Starting in Kita Hokkaido, Nayoro has finished their regionals - and it was a hometown sweep. In Block A, Nayoro had no trouble in any of their games, defeating Toyotomi 7-3, turning around 2 days later to defeat top seed Hamatonbetsu 4-0 then putting the exclamation mark the next day by defeating Esashi 17-0 in 5 innings. It seemed more impressive given they had momentum on their side. They had earlier survived a 8-7 game in 12 innings against Rishiri, then pushing Nayoro Nougyou 14-3 in 7.
In B Block, Nayoro Sangyou advanced after defeating Wakkanai 5-3 in the finals. But that game was a bit closer. Up 3-1 heading into the 7th, Wakkanai equalized with 2. They could not build on that though as Nayoro Sangyou scored 2 in the bottom half of the frame to once again take the lead.
To the Asahigawa Regional, in A Block Asahigawa Kougyou easily beat Rumoi Senbou 11-0 in 5 innings. Kamifurano's season ended early as Asahigawa Kita opened the gates to a 21-1 victory.
The favorite out of the Sorachi Regional, Komadai Iwamizawa crusied through their 1st game, defeating Takikawa Nishi 7-0 in 8 innings. Their next opponent will be Asahigawa Ryokuryou whose 3 runs in the 5th was enough to defeat Bibai 3-1. I'm waiting for the game on the 3rd between Yuubari and Takikawa Kougyou. With all the troubles that Yuubari has gone through, and the people moving out, it'd be nice to see their team win a game.
Moving onto Kitami, the opening game in Block A was exciting as Kitami Shougyou faced off against Kiyosato. Kitashou had jumped off to a 3-0 lead in the 2nd inning, but Kiyosato fought back. Down 3-1 and running out of time, Kiyosato scored 2 runs in the 7th to tie the game. Then in the bottom of the 9th, Kiyosato pushed through the winning run against reliever Kadoma.
Unfortunately, almost all the games in the region thereafter were called games. Kitami Hokuto's 9-2 victory against Saroma was one of the closer games, while Shari fell at the hands of Kitami Hakuyou 15-0 in 5.
Tokachi's regional featured a lot of good games. In Block A, Shimizu had just gone ahead 2-1 in the 5th when Taiki scored 4 in the bottom of the frame. And while Shimizu came back with 2 runs in the 6th, they couldn't put through the tying run. Otofuke had a 3-1 lead after 1, only to see Honbetsu tie it up in the 3rd, and with the pressure on scored one in the 7th and an insurance run in the 9th to advance.
Block B sees Obihiro Kita advance with a 6-2 victory against Obihiro Sanjyou. But they must now defeat Shirakaba Gakuen today if they want their Koshien run to continue. And in Block C, Hiro-o holds off Memuro 2-1 to advance to the 2nd round.
Finally in Kushine the best game so far was between Kushiro Shougyou and Kiritappu. Kusshou had scored 5 early for an early lead. But that instantly evaporated when Kiritappu scored 5 to equalize. Crooked numbers were put up in the 6th, with Kiritappu pulling ahead 7-6. All seemed lost for Kusshou when in the 9th they scored 2 runs. And Oda, the 3rd pitcher of the day, shut the door for the 8-7 win.
Moving to the Minami Hokkaido regionals, Hakodate has finished theirs. Hakodate Fuzoku Yuuto earns the first spot defeating Shiritsu Hakodate 7-0 in 7 innings. Hakodate Kougyou defeated Hakodate Chuubu 13-1 in 5 innings for the 2nd. And finally, Hakodate Ootani squeaks through with a 1-0 win against Hakodate Shougyou.
Sapporo's 7 bids are also set:
- Block A - Eniwa Minami was up 6-2 against Sapporo Shinkawa. But then, Sapporo Shinkawa mounts a huge rally, scoring 2 in the 8th and another 2 in the 9th to put it into extras! And the momentum is just too much for Eniwa Minami as Kawamura gives up the sayonara run in the 10th.
