We're onto round 2 now, and first up two of the first day winners - Kamimura Gakuen and Fukuchiyama Seibi.
Kamimura Gakuen pulled away from Chuugoku champ Iwakuni in the 2nd half of the game. This after Yanagawa had pretty much keep the Kamimura offense in check early. However, ace Azuma wasn't all too sharp, issuing 6 walks in the affair and going to numerous more full counts. Of course, he had 4 full days of rest, so that should certainly help.
Fukuchiyama Seibi benefited from a big inning against Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku ace Uehara and reliever Ushioku though they had opportunities all game.
Ace Ishihara was helped out by early swings from the opposition, but there was still a few times where he wound up going deep into counts. The contact wasn't solid by the opposition, but Ishihara's control didn't seem to be exceptional.
These two schools certainly had the better pitching on the mound, and was part of the reason why they advanced. This should be a decent test for both teams.
Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima)
CF Nakayama Kouki
SS Tokou Masao
3B Kojima Chikara
1B Yamamoto Takuya (#9)
P Azuma Michihiro
LF Kido Keiji (#17)
C Toyoda Shougo (#12)
2B Kawano Ryou
RF Nozaki Taisei (#7)
Fukuchiyama Seibi (Kyoto)
SS Nishida Tomonori
RF Kimura Noritsugu
C Sano Yuusuke
3B Maeda Ryouta
1B Nishimoto Masaki
LF Fujita Taisei
2B Oomura Ryou (#12)
CF Kimura Soutarou
P Ishihara Takeji
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12:00 - First pitch!!
Top 1st
Nakayama getting a feel of things, chases Ishihara's changeup low for the first out.
Tokou though hits a fastball back up the middle for a base hit. There's no bunting from Oda-kantoku, and Kojima winds up hitting a popup to center. Oomura goes out to field it, but it's Soutarou that waves him off at the last minute to make the catch.
And we already see the difference between last game and this one as Yamamoto gets a slider up, but swings under it for the 3rd out.
Bottom 1st
A couple of balls to start off by Azuma, but Nishida flies out to Nozaki near the foul line.
Noritsugu gets a hold of a curve, but not good enough as Nozaki winds up in front of the fence to make the catch.
Azuma shakes off Toyoda several times with Sano at 1-2, and pays as he hits a comebacker up the middle for a base hit.
However Maeda, ahead 2-0 can't cash in as he flies out to left to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Both offenses who had success their prior games are expectedly struggling. Azuma succumbs to the changeup. And while Toyoda gets lucky when his fly to shallow center is allowed to fall between Oomura and Soutarou, it is sandwiched between to skied balls to Nishida.
Bottom 2nd
Azuma registers his first K of the day, getting Nishimoto to miss on the curveball.
He doesn't get the same luxury with Fujita as he takes the curve through the right side. And again with bench starter Oomura! First pitch swinging repeats the base hit! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Soutarou!
Early on though it seems like Ishihara is having the better of it as a lot of Azuma's pitches aren't really close, and Soutarou waits for his lining a shot to right loads the bases! Oda-kantoku calls time...
The one pitch that seems to be working is the curveball, but that's not necessarily a good thing...
He has to throw something else... and now the count runs full!
SANSHIN!!! Azuma goes with the fastball and Ishihara chases what would have been ball 4! 2 down!
AH!!
Nishida first pitch swings and drives the ball to center! Nakayama running back, turning back, turning again, leaping and it's over his head! Everyone will score with the runners taking off and it's 3-0 on the double by Nishida! Nakayama made a complete mess of that ball, though to be fair it was right at him so it might have been hard to judge.
Noritsugu pops out to Toyoda to end the inning, but Azuma's issues from Game 1 haven't gone away...
Top 3rd
Nakayama, trying to make up for that hits a ball deep to left center for a double.
However, Ishihara gets Tokou and Kojima to pound the ball into the ground, and that takes care of the threat in the 3rd.
Bottom 3rd
Azuma gives up another free pass, this time to Sano to start the 3rd. Tadokoro-kantoku not bunting, and Maeda winds up flying out to right.
Nishimoto one of the few batters struggling as he goes down for the 2nd time, this time thinking the curve was outside.
Fujita gets a hold of one and takes it the other way! Nozaki has no chance at it as it falls in! Sano comes around all the way from 1st to score and it's 4-0 Seibi! Oomura pops out to retire the side, but Kamimura Gakuen already in real trouble early.
Top 4th
As shown by #10 Ueshin warming up.
Azuma grinding at the plate, earns his walk when Ishihara's slider misses the plate. Kido just avoids the double play running out the play instead of diving into 1st.
He's rewarded as Toyoda gets his 2nd hit in as many ABs with a clean single to right.
And now it's Ishihara who can't find the zone! He's missing everywhere against Kawano and though he manages to fill up the count, he walks him! Manrui for Kamimura as Nozaki steps in!
Ishihara tries some offspeed pitches, but falls behind 2-0! Comes back with some fastballs to even the count, but his changeup once again misses filling up the count! Nowhere to put him!
And he gets him to pop up! Nozaki gets under the fastball and pops up to 2nd! Oomura in shallow center makes the catch and the chance for Kamimura goes begging!
Bottom 4th
Azuma goes into one of his hot-cold streaks as he retires both Soutarou and Ishihara, but then walks Ishida and Noritsugu.
