Our last game of round 1 features a first-timer that has been close in recent years versus a team I believe who last appeared in 2012 senbatsu as a 21st century team.
Okayama Gakugeikan has done well in recent years, but continued to run into Kanzei and Kurashiki Shougyou. They advanced without having to face either of those teams which while allowed them to get here, also means their form coming in doesn't look all that good. They did play against Soushi Gakuen and Tamano Kounan, but they like Okayama Gakugeikan are Tier 3 schools. And in both of those games, they came back from behind in the 9th to win those games by just a single run. The team did bat 0.364, but against weaker competition.
Toba's road was not all that easy, having to face Tier 3 school Kyoto Subaru, former Koshien participant Kyoto Shouei, and then Ritsumeikan Uji in the final. Amazingly, the team batted 0.439, and 0.567 in the final 3 games! The team doesn't get many extra base hits though, so that can be a big red flag. But I do always say, there's nothing like being pelted to death slowly.
Okayama Gakugeikan (Okayama)
1B Okamoto Shougo
CF Fujiwara Shingorou
LF Ushiro Daiki
RF Kina Satoshi
SS Ujiwara Kaito (#1)
C Hataguchi Yuuta
2B Mitsunari Daisuke
3B Ueoka Tatsuya
P Ookita Yuusuke (#10)
Toba (Kyoto)
LF Tabuchi Kouichirou
3B Iwakiri Kaito
CF Ina Kasumi
1B Kozono Shinnosuke
C Umetani Seigo
SS Minami Musashi
2B Nakajima Kouhei
RF Miyanishi Jyunya
P Matsuo Daiki
____________________________________________________________
12:05 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Hit batter to lead off the game advances to 3rd via bunt and groundout, but is stranded when Satoshi pops out to 2nd.
Bottom 1st
Iwada with a clean single through the right side. Toba goes for the hit and run, and Ueoka does good to give way to Ujiwara who had the better play, and just gets the out at 1st.
So much for being pelted to death! Kozono blasts a ball to left and Ushiro's not moving! It's 2-0 Toba!
And now here are the base hits. Umetani up the middle, Minami clean through the left side. They get no more runs, but the offense early on is there.
Top 2nd
Ujiwara single sneakes just past Minami.
Hit and run! Ball right to Nakajima's flip to 2nd pulls Minami off the bag, all safe! Now the bunt to move them over for Ueoka.
Top 3rd
Chance for Gakugeikan again. Grounder to short goes off of Minami and Fujiwara is aboard. The middle of the lineup though can't deliver as Fujiwara hits a weak comebacker to Masuo and Ujiwara fouls out.
Ueoka singles to left and there's runners at the corners.
SQUEEZE!
Ookita sells out for the squeeze, but the ball is wide and he has no chance! Umetani runs Hataguchi down for the 2nd out as Ueoka takes 3rd.
But Ookita strikes out and the inning is over.
Bottom 4th
Some nice defense from Okayama Gakugeikan 1 out, runner on 1st, Nakajima hits a ball to 1st. Okamoto steps on the bag, then throws to 2nd where they get the tag for the double play.
Bottom 5th
Tobe had a good chance with a runner on 2nd, 1 out but Miyanishi was too quick anticipating the throw to 1st on a grounder to 3rd and was subsequently run down. And that was pretty much the inning.
Bottom 6th
Ujiwara finally takes the hill with #6 Tanigawa taking SS.
Might not have been the best choice as he gives up a leadoff single to Ina and then after a balk, walks Kosono. Minami bunts the runners over.
And now Toba with the squeeze!! But Ujiwara glove tosses the ball home and it's an easy out! 2- down!
Nakajima delivers for Toba! He dumps a ball in right center for a base hit and that scores Kosono! 3-1 Toba!
Okamoto saves more runs when he smothers a grounder from Miyanishi, but Okayama Gakugeikan is under a lot of pressure right now.
Top 7th
Leadoff single for new S Tanigawa. But Okamoto goes swinging and strikes out instead of a bunt, and Fujiwara grounds back to Matsuo for a 1-6-3 double play. Not sure they can find any answers here.
Bottom 7th
Toba gets another runner in scoring position via hit and run when Iwada singles with Tabata on base. Iwada though is caught trying to take the extra base on the throw. The very next pitch is a wild one and scores the run for 4-1.
Bottom 8th
Toba adds on more runs, knocking Ujiwara back to SS and cementing their place in the 2nd round. Final damage sits at 7-1.
That's where the game ends with Toba's plan of hitting singles all over the place works to perfection. It is yet to be seen if it works against stronger competition.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Day 5, Game 1 - Kendai Takasaki (Gunma) v Sangawa (Kagawa)
All right, shorter day today with just 3 on the docket. We're also onto the last of our Round 1 matches, with the final game the first Round 2 match of the tournament.
But, first up is the ever plucky Kendai Takasaki versus Kagawa's Sangawa.
Kendai Takasaki makes just their 3rd appearance, but their 2nd consecutive. They've actually come on the scene in recent years as a speedy ballclub that would steal and take the extra base when warranted (and sometimes not).
The only landmark game they had during the tournament was the final where they held on against Kiryuu Dai-ichi late for the 5-4 title win batting 0.350 for the prefecturals.
Sangawa faced quite a few above average teams in prefecture. Teams such as Sanbonmatsu, Eimei and Marugame Jyousai. Almost got tripped up by the former two. However, the team just batted only 0.320 and gave up 16 runs in their 6 games.
Now, Kendai Takasaki hasn't been the speedsters they used to be, but I imagine that this will be a somewhat easy first round game for them.
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi Takasaki (Gunma)
CF Kasuga Yuuma
SS Hayashi Kenya
2B Souma Masato
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke
C Tsuge Sena
RF Miyamoto Takahiro (#17)
1B Kotani Kaisei (#13)
LF Satou Nozomu
P Kawai Tomoya
Fuji Gakuen Sangawa (Kagawa)
SS Eifuku Daiki
3B Kanagawa Sougo
P Takada Atsushi
1B Shirai Toshiyuki
LF Kawamura Reo
RF Sasaki Shuuhei
CF Kuroda Masayo (#18)
C Akou Daisuke
2B Asano Terukazu
____________________________________________________________
09:30 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Very normal 1st inning for Kendai Takasaki. No bunts, just swings away, though some of the swings look a bit feeble, like Hayashi's swing on a slider way away.
Bottom 1st
Eifuku right back above Kawai and into center for a leadoff single.
Kanagawa pops up his bunt, but Kawai lets it drop! Throws to 1st and Souma tags both runners! 2 out!
Takada strikes out and there's a interesting 1-2-3 inning!
Bottom 2nd
This time after a one-out walk, Sasaki does lay down the bunt. Though there is 2 outs with Kuroda up.
Kawai though issues his 2nd walk. Kendai Takasaki looking unimpressive to start.
And although he almost walks his 3rd batter, he manages to strike out Akou to end the inning.
Top 3rd
That's more like it. After Kotani singles, he takes off for and steals 2nd. Though when Satou singles to right he holds up.
Takada walks the last batter Kawai and turns the lineup over while loading the bases. Creates the force, but that's a bad tradeoff.
Which Kasuga proves by hitting a ball past Eifuku for a base hit! Kotani and Satou score without a throw and it's 2-0!
After a sac bunt and another walk, Satake-kantoku calls time.
Shibahiki lines a ball over Shirai down the line! 2 more score and it's 4-0!
Tsuge blooper down right field line.. FAIR! 2 more score and it's 6-0!
Miyamoto to the gap in right center! Tsuge stops at 3rd and this is looking real bad.
SQUEEZE! After a failed attempt, Kotani lays out again but bunts it but right to Takai, he tosses home and Tsuge is meat.
And now Takai has Kotani taking 2nd too early! They go to run him down, but Miyamoto comes home! Throw back, slides.... SAFE!!
Miyamoto with a great slide away from Akou and his leg catches the plate safe! 7-0!
Satou grounder to 2nd. AHHH!! Asano boots it! Kotani comes all the way home from 2nd without a throw, 8-0! Oy.
Kasuga finally grounds out to end the inning, but 13 batters later this game is all but over.
Bottom 4th
Or so I thought. Maybe.
Takda doubles down left field line. Shirai singles to left scoring Takada without a throw. 8-1.
Kawamura singles, but then for some unknown reason Shirai is caught off 2nd and picked off. Which is a shame because Sasaki singles and then Kuroda walks and the bases are loaded.
Akou though can't figure out Kawai and strikes out for his 2nd time.
Asano walks! Kawai walks in a run! It's 8-2 with a chance at more.
