JD.League unveiled today the league’s champions trophy, which will be delivered for the first time on 13 November, after the Diamond Series Finals at ZOZO Marine Stadium in Chiba. The JD.League playoffs will open on 5-6 November at Okazaki Red Diamond Stadium.
The new trophy, produced by luxury jewelers Tasaki, includes 672 diamonds and is inspired in the JD.LEAGUE's official name: Japan Diamond Softball League. Its body, which evokes various images such as a player catching the ball, flowering buds and the line of a fly ball, symbolizes the four core values of the JD.LEAGUE: health, individuality, expression, and gratitude.
Seven teams remain in contention to win the new trophy. The top-seeded teams in the West and East Division - Toyota Red Terriers and Bic Camera Takasaki - earned an automatic spot in the semifinals on 12 November and wait for the winners of the first playoffs stage.
Hitachi Sundiva and Denso Bright Pegasus - second and third place finishers in the East Division - will play an elimination game to see which team advances to the semifinals.
West Division third place SG Galaxy Stars will take on Honda Reverta (wild card) on Saturday 5 November, with the winner moving to the next stage, where Toyota Shinning Vega is waiting. The winner of this game advances to the semifinals.
