Home Runs Fall at Japan's Summer High School Baseball Tournament
Listen to the story
Koshien is a famous tournament for high school baseball in Japan. It happens two times every year, in spring and summer.
This year, players at the summer tournament are hitting very few home runs. Only seven home runs have happened so far. This could be the lowest number ever.
There have also been many errors in the games. Players have made 117 errors. This is a lot of mistakes.
An important person in Japanese baseball is not happy. He said the level of high school baseball has gone down. He asked why new star players like Kiyohara and Matsui do not come anymore. Kiyohara and Matsui were two very famous Japanese baseball players in the past.
He also talked about problems with coaches. Some people have reported coaches for power harassment. This means coaches treat players badly because they have more power.
He said parents get too involved in coaching. He thinks this makes coaches worse at their job.
If home runs stay low, it will be a special moment. It only happened one time before in 52 years.
Vocabulary5 words
- tournament
- a sports event with many games
- home run
- a hit that lets a player score without stopping
- error
- a mistake in a game
- coach
- a person who trains players
- power harassment
- treating someone badly because you have more power
Quiz
Answer key
1. They are at a very low number 2. Players like Kiyohara and Matsui do not come anymore 3. 117
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Koshien is a famous _____ for high school baseball in Japan.
This year, players are hitting very few _____.
Only seven home runs have happened so far. This could be the lowest number _____.
There have also been many _____ in the games.
Players have made 117 _____.
An important person in Japanese baseball said the _____ of high school baseball has gone down.
He asked why new star players like Kiyohara and _____ do not come anymore.
Some people have reported coaches for power _____.
He said parents get too _____ in coaching.
If home runs stay low, it will be a special _____.