Kita Hokkaido
Kita Hokkaido has started their prefectural final. Komadai Iwamizawa dominated Kitami Ryoukuryou 12-2 in 5 innings. Meanwhile, it was not a good day for the Tokachi region, as Obihiro Ootani lost to Wakkanai Ootani 7-4, and Asahikawa Ryuukoku rallied late with a run in the 7th and 8th innings to beat Obihiro Hakuyou.
Aomori
After Aomori Minami gives up 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th to give Ooma a one run lead, they score 4 in the top of the 9th to win 9-6. Hey, if you want to be dramatic, be my guest - just don't let it bite you later.
#2 Kousei Gakuin has no trouble with Misawa in their 2nd game. They shouldn't have any issue until the semis, where they'll probably face #3 Aomori Yamada who shut out Sannohe.
Over at Hirosaki, Aomori Chuo's magical run ends abruptly at the end of Goshougawara Nourin.
#1 Hachinohe Koudai Dai-ichi stays in the tournament with a 3-1 win over Noheji Nishi.
With the games on the 17th, Aomori reaches the round of 16.
Oominato Kawauchi gets the honor of facing Kousei Gakuin after a 7-3 win over Hirosaki Chuo. Seiai will get to meet #7 Goshogawara Nourin.
#5 Aomori has an easier road to the Best 4 now that they're the only seed left in the quadrant, and will face Aomori Kougyou after they prevailed over Gonohe 4-2 in 12 innings.
Aomori Higashi rallies from down 5-2 to win 8-6 over Hirosaki Jitsugyou. Goshogawara meanwhile, scores 6 in the 8th, then has to hold off a late charging Aomori Kita who tried to come back with 3 in the 9th, but fell short 10-9. Kidzukuri will have to face the vaunted Aomori Yamada - not an easy task.
And #1 Hachinohe Koudai Dai-ichi will face Hirosaki Kougyou. Dai-ichi probably has the easiest road and is the odds on favorite to get to the finals.
Akita
They began play on the 15th. Oodate Kokusai scores 2 in the top of the 9th to defeat Akita 5-4.
Meiou began their defense of the title with a 4-3 sayonara win over Nishime in 11 innings. Next up, #6 Akita Tousen.
The top 4 seeds had little trouble with their first games. In other games, Oodate Kougyou needed to rally from 4-1 down late to Akita Kougyou, and then won in the bottom of the 10th.
Iwate
Rain finally let up so they could get going again. Morioka Shiritsu sent Miyako Shougyou home in the bottom of the 9th 5-4.
Seeded teams finally started on the 16th. #3 Senshuudai Kitami went 11 innings against Mizusawa Kougyou before winning 2-0. #1 Kuji scored the lone run of the ballgame against Daitou on a HR by Kikuchi in the 7th. Hanamaki Higashi and Oofunato had a much easier time in their opening game.
In other games, Fukuoka scored two in the bottom of the 8th to hold off 3-2. Kurosawajiri KitaIchinoseki Dai-ni scores 8 in the 6th to pull within 10-9, but 3 in the top of the 9th for Morioka Chuo seals the deal. Maesawa scores a run in the bottom of the 8th and 9th to defeat Morioka Shougyou 3-2. Hanamaki Nougyou edged Oohasama 3-2 in 10.
Morioka Shiritsu was in the battle of their lives against Ichinoseki Kougyou. After giving up 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th, they found the drive to tie it up. But in the bottom of the 13th, 2 innings away from a tie game, they lose the battle, giving up a base hit to center to end the game.
But in probably the biggest heartbreak of all, Oofunato Higashi's Kimuro, in the top of the 15th innings, hits an inside the park home run to break the 2-2 deadlock and send Hanamaki Kita home.
Yamagata
Yamagata kicked off on the 16th at Yamagata Zao Spa Stadium. On the first full day of the tournament, Yamagata Shougyou sent Sagae Kougyou home in the bottom of the 9th 6-5. Yachi meanwhile scores 3 in the top of the 11th to defeat Oguni 4-1.
Miyagi
Kurokawa used a 3-run bottom of the 8th to win 9-7 over Matsushima.
Tohoku Seikatsu Bunkadai couldn't hold off Tohoku, giving up the winning run in the 8th.
Ishimaki Koubunkan after giving up a 5-3 lead, tied the game against Natori, but would lose in the first inning of extras.
Fukushima
I can't tell if it's bad seeding or lack of depth in Fukushima, but the 17th was not a good day for seeded teams. #2 Higashi Nippon Kokusaidai Shouhei, #3 Nihon Tohoku, #4 Futaba, #5 Aidzu Gakuhou, #7 Yumoto and #8 Fukushima Shougyou all lost! Worse yet, none of them ever had a lead at any point in their games!
At this point, Seikou Gakuin has to be the favorite to win, but even they had issues against Shirakawa Asahi late, winning 6-4.
Gunma
Gunma started their 3rd round yesterday. Seeded teams here had little issue as they all advanced.
Tochigi
1st round finally wrapped up on the 15th. It ended with a bang as Oyama Nishi bid Sano Shouyou sayonara with an 8-7 win.
2nd round was held on the 16th and 17th and seeded teams, with the exception of Mooka and Yasaka Chuo advanced. In other games, Ooyama Nishi scored 4 in the bottom of the 8th to take a 5-4 lead over Motegi. Oyama Minami just about did the same thing to Tochigi Nougyou except that their 4-run 8th tied the game, and they scored the sayonara run in the 9th.
Ibaraki
2nd round for Ibaraki started on the 16th. Hitachi Kita rallied from an early 7-0 deficit against Sowa Kougyou, and would win the game in the 11th. Two seeded teams also were bid adieu. Toride Dai-ni and Tsukuba Shuuei couldn't get past their first games, and Tsukuba was embarrassed by Tsuchiura Nichidai 13-3.
In other games, Mito Dai-ichi scores a sayonara run to defeat Akeno 4-3. Shimodate Dai-ichi outscores Iwai 8-3 in the final 3 innings to win 11-8. Yachiyo outlasted Tamatsukuri Kougyou winning 11-8 in 14 innings.
Saitama
The stadiums were determined for the 3rd and 4th round games. Seibou Gakuen's run ended with an 8-2 loss to #3 seed Kawagoe Higashi. After a close 1st round match, Hanasaki Tokuharu blew through Oomiya Kita 10-0 in 6 innings.
Kasukabe Kyouei managed to outlast bottom seed Kawagoe Higashi 9-8 in 12 innings.
Chiba
Former senbatsu participant Awa easily cruised over St. Paul Chiba. At Narashino, Kimitsu Shougyou prevailed, scoring a run after Choushi scored 3 to tie it at 9 in the top of the 8th. Ourin scored 3 in the top of the 9th to defeat Togane Shougyou 5-2 over in Narita. In Aoba no mori, Chuo Gakuin scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th to beat Tousou Kougyou 3-2. And in Funabashi, Shiritsu Kashiwa was able to break away from Funabashi Shibayama in the top og the 9th after Shibayama pulled level in the bottom of the 8th.
Chiba Keiai is out to prove their win over Choushi Shougyou wasn't a fluke. They go out and shutout Chiba Meitoku 3-0. Recent participant Kisaradzu Sougou handles Sawara 6-1, and Kenritsu Funabashi breaks a 0-0 draw against Kisaradzu in the bottom of the 12th.
At Narashino, Hakuryou tried to keep in step with Yachiyo. Tied 1-1 late, they were able to stay level when Yachiyo scored a run in the 8th, 9th and 10th innings. Their determination paid off as they scored the winning run in the bottom of the 12th.
Chiba Gakugei blew a 4-2 run lead against Shibaura Koudai Kashiwa, as Ogawa gave up 3. However, they would come back with 2 in the bottom of the 9th for the win.
And finally on the 16th at Sodegaura, Sawara Hakuyou scored 2 in the top of the 9th to tie the game against Higashi-Katsushika. And then they scored 2 in the 11th to take the lead. But Higashi would somehow score 2 of their own to tie the game... and that's where it ended. A 4-4 draw. Which means a replay game the next day.
And in that game, they would be deadlocked at 1 going into the late innings, but Sawara wanted nothing to do with extra innings. They scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 8th to win 2-1.
Also on the 17th, one of my favorite teams in Narashino beat Sakura 5-1 to advance to the next round. Their next opponent will be Takushokudai Kouryou, who defeated Kimitsu Aoba 8-1 in 7 innings.
In the 2nd game at Ichihara, #5 seed Chiba Shoudai Fuzoku was upset by Shiritsu Kashiwa 4-3. Moving to Narashino, Shouwa Shuuei scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th to keep their hopes alive against Ichikawa Higashi, but Ichikawa would score the winning run in the 11th.
Awa's run ended at the hands of Seibudai Chiba 5-3 and will face Chiba Kita for the right to be in the Best 8. Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku is trying for a comeback as they handled Kimitsu Shougyou 8-1 in 7 innings.
We also had our 2nd top seed to fall. Chiba Reimei was locked in a pitcher's duel with Narita. Narita took the 1-0 lead in the 2nd and 1st year(!) Nakagawa was holding Reimei in place. Reimei had one last chance. Bottom 9th, runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out, Reimei had a chance to tie, or even win. But Nakagawa shuts the door and completes the upset!
And finally, Omigawa scores a run in each of the last 4 innings to say sayonara to Nishou Gakushadai Fuzoku Shounan 7-6.
Nishi Tokyo
The team that can claim to have the longest road - Shouwa Dai-ichi Gakuen, continues their run with a 2-1 win over Fuchuu Nishi. If they want to go further, they'll have to beat #9 seed Toua Gakuen.
Nichidai-san began it's run with a combined one-hitter against Komae. But what was strange was that they managed only 2 hits themselves. It was the 9 walks that Morita and Sugimoto gave up that allowed Nichidai to move on.
Moving on to the 16th, Hino struggled against Kodaira, scoring the lone run in the game in the bottom of the 10th. #8 seed Oubirin (i.e. Oberin) had a good showing against Toukaidai Sugao, winning 5-1. #5 Nichidai-ni wins their first game against St. Paul Gakuen and will face Senshuudai Fuzoku.
Time waits for no one, so the 17th goes into the 4th round. Wasedadai Gakuin will try to secure a Best 8 spot after they defeated Kokubunji (who defeated #3 Hachiouji) 3-2. #2 Waseda Jitsugyou was on the ropes against Jissen Gakuen down 3-1 in the top of the 9th. Somehow, Waseda comes through with 4 runs to take a 5-3 come from behind win!
Top seed Nihon Tsuruoka is just rolling towards the final as they mercy rule Kodaira Minami. They'll face Touhou next, as they sent a Teikyou school home in Teikyou Hachiouji. Meanwhile, in that battle of Meiji schools, Meijidai Meiji shutout Meujidai Nakano 7-0. Their opponent in the round of 16 will be Horikoshi, who earlier upset #4 Kokugakuin Kugayama.
Higashi Tokyo
We'll get a good matchup in the upcoming round as Kokushikan will face off against Jyoutou at Meiji Jingu-ni stadium.
Teikyou is taking no chances, sending Itou to the mound to lead them to another Koshien appearance. And he dominated his last game against Sumida Kougyou:
7 innings (called), 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K!!
In fact, even though Itou didn't pitch in the game prior, Teikyou's pitchers have combined for 14 innings of no-hit, no-run ball. That's 14 perfect innings!!!
Their next opponent will be Nichidai Sakuragaoka at Edogawa on the 18th.
Yukigaya is looking to get back to the final as they defeat Komadai 6-2 thanks to a 5-run 8th.
On the 16th, there were two gyakuten comebacks in the top of the 9th. Sundai Gakuen scores 3 in the top of the 9th to defeat Nishogakushadai Fuzoku 4-3. Kaijyou scores 4 to defeat Shinozaki 7-5.
Kanagawa
Nagaya find a way to rally against Odawara with a run in the 8th and the sayonara run in the 9th to send them home.
Last year's darlings, Yokohama Hayato started off their campaign with a 9-1 win over Shiritsu Kawasaki in 7 innings.
The other half of the bracket finished their 2nd round on the 17th and 18th. Keiou Gijyuku starts their efforts with an 8-0 win in 7 over Kanazawa.
Niigata
Sanjyou Higashi walked off with 3 in the 9th to beat Odijya. Naoetsu put together back-to-back 2-run innings to beat Arai 5-4.
Rain still plagued some sites, and for Niigata Minami and Tokyo Gakkan Niigata, their game was called for a 2nd time.
But taking advantage of the off day to catch up on games, they're back on schedule starting the 3rd round on the 17th. The top 4 seeds have their matches first, then the second 4.
Top seed Niigata Meikun continues to cruise with a 10-0, 5 inning win over Niigata Sangyoudai Fuzoku.
At Sanjyou, #2 Tookamachi wins 3-0 over Koushi while managing just 2 hits.
#3 Nihon Bunri did not look all that spectacular, but defeated Niigata Minami 10-6.
And if you take the deteriorating trend, you would expect that #4 Takada would fall, and they did, 1-0 to Nagaoka Oote.
Nagano
The replay of the Suwa Futaba-Hotaka Shougyou game was decisive this time around with Hotaka taking a 5-3 win.
Seeded Matsushou Gakuen needed a run in the 9th to defeat Anan. Fellow seed Matsumoto Kougyou surprisingly needed 11 innings to defeat Ina Kita.
In a barnburner, Shinonoi led wire to wire against Matsumoto Agatagaoka by a score of 14-10!
Nagano finally got back on schedule with games on the 16th, although Ueda Chikuma tried to derail that with a 3-2 win in 12 over Iiyama at Iida, while over at Suwako Iwamurada did the same thing against Akashina.
Seeded teams got back on the field Saturday, Maruko Shuugakukan needed runs late to beat Ueda 3-1, But Ueda Nishi fell to Nagano 5-3 in 13. Matsumoto Gakuen and Matsumoto Kougyou had little trouble at their home field.
Over in Suwako, Toukai Dai-san mercied ruled Tagawa, but apparently Suwa Seiryou couldn't handle a Chikyuu Kankyou squad who had just played the day prior.
And in Nagano, Saku Chousei only needed 5 innings against Minami-Adzumi Nougyou, but Nagano Nichidai needed one late to beat Komoro Shougyou.
Toyama
Toyama was one of the last prefectures to kick off play, starting on Saturday.
Last year's representative Nanto Sougou Fukuno, started their repeat campaign with a 4-0 shutout over Daimon.
Probably the game of the day was between Toyama Chubu and Isurugi. Up 8-4, Isurugi was 3 outs away from advancing to the next round. But Toyama miraculously scores 7 in the top of the 9th to take an 11-8 lead. But when it seemed all but over, Isurugi comes back with 4 in the bottom of the 9th to win 12-11!
Fukui
Fukui also started on the 17th. Takefu Shougyou and Harue Kougyou both advance on the opening day of competition.
Ishikawa Ishikawa opened their tournament with Daishouji Jitsugyou defeating Kanazawadai Fuzoku 8-5, while Komatsu used a 4-run 9th to defeat Nanao 5-3.
Shiga
Shiga finally got underway as Moriyama defeated Kokusai Jyouhou 10-0 in 5 innings while Hikone Shouyou got past Maibara 5-3.
Shiga is furiously trying to get back on schedule, and by the end of the games of the 17th, is less than a day behind now.
Adogawa scored 3 in the bottom of the 8th against Nagahama, then scored the sayonara run in the 13th to win 8-7.
