Baseball NSW were honoured to celebrate 120 years of Japanese University Rivalry, with the Junko Baseball teams from Waseda and Keio battling it out at Blacktown International Sports Park.
Baseball NSW were honoured to host the teams, in Sydney, for the game! Not even the weather could keep us away, as a last-minute rescheduling of the game saw the teams taking to the diamond on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
The Waseda and Keio Universities of Tokyo, Japan, sent their Junko Baseball teams down under to compete in a one-day match in Sydney. Baseball Australia CEO, Glenn Williams commented prior to the game, “Baseball has been the vehicle that has created many friendships and strong partnerships between Japan and Australia, and we have no doubt that this event will bring our countries closer together and be a memorable experience for all involved.”
The game followed a three-day series in Adelaide which is part of an ongoing partnership with the Adelaide Giants. The teams were so much fun to host and a nail-biting game in Sydney definitely provided a memorable experience for those both playing and spectating.
Thank you to the two teams for a great game, and congratulations to Waseda University, winning the match to settle this year’s competition! It was great fun to experience the rivalry firsthand in Australia.
A special thank you to the Waseda and Keio University Dignitaries for their presentations, CEO of Baseball Australia Glenn Williams, the Sydney Sakura Kids Cheerleaders for their performance, and to the Sydney Japanese Consul-General, Shuichi Tokuda, for throwing the first pitch of the game!
The Consul General believes that “promoting sports exchanges transcends borders and undoubtedly contributes to fostering international friendship, goodwill, and mutual understanding among nations” and this is why we enjoy hosting these events.
Baseball NSW CEO Mark Marino says “Events such as these are a great opportunity to showcase international baseball and attract a broader audience of followers to the game.” With such a large Japanese community in Sydney, it was wonderful to be able to host a game on Australian soil that allowed a celebration of Japanese culture. “The quality was of an exceptional standard and the event gave us the chance to strengthen our relationship with international competition.”
Baseball NSW look forward to the opportunity to do this again in the future.