93rd Koushien Qualifying - July 15th-20th (Shikoku & Kyushu Prefectures)

Okinawa
I'm working backwards here now because Kyushu is entering final stages. In Okinawa's case, they've actually crowned a champion - which for those who follow kokoyakyu obsessively, already know.

The semifinals were as billed. Okinawa Shougaku, who had been looking to return to Koushien again facing Itoman who is looking for their first.

Itoman, sensing that this may be finally their time get out early, scoring in each of their first 3 innings, building a 4-2 lead. Okishou scores 1 in the 4th to keep themselves in the game. 2 in the 6th gave Itoman some breathing room, and ace Yamashiro (Tsubasa?) brought it home. Okinawa Shougaku would score 1 in the top of the 9th, but still falls 6-4.

So next up it was Kounan's turn. They're just 2 steps away from returning to Koushien - even after losing the face of their team, Shimabukuro Yousuke.

Standing in their way was Chuubu Shougyou who earlier had upset seeded Urasoe Shougyou.

Yet from the opening salvo it seemed like Kounan was in control. 4 in the first inning boded well. Chuubu did score 1 in the 3rd, which wasn't totally scary, but then in the 4th they came out for 5 runs suddenly taking a 6-4 lead. Kounan looked to be in bad shape, but was able to respond with 2 in the 6th to tie the game! The game stayed that way until the 8th inning when Chuubu would once again take the lead at 7-6! Kounan was now tasked with trying to find one more run in 2 innings.

And yet, they weren't able to deliver that tying run home. Chuubu Shougyou denies Kounan a chance at back-to-back titles and now was on the precipice of their own title!

The stage was set then for Itoman and Chuubu Shougyou. Could Itoman finally make good? Could Chuubu get their 3 appearance in the last 10 years?

Chuubu would open the game early notching a run in the top of the 1st. Indeed, they had opportunities to score, but Itoman denied them the ability to expand the lead. That meant that Itoman was still in the game. Indeed, in the 4th they found an equalizer. And then in the very next inning they score the go-ahead run! Now Yamashiro had to bring the game home.

And he did! Itoman holds on for the 2-1 win and earns their first trip to Koushien!

Kagoshima
The round of 16 wound up being filled with upsets. Over at Kamoike Municipal, Reimei was the first seeded team to fall, falling behind Kagoshima Jyouhou 3-0 before trying a comeback in the 9th. That fell short by 1 and Reimei bows out.

Right behind them was Kanoya. Taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the 3rd, they had to scramble after Ijyuuin scored 4 in their next 2 turns. They successfully tied the game in the 5th but could never find the go-ahead run. That would be unfortunate as Ijyuiin scores the sayonara run in the 9th to send the 2nd seeded team home.

Over at Kamoike Prefectural, the favorites held court. Kagoshima Jitsugyou wins in 7 over Kanoya Chuo, while Satsuma Chuo who earlier upset Kagoshima Jyousei defeated Kajiki 5-4, having to scramble when Kajiki scored 4 in the 5th to take a 1-run advantage.

On the 2nd day of the round of 16 games, Shounan methodically build a 9-0 lead over the first 6 innings only to see it mostly evaporate as Yakushima scored 7 over the next 2. That would be the closest they get as Shounan scores 4 to put the nail in the coffin.

Kagoshima Kougyou meanwhile advances with ease as ace Tomishige throws a complete game 4-hitter over Kagoshima Gyoukuryuu.

Things were much harder for the seeded teams at Kamoike Prefectural. Kamimura Gakuen was first up against Sendai. Kamimura Gakuen was in control and looked to have the game in hand, holding a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the 9th. But a lapse was all Sendai needed as they tied the game! The game stayed in a tenuous draw until the 12th where Kamimura scored 3. Yet again Sendai looked to mount a rally. Sendai was able to score 1, but that would be it.

Kanoya Chuo was in even worse shape against Kagoshima Minami. They were down for most of the game and as the late innings approached were down 3-1. However Minami may have been caught up in the moment. Kanoya Chuo scores 3 in the 8th to take the 4-3 lead. Kagoshima Minami couldn't recover in time and as a result their summer came to an end.

Quarterfinal games have been completed as Typhoon Ma-on cancelled games across the country for a day or two (depending on where you are). Kagoshima Jitsugyou ended Kagoshima Jyouhou's run with a convincing 13-3 win. Satsuma Chuo continues to look impressive mercy ruling Ijyuuin 13-3 in 5. But they will be tested against the formidable Kajitsu squad.

Those delayed quarterfinal games had Shounan sticking tough against Kamimura Gakuen... until Kamimura scored 7 in the bottom of the 7th to invoke the mercy rule. Tough loss for them. The other quarterfinal was Kanoya Chuo shutting out Kagoshima Kougyou 7-0 in 7.

So it's Kajitsu v. Satsuma Chuo in one semi and Kamimura Gakuen v. Kanoya Chuo.

Odds are, we're seeing a Kajitsu v. Kamimura Gakuen final. But anything can happen, it's the reason why we love this game, right?

Miyazaki
Round 2

• Seeded teams had mixed results, though all advanced. Miyazaki Kita wound up going 14 innings with Kobayashi Nishi, but won 5-4. Houshou 3-hits Tsuno, winning 3-0. Nichinan Gakuen defeats Miyakonojyou Nishi 7-2.
  

Round 3

• Nobeoka Gakuen advanced via the mercy rule so no trouble there, but Miyazaki Nichidai wins by just 2-0 over Hyuuga Gakuin though they did 3-hit them. Miyakonojyou Higashi, who had just upset Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka, advanced with a 9-3 win over Nichinan.
• After a day off because of rain, the the 3 seeded teams who played yesterday all advanced - Miyakonojyou Shougyou, Miyazaki Kita and Nichinan Gakuen.

Oita
Round 2

• 5-6 seed Oita separates themselves from Yanagigaura with 3 in the 8th for a 6-3 win.
• Kunisaki blows an early 5-0 lead but eventually defeats Oita Tsurusaki 7-6 in 11.
• Nihon Bunridai Fuzoku needed the bottom of the 9th to score their only 2 runs beating Tsukumi 2-1.
• Mori's run ended when they lost 10-2 to 7-8 seed Tsurusaki Kougyou.
  
• 3-4 seed Touin used a 6-run 8th to beat Beppu Aoyama 7-4.
• 5-6 Hita Rinkou had a 5-run 5th en route to a 6-2 win over Usuki.

In the only Round 3 game before the rainouts, Meihou needed 6 innings before scoring their first run against Saiki Kakujyou, once they scored, it was all over. 7-0 called after 8.

Kumamoto
Finishing up Round 2, Aso Chuo outlasted Touryou 5-4, while Jyouhoku and Kumamoto combined for just 7 hits with Jyouhoku getting the 1-0 win.

Round 3

• Seeded Chiharadai after a shaky start mercy ruled Kumamoto Denpa Tousen 14-4 in 6. Next up for them will be Kumamoto Kougyou.
• Yatsushiro Higashi also moves on to the next round after recording their 2nd 8-1 win in as many games. Kumamoto Gakuendai Fuzoku will be their opponent in the round of 16.
  
• Kyushu Gakuin advanced easily and will play Amakusa Kougyou next.
• Luther Gakuin, who is seeded only wins 1-0 over Tamana Kougyou.
• Shuugakukan is also cruising through the brackets and is on a collision course with Toukaidai Fuzoku Dai-ni though they only won 3-2 over Yatsushiro.
  
• Senshuudai Tamana is trying once again to make their first Koushien appearance, and advances 9-4 over Minamata.
• Kumamoto Kokufu draws Jyouhoku after both face little opposition.

Round 4

• We get our first seeded casualty as Kumamoto Kougyou mercy rules Chiharadai 9-2 in 8.
• Yatsushiro Higashi would fall next as Kumamoto Gakuendai Fuzoku scores 5 in the 1st en route to a 7-6 win.
• Kyushu Gakuin early on in their match against Amakusa Kougyou looked to be the 3rd straight team to fall, but a 9-2 run in the 5th-8th innings save their season as they move on 11-8.
• Kyushu Gakuin's win though did not stop the bleeding. Luther Gakuin watched as Buntoku scored 2 in the 7th to pull ahead for good at 4-2.
• Shuugakukan becomes just the 2nd seeded team to advance to the Best 8 with a 3-0, 4-hit shutout over Uto.
• Chinzei continues the upset trend scoring the go-ahead run in the 8th to defeat Toukaidai Fuzoku Dai-ni 3-2.
• Senshuudai Tamana would be the 3rd and final seeded team to advance with a 4-1 win over Ariake. This is because Kumamoto Kokufu would give up 4 in the 8th to Jyouhoku and fall 6-3.

So after all 8 seeded teams made the round of 16, only 3 survive to the Best 8 - Kyushu Gakuin, Shuugakukan and Senshuudai Tamana. These 3 have been stalwarts in Kumamoto, so in some ways this is no surprise. What will be interesting is if they can continue carrying the flags.

Nagasaki
Round 2 play continued on the 15th...

• Shimabara and Gotou were in a low-scoring affair, but Shimabara got the better of it with a sayonara run to win 4-3.
• Keihou pulled off the upset against Nagasaki Nanzen winning 2-1 in 12!
• And to make it 3 straight close games at Sasebo, Nagasaki Kougyou scored their only run in the 9th, but fell 2-1 to Kyushu Bunka.
• Nagasaki Nichidai cruised over Iki and will face seeded Seihou. How this is only a round of 16 matchup I have no idea.
• Kaisei (no, not that Kaisei) defeated Sasebo Nishi 11-0 in 6.
• Souseikan became another seeded casualty as they lost to Sasebo Jitsugyou 5-3.
• Obama invoked the presidential rallies of the man with the same name, tying the game at 1 versus Shimabara Nougyou in the bottom of the 9th and winning the game just 1 inning later.

