ASIJ regains its throne atop Pac baseball field

American School In Japan’s Billy Freund, shown here batting earlier this season, was named the most valuable pitcher Saturday as the Mustangs claimed the Far East Division I baseball title. (Lauren Casey/Special to Stripes)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – Drawing inspiration from a handful of Mustangs who won Far East titles before him, Billy Freund closed his high school baseball career a champion.

The senior right-hander pitched six innings of three-hit ball, allowing three walks and striking out 12, as American School In Japan won its record ninth Division I baseball title and second in three years, downing Nile C. Kinnick 9-2 in Saturday’s final.

Freund also helped himself at the plate, belting a solo home run to left field to lead off the bottom of the sixth innings. He finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

He moved to shortstop in the final inning and assisted on the game’s final play, a fielder’s choice groundout from Freund to second baseman Ray Takizawa.

“I was praying right before my last at-bat for an extra-base hit, just closed my eyes and hit it,” Freund said. “And the last play a ground ball to me, flipped it to second and it was over. What a great way to end my high school career.”

Freund has communicated frequently over his three years in Mustang uniform with previous ASIJ stars who moved on to university: Mizuki Shumsky, Justin Novak – whose father Kevin is a retired Air Force officer – and Tyler Sapsford.

“They inspired me to work hard, always,” Freund said. “And the expectation (at ASIJ) is to bring home the banner every year.”

The Mustangs lead the Pacific in D-I championships and are one of only three teams to win the Far East title. Kubasaki has four and now-closed Seoul American has one.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Woochan Nam – who began playing baseball six years ago in his native Korea – opened the scoring with a first-inning sacrifice fly and ASIJ never looked back.

“It feels great to end my high school career where I started and earning an MVP,” Nam said.

Leo Mentzas was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Leo Linsley drove in two runs and Tyler Lo was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Nam closed the game by getting the last two outs in relief.

Kayden Tam took the loss for the Red Devils, who were making their first finals appearance. Kayden Conley and Esteban Abreu each drove in runs for Kinnick.