For Shohei Ohtani, his first appearance at Koshien was supposed to be a stage where he had to win. Instead, it became one of the most painful experiences of his high school career—one in which he was unable to perform at full strength despite his overwhelming desire to do so.
In March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake caused catastrophic damage across Iwate Prefecture. Hanamaki Higashi High School’s baseball team was no exception, and normal practice became impossible. On top of that, Ohtani—the team’s ace—suffered an injury caused by growth-related pain just before the prefectural tournament.
Even so, the team rallied. The other pitchers stepped up with the determination to prove they could win even without Ohtani, and Hanamaki Higashi earned its place in the summer Koshien tournament. Ohtani was determined to pitch there, but just two weeks before the tournament he injured the back of his thigh.
Against powerhouse Teikyo High School in the first round, Hanamaki Higashi started Daiki Ohara, planning to bring Ohtani in only if the game stayed close. The game unfolded exactly that way. With Hanamaki Higashi trailing 2–4 in the fourth inning, one out and runners on first and third, Ohtani was sent to the mound.
Despite his injury forcing him into something close to a standing throw, Ohtani still reached 150 km/h. He pitched 5⅔ innings, allowing three runs (only one earned). The team ultimately lost a heartbreaking 7–8 game.
It was a loss that hurt all the more because everyone knew that a fully healthy Ohtani might have changed the outcome. After the game, his voice shaking with emotion, Ohtani said:
“Even when I gave up hits, my teammates covered for me. I was given the ace number and sent to the mound because they trusted me. That’s why I wanted so badly to hold them down.”
It was a bitter, unforgettable defeat—one that etched into Ohtani’s mind what it truly means to carry responsibility as an ace, and what it means to pitch not just for yourself, but for your team.
Source
This quote comes from a Japanese book published in Japan and is not currently available in English.
Shohei Ohtani: The Challenge, p.26