Saturday, July 4, 2009

7/4 - Qualifier Update!! (Part 1)

Well, Fukuoka and Kagoshima begin their qualifiers as Hokkaido and Okinawa continue their marches.

Kita Hokkaido
Asahigawa Regional
  • A Block - The game between Asahigawa Kougyou and Asahigawa Ryuukoku for some reason wasn't played on the 3rd. Or if it was, there's been no report of it. Now that I check the news wires, it appears that a player from Asahigawa Ryuukoku has been diagnosed with the flu and as a result the game has been delayed. When they do play, they will play for the right to play Asahigawa Nishi for a spot in the sweet 16. Nishi defeated their cross-town rivals, Asahigawa Kita 11-6.
  • B Block - Asahigawa Meisei defeated Rumoi 4-1, while Asahigawadai ousted Furano 5-1. These teams will play tomorrow for a spot in the round of 16.
  • C Block - Earlier today, Asahigawa Ryouun and Furano Ryokuho dueled for a spot in the block finals. Ryokuho took the quick 1-0 lead, but Ryouun roared back with 5 in the bottom of the 1st to take a commanding lead. Ryokuho clawed back with a run in the 3rd and 2 in the 5th to get within 1. Just as they were getting close, ace Ishikawa gives up 2 runs to give Ryouun back the 3 run lead. Ryokuho , perhaps getting desparate, roars back with a big inning of their own, scoring 4 in the 6th and taking the 8-7 lead! Now it was Ryouun who would have to claw their way back, and that they did! They scored the tying run in the 7th and the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 8th! Down to their last 3 outs, Furano finds a way to tie the game once again! They have a chance to bring it to extras, but Ishikawa cannot hold off Ryouun. He gives up the sayonara run as Ryokuho can only watch as their Koshien dreams end.
Sorachi Regionals
  • A Block - Komadai Iwamizawa continues to breeze through the competition, defeating Asahigawa Ryokuryou 12-2 in 5 innings. But they'll have to wait. For Naie Shougyou, down 3-2 to Fukagawa Nishi and facing elimination, score the tying run in the 9th. And then nothing. Zeros litter the board in extras, and the game ends in a 3-3 tie! So they'll do it all over again tomorrow, and that means that whoever wins will have to had played 3 games in 3 days - with the last game against Komadai Iwamizawa - to advance. Ganbatte.
  • B Block - Sunagawa easily defeats Takikawa 6-0to reach their block final. Their opponent looks to be Iwamizawa Higashi as they lead Takikawa Kougyou 6-1 after 2 innings.
Kitami Regionals
  • A Block - The block finals here are set, and Memanbetsu and Kitami Hokuto breezed through their semifinal games to get there.
  • B Block - Here the teams had a bit more of a hard time. Engaru and Kitami Hakuyou were tied 1-1 when Engaru scored a run in the 6th and 7th to take a 2 run lead. Hakuyou though quickly tied the game in the top of the 8th, and then suddenly took the lead with a run in the 9th! Engaru though will not be denied! They score 2 in the bottom of the 9th and advance 5-4! Bihoro and Abashiri Keiyou went down to the wire as well. Nursing a 1-run lead, Nakatsuka can't hold it. Bihoro scores the tying run in the 8th. And then Bihoro breaks Abashiri Keiyou's heart as they score the sayonara run in the 9th.
  • C Block - The Kitami Regionals seem to be filled with late-game heroics. Koshimizu held a 2-1 lead against Kitami Ryokuryou from the 1st inning onward. But then in the 9th, ace Tachibana can't close the deal. He gives up 3 runs to Ryokuryou, and his team falls 4-2. The other finalist featured Kitami Kougyou and Oumu. Kitami Kougyou went ahead 3-1, but Oumu tied it up with runs in the 6th and 7th. Kitami Kougyou went back ahead with a run in the bottom of the 7th, only to see Oumu score 2 in the 8th... and never look back.
Tokachi Regionals
  • In Tokachi, it's an Obihiro sweep. In Block A, Obihiro Nougyou defeated Obihiro Hakuyou 4-0 to earn a bid. Block B saw a shocker as Obihiro Kougyou upset Shirakaba Gakuen 6-2! And while the block final game is still in progress, Obihiro Ootani has a 9-1 lead after 7 innings over Hiro-o.
Kushine Regionals
  • In Kushine, we're approaching the block finals. In Block A, Nakashibetsu and Kushiro Konan will duke it out. Block B sees Bushuukan and Kushiro Hokuyou. Kushiro Hokuyou came back quickly after a 1st inning 4-0 deficit to take a 5-4 lead. While Kushiro Tousen would tie the game up, Hokuyou would push the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 8th to advance. Rain has pushed back the schedule a day, so Block C's semi's will happen tomorrow.
Minami Hokkaido
Here in Minami Hokkaido, we're approaching the end of the regionals. Muroran and Otaru remain.

Muroran Regionals
  • Block A - Tomakomai Chuo was in a pitchers duel against Tomakomai Higashi. Higashi broke the 1-1 deadlock in the 7th with a run, but Chuo evened the score in the 8th. Then in the 9th inning, Chuo scores the sayonara run off of ace Yagi and they reach the round of 16.
  • Block B - Mukawa and Shiraoi Higashi were also involved in a close affair. Mukawa broke a 1-1 tie with runs in the 6th and 7th and ace Nishifuji held off a late charge by Shiraoi Higashi to come away with the 3-2 win.
  • Block C - Komadai Tomakomai looks to advance as they face off against Muroran Ootani.
  • Block D - Meanwhile, Hokkaido Sakae and Tomakomai Kougyou will face off in the 2nd game of the day for the right to play on.
Otaru Regionals
  • The finals are set in both blocks. In Block A, Hokushou and Otaru Ooyou will meet up. Otaru Ooyou had to hold off a late charge from Niki Shougyou and squeaked by with a 7-6 win. Meanwhile, Otaru Suisan and Otaru Kougyou will play for the 2nd bid from Otaru.
There's not enough time to cover the Kyushu region right now, but I will continue the recap later!

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