Sakushin Gakuin Advances to Top 16 in Spring Tochigi High School Baseball with Coach Kobari's Return
Sakushin Gakuin High School secured a decisive 9-1 victory over Kuroiso High School in the second round of the 79th Spring Tochigi Prefecture High School Baseball Tournament, advancing to the top 16. The match, held on April 19, 2026, at Utsunomiya Kiyohara Stadium, marked the official return of head coach Takahiro Kobari, who had been suspended since the previous spring for conducting dangerous practices. Kobari stated he used the suspension period to reconsider his coaching methods and return to basics. Sakushin Gakuin demonstrated strong performance on both offense and defense, with starting pitcher Minato Onuki striking out three batters in one inning using his slider. Offensively, Haseto Horiguchi contributed four hits in four at-bats, helping to establish an early lead. The game was called in the seventh inning due to the score difference. This victory continues Sakushin Gakuin's pursuit of redemption after a four-year absence from the top tier, following their historic ten consecutive summer championships. Captain Daito Ueno expressed the team's ambition to improve through the tournament and ultimately win at the national Koshien championships in the summer. The next round of games is scheduled for April 25.
Wire timeline
Sakushin Gakuin Advances to Top 16 in Spring Tochigi High School Baseball with Coach Kobari's Return
Sakushin Gakuin High School secured a decisive 9-1 victory over Kuroiso High School in the second round of the 79th Spring Tochigi Prefecture High School Baseball Tournament, advancing to the top 16. The match, held on April 19, 2026, at Utsunomiya Kiyohara Stadium, marked the official return of head coach Takahiro Kobari, who had been suspended since the previous spring for conducting dangerous practices. Kobari stated he used the suspension period to reconsider his coaching methods and return to basics. Sakushin Gakuin demonstrated strong performance on both offense and defense, with starting pitcher Minato Onuki striking out three batters in one inning using his slider. Offensively, Haseto Horiguchi contributed four hits in four at-bats, helping to establish an early lead. The game was called in the seventh inning due to the score difference. This victory continues Sakushin Gakuin's pursuit of redemption after a four-year absence from the top tier, following their historic ten consecutive summer championships. Captain Daito Ueno expressed the team's ambition to improve through the tournament and ultimately win at the national Koshien championships in the summer. The next round of games is scheduled for April 25.
asahi