Well, so far the games have gone almost as "planned" today. Kochi-Shinkou Gakuen was close as expected, and even be considered more exciting. Morimoto for Chuukyoudai Chuukyou was a bit shakier than expected, and Moriokadai Fuzoku put up one heck of a fight - but Chuukyou held on for the win.
The last game of the day should be interesting. Chiben Wakayama, who earned an at-large bid, will be looking to give Takashima-kantoku his record-breaking win. They'll look to do that against the Hokushinetsu champions Takaoka Shougyou.
The team is in a bit of flux again mainly with the loss of ace Okada. And in the meantime, Takashima has been auditioning players for the position. Frontrunner is current ace Yoshimoto Hiroshi, a southpaw with a slider, curve and change. His other go-to guy is Aoki Yuuto, another lefty. Miyagawa has been used also, perhaps being the main righty on the staff while Uenoyama hasn't really seen much work.
If one were to look at the team's stats for the fall, one would think they're a big offensive team. But the problem with that thinking can be seen by the times Chiben has appeared at Koshien recently:
Spring - '94, '96, '00, '02-'03, '06, '08
Summer - '91-'93, '96-'00, '02-'03, '05-'09
Yeah. They've been the team from Wakayama. And if you've looked at the qualifying over the past couple of years, it just hasn't been close.
So while the Kinki region is strong as a whole, Wakayama outside of Chiben Wakayama is fairly weak. That means that the numbers they post could be considered inflated. Indeed once they left the cozy confines of their prefecture, they defeated Shiga #2 Yasu Koukou easily, but then fell 7-6 to Ritsumeikan Uji.
Nevertheless, potential offensive players to watch are Yamamoto and Nishikawa.
Takaoka Shougyou was the winner of the Hokushinesu region. Unfortunately, yet perhaps rightly so, that region is not really considered a strong region. Nihon Bunri's run to the finals last summer was an amazing and rare occurrence.
But what may give them a chance was the teams they played to win the tournament. They includes such teams as Kanazawa, Chuuetsu, Fukui Koudai Fukui and Tsuruga Kehi in the super-regionals - then Akita Shougyou and Toukaidai Sagami in the Meiji Jingu Taikai. These teams have had Koshien experience so their performance could be considered more "proven" than otherwise considered.
Pitching duties predominantly fall to ace Nabeta who throws around 130 with a curve and slider. His numbers look particularly impressive (81 IP, 7.22 H/9, 8.11 K/9, 1.11 BB/9). Occasionally Shindou will start to spell Nabeda, but he does not get a lot of work.
Offensively, the team doesn't hit for a high average (given the competition though, this could be correctly adjusted compared to say a Chiben Wakayama). But they do get extra-base hits (15 2B and 10 3B in 11 games). They don't really walk nor steal bases. Players to watch would be Matsushima and Yamamoto.
We've seen "finesse" pitchers succeed here so far. But even if you discount Chiben's offense Nabeta will have to pitch a great game to advance into the next round.
Hm. It looks like Takashima-kantoku is going a different direction on the mound. He's sending #11 Fujii Tsuyoshi to start! I don't have any information on him and a quick search shows that he was an ace in middle school and has a two-seam, cutter, fork, slider and curve. Yet he's seen no game experience at all! Interesting selection by the manager!
Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama) - Kinki At-large
CF Shiroyama Akinori
2B Iwasado Ryou
RF Nishikawa Haruki
1B Yamamoto Sadahiro
C Michibata Shunsuke
LF Miyakawa Yuuki (#10)
3B Seto Yuuzuke
SS Ogasawara Tomohiro
P Fujii Tsuyoshi (#11)
Takaoka Shougyou (Toyama) - Hokushinetsu Champion
SS Teragoshi Shouta
2B Murata Yuusuke
C Matsushima Masaki
RF Yamamoto Keisuke
1B Takamori Shouhei
LF Tsuchiya Yuuho
3B Yamamichi Atsuo
P Nabeta Hironari
CF Mukaiyama Makoto
__________________________________________________
14:43 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Not a particularly good start for Nabeta as he walks leadoff batter Shiroyama.
Iwasado showing bunt, but Nabeta's first 2 pitches are high. After a strike, he lays the bunt down and Nabeta goes for 2nd, but it's clearly going to be late! Everyone's safe! Who was telling him to go (or not to go) to 2nd?
Matsushima out to the mount to talk to Nabeta.
Haruki up now, and while he shows bunt, it seems like he's swinging away.
Grounder to 2nd! Murata to Teragoshi for one, relay to Takamori, double play!
4-6-3 double play puts Takasho one out away from getting out of the inning!
But Nabeta's control issues persist! He falls behind Yamamoto 3-0 before firing a strike in. Yamamoto's given the green light and fouls it off running the count full.
SANSHIN! Nabeta fires a slider in for strike 3 and they're out of the inning!
Bottom 1st
Teragoshi with a single back up the middle! Murata immediately bunts him to 2nd.
Michibata out to the mound to talk to Fujii.
Matsushima looking for the timely hit. Tries the safety bunt! Pushes it foul.
And Matsushima goes down swinging for the 2nd out!
Cleanup batter Yamamoto to try and get the timely hit. But he flies out to Shiroyama to end the inning. Both teams with opportunities in the 1st, but nothing comes out of it.
Top 2nd
Nabeta gest Michibata to hit a shallow fly to right, and Murata is under it for the first out.
But Miyakawa with a drive to right center that bounces all the way to the wall for a double!
Seto with a drive to right! Yamamoto backpedaling, leaps and makes the catch! Miyakawa returns back to 2nd. 2 down.
One more batter in Ogasawara for Nabeta to get out. But Ogasawa singles past a diving Teragoshi! Tsuchiya up with it quickly and Miyakawa has to hold at 3rd.
Fujii up to try and give himself a lead. Meanwhile Matshshima goes back to the mound to talk with Nabeta.
But Fujii grounds to 2nd. Murata with some difficulty tossing it, but has plenty of time to make the force at 2nd to end the inning. Once again Murata plays magician and gets out of the inning, but really - how long can he keep this up?
Bottom 2nd
Fujii gets Takamori swinging for the first out, but then turns around and walks Tsuchiya.
WHAT??????????????
Yamamichi's oen-dan music is Hare Hare Yukai!!!!!!!!!!!!
HARUHI FOR THE WIN!
Unfortunately, Yamamichi loses as he cannot check his swing.
Nabeda up, but Miyabukuro-kantoku sends Tsuchiya on the 1-2 pitch! Michibata throws to 2nd and Iwasado makes the tag for the 3rd out!
Top 3rd
Shiroyama up and oddly enough I haven't heard the oen-dan play Jock Rock yet...
Grounder to short, and Teragoshi can't pickup the ball! He's charged with the error. Iwasado immediately with the sac bunt and Chiben Wakayama is threatening.
Nabeta gets ahead of Haruki 1-2, but then misses badly on the next 2 running the count full.
But Haruki hits a grounder to 2nd. Murata with it, but Takamori was going to get it as well! Takamori and Nabeda scramble to 1st, but it's too late! Infield hit for Murata and runners are at the corners for Chiben!
Now all Yamamoto needs is a sac fly to get Chiben on the board.
And I still don't hear Jock Rock. What gives?
Yamamoto gets the job done. Lifts a 1-2 slider to right. Takaoka's Yamamoto (boy that's confusing) camps under the ball, but can't put a good throw on it and the relay throw from Murata is late. Chiben Wakayama takes the lead 1-0.
Michibata flies out to center to end the inning, but Chiben strikes first!
Bottom 3rd
Fujii records his 4th K as Nabeda whiffs on a forkball.
Mukaiyama gets ahead 3-0 on Fujii, but ends up flying out to Miyakawa in left-center.
Back to the top of the order and Teragoshi, and ace Yoshimoto is warming up in the bullpen.
Teragoshi works Fujii for an 8 pitch AB, but hits a grounder back to Fujii to end the inning.
Top 4th
Miyakawa grounds back to Nabeda for the 1st out.
Hm... looks like it's starting to rain again as some umbrellas are coming out.
Seto with a hard chopper up the 3rd base line, but Yamamichi makes the grab and the strong throw to 1st.
Ogasawara continues to test the defense with a grounder to the left side. Teragoshi with the sliding backhanded grab, pops up and makes another good throw to nail Ogasawara (who by the way is running through the bag, yay!)
Bottom 4th
Murata with an easy grounder to Iwasado for the 1st out.
Matsushima with a swinging bunt, but the ball dies in the mud right in front of home. That allows Michibata to get it and make the easy throw to 1st for the 2nd out.
Yamamoto (Keisuke) up now. Hits a grounder to 3rd. Seto block the ball, picks it up, and throws to first, WIDE!
Seto's throw is wide right and gets by Yamamoto (Sadahiro). E5 gives Takasho a runner with 2 down.
Takamori though pops it up in foul territory and Michibata makes the catch in front of the Takasho dugout for the 3rd out.,
Top 5th
Ah, there we go. No Koshien with Chiben Wakayama is complete without Jock Rock, and I finally hear it as Fuji starts out the 5th inning.
Fujii with a grounder back up the middle to lead off the inning.
No doubt Shiroyama is bunting here. But bunts the first pitch foul. Lays the 2nd one down though and gets the job done.
Iwasado up and ooo....
Nabeta throws the 1-0 pitch behind Iwasado's head.
And Nabeta loses Iwasado! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Chiben and the ground really doesn't look good.
Miyabukuro-kantoku barks out directions as Haruki steps in.
Haruki with a drive to right center! That zips by Keisuke and goes all the way to the wall! Fujii scores, Iwasado all the way from 1st scores! The throw by Keisuke misses both cutoff men and Haruki is in with a 2-run triple!! 3-0 Chiben!
Sadahiro with a grounder that zips by Yamamichi into left, scoring Haruki and making it 4-0.
Nabeta now having issues finding the plate. #10 Shindou is warming up as Nabeta walks Michibata on 4 straight.
Miyakawa with a fly to left center. But the defense was shifted to right! Tsuchiya and Mukaiyama converge, but can't get to the ball! Sadahiro's being sent home and the relay throw is high! Sadahiro scores and it's 5-0!
Seto with a drive to center! Mukaiyama running to the wall and it lands just in front! Michibata scores! Mukaiyama fires the ball in keeping Miyakawa from scoring, but that's the 6th batter to reach safely and it's 6-0 Chiben!
Conference on the mound, and at this point I don't think they're bringing in a relief pitcher unless things get really out of hand.
Ogasawara hits a fly to left, but it's not deep enough to get anyone in and there's 2 down.
Fujii steps up to the plate for the 2nd time this inning. He goes down looking to end the inning, but 10 batters come up to the plate, scoring 5 runs and probably putting the game out of reach.
Bottom 5th
Tsuchiya flies out to center to start the inning.
And now I can bob my head to Haruhi...
Or not. Yamamichi with good contact, but right to Haruki for the 2nd out.
(Oy! Stay at bat longer won't you!)
Nabeta goes down swinging. We head into the break, and Fujii has only given up 1 hit and 1 walk.
Top 6th
I barely have time to get set from the break when the top of the 6th is over!
Shiroyama flies out to left, Iwasado pops up to Takamori in foul territory, and Haruki grounds out to Murata to end the inning.
And the field looks like a complete mess. The lights are reflecting off the infield ground, and you can hear the players running through the muck.
Bottom 6th
Mukaiyama, trying to get on base, attempts a safety bunt, but pushes it foul. He works Fujii, but can only manage a grounder back to Fujii for the 1st out.
Teragoshi with a drive to right center! That goes past the outfielders and all the way to the wall! Shiroyama gets the ball in, but not before Teragoshi's in with a triple!
Sac fly from Murata will get the run in, but they need a hit more given the inning.
Murata falls behind 0-2 though. But Fujii leaves a ball in the middle and Murata sends it past Fujii into center! Teragoshi scores and Takasho is on the board! 6-1!
Miyabukuro puts on the hit-and run! But Matsushima fouls it off... And he goes down swinging on a ball in the... er... mud. That allows Murata to advance into scoring position for Keisuke.
Keisuke though, strikes out looking an a fastball on the inside corner to end the inning. They avoided the shutout, but they're still a bit of a ways from being back in contention.
Top 7th
It's getting pretty dark at Koshien now, and the shine off the ground is getting more pronounced.
Sadahiro hits a hard liner, but right at Mukaiyama who doesn't even have to move.
Michibata with a grounder past a diving Takamori into right for his first hit.
Miyakawa first pitch flies out to center, and Seto first pitch fouls out to Matsushima to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
Takamori quickly grounds out to 2nd for the 1st out.
Tsuchiya ahead 2-0 also grounds out to 2nd.
Yamamichi up and I get the Haruhi music... for about 3 seconds. He hits a dribble up the 3rd base line. Seto charges in, makes a fine throw to beat out a hustling Yamamichi.
Top 8th
The rain continues to fall with puddles forming behind home plate, amongst other areas.
Ogasawara grounds out to 3rd to start off the 8th.
Fujii goes down looking on 3 straight and there's quickly 2 down.
Oh, it's pouring now...
And just when Nabeta looked to have an easy 1-2-3 inning, he walks Shiroyama. But then jams Iwasado. He fists one towards short, but Teragoshi leaps and makes the catch to retire the side.
Bottom 8th
Wonder if the rain is affecting Fujii. He walks Nabeta to start off the inning.
First pitch from Fujii to Mukaiyama is way wide. Michibata has to leap out to get it.
But Mukaiyama offers at two pitches up and away and there's 1 down.
Teragoshi falls behind 0-2, and a wild pitch allows Nabeta to advance to 2nd. Teragoshi then manages to work the count full, but goes down swinging as well on a slider.
Murata with a hard shot! But Seto puts out his glove and comes up with it. And I don't think he can believe he caught the ball.
Top 9th
I think Chiben Wakayama wants to get out of the rain as soon as possible. Haruki is swinging away and grounds one back to Nabeta.
Sadahiro quickly follows with a fly out to center.
Michibata swinging at the first good pitch pops one to shallow right. Murata backpedaling, but the ball goes off his glove! Keisuke can't catch it off the bounce and Michibata slides into 2nd.
Hm... #7 Bandou pinch hitting for Miyakawa. But he goes down looking to end the inning.
Bottom 9th
Last ups for Takasho. #14 Nishikawa Yuusuke comes in for PH Bandou and takes over in LF.
Matsushima grounds out to Seto. Matsushima literally slid about 10 feet, hit the bag, and slid for like another 5. Man the field must be terrible.
Fujii walks Keisuke on 4 straight, and it's pretty obvious he's fighting the rain.
Oh dear lord. It is a large downpour out there. I guess the umpires decided to finish the game hell or high water. No pun intended.
Takamori pops one to short. Ogasawara just on the outfield grass makes the catch.
2 down for Tsuchiya and he singles through to right!
Yamamichi up with runners at 1st and 2nd. Perhaps another couple of sloppy hits and Takasho might be back in it.
Um.. the home plate umpire is wiping off home plate. Is that really going to help now?
Yamamichi grounds out to short, and Ogasawara tosses to Iwasado for the final out.
The game is finally over, and Takashima-kantoku now holds the record for wins at Koshien. And it was done in the pouring rain.
For Takaoka Shougyou, they certainly did their best given the conditions, but I guess fate had it in for them this day. The weather gods certainly have not been kind this year.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Day 3 - Game 2 - Moriokadai Fuzoku (Iwate) vs. Chuukyoudai Chuukyou (Aichi)
The middle game will be interesting to watch. Because Chuukyoudai Chuukyou will be looking to hold both the spring and summer Koshien titles.
While Doubayashi Shouta has left for Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium, he leaves the team in the hands of Morimoto Jyunpei - who really was the savior of the championship game against Nihon Bunri. Yet, he's not the only ace in the hole they have! He splits time with #10 Asano Fumiya who is not as dominating, but almost just as effective. Look at their lines:
Morimoto - 46.2 IP, 6.364 H/9, 8.293 K/9, 1.929 BB/9
Fumiya - 29.1 IP, 7.977 H/9, 6.136 K/9, 2.761 BB/9
Offensively, they still have the pop in the lineup in Isomura and Iwaikawa (.228 and .346 ISO in 9 games).
Moriokadai Fuzoku has been no stranger to Koshien (4 summer appearances in the last decade), but certainly were overshadowed recently by Kikuchi Yuusei and Hanamaki Higashi.
They have a pitching duo on the mound, not necessarily like Morimoto and Fumiya, but perhaps more like Kubo and Baba of Deanna's darlings Saga Kita. For the most part, they split the innings (ace Shiraishi takes a larger percentage though), and they give two different looks - Shiraishi is a righty, Takatou a southpaw; Shiraishi gives up fewer hits, Takatou walks fewer batters:
Shiraishi - 58.2 IP, 5.523 H/9, 6.29 K/9, 3.222 BB/9
Takatou - 38 IP, 8.523 H/9, 5.921 K/9, 0.947 (!) BB/9
Offensively, they're like a lot of the other teams here. They can get their base hits, and take some walks, but don't hit for power or steal bases. The main exceptions are Tsukidate who has 5 of the team's 19 doubles, and Sasaki who also has 5 doubles and 6 SB.
We could be in for a pitcher's duel between the team's tandem of pitchers. Should be a lot of fun.
Takatou takes the hill for Moriokadai. Looks like they're trying for the lefty-on-lefty match-up. They'll take a hit on the quality of the pitcher, but they hope they'll make up for it on the platoon. If it works, they might have a chance.
Moriokadai Fuzoku (Iwate) - Tohoku Runner-up
LF Sasaki Masatoshi
3B Ishikawa Shouhei
SS Sakai Yuuki
C Tsukidate Hiroya
1B Satou Tomoyuki
RF Imakami Satoru (#8)
CF Shiraishi Takehiro(#1)
2B Sakurai Masaki
P Takatou Yuuji (#9)
Chuukyoudai Chuukyou (Aichi) - Tokai Runner-up
RF Ogiso Ryou
CF Iwatsuki Yuuma
P Morimoto Jyunpei
C Isomura Yoshitaka
LF Iwaikawa Yuuta
2B Fujinami Daisuke
3B Fukushima Hirotaka
1B Takeuchi Hirotaka
SS Kawamoto Takeshi
__________________________________________________
11:46 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
There are still quite a few umbrellas out in the stands. While the rain may be falling, the ground doesn't look the worse for wear. At least not yet.
Morimoto throwing predominantly fastballs (he only throws in the upper 120's) to start as he gets Sasaki to ground to 3rd.
And now there's a slow curve at 106 to Ishikawa for strike 1. And what might be a slider in at the low 120's just outside.
Boy the stands are empty.
Nubber to short by Ishikawa, handled by Kawamoto for out number 2.
And a grounder to 3rd by Nishikawa ends the inning. Morimoto still feeling at home here at Koshien half a year later retiring the side in order. He won't be mistaken for a Kikuchi Yuusei, but a Kuroda Hiroki? Maybe.
Bottom 1st
First pitch to Okiso a fastball blooped into center.
Uh oh. Iwatsuki walks on 4 straight.
Morimoto up and he's squaring to bunt! Don't you even wait to see if he throws a strike first?
Guess not. He lays it down, but deadens it right at home plate! Tsukidate up with it and fires to 3rd for the force!
Ah~~~ Wild pitch by Takatou moves both runners into scoring position! This is a really shaky start for Takatou!
Sekiguchi-kantoku with an immediate conference.
Isomura pops it up! Tsukidate under it and has it! 2 down. Takatou might get out of the inning after all!
And he gets ahead of Iwaikawa with a 1-1 fastball in.
Oh, Takatou has a fastball that sits in the low 130's and a change or curve in the 110's.
And Iwaikawa lines one back into center! Iwatsuki scores, but Morimoto has to hold at 3rd after Shiraishi fires a ball back to home! That was on the fly!
Anyways, Chuukyoudai Chuukyou is up 1-0!
Fujinami witha grounder that sneaks by Satou into right! Morimoto scores and it's a 2-0 game!
Fukushima flies to right, but it's not a good start for Moriokadai as they go behind 2 runs early.
Top 2nd
Tsukidate with a base hit to right-center, and while I thought it might go for a double, he holds for a single. That seemed a bit odd.
Satou looking to bunt, then pulling back. Showing bunt again and pulling it back for a ball. Ball low by Morimoto and it's 3-1. And a ball in the dirt gives Moriokadai runners at 1st and 2nd with no out!
Isomura goes out to chat, then the infield makes it an impromptu conference.
Imakami up now also looking to bunt. Pops it foul! Oy. But he puts it down and now it's Moriokadai with the runners in scoring position.
Morimoto starts Shiraishi off with a curve that he whiffs on. Foul ball makes it 0-2.
He swings at a pitch down in the zone! It's a soft liner that falls behind the infield for a base hit! Iwaikawa is up with it quickly so Satou has to hold at 3rd, but Shiraishi gets one of the runs back. It's 2-1.
