Although the Koshien tournament is over, that doesn't mean that this blog will take a break until the spring. I have 2 projects in mind in the meantime, both having to do with the just finished 90th Summer Koshien Tournament.
Project #1 - Stat compilation for the tournament (Kinda goes without explanation)
Project #2 - Prefectural qualifying brackets incl. school translation and website links
I only have project 2 because of my own experience watching Koshien qualifying. In 2006, I found myself in Ise, Mie-ken partially to visit the Ise Grand Shrine, but to also try and find reference points used in Hanbun no tsuki ga noboru sora, but I digress...
I found out that during my time in Ise, there would be some qualifying games at the local ballpark. I went there for every day I could, renting the local bike and pedaling to the park. I can remember the first time I went there. The park was off a main road, and up a hill. As I was approaching the hill the first day, a neighbor called me and asked if I was going to the game. I said yes, and then he asked what country I was from. Stunned, I realized that since I was riding the bright yellow bike meant for travelers, it was natural for him to ask that.
Purchasing my ticket, and running up the small flight of stairs, I emerged in the middle of a game. The game was well in hand, and the stands behind the plate weren't that full, but there was more. Seeing Koshien games is great, don't get me wrong, but the teams there represent about only 1% of the schools in the nation. In addition, from the list I provided there are a lot of schools that repeatedly come back to Koshien.
You see, these teams probably had little chance of making it. But as many of you know, these schools, these players play the game for that slim chance they win and reach the hallowed grounds of Koshien. And yet people watch, bands play, banners are unfurled with the rally cry of the school, oen-dan's cheer on the grassy bank.
And that's why I want to somehow reflect that. Sure, many of them will never make it, and many are blown out. But for teams like Akebono Gakuen, whose team was only 11 members back in 2006, even their dream should be represented.
Let me know with your comments.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Day 17 - Championship - Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) vs. Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
Oh? You wanted my answer?
Hm... stats say Osaka Toin. Heart wants Tokoha Kikugawa. There... :P
No change in the lineups. Everything's on the line, so the aces will go.
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Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
3B Sano (5)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Nakatani (12)
CF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto (1)
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
SS Sakai (6)
CF Itou (8)
2B Machida (4)
RF Nakagawa (9)
3B Maeda (5)
1B Uejima (3)
P Togari (1)
C Tochigi (2)
LF Matsumoto (18)
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1:01 PM
First pitch
Top 1st
Asamura flies lazily to center. Sano hits a grounder past the diving Sakai and into center.
Togari falls behind Morikawa 3-1, and he hits a falling liner to left! Matsumoto dives and looks to have it, but it pops out! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Hagihara!
He blasts one to center! Itou runs back, but it's over his head!!! Itou throws home!
Sano rounds 3rd! He stops! Morikawa has to scramble back to 2nd, and Hagihara scurries back to 1st!
MANRUI FOR OKUMURA!!
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! BLAST TO DEAD CENTER!!!!! ITOU RUNNING BACK!!!!!!!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OKUMURA WITH THE MANRUI HOMERUN!!!!!!! OSAKA TOIN UP 4-0!!!!!!!!!!
Dear God, what has just happened!
Nakatani walks! Kouhei with the single to center! Runners at 1st and 2nd, and this could be ugly very quick!!!
Ariyama with a bunt. But everyone thinks it's foul! Tochigi picks it up! It's fair! They go to 3rd for 1, then see that Ariyama isn't running to 1st and throw to 1st for the inning ending DP!
But Osaka Toin has shown that their offense in a BIG way!
Bottom 1st
Tokoha can't get the ball out of the infield... Sakai sharp grounder to 1st. Itou and Machida with slow comebackers to Yuuto.
Top 2nd
Yuuto works the count 3-1, but eventually flies out to left.
Asamura shoots one past a diving Machida to center. Sano with a grounder through to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd! This was to be expected!
Morikawa with a bid with a grounder to the right side! Machida with the stop! Makes the throw to 2nd falling away from 1st, that's 1, throw to 1st, not in time! Nice play by Machida!
Hagihara next with a groundball back up the middle! Togari slows it down and Machida makes the sliding grab at 2nd while touching the bag! Another nice play by Machida!
Bottom 2nd
Nakagawa with the comebacker! It's off Yuuto's glove! It's deflected to 2nd! Morikawa comes up with it and makes the play at 1st!
Maeda manages a walk. 1st base runner for Tokoha.
Uejima with a sharp shot to the right side! Morikawa dives and has it! He goes to 1st for the out!
Yuuto strikes out Togari on 3 straight to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Okumura stars the inning with a hard hit liner down the right field line! That's to the wall for a leadoff double!
Osaka Toin is looking to bunt! Nakatani puts it down at 2-0, but it goes foul. He attempts it again and successfully puts it down. Togari throws to Machida covering 1st for the out.
Kouhei with a hard hit grounder to short! Sakai up with and makes the play at 1st. 2 down for Ariyama.
He makes up for his gaffe in the first with a liner to right that scores Okumura! 5-0!
Togari gets Yuuto to strike out, but as expected, Osaka Toin is out to the lead which is now 5 runs.
Bottom 3rd
Tochigi quickly grounds out to 2nd.
Matsumoto gets frozen on a 1-2 pitch and has to sit down.
Sakai fouls a ball off his foot... Ow. He has the spray applied to his foot and after a little, he's ready to go. And after falling behind 0-2, he draws a walk!
Camera points to the flags in center. Wind is back blowing from right to left.
And it pans back to Itou who flies out to center.
Top 4th
Togari is removed from the mound! He goes to left and #10 Nojima comes into the game.
Oh dear....
Asamura takes the first pitch from Nojima and lines it to left.
Sano though, is bunting. First attempts, foul. Second attempt... he pulls it back! High chopper off the mound! Sakai charges, waits, gets it and fires to 1st for the out!
Morikawa comes in and he grounds to 1st. Asamura advances to 3rd.
Nojima would love to get Hagihara out before he has to face Okumura.... The count goes to 2-2, and Hagihara fouls off one. And another. 8th pitch of the AB here... Inside fastball! Swing and a miss! 3 out!
Nojima with the almost perfect inning! I must admit that I'm a bit impressed at least for now.
Bottom 4th
Machida behind 0-2, drives a liner to deep left! Nakatani runs over to his right, dives, but can't get it! He's in with a double and Tokoha's first hit!
Nakagawa also falls behind 0-2... gets it to 2-2, but gets frozen on a pitch inside!
Maeda gets ahead in the count, but grounds to 3rd. 2 down.
Yuuto gets Uejima to strike out to end the inning, leadoff double can't be brought home!
Top 5th
Okumura having a day! He takes the first pitch to left for a leadoff single! Nakatani bunts him along.
Kouhei drives one to deep left center! It's over Togari's head! That bounces to the wall! Okumura scores on Kouhei's double! 6-0!
Nojima comes back and strikes out Ariyama, then fields a safety bunt by Yuuto for the 3rd out.
The lead continues to grow.
Bottom 5th
Yuuto continues his dominant pitching... he strikes out Togari looking. He gets Tochigi to hit a chopper to short. And freezes Nojima for his 6th K of the day!
As we head to the break, the game could be going as expected. Osaka Toin with a big lead, and Tokoha Kikugawa struggling to get its offense going...
And what the heck is that pose the Tokoha oen-dan is doing???
Top 6th
Asamura continues his hot hitting with a single to left. Sano puts the bunt down.
Morikawa with the comebacker! It's off Nojima's glove! Machida charges in, gets it. Throw to 1st, pulls Uejima off the bag! All safe! Runners at the corners!
Hagihara lines one to right center! Asamura scores! 7-0 now in favor of Osaka Toin!
Okumura steps up a triple away from the cycle! Nojima gets ahead early, but eventually works the count full! And a pitch low means yet another manrui situation!
But Nakatani pops it up! Tochigi is under it and makes the catch! 2 down.
Kouhei with a grounder to short! Sakai charges, gets it, makes the throw! It's low! Bounces away from Uejima! That's off his glove and into foul territory!! Morikawa scores! Hagihara scores! 9-0!
And Nojima hits Ariyama! Manrui again for last batter Yuuto.
Yuuto drives one to deep left center! Togari and Itou go back! They're at the wall!
It's off the wall! The bases clear as Yuuto comes in with a double! 12-0!
At this point even a Tokoha big inning won't be enough...
#11 Hagiwara comes in to relieve Nojima... and mercifully gets Asamura to pop to Machida in shallow center.
Bottom 6th
Sakai sharply grounds to 1st... Itou after working the count full hits a comebacker to Yuuto...
... and Machida grounds to short.
Top 7th
Sano hits a grounder past a diving Sakai into center to start the inning for Osaka.
Morikawa flies out to center.
Hagihara up. AHHHHHH!!! He hits a drive to right! Nakagawa to the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hagihara with the homerun to right! That's against the wind! It's now 14-0!
Okumura and Nakatani ground out to end the inning. But this is a full blown massacre...
Bottom 7th
Nakagawa opens the inning with a liner down the right field line. That's to the wall for a leadoff double! Can they at least get on the board?
Maeda fights at the plate, fouling off pitch after pitch. Then on the 10th pitch he hits a chopper over Yuuto's head! But Asamura's there to field it, and he throws to 3rd to easily get a running Nakagawa.
Uejima up. Grounder to 1st. Hagihara charges, but can't get it! It trickles into right and we have runners at the corners!
Yuuto refuses to give up a run without a fight... He strikes out Togari on 3 straight... and does the same with Tochigi! Fukushima Yuuto denies Tokoha Kikugawa a run here!
Top 8th
Kouhei gives Osaka Toin another leadoff runner as he singles to right.
Ariyama pops to shallow center. Itou charges in, makes the catch! And for some inexplicable reason, Kouhei was running! He's easily doubled off at 1st.
Yuuto comes back though! He hits a drive to right! Nakagawa to the wall! That's off the base of the wall! Yuuto in with a triple!
Hagiwara then walks Asamura. 2 down runners at the corners.
But Sano flies out to center to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
#14 Takase comes in to pinch-hit for his first AB at Koshien. Yuuto welcomes him with a strikeout... Sakai grounds to 2nd...
Itou gets his first hit of the game as he singles to left. That's only the 4th hit given up by Yuuto.
Machida bits one deep to right, but Okumura gets under it and makes the easy catch.
Top 9th
#12 Asakawa comes in to pitch now. Perhaps they're getting their underclassmen practice for next time...
Asakawa hits Morikawa to start...
After pushing the count full, Hagihara grounds to 2nd. Machida charges, makes the throw to 2nd for the force.
With the count 0-1, Asamura throws a wild pitch and Hagihara advances to 2nd.
Asakawa then walks Okumura... then walks Nakatani on 4 straight. Manrui for Kouhei.
Grounder to 2nd! Machida up with it! Goes to 2nd for 1, Sakai to 1st... offline!!! That's to the fence! Hagiwara and Okumura score. 16-0.
And after Asakawa falls behind 3-1, Ariyama scorches a grounder down the 3rd base line into left! Ariyama scores. 17-0.
I guess that's enough practice for Asakawa. Togari retakes the mound. #7 Higuchi goes to left.
And Togari gets the final out as Yuuto flies out to left.
Bottom 9th
Nakagawa pops up to Ariyama behind the plate.
Maeda refuses to give in just yet and gets his 1st hit lining to left.
But Uejima flies to right... 2 down.
Togari gets a round of applause from the crowd as he takes the plate...
And he's first pitch swinging with a chopper. Yuuto fields it and throws to 1st.
GAME SET!
Your 90th Koshien National Tournament Champions --- OSAKA TOIN!
Osaka Toin did not give Tokoha Kikugawa a chance to make their big inning, and continued to apply pressure each and every inning to simply overwhelm them. A well deserved championship!
Hm... stats say Osaka Toin. Heart wants Tokoha Kikugawa. There... :P
No change in the lineups. Everything's on the line, so the aces will go.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
3B Sano (5)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Nakatani (12)
CF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto (1)
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
SS Sakai (6)
CF Itou (8)
2B Machida (4)
RF Nakagawa (9)
3B Maeda (5)
1B Uejima (3)
P Togari (1)
C Tochigi (2)
LF Matsumoto (18)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1:01 PM
First pitch
Top 1st
Asamura flies lazily to center. Sano hits a grounder past the diving Sakai and into center.
Togari falls behind Morikawa 3-1, and he hits a falling liner to left! Matsumoto dives and looks to have it, but it pops out! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Hagihara!
He blasts one to center! Itou runs back, but it's over his head!!! Itou throws home!
Sano rounds 3rd! He stops! Morikawa has to scramble back to 2nd, and Hagihara scurries back to 1st!
MANRUI FOR OKUMURA!!
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! BLAST TO DEAD CENTER!!!!! ITOU RUNNING BACK!!!!!!!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OKUMURA WITH THE MANRUI HOMERUN!!!!!!! OSAKA TOIN UP 4-0!!!!!!!!!!
Dear God, what has just happened!
Nakatani walks! Kouhei with the single to center! Runners at 1st and 2nd, and this could be ugly very quick!!!
Ariyama with a bunt. But everyone thinks it's foul! Tochigi picks it up! It's fair! They go to 3rd for 1, then see that Ariyama isn't running to 1st and throw to 1st for the inning ending DP!
But Osaka Toin has shown that their offense in a BIG way!
Bottom 1st
Tokoha can't get the ball out of the infield... Sakai sharp grounder to 1st. Itou and Machida with slow comebackers to Yuuto.
Top 2nd
Yuuto works the count 3-1, but eventually flies out to left.
Asamura shoots one past a diving Machida to center. Sano with a grounder through to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd! This was to be expected!
Morikawa with a bid with a grounder to the right side! Machida with the stop! Makes the throw to 2nd falling away from 1st, that's 1, throw to 1st, not in time! Nice play by Machida!
Hagihara next with a groundball back up the middle! Togari slows it down and Machida makes the sliding grab at 2nd while touching the bag! Another nice play by Machida!
Bottom 2nd
Nakagawa with the comebacker! It's off Yuuto's glove! It's deflected to 2nd! Morikawa comes up with it and makes the play at 1st!
Maeda manages a walk. 1st base runner for Tokoha.
Uejima with a sharp shot to the right side! Morikawa dives and has it! He goes to 1st for the out!
Yuuto strikes out Togari on 3 straight to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Okumura stars the inning with a hard hit liner down the right field line! That's to the wall for a leadoff double!
Osaka Toin is looking to bunt! Nakatani puts it down at 2-0, but it goes foul. He attempts it again and successfully puts it down. Togari throws to Machida covering 1st for the out.
Kouhei with a hard hit grounder to short! Sakai up with and makes the play at 1st. 2 down for Ariyama.
He makes up for his gaffe in the first with a liner to right that scores Okumura! 5-0!
Togari gets Yuuto to strike out, but as expected, Osaka Toin is out to the lead which is now 5 runs.
Bottom 3rd
Tochigi quickly grounds out to 2nd.
Matsumoto gets frozen on a 1-2 pitch and has to sit down.
Sakai fouls a ball off his foot... Ow. He has the spray applied to his foot and after a little, he's ready to go. And after falling behind 0-2, he draws a walk!
Camera points to the flags in center. Wind is back blowing from right to left.
And it pans back to Itou who flies out to center.
Top 4th
Togari is removed from the mound! He goes to left and #10 Nojima comes into the game.
Oh dear....
Asamura takes the first pitch from Nojima and lines it to left.
Sano though, is bunting. First attempts, foul. Second attempt... he pulls it back! High chopper off the mound! Sakai charges, waits, gets it and fires to 1st for the out!
Morikawa comes in and he grounds to 1st. Asamura advances to 3rd.
Nojima would love to get Hagihara out before he has to face Okumura.... The count goes to 2-2, and Hagihara fouls off one. And another. 8th pitch of the AB here... Inside fastball! Swing and a miss! 3 out!
Nojima with the almost perfect inning! I must admit that I'm a bit impressed at least for now.
Bottom 4th
Machida behind 0-2, drives a liner to deep left! Nakatani runs over to his right, dives, but can't get it! He's in with a double and Tokoha's first hit!
Nakagawa also falls behind 0-2... gets it to 2-2, but gets frozen on a pitch inside!
Maeda gets ahead in the count, but grounds to 3rd. 2 down.
Yuuto gets Uejima to strike out to end the inning, leadoff double can't be brought home!
Top 5th
Okumura having a day! He takes the first pitch to left for a leadoff single! Nakatani bunts him along.
Kouhei drives one to deep left center! It's over Togari's head! That bounces to the wall! Okumura scores on Kouhei's double! 6-0!
Nojima comes back and strikes out Ariyama, then fields a safety bunt by Yuuto for the 3rd out.
The lead continues to grow.
Bottom 5th
Yuuto continues his dominant pitching... he strikes out Togari looking. He gets Tochigi to hit a chopper to short. And freezes Nojima for his 6th K of the day!
As we head to the break, the game could be going as expected. Osaka Toin with a big lead, and Tokoha Kikugawa struggling to get its offense going...
And what the heck is that pose the Tokoha oen-dan is doing???
Top 6th
Asamura continues his hot hitting with a single to left. Sano puts the bunt down.
Morikawa with the comebacker! It's off Nojima's glove! Machida charges in, gets it. Throw to 1st, pulls Uejima off the bag! All safe! Runners at the corners!
Hagihara lines one to right center! Asamura scores! 7-0 now in favor of Osaka Toin!
Okumura steps up a triple away from the cycle! Nojima gets ahead early, but eventually works the count full! And a pitch low means yet another manrui situation!
But Nakatani pops it up! Tochigi is under it and makes the catch! 2 down.
Kouhei with a grounder to short! Sakai charges, gets it, makes the throw! It's low! Bounces away from Uejima! That's off his glove and into foul territory!! Morikawa scores! Hagihara scores! 9-0!
And Nojima hits Ariyama! Manrui again for last batter Yuuto.
Yuuto drives one to deep left center! Togari and Itou go back! They're at the wall!
It's off the wall! The bases clear as Yuuto comes in with a double! 12-0!
At this point even a Tokoha big inning won't be enough...
#11 Hagiwara comes in to relieve Nojima... and mercifully gets Asamura to pop to Machida in shallow center.
Bottom 6th
Sakai sharply grounds to 1st... Itou after working the count full hits a comebacker to Yuuto...
... and Machida grounds to short.
Top 7th
Sano hits a grounder past a diving Sakai into center to start the inning for Osaka.
Morikawa flies out to center.
Hagihara up. AHHHHHH!!! He hits a drive to right! Nakagawa to the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hagihara with the homerun to right! That's against the wind! It's now 14-0!
Okumura and Nakatani ground out to end the inning. But this is a full blown massacre...
Bottom 7th
Nakagawa opens the inning with a liner down the right field line. That's to the wall for a leadoff double! Can they at least get on the board?
Maeda fights at the plate, fouling off pitch after pitch. Then on the 10th pitch he hits a chopper over Yuuto's head! But Asamura's there to field it, and he throws to 3rd to easily get a running Nakagawa.
Uejima up. Grounder to 1st. Hagihara charges, but can't get it! It trickles into right and we have runners at the corners!
Yuuto refuses to give up a run without a fight... He strikes out Togari on 3 straight... and does the same with Tochigi! Fukushima Yuuto denies Tokoha Kikugawa a run here!
Top 8th
Kouhei gives Osaka Toin another leadoff runner as he singles to right.
Ariyama pops to shallow center. Itou charges in, makes the catch! And for some inexplicable reason, Kouhei was running! He's easily doubled off at 1st.
Yuuto comes back though! He hits a drive to right! Nakagawa to the wall! That's off the base of the wall! Yuuto in with a triple!
Hagiwara then walks Asamura. 2 down runners at the corners.
But Sano flies out to center to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
#14 Takase comes in to pinch-hit for his first AB at Koshien. Yuuto welcomes him with a strikeout... Sakai grounds to 2nd...
Itou gets his first hit of the game as he singles to left. That's only the 4th hit given up by Yuuto.
Machida bits one deep to right, but Okumura gets under it and makes the easy catch.
Top 9th
#12 Asakawa comes in to pitch now. Perhaps they're getting their underclassmen practice for next time...
Asakawa hits Morikawa to start...
After pushing the count full, Hagihara grounds to 2nd. Machida charges, makes the throw to 2nd for the force.
With the count 0-1, Asamura throws a wild pitch and Hagihara advances to 2nd.
Asakawa then walks Okumura... then walks Nakatani on 4 straight. Manrui for Kouhei.
Grounder to 2nd! Machida up with it! Goes to 2nd for 1, Sakai to 1st... offline!!! That's to the fence! Hagiwara and Okumura score. 16-0.
And after Asakawa falls behind 3-1, Ariyama scorches a grounder down the 3rd base line into left! Ariyama scores. 17-0.
I guess that's enough practice for Asakawa. Togari retakes the mound. #7 Higuchi goes to left.
And Togari gets the final out as Yuuto flies out to left.
Bottom 9th
Nakagawa pops up to Ariyama behind the plate.
Maeda refuses to give in just yet and gets his 1st hit lining to left.
But Uejima flies to right... 2 down.
Togari gets a round of applause from the crowd as he takes the plate...
And he's first pitch swinging with a chopper. Yuuto fields it and throws to 1st.
GAME SET!
Your 90th Koshien National Tournament Champions --- OSAKA TOIN!
Osaka Toin did not give Tokoha Kikugawa a chance to make their big inning, and continued to apply pressure each and every inning to simply overwhelm them. A well deserved championship!
90th Summer Koshien Championship Game Review
First of all, the Best 4 stats post has been updated with the Best 4 games for Tokoha Kikugawa and Osaka Toin.
Now onto the analysis... It really boils down to this:
Osaka Toin's Offense
It's no secret Osaka Toin can hit. It's just amazing the clip in which they do.
This team is for the most part a free swinging team. If they find a pitch they like, they won't hesitate to swing.
Tokoha Kikugawa's Big Inning
In each of Tokoha Kikugawa's 4 games, they have had a big inning that has delivered the team to victory.
vs. Fukuchiyama Seibi (8th inning, down 1-0)
.
.
.
So on the flipside, for Tokoha Kikugawa the question is whether its pitching can even contain Osaka Toin's offense. The tandem of Togari and Nojima has been shaky at best. They allow about 1.5 baserunners each inning. And while Togari (btw a small part of Tokoha's championship run as #10) has been effective (4 ER in 16.1 IP), Nojima has not (7 ER in 16 IP with 8 BB).
And for Osaka Toin, can they stop the big inning before it starts? In each of the 4 games, a defensive error has extended the inning for Tokoha Kikugawa. Osaka Toin has only committed 3 errors this tournament. However, 1 was in the Best 8 game, and the other 2 was in their semifinal game. It almost doesn't matter that ace Fukushima Yuuto has been for the most part effective (15 ER in 37 IP - 3.62 ERA with only 8 BB and 31 K).
So... who will win?
Now onto the analysis... It really boils down to this:
Osaka Toin's Offense vs. Tokoha Kikugawa's Big Inning
Osaka Toin's Offense
It's no secret Osaka Toin can hit. It's just amazing the clip in which they do.
- The team as a whole is hitting 0.406 and has averaged 9 runs per game
- 2 players are slugging over 0.900 (Hagihara - 0.952 and Asamura - 0.917)
- Over 1/3 of Osaka Toin's hits are for extra bases.
- There are 3 players now with 2 HR's each (1B Hagihara, SS Asamura, RF Okumura)
This team is for the most part a free swinging team. If they find a pitch they like, they won't hesitate to swing.
Tokoha Kikugawa's Big Inning
In each of Tokoha Kikugawa's 4 games, they have had a big inning that has delivered the team to victory.
vs. Fukuchiyama Seibi (8th inning, down 1-0)
- The game, similar to Saga Kita last year, was the one that they struggled the most in.
- Runners on 1st & 3rd, Matsumoto goes for 2nd. C Fukumoto throws to 2nd, but neither the SS or 2B makes a play for the ball. Togari scores. Matsumoto heads for 3rd. The throw comes in to Nakatani at short, but he's paying no attention to Matsumoto. He breaks home and gives Tokoha the lead 2-1.
- Key play in this inning came early on. One down, runner on 2nd, Tochigi grounds to short. SS Kanetani makes the throw to 1st, but it's low and gets past Uemori. This keeps the inning going after Sakai's grounder to 1st 2 batters later. After what would have been the 3rd out, Tokoha Kikugawa delivers 5 straight hits, with Itou delivering the go-ahead 3-run homerun to make it 7-6.
- 11 batters - 7 runs on 6 singles, 1 homerun
- This inning came about when Tokoha had just taken the lead the previous inning thanks to defensive miscues by Chiben Wakayama.
- Tokoha jumps quickly. After a walk and single by the first 2 batters and then Maeda with a 3-run homerun to left sets the tone of the inning and knockout their ace Okada.
- Later on in the inning, another defensive gaffe by 3B Nishikawa with 1 down gives Tokoha an extra out. After what would have been the last out, the next 3 batters reached safely, driving 4 runs en route to a 10-run inning, giving them a commanding 13-3 lead.
- 15 batters - 10 runs on 4 singles, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 3 walks, 1 hit-by-pitch
- Urasoe gambled by starting #15 Shimane. He had done exceptionally in the last game, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings of 3-hit ball.
- Tokoha exploded out of nowhere. The first 5 batters reach safely with 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 hit-by-pitch, and 2 runs scored. Shimane is then replaced by #1 Iha who by far has been the best pitcher this tournament.
- He retires the first two batters and is about to get out of the inning. But Itou again comes through with a timely shot to center that goes of Nakazato's head and clears the bases.
- Iha is about to get out of the inning again when the next batter grounds to short. But SS Ueji Toshiki doesn't pick the ball off the ground, has to double back and his throw is late.
- That error comes back to haunt Urasoe. After a walk to the next batter to load the bases, Maeda hits a 2-0 pitch to left for a manrui (grand slam) homerun to make it 9-1.
- 12 batters - 9 runs on 3 singles, 1 double, 1 homerun, 2 walks, 1 hit-by-pitch
.
.
.
So on the flipside, for Tokoha Kikugawa the question is whether its pitching can even contain Osaka Toin's offense. The tandem of Togari and Nojima has been shaky at best. They allow about 1.5 baserunners each inning. And while Togari (btw a small part of Tokoha's championship run as #10) has been effective (4 ER in 16.1 IP), Nojima has not (7 ER in 16 IP with 8 BB).
And for Osaka Toin, can they stop the big inning before it starts? In each of the 4 games, a defensive error has extended the inning for Tokoha Kikugawa. Osaka Toin has only committed 3 errors this tournament. However, 1 was in the Best 8 game, and the other 2 was in their semifinal game. It almost doesn't matter that ace Fukushima Yuuto has been for the most part effective (15 ER in 37 IP - 3.62 ERA with only 8 BB and 31 K).
So... who will win?
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Day 16 - Best 4 - Game 2 - Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka) vs. Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa)
The 2nd game feels like it should be a rivalry. Yokohama - a strong team out of the Kanto area, versus Osaka Toin - one from the Kansai area.
In fact, these teams have played in recent history. They were involved in the "Bracket of Death" 2 years ago, where Osaka Toin behind their star Nakata Sho defeated Yokohama in the 1st (!) round 11-6.
So you could say that Yokohama is out for revenge...
Looking at the stats for each team, it's clear that both teams can hit. Asamura and Okumura have 2 HR's each for Osaka Toin, while Tsutsugo has 3. Osaka Toin has scored an average of 9 runs/game, Yokohama, just a little under 8.
To boot, neither team's pitching is that strong either. Both aces are prone to control issues.
So powerful batting + so-so pitching = high scoring game. Or so I think...
I really don't have a favorite to win. Tsuchiya's strong performance against Seiko Gakuin to me is a mirage because I think they were the weakest team in the Best 8.
To me, it's comes down to whose ace pitches less badly. And I really don't know.
How about since it's the 10th year since Yokohama won with Matsuzaka Daisuke, Yokohama wins?
Make me bet the farm though, and I guess I'd have to say Osaka Toin. Yuuto's stats appear that he has pitched slightly better than Tsuchiya.
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Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
3B Sano (5)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Nakatani (12)
CF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto (1)
Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa)
3B Kuramoto (5)
SS Ooishi (6)
2B Matsumoto (4)
1B Tsutsugo (3)
LF Iwama (7)
RF Ogawa Kenta (9)
C Oda (2)
CF Nakahara (8)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1:36 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Tsuchiya gives up a 1-out single to Sano, but he's going after the batters getting the 1st pitch strike. Sano is left standing at 1st.
Bottom 1st
Yuuto returns the favor, retiring Yokohama in order.
Top 2nd
Tsuchiya retires Osaka Toin in order with relative ease!
Bottom 2nd
Yuuto starts the inning by walking Tsutsugo! Maybe a safe bet considering who we're talking about. He's bunted to 2nd.
Pitch in the dirt! Ariyama moves out to find it, but it's at home! Tsutsugo goes for 3rd! Ariyama finds it, makes the throw! But it off line and Sano can't get it because Tsutsugo slides into 3rd! The ball trickles out towards center and Tsutsugo breaks for home! He's in! An error leads to the first run and Yokohama leads 1-0!
Kenta quickly lines to center and there's 2 down.
But then Yuuto walks Oda! Could it be that Yuuto's fatigued after 4 games? Tsuchiya singles to right! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Nakahara!
Yuuto buckles down though and strikes him out! But Yokohama strikes first!
Top 3rd
One down for Osaka Toin, Yuuto gets patient at the plate and draws a walk.
Then Asamura singles to left! ...and Sano after that with a soft liner to center! Manrui for Morikawa!
Single through to right! Yuuto scores! Osaka Toin ties it right back up! 1-1!
Hagihara with the drive to deep left! Iwama running back, but it's over his head! Asamura scores! Sano right behind him! Hagihara with the timely 2-run double! 3-1 Osaka!
Okumura pops to Oda. 2 down.
Ah!! Okumura with the single to right center! Morikawa scores! Hagihara scores! Osaka Toin has responded with 5 runs to take the lead 5-1!
Bottom 3rd
Kuramoto sets Yokohama's offense in motion. He hits a comebacker right between Yuuto's legs into center. He's bunted to 2nd.
Mastumoto delivers! He hits a short liner to left! Kuramoto heads to 3rd. He's going home! Nakatani with the throw... it's up the 1st base line! Kuramoto scores! 5-2!!
And Tsutsgo walks again! Runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 down!
Yuuto comes back and strikes out Iwama! 2 down!
But Kenta with the grounder into right! Matsumot comes home! Okumura up and throws a strike to home! Ariyama with the catch and tag for the out! Nice play!
Top 4th
Tsuchiya only gives up a 1-out single to Yuuto, but his control is still a bit off.
Bottom 4th
Yuuto composes himself and retires the side in order.
Top 5th
One down, Hagihara hits a fly to left center. Iwama and Nakahara converge, but the ball falls in between them!
Okumura up, hard hit to the right side! Matsumoto with the grab! Toss to 2nd for 1, relay to 1st, 2! Nice double play by Yokohama!!
Bottom 5th
Kuramoto with a slow chopper to 2nd. Morikawa charges, but can't pick it off the ground! Infield single for Kuramoto! Ooishi bunting him along.
Matsumoto looking for the timely hit. EH?! Kuramoto takes off for 3rd!!! Throw by Ariyama not in time! Now a sac fly can get him in! But he lines out to center instead! 2 down.
AH! Tsutsugo with another slow chopper to 2nd. AHHHH!!!! Kuramoto can't pick it up again!!!! This time he's charged with the error and Kuramoto scores! Yokohama closes the narrows the deficit to 2, 5-3!
Top 6th
Nakatani with a grounder to 2nd to start. Matsumoto with the stop, but Tsutsugo isn't covering 1st! Tsuchiya covers at the last minute for the out!
Kouhei follows that with a chopper up the middle. Matsumoto with the back-handed catch. He tosses it with his glove to Ooishi! Ooishi gets it, it's too late to throw to 1st. But another nice play turned in by Matsumoto!
Kouhei is advanced on a grounder to 1st, but he's left stranded as Yuuto flies out to center.
Bottom 6th
Yokohama continues to chip away at the lead of Osaka Toin. Can they cut into the deficit yet again?
The cameras point to the outfield, and the stadium as expected is filled to capacity.
And Yuuto from the break sits down Yokohama in order for the 3rd time this game.
Top 7th
The game is moving along at a rather quick pace.
Asamura starts the inning with a liner over Kuramoto's head into left for a leadoff double! He quickly moved to 3rd.
Morikawa up, and the the count goes to 2-2.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Out of nowhere Osaka Toin calls for the squeeze! Tsuchiya charges! Glove toss home! SAFE!!
Morikawa with 2 strikes puts down the squeeze bunt and scores Asamura!!! 6-3 Osaka Toin!!
Hagihara grounds into the 6U-3 double play, but Osaka Toin has put another run on the board!
Bottom 7th
#17 Ogawa Ryouma comes in to pinch-hit for Nakahara, probably as a response to the need for runs, and his 2 strikeout day so far. And while Ryouma makes contact, he flies to right...
And once again Yokohama goes down in order. Time is quickly running short for them here in the semifinals.
Top 8th
Ryouma stays in to play left, while Iwama moves to center.
One down for Nakatani. He drives one to the right center field gap! That's bounces all the way to the wall! Nakatani heads for 2nd, goes to 3rd! He's in with a triple!
Now Yokohama is wary of the squeeze. Tsuchiya continues to toss to 3rd. Osaka Toin's manager calls time. #8 Shimizu comes in to pinch run as Kouhei is given directions.
Tsuchiya is still wary of the squeeze, so he continues to pitch way outside.
But when he pitches in, Kouhei goes for the swinging bunt! Shimizu charges home, but Ooishi makes a great throw and they get him out! 2 down!
Ariyama up. AH! Drive to left! That going deep down the line! Ryouma gives chase. He goes into the slide and collides into the wall hard! But the ball follows the fence into left! Ryouma just missed it before he had to slide! Kouhei flies around the bases! He rounds 3rd and scores. Ariyama picks up an RBI with a triple! 7-3!!
Bottom 8th
Yokohama is in serious trouble. They need at least a couple of runs this inning.
Matsumoto gets it started! He singles to right. Tsutsugo follows that up with a single to center! No down, runners at 1st and 2nd!
But Iwama grounds to 1st! Hagihara goes to 2nd for one, but they can't complete the double play.
Kenta breaks through! He grounds one past a diving Asamura into left! Matsumoto scores, and it's 7-4!
Oda up to try and plate another. But it's a grounder to 2nd! Morikawa up with it, looks to 2nd for a while, then goes to 1st! So runners at 2nd and 3rd for Tsuchiya!
But he pops it up! Asamura camps under it, and 3 outs! Yokohama got 1 run back, but they'll need a lot more than that now!
Top 9th
Asamura bloops one to right to start the inning! Osaka Toin, looking for another insurance run, bunt him along.
Morikawa with a bid with a low liner to left! Ryuoma charges and makes the catch! 2 down for Hagihara!
Tsuchiya falls behind 2-0! And Hagihara blasts one to right! Kenta running back, looks up!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hagihara delivers the final blow with a 2-run homerun in the top of the 9th inning. It's now 9-4 and any hope for Yokohama may have just disappeared!!
Bottom 9th
Yokohama goes down in order. And we have our final 2 teams!!!!!
Tomorrow, Tokoha Kikugawa from Shizuoka-ken will face off against Osaka Toin of Kita Osaka for the 90th Summer Koshien Title!
In fact, these teams have played in recent history. They were involved in the "Bracket of Death" 2 years ago, where Osaka Toin behind their star Nakata Sho defeated Yokohama in the 1st (!) round 11-6.
So you could say that Yokohama is out for revenge...
Looking at the stats for each team, it's clear that both teams can hit. Asamura and Okumura have 2 HR's each for Osaka Toin, while Tsutsugo has 3. Osaka Toin has scored an average of 9 runs/game, Yokohama, just a little under 8.
To boot, neither team's pitching is that strong either. Both aces are prone to control issues.
So powerful batting + so-so pitching = high scoring game. Or so I think...
I really don't have a favorite to win. Tsuchiya's strong performance against Seiko Gakuin to me is a mirage because I think they were the weakest team in the Best 8.
To me, it's comes down to whose ace pitches less badly. And I really don't know.
How about since it's the 10th year since Yokohama won with Matsuzaka Daisuke, Yokohama wins?
Make me bet the farm though, and I guess I'd have to say Osaka Toin. Yuuto's stats appear that he has pitched slightly better than Tsuchiya.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
3B Sano (5)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Nakatani (12)
CF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto (1)
Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa)
3B Kuramoto (5)
SS Ooishi (6)
2B Matsumoto (4)
1B Tsutsugo (3)
LF Iwama (7)
RF Ogawa Kenta (9)
C Oda (2)
CF Nakahara (8)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1:36 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Tsuchiya gives up a 1-out single to Sano, but he's going after the batters getting the 1st pitch strike. Sano is left standing at 1st.
Bottom 1st
Yuuto returns the favor, retiring Yokohama in order.
Top 2nd
Tsuchiya retires Osaka Toin in order with relative ease!
Bottom 2nd
Yuuto starts the inning by walking Tsutsugo! Maybe a safe bet considering who we're talking about. He's bunted to 2nd.
Pitch in the dirt! Ariyama moves out to find it, but it's at home! Tsutsugo goes for 3rd! Ariyama finds it, makes the throw! But it off line and Sano can't get it because Tsutsugo slides into 3rd! The ball trickles out towards center and Tsutsugo breaks for home! He's in! An error leads to the first run and Yokohama leads 1-0!
Kenta quickly lines to center and there's 2 down.
But then Yuuto walks Oda! Could it be that Yuuto's fatigued after 4 games? Tsuchiya singles to right! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Nakahara!
Yuuto buckles down though and strikes him out! But Yokohama strikes first!
Top 3rd
One down for Osaka Toin, Yuuto gets patient at the plate and draws a walk.
Then Asamura singles to left! ...and Sano after that with a soft liner to center! Manrui for Morikawa!
Single through to right! Yuuto scores! Osaka Toin ties it right back up! 1-1!
Hagihara with the drive to deep left! Iwama running back, but it's over his head! Asamura scores! Sano right behind him! Hagihara with the timely 2-run double! 3-1 Osaka!
Okumura pops to Oda. 2 down.
Ah!! Okumura with the single to right center! Morikawa scores! Hagihara scores! Osaka Toin has responded with 5 runs to take the lead 5-1!
Bottom 3rd
Kuramoto sets Yokohama's offense in motion. He hits a comebacker right between Yuuto's legs into center. He's bunted to 2nd.
Mastumoto delivers! He hits a short liner to left! Kuramoto heads to 3rd. He's going home! Nakatani with the throw... it's up the 1st base line! Kuramoto scores! 5-2!!
And Tsutsgo walks again! Runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 down!
Yuuto comes back and strikes out Iwama! 2 down!
But Kenta with the grounder into right! Matsumot comes home! Okumura up and throws a strike to home! Ariyama with the catch and tag for the out! Nice play!
Top 4th
Tsuchiya only gives up a 1-out single to Yuuto, but his control is still a bit off.
Bottom 4th
Yuuto composes himself and retires the side in order.
Top 5th
One down, Hagihara hits a fly to left center. Iwama and Nakahara converge, but the ball falls in between them!
Okumura up, hard hit to the right side! Matsumoto with the grab! Toss to 2nd for 1, relay to 1st, 2! Nice double play by Yokohama!!
Bottom 5th
Kuramoto with a slow chopper to 2nd. Morikawa charges, but can't pick it off the ground! Infield single for Kuramoto! Ooishi bunting him along.
Matsumoto looking for the timely hit. EH?! Kuramoto takes off for 3rd!!! Throw by Ariyama not in time! Now a sac fly can get him in! But he lines out to center instead! 2 down.
AH! Tsutsugo with another slow chopper to 2nd. AHHHH!!!! Kuramoto can't pick it up again!!!! This time he's charged with the error and Kuramoto scores! Yokohama closes the narrows the deficit to 2, 5-3!
Top 6th
Nakatani with a grounder to 2nd to start. Matsumoto with the stop, but Tsutsugo isn't covering 1st! Tsuchiya covers at the last minute for the out!
Kouhei follows that with a chopper up the middle. Matsumoto with the back-handed catch. He tosses it with his glove to Ooishi! Ooishi gets it, it's too late to throw to 1st. But another nice play turned in by Matsumoto!
Kouhei is advanced on a grounder to 1st, but he's left stranded as Yuuto flies out to center.
Bottom 6th
Yokohama continues to chip away at the lead of Osaka Toin. Can they cut into the deficit yet again?
The cameras point to the outfield, and the stadium as expected is filled to capacity.
And Yuuto from the break sits down Yokohama in order for the 3rd time this game.
Top 7th
The game is moving along at a rather quick pace.
Asamura starts the inning with a liner over Kuramoto's head into left for a leadoff double! He quickly moved to 3rd.
Morikawa up, and the the count goes to 2-2.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Out of nowhere Osaka Toin calls for the squeeze! Tsuchiya charges! Glove toss home! SAFE!!
Morikawa with 2 strikes puts down the squeeze bunt and scores Asamura!!! 6-3 Osaka Toin!!
Hagihara grounds into the 6U-3 double play, but Osaka Toin has put another run on the board!
Bottom 7th
#17 Ogawa Ryouma comes in to pinch-hit for Nakahara, probably as a response to the need for runs, and his 2 strikeout day so far. And while Ryouma makes contact, he flies to right...
And once again Yokohama goes down in order. Time is quickly running short for them here in the semifinals.
Top 8th
Ryouma stays in to play left, while Iwama moves to center.
One down for Nakatani. He drives one to the right center field gap! That's bounces all the way to the wall! Nakatani heads for 2nd, goes to 3rd! He's in with a triple!
Now Yokohama is wary of the squeeze. Tsuchiya continues to toss to 3rd. Osaka Toin's manager calls time. #8 Shimizu comes in to pinch run as Kouhei is given directions.
Tsuchiya is still wary of the squeeze, so he continues to pitch way outside.
But when he pitches in, Kouhei goes for the swinging bunt! Shimizu charges home, but Ooishi makes a great throw and they get him out! 2 down!
Ariyama up. AH! Drive to left! That going deep down the line! Ryouma gives chase. He goes into the slide and collides into the wall hard! But the ball follows the fence into left! Ryouma just missed it before he had to slide! Kouhei flies around the bases! He rounds 3rd and scores. Ariyama picks up an RBI with a triple! 7-3!!
Bottom 8th
Yokohama is in serious trouble. They need at least a couple of runs this inning.
Matsumoto gets it started! He singles to right. Tsutsugo follows that up with a single to center! No down, runners at 1st and 2nd!
But Iwama grounds to 1st! Hagihara goes to 2nd for one, but they can't complete the double play.
Kenta breaks through! He grounds one past a diving Asamura into left! Matsumoto scores, and it's 7-4!
Oda up to try and plate another. But it's a grounder to 2nd! Morikawa up with it, looks to 2nd for a while, then goes to 1st! So runners at 2nd and 3rd for Tsuchiya!
But he pops it up! Asamura camps under it, and 3 outs! Yokohama got 1 run back, but they'll need a lot more than that now!
Top 9th
Asamura bloops one to right to start the inning! Osaka Toin, looking for another insurance run, bunt him along.
Morikawa with a bid with a low liner to left! Ryuoma charges and makes the catch! 2 down for Hagihara!
Tsuchiya falls behind 2-0! And Hagihara blasts one to right! Kenta running back, looks up!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hagihara delivers the final blow with a 2-run homerun in the top of the 9th inning. It's now 9-4 and any hope for Yokohama may have just disappeared!!
Bottom 9th
Yokohama goes down in order. And we have our final 2 teams!!!!!
Tomorrow, Tokoha Kikugawa from Shizuoka-ken will face off against Osaka Toin of Kita Osaka for the 90th Summer Koshien Title!
Best 4 Team Stats
I have compiled the Best 4 Team stats here for your perusal. Pretty interesting stuff there.
Day 16 - Best 4 - Game 1 - Urasoe Shogyo (Okinawa) vs. Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
Today is where the teams start to shine. These teams have risen to the top winning 3 or 4 straight games. In addition these teams pitching staffs will be severely tested.
These 4 teams are really some of the strongest teams and should provide some great entertainment for everyone.
The first game pits Urasoe Shogyo and its dominating pitching staff led by ace Iha, versus the comeback kids of Tokoha Kikugawa.
Iha has stifled his opponents so far, giving up only 30 hits in 31 innings while striking out 23 and walking 3. His bullpen of #11 Tokima and surprise #15 Shimane give Urasoe depth.
Tokoha Kikugawa has depended on the big inning. 2 runs due to an error on Fukuchiyama Seibi, a 7-run 5th inning against Kurashiki Shogyo, and a 10-run 6th against Chiben Wakayama. The pitching outside of Togari has been shaky at best. Furthermore he hasn't gone longer than 5 innings at one stint (he went the first 5 against Fukuchiyama, then finished the last 2).
Really the question is if Tokoha can really keep this going. How far can you have one big inning in each game? And against such a good pitching staff? But at this point, can you really bet against them?
I liked Tokoha Kikugawa when they won the Spring Koshien last year. I even have their logo on by tour bowling shirt with the #19. The statistics say Urasoe should win, I want Tokoha Kikugawa to win.
So please just let me leave it at that...
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Urasoe Shogyo (Okinawa)
RF Kanna (9)
SS Ueji Toshiki (6)
LF Miyahira (7)
C Yamashiro (2)
3B Nakama (5)
1B Touyama Kazuma (18)
CF Nakazato (14)
2B Niita (12)
P Shimane (15)
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
SS Sakai (6)
CF Itou (8)
2B Machida (4)
RF Nakagawa (9)
3B Maeda (5)
1B Uejima (3)
P Togari (1)
C Tochigi (2)
LF Higuchi (7)
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11:00 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Togari's control looks shaky to start. He retires the side, but throws 19 pitches. This doesn't look good early.
Bottom 1st
Shimane looks REAL good early. He retires the first 2 batters before hitting Machida on the helmet with an offspeed pitch. But Itou running for Machida is thrown out stealing 2nd!
Top 2nd
One down for Kazuma and he takes a drive to left! Higuchi running back, leaps up, but it's way over his head! Kazuma strolls in with a double!
No bunting from Urasoe. Nakazato swings away! But he flies out to right. 2 down.
Niita to try and get him in. Grounder to short. Sakai comes in to play it, and it's under his glove!!!
Kazuma rounds 3rd and he scores! Urasoe up 1-0!
AH! Niita is caught napping at first and Tochigi picks him off! But Urasoe as expected has taken the early lead!
Bottom 2nd
Nakagawa with a liner to short! Toshiki leaps, but it's too hard and comes out! Base hit for Nakagawa!
Then Shimane walks Maeda on 4 straight! Shimane's lost his control!
Uejima with a grounder to left! Manrui for Tokoha Kikugawa!
Shimane seems to have regained control. He gets the count 2-2 to Togari. But then he hits him! That forces home Nakagawa and it's 1-1!
Iha warms up in the bullpen...
Tochigi follows that up with a liner through the infield and into left! Maeda comes in to score! Tokoha is leading early 2-1! This is an unknown situation for them!
That's it for Shimane. Ace Iha comes in.
Higuchi with a grounder to 2nd! Niita comes home for the force! One down.
Sakai behind 1-2. Check swing, appeal to 1st! Called out! Boy, I don't know about that call. Two down.
Itou swinging on the first pitch. Driven to center. DEEP CENTER! Nakazato running back!!! He leaps! It's over him!!!! Togari scores... Tochigi scores... HIGUCHI SCORES!!! Itou with the bases clearing double!! It's 5-1 Tokoha!!!
Urasoe is in big trouble here...
Machida up to bat, the 9th batter to come up to the plate. Grounder to short! AH!!!!! Toshiki doesn't have the ball! All safe! Runners at the corners for Nagakawa!
Tokoha isn't letting up! Maeda takes off for 2nd and he's in safely! Urasoe decides to walk Nakagawa to get a force at all bases.
Up next is Maeda. Gets a hold of one! That's to left! Miyahira running back! He's looking up! まさか！！！
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MANRUI HOMERUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maeda with the grand slam home run!!!!!!!! Tokoha Kikugawa has exploded for 9 runs! It's now 9-1!!!
Iha gets Uejima to strike out, but Urasoe is in a big spot now!
Top 3rd
2 down for Urasoe. Toshiki grounds to the left side. Sakai with the great stop! Throw to first is wide! Uejima goes to get it and collides with Toshiki! He scrambles to the bag, but can't get up! After some talk with the umpire, he's helped off the field unable to walk on his left leg!
#9 Kanna comes to replace him on the basepaths.
Miyahira comes up next and grounds one to right! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Yamashiro!
He takes the first pitch to left! Higuchi running back. He looks up! That's off the fence! Kanna comes in to score. Miyahira scores! Yamashiro with the 2-run double to make it 9-3!!
Bottom 3rd
There's a delay in the action as Toshiki is being tended to. After a while, he emerges and is actually running around!
Iha settles down after the big inning. He yields a one out single to Tochigi, but that's it.
Top 4th
Hm... The wind is actually blowing out to right field now. A sign perhaps?
Nakazato with the one out single to left! But later on during Iha's AB, he gunned down to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Iha and Urasoe is back in rhythm. Kanna makes a fine running catch in right center to start the inning, and Iha gives up only a 2-out single to Nakagawa. But the fact still remains... they're down 6.
Top 5th
Urasoe is swinging away now. And while Toshiki gets a 2-out single, Urasoe can't get anything else...
Bottom 5th
Uejima leads off the 5th with a grounder up the middle! Toshiki dives, but it goes just under his glove!
Togari with the grounder to short. AH!!! Toshiki's throw is off line and into right! E6! Is that ankle still bothering him??
And Uejima is on the ground hurt! He's holding his head! What happened to him! Ah! As Niita goes to try and field it, he hits Uejima! He's helped off as Maeda takes his place.
Tochigi looks to bunt the runners along. But Iha gets to it quickly! Looks to 3rd, no play! Goes to 1st. Throw is high! All safe! Manrui for Higuchi!
Iha gets ahead of him 1-2. But then Higuchi with the liner! It's right to Kazuma at 1st! He races to first and doubles off Tochigi! Quickly 2 down!
Sakai hits back with the comebacker! Iha gets a piece of it, but it dribbles to the right side! Niita charges in, gets it and makes the throw to 1st! 3 out! Iha gets out of the manrui situation!
There's still a ways to go though, and Urasoe has time.
Top 6th
Tokoha Kikugawa now goes to its bullpen and #10 Nojima. Togari goes to left just in case...
Yamashiro with a blast to left! Itou races back, but it's over him! Yamashiro in with his 2nd double!
Nakama with a bloop to right center! That falls in! Yamashiro running home! Throw in, Tochigi with the tag... not in time! 9-4! And Nakama advance to 2nd!
Kazuma with a liner to right! Nakama stops at 3rd! Runners at the corners! AND THEN HE WALKS NAKAZATO!!!
Nojima hasn't retired a batter yet, and we have a manrui situations for Niita!!!!!
Nojima gets ahead of Niita 0-2, but he fights on....
But Nojima gets him to swing on an inside slider!! One down.
Iha up! He can hit the ball! First pitch, low liner back up the middle! It's past Nojima's glove!
Machida dives! HE HAS IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND HE EMPHATICALLY POUNDS 2ND WITH THE BALL!!!!!!!!!!! DOUBLE PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW!!! What a play by Machida! Nojima gets out of the manrui jam and Tokoha Kikugawa gives up only 1 run!!
Bottom 6th
Iha is doing his best to keep Urasoe in it. He strikes out 2 towards a 1-2-3 inning...
Top 7th
Urasoe though can't seem to get its offense started. Then with 2 down, an irregular bounces gives Urasoe a runner as Miyahira's grounder takes a high hop on Uejima.
Yamashiro up... can he possibly deliver another hit?
Grounder to 3rd. Maeda with it, makes a low throw, but Uejima makes the pick and that ends the inning...
Bottom 7th
Maeda leads off the inning with a single up the middle. And he steals 2nd on Uejima strikeout!
And Iha makes a bad pickoff throw to 2nd! That trickles into center and Maeda advances to 3rd! And then Iha hits Togari! Runners at the corners!
SQUEEZE!!!!!
Tochigi puts down the squeeze! But Iha gets to it once again, and passes it to Yamashiro and he makes the tag! OUT!
Maeda out at home! Now 2 down!
Nojima up now. But Togari breaks for 3rd! Yamashiro with the great throw and Togari is out by a mile!
Top 8th
Nakama leads it off with a single through to left to start the inning. Nojima fights back though and strikes out Kazuma.
Then Nakazato with the grounder to 2nd! Machida up with the ball, goes to 2nd for 1, throw by Sakai in plenty of time for the double play.
Bottom 8th
Tokoha Kikugawa is retired in order by Iha... but Urasoe is just about out of time.
Top 9th
Togari returns to the mound for the 9th. #17 Tanji goes to left.
#17 Kuniyoshi pinch-hits for Niita. But he hits a grounder to 1st and Uejima makes the play.
Iha up. This could be his last AB. He hits a liner just over Machida and into right center! The lineup turns over for Kanna.
But he grounds to 2nd! Machida to Sakai for 1! Throw to 1st, double play! Game set!
Tokoha Kikugawa with another offensive explosion, this time in the 2nd and only down 1-0. But they score 9 in the 2nd and go on to the 9-4 victory!!! Perhaps the gamble of using Shimane to start the game was ill-fated, as even Iha could not recover once he entered into the fray.
Tokoha Kikugawa has made it into the finals. Who will join them?
These 4 teams are really some of the strongest teams and should provide some great entertainment for everyone.
The first game pits Urasoe Shogyo and its dominating pitching staff led by ace Iha, versus the comeback kids of Tokoha Kikugawa.
Iha has stifled his opponents so far, giving up only 30 hits in 31 innings while striking out 23 and walking 3. His bullpen of #11 Tokima and surprise #15 Shimane give Urasoe depth.
Tokoha Kikugawa has depended on the big inning. 2 runs due to an error on Fukuchiyama Seibi, a 7-run 5th inning against Kurashiki Shogyo, and a 10-run 6th against Chiben Wakayama. The pitching outside of Togari has been shaky at best. Furthermore he hasn't gone longer than 5 innings at one stint (he went the first 5 against Fukuchiyama, then finished the last 2).
Really the question is if Tokoha can really keep this going. How far can you have one big inning in each game? And against such a good pitching staff? But at this point, can you really bet against them?
I liked Tokoha Kikugawa when they won the Spring Koshien last year. I even have their logo on by tour bowling shirt with the #19. The statistics say Urasoe should win, I want Tokoha Kikugawa to win.
So please just let me leave it at that...
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Urasoe Shogyo (Okinawa)
RF Kanna (9)
SS Ueji Toshiki (6)
LF Miyahira (7)
C Yamashiro (2)
3B Nakama (5)
1B Touyama Kazuma (18)
CF Nakazato (14)
2B Niita (12)
P Shimane (15)
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
SS Sakai (6)
CF Itou (8)
2B Machida (4)
RF Nakagawa (9)
3B Maeda (5)
1B Uejima (3)
P Togari (1)
C Tochigi (2)
LF Higuchi (7)
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11:00 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Togari's control looks shaky to start. He retires the side, but throws 19 pitches. This doesn't look good early.
Bottom 1st
Shimane looks REAL good early. He retires the first 2 batters before hitting Machida on the helmet with an offspeed pitch. But Itou running for Machida is thrown out stealing 2nd!
Top 2nd
One down for Kazuma and he takes a drive to left! Higuchi running back, leaps up, but it's way over his head! Kazuma strolls in with a double!
No bunting from Urasoe. Nakazato swings away! But he flies out to right. 2 down.
Niita to try and get him in. Grounder to short. Sakai comes in to play it, and it's under his glove!!!
Kazuma rounds 3rd and he scores! Urasoe up 1-0!
AH! Niita is caught napping at first and Tochigi picks him off! But Urasoe as expected has taken the early lead!
Bottom 2nd
Nakagawa with a liner to short! Toshiki leaps, but it's too hard and comes out! Base hit for Nakagawa!
Then Shimane walks Maeda on 4 straight! Shimane's lost his control!
Uejima with a grounder to left! Manrui for Tokoha Kikugawa!
Shimane seems to have regained control. He gets the count 2-2 to Togari. But then he hits him! That forces home Nakagawa and it's 1-1!
Iha warms up in the bullpen...
Tochigi follows that up with a liner through the infield and into left! Maeda comes in to score! Tokoha is leading early 2-1! This is an unknown situation for them!
That's it for Shimane. Ace Iha comes in.
Higuchi with a grounder to 2nd! Niita comes home for the force! One down.
Sakai behind 1-2. Check swing, appeal to 1st! Called out! Boy, I don't know about that call. Two down.
Itou swinging on the first pitch. Driven to center. DEEP CENTER! Nakazato running back!!! He leaps! It's over him!!!! Togari scores... Tochigi scores... HIGUCHI SCORES!!! Itou with the bases clearing double!! It's 5-1 Tokoha!!!
Urasoe is in big trouble here...
Machida up to bat, the 9th batter to come up to the plate. Grounder to short! AH!!!!! Toshiki doesn't have the ball! All safe! Runners at the corners for Nagakawa!
Tokoha isn't letting up! Maeda takes off for 2nd and he's in safely! Urasoe decides to walk Nakagawa to get a force at all bases.
Up next is Maeda. Gets a hold of one! That's to left! Miyahira running back! He's looking up! まさか！！！
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MANRUI HOMERUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maeda with the grand slam home run!!!!!!!! Tokoha Kikugawa has exploded for 9 runs! It's now 9-1!!!
Iha gets Uejima to strike out, but Urasoe is in a big spot now!
Top 3rd
2 down for Urasoe. Toshiki grounds to the left side. Sakai with the great stop! Throw to first is wide! Uejima goes to get it and collides with Toshiki! He scrambles to the bag, but can't get up! After some talk with the umpire, he's helped off the field unable to walk on his left leg!
#9 Kanna comes to replace him on the basepaths.
Miyahira comes up next and grounds one to right! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Yamashiro!
He takes the first pitch to left! Higuchi running back. He looks up! That's off the fence! Kanna comes in to score. Miyahira scores! Yamashiro with the 2-run double to make it 9-3!!
Bottom 3rd
There's a delay in the action as Toshiki is being tended to. After a while, he emerges and is actually running around!
Iha settles down after the big inning. He yields a one out single to Tochigi, but that's it.
Top 4th
Hm... The wind is actually blowing out to right field now. A sign perhaps?
Nakazato with the one out single to left! But later on during Iha's AB, he gunned down to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Iha and Urasoe is back in rhythm. Kanna makes a fine running catch in right center to start the inning, and Iha gives up only a 2-out single to Nakagawa. But the fact still remains... they're down 6.
Top 5th
Urasoe is swinging away now. And while Toshiki gets a 2-out single, Urasoe can't get anything else...
Bottom 5th
Uejima leads off the 5th with a grounder up the middle! Toshiki dives, but it goes just under his glove!
Togari with the grounder to short. AH!!! Toshiki's throw is off line and into right! E6! Is that ankle still bothering him??
And Uejima is on the ground hurt! He's holding his head! What happened to him! Ah! As Niita goes to try and field it, he hits Uejima! He's helped off as Maeda takes his place.
Tochigi looks to bunt the runners along. But Iha gets to it quickly! Looks to 3rd, no play! Goes to 1st. Throw is high! All safe! Manrui for Higuchi!
Iha gets ahead of him 1-2. But then Higuchi with the liner! It's right to Kazuma at 1st! He races to first and doubles off Tochigi! Quickly 2 down!
Sakai hits back with the comebacker! Iha gets a piece of it, but it dribbles to the right side! Niita charges in, gets it and makes the throw to 1st! 3 out! Iha gets out of the manrui situation!
There's still a ways to go though, and Urasoe has time.
Top 6th
Tokoha Kikugawa now goes to its bullpen and #10 Nojima. Togari goes to left just in case...
Yamashiro with a blast to left! Itou races back, but it's over him! Yamashiro in with his 2nd double!
Nakama with a bloop to right center! That falls in! Yamashiro running home! Throw in, Tochigi with the tag... not in time! 9-4! And Nakama advance to 2nd!
Kazuma with a liner to right! Nakama stops at 3rd! Runners at the corners! AND THEN HE WALKS NAKAZATO!!!
Nojima hasn't retired a batter yet, and we have a manrui situations for Niita!!!!!
Nojima gets ahead of Niita 0-2, but he fights on....
But Nojima gets him to swing on an inside slider!! One down.
Iha up! He can hit the ball! First pitch, low liner back up the middle! It's past Nojima's glove!
Machida dives! HE HAS IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND HE EMPHATICALLY POUNDS 2ND WITH THE BALL!!!!!!!!!!! DOUBLE PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW!!! What a play by Machida! Nojima gets out of the manrui jam and Tokoha Kikugawa gives up only 1 run!!
Bottom 6th
Iha is doing his best to keep Urasoe in it. He strikes out 2 towards a 1-2-3 inning...
Top 7th
Urasoe though can't seem to get its offense started. Then with 2 down, an irregular bounces gives Urasoe a runner as Miyahira's grounder takes a high hop on Uejima.
Yamashiro up... can he possibly deliver another hit?
Grounder to 3rd. Maeda with it, makes a low throw, but Uejima makes the pick and that ends the inning...
Bottom 7th
Maeda leads off the inning with a single up the middle. And he steals 2nd on Uejima strikeout!
And Iha makes a bad pickoff throw to 2nd! That trickles into center and Maeda advances to 3rd! And then Iha hits Togari! Runners at the corners!
SQUEEZE!!!!!
Tochigi puts down the squeeze! But Iha gets to it once again, and passes it to Yamashiro and he makes the tag! OUT!
Maeda out at home! Now 2 down!
Nojima up now. But Togari breaks for 3rd! Yamashiro with the great throw and Togari is out by a mile!
Top 8th
Nakama leads it off with a single through to left to start the inning. Nojima fights back though and strikes out Kazuma.
Then Nakazato with the grounder to 2nd! Machida up with the ball, goes to 2nd for 1, throw by Sakai in plenty of time for the double play.
Bottom 8th
Tokoha Kikugawa is retired in order by Iha... but Urasoe is just about out of time.
Top 9th
Togari returns to the mound for the 9th. #17 Tanji goes to left.
#17 Kuniyoshi pinch-hits for Niita. But he hits a grounder to 1st and Uejima makes the play.
Iha up. This could be his last AB. He hits a liner just over Machida and into right center! The lineup turns over for Kanna.
But he grounds to 2nd! Machida to Sakai for 1! Throw to 1st, double play! Game set!
Tokoha Kikugawa with another offensive explosion, this time in the 2nd and only down 1-0. But they score 9 in the 2nd and go on to the 9-4 victory!!! Perhaps the gamble of using Shimane to start the game was ill-fated, as even Iha could not recover once he entered into the fray.
Tokoha Kikugawa has made it into the finals. Who will join them?
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Day 15 - Best 8 - Game 2 - Seiko Gakuin (Fukushima) vs. Keio (Minami Kanagawa)
The last game of the Best 8 matchups pits the always strong Yokohama and Seiko Gakuin. It'll be a tough hill to climb for Seiko if they want to advance to the best 4.
Seiko Gakuin has had probably the easiest schedule out of the Best 8 participants facing Kakogawa Kita and Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo.
But this time their opponent is Yokohama, and their road has been anything BUT easy.
So I'll go to what I know. Tsuchiya can be prone to control issues. The only way Seikou can really get to Tsuchiya will probably be to run the pitch count high and hope that they can wear him down.
Otherwise, it may be a long game.
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Seiko Gakuin (Fukushima)
LF Kanno (8)
2B Satou Takuya (4)
1B Sekine (3)
RF Kuroba (9)
3B Yasuda (5)
CF Watanabe (16)
SS Tamura (6)
C Takezawa (2)
P Nakada (1)
Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa)
3B Kuramoto (5)
SS Ooishi (6)
2B Matsumoto (4)
1B Tsutsugo (3)
LF Iwama (7)
RF Ogawa Kenta (9)
C Oda (2)
P Tsuchiya (1)
CF Nakahara (8)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2:13 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
After Tsuchiya gets Kanno to strike out to start the game, Takuya laces one past the infield and into left for a double! But Tsuchiya goes on to strike out Sekine and Kuroba to line to short.
Bottom 1st
Nakada, for being his first appearance, looks good. He's going after batters, and getting ahead in the count. While he walks Matsumoto with 2 down, a flyout by Tsutsugo ends the inning.
Top 2nd
Not what you want to see from Seiko. Tsuchiya gets a break with an 8 pitch inning.
Bottom 2nd
Iwama starts the inning off with a single to the left center field gap for a double!
Looking for the quick score, Kenta bunts him along to 3rd.
AH!! Nakada hits Oda! Runners at the corners now for Tsuchiya! And he lines one into right! Iwama scores! Kuroba has trouble fielding the ball and Tsuchiya advances to 2nd! Yokohama does get on the board early! 1-0!
Nakahara next with a pop to shallow center! Watanabe comes in makes the catch.
And Oda's going home! Thrown in by Watanabe is not in time! How the heck was Oda able to tag up on that shallow fly! 2-0!!
#11 Satou Tatsuya begins to warm up in the bullpen...
Then Nakada walks Kuramoto! Definitely not looking good!
However, he does get Ooishi to ground to 2nd to end the inning. But Seiko Gakuin has staked Yokohama a 2 run lead!
Top 3rd
Seiko's taking more pitches, and Kanno did single to right with 2 down. But they still need to make good contact, and that's not happening yet.
Bottom 3rd
Matsumoto starts off the 3rd with a single to center. Tsutsugo swings while ahead in the count and pops it up to 3rd.
AH! Nakada has Matsumoto picked off 1st! They run him down for the 2nd out!
And Nakada with a great 3-2 pitch on the inside corner for the strikeout! That's a good inning for Seiko!
Top 4th
Sekine opens the frame with a single to center! Then Seiko puts on the hit-and-run! Kuroba grounds to 2nd and Sekine advance to 2nd.
Yasuda with a liner to center! Sekine has to hold up at 3rd! Runners at the corners for Watanabe!
Watanabe gets directions as Yokohama has a conference on the mound.
SQUEEZE!!! FOUL!!!
Looks like they were trying for the safety squeeze there.
Not bunting now! Watanabe with the sharp comebacker! It's off Tsuchiya and to Matsumoto! He goes for Yasuda, has the tag. Throw to 1st... not in time!! Sekine comes home to score on the play and Seiko has narrowed the deficit to 1! 2-1!
Tamura bidding for a hit as he hits a grounder to left. But Ooishi slides over, makes the sliding catch and pops up to get the out .
Bottom 4th
Kenta with a shot to the left center field gap! Kanno cuts it off, but not before Kenta goes to 2nd with a double! And he raises his arms in joy! Why? Because that was his first hit at Koshien!
Oda falls behind 1-2. Reaches out and dribbles the ball! But it's called foul! The ball bounced off off Takezawa before going into fair territory.
So Oda continues to battle at the plate. On the 8th pitch, they put on the hit-and run! Oda strikes out! Throw to 3rd is low and off line! Kenta in safely!
One down for Tsuchiya. But he pops it up! Nakada under it. 2 down!
One more bullet to dodge from Nakahara. Grounder to 3rd! Past a diving Yasuda! Kenta comes in to score and it's a 3-1 game now!
But another baserunning error by Yokohama! Nakahara takes off early and Nakada throws to 2nd for the out!
Top 5th
Takezawa draws the leadoff walk, and then bunted to 2nd.
Top of the order now for Seikou, but Kanna grounds to short. However, Ooishi bobbles the ball so while he gets Kanna out, Takezawa advances to 3rd. 2 out for Takuya.
But Tsuchiya buckles down and strikes him out! Takezawa is left stranded at 3rd!
Bottom 5th
Kuramoto gets another leadoff runner as Kuramoto singles to center.
Now, runner on 2nd and 1 out for Matsumoto.
AH! Nakada has Kuramoto picked off between 2nd and 3rd! He's run down! That's the 3rd one this game! How is this possible!
Matsumoto flies to right center. Watanabe casually moves in on the ball. And it drops in! What the heck happened there? That should have been an easy pop fly, but instead Matsumoto is standing at 2nd! Still though, it's 2 out as Tsutsugo steps up.
UAAAA!!!! Tsutsugo drives one to right! Kanno runs towards the foul pole. He looks up!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tsutsugo makes Seiko pay for the fielding mistake, blasting a hanging curve for a 2-run homerun! 5-1 Yokohama as we head to the break!
Top 6th
Tsuchiya with an easy 1-2-3 inning, and one has to wonder about Seiko's chances at this point...
Bottom 6th
#11 Satou Tatsuya comes in to relieve Nakada.
Kenta again gives Yokohama a leadoff batter with a grounder to center.
Oda with a blast to dead center! Watanabe running back to the wall, looks up!
That's off the top of the fence and bounces back into play! Kenta scores on Oda's double! That was centimeters away from a home run! 6-1!
Tsuchiya follows that up with a single to left! Oda rounding 3rd, he's coming home! Throw from Kanno not in time! 7-1.
After a flyout to right by Nakahara, Kuramoto elects to bunt Tsuchiya to 2nd.
So 2 down for Ooishi. But Tatsuya throws a wild pitch! Tsuchiya advances to 3rd!
Tatsuya can't find the zone and walks Ooishi on 4 straight! Then he falls behind Matsumoto 3-1 and loses him too!
Manrui for Tsutsugo! Uh oh... This can't be good.
And the clouds starts to drizzle upon the field.
Oh dear.... That's well hit. Tsutsugo's raising his arm already... Kuroba stopping and looking up....
MANRUI HOMERUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was a no doubt about it home run. And Yokohama has blown it wide open! 11-1!
That's it for Tatsuya. #13 Yokoyama relieves him on the mound.
Iwama up as the 9th batter to the plate. Hits a chopper up the middle! Takuya with the stop, but can't get the throw to 1st in time!
But Yokoyama gets Kenta to pop up to Takezawa to end the enning.
Top 7th
During the break, the clouds open up on the grounds. Everyone runs for cover or puts on a raincoat as the rain comes down. The fields crew put the small tarps on the mound and at home and in a rain delay.
It is important to the note the following:
Called games due to rain are different for high school baseball. The game will only count IF they've played more than 7 full innings.
We've only played 6.
The implications are staggering... Seiko could get a 1-day reprieve...
-----------------------------------4:00 PM RAIN DELAY-----------------------------------
UPDATE - 4:26 PM - The grounds crew are out putting the quick dry powder on the field. It looks like the rain has stopped, perhaps unluckily for Seiko.
But there's still quite of work to be done as there are water puddles all over the field.
4:38 PM - Yokohama starts playing catch ball. We are probably close to resuming the game now.
The grounds crew is spreading the quick dry behind the plate. Seiko too is stretching and warming up.
The umpires come back onto the field and Yokohama takes the field to begin the top of the 7th.
-------------------------------4:42 PM GAME RESUMPTION-------------------------------
Top 7th
The lights also are being turned on as we reach 5 PM.
And unfortunately the offensive woes for Seiko continue as they can only manage a one-out single from Tamura.
Bottom 7th
It also appears that the offensive outburst from Yokohama hasn't stopped either.
Oda and Tsuchiya open the inning with grounders to left and right. Both are moved over on Nakahara's bunt, bringing us back to the top of the order.
Yokoyama strikes out Kuramoto, but then hits Ooishi.
Manrui for Matsumoto... and Tsutsugo is on deck.
GET OUT OF THE INNING NOW!
Yokoyama gets ahead of Matsumoto 1-2, but he fouls off pitch after pitch. Then Yokoyama misses on 2 straight. Full count!
And Yokohama lines to center! Oda and Tsuchiya score. 13-1 now and runners at the corners for Tsutsugo... Hoo boy...
This time he takes a ball away to left! Kanno running back, leaps up and it's off his glove! Ooishi and Matsumoto score, and Tsttsugo now has 8 RBI's on the day! 15-1.
And #16 Ariizumi comes in to pinch-run for Tsutsugo. Guess they figure he's done enough damage on the day.
#17 Ogawa Ryouma comes in to pinch hit for Iwama and flies to right.
Top 8th
#13 Kudou replaces Tsutsugo at 1st, while Ryouma stays in to play left.
One down, Takuya hits a liner down the right field line for a double.
Sekine up now. He hits a pop up to shallow left center! Ryouma and Ooishi converge, but neither of them get it! Takuya heads to 3rd - he's heading home?! Iwama with the throw home, and Oda applies the tag for the out! And Seiko is denied yet again at the plate.
Bottom 8th
Yokoyama gives up a single to Oda, but thankfully for Seiko, Yokoyama retires the next two batters.
Top 9th
#12 Suzuki comes in to replace Oda at C, #10 Tayama replaces Tsuchiya on the mound, and Tsuchiya moves to center.
With one down, #12 Ogata pinch-hits for Watanabe. And he pokes one down the right field line for a single. He's then replaced by #7 Fukaya.
Tamura follows that up with a single to left! Perhaps they can get another run or two...
#14 Saitou comes in to PH for Takezawa. He grounds to short, and just beats being doubled up at first.
Last chance for Seiko is with Yokoyama, and he strikes out to end the game.
Seiko Gakuin was unfortunately overmatched by Yokohama today, but can go home knowing they made it into the Best 8.
Seiko Gakuin has had probably the easiest schedule out of the Best 8 participants facing Kakogawa Kita and Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo.
But this time their opponent is Yokohama, and their road has been anything BUT easy.
- def. Urawa Gakuin 6-5
- dek. Koryo 7-4
- def. Sendai Ikuei 3-2
So I'll go to what I know. Tsuchiya can be prone to control issues. The only way Seikou can really get to Tsuchiya will probably be to run the pitch count high and hope that they can wear him down.
Otherwise, it may be a long game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seiko Gakuin (Fukushima)
LF Kanno (8)
2B Satou Takuya (4)
1B Sekine (3)
RF Kuroba (9)
3B Yasuda (5)
CF Watanabe (16)
SS Tamura (6)
C Takezawa (2)
P Nakada (1)
Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa)
3B Kuramoto (5)
SS Ooishi (6)
2B Matsumoto (4)
1B Tsutsugo (3)
LF Iwama (7)
RF Ogawa Kenta (9)
C Oda (2)
P Tsuchiya (1)
CF Nakahara (8)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2:13 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
After Tsuchiya gets Kanno to strike out to start the game, Takuya laces one past the infield and into left for a double! But Tsuchiya goes on to strike out Sekine and Kuroba to line to short.
Bottom 1st
Nakada, for being his first appearance, looks good. He's going after batters, and getting ahead in the count. While he walks Matsumoto with 2 down, a flyout by Tsutsugo ends the inning.
Top 2nd
Not what you want to see from Seiko. Tsuchiya gets a break with an 8 pitch inning.
Bottom 2nd
Iwama starts the inning off with a single to the left center field gap for a double!
Looking for the quick score, Kenta bunts him along to 3rd.
AH!! Nakada hits Oda! Runners at the corners now for Tsuchiya! And he lines one into right! Iwama scores! Kuroba has trouble fielding the ball and Tsuchiya advances to 2nd! Yokohama does get on the board early! 1-0!
Nakahara next with a pop to shallow center! Watanabe comes in makes the catch.
And Oda's going home! Thrown in by Watanabe is not in time! How the heck was Oda able to tag up on that shallow fly! 2-0!!
#11 Satou Tatsuya begins to warm up in the bullpen...
Then Nakada walks Kuramoto! Definitely not looking good!
However, he does get Ooishi to ground to 2nd to end the inning. But Seiko Gakuin has staked Yokohama a 2 run lead!
Top 3rd
Seiko's taking more pitches, and Kanno did single to right with 2 down. But they still need to make good contact, and that's not happening yet.
Bottom 3rd
Matsumoto starts off the 3rd with a single to center. Tsutsugo swings while ahead in the count and pops it up to 3rd.
AH! Nakada has Matsumoto picked off 1st! They run him down for the 2nd out!
And Nakada with a great 3-2 pitch on the inside corner for the strikeout! That's a good inning for Seiko!
Top 4th
Sekine opens the frame with a single to center! Then Seiko puts on the hit-and-run! Kuroba grounds to 2nd and Sekine advance to 2nd.
Yasuda with a liner to center! Sekine has to hold up at 3rd! Runners at the corners for Watanabe!
Watanabe gets directions as Yokohama has a conference on the mound.
SQUEEZE!!! FOUL!!!
Looks like they were trying for the safety squeeze there.
Not bunting now! Watanabe with the sharp comebacker! It's off Tsuchiya and to Matsumoto! He goes for Yasuda, has the tag. Throw to 1st... not in time!! Sekine comes home to score on the play and Seiko has narrowed the deficit to 1! 2-1!
Tamura bidding for a hit as he hits a grounder to left. But Ooishi slides over, makes the sliding catch and pops up to get the out .
Bottom 4th
Kenta with a shot to the left center field gap! Kanno cuts it off, but not before Kenta goes to 2nd with a double! And he raises his arms in joy! Why? Because that was his first hit at Koshien!
Oda falls behind 1-2. Reaches out and dribbles the ball! But it's called foul! The ball bounced off off Takezawa before going into fair territory.
So Oda continues to battle at the plate. On the 8th pitch, they put on the hit-and run! Oda strikes out! Throw to 3rd is low and off line! Kenta in safely!
One down for Tsuchiya. But he pops it up! Nakada under it. 2 down!
One more bullet to dodge from Nakahara. Grounder to 3rd! Past a diving Yasuda! Kenta comes in to score and it's a 3-1 game now!
But another baserunning error by Yokohama! Nakahara takes off early and Nakada throws to 2nd for the out!
Top 5th
Takezawa draws the leadoff walk, and then bunted to 2nd.
Top of the order now for Seikou, but Kanna grounds to short. However, Ooishi bobbles the ball so while he gets Kanna out, Takezawa advances to 3rd. 2 out for Takuya.
But Tsuchiya buckles down and strikes him out! Takezawa is left stranded at 3rd!
Bottom 5th
Kuramoto gets another leadoff runner as Kuramoto singles to center.
Now, runner on 2nd and 1 out for Matsumoto.
AH! Nakada has Kuramoto picked off between 2nd and 3rd! He's run down! That's the 3rd one this game! How is this possible!
Matsumoto flies to right center. Watanabe casually moves in on the ball. And it drops in! What the heck happened there? That should have been an easy pop fly, but instead Matsumoto is standing at 2nd! Still though, it's 2 out as Tsutsugo steps up.
UAAAA!!!! Tsutsugo drives one to right! Kanno runs towards the foul pole. He looks up!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tsutsugo makes Seiko pay for the fielding mistake, blasting a hanging curve for a 2-run homerun! 5-1 Yokohama as we head to the break!
Top 6th
Tsuchiya with an easy 1-2-3 inning, and one has to wonder about Seiko's chances at this point...
Bottom 6th
#11 Satou Tatsuya comes in to relieve Nakada.
Kenta again gives Yokohama a leadoff batter with a grounder to center.
Oda with a blast to dead center! Watanabe running back to the wall, looks up!
That's off the top of the fence and bounces back into play! Kenta scores on Oda's double! That was centimeters away from a home run! 6-1!
Tsuchiya follows that up with a single to left! Oda rounding 3rd, he's coming home! Throw from Kanno not in time! 7-1.
After a flyout to right by Nakahara, Kuramoto elects to bunt Tsuchiya to 2nd.
So 2 down for Ooishi. But Tatsuya throws a wild pitch! Tsuchiya advances to 3rd!
Tatsuya can't find the zone and walks Ooishi on 4 straight! Then he falls behind Matsumoto 3-1 and loses him too!
Manrui for Tsutsugo! Uh oh... This can't be good.
And the clouds starts to drizzle upon the field.
Oh dear.... That's well hit. Tsutsugo's raising his arm already... Kuroba stopping and looking up....
MANRUI HOMERUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was a no doubt about it home run. And Yokohama has blown it wide open! 11-1!
That's it for Tatsuya. #13 Yokoyama relieves him on the mound.
Iwama up as the 9th batter to the plate. Hits a chopper up the middle! Takuya with the stop, but can't get the throw to 1st in time!
But Yokoyama gets Kenta to pop up to Takezawa to end the enning.
Top 7th
During the break, the clouds open up on the grounds. Everyone runs for cover or puts on a raincoat as the rain comes down. The fields crew put the small tarps on the mound and at home and in a rain delay.
It is important to the note the following:
Called games due to rain are different for high school baseball. The game will only count IF they've played more than 7 full innings.
We've only played 6.
The implications are staggering... Seiko could get a 1-day reprieve...
-----------------------------------4:00 PM RAIN DELAY-----------------------------------
UPDATE - 4:26 PM - The grounds crew are out putting the quick dry powder on the field. It looks like the rain has stopped, perhaps unluckily for Seiko.
But there's still quite of work to be done as there are water puddles all over the field.
4:38 PM - Yokohama starts playing catch ball. We are probably close to resuming the game now.
The grounds crew is spreading the quick dry behind the plate. Seiko too is stretching and warming up.
The umpires come back onto the field and Yokohama takes the field to begin the top of the 7th.
-------------------------------4:42 PM GAME RESUMPTION-------------------------------
Top 7th
The lights also are being turned on as we reach 5 PM.
And unfortunately the offensive woes for Seiko continue as they can only manage a one-out single from Tamura.
Bottom 7th
It also appears that the offensive outburst from Yokohama hasn't stopped either.
Oda and Tsuchiya open the inning with grounders to left and right. Both are moved over on Nakahara's bunt, bringing us back to the top of the order.
Yokoyama strikes out Kuramoto, but then hits Ooishi.
Manrui for Matsumoto... and Tsutsugo is on deck.
GET OUT OF THE INNING NOW!
Yokoyama gets ahead of Matsumoto 1-2, but he fouls off pitch after pitch. Then Yokoyama misses on 2 straight. Full count!
And Yokohama lines to center! Oda and Tsuchiya score. 13-1 now and runners at the corners for Tsutsugo... Hoo boy...
This time he takes a ball away to left! Kanno running back, leaps up and it's off his glove! Ooishi and Matsumoto score, and Tsttsugo now has 8 RBI's on the day! 15-1.
And #16 Ariizumi comes in to pinch-run for Tsutsugo. Guess they figure he's done enough damage on the day.
#17 Ogawa Ryouma comes in to pinch hit for Iwama and flies to right.
Top 8th
#13 Kudou replaces Tsutsugo at 1st, while Ryouma stays in to play left.
One down, Takuya hits a liner down the right field line for a double.
Sekine up now. He hits a pop up to shallow left center! Ryouma and Ooishi converge, but neither of them get it! Takuya heads to 3rd - he's heading home?! Iwama with the throw home, and Oda applies the tag for the out! And Seiko is denied yet again at the plate.
