Team Accra emerged winners of the maiden Ghana Koshien Baseball Championship held at the Labone Senior High School from August 31 to September 1, 2024.
A combined team from SOTA and Kongo Basic Schools in the Shai Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region was crowned winners of the inaugural Ghana Koshien Baseball Championship on Sunday.
The team was one of four that battled for laurels in the entertaining final match against the Tema team as both sides exhibited great skills and talent.
SOTA and Kongo schools maintained their composure and secured a victory with a score of 12-9 over Tema.
President of the Ghana Baseball Federation, Ernest Danso, said, “It is a championship that is going to continue. It is going to be an annual event. This is the first of its kind we did for these two days.”
He continued, “It is something that we want to take seriously. So we are planning to come up with a league for the seniors in Ghana for baseball. That is something that is going to come up very soon. But before then, we’ll be playing a couple of games.
“Togo is coming on the 7th. We’ll play a game with Togo and then we’ll see how we can play some regional games before the year ends.”
The Japan-Africa Baseball and Softball Association (J-ABS) co-hosted the inaugural Ghana Koshien Tournament, the first national baseball tournament in Ghana, in collaboration with the Ghana Baseball and Softball Federation.
Ten representatives of the Keio University Baseball Team were in Ghana on August 6 to work on the ground as J-ABS short-term volunteers until September 6.
Shinya Tomonari (J-ABS), KEIO University volunteers and the coaches of the Rising Stars supported the intensive training under the instruction of Keio University.
The Ghana Koshien Tournament gave the students involved a chance to showcase what they learned and is aimed at providing a goal to the youth approaching baseball in Ghana.
“The initiative is part of the J-ABS Africa 55 Koshien Project, intending to develop baseball in 54 countries” said Mr. Albert K. Frimpong, a board member of the Ghana Olympic Committee and President of African Baseball.
Koshien-style tournaments have already been held in Tanzania (11 times) and Kenya (twice). Nigeria, South Sudan, Benin, Cameroon, and Zambia plan to launch their championships soon.
After Tanzania and Kenya, Ghana has become the third African country to hold Koshien-style baseball tournament.
The Ghana Baseball and Softball Federation under the leadership of the dynamic and very hardworking Ernest Danso president are working towards making the game popular and attractive.
WBSC Africa President Mr. Albert K. Frimpong also ably supported the event and was optimistic that other African countries will experience the exciting championship.
From Sammy Heywood Okine
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