Nippon Express exits Intercity Baseball Tournament in first round

Nippon Express suffered its second consecutive first-round exit in the 97th Intercity Baseball Tournament. Playing at the Tokyo Dome against NTT West Japan, the team lost 1-3 in extra innings following a tiebreak.

Despite recording nine hits, the team struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, with eight of those hits being singles. Manager Koichi Sawamura noted that the team failed to produce hits during critical moments and struggled against strong defensive play. Pitcher Kazuma Soma delivered a strong performance, pitching eight innings and allowing only one run, earning praise from the manager for his preparation.