Ah, but Eifuku grounds out 6-4 and that's that.
Top 5th
One out double from Kotani and He tries to take 3rd on a grounder to 3rd by Katou. But Shirai fires back to Eifuku who swipe tags Kotani as he tries to reestablish, and is called out.
Bottom 5th
Quiet inning to head to the break. Kendai Takasaki still in control, but Kawai needs to tighten things up for sure.
Top 6th
So Kendai turns the heat up on offense. Hayashi 2-out bunt single. Then steals 2nd.
Souma singles to center, Kuroda perhaps thinking about throwing home bobbles ball, and then has not throw at all. 9-2.
Bottom 7th/Top 8th
Both kantoku's decide this woud be the best time to switch pitchers. This is more imporant for Kendai Takasaki because of how Kawai has performed up until now.
After 2 quick outs, Yoshida walks Sasaki and then gives up a single to new P Sugimoto.
Kawai, playing RF now gets fooled on a flyball from Akou and that goes for a double and an RBI.
Now a balk as Yoshida never got set scores another run.
Eventually the game is closed out and Sangawa falls 10-4, but while Sangawa played as well as they could, Kendai Takasaki has a big hole at P. And generally you won't win without at least a decent P staff. The offense and speed was certainly good to see, but offense is no good without at least decent pitching and that's a problem for them.
But, first up is the ever plucky Kendai Takasaki versus Kagawa's Sangawa.
Kendai Takasaki makes just their 3rd appearance, but their 2nd consecutive. They've actually come on the scene in recent years as a speedy ballclub that would steal and take the extra base when warranted (and sometimes not).
The only landmark game they had during the tournament was the final where they held on against Kiryuu Dai-ichi late for the 5-4 title win batting 0.350 for the prefecturals.
Sangawa faced quite a few above average teams in prefecture. Teams such as Sanbonmatsu, Eimei and Marugame Jyousai. Almost got tripped up by the former two. However, the team just batted only 0.320 and gave up 16 runs in their 6 games.
Now, Kendai Takasaki hasn't been the speedsters they used to be, but I imagine that this will be a somewhat easy first round game for them.
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi Takasaki (Gunma)
CF Kasuga Yuuma
SS Hayashi Kenya
2B Souma Masato
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke
C Tsuge Sena
RF Miyamoto Takahiro (#17)
1B Kotani Kaisei (#13)
LF Satou Nozomu
P Kawai Tomoya
Fuji Gakuen Sangawa (Kagawa)
SS Eifuku Daiki
3B Kanagawa Sougo
P Takada Atsushi
1B Shirai Toshiyuki
LF Kawamura Reo
RF Sasaki Shuuhei
CF Kuroda Masayo (#18)
C Akou Daisuke
2B Asano Terukazu
____________________________________________________________
09:30 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Very normal 1st inning for Kendai Takasaki. No bunts, just swings away, though some of the swings look a bit feeble, like Hayashi's swing on a slider way away.
Bottom 1st
Eifuku right back above Kawai and into center for a leadoff single.
Kanagawa pops up his bunt, but Kawai lets it drop! Throws to 1st and Souma tags both runners! 2 out!
Takada strikes out and there's a interesting 1-2-3 inning!
Bottom 2nd
This time after a one-out walk, Sasaki does lay down the bunt. Though there is 2 outs with Kuroda up.
Kawai though issues his 2nd walk. Kendai Takasaki looking unimpressive to start.
And although he almost walks his 3rd batter, he manages to strike out Akou to end the inning.
Top 3rd
That's more like it. After Kotani singles, he takes off for and steals 2nd. Though when Satou singles to right he holds up.
Takada walks the last batter Kawai and turns the lineup over while loading the bases. Creates the force, but that's a bad tradeoff.
Which Kasuga proves by hitting a ball past Eifuku for a base hit! Kotani and Satou score without a throw and it's 2-0!
After a sac bunt and another walk, Satake-kantoku calls time.
Shibahiki lines a ball over Shirai down the line! 2 more score and it's 4-0!
Tsuge blooper down right field line.. FAIR! 2 more score and it's 6-0!
Miyamoto to the gap in right center! Tsuge stops at 3rd and this is looking real bad.
SQUEEZE! After a failed attempt, Kotani lays out again but bunts it but right to Takai, he tosses home and Tsuge is meat.
And now Takai has Kotani taking 2nd too early! They go to run him down, but Miyamoto comes home! Throw back, slides.... SAFE!!
Miyamoto with a great slide away from Akou and his leg catches the plate safe! 7-0!
Satou grounder to 2nd. AHHH!! Asano boots it! Kotani comes all the way home from 2nd without a throw, 8-0! Oy.
Kasuga finally grounds out to end the inning, but 13 batters later this game is all but over.
Bottom 4th
Or so I thought. Maybe.
Takda doubles down left field line. Shirai singles to left scoring Takada without a throw. 8-1.
Kawamura singles, but then for some unknown reason Shirai is caught off 2nd and picked off. Which is a shame because Sasaki singles and then Kuroda walks and the bases are loaded.
Akou though can't figure out Kawai and strikes out for his 2nd time.
Asano walks! Kawai walks in a run! It's 8-2 with a chance at more.
Ah, but Eifuku grounds out 6-4 and that's that.
Top 5th
One out double from Kotani and He tries to take 3rd on a grounder to 3rd by Katou. But Shirai fires back to Eifuku who swipe tags Kotani as he tries to reestablish, and is called out.
Bottom 5th
Quiet inning to head to the break. Kendai Takasaki still in control, but Kawai needs to tighten things up for sure.
Top 6th
So Kendai turns the heat up on offense. Hayashi 2-out bunt single. Then steals 2nd.
Souma singles to center, Kuroda perhaps thinking about throwing home bobbles ball, and then has not throw at all. 9-2.
Bottom 7th/Top 8th
Both kantoku's decide this woud be the best time to switch pitchers. This is more imporant for Kendai Takasaki because of how Kawai has performed up until now.
After 2 quick outs, Yoshida walks Sasaki and then gives up a single to new P Sugimoto.
Kawai, playing RF now gets fooled on a flyball from Akou and that goes for a double and an RBI.
Now a balk as Yoshida never got set scores another run.
Eventually the game is closed out and Sangawa falls 10-4, but while Sangawa played as well as they could, Kendai Takasaki has a big hole at P. And generally you won't win without at least a decent P staff. The offense and speed was certainly good to see, but offense is no good without at least decent pitching and that's a problem for them.
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Day 4, Game 4 - Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi) v Meihou (Oita)
If nothing else, let's hope for a safe game to close it out. No injuries would be nice.
As for a close game, that'll be up to Meihou because Sendai Ikuei is on a mission. They scored no less than 9 runs in each of their games. Yes, every game. And with their narrow loss to Tsuruga Kehi, they want revenge.
Meihou barely got in defeating Oita Shougyou 1-0 in the final. I don't need any analysis of this game. Meihou needs help and a lot of it.
Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
3B Satou Shouta
CF Aoki Reima
SS Hirasawa Taiga
C Gunji Yuuya
1B Sasaki Ryousuke
LF Kii Kaishuu
RF Sasaki Tooya
2B Yatsu Koudai
P Satou Sena
Meihou (Oita)
SS Ooba Tatsuya
2B Tsuji Keita
3B Kudou Shunya
LF Yamanaka Taiki
1B Sugizono Daiki (#13)
RF Horimoto Shouta
P Maeda Tsuyoshi
C Asou Ryuusei
CF Douda Kouhei
____________________________________________________________
16:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Uh... how do I put this?
First batter E5, tries to take 2nd but runs all the way to Tokyo, and gets thrown out at 2nd.
After that. 2B to fence, HR to center, 2B, 2B, 4-3 (finally), 1B, K.
9 batters, 5 runs, and we know who is the better team.
Bottom 1st
Kudou for Meihou manages a walk, but against ace Sena who can throw 145... Yeah...
Top 3rd
Apparently the 2nd inning was a break, because the first two pitches went single and double for a 6-0 lead.
After a double play where Sasaki lined out to 1st, Yatsu starts another chain. Single, double, double and now 8-0...
To Break
To be honest, there's isn't a whole lot worth reporting. Meihou is certainly trying their best, but as the first adn 3rd innings indicate, it's nowhere near enough to match Sendai Ikuei. As for ace Staou Sena, he's throwing hard for sure, but there are times where his control leaves him.
To End
Thankfully Meihou fought until the end. And in the 7th when they were emptying their bench, after Horita drew a walk, PH Kuroiwa singled to center and scored a run.
