Hanshin and Hiroshima Pitchers Face Off; Tigers Pitcher Retires
Listen to the story
Two Japanese baseball teams, the Hanshin Tigers and the Hiroshima Carp, are set to play each other soon.
According to a pitching announcement, Hanshin's Nishi Isamu will be the starting pitcher for his team.
Hiroshima will send out their pitcher, Tamamura, to start the game.
This kind of early announcement lets fans know who will pitch first in a matchup.
In other Hanshin news, pitcher Yuta Iwasada is retiring from professional baseball.
This season is the final one of his career.
The Hanshin Tigers held a special retirement ceremony to honor him.
During the ceremony, Iwasada spoke about his feelings with great emotion.
He said that he had played baseball without any regrets.
Iwasada also said that everything from his baseball life is a treasure he will keep forever.
His words showed deep gratitude toward his team, teammates, and fans.
Many people attended the ceremony to support him on this important day.
Iwasada's retirement marks the end of a long career with the Hanshin Tigers.
Fans and players alike shared strong emotions as they said goodbye to him.
The upcoming game between Hanshin and Hiroshima will continue as the baseball season moves forward.
Vocabulary7 words
- announcement
- telling people something important
- starting pitcher
- the player who begins the game by pitching
- matchup
- a game between two specific teams
- retiring
- stopping a job or career permanently
- retirement ceremony
- a special event celebrating someone's final time at work
- regrets
- unhappy feelings about past choices
- gratitude
- a feeling of being thankful
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Hanshin and Hiroshima 2. To honor Yuta Iwasada's retirement 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Two Japanese baseball teams, the Hanshin Tigers and the Hiroshima _____, are set to play each other soon.
According to a pitching announcement, Hanshin's Nishi Isamu will be the _____ for his team.
Hiroshima will send out their pitcher, _____, to start the game.
This kind of early announcement lets fans know who will pitch first in a _____.
In other Hanshin news, pitcher Yuta Iwasada is _____ from professional baseball.
The Hanshin Tigers held a special _____ to honor him.
He said that he had played baseball without any _____.
Iwasada also said that everything from his baseball life is a _____ he will keep forever.
His words showed deep _____ toward his team, teammates, and fans.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think teams announce starting pitchers before a game?
- What kinds of emotions might a player feel at a retirement ceremony?
- Why do you think Iwasada called his career a 'treasure for his whole life'?
- How do you think fans feel when a favorite player retires?
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