Our first matinee game feature another 21st century team squaring off against the starwart of Fukushima prefecture.
Seikou Gakuin has been rather successful in Fukushima, representing the prefecture at Natsu Koushien more times than not. Their MO at Koushien is pretty much the same as their run in the fall - strong against the teams they should beat, but struggle as the competition reaches Koushien-level teams.
Ishii Naru is the ace of the staff, and will be relied upon to carry the team. He doesn't throw particularly hard, and manages to strike out a shade above 7 per 9. However, he did struggle against Moriokadai Fuzoku and Sendai Ikuei.
Offensively, the team manages to score runs in each game, but the offense overall isn't that strong just managing a meager 0.258 BA. LF Yaoita Hyuuma occupies the #3 position and is the main driver for the team.
Masuda Shouyou is their opening opponent, a 21st century entry. The school had done well in prefecture, but was eliminated in the opening round of the super-regional, shutout by Iwakuni 3-0.
The team doesn't use their bench, outside of reliever Terado Masahiko who is used equally with ace Yanai Yuuto. But man, neither pitcher really instills confidence in their team. Yanai had peripherals of 4.55 K/9, 1.48 WHIP and Terado doesn't fare much better at 2.08 K/9 (!) and 1.29 WHIP.
Offensively, the team only relies on the 3-4-5 batters to drive in their runs, because the rest of the lineup is very ineffective. The batters do make contact, but are retired more often than not.
With a punchless lineup and a shallow, if not non-existent bench, it is hard to see Masuda Shouyou emerging with a win.
Masuda Shouyou (Shimane) - 21st Century Team
RF Suenaga Shou
2B Miyano Hiroki
SS Ishida Youhei
3B Nakamoto Kouta
C Horita Yuuma
CF Saitou Arashi
1B Morishita Seiya (#15)
P Terado Masahiko (#10)
LF Mineo Tsuyoshi
Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima) - Tohoku Runner-up
SS Ishigaki Mitsuhiro
2B Ishino Yuuta
CF Yaoita Hyuuma (#7)
1B Sonobe Satoshi
RF Satou Shouhei
LF Sakatani Ryou (#8)
3B Nishimura Daiki
C Hirota Yuuta (#12)
P Ishii Naru
___________________________________________________________
13:15 - First pitch!
Top 1st
First pitch is a slider for a strike. Ishii works fast and before you know it Suenaga swings and misses on an outside slider for strike 3.
Ishii had a slider, curve, and change, and the Masuda batters are flailing away. Miyano swings and misses on a changeup away. And Ishida hits a lazy fly to center and the side is retired.
Bottom 1st
Right off the bat Terado throws a slider and slow curve for two strikes, and Ishigaki can't check his swing for strike 3!
Ishino gets around on a fastball inside, but is under it and flies out to right.
And Yaoita is fooled on a changeup and pops out to Ishida to retire the side.
Top 2nd
2nd year Ishii tops out at around the low 130s. So he's pretty much speed-wise like most pitchers.
His control though is pretty good. He's spotting his locations most of the time, and not missing in the wrong places.
As a result, this half-inning he induces 3 groundouts to retire the side in order. But there is some willingness to work the count by the Masuda batters,
Bottom 2nd
Sonobe reaches down on a slide away and pulls it into left for a base hit. Mineo boots the ball in front of him allowing Sonobe to reach 2nd. Satou successfully bunts the runner along despite Terado getting to the ball quickly.
Sakatani gets the job done as he hits a slow grounder to short. Ishida's only play is to 1st and Seikou Gakuin leads 1-0.
Nishimura can't check his swing and goes down to end the inning, but a base hit with the help of an error leads to the opening run.
Top 3rd
Morishita makes a bid for a base hit up the middle, but it's slow enought that Nishimura can run it down, twirl and make a throw to beat a diving Morishita (*insert rant*).
Terado takes a half-swing on a ball down in the zone and flies out to left.
Mineo makes contact, but it's off the end of the bat and a routine grounder to Ishino for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
Hirota with a ball to the right side. Miyano is there, but double clutches! That allows Hirota to reach safely!
Ishii tries to lay down the bunt, but cannot, even on 2 strikes and thus strikes out.
Back to the top of the order and Ishigaki, and he can't advance the runner! He hits a towering fly that Ishida fields in shallow center.
Ishino with a blooper to center falls in! Runners at the corners with 2 down.
Yaoita though reaches down and swings on the first pitch. Mineo is there for the out.
Top 4th
I think what I've been seeing from the home plate umpires is the tendency to call the low strike. As a result, the Masuda batters are swinging on low pitches. Suenaga goes down on such a pitch despite the claim he fouled it off.
Miyano with a ball back up the middle past a diving Ishino for Masuda's first base hit!
Aw.. but he's promptly picked off 1st.
Ishida gives the ball a ride to left, but not far enough. Sakatani camps a couple of steps in front of the fence to make the catch.
Bottom 4th
Sonobe gets on top of a high slider and singles back up the middle. Satou once again lays down the sac bunt.
Sakatani though can't move the runner along as he's jammed into a popup back to Terado.
Terado has a routine grounder from Nishimura, but Ishida misses it! It glances off his glove into left! Sonobe stops at 3rd, but Masuda Shouyou is in trouble!
Hirota smases a letter high pitch from Terado! Mineo runs back, but it's over his head! Both runners score on the 2-RBI double! It's 3-0 Seikou!
Terado finally gets out of the inning on a comebacker from Ishii, but the error proves costly. And while Seikou Gakuin isn't top-tier, you cannot afford mistakes to them.
Top 5th
While Saitou tries to make it interesting by running the count full, Masuda Shouyou goes down in order. It doesn't appear that their offense is capable of getting on base, much less mounting a 3-run rally. In fact, Ishii has faced the minimum so far despite giving up a base hit.
Bottom 5th
Ishigaki up for the 3rd time already and he collects his first hit - a comebacker through to center. Saitou-tries the hit-and-run, but Ishino has to swing on a pitch down and in and pops out to Hirota.
Yaoita hits a grounder to 1st and Morishita is there quickly. But the SS tells him to go to first. By that time though it's too late and Yaoita is in safely! From the replay, I think the 3rd base umpire was actually in the line of sight to 2nd and thus forced Morishita to go to 1st.
Terado gets Sonobe to pop one up! Nakamoto in foul territory camps under it, but then quickly shuffles back towards fair territory and misses the ball! It still falls foul, but they can't secure the out!
And that allows Sonbe to make a productive out, grounding out to 3rd and advancing the runners.
It doesn't matter! Satou, finally free to swing away, gets a hold of a hanging curve and blasts it to center! Saitou runs back, but that one bounds in front of the fence for a 2-RBI triple! The rout is on at 5-0.
Sakatani pops out to end the inning, but as we head to the break it has taken a while, but Seikou Gakuin is exerting their dominance in the game.
Top 6th
Defensive change for Seikou as Yaoita and Sakatani return to their numbered positions.
One down for Masuda and Terado collects their 2nd hit, a liner to shallow left.
Mineo tries to bunt the runner over, but three bunts on a pitch way outside and fouls out, much to the displeasure of Hayato-kantoku.
Suenaga pops out to Ishida and the side is retired
Bottom 6th
One down for Seikou and Terado isn't getting the low strike and thus walks Hirota. Ishii bunts him along for the top of the order.
Ishigaki flies out to center though, and finally Terado gets to post a 0.
Top 7th
After two pop outs, cleanup batter Nakamoto lines a ball to left for a solid base hit. But he's left stranded when Horita flies out to right.
Bottom 7th
One down and Yaoita gets a base hit thanks to an irregular hop that goes off of Miyano's glove.
Ahead of Sonobe 1-2, Terado goes back-to-back curveballs with Sonobe lining the 2nd back into right-center.
With runners at the corners Saitou-kantoku does the ol' steal 2nd, stall and steal home trick. And it works to make it 6-0.
Satou then takes a Terado offering over Saitou's head and to the wall for a triple. 7-0.
That's the end of Terado's day. Ace Yanai comes in, while #17 Itou comes in to hit for Sakatani. He hits a grounder to short, but Ishida bobbles it and another run scores to make it 8-0.
Hirota flies out to end the inning, but Seikou tacks on a couple more runs.
Top 8th
#18 Isagi comes on for PH Itou and takes over in CF.
It's another uneventful inning for Masuda as the batters go quickly in order.
Bottom 8th
Yanai almost gets a quick 1-2-3 inning, but Ishino breaks it up with a single to center.
But Yaoita flies out to right, and it's just three more outs before Seikou Gakuin advances to the next round.
Top 9th
Last chance for Masuda Shouyou. #3 Terado Takuto comes in to hit for Mineo... and promptly goes down swinging.
Suenaga and Miyano follow suit and Seikou Gakuin advances by the final score of 8-0.
Unfortunately for Masuda Shouyou, errors and poor hitting ultimately led to their loss today. They should still be happy to have reached Koushien, and while they were outmatched, it was to be expected.
Meanwhile Seikou Gakuin pretty much did what they needed to do in the game today. They'll get a couple of days off before regrouping to face Naruto.
Notable Players
Ishii Naru (Seikou Gakuin) - CG, W, 0 R, 3 H, 8 K, 0 BB
Sonobe Satoshi (Seikou Gakuin) - 3-4, 3 R
Satou Shouhei (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-3, 2 3B, R, 3 RBI
Hirota Yuuta (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-3, 2B, 2 R, BB
Yanai Yuuto (Masuda Shouyou) - 1.2 IP, 0 R, H, K
Nakamoto Kouta (Masuda Shouyou) - 1-3
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Day 2, Game 2 - Utsunomiya Shougyou (Tochigi) vs. Naruto (Tokushima)
Next up is a poor man's Osaka Touin squaring off against a surprise runner-up out of Kanto.
Naruto had a decent senbatsu last year winning 2 games before being pounded by the streaking Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi. This year, they have decided their winning formula is to just outscore their pitching.
With exception of their first game, Naruto's pitchers gave up at least 4 runs per game. New ace Bandou Yuugo carried a 1.50 WHIP, and a paltry 2.86 K/9 leading to a 4.73 ERA. But the alternatives for Naruto are so bad that they've pretty much abandoned carrying a reliever and will depend on SS Kawano Yuuto if it ever gets to that point (which by then will probably mean it won't matter).
They make up for this by peppering the opposition with base hits. Despite an ISO of just 0.120, the team as a whole hit 0.389. Oddly, it's not the top of the lineup that is performing well either. A lot of the contributions are made from cleanup batter Ise Hayato and lower.
Asking a team though to continuously outhit the opposition is a tough proposition, just ask Osaka Touin. Yes they won both spring and summer, but they also had Fujinami.
Utsunomiya Shougyou was a surprise to reach the Kanto finals, but looking at their game logs, it would appear they were the beneficiary of a weak schedule. Even with the weaker schedule though their pitching staff still had a tough time of it. In fact, the team heavily relied on CF/P Iioka Kenta who averaged 6.37 K/9. But he's far from a flame thrower - in fact he barely hits 130 on the gun. Yet he's the best option, even over ace number Arai Ryou.
Offensively, it's all about the top of the lineup. Kimijima Kenzou and Watanabe Yuuji set the table for #3 batter Igarashi Yuuta and the aforementioned Iioka at #5.
Looks like Iioka will need to survive the expected barrage from Naruto. Otherwise, this game could be over and swiftly.
Utsunomiya Shougyou (Tochigi) - Kanto Runner-up
CF Kimijima Kenzou (#3)
2B Watanabe Yuuji (#5)
SS Igarashi Yuuta (#4)
3B Arai Ryou (#1)
P Iioka Kenta (#8)
LF Ozai Yoshihisa
RF Shibayama Kazuhiro
C Satou Fumitaka
1B Sekiguchi Daisuke (#11)
Naruto (Tokushima) - Shikoku Runner-up
SS Kawano Yuuto
2B Nakano Yuuki
RF Inaoka Kenta
1B Ise Hayato
LF Hashikawa Ryousuke (#10)
C Kusaka Hiroki
3B Matsumoto Takanori
P Bandou Yuugo
CF Koumoto Yuujirou
____________________________________________________________
10:46 - First pitch!
Top 1st
If the position and number mismatch is any indication, there will be a lot of position moving later on for Utsunomiya Shougyou.
Opening batter Kimijima swings and misson a cutter for the first out.
I couldn't catch all of the pitches Bandou has, but I did catch a cutter, slider, curve, change in addition to the fastball. He only maxes out in the mid 130s though, and he rarely throws the fastball preferring to pitch backwards.
Watanabe is ahead of a cutter and hits a weak grounder to 2nd. Igarashi too swings on a cutter and flies out to right to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
According to the announcers, Iioka has a slider, shuuto, fork to go along with the fastball. But in perhaps a bit of nerves Iioka walks Kawano. Nakano bunts him easily to 2nd.
Iioka is still having trouble finding the zone, with his pitches to Inaoka all going wide. He manages to fire one in after falling behind 3-0, but ends up losing him.
Iioka doesn't light up the guns either throwing in the low-mid 130s. But he'll need to find his control quick as cleanup batter Ise stands in. Though it's quite obvious they are going to go away on him.
But misses in, and Ise swings! It's a pop fly though, and while Ozai has some trouble, he makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Iioka though refuses to go inside on left-handed batters and walks Hashikawa on 4 straight, creating a manrui situation for Kusaka. Kaneko-kantoku calls time.
It appears that th strategy for Utsunomiya Shougyou is to nibble the outside corners and not pitch inside.
Of course as I say that Iioka goes in on Kusaka and gets him to ground to 3rd. Arai goes to 1st and Iioka and Utsunomiya Shougyou get out of the early pinch.
Top 2nd
On the other hand, Bandou chugs along. He gets an assist from Kawano who stops an Iioka grounder in the hole and makes a great throw to 1st.
Ozai though makes it tough for Bandou, fouling off several pitches before he finally swings and misses on a slider inside for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Iioka's 3/4 delivery creates a weird 1-7 curve. Apparenly the Naruto batters haven't figured it out yet either as Matsumoto can't check his swing.
And a slider that follows the same patch is whiffed on by Bandou for the 2nd out.
Iioka gets a clean inning after the trouble in the 1st as Koumoto reaches out and hits a lazy fly to center to end the inning. Looks like they still don't have the timing or the motion figured out yet.
Top 3rd
Shibayama gets a hold of a fastball and turns it into the right-center field gap! The outfield is in and has to race back! Shibayama is in easily with a leadoff triple!
AH!!
First pitch from Bandou is short and wide! It gets away from Kusaka and Shibayama scores from 3rd! It's 1-0 on the unforced error!
Bandou finally settles down after falling behind on Satou 3-0. 3 straight strikes (including the third which seemed low to me) and there's one down.
Sekiguchi attacks the first pitch, but lines out to short.
Kimijima gets around on a slider inside, but flies out to center to end the inning. Once again though, a defensive miscue cost a team a run.
Bottom 3rd
Iioka continues to test the outside corners, but the Naruto batters continue not to bite until Iioka is supposedly painted into a corner.
Case in point, Kawano waits until 3-1 to swing away, but fouls out to Sekiguchi.
Bad break for Iioka as a comebacker from Nakano glances off his glove and dribbles to the right side for a base hit.
Now it's Iioka with a wild pitch! Satou keeps it in front of him, but it bounces away enough for Nakano to take 2nd!
Inaoka has the right idea, taking all those pitches away and trying to take it opposite field. But it doesn't work this time as he flies out to Ozai.
That leaves it to Ise to try and get the douten run in. Iioka continues to stay on the outer half and beyond.
And Naruto finally punishes Iioka! 3-1 count and he tries a curve over the plate. Instead Ise crushes it to center and over Kimijima's head for a RBI double! We're tied at 1-1!
Hashikawa grounds to short to end the inning, but Utsunomiya Shougyou's strategy on the mound will not work for a full game.
Top 4th
Utsunomiya's batters are having better AB's now it seems with many of them going deep into counts. Watanabe is unsuccessful popping up to short. Igarashi on the other hand takes a ball the other way into the left-center field gap for a double.
Arai with a chance to get the lead back, also goes to a 2-2 count, and if not for a good dive by Ise would have plated that run. Instead there's two outs. That leaves it to starter Iioka. After falling behind 1-2, he fills up the count and could have had ball had he not chased a ball up and in. Fouled it off though.
And another one up and in Iioka manages to foul off, though why he isn't taking the pitch is beyond me.
Bandou wins the battle as he gets Iioka to fly out to shallow right to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Well, there is a change, but not severly defensively. Ace Arai takes the hill, and Iioka moves to 3B.
Not a bad start as he jams Kusaka into a grounder to short. Matsumoto can only manage a weak comebacker to Arai.
At first glance, Arai looks like a carbon copy of Iioka. It takes just 7 pitches, including a 3-pitch K to Bandou to end the inning.
Top 5th
Not to be outdone, Bandou says "I can do you one better". And does, using just 6 pitches to retire the side in order. All batters retired on hits in the infield.
Bottom 5th
One down for Naruto and leadoff batter Kawano is able to get around on a high fastball and line it over Arai into center.
Moriwaki-kantoku tries to start the hit-and-run, but Nakano fouls it off. Moriwaki then calls for a bunt, but that doesn't work either. Moriwaki doesn't remove the bunt though, and Nakano fouls it off for strike 3.
Moriwaki then sends Inaoka on another hit-and run, but Inaoka can't make contact and Satou throws him out at 2nd to send the game to the break all level at 1-1.
Top 6th
One down for Utsunomiya and Kimijima collects his first hit, a hot grounder that gets past a diving Nakano.
And as I thought, Kaneko-kantoku will play for the run as Watanabe successfully bunts him along.
Igarashi attacks the first pitch, but gets under it. Koumoto is there to make the catch and Utsunomiya Shougyou is unable to make any headway.
Bottom 6th
Inaoka slices a liner to the left side, but Igarashi climbs the ladder to make the catch.
Ise hits a grounder to short. Igarashi boots the ball, but quickly recovers and the throw beats Ise to the bag.
And Igarashi is responsible for all 3 outs as Hashikawa swings on the first pitch and flies out to end the inning.
Top 7th
The game so far really hasn't been about good pitching, it's really been the inability of the batters to get on base.
Arai tries to work the count in his favor, but grounds out to 2nd. Iioka tries to slap one the other way, but flies out to Inaoka. Ozai is jammed and dribbles one to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
Kusaka goes down and golfs one, but right at Kimijima for the first out.
Matsumoto tries that patient approach and earns himself a walk. Moriwaki-kantoku is also playing for the run as Bandou shows and lays down the bunt. This leaves it though to last batter Koumoto.
Koumoto does the right thing and tries to work the count. Checks his swing at 2-2 to fill up the count. And he wins the battle! Koumoto gets the walk and the lineup cycles back to Kawano!
Arai now goes into outside mode and manages to get ahead 1-2. It works this time as Kawano weakly swings a grounder to 2nd to end the inning!
Top 8th
Utsunomiya Shougyou's batters continue to have timing isses on Bandou's pitches. Shibayama is way ahead of a slider and pops out to Bandou. Satou too is in front and grounds to Kawano.
Sekiguchi is finished off with a slider inside. All he can do is hit a grounder right to 1st,and the side is retired.
Bottom 8th
Time is running out for both teams in regulation. Could we see our first enchousen match?
Nakano tries a safety bunt to get on base, but fouls it off.
It works out as Nakano correctly takes an outside slider the other way into the gap for a leadoff double!
Moriwaki-kantoku calls for the bunt, but Arai instead hits Inaoka! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Ise as Kaneko-kantoku asks for time.
Ise gets jammed by Arai and hits a grounder to 2nd! Watanabe can't get the ball out of the glove and Utsunomiya Shougyou only gets the runner at 2nd.
Moriwaki-kantoku now calls on #7 Narukawa to bring the runner home.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Narukawa tries to lay down the squeeze bunt, but fails! Nakano is left out to dry and there's 2 outs! Naruto still has a chance though as Ise advances to 2nd.
Narukawa with a base hit! It falls in left-center and Ise scores! Naruto breaks the tie here in the 8th! It's 2-1!!
#11 Tanaka comes in to run just in case something else happens, but Kusaka flies out to center to end the inning.
However PH Narukawa gives his team the lead with just 3 outs to go!
Top 9th
Kimijima with a rocket to right! Inaoka gives chase, but it's off the wall! He's in with a leadoff double! Is there a rally within them? Watanabe lays down a great bunt to move the runner along.
That brings up Igarashi, who had the double himself earlier.