Bottom 8th
Yokoyama gives up a single to Oda, but thankfully for Seiko, Yokoyama retires the next two batters.
Top 9th
#12 Suzuki comes in to replace Oda at C, #10 Tayama replaces Tsuchiya on the mound, and Tsuchiya moves to center.
With one down, #12 Ogata pinch-hits for Watanabe. And he pokes one down the right field line for a single. He's then replaced by #7 Fukaya.
Tamura follows that up with a single to left! Perhaps they can get another run or two...
#14 Saitou comes in to PH for Takezawa. He grounds to short, and just beats being doubled up at first.
Last chance for Seiko is with Yokoyama, and he strikes out to end the game.
Seiko Gakuin was unfortunately overmatched by Yokohama today, but can go home knowing they made it into the Best 8.
Day 15 - Best 8 - Game 1 - Cbiben Wakayama vs. Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
We are certainly "blessed", if you want to look at it that way, to have a best 8 like this. Two great games yesterday, and two more to look forward to today.
Chiben has for the most part dominated their competition, thanks to their 2nd year ace, Okada to get them through the tournament. He wears #10, but probably as a result of being an underclassman (i.e. not a 3rd year).
Tokoha Kikugawa has had to rally back in both of its games to advance to the Best 8. Against Fukuchiyama Seibi, a communication problem on a pick off throw combined with a lack of attention allowed Tokoha Kikugawa to score its only 2 runs of the game to win 2-1.
Then against Kurashiki Shogyo, they fell behind 5-0 in the first inning. Then down 6-0, they scored 7 in the 5th and held on to win 11-9.
As much as Tokoha Kikugawa has been able to rally from behind, there's only so far that a team can go on that. Expect Chiben to win here and advance to the Best 4.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chiben Wakayama
SS Urata (6)
P Shibata (1)
2B Katsuya (4)
1B Sakaguchi (3)
RF Morimoto (2)
LF Takahashi (7)
CF Tanbo (8)
C Okada (10)
3B Nishikawa (18)
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
SS Sakai (6)
CF Itou (8)
2B Machida (4)
RF Nakagawa (9)
3B Maeda (5)
1B Uejima (3)
P Nojima (10)
C Tochigi (2)
LF Matsumoto (18)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:00 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Nojima with a short inning, as he retires Chiben Wakayama in order to start the game.
Bottom 1st
Itou gets it started with a single to left. And then Machida drives one to deep right center!!
Tanbo gives chase, but it falls in in front of the wall! Itou running the bases! Tanbo up with it! Itou being waved home! Katsuya with the relay throw! Morimoto with it, collision!!!
Umpire looking for the ball... OUT! A perfect relay home guns down Itou! Katsuya advances to 3rd, so 2 down and runner on 3rd for Nakagawa.
But Nakagawa pops up to shallow right center and Tokoha loses their chance!
Top 2nd
Sakaguchi leads off the inning with a single to right. Runner on 2nd, one out for Takahashi.
Grounder through to left! Runners at the corners.... AH! The ball goes under Matsumoto's glove! Sakaguchi comes on in to score! 1-0!
Tanbo up with Takahashi at 2nd. He grounds to 1st, allowing Takahashi to advance to 3rd.
Uh oh... after Nojima got ahead of Okada 1-2, he loses him! Runners at the corners for last batter Nishikawa!
Drive to right! Going, going, foul! What a swing by 1st-year Nishikawa! Nojima comes back with the fastball on the outside corner! Sanshin!
But thanks to an error by the defense, Chiben Wakayama takes the early lead!
Bottom 2nd
Okada yield a leadoff single to Maeda, but Morimoto guns him down at 2nd when he tries to make the steal. After that, Maeda retires the next 2 batters in order. The relative day of rest he received when the team played Komadai Iwamizawa certainly helps.
Top 3rd
One down for Chiben when Shibata singles to center. Nojima is still struggling with his location, and he walks Katsuya! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Sakaguchi, a real cleanup hitter!
Nojima gets ahead 1-2, and doesn't get a call on the outside corner! Then the count runs full!
But Sakaguchi pops up! Nojima goes after him with an inside pitch! Machida secures the catch! 2 down! And Morimoto flies to center to end the inning! Another bullet missed!
Bottom 3rd
Okada has his first 1-2-3 inning. He continues to go after batters and his location looks real good.
Top 4th
Nojima walks his 3rd batter of the game, Tanbo, with one down. Okada grounds one up the middle. Machida goes to make a play, but Tanbo runs into him and is automatically called out.
Nishikawa with the safety bunt! Nojima up with it, but the throw isn't in time! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Urata. He hits a grounder to short. Sakai goes to 2nd, but Machida isn't on the bag! All safe! Manrui for Shibata!
He grounds to short! Sakai tries it again, and this time Machida is on the bag for the force.
Bottom 4th
Okada continues with his dominance of Tokoha Kikugawa once again retiring the side in order,
Top 5th
Katsuya leads off the inning and singles to right center. Then, he walks Sakaguchi! With runners on 1st and 2nd, Chiben elects to bunt the runners along. Big chance for Chiben!
But Takahashi swings on the first pitch and pops it up just behind 2nd base! 2 down!
Ah! Nojima walks Tanbo! Manrui! Tokoha's manager has seen enough and brings in his ace Togari to get Tokoha out of this situation.
But he falls behind Okada 3-0!! There's nowhere to put him!
Low! Ball 4! Katsuya scores and Chiben now leads 2-0!
Nishikawa grounds to short, but Tokoha is finding themselves behind yet again!
Bottom 5th
Maeda leads off the inning. OW! He's beaned right in his side! That's gotta hurt.
Uejima isn't bunting. He singles through to right! And Togari puts down the safety bunt! Nishikawa up with the ball, but he one hops the throw and Sakaguchi can't secure it! E5, and manrui for Tokoha Kikugawa! Big chance!
But Okada continues to be aggressive and he strikes out Togari! 1 down!
#16 Kitajima pinch-hits for Matsumoto.
AH!! Wild pitch! Ball in the dirt gets away from Morimoto and Maeda comes in to score! 2-1!
Okada is relentless! He strikes out Kitajima! 2 down! It's all up to Sakai to get the trying run home!
But Okada gets ahead of him 1-2! Sakai with the chopper. Urata slides over to make the play!
AH!!!!!!!!! The ball takes an irregular hop off the infield and moves away from Urata! He reaches out with his glove, but it's into center!!! Uejima scores! Togari rounds 3rd, he scores! Another favorable bounce for Tokoha Kikugawa and they take the lead 3-2!!!!!
Itou grounds out to 3rd, but once again, Tokoha has rallied from behind to take the lead!
Top 6th
#17 Tanji comes for #16 Kitajima to play left.
Togari leads off the 6th with a walk to Urata. But then he strikes out both Shibata and Katsuya looking! Quickly 2 down, but Sakaguchi steps up to the plate!
Sakaguchi goes ahead in the count 2-0, but then grounds to short to end the inning!
Bottom 6th
Maeda opens the inning with a walk as Okada doesn't get a call on the outside corner for strike 3.
Nakagawa with a blast to right! That's going deep enough, but it goes foul! No matter though! He takes the next pitch and drives it through the right side.
Maeda up. Okada struggling with his control this inning! He falls behind 3-1!
Maeda crushes it! He immediately raises his fist!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That ball is way gone!
It landed about 20 rows up the left field bleachers!!!! Maeda's 3-run homerun puts Tokoha Kikugawa up 6-2!!!!!
The homerun also means the end of Okada's day. Shibata comes in from right to take the mound while #17 Oohata goes to play right.
But Shibata starts by hitting Uejima!
And then Tokoha calls for the hit-and-run! Togari makes contact and singles to center! Runners at the corners for Tochigi!
But he hits a comebacker to Shibata! His only play is to 1st. But still, only 1 down!
Tanji with a blast to left! That's deep, that could go! Foul! Just foul! Wow! What a swing from a bench player!
The camera zooms in on Okada who uncharacteristically looks agitated and mad!
Tanji with a grounder to 3rd. Nishikawa comes in and AH!!!!!!
The ball bounces off Nishikawa and into foul territory! Uejima comes in to score! 7-2!!
Sakai now with a blast to left! Takahashi running back! That's off the padding! Togari comes in to score on Sakai's double! 8-2!!
Runners on 2nd and 3rd for Itou. He pops it up to left center! Takahasi and Tanbo converge, but neither makes a play for it! The ball drops in! Tanji scores! 9-2!!
CHIBEN IS COMPLETELY FALLING APART!!!!!!!
That's it for Shibata. #9 Hayashi comes in to take the mound and Shibata returns to right.
Machida returns as the 10th batter to the plate this inning. And Shibata starst out by walking Machida! Manrui!
Nakagawa with the liner to left! Takahashi makes the catch. Tries to throw to 2nd for the DP, but that ball is wild! Sakai looks to go home, but scurries back as Sakaguchi makes the throw!
Maeda again up. Could we see a 2 HR inning like Sakaguchi did for Chiben Wakayama in its last game!
Hayashi tries hard to prevent that. But he winds up walking Maeda! Sakai comes in! 10-2!
Uejima with a base hit to left! Itou and Machida come in to score! 12-2! Togari comes up and immediately bloops one into left center! Maeda scores! It's 13-3!!!
Tochigi grounds out for the 2nd time this inning, and finally the side is retired....
But Tokoha Kikugawa sends 15 batters to the plate, get 7 hits and 4 walks, and score 10 runs!!
Top 7th
Togari gives up a leadoff single to Morimoto, but the Chiben batters continue to swing away early getting 3 quick outs to retire the side.
Bottom 7th
Hayashi is now relieved as #12 Monguchi comes in to pitch. Also #13 Hirano comes in for Morimoto at catcher.
#7 Higuchi pinch-hits for #17 Tanji and strikes out. Sakai though hits a grounder through to left. Itou follows that up with a single to left. Could Chiben be in trouble again!
Machida with a grounder to 2nd! Katsuya starts the 4-6-3 DP to end the inning!
Top 8th
With an 10 run lead, #11 Hagiwara comes in to relieve Togari who moves to left.
Nishikawa rudely welcomes him with a drive to center! Itou running back, leaping up, but it's over his head! Nishikawa is in with a leadoff triple!
Urata behind 1-2, but his a blooper to center! Itou comes in, but decides to play the hop! Nishikawa scores and its 13-3.
Shibata with a short chopper! Uejima comes in to field it, but he can't! Runners at 1st and 2nd!
Katsuya hits a pop up on the first pitch! Maeda with it. 1 down.
Sakaguchi comes up. He hits a drive to deep right! That's past the outfielders! Urata scores! Shibata comes around, he scores! Sakaguchi with the triple and it's 13-5.
New C Hirano up. Grounder to short. That's off Sakai and into the outfield! Sakaguchi scores! 13-6! And still one down!
But Takahashi grounds to 2nd and Machida starts the 4-6-3 DP!
Bottom 8th
Monguchi with some nice pitching! He gives up a one out single to Maeda, but comes back to strike out the next 2 batters!
Top 9th
Tokoha's manager now relieves Hagiwara with #12 Asakawa.
Tanbo singles to right. And then Asakawa walks pinch-hitter #16 Miyake!
And the manager has seen enough. Togari returns to the mound to stop the bleeding.
#11 Hazama comes in to pinch-run for Miyake.
Nishikawa with a drive to left center! THAT'S PAST THE DRAWN IN INFIELD AGAIN!! Tanbo scores! Hazama scores! Nishikawa with another triple!!! 13-8!
Togari falls behind 3-1....
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Urata with a blast to right, he's raising his arm! You're kidding me right???!!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Urata hit a homerun deep into the left field bleachers! It's now 13-10!!!
WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?????
And just as I think it, the announcers talk about 2 years ago when Chiben came back in the 9th to defeat Teikyo when they literally ran out of pitchers! But in this case, Tokoha still has Togari.
Shibata with a grounder back up the middle! Sakai dives but he can't get it!
Katsuya steps up. Grounder to the right side! Machida with the diving stop! Toss to 2nd for one, throw to 1st... double play!
Machida coming up with the fine play to bring Chiben Wakayama down to their final out! It's up to Sakaguchi now to keep the team alive.
He swings on the first pitch! It's a grounder to 3rd! Maeda up with it, throw to 1st....
GAME SET!!
Chiben Wakayama mounts a valiant rally against a backup pitching staff late, but the 11 run deficit was just too much to make up! So Tokoha Kikugawa, on the back of a bakuhatsu inning, defeat Chiben Wakayama and move on to face Urasoe Shogyo in the Best 4 showdown!
Chiben has for the most part dominated their competition, thanks to their 2nd year ace, Okada to get them through the tournament. He wears #10, but probably as a result of being an underclassman (i.e. not a 3rd year).
Tokoha Kikugawa has had to rally back in both of its games to advance to the Best 8. Against Fukuchiyama Seibi, a communication problem on a pick off throw combined with a lack of attention allowed Tokoha Kikugawa to score its only 2 runs of the game to win 2-1.
Then against Kurashiki Shogyo, they fell behind 5-0 in the first inning. Then down 6-0, they scored 7 in the 5th and held on to win 11-9.
As much as Tokoha Kikugawa has been able to rally from behind, there's only so far that a team can go on that. Expect Chiben to win here and advance to the Best 4.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chiben Wakayama
SS Urata (6)
P Shibata (1)
2B Katsuya (4)
1B Sakaguchi (3)
RF Morimoto (2)
LF Takahashi (7)
CF Tanbo (8)
C Okada (10)
3B Nishikawa (18)
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
SS Sakai (6)
CF Itou (8)
2B Machida (4)
RF Nakagawa (9)
3B Maeda (5)
1B Uejima (3)
P Nojima (10)
C Tochigi (2)
LF Matsumoto (18)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:00 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Nojima with a short inning, as he retires Chiben Wakayama in order to start the game.
Bottom 1st
Itou gets it started with a single to left. And then Machida drives one to deep right center!!
Tanbo gives chase, but it falls in in front of the wall! Itou running the bases! Tanbo up with it! Itou being waved home! Katsuya with the relay throw! Morimoto with it, collision!!!
Umpire looking for the ball... OUT! A perfect relay home guns down Itou! Katsuya advances to 3rd, so 2 down and runner on 3rd for Nakagawa.
But Nakagawa pops up to shallow right center and Tokoha loses their chance!
Top 2nd
Sakaguchi leads off the inning with a single to right. Runner on 2nd, one out for Takahashi.
Grounder through to left! Runners at the corners.... AH! The ball goes under Matsumoto's glove! Sakaguchi comes on in to score! 1-0!
Tanbo up with Takahashi at 2nd. He grounds to 1st, allowing Takahashi to advance to 3rd.
Uh oh... after Nojima got ahead of Okada 1-2, he loses him! Runners at the corners for last batter Nishikawa!
Drive to right! Going, going, foul! What a swing by 1st-year Nishikawa! Nojima comes back with the fastball on the outside corner! Sanshin!
But thanks to an error by the defense, Chiben Wakayama takes the early lead!
Bottom 2nd
Okada yield a leadoff single to Maeda, but Morimoto guns him down at 2nd when he tries to make the steal. After that, Maeda retires the next 2 batters in order. The relative day of rest he received when the team played Komadai Iwamizawa certainly helps.
Top 3rd
One down for Chiben when Shibata singles to center. Nojima is still struggling with his location, and he walks Katsuya! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Sakaguchi, a real cleanup hitter!
Nojima gets ahead 1-2, and doesn't get a call on the outside corner! Then the count runs full!
But Sakaguchi pops up! Nojima goes after him with an inside pitch! Machida secures the catch! 2 down! And Morimoto flies to center to end the inning! Another bullet missed!
Bottom 3rd
Okada has his first 1-2-3 inning. He continues to go after batters and his location looks real good.
Top 4th
Nojima walks his 3rd batter of the game, Tanbo, with one down. Okada grounds one up the middle. Machida goes to make a play, but Tanbo runs into him and is automatically called out.
Nishikawa with the safety bunt! Nojima up with it, but the throw isn't in time! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Urata. He hits a grounder to short. Sakai goes to 2nd, but Machida isn't on the bag! All safe! Manrui for Shibata!
He grounds to short! Sakai tries it again, and this time Machida is on the bag for the force.
Bottom 4th
Okada continues with his dominance of Tokoha Kikugawa once again retiring the side in order,
Top 5th
Katsuya leads off the inning and singles to right center. Then, he walks Sakaguchi! With runners on 1st and 2nd, Chiben elects to bunt the runners along. Big chance for Chiben!
But Takahashi swings on the first pitch and pops it up just behind 2nd base! 2 down!
Ah! Nojima walks Tanbo! Manrui! Tokoha's manager has seen enough and brings in his ace Togari to get Tokoha out of this situation.
But he falls behind Okada 3-0!! There's nowhere to put him!
Low! Ball 4! Katsuya scores and Chiben now leads 2-0!
Nishikawa grounds to short, but Tokoha is finding themselves behind yet again!
Bottom 5th
Maeda leads off the inning. OW! He's beaned right in his side! That's gotta hurt.
Uejima isn't bunting. He singles through to right! And Togari puts down the safety bunt! Nishikawa up with the ball, but he one hops the throw and Sakaguchi can't secure it! E5, and manrui for Tokoha Kikugawa! Big chance!
But Okada continues to be aggressive and he strikes out Togari! 1 down!
#16 Kitajima pinch-hits for Matsumoto.
AH!! Wild pitch! Ball in the dirt gets away from Morimoto and Maeda comes in to score! 2-1!
Okada is relentless! He strikes out Kitajima! 2 down! It's all up to Sakai to get the trying run home!
But Okada gets ahead of him 1-2! Sakai with the chopper. Urata slides over to make the play!
AH!!!!!!!!! The ball takes an irregular hop off the infield and moves away from Urata! He reaches out with his glove, but it's into center!!! Uejima scores! Togari rounds 3rd, he scores! Another favorable bounce for Tokoha Kikugawa and they take the lead 3-2!!!!!
Itou grounds out to 3rd, but once again, Tokoha has rallied from behind to take the lead!
Top 6th
#17 Tanji comes for #16 Kitajima to play left.
Togari leads off the 6th with a walk to Urata. But then he strikes out both Shibata and Katsuya looking! Quickly 2 down, but Sakaguchi steps up to the plate!
Sakaguchi goes ahead in the count 2-0, but then grounds to short to end the inning!
Bottom 6th
Maeda opens the inning with a walk as Okada doesn't get a call on the outside corner for strike 3.
Nakagawa with a blast to right! That's going deep enough, but it goes foul! No matter though! He takes the next pitch and drives it through the right side.
Maeda up. Okada struggling with his control this inning! He falls behind 3-1!
Maeda crushes it! He immediately raises his fist!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That ball is way gone!
It landed about 20 rows up the left field bleachers!!!! Maeda's 3-run homerun puts Tokoha Kikugawa up 6-2!!!!!
The homerun also means the end of Okada's day. Shibata comes in from right to take the mound while #17 Oohata goes to play right.
But Shibata starts by hitting Uejima!
And then Tokoha calls for the hit-and-run! Togari makes contact and singles to center! Runners at the corners for Tochigi!
But he hits a comebacker to Shibata! His only play is to 1st. But still, only 1 down!
Tanji with a blast to left! That's deep, that could go! Foul! Just foul! Wow! What a swing from a bench player!
The camera zooms in on Okada who uncharacteristically looks agitated and mad!
Tanji with a grounder to 3rd. Nishikawa comes in and AH!!!!!!
The ball bounces off Nishikawa and into foul territory! Uejima comes in to score! 7-2!!
Sakai now with a blast to left! Takahashi running back! That's off the padding! Togari comes in to score on Sakai's double! 8-2!!
Runners on 2nd and 3rd for Itou. He pops it up to left center! Takahasi and Tanbo converge, but neither makes a play for it! The ball drops in! Tanji scores! 9-2!!
CHIBEN IS COMPLETELY FALLING APART!!!!!!!
That's it for Shibata. #9 Hayashi comes in to take the mound and Shibata returns to right.
Machida returns as the 10th batter to the plate this inning. And Shibata starst out by walking Machida! Manrui!
Nakagawa with the liner to left! Takahashi makes the catch. Tries to throw to 2nd for the DP, but that ball is wild! Sakai looks to go home, but scurries back as Sakaguchi makes the throw!
Maeda again up. Could we see a 2 HR inning like Sakaguchi did for Chiben Wakayama in its last game!
Hayashi tries hard to prevent that. But he winds up walking Maeda! Sakai comes in! 10-2!
Uejima with a base hit to left! Itou and Machida come in to score! 12-2! Togari comes up and immediately bloops one into left center! Maeda scores! It's 13-3!!!
Tochigi grounds out for the 2nd time this inning, and finally the side is retired....
But Tokoha Kikugawa sends 15 batters to the plate, get 7 hits and 4 walks, and score 10 runs!!
Top 7th
Togari gives up a leadoff single to Morimoto, but the Chiben batters continue to swing away early getting 3 quick outs to retire the side.
Bottom 7th
Hayashi is now relieved as #12 Monguchi comes in to pitch. Also #13 Hirano comes in for Morimoto at catcher.
#7 Higuchi pinch-hits for #17 Tanji and strikes out. Sakai though hits a grounder through to left. Itou follows that up with a single to left. Could Chiben be in trouble again!
Machida with a grounder to 2nd! Katsuya starts the 4-6-3 DP to end the inning!
Top 8th
With an 10 run lead, #11 Hagiwara comes in to relieve Togari who moves to left.
Nishikawa rudely welcomes him with a drive to center! Itou running back, leaping up, but it's over his head! Nishikawa is in with a leadoff triple!
Urata behind 1-2, but his a blooper to center! Itou comes in, but decides to play the hop! Nishikawa scores and its 13-3.
Shibata with a short chopper! Uejima comes in to field it, but he can't! Runners at 1st and 2nd!
Katsuya hits a pop up on the first pitch! Maeda with it. 1 down.
Sakaguchi comes up. He hits a drive to deep right! That's past the outfielders! Urata scores! Shibata comes around, he scores! Sakaguchi with the triple and it's 13-5.
New C Hirano up. Grounder to short. That's off Sakai and into the outfield! Sakaguchi scores! 13-6! And still one down!
But Takahashi grounds to 2nd and Machida starts the 4-6-3 DP!
Bottom 8th
Monguchi with some nice pitching! He gives up a one out single to Maeda, but comes back to strike out the next 2 batters!
Top 9th
Tokoha's manager now relieves Hagiwara with #12 Asakawa.
Tanbo singles to right. And then Asakawa walks pinch-hitter #16 Miyake!
And the manager has seen enough. Togari returns to the mound to stop the bleeding.
#11 Hazama comes in to pinch-run for Miyake.
Nishikawa with a drive to left center! THAT'S PAST THE DRAWN IN INFIELD AGAIN!! Tanbo scores! Hazama scores! Nishikawa with another triple!!! 13-8!
Togari falls behind 3-1....
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Urata with a blast to right, he's raising his arm! You're kidding me right???!!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Urata hit a homerun deep into the left field bleachers! It's now 13-10!!!
WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?????
And just as I think it, the announcers talk about 2 years ago when Chiben came back in the 9th to defeat Teikyo when they literally ran out of pitchers! But in this case, Tokoha still has Togari.
Shibata with a grounder back up the middle! Sakai dives but he can't get it!
Katsuya steps up. Grounder to the right side! Machida with the diving stop! Toss to 2nd for one, throw to 1st... double play!
Machida coming up with the fine play to bring Chiben Wakayama down to their final out! It's up to Sakaguchi now to keep the team alive.
He swings on the first pitch! It's a grounder to 3rd! Maeda up with it, throw to 1st....
GAME SET!!
Chiben Wakayama mounts a valiant rally against a backup pitching staff late, but the 11 run deficit was just too much to make up! So Tokoha Kikugawa, on the back of a bakuhatsu inning, defeat Chiben Wakayama and move on to face Urasoe Shogyo in the Best 4 showdown!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Best 4 Matchups
The draws for the Best 4 matchups have been determined. They are as of the end of today's matches:
Day 16 - Best 4 - Semifinals
Day 16 - Best 4 - Semifinals
- Game 1 - Urasoe Shogyo (Okinawa) vs. Winner of Chiben Wakayama vs. Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
- Game 2 - Winner of Seiko Gakuin (Fukushima) vs. Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa) vs. Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
Day 14 - Best 8 - Game 2 - Urasoe Shogyo (Okinawa) vs. Keio (Kita Kanagawa)
This game should be if nothing else, LOUD. Okinawa with it's hollering and whistling, and Keio with it's band and rally songs.
Seriously though, this game should be interesting. Urasoe has shown that it can play all types of games. They had a scorefest against Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku completely battering ace Saitou. They also played a defensive game against Kanto Daiichi winning 3-1.
Keio has depended on its pitching tandem of Tamura and Tadano, yielding only 4 runs in the 3 games they've played so far.
This has the looks of a low-scoring game. But both teams are sending their secondary pitchers to the hill! Probably as a response for them starting in their games yesterday.
So, the real key may be who can get to the secondary pitchers first before the aces come into the game!
This one is a tossup I think. It's especially hard to tell given the pitching situation.
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Urasoe Shogyo (Okinawa)
CF Kanna (9)
SS Ueji Toshiki (6)
RF Iha (1)
C Yamashiro (2)
LF Miyahira (7)
1B Touyama Kazuma (18)
3B Nakama (5)
2B Niita (12)
P Ueji Tokima (11)
Keio (Kita Kanagawa)
RF Naitou (9)
3B Fukutomi (5)
2B Yamazaki (4)
1B Suzuki Yuuji (7)
LF Akada (17)
P Tadano (3)
C Suzuki Yousuke (2)
SS Saitou (6)
CF Mizoguchi (8)
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1:52 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Kanna leads off the game with a single to right, moved over to 2nd. And then moved over to
3rd when Iha grounds to 1st.
Cleanup batter Yamashiro up. He hits a pop up to center! Mizoguchi and Yamazaki converge, Mizoguchi reaches out his glove to his left at the last minute, and the ball drops! Mizoguchi misplays the ball and Kanna comes in to score! 1-0 Urasoe!
Bottom 1st
Ueji Tokima looks shaky to start. He walks Naitou on 4 straight to start. After a sac bunt by Fukutomi, Tokima strikes out Yamazaki after he works the count full.
But then Tokima walks Yuuji on 4 straight and now there's runners at 1st and 2nd!
Akada though cannot get the timely hit and hits a soft liner to 2nd.
Top 2nd
Tadano labors somewhat, but he manages a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 2nd
Um... Tokima trying out an eephus pitch?! Then plunking Saitou...
But he retires the side otherwise. He's ok for a relief pitcher.
Top 3rd
Tokima singles back up the middle to start the 3rd. Kanna tries to bunt him along, but instead pops it straight up to Yousuke who then throws to 1st to double off Tokima.
And Tadano strikes out Toshiki on 3 straight to retire the side!
Bottom 3rd
Yamazaki gets the first base hit for Keio with a single between Kazuma and Niita!
Then Yuuji drives a ball away to right center! That's in the gap and to the wall! Yamazaki heads for 3rd, and heads home! Throw in not in time and Keio has tied the game up 1-1!!
Top 4th
With one down, Tadano walks Yamashiro. Then Miyahira singles up the middle! Runners at the corners for Kazuma!
Chopper up the middle! Saitou dashes to field it. Touches 2nd for one, throw to 1st... safe! Yuuji was scrambling back to the bag, he wasn't in contact with it when he caught the ball! Yamashiro scores! 2-1 Urasoe!!
Nakama with a liner back up the middle! It looks like Tadano's starting to break down!
Nitta then grounds to 2nd. But Urasoe has retaken the lead!
Bottom 4th
With one down, Yousuke singles through to left. And after he gets ahead of Saitou, he plunks him!
And the manager goes to change pitchers. But he doesn't call for ace Iha! Instead he calls upon righty #15 Shimane to come in!
And he strikes out Mizoguchi on 3 straight!
And then after a prolonged at bat against Naitou, he strikes him out as well! Where did this guy come from?!!!
Top 5th
Ace Tamura now takes the mound. Tadano moves to 1st, and Yuuji moves to left.
He retires the Urasoe batters in order. A nice way to start for Tamura.
Bottom 5th
One down, Yamazaki and Yuuji with back to back grounders to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Tamura!
Ah! He hits a weak grounder to 3rd! Nakama up with it! Tags 3rd for one, throw to 1st in plenty of time to get Tamura! What a waste!
As we head to the break, Urasoe has the 2-1 lead, and they haven't even used their ace yet!
Top 6th
Iha begins the inning with a grounder to short, Saitou though can't pick up the ball and Iha's safe at 1st!
But Tamura doesn't let it bother him. After a sac bunt, he goes after Miyahira striking him out, and getting Kazuma to ground to short.
Bottom 6th
Shimane yields only a 2-out single to Saitou. That's 2.2 innings of 3-hit ball this unknown pitcher has thrown! And he didn't even pitch in the prefectural qualifiers!
Top 7th
Tamura retires the side in order. But important to note that #14 Nakazato pinch-hit for Shimane. That probably means one thing... that Iha will be taking the mound in the bottom half of the frame.
Bottom 7th
And he does. Iha takes over on the mound, presumably to get the 9 out save! Nakazato takes over in center, and Kanna moves to right.
Naitou starts the inning, and Iha strikes him out! But it's a wild pitch! It drops right under Yamashiro, but he doesn't notice it! Naitou dashes for 1st! Yamashiro sees it, scrambles to pick it up! Throw to 1st, he airmailed it! Naitou safe at first on Yamashiro's error!
Keio's playing for the tie. They bunt Naitou over to 2nd.
Yamazaki with the liner down the line! Kazuma dives, but he's too late!!! That's down to the wall! Naitou rounds 3rd, he scores! Yamazaki with the game-tying double!!! 2-2!!!!
Yuuji with the hard grounder to 3rd! Nakama comes up with it, looks Yamazaki back to 2nd and throws Yuuji out at 1st! 2 down. Can Tamura help his own cause?
He jumps ahead 3-1 as the oen-dan plays Dash Keio...
Grounder to the right side! Ball takes a slightly higher hop and gets by Niita!!! Yamazaki rounding 3rd, he's going home! Kanna up with the throw. Yamashiro with it, but Yamazaki is already home! Keio leads 3-2!!
Tadano looking to extend the lead. Iha comes back and strikes him out! But Keio with some timely hitting in the 7th and they now lead 3-2!!
Top 8th
There's a delay going into the 8th. Apparently, Tamura is having his leg or foot looked at. The umpire seems to be on the phone, but what's happened to Tamura?
And now the medical staff has come to the dugout. And there's something mentioned about taping. Possibly taping/bandaging his leg?
Now Tadano starts warming up? Is it that serious that Tamura has to exit the game?!
Meanwhile, Urasoe's players huddle around their manager.
And after an extended delay, Tamura emerges from the dugout. The question now is, if it's a problem with his foot/leg, how will it affect his pitching??
He'll be tested here as the top of the order is up for Urasoe...
The report come down of a taping of one of his left toes....
And he walks Kanna. Toshiki moves him over to 2nd. Urasoe playing for the tie.
Iha with the bloop hit to left! Kanna has to stop at 3rd! Runners at the corners with 1 down for Yamashiro!
And he hits a fly to center! Mizoguchi with the catch, but Kanna comes in to tie the game! 3-3!!
Tamura defends his life as he catches a sharp comebacker by Miyahira at head level!
Bottom 8th
Now, what can Keio do now?
With 2 down, Mizoguchi gets his first hit to right. Then Iha falls behind Naitou 3-1 and walks him! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Fukutomi!
He swings on the first pitch! It's a grounder to 3rd that Nakama easily fields and throws to 1st to end the inning.
Top 9th
So now it's Urasoe's turn to see if they can break the tie...
But Tamura quickly retires them in order. The ball goes back into Keio's court. Can they put it away in regulation?
Bottom 9th
Keio has the heart of their lineup due in the 9th.
With one out, Yuuji hits a liner to center. What will Tamura do?
He's swinging away! Ball down the left field line! Miyahira running into foul territory, dives! Foul! And he collides with the wall! He's a bit stunned, but he returns to left.
He reaches out and pokes one to center! That's in for a base hit! Runners at 1st and 2nd with one down for Tadano! But Tadano today is 0-4 with 2 K's. Can he get his first hit when it really counts????
Tadano gets ahead 2-0! High chopper! Niita fields it! Iha scrambles to 1st! Throw and tag in time! 2 down!
Down to Suzuki Yousuke. Grounder to short! Toshiki with it, throw to first. Side retired! Enhchousen! Iha gets out of another jam and we're headed to extras! Keio unable to bring the winning run home with the runner on 2nd and 1 down!
Top 10th
Nakazato takes a ball away to the right center field gap! It's past the drawn in outfield and all the way to the wall! Naitou furiously runs back as Nakazato runs the bases!
And he's in with a triple!
No squeeze from Kanna! Comebacker! Tamura sticks out his glove! It's off his glove! Yamazaki backing up gets the ball, fires to first.. in time!
And Nakazato didn't come home! He was frozen on the liner as Tamura almost caught it!
One bullet dodged. But Toshiki is up and now they're looking for the squeeze!
He puts it down! Fukutomi charges in, but has no play at home! Throw to first, low! Toshiki is safe at first and Nakazato scores to put Urasoe ahead 4-3!!
Iha bunts Toshiki over, and the battery decides to intentionally walk cleanup batter Yamashiro to get to Miyahira.
And the gamble pays off as Miyahira grounds back to Tamura. But now Keio is down to their final 3 outs.
Bottom 10th
#15 Fukuhara comes in to pinch-hit. And I think he's got to be the biggest player I've seen.
But he hits a grounder to the right side and past a diving Niita for a single!
#16 Arakawa pinch-runs for Fukuhara. Mizoguchi bunts him along.
Naitou with the first chance to drive him in. But it's a grounder to 3rd! Arakawa can't advance as Nakama throws Naitou out!
Up to Fukutomi. He's 0-3 today. Can he get his first hit? Falls behind 0-2. Hold off on an outside pitch. 1-2.
AH! He pops it up at home! Yamashiro under it, waiting, waiting...
And he has it! Urasoe Shogyo holds on to advance, defeating a tough Keio squad, 4-3 in 10 innings!
Seriously though, this game should be interesting. Urasoe has shown that it can play all types of games. They had a scorefest against Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku completely battering ace Saitou. They also played a defensive game against Kanto Daiichi winning 3-1.
Keio has depended on its pitching tandem of Tamura and Tadano, yielding only 4 runs in the 3 games they've played so far.
This has the looks of a low-scoring game. But both teams are sending their secondary pitchers to the hill! Probably as a response for them starting in their games yesterday.
So, the real key may be who can get to the secondary pitchers first before the aces come into the game!
This one is a tossup I think. It's especially hard to tell given the pitching situation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Urasoe Shogyo (Okinawa)
CF Kanna (9)
SS Ueji Toshiki (6)
RF Iha (1)
C Yamashiro (2)
LF Miyahira (7)
1B Touyama Kazuma (18)
3B Nakama (5)
2B Niita (12)
P Ueji Tokima (11)
Keio (Kita Kanagawa)
RF Naitou (9)
3B Fukutomi (5)
2B Yamazaki (4)
1B Suzuki Yuuji (7)
LF Akada (17)
P Tadano (3)
C Suzuki Yousuke (2)
SS Saitou (6)
CF Mizoguchi (8)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1:52 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Kanna leads off the game with a single to right, moved over to 2nd. And then moved over to
3rd when Iha grounds to 1st.
Cleanup batter Yamashiro up. He hits a pop up to center! Mizoguchi and Yamazaki converge, Mizoguchi reaches out his glove to his left at the last minute, and the ball drops! Mizoguchi misplays the ball and Kanna comes in to score! 1-0 Urasoe!
Bottom 1st
Ueji Tokima looks shaky to start. He walks Naitou on 4 straight to start. After a sac bunt by Fukutomi, Tokima strikes out Yamazaki after he works the count full.
But then Tokima walks Yuuji on 4 straight and now there's runners at 1st and 2nd!
Akada though cannot get the timely hit and hits a soft liner to 2nd.
Top 2nd
Tadano labors somewhat, but he manages a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 2nd
Um... Tokima trying out an eephus pitch?! Then plunking Saitou...
But he retires the side otherwise. He's ok for a relief pitcher.
Top 3rd
Tokima singles back up the middle to start the 3rd. Kanna tries to bunt him along, but instead pops it straight up to Yousuke who then throws to 1st to double off Tokima.
And Tadano strikes out Toshiki on 3 straight to retire the side!
Bottom 3rd
Yamazaki gets the first base hit for Keio with a single between Kazuma and Niita!
Then Yuuji drives a ball away to right center! That's in the gap and to the wall! Yamazaki heads for 3rd, and heads home! Throw in not in time and Keio has tied the game up 1-1!!
Top 4th
With one down, Tadano walks Yamashiro. Then Miyahira singles up the middle! Runners at the corners for Kazuma!
Chopper up the middle! Saitou dashes to field it. Touches 2nd for one, throw to 1st... safe! Yuuji was scrambling back to the bag, he wasn't in contact with it when he caught the ball! Yamashiro scores! 2-1 Urasoe!!
Nakama with a liner back up the middle! It looks like Tadano's starting to break down!
Nitta then grounds to 2nd. But Urasoe has retaken the lead!
Bottom 4th
With one down, Yousuke singles through to left. And after he gets ahead of Saitou, he plunks him!
And the manager goes to change pitchers. But he doesn't call for ace Iha! Instead he calls upon righty #15 Shimane to come in!
And he strikes out Mizoguchi on 3 straight!
And then after a prolonged at bat against Naitou, he strikes him out as well! Where did this guy come from?!!!
Top 5th
Ace Tamura now takes the mound. Tadano moves to 1st, and Yuuji moves to left.
He retires the Urasoe batters in order. A nice way to start for Tamura.
Bottom 5th
One down, Yamazaki and Yuuji with back to back grounders to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Tamura!
Ah! He hits a weak grounder to 3rd! Nakama up with it! Tags 3rd for one, throw to 1st in plenty of time to get Tamura! What a waste!
As we head to the break, Urasoe has the 2-1 lead, and they haven't even used their ace yet!
Top 6th
Iha begins the inning with a grounder to short, Saitou though can't pick up the ball and Iha's safe at 1st!
But Tamura doesn't let it bother him. After a sac bunt, he goes after Miyahira striking him out, and getting Kazuma to ground to short.
Bottom 6th
Shimane yields only a 2-out single to Saitou. That's 2.2 innings of 3-hit ball this unknown pitcher has thrown! And he didn't even pitch in the prefectural qualifiers!
Top 7th
Tamura retires the side in order. But important to note that #14 Nakazato pinch-hit for Shimane. That probably means one thing... that Iha will be taking the mound in the bottom half of the frame.
Bottom 7th
And he does. Iha takes over on the mound, presumably to get the 9 out save! Nakazato takes over in center, and Kanna moves to right.
Naitou starts the inning, and Iha strikes him out! But it's a wild pitch! It drops right under Yamashiro, but he doesn't notice it! Naitou dashes for 1st! Yamashiro sees it, scrambles to pick it up! Throw to 1st, he airmailed it! Naitou safe at first on Yamashiro's error!
Keio's playing for the tie. They bunt Naitou over to 2nd.
Yamazaki with the liner down the line! Kazuma dives, but he's too late!!! That's down to the wall! Naitou rounds 3rd, he scores! Yamazaki with the game-tying double!!! 2-2!!!!
Yuuji with the hard grounder to 3rd! Nakama comes up with it, looks Yamazaki back to 2nd and throws Yuuji out at 1st! 2 down. Can Tamura help his own cause?
He jumps ahead 3-1 as the oen-dan plays Dash Keio...
Grounder to the right side! Ball takes a slightly higher hop and gets by Niita!!! Yamazaki rounding 3rd, he's going home! Kanna up with the throw. Yamashiro with it, but Yamazaki is already home! Keio leads 3-2!!
Tadano looking to extend the lead. Iha comes back and strikes him out! But Keio with some timely hitting in the 7th and they now lead 3-2!!
Top 8th
There's a delay going into the 8th. Apparently, Tamura is having his leg or foot looked at. The umpire seems to be on the phone, but what's happened to Tamura?
And now the medical staff has come to the dugout. And there's something mentioned about taping. Possibly taping/bandaging his leg?
Now Tadano starts warming up? Is it that serious that Tamura has to exit the game?!
Meanwhile, Urasoe's players huddle around their manager.
And after an extended delay, Tamura emerges from the dugout. The question now is, if it's a problem with his foot/leg, how will it affect his pitching??
He'll be tested here as the top of the order is up for Urasoe...
The report come down of a taping of one of his left toes....
And he walks Kanna. Toshiki moves him over to 2nd. Urasoe playing for the tie.
Iha with the bloop hit to left! Kanna has to stop at 3rd! Runners at the corners with 1 down for Yamashiro!
And he hits a fly to center! Mizoguchi with the catch, but Kanna comes in to tie the game! 3-3!!
Tamura defends his life as he catches a sharp comebacker by Miyahira at head level!
Bottom 8th
Now, what can Keio do now?
With 2 down, Mizoguchi gets his first hit to right. Then Iha falls behind Naitou 3-1 and walks him! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Fukutomi!
He swings on the first pitch! It's a grounder to 3rd that Nakama easily fields and throws to 1st to end the inning.
Top 9th
So now it's Urasoe's turn to see if they can break the tie...
But Tamura quickly retires them in order. The ball goes back into Keio's court. Can they put it away in regulation?
Bottom 9th
Keio has the heart of their lineup due in the 9th.
With one out, Yuuji hits a liner to center. What will Tamura do?
He's swinging away! Ball down the left field line! Miyahira running into foul territory, dives! Foul! And he collides with the wall! He's a bit stunned, but he returns to left.
He reaches out and pokes one to center! That's in for a base hit! Runners at 1st and 2nd with one down for Tadano! But Tadano today is 0-4 with 2 K's. Can he get his first hit when it really counts????
Tadano gets ahead 2-0! High chopper! Niita fields it! Iha scrambles to 1st! Throw and tag in time! 2 down!
Down to Suzuki Yousuke. Grounder to short! Toshiki with it, throw to first. Side retired! Enhchousen! Iha gets out of another jam and we're headed to extras! Keio unable to bring the winning run home with the runner on 2nd and 1 down!
Top 10th
Nakazato takes a ball away to the right center field gap! It's past the drawn in outfield and all the way to the wall! Naitou furiously runs back as Nakazato runs the bases!
And he's in with a triple!
No squeeze from Kanna! Comebacker! Tamura sticks out his glove! It's off his glove! Yamazaki backing up gets the ball, fires to first.. in time!
And Nakazato didn't come home! He was frozen on the liner as Tamura almost caught it!
One bullet dodged. But Toshiki is up and now they're looking for the squeeze!
He puts it down! Fukutomi charges in, but has no play at home! Throw to first, low! Toshiki is safe at first and Nakazato scores to put Urasoe ahead 4-3!!
Iha bunts Toshiki over, and the battery decides to intentionally walk cleanup batter Yamashiro to get to Miyahira.
And the gamble pays off as Miyahira grounds back to Tamura. But now Keio is down to their final 3 outs.
Bottom 10th
#15 Fukuhara comes in to pinch-hit. And I think he's got to be the biggest player I've seen.
But he hits a grounder to the right side and past a diving Niita for a single!
#16 Arakawa pinch-runs for Fukuhara. Mizoguchi bunts him along.
Naitou with the first chance to drive him in. But it's a grounder to 3rd! Arakawa can't advance as Nakama throws Naitou out!
Up to Fukutomi. He's 0-3 today. Can he get his first hit? Falls behind 0-2. Hold off on an outside pitch. 1-2.
AH! He pops it up at home! Yamashiro under it, waiting, waiting...
And he has it! Urasoe Shogyo holds on to advance, defeating a tough Keio squad, 4-3 in 10 innings!
Day 14 - Best 8 - Game 1 - Hotoku Gakuen (Higashi Hyogo) vs. Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
We're now in the home stretch here at Koshien. The tournament from here on out will accelerate towards the dramatic conclusion on Monday.
The first game is an all Kinki affair with Hotoku Gakuen and Osaka Toin facing off.
This game will be a tale of two games. The first half will be dependent on Chikada's pitching. If he can't locate his pitches, it could be lights out for Hotoku.
The second game will come in the late innings. It's common knowledge now that Yuuto fades in the late innings, and Okumura may not be a servicable reliever. If Hotoku can rack up the pitch count, it's possible that they can score runs, and even rally from a deficit.
Ah yes. There is one more additional factor. Hotoku played 2 days ago, Osaka Toin played yesterday. And Osaka's game yesterday probably took a bit more out of ace Yuuto.
I think the slight advantage goes to. While Hotoku Gakuen certainly has rally potential which could be sooner in the game than what we've seen in the past, I wonder about the innings Chikada has to survive until then.
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Hotoku Gakuen (Higashi Hyogo)
2B Imura (4) - 1-14, 3B, R, 2K
3B Saigou (5) - 2-11 , 3R, K, 4 BB
C Itoi (2) - 3-11, 2B, 2 3B, 3 R, 2 K, BB
CF Inoue (8) - 6-12, 2B, HR, 2 R, 6 RBI, 2 K, BB
P Chikada (1) - 4-9, 2 R, K, 4 BB
1B Ujiie (3) - 7-15 2B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2K
LF Nakamura (7) - 3-11 2B, R, 2 RBI, K
RF Nakagawa (13) - 1-7, RBI, 2 K, 2 BB
SS Momiyama (15) - 2-7, 2B, RBI, K, BB
P Chikada - 27 IP, 10 R, 10 ER, 24 H, 25 K, 11 BB
Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
3B Sano (5)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Nakatani (12)
CF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto (1)
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11:00 AM
First pitch! The wind is blowing, but not as strongly as is usually is.
Top 1st
Yuuto with his good form early as always, retires the side in order.
Bottom 1st
Chikada with the 2 out walk to Morikawa, but Hagihara hits a towering fly ball to right to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Inoue leads off the inning with a liner to center! Chikada swings away, but he does just as good as a bunt grounding out to 2nd.
Yuuto looking to shut Hotoku's opportunity, strikes our Ujiie.
But on the first pitch, Nakamura takes the ball to deep right! Okumura goes to the wall, but has to play the carem! Inoue comes in to score! Hotoku takes the first shot leading 1-0!
Bottom 2nd
Okumra with a drive to left! Nakamura running back to the wall! まさか！
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okumura with one swing of the bat ties the game up with a leadoff homerun to left! 1-1!!!
Then with 2 down, Chikada walks Kouhei on 4 straight! But his defense bails him out with a nicely executed 6-4-3 DP.
Chikada's control is still shaky here in the opening frames. He has to minimize it if he wants to keep Hotoku in the game.
Top 3rd
Imura with the one-out single. But that is wiped out as Saigou immediately grounds into the 6-4-3 DP.
Bottom 3rd
Yuuto proves to be a pain against Chikada battling deep into the count and fouling off pitches, but on the 11th pitch Chikada wins getting Yuuto to fly out to 3rd. After that, it's a breeze to a 1-2-3 inning.
Top 4th
Itoi leads off the inning with a walk, and is bunted over.
And Chikada crushes a ball to center! Kouhei runs back to the wall! That's off the wall! Itoi comes around to score! Chikada running to 3rd, throw comes in. SAFE! Hotoku Gakuen takes the lead on Chikada's timely triple! 2-1!
Runner on 3rd, one down for Ujiie!
SQUEEZE! Ujiie tries to put down the squeeze, but the pitch is down and away and he can't get it! Chikada scurries back to the bag. It's 0-2 and now and he has to swing away. Sanshin! Yuuto with the strikeout!
2 down for Nakamura. Yuuto gets ahead 1-2 and strikes him out! He's out of the pinch, but Hotoku has the lead!
Bottom 4th
Hagihara with the one-out single to right to start it off.
Wild pitch to Okumura! Hagihara advances to 2nd! Then Okumura with the liner, but Imura secures it! 2 down!
Nakatani with the liner to left! Nakagawa coming in on the dying liner! Dives! Doesn't have it! Hagihara coming home! Nakagawa with the throw to Imura! Imura coming home! Itoi with the ball...
OUT! A great relay combined with a great block of home by Itoi guns Hagihara down!
Top 5th
Momiyama with the one-out single up the middle. Imura bunts him along for Saigou.
AH! Saigou with a blast to right! Okumura running back to wall, looks up.
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saigou with the 2 run homerun to right!! Amazing! Hotoku has now taken the 4-1 lead!!!!! Perhaps yesterday's game took a lot more out of Yuuto than I thought!
Bottom 5th
Kouhei opens the 5th with a single up the middle.
Then with the count 1-2 to Ariyama, the game takes a break at noon as the stadium observes the surrender of Japan to the allied forces.
Coming out of the observance, Ariyama puts down the sac bunt moving Kouhei to 2nd.
Yuuto then takes the next pitch and drives that into the gap in right center! That's a one-hopper off the wall! Kouhei scores as Yuuto comes through with the double!
Asamura falls behind 1-2, then hits a liner to center!! Runners at the corners for Sano!
Conference on the mound for Hotoku. They can't waste the lead they just obtained.
And Sano pops up on the first pitch! Imura camps under it in foul territory to make the catch!
Morikawa does the same! He flies out to left and the inning is over! Osaka Toin has gotten 1 run back, but wasted a great opportunity to really close the gap!
Top 6th
Okumura comes in to relieve Yuuto on the mound. This is really early, and could mean trouble for Osaka Toin.
And he leads it off by yielding a single to Inoue, who's then bunted over. Then he walks Ujiie! Okumura in a pinch!
Nakamura up. Okumura gets ahead 1-2. Nakamura with the liner! But it's right at Nakatani! 2 down!
And Nakagawa grounds to 2nd! End of inning!
Bottom 6th
Hagihara with his 2nd hit of the day leads off the 6th! Okumura looking to bunt.
He pulls it back! Liner! Saigou dives, but it's past him and into left! Okumura in with a double! Runners at 2nd and 3rd with no out!
AH!! Wild pitch! Itoi can't handle the inside pitch and Hagihara scores! They've narrowed the margin to 1, 4-3 Hotoku!
Nakatani with the sharp grounder to 3rd! Saigou with it! Okumura scrambles back to 3rd as Saigou makes the putout at 1st. One down.
But Chikada gives up a walk to Kouhei! Runners at the corners!
Ariyama delivers! He grounds one to left field and Okumura scores! Tie game! 4-4!!!
Another wild pitch! Ball in the dirt that Itoi has no chance of fielding it! Runners advance to scoring position!
Chikada comes back and strikes out Yuuto! Two down!
But then Chikada walks Asamura on 4 straight! Manrui!!
Sano with the high chopper! Imura charging, has to wait. Fields it! Throw to 1st! Sano dives!
SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sano in safe at 1st! Kouhei scores! Osaka Toin has come back with 3 runs and leads 5-4!!!!! And still manrui for Morikawa!
He falls behind 0-2 and hits a grounder to short. But now what will Hotoku do?
Top 7th
Momiyama looks to strike right back as he hits a comebacker up the middle and into center!
Now one out and runner on 2nd for Saigou! And he walks him!
Conference on the mound. Okumura needs to hold onto this lead, but it's going to be tough.
Okumura gets ahead of Itoi 0-2, but Itoi evens the count. Pop up! Sano in foul territory with the catch! 2 down! But Inoue steps up, already 2-3 on the day...
And Okamura gets ahead of him 0-2! POP UP! Ariyama goes to the fence, and can't field the ball! 2nd chance for Itoi!!
SANSHIN!!!!!! Inoue whiffs at Okumura's outside fastball and Osaka Toin is out of the jam!
Bottom 7th
Hagihara with a blast to right! Nakagawa running back to the fence!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cleanup batter Hagihara extends Osaka Toin's lead to 2 with a blast to right!!! 6-4!
One down now. Nakatani singles back up the middle! Kouhei follows that up with a bloop to left center! Runners at 1st and 2nd!
#8 Shimizu comes in to pinch run for Nakatani at 2nd.
Ariyama with a drive to right! Nakagawa backpedaling! Reaches up and makes the catch! That was close! Shimizu advances to 3rd! 2 down!
Yuuto grounds to 2nd and that's the inning. But Osaka's added another run!
Top 8th
Shimizu stays in to play center. Yuuto and Okuyama switch back to their beginning positions.
Two down for Hotoku, and Nakamura singles to right! #9 Nagahama comes in to pinch-hit hoping to spark something. But alas, he pops up to 1st.
Bottom 8th
Sano with his 2nd hit, as he hits one to the left field wall for a double.
Morikawa now with a grounder into left! Runners at the corners for Hagihara!
Pop up to left! Nakamura and Momiyama close in on it, but it drops in! Sano walks home and Osaka Toin leads 7-4!!
Tha'll be it for Chikada as #12 Onodera comes in to pitch. Chikada moves to 1st replacing Ujiie.
Onodera goes on to strike out Okumura, but Osaka Toin has added another insurance run.
Top 9th
Saigou tries to fight on with a 2 out double to left, but Itoi grounds to 2nd to end the game.
So! Osaka Toin advances one step further to the championship! For Hotoku Gakuen, they could not hold off the powerful Osaka offense who wore Chikada down until they were finally able to break through.
The first game is an all Kinki affair with Hotoku Gakuen and Osaka Toin facing off.
This game will be a tale of two games. The first half will be dependent on Chikada's pitching. If he can't locate his pitches, it could be lights out for Hotoku.
The second game will come in the late innings. It's common knowledge now that Yuuto fades in the late innings, and Okumura may not be a servicable reliever. If Hotoku can rack up the pitch count, it's possible that they can score runs, and even rally from a deficit.
Ah yes. There is one more additional factor. Hotoku played 2 days ago, Osaka Toin played yesterday. And Osaka's game yesterday probably took a bit more out of ace Yuuto.
I think the slight advantage goes to. While Hotoku Gakuen certainly has rally potential which could be sooner in the game than what we've seen in the past, I wonder about the innings Chikada has to survive until then.
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Hotoku Gakuen (Higashi Hyogo)
2B Imura (4) - 1-14, 3B, R, 2K
3B Saigou (5) - 2-11 , 3R, K, 4 BB
C Itoi (2) - 3-11, 2B, 2 3B, 3 R, 2 K, BB
CF Inoue (8) - 6-12, 2B, HR, 2 R, 6 RBI, 2 K, BB
P Chikada (1) - 4-9, 2 R, K, 4 BB
1B Ujiie (3) - 7-15 2B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2K
LF Nakamura (7) - 3-11 2B, R, 2 RBI, K
RF Nakagawa (13) - 1-7, RBI, 2 K, 2 BB
SS Momiyama (15) - 2-7, 2B, RBI, K, BB
P Chikada - 27 IP, 10 R, 10 ER, 24 H, 25 K, 11 BB
Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
3B Sano (5)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Nakatani (12)
CF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto (1)
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11:00 AM
First pitch! The wind is blowing, but not as strongly as is usually is.
Top 1st
Yuuto with his good form early as always, retires the side in order.
Bottom 1st
Chikada with the 2 out walk to Morikawa, but Hagihara hits a towering fly ball to right to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Inoue leads off the inning with a liner to center! Chikada swings away, but he does just as good as a bunt grounding out to 2nd.
Yuuto looking to shut Hotoku's opportunity, strikes our Ujiie.
But on the first pitch, Nakamura takes the ball to deep right! Okumura goes to the wall, but has to play the carem! Inoue comes in to score! Hotoku takes the first shot leading 1-0!
Bottom 2nd
Okumra with a drive to left! Nakamura running back to the wall! まさか！
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okumura with one swing of the bat ties the game up with a leadoff homerun to left! 1-1!!!
Then with 2 down, Chikada walks Kouhei on 4 straight! But his defense bails him out with a nicely executed 6-4-3 DP.
Chikada's control is still shaky here in the opening frames. He has to minimize it if he wants to keep Hotoku in the game.
Top 3rd
Imura with the one-out single. But that is wiped out as Saigou immediately grounds into the 6-4-3 DP.
Bottom 3rd
Yuuto proves to be a pain against Chikada battling deep into the count and fouling off pitches, but on the 11th pitch Chikada wins getting Yuuto to fly out to 3rd. After that, it's a breeze to a 1-2-3 inning.
Top 4th
Itoi leads off the inning with a walk, and is bunted over.
And Chikada crushes a ball to center! Kouhei runs back to the wall! That's off the wall! Itoi comes around to score! Chikada running to 3rd, throw comes in. SAFE! Hotoku Gakuen takes the lead on Chikada's timely triple! 2-1!
Runner on 3rd, one down for Ujiie!
SQUEEZE! Ujiie tries to put down the squeeze, but the pitch is down and away and he can't get it! Chikada scurries back to the bag. It's 0-2 and now and he has to swing away. Sanshin! Yuuto with the strikeout!
2 down for Nakamura. Yuuto gets ahead 1-2 and strikes him out! He's out of the pinch, but Hotoku has the lead!
Bottom 4th
Hagihara with the one-out single to right to start it off.
Wild pitch to Okumura! Hagihara advances to 2nd! Then Okumura with the liner, but Imura secures it! 2 down!
Nakatani with the liner to left! Nakagawa coming in on the dying liner! Dives! Doesn't have it! Hagihara coming home! Nakagawa with the throw to Imura! Imura coming home! Itoi with the ball...
OUT! A great relay combined with a great block of home by Itoi guns Hagihara down!
Top 5th
Momiyama with the one-out single up the middle. Imura bunts him along for Saigou.
AH! Saigou with a blast to right! Okumura running back to wall, looks up.
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saigou with the 2 run homerun to right!! Amazing! Hotoku has now taken the 4-1 lead!!!!! Perhaps yesterday's game took a lot more out of Yuuto than I thought!
Bottom 5th
Kouhei opens the 5th with a single up the middle.
Then with the count 1-2 to Ariyama, the game takes a break at noon as the stadium observes the surrender of Japan to the allied forces.
Coming out of the observance, Ariyama puts down the sac bunt moving Kouhei to 2nd.
Yuuto then takes the next pitch and drives that into the gap in right center! That's a one-hopper off the wall! Kouhei scores as Yuuto comes through with the double!
Asamura falls behind 1-2, then hits a liner to center!! Runners at the corners for Sano!
Conference on the mound for Hotoku. They can't waste the lead they just obtained.
And Sano pops up on the first pitch! Imura camps under it in foul territory to make the catch!
Morikawa does the same! He flies out to left and the inning is over! Osaka Toin has gotten 1 run back, but wasted a great opportunity to really close the gap!
Top 6th
Okumura comes in to relieve Yuuto on the mound. This is really early, and could mean trouble for Osaka Toin.
And he leads it off by yielding a single to Inoue, who's then bunted over. Then he walks Ujiie! Okumura in a pinch!
Nakamura up. Okumura gets ahead 1-2. Nakamura with the liner! But it's right at Nakatani! 2 down!
And Nakagawa grounds to 2nd! End of inning!
Bottom 6th
Hagihara with his 2nd hit of the day leads off the 6th! Okumura looking to bunt.
He pulls it back! Liner! Saigou dives, but it's past him and into left! Okumura in with a double! Runners at 2nd and 3rd with no out!
AH!! Wild pitch! Itoi can't handle the inside pitch and Hagihara scores! They've narrowed the margin to 1, 4-3 Hotoku!
Nakatani with the sharp grounder to 3rd! Saigou with it! Okumura scrambles back to 3rd as Saigou makes the putout at 1st. One down.
But Chikada gives up a walk to Kouhei! Runners at the corners!
Ariyama delivers! He grounds one to left field and Okumura scores! Tie game! 4-4!!!
Another wild pitch! Ball in the dirt that Itoi has no chance of fielding it! Runners advance to scoring position!
Chikada comes back and strikes out Yuuto! Two down!
But then Chikada walks Asamura on 4 straight! Manrui!!
Sano with the high chopper! Imura charging, has to wait. Fields it! Throw to 1st! Sano dives!
SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sano in safe at 1st! Kouhei scores! Osaka Toin has come back with 3 runs and leads 5-4!!!!! And still manrui for Morikawa!
He falls behind 0-2 and hits a grounder to short. But now what will Hotoku do?
Top 7th
Momiyama looks to strike right back as he hits a comebacker up the middle and into center!
Now one out and runner on 2nd for Saigou! And he walks him!
Conference on the mound. Okumura needs to hold onto this lead, but it's going to be tough.
Okumura gets ahead of Itoi 0-2, but Itoi evens the count. Pop up! Sano in foul territory with the catch! 2 down! But Inoue steps up, already 2-3 on the day...
And Okamura gets ahead of him 0-2! POP UP! Ariyama goes to the fence, and can't field the ball! 2nd chance for Itoi!!
SANSHIN!!!!!! Inoue whiffs at Okumura's outside fastball and Osaka Toin is out of the jam!
Bottom 7th
Hagihara with a blast to right! Nakagawa running back to the fence!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cleanup batter Hagihara extends Osaka Toin's lead to 2 with a blast to right!!! 6-4!
One down now. Nakatani singles back up the middle! Kouhei follows that up with a bloop to left center! Runners at 1st and 2nd!
#8 Shimizu comes in to pinch run for Nakatani at 2nd.
Ariyama with a drive to right! Nakagawa backpedaling! Reaches up and makes the catch! That was close! Shimizu advances to 3rd! 2 down!
Yuuto grounds to 2nd and that's the inning. But Osaka's added another run!
Top 8th
Shimizu stays in to play center. Yuuto and Okuyama switch back to their beginning positions.
Two down for Hotoku, and Nakamura singles to right! #9 Nagahama comes in to pinch-hit hoping to spark something. But alas, he pops up to 1st.
Bottom 8th
Sano with his 2nd hit, as he hits one to the left field wall for a double.
Morikawa now with a grounder into left! Runners at the corners for Hagihara!
Pop up to left! Nakamura and Momiyama close in on it, but it drops in! Sano walks home and Osaka Toin leads 7-4!!
Tha'll be it for Chikada as #12 Onodera comes in to pitch. Chikada moves to 1st replacing Ujiie.
Onodera goes on to strike out Okumura, but Osaka Toin has added another insurance run.
Top 9th
Saigou tries to fight on with a 2 out double to left, but Itoi grounds to 2nd to end the game.
So! Osaka Toin advances one step further to the championship! For Hotoku Gakuen, they could not hold off the powerful Osaka offense who wore Chikada down until they were finally able to break through.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Best 8 Matchups
The drawing of lots for the Best 8 teams have taken place, and here are your matchups!
Day 14
Day 14
- Game 1 - Houtoku Gakuen (Higashi Hyogo) vs. Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
- Game 2 - Urasoe Shogaku (Okinawa) vs. Keio (Kita Kanagawa)
- Game 1 - Chiben Wakayama vs. Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
- Game 2 - Seiko Gakuin (Fukushima) vs. Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa)
Day 13 - Game 4 - Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa) vs. Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
We have 7 of our Best 8 determined, and what a field it is - Urasoe Shogyo, Hotoku Gakuen, Osaka Toin, Chiben Wakayama, Tokoha Kikugawa, Keio, Seiko Gakuin. All that's left is to fill in that last entry.
Yokohama is looking for its 4th trip to the Best 8 this decade. Sendai Ikuei on the other hand, has not reached the best 8 in the Summer Koshien since 1994.
Now Yokohama certainly has not had an easy road to get here. They withstood a late charge by Urawa Gakuin in the first round to win 6-5, and had to wear down last year's runner-up Koryo scoring in 4 consecutive innings to win 7-5.
Sendai Ikuei had a bit of an easier time. They handily defeated Komono in the first round 4-1,
then scored early and often but still had to hold on against Fukui Shogyo 6-4.
I'm beginning to sound like a broken record and all, but the key will once again be pitching. Both aces have been prone to control issues. So it'll be up to the pitchers to get control of their repertoires early, or for the batters to be patient and raise the pitch counts early.
It'll be hard to determine a winner here based upon the prior games. Quite a few people would probably pick Yokohama, but I think Sendai Ikuei has a good chance in this game. And I'll go ahead and pick them. I think it would be nice to have Sendai Ikuei in the Best 8.
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Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa)
3B Kuramoto (5)
SS Ooishi (6)
2B Matsumoto (4)
1B Tsutsugo (3)
LF Iwama (7)
RF Ogawa Kenta (9)
P Tsuchiya (1)
C Oda (2)
CF Nakahara (8)
Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
CF Hashimoto (8)
SS Endou (6)
2B Ono (4)
1B Katou (3)
3B Suzuki (5)
RF Sasaki (9)
LF Ogawa (7)
C Tozawa (2)
P Hozumi (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4:33 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Hozumi off to a good start, retiring Yokohama in order.
Bottom 1st
Hashimoto with a single through to left! The ball is tossed in and Hashimoto breaks for 2nd! And he's in safely!
Sendai Ikuei has a big chance as Endou bunts Hashimoto over. Ono is very patient at the plate, and after going 2-2 holds up on 2 consecutive borderline pitches to earn a walk.
Katou up, and he hits a ball to fairly deep center. Nakahara is under it, but it's sufficiently deep enough for Hashimoto to come in. Sendai Ikuei up early 1-0!
Suzuki is equally stubborn as Ono, and after the count goes full flies out to center. Sendai has taken the early lead, but Tsuchiya has also thrown 19 pitches.
Top 2nd
Tsutsugo starts the inning for Yokohama with a single to center. He's bunted over by Iwama.
Kenta looking for the timely hit, but he grounds to short for the 2nd out. And then Tsuchiya, after getting ahead 3-1 flies to center.
Bottom 2nd
A pretty easy inning for Tsuchiya. Spotted his pitches well that time around.
Top 3rd
Oda stars the inning with a grounder back up the middle. Nakahara tries to put the bunt down, but Hozumi makes a fine defensive play to get Oda at 2nd.
Kuramoto up and he lines to short! Ono makes the grab, but then the ball bounces off his glove! He regains control of the ball and throws out Kuramoto at 1st. But Nakahara advances to 3rd!
And 1st-year player Ooishi singles to center! Nakahara walks home! Tie game 1-1!
#11 Kimura already starts to warm up in the bullpen as Hozumi pitches to Matsumoto.
Matsumoto with the single back up the middle! Runners at the corners for Tsutsugo! With the count 2-2, Matsumoto takes off for 2nd! But the battery was framing the pitching for the call so there's no throw!
Then Tsutsugo walks! Manrui for Iwama!
And the manager has called for 1st-year #11 Kimura to enter the game! In fact the entire battery has been replaced as #12 Takahashi comes in for Tozawa!
Kimura gets ahead of Iwama 0-2, but then Iwama evens the count. Kimura wins the battle though as he gets him to swing at a high fastball and fly out to center!
Bottom 3rd
Kimura has to turn around now and get to the plate. Tsuchiya returns the favor by getting Kimura to swing and miss on a high fastball.
In fact, Tsuchiya goes on to strike out the side. But he's thrown another 17 pitches this inning.
Top 4th
With one down, Kimura can't locate his curve and walks Tsuchiya.
Ah! Then his pickoff throw is wild and Tsuchiya advances to 2nd!
Kimura settles down after that though, and retires the next 2 batters.
Bottom 4th
The lights begin to turn on at Koshien...
Ono starts the inning off with a bloop single to center and moved along to center. Then Suzuki hits a high chopper! Matsumoto tries to field it, but catches it on the short hop! All safe! Runners at the corners for Sasaki!
He shoots one through the infield and into left! Ono scores and Sendai Ikuei has retaken the lead! 2-1!
Tsuchiya then falls behind Ogawa 3-1, but comes back to strike him out. 2 down for new C Takahashi. And he grounds to 3rd. They've taken the lead, but had an opportunity for more.
Top 5th
Matsumoto with another lengthy AB, works his way to a 2-out walk!
Ah! And he's immediately picked off by Kimura! All that work wasted!
Bottom 5th
After last inning, Sendai Ikuei bails out Tsuchiya by giving him a 4 pitch inning.
Heading into the break, the question will be how Kimura's stamina will last. There are some small signs of laboring already.
Top 6th
First pitch from the break plunks Tsutsugo. Iwama's looking to bunt, but Kimura isn't hitting the zone. Finally, he puts it down on the 3-1 count and moves Tsutsugo along.
Kimura falls behind Kenta as well 3-1, and walks him! His pace has slowed and his is missing his spots.
He manages though to strikeout Tsuchiya. And then goes back to falling behind Oda 3-1. But Oda pops it up down the right field line! Sasaki and Ono running over. Sasaki make a last minute lunge and catches the ball! 3 out!
You have to be concerned if you're Sendai Ikuei. Kimura is obviously laboring, but you don't really have another pitcher.
Bottom 6th
One down, Katou grounds one to right. Suzuki tries to put down the bunt, but gets Katou thrown out at 2nd instead.
Sasaki flies out, and it's another low pitch inning for Tsuchiya.
Top 7th
Nakahara after an extended AB, hits a single to right. Kuramoto advances him to 2nd.
Oooishi singles to left! Nakahara reaches 3rd, and only one down!
Matsumoto does his job when asked. He hit a fly to center, deep enough for Nakahara to score and tie the game! 2-2!!
Tsutsugo then singles to right! Runners at the corners!
Pinch for Kimura! But he strikes out Iwama to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
Takahashi starts the inning with a one-out liner to left. Kimura hits a comebacker that glances off Tsuchiya's glove, but right to Ooishi who throws to first. 2 down.
And then They intentionally walk Hashimoto to get to Endou.
The strategy pays off of Tsuchiya strikes out Endou to retire the side.
Top 8th
Kenta puts a charge into the ball, but flies to center to leadoff the inning. And while Kimura continues to labor, he retires the side.
Bottom 8th
With one down, Katou gets a base hit to left. Sendai Ikuei elects to bunt and Suzuku moves him along.
Now can Sasaki deliver the timely hit? He gets ahead of Tsuchiya 2-0.
No! He hits the soft liner to Matsumoto and the inning is over! As we head to the 9th, who will break through?
Top 9th
Nakahara hits a pop fly to short. Endou looks to camp under it, but in fact he's lost sight of it and it drops in for a base hit! This could be fatal for Sendai Ikuei!
Kuramoto does his job and bunts Nakahara to 2nd. Ooishi with the liner past a diving Endou! Ogawa up with the ball and Nakahara has to hold up! Runners at the corners for Matsumoto! A sac fly could be the game!
With the count 1-1, Ooishi takes 2nd! But Kimura gets ahead 1-2. Matsumoto stays alive with a foul ball.
AHHH!!!!! Wild pitch! Takahashi can't find it! Nakahara come in and scores! 3-2 Yokohama!
And Matsumoto walks! Runners at the corners again for Tsutsugo! Grounder to 1st! Katou goes home! They have Ooishi in a rundown and get him out.
#16 Ariizumi comes in to pinch run for Tsutsugo. But then Iwama walks! Manrui for Kenta!
Sharp grounder to short! Endou with the stop! Toss to 2nd and the inning is over!
But Endou's gaffe at the beginning of the inning proves to be costly as Yokohama pushes through the go-ahead run!
Bottom 9th
3 outs left for Sendai Ikuei, will their season end here?
Tsuchiya gets Endou to strike out. 1 down... Takahashi first pitch swinging, but he flies to right... 2 down.
Down to their last out, it's up to Kimura. Is there anything left? Falls behind 0-2. Fouls one off. Ball outside, 1-2.
SANSHIN!!!!
Kimura strikes out and Yokohama comes through with the win!
Sendai Ikuei battled hard throughout the entire game, but it just wasn't enough at the end to defeat the Yokohama squad - and sadly, their summer had ended one match short of the Best 8.
Yokohama is looking for its 4th trip to the Best 8 this decade. Sendai Ikuei on the other hand, has not reached the best 8 in the Summer Koshien since 1994.
Now Yokohama certainly has not had an easy road to get here. They withstood a late charge by Urawa Gakuin in the first round to win 6-5, and had to wear down last year's runner-up Koryo scoring in 4 consecutive innings to win 7-5.
Sendai Ikuei had a bit of an easier time. They handily defeated Komono in the first round 4-1,
then scored early and often but still had to hold on against Fukui Shogyo 6-4.
I'm beginning to sound like a broken record and all, but the key will once again be pitching. Both aces have been prone to control issues. So it'll be up to the pitchers to get control of their repertoires early, or for the batters to be patient and raise the pitch counts early.
It'll be hard to determine a winner here based upon the prior games. Quite a few people would probably pick Yokohama, but I think Sendai Ikuei has a good chance in this game. And I'll go ahead and pick them. I think it would be nice to have Sendai Ikuei in the Best 8.
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Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa)
3B Kuramoto (5)
SS Ooishi (6)
2B Matsumoto (4)
1B Tsutsugo (3)
LF Iwama (7)
RF Ogawa Kenta (9)
P Tsuchiya (1)
C Oda (2)
CF Nakahara (8)
Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
CF Hashimoto (8)
SS Endou (6)
2B Ono (4)
1B Katou (3)
3B Suzuki (5)
RF Sasaki (9)
LF Ogawa (7)
C Tozawa (2)
P Hozumi (1)
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4:33 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Hozumi off to a good start, retiring Yokohama in order.
Bottom 1st
Hashimoto with a single through to left! The ball is tossed in and Hashimoto breaks for 2nd! And he's in safely!
Sendai Ikuei has a big chance as Endou bunts Hashimoto over. Ono is very patient at the plate, and after going 2-2 holds up on 2 consecutive borderline pitches to earn a walk.
Katou up, and he hits a ball to fairly deep center. Nakahara is under it, but it's sufficiently deep enough for Hashimoto to come in. Sendai Ikuei up early 1-0!
Suzuki is equally stubborn as Ono, and after the count goes full flies out to center. Sendai has taken the early lead, but Tsuchiya has also thrown 19 pitches.
Top 2nd
Tsutsugo starts the inning for Yokohama with a single to center. He's bunted over by Iwama.
Kenta looking for the timely hit, but he grounds to short for the 2nd out. And then Tsuchiya, after getting ahead 3-1 flies to center.
Bottom 2nd
A pretty easy inning for Tsuchiya. Spotted his pitches well that time around.
Top 3rd
Oda stars the inning with a grounder back up the middle. Nakahara tries to put the bunt down, but Hozumi makes a fine defensive play to get Oda at 2nd.
Kuramoto up and he lines to short! Ono makes the grab, but then the ball bounces off his glove! He regains control of the ball and throws out Kuramoto at 1st. But Nakahara advances to 3rd!
And 1st-year player Ooishi singles to center! Nakahara walks home! Tie game 1-1!
#11 Kimura already starts to warm up in the bullpen as Hozumi pitches to Matsumoto.
Matsumoto with the single back up the middle! Runners at the corners for Tsutsugo! With the count 2-2, Matsumoto takes off for 2nd! But the battery was framing the pitching for the call so there's no throw!
Then Tsutsugo walks! Manrui for Iwama!
And the manager has called for 1st-year #11 Kimura to enter the game! In fact the entire battery has been replaced as #12 Takahashi comes in for Tozawa!
Kimura gets ahead of Iwama 0-2, but then Iwama evens the count. Kimura wins the battle though as he gets him to swing at a high fastball and fly out to center!
Bottom 3rd
Kimura has to turn around now and get to the plate. Tsuchiya returns the favor by getting Kimura to swing and miss on a high fastball.
In fact, Tsuchiya goes on to strike out the side. But he's thrown another 17 pitches this inning.
Top 4th
With one down, Kimura can't locate his curve and walks Tsuchiya.
Ah! Then his pickoff throw is wild and Tsuchiya advances to 2nd!
Kimura settles down after that though, and retires the next 2 batters.
Bottom 4th
The lights begin to turn on at Koshien...
Ono starts the inning off with a bloop single to center and moved along to center. Then Suzuki hits a high chopper! Matsumoto tries to field it, but catches it on the short hop! All safe! Runners at the corners for Sasaki!
He shoots one through the infield and into left! Ono scores and Sendai Ikuei has retaken the lead! 2-1!
Tsuchiya then falls behind Ogawa 3-1, but comes back to strike him out. 2 down for new C Takahashi. And he grounds to 3rd. They've taken the lead, but had an opportunity for more.
Top 5th
Matsumoto with another lengthy AB, works his way to a 2-out walk!
Ah! And he's immediately picked off by Kimura! All that work wasted!
Bottom 5th
After last inning, Sendai Ikuei bails out Tsuchiya by giving him a 4 pitch inning.
Heading into the break, the question will be how Kimura's stamina will last. There are some small signs of laboring already.
Top 6th
First pitch from the break plunks Tsutsugo. Iwama's looking to bunt, but Kimura isn't hitting the zone. Finally, he puts it down on the 3-1 count and moves Tsutsugo along.
Kimura falls behind Kenta as well 3-1, and walks him! His pace has slowed and his is missing his spots.
He manages though to strikeout Tsuchiya. And then goes back to falling behind Oda 3-1. But Oda pops it up down the right field line! Sasaki and Ono running over. Sasaki make a last minute lunge and catches the ball! 3 out!
You have to be concerned if you're Sendai Ikuei. Kimura is obviously laboring, but you don't really have another pitcher.
Bottom 6th
One down, Katou grounds one to right. Suzuki tries to put down the bunt, but gets Katou thrown out at 2nd instead.
Sasaki flies out, and it's another low pitch inning for Tsuchiya.
Top 7th
Nakahara after an extended AB, hits a single to right. Kuramoto advances him to 2nd.
Oooishi singles to left! Nakahara reaches 3rd, and only one down!
Matsumoto does his job when asked. He hit a fly to center, deep enough for Nakahara to score and tie the game! 2-2!!
Tsutsugo then singles to right! Runners at the corners!
Pinch for Kimura! But he strikes out Iwama to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
Takahashi starts the inning with a one-out liner to left. Kimura hits a comebacker that glances off Tsuchiya's glove, but right to Ooishi who throws to first. 2 down.
And then They intentionally walk Hashimoto to get to Endou.
The strategy pays off of Tsuchiya strikes out Endou to retire the side.
Top 8th
Kenta puts a charge into the ball, but flies to center to leadoff the inning. And while Kimura continues to labor, he retires the side.
Bottom 8th
With one down, Katou gets a base hit to left. Sendai Ikuei elects to bunt and Suzuku moves him along.
Now can Sasaki deliver the timely hit? He gets ahead of Tsuchiya 2-0.
No! He hits the soft liner to Matsumoto and the inning is over! As we head to the 9th, who will break through?
Top 9th
Nakahara hits a pop fly to short. Endou looks to camp under it, but in fact he's lost sight of it and it drops in for a base hit! This could be fatal for Sendai Ikuei!
Kuramoto does his job and bunts Nakahara to 2nd. Ooishi with the liner past a diving Endou! Ogawa up with the ball and Nakahara has to hold up! Runners at the corners for Matsumoto! A sac fly could be the game!
With the count 1-1, Ooishi takes 2nd! But Kimura gets ahead 1-2. Matsumoto stays alive with a foul ball.
AHHH!!!!! Wild pitch! Takahashi can't find it! Nakahara come in and scores! 3-2 Yokohama!
And Matsumoto walks! Runners at the corners again for Tsutsugo! Grounder to 1st! Katou goes home! They have Ooishi in a rundown and get him out.
#16 Ariizumi comes in to pinch run for Tsutsugo. But then Iwama walks! Manrui for Kenta!
Sharp grounder to short! Endou with the stop! Toss to 2nd and the inning is over!
But Endou's gaffe at the beginning of the inning proves to be costly as Yokohama pushes through the go-ahead run!
Bottom 9th
3 outs left for Sendai Ikuei, will their season end here?
Tsuchiya gets Endou to strike out. 1 down... Takahashi first pitch swinging, but he flies to right... 2 down.
Down to their last out, it's up to Kimura. Is there anything left? Falls behind 0-2. Fouls one off. Ball outside, 1-2.
SANSHIN!!!!
Kimura strikes out and Yokohama comes through with the win!
Sendai Ikuei battled hard throughout the entire game, but it just wasn't enough at the end to defeat the Yokohama squad - and sadly, their summer had ended one match short of the Best 8.
Day 13 - Game 3 - Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka) vs. Toho (Nishi Aichi)
Our matinée game features Osaka Toin and Toho. Osaka Toin looking for their 2nd Best 8 appearance in the past 5 years. For Toho, it would be their first since 1992.
Osaka Toin had an easy first round matchup against Hita-rin Kogyo 16-2, but had to rally from behind late against Kanazawa to win 6-5 in 10 innings.
For Toho, they were in a barn burner against Hokkai winning 15-10. Then against Seiho, they were trading runs back and forth, with Toho scoring the final run in the bottom of the 8th to win 5-4.
Key in this game is Fukushima Yuuto's pitching. Osaka Toin always has offense to spare. But they've never really had good pitching. As long as Yuuto is solid, Osaka Toin should advance.
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Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
3B Sano (5)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Nakatani (12)
CF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto (1)
Toho (Nishi Aichi)
C Yamada (2)
LF Ayake (7)
1B Shimizu (3)
3B Nonokawa (5)
RF Iwada (9)
CF Hashimoto (8)
2B Furuuchi (4)
SS Matsunaga (6)
P Shimodaira (1)
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1:40 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
One down for Sano, and he singles to left. And instead of bunting, they have Morikawa swinging away! He singles to center!
Runners on 1st and 2nd for Hagihara! Ah! Yamada can't hold the ball! Runners advance!
And that hurts as Hagihara hits a fly to center. That's deep enough to get Sano in, and Osaka Toin leads 1-0!
Bottom 1st
Yamada starts the inning with a bloop single to left. Ayake follows that with a grounder through to right! Yamada goes for 3rd, and Okumura fires to 3rd! It's a rocket! And it beats out Yamada!!!! Sano with the tag and he's out! What a throw!
Yuuto then gets Shimizu to strikeout looking, and Nonokawa to pop-up to 2nd.
Top 2nd
Nakatani starts the inning with a single through to right. Kouhei tries to bunt him along, but he fouls out!
Ariyama up and he hits a slow comebacker to Shimodaira. He goes to 2nd, but he drops the ball! Picks it up, throws to 1st instead. Shimizu is off the bag, tries to make the tag, but the ball comes out! Nakatani advances to 3rd!
And Yuuto lifts the first pitch to center, and again that good enough for the sac fly! Osaka Toin leads 2-0!
Bottom 2nd
One down, Hashimoto lines one past a diving Hagihara into right! He's in with a double!
Furuuchi up, and he hits a chopper over the pitcher! But Asamura comes up with it and throws to Sano and they tag Hashimoto! So 2 down now for Matsunaga.
He hits a soft liner over Asamura for a base hit! Runners at 1st and 2nd!
But Furuuchi is caught away from 2nd! Ariyama fires to 2nd and nails him!
Top 3rd
Sano starts off the inning with a single to center. Morikawa looks to bunt him along, Shimodaira fields it, throws to 2nd, but it tails away from Matsunaga! Sano goes to 3rd!
Hagihara up again and just like the 1st he hits a sac fly, this time to left, and Sano comes home again. 3-0 Osaka Toin!
