Photo/Illutration Ayumu Imaoka acknowledges the cheers after hitting an RBI triple in the fourth inning. (Toshiyuki Hayashi)

Ayumu Imaoka hasn’t performed the “pepper-grinder” celebration yet, but he has still done a good job of emulating his idol, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar, at the National High School Baseball Championship tournament.

Imaoka of Kamimura Gakuen High School in Kagoshima Prefecture, showed his prowess at the plate and enthusiasm for his teammates that were reminiscent of Nootbaar’s play in Samurai Japan’s championship run at this year’s World Baseball Classic.

Kamimura Gakuen overwhelmed Ritsumeikan Uji Senior High School of Kyoto 10-2 on Aug. 9 in their first-round game at the tournament held at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.

Although not as famous as other major leaguers on Samurai Japan, Nootbaar quickly became a fan favorite at the WBC for his hustle on the field, his pep talks and cheerleading style.

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Lars Nootbaar leads off Samurai Japan's game against Italy in the World Baseball Classic in March with a single. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

In the fourth inning at Koshien, Imaoka lined a shot to left-center for a triple. In the sixth inning, he took a mighty swing at a forkball and missed badly.

Imaoka felt the pitcher likely thought the forkball gave him trouble and would throw it again. Sure enough, the next pitch was a forkball that was slightly up. Imaoka drove it over the centerfield fence.

Imaoka was a double short of hitting for the cycle, but he also encouraged his teammates on the field from the very first batter.

Playing first, Imaoka applauded the third baseman who fielded a difficult grounder to get the leadoff hitter out.

“I cheered my teammate because although we hit well today, we normally develop a game rhythm through our defense,” Imaoka said.

Head coach Daisuke Oda named Imaoka team captain after the spring prefectural tournament because he was the player who seemed most upset at losing to a rival school.

Since then, Imaoka has been pulling the team to greater heights.

Typhoon No. 6 prevented many fans in Kagoshima from making the trip to Koshien.

Before he left Kagoshima, Imaoka was told to lead the team to victory. Having fulfilled that pledge, the stands will likely be more lively for Kamimura Gakuen’s next game.

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