High School Baseball: Kamimura Gakuen vs Sano Nichidai at Koshien
Listen to the story
Kamimura Gakuen, a high school from Kagoshima, faced Sano Nichidai, a school from Tochigi, in a second-round match of the summer Koshien tournament. Koshien is Japan's most famous high school baseball competition, held every summer.
Before the game, Sano Nichidai's coach, Mugikura, announced that a second-year student, Oki Zaki Tsubasa, would start as the team's pitcher. This was seen as a bold choice, since Oki Zaki is still young.
Mugikura explained his reasoning, saying that the left-handed pitcher has a "unique trajectory" and plenty of "momentum" in his pitches. A trajectory is the path a ball follows through the air, and left-handed pitchers often create different angles than right-handed ones, which can make it harder for batters to react.
On the other side, a Kamimura Gakuen catcher shared his personal feelings ahead of the match. The player comes from Yashiro, a city in Kumamoto Prefecture. He spoke about his determination to do well, mentioning local memories from his hometown, including a shopping mall, as part of his motivation.
The report does not give full details about the final score or the outcome of the match. However, it highlights the personal stories behind two of the players involved — the young pitcher chosen for a big role, and the catcher drawing strength from where he grew up.
Koshien matches often attract great attention across Japan, as thousands of students dream of playing on this stage. Each summer, the tournament brings together the best high school teams from every region of the country.
Vocabulary7 words
- Koshien
- a very famous national high school baseball tournament in Japan
- start
- to be chosen to play from the beginning of a game
- left-handed
- someone who throws or writes with their left hand
- trajectory
- the path something moves along in the air
- momentum
- strong force or speed when something moves
- catcher
- the baseball player who catches balls thrown by the pitcher
- determination
- a strong wish to succeed
Quiz
Answer key
1. Second round 2. Because he has a unique left-handed trajectory and momentum 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Kamimura Gakuen, a high school from Kagoshima, faced Sano Nichidai, a school from Tochigi, in a second-round match of the summer _____ tournament.
Before the game, Sano Nichidai's coach, Mugikura, announced that a second-year student, Oki Zaki Tsubasa, would _____ as the team's pitcher.
Mugikura explained his reasoning, saying that the _____ pitcher has a unique _____ and plenty of _____ in his pitches.
On the other side, a Kamimura Gakuen _____ shared his personal feelings ahead of the match.
The player comes from Yashiro, a city in _____ Prefecture.
He spoke about his _____ to do well, mentioning local memories from his hometown.
Discussion questions
- Why might a coach choose a younger, less experienced player to start an important game?
- How can a player's hometown or background give them motivation before a big match?
- Do you think left-handed pitchers have real advantages in baseball? Why or why not?
- What makes tournaments like Koshien so important to students and communities in Japan?