Round 3

• Well, that powerhouse matchup between Seihou and Nagasaki Nichidai wound up being a bit one sided. Seihou scores 6 after falling behind 2-0 and won 8-5.
• Isehaya separates themselves from Sasebo Tousen with 4 in the 9th to win 10-6.
• Seiryou continues its run after upsetting Hasami by beating Shimabara 8-1.
• Kaisei with their 2nd mercy-rule win moves on to play Isahaya.
• Sasebo Jitsugyou up 2 watches Sasebo Minami score 5 in the 6th to find themselves down 3. But they come back to score a pair of runs in the 7th and 8th to come back and win 8-7!
• Keihou after their upset also won their game against Kawatana 9-6.
• Finally Obama made their lives a bit easier after a stressful game, winning 7-3 over Kyushu Bunka.

Quarterfinals

• Seiryou seems to be showing themselves to be a contender. Obama is no match for them as they get mercy ruled 9-2 in 8. They will play Kaisei who also invoked the mercy rule, defeating Isahaya also by the score of 9-2 (in 7 innings).
• Seihou advances to the Best 4 with an 8-4 win over Sasebo Jitsugyou. Their opponent will be Keihou who pulls off their 2nd upset against Sasebo Kougyou 8-1 in 7 innings!

Saga
Round 3

• Seeded Karatsu Shougyou with a 5-2 win over Hokuryou moves on to face Saga Nishi who faced no opposition from Tosu Shougyou.
• Same with Saga Gakuen as they defeat Shiroishi. They'll play Kashima Jitsugyou who will get rest after winning 2-1 in 11 against Tosu Kougyou.
• Deanna's pet team, Saga Kita looks to be a team of destiny again. They bookend the game with runs, defeating seeded Ryuukoku 5-4 in 10! They get Miyaki next.
• And in what will be the final quarterfinal matchup, Waseda Saga is blanked by Kyuuragi 10-0 while Saga Kougyou mercy rules Saga Nougyou.
  

Quarterfinals

• Quarterfinal 1 had Karatsu Shougyou and Saga Nishi. The game was tied at 1 at the end of regulatio. Saga Nishi tried to put the game away with a run in the top of the 10th. But when Karatsu Shougyou tied the game in the bottom half, the game bogged down. Neither team was able to score after that and the game ended in a 2-2 draw! That means they'll have to replay the game and make it that much more difficult to advance.
• In the 2nd quarterfinal on the 20th, Saga Kita gives up a late pair of runs to Miyaki but it's in consequential as they win 4-2.

Fukuoka
Fukuoka by the 20th had finished regional play and had their redraw for the prefectural bracket.

July 15th

• Kurume had the Minami Block B, C & D finals. In the Block B final, Itoshima defeated Mizuma 4-2 to advance. Nishi Nippon Tankidai Fuzoku secured the Block C bid after a 3-run 7th gave them a 4 run lead. They would win 5-2 over Shuuyuukan. Finally, Kurume Shougyou scores 4 runs on just 7 hits and advances 4-0 over Kurume.
• Kasuga had the Minami A, E, F finals. Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou wins Block A as expected 7-1 over Chikushi. Higashi-Fukuoka's Mori 4-hits Chikushidai in a 4-0 shutout in Block E, Musashidai's 3-run 1st is the final margin as they win 7-4 over Hakata in Block F.
• Ootani had Kita Block A and E finals. Touchiku slips by Ikutokukan 2-1 in the A final. Inatsuki Shikoukan can only muster a run in the 9th against Jiyuugaoka as they fall 6-1.
• Chikuhou Ryokuchi was host to the Kita Block C & F finals. Touyou defeated Noogata 12-0 in 5 to move out of Block C. Kokura, who mercy ruled seeded Orio, advances out of Block F with a 10-2 win in 8 over Kurate.
• Kita-Kyushu Municipal has the B & D finals. Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku easily goes to prefectural play from Block B with a 10-1 win over Kokura Nishi. Moji Gakuen scores 3 in the 8th to shock Houkoku Gakuen 3-2 in Block F.

July 16

• Kurume again had 3 games - Blocks I, J and K finals. Chikuyou easily handles Nanchiku 11-2 in 7. Fukuoka Kougyou mercy rules Fukushou 9-0 in 7, and in a shocker, Asakura rallies with 3 runs in the last 2 innings to defeat Yanagigawa 6-5!
• Kasuga with Block G & H finals. Oomuta shocks Kyushu Sangyoudai Kyushu leading wire to wire to advance 4-2! Fukuoka Kaisei does the same thing to Block H seed Toukaidai Dai-go winning 5-1!
• Finally in Kita Block G & H over in Kita-Kyushu, Hokuchiku shuts out seeded Kita-Kyushu Shiritsu as ace Imanaga throws a 6-hitter! Iidzuka rounds out the field defeating Yahata Minami 6-2.

The prefectural draw was not kind to some teams. Not only did Higashi-Fukuoka and Iiduzka draw an extra game, they drew each other. Not only that, but the winner in all likelihood will play Jiyuugaoka. Certainly a hell quadrant if there was one.

For others, their path is a bit easier. Kyukoku does face competition that has Koushien experience, but not recently. Same with Nishi Nippon Tankidai Fuzoku and Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou.

Kochi
Day 1 for Kochi went by with little fanfare or excitement. All games were called and the minimum losing margin was 7.

The 17th was better in terms of closer games. 4 of the 7 were decided by 1:

• Kochi Chuo's Ishigaki throws a 3-hit shutout as they win 1-0 over Sukumo Kougyou.
• Kochi Minami's 4 runs early are enough to beat Kochi Higashi Kougyou 4-3.
• Kochi Nishi down 7-0 to Odzu scores 1 in the 7th then 5 more in the 8th. But the tying run was left begging.
• Susaki and Kochi Tousen each scored a run in the 7th, but it would be Kochi Tousen who would score the sayonara run to win 2-1.

Meanwhile, Kochi always a favorite to make Koushien wins 13-1 over Sukumo. Kochi Shougyou, who was strong back in the day starts off with a 11-1 win over Hata Nougyou.

The first game of the 3rd round had Meitoku Gijyuku continued on with their 2nd mercy game while Tosa pulled away after Kochi Kougyou scored 5 in the 6th to make it a 6-5 ballgame.

Ehime
1st round play at the start about as exciting as watching paint dry. Games for the most part were not totally competitive. Imabari Nishi this year was not a seeded team and thus had to play the first round where they dispatched Komatsu 13-0. Saibi too had to play and they beat Matsuyama Chuo 7-0.

The only exception it seemed was a game between Oozu Nougyou and Imabari Kita Oomishima. Tied at 2 going into extras, Oozu scores 3 to seemingly put the game away. Except that Oomishima decided that they weren't ready to go home yet and scored 3 of their own. This after being 2-2 through 9??! Anyways, Oomishima didn't seem to have any choice about going home as Oozu scores 3 more in the 11th, and that was game.

But turn the calendar to the 17th and we started having drama.

• Yawatehama held off a charge by Houjyou that saw their lead shrink to 1 at 3-2 before recording the final out.
• Niihama Tousen, down 7-3 to Matsuyama Minami finds a way to score 4 in the 9th to tie the game. 2 innings later, they score 4 more to win 11-7.
• Niihama Kougyou, much like their bretheren team, scores a run in the 9th to send it into enchousen against Ehimedai Fuzoku where also 2 innings later they score the go-ahead run to win 6-5.
• Finally Matsuyama Kita gets out to an early lead, but watches as Nomura slowly whittles away at it. They pull within 1 twice, but can never find the equalizer, falling 5-4.

Typhoon Ma-on cancelled games here too with the 1st round finally finishing on the 21st.

Tokushima
Not much to report here out of Tokushima. Most games are going by uneventful, and the 2nd round was started just before the typhoon hit.

Jyounan was able to get their game in, though there were trailing for the first part of it against Awa before scoring 7 in the 7th to call the mercy rule.

Kagawa
Much was the same in Kagawa. Though unseeded Eimei advanced with a 7-3 win over Ishida. And 4 seed Sakaide was shutout by Sakaide Shougyou 2-0! Sangawa did indeed advance with a 13-0 win in 5 over Takamatsu Chuo.

93rd Koushien Qualifying - July 13th-19th (Hokushinetsu Prefectures)

Niigata
With a day off on the 12th, play would begin on the 13th with the 2nd round.

• 5-8 seed Sado, who made it to senbatsu, starts their run with a 12-1 win over Kamo.
• 3 seed Nagaoka Oote finds themselves having to rally multiple times against Takada Kitashiro including scoring 3 in the 9th just to tie the game! They would advance with a 8-7 win in 10, but it has to be a wakeup call for them. We'll have to see how they do against Tookamachi Sougou.
  
• At Midori-no-mori, 5-8 seed Tookamachi wins easily over Sanjyou Sougou.
• Top seed Nihon Bunri methodically picks apart Kashiwazaki 7-0 in 7 innings. Odjiya Nishi is next on the docket.
• 2 seed Hokuestu lets Niigata pull within 1 in the bottom of the 8th but 2 in the 9th gives them enough cushion.
• 4 seed Chuuetsu too has issues in their first game. They fall behind 3-0, then 5-1 to Sanjyou before scoring 2 in the 7th and in the bottom of the 9th to win 6-5.
• 5-8 seed Sekine Gakuen wins handily 6-2 over Arai and will play Nagaoka Kougyou next.
• It seems like the 5-8 seeds are having a better time of things as Gosen defeats Aikawa 11-1 in 6.
• Teikyou Nagaoka continues to carry the name of their parent university as they win 1-0 over Takada.
• Niigata Meikun takes a 5-2 lead and cruises to a 6-4 win over Muikamachi.
• Niigata Dai-ichi comes back with 2 in the bottom of the 9th to steal the win away from Niigata Kouyou.