Yamanashi
Yamanashi is back on track having finished the 2nd round with all 8 seeded teams intact. Unfortunately, it also seems that the Teikyou schools (outside of Teikyou itself) are beginning to fall, the latest being Teikyou Dai-san who lost to Koufu Jyousai 6-5.
Gifu
After a week off, Gifu looks to catch up on games, and that was what the 17th was for. Did not affect Gifu Jyouhoku as they defeated Motosu Shouyou 6-2.
Aichi
The job is tougher in Aichi where they held 28 games on Saturday.
Over at Kariya, Zuiryou scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th against Chiryuu to send it into extras, and then won it in the bottom of the 10th.
At Mizuho, Toukai scored a sayonara run in the bottom of the 10th to defeat Toyota Tousen 4-3.
At Toyohashi, Aichi scores 3 in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead over Toyohashi Minami. They would win 4-2.
And over at Toyota, after Nagoya scores a run in the top of the 9th to take a 6-2 lead, Seijyou wrestles it out of their hands with 4 in the 9th. In the 13th, they would push across the winning run.
Shizuoka
The other half of the bracket finally kicked off their games.
Seikei gave up a 5-0 lead over Jyounan Shizuoka but won in 12. Ogasa scores a run in the 8th and 9th innings to defeat Itou Shougyou 5-4. Gotenba Minami outlasted Fugakukan 1-0 in 11 innings (although Fugakukan only had one hit), and Hamamatsu Kita beat Shizuoka Higashi 5-4 in 12.
Numadzu Higashi sent Shizuoka Nougyou home after Nougyou managed to level the score in the top of the 9th. Shimizu Higashi did the same thing to Hamamatsu Minami after Hamamatsu scored 2 in the 9th. Fukuroi Shougyou bid adieu to Hamamatsu Kaiseikan with a run in the bottom of the 9th.
Mie
Mie got off to an exciting start on Friday as Kanbe scores two in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Takada.
And then in a shocker, Uji-Yamada Shougyou did not get past their first game! Kinkidai Tousen actually led Ujiyamada late before they scored 2 in the 8th to tie, but they scored the go-ahead run in the 10th!
Kyoto
Kyoto is hopelessly behind on their games. Games on the 12th are being held on the 15th, and even then games were rained out at Wakasa Stadium.
And if that weren't enough, Shuuchi and Kouyou play to a 7-7 draw! Kouyou scored 3 in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game, and the game spiraled to the 15th. In the replay, Shuuchi left nothing to chance as they win 8-0 in 7 innings.
Earlier at Wakasa, Kyoto Gaidai Nishi needed 2 runs late to defeat Higashi-Uji 3-2. Nishi-Jyouyou scores 6 in the top of the 9th to defeat Fukuchiyama 6-1.
That reminds me, If I didn't mention it earlier, Fukuchiyama Seibi is not in the tournament this year due to violations within the club.
And over at Maidzuru, Kyoto Bunkyou had a 3-0 lead over Rakunan. Then Rakunan scored 4 in the bottom of the 8th. And then Bunkyou decided to score 10 in the top of the 9th. To be honest, if I were Rakunan, I think I might have preferred going quietly 3-0 than getting destroyed 13-4.
Doushisha defeated Kameoka 7-0 in 7 innings, but what was interesting was that all 7 runs were scored in the 7th.
Kyoto has resorted to running 4 games over at Wakasa to try and catch up.
Sukazu survives a 4-run 9th by Ouki to win 7-6. Looks like those 2 insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th were necessary after all.
Ryuukokudai Heian shows no mercy as they try to repeat, defeating Ooe 11-1 in 6 innings.
Nara
Nara is about a day behind on their games, which is better than most.
Unabi defeated Nara Jyouhou Shougyou on their last AB 4-3 to start games on the 15th. Seeded Tomigaoka scored late to beat Heijyou 8-5, and Kashihara also rallied from 4-0 down to defeat Kansai Chuo 5-4.
The Chiben Gakuen-Tenri final is still possible as Chiben handles Takamado 9-0 in 7. Seeded Takada Shougyou defeated Kashihara Gakuin 3-0.
Wakayama
Wakayama's tournament has been pushed back 3 days thanks to the rain.
Taikyuu's 5-4 win over Hashimoto was interesting in that all 9 runs were scored in 2 half-innings.
Minoshima, who had recently made their first Koshien appearance in 18 years, started off with a 2-0 win over Kumano.
And in the final game of the 15th, Kihoku Kougyou defeated Minabe Ryuujin 5-4 in the bottom of the 10th.
We had three more walkoffs on the 16th. Touin defeated Wakayama Tousen 10-0 in 5 innings. Hidaka scored the only run against Kihoku Nougei in the bottom of the 10th. Finally, after Tanabe Kougyou blew a 8-2 lead against Arida Chuo highlighted by a 3-run top of the 9th, Tanabe gets the sayonara run in the bottom of the 9th.
On the 17th , Hidaka Nakatsu couldn't quite push the tying run across against Kinkidai Shinguu, losing 5-4. Minabe scored 1 in the top of the 9th against Wakayama Kougyou to tie the game, then 3 in the 10 for the win.
Chiben Wakayama started their bid for their 6th consecutive Wakayama bid with an 11-0, 6 inning win against Wakayama Higashi.
Osaka
There was heartbreak for the boys from Minato. Against Waseda Setsuryou, they were down 4-0 in the top of the 9th. They then score 6 to take the lead. But Waseda would come back to score 3 and win the game.
Meanwhile, Midori Seihou rallied from down 5-0 to Nisshin with 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th to win 7-6.
Osaka apparently is the home of the hard luck team. Momoyama Gakuin and Sakai Nishi were tied going into extras. Momoyama scores 2 in the top of the 11th, but could not find a way to hold it. Sakai comes back with 3 runs in the bottom of the 11th for the win. And later Yamamoto would score a run in the bottom of the 10th to beat Ikuno 7-6. Hirakata Tsuda did the same thing to Kourigaoka.
Meanwhile, Osaka Touin finally took the field, defeating Osaka Furtisu Tousen 12-0 in 5 innings. Konkou Osaka played on the 17th and defeated Osaka Denki Tsuushindai 11-0 in 5.
In other games, Kinkidai Senshuu scores a run in the bottom of the 11th to defeat Izumi-Ootsu 6-5.
Hyogo
Before I go with regular coverage, I'd like to say that Haruhi's Nishinomiya Kita managed to win their first game over Iwa 5-3 by rallying with runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings! Yatta!
But then they lost to Murano Kougyou 6-0... Boo....
Back to the main coverage, Hyogo is working on catching up on it's games, moving teams to different stadiums to get back on track. Some seeded teams have been upset in the meantime. Himeji Minami lost to Himeji Nishi 2-1 in 12 innings. The combined Suma Shoufuu squad defeated Takigawa Dai-ni. Meanwhile, Yanagi Gakuen gives up the tying run in the top of the 9th to Akashi Minami and loses in 10 and Tatsuno loses to Takasago Minami 2-1. Finally, Takigawa is actually mercy ruled by Himeji Kougyou 7-0 in 7 innings!
Tottori
Tottori started on the 17th with both Yonago and Yonago Nishi winning their games at home.
Okayama
Acorn Stadium was home to two extra inning games as Tamashima Shougyou scores 3 in the 11th to beat Bizen Ryokuyou 7-4 while Kurayoshi Kojyoike and Wakeshizutani play to a 2-2 draw! And that was after Wakeshizutani scored a run in the bottom of the 9th to level the score at 2. They would not have as much luck the next day though as Kojyoike wins 6-3.
Shimane
Shimane started play on the 15th with Masuda Higashi defeating Mitoya 7-4. Of note, last year's participant Risshoudai Shounan rallied to defeat Matsue Shougyou 5-3.
In what perhaps is a damning indicator of the quality of teams, #2 seed Izumo was upset by Yasugi 4-1.
Kaisei, for the first time without manager Nonomura, has no trouble defeating Goutsu Kougyou 8-0 in 7.
(for now, I'll just have to focus on updating brackets. Sorry.)
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Games on 12th through 14th
So updates will be coming fast and furious, and I still don't know how to get the brackets to show properly because Google Documents' conversion blows it up...
Aomori
The 12th denoted the end of the first round for Aomori, and the notable game was held at Aomori Miyano where Noheji and Misawa Shougyou were in a slugfest. Misawa went from a 6-2 lead to a 6-6 tie to a 9-6 lead all in one inning! And if that weren't enough, Noheji scored 5 to lead 11-9! Misawa found a way to tie it up in the bottom of the 9th, but didn't have the ability to keep up in extras. Noheji scores a run in the 10th to advance.
The 13th featured the top teams kicking off their campaigns. Kousei Gakuin had no trouble with Hirosaki Higashi winning 10-0 in 7. #4 seed Hirosaki Minami though fell flat against Aomori Chuo, losing 2-1 and managing only 9 hits. #3 Aomori Yamada took it easy on Noheji, winning 7-0 in 7. And perhaps shocking of all, Hachinohe Koudai Dai-ichi struggled against Rokkasho. They fell behind 3-0 before tying it in the 5th, and then in the 6th fell behind again 4-3. Just 3 outs away from one of the biggest upsets in Aomori, they give up 2 runs and are sent home.
On the 14th, the lower 4 seeds played and some did not survive. #6 Oominato gave up runs in each of the first 4 innings and lost 5-2 to Hirosaki Jitsugyou. #8 Hachinohe Koudai Dai-ni held a slim 2-1 lead over Hachinohe Kougyou. But Toyomaki couldn't hold the lead and Kougyou scored a run in the 8th and 9th innings to take the lead and the victory.
Iwate
They began play on the 13th with 2 shutouts. Misawa defeated Morioka Nougyou 4-0, and Morioka Chuo defeated Miyako Kougyou 10-0 in 8 innings.
Games were rained out on the 14th.
Miyagi
Miyagi's top 4 opened play on the 13th, and it wasn't a good day.
#3 seed Touryou was upset against Shidzugawa, and in fact never led at any point in the game. #2 seed Oosaki Chuo traied Sendai Minami 2-1 going into the bottom of the 9th, but managed to rally for the win.
Games across Miyagi were rained out on the 14th except at Ishimaki. And all the games were close. First, Oogawara Shougyou had taken a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the 6th, but couldn't hold it against Kesennuma Nishi. They would score 2 in the 8th to tie, and then push the winning run in the 10th.
Pretty much the same thing happened to Sendai Tousen Natori. They had a 2-0 lead on Miyagi Suisan, but allowed them to tie it in the 8th and lost it in the 9th.
And in the late game, Miyagi Nougyou was able to make an early 3-0 lead stick despite Izumi Shouyou pulling within 1 in the 5th.
Fukushima
More seeded teams began their run. #2 Higashi Nippon Kokusaidai Shouhei managed just 6 hits against Shoin Gakuen Fukushima, but won 2-0. All seeded teams managed to advance past their first games.
Unfortunately though, the weather did not quite comply as the last game at Shirakawa Green was rained out right after Shirakawa scored 2 in the top of the 1st against Fukushima Seikei.
Next day, the weather didn't let up as more games were cancelled across the prefecture. Of those played, they included Haramachi overcoming an early 2-0 deficit to defeat Aoi 3-2. Adachi rallied from 3-0 down to defeat Kooriyama 4-3 in the 9th inning. Odaka Kougyou up 6-3 over Fukushima, lost the lead in late innings and went into extras. But 2 runs for Odaka in the 10th would be just enough.
The 14th allowed the 2nd round games to finish, and Teikyou Asaka continues to roll. Certainly they're not as good as their scores indicate, but it continues to prove that across the country, it's generally good to be a player for a Teikyou school.
Gunma
Takasaki Shoudai Fuzoku rallied from a 3-0 deficit to Tanamura with 2 in the 7th, 1 in the 8th and the sayonara run in the 9th.
Games were rained out on the 13th, but were able to be made up the next day.
Fujioka Chuo sent Tsumagoi home with a sayonara run in the 9th.
Tochigi
Seeded teams started to fall right off the bat. Mooka held a 3-2 lead on Ashikaga going into the bottom of the 9th, only to give it up.
Rain canceled most games on the 13th. The only game completed was Tochigi Nougyou defeating Kurubane 9-2 in 7.
The entire schedule was pushed back one day, and the game of the day was at Tochigi Sougou. Nasu Seihou tried to pull away from Oyama Hokuou, having a 1-0 lead, a 3-1 lead and a 6-3 lead. And each time Oyama would level the score. And so the game would go into extras. But the problem with extras is that if you're the away team, you can't rally from behind anymore. So when Nasu scored a run in the 11th, that was it for Oyama.
Ibaraki
Ibaraki almost had a no-hitter (well kinda) as Kashima's Kubo one-hit Mito Heisei to a 7-0 win in 7 innings. Hitachi Shougyou came back from down 3-1 to defeat Iwase 4-3 in 10 innings. Chuo tried to rally late against Moriya, but fell short, losing 3-2.
Saitama
Thanks to the feed provided by Ken (see above), I started having prefectural games on my other laptop while working on the brackets. Unfortunately, I ended up seeing Ageo defeating Ageo Tachibana 55-0 in 5 innings. It's a bit sad seeing teams with such a disparity playing against each other, but this is the dream of getting to Koshien after all. Theoretically, anyone can make it, but this is a byproduct of such.
In other games, Ooi and Saitama Sakae were locked in a battle late with leads switching sides when Ooi dealt the final blow with a run in the bottom of the 9th.
Ogawa and Tokorozawa Nishi were in a scoreless draw in extras when Tokorozawa Nishi scores the sayonara run in the 13th.
Seibou Gakuen continues their run after defeating Urawa Shougyou 9-0 in 7 and will face #3 seed Kawagoe Higashi.
In other parts of the bracket, Sugito survives Sayama Keizai 5-3 in 10 innings after losing a 3-1 lead late.
The 2nd round ended on the 14th with the rained out games from Kumagaya. Okegawa trailed the entire game against Namegawa Sougou, but had managed to pull within 1. But in the bottom of the 9th they scored 2 runs for the come-from-behind win. And if that weren't enough, Koshigaya Kita had taken a 2-1 lead over Urawa Nishi in the 8th. But Urawa would make it two sayonara sendoffs with 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th.
Chiba
Sakura Minami was just one step behind Funabashi Nishi it seemed. When Funabashi scored 4 in the 3rd, Sakura scored 4 in the 4th. When Funabashi scored 2 in the 4th, Sakura scored 2 in the 5th. They caught up when they both scored 1 in the 6th, and then out of nowhere Sakura scored 3 in the 7th to take the lead! But all it was was a delay as Funabashi scored 3 in the top of the 9th to level the score. But Funabashi would not be given a chance to respond as Sakura scores a run in the bottom of the 9th for the win.
Chiba Meitoku scratched back against Chousei to send it into extras and would win in the bottom of the 10th.
The 13th was an interesting day at Chiba Prefectural...
...as long as you weren't a seeded team...
The first game between Chiba Keiai and top seeded Choushi Shougyou (there are actually four #1 seeds) turned after the break in the 5th to work on the field. Chiba Keiai would come together for 3 runs in the top of the 6th to take a 5-3 lead that they would not relinquish.
Then top seed Urayasu fought against Chiba Kougyou. After falling behind 1-0, a timely double in the 4th would tie the game. Now up 3-1, a solo HR to left which almost cleared the field brought Chiba within one.
