In a heartwarming initiative, high school baseball players from Joetsu City and Myoko City are volunteering their time to teach local elementary school students the ins and outs of the sport they love. This past Sunday, February 1, marked the latest session, with the Joetsu Prefectural Technical High School baseball team leading a workshop for the Kosei Dragons, a youth team based in Itakura Ward.

For the past three years, the Joetsu Area High School Baseball Alumni 40th Anniversary Association—comprising working adults and former baseball players—has coordinated these sessions with the help of local high schools, aiming to instill a love for baseball in younger generations.

• Warm-up: The session kicked off with a spirited warm-up routine to get the little leaguers energized.
• Batting Basics: The high schoolers broke down the fundamentals of batting, focusing on technique and direction.
• Defense Drills: They emphasized the importance of stance and movement, encouraging students to stay low and keep their gloves ready.
• Pitching Tips: The high school players demonstrated how to shift weight onto the pivot foot to increase the speed of pitches.

I’m glad I was able to do well after being taught about batting and defense. They taught me how to hit in the right direction.” – A 5th grader

“His defense was different from our usual practice. He kept a low stance from the beginning and didn’t stick out his glove too much.” – A 4th grader

Light Star Dragons Sosuke Watanabe Captain: “Everyone was having fun doing it, so it was a good practice. The way they taught was good and it was very helpful.”

Joetsu Sogo Technical High School Baseball Club Akio Shimada Captain: “I think they genuinely enjoyed playing baseball. We made a menu with the basics of defense and the important movements of batting in mind.”

Joetsu Area High School Baseball Alumni 40th Anniversary Association Chairman Kazunori Kobayashi: “I’m glad I did it because I saw them having fun. I hope they can gain a variety of experiences through baseball and use it as inspiration for something. I hope to connect with the children and contribute as much as possible.”

Looking ahead, eight high schools plan to instruct ten youth baseball teams through late February, ensuring the joy of baseball continues to spread throughout the community.