◆ Farm Championship First Stage: Nippon-Ham vs. Softbank Hawks (3rd, Shizuoka)

The Softbank Hawks came back from a three-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game.

In the final attack trailing 3-6, they took advantage of Nippon-Ham's fifth pitcher Yukiya Saito's loss of control, reaching a 1-out bases loaded situation with three Walk. After two outs, the sixth batter, infielder Takanori Takahashi, hit a two-run RBI single to center to bring them within one run, and the following catcher Riku Watanabe hit an RBI single to right to tie the game at 6-6.

The Farm Championship, which determines the number one farm team in the Farm League reorganized into a three-district system starting this year, will feature Nippon-Ham (1st in the East District), DeNA (1st in the Central District), Softbank Hawks (1st in the West District), and The Giants (Central District), who had the highest winning percentage among the second-place teams in each district. On the 3rd, two matches will be held in the first stage: Nippon-Ham vs. Softbank Hawks and DeNA vs. The Giants, with the winners facing off in the final stage on the 4th for the national title.