Gunsan Sangil High School lived up to its nickname as the “Master of the Comeback” with a come-from-behind victory to win the President’s Cup for the first time in 37 years.

Gunsan Sangil High School defeated Incheon High School in the final of the 57th Presidential Baseball Tournament at Mokdong Stadium in 메이저놀이터 Seoul on Thursday, winning the title with an 11-10 walk-off victory. It was the team’s first title in 37 years since 1986 and its fourth overall. It is the 12th time the team has won the national championship and the first time in 10 years since winning the 2013 Bonghwangdae title.

After falling behind early in the game to Incheon, Gunsan Sangil-Go secured the victory with the pitching staff of Lee Byung-joo (3 runs in ⅔ innings), Park Seung-ho (2 runs in 4⅔ innings), Park Hyun-hwi (3 runs in 1⅔ innings), Yoo Sung-yeon (2 runs in ⅔ innings), and Kang Min-je (no runs in 1⅓ innings). At the plate, No. 8 shortstop Min-Kook led the way with a 5-for-4 performance with three RBIs, one run scored, and one stolen base. Park Chan-Woo, who delivered the game-winning hit, was the player of the game with a 5-for-2 performance with two RBIs, one run scored, one stolen base, and one walk.

The MVP of the tournament was ace Jung Min-sung, who led the team to the final. He threw 85 pitches in the semifinals and was unable to pitch in the championship game, but went 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA in three games (12⅔ innings) to lead Gunsan Sangil High to the title.

Incheon, which was looking for its first President’s Cup title in 19 years since 2004, had to settle for its second runner-up finish since 1985. Ace Kim Taek-yeon pitched 7⅓ innings of one-run, four-hit ball in the semifinals against Gyeongbuk High School on Dec. 12, striking out nine and walking one, but was unable to pitch in the final because he threw 105 pitches.

Incheon got on the board in the top of the first inning when leadoff hitter Park Jae-hyun drew a walk. Lee Jae-hyo laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on first and second, and Han Kyu-hyuk hit a big shot that was caught by the left fielder. Lim Gyu-young drew a walk to put runners on first and second, and Kim Ji-seok followed with a single to center. Kim Ji-seok stole second and Lee Tae-oh walked to load the bases, and Kim Jun-won followed with an RBI double to set the tone for the game. Gunsan Sangilgo eventually replaced starter Lee Byung-joo with Park Seung-ho. Park Seung-ho closed out the first inning without allowing another run.

After surviving the crisis, Gunsan Sangil-Go started its counterattack in the top of the first inning. Park Chan-woo led off with a single and Lee Jun-woo followed with a sacrifice bunt to put runners on first and second. Lee Ji-hoon was hit by a pitch and Kang Min-jae followed with an RBI single to make it a one-run game. Incheon then pulled starter Kim Hyun-sun and brought in Park Sang-hyun. Gunsan Sang-il loaded the bases with one out when Park Sung-bin drew a walk, but failed to capitalize.

Incheon added a run in the top of the third on a Han Gyu-hyuk triple and an RBI single by Lim Kyu-young. Kim Ji-seok also singled to load the bases, but no more runs were scored.

Gunsan Sangilgo had another chance to strike back in the bottom of the third. Lee Jae-hoon and Kang Min-je walked and Park Sung-bin laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on first and second and third. Park drew a walk to load the bases and a wild pitch brought in a run. Choi Siwon drew another walk and Min Gook singled to score another run.

[OSEN=Mokdong, Reporter Park Joon-hyung] On the afternoon of the 14th, the final game of the 57th Presidential High School Baseball Tournament was played between Gunsan Sangsang Il-Go and Incheon Go at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul.In the bottom of the fifth inning, Gunsan Sangsang Il-Go’s Min-guk celebrates after hitting a single to tie the game. 2023.08.14 / soul1014@osen.co.kr

After gaining momentum, Gunsan Sangilgo pulled away once again in the fifth inning. Leadoff hitter Park Joo-sung led off with a double, and Choi Si-won followed with a single to tie the game. After a sacrifice bunt by Kim Jong-hoo, Park Chan-woo reached on a fielder’s choice and Lee Jun-woo drove in the go-ahead run.

In the top of the sixth, Incheon led off with a walk and Park Jae-hyun was hit by a pitch. Lee Jae-hyo laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on first and second, and Han Kyu-hyuk walked to load the bases. In the end, Gunsan Sang-il-Go pulled Park Seung-ho, who had been pitching well, and sent left-hander Park Hyun-hwi to the mound. However, Lim Kyu-young drew a walk to tie the game again at 5-5. However, Kim Ji-seok and Lee Tae-oh were unable to complete the comeback as they retired the side on a strikeout and an infield single, respectively.

After conceding the tie, Gunsan Sangilgo regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Park Joo-sung and Choi Si-won drew walks and Min-gook singled. Jong-hoo Kim followed with a bunt single and Park Chan-woo scored on a passed ball. Lee Jun-woo’s throw was caught by the shortstop, but the second baseman made an error at the plate while trying to turn a double play, leaving the inning unfinished and the score at 9-5.

Incheon loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning as Kim Jun-won singled, Lee Woo-joon walked, and Park Jae-hyun singled. Han Kyu-hyuk drove in a run with an infield single. Gunsan Sangil-Go scored a run in the bottom of the seventh on a Kang Min-jae single, Park Sung-bin sacrifice bunt, and Park Joo-sung RBI single.

Not giving up until the end, Incheon tied the game at 10-10 in the top of the eighth inning after Kim Ji-seok was hit by a pitch, Eugene Seo walked, Kim Jun-won singled, Lee Woo-joon sacrificed, Lee Yoo-chan walked, Park Jae-hyun singled, Lee Jae-hyo singled, stole second base and scored on a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Gunsan Sangilgo had a chance to end the game when leadoff hitter Lim Ju-hwan led off with a single. Lim took advantage of a throwing error to advance to second base, and a sacrifice bunt by Choi Siwon put runners on first and third with no outs. With the bases loaded after Min-Kook walked, Kim Jong-hoo hit a sharp shot that was caught by the center fielder. However, Park Chan-woo came through with the game-winning hit to end the long game.