Team USA wins third game in Japan-USA Collegiate Baseball Championship Series

Photo By Sgt. Stephen Campbell | The USA Collegiate Baseball Team and Japan Collegiate Baseball Team competed against each other in the 43rd Japan-USA Collegiate Baseball Championship Series at Kizuna Stadium in Iwakuni City, Japan, July 19, 2019. The purpose of the series is to have two cultures come together in a friendly and competitive tournament. This was the third game in the five-game series, and the USA Collegiate Baseball Team won the game 2-0 against the Japan Collegiate Baseball Team. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Campbell)  

IWAKUNI CITY, YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN

07.25.2019

Story by Cpl. Stephen Campbell 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

The USA Collegiate Baseball Team and Japan Collegiate Baseball Team competed against each other in the 43rd Japan-USA Collegiate Baseball Championship Series at Kizuna Stadium in Iwakuni City, July 19, 2019.

The purpose of the series is to have two cultures come together in a friendly and competitive tournament.

This was the third game in the five-game series, and the USA Collegiate Baseball Team won the game 2-0.

“I came to this game and watch a strong team play,” said Sho Horikawa, a local Japanese child sitting in the stadium. “I was hoping Japan would win the game today, but the USA was the better team. I still had fun watching the game.”

As of July 22, the two teams have competed against each other in Matsuyama, Imabari, Iwakuni, Koriyama and Shinjuku-ku. The Japan Collegiate Baseball Team ended up winning the series 3-2 after they won the first game in Matsuyama 3-0, the fourth game in Koriyama 9-1, and the fifth game in Shinjuku-ku 6-1. The USA Collegiate Baseball Team won the second game in Imabari 3-2, and the third game in Iwakuni 2-0.

A preliminary match on July 22 was also scheduled to be played in Shinjuku-ku.

Dan McDonnell, the director of the USA team was impressed with how well the Japan team competed against them during the game in Iwakuni.

“I expected the pitchers to throw strikes and they definitely were able to throw multiple pitches for strikes,” said McDonnell. “Their hitters also had a good idea of where the strike zone was and rarely swung outside of the strike zone. They force you to throw the ball in the strike zone.”

Overall, the game was a success with a crowd of Japanese and Americans that came together to watch the two teams compete.

After the game, the mayor of Iwakuni City, Yoshihiko Fukuda, thanked the Japan team for playing their best and invited them to play at Kizuna Stadium again in the future.

“I wish all of you will make use of this facility as much as you can,” said Fukuda.

• Date Taken: 07.25.2019
• Date Posted: 07.24.2019 21:45
• Story ID: 332910
• Location: IWAKUNI CITY, YAMAGUCHI, JP