No day off between Rounds 2 and 3, as teams start turning around faster between games.

• Nagaoka Oote recovers after the shaky start to mercy rule Tookamachi Sougou.
• Niigata Kenou Kougyou needed their early 3-0 lead as Niitsu Kougyou would start trying to make a comeback. However Kenou continued to score runs to keep the distance. Niitsu would pull within 1 at 9-8 but could never pull level.
  
• Nihon Bunri will play Teikyou Nagaoka as both win their games with little trouble.
• Hokuetsu after stumbling in the 1st against Niigata Kougyou, scores 10 unanswered to win 11-5. Their opponent will be Shirone who themselves score 10 unanswered in the last 3 innings to defeat Niigata Shougyou 11-8.
• Chuuetsu plays yet another close game, this time against Niigata Sangyoudai Fuzoku once again scoring a sayonara run in the bottom of the 9th. Their next opponent will be Bunsui as Sanjyou Higashi cannot prevent the mercy rule from being called in the 7th.
• Sado advances with a 5-1 win over Nagaoka, but will have a tough test against Niigata Meikun.
• Tookamachi is the first seeded team to fall as Murakami Sakuragaoka mercy rules them 10-2 in 7.
• Gosen and Maki will face off in the round of 16 with solid wins.
• Sekine Gakuen's victory in the 3rd round means that Tookamachi, Nihon Bunri's seeded opposition in their quadrant was the only one not to advance to the round of 16. Sekine's opponent will be Niigata Dai-ichi.

Nagano
Round 2

• Saku Chousei shows little rust in their first game mercy ruling Iiyama Kita.
• Maruko Shigakukan edges out Nagano Shougyou 3-2.
• Toukai Dai-san has no trouble with Nakano Risshikan 10-0 in 6.
• Matsumoto Kougyou down 6-1 scores 10 (10!) in the top of the 8th to win 11-7 over Ina Yayoigaoka.
• Nagano Nichidai easily dispatches Matsumoto Arigasaki 10-2 in 7.
• Iiyama scores 3 in the 8th to defeat Okaya Kougyou 4-3.
• At Ueda Prefectural on the 13th we had 3 close games as Shinonoi records a sayonara victory against Matsumoto Misuzugaoka 4-3, Hotaka lets Suzuka Engei pull within 1 in the bottom of the 9th but win 3-2, and Shimo-Suwa Kouyou pulls off a last minute win over Ikeda Kougyou.
• Matsushou Gakuen, absent as of late in Nagano looks to make a comeback with a 7-0 win over Tatsuno.
• Shimo-Ina Nougyou score 4 in the 8th to cut a 5-0 deficit down to 1, but can't find the equalizer to Nozawa Kita.
• Chikyuu Kankyou (translated means Global Environment) has actually done decently in recent years, starts their run with a 7-2 win over Tagawa.
• Koumi scores a run in the 8th and 9th to defeat Nagano Minami 2-1.

Round 3

• Saku Chousei struggles against Shinonoi winning 2-1 though they did only give up 4 hits.
• Hotaka Shougyou pulls a minor upset against Maruko Shigakukan 8-5.
• Toukai Dai-san moves onto the round of 16 with a 3-1 win over Suwa Seiryou.
• Nagano Nichidai wins its 2nd consecutive game 10-2 in 7. Ina Kita is their victim this time.
• Akaho pings Shima-Suwa Kouyou for a run in 4 consecutive innings to win 5-4.
• Nagano tries to make a game out of it, pulling within 1 right after Komoro Shougyou expanded their lead to 5, but can't produce the douten run.
• Chikyuu Kankyou 1-hits Okaya Minami winning 6-0.
• Matsushou Gakuen spots 6 runs to Kami-Ina Nougyou in the top of the 1st, but slowly works their way back culminating with 2 in the 9th for the win!

Round 4

• Saku Chousei is back on track with a 9-0 win over Akaho in 7.
• Chikyuu Kankyou's run ends with a 4-1 loss to Tokyo Shidai Shiojiri. Too bad, they had interesting uniforms.

We're in the best 8 now and the matchups are as follows:

• Saku Chousei v. Nagano
• Iiyama v. Matsushou Gakuen
• Matsumoto Dai-ichi v. Nagano Nichidai
• Toukai Dai-san v. Tokyo Shidai Shiojiri

I wouldn't be surprised to see Saku Chousei v. Matsushou Gakuen, and Nagano Nichidai v. Tokyo Shidai Shiojiri in the semis.

Toyama
Round 1 came and gone without much excitement save for a 5-5 game between Takaoka and Tonami before Takaoka scores 5 to decide the issue, and Toyama hanging on for dear life against Fukuoka winning 9-8.

Round 2 so far has also gone by without much excitement save for Kouhou winning 8-6 in extra innings against Kamiichi, and... oh yeah... Toyama Higashi, a 3-4 seed, manages just 5 hits and strikes out 10 times, rallies for 2 in the 9th, but loses to Takaoka Nishi 3-2!

Fukui
Fukui's 1st day of action ended with a high-scoring affair between Usui and Maruoka. Usui build an 8-4 lead, and seemed to be in control. However in the bottom of the 8th, Maruoka scores 6 and shocks Usui by taking a 10-8 lead! But they say the last 3 outs are the hardest to get and in this case it was. Usui scores 4 to retake the lead! Maruoka tries to mount a final rally but falls a run short losing 12-11.

Final day of 1st round games saw the following:

• Koshi use a pair of runs in the 6th and 7th to beat Asuwa 4-2.
• Fujishima using a 4-run first to win 5-4 over Tsuruga.
• Takefu Higashi outscoring Katsuyama 2-1 in the 6th. That was the final score too.

Ishikawa
The opening game in Ishikawa started off with a 14-9 win by Terai over Tsurugi.

The games on the first full day of competition included some wacky scores. Most notably was a 9-4 run by Noto to defeat Kanazawa Kouyou 12-11.

In other 1st round games, Daishouji Jitsugyou made a late comeback against Komatsu Kougyou, but would fall 1-run short at 7-6. Ootori Gakuen scores a run in the 8th and 9th innings to defeat Houdatsu 3-2.

Komatsu Shiritsu reversed a 4-run 8th but Kanazawa Fushimi to win 5-4. Nanao Shimonome down 7-1 score 4 in the 8th and 3 in the 9th to bid sayonara to Touka Gakuen Oyamadai. Finally Daishouji scores 2 in the 10th to beat Suisei 6-4.

Shiga
Shiga opened play on the 14th with an extra inning affair. Mizoguchi outlasts Hikone Kougyou 2-1 in 11. Other 1st round games included:

• Hikone Higashi, not seeded this year begins their march to Koushien with a 12-3 win over Yasu.
• Maibara scoring 2 in the 9th to beat Shiga Tankidai Fuzoku 4-2.
• Youkaichi withe 3 late runs, including the sayonara run in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Shiga Gakuen 6-5.
• Hino's run in the 6th was enough to defeat Nagayama 5-4.
• Kousen and Hachiman Kougyou do all their scoring in the final 4 innings capped off by 3 in the bottom of the 9th to give Kousen the 5-4 sayonara win.
• Ika and Kousei spread their runs throughout the game, though Kousei wins by the same 5-4 score.
• Kawase allows Higashi-Ootsu to come back from 4 down to send it into extras, though they win with a run in the 11th.
• Rittou scores 2 in the bottom of the 8th to take a 6-3 lead over Notogawa. With just 3 outs to go, Notogawa scores 4 to take a 1-run lead! Rittou is unable to respond and Notogawa advances.
• Ishiyama pulled off a miraculous comeback against Torahime. Down 6-0, Ishiyama begins their comeback with 3 in the lucky 7. Torahime scores 4 to make it a 7-run deficit. Ishiyama only manages 2 putting them down 10-5. In the bottom of the 9th, neither ace Fujimoto nor reliever Takahashi can prevent Ishiyama from scoring 6 to complete the comeback and win 11-10!

The first game of the 3rd round as well as games on the 19th were rained out due to Typhoon Ma-on.

93rd Koushien Qualifying - July 12th-15th (Kanto Region)

Covering Kanto will be tough considering the sheet number of games that will be played. But we got to cover them, so いくよ！

Gunma
Gunma actually gets a break after games on the 12th. Well, it was supposed to be anyways.

At Isesaki, Tsumagoi used a 4-run 8th to pull a reversal on Oota Kougyou 6-4. Nishioura held a 3-0 lead over Oota, but watched as the lead slipped away. Oota would tie the game and force extra innings. In the 11, Nishioura scored a run, but couldn't close out the game as Oota got a run on ace Morie. Onto the 12th and once again Nishoura scored a run, and once again Morie couldn't hold. But after that neither team could mount another charge. And thus the game ends in a 5-5 draw!

Moving on to Kiryuu, and Haruna uses a 4-run bottom of the 8th to beat Maebashi Nishi 5-2. Tatebayashi Shoukou scores 7 in the 6th to win 8-0 in 7 against Shibukawa Kougyou.

Takasaki Jyounan is our next stop and Oota Shougyou and Takasaki Kenkoufukushi advance via the mercy rule. In the 3rd game, Takasaki Higashi retakes the lead right after Annaka Sougou scores 3 to take a 1 run lead. They would go on to win 4-3.

Finally at Shikishima, Tokiwa has no problem with Maebashi Minami, while Maebashi Kougyou and Isesaki Shougyou throw 4-0 shutouts.

