Hwasun Middle School Baseball Team to Represent Jeonnam at May National Youth Sports Festival

The Hwasun Middle School baseball team (coach Lee Giju) won the Jeonnam representative selection tournament for the middle school division at the National Youth Sports Festival and will represent Jeonnam in the U-13 baseball category at the National Youth Sports Festival in May.

The Jeonnam representative selection tournament, held from the 25th of last month to the 2nd of this month, was hosted by the Jeonnam Sports Council and organized by the Jeonnam Baseball Softball Association. It was sponsored by Jeonnam Province and the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education.

Six teams participated, including Hwasun Middle School, Gwangyang SC, Suncheon Isu Middle School, Yeosu Middle School, Seji Middle School, and Yeongsan Middle School.

Hwasun Middle School started strong by defeating Gwangyang SC 6-0 in their first game. The next day, on the 26th, the match against Suncheon Isu Middle School was tied 1-1 until the 5th inning, but thanks to a timely hit by player Choi Eunho with runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the 5th, they won 5-1. In the third game, they showcased their best offense by defeating Yeongsan Middle School 10-2 with a 5-inning cold game victory.

In the fourth game held a week later, they defeated last year's top qualifier Seji Middle School 6-2, and in the final fifth game, they won against Yeosu Middle School 4-2, proving themselves as the strongest middle school baseball team in Jeonnam with a perfect 5-0 record.

With this victory, Hwasun Middle School advanced to the main tournament held in Ulsan in May.

The Hwasun Middle School baseball team was founded in March 1986 and has produced professional players such as Kia’s Kim Sunbin, Doosan’s Hong Gunhee and Lee Hyungbeom, Samsung’s Lee Seunghyun, NC’s Jung Jinji, and Hanwha’s Kim Inhwan. They have achieved outstanding results except during periods without competitions due to COVID-19, including winning Jeonnam’s first bronze medal at the 46th National Youth Sports Festival, winning the 2021 Jeonnam Association President’s Cup and Governor’s Cup baseball tournaments, and winning the 13th KIA Tigers Honam Regional Middle School Baseball Tournament in 2019.

Coach Lee Giju of Hwasun Middle School said, “It is an honor to have the opportunity to represent Jeonnam at the National Youth Sports Festival. In January this year, the team stayed and trained at Mokpo University dormitory for a month, building their strength through weight training, and also trained at Muan Sports Park baseball field, which seems to have had a great effect on their physical conditioning. We will do our best to prepare well with the players during the remaining period so that we can become the first in Jeonnam to win the national tournament.”

Parent Association President Bae Jinkyu said, “The first victory our players achieved in 2023 is a pride of Hwasun and the result of the dedicated guidance of Coach Lee Giju, coaches Kim Sunhyun, Jeon Semin, and Yoon Heeyoung, and the pure passion of our children who love baseball.” He added, “We will do our best to create conditions and environments where our players can freely play sports,” encouraging the players and coaching staff.

Meanwhile, the Hwasun Middle School baseball team consists of ▲Coach (Lee Giju) ▲Coaches (Kim Sunhyun, Jeon Semin, Yoon Heeyoung) ▲13 third-year students (Kim Jiheon, Kim Juhyeok, Kim Chan, Kim Hyunwoo, Park Hwanyu, Bae Jongyun, Son Minseong, Jeong Hyeonjun, Jeong Seunghui, Choi Eunho, Choi Minseong, Choi Sunghyun, Hong Junseo) ▲11 second-year students (Kang Naru, Kim Seongbin, Kim Donghyun, Kim Mungyeong, Park Seungmin, Sa Hochan, Son Seunghyun, Sim Seongmin, Jeong Seungwon, Jo Hani, Choi Jaewon) ▲16 first-year students (Kim Suyeong, Kim Gangmin, Kim Boram, Kim Yonghyun, Nam Jeongyeon, No Oyun, Moon Jiseok, Park Seunghun, Park Jaeyoung, Park Jiho, Seo Eunjae, Son Seunghyun, Yoon Yechan, Lee Dawon, Jang Hunho, Choi Yunseok), totaling 40 members.