Sakurai up to try and... SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First pitch he puts the bunt down the 1st base line! Takeuchi with it and tags Sakurai, but Satou comes in from 3rd and Moriokadai comes right back! 動転!!
Takatou flies out to left to end the inning, but perhaps we have a game on our hands?
Bottom 2nd
Takeuchi with a comebacker right at Takatou's feet and it scoots into center for a leadoff single.
Kawamoto up, looking to bunt but falls behind 0-2. Still looking to bunt, puts it in the air!
But Ishikawa has over-charged the ball and it goes over his head! He quickly goes back to it, but drops the ball! Base hit!
And the field isn't in as good condition as I thought. When that ball is dropped, there's a good chuck of mud that ends up on it. Puddles may not be forming, but the field is certainly getting worse.
Back to the top of the order and Okiso looks to bunt. He lays it down and the runners advance. Takatou is in a pinch for the 2nd consecutive inning!
あぶない! Takatou with a high pitch but Tsukidate keeps it in front.
Grounder to 3rd. Ishikawa can't field it! It goes into left and Takeuchi scores! 3-2 Chuukyoudai! It's an error on Ishikawa, but I can't tell if the ball takes a side hop past him or not. Either way, Takatou can't escape damage here in the 2nd - and there's still only 1 down!
Moriomoto up to help his own cause. Iwatsuki takes off on the 1-0 pitch, and it's inside on Morimoto allowing him to steal 2nd easily!
And Takatou walks Morimoto and the bases are loaded! Sekiguchi-kantoku calls time while #10 Tateshita warms up in the bullpen.
To make matters worse, cleanup batter Isomura is up...
Takatou does get ahead 0-2.
Grounder up the middle! Sakai over, gets it! Steps on 2nd for one, throw to 1st, double play!!
Moriokadai turns two and they get out of the inning without further damage! They should feel fortunate, but they're once again behind.
Top 3rd
Top of the order for Moriokadai continues to struggle against Morimoto. Ishikawa does give the ball a good drive to center, but Iwatsuki easily tracks it down.
Bottom 3rd
Takatou finally has an uneventful inning. He strikes out Iwaikawa looking, gets Fujinami to ground to 2nd, and after a bit of a struggle against Fukushima, strikes him out looking.
Top 4th
Tsukidate with a grounder to short. Kawamoto up with it, throw is short and gets by Takeuchi! E6 and Moriokadai gets the lead runner on!
Satou trying to bunt can't lay it down. He falls behind 1-2, then a wild pitch by Morimoto! Tsukidate advances to 2nd!
Satou continues to stay alive, fouling off pitches and working the count full. 9th pitch of the AB now, and he grounds to short. Tsukidate takes off on contact and Kawamoto goes to 1st.
Infield in for Chuukyoudai looking for a play at the plate.
Imakami with a fly to left! Iwaikawa under it, but it's plenty far to get the run home! They've tied it back at 3-3!
Come to think of it, that's the first sac fly I remember this tournament!
Shiraishi earns a walk with 2 down.
Sakurai with a hard hit to 3rd, but Fukushima has it. Throw is short! But Takeuchi makes a nice pick to get the out. Once again though, Moriokadai rallies and levels the score!
Bottom 4th
Ew. The batters boxes are starting to look pretty muddy. Also the place where the home plate umpire is standing doesn't look good either.
Takeuchi works the count full, but ends up lining to left.
Kawamoto earns a walk, and the lineup turns over to the top.
Hit-and-run from Oofuji! Ogiso grounds to short, but his only play is to 1st. Runner on 2nd, 2 down for Iwatsuki.
He's jammed as he hits one to shallow center, but it falls in! Kawamoto scores from 2nd and once again Takatou is unable to hold the lead! 4-3!
Morimoto strikes out to end the inning, but Chuukyoudai retakes the lead!
Top 5th
That'll be the end of the day for Takatou. #11 Suzuki pinch-hits for him to lead off the 5th.
And he walks on 4 straight!
Moriokadai gets the tying run on base, and Suzuki's done his job. He's replaced at 1st by #12 Kai. Sasaki immediately looks to bunt him over. He tries the push bunt, but Takeuchi isn't overplaying and makes the putout.
Ishikawa shows bunt, but pulls it back for ball 1. He hits a hard grounder to 2nd, and Fujinami goes to 1st. Kai advances to 3rd, but there's 2 out.
And the top of the order remains stymied. Sakai hits a fly to center to end the inning. The top 3 batters are a combined 0-9.
Bottom 5th
With Takatou out of the game, Shiraishi takes the mound. Imakami moves to his spot in center, and Kai stays in the game to play center.
Shiraishi has a fastball in the high 130's and a curve in the mid 110's.
Isomura collects his first hit, grounding a ball through to right. Iwaikawa immediately bunts him over.
Hm... Chuukyou's playing Keio Chance waaaaaaaay to fast...
Fujinami pops out to Sakurai on the right field foul line. 2 down.
Shiraishi gets ahead 0-2 on Fukushima then throws 2 balls not really close. He hits a drive down the left side! But it's hooking foul as Sasaki makes a sliding attempt.
And Fukushima is hit by Shiraishi! Well, at least the ball hits his back foot while he tries to get away.
But the threat is neutralized as Shiraishi gets Takeuchi to flyout to center.
Top 6th
Morimoto walks his 2nd leadoff batter in as many innings. That the 4th leadoff runner allowed by Morimoto so far.
Ah, and it looks like they put out the diamond dry around the bases during the maintenance break.
Satou looking to bunt him over, but takes a called strike 2. Now what?
He tries to bunt again, but fouls it off! One down!
Imakami with a hit to shallow center. Tsukidate holds at 2nd. Now the failed bunt means that the tying run is at 2nd not 3rd.
And Shiraishi pops it up! Infield fly rule is called as Kawamoto secures it. 2 down!
Sakurai shows bunt?? Certainly he can't be serious? He shows it two more times taking each pitch. Count goes to 2-1, and he ends up walking him! Manrui for Moriokadai!
Oofuji-kantoku calls for a conference. Tying run is 90 feet away as new CF Kai steps into the box.
Now Kai feigns bunt! Fielders don't respond. 2-2 pitch fouled off. And another off his foot.
Ah! He reaches down and pops it up! Iwaikawa comes in and makes the catch in shallow center. Big opportunity lost by Moriokadai!
Bottom 6th
Kawamoto leads off the 6th with a walk. He's been on base all 3 times today.
And the first pitch to Ogiso goes off Tsukidate's glove! Kawamoto advances to 2nd! Now Ogiso's bunt moves him to 3rd instead of 2nd! Now a sac fly from Iwatsuki extends the lead!
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!
Iwatsuki tries to lay down the squeeze on Shiraishi's 1-1 pitch, but he can't make contact! Kawamoto is trapped! He's run down 2-5 and the immediate threat is over!
Iwatsuki is jammed and dribbles a ball down the 1st base line. Satou flips to Shiraishi for the out and a great opportunity by Chuukyoudai is wasted!
Top 7th
Sasaki up 3-0, tries to get a walk but after 2 strikes by Morimoto ends up flying to left.
Ishikawa fares no better, getting under a ball and fouling out to 1st.
Sakai finally gets his first hit with a grounder to left! That's the first hit by the top of the order!
Tsukidate reaching out and grounding one to the left side. Kawamoto runs it down, but has no momentum on the throw and Tsukidate beats it out! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Moriokadai!
Satou steps in, 0-2 on the day. Need a timely hit here.
Tries to go the other way on the first pitch! Iwaikawa running over, diving, but it goes foul!
And Satou strikes out looking on a pitch on the inside corner! Might have been low, but it doesn't matter! Moriokadai is turned away once again!
Bottom 7th
Morimoto takes a first pitch curve to center for a leadoff hit! That's the 5th inning where the leadoff batter has reached base! Isomura immediately bunts him over.
WOW! Iwaikawa just turned on that 1-0 pitch from Shiraishi and sent a laser to right! Imakami runs it down at the wall, but Morimoto can just stroll in from 2nd. RBI double for Iwaikawa and Chuukyoudai has added an insurance run. It's 5-3!
Fujinami with a hard grounder! Ishikawa blocks it, fumbles a little with the ball, but has time to make the throw to 1st for the out. 2 down for Fukushima.
Cameras pan over to Chuukyoudai's bullpen where #10 Asano is warming up.
Fukushima strikes out to end the inning, but Chuukyou has extended their lead. And it looks like Asano is coming into the game!
Top 8th
So Asano comes in for 3B Fukushima. Kawamoto moves to 3B, and Morimoto shifts to short. Interesting shift.
One down quickly as Imakami flies out to right on the first pitch.
But Shiraishi earns a walk. And Sakurai gets one as well! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Moriokadai!
#13 Omiya comes in to PH for Kai. Tying run on base, just need a base hit to trim the margin.
Hm. Omiya is wearing glasses. Been a while since I remember a player wearing glasses in game.
But he lifts a ball to right and there's 2 down. Shiraishi advances to 3rd.
Moriokadai desperately needs a hit from leadoff batter Sasaki. But he harmlessly flies out to center and that ends the inning.
Bottom 8th
#17 Saitou comes in for PH Omiya and takes over in right. Imakami shifts to center.
Quick out by Takeuchi as he pops up foul on the 3rd base side.
Ow... Kawamoto is hit right around the kneecap. He stays down for a while, then eventually makes his way to 1st.
And he takes off??! After being hit in the knee area, he's sent on a 2-1 pitch to 2nd! Almost expectedly he's thrown out - although it was closer than I had thought.
Grounder to 3rd by Ogiso ends the inning. Last ups for Moriokadai, down 2!
Top 9th
Ishikawa walks on 4 straight to leadoff the inning! Isomura out to talk to Asano.
Sakai with a bunt?! Asano over to field it, falls down!! Gets up, but it's too late, everyone's reached base!
Ah? What's this? Oofuji pulls Asano and puts back ace Morimoto to the hill! #14 Suzuki comes in Asano's spot and takes short. Morimoto will be looked on to close the game, much like he did last summer.
Tsukidate up. Will they give up an out to put runners in scoring position? Looks like it.
Up and in for ball 1 puts him on his seat to start. Count 2-1, he lays it down. Tying run in scoring position.
Bunt again from Satou?? Just showing it.
Grounder to 2nd! But Fujinami is up with it and he makes the play at 1st. Ishikawa scores to make it 5-4, but there's 2 down!
Conference on the mound. Just need one more.
AH! Imakami with a drive, but it's foul into the oen-dan! Down to his last strike!
Fouled off! Check swing... check 1st base umpire, didn't go!
Curve down and away, count even.
Grounder to 3rd! Kawamoto up with it, throw to 1st... in time!
Moriokadai Fuzoku pulls within 1 here in the 9th, but leave the tying run 90 feet away! Morimoto and Chuukyoudai Chuukyou hold on for the 5-4 win!
Notable Players
WP - Morimoto Jyunpei (Chuukyoudai Chuukyou) - SV, 8 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 K, 5 BB
LP - Takatou Yuuji (Moriokadai Fuzoku) - 4 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 K, 3 BB
Iwaikawa Yuuta (Chuukyoudai Chuukyou) - 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Kawamoto Takeshi (Chuukyoudai Chuukyou) - 1-1, R, 3 BB
Tsukidate Hiroya (Moriokadai Fuzoku) - 2-3, 2 R, BB
Sakurai Masaki (Moriokadai Fuzoku) - 0-1, 2 BB
While Doubayashi Shouta has left for Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium, he leaves the team in the hands of Morimoto Jyunpei - who really was the savior of the championship game against Nihon Bunri. Yet, he's not the only ace in the hole they have! He splits time with #10 Asano Fumiya who is not as dominating, but almost just as effective. Look at their lines:
Morimoto - 46.2 IP, 6.364 H/9, 8.293 K/9, 1.929 BB/9
Fumiya - 29.1 IP, 7.977 H/9, 6.136 K/9, 2.761 BB/9
Offensively, they still have the pop in the lineup in Isomura and Iwaikawa (.228 and .346 ISO in 9 games).
Moriokadai Fuzoku has been no stranger to Koshien (4 summer appearances in the last decade), but certainly were overshadowed recently by Kikuchi Yuusei and Hanamaki Higashi.
They have a pitching duo on the mound, not necessarily like Morimoto and Fumiya, but perhaps more like Kubo and Baba of Deanna's darlings Saga Kita. For the most part, they split the innings (ace Shiraishi takes a larger percentage though), and they give two different looks - Shiraishi is a righty, Takatou a southpaw; Shiraishi gives up fewer hits, Takatou walks fewer batters:
Shiraishi - 58.2 IP, 5.523 H/9, 6.29 K/9, 3.222 BB/9
Takatou - 38 IP, 8.523 H/9, 5.921 K/9, 0.947 (!) BB/9
Offensively, they're like a lot of the other teams here. They can get their base hits, and take some walks, but don't hit for power or steal bases. The main exceptions are Tsukidate who has 5 of the team's 19 doubles, and Sasaki who also has 5 doubles and 6 SB.
We could be in for a pitcher's duel between the team's tandem of pitchers. Should be a lot of fun.
Takatou takes the hill for Moriokadai. Looks like they're trying for the lefty-on-lefty match-up. They'll take a hit on the quality of the pitcher, but they hope they'll make up for it on the platoon. If it works, they might have a chance.
Moriokadai Fuzoku (Iwate) - Tohoku Runner-up
LF Sasaki Masatoshi
3B Ishikawa Shouhei
SS Sakai Yuuki
C Tsukidate Hiroya
1B Satou Tomoyuki
RF Imakami Satoru (#8)
CF Shiraishi Takehiro(#1)
2B Sakurai Masaki
P Takatou Yuuji (#9)
Chuukyoudai Chuukyou (Aichi) - Tokai Runner-up
RF Ogiso Ryou
CF Iwatsuki Yuuma
P Morimoto Jyunpei
C Isomura Yoshitaka
LF Iwaikawa Yuuta
2B Fujinami Daisuke
3B Fukushima Hirotaka
1B Takeuchi Hirotaka
SS Kawamoto Takeshi
__________________________________________________
11:46 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
There are still quite a few umbrellas out in the stands. While the rain may be falling, the ground doesn't look the worse for wear. At least not yet.
Morimoto throwing predominantly fastballs (he only throws in the upper 120's) to start as he gets Sasaki to ground to 3rd.
And now there's a slow curve at 106 to Ishikawa for strike 1. And what might be a slider in at the low 120's just outside.
Boy the stands are empty.
Nubber to short by Ishikawa, handled by Kawamoto for out number 2.
And a grounder to 3rd by Nishikawa ends the inning. Morimoto still feeling at home here at Koshien half a year later retiring the side in order. He won't be mistaken for a Kikuchi Yuusei, but a Kuroda Hiroki? Maybe.
Bottom 1st
First pitch to Okiso a fastball blooped into center.
Uh oh. Iwatsuki walks on 4 straight.
Morimoto up and he's squaring to bunt! Don't you even wait to see if he throws a strike first?
Guess not. He lays it down, but deadens it right at home plate! Tsukidate up with it and fires to 3rd for the force!
Ah~~~ Wild pitch by Takatou moves both runners into scoring position! This is a really shaky start for Takatou!
Sekiguchi-kantoku with an immediate conference.
Isomura pops it up! Tsukidate under it and has it! 2 down. Takatou might get out of the inning after all!
And he gets ahead of Iwaikawa with a 1-1 fastball in.
Oh, Takatou has a fastball that sits in the low 130's and a change or curve in the 110's.
And Iwaikawa lines one back into center! Iwatsuki scores, but Morimoto has to hold at 3rd after Shiraishi fires a ball back to home! That was on the fly!
Anyways, Chuukyoudai Chuukyou is up 1-0!
Fujinami witha grounder that sneaks by Satou into right! Morimoto scores and it's a 2-0 game!
Fukushima flies to right, but it's not a good start for Moriokadai as they go behind 2 runs early.
Top 2nd
Tsukidate with a base hit to right-center, and while I thought it might go for a double, he holds for a single. That seemed a bit odd.
Satou looking to bunt, then pulling back. Showing bunt again and pulling it back for a ball. Ball low by Morimoto and it's 3-1. And a ball in the dirt gives Moriokadai runners at 1st and 2nd with no out!
Isomura goes out to chat, then the infield makes it an impromptu conference.
Imakami up now also looking to bunt. Pops it foul! Oy. But he puts it down and now it's Moriokadai with the runners in scoring position.
Morimoto starts Shiraishi off with a curve that he whiffs on. Foul ball makes it 0-2.
He swings at a pitch down in the zone! It's a soft liner that falls behind the infield for a base hit! Iwaikawa is up with it quickly so Satou has to hold at 3rd, but Shiraishi gets one of the runs back. It's 2-1.
Sakurai up to try and... SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First pitch he puts the bunt down the 1st base line! Takeuchi with it and tags Sakurai, but Satou comes in from 3rd and Moriokadai comes right back! 動転!!
Takatou flies out to left to end the inning, but perhaps we have a game on our hands?
Bottom 2nd
Takeuchi with a comebacker right at Takatou's feet and it scoots into center for a leadoff single.
Kawamoto up, looking to bunt but falls behind 0-2. Still looking to bunt, puts it in the air!
But Ishikawa has over-charged the ball and it goes over his head! He quickly goes back to it, but drops the ball! Base hit!
And the field isn't in as good condition as I thought. When that ball is dropped, there's a good chuck of mud that ends up on it. Puddles may not be forming, but the field is certainly getting worse.
Back to the top of the order and Okiso looks to bunt. He lays it down and the runners advance. Takatou is in a pinch for the 2nd consecutive inning!
あぶない! Takatou with a high pitch but Tsukidate keeps it in front.
Grounder to 3rd. Ishikawa can't field it! It goes into left and Takeuchi scores! 3-2 Chuukyoudai! It's an error on Ishikawa, but I can't tell if the ball takes a side hop past him or not. Either way, Takatou can't escape damage here in the 2nd - and there's still only 1 down!
Moriomoto up to help his own cause. Iwatsuki takes off on the 1-0 pitch, and it's inside on Morimoto allowing him to steal 2nd easily!
And Takatou walks Morimoto and the bases are loaded! Sekiguchi-kantoku calls time while #10 Tateshita warms up in the bullpen.
To make matters worse, cleanup batter Isomura is up...
Takatou does get ahead 0-2.
Grounder up the middle! Sakai over, gets it! Steps on 2nd for one, throw to 1st, double play!!
Moriokadai turns two and they get out of the inning without further damage! They should feel fortunate, but they're once again behind.
Top 3rd
Top of the order for Moriokadai continues to struggle against Morimoto. Ishikawa does give the ball a good drive to center, but Iwatsuki easily tracks it down.
Bottom 3rd
Takatou finally has an uneventful inning. He strikes out Iwaikawa looking, gets Fujinami to ground to 2nd, and after a bit of a struggle against Fukushima, strikes him out looking.
Top 4th
Tsukidate with a grounder to short. Kawamoto up with it, throw is short and gets by Takeuchi! E6 and Moriokadai gets the lead runner on!
Satou trying to bunt can't lay it down. He falls behind 1-2, then a wild pitch by Morimoto! Tsukidate advances to 2nd!
Satou continues to stay alive, fouling off pitches and working the count full. 9th pitch of the AB now, and he grounds to short. Tsukidate takes off on contact and Kawamoto goes to 1st.
Infield in for Chuukyoudai looking for a play at the plate.
Imakami with a fly to left! Iwaikawa under it, but it's plenty far to get the run home! They've tied it back at 3-3!
Come to think of it, that's the first sac fly I remember this tournament!
Shiraishi earns a walk with 2 down.
Sakurai with a hard hit to 3rd, but Fukushima has it. Throw is short! But Takeuchi makes a nice pick to get the out. Once again though, Moriokadai rallies and levels the score!
Bottom 4th
Ew. The batters boxes are starting to look pretty muddy. Also the place where the home plate umpire is standing doesn't look good either.
Takeuchi works the count full, but ends up lining to left.
Kawamoto earns a walk, and the lineup turns over to the top.
Hit-and-run from Oofuji! Ogiso grounds to short, but his only play is to 1st. Runner on 2nd, 2 down for Iwatsuki.
He's jammed as he hits one to shallow center, but it falls in! Kawamoto scores from 2nd and once again Takatou is unable to hold the lead! 4-3!
Morimoto strikes out to end the inning, but Chuukyoudai retakes the lead!
Top 5th
That'll be the end of the day for Takatou. #11 Suzuki pinch-hits for him to lead off the 5th.
And he walks on 4 straight!
Moriokadai gets the tying run on base, and Suzuki's done his job. He's replaced at 1st by #12 Kai. Sasaki immediately looks to bunt him over. He tries the push bunt, but Takeuchi isn't overplaying and makes the putout.
Ishikawa shows bunt, but pulls it back for ball 1. He hits a hard grounder to 2nd, and Fujinami goes to 1st. Kai advances to 3rd, but there's 2 out.