Okumura up, looking to put the bunt down, but he misses! Morikawa was heading for 2nd and is easily thrown out.
And now that Okumura is swinging away, he hits a ball to the right center gap! And he's in with a double!
Nakatani flies out to center, but Osaka Toin is slowly piling up the runs on Toho!
Bottom 3rd
Not good for Toho as Yuuto posts 2 K's on his way to a 1-2-3 inning.
Top 4th
One down, and Ariyama singles through to right. After a sac bunt, Asamura draws the 4-pitch walk. Runners at 1st and 2nd for Sano!
Maybe Toho can get out of this inning with a donut on the board.
Or not...
Sano singles to right! Ariyama rounds 3rd and he scores! 4-0!
Shimodaira then falls behind Morikawa 3-0! But fights back with 2 strikes to fill the count. And strikes him out on an inside fastball!
If this keeps up, it'll be a 9-0 win for Osaka...
Bottom 4th
Toho is making Yuuto throw a lot more pitches this inning, but unfortunately the result is the same - a 1-2-3- inning.
Top 5th
#13 Momose takes over in right for Iwada.
Hagihara starts the inning with a walk. Okumura tries to bunt him over, but instead pops up to 3rd. Nakatani is swinging away and hits a fly ball to center.
Kouhei, not wanting to ruin the pattern of scoring a run per inning, singles through the infield to right. Runners at the corners for Ariyama.
But Ariyama can't do it. He pops to 2nd and Toho has held Osaka Toin scoreless!
Bottom 5th
Hashimoto starts the inning with a blast to right center! Okumura runs back, and it's all the way to the base of the wall!
He's moved to 3rd when Furuuchi grounds to 2nd. Great chance for Toho to get on the board!
But Yuuto comes back to strikeout Matsunaga.
And it looks like Shimodaira's day is done. #15 Yoshino comes in to pinch hit for him. But Yoshino can't bring him in. He pops up to short to end the inning.
Top 6th
#10 Wada comes in to relieve Shimodaira.
He gets off to a rocky start. First, he walks Yuuto on 4 straight. Then Asamura hits a rocket to the left side, and a diving stop by Matsunaga prevents it from going to left.
Sano up, and he gets his 4th hit! It's a drive to right! Momose runs back, dives... but it's past him! Yuuto comes in! 5-0!
Morikawa up. First pitch from Wada is wild! Asamura comes home! 6-0! Morikawa then hits a fly ball that gets caught in the wind and falls between Ayake and Hashimoto! Sano scores. 7-0.
Oy.
After Hagihara bunts him along, Wada gets Okumura and Nagatani out to end the inning. But it seems pretty clear who's going to advance now.
Bottom 6th
Toho goes down in 7 pitches.
Top 7th
Wada gives up a leadoff single, but afterwards prevents Osaka Toin from scoring. A small victory if nothing else.
Bottom 7th
With 2 down, Hashimoto gets hits 3rd hit of the game with a single to left. Furuuchi follows that up with a grounder to left! Chance for Toho!
Matsunaga up. Double steal! The runners take off and there's no throw! Big chance!
And Matsunaga walks! Manrui for Wada!
Ah! #12 Ikuta comes in to pinch-hit! He falls behind 2-2.
Sanshin! Aaaaa~~~~ Ikuta strikes out looking to end the inning!
Top 8th
#11 Sasaki comes in to relieve Wada after he was pinch-hit for.
And he gets a 1-2-3 inning!
Bottom 8th
One down, Ayake up. Gets the bathead in front! Driven to right, just foul! Next pitch.
Doesn't miss this time! That's driven down the right field line!
HAITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ayake gets the same pitch and knows what to do with it! And that's hard to hit a homerun to right with the wind blowing as it is! Toho's on the board, 7-1!
Shimizu lines one to left! Nonokawa with a hit to right! The offense is starting to come to life!
Osaka Toin's manager decided that's enough. He pulls Okumura in from right to pitch and Yuuto heads out to right.
#14 Morita comes in to pinch-hit for Momose. And Morita hits one to center! Manrui for Hashimoto!
And Okumura falls behind Hashimoto 3-0! Gets one back. Pitches him inside, and he pops him up! Kouhei running into foul territory, slides and makes the catch against the wall! Shimizu tags up and scores! 7-2. (Augh! Take the walk!)
But 2 down for Furuuchi. And he's fooled on an outside pitch and grounds to 2nd.
Toho gets on the board, but they still have a ways to go.
Top 9th
Sasaki gives up a 2-out single to Kouhei, but nothing else.
Bottom 9th
Toho down to their last 3 outs now.
Matsunaga grounds to short, but the throw to 1st is wide! E6!
#16 Takahashi comes in to pinch hit for Sasaki. He lines one to the right center field gap! Runners at the corners for Yamada!
And Osaka Toin's manager has changed his mind! Yuuto and Okumura return to their original places!
Doesn't help! Yamada shoots one through to left! Matsunaga scores! 7-3!
Still no out for Ayake. Falls behind 1-2. High chopper to 2nd! Asamura with the ball, snap throw, in time!
Runners at 2nd and 3rd, one down for Shimizu. Sharp grounder to 1st! Hagihara with the ball and the putout. 2 down, and the sun is starting to set on Toho's Koshien run....
Nonokawa with the last chance. Yuuto falls behind 3-0. Fastball inside corner. 3-1. Jammed foul. Full count. Fly ball to deep left! Nakatani running back.
That's over his head! Takahashi scores! Yamada scores! Nonokawa with the 2-RBI double! 7-5!
Still some ways to go. Morita up. Goes ahead 2-0, but then is 2-2. Last chance! What can Morita do here? Pops it up! Nakatani with the catch!
Game set! Toho stages a late inning rally, but it just falls short as Osaka Toin holds on to win 7-5!
For Toho, they can take heart in the fact that they were able to rally against Osaka Toin and give hope to their oen-dan.
For Osaka Toin, they can be relieved that they are advancing to the Best 8, but their glaring weakness has been shown of fatiguing on the mound late in the game. Whomever they draw in the Best 8 match may want to consider trying to work the pitch count as high as possible.
Osaka Toin had an easy first round matchup against Hita-rin Kogyo 16-2, but had to rally from behind late against Kanazawa to win 6-5 in 10 innings.
For Toho, they were in a barn burner against Hokkai winning 15-10. Then against Seiho, they were trading runs back and forth, with Toho scoring the final run in the bottom of the 8th to win 5-4.
Key in this game is Fukushima Yuuto's pitching. Osaka Toin always has offense to spare. But they've never really had good pitching. As long as Yuuto is solid, Osaka Toin should advance.
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Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
3B Sano (5)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Nakatani (12)
CF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto (1)
Toho (Nishi Aichi)
C Yamada (2)
LF Ayake (7)
1B Shimizu (3)
3B Nonokawa (5)
RF Iwada (9)
CF Hashimoto (8)
2B Furuuchi (4)
SS Matsunaga (6)
P Shimodaira (1)
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1:40 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
One down for Sano, and he singles to left. And instead of bunting, they have Morikawa swinging away! He singles to center!
Runners on 1st and 2nd for Hagihara! Ah! Yamada can't hold the ball! Runners advance!
And that hurts as Hagihara hits a fly to center. That's deep enough to get Sano in, and Osaka Toin leads 1-0!
Bottom 1st
Yamada starts the inning with a bloop single to left. Ayake follows that with a grounder through to right! Yamada goes for 3rd, and Okumura fires to 3rd! It's a rocket! And it beats out Yamada!!!! Sano with the tag and he's out! What a throw!
Yuuto then gets Shimizu to strikeout looking, and Nonokawa to pop-up to 2nd.
Top 2nd
Nakatani starts the inning with a single through to right. Kouhei tries to bunt him along, but he fouls out!
Ariyama up and he hits a slow comebacker to Shimodaira. He goes to 2nd, but he drops the ball! Picks it up, throws to 1st instead. Shimizu is off the bag, tries to make the tag, but the ball comes out! Nakatani advances to 3rd!
And Yuuto lifts the first pitch to center, and again that good enough for the sac fly! Osaka Toin leads 2-0!
Bottom 2nd
One down, Hashimoto lines one past a diving Hagihara into right! He's in with a double!
Furuuchi up, and he hits a chopper over the pitcher! But Asamura comes up with it and throws to Sano and they tag Hashimoto! So 2 down now for Matsunaga.
He hits a soft liner over Asamura for a base hit! Runners at 1st and 2nd!
But Furuuchi is caught away from 2nd! Ariyama fires to 2nd and nails him!
Top 3rd
Sano starts off the inning with a single to center. Morikawa looks to bunt him along, Shimodaira fields it, throws to 2nd, but it tails away from Matsunaga! Sano goes to 3rd!
Hagihara up again and just like the 1st he hits a sac fly, this time to left, and Sano comes home again. 3-0 Osaka Toin!
Okumura up, looking to put the bunt down, but he misses! Morikawa was heading for 2nd and is easily thrown out.
And now that Okumura is swinging away, he hits a ball to the right center gap! And he's in with a double!
Nakatani flies out to center, but Osaka Toin is slowly piling up the runs on Toho!
Bottom 3rd
Not good for Toho as Yuuto posts 2 K's on his way to a 1-2-3 inning.
Top 4th
One down, and Ariyama singles through to right. After a sac bunt, Asamura draws the 4-pitch walk. Runners at 1st and 2nd for Sano!
Maybe Toho can get out of this inning with a donut on the board.
Or not...
Sano singles to right! Ariyama rounds 3rd and he scores! 4-0!
Shimodaira then falls behind Morikawa 3-0! But fights back with 2 strikes to fill the count. And strikes him out on an inside fastball!
If this keeps up, it'll be a 9-0 win for Osaka...
Bottom 4th
Toho is making Yuuto throw a lot more pitches this inning, but unfortunately the result is the same - a 1-2-3- inning.
Top 5th
#13 Momose takes over in right for Iwada.
Hagihara starts the inning with a walk. Okumura tries to bunt him over, but instead pops up to 3rd. Nakatani is swinging away and hits a fly ball to center.
Kouhei, not wanting to ruin the pattern of scoring a run per inning, singles through the infield to right. Runners at the corners for Ariyama.
But Ariyama can't do it. He pops to 2nd and Toho has held Osaka Toin scoreless!
Bottom 5th
Hashimoto starts the inning with a blast to right center! Okumura runs back, and it's all the way to the base of the wall!
He's moved to 3rd when Furuuchi grounds to 2nd. Great chance for Toho to get on the board!
But Yuuto comes back to strikeout Matsunaga.
And it looks like Shimodaira's day is done. #15 Yoshino comes in to pinch hit for him. But Yoshino can't bring him in. He pops up to short to end the inning.
Top 6th
#10 Wada comes in to relieve Shimodaira.
He gets off to a rocky start. First, he walks Yuuto on 4 straight. Then Asamura hits a rocket to the left side, and a diving stop by Matsunaga prevents it from going to left.
Sano up, and he gets his 4th hit! It's a drive to right! Momose runs back, dives... but it's past him! Yuuto comes in! 5-0!
Morikawa up. First pitch from Wada is wild! Asamura comes home! 6-0! Morikawa then hits a fly ball that gets caught in the wind and falls between Ayake and Hashimoto! Sano scores. 7-0.
Oy.
After Hagihara bunts him along, Wada gets Okumura and Nagatani out to end the inning. But it seems pretty clear who's going to advance now.
Bottom 6th
Toho goes down in 7 pitches.
Top 7th
Wada gives up a leadoff single, but afterwards prevents Osaka Toin from scoring. A small victory if nothing else.
Bottom 7th
With 2 down, Hashimoto gets hits 3rd hit of the game with a single to left. Furuuchi follows that up with a grounder to left! Chance for Toho!
Matsunaga up. Double steal! The runners take off and there's no throw! Big chance!
And Matsunaga walks! Manrui for Wada!
Ah! #12 Ikuta comes in to pinch-hit! He falls behind 2-2.
Sanshin! Aaaaa~~~~ Ikuta strikes out looking to end the inning!
Top 8th
#11 Sasaki comes in to relieve Wada after he was pinch-hit for.
And he gets a 1-2-3 inning!
Bottom 8th
One down, Ayake up. Gets the bathead in front! Driven to right, just foul! Next pitch.
Doesn't miss this time! That's driven down the right field line!
HAITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ayake gets the same pitch and knows what to do with it! And that's hard to hit a homerun to right with the wind blowing as it is! Toho's on the board, 7-1!
Shimizu lines one to left! Nonokawa with a hit to right! The offense is starting to come to life!
Osaka Toin's manager decided that's enough. He pulls Okumura in from right to pitch and Yuuto heads out to right.
#14 Morita comes in to pinch-hit for Momose. And Morita hits one to center! Manrui for Hashimoto!
And Okumura falls behind Hashimoto 3-0! Gets one back. Pitches him inside, and he pops him up! Kouhei running into foul territory, slides and makes the catch against the wall! Shimizu tags up and scores! 7-2. (Augh! Take the walk!)
But 2 down for Furuuchi. And he's fooled on an outside pitch and grounds to 2nd.
Toho gets on the board, but they still have a ways to go.
Top 9th
Sasaki gives up a 2-out single to Kouhei, but nothing else.
Bottom 9th
Toho down to their last 3 outs now.
Matsunaga grounds to short, but the throw to 1st is wide! E6!
#16 Takahashi comes in to pinch hit for Sasaki. He lines one to the right center field gap! Runners at the corners for Yamada!
And Osaka Toin's manager has changed his mind! Yuuto and Okumura return to their original places!
Doesn't help! Yamada shoots one through to left! Matsunaga scores! 7-3!
Still no out for Ayake. Falls behind 1-2. High chopper to 2nd! Asamura with the ball, snap throw, in time!
Runners at 2nd and 3rd, one down for Shimizu. Sharp grounder to 1st! Hagihara with the ball and the putout. 2 down, and the sun is starting to set on Toho's Koshien run....
Nonokawa with the last chance. Yuuto falls behind 3-0. Fastball inside corner. 3-1. Jammed foul. Full count. Fly ball to deep left! Nakatani running back.
That's over his head! Takahashi scores! Yamada scores! Nonokawa with the 2-RBI double! 7-5!
Still some ways to go. Morita up. Goes ahead 2-0, but then is 2-2. Last chance! What can Morita do here? Pops it up! Nakatani with the catch!
Game set! Toho stages a late inning rally, but it just falls short as Osaka Toin holds on to win 7-5!
For Toho, they can take heart in the fact that they were able to rally against Osaka Toin and give hope to their oen-dan.
For Osaka Toin, they can be relieved that they are advancing to the Best 8, but their glaring weakness has been shown of fatiguing on the mound late in the game. Whomever they draw in the Best 8 match may want to consider trying to work the pitch count as high as possible.
Day 13 - Game 2 - Aomori Yamada vs. Keio (Kita Kanagawa)
The 2nd game of the day should be an exciting one. Aomori Yamada, under their ace Kinoshita looks to make the Best 8 for the 1st time since 1999. For Keio, this would be their first trip to the Summer Best 8 since 1920!
Aomori Yamada got here by defeating a good Nihon Koku team 2-1, then shutting out Honjo Daiichi 4-0. For Keio, the pitching duo of Tamura and Tadano held on for a 6-4 victory over Matsusho Gakuen, and then combined for a 5-hit shutout of Takaoka Shogyo.
This game boils down to the pitchers. Kinoshita for Aomori Yamada, and the transition between Tamura and Tadano for Keio. Kinoshita is a contact pitcher. He'll need to prevent the line drives if he wants to help Aomori Yamada advance. For Tamura and Tadano, it's a matter of being able to pull Tamura early enough to prevent Aomori from taking advantage of Tamura.
While Aomori Yamada definitely has the experience, I think Keio has shown a lot the past 2 games that they will advance to the Best 8.
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Aomori Yamada
CF Abe (8)
2B Hasegawa (4)
LF Magario (7)
1B Saitou Tatsunobu (3)
RF Arahari (9)
3B Toyoda (5)
C Yano (2)
SS Miyamori (6)
P Kinoshita (1)
Keio (Kita Kanagawa)
RF Naitou (9)
3B Fukutomi (5)
2B Yamazaki (4)
1B Suzuki Yuuji (7)
LF Akada (17)
P Tamura (1)
C Suzuki Yousuke (2)
SS Saitou (6)
CF Mizoguchi (8)
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11:12 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Tamura looks great to start early, retiring Aomori Yamada just 7 pitches.
Bottom 1st
Naitou starts the inning with a walk, and bunted over by Fukutomi.
Then Yamazaki singles back up the middle! Naitou comes around to score and Keio is quickly up 1-0!
And the oen-dan gets really, REALLY loud!
Kinoshita though recovers and gest Yuuji to fly out to right, and Akata to ground to 1st.
Top 2nd
After Tatsunobu grounds to 2nd, Arahari gets a scare after one pitch from Tamura goes over his head, and the 2nd glances off his helmet!
He heads to the dugout for precautionary measures while Tatsunobu comes in as a substitute runner.
Aomori tries to put on the hit-and-run, but Toyoda grounds to 2nd. Tatsunobu is safe at 2nd, but they do retire Toyoda at 1st.
Ah! Tamura hits Yano! That's the 2nd this inning! Small pinch for Tamura!
His defense bails him out! Miyamori hits a liner to left, but Saito makes the grab!
Bottom 2nd
Two down, Saitou draws a walk. But Kinoshita gets Mizoguchi to strikeout afterwards.
Top 3rd
Aomori Yamada finally gets its first hit with one down in the 3rd as Abe singles up the middle. However, he's thrown out trying to steal 2nd. While it ends up being a 1-2-3 inning, Tamura's pitches are still all over the place.
Bottom 3rd
Yamazaki with a 2-out single, but nothing else for Keio.
Top 4th
Magario opens the inning with a single through the left side. Tatsunobu bunts him along.
Arahari with the comebacker! Tamura with it, but goes to 2nd to try and get Magario! The throw is off and Magario gets back to the bag. Throw to 1st, not in time! Ah! Mistake there by Tamura! Now he's in a small pinch!
Toyoda swinging away! Grounder to 3rd, Fukutomi with it! Touches 3rd for one, throw to 1st... in time! Fukutomi's DP gets Tamura out of the jam!
Bottom 4th
Kinoshita with his first 1-2-3 inning. Continues to look good on the mound despite the 1st inning.
Top 5th
Miyamori hits a slow grounder to short and is safe. But that gets wiped away as Kinoshita grounds into the 4-6-3 DP!
Bottom 5th
Kinoshita continues to go after batters, yielding only a 2-out single to Naitou. As we head to the break, it's a 1-0 Keio lead.
Top 6th
Tamura with another 1-2-3 inning, but he's is leaving pitches up in the zone. #3 Tadano starts warming up in the bullpen.
Bottom 6th
Yamazaki gets his 3rd hit of the day as he hits a chopper up the middle!
Yuuji looks to put on the hit-and-run! But he strikes out, and Yamazaki is caught in between and run down!
Top 7th
Tamura retires the first two batters of the inning, then pulls Tamura for #3 Tadano. While the announcers may be surprised, I'm not. If you're using a 2-pitcher system, you need to make sure you're not overusing either of them. The fact that Tamura lasted this far is a surprise. But he did only throw 75 pitches. So perhaps he could have lasted this long then.
Tadano comes in, and is rudely greeted by Toyoda! He drives one to deep left! Akada runs back, but it's over his head! Toyoda in with the double! Chance for Aomori!
Yano with the grounder to short! Saitou goes over and smothers it! Throw to 1st, in time! Tadano quickly gets into a pinch and once again the defense comes to its aid!
Bottom 7th
Tadano leads off the inning with a walk, with Yousuke bunting him over. Saitou with another bunt! Yano looks to 3rd, but turns and throws to 1st. But the throw is off line! Saitou is safe!
Runners at the corners for Mizoguchi! He's squaring to put on the squeeze! Kinoshita throws away though, and eventually the count goes to 3-0! Kinoshita has to come in now! And he does for strike 1. And now he looks to swing.
Wait, no he doesn't! He puts down the squeeze!! Tadano runs home! Toyoda's only play is to 1st! Tadano scores and it's now 2-0 Keio!!
Top of the lineup now and Naitou. He singles to right! Saitou rounds 3rd, he's heading home! Throw by Arahari, picked up by Yano, and they get the tag on Saitou! 3 out!
But Keio has added another run!
Top 8th
Tadano's given another run, is still not that comfortable. He walks Miyamori to start the inning.
And #18 Nakamura comes in to pinch hit for Kinoshita. It appears his day is done. It also means they're not bunting.
But Nakamura hits a pop-up that Yuuji fields in foul territory.
Abe up now. He's stubborn at the plate. But Tadano eventually strikes him out! And Miyamori takes off for 2nd! Yousuke up with the throw, but no one's there to cover??! The ball heads to center as Miyamori heads to 3rd!
Aomori can cut the lead to 1 with a timely hit by Hasegawa! But he grounds to 2nd! Yamazaki up with the ball, throw is a little wide! Yuuji stretches to get it, but is pulled off! He scrambles with his foot, and just touches 1st in time!
Aomori Yamada is denied once again by Keio
Bottom 8th
#11 Saitou Eisuke comes in to pitch for Kinoshita.
With one down, #16 Arakawa comes to pinch hit for captain Yamazaki. And he earns a walk. One down for Yuuji.
Ah!! Wild pitch! Arakawa advances to 2nd!
Ah!! Eisuke hits Yuuji! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Akada!
Scorched down the 3rd base line! Toyoda dives and has it! Tags 3rd for one, goes to 1st... not in time! 2 down!
Tadano with the shot to right! That's in for a base hit! Arahari playing short, up with it and fires home! Yuuji stays at 3rd! Manrui for Yousuke!
Eisuke gets ahead of Yousuke, and then freezes him on a fastball! No runs for Keio! But they're down to their final 3 outs!
Top 9th
Magario first pitch swinging, and he grounds to 3rd. Tatsunobu also swinging first pitch, and he grounds to 1st.
Arahari also swinging away, but he puts one past Fukutomi and into left.
Toyoda up, and falls behind quickly 0-2. Outside, 1-2. Low, 2-2. Fouled off! Still 2-2.
Sanshin!! Tadano gets Arahari to swing on a curve ball and the game is over! Keio, who hasn't been to Summer Koshien in 46 years, has made it to the Best 8!!
Meanwhile, Aomori Yamada is once again denied the honor of reaching the Best 8, and it shows on the players' faces. They've always had a good team each time they come out, but never good enough to make it deep into the tournament. Perhaps next year, they'll be able to make that run.
Aomori Yamada got here by defeating a good Nihon Koku team 2-1, then shutting out Honjo Daiichi 4-0. For Keio, the pitching duo of Tamura and Tadano held on for a 6-4 victory over Matsusho Gakuen, and then combined for a 5-hit shutout of Takaoka Shogyo.
This game boils down to the pitchers. Kinoshita for Aomori Yamada, and the transition between Tamura and Tadano for Keio. Kinoshita is a contact pitcher. He'll need to prevent the line drives if he wants to help Aomori Yamada advance. For Tamura and Tadano, it's a matter of being able to pull Tamura early enough to prevent Aomori from taking advantage of Tamura.
While Aomori Yamada definitely has the experience, I think Keio has shown a lot the past 2 games that they will advance to the Best 8.
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Aomori Yamada
CF Abe (8)
2B Hasegawa (4)
LF Magario (7)
1B Saitou Tatsunobu (3)
RF Arahari (9)
3B Toyoda (5)
C Yano (2)
SS Miyamori (6)
P Kinoshita (1)
Keio (Kita Kanagawa)
RF Naitou (9)
3B Fukutomi (5)
2B Yamazaki (4)
1B Suzuki Yuuji (7)
LF Akada (17)
P Tamura (1)
C Suzuki Yousuke (2)
SS Saitou (6)
CF Mizoguchi (8)
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11:12 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Tamura looks great to start early, retiring Aomori Yamada just 7 pitches.
Bottom 1st
Naitou starts the inning with a walk, and bunted over by Fukutomi.
Then Yamazaki singles back up the middle! Naitou comes around to score and Keio is quickly up 1-0!
And the oen-dan gets really, REALLY loud!
Kinoshita though recovers and gest Yuuji to fly out to right, and Akata to ground to 1st.
Top 2nd
After Tatsunobu grounds to 2nd, Arahari gets a scare after one pitch from Tamura goes over his head, and the 2nd glances off his helmet!
He heads to the dugout for precautionary measures while Tatsunobu comes in as a substitute runner.
Aomori tries to put on the hit-and-run, but Toyoda grounds to 2nd. Tatsunobu is safe at 2nd, but they do retire Toyoda at 1st.
Ah! Tamura hits Yano! That's the 2nd this inning! Small pinch for Tamura!
His defense bails him out! Miyamori hits a liner to left, but Saito makes the grab!
Bottom 2nd
Two down, Saitou draws a walk. But Kinoshita gets Mizoguchi to strikeout afterwards.
Top 3rd
Aomori Yamada finally gets its first hit with one down in the 3rd as Abe singles up the middle. However, he's thrown out trying to steal 2nd. While it ends up being a 1-2-3 inning, Tamura's pitches are still all over the place.
Bottom 3rd
Yamazaki with a 2-out single, but nothing else for Keio.
Top 4th
Magario opens the inning with a single through the left side. Tatsunobu bunts him along.
Arahari with the comebacker! Tamura with it, but goes to 2nd to try and get Magario! The throw is off and Magario gets back to the bag. Throw to 1st, not in time! Ah! Mistake there by Tamura! Now he's in a small pinch!
Toyoda swinging away! Grounder to 3rd, Fukutomi with it! Touches 3rd for one, throw to 1st... in time! Fukutomi's DP gets Tamura out of the jam!
Bottom 4th
Kinoshita with his first 1-2-3 inning. Continues to look good on the mound despite the 1st inning.
Top 5th
Miyamori hits a slow grounder to short and is safe. But that gets wiped away as Kinoshita grounds into the 4-6-3 DP!
Bottom 5th
Kinoshita continues to go after batters, yielding only a 2-out single to Naitou. As we head to the break, it's a 1-0 Keio lead.
Top 6th
Tamura with another 1-2-3 inning, but he's is leaving pitches up in the zone. #3 Tadano starts warming up in the bullpen.
Bottom 6th
Yamazaki gets his 3rd hit of the day as he hits a chopper up the middle!
Yuuji looks to put on the hit-and-run! But he strikes out, and Yamazaki is caught in between and run down!
Top 7th
Tamura retires the first two batters of the inning, then pulls Tamura for #3 Tadano. While the announcers may be surprised, I'm not. If you're using a 2-pitcher system, you need to make sure you're not overusing either of them. The fact that Tamura lasted this far is a surprise. But he did only throw 75 pitches. So perhaps he could have lasted this long then.
Tadano comes in, and is rudely greeted by Toyoda! He drives one to deep left! Akada runs back, but it's over his head! Toyoda in with the double! Chance for Aomori!
Yano with the grounder to short! Saitou goes over and smothers it! Throw to 1st, in time! Tadano quickly gets into a pinch and once again the defense comes to its aid!
Bottom 7th
Tadano leads off the inning with a walk, with Yousuke bunting him over. Saitou with another bunt! Yano looks to 3rd, but turns and throws to 1st. But the throw is off line! Saitou is safe!
Runners at the corners for Mizoguchi! He's squaring to put on the squeeze! Kinoshita throws away though, and eventually the count goes to 3-0! Kinoshita has to come in now! And he does for strike 1. And now he looks to swing.
Wait, no he doesn't! He puts down the squeeze!! Tadano runs home! Toyoda's only play is to 1st! Tadano scores and it's now 2-0 Keio!!
Top of the lineup now and Naitou. He singles to right! Saitou rounds 3rd, he's heading home! Throw by Arahari, picked up by Yano, and they get the tag on Saitou! 3 out!
But Keio has added another run!
Top 8th
Tadano's given another run, is still not that comfortable. He walks Miyamori to start the inning.
And #18 Nakamura comes in to pinch hit for Kinoshita. It appears his day is done. It also means they're not bunting.
But Nakamura hits a pop-up that Yuuji fields in foul territory.
Abe up now. He's stubborn at the plate. But Tadano eventually strikes him out! And Miyamori takes off for 2nd! Yousuke up with the throw, but no one's there to cover??! The ball heads to center as Miyamori heads to 3rd!
Aomori can cut the lead to 1 with a timely hit by Hasegawa! But he grounds to 2nd! Yamazaki up with the ball, throw is a little wide! Yuuji stretches to get it, but is pulled off! He scrambles with his foot, and just touches 1st in time!
Aomori Yamada is denied once again by Keio
Bottom 8th
#11 Saitou Eisuke comes in to pitch for Kinoshita.
With one down, #16 Arakawa comes to pinch hit for captain Yamazaki. And he earns a walk. One down for Yuuji.
Ah!! Wild pitch! Arakawa advances to 2nd!
Ah!! Eisuke hits Yuuji! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Akada!
Scorched down the 3rd base line! Toyoda dives and has it! Tags 3rd for one, goes to 1st... not in time! 2 down!
Tadano with the shot to right! That's in for a base hit! Arahari playing short, up with it and fires home! Yuuji stays at 3rd! Manrui for Yousuke!
Eisuke gets ahead of Yousuke, and then freezes him on a fastball! No runs for Keio! But they're down to their final 3 outs!
Top 9th
Magario first pitch swinging, and he grounds to 3rd. Tatsunobu also swinging first pitch, and he grounds to 1st.
Arahari also swinging away, but he puts one past Fukutomi and into left.
Toyoda up, and falls behind quickly 0-2. Outside, 1-2. Low, 2-2. Fouled off! Still 2-2.
Sanshin!! Tadano gets Arahari to swing on a curve ball and the game is over! Keio, who hasn't been to Summer Koshien in 46 years, has made it to the Best 8!!
Meanwhile, Aomori Yamada is once again denied the honor of reaching the Best 8, and it shows on the players' faces. They've always had a good team each time they come out, but never good enough to make it deep into the tournament. Perhaps next year, they'll be able to make that run.
Day 13 - Game 1 - Urasoe Shogyo (Okinawa) vs. Kanto Daiichi (Higashi Tokyo)
The 2nd set of games to determine the best 8 has a fan favorite in Urasoe Shogyo facing Kanto Daiichi.
Kanto Daiichi got here by defeating Jyoso Gakuin handily 13-5, then getting ahead of Naruto Kogyo early and shutting them down in the late innings to win 5-2.
Urasoe breezed by debutants Iidzuka 7-0, then stunned Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku by scoring 5 runs in the first inning and 10 by the 3rd. While Chiba fought back to 10-9, Urasho put 3 more runs on the board en route to a 12-9 win.
The teams from Okinawa have been strong as of late, and for Urasoe, defeating Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku is definitely a confidence builder. I'll go ahead and choose Urasoe, since they've shown they can do things on both sides of the ball. Plus they're the last representative from the western regions of Japan.
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Urasoe Shogyo (Okinawa)
RF Kanna (9)
SS Ueji Toshiki (6)
P Iha (1)
C Yamashiro (2)
LF Miyahira (7)
3B Nakama (5)
1B Touyama Kazuma (18)
2B Niita (12)
CF Nakasato (14)
Kanto Daiichi (Higashi Tokyo)
CF Izumizawa (8)
LF Arai (7)
RF Hirose (9)
3B Egawa (5)
2B Tanabe (13)
1B Tanabe (4)
C Nakamura (2)
P Oshikubo(14)
SS Tsuchiya (6)
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8:31 AM
First ptich!
Top 1st
Kanna leads off the game with a single to right! After a sac bunt, Okubo throws a wild pitch! Kanna heads to 3rd!
And Iha hits a fly ball to center! But it's too close! Izumizawa secures it and Kanna can't tag up!
Yamashiro pops to 1st to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Hirose with a infield single to 2nd as Iha can't cover the bag in time. But Hirose gets thrown out at 2nd to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Oshikubo retires Urasoe in order. Looks like for now his submarine style is working.
Bottom 2nd
Tanabe gets a 2-out single to right. He too though gets thrown out stealing 2nd by Yamashiro.
Perhaps they should stop trying for now?
Top 3rd
Niita starts the inning with a ground through to left. One down, runner at 2nd for Kanna.
He hits a hard grounder to 2nd! Tanabe with it, but can't make the throw! Runners at the corners for Toshiki.
And Toshiki puts on the squeeze! Oshikubo running has a beat on it! Glove toss to Nakamura, and he doesn't secure the ball first! Niita scores! 1-0 Urasoe!!
Sill a big pinch for Oshikubo, but he gets Iha to pop up to short, and Yamashiro to fly out to center.
Bottom 3rd
Nakamura lines one past Nakama for a single. Then Kanto decides to bunt him over. Twice! So now there's a runner and 3rd and two out for Izumizawa!
Grounder to 3rd. It's off Nakama and trickes to the outfield! Nakamura scores and we're tied at 1-1!!
Top 4th
Miyahira starts the inning with a grounder back up the middle. With Nakama up, they decide to start the hit-and-run! But Nakama lines out to 2nd, and Miyahira is easily doubled off 1st.
Bottom 4th
Hirose gets his 2nd single of the day to lead off the 4th. After a flyout by Egawa, Hirose tries to steal 2nd and, well... I don't think I need to tell you what happened.
Top 5th
Oshikubo's pitching continues to baffle Urasoe hitters as they are retired in order. Gotta love the sumbariniers.
Bottom 5th
Iha strikes out 2 en route to a 1-2-3 inning. As we head to the break we have a bonafide pitchers duel between Iha and Oshikubo!
Top 6th
Wow. I blink and the top of the 6th is over. 3 pitches, 3 outs! Can't be any easier than that!
Bottom 6th
Izumizawa with the drag bunt up 1st! Iha chases, dives, but the ball trickles by him!
Well this is a start. They're not trying to steal 2nd.
Arai pops a bunt, but it drops in front of Iha! Izumizawa is frozen though because of the possibility that Iha might catch it. And thus Iha has an easy throw to 2nd for the out. Perhaps Iha knew what he was doing...
Hirose strikes out looking, so 2 down for Egawa. And they decide to start the hit-and-run! Egawa lines one to center! Arai heads to 3rd. Runners at the corners for Inomoto.
And he swings on the first pitch... and grounds to 3rd. What a waste.
Top 7th
Miyahira starts the inning and lines one past Inomoto into right! He's in with a leadoff double!
Nakama swings away! It's a pop-up! Nakamura runs back and makes the catch! One down!
Kazuma also swinging! That's a grounder through to left! Miyahira has to stop at 3rd, but runners at the corners for Niita!
And Niita looks to squeeze! Oshikubo is being careful, but now falls behind 2-0! Pitchout for 3-0! Are they going to walk him for a force at the plate? Intentional or not, Oshikubo walks him and we have a manrui situation for Nakasato!
Conference on the mound. This could be the game for Kanto Daiichi!
And Urasoe sends in #4 Kayou to pinch-hit for Nakasato. But it doesn't look like he's bunting! 0-1. WAIT!! He is! But the pitch is outside and he bunts it foul! 0-2! Oshikubo still wary of the squeeze. Pitch outside for a ball 1-2.
Sanshin! Kayou swings at a pitch way outside! 2 down!
Leadoff batter Kanna up now. Just one more out to go for Oshikubo.
But he grounds one to left! It's through the infield! Miyahara scores! Arai with the throw home! Kazuma scores! Nakamura fires it to 3rd and they get Niita.
However, Kanna with the timely single scoring 2, and Urasoe takes the lead, 3-1!!
Bottom 7th
#17 Miyashita comes in with 2 out to pinch-hit for Oshikubo, so his day is done. And he lines one to right for a single. #15 Sayawaki comes in to pinch-run for Miyashita.
Tsuchiya to try and keep the inning going. Wild pitch by Iha! Sayawaki advances to 2nd.
But Tsuchiya grounds to 2nd and ends the inning.
Top 8th
#11 Shirai come in relief of Oshikubo.
One down, Iha with the chopper up the first base line. Inomoto with the ball, but Shirai can't cover in time!
And Yamashiro puts down the safety bunt! Egawa charges and makes the throw, but Yamashiro beats it out! Runners at 1st and 2nd with one out for Miyahira!
Miyahira work the count full. He hits a ball to 3rd! They go to 2nd, but Yamashiro's already there! And Miyahira is already at first!! All safe!!!!
Chance for Nakama! Liner! Caught by Tsuchiya! Toss to first to double up Iha! Inning over! Nice play by Tsuchiya! But, Kanto Daiichi is still down by 2 with 2 innings to go!
Bottom 8th
Iha plunks Hirose with 2 down, but comes back to strike out Egawa to end the inning.
Top 9th
Shirai gives up a leadoff walk to Kazuma, but that's all Urasoe can get.
However, all they really need are the last three outs in the 9th to move on to the Best 8!
Bottom 9th
#3 Touyama Yuuya comes in to play 3rd after #17 Kuniyoshi pinch ran for Touyama Kazuma.
Kanto Daiichi cannot put anything together, and is retired in order to end the game.
So Urasoe Shogyo advances to the Best 8 with the 3-1 victory! Okinawa Shogaku won the Spring Koshien. Could it be that we may have the Spring and Summer champions coming from the same prefecture??!
Kanto Daiichi got here by defeating Jyoso Gakuin handily 13-5, then getting ahead of Naruto Kogyo early and shutting them down in the late innings to win 5-2.
Urasoe breezed by debutants Iidzuka 7-0, then stunned Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku by scoring 5 runs in the first inning and 10 by the 3rd. While Chiba fought back to 10-9, Urasho put 3 more runs on the board en route to a 12-9 win.
The teams from Okinawa have been strong as of late, and for Urasoe, defeating Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku is definitely a confidence builder. I'll go ahead and choose Urasoe, since they've shown they can do things on both sides of the ball. Plus they're the last representative from the western regions of Japan.
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Urasoe Shogyo (Okinawa)
RF Kanna (9)
SS Ueji Toshiki (6)
P Iha (1)
C Yamashiro (2)
LF Miyahira (7)
3B Nakama (5)
1B Touyama Kazuma (18)
2B Niita (12)
CF Nakasato (14)
Kanto Daiichi (Higashi Tokyo)
CF Izumizawa (8)
LF Arai (7)
RF Hirose (9)
3B Egawa (5)
2B Tanabe (13)
1B Tanabe (4)
C Nakamura (2)
P Oshikubo(14)
SS Tsuchiya (6)
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8:31 AM
First ptich!
Top 1st
Kanna leads off the game with a single to right! After a sac bunt, Okubo throws a wild pitch! Kanna heads to 3rd!
And Iha hits a fly ball to center! But it's too close! Izumizawa secures it and Kanna can't tag up!
Yamashiro pops to 1st to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Hirose with a infield single to 2nd as Iha can't cover the bag in time. But Hirose gets thrown out at 2nd to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Oshikubo retires Urasoe in order. Looks like for now his submarine style is working.
Bottom 2nd
Tanabe gets a 2-out single to right. He too though gets thrown out stealing 2nd by Yamashiro.
Perhaps they should stop trying for now?
Top 3rd
Niita starts the inning with a ground through to left. One down, runner at 2nd for Kanna.
He hits a hard grounder to 2nd! Tanabe with it, but can't make the throw! Runners at the corners for Toshiki.
And Toshiki puts on the squeeze! Oshikubo running has a beat on it! Glove toss to Nakamura, and he doesn't secure the ball first! Niita scores! 1-0 Urasoe!!
Sill a big pinch for Oshikubo, but he gets Iha to pop up to short, and Yamashiro to fly out to center.
Bottom 3rd
Nakamura lines one past Nakama for a single. Then Kanto decides to bunt him over. Twice! So now there's a runner and 3rd and two out for Izumizawa!
Grounder to 3rd. It's off Nakama and trickes to the outfield! Nakamura scores and we're tied at 1-1!!
Top 4th
Miyahira starts the inning with a grounder back up the middle. With Nakama up, they decide to start the hit-and-run! But Nakama lines out to 2nd, and Miyahira is easily doubled off 1st.
Bottom 4th
Hirose gets his 2nd single of the day to lead off the 4th. After a flyout by Egawa, Hirose tries to steal 2nd and, well... I don't think I need to tell you what happened.
Top 5th
Oshikubo's pitching continues to baffle Urasoe hitters as they are retired in order. Gotta love the sumbariniers.
Bottom 5th
Iha strikes out 2 en route to a 1-2-3 inning. As we head to the break we have a bonafide pitchers duel between Iha and Oshikubo!
Top 6th
Wow. I blink and the top of the 6th is over. 3 pitches, 3 outs! Can't be any easier than that!
Bottom 6th
Izumizawa with the drag bunt up 1st! Iha chases, dives, but the ball trickles by him!
Well this is a start. They're not trying to steal 2nd.
Arai pops a bunt, but it drops in front of Iha! Izumizawa is frozen though because of the possibility that Iha might catch it. And thus Iha has an easy throw to 2nd for the out. Perhaps Iha knew what he was doing...
Hirose strikes out looking, so 2 down for Egawa. And they decide to start the hit-and-run! Egawa lines one to center! Arai heads to 3rd. Runners at the corners for Inomoto.
And he swings on the first pitch... and grounds to 3rd. What a waste.
Top 7th
Miyahira starts the inning and lines one past Inomoto into right! He's in with a leadoff double!
Nakama swings away! It's a pop-up! Nakamura runs back and makes the catch! One down!
Kazuma also swinging! That's a grounder through to left! Miyahira has to stop at 3rd, but runners at the corners for Niita!
And Niita looks to squeeze! Oshikubo is being careful, but now falls behind 2-0! Pitchout for 3-0! Are they going to walk him for a force at the plate? Intentional or not, Oshikubo walks him and we have a manrui situation for Nakasato!
Conference on the mound. This could be the game for Kanto Daiichi!
And Urasoe sends in #4 Kayou to pinch-hit for Nakasato. But it doesn't look like he's bunting! 0-1. WAIT!! He is! But the pitch is outside and he bunts it foul! 0-2! Oshikubo still wary of the squeeze. Pitch outside for a ball 1-2.
Sanshin! Kayou swings at a pitch way outside! 2 down!
Leadoff batter Kanna up now. Just one more out to go for Oshikubo.
But he grounds one to left! It's through the infield! Miyahara scores! Arai with the throw home! Kazuma scores! Nakamura fires it to 3rd and they get Niita.
However, Kanna with the timely single scoring 2, and Urasoe takes the lead, 3-1!!
Bottom 7th
#17 Miyashita comes in with 2 out to pinch-hit for Oshikubo, so his day is done. And he lines one to right for a single. #15 Sayawaki comes in to pinch-run for Miyashita.
Tsuchiya to try and keep the inning going. Wild pitch by Iha! Sayawaki advances to 2nd.
But Tsuchiya grounds to 2nd and ends the inning.
Top 8th
#11 Shirai come in relief of Oshikubo.
One down, Iha with the chopper up the first base line. Inomoto with the ball, but Shirai can't cover in time!
And Yamashiro puts down the safety bunt! Egawa charges and makes the throw, but Yamashiro beats it out! Runners at 1st and 2nd with one out for Miyahira!
Miyahira work the count full. He hits a ball to 3rd! They go to 2nd, but Yamashiro's already there! And Miyahira is already at first!! All safe!!!!
Chance for Nakama! Liner! Caught by Tsuchiya! Toss to first to double up Iha! Inning over! Nice play by Tsuchiya! But, Kanto Daiichi is still down by 2 with 2 innings to go!
Bottom 8th
Iha plunks Hirose with 2 down, but comes back to strike out Egawa to end the inning.
Top 9th
Shirai gives up a leadoff walk to Kazuma, but that's all Urasoe can get.
However, all they really need are the last three outs in the 9th to move on to the Best 8!
Bottom 9th
#3 Touyama Yuuya comes in to play 3rd after #17 Kuniyoshi pinch ran for Touyama Kazuma.
Kanto Daiichi cannot put anything together, and is retired in order to end the game.
So Urasoe Shogyo advances to the Best 8 with the 3-1 victory! Okinawa Shogaku won the Spring Koshien. Could it be that we may have the Spring and Summer champions coming from the same prefecture??!
Taking a step back
I took a small break out of my workday to look at NHK's website covering the tournament.
While I know Asahi has their own website with a "map" of the teams, NHK's is more geographically correct.
I have been so focused on coverage, I didn't even realize that outside of Okinawa, there are no teams remaining in Kyushu, Shikoku, or the Chuugoku regions. And after Komadai Iwamizawa's loss, also no teams from Hokkaido.
Makes me kind of sad.
While I know Asahi has their own website with a "map" of the teams, NHK's is more geographically correct.
I have been so focused on coverage, I didn't even realize that outside of Okinawa, there are no teams remaining in Kyushu, Shikoku, or the Chuugoku regions. And after Komadai Iwamizawa's loss, also no teams from Hokkaido.
Makes me kind of sad.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Day 12 - Game 4 - Kagoshima Jitsugyo vs. Hotoku Gakuen (Higashi Hyogo)
The first day of the round of 16 matches ends with Kagoshima Jitsugyo, who last reached the Best 8 12 years ago facing Hotoku Gakuen, who has had success in the Spring Koshien, but the last time they reached the Best 8, they won it all... in 1981.
Kagoshima Jitsugyo got here by soundly defeating Nichidai Tsurugaoka 14-1, then outlasting Miyazaki Shogyo's ace Akagawa in 12, 4-1.
Hotoku Gakuen rallied from behind and needed a sayonara 2-run homerun by Inoue to defeat Niigata Kenou Kogyo. Then against Chiben Gakuen, they gave up a 2-run lead in the 9th and got a sayonara sac fly by Ujiie to win in the 10th.
Extra inning games tend to take a lot out of a team, even though in Kagoshima's case they had 2 days rest. One has to wonder how that will affect them.
For Hotoku, continuing to have to fight in late innings could be bad in the sense that they're using a lot of energy, but good in the sense that it builds confidence.
This game, I'll take the intangibles and choose Hotoku to advance.
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Kagoshima Jitsugyo
RF Nakao (9)
SS Uebou (6)
CF Morita (8)
C Minatozaki (2)
2B Fukunaga (4)
P Iwashita (10)
LF Fukuda (7)
1B Arikawa (13)
3B Tanoshiri (5)
Hotoku Gakuen (Higashi Hyogo)
2B Imura (4)
3B Saigou (5)
C Itoi (2)
CF Inoue (8)
P Chikada (1)
1B Ujiie (3)
LF Nakamura (7)
RF Nakagawa (13)
SS Momiyama (15)
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5:04 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Chikada gives up a one-out single to left. After a sac bunt, he walks Minatozaki. But he gets out of the small pinch by striking out Fukunaga.
Bottom 1st
Iwashita with the help of 2 K's sets Hotoku down in order.
Top 2nd
The Kagoshima batters are making contact early on pitches.
Iwashita lines one off Momiyama and into center. After a sac bunt, Iwashita strikes out Arikawa.
Then hits Tanoshiri... another pinch for Chikada, but Nakao grounds to 3rd to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
With one down, Chikada hits a bloop down the left field line. Tanoshiri, Uebou and Fukuda all converge on it, but it falls in between all of them!
Ujiie follows that up with a single to left! Runners at the corners for Nakamura!
And he delivers! He hits a ball deep to right. That's over Nakao's head! Chikada comes in to score! 1-0 Hotoku!
Nakagawa up now. He's swinging away. Count goes to 2-1.
SQUEEZE!!!
Nakagawa dives forward as the pitch goes outside! It's hard hit, but it's fair and down the 1st base line! Ujiie comes in to score! 2-0 Hotoku! And Nakamura is 90 feet from making it 3-0!
Momiyama continues the barrage! He lines one to left! Nakamura scores! Ah! The ball bounces off Fukuda and Momiyama advances to 2nd! 3-0 Hotoku!!!
Top 3rd
Chikada continues to struggle with his control. He opens the inning by walking Uebou After he's bunted over, he gets Minatozaki to ground to short. Almost out of the mess, Chikada walks Fukunaga. Runners at 1st and 2nd for Iwashita.
Iwashita with the comeback through the middle! Uebou rounding 3rd, heading home! Inoue up and throwing hard! Itoi with the ball dives to make the tag! Uebou slides around! Asks for the safe signal! No call! He dives to the plate! Itoi does too! Uebou's called out! Inning over! Nice play!
Bottom 3rd
One out Itoi. And after he makes the play at home, he turns around and drives one to left center! Morita runs back! That's off the top of the fence and bounces back into play! Itoi in with the triple!!
Inoue with a short pop to left! Uebou and Fukuda converge, but again it falls in between! Itoi scores! 4-1!
Top 4th
Chikada almost has a 1-2-3 inning, but plunks Tanoshiri for the 2nd time this game.
Bottom 4th
Iwashita comes back after those two shaky innings and retires the side.
Top 5th
As we approach the midpoint of the game, the lights turn on at Koshien.
Uebou starts the inning with his 2nd walk of the game. Chikada still has yet to get his control under control.
After a sac bunt, Minatozaki comes up and singles to right! Runners at the corners!
Fukunaga up to try and drive in at least a run. He hits a fly ball to center! And it's deep enough to get Uebou in with the sac fly! 4-1!
Bottom 5th
One down, Saigou gets his first single, a liner to center. Itoi pops it up to short. 2 down for Inoue.
And Inoue with the drive to left center! That's a one-hopper off the wall! Saigou running on contact, scores all the way from 1st! 5-1 Hotoku!
Iwashita walks Chikada! Runner at 1st and 2nd!
Ujiie though can't deliver another timely as he grounds to 3rd to end the inning. As we enter the break, Hotoku holds a 4-run lead. The big question will be how Chikada's pitching holds up.
Top 6th
Chikada seems to have gotten the message about his control - at least for this inning. He retires the side in order.
Bottom 6th
A one-out error by Fukunaga leads to nothing for Hotoku as Nakagawa is stranded at 2nd.
Top 7th
Nakao leads off the inning with a 4-pitch walk. He's moved along to 3rd by a bunt by Uebou and a fly to right.
But Chikada freezes Minatozaki on a 1-2 pitch!
Bottom 7th
Saigou leads off the inning with a ground ball to short. Uebou moves and makes the stop, but he can't get up to make the throw! Itoi bunts him along.
Inoue with another timely hit! He sends a bullet through the infield and into right! Saigou rounds 3rd! He going home! Nakao up with the ball. Throws on a rope back home! Minatozaki with the ball, tries to make the tag... safe!!! 6-1 Hotoku!
Hotoku continuing to put pressure on Kagoshima! Inoue takes off for 2nd and gets in safely! Chikada follow that with a single to left! Runners at the corners!
Iwashita struggles with Ujiie, but eventually gets him to strikeout looking.
But the first pitch to Nakamura is wild! Inoue walks home on the wild pitch! 7-1!
Nakamura pops out to end the inning, but the game continues to slip away from Kagoshima.
Top 8th
One down, Iwashita draws a walk. #1 Matsukubo pinch-hits for Fukuda. And he hits a liner to center! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Kagoshima!
Defensive changes mid-inning. Nagakawa moves from right to left, and #17 Morosawa takes over in right.
#15 Imafuku pinch-hits for Arikawa. But Chikada strikes him out.
Tanoshiri hoping to get a timely hit, and he hits a hard groundball to 1st. But Ujiie smothers the ball and makes the nice play at 1st for the 3rd out!
Bottom 8th
#3 Matsuo replaces PH Imafuku and goes to 3rd. Nakao moves from right to left and #1 Matsukubo moves to right.
Iwashita gets into trouble again as he gives up a triple to Imura with 2 down. But he comes back to freeze Saigou to end the inning.
Top 9th
Kagoshima down to their last 3 outs unless they can score 6 this inning.
Nakao leads it off with a single through the left side. But Uebou grounds to 2nd.
Morita comes up and takes a blast to left! Nakagawa runs back! Haita!!!!! Morita with the 2-run homerun! It's certainly not enough, but it's a start! 7-3!
But that would be all that Kagoshima would get. Minatozaki would pop-up to right, and #14 Katou pinch hitting for Fukunaga strikes out to end the game.
Hotoku Gakuen's adventure continues onto the Best 8 as they defeat Kagoshima Jitsugyou 7-3!
Kagoshima Jitsugyo got here by soundly defeating Nichidai Tsurugaoka 14-1, then outlasting Miyazaki Shogyo's ace Akagawa in 12, 4-1.
Hotoku Gakuen rallied from behind and needed a sayonara 2-run homerun by Inoue to defeat Niigata Kenou Kogyo. Then against Chiben Gakuen, they gave up a 2-run lead in the 9th and got a sayonara sac fly by Ujiie to win in the 10th.
Extra inning games tend to take a lot out of a team, even though in Kagoshima's case they had 2 days rest. One has to wonder how that will affect them.
For Hotoku, continuing to have to fight in late innings could be bad in the sense that they're using a lot of energy, but good in the sense that it builds confidence.
This game, I'll take the intangibles and choose Hotoku to advance.
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Kagoshima Jitsugyo
RF Nakao (9)
SS Uebou (6)
CF Morita (8)
C Minatozaki (2)
2B Fukunaga (4)
P Iwashita (10)
LF Fukuda (7)
1B Arikawa (13)
3B Tanoshiri (5)
Hotoku Gakuen (Higashi Hyogo)
2B Imura (4)
3B Saigou (5)
C Itoi (2)
CF Inoue (8)
P Chikada (1)
1B Ujiie (3)
LF Nakamura (7)
RF Nakagawa (13)
SS Momiyama (15)
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5:04 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Chikada gives up a one-out single to left. After a sac bunt, he walks Minatozaki. But he gets out of the small pinch by striking out Fukunaga.
Bottom 1st
Iwashita with the help of 2 K's sets Hotoku down in order.
Top 2nd
The Kagoshima batters are making contact early on pitches.
Iwashita lines one off Momiyama and into center. After a sac bunt, Iwashita strikes out Arikawa.
Then hits Tanoshiri... another pinch for Chikada, but Nakao grounds to 3rd to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
With one down, Chikada hits a bloop down the left field line. Tanoshiri, Uebou and Fukuda all converge on it, but it falls in between all of them!
Ujiie follows that up with a single to left! Runners at the corners for Nakamura!
And he delivers! He hits a ball deep to right. That's over Nakao's head! Chikada comes in to score! 1-0 Hotoku!
Nakagawa up now. He's swinging away. Count goes to 2-1.
SQUEEZE!!!
Nakagawa dives forward as the pitch goes outside! It's hard hit, but it's fair and down the 1st base line! Ujiie comes in to score! 2-0 Hotoku! And Nakamura is 90 feet from making it 3-0!
Momiyama continues the barrage! He lines one to left! Nakamura scores! Ah! The ball bounces off Fukuda and Momiyama advances to 2nd! 3-0 Hotoku!!!
Top 3rd
Chikada continues to struggle with his control. He opens the inning by walking Uebou After he's bunted over, he gets Minatozaki to ground to short. Almost out of the mess, Chikada walks Fukunaga. Runners at 1st and 2nd for Iwashita.
Iwashita with the comeback through the middle! Uebou rounding 3rd, heading home! Inoue up and throwing hard! Itoi with the ball dives to make the tag! Uebou slides around! Asks for the safe signal! No call! He dives to the plate! Itoi does too! Uebou's called out! Inning over! Nice play!
Bottom 3rd
One out Itoi. And after he makes the play at home, he turns around and drives one to left center! Morita runs back! That's off the top of the fence and bounces back into play! Itoi in with the triple!!
Inoue with a short pop to left! Uebou and Fukuda converge, but again it falls in between! Itoi scores! 4-1!
Top 4th
Chikada almost has a 1-2-3 inning, but plunks Tanoshiri for the 2nd time this game.
Bottom 4th
Iwashita comes back after those two shaky innings and retires the side.
Top 5th
As we approach the midpoint of the game, the lights turn on at Koshien.
Uebou starts the inning with his 2nd walk of the game. Chikada still has yet to get his control under control.
After a sac bunt, Minatozaki comes up and singles to right! Runners at the corners!
Fukunaga up to try and drive in at least a run. He hits a fly ball to center! And it's deep enough to get Uebou in with the sac fly! 4-1!
Bottom 5th
One down, Saigou gets his first single, a liner to center. Itoi pops it up to short. 2 down for Inoue.
And Inoue with the drive to left center! That's a one-hopper off the wall! Saigou running on contact, scores all the way from 1st! 5-1 Hotoku!
Iwashita walks Chikada! Runner at 1st and 2nd!
Ujiie though can't deliver another timely as he grounds to 3rd to end the inning. As we enter the break, Hotoku holds a 4-run lead. The big question will be how Chikada's pitching holds up.
Top 6th
Chikada seems to have gotten the message about his control - at least for this inning. He retires the side in order.
Bottom 6th
A one-out error by Fukunaga leads to nothing for Hotoku as Nakagawa is stranded at 2nd.
Top 7th
Nakao leads off the inning with a 4-pitch walk. He's moved along to 3rd by a bunt by Uebou and a fly to right.
But Chikada freezes Minatozaki on a 1-2 pitch!
Bottom 7th
Saigou leads off the inning with a ground ball to short. Uebou moves and makes the stop, but he can't get up to make the throw! Itoi bunts him along.
Inoue with another timely hit! He sends a bullet through the infield and into right! Saigou rounds 3rd! He going home! Nakao up with the ball. Throws on a rope back home! Minatozaki with the ball, tries to make the tag... safe!!! 6-1 Hotoku!
Hotoku continuing to put pressure on Kagoshima! Inoue takes off for 2nd and gets in safely! Chikada follow that with a single to left! Runners at the corners!
Iwashita struggles with Ujiie, but eventually gets him to strikeout looking.
But the first pitch to Nakamura is wild! Inoue walks home on the wild pitch! 7-1!
Nakamura pops out to end the inning, but the game continues to slip away from Kagoshima.
Top 8th
One down, Iwashita draws a walk. #1 Matsukubo pinch-hits for Fukuda. And he hits a liner to center! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Kagoshima!
Defensive changes mid-inning. Nagakawa moves from right to left, and #17 Morosawa takes over in right.
#15 Imafuku pinch-hits for Arikawa. But Chikada strikes him out.
Tanoshiri hoping to get a timely hit, and he hits a hard groundball to 1st. But Ujiie smothers the ball and makes the nice play at 1st for the 3rd out!
Bottom 8th
#3 Matsuo replaces PH Imafuku and goes to 3rd. Nakao moves from right to left and #1 Matsukubo moves to right.
Iwashita gets into trouble again as he gives up a triple to Imura with 2 down. But he comes back to freeze Saigou to end the inning.
Top 9th
Kagoshima down to their last 3 outs unless they can score 6 this inning.
Nakao leads it off with a single through the left side. But Uebou grounds to 2nd.
Morita comes up and takes a blast to left! Nakagawa runs back! Haita!!!!! Morita with the 2-run homerun! It's certainly not enough, but it's a start! 7-3!
But that would be all that Kagoshima would get. Minatozaki would pop-up to right, and #14 Katou pinch hitting for Fukunaga strikes out to end the game.
Hotoku Gakuen's adventure continues onto the Best 8 as they defeat Kagoshima Jitsugyou 7-3!
Day 12 - Game 3 - Chiben Wakayama vs. Komadai Iwamizawa (Kita Hokkaido)
The seconds half of games today has a team looking to return to the Best 8 versus a team whose brethren has won the entire thing and would love a chance to do it themselves.
Chiben Wakayama two years ago made a run to the Best 4 before falling to Komadai Tomakomai. Last year they were stunned in the first round against Sendai Ikuei. They're looking to return the team to prominence this year.
Komadai Iwamizawa is sister schools with Komadai Tomakomai who brought the Summer Koshien title to Hokkaido for 2 consecutive years, and had the games of the ages against Waseda Jitsugyo. Now they look to make the same run.
Chiben's road included a win against a very tough Saibi team from Ehime 3-0, then fell behind Kisaradzu Sougou of Higashi Chiba 2-1 before rallying to win 5-2.
Komadai's road had them holding on for dear life against Shimonoseki Kogyo in their first match to win 8-6. Then against Moriokadai Fuzoku, they were in a pitcher's duel for the first half of the game. But they wore Tokita, Morioka's (low-stamina) ace, down and that's when they broke out for their runs winning 8-3.
While Chiben Wakayama can generally be considered a strong team, Komadai has proven that it can hold its own too. The key to this game is two-fold.
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Chiben Wakayama
SS Urata (6)
P Shibata (1)
2B Katsuya (4)
1B Sakaguchi (3)
RF Morimoto (2)
LF Takahashi (7)
CF Tanbo (8)
C Hirano (13)
3B Nishikawa (18)
Komadai Iwamizawa (Kita Hokkaido)
CF Aoyama (8)
RF Kawamura (9)
LF Kodaira (7)
C Matsumoto (2)
3B Oikawa (5)
SS Furukawa (6)
1B Satou Shuuki (3)
P Itaki (1)
2B Takagi (4)
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2:12 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Itaki's control right from the get go is shaky. After working the count full, he gets leadoff batter Urata to hit a comebacker to him for the first out. But then, Shibata singles through the right side and Itaki hits Katsuya.
After a groundout to 2nd, he walks Morimoto and we have a manrui situation for Takahashi!
But he grounds out to 1st to end the inning! Itaki out of an early pinch!
Bottom 1st
Shibata yields a leadoff walk to Aoyama, but later in the inning he is erased as Kodaira grounds into the 4-6-3 DP.
Top 2nd
2 down, Nishikawa hits a grounder into the left side! Oikawa up with it, twirls and makes the throw! It's not in time, but it's a nice try nonetheless!
But on the next pitch, he's thrown out trying to steal 2nd.
Bottom 2nd
Matsumoto opens the inning with a comebacker that Shibata almost gets his glove on, but shoots into center.
Then Oikawa hits a popup down the right field line. Katsuya and Morimoto converge, Katsuya reaches out his glove and he misses it! And the ball falls fair! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Furukawa!
And he bunts the runners along into scoring position! Big chance for Komadai here in the 2nd!
Liner back at Shibata! He ducks as the ball barely sails over him and into center! Matsumoto scores and Komadai Iwamizawa takes the opening shot! 1-0!
Now Itaki up to help his own cause! Ah! He hits a short grounder to Katsuya. He twirls, makes the throw to 2nd for one. Urata's throw to 1st... in plenty of time to get Itaki! Double play!
But Komadai Iwamizawa has the lead!
Top 3rd
Itaki is throwing strikes now! 5 pitches and he's retired Chiben Wakayama 1-2-3!
Bottom 3rd
One down, Aoyama draws his 2nd consecutive walk. But then he's caught stealing during Kawamura's AB.
Kawamura then hits a grounder to Katsuya, but it bounces off of him as he charges to field it, and Kawamura is safe on the error!
No matter though as Shibata strikes out Kodaira.
Top 4th
Itaki continues to throw strikes against the Chiben batters getting ahead in the count. And for now, Chiben has no response as they are retired in order.
Bottom 4th
Furukawa draws a two-out walk, and steals 2nd thereafter, but is left stranded.
Top 5th
Tanbo leads off the inning with a liner over Oikawa's head and into left for a double! After a sac bunt, 1st year player Nishikawa steps up.
Itaki's starts to lose his control again! Nishikawa goes ahead 2-1 and then he hits a high fly to right! Kawamura runs back, then runs forward! He clamors to get it but it drops in! Kawamura must've been fooled by the wind! Tanbo comes around to score and the game is tied! 1-1!
Urata looking for his first hit is denied as he pops up to 2nd.
But Shibata has other plans! He takes one the other way into right! Nishikawa rounds 3rd and he scores! Chiben Wakayama takes the lead 2-1!!!!
Bottom 5th
Shibata continues to be in good form as he retires the side heading into the break.
Top 6th
It appears the break helped out Itaki a little. As the inning progresses his control gets better, and although he gives up a single to Takahashi, he gets through the inning with little trouble.
Bottom 6th
Kawamoto starts the inning well, getting ahead 3-1. But he swings away on what would have been ball 4, and does the same to strike out.
Kodaira continues to swing early and often and pops out to short.
Matsumoto is more patient though and after fighting through a 9-pitch AB, grounds one to 3rd. Nishikawa up with the throw. It's low and Sakaguchi can't make the pick! E3! That brings up Oikawa.
And he hits a drive to left! Takahasi chases after it, Oikawa is making the homerun signal!
But it's just foul!!! Ah! Too bad!
But the next pitch he drives to center! That's driven hard! Tanbo runs back! And that's off the top of the fence! Matsumoto scores on Oikawa's triple!! Komadai has tied the game! 2-2!!
That's going to be it for Shibata. #9 Hayashi comes to relieve him on the mound. Shibata shifts to right, and Morimoto heads behind the plate.
But Furukawa doesn't care! He hits one past a diving Nishikawa and into left! Oikawa scores and Komadai has the lead! 3-2!!!!!
Then Shuuki hits a liner to left! Furukawa rounds 3rd. He's going home! But Tanbo relays it to Nishikawa who fires it home in plenty of time to get Furukawa! 3 outs!
Ah!! I don't think they should have sent Furukawa home! And while they have scored 2 to take the lead, a 1-run lead against Chiben Wakayama is nothing at all.
Top 7th
Itaki shows little signs of fatigue right now as he fire balls into the strike zone. Chiben Wakayama is one again retired in order.
Bottom 7th
Hayashi starts the inning well, striking out Itaki. But then last batter Takagi drives one to left! That's over Takahashi and to the wall! Takagi flies around the bases, but is stopped at 2nd!
Ara? That's it for Hayashi. Now Chiben's real ace, #10 Okada (a 2nd year player, which is why I think he has the #10 instead of #1) takes the mound.
And he starts off by giving a 4-pitch walk to Aoyama! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Kawamura! And although he grounds to 3rd, the advances the runners 90 feet.
Kodaira, looking for his first hit steps up. Perhaps he'll be patient this time...
Okada doesn't give him time, firing 2 strikes into the zone to get ahead of him. And while he holds on for one more pitch, he strikes out on a fastball away.
Top 8th
This is the critical time for Komadai and Itaki. Okada is in the game, so they cannot afford to give up runs. Also this is the time that Itaki gets fatigued. This could be disastrous for Komadai Iwamizawa if they're not careful.
And Shibata starts the inning with a soft liner to right! Katsuya follows that up with a liner to center!
Uh oh.......
Conference on the mound. Sakaguchi up.
First pitch Sakaguchi drives to center! He's got his fist raised!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And there you have it. Basically the worst case scenario for Komadai Iwamizawa just happened in the span of less than 5 minutes. Sakaguchi hits a no-doubt-about-it 3 run HR, and Chiben Wakayama has the 5-3 lead!
Morimoto continues the onslaught, shooting one up the middle. Takahashi up now. Puts the bunt down. Itaki goes for 2nd. Ah!! Itaki's throw is high! All safe!
Tanbo up. Puts the bunt down! Itaki gets it! Throw to 1st is wild! Morimoto comes home! 6-3!
Okada's up now. And Itaki hits him! Runners at 1st and 2nd!
And that's it for Itaki. #10 Numadate comes in to take over, while Itaki shifts to right. Still no down, and manrui for Nishikawa.
He grounds one to 2nd. Takagi goes home for the force. One out.
But Numadate walks Urata! Tanbo walks home and now it's 7-3!
Shibata with the chopper up the middle! That's through to center! Okada scores, Nishikawa scores! It's 9-3!! And then it suddenly dawns on me.
The reason why the Komadai manager always left Itaki in the game, wasn't because he was the ace...
...it was because he had NO OTHER PITCHERS!
And as I thought this, Katsuya takes the first pitch to deep center! Aoyama runs back. To the wall! And that one is gone. Katsuya with the 3-run homerun, and the game is blasted open 12-3.
While it's impressive that Chiben has gone around the lineup, you can't help but feel bad for Komadai Iwamizawa. The game has completely fallen apart around them. All the manager can do now is to try and get them to the end of the game.
And to that extent, he pulls out Numadate and brings in #11 Ogawa.
With no pitchers, and Sakaguchi up... it was no surprise what would happen.
Yup. A pitch absolutely crushed to left, and Sakaguchi's 2nd homerun of the innning. 13-3.
Thankfully, Ogawa settles down, and while he gives up a single to Takahashi, he gets Komadai out of the inning.
Bottom 8th
Komadai gets a two-out walk by Furukawa and a single by Shuuki, but that's all the team can muster in their state.
Top 9th
It'll be Ogawa's job to get the team home now.
He gets Okada to strike out. But then walks pinch-hitter Hazama (#11). But Ogawa's first pickoff throw is wild and Hazama advances all the way to 3rd.
Ogawa composes himself though and strikes out Urata. 2 down.
Now if Ogawa can get Shibata out, that would avoid the heart of the Chiben lineup.
Shibata though takes a pitch down the left field line for a double, scoring Hazama. 14-3. So Ogawa will have to face at least Katsuya.
Katsuya hits a scorcher to 1st. And it somehow gets under Shuuki and into right. Shibata scores on the error by Shuuki. 15-3.
And up comes Sakaguchi. And while he does hit the ball hard, it's a high popup and secured by Takagi for the final out.
Bottom 9th
Komadai Iwamizawa is retired in order.
This game leaves me a bit somber. It was a great game for 7 innings before everything fell completely apart. While certainly not as bad as the Teikyo-Chiben Wakayama game 2 years ago, this one still hurts in the sense that a team suffered a systemic collapse.
That's it. I'm done with this game.
Chiben Wakayama two years ago made a run to the Best 4 before falling to Komadai Tomakomai. Last year they were stunned in the first round against Sendai Ikuei. They're looking to return the team to prominence this year.
Komadai Iwamizawa is sister schools with Komadai Tomakomai who brought the Summer Koshien title to Hokkaido for 2 consecutive years, and had the games of the ages against Waseda Jitsugyo. Now they look to make the same run.
Chiben's road included a win against a very tough Saibi team from Ehime 3-0, then fell behind Kisaradzu Sougou of Higashi Chiba 2-1 before rallying to win 5-2.
Komadai's road had them holding on for dear life against Shimonoseki Kogyo in their first match to win 8-6. Then against Moriokadai Fuzoku, they were in a pitcher's duel for the first half of the game. But they wore Tokita, Morioka's (low-stamina) ace, down and that's when they broke out for their runs winning 8-3.
While Chiben Wakayama can generally be considered a strong team, Komadai has proven that it can hold its own too. The key to this game is two-fold.
- Can Itaki get a hold of his control against the Chiben Wakayama squad?
- Can the Komadai batters wear the Chiben pitchers down?
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Chiben Wakayama
SS Urata (6)
P Shibata (1)
2B Katsuya (4)
1B Sakaguchi (3)
RF Morimoto (2)
LF Takahashi (7)
CF Tanbo (8)
C Hirano (13)
3B Nishikawa (18)
Komadai Iwamizawa (Kita Hokkaido)
CF Aoyama (8)
RF Kawamura (9)
LF Kodaira (7)
C Matsumoto (2)
3B Oikawa (5)
SS Furukawa (6)
1B Satou Shuuki (3)
P Itaki (1)
2B Takagi (4)
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2:12 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Itaki's control right from the get go is shaky. After working the count full, he gets leadoff batter Urata to hit a comebacker to him for the first out. But then, Shibata singles through the right side and Itaki hits Katsuya.
After a groundout to 2nd, he walks Morimoto and we have a manrui situation for Takahashi!
But he grounds out to 1st to end the inning! Itaki out of an early pinch!
Bottom 1st
Shibata yields a leadoff walk to Aoyama, but later in the inning he is erased as Kodaira grounds into the 4-6-3 DP.
Top 2nd
2 down, Nishikawa hits a grounder into the left side! Oikawa up with it, twirls and makes the throw! It's not in time, but it's a nice try nonetheless!
But on the next pitch, he's thrown out trying to steal 2nd.
Bottom 2nd
Matsumoto opens the inning with a comebacker that Shibata almost gets his glove on, but shoots into center.
Then Oikawa hits a popup down the right field line. Katsuya and Morimoto converge, Katsuya reaches out his glove and he misses it! And the ball falls fair! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Furukawa!
And he bunts the runners along into scoring position! Big chance for Komadai here in the 2nd!
Liner back at Shibata! He ducks as the ball barely sails over him and into center! Matsumoto scores and Komadai Iwamizawa takes the opening shot! 1-0!
Now Itaki up to help his own cause! Ah! He hits a short grounder to Katsuya. He twirls, makes the throw to 2nd for one. Urata's throw to 1st... in plenty of time to get Itaki! Double play!
But Komadai Iwamizawa has the lead!
Top 3rd
Itaki is throwing strikes now! 5 pitches and he's retired Chiben Wakayama 1-2-3!
Bottom 3rd
One down, Aoyama draws his 2nd consecutive walk. But then he's caught stealing during Kawamura's AB.
Kawamura then hits a grounder to Katsuya, but it bounces off of him as he charges to field it, and Kawamura is safe on the error!
No matter though as Shibata strikes out Kodaira.
Top 4th
Itaki continues to throw strikes against the Chiben batters getting ahead in the count. And for now, Chiben has no response as they are retired in order.
Bottom 4th
Furukawa draws a two-out walk, and steals 2nd thereafter, but is left stranded.
Top 5th
Tanbo leads off the inning with a liner over Oikawa's head and into left for a double! After a sac bunt, 1st year player Nishikawa steps up.
Itaki's starts to lose his control again! Nishikawa goes ahead 2-1 and then he hits a high fly to right! Kawamura runs back, then runs forward! He clamors to get it but it drops in! Kawamura must've been fooled by the wind! Tanbo comes around to score and the game is tied! 1-1!
Urata looking for his first hit is denied as he pops up to 2nd.
But Shibata has other plans! He takes one the other way into right! Nishikawa rounds 3rd and he scores! Chiben Wakayama takes the lead 2-1!!!!
Bottom 5th
Shibata continues to be in good form as he retires the side heading into the break.
Top 6th
It appears the break helped out Itaki a little. As the inning progresses his control gets better, and although he gives up a single to Takahashi, he gets through the inning with little trouble.
Bottom 6th
Kawamoto starts the inning well, getting ahead 3-1. But he swings away on what would have been ball 4, and does the same to strike out.
Kodaira continues to swing early and often and pops out to short.
Matsumoto is more patient though and after fighting through a 9-pitch AB, grounds one to 3rd. Nishikawa up with the throw. It's low and Sakaguchi can't make the pick! E3! That brings up Oikawa.
And he hits a drive to left! Takahasi chases after it, Oikawa is making the homerun signal!
But it's just foul!!! Ah! Too bad!
But the next pitch he drives to center! That's driven hard! Tanbo runs back! And that's off the top of the fence! Matsumoto scores on Oikawa's triple!! Komadai has tied the game! 2-2!!
That's going to be it for Shibata. #9 Hayashi comes to relieve him on the mound. Shibata shifts to right, and Morimoto heads behind the plate.
But Furukawa doesn't care! He hits one past a diving Nishikawa and into left! Oikawa scores and Komadai has the lead! 3-2!!!!!
Then Shuuki hits a liner to left! Furukawa rounds 3rd. He's going home! But Tanbo relays it to Nishikawa who fires it home in plenty of time to get Furukawa! 3 outs!
Ah!! I don't think they should have sent Furukawa home! And while they have scored 2 to take the lead, a 1-run lead against Chiben Wakayama is nothing at all.
Top 7th
Itaki shows little signs of fatigue right now as he fire balls into the strike zone. Chiben Wakayama is one again retired in order.
Bottom 7th
Hayashi starts the inning well, striking out Itaki. But then last batter Takagi drives one to left! That's over Takahashi and to the wall! Takagi flies around the bases, but is stopped at 2nd!
Ara? That's it for Hayashi. Now Chiben's real ace, #10 Okada (a 2nd year player, which is why I think he has the #10 instead of #1) takes the mound.
And he starts off by giving a 4-pitch walk to Aoyama! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Kawamura! And although he grounds to 3rd, the advances the runners 90 feet.
Kodaira, looking for his first hit steps up. Perhaps he'll be patient this time...
Okada doesn't give him time, firing 2 strikes into the zone to get ahead of him. And while he holds on for one more pitch, he strikes out on a fastball away.
Top 8th
This is the critical time for Komadai and Itaki. Okada is in the game, so they cannot afford to give up runs. Also this is the time that Itaki gets fatigued. This could be disastrous for Komadai Iwamizawa if they're not careful.
And Shibata starts the inning with a soft liner to right! Katsuya follows that up with a liner to center!
Uh oh.......
Conference on the mound. Sakaguchi up.
First pitch Sakaguchi drives to center! He's got his fist raised!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And there you have it. Basically the worst case scenario for Komadai Iwamizawa just happened in the span of less than 5 minutes. Sakaguchi hits a no-doubt-about-it 3 run HR, and Chiben Wakayama has the 5-3 lead!
Morimoto continues the onslaught, shooting one up the middle. Takahashi up now. Puts the bunt down. Itaki goes for 2nd. Ah!! Itaki's throw is high! All safe!
Tanbo up. Puts the bunt down! Itaki gets it! Throw to 1st is wild! Morimoto comes home! 6-3!
Okada's up now. And Itaki hits him! Runners at 1st and 2nd!
And that's it for Itaki. #10 Numadate comes in to take over, while Itaki shifts to right. Still no down, and manrui for Nishikawa.
He grounds one to 2nd. Takagi goes home for the force. One out.
But Numadate walks Urata! Tanbo walks home and now it's 7-3!
Shibata with the chopper up the middle! That's through to center! Okada scores, Nishikawa scores! It's 9-3!! And then it suddenly dawns on me.
The reason why the Komadai manager always left Itaki in the game, wasn't because he was the ace...
...it was because he had NO OTHER PITCHERS!
And as I thought this, Katsuya takes the first pitch to deep center! Aoyama runs back. To the wall! And that one is gone. Katsuya with the 3-run homerun, and the game is blasted open 12-3.
While it's impressive that Chiben has gone around the lineup, you can't help but feel bad for Komadai Iwamizawa. The game has completely fallen apart around them. All the manager can do now is to try and get them to the end of the game.
And to that extent, he pulls out Numadate and brings in #11 Ogawa.
With no pitchers, and Sakaguchi up... it was no surprise what would happen.
Yup. A pitch absolutely crushed to left, and Sakaguchi's 2nd homerun of the innning. 13-3.
Thankfully, Ogawa settles down, and while he gives up a single to Takahashi, he gets Komadai out of the inning.
Bottom 8th
Komadai gets a two-out walk by Furukawa and a single by Shuuki, but that's all the team can muster in their state.
Top 9th
It'll be Ogawa's job to get the team home now.
He gets Okada to strike out. But then walks pinch-hitter Hazama (#11). But Ogawa's first pickoff throw is wild and Hazama advances all the way to 3rd.
Ogawa composes himself though and strikes out Urata. 2 down.
Now if Ogawa can get Shibata out, that would avoid the heart of the Chiben lineup.
Shibata though takes a pitch down the left field line for a double, scoring Hazama. 14-3. So Ogawa will have to face at least Katsuya.
Katsuya hits a scorcher to 1st. And it somehow gets under Shuuki and into right. Shibata scores on the error by Shuuki. 15-3.
And up comes Sakaguchi. And while he does hit the ball hard, it's a high popup and secured by Takagi for the final out.
Bottom 9th
Komadai Iwamizawa is retired in order.
This game leaves me a bit somber. It was a great game for 7 innings before everything fell completely apart. While certainly not as bad as the Teikyo-Chiben Wakayama game 2 years ago, this one still hurts in the sense that a team suffered a systemic collapse.
That's it. I'm done with this game.
Day 12 - Game 2 - Kurashiki Shogyo (Okayama) vs. Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
Game 2 has a team in Kurashiki Shogyo who would love to make the trip to the Best 8. But standing in their way is up and coming powerhouse Tokoha Kikugawa.
In their first games, Kurashiki scrapped together two runs to defeat Saga Shogyo 2-0. Tokoha Kikugawa needed a mental lapse in the 8th inning to score the go-ahead run against a strong Fukuchiyama Seibi team. This was in spite of Tokoha Kikugawa having only 3 hits the entire game.
Tokoha Kikugawa has made radical changes to the order of it's lineup. More importantly, it isn't ace Togari that's starting. Instead it's #11 Hagiwara that will make taking the mound. Hagiwara, interestingly enough did not pitch in the prefectural qualifiers.
Unlike last game, I do have an opinion here. I'd like to see Tokoha Kikugawa do well. I was impressed when they won the Spring Koshien last year and rooted for them every time they come here.
But the game against Fukuchiyama Seibi made me a bit concerned. The fact that they could only put together 3 hits the entire game, plus needing 2 errors on one play to get the tying and winning run across is disconcerting - even though Fukuchiyama Seibi is a very good team.
In addition, I'm not sure I like sending out Hagiwara. Any team that has tried using a pitcher that hasn't been used before has been met with not very good results. Also, Tokoha's pitching has suffered since last year's ace Tanaka graduated.
I hate having to do this, but I'm going to choose Kurashiki Shogyo to advance to the Best 8. At least it's a team from Okayama.
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Kurashiki Shogyo (Okayama)
CF Yuasa (8)
3B Kondou (5)
SS Kanetani (6)
LF Oka (10)
1B Uemori (3)
2B Shintani (4)
RF Itano (9)
C Makihara (2)
P Kimoto (1)
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
SS Sakai (6)
LF Matsumoto (18)
3B Maeda (5)
RF Nakagawa (9)
CF Itou (8)
1B Ueshiima (3)
P Hagiwara (11)
C Tochigi (2)
2B Machida (4)
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11:35 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Yuasa starts the game with a liner past a diving Maeda and up the left field line for a double! Kondou then puts down the safety bunt! Maeda gets to it, but the throw to 1st isn't in time!
Early trouble for Tokoha as runners at the corners for Kanetani!
And he shoots a grounder through to left! Yuasa scores! Just like that it's 1-0 Kurashiki!
Ah! Oka walks! Manrui now for Uemori!
AH! Uemori takes the first pitch to center! Itou runs back! But the ball is over his head and to the wall! Kondou scores! Kanetani comes around to score! It's 3-0 Kurashiki!!
Runners at 2nd and 3rd for Shintani.... and still no down!
SQUEEZE!!!
Shintani puts down the squeeze! Maeda up with it, but his only play is to first! Oka scores! 4-0!!
Runner at 3rd for Itano.
SQUEEZE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!
Itano puts down another squeeze! And again, Hagiwara gets it, but his only play is to first! Uemori scores!
IT'S 5-0 KURASHIKI!!!!!
Hagiwara finally gets the 3rd out as Makihara grounds to short, but the damage is severe. Kurashiki has crippled Tokoha Kikugawa early putting them down 5-0 before they even step to the plate!
Bottom 1st
Two down, Maeda gets a single through to left. But that's all they can respond with this inning.
Top 2nd
Hagiwara looks better this inning, getting a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 2nd
Ueshiima gets a one-out single to start the inning. But then he gets picked off 1st! You certainly can't do that down 5! And Kimoto strikes out Hagiwara to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Hagiwara retires the first 2 batters, and is about to retire the 3rd when Uemori's grounder to 3rd is rushed big time by Maeda and several-hops Ueshima and goes by him! Uemori ends up at 2nd! Then he gives up a 4-pitch walk to Shintani. Runners at 1st and 2nd for Itano.
