2021.12.14
SOLATO baseball school providing full-fledged instruction
Once again this year, Taiyo Oil implemented regional contribution activities that it sponsors with the help of the Ehime Mandarin Pirates of Shikoku Island League Plus.
On December 11 (Sat.), a “baseball school” diligently supervised by Junichi Kawahara was held for baseball-playing children at the indoor sports arena at Matsuyama Central Park in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture with assistance from players of the Mandarin Pirates. This marked the eleventh time that Taiyo Oil has sponsored this event. Although it was not possible to hold the event last year due to the COVID-19 crisis, this year it was held while carrying out thorough measures to prevent infections including taking body temperatures in advance.
On the day of the event, 105 children from the fourth grade of elementary school through the third grade of junior high school, who belong to junior high school baseball clubs and club teams of Ehime Prefecture, gathered and received important briefings on physical training and technical guidance from Mandarin Pirates Former Coach Junichi Kawahara and nine players.
The children received instruction while actually playing catch ball and pitching one on one with professional players, and all of the participants engaged in practice with a high level of motivation. Although the school lasted only for two hours, the indoor practice area was overflowing with enthusiasm as evidenced by the energetic voices and brisk movements of the junior high school students.
At the end, Former Coach Junichi Kawahara commented, “There are no shortcuts to improvement, so you must continue to practice while staying aware of issues on a day-to-day basis. You must also proactively try other sports. Furthermore, you must also work hard on studying,” and all of the participants appeared to accept these words seriously.
Thus, the baseball school gave a sense of anticipation that perhaps some of the children who participated in the event may become professional baseball players in the future.
As part of Taiyo Oil’s social contribution activities in the local area of Ehime Prefecture where Shikoku Operations is located, the company will continue to support events of this kind in order to help the development of the children who will be responsible for the next generation.
Event outline
Date and time
December 11 (Sat.), 2021
Venue
Sports Arena, Matsuyama Central Park (Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture)
Numbers of participants
105 participants on 9 teams
Scenes from the day
Opening ceremony
Scene from instruction for pitchers
Instruction on form by players
Instruction on batting form by players