But he pops it up! Matsumoto in foul territory fights the wind, but makes the catch for the 2nd out! It's all up to Arai now!
But after falling behind 2-0, the battery elects to walk Arai and face Iioka.
The gamble pays off! Iioka fists a ball to the left side! Matsumoto charges in, makes the throw and Naruto holds on to defeat Utsunomiya Shougyou by the final of 2-1!
It definitely was a hard fought battle between the two schools, and the aces on the mound were certainly effective. But a slight defensive hiccup in the 8th made all the difference in this matchup!
Utsunomiya Shougyou represented their school well, despite falling in the first round. Iioka and Arai were both good on the mound and the defense for the most part was excellent.
For Naruto, the win helps them on their march to exceed what they did last year. There's still some holes to patch up, mainly on offense, but they'll have the full 5 days to rest up for it.
Notable Players
Bandou Yuugo (Naruto) - CG, W, 0 ER, 4 H, 3 K, BB
Nakano Yuuki (Naruto) - 2-3, 2B, R, K
Narukawa Shuuji (Naruto) - 1-1, RBI
Arai Ryou (Utsunomiya Shougyou) - L, 5 IP, R, 3 H, 2 K, 2 BB, HBP
Shibayama Kazuhiro (Utsunomiya Shougyou) - 1-3, 3B, R
Kimijima Kenzou (Utsunomiya Shougyou) - 2-4, 2B
Naruto had a decent senbatsu last year winning 2 games before being pounded by the streaking Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi. This year, they have decided their winning formula is to just outscore their pitching.
With exception of their first game, Naruto's pitchers gave up at least 4 runs per game. New ace Bandou Yuugo carried a 1.50 WHIP, and a paltry 2.86 K/9 leading to a 4.73 ERA. But the alternatives for Naruto are so bad that they've pretty much abandoned carrying a reliever and will depend on SS Kawano Yuuto if it ever gets to that point (which by then will probably mean it won't matter).
They make up for this by peppering the opposition with base hits. Despite an ISO of just 0.120, the team as a whole hit 0.389. Oddly, it's not the top of the lineup that is performing well either. A lot of the contributions are made from cleanup batter Ise Hayato and lower.
Asking a team though to continuously outhit the opposition is a tough proposition, just ask Osaka Touin. Yes they won both spring and summer, but they also had Fujinami.
Utsunomiya Shougyou was a surprise to reach the Kanto finals, but looking at their game logs, it would appear they were the beneficiary of a weak schedule. Even with the weaker schedule though their pitching staff still had a tough time of it. In fact, the team heavily relied on CF/P Iioka Kenta who averaged 6.37 K/9. But he's far from a flame thrower - in fact he barely hits 130 on the gun. Yet he's the best option, even over ace number Arai Ryou.
Offensively, it's all about the top of the lineup. Kimijima Kenzou and Watanabe Yuuji set the table for #3 batter Igarashi Yuuta and the aforementioned Iioka at #5.
Looks like Iioka will need to survive the expected barrage from Naruto. Otherwise, this game could be over and swiftly.
Utsunomiya Shougyou (Tochigi) - Kanto Runner-up
CF Kimijima Kenzou (#3)
2B Watanabe Yuuji (#5)
SS Igarashi Yuuta (#4)
3B Arai Ryou (#1)
P Iioka Kenta (#8)
LF Ozai Yoshihisa
RF Shibayama Kazuhiro
C Satou Fumitaka
1B Sekiguchi Daisuke (#11)
Naruto (Tokushima) - Shikoku Runner-up
SS Kawano Yuuto
2B Nakano Yuuki
RF Inaoka Kenta
1B Ise Hayato
LF Hashikawa Ryousuke (#10)
C Kusaka Hiroki
3B Matsumoto Takanori
P Bandou Yuugo
CF Koumoto Yuujirou
____________________________________________________________
10:46 - First pitch!
Top 1st
If the position and number mismatch is any indication, there will be a lot of position moving later on for Utsunomiya Shougyou.
Opening batter Kimijima swings and misson a cutter for the first out.
I couldn't catch all of the pitches Bandou has, but I did catch a cutter, slider, curve, change in addition to the fastball. He only maxes out in the mid 130s though, and he rarely throws the fastball preferring to pitch backwards.
Watanabe is ahead of a cutter and hits a weak grounder to 2nd. Igarashi too swings on a cutter and flies out to right to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
According to the announcers, Iioka has a slider, shuuto, fork to go along with the fastball. But in perhaps a bit of nerves Iioka walks Kawano. Nakano bunts him easily to 2nd.
Iioka is still having trouble finding the zone, with his pitches to Inaoka all going wide. He manages to fire one in after falling behind 3-0, but ends up losing him.
Iioka doesn't light up the guns either throwing in the low-mid 130s. But he'll need to find his control quick as cleanup batter Ise stands in. Though it's quite obvious they are going to go away on him.
But misses in, and Ise swings! It's a pop fly though, and while Ozai has some trouble, he makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Iioka though refuses to go inside on left-handed batters and walks Hashikawa on 4 straight, creating a manrui situation for Kusaka. Kaneko-kantoku calls time.
It appears that th strategy for Utsunomiya Shougyou is to nibble the outside corners and not pitch inside.
Of course as I say that Iioka goes in on Kusaka and gets him to ground to 3rd. Arai goes to 1st and Iioka and Utsunomiya Shougyou get out of the early pinch.
Top 2nd
On the other hand, Bandou chugs along. He gets an assist from Kawano who stops an Iioka grounder in the hole and makes a great throw to 1st.
Ozai though makes it tough for Bandou, fouling off several pitches before he finally swings and misses on a slider inside for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Iioka's 3/4 delivery creates a weird 1-7 curve. Apparenly the Naruto batters haven't figured it out yet either as Matsumoto can't check his swing.
And a slider that follows the same patch is whiffed on by Bandou for the 2nd out.
Iioka gets a clean inning after the trouble in the 1st as Koumoto reaches out and hits a lazy fly to center to end the inning. Looks like they still don't have the timing or the motion figured out yet.
Top 3rd
Shibayama gets a hold of a fastball and turns it into the right-center field gap! The outfield is in and has to race back! Shibayama is in easily with a leadoff triple!
AH!!
First pitch from Bandou is short and wide! It gets away from Kusaka and Shibayama scores from 3rd! It's 1-0 on the unforced error!
Bandou finally settles down after falling behind on Satou 3-0. 3 straight strikes (including the third which seemed low to me) and there's one down.
Sekiguchi attacks the first pitch, but lines out to short.
Kimijima gets around on a slider inside, but flies out to center to end the inning. Once again though, a defensive miscue cost a team a run.
Bottom 3rd
Iioka continues to test the outside corners, but the Naruto batters continue not to bite until Iioka is supposedly painted into a corner.
Case in point, Kawano waits until 3-1 to swing away, but fouls out to Sekiguchi.
Bad break for Iioka as a comebacker from Nakano glances off his glove and dribbles to the right side for a base hit.
Now it's Iioka with a wild pitch! Satou keeps it in front of him, but it bounces away enough for Nakano to take 2nd!
Inaoka has the right idea, taking all those pitches away and trying to take it opposite field. But it doesn't work this time as he flies out to Ozai.
That leaves it to Ise to try and get the douten run in. Iioka continues to stay on the outer half and beyond.
And Naruto finally punishes Iioka! 3-1 count and he tries a curve over the plate. Instead Ise crushes it to center and over Kimijima's head for a RBI double! We're tied at 1-1!
Hashikawa grounds to short to end the inning, but Utsunomiya Shougyou's strategy on the mound will not work for a full game.
Top 4th
Utsunomiya's batters are having better AB's now it seems with many of them going deep into counts. Watanabe is unsuccessful popping up to short. Igarashi on the other hand takes a ball the other way into the left-center field gap for a double.
Arai with a chance to get the lead back, also goes to a 2-2 count, and if not for a good dive by Ise would have plated that run. Instead there's two outs. That leaves it to starter Iioka. After falling behind 1-2, he fills up the count and could have had ball had he not chased a ball up and in. Fouled it off though.
And another one up and in Iioka manages to foul off, though why he isn't taking the pitch is beyond me.
Bandou wins the battle as he gets Iioka to fly out to shallow right to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Well, there is a change, but not severly defensively. Ace Arai takes the hill, and Iioka moves to 3B.
Not a bad start as he jams Kusaka into a grounder to short. Matsumoto can only manage a weak comebacker to Arai.
At first glance, Arai looks like a carbon copy of Iioka. It takes just 7 pitches, including a 3-pitch K to Bandou to end the inning.
Top 5th
Not to be outdone, Bandou says "I can do you one better". And does, using just 6 pitches to retire the side in order. All batters retired on hits in the infield.
Bottom 5th
One down for Naruto and leadoff batter Kawano is able to get around on a high fastball and line it over Arai into center.
Moriwaki-kantoku tries to start the hit-and-run, but Nakano fouls it off. Moriwaki then calls for a bunt, but that doesn't work either. Moriwaki doesn't remove the bunt though, and Nakano fouls it off for strike 3.
Moriwaki then sends Inaoka on another hit-and run, but Inaoka can't make contact and Satou throws him out at 2nd to send the game to the break all level at 1-1.
Top 6th
One down for Utsunomiya and Kimijima collects his first hit, a hot grounder that gets past a diving Nakano.
And as I thought, Kaneko-kantoku will play for the run as Watanabe successfully bunts him along.
Igarashi attacks the first pitch, but gets under it. Koumoto is there to make the catch and Utsunomiya Shougyou is unable to make any headway.
Bottom 6th
Inaoka slices a liner to the left side, but Igarashi climbs the ladder to make the catch.
Ise hits a grounder to short. Igarashi boots the ball, but quickly recovers and the throw beats Ise to the bag.
And Igarashi is responsible for all 3 outs as Hashikawa swings on the first pitch and flies out to end the inning.
Top 7th
The game so far really hasn't been about good pitching, it's really been the inability of the batters to get on base.
Arai tries to work the count in his favor, but grounds out to 2nd. Iioka tries to slap one the other way, but flies out to Inaoka. Ozai is jammed and dribbles one to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
Kusaka goes down and golfs one, but right at Kimijima for the first out.
Matsumoto tries that patient approach and earns himself a walk. Moriwaki-kantoku is also playing for the run as Bandou shows and lays down the bunt. This leaves it though to last batter Koumoto.
Koumoto does the right thing and tries to work the count. Checks his swing at 2-2 to fill up the count. And he wins the battle! Koumoto gets the walk and the lineup cycles back to Kawano!
Arai now goes into outside mode and manages to get ahead 1-2. It works this time as Kawano weakly swings a grounder to 2nd to end the inning!
Top 8th
Utsunomiya Shougyou's batters continue to have timing isses on Bandou's pitches. Shibayama is way ahead of a slider and pops out to Bandou. Satou too is in front and grounds to Kawano.
Sekiguchi is finished off with a slider inside. All he can do is hit a grounder right to 1st,and the side is retired.
Bottom 8th
Time is running out for both teams in regulation. Could we see our first enchousen match?
Nakano tries a safety bunt to get on base, but fouls it off.
It works out as Nakano correctly takes an outside slider the other way into the gap for a leadoff double!
Moriwaki-kantoku calls for the bunt, but Arai instead hits Inaoka! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Ise as Kaneko-kantoku asks for time.
Ise gets jammed by Arai and hits a grounder to 2nd! Watanabe can't get the ball out of the glove and Utsunomiya Shougyou only gets the runner at 2nd.
Moriwaki-kantoku now calls on #7 Narukawa to bring the runner home.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Narukawa tries to lay down the squeeze bunt, but fails! Nakano is left out to dry and there's 2 outs! Naruto still has a chance though as Ise advances to 2nd.
Narukawa with a base hit! It falls in left-center and Ise scores! Naruto breaks the tie here in the 8th! It's 2-1!!
#11 Tanaka comes in to run just in case something else happens, but Kusaka flies out to center to end the inning.
However PH Narukawa gives his team the lead with just 3 outs to go!
Top 9th
Kimijima with a rocket to right! Inaoka gives chase, but it's off the wall! He's in with a leadoff double! Is there a rally within them? Watanabe lays down a great bunt to move the runner along.
That brings up Igarashi, who had the double himself earlier.
But he pops it up! Matsumoto in foul territory fights the wind, but makes the catch for the 2nd out! It's all up to Arai now!
But after falling behind 2-0, the battery elects to walk Arai and face Iioka.
The gamble pays off! Iioka fists a ball to the left side! Matsumoto charges in, makes the throw and Naruto holds on to defeat Utsunomiya Shougyou by the final of 2-1!
It definitely was a hard fought battle between the two schools, and the aces on the mound were certainly effective. But a slight defensive hiccup in the 8th made all the difference in this matchup!
Utsunomiya Shougyou represented their school well, despite falling in the first round. Iioka and Arai were both good on the mound and the defense for the most part was excellent.
For Naruto, the win helps them on their march to exceed what they did last year. There's still some holes to patch up, mainly on offense, but they'll have the full 5 days to rest up for it.
Notable Players
Bandou Yuugo (Naruto) - CG, W, 0 ER, 4 H, 3 K, BB
Nakano Yuuki (Naruto) - 2-3, 2B, R, K
Narukawa Shuuji (Naruto) - 1-1, RBI
Arai Ryou (Utsunomiya Shougyou) - L, 5 IP, R, 3 H, 2 K, 2 BB, HBP
Shibayama Kazuhiro (Utsunomiya Shougyou) - 1-3, 3B, R
Kimijima Kenzou (Utsunomiya Shougyou) - 2-4, 2B
Day 2, Game 1 - Iwaki Kaisei (Fukushima) vs. Engaru (Hokkaido)
Day 2 starts off with a fortunate/unfortunate matchup.
I say that because 2 of the 21st century teams wound up drawing each other, which is unfortunate in that it'd be nice to see as many advance. It's fortunate in that one of the teams will advance. And then it's unfortunate again because the winner will run into Osaka Touin.
Engaru is happy they're in, but probably wishes it was one year before. Last year they were on the cusp of reaching Natsu Koushien, but coughed up the lead. The team lost their ace, but still managed to reach the Hokkaido semi-final, losing to Hokushou.
Engaru never really did find their ace pitcher in the fall either. Maeda Tomoki has become the ace number, but CF Komono Takaki and RP Ooshiro Yuuki have been called into service too. None of them have really separated themselves from the pack nor shown to be a power pitcher:
Offensively, Satou-kantoku liberally uses his bench - probably as a result of shifting defenders when Kamono is on the mound. The team is primarily a station-to-station club, and their bench players Aoki Ryuutarou (who has been promoted) and Endou Kazuki more than hold their own, while providing speed on the bases.
For Iwaki Kaisei, this is a first for me as well as them. Their submitted roster only has 16 members. And for the first time I can remember, we have a team that doesn't have a full bench (Risshoudai Shounan did play short, but that was due to illness).
The only game of note for Iwaki Kaisei was their mercy rule loss to Seikou Gakuin where they managed a paltry 2 hits. In fact, the offense was rather paltry as they batted a mere 0.258 as a team and just 2 starters with an average over 0.300.
On the mound, ace Suzuki Yuuta does give the team some hope as he strikes out 6.8 batters per 9. But there is little to assust behind him, as while 1B Ookawara does K more than a batter per inning, he also gave up almost a run per inning too. Suffice it to say it will be tough sledding for Iwaki Kaisei even in this matchup...
Iwaki Kaisei (Fukushima) - 21st Century Team
SS Komatsu Kouta
CF Hisa Akira
3B Ookawara Yuuma
1B Abe Masahi
P Suzuki Yuuta
RF Unuma Jyunya (#12)
2B Sakamoto Keishin
C Sakuyama Ayumu
LF Hasegawa Takuya
Engaru (Hokkaido) - 21st Century Team
CF Kamono Takaki (#10)
2B Endou Kazuki (#14)
LF Araya Ibuki
3B Yanagibashi Kouki
P Maeda Tomoki
1B Kudou Yoshiki
RF Kurokawa Jin
SS Sugai Kento (#4)
C Yamashita Rio (#12)
____________________________________________________________
08:30 - First pitch!
(1st inning will get caught up with)
Top 1st
As quickly as the siren dies we have two outs. Komatsu and Hisa swing on the very first pitch and ground out to SS and 2B respectively.
Ookawara takes a ball deep, P/CF Kamono backpedals, jumps... and just makes the catch for the 3rd out.
Bottom 1st
Suzuki goes out of the blocks quickly, striking out Kamono looking and Endou swinging.
A 1-2-3 inning isn't in the cards though as he hits Araya. Furthermore, he's called for a balk allowing Araya to advance into scoring position!
But cleanup batter Yanagibashi can't drive him in, instead grounding to Ookawara to end the inning.
Top 2nd
The game is going rather quickly as both pitcher's pace is fairly quick.
Abe becomes Maeda's first K victim swinging at a ball in the dirt. Suzuki becomes the 2nd on a forkball.
Maeda seems to throw in the mid 130s with a slider in the 120s, a forkball in the 110s and a potential curve.
Unuma makes good contact on one such forkball, but hits an easy fly to center where Kamono secures it for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Suzuki works at a much faster pace as he gets a grounder to 2nd from Maeda and after working the count full walks Kudou.
And the inning quickly ends as Kurokawa grounds to Suzuki. He goes to 2nd for one, and the toss from Komatsu just beats out Kurokawa for the double play!
Top 3rd
Sakamoto gets the first hit in the game as he bloops one over Sugai into left! Sakuyama gets ahead 3-0 as Maeda's control issues persist. But then he tries to bunt, fails twice, but on a full count lays it down.
Things get hairier for Maeda as he throws a wild pitch allowing Sakamoto to get to 3rd.
Hasegawa with a shot down the 3rd base line. Yanagibashi with a great diving stop! Looks Sakamoto back to 3rd and throws to 1st. Kudou makes the pick and there's 2 down!
Komatsu with a grounder to the left side, Yanagibashi with another great pick and throw for the 3rd out! Maeda gets out of the pinch!
Bottom 3rd
Suzuki's delivery is rather weird. After looking like he'll go overhand, it's a 3/4 to sidearm delivery. He doesn't generate much power, generally sitting in the 120s with a curve in the high 90s.
Engaru's batters can't seem to figure it out. Sugai hits a high chopper to 3rd. Ookawara waits for it and makes the solid throw to 1st.
Yamashita gets under one and pops out to Ookawara in foul territory.
And Kamono with an excuse me check swing hits one right to Abe for the easy out to retire the side.
Top 4th
The game continues to speed by. Maeda is throwing strikes again and Iwaki's batters are swinging away.
Hisa hits a weak grounder to 1st, Ookawara hits a hard liner, but right at Kurokawa, and Abe flies out to left. 7 pitches and the side is retired.
Bottom 4th
Engaru's batters still struggle. Endou flies out to shallow left, though Hasegawa makes a last second correction to his left.
Araya with a short liner to right-center races past the fielders to the fence! Araya rounds 2nd and starts for 3rd after the cutoff throw is off line! He slides in safely at 3rd! Big chance for Engaru!
But as quick as I write that the threat is eliminated! Yanagibashi swings on the first pitch and grounds to short! Komatsu looks Araya back and throws to 1st!
Then Maeda hits a fly ball on his first pitch to right! Unuma backs up, backs up and makes the catch for the 3rd out!
Top 5th
I'm having a hard time analyzing the game because it's just going at breakneck speed. I'm almost a half-inning behind the actual action.
The reason why is that the batters are swinging away and the pitchers are working quickly. Maeda gets another easy 1-2-3 inning as he needs just 8 pitches to retire Suzuki, Unuma and Sakamoto.
Bottom 5th
Kudou, who earlier took a walk this time swings away on 3-1 and grounds to 2nd. Kurokawa swings on the first pitch and grounds to short.
And Sugai pops out to Sakamoto to end the inning. 41 minutes and we're already at the break!
Top 6th
We start the 2nd half of the game, and yet the batters still can't figure out the aces. Sakuyama fouls out to Kudou, Hasegawa falls behind 0-2 and grounds out to 3rd.
Back to the top of the lineup and Komatsu. He works the count to 3-1, but again can't find open space as he lines out right to Kurokawa to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Neither pitcher is overpowering or hitting their spots consistently, and neither offense can take advantage either it seems.
Yamashita gets Engaru's 2nd hit, a liner to shallow center for a leadoff hit. Kamono is trying to bunt him along but a ball in the dirt gets by Sakuyama! Yamashita goes to 2nd and after Kamono's bunt Engaru has another scoring opportunity!
