.

"A leader in the locker room is absolutely necessary. I think Akira Nakamura or Kenta Imamiya should be a good designer of the locker room and a cultural figure. It's not the manager or coach who should take on this role. It's something that should be voiced by the players themselves."

Imamiya, who had been sidelined this season due to repeated injuries, returned to the CS Finals in time to perform well, going 2-At Bat-5 in Game 1. Also, in Game 2, Yuki Yanagita, the team's oldest player, who turned 37 on October 9th, made his presence felt by hitting a dramatic three-run home run to win the hit.

In this year's CS final, The Hawks combined these experienced veterans with mid-level players who had made great strides this season to create a powerful force.

The Hawks' true value and their lineage as a winning team

　Tatsuru Yanagimachi Tatsuya led the team with a batting average of .417, winning the Persol Award. Isami Nomura hit two Home Run, the most on the team. And Akira Kawase was particularly impressive with his game-winning hit in Game 6.

Manager Kokubo has praised Kawase highly, calling him "irreplaceable, more than just a super sub." He is essentially a semi-regular. When asked about the secret to his success in this situation, Kawase said, "I go to the starting line-up every day with the mindset of being in the starting lineup. I try to practice at the same rhythm. So whether I'm in starting line-up or on the reserves, my mindset doesn't change."

He also stated, "I was blessed with the opportunity to watch Akira (Nakamura) closely and learn from him," including how to prepare during a game. He has become a player who not only excels in batting and defense, but also demonstrates the ability to raise the team's morale at crucial moments. As Manager Kokubo said, he is truly an indispensable piece.

Yanagimachi also said, "We have a lot of reliable seniors. It made us realize that we have to work hard too." Nomura became an apprentice to Imamiya in January of this year and began training independently. Without the change in mindset there, he might not have made such a leap this season.

No matter when their turn suddenly comes, or when they have to face pressure, The Hawks nine are always confident and perform at their best. The fierce battle in the 2025 CS Finals showed The Hawks' true worth and the "lineage" of an undefeated team.