The afternoon game looks once again to be the most even of today's games, even though one was a champion and the other had to wait to see if it was the last teams in.
For Kakogawa Kita, they defeated tournament darling Kansei Gakuin and surprised Houtoku Gakuen before losing 7-1 to Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku in the prefectural final. And in the super-regionals, they shocked Osaka Touin, shutting them out 2-0, and played a respectable game against Tenri losing 9-5.
Kanazawa faced one real test in Yuugakukan which they won 2-1, and while they had some trouble early against Kanazawa Sakuragaoka in the finals, they broke them down in the late innings to win the fall prefectural title.
They then defeated Tsuruga Kehi and Saku Chousei before winning wire-to-wire against Nihon Bunri for the title.
So while Kanazawa won their super-region, and Kakogawa Kita only made it to the quarterfinals, it's really all about where you are as opposed to how far you go. The Hokushinestu region isn't known as a baseball area, while Kinki is almost the exact opposite. That's why in many ways I think this will be a close game between these schools.
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Kakogawa Kita (Hyogo) - Kinki 5th-8th place
2B Shibumura Ryousuke
SS Takeda Yuuki
CF Shibata Seiji
RF Tokura Kenshi
P Inoue Maito
LF Odashima Suguru (#10)
C Satou Hiroki
3B Ujihashi Yuuto
1B Yamamoto Takaki
Kanazawa (Ishikawa) - Hokushinetsu Champions
2B Sakurakichi Hiroki
3B Yoshida Takaaki
CF Nakamura Yuusaku
1B Ishida Shouta
P Kamata Yoshinao
C Tanbo Yuushi
LF Koshida Takayuki
SS Tashiro Kento
RF Sakashita Kouki
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14:20 - Game start!
Top 1st
Kamata is a face that those in kokoyakyu should get to know. His repertoire includes a fastball in the 140's with a slider in the high 120's-low 130's.
Shibumura comes up and Kamata is immediately throwing gas. He grounds out to short. Takeda hits a liner back at Kamata, but it's easily picked for the 2nd out.
And now Kamata decides to turn it up a little, hitting 150 as Shibata goes down swinging to retire the side.
Bottom 1st
After a routine grounder to 3rd, Inoue has trouble finding the zone, walking both Yoshida and Nakamura!
But he's bailed out by his defense as Ishida grounds into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play!
Top 2nd
Kakogawa Kita's batters just can't keep pase with Kamata right now. Tokura goes down looking on a slider. Inoue hits a weak comebacker to Kamata, and it's just not fair for Odashima as he sees a 140+ fastball, a 100 curve then a 129 slider for another looking strikeout.
Bottom 2nd
Inoue's differentials are not as pronounced as he has a low 130's fastball, a low 120's slider and a mid 100 curve.
Still seems to work as Kamata grounds out to 3rd and Tanbo flies out to shallow left.
Koshida though gets one and singles through the left side. That amount to nothing as Inoue induces a grounder from Tashiro to short to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Bottom 3rd of the order for Kakogawa Kita, can any of them make good contact?
Satou becomes Kamata's 4th K as he looks at a 149 fastball on the outside corner.
Ujihashi K's on a low fastball for Kamata's 5th K.
And wait for it... Yamamoto swings on a slider in the dirt as Kamata strikes out the side.
Bottom 3rd
What Kamata does by himself, Inoue uses his defense.
Sakashita hits a chopper to Takeda at short for the 1st out. Then fools Sakurakichi on a ball outside to record his first K.
And oddly, Yoshida earns his 2nd walk in as many plate appearances.
Asai-kantoku sends Yoshida! Satou's throw is high but Takeda makes the tag for the out! 3 outs!
Top 4th
Shibumura is completely fooled by Kamata's slider and becomes his 4th consecutive K.
Takeda avoides that fate by swinging away, but pops it up to shallow right. Sakashita comes in and makes a sliding catch.
And Shibata had no idea what to do at the plate. He flails at a 145 kph fastball outside, and Kamata stays perfect, retiring 8 of the 12 batters via the K.
Bottom 4th
After a weak grounder back to Inoue by Nakamura, Ishida earns the 4th walk on him. But that is wiped out quickly as Kamata grounds into the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning!
Top 5th
Tokura becomes Kamata's 9th victim as he goes down swinging.
Inoue makes good contact on a Kamata offering, but Tashiro makes a nice pick and throws him out!
OH!
Odashima crushes one to left! That's over Koshida's head and lands in front of the wall! Odashima take a big lead off of 2nd, and goes for 3! Tashiro throws for 3rd, but Toshida is playing up and isn't in position! The ball gets by him, but Kamata's backing him up. What a heady play by Odashima!
Uh oh!
Satou walks putting runners at the corners. Asai-kantoku calls a conference as things have quickly deteriorated.
Ah! Fukumura-kantoku sends Satou! Tanbo with the fake catches Odashima off the bag at 3rd! Tanbo throws to 3rd as Odashima goes home! Throw from Yoshida hits Odashima! Odashima collides with Tanbo, but reaches home! It's 1-0 Kakogawa Kita!
And Ujihashi with a buzzer past the glove of Kamata into center! Satou comes in to score and it's 2-0 Kakogawa Kita!
Yamamoto fouls out to end the inning, but the damage has been done. Kakogawa Kita breaks the deadlock and has a 2-run lead!
Bottom 5th
Inoue records just his 2nd K as Tanbo is caught napping on a slider over the plate. Koshida hits a grounder to short, but Takeda boots the ball! Kanazawa gets another baserunner.
Tashiro tries to bunt him along, but instead pops it up! Satou with the catch and there's now 2 out!
Sakashita with a routine grounder to 2nd ends the inning. Heading into the break though, the champions of Hokushinetsu find themselves playing catch-up.
Top 6th
One down for Kakogawa Kita and Takeda hits one to shallow right. Sakashita charging in, slides, and misses the ball!!!! Takeda flying around the bases slides into 3rd! Another opportunity for Kakogawa Kita!
Shibata with the safety bunt! Yoshida charges in, but has no play! Runners at the corners!
Tokura up now, and Shibata takes off for 2nd! No throw from Tanbo and now a base hit could blow it wide open!
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tokura goes for the squeeze, but he pops it up! Kamata coming in makes the catch and doubles off Takeda to end the inning! He keeps his team in with his defense!!
Bottom 6th
But Inoue is quietly controlling the game. Sakurakichi goes down swinging again on a pitch outside. Yoshida grounds out to short, with Yamamoto makes a nice stretch and pick to get the out. And Nakamura falls for the same outside pitch from Inoue and Kanazawa is quickly down.
Top 7th
Inoue with a liner past a leaping Tashiro into center gets the inning started. Odashima, who had the double, bunts the runner along.
Satou too is showing bunt, but then on 2-0 swings and fouls one away. Back to showing bunt again, takes strike 2.
Buster swing, grounds to short. Tashiro bobbles it and his throw is high! Ishida goes off the bag and everyone's safe!
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ujihashi tries to lay down the squeeze but pops it back out of play!
また！！！！！！！！！！！！！！
He tries it again, but misses! Inoue is off the bag! They run him down again! Throw from Tashiro is there, but Tanbo loses the ball after the tag! Inoue is safe and Kakogawa Kita leads 3-0! Tanbo recovers, catches Satou off the bag at 2nd! He's run down 2-5-4-7 and there's 2 outs.
Ujihashi strikes out swinging to end the inning, but another run scores on a rundown towards home!
Bottom 7th
Kanazawa still cannot figure out Inoue. Ishida with a comebacker to Inoue. It's off his glove, but he has enough time to recover and make the play.
Kamata golfs one to center, and while Shibata has to head back, he's there to make the catch.
And Inoue freezes Tanbo to end the inning. It's almost like Inoue is getting stronger as the game progresses.
Top 8th
Yamamoto getting in on the hit parade, singling back up the middle. And immediately afterwards takes off for 2nd and reaches with no throw!
Perhaps out of a bit of frustration, Kamata lets a ball get away from him and it hits Shibumura in the arm.
Takeda with the sac bunt, but he pops it up! Tanbo with the catch and Yamamoto is inexplicably off 2nd! Tanbo runs him down for the out and there's 2 outs! That was odd..
And it hurts even more when Shibata singles through the left side!
Tokura with a first pitch single to left! They're sending Shibumura home! He stumbles rounding 3rd, and Tashiro with the throw... not in time!! It's 4-0 Kakogawa Kita!!
And in another baserunning brainfart, Shibata is caught off 2nd! He's run down 2-6-4 and the inning is over! Kakogawa Kita extends the lead, but if not for those baserunning blunders, they could easily have more.
Bottom 8th
One down for Kanazawa and Tashiro gives Kanazawa just their 2nd hit of the day with a single to right center.
But Inoue continues to control play as he strikes out Sakashita, and induces a weak grounder by Sakurakichi to 1st.
Top 9th
Kamata quickly retires the side in order, but at this point they need offense, and a lot of it.
Bottom 9th
Yoshida first up for Kanazawa, but he strikes out swinging. The ball gets away from Satou, and the throw is high, but it's still in plenty of time to retire Yoshida for the out.
Inoue gets ahead of Nakamura quickly, and freezes him for yet another K. His 8th!
Last chance in Ishida, but he too falls behind 1-2. Tries to stay alive fouling a couple off. Kamata on deck wanting another chance.
Grounder to 2nd! Shibumura with it! Throws to 1st...
Game set!
Kakogawa Kita with some heads up baserunning (at times), and with some unfortunate defense from Kanazawa, and a surprisingly strong performance from ace Inoue, advance with a 4-0 win!
Early on, it seemed that it would be Kamata dominating the game, striking out batter after batter after batter. Somewhere along the line though that changed and it was Inoue for Kakogawa Kita that closed the deal. Kanazawa's offense while having opportunities, were mostly via the walk and they never were able to really get to Inoue. Once he cut down the walks and the margin got bigger, his domination increased.
So it'll be Kakogawa Kita who will advance, and not Kanazawa. It's probable that we'll see Kanazawa and Kamata again, but for Kanazawa to advance the offense needs to improve.
Notable Players
Kakogawa Kita
Inoue Maito - W, CG, 0 ER, 2 H, 8 K, 4 BB
Shibata Seiji - 2-4, RBI, 2 K
Kanazawa
Kamata Yoshinao - L, CG, 4 ER, 8 H, 11K, BB
Koshida Takayuki - 1-3
Tashiro Kento - 1-3
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Day 2 - Game 2 - Yokohama (Kanagawa) vs. Hasami (Nagasaki)
One might look at the early schedule of games and wonder how exciting these games will be. Realistically, most first-timers when facing established teams have a hard time advancing.
For Hasami 's first Senbatsu, it almost can't get any harder as they have to face Yokohama.
Hasami's road included a win over Seihou in the Sasebo regional final. Then they defeated Nagasaki Nichidai (who if you remember almost defeated Kikuchi Yuusei and Hanamaki Higashi not too long ago), and would have faced Seihou again in the final had Souseikan not rallied in the bottom of the 9th. With the main competition out of the way, Hasami blitzed Souseikan 12-0 to win their 7th fall title.
They drew a favorable bracket, defeating Oita and Ryuukoku before having to face Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku in the semis. They actually held a lead against them, although it wound up being short-lived as they fell 4-2, but they already had a Senbatsu bid pretty much wrapped up.
Yokohama won its fall title avoiding most traps, although they did face Touin Gakuen (7-1), was caught in a tight one versus Yokohama Shoudai (2-1). and outlasted Toukaidai Sagami (5-2).
If there was a case to be made for being concerned about the Yokohama squad, you only had to look at the super-regionals. Yokohama got out to big leads against Takasaki Shougyou and Kasumigaura before letting both teams pull within one late in the game. And then against Urawa Gakuin that collapse came sooner as Urawa Gakuin outplayed Yokohama 8-3.
So while Yokohama is certainly a strong team, it doesn't seem as strong as it has been in prior years, so perhaps this is the best opportunity for them to pull an upset. On the other hand, the close wins and the loss to Urawa Gakuin could have pushed the team to work even harder and Hasami is in a load of trouble.
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Yokohama (Kanagawa) - Kanto 3rd/4th Place
CF Haizaki Ryou
LF Date Naoki
RF Otosaka Tomo
C Kondou Kensuke
1B Hashimoto Kentarou
2B Higuchi Ryuunosuke
P Saitou Kenta
SS Shishikura Kazuma
3B Takahashi Ryouken
Hasami (Nagasaki) - Kyushu 3rd/4th Place
2B Yamaguchi Yuudai
3B Hashiguchi Hayato (#15)
1B Komine Fumiya
P Matsuda Ryouma
RF Shida Hiromasa
LF Matsuo Ryousuke
SS Shibayama Jyunpei
C Kanzaki Takuya
CF Tanaka Yuuya
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11:36 - Game start!
Top 1st
Matsuda throwing mid 140's to start, getting Haizaki to ground to 2nd.
Man, Matsuda continues to throw gas! He strikes out Date looking an a 147 kph fastball!
And while Otosake bloops one over Hashiguchi, he was jammed doing so.
Cleanup batter Kondou up, and we see a slider in the 130's. Oooo~~~ and a curve that drops in for a strike in the mid 110's.
Otosaka takes off for 2nd on a high fastball, and Kanzaki makes no throw. But Matsuda gets Kondou to fly out to right to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Leadoff batter Yamaguchi wants a dead ball, but he didn't get out of the way. "Never mind", he thinks, he just grounds one past a stumbling Shishikura into left.
Yamauchi having control issues to start the game, as after running the count full walks Hashiguchi.
あ！ The ball gets away from Kondou and the runners advance!! And then Yamauchi walks Komine on 4 straight! Manrui for Hasami with no down!
Perhaps realizing the gravity of the situation, Yamauchi bears down. He gets ahead of Matsuda 0-2.
Matsuda grounds one to 3rd! Takahashi goes home for the force and now a double play can end the inning.
あああああああああ！ Yamauchi hits Shida on the first pitch! Hashiguchi comes home and Hasami takes a 1-0 lead!
Now Yamauchi walks Matsuo! That forces in another run and it's 2-0 Hasami!!
Watanabe calls time. This certainly isn't the start he was expecting.
The conference seems to have helped as Yamauchi gets ahead of Shibayama 0-2. Shibayama grounds to 1st. Hashimoto throws home for the force, and again that's all they get. 2 down.
Kanzaki bails out Yamauchi taking the first pitch to 2nd. Higuchi makes the toss to 1st to end the inning, but not before Hasami finds themselves up by a pair of runs!
Top 2nd
One down for Yokohama and Higuchi squeezes a shot past Hashiguchi and down the left field line for a double.
Matsuda doesn't seem fazed as he gets Yamauchi to take a curve to 2nd for out #2. Higuchi advance to 3rd.
Shishikura grounds out to 2nd, and Yokohama is retired here in the 2nd.
Bottom 2nd
Yamauchi settling down here in the 2nd. After a routine grounder by Tanaka, Yamauchi fools Yamaguchi on a slider for his first K.
Another grounder by Hashiguchi ends the inning, and Yokohama will go back on offense.
Top 3rd
Takahashi leaning in to bunt gets hit, but is called a ball since he didn't try to get out of the way.
The Yokohama batters still are struggling with Matsuda. Takahashi grounds out to 2nd to start the inning.
Oh. That'll help Haizaki takes a hanging fastball and lines it down the right field line for a double.
あら？ Date goes for a safety bunt! Kanzaki is quickly out of the box and fires to 1st! The throw beats a diving Date for the out! Another death by sliding.
Otosaka up now looking for a one-timer... and he's hit!
Wait! He wasn't hit! The ball just bounced off the C's glove! Yokohama got away with one there.
And Otosaka is off on the first pitch! Kanzaki drops the ball and there's no throw!
With a base hit able to tie the game, and a base open, Matsuda gets careful. 4 balls later and now it's Matsuda in a manrui pinch.
There's nowhere to put Higuchi, and Matsuda seems to be having issues with control. He manages though to get Hashimoto to ground out to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Komine with a comebacker under Yamauchi and off the mound into center for a leadoff hit!
Matsuda goes first pitch swinging and flies out to Haizaki in right-center.
Oh, about Yamauchi. He throws in the mid-high 120's with a slider and curve in the 110's and 100's respectively. Not really your prototypical ace from Yokohama...
Shida with a comebacker to Yamauchi. He goes to 2nd for one, but Shida beats out the throw at 1st.
Yamauchi's control continues to be erratic as he walks Matsuo on 4 straight. But he does get Shibayama to fly out to Date down the left field line to retire the side.
Top 4th
Matsuda with a 142 kph 2-seamer hits the outside corner to get Higuchi looking.
Yamauchi though grounds one through the left side for a base hit... And Shishikura follows that up with one through the other side! Yokohama building an opportunity here with the bottom of the order!
AH! After Takahashi pulls back a bunt attempt, Kanzaki throws to 2nd and has Yamauchi picked off! He's run down 2-6-5 and there's 2 out for Yokohama!
And Takahashi hits the ball off the end of the bat and softly lines out to Yamaguchi to end the inning!
Bottom 4th
Yamauchi has finally settle down it seems, and without the benefit of walks, Hasami's offense is well... derelict. 3 groundouts and Yokohama is back on the sticks.
Top 5th
Top of the order for Yokohama, and Haizaki is looking to get on base any way. He runs the count full, and perhaps swings at a high ball, but fouls it off.
Haizaki with a drive to right center! Tanaka on a good sprint runs it down!
Yokohama might be trying to work the count now on Matsuda. Date works the count full and hits a slow grounder to short. Shibayama double clutches the ball and it costs him as Date slides in safely!
Otosaka tries to surprise with a bunt, but he pops it up! Hashiguchi charges in and catches it in foul territory!
Cleanup batter Kondou up to try and extend the inning. Kanzaki though almost picks Date off 1st with a snap throw!
Now Date goes for 2nd! Throw for Kanzaki is low and he's in safely!
And for the 3rd batter this inning, the count runs full for Matsuda. He can't get the call on a low slider and there's runners at 1st and 2nd.
Hashimoto, with 2 grounders on the day looks to deliver a timely hit.
Before that though, Kanzaki makes a good block on a ball in the dirt to keep the runners from advancing.
Hashimoto with a short grounder to the left side. Shibayama can't secure it and it goes in front of him! Matsuda picks it up, sees Date off 3rd and makes a throw! But it's offline and off Hashiguchi's glove! Date runs home on the double error and Yokohama cuts the deficit in half! 2-1!
Higuchi goes down on a check swing to end the inning, but compounding errors by Hasami make their lead razor thin.
Bottom 5th
Hashiguchi with a grounder to 1st. Hashimoto dives and it's off his glove. The ball bounces towards 2nd as Hashiguchi goes in safely.