But Endou hits a comebacker to Suzuki! He sees Yamashita off the bag, makes the throw to 3rd, and they have him! 2 outs! Engaru has to start over again with Araya! Suzuki though falls behind Araya and winds up walking him! Suzuki is back in a pinch once again!
Yanagibashi hits a hanging fastball to center! Hisa runs back to the fence, leaps, but can't make the catch! Endou scores! Araya scores! The throw from Sakamoto gets away from everyone! Yanagibashi comes in to score and just like that it's 3-0 Engaru!
Iwaki Kaisei and Suzuki continues to reel from the inning as Maeda collects his first hit, a seeing-eye single up the middle.
But Suzuki settles down, throws a curve that just catches the inside part to strike out Kudou to end the inning. Engaru scores 3 though and the way the game is going, it doesn't look good.
Top 7th
Hisa tries to work the count to get on base, but is called out on a full count curve that just catches (?) the bottom of the zone.
Ookawara continues to attack Maeda's pitches and quickly grounds to short.
And while Abe makes contact, the ball goes right to Kamono for the 3rd out. We've just passed the hour mark and Iwaki Kaisei is down to their final 6 outs.
Bottom 7th
After that small quick burst by Engaru last inning, the team is back to middling at the plate. Kurokawa first pitch swings and grounds back to Suzuki. Sugai is fooled on a ball way outside. And Yamashita too is fooled hitting a weak grounder to Abe for the 3rd out.
Top 8th
Suzuki tries to start the rally himself, taking a pitch tailing away the other way for a base hit!
Wakabayashi-kantoku tries to pull strings, sending in #9 Akino to hit for Unuma.
But Unuma swings on the first pitch and hits one back to Maeda! He starts the 1-6-3 double play to wipe out the threat! Sakamoto grounds to 3rd and Iwaki Kaisei is down to the final innning!
Bottom 8th
Akino stays in to play RF.
After a quick fly by Kamono, #15 Ooyama comes in to hit for Endou. He hits a comebacker off Suzuki's glove and deflects to the left side. Komatsu doubles back to get it, but can't make a solid throw to 1st. Ooyama is replaced at 1st with the 3B coach Nishida.
But once again the inning quickly ends as Araya pops out to Sakuyama and Yanagibashi grounds to short.
Top 9th
Defensive changes for Engaru. #6 Koumoto comes in for PR Nishida and goes to SS. Sugai shifts back to his normal position at 2B, and #18 Matsushita comes in for Kudou at 1B.
One down and Hasegawa scorches a ball past a diving Matsushita into right. He collides with Matsushita and is awarded 2nd despite being thrown out.
And Iwaki Kaisei has a chance to score a run after Komatsu hits a slow grounder to short.
But Hisa swings on the first pitch and fouls out to Maruyama to end the game.
It's a quick game at 66 minutes, and Engaru probably expectedly emerges as the winner.
Admittedly it wasn't the most exciting game, and there probably wasn't a whole lot to take out of it. Engaru will advance to face Osaka Touin and that'll be a challenge - but they at least won their first game at Koushien.
As for Iwaki Kaisei, it was probably a great experience to play at Koushien, even as a 21st century nominee. It's probably they won't be back - especially with Seikou Gakuin around. But at least they can say that they got to play at the hallowed grounds of Koushien.
Notable Players
Maeda Tomoki (Engaru) - CG, W, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 K
Yanagibashi Kouki (Engaru) - 1-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI
Araya Ibuki (Engaru) - 1-2, 2B, R, BB, HBP
Suzuki Yuuta (Iwaki Kaisei) - CG, L, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 K, 2 BB, HBP
Hasegawa Takuya (Iwaki Kaisei) - 1-3, 2B
I say that because 2 of the 21st century teams wound up drawing each other, which is unfortunate in that it'd be nice to see as many advance. It's fortunate in that one of the teams will advance. And then it's unfortunate again because the winner will run into Osaka Touin.
Engaru is happy they're in, but probably wishes it was one year before. Last year they were on the cusp of reaching Natsu Koushien, but coughed up the lead. The team lost their ace, but still managed to reach the Hokkaido semi-final, losing to Hokushou.
Engaru never really did find their ace pitcher in the fall either. Maeda Tomoki has become the ace number, but CF Komono Takaki and RP Ooshiro Yuuki have been called into service too. None of them have really separated themselves from the pack nor shown to be a power pitcher:
- Maeda - 4.79 K/9, 1.50 WHIP
- Kamono - 8.18 K/9, 1.27 WHIP
- Ooshiro - 8.38 K/9, 1.14 WHIP
Offensively, Satou-kantoku liberally uses his bench - probably as a result of shifting defenders when Kamono is on the mound. The team is primarily a station-to-station club, and their bench players Aoki Ryuutarou (who has been promoted) and Endou Kazuki more than hold their own, while providing speed on the bases.
For Iwaki Kaisei, this is a first for me as well as them. Their submitted roster only has 16 members. And for the first time I can remember, we have a team that doesn't have a full bench (Risshoudai Shounan did play short, but that was due to illness).
The only game of note for Iwaki Kaisei was their mercy rule loss to Seikou Gakuin where they managed a paltry 2 hits. In fact, the offense was rather paltry as they batted a mere 0.258 as a team and just 2 starters with an average over 0.300.
On the mound, ace Suzuki Yuuta does give the team some hope as he strikes out 6.8 batters per 9. But there is little to assust behind him, as while 1B Ookawara does K more than a batter per inning, he also gave up almost a run per inning too. Suffice it to say it will be tough sledding for Iwaki Kaisei even in this matchup...
Iwaki Kaisei (Fukushima) - 21st Century Team
SS Komatsu Kouta
CF Hisa Akira
3B Ookawara Yuuma
1B Abe Masahi
P Suzuki Yuuta
RF Unuma Jyunya (#12)
2B Sakamoto Keishin
C Sakuyama Ayumu
LF Hasegawa Takuya
Engaru (Hokkaido) - 21st Century Team
CF Kamono Takaki (#10)
2B Endou Kazuki (#14)
LF Araya Ibuki
3B Yanagibashi Kouki
P Maeda Tomoki
1B Kudou Yoshiki
RF Kurokawa Jin
SS Sugai Kento (#4)
C Yamashita Rio (#12)
____________________________________________________________
08:30 - First pitch!
(1st inning will get caught up with)
Top 1st
As quickly as the siren dies we have two outs. Komatsu and Hisa swing on the very first pitch and ground out to SS and 2B respectively.
Ookawara takes a ball deep, P/CF Kamono backpedals, jumps... and just makes the catch for the 3rd out.
Bottom 1st
Suzuki goes out of the blocks quickly, striking out Kamono looking and Endou swinging.
A 1-2-3 inning isn't in the cards though as he hits Araya. Furthermore, he's called for a balk allowing Araya to advance into scoring position!
But cleanup batter Yanagibashi can't drive him in, instead grounding to Ookawara to end the inning.
Top 2nd
The game is going rather quickly as both pitcher's pace is fairly quick.
Abe becomes Maeda's first K victim swinging at a ball in the dirt. Suzuki becomes the 2nd on a forkball.
Maeda seems to throw in the mid 130s with a slider in the 120s, a forkball in the 110s and a potential curve.
Unuma makes good contact on one such forkball, but hits an easy fly to center where Kamono secures it for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Suzuki works at a much faster pace as he gets a grounder to 2nd from Maeda and after working the count full walks Kudou.
And the inning quickly ends as Kurokawa grounds to Suzuki. He goes to 2nd for one, and the toss from Komatsu just beats out Kurokawa for the double play!
Top 3rd
Sakamoto gets the first hit in the game as he bloops one over Sugai into left! Sakuyama gets ahead 3-0 as Maeda's control issues persist. But then he tries to bunt, fails twice, but on a full count lays it down.
Things get hairier for Maeda as he throws a wild pitch allowing Sakamoto to get to 3rd.
Hasegawa with a shot down the 3rd base line. Yanagibashi with a great diving stop! Looks Sakamoto back to 3rd and throws to 1st. Kudou makes the pick and there's 2 down!
Komatsu with a grounder to the left side, Yanagibashi with another great pick and throw for the 3rd out! Maeda gets out of the pinch!
Bottom 3rd
Suzuki's delivery is rather weird. After looking like he'll go overhand, it's a 3/4 to sidearm delivery. He doesn't generate much power, generally sitting in the 120s with a curve in the high 90s.
Engaru's batters can't seem to figure it out. Sugai hits a high chopper to 3rd. Ookawara waits for it and makes the solid throw to 1st.
Yamashita gets under one and pops out to Ookawara in foul territory.
And Kamono with an excuse me check swing hits one right to Abe for the easy out to retire the side.
Top 4th
The game continues to speed by. Maeda is throwing strikes again and Iwaki's batters are swinging away.
Hisa hits a weak grounder to 1st, Ookawara hits a hard liner, but right at Kurokawa, and Abe flies out to left. 7 pitches and the side is retired.
Bottom 4th
Engaru's batters still struggle. Endou flies out to shallow left, though Hasegawa makes a last second correction to his left.
Araya with a short liner to right-center races past the fielders to the fence! Araya rounds 2nd and starts for 3rd after the cutoff throw is off line! He slides in safely at 3rd! Big chance for Engaru!
But as quick as I write that the threat is eliminated! Yanagibashi swings on the first pitch and grounds to short! Komatsu looks Araya back and throws to 1st!
Then Maeda hits a fly ball on his first pitch to right! Unuma backs up, backs up and makes the catch for the 3rd out!
Top 5th
I'm having a hard time analyzing the game because it's just going at breakneck speed. I'm almost a half-inning behind the actual action.
The reason why is that the batters are swinging away and the pitchers are working quickly. Maeda gets another easy 1-2-3 inning as he needs just 8 pitches to retire Suzuki, Unuma and Sakamoto.
Bottom 5th
Kudou, who earlier took a walk this time swings away on 3-1 and grounds to 2nd. Kurokawa swings on the first pitch and grounds to short.
And Sugai pops out to Sakamoto to end the inning. 41 minutes and we're already at the break!
Top 6th
We start the 2nd half of the game, and yet the batters still can't figure out the aces. Sakuyama fouls out to Kudou, Hasegawa falls behind 0-2 and grounds out to 3rd.
Back to the top of the lineup and Komatsu. He works the count to 3-1, but again can't find open space as he lines out right to Kurokawa to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Neither pitcher is overpowering or hitting their spots consistently, and neither offense can take advantage either it seems.
Yamashita gets Engaru's 2nd hit, a liner to shallow center for a leadoff hit. Kamono is trying to bunt him along but a ball in the dirt gets by Sakuyama! Yamashita goes to 2nd and after Kamono's bunt Engaru has another scoring opportunity!
But Endou hits a comebacker to Suzuki! He sees Yamashita off the bag, makes the throw to 3rd, and they have him! 2 outs! Engaru has to start over again with Araya! Suzuki though falls behind Araya and winds up walking him! Suzuki is back in a pinch once again!
Yanagibashi hits a hanging fastball to center! Hisa runs back to the fence, leaps, but can't make the catch! Endou scores! Araya scores! The throw from Sakamoto gets away from everyone! Yanagibashi comes in to score and just like that it's 3-0 Engaru!
Iwaki Kaisei and Suzuki continues to reel from the inning as Maeda collects his first hit, a seeing-eye single up the middle.
But Suzuki settles down, throws a curve that just catches the inside part to strike out Kudou to end the inning. Engaru scores 3 though and the way the game is going, it doesn't look good.
Top 7th
Hisa tries to work the count to get on base, but is called out on a full count curve that just catches (?) the bottom of the zone.
Ookawara continues to attack Maeda's pitches and quickly grounds to short.
And while Abe makes contact, the ball goes right to Kamono for the 3rd out. We've just passed the hour mark and Iwaki Kaisei is down to their final 6 outs.
Bottom 7th
After that small quick burst by Engaru last inning, the team is back to middling at the plate. Kurokawa first pitch swings and grounds back to Suzuki. Sugai is fooled on a ball way outside. And Yamashita too is fooled hitting a weak grounder to Abe for the 3rd out.
Top 8th
Suzuki tries to start the rally himself, taking a pitch tailing away the other way for a base hit!
Wakabayashi-kantoku tries to pull strings, sending in #9 Akino to hit for Unuma.
But Unuma swings on the first pitch and hits one back to Maeda! He starts the 1-6-3 double play to wipe out the threat! Sakamoto grounds to 3rd and Iwaki Kaisei is down to the final innning!
Bottom 8th
Akino stays in to play RF.
After a quick fly by Kamono, #15 Ooyama comes in to hit for Endou. He hits a comebacker off Suzuki's glove and deflects to the left side. Komatsu doubles back to get it, but can't make a solid throw to 1st. Ooyama is replaced at 1st with the 3B coach Nishida.
But once again the inning quickly ends as Araya pops out to Sakuyama and Yanagibashi grounds to short.
Top 9th
Defensive changes for Engaru. #6 Koumoto comes in for PR Nishida and goes to SS. Sugai shifts back to his normal position at 2B, and #18 Matsushita comes in for Kudou at 1B.
One down and Hasegawa scorches a ball past a diving Matsushita into right. He collides with Matsushita and is awarded 2nd despite being thrown out.
And Iwaki Kaisei has a chance to score a run after Komatsu hits a slow grounder to short.
But Hisa swings on the first pitch and fouls out to Maruyama to end the game.
It's a quick game at 66 minutes, and Engaru probably expectedly emerges as the winner.
Admittedly it wasn't the most exciting game, and there probably wasn't a whole lot to take out of it. Engaru will advance to face Osaka Touin and that'll be a challenge - but they at least won their first game at Koushien.
As for Iwaki Kaisei, it was probably a great experience to play at Koushien, even as a 21st century nominee. It's probably they won't be back - especially with Seikou Gakuin around. But at least they can say that they got to play at the hallowed grounds of Koushien.
Notable Players
Maeda Tomoki (Engaru) - CG, W, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 K
Yanagibashi Kouki (Engaru) - 1-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI
Araya Ibuki (Engaru) - 1-2, 2B, R, BB, HBP
Suzuki Yuuta (Iwaki Kaisei) - CG, L, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 K, 2 BB, HBP
Hasegawa Takuya (Iwaki Kaisei) - 1-3, 2B
Friday, March 22, 2013
Day 1, Game 3 - Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) vs. Harue Kougyou (Fukui)
The final game of the day puts the Hokushinetsu region on the line as champion Harue Kougyou (a first timer no less), faces a team who is also making a return after a 5 year hiatus in Tokoha Kikugawa.
Tokoha Kikugawa earned their bid via a 2-1 loss in the super-regional semifinal to eventual winners Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou. They got there by basically outscoring their opposition. Ace Hotta Tatsuya throws a pedestrian 135, with a slider, curve and changeup combination that allows about 1 baserunner per inning while striking out one every 2 innings. #11 Hodzumi Taiga and other have been used, but are not nearly as effective as Hotta, which means you'd better hope you don't see them...
Offensively, the team basically walked and smashed their way through the field. The team posted an ISO of 0.245, while their OBP was 0.143 points higher than their BA. How much of that is due to their earlier round games is uncertain though, but carrying that through 14 games does count for something, if even just a little. Over 2/3 of the roster carries a 0.300+ BA, and everyone except for Hotta and new 1B Kuwahara tallied a double and a triple.
Harue Kougyou won their first ever super-regional and earned their first trip to Koushien this fall. They did so avenging a loss to rival Tsuruga Kehi, while beating Matsushou Gakuen and Niigata Meikun along the way. In addition, they defeated Urawa Gakuin at Meiji Jingu before falling hard to Kanzei.
It looks impressive on the surface, but the underlying numbers paint a different picture. Despite going 9-2 in the fall, their two losses were by margins of 2-15 and 2-10. Ace Tsubota Kazuki is the first pitcher covered that has a WHIP greater than 1 (1.33 in fact), and only strikes out 5 batters per 9.
Their offense is heavily predicated on small ball. With an ISO of just 0.094 and a OBP just 0.021 higher than their BA despite averaging 3-4 walks per game, there is a lot of sacrifices to move runners over. As a result, they are generally involved in low scoring affairs. The lynchpin probably is their cleanup batter Kurihara Ryouta, who batted a scorching 0.513 as a rookie.
Note the bright orange knee-high socs they wear. Definitely a defining part of their unifiorm. And the oen-dan is in full force, even if the stands elsewhere aren't full.
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) - Tokai 3 seed
CF Toji Keisuke
LF Maekawa Naoya
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
RF Nakata Koushi (#13)
1B Kuwahara Tatsuki
P Hotta Tatsuya
2B Imasaka Ryousuke
Harue Kougyou (Fukui) - Hokushinetsu Champions
CF Nishi Keita
1B Kinoshita Keigo
LF Ono Shouta
C Kurihara Ryouta
3B Umemura Takumi
SS Nakajima Haruka
2B Hamade Shouta
P Tsubota Kazuki
RF Kotobuki Yuuta
____________________________________________________________
15:55 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Tsubota doesn't throw particuarly hard, but hides the ball behind his body for a long period of time. He gets Toji to hit a routine grounder to 2nd.
In fact Tsubota throws only in the high 120s, with a curve in the mid-100s.
Maekawa is fooled on a curve, but keeps the bat in the zone enough to poke it past Nakajima into center. Morishita-kantoku elects not to bunt (they are a hitting team after all it seems), but Endou gets under one and flies out to Kotobuki.
So instead Morishita-kantoku sends Maekawa on the next pitch! The throw would have had him, but Nakajima just can't hang onto the ball.
It looks like the Tokoha batters are having a hard time picking up the ball early. And Matsuki is also fooled and hits a lazy fly to right as well to end the inning. Not a bad start for the Hokushinetsu champions.
Bottom 1st
This could be a quick pace game as well. Hotta pitches at a rapid pace - maybe even faster than Takahashi. Hotta though gets a warning about his form, perhaps the hitch in his delivery?
Nonetheless, Nishi though gets ahead 3-1 but grounds out to 1st. Kinoshita though takes a hanging fastball and beats it over a leaping Maekawa and off the wall for a double.
And with Ono up, Matsuki can't secure a ball in the dirt and Kinoshita advances 90 feet! Ono then makes the battery pay by hitting a grounder through to right! Kinoshita scores to make it 1-0 Harue Kougyou!
Kurihara with another single just like Ono! Ono breaks for 3rd and the throw is cut off! Is the warning from the umpire affecting Hotta? Or is Harukou seeing the ball?
Umemura takes a big swing on a 111 curve to open. Then gets a 134 fastball right down the pipe for strike 2. And he watches a 135 fastball catch the bottom of the zone. Can't let that go on 2 strikes...
Nakajima grounds to 2nd to end the inning, and perhaps Tokoha Kikugawa is fortunate to have given up just one run.
Top 2nd
Kikugawa's batters are making good contact, but not solid contact. Oonishi flies out to deep right as Kotobuki runs it down near the line. Nakata does the same as this time Kotobuki backs up.
Kuwahara takes a big swing, but is way ahead of a Tsubota curve. And even with the big swing he looked like he was trying to take it the other way. But he's fooled again and this time grounds to 1st. Kinoshita beats him to the bag and it's a 6 pitch inning for Tsubota!
Bottom 2nd
Hamde gets around on a fastball and fists it over the infield into left for a leadoff hit. Tsubota lays down a bunt on the next pitch leaving it to last batter Kotobuki to try and get another run in.
Kotobuki tries a safety bunt! But he fouls it off.
He does it again! Hotta goes to 1st, but throws it high! Hamada scores from 2nd and Kotobuki replaces him there! It's 2-0 Harukou! Either Kotobuki really can't hit or they saw something in Kikugawa's fielding. Either way, it pays off!
Back to the top of the order and Nishi, but he flies out to left-center.
Hit-and-run!!
Kotobuki takes off for 3rd as Kinoshita hits a grounder to short! Endou has to backhand it, double clutches and that allows Kinoshita to dive in safely! (Stop diving!) Kawamura-kantoku is really putting the pressure on the Kikugawa defense!
That brings up Ono, who got a base hit in his 1st AB. This time Hotta wins, getting Ono to wave at a fastball at the bottom of the zone for the 3rd out. But Harue Kougyou tacks on yet another run!
Top 3rd
Hotta is a bit more patient to start the inning, probably because he can't hit well. But I think he's suffering from the same problem as the other batters. He can't pick up the ball and as a result chases a slider out of the zone for the first out.
Oddly, agains last batter Imasaka, Tsubota stars off with two slow curves before going to the fastball for a strike. Another cuve misses and it's a hitters count.
