VOCABULARY Base hit An action of hitting the ball so that one reaches the first BASE funnelled pass through irrigation ditches V-or u-shaped passage cut into the ground esp. for water to flow through. Bottom of the ninth inning nine playing periods into which a baseball game is divided.

VOCABULARY Strike out a. Someone who strikes out a lot b. out by three strikes No hitter a. Someone who can’t hit the ball b. a game in which no one on the opposing team gets a hit for the entire game

VOCABULARY Grounded out Baseball(of a batter) be put out because of hitting a ground ball to a fielder who throws it to first base before the batter touches that base: He grounded out to shortstop

COMPREHENSION How do you think the narrator feels? The narrator feels ashamed or embarrassed. How would you feel in the narrator’s place? I might feel angry, or nervous, embarrassed, or afraid with the guard looking down at them.

COMPREHENSION What are two surprising things about the narrator’s victory? 1. He hits a home run instead of getting a single or an out. 2. The guard, who he thought was against him, gives him the thumbs-up.

VOCABULARY Gripped the bat = hold very tightly I was gonna hit the ball Even if it killed me Stepped into my swing; pulled the bat around Tagged out put out (a runner ) by touching them with the ball or with the glove holding the ball Thumbs-up sign Horsing around To behave in silly & noisy way

VOCABULARY Jap (line 145) Get picked on; being a chicken (line 151) Crowd roared (line 155) Drowning out my teammates (line 156) C’mon (line 158) Catch my breath (line 159) Blocked out the noise (line 163) Wound up & threw (line 164) worried, nervous, angry Solid whack (165) to hit something noisily

COMPREHENSION Why do you think the narrator’s family is treated this way? People still resented / disliked those of Japanese origin because of the war. What word does the author use to show how the crowd feels about the narrator? The author uses the word “Jap” which refer to anyone who looked Japanese.

Think it through What happens at the end of the story? Why is this important to the narrator? The narrator hits a home run. He proved he could succeed in spite of how other people saw him. How do you think baseball ‘saves’ the narrator? It helps him believes in himself, develop a skill, and prove the crowd wrong at the end. What good things does baseball do for the families in Camp? It gives them something to work on together; it helps them pass the time & feel good about themselves; it helps them forget their troubles for a while.