And then a reversal of a ruling decision allowed Chiba Kougyou to tie the game in the 6th. Runners on the corners with one down, Chiba attempts a squeeze. It fails and the runner at 3rd is hung up. The runner from 1st has occupied 3rd and the tag was made on both players. What happened was that the runner from 2nd went off the bag, and it was called a double play. After the Urayasu members ran off the field, the runner from 2nd went home to score.
What was eventually ruled was that the tag itself pushed the runner off the bag, therefore no double play and the run scores.
Chiba seemed to have the momentum, and in the bottom of the 7th they had runners at the corners with 2 down, but a fly to left ended the inning.
In the 8th, a leadoff double gave Chiba another chance. Urayasu sent in reliever Kobayashi and after a failed bunt, induced a popup and groundout to keep the game level.
But time seemed to run out. Top 9, one down for Urayasu, a ground to 2nd is bobbled and there's a runner on first. Then a grounder to short takes an irregular bounce and gets past into center. Base hit to center scores one, and one to left scores another for a 5-3 lead. The next batter grounds to 1st, seemingly setting up a double play, but the shortstop can't handle the throw and everyone's safe. With Urayasu in a manrui situation, the next batter grounds to 3rd. He initiates the 5-2-3 double play, but all seems lost.
One down for Chiba in the bottom of the 9th, the batter legs out an infield hit. A single to center puts runners at the corners. After a long AB, the next guy strikes out, but the runner from 1st advances to put the tying run in scoring position. Under pressure, Kobayashi walks the next batter giving Chiba a manrui situation! Down to their last strike, Kobayashi throws a wild pitch and a run scores! It's 5-4 and the winning run is in scoring position!
But Kobayashi gets the batter to swing at an offspeed pitch to end the game!
And in the final game, #5 Shounan only managed 4 hits and lost to Hakuryou 2-0.
In other games, Chiba Higashi rallied for 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Gyousei Kokusai 5-4.
On the 14th, there was a slugfest between Kohoku and Wasegaku. After Wasegaku leveled the score at 3 in the 3rd, they outscore Kohoku 6-1 the next two innings. And while Kohoku gets a run back in the 7th (well, they scored 3 and Wasegaku scored 2), they're still down 4. A run in the 8th makes it better, but still behind. But in the top of the 9th, they rally for 4 runs for the 12-11 win!
Meanwhile, Narashino clears their first game against Tokyo Gakkan Funabashi 8-0 in 7 innings. Fellow #1 seed Chiba Reimei managed just 8 baserunners against Chiba Nichidai Dai-ichi but won 1-0.
Nishi Tokyo
The first seeded team to fall was #3 Hachiouji couldn't stop Kokubunji's barrage of runs early and found themselves down 8-2. They got within 2, but lost 10-7. Later that day Musashi scrapped a win against Kunitachi after the lead changed hands 3 times.
On the 13th, Kodaira Minami scored a sayonara run to defeat Toyotama, but their gift for winning is #1 seed Nihon Tsurugaoka. Meanwhile #4 Kokugakuin Kugayama couldn't even get past their first game, losing to Horikoshi thanks to a 4-run 4th.
2nd round play continued with Fuji rallying for 4 runs in the final 3 innings to defeat Meihou 4-3. Teikyou Hachiouji defeated Eimeikan 6-1. And in an interesting and funny twist, Meijidai Nakano and Meijidai Meiji will face each other in the next round after both had mercy win victories.
Higashi Tokyo
Teikyou is making their march from way back in the bracket with a 9-0 win over Rokugou Kouka.
Tsukubadai Fuzoku somehow managed 6 runs against Jyouhoku's Yoshikawa to come back from a 5-0 deficit for a 6-5 win.
We also almost had another 15 inning draw, but Katsushikano plated a run in the 14th against Akabane Shougyou for a 5-4 win.
In another extra inning game, Risshisha broke a 2-2 tie in the 12th with 3 runs against Gakushuuin.
Kanagawa
On the first full day of competition, we had Motoishikawa coming back from down 6-0 to Fujisawa Seiryuu with 7 runs in the last 4 innings for the win.
The next day, over at Fujisawa Happe stadium, Tachibana and Fujisawa Nishi played to a 15-inning 1-1 draw. The next day, Fujisawa Nishi wins 3-2, although Tachibana scored a run in the 9th to make things interesting,
Aikawa blew a 4-0 lead to Yokosuka Kougyou, but won in the bottom of the 10th, Kanazawa defeated Isogo 3-2 in 10, and Kibougaoka outlaster Maioka 6-5 in 13. In other games, Atsugi Kita scores 5 in the 9th to blow open their game against Hodogaya, winning 6-2.
Yamato and Chigasaki were deadlocked at 1, and Chigasuki scores a run in the top of the 13th which seemed to be the winning run. But Yamato somehow scores 2 in the bottom of the 13th and sends the Chigasaki boys home.
Niigata
6 of 8 seeded teams began play on the 14th. All 6 teams advanced without issue.
Nagano
Almost as expected, Nagano is plagued by rain. Judging from 4 years ago (when I was there), rain will continue to be an issue in the mountainous prefecture. I'm surprised that they don't start a bit earlier.
I suppose it doesn't help that teams like Suwa Futaba and Hotaka Shougyou play to a 4-4 draw... after being rained out two days straight...
The schedule is a bit messed up, as a key, any date with two dates and no ame kanji denote the original date and the date of the actual game.
Shiga
Shiga was supposed to start on the 13th, but the opening game has been rained out twice.
Looks like they've been able to get underway on the 15th though.
Yamanashi
Yamanashi has gone without a hitch so far. Koufu Higashi did survive a 4-run 9th inning by Nourin to advance 11-10.
Most of the top seeds advanced without issue, but Toukaidai Koufu certainly did not. In fact, Kyounan's 4-run 7th actually gave them a 6-5 lead. And then even when Toukaidai took the lead, they leveled it in the top of the 9th.
But up comes Hayashi with two on and delivers a sayonara 3-run homerun to advance the top seed into the next round!
Kyoto
Kyoto still had some weather issues, but got things back on track. As for that Doushisha Kokusai-Kyoto Yawata game, Doushisha got the upper hand once again, but this time Yawata took the lead with a 3-run 5th and never looked back.
Unfortunately, the weather came back and rained out the 14th...
Nara
Nara has been rained out on the 13th and 14th, so the top teams have yet to take the field.
Wakayama
Wakayama has totally been rained out the last couple of days.
Hyogo
Rain in the Kansai area has wreaked havoc for the qualifying as games have been canceled at some stadiums. Hyogo managed to get most games in on the 12th, almost none on the 13th and some on the 14th.
Of the games that were played, Harima Minami scored a run in each of the last 4 innings to say sayonara to Kakogawa Minami 5-4. Akashi Jyousai almost did the same thing to Kobe Kouhoku also by the same score.
When surprisingly unseeded Toyoudai Himeji finally took the field, they needed 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Shiritsu Kagaku Gijyutsu 2-1. Ikawadani Kita defeated Youka 5-4 in the same manner. Yumenodai defeated Aioi Sangyou 3-2 in 10 innings.
Okayama
Games were rained out on opening day (14th)
Hiroshima
Hiroshima has been rained out for 4 days straight.
Kagawa
After being rained out for 2 days competition got started again when Takamatsu Dai-ichi scored 5 runs in the last 2 innings to defeat Jinsei Gakuen 5-4.
Fukuoka
Fukuoka has had their draw for the prefectural finals.
The high profile teams have been for the most part spread out. Toukaidai Dai-go gets one quadrant, Higashi-Fukuoka gets another, Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou gets the third, and in the 4th sits Iidzuka and Yanagigawa (although they face each other to start...)
Saga
Saga was fully rained out...
Nagasaki
Nagasaki has had trouble getting games run over at Sasebo due to the weather, but Nagasaki Prefectural hasn't been affected.
No surprises so far.
Kumamoto
More rain has canceled almost all games here too.
Oita
They've gotten only 2 games in the last 3 days.
Kagoshima
Kagoshima seems to be the only prefecture not affected by the rain. They've been on track and are now in the round of 16.
But apparently they had to sacrifice a seeded teams to do so.
(Kidding... kind of.)
Kamimura Gakuen was the first sacrifice. Kagoshima Shougyou managed just 3 hits, but scored 3 runs while they limited Kamimura to just 5 hits. Kamimura's run ends quickly with a 3-1 loss.
Meanwhile Kagoshima Tousen and Konkouwan played to a 2-2 draw, so they're not doing themselves any favors at this point. Next day, Konkouwan scores 2 in the 8th and 9th for a 6-2 win.
Unfortunately, the sacrifice lasted until just the 14th. Kagoshima Gyokuyuu and Kagoshima Minami were scoreless going into extras when their game was called due to rain. Not a good thing.
And that covers it up to the 14th. One last message to the weather gods.
STOP RAINING!!
Aomori
The 12th denoted the end of the first round for Aomori, and the notable game was held at Aomori Miyano where Noheji and Misawa Shougyou were in a slugfest. Misawa went from a 6-2 lead to a 6-6 tie to a 9-6 lead all in one inning! And if that weren't enough, Noheji scored 5 to lead 11-9! Misawa found a way to tie it up in the bottom of the 9th, but didn't have the ability to keep up in extras. Noheji scores a run in the 10th to advance.
The 13th featured the top teams kicking off their campaigns. Kousei Gakuin had no trouble with Hirosaki Higashi winning 10-0 in 7. #4 seed Hirosaki Minami though fell flat against Aomori Chuo, losing 2-1 and managing only 9 hits. #3 Aomori Yamada took it easy on Noheji, winning 7-0 in 7. And perhaps shocking of all, Hachinohe Koudai Dai-ichi struggled against Rokkasho. They fell behind 3-0 before tying it in the 5th, and then in the 6th fell behind again 4-3. Just 3 outs away from one of the biggest upsets in Aomori, they give up 2 runs and are sent home.
On the 14th, the lower 4 seeds played and some did not survive. #6 Oominato gave up runs in each of the first 4 innings and lost 5-2 to Hirosaki Jitsugyou. #8 Hachinohe Koudai Dai-ni held a slim 2-1 lead over Hachinohe Kougyou. But Toyomaki couldn't hold the lead and Kougyou scored a run in the 8th and 9th innings to take the lead and the victory.
Iwate
They began play on the 13th with 2 shutouts. Misawa defeated Morioka Nougyou 4-0, and Morioka Chuo defeated Miyako Kougyou 10-0 in 8 innings.
Games were rained out on the 14th.
Miyagi
Miyagi's top 4 opened play on the 13th, and it wasn't a good day.
#3 seed Touryou was upset against Shidzugawa, and in fact never led at any point in the game. #2 seed Oosaki Chuo traied Sendai Minami 2-1 going into the bottom of the 9th, but managed to rally for the win.
Games across Miyagi were rained out on the 14th except at Ishimaki. And all the games were close. First, Oogawara Shougyou had taken a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the 6th, but couldn't hold it against Kesennuma Nishi. They would score 2 in the 8th to tie, and then push the winning run in the 10th.
Pretty much the same thing happened to Sendai Tousen Natori. They had a 2-0 lead on Miyagi Suisan, but allowed them to tie it in the 8th and lost it in the 9th.
And in the late game, Miyagi Nougyou was able to make an early 3-0 lead stick despite Izumi Shouyou pulling within 1 in the 5th.
Fukushima
More seeded teams began their run. #2 Higashi Nippon Kokusaidai Shouhei managed just 6 hits against Shoin Gakuen Fukushima, but won 2-0. All seeded teams managed to advance past their first games.
Unfortunately though, the weather did not quite comply as the last game at Shirakawa Green was rained out right after Shirakawa scored 2 in the top of the 1st against Fukushima Seikei.
Next day, the weather didn't let up as more games were cancelled across the prefecture. Of those played, they included Haramachi overcoming an early 2-0 deficit to defeat Aoi 3-2. Adachi rallied from 3-0 down to defeat Kooriyama 4-3 in the 9th inning. Odaka Kougyou up 6-3 over Fukushima, lost the lead in late innings and went into extras. But 2 runs for Odaka in the 10th would be just enough.
The 14th allowed the 2nd round games to finish, and Teikyou Asaka continues to roll. Certainly they're not as good as their scores indicate, but it continues to prove that across the country, it's generally good to be a player for a Teikyou school.
Gunma
Takasaki Shoudai Fuzoku rallied from a 3-0 deficit to Tanamura with 2 in the 7th, 1 in the 8th and the sayonara run in the 9th.
Games were rained out on the 13th, but were able to be made up the next day.
Fujioka Chuo sent Tsumagoi home with a sayonara run in the 9th.
Tochigi
Seeded teams started to fall right off the bat. Mooka held a 3-2 lead on Ashikaga going into the bottom of the 9th, only to give it up.
Rain canceled most games on the 13th. The only game completed was Tochigi Nougyou defeating Kurubane 9-2 in 7.
The entire schedule was pushed back one day, and the game of the day was at Tochigi Sougou. Nasu Seihou tried to pull away from Oyama Hokuou, having a 1-0 lead, a 3-1 lead and a 6-3 lead. And each time Oyama would level the score. And so the game would go into extras. But the problem with extras is that if you're the away team, you can't rally from behind anymore. So when Nasu scored a run in the 11th, that was it for Oyama.
Ibaraki
Ibaraki almost had a no-hitter (well kinda) as Kashima's Kubo one-hit Mito Heisei to a 7-0 win in 7 innings. Hitachi Shougyou came back from down 3-1 to defeat Iwase 4-3 in 10 innings. Chuo tried to rally late against Moriya, but fell short, losing 3-2.
Saitama
Thanks to the feed provided by Ken (see above), I started having prefectural games on my other laptop while working on the brackets. Unfortunately, I ended up seeing Ageo defeating Ageo Tachibana 55-0 in 5 innings. It's a bit sad seeing teams with such a disparity playing against each other, but this is the dream of getting to Koshien after all. Theoretically, anyone can make it, but this is a byproduct of such.
In other games, Ooi and Saitama Sakae were locked in a battle late with leads switching sides when Ooi dealt the final blow with a run in the bottom of the 9th.
Ogawa and Tokorozawa Nishi were in a scoreless draw in extras when Tokorozawa Nishi scores the sayonara run in the 13th.
Seibou Gakuen continues their run after defeating Urawa Shougyou 9-0 in 7 and will face #3 seed Kawagoe Higashi.
In other parts of the bracket, Sugito survives Sayama Keizai 5-3 in 10 innings after losing a 3-1 lead late.
The 2nd round ended on the 14th with the rained out games from Kumagaya. Okegawa trailed the entire game against Namegawa Sougou, but had managed to pull within 1. But in the bottom of the 9th they scored 2 runs for the come-from-behind win. And if that weren't enough, Koshigaya Kita had taken a 2-1 lead over Urawa Nishi in the 8th. But Urawa would make it two sayonara sendoffs with 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th.
Chiba
Sakura Minami was just one step behind Funabashi Nishi it seemed. When Funabashi scored 4 in the 3rd, Sakura scored 4 in the 4th. When Funabashi scored 2 in the 4th, Sakura scored 2 in the 5th. They caught up when they both scored 1 in the 6th, and then out of nowhere Sakura scored 3 in the 7th to take the lead! But all it was was a delay as Funabashi scored 3 in the top of the 9th to level the score. But Funabashi would not be given a chance to respond as Sakura scores a run in the bottom of the 9th for the win.
Chiba Meitoku scratched back against Chousei to send it into extras and would win in the bottom of the 10th.
The 13th was an interesting day at Chiba Prefectural...
...as long as you weren't a seeded team...