Meanwhile, Hashimoto looks hurt. His left arm is hanging down and he can't move it. It looks at first glance like a separated shoulder. Eventually Watanabe-kantoku comes out as Hashimoto has a lot of trouble reaching the dugout. And right after #13 Miyakawa comes out to play catch ball, Watanabe-kantoku comes out of the dugout and tells him to get in the game. It probably is a separated shoulder.
And Komine immediately tests him as he hits a sharp grounder at him! Miyagawa dives but it's by him! Runners at 2nd and 3rd with no out and it looks bad for Yokohama!
あああああああああああ!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wild pitch from Yamauchi and Hashiguchi comes home! Hasami reclaims the two-run lead at 3-1!
Matsuda though grounds to short. Shishikura holds the runner and there's 1 down.
Uh oh. Shida walks and now Watanabe-kantoku sends #11 Yanagi out to the bullpen.
Matsuo looking to open up the game. Hits a grounder to the left side! Takahashi with the ball, throws home! Kondou with the great block and Komine is out at home! 2 down! Can Yamauchi get out of the jam?
Not if he can't find the strike zone. He walks Shibayama to load the bases once again. And Kanzaki makes Yamauchi pay! He grounds one through the left side for a base hit, plating Shida and giving Hasami a 4-1 lead!!
Tanaka hits a lazy fly to center to end the inning, but this is a shocker heading into the break. Senbatsu first-timers Hasami leads storied Yokohama 4-1!
Top 6th
The Yokohama offense needs to get going quickly, but they can't get anything started on Matsuda. Yamauchi watches a slider go by for strike 3 for out #1.
Shishikura manages a walk, and Takahashi follows that up with a single to right! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Yokohama as the lineup rotates back to the top.
Now it's Matsuda that is having a hard time finding the zone. He falls behind 3-1 and on a full count can't get the ball to come back towards the plate! Manrui for Yokohama!
Tokunaga-kantoku calls a timeout. Is this Yokohama's chance?
Date comes up to bat. Matsuda instead attacks with two curves and Date is swinging! 0-2, and Matsuda wastes a pitch.
Date swings at an inside fastball and hits a high chopper! Matsuda snags it and throws home for the force! 2 down!
Matsuda will not back down from the inside! He gets ahead of Otosaka 0-2 then decides to go high and in! Otosaka sits down, but gets up and fouls off two more inside pitches!
And Otosaka swings on another inside pitch! The ball hits him, but the umpire calls the play dead and the inning over! Matsuda with a lot of guts pounding inside on the Yokohama batters gets himself out of the jam!
Bottom 6th
Watanabe-kantoku seeing the situation his team is in sends in #11 Yanagi to relieve Yamauchi. A righty, he throws downhill with a fastball in the high 130's, with what looks like a slider at the high 120's and a curve in the high 100's.
Yamaguchi golfs a ball to center where Haizaki is there to field it. And then Hashiguchi is plunked in the shoulder.
Komine, perfect on the day, works the count full after falling behind. Yanagi successfully retires him as he grounds into a fielder's choice at 3rd.
Matsuda gets fooled on consecutive curves and outside of the hit batter has a quiet inning. Certainly a welcome sight for the team from Kanagawa.
Top 7th
I wonder if Matsuda and Tokunaga-kantoku are pitching around Kondou. That's his 3rd walk this game.
Infield is in for a bunt, but Miyagawa swings away! He fouls off the first pitch, and has no sign of bunting at all! Which is too bad because he pops out to Komine at 1st!
Outside of Kondou, Matsuda seems to be going after the batters.
No, I didn't mean it that way. A pitch up and in hits Higuchi on the lower part of the arm and he's in considerable pain. Even after the "itai spray" he's still grimacing.
Nevertheless, this is a good opportunity for Yokohama.
And Watanabe-kantoku elects to have Yanagi bunt the runners along! He does so, but now there's two down and they have to have a base hit.
Matsuda is going low on his pitches and walks Shishikura on 4 straight! Manrui again for Yokohama here in the 7th! Last batter Takahashi up hoping to get Yokohama close, if not level.
First pitch in the dirt. Nice block by Kanzaki. Matsuda pounding Takahashi with shuutos and gets ahead 1-2.
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matsuda with a shuuto on the outside corner, and Takahashi isn't prepared! He lunges out, but can't make contact! Matsuda out of another jam!!!!!
Bottom 7th
Shida running the count full, has a called 3rd strike that may have been low. Matsuo picks him up with a grounder back up the middle past Yanagi.
Pitch to Shibayama goes to the back! Matsuo advances to 2nd!
Shibayama laces a ball to right-center! That's between the fielders and all the way to the wall! Matsuo is in on the RBI triple from Shibayama and it's 5-1 Hasami!!!!!!!
SQUEEZEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kanzaki lunges over home on a pitchout but Shibayama is back at 3rd.
And after a pitchout, there are a lot of throws over to 3rd.
Kanzaki is retired on an outside curve, and there's 2 down.
Tanaka goes down swinging to end the inning, but Hasami is 6 outs away from shocking the kokoyakyu world!
Top 8th
Top of the order for Yokohama, and they are dangerously low on time.
Haizaki goes down on a shuuto on the outside corner.
Date desperate to get on base tries a safety bunt, but Hashiguchi charges in and makes a fine play!
And Otosaka swings on the first pitch and flies out to center to end the inning!
Bottom 8th
Yanagi retires the first two batters via looking K's, and Komine is quickly retired on a foul fly to left.
Matuda takes the mound for what he hopes will be the last time this game...
Top 9th
Does Yokohama have a rally in them?
Matsuda pitches to Kondou! He hits a grounder to short and Shibayama boots another one!
Matsuda is unfazed though, and gets ahead of Miyagawa 0-2. He tries to nibble the outside, but no call. 2-2 count. Goes higher up the ladder and Miyagawa fouls it off. Back down and outside again, and the count goes full!
Matsuda gives in with a fastball over the plate and Miyagawa sends that through the left side! No outs, runners on 1st and 2nd!
Once again, Matsuda gets ahead of Higuchi 0-2.
This time, he catches the outside corner! Higuchi is called out on strikes and there's one down.
#12 Kinbara up for Yanagi. Goes low instead of inside, but falls behind 2-1. Another pitch way low and it's 3-1.
Green light! Kinbara with a grounder to short! Shibayama to Yamaguchi for one! Throw to Komine at 1st....
Double play!!!! GAME SET!!!!!!!!!
Hasami does it! They pull off the upset and defeat Yokohama 5-1!!!! I don't think anyone saw this one coming!
After the game, I get word that the injured player I had heard of was Yokohama's starting SS, Kondou Kensuke who fractured a finger during a workout. As a result they lost one of their better hitters and perhaps threw off their offense.
Yokohama seemed to have all the bad luck, losing their starting SS before, then their 1B during the game. But Hasami is the beneficiary and they move on to the next round!
Notable players
Yokohama
Haizaki Ryou - 1-4, 2B, BB, K
Yanagi Yuuya - 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 6 K, HBP
Hasami
Komine Fumiya - 2-4, 2B, R
Matsuo Ryousuke - 1-2, R, RBI, 2 BB
Matsuda Ryouma - W, CG, 8 H, 8 K, 6 BB, 2 HBP
For Hasami 's first Senbatsu, it almost can't get any harder as they have to face Yokohama.
Hasami's road included a win over Seihou in the Sasebo regional final. Then they defeated Nagasaki Nichidai (who if you remember almost defeated Kikuchi Yuusei and Hanamaki Higashi not too long ago), and would have faced Seihou again in the final had Souseikan not rallied in the bottom of the 9th. With the main competition out of the way, Hasami blitzed Souseikan 12-0 to win their 7th fall title.
They drew a favorable bracket, defeating Oita and Ryuukoku before having to face Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku in the semis. They actually held a lead against them, although it wound up being short-lived as they fell 4-2, but they already had a Senbatsu bid pretty much wrapped up.
Yokohama won its fall title avoiding most traps, although they did face Touin Gakuen (7-1), was caught in a tight one versus Yokohama Shoudai (2-1). and outlasted Toukaidai Sagami (5-2).
If there was a case to be made for being concerned about the Yokohama squad, you only had to look at the super-regionals. Yokohama got out to big leads against Takasaki Shougyou and Kasumigaura before letting both teams pull within one late in the game. And then against Urawa Gakuin that collapse came sooner as Urawa Gakuin outplayed Yokohama 8-3.
So while Yokohama is certainly a strong team, it doesn't seem as strong as it has been in prior years, so perhaps this is the best opportunity for them to pull an upset. On the other hand, the close wins and the loss to Urawa Gakuin could have pushed the team to work even harder and Hasami is in a load of trouble.
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Yokohama (Kanagawa) - Kanto 3rd/4th Place
CF Haizaki Ryou
LF Date Naoki
RF Otosaka Tomo
C Kondou Kensuke
1B Hashimoto Kentarou
2B Higuchi Ryuunosuke
P Saitou Kenta
SS Shishikura Kazuma
3B Takahashi Ryouken
Hasami (Nagasaki) - Kyushu 3rd/4th Place
2B Yamaguchi Yuudai
3B Hashiguchi Hayato (#15)
1B Komine Fumiya
P Matsuda Ryouma
RF Shida Hiromasa
LF Matsuo Ryousuke
SS Shibayama Jyunpei
C Kanzaki Takuya
CF Tanaka Yuuya
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11:36 - Game start!
Top 1st
Matsuda throwing mid 140's to start, getting Haizaki to ground to 2nd.
Man, Matsuda continues to throw gas! He strikes out Date looking an a 147 kph fastball!
And while Otosake bloops one over Hashiguchi, he was jammed doing so.
Cleanup batter Kondou up, and we see a slider in the 130's. Oooo~~~ and a curve that drops in for a strike in the mid 110's.
Otosaka takes off for 2nd on a high fastball, and Kanzaki makes no throw. But Matsuda gets Kondou to fly out to right to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Leadoff batter Yamaguchi wants a dead ball, but he didn't get out of the way. "Never mind", he thinks, he just grounds one past a stumbling Shishikura into left.
Yamauchi having control issues to start the game, as after running the count full walks Hashiguchi.
あ！ The ball gets away from Kondou and the runners advance!! And then Yamauchi walks Komine on 4 straight! Manrui for Hasami with no down!
Perhaps realizing the gravity of the situation, Yamauchi bears down. He gets ahead of Matsuda 0-2.
Matsuda grounds one to 3rd! Takahashi goes home for the force and now a double play can end the inning.
あああああああああ！ Yamauchi hits Shida on the first pitch! Hashiguchi comes home and Hasami takes a 1-0 lead!
Now Yamauchi walks Matsuo! That forces in another run and it's 2-0 Hasami!!
Watanabe calls time. This certainly isn't the start he was expecting.
The conference seems to have helped as Yamauchi gets ahead of Shibayama 0-2. Shibayama grounds to 1st. Hashimoto throws home for the force, and again that's all they get. 2 down.
Kanzaki bails out Yamauchi taking the first pitch to 2nd. Higuchi makes the toss to 1st to end the inning, but not before Hasami finds themselves up by a pair of runs!
Top 2nd
One down for Yokohama and Higuchi squeezes a shot past Hashiguchi and down the left field line for a double.
Matsuda doesn't seem fazed as he gets Yamauchi to take a curve to 2nd for out #2. Higuchi advance to 3rd.
Shishikura grounds out to 2nd, and Yokohama is retired here in the 2nd.
Bottom 2nd
Yamauchi settling down here in the 2nd. After a routine grounder by Tanaka, Yamauchi fools Yamaguchi on a slider for his first K.
Another grounder by Hashiguchi ends the inning, and Yokohama will go back on offense.
Top 3rd
Takahashi leaning in to bunt gets hit, but is called a ball since he didn't try to get out of the way.
The Yokohama batters still are struggling with Matsuda. Takahashi grounds out to 2nd to start the inning.
Oh. That'll help Haizaki takes a hanging fastball and lines it down the right field line for a double.
あら？ Date goes for a safety bunt! Kanzaki is quickly out of the box and fires to 1st! The throw beats a diving Date for the out! Another death by sliding.
Otosaka up now looking for a one-timer... and he's hit!
Wait! He wasn't hit! The ball just bounced off the C's glove! Yokohama got away with one there.
And Otosaka is off on the first pitch! Kanzaki drops the ball and there's no throw!
With a base hit able to tie the game, and a base open, Matsuda gets careful. 4 balls later and now it's Matsuda in a manrui pinch.
There's nowhere to put Higuchi, and Matsuda seems to be having issues with control. He manages though to get Hashimoto to ground out to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Komine with a comebacker under Yamauchi and off the mound into center for a leadoff hit!
Matsuda goes first pitch swinging and flies out to Haizaki in right-center.
Oh, about Yamauchi. He throws in the mid-high 120's with a slider and curve in the 110's and 100's respectively. Not really your prototypical ace from Yokohama...
Shida with a comebacker to Yamauchi. He goes to 2nd for one, but Shida beats out the throw at 1st.
Yamauchi's control continues to be erratic as he walks Matsuo on 4 straight. But he does get Shibayama to fly out to Date down the left field line to retire the side.
Top 4th
Matsuda with a 142 kph 2-seamer hits the outside corner to get Higuchi looking.
Yamauchi though grounds one through the left side for a base hit... And Shishikura follows that up with one through the other side! Yokohama building an opportunity here with the bottom of the order!
AH! After Takahashi pulls back a bunt attempt, Kanzaki throws to 2nd and has Yamauchi picked off! He's run down 2-6-5 and there's 2 out for Yokohama!
And Takahashi hits the ball off the end of the bat and softly lines out to Yamaguchi to end the inning!
Bottom 4th
Yamauchi has finally settle down it seems, and without the benefit of walks, Hasami's offense is well... derelict. 3 groundouts and Yokohama is back on the sticks.
Top 5th
Top of the order for Yokohama, and Haizaki is looking to get on base any way. He runs the count full, and perhaps swings at a high ball, but fouls it off.
Haizaki with a drive to right center! Tanaka on a good sprint runs it down!
Yokohama might be trying to work the count now on Matsuda. Date works the count full and hits a slow grounder to short. Shibayama double clutches the ball and it costs him as Date slides in safely!
Otosaka tries to surprise with a bunt, but he pops it up! Hashiguchi charges in and catches it in foul territory!
Cleanup batter Kondou up to try and extend the inning. Kanzaki though almost picks Date off 1st with a snap throw!
Now Date goes for 2nd! Throw for Kanzaki is low and he's in safely!
And for the 3rd batter this inning, the count runs full for Matsuda. He can't get the call on a low slider and there's runners at 1st and 2nd.
Hashimoto, with 2 grounders on the day looks to deliver a timely hit.
Before that though, Kanzaki makes a good block on a ball in the dirt to keep the runners from advancing.
Hashimoto with a short grounder to the left side. Shibayama can't secure it and it goes in front of him! Matsuda picks it up, sees Date off 3rd and makes a throw! But it's offline and off Hashiguchi's glove! Date runs home on the double error and Yokohama cuts the deficit in half! 2-1!
Higuchi goes down on a check swing to end the inning, but compounding errors by Hasami make their lead razor thin.
Bottom 5th
Hashiguchi with a grounder to 1st. Hashimoto dives and it's off his glove. The ball bounces towards 2nd as Hashiguchi goes in safely.
Meanwhile, Hashimoto looks hurt. His left arm is hanging down and he can't move it. It looks at first glance like a separated shoulder. Eventually Watanabe-kantoku comes out as Hashimoto has a lot of trouble reaching the dugout. And right after #13 Miyakawa comes out to play catch ball, Watanabe-kantoku comes out of the dugout and tells him to get in the game. It probably is a separated shoulder.
And Komine immediately tests him as he hits a sharp grounder at him! Miyagawa dives but it's by him! Runners at 2nd and 3rd with no out and it looks bad for Yokohama!
あああああああああああ!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wild pitch from Yamauchi and Hashiguchi comes home! Hasami reclaims the two-run lead at 3-1!
Matsuda though grounds to short. Shishikura holds the runner and there's 1 down.
Uh oh. Shida walks and now Watanabe-kantoku sends #11 Yanagi out to the bullpen.
Matsuo looking to open up the game. Hits a grounder to the left side! Takahashi with the ball, throws home! Kondou with the great block and Komine is out at home! 2 down! Can Yamauchi get out of the jam?
Not if he can't find the strike zone. He walks Shibayama to load the bases once again. And Kanzaki makes Yamauchi pay! He grounds one through the left side for a base hit, plating Shida and giving Hasami a 4-1 lead!!
Tanaka hits a lazy fly to center to end the inning, but this is a shocker heading into the break. Senbatsu first-timers Hasami leads storied Yokohama 4-1!
Top 6th
The Yokohama offense needs to get going quickly, but they can't get anything started on Matsuda. Yamauchi watches a slider go by for strike 3 for out #1.
Shishikura manages a walk, and Takahashi follows that up with a single to right! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Yokohama as the lineup rotates back to the top.
Now it's Matsuda that is having a hard time finding the zone. He falls behind 3-1 and on a full count can't get the ball to come back towards the plate! Manrui for Yokohama!
Tokunaga-kantoku calls a timeout. Is this Yokohama's chance?
Date comes up to bat. Matsuda instead attacks with two curves and Date is swinging! 0-2, and Matsuda wastes a pitch.
Date swings at an inside fastball and hits a high chopper! Matsuda snags it and throws home for the force! 2 down!
Matsuda will not back down from the inside! He gets ahead of Otosaka 0-2 then decides to go high and in! Otosaka sits down, but gets up and fouls off two more inside pitches!
And Otosaka swings on another inside pitch! The ball hits him, but the umpire calls the play dead and the inning over! Matsuda with a lot of guts pounding inside on the Yokohama batters gets himself out of the jam!
Bottom 6th
Watanabe-kantoku seeing the situation his team is in sends in #11 Yanagi to relieve Yamauchi. A righty, he throws downhill with a fastball in the high 130's, with what looks like a slider at the high 120's and a curve in the high 100's.
Yamaguchi golfs a ball to center where Haizaki is there to field it. And then Hashiguchi is plunked in the shoulder.
Komine, perfect on the day, works the count full after falling behind. Yanagi successfully retires him as he grounds into a fielder's choice at 3rd.
Matsuda gets fooled on consecutive curves and outside of the hit batter has a quiet inning. Certainly a welcome sight for the team from Kanagawa.
Top 7th
I wonder if Matsuda and Tokunaga-kantoku are pitching around Kondou. That's his 3rd walk this game.
Infield is in for a bunt, but Miyagawa swings away! He fouls off the first pitch, and has no sign of bunting at all! Which is too bad because he pops out to Komine at 1st!
Outside of Kondou, Matsuda seems to be going after the batters.
No, I didn't mean it that way. A pitch up and in hits Higuchi on the lower part of the arm and he's in considerable pain. Even after the "itai spray" he's still grimacing.
