'The first grade made a bad mistake' Yongma High School's Sung Ji-hwan who started the quarterfinals of Cheongryonggi and Jangchung High School...He's trying to win the championship

Jul 14, 2024

Masan Mountain Margo freshman pitcher Sung Ji-hwan took the mound as the starting pitcher for the quarterfinals of the Blue Dragon Open

Masan Margo starter Sung Ji-hwan caught Jangchungo hitters with his elaborate control. Mokdong = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com

A first-year pitcher took the mound as the starting pitcher for the quarterfinals of Cheongryonggi and threw the ball bravely without being discouraged. Starter Sung Ji-hwan, who had a battery with third-year catcher Kwon Hee-jae, came down from the mound after playing with two outs in the third inning.

The match between Jangchung High School and Masan Yongma High School in the quarterfinals of the 79th Cheongryonggi National High School Championship and the weekend league King Wangjung match (co-hosted by the Chosun Ilbo, Sports Chosun, and Korea Baseball Softball Association) was held at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul on the 13th.

Coach Jeon Min-soo's head was complicated even before the quarterfinal match. Ace Kim Hyun-bin left due to injury, first-year Lee Seo-yul recorded 105 pitches in the second round match against Daegu Sangwon High School, and third-year Joo Tae-joon recorded 104 pitches in 8.1 innings in the match against Bukil High School in the round of 16, and was unable to play in the quarterfinals due to restrictions on the number of pitches.

After much consideration, coach Jeon Min-soo put first-year Sung Ji-hwan on the mound as a starting pitcher. Sung Chi-hwan, who took the mound in both of the last two games, did not make a save, but did not allow a single hit and a walk and finished the game neatly by showing perfect pitching.

Starting Sung Ji-hwan who threw the ball bravely looking at Kwon Hee-jae Mit, a third-grade catcher

Young face starter Sung Chi-hwan, who took the mound in the first inning, confidently threw the ball in the third-year catcher Kwon Hee-jae's lead. Sung's maximum speed on the day was 137 kilometers, but he poked every corner of the borderline to compete with Jangchung High School's batters.

First-year pitcher Sung Ji-hwan threw the ball more calmly in a crisis. Jangchung High School's Han Seung-hyun had a hit, but when catcher Kwon Hee-jae blocked the stolen base and caught the runner, he turned the follow-up hitter into a mistake and cut the first inning into three batters, which was the most difficult for the starting pitcher.

In the second inning, the match against Jangchung High School Kim Woo-sik was dominant with two outs and runners on the second and third bases. Sung Ji-hwan, who dominated the advantageous count with his elaborate control and threw a 112km splitter at the end of the borderline to strike out standing, headed to the dugout to be praised by catcher Kwon Hee-jae.

There was a crisis in the third inning, but Sung remained calm. Sung Chi-hwan, who succeeded in inducing Jangchung High School No. 2 Park Joon-soo to ground out to shortstop with no outs and runners on the first and third bases, was happy to hit his glove when his brothers' double play defense came out. Although he gave up one point, he succeeded in raising two out-counts.

When Sung Chi-hwan was shaken by giving up a double to No. 3 Cho Chang-yeon and a walk to No. 4 Oh Dae-hee after two outs, manager Jeon Min-soo took the mound with the ball and stroked the head of first-year Sung Chi-hwan, who had good pitching early in the game, to replace the pitcher.

Thanks to the first-year Sung Ji-hwan's good performance in the early stages of the game, the brothers were encouraged. In the fourth inning, he scored five more points against Jangchung High School ace Kim Jae-won, who was leading 4-2.

Masan Yongmago, who scored 13 points on 11 hits and 5 walks against Jangchung High School, will face Gwangju Jeil High School for a ticket to the finals at Mokdong Stadium on the 14th.