4th Grade Blog No.19

Masaya Fujiwara

Masaya Fujiwara

Today,‍ we bring you the blog from Masaya⁢ Fujiwara (Company 4, Rakunan)!

Looking ‌back, my⁢ 16 years in baseball have seemed long but also went by in a flash.

I ⁣had a lot of injuries​ and things didn’t go well in my baseball career, but I feel very sad that it’s over ⁣now. I would like to take this opportunity to look ‍back on⁣ my baseball⁢ career.

My baseball career began thanks to ⁢my father and older brother. From ‍the time I was old enough to understand, I⁣ would go​ to‍ Orix games with my father and older brother, and on weekends I⁤ would⁣ go to⁤ watch my brother practice and play for the local club team where my father⁤ was​ the coach. That was where I first encountered⁣ baseball, and I‌ was immediately drawn to the fun and appeal of the game.

As soon as I entered the first grade of elementary school, I⁣ joined a club ​team. In ‍my first ‍game, I played outfield and made a diving ⁢catch, which I ⁤still⁣ remember vividly. I was praised by everyone‍ around me, and I was very ​happy. The elation I ‌felt at ‍that moment was indescribable.⁢ Looking back, I think I have continued playing ‌baseball in search of this elation.

However, ‌when I ⁤was in my third year, ‍the‌ difference ⁣in physique between me and the others⁣ became‍ obvious, and ​nothing went ⁤well. I remember that baseball suddenly ​became uninteresting⁣ at that time. Furthermore, ⁣the coaches were strict, ⁣and I would get depressed as the‍ weekend approached, and ‌I would cry to⁣ my⁣ mother, ⁢saying, “I don’t want to go.”⁣ The words ⁢my mother told me ⁣at that time, “If you’re going to quit, keep trying until you really think you can’t do it,” still remain in my heart⁢ even now⁤ that I’m a university student. At‌ the time, I ‍thought, “Why‍ do‌ I have to keep ‌trying?” But looking back now, I’m really glad that I didn’t‌ quit, ⁤and I’m grateful‌ to⁤ my mother for stopping me.

I continued playing little league baseball after ​that, but it wasn’t a particularly strong team, and by the time I was in my third year, I⁣ think I had given up on my dream of becoming a professional baseball player ‌and going to Koshien.

But I still enjoyed baseball, and⁣ joined the baseball ​team at my⁣ junior high school. The baseball ⁤team at ⁢my junior high school⁣ was at ​a ​very high level, and I practiced hard every day, aiming to ‍be the toughest‌ in Kyoto. I had ⁣a serious injury, and at first it was all I could‌ do to keep up, but every time I⁣ overcame tough training with my teammates I felt I was growing both mentally and technically, and it ​was a very fulfilling experience.

We won practice matches against strong​ teams, and were serious about going to the national tournament.‌ However, ‍at‌ the regional tournament, which ​was the deciding factor in going ‍to the national tournament, we were defeated in the ⁢final. My junior high school ⁢baseball career ended abruptly. Although there was no visible result, I learned many important things other than baseball, such ​as the basics ​of baseball, failure, and even manners. This experience in junior‍ high ‌school undoubtedly became⁣ the‌ foundation of my​ baseball life.

In high school, after​ wavering until the last minute of the entrance exam, I went to the private school where my father and older brother went to, and joined the ​baseball club, which had many beginners and sometimes had fewer ‍than nine ⁤members. My activities⁤ there ‌began with recruiting for club⁤ activities, ​as I was the ​only freshman and the⁤ club was ⁣in danger of being disbanded. Fortunately,‍ I ‌was blessed with‌ many⁤ classmates, and I ‌was ‍able to ⁤gather‌ many friends ⁤who loved baseball, so I was able to continue playing baseball.

Then, in my second year, I achieved one⁤ win as ⁢the first ⁢female coach ‍in Kyoto ‌Prefecture, which was a valuable experience. I am very grateful to my friends who worked hard until the end, even though it was difficult to balance their studies at that time. The media also gathered and it was like a ​festival, and the elation at that time was ‍similar to the elation‍ I mentioned earlier, and it was very​ good.

In my‌ final year, there were often no coaches⁣ at practice, so I was made captain and I⁤ reviewed the basics and planned the practice. This was very⁤ helpful when I continued playing baseball at university. Also, since we were in a ⁢situation where if even one of us got injured we couldn’t participate in the tournament, I focused on injury prevention and deepened my knowledge of body care.

And the last tournament came without any practice due to COVID-19, so we had to go in without any practice. ⁢The result was a crushing defeat and we felt‌ like⁣ we hadn’t done ⁤enough. ⁣I was filled with feelings that I could have done more, and naturally applied​ to join the Kansai ⁤University ⁢baseball team, which was the next stage.

University started, and I ⁣attended practice sessions with the Kansai University baseball team, though I was a little‌ worried⁢ about whether I would be able to keep⁣ up. As someone who played baseball at a weak school, I was only ‍surprised by ⁢the level of ‌the players,⁤ and their physical size.

Especially since I joined the team as an infielder, I was‍ very surprised ⁣at the level of the players. I felt that the level was overwhelmingly different. ​Also, as a beginner​ at catch ball in high school, I was able ⁢to catch the ball with my opponent.

The ‌turning point⁣ in my college baseball career was when I switched ‌to being an outfielder. When‌ I​ joined ⁤the team, there were only​ two outfielders in my ⁢year.​ Naturally, there ‌weren’t enough players ​to play‌ in a Red vs. White game, so infielders and catchers were replaced by ​outfielders. To⁢ be⁢ honest, I wanted to compete as an infielder, but I couldn’t say anything in front of Acchan and Hiromi’s skills, so I switched to being an outfielder in order to get a chance to play.

Once I switched, Ichikawa would often⁣ talk to me about all sorts of things, from techniques to‌ the Japanese government. To be honest, ⁢there were times when it was​ hard to talk, but I learned ⁣a lot from him. Also, we often played catch, complimented each other’s shoulders, competed in ‌knocking, and sometimes exchanged opinions, which was ⁢a ‌lot⁢ of fun.

Thanks to Kagito, my throwing improved and ​I enjoyed playing‍ outfield. And thanks to Kagito’s skill at giving compliments,⁤ I gained confidence in my shoulder. ‍Then, the Challenge League ⁤started, and​ I was‍ used as a defensive reinforcement, or rather a shoulder​ reinforcement. Every time⁢ I played, it ⁣was a tense moment.

It was the ninth inning, when no⁤ one should have allowed a runner to return.⁢ I was very nervous, but I never thought I would be able to play in ‌the Challenge League, so I thought it was a chance to show off, and I just wanted the ball​ to come to me. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the ⁢ball didn’t come flying ⁣at⁢ the “crucial moment,” but I feel like I had a really good experience ‌in college baseball.

Then, around the time‌ the Challenge League ⁣ended,‍ I felt something strange in my shoulder, which was a little overheated,​ and I started going to the hospital more often. When I was told that I needed surgery after going⁢ to the hospital,​ I couldn’t believe it ⁢and ⁢was very depressed, and I was also overcome by the fear that I would lose my only identity,⁣ which was my shoulder.

However, this surgery was a challenge and a⁣ turning point for me, and it was essential for me to use my shoulder to play in⁣ the ​league. So I chose to have the surgery. After the surgery, I had a ‌hard time throwing the ball as I wanted,