Well, not many surprises yesterday. Today even more well-known names look to keep it scratch.
First up is Kendai Takasaki. In their 2 games so far, the final score indicates that they have easily cleared their opponents. But there is a slightly disturbing trend in the games. Everytime it takes several innings for the team to figure out the pitcher on the mound. When they do however, they unleash the proverbial can of whoop-ass.
The last game against Souseikan was a good example. In that game, they scored their 3 runs against Fujisaki in the 5th, knocking him out. Then when Mizunaga comes in, it resets until the 8th where they score 5 and knock him out.
It would follow then if you had several servicable pitches, you'd sub in one for the other before that happens. By that reasoning Kendai would have to continue resetting and adjusting, never actually breaking through.
Chances are though Akita Shougyou has their ace, and that's probably it. Now, that ace can apparently hit 140, and limited Ryuukoku to just 3 hits, but Ryuukoku is no Kendai Takasaki.
As for the offense, Akita Shougyou had good scoring opportunities in the game, but still managed just 3 runs. With that being said, it does not bode well.
So this game should be advantage Kendai Takasaki.
Akita Shougyou (Akita)
CF Aida Kaito
SS Kusanagi Teruya
1B Takeda Yoshiki
3B Kominami Akira(?)
P Narita Takeru
2B Furuya Ryouhei
LF Narita Kazu
RF Konno Toui
C Kudou Kei
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi Takasaki (Gunma)
CF Kasuga Yuuma
SS Hayashi Kenya
2B Souma Masato
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke
C Tsuge Sena
RF Miyamoto Takahiro (#17)
1B Kotani Kaisei (#13)
LF Satou Nozomu
P Hashidzume Naoya (#10)
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First pitch!
Top 1st
First pitch is a slider fouled off.
Hey, I like this cheer from Akitashou. Seems new, but I can't place it.
Anyways Aida with a good start as he singles back up the middle. No bunt from Kusanagi, but he knows what to do and hits the ball behind the runner to advance him to 2nd.
But on a hit-and-run Takeda lines out to left and Aida just runs home as he's doubled off.
Bottom 1st
Hayashi with a grounder to short, but Hayashi muffs on the ball, and continues to do so until he has no play.
And now he takes off for 2nd! Throw from Kudou not in time!
No matter though as Narita strikes Souma out on a fastball on the outer half!
The Okinawan Shibahiki reaches out and takes the outside fastball the other way for a base hit! The throw goes to 2nd as Hayashi makes it 1-0 Kendai Takasaki!
Top 2nd
One down and Takeru singles back up the middle. Hashidzume put himself into a bit of a jam when he walks Kazu with 2 down.
Uh oh!! Konno reaches down and drives a ball to center! Kasuga running back, but he's not going to get to it! Both of the Narita's are going to score on the double from Konno and Akitashou has responded by taking the lead!
Kudou with a ball to right center! Kasuga coming in... slides.. makes the catch! That saves a run, but not the other 2 that gave Akitashou the lead!
Bottom 2nd
Miyamoto gets on via the walk and the douten runner is on.
Then he's off. Off to 2nd, and after a strong throw from Kudou, off to the dugout.
It's then becomes a 1-2-3 inning and Kendai Takasaki is up to their normal offensive struggles early.
Top 3rd
Hashidzume finally gets a 1-2-3 inning of his own, and a quick one at that at 6 pitches.
Bottom 3rd
Takeru continuing to dominate Kendai batters. Gets another K when hit gets Kasuga watching, and though he walks Hayashi there's no harm done.
Top 4th
Kominami singles to right to start the inning. Takeru then singles to left.
Furuya bunts, throw to 1st, one down...WAIT!!!
Souma can't hold onto the throw and everyone's safe!! Manrui for Akitashou with no out! Kendai Takasaki calls time.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!! Kazu lays down the bunt, and Hashidzume can't shovel the ball home! They have to go to 1st and cede the run! It's 3-0!
Hashidzume gets Konno swinging for the 2nd out. He grounds to 3rd, but Akitashou extends their lead!!
Bottom 4th
Another free pass from Takeru starts the inning. But after not bunting on the batter immediately following, he does out with 1 down and almost falls into another double play!
And now Kotani with the safety bunt that catches everyone off guard!
But Satou grounds to first and the opportunity ends there.
Top 5th
Meanwhile Akitashou continues to hit. Aida rips one past a standing Shibahiki for a single.
Kusanagi tried to bunt, but with 2 strikes winds up looking st strike 3 instead.
They try for the hit and run instead but just advance the runner instead.
Kominami with a ball to the left side... Hayashi makes the great diving stop. Goes to 3rd! And they catch Aida off the bag! He tries to hold up, but slips instead! 3 out!
Bottom 5th
#3 Ooshima to hit for Hashidzume, his day is done.
Blooper to center, Aida charging in dives... makes the catch!
Kasuga goes after the slider and strikes out for the 2nd time.
Hayashi tries to bunt his way aboard, but that fails sending us to the break where Akita Shougyou is the team dominating, and Kendai Takasaki is still trying to unlock ace Narita.
Top 6th
Ace Kawai enters the game and proceeds to lock things down. Takeru chases the slider, while Furuya can only watch his slider go over the plate.
And as Kazu goes down swinging, he strikes out the side!
Bottom 6th
Souma for sure thinks he's got ball 4 on a full count pitch, but instead he's rung up! Ball called as hitting the bottom of the zone, and there's 1 down.
Shibahiki tries to give the ball a ride to left, but Kazu is there in front of the fence for the 2nd out.
And now if you're Kendai Takasaki you're a little concerned. Tsuge grounds to 2nd and they're down to the final third of the game!
Top 7th
Kawai getting more and more Ks now 5 in a row.
Aida ball to right center... Kasuga and Miyamoto come in.. they collide! Kasuga has the ball, but he's in pain!!
The replay comes and OH MY GOD.
Miyamoto's entire weight comes onto Kasuga's extended leg and bends it in a very bad manner. The stretcher comes out and Kasuga may be done for the tournament...
Bottom 7th
Which, if Kendai Takasaki can't find 2 runs will be really soon....
Miyamoto is up to start the inning, and he goes down swinging. Kotani takes 3 consecutive pitching inside after falling behind 1-2 and draws the walk.
Satou grounds to 2nd, and Akita Shougyou plays it safe getting the lead runner.
Kawai goes down looking on a fastball at the corner and Kendai Takasaki in a lot of trouble now.
Top 8th
WHAT? How is Kasuga back out there? I would have sworn he would be done after that.
Kusanagi hot shot to 3rd, Shibahiki with the diving stop! Throw to 1st good for the out.! Nice play!
It's another clean inning for Kawai, but all he can do is hold serve.
Bottom 8th
Kasuga first pitch swinging flies out to right.
Hayashi, despite getting on base twice, gets his first hit dumping a ball into left.
Hit-and-run!! Souma singles to left and has the time finally come for Kendai Takasaki? Akita Shougyou quickly calls time.
Double steal!!
Kudou throws to 3rd.. AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He short hops Kominami and the ball gets away! The runners advance and Hayashi makes it 3-2!!
Shibahiki ball to right... Konno dives... HE CAN'T GET THERE!!
The ball gets by him and to the wall! Shibahiki gets all the way to 3rd and we're all tied at 3-3!!
Tsuge ball to 2nd, and it's a contact play! Furuya goes home.. and they get Shibahiki! 2 out!
Miyamoto grounder to 3rd, Kominami with it, goes to 1st... AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
He sails it over 1st! The runners advance and now it's a big pinch for Akitashou!
They'll walk Kotani to create the force.
Satou liner to center! Aida is there and there's the 3rd out! Akitashou stops the bleeding, but has given up the lead!
Top 9th
There's nothing to say here other than Kawai has done exactly what the number on his back is supposed to do. He closes this inning out too and has faced the minimum number of batters in his 4 innings of relief!!
Bottom 9th
Kawai shot down the 3B line! Kominami dives.. and stops the ball, quick throw to 1st.. can't be a diving Kawai! Sayonara runner on as the lineup turns over!
Kasuga fouls off the first bunt and goes swinging thereafter. But he chases a fastball at the eyes for the 1st out.
Hayashi swinging away as well, but flies out to left. Are we headed to enchousen?
Souma pops it up! Kominami in foul territory has it sized up... and makes the catch! Yes, we are headed to enchousen!
Top 10th
One down and Kudou a screaming liner up the 3rd base line, but Shibahiki makes the snag for the out!
Aida with Akitashou's first hit! It a ball to left center! While Satou misplays it, it would have gone for a double anyways.
Wild pitch from Kawai! That puts the gyakuten runner at 3rd!
Kusanagi ball to the left side, and that goes through for a base hit!! Aida scores and Akita Shougyou may have weathered the storm! They're back in front 4-3!
And another wild pitch from Kawai! That puts another runner in scoring position!
Takeda pops out to short to end the inning, but Kendai Takasaki has to scramble yet again!
Bottom 11th
Shibahiki jammed, but with the defense back, his blooper to short left center falls in!
#16 Yanagimoto comes in to run for him.
Tsuge drive to deep center!! Aida running back, leaps... and makes the catch! One down!
Miyamoto grounder to 2nd, they go to 1st and there's 2 down!
Kotani liner to center.. Aida leaps... And has the catch!! Akita Shougyou pulls of the 4-3 win over Kendai Takasaki!
I wouldn't have seen that coming, and I love Kendai Takasaki. So it's sad when there's an upset like this (I mean why couldn't some other power school be upset?). But you know what? Good for Akita Shougyou. Their prefecture is more often than not beleaguered and gone early. So for a team to reach the best 8? Good for them.
Showing posts with label Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi. Show all posts
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Friday, August 14, 2015
Day 9, Game 3 - Souseikan (Nagasaki) v Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
The last game of round 2 hopefully isn't a blowout, though it might be.
Souseikan faced Tenri in the first round and dug in against the Nara champs eventually walking them off in the 9th. The pitching wasn't anything to write about either, so that plus Kendai's propensity to run will put the defense at risk.
Kendai Takasaki took a while to warm up, but exploded for 8 runs in the 3rd against Sangawa. The speed is there but it appears it is more selective than just running around the bases. The pitching wasn't bad, but like many other teams wasn't great either.
Kendai Takasaki should be favored to win this matchup and then get an easy pairing with Akita Shougyou in 2 days time.
Souseikan (Nagasaki)
1B Torikai Ritsuki
RF Shimada Rkiya
CF Mine Shuuta
LF Washzaki Jyun
C Oota Keisuke
SS Uto Kenyarou(?)
2B Nakajima Takashi
3B Nakajima Kouki
P Fujisaki Mitsugu (#10)
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi Takasaki (Gunma)
CF Kasuga Yuuma
SS Hayashi Kenya
2B Souma Masato
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke
C Tsuge Sena
RF Miyamoto Takahiro (#17)
1B Kotani Kaisei (#13)
LF Satou Nozomu
P Hashidzume Naoya (#10)
____________________________________________________________
14:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Torikai drive to left center! Kasuga and Satou converge, but it goes off the fence and bounces away from both of them! Torikai in with a leadoff triple!
Shimada does his job, flies out to left and brings Torikai in making it 1-0.
Bottom 1st
Kasuga splits the defense on the left side for a single. No bunting, but Hayashi grounds into a tailor-made 5-4-3 double play.
Fujisaki puts a runner back on though as he hits Souma.
Shibahiki tries to give the ball a ride, but Satou has plenty of room to make the catch.
Top 2nd
Hashidzume's delivery causing fits for most of the Souseikan lineup. Unable to make decent contact they are retired in order.
Bottom 2nd
The same can be said for Fujisaki's sidearm delivery. Miyamoto draws a walk, but then he's caught trying to get a jump on Fuijsaki and is picked off 1-3-6.
Kotani tries the safety bunt, but is thrown out to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Hashidzume records 2 K's against the bottom of the lineup before giving up a hit to Torikai. However, he tries to steal 2nd and gets thrown out.
Bottom 3th
Satou leads off with a single back up the middle. Hashidzume bunts him along, but Kasuga flies out to center. Does move the runner over, but there's 2 outs.
Hayashi grounds to short and once again Kendai Takasaki is stymied.
Top 4th
It really does feel like the teams could hit, but the deliveries of the two starters are throwing everyone off.
Hashidzume was about to get a clean inning, but then walk Washizaki.
Oota with a liner down the left field line.. fair!! It'll go all the way to the wall! Washizaki being waved around! Relay from Kouki home... OUT! A great relay 7-5-2 gets the runner and keeps it a 1-0 ballgame!
Bottom 4th
Man, Kendai's batters have no timing on the ball as Fujisaki's slow pitch speed leaves them ahead of the ball.Tsuge gets the best of the 3 groundballs but Uto picks that up the middle and makes the throw for the 3rd out.
Top 5th
Souseikan continues to get baserunners with 2 outs. This time around Kouki singles through the right side. But a fielder's choice ends the inning. It is a steep uphill battle to score a run when your first base hit in the inning is with 2 out.
Bottom 5th
Miyamoto starts the 5th with a single to right.
Kotani with the push bunt! Takashi goes to field it, but there's confusion as to who's covering 1st1 Fujisaki scrambles, but the throw is wide! All safe and Miyamoto goes to 3rd!
Satou with a fly to left and that'll bring the runner home! The throw is cut off and we're tied at 1-1!
#3 Ooshima to hit for Hashidzume, and he singles through the left side! He's replaced by #16 Yanamoto.
Kasuga grounder to the left side... Uto makes a diving stop, tries to get the runner at 3rd, but instead hits Kotani in the back.
Hayashi with the squeeze, but he pops it up! Fujisaki makes the catch and there's 2 out!
But he leaves one over the plate and Souma lines it into center! Kotani scores! Yanamoto scores! It's 3-1 Kendai Takasaki!
That'll be it for Fujisaki as ace Mizunaga comes in.
Shibahiki grounds to 3rd to end the inning, but Kendai Takasaki gets a big inning to take the lead before the break.
Top 6th
With Hashidzume's day done, ace Kawai enters the game.
Torikai still perfect on the day! He lines a ball back up the middle for another single.
But then he's picked off by Kawai! 1 out!
After that Shimada and Mine pop out for a 3 up 3 down inning!
Top 7th
One down and Oota's hard grounder eats up Shibahiki and allows Oota to get on base.
Kawai has him picked off, but he's instead called for a balk! And soon after he hits Uto! Souseikan with the douten runner on base!
Takashi inside outs a ball to right for a base hit and now it's manrui for Souseikan!
Kouki with a swinging bunt! Kawai scrambles to field it.. Throws home...
He hits Oota! The ball bounces away as Oota scores to make it 3-2 and there's still 1 out!
Obviously Mizunaga is there to be the ace and not a hitter as shown when he chases a ball letter high away. 2 out.
But this brings up Torikai and time is called.
He pops it up! Kasuga under it and makes the catch for the 3rd out! Kendai Takasaki keeps the lead!
Bottom 7th
The P change seems to have reset Kendai's batting back to the beginning when they were struggling. 1-2-3 inning meands now 5 straight batters retired.
Top 8th
Shimada with a ball back up the middle! Souma stops it in the gap, but he won't get the throw over in time! Douten runner on and is bunted over,
Washizaki with a drive to left center! Miyamoto and Kasuga converge, but it falls in just in front of the wall! Shimada will easily score and we're tied at 3-3!!
Oota walks bringing up Uto. He hangs in, fouling off several pitches.
In the ends it's a grounder to short! Hayashi goes to 2nd for 1, relay to first... beats a diving Uto! 3 out! Souseikan gets the tie, but not the lead!
Bottom 8th
Souma walks on 4 straight, and that prompts a time-out.
Shibahiki picks a great time to get a base hit! He singles past Uto for a base hit!
Tsuge swinging! He singles back up the middle! Souma holds up at 3rd and it's manrui for Kendai Takasaki! And Miyamoto, 2-2 on the day is up!
Miyamoto reaches out and pops one up! Mine charging in, charging in, dives!!
He can't get it! It bounces away and that means Souma scores for the 4-3 lead! Mine with within inches as the ball bounces in front and off of Mine's face!
And Kotani takes the next pitch to center! Mine misses the pick and the 2nd run scores easily! 6-3 Kendai Takasaki as #7 Washizaki comes in to take the hill while Asou goes to LF.
Sac bunt is the first thing in order, and then Kawai hits one to right center for a 2-run double. 8-3.
Kasuga bunts the runner over probably more for practice.
And Hayashi will be the only one hitless as he grounds out.
Top 9th
Souseikan goes quietly in 9th as Kendai Takasaki advances 8-3 to play Akita Shougyou in round of 16.
It would appear that Kendai Takasaki needs several innings to figure out a pitcher, because in both cases they put up a big inning after seeing the pitcher at least one time through.
As for Souseikan they certainly didn't play poorly, they just played a better team today.
Souseikan faced Tenri in the first round and dug in against the Nara champs eventually walking them off in the 9th. The pitching wasn't anything to write about either, so that plus Kendai's propensity to run will put the defense at risk.
Kendai Takasaki took a while to warm up, but exploded for 8 runs in the 3rd against Sangawa. The speed is there but it appears it is more selective than just running around the bases. The pitching wasn't bad, but like many other teams wasn't great either.
Kendai Takasaki should be favored to win this matchup and then get an easy pairing with Akita Shougyou in 2 days time.
Souseikan (Nagasaki)
1B Torikai Ritsuki
RF Shimada Rkiya
CF Mine Shuuta
LF Washzaki Jyun
C Oota Keisuke
SS Uto Kenyarou(?)
2B Nakajima Takashi
3B Nakajima Kouki
P Fujisaki Mitsugu (#10)
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi Takasaki (Gunma)
CF Kasuga Yuuma
SS Hayashi Kenya
2B Souma Masato
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke
C Tsuge Sena
RF Miyamoto Takahiro (#17)
1B Kotani Kaisei (#13)
LF Satou Nozomu
P Hashidzume Naoya (#10)
____________________________________________________________
14:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Torikai drive to left center! Kasuga and Satou converge, but it goes off the fence and bounces away from both of them! Torikai in with a leadoff triple!
Shimada does his job, flies out to left and brings Torikai in making it 1-0.
Bottom 1st
Kasuga splits the defense on the left side for a single. No bunting, but Hayashi grounds into a tailor-made 5-4-3 double play.
Fujisaki puts a runner back on though as he hits Souma.
Shibahiki tries to give the ball a ride, but Satou has plenty of room to make the catch.
Top 2nd
Hashidzume's delivery causing fits for most of the Souseikan lineup. Unable to make decent contact they are retired in order.
Bottom 2nd
The same can be said for Fujisaki's sidearm delivery. Miyamoto draws a walk, but then he's caught trying to get a jump on Fuijsaki and is picked off 1-3-6.
Kotani tries the safety bunt, but is thrown out to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Hashidzume records 2 K's against the bottom of the lineup before giving up a hit to Torikai. However, he tries to steal 2nd and gets thrown out.
Bottom 3th
Satou leads off with a single back up the middle. Hashidzume bunts him along, but Kasuga flies out to center. Does move the runner over, but there's 2 outs.
Hayashi grounds to short and once again Kendai Takasaki is stymied.
Top 4th
It really does feel like the teams could hit, but the deliveries of the two starters are throwing everyone off.
Hashidzume was about to get a clean inning, but then walk Washizaki.
Oota with a liner down the left field line.. fair!! It'll go all the way to the wall! Washizaki being waved around! Relay from Kouki home... OUT! A great relay 7-5-2 gets the runner and keeps it a 1-0 ballgame!
Bottom 4th
Man, Kendai's batters have no timing on the ball as Fujisaki's slow pitch speed leaves them ahead of the ball.Tsuge gets the best of the 3 groundballs but Uto picks that up the middle and makes the throw for the 3rd out.