But still the batters struggle. Imasaka hits a chopper to Nakajima for the 2nd out.
And while Toji winds up to try and wait for the ball, he hits a grounder right to Kinoshita for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
Hotta doesn't particularly throw hard though his fastball is in the 130s. He still has a slider in the high 120s and a curve in the 100-110s.
Speaking of which, Hotta pulls the string on a curve to strike out Kurihawa to star the inning. Umemura immediately follows that up with an easy fly to center.
And Hotta finally gets a 1-2-3 inning as Nakajima lines to center to end the inning. Now can the bats figure out Tsubota?
Top 4th
Looks like Tsubota has the slider too that sits in the upper 110s. But he falls behind Maekawa 3-1 before filling the count at 3-2. Maekawa wins the battle hitting one back up the middle for a leadoff hit.
Endou swings away on the opening curve, but he pops it up. Kotobuki slips a bit, but Nishi is there for the catch. Quickly 1 down for Tokoha.
Matsuki with a drive to right! That's down the right field line and Maekawa easily scores from 1st on Matsuki's RBI triple! 2-1! Tsubota left that curveball up in the zone and Matsuki properly punished it!
Oonishi with an inside-out swing and lines that to right! Matsuki scores and just like that we're tied at 2-2!
And Morishita-kantoku sends Oonishi to 2nd on the 2-2 pitch! The throw from Kurihara, and safe?!? The umpire called him safe? I don't know about that... The replay sure looks like he was out.
Tanaka though can't get the timely hit and whiffs on a slow curve.
Now Kurihara is hit! Wait, is Kurihara arguing he didn't get hit? I think he is! I think he's arguing because he knows Hotta is up next!
And wouldn't you know it, Hotta swings away on the first pitch and fouls out to Kurihara to end the inning. But the offense for Tokoha Kikugawa shows up here in the 4th and levels the score!
Bottom 4th
Now it looks like it's Harukou's batters who are getting fooled and Tokoha's batters who are seeing the ball.
Hamade grounds out to 1st, Tsubota weakly grounds to Kuwahara at 1st. And Kotobuki makes to effort to run to first after waving on a curve that Matsuki can't field.
Top 5th
Imasaka with a towering fly to left center.. Ono is there, but has to make a last minute adjustment to catch the ball.
You know, I wonder if Tsubota is hiding the ball as effectively as he did to start the game. It looks like it peeks out behind him during his delivery.
Nonetheless he seems to be less effective. After the flyout, he walks Toji. And with Tsubota's slow pitches, Toji takes off and successfully steals 2nd!
Maekawa stands in and he gets his 3rd hit, Tokoha will probably have the lead. Tsubota gets ahead of him 2-0, but Maekawa stubbornly fouls off several pitches. And he shows a forkball that the announcers didn't know he had.
Meanwhile, Maekawa continues to foul pitches off while working the count to 1-2, then 2-2. Tsubota finally wins the battle, getting Maekawa to hit another towering popup, this time to Nakajima for the 2nd out.
That leaves it up to Endou, who finally takes a pitch. And another! At 2-1, Endou chases a curve in the left-handed batters box for strike 2.
But they go to the well one too many times! Tsubota tries to put a curve down and away, and instead Endou reaches down and pokes it to center! Endou gives Tokoha Kikugawa the lead here in the 5th at 3-2!!
Matsuki fouls out to Kinoshita, but the damage is done! Tokoha Kikugawa takes the lead!
Bottom 5th
Back to the top of the order and Nishi for Harukou, who now find themselves behind.
Nishi tries to play the waiting game at the plate, but has to swing away at 2-2 and flies out to left.
Kinoshita looks like he puts a charge in the ball, but Maekawa has time to go back and camp under it for the 2nd out.
And it's a 9 pitch inning as Ono swings on the first pitch and pops out to Endou.
So after a strong start by the Hokushinetsu champs Harue Kougyou, Tokoha Kikugawa strikes before the break and takes the lead. Will Harukou have a response or will the offensive output of Tokoha Kikugawa steamroll on?
Top 6th
Oonishi sizes up a Tsubota fastball and drills it to left. It one bounds to the wall for a leadoff double. It may be after all that Harue Kougyou is in trouble. I wonder if the hitch Tsubota his affecting his delivery.
Tsubot though isn't giving up just yet. He gets Tanaka to climb the ladder for the first out.
Kuwahara gets a hold of a ball! Nishi chases it back in center... Hits the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have our first HR of this Koushien as Kurihara hits a hanging slider to dead center! It's 5-2 Tokoha Kikugawa and the flood gates might be opening up on the Hokushinetsu champs.
Hotta even gets in on the act, hitting a blooper to shallow left center! Imasaka hits a solid single through the right side and it's gut check time for Tsubota. Kurihara goes out to try and settle him down.
Seems to work as Toji grounds into the inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
But Tokoha Kikugawa extends the lead and could be leaving Harue Kougyou behind.
Bottom 6th
Kurihara can't get the offense started as he nubs one up the 3rd base line. Oonishi charges in, makes a leaping throw to get Kurihara.
Umemura hits a ball back up the middle, that's deftly fielded by Endou who spins and makes the throw to 1st for the 2nd out.
Nakajima prevents the 1-2-3 inning by blooping a ball to center.
Wait! Hamade slices one past a diving Kuwahara into right! Nakata has to chase it down at the wall and Nakajima scores from 1st on the triple! It's 5-3!
Tsubota tries to bloop in another one, but leaves it up too long and Ono runs it down to retire the side. But timely hitting from Hamade allows Harukou to cut into the deficit!
Top 7th
Tsubota finally has a clean inning after giving up crooked numbers the last couple of innings. It's back to a 7 pitch inning to retire the side. But is it too late?
Bottom 7th
Kotobuki shows bunt again to lead off the 7th, but it looks to be just for show. Instead, he insides out a fastball and singles to left. Kawamura-kantoku has no hesitation in having Nishi bunt the runner along for Kinoshita nad Ono.
And what's this? Hotta can't find the strike zone and fall behind Kinoshita 3-0 before rifling in a fastball and a curve at the bottom of the zone for strike 2. Kinoshita strikes out, but the ball gets away from Matsuki! Kotobuki goes to 3rd, but Kinoshita fails to run to 1st! He's thrown out and there's 2 outs now!
That's the second time now that a runner has failed to take off for first immediately after a dropped strike 3.
No matter!
Ono insides out a ball and that bloops in down the left field line! Kotobuki scores as Ono takes 2nd, and now the deficit is at 1! It's 5-4!!
Kurihara though can't do the same and flies out to left. Still Harukou chips away another run off Tokoha's lead.
Top 8th
Can Tsubota continue to shut down the offense? The lights are on and we have umpires down the lines.
Oonishi leading off the 8th, and while Tsubota is keeping it down now, Oonishi isn't chasing.
However, the count runs full and Oonishi hits a hard grounder to 3rd. Umemura blocks it and makes the throw to 1st.
Morishita-kantoku brings out the big guns with #16 Kikuchi, and he does take a full swing, but hits a high fly to left for Kotobuki.
That brings up Kuwahara. Not a HR this time, but he scorches one to the right side. Hamade blocks it and keeps it in front of him, but that's all he can do.
With Hotta up, Tsubota's pitches start finishing high again. This could be trouble...
AHHH!!!
A pitch gets away from Tsubot and hits Hotta in the head! It's a glancing blow, but he is taken out for an injury runner so he can be looked at. Kikuchi comes in to run for him in the meantime.
That brings up Imasaka. Can Tsubota get out of this mess?
It's not looking good as he falls behind 3-1.
And Imasaka hits a hanging fastball the other way! Ono and Nishi run back to the ball, but can't catch up to it! Both Kuwahara and Kikuchi score bringing the lead back up to 3! It's 7-4!
Things get worse as a passed ball by Kurihara sends Imasaka to 3rd.
Tsuboto gets Toji to ground to 1st to end the inning, but the gains made by Harue Kougyou have been wiped out!
Bottom 8th
It doesn't look like Hotta is returning and #11 Hodzumi Taiga does replace him on the hill. Also #17 Kaneko comes in for PH Kikuchi and takes over in RF.
Umemura tries to restart the rally with a liner down the right field line for a leadoff double. Nakajima can't get a productive AB though as he hits one back to Hodzumi.
Neither can Hamade who hits a grounder to short that Endou field for the 2nd out.
Hodzumi isn't a hard thrower himself, reaching just the low 120s. But he gets the job done as Tsubota bends away from a slider that goes right down the middle to end the inning.
Top 9th
Maekawa records his 3rd hit, but this time on a nubber up the 1st base line that he beats Tsubota to the bag with!
Tsubota is probably fighting fatigue and form issues.
And as I say that, Endou takes a rising fastball and drives it to left! Ono runs to the wall, but knows it's no good!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a liner of a HR as Endo leaves no doubt with a 2-run HR to make it 9-4!
That'll be it for Tsubota. Nakajima takes over on the hill, Hamade slides to SS, and #12 Shimode replaces Tsubota in the lineup and takes over at 2B.
Wouldn't you know it, Matsuki hits a grounder to new 2B Shimode who promptly boots it. E4.
No harm done though as Matsuki tries to steal 2nd and Kurihara guns him down with time to spare. New P Nakajima has a fastball in the 130s with a curve in the 110s that I've noticed.
And while he gives up a single to Kaneko, he's thrown out trying to steal 2nd.
Bottom 9th
Last ups for Harue Kougyou as #11 Seki comes in to hit for Kotobuki.
Seki though fights off several pitches before taking one th other way for a base hit! That cycles the lineup back to the top and Nishi.
But Nishi's troubles at the plate continue as he flies out to center and is 0-4 on the night.
Kinoshita on the other hand finally gets his 3rd hit, a grounder past a diving Endou into left. That brings up Ono, but he won't be able to make up the deficit by himself.
Now a passed ball by Matsuki again lets the runners advance. Still not alarming yet for Tokoha. Count runs full as Ono fights off a pitch.
But Hodzumi will gladly trade a run in for an out as Ono grounds to 2nd. Just one more to go as Umemura steps in.
He makes a free swing at it, and it's an easy fly for Toji who runs it down for the final out.
Harue Kougyou just couldn't hold off the potent Tokoha Kikugawa offense and as a result bow out in the first round by the score of 9-5.
Give Harue Kougyou credit though, they did fight back after being countered by Tokoha in the middle innings. But Tsubota's inconsistencies cropped up again and cost them a chance for a gyakuten win. It was a good showing, but sadly not enough. It'll be hard to repeat the feat in the summer with many other competitive teams in the prefecture, but they might have a chance still.
Tokoha Kikugawa advances to face Houtoku Gakuen, but need to shore up some things before then. First of all, Hotta was not sharp to start the game, nor was the offense able to pick up on Tsubota's delivery until the middle innings. They may not have the same luxury against the hometown team. But they have 5 days to work on it.
Notable Players
Kuwahara Tatsuki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Endou Kouhei (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBI
Maekawa Naoya (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 3-5, 2 R, SB
Imasaka Ryousuke (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Kinoshita Keigo (Harue Kougyou) - 3-5, 2B, R, K
Ono Shouta (Harue Kougyou) - 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Hamade Shouta (Harue Kougyou) - 2-4, 3B, R, RBI
Tokoha Kikugawa earned their bid via a 2-1 loss in the super-regional semifinal to eventual winners Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou. They got there by basically outscoring their opposition. Ace Hotta Tatsuya throws a pedestrian 135, with a slider, curve and changeup combination that allows about 1 baserunner per inning while striking out one every 2 innings. #11 Hodzumi Taiga and other have been used, but are not nearly as effective as Hotta, which means you'd better hope you don't see them...
Offensively, the team basically walked and smashed their way through the field. The team posted an ISO of 0.245, while their OBP was 0.143 points higher than their BA. How much of that is due to their earlier round games is uncertain though, but carrying that through 14 games does count for something, if even just a little. Over 2/3 of the roster carries a 0.300+ BA, and everyone except for Hotta and new 1B Kuwahara tallied a double and a triple.
Harue Kougyou won their first ever super-regional and earned their first trip to Koushien this fall. They did so avenging a loss to rival Tsuruga Kehi, while beating Matsushou Gakuen and Niigata Meikun along the way. In addition, they defeated Urawa Gakuin at Meiji Jingu before falling hard to Kanzei.
It looks impressive on the surface, but the underlying numbers paint a different picture. Despite going 9-2 in the fall, their two losses were by margins of 2-15 and 2-10. Ace Tsubota Kazuki is the first pitcher covered that has a WHIP greater than 1 (1.33 in fact), and only strikes out 5 batters per 9.
Their offense is heavily predicated on small ball. With an ISO of just 0.094 and a OBP just 0.021 higher than their BA despite averaging 3-4 walks per game, there is a lot of sacrifices to move runners over. As a result, they are generally involved in low scoring affairs. The lynchpin probably is their cleanup batter Kurihara Ryouta, who batted a scorching 0.513 as a rookie.
Note the bright orange knee-high socs they wear. Definitely a defining part of their unifiorm. And the oen-dan is in full force, even if the stands elsewhere aren't full.
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) - Tokai 3 seed
CF Toji Keisuke
LF Maekawa Naoya
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
RF Nakata Koushi (#13)
1B Kuwahara Tatsuki
P Hotta Tatsuya
2B Imasaka Ryousuke
Harue Kougyou (Fukui) - Hokushinetsu Champions
CF Nishi Keita
1B Kinoshita Keigo
LF Ono Shouta
C Kurihara Ryouta
3B Umemura Takumi
SS Nakajima Haruka
2B Hamade Shouta
P Tsubota Kazuki
RF Kotobuki Yuuta
____________________________________________________________
15:55 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Tsubota doesn't throw particuarly hard, but hides the ball behind his body for a long period of time. He gets Toji to hit a routine grounder to 2nd.
In fact Tsubota throws only in the high 120s, with a curve in the mid-100s.
Maekawa is fooled on a curve, but keeps the bat in the zone enough to poke it past Nakajima into center. Morishita-kantoku elects not to bunt (they are a hitting team after all it seems), but Endou gets under one and flies out to Kotobuki.
So instead Morishita-kantoku sends Maekawa on the next pitch! The throw would have had him, but Nakajima just can't hang onto the ball.
It looks like the Tokoha batters are having a hard time picking up the ball early. And Matsuki is also fooled and hits a lazy fly to right as well to end the inning. Not a bad start for the Hokushinetsu champions.
Bottom 1st
This could be a quick pace game as well. Hotta pitches at a rapid pace - maybe even faster than Takahashi. Hotta though gets a warning about his form, perhaps the hitch in his delivery?
Nonetheless, Nishi though gets ahead 3-1 but grounds out to 1st. Kinoshita though takes a hanging fastball and beats it over a leaping Maekawa and off the wall for a double.
And with Ono up, Matsuki can't secure a ball in the dirt and Kinoshita advances 90 feet! Ono then makes the battery pay by hitting a grounder through to right! Kinoshita scores to make it 1-0 Harue Kougyou!
Kurihara with another single just like Ono! Ono breaks for 3rd and the throw is cut off! Is the warning from the umpire affecting Hotta? Or is Harukou seeing the ball?
Umemura takes a big swing on a 111 curve to open. Then gets a 134 fastball right down the pipe for strike 2. And he watches a 135 fastball catch the bottom of the zone. Can't let that go on 2 strikes...
Nakajima grounds to 2nd to end the inning, and perhaps Tokoha Kikugawa is fortunate to have given up just one run.
Top 2nd
Kikugawa's batters are making good contact, but not solid contact. Oonishi flies out to deep right as Kotobuki runs it down near the line. Nakata does the same as this time Kotobuki backs up.
Kuwahara takes a big swing, but is way ahead of a Tsubota curve. And even with the big swing he looked like he was trying to take it the other way. But he's fooled again and this time grounds to 1st. Kinoshita beats him to the bag and it's a 6 pitch inning for Tsubota!
Bottom 2nd
Hamde gets around on a fastball and fists it over the infield into left for a leadoff hit. Tsubota lays down a bunt on the next pitch leaving it to last batter Kotobuki to try and get another run in.
Kotobuki tries a safety bunt! But he fouls it off.
He does it again! Hotta goes to 1st, but throws it high! Hamada scores from 2nd and Kotobuki replaces him there! It's 2-0 Harukou! Either Kotobuki really can't hit or they saw something in Kikugawa's fielding. Either way, it pays off!
Back to the top of the order and Nishi, but he flies out to left-center.
Hit-and-run!!
Kotobuki takes off for 3rd as Kinoshita hits a grounder to short! Endou has to backhand it, double clutches and that allows Kinoshita to dive in safely! (Stop diving!) Kawamura-kantoku is really putting the pressure on the Kikugawa defense!
That brings up Ono, who got a base hit in his 1st AB. This time Hotta wins, getting Ono to wave at a fastball at the bottom of the zone for the 3rd out. But Harue Kougyou tacks on yet another run!
Top 3rd
Hotta is a bit more patient to start the inning, probably because he can't hit well. But I think he's suffering from the same problem as the other batters. He can't pick up the ball and as a result chases a slider out of the zone for the first out.
Oddly, agains last batter Imasaka, Tsubota stars off with two slow curves before going to the fastball for a strike. Another cuve misses and it's a hitters count.
But still the batters struggle. Imasaka hits a chopper to Nakajima for the 2nd out.
And while Toji winds up to try and wait for the ball, he hits a grounder right to Kinoshita for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
Hotta doesn't particularly throw hard though his fastball is in the 130s. He still has a slider in the high 120s and a curve in the 100-110s.
Speaking of which, Hotta pulls the string on a curve to strike out Kurihawa to star the inning. Umemura immediately follows that up with an easy fly to center.
And Hotta finally gets a 1-2-3 inning as Nakajima lines to center to end the inning. Now can the bats figure out Tsubota?
Top 4th
Looks like Tsubota has the slider too that sits in the upper 110s. But he falls behind Maekawa 3-1 before filling the count at 3-2. Maekawa wins the battle hitting one back up the middle for a leadoff hit.
Endou swings away on the opening curve, but he pops it up. Kotobuki slips a bit, but Nishi is there for the catch. Quickly 1 down for Tokoha.
Matsuki with a drive to right! That's down the right field line and Maekawa easily scores from 1st on Matsuki's RBI triple! 2-1! Tsubota left that curveball up in the zone and Matsuki properly punished it!
Oonishi with an inside-out swing and lines that to right! Matsuki scores and just like that we're tied at 2-2!
And Morishita-kantoku sends Oonishi to 2nd on the 2-2 pitch! The throw from Kurihara, and safe?!? The umpire called him safe? I don't know about that... The replay sure looks like he was out.
Tanaka though can't get the timely hit and whiffs on a slow curve.
Now Kurihara is hit! Wait, is Kurihara arguing he didn't get hit? I think he is! I think he's arguing because he knows Hotta is up next!
And wouldn't you know it, Hotta swings away on the first pitch and fouls out to Kurihara to end the inning. But the offense for Tokoha Kikugawa shows up here in the 4th and levels the score!
Bottom 4th
Now it looks like it's Harukou's batters who are getting fooled and Tokoha's batters who are seeing the ball.
Hamade grounds out to 1st, Tsubota weakly grounds to Kuwahara at 1st. And Kotobuki makes to effort to run to first after waving on a curve that Matsuki can't field.
Top 5th
Imasaka with a towering fly to left center.. Ono is there, but has to make a last minute adjustment to catch the ball.
You know, I wonder if Tsubota is hiding the ball as effectively as he did to start the game. It looks like it peeks out behind him during his delivery.
Nonetheless he seems to be less effective. After the flyout, he walks Toji. And with Tsubota's slow pitches, Toji takes off and successfully steals 2nd!
Maekawa stands in and he gets his 3rd hit, Tokoha will probably have the lead. Tsubota gets ahead of him 2-0, but Maekawa stubbornly fouls off several pitches. And he shows a forkball that the announcers didn't know he had.
Meanwhile, Maekawa continues to foul pitches off while working the count to 1-2, then 2-2. Tsubota finally wins the battle, getting Maekawa to hit another towering popup, this time to Nakajima for the 2nd out.
That leaves it up to Endou, who finally takes a pitch. And another! At 2-1, Endou chases a curve in the left-handed batters box for strike 2.
But they go to the well one too many times! Tsubota tries to put a curve down and away, and instead Endou reaches down and pokes it to center! Endou gives Tokoha Kikugawa the lead here in the 5th at 3-2!!
Matsuki fouls out to Kinoshita, but the damage is done! Tokoha Kikugawa takes the lead!
