Masango advances to the second round with a cold game loss to top-seeded Seoul Deoksugo. Masango defeated Deoksugo 11-4 in the first game of the 78th Cheongnyonggi National High School Baseball Championship and Weekend League Wangjoongwang (co-hosted by Chosun Ilbo, Sports Chosun, and the Korea Baseball Softball Association) on Tuesday at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul. Seoul Convention, making its first appearance in the tournament this year, also defeated Seongnam Yatap Go 5-3. Seoul Chungam, last year’s runner-up and looking to return to the top after a two-year absence, defeated Incheon Dongsango 4-1.

Masango 11-4 Deoksugo <7th inning cold

Masango is a team that hasn’t received much attention in the high school championship. However, they had the ability to create upsets at any time once they gained momentum. The sacrifice was Duksugo, the defending All-E-Mart Varsity Nationals champions and one of the strongest favorites in the tournament. Masango took advantage of the absence of sophomore ace Lee Jong-ho due to injury and capitalized on the weaknesses, with the top and bottom of the lineup combining for 10 hits and five stolen bases. “I told the players that it would be a good experience just to play against Deoksugo because they are so strong, but it feels even better to win,” said Masango coach Ko Yoon-seong. Masango will face Busan Go in the second round.안전놀이터

Chungam 4-1 Dongsango

Chungam-go, which led 4-0 when the game was suspended due to rain in the top of the fifth inning on the 9th, gave up one run in the bottom of the sixth inning on the 10th as if they had lost their concentration, and were stranded on base three times. It was the ‘two’ Gun-woo who set the tone. Byun Gun-woo was on the mound again, pitching a total of five and two-thirds innings and one run (unearned), and Park Gun-woo took over the game with three and one-third innings of two-hit ball, striking out five and giving up no runs.

Seoul Convention Go 5-3 Seongnam Yatap Go

With the score tied at 3-3 in the eighth inning, left fielder Kim Chan-soo (sophomore) broke the tie with a single up the middle and scored on a groundout by third baseman Ko Han-jeol (freshman). Sophomore right-hander Kim Sang-ho, who started the sixth inning, earned the win with four innings of two-hit ball, one walk, six strikeouts and one run. “I was nervous because it was my first start in a long time, but I was able to shake it off and pitch well,” said Kim. “I hope the team can go as high as possible, and I personally hope my changeup works well.”

◇Ulsan Gongo 9-1 Ulsan Gongo BC <7th inning cold

Leading 2-1 after four innings, Yushin scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, including a two-run triple by Shim Jae-hoon. Yushin added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend its lead to eight runs, and held Ulsan Gongo scoreless in the top of the seventh to complete the cold game. Sophomore Jae-hoon Shim, batting in the No. 4 spot, went 4-for-4 with three RBIs.

Cheonan Bukil High 12-4 Copper Inchango

Cheonan Bukil-Go, the 1983 champions, fell behind 1-4 through five innings after ace Lee Hyun-Wook, who returned from injury in the first inning, struggled and gave up four runs. But in the sixth inning, they scored four runs on five hits to turn the game around. In the top of the ninth, they scored six runs on three hits and four walks to end the Inchango rally. Bukilgo’s Hong Jun-seo did his part as a center fielder, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs.