Ohtani strikes out Trout to give Japan victory in World Baseball Classic

By City News Service

Shohei Ohtani stuck out Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to end Japan's 3-2 victory over the United States Tuesday evening in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic.

Ohtani entered the game in the ninth inning in his first relief appearance since 2016, when he played for the Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan's Pacific League, and walked the first batter he faced, New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil, a former Long Beach State standout, on seven pitches. The next batter, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, grounded into a double play.

Ohtani fell behind on the count, 2-1, then Trout swung and missed at a 99.8 mph fastball, evening the count. Ohtani's 101.6 mph fastball was low and outside for a ball. Trout then swung and missed at an 87.2 mph slider.

Ohtani was selected as the tournament's MVP and as both pitcher and designated hitter on the AllClassic Team. He was 2-0 with a save in the championship game with a 1.86 ERA and batted a teambest .435 with 1 home run and 8 RBIs.

"I believe this is the best moment in my life and just because we won today, though," Ohtani said through an interpreter. "Of course this doesn't mean that we achieved a final goal, but this is just a passing point. Our team has just started, so I think we need to tune-up for the future."

United States manager Mark DeRosa said he "was hoping it would end a little bit different with Mike popping one but the baseball world won

See World Baseball Page 27

Re: “…Who else is Egg-cited for Spring?”

(Monrovia

Old Town report, Mar. 16)

I wonder how many Christians are aware that Easter, their most sacred day, derives from Eastre, a Saxon goddess of fertility who had a rabbit as her earthly symbol. Hence the origin of the Easter Bunny, And we also have Easter eggs because eggs have always symbolized new life. Thus, those ancient tribes decorated eggs as an offering to Eastre.

The early missionaries who converted the pagan Saxons to Christianity decided to name the day of the risen Lord, “Easter” in deference to the new converts who might other-

Equal Pay Day this year fell on March 14.

This is the day that a woman would have to work to in order to make the same amount of money that a man made in all of 2022. But, it’s important to note that when you look at specific groups of women, the date is later in the year. Black women do not reach equal pay day until July 27, and Latina women don’t reach it until Oct. 5. On average, women earn 82 cents per dollar that men earn. Black women earn 65 cents per dollar, and Latina women earn 60 cents per dollar.

This is shocking, and sad. But, more importantly, it’s true. The first step to solving a problem is acknowledging that it exists. Research suggests there are many factors that contribute to the pay gap. A piece is linked to bias. A piece is attributed to family caregiving responsibilities that fall disproportionately at the feet of women. And, another piece is