Bottom 5th
Back to the top of the order and Nishi for Harukou, who now find themselves behind.
Nishi tries to play the waiting game at the plate, but has to swing away at 2-2 and flies out to left.
Kinoshita looks like he puts a charge in the ball, but Maekawa has time to go back and camp under it for the 2nd out.
And it's a 9 pitch inning as Ono swings on the first pitch and pops out to Endou.
So after a strong start by the Hokushinetsu champs Harue Kougyou, Tokoha Kikugawa strikes before the break and takes the lead. Will Harukou have a response or will the offensive output of Tokoha Kikugawa steamroll on?
Top 6th
Oonishi sizes up a Tsubota fastball and drills it to left. It one bounds to the wall for a leadoff double. It may be after all that Harue Kougyou is in trouble. I wonder if the hitch Tsubota his affecting his delivery.
Tsubot though isn't giving up just yet. He gets Tanaka to climb the ladder for the first out.
Kuwahara gets a hold of a ball! Nishi chases it back in center... Hits the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have our first HR of this Koushien as Kurihara hits a hanging slider to dead center! It's 5-2 Tokoha Kikugawa and the flood gates might be opening up on the Hokushinetsu champs.
Hotta even gets in on the act, hitting a blooper to shallow left center! Imasaka hits a solid single through the right side and it's gut check time for Tsubota. Kurihara goes out to try and settle him down.
Seems to work as Toji grounds into the inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
But Tokoha Kikugawa extends the lead and could be leaving Harue Kougyou behind.
Bottom 6th
Kurihara can't get the offense started as he nubs one up the 3rd base line. Oonishi charges in, makes a leaping throw to get Kurihara.
Umemura hits a ball back up the middle, that's deftly fielded by Endou who spins and makes the throw to 1st for the 2nd out.
Nakajima prevents the 1-2-3 inning by blooping a ball to center.
Wait! Hamade slices one past a diving Kuwahara into right! Nakata has to chase it down at the wall and Nakajima scores from 1st on the triple! It's 5-3!
Tsubota tries to bloop in another one, but leaves it up too long and Ono runs it down to retire the side. But timely hitting from Hamade allows Harukou to cut into the deficit!
Top 7th
Tsubota finally has a clean inning after giving up crooked numbers the last couple of innings. It's back to a 7 pitch inning to retire the side. But is it too late?
Bottom 7th
Kotobuki shows bunt again to lead off the 7th, but it looks to be just for show. Instead, he insides out a fastball and singles to left. Kawamura-kantoku has no hesitation in having Nishi bunt the runner along for Kinoshita nad Ono.
And what's this? Hotta can't find the strike zone and fall behind Kinoshita 3-0 before rifling in a fastball and a curve at the bottom of the zone for strike 2. Kinoshita strikes out, but the ball gets away from Matsuki! Kotobuki goes to 3rd, but Kinoshita fails to run to 1st! He's thrown out and there's 2 outs now!
That's the second time now that a runner has failed to take off for first immediately after a dropped strike 3.
No matter!
Ono insides out a ball and that bloops in down the left field line! Kotobuki scores as Ono takes 2nd, and now the deficit is at 1! It's 5-4!!
Kurihara though can't do the same and flies out to left. Still Harukou chips away another run off Tokoha's lead.
Top 8th
Can Tsubota continue to shut down the offense? The lights are on and we have umpires down the lines.
Oonishi leading off the 8th, and while Tsubota is keeping it down now, Oonishi isn't chasing.
However, the count runs full and Oonishi hits a hard grounder to 3rd. Umemura blocks it and makes the throw to 1st.
Morishita-kantoku brings out the big guns with #16 Kikuchi, and he does take a full swing, but hits a high fly to left for Kotobuki.
That brings up Kuwahara. Not a HR this time, but he scorches one to the right side. Hamade blocks it and keeps it in front of him, but that's all he can do.
With Hotta up, Tsubota's pitches start finishing high again. This could be trouble...
AHHH!!!
A pitch gets away from Tsubot and hits Hotta in the head! It's a glancing blow, but he is taken out for an injury runner so he can be looked at. Kikuchi comes in to run for him in the meantime.
That brings up Imasaka. Can Tsubota get out of this mess?
It's not looking good as he falls behind 3-1.
And Imasaka hits a hanging fastball the other way! Ono and Nishi run back to the ball, but can't catch up to it! Both Kuwahara and Kikuchi score bringing the lead back up to 3! It's 7-4!
Things get worse as a passed ball by Kurihara sends Imasaka to 3rd.
Tsuboto gets Toji to ground to 1st to end the inning, but the gains made by Harue Kougyou have been wiped out!
Bottom 8th
It doesn't look like Hotta is returning and #11 Hodzumi Taiga does replace him on the hill. Also #17 Kaneko comes in for PH Kikuchi and takes over in RF.
Umemura tries to restart the rally with a liner down the right field line for a leadoff double. Nakajima can't get a productive AB though as he hits one back to Hodzumi.
Neither can Hamade who hits a grounder to short that Endou field for the 2nd out.
Hodzumi isn't a hard thrower himself, reaching just the low 120s. But he gets the job done as Tsubota bends away from a slider that goes right down the middle to end the inning.
Top 9th
Maekawa records his 3rd hit, but this time on a nubber up the 1st base line that he beats Tsubota to the bag with!
Tsubota is probably fighting fatigue and form issues.
And as I say that, Endou takes a rising fastball and drives it to left! Ono runs to the wall, but knows it's no good!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a liner of a HR as Endo leaves no doubt with a 2-run HR to make it 9-4!
That'll be it for Tsubota. Nakajima takes over on the hill, Hamade slides to SS, and #12 Shimode replaces Tsubota in the lineup and takes over at 2B.
Wouldn't you know it, Matsuki hits a grounder to new 2B Shimode who promptly boots it. E4.
No harm done though as Matsuki tries to steal 2nd and Kurihara guns him down with time to spare. New P Nakajima has a fastball in the 130s with a curve in the 110s that I've noticed.
And while he gives up a single to Kaneko, he's thrown out trying to steal 2nd.
Bottom 9th
Last ups for Harue Kougyou as #11 Seki comes in to hit for Kotobuki.
Seki though fights off several pitches before taking one th other way for a base hit! That cycles the lineup back to the top and Nishi.
But Nishi's troubles at the plate continue as he flies out to center and is 0-4 on the night.
Kinoshita on the other hand finally gets his 3rd hit, a grounder past a diving Endou into left. That brings up Ono, but he won't be able to make up the deficit by himself.
Now a passed ball by Matsuki again lets the runners advance. Still not alarming yet for Tokoha. Count runs full as Ono fights off a pitch.
But Hodzumi will gladly trade a run in for an out as Ono grounds to 2nd. Just one more to go as Umemura steps in.
He makes a free swing at it, and it's an easy fly for Toji who runs it down for the final out.
Harue Kougyou just couldn't hold off the potent Tokoha Kikugawa offense and as a result bow out in the first round by the score of 9-5.
Give Harue Kougyou credit though, they did fight back after being countered by Tokoha in the middle innings. But Tsubota's inconsistencies cropped up again and cost them a chance for a gyakuten win. It was a good showing, but sadly not enough. It'll be hard to repeat the feat in the summer with many other competitive teams in the prefecture, but they might have a chance still.
Tokoha Kikugawa advances to face Houtoku Gakuen, but need to shore up some things before then. First of all, Hotta was not sharp to start the game, nor was the offense able to pick up on Tsubota's delivery until the middle innings. They may not have the same luxury against the hometown team. But they have 5 days to work on it.
Notable Players
Kuwahara Tatsuki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Endou Kouhei (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBI
Maekawa Naoya (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 3-5, 2 R, SB
Imasaka Ryousuke (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Kinoshita Keigo (Harue Kougyou) - 3-5, 2B, R, K
Ono Shouta (Harue Kougyou) - 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Hamade Shouta (Harue Kougyou) - 2-4, 3B, R, RBI
Day 1, Game 2 - Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi) vs. Riseisha (Osaka)
Next up on the docket is a first timer facing a recent regular.
For Riseisha, they were off to a roaring start in the prefecturals, but as they progressed higher up their offense continued to get baserunners - but couldn't seem to bring them home. Not surprisingly, their opponents were Osaka Touin, Kansei Gakuin and Kyoto Shouei.
The pitching though help up fairly well. But despite Sakamoto Daiki holding the ace number, it's southpaw #10 Higashino Ryuuji who actually took most of the innings during the fall. Both actually though average just about a K/IP, and rarely walk a batter. But in terms of runs given up, Higashino does a better job at preventing runs than Sakamoto.
Like most teams, the offense for Riseisha lies at the top of the order with 3 and 4 batters Miyazaki Shin and Okita Katsutoshi driving them in.
Their oen-dan today has a yellow R in a purple background.
Iwakuni Shougyou got their first bid by reaching the semifinals of the Chuugoku super-regional. It probably held some home-field advantage as the super-regional was held in their prefecture this year. In addition, they were not really tested until that semifinal game against Kouryou - where they saw their offense just generate 7 hits and struck out 13 times in a 2-0 loss.
The offense is pretty bad as they carried a batting average of just 0.249. What saves them is their ability to take walks. In fact, their OBP is over a full 110 points higher. Only ace Takahashi Yuuya and #5 batter Yokota Hiroki carry an average over 0.300. But as long as their opposing pitcher is able to throw strikes, the offense is in trouble.
This puts a lot of pressure on aforementioned ace Takahashi as is the only pitcher of record in the fall. He too is not an overpowering pitcher, instead using contact to allow less than a baserunner per inning. Only info I have is that he throws in the upper 130s.
Iwakuni Shougyou will be quickly behind the 8-ball as the offense will have to swing away.
Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi) - Chuugoku 3 seed
CF Nakamura Souichirou
2B Nakagawa Yuuki
P Takahashi Yuuya
1B Shigeoka Fumiya
RF Yokota Hiroki
C Kurisu Tooru
LF Shimizu Kouhei
SS Shigeishi Yuuji
3B Kamidera Yuu
Riseisha (Osaka) - Kinki 3/4 seed
CF Hasegawa Seiya
SS Yoshida Yuuki
2B Miyazaki Shin
LF Okita Katsutoshi
3B Miyamoto Takeshi
1B Higashi Noriyuki (#17)
RF Inoue Kazuya
P Higashino Ryuuji (#10)
C Yoshidzuka Kouhei
____________________________________________________________
13:35 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Nakamura swings at a first pitch slider and lines out right to Hasegawa.
As expected, Higashino is throwing strikes and Gansho is swinging away. Nakagawa grounds out to 2nd.
Looks like Higashino throws in the low-mid 130s as Takahashi grounds to short to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Takahashi is a quick worker on the mound as after a quick flyout to right by Hasegawa, Yoshida sees three quick pitches, watching a slider hit the outside corner for strike 3.
Looks like he hits the high 120s, with a slider in the low-mid 110s and a slow curve in the 90-100s. I say that then he hits 135.
But it's a quick inning for the Yamaguchi ace as Miyazaki hits an easy comebacker to Takahashi to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Shigeoka gets the first base hit, a grounder the other way into right. Higashino looks to have a slider in the low-mid 120s.
Interestingly Chunnai-kantoku is not having Yokota bunt despite the bad offense. It comes back to bite them as Yokota hits a ball right to Miyamoto who starts the 5-4-3 double play.
It's a shame as Kurisu fists one right on the left field line for a single.
Shimizu weakly grounds to 2nd and the inning is over.
Bottom 2nd
After a deep fly from Okita, Miyamoto gets Riseisha's first hit with a grounder sneaking under Nakagawa into right.
Takahashi's quick pitching gets him into a bit of a pinch as he falls behind Higashi 3-0. Het gest him to ground out to 2nd, but it was on a hit and run, so all Ganshou got was a 6-4-3 out at 1st.
That leaves it to Inoue to try and break the scoring.
Inoue takes an outside pitch the other way, but it's to shallow left and Miyamoto has to hold at 3rd.
But Takahashi gets out of the jam! Higashino waves on a 129 pitch inside and we remain scoreless!
Top 3rd
Shigeishi is getting a good look at Higashino to start the 3rd as he fouls off several pitches, even a fastball down and outside that he reaches out for, eventually working the count full. And on the 10th pitch he's paid off as he shoots one past a diving Miyamoto into left.
That leaves it to Kamidera who immediately shows bunt. However, he can't lay it down and falls behind 0-2. Will Chuunai-kantoku call for the three-bunt? Sure looks like it.
He pops it out foul and is retired for the first out. Not good execution there for Ganshou.
That cycles the order back to the top and Nakamura.
Chuunai-kantoku tries to send Shigeyama on a hit-and-run, but Nakamura misses and Shigeyama is thrown out by a mile at 2nd.
Nakamura goes down swinging and another leadoff runner is wasted.
Bottom 3rd
Takahashi does appear have good control as Kurisu isn't moving his glove a whole lot. As a result, he gest two straight groundouts from Yoshidzuka and Hasegawa before Yoshida pops out to Kamidera (who records all 3 putouts) to reture the side.
Top 4th
The game is moving at a brisk pace. Takahashi is hitting his spots, and Higashino is throwing strikes. So Gansho has to swing away. Nakagawa strikes out, Takahashi flies out to center, and Shigeoka goes down swinging.
Bottom 4th
The game is going faster than I can type. Miyazaki grounds out to 1st, Okita hits a liner to 1st that Shigeoka picks off the ground, and Miyamoto flies to left. 6 pitches and the sides change.
Top 5th
Yokota can finally wait for a couple of pitches and is ahead 3-0 before an inside fastball is called for a strike.
And instead of waiting on the 3-1, he swings away fouling the pitch off and filling the count.
But he gets a pitch up in the zone and he slices it to left! Okita runs over to the left field line, dives, but misses it as it runs to the wall! Yokota hesitates a bit at 2nd, but turns on the after burners and reaches 3rd safely!
Kurisu at bat now, and I think Riseisha is expecting a squeeze bunt. Higashino's pitches are all low but he's not offering - thus he gets ahead 3-0 before a "trick" fastball over the plate (Yoshidzuka was framed outside) makes it 3-1. Kurisu swings away, but flies to shallow left and Yokota has to hold.
Shimizu up and the Riseisha battery is still thinking squeeze as the first pitch is way outside. But while perhaps they realize there's no bunt, the pitches are still down in the zone just in case. Ahead 2-1, Shimizu swings away, but fouls it off.
There is no squeeze still as Shimizu holds up to fill the count.
And an inside fastball from Higashino is called a ball by home plate umpire Tachibana and runners are at the corners for Shigeishi.
1-0 to Shigeishi and he shows bunt, but takes it back and the runners go back to their bases.
Shigeishi sows bunt again, but this time it's a feint home allowing Shimizu to take 2nd!
And with the Riseisha battery thinking squeeze, Shigeishi gets ahead 3-0 and earns a walk! It's manru for Ganshou as Okada-kantoku calls for time.
What will Ganshou do now? They can't feint a squeeze and the bases are full. Oddly enough, I think it's Ganshou who is in a corner, not Riseisha.
I guess not! Higashino buries a ball in the dirt and it bounced away from Yoshidzuka! He can't find it and everyone advances on the wild pitch! Yokota scores to break the scoreless tie at 1-0!
#11 Sakai is heading to the bullpen to warm up...
Now can Kamidera get a base hit?
Sadly no. He hits a comebacker to Higashino who runs down Shimizu for the 2nd out. Kamidera advances to 2nd on the rundown.
That leaves it to Nakamura to try and capitlaize on the opportunity.
Higashino continues to pitch down in the zone, and Ganshou's batters are not biting. Nakamura gets ahead 3-1 before a fastball inside fills up the count.
Meanwhile, ace Sakamoto joins Sakai in the bullpen.
No need though right now as Nakamura is twisted around on another inside fastball to retire the side. But an unforced error by the battery gives underdog Gansho the lead.
Bottom 5th
Higashi looks to get the run back quickly as he singles behind Takahashi and a diving Nakagawa into center. Inoue lays down a great bunt to move the runner along for Higashino.
The Ganshou battery is being a bit careful with Higashino, with all pitches away. Higashino catches on this and swings away hoping for an opposite field base hit, but instead it's a flyout to right.
Yoshidzuka swings away on the first pitch and pops it up! Shigeishi camps under the ball near 2nd and secures it for the 3rd out! So as we head to the break, it's Iwakuni Shougyou who acatually hold the narrow 1-run lead!
Top 6th
Higashino post-break appears to have a 1-2-3 inning after making quick work of Nakagawa and Takahashi, but Shigeoka bloops one to shallow left-center.
The inning still ends quickly as Yokota hits a grounder right to Higashi who takes a step to 1st to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
Meanwhile Takahashi is chugging along. Back to the top of the order and Hasegawa, he first pitch grounds out to 1st.
But against Yoshida he throws 3 fastballs high before throwing a strike. The next ball grazes Yoshida though it's a free base all the same.
Versus Miyazaki, Takahashi continues to leave balls a bit up as Miyazaki just hits one into the oen-dan section foul.
Okada-kantoku gets the game in motion by sending Yoshida. The pitch is high and Kurisu's throw doesn't make it in time.
At 3-1, the Gansho battery goes for the double play by walking Miyazaki. Chuunai-kantoku calls time briefly to setup the double play.
Okita obliges! He swing on the first pitch fastball and hits a comebacker to Takahashi! He goes to 2nd for one, Shigeishi double clutches, but has plenty of time to throw out Okita to end the inning!!
Top 7th
Higashino is doing his best to try and keep the deficit at 1. Kurisu goes down looking, Shimizu hits a slow roller that gets past Higashino, but Yoshida backs up.
However, once again Shigeishi throws a wrench in things. He once again fouls off several pitches getting into a double-digit pitch AB. And once again Shigeishi wins the battle! He earns a 12 pitch walk! (Why isn't he higher up in the lineup?)
Kamidera looks to not waste Shigeishi's efforts this time around, but instead he hits a comebacker to Higashino to retire the side.
Bottom 7th
Time is running alarmingly short for Riseisha with just 9 outs to go. I bet they weren't expecting to be in this position.
(Why is Riseisha playing graduation music??!)
Once again, Miyamoto hits a ball back up the middle, this time on the front side of Takahashi and past a diving Shigeishi into center. Higashi tries a hard bunt, but Shigeoka beats him to the bag for the out. Does the job though. Now it's up to the bottom of the lineup to deliver.
But Takahashi's pitches are all high again. The 4th pitch is inside and it's a 4-pitch walk. Chuunai-kantoku calls for a longer conference this time. Still another double play can get Takahashi out of the inning.
Takahashican't seem to get the ball down. But after a ball, Okada-kantoku pulls Higashino back and sends in #16 Tateishi to hit?
Now we know why! Tateishi lays down the safety and dives into 1st safely! Manrui for Riseisha as Okada-kantoku plays all in! Now #12 Hatta comes in to hit for Yoshidzuka. Takahashi still has some issues with control but gets ahead 1-2.
Hatta pokes one, but it goes foul. Fastball up, and Hatta fouls that one off. Takahashi tries to bury one, but it's outside and not close.
Fastball inside isn't inside enough and Hatta fouls that off.
Another one inside and Hatta nubs it towards the mound! Takahashi charges in, almost looks like a glove toss, but gets Miyamoto at home! 2 outs!
Still not out of the jam, Hasegawa steps in. But he chases a ball low and pops it up! Nakamura is under it and makes the catch! Takahashi gets out of another jam!
Top 8th
As expected #1 Sakamoto comes in for Tateishi and takes the hill. Hatta stays in at C.
Nakamura hits a slow roller to 1st, and Higashi loses it on the transfer! Nakamura reaches on the error! Chuunai-kantoku will play for the run as Nakagawa bunts him along.
Takahashi quickly grounds out to 2nd, but advances Nakamura to 3rd. It's up to Shigeoka to get the timely hit for the insurance run.
But he can't get it! He chops one right to Miyamoto who makes the putout at 1st. Takahashi will have to nurse the one-run lead once again.
Bottom 8th
Oh, but Takahashi makes it difficult for himself again. He hits Yoshida a second time (this time really plunked him) to give Riseisha a leadoff batter. And he's still missing high. Even the next pitch with was a strike Kurisu framed the glove outside.
But again, Riseisha give him an assist. Miyazaki hits a grounder back to Takahashi. He stops it this time, and gets the lead runner.
Okita has "Go, Go, Summer" as his song?
Okita can't do any better! He grounds to Kamidera who also gets the lead runner.
Miyamoto looks to keep the inning going by any means. But instead he grounds to 2nd! Nakagawa goes the short way and despite a leadoff runner, Riseisha can't advance him past 1st!
