Fall Tournament Update #4

So to recap the completed Super-Regionals (alternates, possible invitees):

Hokkaido Super-Regional - Hokkai
Tohoku Super-Regional - Tohoku, Kousei Gakuin (Aomori Yamada, Sendai Ikuei)

Now for the ongoing super-regionals:

Kanto Super-Regional
The draw for the Kanto Super-Regional has been held. Urawa Gakuin holds the only 1st round bye. Matchups are:

Hidari Bracket

• Sano Nichidai (Tochigi 1) vs. Kasukabe Kyouei (Saitama 2)
• Suijyou (Ibaraki 1) vs. Nihon Koukuu (Yamanashi 2)
• Maebashi Ikuei (Gunma 1) vs. Washinomiya (Saitama 2)
• Kisaradzu Sougou (Chiba 1) vs. Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa 2)

Migi Bracket

• Yokohama (Chiba 1) vs. Takasaki Shougyou (Gunma 2)
• Koufu Kougyou (Yamanashi 1) vs. Kasumigaura (Ibaraki 2)
• Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku (Tochigi 2) vs. Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku (Chiba 2)
• Urawa Gakuin (Saitama 1 ) - Bye

Quick thoughts:

1. What's up with Suijou facing Nihon Koukuu. I liked how Suijyou played in their game at Koushien, but they have to face Nihon Koukuu. I'm covering this regional under protest!!
2. Toukaidai Sagami is the leader to reach the super-regional final on the left side of the bracket. Kisaradzu Sougou will be no pushover though, and if Suijyou makes it to the semifinals, well that will make for a good rematch!
3. It looks like a Yokohama - Urawa Gakuin semifinal on the right side - that would be a Ken vs. Deanna matchup there. Heh. I don't know if the university schools will pose a threat, but it's possible.
4. So with 4 teams, I figure the semifinalists (and ergo qualifiers) will be Suijyou, Toukaidai Sagami, Yokohama and Urawa Gakuin.

Tokyo Super-Regionals
The round of 16 and 8 have been completed and we're down to the Best 4. And the field isn't exactly what you would think.

After handling Nissho Gakushadai Fuzoku 3-0, Nichidai-ni was thrown for a loop by Hachiouji, getting upset 4-3. Those were the first runs Hachiouji has given up so far in the super-regional as they blanked both Meijidai Nakano-Hachiouji, and Toritsu Ikubunkan.

It was not a good week for the Meiji schools as Meijidai Meiji was blanked by Waseda Gakuin 4-0. Kokugakuin Kugayama did the same thing to Shuutoku for a surprise upset. The surprise continued as Kokukaguin Kugayama upset Waseda Gakuin 9-2 and is now 2 wins away from a Koushien appearance!

Moving along to the other side of the bracket, Toritsu Shouwa edged Toritsu Kunitachi 2-1, but didn't face Kokugakuin! They were upset by Toukaidai Takanawadai 5-2! And with that upset, Shouwa breezed through Takanawadai 4-1 for a spot in the semifinals.

About the only thing that did go right was the last quadrant where Nichidai-san defeated Setagaya Gakuen 6-3 just like their first round, then defeated Kousei Gakuen 8-1.

Nichidai-san has the inside track to earn the bid, but I'm not sure I can sleep on Kokugakuin Kugayama.

Hokushinetsu Super-Regionals
The draw has occurred for the super-regionals and they are the following:

Hidari Bracket

• Sakurai (Toyama 1) vs. Fukui Shougyou (Fukui 3)
• Saku Chousei (Nagano 2) vs. Sado (Niigata 2)
• Fukuoka (Toyama 3/4) vs. Kanazawa (Ishikawa 1)
• Hokuetsu (Niigata 3) vs. Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui 1)

Migi Brakcet

• Fukui Koudai Fukui (Fukui 2) vs. Shin-Minato (Toyama 2)
• Yuugakukan (Ishikawa 3) vs. Tokyo Shidai Shiojiri (Nagano 1)
• Nihon Bunri (Niigata 1) vs. Toyama Dai-ichi (Toyama 3/4)
• Matsushou Gakuen (Nagano 3) vs. Kanazawa Sakuragaoka (Ishikawa 2)

Is it bad that I think that Fukui could possibly have 3 of the 4 semifinalists? Saku Chousei could challenge Fukui Shougyou, but I'm not sure. Tsuruga Kehi will only have Kanazawa to worry about. So it could possibly be a replay of the Fukui semifinal!

About the only possible obstacle to having 3 Fukui semifinalists is Yuugakukan. They've always been a good team, and could give Fukui Koudai Fukui a challenge. As for the last semifinalist, it could be Nihon Bunri although Matsushou Gakuen could put up a fight.