Nishoura and Oota would come back the next day for their replay, and both aces retook the hill. However, Oota's ace Tajima couldn't keep up the 2nd time around and was knocked out in just 2 innings. By that time, Nishioura was up 6-0 and went on to win by that margin at 13-7.

Tochigi
Tochigi is well into their 2nd round now. So let's see what's happened since the 11th:

Round 1

• At Kanuma, Utsunomiya Kita levels the score at 3 in the 9th then gets the gyakuten run in the 10th to beat Kaminokawa. The 2nd game on the 12th saw Hakuoudai Ashikaga slide by 2-1 on Seiran Taito. And in the last game scheduled for the stadium, Kanumi Minami goes the minimum on Nasu Kaijyou.
• Prefectural Tochigi saw seeded Ootawara have to rally from down 6-0 to Utsunomiya Shougyou to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th. All that work though went for naught when Utsunomiya scored a run in the 10th for the upset! Fellow seed Kokugakuin Tochigi proceeded to the next round though only by a 5-2 margin against Sano.
• Tochigi Municipal on the 12th had 2 blowouts with Kuroiso Minami and seeded Mooka Kougyou winning easily while Ashikaga Kougyou had to forfeit to Kanuma Shoukou. The next day was more competitive as Kurubane scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Utsunomiya Higashi 4-3 while Motegi survived a 9th inning rally to defeat Mibu 4-3.

Round 2

• Utsunomiya Minami started off Round 2 with a 7-4 win over Tochigi Kougyou. Their next opponent will be Utsunomiya who beat Imaichi 14-2. Also at Prefectural Tochigi, seeded Sakushin and Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku both won by the mercy rule. Bunsei will play Sakura Seishuu after beating Mooka 4-2.
• Nasu Seihou will be Sakushin Gakuin's opponent in the round of 16 after just getting by Oyama Hokuou 2-1. Yaita Chuo and Kanuma will meet up in the round of 16 after both shut out their respective opponents, Sano Nichidai and Utsunomiya Seiryou.

Ibaraki
Ibaraki had completed 1st round play by the 13 and was off until the 16th.

Kasama

• Tokiwadai scores the only run in its game against Koga Dai-san, while Yuuki Dai-ichi gets the last laugh with its 4 runs in the 9th reversing the 4 Sowa Kougyou scored in the 1st to win 6-5.

Mito Municipal

• Souwa and Ushiku Eishin will square off in their next round after winning their respective games. Hasaki and Ibaraki, who played on the 13th, will too face each other after winning their games, though Ibaraki almost blew a 4-run lead in the bottom of the 9th.

Tsuchiura

• Tamataukuri Kougyou's reward for beating Tsukuba Kouka will be a matchup against #7 Tsuchiura Kohoku while Ina will face #3 Mito Kiryou. Shimodate Dai-ichi after getting the sayonara victory against Ryuugasaki Minami will play Tsuchiura Dai-san.

Hitachi

• Midorigaoka led Katsuta Kougyou 3-2 before Katsuta scored 2 in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead. But then Midorigaoka scored 2 of their own to re-take it. And then Katsuta scored 2 more to... well... win. Mito Kougyou will meet #6 Kasumigaura after mercy ruling Hitachi Dai-ichi

Saitama
In notable games from the 2nd round:

• Yashio scores 1 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th to beat Yashio Minami 5-3.
• Almost all seeded teams advanced with little opposition. 3-4 seed Okegawa gave up 4 runs to Matsuyama in the 5th to take a 5-2 lead. An insurance run in the 7th proved to be the difference as Okegawa would score 3 in the bottom half of the inning to close within 1.
  
• Fudouoka, down 7-4, rally in the last 2 innings to tie it at 8 versus Kawagoe. The game goes 5 more innings before Fudouoka completes the comeback to win 9-8 in 14.
• Unseeded Seibou Gakuen moves on with a 6-1 win over Hanyuu Jitsugyou.
• In the 11th, Oomiya Kita would score 2 right after Kitamoto scored 1. Of course that means that Oomita Kita scored the winning run.
• Honjyou Dai-ichi scores 3 in the bottom of the 8th to make a reversal on Koshigaya Nishi 4-3.
• Sakae Kita has a lucky 7 as 5 runs propel them to a 7-5 win over Kumagaya Nishi.
• Finally, Shiritsu Urawa and Wakou do all their scoring in the last 2 innings, but it was the 2-1 margin that Urawa had that was the difference.

Round 3 is where we start seeing a lot of the seeded teams (though there are 16 of them).

• 9-16 seed Sayamagaoka shuts out Fukaya Shougyou 4-0.
• Omiya Prefectural is where the major seeded teams go. 1-2 seed Hanasaki Tokuharu and Rikkyou Niiza both win handily. However Ageo struggled with Kumagaya Shougyou. Only able to build a 3-0 lead, Kumashou mounted a 2-out comeback in the bottom of the 9th. They made a pitching change and recorded the last out.
• 9-16 seed Kawaguchi needed runs in the 8th and 9th to defeat Shouhei 4-3.
• Tokorozawa Kita's advancement by forfeit showed a bit as they had to rally twice, once in extras, to defeat Namegawa Sougou 3-2 in 11.
• 5-8 seed Kasukabe Kyouei has a smoother 2nd round as they beat Kodama 10-0 in 6 innings.
• Seibou Gakuen faced their first tough game against Tokorozawa Chuo going 12 innings before winning 4-3.
• It was a crazy 11th inning between Sakae Higashi and Asaka. Sakae Higashi scored 2 and looked to advance, but it was Asaka who had the last laugh scoring 3 to finish the game!

Chiba
July 12th

• Senshuudai Matsudo and Chiba Meitoku were involved in a late scramble. Down by 1, Chiba Meitoku scores 2 to take a 4-3 lead over the top 4 seed. Matsudo scrambling in the bottom of the 9th ties it up! And then in extras Meitoku once again puts the pressure on the top seed with 2 more runs! Yet Matsudo proves their mettle by once again scoring enough to tie the game! And after a scoreless 11th, the game is called a draw (much to my surprise).
• Toukaidai Bouyou, a strong non-seeded team was hanging in there against Ryuukeidai Kashiwa. But things went horribly wrong in the bottom of the 8th, and Kashiwa separated themselves with 4 runs for a 9-5 win.
• 5-8 seed Shigakukan had opportunity after opportunity against Kokubun. 9 hits, 16 walks, and yet it took until the bottom of the 10 for them to score the one and only run of the game.
• 9-12 seed Sakura Nishi was completely blindsided by Matsudo Kokusai, falling 8-0 in 8 innings.
• Yakuendai emphatically states it doesn't want to play extras, breaking a 4-4 tie with 4 in the top of the 9th over Mobara Shougyou.
• Chiba Kougyou blows a 2-0 lead to Tougane, but manages to tie it up and win in the bottom of the 10th.
• Nagasa shocks Shiritsu Matsudo as they score 4 in the top of the 9th. This after Matsudo had scored 2 the prior half inning to lead 4-2.
• 5-8 seed Kisaradzu Sougou in deep trouble against Kemigawa, score 6 in the bottom of the 8th to win 8-5.

July 13th

• Narashino 3-hits Chiba Minami in 7, advancing with a 7-0 win.
• 5-8 seed Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku was in a lot of trouble against Chuo Gakuin. In fact after 5 innings they trailied 5-0! But Chuo Gakuin couldn't stand the pressure of holding the lead. Immediately they started giving back runs - 2 in the 6th, then 1... 2.... 3... 4 runs in the 7th meant that Chuo would have to come from behind. But as is generally the case you get one shot and Chuo sadly wasted it. 7-5 Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku advances.
• 9-12 seed Awa handles Chiba Kita easily in their 1st game 11-4 in 7 innings.
• And in the replay of the Senshuudai Matsudo-Chiba Meitoku game, Chiba Meitoku couldn't repeat their performance. Matsudo advances 5-2.

July 14th

• 13-16 seed Keiai Gakuen in their first game manages just 3 runs, but shuts out Shuumei Yachiyo.
• 5-8 seed Takushokudai Kouryou goes into extras against Kisaradzu, and manages to win in the 10th inning 4-2.
• A lot of the lower seeds are having difficulties in their opening games and 9-12 seed Choushi Shougyou is no different, beating Shounan Takayanagi 3-0.
• 13-16 seed Makuhari Shougyou does fall, 4-1 to Chiba Shoudai Fuzoku.
• Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu is one of the teams to start 3rd round play and advance 6-3 over Funabashi Keimei.
• Ryuukeidai Kashiwa is taken to the limit against Funabashi Higashi, scoring the sayonara run in the bottom of the 9th.
• Narita moves onto the 3rd round, though by only a 5-1 margin over Nagareyama Ootakanomori.
• And in their 3rd game in 3 days, Senshuudai Matsudo moves on with a 6-2 win over Chiba Kougyou.