The first game between Chiba Keiai and top seeded Choushi Shougyou (there are actually four #1 seeds) turned after the break in the 5th to work on the field. Chiba Keiai would come together for 3 runs in the top of the 6th to take a 5-3 lead that they would not relinquish.
Then top seed Urayasu fought against Chiba Kougyou. After falling behind 1-0, a timely double in the 4th would tie the game. Now up 3-1, a solo HR to left which almost cleared the field brought Chiba within one.
And then a reversal of a ruling decision allowed Chiba Kougyou to tie the game in the 6th. Runners on the corners with one down, Chiba attempts a squeeze. It fails and the runner at 3rd is hung up. The runner from 1st has occupied 3rd and the tag was made on both players. What happened was that the runner from 2nd went off the bag, and it was called a double play. After the Urayasu members ran off the field, the runner from 2nd went home to score.
What was eventually ruled was that the tag itself pushed the runner off the bag, therefore no double play and the run scores.
Chiba seemed to have the momentum, and in the bottom of the 7th they had runners at the corners with 2 down, but a fly to left ended the inning.
In the 8th, a leadoff double gave Chiba another chance. Urayasu sent in reliever Kobayashi and after a failed bunt, induced a popup and groundout to keep the game level.
But time seemed to run out. Top 9, one down for Urayasu, a ground to 2nd is bobbled and there's a runner on first. Then a grounder to short takes an irregular bounce and gets past into center. Base hit to center scores one, and one to left scores another for a 5-3 lead. The next batter grounds to 1st, seemingly setting up a double play, but the shortstop can't handle the throw and everyone's safe. With Urayasu in a manrui situation, the next batter grounds to 3rd. He initiates the 5-2-3 double play, but all seems lost.
One down for Chiba in the bottom of the 9th, the batter legs out an infield hit. A single to center puts runners at the corners. After a long AB, the next guy strikes out, but the runner from 1st advances to put the tying run in scoring position. Under pressure, Kobayashi walks the next batter giving Chiba a manrui situation! Down to their last strike, Kobayashi throws a wild pitch and a run scores! It's 5-4 and the winning run is in scoring position!
But Kobayashi gets the batter to swing at an offspeed pitch to end the game!
And in the final game, #5 Shounan only managed 4 hits and lost to Hakuryou 2-0.
In other games, Chiba Higashi rallied for 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Gyousei Kokusai 5-4.
On the 14th, there was a slugfest between Kohoku and Wasegaku. After Wasegaku leveled the score at 3 in the 3rd, they outscore Kohoku 6-1 the next two innings. And while Kohoku gets a run back in the 7th (well, they scored 3 and Wasegaku scored 2), they're still down 4. A run in the 8th makes it better, but still behind. But in the top of the 9th, they rally for 4 runs for the 12-11 win!
Meanwhile, Narashino clears their first game against Tokyo Gakkan Funabashi 8-0 in 7 innings. Fellow #1 seed Chiba Reimei managed just 8 baserunners against Chiba Nichidai Dai-ichi but won 1-0.
Nishi Tokyo
The first seeded team to fall was #3 Hachiouji couldn't stop Kokubunji's barrage of runs early and found themselves down 8-2. They got within 2, but lost 10-7. Later that day Musashi scrapped a win against Kunitachi after the lead changed hands 3 times.
On the 13th, Kodaira Minami scored a sayonara run to defeat Toyotama, but their gift for winning is #1 seed Nihon Tsurugaoka. Meanwhile #4 Kokugakuin Kugayama couldn't even get past their first game, losing to Horikoshi thanks to a 4-run 4th.
2nd round play continued with Fuji rallying for 4 runs in the final 3 innings to defeat Meihou 4-3. Teikyou Hachiouji defeated Eimeikan 6-1. And in an interesting and funny twist, Meijidai Nakano and Meijidai Meiji will face each other in the next round after both had mercy win victories.
Higashi Tokyo
Teikyou is making their march from way back in the bracket with a 9-0 win over Rokugou Kouka.
Tsukubadai Fuzoku somehow managed 6 runs against Jyouhoku's Yoshikawa to come back from a 5-0 deficit for a 6-5 win.
We also almost had another 15 inning draw, but Katsushikano plated a run in the 14th against Akabane Shougyou for a 5-4 win.
In another extra inning game, Risshisha broke a 2-2 tie in the 12th with 3 runs against Gakushuuin.
Kanagawa
On the first full day of competition, we had Motoishikawa coming back from down 6-0 to Fujisawa Seiryuu with 7 runs in the last 4 innings for the win.
The next day, over at Fujisawa Happe stadium, Tachibana and Fujisawa Nishi played to a 15-inning 1-1 draw. The next day, Fujisawa Nishi wins 3-2, although Tachibana scored a run in the 9th to make things interesting,
Aikawa blew a 4-0 lead to Yokosuka Kougyou, but won in the bottom of the 10th, Kanazawa defeated Isogo 3-2 in 10, and Kibougaoka outlaster Maioka 6-5 in 13. In other games, Atsugi Kita scores 5 in the 9th to blow open their game against Hodogaya, winning 6-2.
Yamato and Chigasaki were deadlocked at 1, and Chigasuki scores a run in the top of the 13th which seemed to be the winning run. But Yamato somehow scores 2 in the bottom of the 13th and sends the Chigasaki boys home.
Niigata
6 of 8 seeded teams began play on the 14th. All 6 teams advanced without issue.
Nagano
Almost as expected, Nagano is plagued by rain. Judging from 4 years ago (when I was there), rain will continue to be an issue in the mountainous prefecture. I'm surprised that they don't start a bit earlier.
I suppose it doesn't help that teams like Suwa Futaba and Hotaka Shougyou play to a 4-4 draw... after being rained out two days straight...
The schedule is a bit messed up, as a key, any date with two dates and no ame kanji denote the original date and the date of the actual game.
Shiga
Shiga was supposed to start on the 13th, but the opening game has been rained out twice.
Looks like they've been able to get underway on the 15th though.
Yamanashi
Yamanashi has gone without a hitch so far. Koufu Higashi did survive a 4-run 9th inning by Nourin to advance 11-10.
Most of the top seeds advanced without issue, but Toukaidai Koufu certainly did not. In fact, Kyounan's 4-run 7th actually gave them a 6-5 lead. And then even when Toukaidai took the lead, they leveled it in the top of the 9th.
But up comes Hayashi with two on and delivers a sayonara 3-run homerun to advance the top seed into the next round!
Kyoto
Kyoto still had some weather issues, but got things back on track. As for that Doushisha Kokusai-Kyoto Yawata game, Doushisha got the upper hand once again, but this time Yawata took the lead with a 3-run 5th and never looked back.
Unfortunately, the weather came back and rained out the 14th...
Nara
Nara has been rained out on the 13th and 14th, so the top teams have yet to take the field.
Wakayama
Wakayama has totally been rained out the last couple of days.
Hyogo
Rain in the Kansai area has wreaked havoc for the qualifying as games have been canceled at some stadiums. Hyogo managed to get most games in on the 12th, almost none on the 13th and some on the 14th.
Of the games that were played, Harima Minami scored a run in each of the last 4 innings to say sayonara to Kakogawa Minami 5-4. Akashi Jyousai almost did the same thing to Kobe Kouhoku also by the same score.
When surprisingly unseeded Toyoudai Himeji finally took the field, they needed 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Shiritsu Kagaku Gijyutsu 2-1. Ikawadani Kita defeated Youka 5-4 in the same manner. Yumenodai defeated Aioi Sangyou 3-2 in 10 innings.
Okayama
Games were rained out on opening day (14th)
Hiroshima
Hiroshima has been rained out for 4 days straight.
Kagawa
After being rained out for 2 days competition got started again when Takamatsu Dai-ichi scored 5 runs in the last 2 innings to defeat Jinsei Gakuen 5-4.
Fukuoka
Fukuoka has had their draw for the prefectural finals.
The high profile teams have been for the most part spread out. Toukaidai Dai-go gets one quadrant, Higashi-Fukuoka gets another, Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou gets the third, and in the 4th sits Iidzuka and Yanagigawa (although they face each other to start...)
Saga
Saga was fully rained out...
Nagasaki
Nagasaki has had trouble getting games run over at Sasebo due to the weather, but Nagasaki Prefectural hasn't been affected.
No surprises so far.
Kumamoto
More rain has canceled almost all games here too.
Oita
They've gotten only 2 games in the last 3 days.
Kagoshima
Kagoshima seems to be the only prefecture not affected by the rain. They've been on track and are now in the round of 16.
But apparently they had to sacrifice a seeded teams to do so.
(Kidding... kind of.)
Kamimura Gakuen was the first sacrifice. Kagoshima Shougyou managed just 3 hits, but scored 3 runs while they limited Kamimura to just 5 hits. Kamimura's run ends quickly with a 3-1 loss.
Meanwhile Kagoshima Tousen and Konkouwan played to a 2-2 draw, so they're not doing themselves any favors at this point. Next day, Konkouwan scores 2 in the 8th and 9th for a 6-2 win.
Unfortunately, the sacrifice lasted until just the 14th. Kagoshima Gyokuyuu and Kagoshima Minami were scoreless going into extras when their game was called due to rain. Not a good thing.
And that covers it up to the 14th. One last message to the weather gods.
STOP RAINING!!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Heaven help me, here we go!
Okay, as of this weekend 32 tournaments are underway. So now comes the hard part... getting all 4700-odd games into the spreadsheets that don't work as well as I'd like.
(Any ideas on how to get Excel 2007 files showing correctly, which in my case include merged cells, is welcome.)
So, here we go! (This post will cover games up to the 11th)
Kita/Minami Hokkaido
The draws for both have been determined.
In Kita Hokkaido, favorites Asahikawa Jitsugyou and Komadai Iwamizawa are on the same side of the bracket, but won't face each other until the semifinals, if at all. Ashikawa Minami has the whole other side to themselves, so long as they can get past Bushuukan in the opening game.
In Minami Hokkaido, with one favorite Hokkai eliminated, the field opens just a little.
It opens up even more as Komadai Tomakomai and Sapporo Dai-ichi face off in the first round. Hopeful Hakodatedai Yuuto may have a ticket to the semifinal to face either of them. On the other side sits Hokkai's ouster Sapporo Kousei, but could have a matchup against Hokkai Gakuen Sapporo in the 2nd round, and then Hokushou in the semifinals.
Aomori
Aomori begins play today with the opening game between Aomori Chuo and Aomori Higashi Hiranai. And unfortunately for Aomori Higashi Hiranai, they lose 11-1 in 6 innings.
Miyagi
Opening day at Kleenex Stadium Miyagi was one heck of a show. Kesennuma squared off against Tagajyou. Tagajyou scored one in the top of the 1st only to see Kesennuma score 7 in the 1st. And while Tagajyou scored 2 in the next couple of innings, Kesennuma scored 2 of their own to re-establish the 6 run margin.
All seemed lost for Tagajyou, but in the late innings they score 2-1-and 3 in the 9th and before you knew it, they had tied it up. The comeback would be complete as Tagajyou would score one in the 11th and reliever Iwami closed the door.
Things were more tamer at Kleenex on day 2. After Furukawa Reimei had a small scare against Igu - prevailing 4-2, Shidzugawa and Sendai Minami advanced via the mercy rule.
Over at Sendai Municipal, the lead changed all but 2 times between Miyagi Suisan and Seiwa Gakuen. Miyagi scored 2 in the 5th, Seiwa takes the lead with 3 in the 7th, and Miyagi Suisan closed the door shut with 5 in the 9th. In the 2nd game, Matsushima holds off a late charge against Kashimadai Shougyou. Kashimadai scored 2 in the 9th to pull within one at 4-3, but that was it.
Other highlights included Kesennuma Kouyou scores the only run against Furukawa Gakuen to advance at at Kashimadai Chuo, Kogota Nourin slides past Ishimaki Shougyou 3-2 at Ishimaki Municipal, and at Nattori Sports Park Medeshima, last year's representative Tohoku needed all 9 innings to defeat Naka-Niita 8-4, Kakuda put together 4 consecutive scoring innings to beat Sendai Tousen Hirose 6-4, and Miyagi Nougyou had no trouble with Sendai Nishi.
Fukushima
Opening day seems to be full of fireworks. Kooriyama Kita Kougyou took a 3-0 lead on Tamura only to see them charge right back to tie. Then they took the lead with a run in the 8th, only to see Kooriyama tie it up in the 9th, but sent them home with a sayonara run in the 9th.
Day 2 opened at 5 stadiums across Fukushima. At Shirakawa Green Stadium, Sukagawa handled Fukushima Tousen with no problem, Gakkouhoujin Ishikawa and Asaka Kaisei were scoring runs left and right, but 8 runs in the final 3 innings separated Ishikawa, and in the final game of the day, Shirakawa scores in the bottom of the 8th to break the scoreless draw against Shirakawa Jitsugyou for the win.
In other games, at Prefectural Adzuma Stadium, Shirakawa Asahi scored the only run against Onahama, and Hobara used a 4-run 3rd and 4th inning to get past a scrappy Aidzu Nourin squad at Kooriyama.
July 11th saw the first round conclude while the 2nd round games kicked off.
The key game at Shirakawa Green Stadium was the 2nd game between Naganuma and Seiryou Jyouhou. After trading runs, Seiryou scored 3 in the 7th to pull away. But Naganuma would reel them back in with 1 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th. The game would be decided in the 12th when Naganuma would send them home with a sayonara run.
At Adzuma, we finally see the seeded teams kick off their campaign. Seikou Gakuin has no trouble against Kooriyama Shougyou, but only after breaking them down in the late innings.
Moving on to Kooriyama, it doesn't matter where you are, if you are a Teikyou school, you have to be good at baseball. Teikyou Asaka dispatched Shoushi 10-0 in 6 innings. And another seeded school in Nihon Tohoku sent Souma Higashi back home with a 5-0 win.
At Iwaki Green, #4 seed Futaba struggled against Shuumei scoring the winning run in the bottom of the 9th for a 5-4 win.
And at Aidzu, there was a lot of home cooking as #5 and #6 seeds Aidzu Gakuhou and Aidzu advance with little trouble.
Gunma
Opening day on the 10th? More opening fireworks.
At Takasaki Jyounan, Kiryuu Kougyou takes a 2-0 lead late only to see Takasaki Kita score one in the 8th and tie it in the 9th. Kiryuu would prevail with a run in the top of the 10th.
Then in the 2nd game, Kiryuu Minami was nursing a 3-2 lead late, then scored 2 to extend the lead. But Takasaki Kougyou would have none of it, getting back the two runs in the 8th and then scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to send Kiryuu home.
And at Shikishima, the opening day ended with Jyutoku scoring 6 runs in the bottom of the 8th to take a 10-7 lead and eventually prevailed 10-8 over Takasaki.
On the 11th, the place to be was at Takasaki Jyounan. First, Maebashi Kougyou and ace Hirai shutout the #2 seed Kiryuu Dai-ichi 3-0 for the first shocker of the tournament. Then Haruna and Kanto Gakendai Fuzoku were scoreless through 9 before Haruna breaks through with 2 in the 10th. And finally, a flurry of runs were scored late, but Takasaki Higashi led wire to wire against Meiwa Chuo 10-6.
With Kiryuu Dai-ichi gone, the bracket now heavily favors Maebashi Shougyou who defeated Numata 7-0 in 7. And in the late game, Kiryuu Nishi wins 5-4 despite 2 HR's from Kamino.
