Chiben Wakayama Prepares for Rematch Against Yokohama at Koshien
Listen to the story
Chiben Wakayama, a high school baseball team, is preparing to face Yokohama in a highly anticipated semi-final at the Koshien national tournament.
Last spring, Chiben Wakayama lost to Yokohama in the final of the Spring National High School Baseball Tournament, known as Senbatsu.
To prepare for a rematch, the team practiced against a pitching machine set at 174 km/h.
This speed matches that of Yokohama's star pitcher, Shoki Oda, who is known for his powerful throws.
By hitting balls at this speed, the players hope to be ready for Oda's fastball during the game.
Chiben Wakayama player Rinko Yamada shared his determination, saying he wants revenge for last year's loss.
The upcoming semi-final has already sold out, and organizers expect the stadium to be completely full.
Another exciting semi-final will feature Tenri against Kendai Takasaki, making it a day full of major matchups.
Four schools are now making final preparations before stepping onto the field for these two big semi-final games.
Fans across Japan are following the tournament closely, as Koshien is one of the most famous high school sports events in the country.
The winners of these semi-finals will move on to the championship final, adding even more excitement to the competition.
Vocabulary6 words
- semi-final
- a match played just before the final round
- pitching machine
- a machine used to throw balls for batting practice
- fastball
- a pitch thrown at high speed
- revenge
- an action taken to make up for a previous defeat
- matchup
- a competition between two specific teams or players
- championship
- the final contest that decides the overall winner
Quiz
Answer key
1. To prepare for Yokohama's pitcher Shoki Oda 2. Yokohama beat Chiben Wakayama in the Senbatsu final 3. Tenri and Kendai Takasaki
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Chiben Wakayama, a high school baseball team, is preparing to face _____ in a highly anticipated semi-final at the Koshien national tournament.
Last spring, Chiben Wakayama lost to Yokohama in the final of the Spring National High School Baseball Tournament, known as _____.
To prepare for a rematch, the team practiced against a pitching machine set at _____ km/h.
This speed matches that of Yokohama's star pitcher, _____, who is known for his powerful throws.
Chiben Wakayama player _____ shared his determination, saying he wants revenge for last year's loss.
The upcoming semi-final has already _____ out, and organizers expect the stadium to be completely full.
Another exciting semi-final will feature _____ against Kendai Takasaki, making it a day full of major matchups.
Four schools are now making final _____ before stepping onto the field for these two big semi-final games.
The winners of these semi-finals will move on to the _____ final, adding even more excitement to the competition.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think practicing against a fast pitching machine can help a baseball team prepare for a game?
- How might losing an important match, like Chiben Wakayama did last spring, motivate a team for a rematch?
- Why do you think events like Koshien attract so many fans and sell out tickets so quickly?
- What other sports do you know where teams specifically prepare for one opponent's strongest player?