High School Homerun King Stretched Record to 100

How about a story of a high school baseball hero for a change? In case you are not familiar with a high school ball player Kotaro Kiyomiya of Waseda Jitsugyo (Vocational High School), you are missing the story of a future home run king in the Japanese professional baseball.

Kotaro Kiyomiya slammed his 100th homer in the second of the two invitational games June 4 at Komaki City, Aichi. He belted three in the two invitational games the previous day with one more to go for his 100th. 

On June 4, thick crowds of over 2000 flocked to witness Kiyomiya's feat - many lining up for two hours in advance early in the morning. The gate was opened at 5:30 a.m., two and half hours earlier than scheduled.

In the first of the two games scheduled for that day against Shigakukan High School, the winner of the spring tournament in the Tokai Region, Kiyomiya finished 0-4 and walked one.

In the second game against Kyoei High School from Aichi, Kiyomiya marked two single hits by his third time at bat but none over the fence yet.

In his fourth time at bat in the bottom of the 9th inning, Kiyomiya slammed the first fastball over and beyond the right field stand for his memorable 100th homerun.
Waseda Jitsugyo won the first game 8-4 against Shigakukan High School and lost the second 1-5  against Kyoei High School.

Kotaro Kiyomiya commented:

"It was a perfect home run. I knew it would go the moment I hit the ball. 

"It was a somewhat different one, unlike the ones I had hit that far, in that everybody cheered for me - not only my own teammates but the players of the opponent team." (Nathan Shiga) 

Source: NHK