A record of the importance of penetrating the players and the record of 12 consecutive hits that Shinpei Katahira struck.

Relationship with Mr. Katahira, the oldest league · legend Mika Konishi talks about.

"Well, it's meant to be done by yourself ... I wanted you to see me until I retired properly."

While tweeting, Mihako Konishi of the oldest league · Kyoto Flora who looked at the bench of Saitama Astria side without Mr. Katahira distantly and cried. He played an active role in golf since the launch of the girls professional baseball game and is still a leader who continues to lead the league.



Mr. Katahira, as a player of the enemy team, could have been without contact, but sucked into the aura and personality. Then she will go to greet most when Mr. Katahira comes into the stadium.

"Actually, I had stolen Astraea's eyes when I could not hit, and I went to consultation because I was striking from a buster, so if you tell me that," You do not have to be a buster. Even if the upsets are going on, Konishi has a professional play style, so I believe it and should keep penetrating. "I thought that I did not care about me until then I thought you were looking so deeply though it was. "

Not only as a pitcher, but also a word hung from thinking about the position of Konishi who kept his record in the batting side, such as releasing the first homerun in the league, he continued at the beginning of its history. It seems that he was thinking about the line of sight directed by the surrounding players and the children aiming for professionalism.

It is imaginable that you can not make the opportunity to speak as easily as you think from the relationship of the leader who also served as a coach with the rival team and the player of the enemy team.
Nevertheless I wanted to co-create the future of this league that Mr. Katahira, who had been playing for the longest girls professional baseball, penetrated his own style of single-legged strokes and left the track record at NPB. Such desperate thoughts overflow as tears.

"I always have Katahira in me, so I'd like to walk as I can pull everyone with confidence in my own way with the feeling of being always watching."

As a veteran himself was talking to a young catcher during the game at the start of the bench and there was a figure that helped wear armor. With Mr. Katahira in mind, I will draw and create the future of girls professional baseball with many players who will be playing the future.

The way to winning the title is "Astraea Katahira Shinsaku" together.

4月7日（土）、埼玉アストライアは川口市営球場でホーム開幕戦を迎えた。この日は片平氏への追悼の意を込めて試合前練習では袖に「All For KATAHIRA」と刻まれた特別ユニフォームを着用した他、シンガーソングライターの佐野葵さんが選手が片平さんからかけられた言葉、フレーズを基にした特別ソングも披露された。

And this day the Astrai strike exploded. Three consecutive defeats from the opening, batting line which could only take 5 points in 3 games hit like a lie and finished 23 hits with 20 goals after winning.
It was three turns backwards. Kato ranked round two batters and recorded 12 consecutive hits from 3 pitchers to 4th Kawabata. Of course it is a league record.By the way NPB's continuous hitting hits record is "10", and in 2010 Lotte and Orix recorded it. Continuous batting hits marked "11" between Tokyo Yakult in January 2009 and has been certified as Guinness records. This time it was a record that also exceeded them.
10回中3回ヒットを打てれば優秀とされる野球という競技において、ましてや女子野球のトッププロリーグというレベルでこの記録は神がかっている。片平氏が打たせているとしか思えなかった。  

On Saitama Astoria bench this day, at the end of last year, a bat who Mr. Katahira signed was placed when the team staff got hospital. The bat is a letter of "Congratulations" praising queen acquisition for a year, and "Astraea Katahira Shinsaku". I wish for the development of the entire girls professional baseball team in the position of the league adviser but I also love Astraea and I hope to become stronger. Such a feeling was glimpsed in a strange way to write "Astria" as a title.

開幕カード以降も埼玉アストライアベンチには片平氏の写真ボードが飾られている。 長く、険しいシーズンの中で辛い時には選手たちはそれを見て、また片平氏の「大丈夫」の言葉を思い出すことだろう。それぞれの心の中の片平氏とともに目指す、埼玉アストライアの連覇への戦いは始まったばかりだ。




<Part 1＞http://king-gear.com/articles/767

写真・取材＝森  大樹 

Japan Women's Professional Baseball League:https://www.jwbl.jp/
Saitama Astraia:https://www.jwbl.jp/astraia/

Katahira Shinsaku (former professional baseball player, baseball leader, commentator1949Born August 5th year. From Uemiya High School through Tokyo Agricultural University, joined the Nankai Hawks in the 1971 Draft 4th place. From 1982 he moved to Seibu Lions. Contributing to Japan's best for the second consecutive year, etc., laid the Seibu Golden Age. He moved to Taiyo Hoires in 1987 and retired from his career in 1989. Total 1181 hits, 176 home runs, 601 strikes, batting average.274.
After retirement, after serving as Seibu 1 Army Striking Coach, 2 Army Striking Coach, 2 Army Supervisor etc., he became the first coach of the women's professional baseball East Astraea (now · Saitama Astraea) to lead the tiara cup championship in 2013 It was. After the following year as an advisor as an advisor remain in the league, he taught the players. Died because of pancreatic cancer on January 22, 2018. Year of age 68.