Thirty-two high schools are ready to compete in the 97th National Invitational High School Baseball Tournament at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.

Thirty-two high schools are ready to compete in the 97th National Invitational High School Baseball Tournament at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.

Kenshin Kawabe, the captain of the Wakayama High School baseball team, delivers the athletes’ oath during the opening ceremony of the 97th National Invitational High School Baseball Tournament at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Tuesday.

The 97th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament kicked off on the 18th at Koshien Stadium, with the first round being played, with Hanamaki Higashi (Iwate) and Nishogakusha University High School (Tokyo) winning and advancing to the second round. Hanamaki Higashi took control in the first inning with three runs, including an RBI double from Akama, and won comfortably against Yonago Shoin High School (Tottori) 10-2. Nishogaku