A day after a northeastern public agricultural high school finished second in the popular Koshien summer baseball tournament on Tuesday, the nation was still abuzz over its victories against powerhouse teams en route to the final.
Affectionately referred to as "Kana-no," the baseball team of Kanaashi Nogyo High School of Akita Prefecture was beaten 13-2 in the final of the National High School Baseball Championship by Osaka Toin High School, a private school that won its fifth title.
Notching up victory after victory, homegrown Kanaashi Nogyo beat traditionally strong teams made up of high-performing players brought in from outside their respective prefectures and was just one win away from becoming the first champion from the northeastern Tohoku region.