June 15th

• Kisaradzu Sougyou is one of the first major teams to fall. Playing against Yachiyo, the teams plated at least 1 run in each of the first 3 innings. Combine that with a run for Kisaradzu and it was a 6-5 lead. But then in the lucky 7, Yachiyo scores 7 for a 12-6 lead! Then in the 8th, Kisaradzu fighting for its life scores 6 to tie the game! Surely this would break Yachiyo. But thir 5th pitcher, SS Nakayama couldn't build on the momentum. He gives up 3 runs in the 9th. Kisaradzu tries to make one more rally, but can only manage 1 as they fall 15-13!
• Meanwhile Awa has trouble of their own against Narita Kokusai. Down 3-1, they score 2 in the 8th, then down 4-3 they score 2 in the 9th for the win.
• 9-12 seed Kashiwa Nittai needed 2 in the 7th to beat Funabashi Futawa 6-4.
• 5-8 seed Shigakukan defeats Abiko Higashi, but only pulled away late with 8 runs in the last 2 innings.
• Former participant Yachiyo Higashi advances with a 6-4 win over Kashiwa, though the game was tenuous in the middle innings.
• Narashino up against Kashiwa Chuo in the 3rd round advances with a 6-2 win. And I can't tell what they were doing because they used 5 pitchers in the game!
• Kamagaya moves on, coming from down 4-1 to win 5-4 in the bottom of the 9th to send Oohara home.
• Toukaidai Urayasu also got a scare from Sodegaura. After falling behind 2-0, they score 4 in the 6th and eventually won 5-3.
• Tokyo Gakkan will be Awa's next opponent after shutting out Tsudanuma 3-0.
• Amaha tries to rally against Chiba Nishi, but falls one run short. Chiba Nishi will face Yachiyo who mentioned earlier defeated Kisaradzu Sougou.
• Yotsukaidou is the next 13-16 seed to fall, losing to Shounan 3-2.

Nishi Tokyo
Kami-Yugi

• 1st round - Kodaira Minami holds off 9th inning rally by Nerima Kougyou, win 2-1.
• Waseda Jitsugyou dispatches Keimei Gakuen 12-1 in 5.
• Meiji Gakuin Higashi-Murayama needs 10 innings to plate their runs, but beat Yamazaki 2-0.
• Meijidai Nakano-Hachiouji defeats Taisei 7-1. Y'know it's a wonder how the Big 6 schools aren't better represented here.
• Hino, who reached the Best 4 not too long ago, defeats Meisei 7-0 in 8.

Tama Ipponsugi

• Chuodai Fuzoku had taken the lead 3-1 over Tanashi Kougyou with 3 in the 8th, but gave up 3 in the bottom of the 9th for the loss.
• In a bizarre called game, Touhou and Nerima were in a 10-8 game after Nerima scored a run in the top of the 7th. Three pitchers pitch the 7th for Nerima, but combined they cannot record 3 outs. Touhou scores 9 to call the game at 17-10!!
  
• Teikyou Hachiouji beats Fuchuu Higashi 3-1.

Hachiouji Municipal

• Round 1 - Hinodai gets the go-ahead run in the 9th on Toyotama to win 4-3.
• Teikyoudai falls 7-0 in 8 to Mitaka.
• Souka easily beats Musashi Murayama 10-0 in 7.
• Round 2 - Toukaidai Sugao easily defeats Takushoudai Dai-ichi 13-4 in 7.

Fuchuu Municipal

• Round 1 - Fuchuu and Kokubunji win their respective games via mercy rule and will play each other next round.
• Round 2 - Nichidai-ni continues their run with a 7-0 win over Kunitachi while Meijidai Nakano scored 4 in the 8th to separate themselves in a 7-3 win over Machida Kougyou.

Tachikawa Municipal

• Dai-yon Shougyou rallies to tie the game against Tamadai Hijirigaoka, but can't respond when Tamadai scores the go-ahead run in the 8th.
• Kousei Gakuen (not to be confused with Kousei Gakuin), handles Mizuho Nougei 15-0 in 5.

Akiruno Municipal

• Machida can't erase a 3-run deficit to Higashi-Yamato Minami and fall 4-3.
• Hamura breaks the deadlock with Itsukaichi in the 10th to win 4-3.
• Wako did one better the next game (if you consider how long extra inning games a good thing) by going 11 after giving up a 2-ru lead to Tama Kougyou to win... yep 4-3.
• The next day Toua Gakuen had to rally down 3-0 to Jissen Gakuen and tied the game in the 8th. They scored the sayonara run in the 9th to win... 4-3.

Akishima Municipal

• Kogakuindai Fuzoku allows Houseidai to get back into the game, but 2 runs in the 7th prove to be the final margin. The finals score is not 4-3. It's 5-3.
• Shouwa, down 3-0 to Hachiouji Kita in the top of the 9th finds a way to tie the game and send it to enchousen. There they score the winning run to win... 4-3. (Hah!)
  
• Waseda Gakuin, who seems to play 2nd fiddle to Waseda Jitsugyou when it comes to baseball beats Musashigaoka 5-2.

Higashi Tokyo
Round 2
Edogawa-ku Stadium

• In a matchup that I thought should have been later, it wound up being lopsided as Kanto Dai-ichi mercy rules Kokushikan 8-0 in 7.
• Some home-cooking does the trick for Edogawa as they score the winning run against Kaisei in the top of the 8th to win 7-6.

Akiruno Municpal

• Teikyou continues to plug along quickly with a 7-0 win over Shouwa Tetsudou in 7.

Meiji Jingu Stadium

• In another game that seemed a bit of a surprise, Shouin scores 10 in the 5th on their way to mercy ruling Kokugakuin 14-7.

Meiji Jingu Dai-ni Stadium

• Nishogakushadai Fuzoku beats Sougou Kouka's 3 runs in the middle innings with 5 of its own in a 5-4 win.
• Tokyo Jitsugyou cancels a quick 2-0 lead by Keika Shouyou then scores 4 in the 8th for the victory.
• Kaijyou slops a little after building an 8-0 lead on Tsukubadai Fuzoku Komaba, but hold to won 8-5.

Oota Stadium

• Daidou Bunkadai Dai-ichi defeats Risshoudai Risshou 16-0 in 5.

Komazawa Stadium

• Kuritsu Kudan watches Itabashi level the score at 1 in the 6th, but replied with a run of their own to retake the lead. That would hold as they win 2-1.
  
• In almost a replay of the first game, Shibaura Koudai recovers after Higashi scores the equalizer in the 6th to win 2-1.
  

Fuchuu Municipal

• Shinjuku was one step behind Ikubunkan the entire game, scoring runs the inning after they did. Sadly, they ran out of innings to come back and fell 10-9.
• Momijigawa tried to make a 2-run first stick, but Ryuugoku would scratch away to tie the game in the 8th. Momijigawa would have the last laugh though as they scored in the bottom of the 10th.

Meiji Daigaku

• Nihon Wellness jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, and led 5-3 after 4. 2 more in the 6th and they looked comfy over Tokyo Shidai Todoroki. However, Todoroki would score 5 in the bottom of the inning shocking Wellness. 3 more in the 8th spelled the deathknell for the team.
• Also showing the ranking on the totem pole (in baseball anyways), Waseda falls to Shuutoku 9-0 in 7 innings proving that yes Waseda may have the brains, but Waseda Jitsugyou has the balls. (Boy, that sounded wrong)
• And not to be mistaken for the aforementioned team, Shutoku edges out Tokyo Seitokudai Fuzoku 5-4.
• Earlier, I had mentioned that I thought I had seen the strangest called game. I was wrong. This one was. Kaetsu Ariake vs. Hinode. Hinode had just scored 3 in the 4th to take a 6-5 lead. Innocent enough. Then Kaetsu scores 7 and then 6 to take a commanding 18-6 lead. But before they could eliminate them, Hinode scores 3 to keept the game going, but just. After one run from Ariake in the 7th, Hinode needed 4 to avoid a called game. They scored 5 and were trailing 19-14! That's when Ariake stepped on the gas, scored 8 and seemed to put the game out of reach. In fact it was. Hinode could only muster 3 as they lose 27-17 in 8 innings!
  

Round 3
Edogawa-ku Stadium

• Teikyou continues to cruise along defeating Jyoutou 14-2 in 7.
• Houyuu Gakuen gives up a 2-0 lead to Risshisha, but scores the sayonara run in the 9th.

Meiji Jingu Stadium

• Hongou and Kinjyou Gakuen get involved in a barn-burner, though it didn't start out that way. Kinjyou led 4-1 through 5 before Hongou scored 4 in the 6th to take the lead. Kinjyou retook the lead one inning later with a pair of runs. Then after Hongou tied it at 6 in the 8th, Kinjyou once again took that run back. Hongou then tried to end it in the 9th with 5 runs, but then Kinjyou scored 4 and they went into extras tied at 11! It would be the 11th inning where Kinjyou would finally finish Hongou off, but not before the teams 37 hits and 13 walks in this marathon!
• Jyousaidai Jyousai staves off a rally by Koyamadai to win 4-3.

Meiji Jingu Dai-ni Stadium

• Komaba's run to the title ends in the 3rd round to Adachi Gakuen when they score 3 in the top of the 9th to break a 2-2 tie.
  

Oota Stadium

• Adachi Gakuen continues to chug along with a 12-0 win over Oomori Gakuen.
• Tsukubadai Fuzoku stays with Katsushika Shougyou coming back twice before scoring the sayonara run in the 9th.

Komazawa Stadium

• Adachi Kougyou held a comfortable 7-2 lead heading into the late innings. But for some reason or another, the team imploded in the 8th. Shiba scores 7 runs to take a 2-run advantage. Adachi cannot rally and thus make an early exit.

Kanagawa
Round 1 (July 12~14)

• Ayase and Zama Sougou were involved in a close match which went into extras. It continued as each team tallied a run in the 12th. But in the last inning, Zama broke through against Ayase's 3rd reliever Harada. 4 runs later and Ayase would be eliminated.
• Seya down 1 in the top of the 9th to Kanazawa Sougou ties the game, and like Zama scored 4 to win the game.
• At Yokohama Baystars Stadium, we had yet 2 more extra inning games. Kenritsu Shoukou let a 5-2 lead slip late to Tana, but win 6-5 in 10. Meanwhile, in the battle of "comprehensive" schools, Hadano Sougou was behind, took the lead, lost it, then won in 10 against Tsurumi Sougou 5-3.
  
