西部ガス's cleanup hitter, Yasunaga Motoya (安永 元也), recorded 4 RBIs in 2 straight games in the Kyushu regional representative-deciding game. After carrying out recovery work in disaster-hit areas, he spoke about the joy of being able to play baseball.
In the first-representative deciding game of the Kyushu regional qualifiers for the Japan Amateur Baseball Championship, 西部ガス routed KMGホールディングス 7-0 to secure the first representative berth. 西部ガス took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a timely double by Yasunaga Motoya (安永 元也), then scored 3 more runs on a timely hit by No. 6 hitter Yagi Daiki (八木 大輝), forcing the starting pitcher off the mound. Yasunaga (安永 元也) hit a 2-run homer into the right-field stands in the fifth, finishing with 4 RBIs on the day.
Yasunaga (安永 元也) drove in a run in the opening game against Okinawa Electric Power and recorded at least 2 RBIs in the semifinal against Nissan Motor Kyushu as well. Fulfilling his role as the cleanup hitter, Yasunaga (安永 元也) said, “I'm the designated hitter, so all I can do is hit,” and showed his strong determination in every at-bat.
After the Kumamoto earthquake in July, the team suspended practice and went to work on recovery efforts in the disaster-hit areas. Yasunaga (安永 元也) himself traveled to Yatsushiro and other locations, checking on the restoration of gas pipelines and seeing the damage to the city firsthand. Looking back, he said that after completing the recovery work, he once again recognized the joy of being able to play baseball and that the team came together as one.
The goal for the next game is to advance beyond the quarterfinals of the Japan Amateur Baseball Championship. Yasunaga (安永 元也) vowed to do everything possible to bring joy to the people of Kumamoto by appearing in the championship as Kyushu's representative.