Top 5th
Souseikan continues to get baserunners with 2 outs. This time around Kouki singles through the right side. But a fielder's choice ends the inning. It is a steep uphill battle to score a run when your first base hit in the inning is with 2 out.
Bottom 5th
Miyamoto starts the 5th with a single to right.
Kotani with the push bunt! Takashi goes to field it, but there's confusion as to who's covering 1st1 Fujisaki scrambles, but the throw is wide! All safe and Miyamoto goes to 3rd!
Satou with a fly to left and that'll bring the runner home! The throw is cut off and we're tied at 1-1!
#3 Ooshima to hit for Hashidzume, and he singles through the left side! He's replaced by #16 Yanamoto.
Kasuga grounder to the left side... Uto makes a diving stop, tries to get the runner at 3rd, but instead hits Kotani in the back.
Hayashi with the squeeze, but he pops it up! Fujisaki makes the catch and there's 2 out!
But he leaves one over the plate and Souma lines it into center! Kotani scores! Yanamoto scores! It's 3-1 Kendai Takasaki!
That'll be it for Fujisaki as ace Mizunaga comes in.
Shibahiki grounds to 3rd to end the inning, but Kendai Takasaki gets a big inning to take the lead before the break.
Top 6th
With Hashidzume's day done, ace Kawai enters the game.
Torikai still perfect on the day! He lines a ball back up the middle for another single.
But then he's picked off by Kawai! 1 out!
After that Shimada and Mine pop out for a 3 up 3 down inning!
Top 7th
One down and Oota's hard grounder eats up Shibahiki and allows Oota to get on base.
Kawai has him picked off, but he's instead called for a balk! And soon after he hits Uto! Souseikan with the douten runner on base!
Takashi inside outs a ball to right for a base hit and now it's manrui for Souseikan!
Kouki with a swinging bunt! Kawai scrambles to field it.. Throws home...
He hits Oota! The ball bounces away as Oota scores to make it 3-2 and there's still 1 out!
Obviously Mizunaga is there to be the ace and not a hitter as shown when he chases a ball letter high away. 2 out.
But this brings up Torikai and time is called.
He pops it up! Kasuga under it and makes the catch for the 3rd out! Kendai Takasaki keeps the lead!
Bottom 7th
The P change seems to have reset Kendai's batting back to the beginning when they were struggling. 1-2-3 inning meands now 5 straight batters retired.
Top 8th
Shimada with a ball back up the middle! Souma stops it in the gap, but he won't get the throw over in time! Douten runner on and is bunted over,
Washizaki with a drive to left center! Miyamoto and Kasuga converge, but it falls in just in front of the wall! Shimada will easily score and we're tied at 3-3!!
Oota walks bringing up Uto. He hangs in, fouling off several pitches.
In the ends it's a grounder to short! Hayashi goes to 2nd for 1, relay to first... beats a diving Uto! 3 out! Souseikan gets the tie, but not the lead!
Bottom 8th
Souma walks on 4 straight, and that prompts a time-out.
Shibahiki picks a great time to get a base hit! He singles past Uto for a base hit!
Tsuge swinging! He singles back up the middle! Souma holds up at 3rd and it's manrui for Kendai Takasaki! And Miyamoto, 2-2 on the day is up!
Miyamoto reaches out and pops one up! Mine charging in, charging in, dives!!
He can't get it! It bounces away and that means Souma scores for the 4-3 lead! Mine with within inches as the ball bounces in front and off of Mine's face!
And Kotani takes the next pitch to center! Mine misses the pick and the 2nd run scores easily! 6-3 Kendai Takasaki as #7 Washizaki comes in to take the hill while Asou goes to LF.
Sac bunt is the first thing in order, and then Kawai hits one to right center for a 2-run double. 8-3.
Kasuga bunts the runner over probably more for practice.
And Hayashi will be the only one hitless as he grounds out.
Top 9th
Souseikan goes quietly in 9th as Kendai Takasaki advances 8-3 to play Akita Shougyou in round of 16.
It would appear that Kendai Takasaki needs several innings to figure out a pitcher, because in both cases they put up a big inning after seeing the pitcher at least one time through.
As for Souseikan they certainly didn't play poorly, they just played a better team today.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Day 5, Game 1 - Kendai Takasaki (Gunma) v Sangawa (Kagawa)
All right, shorter day today with just 3 on the docket. We're also onto the last of our Round 1 matches, with the final game the first Round 2 match of the tournament.
But, first up is the ever plucky Kendai Takasaki versus Kagawa's Sangawa.
Kendai Takasaki makes just their 3rd appearance, but their 2nd consecutive. They've actually come on the scene in recent years as a speedy ballclub that would steal and take the extra base when warranted (and sometimes not).
The only landmark game they had during the tournament was the final where they held on against Kiryuu Dai-ichi late for the 5-4 title win batting 0.350 for the prefecturals.
Sangawa faced quite a few above average teams in prefecture. Teams such as Sanbonmatsu, Eimei and Marugame Jyousai. Almost got tripped up by the former two. However, the team just batted only 0.320 and gave up 16 runs in their 6 games.
Now, Kendai Takasaki hasn't been the speedsters they used to be, but I imagine that this will be a somewhat easy first round game for them.
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi Takasaki (Gunma)
CF Kasuga Yuuma
SS Hayashi Kenya
2B Souma Masato
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke
C Tsuge Sena
RF Miyamoto Takahiro (#17)
1B Kotani Kaisei (#13)
LF Satou Nozomu
P Kawai Tomoya
Fuji Gakuen Sangawa (Kagawa)
SS Eifuku Daiki
3B Kanagawa Sougo
P Takada Atsushi
1B Shirai Toshiyuki
LF Kawamura Reo
RF Sasaki Shuuhei
CF Kuroda Masayo (#18)
C Akou Daisuke
2B Asano Terukazu
____________________________________________________________
09:30 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Very normal 1st inning for Kendai Takasaki. No bunts, just swings away, though some of the swings look a bit feeble, like Hayashi's swing on a slider way away.
Bottom 1st
Eifuku right back above Kawai and into center for a leadoff single.
Kanagawa pops up his bunt, but Kawai lets it drop! Throws to 1st and Souma tags both runners! 2 out!
Takada strikes out and there's a interesting 1-2-3 inning!
Bottom 2nd
This time after a one-out walk, Sasaki does lay down the bunt. Though there is 2 outs with Kuroda up.
Kawai though issues his 2nd walk. Kendai Takasaki looking unimpressive to start.
And although he almost walks his 3rd batter, he manages to strike out Akou to end the inning.
Top 3rd
That's more like it. After Kotani singles, he takes off for and steals 2nd. Though when Satou singles to right he holds up.
Takada walks the last batter Kawai and turns the lineup over while loading the bases. Creates the force, but that's a bad tradeoff.
Which Kasuga proves by hitting a ball past Eifuku for a base hit! Kotani and Satou score without a throw and it's 2-0!
After a sac bunt and another walk, Satake-kantoku calls time.
Shibahiki lines a ball over Shirai down the line! 2 more score and it's 4-0!
Tsuge blooper down right field line.. FAIR! 2 more score and it's 6-0!
Miyamoto to the gap in right center! Tsuge stops at 3rd and this is looking real bad.
SQUEEZE! After a failed attempt, Kotani lays out again but bunts it but right to Takai, he tosses home and Tsuge is meat.
And now Takai has Kotani taking 2nd too early! They go to run him down, but Miyamoto comes home! Throw back, slides.... SAFE!!
Miyamoto with a great slide away from Akou and his leg catches the plate safe! 7-0!
Satou grounder to 2nd. AHHH!! Asano boots it! Kotani comes all the way home from 2nd without a throw, 8-0! Oy.
Kasuga finally grounds out to end the inning, but 13 batters later this game is all but over.
Bottom 4th
Or so I thought. Maybe.
Takda doubles down left field line. Shirai singles to left scoring Takada without a throw. 8-1.
Kawamura singles, but then for some unknown reason Shirai is caught off 2nd and picked off. Which is a shame because Sasaki singles and then Kuroda walks and the bases are loaded.
Akou though can't figure out Kawai and strikes out for his 2nd time.
Asano walks! Kawai walks in a run! It's 8-2 with a chance at more.
Ah, but Eifuku grounds out 6-4 and that's that.
Top 5th
One out double from Kotani and He tries to take 3rd on a grounder to 3rd by Katou. But Shirai fires back to Eifuku who swipe tags Kotani as he tries to reestablish, and is called out.
Bottom 5th
Quiet inning to head to the break. Kendai Takasaki still in control, but Kawai needs to tighten things up for sure.
Top 6th
So Kendai turns the heat up on offense. Hayashi 2-out bunt single. Then steals 2nd.
Souma singles to center, Kuroda perhaps thinking about throwing home bobbles ball, and then has not throw at all. 9-2.
Bottom 7th/Top 8th
Both kantoku's decide this woud be the best time to switch pitchers. This is more imporant for Kendai Takasaki because of how Kawai has performed up until now.
After 2 quick outs, Yoshida walks Sasaki and then gives up a single to new P Sugimoto.
Kawai, playing RF now gets fooled on a flyball from Akou and that goes for a double and an RBI.
Now a balk as Yoshida never got set scores another run.
Eventually the game is closed out and Sangawa falls 10-4, but while Sangawa played as well as they could, Kendai Takasaki has a big hole at P. And generally you won't win without at least a decent P staff. The offense and speed was certainly good to see, but offense is no good without at least decent pitching and that's a problem for them.
But, first up is the ever plucky Kendai Takasaki versus Kagawa's Sangawa.
Kendai Takasaki makes just their 3rd appearance, but their 2nd consecutive. They've actually come on the scene in recent years as a speedy ballclub that would steal and take the extra base when warranted (and sometimes not).
The only landmark game they had during the tournament was the final where they held on against Kiryuu Dai-ichi late for the 5-4 title win batting 0.350 for the prefecturals.
Sangawa faced quite a few above average teams in prefecture. Teams such as Sanbonmatsu, Eimei and Marugame Jyousai. Almost got tripped up by the former two. However, the team just batted only 0.320 and gave up 16 runs in their 6 games.
Now, Kendai Takasaki hasn't been the speedsters they used to be, but I imagine that this will be a somewhat easy first round game for them.
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi Takasaki (Gunma)
CF Kasuga Yuuma
SS Hayashi Kenya
2B Souma Masato
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke
C Tsuge Sena
RF Miyamoto Takahiro (#17)
1B Kotani Kaisei (#13)
LF Satou Nozomu
P Kawai Tomoya
Fuji Gakuen Sangawa (Kagawa)
SS Eifuku Daiki
3B Kanagawa Sougo
P Takada Atsushi
1B Shirai Toshiyuki
LF Kawamura Reo
RF Sasaki Shuuhei
CF Kuroda Masayo (#18)
C Akou Daisuke
2B Asano Terukazu
____________________________________________________________
09:30 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Very normal 1st inning for Kendai Takasaki. No bunts, just swings away, though some of the swings look a bit feeble, like Hayashi's swing on a slider way away.
Bottom 1st
Eifuku right back above Kawai and into center for a leadoff single.
Kanagawa pops up his bunt, but Kawai lets it drop! Throws to 1st and Souma tags both runners! 2 out!
Takada strikes out and there's a interesting 1-2-3 inning!
Bottom 2nd
This time after a one-out walk, Sasaki does lay down the bunt. Though there is 2 outs with Kuroda up.
Kawai though issues his 2nd walk. Kendai Takasaki looking unimpressive to start.
And although he almost walks his 3rd batter, he manages to strike out Akou to end the inning.
Top 3rd
That's more like it. After Kotani singles, he takes off for and steals 2nd. Though when Satou singles to right he holds up.
Takada walks the last batter Kawai and turns the lineup over while loading the bases. Creates the force, but that's a bad tradeoff.
Which Kasuga proves by hitting a ball past Eifuku for a base hit! Kotani and Satou score without a throw and it's 2-0!
After a sac bunt and another walk, Satake-kantoku calls time.
Shibahiki lines a ball over Shirai down the line! 2 more score and it's 4-0!
Tsuge blooper down right field line.. FAIR! 2 more score and it's 6-0!
Miyamoto to the gap in right center! Tsuge stops at 3rd and this is looking real bad.
SQUEEZE! After a failed attempt, Kotani lays out again but bunts it but right to Takai, he tosses home and Tsuge is meat.
And now Takai has Kotani taking 2nd too early! They go to run him down, but Miyamoto comes home! Throw back, slides.... SAFE!!
Miyamoto with a great slide away from Akou and his leg catches the plate safe! 7-0!
Satou grounder to 2nd. AHHH!! Asano boots it! Kotani comes all the way home from 2nd without a throw, 8-0! Oy.
Kasuga finally grounds out to end the inning, but 13 batters later this game is all but over.
Bottom 4th
Or so I thought. Maybe.
Takda doubles down left field line. Shirai singles to left scoring Takada without a throw. 8-1.
Kawamura singles, but then for some unknown reason Shirai is caught off 2nd and picked off. Which is a shame because Sasaki singles and then Kuroda walks and the bases are loaded.
Akou though can't figure out Kawai and strikes out for his 2nd time.
Asano walks! Kawai walks in a run! It's 8-2 with a chance at more.
Ah, but Eifuku grounds out 6-4 and that's that.
Top 5th
One out double from Kotani and He tries to take 3rd on a grounder to 3rd by Katou. But Shirai fires back to Eifuku who swipe tags Kotani as he tries to reestablish, and is called out.
Bottom 5th
Quiet inning to head to the break. Kendai Takasaki still in control, but Kawai needs to tighten things up for sure.
Top 6th
So Kendai turns the heat up on offense. Hayashi 2-out bunt single. Then steals 2nd.
Souma singles to center, Kuroda perhaps thinking about throwing home bobbles ball, and then has not throw at all. 9-2.
Bottom 7th/Top 8th
Both kantoku's decide this woud be the best time to switch pitchers. This is more imporant for Kendai Takasaki because of how Kawai has performed up until now.
After 2 quick outs, Yoshida walks Sasaki and then gives up a single to new P Sugimoto.
Kawai, playing RF now gets fooled on a flyball from Akou and that goes for a double and an RBI.
Now a balk as Yoshida never got set scores another run.
Eventually the game is closed out and Sangawa falls 10-4, but while Sangawa played as well as they could, Kendai Takasaki has a big hole at P. And generally you won't win without at least a decent P staff. The offense and speed was certainly good to see, but offense is no good without at least decent pitching and that's a problem for them.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Day 9, Semifinal 4 - Toukai Dai-yon (Hokkaido) vs. Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
And to round out the long day, we'll get something that will probably be a lot less exciting (sorry Toukai Dai-yon).
Kendai Takasaki is probably the best we've seen them since they've broken onto the Koushien scene. We knew them for their speed on the basepaths. It was like as if they had a full team of Johnsons (if you can get that reference, good for you).
But now the team is different. They have an ace in Kawai, the speed isn't their main point, but they still use it in strategic ways. The end result is a team that actually can win the whole thing.
The same cannot be said for Toukai Dai-yon. They eked out a win against a very game Matsuyama Higashi when they put together 1 big inning. But Oosawa is vulnerable on the mound and the team struggles for offense.
I'll be surprised if it's not a one-sided game.
Toukai Dai-yon (Hokkaido)
SS Tomita Yuuki
2B Kanemura Kousei
RF Yamamoto Kouhei
1B Sou Kangi (#7)
LF Shiota Gen (#13)
C Ogawa Kouhei
3B Tachibana Susumu
P Gon Towon (#11)
CF Watase Taiki
Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
CF Kasuga Yuuma
SS Hayashi Kenya
C Tsuge Sena
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke
2B Souma Yuuto
1B Ooshima Kyouhei
RF Satou Nozomu
LF Yanagimoto Eiji (#15)
P Hashidzune Naoya (#10)
__________________________________________________
16:15 - First Pitch!
1st Inning
Since both teams played yesterday, it's no surprise both teams have gone to their bullpens for bench starters on the mound.
So this is a thing. Hashidzume throws from multiple arm angles. I see a sidearm, a submarine, and an overhand. If he can locate from all areas, how do you read that as a batter??!!
Tomita scoffs at it with a leadoff single. But they try the sac bunt, which fails. The next 2 batters go down, including Sou, who strikes out looking.
Hayashi gets a base hit and we'll see this tactical speed in action. He has a very long lead.
He takes off, the throw does get there, but Hayashi just beats it out.
Flyout to left by Tsuge, and Hayashi tries to tag up! Throw from Shiota nails him!
That's a gutsy call, but if you have the speed, there's times to try it. Early on as a surprise tactic, why not?
2nd Inning
Somehow, Toukai Dai-yon's batters are at least seeing the ball to make good contact. But they're still going down in order.
Now Gon reminds me of Engaru and ace Satou who threw really slow but whose fastball and offspeed pitches were similar speeds. That's not quite the case with him, but he throws really slow. Like 110s slow.
But if you do that, your defense will need to be good.
As I think that Shibahiki and Souma put back to back hits and threaten to open the scoring.
They pick off Shibahiki! I've never seen 1 team continue to have this many baserunning mistakes.
Toukai Dai-yon returns the favor! Ooshima's grounder goes 5-hole on Tachibana for an error. Doesn't hurt through as Tachibana fields the next one and makes the play for the out. But for Kendai Takasaki, there's being aggressive, and there's just being not smart.
3rd Inning
1-2-3 for Hashidzume. Ho hum.
And yet another pickoff of a Kendai Takasaki runner. Is this some kind of strategy where you lull the other team to sleep with base running mistakes then suddenly do everything right late? Because otherwise, this doesn't makes sense.
4th Inning
Kanemura with a leadoff single. But no bunting, and the next 3 batters are retired.
The MBS announcers explain that they're doing Haisai Oji-san because Shibahiki is from Okinawa. If you're any fan, you know where that comes from. You don't need it explained.
Anyways, Shibahiki hits a sharp ball that Tachibana smothers, but has no play on. And after Souma singles up the middle, Oowaki-kantoku calls time.
The VERY first pitch after the time out. 4-6-3 double play. Inning over. WTF.
5th Inning
Ogawa with a base hit to right for another leadoff runner. This time Oowaki-kantoku calls for the bunt.
Now #15 Yoshida will hit for Gon, and ace Oosawa is warming up.
Ball to right... falls in for a base hit! It gets by the outfield and to the wall! Ogawa scores as Yoshida.. is at 1st??!!
Did he miss the bag? He should at least be on 2nd. Not sure what happened there.
And if he was on 3rd, that liner top left by Watase might have scored him. But it's just an out, and Tomita goes down as well.
Now, how do you go from trying to time a ball at 110 to one at 130? Might be difficult to do.
Ooshima does hit a shallow liner, but Watase seems to be in the right place to make the catch. As for Yanagimoto and Hashidzume? Well, they get sat down is what happens to them.
Well, this isn't the game I expected. I figured Kendai Takasaki would run laps around Toukai Dai-yon, but instead it's Toukai Dai-yon that has the lead!
6th Inning
Ace Kawai takes the hill for Hashidzume. Also, #14 Higa comes in for Yanagimoto.
You don't see that everyday. Grounder from Yamamoto goes off Hayashi right to Shibahiki's glove, who then fires to 1st for the routine 6-5-3 putout.
The first inning of work for Kawai goes without a hitch.
Same goes fort Oosawa as well. I think the batters' timings are all off. He tallies 2 more Ks.
7th Inning
Outfield umpires are now in play.
Shiota with a leadoff single. Bunt, grounder to opposite side puts him at 3rd. But Oosawa can't get the key hit.
Oosawa perhaps a bit careful with Shibahiki and walks him to start.
Souma hits a double play ball, but Kanemura doesn't field it cleanly and then compounds it with a late throw that goes awry. But Ogawa is heads up and throws to 2nd where they get Souma!
Still, the douten runner is at 3rd.
Satou with a popup to shallow right. Sou takes it, and instead of throwing to 3rd where Shibahiki is baiting him, he smartly runs it in.
Ooshima grounds to 2nd! Oosawa's going to get out of this jam!
8th Inning
2 down for Kawai and he issues a walk.
Yamamoto with a pop to shallow left. Higa with the diving attempt, but he doesn't make the catch! Runners on 2nd and 3rd and they may just get a key insurance run.
Nope! Sou continues to struggle at the plate as he K's for the 3rd time this game!
Kendai Takasaki with the counter! Higa just chopping at the ball and sees it through the left side for a base hit.
Oh no! Kawai bunts it to Oosawa! It's a 1-6-3 double play!!
Also, has anyone else noticed that after the Toukai aces throw the eephus things go wrong afterwards? Because Kasuga on the next pitch gets a base hit.
Hayashi flies out to center though, and no harm done for Toukai Dai-yon. What has happened to Kendai's offense??
9th Inning
Toukai Dai-yon goes in order, and now it's hang on time! Kendai Takasaki does have their 3-4-5 batters up this inning.
Tsuge with a no-no! He lets the fastball go on the outside corner for strike 3!
Shibahiki on base for his 4th time with a base hit up the middle. Last chances, so #17 Miyamoto comes in to run for Shibahiki.
Souma ball to left. It sounded good, and Shiota is backpedaling, but he makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Satou the last chance!
Flyball to left! Shiota running back! Still running back! Makes the catch as he puts his hands in the air!
What just happened??!! Toukai Dai-yon defeats Kendai Takasaki 1-0!!
I'm just speechless. Kendai Takasaki looked like a serious contender after defeating Tenri. And yet, despite both teams on 0 days rest, they fail to score a run against the Hokkaido champs?! There's no offense meant to Toukai Dai-yon, but it's just that outside of Komadai Tomakomai, teams from Hokkaido haven't really fared well, and there was no indication that this year would be any different.So for a team that had good pitching, and overall team speed to lose like this is shocking.
But given the context of the game, they almost deserved it. They had baserunning mistakes throughout all their games. They didn't have it before. Is it discipline? Skill? What was it about the prior teams that this team didn't have? Because they gave free outs to Toukai Dai-yon.
There's got to be some self-reflection here. They had an easier path to the Koushien final, and just frittered it away.
But congratulations have to go to Toukai Dai-yon. I'm not sure anyone had this outcome, and unless you're a fan of the school and you say you did, I have a bridge to sell you.
So... instead of a revenge match between Kendai Takasaki and Urawa Gakuin from the Kanto super-regional.... we have a revenge match between Toukai Dai-yon and Urawa Gakuin from the Meiji Jingu tournament where Toukai Dai-yon lost 10-0?
Ok, I'll give you this game Toukai Dai-yon. Not sure I can give you next one.
Kendai Takasaki is probably the best we've seen them since they've broken onto the Koushien scene. We knew them for their speed on the basepaths. It was like as if they had a full team of Johnsons (if you can get that reference, good for you).
But now the team is different. They have an ace in Kawai, the speed isn't their main point, but they still use it in strategic ways. The end result is a team that actually can win the whole thing.
The same cannot be said for Toukai Dai-yon. They eked out a win against a very game Matsuyama Higashi when they put together 1 big inning. But Oosawa is vulnerable on the mound and the team struggles for offense.
I'll be surprised if it's not a one-sided game.
Toukai Dai-yon (Hokkaido)
SS Tomita Yuuki
2B Kanemura Kousei
RF Yamamoto Kouhei
1B Sou Kangi (#7)
LF Shiota Gen (#13)
C Ogawa Kouhei
3B Tachibana Susumu
P Gon Towon (#11)
CF Watase Taiki
Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
CF Kasuga Yuuma
SS Hayashi Kenya
C Tsuge Sena
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke
2B Souma Yuuto
1B Ooshima Kyouhei
RF Satou Nozomu
LF Yanagimoto Eiji (#15)
P Hashidzune Naoya (#10)
__________________________________________________
16:15 - First Pitch!
1st Inning
Since both teams played yesterday, it's no surprise both teams have gone to their bullpens for bench starters on the mound.
So this is a thing. Hashidzume throws from multiple arm angles. I see a sidearm, a submarine, and an overhand. If he can locate from all areas, how do you read that as a batter??!!
Tomita scoffs at it with a leadoff single. But they try the sac bunt, which fails. The next 2 batters go down, including Sou, who strikes out looking.
Hayashi gets a base hit and we'll see this tactical speed in action. He has a very long lead.
He takes off, the throw does get there, but Hayashi just beats it out.
Flyout to left by Tsuge, and Hayashi tries to tag up! Throw from Shiota nails him!
That's a gutsy call, but if you have the speed, there's times to try it. Early on as a surprise tactic, why not?
2nd Inning
Somehow, Toukai Dai-yon's batters are at least seeing the ball to make good contact. But they're still going down in order.
Now Gon reminds me of Engaru and ace Satou who threw really slow but whose fastball and offspeed pitches were similar speeds. That's not quite the case with him, but he throws really slow. Like 110s slow.
But if you do that, your defense will need to be good.
As I think that Shibahiki and Souma put back to back hits and threaten to open the scoring.
They pick off Shibahiki! I've never seen 1 team continue to have this many baserunning mistakes.
Toukai Dai-yon returns the favor! Ooshima's grounder goes 5-hole on Tachibana for an error. Doesn't hurt through as Tachibana fields the next one and makes the play for the out. But for Kendai Takasaki, there's being aggressive, and there's just being not smart.
3rd Inning
1-2-3 for Hashidzume. Ho hum.
And yet another pickoff of a Kendai Takasaki runner. Is this some kind of strategy where you lull the other team to sleep with base running mistakes then suddenly do everything right late? Because otherwise, this doesn't makes sense.
4th Inning
Kanemura with a leadoff single. But no bunting, and the next 3 batters are retired.
The MBS announcers explain that they're doing Haisai Oji-san because Shibahiki is from Okinawa. If you're any fan, you know where that comes from. You don't need it explained.
Anyways, Shibahiki hits a sharp ball that Tachibana smothers, but has no play on. And after Souma singles up the middle, Oowaki-kantoku calls time.
The VERY first pitch after the time out. 4-6-3 double play. Inning over. WTF.
5th Inning
Ogawa with a base hit to right for another leadoff runner. This time Oowaki-kantoku calls for the bunt.
Now #15 Yoshida will hit for Gon, and ace Oosawa is warming up.
Ball to right... falls in for a base hit! It gets by the outfield and to the wall! Ogawa scores as Yoshida.. is at 1st??!!
Did he miss the bag? He should at least be on 2nd. Not sure what happened there.
And if he was on 3rd, that liner top left by Watase might have scored him. But it's just an out, and Tomita goes down as well.
Now, how do you go from trying to time a ball at 110 to one at 130? Might be difficult to do.
Ooshima does hit a shallow liner, but Watase seems to be in the right place to make the catch. As for Yanagimoto and Hashidzume? Well, they get sat down is what happens to them.
Well, this isn't the game I expected. I figured Kendai Takasaki would run laps around Toukai Dai-yon, but instead it's Toukai Dai-yon that has the lead!
6th Inning
Ace Kawai takes the hill for Hashidzume. Also, #14 Higa comes in for Yanagimoto.
You don't see that everyday. Grounder from Yamamoto goes off Hayashi right to Shibahiki's glove, who then fires to 1st for the routine 6-5-3 putout.
The first inning of work for Kawai goes without a hitch.
Same goes fort Oosawa as well. I think the batters' timings are all off. He tallies 2 more Ks.
7th Inning
Outfield umpires are now in play.
Shiota with a leadoff single. Bunt, grounder to opposite side puts him at 3rd. But Oosawa can't get the key hit.
Oosawa perhaps a bit careful with Shibahiki and walks him to start.
Souma hits a double play ball, but Kanemura doesn't field it cleanly and then compounds it with a late throw that goes awry. But Ogawa is heads up and throws to 2nd where they get Souma!
Still, the douten runner is at 3rd.
Satou with a popup to shallow right. Sou takes it, and instead of throwing to 3rd where Shibahiki is baiting him, he smartly runs it in.
Ooshima grounds to 2nd! Oosawa's going to get out of this jam!
8th Inning
2 down for Kawai and he issues a walk.
Yamamoto with a pop to shallow left. Higa with the diving attempt, but he doesn't make the catch! Runners on 2nd and 3rd and they may just get a key insurance run.
Nope! Sou continues to struggle at the plate as he K's for the 3rd time this game!
Kendai Takasaki with the counter! Higa just chopping at the ball and sees it through the left side for a base hit.
Oh no! Kawai bunts it to Oosawa! It's a 1-6-3 double play!!
Also, has anyone else noticed that after the Toukai aces throw the eephus things go wrong afterwards? Because Kasuga on the next pitch gets a base hit.
Hayashi flies out to center though, and no harm done for Toukai Dai-yon. What has happened to Kendai's offense??
9th Inning
Toukai Dai-yon goes in order, and now it's hang on time! Kendai Takasaki does have their 3-4-5 batters up this inning.
Tsuge with a no-no! He lets the fastball go on the outside corner for strike 3!
Shibahiki on base for his 4th time with a base hit up the middle. Last chances, so #17 Miyamoto comes in to run for Shibahiki.
Souma ball to left. It sounded good, and Shiota is backpedaling, but he makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Satou the last chance!
Flyball to left! Shiota running back! Still running back! Makes the catch as he puts his hands in the air!
What just happened??!! Toukai Dai-yon defeats Kendai Takasaki 1-0!!
I'm just speechless. Kendai Takasaki looked like a serious contender after defeating Tenri. And yet, despite both teams on 0 days rest, they fail to score a run against the Hokkaido champs?! There's no offense meant to Toukai Dai-yon, but it's just that outside of Komadai Tomakomai, teams from Hokkaido haven't really fared well, and there was no indication that this year would be any different.So for a team that had good pitching, and overall team speed to lose like this is shocking.
But given the context of the game, they almost deserved it. They had baserunning mistakes throughout all their games. They didn't have it before. Is it discipline? Skill? What was it about the prior teams that this team didn't have? Because they gave free outs to Toukai Dai-yon.
There's got to be some self-reflection here. They had an easier path to the Koushien final, and just frittered it away.
But congratulations have to go to Toukai Dai-yon. I'm not sure anyone had this outcome, and unless you're a fan of the school and you say you did, I have a bridge to sell you.
So... instead of a revenge match between Kendai Takasaki and Urawa Gakuin from the Kanto super-regional.... we have a revenge match between Toukai Dai-yon and Urawa Gakuin from the Meiji Jingu tournament where Toukai Dai-yon lost 10-0?
Ok, I'll give you this game Toukai Dai-yon. Not sure I can give you next one.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Day 8, Game 2 - Tenri (Nara) vs. Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
I'd ask for a closer game next, but there's a hint of me that doesn't want it. Mostly because if that happens, chances are Tenri will find a way to screw something up. They always do. It generally involves a squeeze bunt that goes awry.
Not helping Tenri at all is that they're facing Kendai Takasaki. I wouldn't call them a giant killer per se, but they certainly make games annoying for the opposing team. That shouldn't change today.
Tenri (Nara)
CF Funabiki Wataru
P Saitou Yuu
SS Sadamitsu Hiroto
1B Sakaguchi Hiroya
RF Tomiki Ryouga
3B Kawasaki Koudai
2B Maekubo Tomoya
LF Mori Shunsuke (#15)
C Tsutsumida Reo
Not helping Tenri at all is that they're facing Kendai Takasaki. I wouldn't call them a giant killer per se, but they certainly make games annoying for the opposing team. That shouldn't change today.
Tenri (Nara)
CF Funabiki Wataru
P Saitou Yuu
SS Sadamitsu Hiroto
1B Sakaguchi Hiroya
RF Tomiki Ryouga
3B Kawasaki Koudai
2B Maekubo Tomoya
LF Mori Shunsuke (#15)
C Tsutsumida Reo
Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
CF Kasuga Yuuma
SS Hayashi Kenya
C Tsuge Sena
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke
2B Souma Yuuto
1B Ooshima Kyouhei
RF Satou Nozomu
LF Chinen Kazuma
P Kawai Tomoya
CF Kasuga Yuuma
SS Hayashi Kenya
C Tsuge Sena
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke
2B Souma Yuuto
1B Ooshima Kyouhei
RF Satou Nozomu
LF Chinen Kazuma
P Kawai Tomoya
__________________________________________________
11:20 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Funabiki get a bit of a break when Souma doesn't field a ball cleanly. Saitou bunts right to Kawai and he goes to 2nd to get the lead runner.
Sadamitsu with a chopper to 1st and Ooshima steps on 1st for the 2nd out.
Hashimoto-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but Sakaguchi meekly swings at a ball out of the zone and the side is retired.
Bottom 1st
Well, Tenri might just save us the trouble. Saitou hits Kasuga, then throws a wild pitch so now Kendai Takasaki has a runner in scoring position with no out.
Hayashi makes a chop swing on a ball inside and punches it to the right side, moving Kasuga to 3rd.
Tsutsumida snap throw to 3rd... They got him! Wow, a rare baserunning mistake from Kendai Takasaki.
Shibahiki flies out to center, and it's a clean, though not without it's moments, inning.
Top 2nd
Tomoki in a long AB versus Kawai, but flies out to left.
Kawasaki and Maekubo go after pitches early in the count, but ground out for a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 2nd
2 down after consecutive groundouts, and Satou hits a single to right. An inexplicable passed ball on a ball down the middle allows him to go to 2nd.
Saitou though pops up in foul territory. Tsutsumida makes the catch near the steps to the umpires area for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Kawai issues his first free pass to Mori leading off the inning. Tsutsumida bunts him along.
Funabiki though bites on a high slider for the 2nd out, and Saitou grounds to short. Tenri unable to bring the runner home despite a good start to the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Well, Saitou seems to have settled down. Kawai pops up to Saitou at the mound, Kasuga with a lazy fly to right.
Hayashi then hits one right to Sakaguchi and he takes it himself for the out.
Top 4th
Tenri batters uppercutting everything and popping it up. Sadamitsu to left, Sakaguchi to right.
Tomoki hits it on the ground, but it isn't hard at all. Shibahiki throws to 1st and the side is retired.
Bottom 4th
Tsuge with a single up the middle for Kendai Takasaki.
It's another wild pitch from Saitou and Tsuge goes to 2nd. Shibahiki correctly moves the runner to 3rd with a ball to the right side.
Souma brings him in!! It's a single through the drawn in infield into right! Kendai Takasaki leads 1-0!
Aoyagi-kantoku sends Souma, but Tsutsumida makes a great throw to gun him down!
Ooshima goes down looking and the leadoff runner doesn't come back to haunt them.
Top 5th
Boy, Tenri's batters are having a devil of a time against Kawai. Kawasaki and Maekubo can't improve on their first ABs and both ground out again.
Mori chases a changeup down and away and Tenri has not hit anything well against ace Kawai.
Bottom 5th
Kendai Takasaki is making better contact, and barely has the results to show for it. The bottom of the order though is retired in just 8 pitches and we hit the break.
Kendai Takasaki is having the better of it both on the mound and at the plate. They're hitting the balls more square, and Kawai has Tenri's batters baffled. 4 more innings, and Kinki will be down to just 1 team.
Top 6th
It is looking godawful for Tenri at the plate. No timing, and it looks like they're just guessing up there.
Funabiki gets the best AB against Kawai, as he runs the count full. But it's all wasted when he swings on a high fastball.
Otherwise, it's a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 6th
Saitou down his best to hold down the fort. He's certainly laboring more than Kawai, but he's getting the job done. He gets Kasuga to fly out to left.
Mori really makes him work as he fills up the count before grounding out to Kawasaki.
Tsuge goes down swinging and the margin stays at 1.
Top 7th
Sadamitsu with a ball down the left field line. Chinen is sprinting over from left center! He slides... and can't get there!! The ball goes off the padding and Sadamitsu is in with a standing triple! Tenri finally has a scoring chance.
Sakaguchi not bunting (THANK GOD). But he does pop it up. Tsuge running over to the Tenri on-deck circle... makes the catch for the 1st out.
Tomoki not bunting either.
Instead it's a liner over a leaping Hayashi for a base hit! Sadamitsu scores to make it 1-1!
However, they can't do more than that as Kawasaki grounds into a fielder's choice and Maekubo pops out. Still, they have a new ballgame.
Bottom 7th
Shibahiki lines a single to right in their lucky 7.
Sadamitsu with a chopper to 1st and Ooshima steps on 1st for the 2nd out.
Hashimoto-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but Sakaguchi meekly swings at a ball out of the zone and the side is retired.
Bottom 1st
Well, Tenri might just save us the trouble. Saitou hits Kasuga, then throws a wild pitch so now Kendai Takasaki has a runner in scoring position with no out.
Hayashi makes a chop swing on a ball inside and punches it to the right side, moving Kasuga to 3rd.
Tsutsumida snap throw to 3rd... They got him! Wow, a rare baserunning mistake from Kendai Takasaki.
Shibahiki flies out to center, and it's a clean, though not without it's moments, inning.
Top 2nd
Tomoki in a long AB versus Kawai, but flies out to left.
Kawasaki and Maekubo go after pitches early in the count, but ground out for a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 2nd
2 down after consecutive groundouts, and Satou hits a single to right. An inexplicable passed ball on a ball down the middle allows him to go to 2nd.
Saitou though pops up in foul territory. Tsutsumida makes the catch near the steps to the umpires area for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Kawai issues his first free pass to Mori leading off the inning. Tsutsumida bunts him along.
Funabiki though bites on a high slider for the 2nd out, and Saitou grounds to short. Tenri unable to bring the runner home despite a good start to the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Well, Saitou seems to have settled down. Kawai pops up to Saitou at the mound, Kasuga with a lazy fly to right.
Hayashi then hits one right to Sakaguchi and he takes it himself for the out.
Top 4th
Tenri batters uppercutting everything and popping it up. Sadamitsu to left, Sakaguchi to right.
Tomoki hits it on the ground, but it isn't hard at all. Shibahiki throws to 1st and the side is retired.
Bottom 4th
Tsuge with a single up the middle for Kendai Takasaki.
It's another wild pitch from Saitou and Tsuge goes to 2nd. Shibahiki correctly moves the runner to 3rd with a ball to the right side.
Souma brings him in!! It's a single through the drawn in infield into right! Kendai Takasaki leads 1-0!
Aoyagi-kantoku sends Souma, but Tsutsumida makes a great throw to gun him down!
Ooshima goes down looking and the leadoff runner doesn't come back to haunt them.
Top 5th
Boy, Tenri's batters are having a devil of a time against Kawai. Kawasaki and Maekubo can't improve on their first ABs and both ground out again.
Mori chases a changeup down and away and Tenri has not hit anything well against ace Kawai.
Bottom 5th
Kendai Takasaki is making better contact, and barely has the results to show for it. The bottom of the order though is retired in just 8 pitches and we hit the break.
Kendai Takasaki is having the better of it both on the mound and at the plate. They're hitting the balls more square, and Kawai has Tenri's batters baffled. 4 more innings, and Kinki will be down to just 1 team.
Top 6th
It is looking godawful for Tenri at the plate. No timing, and it looks like they're just guessing up there.
Funabiki gets the best AB against Kawai, as he runs the count full. But it's all wasted when he swings on a high fastball.
Otherwise, it's a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 6th
Saitou down his best to hold down the fort. He's certainly laboring more than Kawai, but he's getting the job done. He gets Kasuga to fly out to left.
Mori really makes him work as he fills up the count before grounding out to Kawasaki.
Tsuge goes down swinging and the margin stays at 1.
Top 7th
Sadamitsu with a ball down the left field line. Chinen is sprinting over from left center! He slides... and can't get there!! The ball goes off the padding and Sadamitsu is in with a standing triple! Tenri finally has a scoring chance.