Top 9th
Sakamoto has a fastball in the high 130s with a curve, slider and changeup. And he's doing his darnest to give his team a chance in the bottom of the 9th.
Yokota though is trying to get a leadoff runner, he fouls off a couple of pitches before hitting one past Higashi and Miyazaki into right!
Chuunia-kantoku puts on the bunt-and-run, and Kurisu lays a nice one down to advance the runner.
Shigeishi though is 3 batters away so someone has to get on base to get him up this inning.
Meanwhile Sakamoto is trying to blow away the batters, hitting 140 on the gun. It's not fast, but it's fast enough, and that's what matters. Shigeishi will get an AB, and after Shimizu strikes out swinging, perhaps the best batter Ganshou could have up is up.
Once again, Shigeishi falls behind 1-2, but this time the ace wins. Sakamoto gets a high fastball by him to retire the side.
Bottom 9th
So it's hold on time for Iwakuni Shougyou, while Riseisha finds themselves 3 outs away from going home.
And it's the 6-7-8 batters up for Riseisha, starting with Higashi. He hits a grounder to 2nd, and Nakagawa almost throws it wide but makes the out.
Inoue hits a bounding ball to the right side, Nakagawa is there again and makes a better throw for the 2nd out!
It's up to #15 Shibata now! And he hits a fly ball to center! Nakamura is under it, makes the catch, and he jumps up in the air! Iwakuni Shougyou pulls off the upset of Riseisha with a 1-0 masterpiece!
I did not see that one coming at all!
Takahashi and his defense held onto that 1-run lead by the skin of their teeth as Riseisha had several opportunities in the late innings, but just couldn't convert. And who would have figured that a wild pitch would have decided the game?! And you can't even fault Riseisha, it was probably the plan to keep the ball down, it was just in that one pitch that ultimately decided the game.
And so Iwakuni Shougyou has a chance to win a second game as they move on to face Yamagata Chuo. Meanwhile for Riseisha it has to be a disappointing loss. Probably pegged as the favorites in this matchup, the offense was nowhere to be seen in the early innings, and when they finally got baserunners, they couldn't drive them in. Takahashi in fact faced just 8 more than the minimum in his victory!
Notable Players
Takahashi Yuuya (Iwakuni Shougyou) - CG, W, 0 ER, 5 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 2 HBP
Yokota Hiroki (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 2-4, 3B, R
Shigeishi Yuuji (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 1-2, 2 BB, K
Higashino Ryuuji (Riseisha) - L, 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 7 K, 3 BB
Miyamoto Takeshi (Riseisha) - 2-4
For Riseisha, they were off to a roaring start in the prefecturals, but as they progressed higher up their offense continued to get baserunners - but couldn't seem to bring them home. Not surprisingly, their opponents were Osaka Touin, Kansei Gakuin and Kyoto Shouei.
The pitching though help up fairly well. But despite Sakamoto Daiki holding the ace number, it's southpaw #10 Higashino Ryuuji who actually took most of the innings during the fall. Both actually though average just about a K/IP, and rarely walk a batter. But in terms of runs given up, Higashino does a better job at preventing runs than Sakamoto.
Like most teams, the offense for Riseisha lies at the top of the order with 3 and 4 batters Miyazaki Shin and Okita Katsutoshi driving them in.
Their oen-dan today has a yellow R in a purple background.
Iwakuni Shougyou got their first bid by reaching the semifinals of the Chuugoku super-regional. It probably held some home-field advantage as the super-regional was held in their prefecture this year. In addition, they were not really tested until that semifinal game against Kouryou - where they saw their offense just generate 7 hits and struck out 13 times in a 2-0 loss.
The offense is pretty bad as they carried a batting average of just 0.249. What saves them is their ability to take walks. In fact, their OBP is over a full 110 points higher. Only ace Takahashi Yuuya and #5 batter Yokota Hiroki carry an average over 0.300. But as long as their opposing pitcher is able to throw strikes, the offense is in trouble.
This puts a lot of pressure on aforementioned ace Takahashi as is the only pitcher of record in the fall. He too is not an overpowering pitcher, instead using contact to allow less than a baserunner per inning. Only info I have is that he throws in the upper 130s.
Iwakuni Shougyou will be quickly behind the 8-ball as the offense will have to swing away.
Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi) - Chuugoku 3 seed
CF Nakamura Souichirou
2B Nakagawa Yuuki
P Takahashi Yuuya
1B Shigeoka Fumiya
RF Yokota Hiroki
C Kurisu Tooru
LF Shimizu Kouhei
SS Shigeishi Yuuji
3B Kamidera Yuu
Riseisha (Osaka) - Kinki 3/4 seed
CF Hasegawa Seiya
SS Yoshida Yuuki
2B Miyazaki Shin
LF Okita Katsutoshi
3B Miyamoto Takeshi
1B Higashi Noriyuki (#17)
RF Inoue Kazuya
P Higashino Ryuuji (#10)
C Yoshidzuka Kouhei
____________________________________________________________
13:35 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Nakamura swings at a first pitch slider and lines out right to Hasegawa.
As expected, Higashino is throwing strikes and Gansho is swinging away. Nakagawa grounds out to 2nd.
Looks like Higashino throws in the low-mid 130s as Takahashi grounds to short to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Takahashi is a quick worker on the mound as after a quick flyout to right by Hasegawa, Yoshida sees three quick pitches, watching a slider hit the outside corner for strike 3.
Looks like he hits the high 120s, with a slider in the low-mid 110s and a slow curve in the 90-100s. I say that then he hits 135.
But it's a quick inning for the Yamaguchi ace as Miyazaki hits an easy comebacker to Takahashi to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Shigeoka gets the first base hit, a grounder the other way into right. Higashino looks to have a slider in the low-mid 120s.
Interestingly Chunnai-kantoku is not having Yokota bunt despite the bad offense. It comes back to bite them as Yokota hits a ball right to Miyamoto who starts the 5-4-3 double play.
It's a shame as Kurisu fists one right on the left field line for a single.
Shimizu weakly grounds to 2nd and the inning is over.
Bottom 2nd
After a deep fly from Okita, Miyamoto gets Riseisha's first hit with a grounder sneaking under Nakagawa into right.
Takahashi's quick pitching gets him into a bit of a pinch as he falls behind Higashi 3-0. Het gest him to ground out to 2nd, but it was on a hit and run, so all Ganshou got was a 6-4-3 out at 1st.
That leaves it to Inoue to try and break the scoring.
Inoue takes an outside pitch the other way, but it's to shallow left and Miyamoto has to hold at 3rd.
But Takahashi gets out of the jam! Higashino waves on a 129 pitch inside and we remain scoreless!
Top 3rd
Shigeishi is getting a good look at Higashino to start the 3rd as he fouls off several pitches, even a fastball down and outside that he reaches out for, eventually working the count full. And on the 10th pitch he's paid off as he shoots one past a diving Miyamoto into left.
That leaves it to Kamidera who immediately shows bunt. However, he can't lay it down and falls behind 0-2. Will Chuunai-kantoku call for the three-bunt? Sure looks like it.
He pops it out foul and is retired for the first out. Not good execution there for Ganshou.
That cycles the order back to the top and Nakamura.
Chuunai-kantoku tries to send Shigeyama on a hit-and-run, but Nakamura misses and Shigeyama is thrown out by a mile at 2nd.
Nakamura goes down swinging and another leadoff runner is wasted.
Bottom 3rd
Takahashi does appear have good control as Kurisu isn't moving his glove a whole lot. As a result, he gest two straight groundouts from Yoshidzuka and Hasegawa before Yoshida pops out to Kamidera (who records all 3 putouts) to reture the side.
Top 4th
The game is moving at a brisk pace. Takahashi is hitting his spots, and Higashino is throwing strikes. So Gansho has to swing away. Nakagawa strikes out, Takahashi flies out to center, and Shigeoka goes down swinging.
Bottom 4th
The game is going faster than I can type. Miyazaki grounds out to 1st, Okita hits a liner to 1st that Shigeoka picks off the ground, and Miyamoto flies to left. 6 pitches and the sides change.
Top 5th
Yokota can finally wait for a couple of pitches and is ahead 3-0 before an inside fastball is called for a strike.
And instead of waiting on the 3-1, he swings away fouling the pitch off and filling the count.
But he gets a pitch up in the zone and he slices it to left! Okita runs over to the left field line, dives, but misses it as it runs to the wall! Yokota hesitates a bit at 2nd, but turns on the after burners and reaches 3rd safely!
Kurisu at bat now, and I think Riseisha is expecting a squeeze bunt. Higashino's pitches are all low but he's not offering - thus he gets ahead 3-0 before a "trick" fastball over the plate (Yoshidzuka was framed outside) makes it 3-1. Kurisu swings away, but flies to shallow left and Yokota has to hold.
Shimizu up and the Riseisha battery is still thinking squeeze as the first pitch is way outside. But while perhaps they realize there's no bunt, the pitches are still down in the zone just in case. Ahead 2-1, Shimizu swings away, but fouls it off.
There is no squeeze still as Shimizu holds up to fill the count.
And an inside fastball from Higashino is called a ball by home plate umpire Tachibana and runners are at the corners for Shigeishi.
1-0 to Shigeishi and he shows bunt, but takes it back and the runners go back to their bases.
Shigeishi sows bunt again, but this time it's a feint home allowing Shimizu to take 2nd!
And with the Riseisha battery thinking squeeze, Shigeishi gets ahead 3-0 and earns a walk! It's manru for Ganshou as Okada-kantoku calls for time.
What will Ganshou do now? They can't feint a squeeze and the bases are full. Oddly enough, I think it's Ganshou who is in a corner, not Riseisha.
I guess not! Higashino buries a ball in the dirt and it bounced away from Yoshidzuka! He can't find it and everyone advances on the wild pitch! Yokota scores to break the scoreless tie at 1-0!
#11 Sakai is heading to the bullpen to warm up...
Now can Kamidera get a base hit?
Sadly no. He hits a comebacker to Higashino who runs down Shimizu for the 2nd out. Kamidera advances to 2nd on the rundown.
That leaves it to Nakamura to try and capitlaize on the opportunity.
Higashino continues to pitch down in the zone, and Ganshou's batters are not biting. Nakamura gets ahead 3-1 before a fastball inside fills up the count.
Meanwhile, ace Sakamoto joins Sakai in the bullpen.
No need though right now as Nakamura is twisted around on another inside fastball to retire the side. But an unforced error by the battery gives underdog Gansho the lead.
Bottom 5th
Higashi looks to get the run back quickly as he singles behind Takahashi and a diving Nakagawa into center. Inoue lays down a great bunt to move the runner along for Higashino.
The Ganshou battery is being a bit careful with Higashino, with all pitches away. Higashino catches on this and swings away hoping for an opposite field base hit, but instead it's a flyout to right.
Yoshidzuka swings away on the first pitch and pops it up! Shigeishi camps under the ball near 2nd and secures it for the 3rd out! So as we head to the break, it's Iwakuni Shougyou who acatually hold the narrow 1-run lead!
Top 6th
Higashino post-break appears to have a 1-2-3 inning after making quick work of Nakagawa and Takahashi, but Shigeoka bloops one to shallow left-center.
The inning still ends quickly as Yokota hits a grounder right to Higashi who takes a step to 1st to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
Meanwhile Takahashi is chugging along. Back to the top of the order and Hasegawa, he first pitch grounds out to 1st.
But against Yoshida he throws 3 fastballs high before throwing a strike. The next ball grazes Yoshida though it's a free base all the same.
Versus Miyazaki, Takahashi continues to leave balls a bit up as Miyazaki just hits one into the oen-dan section foul.
Okada-kantoku gets the game in motion by sending Yoshida. The pitch is high and Kurisu's throw doesn't make it in time.
At 3-1, the Gansho battery goes for the double play by walking Miyazaki. Chuunai-kantoku calls time briefly to setup the double play.
Okita obliges! He swing on the first pitch fastball and hits a comebacker to Takahashi! He goes to 2nd for one, Shigeishi double clutches, but has plenty of time to throw out Okita to end the inning!!
Top 7th
Higashino is doing his best to try and keep the deficit at 1. Kurisu goes down looking, Shimizu hits a slow roller that gets past Higashino, but Yoshida backs up.
However, once again Shigeishi throws a wrench in things. He once again fouls off several pitches getting into a double-digit pitch AB. And once again Shigeishi wins the battle! He earns a 12 pitch walk! (Why isn't he higher up in the lineup?)
Kamidera looks to not waste Shigeishi's efforts this time around, but instead he hits a comebacker to Higashino to retire the side.
Bottom 7th
Time is running alarmingly short for Riseisha with just 9 outs to go. I bet they weren't expecting to be in this position.
(Why is Riseisha playing graduation music??!)
Once again, Miyamoto hits a ball back up the middle, this time on the front side of Takahashi and past a diving Shigeishi into center. Higashi tries a hard bunt, but Shigeoka beats him to the bag for the out. Does the job though. Now it's up to the bottom of the lineup to deliver.
But Takahashi's pitches are all high again. The 4th pitch is inside and it's a 4-pitch walk. Chuunai-kantoku calls for a longer conference this time. Still another double play can get Takahashi out of the inning.
Takahashican't seem to get the ball down. But after a ball, Okada-kantoku pulls Higashino back and sends in #16 Tateishi to hit?
Now we know why! Tateishi lays down the safety and dives into 1st safely! Manrui for Riseisha as Okada-kantoku plays all in! Now #12 Hatta comes in to hit for Yoshidzuka. Takahashi still has some issues with control but gets ahead 1-2.
Hatta pokes one, but it goes foul. Fastball up, and Hatta fouls that one off. Takahashi tries to bury one, but it's outside and not close.
Fastball inside isn't inside enough and Hatta fouls that off.
Another one inside and Hatta nubs it towards the mound! Takahashi charges in, almost looks like a glove toss, but gets Miyamoto at home! 2 outs!
Still not out of the jam, Hasegawa steps in. But he chases a ball low and pops it up! Nakamura is under it and makes the catch! Takahashi gets out of another jam!
Top 8th
As expected #1 Sakamoto comes in for Tateishi and takes the hill. Hatta stays in at C.
Nakamura hits a slow roller to 1st, and Higashi loses it on the transfer! Nakamura reaches on the error! Chuunai-kantoku will play for the run as Nakagawa bunts him along.
Takahashi quickly grounds out to 2nd, but advances Nakamura to 3rd. It's up to Shigeoka to get the timely hit for the insurance run.
But he can't get it! He chops one right to Miyamoto who makes the putout at 1st. Takahashi will have to nurse the one-run lead once again.
Bottom 8th
Oh, but Takahashi makes it difficult for himself again. He hits Yoshida a second time (this time really plunked him) to give Riseisha a leadoff batter. And he's still missing high. Even the next pitch with was a strike Kurisu framed the glove outside.
But again, Riseisha give him an assist. Miyazaki hits a grounder back to Takahashi. He stops it this time, and gets the lead runner.
Okita has "Go, Go, Summer" as his song?
Okita can't do any better! He grounds to Kamidera who also gets the lead runner.
Miyamoto looks to keep the inning going by any means. But instead he grounds to 2nd! Nakagawa goes the short way and despite a leadoff runner, Riseisha can't advance him past 1st!
Top 9th
Sakamoto has a fastball in the high 130s with a curve, slider and changeup. And he's doing his darnest to give his team a chance in the bottom of the 9th.
Yokota though is trying to get a leadoff runner, he fouls off a couple of pitches before hitting one past Higashi and Miyazaki into right!
Chuunia-kantoku puts on the bunt-and-run, and Kurisu lays a nice one down to advance the runner.
Shigeishi though is 3 batters away so someone has to get on base to get him up this inning.
Meanwhile Sakamoto is trying to blow away the batters, hitting 140 on the gun. It's not fast, but it's fast enough, and that's what matters. Shigeishi will get an AB, and after Shimizu strikes out swinging, perhaps the best batter Ganshou could have up is up.
Once again, Shigeishi falls behind 1-2, but this time the ace wins. Sakamoto gets a high fastball by him to retire the side.
Bottom 9th
So it's hold on time for Iwakuni Shougyou, while Riseisha finds themselves 3 outs away from going home.
And it's the 6-7-8 batters up for Riseisha, starting with Higashi. He hits a grounder to 2nd, and Nakagawa almost throws it wide but makes the out.
Inoue hits a bounding ball to the right side, Nakagawa is there again and makes a better throw for the 2nd out!
It's up to #15 Shibata now! And he hits a fly ball to center! Nakamura is under it, makes the catch, and he jumps up in the air! Iwakuni Shougyou pulls off the upset of Riseisha with a 1-0 masterpiece!
I did not see that one coming at all!
Takahashi and his defense held onto that 1-run lead by the skin of their teeth as Riseisha had several opportunities in the late innings, but just couldn't convert. And who would have figured that a wild pitch would have decided the game?! And you can't even fault Riseisha, it was probably the plan to keep the ball down, it was just in that one pitch that ultimately decided the game.
And so Iwakuni Shougyou has a chance to win a second game as they move on to face Yamagata Chuo. Meanwhile for Riseisha it has to be a disappointing loss. Probably pegged as the favorites in this matchup, the offense was nowhere to be seen in the early innings, and when they finally got baserunners, they couldn't drive them in. Takahashi in fact faced just 8 more than the minimum in his victory!
Notable Players
Takahashi Yuuya (Iwakuni Shougyou) - CG, W, 0 ER, 5 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 2 HBP
Yokota Hiroki (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 2-4, 3B, R
Shigeishi Yuuji (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 1-2, 2 BB, K
Higashino Ryuuji (Riseisha) - L, 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 7 K, 3 BB
Miyamoto Takeshi (Riseisha) - 2-4
Opening Game - Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa) vs. Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui)
And we are underway!
The opening game should be a great one - if not loud, between the Hokushinetsu runner-up Tsuruga Kehi and the Kyushu champions Okinawa Shougaku.
Despite the amount of data provided by both teams going deep, it is still hard to size up these teams.
It was a clean sweep for Fukui this past fall, Tsuruga Kehi and champion Harue Kougyou (who plays later today) received both bids from the Hokushinetsu region.
The Hokushinetsu region was rather weak in general, and it showed once Tsuruga Kehi exited the prefecturals. All their games in the super-regionals were one-run affairs, and two went into enchousen (that's extra innings). Their offensive output also declined putting up just 13 hits in their final 3 games.
A lot of the offense lies at the top of the order. CF Mine and 3B Yonemitsu both set the table by getting on base, and #3 batter 1B Yamada sends them in. After that though it will be spotty at best to generate runs. They did sport a 0.155 ISO though, but again against weaker competition, it is hard to draw any conclusions from it.
This puts a lot of pressure on ace Kishimoto Jyunki, who looks like he throws slightly above 3/4 slot. He has maxed out at 145 kph, but probably throws more in the upper 130s and throws a sinker in addition to the standard curve and slider. The stats show that even in the super-regionals his K rate was still rather good (he averaged slightly over 1 K/IP overall, and just under 1 in the super-regionals). Jyunki also doesn't walk a ton of batters, leading to a 3+ K/BB ratio.
On the other side lies Okinawa Shougaku. But if they're to repeat their feat of 5 years ago, their aces are going to have to be pitcher perfect (yes bad pun intended).
Okishou has implemented a dual pitcher system, with southpaw ace Higa Kenichirou taking about 55% of the innings and #10 Ura Atsushi takes up the remainder. Side note, Ura actually has a twitter account!
Anyways, this tandem will not blow the opposition away (5.3 K/9). What they do though is prevent runners from getting on base. Both allow less than 1 runner per inning.
The offense will help them out. While sporting a lower BA than Tsuruga Kehi, the offense was effective in the super-regionals, putting pressure via the bat and the walk. 3 of their 5 super-regional games they drew at least 6 walks.
But the team cannot necessarily get the "big hit". With an ISO less than 0.100, the best they can generally do is base-hit a team to death. So long as they can get timely hits and the pitching holds, they may be able to make the big run in the tournament.
But the opening ceremonies are over, it's a bright sunny day, it's time for 高校野球!
Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa) - Kyushu Champion
CF Chinen Yuuya
2B Taira Yuuki
LF Nishihira Daiki (#12)
SS Moromizato Takumi
1B Shibahiki Yuuma
RF Naka Jyouji
3B Kubo Shuuto (#13)
P Higa Kenichirou
C Gushiken Hideki
Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui) - Hokushinetsu Runner-up
CF Mine Kentarou
3B Yonemitsu Issei
1B Yamada Seiya
C Kita Ryouta
SS Asai Hiroya
LF Miyazaki Hiroya (#13)
RF Iwata Shinya
2B Yamane Takaki
P Kishimoto Jyunki
____________________________________________________________
10:42 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
And Chinen grounds the first pitch past Yamada. Yamane is there to back up and tosses to Kishimoto for the first out.