Last year's representative and #7 seed Tokyo Noudai Dai-ni bows out against Kiryuu 6-4 at Maebashi.
Tochigi
Tochigi's opening game at Tochigi Prefectural had Kokugakuin Tochigi shutting out Kuroiso Minami 6-0.
Day 2 saw Yasaka Minami score 3 in the top of the 9th against Takanezawa for the 4-1 win at Utsunomiya Kiyohara Stadium. Also at Kiyohara, Ashikaga Seifu prevailed late against Nasu 5-2.
And in Tochigi Prefectural, Utsunomiya Hakuyou scored in the last 5 innings to beat Nasu Kaijyou 11-3.
Ibaraki
The opening game on the 10th had Jyouhoku giving up 16 runs in the 1st against Oota Dai-ichi en route to a 21-0 win.
First full game schedule saw Seishin Gakuen get a run late against Hokota Dai-ni for a 2-1 win at Hitachi Naka. Hitachi Kougyou held on against Nakaminato Dai-ichi 5-4 at Hitachi Municipal. At Ibaraki, Isohara Kyouei scored 2 in the top of the 9th to defeat Sakai 3-1. Home field advantage helped Tsuchiura Nichidai and Tsuchiura Kougyou advance with no trouble. The game at Kasama between Ushiku Eishin and Kinu Shougyou was bookended by a bunch of runs as they go 5-5 after two innings, and Kinu Shougyou outscores Ushiku 4-3, but 3 runs in the 6th from Ushiku was the difference.
Saitama
Opening game at Oomiya had Washimiya shutout Niiza Yanase 5-0.
Then you had the first full day of games with 24 total in 8 stadiums. You know you're in full swing when pinging is heard across the prefecture.
At Iwatsuki Shiroato, Shuumei Eiko used a 5-run 8th to defeat Hanyuu Jitsugyou 7-4.
Returning to Oomiya, all seeded teams advanced without issue.
It's not a good year for the Tokyo Noudai schools as Dai-san can't hold a 5-4 lead late as Kasukabe scores one in the 8th and one in the 9th to rally for the win. In the late game, Oomiya Higashi hits 4 HR's, 2 by Takayama in a 12-2 win over Yorii Jyouhoku.
At Kawagoe Hatsukari, Seibou Gakuen's march to Koshien starts off with a stumble as they need a run in the 7th to defeat Oomiya Musashino 2-1.
And in Asaka Chuo, Sakado and Yashio Minami go into extras where Sakado scores 2 in the top of the 10th. Yashio comes back with one in the bottom of the frame, but it's not enough.
Games on the 11th included the following:
Koshigaya Higashi scores 2 runs late to defeat Kuki Kougyou 2-1. Honjyou Dai-ichi needed 13 innings to defeat Kawagoe 2-1 at Kumagaya. At Oomiya, #9 Oomiya Nishi pushed in the go-ahead run in the 7th against Kumagaya to win 3-2.
At Omiya Municipal, #1 seed Hanasaki Tokuharu got a scare against Shiritsu Kawaguchi as 2 runs in the 7th pulled them within one at 5-4. Thankfully, that's as close as they would get.
And in Asaka, Shiki scores 2 runs in the 7th to take a 3-2 lead over Koshigaya Minami, but Koshigaya would tie it up in the bottom of the 7th and re-take the lead in the bottom of the 8th for a 4-3 win.
Nishi Tokyo
Recaps are going to have to be condensed as there are just too many games to go through. In Nishi Tokyo there was an interesting game between Nagayama and Oume Sougou. After Oume Sougou had a 4-2 lead after 5 innings, Nagayama outscores Oume 8-6 in the next two innings to tie the game. Then they proceeded to take the lead with 2 in the 9th. But Oume would roar right back with 3 runs to win 13-12.
Higashi Tokyo
One again, I'll have time to cover just the games involving notable teams or interesting games.
At Meiji Jingu-ni Stadium, Jyuuten had taken a 4-2 lead on Higashi after a 3-run 6th. But Higashi would find a way to re-take the lead with a 3-run 8th. Unfazed, Jyuuten would tie it in the 9th, only to have ace Inoue unable to keep it level, giving up the sayonara run in the bottom of the 9th.
At Oota Stadium, it was perhaps an unfair draw as somehow Tsukubadai Fuzoku had to face their sister campus Tsukubadai Fuzoku Komaba.
After a rather uneventful first 4 innings where Komaba held a 1-0 lead, in the next 4 innings runs were scored in all but 2 half innings. When it was over, it was tied at 7 all. It would stay that way until the 11th where Fuzoku would score a run. Sano would hold Komaba off and send his team to the next round.
Kanagawa
In Kanagawa, Shiroyama saw a 4-1 lead evaporate in the bottom of the 7th against Higashi. The game would go into extras where they would score 3 in the 11th. Higashi would score one, but that was it.
Niigata
On the 11th, apparently the chic thing to do was to win 5-4 in 10 innings.
And all these games were happening at the same time!
At Shibata Ijimino, Murakami rallied from a 3-1 deficit to Shibata with 3 in the bottom of the 8th, but Murakami would tie the game in the top of the 9th. They would tack one in the top of the 10th for the win.
At Toyano Kouen, Maki Sougou held a slim 2-1 lead on Niigata Higashi, but Niigata would level the score in the top of the 8th. And since you know the final score, you know that Niigata would score 3 in the top of the 10th, and Maki would rally for 2, but fall short.
And over in Satogaike, Niigata Sangyoudai Fuzoku scored two in the top of the 9th to take a 4-3 lead over Kashiwazaki Kougyou. Down to their last 3 outs, Kashiwazaki would tie it up. But Matsuo couldn't hold down the fort and Niigata would push the winning run in the 10th.
Aichi
Day 1 in Aichi had some interesting games.
In Block G Yatomi had a 2-0 lead over Toukai Shougyou at Agui Stadium. But Toukai would score one in the 7th, and then tie it up in the bottom of the 9th. The game started to march to a tie when Toukai would score the sayonara run in the bottom of the 13th.
Also in Block G, Nagoya Shiritsu Kougyou held a comfortable 4-0 lead on Seto Kita at Kasugai. But then Seto scores one in the 8th, and had 2 in the 9th, but again, that's as close as they would get.
In Block E at Toyohashi, Shinshiro rallied for 4 runs in the top of the 9th to defeat Chita Shouyou.
Moving on to the 11th, there was just a nutty game between Moriyama and Kaiyou Gakuen at Okazaki Municipal. The game went innocently enough as a 3-3 tie after 5. Kaiyou would score 2 in the bottom of the 6th to take the lead. Moriyama responded with 3 in the 7th to take it right back, only to see Kaiyou score 4 in the bottom of the frame to hold a 9-6 lead. But then Moriyama would score 11 unanswered runs to take a 17-9 lead and win 17-10!
At Kariya, there were two walkoffs. Tenpaku broke a 3-3 tie in the 11th on Kariya Kita. In the next game Toyota Kita ties their game against Chigusa with a run in the 9th only to give it up in the bottom of the 9th.
In Kasugai, Tougou trailed 6-2 to Kakujyougaoka. They would score 5 unanswered runs to win 7-6 in 10 innings.
At Toyohashi, Anjyou Gakuen played catch-up the entire game against Shinshiro Higashi. Every time Shinshiro would score 2, Anjyou would score 2 the next half inning. But then Shinshiro would score 2 in the 7th and 3 in the 8th for a 5 run lead. Anjyou would then score 6 in the top of the 9th to take their 1st lead of the game - and win.
And in Toyota, Yutakano couldn't hold a 5-1 lead and a 6-5 lead to Shouin. But they would eventually prevail with a sayonara run in the 11th.
Shizuoka
Opening day at Shimada had Shimada Shousei sending Fujieda Kita home in the bottom of the 10th after Fujieda tied the game in the 9th. Then on the 11th, Shimada does the same thing to Shimada Kougyou (except in the bottom of the 9th).
At Iwata, Mikkabi breaks a scoreless draw against Iwata Nishi with a run in the bottom of the 11th.
And in Fuji Sougou Endou Kouen, Yoshihara Shougyou ties the game against Yoshihara Kougyou in the bottom of the 9th and plates the winning run in the bottom of the 10th to win 2-1.
Kyoto
Kyoto's been plagued by rain as some games from the 11th (and from the 12th - I know, I was only going to cover up to the 11th) have been rained out.
And that really hurts teams that were rained out before the conclusion of their games.
At Wakasa, Doushisha Kokusai and Kiyoto Yawata were tied at 8-8 when the game was called with one down in the top of the 10th. They'll have to replay that game.
Over in Taiyougaoka, Kyoto Seishou led Rakuyou Kougyou 7-0 after 5½ innings, but that game too was called and will have to be replayed.
If you don't think rained out games matter, just ask Jyousuikan. They were rained out twice against Kochi at last year's Koshien, and in both cases were winning. In the 3rd play of the game, Kochi would go on to win.
Maidzuru was the only stadium to hold their games on the 11th, and it opened with Higashi-Maidzuru defeating Nantan with a sayonara run in the 10th after tying the game in the 8th.
Nara
Nara has started play, and while no notable teams have started yet, Ikoma did rally from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game against Ooyodo and push the sayonara run through in the 13th.
Wakayama
Wakayama started play on the 11th, and while Wakayama Shougyou and Shiritsu Wakayama advanced, really the bracket is all about Chiben Wakayama and Kouyou.
Osaka
Ok, I don't care if your team is good or not, how cool would it be to play at a major league stadium? Miyagi gets that in Kleenex stadium, and here in Osaka, they have the Kyocera Dome.
Seishou defeated Ichioka Shougyou 11-2 in 7 innings, while Kishiwada Sangyou defeated Tomioka 8-0 in 7 innings. Even for Ichioka and Tomioka, I think they'll look back and enjoy the experience even though they lost in the first round.
Onto other games - at Nankou Chuo Ootori came back from down 2-0 to Sano Kouka to win 3-2 in 11 innings, while Kongou defeated the combined team of Kaifuukan and Habikino 1-0 in the bottom of the 9th. If you're wondering about combined teams, it generally results from a merger of schools. In this case Kaifuukan is a merger of Habikino and Nishiura. Merger teams generally mean that there were players from the old school that are competitive enough to form a team. And since it's a merger, they're allowed to play for the new school. This is because school closures happen gradually. What happens is that at a certain year, the old schools do not take new students while the new school begins taking in students. The old schools then close officially when the last class graduates.
Hyogo
Hyogo opened to a 14-inning thriller where Shikama Kougyou defeated Kamigoori 2-1 in 14 innings.
Then on the 11th, Takasago held 2 more extra-inning games. Kotogaoka survived after Takaradzuka Nishi tied it up at 1-1 in the bottom of the 9th, winning 2-1 in 10. Sanda Gakuen broke a 2-2 deadlock against Ikawadani in the bottom of the 15th and final inning.
At Awajisano, the combined team of Suma Shoufuu, Kobe Nishi and Suma shutout Shiritsu Himeji 5-0.
Hiroshima
Hiroshima opened play on the 10th at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium. And in the late game, Miyajima Kougyou defeated Hiroshima Kokutaiji 2-1 in 11 innings.
Games have been rained out on the 11th and 12th.
Kagawa
Kagawa has only gotten one days worth of games in as games on the 12th have been rained out. But in that first day, Takamatsu Minami rallied to within 1 after being down 5 against Sanbonmatsu although they weren't able to finish the deal.
Tokushima
In Tokushima, one of the top seeds in Komatsushima actually started off the festivities with a 6-1 over Kaifu. Kawashima rallied from 5-1 down to win 6-5 over Wakimachi.
On Day 2, Jyounan sent Tokushima Kita home with a sayonara run in the 10th.
Games were rained out on the 12th.
Ehime
Ehime's games have been for the most part lopsided. Two exceptions were the Niihama Minami-Tsushima game where Niihama led wire to wire but Tsushima make the game interesting in the 2nd half, and the Imabari Minami-Matsuyama Chuo game where Imabari came back after losing a 3-0 lead with 7 unanswered runs to win 10-6.
Fukuoka
Fukuoka is well on their way to the championships, which makes sense since they have the most schools in the Kyushu region.
Opening day was held in Kitakyushu Municipal and in the late game Kokura Nishi had a 3 run lead evaporate as Seihou scored 4 in the 3rd. They traded runs in the 5th, and in the 8th Kokura Nishi would take the lead with 2 in the 8th. Seihou would draw level with a run in the bottom of the inning and the game would go into extras. Seihou would score the winning run in the 11th and advance in Kita Block A.
Rain on the 4th would postpone a fair amount of games.
Out of the games that were played, at Ogoori Musashidai used a 5-run 5th to beat Fukushima 6-5.
The weather cleared up for games on the 5th. After taking an early 3-0 lead, Ariake Tousen saw Fukuoka Kourinkan score 2 in the 3rd and 4th to take the lead. But they would level the score in the 7th and push the sayonara run home in the 9th.
Fast forwarding to the 6th, Asakura Kouyou used a 6-run 9th to defeat Genyou 6-3.
On the 7th Chikushi Chuo used a 3-run 6th to tie the game at 4 versus Kurume Gakuen, then scored two in the bottom of the 8th for the win. In Minami Block C, seeded Higashi-Fukuoka got a scare versus Hakata Kougyou. Behind 2-1 and 3-2 they would rally to tie, then send Hakata home in the bottom of the 9th. Kasuga was not so fortunate in Minami Block J. Kyushu Sangyoudai Kyushu would rout them 10-3 in 7 innings.
One thing about postponed games, sometimes you move stadiums. That was the case for Sawara-Jyounan who went from Hibaru to Kasuga. The game would actually be scoreless through regulation. But in the first inning of extras, Sawara would score 3! Jyounan would not go quietly and got within 1 - but couldn't put through the douten run...
At Nakama Municipal, Touchiku down 4-2 in the bottom of the 9th, scored 3 against Ikutokukan for the ultimate come-from-behind win.
Over in Kitakyushu Momozono, Kibougaoka gave up a 4-2 lead late to Seirin, but broke through big in the 11th with 6 runs for the win.
In the 8th, Minami Block F's seed Fukuoka Kougyou couldn't get past their first game, getting shutout against Kurume Shougyou. It wasn't a good day to be a seeded team at Kasuga as Block H's Oki Gakuen faced off against Itoshima. Down 2-1 after the 3rd, they gave up 4 more runs to Itoshima, but rallied with 5 to tie the game. They then scored a run in the 5th and 6th to take a 2-run lead. But Itoshima scored 3 in the 7th to reclaim the lead. Oki Gakuen didn't have another rally left in them and lost 10-9.
Actually, it wasn't necessarily a good day to be a seeded team. Kita Block F's Yahata couldn't hold a 6-2 lead as Tagawa would score 2 in the 7th, 1 in the 8th, and the sayonara 2 runs in the 9th.
More seeded teams would fall the next day. Minami Block E's Nanchiku never led against Chikushi losing 2-1 in their opening game.
The 9th also awarded teams their bid into the prefectural finals. In Kita Block A, seeded Kokura Higashi used a 6-run 7th to take a 6-2 lead over Keisei. Keisei, undaunted, scored 4 to level the score. And just when all seemed lost, Keisei down 7-6 in the bottom of the 9th, managed to put together 2 runs to send Kokura Higashi home and advance to the prefectural finals.
Last year's representative, Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku barely punched their ticked with a 1-0 win over Touchiku to win Kita Block B.
