High school pitcher tosses first no-hitter in 15 years
Kim Soo-wan of Jeju Tourism Industry High School threw the first no-hitter by a Korean high schooler in 15 years yesterday. By Byun Sun-goo
It was the first no-hitter by a Korean high schooler in 15 years, the Korea Baseball Association said.
Kim, a right-hander with Jeju Tourism Industry High School, threw 85 pitches and struck out six during the first round game in the 41st Presidential Cup High School Championships.
It was the 13th no-hitter thrown in Korea at the high school level, according to the Korea Baseball Association.
Kim’s Jeju squad beat Hyocheon High School, from Suncheon, South Jeolla province, 4-0.
“I became conscious of the no-hitter starting the seventh inning,” Kim told reporters after the game, according to Ilgan Sports. “When I got that last out, I was speechless.”
Kim, a third-year student listed at 184 centimeters (6 feet) and 65 kilograms (143 pounds), started out as a shortstop in elementary school before becoming a pitcher in his second year at a middle school in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang province.
The Jeju team was founded in 2002, and it remains the only high school baseball squad in the province. Many of its players joined the team because their previous school squads disbanded, due to budget constraints in some cases.
The team’s manager, Seong Nak-soo, praised Kim’s work ethic and said he would be an even better player if he learned to throw more breaking pitches, the sports newspaper said.
In 1992, pitcher Oh Bong-ok became the first Jeju native to play professional baseball in Korea. He went 13-0 in his rookie year with the Samsung Lions. Oh is currently the manager at Jeju Jeil Middle School. Last year, Lotte Giants catcher Kang Min-ho became the first Jeju-born player to make the Korean national team.
By Yoo Jee-ho Staff Writer [jeeho@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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