Sakaguchi not bunting (THANK GOD). But he does pop it up. Tsuge running over to the Tenri on-deck circle... makes the catch for the 1st out.
Tomoki not bunting either.
Instead it's a liner over a leaping Hayashi for a base hit! Sadamitsu scores to make it 1-1!
However, they can't do more than that as Kawasaki grounds into a fielder's choice and Maekubo pops out. Still, they have a new ballgame.
Bottom 7th
Shibahiki lines a single to right in their lucky 7.
And now Saitou hits Souma! They check for a swing, but he doesn't go! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Kendai Takasaki.
#10 Kotani to hit for Ooshima, and he lays down a push bunt. Kawasaki quick throws to 1st and barely gets him. Big chance with even a deep fly establishing the lead.
Satou though hits a grounder to 1st! Sakaguchi checks the runner, but can't tag Satou! Tosses to 1st, and Shibahiki breaks for home! Throw back home is not in time! There's the speed of Kendai Takasaki! It's 2-1!
Saitou picks off Souma at 3rd, another odd baserunning mistake, but they have the lead back!
Top 8th
So Tenri is back where they started and with only 2 innings left to go.
One down and Tsutsumida with a clean single to center. No bunt from Funabiki, but he can't make contact on a changeup down the middle.
Saitou grounds to 1st and the inning is over.
Bottom 8th
Another walk from Saitou, as Chinen takes 1st. After #17 Miyamoto comes in to run, Kawai's pops up his bunt! Saitou is there for the catch and there's 1 down.
But Aoyagi-kantoku goes for the hit and run! Kasuga with a ball to left center... and no one will get to it! Miyamoto scores all the way from 1st and Kendai Takasaki leads 3-1!
That's it for Saitou as #11 Moriura comes in for Mori and takes the hill. Saitou will goes to LF.
Just to show how fast Kendai Takasaki is, Hayashi grounds to 3rd. Kawasaki makes a hard check of the runner, but he still takes off for - and reaches, 3rd.
Tsuge flies out to center., but the insurance run looks like the game is in hand.
Top 9th
#14 Higa comes in for Miyamoto to play LF.
The beat goes on for Kawai. Sadamitsu grounds to short.
Sakaguchi manages to work a walk, but it's quickly 2 down when Tomiki flies out to left.
Kawasaki makes some solid contact, but it's never fair. He flies out to left and the game is over.
One down and Tsutsumida with a clean single to center. No bunt from Funabiki, but he can't make contact on a changeup down the middle.
Saitou grounds to 1st and the inning is over.
Bottom 8th
Another walk from Saitou, as Chinen takes 1st. After #17 Miyamoto comes in to run, Kawai's pops up his bunt! Saitou is there for the catch and there's 1 down.
But Aoyagi-kantoku goes for the hit and run! Kasuga with a ball to left center... and no one will get to it! Miyamoto scores all the way from 1st and Kendai Takasaki leads 3-1!
That's it for Saitou as #11 Moriura comes in for Mori and takes the hill. Saitou will goes to LF.
Just to show how fast Kendai Takasaki is, Hayashi grounds to 3rd. Kawasaki makes a hard check of the runner, but he still takes off for - and reaches, 3rd.
Tsuge flies out to center., but the insurance run looks like the game is in hand.
Top 9th
#14 Higa comes in for Miyamoto to play LF.
The beat goes on for Kawai. Sadamitsu grounds to short.
Sakaguchi manages to work a walk, but it's quickly 2 down when Tomiki flies out to left.
Kawasaki makes some solid contact, but it's never fair. He flies out to left and the game is over.
Tenri continues to live up to their underperforming ways. They didn't embarrass themselves in prior years with some stupid play. But in this case they were simply outplayed - both on the mound where Saitou struggled with walks, and at the plate where they couldn't hit anything solid. Neither could Kendai Takasaki, but the walks proved to be fatal.
And so the story goes. Kendai Takasaki has become smarter as to when to use their speed, and their pitching has caught up in Kawai. Where they were gritty before, they have become a contender with grittiness.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Day 5, Game 2 - Kendai Takasaki (Gunma) vs. Ube Koujyou (Yamaguchi)
We have another region in jeopardy of being eliminated in this game, and it's Kyushu's neighbor Chuugoku. Their champs are in play as the last team, facing the always scrappy Kendai Takasaki.
Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
2B Souma Yuuto
SS Hayashi Kenya
C Tsuge Sena
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke
RF Satou Nozomu
CF Kasuga Yuuma
LF Higa Tsubasa (#14)
P Kawai Tomoya
Ube Koujyou (Yamaguchi)
2B Fujita Tsukasa
P Uenishi Ranma
RF Ueda Rikiya
LF Okada Katsuki
1B Nakanishi Atsuhisa
C Machida Shouhei
CF Umemoto Daiki
SS Umeoka Ryouta
3B Yoshiura Tomoki
__________________________________________________
11:35 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Souma draws a 4-pitch walk and let's see if Kendai does their running. They didn't do a lot of it in the super-regionals.
And he does take off! But the pitch from Uenishi almost takes off Hayashi's head! Machida has to chase it down and Souma goes to 3rd!
The umpires converge to talk about things as Ozaki-kantoku maintains the ball hit Hayashi's bat when he ducked for cover. But after discussion it was ruled to not be the case.
Hayashi gets a chance to plate the first run, but he hits a shallow fly to center! Umemoto is there and Souma can't score.Tsuge with the next chance to plate the run.
But Uenishi intends to to shut them down! He strikes out Tsuge on a slider right on the corner for the 2nd out! Shibahiki last chance to get the runner in this inning.
Ball back up the middle, through for a base hit! Souma finally scores and it's 1-0 Kendai!
Ooshima grrounds to 3rd to end the inning, but Kendai Takasaki takes the quick lead!
Bottom 1st
Fujita starting the rally right off the bat with a base hit up the middle! Uenishi with the bunt, but Shibahiki sells out! He crashes in and is right on the ball! Goes to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st... double play!! Risk from the 3B, but it pays off!
Ueda goes down swinging and the inning is over.
Top 2nd
Satou with a ball back up the middle himself for a leadoff single.
Kasuga not bunting, instead hits a blooper to the left side! Umeoka turning back and.. can't get it! Everyone's safe! Kendai Takasaki threatening again.
Higa lays down the bunt, and this time it's Uenishi who crashes in! He goes to 3rd and they cut down the lead runner! One down.
Kawai now with a slow grounder to short, toss to 2nd. SAFE?!
Fujita stretching for the ball, goes off the bag! Higa slides in ahead of the re-establishment and all safe! Manrui!
Souma up, and the infield is playing in looking for the squeeze.
But he swings away! The outfield is in and Okada has to turn tail! All 3 runners are going to score on the play! Souma's in with a bases clearing triple! Kendai Takasaki leads 4-0!
After some discussion by the umpires and some direction, Ube Koujyou appeals that the runner didn't touch 2nd, but the umpires show safe.
Hayashi tries to hit a sac fly, but hits it too shallow.
Tsuge grounds to 3rd to end the inning, but it's a big hit instead of their running that scores the runs!
Bottom 2nd
Okada line drive down the left field line... Fair! Higa runs it down, but not before Okada reaches 2nd!
No bunting down 4, but Nakanishi bites on a slider for the 1st out.
And Machida does the same on a changeup! 2 down and Kawai might get out of the jam!
Umemoto hits a single to center... it falls in! They're waving Okada home! Throw from Kasuga... is on a line and right to Tsuge! It's in plenty of time and Okada is out to retire the side. That's a bit too aggressive there when there's plenty of time.
Top 3rd
Uenishi looking for a bagel, or more importantly a quick inning. And he gets Shibahiki and Ooshima to groundout.
Satou swings and misses on a slider, but the ball gets away from Machida and Satou reaches 1st!
Once again the runners are allowed to run wild and Satou takes off for 2nd, and gets no throw!
But Satou goes a bridge too far! Machida pops out after the 1-2 pitch and pumps his throw before having Satou in no-man's land! He's run down and the inning is over.
Bottom 3rd
Meanwhile, Ube Koujyou's offense can't get anything started against Kawai. The 8-9-1 batters are retired in 10 pitches and things do not look good.
Top 4th
Kasuga with a base hit to right gets Kendai's offense going again. No running or bunting though, looks like Aoyagi-kantoku is playing it straight at the bottom of the lineup.Last batters Higa and Kawai both fly out to center.
Souma comes up ready to do more damage, but Uenishi ends up hitting him.
Hitting him isn't good, but that brings up Hayashi who is 0-2 on the day. Uenishi pits him away with a slider and that's the inning.
Bottom 4th
Despite the troubles, Ube Koujyou has gotten leadoff men on base. This time it's Uenishi who draws a walk.
Ueda follows that up with a line single to right! 2 on, no out and Ube Koujyou threatening!
Ah, but Okada hits a ball up in foul territory! Satou and Ooshima collide and it's Satou with the catch! But Ooshima looks hurt. He's slow to get up and hobbles back to his position.
Now the umpires call time as they notice blood from Ooshima. They roll up his left leg and there is indeed blood. He has to leave to get treatment, and is visibly limping towards the stairs.
After a while, Aoyagi-kantoku goes over to where Ooshima went, and scrambles back, making a change.
#16 Minakawa comes in for Ooshima and goes to RF, Satou goes to 3B and Shibahiki goes to 1B.
Nakanishi up after the delay to try and get the timely hit.
And it seems like the break has affected Kawai! He can't throw a strike and falls behind 3-0! He fights back to level the count.
SANSHIN!!!
It's a fastball on the outside corner for the 2nd out!
Machida the last chance here after a great start to the inning.
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Machida can only walk back towards the dugout after he watches a slider hit the inside corner for strike 3! 3 out!
Top 5th
Tsuge with a liner down the left field line for a long single.
Uenishi paying a lot of attention to him, and then catches Tsuge taking off early for 2nd! Uenishi runs him down for the first out.
Shibahiki makes contact and does a bat flip?
Umemoto runs over to left center, and back to the wall... 待って。。本当に？？！！
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess he knew something we didn't because that ball clears the fence! It's 5-0 Kendai Takasaki!
Minakawa and Satou are retired afterwards, but the lead is extended!
Bottom 5th
Ube Koujyou needs the break as the offense is on it's heels with Kawai hitting the corners. In fact, he strikes out the bottom of the lineup and Kendai Takasaki looks in total control.
Top 6th
Kasuga with a drive to left, and again the outfield is in! Okada has to chase after it and Kasuga presses to 3rd! The throw in... and he's safe! He's keeping his toe on the bag, but he's safe!
Higa hot shot to 1st, but Nakanishi is there! He looks Kasuga back and goes to 1st for the out.
Kawai still looking for his first hit but he chases a slider for the 2nd out.
And Uenishi prevents any further damage. Souma flies out to left to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
Make that 4 Ks in a row! Fujita goes down swinging on a changeup and that's Kawai's 10th K!
Uenishi puts the bat on the ball and guides it to left, but Hayashi jumps and high points the ball for the out.
And Ueda hits a weak comebacker to Kawai. That's 9 consecutive batters retired and Kawai appears to be in cruise control.
Top 7th
Hayashi draws the leadoff walk.
Tsuge swinging away, but hits one up the middle to Umeoka. But he drops the ball! His only play is to 1st for one.
And Hayashi makes him pay! He steals 3rd without a throw!
And Shibahiki drives in his 3rd run! Just a clean single to right. 6-0.
#7 Chinen in to hit for Minakawa. And he singles to left! Everything going Kendai's way.
2 down now for Kasuga, and he hits a single through the left side! Shibahiki is given the green light around 3rd, but Okada is firing home! Throw in... OUT!
The throw is on line and Shibahiki didn't have a chance!
Bottom 7th
Ube Koujyou finally gets their first hit in 3 innings as PH #13 Nakamura, hitting for Nakanishi, hits a liner to left.
That's all they get though as Machida and Umemoto are retired thereafter.
Top 8th
Nakamura stays in to play 1B.
Kendai Takasaki content with their lead, go down in order to shorten the game.
Bottom 8th
One down and captain #15 Makihata comes is sent in to hit for Yoshiura.
Sharp ball to the left side, Hayashi runs it down in the gap, but the throw is wide and Makihata has a base hit!
That seems to spur on the team! Fujita follows that up with a single to left!
And now Uenishi singles back up the middle! Makihata holds up at 3rd, but it's manrui for Ube Koujyou!
Ueda with a slow grounder to the right side... Souma goes to 2nd for 1, and that's it! Makihata scores and Ube Koujyou is finally on the board at 6-1.
Unfortunately, the momentum dies there as Okada grounds out to 2nd. But the shutout is prevented.
Top 9th
Kendai Takasaki scores 3 more runs, which included the following:
Ube Koujyou goes down in order in the 9th, and the game ends mercifully.
Ube Koujyou just got off to a weird start. From talking to the umpire about the wild pitch in the 1st thinking it was a foul ball, to the appeal at 2nd, it felt like they were trying to buy as many breaks as possible. And I think it took away from the team a little. By the time they had chances, it seemed like they were already pressing and it was over from there.
With that loss Chuugoku, along with Kyushu, have been eliminated.
Kendai Takasaki looked like the team we're used to seeing. Aggressive on the basepaths and solid defense. We really didn't see the grittyness, as the game was never in doubt, but they look like a contender yet again. Kawai isn't as good as he showed today, but he was hitting his spots and forcing the Ube Koujyou batters into bad swings, or none at all sometimes.If his control can keep up throughout, they could be scary yet again. Tenri may be next, but it's certainly a winnable game.
Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
2B Souma Yuuto
SS Hayashi Kenya
C Tsuge Sena
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke
RF Satou Nozomu
CF Kasuga Yuuma
LF Higa Tsubasa (#14)
P Kawai Tomoya
Ube Koujyou (Yamaguchi)
2B Fujita Tsukasa
P Uenishi Ranma
RF Ueda Rikiya
LF Okada Katsuki
1B Nakanishi Atsuhisa
C Machida Shouhei
CF Umemoto Daiki
SS Umeoka Ryouta
3B Yoshiura Tomoki
__________________________________________________
11:35 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Souma draws a 4-pitch walk and let's see if Kendai does their running. They didn't do a lot of it in the super-regionals.
And he does take off! But the pitch from Uenishi almost takes off Hayashi's head! Machida has to chase it down and Souma goes to 3rd!
The umpires converge to talk about things as Ozaki-kantoku maintains the ball hit Hayashi's bat when he ducked for cover. But after discussion it was ruled to not be the case.
Hayashi gets a chance to plate the first run, but he hits a shallow fly to center! Umemoto is there and Souma can't score.Tsuge with the next chance to plate the run.
But Uenishi intends to to shut them down! He strikes out Tsuge on a slider right on the corner for the 2nd out! Shibahiki last chance to get the runner in this inning.
Ball back up the middle, through for a base hit! Souma finally scores and it's 1-0 Kendai!
Ooshima grrounds to 3rd to end the inning, but Kendai Takasaki takes the quick lead!
Bottom 1st
Fujita starting the rally right off the bat with a base hit up the middle! Uenishi with the bunt, but Shibahiki sells out! He crashes in and is right on the ball! Goes to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st... double play!! Risk from the 3B, but it pays off!
Ueda goes down swinging and the inning is over.
Top 2nd
Satou with a ball back up the middle himself for a leadoff single.
Kasuga not bunting, instead hits a blooper to the left side! Umeoka turning back and.. can't get it! Everyone's safe! Kendai Takasaki threatening again.
Higa lays down the bunt, and this time it's Uenishi who crashes in! He goes to 3rd and they cut down the lead runner! One down.
Kawai now with a slow grounder to short, toss to 2nd. SAFE?!
Fujita stretching for the ball, goes off the bag! Higa slides in ahead of the re-establishment and all safe! Manrui!
Souma up, and the infield is playing in looking for the squeeze.
But he swings away! The outfield is in and Okada has to turn tail! All 3 runners are going to score on the play! Souma's in with a bases clearing triple! Kendai Takasaki leads 4-0!
After some discussion by the umpires and some direction, Ube Koujyou appeals that the runner didn't touch 2nd, but the umpires show safe.
Hayashi tries to hit a sac fly, but hits it too shallow.
Tsuge grounds to 3rd to end the inning, but it's a big hit instead of their running that scores the runs!
Bottom 2nd
Okada line drive down the left field line... Fair! Higa runs it down, but not before Okada reaches 2nd!
No bunting down 4, but Nakanishi bites on a slider for the 1st out.
And Machida does the same on a changeup! 2 down and Kawai might get out of the jam!
Umemoto hits a single to center... it falls in! They're waving Okada home! Throw from Kasuga... is on a line and right to Tsuge! It's in plenty of time and Okada is out to retire the side. That's a bit too aggressive there when there's plenty of time.
Top 3rd
Uenishi looking for a bagel, or more importantly a quick inning. And he gets Shibahiki and Ooshima to groundout.
Satou swings and misses on a slider, but the ball gets away from Machida and Satou reaches 1st!
Once again the runners are allowed to run wild and Satou takes off for 2nd, and gets no throw!
But Satou goes a bridge too far! Machida pops out after the 1-2 pitch and pumps his throw before having Satou in no-man's land! He's run down and the inning is over.
Bottom 3rd
Meanwhile, Ube Koujyou's offense can't get anything started against Kawai. The 8-9-1 batters are retired in 10 pitches and things do not look good.
Top 4th
Kasuga with a base hit to right gets Kendai's offense going again. No running or bunting though, looks like Aoyagi-kantoku is playing it straight at the bottom of the lineup.Last batters Higa and Kawai both fly out to center.
Souma comes up ready to do more damage, but Uenishi ends up hitting him.
Hitting him isn't good, but that brings up Hayashi who is 0-2 on the day. Uenishi pits him away with a slider and that's the inning.
Bottom 4th
Despite the troubles, Ube Koujyou has gotten leadoff men on base. This time it's Uenishi who draws a walk.
Ueda follows that up with a line single to right! 2 on, no out and Ube Koujyou threatening!
Ah, but Okada hits a ball up in foul territory! Satou and Ooshima collide and it's Satou with the catch! But Ooshima looks hurt. He's slow to get up and hobbles back to his position.
Now the umpires call time as they notice blood from Ooshima. They roll up his left leg and there is indeed blood. He has to leave to get treatment, and is visibly limping towards the stairs.
After a while, Aoyagi-kantoku goes over to where Ooshima went, and scrambles back, making a change.
#16 Minakawa comes in for Ooshima and goes to RF, Satou goes to 3B and Shibahiki goes to 1B.
Nakanishi up after the delay to try and get the timely hit.
And it seems like the break has affected Kawai! He can't throw a strike and falls behind 3-0! He fights back to level the count.
SANSHIN!!!
It's a fastball on the outside corner for the 2nd out!
Machida the last chance here after a great start to the inning.
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Machida can only walk back towards the dugout after he watches a slider hit the inside corner for strike 3! 3 out!
Top 5th
Tsuge with a liner down the left field line for a long single.
Uenishi paying a lot of attention to him, and then catches Tsuge taking off early for 2nd! Uenishi runs him down for the first out.
Shibahiki makes contact and does a bat flip?
Umemoto runs over to left center, and back to the wall... 待って。。本当に？？！！
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess he knew something we didn't because that ball clears the fence! It's 5-0 Kendai Takasaki!
Minakawa and Satou are retired afterwards, but the lead is extended!
Bottom 5th
Ube Koujyou needs the break as the offense is on it's heels with Kawai hitting the corners. In fact, he strikes out the bottom of the lineup and Kendai Takasaki looks in total control.
Top 6th
Kasuga with a drive to left, and again the outfield is in! Okada has to chase after it and Kasuga presses to 3rd! The throw in... and he's safe! He's keeping his toe on the bag, but he's safe!
