Jinju National University of Education won its first championship in the 'KBO Future Youth Leaders National University T-Ball Tournament.'
On the 26th, Jinju National University lifted the championship trophy at the '2025 KBO Future Youth Leaders National University T-Ball Tournament' held at the KBO Baseball Center in Hoengseong County, Gangwon Province.
The 'KBO Future Youth Leaders National University T-Ball Tournament' was started in 2007 to provide students from 10 national universities who are aspiring elementary school teachers with the opportunity to experience the safety and fun of T-ball, and this year marks its 18th iteration.
KBO noted, "Students who participated in the tournament have significantly contributed to the expansion of youth baseball by activating T-ball during physical education classes and after-school activities in elementary schools, and have explained the meaning of this tournament.
Since Busan National University of Education won the inaugural championship in 2007, universities such as Gwangju National University of Education, Daegu National University of Education, Cheongju National University of Education, and Seoul National University of Education have claimed victories. Busan National University has lifted the championship trophy seven times, the most, followed by Gwangju National University (3 times), Daegu National University (3 times), Cheongju National University (3 times), and Seoul National University (1 time). Aside from finishing second in 2012, Jinju National University had not reached the finals until this year, where it finally achieved victory.
In the group stage, Jinju National University narrowly defeated Kyungin National University B 13-11. Against Daegu National University, which has won three times in the last four years, it achieved a 15-6 victory to advance to the semifinals. In the semifinals, Jinju National University faced Seoul National University A, where both teams displayed excellent defense in a thrilling match, ultimately winning 9-8 by a single point to reach the finals.
The final opponent was Kyungin National University A, which had performed strongly against Seoul National University B (18-4), Chuncheon National University of Education (11-6), and Gwangju National University (15-3), showcasing a strong offensive.
Jinju National University, known for its solid defense, and Kyungin National University A, which boasts many power hitters capable of hitting 3 to 5 home runs per game, showed an epic match in the final. Jinju National University minimized Kyungin National University A's scoring with solid defense and scored eight runs with remarkable concentration in the second inning, taking a 9-3 lead; however, Kyungin National University A also hit two home runs in the second inning, closing the gap to 9-7.
Jinju National University struggled with only three runs in the third inning, entering the bottom of the third with great pressure, but remained composed. By quickly securing outs, they applied pressure on the chasing Kyungin National University A, which ultimately failed to score due to a lack of home runs in the third inning.
Seong Jae-kyun, a third-year student and team captain who won the MVP award, expressed, "I can't believe we've won. We worked so hard to prepare for this tournament, and I'm really happy that our efforts have yielded good results. Vice President Lee Seol-won and all my friends worked really hard. I'm grateful to the seniors who came to support us while preparing for the licensing exam, and the candidates also created a great atmosphere. I want to thank everyone for doing their best."
"As expected, the beginning and end were the hardest," Seong Jae-kyun reflected on the tournament, saying, "The first game was very difficult, and I was worried, but I am relieved that we managed to win every team one step at a time. In fact, even now, I can't believe we won. I think I will have to wake up tomorrow to believe it."
Reflecting on the thrilling final, Seong Jae-kyun said, "I knew that our opponent, Kyungin National University, was a team that hit many home runs. We were preparing for that. Our strategy was to score as much as they did when they hit home runs. I wasn't too worried; in fact, I think they felt more pressure. Most of the players today were second or third years, and there were even some fourth years. I think there were many experienced players who provided good defense. I believe the skills we've built up since first year have come to fruition today," highlighting solid defense as the key to their victory.
"I enjoy T-ball and various other sports," Seong Jae-kyun explained, "I want to let students know through sports about the joy of exercising, the pleasure of winning, the regret of losing, and how they can grow through those experiences," sharing his goals as a teacher. He added, "Everyone really, really worked hard, and I hope you enjoyed the celebration in Jinju together," sending a final message to his teammates who contributed to their victory.
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