A select team of Under-26 professionals played a university all-star team to a 1-1 tie Sunday in a game to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Central and Pacific leagues in Japanese baseball.
In the first contest of its kind between professionals mainly under 26 and amateurs, the NPB players struck first in front of 41,025 fans at Tokyo Dome.
Yomiuri Giants shortstop Hayato Sakamoto led off the first inning with a single to left off Waseda University star Yuki Saito and scored from third two outs later on Hanshin Tigers third baseman Takahiro Arai's single to right for a 1-0 lead.
Saito gave up two hits and walked one in one inning.