And the top of the order remains stymied. Sakai hits a fly to center to end the inning. The top 3 batters are a combined 0-9.
Bottom 5th
With Takatou out of the game, Shiraishi takes the mound. Imakami moves to his spot in center, and Kai stays in the game to play center.
Shiraishi has a fastball in the high 130's and a curve in the mid 110's.
Isomura collects his first hit, grounding a ball through to right. Iwaikawa immediately bunts him over.
Hm... Chuukyou's playing Keio Chance waaaaaaaay to fast...
Fujinami pops out to Sakurai on the right field foul line. 2 down.
Shiraishi gets ahead 0-2 on Fukushima then throws 2 balls not really close. He hits a drive down the left side! But it's hooking foul as Sasaki makes a sliding attempt.
And Fukushima is hit by Shiraishi! Well, at least the ball hits his back foot while he tries to get away.
But the threat is neutralized as Shiraishi gets Takeuchi to flyout to center.
Top 6th
Morimoto walks his 2nd leadoff batter in as many innings. That the 4th leadoff runner allowed by Morimoto so far.
Ah, and it looks like they put out the diamond dry around the bases during the maintenance break.
Satou looking to bunt him over, but takes a called strike 2. Now what?
He tries to bunt again, but fouls it off! One down!
Imakami with a hit to shallow center. Tsukidate holds at 2nd. Now the failed bunt means that the tying run is at 2nd not 3rd.
And Shiraishi pops it up! Infield fly rule is called as Kawamoto secures it. 2 down!
Sakurai shows bunt?? Certainly he can't be serious? He shows it two more times taking each pitch. Count goes to 2-1, and he ends up walking him! Manrui for Moriokadai!
Oofuji-kantoku calls for a conference. Tying run is 90 feet away as new CF Kai steps into the box.
Now Kai feigns bunt! Fielders don't respond. 2-2 pitch fouled off. And another off his foot.
Ah! He reaches down and pops it up! Iwaikawa comes in and makes the catch in shallow center. Big opportunity lost by Moriokadai!
Bottom 6th
Kawamoto leads off the 6th with a walk. He's been on base all 3 times today.
And the first pitch to Ogiso goes off Tsukidate's glove! Kawamoto advances to 2nd! Now Ogiso's bunt moves him to 3rd instead of 2nd! Now a sac fly from Iwatsuki extends the lead!
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!
Iwatsuki tries to lay down the squeeze on Shiraishi's 1-1 pitch, but he can't make contact! Kawamoto is trapped! He's run down 2-5 and the immediate threat is over!
Iwatsuki is jammed and dribbles a ball down the 1st base line. Satou flips to Shiraishi for the out and a great opportunity by Chuukyoudai is wasted!
Top 7th
Sasaki up 3-0, tries to get a walk but after 2 strikes by Morimoto ends up flying to left.
Ishikawa fares no better, getting under a ball and fouling out to 1st.
Sakai finally gets his first hit with a grounder to left! That's the first hit by the top of the order!
Tsukidate reaching out and grounding one to the left side. Kawamoto runs it down, but has no momentum on the throw and Tsukidate beats it out! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Moriokadai!
Satou steps in, 0-2 on the day. Need a timely hit here.
Tries to go the other way on the first pitch! Iwaikawa running over, diving, but it goes foul!
And Satou strikes out looking on a pitch on the inside corner! Might have been low, but it doesn't matter! Moriokadai is turned away once again!
Bottom 7th
Morimoto takes a first pitch curve to center for a leadoff hit! That's the 5th inning where the leadoff batter has reached base! Isomura immediately bunts him over.
WOW! Iwaikawa just turned on that 1-0 pitch from Shiraishi and sent a laser to right! Imakami runs it down at the wall, but Morimoto can just stroll in from 2nd. RBI double for Iwaikawa and Chuukyoudai has added an insurance run. It's 5-3!
Fujinami with a hard grounder! Ishikawa blocks it, fumbles a little with the ball, but has time to make the throw to 1st for the out. 2 down for Fukushima.
Cameras pan over to Chuukyoudai's bullpen where #10 Asano is warming up.
Fukushima strikes out to end the inning, but Chuukyou has extended their lead. And it looks like Asano is coming into the game!
Top 8th
So Asano comes in for 3B Fukushima. Kawamoto moves to 3B, and Morimoto shifts to short. Interesting shift.
One down quickly as Imakami flies out to right on the first pitch.
But Shiraishi earns a walk. And Sakurai gets one as well! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Moriokadai!
#13 Omiya comes in to PH for Kai. Tying run on base, just need a base hit to trim the margin.
Hm. Omiya is wearing glasses. Been a while since I remember a player wearing glasses in game.
But he lifts a ball to right and there's 2 down. Shiraishi advances to 3rd.
Moriokadai desperately needs a hit from leadoff batter Sasaki. But he harmlessly flies out to center and that ends the inning.
Bottom 8th
#17 Saitou comes in for PH Omiya and takes over in right. Imakami shifts to center.
Quick out by Takeuchi as he pops up foul on the 3rd base side.
Ow... Kawamoto is hit right around the kneecap. He stays down for a while, then eventually makes his way to 1st.
And he takes off??! After being hit in the knee area, he's sent on a 2-1 pitch to 2nd! Almost expectedly he's thrown out - although it was closer than I had thought.
Grounder to 3rd by Ogiso ends the inning. Last ups for Moriokadai, down 2!
Top 9th
Ishikawa walks on 4 straight to leadoff the inning! Isomura out to talk to Asano.
Sakai with a bunt?! Asano over to field it, falls down!! Gets up, but it's too late, everyone's reached base!
Ah? What's this? Oofuji pulls Asano and puts back ace Morimoto to the hill! #14 Suzuki comes in Asano's spot and takes short. Morimoto will be looked on to close the game, much like he did last summer.
Tsukidate up. Will they give up an out to put runners in scoring position? Looks like it.
Up and in for ball 1 puts him on his seat to start. Count 2-1, he lays it down. Tying run in scoring position.
Bunt again from Satou?? Just showing it.
Grounder to 2nd! But Fujinami is up with it and he makes the play at 1st. Ishikawa scores to make it 5-4, but there's 2 down!
Conference on the mound. Just need one more.
AH! Imakami with a drive, but it's foul into the oen-dan! Down to his last strike!
Fouled off! Check swing... check 1st base umpire, didn't go!
Curve down and away, count even.
Grounder to 3rd! Kawamoto up with it, throw to 1st... in time!
Moriokadai Fuzoku pulls within 1 here in the 9th, but leave the tying run 90 feet away! Morimoto and Chuukyoudai Chuukyou hold on for the 5-4 win!
Notable Players
WP - Morimoto Jyunpei (Chuukyoudai Chuukyou) - SV, 8 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 K, 5 BB
LP - Takatou Yuuji (Moriokadai Fuzoku) - 4 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 K, 3 BB
Iwaikawa Yuuta (Chuukyoudai Chuukyou) - 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Kawamoto Takeshi (Chuukyoudai Chuukyou) - 1-1, R, 3 BB
Tsukidate Hiroya (Moriokadai Fuzoku) - 2-3, 2 R, BB
Sakurai Masaki (Moriokadai Fuzoku) - 0-1, 2 BB
Day 3 - Game 1 - Kochi (Kochi) vs. Shinkou Gakuen (Hyogo)
It certainly has been an interesting tournament so far. Many of the matchups certainly haven't gone as expected. If this indeed is a tournament that is upside-down, we'll see it here today.
Our morning game today should be a good matchup. Kochi is a perennial Koshien team having made appearance in either the haru or natsu Koshien in each of the past 6 decades (this one included).
This years version appears to be a bit of a work in progress. Senior ace Tsutsui is their guy, pitching almost every inning for the squad. He only throws in the low 130's, but he sports a slider, curve and knuckleball (I'd love to see him throw that) and leans on those offspeed pitches for success as he induces a lot of contact (8.116 H/9, 3.907 K/9) and exhibits good control (1.873 BB/9).
Offensively, the team is predominantly a singles squad (.106 ISO) who don't really walk or steal bases. Takamura and Sakamoto provide some of the little pop they provide.
Shinkou Gakuen's strength is their offense. They take their walks (.347 AVG/.413 OBP), steal bases (32 SB in 12 games), and find the gaps (.167 ISO). Maenaka and Yokogawa provide the pop while captain Masuda provides the speed (12 SB).
On the mound, it's all about ace Maenaka. He pitched all but 2 innings in tournament play. He's a sidearmer with a good slider, and also has a superb defense behind him. Peripheral-wise he looks pretty good (6 H/9, 6.413 K/9) although he does yield a few walks (3.038 BB/9). Durability may be an issue because as many good games as he throws out there, he'll have one bad game - and in a single-elimination format, you cannot afford to have that.
Kochi has the experience, but Shinkou Gakuen might have the better team. And that's why I think it'll be an interesting game.
Kochi (Kochi) - Shikoku Runner-up
SS Kamei Masato
CF Sakamoto Daishi
LF Ikechi Yuuya
1B Takemura Hitoshi
3B Umehara Kazuki
RF Yamazaki Jyunji
P Tsutsui Taichi
C Yamazaki Tomoya
2B Takagi Kazuki
Shinkou Gakuen (Hyogo) - Kinki 3/4
SS Masuda Kukiya
RF Yokogawa Shun
3B Itou Ryousuke
1B Iseki Takashi
LF Fujishima Hirotoshi
CF Furutani Ryouhei
P Maenaka Masashi
C Shimizu Shouta
2B Hatokawa Takuma
__________________________________________________
9:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Boy, the weekday + the weather seems to have scared the masses. It's empty. The field looks pretty wet, but not to the point where there's puddles.
Maenaka isn't really a side armer, more like a 3/4 delivery. He has a fastball in the mid 130's and a slider in the 120's.
He gets Kamei to ground to first for the first out.
Oh. He has some type of change at 110 kph. Control on his offspeed stuff is good. Fastball, a little less so, Has a bit of a motion in towards a right handed batter.
Loses Sakamoto on a full count fastball inside.
Throws that change again for strike 1 to Ikechi. He ground to 2nd. Toss to short is there, but Masuda is a bit late getting there and his relay to 1st isn't in time.
Whoa. He climbed the ladder at 141 on Takemura. And caught him looking on one at 139.
Hmmm... Me thinks he has a shuuto as well which is the one in the mid 130's.
Bottom 1st
It's hard to tell if Tsutsui throws the knuckleball at all. His first couple pitches come in in the low 110's as he gets Masuda to ground to short. Then there's another pitch in the high 120's that Yokogawa grounds to 2nd.
Itou with a grounder up the middle. Takagi runs it down, but has no momentum on the throw. Itou reaches 1st safely.
It looks like the pitch in the high 120's is the fastball. The 110's can either be his curve or slider.
And Iseki takes one of those 110 pitches and pops it up to shallow center where Sakamoto makes the catch to retire the side.
Top 2nd
Umehara strikes out on a fastball low. Maenaka is doing a good job keeping his pitches down in the zone.
And just as I say that, he leaves one a bit up and Jyunji sends that through the left side for a base hit.
Tsutsui with another hard grounder to the left side. Masuda runs it down, and snags it! He turns, fires to 2nd while his momentum is going to 3rd, and makes the out!! Fine defensive play there by captain Masuda!!!
And another change high in the zone is hit by Tomoya past a diving Masuda to center! Tsutsui breaks for 3rd! Throw from Furutani goes to 3rd!? Tsutsui is in easily, but Itou cuts it off and fires back to 2nd! Hatokawa gets it and they get Tomoya as he tried to take 2nd on the throw! 3 out! Another heads up play by the defense!
Bottom 2nd
Fujishima goes down swinging for the 1st out.
Furutani though lines a fastball down to left for a single!
Maenaka up and looking to bunt. Tsutsui is minding the runner quite a bit. Shinkou oen-dan playing really fast.
And wow. Maenaka bends deep down to bunt the ball and he successfully keeps it fair to advance the runner.
Battery conference between Tomoya and Tsutsui.
WIN! Shimizu's AB music is Eva! Whoo!
Shimada-kantoku barking out orders to his defense.
And he hits one to left center! Sakamoto running it down, puts the glove out and it's off the glove! Furutani comes around to score as Shimizu slides into 2nd! Tough play for Sakamoto there, but it might have been catchable. Still, it a double for Shimizu and Shinkou Gakuen is on the board first, 1-0!
AH!!! Wild pitch gets away form Tomoya and goes out of play! Shimizu is given 3rd.
Shimada-kantoku screams for time. Finally, Tomoya sees it and they confer on the mound.
Hatokawa gets ahead in the count 3-1, but gets caught looking at a low pitch (catcher might have helped frame that one). Nevertheless, Shimizu is stranded at 3rd but Shinkou takes the lead here in the 2nd!
Top 3rd
Kamei flicks a ball to left center for a 1-out single.
And on a 2-2 count, Shimada sends Kamei to 2nd! Throw from Shimizu isn't in time.
Sakmoto grounds right to Iseki who makes the putout. Kamei goes to 3rd.
Ikechi takes a high slider and pushes it down the right field line for a hit! Kamei scores and we're all tied up! 1-1!
And Ikechi breaks for 2nd. Huh?? Shimizu's throw to 2nd and no one's covering?? And Ikechi wasn't going to 2nd, but now that the ball travels into center, he does! That's an error, but I don't know on whom.
逆転! Takemura lines one past a diving Iseki and down the right field line! Ikechi easily scores from 2nd and just like that Kochi takes the lead! 2-1!
Umehara with a base hit to right! Takemura takes 3rd as the throw is cutoff. Runners at the corners with 2 out!
Kitahara-kantoku calls a conference on the mound. Can't let this get away from them here.
Jyunji with a grounder towards 1st. Iseki dives, but can't make the play! Hatokawa backs up the play, but by the time he gets it just on the outfield grass, he has no play! Takemura scores and it 3-1 Kochi!
Hatokawa's stop though prevents Umehara from advancing to 3rd.
Tsutsui ground to 2nd. Hatokawa with the nice play to end the inning, but not before Kochi roars back with 3 runs of their own here in the 3rd.
Bottom 3rd
But the top of the order for Shinkou goes down quietly. Well almost. After a grounder to short by Masuda, Yokogawa hits a sharp liner right to short. And after Itou crushes one foul down the left field side, grounds out weakly to Tsutsui to end the inning.
Top 4th
Maenaka gets 2 quick outs as Tomoya strikes out looking and Takagi lines out to left.
Kamei with a hard grounder through the right side for a single.
Ohhh boy... Sakamoto drives one to deep right center. The outfield is in and immediately chases after it as it goes all the way to the wall! Kamei rounding 3rd and he's in as Sakamoto has a stand-up triple! It's 4-1 Kochi!
Ikechi strikes out swinging, but Kochi tacks on another run. Could this be getting away from Shinkou?
Bottom 4th
After Iseki strikes out swinging, Fujishima sneaks one past a diving Takagi for a single.
Furutani with his 2nd hit as he gets a base hit to left. Runners on 1st and 2nd.
EH??? Kitahara calls for the double steal!! Tomoya's throw to 3rd is short and everyone's safe! That's a ballsy call there.
Maenaka with a grounder past Kamei. That's into left! Fujishima scores and it's 4-2 Shinkou! Still only one down!
Shimizu is up now, he had the double in his 1st AB.
Wide pitchout by Tsutsui. And now Shimizu appears to be squaring to bunt!
Another pitchout!? Next pitch is on the outside corned called for a strike. Count at 2-1.
Another pitchout! But this time Maenaka takes off for 2nd! Throw from Tomoya is not handled and gets past the infield! Furutani comes in to score and they've trimmed the deficit down to 1! 4-3!
The replay shows what happened. Takagi was charging in to cutoff the throw to prevent Furutani from a delayed steal of home. Problem was that when he didn't cut it off, he shielded it from Kamei who then couldn't make the play at 2nd. Thus the ball trickling into the outfield.
Oy.
And now Shimizu walks! Is Shinkou able to equalize?
Hatokawa though is looking to bunt with 1 out... and lays it down.
The lineup is reset to the top of the order. Masuda up looking to tie or take the lead. But he's 0-2 on the day.
Make that 0-3. He grounds back to Tsutsui who goes to 1st. Inning is over, but due to some hitting by Shinkou and a untimely error, Shinkou is back in the game!
Top 5th
Takemura with a hard grounder to 1st, but Iseki makes the diving stop. Flip to Maenaka is in time to make the out! Nice play!
After a groundout by Umehara to short, Jyunji lines one past a leaping Masuda to left for his 3rd hit of the day!
Tsutsui grounds to 2nd though to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
It's a quick inning for Tsustui finally. Yokogawa posp to left. Itou strikes out swinging, and Iseki grounds to short.
Top 6th
After a lineout to center by Tomoya, Maenaka walks Takagi.
Kamei gets jammed, but still takes the ball fairly deep to left. Fujishima makes the catch and there's 2 down.
Now Sakamoto who hit the triple is up to bat.
Maenaka is called for a balk as he tries to pickoff Takagi. He's given 2nd.
Sakamoto with a hard liner, but Yokoyama is there to run it down. 3 out.
Bottom 6th
Fujishima hits a pop fly to left and Ikechi catches it near the foul line for the first out.
Looks like there are a few umbrellas out, might have to watch the weather going forward. Forgot that the overhang in the infield seats is bigger from the renovation.
Furutani with a hard liner to left center. Ikechi and Sakamoto converge, and Sakamoto's slide isn't in time! The ball gets by both of then all the way to the wall!!! Furutani turns on the jets rounding 1st! He's heading for 3 and makes it easily! What happened there? Was the outfield in too much? Either way, the tying run is 90 feet away!
Infield in for a play at the plate. But Maenaka hits a grounder past Umemura who had no time to react! It goes into left, Furutani comes in and we're all tied up! 動転!! 4-4!!
And Kitahara sends Maenaka to 2nd! Tomoya has to double clutch and as a result Maenaka gets in safely! Crafty play there by Kitahara-kantoku. He had Katsuura bring the jumper on for Maenaka to keep him warm, then immediately sends him to 2nd.
But both Shimizu and Hatokawa strike out swinging to end the inning, but it's a new ball game!
Top 7th
Umehara singles to right after Ikechi grounds to 2nd and Takemura K's. But he's stranded as Jyunji flies out to center.
Bottom 7th
2 quick outs for Tsutsui as Masuda grounds to 3rd and Yokogawa grounds to 1st.
Itou golfs a ball to right. Jyunji runs back to the fence??!!! Looks up!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Itou takes the first pitch over the plate about 10 rows up the right field bleachers! And Shinkou Gakuen retakes the lead here in the 7th inning, 5-4!!!
Iseki tries a safety bunt, but a good play by Umehara and a dive by Iseki equals the 3rd out. But with one swing of the bat, Kochi's back is against the wall.
Top 8th
Nothing doing though for Kochi. Takagi earns his 2nd walk with 2 down, but Kamei K's to squash the potential threat. They find themselves down 1 with 3 outs to go...
Bottom 8th
The rain seems to be coming down a little harder as the fans behind home plate get their rain gear on.
Tsutsui does his job. He quickly retires the side in order, although Maenaka's drive takes Sakamoto to the wall. Shinkou looks contempt to end this in the 9th.
Top 9th
But Maenaka walks Sakamoto to start the inning! He tried to nibble, but the umpire nor Sakamoto would bite! Tying run on base!
Ikechi swinging away! Pops it up! Hatokawa under it for the first out!
Takemura has to swing away now. Falls behind 1-2, reaches out and hits one down the left field line... FAIR!! Fujishima running it down, but misplays the bounce off the wall and has to chase it around the outfield wall! Sakamoto rounding 3rd, coming home, and he scores!! Timely hit by Takemura ties the game! 5-5!!!
Umehara looking for the go-ahead hit! Grounder up the middle! But it's too slow and Hatokawa runs it down. Takemura has to hold at 2nd as the putout is made at 1st. 2 down.
And Maenaka gets Jyouji to pop it up! Iseki is under it for the 3rd out, and now Shinkou finds themselves tied heading into the bottom of the 9th!
Bottom 9th
Shimizu leading off the 9th with the Eva music... and grounds to 2nd.
Hatogawa walks on 4 straight! Now it's Shinkou with the winning run on base! Shimada-kantoku immediately calls time and has a conference.
Masuda swinging away early, tries a safety bunt, but it goes foul. Behind in the count 1-2, he has to swing away.
And the 2-2 pitch gets away from Tomoya! Hatogawa advances into scoring position!!
Full count and Masuda gets some instructions from the dugout.
He continues to stay alive in the AB barely fouling a pitch.
And he drives one to center, but right at Sakamoto! 2 down!
Yokogawa up, and if he gets on base Itou is on deck.
Drive to deep center!! Sakamoto racing back!!! But it falls in behind him!!! Hatogawa rounds 3rd, he scores!!!! サヨナラ!!!!!
