球春到来！！～Baseball season has arrived!!

 　球春到来！！　
　本日開幕する第97回選抜高校野球大会では、以下の点が注目されています。

◎注目ポイント
　横浜高校の投打のバランス：昨秋の明治神宮大会を27年ぶりに制した横浜高校は、
エースの奥村頼人投手と2年生の織田翔希投手を擁し、強力な投手陣を形成してい
ます。さらに、リードオフマンの阿部葉太外野手が打線を牽引し、攻守にわたる
バランスの良さが際立ちます。

　健大高崎高校の連覇への挑戦：前回大会の覇者である健大高崎高校は、エースの
石垣元気投手と左腕の下重賢慎投手の二枚看板で連覇を目指します。特に石垣投手
は球速150km/hを超える速球が武器で、その成長が期待されています。 

◎注目カード
　健大高崎 vs 明徳義塾（初日第3試合）：初戦から注目の好カードが実現します。
　健大高崎の強力投手陣と、明徳義塾の試合巧者ぶりがどのような戦いを見せるか
が注目されます。

◎優勝候補
　横浜高校：明治神宮大会を制した実力校で、投打のバランスが取れたチームです。
　健大高崎高校：連覇を狙う強豪で、投手陣の層が厚く、攻撃力も高いと評価され
ています。
　東洋大姫路高校：秋季近畿大会を制した実力校で、投打に安定感があります。
　これらのチームがどのような戦いを繰り広げるか、今大会の見どころとなってい
　ます。
　春の大会ですから思わぬ番狂わせがあるかもしれませんね。
　球児の一挙手一投足に注目して球春を楽しみましょう！！

Baseball season is upon us!!

The following points are attracting attention at the 97th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, which begins today.

◎Key Points

Yokohama High School's pitching and batting balance: Yokohama High School, which won the Meiji Jingu Tournament last fall for the first time in 27 years, has a strong pitching staff with ace pitcher Yorihito Okumura and second-year pitcher Shoki Oda. In addition, leadoff hitter outfielder Yota Abe leads the batting line, and the team's balance on both offense and defense is outstanding.

Kendai Takasaki High School's challenge to win the championship again: Last year's champion, Kendai Takasaki High School, is aiming for a consecutive championship with its two flagship pitchers, ace pitcher Genki Ishigaki and left-handed pitcher Kenshin Shimoju. In particular, pitcher Ishigaki's fastball, which can reach speeds of over 150km/h, is a weapon, and expectations are high for his growth.

◎Key Matches

Kendai Takasaki vs Meitoku Gijuku (third game of the first day): A great matchup that everyone is looking forward to will be realized right from the first game.

It will be interesting to see how Kendai Takasaki's powerful pitchers and Meitoku Gijuku's skilled players will battle it out.

◎Contenders

Yokohama High School: A strong school that won the Meiji Jingu Tournament, this team has a good balance between pitching and batting.

Kendai Takasaki High School: A strong team aiming for consecutive victories, this team has a deep pitching staff and is considered to have strong offensive power.

Toyo University Himeji High School: A strong school that won the Autumn Kinki Tournament, this team has stable pitching and batting.

How these teams will battle it out will be a highlight of this tournament.

As this is a spring tournament, there may be some unexpected upsets.

Let's enjoy the baseball spring by paying attention to the players' every move!!