Nevertheless, this is a good opportunity for Yokohama.
And Watanabe-kantoku elects to have Yanagi bunt the runners along! He does so, but now there's two down and they have to have a base hit.
Matsuda is going low on his pitches and walks Shishikura on 4 straight! Manrui again for Yokohama here in the 7th! Last batter Takahashi up hoping to get Yokohama close, if not level.
First pitch in the dirt. Nice block by Kanzaki. Matsuda pounding Takahashi with shuutos and gets ahead 1-2.
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matsuda with a shuuto on the outside corner, and Takahashi isn't prepared! He lunges out, but can't make contact! Matsuda out of another jam!!!!!
Bottom 7th
Shida running the count full, has a called 3rd strike that may have been low. Matsuo picks him up with a grounder back up the middle past Yanagi.
Pitch to Shibayama goes to the back! Matsuo advances to 2nd!
Shibayama laces a ball to right-center! That's between the fielders and all the way to the wall! Matsuo is in on the RBI triple from Shibayama and it's 5-1 Hasami!!!!!!!
SQUEEZEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kanzaki lunges over home on a pitchout but Shibayama is back at 3rd.
And after a pitchout, there are a lot of throws over to 3rd.
Kanzaki is retired on an outside curve, and there's 2 down.
Tanaka goes down swinging to end the inning, but Hasami is 6 outs away from shocking the kokoyakyu world!
Top 8th
Top of the order for Yokohama, and they are dangerously low on time.
Haizaki goes down on a shuuto on the outside corner.
Date desperate to get on base tries a safety bunt, but Hashiguchi charges in and makes a fine play!
And Otosaka swings on the first pitch and flies out to center to end the inning!
Bottom 8th
Yanagi retires the first two batters via looking K's, and Komine is quickly retired on a foul fly to left.
Matuda takes the mound for what he hopes will be the last time this game...
Top 9th
Does Yokohama have a rally in them?
Matsuda pitches to Kondou! He hits a grounder to short and Shibayama boots another one!
Matsuda is unfazed though, and gets ahead of Miyagawa 0-2. He tries to nibble the outside, but no call. 2-2 count. Goes higher up the ladder and Miyagawa fouls it off. Back down and outside again, and the count goes full!
Matsuda gives in with a fastball over the plate and Miyagawa sends that through the left side! No outs, runners on 1st and 2nd!
Once again, Matsuda gets ahead of Higuchi 0-2.
This time, he catches the outside corner! Higuchi is called out on strikes and there's one down.
#12 Kinbara up for Yanagi. Goes low instead of inside, but falls behind 2-1. Another pitch way low and it's 3-1.
Green light! Kinbara with a grounder to short! Shibayama to Yamaguchi for one! Throw to Komine at 1st....
Double play!!!! GAME SET!!!!!!!!!
Hasami does it! They pull off the upset and defeat Yokohama 5-1!!!! I don't think anyone saw this one coming!
After the game, I get word that the injured player I had heard of was Yokohama's starting SS, Kondou Kensuke who fractured a finger during a workout. As a result they lost one of their better hitters and perhaps threw off their offense.
Yokohama seemed to have all the bad luck, losing their starting SS before, then their 1B during the game. But Hasami is the beneficiary and they move on to the next round!
Notable players
Yokohama
Haizaki Ryou - 1-4, 2B, BB, K
Yanagi Yuuya - 3 IP, ER, 2 H, 6 K, HBP
Hasami
Komine Fumiya - 2-4, 2B, R
Matsuo Ryousuke - 1-2, R, RBI, 2 BB
Matsuda Ryouma - W, CG, 8 H, 8 K, 6 BB, 2 HBP
Day 2 - Game 1 - Oodate Houmei (Akita) vs. Tenri (Nara)
So yesterday we relatively eased into Koushien. After two games that went as expected, the team that perhaps surprised everyone in Soushi Gakuen almost did it again taking Hokkai to the wire.
The changes made at Koushien this year because of the Great Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake which include speeding up time between games means that the action just keeps on rolling from game to game, and there's little time to catch one's breath.
Today should be no different.
Opening today's action will be our first 21st Centrury team in Oodate Houmei. They took a circuitous route to Koushien which normally wouldn't happen if this was the Natsu Koushien. In the Kita regionals, they had lost to Noshiro Shougyou then won their part of the loser's bracket to make the prefecturals. There they had a quality win against Honjyou on their way to winning the prefecturals. Finally, they had went wire-to-wire with Aomori Yamada falling short 4-3.
They received their invitation based upon their strong play in the fall as well as their recent performance, and it is noted that the staff of 76 teachers do their best to balance work and extracurricular activities.
Oodate Houmei's opponent on paper is a team that should have a good chance to win it all. Yet much like a Texas or a Pittsburgh in college basketball, they underperform when it gets to tournament time.
That team is Tenri.
This year, they won their 7th super-regional title. The prefecturals were yet another formality as they, Chiben Gakuen and Kooriyama all reached the Best 4 for the n-teenth time. And with a 10-3 win over Kooriyama secured a spot in the super-regionals. There they wound up facing a relatively easier schedule early in the super-regionals , missing Osaka Touin (who was upset by Kakogawa Kita). They then had to scramble against Chiben Wakayama after giving up 5 runs in the 7th & 8th innings scoring a pair in the 8th, and 2 more in the bottom of the 9th for a sayonara win. Finally, they avenged their loss to Riseisha at last year's Natsu Koushien, taking the title 2-1.
Tenri's squad continues to be rather deep and solid, but surprisingly they were not challenged as much in the strong Kinki super-regionals. This could easily mask weaknesses that were not exploited in the fall, and could spell yet another early exit from Koushien. Although perhaps for one game, that may not be the case.
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Oodate Houmei (Akita) - 21st Century Team
2B Shinomura Kyouhei
CF Yoshida Hayato
SS Onuki Keita
1B Sakuma Ryousuke
3B Sasake Kousuke
LF Takko Masaya
C Narita Shou
RF Satou Tasuku
P Saitou Kouhei
Tenri (Nara) - Kinki Champions
2B Nishura Jyouji
SS Okabe Ryou
LF Moriguchi Yuuki
1B Hasegawa Shouma
3B Date Shougo
CF Yanagimoto Keisuke
RF Higashida Motohiro
C Yoshida Ryouta
P Nakatani Keita (#11)
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9:00 - Game start!
Top 1st
It's Nakatani on the mound. I think the longer he's out there, the better Tenri is.
Shinomura with a grounder up the middle. Okabe makes a diving stop behind the bag! Throw to first in time! Nice play by the Tenri defense to start the game!
Yoshida with a pop up to 2nd for the 2nd out.
Nakatani is about to get out of the inning when he walks Onuki. And with a runner on, I forgot that Nakanani pays a LOT of attention to the runner. He throws at least 5 times over to 1st.
Nevertheless, he comes back to strike out Sakuma to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Saitou off to a good start as he gets Nishiura to pop out in foul territory.
He looks to have Okabe retired, but Onuki boots it! Throw is late and Tenri has a runner.
Morikawa-kantoku elects to go for the sac bunt, and Moriguchi lays it down. That sets it up for cleanup batter Hasegawa.
And a wild pitch from Saitou! Okabe goes to 3rd!
But Saitou settles down and gets Hasegawa to pop up to shallow center. Shinomura camps under it and makes the catch ending the threat.
Top 2nd
Sasaki with a base hit to left! Oodate Houmei gets a leadoff runner!
Takko looks to bunt the runner along, but falls behind 1-2. Nakatani gets him to hit a fly to center. Yanagimoto runs in and makes the catch.
おっと。Nakatani hits Narita. It looks close on the replay, but I can see some deflection.
えぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇ？ Nakatani hits Satou?????? It's manrui for Oodate Houmei!!
Saitou up, showing bunt, but it's probably a buster stance. Either way, he looks at 3 straight and there's 2 outs.
Back to the top of the order and Shinomura. Nakatani bearing down gets ahead 1-2, then gets Shinomura to pop up! Hasegawa under it just in foul territory and makes the catch! Tenri gets out of the jam!!
Bottom 2nd
One down for Tenri, and Saitou "hits" (if you want to call it that) Yanagimoto with a slow curve.
There's no bunt here, but Higashida pops it up. Narita out from behind home plate down the 3rd base line makes the catch.
Yoshida up and Yanagimoto takes off for 2nd! He gets a good jump and steals the bag.
あら？ Yanagimoto takes off for 3rd! It's a slow curve, but Narita fires the ball to 3rd in plenty of time! I wonder if he got a good jump at all to be caught like that.
Top 3rd
Just to look at Nakanani for a second, he's a southpaw that throws in the high 120's occasionally hitting 130. He has a slider in the 110's, and a curve in the 100's.
After retiring Yoshida to center, he can't find the plate against Onuki again and walks him for the 2nd time.
Saitou-kantoku calls for his cleanup batter to bunt, and Sakuma lays it down. Oodate Houmei will play for the run.
Sasaki though gets jammed on an inside slider and chops it back to Nakatani. He goes to 1st and the inning is over for Houmei. Nakatani's control doesn't look that sharp and it looks like there might be more opportunities for them in the coming innings.
Bottom 3rd
Yoshida with a scorcher up the 3rd base line! Sasaki can't pick it! It's down the line and Yoshida's in with a double!
Nakatani tries to bunt him along, but it's too hard! Sakuma charges in and makes sure that Yoshida can't advance!
Back to the top of the order, and Nishiura. Saitou falls behind and walks him on 4 straight.
Okabe up, and he bunts!
Narita out quickly to field it, throw to 1st hits Okabe! Okabe collides with Sakuma! The ball goes in foul territory and the runners take off! Yoshida comes in to score and Tenri takes the lead on the throwing error by Narita! 1-0!
Moriguchi with a pop fly to shallow left. Takko charges in and looks to have it... but he reaches back and it goes behind him! Nishiura comes around to score and it's 2-0 Tenri!
Hasegawa with a single to left center. That's going to score Okabe and now it's 3-0!
Date with a base hit to right! That will load the bases for Tenri!
And now Yanagimoto with a drive to left center! That's into the gap, and the runners will wheel around! Everyone scores on Yanagimoto's triple and like that it's 6-0 Tenri!
And there's still one down.
Make that two. Higashida grounds out to 2nd. Shinomura checks the runner before recording the out.
Yoshida up for the 2nd time, and he collects his 2nd hit of the inning! It's a rocket single to left that scores Yanagimoto making it 7-0.
Saitou finally ends the inning as he gets Nakantani to hit a foul fly. Narita in foul territory has it for the 3rd out.
But 11 batters and 7 runs later, things don't look so good for Oodate Houmei.
Top 4th
One down, and Narita singles to left to try and get the offense going. Satou goes for the safety bunt down the 3rd base line, but Date charges in and makes a fine throw just beating a hustling Satou (See everyone? You go faster when you run through the bag!).
#17 Uesugi comes in to PH for Saitou. His day is mercifully done as #11 Yuzawa warms up in the bullpen.
Uesugi certainly is fighting at the plate fouling off 4 pitches after the count goes 2-2, but Nakatani gets him to ground out to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
I was going to talk about Saitou, who was a lefty that threw in the 120's and had primarily thrown a lot of slow off-speed pitches, but as you can see, some good solid hits after an untimely misplay spelled his demise.
Yuzawa is a righty who seems to primarily throw fastballs which are in the low-mid 130s. Nishiura probably wasn't ready for the slight uptick in speed and goes down swinging.
But fastball seem to be the only thing he can throw as he walks Okabe on nothing but them.
Moriguchi keys in on it and hits a shot at 1st. Sakuma though makes a great pick! Steps on 1st for one, but the throw to 2nd is a bit off.
Hasegawa up, and we see an off speed pitch! But it's in the dirt and gets away from Narita! Okabe advances to 3rd.
Hasegawa then grounds one through the left side making it 8-0.
Date then hits a single to left, and Yanagimoto walks to make make it a manrui situation again. But Yuzawa with what looks like a shuuto strikes him out looking to end the inning.
Top 5th
Oodate Houmei's batter seem to be making better contact, but it's not helping. Shinohara flies out to deep left, and after a nice single by Yoshida, Onuki flies out to left, and Sakuma grounds to short to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Yoshida with a hard shot at 3rd. Sasaki with the diving stop! Throw to 1st is short, but Sakuma makes a great pick to get the out!
Nakatani collects his first hit of the day as he singles to right.
Nishiura barely catches the end of the bat on the first pitch. Ball dribbles to Sakuma who makes the play at 1st.
With 2 down, and after getting ahead of Okabe 0-2, he walks him to put runners at 1st and 2nd.
2 more balls to Moriguchi and one wonders about how Yuzawa's endurance is.
Yuzawa does get Moriguchi to fly out to right to end the inning. The game heads to the break with Tenri comfortably ahead and in a great position to advance.
Top 6th
Nakatani still having some control issues as he grazes Sasaki's jersey on an inside fastball.
Takko hits a short pop. Nishiura charges in and picks it for the first out.
Narita hanging in there, can't hold up on his swing and goes down on strikes.
Satou with a grounder to 1st, and it bounces over Hasegawa's glove into right! That seemed like a whiff there.
#14 Togashi comes in to bat for Yuzawa, confirming that he was probably at the end of his line there in the 5th.
Two balls from Nakatani and Morikawa-kantoku calls for a conference.
Right after that, 2 strikes to even the count.
Tokashi hits a weak grounder to 2nd. Nishiura makes the easy flip to Okabe to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
# Kameta comes in to pitch for Oodate Houmei. He has a fastball that seems to sit in the mid-120's and a slider in the high 110's. The control isn't quite there though.
He does get Hasegawa to ground out to 1st, but has trouble against Date. Eventually Kameta retires him with a fly to center.
Yanagimoto swings through an inside off-speed pitch, and while he gets plunked, he's retired to end the inning.
Top 7th
Shinomura with a grounder to short. Okabe makes a nice stop but he hangs his throw up a little allowing Shinomura to reach safely!
Nakatani comes back to strike out Yoshida, and then Onuki hits a grounder to 2nd! Nishiura flips it to Okabe for 1, throw to 1st is in time for the 4-6-3 double play.
Bottom 7th
There's a slow curve from Kameta to Higashida. Oh, and then he hits him with another offspeed pitch.
After Yoshida bunts him along, #14 Yoshimura comes in to pinch-hit for Nakatani which means we'll see Nishiguchi in the next inning.
Kameta's control issues continue to plague him as he walks Yoshimura. #10 Masuoka comes in to run for Yoshimura.
Oodate Houmei thinks that turnabout is fair play as Kameta gets Nishiura to ground into their 4-6-3 double play to end the innning.
Top 8th
Right off the bat Nishiguchi has trouble hitting the plate. After falling behind 3-1, Sakuma singles to right.
Now Nishiguchi is a hard thrower. Probably the 1st so far to be able to hit the 140 mark.
But it doesn't matter how hard you throw it if the batters can hit it. Sasaki takes a pitch through the right side for another base hit.
#18 Abe in to PH for Takko. Certainly Oodate Houmei senses an opportunity here.
And Abe with a hard hit to the left side! Okabe ranges over to his right and fields it! He flips to 2nd for the force. One down, but still a good scoring opportunity.
Nishiguchi though surprises Narita with an offspeed pitch! Narita grounds to Nishiura who once again starts the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning!
Bottom 8th
Tenri looks to be ready to end the game as they quickly are retired 1-2-3 to end the inning.
Top 9th
Of course Nishiguchi isn't quite in a rush. He hits Satou on the first pitch. Pretty good plunk too. Follows that up with 2 more balls before throwing a strike. The count winds up full, and Nishiguchi walks Kameta.
Remember what I said at the beginning of the game about Nishiguchi?
And now Nishiguchi falls behind Shinomura 2-1! He manages to throw a strike in there to level the count, and finally gets enough control to throw 2 good pitches in a row to strike out Shinomura looking.
Yoshida looking to wait on pitches, but Nishiguchi works the count to 2-2. But Yoshida is fooled on a high fastball and knows it.
Last chance now in Onuki.
But he hits a soft liner to Okabe who secures it for the final out.
One misplay by Takko in the 3rd spelled disaster for Oodate Houmei. If not for that, they may have had a decent chance against Tenri.
Nonetheless Tenri does advance, however they will have to play better than that if they want to advance any further. Their bats will have to come alive in more than just one inning, and whatever Morikawa-kantoku does, he must find a way to keep Nakatani on the mound as long as possible. As seen in the last couple of innings, ace Nishiguchi can throw hard, but not effectively.
Notable Players
Oodate Houmei
Sasaki Kousuke - 2-3, HBP
Satou Tasuku - 1-1, 2 HBP
Tenri
Nakatani Keita - W, 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 3 K, 2 BB, 3 HBP
Hasegawa Shouma - 2-5, R, RBI
Date Shougo - 2-4, R
Yoshida Ryouta - 2-3, 2B, R
The changes made at Koushien this year because of the Great Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake which include speeding up time between games means that the action just keeps on rolling from game to game, and there's little time to catch one's breath.
Today should be no different.
Opening today's action will be our first 21st Centrury team in Oodate Houmei. They took a circuitous route to Koushien which normally wouldn't happen if this was the Natsu Koushien. In the Kita regionals, they had lost to Noshiro Shougyou then won their part of the loser's bracket to make the prefecturals. There they had a quality win against Honjyou on their way to winning the prefecturals. Finally, they had went wire-to-wire with Aomori Yamada falling short 4-3.
They received their invitation based upon their strong play in the fall as well as their recent performance, and it is noted that the staff of 76 teachers do their best to balance work and extracurricular activities.
Oodate Houmei's opponent on paper is a team that should have a good chance to win it all. Yet much like a Texas or a Pittsburgh in college basketball, they underperform when it gets to tournament time.
That team is Tenri.
This year, they won their 7th super-regional title. The prefecturals were yet another formality as they, Chiben Gakuen and Kooriyama all reached the Best 4 for the n-teenth time. And with a 10-3 win over Kooriyama secured a spot in the super-regionals. There they wound up facing a relatively easier schedule early in the super-regionals , missing Osaka Touin (who was upset by Kakogawa Kita). They then had to scramble against Chiben Wakayama after giving up 5 runs in the 7th & 8th innings scoring a pair in the 8th, and 2 more in the bottom of the 9th for a sayonara win. Finally, they avenged their loss to Riseisha at last year's Natsu Koushien, taking the title 2-1.
Tenri's squad continues to be rather deep and solid, but surprisingly they were not challenged as much in the strong Kinki super-regionals. This could easily mask weaknesses that were not exploited in the fall, and could spell yet another early exit from Koushien. Although perhaps for one game, that may not be the case.