Yokogawa gets his first hit, and boy is it ever a memorable one! Shinkou Gakuen comes back after Kochi ties it up in the top of the 9th for the victory!
You have to love the fight in Shinkou. They didn't let an early deficit get to them, they continued to fight, and it paid off.
As for Kochi you have to feel bad for them. They made some uncharacteristic errors that probably cost them the game. However, the team felt like they were still a work in progress, so don't be surprised if they're back this summer.
Notable Players
WP - Maenaka Masashi (Shinkou Gakuen) - CG, 5 ER, 12 H, 7 K, 4 BB
LP - Tsutsui Taichi (Kochi) - 8.2 IP, 6 ER, 10 H, 6 K, 2 BB
Furutani Ryouhei (Shinkou Gakuen) - 3-4, 3B, 3 R
Itou Ryousuke (Shinkou Gakuen) - 2-4, HR, R, RBI
Yokogawa Shun (Shinkou Gakuen) - 1-5, 2B, サヨナラ RBI
Sakamoto Daishi (Kochi) - 1-3, 3B, R, RBI, 2 BB
Yamazaki Jyunji (Kochi) - 3-5, RBI
Our morning game today should be a good matchup. Kochi is a perennial Koshien team having made appearance in either the haru or natsu Koshien in each of the past 6 decades (this one included).
This years version appears to be a bit of a work in progress. Senior ace Tsutsui is their guy, pitching almost every inning for the squad. He only throws in the low 130's, but he sports a slider, curve and knuckleball (I'd love to see him throw that) and leans on those offspeed pitches for success as he induces a lot of contact (8.116 H/9, 3.907 K/9) and exhibits good control (1.873 BB/9).
Offensively, the team is predominantly a singles squad (.106 ISO) who don't really walk or steal bases. Takamura and Sakamoto provide some of the little pop they provide.
Shinkou Gakuen's strength is their offense. They take their walks (.347 AVG/.413 OBP), steal bases (32 SB in 12 games), and find the gaps (.167 ISO). Maenaka and Yokogawa provide the pop while captain Masuda provides the speed (12 SB).
On the mound, it's all about ace Maenaka. He pitched all but 2 innings in tournament play. He's a sidearmer with a good slider, and also has a superb defense behind him. Peripheral-wise he looks pretty good (6 H/9, 6.413 K/9) although he does yield a few walks (3.038 BB/9). Durability may be an issue because as many good games as he throws out there, he'll have one bad game - and in a single-elimination format, you cannot afford to have that.
Kochi has the experience, but Shinkou Gakuen might have the better team. And that's why I think it'll be an interesting game.
Kochi (Kochi) - Shikoku Runner-up
SS Kamei Masato
CF Sakamoto Daishi
LF Ikechi Yuuya
1B Takemura Hitoshi
3B Umehara Kazuki
RF Yamazaki Jyunji
P Tsutsui Taichi
C Yamazaki Tomoya
2B Takagi Kazuki
Shinkou Gakuen (Hyogo) - Kinki 3/4
SS Masuda Kukiya
RF Yokogawa Shun
3B Itou Ryousuke
1B Iseki Takashi
LF Fujishima Hirotoshi
CF Furutani Ryouhei
P Maenaka Masashi
C Shimizu Shouta
2B Hatokawa Takuma
__________________________________________________
9:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Boy, the weekday + the weather seems to have scared the masses. It's empty. The field looks pretty wet, but not to the point where there's puddles.
Maenaka isn't really a side armer, more like a 3/4 delivery. He has a fastball in the mid 130's and a slider in the 120's.
He gets Kamei to ground to first for the first out.
Oh. He has some type of change at 110 kph. Control on his offspeed stuff is good. Fastball, a little less so, Has a bit of a motion in towards a right handed batter.
Loses Sakamoto on a full count fastball inside.
Throws that change again for strike 1 to Ikechi. He ground to 2nd. Toss to short is there, but Masuda is a bit late getting there and his relay to 1st isn't in time.
Whoa. He climbed the ladder at 141 on Takemura. And caught him looking on one at 139.
Hmmm... Me thinks he has a shuuto as well which is the one in the mid 130's.
Bottom 1st
It's hard to tell if Tsutsui throws the knuckleball at all. His first couple pitches come in in the low 110's as he gets Masuda to ground to short. Then there's another pitch in the high 120's that Yokogawa grounds to 2nd.
Itou with a grounder up the middle. Takagi runs it down, but has no momentum on the throw. Itou reaches 1st safely.
It looks like the pitch in the high 120's is the fastball. The 110's can either be his curve or slider.
And Iseki takes one of those 110 pitches and pops it up to shallow center where Sakamoto makes the catch to retire the side.
Top 2nd
Umehara strikes out on a fastball low. Maenaka is doing a good job keeping his pitches down in the zone.
And just as I say that, he leaves one a bit up and Jyunji sends that through the left side for a base hit.
Tsutsui with another hard grounder to the left side. Masuda runs it down, and snags it! He turns, fires to 2nd while his momentum is going to 3rd, and makes the out!! Fine defensive play there by captain Masuda!!!
And another change high in the zone is hit by Tomoya past a diving Masuda to center! Tsutsui breaks for 3rd! Throw from Furutani goes to 3rd!? Tsutsui is in easily, but Itou cuts it off and fires back to 2nd! Hatokawa gets it and they get Tomoya as he tried to take 2nd on the throw! 3 out! Another heads up play by the defense!
Bottom 2nd
Fujishima goes down swinging for the 1st out.
Furutani though lines a fastball down to left for a single!
Maenaka up and looking to bunt. Tsutsui is minding the runner quite a bit. Shinkou oen-dan playing really fast.
And wow. Maenaka bends deep down to bunt the ball and he successfully keeps it fair to advance the runner.
Battery conference between Tomoya and Tsutsui.
WIN! Shimizu's AB music is Eva! Whoo!
Shimada-kantoku barking out orders to his defense.
And he hits one to left center! Sakamoto running it down, puts the glove out and it's off the glove! Furutani comes around to score as Shimizu slides into 2nd! Tough play for Sakamoto there, but it might have been catchable. Still, it a double for Shimizu and Shinkou Gakuen is on the board first, 1-0!
AH!!! Wild pitch gets away form Tomoya and goes out of play! Shimizu is given 3rd.
Shimada-kantoku screams for time. Finally, Tomoya sees it and they confer on the mound.
Hatokawa gets ahead in the count 3-1, but gets caught looking at a low pitch (catcher might have helped frame that one). Nevertheless, Shimizu is stranded at 3rd but Shinkou takes the lead here in the 2nd!
Top 3rd
Kamei flicks a ball to left center for a 1-out single.
And on a 2-2 count, Shimada sends Kamei to 2nd! Throw from Shimizu isn't in time.
Sakmoto grounds right to Iseki who makes the putout. Kamei goes to 3rd.
Ikechi takes a high slider and pushes it down the right field line for a hit! Kamei scores and we're all tied up! 1-1!
And Ikechi breaks for 2nd. Huh?? Shimizu's throw to 2nd and no one's covering?? And Ikechi wasn't going to 2nd, but now that the ball travels into center, he does! That's an error, but I don't know on whom.
逆転! Takemura lines one past a diving Iseki and down the right field line! Ikechi easily scores from 2nd and just like that Kochi takes the lead! 2-1!
Umehara with a base hit to right! Takemura takes 3rd as the throw is cutoff. Runners at the corners with 2 out!
Kitahara-kantoku calls a conference on the mound. Can't let this get away from them here.
Jyunji with a grounder towards 1st. Iseki dives, but can't make the play! Hatokawa backs up the play, but by the time he gets it just on the outfield grass, he has no play! Takemura scores and it 3-1 Kochi!
Hatokawa's stop though prevents Umehara from advancing to 3rd.
Tsutsui ground to 2nd. Hatokawa with the nice play to end the inning, but not before Kochi roars back with 3 runs of their own here in the 3rd.
Bottom 3rd
But the top of the order for Shinkou goes down quietly. Well almost. After a grounder to short by Masuda, Yokogawa hits a sharp liner right to short. And after Itou crushes one foul down the left field side, grounds out weakly to Tsutsui to end the inning.
Top 4th
Maenaka gets 2 quick outs as Tomoya strikes out looking and Takagi lines out to left.
Kamei with a hard grounder through the right side for a single.
Ohhh boy... Sakamoto drives one to deep right center. The outfield is in and immediately chases after it as it goes all the way to the wall! Kamei rounding 3rd and he's in as Sakamoto has a stand-up triple! It's 4-1 Kochi!
Ikechi strikes out swinging, but Kochi tacks on another run. Could this be getting away from Shinkou?
Bottom 4th
After Iseki strikes out swinging, Fujishima sneaks one past a diving Takagi for a single.
Furutani with his 2nd hit as he gets a base hit to left. Runners on 1st and 2nd.
EH??? Kitahara calls for the double steal!! Tomoya's throw to 3rd is short and everyone's safe! That's a ballsy call there.
Maenaka with a grounder past Kamei. That's into left! Fujishima scores and it's 4-2 Shinkou! Still only one down!
Shimizu is up now, he had the double in his 1st AB.
Wide pitchout by Tsutsui. And now Shimizu appears to be squaring to bunt!
Another pitchout!? Next pitch is on the outside corned called for a strike. Count at 2-1.
Another pitchout! But this time Maenaka takes off for 2nd! Throw from Tomoya is not handled and gets past the infield! Furutani comes in to score and they've trimmed the deficit down to 1! 4-3!
The replay shows what happened. Takagi was charging in to cutoff the throw to prevent Furutani from a delayed steal of home. Problem was that when he didn't cut it off, he shielded it from Kamei who then couldn't make the play at 2nd. Thus the ball trickling into the outfield.
Oy.
And now Shimizu walks! Is Shinkou able to equalize?
Hatokawa though is looking to bunt with 1 out... and lays it down.
The lineup is reset to the top of the order. Masuda up looking to tie or take the lead. But he's 0-2 on the day.
Make that 0-3. He grounds back to Tsutsui who goes to 1st. Inning is over, but due to some hitting by Shinkou and a untimely error, Shinkou is back in the game!
Top 5th
Takemura with a hard grounder to 1st, but Iseki makes the diving stop. Flip to Maenaka is in time to make the out! Nice play!
After a groundout by Umehara to short, Jyunji lines one past a leaping Masuda to left for his 3rd hit of the day!
Tsutsui grounds to 2nd though to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
It's a quick inning for Tsustui finally. Yokogawa posp to left. Itou strikes out swinging, and Iseki grounds to short.
Top 6th
After a lineout to center by Tomoya, Maenaka walks Takagi.
Kamei gets jammed, but still takes the ball fairly deep to left. Fujishima makes the catch and there's 2 down.
Now Sakamoto who hit the triple is up to bat.
Maenaka is called for a balk as he tries to pickoff Takagi. He's given 2nd.
Sakamoto with a hard liner, but Yokoyama is there to run it down. 3 out.
Bottom 6th
Fujishima hits a pop fly to left and Ikechi catches it near the foul line for the first out.
Looks like there are a few umbrellas out, might have to watch the weather going forward. Forgot that the overhang in the infield seats is bigger from the renovation.
Furutani with a hard liner to left center. Ikechi and Sakamoto converge, and Sakamoto's slide isn't in time! The ball gets by both of then all the way to the wall!!! Furutani turns on the jets rounding 1st! He's heading for 3 and makes it easily! What happened there? Was the outfield in too much? Either way, the tying run is 90 feet away!
Infield in for a play at the plate. But Maenaka hits a grounder past Umemura who had no time to react! It goes into left, Furutani comes in and we're all tied up! 動転!! 4-4!!
And Kitahara sends Maenaka to 2nd! Tomoya has to double clutch and as a result Maenaka gets in safely! Crafty play there by Kitahara-kantoku. He had Katsuura bring the jumper on for Maenaka to keep him warm, then immediately sends him to 2nd.
But both Shimizu and Hatokawa strike out swinging to end the inning, but it's a new ball game!
Top 7th
Umehara singles to right after Ikechi grounds to 2nd and Takemura K's. But he's stranded as Jyunji flies out to center.
Bottom 7th
2 quick outs for Tsutsui as Masuda grounds to 3rd and Yokogawa grounds to 1st.
Itou golfs a ball to right. Jyunji runs back to the fence??!!! Looks up!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Itou takes the first pitch over the plate about 10 rows up the right field bleachers! And Shinkou Gakuen retakes the lead here in the 7th inning, 5-4!!!
Iseki tries a safety bunt, but a good play by Umehara and a dive by Iseki equals the 3rd out. But with one swing of the bat, Kochi's back is against the wall.
Top 8th
Nothing doing though for Kochi. Takagi earns his 2nd walk with 2 down, but Kamei K's to squash the potential threat. They find themselves down 1 with 3 outs to go...
Bottom 8th
The rain seems to be coming down a little harder as the fans behind home plate get their rain gear on.
Tsutsui does his job. He quickly retires the side in order, although Maenaka's drive takes Sakamoto to the wall. Shinkou looks contempt to end this in the 9th.
Top 9th
But Maenaka walks Sakamoto to start the inning! He tried to nibble, but the umpire nor Sakamoto would bite! Tying run on base!
Ikechi swinging away! Pops it up! Hatokawa under it for the first out!
Takemura has to swing away now. Falls behind 1-2, reaches out and hits one down the left field line... FAIR!! Fujishima running it down, but misplays the bounce off the wall and has to chase it around the outfield wall! Sakamoto rounding 3rd, coming home, and he scores!! Timely hit by Takemura ties the game! 5-5!!!
Umehara looking for the go-ahead hit! Grounder up the middle! But it's too slow and Hatokawa runs it down. Takemura has to hold at 2nd as the putout is made at 1st. 2 down.
And Maenaka gets Jyouji to pop it up! Iseki is under it for the 3rd out, and now Shinkou finds themselves tied heading into the bottom of the 9th!
Bottom 9th
Shimizu leading off the 9th with the Eva music... and grounds to 2nd.
Hatogawa walks on 4 straight! Now it's Shinkou with the winning run on base! Shimada-kantoku immediately calls time and has a conference.
Masuda swinging away early, tries a safety bunt, but it goes foul. Behind in the count 1-2, he has to swing away.
And the 2-2 pitch gets away from Tomoya! Hatogawa advances into scoring position!!
Full count and Masuda gets some instructions from the dugout.
He continues to stay alive in the AB barely fouling a pitch.
And he drives one to center, but right at Sakamoto! 2 down!
Yokogawa up, and if he gets on base Itou is on deck.
Drive to deep center!! Sakamoto racing back!!! But it falls in behind him!!! Hatogawa rounds 3rd, he scores!!!! サヨナラ!!!!!
Yokogawa gets his first hit, and boy is it ever a memorable one! Shinkou Gakuen comes back after Kochi ties it up in the top of the 9th for the victory!
You have to love the fight in Shinkou. They didn't let an early deficit get to them, they continued to fight, and it paid off.
As for Kochi you have to feel bad for them. They made some uncharacteristic errors that probably cost them the game. However, the team felt like they were still a work in progress, so don't be surprised if they're back this summer.
Notable Players
WP - Maenaka Masashi (Shinkou Gakuen) - CG, 5 ER, 12 H, 7 K, 4 BB
LP - Tsutsui Taichi (Kochi) - 8.2 IP, 6 ER, 10 H, 6 K, 2 BB
Furutani Ryouhei (Shinkou Gakuen) - 3-4, 3B, 3 R
Itou Ryousuke (Shinkou Gakuen) - 2-4, HR, R, RBI
Yokogawa Shun (Shinkou Gakuen) - 1-5, 2B, サヨナラ RBI
Sakamoto Daishi (Kochi) - 1-3, 3B, R, RBI, 2 BB
Yamazaki Jyunji (Kochi) - 3-5, RBI
Monday, March 22, 2010
Day 2 - Game 3 - Kouryou (Hiroshima) vs. Ritsumeikan Uji (Kyoto)
(Yes, with the last post questioning the in-game decision you all know what happened, but just bear with the dialogue anyways...)
The final matchup of the day is an interesting one. Kouryou makes its first return to Koshien since the 2008 Natsu Koshien when they lost to Saga Kita. Arihara is their ace, and they depended on him in the higher level games (Chuugoku super-regionals) while depending on their other pitchers (Ueno & Kawasaki) for the lower level games. It's not the 2-pitcher system Saga Kita used, but I wonder if they incorporated parts of it into their team. Arihara's numbers are pretty ridiculous. In tournament play he had a K/9 ratio just short of 9, and his BB/9 ratio is a shade under 1.5. That's pretty amazing. Ueno is just as good, sporting a 9.82 K/9 and 2.45 BB/9 ratios.
(It's happened before. The epic, and Hindenburg-like collapse of Teikyou against Chiben Wakayama in 2006 when they were down 8-4, scored 8 runs while using a PH on their last pitcher - and hitting a gyakuten 3-run HR - and couldn't close out the game, appeared to have changed their philosophy to the point where they carry as many as 4 pitchers!)
Kouryou almost does it all. They hit for average, are aggressive on the bases, and take their fair share of walks and get quite a few doubles (although that may be a by-product of their speed). Look for Maruko and Sanda to provide the offense for the club.
Ritsumeikan Uji is only making their 2nd spring appearance at Koshien. Pitching-wise, the staff isn't all that spectacular. Ace Kawabe takes the majority of the innings, doesn't miss a lot of bats, and his K/BB ratio stands at 1.33.
Offensively, the team is a station-to-station club. They do hit for average (.345), but not really for extra bases (.414 SLG). They take a bunch of walks (.452 OBP), but aren't aggressive on the basepaths (17 SB in 10 games). Kozaki and Nishikawa should be the table-setters or clutch hitters for the team.
As one-dimensional as Ritsumeikan Uji is, they'll have to lean on that heavily if they want to advance in the tournament. As long as they can keep it low scoring, they'll have a shot to win this.
Kouryou (Hiroshima) - Chuugoku At-large
2B Fukuda Shuuhei
RF Tokuda Shinyuu (#13)
3B Sanda Tatsuya (#6)
1B Maruko Tatsuya
LF Kuramasu Takahiro
CF Makoshiba Daiki
P Arihara Kouhei
SS Ninomiya Yuusuke (#14)
C Shintani Atsushi
Ritsumeikan Uji (Kyoto) - Kinki 3/4
SS Doi Jyunpei
1B Hattori Kengo
LF Nishikawa Shinjirou
3B Furukawa Kouki
C Kozaki Hiroyuki
RF Taguchi Masaki
CF Iwamoto Tsubasa
2B Shimizu Yuuta
P Kawabe Kaita
__________________________________________________
13:48 - First pitch!
Top 1
As advertised, Kouryou is pretty patient. Fukuda goes ahead 3-0, then lets 2 balls go by for strikes. After a foul, he grounds out to 2nd.
Tokuda walks on 4 straight. Sanda flies out to center on 4 pitches.
Maruko with a drive over the shortstop's head into left center! Tokuda heading for 3rd, throw cutoff by the SS and Maruko slides into second with a double! Scoring opportunity early for Kouryou!
Kuramasu with a fister to left! That's down for a base hit! Tokuda scores, Maruko being sent home! Nishikawa waiting for the bounce, comes up throwing! And that is rifled in there! Takes a bounce or two, but it's right at Kozaki who's blocking home plate! He applies the tag, and Maruko is out! Nice play!
But Kouryou is on the board early with a 1-0 lead!
Bottom 1st
Arihara looks good on the mound. His fastball is sitting in the low 140's and he has a slow curve in the 110's. Doi strikes out looking, and Hattori grounds weakly to 2nd.
Nishikawa with a grounder to 3rd. Sanda with the ball, drops it! Fumbles trying to pick it up! Throw is late and Nishikawa is on base on the E5.
And Udaki-kantoku puts on the hit and run! Furukawa connects and it's a hit to center! Nishikawa heads for 3rd and Ritsumeikan has runners at the corners!
Ah! Kozaki with a grounder. That's past a diving Maruko... fair! Nishikawa scores, Furukawa heading to 3rd as Tokuda comes up with the ball! The error costs Kouryou as Kozaki's double for Rits quickly evens the score at 1-1!
Nakai-kantoku calls for a conference on the mound (I should mention that in koukouyakyuu the manager doesn't really head out to the mound. He sends one of the benchplayers out there for him).
Arihara falls behind Taguchi 3-1 but manages to fill it up.
Taguchi with a grounder past a diving Ninomiya! Furukawa scores! Kozaki holds up at 3rd, but Rits has taken the lead, it's 2-1!
And now Iwamoto is hit on the foot by an Arihara pitch! It's manrui for Rits! What is going on with Arihara and Kouryou?
Shimizu with the hard grounder down the 3rd base line! Sanda dives, can't get it! It's fair!! Kozaki scores, Taguchi rounding 3rd... he scores! Kuramasu quickly up with it, throws to 3rd... and Iwamoto slides in... SAFE! Another hit for Rits and now they're up 4-1!!!!! ありえない!!
