Kakegawa Nishi High School club participated in Koshien in the summer of 2024. He is trying to become stronger through a unique process such as training and the way he interacts with each player. We asked director Takuya Oishi (44 years old) about behind the scenes.
The environments are different between public preparatory schools and strong private schools. Even if we lament or envy those differences, the current situation will not change.
Takuya Oishi, head coach of the baseball team at Prefectural Kakegawa Nishi, one of Shizuoka Prefecture‘s leading preparatory schools, does not see the difference between the school and private schools as a “difference.” In fact, they participated in Koshien this summer, defeating Japan Airlines, a private company from Yamanashi Prefecture, in their first match.
“Teachers at public high schools change, so the same coach does not coach for 10 or 20 years.Rather than showing the coach’s color, it is better to change the team color every year depending on the players who join. I think this will become the strength of the team. We place importance on building a team that takes advantage of the players’ characteristics.”
Even if there is a “school discretionary quota”, there are still classes and tests.
Shizuoka Prefecture has a system called “school discretionary quota.” This is one of the methods of selecting students for admission to public schools, allowing high schools to decide on successful applicants at their own discretion.
Compared to other prefectures, public schools in Shizuoka Prefecture have good results in baseball, soccer, and other sports, which is largely due to school discretionary quotas. Shizuoka High School, a regular Koshien player, also uses the school’s discretionary quota, and in recent years, junior high schools from outside the prefecture have also joined the baseball team.
Kakegawa-Nishi is made up of only people from within the prefecture, but it utilizes school discretionary quotas. Coach Oishi says, “Kakegawa Nishi is a traditional school that has participated in Koshien, so there is no doubt that we have an advantage over other public high schools in recruiting players.” However, students admitted under the school’s discretionary quota will naturally take classes and take tests just like other students. For this reason, students who want to concentrate on baseball tend to choose strong private schools.
At public schools, in addition to players who are admitted through the school’s discretionary quota, players who are admitted through the general entrance exam are important in increasing the strength of the team. For example, in Kakegawa Nishi, pitcher Shunsuke Masui, who pitched well at Koshien in the summer, is one of them.
“I explained the advantages and disadvantages” when I was confused about the table tennis club.
Furthermore, when Masui first entered the school, he was unsure whether to join the baseball club or the table tennis club.
Director Oishi looks back on those days.
“Masui toured the baseball club and said, “I don’t think I’ll be able to keep up, so I’m going to check out other club activities,” and tentatively registered for the table tennis club.I didn’t know that he played baseball in junior high school. I explained to him the advantages and disadvantages of joining the baseball team, and then told him to make his own decision.”
Masui, who is 187 centimeters tall and weighs 97 kilograms, had issues with his muscular strength and explosive power when he entered high school, and was unsure if his fastest fastball could reach 120 kilograms. However, coach Oishi felt that he had great potential. He spoke to pitcher Masui, who is not confident in his physical strength or ability as a pitcher.
