The draw for the 51st Japan Amateur Baseball Championship was held in Osaka, determining the first-round matchups for the 32 participating teams. First-time participant CLUB REBASE will face NTT West on 3 November.
The draw for the 51st Japan Amateur Baseball Championship was held at the Oval Hall of the Mainichi Shimbun Osaka headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka, determining the first-round matchups for the 32 participating teams. The tournament will be held from 31 October to 10 November, with free live streaming also available.
CLUB REBASE (Tokyo), making its first appearance, will face NTT West (Osaka), the runner-up at the summer Intercity Baseball Tournament, in the second game on 3 November. CLUB REBASE has a mix of veteran and younger players, and is led by Manager Taguchi Makito (田口蒔人), who has experience in the Japan Championship.
After the draw, Manager Taguchi (田口) said, “I want them to play boldly,” and added, “We will focus on limiting walks and errors and on playing in a way that does not unravel. We are the challengers.” He also referred to the distinctive work arrangements of club teams.
As background on the team, it was reported that CLUB REBASE includes many players who previously gained competitive experience with corporate teams, and the manager expressed his determination to win. The team is aiming to get past the first round as it prepares for the matches ahead.