And he singles to center! Uemori rounds 3rd and heads home! The throw by Itou isn't high, but somehow it goes by everyone! Runners now at 2nd and 3rd and now Kurashiki leads 6-0!!
Bottom 3rd
Kimoto continues to look good on the mound. He retires Tokoha in order.
Top 4th
Yay! "Zankoku na tenshi no tese" is playing for Kimoto. And just like last game, he strikes out.
One down for Yuasa, and he grounds one to short. Sakai with the throw, but it's high and pulls Ueshima off the bag! Luckily for Togari, they throw out Yuasa trying to steal 2nd.
Bottom 4th
Maeda gets a one-out liner to center. Then he steals 2nd during Nakagawa's AB. Tokoha continues to be aggressive as they then put on the hit-and run! Nakagawa grounds to 2nd, but Maeda advances to 3rd.
2 down for Itou. Tokoha would really like to get one back here.
But Kimoto slams the door with a high fastball that Itou chases after!
Top 5th
Nojima is doing well in relief. He retires Kurashiki in order. But Tokoha needs it's offense to get started.
Bottom 5th
Ueshima starts the 5th with a single to center. Oddly enough, only two people account for all 4 of Tokoha's hits - Maeda and Uejima.
And maybe even odder is that Tokoha elects to bunt Ueshima along. Perhaps they're looking to just chip away at the lead.
Tochigi grounds to short. But Kanetani's throw to first is short and gets by Uemori! Ueshima walks in! 6-1!
And the weirdest fact of all is that they've scored all their runs via the error!
Runners on 1st and 2nd for Sakai. He grounds to 1st and the runners advance 90 feet.
2 down for 1st-year player Matsumoto.
First pitch lined to left! Tochigi scores! Machida rounds 3rd, he scores!! Matsumoto with the first 2 RBI's for Tokoha Kikugawa! 6-3!!
Hit-and-run!! Maeda makes contact and singles through the left side! Runners at the corners!
Nakagawa up now. Drive to right! Itano running to the wall! It's off the wall! Matsumoto scores! Maeda at 3rd! And Matsumoto is at 1st?! Oh, he rounded 1st awkwardly. But another run scores and it's 6-4!!
Itou up now. He gets a hold of one! Driven to left! Oka running to the wall! He collides with the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Itou has hit a 3-run homerun and Tokoha Kikugawa has scored 7 runs to erase the deficit and take the lead!!!!!!! 7-6!!!!! Shinjirarenai!!!!
Right now, I feel relieved that Tokoha has taken the lead, even though I picked against them earlier. I want them to win, but the figures seemed to point to something different. Thank God they're proving my prediction wrong.
Uemoto comes up again as the 10th batter to the plate. And he singles to right! How long can Tokoha keep this up?
Nojima strikes out to end the inning, but it's a new ballgame now as we head to the break! Tokoha came in with the 6-run deficit, but have come back to take the 7-6 lead!
Top 6th
Kurashiki seems undeterred by the turn of events. Shintani leads off the first by hitting a single to left. He's bunted over by Itano. One down for Makihara.
And Makihara with a chopper up the middle! That's through to center! Shintani rounds 3rd, and he scores! Kurashiki comes right back and ties it up! 7-7!!!!
Yuasa now with the short chopper! Sakai fields it, but cant make the throw in time! Runners at the corners!
AH! Wild pitch! Tochigi keeps it in front, but Yuasa advances to 2nd!
Fortunately, Nojima gets Kondou to groud to 2nd, and the game remains tied.
Bottom 6th
Kimoto settles back down and retires Tokoha in order. Probably a relief to get that done.
Top 7th
Kanetani hits a grounder to 3rd. Maeda up with it but his throw isn't good again! Kanetani is on with another error by Maeda!
But Kurashiki elects not to bunt! Oka swings away and pops out to 2nd! And the batters keep on swinging away. Uemori grounds to 3rd and Shintani flies to left.
Bottom 7th
All of Tokoha's batters hit towering popups in the infield. I think they have to remember that the game is still tied.
Top 8th
Nojima is doing a great job in relief! After getting Itano to ground to short, he strikes out the next 2 batters to retire the side!
Bottom 8th
Itou starts the inning. He hits a grounder to Kondou, but his throw is wide and into foul territory! And Itou is in at 2nd with the go-ahead run!
AH! Ueshima hits the first pitch! It's traveling back! Oka running back! That's off the wall! Itou comes around. Tokoha Kikugawa has the lead again! 8-7!!
Now Tokoha decides to bunt. Nojima moves Ueshima to 3rd. Tochigi up now.
SQUEEZE!!!! Foul!!!!!!
Kitano does a pitchout, but Tochigi gets a hold of it and bunts it foul!
But the next pitch he drives down the right field line!!! Ueshima comes in to score! 9-7!!
Machida steps up. He swings hard! That's a drive to center! Yuasa running back to the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The number 9 batter, Yuasa, hits a 2-run homerun to dead center field! That ball was crushed by Machida! And now Tokoha Kikugawa leads 11-7!!!!
Top 9th
Yuasa grounds one to 1st. Ueshima with it, toss to Nojima, loses it! Yuasa advances to 2nd!
#7 Miyake pinch-hits for Kondou. Grounder to 2nd! Machida up with it, and Yuasa is caught between 2nd and 3rd! They have him in a rundown, they apply the tag, but the umpire calls no tag! Yuasa scrambles back to 2nd!
Runners at 1st and 2nd for Kanetani. But he pops it up to 2nd! That's one down.
Oka up. He hits a drive to deep left center! That's all the way to the wall! Yuasa scores! Miyake comes around to score! 2-run double by Oka and it's now 11-9!!!!!
#16 Kanada comes in to pinch hit for Uemori. He hits a grounder to short. But Sakai's throw is in the dirt! Ueshima with the pick and... he's out! 2 down for Kurashiki!
Shintani, the last chance right now. Chopper! High bounce! Sakai leaps up! He has it! Comes down, makes the throw! Shintani dives!
OUT!!!!
Shintani's thrown out at first and Tokoha Kikugawa has come back from a 6 run deficit to defeat Kurashiki Shogyo 11-9! What a roller-coaster game this was between the two teams! Kurashiki bolting out to the early lead. Tokoha rallying in the 5th to erase the deficit and take the lead themselves! Kurashiki coming back to tie the game again. And finally Tokoha putting it away in the 8th, capped off by a home run by their #9 batter!
I'm out of breath...
In their first games, Kurashiki scrapped together two runs to defeat Saga Shogyo 2-0. Tokoha Kikugawa needed a mental lapse in the 8th inning to score the go-ahead run against a strong Fukuchiyama Seibi team. This was in spite of Tokoha Kikugawa having only 3 hits the entire game.
Tokoha Kikugawa has made radical changes to the order of it's lineup. More importantly, it isn't ace Togari that's starting. Instead it's #11 Hagiwara that will make taking the mound. Hagiwara, interestingly enough did not pitch in the prefectural qualifiers.
Unlike last game, I do have an opinion here. I'd like to see Tokoha Kikugawa do well. I was impressed when they won the Spring Koshien last year and rooted for them every time they come here.
But the game against Fukuchiyama Seibi made me a bit concerned. The fact that they could only put together 3 hits the entire game, plus needing 2 errors on one play to get the tying and winning run across is disconcerting - even though Fukuchiyama Seibi is a very good team.
In addition, I'm not sure I like sending out Hagiwara. Any team that has tried using a pitcher that hasn't been used before has been met with not very good results. Also, Tokoha's pitching has suffered since last year's ace Tanaka graduated.
I hate having to do this, but I'm going to choose Kurashiki Shogyo to advance to the Best 8. At least it's a team from Okayama.
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Kurashiki Shogyo (Okayama)
CF Yuasa (8)
3B Kondou (5)
SS Kanetani (6)
LF Oka (10)
1B Uemori (3)
2B Shintani (4)
RF Itano (9)
C Makihara (2)
P Kimoto (1)
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
SS Sakai (6)
LF Matsumoto (18)
3B Maeda (5)
RF Nakagawa (9)
CF Itou (8)
1B Ueshiima (3)
P Hagiwara (11)
C Tochigi (2)
2B Machida (4)
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11:35 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Yuasa starts the game with a liner past a diving Maeda and up the left field line for a double! Kondou then puts down the safety bunt! Maeda gets to it, but the throw to 1st isn't in time!
Early trouble for Tokoha as runners at the corners for Kanetani!
And he shoots a grounder through to left! Yuasa scores! Just like that it's 1-0 Kurashiki!
Ah! Oka walks! Manrui now for Uemori!
AH! Uemori takes the first pitch to center! Itou runs back! But the ball is over his head and to the wall! Kondou scores! Kanetani comes around to score! It's 3-0 Kurashiki!!
Runners at 2nd and 3rd for Shintani.... and still no down!
SQUEEZE!!!
Shintani puts down the squeeze! Maeda up with it, but his only play is to first! Oka scores! 4-0!!
Runner at 3rd for Itano.
SQUEEZE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!
Itano puts down another squeeze! And again, Hagiwara gets it, but his only play is to first! Uemori scores!
IT'S 5-0 KURASHIKI!!!!!
Hagiwara finally gets the 3rd out as Makihara grounds to short, but the damage is severe. Kurashiki has crippled Tokoha Kikugawa early putting them down 5-0 before they even step to the plate!
Bottom 1st
Two down, Maeda gets a single through to left. But that's all they can respond with this inning.
Top 2nd
Hagiwara looks better this inning, getting a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 2nd
Ueshiima gets a one-out single to start the inning. But then he gets picked off 1st! You certainly can't do that down 5! And Kimoto strikes out Hagiwara to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Hagiwara retires the first 2 batters, and is about to retire the 3rd when Uemori's grounder to 3rd is rushed big time by Maeda and several-hops Ueshima and goes by him! Uemori ends up at 2nd! Then he gives up a 4-pitch walk to Shintani. Runners at 1st and 2nd for Itano.
And he singles to center! Uemori rounds 3rd and heads home! The throw by Itou isn't high, but somehow it goes by everyone! Runners now at 2nd and 3rd and now Kurashiki leads 6-0!!
Bottom 3rd
Kimoto continues to look good on the mound. He retires Tokoha in order.
Top 4th
Yay! "Zankoku na tenshi no tese" is playing for Kimoto. And just like last game, he strikes out.
One down for Yuasa, and he grounds one to short. Sakai with the throw, but it's high and pulls Ueshima off the bag! Luckily for Togari, they throw out Yuasa trying to steal 2nd.
Bottom 4th
Maeda gets a one-out liner to center. Then he steals 2nd during Nakagawa's AB. Tokoha continues to be aggressive as they then put on the hit-and run! Nakagawa grounds to 2nd, but Maeda advances to 3rd.
2 down for Itou. Tokoha would really like to get one back here.
But Kimoto slams the door with a high fastball that Itou chases after!
Top 5th
Nojima is doing well in relief. He retires Kurashiki in order. But Tokoha needs it's offense to get started.
Bottom 5th
Ueshima starts the 5th with a single to center. Oddly enough, only two people account for all 4 of Tokoha's hits - Maeda and Uejima.
And maybe even odder is that Tokoha elects to bunt Ueshima along. Perhaps they're looking to just chip away at the lead.
Tochigi grounds to short. But Kanetani's throw to first is short and gets by Uemori! Ueshima walks in! 6-1!
And the weirdest fact of all is that they've scored all their runs via the error!
Runners on 1st and 2nd for Sakai. He grounds to 1st and the runners advance 90 feet.
2 down for 1st-year player Matsumoto.
First pitch lined to left! Tochigi scores! Machida rounds 3rd, he scores!! Matsumoto with the first 2 RBI's for Tokoha Kikugawa! 6-3!!
Hit-and-run!! Maeda makes contact and singles through the left side! Runners at the corners!
Nakagawa up now. Drive to right! Itano running to the wall! It's off the wall! Matsumoto scores! Maeda at 3rd! And Matsumoto is at 1st?! Oh, he rounded 1st awkwardly. But another run scores and it's 6-4!!
Itou up now. He gets a hold of one! Driven to left! Oka running to the wall! He collides with the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Itou has hit a 3-run homerun and Tokoha Kikugawa has scored 7 runs to erase the deficit and take the lead!!!!!!! 7-6!!!!! Shinjirarenai!!!!
Right now, I feel relieved that Tokoha has taken the lead, even though I picked against them earlier. I want them to win, but the figures seemed to point to something different. Thank God they're proving my prediction wrong.
Uemoto comes up again as the 10th batter to the plate. And he singles to right! How long can Tokoha keep this up?
Nojima strikes out to end the inning, but it's a new ballgame now as we head to the break! Tokoha came in with the 6-run deficit, but have come back to take the 7-6 lead!
Top 6th
Kurashiki seems undeterred by the turn of events. Shintani leads off the first by hitting a single to left. He's bunted over by Itano. One down for Makihara.
And Makihara with a chopper up the middle! That's through to center! Shintani rounds 3rd, and he scores! Kurashiki comes right back and ties it up! 7-7!!!!
Yuasa now with the short chopper! Sakai fields it, but cant make the throw in time! Runners at the corners!
AH! Wild pitch! Tochigi keeps it in front, but Yuasa advances to 2nd!
Fortunately, Nojima gets Kondou to groud to 2nd, and the game remains tied.
Bottom 6th
Kimoto settles back down and retires Tokoha in order. Probably a relief to get that done.
Top 7th
Kanetani hits a grounder to 3rd. Maeda up with it but his throw isn't good again! Kanetani is on with another error by Maeda!
But Kurashiki elects not to bunt! Oka swings away and pops out to 2nd! And the batters keep on swinging away. Uemori grounds to 3rd and Shintani flies to left.
Bottom 7th
All of Tokoha's batters hit towering popups in the infield. I think they have to remember that the game is still tied.
Top 8th
Nojima is doing a great job in relief! After getting Itano to ground to short, he strikes out the next 2 batters to retire the side!
Bottom 8th
Itou starts the inning. He hits a grounder to Kondou, but his throw is wide and into foul territory! And Itou is in at 2nd with the go-ahead run!
AH! Ueshima hits the first pitch! It's traveling back! Oka running back! That's off the wall! Itou comes around. Tokoha Kikugawa has the lead again! 8-7!!
Now Tokoha decides to bunt. Nojima moves Ueshima to 3rd. Tochigi up now.
SQUEEZE!!!! Foul!!!!!!
Kitano does a pitchout, but Tochigi gets a hold of it and bunts it foul!
But the next pitch he drives down the right field line!!! Ueshima comes in to score! 9-7!!
Machida steps up. He swings hard! That's a drive to center! Yuasa running back to the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The number 9 batter, Yuasa, hits a 2-run homerun to dead center field! That ball was crushed by Machida! And now Tokoha Kikugawa leads 11-7!!!!
Top 9th
Yuasa grounds one to 1st. Ueshima with it, toss to Nojima, loses it! Yuasa advances to 2nd!
#7 Miyake pinch-hits for Kondou. Grounder to 2nd! Machida up with it, and Yuasa is caught between 2nd and 3rd! They have him in a rundown, they apply the tag, but the umpire calls no tag! Yuasa scrambles back to 2nd!
Runners at 1st and 2nd for Kanetani. But he pops it up to 2nd! That's one down.
Oka up. He hits a drive to deep left center! That's all the way to the wall! Yuasa scores! Miyake comes around to score! 2-run double by Oka and it's now 11-9!!!!!
#16 Kanada comes in to pinch hit for Uemori. He hits a grounder to short. But Sakai's throw is in the dirt! Ueshima with the pick and... he's out! 2 down for Kurashiki!
Shintani, the last chance right now. Chopper! High bounce! Sakai leaps up! He has it! Comes down, makes the throw! Shintani dives!
OUT!!!!
Shintani's thrown out at first and Tokoha Kikugawa has come back from a 6 run deficit to defeat Kurashiki Shogyo 11-9! What a roller-coaster game this was between the two teams! Kurashiki bolting out to the early lead. Tokoha rallying in the 5th to erase the deficit and take the lead themselves! Kurashiki coming back to tie the game again. And finally Tokoha putting it away in the 8th, capped off by a home run by their #9 batter!
I'm out of breath...
Day 12 - Game 1 - Seiko Gakuin (Fukushima) vs. Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo
We start the round of 16 today with 2 schools looking to make the Best 8 for the first time in their school's history. Seiko Gakuin reached this point last year, only to lose to Koryo. Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo has already gone the furthest it's ever gone, and hopes to go further.
In their first games, Seiko Gakuin jumped ahead of Kakogawa Kita from the very beginning and won handily 9-2. Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo on the other hand, had to hold on to a 4-3 lead in the late innings to defeat Kagawa Nishi.
Seiko Gakuin makes some lineup changes for today's game. Tamura due to his performance has moved up in the lineup to the top of the order. Simarly, Yasuda has been moved down to 7th from the leadoff spot.
There's nothing that indicates to me a clear favorite in this game. Expect it to be an average scoring game with a small margin of victory. Don't know who I want personally to win though...
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Seiko Gakuin (Fukushima)
SS Tamura (6)
2B Satou Takuya (4)
1B Sekine (3)
CF Kuroba (9)
LF Kanno (8)
RF Shike (17)
3B Yasuda (5)
P Satou Tatsuya (11)
C Takezawa (2)
Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo
SS Takai (6)
1B Usui (3)
RF Mori (9)
C Katou (2)
LF Sugishima (7)
CF Yoshimura (8)
3B Nishida (5)
2B Nishigawa Takuya (4)
P Hara (1)
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8:31 AM
First pitch! The wind has picked up early today, with a slight breeze from right to left.
Top 1st
With 2 down, Hara gives up a single to Sekine. And even though he's able to steal 2nd, that's as far as he goes as Hara gets Kuroba to ground to 1st
Bottom 1st
Takuya has no problems in the early going, retiring the side in order.
Top 2nd
Two down for Seiko when Yasuda drives one to deep right! That's off the wall and Yasuda is in with a stand-up triple!
Chance to strike first for Seiko! But Tatsuya can't help his own cause as he grounds to short to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Katou leads off and takes a pitch inside to deep left! Kanno runs back, runs back. HAITA!!! Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo takes the early 1-0 lead off the bat of cleanup batter Katou!
Sugishima follows that up with a liner to left! Will Shiritsu Gifu begin a hit parade?
Yoshimura tries to bunt instead, but he pops it up to Hara! 1 down.
Then with Nishida up, Hara picks off Sugishima! With no runners on now, Nishida gets a comebacker to Hara and he easily makes the play at 1st. But Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo has taken the early lead against probable favorite Seiko Gakuin!
Top 3rd
Hara retires the side in order. He's not overpowering, but his location is good and he's throwing his offspeed pitches for strikes.
Bottom 3rd
Nishikawa Takuya starts the inning off with a single to center. Hara performs the obligatory bunt to move him over.
Tatsuya strikes out Takai for the 2nd out. That leaves it up to Usui. He hits a ball to center. Kuroba runs over, dives, but can't make the play! Takuya rounds the bases and scores! 2-0 Gifu Shiritsu!
Top 4th
One down, Hara's control has a lapse as he hits Kuroba. Seiko elects to bunt him over. Runner at 2nd, 2 down for Shike.
No, wait. Shike's being pinch-hit for early! #14 Saitou comes in.
And he drives the first pitch to right! AH! It's off Mori and behind him! Kuroba scores! Saitou advances all the way to 3rd! Tying run 90 feet away! 2-1!
Yasuda though, flies to deep center to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
It's a relatively easy inning for Tatsuya as he only gives up a 2-out hit batter.
Top 5th
Tatsuya starts the inning and he singles to left. On the very next pitch though, Katou catches him off the base and picks him off! It's too bad as Takezawa ends up walking.
But new leadoff batter Tamura has been struggling this game, and here too, he grounds to short. They get Takezawa for one, but Nishikawa Takuya drops the ball on the transfer and can't make the play at first.
2 down for Satou Takuya. Tamura breaks for 2nd and gets in there safely! And then Hara walks Satou Takuya! Small pinch here for Shiritsu Gifu!
He gets out of it though as Sekine flies out to center.
Bottom 5th
Takuya is called out on a check swing by the 3rd base umpire when from the replay, he obviously did not.
It's a quick 1-2-3 inning as we head into the break. Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo still holds on the 2-1 lead.
Top 6th
Defensive change in the outfield. Mori moves from right to left, and #18 Inui enters in right.
With one down, Hara issues a walk to Kanno. Again Seiko elects to bunt the runner over looking for the timely hit. And it will have to come from Yasuda who is 1-2 with the triple in the 2nd.
And he does it! He takes a ball high and away down the left field line over Mori's head! Kanno scores from 2nd on Yasuda's double and we're tied 2-2!!
Satou Tatsuya up now looking to give himself the lead.
Hard hit single to left! Yasuda rounding 3rd heading home! Mori up with the throw, but Katou can't secure the ball! Seiko takes the lead 3-2!!!
AH!! Takezawa follow that up with a drive to left! That's over Mori's head and to the wall! Satou Tatsuya comes in to score! 3 consecutive hits have given Seiko the 4-2 lead!!
And that's going to be it for Hara. Yoshimura comes in from center to take the mound. Inui moves from right to center, Mori moves from left to right, and #17 Yamagata comes in to play left.
And there seems to be a problem with Katou in the dugout. The medical staff come to the dugout. But after a couple of minutes, he emerges and returns behind the plate.
Yoshimura gets ahead of Tamura 1-2, but later in the AB Tamura ground one through to left! Takezawa scores! 5-2!
Seiko continues with the pressure as Tamura breaks for 3rd! Ball is in the dirt and there's no throw! Takuya lines to right, but Seiko has come out of the break scoring 4 runs and taking the 5-2 lead!
Bottom 6th
Katou gets a two-out single off Tamura's glove, but is forced out on a questionable call at 2nd (I think he beat out the toss).
Top 7th
One down, Kuroba draws a walk after falling behind 0-2.
Kanno puts down the bunt. Yoshimura and Katou quickly converge on it but then both give way to each other and the ball sits there! All safe!
Then with 2 down, the runners do a double steal! But while they move themselves into scoring position, Yasuda cannot bring them home.
Bottom 7th
Yoshimura starts off with a slow roller to 3rd. Yasuda up with the throw, but it's not in time and it's over Sekine! Yoshimura advances to 2nd on the error!
Nishida hits a short grounder to short, but Yoshimura doesn't advance!
Nishikawa Takuya hits another grounder to short, and this time Yoshimura advances.
But alas, he's left stranded there as Yamagata strikes out.
Top 8th
2 down, Tamura gets a single to right. Then Satou Takuya does the same putting runners at the corners! And while Takuya steals 2nd, Sekine grounds to 2nd. That play was close as Nishigawa Takuya was going to toss it to Usui, but he was going away from 1st! Yoshimura covered at the last minute to get the out.
Bottom 8th
Tatsuya continues his good pitching, retiring Shiritsu Gifu in order.
Top 9th
Yoshikawa gets his own 1-2-3 inning, but now they're down to their final 3 outs.
Bottom 9th
Captain Yoshimura refuses to give up, getting a 2-out double to left center. But that would be the last gasp for Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo as Seiko Gakuin becomes the first team to advance to the Best 8 winning 5-2.
In their first games, Seiko Gakuin jumped ahead of Kakogawa Kita from the very beginning and won handily 9-2. Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo on the other hand, had to hold on to a 4-3 lead in the late innings to defeat Kagawa Nishi.
Seiko Gakuin makes some lineup changes for today's game. Tamura due to his performance has moved up in the lineup to the top of the order. Simarly, Yasuda has been moved down to 7th from the leadoff spot.
There's nothing that indicates to me a clear favorite in this game. Expect it to be an average scoring game with a small margin of victory. Don't know who I want personally to win though...
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Seiko Gakuin (Fukushima)
SS Tamura (6)
2B Satou Takuya (4)
1B Sekine (3)
CF Kuroba (9)
LF Kanno (8)
RF Shike (17)
3B Yasuda (5)
P Satou Tatsuya (11)
C Takezawa (2)
Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo
SS Takai (6)
1B Usui (3)
RF Mori (9)
C Katou (2)
LF Sugishima (7)
CF Yoshimura (8)
3B Nishida (5)
2B Nishigawa Takuya (4)
P Hara (1)
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8:31 AM
First pitch! The wind has picked up early today, with a slight breeze from right to left.
Top 1st
With 2 down, Hara gives up a single to Sekine. And even though he's able to steal 2nd, that's as far as he goes as Hara gets Kuroba to ground to 1st
Bottom 1st
Takuya has no problems in the early going, retiring the side in order.
Top 2nd
Two down for Seiko when Yasuda drives one to deep right! That's off the wall and Yasuda is in with a stand-up triple!
Chance to strike first for Seiko! But Tatsuya can't help his own cause as he grounds to short to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Katou leads off and takes a pitch inside to deep left! Kanno runs back, runs back. HAITA!!! Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo takes the early 1-0 lead off the bat of cleanup batter Katou!
Sugishima follows that up with a liner to left! Will Shiritsu Gifu begin a hit parade?
Yoshimura tries to bunt instead, but he pops it up to Hara! 1 down.
Then with Nishida up, Hara picks off Sugishima! With no runners on now, Nishida gets a comebacker to Hara and he easily makes the play at 1st. But Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo has taken the early lead against probable favorite Seiko Gakuin!
Top 3rd
Hara retires the side in order. He's not overpowering, but his location is good and he's throwing his offspeed pitches for strikes.
Bottom 3rd
Nishikawa Takuya starts the inning off with a single to center. Hara performs the obligatory bunt to move him over.
Tatsuya strikes out Takai for the 2nd out. That leaves it up to Usui. He hits a ball to center. Kuroba runs over, dives, but can't make the play! Takuya rounds the bases and scores! 2-0 Gifu Shiritsu!
Top 4th
One down, Hara's control has a lapse as he hits Kuroba. Seiko elects to bunt him over. Runner at 2nd, 2 down for Shike.
No, wait. Shike's being pinch-hit for early! #14 Saitou comes in.
And he drives the first pitch to right! AH! It's off Mori and behind him! Kuroba scores! Saitou advances all the way to 3rd! Tying run 90 feet away! 2-1!
Yasuda though, flies to deep center to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
It's a relatively easy inning for Tatsuya as he only gives up a 2-out hit batter.
Top 5th
Tatsuya starts the inning and he singles to left. On the very next pitch though, Katou catches him off the base and picks him off! It's too bad as Takezawa ends up walking.
But new leadoff batter Tamura has been struggling this game, and here too, he grounds to short. They get Takezawa for one, but Nishikawa Takuya drops the ball on the transfer and can't make the play at first.
2 down for Satou Takuya. Tamura breaks for 2nd and gets in there safely! And then Hara walks Satou Takuya! Small pinch here for Shiritsu Gifu!
He gets out of it though as Sekine flies out to center.
Bottom 5th
Takuya is called out on a check swing by the 3rd base umpire when from the replay, he obviously did not.
It's a quick 1-2-3 inning as we head into the break. Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo still holds on the 2-1 lead.
Top 6th
Defensive change in the outfield. Mori moves from right to left, and #18 Inui enters in right.
With one down, Hara issues a walk to Kanno. Again Seiko elects to bunt the runner over looking for the timely hit. And it will have to come from Yasuda who is 1-2 with the triple in the 2nd.
And he does it! He takes a ball high and away down the left field line over Mori's head! Kanno scores from 2nd on Yasuda's double and we're tied 2-2!!
Satou Tatsuya up now looking to give himself the lead.
Hard hit single to left! Yasuda rounding 3rd heading home! Mori up with the throw, but Katou can't secure the ball! Seiko takes the lead 3-2!!!
AH!! Takezawa follow that up with a drive to left! That's over Mori's head and to the wall! Satou Tatsuya comes in to score! 3 consecutive hits have given Seiko the 4-2 lead!!
And that's going to be it for Hara. Yoshimura comes in from center to take the mound. Inui moves from right to center, Mori moves from left to right, and #17 Yamagata comes in to play left.
And there seems to be a problem with Katou in the dugout. The medical staff come to the dugout. But after a couple of minutes, he emerges and returns behind the plate.
Yoshimura gets ahead of Tamura 1-2, but later in the AB Tamura ground one through to left! Takezawa scores! 5-2!
Seiko continues with the pressure as Tamura breaks for 3rd! Ball is in the dirt and there's no throw! Takuya lines to right, but Seiko has come out of the break scoring 4 runs and taking the 5-2 lead!
Bottom 6th
Katou gets a two-out single off Tamura's glove, but is forced out on a questionable call at 2nd (I think he beat out the toss).
Top 7th
One down, Kuroba draws a walk after falling behind 0-2.
Kanno puts down the bunt. Yoshimura and Katou quickly converge on it but then both give way to each other and the ball sits there! All safe!
Then with 2 down, the runners do a double steal! But while they move themselves into scoring position, Yasuda cannot bring them home.
Bottom 7th
Yoshimura starts off with a slow roller to 3rd. Yasuda up with the throw, but it's not in time and it's over Sekine! Yoshimura advances to 2nd on the error!
Nishida hits a short grounder to short, but Yoshimura doesn't advance!
Nishikawa Takuya hits another grounder to short, and this time Yoshimura advances.
But alas, he's left stranded there as Yamagata strikes out.
Top 8th
2 down, Tamura gets a single to right. Then Satou Takuya does the same putting runners at the corners! And while Takuya steals 2nd, Sekine grounds to 2nd. That play was close as Nishigawa Takuya was going to toss it to Usui, but he was going away from 1st! Yoshimura covered at the last minute to get the out.
Bottom 8th
Tatsuya continues his good pitching, retiring Shiritsu Gifu in order.
Top 9th
Yoshikawa gets his own 1-2-3 inning, but now they're down to their final 3 outs.
Bottom 9th
Captain Yoshimura refuses to give up, getting a 2-out double to left center. But that would be the last gasp for Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo as Seiko Gakuin becomes the first team to advance to the Best 8 winning 5-2.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Day 11 - Game 3 - Fukui Shogyo vs. Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
The 2nd round finishes with 2 experienced squads taking the field.
Fukui Shogyo held Sakata Minami to a 4-hit shutout in their first round game. Sendai Ikuei led wire-to-wire against debutants Komono.
Fukui Shogyo is generally well known for their all-around solid play. Sendai Ikuei's strength is definitely their pitching.
I think the last team to make it to the round of 16 will be Sendai Ikuei. An all-around average to above average team in Fukui Shogyo can only get you so far...
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Fukui Shogyo
LF Kawai (7)
2B Matsuda (4)
RF Matsunaga (9)
C Nakamura (2)
1B Uhara (3)
CF Arakawa (8)
3B Noji (5)
SS Shimano (6)
P Takezawa Keita (1)
Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
CF Hashimoto (8)
SS Endou (6)
2B Ono (4)
1B Katou (3)
3B Suzuki (5)
RF Sasaki (9)
LF Ogawa (7)
C Tozawa (2)
P Hozumi (1)
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3:51 PM
First pitch! And the wind looks like it's going to rip off the flags!
Top 1st
Hozumi's location looks good early. He retires Fukui Shogyo in order.
Bottom 1st
Hashimoto starts Sendai Ikuei off with a single down the left field line for a double!
Runner at 2nd, one out for Ono. He drives one to the gap in left center! Hashimoto scores! Sendai Ikuei quickly up 1-0!
Katou up and lines one to left! Ono rounds 3rd, he scores! 2-0!! Katou tries to move to 2nd on the throw home! But Nakamura throws back to 2nd and he's out!
#18 Fujita starts warming up in the bullpen.
Suzuki continues the hitting parade with another single to left!
Sasaki up. The count goes even, and he hits a dribbler to short! But Shimano is confused! And Sasaki is at home in pain! What happened? According to the replay, when Sasaki swung at the inside pitch, the ball hit his hand! He's called for a strikeout by the umpiring crew and the inning is over.
Top 2nd
There's a delay as Sasaki is still in the dugout having his left hand tended to. After a bit of a delay, he returns to the field.
Hozumi starts by retiring the first 2 batters.
Then Arakawa hits a drive to deep left center! That's at the base of the wall for a double!
Noji swings and grounds one foul, but Tozawa is called for catcher's interference. Runners at 1st and 2nd with 2 out!
And Shimano grounds one past a diving Suzuki down the left field line! Arakawa comes in and scores! Timely hit by Shimano! 2-1!
And while Keita grounds to 1st, Fukui comes back and cuts the deficit in half!
Bottom 2nd
Akawa starts off the inning with a grounder to right! One down, runner on 2nd for Hozumi. But he strikes out swinging.
2 out for Hashimoto, and he draws the 4-pitch walk.
Endou up, and Keita's control is suffering. He falls behind 2-0, works it to 2-2, but then gives up a single to center! Akawa scores! 3-1!
Top 3rd
Kawai blasts one to left center! That one hops the wall and Kawai is in with a triple!
Matsuda with a fly to center. But it's short! Hashimoto with the ball and throws it in. Kawai has to hold.
AH! But Hashimoto air mails it over everyone by a wide margin! Kawai now comes home on the throwing error by Hashimoto! 3-2!
Although he issues a 2-out walk later, he gets out of the inning with no further damage.
Bottom 3rd
Katou gets plunked to start the inning. Then Suzuki hits one over Noji and all the way to the wall! Katou heads to 3rd, and the ball takes the contour of the wall and passes Kawai! Katou heads home! 4-2!
And that's it for Fukui Shogyo's ace. #18 Fujita (a 1st year!) comes in to pitch for Takezawa. The manager tries to ease Takezawa's pain of being pulled as Fujita warms up.
The odd thing is that Fujita never pitched in the prefectural qualifying. And they used 4 other pitchers besides Takezawa!
But after Sasaki bunts Suzuki along, he gets Akawa to fly out to left, and he strikes out Tozawa to end the inning! Perhaps this is a way for him to get experience on the mound for later years? But I find that hard to believe since the game is far from decided. Secret weapon perhaps?
Top 4th
Hozumi missing his location a little with his pitches, but retires the side in order.
Bottom 4th
Fujita looks really good on the mound! He retires Sendai Ikuei in order!
Top 5th
With one down, Kawai stats the offense with a single to the right side! Ono has it, but then doesn't and it trickles to the outfield!
Matsuda up, and they pull the hit-and-run! Matsuda singles to left! Runners at the corners for Matsunaga!
Hozumi is losing his control! He walks Matsunaga! Manrui for cleanup batter Nakamura.
And he hits him! That forces in Kawai! 4-3!
Look like that'll be it. #11 Kumura Kengo (another 1st year!) comes in to relieve Hozumi! Hozumi moves to 1st, Katou moves to right. Also #12 Takahashi replaces Tozawa behind the plate.
He gets ahead of Uhara 0-2 and gets him to fly to shallow center! 2 outs! 1 more to go!
Arakawa up and he's not going to let Kimura have it that easy. After falling behind, he works the count full. There's nowhere to put him!
And Kimura misses outside! Matsuda comes home! Tie game! 4-4!!
Bottom 5th
Sendai Ikuei has given up its early lead. Can they get it back before the break?
Ono reaches base after being hit by Fujita. Katou tries to bunt him along, but instead he pops it up to Nakamura!
Suzuki though, responds with a single to left center! Runners at the corners for Sendai Ikuei!
Kimura up to help his own cause. Grounder to 1st! Uhara charges, gets it! Goes home! Nakamura with the tag! OUT! 2 down and Fukui is almost out of the mess!
But Akawa has other plans! He drives one to deep left! It's past Kawai and to the wall! Suzuki scores! Kimura comes around from 1st to score! Akawa with the 2-run triple and they regain the 2-run lead! 6-4!!!
Top 6th
Kimura gives up a 2-out single to Kawai, but that's it.
However, #16 Arai pinch-hit for Fujita, so his day is done on the mound.
Bottom 6th
#17 Hasegawa (1st year) comes in as the 3rd pitcher used by Fukui Shogyo this game.
He walks Hozumi to start the inning. Hozumi is replaced at first by #16 Nakamura. Then Sendai Ikuei starts the hit-and-run! Hashimoto hits a grounder to right, and Nakamura cruises to 2nd!
And with Endou up, Hashimoto steals 2nd! Big chance for Sendai Ikuei!
Count goes full on Endou! And he misses! Manrui now for Ono!
And that's it for Hasegawa. #10 Tsujioka comes in for relief. Meanwhile #11 Sanga warms up in the bullpen.
Ono with the fly to left! Kawai prepares for the throw. He catches it! Nakamura tags up! Relay by Shimano home! And Nakamura makes the swipe tag! OUT! Double play!
But then he walks Katou on 4 straight! Manrui pinch again as Sukuki comes up to bat! He's 3-3 so far today! Can Tsujioka get him out! Meanwhile, the bench is trying to shift the outfield over.
Tsujioka gets ahead 1-2. Curve outside. 2-2. Outside again! Full count! Runners will be taking off! Check swing foul! And he hits a pop to right! Matsunaga under it, and Fukui Shogyo gets out of the manrui pinch!
Top 7th
#17 Itou Keisuke stays in to play right with Katou moving back to 1st.
Kimura retires the side in order. Time is starting to run short for Fukui Shogyo.
Bottom 7th
The lights at Koshien begin to turn on as we hit 6 PM.
Kimura turns around and hits a single through the left side to start. Akawa then draws a walk, with Takahashi moving the runners into scoring position.
But (Itou) Keisuke grounds to 2nd, and Hashimoto grounds to 1st to end the inning!
Top 8th
Kimura retires the side in order, highlighted by his snaring of a sharp comebacker by Shimano!
Bottom 8th
Ono starts with a one out single back up the middle. Then with 2 down, Tsujioka walks Suzuki!
But after a conference, He gets Kimura to ground back to him for the final out! But now, Fukui Shogyo has 3 outs to get at least 2 runs.
Top 9th
Matsuda with the two out single. But then he's picked off first to end the game?!
While Sendai Ikuei does advance to face Yokohama, Fukui Shogyo definitely made a game of it. However, they were almost always chasing, and that is definitely a hard thing to do.
Fukui Shogyo held Sakata Minami to a 4-hit shutout in their first round game. Sendai Ikuei led wire-to-wire against debutants Komono.
Fukui Shogyo is generally well known for their all-around solid play. Sendai Ikuei's strength is definitely their pitching.
I think the last team to make it to the round of 16 will be Sendai Ikuei. An all-around average to above average team in Fukui Shogyo can only get you so far...
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Fukui Shogyo
LF Kawai (7)
2B Matsuda (4)
RF Matsunaga (9)
C Nakamura (2)
1B Uhara (3)
CF Arakawa (8)
3B Noji (5)
SS Shimano (6)
P Takezawa Keita (1)
Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
CF Hashimoto (8)
SS Endou (6)
2B Ono (4)
1B Katou (3)
3B Suzuki (5)
RF Sasaki (9)
LF Ogawa (7)
C Tozawa (2)
P Hozumi (1)
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3:51 PM
First pitch! And the wind looks like it's going to rip off the flags!
Top 1st
Hozumi's location looks good early. He retires Fukui Shogyo in order.
Bottom 1st
Hashimoto starts Sendai Ikuei off with a single down the left field line for a double!
Runner at 2nd, one out for Ono. He drives one to the gap in left center! Hashimoto scores! Sendai Ikuei quickly up 1-0!
Katou up and lines one to left! Ono rounds 3rd, he scores! 2-0!! Katou tries to move to 2nd on the throw home! But Nakamura throws back to 2nd and he's out!
#18 Fujita starts warming up in the bullpen.
Suzuki continues the hitting parade with another single to left!
Sasaki up. The count goes even, and he hits a dribbler to short! But Shimano is confused! And Sasaki is at home in pain! What happened? According to the replay, when Sasaki swung at the inside pitch, the ball hit his hand! He's called for a strikeout by the umpiring crew and the inning is over.
Top 2nd
There's a delay as Sasaki is still in the dugout having his left hand tended to. After a bit of a delay, he returns to the field.
Hozumi starts by retiring the first 2 batters.
Then Arakawa hits a drive to deep left center! That's at the base of the wall for a double!
Noji swings and grounds one foul, but Tozawa is called for catcher's interference. Runners at 1st and 2nd with 2 out!
And Shimano grounds one past a diving Suzuki down the left field line! Arakawa comes in and scores! Timely hit by Shimano! 2-1!
And while Keita grounds to 1st, Fukui comes back and cuts the deficit in half!
Bottom 2nd
Akawa starts off the inning with a grounder to right! One down, runner on 2nd for Hozumi. But he strikes out swinging.
2 out for Hashimoto, and he draws the 4-pitch walk.
Endou up, and Keita's control is suffering. He falls behind 2-0, works it to 2-2, but then gives up a single to center! Akawa scores! 3-1!
Top 3rd
Kawai blasts one to left center! That one hops the wall and Kawai is in with a triple!
Matsuda with a fly to center. But it's short! Hashimoto with the ball and throws it in. Kawai has to hold.
AH! But Hashimoto air mails it over everyone by a wide margin! Kawai now comes home on the throwing error by Hashimoto! 3-2!
Although he issues a 2-out walk later, he gets out of the inning with no further damage.
Bottom 3rd
Katou gets plunked to start the inning. Then Suzuki hits one over Noji and all the way to the wall! Katou heads to 3rd, and the ball takes the contour of the wall and passes Kawai! Katou heads home! 4-2!
And that's it for Fukui Shogyo's ace. #18 Fujita (a 1st year!) comes in to pitch for Takezawa. The manager tries to ease Takezawa's pain of being pulled as Fujita warms up.
The odd thing is that Fujita never pitched in the prefectural qualifying. And they used 4 other pitchers besides Takezawa!
But after Sasaki bunts Suzuki along, he gets Akawa to fly out to left, and he strikes out Tozawa to end the inning! Perhaps this is a way for him to get experience on the mound for later years? But I find that hard to believe since the game is far from decided. Secret weapon perhaps?
Top 4th
Hozumi missing his location a little with his pitches, but retires the side in order.
Bottom 4th
Fujita looks really good on the mound! He retires Sendai Ikuei in order!
Top 5th
With one down, Kawai stats the offense with a single to the right side! Ono has it, but then doesn't and it trickles to the outfield!
Matsuda up, and they pull the hit-and-run! Matsuda singles to left! Runners at the corners for Matsunaga!
Hozumi is losing his control! He walks Matsunaga! Manrui for cleanup batter Nakamura.
And he hits him! That forces in Kawai! 4-3!
Look like that'll be it. #11 Kumura Kengo (another 1st year!) comes in to relieve Hozumi! Hozumi moves to 1st, Katou moves to right. Also #12 Takahashi replaces Tozawa behind the plate.
He gets ahead of Uhara 0-2 and gets him to fly to shallow center! 2 outs! 1 more to go!
Arakawa up and he's not going to let Kimura have it that easy. After falling behind, he works the count full. There's nowhere to put him!
And Kimura misses outside! Matsuda comes home! Tie game! 4-4!!
Bottom 5th
Sendai Ikuei has given up its early lead. Can they get it back before the break?
Ono reaches base after being hit by Fujita. Katou tries to bunt him along, but instead he pops it up to Nakamura!
Suzuki though, responds with a single to left center! Runners at the corners for Sendai Ikuei!
Kimura up to help his own cause. Grounder to 1st! Uhara charges, gets it! Goes home! Nakamura with the tag! OUT! 2 down and Fukui is almost out of the mess!
But Akawa has other plans! He drives one to deep left! It's past Kawai and to the wall! Suzuki scores! Kimura comes around from 1st to score! Akawa with the 2-run triple and they regain the 2-run lead! 6-4!!!
Top 6th
Kimura gives up a 2-out single to Kawai, but that's it.
However, #16 Arai pinch-hit for Fujita, so his day is done on the mound.
Bottom 6th
#17 Hasegawa (1st year) comes in as the 3rd pitcher used by Fukui Shogyo this game.
He walks Hozumi to start the inning. Hozumi is replaced at first by #16 Nakamura. Then Sendai Ikuei starts the hit-and-run! Hashimoto hits a grounder to right, and Nakamura cruises to 2nd!
And with Endou up, Hashimoto steals 2nd! Big chance for Sendai Ikuei!
Count goes full on Endou! And he misses! Manrui now for Ono!
And that's it for Hasegawa. #10 Tsujioka comes in for relief. Meanwhile #11 Sanga warms up in the bullpen.
Ono with the fly to left! Kawai prepares for the throw. He catches it! Nakamura tags up! Relay by Shimano home! And Nakamura makes the swipe tag! OUT! Double play!
But then he walks Katou on 4 straight! Manrui pinch again as Sukuki comes up to bat! He's 3-3 so far today! Can Tsujioka get him out! Meanwhile, the bench is trying to shift the outfield over.
Tsujioka gets ahead 1-2. Curve outside. 2-2. Outside again! Full count! Runners will be taking off! Check swing foul! And he hits a pop to right! Matsunaga under it, and Fukui Shogyo gets out of the manrui pinch!
Top 7th
#17 Itou Keisuke stays in to play right with Katou moving back to 1st.
Kimura retires the side in order. Time is starting to run short for Fukui Shogyo.
Bottom 7th
The lights at Koshien begin to turn on as we hit 6 PM.
Kimura turns around and hits a single through the left side to start. Akawa then draws a walk, with Takahashi moving the runners into scoring position.
But (Itou) Keisuke grounds to 2nd, and Hashimoto grounds to 1st to end the inning!
Top 8th
Kimura retires the side in order, highlighted by his snaring of a sharp comebacker by Shimano!
Bottom 8th
Ono starts with a one out single back up the middle. Then with 2 down, Tsujioka walks Suzuki!
But after a conference, He gets Kimura to ground back to him for the final out! But now, Fukui Shogyo has 3 outs to get at least 2 runs.
Top 9th
Matsuda with the two out single. But then he's picked off first to end the game?!
While Sendai Ikuei does advance to face Yokohama, Fukui Shogyo definitely made a game of it. However, they were almost always chasing, and that is definitely a hard thing to do.
Day 11 - Game 2 - Koryo (Hiroshima) vs. Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa)
The 2nd game of the day is a definite blockbuster and should be a great matinée game. Last year's runner-up Koryo versus powerhouse Yokohama.
Koryo in it's first round match, almost had a meltdown similar to last year when Kochi scored 5 runs in the 6th and 7th innings to tie the game. But they rallied back with 3 in the 8th to advance 8-5.
Yokohama almost led wire-to-wire against Urawa Gakuin, but it never was really comfortable as they only led by as much as 2 runs and had to repel a late charge by Urawa in the bottom of the 9th.
Koryo sends #10 Morimune to start this game and Nakata goes to play 1st. Also, Tanaka and Ishihata switch place.
There's a smalll change in Yokohama's lineup as well. Tstsugo moves up to the cleanup spot, and Kenta moves down to the #6 spot.
So who will win?
Koryo definitely has the offense. And possibly more than Yokohama. Expect them to take the lead early on in the game. BUT! It will all depend on the pitching at the end for Koryo. It is almost a given that the pitching gets significantly weaker and they have to hold on for dear life.
I personally want Koryo to win, but I think the doubts about Koryo's pitching may be too much for a team like Yokohama. But expect a close game.
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Koryo (Hiroshima)
SS Uemoto (6)
RF Shimokawa (9)
2B Hayashi (4)
CF Arimizu (8)
1B Nakata (3)
C Ishihata (2)
LF Hashimoto (14)
P Morimune (10)
1B Hasebe (5)
Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa)
3B Kuramoto (5)
SS Ooishi (6)
2B Matsumoto (4)
1B Tsutsugo (3)
LF Iwama (7)
RF Ogawa Kenta (9)
P Tsuchiya (1)
C Oda (2)
CF Nakahara (8)
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12:51 PM
First pitch! And the wind is as strong as ever from right to left!
Top 1st
Uemoto with a drive! Iwama runs back! He's at the wall! Looks up!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uemoto with the opening salvo! A homerun to left field! Koryo leads 1-0!
After a groundout to Shimokawa, Hayashi gets a 4-pitch walk.
The teams continue to trade shots. Tsuchiya gets Arumizu to line to 2nd, but then Nakata singles through to left field! The throw goes into 3rd, and Nakata takes 2nd on the throw!
Runners on 2nd and 3rd for Ishihata! But Tsuchiya gets the final shot as he gets him to ground back to him.
Bottom 1st
Morimune's control is shaky to start. With one down, he hits Ooishi. Then a 4-pitch walk to Matsumoto. Tsutsugo works the count full, and continues to fight off pitches, but pops to short.
And Iwama flies to left to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Hashimoto hits a grounder into the left side. Ooishi moves over and makes the grab, but his spikes give way under him and he can't make the throw!
Morimune looking to put down the bunt. But it's back at Tsuchiya and he goes to 2nd for the out!
But last batter Hasebe fires back with a liner to center! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Uemoto!
Tsuchiya is going right after him though! No being careful here! However, the count runs full. He throws one inside and he gives that one a drive to left center!!! Iwama and Nakahara run back! They're still running! It's off the base of the wall! Morimune scores! Uemoto with the RBI double!!! 2-0 Koryo!!
Shimokawa with a fly to center! Nakahara gets set for the throw home! He gets it! Uemoto tags up! Nakahara fires home! Thrown on a line! Oda with the tag, and Uemoto's out!
But Koryo now leads by 2!
Bottom 2nd
Kenta leads off the inning with a walk. One out, runner at 2nd for Oda.
Morimune falls behind him 3-1. Oda with a drive to left center! That's to the wall! Kenta comes in to score! 2-1! And still a runner on 2nd with one out!
Nagahara up. Morimune falls behind him 2-1, but gets him to pop up on the 3rd base foul territory.
Kuramoto up to try for the tying hit. And Morimune strikes him out!
Top 3rd
Hayashi starts the 3rd with a liner past Tsuchiya and into center! But then he's thrown out trying to steal 2nd! Arimizu then earns a walk.
Nagata up and he hits a sharp comebacker! Tsuchiya sticks out his glove! It's off his glove and in the air! But it stays close to him! He goes to 2nd for one, throw by Ooishi is in plenty of time for the double play!
Bottom 3rd
Ooishi begins the inning with a groundout to short. But Nakata can't handle the throw! E3!
Runner at 2nd now, one down for Tsutsugo. Grounder through to right! Ooishi comes around to score and we have a tie game! 2-2!
Morimune gets Iwama to fly out to center. But then issues a 4-pitch walk to Kenta, his 4th of the day.
Tsuchiya strikes out, but Koryo's early advantage has been wiped out!
Top 4th
Ishihata starts with a grounder to short. But Ooishi has problems with the handle! He picks it up and makes the throw, but sails it past 1st!
Hashimoto up to bunt, but again Tsuchiya makes a fine play and throws out Ishihata at 2nd!
AH! With Morimune up, Hashimoto is picked off first! How does that happen when Tsuchiya is a southpaw?!
And Morimune flies out to left. Koryo with mistakes on the basepaths!
Bottom 4th
Nakata comes in from 1st to relieve Morimune. Ace #1 Maeda comes in to play 1st.
Oda hits a grounder to short. EH? It's off Uemoto! Oda at first on the error! But then Nakahara hits a pop up! Hasebe with the catch in foul territory! One down.
Kuramoto grounds one to 3rd. Hasebe to 2nd for one, Hayashi's throw to 1st, not in time!
2 down for Ooishi. And he's as stubborn as ever. The count runs full and he fouls off Nakata's pitches! The AB keeps going, 8... 9... 10 pitches!
The 11th pitch he lines through the infield and into right center! It's past the drawn in infield! It's going all the way to the wall! Kuramoto scores! Ooishi at 3rd!
HE'S GOING HOME!!!
Ooishi sprints home! The cutoff throw was bad! Ooishi's dives in with an inside the park home run!!!!!! 4-2 Yokohama!!
Doesn't stop there! Matsumoto hits a grounder to the right side! It's off Hayashi! Uemoto can't get it! It's to the outfield! Matsumoto tries for 2! Arimizu up with the throw back to Hayashi, and they get the tag on Matsumoto! 3 out!
But Ooishi with the inside-the-park homerun gives Yokohama the lead!
Top 5th
Hasebe starts with a liner to left. Then Tsuchiya issues a walk to Uemoto. Runners at first and 2nd with no out! Shimokawa tries to put down the bunt, but once again Tsuchiya fields his position well again and throws out the lead runner!
Now Hayashi up. He hits a liner to center! Uemoto scores! 4-3! The throw goes home! And Hayashi heads for 2nd?!!
Oda comes back firing to 2nd and he's nailed!
Koryo is just killing themselves on the basepaths! If they lose by just a run or two, you can easily point to these blunders as a reason why.
Bottom 5th
With one down, Iwama hits a drive to left! That's falls in front of the wall for a double!
Kenta then earns his 3rd walk of the game. Runners at 1st and 2nd for Tsuchiya!
And then Iwama goes to steal 3rd! Ishihata with the throw, but not in time! Tsuchiya then grounds to 2nd! Hayashi with the ball, tries to tag Kenta. No tag called! Hayashi has to throw to 1st then to get one out, but Iwama scores! 5-3 Yokohama!
Top 6th
Exiting the break, Tsuchiya gets his first 1-2-3 inning of the game.
Bottom 6th
One down for Kuramoto. Safety bunt! It's hit past Nakata, and he beats out the glove toss! Then he goes and steals 2nd!
Nakata though gets Ooishi to ground out to 2nd. 2 down.
Matsumoto then drives one to right center! That's to the wall! Kuramoto scores! 6-3 Yokohama on Matsumoto's triple!
Tsutsugo follows that up with a grounder to right! Matsumoto scores! 7-3!
Iwama follows that up with a liner to left! Nakata's really in trouble!
There's a conference on the mound, but Maeda isn't going to take the hill.
And Nakata gets Kenta to fly out to left. But Koryo is in big trouble now.
Top 7th
Maeda with the leadoff walk. After a flyout by Maeda, Uemoto hits a grounder up the middle! But Matsumoto makes the stop. MAKES THE GLOVE TOSS TO 2ND! And Ooishi finishes the double play at first! What a defensive play turned in by Yokohama!!
Bottom 7th
Maeda does take the mound now in relief of Nakata, who returns to his spot at 3rd.
Outside of hitting Nakahara, Maeda retires Yokohama with relative ease.
Top 8th
Time is running short for Koryo now.
Shimokawa starts the inning with a grounder to short. But the ball takes an irregular bounce and gets by Ooishi!
Hayashi follows that up with a grounder to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd with no out! But Arimizu pops it up to Tsutsugo! One down.
Nakata up. Koryo in need of base hits now. Grounder to the right side! Matsumoto again with the nice play! He gets it and throws to 2nd for one! Ooishi's throw to first is short and gets by Tsutsugo! Shimokawa scores and Nagata advances to 2nd! 7-4.
Ishihata up now. Count goes to 2-2. Sanshin! Ishihata strikes out looking!
Bottom 8th
Yokohama retired in order. Now, Koryo down to their final 3 outs!
Top 9th
#13 Kudou in for Tsutsugo at 1st.
Hashimoto starts the 9th with a base hit to left! He's replaced by #7 Matsumoto at 1st.
Maeda then grounds to 2nd! Matsumoto with the toss to 2nd, that's one. Wait! Ooishi has to go back and tag Matsumoto! They get him! But it looks like they missed the bag on the toss!
So one down and runner on first for Hasebe. He hits the first pitch and flies out to left...
...and then Uemoto flies out to center right after.
Koryo's bid to reach a 2nd consecutive Koshien final falls short at the hands of Yokohama, and you can see it in the faces of the Koryo players. They wanted to live up to their sensei beforehand and give the team another chance to win. But their story ends here today.
Yokohama advances to face the winner of the next game as the evening game of Day 13.
Koryo in it's first round match, almost had a meltdown similar to last year when Kochi scored 5 runs in the 6th and 7th innings to tie the game. But they rallied back with 3 in the 8th to advance 8-5.
Yokohama almost led wire-to-wire against Urawa Gakuin, but it never was really comfortable as they only led by as much as 2 runs and had to repel a late charge by Urawa in the bottom of the 9th.
Koryo sends #10 Morimune to start this game and Nakata goes to play 1st. Also, Tanaka and Ishihata switch place.
There's a smalll change in Yokohama's lineup as well. Tstsugo moves up to the cleanup spot, and Kenta moves down to the #6 spot.
So who will win?
Koryo definitely has the offense. And possibly more than Yokohama. Expect them to take the lead early on in the game. BUT! It will all depend on the pitching at the end for Koryo. It is almost a given that the pitching gets significantly weaker and they have to hold on for dear life.
I personally want Koryo to win, but I think the doubts about Koryo's pitching may be too much for a team like Yokohama. But expect a close game.
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Koryo (Hiroshima)
SS Uemoto (6)
RF Shimokawa (9)
2B Hayashi (4)
CF Arimizu (8)
1B Nakata (3)
C Ishihata (2)
LF Hashimoto (14)
P Morimune (10)
1B Hasebe (5)
Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa)
3B Kuramoto (5)
SS Ooishi (6)
2B Matsumoto (4)
1B Tsutsugo (3)
LF Iwama (7)
RF Ogawa Kenta (9)
P Tsuchiya (1)
C Oda (2)
CF Nakahara (8)
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12:51 PM
First pitch! And the wind is as strong as ever from right to left!
Top 1st
Uemoto with a drive! Iwama runs back! He's at the wall! Looks up!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uemoto with the opening salvo! A homerun to left field! Koryo leads 1-0!
After a groundout to Shimokawa, Hayashi gets a 4-pitch walk.
The teams continue to trade shots. Tsuchiya gets Arumizu to line to 2nd, but then Nakata singles through to left field! The throw goes into 3rd, and Nakata takes 2nd on the throw!
Runners on 2nd and 3rd for Ishihata! But Tsuchiya gets the final shot as he gets him to ground back to him.
Bottom 1st
Morimune's control is shaky to start. With one down, he hits Ooishi. Then a 4-pitch walk to Matsumoto. Tsutsugo works the count full, and continues to fight off pitches, but pops to short.
And Iwama flies to left to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Hashimoto hits a grounder into the left side. Ooishi moves over and makes the grab, but his spikes give way under him and he can't make the throw!
Morimune looking to put down the bunt. But it's back at Tsuchiya and he goes to 2nd for the out!
But last batter Hasebe fires back with a liner to center! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Uemoto!
Tsuchiya is going right after him though! No being careful here! However, the count runs full. He throws one inside and he gives that one a drive to left center!!! Iwama and Nakahara run back! They're still running! It's off the base of the wall! Morimune scores! Uemoto with the RBI double!!! 2-0 Koryo!!
Shimokawa with a fly to center! Nakahara gets set for the throw home! He gets it! Uemoto tags up! Nakahara fires home! Thrown on a line! Oda with the tag, and Uemoto's out!
But Koryo now leads by 2!
Bottom 2nd
Kenta leads off the inning with a walk. One out, runner at 2nd for Oda.
Morimune falls behind him 3-1. Oda with a drive to left center! That's to the wall! Kenta comes in to score! 2-1! And still a runner on 2nd with one out!
Nagahara up. Morimune falls behind him 2-1, but gets him to pop up on the 3rd base foul territory.
Kuramoto up to try for the tying hit. And Morimune strikes him out!
Top 3rd
Hayashi starts the 3rd with a liner past Tsuchiya and into center! But then he's thrown out trying to steal 2nd! Arimizu then earns a walk.
Nagata up and he hits a sharp comebacker! Tsuchiya sticks out his glove! It's off his glove and in the air! But it stays close to him! He goes to 2nd for one, throw by Ooishi is in plenty of time for the double play!
Bottom 3rd
Ooishi begins the inning with a groundout to short. But Nakata can't handle the throw! E3!
Runner at 2nd now, one down for Tsutsugo. Grounder through to right! Ooishi comes around to score and we have a tie game! 2-2!
Morimune gets Iwama to fly out to center. But then issues a 4-pitch walk to Kenta, his 4th of the day.
Tsuchiya strikes out, but Koryo's early advantage has been wiped out!
Top 4th
Ishihata starts with a grounder to short. But Ooishi has problems with the handle! He picks it up and makes the throw, but sails it past 1st!
Hashimoto up to bunt, but again Tsuchiya makes a fine play and throws out Ishihata at 2nd!
AH! With Morimune up, Hashimoto is picked off first! How does that happen when Tsuchiya is a southpaw?!
And Morimune flies out to left. Koryo with mistakes on the basepaths!
Bottom 4th
Nakata comes in from 1st to relieve Morimune. Ace #1 Maeda comes in to play 1st.
Oda hits a grounder to short. EH? It's off Uemoto! Oda at first on the error! But then Nakahara hits a pop up! Hasebe with the catch in foul territory! One down.
Kuramoto grounds one to 3rd. Hasebe to 2nd for one, Hayashi's throw to 1st, not in time!
2 down for Ooishi. And he's as stubborn as ever. The count runs full and he fouls off Nakata's pitches! The AB keeps going, 8... 9... 10 pitches!
The 11th pitch he lines through the infield and into right center! It's past the drawn in infield! It's going all the way to the wall! Kuramoto scores! Ooishi at 3rd!
HE'S GOING HOME!!!
Ooishi sprints home! The cutoff throw was bad! Ooishi's dives in with an inside the park home run!!!!!! 4-2 Yokohama!!
Doesn't stop there! Matsumoto hits a grounder to the right side! It's off Hayashi! Uemoto can't get it! It's to the outfield! Matsumoto tries for 2! Arimizu up with the throw back to Hayashi, and they get the tag on Matsumoto! 3 out!
But Ooishi with the inside-the-park homerun gives Yokohama the lead!
Top 5th
Hasebe starts with a liner to left. Then Tsuchiya issues a walk to Uemoto. Runners at first and 2nd with no out! Shimokawa tries to put down the bunt, but once again Tsuchiya fields his position well again and throws out the lead runner!
Now Hayashi up. He hits a liner to center! Uemoto scores! 4-3! The throw goes home! And Hayashi heads for 2nd?!!
Oda comes back firing to 2nd and he's nailed!
Koryo is just killing themselves on the basepaths! If they lose by just a run or two, you can easily point to these blunders as a reason why.
Bottom 5th
With one down, Iwama hits a drive to left! That's falls in front of the wall for a double!
Kenta then earns his 3rd walk of the game. Runners at 1st and 2nd for Tsuchiya!
And then Iwama goes to steal 3rd! Ishihata with the throw, but not in time! Tsuchiya then grounds to 2nd! Hayashi with the ball, tries to tag Kenta. No tag called! Hayashi has to throw to 1st then to get one out, but Iwama scores! 5-3 Yokohama!
Top 6th
Exiting the break, Tsuchiya gets his first 1-2-3 inning of the game.
Bottom 6th
One down for Kuramoto. Safety bunt! It's hit past Nakata, and he beats out the glove toss! Then he goes and steals 2nd!
Nakata though gets Ooishi to ground out to 2nd. 2 down.
Matsumoto then drives one to right center! That's to the wall! Kuramoto scores! 6-3 Yokohama on Matsumoto's triple!
Tsutsugo follows that up with a grounder to right! Matsumoto scores! 7-3!
Iwama follows that up with a liner to left! Nakata's really in trouble!
There's a conference on the mound, but Maeda isn't going to take the hill.
And Nakata gets Kenta to fly out to left. But Koryo is in big trouble now.
Top 7th
Maeda with the leadoff walk. After a flyout by Maeda, Uemoto hits a grounder up the middle! But Matsumoto makes the stop. MAKES THE GLOVE TOSS TO 2ND! And Ooishi finishes the double play at first! What a defensive play turned in by Yokohama!!
Bottom 7th
Maeda does take the mound now in relief of Nakata, who returns to his spot at 3rd.
Outside of hitting Nakahara, Maeda retires Yokohama with relative ease.
Top 8th
Time is running short for Koryo now.
Shimokawa starts the inning with a grounder to short. But the ball takes an irregular bounce and gets by Ooishi!
Hayashi follows that up with a grounder to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd with no out! But Arimizu pops it up to Tsutsugo! One down.
Nakata up. Koryo in need of base hits now. Grounder to the right side! Matsumoto again with the nice play! He gets it and throws to 2nd for one! Ooishi's throw to first is short and gets by Tsutsugo! Shimokawa scores and Nagata advances to 2nd! 7-4.
Ishihata up now. Count goes to 2-2. Sanshin! Ishihata strikes out looking!
Bottom 8th
Yokohama retired in order. Now, Koryo down to their final 3 outs!
Top 9th
#13 Kudou in for Tsutsugo at 1st.
Hashimoto starts the 9th with a base hit to left! He's replaced by #7 Matsumoto at 1st.
Maeda then grounds to 2nd! Matsumoto with the toss to 2nd, that's one. Wait! Ooishi has to go back and tag Matsumoto! They get him! But it looks like they missed the bag on the toss!
So one down and runner on first for Hasebe. He hits the first pitch and flies out to left...
...and then Uemoto flies out to center right after.
Koryo's bid to reach a 2nd consecutive Koshien final falls short at the hands of Yokohama, and you can see it in the faces of the Koryo players. They wanted to live up to their sensei beforehand and give the team another chance to win. But their story ends here today.
Yokohama advances to face the winner of the next game as the evening game of Day 13.
Day 11 - Game 1 - Kanazawa (Ishikawa) vs. Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
The scheduling gods have smiled down upon us today as we wrap up the 2nd round of Koshien today with 3 must-see games! Well, at least on paper.
The morning game today features 2 teams looking to do better than 2 years ago when they were both eliminated in the 2nd round.
...of course, Kanazawa lost to Kumamoto Kogyo while Osaka Toin lost to eventual champions Waseda Jitsugyo in the "Bracket of Death".
In their opening matches, Kanazawa wore down Kiryu Daiichi's pitching and advanced with a 6-1 victory.
Osaka Toin's game was originally postponed due to rain after they had gone out to a 4-0 lead against Hita-rin Kogyo. Didn't matter, because in the 2nd game they pretty much did the same thing en route to a 16-1, well... annihilation.
So who's going to move onto the round of 16?
Interestingly enough, Kanazawa has changed their lineup for this matchup. First of all they move switch-hitting Yamamoto from 5th to 7th in the lineup. In addition, they send out their submariner, #18 Kawahara to pitch against the Osaka Toin lineup. Perhaps the manager thinks that sending a submariner to the mound will give them a little advantage.
But realistically speaking, it borders on a David vs. Goliath matchup. Expect Osaka Toin to win going away.
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Kanazawa (Ishikawa)
LF Sasaki (7)
RF Ishino (17)
C Kawamoto (2)
1B Hayashi (3)
2B Kokon (4)
3B Nozaki (5)
SS Yamamoto (6)
CF Motoi (8)
P Kawahara (18)
Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
CF Shimizu (8)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
3B Sano (5)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9:30 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Kawamoto gets a 2-out walk against Yuuto to start, but it's otherwise a quiet inning.
Bottom 1st
Asamura starts off the game with a liner to left on a hanging pitch.
Osaka Toin with the hit-and run! Ball hit to Nozaki! Goes to 2nd?! Safe! What was Nozaki thinking on the hit-and-run?!
Runners on 1st and 2nd with no out! Ah, runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Cleanup batter Hagihara steps up to the plate.
Count goes to 1-1, then Hagihara tries to go upstairs! But instead the ball hangs in the zone and Hagihara drives it into the left center field gap! That's down and past Sasaki all the way to the wall! Asamura and Shimuzu easily score on Hagihara's double! 2-0 Osaka Toin!
Kawahara gets Okumura to fly to center. And after hitting Kouhei, he gets Sano to fly to left. But early on, the strategy of using the submariner has backfired on Kanazawa!
Top 2nd
Kokon starts the 2nd with a scorcher just under the diving Sano and into left for a single. Nozaki tries to bunt him along, but he can't and is forced to swing away... and strikes out.
Yamamoto tries to as well, and can't do it the first time. Then they put on the hit-and-run!! Yamamoto makes contact and shoots one into right! But what's this? Kokon has to hold up at 2nd?! What happened there?
So runners at 1st and 2nd for Motoi. But he too strikes out. That leaves it up to ace Kawahara.
Ah! He's hit on his back leg! Manrui for Sakaki! And he singles through to right field! Runners advance 90 feet, and Kokon scores! 2-1!
Ara? Kanazawa's already using a pinch hitter?! #9 Yamada is coming in to pinch-hit for Ishino! So manrui for Yamada!
He falls behind 1-2, and swings at a low pitch! Morikawa secures it and makes the play at 1st for the 3rd out! Big chance lost for Kanazawa! But they do get one run back.
Bottom 2nd
Kawahara looks to have settled down. He gets Arihara to strike out and Fukushima to pop to 2nd.
Arimura steps up and drives an inside pitch to left! Sasaki goes back to the wall, looks up! Haita!! Arimura gets his body around on an inside pitch and crushes that ball about 15 rows back in left! 3-1!!
Kawahara gives up a bloop single to Shimizu before getting Morikawa to strike out.
Top 3rd
Yuuto plunks the first batter Kawamoto, but can't do anything after that.
Bottom 3rd
Kawahara is relieved from the game and #1 Sugimoto heads to the mound.
And Sugimoto retires the side in order!
Top 4th
Yamamoto leads off the 4th with his 2nd base hit! He drives one to left past a running Kouhei for a double!
And there's a runner on 3rd with one out! (You can figure out what happened, can't you?)
Ace Sugimoto comes out to bat for the first time this tournament. He gets ahead 3-0 as Osaka Toin is worried about the squeeze. Goes 3-1 now. And he has the green light! He swings and lines one to center! Yamamoto scores! They've cut the deficit down to 1! 3-2!!
The lineup turns over to Sasaki. And Sugimoto goes for 2nd! Throw by Ariyama is there, but both players are playing backup! He in safe! Then Sasaki walks! Runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 down!
Yamada up in another timely situation. But he falls behind 1-2. Misses outside, 2-2. Just fouls one off! Ball outside! Full count!
AH!!!!! Yamada drives one to center! That's going deep! That's over everyone's head!!!! Sugimoto scores! Sasaki all the way from 1st scores on Yamada timely triple!!!
Kanazawa's taken the lead 4-3!!!
And there's still only one down as Kawamoto steps up! But Yuuto gets him to strike out.
2 down for Hayashi. But he swings on the first pitch and pops it to left! Asamura and Kouhei converge on it and get under it. AND NEITHER OF THEM GET IT??????!
Asamura had to lean back at the last minute and he missed the ball!! Yamada comes in to score!! Kanazawa now leads by 2, 5-3!!
Now Kokon takes a drive to deep center! But Shimizu is playing back and makes the easy catch. Kanazawa with a 4 in the 4th and they're shocking everyone! (Except for perhaps the Kanazawa oen-dan).
Bottom 4th
One down Ariyama pops one to shallow left. Yamamoto camps under it... and makes the same mistake as Asamura!! Ariyama in with a single!
Sugimoto gets the next 2 batters out, but both hit drives to deep left and center field. Perhaps a little concerning if you're Kanazawa.
Top 5th
Osaka Toin's manager has decided that for now, a change is in order. Okumura relieves Yuuto on the mound while Yuuto heads over to right.
After Okumura retires the first two quickly, 8th batter Motoi proves to be more stubborn. He works the count full and continues to foul pitches away. On the 9th pitch, he holds up on an outside letter high pitch and gets a hard-earned walk.
So, what can Sugimoto do? He's 1-1 this tournament with a timely hit.
Well, he puts up a small fight, but eventually goes down swinging.
Bottom 5th
Shimizu starts the inning with a liner up the middle.
One out, Shimizu at 2nd for Hagihara.
With the count 2-1, Sugimoto hangs a pitch, but Hagihara puts it just foul! His next pitch looks just like the last one??!
And just as I think that, Hagihara lines it to right. Why in bloody heck would you pitch to the same place after the batter just missed on his timing? Shimizu comes in to score, and Osaka Toin has cut the deficit to 5-4.
Sugimura gets ahead of the next batter Okumura 1-2, and on a low away pitch, he just gets a piece of it! And it gets past a diving Hayashi into right! Runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out!
Kouhei steps up, and he hits a fly to left. Sano up to try and get the timely hit, but he flies to deep center. Still Kanazawa's lead is now a tenuous 1 run.
Top 6th
Yamada leads off the inning with a walk. Kawamoto steps up next and hits a chopper to 1st. Hagihara leaps, but it's over his head! Runners at 1st and 2nd!
Hayashi up now. And a wild pitch!! Runners advance to scoring position!
But Okumura gets Hayashi to strike out.
2 down for Nozaki. No, wait. #14 Tatami is coming to pinch-hit for Nozaki. Kanazawa's manager is once again going to his bench!
And he may not have to lift a bat! Okumura falls behind 3-1!
Bottom 6th
Ariyama takes the first pitch and lines it to left! Sasaki runs back, but it flies over his head! He's in with a double!
Yuuto puts down the bunt. Sugimoto up with it and throws to first, but it's not in time! Yuuto beats it out! Runners at the corners for the dangerous Asamura!
But Sugimoto goes up on him 1-2! Then he tries to nibble, but Asamura doesn't bite! Count goes full! Just reaches out and fouls the next pitch! And he drops one on Asamura away and he bites! Sanshin!!! 1 out!
Shimizu though steps to the dish. 2-3 today with 2 singles. Sugimoto looking for the steal, does a pitchout and falls behind 2-1. Next pitch is another pitchout!! And Yuuto takes off for 2nd! Kawamoto throws to 2nd, and they nail him! Risky call there pays off!
Now 2 down, runner at 3rd for Shimizu! And he swings on the next pitch and grounds to 2nd! Inning over! Kanazawa gets away from a no out, runners on 1st and 3rd situation!
Top 7th
You know, now that I think about it, there's no music from the Kanazawa oen-dan. Just singing to mimic a band. Do they not have one or something? And come to think of it, I was in Kanazawa's oen-dan 2 years ago, and I had the exact same thought.
Back to the 7th, Sugimoto gets a 2-out single to left, but is left stranded.
Bottom 7th
Sugimoto retires the first 2 batters with relative ease. But then Okumura hits one to deep right center! That' s to the wall! Motoi has a hard time getting the ball, and Okumura heads all the way to 3rd! The tying run is 90 feet away for Kouhei!
And he gets plunked. But he really shouldn't have been awarded 1st. I mean, he didn't even move at all! Didn't even flinch!
Sano up. Drives the first pitch to deep center! Motoi running back, running back, and makes the catch in front of the wall!! Kanazawa is just barely holding onto it's lead!
Top 8th
Okumura and Yuuto switch places. And Yuuto retires the side in order.
Bottom 8th
Sugimoto retires the first 2 batters again easily. But that brings up Asamura.
??! He hits a drive deep to left! Sasaki running back to the wall. He's looking up! Masaka!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Asamura has hit his 2nd homerun of the day! Another blast to left! More importantly, he's tied the game 5-5!!!!!
Shimizu then hits a grounder down the 1st base line! Hayashi puts his glove out and he can't get it! It goes into right and Shimizu is up with a double! Go-ahead run is in scoring position!
And Kanazawa's manager has seen enough. He calls in #11 Sakurai to relieve Sugimoto.
Morikawa steps up to the plate. Wild pitch!! Shimizu advances to 3rd! Now the go-ahead run is just 90 feet away!
Sakurai gets Morikawa to ground to 2nd! Tatami double clutches, but makes the putout at 1st!
But Osaka Toin has tied the game!!
Top 9th
One down, Tatami singles through to left! Playing for the run, they bunt him over to 2nd. 2 down for Motoi.
Ah! He grounds one to the left side! Asamura runs over, makes the stop! The throw is in time to get a diving Motoi (running through wouldn't have mattered).
Now Osaka Toin has a chance to end it here in the bottom of the 9th!!
Bottom 9th
Hagihara starts the inning with a drive to left! Sasaki in front of the foul pole makes the catch! That was close!
Okumura swings away and grounds to short... 2 down.
Kouhei hits one to center, and it drops in! Sayonara runner on base!
Sano's been hitting the ball to the outfield all day. What will he do here?
It's another fly! This time to right center! Yamada runs over and makes the catch! Enchousen!
Top 10th
WOW! With one down, Sasaki grounds one up the middle! Asamura runs it down, twirls and makes the throw to 1st!! This guy is doing it all both with the bat and the glove!!
The Kanazawa batters have been awfully patient at the plate. But unfortunately, they're retired in order. But this might help them if the game continues deep into extras.
Bottom 10th
Due up for Osaka Toin - Ariyama, Fukushima Yuuto, and Asamura
Ariyama starts the offense early though with a shot through the left side. Yuuto now looking to bunt... His first attempts goes foul. 1-1... now it's 2-1... 3-1!! You can't walk him now!
But Yuuto puts down the bunt! Runner at 2nd for Asamura!
And Kanazawa elects to intentionally walk him! Good choice since his run doesn't matter!
But Shimizu is up now. He's 3-5 today and as big of a threat as Asamura!
Fouled off! 0-1. Ball outside, 1-1. Just outside again... 2-1. High! 3-1!! This is bad! High and outside! Manrui!
Conference at the mound now. Manrui for Morikawa! He's 0-3, but has 2 sac bunts on the day! Will we see a squeeze?
No! Morikawa makes contact on the first pitch! It's through the infield! Sayonara!!! Morikawa makes his first hit count as he delivers the sayonara hit to end the game!
An amazing game turned in by both teams! Kanazawa, who after falling behind early, jumped ahead of powerhouse Osaka Toin and feverishly tried to fend off rallies. And Osaka Toin, for continuing to pick away at Kanazawa inning after inning, eventually tying and winning the game!
And what a performance by SS Asamura! He had great plays on the field, but more importantly he displayed his power at the plate, going 3-5 with 2 solo home runs!
Kanazawa gave everything they had against Osaka Toin, and was 4 outs away from defeating the giant. But instead, Osaka Toin thanks its lucky stars as they advance to round of 16. They won't have much time though, as they face Toho for the chance to advance to the Best 8 in just 2 days.
The morning game today features 2 teams looking to do better than 2 years ago when they were both eliminated in the 2nd round.
...of course, Kanazawa lost to Kumamoto Kogyo while Osaka Toin lost to eventual champions Waseda Jitsugyo in the "Bracket of Death".
In their opening matches, Kanazawa wore down Kiryu Daiichi's pitching and advanced with a 6-1 victory.
Osaka Toin's game was originally postponed due to rain after they had gone out to a 4-0 lead against Hita-rin Kogyo. Didn't matter, because in the 2nd game they pretty much did the same thing en route to a 16-1, well... annihilation.
So who's going to move onto the round of 16?
Interestingly enough, Kanazawa has changed their lineup for this matchup. First of all they move switch-hitting Yamamoto from 5th to 7th in the lineup. In addition, they send out their submariner, #18 Kawahara to pitch against the Osaka Toin lineup. Perhaps the manager thinks that sending a submariner to the mound will give them a little advantage.
But realistically speaking, it borders on a David vs. Goliath matchup. Expect Osaka Toin to win going away.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kanazawa (Ishikawa)
LF Sasaki (7)
RF Ishino (17)
C Kawamoto (2)
1B Hayashi (3)
2B Kokon (4)
3B Nozaki (5)
SS Yamamoto (6)
CF Motoi (8)
P Kawahara (18)
Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
CF Shimizu (8)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
3B Sano (5)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9:30 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Kawamoto gets a 2-out walk against Yuuto to start, but it's otherwise a quiet inning.
Bottom 1st
Asamura starts off the game with a liner to left on a hanging pitch.
Osaka Toin with the hit-and run! Ball hit to Nozaki! Goes to 2nd?! Safe! What was Nozaki thinking on the hit-and-run?!
Runners on 1st and 2nd with no out! Ah, runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Cleanup batter Hagihara steps up to the plate.
Count goes to 1-1, then Hagihara tries to go upstairs! But instead the ball hangs in the zone and Hagihara drives it into the left center field gap! That's down and past Sasaki all the way to the wall! Asamura and Shimuzu easily score on Hagihara's double! 2-0 Osaka Toin!
Kawahara gets Okumura to fly to center. And after hitting Kouhei, he gets Sano to fly to left. But early on, the strategy of using the submariner has backfired on Kanazawa!
Top 2nd
Kokon starts the 2nd with a scorcher just under the diving Sano and into left for a single. Nozaki tries to bunt him along, but he can't and is forced to swing away... and strikes out.
Yamamoto tries to as well, and can't do it the first time. Then they put on the hit-and-run!! Yamamoto makes contact and shoots one into right! But what's this? Kokon has to hold up at 2nd?! What happened there?
So runners at 1st and 2nd for Motoi. But he too strikes out. That leaves it up to ace Kawahara.
Ah! He's hit on his back leg! Manrui for Sakaki! And he singles through to right field! Runners advance 90 feet, and Kokon scores! 2-1!
Ara? Kanazawa's already using a pinch hitter?! #9 Yamada is coming in to pinch-hit for Ishino! So manrui for Yamada!
He falls behind 1-2, and swings at a low pitch! Morikawa secures it and makes the play at 1st for the 3rd out! Big chance lost for Kanazawa! But they do get one run back.
Bottom 2nd
Kawahara looks to have settled down. He gets Arihara to strike out and Fukushima to pop to 2nd.
Arimura steps up and drives an inside pitch to left! Sasaki goes back to the wall, looks up! Haita!! Arimura gets his body around on an inside pitch and crushes that ball about 15 rows back in left! 3-1!!
Kawahara gives up a bloop single to Shimizu before getting Morikawa to strike out.
Top 3rd
Yuuto plunks the first batter Kawamoto, but can't do anything after that.
Bottom 3rd
Kawahara is relieved from the game and #1 Sugimoto heads to the mound.
And Sugimoto retires the side in order!
Top 4th
Yamamoto leads off the 4th with his 2nd base hit! He drives one to left past a running Kouhei for a double!
And there's a runner on 3rd with one out! (You can figure out what happened, can't you?)
Ace Sugimoto comes out to bat for the first time this tournament. He gets ahead 3-0 as Osaka Toin is worried about the squeeze. Goes 3-1 now. And he has the green light! He swings and lines one to center! Yamamoto scores! They've cut the deficit down to 1! 3-2!!
The lineup turns over to Sasaki. And Sugimoto goes for 2nd! Throw by Ariyama is there, but both players are playing backup! He in safe! Then Sasaki walks! Runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 down!
Yamada up in another timely situation. But he falls behind 1-2. Misses outside, 2-2. Just fouls one off! Ball outside! Full count!
AH!!!!! Yamada drives one to center! That's going deep! That's over everyone's head!!!! Sugimoto scores! Sasaki all the way from 1st scores on Yamada timely triple!!!
Kanazawa's taken the lead 4-3!!!
And there's still only one down as Kawamoto steps up! But Yuuto gets him to strike out.
2 down for Hayashi. But he swings on the first pitch and pops it to left! Asamura and Kouhei converge on it and get under it. AND NEITHER OF THEM GET IT??????!
