Ichiro, Hideki Matsui, Kazuo Matsui play against high school girls' selection at Tokyo Dome

On the 13th, Ichiro (52), who played for the Orix professional baseball team and the Mariners of Major League Baseball, played against a high school girls' selection at Tokyo Dome as a member of his grassroots baseball team, ``KOBE CHIBEN.'' Hideki Matsui (52) and Kazuo Matsui (50), who were also active in Japan and the United States, also participated, greatly exciting the audience of over 25,000 people.

This is an annual event, held for the sixth time. Ichiro, who participated as the No. 1 pitcher, threw 127 pitches and had 17 strikeouts, achieving a shutout for the second consecutive year and winning 7-0. “I was able to give everything I had, and it boosted my confidence.” After the match, Hide Matsui and Masaru Matsui exchanged words, saying, ``We want to do it again next year.''

Infielder Minoru Fukuda (Hyogo/Kobe Koryo), who was the No. 1 player in the high school girls' selection, recorded three hits. "It's a really great feeling. I hope to continue to play an active role and spread the word about women's baseball," she said with a big smile.