野球U-15W杯、日本代表が優勝［2024.8.26］

「第6回 WBSC U-15 ワールドカップ」が25日（日本時間26日）、コロンビア・バランキージャで決勝戦が行われ、井端弘和監督が率いる侍ジャパンU-15代表はプエルトリコに7-6で勝利。大会初優勝を飾り、選手たちは歓喜に酔いしれた。

先発のマウンドを任された林将輝（日高リトルシニア）は初回に四死球で無死満塁のピンチ招き、犠飛で先制を許す。しかし直後に新井悠河（藤岡ボーイズ）が適時三塁打で同点にすると、2回には大宮翔（東北楽天リトルシニア）の適時打と暴投で3-1と逆転に成功した。

　3回、林は再び無死満塁を背負い、1死後から2度の押し出しで同点。犠飛で再び勝ち越しを許した。それでも侍ジャパンは諦めない。4番・岡田良太（熊本泗水ボーイズ）が三塁打を放って試合を振り出しに戻し、丹羽裕聖（愛知尾州ボーイズ）の右前適時打で逆転に成功した。4回には中島齊志（飯塚ボーイズ）が右翼線へ貴重な2点三塁打を放った。

　7-5の6回、日本は2死二、三塁の大ピンチを招き、中前打で1点差に。二塁走者がホームを狙ったが、中堅の小久保颯弥（愛知名港ボーイズ）が好返球し、捕手・中嶋蒼空（佐倉シニア）もうまくボールを捕球し、タッチアウト。窮地を救うプレーに場内は大歓声が起きた。最終7回、戸倉光揮（狭山西武ボーイズ）は1死一、二塁と一打逆転の場面を迎えたが、川上慧（明石ボーイズ）の好守もあって7-6で薄氷の勝利。日本は悲願の初優勝を手にした。

「第6回 WBSC U-15 ワールドカップ」は16日（同17日）から10日間かけて開催され、日本はオープニングラウンド5戦全勝を飾った。グアムとの第4戦では先発した大久保遼投手（東京ヴェルディボーイズ）が、5回参考ながらノーヒットノーランを達成した。スーパーラウンドではチャイニーズ・タイペイに7回2死から逆転負けを喫したものの、4勝1敗で勝ち抜け、2016年の第3回大会（福島県いわき市開催）以来2回目、海外開催では初めての決勝へと駒を進めていた。

　井端監督は昨年10月4日、野球日本代表「侍ジャパン」のトップチームの新監督に就任した。U-15代表監督も兼任し、史上初めてトップチームの監督が学生世代の指揮を執る。「アンダー世代には結束力、日本代表としての行動、言動を求めてきた。その辺かなと思います」と思いを語っていた。

■英訳　

The final match of the 6th WBSC U-15 World Cup was held on the 25th (26th Japan time) in Barranquilla, Colombia, where Samurai Japan's U-15 team, led by manager Hirokazu Ibata, claimed their first-ever championship by defeating Puerto Rico 7-6. The players were overwhelmed with joy as they celebrated their victory.

Masaki Hayashi (Hidaka Little Senior) was entrusted with the starting mound, but he found himself in a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the first inning due to walks and hit batters, eventually allowing the first run on a sacrifice fly. However, Yuga Arai (Fujioka Boys) tied the game with a timely triple right after, and in the second inning, Japan took a 3-1 lead with a timely hit from Sho Omiya (Tohoku Rakuten Little Senior) and a wild pitch.

In the third inning, Hayashi again loaded the bases with no outs and allowed two runs on walks, tying the game. A sacrifice fly allowed Puerto Rico to regain the lead. Yet, Samurai Japan did not give up. Ryota Okada (Kumamoto Shisui Boys) hit a triple to tie the game again, and Yusei Niwa (Aichi Oshu Boys) delivered a timely single to right field, giving Japan the lead. In the fourth inning, Saishi Nakajima (Iizuka Boys) added a crucial two-run triple down the right-field line.

In the sixth inning, with a 7-5 lead, Japan faced a major crisis with runners on second and third with two outs. Puerto Rico managed to close the gap to one run with a single to center field. The runner from second tried to score, but Hayato Kokubo (Aichi Meiko Boys) made a brilliant throw from center field, and catcher Sora Nakajima (Sakura Senior) skillfully caught the ball and made the tag to get the out, saving the game. In the final seventh inning, Koki Tokura (Sayama Seibu Boys) faced a one-out, runners on first and second situation where a single hit could have turned the game around, but with Keita Kawakami (Akashi Boys) making an excellent defensive play, Japan secured a narrow 7-6 victory and their long-awaited first championship.

The 6th WBSC U-15 World Cup was held over ten days, starting on the 16th (17th Japan time). Japan won all five games in the opening round. In the fourth game against Guam, starting pitcher Ryo Okubo (Tokyo Verdy Boys) achieved a no-hitter over five innings (as per tournament rules). In the Super Round, Japan suffered a heartbreaking loss to Chinese Taipei after giving up a lead with two outs in the seventh inning, but they advanced to the final with a 4-1 record, marking their second appearance in the final since the 3rd tournament in 2016 (held in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture) and their first final in an overseas tournament.

Manager Ibata was appointed the new manager of the top Samurai Japan team on October 4th last year. He also serves as the U-15 team manager, making him the first top team manager to also lead a youth team. "I’ve emphasized unity, and the conduct and behavior expected of a Japanese national team member to the under-age groups. I think that’s the key," he shared his thoughts.

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