HYU Baseball Team Wins 80th National Univers토토사이트추천y Baseball Championship - First Victory in 24 Years

Hanyang University’s baseball team clinched the championship title at the 80th National University Baseball Championship, held in Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do from July 3 to 29.

Hosted by the Korea University Baseball Federation and sponsored by Boeun County and the Boeun County Sports Council, this year’s championship brought together around 1,500 players and officials from 51 universities nationwide, resulting in 124 fiercely competitive matches. In the final on July 29, Hanyang faced Yonsei University and secured the title with a close 8–6 victory.

Team captain Cho Woo-jin, a fourth-year student in the School of Sports Science at the ERICA Campus, expressed his pride: “It feels amazing to say we’ve earned the title of the strongest college baseball team with our own hands. I’m truly happy we were able to seize this opportunity and win.”

Regarding strategy, Cho said, “We didn’t have any special tactics. We knew that the sweltering heat and fatigue would affect both teams equally, so we just reminded each other to do our best in our roles. Everyone gave their all until the very end, and that’s what led to our victory.”

This final was the team’s first experience playing in a championship match since entering university. Coming off five consecutive days of play, the players were physically drained. “I’m especially grateful to the parents and friends who cheered until their voices gave out. Their support pushed us to take that one extra step even when we were exhausted,” said Cho.

He also emphasized the trust and encouragement from the coaching staff as a major source of strength. “Our coaches believed in us completely, and we played to meet their expectations. Even our usually reserved head coach raised his voice to encourage us, and that gave us great motivation.”

As captain, Cho gave his utmost effort every step of the way. Desp토토사이트추천e the pressure of having to lead by example, he lifted team morale w토토사이트추천h his pos토토사이트추천ive leadership, especially during rough patches in the game. Thanks to his presence, the team maintained focus until the end.

“The greatest strength of the Hanyang baseball team is our teamwork,” said Cho. “Each player has talent, but we bring it together as one.” He added that the tournament helped players grow in responsibility and composure during high-stakes moments.

Looking ahead, Cho said, “I hope this victory makes Hanyang a team that others are reluctant to face. Personally, I want to make it to the pros, grow into a franchise star, and have a memorable retirement ceremony—becoming a player fans and the club will remember for a long time.”

We also spoke with Park Do-hyun, a third-year student in the School of Sports Science at the ERICA Campus, who won the tournament MVP. “It’s incredibly emotional to win this championship for the first time in 24 years, and I’m proud to be a Hanyang undergraduate. Receiving the MVP award made it a moment I’ll never forget,” he said.

Reflecting on the pivotal moment in the final match, Park said, “We were down 0–4 in the top of the fourth inning. I looked over at the dugout and saw the desperate support from my teammates. That energy gave me the confidence I needed at bat, and I managed to hit a triple.”

“I’m not normally that fast, but in that moment, I clenched my teeth and ran with everything I had,” he added, describing the urgency that drove his performance.

When asked about the most memorable moment, Park immediately pointed to his home run in the final. “After my second at-bat, I noticed the pitcher kept throwing inside fastballs. So while I was in the on-deck circle, I decided to target just that. The pitch came exactly as I expected, and I swung confidently—it turned into a home run,” he explained.

Park credited the coaching staff’s trust as a key driver of his performance. “Coach always encouraged me to focus on defense. Right before I hit that triple, he said my swing looked great and that a home run was coming—I held onto those words,” he said.

When asked what allowed Hanyang to excel in this tournament, he noted, “Our batting, which had been weak earlier in the season, came alive. Our hitters capitalized on every opportunity, and our pitchers limited damage during tough situations. Our offense and defense were in perfect harmony.”

This championship and individual award hold special meaning in Park’s baseball journey. “It’s a major milestone for both the team and myself, and it’s given me strong motivation to keep growing,” he emphasized.

Park began playing baseball seriously after transferring schools in third grade. Though he attempted to enter the professional league during high school, he wasn’t drafted and decided to attend Hanyang University. In the 2023 season, he suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb during the Round of 16, requiring surgery. He worked hard on his rehabilitation, focusing on weight training and gaining mass.

Looking forward, Park said, “My goal is to finish this season without injury and be drafted next year while also winning another national championship. I’m deeply grateful to my teammates, our coaches who always believed in me, and my parents who supported me quietly behind the scenes.”