'Youth Baseball Powerhouse' Namyangju Yanol Youth Wins Seoul Cup Tournament

The traditional youth baseball powerhouse, Gyeonggi Namyangju Yanol Youth Baseball Team (Manager Kwon Oh-hyun), won the U-13 Youth Cheongryong League, the strongest league, by defeating the two-time champion this season, Gyeonggi Anyang City Youth Baseball Team, 10-5 at the 6th Seoul Cup Youth Baseball Tournament, the last competition of the year.

The Namyangju Yanolyu Youth Baseball Team is taking a commemorative photo after winning the 6th Seoul Cup Youth Baseball Tournament, the last competition of the year. Provided by Namyangju Yanolyu Youth Baseball Team

Hosted by the Seoul Baseball Softball Association and organized by the Korea Youth Baseball Federation (President Lee Sang-geun), this tournament was held over six weekends from November 16 to December 8 at seven venues including Jangchung Children's Baseball Stadium and Hoengseong Baseball Theme Park, with a total of 130 teams participating, concluding successfully.

The tournament was conducted in a knockout format, with fierce competition for the championship cups in six divisions: Saessak League (U-9), Kkum Namu League (U-11), Youth League (U-13), and Junior League (U-16).

Gyeonggi Namyangju Yanol Youth Baseball Team, which has produced players like Choi Seung-yong (Doosan Bears), Oh Sang-won (Kiwoom Heroes), and Kim Sung-jae (Doosan Bears), advanced to the finals by defeating Gyeonggi Siheung City Youth Baseball Team (Manager Jeong Seon-gi) 7-1, Gangwon Pyeongchang Bandavis Youth Baseball Team (Manager Kim Min-beom) 7-0, and Gyeonggi Gwacheon City Youth Baseball Team (Manager Choi Jeong-gi) 6-0.

In the bottom of the 1st inning, Namyangju Yanol Youth Baseball Team took the lead with two runs, thanks to Choi Hyun-sung’s single to left field, Lee Seo-jun’s 1-RBI double, and an opponent’s error. Anyang City Youth Baseball Team scored one run in the top of the 3rd inning with Kang Seung-yoon’s double to left field and Song Si-hyun’s RBI single to right field, making the score 2-1.

In the top of the 4th inning, Anyang City Youth Baseball Team extended their lead to 3-2 after Shin Joo-hwan reached base on a shortstop error, followed by Kim Ro-hoon’s RBI infield hit and Kang Seung-yoon’s double to right field.

The turning point of the final came in the bottom of the 4th inning when Namyangju Yanol Youth Baseball Team scored eight runs in a big inning, capitalizing on five walks, Choi Hyun-sung’s 3-RBI triple to right field, and Kim Do-young’s RBI double to left field, taking a 10-3 lead. Anyang City Youth Baseball Team tried to catch up in the top of the 6th inning with Go Su-ho’s hit and Kang Seung-yoon’s two-run home run to right field but managed only two runs, allowing Namyangju Yanol Youth Baseball Team to claim their first U-13 Youth Cheongryong championship this season.

Choi Hyun-sung (Gyeonggi Namyangju Yanol Youth Baseball Team, 6th grade at Gyesang Elementary School), who was the key pitcher and catcher for the team and hit the decisive 3-RBI triple in the final, was awarded the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Kim Ro-hoon (Gyeonggi Anyang City Youth Baseball Team, 1st grade at Morak Middle School) and Hwang Hyun-min (Gyeonggi Namyangju Yanol Youth Baseball Team, 6th grade at Gyesang Elementary School) received the Outstanding Player Awards.

Choi Hyun-sung, honored as the tournament MVP, said, “I was very happy to win the championship again this year in the Youth Cheongryong after winning the Seoul Cup Kkum Namu last year. I am very grateful to the manager and coaches who guided us to this victory, and I also sincerely thank my teammates who worked hard in their positions and united their efforts during the games.”