Defeated Dongguk University 4-3 in finals
Tops President’s Tournament for the first time 15 years since the 37th tournament in 2003
Lee Sang-dong wins MVP and Park Tae-ho the ‘Best Coach Award’
[August 30, 2018]
YU raised the victory cup at the 52nd President’s National College Baseball Tournament.
The YU baseball team (Coach Park Tae-ho) defeated Dongguk University 4-3 in the finals of the 52nd President’s National College Baseball Tournament held at the Suncheon Baseball Field on the 30th to stand at the apex of college baseball. Since winning the 37th tournament back in 2003, YU finally regained the throne after 15 years.
In this game, YU took a four-zero lead from the first inning, easily taking the lead. Dongguk University fought back and made it a one run game in the 7th inning, but YU’s starting pitcher Lee Sang-min (22, Sports Science, senior) who gave up one run in 3.1 innings and the second picture Lee Sang-dong (22, Special Physical Education, senior) also pitched a great game to hold on to the one run lead to the end.
<YU Baseball Team Coach Park Tae-ho (left) who won the Best Coach Award and Lee Sang-dong who received the MVP Award at the 52nd President’s National College Baseball Tournament>
In particular, Lee Sang-dong, who stepped up to the mound as the second pitcher for YU, helped his team take the victory by giving up three hits, four walks and two runs, while recording five strike-outs in 5. 1 innings. In this tournament, Lee Sang-dong pitched in three games up until the quarterfinals recording three hits, two walks, 16 strike-outs and an ERA of 0 for 11 innings. He did his role in the most decisive situation in the finals with Dongguk University and was thus selected as the MVP. Lee Sang-dong was also recently selected as a member for the 2nd U-23 Baseball World Cup and has been recognized as one of the most prospective players among college athletes.
Coach Park Tae-ho said, “It is exciting to win the President’s college baseball tournament this year since winning the President’s high school baseball tournament back in 2003. We were able to achieve this feat because the athletes took on a sense of responsibility and gave it their best in each match.” He added, “We will now compete in the college baseball U-League Championships from September. We will keep doing our best so that we can continue our winning streak.”
Coach Park Tae-ho who led YU to victory won the Best Coach Award, while Lee Sang-dong won the MVP and Lee Sang-min the ‘Pitcher Award’, Kim Min-seok (21, Sports Science, junior) won the ‘Defense Award’, Park Jung-min (21, Special Physical Education, junior) won the RBI award (10 RBIs) and Steals award (5), and Kang Sung-jae (21, Sports Science, junior) ranked second place at batting by recording a batting average of .563. The YU Student Affairs Office Director Kang Seok-bong won the Merit Award.
