*This content was translated by AI.
Eom Jun-sang (18), the No. 1 candidate for the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft, led Deoksu High School to the final of the first national competition.
Deoksu High School, led by head coach Jung Yoon-jin, advanced to the final by beating Gwangju Jeil High School 1-0 in the semifinals of the "2026 Shinsegae E-Mart Bae National High School Baseball Competition" held at Sunshine Miryang Sports Park Main Stadium in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do on the 10th.
As a showdown between the favorites, the two teams exchanged only three hits each. For Gwangju High School, it was the most regrettable that several chances were canceled due to a failed steal.
The result was in the top of the sixth inning. Deoksu Kim Kyu-min suddenly shook after two outs. Kim Si-woo was on the verge of loading the bases, giving a walk to Kim Si-woo, a hit to Bae Jong-yoon, and a walk to Kim Sun-bin. At this time, Um Jun-sang, who was at shortstop, took the mound. Cho Hwi-won touched the 148km/h fastball thrown by Um Jun-sang, which became a fly ball, and Gwangju High School lost the opportunity to turn the tables.
Deoksu, on the other hand, did not miss a single opportunity. Leading hitter Cho Won-bin walked to get on base, and Hwang Sung-hyun sent the runner to second base with a sacrifice bunt. Park Jong-hyuk stepped down with a fly ball to left field, but Yoon Jung-chan and Lee Yoon-jae filled all bases with consecutive walks. Gwangju Ilgo pitcher Kim Seung-min's balk was declared at Choi Soo-wan's at-bat. And this loss became the winning point as it was.
Um Jun-sang took the mound afterwards and led Deoksu to a 1-0 victory by taking responsibility until the ninth inning with two hits, one walk, and three strikeouts in three ⅓ innings. Now Deoksu is looking to win his 24th national championship. Deoksu High School, E-Mart's most winning team, tries to appease the disappointment of being eliminated in the second round last year.
Deoksu High School of the tournament was not expected to be easy until the final due to injuries and sluggish performances of its main players. The main catcher Seol Jae-min (18) needed a two-week break due to mild shoulder inflammation, and center fielder Hwang Sung-hyun (18) was also belatedly put in as a pinch hitter from the quarterfinals against Busan High School. It is also regrettable that right-hander ace Kim Dae-seung (18) and shortstop Um Jun-sang did not improve their batting conditions.
However, Um Jun-sang proved why he is the No. 1 overall candidate with a stable shortstop defense and his appearance on the mound. As a pitcher, Um Jun-sang took the mound at every important moment with four hits, one walk, five strikeouts, and one run in three games and four ⅓ innings.
Meanwhile, Gwangju Jeil High School, the favorite, suffered from the unexpected slump in the lineup. Ace Park Chan-min (18) drew the attention of Korean and U.S. scouts with excellent ball power with three wins and no losses in four games and three strikeouts in 23 ⅔ innings.
Deoksu's final opponent was Yatago with right-hander one-two punch Park Si-hoo (18) and Lee Won-young (18). Yatago, which has an impressive mound, won 3-2 in the semifinals against Daejeon High School. Lee Won-young was in charge of the game with three hits, three walks, five strikeouts and two runs in three innings, and Park Si-hoo was in charge of the game with two hits, one walk and eight strikeouts in six innings.
Park Si-hoo led the Yatapo boom by marking a 1.04 ERA with one win and no loss in five ⅓ and 23 strikeouts with six outs (four walks and two bodies) in 17 games. However, Park Si-hoo, who threw 77 pitches in the semifinals, cannot take the mound in the final. Lee Won-young, who joined from Bae Myung-go, is expected to take the mound in the final as he has played with a 1.42 ERA and nine walks and 16 strikeouts in 12 ⅔ innings in four games.
In addition, left-hander Cho Yeon-hoo (18) has improved further with four wins and no losses in eight games this year, including two wins in this year's tournament, and 17 pitches (three balls on 14 walks) with 26 strikeouts in 24 ⅔ innings, which will enable him to seek his first national championship in nine years. The only victory for Yatapo in the national competition was Bonghwanggi in 2017.
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*This content was translated by AI.
