Bonghwang baseball tourney heats up for summer

Managers of high school baseball teams competing at this year’s Bonghwang High School Baseball Tournament pose during the tournament draw in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon

Budding baseball players from 69 high schools across Korea will compete at the Bonghwang High School Baseball Tournament which starts next month.

Co-hosted by the Hankook Ilbo, sister paper of The Korea Times, and the Korea Baseball Association (KBA), the 44th edition of the baseball tournament will take place at five baseball parks including KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, and Mokdong Baseball Stadium in western Seoul, for 14 days from Aug. 3 to 16.

Defending champions Kyeongbuk High School of Daegu will play against baseball powerhouse Busan High School in the first round on Aug. 3.

Ever since its inaugural event in 1971, the Bonghwang tournament has discovered star players including former major leaguer Park Chan-ho and slugger Lee Seung-yuop who has hit the most homeruns in the history of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

The qualifiers and the round of 16 games are scheduled to take place at five baseball parks in the Seoul metropolitan area by Aug. 12, the quarterfinals at Mokdong Baseball Stadium and semifinals and finals at KT Wiz Park.

When:

Aug. 3 to 16

Where:

Suwon KT Wiz Park (opener on Aug. 3, semifinals on Aug. 15 and finals on Aug. 16), Seoul Mokdong Baseball Stadium, Seoul Sinwol Baseball Park, Icheon Sports Complex and Ansan Baenamul Baseball Park for qualifiers

Hosts:

Hankook Ilbo and the Korea Baseball Association (KBA)

Sponsors: Suwon City, Kids Hankook Ilbo, Hankook Sports Economy, Descente and The Korea Times