Jeonju High School ‘Ace’ Jung Woo-joo started against Deoksu High School in the final of the 2024 Shinsegae E-Mart Cup National High School Baseball Tournament at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 22nd.
Jung did not take the mound in the semifinal match against Gyeongbuk High School because his shoulder was not in good condition. “I did not play catch ball or warm up before the semifinal match, and I did not warm up. I took it out from the beginning and prepared. I will trust him from the beginning and gain the upper hand,” said Joo Chang-hoon, head coach of Jeonju High School.
The long-awaited final match will take place at Landers Field, home of the SSG Landers. Fans and professional baseball teams are paying keen attention to the game. Scouts from four to five Major League teams, including the San Diego Padres and the Houston Astros, visited Landers Field on the day. Jung Woo-joo was the most interested player in the game, as Deoksu High School and Ace Jung Hyun-woo and Kim Tae-hyung could not take the mound.
Jeonju High School is challenging to win the national championship for the first time in 39 years since 1985. With spotlights pouring into his body, Jung was not in perfect condition.
In the top of the first inning, Jung Woo-joo, who handled Deoksu 1st to 3rd batters neatly with three outs, was shaken rapidly in the second inning.
Jung Woo-joo, who gave up a hit and a walk after one out, handled Um Jun-sang with a fly to left field, but allowed Kim Tae-hyung to hit the ball, forcing the bases loaded with two outs. He then gave up his first run with a walk to Park Hang-yul.
Jung Woo-joo, who had three outs in the third inning, allowed a tie in the top of the fourth inning when Jeonju High School was leading 3-1. After allowing runners to get on base due to shortstop error, Um Jun-sang’s grounder to the pitcher became a bad pitch, and the ball to second base became a bad pitch, allowing a 3-3 tie. Kim Tae-hyung had a timely RBI and a wild pitch from Park Min-seok’s at-bat.
Jeonju High School turned the tables again in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking a 5-3 lead. However, in the top of the fifth inning, Jung walked leadoff hitter Jung Min-seo and grounded out Park Joon-soon, but allowed a superior two-run homer while throwing a fastball to Oh. Again, a 5-5 tie was allowed.
Jung finished the fifth inning without allowing any additional runs, but managed to post 105 pitches with two outs in the sixth inning. He allowed five hits (one homer) in five ⅔ innings, seven strikeouts and four walks, and allowed five runs (three earned). He failed to post a win or loss due to the tying situation.
The contents of Jung’s pitch were regrettable, perhaps because he was nervous because he was waiting for a group of scouts to compete in the final round of the national championship, or because he did not feel well yet. The maximum speed of his fastball, which ranged from 155 kilometers, was 150 to 151 kilometers.
BY: 스포츠토토핫