The 10th marked where a good chunk of tickets were punched to the prefectural finals. In Minami Block A, Fukushou prevailed 5-4 over Yuusei thanks to a 5-run 6th. Nishi Nippon Tankidai Fuzoku advanced out of Minami Block I with a 7-3 win over Fukuoka Chuo.
At Kasuga, Higashi-Fukuoka advanced out of Minami Block C with a 10-2 win in 7 over Fukuoka Maidzuru. In Minami Block J, Kyushu Sangyoudai Kyushu completed it's run by defeating Fukuokadai Oohori 5-1. And finally Kyushu Sangyoudai Kyushu Sangyou advanced out of Minami Block F with a 6-3 win over Kurume Shougyou.
In Momozono, possible favorite Jiyuugaoka lost the Kita Block D final to Inatsuki Shikoukan soundly 8-3. Kita Block E's winner was Kurate who defeated Nakama 3-1.
Moving to Kitakyushu Municipal, the Kita Block C final saw Tobata blow a 3-0 lead to Kitakyushu in the top of the 9th. Tobata somehow managed to find the strength to rally and tie the game in the bottom of the 9th. That momentum carried them to a win in the bottom of the 10th.
The same could not be said in the Kita Block F final. Tagawa broke a scoreless draw against Kaho Higashi with a run in the bottom of the 8th. The favorite was about to advance when Kaho would level it in the 9th. 6 innings later, neither team could score the winning run - and thus the game ended in a 1-1 draw, the first in the qualfiers. They'll have to do it all over again tomorrow... er... 2 days from then as the committee would give them a day off.
The final spots would go to:
Saga
Over in Saga, weather has pushed back the schedule a bit. After the opener where Tosu Shougyou and Karatsu Shougyou went 13 innings, including a 10th where each team scored a run, the 2nd game was rained out after just 2 innings of play with Ogi leading Imari Shougyou 3-1.
Next day, Imari goes on to win 4-2.
Later that day, Karatsu Kougyou would score 3 runs late to defeat Tara 4-3.
Over at Saga Blue Stadium, last year's representative Imari Nourin could not advance past the first round, losing to Arita Kougyou 2-1.
They got back on schedule on the 12th as Saga Kougyou jumped out to a 11-0 lead. Waseda Saga made it interesting with 8 runs, but lost 13-8.
Nagasaki
Opening day was shortened due to rain, but before it rained on their parade, Naka-Gotou rallied with 4 runs in the 7th to win 7-6 over Sasebo Nishi.
None of the games have been close otherwise.
Kumamoto
Notable games so far from Kumamoto was Minamata outlasting Chiharadai 5-4 in 13 innings after scoring 3 in the bottom of the 8th to tie, and a run in the 10th to continue the game. Luther Gakuin scored the only run in the bottom of the 8th to beat Kumumoto Gakuendai Fuzoku.
Senshuudai Tamana is the first seeded team to start their campaign, and they defeated Yatsushiro 7-0 in 8 innings.
Oita
Oita opened with the combined Nakatsu team (Kougyou/Higashi) defeating Saiki Kakujyou 6-1. And then Oita Tsurusaki, down 8-0 after 5½ innings, score 9 unanswered runs to win 9-8.
Games were rained out on the 12th.
Kagoshima
Kagoshima is well underway. Notable games include:
Meioukan defeating Kouryou 4-3 with a sayonara run after Kouryou scores 2 to tie the game in the top of the inning.
On the 6th, Kirishima scored a run in the 7th and 3 in the 8th to take a 4-2 lead over Yakushima. Yakushima would then reply with a run in the 8th and 9th to send it into extras. The momentum stayed with them as they would score the winning run in the bottom of the 11th.
Shounan started the seeded teams off well with a 7-0 win over Kagoshima Minami in 7 innings.
The next day, Seeded Makurazaki started their trek stumbling a bit but sent Satsuma Chuo home in the bottom of the 9th. Seeded Kamimura Gakuen routed Kanoya 16-4 in 8 innings.
Seeded Kagoshima Jyousei fell behind 3-0 to Kagoshima Kougyou, but scored 6 unanswered to win 6-3. Ibusuki Shougyou scored 8 runs late to defeat Kagoshima Dai-ichi 11-8.
Kagoshima Jitsugyou really stuggled against Ei to open their run. They won 3-0, but managed just 4 hits.
Kagoshima Minami had a solid start, defeating Ookuchi 8-0 in 7.
Ibusuki becomes the first seeded team to fall, losing to Kagoshima Jyouhou 4-1 after giving up 4 runs in the last 3 innings.
Some games were rained out on the 10th, and the schedule was pushed back by a full day to get the rained out games in. This is different than in other prefectures where they just push the schedule back by the number of games missed.
Shounan and Makurazaki didn't need the extra day, cruising into the round of 16. Kanoya Chuo, the last seeded team to play defeated Ariake 14-1 in 5.
Okinawa
Ok, after getting the stadium and time info for part of the 2nd round going forward, here's the recap.
(By the way, they're in the best 4! They'll have their champion this weekend!)
July 3rd finished the 2nd round. And in it, Yokatsu played the role of spoiler as they scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 11th to send Shouwa Yakkadai Fuzoku home 4-3.
As for Kounan, Shimabukuro Yousuke finally showed his face, pitching a complete game shutout against Urasoe.
The round of 16 began with a matchup of Koshien schools in Okinawa Shougaku and Okinawa Suisan at Chatan. Okinawa Shogaku fought back to tie the game in the 8th to send it into extras. But in the 13th, they would just break down, giving up 4 runs - almost an insurmountable margin. They got one back, but their bid would fall short.
Over at Naha, the seeded teams faced off. Oroku would be the first team to fall as Haebaru shocked the bracket. Haebaru jumped out with 2 in the top of the 1st. Oroku would tie it up in the bottom of the 1st, then take the lead with a run in the 5th. They trade a run in the 7th, and then Haebaru jumps with 3 runs in the 8th to take the lead for good.
As for Itoman, they dispatched Yaeyama Shoukou handily 10-2 in 8 innings, and could be Kounan's opponent in the finals.
Then, this past Saturday, we had the other half of the round of 16. At Chatan, Kadena continued to prove their Senbatsu appearance was no fluke by defeating Urasoe Shougyou 5-2. Ginoza held on to defeat Mawashi 2-1 to earn the dubious honor of facing Kounan. They tried to save Shimabukuro, but had to call on him when Yokatsu didn't want to go away. Eventually Kounan would pull away to a 7-2 win, but they certainly have the target on their backs.
In the other game at Naha, Naha couldn't use the home field to their advantage as Yaeyama scored 3 in the 4th and 6 in the 6th for a 9-5 win.
So that brought us to our quarterfinal matches. At Naha, Haebaru's run ended at the hands of Okinawa Suisan by a score of 6-1. In the 2nd game, Kounan was able to sit Shimabukuro as they routed Ginoza 8-0 in 7.
Who would their opponents be? Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Okinawa Suisan will face Itoman, who shutout Chuubu Shougyou 3-0. I said fortunately because Suisan's last two losses in prefecture have been to Chuubu Shougyou. As for Kounan, their opponent will not be Kadena. Yaeyama scores the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 7th inning, and made it stick.
(Any ideas on how to get Excel 2007 files showing correctly, which in my case include merged cells, is welcome.)
So, here we go! (This post will cover games up to the 11th)
Kita/Minami Hokkaido
The draws for both have been determined.
In Kita Hokkaido, favorites Asahikawa Jitsugyou and Komadai Iwamizawa are on the same side of the bracket, but won't face each other until the semifinals, if at all. Ashikawa Minami has the whole other side to themselves, so long as they can get past Bushuukan in the opening game.
In Minami Hokkaido, with one favorite Hokkai eliminated, the field opens just a little.
It opens up even more as Komadai Tomakomai and Sapporo Dai-ichi face off in the first round. Hopeful Hakodatedai Yuuto may have a ticket to the semifinal to face either of them. On the other side sits Hokkai's ouster Sapporo Kousei, but could have a matchup against Hokkai Gakuen Sapporo in the 2nd round, and then Hokushou in the semifinals.
Aomori
Aomori begins play today with the opening game between Aomori Chuo and Aomori Higashi Hiranai. And unfortunately for Aomori Higashi Hiranai, they lose 11-1 in 6 innings.
Miyagi
Opening day at Kleenex Stadium Miyagi was one heck of a show. Kesennuma squared off against Tagajyou. Tagajyou scored one in the top of the 1st only to see Kesennuma score 7 in the 1st. And while Tagajyou scored 2 in the next couple of innings, Kesennuma scored 2 of their own to re-establish the 6 run margin.
All seemed lost for Tagajyou, but in the late innings they score 2-1-and 3 in the 9th and before you knew it, they had tied it up. The comeback would be complete as Tagajyou would score one in the 11th and reliever Iwami closed the door.
Things were more tamer at Kleenex on day 2. After Furukawa Reimei had a small scare against Igu - prevailing 4-2, Shidzugawa and Sendai Minami advanced via the mercy rule.
Over at Sendai Municipal, the lead changed all but 2 times between Miyagi Suisan and Seiwa Gakuen. Miyagi scored 2 in the 5th, Seiwa takes the lead with 3 in the 7th, and Miyagi Suisan closed the door shut with 5 in the 9th. In the 2nd game, Matsushima holds off a late charge against Kashimadai Shougyou. Kashimadai scored 2 in the 9th to pull within one at 4-3, but that was it.
Other highlights included Kesennuma Kouyou scores the only run against Furukawa Gakuen to advance at at Kashimadai Chuo, Kogota Nourin slides past Ishimaki Shougyou 3-2 at Ishimaki Municipal, and at Nattori Sports Park Medeshima, last year's representative Tohoku needed all 9 innings to defeat Naka-Niita 8-4, Kakuda put together 4 consecutive scoring innings to beat Sendai Tousen Hirose 6-4, and Miyagi Nougyou had no trouble with Sendai Nishi.
Fukushima
Opening day seems to be full of fireworks. Kooriyama Kita Kougyou took a 3-0 lead on Tamura only to see them charge right back to tie. Then they took the lead with a run in the 8th, only to see Kooriyama tie it up in the 9th, but sent them home with a sayonara run in the 9th.
Day 2 opened at 5 stadiums across Fukushima. At Shirakawa Green Stadium, Sukagawa handled Fukushima Tousen with no problem, Gakkouhoujin Ishikawa and Asaka Kaisei were scoring runs left and right, but 8 runs in the final 3 innings separated Ishikawa, and in the final game of the day, Shirakawa scores in the bottom of the 8th to break the scoreless draw against Shirakawa Jitsugyou for the win.
In other games, at Prefectural Adzuma Stadium, Shirakawa Asahi scored the only run against Onahama, and Hobara used a 4-run 3rd and 4th inning to get past a scrappy Aidzu Nourin squad at Kooriyama.
July 11th saw the first round conclude while the 2nd round games kicked off.
The key game at Shirakawa Green Stadium was the 2nd game between Naganuma and Seiryou Jyouhou. After trading runs, Seiryou scored 3 in the 7th to pull away. But Naganuma would reel them back in with 1 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th. The game would be decided in the 12th when Naganuma would send them home with a sayonara run.
At Adzuma, we finally see the seeded teams kick off their campaign. Seikou Gakuin has no trouble against Kooriyama Shougyou, but only after breaking them down in the late innings.
Moving on to Kooriyama, it doesn't matter where you are, if you are a Teikyou school, you have to be good at baseball. Teikyou Asaka dispatched Shoushi 10-0 in 6 innings. And another seeded school in Nihon Tohoku sent Souma Higashi back home with a 5-0 win.
At Iwaki Green, #4 seed Futaba struggled against Shuumei scoring the winning run in the bottom of the 9th for a 5-4 win.
And at Aidzu, there was a lot of home cooking as #5 and #6 seeds Aidzu Gakuhou and Aidzu advance with little trouble.
Gunma
Opening day on the 10th? More opening fireworks.
At Takasaki Jyounan, Kiryuu Kougyou takes a 2-0 lead late only to see Takasaki Kita score one in the 8th and tie it in the 9th. Kiryuu would prevail with a run in the top of the 10th.
Then in the 2nd game, Kiryuu Minami was nursing a 3-2 lead late, then scored 2 to extend the lead. But Takasaki Kougyou would have none of it, getting back the two runs in the 8th and then scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to send Kiryuu home.
And at Shikishima, the opening day ended with Jyutoku scoring 6 runs in the bottom of the 8th to take a 10-7 lead and eventually prevailed 10-8 over Takasaki.
On the 11th, the place to be was at Takasaki Jyounan. First, Maebashi Kougyou and ace Hirai shutout the #2 seed Kiryuu Dai-ichi 3-0 for the first shocker of the tournament. Then Haruna and Kanto Gakendai Fuzoku were scoreless through 9 before Haruna breaks through with 2 in the 10th. And finally, a flurry of runs were scored late, but Takasaki Higashi led wire to wire against Meiwa Chuo 10-6.
With Kiryuu Dai-ichi gone, the bracket now heavily favors Maebashi Shougyou who defeated Numata 7-0 in 7. And in the late game, Kiryuu Nishi wins 5-4 despite 2 HR's from Kamino.
Last year's representative and #7 seed Tokyo Noudai Dai-ni bows out against Kiryuu 6-4 at Maebashi.
Tochigi
Tochigi's opening game at Tochigi Prefectural had Kokugakuin Tochigi shutting out Kuroiso Minami 6-0.
Day 2 saw Yasaka Minami score 3 in the top of the 9th against Takanezawa for the 4-1 win at Utsunomiya Kiyohara Stadium. Also at Kiyohara, Ashikaga Seifu prevailed late against Nasu 5-2.
And in Tochigi Prefectural, Utsunomiya Hakuyou scored in the last 5 innings to beat Nasu Kaijyou 11-3.
Ibaraki
The opening game on the 10th had Jyouhoku giving up 16 runs in the 1st against Oota Dai-ichi en route to a 21-0 win.
First full game schedule saw Seishin Gakuen get a run late against Hokota Dai-ni for a 2-1 win at Hitachi Naka. Hitachi Kougyou held on against Nakaminato Dai-ichi 5-4 at Hitachi Municipal. At Ibaraki, Isohara Kyouei scored 2 in the top of the 9th to defeat Sakai 3-1. Home field advantage helped Tsuchiura Nichidai and Tsuchiura Kougyou advance with no trouble. The game at Kasama between Ushiku Eishin and Kinu Shougyou was bookended by a bunch of runs as they go 5-5 after two innings, and Kinu Shougyou outscores Ushiku 4-3, but 3 runs in the 6th from Ushiku was the difference.
Saitama
Opening game at Oomiya had Washimiya shutout Niiza Yanase 5-0.
Then you had the first full day of games with 24 total in 8 stadiums. You know you're in full swing when pinging is heard across the prefecture.
At Iwatsuki Shiroato, Shuumei Eiko used a 5-run 8th to defeat Hanyuu Jitsugyou 7-4.
Returning to Oomiya, all seeded teams advanced without issue.
It's not a good year for the Tokyo Noudai schools as Dai-san can't hold a 5-4 lead late as Kasukabe scores one in the 8th and one in the 9th to rally for the win. In the late game, Oomiya Higashi hits 4 HR's, 2 by Takayama in a 12-2 win over Yorii Jyouhoku.
At Kawagoe Hatsukari, Seibou Gakuen's march to Koshien starts off with a stumble as they need a run in the 7th to defeat Oomiya Musashino 2-1.
And in Asaka Chuo, Sakado and Yashio Minami go into extras where Sakado scores 2 in the top of the 10th. Yashio comes back with one in the bottom of the frame, but it's not enough.