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Oodate Houmei (Akita) - 21st Century Team
2B Shinomura Kyouhei
CF Yoshida Hayato
SS Onuki Keita
1B Sakuma Ryousuke
3B Sasake Kousuke
LF Takko Masaya
C Narita Shou
RF Satou Tasuku
P Saitou Kouhei
Tenri (Nara) - Kinki Champions
2B Nishura Jyouji
SS Okabe Ryou
LF Moriguchi Yuuki
1B Hasegawa Shouma
3B Date Shougo
CF Yanagimoto Keisuke
RF Higashida Motohiro
C Yoshida Ryouta
P Nakatani Keita (#11)
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9:00 - Game start!
Top 1st
It's Nakatani on the mound. I think the longer he's out there, the better Tenri is.
Shinomura with a grounder up the middle. Okabe makes a diving stop behind the bag! Throw to first in time! Nice play by the Tenri defense to start the game!
Yoshida with a pop up to 2nd for the 2nd out.
Nakatani is about to get out of the inning when he walks Onuki. And with a runner on, I forgot that Nakanani pays a LOT of attention to the runner. He throws at least 5 times over to 1st.
Nevertheless, he comes back to strike out Sakuma to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Saitou off to a good start as he gets Nishiura to pop out in foul territory.
He looks to have Okabe retired, but Onuki boots it! Throw is late and Tenri has a runner.
Morikawa-kantoku elects to go for the sac bunt, and Moriguchi lays it down. That sets it up for cleanup batter Hasegawa.
And a wild pitch from Saitou! Okabe goes to 3rd!
But Saitou settles down and gets Hasegawa to pop up to shallow center. Shinomura camps under it and makes the catch ending the threat.
Top 2nd
Sasaki with a base hit to left! Oodate Houmei gets a leadoff runner!
Takko looks to bunt the runner along, but falls behind 1-2. Nakatani gets him to hit a fly to center. Yanagimoto runs in and makes the catch.
おっと。Nakatani hits Narita. It looks close on the replay, but I can see some deflection.
えぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇ？ Nakatani hits Satou?????? It's manrui for Oodate Houmei!!
Saitou up, showing bunt, but it's probably a buster stance. Either way, he looks at 3 straight and there's 2 outs.
Back to the top of the order and Shinomura. Nakatani bearing down gets ahead 1-2, then gets Shinomura to pop up! Hasegawa under it just in foul territory and makes the catch! Tenri gets out of the jam!!
Bottom 2nd
One down for Tenri, and Saitou "hits" (if you want to call it that) Yanagimoto with a slow curve.
There's no bunt here, but Higashida pops it up. Narita out from behind home plate down the 3rd base line makes the catch.
Yoshida up and Yanagimoto takes off for 2nd! He gets a good jump and steals the bag.
あら？ Yanagimoto takes off for 3rd! It's a slow curve, but Narita fires the ball to 3rd in plenty of time! I wonder if he got a good jump at all to be caught like that.
Top 3rd
Just to look at Nakanani for a second, he's a southpaw that throws in the high 120's occasionally hitting 130. He has a slider in the 110's, and a curve in the 100's.
After retiring Yoshida to center, he can't find the plate against Onuki again and walks him for the 2nd time.
Saitou-kantoku calls for his cleanup batter to bunt, and Sakuma lays it down. Oodate Houmei will play for the run.
Sasaki though gets jammed on an inside slider and chops it back to Nakatani. He goes to 1st and the inning is over for Houmei. Nakatani's control doesn't look that sharp and it looks like there might be more opportunities for them in the coming innings.
Bottom 3rd
Yoshida with a scorcher up the 3rd base line! Sasaki can't pick it! It's down the line and Yoshida's in with a double!
Nakatani tries to bunt him along, but it's too hard! Sakuma charges in and makes sure that Yoshida can't advance!
Back to the top of the order, and Nishiura. Saitou falls behind and walks him on 4 straight.
Okabe up, and he bunts!
Narita out quickly to field it, throw to 1st hits Okabe! Okabe collides with Sakuma! The ball goes in foul territory and the runners take off! Yoshida comes in to score and Tenri takes the lead on the throwing error by Narita! 1-0!
Moriguchi with a pop fly to shallow left. Takko charges in and looks to have it... but he reaches back and it goes behind him! Nishiura comes around to score and it's 2-0 Tenri!
Hasegawa with a single to left center. That's going to score Okabe and now it's 3-0!
Date with a base hit to right! That will load the bases for Tenri!
And now Yanagimoto with a drive to left center! That's into the gap, and the runners will wheel around! Everyone scores on Yanagimoto's triple and like that it's 6-0 Tenri!
And there's still one down.
Make that two. Higashida grounds out to 2nd. Shinomura checks the runner before recording the out.
Yoshida up for the 2nd time, and he collects his 2nd hit of the inning! It's a rocket single to left that scores Yanagimoto making it 7-0.
Saitou finally ends the inning as he gets Nakantani to hit a foul fly. Narita in foul territory has it for the 3rd out.
But 11 batters and 7 runs later, things don't look so good for Oodate Houmei.
Top 4th
One down, and Narita singles to left to try and get the offense going. Satou goes for the safety bunt down the 3rd base line, but Date charges in and makes a fine throw just beating a hustling Satou (See everyone? You go faster when you run through the bag!).
#17 Uesugi comes in to PH for Saitou. His day is mercifully done as #11 Yuzawa warms up in the bullpen.
Uesugi certainly is fighting at the plate fouling off 4 pitches after the count goes 2-2, but Nakatani gets him to ground out to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
I was going to talk about Saitou, who was a lefty that threw in the 120's and had primarily thrown a lot of slow off-speed pitches, but as you can see, some good solid hits after an untimely misplay spelled his demise.
Yuzawa is a righty who seems to primarily throw fastballs which are in the low-mid 130s. Nishiura probably wasn't ready for the slight uptick in speed and goes down swinging.
But fastball seem to be the only thing he can throw as he walks Okabe on nothing but them.
Moriguchi keys in on it and hits a shot at 1st. Sakuma though makes a great pick! Steps on 1st for one, but the throw to 2nd is a bit off.
Hasegawa up, and we see an off speed pitch! But it's in the dirt and gets away from Narita! Okabe advances to 3rd.
Hasegawa then grounds one through the left side making it 8-0.
Date then hits a single to left, and Yanagimoto walks to make make it a manrui situation again. But Yuzawa with what looks like a shuuto strikes him out looking to end the inning.
Top 5th
Oodate Houmei's batter seem to be making better contact, but it's not helping. Shinohara flies out to deep left, and after a nice single by Yoshida, Onuki flies out to left, and Sakuma grounds to short to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Yoshida with a hard shot at 3rd. Sasaki with the diving stop! Throw to 1st is short, but Sakuma makes a great pick to get the out!
Nakatani collects his first hit of the day as he singles to right.
Nishiura barely catches the end of the bat on the first pitch. Ball dribbles to Sakuma who makes the play at 1st.
With 2 down, and after getting ahead of Okabe 0-2, he walks him to put runners at 1st and 2nd.
2 more balls to Moriguchi and one wonders about how Yuzawa's endurance is.
Yuzawa does get Moriguchi to fly out to right to end the inning. The game heads to the break with Tenri comfortably ahead and in a great position to advance.
Top 6th
Nakatani still having some control issues as he grazes Sasaki's jersey on an inside fastball.
Takko hits a short pop. Nishiura charges in and picks it for the first out.
Narita hanging in there, can't hold up on his swing and goes down on strikes.
Satou with a grounder to 1st, and it bounces over Hasegawa's glove into right! That seemed like a whiff there.
#14 Togashi comes in to bat for Yuzawa, confirming that he was probably at the end of his line there in the 5th.
Two balls from Nakatani and Morikawa-kantoku calls for a conference.
Right after that, 2 strikes to even the count.
Tokashi hits a weak grounder to 2nd. Nishiura makes the easy flip to Okabe to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
# Kameta comes in to pitch for Oodate Houmei. He has a fastball that seems to sit in the mid-120's and a slider in the high 110's. The control isn't quite there though.
He does get Hasegawa to ground out to 1st, but has trouble against Date. Eventually Kameta retires him with a fly to center.
Yanagimoto swings through an inside off-speed pitch, and while he gets plunked, he's retired to end the inning.
Top 7th
Shinomura with a grounder to short. Okabe makes a nice stop but he hangs his throw up a little allowing Shinomura to reach safely!
Nakatani comes back to strike out Yoshida, and then Onuki hits a grounder to 2nd! Nishiura flips it to Okabe for 1, throw to 1st is in time for the 4-6-3 double play.
Bottom 7th
There's a slow curve from Kameta to Higashida. Oh, and then he hits him with another offspeed pitch.
After Yoshida bunts him along, #14 Yoshimura comes in to pinch-hit for Nakatani which means we'll see Nishiguchi in the next inning.
Kameta's control issues continue to plague him as he walks Yoshimura. #10 Masuoka comes in to run for Yoshimura.
Oodate Houmei thinks that turnabout is fair play as Kameta gets Nishiura to ground into their 4-6-3 double play to end the innning.
Top 8th
Right off the bat Nishiguchi has trouble hitting the plate. After falling behind 3-1, Sakuma singles to right.
Now Nishiguchi is a hard thrower. Probably the 1st so far to be able to hit the 140 mark.
But it doesn't matter how hard you throw it if the batters can hit it. Sasaki takes a pitch through the right side for another base hit.
#18 Abe in to PH for Takko. Certainly Oodate Houmei senses an opportunity here.
And Abe with a hard hit to the left side! Okabe ranges over to his right and fields it! He flips to 2nd for the force. One down, but still a good scoring opportunity.
Nishiguchi though surprises Narita with an offspeed pitch! Narita grounds to Nishiura who once again starts the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning!
Bottom 8th
Tenri looks to be ready to end the game as they quickly are retired 1-2-3 to end the inning.
Top 9th
Of course Nishiguchi isn't quite in a rush. He hits Satou on the first pitch. Pretty good plunk too. Follows that up with 2 more balls before throwing a strike. The count winds up full, and Nishiguchi walks Kameta.
Remember what I said at the beginning of the game about Nishiguchi?
And now Nishiguchi falls behind Shinomura 2-1! He manages to throw a strike in there to level the count, and finally gets enough control to throw 2 good pitches in a row to strike out Shinomura looking.
Yoshida looking to wait on pitches, but Nishiguchi works the count to 2-2. But Yoshida is fooled on a high fastball and knows it.
Last chance now in Onuki.
But he hits a soft liner to Okabe who secures it for the final out.
One misplay by Takko in the 3rd spelled disaster for Oodate Houmei. If not for that, they may have had a decent chance against Tenri.
Nonetheless Tenri does advance, however they will have to play better than that if they want to advance any further. Their bats will have to come alive in more than just one inning, and whatever Morikawa-kantoku does, he must find a way to keep Nakatani on the mound as long as possible. As seen in the last couple of innings, ace Nishiguchi can throw hard, but not effectively.
Notable Players
Oodate Houmei
Sasaki Kousuke - 2-3, HBP
Satou Tasuku - 1-1, 2 HBP
Tenri
Nakatani Keita - W, 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 3 K, 2 BB, 3 HBP
Hasegawa Shouma - 2-5, R, RBI
Date Shougo - 2-4, R
Yoshida Ryouta - 2-3, 2B, R
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Day 1 - Game 3 - Soushi Gakuen (Okayama) vs. Hokkai (Hokkaido)
Closing out the festivities of opening day is a team that is quite the story.
Soushi Gakuen's ballclub can almost be considered a real-life Seishuu Gakuen (see Major). Prior to 2010, the school was an all-girls school. In less than just one year this team of 1st years finished runner-up in the prefecturals - albeit getting steamrolled by Kanzei, then clearing the super-regionals only to lose once again to Kanzei - this time by a respectable margin. This after losing to Konkou Gakuen 7-0 in the opening round of the summer qualifiers! Soushi Gakuen now holds the record for a team to reach Koushien after the clubs inception!
So given the very small history of the team, there's very little to go on on these guys.
Soushi Gakuen, much like the other first-timers today did not get an easy 1st round draw. Instead, they draw a "mid-major" team in Hokkai. Hokkai has made numerous appearances at Koushien, however much like most Hokkaido teams they seem to wilt once they head southwest.
Hokkai wasn't challenged in block play save for a game against Toukai Dai-yon, and then not until the quarterfinals when they defeated Hokkaido Sakae, Sapporo Dai-ichi and Hokushou to win the title.
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Soushi Gakuen (Okayama) - Chuugoku Runner-up
SS Noyama Shinsuke
CF Tomamori Naoya
3B Yoshida Hiroki
1B Kanayama Takahiro
LF Tamai Ryouta
C Sutou Ryousei
2B Suetani Shuuto
P Tomita Kazushige
RF Koyama Yuuji (#18)
Hokkai (Hokkaido) - Hokkaido Champions
SS Mori Takahiro
3B Tama Taisuke
2B Kawasaki Kazuya
RF Kawagoe Seiji
LF Ujiie Ryou
1B Zeniya Kouki
C Tamaki Kouta
P Tamakuma Shouichi
CF Isoda Kouyou
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14:45 - Game start!
Top 1st
Captain Noyama with a grounder past a diving Kawasaki into right! Nagasawa-kantoku playing by the traditional book has Tomomori bunting the runner along.
But Yoshida goes down swinging, so it's up to Kanayama. He goes down swinging, so no dice for Soushi Gakuen in their 1st inning.
Bottom 1st
Huh, Tomita has an interesting delivery where he hold the ball down near his hip. I'm not sure I've noticed that before.
Mori though fights a couple off before hitting a single to right. Hirakawa-kantoku also calls for the bunt, and this time, Kawasaki hits a comebacker past the glove of Tomita into center! Mori stops at 3rd, but quickly Tomita and Soushi Gakuen is in a pinch.
That doesn't help... Sudou loses sight of the 1-1 pitch and Kawasaki goes to 2nd.
Kawagoe zips one past a diving Suetani into right, and Mori scores from 3rd! Kawazaki is held at 3rd, but Hokkai is on the board at 1-0! Nagasawa-kantoku with a conference to try and settle down the team.
Tomita records the 2nd out as he induce Ujiie to pop out to Suetani in foul territory.
But perhaps nerves are involved here as Tomita's control continues to have issues. He walks Zeniya giving Hokkai a manrui situation.
And after a ball to Tamaki, Nagasawa-kantoku goes into panic mode? #10 Yamamoto comes in for Koyama and takes the mound. Tomita goes to left.
Yamamoto is a sidewinder, but not a low thrower.
And he gets Soushi out of the jam!! He strikes out Tamaki and limits the damage to one run!
Top 2nd
Soushi Gakuen not fazed it seem by that pinch. Tamai bloops one into left for a leadoff single!
Sutou looks to have gotten a hold of one, but not enough as Ujiie is able to range over to his right for the catch.
Suetani tries to surprise with the sac bunt, and Tamakuma bobbles the ball, but his throw to 1st is just in time for the out.
So Nagasawa-kantoku will look for the one-timer from Tomita.
But Tomita is fooled by Tamakuma, and the inning is over.
Bottom 2nd
So Yamamoto has a fastball in the high 120's and a slider in the 110's. He seems to be having more success on the mound, and has better control of his pitches.
He gets Tamakuma to ground out easily to short, but Isoda flares one to left for a base hit.
Back to the top of the order, and while Yamamoto gets ahead of Mori 0-2, Mori continues to foul off pitches.
Hirakawa takes the opportunity to take off for 2nd! But Sutou makes a good throw which leads Noyama right into Hirakawa blocking him for the out.
Finally Yamamoto wins the battle, getting Mori to groundout to 2nd on the 10th pitch of the AB.
Top 3rd
Hokkai's ace Tamakuma isn't flamethrower, but he does locate well. He works at a very fast clip, and has one heck of a curve which is almost like a D-curve of sorts.
Yamamoto goes down on 3 straight pitches, and we're back to the top of the order. After getting ahead in the count, Tamakuma throws 2 bad pitches, hitting Noyama.
And on a 1-1 pitch Noyama takes off! The throw goes into 2nd, but both players are backing up and he's in safely!
But Tomomori is fooled on a V-slider and there's 2 down.
And Noyama takes off for 3rd??!
Tamaki with the throw in plenty of time and the inning is over. Perhaps it's to setup the next inning in case it's unsuccessful?
Bottom 3rd
Yamamoto continues to locate really well, getting the outside corner to get Tama looking.
He continues to throw strikes at Hokkai forcing them to swing away. Of course after going 0-2 on Kawasaki, he throws 2 balls. Still, he gets Kawasaki to fly out to 2nd.
Hm... with 2 down, Yamamoto seems careful around Kawagoe. He gets him to pop up to shallow right center, but Tomita continues to charge in... and can't get to it! It falls in the outfield triangle and Kawagoe winds up at 2nd!
Yamamoto is perhaps too careful around the middle batters, but it doesn't hurt him for now as Ujiie grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 4th
Yeah, Tamakuma's pitching isn't spectacular, as his fastball is in the low-mid 130's, but he can locate. In addition, Soushi's batters are swinging away. Yoshida grounds back to Tamakuma, while Kanayama and Tamai fly out to center and left making for a quick inning and Hokkai back on the sticks.
Bottom 4th
It would seem that the Hokkai batters are losing patience after facing so many strikes from Yamamoto. Zeniya swings 2-0 and grounds to Noyama. Tamaki first pitch flies out to left.
Tamakuma tries to extend the AB, and it pays off with a shot back up the middle, past a diving Noyama into center.
Perhaps the Hokkai batters are getting a better feel as Isoda also hits one back up the middle past Yamamoto. But Suetani charges in, makes a nice pick and throw to retire the side.
Top 5th
Soushi Gakuen is making contact on Tamakuma's pitches, it's just that it's either bad contact or right at someone (or both).
Sutou grounds out to 2nd, Suetani hits a liner, but right at Kawagoe, and Tomita hits a weak chopper back to Tamakuma.
Bottom 5th
Mori with a dribbler that just gets past a diving Noyama into left center gives Hokkai its first leadoff runner since the 1st.
Tama squares to bunt, but instead pops it up! Sutou springs from behind the plate and makes the catch up the 3rd base line.
One down, and now it's Kawasaki's turn to start fouling off pitches. Yamamoto grounds to 2nd. Suetani makes a great flip to 2nd for one, but Noyama's relay isn't in time. 2 down.
Oh? A slow curve from Yamamoto? Kawagoe fouls that off.
うまい！ Yamamoto freezes Kawagoe on a 2-seamer back over the plate and we head to the break with RP Yamamoto holding the fort against the established Hokkai squad. However, they can't seem to solve Tamakuma just yet.
Top 6th
Part of Tamakuma's success is his varying speeds. There's that fastball in the mid 130's, then that curve at the high 100's, and that slider in the 110's.
