Japan manager Masayoshi Ogura: "Players are hanging in, we will go for the World Cup"

"The players are hanging in there, standing so firm. I hope we can hold our ground and keep playing our game, and go for the World Championship Title,”Samurai Japan manager Masayoshi Ogura told Japanese media after the thrilling extra-inning win against Panama, the seventh consecutive Japanese win in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS, on Friday.

Ogura was born in 1957. He was the second baseman and team captain at Nippon University, where he also served as a coach under the late Mamoru Koeda. He managed Kanto Daichi High School and led the team to the semifinals of the Spring 1987 Koshien tournament. He managed Nippon University from 1997 to 2023, leading them to the 2001 and 2011 Koshien titles.

After the game against Panama, he didn't hesitate to blame himself. "It was my bad on the timing of changing the pitcher," he commented. Shota Morishita took a 1-1 lead into the extras and retired the first two batters in the top of the eighth. When he left, Panama scored four runs.

"The players did so well to make up for the manager’s mistake."

Down four runs, Japan tied the game in the bottom of the eighth.

"I just told them, go to bat, do your swings. Look for your pitch. And they did that."

After failing to walk it off in the bottom of the eighth, when Japan grounded into an inning-ending double play, Hyuma Okabe stepped to the box with the bases loaded and one out. A ground ball could have sent the teams to the tenth. With a full count, Okabe dropped a perfect bunt, squeezing in the winning run from third.

"It was full count and the squeeze play was on for strikes only," recalled Ogura. "I trusted Okabe, I knew he could do it. That’s why I gave the [squeeze] sign."

Japan won a thriller against the USA on Day 1 of the Super Round, thus showing impressive resilience.

"I think you saw it," concluded Ogura. "Last night [Thursday, September 11] and tonight [Friday, September 12]. It's how we connect to the next batter [how we keep getting on base, never making easy outs] and keep the offence clicking. The guys never give up. I think that's how they're bringing the wins. The players are doing great."