Higa hot shot to 1st, but Nakanishi is there! He looks Kasuga back and goes to 1st for the out.
Kawai still looking for his first hit but he chases a slider for the 2nd out.
And Uenishi prevents any further damage. Souma flies out to left to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
Make that 4 Ks in a row! Fujita goes down swinging on a changeup and that's Kawai's 10th K!
Uenishi puts the bat on the ball and guides it to left, but Hayashi jumps and high points the ball for the out.
And Ueda hits a weak comebacker to Kawai. That's 9 consecutive batters retired and Kawai appears to be in cruise control.
Top 7th
Hayashi draws the leadoff walk.
Tsuge swinging away, but hits one up the middle to Umeoka. But he drops the ball! His only play is to 1st for one.
And Hayashi makes him pay! He steals 3rd without a throw!
And Shibahiki drives in his 3rd run! Just a clean single to right. 6-0.
#7 Chinen in to hit for Minakawa. And he singles to left! Everything going Kendai's way.
2 down now for Kasuga, and he hits a single through the left side! Shibahiki is given the green light around 3rd, but Okada is firing home! Throw in... OUT!
The throw is on line and Shibahiki didn't have a chance!
Bottom 7th
Ube Koujyou finally gets their first hit in 3 innings as PH #13 Nakamura, hitting for Nakanishi, hits a liner to left.
That's all they get though as Machida and Umemoto are retired thereafter.
Top 8th
Nakamura stays in to play 1B.
Kendai Takasaki content with their lead, go down in order to shorten the game.
Bottom 8th
One down and captain #15 Makihata comes is sent in to hit for Yoshiura.
Sharp ball to the left side, Hayashi runs it down in the gap, but the throw is wide and Makihata has a base hit!
That seems to spur on the team! Fujita follows that up with a single to left!
And now Uenishi singles back up the middle! Makihata holds up at 3rd, but it's manrui for Ube Koujyou!
Ueda with a slow grounder to the right side... Souma goes to 2nd for 1, and that's it! Makihata scores and Ube Koujyou is finally on the board at 6-1.
Unfortunately, the momentum dies there as Okada grounds out to 2nd. But the shutout is prevented.
Top 9th
Kendai Takasaki scores 3 more runs, which included the following:
- #10 Nakasugi coming in for 1 batter, then relieved by #11 Kiba.
- Aoyagi PH for his cleanup hitter, drawing questions from the announcers.
- A catcher's interference that instead of an out at home, resulted in a manrui situation.
- A HBP that the umpires had to converge on.
- An attempt to score 2 runs on a squeeze play that resulted in a 1-3-2 double play.
Ube Koujyou goes down in order in the 9th, and the game ends mercifully.
Ube Koujyou just got off to a weird start. From talking to the umpire about the wild pitch in the 1st thinking it was a foul ball, to the appeal at 2nd, it felt like they were trying to buy as many breaks as possible. And I think it took away from the team a little. By the time they had chances, it seemed like they were already pressing and it was over from there.
With that loss Chuugoku, along with Kyushu, have been eliminated.
Kendai Takasaki looked like the team we're used to seeing. Aggressive on the basepaths and solid defense. We really didn't see the grittyness, as the game was never in doubt, but they look like a contender yet again. Kawai isn't as good as he showed today, but he was hitting his spots and forcing the Ube Koujyou batters into bad swings, or none at all sometimes.If his control can keep up throughout, they could be scary yet again. Tenri may be next, but it's certainly a winnable game.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Reviewing the field - Kanto semifinalist Kendai Takasaki
And now to the semifinalists of the Kanto tournament. First up, the one who lost to the eventual champs - Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (i.e. Kendai Takasaki).
They're a private school yes, but they play like the dog that nips at you constantly - playing to their competition, good or bad. You can bever count them out of a game, and perhaps that's testament to their coach Aoyagi-kantoku.
So you can look at their stats all day long, but this team may be the one exception whereby we throw them out the window. But, since that's what I have to go on, I do a pump fake and bring those papers back in.
I'm going to look at offense, because that's where the team is the most gritty. The team, up until their defeat against Urawa Gakuin, hit the ball. Not hard, but hit the ball. Their team racked up double digit hits in every game except for 2, and in both games still got 8 hits. And this wasn't against no-name competition either. It was against schools like Kiryuu Dai-ichi, and former champs Maebashi Ikuei, and the aforementioned Urawa Gakuin (they got 17 hits in that one!). But unlike their profile in prior years, they do not really run, averaging just 3 SBs per game.
7 of their starting 9 in fact, hit over 0.300, and their #5 hitter 1B Ooshima Kyouhei (大島 匡平) went 10-19 with half of those hits going for extra bases! I could highlight other hitters, but the fact really is, this team at the plate does not cheat itself - ever.
On the mound, Aoyagi-kantoku used a mess of pitchers in every game except 3, and they were the 3 biggest games on their schedule - the prefectural final, and the first 2 rounds of the super-regional.
Why are they the most important? Well, winning the prefectural final means facing a 2-seed in the first round of the super-regional. And the first 2 rounds would get them to the semifinal where the odds of being omitted from the field is almost nil.
And so it was that ace Fukui Tomoya (川井 智也) would take the hill. In each progressive game though he would give up more runs, 3 to Meishuu Gakuen Hitachi, and 6 to Matsudo Kokusai.
Now, Aoyagi-kantoku has supposedly brought 3 other pitchers to Koushien - #10 Hashidzume Naoya (橋詰 直弥), #17 Miyamoto Takahiro (宮本 隆寛), and #18 Takahashi Ryousuke (髙橋 涼輔). Problem is, none of them seem usable. Hashidzume and Takahashi have terrible ERAs, while Miyamoto was used early on, but was never seen past the prefectural semifinal. Weirdly however, Miyamoto was part of the Nomo Baseball Academy and travelled to the US. Even weirder, while wearing the #1 jersey, he never pitched a game...
Ube Koujyou isn't a completely soft opener, and a possible game against Tenri might not be great either, but while the pitching will be always a query, but you can never count out this team in any game.
They're a private school yes, but they play like the dog that nips at you constantly - playing to their competition, good or bad. You can bever count them out of a game, and perhaps that's testament to their coach Aoyagi-kantoku.
So you can look at their stats all day long, but this team may be the one exception whereby we throw them out the window. But, since that's what I have to go on, I do a pump fake and bring those papers back in.
I'm going to look at offense, because that's where the team is the most gritty. The team, up until their defeat against Urawa Gakuin, hit the ball. Not hard, but hit the ball. Their team racked up double digit hits in every game except for 2, and in both games still got 8 hits. And this wasn't against no-name competition either. It was against schools like Kiryuu Dai-ichi, and former champs Maebashi Ikuei, and the aforementioned Urawa Gakuin (they got 17 hits in that one!). But unlike their profile in prior years, they do not really run, averaging just 3 SBs per game.
7 of their starting 9 in fact, hit over 0.300, and their #5 hitter 1B Ooshima Kyouhei (大島 匡平) went 10-19 with half of those hits going for extra bases! I could highlight other hitters, but the fact really is, this team at the plate does not cheat itself - ever.
On the mound, Aoyagi-kantoku used a mess of pitchers in every game except 3, and they were the 3 biggest games on their schedule - the prefectural final, and the first 2 rounds of the super-regional.
Why are they the most important? Well, winning the prefectural final means facing a 2-seed in the first round of the super-regional. And the first 2 rounds would get them to the semifinal where the odds of being omitted from the field is almost nil.
And so it was that ace Fukui Tomoya (川井 智也) would take the hill. In each progressive game though he would give up more runs, 3 to Meishuu Gakuen Hitachi, and 6 to Matsudo Kokusai.
Now, Aoyagi-kantoku has supposedly brought 3 other pitchers to Koushien - #10 Hashidzume Naoya (橋詰 直弥), #17 Miyamoto Takahiro (宮本 隆寛), and #18 Takahashi Ryousuke (髙橋 涼輔). Problem is, none of them seem usable. Hashidzume and Takahashi have terrible ERAs, while Miyamoto was used early on, but was never seen past the prefectural semifinal. Weirdly however, Miyamoto was part of the Nomo Baseball Academy and travelled to the US. Even weirder, while wearing the #1 jersey, he never pitched a game...
Ube Koujyou isn't a completely soft opener, and a possible game against Tenri might not be great either, but while the pitching will be always a query, but you can never count out this team in any game.
Friday, August 22, 2014
Jyunjyunkesshou Game 3 - Osaka Touin (Osaka) v. Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
People may not realize that back in 2012 these two teams faced off. Kendai back then was like the Kendai now, free running and exciting the crowd.
But when they faced Osaka Touin, they got thrown out once and we never saw them try again as they fell 3-1.
If they have to running game, they are lost. That's all I think it really boils down to.
Osaka Touin (Osaka)
LF Nakamura Makoto
2B Minemoto Takumi
3B Katsuki Kazuya
1B Shouzui Yuuya (#8)
RF Aoyagi Kouki (#13)
C Yokoi Yuuya
CF Mori Shinnosuke (#9)
SS Fukuda Kouki
P Fukushima Kousuke
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma)
CF Hirayama Takayuki
2B Hoshino Yuusuke
RF Wakimoto Naoto
1B Nagashima Ryouhei
C Tsuge Sena
LF Yamagami Takashi
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke (#15)
SS Yokomizo Takuto
P Kawai Tomoya (#11)
______________________________________________________
13:10 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Kawai gets an easy popup from Nakamura to start.
Minemoto hot shot to 3rd, Shibahiki with a great stop and throw gets him out.
Katsuki high chopper up middle, Yokomizo ranges, gets it, spins, throws.. but not in time!
He took an extra step and that probably cost him the out.
Shouzui with a single through the left side and could they be in trouble like Kousei?
No! Kawai snaga the comebacker from Aoyagi and goes to 1st to retire the side!
Bottom 1st
We'll see if they can run right off the bat as Fukushima walks Hirayama!
And he does! Throw from Yokoi is high and he's in safely!
Hoshino with the bunt! Yokoi can only go to 1st. 1 down.
Wakimoto does his job! He hits a ball to center! Mori catches, fires home as Hirayama tags up, but it's not in time! Kendai leads 1-0!
Nagashima bloops a ball to center that falls in front of Mori.
But Fukushima with a quick toss to 1st gets Nagashima to end the inning!
Top 2nd
Yokoi hot shot to 3rd! Shibahiki with a wave of the hand picks the high bounce! He loses it on the way down, but gathers it and throws to 1st... out! Nice play by the 2nd year!
Mori with a liner to center, but Nakamura comes in and is there to make the catch.
Fukuda a bit early on the ball, controls his swing, but grounds to 1st. Nagashima takes it to the bag for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
So the only thing that can derail Kendai is simply not having any baserunners.
And I'm not sure if they'll be able to hit for one, because here in the 2nd both Tsuge and Yamagami both are fooled on Fukushima's pitches and ground out while Shibahiki can't hold up his swing on a ball in the dirt.
Top 3rd
Osaka Touin not having as hard of a time getting on base. Fukushima singles back up the middle, and is bunted along to 2nd.
Kawai climbs the ladder on Katsuki and he swings! Yokomizo camps under it for the 2nd out.
Shouzui liner to center, Hirayama charging in, reaches out.. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hirayama misses the ball and it gets by! Fukushima scores! Minemoto being waved around and he scores on the lucky triple! Osaka Touin leads 2-1!
Aoyagi fouls out to Nagashima, but that decision to go for it by Hirayama costs them the lead!
Bottom 3rd
2 Ks at the bottom of the lineup and we're back to Hirayama.
He tries the safety bunt! Katsuki charging in and fires to 1st... SAFE!! He barely head slides in ahead of the throw.
And then he takes of for 2nd! Yokoi's throw... Fukuda can't secure it! Hirayama trying to manufacture another run on his own.
Hoshino with a ball to right, Aoyagi backing up makes the catch to retire the side.
Top 4th
Osaka Touin is playing small ball??!!
After Yokoi singles to center, Mori bunts him over! This feels odd coming from them.
Because Fukuda strikes out swinging on a slider in the dirt, and Fukushima simply grounds out to 1st for the 3rd out. I guess they figure those 2 can't normally hit.
Bottom 4th
Wakimoto with a slicer down the right field line! Aoyagi runs it down, but he's in with a double! Nagashima with the push bunt forces Katsuki to field it and Wakimoto advances to 3rd.
Tsuge takes a pitch the other way... and that's in for a basehit! Wakimoto can walk home and we're all tied at 1-1!
2 down for Kendai and Aoyagi-kantoku calls the hit-and-run! Shibahiki takes the ball to right and there's runners at the corners!
Shibahiki takes off to 2nd! Yokomizo swings and misses! Throw to 2nd and Tsuge takes off for home! Minemoto's cuts the ball but loses the grip! Tsuge scores!!
NO!
The home plate umpire calls Yokomizo for batter's interference on the throw and he's out! We're still tied at 2-2!
(Personally, I don't know if that was the right call...)
Top 5th
Aoyagi-kantoku figures 4 innings is enough for Kawai and #10 Matsuno comes in to take over.
But he walks Nakamura to start the 5th.
Minemoto not bunting, but kinda throws the bat at the ball down 1-2 and dribbles it to the left side like a bunt. He advances the runner nonetheless.
AH! Pitch from Matsuno is high and deflects off Tsuge's glove! Nakamura takes off for 3rd and reaches with no throw!
Katsuki hits a ball to left, but it's too shallow and Nakamura can't score.
Matsuno gets out of the pinch as Shouzui grounds out to short! Yokomizo's completes the play at 1st and Kendai holds serve.
Bottom 5th
Hoshino with a 2-out liner to center brings up Wakimoto. But will Hoshino run?
Wakimoto swings!!!
Drive to right! Aoyagi heading towards the foul pole! Still going! He's in front of the fence!
Makes the catch!!!
The hamakaze finally wins a match and it's at the expense of Wakimoto!
We hit the break and so far Kendai has been able to run, but not to the extent of other games, but some bad luck has prevented them from taking the lead. But they have proven that they will try the double steal!
Top 6th
Aoyagi becomes Matsuno's 1st K victim as he chases the slider. Yokoi becomes the 2nd after swinging at a ball in the opposite batters box!
Mori flies out to left, and it's another scoreless inning for Kendai!
Bottom 6th
Kendai's batters continue to mostly struggle against Fukushima. 2 down, Yamagami gets on base as a short chopper forces Minemoto to charge in and his underhand flip is too high and takes Shouzui off the bag.
Yamagami takes off for 2nd but Yokoi tries to frame the pitch for the K instead! Doesn't get the call and Yamagami is in scoring position!
But Shibahiki flies out to right and that ends things in the 6th.
Top 7th
Matsuno on the verge of walking leadoff batter Fukuda, but gets him to chase the slider inside for the out.
Fukushima with a single to right turns the lineup over for Nakamura.
He hits a drive to left! Yamagami heading to the fence, but he's pulling up!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leadoff batter Nakamura puts Osaka Touin ahead with one swing! 4-2!
Ah! And now Matsuno hits Minemoto! Aoyagi-kantoku quickly scrambles the bullpen.
Minemoto takes off for 2nd! Throw from Tsuge... not in time!! Katsuki with a flyout to right advances the runner to 3rd.
Oy, Matsuno walks Shouzui.
After an 0-1 pitch up and in, Aoyagi-kantoku calls time.
It doesn't help! (I think) Matsuno walks Aoyagi and the bases are loaded! Perhaps they figure that marginal run they would score is worth getting a force at any base.
Yokoi swings on the first pith though and hits a pop fly to Nagashima for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
One down and #17 Kinjyou hits for Matsuno, but he goes down on 3 pitches all on the slider it seems. Really a waste of an AB.
2 down, and while Hirayama draws a walk, his run would only make it a 1-run game.
He goes for 2nd, and with it ties the record for SB at Koushien!
The record is nice, but I think he wants the win.
Liner to right side, Shouzui dives, makes the catch!! That denies them the run!
Top 8th
Grounder to short, AHHH!!!
It takes a high hop and hits him in the head! Mori is safe, but how is Yokomizo?
Oh, the replay shows the ball hitting his neck, but that still hurts.
Fukuda grounder up middle! Yokomizo knocks it down but can only go to 1st.
Mori advances to 3rd with a fly ball to right.
Nakamura shot at 3rd... And Shibahiki can't pick it! It goes to left and Mori scores to make it a 3-run margin at 5-2.
Takahashi gets Minemoto to end the inning, but 3 runs in 2 innings is a lot to ask of Kendai.
Bottom 8th
Hoshino liner up right side, but Shouzui snags that one too!
2 down, Tsuge with a shallow fly to left center. Mori charges in, dives but can't get there. It kicks awa and Tsuge is in with a double.
Yamagami with a drive to center, but Mori going back easily fields it and Kendai may fall once again to the powerhouse.
Top 9th
#5 Nakasuji comes in for Yokomizo.
Takahashi retires the side in order, but his team is against the wall.
Bottom 9th
Kendai goes quietly in 9th and Osaka Touin defeats Kendai Takasaki once again 5-2 to advance to Best 4.
Kendai didn't deviate from their plan, but you could say they were partially a victim of bad luck. The batter's interference on the double steal, Wakimoto's deep fly that just missed being a HR, the two liners that Shouzui were able to snag. It just wasn't their day.
And it's too bad because their baseball is so fun to watch and something you just don't see everyday. There are parts of their team that are young, so perhaps we'll see this team again soon.
But when they faced Osaka Touin, they got thrown out once and we never saw them try again as they fell 3-1.
If they have to running game, they are lost. That's all I think it really boils down to.
Osaka Touin (Osaka)
LF Nakamura Makoto
2B Minemoto Takumi
3B Katsuki Kazuya
1B Shouzui Yuuya (#8)
RF Aoyagi Kouki (#13)
C Yokoi Yuuya
CF Mori Shinnosuke (#9)
SS Fukuda Kouki
P Fukushima Kousuke
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma)
CF Hirayama Takayuki
2B Hoshino Yuusuke
RF Wakimoto Naoto
1B Nagashima Ryouhei
C Tsuge Sena
LF Yamagami Takashi
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke (#15)
SS Yokomizo Takuto
P Kawai Tomoya (#11)
______________________________________________________
13:10 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Kawai gets an easy popup from Nakamura to start.
Minemoto hot shot to 3rd, Shibahiki with a great stop and throw gets him out.
Katsuki high chopper up middle, Yokomizo ranges, gets it, spins, throws.. but not in time!
He took an extra step and that probably cost him the out.
Shouzui with a single through the left side and could they be in trouble like Kousei?
No! Kawai snaga the comebacker from Aoyagi and goes to 1st to retire the side!
Bottom 1st
We'll see if they can run right off the bat as Fukushima walks Hirayama!
And he does! Throw from Yokoi is high and he's in safely!
Hoshino with the bunt! Yokoi can only go to 1st. 1 down.
Wakimoto does his job! He hits a ball to center! Mori catches, fires home as Hirayama tags up, but it's not in time! Kendai leads 1-0!
Nagashima bloops a ball to center that falls in front of Mori.
But Fukushima with a quick toss to 1st gets Nagashima to end the inning!
Top 2nd
Yokoi hot shot to 3rd! Shibahiki with a wave of the hand picks the high bounce! He loses it on the way down, but gathers it and throws to 1st... out! Nice play by the 2nd year!
Mori with a liner to center, but Nakamura comes in and is there to make the catch.
Fukuda a bit early on the ball, controls his swing, but grounds to 1st. Nagashima takes it to the bag for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
So the only thing that can derail Kendai is simply not having any baserunners.
And I'm not sure if they'll be able to hit for one, because here in the 2nd both Tsuge and Yamagami both are fooled on Fukushima's pitches and ground out while Shibahiki can't hold up his swing on a ball in the dirt.
Top 3rd
Osaka Touin not having as hard of a time getting on base. Fukushima singles back up the middle, and is bunted along to 2nd.
Kawai climbs the ladder on Katsuki and he swings! Yokomizo camps under it for the 2nd out.
Shouzui liner to center, Hirayama charging in, reaches out.. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hirayama misses the ball and it gets by! Fukushima scores! Minemoto being waved around and he scores on the lucky triple! Osaka Touin leads 2-1!
Aoyagi fouls out to Nagashima, but that decision to go for it by Hirayama costs them the lead!
Bottom 3rd
2 Ks at the bottom of the lineup and we're back to Hirayama.
He tries the safety bunt! Katsuki charging in and fires to 1st... SAFE!! He barely head slides in ahead of the throw.
And then he takes of for 2nd! Yokoi's throw... Fukuda can't secure it! Hirayama trying to manufacture another run on his own.
Hoshino with a ball to right, Aoyagi backing up makes the catch to retire the side.
Top 4th
Osaka Touin is playing small ball??!!
After Yokoi singles to center, Mori bunts him over! This feels odd coming from them.
Because Fukuda strikes out swinging on a slider in the dirt, and Fukushima simply grounds out to 1st for the 3rd out. I guess they figure those 2 can't normally hit.
Bottom 4th
Wakimoto with a slicer down the right field line! Aoyagi runs it down, but he's in with a double! Nagashima with the push bunt forces Katsuki to field it and Wakimoto advances to 3rd.
Tsuge takes a pitch the other way... and that's in for a basehit! Wakimoto can walk home and we're all tied at 1-1!
2 down for Kendai and Aoyagi-kantoku calls the hit-and-run! Shibahiki takes the ball to right and there's runners at the corners!
Shibahiki takes off to 2nd! Yokomizo swings and misses! Throw to 2nd and Tsuge takes off for home! Minemoto's cuts the ball but loses the grip! Tsuge scores!!
NO!
The home plate umpire calls Yokomizo for batter's interference on the throw and he's out! We're still tied at 2-2!
(Personally, I don't know if that was the right call...)
Top 5th
Aoyagi-kantoku figures 4 innings is enough for Kawai and #10 Matsuno comes in to take over.
But he walks Nakamura to start the 5th.
Minemoto not bunting, but kinda throws the bat at the ball down 1-2 and dribbles it to the left side like a bunt. He advances the runner nonetheless.
AH! Pitch from Matsuno is high and deflects off Tsuge's glove! Nakamura takes off for 3rd and reaches with no throw!
Katsuki hits a ball to left, but it's too shallow and Nakamura can't score.
Matsuno gets out of the pinch as Shouzui grounds out to short! Yokomizo's completes the play at 1st and Kendai holds serve.
Bottom 5th
Hoshino with a 2-out liner to center brings up Wakimoto. But will Hoshino run?
Wakimoto swings!!!
Drive to right! Aoyagi heading towards the foul pole! Still going! He's in front of the fence!
Makes the catch!!!
The hamakaze finally wins a match and it's at the expense of Wakimoto!
We hit the break and so far Kendai has been able to run, but not to the extent of other games, but some bad luck has prevented them from taking the lead. But they have proven that they will try the double steal!
Top 6th
Aoyagi becomes Matsuno's 1st K victim as he chases the slider. Yokoi becomes the 2nd after swinging at a ball in the opposite batters box!
Mori flies out to left, and it's another scoreless inning for Kendai!
Bottom 6th
Kendai's batters continue to mostly struggle against Fukushima. 2 down, Yamagami gets on base as a short chopper forces Minemoto to charge in and his underhand flip is too high and takes Shouzui off the bag.
Yamagami takes off for 2nd but Yokoi tries to frame the pitch for the K instead! Doesn't get the call and Yamagami is in scoring position!
But Shibahiki flies out to right and that ends things in the 6th.
Top 7th
Matsuno on the verge of walking leadoff batter Fukuda, but gets him to chase the slider inside for the out.
Fukushima with a single to right turns the lineup over for Nakamura.
He hits a drive to left! Yamagami heading to the fence, but he's pulling up!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leadoff batter Nakamura puts Osaka Touin ahead with one swing! 4-2!
Ah! And now Matsuno hits Minemoto! Aoyagi-kantoku quickly scrambles the bullpen.
Minemoto takes off for 2nd! Throw from Tsuge... not in time!! Katsuki with a flyout to right advances the runner to 3rd.
Oy, Matsuno walks Shouzui.
After an 0-1 pitch up and in, Aoyagi-kantoku calls time.
It doesn't help! (I think) Matsuno walks Aoyagi and the bases are loaded! Perhaps they figure that marginal run they would score is worth getting a force at any base.
Yokoi swings on the first pith though and hits a pop fly to Nagashima for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
One down and #17 Kinjyou hits for Matsuno, but he goes down on 3 pitches all on the slider it seems. Really a waste of an AB.
2 down, and while Hirayama draws a walk, his run would only make it a 1-run game.
He goes for 2nd, and with it ties the record for SB at Koushien!
The record is nice, but I think he wants the win.
Liner to right side, Shouzui dives, makes the catch!! That denies them the run!
Top 8th
Grounder to short, AHHH!!!
It takes a high hop and hits him in the head! Mori is safe, but how is Yokomizo?
Oh, the replay shows the ball hitting his neck, but that still hurts.
Fukuda grounder up middle! Yokomizo knocks it down but can only go to 1st.
Mori advances to 3rd with a fly ball to right.
Nakamura shot at 3rd... And Shibahiki can't pick it! It goes to left and Mori scores to make it a 3-run margin at 5-2.
Takahashi gets Minemoto to end the inning, but 3 runs in 2 innings is a lot to ask of Kendai.
Bottom 8th
Hoshino liner up right side, but Shouzui snags that one too!
2 down, Tsuge with a shallow fly to left center. Mori charges in, dives but can't get there. It kicks awa and Tsuge is in with a double.
Yamagami with a drive to center, but Mori going back easily fields it and Kendai may fall once again to the powerhouse.
Top 9th
#5 Nakasuji comes in for Yokomizo.
Takahashi retires the side in order, but his team is against the wall.
Bottom 9th
Kendai goes quietly in 9th and Osaka Touin defeats Kendai Takasaki once again 5-2 to advance to Best 4.
Kendai didn't deviate from their plan, but you could say they were partially a victim of bad luck. The batter's interference on the double steal, Wakimoto's deep fly that just missed being a HR, the two liners that Shouzui were able to snag. It just wasn't their day.
And it's too bad because their baseball is so fun to watch and something you just don't see everyday. There are parts of their team that are young, so perhaps we'll see this team again soon.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Day 11, Game 4 - Yamagata Chuo (Yamagata) v. Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
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Yamagata Chuo (Yamagata)
2B Takahashi Yuusuke (#14)
LF Takahashi Ryuusei
RF Nagai Daichi
3B Aoki Riku
1B Takahashi Kazuki
SS Nakamura Ryuu
CF Takahashi Ryousuke
C Abe Koutarou
P Satou Ryousuke (#11)
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma)
CF Hirayama Takayuki
2B Hoshino Yuusuke
RF Wakimoto Naoto
1B Nagashima Ryouhei
C Tsuge Sena
LF Yamagami Takashi
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke (#15)
SS Yokomizo Takuto
P Ishige Rikito (#18)
__________________________________________________
15:50 - First Pitch
Top 1st
After Yuusuke strikes out looking, Ryuusei hits one clean back up the middle for a single. But while Nagai also hits one back up the middle, it's much slower and Yokomizo starts the 6-3 double play to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
The last thing you want to do is give Kendai a free baserunner... and yet Ryousuke walks Hirayama!
But instead of stealing, with a lefty on the mound, Hoshino bunts the runner along.
But now on 2nd, Hirayama breaks for 3rd! Abe tries to be too quick and the ball goes all the way to the backstop!
Wakimoto grounds to short, and Nakamura goes to 1st ceding the run! Wakimoto is barely beaten out, but his team leads 1-0! Nagashima fouls out to Abe to end the inning.
Top 2nd
えええええええええええええ？？？？？？？？？
Aoki with a drive to right center! Hirayama going back to the wall!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where did this power come from?? Aoki completely laughs at the hamazake and drives a douten HR to the right side of the field! 1-1!
Ishige needs just 7 pitches to retire the next 3 batters, but Yamagata Chuo immediately gets the run back!
Bottom 2nd
Ryousuke is apparently going between his fastball and slow curve to try and throw off the batters.
Seems to be working as Kendai's batters are unable to make good contact on the ball and thusly reach base.
Top 3rd
Meanwhile, Yamagata's batters are having a hard time with Ishige's slower fastball (he only hits the high 120s). Koutarou and Satou Ryousuke both strike out.
Yuusuke hits a chopper to the right side, Nagashima tosses to Ishige but Yuusuke beats him out to the bag!
Ryuusei with a single down the left field line! Yamagami is up with it quickly and Yuusuke can only take 2nd on the hit.
Nagai giving Ishige a long AB, spoiling pitch after pitch.
Finally on the 11th pitch, Ishige gets him to pop it up! Tsuge in foul territory on 1st side makes catch!
Bottom 3rd
Well, this isn't good. Satou Ryousuke is giving free passes! First he hits Yokomizo... and then walks Ishige!!
Hirayama with the bunt, Aoki with it fires to... nobody!!!
Nobody is covering 1st! All safe!!
Shouji-kantoku calls for time. And Aoyagi-kantoku sends in #16 Mochida to run for Ishige, his day is done!
Hoshino grounder to 1st, Kazuki double clutches but goes home! They get the force. 1 down.
Wakimoto down 1st base line.. FAIR!!!! It gets by Kazuki and the runners are off to the races! One in..2 in! AHHH!!!
Nagai throws the ball away! Hoshino comes in and it's 3 runs to the good! 4-1 Kendai on Wakimoto's triple!
That's it for Satou. Ace Ishikawa comes in to take the hill.
He gets the second out by getting Nagasima to line out to left.
Tsuge with a ball back up the middle! Wakimoto scores and its 5-1.
Yamagami with a ball through the left side, and that's for a base hit.
Ishikawa re-loads the bases! He walks Shibahiki and it really can be an early end for Yamagata Chuo!
He falls behind Yokomizo 3-1 before filling up the count. Grounder to 3rd, Aoki takes it himself for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Ace Takahashi Kazuki takes over on the hill. And already he makes a bid for best Takahashi in the game as he strikes out Aoki, the other Takahashi Kazuki, then gets a groundout from Nakamura.
Bottom 4th
Kendai's Kazuki gets a base hit to center, but he doesn't try to steal a base, and Ishikawa retires the next 3 batters.
Top 5th
Takahashi Ryousuke sends a ball down the right field line for a double.
Koutarou reaches down and lines a ball down the left field side! Yamagami has to chase after it and Ryousuke scores! 5-2!
Yuusuke singles through the left side! Koutarou goes to 3rd, but halts there.
Ryuusei with a ball back up middle! Ryousuke scores and its a 2-run ballgame! 5-3!
Big chance for Yamagata Chuo to pull within 1 or tie it, but Nagai hits one to short! Yokomizo starts the 6-4-3 double play to finish the inning.
Bottom 5th
Ishikawa playing with fire again. He walks Nagashima to lead off the inning, and the Yamagami with one down! But Kendai is not doing their running game at all with Ishikawa on the hill! He gets the next 2 batters out and we hit the break with Kendai Takasaki playing a much different game but tentatively still ahead.
Top 6th
It's a quick inning for Kazuki as he retires the side in just 8 pitches.
Bottom 6th
Hirayama with a one out single to right, and now they start running! He takes off for 2nd, but Koutarou gives no throw!
Hoshino singles to center and that will score Hirayama! Kendai gets back one of the runs and lead 6-3!
And he takes of for 2nd, and again with no throw!
Ishikawa retires the next 2 batters but Kendai starting to show their speed.
Top 7th
Kazuki gives up a one out walk to Koutarou, but Yuusuke's bid for a basehit with 2 outs is robbed by Yokomichi.
Bottom 7th
Yamagami with a ball to the left side. Nakamura runs it down, quick throw to 1st, but Kazuki's stretch can't quite get the ball!
Shibahiki follows that up with a single up the middle and they threaten to open the game up!
But Yokomizo grounds into the 4-6-3 double play and the deficit remains at 3.
Top 8th
Nagai with a 1-out bloop single, but they're hitting everything into the air but not hard. They're easy plays for the defense and Yamagata Chuo is running out of time.
Bottom 8th
(I held on as long as I can, but it's pretty much it for me today)
Besides, it kinds of goes awry as Kendai adds on 2 more runs and should be on their way to the Best 8.
Top 9th
Yamagata Chuo goes quietly in order and Kendai Takasaki hits the best 8 with an 8-3 win.
Yamagata Chuo (Yamagata)
2B Takahashi Yuusuke (#14)
LF Takahashi Ryuusei
RF Nagai Daichi
3B Aoki Riku
1B Takahashi Kazuki
SS Nakamura Ryuu
CF Takahashi Ryousuke
C Abe Koutarou
P Satou Ryousuke (#11)
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma)
CF Hirayama Takayuki
2B Hoshino Yuusuke
RF Wakimoto Naoto
1B Nagashima Ryouhei
C Tsuge Sena
LF Yamagami Takashi
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke (#15)
SS Yokomizo Takuto
P Ishige Rikito (#18)
__________________________________________________
15:50 - First Pitch
Top 1st
After Yuusuke strikes out looking, Ryuusei hits one clean back up the middle for a single. But while Nagai also hits one back up the middle, it's much slower and Yokomizo starts the 6-3 double play to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
The last thing you want to do is give Kendai a free baserunner... and yet Ryousuke walks Hirayama!
But instead of stealing, with a lefty on the mound, Hoshino bunts the runner along.
But now on 2nd, Hirayama breaks for 3rd! Abe tries to be too quick and the ball goes all the way to the backstop!
Wakimoto grounds to short, and Nakamura goes to 1st ceding the run! Wakimoto is barely beaten out, but his team leads 1-0! Nagashima fouls out to Abe to end the inning.
Top 2nd
えええええええええええええ？？？？？？？？？
Aoki with a drive to right center! Hirayama going back to the wall!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where did this power come from?? Aoki completely laughs at the hamazake and drives a douten HR to the right side of the field! 1-1!
Ishige needs just 7 pitches to retire the next 3 batters, but Yamagata Chuo immediately gets the run back!
Bottom 2nd
Ryousuke is apparently going between his fastball and slow curve to try and throw off the batters.
Seems to be working as Kendai's batters are unable to make good contact on the ball and thusly reach base.
Top 3rd
Meanwhile, Yamagata's batters are having a hard time with Ishige's slower fastball (he only hits the high 120s). Koutarou and Satou Ryousuke both strike out.
Yuusuke hits a chopper to the right side, Nagashima tosses to Ishige but Yuusuke beats him out to the bag!
Ryuusei with a single down the left field line! Yamagami is up with it quickly and Yuusuke can only take 2nd on the hit.
Nagai giving Ishige a long AB, spoiling pitch after pitch.
Finally on the 11th pitch, Ishige gets him to pop it up! Tsuge in foul territory on 1st side makes catch!
Bottom 3rd
Well, this isn't good. Satou Ryousuke is giving free passes! First he hits Yokomizo... and then walks Ishige!!
Hirayama with the bunt, Aoki with it fires to... nobody!!!
Nobody is covering 1st! All safe!!
Shouji-kantoku calls for time. And Aoyagi-kantoku sends in #16 Mochida to run for Ishige, his day is done!
Hoshino grounder to 1st, Kazuki double clutches but goes home! They get the force. 1 down.
Wakimoto down 1st base line.. FAIR!!!! It gets by Kazuki and the runners are off to the races! One in..2 in! AHHH!!!
Nagai throws the ball away! Hoshino comes in and it's 3 runs to the good! 4-1 Kendai on Wakimoto's triple!
That's it for Satou. Ace Ishikawa comes in to take the hill.
He gets the second out by getting Nagasima to line out to left.
Tsuge with a ball back up the middle! Wakimoto scores and its 5-1.
Yamagami with a ball through the left side, and that's for a base hit.
Ishikawa re-loads the bases! He walks Shibahiki and it really can be an early end for Yamagata Chuo!
He falls behind Yokomizo 3-1 before filling up the count. Grounder to 3rd, Aoki takes it himself for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Ace Takahashi Kazuki takes over on the hill. And already he makes a bid for best Takahashi in the game as he strikes out Aoki, the other Takahashi Kazuki, then gets a groundout from Nakamura.
Bottom 4th
Kendai's Kazuki gets a base hit to center, but he doesn't try to steal a base, and Ishikawa retires the next 3 batters.
Top 5th
Takahashi Ryousuke sends a ball down the right field line for a double.
Koutarou reaches down and lines a ball down the left field side! Yamagami has to chase after it and Ryousuke scores! 5-2!
Yuusuke singles through the left side! Koutarou goes to 3rd, but halts there.
Ryuusei with a ball back up middle! Ryousuke scores and its a 2-run ballgame! 5-3!
Big chance for Yamagata Chuo to pull within 1 or tie it, but Nagai hits one to short! Yokomizo starts the 6-4-3 double play to finish the inning.
Bottom 5th
Ishikawa playing with fire again. He walks Nagashima to lead off the inning, and the Yamagami with one down! But Kendai is not doing their running game at all with Ishikawa on the hill! He gets the next 2 batters out and we hit the break with Kendai Takasaki playing a much different game but tentatively still ahead.
Top 6th
It's a quick inning for Kazuki as he retires the side in just 8 pitches.
Bottom 6th
Hirayama with a one out single to right, and now they start running! He takes off for 2nd, but Koutarou gives no throw!
Hoshino singles to center and that will score Hirayama! Kendai gets back one of the runs and lead 6-3!
And he takes of for 2nd, and again with no throw!
Ishikawa retires the next 2 batters but Kendai starting to show their speed.
Top 7th
Kazuki gives up a one out walk to Koutarou, but Yuusuke's bid for a basehit with 2 outs is robbed by Yokomichi.
Bottom 7th
Yamagami with a ball to the left side. Nakamura runs it down, quick throw to 1st, but Kazuki's stretch can't quite get the ball!
Shibahiki follows that up with a single up the middle and they threaten to open the game up!
But Yokomizo grounds into the 4-6-3 double play and the deficit remains at 3.
Top 8th
Nagai with a 1-out bloop single, but they're hitting everything into the air but not hard. They're easy plays for the defense and Yamagata Chuo is running out of time.
Bottom 8th
(I held on as long as I can, but it's pretty much it for me today)
Besides, it kinds of goes awry as Kendai adds on 2 more runs and should be on their way to the Best 8.
Top 9th
Yamagata Chuo goes quietly in order and Kendai Takasaki hits the best 8 with an 8-3 win.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Day 8, Game 4 - Rifu (Miyagi) v. Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
Last up is one of the last Kanto representative in Kendai Takasaki facing Tohoku representative Rifu out of Miyagi.
Kendai Takasaki went back to their calling card that worked so well for them a couple of years ago. Speed.
They would be aggressive on the basepaths and at the plate, continuously putting pressure on Iwakuni until they finally took the lead for good in the 5th.
What helps is ace Takahashi who came in relief and fired 7 strong innings striking out 9 while giving up just 2 hits and walking 1.
Rifu for most of the game was struggling against Saga Kita, scoring runs thanks to some defensive errors in the 5th, and then a timely hit by Manjyoume in the 6th. But otherwise, the offense was ineffective, and the pitching behind ace Nasuno was average at best. And against this Kendai squad, that might be a problem.