Ace Kawabe stands in as the 9th batter up this inning! He goes down swinging, but Ritsumeikan scores 4 runs and breaks out to a 3-run lead!!
Top 2nd
Makoshiba looks to start the rally as he singles to center.
Arihara lays down the bunt, but he kills it right in front of home! Kozaki up with it, fires to 2nd for one out, relay from Doi... two! Arihara's bunt winds up in a double play and there's 2 outs!
Ninomiya flies out to left to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Arihara is working fairly quickly, but his control is still an issue. But he strikes out Doi afater 8 pitches. Then Hattori on 5, and Nishikawa on 5 as well. He threw quite a few sliders that inning.
Top 3rd
Oh, for Kawabe, he has a fastball in the high 120's and a curve in the low 100's.
Shintani earns a leadoff walk sending it back to the top of the lineup. Fukuda is squaring to bunt, takes a strike. Then pulls it back and hits it foul. A weak grounder down the 1st base line does the job though as Hattori's only play is to 1st.
Tokuda with a single to right! Taguchi can't handle the hop! It bounces away from him as Shintani scores! Tokuda takes 2nd on the error and Kouryou takes a run back. It's 4-2.
And now a wild pitch from Kawabe! Kozaki runs it down, but Tokuda takes 3rd!
Sanda hit by Kawabe! Runners on the corners now with one down!
Maruko with a drive to right!! Taguchi running back, leaps and it falls in behind him!!! That's to the wall! Tokuta scores, Sanda heading for 3rd... holds as Shimizu fires a rocket to home (almost high!). But the second double by Maruko trims the deficit to 1 at 4-3, and there's still runners at 2nd and 3rd with only one down!
And Kuramasu with a single through the right side! Sanda comes in to score and Kouryou has come back to tie the game! 4-4!!
The outfield was playing in and Taguchi's throw prevented Maruko from scoring.
Makoshiba with the grounder to 1st. Hattori looks Maruko back then scrambles back to the bag at 1st for the put out. 2 down.
Arihara up to try and give himself the lead... but he goes down swinging. But his team has come back with 3 runs here in the 3rd to level the score!
Bottom 3rd
O~~~y. Arihara has new life, then plunks Furukawa to start the inning.
But Kozaki tries to put down the bunt, and it's right to Arihara. He fires to 2nd for one, but they can't turn the double play. Still, they get the lead runner.
And Kozaki breaks for 2nd! Throw from Shintani short hops Ninomiya! It goes into center and Kozaki heads to 3rd! E2 and Rits threatens to retake the lead!
Arihara misses on a 3-0 pitch and gives up yet another base runner! At least it sets up the double play.
Hit-and-run! But Iwamoto fouls it off. And Udaki-kantoku calls for another one! Iwamoto strikes out, but Taguchi reaches 2nd safely.
Runners now on 2nd and 3rd with 2 down for Shimizu who had the timely double in the 1st.
AHHH!!! Arihara with a wild pitch all the way to the backstop! Kozaki comes in from 3rd, and Rits retakes the lead 5-4!
And now Shimizu is hit by a pitch! What in the world is going on with Arihara's control??!
Kawabe up looking for a timely hit, and Shimizu takes off for 2nd! Shintani's throw is on target, and Kawabe is... out! Shintani guns down Shimizu to end the inning, but not before Arihara self-inflicts damage to himself relinquishing the lead back to Ritsumeikan Uji 5-4!
Top 4th
Kawabe settles down after the long 3rd inning. He gets Ninomiya looking, Shintani swinging, and Fukuda to fly to center.
Bottom 4th
Arihara too turns right around and retires the side in order, striking out Kawabe swinging, Doi looking and Hattori grounding to 2nd. (Hattori's grounder was a slow chopper that Fukuda charged at and whose throw barely beat out a hustling Hattori).
It's almost been night and day for Arihara looking dominant one inning, then completely off-kilter the next. Can he finally settle things down?
Top 5th
Tokuda with a comebacker up the middle. Doi dives, but it sneaks through!
And a wild pitch from Kawabe lets Tokuda advance to 2nd!
Sanda looking to bunt, but he pops it up! Kawabe makes the catch and there's one down! Nakai-kantoku can't be too happy with that as a free base turns into the equivalent of a sac bunt.
But all is well when Maruko singles through to left! Nishikawa comes up with the ball, but Tokuda scores easily from 2nd and just like that we have a tie ball game at 5-5! Maruko is already 3-3 today with 2 RBI's!
And now a wild pitch to Kuramasu! It was on a 3-2 pitch for ball 4, but Kozaki has to run it down to prevent Maruko from advancing any further. He does so, but there's situation developing for Kouryou here in the 5th!
Udaki calls for a conference on the mound. They've already let 2 leads slip away, they can't fall behind now.
Grounder to 2nd by Makoshiba! Shimizu to Doi for one. Throw to first is... WHAT??!
Doi throws the ball into the ground and it takes a high bounce that Hattori can't handle! It goes into foul territory and Maruko comes in to score from 3rd! The error costs Rits the lead and Koryou takes the lead for the first time since the 1st inning, 6-5!!
Kawabe looks out to 2nd from the mound with an expression his face that says, "What?"
But on the replay it seems like either Doi should have eaten it, or jumped to avoid the throw because Kuramasu's slide may have affected the throw.
Now #10 comes out to talk to the umpires. Speculation is that Udaki-kantoku is looking for a possible interference call, but Kuramasu has a right to the base, and wasn't going out of his way to take out Doi, so it's a clean slide.
Arihara with a liner to right! That's a base hit! Makoshiba rounds 3rd and comes home, throw is cut off, and Kouryou extends their lead. It's 7-5! Arihara hits a hanging curve to help his own cause.
Ninomiya jammed by Kawabe! Taguchi coming in and makes the catch to retire the side. But Kouryou scores another 3 runs to take the lead!
Bottom 5th
Nishikawa hits a high fastball through the right side for a leadoff single.
Cleanup batter Furukawa bunts him along to 2nd. There's still time for Rits to play for just a run here in the 5th.
Arihara can't find the plate again. He falls behind 3-0 to Kozaki, but is bailed out when Kozaki swings away and hit a chopper back to him. He looks the runner back and makes the play at 1st. 2 down.
But he continues to make things difficult, falling behind Taguchi 2-0. He evens the count, then doesn't get a strike 3 call. But Taguchi strikes out swinging on the next pitch and the threat is over.
Top 6th
Shintani with a leadoff single through the left side gets things started for Kouryou. Fukuda with the hard bunt to the right side. Hattori has to go back a little to field it, but he gets it and tosses to 1st for the out.
But then Kawabe walks Tokuta and now Kouryou has runners at 1st and 2nd with only 1 down!
Ball bounced up to the plate by Kawabe, but it's right to Kozaki. He rifles to 1st! And they get Tokuda! He might have been napping on the bounce, or thinking about advancing. Either way, he gets picked off 1st! 2 down!
Sanda grounds out to short to end the inning, but a baserunning error possiblty costs the team a chance at extending the lead!
Bottom 6th
For the 3rd straight inning Arihara gets through without too much difficulty retiring the side in order with a groundout, popup, and striking out Kawabe for the 3rd time today.
Top 7th
Maruko up and the band is playing part of Keiou's chance music! Makes me want to break out the CD again...
Kuramasu drives a ball to deep center. Iwamoto backing up, approaching the wall, but has plenty of time to get it for the 2nd out.
Ooooooooo! Chance Keio! Love that music. When I heard that for the first time when Keio was in Koshien, I realized they used that music in RBI Baseball! Love that tune.
Makoshiba grounder to 2nd. Shimizu makes the off balance throw and gets a sliding Makoshiba.
*grumble*Stop diving into 1st and you'd be safe...*grumble* *grumble*
Bottom 7th
Doi strikes out swinging. That's his 4th today. Isn't that the golden sombrero?
Hattori grounds out to short, and it's looking like another short inning. But Nishikawa collects his 2nd hit with a seeing-eye single past Ninomiya.
And Arihara goes full on the 2nd batter this inning, but gets Furukawa to strike out swinging to end the inning.
Top 8th
Arihara collects his 2nd hit on Kawabe's 120th pitch with a bloop single down the right field line.
Ninomiya tries to bunt, but pops it up in front of home! Kawabe charges and makes the catch. One down.
Shintani with a bunt, but he too pops it up! Kawabe charging in, dives and makes the catch! He tosses to 1st for the double play and that's the inning!
But Kawabe seems to have hurt himself a little, somewhere at the right knee or lower leg. He stretches it out and appears to be fine.
Bottom 8th
What's not fine is that they're down 2 runs with 6 outs to go.
Kozaki reaches out and hits one, but it's a flier to left center and Kuramasu is there to run it down.
Taguchi grounds out to 2nd and there's quickly 2 down. Arihara continues to roll.
And just as I say that, Arihara walks Iwamoto... figures.
Shimizu now with a single through the right side! Runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 down!
And Kawabe comes up trying to help his own cause. He really needs a hit having K'd 3 times already.
But after a flail at a pitch way outside the zone and a foul ball, he's behind 0-2!
AH! He flails at another pitch down and away for strike 3! The ball gets away from Shintani, but he gathers it in and throws to 1st for the out!
Not only does he waste an opportunity, but he too earns the golden sombrero!
Top 9th
Fukuda with a fly to right, but he gets under it too much and it's an easy catch for Taguchi.
Tokuta does the same thing to left.
And Sanda hits a towering pop to 2nd. Shimizu secures it and Kouryou is quickly retired. Last ups for Rits, is there anything left?
Bottom 9th
The large Rits contingent cheers on the team hoping for one more rally.
Top of the order for Doi who has 4 K's today. And Arihara falls behind 3-0, then walks him! Doi wasn't swinging at all that AB. Just get on base.
Hattori up. 0-4 himself. He bunts??! It's hard hit to the right side, but Maruko doesn't overrun it and makes the play at first. A safety bunt? Perhaps. But I wonder if Udaki-kantoku was thinking, "If he can't get on base, I might as well make it a productive out." Still though you're down 2 and that run doesn't matter. At least let Hattori try to see if he can't get a walk first given the leadoff one.
And a wild pitch by Arihara lets Doi advance to 3rd! Is Arihara tiring? That was his 160th pitch!
Full count to Nishikawa and he walks him!! The tying run is on base!
Nakai-kantoku calling a conference. 161 pitches for Arihara... is it too much?
Defensive change for Kouryou. #9 Toyota comes in for Kuramasu in left.
AH!! Nishikawa taking off for 2nd! Throw from Shintani is short and smothered by Fukuda! Now the tying run is in scoring position! That's a heck of a call to make with the tying run.
Another conference on the mound. A base hit could tie the game.
Furukawa ahead 2-1, and swings away! Grounder to 2nd! Fukuda up with it, looks home, but decides to go to 1st allowing Doi to score. Gives up the run for the out and now it's 7-6 with the tying run 90 feet away! I can't tell if the pitch was outside, but don't you try to work a walk? There's no double play.
Kozaki up looking for the timely hit, but gets ahead 2-1! And a pitch by Arihara is called a ball! Ooo... that looked good to me. And he loses him! Now the winning run is on base!!
Arihara does NOT look happy about those last 2 calls.
Taguchi up, takes ball 1 inside. Runner takes off! Taguchi swings and fouls it off!
Wait, WHAT?
And he takes off again! Pitch in for a strike, Shintani throws to 2nd... swipe tag by Fukuda... OUT!
...and well, you know what I thought of that call.
Admittedly it is hard to tell if Fukuda was able to make the tag. I looked at the replay several times, and I do see a movement of the jersey where the number is before Kozaki reaches the bag. But I can't tell if that is because his body is moving, or if it's because the glove brushed the jersey.
Either way, you just don't do that.
Notable Players
WP - Arihara Kouhei (Kouryou) - CG, 2 ER, 7 H, 13 K, 8 BB
LP - Kawabe Kaita (Ritsumeikan Uji) - CG, 6 ER, 11 H, 3 K, 5 BB
Tokuda Shinyuu (Kouryou) - 2-3, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB
Maruko Tatsuya (Kouryou) - 3-4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI
Kuramasu Takahiro (Kouryou) - 2-3, 2 RBI, BB
Nishikawa Shinjirou (Ritsumeikan Uji) - 2-4, R, BB
Shimizu Yuuta (Ritsumeikan Uji) - 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, HBP
The final matchup of the day is an interesting one. Kouryou makes its first return to Koshien since the 2008 Natsu Koshien when they lost to Saga Kita. Arihara is their ace, and they depended on him in the higher level games (Chuugoku super-regionals) while depending on their other pitchers (Ueno & Kawasaki) for the lower level games. It's not the 2-pitcher system Saga Kita used, but I wonder if they incorporated parts of it into their team. Arihara's numbers are pretty ridiculous. In tournament play he had a K/9 ratio just short of 9, and his BB/9 ratio is a shade under 1.5. That's pretty amazing. Ueno is just as good, sporting a 9.82 K/9 and 2.45 BB/9 ratios.
(It's happened before. The epic, and Hindenburg-like collapse of Teikyou against Chiben Wakayama in 2006 when they were down 8-4, scored 8 runs while using a PH on their last pitcher - and hitting a gyakuten 3-run HR - and couldn't close out the game, appeared to have changed their philosophy to the point where they carry as many as 4 pitchers!)
Kouryou almost does it all. They hit for average, are aggressive on the bases, and take their fair share of walks and get quite a few doubles (although that may be a by-product of their speed). Look for Maruko and Sanda to provide the offense for the club.
Ritsumeikan Uji is only making their 2nd spring appearance at Koshien. Pitching-wise, the staff isn't all that spectacular. Ace Kawabe takes the majority of the innings, doesn't miss a lot of bats, and his K/BB ratio stands at 1.33.
Offensively, the team is a station-to-station club. They do hit for average (.345), but not really for extra bases (.414 SLG). They take a bunch of walks (.452 OBP), but aren't aggressive on the basepaths (17 SB in 10 games). Kozaki and Nishikawa should be the table-setters or clutch hitters for the team.
As one-dimensional as Ritsumeikan Uji is, they'll have to lean on that heavily if they want to advance in the tournament. As long as they can keep it low scoring, they'll have a shot to win this.
Kouryou (Hiroshima) - Chuugoku At-large
2B Fukuda Shuuhei
RF Tokuda Shinyuu (#13)
3B Sanda Tatsuya (#6)
1B Maruko Tatsuya
LF Kuramasu Takahiro
CF Makoshiba Daiki
P Arihara Kouhei
SS Ninomiya Yuusuke (#14)
C Shintani Atsushi
Ritsumeikan Uji (Kyoto) - Kinki 3/4
SS Doi Jyunpei
1B Hattori Kengo
LF Nishikawa Shinjirou
3B Furukawa Kouki
C Kozaki Hiroyuki
RF Taguchi Masaki
CF Iwamoto Tsubasa
2B Shimizu Yuuta
P Kawabe Kaita
__________________________________________________
13:48 - First pitch!
Top 1
As advertised, Kouryou is pretty patient. Fukuda goes ahead 3-0, then lets 2 balls go by for strikes. After a foul, he grounds out to 2nd.
Tokuda walks on 4 straight. Sanda flies out to center on 4 pitches.
Maruko with a drive over the shortstop's head into left center! Tokuda heading for 3rd, throw cutoff by the SS and Maruko slides into second with a double! Scoring opportunity early for Kouryou!
Kuramasu with a fister to left! That's down for a base hit! Tokuda scores, Maruko being sent home! Nishikawa waiting for the bounce, comes up throwing! And that is rifled in there! Takes a bounce or two, but it's right at Kozaki who's blocking home plate! He applies the tag, and Maruko is out! Nice play!
But Kouryou is on the board early with a 1-0 lead!
Bottom 1st
Arihara looks good on the mound. His fastball is sitting in the low 140's and he has a slow curve in the 110's. Doi strikes out looking, and Hattori grounds weakly to 2nd.
Nishikawa with a grounder to 3rd. Sanda with the ball, drops it! Fumbles trying to pick it up! Throw is late and Nishikawa is on base on the E5.
And Udaki-kantoku puts on the hit and run! Furukawa connects and it's a hit to center! Nishikawa heads for 3rd and Ritsumeikan has runners at the corners!
Ah! Kozaki with a grounder. That's past a diving Maruko... fair! Nishikawa scores, Furukawa heading to 3rd as Tokuda comes up with the ball! The error costs Kouryou as Kozaki's double for Rits quickly evens the score at 1-1!
Nakai-kantoku calls for a conference on the mound (I should mention that in koukouyakyuu the manager doesn't really head out to the mound. He sends one of the benchplayers out there for him).
Arihara falls behind Taguchi 3-1 but manages to fill it up.
Taguchi with a grounder past a diving Ninomiya! Furukawa scores! Kozaki holds up at 3rd, but Rits has taken the lead, it's 2-1!
And now Iwamoto is hit on the foot by an Arihara pitch! It's manrui for Rits! What is going on with Arihara and Kouryou?
Shimizu with the hard grounder down the 3rd base line! Sanda dives, can't get it! It's fair!! Kozaki scores, Taguchi rounding 3rd... he scores! Kuramasu quickly up with it, throws to 3rd... and Iwamoto slides in... SAFE! Another hit for Rits and now they're up 4-1!!!!! ありえない!!
Ace Kawabe stands in as the 9th batter up this inning! He goes down swinging, but Ritsumeikan scores 4 runs and breaks out to a 3-run lead!!
Top 2nd
Makoshiba looks to start the rally as he singles to center.
Arihara lays down the bunt, but he kills it right in front of home! Kozaki up with it, fires to 2nd for one out, relay from Doi... two! Arihara's bunt winds up in a double play and there's 2 outs!
Ninomiya flies out to left to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Arihara is working fairly quickly, but his control is still an issue. But he strikes out Doi afater 8 pitches. Then Hattori on 5, and Nishikawa on 5 as well. He threw quite a few sliders that inning.
Top 3rd
Oh, for Kawabe, he has a fastball in the high 120's and a curve in the low 100's.
Shintani earns a leadoff walk sending it back to the top of the lineup. Fukuda is squaring to bunt, takes a strike. Then pulls it back and hits it foul. A weak grounder down the 1st base line does the job though as Hattori's only play is to 1st.
Tokuda with a single to right! Taguchi can't handle the hop! It bounces away from him as Shintani scores! Tokuda takes 2nd on the error and Kouryou takes a run back. It's 4-2.
And now a wild pitch from Kawabe! Kozaki runs it down, but Tokuda takes 3rd!
Sanda hit by Kawabe! Runners on the corners now with one down!
Maruko with a drive to right!! Taguchi running back, leaps and it falls in behind him!!! That's to the wall! Tokuta scores, Sanda heading for 3rd... holds as Shimizu fires a rocket to home (almost high!). But the second double by Maruko trims the deficit to 1 at 4-3, and there's still runners at 2nd and 3rd with only one down!
And Kuramasu with a single through the right side! Sanda comes in to score and Kouryou has come back to tie the game! 4-4!!
The outfield was playing in and Taguchi's throw prevented Maruko from scoring.
Makoshiba with the grounder to 1st. Hattori looks Maruko back then scrambles back to the bag at 1st for the put out. 2 down.
Arihara up to try and give himself the lead... but he goes down swinging. But his team has come back with 3 runs here in the 3rd to level the score!
Bottom 3rd
O~~~y. Arihara has new life, then plunks Furukawa to start the inning.
But Kozaki tries to put down the bunt, and it's right to Arihara. He fires to 2nd for one, but they can't turn the double play. Still, they get the lead runner.
And Kozaki breaks for 2nd! Throw from Shintani short hops Ninomiya! It goes into center and Kozaki heads to 3rd! E2 and Rits threatens to retake the lead!
Arihara misses on a 3-0 pitch and gives up yet another base runner! At least it sets up the double play.
Hit-and-run! But Iwamoto fouls it off. And Udaki-kantoku calls for another one! Iwamoto strikes out, but Taguchi reaches 2nd safely.
Runners now on 2nd and 3rd with 2 down for Shimizu who had the timely double in the 1st.
AHHH!!! Arihara with a wild pitch all the way to the backstop! Kozaki comes in from 3rd, and Rits retakes the lead 5-4!
And now Shimizu is hit by a pitch! What in the world is going on with Arihara's control??!
Kawabe up looking for a timely hit, and Shimizu takes off for 2nd! Shintani's throw is on target, and Kawabe is... out! Shintani guns down Shimizu to end the inning, but not before Arihara self-inflicts damage to himself relinquishing the lead back to Ritsumeikan Uji 5-4!
Top 4th
Kawabe settles down after the long 3rd inning. He gets Ninomiya looking, Shintani swinging, and Fukuda to fly to center.
Bottom 4th
Arihara too turns right around and retires the side in order, striking out Kawabe swinging, Doi looking and Hattori grounding to 2nd. (Hattori's grounder was a slow chopper that Fukuda charged at and whose throw barely beat out a hustling Hattori).
