I went to the big baseball game today - the equivalent of CU vs CSU (sans the drinking, riots, sluts, drugs, and rudeboys). So depending on your take of things, it was either enjoyable or it utterly missed the point of sports. You can guess my perspective.
At any rate, Yaizu Suisan (my school) played Yaizu Chuo (the other school). This was the 42nd annual game, Suikou with 16 wins in the past. Not too favorable, tho we did win the last 2 years.
Japan has indeed placed its own marks on the sport. The beginning is not the national anthem, it’s a few speeches, bows, and followed by the complete introduction of every member on both teams. The baseball game is not the only spectacle to watch - the cheering squads and school spirit are highly celebrated. In fact, I got lost in the cheering and forgot to pay attention to the middle bit of the game.
Cheering squads are, of course, different. Male only for starters. And cheers generally include the school song or “Go <player’s name>” or “Let’s go! Suikou!”. The band also plays and tries to keep everyone in time (while having the same inner syncronization issu: the cheering squad leaders.
Also, there isn’t a 7th inning stretch. Instead, there’s a 5th inning tidying of the in-field. Every player grabs a wooden rake and levels the dirt.
As far as the playing is concerned, Chuo started off with the lead (1 - 0 at the end of the 1st). Suikou made a comeback in the 2nd with 2 runs. Then it was scoreless until the 8th, when Suikou got another run. And in the last inning, Chuo grasped the win (final 4 - 3) with 2 runs (one an in-field homerun from errors - d’oh!). However, our pitcher was strong, and so was our first basemen, who often executed skilled double-plays.
I had a blast, and the new PE teacher took me to the diamond and back. Earlier this week, I asked him if there was a bus going from Suikou to the game. He didn’t know, and deferred to another teacher who said maybe another teacher was going by car from Suikou. The next day, he said he was driving, and I was welcome to come with him. Very kind - volunteering to drive me around even tho it was out of his way.