The game would finaly end with Sendai Ikuei winning 12-1. Domeki would relieve Sena in the 9th, and walk the bases loaded, so if there's concerns it may be with the pitching.
As for a close game, that'll be up to Meihou because Sendai Ikuei is on a mission. They scored no less than 9 runs in each of their games. Yes, every game. And with their narrow loss to Tsuruga Kehi, they want revenge.
Meihou barely got in defeating Oita Shougyou 1-0 in the final. I don't need any analysis of this game. Meihou needs help and a lot of it.
Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
3B Satou Shouta
CF Aoki Reima
SS Hirasawa Taiga
C Gunji Yuuya
1B Sasaki Ryousuke
LF Kii Kaishuu
RF Sasaki Tooya
2B Yatsu Koudai
P Satou Sena
Meihou (Oita)
SS Ooba Tatsuya
2B Tsuji Keita
3B Kudou Shunya
LF Yamanaka Taiki
1B Sugizono Daiki (#13)
RF Horimoto Shouta
P Maeda Tsuyoshi
C Asou Ryuusei
CF Douda Kouhei
____________________________________________________________
16:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Uh... how do I put this?
First batter E5, tries to take 2nd but runs all the way to Tokyo, and gets thrown out at 2nd.
After that. 2B to fence, HR to center, 2B, 2B, 4-3 (finally), 1B, K.
9 batters, 5 runs, and we know who is the better team.
Bottom 1st
Kudou for Meihou manages a walk, but against ace Sena who can throw 145... Yeah...
Top 3rd
Apparently the 2nd inning was a break, because the first two pitches went single and double for a 6-0 lead.
After a double play where Sasaki lined out to 1st, Yatsu starts another chain. Single, double, double and now 8-0...
To Break
To be honest, there's isn't a whole lot worth reporting. Meihou is certainly trying their best, but as the first adn 3rd innings indicate, it's nowhere near enough to match Sendai Ikuei. As for ace Staou Sena, he's throwing hard for sure, but there are times where his control leaves him.
To End
Thankfully Meihou fought until the end. And in the 7th when they were emptying their bench, after Horita drew a walk, PH Kuroiwa singled to center and scored a run.
The game would finaly end with Sendai Ikuei winning 12-1. Domeki would relieve Sena in the 9th, and walk the bases loaded, so if there's concerns it may be with the pitching.
Day 4, Game 3 - Chuuetsu (Niigata) v Takigawa Dai-ni (Hyogo)
Well, that was a very normal and competitive game. Something we've not really had. Hopefully this one will also be competitive.
Chuuetsu comes in after a 12 year hiatus, having defeated Hokuestu and the ever present Nihon Bunri for the title. The team batted 0.357 during their run, though the pitching did give up a couple of runs each time out.
Takigawa Dai-ni comes back after 3 years off. batting just 0.330 while facing none of the major Hyogo teams. Perhaps Akashi Shougyou in the finals or Suma Shoufuu in the quaterfinals, but they appear untested.
Niigata tends to be weak, even with Nihon Bunri, but the form reads an advantage to Chuuetsu.
Chuuetsu (Niigata)
LF Irisawa Takehiro
SS Nagai Kaito
CF Kobayashi Fumiya
C Namikata Ryou
1B Hatta Takeshi
3B Kobayashi Hiroki (#9)
RF Sekigawa Reo (#15)
P Takai Ryou (#10)
2B Iguchi Shuuichi
Takigawa Dai-ni (Hyogo)
CF Negoro Shouta
LF Ooshima Masato
3B Kawakita Akihiro
1B Tatehata Ryouta
2B Yamana Hiromu
SS Yuuki Takara
RF Aoki Eiji
C Shibamoto Yuuki
P Tomoi Hiroto
____________________________________________________________
13:40 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Irisawa with a blooper just out of the reach of Yamana to start the game. After that Tomoi walks Nagai which allows Fumiya to bunt the runners over.
Namikata grounds to 2nd, and it was another contact play. Yamana goes home and the runner is meat. He stays in rundown until Namikata can reach 2nd.
Hatta comes thtough though! Single back up the middle and it's 1-0 Chuuetsu!
Hiroki flies out to end the inning, but the Niigata champs are on the board!
Bottom 1st
Negoro with either what was a check swing bunt or a real check swing, beats out the chopper for a base hit. Although a wild pitch sends him to 2nd, Ooshima can't bunt him over and three-bunts his way to a K.
Kawaand Tatehata both grounds to 1st and the threat is neutralized.
Bottom 3rd
The teams were quickly changing sides until Shibamoto doubled past Fumiya. Tomoi's bunt failed when Takai looked the runner back.
But back to the top of the lineup and Negoro gets his 2nd hit, a single that goes off Nagai into center. Since the ball almost was fielded Shibamoto had to hold for an extra second.
Ooshima though completes the round! He singles to center and that scores Shibamoto to make it 1-1!
Kawakita with a hard hit ball back up the middle! It's off Takai and right to Nagai who goes to 2nd for 1, but Kawakita beats out the throw. Inning still alive, but a bad break for Takigawa.
Tatehata grounds to 2nd, but we have a new ballgame!
Bottom 4th
Takigawa Dai-ni seems to have the momentum now. Yamana doubles down the right field line and is bunted over. Aoki gets some hard luck when his liner goes right to Iguchi, and Shibamoto groudns to short to end the inning.
5th Inning
Takai leads off the inning with a single past Yamana. After a sac bunt, Irisawa gets hit.
Nagai with a comebacker up the middle, but it's too hard and Takai has to hold.
No matter though becasue Fumiya does the exact same thing and plates the run! 2-1!
Despite setting up the middle of the order, neither Namikata or Hatta can dive in more runs. Instead they both pop out.
As for Takigawa, Takai gives up another hit to Negoro, but he runs himself out at 2nd. We hit the break with Chuuetsu leading, but Takigawa within striking distance.
Bottom 6th
Tatehata with a leadoff single, and they go with the hit-and-run! Yamana singles to right and it's runners at the corners!
Yuuki grounds to 2nd, throw to 2nd for 1, relay... OH NO!
The throw goes off of Yamana and there's immediate time called. Yamana is down and a camera shot of him shows blood dripping down. The stretcher is out and he's going to the hospital for sure.
Good news is that the kantoku comes back pointing to above his eye. Still going to hurt, but hopefully it's not as serious as it could have been.
Back to the game, it's another hit-and-run as Aoki rifles a ball back up the middle, that'll score Tatehata and it's all tied at 2-2!
Shibahata with a ball to center, and there will be no throw home! Yuuki walks in and Takigawa has the 3-2 lead!
After another hit by Tomoi, ace Kamimura enters the game for Chuuetsu. He walks a batter, but gets out of the inning.
7th Inning
Irisawa gets a 1-out hit for Chuuetsu, but they can't do anything with it. The offense can only seem to find it in spurts, but they're running out of time.
Meanwhile although Kawakita gets a leadoff walk, it's wasted with a poor sac bunt. That gets compounded later when Tatehata tries to steal 2nd and is thrown out in spectacular manner as the SS does a twirl reaching down and makes the tag.
Top 8th
2 outs, and Hiroki scorches a bouncer past Kawakita and all the way to the fence for a double.
Sekiguchi with a grounder to the left side, Yuuki runs it down! Throw over as Sekiguchi faceplants his head-sliding!
It's wide!!
The throw is wide and goes into foul territory! Hiroki can walk home and we're tied once again!
Now Kamimura walks and could Takigawa be giving up the lead?
Iguchi single to center! They're waving Sekiguchi home! THrow from Negoro to Tatehaha home....
OUT!!!
Chuuetsu prolly rightly went for it, but sadly Takigawa made a great play to get the runner out.
Bottom 8th
Yuuki a grounder up the middle for a leadoff hit! He bunted over.
And they're relieving the ace! #11 Yukino comes in to handle Shibamoto! Will this pay off?
Grounder to 1st, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
It gets by Hatta into right! Yuuki goes to 3rd and will that be the dagger for Chuuetsu?
#13 Yoshii bats for Tomoi looking for the timely hit.
SANSHIN!!!!! Yoshii goes down swinging and there's 2 out!
Another strategy call! With 2nd open, they're going to intentionally walk Negoro to pitch to Ooshima. Will it work?
Liner! Right to Nagai! Inning over!
Top 9th
Nagai one-out single! No bunt and Fumiya, he singles to right! Nagai has to hold at 2nd.
But Namikata grounds to 2nd! Yamane can't get the ball out of the glove and they can only get 1. Will that hurt them?
No! Hatta grounds to 2nd and the inning is over!
