'Top Overall Prospect' Ha Hyun-seung throws 152 km/h! Despite KKKKKK in 2 innings, Busan High loses 2-4... Deoksu High advances to Round of 16 led by Eom Jun-sang [President's Cup Live Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

Led by Ha Hyun-seung (18), a top overall candidate for the 2027 KBO Draft, Busan High struggled with an offense that failed to score and missed out on advancing to the Round of 16 at the President's Cup.

On the 22nd, Busan High lost 2-4 to Hwimun High in the second round of the 60th President's Cup National High School Baseball Tournament held at Pohang Sports Complex in Gyeongbuk.

The game drew numerous scouts due to Ha Hyun-seung's participation. Starting as the fourth hitter and designated hitter, Ha managed only three infield grounders at the plate, finishing 0-for-4 with one strikeout. As a pitcher, he displayed powerful stuff. Entering in the seventh inning, Ha ended his outing with two innings of work, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out six batters and surrendering just one earned run, all while throwing pitches clocked up to 152 km/h.

However, it was not enough to overcome Hwimun High, which boasted a solid pitching staff. Second-year starter Lee Jun-beom laid the foundation for victory with five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out two batters. Following him, third-year ace Kim Jeong-hyun pitched three innings, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out three batters and giving up two earned runs. Kim Dan then closed out a perfect inning in just 15 pitches. Offensively, third-year center fielder Lee Woong-chan shined with three hits in three at-bats (one home run), one RBI, and two runs scored.

Hwimun High's lineup that day consisted of Kim Yong-hwi (second baseman), Hong Chan-ui (right fielder), Yoo Je-min (catcher), Seo Chan-bin (first baseman), Kim Yun-gyu (shortstop), Kim Do-hoon (designated hitter), Ju Yoon-seong (third baseman), Seo Hyun-woo (left fielder), and Lee Woong-chan (center fielder). The starting pitcher was Lee Jun-beom.

Busan High countered with a lineup featuring Park Jae-hwi (left fielder), Seo Seong-bin (first baseman), Shin Ji-heon (shortstop), Ha Hyun-seung (designated hitter), Jang Ju-young (catcher), Ha Hyun-jin (center fielder), Kim Do-yoon (third baseman), Choi Hyun-woong (second baseman), and Jo Jae-woo (right fielder). The starting pitcher was Lee Seung-min.

Hwimun High took the lead first. In the bottom of the second inning, leadoff batter Seo Chan-bin reached base on a fielding error by the opposing second baseman. A wild pitch and Kim Yun-gyu's single to left field loaded the bases with no outs. Kim Do-hoon then drove in one run with a sacrifice fly to left field. Following that, Seo Hyun-woo hit a two-run double over the pitcher's head to center field, extending the lead to 2-0.

Hwimun High added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning on Lee Woong-chan's solo home run to left-center field. In the bottom of the seventh, they finally broke through Ha Hyun-seung. After a walk by Lee Woong-chan and a double to center by Kim Yong-hwi loaded the bases with no outs, Yoo Je-min hit a two-run double down the left-field line to seal the victory.

Busan High managed to avoid a shutout loss in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs and runners on first and third following a walk by Jang Ju-young and a single to right field by Ha Hyun-jin, Jo Jae-woo hit a two-run double down the gap between center and right field.

Meanwhile, Sorae High defeated Gwangnam BC 9-3, and Mulgeum High beat Raon High 8-7. Deoksu High, aiming for its first President's Cup title in 17 years, overcame Masan Yongma High 10-5 after a grueling four-hour and twenty-minute battle. Gongju High secured a five-inning cold game victory against Gyeonggi Air High School 13-2, powered by Choi Eun-taek's bases-loaded home run.

Deoksu High used seven pitchers in total. Ace Kim Dae-seung earned the win with three innings of work, allowing three hits (one home run), two walks, striking out six batters, and surrendering three earned runs. Captain Eom Jun-sang, who recently signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB), led Deoksu High to a 10-5 victory and advancement to the Round of 16 with four hits in four at-bats, including a two-run single, one RBI, and three runs scored.

Daegu High also secured a 7-2 victory over Masan High behind a strong pitching staff. Lee Hyun-min earned the win with five innings, allowing four hits (one home run), one walk, striking out three batters, and surrendering two earned runs. Jo Yong-jun pitched 2⅓ scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out five batters. Jeong Il also threw 1⅔ scoreless innings, allowing two hits with no walks and striking out one batter, helping the team maintain its lead throughout. At the plate, leadoff hitter Park Seung-chan stood out with a near-cycle performance: four at-bats, three hits (one home run), three RBIs, and three runs scored, missing only one hit for a cycle.

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*This content was translated by AI.