Together with reliable companions,
Sharpening skills for the fall season

College of Health and Welfare 4th Grade
baseball club
Graduate of Ibaraki Prefectural Ishioka Daiichi High School

Iioka Taisei

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Experience playing in the Koshien tournament

Ever since I started playing baseball in a local youth team in Tsukuba, my dream was to go to Koshien. I started playing hardball baseball in a club team in junior high school because I thought it was the quickest way to get to Koshien. In high school, I wanted to defeat the strong teams in the prefecture, so I enrolled in Ishioka Daiichi High School, a public school. With a bit of luck, in the spring of my second year of high school, we were selected for the "21st Century枠" (21st Century Category) and were able to play in the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, and I was able to play at Koshien. Unfortunately, we were defeated in the first round, but the fact that I was able to go to Koshien as a public school student is still a great asset to me.

In my third year of high school, Koshien was not held due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, during an exchange match, former manager Tsuno, who came to observe, reached out to us. For me, who wanted to continue playing baseball in college, it was a matter of course that I decided to go to J. F. Oberlin University.

Leveraging his long years of experience from the bottom, he leads the team.

After enrolling, I was stunned by the high level of college baseball. I made a mistake in my first exhibition game during the summer of my freshman year, and since then I've been in a slump, unable to play the kind of baseball I wanted for a while. Looking back now, I think I might have been too anxious to produce results quickly.

I played in the second team until the spring league season of my third year. So, I was honestly surprised when I was appointed captain for the new season. Through discussions with Coach Fujiwara, I realized that because I had spent a long time in the second team, I was able to lead the team while considering the feelings of various players.

Together with my reliable vice-captain, we make sure to share detailed issues at our weekly executive meetings. The hitting issues that were raised last year have improved thanks to the batting reforms we implemented in the winter, resulting in better individual batting averages. Currently, we are practicing hard for the fall season, focusing on bunting and sign plays to create scoring opportunities. Our pitchers, who were hit hard in the tournament, are also working hard to improve their skills. We should be able to show an improved level of play in the fall.

I want to show the greedy baseball style typical of J. F. Oberlin University.

In the spring league where they aimed for the championship, they ended up in third place. Using the frustration of not meeting expectations as motivation, we will definitely win the autumn league. I want to show J. F. Oberlin University baseball that uses his signature greed as a weapon to score at least one run.

Personally, I want to practice without any regrets until the final league game. I will do my best to play as a regular and contribute to the team. After graduation, I want to become a high school teacher and go to Koshien again. I also took a physical education teacher training course while I was in school. As a baseball team coach, I hope to convey the joy of baseball to the next generation of children and give back to the baseball world.

Interview date:
This was done in June 2024 for the "Obirin Sports" website.

Together with reliable companions,Sharpening skills for the fall season

Main content

Experience playing in the Koshien tournament

Leveraging his long years of experience from the bottom, he leads the team.

I want to show the greedy baseball style typical of J. F. Oberlin University.

Related content

Together with reliable companions,
Sharpening skills for the fall season