Yamamoto goes down swinging, and Noyama looks up in disgust as his knees break on a slider over the plate for Tamakuma's 2nd K of the inning.
And Tamamori swings on a low slider and just walks away. Tamakuma strikes out the side, and Soushi continues to have no answer.
Bottom 6th
While the Soushi offense continues to frustrate, Yamamoto continues to do the same to the Hokkai batters. Certainly they're seeing the ball, but not well enough to get a hit. Try as Tamaki might to foul off pitches, he is retired along with Ujiie and Zeniya in Yamamoto's 2nd 1-2-3 inning.
Top 7th
A blast from Yoshida! He drives a hard curve to left center! And he's gunning for two! The throw is offline and Soushi has the tying run in scoring position!
Nagasawa-kantoku is electing not to bunt!
Kanayama reaches down and flares one to left-center! That's in front of Ujiie, and suddenly there's runners at the corners with no out!
Tamai isn't showing squeeze either! But Tamakuma gets ahead quickly 0-2! Now what?
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But Tamai pulls the bunt back! Kanayama takes off for 2nd! Throw from Tamaki is there, but Kawasaki can't make the tag!! Now a base hit can give them the lead!
Tamai with a fly to left! Ujiie has to back up! He gets under it, makes the catch! Yoshida charges home! Relay from Mori, not in time! 同点!!! Soushi Gakuen ties the game on the sac fly from Tamai! 1-1!!!
Sutou tries to take advantage of the momentum, but instead takest he first pitch and pops out to 2nd.
Suetani with a chance to give Soushi the lead!
But Tamakuma breaks his knees with another slider! He's out of the inning, but not before Soushi levels the score!
Bottom 7th
Tamakuma with a fly to deep left center. Tomita ranging over looks to have it... but whiffs!!!! Tomomori backing up the play gets the ball in, but not before Tamakuma's in with a double!
Nagasawa-kantoku, perhaps seeing that he'll be riding Yamamoto, pulls Tomita for #9 Shouji.
And now with Isoda's sac bunt, Hokkai threatens to retake the lead!
Worse yet, it's the top of the order up now!
Mori with a shot to the left side! Noyama in makes a diving stop!!!!!! Throws to 1st and Kanayama makes a great pick! Tamakuma has to hold! Nice play by Noyama keeps the hope alive!
Tama up looking for that timely hit, gets ahead 2-1, but cannot get his timing right. Count goes even, then he fouls one off away.
He makes contact, but it's right at Noyama!! Soushi is out of the jam! We're in a 2-inning game now, who will take it?
Top 8th
Shouji up for his first AB, and is completely fooled by Tamakuma. One down.
Yamamoto with a grounder up the middle... Mori loses the ball! Throw to 1st is late and Soushi has a runner on! Of course Yamamoto makes it closer by diving, but we've been down that road before.
Again, Nagasawa-kantoku electing not to bunt.
Ooooo.... down 0-2, Noyama lets a close one go by for a ball. Noyama fighting here at the dish. But Tamakuma gets him to fly out to Ujiie for the 2nd out.
Up to Tamamori now. He grounds to 2nd. Kawasaki fields it near the bag, bobbles, but has enough time to flip it to Mori for the force.
Bottom 8th
The longer Hokkai leaves the game as it is, the greater the chance Soushi has to win. Hokkai should be looking to get ahead now.
It's perfect given that the 3-4-5 batters are up now, but none have been able to get to RP Yamamoto. Kawasaki hits a fly to left, but Tamai runs it down at the line.
Kawagoe with a drive to right center! Tomomori and Shouji run to the wall...
HAITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cleanup batter Kawagoe gets to Yamamoto in the biggest way possible with a homerun! There's a bit of confusion as the ball bounced back into play, but the replay clearly shows it clearing the fence. Nevertheless Hokkai does indeed retake the lead at 2-1!!
After a groundout by Ujiie, Zeniya hits one to deep left center! That falls at the base of the wall and Zeniya is in with a double!
Is Yamamoto at his limit?
Perhaps, although he gets Tamaki to ground out to 2nd.
But that one slip up by Yamamoto may be the difference!
Top 9th
Yoshida with a comebacker at Tamakuma! It's off Tamakuma! Mori charging in, throws to first against a diving Yoshida....
OUT!!!!!
Yet another case of a team robbing themselves of a hit.
Kanayama with a drive to right center! Kawagoe running towards the wall, makes the catch!!!
Tamai with another drive, this time to left center!!! Isoda can't run it down! Tamai in with a double!!!
Hirakawa-kantoku sending out Captain Nishio to settle the team. #16 Suzuki comes in to pinch run!
Up to Sutou now...
Grounder to short! Mori up with it! Throw to 1st...
Game set!
Despite a valiant effort by the first timers, one late mistake winds up being the difference in the ball game. Certainly, the first years showed that their performance was no fluke and they do indeed belong here at Senbatsu. If they can just get past Kanzei, perhaps they have a real chance to get back here in the summer.
As for Hokkai, they certainly should feel lucky they were able to escape with a victory. But they will not be able to get away with such play in the next round. Although if favorite Tenri manages to get past the 1st round, I won't guarantee that they need their A game to move onto the Best 8.
Notable Players
Soushi Gakuen
Yamamoto Ryou - L, 8.1 IP, ER, 7 H, 3 K, 0 BB
Tamai Ryouta - 2-3, 2B, RBI
Yoshida Hiroki - 1-4, 2B, R
Hokkai
Tamakuma Shouichi - CG, ER, 5 H, 10 K, BB
Tamakuma Shouichi - 2-3, 2B
Kawagoe Seiji - 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K
Mori Takahiro - 2-4, R
Soushi Gakuen's ballclub can almost be considered a real-life Seishuu Gakuen (see Major). Prior to 2010, the school was an all-girls school. In less than just one year this team of 1st years finished runner-up in the prefecturals - albeit getting steamrolled by Kanzei, then clearing the super-regionals only to lose once again to Kanzei - this time by a respectable margin. This after losing to Konkou Gakuen 7-0 in the opening round of the summer qualifiers! Soushi Gakuen now holds the record for a team to reach Koushien after the clubs inception!
So given the very small history of the team, there's very little to go on on these guys.
Soushi Gakuen, much like the other first-timers today did not get an easy 1st round draw. Instead, they draw a "mid-major" team in Hokkai. Hokkai has made numerous appearances at Koushien, however much like most Hokkaido teams they seem to wilt once they head southwest.
Hokkai wasn't challenged in block play save for a game against Toukai Dai-yon, and then not until the quarterfinals when they defeated Hokkaido Sakae, Sapporo Dai-ichi and Hokushou to win the title.
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Soushi Gakuen (Okayama) - Chuugoku Runner-up
SS Noyama Shinsuke
CF Tomamori Naoya
3B Yoshida Hiroki
1B Kanayama Takahiro
LF Tamai Ryouta
C Sutou Ryousei
2B Suetani Shuuto
P Tomita Kazushige
RF Koyama Yuuji (#18)
Hokkai (Hokkaido) - Hokkaido Champions
SS Mori Takahiro
3B Tama Taisuke
2B Kawasaki Kazuya
RF Kawagoe Seiji
LF Ujiie Ryou
1B Zeniya Kouki
C Tamaki Kouta
P Tamakuma Shouichi
CF Isoda Kouyou
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14:45 - Game start!
Top 1st
Captain Noyama with a grounder past a diving Kawasaki into right! Nagasawa-kantoku playing by the traditional book has Tomomori bunting the runner along.
But Yoshida goes down swinging, so it's up to Kanayama. He goes down swinging, so no dice for Soushi Gakuen in their 1st inning.
Bottom 1st
Huh, Tomita has an interesting delivery where he hold the ball down near his hip. I'm not sure I've noticed that before.
Mori though fights a couple off before hitting a single to right. Hirakawa-kantoku also calls for the bunt, and this time, Kawasaki hits a comebacker past the glove of Tomita into center! Mori stops at 3rd, but quickly Tomita and Soushi Gakuen is in a pinch.
That doesn't help... Sudou loses sight of the 1-1 pitch and Kawasaki goes to 2nd.
Kawagoe zips one past a diving Suetani into right, and Mori scores from 3rd! Kawazaki is held at 3rd, but Hokkai is on the board at 1-0! Nagasawa-kantoku with a conference to try and settle down the team.
Tomita records the 2nd out as he induce Ujiie to pop out to Suetani in foul territory.
But perhaps nerves are involved here as Tomita's control continues to have issues. He walks Zeniya giving Hokkai a manrui situation.
And after a ball to Tamaki, Nagasawa-kantoku goes into panic mode? #10 Yamamoto comes in for Koyama and takes the mound. Tomita goes to left.
Yamamoto is a sidewinder, but not a low thrower.
And he gets Soushi out of the jam!! He strikes out Tamaki and limits the damage to one run!
Top 2nd
Soushi Gakuen not fazed it seem by that pinch. Tamai bloops one into left for a leadoff single!
Sutou looks to have gotten a hold of one, but not enough as Ujiie is able to range over to his right for the catch.
Suetani tries to surprise with the sac bunt, and Tamakuma bobbles the ball, but his throw to 1st is just in time for the out.
So Nagasawa-kantoku will look for the one-timer from Tomita.
But Tomita is fooled by Tamakuma, and the inning is over.
Bottom 2nd
So Yamamoto has a fastball in the high 120's and a slider in the 110's. He seems to be having more success on the mound, and has better control of his pitches.
He gets Tamakuma to ground out easily to short, but Isoda flares one to left for a base hit.
Back to the top of the order, and while Yamamoto gets ahead of Mori 0-2, Mori continues to foul off pitches.
Hirakawa takes the opportunity to take off for 2nd! But Sutou makes a good throw which leads Noyama right into Hirakawa blocking him for the out.
Finally Yamamoto wins the battle, getting Mori to groundout to 2nd on the 10th pitch of the AB.
Top 3rd
Hokkai's ace Tamakuma isn't flamethrower, but he does locate well. He works at a very fast clip, and has one heck of a curve which is almost like a D-curve of sorts.
Yamamoto goes down on 3 straight pitches, and we're back to the top of the order. After getting ahead in the count, Tamakuma throws 2 bad pitches, hitting Noyama.
And on a 1-1 pitch Noyama takes off! The throw goes into 2nd, but both players are backing up and he's in safely!
But Tomomori is fooled on a V-slider and there's 2 down.
And Noyama takes off for 3rd??!
Tamaki with the throw in plenty of time and the inning is over. Perhaps it's to setup the next inning in case it's unsuccessful?
Bottom 3rd
Yamamoto continues to locate really well, getting the outside corner to get Tama looking.
He continues to throw strikes at Hokkai forcing them to swing away. Of course after going 0-2 on Kawasaki, he throws 2 balls. Still, he gets Kawasaki to fly out to 2nd.
Hm... with 2 down, Yamamoto seems careful around Kawagoe. He gets him to pop up to shallow right center, but Tomita continues to charge in... and can't get to it! It falls in the outfield triangle and Kawagoe winds up at 2nd!
Yamamoto is perhaps too careful around the middle batters, but it doesn't hurt him for now as Ujiie grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 4th
Yeah, Tamakuma's pitching isn't spectacular, as his fastball is in the low-mid 130's, but he can locate. In addition, Soushi's batters are swinging away. Yoshida grounds back to Tamakuma, while Kanayama and Tamai fly out to center and left making for a quick inning and Hokkai back on the sticks.
Bottom 4th
It would seem that the Hokkai batters are losing patience after facing so many strikes from Yamamoto. Zeniya swings 2-0 and grounds to Noyama. Tamaki first pitch flies out to left.
Tamakuma tries to extend the AB, and it pays off with a shot back up the middle, past a diving Noyama into center.
Perhaps the Hokkai batters are getting a better feel as Isoda also hits one back up the middle past Yamamoto. But Suetani charges in, makes a nice pick and throw to retire the side.
Top 5th
Soushi Gakuen is making contact on Tamakuma's pitches, it's just that it's either bad contact or right at someone (or both).
Sutou grounds out to 2nd, Suetani hits a liner, but right at Kawagoe, and Tomita hits a weak chopper back to Tamakuma.
Bottom 5th
Mori with a dribbler that just gets past a diving Noyama into left center gives Hokkai its first leadoff runner since the 1st.
Tama squares to bunt, but instead pops it up! Sutou springs from behind the plate and makes the catch up the 3rd base line.
One down, and now it's Kawasaki's turn to start fouling off pitches. Yamamoto grounds to 2nd. Suetani makes a great flip to 2nd for one, but Noyama's relay isn't in time. 2 down.
Oh? A slow curve from Yamamoto? Kawagoe fouls that off.
うまい！ Yamamoto freezes Kawagoe on a 2-seamer back over the plate and we head to the break with RP Yamamoto holding the fort against the established Hokkai squad. However, they can't seem to solve Tamakuma just yet.
Top 6th
Part of Tamakuma's success is his varying speeds. There's that fastball in the mid 130's, then that curve at the high 100's, and that slider in the 110's.
Yamamoto goes down swinging, and Noyama looks up in disgust as his knees break on a slider over the plate for Tamakuma's 2nd K of the inning.
And Tamamori swings on a low slider and just walks away. Tamakuma strikes out the side, and Soushi continues to have no answer.
Bottom 6th
While the Soushi offense continues to frustrate, Yamamoto continues to do the same to the Hokkai batters. Certainly they're seeing the ball, but not well enough to get a hit. Try as Tamaki might to foul off pitches, he is retired along with Ujiie and Zeniya in Yamamoto's 2nd 1-2-3 inning.
Top 7th
A blast from Yoshida! He drives a hard curve to left center! And he's gunning for two! The throw is offline and Soushi has the tying run in scoring position!
Nagasawa-kantoku is electing not to bunt!
Kanayama reaches down and flares one to left-center! That's in front of Ujiie, and suddenly there's runners at the corners with no out!
Tamai isn't showing squeeze either! But Tamakuma gets ahead quickly 0-2! Now what?
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But Tamai pulls the bunt back! Kanayama takes off for 2nd! Throw from Tamaki is there, but Kawasaki can't make the tag!! Now a base hit can give them the lead!
Tamai with a fly to left! Ujiie has to back up! He gets under it, makes the catch! Yoshida charges home! Relay from Mori, not in time! 同点!!! Soushi Gakuen ties the game on the sac fly from Tamai! 1-1!!!
Sutou tries to take advantage of the momentum, but instead takest he first pitch and pops out to 2nd.
Suetani with a chance to give Soushi the lead!
But Tamakuma breaks his knees with another slider! He's out of the inning, but not before Soushi levels the score!
Bottom 7th
Tamakuma with a fly to deep left center. Tomita ranging over looks to have it... but whiffs!!!! Tomomori backing up the play gets the ball in, but not before Tamakuma's in with a double!
Nagasawa-kantoku, perhaps seeing that he'll be riding Yamamoto, pulls Tomita for #9 Shouji.
And now with Isoda's sac bunt, Hokkai threatens to retake the lead!
Worse yet, it's the top of the order up now!
Mori with a shot to the left side! Noyama in makes a diving stop!!!!!! Throws to 1st and Kanayama makes a great pick! Tamakuma has to hold! Nice play by Noyama keeps the hope alive!
Tama up looking for that timely hit, gets ahead 2-1, but cannot get his timing right. Count goes even, then he fouls one off away.
He makes contact, but it's right at Noyama!! Soushi is out of the jam! We're in a 2-inning game now, who will take it?
Top 8th
Shouji up for his first AB, and is completely fooled by Tamakuma. One down.
Yamamoto with a grounder up the middle... Mori loses the ball! Throw to 1st is late and Soushi has a runner on! Of course Yamamoto makes it closer by diving, but we've been down that road before.
Again, Nagasawa-kantoku electing not to bunt.
Ooooo.... down 0-2, Noyama lets a close one go by for a ball. Noyama fighting here at the dish. But Tamakuma gets him to fly out to Ujiie for the 2nd out.
Up to Tamamori now. He grounds to 2nd. Kawasaki fields it near the bag, bobbles, but has enough time to flip it to Mori for the force.
Bottom 8th
The longer Hokkai leaves the game as it is, the greater the chance Soushi has to win. Hokkai should be looking to get ahead now.
It's perfect given that the 3-4-5 batters are up now, but none have been able to get to RP Yamamoto. Kawasaki hits a fly to left, but Tamai runs it down at the line.
Kawagoe with a drive to right center! Tomomori and Shouji run to the wall...
HAITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cleanup batter Kawagoe gets to Yamamoto in the biggest way possible with a homerun! There's a bit of confusion as the ball bounced back into play, but the replay clearly shows it clearing the fence. Nevertheless Hokkai does indeed retake the lead at 2-1!!
After a groundout by Ujiie, Zeniya hits one to deep left center! That falls at the base of the wall and Zeniya is in with a double!
Is Yamamoto at his limit?
Perhaps, although he gets Tamaki to ground out to 2nd.
But that one slip up by Yamamoto may be the difference!
Top 9th
Yoshida with a comebacker at Tamakuma! It's off Tamakuma! Mori charging in, throws to first against a diving Yoshida....
OUT!!!!!
Yet another case of a team robbing themselves of a hit.
Kanayama with a drive to right center! Kawagoe running towards the wall, makes the catch!!!
Tamai with another drive, this time to left center!!! Isoda can't run it down! Tamai in with a double!!!
Hirakawa-kantoku sending out Captain Nishio to settle the team. #16 Suzuki comes in to pinch run!
Up to Sutou now...
Grounder to short! Mori up with it! Throw to 1st...
Game set!
Despite a valiant effort by the first timers, one late mistake winds up being the difference in the ball game. Certainly, the first years showed that their performance was no fluke and they do indeed belong here at Senbatsu. If they can just get past Kanzei, perhaps they have a real chance to get back here in the summer.
As for Hokkai, they certainly should feel lucky they were able to escape with a victory. But they will not be able to get away with such play in the next round. Although if favorite Tenri manages to get past the 1st round, I won't guarantee that they need their A game to move onto the Best 8.
Notable Players
Soushi Gakuen
Yamamoto Ryou - L, 8.1 IP, ER, 7 H, 3 K, 0 BB
Tamai Ryouta - 2-3, 2B, RBI
Yoshida Hiroki - 1-4, 2B, R
Hokkai
Tamakuma Shouichi - CG, ER, 5 H, 10 K, BB
Tamakuma Shouichi - 2-3, 2B
Kawagoe Seiji - 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K
Mori Takahiro - 2-4, R
Day 1 - Game 2 - Maebashi Ikuei (Gunma) vs. Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka)
Interesting enough, all games on the docket for opening day all include teams who are new to senbatsu. Maebashi Ikuei is that team here in the matinee game, earning the floating bid over Kasukabe Kyouei, Kasumigaura and Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku. That floating bid was automatically given to the Kanto super-region after Nichidai-san won the Meiji Jingu Tournament granting Tokyo a 2nd bid.