Bottom 9th
Kawakita a liner to right to start the 9th for Takigawa! He's bunted over.
YAMANE single to left! Kawakata holds at 3rd! Well we have our 2nd sayonara game?
YES!
Yuuki lines one past a diving Iguchi and that's the ballgame! Chuuetsu fought hard the entire game, but in the end it just wasn't enough as Takigawa Dai-ni pulls it out in the end.
Chuuetsu comes in after a 12 year hiatus, having defeated Hokuestu and the ever present Nihon Bunri for the title. The team batted 0.357 during their run, though the pitching did give up a couple of runs each time out.
Takigawa Dai-ni comes back after 3 years off. batting just 0.330 while facing none of the major Hyogo teams. Perhaps Akashi Shougyou in the finals or Suma Shoufuu in the quaterfinals, but they appear untested.
Niigata tends to be weak, even with Nihon Bunri, but the form reads an advantage to Chuuetsu.
Chuuetsu (Niigata)
LF Irisawa Takehiro
SS Nagai Kaito
CF Kobayashi Fumiya
C Namikata Ryou
1B Hatta Takeshi
3B Kobayashi Hiroki (#9)
RF Sekigawa Reo (#15)
P Takai Ryou (#10)
2B Iguchi Shuuichi
Takigawa Dai-ni (Hyogo)
CF Negoro Shouta
LF Ooshima Masato
3B Kawakita Akihiro
1B Tatehata Ryouta
2B Yamana Hiromu
SS Yuuki Takara
RF Aoki Eiji
C Shibamoto Yuuki
P Tomoi Hiroto
____________________________________________________________
13:40 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Irisawa with a blooper just out of the reach of Yamana to start the game. After that Tomoi walks Nagai which allows Fumiya to bunt the runners over.
Namikata grounds to 2nd, and it was another contact play. Yamana goes home and the runner is meat. He stays in rundown until Namikata can reach 2nd.
Hatta comes thtough though! Single back up the middle and it's 1-0 Chuuetsu!
Hiroki flies out to end the inning, but the Niigata champs are on the board!
Bottom 1st
Negoro with either what was a check swing bunt or a real check swing, beats out the chopper for a base hit. Although a wild pitch sends him to 2nd, Ooshima can't bunt him over and three-bunts his way to a K.
Kawaand Tatehata both grounds to 1st and the threat is neutralized.
Bottom 3rd
The teams were quickly changing sides until Shibamoto doubled past Fumiya. Tomoi's bunt failed when Takai looked the runner back.
But back to the top of the lineup and Negoro gets his 2nd hit, a single that goes off Nagai into center. Since the ball almost was fielded Shibamoto had to hold for an extra second.
Ooshima though completes the round! He singles to center and that scores Shibamoto to make it 1-1!
Kawakita with a hard hit ball back up the middle! It's off Takai and right to Nagai who goes to 2nd for 1, but Kawakita beats out the throw. Inning still alive, but a bad break for Takigawa.
Tatehata grounds to 2nd, but we have a new ballgame!
Bottom 4th
Takigawa Dai-ni seems to have the momentum now. Yamana doubles down the right field line and is bunted over. Aoki gets some hard luck when his liner goes right to Iguchi, and Shibamoto groudns to short to end the inning.
5th Inning
Takai leads off the inning with a single past Yamana. After a sac bunt, Irisawa gets hit.
Nagai with a comebacker up the middle, but it's too hard and Takai has to hold.
No matter though becasue Fumiya does the exact same thing and plates the run! 2-1!
Despite setting up the middle of the order, neither Namikata or Hatta can dive in more runs. Instead they both pop out.
As for Takigawa, Takai gives up another hit to Negoro, but he runs himself out at 2nd. We hit the break with Chuuetsu leading, but Takigawa within striking distance.
Bottom 6th
Tatehata with a leadoff single, and they go with the hit-and-run! Yamana singles to right and it's runners at the corners!
Yuuki grounds to 2nd, throw to 2nd for 1, relay... OH NO!
The throw goes off of Yamana and there's immediate time called. Yamana is down and a camera shot of him shows blood dripping down. The stretcher is out and he's going to the hospital for sure.
Good news is that the kantoku comes back pointing to above his eye. Still going to hurt, but hopefully it's not as serious as it could have been.
Back to the game, it's another hit-and-run as Aoki rifles a ball back up the middle, that'll score Tatehata and it's all tied at 2-2!
Shibahata with a ball to center, and there will be no throw home! Yuuki walks in and Takigawa has the 3-2 lead!
After another hit by Tomoi, ace Kamimura enters the game for Chuuetsu. He walks a batter, but gets out of the inning.
7th Inning
Irisawa gets a 1-out hit for Chuuetsu, but they can't do anything with it. The offense can only seem to find it in spurts, but they're running out of time.
Meanwhile although Kawakita gets a leadoff walk, it's wasted with a poor sac bunt. That gets compounded later when Tatehata tries to steal 2nd and is thrown out in spectacular manner as the SS does a twirl reaching down and makes the tag.
Top 8th
2 outs, and Hiroki scorches a bouncer past Kawakita and all the way to the fence for a double.
Sekiguchi with a grounder to the left side, Yuuki runs it down! Throw over as Sekiguchi faceplants his head-sliding!
It's wide!!
The throw is wide and goes into foul territory! Hiroki can walk home and we're tied once again!
Now Kamimura walks and could Takigawa be giving up the lead?
Iguchi single to center! They're waving Sekiguchi home! THrow from Negoro to Tatehaha home....
OUT!!!
Chuuetsu prolly rightly went for it, but sadly Takigawa made a great play to get the runner out.
Bottom 8th
Yuuki a grounder up the middle for a leadoff hit! He bunted over.
And they're relieving the ace! #11 Yukino comes in to handle Shibamoto! Will this pay off?
Grounder to 1st, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
It gets by Hatta into right! Yuuki goes to 3rd and will that be the dagger for Chuuetsu?
#13 Yoshii bats for Tomoi looking for the timely hit.
SANSHIN!!!!! Yoshii goes down swinging and there's 2 out!
Another strategy call! With 2nd open, they're going to intentionally walk Negoro to pitch to Ooshima. Will it work?
Liner! Right to Nagai! Inning over!
Top 9th
Nagai one-out single! No bunt and Fumiya, he singles to right! Nagai has to hold at 2nd.
But Namikata grounds to 2nd! Yamane can't get the ball out of the glove and they can only get 1. Will that hurt them?
No! Hatta grounds to 2nd and the inning is over!
Bottom 9th
Kawakita a liner to right to start the 9th for Takigawa! He's bunted over.
YAMANE single to left! Kawakata holds at 3rd! Well we have our 2nd sayonara game?
YES!
Yuuki lines one past a diving Iguchi and that's the ballgame! Chuuetsu fought hard the entire game, but in the end it just wasn't enough as Takigawa Dai-ni pulls it out in the end.
Day 4, Game 2 - Tenri (Nara) v Souseikan (Nagasaki)
Well, after that, the games can only get better, right?
We can hope anyways.
So next up is Tenri and Souseikan.Tenri did about all they can do in-prefecture. They defeated Chiben Gakuen and Yamato Kouryou and gave up just 3 runs in all. But a 0.345 may not be good enough despite playing the two other strong teams in prefecture.
On the other hand, Souseikan put up 0.374 and their key wins were against Hasami and Kaisei. The overall level of competition is probably a little weaker than Nara, but their blowout wins should make them competitive.
Tenri (Nara)
CF Funabiki Kai
2B Maekubo Tomoya
SS Sadamitsu Hiroto
1B Sakaguchi Hiroya
P Tomiki Ryouga (#7)
3B Kawasaki Koudai
LF Saitou Yuu (#1)
RF Jinno Taiki
C Tsutsuda Reo
Souseikan (Nagasaki)
1B Torikai Ritsuki
RF Shimada Rkiya
CF Mine Shuuta
LF Washzaki Jyun
C Oota Keisuke
SS Uto Kenyarou(?)
2B Nakajima Takashi
3B Nakajima Kouki
P Fujisaki Mitsugu (#10)
____________________________________________________________
10:30 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Funabiki rings a ball through Fujisaki's 5-hole to open the game. After a bunt though, Fujisaki cleans it up for a scoreless 1st.
Bottom 1st
The reason Saitou is not starting is because of an injury. He cannot pitch, but can still play apparently.
Tomiki hits Shimada with 1 down, and Tsutsuda allows a passed ball, but here too, no damage done.
Top 2nd
Tenri struggling with Fujisaki's wide sidearm crouching delivery. Clean inning again and the game feels like someone told them they were behind schedule.
