Shikoku-Kyūshū Island League

The is a baseball league on the islands of Shikoku and Kyūshū in Japan. Neither the Central nor the Pacific League has a team based in Shikoku.

IBLJ Inc. operates the league. IBLJ (which chose its name as an abbreviation of "Independent Baseball League of Japan"), founded by commentator and former professional baseball player Hiromichi Ishige, initially held all the rights to the teams, leadership, and players, but in 2006 established separate corporations for the teams. The company has its headquarters in Takamatsu.

Prior to December 2007, the league was known as the Shikoku Island League. On December 1, 2007, it expanded to include franchises in Kyūshū, and changed its name accordingly.

Teams

The six teams in the league are the

• Ehime Mandarin Pirates
• Kagawa Olive Guyners
• Kochi Fighting Dogs
• Tokushima Indigo Socks
• Fukuoka Red Warblers
• Nagasaki Saints

Each team has 22 players, two coaches, and one manager.

League play

Each team plays 90 games annually, 45 at home and 45 away. With the 2008 expansion, each team's schedule changed to 80 games a year, 40 at home and 40 away, so the season consists of 240 games. Teams attempt to schedule games for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Except in Kōchi, which lacks the necessary lighting equipment, Friday games are nighters.

The Shikoku Island League uses designated hitters.

One technique the league uses to strengthen its ties to the locales where it plays is to have those players who come from Shikoku play for their home teams. Even if they are not regulars, they often appear as designated hitters, pinch hitters, relief pitchers, and substitutes.

Sponsors

The Shikoku Island League has two principal sponsors. They are the Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku) and the Shikoku Coca Cola Bottling Company. Other sponsors include Taiyo Oil Company, Shikoku Meiji Dairies, Japan Airlines, sporting goods maker Mizuno Corp., Internet service provider Biglobe, convenience store chain FamilyMart, and Nihon McDonald's.

History

The first game in the league took place on April 29, 2005. On November 10, 2005, the Kochi Fighting Dogs won the first league championship.

External links

• Shikoku-Kyūshū Island League Official Site (in Japanese)
• Shikoku Island League Information Bureau (in Japanese)