'New Team' Ansan Waves Becomes Independent Baseball's Top Force! Defeats Yeoncheon Miracle in 'KBO Dream Cup' Final → MVP 'Two-Way Player' Park Hee-soo

*This content was translated by AI.

'New independent baseball team' Ansan Waves defeated the defending champion in its first tournament appearance and rose to become the top force in national independent baseball.

Ansan Waves defeated defending champion Yeoncheon Miracle 9-1 in the final of the '2026 KBO DREAM CUP Independent Baseball Tournament' held on the 29th at the KBO Baseball Center in Hwaseong, Gangwon Province, lifting the championship trophy. Founded in 2025, Ansan Waves made its debut in this tournament this year and achieved the remarkable feat of surging straight to the top with unstoppable momentum.

The game unfolded in Ansan Waves' favor from the early innings. In the top of the first, leadoff hitter Choi Yul-gi's RBI single gave Ansan the first run. In the top of the second, with no outs and runners on first and third, batter No. 8 Park Hee-soo's surprise bunt single, combined with an opponent's wild pitch, extended the lead to 3-0.

When Yeoncheon Miracle scored one run in the bottom of the fifth on Yoo Sang-min's sacrifice fly, Ansan immediately responded with a home run. In the top of the sixth, with a 3-1 lead, batter No. 4 Yang Jae-moon hit a powerful solo home run, shifting the momentum back to Ansan.

Ansan added another run in the top of the eighth on Kim Tae-min's bases-loaded walk, then completed a 'big inning' in the top of the ninth, the final offensive frame, by scoring four runs, including a two-RBI single by Park Jae-hyung, completely crushing Yeoncheon's pursuit.

The pitching staff also delivered a perfect relay performance. Starting pitcher Lee Jae-seong pitched three scoreless innings to lay the foundation, and reliever Choi Min-soo, who entered the game next, earned the win with three innings and one run allowed. In-hyung Jin recorded a hold with one scoreless inning, and Park Hee-soo, who had started as the shortstop, entered the game as a pitcher in the bottom of the eighth with no outs and a runner on first, retiring two scoreless innings to secure the victory.

On the other hand, Yeoncheon Miracle, which aimed for back-to-back championships, saw starter Kouki pitch five and two-thirds innings allowing four runs, and the lineup fought hard to rally, but could not overcome Ansan's solid pitching and late-game focus, settling for the runner-up title.

The tournament's standout star was Ansan's Park Hee-soo, who delivered dazzling performances both at the plate and on the mound. In the final, Park started as the shortstop, recording two hits and two RBIs in five at-bats, then took the mound in the later innings to deliver a two-inning scoreless performance in a one-man show. Finishing the tournament with a batting average of 0.444 (4 hits in 9 at-bats, 2 RBIs) and pitching 4⅓ innings with five strikeouts and no runs allowed, Park Hee-soo was named the tournament MVP (Most Valuable Player).

Additionally, Ansan Waves saw In-hyung Jin named to the Woo Su-tu (수상) award, Yang Jae-moon honored as the top hitter, and head coach Oh Tae-gon recognized as the manager, turning the awards ceremony into a celebration for Ansan. Yeoncheon Miracle's Jo Kang-hee received the Fighting Spirit Award.

As prizes, the champion Ansan Waves received the trophy, medals, and baseball equipment worth 20 million won, while the runner-up Yeoncheon Miracle received the trophy and baseball equipment worth 10 million won. MVP Park Hee-soo was awarded baseball equipment worth 1 million won, and other individual award recipients each received equipment worth 500,000 won.

Meanwhile, the final match was attended by major figures from the baseball world, including KBO Chairman Heo Goo-yeon, Special Advisor to the Chairman Jang Jong-hoon, Jeon Ryeok-gang-hwa (Chairman) Cho Gye-hyun, National Team Head Coach Ryu Ji-hyun, and Coach Lee Dong-wook, who brightened the event and encouraged the independent baseball players.

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*This content was translated by AI.