Bottom 2nd
The fact that Tenri still won despite losing their ace on the mound either shows how good the depth is, or how bad the prefecture is as a whole.
When Tomiki gives up a single to Uto, and then hits Takashi, you may have to wonder if it's the latter. He still gets the final 2 outs to end the inning, but you have to wonder how good the staff really is.
3rd Inning
Things look promising for Tenri when Tsutsuda hits a one-out double down the right field line. But again, that sidearm action is messing with the batters. Funabiki and MAekubo can't make solid contact and are retired to end the inning.
Torikai gets a single to start Souseikan's half, and is bunted over. Tomiki hits yet another batter, but then gets Oota to swing way in front and fly out to left.
4th Inning
Sadamitsu starts with a chopper over Kouki for the 1st out. Tenri's batters, given that they can't seem to figure out Fujisaki are being pore patient and looking for a pitch they can hit. Sakaguchi takes a walk.
Tomiki can't lay down the bunt and actually strikes out. Kawasaki comes through though with a single to left and the deadlock is finally broken. Tenri leads 1-0.
After yet another walk, they go for the contact play when Jinno hits a slow chopper. Kouki has not play at home and throws to 1st. 2-0 Tenri.
Tsutsuda grounds out to end the inning, but Tenri has finally opened the scoring here in the 4th
Souseikan striking back! Uto gets his 2nd single of the day. Takashi drives a ball deep to center! Funabiki looking, it's off the top of the fence! Uto has to hold up because he thought it might be caught and winds up at 3rd.
Kouki then hits a ball to 2nd, and it's slow enough that the runner can score, making it 2-1.
And with 2 down, Torikai hits a ball down the right field line fair! Takashi scores and we're all square at 2-2!!
__________________________________________________
The game goes through the 5th without anything to note, so we enter the break back where we started. Neither team has shown a lot per se, but given the hits they've had Souseikan may have the advantage going forward.
__________________________________________________
Post-break, the game has hit a lull period where neither team is really able to do much of anything at the plate. They'll get the occasional baserunner, but not much else. Souseikan though is making much the better contact when they do swing.
Bottom 7th
Souseikan has something going when after a HBP Oota singles though the left side.
Uto with almost the same base hit! They're sending Mine home! Throw from Saitou is in plenty of time and the runner is out and the inning is over! Boy, that's costly. The ball was in shallow LF and you were hitting the ball.
Top 8th
Tenri with a hit batter, and after a bunt Wasada-kantoku sends in ace Mizunaga. Which is puzzling given what we've seen.
He does get the final 2 outs, but the contact already seems better.
Bottom 9th
Given what little has happened, it feels like another enchousen game. Torikai though hits a ball to the left side. Kawasaki with the great diving stop! Throw to 1st... Torikai just beats it out! That was about as close as you can get.
Mine drive to deep left center! It's caught, but the runner advances to 3rd!
Up to Washizaki.
SAYONARA!!!!!
Washizaki clean hit to right and that'll do it! Souseikan does indeed go on to defeat Tenri 3-2!
You could see this coming of sorts. Tenri was having all kinds of problems with Souseikan's pitching and was only successful when they waited on counts. Souseikan were hitting the ball hard even if it was at Tenri's fielders. So it would be a matter of time before those fell in and they did.
We can hope anyways.
So next up is Tenri and Souseikan.Tenri did about all they can do in-prefecture. They defeated Chiben Gakuen and Yamato Kouryou and gave up just 3 runs in all. But a 0.345 may not be good enough despite playing the two other strong teams in prefecture.
On the other hand, Souseikan put up 0.374 and their key wins were against Hasami and Kaisei. The overall level of competition is probably a little weaker than Nara, but their blowout wins should make them competitive.
Tenri (Nara)
CF Funabiki Kai
2B Maekubo Tomoya
SS Sadamitsu Hiroto
1B Sakaguchi Hiroya
P Tomiki Ryouga (#7)
3B Kawasaki Koudai
LF Saitou Yuu (#1)
RF Jinno Taiki
C Tsutsuda Reo
Souseikan (Nagasaki)
1B Torikai Ritsuki
RF Shimada Rkiya
CF Mine Shuuta
LF Washzaki Jyun
C Oota Keisuke
SS Uto Kenyarou(?)
2B Nakajima Takashi
3B Nakajima Kouki
P Fujisaki Mitsugu (#10)
____________________________________________________________
10:30 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Funabiki rings a ball through Fujisaki's 5-hole to open the game. After a bunt though, Fujisaki cleans it up for a scoreless 1st.
Bottom 1st
The reason Saitou is not starting is because of an injury. He cannot pitch, but can still play apparently.
Tomiki hits Shimada with 1 down, and Tsutsuda allows a passed ball, but here too, no damage done.
Top 2nd
Tenri struggling with Fujisaki's wide sidearm crouching delivery. Clean inning again and the game feels like someone told them they were behind schedule.
Bottom 2nd
The fact that Tenri still won despite losing their ace on the mound either shows how good the depth is, or how bad the prefecture is as a whole.
When Tomiki gives up a single to Uto, and then hits Takashi, you may have to wonder if it's the latter. He still gets the final 2 outs to end the inning, but you have to wonder how good the staff really is.
3rd Inning
Things look promising for Tenri when Tsutsuda hits a one-out double down the right field line. But again, that sidearm action is messing with the batters. Funabiki and MAekubo can't make solid contact and are retired to end the inning.
Torikai gets a single to start Souseikan's half, and is bunted over. Tomiki hits yet another batter, but then gets Oota to swing way in front and fly out to left.
4th Inning
Sadamitsu starts with a chopper over Kouki for the 1st out. Tenri's batters, given that they can't seem to figure out Fujisaki are being pore patient and looking for a pitch they can hit. Sakaguchi takes a walk.
Tomiki can't lay down the bunt and actually strikes out. Kawasaki comes through though with a single to left and the deadlock is finally broken. Tenri leads 1-0.
After yet another walk, they go for the contact play when Jinno hits a slow chopper. Kouki has not play at home and throws to 1st. 2-0 Tenri.
Tsutsuda grounds out to end the inning, but Tenri has finally opened the scoring here in the 4th
Souseikan striking back! Uto gets his 2nd single of the day. Takashi drives a ball deep to center! Funabiki looking, it's off the top of the fence! Uto has to hold up because he thought it might be caught and winds up at 3rd.
Kouki then hits a ball to 2nd, and it's slow enough that the runner can score, making it 2-1.
And with 2 down, Torikai hits a ball down the right field line fair! Takashi scores and we're all square at 2-2!!
__________________________________________________
The game goes through the 5th without anything to note, so we enter the break back where we started. Neither team has shown a lot per se, but given the hits they've had Souseikan may have the advantage going forward.
__________________________________________________
Post-break, the game has hit a lull period where neither team is really able to do much of anything at the plate. They'll get the occasional baserunner, but not much else. Souseikan though is making much the better contact when they do swing.
Bottom 7th
Souseikan has something going when after a HBP Oota singles though the left side.
Uto with almost the same base hit! They're sending Mine home! Throw from Saitou is in plenty of time and the runner is out and the inning is over! Boy, that's costly. The ball was in shallow LF and you were hitting the ball.
Top 8th
Tenri with a hit batter, and after a bunt Wasada-kantoku sends in ace Mizunaga. Which is puzzling given what we've seen.
He does get the final 2 outs, but the contact already seems better.
Bottom 9th
Given what little has happened, it feels like another enchousen game. Torikai though hits a ball to the left side. Kawasaki with the great diving stop! Throw to 1st... Torikai just beats it out! That was about as close as you can get.
Mine drive to deep left center! It's caught, but the runner advances to 3rd!
Up to Washizaki.
SAYONARA!!!!!
Washizaki clean hit to right and that'll do it! Souseikan does indeed go on to defeat Tenri 3-2!
You could see this coming of sorts. Tenri was having all kinds of problems with Souseikan's pitching and was only successful when they waited on counts. Souseikan were hitting the ball hard even if it was at Tenri's fielders. So it would be a matter of time before those fell in and they did.
Day 4, Game 1 - Tsu Shougyou (Mie) v Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)
Apologies, but these previews may be a bit shorter due to my body catching up on sleep.
Anyways, we almost at the halfway point of seeing all these teams. This is our last full day of 1st Round games. First up is a regional matchup between Tsu Shougyou and Chiben Wakayama.