Maebashi Ikuei had a strong showing starting in the prefecturals where they defeated both Kiryuu Dai-ichi and Takasaki Shougyou to win the fall title, then after handling Washinomiya actually held the lead against Toukaidai Sagami before falling late.
I mentioned in a prior post that a lot of the teams that qualified were rather chalky (i.e. they were teams that have been there before and regularly). While Maebashi Ikuei isn't facing one of those teams per se, you could consider team a team quickly on the rise.
That team is Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku - Kyukoku for short.
Kyukoku is led by Wakao-kantoku who worked with Darvish Yu back at Tohoku. He took over a program in a prefecture that is surprisingly fractured given the large population. In his time there he has sent the team to Natsu Koushien, and now to their 2nd ever senbatsu appearance. Teams in Fukuoka have been put on notice that if they're not careful, they'll all be left behind.
Kyukoku blew through the opening rounds of the prefectural tournament before winning close games against Touchiku and Kurume Shougyou to take the prefectural title. Then ace Miyoshi Takumi would get them though Senshuudai Tamana, Okinawa Shogaku and a plucky Hasami squad before he gave out in the late innings against Kagoshima Jitsugyou in the finals.
Kyukoku has shown they have offense for days, but it does seem to go away against tougher competition, so it'll seem unlikely that we'll see a blowout.
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Maebashi Ikuei (Gunma) - Kanto/Tokyo Floating Bid
CF Ida Manabu
2B Watanabe Yuuya
C Takahashi Ryousuke
1B Ushizaki Kouta
SS Mohara Masataka
RF Kanzawa Masato
3B Aoki Ryou
P Takahashi Takumi (#10)
LF Tajima Ryou (#11)
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka) - Kyushu Runner-up
2B Hirabaru Yuuta
CF Andou Akito
P Miyoshi Takumi
C Takajyou Shuuto
RF Ryuu Kounosuke
1B Hanada Shun
LF Katou Ryou
3B Tokiyoshi Seiya
SS Ishisaki Yuuma
____________________________________________________________
12:36 - Game start!
Top 1st
Miyoshi gets the Ida to hit a weak comebacker to start the game.
Miyoshi works quickly and is getting strikes. He induces a grounder to 2nd from Watanabe, and another one to 1st on Ryousuke.
It's a quick inning, and Miyoshi's offerings are pretty much standard fare.
Bottom 1st
Ikeda looked to get off to a good start to as he got Hirabaru to pop out to short, and Andou to hit a grounder to 3rd. But then he issued a 4 pitch walk to Miyoshi.
AH!
Takajyou gets a hold of a pitch and drives it to left! Tajima goes back to the wall, looks up!
HAITAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Takajyou with the first home run of this year's senbatsu gives Kyukoku the 2-0 lead!!
Ryuu grounds out to 2nd to end the inning, but Maebashi Ikuei will have to play catch-up early!
Top 2nd
Miyoshi with the lead now goes on the offensive.
Ushizaki goes down swinging... and so does Mohara. And just to change things up a bit, Kanzawa is caught looking (although the pitch seemed a bit low). Miyoshi strikes out the side and Kyukoku is quickly back on the bats.
Bottom 2nd
Ikeda's pitching is more aggressive now, perhaps a bit peeved he gave up those runs. Hanada goes down after the ump calls he didn't check his swing. Katou too goes down swinging for 2 outs.
But again he can't close the deal, hitting Tokiyoshi to give Kyukoku a runner.
And then Ishisako lifts a ball to center! Ida running back, but it's over his head! That falls at the base of the wall and they're sending Tokiyoshi home! Mohara makes a strong throw, but it's just a bit late as Tokiyoshi slides around the tag making it 3-0 Kyukoku!
Now a 4 pitch walk to Hirabaru and things are getting bad for Maebashi Ikuei. Arai-kantoku calls a conference.
Andou with a grounder through the infield into left. Ishisako is sent home! Tajima with the throw, but it's offline and it's now 4-0 Kyukoku!
Ace Ikeda is warming up, but his jacket is on. I wonder if he was injured somewhere and that's why they went to Takumi.
Takumi does get Miyoshi to swing at a high fastball ending the inning, but the deficit for Maebashi gets bigger.
Top 3rd
Aoki gives Maebashi Ikuei their first hit with a single to center.
あら？ #7 Sakurai is hitting for Takumi, which means his day is over.
Sakurai grounds out to 2nd, but advances the runner. Perhaps Maebashi can get on the board.
But Tajima flies out to shallow left, and Ida hits a comebacker to Miyoshi to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Ace Ikeda takes the mound now, but perhaps a bit late. He looks to have a standard fastball in the low 130's with sliders and curves in the 110's.
The fastball looks to have some tailing action in on righties, and Takajyou flies out to right.
Ryuu grounds out to 2nd and Ikeda looked to have righted the ship. That is until he bounces one at Hanada and clips him on the foot as he tried to jump out of the way.
It doesn't matter though as Katou lines out to right to end the inning.
Top 4th
Watanabe gets another leadoff runner for Maebashi as he hits a liner over Hirabaru's head.
Ryousuke though goes down on 3 straight pitches, flailing on a ball way outside for the K.
But now Ushizaki earns a walk, and there's a chance for Maebashi Ikuei.
Mohara gets a hold of one and sends it to right! But he just gets under it and Ryuu is able to park in front of the wall for the 2nd out.
Kanzawa with a pop up to shallow right-center. Hirabaru backpedaling, turns around! The ball falls in between him and Andou! Watanabe comes in to score, and Kanzawa reaches 2nd! Big chance for Maebashi!
Miyoshi though gets Aoki to pop one up in foul territory. Tokiyoshi near the dugout makes the catch to retire the side, but not before Maebashi Ikuei gets on the board.
Bottom 4th
Ikeda has certainly settled down the team on the field. Tokiyoshi grounds out to Aoki who then makes a fine stop on a scorcher down the line by Ishisako. And a flyout to center from Hirabaru quickly ends the inning.
Top 5th
Miyoshi seems to have settled down from that shaky 4th inning. Ikeda flies out to right, and then Tajima and Ida both strike out looking for a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 5th
AH!!!!!!!!!
Ikeda leaves a fastball right down the heart of the plate and Andou crushes it down the right field line for a homerun!! 5-0 Kyukoku!
AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miyoshi goes down to get a curve and drive that to left center!! It can't be!!!
IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Back-to-back homeruns by Andou and Miyoshi and it's now 6-0!
Ikeda finally ends it getting Takajyou to ground out to Watanabe for out #1.
But the relief is short lived!!!
Ryuu with a drive down the right field line!!! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!
Ryuu hits a homerun! That's 3 in 4 batters! 7-0 Kyukoku!!
Hanada gets a hold of a pitch and sends that to center. Ida is there to make the catch. Katou sends one to left, and Tajima is there for the 3rd out.
There's no doubt though that Kyukoku is seeing the ball well and driving it deep. Maebashi Ikuei will be happy to reach the break. Hopefully they can rally in the 2nd half of the game.
Top 6th
Miyoshi registers another K, this time on Watanabe on a high fastball.
And after a groundout to 2nd by Ryousuke, Ushizaki goes down looking on a nice slider for a quick inning by Miyoshi. It's pretty much cruise mode now.
Bottom 6th
Ikeda off to shaky start hitting Tokiyoshi, but after a sac bunt, he gets Hirabaru to fly out to left for the 2nd out.
But now comes that part of the lineup that crushed Ikeda. And the intimidation shows as he walks Andou.
He's able to go back into the dugout though after Mohara makes a nice backhanded stop to rob Miyoshi of a hit.
Top 7th
Mohara with a grounder to 2nd, but Hirabaru boots it! E4 and Maebashi gets a leadoff runner.
There's no bunting now, they need runs more than advancement.
Kanzawa pops out to right...
Aoki with a fly down the left field line. Katou can't run it down and the runners advance 90 feet.
But Ikeda grounds right to Tokiyoshi. He bobbles it, steps on 3rd for one, throw gets a slow Ikeda by a good bit for a double play. That was a bit surprising.
Bottom 7th
Takajyou with a short grounder down the 3rd base line. Aoki charges, but it glances off the glove! It's ruled a hit and Kyukoku has a runner on.
Looks like Wakao-kantoku wants to practice small ball, and has Ryuu bunt. Takajyou advances to 3rd after Hanada grounds right to Ushizaki.
Ikeda gets Katou to ground out to short for the 3rd out, but the game looks to be all but secured for Kyukoku,
Top 8th
#17 Ichiba is in to PH for Tajima, but goes down swinging on 3 straight.
Back to the top of the order and Ida hits a scorcher that bounces off Hanada. Hirabaru is there to field it, but the throw to 1st is late.
Miyoshi gets Watanabe to get under a pitch and Hanada moves in for the 2nd out.
Ryousuke goes down swinging on a high fastball yet again, and the side is retired.
Bottom 8th
#18 Kurihara comes in for Ichiba and takes over in LF.
Ikeda gets a fairly easy 1-2-3 inning against the 8-9-1 batters, and it'll be last ups for Maebashi Ikuei.
Top 9th
Miyoshi throwing a slow curve now in the low 100's, probably getting some work in. He retires the side quietly and just like that Kyuoku is in the next round.
As mentioned in the Koushien chat room, 2 blowouts. But with 2 new teams, that is to be expected. Kyukoku truly is a team on the rise, and it'll be interesting to see how they will fare against Nihon Bunri.
For Maebashi Ikuei, their stay at Koushien didn't last long, but I'm sure they enjoyed it nonetheless. Who knows? They may have a shot this summer to go again!
Notable Players
Maebashi Ikuei
Aoki Ryou - 2-3
Kanzaawa Masato - 1-4, 2B, RBI, 2K
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku
Andou/Miyoshi - Back-to-back HRs
Andou Akito - 2-3, HR, R, RBI, BB
Miyoshi Takumi - 1-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB
Takajyou Shuuto - 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Ryuu Kounosuke - 1-3, HR, R, RBI
Miyoshi Takumi - CG, ER, 3 H, 11 K, BB
Maebashi Ikuei had a strong showing starting in the prefecturals where they defeated both Kiryuu Dai-ichi and Takasaki Shougyou to win the fall title, then after handling Washinomiya actually held the lead against Toukaidai Sagami before falling late.
I mentioned in a prior post that a lot of the teams that qualified were rather chalky (i.e. they were teams that have been there before and regularly). While Maebashi Ikuei isn't facing one of those teams per se, you could consider team a team quickly on the rise.
That team is Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku - Kyukoku for short.
Kyukoku is led by Wakao-kantoku who worked with Darvish Yu back at Tohoku. He took over a program in a prefecture that is surprisingly fractured given the large population. In his time there he has sent the team to Natsu Koushien, and now to their 2nd ever senbatsu appearance. Teams in Fukuoka have been put on notice that if they're not careful, they'll all be left behind.
Kyukoku blew through the opening rounds of the prefectural tournament before winning close games against Touchiku and Kurume Shougyou to take the prefectural title. Then ace Miyoshi Takumi would get them though Senshuudai Tamana, Okinawa Shogaku and a plucky Hasami squad before he gave out in the late innings against Kagoshima Jitsugyou in the finals.
Kyukoku has shown they have offense for days, but it does seem to go away against tougher competition, so it'll seem unlikely that we'll see a blowout.
____________________________________________________________
Maebashi Ikuei (Gunma) - Kanto/Tokyo Floating Bid
CF Ida Manabu
2B Watanabe Yuuya
C Takahashi Ryousuke
1B Ushizaki Kouta
SS Mohara Masataka
RF Kanzawa Masato
3B Aoki Ryou
P Takahashi Takumi (#10)
LF Tajima Ryou (#11)
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka) - Kyushu Runner-up
2B Hirabaru Yuuta
CF Andou Akito
P Miyoshi Takumi
C Takajyou Shuuto
RF Ryuu Kounosuke
1B Hanada Shun
LF Katou Ryou
3B Tokiyoshi Seiya
SS Ishisaki Yuuma
____________________________________________________________
12:36 - Game start!
Top 1st
Miyoshi gets the Ida to hit a weak comebacker to start the game.
Miyoshi works quickly and is getting strikes. He induces a grounder to 2nd from Watanabe, and another one to 1st on Ryousuke.
It's a quick inning, and Miyoshi's offerings are pretty much standard fare.
Bottom 1st
Ikeda looked to get off to a good start to as he got Hirabaru to pop out to short, and Andou to hit a grounder to 3rd. But then he issued a 4 pitch walk to Miyoshi.
AH!
Takajyou gets a hold of a pitch and drives it to left! Tajima goes back to the wall, looks up!
HAITAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Takajyou with the first home run of this year's senbatsu gives Kyukoku the 2-0 lead!!
Ryuu grounds out to 2nd to end the inning, but Maebashi Ikuei will have to play catch-up early!
Top 2nd
Miyoshi with the lead now goes on the offensive.
Ushizaki goes down swinging... and so does Mohara. And just to change things up a bit, Kanzawa is caught looking (although the pitch seemed a bit low). Miyoshi strikes out the side and Kyukoku is quickly back on the bats.
Bottom 2nd
Ikeda's pitching is more aggressive now, perhaps a bit peeved he gave up those runs. Hanada goes down after the ump calls he didn't check his swing. Katou too goes down swinging for 2 outs.
But again he can't close the deal, hitting Tokiyoshi to give Kyukoku a runner.
And then Ishisako lifts a ball to center! Ida running back, but it's over his head! That falls at the base of the wall and they're sending Tokiyoshi home! Mohara makes a strong throw, but it's just a bit late as Tokiyoshi slides around the tag making it 3-0 Kyukoku!
Now a 4 pitch walk to Hirabaru and things are getting bad for Maebashi Ikuei. Arai-kantoku calls a conference.
Andou with a grounder through the infield into left. Ishisako is sent home! Tajima with the throw, but it's offline and it's now 4-0 Kyukoku!
Ace Ikeda is warming up, but his jacket is on. I wonder if he was injured somewhere and that's why they went to Takumi.
Takumi does get Miyoshi to swing at a high fastball ending the inning, but the deficit for Maebashi gets bigger.
Top 3rd
Aoki gives Maebashi Ikuei their first hit with a single to center.
あら？ #7 Sakurai is hitting for Takumi, which means his day is over.
Sakurai grounds out to 2nd, but advances the runner. Perhaps Maebashi can get on the board.
But Tajima flies out to shallow left, and Ida hits a comebacker to Miyoshi to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Ace Ikeda takes the mound now, but perhaps a bit late. He looks to have a standard fastball in the low 130's with sliders and curves in the 110's.
The fastball looks to have some tailing action in on righties, and Takajyou flies out to right.
Ryuu grounds out to 2nd and Ikeda looked to have righted the ship. That is until he bounces one at Hanada and clips him on the foot as he tried to jump out of the way.
It doesn't matter though as Katou lines out to right to end the inning.
Top 4th
Watanabe gets another leadoff runner for Maebashi as he hits a liner over Hirabaru's head.
Ryousuke though goes down on 3 straight pitches, flailing on a ball way outside for the K.
But now Ushizaki earns a walk, and there's a chance for Maebashi Ikuei.
Mohara gets a hold of one and sends it to right! But he just gets under it and Ryuu is able to park in front of the wall for the 2nd out.
Kanzawa with a pop up to shallow right-center. Hirabaru backpedaling, turns around! The ball falls in between him and Andou! Watanabe comes in to score, and Kanzawa reaches 2nd! Big chance for Maebashi!
Miyoshi though gets Aoki to pop one up in foul territory. Tokiyoshi near the dugout makes the catch to retire the side, but not before Maebashi Ikuei gets on the board.
Bottom 4th
Ikeda has certainly settled down the team on the field. Tokiyoshi grounds out to Aoki who then makes a fine stop on a scorcher down the line by Ishisako. And a flyout to center from Hirabaru quickly ends the inning.
Top 5th
Miyoshi seems to have settled down from that shaky 4th inning. Ikeda flies out to right, and then Tajima and Ida both strike out looking for a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 5th
AH!!!!!!!!!
Ikeda leaves a fastball right down the heart of the plate and Andou crushes it down the right field line for a homerun!! 5-0 Kyukoku!
AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miyoshi goes down to get a curve and drive that to left center!! It can't be!!!
IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Back-to-back homeruns by Andou and Miyoshi and it's now 6-0!
Ikeda finally ends it getting Takajyou to ground out to Watanabe for out #1.
But the relief is short lived!!!
Ryuu with a drive down the right field line!!! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!
Ryuu hits a homerun! That's 3 in 4 batters! 7-0 Kyukoku!!
Hanada gets a hold of a pitch and sends that to center. Ida is there to make the catch. Katou sends one to left, and Tajima is there for the 3rd out.
There's no doubt though that Kyukoku is seeing the ball well and driving it deep. Maebashi Ikuei will be happy to reach the break. Hopefully they can rally in the 2nd half of the game.
Top 6th
Miyoshi registers another K, this time on Watanabe on a high fastball.
And after a groundout to 2nd by Ryousuke, Ushizaki goes down looking on a nice slider for a quick inning by Miyoshi. It's pretty much cruise mode now.
Bottom 6th
Ikeda off to shaky start hitting Tokiyoshi, but after a sac bunt, he gets Hirabaru to fly out to left for the 2nd out.
But now comes that part of the lineup that crushed Ikeda. And the intimidation shows as he walks Andou.
He's able to go back into the dugout though after Mohara makes a nice backhanded stop to rob Miyoshi of a hit.
Top 7th
Mohara with a grounder to 2nd, but Hirabaru boots it! E4 and Maebashi gets a leadoff runner.
There's no bunting now, they need runs more than advancement.
Kanzawa pops out to right...
Aoki with a fly down the left field line. Katou can't run it down and the runners advance 90 feet.
But Ikeda grounds right to Tokiyoshi. He bobbles it, steps on 3rd for one, throw gets a slow Ikeda by a good bit for a double play. That was a bit surprising.
Bottom 7th
Takajyou with a short grounder down the 3rd base line. Aoki charges, but it glances off the glove! It's ruled a hit and Kyukoku has a runner on.
Looks like Wakao-kantoku wants to practice small ball, and has Ryuu bunt. Takajyou advances to 3rd after Hanada grounds right to Ushizaki.
Ikeda gets Katou to ground out to short for the 3rd out, but the game looks to be all but secured for Kyukoku,
Top 8th
#17 Ichiba is in to PH for Tajima, but goes down swinging on 3 straight.
Back to the top of the order and Ida hits a scorcher that bounces off Hanada. Hirabaru is there to field it, but the throw to 1st is late.
Miyoshi gets Watanabe to get under a pitch and Hanada moves in for the 2nd out.
