The first pitch of the elderly righteous man in the water crisis at the only moment that touched KIA fans

Jul 25, 2025

LG-KIA match held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 23rd. Choi Seung-il, who saved a citizen floating in the water amid the water crisis that hit the Gwangju area, took the first pitch. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com

KIA Tigers suffered a shocking sweep loss to the LG Twins in three consecutive home games. I was able to take the Winning Series, but I faced a painful result due to the collapse of the bullpen.

The loss of the first game on the 22nd was painful. KIA, which was being dragged 1-4, turned the game around 7-4 by scoring six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. KIA fans were enthusiastic when the `8th episode of Promise' was replayed. However, closer Jung Hae-young, who took the mound in the ninth inning, collapsed with four runs and lost 7-9.

A similar situation was repeated on the 23rd. KIA tied the score at the bottom of the seventh inning, trailing 0-4. However, Cho Sang-woo, who took the mound in the top of the 10th inning, collapsed by allowing Moon Bo-kyung to make a two-run shot. Cho Sang-woo and Jung Hae-young, who are in a must-win group, took the mound for two consecutive days, but lost consecutive games.

Ahead of the match on the 24th, coach Lee Bum-ho said, "Jeong Hae-young and Jo Sang-woo do not play three consecutive games." Yang Hyun-jong, who started, pitched six scoreless innings, but the bullpen was more disastrous without a must-win group. Sung Young-tak, Choi Ji-min, Lee Joon-young and Lee Ho-min took the mound in a row, but lost completely in the eighth inning by giving up as many as eight runs.

LG-KIA match held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 24th. KIA lost 0-8, giving up all three consecutive games. The players are going to the ground weakly.

KIA, which ranked first with 15 wins, 7 losses and 2 draws in June, is slowing down in July. After losing his first sweep of the season in the last three consecutive games of the first half against No. 1 Hanwha, he lost again to No. 2 LG. The season's performance also fell from fourth place to fifth place. He also has only one game difference with the sixth-ranked Samsung Lions.

There was a moment that impressed KIA fans throughout the three consecutive games. It was the first pitch, not the content of the game.

On the 17th, the Gwangju area was severely damaged by heavy rain.

Choi Seung-il (53), who threw the first pitch at the game on the 23rd, is a righteous man who saved an old man who was washed away by water.

Choi Seung-il jumps into the water and struggles to save citizens. Yonhap News

Choi, who discovered that an old man who was washed away on a road that was flooded by heavy rain had his two legs caught in an asphalt crack, jumped into the water without hesitation. When the old man's feet did not fall out in an urgent situation where muddy water hit the old man's face, Choi blocked the water with a wooden board and opened an asphalt gap with an iron pipe to rescue the old man in about 20 minutes.

It happened in front of an automobile industry company operated by Choi in Sotae-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju. There was also a dizzying moment when a vehicle floated down during the rescue operation and almost hit Choi and the old man. Fortunately, about 20 people, including employees and citizens, joined together to block the car.

Employees who helped the rescue with Choi Seung-il, who is from

greet each other before the first pitch.

Choi Seung-il, a righteous man who took the mound wearing a KIA uniform, threw the ball with more strength and confidence than anyone else. It was a single pitch that impressed both the spectators and the team in the stadium, consoling Gwangju citizens who were badly affected by heavy rain.