“Ah~!”

It’s 6:55 p.m. on the 5th. A rain cancellation sign appeared on the Jamsil Stadium scoreboard, and a loud cheer erupted from the first and third base bleachers. As the rain that started pouring at 5:40 p.m. showed no signs of abating, the game management committee and the umpire committee decided to cancel the game after deliberation.

A crucial matchup for both Kia, which is on an eight-game winning streak, and Doosan, which needs to keep the fight for the top five alive. With seven games to be played in a span of 10 days, the physical condition of the players became a hot topic. Fans arrived at the stadium early and didn’t worry about the game being canceled until it started to rain. The clouds were just covering the sky over Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

In fact, around 6:20 p.m., the sun even peeked out from behind the first base bleachers. It looked like the rain was about to stop, with golden ripples in the stands behind the left field foul pole.

Rain falls on the field and the dugout is empty before the game between Doosan and KIA in the 2023 KBO League scheduled to be held at Jamsil Stadium on Friday. Jamsil | Park Jin-up upandup@sportsseoul.com

However, the rain, which seemed to be easing off, picked up again, leaving the facility staff shaking their heads as they prepared the grounds. Immediately after the decision was made to cancel the game, the Doosan players walked out of the dugout, lined up, and greeted the fans who had waited in the rain.

Choi Won-jun, the starting pitcher, grabbed Yang Seok-hwan and forcibly removed his sneakers. “Captain” Heo Kyung-min took off his spikes next to him, and Jung Soo-bin also stood on the field in socks. They were preparing for the so-called “Woochu Ceremony”. The veteran trio made a sacrifice to give the crowd a minimum of entertainment.

Applause erupted from the stands on the third base side of the stadium after the ceremonial slide around the field. The KIA players also came out to greet the fans who stayed until the end to wait for the game to start.메이저놀이터

The rain continued even after the fans left the stadium one by one. Considering that it takes over an hour to clear the field, it was a wise decision, albeit one that adds to the season’s schedule.

Only time will tell which team the rain favored on this day.