Asamura had to lean back at the last minute and he missed the ball!! Yamada comes in to score!! Kanazawa now leads by 2, 5-3!!
Now Kokon takes a drive to deep center! But Shimizu is playing back and makes the easy catch. Kanazawa with a 4 in the 4th and they're shocking everyone! (Except for perhaps the Kanazawa oen-dan).
Bottom 4th
One down Ariyama pops one to shallow left. Yamamoto camps under it... and makes the same mistake as Asamura!! Ariyama in with a single!
Sugimoto gets the next 2 batters out, but both hit drives to deep left and center field. Perhaps a little concerning if you're Kanazawa.
Top 5th
Osaka Toin's manager has decided that for now, a change is in order. Okumura relieves Yuuto on the mound while Yuuto heads over to right.
After Okumura retires the first two quickly, 8th batter Motoi proves to be more stubborn. He works the count full and continues to foul pitches away. On the 9th pitch, he holds up on an outside letter high pitch and gets a hard-earned walk.
So, what can Sugimoto do? He's 1-1 this tournament with a timely hit.
Well, he puts up a small fight, but eventually goes down swinging.
Bottom 5th
Shimizu starts the inning with a liner up the middle.
One out, Shimizu at 2nd for Hagihara.
With the count 2-1, Sugimoto hangs a pitch, but Hagihara puts it just foul! His next pitch looks just like the last one??!
And just as I think that, Hagihara lines it to right. Why in bloody heck would you pitch to the same place after the batter just missed on his timing? Shimizu comes in to score, and Osaka Toin has cut the deficit to 5-4.
Sugimura gets ahead of the next batter Okumura 1-2, and on a low away pitch, he just gets a piece of it! And it gets past a diving Hayashi into right! Runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out!
Kouhei steps up, and he hits a fly to left. Sano up to try and get the timely hit, but he flies to deep center. Still Kanazawa's lead is now a tenuous 1 run.
Top 6th
Yamada leads off the inning with a walk. Kawamoto steps up next and hits a chopper to 1st. Hagihara leaps, but it's over his head! Runners at 1st and 2nd!
Hayashi up now. And a wild pitch!! Runners advance to scoring position!
But Okumura gets Hayashi to strike out.
2 down for Nozaki. No, wait. #14 Tatami is coming to pinch-hit for Nozaki. Kanazawa's manager is once again going to his bench!
And he may not have to lift a bat! Okumura falls behind 3-1!
Bottom 6th
Ariyama takes the first pitch and lines it to left! Sasaki runs back, but it flies over his head! He's in with a double!
Yuuto puts down the bunt. Sugimoto up with it and throws to first, but it's not in time! Yuuto beats it out! Runners at the corners for the dangerous Asamura!
But Sugimoto goes up on him 1-2! Then he tries to nibble, but Asamura doesn't bite! Count goes full! Just reaches out and fouls the next pitch! And he drops one on Asamura away and he bites! Sanshin!!! 1 out!
Shimizu though steps to the dish. 2-3 today with 2 singles. Sugimoto looking for the steal, does a pitchout and falls behind 2-1. Next pitch is another pitchout!! And Yuuto takes off for 2nd! Kawamoto throws to 2nd, and they nail him! Risky call there pays off!
Now 2 down, runner at 3rd for Shimizu! And he swings on the next pitch and grounds to 2nd! Inning over! Kanazawa gets away from a no out, runners on 1st and 3rd situation!
Top 7th
You know, now that I think about it, there's no music from the Kanazawa oen-dan. Just singing to mimic a band. Do they not have one or something? And come to think of it, I was in Kanazawa's oen-dan 2 years ago, and I had the exact same thought.
Back to the 7th, Sugimoto gets a 2-out single to left, but is left stranded.
Bottom 7th
Sugimoto retires the first 2 batters with relative ease. But then Okumura hits one to deep right center! That' s to the wall! Motoi has a hard time getting the ball, and Okumura heads all the way to 3rd! The tying run is 90 feet away for Kouhei!
And he gets plunked. But he really shouldn't have been awarded 1st. I mean, he didn't even move at all! Didn't even flinch!
Sano up. Drives the first pitch to deep center! Motoi running back, running back, and makes the catch in front of the wall!! Kanazawa is just barely holding onto it's lead!
Top 8th
Okumura and Yuuto switch places. And Yuuto retires the side in order.
Bottom 8th
Sugimoto retires the first 2 batters again easily. But that brings up Asamura.
??! He hits a drive deep to left! Sasaki running back to the wall. He's looking up! Masaka!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Asamura has hit his 2nd homerun of the day! Another blast to left! More importantly, he's tied the game 5-5!!!!!
Shimizu then hits a grounder down the 1st base line! Hayashi puts his glove out and he can't get it! It goes into right and Shimizu is up with a double! Go-ahead run is in scoring position!
And Kanazawa's manager has seen enough. He calls in #11 Sakurai to relieve Sugimoto.
Morikawa steps up to the plate. Wild pitch!! Shimizu advances to 3rd! Now the go-ahead run is just 90 feet away!
Sakurai gets Morikawa to ground to 2nd! Tatami double clutches, but makes the putout at 1st!
But Osaka Toin has tied the game!!
Top 9th
One down, Tatami singles through to left! Playing for the run, they bunt him over to 2nd. 2 down for Motoi.
Ah! He grounds one to the left side! Asamura runs over, makes the stop! The throw is in time to get a diving Motoi (running through wouldn't have mattered).
Now Osaka Toin has a chance to end it here in the bottom of the 9th!!
Bottom 9th
Hagihara starts the inning with a drive to left! Sasaki in front of the foul pole makes the catch! That was close!
Okumura swings away and grounds to short... 2 down.
Kouhei hits one to center, and it drops in! Sayonara runner on base!
Sano's been hitting the ball to the outfield all day. What will he do here?
It's another fly! This time to right center! Yamada runs over and makes the catch! Enchousen!
Top 10th
WOW! With one down, Sasaki grounds one up the middle! Asamura runs it down, twirls and makes the throw to 1st!! This guy is doing it all both with the bat and the glove!!
The Kanazawa batters have been awfully patient at the plate. But unfortunately, they're retired in order. But this might help them if the game continues deep into extras.
Bottom 10th
Due up for Osaka Toin - Ariyama, Fukushima Yuuto, and Asamura
Ariyama starts the offense early though with a shot through the left side. Yuuto now looking to bunt... His first attempts goes foul. 1-1... now it's 2-1... 3-1!! You can't walk him now!
But Yuuto puts down the bunt! Runner at 2nd for Asamura!
And Kanazawa elects to intentionally walk him! Good choice since his run doesn't matter!
But Shimizu is up now. He's 3-5 today and as big of a threat as Asamura!
Fouled off! 0-1. Ball outside, 1-1. Just outside again... 2-1. High! 3-1!! This is bad! High and outside! Manrui!
Conference at the mound now. Manrui for Morikawa! He's 0-3, but has 2 sac bunts on the day! Will we see a squeeze?
No! Morikawa makes contact on the first pitch! It's through the infield! Sayonara!!! Morikawa makes his first hit count as he delivers the sayonara hit to end the game!
An amazing game turned in by both teams! Kanazawa, who after falling behind early, jumped ahead of powerhouse Osaka Toin and feverishly tried to fend off rallies. And Osaka Toin, for continuing to pick away at Kanazawa inning after inning, eventually tying and winning the game!
And what a performance by SS Asamura! He had great plays on the field, but more importantly he displayed his power at the plate, going 3-5 with 2 solo home runs!
Kanazawa gave everything they had against Osaka Toin, and was 4 outs away from defeating the giant. But instead, Osaka Toin thanks its lucky stars as they advance to round of 16. They won't have much time though, as they face Toho for the chance to advance to the Best 8 in just 2 days.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Day 10 - Game 3 - Seiho (Nagasaki) vs. Toho (Nishi Aichi)
The final game of the day could prove to be a barn-burner between 2 offensive clubs. Or at least if that's what the first games these teams played indicated...
Seiho faced Hokuoudai Ashikaga and led wire-to-wire by a score of 11-3.
Toho faced Hokkai, and while it was a low scoring affair to start, 1-0 after 3 innings, the teams combined for 24 more in the remaining 6 as Toho won 15-10.
So what should we expect to see this game?
It's almost a fact that when a team runs up a score at any point during the tournament, they seem to lose in the next round or two. Perhaps they're overdoing it when they shouldn't, but I don't know. Maybe it's a karma thing.
The teams statistically seem to play to each other's strengths/weaknesses. Toho's batting seems strong, but so does Seiho's pitching. Seiho's batting generally isn't that great, but then again neither is Toho's pitching.
I personally am rooting for Seiho. But looking at it, saying Seiho makes sense since it's easier to exploit a team's relative weakness (Toho's pitching) vs. a team's strength (Seiho's pitching).
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Seiho (Nagasaki)
3B Yahisa (5)
LF Oda (18)
1B Yamazaki (3)
2B Tominaga (4)
SS Hayashi (6)
CF Aoki (12)
C Kawamoto (2)
P Imamura (11)
RF Chiga (9)
Toho (Nishi Aichi)
C Yamada (2)
LF Ayake (7)
1B Shimizu (3)
3B Nonokawa (5)
RF Iwada (9)
CF Hashimoto (8)
2B Furuuchi (4)
SS Matsunaga (6)
P Shimodaira (1)
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2:40 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Yamazaki gets a 2-out single against Shimodaira, but that's it.
Bottom 1st
Ayake gets the inning going after being hit by Imamura. Then with 2 down, Nonokawa draws a walk. So Imamura in a self-made mess here. But he strikes out Iwada to end the inning.
Early on the control of his fastball is good, but his offspeed stuff is missing the mark.
Top 2nd
Seiho goes down in order. Shimodaira looks about the same as Imamura. Good location on the fastball, but his breaking stuff isn't finding the glove.
Bottom 2nd
Imamura still with trouble locating his offspeed stuff, but retires the side in order otherwise. But he could be in trouble later if the batters start avoiding the breaking stuff and looking dead red.
Top 3rd
Imamura leads off the inning with a walk. Chiga puts the bunt down, Shimodaira up with the ball. Looks to 2nd, then goes to 1st, but Chiga is safe! Runner at 1st and 2nd with no out!
...ok, runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out for Oda. And he lines one through the infield into right! Imamura scores and it's 1-0 Seiho!
Yamazaki looking to continue the inning. He falls behind 1-2, then swings at a low ball, starting the 4-6-3 DP.
Bottom 3rd
Shimodaira looks to get the run back ASAP. He singles to left to start the inning.
And there's no bunt here. Yahisa swings away and shoots on through the infield and into left!
Ayake looking to bunt... at least at first. But now he's pulling it back and swinging away! Falls behind 1-2. Slider in the dirt, 2-2. Liner, foul! Still 2-2. Fastball way high and wide! Count full! Fouled off again. Freezes on a fastball on the outside! Sanshin!
Shimizu to try and score one. He gets ahead 2-0. Fastball, in there. 2-1. Fastball fouled off... 2-2. Ball in the dirt. Count full, runners will take off now! Fastball low! Ball 4, manrui for Nonokawa!
Offspeed inside corner, 0-1... Another offspeed low, 1-1. Chopper up the middle! Tominaga charging! Overruns it! Gets it and makes the play at 2nd for the 2nd out. But Shimodaira comes in to score! Tie game 1-1!
Iwada strikes out, but Toho has come right back and scored a run of its own!
Top 4th
With one down, Hayashi looks to give Seiho the lead again as he lines one over Nonokawa and into left for a double. But on the very next batter, he makes a running error as Aoki grounds to short and takes off for 3rd. He's subsequently run down and the opportunity is lost.
Shimodaira is locating his offspeed pitches better, so the advantage may be shifting to Toho.
Bottom 4th
Imamura falls behind Hashimoto, but he gets him to ground out to 1st.
Sure enough, Imamura falls behind Furuuchi, throws a 2-seam fastball in the zone and Furuuchi drives it down the left field line for a home run. No surprise here. The batters are starting to look for the fastball. 2-1 Toho!
Top 5th
Well, Imamura feels bad about that, so he drives one to left himself! It's over Ayake's head and Imamura is in with a double!
Chiga looks to bunt him along, but seems to change his tune when he gets ahead 2-0... Now it's 3-1. Ball 4, but Chiga makes an attempt at it! Full count. That was a big mistake. Fouls one off. Grounds one to short! Imamura goes for 3rd! But Matsunaga's only play is to 1st.
AH! Yahisa pops it up at home! Yamada gets under it, waits, and it's off his glove and bounces into foul territory! Fair ball! Fair ball! Imamura can't go home, but Yahisa is safe at first! Runners at the corners for Oda!
Hit-and-run! Yahisa takes off for 2nd! Oda's reaches down and gets a hold of it! Going to left center, and it drops in! Imamura scores and Yahisa goes to 3rd on Oda's double!
Yamazaki to keep the run going.
SQUEEZE!! AH!!! It's a pitch out! Yamazaki gets the bat on the ball, but pops it way up in foul territory! Yamada makes the catch for the 2nd out!
Up to Tominaga now. But he strikes out!
Seiho ties the game up, but they easily could have scored more runs!
Bottom 5th
It seems like the player that makes the last error tries to make up for it immediately thereafter!
Yamada up to start the inning. He chops one up the middle. It takes a high hop! Tominaga with the leap and grab! His throw to first is wild and goes into foul territory! Yamada advances to 2nd!
Ayake hits his own chopper to 1st. Yamazaki leaps, makes the same grab and finished the put out at 1st. But now Yamada is at 3rd.
Shimizu up, and a sac fly would bring in the go-ahead run.
He does more than that! He hits a drive deep to left! Oda running back! It's a one hopper off the wall! Yamada scores and Shimizu walks in with a RBI double! 3-2!!!
Imamura's control is still having problems. He issues a walk to Nonokawa and now there's runners at 1st and 2nd with one down.
He comes back to strike out Iwada, and there a little look of relief on his face.
The inning isn't over yet. Nishmoto steps up to the plate. And he hits one to right, but right at Chiga. 3 out, but Toho has regained the lead.
Top 6th
With one down, Aoki hits a grounder to the left side. Yamada makes the diving stop, but can't get the throw to 1st in time!
Seiho elects to bunt Aoki to 2nd, so now runner on 2nd and 2 outs for Imamura. He's been good at the plate so far.
And he hits a drive to left! Ayake running back, and it's over his head and to the wall! Aoki comes around to score on Imamura's double, and we're tied one again 3-3!!
Bottom 6th
Furuuchi, who earlier hit the HR, comes to bat again. And he gets frozen on the slider!
Matsunaga drives one to right! But the wind knocks it down for Chiga.
And Shimomura does his best Bugs Bunny impression, "Strike one, strike two, strike three, yer out!"
Top 7th
So now we're back on Seiho's serve as it were.
Yahisa starts the rally with a grounder through to right. Oda, although 2-3 on the day with 2 RBI's, bunts him along for Yamazaki.
He's very patient at the plate, looking for a pitch he can drive. He works the count full before falling victim to Shimodaira's forkball.
Tominaga up now. He's hit by Shimodaira! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Hayashi! He's 1-3 so far today. Can he deliver the timely hit?
Shimodaira falls behind 2-0! Now 3-1! Swings at a ball down and away! Count full! Runners in motion! Ball 4! Manrui! Manrui for Aoki!
#10 Wada is warming up in the bullpen. He may be all ready to go. But they're sticking with Shimodaira against Aoki.
Two balls away, 2 strikes! Fouls off another pitch away! Sanshin! Shimodaira goes away all 4 times for the strikeout and Seiho leaves the bases loaded!
Bottom 7th
Yamada builds off the momentum from the last half inning! He drives one to deep to left! That falls at the base of the wall for a double! Runner at 2rd, no out!
Make that runner at 3rd, one out. Shimizu up to bring that run in.
Fly to deep left center! Aoki hustles to make the catch, but Yamada easily walks in and Toho has the lead again 4-3!!
Nonokawa with the drive to right! Chiga runs that one down!
BUT! Toho has broken serve again! And with two innings left to go, Seiho has to break serve back if they want to continue here at Koshien!
Top 8th
Kawamoto with the drive to center! Hashimoto runs back, dives! It over his outstretched glove! Kawamoto in with a leadoff double!
Imamura tries to put the bunt down, but he can't and he falls behind 1-2! What will he do now?
He's swinging away, but the ball it outside, 2-2. Check swing, jammed foul! At his feet! Full count! Sanshin! He swings at a ball in the dirt!
One down for Chiga. He's looking to bunt! NO!! Swings away! Liner through the infield and into right! Kawamoto rounds 3rd and he scores!
We're tied again 4-4!!!
Yahisa to try and give Seiho the lead. AH! First pitch swinging and it's a popup to 2nd! 2 outs!
Oda now to try and deliver the go-ahead hit. But he grounds to short!
Seiho has tied the game up, but they MUST hold serve here in the bottom of the 8th!
Bottom 8th
Imamura looked to have Iwada with strike 3 swinging, but they call foul ball. He continues to fight and on the 9th pitch draws a walk!
Hashimoto up to bunt. Imamura has other plans! He fields the ball and goes to 2nd! But his ball looks more like a curve than a throw and it gets past Hayashi! All safe!
Furuuchi up and bunts the runners along! Runners at 2nd and 3rd for Matsunaga!
They're going to pitch to him.
SQUEEZE!!! He kills it at the plate and Imamura's only play is to 1st! Iwada scores!
Toho regains the lead 5-4!!
Imamura strikes out Shimodaira, but once again Toho breaks serve back and leads with only 3 outs left to go!
Top 9th
Seiho only has held the lead once, and that was after the top of the 3rd. Since then, they've been either tied or trailing.
Now there is no option, you MUST tie or go ahead!
The heart of Seiho's lineup is up. And ironically, it's the part of the lineup that has struggled the entire day! Can they come through here when it counts?
Yamazaki, 1-4 today... he strikes out swinging on a pitch outside....
Tominaga up, 0-3 with 2 K's and a BB... he works the count full. Check swing. Appeal to 1st. No! No swing! He gets his 2nd walk!
Hayashi up, 1-3 with a 2B and a BB.... he squares to bunt! Pulls it back, but falls behind 1-2! Sanshin! He watches strike 3 come in on the outside corner!
Last chance falls with Aoki, 1-4 with a K. Lefty on lefty...
Outside corner for strike one, swinging on outside pitch for strike two. Just outside for 1-2.
SANSHIN!!
Aoki swings at a pitch down and away!
What a back and forth game that was to close the day! The teams continued to trade runs back and forth, but in the end, Toho scored the final run in the bottom of the 8th and edged out Seiho 5-4!!
Seiho faced Hokuoudai Ashikaga and led wire-to-wire by a score of 11-3.
Toho faced Hokkai, and while it was a low scoring affair to start, 1-0 after 3 innings, the teams combined for 24 more in the remaining 6 as Toho won 15-10.
So what should we expect to see this game?
It's almost a fact that when a team runs up a score at any point during the tournament, they seem to lose in the next round or two. Perhaps they're overdoing it when they shouldn't, but I don't know. Maybe it's a karma thing.
The teams statistically seem to play to each other's strengths/weaknesses. Toho's batting seems strong, but so does Seiho's pitching. Seiho's batting generally isn't that great, but then again neither is Toho's pitching.
I personally am rooting for Seiho. But looking at it, saying Seiho makes sense since it's easier to exploit a team's relative weakness (Toho's pitching) vs. a team's strength (Seiho's pitching).
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Seiho (Nagasaki)
3B Yahisa (5)
LF Oda (18)
1B Yamazaki (3)
2B Tominaga (4)
SS Hayashi (6)
CF Aoki (12)
C Kawamoto (2)
P Imamura (11)
RF Chiga (9)
Toho (Nishi Aichi)
C Yamada (2)
LF Ayake (7)
1B Shimizu (3)
3B Nonokawa (5)
RF Iwada (9)
CF Hashimoto (8)
2B Furuuchi (4)
SS Matsunaga (6)
P Shimodaira (1)
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2:40 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Yamazaki gets a 2-out single against Shimodaira, but that's it.
Bottom 1st
Ayake gets the inning going after being hit by Imamura. Then with 2 down, Nonokawa draws a walk. So Imamura in a self-made mess here. But he strikes out Iwada to end the inning.
Early on the control of his fastball is good, but his offspeed stuff is missing the mark.
Top 2nd
Seiho goes down in order. Shimodaira looks about the same as Imamura. Good location on the fastball, but his breaking stuff isn't finding the glove.
Bottom 2nd
Imamura still with trouble locating his offspeed stuff, but retires the side in order otherwise. But he could be in trouble later if the batters start avoiding the breaking stuff and looking dead red.
Top 3rd
Imamura leads off the inning with a walk. Chiga puts the bunt down, Shimodaira up with the ball. Looks to 2nd, then goes to 1st, but Chiga is safe! Runner at 1st and 2nd with no out!
...ok, runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out for Oda. And he lines one through the infield into right! Imamura scores and it's 1-0 Seiho!
Yamazaki looking to continue the inning. He falls behind 1-2, then swings at a low ball, starting the 4-6-3 DP.
Bottom 3rd
Shimodaira looks to get the run back ASAP. He singles to left to start the inning.
And there's no bunt here. Yahisa swings away and shoots on through the infield and into left!
Ayake looking to bunt... at least at first. But now he's pulling it back and swinging away! Falls behind 1-2. Slider in the dirt, 2-2. Liner, foul! Still 2-2. Fastball way high and wide! Count full! Fouled off again. Freezes on a fastball on the outside! Sanshin!
Shimizu to try and score one. He gets ahead 2-0. Fastball, in there. 2-1. Fastball fouled off... 2-2. Ball in the dirt. Count full, runners will take off now! Fastball low! Ball 4, manrui for Nonokawa!
Offspeed inside corner, 0-1... Another offspeed low, 1-1. Chopper up the middle! Tominaga charging! Overruns it! Gets it and makes the play at 2nd for the 2nd out. But Shimodaira comes in to score! Tie game 1-1!
Iwada strikes out, but Toho has come right back and scored a run of its own!
Top 4th
With one down, Hayashi looks to give Seiho the lead again as he lines one over Nonokawa and into left for a double. But on the very next batter, he makes a running error as Aoki grounds to short and takes off for 3rd. He's subsequently run down and the opportunity is lost.
Shimodaira is locating his offspeed pitches better, so the advantage may be shifting to Toho.
Bottom 4th
Imamura falls behind Hashimoto, but he gets him to ground out to 1st.
Sure enough, Imamura falls behind Furuuchi, throws a 2-seam fastball in the zone and Furuuchi drives it down the left field line for a home run. No surprise here. The batters are starting to look for the fastball. 2-1 Toho!
Top 5th
Well, Imamura feels bad about that, so he drives one to left himself! It's over Ayake's head and Imamura is in with a double!
Chiga looks to bunt him along, but seems to change his tune when he gets ahead 2-0... Now it's 3-1. Ball 4, but Chiga makes an attempt at it! Full count. That was a big mistake. Fouls one off. Grounds one to short! Imamura goes for 3rd! But Matsunaga's only play is to 1st.
AH! Yahisa pops it up at home! Yamada gets under it, waits, and it's off his glove and bounces into foul territory! Fair ball! Fair ball! Imamura can't go home, but Yahisa is safe at first! Runners at the corners for Oda!
Hit-and-run! Yahisa takes off for 2nd! Oda's reaches down and gets a hold of it! Going to left center, and it drops in! Imamura scores and Yahisa goes to 3rd on Oda's double!
Yamazaki to keep the run going.
SQUEEZE!! AH!!! It's a pitch out! Yamazaki gets the bat on the ball, but pops it way up in foul territory! Yamada makes the catch for the 2nd out!
Up to Tominaga now. But he strikes out!
Seiho ties the game up, but they easily could have scored more runs!
Bottom 5th
It seems like the player that makes the last error tries to make up for it immediately thereafter!
Yamada up to start the inning. He chops one up the middle. It takes a high hop! Tominaga with the leap and grab! His throw to first is wild and goes into foul territory! Yamada advances to 2nd!
Ayake hits his own chopper to 1st. Yamazaki leaps, makes the same grab and finished the put out at 1st. But now Yamada is at 3rd.
Shimizu up, and a sac fly would bring in the go-ahead run.
He does more than that! He hits a drive deep to left! Oda running back! It's a one hopper off the wall! Yamada scores and Shimizu walks in with a RBI double! 3-2!!!
Imamura's control is still having problems. He issues a walk to Nonokawa and now there's runners at 1st and 2nd with one down.
He comes back to strike out Iwada, and there a little look of relief on his face.
The inning isn't over yet. Nishmoto steps up to the plate. And he hits one to right, but right at Chiga. 3 out, but Toho has regained the lead.
Top 6th
With one down, Aoki hits a grounder to the left side. Yamada makes the diving stop, but can't get the throw to 1st in time!
Seiho elects to bunt Aoki to 2nd, so now runner on 2nd and 2 outs for Imamura. He's been good at the plate so far.
And he hits a drive to left! Ayake running back, and it's over his head and to the wall! Aoki comes around to score on Imamura's double, and we're tied one again 3-3!!
Bottom 6th
Furuuchi, who earlier hit the HR, comes to bat again. And he gets frozen on the slider!
Matsunaga drives one to right! But the wind knocks it down for Chiga.
And Shimomura does his best Bugs Bunny impression, "Strike one, strike two, strike three, yer out!"
Top 7th
So now we're back on Seiho's serve as it were.
Yahisa starts the rally with a grounder through to right. Oda, although 2-3 on the day with 2 RBI's, bunts him along for Yamazaki.
He's very patient at the plate, looking for a pitch he can drive. He works the count full before falling victim to Shimodaira's forkball.
Tominaga up now. He's hit by Shimodaira! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Hayashi! He's 1-3 so far today. Can he deliver the timely hit?
Shimodaira falls behind 2-0! Now 3-1! Swings at a ball down and away! Count full! Runners in motion! Ball 4! Manrui! Manrui for Aoki!
#10 Wada is warming up in the bullpen. He may be all ready to go. But they're sticking with Shimodaira against Aoki.
Two balls away, 2 strikes! Fouls off another pitch away! Sanshin! Shimodaira goes away all 4 times for the strikeout and Seiho leaves the bases loaded!
Bottom 7th
Yamada builds off the momentum from the last half inning! He drives one to deep to left! That falls at the base of the wall for a double! Runner at 2rd, no out!
Make that runner at 3rd, one out. Shimizu up to bring that run in.
Fly to deep left center! Aoki hustles to make the catch, but Yamada easily walks in and Toho has the lead again 4-3!!
Nonokawa with the drive to right! Chiga runs that one down!
BUT! Toho has broken serve again! And with two innings left to go, Seiho has to break serve back if they want to continue here at Koshien!
Top 8th
Kawamoto with the drive to center! Hashimoto runs back, dives! It over his outstretched glove! Kawamoto in with a leadoff double!
Imamura tries to put the bunt down, but he can't and he falls behind 1-2! What will he do now?
He's swinging away, but the ball it outside, 2-2. Check swing, jammed foul! At his feet! Full count! Sanshin! He swings at a ball in the dirt!
One down for Chiga. He's looking to bunt! NO!! Swings away! Liner through the infield and into right! Kawamoto rounds 3rd and he scores!
We're tied again 4-4!!!
Yahisa to try and give Seiho the lead. AH! First pitch swinging and it's a popup to 2nd! 2 outs!
Oda now to try and deliver the go-ahead hit. But he grounds to short!
Seiho has tied the game up, but they MUST hold serve here in the bottom of the 8th!
Bottom 8th
Imamura looked to have Iwada with strike 3 swinging, but they call foul ball. He continues to fight and on the 9th pitch draws a walk!
Hashimoto up to bunt. Imamura has other plans! He fields the ball and goes to 2nd! But his ball looks more like a curve than a throw and it gets past Hayashi! All safe!
Furuuchi up and bunts the runners along! Runners at 2nd and 3rd for Matsunaga!
They're going to pitch to him.
SQUEEZE!!! He kills it at the plate and Imamura's only play is to 1st! Iwada scores!
Toho regains the lead 5-4!!
Imamura strikes out Shimodaira, but once again Toho breaks serve back and leads with only 3 outs left to go!
Top 9th
Seiho only has held the lead once, and that was after the top of the 3rd. Since then, they've been either tied or trailing.
Now there is no option, you MUST tie or go ahead!
The heart of Seiho's lineup is up. And ironically, it's the part of the lineup that has struggled the entire day! Can they come through here when it counts?
Yamazaki, 1-4 today... he strikes out swinging on a pitch outside....
Tominaga up, 0-3 with 2 K's and a BB... he works the count full. Check swing. Appeal to 1st. No! No swing! He gets his 2nd walk!
Hayashi up, 1-3 with a 2B and a BB.... he squares to bunt! Pulls it back, but falls behind 1-2! Sanshin! He watches strike 3 come in on the outside corner!
Last chance falls with Aoki, 1-4 with a K. Lefty on lefty...
Outside corner for strike one, swinging on outside pitch for strike two. Just outside for 1-2.
SANSHIN!!
Aoki swings at a pitch down and away!
What a back and forth game that was to close the day! The teams continued to trade runs back and forth, but in the end, Toho scored the final run in the bottom of the 8th and edged out Seiho 5-4!!
Day 10 - Game 2 - Keio (Kita Kanagawa) vs. Takaoka Shogyo (Toyama)
The middle game of the set by name alone would make it seem like this game may be one sided. Keio, connected with the the Tokyo Big6 university versus Takaoka from Toyama.
But for Keio, even with the program its university has, it's been almost a half-century since they've been to Koshien.
Takaoka on the other hand, has had some recent experience here, but it's been a full class since they've been here.
Keio was in control of its first game as they defeated Matsusho Gakuen 6-4. Takaoka on the other hand, needed a 4 run explosion in the 7th to defeat Obu 4-1.
My team to advance - Keio. I'll just say it. I'm selfish. I want to hear the Keio oen-dan for as long as I can.
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Keio (Kita Kanagawa)
RF Naitou (9)
3B Fukutomi (5)
2B Yamazaki (4)
1B Suzuki Yuuji (7)
LF Akada (17)
P Tamura (1)
C Suzuki Yousuke (2)
SS Saitou (6)
CF Mizoguchi (8)
Takaoka Shogyo (Toyama)
SS Uemura (6)
3B Abe (5)
LF Nomura (7)
C Tanaka (2)
CF Kitada (8)
1B Nakahara (3)
RF Seki (9)
P Fukushima (1)
2B Miyaguchi (4)
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12:11 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Fukushima gives up a one-out single to Fukutomi. Then, Fukutomi goes and steals 2nd!
Yamazaki grounds to short, but does advance Fukutomi to 3rd. Unfortunately, he's left stranded when Yuuji flies out to right.
Bottom 1st
Tamura allows a 2-out walk to Nomura, but Tanaka grounds to short to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Fukushima looking okay so far. Keio's making contact, but they're all infield grounders.
Bottom 2nd
A 2-out error by SS Saitou allows a runner, but Tamura gets his counterpart to groundout to short.
Top 3rd
With one down Mizoguchi singles to right. And there's no bunt here! Naitou swings away on the hit-and-run and lines one to right center! Runners at the corners with one down!
Fukutomi up. Naitou goes for 2nd! He's in safely! Runners at 2nd and 3rd for Fukutomi!
Works the count full. Grounder through to left! Mizoguchi scores! 1-0 Keio!
Yamazaki with the chopper to 1st! Naitou comes home! Throw by Nakahara and Tanaka makes the tag for the out! 2 down.
But Yuuji will have NONE OF IT! He blasts one to deep center! Kitada running back, and it's behind him and off the wall! Fukutomi scores! Yamazaki scores all the way from 1st! 3-0!!
Bottom 3rd
Miyaguchi with the grounder up the middle. It's off Tamura and ricochets towards 2nd. Yamazaki up with it and he makes the putout at first.
Uemura then hits a comebacker up the middle. After an Abe flyout, Nomura steps up to the dish.
He puts a grounder to right! Uemura heads for 3rd! The throw is cut off and they have Nomura caught between 1st and 2nd! They start running him down. But then Uemura tries to go home. The player with the ball (because I've lost track now), runs to 3rd to run him down, but it's a feint! Then they run back to get Nomura again, but then Uemura goes, then the runner switches back. Both dive into 2nd and 3rd and they're all safe!
Ok... that was kinda kooky. But after all that it's runners at 2nd and 3rd, 2 down for cleanup batter Tanaka.
And Tamura gets him to strike out to end the inning!
Top 4th
Fukushima struggles with his control this inning, but still manages to retire the side in order.
Bottom 4th
Another solitary single given up by Tamura to Takaoka Shogyo. I have to say though that Tamura's pitching right now isn't that solid, but seems to have enough consistency to retire the Takaoka batters.
Top 5th
Mizoguchi starts the inning off with a single to left, runner on 2nd with one down for Fukutomi.
Fukutomi with a drive deep down the left field line! That's goes all the way to the wall! Mizoguchi scores! 4-0 Keio!
Fukushima retires the next 2, but Keio adds one more to the tally!
Bottom 5th
Tamura gets his first 1-2-3 inning of the game, but his control continues to be a problem.
Top 6th
Fukushima gives up a 1-out single to Tamura, but retires the rest.
Bottom 6th
The teams seem to be in that stage of trading donuts back and forth with no real offensive to speak of.
Top 7th
Nice play by 3B Abe to smother a grounder up the line and make the strong throw to 1st.
Also, the announcers made me aware of the fact that the strikeout Fukushima got in the 7th was his first. And looking at my scorebook, I'm surprised to see that it is his first.
Bottom 7th
#3 Tadano comes in to replace Tamura on the mound.
He gives up a 1-out single to Seki, and is pinch run for by #16 Arai. And there's a bit of a bewildering call that they bunted him over to 2nd. And the runner is left there as Miyaguchi grounds to 2nd.
Top 8th
Arai stays in to play right.
Yamazaki starts off the inning getting hit by Fukushima. He's bunted over to 2nd.
Akada then hits a dribbler in front of the plate and is thrown out by Tanaka.
2 down for new P Tadano. And he scorches one past Abe down the left field line! Yamazaki comes around to score, 5-0 Keio!
Bottom 8th
Tadano gives up a 1-out single to Abe, but is quickly wiped out as Nomura grounds into the 6-4-3 DP.
Top 9th
Nothing much here. Saitou with the leadoff single. That's it. Oh yeah, a high pop-up that popped out of Miyaguchi's glove only to be resecured back in it.
Bottom 9th
Takaoka Shogyo goes down in order as Keio's pitching tandem combine for a 5-hit shutout and defeate Takaoka 5-0.
But for Keio, even with the program its university has, it's been almost a half-century since they've been to Koshien.
Takaoka on the other hand, has had some recent experience here, but it's been a full class since they've been here.
Keio was in control of its first game as they defeated Matsusho Gakuen 6-4. Takaoka on the other hand, needed a 4 run explosion in the 7th to defeat Obu 4-1.
My team to advance - Keio. I'll just say it. I'm selfish. I want to hear the Keio oen-dan for as long as I can.
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Keio (Kita Kanagawa)
RF Naitou (9)
3B Fukutomi (5)
2B Yamazaki (4)
1B Suzuki Yuuji (7)
LF Akada (17)
P Tamura (1)
C Suzuki Yousuke (2)
SS Saitou (6)
CF Mizoguchi (8)
Takaoka Shogyo (Toyama)
SS Uemura (6)
3B Abe (5)
LF Nomura (7)
C Tanaka (2)
CF Kitada (8)
1B Nakahara (3)
RF Seki (9)
P Fukushima (1)
2B Miyaguchi (4)
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12:11 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Fukushima gives up a one-out single to Fukutomi. Then, Fukutomi goes and steals 2nd!
Yamazaki grounds to short, but does advance Fukutomi to 3rd. Unfortunately, he's left stranded when Yuuji flies out to right.
Bottom 1st
Tamura allows a 2-out walk to Nomura, but Tanaka grounds to short to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Fukushima looking okay so far. Keio's making contact, but they're all infield grounders.
Bottom 2nd
A 2-out error by SS Saitou allows a runner, but Tamura gets his counterpart to groundout to short.
Top 3rd
With one down Mizoguchi singles to right. And there's no bunt here! Naitou swings away on the hit-and-run and lines one to right center! Runners at the corners with one down!
Fukutomi up. Naitou goes for 2nd! He's in safely! Runners at 2nd and 3rd for Fukutomi!
Works the count full. Grounder through to left! Mizoguchi scores! 1-0 Keio!
Yamazaki with the chopper to 1st! Naitou comes home! Throw by Nakahara and Tanaka makes the tag for the out! 2 down.
But Yuuji will have NONE OF IT! He blasts one to deep center! Kitada running back, and it's behind him and off the wall! Fukutomi scores! Yamazaki scores all the way from 1st! 3-0!!
Bottom 3rd
Miyaguchi with the grounder up the middle. It's off Tamura and ricochets towards 2nd. Yamazaki up with it and he makes the putout at first.
Uemura then hits a comebacker up the middle. After an Abe flyout, Nomura steps up to the dish.
He puts a grounder to right! Uemura heads for 3rd! The throw is cut off and they have Nomura caught between 1st and 2nd! They start running him down. But then Uemura tries to go home. The player with the ball (because I've lost track now), runs to 3rd to run him down, but it's a feint! Then they run back to get Nomura again, but then Uemura goes, then the runner switches back. Both dive into 2nd and 3rd and they're all safe!
Ok... that was kinda kooky. But after all that it's runners at 2nd and 3rd, 2 down for cleanup batter Tanaka.
And Tamura gets him to strike out to end the inning!
Top 4th
Fukushima struggles with his control this inning, but still manages to retire the side in order.
Bottom 4th
Another solitary single given up by Tamura to Takaoka Shogyo. I have to say though that Tamura's pitching right now isn't that solid, but seems to have enough consistency to retire the Takaoka batters.
Top 5th
Mizoguchi starts the inning off with a single to left, runner on 2nd with one down for Fukutomi.
Fukutomi with a drive deep down the left field line! That's goes all the way to the wall! Mizoguchi scores! 4-0 Keio!
Fukushima retires the next 2, but Keio adds one more to the tally!
Bottom 5th
Tamura gets his first 1-2-3 inning of the game, but his control continues to be a problem.
Top 6th
Fukushima gives up a 1-out single to Tamura, but retires the rest.
Bottom 6th
The teams seem to be in that stage of trading donuts back and forth with no real offensive to speak of.
Top 7th
Nice play by 3B Abe to smother a grounder up the line and make the strong throw to 1st.
Also, the announcers made me aware of the fact that the strikeout Fukushima got in the 7th was his first. And looking at my scorebook, I'm surprised to see that it is his first.
Bottom 7th
#3 Tadano comes in to replace Tamura on the mound.
He gives up a 1-out single to Seki, and is pinch run for by #16 Arai. And there's a bit of a bewildering call that they bunted him over to 2nd. And the runner is left there as Miyaguchi grounds to 2nd.
Top 8th
Arai stays in to play right.
Yamazaki starts off the inning getting hit by Fukushima. He's bunted over to 2nd.
Akada then hits a dribbler in front of the plate and is thrown out by Tanaka.
2 down for new P Tadano. And he scorches one past Abe down the left field line! Yamazaki comes around to score, 5-0 Keio!
Bottom 8th
Tadano gives up a 1-out single to Abe, but is quickly wiped out as Nomura grounds into the 6-4-3 DP.
Top 9th
Nothing much here. Saitou with the leadoff single. That's it. Oh yeah, a high pop-up that popped out of Miyaguchi's glove only to be resecured back in it.
Bottom 9th
Takaoka Shogyo goes down in order as Keio's pitching tandem combine for a 5-hit shutout and defeate Takaoka 5-0.
Day 10 - Game 1 - Aomori Yamada vs. Honjo Daiichi (Kita Saitama)
We're now entering the final 2 days of the 2nd round. Us reporters get a small break as there are only 3 games scheduled on the docket today and tomorrow.
Both teams here had tough first round games. Honjo Daiichi led Kaisei by as much as 4-1 before giving it all away. It took a sayonara HR by SS Okuda to propel them to the next round.
For Aomori Yamada, they appeared to have a relative easy matchup against Nihon Koku. But don't tell their batters that. They only managed 3 hits against their ace, Kitano. It was only because of a fielding error bit Kitano that Aomori was able to score their 2 runs and win the game.
So who'll have the advantage here? Well, I think Aomori's experience at Koshien will serve them well against the debutants (Honjo has only 2 third-year students in the starting 9!). Their pitching will be a plus over the Honjo's dual tandem, and the batting for Aomori should be better than Honjo, despite the results from the first round.
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Aomori Yamada
CF Abe (8)
2B Hasegawa (4)
LF Magario (7)
1B Saitou Tatsunobu (3)
RF Arahari (9)
3B Toyoda (5)
C Yano (2)
SS Miyamori (6)
P Kinoshita (1)
Honjo Daiichi (Kita Saitama)
CF Nohara (8)
LF Yuyama (7)
SS Okuda (6)
1B Tamura (3)
C Kobayashi (2)
RF Hasebe (17)
2B Okada (4)
P Hagiwara (11)
3B Kibe (5)
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9:31 AM
First pitch! As usual in the mornings, no wind at Koshien.
Top 1st
Hagiwara gives up a leadoff single to Abe, and after a sac bunt, retires the next two in order.
Bottom 1st
Kinoshita gives up a 2-out single to Okuda, but that's all as well.
Top 2nd
Aomori gets another leadoff runner as Arahari draws a walk. He's bunted to 2nd.
Toyoda step to the plate. Arahari heads for 3rd! Throw down, not in time! Runner at 3rd, one down!
SQUEEZE!! They call for the squeeze, but Toyoda can't put it down! And Arahari is run down! That pitch was inside, but certainly was buntable!
Bottom 2nd
Hasebe draws a one out walk, but that's it for Honjo in the 2nd.
Top 3rd
Hagiwara retires the side in order, but his control leaves something to be desired. He's not hitting the targets the catcher is placing, and that includes when the catcher intentionally sets up outside to trick the batter.
Bottom 3rd
One down, and the lineup turns over to Nohara. He hits a comebacker past Kinoshita and into center.
Yuyama then puts down a bunt! It's a safety bunt! Kinoshita up with it, but Yuyama's already at 1st! Big chance for Okuda!
But he grounds to short on the first pitch! Miyamori goes to 2nd for one, throw to first.. and a diving Okuda makes it in time! 2 down!
Hit-and-run! They're calling for the hit and run! But Tamura grounds to short and that ends the inning.
Kinoshita's control isn't much better than Hagiwara. Right now though, Kanto is making better contact.
Top 4th
Hasegawa leads it off with a walk. He's bunted over by Magario.
But Saitou and Arahari are retired soon thereafter. Hagiwara's control is still lacking. If Aomori's batters can exercise more patience at the plate, they may be able to put together a couple of runs.
Bottom 4th
Kinoshita had 2 nicely located pitches against leadoff batter Kobayashi, but then tries to go inside, but goes a little too far. Ow.
So Kobayashi ends up at 2nd, because... well... I don't need to explain by this point, do I?
Runner at 2nd, 1 down, for Okada... make that runner at 3rd, 2 down for Hagiwara. Don't need to explain that one other than it's generally a losing strategy.
And give a "kuroboshi" to that one as Hagiwara grounds to short.
Top 5th
For the 4th time this game, Aomori gets their leadoff batter on base as Toyoda hits a grounder through to right.
And so, it's a runner on 2nd, one down for Miyamori. He hits a sharp ball, but right at Okada. 2 down.
Kinoshita up to try and help his own cause. Chopper past Hagiwara! But Okade is cheating towards 2nd, makes the stop and throws to first for the 3rd out.
Can someone please get the message to Aomori's coach that his players should be patient and try to draw walks?
Please?
Bottom 5th
Kibe begins the inning and hits a blooper that just falls in front of Magario.
Nohara puts the bunt down. Okay, why did I mention it? Well, if I did, that means something other than an out happened at 1st. So what happened? Kinoshita fielded the ball, tried to go to 2nd, but his throw was high and pulled Miyamori off the bag.
So runners at 1st and 2nd on the error by Kinoshita.
Yuyama tries to put the bunt down, but the count eventually works its way to 2-2. So he may not bunt anymore. He's still signaling it, but pulls it back - checks his swing, but the umpire said he went??! Boy, I don't know about that...
One out now for Okuda. Now a DP can end the inning.
Kinoshita's pace has considerably slowed, frequently checking on the runners.
The wind is starting to pick up in the usual direction.
Kinoshita's fallen behind Okuda 3-1. Perhaps low, but the umpire calls it anyways. Full count. And he misses it inside! Manrui for cleanup batter Tamura! Infield is playing in.
Chopper to 1st! Tatsunobu up with it and makes the play at home for the force.
2 down now for Kobayashi, still manrui.
Chopper up the middle! Miyamori up with it! He makes the throw, Kobayashi dives, and he's out! I have to say that if if Kobayashi had run it out, he may have been able to make it safely!
Again another reason why even though the kids want to get their uniforms dirty, and diving is a form of showing one's passion, I'd rather see them overrun the base and be safe than dive and be out.
*gets off soap box*
Anyways, a manrui chance with 1 down for Honjo and they can't push in a run! As we head into the break, we have a scoreless ball game!
Top 6th
Aomori get another leadoff runner after Abe walks.
Hit-and-run! They put the hit-and-run! Hasegawa chops one to 2nd! But it hits Abe as he running to 2nd and he's out!
So, runner on 1st, 1 down for Magario. He hits a single to right! Runners at 1st and 2nd with one down!
AHHHHH!!! Tatsunobu swings at the first pitch and pops out to short! Can someone please tell him to take a pitch once in a while!
So 2 down for Arahari. He takes one pitch before swinging away and pops it up! Okuda backpedals, backpedals, leaps back and it's off his glove! The runners were going on contact so Hasegawa comes around to score! Aomori Yamada breaks through and leads 1-0!
But it still wouldn't kill them to take pitches. Perhaps some of them have a hot date tonight? :P
Bottom 6th
Kinoshita and Aomori Yamada get a bit of a scare when Hagiwara hits a ball deep to left, but Magario runs it down at the wall for the final out of the inning.
Top 7th
#9 Ujihara replaces Hasebe in right.
Yano to start the inning, count 3-2, hits a short chopper. The fielders do the right thing and waits for it to go foul. 2 pitches later, they catch him looking.
And the next two batters go down as well.
Bottom 7th
2 down, Yuyama hits a soft single to center. But then he tries to steal 2nd, and is gunned down.
Top 8th
With one down, Hasegawa hits a grounder to short. Okuda goes to field it, but it's dropped! Hasegawa reaches on an error!
Magario comes to bat. But Hagiwara throws a wild pitch! Hasegawa breaks for 2nd. Kobayashi doesn't know where it is!! Hasegawa continues running and is in at 3rd!
And the miscues prove costly! Magario hits a flyball to right, and it's deep enough to score Hasegawa! 2-0 Aomori Yamada!
Bottom 8th
Honjo Daiichi is running out of time. They need their offense, and need it now.
Okuda starts the inning off with a single to left. The manager elects at this juncture to trade an out for 90 feet in the hopes of getting at least 1 now.
But Kobayashi hits a pop foul to Yano, and Ujihara grounds to 3rd (although that play was scary as Toyoda one-hopped it to 1st.
Top 9th
#1 Itou comes in to pitch as Hagiwara moves to right.
Itou strikes out Arahari to start.
Toyoda pops out to left. No he doesn't!! Yuyama whiffs on the catch! Toyoda ends up at 2nd on the error by Yuyama!
Itou manages to get Yano to ground to 3rd. 2 down.
Hit-and run! Miyamori with the comebacker! It's off Itou's leg and in the air toward the the shortstop! Okuda bobbles it! Toyoda continues on home! Okuda throws home! But it's too late! Aomori Yamada leads 3-0!
2 down for Kinoshita. Pickoff throw to 1st gets by Tamura! Miyamori advances to 2nd!
Then Miyamori tries to steal 3rd! Throw by Kobayashi is wide and into left field! Miyamori comes in to score! 4-0!! The wheels have completely fallen off Honjo Daiichi here in the 9th as Aomori Yamada scores 2 runs thanks to 3 errors!
Bottom 9th
Honjo Daiichi goes down in order quietly in the 9th as Aomori Yamada advances with the 4-0 victory.
For 8 innings, Honjo Daiichi went toe-to-toe with Aomori Yamada, and it's sad to see the way they finished the game. Hopefully they will be able to build on this experience and perhaps we'll see some of these same players at Koshien next year.
Both teams here had tough first round games. Honjo Daiichi led Kaisei by as much as 4-1 before giving it all away. It took a sayonara HR by SS Okuda to propel them to the next round.
For Aomori Yamada, they appeared to have a relative easy matchup against Nihon Koku. But don't tell their batters that. They only managed 3 hits against their ace, Kitano. It was only because of a fielding error bit Kitano that Aomori was able to score their 2 runs and win the game.
So who'll have the advantage here? Well, I think Aomori's experience at Koshien will serve them well against the debutants (Honjo has only 2 third-year students in the starting 9!). Their pitching will be a plus over the Honjo's dual tandem, and the batting for Aomori should be better than Honjo, despite the results from the first round.
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Aomori Yamada
CF Abe (8)
2B Hasegawa (4)
LF Magario (7)
1B Saitou Tatsunobu (3)
RF Arahari (9)
3B Toyoda (5)
C Yano (2)
SS Miyamori (6)
P Kinoshita (1)
Honjo Daiichi (Kita Saitama)
CF Nohara (8)
LF Yuyama (7)
SS Okuda (6)
1B Tamura (3)
C Kobayashi (2)
RF Hasebe (17)
2B Okada (4)
P Hagiwara (11)
3B Kibe (5)
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9:31 AM
First pitch! As usual in the mornings, no wind at Koshien.
Top 1st
Hagiwara gives up a leadoff single to Abe, and after a sac bunt, retires the next two in order.
Bottom 1st
Kinoshita gives up a 2-out single to Okuda, but that's all as well.
Top 2nd
Aomori gets another leadoff runner as Arahari draws a walk. He's bunted to 2nd.
Toyoda step to the plate. Arahari heads for 3rd! Throw down, not in time! Runner at 3rd, one down!
SQUEEZE!! They call for the squeeze, but Toyoda can't put it down! And Arahari is run down! That pitch was inside, but certainly was buntable!
Bottom 2nd
Hasebe draws a one out walk, but that's it for Honjo in the 2nd.
Top 3rd
Hagiwara retires the side in order, but his control leaves something to be desired. He's not hitting the targets the catcher is placing, and that includes when the catcher intentionally sets up outside to trick the batter.
Bottom 3rd
One down, and the lineup turns over to Nohara. He hits a comebacker past Kinoshita and into center.
Yuyama then puts down a bunt! It's a safety bunt! Kinoshita up with it, but Yuyama's already at 1st! Big chance for Okuda!
But he grounds to short on the first pitch! Miyamori goes to 2nd for one, throw to first.. and a diving Okuda makes it in time! 2 down!
Hit-and-run! They're calling for the hit and run! But Tamura grounds to short and that ends the inning.
Kinoshita's control isn't much better than Hagiwara. Right now though, Kanto is making better contact.
Top 4th
Hasegawa leads it off with a walk. He's bunted over by Magario.
But Saitou and Arahari are retired soon thereafter. Hagiwara's control is still lacking. If Aomori's batters can exercise more patience at the plate, they may be able to put together a couple of runs.
Bottom 4th
Kinoshita had 2 nicely located pitches against leadoff batter Kobayashi, but then tries to go inside, but goes a little too far. Ow.
So Kobayashi ends up at 2nd, because... well... I don't need to explain by this point, do I?
Runner at 2nd, 1 down, for Okada... make that runner at 3rd, 2 down for Hagiwara. Don't need to explain that one other than it's generally a losing strategy.
And give a "kuroboshi" to that one as Hagiwara grounds to short.
Top 5th
For the 4th time this game, Aomori gets their leadoff batter on base as Toyoda hits a grounder through to right.
And so, it's a runner on 2nd, one down for Miyamori. He hits a sharp ball, but right at Okada. 2 down.
Kinoshita up to try and help his own cause. Chopper past Hagiwara! But Okade is cheating towards 2nd, makes the stop and throws to first for the 3rd out.
Can someone please get the message to Aomori's coach that his players should be patient and try to draw walks?
Please?
Bottom 5th
Kibe begins the inning and hits a blooper that just falls in front of Magario.
Nohara puts the bunt down. Okay, why did I mention it? Well, if I did, that means something other than an out happened at 1st. So what happened? Kinoshita fielded the ball, tried to go to 2nd, but his throw was high and pulled Miyamori off the bag.
So runners at 1st and 2nd on the error by Kinoshita.
Yuyama tries to put the bunt down, but the count eventually works its way to 2-2. So he may not bunt anymore. He's still signaling it, but pulls it back - checks his swing, but the umpire said he went??! Boy, I don't know about that...
One out now for Okuda. Now a DP can end the inning.
Kinoshita's pace has considerably slowed, frequently checking on the runners.
The wind is starting to pick up in the usual direction.
Kinoshita's fallen behind Okuda 3-1. Perhaps low, but the umpire calls it anyways. Full count. And he misses it inside! Manrui for cleanup batter Tamura! Infield is playing in.
Chopper to 1st! Tatsunobu up with it and makes the play at home for the force.
2 down now for Kobayashi, still manrui.
Chopper up the middle! Miyamori up with it! He makes the throw, Kobayashi dives, and he's out! I have to say that if if Kobayashi had run it out, he may have been able to make it safely!
Again another reason why even though the kids want to get their uniforms dirty, and diving is a form of showing one's passion, I'd rather see them overrun the base and be safe than dive and be out.
*gets off soap box*
Anyways, a manrui chance with 1 down for Honjo and they can't push in a run! As we head into the break, we have a scoreless ball game!
Top 6th
Aomori get another leadoff runner after Abe walks.
Hit-and-run! They put the hit-and-run! Hasegawa chops one to 2nd! But it hits Abe as he running to 2nd and he's out!
So, runner on 1st, 1 down for Magario. He hits a single to right! Runners at 1st and 2nd with one down!
AHHHHH!!! Tatsunobu swings at the first pitch and pops out to short! Can someone please tell him to take a pitch once in a while!
So 2 down for Arahari. He takes one pitch before swinging away and pops it up! Okuda backpedals, backpedals, leaps back and it's off his glove! The runners were going on contact so Hasegawa comes around to score! Aomori Yamada breaks through and leads 1-0!
But it still wouldn't kill them to take pitches. Perhaps some of them have a hot date tonight? :P
Bottom 6th
Kinoshita and Aomori Yamada get a bit of a scare when Hagiwara hits a ball deep to left, but Magario runs it down at the wall for the final out of the inning.
Top 7th
#9 Ujihara replaces Hasebe in right.
Yano to start the inning, count 3-2, hits a short chopper. The fielders do the right thing and waits for it to go foul. 2 pitches later, they catch him looking.
And the next two batters go down as well.
Bottom 7th
2 down, Yuyama hits a soft single to center. But then he tries to steal 2nd, and is gunned down.
Top 8th
With one down, Hasegawa hits a grounder to short. Okuda goes to field it, but it's dropped! Hasegawa reaches on an error!
Magario comes to bat. But Hagiwara throws a wild pitch! Hasegawa breaks for 2nd. Kobayashi doesn't know where it is!! Hasegawa continues running and is in at 3rd!
And the miscues prove costly! Magario hits a flyball to right, and it's deep enough to score Hasegawa! 2-0 Aomori Yamada!
Bottom 8th
Honjo Daiichi is running out of time. They need their offense, and need it now.
Okuda starts the inning off with a single to left. The manager elects at this juncture to trade an out for 90 feet in the hopes of getting at least 1 now.
But Kobayashi hits a pop foul to Yano, and Ujihara grounds to 3rd (although that play was scary as Toyoda one-hopped it to 1st.
Top 9th
#1 Itou comes in to pitch as Hagiwara moves to right.
Itou strikes out Arahari to start.
Toyoda pops out to left. No he doesn't!! Yuyama whiffs on the catch! Toyoda ends up at 2nd on the error by Yuyama!
Itou manages to get Yano to ground to 3rd. 2 down.
Hit-and run! Miyamori with the comebacker! It's off Itou's leg and in the air toward the the shortstop! Okuda bobbles it! Toyoda continues on home! Okuda throws home! But it's too late! Aomori Yamada leads 3-0!
2 down for Kinoshita. Pickoff throw to 1st gets by Tamura! Miyamori advances to 2nd!
Then Miyamori tries to steal 3rd! Throw by Kobayashi is wide and into left field! Miyamori comes in to score! 4-0!! The wheels have completely fallen off Honjo Daiichi here in the 9th as Aomori Yamada scores 2 runs thanks to 3 errors!
Bottom 9th
Honjo Daiichi goes down in order quietly in the 9th as Aomori Yamada advances with the 4-0 victory.
For 8 innings, Honjo Daiichi went toe-to-toe with Aomori Yamada, and it's sad to see the way they finished the game. Hopefully they will be able to build on this experience and perhaps we'll see some of these same players at Koshien next year.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Day 9 - Game 4 - Urasoe Shogyo (Okinawa) vs. Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku (Nishi Chiba)
Our last game of Day 9 puts together a recent player in the Koshien scene in Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku, and one looking to make waves (although their fans already do!) in Urasoe Shogyo.
Urasoe walked through their first round game by defeating Iidzuka 7-0. Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku, on the back of ace Saitou Keisuke yielded only 4 hits on their way to a 3-1 win over Kinkidai Fuzoku.
These teams for the most part appear to be on equal footing. So I'll pick based upon preference. It's always a party when Okinawa is playing. And I like Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku from when I saw them 2 years ago.
Well, darn. I guess I'm not going to choose one.
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Urasoe Shogyo (Okinawa)
RF Kanna (9)
SS Ueji Toshiki (6)
P Iha (1)
C Yamashiro (2)
LF Miyahira (7)
3B Nakama (5)
CF Touyama Kazuma (18)
C Niita (12)
2B Nakasato (14)
Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku (Nishi Chiba)
SS Shigetani (6)
3B Kawashima (5)
RF Naitou (9)
P Saitou (1)
CF Inaba (8)
C Tani (2)
LF Yasaka (7)
1B Tanaka (13)
2B Higuchi (4)
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5:00 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Kanna swings on the opening pitch and chops one to short! Shigetani up with the ball, but the throw isn't in time! (Ueji) Toshiki bunts him along.
Urasoe ace Iha up. He hits a liner to left! Runners on 1st and 2nd!
Then Saitou walks Yamashiro. Manrui with one out! Big pinch for Saitou!
Miyahira liner at Kawashima! It ricochets off him and behind the mound! He chases it, but can't do anything! All safe! Kanna scores! 1-0 Urasoe!
Nakama up looking to play add on. Ah! Wild pitch! Iha comes in to score! Yamashiro running around 3rd, he's coming home! Throw by Tani in time, but Saitou can't turn to make the tag! 3-o Urasoe! Still 1 down!
Nakama with the drive to right! Naitou running to the foul pole! Going, going, off the fence! Miyahira running around, he comes in to score! Nakama in with a triple! 4-0!
What in the world has happened to Saitou and Chiba Keizaidai?!
(Touyama) Kazuma up now. He draws a walk. Runners at the corners for Niita.
SQUEEZE! Niita puts on the squeeze! Saitou's play is only to first! Nakama scores! 5-0!!!
Nakazato walks up the plate as the 9th batter this inning! And while he grounds to short, Saitou and Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku have staked Urasoe a 5 run lead!
Bottom 1st
Iha retires the first 2 batters quickly. Then Naitou comes up and hits a blast to right center! It's over Kanna's head! Naitou slides in with a triple!
That brings up Saitou. I'm sure he wants to get at least a run back here.
OH!! Blasted to center! Kazuma runs back, to the wall, looks up!
HAITA!!!!!
Saitou has done more than just get one back, he got 2 back and did it with authority!! 5-2!
And while Inaba grounds out to 2nd, I'm already throwing up my hands! This has been one HECK of a 1st inning!!
Top 2nd
The 2nd inning for Urasoe starts out similar to the 1st...
Kanna leads off with a single to right. He's bunted along to 2nd. Iha up again...
...and he scorches the first pitch down right field, and all the way to the wall! Kanna comes around and scores on Iha's double!! 6-2!!
Yamashiro with the chopper to 3rd! Kawashima leaps up! Gets it! Has Iha in a rundown! He's out and Yamashiro advances to 2nd!
Miyahira up...
Ah! Wild pitch! Goes just behind Tani! Yamashiro breaks for 3rd! Tani gets it, throw to 3rd, no good! The ball goes into foul territory and Yamashiro scores!! 7-2!!
Bottom 2nd
Chiba certainly isn't going to give up!
Tani takes the first pitch and lines it down the left field line for a leadoff double!
Iha comes back though and strikes out Yasaka, gets Tanaka to ground to 2nd, and Higuchi to pop up to short in foul territory.
Top 3rd
Nakama starts by grounding to Shigetani, AH! It gets past Shigetani and into center! And he doesn't stop running! He's in with a double on Shigetani's error!
Kazuma up now. Hit-and-run! Drive to the left center field gap! Yasaka with the bad angle and it's past him and to the wall! Nakama scores! Kazuma with a double! 8-2!
Niita puts down the sacrifice again as Kazuma moves to 3rd.
Nakazato with the single up the middle! Kazuma scores! 9-2!
That run finally is the last straw. #10 Yoshino comes in to relieve Saitou as he moves to 1st base.
Kanna up again. Hit-and-run! Grounder through the left side! Nakazato goes for 3rd! Yasaka tries to cut him down but the throw is high! Runners at 2nd and 3rd!
Toshiki up. SQUEEZE! He puts down his third bunt of the game and this time it scores a run as Nakazato comes in from 3rd! 10-2!!
Iha flies out to left, but another crooked number on the board is posted for Urasoe and they lead by an unimaginable 8 runs!!
Bottom 3rd
Iha retires the side in order...
Top 4th
Although Yoshino yields a two out double to Nakama and a walk there after to Kazuma, he gets out of the inning with no runs scored. At least it's a start...
Bottom 4th
Iha once again retires the side in order. Can Chiba make the score respectable?
Top 5th
Yoshida's getting comfortable on the mound as he finally retires Urasoe in order.
Bottom 5th
Two down for Chiba. Higuchi blasts one to deep center. Kazuma runs back, leaps up, but it's over his head! Higuchi runs in with a triple. Shigetani up and he lines the first pitch to center! That scores Higuchi and it's now 10-3.
Top 6th
Iha leads off for Urasoe, and he repeats the exact same hit he did in the 2nd - a double off the right field wall. After Yamashiro flies out, Miyahira gets plunked by Yoshino.
Runners at 1st and 2nd now for Nakama. Yoshida gets him to strike out.
Hopefully one more batter to go, Kazuma. And he strikes him out looking.
Bottom 6th
An error by Nakazako blemishes an otherwise 1-2-3 inning.
Top 7th
Yoshino continues with his fine relief work having given up no runs. Of course, it could just be that Urasoe is winding things down so they don't over exert themselves for the next game.
Bottom 7th
Yasa starts the inning off with a grounder to short. Toshiki to field it, but it ricochets off him and into the outfield!
#3 Kubota then pinch-hits for Yoshino. So it looks like Saitou will return to the mound.
Kubota withe first pitch liner to right! He gets on with a double! Runners on 2nd and 3rd for Higuchi.
Liner to left! Miyahira running back, running back, RUNNING BACK! HAITA!!!!!!!
#9 batter Higuchi with a 3-run homerun to left! 10-6!
There's still a ways to go though....
Shigetani now lines one to the left center field gap! That's in for a double!!
Iha gets his first out of the inning as Kawashima grounds to 3rd.
Team captain Naitou comes back and rips one to right center! Shigetani comes around and scores! 10-7!!
Now Saitou is up again. But he just can't get himself to take the outside pitch the other way and strikes out. 2 down.
Inaba up to bat. Goes ahead 3-1, but takes the green light and swings away. Full count... fouled off! Can he keep this rally going in the Lucky 7th? Full count pitch again...
Ball 4! Inaba walks! Runners on 1st and 2nd for the 9th batter this inning - Tani. Can he keep it going for Chiba Keizaidai?
Fouls off two pitches back. Behind the 8-ball.
LINER TO LEFT CENTER!!! It gets past Miyahira!!! Naitou scores! Miyahira can't pick it up!!! Inaba rounds third, HE SCORES!! They relay the throw to third, and they tag Inaba out! 3 outs!
AH!! Too bad! The rally is over! BUT! Chiba Keizaidai has batted around for 6 runs!! They now only trail by 1! 10-9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Top 8th
How will Urasoe respond? And how will Saitou do on the mound?
#17 Kaerumae comes in to play left.
Toshiki starts the inning and pops one just over Kawashima for a single. Iha tries to bunt, but he pops it up to Saitou!
One down. Yamashiro then hits a grounder to Shigetani. His throw to first, and Kubota can't handle it! Error on Shigetani!
That can't be good! You've gone within one, you can't afford an error!
AH!! Sure enough, Miyahira redeems himself with a liner down the left field line! It takes a high bounces off the wall and follows the curvature! Toshiki scores, Yamashiro scores! The throw comes in to 3rd, and they tag out Miyahira!
BUT! They've added two runs! 12-9!!
Bottom 8th
#14 Miyagawa to pinch hit for Kaerumae. He flies to right...
Kubota then pops out in foul territory...
And Higuchi strikes out... Time now is running out
Top 9th
#18 Houme enters to play right. Naitou moves from right to left.
Saitou manages to retire the side. The first time he's done so this night.
And now, is there one more stanza for Chiba Keizai in this game?
Bottom 9th
The top of the order is up for Chiba - Shigetani, Kawashima, Naitou.
Shigetani quickly flies out to center.
#12 Kojima comes in to pinch-hit for Kawashima. He falls behind 0-2. Fouls one off! Ball in the dirt, 1-2... sanshin!! 2 out!
Down to Naitou. Perhaps it was just too much?
Falls behind 0-2! Saitou on deck, pleading to get one more shot! 1-2... 2-2... Check swing! Did he go? Appeal to 3rd! He went!! Sanshin!!
Urasoe holds on for the 12-9 win! A game that seemed to leave Chiba Keizaidai for dead was resurrected for a half inning, but the early deficit was just too much for them to recover.
I rooted for Chiba Keizai to win that game when they were rallying in the 7th. I wanted to see them make that comeback. I couldn't believe that a team as far behind as they were, with only 9 outs to play, could put together something that they did in the 7th.
And when I saw Tani get tagged out at 3rd for the final out of the inning, and the scoreboard read that they were still behind, I had the sinking feeling that that was going to be it for Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku.
For the final time today. Give Chiba Keizaidai a round of applause. For continuing to fight. For continuing to believe. For never giving up.
Urasoe walked through their first round game by defeating Iidzuka 7-0. Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku, on the back of ace Saitou Keisuke yielded only 4 hits on their way to a 3-1 win over Kinkidai Fuzoku.
These teams for the most part appear to be on equal footing. So I'll pick based upon preference. It's always a party when Okinawa is playing. And I like Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku from when I saw them 2 years ago.
Well, darn. I guess I'm not going to choose one.
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Urasoe Shogyo (Okinawa)
RF Kanna (9)
SS Ueji Toshiki (6)
P Iha (1)
C Yamashiro (2)
LF Miyahira (7)
3B Nakama (5)
CF Touyama Kazuma (18)
C Niita (12)
2B Nakasato (14)
Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku (Nishi Chiba)
SS Shigetani (6)
3B Kawashima (5)
RF Naitou (9)
P Saitou (1)
CF Inaba (8)
C Tani (2)
LF Yasaka (7)
1B Tanaka (13)
2B Higuchi (4)
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5:00 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Kanna swings on the opening pitch and chops one to short! Shigetani up with the ball, but the throw isn't in time! (Ueji) Toshiki bunts him along.
Urasoe ace Iha up. He hits a liner to left! Runners on 1st and 2nd!
Then Saitou walks Yamashiro. Manrui with one out! Big pinch for Saitou!
Miyahira liner at Kawashima! It ricochets off him and behind the mound! He chases it, but can't do anything! All safe! Kanna scores! 1-0 Urasoe!
Nakama up looking to play add on. Ah! Wild pitch! Iha comes in to score! Yamashiro running around 3rd, he's coming home! Throw by Tani in time, but Saitou can't turn to make the tag! 3-o Urasoe! Still 1 down!
Nakama with the drive to right! Naitou running to the foul pole! Going, going, off the fence! Miyahira running around, he comes in to score! Nakama in with a triple! 4-0!
What in the world has happened to Saitou and Chiba Keizaidai?!
(Touyama) Kazuma up now. He draws a walk. Runners at the corners for Niita.
SQUEEZE! Niita puts on the squeeze! Saitou's play is only to first! Nakama scores! 5-0!!!
Nakazato walks up the plate as the 9th batter this inning! And while he grounds to short, Saitou and Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku have staked Urasoe a 5 run lead!
Bottom 1st
Iha retires the first 2 batters quickly. Then Naitou comes up and hits a blast to right center! It's over Kanna's head! Naitou slides in with a triple!
That brings up Saitou. I'm sure he wants to get at least a run back here.
OH!! Blasted to center! Kazuma runs back, to the wall, looks up!
HAITA!!!!!
Saitou has done more than just get one back, he got 2 back and did it with authority!! 5-2!
And while Inaba grounds out to 2nd, I'm already throwing up my hands! This has been one HECK of a 1st inning!!
Top 2nd
The 2nd inning for Urasoe starts out similar to the 1st...
Kanna leads off with a single to right. He's bunted along to 2nd. Iha up again...
...and he scorches the first pitch down right field, and all the way to the wall! Kanna comes around and scores on Iha's double!! 6-2!!
Yamashiro with the chopper to 3rd! Kawashima leaps up! Gets it! Has Iha in a rundown! He's out and Yamashiro advances to 2nd!
Miyahira up...
Ah! Wild pitch! Goes just behind Tani! Yamashiro breaks for 3rd! Tani gets it, throw to 3rd, no good! The ball goes into foul territory and Yamashiro scores!! 7-2!!
Bottom 2nd
Chiba certainly isn't going to give up!
Tani takes the first pitch and lines it down the left field line for a leadoff double!
Iha comes back though and strikes out Yasaka, gets Tanaka to ground to 2nd, and Higuchi to pop up to short in foul territory.
Top 3rd
Nakama starts by grounding to Shigetani, AH! It gets past Shigetani and into center! And he doesn't stop running! He's in with a double on Shigetani's error!
Kazuma up now. Hit-and-run! Drive to the left center field gap! Yasaka with the bad angle and it's past him and to the wall! Nakama scores! Kazuma with a double! 8-2!
Niita puts down the sacrifice again as Kazuma moves to 3rd.
Nakazato with the single up the middle! Kazuma scores! 9-2!
That run finally is the last straw. #10 Yoshino comes in to relieve Saitou as he moves to 1st base.
Kanna up again. Hit-and-run! Grounder through the left side! Nakazato goes for 3rd! Yasaka tries to cut him down but the throw is high! Runners at 2nd and 3rd!
Toshiki up. SQUEEZE! He puts down his third bunt of the game and this time it scores a run as Nakazato comes in from 3rd! 10-2!!
Iha flies out to left, but another crooked number on the board is posted for Urasoe and they lead by an unimaginable 8 runs!!
Bottom 3rd
Iha retires the side in order...
Top 4th
Although Yoshino yields a two out double to Nakama and a walk there after to Kazuma, he gets out of the inning with no runs scored. At least it's a start...
Bottom 4th
Iha once again retires the side in order. Can Chiba make the score respectable?
Top 5th
Yoshida's getting comfortable on the mound as he finally retires Urasoe in order.
Bottom 5th
Two down for Chiba. Higuchi blasts one to deep center. Kazuma runs back, leaps up, but it's over his head! Higuchi runs in with a triple. Shigetani up and he lines the first pitch to center! That scores Higuchi and it's now 10-3.
Top 6th
Iha leads off for Urasoe, and he repeats the exact same hit he did in the 2nd - a double off the right field wall. After Yamashiro flies out, Miyahira gets plunked by Yoshino.
Runners at 1st and 2nd now for Nakama. Yoshida gets him to strike out.
Hopefully one more batter to go, Kazuma. And he strikes him out looking.
Bottom 6th
An error by Nakazako blemishes an otherwise 1-2-3 inning.
Top 7th
Yoshino continues with his fine relief work having given up no runs. Of course, it could just be that Urasoe is winding things down so they don't over exert themselves for the next game.
Bottom 7th
Yasa starts the inning off with a grounder to short. Toshiki to field it, but it ricochets off him and into the outfield!
#3 Kubota then pinch-hits for Yoshino. So it looks like Saitou will return to the mound.
Kubota withe first pitch liner to right! He gets on with a double! Runners on 2nd and 3rd for Higuchi.
Liner to left! Miyahira running back, running back, RUNNING BACK! HAITA!!!!!!!
#9 batter Higuchi with a 3-run homerun to left! 10-6!
There's still a ways to go though....
Shigetani now lines one to the left center field gap! That's in for a double!!
Iha gets his first out of the inning as Kawashima grounds to 3rd.
Team captain Naitou comes back and rips one to right center! Shigetani comes around and scores! 10-7!!
Now Saitou is up again. But he just can't get himself to take the outside pitch the other way and strikes out. 2 down.
Inaba up to bat. Goes ahead 3-1, but takes the green light and swings away. Full count... fouled off! Can he keep this rally going in the Lucky 7th? Full count pitch again...
Ball 4! Inaba walks! Runners on 1st and 2nd for the 9th batter this inning - Tani. Can he keep it going for Chiba Keizaidai?
Fouls off two pitches back. Behind the 8-ball.
LINER TO LEFT CENTER!!! It gets past Miyahira!!! Naitou scores! Miyahira can't pick it up!!! Inaba rounds third, HE SCORES!! They relay the throw to third, and they tag Inaba out! 3 outs!
AH!! Too bad! The rally is over! BUT! Chiba Keizaidai has batted around for 6 runs!! They now only trail by 1! 10-9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Top 8th
How will Urasoe respond? And how will Saitou do on the mound?
#17 Kaerumae comes in to play left.
Toshiki starts the inning and pops one just over Kawashima for a single. Iha tries to bunt, but he pops it up to Saitou!
One down. Yamashiro then hits a grounder to Shigetani. His throw to first, and Kubota can't handle it! Error on Shigetani!
That can't be good! You've gone within one, you can't afford an error!
AH!! Sure enough, Miyahira redeems himself with a liner down the left field line! It takes a high bounces off the wall and follows the curvature! Toshiki scores, Yamashiro scores! The throw comes in to 3rd, and they tag out Miyahira!
BUT! They've added two runs! 12-9!!
Bottom 8th
#14 Miyagawa to pinch hit for Kaerumae. He flies to right...
Kubota then pops out in foul territory...
And Higuchi strikes out... Time now is running out
Top 9th
#18 Houme enters to play right. Naitou moves from right to left.
Saitou manages to retire the side. The first time he's done so this night.
And now, is there one more stanza for Chiba Keizai in this game?
Bottom 9th
The top of the order is up for Chiba - Shigetani, Kawashima, Naitou.
Shigetani quickly flies out to center.
#12 Kojima comes in to pinch-hit for Kawashima. He falls behind 0-2. Fouls one off! Ball in the dirt, 1-2... sanshin!! 2 out!
Down to Naitou. Perhaps it was just too much?
Falls behind 0-2! Saitou on deck, pleading to get one more shot! 1-2... 2-2... Check swing! Did he go? Appeal to 3rd! He went!! Sanshin!!
Urasoe holds on for the 12-9 win! A game that seemed to leave Chiba Keizaidai for dead was resurrected for a half inning, but the early deficit was just too much for them to recover.
I rooted for Chiba Keizai to win that game when they were rallying in the 7th. I wanted to see them make that comeback. I couldn't believe that a team as far behind as they were, with only 9 outs to play, could put together something that they did in the 7th.
And when I saw Tani get tagged out at 3rd for the final out of the inning, and the scoreboard read that they were still behind, I had the sinking feeling that that was going to be it for Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku.
For the final time today. Give Chiba Keizaidai a round of applause. For continuing to fight. For continuing to believe. For never giving up.
Day 9 - Game 3 - Naruto Kogyo (Tokushima) vs. Kanto Daiichi (Higashi Tokyo)
We've had two exciting, extra inning games so far today! It makes you wonder what Naruto Kogyo and Kanto Daiichi may have in store for us now!
Kantou Daiichi easily handled Jyoso Gakuin routing them 13-5. On the flip side, Naruto Kogyo had a heck of a time agains Honjo. Up 2-0, they gave up 1 run in the 7th, and then 2 in the 9th thanks to a defensive error. They then rallied in the 9th for 2 runs against what had to be a nervous ace in Ikeda for the 4-3 victory.
So who's going to take it? Hm. Statistically, while Kanto Daiichi's pitching isn't overpowering, their batting, and more importantly their running (30 SB) is. Gut feeling is to never underestimate the power Naruto Kogyo... at least every 3 years.
For this game, I'm going to go with Kanto Daiichi. But don't expect this to be a low scoring game.
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Naruto Kogyo (Tokushima)
CF Ueki (8)
LF Sonoda (7)
C Satou (2)
SS Yasuoka (6)
RF Okayama (9)
1B Kagawa (3)
3B Matsuura Kenta (5)
P Minoru (1)
2B Tanaka (14)
Kanto Daiichi (Higashi Tokyo)
2B Tanabe (4)
LF Arai (7)
RF Hirose (9)
3B Egawa (5)
1B Tamai (3)
CF Izumizawa (8)
C Nakamura (2)
P Matsumoto (1)
SS Tsuchiya (6)
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2:36 PM
First pitch, and the seems to be blowing even harder from right to left!
Top 1st
With one down, Matsumoto hits Sonoda... then walks Satou.
But he settles down and gets Yasuoka to pop to short and Okayama to ground to 2nd.
Bottom 1st
Also with one down, Kanto gets a runner as Arai walks. Electing not to bunt, Hirose swings away.
Instead, Arai looks to steal second for himself! And he's in safely! Hirose then hits a grounder through the right side! Arai scores and just like that Kanto Daiichi is up 1-0!
And while Egawa is up, Hirose goes to steal 2nd. He's in safely! Wow, the speed of Kanto is definitely in display here! Egawa then draws a walk! Pinch for Naruto!
Minoru though gets Tamai to strikeout looking and Izumisawa to fly to left. But Kanto Daiichi strikes first!
Top 2nd
With one down, Naruto's offense again gets started. Kenta singles to left, and then Minoru follows with a walk when Matsumoto doesn't oblige in throwing a good bunting pitch.
Tanaka up now and he puts down the bunt. Satou points to 3rd, but Matsumoto goes to 1st?? Egawa was waiting at 3rd for the throw which would have been in time, but Matsumoto did his own thing! Now there's runners at 2nd and 3rd with two down!
But lucky for him, it leads to nothing. Ueki grounds to short.
Bottom 2nd
It's a better inning for Minoru as he only gives up a two-out walk to Tsuchiya.
Top 3rd
While Yasuoka proves to be a stubborn batter, he eventually lines out to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Arai walks to lead off the inning. Will he take off?
Yes! But the throw from Satou is in time! Safe?! 2nd base umpire calls safe! I don't know about that call! Looking at the replay it seems like he's out.
Hirose strikes out, so it's up to Egawa.
Single to left! Arai rounds 3rd and scores! 2-0 Kanto!
Tamai up now. And Egawa takes off for 2nd! Throw, tag, safe! Another bang-bang play at 2nd! Then Tamai draws a walk! Runners at 1st and 2nd with one down!
Izumisawa to bunt. But he pops it up! Minoru with the catch and there's 2 down!
Nakamura comes to the plate to try and extend the lead further. And he hits a grounder to left field! Egawa comes around to score! 3-0!
Top 4th
Apparently Naruto likes starting their innings after one out. Because with one down, Kagawa lines a single to right.
Kenta follows that up by getting a walk. Now Naruto elects to bunt, with Minoru sending both runners into scoring position for Tanaka.
And he follows through with a single to right! Hirose up with the ball, AH! The ball bounces off of him and behind him! Kagawa scored! Kenta comes around to score! Naruto Kogyo comes back with 2 runs of its own! 3-2!!
Bottom 4th
Tanabe starts the offense going with a one-out walk.
Instead of bunting, Arai swings away and pops up to 3rd. 2 down for Hirose.
First pitch driven to center! Ueki running back, still running back. HAITA!!!!!!!
Hirose makes up for his error with a blast to the right side of the netting in center! WOW! 5-2!!
Top 5th
Naruto gets a one out runner after Satou is hit by Matsumoto. But he's wiped out when Yasuoka grounds into a 6-3 double play.
Bottom 5th
It looks like Minoru's day is done. #10 Hayashi comes into Sonoda's position in the lineup and takes over on the mound. Minoru moves to left.
And it's a shaky start for Hayashi. Izumisawa grounds to 3rd! Kenta up with it, but drops it on the transfer!
Then Hayashi hits Nakamura. Runners at 1st and 2nd for Matsumoto. He puts down the bunt, but it's right at home plate! Satou with the throw to Kenta and they get the lead runner.
Tsuchiya steps up and this time is swinging away. The count goes full and...
Grounder to left field! Nakamura heads home! Minoru up with the throw. Satou with the ball.
COLLISION! Big time collision at home! But Satou holds onto the ball and Nakamura is out! 2 outs!
The offense keeps going though, as Tanabe draws a walk.
Hayashi finally shuts the door on the 5th as he strikes out Arai. Heading into the break, there certainly have been chances on both sides, but Kanto's aggressiveness on the base paths has made the difference.
Top 6th
Matsumoto takes 7 pitches to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
For the first time this game, Kantou Daiichi is retired in order.
Top 7th
With one down in the inning (does this sound like a broken record to you?), Tanaka hits a soft liner to center. After advancing to 2nd on a hit-and-run groundout, he's left stranded when Hayashi flies to left.
Bottom 7th
Another easy 1-2-3 inning for Hayashi. The question now becomes whether the offense can put runs on the board.
Top 8th
Yasuoka starts the 8th with a grounder to center... with one out. *sighs*
#17 Kawano comes in to pinch-hit for Okayama. He hits a short liner to center! Runners on 1st and 2nd! #15 Yasuda comes in to pinch run for him.
Ah! Kagawa grounds to short, and Tsuchiya starts the 6-4-3 double play!
Bottom 8th
Yasuda stays in to play right.
Hayashi's pitching has been wonderful! He retires the side in order and has given 4 innings of 1-hit ball!
Still, they're down to their final 3 outs.
Top 9th
#11 Hirayama to pinch hit for Kenta. He falls behind 1-2, but keeps fighting. Fouls off pitches and works the count full!
Drive to left center! Izumisawa running back! Still running! Reaches up and makes the great catch!