• The first of two Tachibana Gakuen teams to play (立花学園) has no problem with Oohara 11-0 in 5.
• Koumyou Sagamihara and Shounan match each other inning for inning from the 4th inning on. Problem was that Koumyou scored 8 in the first 3, Shounan just 3. But to show how Shounan at least continued fighting, after Koumyou scored 5 in the 7th Shounan scored 5 of their own.
• Kanai breaks Kouhoku's heart by scoring 2 in the bottom of the 9th to win 2-1.
• Zushi scores 5 in the bottom of the 8th for a gyakuten victory over Yokohama Gakuen 6-3.
• The other Tachibana Gakuen (橘学苑) played at Yokohama Stadium on the 13th, and scored a run in each of the 6th-8th innings for a 4-3 win over Yokohama Shoukadai.
• The game after that saw Asahi do the exact same thing to Kanagawa Sougou Sangyou 8-5.
• As much as I rail on the university schools not doing well, I will give credit as Houseidai Dai-ni mercy rules Shounandai 9-0 in 7.
• Kanazawa makes a 1-0 lead stick defeating Hiratsuka Kouka.
• It'd be nice to see a school like Yokohama Science Frontier make a deep run, much like I like Nihon Koukuu (Yamanashi) because they're a pilot's academy, and they did rally twice to send it into extras, but Asano scores the winning run in the top of the 11th. Maybe next year.
• Miura Gakuen gives up a run in the 7th and 8th to Ebina tying the game, but scores 3 in the 9th for the win.
• Yokohama Hayato, the miracle from a couple of years ago begins their run on the 14th with a mercy win over Kashiwagi Gakuen at the scene of their championship, Yokohama Stadium.
  
• But Yokohama seems to have more close game than blowouts and Yokosuka Kougyou continues that trend with a 3-2 win in 10 over Odawara.
• Chigasaki Nishihama prevents extra innings with a run in the top of the 9th for a 2-1 win over Yamato Nishi.

Round 2 (July 14~)
With all teams in play, games are generally played in twos with the winners at each stadium meeting up in the next round.

• Yokohama starts round 2 play against Hakusan at Thirty-Four Sagamihara. Looks good for their first game with a 10-0 win in 6. Their next opponent would be Yokohama Shougyou who outlasted Yamato Minami 2-1 in 11.
• Seya and Yamakita won their respective games at Isehara and will play each other next round (you get the idea by now).
• Yokohama Hiranuma comes from behind with 2 in the 9th to defeat Fujisawa Nishi 6-5 and will play Nichidai next.
• Moto-Ishikawa, down 5-1 to Atsugi, scores 5 unanswered runs, 2 of them in the bottom of the 9th for the win.
• Toukaidai Sagami gets underway against Fujisawa Shouryou and actually found themselves behind 3-1. But a 4-run 7th helped given them the 6-4 win. Not very impressive to start their haru-natsu run.
• 立花学園 continues their run with a 7-2 win over Tourei Fujisawa, though only after score 5 in the 7th and 8th innings.
  

93rd Natsu Koushien Qualifying

With Yaeyama Shoukou rallying from down 3-0 to defeat Urasoe 4-3 in 10 innings at Okinawa Cellular Stadium Naha, the qualifying for the 93rd Natsu Koushien is underway.

This post will be at the top of the blog until qualifying is complete providing updated brackets. As of June 23, only certain prefectures have drawn their brackets. Links to each region are below, and any prefecture without a draw so far will have last year's bracket until updated. Also, to keep the format of the sheets intact, these are in Excel 2007 format.

• Hokkaido
• Tohoku
• Kanto
• Hokushinetsu
• Chuubu
• Kinki
• Chuugoku
• Shikoku
• Kyushu
  

93rd Koushien Qualifying - July 13th-15th (Tohoku Region)

Ok, we're cycling back up to the Tohoku region where by now all prefectures save for 4 have started play. This is where it gets nuts.

Aomori
Aomori's opening game was between (Kousei Gakuin) Noheji Nishi and Aomori Higashi Hiranai. Noheji Nishi annihilated Aomori Higashi Hiranai 29-0 in 5...

Needless to say there were more competitive games on the first full day of games which encompassed all 1st round teams.

• At Maple Stadium Hachinohe Shougyou edged Takko 2-1 while Hachinohe Koudai Dai-ni managed to keep Sanbongi at bay 7-5.
• At Hirosaki, Hirosaki Higashi and Goshougawara Kougyou both won easily.
• At Aomori, Gonohe kept their one-run lead after Kuroishi Shougyou scored 1 in the top of the 8th tying the game, while Aomori Minami had no trouble with Noheji.
• And at Hachinohe Nagane, Hirosaki Minami cruised over Tanabu while Itayanagi used a 6-run 4th to defeat Momoishi 7-5.

Yesterday (15th) was the start of 2nd round games:

• Maple Stadium - Rokkasho and Kudzukuri Fukaura both won their games eliminating 2 of the "-nohe" teams in Shichinohe and Sannohe. Hachinohe Shougyou with just 1 day turnaround had no shot against top 4 seed Towada Kougyou 6-1.
• Hirosaki - Mikami and Tazawa of Hirosaki Jitsugyou combine to 4-hit Aomori Kita 2-0. My team, Hachinohe Koudai Dai-ichi defeats Aomori Kougyou 10-4. And Noheji Nishi spoils seeded Misawa's party, staying toe-to-toe with them before getting the sayonara run in the 9th.
• Aomori - Misawa Shougyou hangs on to defeat Goshogawara Shougyou 2-1. Hachinohe Minami dispatches Tsuruta, and Aomori Yamada gives up 4 runs to Aomori Minami in the 3rd, but manage to score 6 unanswered to move on.
• Hachinohe Nagane - Nanbu Kougyou only needs 5 against Tanabu Oohata, Seiai survives Aomori Higashi's opening flurry to win 8-7, and seeded Hachinohe uses the middle innings to defeat Itayanagi 10-6.
  

Akita
Akita got started on the 14th and as of today have completed their 1st round games. These include:

• Komachi - It was a tale of 2 days as Akita Minami and Oodate Kougyou played in close games versus Yokote Seiryou and Nikaho. The next day, Nishime, Gojyoume and Noshiro Kougyou all advanced via the mercy rule.
  
• Yabase - Yuri needed a 2-run bottom of the 8th to defeat Oomagari 6-5, Futasui scored 6 runs late to defeat Omonogawa and Kakunodate breezed by Rokugou. But the game of the day had to be Ugo vs. Oga Kougyou. Ugo continued to have to play from behind. But whenever Oga was head by 2, Ugo would tie it up. Happened twice, once in the 4th and again in the 7th. Top 9 now, Oga scores the go-ahead run. With no more time to spare, Ugo finds a way to tie it up and send it into enchousen - wherein Oga scores 3. Ugo had rallied 3 times already, and in sudden death is asked to rally for a 4th time. I don't know how they did it, but they did - scoring not 3, but 4 runs for the win!
  
• Noshiro (Yamana) - The only game on day 1 saw Oodate Kokusai score 3 in the 7th to score a reversal over Yokote Jyounan. Noshiro Shougyou and Akita Nishi advance neatly while Yuzawa Shouhoku bids sayonara to Oodate 2-1 in 10 innings.
  
• Green Stadium Yokote - On Day 1, Akita Chuo has no trouble with Yuri Kougyou while Yokote rallies late from down 2-0 and eventually wins 3-2 in 12 over Towada. Day 2 featured the battle of Oomagari Nougyou as the primary school beat their "child" counterpart Oomagari Nougyou Oota 7-0 in 7, Meiou who stayed just ahead of Nishisenboku, and Akita falling to Araya.

Iwate
Games kicked off at Iwate Prefectural with Kuji Higashi leading wire to wire 4-2 over Kanegasaki, while Senshuudai Kitakami who got the short end of the draw defeated Fukuoka Kougyou 11-5.

Day 2 opened games across the prefecture:

• Hanamaki - Maesawa holds on against Ichinoseki Dai-ni 4-3, Oofunato Higashi falls to Moriokadai Fuzoku, and Misawa Shougyou pulls ahead of Hanamaki Nougyou late 3-1.
• Iwate Prefectural - In the stadium's only 1st round game, Ichinohe score 7 in the 8th to mercy rule Hanamaki Minami. In round 2 games, Hanamaki Higashi looks to return to Koshien and begins their journey with an 8-1 win over Miyako Suisan. Miyako Kougyou notches the first victory for the city with a 3-2 win over Mizusawa.
• Shizukuishi - Kitakami Shounan beat Miyako Kita 10-0 in 5, while Ibonai rallied for 4 in the top of the 9th to defeat Tairadate 6-5.
• Moriyama - In a case of deja vu, Numakunai rallies for 4 in the top of the 9th after Nishiwaga rallies for 3 in the bottom of the 8th and wins 7-5, Fukuoka and Ichinoseki Kougyou mercy rule Morioka Shiritsu and Senmaya.

Yamagata
Yamagata just started play yesterday at Nisshin Seiyaku Stadium. Yonezawa Shougyou and Yamagata Higashi both mercy rule their opponents in 7.

Miyagi
Miyagi started round 3 play yesterday but before we go there we have to finish round 2:

• Shibata - All 4 winners - Igu, Izumi Tateyama, Oosaki Chuo and Tohoku Koudai all advance easily to the next round.
• Sendai Municipal - 5 shutots, 3 of which were by the margin of 8-0. 4-seed Furukawa Kougyou, Shibata and top seed Tohoku win by that margin while 3-seed Touryou "only" wins 4-0 over Murata (it was a 1-hit shutout by the way) and Sendai Chuo 3-hitting Sendai Minami. The only non-shutout was Kesennuma winning 11-1 over Izumi.
  