Taira tries a safety bunt on the next pitch, but Issei is there quickly to gun him down.
Nishihira takes more than one pitch, so it's not such a quick inning.
After a few balls out of the radar gun, Kishimoto appears to pitch in the mid 130s with a slider in the upper 120s.
Nishihira though after getting ahead 2-0 quickly swings away and goes down 3 pitches later. Not a bad start for Kishimoto.
Bottom 1st
Higa doesn't particularly fast at all. His fastball is only in the low-mid 120s, and he just threw a curve in the 100s.
Mine pulls one down the 3B line, and past a diving Kubo into left for a leadoff single!
Issei lays down the bunt, Gushiken with the ball, but doesn't throw it! It looks like there was blown coverage of the bases and everyone's safe!
Immediately Higa-kantoku calls for time, as this is a perfect situation for their main hitter Yamada!
Higa looks to have a slider now in the 110s and just hit 128 on a fastball. Yamada though is patient and isn't chasing balls.
But he gets ahead of a pitch and it's a grounder to short! Moromizato flips to Taira who goes to first.
And the throw is high! It goes into the camera well and Mine scores to make it 1-0 Tsuruga Kehi!
Kita up now, swings away at some pitches outside the zone to fall behind 1-2.
But he shoots one behind Higa into center! Yamada waiting for the ball to get through holds up at 3rd. Okishou in an early pinch as Asai steps in.
Higa, perhaps slowing the pace down, tosses a couple to 1st.
And the 3rd toss gets away from Shibahiki! Yamada dashes for home and scores! It's now 2-0 on 2 errors from the Okishou defense!
Higa goes away on the 2-2 pitch and Asai does the right thing and lines it down the right field line! He's in with a double and there's runners on 2nd and 3rd for Miyazaki!
Finally Higa gets ahead of Miyazaki 0-2 before wasting a pitch way outside.
Miyazaki grounds to short and Moromizato catches Kita off 3rd. He's run down as Asai advances to 3rd.
Still, Okishou in a pinch as Iwata comes up. Swings on the a first pitch fastball letter high and singles through the opposite side into left! Asai scores to make it 3-0!
Yamane with a short liner down the left field line! Nishihira charges, but can't reach it and it scoots by him to the fence! Miyazaki scores! Iwata scores from 1st to make it 5-0 Tsuruga Kehi! This is a complete disaster for the Kyushu champions!
#10 Ura is warming up in the bullpen, he may be called into service early here.
Mercifully, Kishimoto is up and he grounds out to 3rd to end the inning. But 9 batters come to the plate and put Okishou 5 runs in the hole!
Top 2nd
Cleanup batter Moromizato up and Kishimoto tops out at 138 (though it's high).
Kishimoto goes 141, but leaves it up! Moromizato hits it deep to right-center and it falls in for a leadoff double! Here's a chance for Shibahiki to help cut the deficit a bit.
Kishimoto hits 143, but again it's high.
Now Kishimoto falls behind 3-0 to Shibahiki before rifling a fastball for a strike. He takes a little off of it and Shibahiki foul tips it to fill up the count. He eventually wins the battle, getting him to foul out to Yamada.
But Naka takes a first pitch slow curve from Kishimoto and singles to left! Runners at the corners for Kubo!
I'm trying to figure out his pitches, because I think he has a slider in the 120s, a splitter in the 110s and a slow curve in the 100s, but I'm not sure.
Meanwhile, Kishimoto is overthrowing again and falls behind Kubo 3-1.
And what looks like a fastball at 133 is fouled off. But it can't be a straight fastball as he can hit 140.
Ooooo.... Kubo holds up but is called out on a fastball that looked outside... 2 outs.
It's up to Higa, who isn't a good hitter at all. And he quickly falls behind 0-2.
And Higa swings and misses on a fastball down the middle and after getting into a pinch Kishimoto avoids taking any damage as Kehi maintains their 5-0 lead.
Bottom 2nd
Back to the top of the order and Mine. And Higa continues to not fool anyone...
Mine blasts one to right center! Chinen races back to the wall, looks to be there, but is squeamish with the wall and the ball goes off the end of his glove! Mine racing around the bases reaches 3rd easily!
Things go from bad to worse as Issei promptly flies out to right, scoring Mine to make it 6-0.
Looks like that'll be it for Higa. Higa-kantoku pulls him and brings in Ura ifor relief. It'll be a long duty this time around and with his team down by a wide margin.
Ura's first pitch is a fastball at 127 followed by one at 133.
Yamada then takes another letter high pitch the opposite way. Naka running back, gets turned around, makes a last second jump and somehow manages to make the catch for the 2nd out.
According to the announcers he has a slider and a splitter.
Kita gets ahead of one of the splitters and flies out to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Bottom of the lineup and Gushiken hits a comebacker to Kishimoto for the 1st out.
Chinen with a routine grounder to Yamane for the 2nd out.
And Tairi is jammed and grounds to 2nd for the 3rd out. A 1-2-3 inning once again as the lineup turns over.
Bottom 3rd
Ura hangs a fastball to Asai who sharply lines it to left. Miayzaki then goes on the first pitch and shoots that past Moromizato into center.
Azuma-kantoku not letting up as Iwata squares to bunt. And while Ura gets to it quickly, there is no one covering 3rd so Ura goes to 1st for the out.
That brings up Yamane, who probably needs to get a hit.
Instead he squeezes! Ura quickly retrieves it, tosses it to Gushiken who has Asai dead to rights. He's run down and there's two outs with runners at the corners for Kishimoto.
Kishimoto tries to be of use at the plate, and fouls off a 2-2 pitch.
And Ura goes for a slider! He leaves it up and Kishimoto singles past a diving Tairi into center! Miyazaki scores to make it 7-0.
Ura's control is not much better as he throws over Mine's head. Still he manages to get the count to 2-2.
Now #18 Yoza is warming up in the bullpen...
But Ura gets Mine to chase a slider outside for the 3rd out. Tsuruga Kehi though puts up another run and extends the lead.
Top 4th
Kishimoto seems to have settled down after the first inning. He gets 2 quick outs as Nishihira pops out to Yamane, and Moromizato grounds to short.
Shibahiki is almost retired, but reaches out on a slider and pokes it to shallow center for a base hit.
Naka looks to have made solid contact with the ball, but Mine camps under the ball in front of the fence for the 3rd out.
Bottom 4th
Okishou finally retires the leadoff batter of an inning as Issei grounds to 3rd.
After a routine fly to left, Moromizato whiffs on a routine grounder allowing Kita to reach base.
That brings up Asai, who's 2-2 on the day.
Kita takes off for 2nd, but Gushiken makes a quick throw. Moromizato is there in front of the bag and makes the swipe tag for the 3rd out. Finally Okishou keeps Tsuruga Kehi off the board.
Top 5th
Kubo hacks on the first pitch and flies out to right.
Kishimoto isn't missing in the wrong places, though as I write that, he leaves a fastball up and new P Ura singles to right.
He then settles down and gets Gushiken to swing on a slider down and away for the 2nd out.
Chinen with a grounder through the right side for a base hit. Ura running on contact slides into 3rd safely, while Chinen advances to 2nd on the throw to 3rd form Iwata. A small chance here to cut into the large deficit.
But Taira is jammed! It's a grounder just fair down the 1st base line! Yamada races Taira to the bag and beats him for the 3rd out! Okishou is denied once again.
Bottom 5th
Asai leading off the inning collects his 3rd hit, hitting a first pitch single to center.
Miyazaki is not bunting, but chases a high slider away for the first out.
And now Asai takes an early jump from 1st! Ura has him picked off and he's run down for the 2nd out.
Ura gets another stressless inning as he induces a comebacker from Iwata to end the inning. But as we head to the break Tsuruga Kehi is in full control.
Top 6th
Defensive change as #7 Kobayashi Yuudai comes in for Miyazaki in LF.
It's looking really bad for the Okishou batters. Nishihira chases a slider way outside for the first out. Moromizato tries to get the offense started with a liner over Asai's head, but the Okishou batters seem overly succeptible to the outside sliders.
Shibahiki swings on two such pitches to fall behind 1-2.
Whoa.
Kishimoto uncorks a pitch that goes to the top of the net. Looks like he let go just a bit early to say the least.
Shibahiki takes advantage of the next pitch and singles past a diving Asai into left! Runners at the corners now.
But Naka is jammed on in aside fastball and pops it up! Issei is there in foul territory for the 2nd out!
It's up to Kubo now with 2 down. He's 0-2 on the day..
Make that 0-3. It's a one bounce comebacker to Kishimoto who makes the play at 1st to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
Defensive replacement for Okishou as well. #14 Sakiyama comes in for Nishihira in LF.
Yamane with a hot shot to the right side, but Shibahiki makes a great diving stop and tosses to Ura for the 1st out.
Perhaps Kishimoto isn't as useless at the plate. He hits a grounder past a diving Kubo into left.
Oh, and now he hits Mine to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Higa-kantoku calls for time.
Issei lays down a successful bunt to move the runners ahead for Yamada.
Ura though gets Yamada to ground to 3rd for the 3rd out. Tsuruga Kehi's run total stays at 7, but Okishou can't make any inroads.
Top 7th
Ura's day is done as #15 Uehara steps him to hit for him. He stands in fairly tall at 184 cm, but loops a foul fly to Issei for the first out.
Ouside of that, it's a 1-2-3 inning for Kishimoto and it's pretty much in hand for Tsuruga Kehi.
Bottom 7th
Late addition #18 Yoza comes in as the 3rd P for Okishou. He's a sidearmer, but no speed data until a high fastball at 124 to make it 2-2 to Kita. He does eventually get him to fly out to right.
From the announcers, he appears to have just a fastball and slow curve.
Asai takes a rising fastball shoulder high and lines it through the infield into left.
Looks like Yoza's fastball tops out in the low 130s while his slow curve is in the 100-110s.
Kobayashi with a hard grounder to 2nd, Taira looks to be there, but oles on the ball and it glances off his glove into right allowing Asai to advance to 3rd.
Higa-kantoku doesn't seem pleased as #5 Sunagawa comes in to replace him at 2nd immediately thereafter.
Meanwhile #16 Nakanishi comes in to hit for Iwata. Its' a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play though as Nakanishi chases a rising fastball and Kobayashi is easily thrown out at 2nd.
Top 8th
Nakanishi stays in to play RF.
Sunagawa immediately pays dividends as he chops one past a diving Yamada into right. Sakiyama follows that up with a grounder to the right side. Yamane runs it down and makes a diving stop, but has no play.
And now Moromizato takes the first pitch and singles to center! Manrui for Okishou with no out here in the 8th!
The right man is up as Shibahiki is 2-3 on the day.
But he pops it up! He gets under a fastball and Asai jogs it down in shallow left for the 1st out!
It's up to Naka to drive in the runs, but he watches a fastball on the outside corner and chases one to fall behind 0-2. Which is then followed by a waste pitch in the right-hand batters box.
Naka then has an excuse me swing that goes to Yamane! He gets the runner at 2nd as Sunagawa scores to make it 7-1. Tsuruga Kehi is happy to trade a run for an out at this point.
For Okishou to have a chance Kubo needs to dive in another run here. Instead he chases a slider in the left-handed batters' box to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
Interestingly we have our first actual walk of the game as Yoza walks Yamane. Issei's younger brother, Nagi (#14) comes in to run for Yamane.
And it looks like Azuma-kantoku will have Kishimoto practice bunting here in the 8th. The form isn't great as he fouls one off on the ground, then pokes it up and out of play. He has to swing away and flies out to center for the 1st out.
Mine gets hits for a 2nd time in the back, this after Yoza gets the count to 2-2.
Issei quickly jumps on the opportunity hitting a single past a diving Sunagawa. Nagi scores to make it 8-1.
Yoza lets another ball fly wide and hits Yamada to load the bases. #11 Yoshiyama, the last stated pitcher on the roster, warms up in the bullpen.
Kita stands in and Yoza may be losing form here in the 8th. He does though gets Kita to chase a tailing fastball for strike 2 and gets a failed check swing there after for the 2nd out.
Asai first pitch swings and hits a comebacker that goes off Yoza's leg! It deflects to the left side where Moromizato tries to reverse course, but it slides by for a base hit! Mine and Issei score to make it 10-1.
That unlucky hit is the end of Yoza's day as Yoshiyama comes in to hopefully get the last out.
First pitch to Kobayashi is an outside fastball at 123. Then a curve at 102. Looks like he tops out in the high 120s as he lets a curve go too early for ball 3.
And an odd looking curve is hit by Kobayashi through the left side, plating Yamada to make it 11-1.
Nakanishi lines out to center, and Tsuruga Kehi is 3 outs away from a matchup with Kyoto Shouei.
Top 9th
#15 Nakamoto comes in for Nagi and takes over at 2B.
Higa-kantoku is emptying his bench as #16 Akamine hits for Yoza. He's not just hacking away though as he works the count full. He hits a routine grounder to 3rd, but Issei throws it high allowing Akamine to reach 2nd.
Gushiken grounds to 2nd as Akamine is allowed to reach 3rd.
Azuma-kantokuthen makes some wholesale changes to get more work in. #18 Misome comes in for Yamada and takes the hill moving Kishimoto to 1st. Also, #17 Kakutani comes in to play RF.
Chinen grounds out to 2nd as Tsuruga Kehi allows the run to score, making it 11-2.
From the few pitches I see, Misome is an overhander with a fastball in the high 130s hitting 140.
Sunagawa goes down swining to end the game and Tsuruga Kehi advances to the 2nd round. It's a rout, but not necessarily a convincing victory as Kishmoto struggled in the 1st inning as well while the offense took the middle innings off before scoring against the relief corps. Another champion lies in wait now in 4 days with the Kinki champion Kyoto Shouei.
As for Okinawa Shougaku, they aren't sad about the loss, but they'll look back at what might have been had the 1st inning not gone all awry. It was a deficit that they couldn't get out of.
Notable Players
Kishimoto Jyunki (Tsuruga Kehi) - 8.1 IP, ER, 10 H, 6 K, 0 BB
Asai Hiroya (Tsuruga Kehi) - 5-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Kobayashi Yuudai (Tsuruga Kehi) - 2-2, RBI
Moromizato Takumi (Okinawa Shougaku) - 3-4, 2B
Shibahiki Yuuma (Okinawa Shougaku) - 2-4
The opening game should be a great one - if not loud, between the Hokushinetsu runner-up Tsuruga Kehi and the Kyushu champions Okinawa Shougaku.
Despite the amount of data provided by both teams going deep, it is still hard to size up these teams.
It was a clean sweep for Fukui this past fall, Tsuruga Kehi and champion Harue Kougyou (who plays later today) received both bids from the Hokushinetsu region.
The Hokushinetsu region was rather weak in general, and it showed once Tsuruga Kehi exited the prefecturals. All their games in the super-regionals were one-run affairs, and two went into enchousen (that's extra innings). Their offensive output also declined putting up just 13 hits in their final 3 games.
A lot of the offense lies at the top of the order. CF Mine and 3B Yonemitsu both set the table by getting on base, and #3 batter 1B Yamada sends them in. After that though it will be spotty at best to generate runs. They did sport a 0.155 ISO though, but again against weaker competition, it is hard to draw any conclusions from it.
This puts a lot of pressure on ace Kishimoto Jyunki, who looks like he throws slightly above 3/4 slot. He has maxed out at 145 kph, but probably throws more in the upper 130s and throws a sinker in addition to the standard curve and slider. The stats show that even in the super-regionals his K rate was still rather good (he averaged slightly over 1 K/IP overall, and just under 1 in the super-regionals). Jyunki also doesn't walk a ton of batters, leading to a 3+ K/BB ratio.
On the other side lies Okinawa Shougaku. But if they're to repeat their feat of 5 years ago, their aces are going to have to be pitcher perfect (yes bad pun intended).
Okishou has implemented a dual pitcher system, with southpaw ace Higa Kenichirou taking about 55% of the innings and #10 Ura Atsushi takes up the remainder. Side note, Ura actually has a twitter account!
Anyways, this tandem will not blow the opposition away (5.3 K/9). What they do though is prevent runners from getting on base. Both allow less than 1 runner per inning.
The offense will help them out. While sporting a lower BA than Tsuruga Kehi, the offense was effective in the super-regionals, putting pressure via the bat and the walk. 3 of their 5 super-regional games they drew at least 6 walks.
But the team cannot necessarily get the "big hit". With an ISO less than 0.100, the best they can generally do is base-hit a team to death. So long as they can get timely hits and the pitching holds, they may be able to make the big run in the tournament.
But the opening ceremonies are over, it's a bright sunny day, it's time for 高校野球!
Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa) - Kyushu Champion
CF Chinen Yuuya
2B Taira Yuuki
LF Nishihira Daiki (#12)
SS Moromizato Takumi
1B Shibahiki Yuuma
RF Naka Jyouji
3B Kubo Shuuto (#13)
P Higa Kenichirou
C Gushiken Hideki
Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui) - Hokushinetsu Runner-up
CF Mine Kentarou
3B Yonemitsu Issei
1B Yamada Seiya
C Kita Ryouta
SS Asai Hiroya
LF Miyazaki Hiroya (#13)
RF Iwata Shinya
2B Yamane Takaki
P Kishimoto Jyunki
____________________________________________________________
10:42 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
And Chinen grounds the first pitch past Yamada. Yamane is there to back up and tosses to Kishimoto for the first out.
Taira tries a safety bunt on the next pitch, but Issei is there quickly to gun him down.
Nishihira takes more than one pitch, so it's not such a quick inning.
After a few balls out of the radar gun, Kishimoto appears to pitch in the mid 130s with a slider in the upper 120s.
Nishihira though after getting ahead 2-0 quickly swings away and goes down 3 pitches later. Not a bad start for Kishimoto.
Bottom 1st
Higa doesn't particularly fast at all. His fastball is only in the low-mid 120s, and he just threw a curve in the 100s.
Mine pulls one down the 3B line, and past a diving Kubo into left for a leadoff single!
Issei lays down the bunt, Gushiken with the ball, but doesn't throw it! It looks like there was blown coverage of the bases and everyone's safe!
Immediately Higa-kantoku calls for time, as this is a perfect situation for their main hitter Yamada!
Higa looks to have a slider now in the 110s and just hit 128 on a fastball. Yamada though is patient and isn't chasing balls.
But he gets ahead of a pitch and it's a grounder to short! Moromizato flips to Taira who goes to first.
And the throw is high! It goes into the camera well and Mine scores to make it 1-0 Tsuruga Kehi!
Kita up now, swings away at some pitches outside the zone to fall behind 1-2.
But he shoots one behind Higa into center! Yamada waiting for the ball to get through holds up at 3rd. Okishou in an early pinch as Asai steps in.
Higa, perhaps slowing the pace down, tosses a couple to 1st.
And the 3rd toss gets away from Shibahiki! Yamada dashes for home and scores! It's now 2-0 on 2 errors from the Okishou defense!
Higa goes away on the 2-2 pitch and Asai does the right thing and lines it down the right field line! He's in with a double and there's runners on 2nd and 3rd for Miyazaki!
Finally Higa gets ahead of Miyazaki 0-2 before wasting a pitch way outside.
Miyazaki grounds to short and Moromizato catches Kita off 3rd. He's run down as Asai advances to 3rd.
Still, Okishou in a pinch as Iwata comes up. Swings on the a first pitch fastball letter high and singles through the opposite side into left! Asai scores to make it 3-0!
Yamane with a short liner down the left field line! Nishihira charges, but can't reach it and it scoots by him to the fence! Miyazaki scores! Iwata scores from 1st to make it 5-0 Tsuruga Kehi! This is a complete disaster for the Kyushu champions!
#10 Ura is warming up in the bullpen, he may be called into service early here.
Mercifully, Kishimoto is up and he grounds out to 3rd to end the inning. But 9 batters come to the plate and put Okishou 5 runs in the hole!
Top 2nd
Cleanup batter Moromizato up and Kishimoto tops out at 138 (though it's high).
Kishimoto goes 141, but leaves it up! Moromizato hits it deep to right-center and it falls in for a leadoff double! Here's a chance for Shibahiki to help cut the deficit a bit.
