◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026: DeNA Softbank Hawks (June 6, Yokohama)

In his first appearance in the interleague series, Softbank Hawks 's Yugo Maeda retired DeNA's Matsuo with a ground ball to the shortstop.

Both are graduates of Osaka Toin High School, with Yu Maeda being one year younger. In the 94th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament in 2022, they formed a battery in the final against Omi High School, and he pitched well, allowing only one runs in seven innings, contributing to the school's victory.

In the highly anticipated first encounter in the second inning, he retired the leadoff batter with a ground ball to the shortstop. He gave up one run in the first inning due to three Walk, but closer the side in order in the second inning.