Ryousuke goes down swinging on a high fastball yet again, and the side is retired.
Bottom 8th
#18 Kurihara comes in for Ichiba and takes over in LF.
Ikeda gets a fairly easy 1-2-3 inning against the 8-9-1 batters, and it'll be last ups for Maebashi Ikuei.
Top 9th
Miyoshi throwing a slow curve now in the low 100's, probably getting some work in. He retires the side quietly and just like that Kyuoku is in the next round.
As mentioned in the Koushien chat room, 2 blowouts. But with 2 new teams, that is to be expected. Kyukoku truly is a team on the rise, and it'll be interesting to see how they will fare against Nihon Bunri.
For Maebashi Ikuei, their stay at Koushien didn't last long, but I'm sure they enjoyed it nonetheless. Who knows? They may have a shot this summer to go again!
Notable Players
Maebashi Ikuei
Aoki Ryou - 2-3
Kanzaawa Masato - 1-4, 2B, RBI, 2K
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku
Andou/Miyoshi - Back-to-back HRs
Andou Akito - 2-3, HR, R, RBI, BB
Miyoshi Takumi - 1-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB
Takajyou Shuuto - 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Ryuu Kounosuke - 1-3, HR, R, RBI
Miyoshi Takumi - CG, ER, 3 H, 11 K, BB
Day 1 - Game 1 - Kagawa Nishi (Kagawa) vs. Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
While the overlying tone of Koushien has been muted a bit because of recent events, the JHBF has decided that the show must go on. Personally, I agree with the sentiment because I think the kids who qualified should get the chance to experience Koushien (especially those who are representing their school's first appearance), and it brings a sense of normalcy to the people. So while things have changed a little (no march-in during the opening ceremony and no cheering in the oen-dan - which I will certainly miss), I believe it will help the people cope.
And with that, the opening game of the 83rd Haru Koushien is about to get underway!
I had always thought that Kagawa Nishi had been a strong team within the prefecture (and even within Shikoku), yet I'm surprised to see that this is actually their first time at senbatsu! Not only will this be their first time, but they get to open up the tournament!
Kagawa Nishi finished runner-up in the Shikoku Super-Regional, yet their fall was a mixed bag. They finished runner-up in the prefecturals, defeating Takamatsu Shougyou and Kanonji Chuo before giving up 2 runs to Sangawa in the bottom of the 9th. Then they edged Jyounan and defeated Kochi, but then was annihilated by Meitoku Gijyuku. So while they qualified, it's hard to judge just exactly how good they are.
Their first round test will be tough as they square off against 2009 Natsu runner-up Nihon Bunri. Nihon Bunri has always been a decent team out of the Hokushinetsu region, regularly reaching both the Haru and Natsu Koushien tournaments. But it wasn't until their 2009 run where they had one of the most exciting finishes in history that finally put them on the map.
While ace Itou Naoki has left, the effects of that game should have lingered on. In at least the short-term this should provide them with an added boost that may help sustain the success of the school.
So, how have they taken advantage of this opportunity?
Nihon Bunri also finished runner-up in their region, but their performance was much more even. They won the prefecturals on the back of good pitching primarily in 2nd year ace Tamura Yuuma. Their excellent pitching continued on through the likes of Matsushou Gakuen and Yuugakukan, but Ooi-kantoku decided to go with fellow 2nd year Hatano Yousuke instead (much like the Matsushou Gakuen game), and Kanazawa was able to take advantage for a 4-2 win.
Nihon Bunri's offense does not seem that extraordinary, so their run may be predicated on how their pitching holds up.
It should be a good game, given that Kagawa isn't a true newcomer, but I think Nihon Bunri should advance from this matchup.
____________________________________________________________
Kagawa Nishi (Kagawa) - Shikoku Runner-up
LF Oota Hiroto
2B Mori Kouichi
CF Kominami Kengo
3B Kobayashi Masakazu
1B Ogawa Shouhei
RF Fujiwara Shigeru
C Nakanishi Daisuke (#12)
P Utsunomiya Kenta
SS Yano Kouhei
Nihon Bunri (Niigata) - Hokushinetsu Runner-up
CF Karasawa Tomoya (#13)
2B Noguchi Tatsuyoshi
LF Yumoto Shouta
C Murakami Masashi
RF Nanba Masaya
1B Yoshida Yuu
SS Akiyama Masaki
3B Takahashi Kou
P Tamura Yuuma
____________________________________________________________
10:10 - Game start!
Top 1st
Tamura off to a good start as Oota pops one out in foul territory. Takahashi is under it for the first out.
Tamura's offerings aren't that fast and Mori shoots one back up the middle for a base hit.
The fastball is sitting in the low 130's and his curve in the mid 110's.
We see a slider against Kominami at the low 120's-high 110's... and Kominami lazily flies out to center.
Cleanup batter Kobayashi is rather patient at the plate, taking the first two pitches for balls and one for a strike.
And Tamura gets Kobayashi to hit an easy fly to right to end the inning. Not a bad start for Tamura, but the batters are taking pitches - 15 for the 1st inning.
Bottom 1st
One pitch, one out. Karasawa takes the first pitch right to Yano. He makes the putout at 1st.
Utsunomiya is about the same as Tamura. Fastball in the mid-130's, just hit 137 against Noguchi, with a curve/slider in the mid-110's.
Noguchi with a fly to center. Kominami running back, still running as it goes over his head! Noguchi in with a double!
Yumoto with a shot to right! That's in for a base hit! Fujiwara bobbles the bounce! They're sending Noguchi in, and the throw is cut off! Noguchi scores giving Nihon Bunri the 1-0 lead!
Murakami going on the first pitch hits one to the right side! Mori with the great backhanded stop! Goes to 2nd for one, throw to 1st by Yano in plenty of time to beat a diving Murakami to end the inning.
But Nihon Bunri gets on the board first!
Top 2nd
After a groundout by Oota to start the inning, Fujiwara takes his time at the plate, gets ahead 3-0, and is plunked for ball 4.
おっと。 The first pitch is high, and now Nakanishi is up 2-0. He's given the green light, but swings away at a high fastball. Slider is wide for ball 3, and Tamura's in danger of walking his 2nd batter. Nakanishi bails him out for a pitch by swinging at another high fastball. Count goes full and after a foul ball, Nakanishi is frozen on a slider for strike 3! Murakami fires to 2nd and Fujiwara is thrown out easily for the strike-'em-out-throw-'em-out DP to end the inning.
Tamura doesn't have the best control right now, and if Kagawa Nishi is patient, they may get that equalizing run sooner rather than later.
Bottom 2nd
Utsunomiya working at a quick pace. Nanba hits the first pitch to 2nd for the first out.
Working on Yoshida, he nibbles on the outside after getting ahead. After running the count full, Yoshida lines one back at Utsunomiya. He stops it with his glove and makes the play at 1st for out #2.
Akiyama also gets to a full count and hits one right to the gap in right center. It isn't hard, but it falls in the right place as Akiyama is in with a 2-out double.
Utsunomiya continues to work the outside corner against right-handed batters, and although he may have been squeezed, he walks Takahashi and it's getting slightly hairy.
But Tamura can't lay off the outside pitches, and he bails on a couple of pitches to end the inning.
Top 3rd
After making Tamura work the last two innings, the batters start swinging away with no results. Utsunomiya strikes out, Yano grounds to short, and Oota takes the first pitch to 1st where Yoshida takes it himself to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Back to the top of the order for Nihon Bunri and Karasawa flies out to left. Noguchi with a harmless grounder to 2nd and there's quickly 2 outs.
Yumoto taking a fastball past a diving Mori for his 2nd hit of the day!
But he takes off on the first pitch and Nakanishi makes a great throw to nail him for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Mori falls behind 0-2, and while he evens the count, he grounds to 2nd.
Kominami once again patient, and he walks on 4 straight! Runner on for Kagawa Nishi.
Murakami perhaps crossed up there, has the ball get away, but Kominami doesn't advance.
Meanwhile, Tamura begins to throw a heavy diet of off-speed pitches, and falls behind Kobayashi 2-1. But Kobayashi hacks away and flies out to right.
Iwagami -kantoku calls for the hit-and-run! And Ogawa puts the ball where Akiyama was! Kominami rounding 2nd, going for 3! Throw from Yumoto not in time and the tying run is 90 feet away!
But Fujiwara gets a bit impatient. He swings at the first pitch, fouling it off - then after falling behind 0-2, swings on a low slider for out number 3.
There's progress, and there's still time, but Utsunomiya has to keep the team in it.
Bottom 4th
Murakami with a fly to right. Fujiwara backpedaling, speeds up at the last second, reaches up and makes the catch. A bit lazy there, but it worked.
おっと。 After getting ahead 1-2, Utsunomiya hits Nanba. Iwagami-kantoku calls for a quick conference.
Utsunomiya hasn't recovered yet, falling behind 2-0 to Yoshida. Two swings later though, and he's back to even. And a late slider fools Yoshida for strike 3.
And Yano snags a liner from Akiyama for the 3rd out.
Top 5th
Oh! The Tohoku squad is in the outfield stands watching the game!
Tamura still having control issues, falling behind Nakanishi 3-1, and issues a leadoff walk!
You have to assume Utsunomiya is bunting, and he is, but Tamura quickly fields it and fires to 2nd to get Nakanishi!
Yano is squaring to bunt as well, but Tamura starts off with 2 balls! #10 Yoshida is in the bullpen warming up.
Yano lays down the bunt, but there's 2 outs now.
Ah! A low pitch from Tamura goes under Murakami and to the backstop, and the runner advances to 3rd.
And now Oota takes a walk! Tamura back in the same pinch as last inning.
Mori looking to extend the inning, works the count full. But a grounder right to Yoshida ends the inning. Another opportunity wasted.
Bottom 5th
Nihon Bunri seems fine heading into the break as Takahashi first pitch swings to right center, and Tamura takes the first pitch to short.
Karasawa though takes a couple of pitches, gets ahead of the count, but he too grounds out to Yano to end the inning.
The lead is 1 for Nihon Bunri, but Kagawa Nishi is getting more opportunities on the basepaths.
Top 6th
Graphic shows that Tamura is already at 80 pitches. Will Kagawa Nishi continue to rack up the pitch count?
Kominami leads off, and is swinging away more now, fouling off several offerings from Tamura. Meanwhile, #11 Hatano is now up in the Nihon Bunri bullpen.
And it looks like Tamura gets the call on a tailing fastball that looked like it still missed the inside corner. Nevertheless, one out.
Kobayashi with an easy grounder to Nogawa for the 2nd out. And Nogawa with a fine throw after charging at a grounder from Ogawa to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
Yumoto collects his 3rd hit of the day with a one-out liner over a leaping Yano into left.
Ah! Ogawa misses the throw from Utsunomiya and it goes into foul territory! Yumoto advances to scoring position!
And now Murakami walks! Runners on 1st and 2nd and there is activity now in the Kagawa bullpen.
Nanba is almost hit by another ball, and the count runs full on him! He checks his swing on the pitch and now the bases are loaded!
Iwagami-kantoku calls for a full conference now as the situation is getting critical for Kagawa Nishi.
And now Ooi-kantoku calls on #15 Usuda to PH for Yoshida. Interesting call here.
Usuda falls behind 1-2 count goes even and Utsunomiya is shaking Nakanishi off over and over. Pitch is in the dirt and the count runs full again...
Slider is fouled off by Usuda...
And Usuda gets under a pitch and lifts it to left center! The outfield was shaded to pull and the fielders can't get to the ball! It falls in front of the wall as Yumoto and Murakami score! 3-0 Nihon Bunri with only one down!!
And Akiyama with a liner past a drawn in infield and that's into center! Kominami's throw is cut off as 2 more runners score making it 5-0 Nihon Bunri!!
Takahashi with a ball to deep left! But it goes foul. Utsunomiya gets him to bail on a low slider for the 2nd out. Tamura does the same to end the inning, but Usuda's timely pinch-hit sparks a 4-run inning giving Nihon Bunri what should be a comfortable lead.
Top 7th
Usuda stays in the game to play 1st.
After 2 quick outs by Fujiwara and Nakanishi, Utsunomiya takes pitches and eventually draws a walk.
That patient sentiment isn't shared by the bottom of the order though. Yano takes the first pitch and lines it just foul down the right field line. And after falling behind 0-2, pops one up. Noguchi moves in just in front of 2nd and makes the catch, retiring the side.
Bottom 7th
Karasawa attempts the safety bunt to get on base, but Kobayashi is there to make a great throw for the first out.
Noguchi dribbles one past the glove of Mori into center for a base hit. Runner on for Yumoto who is perfect on the day.
Noguchi with a great swing getting a low ball from Utsunomiya, but just lines it foul down the right field line.
Sanshin!! Utsunomiya gets Yumoto to swing on a slider in the dirt for strike 3!
Murakami flies out to right to end the inning, but down 5 with 2 innings to go it doesn't look good for the boys from Shikoku.
Top 8th
Oota with a popup in foul territory. Takahashi running towards his dugout, backhands... and falls into the dugout!
But he has the ball!! What a great (if not dangerous) play by Takahashi!
Mori with a bunt, but he pops it up! Tamura quickly off the mound to his left, reaches back and makes the catch!
And with Kominami grounding out to 1st, Nihon Bunri is probably all but assured a spot in the next round.
Bottom 8th
One out, and Usuda gets his 2nd hit lining one to left.
2-2 on Akiyama, and Utsunomiya looks like he was squeezed there by the ump. He subsequently walks Akiyama, putting runners at 1st and 2nd with one out.
Takahashi takes a flat offering from Utsunomiya and drives it to deep left center. That falls in front of the wall! Usuda and Akiyama score on a one-out triple by Takahashi! 7-0 Bunri.
And that'll be hit for Utsunomiya. #10 Okada comes in from the pen to relieve the ace. His compliment of pitches is about the same, as the speed too.
Oy. Okada's offerings too are rather flat, and Tamura plays add on with a liner to right. 8-0.
After a flyout to right, Okada plunks Karasawa, and the game threatens to get really out of control.
Okada does strike out Yumoto to end the inning, but the ending is surely not in doubt anymore. Kagawa will get their last at-bats, then gather their Koushien dirt and head back to Kagawa.
Top 9th
Kobayashi with a looper over Akiyama into left center for a base hit.
#15 Oosako comes into PH for Ogawa, and falls behind 0-2. He eventually swings high on an offspeed pitch and is retired for out #1.
Wild pitch from Tamura sends Kobayashi to 2nd. And another one on the very next pitch brings him to 3rd. Fujiwara then earns a walk, and perhaps Kagawa Nishi can avoid a shutout.
#13 Teraoka comes in to PH for Nakanishi. But he's fooled by the offspeed offerings of Tamura and falls behind 0-2. And he goes down swinging on a high fastball.
It's down to #2 Yamazaki, who is in to PH for Okada.
He hits a dribbler past a diving Noguchi into right! Kobayashi comes home and Kagawa Nishi avoids the shutout! 8-1!
And now Yano gets ahead 3-1 on Tamura. Count goes full, high chopper goes foul.
Yano swings at a low off-speed and it goes right to Noguchi, who retires him for the final out.
Kagawa Nishi put up a good fight early on against Nihon Bunri, but they were unable to get anything going. Eventually the pitching of Kagawa Nishi broke down and Nihon Bunri won going away.
Surely the boys of Shikoku are disappointed, but I think they made a good showing for the opening game.
Notable Players
Kobayashi Masakazu (Kagawa Nishi) - 1-4, R
Yamazaki Yuuichi (Kagawa Nishi) - 1-1, RBI
Yumoto Shouta (Nihon Bunri) - 3-5, R, 2 K
Usuda Hiroya (Nihon Bunri) - 2-2, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Noguchi Tatsuyoshi (Nihon Bunri) - 2-5, 2B, R
Tamura Yuuma (Nihon Bunri) - CG, 1 ER, 6 K, 5 BB
And with that, the opening game of the 83rd Haru Koushien is about to get underway!
I had always thought that Kagawa Nishi had been a strong team within the prefecture (and even within Shikoku), yet I'm surprised to see that this is actually their first time at senbatsu! Not only will this be their first time, but they get to open up the tournament!
Kagawa Nishi finished runner-up in the Shikoku Super-Regional, yet their fall was a mixed bag. They finished runner-up in the prefecturals, defeating Takamatsu Shougyou and Kanonji Chuo before giving up 2 runs to Sangawa in the bottom of the 9th. Then they edged Jyounan and defeated Kochi, but then was annihilated by Meitoku Gijyuku. So while they qualified, it's hard to judge just exactly how good they are.
Their first round test will be tough as they square off against 2009 Natsu runner-up Nihon Bunri. Nihon Bunri has always been a decent team out of the Hokushinetsu region, regularly reaching both the Haru and Natsu Koushien tournaments. But it wasn't until their 2009 run where they had one of the most exciting finishes in history that finally put them on the map.
While ace Itou Naoki has left, the effects of that game should have lingered on. In at least the short-term this should provide them with an added boost that may help sustain the success of the school.
So, how have they taken advantage of this opportunity?
Nihon Bunri also finished runner-up in their region, but their performance was much more even. They won the prefecturals on the back of good pitching primarily in 2nd year ace Tamura Yuuma. Their excellent pitching continued on through the likes of Matsushou Gakuen and Yuugakukan, but Ooi-kantoku decided to go with fellow 2nd year Hatano Yousuke instead (much like the Matsushou Gakuen game), and Kanazawa was able to take advantage for a 4-2 win.
Nihon Bunri's offense does not seem that extraordinary, so their run may be predicated on how their pitching holds up.
It should be a good game, given that Kagawa isn't a true newcomer, but I think Nihon Bunri should advance from this matchup.
____________________________________________________________
Kagawa Nishi (Kagawa) - Shikoku Runner-up
LF Oota Hiroto
2B Mori Kouichi
CF Kominami Kengo
3B Kobayashi Masakazu
1B Ogawa Shouhei
RF Fujiwara Shigeru
C Nakanishi Daisuke (#12)
P Utsunomiya Kenta
SS Yano Kouhei
Nihon Bunri (Niigata) - Hokushinetsu Runner-up
CF Karasawa Tomoya (#13)
2B Noguchi Tatsuyoshi
LF Yumoto Shouta
C Murakami Masashi
RF Nanba Masaya
1B Yoshida Yuu
SS Akiyama Masaki
3B Takahashi Kou
P Tamura Yuuma
____________________________________________________________
10:10 - Game start!
Top 1st
Tamura off to a good start as Oota pops one out in foul territory. Takahashi is under it for the first out.
Tamura's offerings aren't that fast and Mori shoots one back up the middle for a base hit.
The fastball is sitting in the low 130's and his curve in the mid 110's.
We see a slider against Kominami at the low 120's-high 110's... and Kominami lazily flies out to center.
