"Hang in There, KIA Uncles!" ... Notre Dame Kids Cheer on Fall Baseball in Full Voice

Children Hold Special Cheering Event at Notre Dame Brothers' Home

A warm gift from KIA Tigers' foreign players blossomed into the children's enthusiastic cheers for fall baseball at their childcare home.

Notre Dame Brothers' Home, a childcare facility in the Jeonnam-Gwangju area, said on October 30 that children and staff gathered in the facility's auditorium on the evening of October 29, the day of Game 3 of the KIA Tigers' playoff series, to hold a special cheering event and wish the Tigers victory.

On the 29th, the day of the third game of the KIA Tigers' playoff series, children and staff at Notre Dame Brothers' Home, a child-care facility in Jeonnam-Gwangju, gathered in the facility's auditorium for a special rally to cheer the Tigers on to victory. Photo provided by a reader.

To make up for not being able to attend the game in person, the children each dressed up in special cheering outfits. They wore matching T-shirts given to them in person last September by players Eric Oller, James Naile and William Castro at “Tigers Dream Day,” and cheered enthusiastically while holding “Hotongi,” the team's tiger-shaped cheering sticks.

A variety of interactive events were also held to keep the children engaged.

Before the game, many children who picked superstar Kim Do-yeong in the “Guess Today's First Home Run Batter” contest got the answer right and received gift certificates. In the “Home Runs Are Coming Down” event, the children also took turns receiving generous snack bundles each time a KIA batter hit a home run during the game. The two homers added to the festive atmosphere.

In the “Notre Dame's Best Gyarini (KIA + child)” contest, which drew the most enthusiastic response, a child surnamed Kim won the honor after appearing in manager Lee Beom-ho's jacket and cap. Introducing himself as “Kkot Beom-ho,” Kim vigorously waved a Hotongi, led the crowd in a cheer song and offered sharp analysis of the game, earning a unanimous vote from the judges.

KIA narrowly lost the game, 6-4, after a nail-biting contest that lasted until two outs in the bottom of the ninth. But rather than feeling disappointed, the children cheered the team with bright, innocent smiles, saying, “They did that to make the game more exciting,” and, “Uncle Naile is starting tomorrow, so we'll definitely win.”

A representative of Notre Dame Brothers' Home said, “It was deeply moving to see the children cheering for the same team as one and embracing each other to celebrate every home run.” The representative added, “We hope this cheering event, where the children laughed together and raised their voices regardless of the outcome, will remain a warm and happy memory for them for a long time.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.