Sunday, July 21, 2013

Nobeoka Gakuen prevails for 2nd bid!

The Miyazaki final between Nobeoka Gakuen and St. Ursula was expected to be a close affair.  Nobeoka Gakuen had represented Miyazaki in recent years, and St. Ursula is always a contender but has only summitted the top back in 2005.

St. Ursula continuously had to play from behind, but somehow found an answer each time.  When Nobeoka scored 3 in the 3rd, Ursula replied with 3 of their own, 2 in the 4th and 1 in the 7th were also replied in kind one inning later.

And so the game would head into extras.  But ace Hamauzu from St. Ursula could not last.  With 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, leadoff batter Kajiwara (who earlier caused an error that tied the game) would deliver the go-ahead run.  Yokose in his 7th inning of work would close it out to give Nobeoka Gakuen the title!  It would be their 7th title and first in 3 years.

St. Ursula alas once again falls just short, and will have to wait for the fall tournament for another shot at Koushien...

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