Games on the 11th included the following:
Koshigaya Higashi scores 2 runs late to defeat Kuki Kougyou 2-1. Honjyou Dai-ichi needed 13 innings to defeat Kawagoe 2-1 at Kumagaya. At Oomiya, #9 Oomiya Nishi pushed in the go-ahead run in the 7th against Kumagaya to win 3-2.
At Omiya Municipal, #1 seed Hanasaki Tokuharu got a scare against Shiritsu Kawaguchi as 2 runs in the 7th pulled them within one at 5-4. Thankfully, that's as close as they would get.
And in Asaka, Shiki scores 2 runs in the 7th to take a 3-2 lead over Koshigaya Minami, but Koshigaya would tie it up in the bottom of the 7th and re-take the lead in the bottom of the 8th for a 4-3 win.
Nishi Tokyo
Recaps are going to have to be condensed as there are just too many games to go through. In Nishi Tokyo there was an interesting game between Nagayama and Oume Sougou. After Oume Sougou had a 4-2 lead after 5 innings, Nagayama outscores Oume 8-6 in the next two innings to tie the game. Then they proceeded to take the lead with 2 in the 9th. But Oume would roar right back with 3 runs to win 13-12.
Higashi Tokyo
One again, I'll have time to cover just the games involving notable teams or interesting games.
At Meiji Jingu-ni Stadium, Jyuuten had taken a 4-2 lead on Higashi after a 3-run 6th. But Higashi would find a way to re-take the lead with a 3-run 8th. Unfazed, Jyuuten would tie it in the 9th, only to have ace Inoue unable to keep it level, giving up the sayonara run in the bottom of the 9th.
At Oota Stadium, it was perhaps an unfair draw as somehow Tsukubadai Fuzoku had to face their sister campus Tsukubadai Fuzoku Komaba.
After a rather uneventful first 4 innings where Komaba held a 1-0 lead, in the next 4 innings runs were scored in all but 2 half innings. When it was over, it was tied at 7 all. It would stay that way until the 11th where Fuzoku would score a run. Sano would hold Komaba off and send his team to the next round.
Kanagawa
In Kanagawa, Shiroyama saw a 4-1 lead evaporate in the bottom of the 7th against Higashi. The game would go into extras where they would score 3 in the 11th. Higashi would score one, but that was it.
Niigata
On the 11th, apparently the chic thing to do was to win 5-4 in 10 innings.
And all these games were happening at the same time!
At Shibata Ijimino, Murakami rallied from a 3-1 deficit to Shibata with 3 in the bottom of the 8th, but Murakami would tie the game in the top of the 9th. They would tack one in the top of the 10th for the win.
At Toyano Kouen, Maki Sougou held a slim 2-1 lead on Niigata Higashi, but Niigata would level the score in the top of the 8th. And since you know the final score, you know that Niigata would score 3 in the top of the 10th, and Maki would rally for 2, but fall short.
And over in Satogaike, Niigata Sangyoudai Fuzoku scored two in the top of the 9th to take a 4-3 lead over Kashiwazaki Kougyou. Down to their last 3 outs, Kashiwazaki would tie it up. But Matsuo couldn't hold down the fort and Niigata would push the winning run in the 10th.
Aichi
Day 1 in Aichi had some interesting games.
In Block G Yatomi had a 2-0 lead over Toukai Shougyou at Agui Stadium. But Toukai would score one in the 7th, and then tie it up in the bottom of the 9th. The game started to march to a tie when Toukai would score the sayonara run in the bottom of the 13th.
Also in Block G, Nagoya Shiritsu Kougyou held a comfortable 4-0 lead on Seto Kita at Kasugai. But then Seto scores one in the 8th, and had 2 in the 9th, but again, that's as close as they would get.
In Block E at Toyohashi, Shinshiro rallied for 4 runs in the top of the 9th to defeat Chita Shouyou.
Moving on to the 11th, there was just a nutty game between Moriyama and Kaiyou Gakuen at Okazaki Municipal. The game went innocently enough as a 3-3 tie after 5. Kaiyou would score 2 in the bottom of the 6th to take the lead. Moriyama responded with 3 in the 7th to take it right back, only to see Kaiyou score 4 in the bottom of the frame to hold a 9-6 lead. But then Moriyama would score 11 unanswered runs to take a 17-9 lead and win 17-10!
At Kariya, there were two walkoffs. Tenpaku broke a 3-3 tie in the 11th on Kariya Kita. In the next game Toyota Kita ties their game against Chigusa with a run in the 9th only to give it up in the bottom of the 9th.
In Kasugai, Tougou trailed 6-2 to Kakujyougaoka. They would score 5 unanswered runs to win 7-6 in 10 innings.
At Toyohashi, Anjyou Gakuen played catch-up the entire game against Shinshiro Higashi. Every time Shinshiro would score 2, Anjyou would score 2 the next half inning. But then Shinshiro would score 2 in the 7th and 3 in the 8th for a 5 run lead. Anjyou would then score 6 in the top of the 9th to take their 1st lead of the game - and win.
And in Toyota, Yutakano couldn't hold a 5-1 lead and a 6-5 lead to Shouin. But they would eventually prevail with a sayonara run in the 11th.
Shizuoka
Opening day at Shimada had Shimada Shousei sending Fujieda Kita home in the bottom of the 10th after Fujieda tied the game in the 9th. Then on the 11th, Shimada does the same thing to Shimada Kougyou (except in the bottom of the 9th).
At Iwata, Mikkabi breaks a scoreless draw against Iwata Nishi with a run in the bottom of the 11th.
And in Fuji Sougou Endou Kouen, Yoshihara Shougyou ties the game against Yoshihara Kougyou in the bottom of the 9th and plates the winning run in the bottom of the 10th to win 2-1.
Kyoto
Kyoto's been plagued by rain as some games from the 11th (and from the 12th - I know, I was only going to cover up to the 11th) have been rained out.
And that really hurts teams that were rained out before the conclusion of their games.
At Wakasa, Doushisha Kokusai and Kiyoto Yawata were tied at 8-8 when the game was called with one down in the top of the 10th. They'll have to replay that game.
Over in Taiyougaoka, Kyoto Seishou led Rakuyou Kougyou 7-0 after 5½ innings, but that game too was called and will have to be replayed.
If you don't think rained out games matter, just ask Jyousuikan. They were rained out twice against Kochi at last year's Koshien, and in both cases were winning. In the 3rd play of the game, Kochi would go on to win.
Maidzuru was the only stadium to hold their games on the 11th, and it opened with Higashi-Maidzuru defeating Nantan with a sayonara run in the 10th after tying the game in the 8th.
Nara
Nara has started play, and while no notable teams have started yet, Ikoma did rally from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game against Ooyodo and push the sayonara run through in the 13th.
Wakayama
Wakayama started play on the 11th, and while Wakayama Shougyou and Shiritsu Wakayama advanced, really the bracket is all about Chiben Wakayama and Kouyou.
Osaka
Ok, I don't care if your team is good or not, how cool would it be to play at a major league stadium? Miyagi gets that in Kleenex stadium, and here in Osaka, they have the Kyocera Dome.
Seishou defeated Ichioka Shougyou 11-2 in 7 innings, while Kishiwada Sangyou defeated Tomioka 8-0 in 7 innings. Even for Ichioka and Tomioka, I think they'll look back and enjoy the experience even though they lost in the first round.
Onto other games - at Nankou Chuo Ootori came back from down 2-0 to Sano Kouka to win 3-2 in 11 innings, while Kongou defeated the combined team of Kaifuukan and Habikino 1-0 in the bottom of the 9th. If you're wondering about combined teams, it generally results from a merger of schools. In this case Kaifuukan is a merger of Habikino and Nishiura. Merger teams generally mean that there were players from the old school that are competitive enough to form a team. And since it's a merger, they're allowed to play for the new school. This is because school closures happen gradually. What happens is that at a certain year, the old schools do not take new students while the new school begins taking in students. The old schools then close officially when the last class graduates.
Hyogo
Hyogo opened to a 14-inning thriller where Shikama Kougyou defeated Kamigoori 2-1 in 14 innings.
Then on the 11th, Takasago held 2 more extra-inning games. Kotogaoka survived after Takaradzuka Nishi tied it up at 1-1 in the bottom of the 9th, winning 2-1 in 10. Sanda Gakuen broke a 2-2 deadlock against Ikawadani in the bottom of the 15th and final inning.
At Awajisano, the combined team of Suma Shoufuu, Kobe Nishi and Suma shutout Shiritsu Himeji 5-0.
Hiroshima
Hiroshima opened play on the 10th at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium. And in the late game, Miyajima Kougyou defeated Hiroshima Kokutaiji 2-1 in 11 innings.
Games have been rained out on the 11th and 12th.
Kagawa
Kagawa has only gotten one days worth of games in as games on the 12th have been rained out. But in that first day, Takamatsu Minami rallied to within 1 after being down 5 against Sanbonmatsu although they weren't able to finish the deal.
Tokushima
In Tokushima, one of the top seeds in Komatsushima actually started off the festivities with a 6-1 over Kaifu. Kawashima rallied from 5-1 down to win 6-5 over Wakimachi.
On Day 2, Jyounan sent Tokushima Kita home with a sayonara run in the 10th.
Games were rained out on the 12th.
Ehime
Ehime's games have been for the most part lopsided. Two exceptions were the Niihama Minami-Tsushima game where Niihama led wire to wire but Tsushima make the game interesting in the 2nd half, and the Imabari Minami-Matsuyama Chuo game where Imabari came back after losing a 3-0 lead with 7 unanswered runs to win 10-6.
Fukuoka
Fukuoka is well on their way to the championships, which makes sense since they have the most schools in the Kyushu region.
Opening day was held in Kitakyushu Municipal and in the late game Kokura Nishi had a 3 run lead evaporate as Seihou scored 4 in the 3rd. They traded runs in the 5th, and in the 8th Kokura Nishi would take the lead with 2 in the 8th. Seihou would draw level with a run in the bottom of the inning and the game would go into extras. Seihou would score the winning run in the 11th and advance in Kita Block A.
Rain on the 4th would postpone a fair amount of games.
Out of the games that were played, at Ogoori Musashidai used a 5-run 5th to beat Fukushima 6-5.
The weather cleared up for games on the 5th. After taking an early 3-0 lead, Ariake Tousen saw Fukuoka Kourinkan score 2 in the 3rd and 4th to take the lead. But they would level the score in the 7th and push the sayonara run home in the 9th.
Fast forwarding to the 6th, Asakura Kouyou used a 6-run 9th to defeat Genyou 6-3.
On the 7th Chikushi Chuo used a 3-run 6th to tie the game at 4 versus Kurume Gakuen, then scored two in the bottom of the 8th for the win. In Minami Block C, seeded Higashi-Fukuoka got a scare versus Hakata Kougyou. Behind 2-1 and 3-2 they would rally to tie, then send Hakata home in the bottom of the 9th. Kasuga was not so fortunate in Minami Block J. Kyushu Sangyoudai Kyushu would rout them 10-3 in 7 innings.
One thing about postponed games, sometimes you move stadiums. That was the case for Sawara-Jyounan who went from Hibaru to Kasuga. The game would actually be scoreless through regulation. But in the first inning of extras, Sawara would score 3! Jyounan would not go quietly and got within 1 - but couldn't put through the douten run...
At Nakama Municipal, Touchiku down 4-2 in the bottom of the 9th, scored 3 against Ikutokukan for the ultimate come-from-behind win.
Over in Kitakyushu Momozono, Kibougaoka gave up a 4-2 lead late to Seirin, but broke through big in the 11th with 6 runs for the win.
In the 8th, Minami Block F's seed Fukuoka Kougyou couldn't get past their first game, getting shutout against Kurume Shougyou. It wasn't a good day to be a seeded team at Kasuga as Block H's Oki Gakuen faced off against Itoshima. Down 2-1 after the 3rd, they gave up 4 more runs to Itoshima, but rallied with 5 to tie the game. They then scored a run in the 5th and 6th to take a 2-run lead. But Itoshima scored 3 in the 7th to reclaim the lead. Oki Gakuen didn't have another rally left in them and lost 10-9.
Actually, it wasn't necessarily a good day to be a seeded team. Kita Block F's Yahata couldn't hold a 6-2 lead as Tagawa would score 2 in the 7th, 1 in the 8th, and the sayonara 2 runs in the 9th.
More seeded teams would fall the next day. Minami Block E's Nanchiku never led against Chikushi losing 2-1 in their opening game.
The 9th also awarded teams their bid into the prefectural finals. In Kita Block A, seeded Kokura Higashi used a 6-run 7th to take a 6-2 lead over Keisei. Keisei, undaunted, scored 4 to level the score. And just when all seemed lost, Keisei down 7-6 in the bottom of the 9th, managed to put together 2 runs to send Kokura Higashi home and advance to the prefectural finals.
Last year's representative, Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku barely punched their ticked with a 1-0 win over Touchiku to win Kita Block B.
The 10th marked where a good chunk of tickets were punched to the prefectural finals. In Minami Block A, Fukushou prevailed 5-4 over Yuusei thanks to a 5-run 6th. Nishi Nippon Tankidai Fuzoku advanced out of Minami Block I with a 7-3 win over Fukuoka Chuo.
At Kasuga, Higashi-Fukuoka advanced out of Minami Block C with a 10-2 win in 7 over Fukuoka Maidzuru. In Minami Block J, Kyushu Sangyoudai Kyushu completed it's run by defeating Fukuokadai Oohori 5-1. And finally Kyushu Sangyoudai Kyushu Sangyou advanced out of Minami Block F with a 6-3 win over Kurume Shougyou.
In Momozono, possible favorite Jiyuugaoka lost the Kita Block D final to Inatsuki Shikoukan soundly 8-3. Kita Block E's winner was Kurate who defeated Nakama 3-1.
Moving to Kitakyushu Municipal, the Kita Block C final saw Tobata blow a 3-0 lead to Kitakyushu in the top of the 9th. Tobata somehow managed to find the strength to rally and tie the game in the bottom of the 9th. That momentum carried them to a win in the bottom of the 10th.
The same could not be said in the Kita Block F final. Tagawa broke a scoreless draw against Kaho Higashi with a run in the bottom of the 8th. The favorite was about to advance when Kaho would level it in the 9th. 6 innings later, neither team could score the winning run - and thus the game ended in a 1-1 draw, the first in the qualfiers. They'll have to do it all over again tomorrow... er... 2 days from then as the committee would give them a day off.
The final spots would go to:
- Minami Block B - Seeded Yanagigawa def. Musashidai 10-0 in 6 innings.
- Minami Block D - Seeded Chikuyou Gakuen def. Ariake Tousen 10-0 in 6 innings.
- Minami Block E - Chikushi def. Asakura Kouyou 7-3.
- Minami Block H - Itoshima def. Denshuukan 4-0.
- Minami Block G - Seeded Toukaidai Dai-go def. Yame 9-0
- Minami Block K - Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou def. Chikushidai 6-0.
- Kita Block G - Kokura def. Seeded Kokura Kougyou 4-0!
- Kita Block H - Seeded Iidzuka def. Houkoku Gakuen 6-0.
Saga
Over in Saga, weather has pushed back the schedule a bit. After the opener where Tosu Shougyou and Karatsu Shougyou went 13 innings, including a 10th where each team scored a run, the 2nd game was rained out after just 2 innings of play with Ogi leading Imari Shougyou 3-1.
