Hirabayashi Metal wins Japan Men’s Softball League 2021
Reo Koyama, who pitched Japan to the WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship in 2016 and helped his nation to earn a silver medal at the WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship 2019, blanked Denso in the final match.
The 50th edition of the Japan Men’s Softball League ended this past weekend in Nagoya City, with the top-five teams in the regular season playing the Final Tournament. Hirabayashi Metal defeated Denso, 4-0, in the final to claim the title, behind a shutout performance by ace Reo Koyama.
A three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning off the bat of Kazuya Toriyama -- who was named MVP of the game -- gave Hirabayashi an early 4-0 lead that was enough for his team. Reo Koyama, who pitched Japan to the WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship in 2016 and helped his nation to earn a silver medal at the WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship 2019, blanked Denso and secured the title for his team.
Third place went to the Mie Prefecture Government Club, which had finished in second place in the regular season but lost the two semifinals, to Hirabayashi, 2-1, and Denso, 5-2.
A total of 18 teams played the 36-game, four-week season. Last year, the Japan Men’s Softball League had to be cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.
Japan sits atop of the WBSC Men’s Softball World Ranking, holding the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup 2020 title and the WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship 2019 silver medal.
