Kita and Minami Hokkaido Qualifying

Well, the Hokkaido region (both of them) have finished up preliminary regional qualifying. So let's go through each part and see who's qualified.

Kita Hokkaido

Kitami Regionals
There wasn't much excitement in Kitami until the 30th where Kitami Ryokuryou broke a 2-2 deadlock against Abashiri Keiyou with 4 in the top of the 9th.

In the end, the three qualifiers to advance are Kitami Hakuyou, Engaru, and Kitami Ryokuryou.

Asahikawa Regionals
In Block A, Kamifurano trailed Rumoi Senbou 8-4 going into the late innings when they scored 4 in the 7th to tie it up. The game would remain tied until the 11th where Kamifurano would send Rumoi packing. The victory was short lived though, as in their next game against Asahikawa Kita, they trailed 3-0 going into the 8th where Asahikawa Kita would score 13 runs to end the run.

Earlier in the day, Asahikawa Jitsugyou was in danger of being eliminated as Asahikawa Meisei had scored 2 runs in the 7th to tie the game at 2 all. But they would plate a run in the bottom half of the inning to re-take the lead. And ace Suzuki would make it stick.

In Block B, Asahikawadai would be upset in their first game by Asahikawa Minami, unable to overcome an early 6-0 deficit.

In the end, Asahikawa Jitsugyou, Asahikawa Minami and Asahikawa Ryuukoku would advance.

Tokachi Regionals
Tokachi opened with an exciting game as Shimizu would edge out Obihiro Kougyou 2-1 in 10 innings.

Then, in Block C, Obihiro Ryokuyou would wait until the last possible moment to beat Obihiro Sanjyou 1-0.

But in another upset, Shirakaba Gakuen doesn't advance out of regional play as they fall 1-0 in 10 innings to Obihiro Nougyou in the block final.

So your participants are Obihiro Hakuyou, Obihiro Nougyou, and Obihiro Ootani.

Sorachi Regionals
Well, one block was completely dominated. Komadai Iwamizawa blew through their 3 games by a combined score of 23-1 to win Block A.

In Block B, we had our first real long-inning game where Fukagawa Nishi said sayonara to Iwamizawa Ryokuryou 2-1 in 14 innings. They would reach the block final and give Takigawa Nishi a good run (considering they mercy ruled 15-0 in 5 innings in their first 2 games). But after falling behind 2-0, they would only get one run back in the 7th.

Nayoro Regionals
In Nayoro, the blocks were fairly clear cut. Wakkanai Ootani and Nayoro Sangyou each advanced with little difficulty.

Kushine Regionals
It was almost the same in Kushine. Bushuukan and Kushiro Kounan both advanced out of Blocks A and B easily. But in Block C, Kushiro Kougyou's Ooi let a 3-run lead slip in the bottom of the 9th. They would win with a run in the 10th, but it was a scare nonetheless. They would beat Teshikaga 5-0 in the block final to advance.


Minami Hokkaido

Sapporo Regionals
Perhaps one of the biggest upsets in Hokkaido happened in Block A. Sapporo Kousei and ace Okuyama limited Hokkai to just 1 run in a 7-1 trouncing in the block final.

In Block B, Kita-Hiroshima upset Sapporo Shinkawa after scoring 5 unanswered runs in the 7th to 9th innings to tie the game, then scored the sayonara run in the 10th. They would lose to eventual block winners Sapporo Nichidai.

In Blocks C & D, Ritsumeikan Keishou and Hokkai Gakuen Sapporo both advanced with little difficulty.

Sapporo Dai-ichi blew through Block E winning its 3 games by a combined score of 29-0 in a total of 17 innings.

Sapporo Okadama gained momentum as they progressed through Block F culminating in a 11-3 win against Sapporo Moiwa.

Finally in Block G, it was thrown open after Sapporo Teine rallied from 3-0, and 6-3 against Sapporo Ootani, breaking through in a 5-run 8th inning to win a slugfest 11-10. That opened the road for Sapporo Shiroishi to blow through the block and advance to the prefectural finals.

Otaru Regionals
Hokushou was given a scare in the Block A final against Kucchan, making a 1-0 1st inning lead stick.

Over in Block B, Iwanai edged Futaba 6-4 in 10 innings, then rallied against Otaru Suisan. They scored 4 in the 4th after falling behind 3-0, then after giving up the lead again, scored 4 in the 8th after being behind 5-4 to eventually win 8-7.

Muroran Regionals
Hokkaido Sakae had no trouble in Block A, and neither did Muroran Ootani in Block B. Shiraoi Higashi defeated Tomakomai Kougyou 3-1 in the Block C final, and Komadai Tomakomai continues to try and get back to Koshien, defeating Muroran Toushou 9-0 in 7 innings to win Block D.

Hakodate Regionals
Hakodatedai Yuuto almost didn't reach the prefectural finals, trailing Iwanai 2-1 in their very first game in Block A. But they would level the score in the 8th, then score 2 in the 10th to advance. That scare must've woken them up as they had no issues the rest of the way.

Hakodate Shougyou didn't have much trouble in Block B, while in Block C Hakodate Kougyou defated block favorite Hakodate Nishi 7-0 in 8 innings.

So there you have it. We have our final field of teams in Hokkaido with some well-known teams missing, but a lot of favorites still remaining.