#13 Bessho to pinch hit for Minoru. He grounds to 2nd.
Last chance goes to Tanaka, and he grounds to 2nd as well to end the game.
So Naruto Kogyo's run ends here in the round of 32 as Kanto Daiichi, with aggressive baserunning early and power later, move on with the 5-2 victory.
Kantou Daiichi easily handled Jyoso Gakuin routing them 13-5. On the flip side, Naruto Kogyo had a heck of a time agains Honjo. Up 2-0, they gave up 1 run in the 7th, and then 2 in the 9th thanks to a defensive error. They then rallied in the 9th for 2 runs against what had to be a nervous ace in Ikeda for the 4-3 victory.
So who's going to take it? Hm. Statistically, while Kanto Daiichi's pitching isn't overpowering, their batting, and more importantly their running (30 SB) is. Gut feeling is to never underestimate the power Naruto Kogyo... at least every 3 years.
For this game, I'm going to go with Kanto Daiichi. But don't expect this to be a low scoring game.
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Naruto Kogyo (Tokushima)
CF Ueki (8)
LF Sonoda (7)
C Satou (2)
SS Yasuoka (6)
RF Okayama (9)
1B Kagawa (3)
3B Matsuura Kenta (5)
P Minoru (1)
2B Tanaka (14)
Kanto Daiichi (Higashi Tokyo)
2B Tanabe (4)
LF Arai (7)
RF Hirose (9)
3B Egawa (5)
1B Tamai (3)
CF Izumizawa (8)
C Nakamura (2)
P Matsumoto (1)
SS Tsuchiya (6)
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2:36 PM
First pitch, and the seems to be blowing even harder from right to left!
Top 1st
With one down, Matsumoto hits Sonoda... then walks Satou.
But he settles down and gets Yasuoka to pop to short and Okayama to ground to 2nd.
Bottom 1st
Also with one down, Kanto gets a runner as Arai walks. Electing not to bunt, Hirose swings away.
Instead, Arai looks to steal second for himself! And he's in safely! Hirose then hits a grounder through the right side! Arai scores and just like that Kanto Daiichi is up 1-0!
And while Egawa is up, Hirose goes to steal 2nd. He's in safely! Wow, the speed of Kanto is definitely in display here! Egawa then draws a walk! Pinch for Naruto!
Minoru though gets Tamai to strikeout looking and Izumisawa to fly to left. But Kanto Daiichi strikes first!
Top 2nd
With one down, Naruto's offense again gets started. Kenta singles to left, and then Minoru follows with a walk when Matsumoto doesn't oblige in throwing a good bunting pitch.
Tanaka up now and he puts down the bunt. Satou points to 3rd, but Matsumoto goes to 1st?? Egawa was waiting at 3rd for the throw which would have been in time, but Matsumoto did his own thing! Now there's runners at 2nd and 3rd with two down!
But lucky for him, it leads to nothing. Ueki grounds to short.
Bottom 2nd
It's a better inning for Minoru as he only gives up a two-out walk to Tsuchiya.
Top 3rd
While Yasuoka proves to be a stubborn batter, he eventually lines out to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Arai walks to lead off the inning. Will he take off?
Yes! But the throw from Satou is in time! Safe?! 2nd base umpire calls safe! I don't know about that call! Looking at the replay it seems like he's out.
Hirose strikes out, so it's up to Egawa.
Single to left! Arai rounds 3rd and scores! 2-0 Kanto!
Tamai up now. And Egawa takes off for 2nd! Throw, tag, safe! Another bang-bang play at 2nd! Then Tamai draws a walk! Runners at 1st and 2nd with one down!
Izumisawa to bunt. But he pops it up! Minoru with the catch and there's 2 down!
Nakamura comes to the plate to try and extend the lead further. And he hits a grounder to left field! Egawa comes around to score! 3-0!
Top 4th
Apparently Naruto likes starting their innings after one out. Because with one down, Kagawa lines a single to right.
Kenta follows that up by getting a walk. Now Naruto elects to bunt, with Minoru sending both runners into scoring position for Tanaka.
And he follows through with a single to right! Hirose up with the ball, AH! The ball bounces off of him and behind him! Kagawa scored! Kenta comes around to score! Naruto Kogyo comes back with 2 runs of its own! 3-2!!
Bottom 4th
Tanabe starts the offense going with a one-out walk.
Instead of bunting, Arai swings away and pops up to 3rd. 2 down for Hirose.
First pitch driven to center! Ueki running back, still running back. HAITA!!!!!!!
Hirose makes up for his error with a blast to the right side of the netting in center! WOW! 5-2!!
Top 5th
Naruto gets a one out runner after Satou is hit by Matsumoto. But he's wiped out when Yasuoka grounds into a 6-3 double play.
Bottom 5th
It looks like Minoru's day is done. #10 Hayashi comes into Sonoda's position in the lineup and takes over on the mound. Minoru moves to left.
And it's a shaky start for Hayashi. Izumisawa grounds to 3rd! Kenta up with it, but drops it on the transfer!
Then Hayashi hits Nakamura. Runners at 1st and 2nd for Matsumoto. He puts down the bunt, but it's right at home plate! Satou with the throw to Kenta and they get the lead runner.
Tsuchiya steps up and this time is swinging away. The count goes full and...
Grounder to left field! Nakamura heads home! Minoru up with the throw. Satou with the ball.
COLLISION! Big time collision at home! But Satou holds onto the ball and Nakamura is out! 2 outs!
The offense keeps going though, as Tanabe draws a walk.
Hayashi finally shuts the door on the 5th as he strikes out Arai. Heading into the break, there certainly have been chances on both sides, but Kanto's aggressiveness on the base paths has made the difference.
Top 6th
Matsumoto takes 7 pitches to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
For the first time this game, Kantou Daiichi is retired in order.
Top 7th
With one down in the inning (does this sound like a broken record to you?), Tanaka hits a soft liner to center. After advancing to 2nd on a hit-and-run groundout, he's left stranded when Hayashi flies to left.
Bottom 7th
Another easy 1-2-3 inning for Hayashi. The question now becomes whether the offense can put runs on the board.
Top 8th
Yasuoka starts the 8th with a grounder to center... with one out. *sighs*
#17 Kawano comes in to pinch-hit for Okayama. He hits a short liner to center! Runners on 1st and 2nd! #15 Yasuda comes in to pinch run for him.
Ah! Kagawa grounds to short, and Tsuchiya starts the 6-4-3 double play!
Bottom 8th
Yasuda stays in to play right.
Hayashi's pitching has been wonderful! He retires the side in order and has given 4 innings of 1-hit ball!
Still, they're down to their final 3 outs.
Top 9th
#11 Hirayama to pinch hit for Kenta. He falls behind 1-2, but keeps fighting. Fouls off pitches and works the count full!
Drive to left center! Izumisawa running back! Still running! Reaches up and makes the great catch!
#13 Bessho to pinch hit for Minoru. He grounds to 2nd.
Last chance goes to Tanaka, and he grounds to 2nd as well to end the game.
So Naruto Kogyo's run ends here in the round of 32 as Kanto Daiichi, with aggressive baserunning early and power later, move on with the 5-2 victory.
Day 9 - Game 2 - Chiben Gakuen (Nara) vs Hotoku Gakuen (Higashi Hyogo)
With the nailbiter we had in the first game of the day, it'll be hard for these teams to beat that performance!
Chiben Gakuen won its first round matchup agains Oumi, but not without needing smelling salts. Leading 5-2 in the 9th, Oumi puts together 3 consecutive hits. Combined with 2 walks by Sakaguchi, and they had pulled it to 5-4, bases loaded with 2 down. But a groundout by new C Tomio ended the game.
Hotoku Gakuen in their game against Niigata Kenou Kogyo, fell behind 2-0 and didn't even get a hit until the 5th inning. But then in the 6th, Niigata elected to switch pitchers since they used a 2 pitcher system. But the new P Furumura, was rudely welcomed with a tying 2-run HR by Ujiie. The score would remain tied until the bottom of the 9th where after a 2-out triple by Itoi, cleanup batter Inoue hit the sayonara homerun to right center!
So, who will win this game? With the determination I've seen from Hotoku, I'll pick them to defeat Chiben Gakuen.
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Chiben Gakuen (Nara)
RF Komeda (10)
LF Sougou (7)
C Doi (2)
1B Shigeyama (3)
CF Sakamoto (8)
3B Nagae (5)
2B Tsuji (4)
P Sakaguchi (1)
SS Touhou (13)
Hotoku Gakuen (Higashi Hyogo)
3B Saigou (5)
2B Imura (4)
C Itoi (2)
CF Inoue (8)
P Chikada (1)
1B Ujiie (3)
LF Nakamura (7)
RF Nakagawa (13)
SS Momiyama (15)
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11:50 AM
First pitch! And the wind has picked up again going the usual right to left.
Top 1st
Not a good start for Chikada as he hits Komeda to start the game. Sougou moves him over.
That brings up Doi, and he hits a grounder to Momiyama. But Komeda shields the ball and gets out of the way just in time! Momiyama has no time to react and the ball goes to left! Runners at the corners, 1 down for cleanup batter Shigeyama!
Chikada buckles down though. He goes 2-2, and strikes him out! 2 down!
And then Sakamoto grounds to 3rd! Saigou with the ball and makes the putout to retire the side.
Bottom 1st
Sakaguchi returns the favor to Hotoku by hitting Saigou. Imura looks to bunt him along, but can't as Doi makes the putout at 2nd instead.
Undaunted, Imura takes it on himself and steals 2nd during Itoi's at bat. And when Itoi flies to center, Imura advances to 3rd. 2 out , runner at 3rd for Inoue.
Sakaguchi gets the count to 2-2 and... AH! The ball gets by Doi! Imura comes home, the throw by Doi, not in time! Imura scores on the passed ball! 1-0 Hotoku!
Top 2nd
Chikada gives up a one-out double to Tsuji, but neither Sakaguchi or Touhou can make contact with the ball and strikes out.
Bottom 2nd
Chikada looks to help his own cause now as he singles up the middle. He's moved to 2nd for Nakamura.
And inexplicably, when Nakamura hits it to short, Chikada runs to 3rd??? And not surprisingly, he's thrown out by a mile.
Top 3rd
Ah, finally a break for Chikada - he retires Chiben in order.
Bottom 3rd
Same goes for Sakagichi as he retires Hotoku in order as well.
Top 4th
Chikada gives up a 2-out walk to Nagae, but that's it.
Bottom 4th
2 down for Hotoku, when Chikada comes to bat. And once again he gets a single.
Ujiie the hits a fly ball to right. Komeda comes in, looks to have it, but doesn't account for the wind! It knocks it down for a base hit!
Then Nakamura singles to left! Chikada comes home! 2-0 Hotoku!
Ah! Sakaguchi hits Nakagawa. Manrui now for Momiyama.
? They're putting in a pinch-hitter! It's #14 Nitta. Chance for Nitta!
But he grounds to 1st! Inning over!
Top 5th
#6 Kotani takes over at short for PH Nitta.
With one down, Touhou grounds one to right field. Instead of bunting, they have Komeda swing away. That works because he singles to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd.
Sougou comes up, but it looks like he isn't bunting as well. And he strikes out to make it 2 down.
That brings up Doi to keep the inning going. But Chikada is out in front 1-2. He's shaking off Itoi several times. Finally agrees on a pitch. Looks to be something inside.
Fastball inside! And Doi knows it! He chops one past the pitcher! It's through to center! Touhou scores, Komeda scores! Doi with the timely hit and we have a tie game!!! 2-2!
Bottom 5th
Saigou manages another walk, this time of the less painful variety. Imura this time gets the sac bunt down successfully.
Itoi though grounds to 3rd, but fortunately for him, the only play Nagae has is to retire him at 1st. Runner at 3rd, 2 down for Inoue.
And he delivers again with the timely hit to right! Saigou scores and Hotoku regains the lead 3-2 as they head into the break!
Top 6th
Sakamoto starts the inning off with a single up the middle. Nagae looks to bunt him along, but Saigou is crashing the plate! He picks it up, fires to Kotani at 2nd for one. And Kotani throws to 1st... double play! Wow! What great defense by Hotoku!!
Bottom 6th
#6 Inamori takes over at 3rd for Nagae.
Ujiie starts the inning with a single to right. Nakamura bunts him to 2nd. However, Nakagawa flies out to left, 2 down for Hotoku.
Kotani up for his first AB. Gets ahead 2-1 and then reaches down and pokes a liner to center! Ujiie rounds 3rd and comes home to score! 4-2 Hotoku!
Top 7th
Chikada picks up 2 more strikeouts en route to a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 7th
Sakaguchi also retires the side, as he tries to keep the team in the game.
Top 8th
Chiben's oen-dan sensing the urgency, starts playing Jock Rock to try and get the offense started.
But it doesn't work. Chiben once again goes down in order. Now they'll have only have 3 outs to make up at least a 2 run deficit.
Bottom 8th
With one down, Ujiie hits a liner over a leaping Inamori and down the left field line for a double! Nakamura then hits a deep fly to center advancing Ujiie to 3rd.
But Nakagawa twirls on an inside offspeed pitch to end the inning.
Top 9th
#17 Morosawa comes in to play left for Nakamura.
Chiben Wakayama's bretheren is in danger of going home in the 2nd round unless they can get 2 runs here in the 9th to at least extend the game.
Sakamoto flies out to a charging Nakamura in left. Inamori flies out to Nakagawa in right.
Tsuji doesn't give up though! He singles to center!
#9 Yoshida to pinch hit for Sakaguchi. Drive to center! Inoue charges, dives! DOESN'T GET IT! It's past him and to the wall!! Tsuji rounds 3rd. He scores! Yoshida in with a triple! 4-3!
WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS INOUE THINKING?????!!!
You're up 2! Count them 2! You can let the ball fall in in front of you! If you let it get behind you, you end up in a situation like this!
And Touhou grounds a single to right! Yoshida scores! Tie game!! 4-4!!! Chiben Gakuen with the help of a questionable decision by Inoue, ties the game!!
Bottom 9th
#11 Nitta comes in to pitch since Yoshida came in to pinch-hit for Sakaguchi.
Hotoku does nothing in the 9th, and goes down in order! Enchousen! We go into our 2nd consecutive extra inning game!
Top 10th
2 down, Shigeyama gets a single up the middle.
#14 Nagaoka comes in to pinch hit for Sakamoto...
Ah! Wild pitch! Shigeyama advances to 2nd!
As there is a conference, the Hotoku's manager calls the outfield in.
Nagaoka with the liner over Saigou's head and down the left field line! Morosawa rushes over to the ball! Shigeyama rounds third for home! Morosawa with the throw home! Itoi gets it, goes for the tag and...
HE'S OUT!!!
Morosawa with the great throw home! He keeps the game tied going into the bottom of the 10th! Give credit too to the manager! If he hadn't called the outfielders in, that throw may have come too late!
Bottom 10th
Outfield shifts around. PH Nagaoka stays in the game and plays right. Komeda goes from right to left, and Sougou goes from left to center.
With that taken care of, Itoi steps up to the plate. First pitch driven to right! Nagaoka running back, it's off the wall! Itoi in with a leadoff double!
Inoue, the sayonara hero of last game steps up. Can he do it again!
He singles to right! Itoi rounding 3rd! Throw in, he stops! Runners at the corners for Chikada!
But he won't get the chance as Chiben creates the force at home by intentionally walking him.
So now it's up to Ujiie. All he needs is a sac fly. The outfield is in for a play at the plate.
First pitch he lifts to left! Komeda gets ready for the throw home! He gets it! Itoi dashes home! The throw is up the 1st base line! There's going to be no play! Sayonara! Sayonara! Sayonara!!!
Hotoku pulls out another sayonara victory here in the 10th inning! Can this run of good luck continue for them?
For Chiben Gakuen, their summer is over. They, like Miyazaki Shogyo fought wonderfully today, never giving up, not even when things seemed lost. But in the end, it just wasn't enough.
Let's once again raise our glasses to Hotoku Gakuen for advancing, and for Chiben Gakuen, whose efforts remind all of us why we like 高校野球.
Chiben Gakuen won its first round matchup agains Oumi, but not without needing smelling salts. Leading 5-2 in the 9th, Oumi puts together 3 consecutive hits. Combined with 2 walks by Sakaguchi, and they had pulled it to 5-4, bases loaded with 2 down. But a groundout by new C Tomio ended the game.
Hotoku Gakuen in their game against Niigata Kenou Kogyo, fell behind 2-0 and didn't even get a hit until the 5th inning. But then in the 6th, Niigata elected to switch pitchers since they used a 2 pitcher system. But the new P Furumura, was rudely welcomed with a tying 2-run HR by Ujiie. The score would remain tied until the bottom of the 9th where after a 2-out triple by Itoi, cleanup batter Inoue hit the sayonara homerun to right center!
So, who will win this game? With the determination I've seen from Hotoku, I'll pick them to defeat Chiben Gakuen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chiben Gakuen (Nara)
RF Komeda (10)
LF Sougou (7)
C Doi (2)
1B Shigeyama (3)
CF Sakamoto (8)
3B Nagae (5)
2B Tsuji (4)
P Sakaguchi (1)
SS Touhou (13)
Hotoku Gakuen (Higashi Hyogo)
3B Saigou (5)
2B Imura (4)
C Itoi (2)
CF Inoue (8)
P Chikada (1)
1B Ujiie (3)
LF Nakamura (7)
RF Nakagawa (13)
SS Momiyama (15)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:50 AM
First pitch! And the wind has picked up again going the usual right to left.
Top 1st
Not a good start for Chikada as he hits Komeda to start the game. Sougou moves him over.
That brings up Doi, and he hits a grounder to Momiyama. But Komeda shields the ball and gets out of the way just in time! Momiyama has no time to react and the ball goes to left! Runners at the corners, 1 down for cleanup batter Shigeyama!
Chikada buckles down though. He goes 2-2, and strikes him out! 2 down!
And then Sakamoto grounds to 3rd! Saigou with the ball and makes the putout to retire the side.
Bottom 1st
Sakaguchi returns the favor to Hotoku by hitting Saigou. Imura looks to bunt him along, but can't as Doi makes the putout at 2nd instead.
Undaunted, Imura takes it on himself and steals 2nd during Itoi's at bat. And when Itoi flies to center, Imura advances to 3rd. 2 out , runner at 3rd for Inoue.
Sakaguchi gets the count to 2-2 and... AH! The ball gets by Doi! Imura comes home, the throw by Doi, not in time! Imura scores on the passed ball! 1-0 Hotoku!
Top 2nd
Chikada gives up a one-out double to Tsuji, but neither Sakaguchi or Touhou can make contact with the ball and strikes out.
Bottom 2nd
Chikada looks to help his own cause now as he singles up the middle. He's moved to 2nd for Nakamura.
And inexplicably, when Nakamura hits it to short, Chikada runs to 3rd??? And not surprisingly, he's thrown out by a mile.
Top 3rd
Ah, finally a break for Chikada - he retires Chiben in order.
Bottom 3rd
Same goes for Sakagichi as he retires Hotoku in order as well.
Top 4th
Chikada gives up a 2-out walk to Nagae, but that's it.
Bottom 4th
2 down for Hotoku, when Chikada comes to bat. And once again he gets a single.
Ujiie the hits a fly ball to right. Komeda comes in, looks to have it, but doesn't account for the wind! It knocks it down for a base hit!
Then Nakamura singles to left! Chikada comes home! 2-0 Hotoku!
Ah! Sakaguchi hits Nakagawa. Manrui now for Momiyama.
? They're putting in a pinch-hitter! It's #14 Nitta. Chance for Nitta!
But he grounds to 1st! Inning over!
Top 5th
#6 Kotani takes over at short for PH Nitta.
With one down, Touhou grounds one to right field. Instead of bunting, they have Komeda swing away. That works because he singles to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd.
Sougou comes up, but it looks like he isn't bunting as well. And he strikes out to make it 2 down.
That brings up Doi to keep the inning going. But Chikada is out in front 1-2. He's shaking off Itoi several times. Finally agrees on a pitch. Looks to be something inside.
Fastball inside! And Doi knows it! He chops one past the pitcher! It's through to center! Touhou scores, Komeda scores! Doi with the timely hit and we have a tie game!!! 2-2!
Bottom 5th
Saigou manages another walk, this time of the less painful variety. Imura this time gets the sac bunt down successfully.
Itoi though grounds to 3rd, but fortunately for him, the only play Nagae has is to retire him at 1st. Runner at 3rd, 2 down for Inoue.
And he delivers again with the timely hit to right! Saigou scores and Hotoku regains the lead 3-2 as they head into the break!
Top 6th
Sakamoto starts the inning off with a single up the middle. Nagae looks to bunt him along, but Saigou is crashing the plate! He picks it up, fires to Kotani at 2nd for one. And Kotani throws to 1st... double play! Wow! What great defense by Hotoku!!
Bottom 6th
#6 Inamori takes over at 3rd for Nagae.
Ujiie starts the inning with a single to right. Nakamura bunts him to 2nd. However, Nakagawa flies out to left, 2 down for Hotoku.
Kotani up for his first AB. Gets ahead 2-1 and then reaches down and pokes a liner to center! Ujiie rounds 3rd and comes home to score! 4-2 Hotoku!
Top 7th
Chikada picks up 2 more strikeouts en route to a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 7th
Sakaguchi also retires the side, as he tries to keep the team in the game.
Top 8th
Chiben's oen-dan sensing the urgency, starts playing Jock Rock to try and get the offense started.
But it doesn't work. Chiben once again goes down in order. Now they'll have only have 3 outs to make up at least a 2 run deficit.
Bottom 8th
With one down, Ujiie hits a liner over a leaping Inamori and down the left field line for a double! Nakamura then hits a deep fly to center advancing Ujiie to 3rd.
But Nakagawa twirls on an inside offspeed pitch to end the inning.
Top 9th
#17 Morosawa comes in to play left for Nakamura.
Chiben Wakayama's bretheren is in danger of going home in the 2nd round unless they can get 2 runs here in the 9th to at least extend the game.
Sakamoto flies out to a charging Nakamura in left. Inamori flies out to Nakagawa in right.
Tsuji doesn't give up though! He singles to center!
#9 Yoshida to pinch hit for Sakaguchi. Drive to center! Inoue charges, dives! DOESN'T GET IT! It's past him and to the wall!! Tsuji rounds 3rd. He scores! Yoshida in with a triple! 4-3!
WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS INOUE THINKING?????!!!
You're up 2! Count them 2! You can let the ball fall in in front of you! If you let it get behind you, you end up in a situation like this!
And Touhou grounds a single to right! Yoshida scores! Tie game!! 4-4!!! Chiben Gakuen with the help of a questionable decision by Inoue, ties the game!!
Bottom 9th
#11 Nitta comes in to pitch since Yoshida came in to pinch-hit for Sakaguchi.
Hotoku does nothing in the 9th, and goes down in order! Enchousen! We go into our 2nd consecutive extra inning game!
Top 10th
2 down, Shigeyama gets a single up the middle.
#14 Nagaoka comes in to pinch hit for Sakamoto...
Ah! Wild pitch! Shigeyama advances to 2nd!
As there is a conference, the Hotoku's manager calls the outfield in.
Nagaoka with the liner over Saigou's head and down the left field line! Morosawa rushes over to the ball! Shigeyama rounds third for home! Morosawa with the throw home! Itoi gets it, goes for the tag and...
HE'S OUT!!!
Morosawa with the great throw home! He keeps the game tied going into the bottom of the 10th! Give credit too to the manager! If he hadn't called the outfielders in, that throw may have come too late!
Bottom 10th
Outfield shifts around. PH Nagaoka stays in the game and plays right. Komeda goes from right to left, and Sougou goes from left to center.
With that taken care of, Itoi steps up to the plate. First pitch driven to right! Nagaoka running back, it's off the wall! Itoi in with a leadoff double!
Inoue, the sayonara hero of last game steps up. Can he do it again!
He singles to right! Itoi rounding 3rd! Throw in, he stops! Runners at the corners for Chikada!
But he won't get the chance as Chiben creates the force at home by intentionally walking him.
So now it's up to Ujiie. All he needs is a sac fly. The outfield is in for a play at the plate.
First pitch he lifts to left! Komeda gets ready for the throw home! He gets it! Itoi dashes home! The throw is up the 1st base line! There's going to be no play! Sayonara! Sayonara! Sayonara!!!
Hotoku pulls out another sayonara victory here in the 10th inning! Can this run of good luck continue for them?
For Chiben Gakuen, their summer is over. They, like Miyazaki Shogyo fought wonderfully today, never giving up, not even when things seemed lost. But in the end, it just wasn't enough.
Let's once again raise our glasses to Hotoku Gakuen for advancing, and for Chiben Gakuen, whose efforts remind all of us why we like 高校野球.
Day 9 - Game 1 - Miyazaki Shogyo vs. Kagoshima Jitsugyo
The 2nd round matches continue as we have another all-Kyushu matchup pitting Kagoshima Jitsugyo versus Miyazaki Shogyo.
In the first round, both teams advanced with healthy wins - Kagoshima Jitsugyo defeating Nichidai Tsurugaoka 14-1, while Miyazaki Shogyo defeated Jyohoku 7-1.
After seeing their performance in the first round, it's hard to tell who would have the advantage here. So figuring it's roughly a coin flip, I'll go with Miyazaki Shogyo, even though I think Kagoshima Jitsugyo will probably win.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kagoshima Jitsugyo
LF Nakao (9)
SS Uebou (6)
CF Morita (8)
RF Iwashita (10)
2B Fukunaga (4)
C Minatozaki (2)
P Matsukubo (1)
1B Arikawa (13)
3B Tanoshiri (5)
Miyazaki Shogyo
SS Kawakami (6)
RF Sasaki (9)
3B Ikeda (5)
1B Matsumoto (3)
LF Kokubo (7)
P Akagawa (1)
C Nagata (2)
2B Shintome (4)
CF Ooshima (8)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
8:30 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Akagawa, with the help of 2 K's retires the side to open the game.
Bottom 1st
Kawakami starts it off by getting hit. Ouch. Then he tries to steal 2nd! And after a little dancing around 2nd base to try and avoid the tag, he's eventually tagged out.
Sasaki then gives Miyazaki another baserunner by drawing a walk.
After a flyout by Ikeda, Miyazaki puts on the hit-and-run! Matsumoto hits a grounder through to left! Runners at the corners!
But Kokubo grounds to short and a nice play turned in by Uebou ends the inning.
Top 2nd
Akagawa early on is impressing me. Outside of yielding a hit to Minatozaki, he registers 2 more K's to put up another donut.
Bottom 2nd
As Matsukubo steps up to bat, I do a double take as I think I hear "Zankoku na tenshi no teze" from Miyazaki's oen-dan. And upon further review, I do! Now that automatically gives them the win for me! ^_^
Back to the game, Matsukubo singles through the right side. Arikawa bunts him along.
And then Matsukubo falls behind Shindome 3-0, and it's a 4 pitch walk.
Now it's "Sakuranbo" by the oen-dan for the win!
But Ooshima strikes out... 2 down for Kawakami... He grounds one to left! Manrui for Sasaki!
And he goes ahead 3-0! Matsukubo fires two back to fill it up. Runners will go now! Pitch... grounded to 2nd! Fukunaga with the throw to 1st and Matsukubo gets out of the jam!
Top 3rd
Akagawa yields his first walk of the game, walking Arikawa to start the inning. Tanoshiri looks to bunt him along, but cannot! But the pitch is wild and Arikawa advances on the strikeout. Good enough!
And Nakao hits a liner to left! Arikawa holds up at 3rd, and there's runners at the corners for Uebou!
Uebou with the sharp grounder to 3rd! Ikeda smothers the ball, fires home! They have Akagawa! He's run down and tagged out! Nice play!!
Runners now at 1st and 2nd for Morita. Akagawa falls behind him 2-1, but manages to fill up the count. Runners will be taking off now.
Grounder to 1st! Matsumoto, AH! It's off his glove and to right! Nakao heads for home and he scores! Kagoshima Jitsugyo on the board 1-0!
And Akagawa is having problems getting the ball up, falling behind 3-0 before filling up the count again. Morita will be taking off here! Grounder to short, and Kawakami makes the play at first. But a matter of centimeters stood between an out and a run!
Bottom 3rd
The pitchers for Kagoshima switch places, Iwashita moves to the mound and Matsukubo moves to right.
Apparently Ikeda likes the change. He singles past a diving Uebou and into center.
But Iwashita fights on, and gets Matsumoto to ground into the 5-4-3 DP!
He then tops that off with a grounder to short, and it's your normal 1-2-3 inning?!
Top 4th
Minatozaki gets another hit off of Akagawa, but once again it leads to nothing as Matsukubo strikes out (again), and Minatozaki is thrown out at 2nd soon after.
Bottom 4th
Ah! "Zankoku na tenshi no teze" is Akagawa's rally song! Cool! ^^
He strikes out looking. Doh..... -_-
And the next two are retired quickly. Aw...
Top 5th
And what in the world is Tanoshiri doing at the BOTTOM of Kagoshima's lineup? With one down, he blasts one into the right center field gap all the way to the wall for a triple! A homerun in the last game, a triple here!
They elect to have Nakao swing away, and Akagawa strikes him out! 7th of the game!
Uebou up now. Falls behind 1-2 but fights off Akagawa's pitches. But he flails at one high and outside for a comebacker to Akagawa! He makes the play at first and Tanoshiri is stranded at 3rd!
Bottom 5th
Iwashita continues to dominate the Miyazaki Shogyo batters facing only the minimum over 3 innings so far.
5th Inning Stretch
The obaa-chan they interviewed in Kagoshima's oen-dan was so, well... grandmotherly! ^_^
Top 6th
Akagawa still looks good on the mound retiring the side in order.
Bottom 6th
Ah yes, the vendors calling out their wares, with the famous "...ikaga desu ka?" heard at the end.
Matsumoto with the walk, and is forced out at 2nd on Kokubo's grounder. Akagawa up now.
C'mon channel the power of Asuka and get a base hit!
Aaaaaaa~~~~~ You struck out looking AGAIN??!
Top 7th
Minatozaki with his 3rd base hit of the game! Matsukubo to put the bunt down, but Matsumoto gets it and throws to 2nd! Kawakami with the nice pick off the one bounder!
Stubborn as always, Arikawa bunts again sending Matsukubo to 2nd. And Tanoshiri is up. Hoo boy.
He signals bunt... yeah right. As if HE'S going to bunt. Sure enough, he pulls it back and swings! But it's a popup to left.
Bottom 7th
We have ourselves a true pitching battle here between Kagoshima and Miyazaki. Can Miyazaki break through in the next 3 innings?
Iwashita is about to retire the side when he walks Ooshima, who prior had struck out twice.
And apparently, because he hasn't been on base all day, he forgets about how to take a lead at 1st... oy.
Top 8th
2 down, Morita drives a ball to deep left center! That's to the wall for a double!
Iwashita to try and extend the lead. Count goes 2-2 and starts fouling off pitches. On the 8th pitch, he swings, but the ball hits him right on his right knee! He's out, and he can't get up!!
He's being helped off the field, but what will Kagoshima do if he can't return?!
Bottom 8th
The camera dramatically focuses on the empty mound, as Iwashita is still not there.
But about a minute later, he returns to the mound. Will it bother him at all? After all, it's the leg he drives forward with.
Perhaps the one good thing about Ooshima being picked off is that the top of the lineup starts the inning.
His control is shaky, and the count goes full on Kawakami. But Iwashita gets him to fly out to center.
Iwashita is still working out that knee a bit between batters...
He falls behind Sasaki 3-1. But an inside fastball fills the count. Tries it again, but doesn't get the call! Runner on 1st, one out for Ikeda.
Bunt? Are they really calling for the bunt? Whoa! The 1-0 pitch almost took off Ikeda's head! Now it's 3-0! Low! Ball 4!! Runners on 1st and 2nd!!
Conference on the mound. He stays in, but is that the best thing?
Matsumoto up. Chopper to 3rd! Tanoshiri with it! Foul! It's foul!...
Count now 2-1. Matsumoto with the drive to right! Matsukubo running, running back! Leaps! It's in and out of his glove! He fumbles for it but it drops in!!!!!!! Sasaki scores!!!!! Tie game!!!!!!! 1-1!!! Matsumoto with the guts pose!
Runners at 1st and 2nd, one out for Kokubo!
Liner to 2nd! Fukunaga has it! AH!! Ikeda is caught off 2nd! He's doubled off!
Top 9th
Akagawa retires Kagoshima in order! Now, what will Miyazaki do???
Bottom 9th
Akagawa, Nagata and Shindome due up for Miyazaki.
Akagawa strikes out... again.
Nagata singles past a diving Uebou into center!
Bunt?! Really??! You need only one, but you'll be putting the bat in Ooshima's hands!
Yes, Shindome puts the bunt down and advances Nagata.
Conference on the mound...
And Ooshima steps up, without a hit so far this game, or the tournament...
Sharp grounder to 1st! Arikawa has it! Steps on 1st! Enchousen! We're going to extra innings for the first time this tournament!
Top 10th
Tanoshiri chopper up the middle! Shindome with the grab! Tries to flip it with his glove to Kawakami! Miss! That was his only chance! Runner on 1st!
He's moved along by Nakao. Uebou with the chance now.
Grounder up the middle! Shindome with another great stop. Pops up, throw to 1st, in time!!! Shindome with some nice plays!!
Bottom 10th
Iwashita still on the mound. He falls behind 3-1, now 3-2, but loses Kawakami!
Now everyone in the world knows Sasaki is going to bunt! He does! Arikawa up with it, but the only play is at first! Runner at 2nd, one down for Ikeda!
Iwashita gets ahead 1-2. Sanshin!! 2 down!
But Matsumoto is up! Can he deliver one more timely hit? Ara? Are they intentionally walking him?
They are! They are intentionally walking him!!
So now it's up to Kokubo! 0-4 today.
Ground ball to the right side! Fukunaga with it, and he makes the play at 1st!
Top 11th
Miyazaki with the glove this inning! One down, Iwashita with the slow grounder to short! Kawakami with the charging throw, in time!
Two down, Fukunaga grounder straight up the middle! Shindome with the diving stop, his throw, just in time!!!!
Bottom 11th
Akagawa up again. He makes contact, but it's a flyout to center.
Nagata with another single, this time a liner to center.
Will Shindome bunt again? Yes! Minatozaki up with the ball, throws to 2nd...
SAFE!!!!! Nagata's safe at 2nd! But Ooshima's up again....
AHHH! NOOOOOOOO!!! Grounder to 3rd! Tanoshiri with it, throws to Fukunaga at 2nd for one, throw to Arikawa at first, double play!!
Top 12th
Minatozaki leads off the 12th. And like he's done so many AB's, he gets another single. Matsukubo tries to bunt him along, but then falls behind 1-2. Will he do it again?
Yes, but he misses it! Sanshin!
Arikawa looks to bunt. Can't put it down. Goes to 1-1. He pulls it back and swings away! But it's foul! 1-2. Ball low, 2-2. Minatozaki takes off! Swing, foul! Pops it up! Kawakami with the catch.
Up to Tanoshiri. Always a threat. Deadball! Akagawa hits him! Runners on 1st and 2nd, but 2 down!
Top of the lineup and Nakao now. Single to left! Through the infield! Minaztozaki comes around 3rd, he scores! Kagoshima Jitsugyo leads 2-1 in the 12th!
Uebou with another single just like Nakao's!! Tanoshiri rounds 3rd, he scores! 2 runs for Kagoshima now as they lead 3-1!!
Morita with the liner to left! Nakao comes around, he scores! 4-1 Kagoshima!
Could Akagawa just be plain out of gas?
Fortunately, he gets Iwashita to fly out to right. But Akagawa and Miyazaki find themselves down 3 runs with 3 outs to go...
Bottom 12th
Final chance for Miyazaki. Kawashima works the count full and is called out on an outside fastball! (I think that was ball 4)
Sasaki up. He falls behind 1-2, and he's caught looking at an inside pitch. 2 down!
Ikeda up. Pops it up! Minatozaki who started the 12th inning, makes the catch, and that's the ballgame!
Kagoshima Jitsugyo breaks through in the 12th inning against Akagawa for 3 runs to advance to the round of 16!
For Miyazaki Shogyo, they fought hard. Akagawa kept them in the ballgame for so long, allowing the offense the time to breakthrough in the 8th. But could there have been something different done along the way. A pinch hitter perhaps? We'll never know.
But regardless, give Miyazaki Shogyo a round of applause for their efforts. They at least deserve that much.
In the first round, both teams advanced with healthy wins - Kagoshima Jitsugyo defeating Nichidai Tsurugaoka 14-1, while Miyazaki Shogyo defeated Jyohoku 7-1.
After seeing their performance in the first round, it's hard to tell who would have the advantage here. So figuring it's roughly a coin flip, I'll go with Miyazaki Shogyo, even though I think Kagoshima Jitsugyo will probably win.
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Kagoshima Jitsugyo
LF Nakao (9)
SS Uebou (6)
CF Morita (8)
RF Iwashita (10)
2B Fukunaga (4)
C Minatozaki (2)
P Matsukubo (1)
1B Arikawa (13)
3B Tanoshiri (5)
Miyazaki Shogyo
SS Kawakami (6)
RF Sasaki (9)
3B Ikeda (5)
1B Matsumoto (3)
LF Kokubo (7)
P Akagawa (1)
C Nagata (2)
2B Shintome (4)
CF Ooshima (8)
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8:30 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Akagawa, with the help of 2 K's retires the side to open the game.
Bottom 1st
Kawakami starts it off by getting hit. Ouch. Then he tries to steal 2nd! And after a little dancing around 2nd base to try and avoid the tag, he's eventually tagged out.
Sasaki then gives Miyazaki another baserunner by drawing a walk.
After a flyout by Ikeda, Miyazaki puts on the hit-and-run! Matsumoto hits a grounder through to left! Runners at the corners!
But Kokubo grounds to short and a nice play turned in by Uebou ends the inning.
Top 2nd
Akagawa early on is impressing me. Outside of yielding a hit to Minatozaki, he registers 2 more K's to put up another donut.
Bottom 2nd
As Matsukubo steps up to bat, I do a double take as I think I hear "Zankoku na tenshi no teze" from Miyazaki's oen-dan. And upon further review, I do! Now that automatically gives them the win for me! ^_^
Back to the game, Matsukubo singles through the right side. Arikawa bunts him along.
And then Matsukubo falls behind Shindome 3-0, and it's a 4 pitch walk.
Now it's "Sakuranbo" by the oen-dan for the win!
But Ooshima strikes out... 2 down for Kawakami... He grounds one to left! Manrui for Sasaki!
And he goes ahead 3-0! Matsukubo fires two back to fill it up. Runners will go now! Pitch... grounded to 2nd! Fukunaga with the throw to 1st and Matsukubo gets out of the jam!
Top 3rd
Akagawa yields his first walk of the game, walking Arikawa to start the inning. Tanoshiri looks to bunt him along, but cannot! But the pitch is wild and Arikawa advances on the strikeout. Good enough!
And Nakao hits a liner to left! Arikawa holds up at 3rd, and there's runners at the corners for Uebou!
Uebou with the sharp grounder to 3rd! Ikeda smothers the ball, fires home! They have Akagawa! He's run down and tagged out! Nice play!!
Runners now at 1st and 2nd for Morita. Akagawa falls behind him 2-1, but manages to fill up the count. Runners will be taking off now.
Grounder to 1st! Matsumoto, AH! It's off his glove and to right! Nakao heads for home and he scores! Kagoshima Jitsugyo on the board 1-0!
And Akagawa is having problems getting the ball up, falling behind 3-0 before filling up the count again. Morita will be taking off here! Grounder to short, and Kawakami makes the play at first. But a matter of centimeters stood between an out and a run!
Bottom 3rd
The pitchers for Kagoshima switch places, Iwashita moves to the mound and Matsukubo moves to right.
Apparently Ikeda likes the change. He singles past a diving Uebou and into center.
But Iwashita fights on, and gets Matsumoto to ground into the 5-4-3 DP!
He then tops that off with a grounder to short, and it's your normal 1-2-3 inning?!
Top 4th
Minatozaki gets another hit off of Akagawa, but once again it leads to nothing as Matsukubo strikes out (again), and Minatozaki is thrown out at 2nd soon after.
Bottom 4th
Ah! "Zankoku na tenshi no teze" is Akagawa's rally song! Cool! ^^
He strikes out looking. Doh..... -_-
And the next two are retired quickly. Aw...
Top 5th
And what in the world is Tanoshiri doing at the BOTTOM of Kagoshima's lineup? With one down, he blasts one into the right center field gap all the way to the wall for a triple! A homerun in the last game, a triple here!
They elect to have Nakao swing away, and Akagawa strikes him out! 7th of the game!
Uebou up now. Falls behind 1-2 but fights off Akagawa's pitches. But he flails at one high and outside for a comebacker to Akagawa! He makes the play at first and Tanoshiri is stranded at 3rd!
Bottom 5th
Iwashita continues to dominate the Miyazaki Shogyo batters facing only the minimum over 3 innings so far.
5th Inning Stretch
The obaa-chan they interviewed in Kagoshima's oen-dan was so, well... grandmotherly! ^_^
Top 6th
Akagawa still looks good on the mound retiring the side in order.
Bottom 6th
Ah yes, the vendors calling out their wares, with the famous "...ikaga desu ka?" heard at the end.
Matsumoto with the walk, and is forced out at 2nd on Kokubo's grounder. Akagawa up now.
C'mon channel the power of Asuka and get a base hit!
Aaaaaaa~~~~~ You struck out looking AGAIN??!
Top 7th
Minatozaki with his 3rd base hit of the game! Matsukubo to put the bunt down, but Matsumoto gets it and throws to 2nd! Kawakami with the nice pick off the one bounder!
Stubborn as always, Arikawa bunts again sending Matsukubo to 2nd. And Tanoshiri is up. Hoo boy.
He signals bunt... yeah right. As if HE'S going to bunt. Sure enough, he pulls it back and swings! But it's a popup to left.
Bottom 7th
We have ourselves a true pitching battle here between Kagoshima and Miyazaki. Can Miyazaki break through in the next 3 innings?
Iwashita is about to retire the side when he walks Ooshima, who prior had struck out twice.
And apparently, because he hasn't been on base all day, he forgets about how to take a lead at 1st... oy.
Top 8th
2 down, Morita drives a ball to deep left center! That's to the wall for a double!
Iwashita to try and extend the lead. Count goes 2-2 and starts fouling off pitches. On the 8th pitch, he swings, but the ball hits him right on his right knee! He's out, and he can't get up!!
He's being helped off the field, but what will Kagoshima do if he can't return?!
Bottom 8th
The camera dramatically focuses on the empty mound, as Iwashita is still not there.
But about a minute later, he returns to the mound. Will it bother him at all? After all, it's the leg he drives forward with.
Perhaps the one good thing about Ooshima being picked off is that the top of the lineup starts the inning.
His control is shaky, and the count goes full on Kawakami. But Iwashita gets him to fly out to center.
Iwashita is still working out that knee a bit between batters...
He falls behind Sasaki 3-1. But an inside fastball fills the count. Tries it again, but doesn't get the call! Runner on 1st, one out for Ikeda.
Bunt? Are they really calling for the bunt? Whoa! The 1-0 pitch almost took off Ikeda's head! Now it's 3-0! Low! Ball 4!! Runners on 1st and 2nd!!
Conference on the mound. He stays in, but is that the best thing?
Matsumoto up. Chopper to 3rd! Tanoshiri with it! Foul! It's foul!...
Count now 2-1. Matsumoto with the drive to right! Matsukubo running, running back! Leaps! It's in and out of his glove! He fumbles for it but it drops in!!!!!!! Sasaki scores!!!!! Tie game!!!!!!! 1-1!!! Matsumoto with the guts pose!
Runners at 1st and 2nd, one out for Kokubo!
Liner to 2nd! Fukunaga has it! AH!! Ikeda is caught off 2nd! He's doubled off!
Top 9th
Akagawa retires Kagoshima in order! Now, what will Miyazaki do???
Bottom 9th
Akagawa, Nagata and Shindome due up for Miyazaki.
Akagawa strikes out... again.
Nagata singles past a diving Uebou into center!
Bunt?! Really??! You need only one, but you'll be putting the bat in Ooshima's hands!
Yes, Shindome puts the bunt down and advances Nagata.
Conference on the mound...
And Ooshima steps up, without a hit so far this game, or the tournament...
Sharp grounder to 1st! Arikawa has it! Steps on 1st! Enchousen! We're going to extra innings for the first time this tournament!
Top 10th
Tanoshiri chopper up the middle! Shindome with the grab! Tries to flip it with his glove to Kawakami! Miss! That was his only chance! Runner on 1st!
He's moved along by Nakao. Uebou with the chance now.
Grounder up the middle! Shindome with another great stop. Pops up, throw to 1st, in time!!! Shindome with some nice plays!!
Bottom 10th
Iwashita still on the mound. He falls behind 3-1, now 3-2, but loses Kawakami!
Now everyone in the world knows Sasaki is going to bunt! He does! Arikawa up with it, but the only play is at first! Runner at 2nd, one down for Ikeda!
Iwashita gets ahead 1-2. Sanshin!! 2 down!
But Matsumoto is up! Can he deliver one more timely hit? Ara? Are they intentionally walking him?
They are! They are intentionally walking him!!
So now it's up to Kokubo! 0-4 today.
Ground ball to the right side! Fukunaga with it, and he makes the play at 1st!
Top 11th
Miyazaki with the glove this inning! One down, Iwashita with the slow grounder to short! Kawakami with the charging throw, in time!
Two down, Fukunaga grounder straight up the middle! Shindome with the diving stop, his throw, just in time!!!!
Bottom 11th
Akagawa up again. He makes contact, but it's a flyout to center.
Nagata with another single, this time a liner to center.
Will Shindome bunt again? Yes! Minatozaki up with the ball, throws to 2nd...
SAFE!!!!! Nagata's safe at 2nd! But Ooshima's up again....
AHHH! NOOOOOOOO!!! Grounder to 3rd! Tanoshiri with it, throws to Fukunaga at 2nd for one, throw to Arikawa at first, double play!!
Top 12th
Minatozaki leads off the 12th. And like he's done so many AB's, he gets another single. Matsukubo tries to bunt him along, but then falls behind 1-2. Will he do it again?
Yes, but he misses it! Sanshin!
Arikawa looks to bunt. Can't put it down. Goes to 1-1. He pulls it back and swings away! But it's foul! 1-2. Ball low, 2-2. Minatozaki takes off! Swing, foul! Pops it up! Kawakami with the catch.
Up to Tanoshiri. Always a threat. Deadball! Akagawa hits him! Runners on 1st and 2nd, but 2 down!
Top of the lineup and Nakao now. Single to left! Through the infield! Minaztozaki comes around 3rd, he scores! Kagoshima Jitsugyo leads 2-1 in the 12th!
Uebou with another single just like Nakao's!! Tanoshiri rounds 3rd, he scores! 2 runs for Kagoshima now as they lead 3-1!!
Morita with the liner to left! Nakao comes around, he scores! 4-1 Kagoshima!
Could Akagawa just be plain out of gas?
Fortunately, he gets Iwashita to fly out to right. But Akagawa and Miyazaki find themselves down 3 runs with 3 outs to go...
Bottom 12th
Final chance for Miyazaki. Kawashima works the count full and is called out on an outside fastball! (I think that was ball 4)
Sasaki up. He falls behind 1-2, and he's caught looking at an inside pitch. 2 down!
Ikeda up. Pops it up! Minatozaki who started the 12th inning, makes the catch, and that's the ballgame!
Kagoshima Jitsugyo breaks through in the 12th inning against Akagawa for 3 runs to advance to the round of 16!
For Miyazaki Shogyo, they fought hard. Akagawa kept them in the ballgame for so long, allowing the offense the time to breakthrough in the 8th. But could there have been something different done along the way. A pinch hitter perhaps? We'll never know.
But regardless, give Miyazaki Shogyo a round of applause for their efforts. They at least deserve that much.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Day 8 - Game 4 - Chiben Wakayama vs. Kisaradzu Sougou (Higashi Chiba)
Now the second round begins for the teams that have already played. And the last game features a team that almost never disappoints.
Chiben Wakayama faced a tough Seibi team, but under Okada held them scoreless on their way to a 3-0 victory.
On the other hand relative newcomer Kisaradzu Sougou had a struggled against Tottori Nishi, only winning the game with a 5-run 8th inning.
Facing Tottori Nishi is one thing. Chiben Wakayama is something completely different.
It'll all come down to Kisaradzu's offense, one of the best statistically in all prefectural qualifiers. Get out in front early, and you may be able to pull off the upset.
I'm mixed about my feelings on Chiben here. I'd like to see Kisaradzu win though...
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Chiben Wakayama
SS Urata (6)
RF Shibata (1)
2B Katsuya (4)
1B Sakaguchi (3)
C Morimoto (2)
LF Takahashi (7)
CF Tanbo (8)
P Okada (10)
3B Nishikawa (18)
Kisaradzu Sougou (Higashi Chiba)
3B Saitou (5)
CF Iwasaki (8)
SS Saeki (6)
C Jibiki (2)
1B Arakawa (3)
RF Miyata (9)
LF Sugizaki (7)
P Tanaka (11)
2B Takada (14)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4:24 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Tanaka looking good early, retiring the side in fairly efficient manner.
Bottom 1st
Saeki with the 2-out single, but he's thrown out trying to steal 2nd.
Top 2nd
With one down, Morimoto hits a grounder to Saeki. But it's off his glove and into left field! E6.
Takahashi tries to put the bunt down but Tanaka field it quickly and makes the play at 2nd!
2 down for Tanbo. Drive to right center! Goes all the way to the wall! Takahashi rounding the bases and he scores on Tanbo's triple! 1-0!
Okada flies to center, but it's Chiben with the early lead!
Bottom 2nd
Arakawa draws the one-out walk. After a Miyata strikeout, Sugizaki steps up.
Single to right! Arakawa heads for 3rd! Shibata up with the throw! It's there! No! It's off Nishikawa! There's no backup! Arakawa comes home to tie the game! 1-1!
2 down, Sugizaki at 2nd for Tanaka. First pitch single to right! Sugizaki comes home! Throw by Shibata again! Morimoto up the line, gets the ball! Sugizaki runs around! Misses home! Touches it. SAFE! No tag! Kisaradzu comes back with 2 runs of their own to take the 2-1 lead!
Top 3rd
Nishikawa with the safety bunt! Tanaka with the ball, double clutches! Drops it! Nishikawa on with the safety bunt!
Urata bunting on a 1-2 count! Gets it down! But Tanaka once again up with the ball and his throw to 2nd is in time!
Shibata up now. Grounder to short. High hop goes over a surprised Saeki! Runners at 1st and 2nd!
Katsuya with the liner to right! That's in for a base hit! But Miyata throws it back home quickly and the runners have to hold up. But manrui for cleanup batter Sakaguchi!
Tanaka goes ahead 0-2. Would love a double play here.
Sanshin! But a strikeout does just fine.
Morimoto to try and regain the lead. But he pops it up! Watch out! Saeki makes the catch after bumping into Takada and Kisaradzu is out of the inning!
Bottom 3rd
Okada finally gets a break and retires the side in order.
Top 4th
Tanaka gives up a single to his counterpart, but that's all.
Bottom 4th
The lights start to turn on at Koshien as we pass 5 PM...
Jibiki starts the inning with a bloop down the left field line! SS, 3B and LF all converge, but it falls in!
After he's bunted over, it's one down for Miyata.
And on the 2-2 pitch, Miyata swings on a pitch wide! It gets away from Morimoto and Miyata races to 1st. The throw, not in time! Runners at the corners for Sugizaki!
Sugizaki strikes out too, only this time, there's no wild pitch. However, Miyata takes 2nd on the K.
Down to Tanaka to help his own cause. But he falls behind 0-2. Ball, 1-2. Just fouled off! Check swing? He went! Home plate umpire says he went, and that's the inning!
Top 5
Urata blasts the ball to deep right center! That's past a leaping Miyata! He's in with a leadoff triple!
Shibata, liner down the left field line! Urata scores on Shibata's double! 2-2!!
Katsuya with the 3rd consecutive hit, a single up the middle! Shibata scores! Chiben retakes the lead!! 3-2!!
Sakaguchi with another hit! This time a single to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd, still no down!
Morimoto puts down the bunt. Tanaka with the throw, Saitou has to reach out and he can't grab it. All safe!! Manrui for Takahashi!!
He grounds to 2nd. But Takada elects to get the 4-6-3 DP instead and not go home! Katsuya scores! 4-2.
Tanbo strikes out to end the inning, but Chiben Wakayama has stormed back to retake the lead!
Bottom 5th
Saitou with the 1-out double to left field, but nobody can get the timely hit to bring him home.
Top 6th
I noticed that at least right now, the shadows are in between the mound and home plate. This gives the pitchers an advantage for now.
Although I guess Chiben doesn't care about that stuff...
Okada gets a leadoff single up the middle. Nishikawa tries to put the bunt down, but instead gets Okada thrown out at 2nd. Then with 2 down, Shibata singles to right to put runners at the corners!
However, Katsuya would fly to right in foul territory to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
1-2-3 inning for Okada. Could be cruising here for Chiben Wakayama.
Top 7th
Sakaguchi opens he inning with a single to right. Moromoto tries to put down the bunt, but he pops out to C. Takahashi tries the same, but he gets Sakaguchi thrown out at 2nd.
But Tanbo gets a base hit through the left side. Okada does likewise!! Takahashi comes in to score, and the lead is now 5-2!
Bottom 7th
After Tanaka gets a 1-out base hit, he's lifted at first for #18 Yamaoka, meaning that ace Awaji will be entering the game next inning.
Top 8th
And indeed Awaji enters the game. He gives up one hit to Katsuya, but nothing else.
Bottom 8th
Okada gets into a small pinch, giving up an infield hit and hitting a batter with 2 down, but getting Miyata to ground out.
Top 9th
Kisaradzu goes down swinging, striking out all 3 times.
Chiben Wakayama continues it's strong showing at Koshien, this time putting runs on the board when they get a multitude of hits. Kisaradzu has nothing to be ashamed about. They got the lead against Chiben Wakayama. And while they lost the game, they still played very well.
Chiben Wakayama faced a tough Seibi team, but under Okada held them scoreless on their way to a 3-0 victory.
On the other hand relative newcomer Kisaradzu Sougou had a struggled against Tottori Nishi, only winning the game with a 5-run 8th inning.
Facing Tottori Nishi is one thing. Chiben Wakayama is something completely different.
It'll all come down to Kisaradzu's offense, one of the best statistically in all prefectural qualifiers. Get out in front early, and you may be able to pull off the upset.
I'm mixed about my feelings on Chiben here. I'd like to see Kisaradzu win though...
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Chiben Wakayama
SS Urata (6)
RF Shibata (1)
2B Katsuya (4)
1B Sakaguchi (3)
C Morimoto (2)
LF Takahashi (7)
CF Tanbo (8)
P Okada (10)
3B Nishikawa (18)
Kisaradzu Sougou (Higashi Chiba)
3B Saitou (5)
CF Iwasaki (8)
SS Saeki (6)
C Jibiki (2)
1B Arakawa (3)
RF Miyata (9)
LF Sugizaki (7)
P Tanaka (11)
2B Takada (14)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4:24 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Tanaka looking good early, retiring the side in fairly efficient manner.
Bottom 1st
Saeki with the 2-out single, but he's thrown out trying to steal 2nd.
Top 2nd
With one down, Morimoto hits a grounder to Saeki. But it's off his glove and into left field! E6.
Takahashi tries to put the bunt down but Tanaka field it quickly and makes the play at 2nd!
2 down for Tanbo. Drive to right center! Goes all the way to the wall! Takahashi rounding the bases and he scores on Tanbo's triple! 1-0!
Okada flies to center, but it's Chiben with the early lead!
Bottom 2nd
Arakawa draws the one-out walk. After a Miyata strikeout, Sugizaki steps up.
Single to right! Arakawa heads for 3rd! Shibata up with the throw! It's there! No! It's off Nishikawa! There's no backup! Arakawa comes home to tie the game! 1-1!
2 down, Sugizaki at 2nd for Tanaka. First pitch single to right! Sugizaki comes home! Throw by Shibata again! Morimoto up the line, gets the ball! Sugizaki runs around! Misses home! Touches it. SAFE! No tag! Kisaradzu comes back with 2 runs of their own to take the 2-1 lead!
Top 3rd
Nishikawa with the safety bunt! Tanaka with the ball, double clutches! Drops it! Nishikawa on with the safety bunt!
Urata bunting on a 1-2 count! Gets it down! But Tanaka once again up with the ball and his throw to 2nd is in time!
Shibata up now. Grounder to short. High hop goes over a surprised Saeki! Runners at 1st and 2nd!
Katsuya with the liner to right! That's in for a base hit! But Miyata throws it back home quickly and the runners have to hold up. But manrui for cleanup batter Sakaguchi!
Tanaka goes ahead 0-2. Would love a double play here.
Sanshin! But a strikeout does just fine.
Morimoto to try and regain the lead. But he pops it up! Watch out! Saeki makes the catch after bumping into Takada and Kisaradzu is out of the inning!
Bottom 3rd
Okada finally gets a break and retires the side in order.
Top 4th
Tanaka gives up a single to his counterpart, but that's all.
Bottom 4th
The lights start to turn on at Koshien as we pass 5 PM...
Jibiki starts the inning with a bloop down the left field line! SS, 3B and LF all converge, but it falls in!
After he's bunted over, it's one down for Miyata.
And on the 2-2 pitch, Miyata swings on a pitch wide! It gets away from Morimoto and Miyata races to 1st. The throw, not in time! Runners at the corners for Sugizaki!
Sugizaki strikes out too, only this time, there's no wild pitch. However, Miyata takes 2nd on the K.
Down to Tanaka to help his own cause. But he falls behind 0-2. Ball, 1-2. Just fouled off! Check swing? He went! Home plate umpire says he went, and that's the inning!
Top 5
Urata blasts the ball to deep right center! That's past a leaping Miyata! He's in with a leadoff triple!
Shibata, liner down the left field line! Urata scores on Shibata's double! 2-2!!
Katsuya with the 3rd consecutive hit, a single up the middle! Shibata scores! Chiben retakes the lead!! 3-2!!
Sakaguchi with another hit! This time a single to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd, still no down!
Morimoto puts down the bunt. Tanaka with the throw, Saitou has to reach out and he can't grab it. All safe!! Manrui for Takahashi!!
He grounds to 2nd. But Takada elects to get the 4-6-3 DP instead and not go home! Katsuya scores! 4-2.
Tanbo strikes out to end the inning, but Chiben Wakayama has stormed back to retake the lead!
Bottom 5th
Saitou with the 1-out double to left field, but nobody can get the timely hit to bring him home.
Top 6th
I noticed that at least right now, the shadows are in between the mound and home plate. This gives the pitchers an advantage for now.
Although I guess Chiben doesn't care about that stuff...
Okada gets a leadoff single up the middle. Nishikawa tries to put the bunt down, but instead gets Okada thrown out at 2nd. Then with 2 down, Shibata singles to right to put runners at the corners!
However, Katsuya would fly to right in foul territory to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
1-2-3 inning for Okada. Could be cruising here for Chiben Wakayama.
Top 7th
Sakaguchi opens he inning with a single to right. Moromoto tries to put down the bunt, but he pops out to C. Takahashi tries the same, but he gets Sakaguchi thrown out at 2nd.
But Tanbo gets a base hit through the left side. Okada does likewise!! Takahashi comes in to score, and the lead is now 5-2!
Bottom 7th
After Tanaka gets a 1-out base hit, he's lifted at first for #18 Yamaoka, meaning that ace Awaji will be entering the game next inning.
Top 8th
And indeed Awaji enters the game. He gives up one hit to Katsuya, but nothing else.
Bottom 8th
Okada gets into a small pinch, giving up an infield hit and hitting a batter with 2 down, but getting Miyata to ground out.
Top 9th
Kisaradzu goes down swinging, striking out all 3 times.
Chiben Wakayama continues it's strong showing at Koshien, this time putting runs on the board when they get a multitude of hits. Kisaradzu has nothing to be ashamed about. They got the lead against Chiben Wakayama. And while they lost the game, they still played very well.
Day 8 - Game 3 - Moriokadai Fuzoku (Iwate) vs. Komadai Iwamizawa (Kita Hokkaido)
Our 3rd game brings us the final team of the original 55 to the field as we shift our focus from the west to the north.
Moriokadai Fuzoku is the last team to step up to the Koshien grounds. They've waited 8 days for this moment. It's been 4 years since the school has been here. But, in every case they've been eliminated in the first round.
Komadai Iwamizawa held on an 8-6 victory over Shimonoseki Kogyo after letting them back into the game in the late innings.
For Morioka, their team does not appear to have a category of strength, although their pitching may help keep the team in the game.
While I expect this to be a close game, Komadai Iwamizawa should advance to the round of 16.
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Moriokadai Fuzoku (Iwate)
Kumaya (7)
Itou Kouta (11)
Nakamura (2)
Itou Satoshi (8)
Kiyono (6)
Sakamoto (9)
Sasaki (4)
Tokita (1)
Miura (5)
Komadai Iwamizawa (Kita Hokkaido)
CF Aoyama (8)
RF Kawamura (9)
LF Kodaira (7)
C Matsumoto (2)
3B Oikawa (5)
SS Furukawa (6)
1B Satou Shuuki (3)
P Itaki (1)
2B Takagi (4)
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1:37 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
One down for Moriokadai. Itou Kouta gets a single up the middle. After a hit-and-run advances him to 2nd, it cleanup batter Itou Satoshi up to bat.
Single to left! Kouta rounds 3rd, heads for home! Throw by Kodaira home! Matsumoto with the ball, and Kouta is out at home! Nice play by Kodaira to prevent the run!
Bottom 1st
Wow, Tokita is huge for a pitcher. Flip to his stats, 190 cm, 93 kg (translation, 6'2", 205 lb)!
And he mows down the Komadai batters in order, garnering 2 K's along the way.
Top 2nd
One down again, Sakamoto with the dribbler up the 1st base line! Race to the bag, toss to 1st, dropped! Infield single!
Sasaki then works a walk! Runners at 1st and 2nd, one down for Tokita!
1-0 pitch crushed to right! Going, going, foul! Big swing for a big guy!
Unfortunately on the very next pitch, he grounds into the 4-6-3 DP to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Tokita continues to handle the Komadai batters well, retiring them in order once again. He's looking okay so far, but is still a little rough with his location.
Top 3rd
Itaki gets his first easy inning, retiring Moriokadai in order.
Bottom 3rd
One down, Itaki hits a drive to deep center, Satoshi running back, running back, leaps... and makes the catch at the wall! Nice play by the team captain!
Top 4th
Itaki after a shaky start, has settled down. Retires the side for the 2nd straight inning.
Bottom 4th
Back to the top of the order for Komadai.
Aoyama starts it off with their first hit! He takes one back up the middle for the leadoff single! Kawamura, as expected, bunts him along for Kodaira.
Tokita has other plans though, as he gets Kodaira to strikeout on a fastball high and away.
Cleanup batter Matsumoto to try and bring him in.
Wild pitch! The ball goes towards the 3rd base dugout and Aoyama advances to 3rd! Then Tokita walks Matsumoto! Runners at the corners!
And he's falling behing Oikawa 2-0, then 3-1! He looks like he could be tiring a little. Oikawa with the opposite field hit, but foul! Full count... and he walks him! Manrui!
Furukawa up, and Tokita is laboring. His pitches are missing their mark. 1-0 to Furukawa.
Next pitch, Furukawa smokes it! But Kiyono moves to his left and makes the catch! Disaster averted!
Top 5th
Now I know why Morioka used a plethora of pitchers. Tokita doesn't really have a lot of stamina.
AH! But I wasn't expecting this! Shuuki with the blast to center! Satoshi to the wall, climbs it, it's gone! Haita! Tokita gives up the leadoff homerun here in the 5th to Satou Shuuki! 1-0!!
After a groundout by Itaki, it becomes apparent that Tokita is really laboring on the mound now. His pitches are missing the mark and he's falling behind batters. And after he fights back from a 3-0 hole to Takagi to fill up the count, he loses him.
One out, runner on first for Aoyama. Morioka should be getting their relief pitcher in now!
And with a 2-0 count to Aoyama, the change is made as Kanazawa comes in. The question is, is it too late?
He works the count full to Aoyama... sanshin! But Takagi is off for 2nd! Throw by Nakamura, not in time!
2 down, runner on 2nd for Kawamura. Single to left! Takagi rounding 3rd, going home!! Throw by Kumaya home! In time! Takagi is out at home!
But, Komadai with the HR by Shuuki to dead center gives them the 1-0 lead!
Top 6th
Miura starts the inning with a leadoff walk. Kumaya puts down the obligatory bunt to advance him to scoring position.
Kouta up now. Two grounders foul up the first base line, and he's behind 0-2. Gets it fair the 3rd time around, and grounds to 1st. Miura at 3rd, but 2 down.
Need a timely hit from Nakamura now...
Comeback liner! Itaki with the reflex catch! That could have been disastrous in more ways than one! But the catch saves him, and leaves Miura stranded at 3rd!
Bottom 6th
One down, Matsumoto with the grounder to 1st, but it's off him and into right field! What happened there?
Oikawa with the grounder to left! And it's off Kumaya's glove! It goes into the air and behind him! Matsumoto rounding 3rd, going home! And two consecutive errors lead to another run for Komadai!! 2-0!!
Furukawa getting in on the act! He hits a deep gapper to right center! Oikawa scores, and Furukawa ends up at 3rd! 3-0!
Shuuki up, looking for more. Gets it! Grounder sizzled past a diving Miura! Furukawa scores on Shuuki's double! 4-0!
And that's it for Kanazawa. #3 Tada comes in to relieve him. But I'm afraid that it's probably too late for Moriokadai.
Itaki grounds to 2nd, but no, Nakamura is called for catcher's interference. Tada comes back though and strikes out Takagi. And then he picks off Shuuki at 2nd.
Inning over, damage done...
Top 7th
Satoshi leads it off and takes a drive to right! Kawamura back, back, and makes the catch at the track. The ball just got caught in the wind there, as this year's Koushien, the winds continue to blow from right to left...
And while Sakamoto gets a 2-out single, he is thrown out stealing 2nd.
Bottom 7th
Aoyama back up at the plate. He draws the 4-pitch walk. He's moved over to 2nd, but Kodaira strikes out. 2 down.
Matsumoto draws a walk. Runners at 1st and 2nd.
Oy! Oikawa with the rive to the right center field gap! That's at the wall! Oikawa in with a bases clearing triple! 6-0.
Top 8th
One down, Tada with the grounder down the 3rd base line! He on with a single.
Miura walks on 4 straight. Kumaya walks as well! Manrui!
Is Komadai going to fall into the same problem as with Shimonoseki?
Kouta with the grounder to 1st. High hop! Shuuki leaps! Has it! He makes the put out at first, but Tada scores! 6-1.
Nakahara with the liner to center! Miura scores! Kumaya scores! 6-3!!
Satoshi with the grounder through to right! It's falling apart again!
Double steal!! No throw! Can Kiyono keep it going?
NO! Chopper back to Itaki! He makes the play at first. Itaki gives up 3, but still maintains the lead.
Bottom 8th
Itaki gets a one-out walk. He's bunted to 2nd by Takagi.
And Aoyama with the single to right putting runners at the corners.
Kawamura follows that up with a single up the middle. Itaki scores. 7-3.
With Kodaira up, Tada's pickoff throw to 1st is wild! By the time someone gets to it, Aoyama scores all the way from 2nd! 8-3.
And Kodaira earns a walk... Moriokadai I don't think has any pitchers left, so Tada has to finish it up.
And he strikes out Matsumoto...
But any chance they might have had to get more runs against a tiring Itaki and tie the game have probably gone out the window...
Top 9th
Moriokadai gets one final hit before being retired in the 9th.
A valiant try for Moriokadai Fuzoku. They held in there against Komadai for 6 innings. Doesn't make losing feel any better though, as shown in the express of ace Tokita after the end of the game...
Moriokadai Fuzoku is the last team to step up to the Koshien grounds. They've waited 8 days for this moment. It's been 4 years since the school has been here. But, in every case they've been eliminated in the first round.
Komadai Iwamizawa held on an 8-6 victory over Shimonoseki Kogyo after letting them back into the game in the late innings.
For Morioka, their team does not appear to have a category of strength, although their pitching may help keep the team in the game.
While I expect this to be a close game, Komadai Iwamizawa should advance to the round of 16.
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Moriokadai Fuzoku (Iwate)
Kumaya (7)
Itou Kouta (11)
Nakamura (2)
Itou Satoshi (8)
Kiyono (6)
Sakamoto (9)
Sasaki (4)
Tokita (1)
Miura (5)
Komadai Iwamizawa (Kita Hokkaido)
CF Aoyama (8)
RF Kawamura (9)
LF Kodaira (7)
C Matsumoto (2)
3B Oikawa (5)
SS Furukawa (6)
1B Satou Shuuki (3)
P Itaki (1)
2B Takagi (4)
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1:37 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
One down for Moriokadai. Itou Kouta gets a single up the middle. After a hit-and-run advances him to 2nd, it cleanup batter Itou Satoshi up to bat.
Single to left! Kouta rounds 3rd, heads for home! Throw by Kodaira home! Matsumoto with the ball, and Kouta is out at home! Nice play by Kodaira to prevent the run!
Bottom 1st
Wow, Tokita is huge for a pitcher. Flip to his stats, 190 cm, 93 kg (translation, 6'2", 205 lb)!
And he mows down the Komadai batters in order, garnering 2 K's along the way.
Top 2nd
One down again, Sakamoto with the dribbler up the 1st base line! Race to the bag, toss to 1st, dropped! Infield single!
Sasaki then works a walk! Runners at 1st and 2nd, one down for Tokita!
1-0 pitch crushed to right! Going, going, foul! Big swing for a big guy!
Unfortunately on the very next pitch, he grounds into the 4-6-3 DP to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Tokita continues to handle the Komadai batters well, retiring them in order once again. He's looking okay so far, but is still a little rough with his location.
Top 3rd
Itaki gets his first easy inning, retiring Moriokadai in order.
Bottom 3rd
One down, Itaki hits a drive to deep center, Satoshi running back, running back, leaps... and makes the catch at the wall! Nice play by the team captain!
Top 4th
Itaki after a shaky start, has settled down. Retires the side for the 2nd straight inning.
Bottom 4th
Back to the top of the order for Komadai.
Aoyama starts it off with their first hit! He takes one back up the middle for the leadoff single! Kawamura, as expected, bunts him along for Kodaira.
Tokita has other plans though, as he gets Kodaira to strikeout on a fastball high and away.
Cleanup batter Matsumoto to try and bring him in.
Wild pitch! The ball goes towards the 3rd base dugout and Aoyama advances to 3rd! Then Tokita walks Matsumoto! Runners at the corners!
And he's falling behing Oikawa 2-0, then 3-1! He looks like he could be tiring a little. Oikawa with the opposite field hit, but foul! Full count... and he walks him! Manrui!
Furukawa up, and Tokita is laboring. His pitches are missing their mark. 1-0 to Furukawa.
Next pitch, Furukawa smokes it! But Kiyono moves to his left and makes the catch! Disaster averted!
Top 5th
Now I know why Morioka used a plethora of pitchers. Tokita doesn't really have a lot of stamina.
AH! But I wasn't expecting this! Shuuki with the blast to center! Satoshi to the wall, climbs it, it's gone! Haita! Tokita gives up the leadoff homerun here in the 5th to Satou Shuuki! 1-0!!
After a groundout by Itaki, it becomes apparent that Tokita is really laboring on the mound now. His pitches are missing the mark and he's falling behind batters. And after he fights back from a 3-0 hole to Takagi to fill up the count, he loses him.
One out, runner on first for Aoyama. Morioka should be getting their relief pitcher in now!
And with a 2-0 count to Aoyama, the change is made as Kanazawa comes in. The question is, is it too late?
He works the count full to Aoyama... sanshin! But Takagi is off for 2nd! Throw by Nakamura, not in time!
2 down, runner on 2nd for Kawamura. Single to left! Takagi rounding 3rd, going home!! Throw by Kumaya home! In time! Takagi is out at home!
But, Komadai with the HR by Shuuki to dead center gives them the 1-0 lead!
Top 6th
Miura starts the inning with a leadoff walk. Kumaya puts down the obligatory bunt to advance him to scoring position.
Kouta up now. Two grounders foul up the first base line, and he's behind 0-2. Gets it fair the 3rd time around, and grounds to 1st. Miura at 3rd, but 2 down.
Need a timely hit from Nakamura now...
Comeback liner! Itaki with the reflex catch! That could have been disastrous in more ways than one! But the catch saves him, and leaves Miura stranded at 3rd!
Bottom 6th
One down, Matsumoto with the grounder to 1st, but it's off him and into right field! What happened there?
Oikawa with the grounder to left! And it's off Kumaya's glove! It goes into the air and behind him! Matsumoto rounding 3rd, going home! And two consecutive errors lead to another run for Komadai!! 2-0!!
Furukawa getting in on the act! He hits a deep gapper to right center! Oikawa scores, and Furukawa ends up at 3rd! 3-0!
Shuuki up, looking for more. Gets it! Grounder sizzled past a diving Miura! Furukawa scores on Shuuki's double! 4-0!
And that's it for Kanazawa. #3 Tada comes in to relieve him. But I'm afraid that it's probably too late for Moriokadai.
Itaki grounds to 2nd, but no, Nakamura is called for catcher's interference. Tada comes back though and strikes out Takagi. And then he picks off Shuuki at 2nd.
Inning over, damage done...
Top 7th
Satoshi leads it off and takes a drive to right! Kawamura back, back, and makes the catch at the track. The ball just got caught in the wind there, as this year's Koushien, the winds continue to blow from right to left...
And while Sakamoto gets a 2-out single, he is thrown out stealing 2nd.
Bottom 7th
Aoyama back up at the plate. He draws the 4-pitch walk. He's moved over to 2nd, but Kodaira strikes out. 2 down.
Matsumoto draws a walk. Runners at 1st and 2nd.
Oy! Oikawa with the rive to the right center field gap! That's at the wall! Oikawa in with a bases clearing triple! 6-0.
Top 8th
One down, Tada with the grounder down the 3rd base line! He on with a single.
Miura walks on 4 straight. Kumaya walks as well! Manrui!
Is Komadai going to fall into the same problem as with Shimonoseki?
Kouta with the grounder to 1st. High hop! Shuuki leaps! Has it! He makes the put out at first, but Tada scores! 6-1.
Nakahara with the liner to center! Miura scores! Kumaya scores! 6-3!!
Satoshi with the grounder through to right! It's falling apart again!
Double steal!! No throw! Can Kiyono keep it going?
NO! Chopper back to Itaki! He makes the play at first. Itaki gives up 3, but still maintains the lead.
Bottom 8th
Itaki gets a one-out walk. He's bunted to 2nd by Takagi.
And Aoyama with the single to right putting runners at the corners.
Kawamura follows that up with a single up the middle. Itaki scores. 7-3.
With Kodaira up, Tada's pickoff throw to 1st is wild! By the time someone gets to it, Aoyama scores all the way from 2nd! 8-3.
And Kodaira earns a walk... Moriokadai I don't think has any pitchers left, so Tada has to finish it up.
And he strikes out Matsumoto...
But any chance they might have had to get more runs against a tiring Itaki and tie the game have probably gone out the window...
Top 9th
Moriokadai gets one final hit before being retired in the 9th.
A valiant try for Moriokadai Fuzoku. They held in there against Komadai for 6 innings. Doesn't make losing feel any better though, as shown in the express of ace Tokita after the end of the game...
Day 8 - Game 2 - Saga Shogyo vs. Kurashiki Shogyo (Okayama)
Game 2 brings us two teams from the western half of Japan.
Saga Shogyo makes it's 15 appearance at the summer Koshien. But their last appearance was short lived as they lost in the first match to Kiryu Daiichi.
Their strength this year is their pitching. Their staff ace, Koga Akihiro, gave up only 8 runs in 41 innings. He does however show some signs of of walking batters (16), perhaps a side-effect of being a side thrower. They'll have to depend on him if they want to advance.
On the other side is Kurashiki Shogyo. It's been 11 years since they've been here. They experienced little difficulty in getting here, winning by no less than 4 runs in any game. Their strength is their patience. In their 5 games, they drew 32 walks. Their patience perhaps forced the opponents to either switch pitchers, or wear them down.
Slight edge in this game goes to Kurashiki Shogyo. If they can continue to exercise patience, they may be able to break through against Koga Akihiro.
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Saga Shogyo
3B Kabajima (5)
CF Ishibashi (8)
C Tsuda (2)
SS Koga Shouya (6)
RF Souda (9)
1B Kataoka (3)
LF Yanagou (7)
2B Nonaka (4)
P Koga Akihiro (1)
Kurashiki Shogyo (Okayama)
CF Yuasa (8)
3B Kondou (5)
RF Uemori (3)
LF Oka (10)
SS Kanetani (6)
2B Shintani (4)
1B Yagami (13)
C Makihara (2)
P Kimoto (1)
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11:06 AM
First pitch!
1st Inning
Both aces, Akihiro and Kimoto start off the 1st by retiring the side.
Top 2nd
Souda opens the hitting with a gapper to left center! He's in with a one-out double!
But Kimoto gets the next two batters to fly out, so no damage done.
Bottom 2nd
Kurashiki gets their own runner on base, but I think Oka would have wanted a hit instead of being hit.
While Kaneya looks to bunt, Oka takes off! He's safe!
But wait. Oka is recalled back to first. Kaneya is called for batter's interference on the throw.
So one down now. Shintani up to bat. He bunts Oka to 2nd, now hoping that Yagami can get the timely hit.
And he hits a scorcher right at Akihiro! But he responds quickly enough and makes the reflex catch.
Top 3rd
Akihiro starts the offense going in the 3rd with a one out blooper to shallow right center. Aftter a failed bunt attempt getting Akihiro thrown out at 2nd, Ishibashi sends a grounder to left.
The small opportunity is closed when Kimoto gets Tsuda to hit a sky-high popup to right.
Bottom 3rd
With two down, Yuasa gets hit. 2nd hit batter for Akihiro today.
Then with Kondou up, Yuasa goes for 2nd, and is in easily!
Kondou falls behind, but fights at the plate fouling off anything close. He works the count full, and continues to foul off pitches. He's at the 10th pitch of the AB, and his stubbornness is rewarded! He hits a grounder through the left side and Yuasa scores from 2nd! 1-0!
And Kondou goes for 2nd and too gets in there, this time just barely! But Uemori strikes out looking to end the inning. However, Kurashiki gets themselves on the board first!
Top 4th
Shouya leads off the first with a liner to left! Oka runs back, extends the glove, but it's over him! Shouya in with a double!
Souda bunts him along to 3rd, so a simple sac fly should do it.
Kataoka hits it to left, but it's too short! Oka secures it and Shouya can't tag up! It's too bad, as Yanagou pops out to 2nd, leaving him stranded!
Bottom 4th
Oka leads off the 4th with a bloop single just out of the reach of Nonaka After a sac bunt, Akihiro hits his 3rd batter of the game in Shintani. Runners on 1st and 3rd, one down!
Yagami with the grounder to 1st! Kataoka with it, and he has Oka caught up between 3rd and home. He runs him back to 3rd where Shintani is standing. The tag is made and Shintani is called out.
2 down, runners on 2nd and 3rd. And it's a 4-pitch walk to Makihara! Manrui for Kimoto!
He hits a liner to left! But Shouya leaps up and makes the pick! Nice play! Saga keeps the deficit at 1!
Top 5th
Akihiro gets his second hit of the day as he hits a single to left. But that is wiped away with a nice 6-3 double play.
Bottom 5th
Yuasa starts the inning with grounder through to left. And like in the 3rd, he takes off for 2! The throw from Tsuda is good, but just late!
And now Kondou bunts him to 3rd! One down for Uemori!
SQUEEZE! But the pitch is way outside and he can't get the bat on it! Yuasa is hung out to dry! Ah! Too bad...
This game is humming along at a quick pace. As we hit the break, the advantage has to go to Kurashiki. They've had greater share of opportunities. But with the score 1-0, it's still anyone's game.
Top 6th
Ishibashi leads off the inning and gets hit by Kimoto. He advances to 2nd on a sac bunt. Chance for Saga!
And Ishibashi goes for 3rd! No throw! Tying run 90 feet away!
Shouya grounds to 1st! Ishibashi going for home! Yagami with the throw and Ishibashi is out! Oppotunity lost for Saga!
Bottom 6th
Kurashiki is retired in order. Can one run hold up?
Top 7th
2 down, Nonaka up to bat. Falls behind 1-2, then starts fouling pitches left and right. Manages to work the count full, and on the 11th pitch draws a walk.
Akihiro though can't reward Nonaka for his efforts as he grounds to short to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
#15 Kubo comes in to play LF after Yanagou was PH for by #13 Tominaga in the top of the frame.
Yagami starts the inning with a single up the middle. After #17 Shiragami is called in to pinch run, Makihara bunts him along. Runner on 2nd, one down for Kimoto.
Kimoto with the grounder up the first base line! FAIR! It's a fair ball! Shiragami rounds third, comes home to score! Kimoto with the timely double to increase their lead! 2-0!
Akihiro then walks Yuasa on 4 straight. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 down!
They're bunted into scoring position by Kondou. And while Uemori gets good bat on the ball, it winds up being a flyout to center. But! Kurashiki has extended their lead with time winding down!
Top 8th
#7 Itano comes in to play RF as Uemori moves to 1st.
There's two down for Saga when Tsuda manages a single to center. Then Shouya hits a gapper to right center! While the fielders are playing back, Shouya doesn't stop running and stretches it out to a double! Runners on 2nd and 3rd! A base hit could tie the game!
But no... Souda hits a fly to right and the chance is lost.
Bottom 8th
Oka with the single to left to start the inning. And while he's slowly moved station-to-station to 3rd base he's left stranded there.
Top 9th
Saga Shogyo's down to their final 3 outs. Can they get something started?
#12 Mukai to pinch-hit for Kataoka. But he strikes out...
#10 Kitamura to pinch-hit for Kubo... he grounds to 2nd.
Nonaka the last chance... and he strikes out. Game set.
A great performance put on by Kimoto and Kurashiki Shogyo, as they advance with the 2-0 shutout over Saga Shogyo. Saga simply could not get the timely hitting when it needed it, and as a result their summer comes to an end.
Saga Shogyo makes it's 15 appearance at the summer Koshien. But their last appearance was short lived as they lost in the first match to Kiryu Daiichi.
