89th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament will kick off on March 19

First time ever, limited participation of female club assistants on the field during pre-game practice

The Mainichi, March 15, 2017 - A high school baseball team "manager," or female team assistant, crouches to corral a ball rolling across the turf at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on March 14, 2017. The 89th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, more commonly known as "Senbatsu," will kick off on March 19rnIt will be the first high school baseball tournament held at the stadium since a November 2016 decision by the Japan High School Baseball Federation to allow a limited number of female assistants onto the field during pregame warm-ups.