It's almost been night and day for Arihara looking dominant one inning, then completely off-kilter the next. Can he finally settle things down?
Top 5th
Tokuda with a comebacker up the middle. Doi dives, but it sneaks through!
And a wild pitch from Kawabe lets Tokuda advance to 2nd!
Sanda looking to bunt, but he pops it up! Kawabe makes the catch and there's one down! Nakai-kantoku can't be too happy with that as a free base turns into the equivalent of a sac bunt.
But all is well when Maruko singles through to left! Nishikawa comes up with the ball, but Tokuda scores easily from 2nd and just like that we have a tie ball game at 5-5! Maruko is already 3-3 today with 2 RBI's!
And now a wild pitch to Kuramasu! It was on a 3-2 pitch for ball 4, but Kozaki has to run it down to prevent Maruko from advancing any further. He does so, but there's situation developing for Kouryou here in the 5th!
Udaki calls for a conference on the mound. They've already let 2 leads slip away, they can't fall behind now.
Grounder to 2nd by Makoshiba! Shimizu to Doi for one. Throw to first is... WHAT??!
Doi throws the ball into the ground and it takes a high bounce that Hattori can't handle! It goes into foul territory and Maruko comes in to score from 3rd! The error costs Rits the lead and Koryou takes the lead for the first time since the 1st inning, 6-5!!
Kawabe looks out to 2nd from the mound with an expression his face that says, "What?"
But on the replay it seems like either Doi should have eaten it, or jumped to avoid the throw because Kuramasu's slide may have affected the throw.
Now #10 comes out to talk to the umpires. Speculation is that Udaki-kantoku is looking for a possible interference call, but Kuramasu has a right to the base, and wasn't going out of his way to take out Doi, so it's a clean slide.
Arihara with a liner to right! That's a base hit! Makoshiba rounds 3rd and comes home, throw is cut off, and Kouryou extends their lead. It's 7-5! Arihara hits a hanging curve to help his own cause.
Ninomiya jammed by Kawabe! Taguchi coming in and makes the catch to retire the side. But Kouryou scores another 3 runs to take the lead!
Bottom 5th
Nishikawa hits a high fastball through the right side for a leadoff single.
Cleanup batter Furukawa bunts him along to 2nd. There's still time for Rits to play for just a run here in the 5th.
Arihara can't find the plate again. He falls behind 3-0 to Kozaki, but is bailed out when Kozaki swings away and hit a chopper back to him. He looks the runner back and makes the play at 1st. 2 down.
But he continues to make things difficult, falling behind Taguchi 2-0. He evens the count, then doesn't get a strike 3 call. But Taguchi strikes out swinging on the next pitch and the threat is over.
Top 6th
Shintani with a leadoff single through the left side gets things started for Kouryou. Fukuda with the hard bunt to the right side. Hattori has to go back a little to field it, but he gets it and tosses to 1st for the out.
But then Kawabe walks Tokuta and now Kouryou has runners at 1st and 2nd with only 1 down!
Ball bounced up to the plate by Kawabe, but it's right to Kozaki. He rifles to 1st! And they get Tokuda! He might have been napping on the bounce, or thinking about advancing. Either way, he gets picked off 1st! 2 down!
Sanda grounds out to short to end the inning, but a baserunning error possiblty costs the team a chance at extending the lead!
Bottom 6th
For the 3rd straight inning Arihara gets through without too much difficulty retiring the side in order with a groundout, popup, and striking out Kawabe for the 3rd time today.
Top 7th
Maruko up and the band is playing part of Keiou's chance music! Makes me want to break out the CD again...
Kuramasu drives a ball to deep center. Iwamoto backing up, approaching the wall, but has plenty of time to get it for the 2nd out.
Ooooooooo! Chance Keio! Love that music. When I heard that for the first time when Keio was in Koshien, I realized they used that music in RBI Baseball! Love that tune.
Makoshiba grounder to 2nd. Shimizu makes the off balance throw and gets a sliding Makoshiba.
*grumble*Stop diving into 1st and you'd be safe...*grumble* *grumble*
Bottom 7th
Doi strikes out swinging. That's his 4th today. Isn't that the golden sombrero?
Hattori grounds out to short, and it's looking like another short inning. But Nishikawa collects his 2nd hit with a seeing-eye single past Ninomiya.
And Arihara goes full on the 2nd batter this inning, but gets Furukawa to strike out swinging to end the inning.
Top 8th
Arihara collects his 2nd hit on Kawabe's 120th pitch with a bloop single down the right field line.
Ninomiya tries to bunt, but pops it up in front of home! Kawabe charges and makes the catch. One down.
Shintani with a bunt, but he too pops it up! Kawabe charging in, dives and makes the catch! He tosses to 1st for the double play and that's the inning!
But Kawabe seems to have hurt himself a little, somewhere at the right knee or lower leg. He stretches it out and appears to be fine.
Bottom 8th
What's not fine is that they're down 2 runs with 6 outs to go.
Kozaki reaches out and hits one, but it's a flier to left center and Kuramasu is there to run it down.
Taguchi grounds out to 2nd and there's quickly 2 down. Arihara continues to roll.
And just as I say that, Arihara walks Iwamoto... figures.
Shimizu now with a single through the right side! Runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 down!
And Kawabe comes up trying to help his own cause. He really needs a hit having K'd 3 times already.
But after a flail at a pitch way outside the zone and a foul ball, he's behind 0-2!
AH! He flails at another pitch down and away for strike 3! The ball gets away from Shintani, but he gathers it in and throws to 1st for the out!
Not only does he waste an opportunity, but he too earns the golden sombrero!
Top 9th
Fukuda with a fly to right, but he gets under it too much and it's an easy catch for Taguchi.
Tokuta does the same thing to left.
And Sanda hits a towering pop to 2nd. Shimizu secures it and Kouryou is quickly retired. Last ups for Rits, is there anything left?
Bottom 9th
The large Rits contingent cheers on the team hoping for one more rally.
Top of the order for Doi who has 4 K's today. And Arihara falls behind 3-0, then walks him! Doi wasn't swinging at all that AB. Just get on base.
Hattori up. 0-4 himself. He bunts??! It's hard hit to the right side, but Maruko doesn't overrun it and makes the play at first. A safety bunt? Perhaps. But I wonder if Udaki-kantoku was thinking, "If he can't get on base, I might as well make it a productive out." Still though you're down 2 and that run doesn't matter. At least let Hattori try to see if he can't get a walk first given the leadoff one.
And a wild pitch by Arihara lets Doi advance to 3rd! Is Arihara tiring? That was his 160th pitch!
Full count to Nishikawa and he walks him!! The tying run is on base!
Nakai-kantoku calling a conference. 161 pitches for Arihara... is it too much?
Defensive change for Kouryou. #9 Toyota comes in for Kuramasu in left.
AH!! Nishikawa taking off for 2nd! Throw from Shintani is short and smothered by Fukuda! Now the tying run is in scoring position! That's a heck of a call to make with the tying run.
Another conference on the mound. A base hit could tie the game.
Furukawa ahead 2-1, and swings away! Grounder to 2nd! Fukuda up with it, looks home, but decides to go to 1st allowing Doi to score. Gives up the run for the out and now it's 7-6 with the tying run 90 feet away! I can't tell if the pitch was outside, but don't you try to work a walk? There's no double play.
Kozaki up looking for the timely hit, but gets ahead 2-1! And a pitch by Arihara is called a ball! Ooo... that looked good to me. And he loses him! Now the winning run is on base!!
Arihara does NOT look happy about those last 2 calls.
Taguchi up, takes ball 1 inside. Runner takes off! Taguchi swings and fouls it off!
Wait, WHAT?
And he takes off again! Pitch in for a strike, Shintani throws to 2nd... swipe tag by Fukuda... OUT!
...and well, you know what I thought of that call.
Admittedly it is hard to tell if Fukuda was able to make the tag. I looked at the replay several times, and I do see a movement of the jersey where the number is before Kozaki reaches the bag. But I can't tell if that is because his body is moving, or if it's because the glove brushed the jersey.
Either way, you just don't do that.
Notable Players
WP - Arihara Kouhei (Kouryou) - CG, 2 ER, 7 H, 13 K, 8 BB
LP - Kawabe Kaita (Ritsumeikan Uji) - CG, 6 ER, 11 H, 3 K, 5 BB
Tokuda Shinyuu (Kouryou) - 2-3, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB
Maruko Tatsuya (Kouryou) - 3-4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI
Kuramasu Takahiro (Kouryou) - 2-3, 2 RBI, BB
Nishikawa Shinjirou (Ritsumeikan Uji) - 2-4, R, BB
Shimizu Yuuta (Ritsumeikan Uji) - 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, HBP
Um... What were they thinking???!!!
Ok. This is out of sequence with my game reports (as I try to keep them in chronological order), but I have to comment on this even though I haven't gone through the game yet because I was box score watching in the Kouryou-Ritsumeikan Uji game while going through the Miyazaki Kougyou-Maebashi Kougyou videos.
What in the world was Ritsumeikan Uji thinking when they decided to have the runner steal? Bottom 9, down 7-6, runners at the corners, and you decide to send the WINNING run to 2nd??
Not the tying run, the WINNING run.
You made the 3rd out trying to get the WINNING run in scoring position.
Sure, if you had runners at 2nd and 3rd and you were down 1 and you get a base hit you would consider sending the 2nd runner home to end it, but really? Really??
This easily trumps the boneheaded decision by the Tenri manager to change pitchers. Get the tying run in first, THEN you can worry about getting the winning run in scoring position.
I was talking about this with someone earlier and we couldn't find any possible reasoning where this would make sense. Thinking about it now, the ONLY way this makes sense is if this was a double steal situation. But then the runner going to 2nd should stall if he realizes he's caught. So it's possible the runner on 3rd might have missed a sign.
But no, the runner going to second was going full bore as if to steal it outright. So this decision is just plain inexcusable.
What in the world was Ritsumeikan Uji thinking when they decided to have the runner steal? Bottom 9, down 7-6, runners at the corners, and you decide to send the WINNING run to 2nd??
Not the tying run, the WINNING run.
You made the 3rd out trying to get the WINNING run in scoring position.
Sure, if you had runners at 2nd and 3rd and you were down 1 and you get a base hit you would consider sending the 2nd runner home to end it, but really? Really??
This easily trumps the boneheaded decision by the Tenri manager to change pitchers. Get the tying run in first, THEN you can worry about getting the winning run in scoring position.
I was talking about this with someone earlier and we couldn't find any possible reasoning where this would make sense. Thinking about it now, the ONLY way this makes sense is if this was a double steal situation. But then the runner going to 2nd should stall if he realizes he's caught. So it's possible the runner on 3rd might have missed a sign.
But no, the runner going to second was going full bore as if to steal it outright. So this decision is just plain inexcusable.
Day 2 - Game 2 - Miyazaki Kougyou (Miyazaki) vs. Maebashi Kougyou (Gunma)
So so far, the Kyushu super-regional winner has gone down, the Chuugoku super-regional winner has been sent home and one of the perennial teams out of Kinki was given their papers. What next?
Well, we have the matinee game which is the first game of the 2nd quadrant. Maebashi Kougyou, the 3/4 out of Kanto squares off against Miyazaki Kougyou, Kyushu's runner-up.
Maebashiko as mentioned many times before doesn't stand out in any particular aspect - other than perhaps their manager Kogure Naoya being only 25 years old. He has Koshien experience playing for Maebashi Shougyou, and went to Waseda Daigaku afterwards.
Back to the team though, they don't hit for average, don't hit for power, aren't aggressive on base, and while ace Hirai supressed runs, he wasn't blowing by batters either. And perhaps that's why Kogure-kantoku changed things up sending almost his entire infield to the bench.
Miyazakiko doesn't hit for power either, but take more than their fare share of walks, and steal a couple of bases. Ace Hamada doesn't overpower, but instead mixed in 3 different off-speed pitches and a two-seam fastball to throw the batters off. It does lead to some walks though, as evidenced by his 3 BB/9 and 2 K/BB. But if he can keep his control, he'll give his team a shot.
Miyazaki Kougyou (Miyazaki) - Kyushu Runner-up
3B Satou Ryou
CF Inagaki Yuuya
SS Nagamine Shuuhei
C Ibii Yuuji
2B Ukita Jin
RF Kusunoki Hiroki
1B Niimi Kouki
P Hamada Tomohiro
LF Ishiyama Kazuma
Maebashi Kougyou (Gunma) - Kanto 3/4
CF Tanaka Keitarou
2B Matsunaga Shuuhei
1B (Ishihara Masatoshi)
LF Tomizawa Tatsuki
P Hirai Azuma
3B Kosuda Dai
RF Itagaki Tsuyoshi
C Harasawa Tadashi
SS Taguchi Shuuhei
__________________________________________________
11:23 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Hirai is like most of the pitchers in this tournament. Fastball in the low 130's, and some kind of offspeed pitch in the 110's. And one of those off speed pitches induces a grounder by Satou to 1B.
Of course, Hirai breaks out a slow curve at around 100.
Camera pans over to Gokure-kantoku who could almost pass for a player!
Anyways Inagaki draws a walk. Then tries to steals 2nd! The pitch is high, Harasawa is easily set to make the throw and Inagaki is out by a wiiiiide margin.
And now Nagamine walks on 4 straight! That's gotta hurt considering they had a baserunner already.
Iwakiri-kantoku now sends Nagamine! This time Harasawa's throw is late! But man, he's not waiting for send the runners, even though Hirai is struggling with his control.
And Hirai can't find the plate! He walks Ibii on 4 straight and now there's runners on 1st and 2nd!
Harasawa goes to the mound to settle Hirai down.
EH?? Hirai turns around just as Nagamine hops towards 3rd and he's suddenly caught! Hirai goes to Matsunaga who runs him down for the 3rd out!
Um... Someone please tell me how a team managers to get 3 straight walks with one out and yet not score a run. (Yes, I know a double play, but I mean seriously - a caught stealing and a pickoff? C'mon man!)
Bottom 1st
Wow, Hamada's delivery is really funky. It's an overhand throw, but his hand motion is really strange. He's hitting in the mid 130's and the announcers are saying he has a slider, cutter, change and curve. One of them hits the 120's (slider?) and another in the 110's (change?).
The batters are certainly having some issues to start. Tanaka grounds to 1st, Matsunaga grounds to 3rd, and Ishihara whiffs on a slider (?) away.
Top 2nd
Ukita up again and he golfs a ball way down in the zone and it's a lazy fly to right.
Kusunoki hits a grounder up the middle, but Taguchi is playing close to the bag and makes the play.
Hirai gets ahead of Niimi 0-2 and that 2nd pitch he throws certainly has some late movement. Niimi though, continues to work the count, fouling off pitches and staying alive.
Then he hits a pitch to left! Tomizawa goes back to a spot probably 20 feet from the left field wall and makes the catch for the 3rd out. That didn't seem like it was hit that hard, and the wind isn't blowing either. Huh.
Bottom 2nd
Hamada falls behind Tomizawa 3-0 but eventually induces a grounder to 2nd. One down.
He gets ahead of Hirai 0-2, then nibbles a bit. But he gets him to ground to 3rd. Nice stretch by 1B Niimi.
And a offspeed pitch gets Kosuda to swing for strike 3. And I think Hamada may be more of a 3/4 pitcher.
Top 3rd
Hamada draws a leadoff walk to start the inning, Hirai's 4th of the day.
Ishiyama squares to bunt, but takes a change for a strike. And he tries for a safety bunt, but is jammed and fouls that off. 1-2, and he's still squaring to bunt! But he gets it down and there's a runner in scoring position for the top of the lineup.
But Hirai's fastball runs up and in on Satou! He jumps back, but it nicks the jersey! Runners on 1st and 2nd!
Inagaki with a drive down the right field line! Itagaki running over diving, and it's foul!
Count 0-2 now, and Harasawa calls for the pitchout. Nobody moves.
A grounder to 2nd by Inagaki. Matsunaga goes to 2nd for one, throw to Ishihara... not in time! Inagaki beats out the throw to keep the inning going.
Nagamine up, and Inagaki takes off for 2nd! Nagamine makes contact and hits one to left! That's in for a base hit! Hamada comes in to score and Miyazakiko scores the first run of the game on a timely hit. 1-0.
Runners on 1st and 2nd for Ibii. Gokure-kantoku calls a conference.
And Hirai gets Ibii swinging on an offspeed away for the 3rd out. But Miyazaki has drawn first blood in the battle of commercial schools!
Bottom 3rd
Itagaki hits a slow roller to 2nd, but Ukita's throw beats a diving Itagaki for the first out.
Ah, and I see Hamada's slow curve at 97kph. And then he turns around and fires a cutball at 131 for the K.
Man Hamada works fast. I can barely keep up!
Grounder to 3rd by Taguchi is grabbed by Satou, but his throw is high! It goes to the fence and Taguchi takes 2nd on the error! There goes Hamada's perfect game!
A grounder to short by Tanaka ends the inning. Small hiccup there for Miyazakiko, but Hamada keeps on rolling.
Top 4th
Ukita gets plunked by a pitch from Hirai and needs a bit more attention with the itai spray. After a couple of minutes, Kusunoki steps up to bunt.
And Ukita takes off for 2nd! Throw from Harasawa is online, but Taguchi drops the ball while moving to make the tag! Would've been a close play, but the drop gives him the base.
Now the bunt by Kusunoki sends the runner to 3rd with one down.
Niimi grounds to short, and Ukita is running home! Taguchi up with the throw and Ukita is... well out by a good bit.
Hamada strikes out swinging to end the inning, and Maebashiko dodges a bullet.
Bottom 4th
Matsunaga lifts one to shallow right and Kusunoki runs in to make the catch.
And Ishihara lines a fastball to right for Maebashiko's 1st hit of the game!
Tomizawa hits a liner right at Nagamine who looks Ishihara back to 1st.
And Gokure puts on the hit-and-run! Hirai hits a shot past a lunging Satou down the left field line! Ishihara has to stop at 2nd as Ishiyama gets to the ball quickly, but there's a possible situation brewing here for Maebashiko!
Kosuda grounds one to the left side! It's out of the reach of a diving Satou, but Nagamine is there to back it up! He flicks it to 2nd, and they get the force to end the inning! Nice play by the defense!
Top 5th
Hirai strikes out last batter Ishibashi to open the 5th.
Satou with a drive to left-center!! Tomizawa and Tanaka run back, but can't reach it! It's to the wall! Satou flying around the bases, heads for 3rd! Relay throw from Taguchi is high and Satou slides in safely! That's some wheels there!
Inagaki up and immediately Hirai goes to the pitchout. Infield is playing in for a play at the plate.
Grounder by Inagaki to short! Satou running home. Throw is in time and Harasawa makes a fine block with his legs to give him time to make the tag! 2 down!
If Satou was smart about it, he would have tried to slide around the leg then come back with his hand. May not have worked, but would've given him a better chance.
And Miyazakiko completely runs themselves out of the inning as Inagaki takes off for 2nd and is thrown out by Harasawa. A great scoring opportunity is wasted by Miyazakiko and they remain up by a single run.
Bottom 5th
Um. I think I just missed the bottom of the 5th. In 4 pitches, Hamada retires the side in order.
Top 6th
Nagamine grounds to short, and while Taguchi's throw is offline, Ishihara reaches out and makes the swipe tag for the out.
Ibii collects his first hit as he hits a liner back up the middle for a single.
Hirai gets Ukita to pop out to Taguchi for the 2nd out. But Kusunoki hits a comebacker past Hirai and into center for another single. Runners at 1st and 2nd now for Niimi.
Niimi with a grounder up the 3rd base line! Kosuda dives but can't get it! It goes over the bag and it's fair! Tomizawa runs it down, but Ibii easily makes it home! 2-0 on the timely hit by Niimi!
Gokure-kantoku calls another conference. #18 Yamaguchi Takuma warms up in the bullpen.
Chopper hit by Hamada back at Hirai. It's off his glove! He races over, picks it up and his throw to 1st is in time to retire the side. Timely hitting by Miyazakiko though extends the lead.
Bottom 6th
Hamada continues on cruise control.
Tanaka grounds out to 3rd. Matsunaga is trying to crouch low perhaps to not give the umpire a good vision of the strike zone, but that doesn't work. Then he inside-out's a dribbler that Satou lets go, and just barely goes foul missing the bag by mere inches. That's all before he strikes out swinging. And Niimi blocks an Ishihara grounder for the 3rd out.
Top 7th
After a quick groundout by Ishiyama, Satou draws a walk.
And Iwakiri puts on the hit and run! Inagaki grounds to 1st, but Ishihara's only play is at 1B.
Hirai retires the side by getting Nagamine to pop out to right, so the deficit stays at 2.
