Well, there are supposed to be 7 bids up for grabs today, weather permitting. The Chubu, Hokushinetsu and Kanto regions are slated for rain I think later, so perhaps they'll get the games in.
Anyways, here are the recaps and finals matchups for today:
Aomori
As mentioned before, Aomori Yamada finds themselves in familiar territory looking for their 6th straight summer appearance and 10th summer overall. On the other side sits Oominato, looking for their first ever.
Sadly, one has to think that this is a one-sided affair. Outside of the 2-0 win over ②Seiai, their smallest margin of victory was 6 in the semis against Misawa. The pitching staff has given up all of 3 runs in 6 games.
Oominato has some good games behind them, but had to survive some close games against Hachinohe Kita, Aomori and Aomori Minami.
So can David slay Goliath?
Niigata
In the 2nd semifinal Gosen, looking for their first ever appearance, broke a 3-3 tie with Chuuetsu in the 5th with a run. That lead would last, until the bottom of the 8th. That was when Chuuetsu scores 2 to take the 5-4 lead. Toujyou shuts the door and they advance to the finals!
Their opponent will be Nihon Bunri, who have made their fair share of appearances (both spring and summer). And their run has been equally as impressive as Aomori Yamada - a margin of victory of at least 7, and only 1 run given up in 30 innings (a lot of mercy games).
On the other hand, outside of their first game, they've been involved in close low-scoring affairs.
The difference is that both teams have experience. Nihon Bunri has 4 summer and 3 spring appearances, with their last summer appearance when I saw them live in 2006. Chuuetsu has 8 prior summer appearances with the last one being in 2003.
Gifu
In the 2nd semifinal yesterday, Chuukyou scored to in the top of the 8th for a 2-1 lead over Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou. But then in the bottom of the 9th, Gifu scores 2 for the heart-crushing loss for Chuukyou.
So Kakamigahara will be looking for their 1st ever bid, but it's up against Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou who has appeared 26 times in the summer Koshien and 27 in the spring.
Neither team, at least according to the scores, have been dominating. This could be an interesting matchup, but by experience alone the advantage has to go to Kenristu Gifu Shougyou.
Mie
In the 2nd semifinal, Mie had no problems with Kogakkan, winning 7-0 in 7, setting up a finals matchup with Kaisei.
Kaisei (11 summer, 2 spring, last summer apperance in 1998), had some trouble with Hisai and Kuwana Nishi in their first games of the tournament, but have since cruised since then. Mie (9 summer, 9 spring, last summer appearance in 2006) also had a rought 2 game stretch against Inabe and Kinkidai Tousen.
Hard to say who will advance here. Finally, what appears to be an equal matchup.
Kyoto
While Kyoto Gaidai Nishi scored the 1st run in the semifinal, Fukuchiyama Seibi scored two immediately in the top of the 4th. And when Gaidai Nishi pulled within one in the bottom of the 8th, Seibi shut the door with 3 runs in the 9th for the 6-2 win.
And so it will be (Ryuukokudai) Heian, who's appeared more times than I can count (28 summer, 36 spring, last summer appearance 2003) versus Fukuchiyama Seibi (3 summer, 1 spring, defending champion)
Heian has dominated their half of the bracket, while Seibi has been dealing in close pitching matches. You have to figure this to be a low scoring affair, but who knows?
Tokushima
Tokushima Kita shocks Naruto Kougyou in the 1st semifinal responding to Naruto's runs with more of their own! They outslug them to win 10-6 and advance to the finals! The matinee game sees Ogata pitch a 2-hitter for Naruto Dai-ichi as they beat Komatsushima Nishi 2-0.
And so at Oronamin C Stadium we have Tokushima Kita looking for their first bid versus Naruto Dai-ichi, looking for their 2nd overall (their only other summer appearance being in 2004, though they had 4 other spring appearances prior).
Nagasaki
Nagasaki Nichidai vs. Souseikan. They should get their game in today. You can refer to yesterday's post for info.
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10:35 AM - Mie's finals have been postponed due to rain.
11:41 AM - Gifu's finals have also been postponed.
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12:37 PM - Tokushima's finals have been postponed.
Niigata's finals are underway, and it may be over before it starts. Nihon Bunri scores 7 in the 1st and are in the top of the 2nd. Not good for Chuuetsu.
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1:27 PM - Aomori joins the list of those that have been postponed.
Looks like rain delayed proceedings at Niigata as the game is only at the top of the 4th and the score is 8-1 Nihon Bunri over Chuuetsu.
Fukuchiyama Seibi scores 2 in the top of the 1st inning over Ryuukokudai Heian. But Heian scores 2 in the bottom of the 2nd to tie it, and one in the 4th to take the 3-2 lead. The game moves to the top of the 6th.
Nagasaki Nichidai jumps all over Souseikan in the top of the 1st inning, scoring 4 runs. We're in the bottom of the 1st.
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2:07 PM - Chuuetsu gets a run back in the 5th, but they still trail 8-4 as they bat in the top of the 7th.
In Kyoto, Seibi turns the tables! They score a run in the top of the 6th and another in the 8th for a 4-3 lead! Heian has 6 more outs to try and rally!
Nagasaki Nichidai extends their lead to 6-2. The game goes into the top of the 4th.
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2:28 PM - Nihon Bunri scores one more in the bottom of the 7th and it's 9-4 in their favor.
Fukuchiyama Seibi is 3 outs away from securing Kyoto's bid! They still lead 4-3 over Ryuukokudai Heian!
Nagasaki Nichidai leads 6-2 over Souseikan in the middle of the 5th.
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2:44 PM - It's over in Kyoto! Somehow, someway, Heian scores 2 in the bottom of the 9th and defeats Fukuchiyama Seibi 5-4!!
In Niigata, Nihon Bunri scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th and it's 12-4 over Chuuetsu.
Souseikan gets one run in the 5th and it's now 6-3 Nagasaki Nichidai.
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3:06 PM - Nihon Bunri finally seals the deal defeating Chuuetsu 12-4 for Niigata's bid.
Souseikan gets another run back in the bottom of the 7th and trail 6-4 as they head to the top of the 8th.
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3:34 PM - Nagasaki Nichidai gets back the run in the top of the 8th and go on to win 7-4 over Souseikan.
And that's it for bids today!
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1 comment:
I think this rain delay will be good for the Ominato pitcher. There is a chance that he can pitch them past Yamada, but it will take the perfect game from him. I would love to see this small school make it to Koshien. Yamada has been there too often recently. Go Ominato.
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