He gets bailed out by Nozaki when Sano hits a ball into the gap in the right side. Nozaki ranges over to get it, is out of position to throw to 1st, but notices that Noritsugu is off the bag at 2nd and fires there to get him for the 3rd out!
Top 5th
Fukuchiyama Seibi has been doing their homework. Nakayama clobbers a liner to left, but Fujita already playing back goes to the wall and makes the catch. Tokou and Kojima are retired not soon after and Kamimura might need a new game plan.
Bottom 5th
Maeda first pitch sends a ball to right center. Nozaki over to field it, over runs it and it goes to the wall! Maeda on his wheels gets to 3rd on the misplay!
And Nishmoto exacts revenge on Azuma as he singles to center to make it 5-0!
Fujita bunts him along to 2nd to try and tack on another run. Meanwhile things go from bad to worse for Kamimura as a routine grounder to 2nd by Oomura becomes anything but when Yamamoto was charging in and Azuma was late covering.
Soutarou follows that up with a single to center making it 6-0 Seibi.
Ishihara bunts the runners along hoping Nishida can drive in more runs, but Azuma thankfully gets him to hit one off the end of the bat. Nozaki secures it to retire the side, and as we hit the break, Seibi has completely dominated this matchup from the get go.
Top 6th
If there's any consolation, despite being down 6-0, Ishihara is approaching 80 pitches, so perhaps if they continue to work counts, they might get him to tire later on.
Yamamoto does just that, working the count full, but he foul tips the fastball into Sano's glove for the 1st out.
However, Azuma and Kido are retired on just 5 pitches, and that's the inning.
Bottom 6th
Azuma's time on the mound is over for now. #10 Ueshin comes in for Nozaki and takes the hill. Azuma goes to 3rd, Kojima goes to 1st, and Yamamoto goes to RF.
It's not a good start as Ueshin plunks Noritsugu. Then Sano gets on safely for the 4th time with a single to left.
They catch a small break when Maeda grounds to Azuma. He goes to the bag at 3rd to cut down the lead runner.
But the hits keep coming, Nishimoto continues on the rampage with a shot past Kojima down the 1st base line scoring Sano to make it 7-0. Fujita hits into the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning, but it looks like we might get back on track timewise given the score.
Top 7th
Ah... Well, there's a slight delay as Nishida is writing in pain near 2nd. Turns out that on the throw to 2nd, the ball bounced up and hit him... in the family jewels. He needs a moment but winds up being ok.
Toyoda continues to be a bright spot in the lineup as he singles to right. But just as quickly it's snuffed out by a 4-6-3 double play. Ueshin strikes out to retire the side.
Bottom 7th
#4 Miyazaki comes in to hit for Oomura, which leads me to believe it was him and not Nishida that got hit.
Miyazaki comes right in and singles to right - then gets replaced by #18 Nakajima who promptly steals 2nd. After giving up a walk to Soutarou and then striking out Ishihara, #18 Shinzato comes in to pitch for Ueshin.
To which things continue to get worse for Kamimura. Nishida drives a ball to right center that Nakayama sells out for and misses. 2 RBI triple makes it 9-0.
After another K, Shinzato gives up back to back hits, scoring one more to make it 10-0. Azuma has a chance to end the inning on Nishimoto's grounder, but he doesn't field it cleanly, and his throw short hops Kojima who can't snag it. Another run scores to make it 11-0.
With a walk to Fujita to load the bases, Shinzato is relieved by #11 Oomura. It also brings up prior PR Nakajima for an AB.
He grounds to 2nd and the inning is finally over.
Top 8th
#15 Kondou comes in for PR Nakajima to take over at 2B.
Kamimura possibly looking to finish the game as quickly as possible are retired in order on just 7 pitches.
Bottom 8th
Soutarou with his 3rd hit of the game, a triple to right center. One down, and #17 Horie comes in to hit for Nishida and grounds out. Tokou can't field the grounder from Noritsugu cleanly and that tacks on another run, 12-0. He gets caught stealing 2nd, so that'll be it for the scoring.
Top 9th
#16 Tanimoto comes in for PH Horie and takes over at SS.
Ishihara having some control issues late, should haven been shut down earlier due to blowout.
Yamamoto draws a walk, but Azuma and PH #2 Kodama go down on strikes.
Toyoda finally is retired as he pops out to Nishimoto to end the game.
Wow that was a blowout. Not much to say there other than Fukuchiyama Seibi dominated the entire game. However, the one caveat is that ace Ishihara threw a lot of pitches in the game - many unnecessary perhaps as they might have wanted to save his arm for the next game. We shall see.
Notable Players
Ishihara Takeji (Fukuchiyama Seibi) - CG, SHO, 5 H, 8 K, 3 BB
Sano Yuusuke (Fukuchiyama Seibi) - 4-4, 3 R, BB
Kimura Soutarou (Fukuchiyama Seibi) - 3-4, 3B, 3 R, RBI, BB
Azuma Michihiro (Kamimura Gakuen) - 5 IP, 6 ER, 11 H, 4 K, 3 BB
Toyoda Shougo (Kamimura Gakuen) - 3-4, 2B
Nakayama Kouki (Kamimura Gakuen) - 1-4, 2B, K
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