Seibu Lions ・ On the 29th, Taiga Hirasawa infielder congratulated his alma mater, Sendai Ikuei High School, on securing its 32nd appearance in the Summer Koshien.

On this day, he participated in the team practice at their home stadium, Belluna Dome, working up a sweat with batting practice and fielding drills.

In 2015, when he was a third-year student, he competed in the Koshien in both the spring and summer tournaments. Although his team lost to Tokai University Sagami in the summer finals, he helped them secure the runner-up title.He checked the results of the final match, held on the 28th, on his smartphone. Offering advice to his younger teammates competing at the “sacred ground,” he told them, “Don’t get ahead of yourselves.” “I want them to do their best and aim for the championship. Since I wasn’t able to win it, I want them to win it,” he said, cheering them on.