NAHA, Okinawa Pref. -- On Aug. 9, 1958, the entire nation was riveted to the first round of the National High School Baseball Tournament, which pitted Okinawa's Shuri High School against Fukui Prefecture's Tsuruga High School.

Bokushun Kinjo, the Shuri third baseman, recently recalled the strange atmosphere, saying it was one he had never before experienced.

It was the third game of a muggy day, Kinjo was too nervous to feel the heat and was nearly overwhelmed by playing before the packed stands of Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.