Kiryu Daiichi takes home high school baseball flag

Kiryu Daiichi takes home high school baseball flag

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Kiryu Daiichi captain Tomohisa Sekiguchi holds the championship flag for the 81st National High School Baseball Tournament on Aug. 21 after the Gunma Prefecture had defeated Okayama Ridai Fuzoka 14-1 in the final at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture.

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.

Kiryu Daiichi advances to final at Koshien

Kiryu Daiichi advances to final at Koshien

KOSHIEN, Japan - Shoji Ohiro crosses the plate and Tomohisa Sekiguchi rounds third in the top of the ninth inning Aug. 20 in the semifinal of the 81st National High School Baseball Tournament at Koshien Stadium. Both runners scored as Kiryu Daiichi of Gunma Prefecture downed Shonan of Kagoshima Prefecture 2-0 to advance to the final.

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.

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.

Kiryu Daiichi takes home high school baseball flag

Kiryu Daiichi takes home high school baseball flag

NISHINOMIYA, Japan - Kiryu Daiichi captain Tomohisa Sekiguchi holds the championship flag for the 81st National High School Baseball Tournament on Aug. 21 after the Gunma Prefecture had defeated Okayama Ridai Fuzoka 14-1 in the final at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture.

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.

Kiryu Daiichi advances to final at Koshien

Kiryu Daiichi advances to final at Koshien

KOSHIEN, Japan - Shoji Ohiro crosses the plate and Tomohisa Sekiguchi rounds third in the top of the ninth inning Aug. 20 in the semifinal of the 81st National High School Baseball Tournament at Koshien Stadium. Both runners scored as Kiryu Daiichi of Gunma Prefecture downed Shonan of Kagoshima Prefecture 2-0 to advance to the final.