• Tohoku Fukuji Daigaku - Here there were 3 close games and 1 blowout. The blowout was Furukawa Gakuen beating Furukawa Reimei 11-1. In the other games, Tohoku Gakuin scores the sayonara run to beat Kakuda 3-2, branch school Tohoku Gakuin Tsutsujigaoka scores 2 in the 12th to beat Tomiya 3-1, and recent favorite of mine Rifu scores the go-ahead run in the 7th to beat Seiwa Gakuen.
• Nango Chuo - Tome starts play here with a go-ahead run in the top of the 9th to beat Kesennuma Kouyou 5-4. In the battle of Sendai, Sendai Shougyou pulls away in the 9th to beat Sendai Higashi 7-3. In another battle, this time commercial schools, Maiya Kougyou never trails to Sendai Kougyou winning 7-4. And finally Shiogama dispatches Watari 10-0.
• Rifu Chuo - Ichisama Shougyou mercy rules Iwadeyama while Sendai Tousen Natori couldn't stop Ishinomaki's run as they were blanked 3-0.

Round 3

• Sendai is home to the 3 and 4 seeds yesterday as both Touryou and Furukawa Kougyou both advance with little issue.
• At Tohoku Fukuji Daigaku, Ichisama Shougyou ended Kesennuma's run with a 2-1 win though Kesennuma tried to rally and Sendai Shougyou blanked Ishinomaki Shougyou 10-0.

Fukushima
The disaster-stricken prefecture of Fukushima began play on the 13th with Kooriyama and Asaka combining for 27 hits, chances just about every inning and Kooriyama winning 11-9. Something of note is that Asaka has someone by the name of シェイク 海斗 シャーリック. I wouldn't even know where to begin pronouncing his name but it seems like he's of Indian/Sri Lankan descendant or somewhere in that area.

Games so far haven't been affected by radiation alerts, so they're on schedule. Still wonder about the rain though...

• Aidzu - Fukushima and Aidzu Gakuhou won handily on the 14th while Fukushima's 3-run 3rd holds against Aoi. The 15 had Wakamatsu Shougyou win 4-1 over Kitakata Touou and Nakoso Kougyou scoring 14 in 1 inning and going on to win 20-0 over Nishi-Aidzu.
• Kooriyama - 3 shutouts, 1 blowout and 2 close games. Namie, Iwaki Kouyou and Futaba all shutout their opponents. The non-shutout blowout is Kooriyama Higashi defeating Iwaki 13-6. Ishikawa and Fukushima Tousen went 12 before Ishikawa scored the sayonara run in the 12th, while Yumoto mounted a furious comeback down 7-0 to Odaka Kougyou but fell just one run short.
• Adzuma - Fukushima Nishi and Yanagawa both win their games by 1 while Yotsukura mercy rules Sukagawa Touyou. Day 2 saw Asaka Reimei tie the game at 1 in the bottom of the 9th, then win the attrition battle over Kawamata scoring the winning run in the 13th. Round 2 games began with #4 seed Haramachi mercy ruling Funehiki and Souma winning 9-5 over Seiryou Jyouhou.
• Tsurunuma - 5 non-contested games with Asaka Kaisei, Aidzu Nourin, Kitakata, Tadami, and Tajima advanced.
• Shirakawa Green - Almost the reverse of Tsurunuma. Gakkhoujin Ishikawa makes a 3-run 1st stick against Fukushima Kougyou, Iwaki Sougou scores 3 in the middle innings to defeat Tachibana, and Teikyou Asaka busts out to a big lead but it's Shirakawa Jitsugyou who outlasts them 9-8. In the other games, Kounan (again, no not that one) shuts out Taira Shougyou 16-0, and Iwaki Nougyou scores in the late innings to beat Minami-Aidzu 5-2.
  

93rd Koushien Qualifying - July 10th-14th (Shikoku & Kyushu Prefectures)

Kagawa
Kagawa was fairly quiet to start the tournament, though Miki scored 5 unanswered to defeat Iiyama 7-3 on day 1.

Day 2 was rained out except for the 1st game where Tadotsu blew a 3-run lead to Sakaide Kougyou, but tied it going into extras. However, ace Hashiguchi had to give way in when Sakaide scored 8 in the top of the 10th.

The 2 rained out games were made up the next day, and in a bit of an upset, Kotohira defeated Jinsei Gakuen 2-1!

And on the 13th, Round 1 ended with Takamatsu Higashi blowing a 6-1 lead by giving up 5 runs in the 6th, but coming back to score the sayonara run in the 9th over Tsuda!

But in a complete shocker, top seed Kagawa Nishi takes the field against Takamatsu Dai-ichi... and is eliminated 4-1!!!

Tokushima
The 10th started with seeded Jyounan defeating Jyousei 13-3 in 5 innings, while fellow seed Tokushima Shougyou needed 6 innings against Naka. Anan Kougyou needed almost all of their 10 runs to defeat Jyounouchi 10-8.

On day 2, Tomioka Nishi down 2-0 to Tokushima Nishi in the first inning scratched their way back to level before scoring the sayonara run in the 9th. And on the 13th, all of Awa Nishi and Anan Tousen's scoring came in the 2nd where Awa outscired Anan 2-1. Rounding out play was seeded Naruto who struggled against Wakimachi, giving up a run in the 9th to make it a 4-3 ballgame, but refused to break down completely.

Apparently if you were a top seed and playing on the 14th, you did not do well. Jyoutou took the field on the 14th, and at one point led 2-1 to Naruto Kougyou. But fast forward to the 8th and it's a tie game. Ace Sachiura for Jyoutou couldn't keep his team in it. He gives up 3 runs, and his team falls 5-2! Though to be honest, Naruto Kougyou is no pushover.

Ehime
Ehime started play on the 14th over at Bocchan Stadium. In the opener, Touon had no problems with Imabari Minami winning 9-2 in 7. The second game saw Uwajima Minami holding a 1-0 lead into the 9th before Niihama Shougyou scored 2 to take the lead. But in true kokoyakyu style, Uwajima doesn't give up and instead scores 2 runs of their own for the win!

Fukuoka
Games continue across all blocks, and I don't know a good way to cover it, so here goes...

• Kurume Tousen blows an early 5-0 lead to Asakura Kouyou, manages to recover by the 6th and then after Asakura tied the game in the top of the 9th, they score the sayonara run in the bottom!
• Nishi Nippon Tankidai Fuzoku begins their run with a 6-2 win over Meizen.
• Sue take the slow and steady approach, defeating Ukiha Kougyou 5-4 with 4 runs in the last 5 innings.
• Noogata led 6-1 over Kokura Shougyou, but ace Aoki couldn't finish, Kanagawa couldn't get anyone out, and by the time Kinoshita came in to record the 3rd out, the game was tied at 6. The game went into extras with both teams in the bullpen, but it wouldn't be until the penultimate inning where Noogata would score 2 for the win!
• Seinan Gakuin tried to keep up with Oogori, but continued to fall 1 run short the entire game, losing 6-5.
• Tagawa led 3-0 over Miyako only to see them score 2 in the top of the 9th to level the score! No matter though because 1 inning later, Tagawa scores the sayonara run!
• Higashi-Chikushi Gakuen also won 4-3 over Kokura Kougyou, but they had to endure a mid-inning surge to do so.
• Fukuoka Kougyou scores the only run in their game against Yame to advance.
• In the battle of nature-related schools, Fukuoka Nougyou edged out Fukuoka Suisan 3-2 in 10 innings.
• Touchiku started off the run of seeded teams as they face Moji Daishoukan. And Moji put up a stubborn fight pulling within one when down 3-0, then taking the lead 5-4 with 3 in the 7th! But Touchiku showed their experience with 3 unanswered runs of their own the next 2 offensive turns to win 7-5!
• Kurume was home to 3 seeded games. Kurume Shougyou and Higashi-Fukuoka both won their games, but Musashidai spoiled things by leading wire-to-wire against Fukuokadai Oohori.
• Nishi Nippon Tankidai did advance to their block final, but they allowed Koga Kyouseikan to tie it up in the final innings before winning in 10.
• With 3 days rest, Noogata advanced to their block final, defeating Kurate Ryuutoku 7-5.
• Jiyuugaoka wins their one game before the block final, though they needed to score 2 runs in the 8th to defeat Kita-Kyushu 3-1.
• Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku did the same, although with an 8-0 win after 7, and Touyou won by the exact same score.
• Ikutokukan couldn't shake Oiro Aishin, losing a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 9th and then giving back a run in the 10th when momentum seemed to be going their way. They'd finally prevail with a run in the 12 to head to the block final.
• Houkoku Gakuen pulls off the upset in Kita Block D, leading wire-to-wire against Kaho Higashi 5-3.
• Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou had the unfortunate draw to play one extra game despite being seeded. It was okay though as they beat Umi Shougyou 7-0.
• Sue and Itoshima left their fireworks until enchousen. Tied at 4, Itoshima scores the go-ahead run only to see Sue tie it up again! And when Itoshima scored 3 in the 11th, Sue made another rally. However, this time they scored just 1 to fall 8-6.
• Kurume City Stadium was the place to be on the 14th, unless you were a seeded team in your block in which then if you were a manager you'd be getting gray hairs. Game 1, Kashii Kougyou leads 1-0 over Chikuyou Gakuen before Chikuyou scores 1 in the 4th to tie, and then another run in the 6th and 7th to win 3-1. Game 2, Kyushu Sangkyoudai Kyushu scores 3 in the 7th to try and distance themselves from Oki Gakuen. But then in the next half inning, Oki roars back with 2 to trail 4-3, and then scores 4 in the top of the 9th to take the lead! Down 3, Kyushu Sangkyoudai mounts a comeback, and succeeds! They score 4 runs of their own to send the boys from Oki Gakuen home crying. And in Game 3, Yuusei opened the scoring with a run in the 1st. That lead held over Toukaidai Dai-go until the bottom of the 9th, when Dai-go magically pulls 2 runs out of its hat for the win!
  
