Roar of Young Lions at Seongdong

○ Group of death

Cheering and sighing heard simultaneously in the auditorium located on the 21st floor of The Dong A Ilbo yesterday. Jeju High School manger Chung Bong-suk collapsed on the spot, getting to know that his team would face the toughest opponent Gwangju Dongsung High School.

On the contrary, Dongsung High, a team that won the Dragon League, is likely to move up to the semifinal with "light opponents" lined up before it.

Group of death is B where powerful high school teams have to take on each other. Included are Busan, Gyeongju, Seongnam, Inchang, and Sunrin Internet High School. Especially, Gyeongju and Busan, the two powerful high school teams, have to beat the other to move up to the second round.

Gyeongju boasts of its thundering attack ability and watertight defense, while Busan has a wide pool of pitchers. Sunrin, which goes onto the second on default, can play a dark horse with his ace Yoon Hee-sang coming back to normal condition. Sunrin has moved onto the semifinal in the Mudeung League.

○ Interesting records about participant teams

Cheonan Bukil High School, last year`s title winner, is invited this year. On the other hand, Shinil High School, which is the alma mater of Jung Bong, has won the title seven times. In the meanwhile, Incheon High won twice, but has participated 34 times by this, the highest number, along with that of Sekwang High.

Sungnam West High and Hwasun High will play in the league for the first time. Masan Yongmah High, after its name changed from Masan Vocational, will take part in the league first.

○ Like father like son

Lots of players in this league carry on their family tradition. Their fathers were former baseball players.

Among all, Busan High had the highest number of players carrying the tradition. For example, outfielder Cho Chan-hee is the son of Busan manager Cho Sung-ok, another outfielder Chung Ui-yoon the son of Lotte coach Chung In-gyo, and infielder Yoo Jae-jun the son of former Lotte coach Yoo Du-yul.

One interesting thing is manager’s son has not secured his position in the starting lineup.

In addition, Yoo Myong-hwan of Seoul High School is the son of a former Korea Baseball League director and Lee Won-sik of Dongsung High School has a father who was also a baseball player.

○ Live Coverage on donga.com

The Internet edition of The Dong A Ilbo, as in last year, will provide a live coverage of the games online.

Two female casters will cover the games, giving a new feature and fun to the fans.

To celebrate its 57th competition, a cell phone handset will be given to a player who hits a home run on 5th or 7th, or a fan who catches the home run ball. In addition, a player selected as Player of the Day will receive the same.

2.5 million won scholarship will be given each of the two teams that make up to the final.

Hwan-Soo Zang zangpabo@donga.com