CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- The Okiboys and Okinawa Diamond baseball teams faced off in a doubleheader March 18 aboard Camp Foster.
The Okiboys baseball team is an American high school level team that invites local teams like the Okinawa Diamond from Naha, Okinawa, to come on Camp Foster and play against them.
According to Randy Toor, head coach of the Okiboys baseball team, exchanges like this mold the players into better citizens by letting them experience other cultures, and make them more progressive.
After the teams played their first game, the parents of the Okiboys baseball team hosted a potluck for the players, coaching staff and family members of both teams. The boys sat together on the bleachers, eating and conversing. They joked with one another, seeing who could eat a hotdog and drink a bottle of water the fastest.
“They’re going to be the adults and decision makers of the future for this island,” said Chief Warrant Officer Roderick Palmer, a parent of an Okiboys player. “When we have interactions like this, it creates a sense of comfort with each other. The more we get comfortable with each other the easier it is to communicate.”
Once they finished eating, the boys gathered their gear and walked to the next field to prepare for the next game. After they lined the field with fresh chalk the teams began warming up.
“There is a language and culture gap, but one thing these boys come out here to do is learn to communicate through baseball and sportsmanship,” said Palmer. “They learn the rules apply to everyone, and we are equal out on the field, just as we are equal as people. We have to respect each other.”
After warming up, the players lined up on each side of home-plate facing each other, respectfully bowing to each other, then all together for their coaches and officials before taking the field.
As the players took their positions, the levels of sportsmanship and competitiveness were high.
“We have different philosophies of how to play the game, and enjoy learning each other’s viewpoints,” said Palmer. “This helps us understand what is important to the other team, players and culture. We want to impact what happens to Okinawa in the future, right here, with baseball. Therefore, we need to continue to boost participation, encourage our kids to continue coming out and the Japanese players to meet us on the baseball field to play.”
Though their playing styles were different, the game was close.
“Baseball is America’s pastime, and the Japanese have embraced it,” said Palmer. “For us to come together in this type of cultural exchange is great.”