Rifu (Miyagi)
LF Manjyoume Kouta
CF Ueno Mikio
2B Hamada Keita
1B Seto Miki
C Ono Keita
RF Takeuchi Mikiya
3B Suzuki Yuuto
P Nasuno Seiya
SS Katsuramaki Kouta
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma)
CF Hirayama Takayuki
2B Hoshino Yuusuke
RF Wakimoto Naoto
1B Nagashima Ryouhei
C Tsuge Sena
LF Yamagami Takashi
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke (#15)
SS Yokomizo Takuto
P Kawai Tomoya (#11)
__________________________________________________
15:20 - First Pitch
Top 1st
Rifu's offensive struggles continue as Manjyoume and Ueno hit weak grounders for the first two outs. Hamada puts a 2-out single to left, but Seto flies out to right to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Nasuno will have to his best to prevent runners from reaching base as that's when Kendai does their work.
Of course, with one down he walks Hoshino...
And so it begins... Hoshino takes off for 2nd, ball in dirt, no throw.
Wakimoto does his best to get on base by any means, works the count full and fouls off any close pitches.
He is completely jammed, but he hits a small looper over Nasuno! Hamada charges to the ball, but his only play is to try and fire to 3rd!
Kokuta-kantoku calling for time as it's like they didn't see this coming.
Wakimoto takes off for 2nd, throw cut off in case of double steal.
Nagashima fly to left, easily scores Hoshino. 1-0 Kendai Takasaki.
And guess what... Wakimoto steals 3rd without a throw.
Tsuge liner over Seto's outstretched glove! Wakimoto can stroll home as Tsuge has a double! 2-0 Kendai!
Tsuge steals 3rd and the throw is late. That's 4 stolen bases, and 2 steals of 3rd!
Yamagami with a drive over Manjyoume to the wall in left! Tsuge scores and it's 3-0! I'm laughing my ass off right now at how they're running circles around Rifu.
Shibahiki grounds to short to end the inning, but I think Rifu's learned the lesson that they needed to have kept the runners off the bases.
Top 2nd
Takeuchi hits a single to left with one down, and having to manufacture it the normal way, Kokuta-kantoku has Suzuki bunt the runner along.
Nasuno with a base hit back up the middle! Takeuchi being waved home! Throw from Hirayama cut off by Kawai, relay home...
OUT!!!! Tsuge with the block of the plate and the swipe tag and Rifu is denied at home!
Bottom 2nd
Even the outs are close. Yokomizo makes Suzuki rush his throw, though they make the play.
Two down, Hirayama hits a ball up the middle. Yokomizo has to rush his throw and it short hops Nagashima! It's a hustle single!
Hirayama takes off for 2nd, throw late!
He takes off for 3rd, throw... not in time! That's 6 steals now for Kendai!
Hoshino though can't get him in as he grounds to 1st for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Katsuramaki with a single back up the middle to leadoff the frame.
Manjyoume not bunting, and works the count full.
But he grounds to 2nd and Hoshino can go to 2nd to cut down the lead runner.
Ueno unable to bunt with one out winds up watching a slider over the plate for the 2nd out.
And Hamada makes good contact, but it's a liner right to Takeuchi for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
Wakimoto with a drive to right! Takeuchi having to turn tail, sees it hit the base of the wall! He's in with a double!
Nagashima bunts him over to 3rd instead of a steal this time around. Perhaps saving energy for the RF?
SQUEEZE!
Aoyaki-kantoku tries the squeeze, but Tsuge hast to lay out just to foul it off.
No matter! With 2 strikes Tsuge just gets an old fashioned base hit through the left side to score Wakimoto! 4-0!
Yamagami fooled, but just points the bat at the ball! It's just out of the reach of Hamada and into right! Tsuge might as well just be given 3rd.
SQUEEZE!
But Shibahiki fouls it off! No go there. (Wait, they're playing Haisai Oji-san in the ouen-dan?!!)
Groudner to short! Goes to 2nd for one, NO! He's off the bag! Throw to 1st... NO! The throw pulls Seto off the bag!
Oh wow, Rifu is all messed up.
Yokomizo grounder to 2nd, throw home... Yamagami slides... but he misses the base! Ono tags him and he's out! Not sure, and I don't have an angle for it.
Kawai grounds out to 3rd to end the inning, but Rifu should be fortunate to have given up only 2 that frame.
Top 4th
Well, that's a concern. Kawai walks Seto on 4 straight, and then after a sac bunt, he walks Takeuchi on 4 straight! Ace Takahashi warming up in the bullpen.
But Kawai gets Suzuki to hit a lazy fly to left. And then Yamauchi grounds to 1st. Nagashima makes the tag and the side is retired!
Bottom 4th
One down, Hoshino gets hit by Yamauchi.
Rifu still affected by the speed of Kendai. Wakimoto grounds to 1st, Seto want to turn 2, but rushes and bobbles the ball! He has to go to 1st for the out.
Nagashima almost pokes a ball down the left field line, but it falls just foul.
Instead, it's a clean single to right and Hoshino can waltz home to a 6-0 lead!
Tsuge grounds to 3rd, and it's better for Suzuki to go the short way to 2nd for the out. 3 out, change!
Top 5th
And the more pressure Kendai puts on Rifu on defense, they have to somehow score runs on offense that they're just don't appear capable of doing.
Katsuramaki hits a chopper that Kawai snags and goes to 1st for the 1st out.
Manjyoume meanwhile gets fooled on a slider up and in for the 2nd out.
And though Ueno draws a walk, Hamada merely grounds into a fielder's choice at short to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
One down, Shibahiki grounder to left side. Katsuramaki makes diving catch, rushes throw to 1st but Shibahiki not even close to the bag! The throw is offline and he's on safely! Haha, the speed is totally in RIfu's heads!
Yokomizo with the sac bunt, but Seto and Hamada are near 1st and neither knows who's taking the bag! Hamada does, but the throw pulls him off!
#5 Nakasuji comes in to hit for Kawai but grounds into a 6-4-3 double play. That's rare.
So, needless to say Rifu is totally in stun mode and has no idea how to combat Kendai.
Top 6th
Rifu goes down in order. The offense that struggled last game is having less luck today.
Bottom 6th
Defensive change as #13 Inomata in for Seto to play 1B.
Hirayama grounder to right side, Inomata can't get it, Hamada does in the outfield grass, fires to Yamauchi for the out, just.
Hoshino tries to take 2nd, but with a lefty, can't get the same jump. Ono fires to 2nd and they just get him for the out.
They're showing the record for steals at 13 by Tosa. With a lefty on the mound and a big lead, I don't know how much they'll be trying it.
Wakimoto walks, so we'll find out.
He finally takes off on the 1-1 pitch and the throw is offline! 10 total.
A pitch goes off Ono's glove and Wakimoto takes 3rd.
And after Yamauchi walks Nagashima, Kokuta-kantoku makes a change. #11 Watanabe enters for Inomata and takes the hill. Yamauchi goes to 1B.
Tsuge with about as free a swing as you'll see splits the defense in left center. Wakimoto and Nagashima score easily and it's 8-0.
Seriously, Rifu needs a white flag.
Yamagami gives it to them with a flyout to center to end the inning.
Top 7th
Suzuki with a liner to left for a leadoff single. #15 Takahashi comes in to run for him.
AH! And he gets picked off! That just adds insult to injury.
The side gets retired in order after that and Rifu can't even buy a run at this point.
Bottom 7th
Shibahiki drive to center, Ueno running back, running back... makes the catch! Nice scramble there by Ueno!
Ah, but Watanabe hits Yokomizo.
Kendai will go to their next pitcher as #17 Kinjyou will hit for Takahashi.
Liner to center, Ueno charges... makes the shoestring catch! Yokomizo running on play and he's doubled off easily to end the inning!
Top 8th
#18 Ishige enters the game for PH Kinjyou and takes the hill. He retires the first 2 batters before Watanabe bloops one into right for a base hit.
But just 1 pitch later Ono grounds into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
#14 Oyama comes in for Takahashi to get work in at 3B.
Wakimoto collects his 3rd base hit with 2 down, lining a ball past Watanabe into center.
Wakimoto steals his 4th base, and 11th for the team.
Nagashima goes down on a ball away and drive it to deep left center. What?! They have power too? He's in with a triple! 9-0 Kendai!
And now there's a full battery change. #17 Kikuchi in for Watanabe, and #12 Gotou in for Ono.
Tsuge with one last indignity singles the first pitch into center to score the 10th run. 10-0.
Tsuge gets thrown out and for Rifu, the nightmare game is almost over.
Top 9th
#16 Mochida comes in for Yamagami to play LF, #14 Hayashi comes in for Shibahiki to play 3B, and #10 Matsuno comes in for Ishige to finish the game.
Kokuta-kantoku finished emptying the bench for Rifu. Hayashi hits for Takeuchi and grounds out to 2nd. And with 2 down #16 Abe hits for Yamauchi and grounds to short to end the game.
This was an utter dismantling of a team if I've ever seen one. It's one thing to just be dominant like say Seiryou over Kanoya Chuo. It's another to get into a team's head, break their spirit, and then crush it even more.
That's what Kendai did. They had Rifu paranoid about every play on defense. And that carried over to their already ineffective offense. Does it hurt? Of course it does. To be dominated on offense, you just shrug your shoulders and say what can you do. But when it is made so apparent, so raw... when it questions your ability as a team. That's what hurts. Kokuta-kantoku will have some work to do with some of his starters who will return for next year.
For Kendai Takasaki this is probably a statement game because back in 2011, they strayed from this strategy for 1 game and that was the game they lost. They're out to show they've learned from their mistakes and will not give in next time.
Kendai Takasaki went back to their calling card that worked so well for them a couple of years ago. Speed.
They would be aggressive on the basepaths and at the plate, continuously putting pressure on Iwakuni until they finally took the lead for good in the 5th.
What helps is ace Takahashi who came in relief and fired 7 strong innings striking out 9 while giving up just 2 hits and walking 1.
Rifu for most of the game was struggling against Saga Kita, scoring runs thanks to some defensive errors in the 5th, and then a timely hit by Manjyoume in the 6th. But otherwise, the offense was ineffective, and the pitching behind ace Nasuno was average at best. And against this Kendai squad, that might be a problem.
Rifu (Miyagi)
LF Manjyoume Kouta
CF Ueno Mikio
2B Hamada Keita
1B Seto Miki
C Ono Keita
RF Takeuchi Mikiya
3B Suzuki Yuuto
P Nasuno Seiya
SS Katsuramaki Kouta
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma)
CF Hirayama Takayuki
2B Hoshino Yuusuke
RF Wakimoto Naoto
1B Nagashima Ryouhei
C Tsuge Sena
LF Yamagami Takashi
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke (#15)
SS Yokomizo Takuto
P Kawai Tomoya (#11)
__________________________________________________
15:20 - First Pitch
Top 1st
Rifu's offensive struggles continue as Manjyoume and Ueno hit weak grounders for the first two outs. Hamada puts a 2-out single to left, but Seto flies out to right to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Nasuno will have to his best to prevent runners from reaching base as that's when Kendai does their work.
Of course, with one down he walks Hoshino...
And so it begins... Hoshino takes off for 2nd, ball in dirt, no throw.
Wakimoto does his best to get on base by any means, works the count full and fouls off any close pitches.
He is completely jammed, but he hits a small looper over Nasuno! Hamada charges to the ball, but his only play is to try and fire to 3rd!
Kokuta-kantoku calling for time as it's like they didn't see this coming.
Wakimoto takes off for 2nd, throw cut off in case of double steal.
Nagashima fly to left, easily scores Hoshino. 1-0 Kendai Takasaki.
And guess what... Wakimoto steals 3rd without a throw.
Tsuge liner over Seto's outstretched glove! Wakimoto can stroll home as Tsuge has a double! 2-0 Kendai!
Tsuge steals 3rd and the throw is late. That's 4 stolen bases, and 2 steals of 3rd!
Yamagami with a drive over Manjyoume to the wall in left! Tsuge scores and it's 3-0! I'm laughing my ass off right now at how they're running circles around Rifu.
Shibahiki grounds to short to end the inning, but I think Rifu's learned the lesson that they needed to have kept the runners off the bases.
Top 2nd
Takeuchi hits a single to left with one down, and having to manufacture it the normal way, Kokuta-kantoku has Suzuki bunt the runner along.
Nasuno with a base hit back up the middle! Takeuchi being waved home! Throw from Hirayama cut off by Kawai, relay home...
OUT!!!! Tsuge with the block of the plate and the swipe tag and Rifu is denied at home!
Bottom 2nd
Even the outs are close. Yokomizo makes Suzuki rush his throw, though they make the play.
Two down, Hirayama hits a ball up the middle. Yokomizo has to rush his throw and it short hops Nagashima! It's a hustle single!
Hirayama takes off for 2nd, throw late!
He takes off for 3rd, throw... not in time! That's 6 steals now for Kendai!
Hoshino though can't get him in as he grounds to 1st for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Katsuramaki with a single back up the middle to leadoff the frame.
Manjyoume not bunting, and works the count full.
But he grounds to 2nd and Hoshino can go to 2nd to cut down the lead runner.
Ueno unable to bunt with one out winds up watching a slider over the plate for the 2nd out.
And Hamada makes good contact, but it's a liner right to Takeuchi for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
Wakimoto with a drive to right! Takeuchi having to turn tail, sees it hit the base of the wall! He's in with a double!
Nagashima bunts him over to 3rd instead of a steal this time around. Perhaps saving energy for the RF?
SQUEEZE!
Aoyaki-kantoku tries the squeeze, but Tsuge hast to lay out just to foul it off.
No matter! With 2 strikes Tsuge just gets an old fashioned base hit through the left side to score Wakimoto! 4-0!
Yamagami fooled, but just points the bat at the ball! It's just out of the reach of Hamada and into right! Tsuge might as well just be given 3rd.
SQUEEZE!
But Shibahiki fouls it off! No go there. (Wait, they're playing Haisai Oji-san in the ouen-dan?!!)
Groudner to short! Goes to 2nd for one, NO! He's off the bag! Throw to 1st... NO! The throw pulls Seto off the bag!
Oh wow, Rifu is all messed up.
Yokomizo grounder to 2nd, throw home... Yamagami slides... but he misses the base! Ono tags him and he's out! Not sure, and I don't have an angle for it.
Kawai grounds out to 3rd to end the inning, but Rifu should be fortunate to have given up only 2 that frame.
Top 4th
Well, that's a concern. Kawai walks Seto on 4 straight, and then after a sac bunt, he walks Takeuchi on 4 straight! Ace Takahashi warming up in the bullpen.
But Kawai gets Suzuki to hit a lazy fly to left. And then Yamauchi grounds to 1st. Nagashima makes the tag and the side is retired!
Bottom 4th
One down, Hoshino gets hit by Yamauchi.
Rifu still affected by the speed of Kendai. Wakimoto grounds to 1st, Seto want to turn 2, but rushes and bobbles the ball! He has to go to 1st for the out.
Nagashima almost pokes a ball down the left field line, but it falls just foul.
Instead, it's a clean single to right and Hoshino can waltz home to a 6-0 lead!
Tsuge grounds to 3rd, and it's better for Suzuki to go the short way to 2nd for the out. 3 out, change!
Top 5th
And the more pressure Kendai puts on Rifu on defense, they have to somehow score runs on offense that they're just don't appear capable of doing.
Katsuramaki hits a chopper that Kawai snags and goes to 1st for the 1st out.
Manjyoume meanwhile gets fooled on a slider up and in for the 2nd out.
And though Ueno draws a walk, Hamada merely grounds into a fielder's choice at short to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
One down, Shibahiki grounder to left side. Katsuramaki makes diving catch, rushes throw to 1st but Shibahiki not even close to the bag! The throw is offline and he's on safely! Haha, the speed is totally in RIfu's heads!
Yokomizo with the sac bunt, but Seto and Hamada are near 1st and neither knows who's taking the bag! Hamada does, but the throw pulls him off!
#5 Nakasuji comes in to hit for Kawai but grounds into a 6-4-3 double play. That's rare.
So, needless to say Rifu is totally in stun mode and has no idea how to combat Kendai.
Top 6th
Rifu goes down in order. The offense that struggled last game is having less luck today.
Bottom 6th
Defensive change as #13 Inomata in for Seto to play 1B.
Hirayama grounder to right side, Inomata can't get it, Hamada does in the outfield grass, fires to Yamauchi for the out, just.
Hoshino tries to take 2nd, but with a lefty, can't get the same jump. Ono fires to 2nd and they just get him for the out.
They're showing the record for steals at 13 by Tosa. With a lefty on the mound and a big lead, I don't know how much they'll be trying it.
Wakimoto walks, so we'll find out.
He finally takes off on the 1-1 pitch and the throw is offline! 10 total.
A pitch goes off Ono's glove and Wakimoto takes 3rd.
And after Yamauchi walks Nagashima, Kokuta-kantoku makes a change. #11 Watanabe enters for Inomata and takes the hill. Yamauchi goes to 1B.
Tsuge with about as free a swing as you'll see splits the defense in left center. Wakimoto and Nagashima score easily and it's 8-0.
Seriously, Rifu needs a white flag.
Yamagami gives it to them with a flyout to center to end the inning.
Top 7th
Suzuki with a liner to left for a leadoff single. #15 Takahashi comes in to run for him.
AH! And he gets picked off! That just adds insult to injury.
The side gets retired in order after that and Rifu can't even buy a run at this point.
Bottom 7th
Shibahiki drive to center, Ueno running back, running back... makes the catch! Nice scramble there by Ueno!
Ah, but Watanabe hits Yokomizo.
Kendai will go to their next pitcher as #17 Kinjyou will hit for Takahashi.
Liner to center, Ueno charges... makes the shoestring catch! Yokomizo running on play and he's doubled off easily to end the inning!
Top 8th
#18 Ishige enters the game for PH Kinjyou and takes the hill. He retires the first 2 batters before Watanabe bloops one into right for a base hit.
But just 1 pitch later Ono grounds into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
#14 Oyama comes in for Takahashi to get work in at 3B.
Wakimoto collects his 3rd base hit with 2 down, lining a ball past Watanabe into center.
Wakimoto steals his 4th base, and 11th for the team.
Nagashima goes down on a ball away and drive it to deep left center. What?! They have power too? He's in with a triple! 9-0 Kendai!
And now there's a full battery change. #17 Kikuchi in for Watanabe, and #12 Gotou in for Ono.
Tsuge with one last indignity singles the first pitch into center to score the 10th run. 10-0.
Tsuge gets thrown out and for Rifu, the nightmare game is almost over.
Top 9th
#16 Mochida comes in for Yamagami to play LF, #14 Hayashi comes in for Shibahiki to play 3B, and #10 Matsuno comes in for Ishige to finish the game.
Kokuta-kantoku finished emptying the bench for Rifu. Hayashi hits for Takeuchi and grounds out to 2nd. And with 2 down #16 Abe hits for Yamauchi and grounds to short to end the game.
This was an utter dismantling of a team if I've ever seen one. It's one thing to just be dominant like say Seiryou over Kanoya Chuo. It's another to get into a team's head, break their spirit, and then crush it even more.
That's what Kendai did. They had Rifu paranoid about every play on defense. And that carried over to their already ineffective offense. Does it hurt? Of course it does. To be dominated on offense, you just shrug your shoulders and say what can you do. But when it is made so apparent, so raw... when it questions your ability as a team. That's what hurts. Kokuta-kantoku will have some work to do with some of his starters who will return for next year.
For Kendai Takasaki this is probably a statement game because back in 2011, they strayed from this strategy for 1 game and that was the game they lost. They're out to show they've learned from their mistakes and will not give in next time.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Day 3, Game 1 - Kendai Takasaki (Gunma) v. Iwakuni (Yamaguchi)
Boy, so far this Koushien tournament has been both exciting and boring, and yesterday with uncharacteristic play by teams with errors on both offense and defense. Not really sure what to expect going forward, though some things you can still be guaranteed to see.
