On the 12th, Nippon-Ham outfielder Chusei Mannami visited Futaba Elementary School in Kitahiroshima City, where ESCON is located, and declared his victory in front of the children. When asked by a student what his chances of winning were, he answered without hesitation, "I want us to win 100%." The gymnasium, packed with all 268 students, erupted in excitement.
Together with teammate Hosokawa, they catch and took commemorative photos for about an hour. Ten members of Yushi, wearing their team uniforms, sent original cheers. "It was amazing how courageous they were to do it in front of everyone, and it was witty. I was really impressed," he said. A performance after Home Run was also suggested, and it will be adopted from the three-game series Orix (Ace Contest) starting on the 13th, with Yushi saying, "It was the kids who came up with it. It's heartwarming. I want to hit one more home run, even one more inning." Children from the school are also planning to watch the game on the 15th.
His childhood memory is watching The Giants' Sakamoto's bases loaded slam, his first professional hit, on April 6, 2008, when he was in the second grade of elementary school. "The excitement at Tokyo Dome was so intense, I still vividly remember how amazing the world was." The team is in sole first place with four consecutive wins. He also holds the league double crown Home Run and RBI. "Professional baseball players are cool. I want people to think that baseball is fun." Now he will deliver excitement with his own play.
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