"I want to be a national team member like my sisters!" Korea's present meets its future

 "I want to be a national team player like my sisters!"

Small stature, somewhere between 130 and 40 centimeters, small voice, fern-like hands. But he throws a fastball with ease. Even the 'national team members' who were watching exclaimed, "Wow!".

On the 17th, the Women's Baseball Festival 2023 was held at the Cheonan Living Sports Baseball Field. The highlight of the day was a joint practice game between the Korean national women's baseball team and girls playing in the Little Baseball Team and Junior Women's Baseball Team.

The teams were divided into blue and white teams with a mix of national team members and little and junior girls. The starting pitcher for the white team was Sejong Angels pitcher Sun Ju-ha (6th grade). National pitcher Kim Bomi, who served as the day-to-day manager of the white team, boldly put the youngest player on the mound. "There should be more rising stars than falling stars," Kim smiled.

Seon Ju-ha, who took the mound to the same cheers as her older sisters, pitched well under the careful guidance of her teammate, national catcher Lee Bitna. The shy Sun Joo-ha said, "I was so nervous throwing the ball in front of my national team sisters. I will continue to play baseball and become a member of the national team."

The Blue Team started off strong. From the start, they pushed the white team hard. After scoring a large number of runs, the team brought in Choi Ji-an (grade 4) from Seongdong-gu Little Baseball Team and Son Dan-ah (grade 5) from Gwangsan-gu Little Baseball Team.

Choi Ji-an, who played hard with her tiny hands and feet, said, "It's so much fun. I want to come again," she said with a big smile. Son Dan-ah is related to Kia Tigers outfielder Choi Hyung-woo. She often plays with Choi's son. "My goal is to play baseball harder and become a national team member!" exclaimed Son Dan-ah, who often attends KIA Tigers games.

They grow up to become members of the Korean national baseball team. There's a precedent. Choi Dre (16), an infielder who won a bronze medal at the Asian Cup (BFA) in Hong Kong when she was first selected for the women's national baseball team in 2023, said, "When I was a little girl and I saw my older sisters on the national team, 안전놀이터 I just thought it was so exciting and cool. I wanted to be there and wear the Taeguk-marked jersey, but now that I've traveled to the international tournament in it, it's a new feeling."

Choi Dre said, "There are many young girls who already have national team qualities. (Sun) Ju-ha is in the sixth grade, and I was surprised that the ball was so fast. I think I'm better than I was at that age. I'm good enough now, so I hope I can continue to play baseball and play for the national team together," she smiled.