A woman pitcher on the University of Tokyo baseball team took the mound at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on November 5 in a game against Rikkyo University, becoming the first-ever Japanese woman to pitch in a college league game.

Nineteen-year-old Megumi Takemoto, a first-year student at the prestigious university, was put in in the top of the ninth inning with no outs and Rikkyo leading 6-2. She walked the only batter she faced on six pitches--all fastballs--from a full count. Her fastest pitch was 104 kilometers per hour, or 65 miles per hour.

The left-handed pitcher, who was born in Niigata Prefecture, is 163 centimeters (5 feet 4 inches) tall and weighs 50 kilograms (110 pounds). She is the second female college student to pitch in the regular season; Jodi Haller of the United States pitched for Meiji University four years ago.

"Home plate looked closer than I'd imagined," Takemoto said, reflecting on her performance. "Although I faced only one batter, it was still a good experience. I'd like to do better next time."

Team manager Yutaka Misumi said, "I let her pitch because she was throwing strikes in the bullpen. The fact that she got two strikes after going 0 and 3 proves she has guts."

The rival manager Haruyuki Teshima of Rikkyo University also spoke highly of Takemoto, saying, "She has a good pitching style. I think she has the potential to pitch regularly in future games with one or two more years of experience."

Photo: Takemoto looks forward to improving her control and pitching in more games. (PANA)