7/9 Update - Keep calm and scramble on...

During the week most prefectures are off on qualifying except for the Kyushu region.  Some though with the sheer amount of schools have no choice but to continue playing through the week.

Gunma
8 games in play yesterday, and there was quite a few heart-stoppers.

At Shikishima, Tone Shougyou scores a run in the 7th and 8th innings and holds of Tatebayashi for the 3-2 win.  Moving to Takasaki, Nishioura fights hard against Tone Jitsugyou in the late innings and a 3-spot in the bottom of the 8th is just enough to win 6-5.

And best of all in Kiryuu, Shiritsu Maebashi scores 4 runs in their last 6 outs to tie at 5 against Tokiwa, then had to score a run in the bottom of the 10th to keep the game going... where it ended in a 6-6 draw!  Fortunately, the draw is in an early round that whomever wins gets 4 days off before their next game.

Ibaraki
There was more of the same here in Ibaraki:

• At Mito Municipal, Sakai trailed Mito Dai-ichi for 6 innings before scoring a pair of runs in the 7th and 8th to win 4-2.
• In Ibaraki Prefectural, Asou had to play catchup in the late innings against Iwai, tying the game twice, and the only lead they had was when they won the game in the bottom of the 10th.
• Over at Tsuchirura Tsuchiura Dai-ni sent out 5 pitchers to stave off Edogawa Gakuen 6-5.
• Moving on to Hitachi Naka Municipal Kamisu's Tanabe barely made a 6-run 4th stick against Kaiyou to win 6-5.

Higashi Tokyo
Only 5 games in Higashi Tokyo, all at either Meiji Jingu or Jingu #2.

Showa Tetsudo, who has a really cool building, outlasted Nakano Kougyou 14-8 in the opening game at the main stadium.  Shukutoku Sugamo staved off a mercy rule loss to Arakawa Kougyou in the 5th, but couldn't complete a comeback losing 10-7.

Fukuoka
The scares continue in Fukuoka.  Minami F-Block seed Fukuokadai Oohori made a single run in the 1st stick to get past Shuuyuukan 1-0. But for the most part, seeded teams like Toukai Dai-go and Ikutokukan got by with ease.

Saga
Midori no Mori still 1 day behind in games thanks to an opening day rainout.  Karatsu Nishi holds off Karatsu Seishou 5-4.

Blue Stadium opened on time, and there we had Kishima Shougyou using a 4-run 6th to tie the game against Kanzaki, winning it in the bottom of the 9th.

Nagasaki
6 games in Nagasaki today, and of note Isahaya Nougyou scrambles in the 7th and 8th innings for 4 runs to defeat Nagasaki Kakuyou 7-6.  Also one of my favorite teams, the seeded Seihou, started off slow defeated Chinzei Gakuin 3-0.

Kumamoto
Things relatively quiet in Kumamoto.  Mostly blowouts, and 5-Seed Toukaidai Seishou had no issues with Yatsushiro.

Oita
Same in Oita.  Tsurusaki Kougyou, Yufu and Touin all advance with no issues.

Miyazaki
Seeded teams kicked off yesterday.  Nichinan Gakuen, Nisshou Gakuen, and Nobeoka Gakuen all advanced, though Nisshou Gakuen only got by Nichinan 3-0.

Kagoshima
(This update covers all games from opening to yesterday)

So opening day in Kagoshima gave those that stayed after the ceremony a good show.  Kagoshima Jyousei trailed Tanegashima 2-0 before scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th and held on for the win.

First full day of action was rather uneventful with mostly blowouts.  Tokunoshima did break a scoreless draw with 2 in the 7th to defeat Izumi Chuo, and Sensatsu Seishuukan used a 4-run 8th to break a 3-3 tie over Hayato Kougyou and win 7-5.

On the 8th, there was 2 close games - Kagoshima Gyokuryuu scored a run in the 8th and 9th to defeat Kagoshima Suisan 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th while Koniya used a 4-run 8th to pass Kanoya Nougyou 6-3.

Same with yesterday - mostly non-competive games.  But Kagoshima Tousen held off a 9th inning rally from Tsurumaru to win 2-1, while Satsuma Chuo won their 2nd game over Takeokadai 2-0.

Interestingly though, in the final game at Kamoike, the combined team of Ariake・Kushira Shougyou・Minami-Oosumi did actually win their first game, and in convincing fashion over Sueyoshi 8-1 in 7 innings.