Tsu Shougyou is here having defeated Inabe Sougou Gakuen for the title, but not having faced anyone else of note. As for Chiben Wakayama, they were able to defeat last year's usurpers Shiritsu Wakayama as well as Minoshima. So perhaps they're in better form than in previous years. But on the overall they're look to be on the decline. However, they're still probably favored to win this matchup against first-timers.
Tsu Shougyou (Mie)
3B Ogouchi Kengo
CF Maeda Yuuta
1B Mastuba Kanou
LF Tsuji Yuuki
SS Egawa Yuuto
2B Takahashi Tomoki
RF Kuritani Taichi
P Sakakura Makoto
C Masuoka Akira
Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)
CF Noguchi Haruki
2B Takimoto Reiichi
RF Yamamoto Ryuuga
C Nishiyama Touma
1B Haruno Kouki
SS Takagaki Eiji
LF Nakao Taisuke
3B Ooishi Kaito
P Saitou Yuuta
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First pitch!
1st Inning
Well, as expected it's a clean inning for Saitou against the first timers.
The same cannot be said for the Tsu Shougyou's Sakakura though...
Noguchi drills a ball to left center all the way to the wall for a triple. Takigawa singles to make it 1-0. Then when he tries to steal 2nd, Masuoka throws it wide and allows Takigawa to reach 3rd.
Then Yamamoto doubles to right center making it 2-0 followed by Sakakura hitting Nishiyama.
Despite the awful start, he does get a 4-6-3 double play and a flyout to end the inning. It's 2 runs, but could have been much worse.
2nd Inning
Tsuji gets Tsu Shougyou first hit to lead off the inning, and Egawa amost bloops one to RF if not for some work by Takimoto but after that the ABs look subpar...
Fortunately, Sakakura has no problem with Chiben's bottom of the lineup and might get some respite there going forward.
Top 4th
Maeda comebacker to Saitou, but the throws it wide and they can't make the play! E1.
And now Tsuji's ball up the middle goes off off Takagaki and they have to play at all!
Egawa punishes Chiben! He singles though the left side and that scores Maeda! It's 2-1!!
Bottom 4th
Uh, oh, here comes Chiben. Nishiyama doubles down the left field line and they're in business!
Haruno deep ball to right Kuritani scrambling back... makes the catch!
Takagaki with a short liner to right, Kuritani charging... makes a shoestring catch!
And what's this? Sakakura strikes out Nakao looking and the inning is over!
Top 5th
Hopefully not gamesmanship, but Saitou hits Sakakura... Some discussion between Miyamoto-kantoku and his ace, but everything seems OK after the long talk.
Ogouchi with a single to left! Sakakura has to hold at 3rd, but Tsu Shougyou can tie up the game! with a timely hit!
Maeda with a slow bouncer up the 3rd base side! Ooishi charging, throws to 1st... SAFE!!!!
Sakakura scores and we're all square at 2-2!!
Matsuba grounds out, but it's a swinging bunt of all things that ties the game!
Bottom 5th
An odd single by Ooishi as the ball fools Takahashi and goes through to right. Perhaps there was some added english on the ball.
After a sac bunt, Chiben Wakayama makes a grave baseball error! Ooishi goes for 3rd on a ball to the SS and is easily thrown out! The ining ends with no damage and what seemed like a runaway right off the get go is a tie ballgame at the break!
Top 6th
Two down for Takahashi and he doubles down the right field side.
Kuritani singles to center! They're sending the runner home! Throw in.. high! Takahashi scores and Tsu Shougyou now has the lead!
Sakakura single to right! They're sending Kuritani! Throw from Yamamoto... That's on the mark and he's meat at the plate! But out of nowhere first-timers Tsu Shougyou has the lead!
Bottom 6th
There's new confidence in Tsu Shougyou. Sakakura going after the 3-4-5 batters, strikes out Yamamoto, strikes out Nishiyama looking(!) and Haruno can only look up in frustration after he hits a loud out to the wall.
Top 7th
Another error from Chiben Wakayama! Takimoto boots a ball from Masuoka.
Ogouchi not bunting and lines a ball over Takimoto! And now it goes under Noguchi's glove! Masuoka scores and It's 4-2 Tsushou!
Maeda and Matsuba both ground out, and perhaps they can limit it to 1 run.
Tsuji to center! Noguchi running back! It's over his head! Ogouchi scores and it's 5-2!!
P Change as #11 Kanaoka comes in.
Egawa grounds to short, but Takagaki airmails the throw! Tsuji scores and it's 6-2!
A walk to Takahashi and #13 Katou enters the game.
He walks a batter efore finally getting the 3rd out. But Chiben Wakayama looks done.
Bottom 7th
Oh dear, after the 1st two out, Sakakura has some issues with his arm. He goes to the dugout for treatment, but my cynical side (which is a large side), wouldn't be surprised.
He finally comes out, but you have to wonder for future games even if they advance.
But after throwing pitches, he takes himself out. #10 Ishikawa comes in.
After the first pitch, Masaoka comes out to talk to him. That's concerning.
He gets out of the inning, but we'll need to pay attention to the last 2 innings and how he performs.
Top 8th
After a Masuoka single, Chiben commit 2 more errors to load the bases. It would have been 3 if not for Tsu Shougyou trying to score 2 on the error. They did get 1 to make it 7-2.
Bottom 8th
And here's where the departure of Sakakura hurts. Yamamoto hits a 2-out, 2-run HR to make it 7-4. No more damage done, but you can see why I'm skeptical when a P gets hit, especially by a powerhouse school.
Top 9th
This is an embarrassment. After a single, Takimoto boots a ball. Ishikawa lays down the squeeze, and Katou flubs on the ball and no one's covering 1st. 8-4.
Masaoka bunts, it's fielded cleanly this time, but again no one covers 1st! 9-4.
Tsu Shougyou is making Chiben field. They lay down one more bunt, and they get it right this time.
Anyways, the game finally finishes with the score as it is. All you can say is that Tsu Shougyou played the game like they wanted to win. I have no idea what the heck happened to Chiben Wakayama.
Anyways, we almost at the halfway point of seeing all these teams. This is our last full day of 1st Round games. First up is a regional matchup between Tsu Shougyou and Chiben Wakayama.
Tsu Shougyou is here having defeated Inabe Sougou Gakuen for the title, but not having faced anyone else of note. As for Chiben Wakayama, they were able to defeat last year's usurpers Shiritsu Wakayama as well as Minoshima. So perhaps they're in better form than in previous years. But on the overall they're look to be on the decline. However, they're still probably favored to win this matchup against first-timers.
Tsu Shougyou (Mie)
3B Ogouchi Kengo
CF Maeda Yuuta
1B Mastuba Kanou
LF Tsuji Yuuki
SS Egawa Yuuto
2B Takahashi Tomoki
RF Kuritani Taichi
P Sakakura Makoto
C Masuoka Akira
Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)
CF Noguchi Haruki
2B Takimoto Reiichi
RF Yamamoto Ryuuga
C Nishiyama Touma
1B Haruno Kouki
SS Takagaki Eiji
LF Nakao Taisuke
3B Ooishi Kaito
P Saitou Yuuta
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First pitch!
1st Inning
Well, as expected it's a clean inning for Saitou against the first timers.
The same cannot be said for the Tsu Shougyou's Sakakura though...
Noguchi drills a ball to left center all the way to the wall for a triple. Takigawa singles to make it 1-0. Then when he tries to steal 2nd, Masuoka throws it wide and allows Takigawa to reach 3rd.
Then Yamamoto doubles to right center making it 2-0 followed by Sakakura hitting Nishiyama.
Despite the awful start, he does get a 4-6-3 double play and a flyout to end the inning. It's 2 runs, but could have been much worse.
2nd Inning
Tsuji gets Tsu Shougyou first hit to lead off the inning, and Egawa amost bloops one to RF if not for some work by Takimoto but after that the ABs look subpar...
Fortunately, Sakakura has no problem with Chiben's bottom of the lineup and might get some respite there going forward.
Top 4th
Maeda comebacker to Saitou, but the throws it wide and they can't make the play! E1.
And now Tsuji's ball up the middle goes off off Takagaki and they have to play at all!
Egawa punishes Chiben! He singles though the left side and that scores Maeda! It's 2-1!!
Bottom 4th
Uh, oh, here comes Chiben. Nishiyama doubles down the left field line and they're in business!
Haruno deep ball to right Kuritani scrambling back... makes the catch!
Takagaki with a short liner to right, Kuritani charging... makes a shoestring catch!
And what's this? Sakakura strikes out Nakao looking and the inning is over!
Top 5th
Hopefully not gamesmanship, but Saitou hits Sakakura... Some discussion between Miyamoto-kantoku and his ace, but everything seems OK after the long talk.