Toukai Super-Regional - No change here, see last post for draws. Tournament begins on the 23rd.

Kinki Super-Regional
Osaka
Well, things on the surface went as expected. With the recent emergence of Riseisha, Uenomiya Taisha stood no chance, falling 8-0 in 7 innings. There was a beatup in the other semifinal, but it was one-sided as PL Gakuen was actually mercy-ruled by Osaka Touin 9-2 in 8 innings!

In the final, it was actually Riseisha who set the pace, never trailing throughout the game taking a 1-0 lead in the 2nd, and having a response for each Osaka Touin score. They led 4-3...

...until the bottom of the 9th. That was when Osaka Touin staged a late rally, scoring 3 runs and coming from behind to win their 2nd consecutive title and surprisingly, only their 4th total.

Uenomiya Taishi would be the bridesmaid in all of this as PL shuts them out (only to the tune of 3-0) to take the last spot.

Nara
With Tenri and Chiben Gakuen winning by the mercy rule in the semifinals, it would guarantee that one of these schools would be the fall champ for the 4th consecutive year.

The final would see Chiben Gakuen blank Tenri, winning 3-0 and giving Chiben Gakuen their 13th title, but 1st in 10 years!

So our field as set as follows:

• Shiga - Hachiman Shougyou, Murayama
• Kyoto - Tounan, Kyoto Gaidai Nishi, Kyoto Seishou
• Osaka - Osaka Touin, Riseisha, PL Gakuen
• Hyogo - Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku, Kakogawa Kita, Houtoku Gakuen
• Nara - Chiben Gakuen, Tenri
• Wakayama - Chiben Wakayama, Wakayama Kougyou, Wakayama Shougyou

Again, I'll wait to see the draw before I make any analysis.

Chuugoku Super-Regional
The draw has occurred for this super-regionals as well. This is how it shook out:

Hidari Bracket

• Hiroshima Kokusai Gakuin (Hiroshima 2) vs. Yasugi (Shimane 4)
  
• Matsue Shougyou (Shimane 1) vs. Soushi Gakuen (Okayama 2)
  
• Iwakuni (Yamaguchi 1) vs. Tottori Shougyou (Tottori 3)
  
• Ube Koujyou (Yamaguchi 3) vs. Tottori Ikuei (Tottori 1)
  

Migi Brakcet

• Kanzei (Okayama 1) vs. Tokuyama Shoukou (Yamaguchi 2)
  
• Yazu (Tottori 2) vs. Okayama Gakugeikan (Okayama 3)
  
• Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutsu (Hiroshima 3) vs. Taisha (Shimane 2)
  
• Izumo (Shimane 3) vs. Onomichi (Hiroshima 1)

On the left side, I don't really see a clear favorite. Perhaps Iwakuni, maybe Matsue Shougyou. The right side has the more well-known teams such as Yazu and Kanzei. I still would like to see Onomichi make it, but the road won't be easy.

Shikoku Super-Regional
Kagawa
So Kagawa Nishi looked to be in the driver's seat against Sangawa, scoring 1 in the 3rd, 2 in the 4th and 1 in the 6th to lead Sangawa in the final 4-0.

But then Sangawa staged a rally. Three in the bottom of the 6th immediately got the deficit to 1. And in the 9th, a double would plate both the tying and sayonara run to give Sangawa the 2nd consecutive title and 3rd overall.

Marugame Jyousai would handle Kanonji Chuo 8-1 to earn the last bid. We'll see how the draw works out.

Kyushu Super-Regional
Here is the draw for the Kyushu Super-Regional:

Hidari Bracket

• Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka 1) vs. Senshuudai Tamana (Kumamoto 4)-Kagoshima Shougyou (Kagoshima 2) winner
  
• Nobeoka Gakuen (Miyazaki 1) vs. Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa 2)
  
• Shuugakukan (Kumamoto 1) vs. Ryuukoku (Saga 2)
  
• Hasami (Nagasaki 1) vs. Oita (Oita 2)
  

Migi Brakcet

• Kounan (Okinawa 1) vs. Souseikan (Nagasaki 2)-Chikuyou Gakuen (Fukuoka 3) winner
  
• Kyushu Gakuin (Kumamoto 2) vs. Karatsu Shougyou (Saga 1)
  
• Touin (Oita 1) vs. Saito Shougyou (Miyazaki 2)
  
• Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima 1) vs. Kumamoto Kokufu (Kumamoto 3)-Kurume Shougyou (Fukuoka 2) winner

Even though Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku supposedly gets an easier matchup because of the extra game their opponent will have to play, their road will not be easy until the semifinal.

Kounan should have an easy first round, but after that could face Kyushu Gakuin, then Kagoshima Jitsugyou. I can see Kounan making it, but as for the other side, I'm not sure.