• At Ootani, seeded Kita-Kyushu Shiritsu held on for a 2-0 lead over Nishi-Tagawa to reach the final while Yahata Minami had a 5-run lucky 7 for a 7-4 win over Kinkidai Fukuoka.
• Seeded Yanagigawa continued the trend of seeded teams struggling in their 1st game as they needed a run in the 9th, then 3 in the 10th to beat Kashii.
• Kurate ekes out an extra innings win over Yahata, and will face Kokura who upset seeded Orio - and not just upset but dispatch 8-0 in 7!
• Iidzuka bucks the trend of the seeded teams, defeating Kanda Kougyou 10-0 in 5.
• Fukuoka Kougyou and seeded Chikuzen were in a scoreless draw until the 9th were Fukuoka scored the only run in the game! They will play Fukushou who defeated Munakata 7-5.
  

Saga
Saga Kita, the 2007 champions, started their trip with a 2-0 win over Imari Shougyou. Kashima holds on for a 4-3 win over Karatsu Minami after leading 4-0.

Round 2 started on the 12th, with Tosu Shougyou repulsing several attacks from Takeo, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the 8th. Seeded Karatsu Shougyou had no trouble with Karatsu Nishi 9-0 in 7. Hokuryou scores all of their 5 runs late to defeat Keitoku 5-4.

Moving to the 13th Kashima Jitsugyou, much like Hokuryou, scores all 5 runs in the 8th to beat Chienkan 5-2. Seeded Ryuukoku faced former Koushien participant Imari Nourin and won 4-1. And Karatsu Kougyou needed 2 runs in the 9th to beat Koushikan 5-3.

Saga Gakuen is the 3rd seeded team to play, and they move on with a 5-1 win over Kishima Shougyou, and Saga Kita handled Karatsu Seishou to setup a matchup with Ryuukoku.

2nd round games wrapped up on the 14th and included Saga Nougyou pushing Shiota Kougyou into extras and winning in 10, 3-2! And in a "they have a school there?" moment, Waseda Saga advances over Saga Shougyou 2-1.
Nagasaki
Notable game in the last 4 days include:

• Tsushima's sayonara run to defeat Kamigotou after they tied it in the 8th.
• Iki Shougyou made a 1-run lead after 1 stick for a 4-3 win over Oomura.
• Nagasaki Nichidai looked impressive in a 9-0 win over Sasebo Toushou.
• Sasebo Nishi responds to Shimabara Shounan's go-ahead run in the top of the 9th with 2 of their own in the bottom for the win!
• Seeded Oomura Kougyou up 4-3, sees reliever Toyoda give up 3 runs in the top of the 9th allowing Kyushu Bunka to take the lead and win 6-4.
• Meanwhile Nagasaki Nanzen dispatches Yuukoukan 12-0 in 5 and will face Keihou.
• Hasami started the top seeds off, and sadly was not able to repeat their fall performance. They lost to Seiryou 5-1. Sasebo Tousen also spoiled the party, they using a 3-run 4th to beat Chinzei Gakuin 4-2.
• Meanwhile, Seihou and Sasebo Kougyou advanced with no issues.

Kumamoto

• Chiharadai scores 5 in the 1st, but has to hold on against Hitsuyuukan for an 8-6 win.
• Ushibuka also holds on for dear life just beating out Kumamoto Kita in the last couple of innings 7-6.
  
• Kuma Kougyou blows a 6-2 lead against Taragi, but also wins 7-6 in the bottom of the 9th.
• Seeded Yatsushiro Higashi beat Yatsushiro Minami 8-1 in 8 innings, while Kyushu Gakuin had their game postponed due to darkness although it didn't matter as they won easily over Kamoto Shoukou.
• Because of the Kyushu Gakuin postponement, Tamana Kougyou's game with Kousa was moved to the alternate site - Yamaga Municipal. Didn't matter, Tamana won 7-1.
• Luther Gakuin also had no trouble, shutting out Shouyou 6-0.
• Shuugakukan begins their run with an 8-3 victory over Kumamoto Shougyou.
• Seeded Tokaidai Fuzoku Dai-ni and Kumamoto Kokufu had easy wins over Yatsushiro Tousen and Reimei respectively, while Senshuudai Tamana looked unimpressive over Seiseiko winning just 2-0.

Oita
Round 1

• Former 21st century team Oita Uenogaoka mercy-ruled Nakatsu Minami 7-0 in 7.
• Hiji Youkoku gives up the tying run in the top of the 9th to Oita Oginodai but scores the sayonara run in the 10th.
• Oita Tsurusaki and Jyouhou Kagaku played one heck of a first round game. It seemed normal after 7 when Oita scored 2 to tie the game at 4. Jyouhou scored 2 the next half inning and the lead was back at 2 runs. An insurance run in the 9th seemed to put the game out reach. But no one told Oita Tsurusaki that. They score 3 in the 9th sending it into extras! In the 11th, Jyouhou would score 3 off of Oita's 5th pitcher Abe. All seemed lost, except that they couldn't hold that lead! Oita scores 3 and we're tied once again. This seemed to take the air out of Jyouhou as in the next inning Oita Tsurugaoka scores the sayonara run to end the game.
• Oita Toumei also had an extra inning game, but not as exciting perhaps as the last one. Saiki Tsuruoka falls 3-1 in 11.
• Beppu Aoyama rallies from down 4-0 to beat Beppu Tsurumigaoka 5-4 in 10.
• Mori, who had lost their coach in a tragic accident right after the opening ceremonies, scored the go-ahead run in the 8th to defeat Nakatsu Kita 2-1! Much like Risshoudai Shounan 2 years back who played for their coach despite losing players to the influenza, I hope Mori can make a deep run (sorry Meihou).

Round 2

• So speaking of Meihou, they dispatched Taketa 10-0 in 6.
• Oita Uenogaoka's run ended at the hands of 7-8 seed Oita Houfu 5-1.
• Usa Sangyoudai Kagaku watched a 7-3 lead turn into a 9-7 deficit before scoring 3 in the 7th to win 10-9 over Youshikan.
  
• 3-4 seed Oita Shougyou mercy ruled Hiji Youkoku 8-0 in 8.

Miyazaki
Round 1

• Saito Shougyou scores 2 right after Hyuuga scores 1 in the bottom of the 4th, and that's all the scoring in the game.
• Nichinan broke a scoreless draw against Miyazaki Kaiyou with 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th.
• Nobeoka Shougyou led 8-0 over Nichinan Shintoku. But then 2 runs in the 5th and 4 in the 8th made it a 2 run game. Nichinan would make one last push, but could only get 1 run to fall 8-7.

Round 2

• Seeded Nobeoka Gakuen started round 2 off outlasting Miyazaki Gakuen 5-2.
• Meanwhile, fellow team Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka was shockingly upset by Miyakonojyou Higashi 2-0!!
• 2nd round games at Sun Marine Stadium were delayed 2 days due to rain. The delay didn't help St. Ursula as they were annihilated 12-2 to Miyazaki Shougyou.
• At Ivy Stadium, seeded Miyakonojyou Shougyou and Miyazaki Nichidai advance with wins over Honjyou and Miyazaki Dai-ichi respectively.

Kagoshima
Round 2

• Seeded Kagoshima Kougyou fades late, but still moves on with 10-8 win over Kagoshima Shougyou.
• Minami-Ootsumi makes a last second rally with 2 runs to send it into extras versus Kagoshima Minami. The game continued to the 13th when Minami-Ootsumi would score the go-ahead run. With just 3 outs to close the game, ace Nishidome cannot close it out. Kagoshima Minami scores the tying run and the game continues. Unfortunately, that was the only chance they had to win the game as Nishidome falters in the bottom of the 14th, giving up the sayonara run.
• Round 2 concludes with Kanoya Chuo mercy ruling Kokubun Chuo 8-0 in 7 and Kounan (no not that one) bidding sayonara to Kagoshima Chuo 3-2.

Round 3

• Now we're moving to advance teams to the round of 16. Seeded Kagoshima Jitsugyou punches their ticked with a 12-0 win over Kagoshima Dai-ichi. Reimei follows right behind with an 8-2 win over Kaseda.
• Kanoya Kougyou is Kajitsu's next opponent as they score 6 unanswered runs in the final 3 innings to win 7-5.
  
• All seeded teams were playing at Prefectural Kamoike on the 13th. Kanoya wins another low scoring game 3-0 over Kagoshima Tousen. Satsuma Chuo, who upset Kagoshima Jyousei, also moves on with a mercy win over Okinoerabu. Finally Kamimura Gakuen 4-hits Izumi for a 5-0 win. Ijyuuin, Kajiki and Sendai will be their opponents as they all advance to the round of 16.
• Wrapping up round 3, seeded Shounan easily handles Izumi Shougyou and is on a collision course with Kamimura Gakuen, they get Yakushima next. Kagoshima Kougyou sneaks by Ookuchi 3-2. and draws Kagoshima Gyoukuryuu. Finally, Kanoya Chuo shuts out another team in Kounan, though only by the margin of 2-0 and will play Kagoshima Minami who apparently loves extra inning games. as they go extra innings with Setsunan Kougyou. The teams combine for just 7 hits and 5 walks. Kagoshima Minami pushes the sayonara run in the 10th.