Their strength this year is their pitching. Their staff ace, Koga Akihiro, gave up only 8 runs in 41 innings. He does however show some signs of of walking batters (16), perhaps a side-effect of being a side thrower. They'll have to depend on him if they want to advance.
On the other side is Kurashiki Shogyo. It's been 11 years since they've been here. They experienced little difficulty in getting here, winning by no less than 4 runs in any game. Their strength is their patience. In their 5 games, they drew 32 walks. Their patience perhaps forced the opponents to either switch pitchers, or wear them down.
Slight edge in this game goes to Kurashiki Shogyo. If they can continue to exercise patience, they may be able to break through against Koga Akihiro.
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Saga Shogyo
3B Kabajima (5)
CF Ishibashi (8)
C Tsuda (2)
SS Koga Shouya (6)
RF Souda (9)
1B Kataoka (3)
LF Yanagou (7)
2B Nonaka (4)
P Koga Akihiro (1)
Kurashiki Shogyo (Okayama)
CF Yuasa (8)
3B Kondou (5)
RF Uemori (3)
LF Oka (10)
SS Kanetani (6)
2B Shintani (4)
1B Yagami (13)
C Makihara (2)
P Kimoto (1)
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11:06 AM
First pitch!
1st Inning
Both aces, Akihiro and Kimoto start off the 1st by retiring the side.
Top 2nd
Souda opens the hitting with a gapper to left center! He's in with a one-out double!
But Kimoto gets the next two batters to fly out, so no damage done.
Bottom 2nd
Kurashiki gets their own runner on base, but I think Oka would have wanted a hit instead of being hit.
While Kaneya looks to bunt, Oka takes off! He's safe!
But wait. Oka is recalled back to first. Kaneya is called for batter's interference on the throw.
So one down now. Shintani up to bat. He bunts Oka to 2nd, now hoping that Yagami can get the timely hit.
And he hits a scorcher right at Akihiro! But he responds quickly enough and makes the reflex catch.
Top 3rd
Akihiro starts the offense going in the 3rd with a one out blooper to shallow right center. Aftter a failed bunt attempt getting Akihiro thrown out at 2nd, Ishibashi sends a grounder to left.
The small opportunity is closed when Kimoto gets Tsuda to hit a sky-high popup to right.
Bottom 3rd
With two down, Yuasa gets hit. 2nd hit batter for Akihiro today.
Then with Kondou up, Yuasa goes for 2nd, and is in easily!
Kondou falls behind, but fights at the plate fouling off anything close. He works the count full, and continues to foul off pitches. He's at the 10th pitch of the AB, and his stubbornness is rewarded! He hits a grounder through the left side and Yuasa scores from 2nd! 1-0!
And Kondou goes for 2nd and too gets in there, this time just barely! But Uemori strikes out looking to end the inning. However, Kurashiki gets themselves on the board first!
Top 4th
Shouya leads off the first with a liner to left! Oka runs back, extends the glove, but it's over him! Shouya in with a double!
Souda bunts him along to 3rd, so a simple sac fly should do it.
Kataoka hits it to left, but it's too short! Oka secures it and Shouya can't tag up! It's too bad, as Yanagou pops out to 2nd, leaving him stranded!
Bottom 4th
Oka leads off the 4th with a bloop single just out of the reach of Nonaka After a sac bunt, Akihiro hits his 3rd batter of the game in Shintani. Runners on 1st and 3rd, one down!
Yagami with the grounder to 1st! Kataoka with it, and he has Oka caught up between 3rd and home. He runs him back to 3rd where Shintani is standing. The tag is made and Shintani is called out.
2 down, runners on 2nd and 3rd. And it's a 4-pitch walk to Makihara! Manrui for Kimoto!
He hits a liner to left! But Shouya leaps up and makes the pick! Nice play! Saga keeps the deficit at 1!
Top 5th
Akihiro gets his second hit of the day as he hits a single to left. But that is wiped away with a nice 6-3 double play.
Bottom 5th
Yuasa starts the inning with grounder through to left. And like in the 3rd, he takes off for 2! The throw from Tsuda is good, but just late!
And now Kondou bunts him to 3rd! One down for Uemori!
SQUEEZE! But the pitch is way outside and he can't get the bat on it! Yuasa is hung out to dry! Ah! Too bad...
This game is humming along at a quick pace. As we hit the break, the advantage has to go to Kurashiki. They've had greater share of opportunities. But with the score 1-0, it's still anyone's game.
Top 6th
Ishibashi leads off the inning and gets hit by Kimoto. He advances to 2nd on a sac bunt. Chance for Saga!
And Ishibashi goes for 3rd! No throw! Tying run 90 feet away!
Shouya grounds to 1st! Ishibashi going for home! Yagami with the throw and Ishibashi is out! Oppotunity lost for Saga!
Bottom 6th
Kurashiki is retired in order. Can one run hold up?
Top 7th
2 down, Nonaka up to bat. Falls behind 1-2, then starts fouling pitches left and right. Manages to work the count full, and on the 11th pitch draws a walk.
Akihiro though can't reward Nonaka for his efforts as he grounds to short to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
#15 Kubo comes in to play LF after Yanagou was PH for by #13 Tominaga in the top of the frame.
Yagami starts the inning with a single up the middle. After #17 Shiragami is called in to pinch run, Makihara bunts him along. Runner on 2nd, one down for Kimoto.
Kimoto with the grounder up the first base line! FAIR! It's a fair ball! Shiragami rounds third, comes home to score! Kimoto with the timely double to increase their lead! 2-0!
Akihiro then walks Yuasa on 4 straight. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 down!
They're bunted into scoring position by Kondou. And while Uemori gets good bat on the ball, it winds up being a flyout to center. But! Kurashiki has extended their lead with time winding down!
Top 8th
#7 Itano comes in to play RF as Uemori moves to 1st.
There's two down for Saga when Tsuda manages a single to center. Then Shouya hits a gapper to right center! While the fielders are playing back, Shouya doesn't stop running and stretches it out to a double! Runners on 2nd and 3rd! A base hit could tie the game!
But no... Souda hits a fly to right and the chance is lost.
Bottom 8th
Oka with the single to left to start the inning. And while he's slowly moved station-to-station to 3rd base he's left stranded there.
Top 9th
Saga Shogyo's down to their final 3 outs. Can they get something started?
#12 Mukai to pinch-hit for Kataoka. But he strikes out...
#10 Kitamura to pinch-hit for Kubo... he grounds to 2nd.
Nonaka the last chance... and he strikes out. Game set.
A great performance put on by Kimoto and Kurashiki Shogyo, as they advance with the 2-0 shutout over Saga Shogyo. Saga simply could not get the timely hitting when it needed it, and as a result their summer comes to an end.
Day 8 - Game 1 - Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) vs. Fukuchiyama Seibi (Kyoto)
This 2nd round matchup was probably the most anticipated of all the opening matchups. There's definitely more people out this morning than usual. Why?
Tokoha Kikugawa last year was close to sweeping the Koshien tournaments. They won the spring tournament with a road that in order included:
Fukuchiyama Seibi made their run 2 years ago, reaching the Best 8 while defeating Aikodai Meiden (Ichiro's HS), and Kumamoto Kogyo before losing to Kagoshima Kogyo in 10 innings.
But now to this year...
Tokoha Kikugawa's team strength this year appears to be its pitching. Ace Togari (6 G, 39 IP, 29 H, 7 ER, 39 K, 5 BB) has gotten more experience, and looks to improve from the spring tournament. Their offense is not particularly powerful, and depends on timely hitting to score its runs.
Fukuchiyama Seibi is more offense based. Combined, they hit an amazing 0.443 for the prefectural qualifiers. And with 30 walks, they had an on base percentage of 0.528! That's not to say that their pitching isn't that bad either. In 6 games, they yielded only 8 runs in 44 IP, and almost all pitchers averaged a K/IP.
The advantage here may have to go to Fukuchiyama Seibi. It'll probably be a low scoring game, but expect Fukuchiyama Seibi to get their offense going and put runs on the board
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Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
SS Sakai (6)
CF Itou (8)
2B Machida (4)
RF Nakagawa (9)
3B Maeda (5)
1B Uejima (3)
P Togari (1)
C Tochigi (2)
LF Tanji (17)
Fukuchiyama Seibi (Kyoto)
2B Ikoma (4)
P Ueda (9)
3B Fukase (5)
CF Takaku (8)
C Fukumoto (2)
RF Tsuchiba (7)
LF Kadobayashi (17)
SS Sugimoto (6)
1B Okaue (3)
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8:30 AM
First Pitch!
Top 1st
Nice start for Ueda as he retires the Tokoha batters in order.
Bottom 1st
Togari gets himself into early trouble! With one down, Ueda hits a grounder to left! Sakai with the diving stop, but that's all he can do. Fukase follows that up with a ground that gets through to left!
But Togari settles down, strikes out Takaku and gets Fukumoto to ground to short to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Ueshima draws a 2-out walk, but he gets thrown out trying to steal 2nd.
Bottom 2nd
Huh. In an almost complete mirror image of Tokoha's frame, Sugimoto also draws a 2-out walk and also gets thrown out stealing 2nd!
Top 3rd
Tokoha Kikugawa is retired in order, with three straight grounders to 2nd.
Bottom 3rd
Ikoma gets a one out single to right, but Togari gets the next two batters to fly to right. (FYI, the wind this morning is non-existent).
Top 4th
Tokoha still looking for their first hit. Two down, Machida draws a walk, but is left stranded. The offense is still hitless!
Bottom 4th
In a small lapse of control, or perhaps being squeezed by the umpire, Togari gives up the 2 out walk to Tsuchiba. But Kadobayashi grounds out to end the inning. So far Togari has done a fine job in shutting down Fukuchiyama Seibi's offense!
Top 5th
Of couse, Ueda has done one better against Tokoha's offense, not yielding a hit so far after 4. And with all 3 putouts (2 K's), he continues to keep them hitless. Ueda's control has been very good, locating his pitches so well, Fukumoto hasn't needed to move his glove around that much.
Bottom 5th
Togari continues cruising along, striking out Sugimoto. Then Okaue hits a chopper to 3rd that takes a high bounce that prevents Maeda from fielding it! Ikoma follows that up with a single to left and Ueda follows that with a grounder to right! All of a sudden it's a manrui situation with only one down!
Fukase steps up to bat. He hits a grounder to short! Sakai with the ball! Falls back as he throws to 2nd, that's one! Machida with the throw to 1st! IN TIME! Nice play!! The defense turns in a double play to get Togari out of the jam! As they go to the break, can Tokoha turn that play around and use the momentum to get the offense started?
Top 6th
With 2 down, Tokoha Kikugawa gets their first hit! Sakai hits a liner to left!
But Itou strikes out looking, and the inning is over. Still, it's a start!
Bottom 6th
Takaku starts the inning out with a single up the middle past a sliding Machida!
And that appears to be it for Togari! #10 Nojima comes in to relieve Togari who moves to LF. This move is a bit concerning since Nojima's numbers are not all that spectacular (13 IP, 13 H, 6 ER, 5 K, 6 BB)
The worries are founded after Fukumoto draws a walk, and Tsuchiba bunts them along! Runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 down!
Kadobayashi with the grounder to 3rd! Takaku goes for home! Maeda up with it, and the throw home is in plenty of time! Runners at the corners, 2 down!
And Kadobayashi takes off for 2nd! No throw! Runners on 2nd and 3rd!
Ah! Nojima hits Sugimoto! He's down! That looked like it hit him on the helmet!
Replays show that the ball bounced off his helmet and directly hit him on his face as he was checking his swing! He's taken out as a substitute runner takes his place.
Manrui for Fukuchiyama Seibi and they elect to pinch hit #12 Sueyoshi for Okaue.
Grounder to first! Uejima with the diving stop! Nojima to cover and the toss is in time! Tokoha avoids another bullet from Fukuchiyama Seibi!
Top 7th
#13 Nakahara takes over at 1B. And it appears that Sugimoto's day is done as #16 Nakatani replaces him at short. Hope he's ok. That was a real shot he took.
Tokoha continues to struggle with its offense, grounding out to 2nd twice. Then Maeda hits a ball deep to left field! Kadobayashi to the wall, and it's off the wall! Maeda gets a two-out double! A base hit here by Uejima can give them the lead!
Liner to left! Kadobayashi falling back! Glove outstretched and... he has it! That was close to be disastrous! But Tokoka is turned away!
Bottom 7th
Ikoma with the 4-pitch walk to start the inning. Ueda hits a falling shot to left, but Togari gets a good beat on it.
Fukase up. AH! The pitch gets by Tochigi! Ikoma advances to 2nd! And Fukase with the grounder to left! Runners at the corners, 1 down! Nojima needs another double play here to get out this jam.
NO! Not going to get it! Takaku shoots a grounder to right! Fukuchiyama Seibi breaks the scoreless tie as Ikoma scores! 1-0!!
Still one down and a great opportunity! Fukumoto with the chopper to 1st. That advances the runners. Now a base hit scores 2!
Nojima though gets Tsuchiba to ground to 1st. 3 outs, but Fukuchiyama Seibi has taken the lead!
Top 8th
Now that Seibi has the lead, what will Tokoha's offense do? Can they put together the timely hits?
Togari, looking to get on base in any way, holds up on a close 3-2 pitch and draws the walk! He's bunted over by Tochigi.
#16 Kitajima now pinch-hits for Nojima. He gets ahead in the count 3-1! Fouls off what could have been ball 4! Full count now. Liner foul!
Togari takes off! Ball 4! Throw to 1st, tag... SAFE!! Togari with the risky steal, but it works!
#18 Matsumoto to run at 1st.
Matsumoto takes off for 2nd Throw to Fukumoto to 2nd and, WHAT! Ikoma and Sugimoto stand there as the ball goes between them and into center! Togari goes home! Matsumoto advances to 3rd.
AH!!! As Takaku tosses the ball in, Matsumoto breaks for home! Everyone's looking away from home! The throw is hastily made, but it's too late! A botched throw proves costly as 2 runs come in to score! A stunned Ueda looks on as Tokoha Kikugawa has taken the lead 2-1!!!!!
Bottom 8th
#7 Tsuchiba takes over in left as Togari returns to the mound. He retires the side in order. Seibi must still be stunned at the turn of events in the 8th...
Top 9th
Mass changes for Seibi. Ace Kondou goes to the mound to pitch. Ueda moves to left. #15 Matsumura comes in to play SS while #14 Tanaka goes to 1st.
Bottom 9th
Is there anything left for Seibi? Or will the misplay be their downfall?
Ikoma trying to hold up, grounds to 2nd... one down.
Ueda grounds to 1st. Two down...
Fukase to try and extend the game... Chopper to 2nd! Machida up with the ball, and makes the play!
An unfortunate and unlucky play costs Fukuchiyama Seibi the game. After how well Ueda and the defense had been playing, this is surely crushing to the team. A great pitchers duel will be overshadowed by a single play, and the knowledge that they could have prevented it from happening.
Tokoha Kikugawa last year was close to sweeping the Koshien tournaments. They won the spring tournament with a road that in order included:
- Sendai Ikuei
- Imabari Nishi
- Osaka Toin
- Kumamoto Kogyo, and
- Oogaki Nichidai
Fukuchiyama Seibi made their run 2 years ago, reaching the Best 8 while defeating Aikodai Meiden (Ichiro's HS), and Kumamoto Kogyo before losing to Kagoshima Kogyo in 10 innings.
But now to this year...
Tokoha Kikugawa's team strength this year appears to be its pitching. Ace Togari (6 G, 39 IP, 29 H, 7 ER, 39 K, 5 BB) has gotten more experience, and looks to improve from the spring tournament. Their offense is not particularly powerful, and depends on timely hitting to score its runs.
Fukuchiyama Seibi is more offense based. Combined, they hit an amazing 0.443 for the prefectural qualifiers. And with 30 walks, they had an on base percentage of 0.528! That's not to say that their pitching isn't that bad either. In 6 games, they yielded only 8 runs in 44 IP, and almost all pitchers averaged a K/IP.
The advantage here may have to go to Fukuchiyama Seibi. It'll probably be a low scoring game, but expect Fukuchiyama Seibi to get their offense going and put runs on the board
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Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
SS Sakai (6)
CF Itou (8)
2B Machida (4)
RF Nakagawa (9)
3B Maeda (5)
1B Uejima (3)
P Togari (1)
C Tochigi (2)
LF Tanji (17)
Fukuchiyama Seibi (Kyoto)
2B Ikoma (4)
P Ueda (9)
3B Fukase (5)
CF Takaku (8)
C Fukumoto (2)
RF Tsuchiba (7)
LF Kadobayashi (17)
SS Sugimoto (6)
1B Okaue (3)
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8:30 AM
First Pitch!
Top 1st
Nice start for Ueda as he retires the Tokoha batters in order.
Bottom 1st
Togari gets himself into early trouble! With one down, Ueda hits a grounder to left! Sakai with the diving stop, but that's all he can do. Fukase follows that up with a ground that gets through to left!
But Togari settles down, strikes out Takaku and gets Fukumoto to ground to short to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Ueshima draws a 2-out walk, but he gets thrown out trying to steal 2nd.
Bottom 2nd
Huh. In an almost complete mirror image of Tokoha's frame, Sugimoto also draws a 2-out walk and also gets thrown out stealing 2nd!
Top 3rd
Tokoha Kikugawa is retired in order, with three straight grounders to 2nd.
Bottom 3rd
Ikoma gets a one out single to right, but Togari gets the next two batters to fly to right. (FYI, the wind this morning is non-existent).
Top 4th
Tokoha still looking for their first hit. Two down, Machida draws a walk, but is left stranded. The offense is still hitless!
Bottom 4th
In a small lapse of control, or perhaps being squeezed by the umpire, Togari gives up the 2 out walk to Tsuchiba. But Kadobayashi grounds out to end the inning. So far Togari has done a fine job in shutting down Fukuchiyama Seibi's offense!
Top 5th
Of couse, Ueda has done one better against Tokoha's offense, not yielding a hit so far after 4. And with all 3 putouts (2 K's), he continues to keep them hitless. Ueda's control has been very good, locating his pitches so well, Fukumoto hasn't needed to move his glove around that much.
Bottom 5th
Togari continues cruising along, striking out Sugimoto. Then Okaue hits a chopper to 3rd that takes a high bounce that prevents Maeda from fielding it! Ikoma follows that up with a single to left and Ueda follows that with a grounder to right! All of a sudden it's a manrui situation with only one down!
Fukase steps up to bat. He hits a grounder to short! Sakai with the ball! Falls back as he throws to 2nd, that's one! Machida with the throw to 1st! IN TIME! Nice play!! The defense turns in a double play to get Togari out of the jam! As they go to the break, can Tokoha turn that play around and use the momentum to get the offense started?
Top 6th
With 2 down, Tokoha Kikugawa gets their first hit! Sakai hits a liner to left!
But Itou strikes out looking, and the inning is over. Still, it's a start!
Bottom 6th
Takaku starts the inning out with a single up the middle past a sliding Machida!
And that appears to be it for Togari! #10 Nojima comes in to relieve Togari who moves to LF. This move is a bit concerning since Nojima's numbers are not all that spectacular (13 IP, 13 H, 6 ER, 5 K, 6 BB)
The worries are founded after Fukumoto draws a walk, and Tsuchiba bunts them along! Runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 down!
Kadobayashi with the grounder to 3rd! Takaku goes for home! Maeda up with it, and the throw home is in plenty of time! Runners at the corners, 2 down!
And Kadobayashi takes off for 2nd! No throw! Runners on 2nd and 3rd!
Ah! Nojima hits Sugimoto! He's down! That looked like it hit him on the helmet!
Replays show that the ball bounced off his helmet and directly hit him on his face as he was checking his swing! He's taken out as a substitute runner takes his place.
Manrui for Fukuchiyama Seibi and they elect to pinch hit #12 Sueyoshi for Okaue.
Grounder to first! Uejima with the diving stop! Nojima to cover and the toss is in time! Tokoha avoids another bullet from Fukuchiyama Seibi!
Top 7th
#13 Nakahara takes over at 1B. And it appears that Sugimoto's day is done as #16 Nakatani replaces him at short. Hope he's ok. That was a real shot he took.
Tokoha continues to struggle with its offense, grounding out to 2nd twice. Then Maeda hits a ball deep to left field! Kadobayashi to the wall, and it's off the wall! Maeda gets a two-out double! A base hit here by Uejima can give them the lead!
Liner to left! Kadobayashi falling back! Glove outstretched and... he has it! That was close to be disastrous! But Tokoka is turned away!
Bottom 7th
Ikoma with the 4-pitch walk to start the inning. Ueda hits a falling shot to left, but Togari gets a good beat on it.
Fukase up. AH! The pitch gets by Tochigi! Ikoma advances to 2nd! And Fukase with the grounder to left! Runners at the corners, 1 down! Nojima needs another double play here to get out this jam.
NO! Not going to get it! Takaku shoots a grounder to right! Fukuchiyama Seibi breaks the scoreless tie as Ikoma scores! 1-0!!
Still one down and a great opportunity! Fukumoto with the chopper to 1st. That advances the runners. Now a base hit scores 2!
Nojima though gets Tsuchiba to ground to 1st. 3 outs, but Fukuchiyama Seibi has taken the lead!
Top 8th
Now that Seibi has the lead, what will Tokoha's offense do? Can they put together the timely hits?
Togari, looking to get on base in any way, holds up on a close 3-2 pitch and draws the walk! He's bunted over by Tochigi.
#16 Kitajima now pinch-hits for Nojima. He gets ahead in the count 3-1! Fouls off what could have been ball 4! Full count now. Liner foul!
Togari takes off! Ball 4! Throw to 1st, tag... SAFE!! Togari with the risky steal, but it works!
#18 Matsumoto to run at 1st.
Matsumoto takes off for 2nd Throw to Fukumoto to 2nd and, WHAT! Ikoma and Sugimoto stand there as the ball goes between them and into center! Togari goes home! Matsumoto advances to 3rd.
AH!!! As Takaku tosses the ball in, Matsumoto breaks for home! Everyone's looking away from home! The throw is hastily made, but it's too late! A botched throw proves costly as 2 runs come in to score! A stunned Ueda looks on as Tokoha Kikugawa has taken the lead 2-1!!!!!
Bottom 8th
#7 Tsuchiba takes over in left as Togari returns to the mound. He retires the side in order. Seibi must still be stunned at the turn of events in the 8th...
Top 9th
Mass changes for Seibi. Ace Kondou goes to the mound to pitch. Ueda moves to left. #15 Matsumura comes in to play SS while #14 Tanaka goes to 1st.
Bottom 9th
Is there anything left for Seibi? Or will the misplay be their downfall?
Ikoma trying to hold up, grounds to 2nd... one down.
Ueda grounds to 1st. Two down...
Fukase to try and extend the game... Chopper to 2nd! Machida up with the ball, and makes the play!
An unfortunate and unlucky play costs Fukuchiyama Seibi the game. After how well Ueda and the defense had been playing, this is surely crushing to the team. A great pitchers duel will be overshadowed by a single play, and the knowledge that they could have prevented it from happening.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Day 7 - Game 4 - Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo vs. Kagawa Nishi
(I apologize again to all those reading the blog. I am not feeling that well today, and need to rest. This game, like the Yokohama vs. Urawa Gakuin game, will be viewed in its entirety over the weekend and the game review will be posted here. I'm hoping that I'll be well enough tomorrow to watch all Day 8 games in their entirety.)
The last game of day 4 features 2 teams that are probably happy to be here, but more likely would want to do more than just play at Koshien.
Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo for the most part blew through the prefectural qualifying outscoring their opponents by a combined 48-8. They show strength on both sides of the ball.
On the mound, they depend on their ace Hara, who pitched the majority of the innings, giving up only 8 runs in 40 innings of work. Looking to their offense, they are mainly a singles hitting team, but very good at it (.354 team BA and only one regular batting under .300).
Kagawa Nishi had a similar run. They defeated their opponents 37-6 in the 5 games they played. Their pitching depends mostly on their ace Takahashi Naoya who gave up 1 run in 20 innings of work (that's a 0.45 ERA). However, other players on the team have had some pitching work done, so they do have a decent amount of depth. On the offensive side, the team hit for a combined .410 BA which inlcluded 16 extra base hits out of the 55 they had. However, the offense is a bit lopsided with half of the regulars hitting under .300.
So who I think will win this match? While Kagawa has a deeper staff, I think Shiritsu Gifu with the more balanced lineup from top to bottom will keep the Kagawa's defense busy and advance. But if Kagawa can somehow either get Hara's pitch count high, or run him from the game, then Kagawa should gain the advantage.
Advantage: Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo
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Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo
SS Takai (6)
1B Usui (3)
RF Mori (9)
LF Sugishima (7)
C Katou (2)
CF Yoshimura (8)
3B Nishida (5)
2B Nishigawa Takuya (4)
P Hara (1)
Kagawa Nishi
2B Yokoyama (4)
SS Yano (6)
CF Saitou (8)
RF Matsumoto (9)
3B Nakano (5)
1B Tani (3)
LF Goya (16)
C Takahashi Shinpei (2)
P Takahashi Naoya (1)
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5:07 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Takai opens the game with a single to left. He looks to steal 2nd, but takes off too early and is picked off 1-6.
Usui then is plunked by Naoya. And that's followed up with a single to right by Mori to put runners at the the corners!
Sugushima up next. But he waffles at the plate making half swings twice before striking out. However, on the strike out Mori takes off for 2nd and gets there easily!
2 down and runners in scoring position for Katou. The count goes even and he too gives half swing and dribbles one in front of home plate. Shinpei picks up the ball and makes the play at first to get them out of the pinch!
Bottom 1st
Hara starts off a little shaky, walking leadoff batter Yokoyama. But while Yokoyama's bunted to 2nd, Hara settles in and retires Saitou and Matsumoto to end the inning
Top 2nd
Naoya looks a lot better on the mound, and it shows in the 2nd retiring the side in order.
Bottom 2nd
Hara one again gives up the leadoff walk, this time to Nakano. But Tani and Goya fly out.
EH?????! While Shinpei is up to bat, I'm hearing the rally song I associate with Komadai Tomakoai!!!! While I'm glad to hear it, I should be hearing it only from Komadai Tomakomai! It's kinda like hearing Jock Rock for the Chiben schools! You just don't hear it anywhere else!
Oh yeah, Shinpei grounds to short. Inning over.
But hearing that song from the Kagawa Nishi oen-dan seems a little wrong to me...
Top 3rd
Well, that was quick. I didn't have time to write anything and the inning is already over. Hmm.. 6 pitches? Sounds about right.
Bottom 3rd
Hey! Kagawa Nishi gets their 3rd leadoff runner! And this time Naoya actually gets a base hit! He hits a grounder to right.
Yokoyama with the bunt! Hara watches the ball as it slows down, waits, waits, picks it up. Foul! Just foul!
He tries it again, but this time it's back to Hara! He throws to 2nd, and they get the force!
So runner at first with one down, and Yano tries it again. This time, he puts it down successfully and Yokoyama advances to 2nd.
Saitou now up looking for the timely hit. Hits one! Liner to right! That's down! Yokoyama scores and Kagawa takes the lead! 1-0!
Matsumoto up, and now I'm hearing Jock Rock! NO! This is sacrilegious! They shouldn't be playing that song!
And Matsumoto pops to 3rd.
Top 4th
Mori gets the Shiritsu offense started with a leadoff single to left. After an obligatory sac bunt by Sugishima, Katou walks up to bat.
Naoya though can't find the strike zone and walks him on 4 pitches! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Yoshimura!
He falls behind 0-2, but then lines one up the middle! Yano dives, but it's under him! Mori rounds 3rd and he ties the game! 1-1! And on the play Katou advances to 3rd!
And Nishida with a fly ball to deep center! Saitou up with it, but it's plenty deep to get Katou in from 3rd. 2-1 Shiritsu Gifu!
Bottom 4th
Three groundball outs by Hara and we move on to the top of the 5th.
Top 5th
Takai starts the inning with a drive down the left field line! That falls in and off the wall for a leadoff double!
Shiritsu Gifu isn't looking to bunt though. Usui is swinging away! And strikes out... Mori is looking for the time hit as well. But he grounds to 3rd.
Then with Sugishima up, Takai takes matters into his own hands and steals 3rd! Now a base hit definitely scores him! But Sugishima strikes out.
Bottom 5th
Hara wasn't really trying to throw an eephus pitch there to Naoya, was he?
With 2 down, Yokoyama hits a gapper to left center for a double.
And then Yano shoots one up back the middle! Yokoyama heading home!! Yoshimura misplays the ball and Yokoyama scores easily to tie the game!! 2-2!
Saitou with the liner down the right field line. FAIR! That runs all the way to the wall!
Mori up with the ball, hits his cutoff man, Yano rounding 3rd! Throw home! Yano stops! Katou loses the ball! Yano dashes for home! But the ball is high in the air and Katou has it again! AH! Yano's only halfway down to home! He's stuck! Run down and out!! What a sequence of events!
But Kagawa Nishi has managed to enter the break with a tie ball game!
Top 6th
#7 Kawabata enters in the game for Goya in left.
Katou starts off getting hit by Naoya. He bunted over for Nishida. He takes the first pitch to deep left! Kawabata running back, all the way to the wall, looks up and it's gone! HAITA!!!!! Nishida with the 2-run homerun to left and Shiritsu Gifu retakes the 2-run lead! 4-2!!
Bottom 6th
Matsumoto starts off the inning with a liner to shallow left. Takano bunts him over.
Tani then hits a fly ball down the left line! Sugishima runs, dives, but doesn't get it! That's to the wall! Matsumoto rounds 3rd, he scores! Tani with the timely double!
New LF Kawabata up, and he hits a grounder to center! Tani rounding 3rd, he has to hold up! Runners at the corners 1 down!
#18 Ishikawa pinch hits for Shinpei, possibly tyring to get that sac fly.
He hits hit out there but is it deep enough? No! Mori with the catch.
It's down to Naoya now. Kawabata goes for 2nd! He's in safely! Now a base can can take the lead!
But Naoya strikes out to end the rally. However, they've cut the Shiritsu Gifu lead down to 1!
Top 7th
Now this is strange. #10 Yoshiyama comes in to pitch, and Naoya moves to... catcher?!
With one down Usui hits a drive to left! That one hops the wall for a 2-out double!
But he's eventually stranded at 3rd. Kagawa Nishi still close!
Bottom 7th
Yokoyama to lead off the inning again. Chopper to short, Takai up with it. Throw to first is off line! Gets past Usui and Yokoyama advances to 2nd! Yano bunts him along and now the tying run is 90 feet away!
SQUEEZE!! Saitou puts down the squeeze, but it's toward Hara! He charges, makes the glove toss and Katou has it in plenty of time to block the plate and tag Yokoyama! Nice play on both sides to preserve the lead!
But Hara walks Matsumoto and now the tying run is in scoring position for Nakano. But he grounds to 3rd and that ends their great opportunity to tie the game!
Top 8th
We're truly into a night game as the lights illuminate the stadium.
Yoshiyama begins the inning having to defend his life as Katou hits a sharp comebacker. He gets the glove in the way, almost makes the catch, but knocks it down close to him so he can still pick it up and make the out.
After that, he gives up a single to Yoshimura, but that's all.
Bottom 8th
Shiritsu Gifu makes a pitching change. Yoshimura comes in from center to pitch. #18 Inui enters to play center.
Yoshimura's control seems to be, well... nonexistant?
He somehow manages to get the count to 3-2 and induces Tani to ground out. But against Kawabata, his pitches aren't close and he walks him on 4 straight.
#10 Onodera and #11 Okumura start warming up on the bullpen.
He manages to get his pitches under control and strikes out pinch hitter #15 Nishizawa.
Naoya up to bat now. With the count 2-2 Kawabata takes off for 2nd! Katou's throw is low! But Takai makes the sliding catch and tag, and they get Kawabata! What a nice play by Takai!
Top 9th
#11 Kobayashi, a first-year player comes in to pitch. And what does he do but retire the side in order! Nicely done!
Bottom 9th
But there's still the matter of needing a run to tie the game.
#12 Nagata comes in to pinch hit for Naoya. He gets jammed, but it's a very short popup! Takuya charges the ball and makes the shoestring catch!
Yokoyama makes a bid for a single with a grounder to the left side, but Takai makes the great stop and strong throw to just beat him out!
And Yano pops out to 2nd to end the game! Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo holds on for the 4-3 victory!
The last game of day 4 features 2 teams that are probably happy to be here, but more likely would want to do more than just play at Koshien.
Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo for the most part blew through the prefectural qualifying outscoring their opponents by a combined 48-8. They show strength on both sides of the ball.
On the mound, they depend on their ace Hara, who pitched the majority of the innings, giving up only 8 runs in 40 innings of work. Looking to their offense, they are mainly a singles hitting team, but very good at it (.354 team BA and only one regular batting under .300).
Kagawa Nishi had a similar run. They defeated their opponents 37-6 in the 5 games they played. Their pitching depends mostly on their ace Takahashi Naoya who gave up 1 run in 20 innings of work (that's a 0.45 ERA). However, other players on the team have had some pitching work done, so they do have a decent amount of depth. On the offensive side, the team hit for a combined .410 BA which inlcluded 16 extra base hits out of the 55 they had. However, the offense is a bit lopsided with half of the regulars hitting under .300.
So who I think will win this match? While Kagawa has a deeper staff, I think Shiritsu Gifu with the more balanced lineup from top to bottom will keep the Kagawa's defense busy and advance. But if Kagawa can somehow either get Hara's pitch count high, or run him from the game, then Kagawa should gain the advantage.
Advantage: Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo
SS Takai (6)
1B Usui (3)
RF Mori (9)
LF Sugishima (7)
C Katou (2)
CF Yoshimura (8)
3B Nishida (5)
2B Nishigawa Takuya (4)
P Hara (1)
Kagawa Nishi
2B Yokoyama (4)
SS Yano (6)
CF Saitou (8)
RF Matsumoto (9)
3B Nakano (5)
1B Tani (3)
LF Goya (16)
C Takahashi Shinpei (2)
P Takahashi Naoya (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5:07 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Takai opens the game with a single to left. He looks to steal 2nd, but takes off too early and is picked off 1-6.
Usui then is plunked by Naoya. And that's followed up with a single to right by Mori to put runners at the the corners!
Sugushima up next. But he waffles at the plate making half swings twice before striking out. However, on the strike out Mori takes off for 2nd and gets there easily!
2 down and runners in scoring position for Katou. The count goes even and he too gives half swing and dribbles one in front of home plate. Shinpei picks up the ball and makes the play at first to get them out of the pinch!
Bottom 1st
Hara starts off a little shaky, walking leadoff batter Yokoyama. But while Yokoyama's bunted to 2nd, Hara settles in and retires Saitou and Matsumoto to end the inning
Top 2nd
Naoya looks a lot better on the mound, and it shows in the 2nd retiring the side in order.
Bottom 2nd
Hara one again gives up the leadoff walk, this time to Nakano. But Tani and Goya fly out.
EH?????! While Shinpei is up to bat, I'm hearing the rally song I associate with Komadai Tomakoai!!!! While I'm glad to hear it, I should be hearing it only from Komadai Tomakomai! It's kinda like hearing Jock Rock for the Chiben schools! You just don't hear it anywhere else!
Oh yeah, Shinpei grounds to short. Inning over.
But hearing that song from the Kagawa Nishi oen-dan seems a little wrong to me...
Top 3rd
Well, that was quick. I didn't have time to write anything and the inning is already over. Hmm.. 6 pitches? Sounds about right.
Bottom 3rd
Hey! Kagawa Nishi gets their 3rd leadoff runner! And this time Naoya actually gets a base hit! He hits a grounder to right.
Yokoyama with the bunt! Hara watches the ball as it slows down, waits, waits, picks it up. Foul! Just foul!
He tries it again, but this time it's back to Hara! He throws to 2nd, and they get the force!
So runner at first with one down, and Yano tries it again. This time, he puts it down successfully and Yokoyama advances to 2nd.
Saitou now up looking for the timely hit. Hits one! Liner to right! That's down! Yokoyama scores and Kagawa takes the lead! 1-0!
Matsumoto up, and now I'm hearing Jock Rock! NO! This is sacrilegious! They shouldn't be playing that song!
And Matsumoto pops to 3rd.
Top 4th
Mori gets the Shiritsu offense started with a leadoff single to left. After an obligatory sac bunt by Sugishima, Katou walks up to bat.
Naoya though can't find the strike zone and walks him on 4 pitches! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Yoshimura!
He falls behind 0-2, but then lines one up the middle! Yano dives, but it's under him! Mori rounds 3rd and he ties the game! 1-1! And on the play Katou advances to 3rd!
And Nishida with a fly ball to deep center! Saitou up with it, but it's plenty deep to get Katou in from 3rd. 2-1 Shiritsu Gifu!
Bottom 4th
Three groundball outs by Hara and we move on to the top of the 5th.
Top 5th
Takai starts the inning with a drive down the left field line! That falls in and off the wall for a leadoff double!
Shiritsu Gifu isn't looking to bunt though. Usui is swinging away! And strikes out... Mori is looking for the time hit as well. But he grounds to 3rd.
Then with Sugishima up, Takai takes matters into his own hands and steals 3rd! Now a base hit definitely scores him! But Sugishima strikes out.
Bottom 5th
Hara wasn't really trying to throw an eephus pitch there to Naoya, was he?
With 2 down, Yokoyama hits a gapper to left center for a double.
And then Yano shoots one up back the middle! Yokoyama heading home!! Yoshimura misplays the ball and Yokoyama scores easily to tie the game!! 2-2!
Saitou with the liner down the right field line. FAIR! That runs all the way to the wall!
Mori up with the ball, hits his cutoff man, Yano rounding 3rd! Throw home! Yano stops! Katou loses the ball! Yano dashes for home! But the ball is high in the air and Katou has it again! AH! Yano's only halfway down to home! He's stuck! Run down and out!! What a sequence of events!
But Kagawa Nishi has managed to enter the break with a tie ball game!
Top 6th
#7 Kawabata enters in the game for Goya in left.
Katou starts off getting hit by Naoya. He bunted over for Nishida. He takes the first pitch to deep left! Kawabata running back, all the way to the wall, looks up and it's gone! HAITA!!!!! Nishida with the 2-run homerun to left and Shiritsu Gifu retakes the 2-run lead! 4-2!!
Bottom 6th
Matsumoto starts off the inning with a liner to shallow left. Takano bunts him over.
Tani then hits a fly ball down the left line! Sugishima runs, dives, but doesn't get it! That's to the wall! Matsumoto rounds 3rd, he scores! Tani with the timely double!
New LF Kawabata up, and he hits a grounder to center! Tani rounding 3rd, he has to hold up! Runners at the corners 1 down!
#18 Ishikawa pinch hits for Shinpei, possibly tyring to get that sac fly.
He hits hit out there but is it deep enough? No! Mori with the catch.
It's down to Naoya now. Kawabata goes for 2nd! He's in safely! Now a base can can take the lead!
But Naoya strikes out to end the rally. However, they've cut the Shiritsu Gifu lead down to 1!
Top 7th
Now this is strange. #10 Yoshiyama comes in to pitch, and Naoya moves to... catcher?!
With one down Usui hits a drive to left! That one hops the wall for a 2-out double!
But he's eventually stranded at 3rd. Kagawa Nishi still close!
Bottom 7th
Yokoyama to lead off the inning again. Chopper to short, Takai up with it. Throw to first is off line! Gets past Usui and Yokoyama advances to 2nd! Yano bunts him along and now the tying run is 90 feet away!
SQUEEZE!! Saitou puts down the squeeze, but it's toward Hara! He charges, makes the glove toss and Katou has it in plenty of time to block the plate and tag Yokoyama! Nice play on both sides to preserve the lead!
But Hara walks Matsumoto and now the tying run is in scoring position for Nakano. But he grounds to 3rd and that ends their great opportunity to tie the game!
Top 8th
We're truly into a night game as the lights illuminate the stadium.
Yoshiyama begins the inning having to defend his life as Katou hits a sharp comebacker. He gets the glove in the way, almost makes the catch, but knocks it down close to him so he can still pick it up and make the out.
After that, he gives up a single to Yoshimura, but that's all.
Bottom 8th
Shiritsu Gifu makes a pitching change. Yoshimura comes in from center to pitch. #18 Inui enters to play center.
Yoshimura's control seems to be, well... nonexistant?
He somehow manages to get the count to 3-2 and induces Tani to ground out. But against Kawabata, his pitches aren't close and he walks him on 4 straight.
#10 Onodera and #11 Okumura start warming up on the bullpen.
He manages to get his pitches under control and strikes out pinch hitter #15 Nishizawa.
Naoya up to bat now. With the count 2-2 Kawabata takes off for 2nd! Katou's throw is low! But Takai makes the sliding catch and tag, and they get Kawabata! What a nice play by Takai!
Top 9th
#11 Kobayashi, a first-year player comes in to pitch. And what does he do but retire the side in order! Nicely done!
Bottom 9th
But there's still the matter of needing a run to tie the game.
#12 Nagata comes in to pinch hit for Naoya. He gets jammed, but it's a very short popup! Takuya charges the ball and makes the shoestring catch!
Yokoyama makes a bid for a single with a grounder to the left side, but Takai makes the great stop and strong throw to just beat him out!
And Yano pops out to 2nd to end the game! Shiritsu Gifu Shogyo holds on for the 4-3 victory!
Day 7 - Game 3 - Seiko Gakuin (Fukushima) vs. Kakogawa Kita (Nishi Hyogo)
The first game of the afternoon has our last debut team of the tournament, versus a loser to last year's runner-up.
Kakogawa Kita comes to us from Nishi Hyogo-ken. Their road to Koshien was filled with low scoring games, never scoring more than 5 in any game. Instead, like Sakata Minami, they depended on their pitching tandem of Iwasaki (5 G, 31 IP, 22 H, 5 ER, 21 K, 9 BB) and Miki (3 G, 23 IP, 16 H, 2 ER, 8 K, 9 BB) to bring them to Koshien for the first time. They are not a slugging powerhouse, instead depending on timely hitting to get the win.
Seiko Gakuin, as opposed to last year when they could score runs, is a similar type team. Not many extra base hits, just a lot of singles. Their trio of pitchers, Satou Tatusya (3 G, 23 IP, 17 H, 6 ER, 13 K, 1 BB), Nakada (4 G, 17.2 IP, 15 H, 19 K, 0 BB) and Yokoyama (2 G, 8.1 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 11 K, 1 BB), use great control to get their men.
Should be a great pitcher's duel here for game 3! Edge may go to Seiko Gakuin.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seiko Gakuin (Fukushima)
3B Yasuda (5)
2B Satou Takuya (4)
1B Sekine (3)
CF Kuroba (9)
SS Tamura (6)
LF Kanno (8)
RF Shike (17)
C Takezawa (2)
P Satou Tatsuya (11)
Kakogawa Kita (Nishi Hyogo)
C Kubo (2)
CF Okunou (8)
SS Fujii (6)
P Miki (1)
RF Oonishi (9)
2B Kanki (4)
LF Murata (12)
1B Yoshida (3)
3B Ishiguchi (5)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2:11 PM
First Pitch!
Top 1st
Seiko looks to strike early. With one down, (Satou) Takuya hits a blooper down the right field line! Sekine follows that up with a liner to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd with one down!
Kuroba hits the ball hard, but right at Yoshida who makes the play at first. However, the runners advance into scoring position.
Tamura then gets a walk, and its manrui for Kanno! Miki in an early pinch!
He falls behind Kanno, 2-0, then 3-1! Nowhere to put him! Strike on the outside! Full count! Laser to the right field! All the way to the wall! The runners wheel around the bases, and when the dust settles, it's a bases clearing triple for Kanno! 3-0 Seiko Gakuin! Then a 4 pitch walk to Shiko!
Takezawa up now, and Shike takes off for 2nd! The throw is there in plenty of time and they have him in a rundown! But in the meantime Kanno heads for home! The throw by Yoshida, Kubo can't field it! Kanno scores! 4-0 Seiko in the 1st!
Takezawa pops to 2nd, but Seiko explodes for 4 in the first thanks to the bases clearing triple by Kanno!
Bottom 1st
Kakogawa's hats look interesting with the mirror image K's.
Kakogawa looks to strike back! Kubo with the single through the left side! Okunou puts down the bunt, but instead pops it up! Sekine with the catch and they double off Kubo! Fujii grounds to 3rd to end the inning.
Top 2nd
(Satou) Tatsuya starts off the inning with a single through the right side! Yasuda tries to put the bunt down! Kubo with it! Throw to 2nd, wild and into center! Runner at the corners!
Takuya singles through the right side! Tatsuya scores! 5-0!
Sekine with a flyout to center. Yasuda walks home! 6-0. Hoo boy.
Kuroba with another single! Runners at 1st and 2nd! But Takuta gets careless at 2nd, and is picked off!
The offense keeps rolling though! Tamura with the single to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd again! But Miki gets Kanno to fly out to Murata in foul territory to end the inning. But it's looking apparent early which team is the better team here.
Bottom 2nd
Kakogawa Kita down in order.
Top 3rd
The cameras point to the flags as they blow hard denoting the wind from right to left.
And it appears that Miki's day is done. #18 Iwasaki comes in to relieve him.
First pitch Shike takes to deep right! But as we saw earlier, the wind isn't blowing that way and he flies out to right. And while he gives up a single to Tatsuya, Iwasaki does a fine job in his first inning of relief and keeps Seiko off the board.
Bottom 3rd
Tatsuya continues to cruise along, retiring the first two batters. He's about to retire the 3rd, as Ishiguchi grounds to 3rd. But Tamura's throw to first is high and into the camera well! Ishiguchi advances to 2nd.
And Kubo singles to left! Ishiguchi rounds 3rd and scores! Kakogawa Kita's on the board! 6-1.
Top 4th
Seiko gets their first hit on Iwasaki as Takuya reaches out and pokes the ball into left! Sekine follows that up with a double to right center. Looks like Seiko is on the hunt again for more runs.
Kuroba hits a sac fly to center and Takuya clumsily slides into home to make it 7-1. Seriously, that looked like it's got to hurt a little.
Iwasaki though, keeps the damage minimal as he gets the next 2 batters to ground to 1st.
Bottom 4th
Fujii starts the inning with a single to left. After new P Iwasaki strikes out, Oonishi hits it to short. But just when Tamura is going to start the double play, the ball takes a high hop over Tamura and into center!
Kanki follows that up with a single to right! Manrui for Murata!
Single to left! Fujii scores! 7-2 now, still manrui for Yoshida! But oy, he had a meager 0.050 batting average in the qualifiers.
...and he strikes out. 2 down for Ishiguchi.
Count goes 3-1! Take the walk if you can Ishiguchi! Ah, strike 2! Runners in motion now!
AH!!! Sanshin! Ishiguchi is frozen on a pitch right down the middle! Kakogawa Kita with the bases loaded and one out can only score one! They may have missed their best chance at getting back into this game.
Top 5th
Seiko is retired in order, thanks to a nice diving catch by Kanka on a high liner!
Bottom 5th
Kakogawa Kita also goes in order.
Top 6th
With one down, Takuya hits a drive to right center. It goes all the way to the wall for a triple! Takuya is 4-4 on the day! Sekine then hits a grounder to 1st, allowing Takuya to score. 8-2.
And the Kuroba hits a drive to right! Oonishi to the wall, climbs it, reaches over the fence, but it's gone! Haita!! With the wind blowing hard to left, Oonishi hits a home run to right field!! 9-2.
Bottom 6th
Kakogawa Kita goes in order again. Their time here may be short.
Top 7th
#14 Saitou, pinch hits for Shike in the 7th. And he singles to right! But that'll be it for
Seiko here in the 8th.
Bottom 7th
#16 Watanabe enters the game i ncenter. Kuroba moves to right.
Kakogawa Kita breaks up the monotony as Ishiguchi gets a 2-out double...
Top 8th
#7 Takeuchi enters the game in left.
Iwasaki gives his team a small scare with 2 2-out walks, but escapes with no runs scored.
Bottom 8th
#13 Kawata comes to PH for Iwasaki. Looks like his day is done.
Top 9th
#11 Okamoto comes in to pitch the final inning.
You can't say these guys don't try hard all the the time. Watanabe fouls the ball off, but Kubo races back, dives up onto the rooftop and makes the catch!
And while he struggles a bit on the mound, Okamoto keeps Seiko off the board as they get their final at-bats.
Bottom 9th
Kakogawa Kita goes through their final ups, running all out and of course diving into 1st base. But their time on the Koshien grounds ends as Seiko Gakuin easily advances 9-2.
Kakogawa Kita comes to us from Nishi Hyogo-ken. Their road to Koshien was filled with low scoring games, never scoring more than 5 in any game. Instead, like Sakata Minami, they depended on their pitching tandem of Iwasaki (5 G, 31 IP, 22 H, 5 ER, 21 K, 9 BB) and Miki (3 G, 23 IP, 16 H, 2 ER, 8 K, 9 BB) to bring them to Koshien for the first time. They are not a slugging powerhouse, instead depending on timely hitting to get the win.
Seiko Gakuin, as opposed to last year when they could score runs, is a similar type team. Not many extra base hits, just a lot of singles. Their trio of pitchers, Satou Tatusya (3 G, 23 IP, 17 H, 6 ER, 13 K, 1 BB), Nakada (4 G, 17.2 IP, 15 H, 19 K, 0 BB) and Yokoyama (2 G, 8.1 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 11 K, 1 BB), use great control to get their men.
Should be a great pitcher's duel here for game 3! Edge may go to Seiko Gakuin.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seiko Gakuin (Fukushima)
3B Yasuda (5)
2B Satou Takuya (4)
1B Sekine (3)
CF Kuroba (9)
SS Tamura (6)
LF Kanno (8)
RF Shike (17)
C Takezawa (2)
P Satou Tatsuya (11)
Kakogawa Kita (Nishi Hyogo)
C Kubo (2)
CF Okunou (8)
SS Fujii (6)
P Miki (1)
RF Oonishi (9)
2B Kanki (4)
LF Murata (12)
1B Yoshida (3)
3B Ishiguchi (5)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2:11 PM
First Pitch!
Top 1st
Seiko looks to strike early. With one down, (Satou) Takuya hits a blooper down the right field line! Sekine follows that up with a liner to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd with one down!
Kuroba hits the ball hard, but right at Yoshida who makes the play at first. However, the runners advance into scoring position.
Tamura then gets a walk, and its manrui for Kanno! Miki in an early pinch!
He falls behind Kanno, 2-0, then 3-1! Nowhere to put him! Strike on the outside! Full count! Laser to the right field! All the way to the wall! The runners wheel around the bases, and when the dust settles, it's a bases clearing triple for Kanno! 3-0 Seiko Gakuin! Then a 4 pitch walk to Shiko!
Takezawa up now, and Shike takes off for 2nd! The throw is there in plenty of time and they have him in a rundown! But in the meantime Kanno heads for home! The throw by Yoshida, Kubo can't field it! Kanno scores! 4-0 Seiko in the 1st!
Takezawa pops to 2nd, but Seiko explodes for 4 in the first thanks to the bases clearing triple by Kanno!
Bottom 1st
Kakogawa's hats look interesting with the mirror image K's.
Kakogawa looks to strike back! Kubo with the single through the left side! Okunou puts down the bunt, but instead pops it up! Sekine with the catch and they double off Kubo! Fujii grounds to 3rd to end the inning.
Top 2nd
(Satou) Tatsuya starts off the inning with a single through the right side! Yasuda tries to put the bunt down! Kubo with it! Throw to 2nd, wild and into center! Runner at the corners!
Takuya singles through the right side! Tatsuya scores! 5-0!
Sekine with a flyout to center. Yasuda walks home! 6-0. Hoo boy.
Kuroba with another single! Runners at 1st and 2nd! But Takuta gets careless at 2nd, and is picked off!
The offense keeps rolling though! Tamura with the single to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd again! But Miki gets Kanno to fly out to Murata in foul territory to end the inning. But it's looking apparent early which team is the better team here.
Bottom 2nd
Kakogawa Kita down in order.
Top 3rd
The cameras point to the flags as they blow hard denoting the wind from right to left.
And it appears that Miki's day is done. #18 Iwasaki comes in to relieve him.
First pitch Shike takes to deep right! But as we saw earlier, the wind isn't blowing that way and he flies out to right. And while he gives up a single to Tatsuya, Iwasaki does a fine job in his first inning of relief and keeps Seiko off the board.
Bottom 3rd
Tatsuya continues to cruise along, retiring the first two batters. He's about to retire the 3rd, as Ishiguchi grounds to 3rd. But Tamura's throw to first is high and into the camera well! Ishiguchi advances to 2nd.
And Kubo singles to left! Ishiguchi rounds 3rd and scores! Kakogawa Kita's on the board! 6-1.
Top 4th
Seiko gets their first hit on Iwasaki as Takuya reaches out and pokes the ball into left! Sekine follows that up with a double to right center. Looks like Seiko is on the hunt again for more runs.
Kuroba hits a sac fly to center and Takuya clumsily slides into home to make it 7-1. Seriously, that looked like it's got to hurt a little.
Iwasaki though, keeps the damage minimal as he gets the next 2 batters to ground to 1st.
Bottom 4th
Fujii starts the inning with a single to left. After new P Iwasaki strikes out, Oonishi hits it to short. But just when Tamura is going to start the double play, the ball takes a high hop over Tamura and into center!
Kanki follows that up with a single to right! Manrui for Murata!
Single to left! Fujii scores! 7-2 now, still manrui for Yoshida! But oy, he had a meager 0.050 batting average in the qualifiers.
...and he strikes out. 2 down for Ishiguchi.
Count goes 3-1! Take the walk if you can Ishiguchi! Ah, strike 2! Runners in motion now!
AH!!! Sanshin! Ishiguchi is frozen on a pitch right down the middle! Kakogawa Kita with the bases loaded and one out can only score one! They may have missed their best chance at getting back into this game.
Top 5th
Seiko is retired in order, thanks to a nice diving catch by Kanka on a high liner!
Bottom 5th
Kakogawa Kita also goes in order.
Top 6th
With one down, Takuya hits a drive to right center. It goes all the way to the wall for a triple! Takuya is 4-4 on the day! Sekine then hits a grounder to 1st, allowing Takuya to score. 8-2.
And the Kuroba hits a drive to right! Oonishi to the wall, climbs it, reaches over the fence, but it's gone! Haita!! With the wind blowing hard to left, Oonishi hits a home run to right field!! 9-2.
Bottom 6th
Kakogawa Kita goes in order again. Their time here may be short.
Top 7th
#14 Saitou, pinch hits for Shike in the 7th. And he singles to right! But that'll be it for
Seiko here in the 8th.
Bottom 7th
#16 Watanabe enters the game i ncenter. Kuroba moves to right.
Kakogawa Kita breaks up the monotony as Ishiguchi gets a 2-out double...
Top 8th
#7 Takeuchi enters the game in left.
Iwasaki gives his team a small scare with 2 2-out walks, but escapes with no runs scored.
Bottom 8th
#13 Kawata comes to PH for Iwasaki. Looks like his day is done.
Top 9th
#11 Okamoto comes in to pitch the final inning.
You can't say these guys don't try hard all the the time. Watanabe fouls the ball off, but Kubo races back, dives up onto the rooftop and makes the catch!
And while he struggles a bit on the mound, Okamoto keeps Seiko off the board as they get their final at-bats.
Bottom 9th
Kakogawa Kita goes through their final ups, running all out and of course diving into 1st base. But their time on the Koshien grounds ends as Seiko Gakuin easily advances 9-2.
Day 7 - Game 2 - Fukui Shogyo vs. Sakata Minami (Yamagata)
Game 2 features two teams a bit out of the way on the map. One I've been to, one I wanted to go to, but the summer rains said otherwise.
Fukui Shogyo, is making its 4th straight appearance - second longest with Chiben Wakayama and 2nd only to Aomori Yamada. They've had the unfortunate draw the last two years, being losing to Waseda Jitsugyo 2 years ago, and in the first round to Saga Kita last year. And as you can already tell, they lost to the eventual champions both times. Fukui Shogyo is more than just a team that repeatedly makes it to Koshien though. They have a solid team each and every time out, and won't beat themselves like other schools.
Sakata Minami would like to believe that the trend continues onto this year. They're making their 8th apperance. 3 years ago, they won their first 2 games before losing to Ube Shogyo (Yamaguchi). They look to make another similar (but longer) run.
In the prefectural qualifiers, Fukui Shogyo used the power of its offense (.389 BA, .581 SLG) with along with its patience at the plate (30 BB in 5 games) to cruise to victory.
Sakata Minami depended upon its twin aces (Yasui - 21 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 34 K & Koyama - 20 IP, 18 H, 3 ER, 17 K) to deliver them to Koshien.
Fukui's offense vs. Sakata's pitching. Here, I think experience and the batting methodology of Fukui Shogyo will take them to victory.
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Fukui Shogyo
LF Kawai (7)
2B Matsuda (4)
RF Matsunaga (9)
C Nakamura (2)
1B Uhara (3)
CF Arakawa (8)
3B Noji (5)
SS Shimano (6)
P Takezawa Keita (1)
Sakata Minami (Yamagata)
1B Hiragawa (3)
RF Tanaka Yousuke (9)
SS Yamamoto (6)
C Nishi (2)
LF Yamaguchi (7)
CF Hayashi (8)
P Yasui (10)
3B Furuhashi (6)
2B Satou (4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:36 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Yasui looks strong on the mound! He strikes out Kawai and Matsuda to start the game!
But Matsunaga is a bit more stubborn. The count goes full on him, and he fouls off pitch after pitch. Then on the 10th pitch of the AB, he draws the walk.
Cleanup batter Nakumura is equally patient. His count goes full. Then on the 8th pitch of the AB, he hits a blooper to right center! But the outfielders are playing way back and they can't make it there in time! Double for Nakamura!
Uhara on the other hand isn't patient... well at least not this time. He takes the 0-1 pitch to center! Matsunaga scores! The throw from Hayashi, not in time! Fukusho is up 2-0!!
Arakawa flies out to left, but Fukusho uses its patience to take the early lead! Meanwhile, Yasui has already thrown 36 pitches.
Bottom 1st
Takezawa retires the side in order. A nice start for Fukui.
Top 2nd
Yasui's settles down, going after hitters now and retiring the side in order.
Bottom 2nd
I guess Fukui's pitchers took exception to me talking only about their offense! Keita retires the side with 2 K's along the way!
Top 3rd
Yasui continues his dominance as he duplicated Keita's performance in the 2nd!
Bottom 3rd
Sakata Minami gets its first baserunner as Furuhashi walks with one out. While he gets moved to scoring position, Hirakawa can't deliver the timely hit.
Top 4th
Fukui's getting the bat on the ball, but right at the defenders... down in order again.
Bottom 4th
Sakata Minami gets their 2nd baserunner! Another walk to Yamamoto. But still no hits as Keita retires the next 2 batters.
Top 5th
I'd say we have ourselves a pitcher's duel! Of course, a couple of timely hits in the top of the 1st is the difference in the ball game.
And as soon as I write that, Noji for Fukui drives a ball to left center and it one-hops the wall for a double. Perhaps the batters are seeing the ball better the 2nd time through the lineup.
Shimano grounds to 2nd, advancing the runner for P Keita to help his own cause.
But he swings away on the first pitch and pops it up to 2nd. Up to Kawai now.
But he hits and outside pitch to 3rd, and Furuhashi makes the strong throw to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Wow. Three pitches, three flyouts. Seriously.
Top 6th
Another base hit for Nakamura in the 6th, but nothing else, as Yasui continues to hum along.
Bottom 6th
Sakata Minami is going to have to start stringing hits together soon. They seem to thrive on timely hitting. They're going to need it soon or else their run ends here.
With one down, Hirakawa takes a ball to deep center! Arakawa seems to weave a bit back and forth, and as a result it lands behind him! Hirakawa is in with Sakata Minami's first hit - a double to center!
And a passed ball by Nakamura allows him to advance to 3rd! Nakamura brings him home by grounding to 2nd. It's not a hit per se, but it is timely nonetheless!! 2-1!
With 2 down, Yamamoto grounds to short. But Shimano can't field it! E6, and Sakata has the tying runner on base!
But Nishi softly lines to 3rd to end the inning. Still, they've narrowed the lead down to 1!
Top 7th
Yasui continues to keep Sakata Minami in the game, retiring the side in order and getting his 7th K of the game.
Bottom 7th
Plenty of time for Sakata Minami. Just need that timely hitting again.
Yamaguchi with the sharp shot to 3rd! Noji with the stop, but his throw is up the 1st base line! Pulls Uhara off the bag! Tying run on base!
After #8 Okuno comes in to pinch run, Hayashi moves him along to 2nd.
Then Yasui on the first pitch shoots one up the middle! Base hit! They're waving Okuno home! Arakawa with the throw! Noji with the relay! And Okuno's out! Fukui's defense throws Okuno out at home! You have to wonder if that ball was too shallow, and the 3rd base coach was too eager.
Furuhashi lines to 2nd, and a great opportunity by Sakata Minami falls by the wayside.
Top 8th
Takezawa singles to right to start the inning off. Then Kawai singles through the right side, Yousuke with the ball and ah! He didn't get it! The runners advance to 2nd and 3rd. Big trouble here for Sakata Minami! Could the failed inning in the 7th mean the end for them?
The count goes to 3-1. Perhaps he's going to load the bases for a force.
SQUEEZE! Fukusho elects to go for the squeeze and Matsuda puts it down! Takezawa scores! 3-1 Fukui!
SQUEEZE AGAIN!! Matsunaga puts down the squeeze again! Yasui runs in, uses the glove to toss it to Nishi, and... he gets Kawai for the out!
And while Nakamura grounds to 2nd, Fukui has extended that lead just a little further out of Sakata Minami's reach.
Bottom 8th
1 run in 2 innings is manageable for this team. 2 in 2 innings - might prove to be a little difficult.
And now it's down to 2 runs in 1 inning as Sakata Minami is retired in order.
Top 9th
Uhara starts the 9th off with a double to the left field wall! Then Arakawa goes for the safety bunt, and reaches 1st safely! Another big pinch for Sakata Minami!
And that signals the end of Yasui's day on the mound. Ace Koyama enters the game, while Yasui moves to right.
SQUEEZE! Koyama gets to it and gets it home! Uhara is caught up, but stays in the rundown long enough to advance all the runners along.
Shimano with the chopper in front of home! Koyama tries to make the glove toss again, but this time it's high and Arakawa slides under to score!! 4-1!
Koyama gets Takezawa strikes out, and now there's 2 down.
With Kawai up, Shimano steals 2nd! And with both runners in scoring position, Kawai singles to left! Noji and Shimano score, and Fukui has opened the game up 6-1.
Bottom 9th
Nishi gets a 1-out double, and a 2-out single by Hayashi gives a little hope to Sakata Minami, but in the end it's just too much for their offense to bear as they fall to Fukui 6-1.
Fukui Shogyo, is making its 4th straight appearance - second longest with Chiben Wakayama and 2nd only to Aomori Yamada. They've had the unfortunate draw the last two years, being losing to Waseda Jitsugyo 2 years ago, and in the first round to Saga Kita last year. And as you can already tell, they lost to the eventual champions both times. Fukui Shogyo is more than just a team that repeatedly makes it to Koshien though. They have a solid team each and every time out, and won't beat themselves like other schools.
Sakata Minami would like to believe that the trend continues onto this year. They're making their 8th apperance. 3 years ago, they won their first 2 games before losing to Ube Shogyo (Yamaguchi). They look to make another similar (but longer) run.
In the prefectural qualifiers, Fukui Shogyo used the power of its offense (.389 BA, .581 SLG) with along with its patience at the plate (30 BB in 5 games) to cruise to victory.
Sakata Minami depended upon its twin aces (Yasui - 21 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 34 K & Koyama - 20 IP, 18 H, 3 ER, 17 K) to deliver them to Koshien.
Fukui's offense vs. Sakata's pitching. Here, I think experience and the batting methodology of Fukui Shogyo will take them to victory.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fukui Shogyo
LF Kawai (7)
2B Matsuda (4)
RF Matsunaga (9)
C Nakamura (2)
1B Uhara (3)
CF Arakawa (8)
3B Noji (5)
SS Shimano (6)
P Takezawa Keita (1)
Sakata Minami (Yamagata)
1B Hiragawa (3)
RF Tanaka Yousuke (9)
SS Yamamoto (6)
C Nishi (2)
LF Yamaguchi (7)
CF Hayashi (8)
P Yasui (10)
3B Furuhashi (6)
2B Satou (4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:36 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Yasui looks strong on the mound! He strikes out Kawai and Matsuda to start the game!
But Matsunaga is a bit more stubborn. The count goes full on him, and he fouls off pitch after pitch. Then on the 10th pitch of the AB, he draws the walk.
Cleanup batter Nakumura is equally patient. His count goes full. Then on the 8th pitch of the AB, he hits a blooper to right center! But the outfielders are playing way back and they can't make it there in time! Double for Nakamura!
Uhara on the other hand isn't patient... well at least not this time. He takes the 0-1 pitch to center! Matsunaga scores! The throw from Hayashi, not in time! Fukusho is up 2-0!!
Arakawa flies out to left, but Fukusho uses its patience to take the early lead! Meanwhile, Yasui has already thrown 36 pitches.
Bottom 1st
Takezawa retires the side in order. A nice start for Fukui.
Top 2nd
Yasui's settles down, going after hitters now and retiring the side in order.
Bottom 2nd
I guess Fukui's pitchers took exception to me talking only about their offense! Keita retires the side with 2 K's along the way!
Top 3rd
Yasui continues his dominance as he duplicated Keita's performance in the 2nd!
Bottom 3rd
Sakata Minami gets its first baserunner as Furuhashi walks with one out. While he gets moved to scoring position, Hirakawa can't deliver the timely hit.
Top 4th
Fukui's getting the bat on the ball, but right at the defenders... down in order again.
Bottom 4th
Sakata Minami gets their 2nd baserunner! Another walk to Yamamoto. But still no hits as Keita retires the next 2 batters.
Top 5th
I'd say we have ourselves a pitcher's duel! Of course, a couple of timely hits in the top of the 1st is the difference in the ball game.
And as soon as I write that, Noji for Fukui drives a ball to left center and it one-hops the wall for a double. Perhaps the batters are seeing the ball better the 2nd time through the lineup.
Shimano grounds to 2nd, advancing the runner for P Keita to help his own cause.
But he swings away on the first pitch and pops it up to 2nd. Up to Kawai now.
But he hits and outside pitch to 3rd, and Furuhashi makes the strong throw to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Wow. Three pitches, three flyouts. Seriously.
Top 6th
Another base hit for Nakamura in the 6th, but nothing else, as Yasui continues to hum along.
Bottom 6th
Sakata Minami is going to have to start stringing hits together soon. They seem to thrive on timely hitting. They're going to need it soon or else their run ends here.
With one down, Hirakawa takes a ball to deep center! Arakawa seems to weave a bit back and forth, and as a result it lands behind him! Hirakawa is in with Sakata Minami's first hit - a double to center!
And a passed ball by Nakamura allows him to advance to 3rd! Nakamura brings him home by grounding to 2nd. It's not a hit per se, but it is timely nonetheless!! 2-1!
With 2 down, Yamamoto grounds to short. But Shimano can't field it! E6, and Sakata has the tying runner on base!
But Nishi softly lines to 3rd to end the inning. Still, they've narrowed the lead down to 1!
Top 7th
Yasui continues to keep Sakata Minami in the game, retiring the side in order and getting his 7th K of the game.
Bottom 7th
Plenty of time for Sakata Minami. Just need that timely hitting again.
Yamaguchi with the sharp shot to 3rd! Noji with the stop, but his throw is up the 1st base line! Pulls Uhara off the bag! Tying run on base!
After #8 Okuno comes in to pinch run, Hayashi moves him along to 2nd.
Then Yasui on the first pitch shoots one up the middle! Base hit! They're waving Okuno home! Arakawa with the throw! Noji with the relay! And Okuno's out! Fukui's defense throws Okuno out at home! You have to wonder if that ball was too shallow, and the 3rd base coach was too eager.
Furuhashi lines to 2nd, and a great opportunity by Sakata Minami falls by the wayside.
Top 8th
Takezawa singles to right to start the inning off. Then Kawai singles through the right side, Yousuke with the ball and ah! He didn't get it! The runners advance to 2nd and 3rd. Big trouble here for Sakata Minami! Could the failed inning in the 7th mean the end for them?
The count goes to 3-1. Perhaps he's going to load the bases for a force.
SQUEEZE! Fukusho elects to go for the squeeze and Matsuda puts it down! Takezawa scores! 3-1 Fukui!
SQUEEZE AGAIN!! Matsunaga puts down the squeeze again! Yasui runs in, uses the glove to toss it to Nishi, and... he gets Kawai for the out!
And while Nakamura grounds to 2nd, Fukui has extended that lead just a little further out of Sakata Minami's reach.
Bottom 8th
1 run in 2 innings is manageable for this team. 2 in 2 innings - might prove to be a little difficult.
And now it's down to 2 runs in 1 inning as Sakata Minami is retired in order.
Top 9th
Uhara starts the 9th off with a double to the left field wall! Then Arakawa goes for the safety bunt, and reaches 1st safely! Another big pinch for Sakata Minami!
And that signals the end of Yasui's day on the mound. Ace Koyama enters the game, while Yasui moves to right.
SQUEEZE! Koyama gets to it and gets it home! Uhara is caught up, but stays in the rundown long enough to advance all the runners along.
Shimano with the chopper in front of home! Koyama tries to make the glove toss again, but this time it's high and Arakawa slides under to score!! 4-1!
Koyama gets Takezawa strikes out, and now there's 2 down.
With Kawai up, Shimano steals 2nd! And with both runners in scoring position, Kawai singles to left! Noji and Shimano score, and Fukui has opened the game up 6-1.
Bottom 9th
Nishi gets a 1-out double, and a 2-out single by Hayashi gives a little hope to Sakata Minami, but in the end it's just too much for their offense to bear as they fall to Fukui 6-1.
Day 7 - Game 1 - Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi) vs. Komono (Mie )
Day 7 hopes to see some better weather... In the meantime, the games continue on!
We're winding down the 1st round matches. First up today pits Komono from Mie-ken versus Sendai Ikuei of Miyagi-ken. For Komono, this is only their 2nd appearance in the tournament. For Sendai Ikuei, this is their 3rd straight appearannce.
Both teams depend on their staff aces to carry them through the tournament. And both aces were pretty dominant. Sendai Ikuei's team is a little quirky in that the majority of their starting 9 throws right, but bats left! Perhaps to take advantage of the shorter distance perhaps?
In terms of offensive production, Komono had the more well rounded offense with all players hitting well, while Sendai's batters are more of a slugging bunch.
But the advantage has to go to Sendai Ikuei in this matchup... (although I'd like to see Komono do really well today)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
CF Hashimoto (8)
SS Endou (6)
2B Ono (4)
1B Katou (3)
3B Suzuki (5)
RF Sasaki (9)
LF Akawa (7)
C Tozawa (2)
P Hozumi (1)
Komono (Mie)
SS Inagaki (6)
3B Kasai (5)
CF Kawabata (8)
RF Hanai (9)
P Nishi (1)
1B Kotani(3)
LF Okuno (7)
C Uebu(2)
2B Nishiya (4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
8:31 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
And like we've seen so far this tournament, the leadoff batter quickly starts up the offense! Hashimoto drives a ball to deep left center and boy does he have wheels! He flies in with a triple!
Endou up, grounder to short! Inagaki has it! Throw home is high and wide! Hashimoto scores! 1-0 Sendai Ikuei!!
Ono bunts him along, but then he gets careless and with 2 down gets picked off 2nd. But Sendai has opened the scoring!
Bottom 1st
Hozumi gives up a 2-out walk, but that's it for Komono.
Top 2nd
After getting Suzuki to strikeout on 3 straight, Nishi hits Sasaki right on the knee. And instead of bunting, Ikuei's offense elects to hit away! That is rewarded as Ogawa singlees through the left side! Runners at 1st and 2nd! Early pinch for Nishi!
But Sasaki is still hurting from that dead ball! They have to apply the spray again to help keep the pain down!
But Tozawa with the grounder to short! Inagaki to 2nd for one! Throw by Nishiya, in the dirt!
Tozawa is safe!
Komono still in trouble! But Nishi gets counterpart Hozumi to ground to short, ending the inning.
Bottom 2nd
The bottom of the 2nd is delayed as the Sendai Ikuei staff work with Sasaki's knee. It appears to be still bothering him. (8:53 AM)
Ikuei's ace Hozumi continues to warm up on the mound. Wonder if that's a good idea considering the weather and fatigue factor...
9:01 AM... Sasaki appears from the dugout and he appears to be fine! Game on!
After the delay, Nishi is able to draw the leadoff walk. Kotani with the sac bunt, but Hozumi and Katou collide! The ball goes by! All safe!
Okuno now up. Tozawa with the snap throw to 2nd! Nishi is caught off 2nd! What a mistake by Komono! Nishi is run down 6-5-4-1!
Even more of a shame as 1st-year Okuno singles through the right side! Runners at the corners!
Uebu with the safety squeeze! But it's too hard! Katou has it throws home... and Kotani is out at home! Another misplay by Komono's offense! A squeeze rather than a safety would have done just fine!
As it stands, Komono is turned away. And it may be a precursor of things to come...
Top 3rd
Hashimoto starts the inning with a shot to the left side! Inagaki has it, but is too far to make the throw! Endou with the sac bunt to move him along.
Then Nishi hits Ono! But it looked like he picked up his foot to get hit! Just kidding, he was probably using it as a timing mechanism to swing. Another pinch for Komono!
But as quickly as it appeared, it disappears as Katou grounds into the 6U-3 double play!
Bottom 3rd
Inagaki gets Komono's offense started again with a liner to left. Kasai bunts the ball hard, but still manages to move Inagaki along.
Kawabata with the flyout to center. Inagaki going for 3rd! Hashimoto with the throw! It's on a line directly to 3rd! But Suzuki is too eager to tag him out and the ball glances off his glove!
Hanai now with the chance to tie the game, but he pops it up. After a "Billy"-type trip (from the strip Family Circus), Endou makes the catch.
Top 4th
Now THERE's something you don't see everyday. After Nishi retires Suzuki, you see him on the mound shaking his butt to the Ikuei oen-dan's music! Funny, yet somewhat strange...
But he's got a smile, and why not? Even though he's down 1-0, he's pitching well. Sasaki sees that as he strikes out.
But Ogawa is all business! He puts down the safety bunt! Nishi with the stop and throw, but not in time!
No matter though, as Nishi gets Tozawa to ground to short. Komono's really handling itself well on defense!
Bottom 4th
#17 Itou replaces Sasaki in right.
Now let's see if their offense can shape up a bit with their fundamentals...
Of course they need to get on to show those fundamentals. Hozumi retires the side in order.
Top 5th
One down, Hashimoto does what a good 1st batter does. Get on base. Another single up the middle. Kawabata goes to field it and it's off his glove! Hashimoto advances to 2nd on the error!
And Sendai Ikuei immediately makes them pay for it! Endou finally gets a chance to swing away and hits one up the middle! Inagaki has a beat on it, but the ball takes a funny bounce and it gets by him! Hashimoto scores! 2-0!
Ono then with the shot to the right side! Nishiya with the diving stop, but he can't get up and finish the play in time!
Is it bad luck? Suzuki with the slow grounder up the middle. Nishiya charging, misses colliding with Ono tries to flip the ball to 2nd, but he can't get a handle on the ball! All safe on the error by Nishiya! Manrui! Perhaps it was just bad defense (I think I jinxed them... >.< ) And it looks like Nishiya wlll be pulled. But as he goes to the dugout, the manager has some words for him then tells him to get back onto the field. A double play could still end the inning with no damage. Suzuki with the chopper to 3rd! Sakai with the tag on Ono for one! Throw to first... not in time! Endou scores and it's 3-0 Sendai Ikuei!
Itou K's to end the inning, but now his team leads by 3. Could this be too insurmountable for Komono?
Bottom 5th
Outside of a a one-out single by Nishiya to partially redeem himself, Komono fails to get anything started. Hozumi seems to be settling down nicely now.
Top 6th
Ogawa starts the inning off with his third hit of the day - a single up the middle. After a sac bunt, Nishi gets Hozumi to pop to short. 2 down... for Hashimoto...
And as we've almost come to expect from the center fielder. He gets another base hit. This time its a blast to left! Okuno and the outfield is drawn way in as the ball bounces off the wall for his 2nd triple of the game! 4-0 Sendai!
Bottom 6th
Kawabata tries to rally the troops. He hits a chopper over Suzuki's head! Endou covering gets it, but can't make the throw.
Hanai kills the momentum as he pops his bunt to the 1st baseman. Nishi works to get it back as he hits a bloop single down the left field line.
And Sendai has a conference on the mound...
Seems to work as Hazumi retires the next 2 batters.
Top 7th
Katou gets the one out single to through the right side. After a popup, Itou grounds one up the middle! Ingaki with the ball, but his throw is bad! All safe!
Nishi though buckles down and stikes out Ogawa to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
Uebu starts off the inning getting hit on a 3-2 count. Ouch.
After a sac bunt, Hozumi strikes out Inagaki. 2 down.
Then he gives up a single to Kasai, and his day is done.
#11 Kimura comes into Itou's slot and takes over on the mound. Hozumi moves to first, Katou moves to right. Also, #12 Takahashi takes over for Tozawa behind the plate.
And Kimura quickly gets Kawabata to ground back to him for the final out.
Top 8th
With one down, Hozumi gets hit by Nishi. Up steps Hashimoto, already 4-4.
Make that 5-5! A liner past Nishiya! What a performance by Hashimoto!
The scoring opportunity is short lived as Endou grounds into the 1-6-3 DP.
Bottom 8th
Komono tries to get something started with 2 down in the 8th. Kotani starts with the infield single to short. Then, Okuno draws a 4-pitch walk. And Uebu on a very close pitch, also walks! Manrui for Nishiya! Can he redeem himself again?
Behind 1-2, just fouls off the pitch! Ball way high, 2-2. Ball outside, but he swings! Slow hit to 3rd and Suzuki throws home for the force! That's got to be the end for Komono now...
Top 9th
#14 Kudou replaces Nishiya at 2nd...
Nishi gets himself into a 2-out jam giving up consecutive singles to Suzuki and Kimura before getting Ogawa to ground to 2nd.
Bottom 9th
Last ups for Komono...
Inagaki grounds to 3rd, but Suzuki's throw is off! Inagaki advances to 2nd! Then Kasai follows that with a single past a diving Suzuki. Runners at the corners for Kawabata.
And he grounds into the 6-4-3 DP. Inagaki scores, but 2 down. 4-1.
And Hanai strikes out to end the game. A nice try by Komono, but Sendai Ikuei as expected advances. Doesn't change the fact that Komono's day is over, as shown by the expression on Nishi's face. Happy as he was on the mound at Koshien, painful it also is when you have to leave.
We're winding down the 1st round matches. First up today pits Komono from Mie-ken versus Sendai Ikuei of Miyagi-ken. For Komono, this is only their 2nd appearance in the tournament. For Sendai Ikuei, this is their 3rd straight appearannce.
Both teams depend on their staff aces to carry them through the tournament. And both aces were pretty dominant. Sendai Ikuei's team is a little quirky in that the majority of their starting 9 throws right, but bats left! Perhaps to take advantage of the shorter distance perhaps?
In terms of offensive production, Komono had the more well rounded offense with all players hitting well, while Sendai's batters are more of a slugging bunch.
But the advantage has to go to Sendai Ikuei in this matchup... (although I'd like to see Komono do really well today)
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Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
CF Hashimoto (8)
SS Endou (6)
2B Ono (4)
1B Katou (3)
3B Suzuki (5)
RF Sasaki (9)
LF Akawa (7)
C Tozawa (2)
P Hozumi (1)
Komono (Mie)
SS Inagaki (6)
3B Kasai (5)
CF Kawabata (8)
RF Hanai (9)
P Nishi (1)
1B Kotani(3)
LF Okuno (7)
C Uebu(2)
2B Nishiya (4)
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8:31 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
And like we've seen so far this tournament, the leadoff batter quickly starts up the offense! Hashimoto drives a ball to deep left center and boy does he have wheels! He flies in with a triple!
Endou up, grounder to short! Inagaki has it! Throw home is high and wide! Hashimoto scores! 1-0 Sendai Ikuei!!
Ono bunts him along, but then he gets careless and with 2 down gets picked off 2nd. But Sendai has opened the scoring!
Bottom 1st
Hozumi gives up a 2-out walk, but that's it for Komono.
Top 2nd
After getting Suzuki to strikeout on 3 straight, Nishi hits Sasaki right on the knee. And instead of bunting, Ikuei's offense elects to hit away! That is rewarded as Ogawa singlees through the left side! Runners at 1st and 2nd! Early pinch for Nishi!
But Sasaki is still hurting from that dead ball! They have to apply the spray again to help keep the pain down!
But Tozawa with the grounder to short! Inagaki to 2nd for one! Throw by Nishiya, in the dirt!
Tozawa is safe!
Komono still in trouble! But Nishi gets counterpart Hozumi to ground to short, ending the inning.
Bottom 2nd
The bottom of the 2nd is delayed as the Sendai Ikuei staff work with Sasaki's knee. It appears to be still bothering him. (8:53 AM)
Ikuei's ace Hozumi continues to warm up on the mound. Wonder if that's a good idea considering the weather and fatigue factor...
9:01 AM... Sasaki appears from the dugout and he appears to be fine! Game on!
After the delay, Nishi is able to draw the leadoff walk. Kotani with the sac bunt, but Hozumi and Katou collide! The ball goes by! All safe!
Okuno now up. Tozawa with the snap throw to 2nd! Nishi is caught off 2nd! What a mistake by Komono! Nishi is run down 6-5-4-1!
Even more of a shame as 1st-year Okuno singles through the right side! Runners at the corners!
Uebu with the safety squeeze! But it's too hard! Katou has it throws home... and Kotani is out at home! Another misplay by Komono's offense! A squeeze rather than a safety would have done just fine!
As it stands, Komono is turned away. And it may be a precursor of things to come...
Top 3rd
Hashimoto starts the inning with a shot to the left side! Inagaki has it, but is too far to make the throw! Endou with the sac bunt to move him along.
Then Nishi hits Ono! But it looked like he picked up his foot to get hit! Just kidding, he was probably using it as a timing mechanism to swing. Another pinch for Komono!
But as quickly as it appeared, it disappears as Katou grounds into the 6U-3 double play!
Bottom 3rd
Inagaki gets Komono's offense started again with a liner to left. Kasai bunts the ball hard, but still manages to move Inagaki along.
Kawabata with the flyout to center. Inagaki going for 3rd! Hashimoto with the throw! It's on a line directly to 3rd! But Suzuki is too eager to tag him out and the ball glances off his glove!