Bottom 7th
Time is starting to run short for Maebashiko. But they're finding no answers. Cleanup batter Tomizawa strikes out swinging, Hirai grounds to 3rd and Kosuda also strikes out swinging.
Maebashiko has only 2 hits so far this game, and they were both in the 6th. They'll need the offense to step up and quick.
Top 8th
Ibii gets his 2nd hit of the game with a single to center. Okita moves him to 2nd.
Kusunoki lines out to right, and Niimi grounds out to short. Quick inning from Hirai.
Bottom 8th
Maebashiko is running out of time to figure out Hamada. Try as they might, all they can do is go down in order...
Itagaki lines out to left.
Harasawa strikes out looking.
Taguchi pops out to Satou in foul territoy.
Top 9th
Hirai gets the first two batters out but then gives up a base hit to Satou has he lines one to right.
And Inagaki lines one to right! That's down the right field line and past Itagaki! He chases it to the wall as Satou barrels for home! He scores, and Ingaki ends up at 3rd. 3-0 Miyazaki!
Nagamine with a scorcher past a diving Kosuda and down the left field line! That's all the way to the wall. Ingaki scores, and it's 4-0!
Ibii pops out to 1st, but Miyazaki doubles their lead and with only 2 hits so far, Maebashi's chances are slipping away.
Bottom 9th
Tanaka with a grounder to 3rd. Satou's throw to 1st is high! Niimi has to leap off the bag to make the catch, and Tanaka slides in safely! 2nd error on Satou today!
Gokure-kantoku goes to his bench and PH #15 Yoshizawa for Matsunaga who was 0-3.
But he goes down swinging for out #1.
Ishihara grounds to short, and Maebashi is down to their last out.
Tomizawa though grounds to 2nd, and Ukita tosses to Nagamine for the last out! Miyazakiko advances with a convincing 4-0 win over Maebashiko!
Notable Players
WP - Hamada Tomohiro - CG, 0 ER, 2 H, 7 K, 0 BB
LP - Hirai Azuma - CG, 4 ER, 9 H, 3 K, 7 BB
Satou Ryou (Miyazaki Kougyou) - 2-3, 3B, R, 2 BB
Nagamine Shuuhei (Miyazaki Kougyou) - 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Ishihara Masatoshi (Maebashi Kougyou) - 1-4, K
Hirai Azuma (Maebashi Kougyou) - 1-3
Well, we have the matinee game which is the first game of the 2nd quadrant. Maebashi Kougyou, the 3/4 out of Kanto squares off against Miyazaki Kougyou, Kyushu's runner-up.
Maebashiko as mentioned many times before doesn't stand out in any particular aspect - other than perhaps their manager Kogure Naoya being only 25 years old. He has Koshien experience playing for Maebashi Shougyou, and went to Waseda Daigaku afterwards.
Back to the team though, they don't hit for average, don't hit for power, aren't aggressive on base, and while ace Hirai supressed runs, he wasn't blowing by batters either. And perhaps that's why Kogure-kantoku changed things up sending almost his entire infield to the bench.
Miyazakiko doesn't hit for power either, but take more than their fare share of walks, and steal a couple of bases. Ace Hamada doesn't overpower, but instead mixed in 3 different off-speed pitches and a two-seam fastball to throw the batters off. It does lead to some walks though, as evidenced by his 3 BB/9 and 2 K/BB. But if he can keep his control, he'll give his team a shot.
Miyazaki Kougyou (Miyazaki) - Kyushu Runner-up
3B Satou Ryou
CF Inagaki Yuuya
SS Nagamine Shuuhei
C Ibii Yuuji
2B Ukita Jin
RF Kusunoki Hiroki
1B Niimi Kouki
P Hamada Tomohiro
LF Ishiyama Kazuma
Maebashi Kougyou (Gunma) - Kanto 3/4
CF Tanaka Keitarou
2B Matsunaga Shuuhei
1B (Ishihara Masatoshi)
LF Tomizawa Tatsuki
P Hirai Azuma
3B Kosuda Dai
RF Itagaki Tsuyoshi
C Harasawa Tadashi
SS Taguchi Shuuhei
__________________________________________________
11:23 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Hirai is like most of the pitchers in this tournament. Fastball in the low 130's, and some kind of offspeed pitch in the 110's. And one of those off speed pitches induces a grounder by Satou to 1B.
Of course, Hirai breaks out a slow curve at around 100.
Camera pans over to Gokure-kantoku who could almost pass for a player!
Anyways Inagaki draws a walk. Then tries to steals 2nd! The pitch is high, Harasawa is easily set to make the throw and Inagaki is out by a wiiiiide margin.
And now Nagamine walks on 4 straight! That's gotta hurt considering they had a baserunner already.
Iwakiri-kantoku now sends Nagamine! This time Harasawa's throw is late! But man, he's not waiting for send the runners, even though Hirai is struggling with his control.
And Hirai can't find the plate! He walks Ibii on 4 straight and now there's runners on 1st and 2nd!
Harasawa goes to the mound to settle Hirai down.
EH?? Hirai turns around just as Nagamine hops towards 3rd and he's suddenly caught! Hirai goes to Matsunaga who runs him down for the 3rd out!
Um... Someone please tell me how a team managers to get 3 straight walks with one out and yet not score a run. (Yes, I know a double play, but I mean seriously - a caught stealing and a pickoff? C'mon man!)
Bottom 1st
Wow, Hamada's delivery is really funky. It's an overhand throw, but his hand motion is really strange. He's hitting in the mid 130's and the announcers are saying he has a slider, cutter, change and curve. One of them hits the 120's (slider?) and another in the 110's (change?).
The batters are certainly having some issues to start. Tanaka grounds to 1st, Matsunaga grounds to 3rd, and Ishihara whiffs on a slider (?) away.
Top 2nd
Ukita up again and he golfs a ball way down in the zone and it's a lazy fly to right.
Kusunoki hits a grounder up the middle, but Taguchi is playing close to the bag and makes the play.
Hirai gets ahead of Niimi 0-2 and that 2nd pitch he throws certainly has some late movement. Niimi though, continues to work the count, fouling off pitches and staying alive.
Then he hits a pitch to left! Tomizawa goes back to a spot probably 20 feet from the left field wall and makes the catch for the 3rd out. That didn't seem like it was hit that hard, and the wind isn't blowing either. Huh.
Bottom 2nd
Hamada falls behind Tomizawa 3-0 but eventually induces a grounder to 2nd. One down.
He gets ahead of Hirai 0-2, then nibbles a bit. But he gets him to ground to 3rd. Nice stretch by 1B Niimi.
And a offspeed pitch gets Kosuda to swing for strike 3. And I think Hamada may be more of a 3/4 pitcher.
Top 3rd
Hamada draws a leadoff walk to start the inning, Hirai's 4th of the day.
Ishiyama squares to bunt, but takes a change for a strike. And he tries for a safety bunt, but is jammed and fouls that off. 1-2, and he's still squaring to bunt! But he gets it down and there's a runner in scoring position for the top of the lineup.
But Hirai's fastball runs up and in on Satou! He jumps back, but it nicks the jersey! Runners on 1st and 2nd!
Inagaki with a drive down the right field line! Itagaki running over diving, and it's foul!
Count 0-2 now, and Harasawa calls for the pitchout. Nobody moves.
A grounder to 2nd by Inagaki. Matsunaga goes to 2nd for one, throw to Ishihara... not in time! Inagaki beats out the throw to keep the inning going.
Nagamine up, and Inagaki takes off for 2nd! Nagamine makes contact and hits one to left! That's in for a base hit! Hamada comes in to score and Miyazakiko scores the first run of the game on a timely hit. 1-0.
Runners on 1st and 2nd for Ibii. Gokure-kantoku calls a conference.
And Hirai gets Ibii swinging on an offspeed away for the 3rd out. But Miyazaki has drawn first blood in the battle of commercial schools!
Bottom 3rd
Itagaki hits a slow roller to 2nd, but Ukita's throw beats a diving Itagaki for the first out.
Ah, and I see Hamada's slow curve at 97kph. And then he turns around and fires a cutball at 131 for the K.
Man Hamada works fast. I can barely keep up!
Grounder to 3rd by Taguchi is grabbed by Satou, but his throw is high! It goes to the fence and Taguchi takes 2nd on the error! There goes Hamada's perfect game!
A grounder to short by Tanaka ends the inning. Small hiccup there for Miyazakiko, but Hamada keeps on rolling.
Top 4th
Ukita gets plunked by a pitch from Hirai and needs a bit more attention with the itai spray. After a couple of minutes, Kusunoki steps up to bunt.
And Ukita takes off for 2nd! Throw from Harasawa is online, but Taguchi drops the ball while moving to make the tag! Would've been a close play, but the drop gives him the base.
Now the bunt by Kusunoki sends the runner to 3rd with one down.
Niimi grounds to short, and Ukita is running home! Taguchi up with the throw and Ukita is... well out by a good bit.
Hamada strikes out swinging to end the inning, and Maebashiko dodges a bullet.
Bottom 4th
Matsunaga lifts one to shallow right and Kusunoki runs in to make the catch.
And Ishihara lines a fastball to right for Maebashiko's 1st hit of the game!
Tomizawa hits a liner right at Nagamine who looks Ishihara back to 1st.
And Gokure puts on the hit-and-run! Hirai hits a shot past a lunging Satou down the left field line! Ishihara has to stop at 2nd as Ishiyama gets to the ball quickly, but there's a possible situation brewing here for Maebashiko!
Kosuda grounds one to the left side! It's out of the reach of a diving Satou, but Nagamine is there to back it up! He flicks it to 2nd, and they get the force to end the inning! Nice play by the defense!
Top 5th
Hirai strikes out last batter Ishibashi to open the 5th.
Satou with a drive to left-center!! Tomizawa and Tanaka run back, but can't reach it! It's to the wall! Satou flying around the bases, heads for 3rd! Relay throw from Taguchi is high and Satou slides in safely! That's some wheels there!
Inagaki up and immediately Hirai goes to the pitchout. Infield is playing in for a play at the plate.
Grounder by Inagaki to short! Satou running home. Throw is in time and Harasawa makes a fine block with his legs to give him time to make the tag! 2 down!
If Satou was smart about it, he would have tried to slide around the leg then come back with his hand. May not have worked, but would've given him a better chance.
And Miyazakiko completely runs themselves out of the inning as Inagaki takes off for 2nd and is thrown out by Harasawa. A great scoring opportunity is wasted by Miyazakiko and they remain up by a single run.
Bottom 5th
Um. I think I just missed the bottom of the 5th. In 4 pitches, Hamada retires the side in order.
Top 6th
Nagamine grounds to short, and while Taguchi's throw is offline, Ishihara reaches out and makes the swipe tag for the out.
Ibii collects his first hit as he hits a liner back up the middle for a single.
Hirai gets Ukita to pop out to Taguchi for the 2nd out. But Kusunoki hits a comebacker past Hirai and into center for another single. Runners at 1st and 2nd now for Niimi.
Niimi with a grounder up the 3rd base line! Kosuda dives but can't get it! It goes over the bag and it's fair! Tomizawa runs it down, but Ibii easily makes it home! 2-0 on the timely hit by Niimi!
Gokure-kantoku calls another conference. #18 Yamaguchi Takuma warms up in the bullpen.
Chopper hit by Hamada back at Hirai. It's off his glove! He races over, picks it up and his throw to 1st is in time to retire the side. Timely hitting by Miyazakiko though extends the lead.
Bottom 6th
Hamada continues on cruise control.
Tanaka grounds out to 3rd. Matsunaga is trying to crouch low perhaps to not give the umpire a good vision of the strike zone, but that doesn't work. Then he inside-out's a dribbler that Satou lets go, and just barely goes foul missing the bag by mere inches. That's all before he strikes out swinging. And Niimi blocks an Ishihara grounder for the 3rd out.
Top 7th
After a quick groundout by Ishiyama, Satou draws a walk.
And Iwakiri puts on the hit and run! Inagaki grounds to 1st, but Ishihara's only play is at 1B.
Hirai retires the side by getting Nagamine to pop out to right, so the deficit stays at 2.
Bottom 7th
Time is starting to run short for Maebashiko. But they're finding no answers. Cleanup batter Tomizawa strikes out swinging, Hirai grounds to 3rd and Kosuda also strikes out swinging.
Maebashiko has only 2 hits so far this game, and they were both in the 6th. They'll need the offense to step up and quick.
Top 8th
Ibii gets his 2nd hit of the game with a single to center. Okita moves him to 2nd.
Kusunoki lines out to right, and Niimi grounds out to short. Quick inning from Hirai.
Bottom 8th
Maebashiko is running out of time to figure out Hamada. Try as they might, all they can do is go down in order...
Itagaki lines out to left.
Harasawa strikes out looking.
Taguchi pops out to Satou in foul territoy.
Top 9th
Hirai gets the first two batters out but then gives up a base hit to Satou has he lines one to right.
And Inagaki lines one to right! That's down the right field line and past Itagaki! He chases it to the wall as Satou barrels for home! He scores, and Ingaki ends up at 3rd. 3-0 Miyazaki!
Nagamine with a scorcher past a diving Kosuda and down the left field line! That's all the way to the wall. Ingaki scores, and it's 4-0!
Ibii pops out to 1st, but Miyazaki doubles their lead and with only 2 hits so far, Maebashi's chances are slipping away.
Bottom 9th
Tanaka with a grounder to 3rd. Satou's throw to 1st is high! Niimi has to leap off the bag to make the catch, and Tanaka slides in safely! 2nd error on Satou today!
Gokure-kantoku goes to his bench and PH #15 Yoshizawa for Matsunaga who was 0-3.
But he goes down swinging for out #1.
Ishihara grounds to short, and Maebashi is down to their last out.
Tomizawa though grounds to 2nd, and Ukita tosses to Nagamine for the last out! Miyazakiko advances with a convincing 4-0 win over Maebashiko!
Notable Players
WP - Hamada Tomohiro - CG, 0 ER, 2 H, 7 K, 0 BB
LP - Hirai Azuma - CG, 4 ER, 9 H, 3 K, 7 BB
Satou Ryou (Miyazaki Kougyou) - 2-3, 3B, R, 2 BB
Nagamine Shuuhei (Miyazaki Kougyou) - 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Ishihara Masatoshi (Maebashi Kougyou) - 1-4, K
Hirai Azuma (Maebashi Kougyou) - 1-3
Day 2 - Game 1 - Kaisei (Shimane) vs. Kouyou (Wakayama)
With the first day of Senbatsu perhaps not going as planned for some teams, would this set the tone for the games to come?
Our 2nd day of Senbatsu begins with another possible favorite in Kaisei squaring off against another 21st century team in Kouyou.
Kaisei has some good players on both sides. Ace Shirane dominated the Chuugoku region, striking out 90 in 77 innings and sporting a 3 K/BB ratio. Offensively, look for C Idei and 3B Itohara to drive the ball to the wall and beyond. And if that weren't enough, LF Emoto and Shirane himself can add some pop as well.
This will be a tough task for Kouyou. They are not particularly great with the bat (.255 AVG) and their ace Fujita is nothing spectacular. With little that stands out for Kouyou, they are certainly facing a huge uphill battle if they want to advance.
Kaisei (Shimane) - Chuugoku Champions
3B Itohara Kento
2B Iwata Taru
SS Oohata Yuuto
C Idei Tooru
P Shirane Naoki
CF Honda Hiroaki
LF Emoto Shouhei
RF Oka Shinichirou
1B Mori Daiki
Kouyou (Wakayama) - 21st Century Bid
SS Mori Toshirou
3B Tsumura Yuuki
CF Yamamoto Jyunjui
1B Nishyama Tatsuya
2B Nishioka Toshiki
C Ootsuki Tsukasa
LF Chouda Ryuusei (#18)
P Fujita Tasuya
RF Gotou Takuma
__________________________________________________
9:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Fujita starts off the game throwing 2 sliders for strikes. These are sitting in the mid 110's. A fastball away hits the low-mid 130's. He eventually gets Itohara to pop one up to left for the first out.
Iwata chops one back to Fujita for the 2nd out.
And Oohata swings at one down in the dirt for strike 3, and Fujita is off to a good start.
Bottom 1st
Shirane is throwing the heat at the Kouyou batter, hitting 141, then 142 and 143. While the control isn't quite there, he gets leadoff batter Mori to swing at strike 3.
And then Tsumura strikes out looking on a pitch that is called on the outside part. 2 down.
We finally see a couple of breaking balls coming in the high 110's. That's quite a difference.
Yamamoto, in the 8th pitch of the AB, singles through to right field.
And now he tries to steal 2nd! Idei with the throw, but Yamamoto just beats it out! Chance for Kouyou!
Nishiyama though flies softly to center ending the inning.
Top 2nd
Fujita is really locating his off-speed stuff. The fastball not as much.
Idei gets under one and pops out to 2nd. Shirane on the other hand gets a hold of one and puts it into left for a single.
But the batters are still being fooled. Honda waves at one, grounding it to 2nd. Shirane stalls just long enough to let Honda reach base.
Again though Emoto gets on top of a pitch and grounds softly to 2nd for the 3rd out. If I were Kaisei I would ignore the fastball and look for that change.
Bottom 2nd
Wow. Shirane is just mowing down the batters.
Nishioka goes down swinging.
Ootsuki strikes out looking.
and Chouda grounds out to 2nd.
Top 3rd
Oka takes a fastball up the middle for a leadoff hit.
Mori squares around to bunt, but he pops it up! Nishiyama comes in to make the catch, and as Mori comes back to the dugout, I'm sure Nonomura-kantoku is none to pleased. Sure enough, the camera catches Mori standing and Nonomura scolding him for popping out.
2nd time around the lineup and Fujita is having a bit of trouble going 3-1 on Itohara and eventually walking him. So now there's runners on 1st and 2nd for Kaisei with only 1 down.
Iwata with a hard grounder to the left side! Mori dives over, stops it! Throw to 2nd from the seat of his pants for one, relay to first... double play!
WOW! What a great play from Mori to turn 2 there, and Kaisei is held scoreless here in the 3rd!
Bottom 3rd
Shirane is certainly using his wide arsenal of pitches to baffle the Kouyou hitters.
Fujita hits a grounder right at Mori, but it bouncers off his foot and straight up! He tracks the ball which actually takes him right to 1st base for the out!
Oh ho ho...
Gotou comes up to bat and I hear the band playing "Zankoku na tenshi no teze". Win.
But he grounds out to 3rd for the 2nd out.
Shirane seems to be having some trouble this inning going full on both Gotou and Mori. While Mori bails him out swinging on a high pitch, it's something to watch out for.
Top 4th
Oohata gets under a rising fastball and flies out to center.
Idei gets a bit jammed on another fastball and grounds back to Fujita.
Shirane looks at an offspeed for strike 1, then can't check his swing on another for strike 2. But he managers to work the count full... then waves on a curve for strike 3.
Seems like they're still looking for the fastball.
Bottom 4th
Ah! Shirane is called for a dead ball on Tsumura, but on the replay it looks like he got away from the ball and wasn't hit! Tough luck for Kaisei.
AH!!! Shirane's pickoff throw to 1st is wide and gets by Mori! Tsumura advances to 2nd!!
Nonomura-kantoku immediately calls a conference on the mound.
Yamamoto squares to bunt, but it goes right into Idei's glove for strike 1. But Tsumura doesn't recognize it's not a dead-ball situation! Idei though double clutches and can't get the ball to 2nd in time!
And then Yamamoto can't lay down the bunt and has to swing away! A comebacker can't advance the runner and there's 1 down.
Shirane gets ahead of Nishiyama 1-2, but then lets him catch up! Full count... but he strikes him out looking! 2 down.
Once again ahead of Nishioka 0-2, but can't get a call on the outside corner. And then a wild pitch by Shirane lets Tsumura advance to 3rd!
And then Shirane loses Nishioka! Runners on the corners with 2 down!
Ootsuki with a grounder past a diving Iwata goes into right! Tsumura scores and Kouyou scores the first run of the game! 1-0! The phantom dead ball comes back to haunt Kaisei!
Ah! Chouda takes the first pitch to left! Emoto, already playing in charges, dives, but can't come up with the ball! It trickles towards center and Nishioka comes into score. 2-0 Kouyou!!
Nonomura-kantoku with another conference on the mound. Can Shirane stop the bleeding?
Fujita pops out to short to end the inning, but a blown call by the home plate umpire might have just cost Kaisei 2 runs. Give credit to Kouyou though, that timely hitting I mentioned about against Tenri in an earlier post... looks like they did it again.
Top 5th
Honda starts off the 5th with a leadoff walk. Emoto immediately squares to bunt and successfully puts it down. Now it's up to Oka to drive him in.
He falls behind 0-2 and waves on another slider down and away and there's 2 down.
Mori continues to flail at Fujita's offspeed stuff, and he grounds one to short. Compounding the issue, his headfirst slide into 1st base looked awful.
Cans someone please tell these kids that diving into 1st doesn't work? Please?
