Overview

• West Japan Gas defeated Hitachi 4–0 at Tokyo Dome for its first main-draw win since 2020 and will play Oji in the second round on September 5.
• During pregame ceremonies of the West Japan Gas–Hitachi matchup, Hitachi Mayor Haruki Ogawa was struck on the shoulder by the ceremonial pitch but said he was fine as Hitachi president Toshiaki Tokunaga apologized.
• Nippon Steel Kashima edged JR Hokkaido Club 5–4 in a 10th-inning tie-break to reach the next round and is set to face SUBARU on September 4.
• Osaka Gas advanced with a 4–1 first-round win over Shinetsu Club, highlighted by a one-run complete game from pitcher Takahiro Omiya and the team’s first second-round berth since 2021.
• In U18 national team preparations, the high-school squad lost 1–8 to the university selection on August 31 in Naha as captain Abe Hata logged two hits ahead of the U18 World Cup starting September 5 in Okinawa.