Roki Sasaki once watched the All-Star stand as a child.
The 2012 All-Star Round 3 was held at the Iwate Prefectural Baseball Stadium for the purpose of supporting reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake. At that time, he was in the fifth grade of elementary school. The youth baseball team in the coastal area of Iwate Prefecture, which was severely damaged by the tsunami, was invited to gather at an elementary school with their friends and entered the stadium by bus from Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture for two and a half hours.
“I didn’t have a chance to see professional baseball in Iwate, so I was looking forward to it.”
The most impressive thing is the practice before the game. Looking in the outfield, Giants pitcher Tetsuya Utsumi (currently Lions) was repeatedly dashing in front of me. He shined his eyes on the professional baseball player he saw up close, and he still remembers clearly, saying, “I was impressed by the fact that a professional baseball player who was far away was practicing in front of me.”
A ball for batter practice flew. I couldn’t catch a home run ball, but it fell nearby. The players who protect the outfield threw the ball between innings as part of the fan service. Fireworks were set off during the match, and Morioka Sansa Odori was demonstrated on the ground. Players who are excited by the cocktail rays. The summer ball feast was gorgeous.
Two and a half hours on the way back from the bus. At late night, I returned to her temporary housing, which was her home, but her eyes remained clear.
“1st place” for the first time since Tomohiro Kuroki in 2001
Then, as the days passed, the boy was ranked first in the All-Star fan vote. No. 1 in the inter-player voting. The first place in the starting lineup fan vote from Marines is a feat since Tomohiro Kuroki in 2001.
This time, I will be the one who provides memories to the children. That is also the protagonist of this ball feast. It can be said that the fastball with a strong arm over 160 km is attracting the most attention.
However, looking back on my career, I didn’t think that there was a glittering path at that time.
