Still, the domed stadium and 7 innings are against it

We will close because the morning game is over. Please also ask those who have tickets for the afternoon to leave."

The announcement was made at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan on Sunday afternoon after the opening game of the 106th National High School Championship (hereinafter referred to as Koshien in the summer), which opened on the day. Spectators stood up at their seats. This was a sight that had not been seen until last year.
Koshien introduced a two-day system starting this year. From Friday, the first day of the season, to Saturday, the third day of the season, baseball stadiums will hold games to avoid the hottest hours around 2 p.m. The opening ceremony will be held on Saturday after the first game ends, with spectators leaving the stadium and the second and third games starting at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively. The last games will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

In addition, the semifinal match will be held at 8 a.m. and 10:35 a.m., and the final match will be held at 10 a.m. In the past, four matches were held consecutively, and matches were held in the middle of the day. Various measures to prevent heat-related diseases such as "cooling time" were taken during the match.

The same applies to Japan as the weather is getting hotter. For this reason, some say that the summer Koshien tournament should be held at the dome stadium and that the game should be shortened to seven innings. However, it seems that the "baseball boys" do not want to miss the symbolism and charm of the Koshien Stadium and the nine-inning game.

Tsuji Asahi (senior) of Chibengakuenwakayama High School, who took the oath at the opening ceremony on Thursday, emphasized the 100th anniversary of Koshien Stadium, saying, "We have a dream. I hope Koshien will remain a sacred place here, just as it was in the past 100 years." Baseball fans took the oath as an expression of their will to "Koshien is at Koshien."

Sports Hochi conducted a brief survey of 50 high school baseball players who trained at Koshien Stadium on the 2nd and 3rd. On the "Summer Koshien 7-Inning Game," 45 people and 90% voted against it.

Reports said, "It's sad that no dramas from the eighth or ninth innings will be aired," "It's baseball that we don't know what's going to happen even with two outs in the ninth inning," and "If we go to the last minute, we all lose our stamina. We think that's the opportunity." Some third-year players also said, "If two innings is reduced, the number of at-bats that return will decrease." It was a minimal check, but it's easy to get hurt (when physical strength declines). Some players said, "It's better to decide the outcome quickly because Koshien could suffer from heat stroke," and "Thank you for considering the measures."

https://bsc.news/post/safe-totosite-ranking-top-15-major-safe-playground-2024