Cleanup batter Kobayashi is rather patient at the plate, taking the first two pitches for balls and one for a strike.
And Tamura gets Kobayashi to hit an easy fly to right to end the inning. Not a bad start for Tamura, but the batters are taking pitches - 15 for the 1st inning.
Bottom 1st
One pitch, one out. Karasawa takes the first pitch right to Yano. He makes the putout at 1st.
Utsunomiya is about the same as Tamura. Fastball in the mid-130's, just hit 137 against Noguchi, with a curve/slider in the mid-110's.
Noguchi with a fly to center. Kominami running back, still running as it goes over his head! Noguchi in with a double!
Yumoto with a shot to right! That's in for a base hit! Fujiwara bobbles the bounce! They're sending Noguchi in, and the throw is cut off! Noguchi scores giving Nihon Bunri the 1-0 lead!
Murakami going on the first pitch hits one to the right side! Mori with the great backhanded stop! Goes to 2nd for one, throw to 1st by Yano in plenty of time to beat a diving Murakami to end the inning.
But Nihon Bunri gets on the board first!
Top 2nd
After a groundout by Oota to start the inning, Fujiwara takes his time at the plate, gets ahead 3-0, and is plunked for ball 4.
おっと。 The first pitch is high, and now Nakanishi is up 2-0. He's given the green light, but swings away at a high fastball. Slider is wide for ball 3, and Tamura's in danger of walking his 2nd batter. Nakanishi bails him out for a pitch by swinging at another high fastball. Count goes full and after a foul ball, Nakanishi is frozen on a slider for strike 3! Murakami fires to 2nd and Fujiwara is thrown out easily for the strike-'em-out-throw-'em-out DP to end the inning.
Tamura doesn't have the best control right now, and if Kagawa Nishi is patient, they may get that equalizing run sooner rather than later.
Bottom 2nd
Utsunomiya working at a quick pace. Nanba hits the first pitch to 2nd for the first out.
Working on Yoshida, he nibbles on the outside after getting ahead. After running the count full, Yoshida lines one back at Utsunomiya. He stops it with his glove and makes the play at 1st for out #2.
Akiyama also gets to a full count and hits one right to the gap in right center. It isn't hard, but it falls in the right place as Akiyama is in with a 2-out double.
Utsunomiya continues to work the outside corner against right-handed batters, and although he may have been squeezed, he walks Takahashi and it's getting slightly hairy.
But Tamura can't lay off the outside pitches, and he bails on a couple of pitches to end the inning.
Top 3rd
After making Tamura work the last two innings, the batters start swinging away with no results. Utsunomiya strikes out, Yano grounds to short, and Oota takes the first pitch to 1st where Yoshida takes it himself to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Back to the top of the order for Nihon Bunri and Karasawa flies out to left. Noguchi with a harmless grounder to 2nd and there's quickly 2 outs.
Yumoto taking a fastball past a diving Mori for his 2nd hit of the day!
But he takes off on the first pitch and Nakanishi makes a great throw to nail him for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Mori falls behind 0-2, and while he evens the count, he grounds to 2nd.
Kominami once again patient, and he walks on 4 straight! Runner on for Kagawa Nishi.
Murakami perhaps crossed up there, has the ball get away, but Kominami doesn't advance.
Meanwhile, Tamura begins to throw a heavy diet of off-speed pitches, and falls behind Kobayashi 2-1. But Kobayashi hacks away and flies out to right.
Iwagami -kantoku calls for the hit-and-run! And Ogawa puts the ball where Akiyama was! Kominami rounding 2nd, going for 3! Throw from Yumoto not in time and the tying run is 90 feet away!
But Fujiwara gets a bit impatient. He swings at the first pitch, fouling it off - then after falling behind 0-2, swings on a low slider for out number 3.
There's progress, and there's still time, but Utsunomiya has to keep the team in it.
Bottom 4th
Murakami with a fly to right. Fujiwara backpedaling, speeds up at the last second, reaches up and makes the catch. A bit lazy there, but it worked.
おっと。 After getting ahead 1-2, Utsunomiya hits Nanba. Iwagami-kantoku calls for a quick conference.
Utsunomiya hasn't recovered yet, falling behind 2-0 to Yoshida. Two swings later though, and he's back to even. And a late slider fools Yoshida for strike 3.
And Yano snags a liner from Akiyama for the 3rd out.
Top 5th
Oh! The Tohoku squad is in the outfield stands watching the game!
Tamura still having control issues, falling behind Nakanishi 3-1, and issues a leadoff walk!
You have to assume Utsunomiya is bunting, and he is, but Tamura quickly fields it and fires to 2nd to get Nakanishi!
Yano is squaring to bunt as well, but Tamura starts off with 2 balls! #10 Yoshida is in the bullpen warming up.
Yano lays down the bunt, but there's 2 outs now.
Ah! A low pitch from Tamura goes under Murakami and to the backstop, and the runner advances to 3rd.
And now Oota takes a walk! Tamura back in the same pinch as last inning.
Mori looking to extend the inning, works the count full. But a grounder right to Yoshida ends the inning. Another opportunity wasted.
Bottom 5th
Nihon Bunri seems fine heading into the break as Takahashi first pitch swings to right center, and Tamura takes the first pitch to short.
Karasawa though takes a couple of pitches, gets ahead of the count, but he too grounds out to Yano to end the inning.
The lead is 1 for Nihon Bunri, but Kagawa Nishi is getting more opportunities on the basepaths.
Top 6th
Graphic shows that Tamura is already at 80 pitches. Will Kagawa Nishi continue to rack up the pitch count?
Kominami leads off, and is swinging away more now, fouling off several offerings from Tamura. Meanwhile, #11 Hatano is now up in the Nihon Bunri bullpen.
And it looks like Tamura gets the call on a tailing fastball that looked like it still missed the inside corner. Nevertheless, one out.
Kobayashi with an easy grounder to Nogawa for the 2nd out. And Nogawa with a fine throw after charging at a grounder from Ogawa to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
Yumoto collects his 3rd hit of the day with a one-out liner over a leaping Yano into left.
Ah! Ogawa misses the throw from Utsunomiya and it goes into foul territory! Yumoto advances to scoring position!
And now Murakami walks! Runners on 1st and 2nd and there is activity now in the Kagawa bullpen.
Nanba is almost hit by another ball, and the count runs full on him! He checks his swing on the pitch and now the bases are loaded!
Iwagami-kantoku calls for a full conference now as the situation is getting critical for Kagawa Nishi.
And now Ooi-kantoku calls on #15 Usuda to PH for Yoshida. Interesting call here.
Usuda falls behind 1-2 count goes even and Utsunomiya is shaking Nakanishi off over and over. Pitch is in the dirt and the count runs full again...
Slider is fouled off by Usuda...
And Usuda gets under a pitch and lifts it to left center! The outfield was shaded to pull and the fielders can't get to the ball! It falls in front of the wall as Yumoto and Murakami score! 3-0 Nihon Bunri with only one down!!
And Akiyama with a liner past a drawn in infield and that's into center! Kominami's throw is cut off as 2 more runners score making it 5-0 Nihon Bunri!!
Takahashi with a ball to deep left! But it goes foul. Utsunomiya gets him to bail on a low slider for the 2nd out. Tamura does the same to end the inning, but Usuda's timely pinch-hit sparks a 4-run inning giving Nihon Bunri what should be a comfortable lead.
Top 7th
Usuda stays in the game to play 1st.
After 2 quick outs by Fujiwara and Nakanishi, Utsunomiya takes pitches and eventually draws a walk.
That patient sentiment isn't shared by the bottom of the order though. Yano takes the first pitch and lines it just foul down the right field line. And after falling behind 0-2, pops one up. Noguchi moves in just in front of 2nd and makes the catch, retiring the side.
Bottom 7th
Karasawa attempts the safety bunt to get on base, but Kobayashi is there to make a great throw for the first out.
Noguchi dribbles one past the glove of Mori into center for a base hit. Runner on for Yumoto who is perfect on the day.
Noguchi with a great swing getting a low ball from Utsunomiya, but just lines it foul down the right field line.
Sanshin!! Utsunomiya gets Yumoto to swing on a slider in the dirt for strike 3!
Murakami flies out to right to end the inning, but down 5 with 2 innings to go it doesn't look good for the boys from Shikoku.
Top 8th
Oota with a popup in foul territory. Takahashi running towards his dugout, backhands... and falls into the dugout!
But he has the ball!! What a great (if not dangerous) play by Takahashi!
Mori with a bunt, but he pops it up! Tamura quickly off the mound to his left, reaches back and makes the catch!
And with Kominami grounding out to 1st, Nihon Bunri is probably all but assured a spot in the next round.
Bottom 8th
One out, and Usuda gets his 2nd hit lining one to left.
2-2 on Akiyama, and Utsunomiya looks like he was squeezed there by the ump. He subsequently walks Akiyama, putting runners at 1st and 2nd with one out.
Takahashi takes a flat offering from Utsunomiya and drives it to deep left center. That falls in front of the wall! Usuda and Akiyama score on a one-out triple by Takahashi! 7-0 Bunri.
And that'll be hit for Utsunomiya. #10 Okada comes in from the pen to relieve the ace. His compliment of pitches is about the same, as the speed too.
Oy. Okada's offerings too are rather flat, and Tamura plays add on with a liner to right. 8-0.
After a flyout to right, Okada plunks Karasawa, and the game threatens to get really out of control.
Okada does strike out Yumoto to end the inning, but the ending is surely not in doubt anymore. Kagawa will get their last at-bats, then gather their Koushien dirt and head back to Kagawa.
Top 9th
Kobayashi with a looper over Akiyama into left center for a base hit.
#15 Oosako comes into PH for Ogawa, and falls behind 0-2. He eventually swings high on an offspeed pitch and is retired for out #1.
Wild pitch from Tamura sends Kobayashi to 2nd. And another one on the very next pitch brings him to 3rd. Fujiwara then earns a walk, and perhaps Kagawa Nishi can avoid a shutout.
#13 Teraoka comes in to PH for Nakanishi. But he's fooled by the offspeed offerings of Tamura and falls behind 0-2. And he goes down swinging on a high fastball.
It's down to #2 Yamazaki, who is in to PH for Okada.
He hits a dribbler past a diving Noguchi into right! Kobayashi comes home and Kagawa Nishi avoids the shutout! 8-1!
And now Yano gets ahead 3-1 on Tamura. Count goes full, high chopper goes foul.
Yano swings at a low off-speed and it goes right to Noguchi, who retires him for the final out.
Kagawa Nishi put up a good fight early on against Nihon Bunri, but they were unable to get anything going. Eventually the pitching of Kagawa Nishi broke down and Nihon Bunri won going away.
Surely the boys of Shikoku are disappointed, but I think they made a good showing for the opening game.
Notable Players
Kobayashi Masakazu (Kagawa Nishi) - 1-4, R
Yamazaki Yuuichi (Kagawa Nishi) - 1-1, RBI
Yumoto Shouta (Nihon Bunri) - 3-5, R, 2 K
Usuda Hiroya (Nihon Bunri) - 2-2, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Noguchi Tatsuyoshi (Nihon Bunri) - 2-5, 2B, R
Tamura Yuuma (Nihon Bunri) - CG, 1 ER, 6 K, 5 BB
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Brackets and rosters are up (plus some notes)
Brackets and rosters for the 83rd Haru Koushien are now up! I realize that it's less than 24 hours before the first game, but at least they're up now.
A couple of notes for the upcoming Koushien:
A couple of notes for the upcoming Koushien:
- Because of my bowling league on Mondays, the 7th day of coverage may be delayed.
- Unlike in past years where I have to wait for archived footage on the main site, I may be able to liveblog like I have done in the past. Depends on what access I can get.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Senbatsu is on, but with a few changes
Haru Koushien will indeed go on, but there will be several changes which are quite understandable given the circumstances:
- The traditional march of teams into the stadium from the RF entrance will be canceled. As a result, games on Day 1 will be pushed ahead 20 minutes.
- The interval between games will be shortened to limit night games (to prevent usage of the stadium lights per the energy conservation order)
- The Alps stands (where the school's cheering section is - roughly from halfway up from the corner bases to the foul poles) will be prohibiting brabans (brass bands) and cheering. (Unfortunate, but sociologically makes sense)
- A portion of the ticket sales will go to help the victims of the quake/tsunami.
- Donation boxes will also be available for people at the stadium to make their own donations.
- Any ticket holder from the Tohoku region who cannot attend due to the earthquake/tsunami will receive a refund.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
83rd Senbatsu Cancelled?
(Hat tip Gen @ YakyuBaka)
It appears that there is a chance that senbatsu could be canceled due to the Great Tohoku Earthquake. Nothing is decided yet, although we would find out by the 18th at the latest.
I would think that they would consider postponing it in the hopes that things would settle down enough later, and I would think that having Koshien would bring a sense of normalcy, but at the same time canceling it in respect of the people and the situation is completely understandable.
It appears that there is a chance that senbatsu could be canceled due to the Great Tohoku Earthquake. Nothing is decided yet, although we would find out by the 18th at the latest.
I would think that they would consider postponing it in the hopes that things would settle down enough later, and I would think that having Koshien would bring a sense of normalcy, but at the same time canceling it in respect of the people and the situation is completely understandable.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Drawing Completed
The JHBF has decided to go ahead with the Haru Koushien perhaps as a way to bring a sense of normalcy to the country.
Unfortunately, because of Tohoku's issues, it isn't quite out of the picture. As a courtesy, Tohoku was given the final game of Round 1. However, it is still a question as to whether or not they will be able to participate.
So the draw was performed, and here are your brackets. Game will be played in descending order with 3 games a day starting on the 23rd.
Block A
Kagawa Nishi (Kagawa) vs. Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
Maebashi Ikuei (Gunma) vs. Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka)
Soushi Gakuen (Okayama) vs. Hokkai (Hokkaido)
Oodate Houmei (Akita) vs. Tenri (Nara)
Soushi Gakuen, the all-freshman team who now holds the record as the fastest team to ever reach Koushien, will get a fair test in Hokkai, and Maebashi Ikuei has a bit of an uphill battle against Kyukoku. Nihon Bunri gets an above average team in Kagawa Nishi. Tenri should be okay against Oodate Houmei, but I refuse to predict their potential anymore.
Block B
Yokohama (Kanagawa) vs. Hasami (Nagasaki)
Kanazawa (Ishikawa) vs. Kakogawa Kita (Hyogo)
Nichidai-san (Tokyo) vs. Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
Seisei (Shizuoka) vs. Kyoto Seishou (Kyoto)
Hasami may have rejoiced in reaching Koushien, until they drew Yokohama in the 1st round... Kanazawa and Kakogawa Kita should be a good matchup although Kanazawa should be favored... Nichidai-san and Meitoku Gijyuku will be a good matchup of schools with experience, and Seisei and Kyoto Seishou should be a level match, although either will have a hard time in the 2nd round.
Block C
Suijyou (Ibaraki) vs. Kousei Gakuin (Aomori)
Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama) vs. Sado (Niigata)
Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutsu (Hiroshima) vs. Riseisha (Osaka)
Kokugakuin Kugayama (Tokyo) vs. Kyushu Gakuin (Kumamoto)
Suijyou draws Kousei Gakuin. It's not an ideal matchup, but strictly talking matchups I wonder what the midset of Kousei will be... Sado gets to go to Koushien, but Chiben Wakayama? That's just wrong man.... Riseisha should be favored over Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutus, and could have a chance at the Best 4. And Kyushu Gakuin gets Kokugakuin Kugayama - that should be good.
Block D
Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo) vs. Jyounan (Tokushima)
Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) vs. Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima)
Kanzei (Okayama) vs. Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
Oogaki Nichidai (Gifu) vs. Tohoku (Miyagi)
Houtoku Gakuen should advance over Jyounan, but Kagoshima Jitsugyou looms in the rear view mirror. I love Kanzei, but Toukaidai Sagami? Really??! And if Tohoku didn't have enough problems, should they be able to make it to Koushien, they have to play Oogaki Nichidai. That hurts.
I'll try to get something more on the matchups in the next couple of days.
Unfortunately, because of Tohoku's issues, it isn't quite out of the picture. As a courtesy, Tohoku was given the final game of Round 1. However, it is still a question as to whether or not they will be able to participate.
So the draw was performed, and here are your brackets. Game will be played in descending order with 3 games a day starting on the 23rd.
Block A
Kagawa Nishi (Kagawa) vs. Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
Maebashi Ikuei (Gunma) vs. Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka)
Soushi Gakuen (Okayama) vs. Hokkai (Hokkaido)
Oodate Houmei (Akita) vs. Tenri (Nara)
Soushi Gakuen, the all-freshman team who now holds the record as the fastest team to ever reach Koushien, will get a fair test in Hokkai, and Maebashi Ikuei has a bit of an uphill battle against Kyukoku. Nihon Bunri gets an above average team in Kagawa Nishi. Tenri should be okay against Oodate Houmei, but I refuse to predict their potential anymore.
Block B
Yokohama (Kanagawa) vs. Hasami (Nagasaki)
Kanazawa (Ishikawa) vs. Kakogawa Kita (Hyogo)
Nichidai-san (Tokyo) vs. Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
Seisei (Shizuoka) vs. Kyoto Seishou (Kyoto)
Hasami may have rejoiced in reaching Koushien, until they drew Yokohama in the 1st round... Kanazawa and Kakogawa Kita should be a good matchup although Kanazawa should be favored... Nichidai-san and Meitoku Gijyuku will be a good matchup of schools with experience, and Seisei and Kyoto Seishou should be a level match, although either will have a hard time in the 2nd round.
Block C
Suijyou (Ibaraki) vs. Kousei Gakuin (Aomori)
Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama) vs. Sado (Niigata)
Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutsu (Hiroshima) vs. Riseisha (Osaka)
Kokugakuin Kugayama (Tokyo) vs. Kyushu Gakuin (Kumamoto)
Suijyou draws Kousei Gakuin. It's not an ideal matchup, but strictly talking matchups I wonder what the midset of Kousei will be... Sado gets to go to Koushien, but Chiben Wakayama? That's just wrong man.... Riseisha should be favored over Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutus, and could have a chance at the Best 4. And Kyushu Gakuin gets Kokugakuin Kugayama - that should be good.
Block D
Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo) vs. Jyounan (Tokushima)
Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) vs. Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima)
Kanzei (Okayama) vs. Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
Oogaki Nichidai (Gifu) vs. Tohoku (Miyagi)
Houtoku Gakuen should advance over Jyounan, but Kagoshima Jitsugyou looms in the rear view mirror. I love Kanzei, but Toukaidai Sagami? Really??! And if Tohoku didn't have enough problems, should they be able to make it to Koushien, they have to play Oogaki Nichidai. That hurts.
I'll try to get something more on the matchups in the next couple of days.
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