Kishimoto hits 143, but again it's high.
Now Kishimoto falls behind 3-0 to Shibahiki before rifling a fastball for a strike. He takes a little off of it and Shibahiki foul tips it to fill up the count. He eventually wins the battle, getting him to foul out to Yamada.
But Naka takes a first pitch slow curve from Kishimoto and singles to left! Runners at the corners for Kubo!
I'm trying to figure out his pitches, because I think he has a slider in the 120s, a splitter in the 110s and a slow curve in the 100s, but I'm not sure.
Meanwhile, Kishimoto is overthrowing again and falls behind Kubo 3-1.
And what looks like a fastball at 133 is fouled off. But it can't be a straight fastball as he can hit 140.
Ooooo.... Kubo holds up but is called out on a fastball that looked outside... 2 outs.
It's up to Higa, who isn't a good hitter at all. And he quickly falls behind 0-2.
And Higa swings and misses on a fastball down the middle and after getting into a pinch Kishimoto avoids taking any damage as Kehi maintains their 5-0 lead.
Bottom 2nd
Back to the top of the order and Mine. And Higa continues to not fool anyone...
Mine blasts one to right center! Chinen races back to the wall, looks to be there, but is squeamish with the wall and the ball goes off the end of his glove! Mine racing around the bases reaches 3rd easily!
Things go from bad to worse as Issei promptly flies out to right, scoring Mine to make it 6-0.
Looks like that'll be it for Higa. Higa-kantoku pulls him and brings in Ura ifor relief. It'll be a long duty this time around and with his team down by a wide margin.
Ura's first pitch is a fastball at 127 followed by one at 133.
Yamada then takes another letter high pitch the opposite way. Naka running back, gets turned around, makes a last second jump and somehow manages to make the catch for the 2nd out.
According to the announcers he has a slider and a splitter.
Kita gets ahead of one of the splitters and flies out to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Bottom of the lineup and Gushiken hits a comebacker to Kishimoto for the 1st out.
Chinen with a routine grounder to Yamane for the 2nd out.
And Tairi is jammed and grounds to 2nd for the 3rd out. A 1-2-3 inning once again as the lineup turns over.
Bottom 3rd
Ura hangs a fastball to Asai who sharply lines it to left. Miayzaki then goes on the first pitch and shoots that past Moromizato into center.
Azuma-kantoku not letting up as Iwata squares to bunt. And while Ura gets to it quickly, there is no one covering 3rd so Ura goes to 1st for the out.
That brings up Yamane, who probably needs to get a hit.
Instead he squeezes! Ura quickly retrieves it, tosses it to Gushiken who has Asai dead to rights. He's run down and there's two outs with runners at the corners for Kishimoto.
Kishimoto tries to be of use at the plate, and fouls off a 2-2 pitch.
And Ura goes for a slider! He leaves it up and Kishimoto singles past a diving Tairi into center! Miyazaki scores to make it 7-0.
Ura's control is not much better as he throws over Mine's head. Still he manages to get the count to 2-2.
Now #18 Yoza is warming up in the bullpen...
But Ura gets Mine to chase a slider outside for the 3rd out. Tsuruga Kehi though puts up another run and extends the lead.
Top 4th
Kishimoto seems to have settled down after the first inning. He gets 2 quick outs as Nishihira pops out to Yamane, and Moromizato grounds to short.
Shibahiki is almost retired, but reaches out on a slider and pokes it to shallow center for a base hit.
Naka looks to have made solid contact with the ball, but Mine camps under the ball in front of the fence for the 3rd out.
Bottom 4th
Okishou finally retires the leadoff batter of an inning as Issei grounds to 3rd.
After a routine fly to left, Moromizato whiffs on a routine grounder allowing Kita to reach base.
That brings up Asai, who's 2-2 on the day.
Kita takes off for 2nd, but Gushiken makes a quick throw. Moromizato is there in front of the bag and makes the swipe tag for the 3rd out. Finally Okishou keeps Tsuruga Kehi off the board.
Top 5th
Kubo hacks on the first pitch and flies out to right.
Kishimoto isn't missing in the wrong places, though as I write that, he leaves a fastball up and new P Ura singles to right.
He then settles down and gets Gushiken to swing on a slider down and away for the 2nd out.
Chinen with a grounder through the right side for a base hit. Ura running on contact slides into 3rd safely, while Chinen advances to 2nd on the throw to 3rd form Iwata. A small chance here to cut into the large deficit.
But Taira is jammed! It's a grounder just fair down the 1st base line! Yamada races Taira to the bag and beats him for the 3rd out! Okishou is denied once again.
Bottom 5th
Asai leading off the inning collects his 3rd hit, hitting a first pitch single to center.
Miyazaki is not bunting, but chases a high slider away for the first out.
And now Asai takes an early jump from 1st! Ura has him picked off and he's run down for the 2nd out.
Ura gets another stressless inning as he induces a comebacker from Iwata to end the inning. But as we head to the break Tsuruga Kehi is in full control.
Top 6th
Defensive change as #7 Kobayashi Yuudai comes in for Miyazaki in LF.
It's looking really bad for the Okishou batters. Nishihira chases a slider way outside for the first out. Moromizato tries to get the offense started with a liner over Asai's head, but the Okishou batters seem overly succeptible to the outside sliders.
Shibahiki swings on two such pitches to fall behind 1-2.
Whoa.
Kishimoto uncorks a pitch that goes to the top of the net. Looks like he let go just a bit early to say the least.
Shibahiki takes advantage of the next pitch and singles past a diving Asai into left! Runners at the corners now.
But Naka is jammed on in aside fastball and pops it up! Issei is there in foul territory for the 2nd out!
It's up to Kubo now with 2 down. He's 0-2 on the day..
Make that 0-3. It's a one bounce comebacker to Kishimoto who makes the play at 1st to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
Defensive replacement for Okishou as well. #14 Sakiyama comes in for Nishihira in LF.
Yamane with a hot shot to the right side, but Shibahiki makes a great diving stop and tosses to Ura for the 1st out.
Perhaps Kishimoto isn't as useless at the plate. He hits a grounder past a diving Kubo into left.
Oh, and now he hits Mine to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Higa-kantoku calls for time.
Issei lays down a successful bunt to move the runners ahead for Yamada.
Ura though gets Yamada to ground to 3rd for the 3rd out. Tsuruga Kehi's run total stays at 7, but Okishou can't make any inroads.
Top 7th
Ura's day is done as #15 Uehara steps him to hit for him. He stands in fairly tall at 184 cm, but loops a foul fly to Issei for the first out.
Ouside of that, it's a 1-2-3 inning for Kishimoto and it's pretty much in hand for Tsuruga Kehi.
Bottom 7th
Late addition #18 Yoza comes in as the 3rd P for Okishou. He's a sidearmer, but no speed data until a high fastball at 124 to make it 2-2 to Kita. He does eventually get him to fly out to right.
From the announcers, he appears to have just a fastball and slow curve.
Asai takes a rising fastball shoulder high and lines it through the infield into left.
Looks like Yoza's fastball tops out in the low 130s while his slow curve is in the 100-110s.
Kobayashi with a hard grounder to 2nd, Taira looks to be there, but oles on the ball and it glances off his glove into right allowing Asai to advance to 3rd.
Higa-kantoku doesn't seem pleased as #5 Sunagawa comes in to replace him at 2nd immediately thereafter.
Meanwhile #16 Nakanishi comes in to hit for Iwata. Its' a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play though as Nakanishi chases a rising fastball and Kobayashi is easily thrown out at 2nd.
Top 8th
Nakanishi stays in to play RF.
Sunagawa immediately pays dividends as he chops one past a diving Yamada into right. Sakiyama follows that up with a grounder to the right side. Yamane runs it down and makes a diving stop, but has no play.
And now Moromizato takes the first pitch and singles to center! Manrui for Okishou with no out here in the 8th!
The right man is up as Shibahiki is 2-3 on the day.
But he pops it up! He gets under a fastball and Asai jogs it down in shallow left for the 1st out!
It's up to Naka to drive in the runs, but he watches a fastball on the outside corner and chases one to fall behind 0-2. Which is then followed by a waste pitch in the right-hand batters box.
Naka then has an excuse me swing that goes to Yamane! He gets the runner at 2nd as Sunagawa scores to make it 7-1. Tsuruga Kehi is happy to trade a run for an out at this point.
For Okishou to have a chance Kubo needs to dive in another run here. Instead he chases a slider in the left-handed batters' box to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
Interestingly we have our first actual walk of the game as Yoza walks Yamane. Issei's younger brother, Nagi (#14) comes in to run for Yamane.
And it looks like Azuma-kantoku will have Kishimoto practice bunting here in the 8th. The form isn't great as he fouls one off on the ground, then pokes it up and out of play. He has to swing away and flies out to center for the 1st out.
Mine gets hits for a 2nd time in the back, this after Yoza gets the count to 2-2.
Issei quickly jumps on the opportunity hitting a single past a diving Sunagawa. Nagi scores to make it 8-1.
Yoza lets another ball fly wide and hits Yamada to load the bases. #11 Yoshiyama, the last stated pitcher on the roster, warms up in the bullpen.
Kita stands in and Yoza may be losing form here in the 8th. He does though gets Kita to chase a tailing fastball for strike 2 and gets a failed check swing there after for the 2nd out.
Asai first pitch swings and hits a comebacker that goes off Yoza's leg! It deflects to the left side where Moromizato tries to reverse course, but it slides by for a base hit! Mine and Issei score to make it 10-1.
That unlucky hit is the end of Yoza's day as Yoshiyama comes in to hopefully get the last out.
First pitch to Kobayashi is an outside fastball at 123. Then a curve at 102. Looks like he tops out in the high 120s as he lets a curve go too early for ball 3.
And an odd looking curve is hit by Kobayashi through the left side, plating Yamada to make it 11-1.
Nakanishi lines out to center, and Tsuruga Kehi is 3 outs away from a matchup with Kyoto Shouei.
Top 9th
#15 Nakamoto comes in for Nagi and takes over at 2B.
Higa-kantoku is emptying his bench as #16 Akamine hits for Yoza. He's not just hacking away though as he works the count full. He hits a routine grounder to 3rd, but Issei throws it high allowing Akamine to reach 2nd.
Gushiken grounds to 2nd as Akamine is allowed to reach 3rd.
Azuma-kantokuthen makes some wholesale changes to get more work in. #18 Misome comes in for Yamada and takes the hill moving Kishimoto to 1st. Also, #17 Kakutani comes in to play RF.
Chinen grounds out to 2nd as Tsuruga Kehi allows the run to score, making it 11-2.
From the few pitches I see, Misome is an overhander with a fastball in the high 130s hitting 140.
Sunagawa goes down swining to end the game and Tsuruga Kehi advances to the 2nd round. It's a rout, but not necessarily a convincing victory as Kishmoto struggled in the 1st inning as well while the offense took the middle innings off before scoring against the relief corps. Another champion lies in wait now in 4 days with the Kinki champion Kyoto Shouei.
As for Okinawa Shougaku, they aren't sad about the loss, but they'll look back at what might have been had the 1st inning not gone all awry. It was a deficit that they couldn't get out of.
Notable Players
Kishimoto Jyunki (Tsuruga Kehi) - 8.1 IP, ER, 10 H, 6 K, 0 BB
Asai Hiroya (Tsuruga Kehi) - 5-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Kobayashi Yuudai (Tsuruga Kehi) - 2-2, RBI
Moromizato Takumi (Okinawa Shougaku) - 3-4, 2B
Shibahiki Yuuma (Okinawa Shougaku) - 2-4
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
85th Haru Koshien rosters published!
I have the rosters translated here. They won't be 100% accurate as I pulled the rosters from various places, so changes will be made as they are found.
One thing to note is that Iwaki Kaisei will not field a full 18 players as their team only has 16 members. Other schools have played with less, but due to illness (Risshoudai Shounan, for example).
One thing to note is that Iwaki Kaisei will not field a full 18 players as their team only has 16 members. Other schools have played with less, but due to illness (Risshoudai Shounan, for example).
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Draw Analysis and Coverage Announcement
Before I begin my analysis on the draw, I'll make an announcement regarding this year's coverage of the Haru Koushien.
Due to circumstances outside of my control, a convention I assist with is occurring Thursday-Sunday next week. This means I'll either fully or partially miss games on days 9-12 of the tournament. I'll go back and watch the games and do a write-up for them, but will not have the benefit of watching them for analyzing the championship game.
That out of the way, onto the draw:
Quadrant 1 - The "Show Me" Quadrant
It's another reason why the name fits. Okinawa Shougaku, whose last appearance 5 years ago resulted in winning it all, will have to go from deep in the brackets to repeat the feat. First up is the aforementioned Tsuruga Kehi, familiar in name, but not necessarily as strong this year.
I expect Seikou Gakuin to reach the end of the quadrant and face Okinawa Shougaku (though not without a tough game against Yasuda Gakuen). Okinawa Shougaku will move to the semis.
Quadrant 2 - Now is the time
For the rest of the teams, now is also the time to make a decent run. Iwakuni Shougyou, Yamagata Chuo and Tosa it might be a bit harder, but the opportunity is there to get to the quarterfinals.
I am most interested in the team from Nara not named Tenri or Chiben Gakuen. Yamato Kouryou has an above average ace in Tachita Shouta, but like Toukou Gakuen's Matsui Yuuki, he cannot do everything himself.
Urawa Gakuin has the inside track to the semifinals, but with no team showing either a huge display of offense or a staff ace, do not be surprised if someone else emerges out of this bracket.
Quadrant 3 - Survive and advance
Sendai Ikuei, probably considered one of the favorites if not the overall favorite, winds up in a bracket with Heian, Soujitsu, Kanzei, and Houtoku Gakuen. Oy.
Tokoha Kikugawa finally pokes their head back into Koushien after a 5-year drought. But they get the short end of the stick and have to play an extra game. Harue Kougyou also suffers from bad luck. Win their first ever super-regional title, draw an extra game - and then Houtoku Gakuen should they win.
It will truly be a survive and advance bracket. Teams will be beaten and battered as they advance out of this quadrant. And because of that Sendai Ikuei - a favorite to win it all, may not make it out of this quadrant. Even if they do, they may have to empty their tank to do so.
The top contenders to oust the front-runners are probably Kanzei and Houtoku Gakuen, but as mentioned it will not be easy.
Quadrant 4 - As easy as 1-2-3?
And if the draw favored any one team the most it would be them. They should get a warmup game against one of the 21st century schools in their opening round, then will dive in to the bracket. However, they by far are the favorites to advance out of this quadrant, and will face in all likelihood a battered opponent.
It's rather unfortunate for Engaru and Iwaki Kaisei. Each into their first Koushien as a 21st century team, and they have to face either other. Not only that, but win and face Osaka Touin? The two teams are playing for one victory and no more.
Seiseikou is given a chance again to advance. It won't be a cake walk, but a potential rematch with Osaka Touin actually is a possibility.
If Saibi's ace Anraku can last 9 innings, maybe they might be the team that wrecks Osaka Touin's plans.
There is the high possibility that most of these brackets will be scratch into the semifinals. But in that time, many teams have a decent possibility to at least stand at home plate and sing their school song. Once rosters are out, I'll get those translated as best as possible and get the writeups for the games.
Just 4 days to go!
Due to circumstances outside of my control, a convention I assist with is occurring Thursday-Sunday next week. This means I'll either fully or partially miss games on days 9-12 of the tournament. I'll go back and watch the games and do a write-up for them, but will not have the benefit of watching them for analyzing the championship game.
That out of the way, onto the draw:
Quadrant 1 - The "Show Me" Quadrant
- Naruto (Tokushima) vs. Utusnomiya Shougyou (Tochigi) - Day 2, Game 2
- Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima) vs. Masuda Shouyou (Shimane) - Day 2, Game 3
- Moriokadai Fuzoku (Iwate) vs. Yasuda Gakuen (Tokyo) - Day 2, Game 4
- Kyoto Shouei (Kyoto) vs. (Winner of) - Day 5, Game 3
- Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui) vs. Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa) - Day 1, Game 1
It's another reason why the name fits. Okinawa Shougaku, whose last appearance 5 years ago resulted in winning it all, will have to go from deep in the brackets to repeat the feat. First up is the aforementioned Tsuruga Kehi, familiar in name, but not necessarily as strong this year.
I expect Seikou Gakuin to reach the end of the quadrant and face Okinawa Shougaku (though not without a tough game against Yasuda Gakuen). Okinawa Shougaku will move to the semis.
Quadrant 2 - Now is the time
- Shoushikan (Kagoshima) vs. Yamato Kouryou (Nara) - Day 3, Game 1
- Komono (Mie) vs. Hokushou (Hokkaido) - Day 3, Game 2
- Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) vs. Tosa (Kochi) - Day 3, Game 3
- Yamagata Chuo (Yamagata) vs. (Winner of) - Day 6, Game 2
- Riseisha (Osaka) vs. Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi) - Day 1, Game 2
For the rest of the teams, now is also the time to make a decent run. Iwakuni Shougyou, Yamagata Chuo and Tosa it might be a bit harder, but the opportunity is there to get to the quarterfinals.
I am most interested in the team from Nara not named Tenri or Chiben Gakuen. Yamato Kouryou has an above average ace in Tachita Shouta, but like Toukou Gakuen's Matsui Yuuki, he cannot do everything himself.
Urawa Gakuin has the inside track to the semifinals, but with no team showing either a huge display of offense or a staff ace, do not be surprised if someone else emerges out of this bracket.
Quadrant 3 - Survive and advance
- Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi) vs. Souseikan (Nagasaki) - Day 4, Game 1
- Ryuukokudai Heian (Kyoto) vs. Waseda Jitsugyou (Tokyo) - Day 4, Game 2
- Kanzei (Okayama) vs. Kochi (Kochi) - Day 4, Game 3
- Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo) vs. (Winner of) - Day 6, Game 1
- Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) vs. Harue Kougyou (Fukui) - Day 1, Game 3
Sendai Ikuei, probably considered one of the favorites if not the overall favorite, winds up in a bracket with Heian, Soujitsu, Kanzei, and Houtoku Gakuen. Oy.
Tokoha Kikugawa finally pokes their head back into Koushien after a 5-year drought. But they get the short end of the stick and have to play an extra game. Harue Kougyou also suffers from bad luck. Win their first ever super-regional title, draw an extra game - and then Houtoku Gakuen should they win.
It will truly be a survive and advance bracket. Teams will be beaten and battered as they advance out of this quadrant. And because of that Sendai Ikuei - a favorite to win it all, may not make it out of this quadrant. Even if they do, they may have to empty their tank to do so.
The top contenders to oust the front-runners are probably Kanzei and Houtoku Gakuen, but as mentioned it will not be easy.
Quadrant 4 - As easy as 1-2-3?
- Saibi (Ehime) vs. Kouryou (Hiroshima) - Day 5, Game 1
- Seiseikou (Kumamoto) vs. Jyousou Gakuin (Ibaraki) - Day 5, Game 2
- Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou (Gifu) vs. Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama) - Day 6, Game 3
- Osaka Touin (Osaka) vs. (Winner of) - Day 7, Game 1
- Engaru (Hokkaido) vs. Iwaki Kaisei (Fukushima) - Day 2, Game 1
And if the draw favored any one team the most it would be them. They should get a warmup game against one of the 21st century schools in their opening round, then will dive in to the bracket. However, they by far are the favorites to advance out of this quadrant, and will face in all likelihood a battered opponent.
It's rather unfortunate for Engaru and Iwaki Kaisei. Each into their first Koushien as a 21st century team, and they have to face either other. Not only that, but win and face Osaka Touin? The two teams are playing for one victory and no more.
Seiseikou is given a chance again to advance. It won't be a cake walk, but a potential rematch with Osaka Touin actually is a possibility.
If Saibi's ace Anraku can last 9 innings, maybe they might be the team that wrecks Osaka Touin's plans.
There is the high possibility that most of these brackets will be scratch into the semifinals. But in that time, many teams have a decent possibility to at least stand at home plate and sing their school song. Once rosters are out, I'll get those translated as best as possible and get the writeups for the games.
Just 4 days to go!
Friday, March 15, 2013
The draw is out!
The draw is out! And the draw, to be quite honest, is quite fair.
There is one tougher bracket amongst the 4, and I'll get to that soon. I'll also make an announcement regarding days I unfortunately will be unavailable to live blog the games.
Stay tuned.
There is one tougher bracket amongst the 4, and I'll get to that soon. I'll also make an announcement regarding days I unfortunately will be unavailable to live blog the games.
Stay tuned.
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