Hayato Sakamoto, infielder (31), had a total of 2000 hits for the 53rd person in history.

◇ ◇ ◇

The baseball lives of Hyogo and Itami-born superstars “Hayato” and “Masahiro” intersect as if destined. I met Kunyori Tigers, which belonged to my elementary school days. Sakamoto is the ace and Tanaka is the famous catcher. For Sakamoto, Tanaka was his best rival.

“It is not Tanaka who turns professional, but Sakamoto.” At that moment, the director, Mitsutaka Yamazaki, fell in love with Sakamoto’s ability. However, Tanaka is 2-3 meters above the long cast. I lost no matter how many times I threw it, but at one point Sakamoto said, “(Tanaka) my legs are coming off the line.” Both were the last “I hate to lose”.

I took a different path than high school, but the chances of playing together in high school were not zero. Former Kosei Gakuin principal (currently Hachinohe Gakuin Kosei), principal Akihide Gakuen Hitachi Kanazawa Shigefumi was surprised by Tanaka’s strong shoulders in the second year of high school when he visited another player. “There was a boy who threw a big ball from the left. That was Mr. Tanaka.” The first thing I noticed was Tanaka.

A year later, in the summer, Sakamoto was recommended by a young man from the university. He is participating in the summer Koshien and responds: “If I win, I will go see him.” I was able to get through the first round. The next day, the moment I saw a bump and a bump in the river bed, I was convinced that “this kid is something. I can open my life with baseball.”

Tanaka passed Komadai Tomakomai with another player that Kanazawa inspected. In June 2006, Komadai Tomakomai was invited to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Kosei Gakuin. I played against Tanaka. “We’re going to be drawn to something. You’re destined.” After entering the pro, the game was 5 hits on 18 hits, a 20% hit rate 7 minutes 8 ㎘, home base hit 0. The “baseball thread” connects the two.[Kengo Kubo]