Yokohama High School Baseball Players Return Inspired After World cup Competition
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - Four members of Yokohama High School’s baseball team have returned to campus following their participation in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025, bringing with them valuable experience and renewed dedication as the school’s team competes in the autumn prefectural tournament. The players – Abe, Okumura (Rai), Okumura (Ryo), and Wei Yong – represented not only their school but also Japan on the international stage.
The team’s recent appearance in the prestigious tournament, following successes in the prefectural tournament and at Koshien, has energized the entire Yokohama High School baseball program. the returning players are eager to apply their newfound skills and insights to their future baseball careers and to mentor the younger athletes now carrying on the team’s legacy. This influx of experience is expected to considerably impact the school’s performance in upcoming competitions and foster a stronger baseball community within Yokohama.
Abe shared that he intends to utilize the experiences gained throughout the summer – including the prefectural tournament, Koshien, and the World Cup – to fuel his future baseball endeavors. Okumura (Rai) expressed a commitment to continued hard work, stating, “Just because my playing in high school is over doesn’t mean that its over, so I’ll just keep my guard down and work hard towards the next stage.”
Okumura (Ryo) emphasized a focus on contributing to team success at the collegiate level,adding,”When you go to college,you will be particular about beating your opponents and fulfilling your role to contribute to the team.” He also pledged support for his former teammates at Yokohama High School, noting, “I think the current Yokohama high School athletes will also work harder than they do, so I will also support the juniors.”
Wei Yong echoed this sentiment, stating he will leverage his World Cup experience to further refine his skills as he continues playing baseball in college.
Currently, the newly formed Yokohama High School baseball team is actively practicing and competing in the autumn prefectural tournament. School officials believe the performance of the four players at the World Championships served as a powerful source of inspiration for the younger team members.The school expressed gratitude to the players for their dedication and to supporters nationwide for their encouragement, and looks forward to continued support in the future.
