◆Pre-season game: Seibu Lions 0-2 Nippon-Ham (4th, Escon)

Seibu Lions Kazunari Ishii infielder (31) made a triumphant return to his old stomping grounds for the first time on April 4.

On this day, he started as the second batter and second baseman. With neither team scoring in the third inning, with two outs and a runner on first, left-handed hitter batter Ishii's fastball smashed through the gap between first and second base. He was a true man of his word, hitting the ball in front of manager Shinjo, who had given him some advice before the game, saying, "You haven't been pulling the strings lately, have you?" After sprinting to first base, he raised his right fist high with a smile.

He moved from Nippon-Ham last offseason after exercising his domestic FA rights. With both sides scoreless, in the fifth inning with one out and two on, he hit a fly ball deep up the middle to advance runner second base to third. Before the game, he said, "I greeted him a lot. I was told, 'Don't come in' (laughs)." Ishii enjoyed meeting up with old friends for the first time in a while. Ishii, who hit .380 last season for Verna D and was a strong opponent for Seibu Lions, said, "I hope I can show them (the Nichi-Ham nine) a good time. He will be standing in front of Shinjoham this season.