Yomiuri skipper's father dies

Yomiuri skipper's father dies

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in 1975 shows Mitsugu Hara (L), coaching his son Tatsunori (R) as manager of Tokai University Fuzoku Sagami Senior High School in Kanagawa Prefecture. Mitsugu Hara, who as a high school baseball manager won two national championships, died of heart failure at a hospital in Kanagawa Prefecture on May 29, 2014. He was 79. Tatsunori Hara is the current Yomiuri Giants manager.

Tokaidai Sagami wins nat'l high school invitational

Tokaidai Sagami wins nat'l high school invitational

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Hirotsugu Sato, captain of Tokaidai Sagami in Kanagawa Prefecture, carries the champion flag at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture on April 3, 2011, after winning the national high school baseball invitational tournament by beating Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku in Fukuoka Prefecture 6-1.

Shoda triumphant as Kiryu Daiichi wins high school baseball crow

Shoda triumphant as Kiryu Daiichi wins high school baseball crow

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Ace southpaw Itsuki Shoda rejoices after the final out of the 81st National High School Baseball Tournament on Aug. 21. Shoda led Kiryu Daiichi of Gunma Prefecture to a 14-1 triumph over Okayama Ridai Fuzoku at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture.

Kiryu Daiichi wins high school baseball title

Kiryu Daiichi wins high school baseball title

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Kiryu Daiichi players celebrate their victory after defeating Okayama Ridai Fuzoku 14-1 in the championship game of the 81st National High School Baseball Tournament. Ace southpaw Itsuki Shoda (center) pitched a six-hitter at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture to give Gunma its first high school baseball national championship team.

Okayama Ridai to go to finals at Koshien

Okayama Ridai to go to finals at Koshien

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Team members of Okayama Ridai Fuzoku, from Okayama Prefecture, celebrate after winning a semifinal game against Chiben Wakayama of Wakayama Prefecture on the 13th day of the 81st National High School Baseball Tournament at Koshien Stadium on Aug. 20. Okayama Ridai defeated Chiben Wakayama 5-4 and will play in the finals against Kiryu Daiichi, from Gunma Prefecture, on Aug. 21. Ridai's Masao Baba got the game-winning hit.

Okayama Ridai reaches semifinals at Koshien

Okayama Ridai reaches semifinals at Koshien

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Yuto Okita (R) of Okayama Ridai Fuzoku, Okayama Prefecture, gets a two-run hit in the second inning against Takigawa Daini of Hyogo Prefecture on the 12th day of the 81st National High School Baseball Tournament at Koshien Stadium on Aug. 19. Okayama Ridai trounced Takigawa 5-2 to reach the semifinals on Aug. 20. Takigawa's catcher is Teppei Yoshida.

Tokaidai Sagami wins nat'l high school invitational

Tokaidai Sagami wins nat'l high school invitational

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Hirotsugu Sato, captain of Tokaidai Sagami in Kanagawa Prefecture, carries the champion flag at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture on April 3, 2011, after winning the national high school baseball invitational tournament by beating Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku in Fukuoka Prefecture 6-1. (Kyodo)

Shoda triumphant as Kiryu Daiichi wins high school baseball crow

Shoda triumphant as Kiryu Daiichi wins high school baseball crow

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Ace southpaw Itsuki Shoda rejoices after the final out of the 81st National High School Baseball Tournament on Aug. 21. Shoda led Kiryu Daiichi of Gunma Prefecture to a 14-1 triumph over Okayama Ridai Fuzoku at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture.

Kiryu Daiichi wins high school baseball title

Kiryu Daiichi wins high school baseball title

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Kiryu Daiichi players celebrate their victory after defeating Okayama Ridai Fuzoku 14-1 in the championship game of the 81st National High School Baseball Tournament. Ace southpaw Itsuki Shoda (center) pitched a six-hitter at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture to give Gunma its first high school baseball national championship team.

Okayama Ridai to go to finals at Koshien

Okayama Ridai to go to finals at Koshien

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Team members of Okayama Ridai Fuzoku, from Okayama Prefecture, celebrate after winning a semifinal game against Chiben Wakayama of Wakayama Prefecture on the 13th day of the 81st National High School Baseball Tournament at Koshien Stadium on Aug. 20. Okayama Ridai defeated Chiben Wakayama 5-4 and will play in the finals against Kiryu Daiichi, from Gunma Prefecture, on Aug. 21. Ridai's Masao Baba got the game-winning hit.

Okayama Ridai reaches semifinals at Koshien

Okayama Ridai reaches semifinals at Koshien

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Yuto Okita (R) of Okayama Ridai Fuzoku, Okayama Prefecture, gets a two-run hit in the second inning against Takigawa Daini of Hyogo Prefecture on the 12th day of the 81st National High School Baseball Tournament at Koshien Stadium on Aug. 19. Okayama Ridai trounced Takigawa 5-2 to reach the semifinals on Aug. 20. Takigawa's catcher is Teppei Yoshida.