Bottom 5th
Ah back to Gotou and the Evangelion theme...
Now if only he could get a base hit. He instead flies out to Emoto in foul territory.
I may be a bit burned out as we start the HS baseball season again, but I always love the oen-dans.
Back to the game, Shirane certainly has settled down from last inning. Mori grounds to short and while the count goes full on Tsumura, he pops out to Itohara in foul territory for out number 3.
Top 6th
Itohara is certainly having the right idea. He takes an offspeed pitch the other way, but Chouda runs it down.
Iwata hits a liner, but right at Tsumura.
Oohata hits another fastball, but that's right at Yamamoto and Kaisei is quickly retired.
Bottom 6th
Yamamoto softly flies out to left to start the inning. Then after Shirane falls behind Nishiyama 3-1, he induces a grounder to short.
But then he plunks Nishioka in the back on a pitch.
And then on a 2-1 pitch from Shirane, Nishioka takes off for 2nd! Idei is looking ahead at making the throw he doesn't get the ball first!
Shirane's control issues are coming back as he walks Ootsuki! 2 down and runners on 1st and 2nd!
And Ishitani-kantoku is sending the runners on an 0-2 count??! The pitch is wide and Idea makes a snap throw to 3rd and they nail Nishioka! Certainly a curious call if you ask me.
Top 7th
Idei with a chopper right at Tsumura, but it takes a high hop off the infield and he can't field it! Runner on for Kaisei!
And Shirane looks at an offspeed pitch on the outside corner for strike 1. Then at 1-1 he looks at a fastball at the same corner.
Shirane with a grounder to 1st. Nishiyama with the throw to 2nd for one, and back to Fujita covering 1st and they get 2! Certainly though Shirane isn't the fastest runner out there, so they had time.
Once again, the batters are being fooled. Honda with a grounder to short, but Mori's throw is way off the mark! E6 keeps the inning going.
Emoto is jammed and he grounds out to 3rd. If Kaisei isn't in panic mode before, they might want to be now. 6 outs and down 2-0 can't be good.
Bottom 7th
Shirane strikes out Chouda to start the inning. Fujita grounds to 3rd for the 2nd out.
And Gotou and his Evangelion music lasts all of like 30 seconds as he attempts a safety bunt, but it's right at Iwata for the 3rd out.
Top 8th
Defensive change for Kouyou. #7 Suzuki Kenta takes over for Chouda in left.
Huh. I didn't notice this before, but Oka's music is also the Evangelion theme song. It's just that Kaisei's band is a bit soft. That's too bad.
Oka goes down like many others, whiffing on a offspeed down and away.
1 down and Nonomura-kantoku calls upon #17 Shinohara Makimasa to try and get the offense going. But lunges out at a pitch and grounds out to 2nd. 2 down for Kaisei.
Itohara takes a fastball and hits a grounder that goes through to right field for a base hit.
Iwata with a liner to center! Itohara makes the turn at 2nd and goes for 3rd! The throw is cutoff and Kaisei has runners at the corners with 2 down.
Ishitani-kantoku calls for a conference. Certainly they can't let the game get away from them.
Wow. I really haven't been counting, but Fujita is only at 95 pitches!
And another offspeed right in there for strike 1 on Oohata. A bail on a slider, and he's behind 0-2. Iwata takes off for 2nd, but the ball is in the dirt and there's no throw.
Oohata reaches down and golfs one, but it's right at Yamamoto and the side is retired! Chance for Kaisei is denied once again!
Bottom 8th
Defensive changes for Kaisei. Shinohara stays in the game and plays right. Oka goes from right to 1B.
And Shirane walks Mori on 4 straight! Nonomura-kantoku calls an immediate conference on the mound.
Tsumura bunts the runners over and Yamamoto steps up looking to extend the lead because certainly last inning had to concern them. But he goes down swinging for his 8th K.
EHH??? Ishitani-kantoku is having Mori steal 3rd??! But Idei's throw is late and he gets in there safely!
*flips through magazine*
Hm... he IS the main base stealer, but that has got to be a gutsy call there by Ishitani.
And Shirane walks his 2nd batter this inning! Is he finally tiring? Oh yeah, I didn't mention this before, but Shirane is built like a 1B, not a P. Interesting to see him on the mound, but he's been effective for the most part.
EH? Ishitani sends Nishiyama on a 1-2 pitch but Nishioka strikes out. Perhaps he's trying to go for the element of surprise because I certainly have every time he's done it.
Anyways, that retires the side. We head to the 9th inning with Kaisei still trailing by two and their Koshien tournament at risk.
Top 9th
Idei leads off the 9th, and is plunked on a 3-2 pitch that was going like 100kph.
And another offspeed backs Shirane off the plate! And a fastball up and in! 2-0! Finally he rifles one in there for a strike.
Shirane drives a hanging off speed pitch deep to left center! Suzuki goes over to get it, boots it! Then he loses the handle on the throw! And then Mori can't get the relay! Idei scores all the way from 1st and we have a one-run ballgame! It's 2-1 just like that!!
Wow. The fielders for that one play almost forgot how to play. Yeesh.
Ishitani calls for a conference. No outs and Kaisei is a base hit away from tying this game up!
Oh my god... Honda just looked silly on a 0-1 slider WAY outside. And bailed again on another one that hits him for a foul ball.
But Fujita gets Honda on an offspeed pitch that jams him. He pops up to 2nd for the first out.
Emoto up now and he repeats Honda's offense on an outside breaking ball for strike 1. This entire game Fujita's been throwing that ball for first-pitch strikes, now he's throwing it out of the zone to get the batters to chase!!
AHHH!!
Wild pitch by Fujita brings the tying run jsut 90 feet away! Both managers are yelling instructions!
Whoa. Fujita hits 139 on a fastball. That has some extra stuff on it.
Emoto bails on another pitch, but just gets a piece of it!
Fujita though pulls the string again and Emoto goes down swinging! Kouyou needs just one more out and they have the upset!
It comes down to Oka now. First pitch offspeed and he dribbles it foul. Another offspeed with some bite and there's 2 strikes!
Foul! He tries to sneak a fastball in, but Oka fouls it off!
SANSHIN!!!
Fujita pulls the string one more time and gets Oka to bite! Kouyou's done it! They've upset the Chuugoku champions Kaisei by a score of 2-1! Certainly a masterful performance by Fujita and in some ways Ishitani-kantoku. I think we have part of the reason why this team is successful. I don't think I've ever had a game where a manager really surprises me with his moves (in a good way) than Ishitani-kantoku.
For Kaisei, this is certainly disappointing. While it was a phantom call that cost them their runs, their approach at the plate was awful for the most part and in some cases they just looked silly. Shirane was good on the mound allowing 3 hits, but the 6 walks were costly.
Don't know what it is about this tournament, but the results have been interesting to say the least. And the home team has won each game. That's gotta be an odd occurrence.
Notable Players
WP - Fujita Tatsuya, CG, 1 ER, 6 H, 6 K, 3 BB
LP - Shirane Naoki, CG, 2 ER, 3 H, 9 K, 6 BB
Ootsuki Tsukasa (Kouyou) - 1-2, RBI, K, BB
Nishoka Toshiki (Kouyou) - 0-2, 2 K, BB, HBP, SB
Shirane Naoki (Kaisei) - 2-4, 2B, K
Iwata Taru (Kaisei) - 1-4
Our 2nd day of Senbatsu begins with another possible favorite in Kaisei squaring off against another 21st century team in Kouyou.
Kaisei has some good players on both sides. Ace Shirane dominated the Chuugoku region, striking out 90 in 77 innings and sporting a 3 K/BB ratio. Offensively, look for C Idei and 3B Itohara to drive the ball to the wall and beyond. And if that weren't enough, LF Emoto and Shirane himself can add some pop as well.
This will be a tough task for Kouyou. They are not particularly great with the bat (.255 AVG) and their ace Fujita is nothing spectacular. With little that stands out for Kouyou, they are certainly facing a huge uphill battle if they want to advance.
Kaisei (Shimane) - Chuugoku Champions
3B Itohara Kento
2B Iwata Taru
SS Oohata Yuuto
C Idei Tooru
P Shirane Naoki
CF Honda Hiroaki
LF Emoto Shouhei
RF Oka Shinichirou
1B Mori Daiki
Kouyou (Wakayama) - 21st Century Bid
SS Mori Toshirou
3B Tsumura Yuuki
CF Yamamoto Jyunjui
1B Nishyama Tatsuya
2B Nishioka Toshiki
C Ootsuki Tsukasa
LF Chouda Ryuusei (#18)
P Fujita Tasuya
RF Gotou Takuma
__________________________________________________
9:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Fujita starts off the game throwing 2 sliders for strikes. These are sitting in the mid 110's. A fastball away hits the low-mid 130's. He eventually gets Itohara to pop one up to left for the first out.
Iwata chops one back to Fujita for the 2nd out.
And Oohata swings at one down in the dirt for strike 3, and Fujita is off to a good start.
Bottom 1st
Shirane is throwing the heat at the Kouyou batter, hitting 141, then 142 and 143. While the control isn't quite there, he gets leadoff batter Mori to swing at strike 3.
And then Tsumura strikes out looking on a pitch that is called on the outside part. 2 down.
We finally see a couple of breaking balls coming in the high 110's. That's quite a difference.
Yamamoto, in the 8th pitch of the AB, singles through to right field.
And now he tries to steal 2nd! Idei with the throw, but Yamamoto just beats it out! Chance for Kouyou!
Nishiyama though flies softly to center ending the inning.
Top 2nd
Fujita is really locating his off-speed stuff. The fastball not as much.
Idei gets under one and pops out to 2nd. Shirane on the other hand gets a hold of one and puts it into left for a single.
But the batters are still being fooled. Honda waves at one, grounding it to 2nd. Shirane stalls just long enough to let Honda reach base.
Again though Emoto gets on top of a pitch and grounds softly to 2nd for the 3rd out. If I were Kaisei I would ignore the fastball and look for that change.
Bottom 2nd
Wow. Shirane is just mowing down the batters.
Nishioka goes down swinging.
Ootsuki strikes out looking.
and Chouda grounds out to 2nd.
Top 3rd
Oka takes a fastball up the middle for a leadoff hit.
Mori squares around to bunt, but he pops it up! Nishiyama comes in to make the catch, and as Mori comes back to the dugout, I'm sure Nonomura-kantoku is none to pleased. Sure enough, the camera catches Mori standing and Nonomura scolding him for popping out.
2nd time around the lineup and Fujita is having a bit of trouble going 3-1 on Itohara and eventually walking him. So now there's runners on 1st and 2nd for Kaisei with only 1 down.
Iwata with a hard grounder to the left side! Mori dives over, stops it! Throw to 2nd from the seat of his pants for one, relay to first... double play!
WOW! What a great play from Mori to turn 2 there, and Kaisei is held scoreless here in the 3rd!
Bottom 3rd
Shirane is certainly using his wide arsenal of pitches to baffle the Kouyou hitters.
Fujita hits a grounder right at Mori, but it bouncers off his foot and straight up! He tracks the ball which actually takes him right to 1st base for the out!
Oh ho ho...
Gotou comes up to bat and I hear the band playing "Zankoku na tenshi no teze". Win.
But he grounds out to 3rd for the 2nd out.
Shirane seems to be having some trouble this inning going full on both Gotou and Mori. While Mori bails him out swinging on a high pitch, it's something to watch out for.
Top 4th
Oohata gets under a rising fastball and flies out to center.
Idei gets a bit jammed on another fastball and grounds back to Fujita.
Shirane looks at an offspeed for strike 1, then can't check his swing on another for strike 2. But he managers to work the count full... then waves on a curve for strike 3.
Seems like they're still looking for the fastball.
Bottom 4th
Ah! Shirane is called for a dead ball on Tsumura, but on the replay it looks like he got away from the ball and wasn't hit! Tough luck for Kaisei.
AH!!! Shirane's pickoff throw to 1st is wide and gets by Mori! Tsumura advances to 2nd!!
Nonomura-kantoku immediately calls a conference on the mound.
Yamamoto squares to bunt, but it goes right into Idei's glove for strike 1. But Tsumura doesn't recognize it's not a dead-ball situation! Idei though double clutches and can't get the ball to 2nd in time!
And then Yamamoto can't lay down the bunt and has to swing away! A comebacker can't advance the runner and there's 1 down.
Shirane gets ahead of Nishiyama 1-2, but then lets him catch up! Full count... but he strikes him out looking! 2 down.
Once again ahead of Nishioka 0-2, but can't get a call on the outside corner. And then a wild pitch by Shirane lets Tsumura advance to 3rd!
And then Shirane loses Nishioka! Runners on the corners with 2 down!
Ootsuki with a grounder past a diving Iwata goes into right! Tsumura scores and Kouyou scores the first run of the game! 1-0! The phantom dead ball comes back to haunt Kaisei!
Ah! Chouda takes the first pitch to left! Emoto, already playing in charges, dives, but can't come up with the ball! It trickles towards center and Nishioka comes into score. 2-0 Kouyou!!
Nonomura-kantoku with another conference on the mound. Can Shirane stop the bleeding?
Fujita pops out to short to end the inning, but a blown call by the home plate umpire might have just cost Kaisei 2 runs. Give credit to Kouyou though, that timely hitting I mentioned about against Tenri in an earlier post... looks like they did it again.
Top 5th
Honda starts off the 5th with a leadoff walk. Emoto immediately squares to bunt and successfully puts it down. Now it's up to Oka to drive him in.
He falls behind 0-2 and waves on another slider down and away and there's 2 down.
Mori continues to flail at Fujita's offspeed stuff, and he grounds one to short. Compounding the issue, his headfirst slide into 1st base looked awful.
Cans someone please tell these kids that diving into 1st doesn't work? Please?
Bottom 5th
Ah back to Gotou and the Evangelion theme...
Now if only he could get a base hit. He instead flies out to Emoto in foul territory.
I may be a bit burned out as we start the HS baseball season again, but I always love the oen-dans.
Back to the game, Shirane certainly has settled down from last inning. Mori grounds to short and while the count goes full on Tsumura, he pops out to Itohara in foul territory for out number 3.
Top 6th
Itohara is certainly having the right idea. He takes an offspeed pitch the other way, but Chouda runs it down.
Iwata hits a liner, but right at Tsumura.
Oohata hits another fastball, but that's right at Yamamoto and Kaisei is quickly retired.
Bottom 6th
Yamamoto softly flies out to left to start the inning. Then after Shirane falls behind Nishiyama 3-1, he induces a grounder to short.
But then he plunks Nishioka in the back on a pitch.
And then on a 2-1 pitch from Shirane, Nishioka takes off for 2nd! Idei is looking ahead at making the throw he doesn't get the ball first!
Shirane's control issues are coming back as he walks Ootsuki! 2 down and runners on 1st and 2nd!
And Ishitani-kantoku is sending the runners on an 0-2 count??! The pitch is wide and Idea makes a snap throw to 3rd and they nail Nishioka! Certainly a curious call if you ask me.
Top 7th
Idei with a chopper right at Tsumura, but it takes a high hop off the infield and he can't field it! Runner on for Kaisei!
And Shirane looks at an offspeed pitch on the outside corner for strike 1. Then at 1-1 he looks at a fastball at the same corner.
Shirane with a grounder to 1st. Nishiyama with the throw to 2nd for one, and back to Fujita covering 1st and they get 2! Certainly though Shirane isn't the fastest runner out there, so they had time.
Once again, the batters are being fooled. Honda with a grounder to short, but Mori's throw is way off the mark! E6 keeps the inning going.
Emoto is jammed and he grounds out to 3rd. If Kaisei isn't in panic mode before, they might want to be now. 6 outs and down 2-0 can't be good.
Bottom 7th
Shirane strikes out Chouda to start the inning. Fujita grounds to 3rd for the 2nd out.
And Gotou and his Evangelion music lasts all of like 30 seconds as he attempts a safety bunt, but it's right at Iwata for the 3rd out.
Top 8th
Defensive change for Kouyou. #7 Suzuki Kenta takes over for Chouda in left.
Huh. I didn't notice this before, but Oka's music is also the Evangelion theme song. It's just that Kaisei's band is a bit soft. That's too bad.
Oka goes down like many others, whiffing on a offspeed down and away.
1 down and Nonomura-kantoku calls upon #17 Shinohara Makimasa to try and get the offense going. But lunges out at a pitch and grounds out to 2nd. 2 down for Kaisei.
Itohara takes a fastball and hits a grounder that goes through to right field for a base hit.
Iwata with a liner to center! Itohara makes the turn at 2nd and goes for 3rd! The throw is cutoff and Kaisei has runners at the corners with 2 down.
Ishitani-kantoku calls for a conference. Certainly they can't let the game get away from them.
Wow. I really haven't been counting, but Fujita is only at 95 pitches!
And another offspeed right in there for strike 1 on Oohata. A bail on a slider, and he's behind 0-2. Iwata takes off for 2nd, but the ball is in the dirt and there's no throw.
Oohata reaches down and golfs one, but it's right at Yamamoto and the side is retired! Chance for Kaisei is denied once again!
Bottom 8th
Defensive changes for Kaisei. Shinohara stays in the game and plays right. Oka goes from right to 1B.
And Shirane walks Mori on 4 straight! Nonomura-kantoku calls an immediate conference on the mound.
Tsumura bunts the runners over and Yamamoto steps up looking to extend the lead because certainly last inning had to concern them. But he goes down swinging for his 8th K.
EHH??? Ishitani-kantoku is having Mori steal 3rd??! But Idei's throw is late and he gets in there safely!
*flips through magazine*
Hm... he IS the main base stealer, but that has got to be a gutsy call there by Ishitani.
And Shirane walks his 2nd batter this inning! Is he finally tiring? Oh yeah, I didn't mention this before, but Shirane is built like a 1B, not a P. Interesting to see him on the mound, but he's been effective for the most part.
EH? Ishitani sends Nishiyama on a 1-2 pitch but Nishioka strikes out. Perhaps he's trying to go for the element of surprise because I certainly have every time he's done it.
Anyways, that retires the side. We head to the 9th inning with Kaisei still trailing by two and their Koshien tournament at risk.
Top 9th
Idei leads off the 9th, and is plunked on a 3-2 pitch that was going like 100kph.
And another offspeed backs Shirane off the plate! And a fastball up and in! 2-0! Finally he rifles one in there for a strike.
Shirane drives a hanging off speed pitch deep to left center! Suzuki goes over to get it, boots it! Then he loses the handle on the throw! And then Mori can't get the relay! Idei scores all the way from 1st and we have a one-run ballgame! It's 2-1 just like that!!
Wow. The fielders for that one play almost forgot how to play. Yeesh.
Ishitani calls for a conference. No outs and Kaisei is a base hit away from tying this game up!
Oh my god... Honda just looked silly on a 0-1 slider WAY outside. And bailed again on another one that hits him for a foul ball.
But Fujita gets Honda on an offspeed pitch that jams him. He pops up to 2nd for the first out.
Emoto up now and he repeats Honda's offense on an outside breaking ball for strike 1. This entire game Fujita's been throwing that ball for first-pitch strikes, now he's throwing it out of the zone to get the batters to chase!!
AHHH!!
Wild pitch by Fujita brings the tying run jsut 90 feet away! Both managers are yelling instructions!
Whoa. Fujita hits 139 on a fastball. That has some extra stuff on it.
Emoto bails on another pitch, but just gets a piece of it!
Fujita though pulls the string again and Emoto goes down swinging! Kouyou needs just one more out and they have the upset!
It comes down to Oka now. First pitch offspeed and he dribbles it foul. Another offspeed with some bite and there's 2 strikes!
Foul! He tries to sneak a fastball in, but Oka fouls it off!
SANSHIN!!!
Fujita pulls the string one more time and gets Oka to bite! Kouyou's done it! They've upset the Chuugoku champions Kaisei by a score of 2-1! Certainly a masterful performance by Fujita and in some ways Ishitani-kantoku. I think we have part of the reason why this team is successful. I don't think I've ever had a game where a manager really surprises me with his moves (in a good way) than Ishitani-kantoku.
For Kaisei, this is certainly disappointing. While it was a phantom call that cost them their runs, their approach at the plate was awful for the most part and in some cases they just looked silly. Shirane was good on the mound allowing 3 hits, but the 6 walks were costly.
Don't know what it is about this tournament, but the results have been interesting to say the least. And the home team has won each game. That's gotta be an odd occurrence.
Notable Players
WP - Fujita Tatsuya, CG, 1 ER, 6 H, 6 K, 3 BB
LP - Shirane Naoki, CG, 2 ER, 3 H, 9 K, 6 BB
Ootsuki Tsukasa (Kouyou) - 1-2, RBI, K, BB
Nishoka Toshiki (Kouyou) - 0-2, 2 K, BB, HBP, SB
Shirane Naoki (Kaisei) - 2-4, 2B, K
Iwata Taru (Kaisei) - 1-4
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