The first Cheongnyonggi title in 30 years. Seniors from Gyeongbuk High School were all smiles at their alma mater’s victory.
Gyeongbuk High School defeated Mulgeum High School 4-1 in the final of the 78th Cheongryonggi National High School Baseball Championship and Weekend League Wangjungwang Game at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Sunday.
Due to pitch count restrictions, Gyeongbuk High did not have its “ace,” Jeon Mir, a likely first-round pick in the rookie draft, on the mound. However, Lee Seung-heon took the mound and pitched seven innings, throwing 104 pitches, allowing seven hits, three walks, and striking out five to lay the foundation for the victory, while Park Sung-hoon (⅓ inning, one run) and Park Kwan-woo (1⅔ innings) took over and shut the back door firmly.
Despite not being on the mound, the ‘Aces’ did not disappoint. Jeon went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, including scoring the game-winning run in the first inning in the designated hitter spot, while Steady Hwan went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs and Kim Se-hoon went 1-for-1 with a run scored to lead Gyeongbuk State to the title.
This is the eighth time in 30 years that Gyeongbuk has lifted the trophy in the Cheongnyonggi, dating back to 1993 when Doosan Bears coach Lee Seung-yeop was still an amateur. If the title is extended to the national championship instead of the Cheongnyonggi, it will be the first time in eight years since the 2015 Bonghwang Dynasty. The news of Gyeongbuk High’s victory brought a smile to the faces of the ‘senior’ baseball players.
Before the game between the Lotte Giants and Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 27th, coach Lee Seung-yeop asked, “Did you?” when told that Gyeongbuk High had won the championship, and said, “I think tradition doesn’t go anywhere. It took a long time, but we won the championship after 30 years, and I’m proud of it.” He smiled.
Gyeongbuk High School is a “prestigious school” that has produced many “star players,” but it is clear that it took a long time to win the Cheongryonggi. “There are many schools with tradition, such as Gwangju Il-Go and Gyeongnam-do. Why did it take so long for a school with such a tradition?” said Lee Seung-yup. “It’s true that baseball at Gyeongbuk High School has been a little weak, but I hope this win will spark a boom in Gyeongbuk High School. When you win once, you have to keep going. I hope we can win the next tournament as well,” he said encouragingly. 메이저사이트
The alumni of Gyeongbuk High School, who are also affiliated with Lotte, also expressed their pride after learning of their alma mater’s victory. “I watched the broadcast today (Nov. 27),” said Kim Hyun-wook, who made his debut with the Samsung Lions in 1993 and has pitched in 519 games in the KBO with a 71-31 record, 54 saves and a 2.99 ERA, and is now Lotte’s first-team pitching coach.
“I’m very proud of the juniors because they did so well. I know it’s been 30 years since Lee Seung-yeop, which is a long time, but you can’t ignore the old history. It’s a tradition. I hope the juniors will continue to do well in the pros through this,” he said, “but I’m also sorry because I didn’t do anything for them. But it’s really cool and I’m proud of them. I hope they do well in the remaining competitions.”