**Northern All-Stars Secure Victory Against Southern All-Stars in SOL KBO Shinhan Bank Future League All-Star Game**
**By Kyuhyun Shim, Sports Korea Journalist**
BUSAN, Sajik Baseball Stadium – In a momentous win, the Northern All-Stars triumphed over their counterparts from the South for the first time in 12 years at the 2023 SOL KBO Shinhan Bank Future League All-Star Game. The match, held at the esteemed Sajik Baseball Stadium on the 14th of July, witnessed the North prevailing over the South with a final score of 9-7.
This victory proved to be a significant milestone for the Northern All-Stars, marking their first win against the Southern All-Stars since 2011. Previously, the North had faced two triumphs, two draws, and eight losses against their southern rivals.
The game began with an intense pitching battle, as both teams exhibited remarkable skills on the mound. Kim Yoo-seong (Doosan), Jeong Yi-hwang (Hanwha), and Seong Jae-hyeon (LG) showcased their prowess, delivering three scoreless innings for the Northern All-Stars. Lee Seung-min (Sangmu) from the South displayed his proficiency by allowing only one hit in two innings, effectively thwarting the Northern All-Star lineup.
It was the Northern All-Stars who broke the deadlock in the game. In the bottom of the third inning, leadoff batter Heo Gwan-hoe (Hanwha) reached base through a walk. Yang Kyung-shik (Goyang) followed up with a floating hit to left field, setting the stage for Lee Min-joon (Hanwha) to produce an impressive one-run double. Subsequently, Lee Joo-hyung (LG) retired with a ground ball to first base, allowing Lee Min-jun to settle at third base. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Kim Jung-min (SSG) at bat, witnessed Hwang Dong-ha (KIA) committing a balk, which propelled the Northern All-Stars to a 2-0 lead.
The Southern All-Stars launched a counter-attack in the top of the 4th inning. With two outs, Kim Young-woong (Samsung) and Han Seung-yeon (KIA) delivered consecutive hits. This was followed by Jeong Dae-seon’s (Lotte) 2-RBI triple, equalizing the score. Kim Byung-jun (kt) extended lead by hitting an RBI double, giving the South a 3-2 advantage.
The Northern All-Stars seized an opportunity in the 5th inning, securing the first and second base with a powerful shot from Kim Seong-woo (LG) and being struck by a pitch by Yang Kyung-sik (Goyang). However, their momentum was halted when Kim Seong-woo, attempting to steal third, was caught, resulting in one out.
Nevertheless, the Northern All-Stars maintained control of the game and swiftly bounced back. Lee Min-june successfully reached the base with a crucial hit, and aided by a double steal and a walk, they seized a chance with one out. Han Jae-seung (NC) of the South enabled the North to reverse the score to 4-3 with a wild attack in the bottom of the 5th inning.
Undeterred, the Northern All-Stars continued to dominate, with Kim Beom-seok (LG) delivering a three-run homer with two outs and bases loaded. This monumental shot propelled the North to widen the gap, leading 7-3.
The Southern All-Stars displayed resilience and fought back. A triple from Kim Byeong-jun in the top of the 7th inning opened the floodgates, followed by Cho Min-seong narrowing the score to 4-7 with an RBI and 2 walks. Taking advantage of the momentum, Nambu initiated a comeback with Kim Seong-woo (KIA) hitting a one-run double, followed by Koo Bon-hyeok’s (Sangmu) four-run double.
In the bottom of the 7th inning, leadoff batter Lee Joo-hyeong capitalized on an opponent’s error, securing a spot at second base. Through Kim Gun-i’s (SSG) RBI, the Northern All-Stars reversed the score to take the lead. In a subsequent play, Kim Gun-yi successfully stole second base. It was then that Kim Beom-seok, displaying his prowess, delivered a timely and crucial hit for another RBI.
In the top of the ninth inning, the North Korean leadoff hitter, Seo Sang-Jun, stood firm against the South’s lineup, ultimately securing victory for the Northern All-Stars.