Ogouchi with a single to left! Sakakura has to hold at 3rd, but Tsu Shougyou can tie up the game! with a timely hit!
Maeda with a slow bouncer up the 3rd base side! Ooishi charging, throws to 1st... SAFE!!!!
Sakakura scores and we're all square at 2-2!!
Matsuba grounds out, but it's a swinging bunt of all things that ties the game!
Bottom 5th
An odd single by Ooishi as the ball fools Takahashi and goes through to right. Perhaps there was some added english on the ball.
After a sac bunt, Chiben Wakayama makes a grave baseball error! Ooishi goes for 3rd on a ball to the SS and is easily thrown out! The ining ends with no damage and what seemed like a runaway right off the get go is a tie ballgame at the break!
Top 6th
Two down for Takahashi and he doubles down the right field side.
Kuritani singles to center! They're sending the runner home! Throw in.. high! Takahashi scores and Tsu Shougyou now has the lead!
Sakakura single to right! They're sending Kuritani! Throw from Yamamoto... That's on the mark and he's meat at the plate! But out of nowhere first-timers Tsu Shougyou has the lead!
Bottom 6th
There's new confidence in Tsu Shougyou. Sakakura going after the 3-4-5 batters, strikes out Yamamoto, strikes out Nishiyama looking(!) and Haruno can only look up in frustration after he hits a loud out to the wall.
Top 7th
Another error from Chiben Wakayama! Takimoto boots a ball from Masuoka.
Ogouchi not bunting and lines a ball over Takimoto! And now it goes under Noguchi's glove! Masuoka scores and It's 4-2 Tsushou!
Maeda and Matsuba both ground out, and perhaps they can limit it to 1 run.
Tsuji to center! Noguchi running back! It's over his head! Ogouchi scores and it's 5-2!!
P Change as #11 Kanaoka comes in.
Egawa grounds to short, but Takagaki airmails the throw! Tsuji scores and it's 6-2!
A walk to Takahashi and #13 Katou enters the game.
He walks a batter efore finally getting the 3rd out. But Chiben Wakayama looks done.
Bottom 7th
Oh dear, after the 1st two out, Sakakura has some issues with his arm. He goes to the dugout for treatment, but my cynical side (which is a large side), wouldn't be surprised.
He finally comes out, but you have to wonder for future games even if they advance.
But after throwing pitches, he takes himself out. #10 Ishikawa comes in.
After the first pitch, Masaoka comes out to talk to him. That's concerning.
He gets out of the inning, but we'll need to pay attention to the last 2 innings and how he performs.
Top 8th
After a Masuoka single, Chiben commit 2 more errors to load the bases. It would have been 3 if not for Tsu Shougyou trying to score 2 on the error. They did get 1 to make it 7-2.
Bottom 8th
And here's where the departure of Sakakura hurts. Yamamoto hits a 2-out, 2-run HR to make it 7-4. No more damage done, but you can see why I'm skeptical when a P gets hit, especially by a powerhouse school.
Top 9th
This is an embarrassment. After a single, Takimoto boots a ball. Ishikawa lays down the squeeze, and Katou flubs on the ball and no one's covering 1st. 8-4.
Masaoka bunts, it's fielded cleanly this time, but again no one covers 1st! 9-4.
Tsu Shougyou is making Chiben field. They lay down one more bunt, and they get it right this time.
Anyways, the game finally finishes with the score as it is. All you can say is that Tsu Shougyou played the game like they wanted to win. I have no idea what the heck happened to Chiben Wakayama.
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Day 3, Game 4 - Shirakaba Gakuen (Kita Hokkaido) v Shimonoseki Shougyou (Yamaguchi)
Our final game of the day might be considered a wind-down game. No real big names here, but they
will be fighting for survival.
Shimonoseki Shougyou is making their 9th appearance, but its first in 20 years. They come in having defeated former participants Hayatomo and Ube Shougyou. However, the team batted just 0.325 in the prefecturals, which is low given the level of competition.
As for Shirakaba Gakuen, they are making their 3rd appearance, and one could argue a year early (2006, 2011). However, their run was almost tripped up twice by Wakkani Ootani and Kitami Kougyou before blowing out Asahikawa Jitsugyou. They batted 0.356 in the tournament, which is certainly better, but how much so is uncertain. Still, Hokkaido in general is weaker and they are probably still considered the underdog if only slightly.
Shirakaba Gakuen (Kita Hokkaido)
C Kawanami Shunya
2B Gotou Hiroki
CF Ikeda Yuusuke
RF Katou Takashi
3B Hashimoto Tamamichi
LF Kawase Hiromitsu
1B Kawamura Ryousuke
P Kawamura Tokito
SS Matsuura Masaki
Shimonoseki Shougyou (Yamaguchi)
CF Tsunenobu Taiichi
SS Matsumoto Chihiro
RF Tomioka Yasuhiro
C Sakaguchi Reito
3B Masumoto Hiromasa
2B Sakamoto Yuuki
LF Sasaki Yuuji
P Morimoto Susumu
1B Zendera Kazuhiro
____________________________________________________________
will be fighting for survival.
Shimonoseki Shougyou is making their 9th appearance, but its first in 20 years. They come in having defeated former participants Hayatomo and Ube Shougyou. However, the team batted just 0.325 in the prefecturals, which is low given the level of competition.
As for Shirakaba Gakuen, they are making their 3rd appearance, and one could argue a year early (2006, 2011). However, their run was almost tripped up twice by Wakkani Ootani and Kitami Kougyou before blowing out Asahikawa Jitsugyou. They batted 0.356 in the tournament, which is certainly better, but how much so is uncertain. Still, Hokkaido in general is weaker and they are probably still considered the underdog if only slightly.
Shirakaba Gakuen (Kita Hokkaido)
C Kawanami Shunya
2B Gotou Hiroki
CF Ikeda Yuusuke
RF Katou Takashi
3B Hashimoto Tamamichi
LF Kawase Hiromitsu
1B Kawamura Ryousuke
P Kawamura Tokito
SS Matsuura Masaki
Shimonoseki Shougyou (Yamaguchi)
CF Tsunenobu Taiichi
SS Matsumoto Chihiro
RF Tomioka Yasuhiro
C Sakaguchi Reito
3B Masumoto Hiromasa
2B Sakamoto Yuuki
LF Sasaki Yuuji
P Morimoto Susumu
1B Zendera Kazuhiro
____________________________________________________________
16:25 - First pitch!
1st Inning
Morimoto gives up a 2-out single, but that otherwise leads to nothing.
Interesting, bottom half of the inning and it srarts raining pretty good.
Doesn't stop Tsunenobu from getting a single to left. But Matsumoto's bunt isn't good at all and gets the lead runner thrown out.
2 down for Sakaguchi, and he rips one to left center! That splits the defense and will score Matsumoto all the way from 1st! 1-0 Shimonoseki Shougyou!
Masumoto with a single through the right side! Only the strong throw of Katou prevents the 2nd run from scoring.
And that's fortunate because after issuing a walk, Kawamura gets Sasaki to fly out to right to keep the damage at 1.
Top 2nd
Shirakaba Gakuen gets 2 runners on after Kawase single and Ryousuke walks. But when Tokito flies out to center, Tsunenobu accidentally drops the ball! The throw goes into 2nd and the runner is called out. The batter didnt' go to first, so they toss it there for the odd 8-6-3 double play!
Top 3rd
Morimoto issues a leadoff walk to the #9 batter, and usually it comes back to bite the team that issued it.
This time is no different! 2 down and Morimoto hangs a pitch to Ikeda and he drives it to deep right center for an RBI triple! It's 1-1!
Bottom 3rd
Sadly, Shirakaba Gakuen gifts the run back! Ryousuke wakls Tomioka with one down, and then Sakaguchi drives a ball off the wall right near the right field pole and Tomioka scores to make it 2-1!
And Masumoto lays down the squeeze!! There's no play anywhere and it's 3-1! Shimonoseki takes the lead back ! With interest!
Mid 4th
Looks like the umpires have called a delay due to lightening in the area.
~17:15 - Lightening Delay
Unfortunately this is where I inadvertently doze off. I woke up in time for the 8th where things happened, but I'm not as lucid as I'd like to make a decent writeup. I am making notes when I can though and will post it in morning. The twitter feed would be best to get in game reaction for now.
________________________________________
The coverage here is my recollection and notes having dozed off due to exhaustion during the delay
Apparently the delay had lasted 56 minutes, which was probably right after I dozed off. If I do the math, 17:17 was the time of the delay, 56 minutes would have been 18:13 roughly.
