7/11 Update!

Tournaments are starting across the nation, and I haven't even covered half of the prefectures yet. Oy. As a result, I'm going to have to gloss over the recaps as I've been furiously trying to get the brackets down (haven't even worked on the time schedules you see on the sheets...

So beginning in Kita Hokkaido, we've reached our final 16. There are several participants from the last decade, including Komadai Iwamizawa, Asahigawa Jitsugyou, Asahigawa Kita, Asahigawadai and Asahigawa Kougyou. Komadai Iwamizawa survived a scare from Naie Shougyou as they tied the game up 1-1 in the top of the 9th. Iwamizawa however, scored the sayonara run in the bottom half of the frame.

Others, like Sunagawa, are just happy to be here. They made it after suriviving a 15 inning affair. Tied 2-2, Iwamizawa Higashi scored 2 in the top of the 15th. At the end of the line, Sunagawa miraculously pulled off the comeback, scoring 3 in the last inning.

Minami Hokkaido is also in their sweet 16. Komadai Tomakomai looks to return for the 7th time this decade!! One of the two teams to break that streak, Sapporo Dai-ichi, has also made the field. Mukawa, looking to return to Koshien again this year also makes the field.

Yamagata begins play today, and the first game was painful. Yamagata Jyouhoku puts up 3 innings of 15, 9 and 9 runs en route to a 36-0 win over Shounai Nougyou. In progress right now, Yamagata Shougyou scores 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game against Yamagata Higashi!

Fukushima also started today, and theironly game of the day saw Onahama and Toono scoring early and often. When Onohama scored 6 in the 2nd, Toono responded with 5 in the bottom of the inning to make it 7-6. But another 6-run inning in the 6th proved to be too much as they go on to win 15-11!

In Saitama, the opening game saw Chichibu defeat Kawaguchi Kougyou 5-1.

Moving along to Chiba, their games start all across the prefecture. At Chiba Prefectural, Takushoudai Kouryou scored a walkoff run against Kenritsu Funabashi. At Chiba Marine Stadium, Ourin scored 3 runs late to defeat Ichikawa Kougyou 3-1.

Blitzing over to the Kansai area, the opening game of the Mie prefecurals saw Hisai break a scoreless draw in the bottom of the 9th against Toba. They will now face seeded Kaisei.

Nara has it's 2nd day of compeition. In day 1, Kashiba scores the sayonara run against Kashihara Gakuin 4-3. Day 2 is a bit of a relief as Tenri gets a relatively easy 6-2 win over Kashihara. Next up for the men in purple is Tedzukayama.

***UPDATE*** Yamagata Higashi scores 1 in the top of the 10th, 4-3 over Yamagata Shougyou!

Fukuoka is in it's 7th day of competition, and with over 100 games being played since I last covered it - I'll have to get back to you on that. However, the last 4 participants are still in the running - Iidzuka, Higashi-Fukuoka, Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou and Yanagigawa.

***UPDATE*** Yamagata Shougyou ties it up in the bottom of the 10th!!!

I'll have to pass over Kagoshima as well, all of the seeded teams to play so far have won, with Kamimura Gakuen having the most trouble defeating Reimei 4-1.

Finally in Okinawa, we're at the sweet 16. Chubu Shougyou did send Urasoe Shougyou home 4-1. Yaeyama Shoukou defeated Haebaru 6-0. Ginowan, Okinawa Suisan and Ishikawa all look to return to Koshien. Others like Koza, Oroku and Motobu look to get there for their first time.

That's all the time I have now. Translating brackets is more than a full-time job...