Hanai now with the chance to tie the game, but he pops it up. After a "Billy"-type trip (from the strip Family Circus), Endou makes the catch.
Top 4th
Now THERE's something you don't see everyday. After Nishi retires Suzuki, you see him on the mound shaking his butt to the Ikuei oen-dan's music! Funny, yet somewhat strange...
But he's got a smile, and why not? Even though he's down 1-0, he's pitching well. Sasaki sees that as he strikes out.
But Ogawa is all business! He puts down the safety bunt! Nishi with the stop and throw, but not in time!
No matter though, as Nishi gets Tozawa to ground to short. Komono's really handling itself well on defense!
Bottom 4th
#17 Itou replaces Sasaki in right.
Now let's see if their offense can shape up a bit with their fundamentals...
Of course they need to get on to show those fundamentals. Hozumi retires the side in order.
Top 5th
One down, Hashimoto does what a good 1st batter does. Get on base. Another single up the middle. Kawabata goes to field it and it's off his glove! Hashimoto advances to 2nd on the error!
And Sendai Ikuei immediately makes them pay for it! Endou finally gets a chance to swing away and hits one up the middle! Inagaki has a beat on it, but the ball takes a funny bounce and it gets by him! Hashimoto scores! 2-0!
Ono then with the shot to the right side! Nishiya with the diving stop, but he can't get up and finish the play in time!
Is it bad luck? Suzuki with the slow grounder up the middle. Nishiya charging, misses colliding with Ono tries to flip the ball to 2nd, but he can't get a handle on the ball! All safe on the error by Nishiya! Manrui! Perhaps it was just bad defense (I think I jinxed them... >.< ) And it looks like Nishiya wlll be pulled. But as he goes to the dugout, the manager has some words for him then tells him to get back onto the field. A double play could still end the inning with no damage. Suzuki with the chopper to 3rd! Sakai with the tag on Ono for one! Throw to first... not in time! Endou scores and it's 3-0 Sendai Ikuei!
Itou K's to end the inning, but now his team leads by 3. Could this be too insurmountable for Komono?
Bottom 5th
Outside of a a one-out single by Nishiya to partially redeem himself, Komono fails to get anything started. Hozumi seems to be settling down nicely now.
Top 6th
Ogawa starts the inning off with his third hit of the day - a single up the middle. After a sac bunt, Nishi gets Hozumi to pop to short. 2 down... for Hashimoto...
And as we've almost come to expect from the center fielder. He gets another base hit. This time its a blast to left! Okuno and the outfield is drawn way in as the ball bounces off the wall for his 2nd triple of the game! 4-0 Sendai!
Bottom 6th
Kawabata tries to rally the troops. He hits a chopper over Suzuki's head! Endou covering gets it, but can't make the throw.
Hanai kills the momentum as he pops his bunt to the 1st baseman. Nishi works to get it back as he hits a bloop single down the left field line.
And Sendai has a conference on the mound...
Seems to work as Hazumi retires the next 2 batters.
Top 7th
Katou gets the one out single to through the right side. After a popup, Itou grounds one up the middle! Ingaki with the ball, but his throw is bad! All safe!
Nishi though buckles down and stikes out Ogawa to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
Uebu starts off the inning getting hit on a 3-2 count. Ouch.
After a sac bunt, Hozumi strikes out Inagaki. 2 down.
Then he gives up a single to Kasai, and his day is done.
#11 Kimura comes into Itou's slot and takes over on the mound. Hozumi moves to first, Katou moves to right. Also, #12 Takahashi takes over for Tozawa behind the plate.
And Kimura quickly gets Kawabata to ground back to him for the final out.
Top 8th
With one down, Hozumi gets hit by Nishi. Up steps Hashimoto, already 4-4.
Make that 5-5! A liner past Nishiya! What a performance by Hashimoto!
The scoring opportunity is short lived as Endou grounds into the 1-6-3 DP.
Bottom 8th
Komono tries to get something started with 2 down in the 8th. Kotani starts with the infield single to short. Then, Okuno draws a 4-pitch walk. And Uebu on a very close pitch, also walks! Manrui for Nishiya! Can he redeem himself again?
Behind 1-2, just fouls off the pitch! Ball way high, 2-2. Ball outside, but he swings! Slow hit to 3rd and Suzuki throws home for the force! That's got to be the end for Komono now...
Top 9th
#14 Kudou replaces Nishiya at 2nd...
Nishi gets himself into a 2-out jam giving up consecutive singles to Suzuki and Kimura before getting Ogawa to ground to 2nd.
Bottom 9th
Last ups for Komono...
Inagaki grounds to 3rd, but Suzuki's throw is off! Inagaki advances to 2nd! Then Kasai follows that with a single past a diving Suzuki. Runners at the corners for Kawabata.
And he grounds into the 6-4-3 DP. Inagaki scores, but 2 down. 4-1.
And Hanai strikes out to end the game. A nice try by Komono, but Sendai Ikuei as expected advances. Doesn't change the fact that Komono's day is over, as shown by the expression on Nishi's face. Happy as he was on the mound at Koshien, painful it also is when you have to leave.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Day 6 - Game 3 - Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa) vs. Urawa Gakuin (Minami Saitama)
(Due to the rain delay and the length of the other game, I am unable to watch this game live. However, I will watch the game in its entirety and have a full game report here on Day 9 of the tournament.)
The final game of the day is an all Kanto affair, and features one of the more historic, and probably opinionated teams out there...
That team I'm talking about is Yokohama. Famously home to Matsuzaka Daisuke, and a definitive powerhouse in 高校野球. I've had the feeling that people's feelings of Yokohama is split into 2 camps - those that are in awe of it, and those that would like to see it defeated.
The team asked to do that today is Urawa Gakuin. They're no stranger to this tournament, this being their 10th appearance. However, they have not had much success this decade, only advancing past the first game in 2000 and in 2002. Now they're asked to break the trend against of the historically strongest teams in the past decade.
Urawa Gakuin's strength is 2-fold. Their pitching, led by the coach's son, #10 Mori, held opponents' offenses down (30 IP, 17 H, 6 R, 26 K, 12 BB). In addition, the team is very patient at the plate (35 BB in 6 games).
Yokohama's strength is purely all around. A pitching staff led by ace Tsuchiya (37 IP, 17 H, 3 R!, 40 K, 10 BB), yielded 3 shutouts, and only 6 R in the other 3 games! They can definitely hit the ball (.360 average), and hit for power (4 3B, 13 2 B). But they're also patient at the plate (36 BB in 6 games).
Realistically, it's Yokohama's game to lose. Urawa might keep it close early, but I just can't see them pulling off the win.
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Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa)
3B Kuramoto (5)
SS Ooishi (6)
2B Matsumoto (4)
RF Ogawa Kenta (9)
LF Iwama (7)
P Tsuchiya (1)
1B Tsutsugo (3)
C Oda (2)
CF Nakahara (8)
Urawa Gakuin (Minami Saitama)
SS Sakamot (6)
2B Hanata (4)
1B Shimatsu (3)
RF Yamatani (9)
3B Misumi (5)
CF Itou (8)
LF Hasegawa (7)
C Fukushi (2)
P Mori (10)
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5:58 PM
First pitch! The winds do not seem to be blowing this late in the day.
Top 1st
Mori retires the side, but not before Matsumoto puts a scare into him as he hits a ball deep down the right field line just short of the foul pole!
Bottom 1st
Urawa gets the first hit of the game as Hanada has a one-out single to center.
Tsuchiya's control looks a little shaky to start with today.
Urawa puts on the hit-and-run! Shimatsu misses the ball, but Hanada steals 2nd easily!
And then Shimatsu draws a walk! Perhaps Tsuchiya's being squeezed a little too.
But he's fallen behind Yamatani 2-1! Fires back to even the count! And gets the K on a high fastball! And captain Misumi swings on the first pitch and grounds to 2nd! Small opportunity to get a jump on Yokohama missed!
Top 2nd
Mori's control seems off here in the 2nd. His pitches are missing the mark, and Kenta draws the leadoff walk.
Iwama bunts Kenta along for ace Tsuchiya.
Mori's pace has definitely slowed down. But his control is still a bit off. Works the count even on Tsuchiya 2-2 and strikes him out looking!
Two down for Tsutsugo. WOW!! Did he ever get a hold of that curve ball! That ball is crushed to right! A no doubt about it home run!! Yokohama on top 2-0!
Bottom 2nd
Itou starts off the inning with a solid single to right. Hasegawa pops his bunt up! Tsuchiya in to get it, and he drops it! Picks it up, throw to 1st, safe! Tsuchiya was looking ahead to doubling up Itou at first, he didn't secure the ball!
Fukushi looking to bunt, pulls it back! He swings away! Liner to Tsuchiya! But it's off him and it dribbles to 2nd base. No play, all safe!! Manrui with no outs!
Ah! Make that one! Mori swings at the first pitch and pops out to 2nd!
Sakamoto up now. Grounder to 1st! Tsutsugo playing in close dives, but it's off his glove! Matsumoto up with the ball, but too late! All safe again, and Itou scores! 2-1!
Hanada swings on the first pitch and hits a short liner! Matsumoto jumps, but can't get it! Hasegawa comes in to score! Urawa's come right back and tied the game! 2-2!! And still only one down with bases loaded!
But Shimatsu hits a comebacker to Tsuchiya! He goes to 2nd for one and Ooishi's throw to 1st is in time, double play! Ah, what a shame! Still, Urawa has answered Yokohama and evened the score.
Top 3rd
One down, Kuramoto start the inning with a chopper up the middle. Hanata makes the nice running catch, but the momentum is too much to get the throw in in time.
Ooishi to bunt him along. Mori rushes to the ball, but the throw is wide! Ooishi's safe and Kuramoto advances to 3rd!
One down for Matsumoto and he lifts one to left! Hasegawa gets under it, makes the catch. Kuramoto tags up! The throw by Hasegawa is cut off and Yokohama retakes the lead 3-2!
Bottom 3rd
Tsuchiya retires Urawa in order, certainly a nice break after last inning
Top 4th
The sun has pretty much set, and the players are playing under the lights of Koshien now.
Mori does the same for Urawa. Looks like both pitchers may be settling down a little.
Bottom 4th
Two down for Urawa, Mori draws a walk. Then Sakamoto hits a liner down the left field line! Runners at 2nd and 3rd with 2 down!
But Hanata quickly grounds to short to end the inning.
Top 5th
Oda quickly leads off the 5th with a base hit to left! Hasegawa gets it at the wall, but fumbles it! Oda in with a triple! Nakahara with the sac bunt. But Shimatsu charges in, quickly gets it and throws to 3rd, But the throw is wide and Misumi has no play! All safe!
And Mori has decided his son has seen enough. He pulls him and puts in ace Takashima.
Kuramoto manages to get a pop fly to deep left. It pulls foul, but Hasegawa catches it anyways, allong Oda to tag up and score from 3rd! 4-2 Yokohama!
Wow. The Yokohama oen-dan is LOUD. You can hear the players' names clearly when they chant them. That takes effort, and is very impressive.
Takashima retires the next 2, but Yokohama has extended their lead.
Bottom 5th
Urawa gets a one out single from Yamatani, but he is subsequently picked off during the next AB.
Heading into the break, Yokohama certainly has the advantage, but Urawa has shown that it can get base hits off of Tsuchiya so nothing's for certain just yet.
Top 6th
Yokohama goes in order, thanks to a nice running catch by CF Itou!
Bottom 6th
Itou begins with the leadoff single to center. Hasegawa looking to bunt, and Itou takes off from first! Ah, but he pops it up! Tsuchiya with the catch and easy throw to 1st for the DP.
Top 7th
There's one out for Yokohama when Oda gets his 2nd hit of the day, a blast that goes off the left field wall for a double.
Then Takashima walks Nakahara! Runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 down!
Fukumoto up, swings away early in the count and flies out to center. Up to Ooishi now.
But he hits a high popup to 2nd, and Yokohama is turned away! Even through Urawa has twice as many hits as Yokohama so far (8 vs. 4), they still trail by 4-2.
Bottom 7th
New P Takashima starts the inning with a grounder up the 3rd base line. He runs around for the leadoff double!
But Sakamot pops his bunt up! Oda with the catch and easy throw to 2nd for the DP! Another fundamental error by Urawa!
Top 8th
Matsumoto leads off the inning with a comebacker up the middle. But on the very next pitch, Kenta ground into the 4-6-3 DP.
With 2 down, Iwama resets by hitting a liner to right.
With a runner on, Takashima's pace slows down again as he worries about Iwama on 1st. Then he falls behind 3-0 on Tsuchiya. He battles back to a full count. And Tsuchiya battles back with a couple of foul balls.
Tsuchiya wins the battle! A grounder past a diving Hanata and into right center! They fly around the bases as Tsuchiya ends up on 2nd! Runners on 2nd and 3rd for Tsustugo!
Ah! He takes the ball to left field! Iwama scores! Tsuchiya heads home, he scores! Another big hit for Tsutsugo! He now accounts for 4 of Yokohama's 6 RBI's!
And Tsutsugo is lifted for a pinch runner, #16 Ariizumi. He gets a round of applause as he heads to the dugout.
Takashima is laboring a bit now, and walks Oda to put runners on 1st and 2nd.
Nakahara up now, and he hits a grounder to left! Ariizumi rounding 3rd, he heads home! Hasegawa up the the ball and fires home! Fukishi gets it, goes for the tag and they nail Ariizumi at home! Nice play!
But Yokohama now leads by 4 runs with 2 innings left to go. This looks like it could be it for Urawa.
Bottom 8th
A long ways to go for Urawa. With one down, Yamatani reaches out and puts one in the left center field gap for a double.
Misumi hits a comebacker to Tsuchiya, who throws to 2nd when he sees Yamatani off the bag. But the throw is wide and all Ooishi can do is smother it! What was Tsuchiya doing? Get the out at 1st!
Itou up, and he pops it up down the right field line. 2B and RF are converging on the ball, Ogawa slides and can't get it! Manrui for Hasegawa!!
He gets a hold of a pitch, it goes deep to left! Iwama back to the wall, leaps up, off the wall! The runners have to hold up because it might have been caught! Yamatani scores! Misumi rounds 3rd, he scores! 6-4!!
Runners on 1st and 2nd for Fukushi and still 1 down!
AH! He takes a drive to deep left center! It's going and going and, caught! It's caught by Iwama!
OH NO!!!! The runners took off on contact! Itou is scrambling to get back to 2nd. The throw to Matsumoto at 2nd... in time!!! Double play!!! First they had to hold up when they thought it was going to be caught, and it wasn't - now they run when they think it won't be caught, and it was!! What a turn of events for Urawa!!
Top 9th
Yokohama goes in order, Urawa down to their final 3 outs.
Bottom 9th
Takashima to start the inning, and he strikes out.
But Sakamoto comes back and hits a deep drive to left! It's a one hopper off the wall! He's in with a double!
Hanata with a liner down the 1st base line! Kudou dives, but can't get it! Sakamoto comes home and he scores!! 6-5!!! Only one down!
#13 Mamada comes in to pinch-hit for Shimatsu.
Mamada gets a hold of a pitch. Driven to deep left center! Caught by Iwama!! Hanata scrambles back to 2nd! 2 down!
Yamatani steps up, looking for that last hit to tie the game.
He hits it! But it's a fly ball to right! Kenta comes under it and makes the catch! Game set!
What a finish by both sides!! Yokohama holds on just barely to defeat Urawa Gakuin 6-5! If not for some fundamental errors and a little bad luck, they just might have pulled off the upset!
The final game of the day is an all Kanto affair, and features one of the more historic, and probably opinionated teams out there...
That team I'm talking about is Yokohama. Famously home to Matsuzaka Daisuke, and a definitive powerhouse in 高校野球. I've had the feeling that people's feelings of Yokohama is split into 2 camps - those that are in awe of it, and those that would like to see it defeated.
The team asked to do that today is Urawa Gakuin. They're no stranger to this tournament, this being their 10th appearance. However, they have not had much success this decade, only advancing past the first game in 2000 and in 2002. Now they're asked to break the trend against of the historically strongest teams in the past decade.
Urawa Gakuin's strength is 2-fold. Their pitching, led by the coach's son, #10 Mori, held opponents' offenses down (30 IP, 17 H, 6 R, 26 K, 12 BB). In addition, the team is very patient at the plate (35 BB in 6 games).
Yokohama's strength is purely all around. A pitching staff led by ace Tsuchiya (37 IP, 17 H, 3 R!, 40 K, 10 BB), yielded 3 shutouts, and only 6 R in the other 3 games! They can definitely hit the ball (.360 average), and hit for power (4 3B, 13 2 B). But they're also patient at the plate (36 BB in 6 games).
Realistically, it's Yokohama's game to lose. Urawa might keep it close early, but I just can't see them pulling off the win.
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Yokohama (Minami Kanagawa)
3B Kuramoto (5)
SS Ooishi (6)
2B Matsumoto (4)
RF Ogawa Kenta (9)
LF Iwama (7)
P Tsuchiya (1)
1B Tsutsugo (3)
C Oda (2)
CF Nakahara (8)
Urawa Gakuin (Minami Saitama)
SS Sakamot (6)
2B Hanata (4)
1B Shimatsu (3)
RF Yamatani (9)
3B Misumi (5)
CF Itou (8)
LF Hasegawa (7)
C Fukushi (2)
P Mori (10)
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5:58 PM
First pitch! The winds do not seem to be blowing this late in the day.
Top 1st
Mori retires the side, but not before Matsumoto puts a scare into him as he hits a ball deep down the right field line just short of the foul pole!
Bottom 1st
Urawa gets the first hit of the game as Hanada has a one-out single to center.
Tsuchiya's control looks a little shaky to start with today.
Urawa puts on the hit-and-run! Shimatsu misses the ball, but Hanada steals 2nd easily!
And then Shimatsu draws a walk! Perhaps Tsuchiya's being squeezed a little too.
But he's fallen behind Yamatani 2-1! Fires back to even the count! And gets the K on a high fastball! And captain Misumi swings on the first pitch and grounds to 2nd! Small opportunity to get a jump on Yokohama missed!
Top 2nd
Mori's control seems off here in the 2nd. His pitches are missing the mark, and Kenta draws the leadoff walk.
Iwama bunts Kenta along for ace Tsuchiya.
Mori's pace has definitely slowed down. But his control is still a bit off. Works the count even on Tsuchiya 2-2 and strikes him out looking!
Two down for Tsutsugo. WOW!! Did he ever get a hold of that curve ball! That ball is crushed to right! A no doubt about it home run!! Yokohama on top 2-0!
Bottom 2nd
Itou starts off the inning with a solid single to right. Hasegawa pops his bunt up! Tsuchiya in to get it, and he drops it! Picks it up, throw to 1st, safe! Tsuchiya was looking ahead to doubling up Itou at first, he didn't secure the ball!
Fukushi looking to bunt, pulls it back! He swings away! Liner to Tsuchiya! But it's off him and it dribbles to 2nd base. No play, all safe!! Manrui with no outs!
Ah! Make that one! Mori swings at the first pitch and pops out to 2nd!
Sakamoto up now. Grounder to 1st! Tsutsugo playing in close dives, but it's off his glove! Matsumoto up with the ball, but too late! All safe again, and Itou scores! 2-1!
Hanada swings on the first pitch and hits a short liner! Matsumoto jumps, but can't get it! Hasegawa comes in to score! Urawa's come right back and tied the game! 2-2!! And still only one down with bases loaded!
But Shimatsu hits a comebacker to Tsuchiya! He goes to 2nd for one and Ooishi's throw to 1st is in time, double play! Ah, what a shame! Still, Urawa has answered Yokohama and evened the score.
Top 3rd
One down, Kuramoto start the inning with a chopper up the middle. Hanata makes the nice running catch, but the momentum is too much to get the throw in in time.
Ooishi to bunt him along. Mori rushes to the ball, but the throw is wide! Ooishi's safe and Kuramoto advances to 3rd!
One down for Matsumoto and he lifts one to left! Hasegawa gets under it, makes the catch. Kuramoto tags up! The throw by Hasegawa is cut off and Yokohama retakes the lead 3-2!
Bottom 3rd
Tsuchiya retires Urawa in order, certainly a nice break after last inning
Top 4th
The sun has pretty much set, and the players are playing under the lights of Koshien now.
Mori does the same for Urawa. Looks like both pitchers may be settling down a little.
Bottom 4th
Two down for Urawa, Mori draws a walk. Then Sakamoto hits a liner down the left field line! Runners at 2nd and 3rd with 2 down!
But Hanata quickly grounds to short to end the inning.
Top 5th
Oda quickly leads off the 5th with a base hit to left! Hasegawa gets it at the wall, but fumbles it! Oda in with a triple! Nakahara with the sac bunt. But Shimatsu charges in, quickly gets it and throws to 3rd, But the throw is wide and Misumi has no play! All safe!
And Mori has decided his son has seen enough. He pulls him and puts in ace Takashima.
Kuramoto manages to get a pop fly to deep left. It pulls foul, but Hasegawa catches it anyways, allong Oda to tag up and score from 3rd! 4-2 Yokohama!
Wow. The Yokohama oen-dan is LOUD. You can hear the players' names clearly when they chant them. That takes effort, and is very impressive.
Takashima retires the next 2, but Yokohama has extended their lead.
Bottom 5th
Urawa gets a one out single from Yamatani, but he is subsequently picked off during the next AB.
Heading into the break, Yokohama certainly has the advantage, but Urawa has shown that it can get base hits off of Tsuchiya so nothing's for certain just yet.
Top 6th
Yokohama goes in order, thanks to a nice running catch by CF Itou!
Bottom 6th
Itou begins with the leadoff single to center. Hasegawa looking to bunt, and Itou takes off from first! Ah, but he pops it up! Tsuchiya with the catch and easy throw to 1st for the DP.
Top 7th
There's one out for Yokohama when Oda gets his 2nd hit of the day, a blast that goes off the left field wall for a double.
Then Takashima walks Nakahara! Runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 down!
Fukumoto up, swings away early in the count and flies out to center. Up to Ooishi now.
But he hits a high popup to 2nd, and Yokohama is turned away! Even through Urawa has twice as many hits as Yokohama so far (8 vs. 4), they still trail by 4-2.
Bottom 7th
New P Takashima starts the inning with a grounder up the 3rd base line. He runs around for the leadoff double!
But Sakamot pops his bunt up! Oda with the catch and easy throw to 2nd for the DP! Another fundamental error by Urawa!
Top 8th
Matsumoto leads off the inning with a comebacker up the middle. But on the very next pitch, Kenta ground into the 4-6-3 DP.
With 2 down, Iwama resets by hitting a liner to right.
With a runner on, Takashima's pace slows down again as he worries about Iwama on 1st. Then he falls behind 3-0 on Tsuchiya. He battles back to a full count. And Tsuchiya battles back with a couple of foul balls.
Tsuchiya wins the battle! A grounder past a diving Hanata and into right center! They fly around the bases as Tsuchiya ends up on 2nd! Runners on 2nd and 3rd for Tsustugo!
Ah! He takes the ball to left field! Iwama scores! Tsuchiya heads home, he scores! Another big hit for Tsutsugo! He now accounts for 4 of Yokohama's 6 RBI's!
And Tsutsugo is lifted for a pinch runner, #16 Ariizumi. He gets a round of applause as he heads to the dugout.
Takashima is laboring a bit now, and walks Oda to put runners on 1st and 2nd.
Nakahara up now, and he hits a grounder to left! Ariizumi rounding 3rd, he heads home! Hasegawa up the the ball and fires home! Fukishi gets it, goes for the tag and they nail Ariizumi at home! Nice play!
But Yokohama now leads by 4 runs with 2 innings left to go. This looks like it could be it for Urawa.
Bottom 8th
A long ways to go for Urawa. With one down, Yamatani reaches out and puts one in the left center field gap for a double.
Misumi hits a comebacker to Tsuchiya, who throws to 2nd when he sees Yamatani off the bag. But the throw is wide and all Ooishi can do is smother it! What was Tsuchiya doing? Get the out at 1st!
Itou up, and he pops it up down the right field line. 2B and RF are converging on the ball, Ogawa slides and can't get it! Manrui for Hasegawa!!
He gets a hold of a pitch, it goes deep to left! Iwama back to the wall, leaps up, off the wall! The runners have to hold up because it might have been caught! Yamatani scores! Misumi rounds 3rd, he scores! 6-4!!
Runners on 1st and 2nd for Fukushi and still 1 down!
AH! He takes a drive to deep left center! It's going and going and, caught! It's caught by Iwama!
OH NO!!!! The runners took off on contact! Itou is scrambling to get back to 2nd. The throw to Matsumoto at 2nd... in time!!! Double play!!! First they had to hold up when they thought it was going to be caught, and it wasn't - now they run when they think it won't be caught, and it was!! What a turn of events for Urawa!!
Top 9th
Yokohama goes in order, Urawa down to their final 3 outs.
Bottom 9th
Takashima to start the inning, and he strikes out.
But Sakamoto comes back and hits a deep drive to left! It's a one hopper off the wall! He's in with a double!
Hanata with a liner down the 1st base line! Kudou dives, but can't get it! Sakamoto comes home and he scores!! 6-5!!! Only one down!
#13 Mamada comes in to pinch-hit for Shimatsu.
Mamada gets a hold of a pitch. Driven to deep left center! Caught by Iwama!! Hanata scrambles back to 2nd! 2 down!
Yamatani steps up, looking for that last hit to tie the game.
He hits it! But it's a fly ball to right! Kenta comes under it and makes the catch! Game set!
What a finish by both sides!! Yokohama holds on just barely to defeat Urawa Gakuin 6-5! If not for some fundamental errors and a little bad luck, they just might have pulled off the upset!
Day 6 - Game 3 - Koryo (Hiroshima) vs. Kochi
Game 3 highlights last year's runner-ups Koryo. They return this year to reach the championship, and this time be victorious.
Their opponents are Kochi, no slouch when it comes to Koshien.
These teams are veterans to Koshien. It'll be a battle to say the least.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Koryo (Hiroshima)
SS Uemoto (6)
RF Shimokawa (9)
2B Hayashi (4)
CF Arimizu (8)
C Ishihata (2)
P Nakata (3)
3B Funaki (15)
LF Hashimoto (14)
1B Hasebe (5)
Kochi
CF Miyamoto (8)
SS Ooishi (6)
2B Takagi (4)
C Kinoshita (2)
1B Kitayama (3)
RF Maeguchi (9)
LF Shiota (7)
P Matsui (1)
3B Sakai (5)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1:10 PM
First pitch! But the clouds are looming again...
Top 1
Uemoto has a fighting AB, continuing to foul off pitches. Then he finally singles to center!
And the skies start opening up. ...
Then with the count 1-2 to Shimokawa, the umpires call the teams in...
-----------------------------------1:13PM RAIN DELAY-----------------------------------
1:33 PM - The grounds crew start putting out the quick dry powder as they look to resume play.
1:38 PM - The tarp is put on the mound again as the rain once again picks up. They still have not put out the full field tarp.
1:54 PM - The teams are warming up, more quick dry is down. The rain has subsided and the teams are ready to play again.
---------------------------------1:58PM Game Resumption---------------------------------
Top 1st (cont.)
Shimokawa puts down the sac bunt, but Koryo can't bring him home.
Bottom 1st
With one down, Ooishi singles through the left side. Then Takagi hits a liner back at Nakata. He slows it down with his glove, but one the wet ground, it dies! All safe!
But Kinoshita grounds to short! 6-4-3 DP!
Top 2nd
Koryo goes down in order.
Bottom 2nd
Kitayama starts the inning out with a liner to left. Maeguchi then worked himself a walk.
Shiota looked to bunt the runners over, but Nakata fields his position well and makes the play at 3rd!
He follows that up with a strikeout to Matsui! 2 down!
Then, Sakai works himself a walk to load the bases! Big trouble for Nakata and Koryo!
Miyamoto stands in now, and is very patient. Count goes to 2-2, and then...
...sanshin!! Nakata with the 146 kph fastball to freeze Miyamoto!
Top 3rd
Uemoto gets himself a 2-out hit, but then is caught stealing 2nd soon after.
Bottom 3rd
Nakata has his first problem-free inning. Retiring the side, including 2 strikeouts.
Top 4th
Shimokawa starts the inning with a single to center. Hayashi then singles to right! Arimizu then bunts the runners along, and big chance for Koryo!
But Matsuo fights on, getting Iihata to pop to 3rd. 2 down.
But Nakata hits a drive to deep right center!!! At the wall! Shimokawa scores! Hayashi scores! Nakata with the 2 run triple!! 2-0!!
Funaki follows that up with a single to right! Nakata scores, 3-0!!
Hashimoto then hits a ball deep to right center! That's at the wall! Funaki scores! 4-0!
Hasebe with the drive to left center! That's to the wall! Hasebe with a triple! 5-0 Koryo!!
Bottom 4th
A leadoff single by Kitayama is wiped out by a 6-4-3 DP by Shiota...
Top 5th
Matsui gets his pitches in control and retires the side including 2 K's.
Bottom 5th
Again, a mere single for Kochi as they head into the break. Nakata has settled down with his pitching nicely. #12 Taniguchi pinch hits for Matsui signaling his day is done.
Top 6th
#11 Kumon Katsuhito comes in to pitch. He makes short work of the Koryo batters.
Bottom 6th
Just when I think Nakata's settled down, he walks Takagi. Then his pickoff throw is wild! By the time the fielders get it, he's already at 3rd!
That error proves costly as Kinoshita singles through the left side! Takagi scores and Kochi is on the board! 5-1!
Then Kitayama works a walk! Runners at 1st and 2nd, no down!
#15 Nishoka comes in to pinch-hit for Shiota, the manager sensing this may be their best opportunity.
And down 1-2, he reaches out and just gets the bat on the ball. It a blooper! It's over Hayashi's head! Kinoshita scores from 2nd, and now it's 5-2!
They're slowly working their way back into it! And only 1 down!
But Katsuhito gets fooled on an offspeed pitch and can't hold his swing. 2 down.
It's up to Sakai. And he pops one into short right! Kitayama scores! 5-3!!!
Miyamoto steps up, looking to continue the rally. But he flies to right. Still, Kochi has narrowed the margin to 2! There's still a lot of game to be played now!
Top 7th
Nishioka stays in to play 1st as Kitayama moves to LF.
Two out, Koryo starts the offense going again. Uemoto singles to right. The very next pitch, Shimokawa singles to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Hayashi.
But Katsuhiko gets him to ground to 2nd.
Bottom 8th
#7 Matsumoto comes into play left.
First pitch from Nakata is all the way to the backstop. His next 3 pitches aren't even close!! What's going on?
And now Koryo's manager has called for ace Maeda to enter the game. Nakata moves to 1st and Hasebe moves to 3rd.
First pitch to Takagi is drive to center! Arimizu at the wall, looking up! It's off the wall! But Ooishi is only at 3rd!
So runners at first and 3rd for cleanup batter Kinoshita.
And he takes the ball to deep left center! That one bounces to the wall! Ooishi scores! Takagi scores! Kochi has tied the game!!! 5-5!!!!!
Kitayama hits a sharp grounder! Hayashi makes the stop! Nice play! But Kinoshita advances to 3rd. The go-ahead run is now 90 feet away!!
SQUEEZE!! But the ball is low!! Maeguchi can't get it! Kinoshita's left hanging! He's run down! What a break!
Maeguchi K's, but the damage is done! We have a new ballgame now!
Top 8th
Koryo needs to find a way to get after Kumon.
And that's a start. Arimizu starts off with the leadoff walk. Ishihata bunts him along. Opportunity now for Nakata to give Koryo back the lead.
Single to right! Arimizu rounds 3rd! He scores! Nakata with the timely hit and Koryo retakes the lead 6-5!!
Behind 2-0 to Maeda, the Kochi's manager calls for a conference. Can Kumon get settled down?
One bounder to the plate! 3-0! Finally gets one down the middle, 3-1. But the next pitch is low and he loses him!
Matsumoto now up to extend the lead. But Katsuhito can't find the strike zone!
Dead ball! Manrui for Hasebe!
Katsuhiko is laboring up there! He slowly work the count to 2-2. Fouled off... Still 2-2... Popped up! Takagi with the catch. 2 down!
Uemoto with the first pitch hit! Nakata scores! Maeda scores!! Uemoto with his 4th hit and that may break Kochi's back! 8-5!!!!
Shimokawa grounds out, but just when Kochi gets back in the game, Koryo pushes them back!
Bottom 8th
How Kochi reacts here will probably decide how this game ends.
Nishoka strikes out... Katsuhito strikes out... Sakai with the rocket to 3rd! Hasebe can't handle it! Base hit!
Miyamoto pops to 3rd... Kochi may be done.
Top 9th
The lights turn on at Koshien. And they will play the 4th game under the lights.
Koryo manages one hit, but nothing else. Kochi will be down to their final 3 outs.
Bottom 9th
It's off to a good start! Ooishi with the single through the right side! Takagi steps up and the C Ishihata pushes the outfield back.
Fouls a pitch deep into their oen-dan. Then gets too eager swinging at a ball in the dirt. Sharp grounder to 2nd! Hayashi with the stumbling stop. Goes to 2nd... OUT!
Kinoshita up now, asked to deliver another big hit. Wild pitch! Takagi advances to 2nd! Maeda then falls behind 3-1! Fouled straight back! Count full! Fouled off again. Lifted to left! But right to Matsumoto. 2 down!
It's all down to Kitayama. Grounder to short, and he's got him! Koryo gives up a 5 run lead, but comes back with 3 runs in the 8th to advance to the next round!
Their opponents are Kochi, no slouch when it comes to Koshien.
These teams are veterans to Koshien. It'll be a battle to say the least.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Koryo (Hiroshima)
SS Uemoto (6)
RF Shimokawa (9)
2B Hayashi (4)
CF Arimizu (8)
C Ishihata (2)
P Nakata (3)
3B Funaki (15)
LF Hashimoto (14)
1B Hasebe (5)
Kochi
CF Miyamoto (8)
SS Ooishi (6)
2B Takagi (4)
C Kinoshita (2)
1B Kitayama (3)
RF Maeguchi (9)
LF Shiota (7)
P Matsui (1)
3B Sakai (5)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1:10 PM
First pitch! But the clouds are looming again...
Top 1
Uemoto has a fighting AB, continuing to foul off pitches. Then he finally singles to center!
And the skies start opening up. ...
Then with the count 1-2 to Shimokawa, the umpires call the teams in...
-----------------------------------1:13PM RAIN DELAY-----------------------------------
1:33 PM - The grounds crew start putting out the quick dry powder as they look to resume play.
1:38 PM - The tarp is put on the mound again as the rain once again picks up. They still have not put out the full field tarp.
1:54 PM - The teams are warming up, more quick dry is down. The rain has subsided and the teams are ready to play again.
---------------------------------1:58PM Game Resumption---------------------------------
Top 1st (cont.)
Shimokawa puts down the sac bunt, but Koryo can't bring him home.
Bottom 1st
With one down, Ooishi singles through the left side. Then Takagi hits a liner back at Nakata. He slows it down with his glove, but one the wet ground, it dies! All safe!
But Kinoshita grounds to short! 6-4-3 DP!
Top 2nd
Koryo goes down in order.
Bottom 2nd
Kitayama starts the inning out with a liner to left. Maeguchi then worked himself a walk.
Shiota looked to bunt the runners over, but Nakata fields his position well and makes the play at 3rd!
He follows that up with a strikeout to Matsui! 2 down!
Then, Sakai works himself a walk to load the bases! Big trouble for Nakata and Koryo!
Miyamoto stands in now, and is very patient. Count goes to 2-2, and then...
...sanshin!! Nakata with the 146 kph fastball to freeze Miyamoto!
Top 3rd
Uemoto gets himself a 2-out hit, but then is caught stealing 2nd soon after.
Bottom 3rd
Nakata has his first problem-free inning. Retiring the side, including 2 strikeouts.
Top 4th
Shimokawa starts the inning with a single to center. Hayashi then singles to right! Arimizu then bunts the runners along, and big chance for Koryo!
But Matsuo fights on, getting Iihata to pop to 3rd. 2 down.
But Nakata hits a drive to deep right center!!! At the wall! Shimokawa scores! Hayashi scores! Nakata with the 2 run triple!! 2-0!!
Funaki follows that up with a single to right! Nakata scores, 3-0!!
Hashimoto then hits a ball deep to right center! That's at the wall! Funaki scores! 4-0!
Hasebe with the drive to left center! That's to the wall! Hasebe with a triple! 5-0 Koryo!!
Bottom 4th
A leadoff single by Kitayama is wiped out by a 6-4-3 DP by Shiota...
Top 5th
Matsui gets his pitches in control and retires the side including 2 K's.
Bottom 5th
Again, a mere single for Kochi as they head into the break. Nakata has settled down with his pitching nicely. #12 Taniguchi pinch hits for Matsui signaling his day is done.
Top 6th
#11 Kumon Katsuhito comes in to pitch. He makes short work of the Koryo batters.
Bottom 6th
Just when I think Nakata's settled down, he walks Takagi. Then his pickoff throw is wild! By the time the fielders get it, he's already at 3rd!
That error proves costly as Kinoshita singles through the left side! Takagi scores and Kochi is on the board! 5-1!
Then Kitayama works a walk! Runners at 1st and 2nd, no down!
#15 Nishoka comes in to pinch-hit for Shiota, the manager sensing this may be their best opportunity.
And down 1-2, he reaches out and just gets the bat on the ball. It a blooper! It's over Hayashi's head! Kinoshita scores from 2nd, and now it's 5-2!
They're slowly working their way back into it! And only 1 down!
But Katsuhito gets fooled on an offspeed pitch and can't hold his swing. 2 down.
It's up to Sakai. And he pops one into short right! Kitayama scores! 5-3!!!
Miyamoto steps up, looking to continue the rally. But he flies to right. Still, Kochi has narrowed the margin to 2! There's still a lot of game to be played now!
Top 7th
Nishioka stays in to play 1st as Kitayama moves to LF.
Two out, Koryo starts the offense going again. Uemoto singles to right. The very next pitch, Shimokawa singles to left! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Hayashi.
But Katsuhiko gets him to ground to 2nd.
Bottom 8th
#7 Matsumoto comes into play left.
First pitch from Nakata is all the way to the backstop. His next 3 pitches aren't even close!! What's going on?
And now Koryo's manager has called for ace Maeda to enter the game. Nakata moves to 1st and Hasebe moves to 3rd.
First pitch to Takagi is drive to center! Arimizu at the wall, looking up! It's off the wall! But Ooishi is only at 3rd!
So runners at first and 3rd for cleanup batter Kinoshita.
And he takes the ball to deep left center! That one bounces to the wall! Ooishi scores! Takagi scores! Kochi has tied the game!!! 5-5!!!!!
Kitayama hits a sharp grounder! Hayashi makes the stop! Nice play! But Kinoshita advances to 3rd. The go-ahead run is now 90 feet away!!
SQUEEZE!! But the ball is low!! Maeguchi can't get it! Kinoshita's left hanging! He's run down! What a break!
Maeguchi K's, but the damage is done! We have a new ballgame now!
Top 8th
Koryo needs to find a way to get after Kumon.
And that's a start. Arimizu starts off with the leadoff walk. Ishihata bunts him along. Opportunity now for Nakata to give Koryo back the lead.
Single to right! Arimizu rounds 3rd! He scores! Nakata with the timely hit and Koryo retakes the lead 6-5!!
Behind 2-0 to Maeda, the Kochi's manager calls for a conference. Can Kumon get settled down?
One bounder to the plate! 3-0! Finally gets one down the middle, 3-1. But the next pitch is low and he loses him!
Matsumoto now up to extend the lead. But Katsuhito can't find the strike zone!
Dead ball! Manrui for Hasebe!
Katsuhiko is laboring up there! He slowly work the count to 2-2. Fouled off... Still 2-2... Popped up! Takagi with the catch. 2 down!
Uemoto with the first pitch hit! Nakata scores! Maeda scores!! Uemoto with his 4th hit and that may break Kochi's back! 8-5!!!!
Shimokawa grounds out, but just when Kochi gets back in the game, Koryo pushes them back!
Bottom 8th
How Kochi reacts here will probably decide how this game ends.
Nishoka strikes out... Katsuhito strikes out... Sakai with the rocket to 3rd! Hasebe can't handle it! Base hit!
Miyamoto pops to 3rd... Kochi may be done.
Top 9th
The lights turn on at Koshien. And they will play the 4th game under the lights.
Koryo manages one hit, but nothing else. Kochi will be down to their final 3 outs.
Bottom 9th
It's off to a good start! Ooishi with the single through the right side! Takagi steps up and the C Ishihata pushes the outfield back.
Fouls a pitch deep into their oen-dan. Then gets too eager swinging at a ball in the dirt. Sharp grounder to 2nd! Hayashi with the stumbling stop. Goes to 2nd... OUT!
Kinoshita up now, asked to deliver another big hit. Wild pitch! Takagi advances to 2nd! Maeda then falls behind 3-1! Fouled straight back! Count full! Fouled off again. Lifted to left! But right to Matsumoto. 2 down!
It's all down to Kitayama. Grounder to short, and he's got him! Koryo gives up a 5 run lead, but comes back with 3 runs in the 8th to advance to the next round!
Day 6 - Game 2 - Kanazawa (Ishikawa) vs. Kiryu Daiichi (Gunma)
The second game of the day pits two teams that last appeared back in 2006.
Kanazawa made it here with a sayonara squeeze play in the 10th inning of the championship game.
Kiryu Daiichi comes in with the distraction of allegations against a lower level player of inappropriate conduct. They look to be the superior team in the matchup, but will that issue distract them?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kanazawa (Ishikawa)
LF Sasaki (7)
RF Ishino (17)
C Kawamoto (2)
1B Hayashi (3)
SS Yamamoto (6)
2B Kokon (4)
3B Nozaki (5)
CF Motoi (8)
P Sakurai (11)
Kiryu Daiichi (Gunma)
CF Tomita (8)
2B Suzuki (4)
SS Tabei (6)
1B Takenouchi (3)
RF Yoshida (9)
3B Uematsu (5)
LF Hosaka (16)
C Mikami (2)
P Nakata (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:23 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
While Tanaka gives up the leadoff walk, he retires the next 3 batters.
Bottom 1st
Sakurai gives up a one out single to Suzuki, but that runner too is left stranded.
Top 2nd
With one down Kokon draws a walk. He steals 2nd on the first pitch. Then a wild pitch sends him to 3rd! The batter Nozaki then draws another walk.
And Motoi with the squeeze! He's got it! Kokon scores! 1-0 Kanazawa!
Bottom 2nd
Sakurai gives up the single to left. And while he gets to 2nd on Uematsu's groundout, Sakurai strikes out Hosaka and gets Mikami to ground to 2nd.
Top 3rd
Sasaki with antother walk, but a nice play by Uematsu and a K by Tanaka ends the inning. Kanazawa still doesn't have a hit, but leads 1-0.
Bottom 3rd
Tanaka with the shot to left, but Sasaki makes the running catch at the base line! Tomita on the next pitch sends that to center and over Motoi's head for a double!
And Suzuki with a bounder through the left side means runners at the corners with 1 down!
Tabei ties the game with the grounder to 3rd! Tomita scores! 1-1!
Top 4th
Kanazawa retired in order. Still no hits.
Bottom 4th
Yoshida with the hit to left center. Off the wall! He's in with a double! Uematsu moves him to 3rd.
Hosaka with the grounder to short! Yamamoto goes home and Yoshida is meat at the plate. Wasn't even close.
But Kiryu gets another chance. Hosaka steals 2nd on the 1-0 pitch, then advances on a wild pitch! Mikami however grounds to short and the game remains tied.
Top 5th
I highly double Kanazawa can get another run without a hit, so it would behoove them to start now.
And they do! Motoi with the grounder off Sasaki gets the inning started! After a sac bunt, it's the top of the lineup and Sasaki.
And he sends a shot to left! Hosaka running back! He's got it! NO! He doesn't have it! Motoi rounding 3rd, he scores! Sasaki in with a triple! On the replay it shows it did land in his glove, but it bobbled about, almost had it in his left hand, and then dropped!! 2-1!!
Ishino up. Tries the squeeze! Takanouchi waits and waits... foul! Just foul! That was close!
Ishino then strikes out. @ out for Kawamoto.
He singles up the middle! Sasaki scores! 3-1 Kanazawa! The bats come alive this inning and Kanazawa takes the 3-1 lead!
Bottom 5th
After Sakurai retires Tanaka, the manager pulls him for #10 Kitada. While they do run multiple pitchers, Kitada isn't the normal replacement. In fact in the only game he pitched, he gave up 7 runs in 4 innings of work.
But the manager must know what he's doing, because Kitada retires the next 2 batters.
Top 6th
Kokon gets a one out hit, and takes 2nd on the failed hit-and-run. 2 down.
Ara? He's out? The umpire calls batter interference on Nozaki as he twirled in front of Mikami making the throw.
Bottom 6th
Tabei with the single to center to start the inning! Kitano then hits Takenouchu! And Yoshida moves them both along. Big chance!
That's it for Kitada. He's pulled for #18 Kawahara, a submariner.
First pitch to Uematsu is lifted to right. Ishino with the catch in shallow center. Tabei is going for home! The throw in by Ishino is in time to make the tag for the 3rd out! Surely they could have waited for a better opportunity.
Top 7th
Motoi leads it off with a grounder down the 1st base line for a double! He's bunted along to 3rd for Sasaki.
Squeeze! Sasaki puts the squeeze on! It works! Motoi home in!
Not done yet! Ishino with the double to left center! And Kawashima with the liner! But right at Uematsu.
Bottom 7th
Hosaka with the leadoff hit, and he eventually advances to 3rd with 2 down, but Kiryu can't get that timely hit to bring him in.
Top 8th
We're in the 8th, and this game so far has gone a neat 100 minutes.
Shimura retires the first two batters, but then gives up a walk to Kokon. The very next pitch to Nozaki and he takes that to right! All the way to the wall! Kokon scores! 5-1 Kanazawa!
Bottom 8th
Suzuki with the single to center to start the inning.
Tabei replaces him at first after his liner goes off Kawahara and right to Yamamoto. Then with 2 down, Yoshida singles to left! Runners at the corners!
But Kawahara gets Shimizu to ground to short. Time is running out for Kiryu.
Top 9th
One down, Sasaki hits a ball to center. Tomita coming in, dives, but just can't get it! Sasaki's in with a double!
Ishino with a single through the left side! Runners at the corners!
Kawamoto up. Squeeze! But it just goes foul. Squeeze again!! He pulls back. Throw to 3rd, not
in time. Ishino takes 2nd!
Wild pitch!! Sasaki comes in to score! 6-1!
Kawamoto lines out to short, and Hayahi strikes out looking.
Bottom 9th
Down to their last 3 outs. One down, PH Kojima #15, singles to left. The next PH #7 Hayashi almost grounds into the inning ending DP.
Tomita finished the game as he grounds to Kawahara. But the umpires call it foul. No wait, it's catcher interference and Tomita goes to 1st! 2 down runners at 1st and 2nd. It's small, but there's some life!
But Suzuki flies to center, and that does it. Kanagawa's bats rose to the occasion in the middle of the game as they advance with the 6-1 victory.
Kanazawa made it here with a sayonara squeeze play in the 10th inning of the championship game.
Kiryu Daiichi comes in with the distraction of allegations against a lower level player of inappropriate conduct. They look to be the superior team in the matchup, but will that issue distract them?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kanazawa (Ishikawa)
LF Sasaki (7)
RF Ishino (17)
C Kawamoto (2)
1B Hayashi (3)
SS Yamamoto (6)
2B Kokon (4)
3B Nozaki (5)
CF Motoi (8)
P Sakurai (11)
Kiryu Daiichi (Gunma)
CF Tomita (8)
2B Suzuki (4)
SS Tabei (6)
1B Takenouchi (3)
RF Yoshida (9)
3B Uematsu (5)
LF Hosaka (16)
C Mikami (2)
P Nakata (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:23 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
While Tanaka gives up the leadoff walk, he retires the next 3 batters.
Bottom 1st
Sakurai gives up a one out single to Suzuki, but that runner too is left stranded.
Top 2nd
With one down Kokon draws a walk. He steals 2nd on the first pitch. Then a wild pitch sends him to 3rd! The batter Nozaki then draws another walk.
And Motoi with the squeeze! He's got it! Kokon scores! 1-0 Kanazawa!
Bottom 2nd
Sakurai gives up the single to left. And while he gets to 2nd on Uematsu's groundout, Sakurai strikes out Hosaka and gets Mikami to ground to 2nd.
Top 3rd
Sasaki with antother walk, but a nice play by Uematsu and a K by Tanaka ends the inning. Kanazawa still doesn't have a hit, but leads 1-0.
Bottom 3rd
Tanaka with the shot to left, but Sasaki makes the running catch at the base line! Tomita on the next pitch sends that to center and over Motoi's head for a double!
And Suzuki with a bounder through the left side means runners at the corners with 1 down!
Tabei ties the game with the grounder to 3rd! Tomita scores! 1-1!
Top 4th
Kanazawa retired in order. Still no hits.
Bottom 4th
Yoshida with the hit to left center. Off the wall! He's in with a double! Uematsu moves him to 3rd.
Hosaka with the grounder to short! Yamamoto goes home and Yoshida is meat at the plate. Wasn't even close.
But Kiryu gets another chance. Hosaka steals 2nd on the 1-0 pitch, then advances on a wild pitch! Mikami however grounds to short and the game remains tied.
Top 5th
I highly double Kanazawa can get another run without a hit, so it would behoove them to start now.
And they do! Motoi with the grounder off Sasaki gets the inning started! After a sac bunt, it's the top of the lineup and Sasaki.
And he sends a shot to left! Hosaka running back! He's got it! NO! He doesn't have it! Motoi rounding 3rd, he scores! Sasaki in with a triple! On the replay it shows it did land in his glove, but it bobbled about, almost had it in his left hand, and then dropped!! 2-1!!
Ishino up. Tries the squeeze! Takanouchi waits and waits... foul! Just foul! That was close!
Ishino then strikes out. @ out for Kawamoto.
He singles up the middle! Sasaki scores! 3-1 Kanazawa! The bats come alive this inning and Kanazawa takes the 3-1 lead!
Bottom 5th
After Sakurai retires Tanaka, the manager pulls him for #10 Kitada. While they do run multiple pitchers, Kitada isn't the normal replacement. In fact in the only game he pitched, he gave up 7 runs in 4 innings of work.
But the manager must know what he's doing, because Kitada retires the next 2 batters.
Top 6th
Kokon gets a one out hit, and takes 2nd on the failed hit-and-run. 2 down.
Ara? He's out? The umpire calls batter interference on Nozaki as he twirled in front of Mikami making the throw.
Bottom 6th
Tabei with the single to center to start the inning! Kitano then hits Takenouchu! And Yoshida moves them both along. Big chance!
That's it for Kitada. He's pulled for #18 Kawahara, a submariner.
First pitch to Uematsu is lifted to right. Ishino with the catch in shallow center. Tabei is going for home! The throw in by Ishino is in time to make the tag for the 3rd out! Surely they could have waited for a better opportunity.
Top 7th
Motoi leads it off with a grounder down the 1st base line for a double! He's bunted along to 3rd for Sasaki.
Squeeze! Sasaki puts the squeeze on! It works! Motoi home in!
Not done yet! Ishino with the double to left center! And Kawashima with the liner! But right at Uematsu.
Bottom 7th
Hosaka with the leadoff hit, and he eventually advances to 3rd with 2 down, but Kiryu can't get that timely hit to bring him in.
Top 8th
We're in the 8th, and this game so far has gone a neat 100 minutes.
Shimura retires the first two batters, but then gives up a walk to Kokon. The very next pitch to Nozaki and he takes that to right! All the way to the wall! Kokon scores! 5-1 Kanazawa!
Bottom 8th
Suzuki with the single to center to start the inning.
Tabei replaces him at first after his liner goes off Kawahara and right to Yamamoto. Then with 2 down, Yoshida singles to left! Runners at the corners!
But Kawahara gets Shimizu to ground to short. Time is running out for Kiryu.
Top 9th
One down, Sasaki hits a ball to center. Tomita coming in, dives, but just can't get it! Sasaki's in with a double!
Ishino with a single through the left side! Runners at the corners!
Kawamoto up. Squeeze! But it just goes foul. Squeeze again!! He pulls back. Throw to 3rd, not
in time. Ishino takes 2nd!
Wild pitch!! Sasaki comes in to score! 6-1!
Kawamoto lines out to short, and Hayahi strikes out looking.
Bottom 9th
Down to their last 3 outs. One down, PH Kojima #15, singles to left. The next PH #7 Hayashi almost grounds into the inning ending DP.
Tomita finished the game as he grounds to Kawahara. But the umpires call it foul. No wait, it's catcher interference and Tomita goes to 1st! 2 down runners at 1st and 2nd. It's small, but there's some life!
But Suzuki flies to center, and that does it. Kanagawa's bats rose to the occasion in the middle of the game as they advance with the 6-1 victory.
Day 6 - Game 1 - Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka) vs. Hita-rin Kogyo (Oita)
And we return the next morning with clear skies and the sun shining down on the players.
Can Hita-rin Kogyo take advantage of the called game and regroup after the performance yesterday?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
CF Shimizu (8)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
3B Sano (5)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto(1)
Hita-rin Kogyo (Oita)
CF Kamachi (8)
SS Nagino (6)
3B Matsuo (5)
P Suetsugi (1)
1B Nogami (3)
LF Yokoo (7)
RF Tachikawa (9)
C Miura (2)
2B Kouda (4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
8:30 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
... and it looks like the break hasn't affected Osaka Toin's hitting! Asamura starts, hitting the first pitch to center! After a sac bunt, Morikawa comes through with the single down the left field line! Asamura scores and it's quickly 1-0 Osaka Toin!
Bottom 1st
Kamachi starts the rally for Hita-rin with a grounder through the left side! Nagino puts the bunt down, and Yuuto goes to 2nd! But Asamura can't handle it! All safe!
Matsuo sacrifices the runners along and it's a big chance for Hita-rin!
Sueutsi with the liner to center! Kamachi scores and Hita-rin strikes back! 1-1!!
And then Nogami walks! Manrui for Yokoo! But Yuuto gets him to ground to short to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Osaka Toin isn't going to take this lying down!
Kouhei reaches after being hit. He's bunted along, but Ariyama grounds to short. 2 down.
But then last batter Yuuto drives one to deep right center! One hops the wall! Kouhei scores! 2-1!
And then Asamura on the next pitch singles to center! Yuuto scores! 3-1 Osaka Toin!
That's enough for the Hita-rin manager. Suetsugi is moved to left as #10 Ootao comes in to pitch.
But he walks Shimizu on 4 straight. Not a good way to start.
He settles down though and gets Morigawa to ground to short.
Bottom 2nd
Yuuto with a quick 6 pitch inning. Osaka Toin goes back on offense again.
Top 3rd
Osaka Toin gets it 3rd leadoff runner in as many innings as Hagihara hits one down the left field line for a double!
Okumura tries to put the bunt down several times until he finally strikes out.
Then Kouhei walks. But Miura can't handle the last pitch and Hagihara advances to 3rd!
And a short grounder by Sano brings Hagihara home! 4-1!
Bottom 3rd
So after an interesting 1st inning, Osaka Toin has almost built it's lead from yesterday...
Matsuo with the one-out single, but that's it for Hita-rin...
Top 4th
Yuuto with the single through the right side for the 4th leadoff runner!
And then Asamura drives one to deep left! Suetugi goes back a couple of steps then stops and looks up! It looks like it's going to be a homerun!
But then he runs back to the wall! It's still in play! Yuuto comes all the way around 1st to score on the double by Asamura!
Now you have to wonder if he ran back to the wall if he could have had that catch! 5-1!
And it keeps on coming! Shimizu walks!
Morikawa looks to put the bunt down, but fails! 1 out.
Ah! Hagihara squeaks one through the right side! Asamura scores! 6-1!
SQUEEZE! Okumura almost falls backward as he squats to bunt a ball inside! But he does get it down! Shimizu scores! 7-1!
It's easily becoming apparent that all the rain delay did was to delay the inevitable.
Bottom 4th
And Yuuto only needs 9 pitches to get through that inning.
Top 5th
Hita-rin finally gets Osaka Toin to put up a donut as Ootao retires the side in order.
Bottom 5th
Nagino with the 2-out base hit. But again, that's it for Hita-rin...
Top 6th
#12 Hiradzuka who pinch-hit for Kouda in the 5th, stays in at 2nd.
Asamura leads off with a bloop double down the right field line! He's 4-4!
Shimizu on the next pitch with a deep shot to left! Suetsugi is way in! By the time he gets the ball in, Shimizu is in with a triple! 8-1.
Morikawa with the chopper down the middle! Shimizu scores! 9-1.
Hagihara then draws the walk. Still no down.
Osaka Toin gets their first out as Okumura sacrifices the runners along.
And it doesn't matter as Kouhei drives one to deep center! Morikawa scores! Hagihara scores! 11-1.
Ootao finally retires the next 2 batters to end the inning, but really the game is over for Hita-rin.
Bottom 6th
A leadoff single by Suetsugi is wiped out by a double play...
Top 7th
Yuuto with the drive to center for a leadoff double. Up steps Asamura, already 4-4 on the day, and he takes the first pitch through the left side. 5-5 today!
Shimizu then follows that with a liner down the right field line. He stretches that out to his 2nd consecutive triple! Yuuto and Asamura scores! 13-1.
Morikawa then draws a 4-pitch walk. Then Hagihara hits a fly to center, but it's not deep enough to score Shimizu.
But this one is! Okumura with the blast to dead center! Kamachi to the wall, and all he can do is look up as the ball flies away for a 3-run homerun! 16-1.
Ootao is pulled, and #11 Uratsuka comes in. But he walks Kouhei on 4 straight, and he's pulled.
Matsuo comes in from 3rd to pitch as #14 Yamabe comes in to play 3rd. And Matsuo gets Sano and Yuuto to fly out to end the inning...
Bottom 7th
Osaka Toin gives their ace a rest and Yuuto and Okumura switch places on the field.
#16 Yamada comes in to PH for Tachikawa. He singles to left.
Then Okumura starts losing control as he then walks Miura and Hiradzuka to load the bases!
Kamachi with the liner to left! Yamada scores! 16-2 with no out.
But then Okumura retires the next 2 batters to end the inning.
Top 8th
Osaka Toin gets another scoring chance with 2 down as Shimizu and Morikawa get consecutive singles then advance on wild pitch. But Matsuo gets Hagihara to ground to short.
Bottom 8th
#11 Nagashima comes in to pitch as Okumura returns to right. And while he gives up 2 walks with 2 down, he gets Hiradzuka to ground out.
9th Inning
The 9th inning comes and goes with a lot of substitutions, but not much else. Osaka Toin advances with the 16-2 victory.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6) - 5-6, 2 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI
CF Shimizu (8) - 3-3, 2 3B, 3 R, 4 RBI
2B Morikawa (4) - 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
1B Hagihara (3) - 2-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI, K, BB
RF-P-RF-P Okumura (9) - 1-4, HR, R, 4 RBI, 2 K
LF Fukushima Kouhei (7) - 2-3, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 BB
3B Sano (5) - 0-4, RBI
PH-LF Nagatani (12) - 0-1
C Ariyama (2) - 0-5
C Hataya (14) - No PA
P Fukushima Yuuto(1) - 3-5, 2 2B, 3 R, RBI
Hita-rin Kogyo (Oita)
CF Kamachi (8) - 2-4, R, BB, RBI
SS Nagino (6) - 1-5, K
3B-1 Matsuo (5) - 1-4
P Suetsugi (1) - 2-5, RBI
1B Nogami (3) - 0-3, K, BB
LF Yokoo (7) - 0-1 K
P-RF Ootao (10) - 0-2, K
P Uchitsuka (11) - No PA
3B Yamabe (14) - No PA
PH Kugimiya (15) - 0-1
CF Iwasaki (17) - No PA
RF Tachikawa (9) - 0-2
PH-RF Yamada (16) - 1-1, R, BB
C Miura (2) - 0-2, L, 2 BB
2B Kouda (4) - 0-1
PH-2B-3B Hiradzuka (12) - 0-2, BB
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Can Hita-rin Kogyo take advantage of the called game and regroup after the performance yesterday?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
CF Shimizu (8)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
3B Sano (5)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto(1)
Hita-rin Kogyo (Oita)
CF Kamachi (8)
SS Nagino (6)
3B Matsuo (5)
P Suetsugi (1)
1B Nogami (3)
LF Yokoo (7)
RF Tachikawa (9)
C Miura (2)
2B Kouda (4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
8:30 AM
First pitch!
Top 1st
... and it looks like the break hasn't affected Osaka Toin's hitting! Asamura starts, hitting the first pitch to center! After a sac bunt, Morikawa comes through with the single down the left field line! Asamura scores and it's quickly 1-0 Osaka Toin!
Bottom 1st
Kamachi starts the rally for Hita-rin with a grounder through the left side! Nagino puts the bunt down, and Yuuto goes to 2nd! But Asamura can't handle it! All safe!
Matsuo sacrifices the runners along and it's a big chance for Hita-rin!
Sueutsi with the liner to center! Kamachi scores and Hita-rin strikes back! 1-1!!
And then Nogami walks! Manrui for Yokoo! But Yuuto gets him to ground to short to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Osaka Toin isn't going to take this lying down!
Kouhei reaches after being hit. He's bunted along, but Ariyama grounds to short. 2 down.
But then last batter Yuuto drives one to deep right center! One hops the wall! Kouhei scores! 2-1!
And then Asamura on the next pitch singles to center! Yuuto scores! 3-1 Osaka Toin!
That's enough for the Hita-rin manager. Suetsugi is moved to left as #10 Ootao comes in to pitch.
But he walks Shimizu on 4 straight. Not a good way to start.
He settles down though and gets Morigawa to ground to short.
Bottom 2nd
Yuuto with a quick 6 pitch inning. Osaka Toin goes back on offense again.
Top 3rd
Osaka Toin gets it 3rd leadoff runner in as many innings as Hagihara hits one down the left field line for a double!
Okumura tries to put the bunt down several times until he finally strikes out.
Then Kouhei walks. But Miura can't handle the last pitch and Hagihara advances to 3rd!
And a short grounder by Sano brings Hagihara home! 4-1!
Bottom 3rd
So after an interesting 1st inning, Osaka Toin has almost built it's lead from yesterday...
Matsuo with the one-out single, but that's it for Hita-rin...
Top 4th
Yuuto with the single through the right side for the 4th leadoff runner!
And then Asamura drives one to deep left! Suetugi goes back a couple of steps then stops and looks up! It looks like it's going to be a homerun!
But then he runs back to the wall! It's still in play! Yuuto comes all the way around 1st to score on the double by Asamura!
Now you have to wonder if he ran back to the wall if he could have had that catch! 5-1!
And it keeps on coming! Shimizu walks!
Morikawa looks to put the bunt down, but fails! 1 out.
Ah! Hagihara squeaks one through the right side! Asamura scores! 6-1!
SQUEEZE! Okumura almost falls backward as he squats to bunt a ball inside! But he does get it down! Shimizu scores! 7-1!
It's easily becoming apparent that all the rain delay did was to delay the inevitable.
Bottom 4th
And Yuuto only needs 9 pitches to get through that inning.
Top 5th
Hita-rin finally gets Osaka Toin to put up a donut as Ootao retires the side in order.
Bottom 5th
Nagino with the 2-out base hit. But again, that's it for Hita-rin...
Top 6th
#12 Hiradzuka who pinch-hit for Kouda in the 5th, stays in at 2nd.
Asamura leads off with a bloop double down the right field line! He's 4-4!
Shimizu on the next pitch with a deep shot to left! Suetsugi is way in! By the time he gets the ball in, Shimizu is in with a triple! 8-1.
Morikawa with the chopper down the middle! Shimizu scores! 9-1.
Hagihara then draws the walk. Still no down.
Osaka Toin gets their first out as Okumura sacrifices the runners along.
And it doesn't matter as Kouhei drives one to deep center! Morikawa scores! Hagihara scores! 11-1.
Ootao finally retires the next 2 batters to end the inning, but really the game is over for Hita-rin.
Bottom 6th
A leadoff single by Suetsugi is wiped out by a double play...
Top 7th
Yuuto with the drive to center for a leadoff double. Up steps Asamura, already 4-4 on the day, and he takes the first pitch through the left side. 5-5 today!
Shimizu then follows that with a liner down the right field line. He stretches that out to his 2nd consecutive triple! Yuuto and Asamura scores! 13-1.
Morikawa then draws a 4-pitch walk. Then Hagihara hits a fly to center, but it's not deep enough to score Shimizu.
But this one is! Okumura with the blast to dead center! Kamachi to the wall, and all he can do is look up as the ball flies away for a 3-run homerun! 16-1.
Ootao is pulled, and #11 Uratsuka comes in. But he walks Kouhei on 4 straight, and he's pulled.
Matsuo comes in from 3rd to pitch as #14 Yamabe comes in to play 3rd. And Matsuo gets Sano and Yuuto to fly out to end the inning...
Bottom 7th
Osaka Toin gives their ace a rest and Yuuto and Okumura switch places on the field.
#16 Yamada comes in to PH for Tachikawa. He singles to left.
Then Okumura starts losing control as he then walks Miura and Hiradzuka to load the bases!
Kamachi with the liner to left! Yamada scores! 16-2 with no out.
But then Okumura retires the next 2 batters to end the inning.
Top 8th
Osaka Toin gets another scoring chance with 2 down as Shimizu and Morikawa get consecutive singles then advance on wild pitch. But Matsuo gets Hagihara to ground to short.
Bottom 8th
#11 Nagashima comes in to pitch as Okumura returns to right. And while he gives up 2 walks with 2 down, he gets Hiradzuka to ground out.
9th Inning
The 9th inning comes and goes with a lot of substitutions, but not much else. Osaka Toin advances with the 16-2 victory.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6) - 5-6, 2 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI
CF Shimizu (8) - 3-3, 2 3B, 3 R, 4 RBI
2B Morikawa (4) - 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
1B Hagihara (3) - 2-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI, K, BB
RF-P-RF-P Okumura (9) - 1-4, HR, R, 4 RBI, 2 K
LF Fukushima Kouhei (7) - 2-3, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 BB
3B Sano (5) - 0-4, RBI
PH-LF Nagatani (12) - 0-1
C Ariyama (2) - 0-5
C Hataya (14) - No PA
P Fukushima Yuuto(1) - 3-5, 2 2B, 3 R, RBI
Hita-rin Kogyo (Oita)
CF Kamachi (8) - 2-4, R, BB, RBI
SS Nagino (6) - 1-5, K
3B-1 Matsuo (5) - 1-4
P Suetsugi (1) - 2-5, RBI
1B Nogami (3) - 0-3, K, BB
LF Yokoo (7) - 0-1 K
P-RF Ootao (10) - 0-2, K
P Uchitsuka (11) - No PA
3B Yamabe (14) - No PA
PH Kugimiya (15) - 0-1
CF Iwasaki (17) - No PA
RF Tachikawa (9) - 0-2
PH-RF Yamada (16) - 1-1, R, BB
C Miura (2) - 0-2, L, 2 BB
2B Kouda (4) - 0-1
PH-2B-3B Hiradzuka (12) - 0-2, BB
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Day 5 - Game 3 - Hita-rin Kogyo (Oita) vs. Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
The final match of the day comes as gray clouds fill the skies of Koshien.
Hita-rin Kogyo making it's 4th appearance, and first in 9 years from Oita-ken has the dubious honor of drawing Osaka Toin in the first round.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hita-rin Kogyo (Oita)
CF Kamachi (8)
SS Nagino (6)
3B Matsuo (5)
P Suetsugi (1)
1B Nogami (3)
LF Yokoo (7)
RF Tachikawa (9)
C Miura (2)
2B Kouda (4)
Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
CF Shimizu (8)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
3B Sano (5)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto(1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3:31 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Hita-rin goes down in order quickly.
Bottom 1st
Asamura starts off the game with a liner to left! He's moved along by Shimizu.
Then Suetsugi gives up a walk to Morikawa. But comes back with a lineout to center against Hagihara.
Two down now for Okumura. And he takes the 1-0 pitch to center! Asamura scores! 1-0 Toin right off the bat!
The (Fukushima) Kouhei with a drive to deep right center! One hops the wall! Morikawa scores! Okumura behind him comes around. He scores! 3-0 in the 1st inning!
Top 2nd
The cameras point to the skies which have gotten a little darker...
AH! Ariyama opens the 2nd inning with a homerun to left center! 4-0!!
The rain starts to come down, and with a 3-0 count to Yuuto, the umpires call the teams in.
And just after they put the tarp down, it starts pouring.
-----------------------------------3:58PM RAIN DELAY-----------------------------------
-------------------------4:28PM GAME CALLED ----- NO GAME -------------------------
This means that this game doesn't count. The game will be played from the 1st inning tomorrow as game 1. Probably all games will by pushed back by one slot with the final game of Day 7 - Fukuchiyama Seibi (Kyoto) vs. Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) being pushed to the first game of Day 8.
Hita-rin Kogyo making it's 4th appearance, and first in 9 years from Oita-ken has the dubious honor of drawing Osaka Toin in the first round.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hita-rin Kogyo (Oita)
CF Kamachi (8)
SS Nagino (6)
3B Matsuo (5)
P Suetsugi (1)
1B Nogami (3)
LF Yokoo (7)
RF Tachikawa (9)
C Miura (2)
2B Kouda (4)
Osaka Toin (Kita Osaka)
SS Asamura (6)
CF Shimizu (8)
2B Morikawa (4)
1B Hagihara (3)
RF Okumura (9)
LF Fukushima Kouhei (7)
3B Sano (5)
C Ariyama (2)
P Fukushima Yuuto(1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3:31 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
Hita-rin goes down in order quickly.
Bottom 1st
Asamura starts off the game with a liner to left! He's moved along by Shimizu.
Then Suetsugi gives up a walk to Morikawa. But comes back with a lineout to center against Hagihara.
Two down now for Okumura. And he takes the 1-0 pitch to center! Asamura scores! 1-0 Toin right off the bat!
The (Fukushima) Kouhei with a drive to deep right center! One hops the wall! Morikawa scores! Okumura behind him comes around. He scores! 3-0 in the 1st inning!
Top 2nd
The cameras point to the skies which have gotten a little darker...
AH! Ariyama opens the 2nd inning with a homerun to left center! 4-0!!
The rain starts to come down, and with a 3-0 count to Yuuto, the umpires call the teams in.
And just after they put the tarp down, it starts pouring.
-----------------------------------3:58PM RAIN DELAY-----------------------------------
-------------------------4:28PM GAME CALLED ----- NO GAME -------------------------
This means that this game doesn't count. The game will be played from the 1st inning tomorrow as game 1. Probably all games will by pushed back by one slot with the final game of Day 7 - Fukuchiyama Seibi (Kyoto) vs. Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) being pushed to the first game of Day 8.
Day 5 - Game 2 - Toho (Nishi Aichi) vs. Hokkai (Minami Hokkaido)
The lunchtime game features 2 teams that have had experience at Koshien, just not recently.
Minami Hokkaido's representative, Hokkai, is making their 34th apperance. But it's been 9 years since they traveled down here (no doubt hampered by Komadai Tomakomai in recent years).
From the prefectural stats, only the starting 9 has had any playing time. And subsequently the game rests on ace Kagiya's shoulders.
Aichi, whose prefecture was given the gift of a 2nd team, sends Toho out of the west region. They've been here 15 times, but it's been 6 years since making the short trip here.
They appear to use a 2-pitcher system similar to Saga Kita. It'll be ace Shimodaira and Wada to lead the way.
Not to say they don't have pop too. 1B Shimizu and RF Iwada hit 2 HR's each in the prefectural tournaments.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toho (Nishi Aichi)
C Yamada (2)
LF Ayake (7)
1B Shimizu (3)
3B Nonokawa (5)
RF Iwada (9)
CF Nishimoto (8)
2B Furuuchi (4)
SS Matsunaga (6)
P Shimodaira (1)
Hokkai (Minami Hokkaido)
RF Kobayashi Tomoya (9)
LF Mine (7)
SS Kobayashi Yuuto (6)
3B Ikeda
CF Ooshima (8)
1B Shouji (3)
C Tateshima (2)
2B Takeda
P Kagiya (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12:10 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
...driven to right center! Going back, going back, GONE!! Yamada with the leadoff homerun! 1-0!!
Bottom 1st
(Kobayahshi) Tomoya with the leadoff single, but nothing else for Hokkai.
Top 2nd
Kagiya loses Hashimoto, but later gets him on a strikeout throw 'em out DP at 3rd.
Bottom 2nd
Shouji with the one out-walk, but gets doubled off when Tateshima lines out back to Shimodaira.
Top 3rd
After Shimodaira strikes out, Yamada comes back up to the plate. He gets a hold on another pitch, but this time it's a fly to center.
2 down for Ayake, and he hits a liner, going to deep right! It's gone!!! Ayake with the liner homerun and Toho now leads 2-0!! These weren't the people I thought of when I thought of homeruns!!
Bottom 3rd
Leadoff single by Takeda, Kagiya tries to put down the bunt, but instead gets Takeda thrown out at 2nd. But he does advance to 2nd on a passed ball, and then to 3rd after Nonokawa makes a running catch into the camera well.
But that's as far as he would go...
Top 4th
Two down, Toho starts the wheels churning again.
Hashimoto gets a single through the left side. The first hit that isn't a HR. Then Furuuchi doubles to right center scoring Hashimoto! 3-0!
Then Matsunaga doubles to left! Furuuchi scores! 4-0!
They take a breather as Shimodaira walks.
But that doesn't last for long as Yamada singles through the left side! Matsunaga scores! 5-0!!
So much for Hokkai being intriguing...
Bottom 4th
One out for Hokkai and Ikeda drives one to deep left center. That ball is gone! Yet another home run in this game! 5-1!
Top 5th
Toho must be seeing the ball well. Shimizu hits a ball to deep center, but it's caught by Ooshita.
Nonokawa with the drive to deep center. Ooshita is NOT going to get to this one. Homerun Nonokawa! Toho is displaying disturbingly good offense with 3 homeruns already!! 6-1!!
Then 2 down, Hashimoto with the single to right! Steals 2nd on the first pitch!
Then Furuuchi with a sharp shot to 3rd! Ikeda with the great stop! His throw, no good! And Hashimoto scores from 2nd!! 7-1!!
Bottom 5th
Hokkai needs runs now. And they seem to be sensing how critical it is now.
Tateshima starts it off with a shot up the middle. After a failed sac bunt, Kagiya gets a single to left! Then Tomoya singles to right! But Takeda puts on the brakes late at 3rd! Kagiya is caught in between! Toho runs down Kagiya, but Takeda does go home to score. 7-2.
Mine singles to right! Tomoya scores! 7-3.
But after a walk to Yuuto, HR hitter flies out to center.
Top 6th
Kagiya settles down relatively, and has a somewhat smooth inning.
Bottom 6th
Ooshita with leadoff double to right! Then with one down, Tateshima doubles to left center! Ooshita scores! 7-4!!
Takeda with the walk!
But Kagiya flies out to center...
Top 7th
...and then this game goes all to heck.
(I'll cover this when the game ends. It's that screwy)
Now that the game is over, I will go into how the last 3 innings went.
Top 7th (again...)
Shimizu comes up to bat and singles to right. He's moved along to 2nd by Nonogawa.
Then Iwada puts one through the right side! That scores Shimizu. 8-4
Hashimoto draws the walk on a full count. Now runners at 1st and 2nd.
Furuuchi then lines one off 3B Ikeda. It bounces off his head and into shallow left. While the umpires help him to the dugout, it wasn't that hard of a blow and a minute or two later he's back out again. But the bases are loaded.
And then the first pitch to Matsunaga is scorched up the middle. Iwada scores! Hashimoto comes in behind him! 10-4!
Hokkai's manager has finally seen enough, and pulls Kagiya for #18 Adachi. Problem is, during the prefectural qualifying, there was NO 2nd pitcher used.
Wada, the new P for Toho also draws a walk. Manrui AGAIN... and for Yamada.
But first a wild pitch! Furuuchi scores! 11-4!
Then, Yamada takes a ball to the left center wall!! Matsunaga and Wada score! 13-4!!
Toho is then kind enough to give us time to catch our breath as Oyake grounds to 3rd.
But it just keeps going. Shimizu, up for the 2nd time this inning, hits a single through the right side, scoring Yamada. 14-4 now.
And Nonogawa for variety hits one through the left side.
Now Adachi is pulled, and #10 Sasaki comes in to pitch.
Thankfully, he gets Iwada to pop to short.
(Hita-rin Kogyo vs. Osaka Toin is starting, so back to this game later)
(And now since the game is in a rain delay, I can finish this!)
Bottom 7th
Mine starts the inning with a walk. Yuuto follows that with a single through the right side. After an Ikeda flyout, Ooshita doubles to
Minami Hokkaido's representative, Hokkai, is making their 34th apperance. But it's been 9 years since they traveled down here (no doubt hampered by Komadai Tomakomai in recent years).
From the prefectural stats, only the starting 9 has had any playing time. And subsequently the game rests on ace Kagiya's shoulders.
Aichi, whose prefecture was given the gift of a 2nd team, sends Toho out of the west region. They've been here 15 times, but it's been 6 years since making the short trip here.
They appear to use a 2-pitcher system similar to Saga Kita. It'll be ace Shimodaira and Wada to lead the way.
Not to say they don't have pop too. 1B Shimizu and RF Iwada hit 2 HR's each in the prefectural tournaments.
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Toho (Nishi Aichi)
C Yamada (2)
LF Ayake (7)
1B Shimizu (3)
3B Nonokawa (5)
RF Iwada (9)
CF Nishimoto (8)
2B Furuuchi (4)
SS Matsunaga (6)
P Shimodaira (1)
Hokkai (Minami Hokkaido)
RF Kobayashi Tomoya (9)
LF Mine (7)
SS Kobayashi Yuuto (6)
3B Ikeda
CF Ooshima (8)
1B Shouji (3)
C Tateshima (2)
2B Takeda
P Kagiya (1)
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12:10 PM
First pitch!
Top 1st
...driven to right center! Going back, going back, GONE!! Yamada with the leadoff homerun! 1-0!!
Bottom 1st
(Kobayahshi) Tomoya with the leadoff single, but nothing else for Hokkai.
Top 2nd
Kagiya loses Hashimoto, but later gets him on a strikeout throw 'em out DP at 3rd.
Bottom 2nd
Shouji with the one out-walk, but gets doubled off when Tateshima lines out back to Shimodaira.
Top 3rd
After Shimodaira strikes out, Yamada comes back up to the plate. He gets a hold on another pitch, but this time it's a fly to center.
2 down for Ayake, and he hits a liner, going to deep right! It's gone!!! Ayake with the liner homerun and Toho now leads 2-0!! These weren't the people I thought of when I thought of homeruns!!
Bottom 3rd
Leadoff single by Takeda, Kagiya tries to put down the bunt, but instead gets Takeda thrown out at 2nd. But he does advance to 2nd on a passed ball, and then to 3rd after Nonokawa makes a running catch into the camera well.
But that's as far as he would go...
Top 4th
Two down, Toho starts the wheels churning again.
Hashimoto gets a single through the left side. The first hit that isn't a HR. Then Furuuchi doubles to right center scoring Hashimoto! 3-0!
Then Matsunaga doubles to left! Furuuchi scores! 4-0!
They take a breather as Shimodaira walks.
But that doesn't last for long as Yamada singles through the left side! Matsunaga scores! 5-0!!
So much for Hokkai being intriguing...
Bottom 4th
One out for Hokkai and Ikeda drives one to deep left center. That ball is gone! Yet another home run in this game! 5-1!
Top 5th
Toho must be seeing the ball well. Shimizu hits a ball to deep center, but it's caught by Ooshita.
Nonokawa with the drive to deep center. Ooshita is NOT going to get to this one. Homerun Nonokawa! Toho is displaying disturbingly good offense with 3 homeruns already!! 6-1!!
Then 2 down, Hashimoto with the single to right! Steals 2nd on the first pitch!
Then Furuuchi with a sharp shot to 3rd! Ikeda with the great stop! His throw, no good! And Hashimoto scores from 2nd!! 7-1!!
Bottom 5th
Hokkai needs runs now. And they seem to be sensing how critical it is now.
Tateshima starts it off with a shot up the middle. After a failed sac bunt, Kagiya gets a single to left! Then Tomoya singles to right! But Takeda puts on the brakes late at 3rd! Kagiya is caught in between! Toho runs down Kagiya, but Takeda does go home to score. 7-2.
Mine singles to right! Tomoya scores! 7-3.
But after a walk to Yuuto, HR hitter flies out to center.
Top 6th
Kagiya settles down relatively, and has a somewhat smooth inning.
Bottom 6th
Ooshita with leadoff double to right! Then with one down, Tateshima doubles to left center! Ooshita scores! 7-4!!
Takeda with the walk!
But Kagiya flies out to center...
Top 7th
...and then this game goes all to heck.
(I'll cover this when the game ends. It's that screwy)
Now that the game is over, I will go into how the last 3 innings went.
Top 7th (again...)
Shimizu comes up to bat and singles to right. He's moved along to 2nd by Nonogawa.
Then Iwada puts one through the right side! That scores Shimizu. 8-4
Hashimoto draws the walk on a full count. Now runners at 1st and 2nd.
Furuuchi then lines one off 3B Ikeda. It bounces off his head and into shallow left. While the umpires help him to the dugout, it wasn't that hard of a blow and a minute or two later he's back out again. But the bases are loaded.
And then the first pitch to Matsunaga is scorched up the middle. Iwada scores! Hashimoto comes in behind him! 10-4!
Hokkai's manager has finally seen enough, and pulls Kagiya for #18 Adachi. Problem is, during the prefectural qualifying, there was NO 2nd pitcher used.
Wada, the new P for Toho also draws a walk. Manrui AGAIN... and for Yamada.
But first a wild pitch! Furuuchi scores! 11-4!
Then, Yamada takes a ball to the left center wall!! Matsunaga and Wada score! 13-4!!
Toho is then kind enough to give us time to catch our breath as Oyake grounds to 3rd.
But it just keeps going. Shimizu, up for the 2nd time this inning, hits a single through the right side, scoring Yamada. 14-4 now.
And Nonogawa for variety hits one through the left side.
Now Adachi is pulled, and #10 Sasaki comes in to pitch.
Thankfully, he gets Iwada to pop to short.
(Hita-rin Kogyo vs. Osaka Toin is starting, so back to this game later)
(And now since the game is in a rain delay, I can finish this!)
Bottom 7th
Mine starts the inning with a walk. Yuuto follows that with a single through the right side. After an Ikeda flyout, Ooshita doubles to