Japan Major League Baseball
The score is 4-3. Hiroshima Carps lead the home team, Yokohoma Baystars. It is the bottom of the ninth inning and the Yokohoma Baystars are at bat. They have a man on third. There are two outs. Maki, a pretty good hitter, at the plate.
Yoko, Baba, me, and Goro San, a family friend from Yokosuka, are about three rows up on the third base side. Great seats!!! Goro San has his lucky Baystars jersey on him. It has the signatures from all the players on the back!!! His friend tracked the players down one by one at train stations, got their signatures, and gave it to Goro San for his birthday! "They never lose when I wear this jersey!" says Goro San.
Big crowd on hand despite the light rain. And the cheering sections are out of this world! They have drums and trumpets and the cheers go on.....non stop...the...whole... game. The brass section has a different tune for each player! I mean, the cheers and songs are worth the price of admission. Here are some pics with the Hiroshima Carp cheer section featured in the audio.
Here is a panoroma of the field with Hiroshima cheering section in red getting into it.
I couldn't help giving it a try.
Maki at bat, two outs, bottom of the ninth, needing a run to tie it at 4, got a man on third. I have watched some of their games on TV. Maki is a good hitter. He runs the count to 3 balls and two strikes- full count! The pitcher has got to come with something good. He doesn't want to walk him. I'm thinking fast ball, something the pitcher can get over the plate. Maki is thinking the same thing. The pitch...Maki swings awkwardly....it's a slider in the dirt...not a fast ball over the plate. The pitcher crossed Maki up! Strike out! End of game!
But that sure was fun. I am leaving the park with those songs in my head.
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