Gyeonggi Whimoon Academy Youth Baseball Team Claims Triple Crown... Wins National Championship at Cheongchun Yanggu Tournament

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The Gyeonggi Whimoon Academy Youth Baseball Team, based in Dongtan, Hwaseong City, has risen to become the strongest in youth baseball by achieving a triple crown this year.

In the final of the U-13 division at the 5th Cheongchun Yanggu National Youth Baseball Tournament held on the 8th, Whimoon Academy defeated the Seoul Songpa-gu Youth Baseball Team 14-3 to claim the championship, powered in part by two home runs from Park Se-won.

The tournament, organized by the Korea Youth Baseball Federation (Chairman Lee Sang-geun), was held over six days from October 30 to November 8 at eight venues, including Hari Baseball Field in Yanggu County, Gangwon Province, with 111 teams participating.

In the final of the U-13 division, the top league for youth baseball, Whimoon Academy took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on Lee Si-hwan's triple over the right-field fence, Kim Yun-jun's sacrifice fly, and Park Se-won's two-run home run to left-center field following Kim Ha-il's double to right-center. Songpa-gu, making its first appearance in a final this year, mounted a comeback in the top of the third inning while trailing 0-4, scoring two runs on consecutive center-field singles by Kim Tae-hyun and Kim Dan, followed by Kim Si-woo's single to left field.

The outcome of the championship was decided in the bottom of the third inning. Whimoon Academy scored seven runs in a big inning, including Park Se-won's three-run home run to left field following singles by Kim Yun-jun over right-field and Kim Ha-il to left field, Kim Ji-soo's two-base hit to right-center with one RBI, Song Ji-hoo's two-base hit down the left-field line with one RBI, and errors by the opposing team, extending their lead to 11-2.

In the top of the fourth inning, Songpa-gu narrowed the gap by one run on Son Yun-woo's home run over center field, but Whimoon Academy added three runs in the bottom of the fifth and lifted the championship trophy after Park Se-won recorded a scoreless final defensive inning in the top of the sixth.

Park Se-won (Gyeonggi Whimoon Academy Youth Baseball Team), who hit home runs in consecutive at-bats in the final, finished the tournament with four hits in 13 at-bats (a .308 batting average) and nine RBIs. On the mound, he pitched seven innings, allowing three runs, striking out 10 batters, recording two wins, and posting a 3.86 ERA. Park was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP), while Kim Ha-il (Gyeonggi Whimoon Academy Youth Baseball Team) and Kim Si-woo (Seoul Songpa-gu Youth Baseball Team) received Outstanding Player Awards.

MVP Park Se-won said, "It is a great joy that our sixth-grade team has won the U-13 league championship for the first time. I believe this result was achieved because we did not give up until the end and gave it our all together with my friends; it would have been impossible to achieve alone. I will keep in mind the saying 'There is no player greater than the team' and strive to always fulfill my role as a player." He added, "My favorite player is Im Chan-gyu of the LG Twins. I want to emulate his dedication to fulfilling his role for the team and his ability to lift team morale. My favorite professional baseball team is also the LG Twins. It has been my favorite team ever since I first encountered it at Jamsil Baseball Stadium when I was four years old."

Park Young-ju, manager of the Gyeonggi Whimoon Academy Youth Baseball Team, who received the Manager's Award at the tournament, said, "First and foremost, I am truly happy and honored that our team was able to achieve the valuable results of winning both the U-13 and Dream Sprout divisions." He continued, "I believe baseball is not a sport where one can win by being good individually; it is a sport where victory is possible only when all team members do their best in their respective positions and trust and rely on one another. There were difficult moments while preparing for and playing in this tournament, but we were able to achieve such a good result because we encouraged each other, united as one, and did not give up until the end."

He added, "Above all, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the team members who sweated together and gave their best. I also sincerely thank everyone who has always supported us and provided generous assistance. Going forward, we will not rest on our laurels but will continue to trust and rely on one another to become an even more growing team."

Lee Sang-geun, chairman of the Korea Youth Baseball Federation, stated, "We have been holding youth baseball tournaments in Yanggu, Gangwon Province for 13 consecutive years. Thanks to the active support provided during a period when attention was needed, we were able to produce 10 players selected in last year's KBO professional draft and 11 this year." He added, "Children who play baseball as a hobby are cultivating growth momentum through the sport and advancing to prestigious universities both domestically and internationally. These achievements were possible due to the significant contributions of local governments such as Yanggu County, Sunchang County, Hwaseong County, Andong City, and Seochun County in developing youth sports. I would like to express my gratitude once again. I am also grateful to Mayor Kim Wang-gyu of Yanggu County, Gangwon Province, for preparing an excellent tournament, and to the residents of Yanggu County who supported its success. We will do our best to help expand the base of youth baseball and revitalize the local economy."

The tournament was sponsored by the (Incorporated) Yanggu County Sports Foundation, SOOP, and the baseball equipment company Yayongsah. The two final games were broadcast live on SOOP via TV broadcast format, with commentary by broadcaster So Dae-su and committee member Choi Kyung-hwan, a former hitting coach for the Doosan Bears.

● Sprout League (U-9) ▲ Champion – Seoul Songpa-gu Minbol Youth Baseball Team (Manager Lee Hong-gu) ▲ Runner-up – Gyeonggi Whimoon Academy Youth Baseball Team (Manager Heo Yun) ▲ Most Valuable Player – Jeong Min-chan (Seoul Songpa-gu Minbol Youth Baseball Team)

● Dream Sprout League (U-11) Green Dragon ▲ Champion – Gyeonggi Whimoon Academy Youth Baseball Team (Manager Park Young-ju) ▲ Runner-up – Gyeonggi Paju City Youth Baseball Team (Manager Kim Min-su) ▲ Most Valuable Player – Kim Do-hyung (Gyeonggi Whimoon Academy Youth Baseball Team)

● Dream Sprout League (U-11) Black Tiger ▲ Champion – Seoul Seodaemun-gu Yonsei Youth Baseball Team (Manager Yoon Jang-sul) ▲ Runner-up – Gyeonggi Big Dream Youth Baseball Team (Manager Nipher) ▲ Most Valuable Player – Woo Seong-min (Seoul Seodaemun-gu Yonsei Youth Baseball Team)

● Youth League (U-13) Green Dragon ▲ Champion – Gyeonggi Whimoon Academy Youth Baseball Team (Manager Park Young-ju) ▲ Runner-up – Seoul Songpa-gu Youth Baseball Team (Manager Yoon Gyu-jin) ▲ Most Valuable Player – Park Se-won (Gyeonggi Whimoon Academy Youth Baseball Team)

● Youth League (U-13) White Tiger ▲ Champion – Chungnam Asan City Youth Baseball Team (Manager Hwang Min-ho) ▲ Runner-up – Gyeonggi Big Dream Youth Baseball Team (Manager Nipher) ▲ Most Valuable Player – Shin Ji-won (Chungnam Asan City Youth Baseball Team)

● Junior League (U-16) ▲ Champion – Sejong Public SC (Manager Kim Seung-gwon) ▲ Runner-up – Gyeonggi Namyangju Yanol Youth Baseball Team (Manager Kwon Oh-hyun) ▲ Most Valuable Player – Seong Jeong-woo (Sejong Public SC)

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original