The only professional graduate of the technical college, the right-handed pitcher, has set a record that will go down in the history of the baseball team. The Hiroshima-Hanshin game on the 13th (Mazda Stadium). Hanshin Ishii Daichi (28), who went on the mound in the final inning, gave up one hit and no runs with a spirited pitch. He achieved a professional baseball record of 39 consecutive games, tied with pitcher Seibu Hirara Kaiba (25). “When I finished the show and took a photo with the director, I really felt it. On a record, I really want to be delighted.” The pennant race was a fierce battle, and I patted my heart a little.

The right-handed pitcher, who is originally from Akita, attended Akita Technical College and then went to Shikoku IL Kochi. The three years I spent in Kochi became the foundation of becoming a professional. Yoshida Toyohiko (58), a former manager at Nankai and Daiei, who were the manager at the time, said that when he first joined the team, “He wasn't a noticeable figure. His ball wasn't that fast, he was about 140 km/h. He had a sinker and curve.”

Ishii is 175 cm tall. “It's only 180 or 190 centimeters, and I'm inevitably small.” He said he was worried about that. Yoshida himself was active in his 174cm body. “I think they were trying to set an angle, and I think it was a technical point.” I valued using my body to my heart's content and throwing it from above.

With his natural curiosity and unique training, he increased his pitch speed by 10 km/h in his second year with the team. Yoshida once said to Ishii, who was particular about the power of the ball at the time. “There are a lot of pitchers who can throw 150 km/h. You'll be a professional and you'll have a hard time from there.” From the advice of my senior, consciousness shifted to control. His control, which remains unshakable even in tense situations, has become a weapon that will help him become a pro-active weapon.

Yoshida once described Ishii as “Daichi knew what was good and bad, and wanted to absorb it, and was a player who couldn't take it.” His honest and greedy attitude created a new path.[Hanshin in charge Iso Ayano]