Eastern Macabes have been crowned champions of the third Koshien Baseball Championship after defeating Dodowa Marine Stars 9-1 in the Under-15 final at the Koshien Field at Labone Senior High School in Accra.
Eastern produced a dominant display on Sunday to retain the title in the competition organised by the Ghana Baseball/Softball Federation.
Coached by Osei Kweku Dickson, Dodowa Marine Stars put up an entertaining display and were backed by their energetic jama songs, but Eastern Macabes proved too strong and maintained control throughout the final.
Despite the heavy defeat, Dodowa were recognised for their discipline and were presented with the Fair Play Award.
Five regional teams — Tema All Stars, Volta, Central, Dodowa and Eastern — competed in the championship, providing young players with an opportunity to develop their skills and gain competitive experience.
Officials of the victorious Eastern Macabes said the team had prepared extensively for the competition and vowed to intensify their training as they target further success in future tournaments.
The championship was organised with support from the National Sports Authority (NSA), Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Africa Baseball/Softball Foundation (JABS) and other partners.
Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, who watched the matches on the final day, congratulated the winners and commended all the participating teams, coaches and players.
He expressed the hope that interest in baseball would continue to grow in Ghana, stressing that the sport offers several opportunities for young people.
Ghana Baseball/Softball Federation Secretary General and Vice President Edmund Kwesi Ackom also praised the participating teams and regional coordinators for their contribution to the development of youth baseball.
Several players and officials were recognised for their performances during the tournament.
Jacqueline Amponsah of Tema All Stars was named Best Female Player, while Eastern Macabes’ Isaac Mensah won the Best Male Player award.
Dodowa Marine Stars received the Most Disciplined Team and Fair Play awards, while Kofi Frimpong was recognised as the Best Coach.
The awards were presented by Shinya Tomonari, President of the Japan-Africa Baseball/Softball Foundation.
