'First since Yoon Young-cheol and Kim Dong-heon' Chungam High School, National Championship Victory After 5 Years! Defeats Daejeon High 10-4 to Win the Golden Saja Cup [Mokdong On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Chungam High School, bolstered by stable pitching and hitting performances, defeated Daejeon High School and maintained its undefeated record in the Golden Saja Cup finals.

Chungam High School decisively defeated Daejeon High School 10-4 in the final of the 80th Golden Saja Cup National High School Baseball Tournament held at Seoul Mokdong Baseball Stadium on the 16th.

With this victory, Chungam High School won the national tournament final for the first time in five years since winning the Cheongryonggi and Presidential Cup titles during the era of Yoon Young-cheol (22, KIA Tigers) and Kim Dong-heon (22, Kiwoom Heroes) in 2021. Additionally, its undefeated record in the Golden Saja Cup finals was preserved. This marks their first final victory in 15 years, having previously won the tournament three times in 1990, 2009, and 2011, continuing their dominance in the Golden Saja Cup.

Despite numerous injuries, including ace second-year student Song Seong-jun (17) and third-year shortstop Sung Se-ram (18), the team showcased a solid lineup. Center fielder Jang Min-je (18) led the batting order as the leadoff hitter, recording 3 hits in 5 at-bats with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. The middle-order hitters also delivered outstanding performances. Third baseman Bae Jeong-ho went 2-for-4 with 1 RBI, 2 runs scored, and 1 stolen base; right fielder Shin Ji-ho went 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs and 1 run scored; and first baseman Jang Geun-woo went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and 1 run scored.

On the mound, Seo Won-jun, who entered as the second pitcher, earned the win with 7 2/3 innings pitched, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs. Head Coach Lee Young-bok led Chungam High School to its sixth national championship title since taking over in 2004. Seo Won-jun of Chungam High School was named the Most Valuable Player, Kim Ji-yoon of Chungam High School received the Outstanding Pitcher award, and third baseman Bae Jeong-ho of Chungam High School was honored with the Meritorious Service Award. Center fielder Jang Min-je of Chungam High School was recognized for his skills as a leadoff hitter, leading all players with 8 runs scored.

In contrast, Daejeon High School fell short in its first-ever Golden Saja Cup final appearance after 64 years since its founding. It was a painful blow that Han Gyu-min (17), who had led the team to the final, could not participate due to pitch count restrictions. Their trusted pitchers Yoon Sang-hyun and An Tae-geon also faltered, allowing 2 earned runs in 1 inning and 5 earned runs (3 earned) in 2 2/3 innings, respectively. The once-hot Daejeon High School batting lineup fell silent against Chungam High School's solid defense. Woo Ju-ro recorded 1 hit in 3 at-bats with 1 run scored, and Oh Ra-on recorded 1 hit in 3 at-bats with 1 RBI, totaling just 3 hits for the team.

Had Daejeon High School won the championship, it would have become the 15th team to win all four major tournaments (Golden Saja Cup, Cheongryonggi, Presidential Cup, and Bonghwangdae).

Before Daejeon High School, only 14 teams had achieved a national tournament Grand Slam: Gyeongbuk High School (1971: Golden Saja Cup, Cheongryonggi, Presidential Cup, Bonghwangdae), Daegu Sangwon High School (1973: Golden Saja Cup, Presidential Cup, Bonghwangdae), Gunsan Sangil High School (1982: Cheongryonggi, Bonghwangdae), Gwangju Il High School (1983: Golden Saja Cup, Presidential Cup, Bonghwangdae), Bukil High School (2002: Golden Saja Cup, Bonghwangdae), Gwangju Dongseong High School (2003: Cheongryonggi), Deoksu High School (2008: Presidential Cup), Seoul High School (2014: Golden Saja Cup), Hwimun High School (2014: Bonghwangdae), Dongsan High School (2016: Presidential Cup), Incheon High School (2020: Bonghwangdae), Chungam High School (2021: Cheongryonggi, Presidential Cup), Busan High School (2023: Golden Saja Cup), and Gyeongnam High School (2025: Presidential Cup).

On this day, Daejeon High School lined up with Woo Ju-ro (shortstop), Park Jun-seo (second baseman), Oh Ra-on (third baseman), Lee Kang-seok (left fielder), Kim Yong-wook (center fielder), Lee In-hyeok (right fielder), Park Sang-min (designated hitter), Im Han-gyeol (first baseman), and Park Sung-jin (catcher). The starting pitcher was Hwang Ji-hyeong.

In response, Chungam High School lined up with Jang Min-je (center fielder), An Geon-woo (left fielder), Bae Jeong-ho (third baseman), Shin Ji-ho (right fielder), Oh Yu-chan (shortstop), Jang Geun-woo (first baseman), Kim Hyun-woo (catcher), Bae Yun-ho (designated hitter), and Kim Seung-ha (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Jeon Gang-yoon.

Daejeon High School took the lead. In the top of the first inning, leadoff hitter Woo Ju-ro reached base with an infield hit. Woo Ju-ro advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored when Oh Ra-on hit a ground ball to the shortstop. Chungam High School immediately turned the game around. In the bottom of the first inning with two outs, Bae Jeong-ho hit a double to left-center field, and Shin Ji-ho hit a single to right field to tie the game 1-1. Oh Yu-chan reached base on a walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Jang Geun-woo hit a two-run single to right field, giving Chungam High School a 3-1 lead.

The batting lineup never seemed to cool down. In the bottom of the second inning, Bae Yun-ho reached base on a walk, and Kim Seung-ha bunted him to second base. Jang Min-je hit a ball into the gap between the second baseman and right fielder, creating scoring opportunities with runners on first and third. Later, during Bae Jeong-ho's at-bat, a balk occurred, allowing Chungam High School to extend its lead by one run. Shin Ji-ho then hit a one-run single to left-center field off a hit-by-pitch, widening the score gap to 5-1.

In contrast, Daejeon High School showed some shortcomings in the detailed flow of the game. In the top of the fourth inning with one out, Oh Ra-on hit a single to left field, and Lee Kang-seok reached base on a first baseman's error, creating a scoring opportunity with runners on second and third. However, the inning ended with a double play when Lee Kang-seok, the runner on second, failed to return to the base in time on Kim Yong-wook's fly ball to center field.

The momentum remained with Chungam High School thereafter. In the top of the fifth inning, leadoff hitter Jang Geun-woo reached base with an infield hit. Kim Hyun-woo attempted a bunt, but An Tae-geon made a throwing error, allowing all runners to advance. Bae Yun-ho then hit a one-run single, and Jang Min-je followed with a two-run single to center field, extending Chungam High School's lead to 10-1.

In the top of the ninth inning, Daejeon High School's final offensive effort saw Park Jun-seo and Oh Ra-on hit consecutive singles, followed by Lee Kang-seok's two-run double down the right-field line, scoring three runs and salvaging some dignity.

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*This content was translated by AI.