Kendai Takasaki was responsible for eliminating last year's champs Maebashi Ikuei, unceremoniously unseating them 6-2 in the 3rd round. They'd win the title surviving two 1-run games defeating Kiryuu Dai-ichi and Isesaki Seimei to take the title.
As for Iwakuni, their notable win was in the semifinals where they defeated Ube Koujyou 2-1 before surviving Yokote Minami to make their 5th appearance at Koushien. The odd part is that their lineup seems upside down with their better hitting players at the bottom of the lineup. Not sure why you'd do that. They don't really hit for a high average given the prefecture, this compared to Kendai Takasaki who not only has a high average, but also like their predecessors, steals a lot of bases.
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma)
CF Hirayama Takayuki
2B Hoshino Yuusuke
RF Wakimoto Naoto
1B Nagashima Ryouhei
C Tsuge Sena
LF Yamagami Takashi
3B Nakasuji Tenma
SS Yokomizo Takuto
P Kawai Tomoya (#11)
Iwakuni (Yamaguchi)
2B Kawamoto Takuho
LF Otani Rentarou (#15)
C Mizuno Daichi
1B Tsuchiya Tomohiro
P Yanagawa Kenta
SS Kihara Hayato
RF Kametani Yuuta
3B Kawamura Ryousuke
CF Koutari Kyouhei
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Yanagawa looking good early retiring the first two batters without issue.
However, Wakimoto hits a soft single to right, and he actually goes for 2nd! Throw from Kameya not in time and Wakimoto puts himself in scoring position! This from the guy that had 11 steals in prefecturals, Iwakuni should have known better.
And on 1-2 ball in the dirt, Wakimoto takes off for 3rd! Throw is not nearly in time and if you weren't familiar that Kendai Takasaki's calling card is speed, now you know.
But Nagashima goes down on a slider away and despite Wakimoto's best efforts, he's stranded at 3rd.
Bottom 1st
Kawamoto skips steps 1-2! He drives a ball deep into the LCF gap and though he stumbles, has a standing triple!
Otani works the count full on Kawai and bloops one to left! Hirayama charges in, slides... does he make the catch?
No! It takes a hop and Kawamoto comes home and Iwakuni leads 1-0!
Mizuno tries to lay down a bunt, but winds up popping out to Tsuge for the first out. Tsuchiya up, and he winds up going down on 3 straight for the 2nd out. Didn't look too pleased about that last strike call.
Same goes for Yanagawa as he watches a pitch on the outside half to retire the side. Still Kawamoto's leadoff triple is paid off and Iwakuni has the lead!
Top 2nd
Tsuge with a ball right at Kawamoto, but he can't field the ball cleanly! The ball bounces back towards the mound and he'll have no play!
E4, but Yamagami isn't bunting. Instead he winds up flying out to right.
Shibahiki takes a slider the other way... fair down the right field line! Tsuge holds at 3rd, but Kendai threatens to take the lead!
Kendai's batters are getting a heavy diet of sliders, and Yokomizo falls victim to one for the 2nd out.
(It's harder to head the ouen-dan, but I heard Ama-chan, the song of choice last year)
Last batter Kawai proving to be a tougher challenge though as he manages to foul off several balls. But on the 10th pitch, Yanagawa wins the battle as Kawai grounds to 2nd for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Kihara draws a leadoff walk to start the inning, Kameya immediately with the bunt.
Kawamura perfectly drops one into left center, and the outfield has no throw home! Kihara score to make it a 2-0 ballgame!
Koutari supposedly looking to bunt, eventually lays it down as the lineup turns over to Kawamoto. After falling behind 1-2, he takes a couple to fill up the count.
He does it again! He drives yet another ball to left center! Hirayama cuts it off, but it's another XBH for Kawamoto, this time scoring Kawamura to make it 3-0!
Otani with a single to center, but they're sending Kawamoto??!! That's a bad decision all the way, and he's thrown out by a mile to end the inning. Another baserunning error today, which limits the damage to 2 runs. 3 runs is certainly manageable.
Top 3rd
After leveling the count on Hirayama, Yanagawa hits him on the feet to give Kendai the leadoff runner.
Yanagawa paying a lot of attention to Hirayama, and almost picks him off several times, but when he finally throws home Hirayama takes off and easily steals 2nd!
Hoshino with a single through the left side! Runners at the corners with no out for Kendai Takasaki!
Wakimoto manages get a deep enough fly to left to bring Hirayama home and it's 3-1.
Right after that Hoshino takes off for 2nd, and the throw is late! AH! Wild pitch and Hoshino is at 3rd!
That proves costly when Nagashima hits a chopper to the left side. Kawamura knocks it down and his only play is to 1st. Kendai has cut the deficit to 3-2!
Tsuge grounds to 3rd to end the inning, but Kendai's speed giving their opponents fits yet again!
Bottom 3rd
Change on the hill as ace Takahashi ascends to the mound.
There's a delay as Hirayama has yet to emerge from the dugout. But after a couple of minutes he sprints out.
Takahashi gets two quick outs, partially thanks to a great leaping catch by Hoshino on a liner from Tsuchiya.
It's not a clean inning though as he gives up a full count walk to Yanagawa.
The count goes full to Kihara, but he lines out to Wakimoto to end the inning. Kendai finally puts up a 0 and they're back on the bats.
Top 4th
Yanagawa gives up another leadoff runner when he walks Yamagami.
And it's a wild pitch from Yanagawa! Yamagami goes to 2nd and heads for 3rd! No throw! Kendai's speed at work once again!
Grounder to short, Kihara has time to go home, but they concede the run! He goes to 1st for the out and we're all tied at 3-3!
Kendai's ouen-dan playing a very uptempo version of Ama-chan as Yokomizo grounds to 2nd.
Yanagawa gets 2 groundouts to end the inning, but not before some unforced errors give up the lead.
Bottom 4th
1 down, Kawamura with a bloop to left. Yamagami charging in, dives... but he can't get it and it bounces behind him! Kawamura winds up with a double!
Koutari at least puts the ball in play on the opposite side to advance the runner along.
They're still pitching to Kawamoto, and finally they retire him. He's left at the plate on a slider inside for strike 3.
Top 5th
2 quick outs to start the inning as Otani makes the putout on both balls.
Wakimoto spoils it with a single back up the middle.
Speed again kills and Wakimoto takes 2nd with no throw.
And that pays off! Nagashima with a liner over a leaping Kawamoto and Wakimoto scores to give Kendai the 4-3 lead!
Nagashima takes off for 2nd and beats the throw! Kendai running laps around Iwakuni.
Tsuge puts it almost in the same place, and there's no throw home here either. It's 5-3 Kendai!
The hits keep coming as Yamagami singles to 2nd. That gets a mound visit from Kawaguhci-kantoku.
Shibahiki grounds out to end the inning, but now it's Iwakuni doing the chasing...
Bottom 5th
Otani hits a ball to deep right, but Wakimoto has time to get under it for the catch.
Mizuno and Tsuchiya go quietly and the side is retired. Kendai Takasaki heads into the break with the lead and the momentum.
Top 6th
First pitch from Yanagawa after the break hits Yokomizo. Not a great start as Takahashi bunts the runner along. There's a slight mixup in the fielding, but Kawamoto covers 1st for the out.
After another grounder advances the runner to 3rd, Hoshino steps in looking to play add-on.
Grounder back to Yanagawa! Off his foot! Kawamura to the ball, fires to 1st... in time! 3 out! Great heads up play by Kawamura to make the play and save a run!
Bottom 6th
Yanagawa searches for a pitch to hit, but lets one by that's just too close and is rung up.
Kihara attacks the first pitch, but flies out to center. Kameya meanwhile works the count, but ends up swinging on a poor pitch for the 3rd out. Iwakuni is officially in trouble.
Top 7th
Even the routine plays aren't routine. Wakimoto grounds to 3rd and Kawamura has to get rid of the ball quickly to get the out.
Nagashima with a double past Koutari in center gives Kendai another scoring chance.
But Tsuge and Yamagami are retired without incident and Yanagawa keept the deficit at 2.
Bottom 7th
Iwakuni almost goes in order as Kawamoto manages a 2 out single back up the middle.
But Kawaguchi-kantoku tries to press the issue. Kawamoto takes off for 2nd, but Tsuge's throw is in plenty of time to make the 3rd out.
Top 8th
Iwakuni gives up yet another leadoff runner as Shibahiki walks to lead off. Aoyagi-kantoku this time has Yokomizo bunt the runner along.
Once again though Yanagawa shuts the door on Kendai's chance, but his team is running out of time.
Bottom 8th
And the offense has no traction whatsoever. Two straight grounders to short, and a K looking by the 2-3-4 batters prolly means this game is in hand for Kendai Takasaki.
Top 9th
It takes a little bit of effort, but Yanagawa finally gets Nagashima to fly out to center to complete a clean 1-2-3 inning. Yet, his team still trails by 2 with just 3 outs to go.
Bottom 9th
No luck for Yanagawa, he goes after the slider outside for the first out. Kihara follows that with an easy fly to center, and they're down to their last out. #7 Higashi comes in to hit.
Higashi though pops out to Yokomizo and in a neat 92 pitches Takahashi gives Kendai Takasaki the 5-3 win over Iwakuni!
Iwakuni started well against relief starter Kawai, but once ace Takahashi entered the game their offense completely shut down. That allowed Kendai to use their game plan of speed to level and eventually take the lead. Speed kills, they had a chance several years ago until they inexplicably went away from the strategy. Hopefully this time they'll see it through to the end.
Notable Players
Takahashi Kazuki (Kendai Takasaki) - 7 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 8 K, BB
Wakimoto Naoto (Kendai Takasaki) - 2-4, 2B, R, RBI, SB
Nagashima Ryouhei (Kendai Takasaki) - 2-5, R, 2 RBI
Kawamoto Takuho (Iwakuni) - 3-4, 2B, 3B, R, RBI
Kawamura Ryousuke (Iwakuni) - 2-3, 2B, R, RBI
Otani Rentrarou (Iwakuni) - 2-4
Kendai Takasaki was responsible for eliminating last year's champs Maebashi Ikuei, unceremoniously unseating them 6-2 in the 3rd round. They'd win the title surviving two 1-run games defeating Kiryuu Dai-ichi and Isesaki Seimei to take the title.
As for Iwakuni, their notable win was in the semifinals where they defeated Ube Koujyou 2-1 before surviving Yokote Minami to make their 5th appearance at Koushien. The odd part is that their lineup seems upside down with their better hitting players at the bottom of the lineup. Not sure why you'd do that. They don't really hit for a high average given the prefecture, this compared to Kendai Takasaki who not only has a high average, but also like their predecessors, steals a lot of bases.
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma)
CF Hirayama Takayuki
2B Hoshino Yuusuke
RF Wakimoto Naoto
1B Nagashima Ryouhei
C Tsuge Sena
LF Yamagami Takashi
3B Nakasuji Tenma
SS Yokomizo Takuto
P Kawai Tomoya (#11)
Iwakuni (Yamaguchi)
2B Kawamoto Takuho
LF Otani Rentarou (#15)
C Mizuno Daichi
1B Tsuchiya Tomohiro
P Yanagawa Kenta
SS Kihara Hayato
RF Kametani Yuuta
3B Kawamura Ryousuke
CF Koutari Kyouhei
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Yanagawa looking good early retiring the first two batters without issue.
However, Wakimoto hits a soft single to right, and he actually goes for 2nd! Throw from Kameya not in time and Wakimoto puts himself in scoring position! This from the guy that had 11 steals in prefecturals, Iwakuni should have known better.
And on 1-2 ball in the dirt, Wakimoto takes off for 3rd! Throw is not nearly in time and if you weren't familiar that Kendai Takasaki's calling card is speed, now you know.
But Nagashima goes down on a slider away and despite Wakimoto's best efforts, he's stranded at 3rd.
Bottom 1st
Kawamoto skips steps 1-2! He drives a ball deep into the LCF gap and though he stumbles, has a standing triple!
Otani works the count full on Kawai and bloops one to left! Hirayama charges in, slides... does he make the catch?
No! It takes a hop and Kawamoto comes home and Iwakuni leads 1-0!
Mizuno tries to lay down a bunt, but winds up popping out to Tsuge for the first out. Tsuchiya up, and he winds up going down on 3 straight for the 2nd out. Didn't look too pleased about that last strike call.
Same goes for Yanagawa as he watches a pitch on the outside half to retire the side. Still Kawamoto's leadoff triple is paid off and Iwakuni has the lead!
Top 2nd
Tsuge with a ball right at Kawamoto, but he can't field the ball cleanly! The ball bounces back towards the mound and he'll have no play!
E4, but Yamagami isn't bunting. Instead he winds up flying out to right.
Shibahiki takes a slider the other way... fair down the right field line! Tsuge holds at 3rd, but Kendai threatens to take the lead!
Kendai's batters are getting a heavy diet of sliders, and Yokomizo falls victim to one for the 2nd out.
(It's harder to head the ouen-dan, but I heard Ama-chan, the song of choice last year)
Last batter Kawai proving to be a tougher challenge though as he manages to foul off several balls. But on the 10th pitch, Yanagawa wins the battle as Kawai grounds to 2nd for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Kihara draws a leadoff walk to start the inning, Kameya immediately with the bunt.
Kawamura perfectly drops one into left center, and the outfield has no throw home! Kihara score to make it a 2-0 ballgame!
Koutari supposedly looking to bunt, eventually lays it down as the lineup turns over to Kawamoto. After falling behind 1-2, he takes a couple to fill up the count.
He does it again! He drives yet another ball to left center! Hirayama cuts it off, but it's another XBH for Kawamoto, this time scoring Kawamura to make it 3-0!
Otani with a single to center, but they're sending Kawamoto??!! That's a bad decision all the way, and he's thrown out by a mile to end the inning. Another baserunning error today, which limits the damage to 2 runs. 3 runs is certainly manageable.
Top 3rd
After leveling the count on Hirayama, Yanagawa hits him on the feet to give Kendai the leadoff runner.
Yanagawa paying a lot of attention to Hirayama, and almost picks him off several times, but when he finally throws home Hirayama takes off and easily steals 2nd!
Hoshino with a single through the left side! Runners at the corners with no out for Kendai Takasaki!
Wakimoto manages get a deep enough fly to left to bring Hirayama home and it's 3-1.
Right after that Hoshino takes off for 2nd, and the throw is late! AH! Wild pitch and Hoshino is at 3rd!
That proves costly when Nagashima hits a chopper to the left side. Kawamura knocks it down and his only play is to 1st. Kendai has cut the deficit to 3-2!
Tsuge grounds to 3rd to end the inning, but Kendai's speed giving their opponents fits yet again!
Bottom 3rd
Change on the hill as ace Takahashi ascends to the mound.
There's a delay as Hirayama has yet to emerge from the dugout. But after a couple of minutes he sprints out.
Takahashi gets two quick outs, partially thanks to a great leaping catch by Hoshino on a liner from Tsuchiya.
It's not a clean inning though as he gives up a full count walk to Yanagawa.
The count goes full to Kihara, but he lines out to Wakimoto to end the inning. Kendai finally puts up a 0 and they're back on the bats.
Top 4th
Yanagawa gives up another leadoff runner when he walks Yamagami.
And it's a wild pitch from Yanagawa! Yamagami goes to 2nd and heads for 3rd! No throw! Kendai's speed at work once again!
Grounder to short, Kihara has time to go home, but they concede the run! He goes to 1st for the out and we're all tied at 3-3!
Kendai's ouen-dan playing a very uptempo version of Ama-chan as Yokomizo grounds to 2nd.
Yanagawa gets 2 groundouts to end the inning, but not before some unforced errors give up the lead.
Bottom 4th
1 down, Kawamura with a bloop to left. Yamagami charging in, dives... but he can't get it and it bounces behind him! Kawamura winds up with a double!
Koutari at least puts the ball in play on the opposite side to advance the runner along.
They're still pitching to Kawamoto, and finally they retire him. He's left at the plate on a slider inside for strike 3.
Top 5th
2 quick outs to start the inning as Otani makes the putout on both balls.
Wakimoto spoils it with a single back up the middle.
Speed again kills and Wakimoto takes 2nd with no throw.
And that pays off! Nagashima with a liner over a leaping Kawamoto and Wakimoto scores to give Kendai the 4-3 lead!
Nagashima takes off for 2nd and beats the throw! Kendai running laps around Iwakuni.
Tsuge puts it almost in the same place, and there's no throw home here either. It's 5-3 Kendai!
The hits keep coming as Yamagami singles to 2nd. That gets a mound visit from Kawaguhci-kantoku.
Shibahiki grounds out to end the inning, but now it's Iwakuni doing the chasing...
Bottom 5th
Otani hits a ball to deep right, but Wakimoto has time to get under it for the catch.
Mizuno and Tsuchiya go quietly and the side is retired. Kendai Takasaki heads into the break with the lead and the momentum.
Top 6th
First pitch from Yanagawa after the break hits Yokomizo. Not a great start as Takahashi bunts the runner along. There's a slight mixup in the fielding, but Kawamoto covers 1st for the out.
After another grounder advances the runner to 3rd, Hoshino steps in looking to play add-on.
Grounder back to Yanagawa! Off his foot! Kawamura to the ball, fires to 1st... in time! 3 out! Great heads up play by Kawamura to make the play and save a run!
Bottom 6th
Yanagawa searches for a pitch to hit, but lets one by that's just too close and is rung up.
Kihara attacks the first pitch, but flies out to center. Kameya meanwhile works the count, but ends up swinging on a poor pitch for the 3rd out. Iwakuni is officially in trouble.
Top 7th
Even the routine plays aren't routine. Wakimoto grounds to 3rd and Kawamura has to get rid of the ball quickly to get the out.
Nagashima with a double past Koutari in center gives Kendai another scoring chance.
But Tsuge and Yamagami are retired without incident and Yanagawa keept the deficit at 2.
Bottom 7th
Iwakuni almost goes in order as Kawamoto manages a 2 out single back up the middle.
But Kawaguchi-kantoku tries to press the issue. Kawamoto takes off for 2nd, but Tsuge's throw is in plenty of time to make the 3rd out.
Top 8th
Iwakuni gives up yet another leadoff runner as Shibahiki walks to lead off. Aoyagi-kantoku this time has Yokomizo bunt the runner along.
Once again though Yanagawa shuts the door on Kendai's chance, but his team is running out of time.
Bottom 8th
And the offense has no traction whatsoever. Two straight grounders to short, and a K looking by the 2-3-4 batters prolly means this game is in hand for Kendai Takasaki.
Top 9th
It takes a little bit of effort, but Yanagawa finally gets Nagashima to fly out to center to complete a clean 1-2-3 inning. Yet, his team still trails by 2 with just 3 outs to go.
Bottom 9th
No luck for Yanagawa, he goes after the slider outside for the first out. Kihara follows that with an easy fly to center, and they're down to their last out. #7 Higashi comes in to hit.
Higashi though pops out to Yokomizo and in a neat 92 pitches Takahashi gives Kendai Takasaki the 5-3 win over Iwakuni!
Iwakuni started well against relief starter Kawai, but once ace Takahashi entered the game their offense completely shut down. That allowed Kendai to use their game plan of speed to level and eventually take the lead. Speed kills, they had a chance several years ago until they inexplicably went away from the strategy. Hopefully this time they'll see it through to the end.
Notable Players
Takahashi Kazuki (Kendai Takasaki) - 7 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 8 K, BB
Wakimoto Naoto (Kendai Takasaki) - 2-4, 2B, R, RBI, SB
Nagashima Ryouhei (Kendai Takasaki) - 2-5, R, 2 RBI
Kawamoto Takuho (Iwakuni) - 3-4, 2B, 3B, R, RBI
Kawamura Ryousuke (Iwakuni) - 2-3, 2B, R, RBI
Otani Rentrarou (Iwakuni) - 2-4
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