[스포츠한국 심규현 기자] The Northern All-Stars defeated the Southern All-Stars for the first time in 12 years thanks to LG Twins Kim Beom-seok’s 3-point wedge.
Beomseok Kim. ⓒ Youth News
The North won 9-7 in the 2023 SOL KBO Shinhan Bank Future League All-Star Game held at the Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan at 6:15 pm on the 14th. With this, the North has recorded 2 wins, 2 draws and 8 losses against the South in the previous opponents.
With this victory, the North won against the Southern All-Stars for the first time in 12 years since 2011.
Early in the game, both teams were engaged in a tight pitching battle. In the North, Kim Yoo-seong (Doosan), Jeong Yi-hwang (Hanwha), and Seong Jae-hyeon (LG) pitched and pitched three scoreless innings. In the South, Lee Seung-min (Sangmu) allowed just one hit in two innings, blocking the Northern All-Star lineup.
On this day, the first team to succeed in overcoming the baseline was the North. In the bottom of the third inning, leadoff batter Heo Gwan-hoe (Hanwha) got on base with a walk. Later, Yang Kyung-shik (Goyang) stepped back with a floater in left field, but Lee Min-joon (Hanwha) hit a big one-run double that hit the top of the left fielder.
In the continuing attack, Lee Joo-hyung (LG) retired with a ground ball to first base. Meanwhile, second base runner Lee Min-jun settled down at third base. Later, when Kim Jung-min (SSG) was at bat, Hwang Dong-ha (KIA) balked, and the Northern All-Stars ran away 2-0.
The South also launched a counter-attack. After two kills in the top of the 4th inning, Kim Young-woong (Samsung) and Han Seung-yeon (KIA) scored consecutive hits. Following this, Jeong Dae-seon (Lotte) hit a 2-RBI triple, immediately tying the game. And the following hitter Kim Byung-jun (kt) hit an RBI double back for another, and Nambu clinched the game 3-2.
Jeong Dae-haul. ⓒ Youth News
Bukbu, who allowed a change, seized the opportunity to secure 1st and 2nd place at the end of the 5th inning with a left-handed shot by Kim Seong-woo (LG) and a ball by Yang Kyung-sik (Goyang) that hit the body. However, when the following batter Lee Min-joon was at bat, Kim Seong-woo, who tried to steal third, was caught and became first with one out.
However, the North did not lose control of the attack. Lee Min-June immediately managed to reach the base with a heavy blow. And with a double steal and a walk, he took a chance with one out. Here, the North managed to reverse 4-3 with a wild attack by Han Jae-seung (NC) in the South.
Even after the reverse, the North continued to drive the South. Kim Beom-seok (LG) hit a three-run homer with two outs on first and second base, set up by a Euro walk. With this one shot, the North widened the gap to 7-3.
Kim Beom-seok (center). ⓒ Youth News
The South did not go back down easily either. After one hit in the top of the 7th inning, Kim Byeong-jun opened the floodgates with a triple that hit the top of the right-field wall. Then, Cho Min-seong narrowed the score to 4-7 with 1 RBI and 2 walks.
Nambu, on the back of the current, managed to draw with a one-run double by Kim Seon-woo (KIA) and a four-run double by Koo Bon-hyeok (Sangmu) in the continued attack.
In the bottom of the 7th inning, leadoff batter Lee Joo-hyeong took advantage of an error by defending the opponent and settled down at second base. Then, Kim Jeong-min stepped back with a ground ball to first base, but through Kim Gun-i’s (SSG) 1 RBI, the North managed to reverse.
In the following situation, Kim Gun-yi was able to steal second base. Here, Kim Beom-seok, who hit a home run in every at-bat, hit a timely hit with one RBI.
North Korean leadoff hitter Seo Sang-Jun in the top of the ninth to block the South’s lineup. In the end, the game ended with the North winning.
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