- Block B - Sapporo Sousei, after just going up 3-0 against Sapporo Moiwa, saw that lead shrink to 1 in the 7th. But Moiwa couldn't put the douten run across...
- Block C - The Eniwa schools just can't catch a break. Eniwa Kita, up 5-0 against Sapporo Asahigawa sees them rally back with 5 in the 5th to tie. 4 runs in the 7th spell the death blow for Eniwa Kita.
- Block D - Sapporo Kita jumps out to an early 3-0 lead on Tokaidai Dai-yon and never looks back, winning 4-2.
- Block E - Kokusai Jyouhoku had no chance against Hokkai Gakuen Sapporo. Hokkai Gakuen scores 7 runs in the 2nd en route to a 12-2 win.
- Block F - Sapporo Okadama also takes an early lead on Sapporo Ryuukoku. Down 4-1 in the 9th, Ryuukoku's rally runs short though as they can only plate 2 runs.
- Block G - Last year's participant Hokkai won a slug fest against Sapporo Nichidai 7-6 to advance to the block final. But Sapporo Dai-ichi would not be denied, shutting out the squad for a 1-0 victory and a spot in the sweet 16.
Elsewhere in the brackets, Abuta fell to Muroran Ootani 21-1 in 5 innings in Block C. In Blcok D, crooked numbers littered the Biratori-Hobetsu matchup. Tied 3-3 in the 2nd, Biratori scores 4 unanswered runs. Then up 7-4, they score another 3 runs in the 8th to go up 10-4. But Biratori's ace Sumiyoshi could not hold the lead. Hobetsu scores 2 in the 8th, and then 5 in the 9th inning for the stunning 11-10 win.
And finally the Otaru regionals started yesterday at Otaru Sakuragaoka Stadium. After the teams traded runs in the 5th inning, Iwanai scores what would be the go-ahead run in the 6th to defeat Otaru Chouryou 2-1. And finally, Furubira scores 4 in the 5th to take a 4-2 lead against Niki Shougyou. But Nikishou comes back with a run immediately in the bottom half of the frame, and another run in the 7th to equalize. The final dagger comes in the 9th as Furubira's Yamazaki gives up the sayonara run.
And across the country in Okinawa, the 2nd weekend of competion has concluded. Top 4 seed Chubu Shougyou had trouble with Kadena pushing through the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 8th for a 3-2 victory. Urasoe Shougyou fulfills their part of the bargain with a 9-0 rout of Hentona to face Chubu Shougyou. And Chubu will have their hands full.
In other 1st round games, Nago Shougyou squeaks by with a 2-0 win against Hokubu Nourin. Kouyou faded late against Urasoe, giving up 5 runs in the 7th to a 8-1 mercy loss.
Top seed Kounan under Shimabukuro wins their first game 2-0 against Misato. Their next opponent will be Shuri, who dispatched Chinen 10-0 in 6. Koza advances with a 4-2 win over Okinawa Shougaku. And Naha Kougyou up 7-1 survives a late charge from Okinawa Tousen. They score 2 in the 8th and the 9th, but still fall 7-5.
In 2nd round action, the fireworks didn't start for Tomishiro and Naha Shougyou until extra frames. Tied 1-1 since the 3rd, Tomishiro scores 2 in the top of the 12th. With their backs against the wall, Naha Shougyou somehow comes back to score 3 runs for the 4-3 sayonara victory. Ginowan, nursing a 1-0 lead scores 2 insurance runs in the 7th against Okinawa Kougyou. They needed those runs as Okinawa Kougyou rallies in the 9th. They come within 1, but it's not enough.
So that's a wrap for recaps for now. I'll be back with review for the Kyushu prefectures.
1 comment:
Love the site again this year. I have been checking this and the Asahi site constantly, and things are really ramping up this weekend.
If you need me to contribute anything, let me know. I can maybe fill in brackets or write up a quick summary if you need.
Don't work too hard!
--Ken D.
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