Next day, Imari goes on to win 4-2.
Later that day, Karatsu Kougyou would score 3 runs late to defeat Tara 4-3.
Over at Saga Blue Stadium, last year's representative Imari Nourin could not advance past the first round, losing to Arita Kougyou 2-1.
They got back on schedule on the 12th as Saga Kougyou jumped out to a 11-0 lead. Waseda Saga made it interesting with 8 runs, but lost 13-8.
Nagasaki
Opening day was shortened due to rain, but before it rained on their parade, Naka-Gotou rallied with 4 runs in the 7th to win 7-6 over Sasebo Nishi.
None of the games have been close otherwise.
Kumamoto
Notable games so far from Kumamoto was Minamata outlasting Chiharadai 5-4 in 13 innings after scoring 3 in the bottom of the 8th to tie, and a run in the 10th to continue the game. Luther Gakuin scored the only run in the bottom of the 8th to beat Kumumoto Gakuendai Fuzoku.
Senshuudai Tamana is the first seeded team to start their campaign, and they defeated Yatsushiro 7-0 in 8 innings.
Oita
Oita opened with the combined Nakatsu team (Kougyou/Higashi) defeating Saiki Kakujyou 6-1. And then Oita Tsurusaki, down 8-0 after 5½ innings, score 9 unanswered runs to win 9-8.
Games were rained out on the 12th.
Kagoshima
Kagoshima is well underway. Notable games include:
Meioukan defeating Kouryou 4-3 with a sayonara run after Kouryou scores 2 to tie the game in the top of the inning.
On the 6th, Kirishima scored a run in the 7th and 3 in the 8th to take a 4-2 lead over Yakushima. Yakushima would then reply with a run in the 8th and 9th to send it into extras. The momentum stayed with them as they would score the winning run in the bottom of the 11th.
Shounan started the seeded teams off well with a 7-0 win over Kagoshima Minami in 7 innings.
The next day, Seeded Makurazaki started their trek stumbling a bit but sent Satsuma Chuo home in the bottom of the 9th. Seeded Kamimura Gakuen routed Kanoya 16-4 in 8 innings.
Seeded Kagoshima Jyousei fell behind 3-0 to Kagoshima Kougyou, but scored 6 unanswered to win 6-3. Ibusuki Shougyou scored 8 runs late to defeat Kagoshima Dai-ichi 11-8.
Kagoshima Jitsugyou really stuggled against Ei to open their run. They won 3-0, but managed just 4 hits.
Kagoshima Minami had a solid start, defeating Ookuchi 8-0 in 7.
Ibusuki becomes the first seeded team to fall, losing to Kagoshima Jyouhou 4-1 after giving up 4 runs in the last 3 innings.
Some games were rained out on the 10th, and the schedule was pushed back by a full day to get the rained out games in. This is different than in other prefectures where they just push the schedule back by the number of games missed.
Shounan and Makurazaki didn't need the extra day, cruising into the round of 16. Kanoya Chuo, the last seeded team to play defeated Ariake 14-1 in 5.
Okinawa
Ok, after getting the stadium and time info for part of the 2nd round going forward, here's the recap.
(By the way, they're in the best 4! They'll have their champion this weekend!)
July 3rd finished the 2nd round. And in it, Yokatsu played the role of spoiler as they scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 11th to send Shouwa Yakkadai Fuzoku home 4-3.
As for Kounan, Shimabukuro Yousuke finally showed his face, pitching a complete game shutout against Urasoe.
The round of 16 began with a matchup of Koshien schools in Okinawa Shougaku and Okinawa Suisan at Chatan. Okinawa Shogaku fought back to tie the game in the 8th to send it into extras. But in the 13th, they would just break down, giving up 4 runs - almost an insurmountable margin. They got one back, but their bid would fall short.
Over at Naha, the seeded teams faced off. Oroku would be the first team to fall as Haebaru shocked the bracket. Haebaru jumped out with 2 in the top of the 1st. Oroku would tie it up in the bottom of the 1st, then take the lead with a run in the 5th. They trade a run in the 7th, and then Haebaru jumps with 3 runs in the 8th to take the lead for good.
As for Itoman, they dispatched Yaeyama Shoukou handily 10-2 in 8 innings, and could be Kounan's opponent in the finals.
Then, this past Saturday, we had the other half of the round of 16. At Chatan, Kadena continued to prove their Senbatsu appearance was no fluke by defeating Urasoe Shougyou 5-2. Ginoza held on to defeat Mawashi 2-1 to earn the dubious honor of facing Kounan. They tried to save Shimabukuro, but had to call on him when Yokatsu didn't want to go away. Eventually Kounan would pull away to a 7-2 win, but they certainly have the target on their backs.
In the other game at Naha, Naha couldn't use the home field to their advantage as Yaeyama scored 3 in the 4th and 6 in the 6th for a 9-5 win.
So that brought us to our quarterfinal matches. At Naha, Haebaru's run ended at the hands of Okinawa Suisan by a score of 6-1. In the 2nd game, Kounan was able to sit Shimabukuro as they routed Ginoza 8-0 in 7.
Who would their opponents be? Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Okinawa Suisan will face Itoman, who shutout Chuubu Shougyou 3-0. I said fortunately because Suisan's last two losses in prefecture have been to Chuubu Shougyou. As for Kounan, their opponent will not be Kadena. Yaeyama scores the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 7th inning, and made it stick.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Kita and Minami Hokkaido Qualifying
Well, the Hokkaido region (both of them) have finished up preliminary regional qualifying. So let's go through each part and see who's qualified.
Kita Hokkaido
Kitami Regionals
There wasn't much excitement in Kitami until the 30th where Kitami Ryokuryou broke a 2-2 deadlock against Abashiri Keiyou with 4 in the top of the 9th.
In the end, the three qualifiers to advance are Kitami Hakuyou, Engaru, and Kitami Ryokuryou.
Asahikawa Regionals
In Block A, Kamifurano trailed Rumoi Senbou 8-4 going into the late innings when they scored 4 in the 7th to tie it up. The game would remain tied until the 11th where Kamifurano would send Rumoi packing. The victory was short lived though, as in their next game against Asahikawa Kita, they trailed 3-0 going into the 8th where Asahikawa Kita would score 13 runs to end the run.
Earlier in the day, Asahikawa Jitsugyou was in danger of being eliminated as Asahikawa Meisei had scored 2 runs in the 7th to tie the game at 2 all. But they would plate a run in the bottom half of the inning to re-take the lead. And ace Suzuki would make it stick.
In Block B, Asahikawadai would be upset in their first game by Asahikawa Minami, unable to overcome an early 6-0 deficit.
In the end, Asahikawa Jitsugyou, Asahikawa Minami and Asahikawa Ryuukoku would advance.
Tokachi Regionals
Tokachi opened with an exciting game as Shimizu would edge out Obihiro Kougyou 2-1 in 10 innings.
Then, in Block C, Obihiro Ryokuyou would wait until the last possible moment to beat Obihiro Sanjyou 1-0.
But in another upset, Shirakaba Gakuen doesn't advance out of regional play as they fall 1-0 in 10 innings to Obihiro Nougyou in the block final.
So your participants are Obihiro Hakuyou, Obihiro Nougyou, and Obihiro Ootani.
Sorachi Regionals
Well, one block was completely dominated. Komadai Iwamizawa blew through their 3 games by a combined score of 23-1 to win Block A.
In Block B, we had our first real long-inning game where Fukagawa Nishi said sayonara to Iwamizawa Ryokuryou 2-1 in 14 innings. They would reach the block final and give Takigawa Nishi a good run (considering they mercy ruled 15-0 in 5 innings in their first 2 games). But after falling behind 2-0, they would only get one run back in the 7th.
Nayoro Regionals
In Nayoro, the blocks were fairly clear cut. Wakkanai Ootani and Nayoro Sangyou each advanced with little difficulty.
Kushine Regionals
It was almost the same in Kushine. Bushuukan and Kushiro Kounan both advanced out of Blocks A and B easily. But in Block C, Kushiro Kougyou's Ooi let a 3-run lead slip in the bottom of the 9th. They would win with a run in the 10th, but it was a scare nonetheless. They would beat Teshikaga 5-0 in the block final to advance.
Minami Hokkaido
Sapporo Regionals
Perhaps one of the biggest upsets in Hokkaido happened in Block A. Sapporo Kousei and ace Okuyama limited Hokkai to just 1 run in a 7-1 trouncing in the block final.
In Block B, Kita-Hiroshima upset Sapporo Shinkawa after scoring 5 unanswered runs in the 7th to 9th innings to tie the game, then scored the sayonara run in the 10th. They would lose to eventual block winners Sapporo Nichidai.
In Blocks C & D, Ritsumeikan Keishou and Hokkai Gakuen Sapporo both advanced with little difficulty.
Sapporo Dai-ichi blew through Block E winning its 3 games by a combined score of 29-0 in a total of 17 innings.
Sapporo Okadama gained momentum as they progressed through Block F culminating in a 11-3 win against Sapporo Moiwa.
Finally in Block G, it was thrown open after Sapporo Teine rallied from 3-0, and 6-3 against Sapporo Ootani, breaking through in a 5-run 8th inning to win a slugfest 11-10. That opened the road for Sapporo Shiroishi to blow through the block and advance to the prefectural finals.
Otaru Regionals
Hokushou was given a scare in the Block A final against Kucchan, making a 1-0 1st inning lead stick.
Over in Block B, Iwanai edged Futaba 6-4 in 10 innings, then rallied against Otaru Suisan. They scored 4 in the 4th after falling behind 3-0, then after giving up the lead again, scored 4 in the 8th after being behind 5-4 to eventually win 8-7.
Muroran Regionals
Hokkaido Sakae had no trouble in Block A, and neither did Muroran Ootani in Block B. Shiraoi Higashi defeated Tomakomai Kougyou 3-1 in the Block C final, and Komadai Tomakomai continues to try and get back to Koshien, defeating Muroran Toushou 9-0 in 7 innings to win Block D.
Hakodate Regionals
Hakodatedai Yuuto almost didn't reach the prefectural finals, trailing Iwanai 2-1 in their very first game in Block A. But they would level the score in the 8th, then score 2 in the 10th to advance. That scare must've woken them up as they had no issues the rest of the way.
Hakodate Shougyou didn't have much trouble in Block B, while in Block C Hakodate Kougyou defated block favorite Hakodate Nishi 7-0 in 8 innings.
So there you have it. We have our final field of teams in Hokkaido with some well-known teams missing, but a lot of favorites still remaining.
Kita Hokkaido
Kitami Regionals
There wasn't much excitement in Kitami until the 30th where Kitami Ryokuryou broke a 2-2 deadlock against Abashiri Keiyou with 4 in the top of the 9th.
In the end, the three qualifiers to advance are Kitami Hakuyou, Engaru, and Kitami Ryokuryou.
Asahikawa Regionals
In Block A, Kamifurano trailed Rumoi Senbou 8-4 going into the late innings when they scored 4 in the 7th to tie it up. The game would remain tied until the 11th where Kamifurano would send Rumoi packing. The victory was short lived though, as in their next game against Asahikawa Kita, they trailed 3-0 going into the 8th where Asahikawa Kita would score 13 runs to end the run.
Earlier in the day, Asahikawa Jitsugyou was in danger of being eliminated as Asahikawa Meisei had scored 2 runs in the 7th to tie the game at 2 all. But they would plate a run in the bottom half of the inning to re-take the lead. And ace Suzuki would make it stick.
In Block B, Asahikawadai would be upset in their first game by Asahikawa Minami, unable to overcome an early 6-0 deficit.
In the end, Asahikawa Jitsugyou, Asahikawa Minami and Asahikawa Ryuukoku would advance.
Tokachi Regionals
Tokachi opened with an exciting game as Shimizu would edge out Obihiro Kougyou 2-1 in 10 innings.
Then, in Block C, Obihiro Ryokuyou would wait until the last possible moment to beat Obihiro Sanjyou 1-0.
But in another upset, Shirakaba Gakuen doesn't advance out of regional play as they fall 1-0 in 10 innings to Obihiro Nougyou in the block final.
So your participants are Obihiro Hakuyou, Obihiro Nougyou, and Obihiro Ootani.
Sorachi Regionals
Well, one block was completely dominated. Komadai Iwamizawa blew through their 3 games by a combined score of 23-1 to win Block A.
In Block B, we had our first real long-inning game where Fukagawa Nishi said sayonara to Iwamizawa Ryokuryou 2-1 in 14 innings. They would reach the block final and give Takigawa Nishi a good run (considering they mercy ruled 15-0 in 5 innings in their first 2 games). But after falling behind 2-0, they would only get one run back in the 7th.
Nayoro Regionals
In Nayoro, the blocks were fairly clear cut. Wakkanai Ootani and Nayoro Sangyou each advanced with little difficulty.
Kushine Regionals
It was almost the same in Kushine. Bushuukan and Kushiro Kounan both advanced out of Blocks A and B easily. But in Block C, Kushiro Kougyou's Ooi let a 3-run lead slip in the bottom of the 9th. They would win with a run in the 10th, but it was a scare nonetheless. They would beat Teshikaga 5-0 in the block final to advance.
Minami Hokkaido
Sapporo Regionals
Perhaps one of the biggest upsets in Hokkaido happened in Block A. Sapporo Kousei and ace Okuyama limited Hokkai to just 1 run in a 7-1 trouncing in the block final.
In Block B, Kita-Hiroshima upset Sapporo Shinkawa after scoring 5 unanswered runs in the 7th to 9th innings to tie the game, then scored the sayonara run in the 10th. They would lose to eventual block winners Sapporo Nichidai.
In Blocks C & D, Ritsumeikan Keishou and Hokkai Gakuen Sapporo both advanced with little difficulty.
Sapporo Dai-ichi blew through Block E winning its 3 games by a combined score of 29-0 in a total of 17 innings.
Sapporo Okadama gained momentum as they progressed through Block F culminating in a 11-3 win against Sapporo Moiwa.
Finally in Block G, it was thrown open after Sapporo Teine rallied from 3-0, and 6-3 against Sapporo Ootani, breaking through in a 5-run 8th inning to win a slugfest 11-10. That opened the road for Sapporo Shiroishi to blow through the block and advance to the prefectural finals.
Otaru Regionals
Hokushou was given a scare in the Block A final against Kucchan, making a 1-0 1st inning lead stick.
Over in Block B, Iwanai edged Futaba 6-4 in 10 innings, then rallied against Otaru Suisan. They scored 4 in the 4th after falling behind 3-0, then after giving up the lead again, scored 4 in the 8th after being behind 5-4 to eventually win 8-7.
Muroran Regionals
Hokkaido Sakae had no trouble in Block A, and neither did Muroran Ootani in Block B. Shiraoi Higashi defeated Tomakomai Kougyou 3-1 in the Block C final, and Komadai Tomakomai continues to try and get back to Koshien, defeating Muroran Toushou 9-0 in 7 innings to win Block D.
Hakodate Regionals
Hakodatedai Yuuto almost didn't reach the prefectural finals, trailing Iwanai 2-1 in their very first game in Block A. But they would level the score in the 8th, then score 2 in the 10th to advance. That scare must've woken them up as they had no issues the rest of the way.
Hakodate Shougyou didn't have much trouble in Block B, while in Block C Hakodate Kougyou defated block favorite Hakodate Nishi 7-0 in 8 innings.
So there you have it. We have our final field of teams in Hokkaido with some well-known teams missing, but a lot of favorites still remaining.
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