◆ Sports Hochi Journalist Column "From Ryogoku"

At the start of the new year, Seibu Lions Lions rookies moved into the dorms. Among them was a man who was starting from the beginning: fourth-round draft pick, pitcher Keita Horikoshi (22) of Tohoku Fukushi University. He brought with him to the dorms a small jersey signed by former Seibu Lions Lions players Kikuchi (now with the Angels), Asamura (now Rakuten Eagles), and Tono Tono, the team's amateur scout.

He was born in Hanno City, Saitama. He grew up in an environment where Belluna D was about a 30-minute drive from his parents' house, and the right-handed pitcher admired Togame, saying, "I admired the way he was pitching when I first came to the stadium to watch him." As a child, he joined the fan club and enjoyed collecting autographs from players at fan appreciation events and while waiting outside after games.

On some days, he would wait for as long as an hour and a half after a match. "Some people called the players by their first names, but I would call them by their first names, such as 'Player XX' or 'Mr. XX'. I felt that calling the players by their first names might be rude, so I tried to be as thoughtful as I could," he said, collecting these one-of-a-kind treasures with great ingenuity.

Such a boy went on to Tohoku Welfare University from Tokue Hanasaki. Although it was unofficial, he recorded the fastest speed of 164 km/h and joined the team he admired last fall. "I hope that there will be players who admire themselves and start baseball like me, and I think that will lead to giving back to the baseball world." Hitomi, who says that she wants to connect the relationship as a "writer" in the future, is full of hope. (Seibu Lions in charge, Ayami Onaka)

◆Onaka Ami joined the company in 2024. Her personal goal this year is to grow 2 centimeters taller.