The fact that I woke up at 18:56 and they were concluding the 8th inning (my Asahi website feed lags so it was about a full inning behind), means they did the bottom of the 4th to the end of the 8th in a cool 43 minutes, and that would have included the 5th inning break which I would have assumed they did. That's 5 minutes per half inning, which is pretty quick.
It's also to be expected. The rain delay took away any momentum either team had.
So I got back in the 8th inning. Where after Gotou managed a walk, and Ikeda had just avoided a 3-6-1 double play, that Morimoto hung a ball that Katou crushed. He knew it immediately and raised his arm and took a slow walk until it cleared the fence.
I may have been half-awake literally, but that irked me. All that HR had done was tie the game, and there had been nothing I could see in the boxscore that gave me the feeling that this game was now theirs.
At that point, I thought they had better win this game soon, otherwise that would seem to hurt them.
But instead it was turning out like it had thought it might - it was Shimonoseki Shougyou who was getting the opportunities. Or any opportunity for that matter.
Because the tempo of the game didn't change. The teams flew through each half-inning as if they were rushing to get to the end. And at that point I mentioned on twitter that this game will either go the full 15 with each team having done little to nothing, or this game will probably end due to an error.
Shirakaba Gakuen was shutout every inning, going 1-2-3 with nothing all that memorable.
On the other hand Shimonoseki Shougyou had at least something. In the 9th they had the sayonara runner on 2nd with 2 out, but Maedera perhaps was too eager and swing on the first pitch fouling out.
In the 10th Matsuura boots a grounder from Tsunenobu to start the inning. Then 2 batters later Hashimoto appears to be playing way too far back and that allows Tomioka to beat the throw. They're saved though when Sakaguchi slips out of the box and grounds into the 4-6-3 double play.
In the 11th, an error by Gotou would allow Sakamoto to reach 2nd. And who else to put the finishing touches on the game than ace Morimoto, who chops one over reliever Nakano back up the middle. It's just out of the reach of Matsuura, and when Ikeda doesn't field the ball cleanly in center, he knows there's no point throwing home. And so Shimonoseki Shougyou wins in 11, 4-3.
The message isn't meant to be an "I told you so", it's meant to be more of knowing the situation. After that HR, Shirakaba Gakuen would not get a single baserunner after that. Meanwhile Shimonoseki Shougyou was working away, doing the game they had always done. That fist pump meant that they had done something - and they had. But it wasn't what they had thought it did which was to win that game. They weren't there yet, and it felt to me like to them it did.
Now, it could have been that message - but only if they recognized it themselves and took the momentum and ran with it because there was none to be had by either side. And that's where I think they fell short.
I'm ragging on the Kita Hokkaido representative a bit, and I do mean to do that. At the same time, when you see them afterwards, they're crying more than the average team. And of course it's understandable, and of course their efforts in getting here shouldn't be overshadowed. They certainly earned the right to be here.
I just tend to call things as I see them, and if they want to go back and see where the game turned, it ironically was on the HR that kept them in the game because I think that's where their focus was lost
Interesting, bottom half of the inning and it srarts raining pretty good.
Doesn't stop Tsunenobu from getting a single to left. But Matsumoto's bunt isn't good at all and gets the lead runner thrown out.
2 down for Sakaguchi, and he rips one to left center! That splits the defense and will score Matsumoto all the way from 1st! 1-0 Shimonoseki Shougyou!
Masumoto with a single through the right side! Only the strong throw of Katou prevents the 2nd run from scoring.
And that's fortunate because after issuing a walk, Kawamura gets Sasaki to fly out to right to keep the damage at 1.
Top 2nd
Shirakaba Gakuen gets 2 runners on after Kawase single and Ryousuke walks. But when Tokito flies out to center, Tsunenobu accidentally drops the ball! The throw goes into 2nd and the runner is called out. The batter didnt' go to first, so they toss it there for the odd 8-6-3 double play!
Top 3rd
Morimoto issues a leadoff walk to the #9 batter, and usually it comes back to bite the team that issued it.
This time is no different! 2 down and Morimoto hangs a pitch to Ikeda and he drives it to deep right center for an RBI triple! It's 1-1!
Bottom 3rd
Sadly, Shirakaba Gakuen gifts the run back! Ryousuke wakls Tomioka with one down, and then Sakaguchi drives a ball off the wall right near the right field pole and Tomioka scores to make it 2-1!
And Masumoto lays down the squeeze!! There's no play anywhere and it's 3-1! Shimonoseki takes the lead back ! With interest!
Mid 4th
Looks like the umpires have called a delay due to lightening in the area.
~17:15 - Lightening Delay
Unfortunately this is where I inadvertently doze off. I woke up in time for the 8th where things happened, but I'm not as lucid as I'd like to make a decent writeup. I am making notes when I can though and will post it in morning. The twitter feed would be best to get in game reaction for now.
________________________________________
The coverage here is my recollection and notes having dozed off due to exhaustion during the delay
Apparently the delay had lasted 56 minutes, which was probably right after I dozed off. If I do the math, 17:17 was the time of the delay, 56 minutes would have been 18:13 roughly.
The fact that I woke up at 18:56 and they were concluding the 8th inning (my Asahi website feed lags so it was about a full inning behind), means they did the bottom of the 4th to the end of the 8th in a cool 43 minutes, and that would have included the 5th inning break which I would have assumed they did. That's 5 minutes per half inning, which is pretty quick.
It's also to be expected. The rain delay took away any momentum either team had.
So I got back in the 8th inning. Where after Gotou managed a walk, and Ikeda had just avoided a 3-6-1 double play, that Morimoto hung a ball that Katou crushed. He knew it immediately and raised his arm and took a slow walk until it cleared the fence.
I may have been half-awake literally, but that irked me. All that HR had done was tie the game, and there had been nothing I could see in the boxscore that gave me the feeling that this game was now theirs.
At that point, I thought they had better win this game soon, otherwise that would seem to hurt them.
But instead it was turning out like it had thought it might - it was Shimonoseki Shougyou who was getting the opportunities. Or any opportunity for that matter.
Because the tempo of the game didn't change. The teams flew through each half-inning as if they were rushing to get to the end. And at that point I mentioned on twitter that this game will either go the full 15 with each team having done little to nothing, or this game will probably end due to an error.
Shirakaba Gakuen was shutout every inning, going 1-2-3 with nothing all that memorable.
On the other hand Shimonoseki Shougyou had at least something. In the 9th they had the sayonara runner on 2nd with 2 out, but Maedera perhaps was too eager and swing on the first pitch fouling out.
In the 10th Matsuura boots a grounder from Tsunenobu to start the inning. Then 2 batters later Hashimoto appears to be playing way too far back and that allows Tomioka to beat the throw. They're saved though when Sakaguchi slips out of the box and grounds into the 4-6-3 double play.
In the 11th, an error by Gotou would allow Sakamoto to reach 2nd. And who else to put the finishing touches on the game than ace Morimoto, who chops one over reliever Nakano back up the middle. It's just out of the reach of Matsuura, and when Ikeda doesn't field the ball cleanly in center, he knows there's no point throwing home. And so Shimonoseki Shougyou wins in 11, 4-3.
The message isn't meant to be an "I told you so", it's meant to be more of knowing the situation. After that HR, Shirakaba Gakuen would not get a single baserunner after that. Meanwhile Shimonoseki Shougyou was working away, doing the game they had always done. That fist pump meant that they had done something - and they had. But it wasn't what they had thought it did which was to win that game. They weren't there yet, and it felt to me like to them it did.
Now, it could have been that message - but only if they recognized it themselves and took the momentum and ran with it because there was none to be had by either side. And that's where I think they fell short.
I'm ragging on the Kita Hokkaido representative a bit, and I do mean to do that. At the same time, when you see them afterwards, they're crying more than the average team. And of course it's understandable, and of course their efforts in getting here shouldn't be overshadowed. They certainly earned the right to be here.
I just tend to call things as I see them, and if they want to go back and see where the game turned, it ironically was on the HR that kept them in the game because I think that's where their focus was lost
Day 3, Game 3 - Osaka Kaisei (Osaka) v Hieizan (Shiga)
I've been looking forward to this game, if nothing else because I'm curious as to how this team will do.
That team is Osaka Kaisei.
They were considered as an unknown team to me, but yet had improved over the last several years. What made this run impressive is that their recent losses included Osaka Touin, Ookanmuri and Osaka Taiikudai Namishou.
Who did they beat in the final 3 games to claim the title?
Osaka Touin, Ookanmuri and Osaka Taiikudai Namishou.
As the saying goes, "How 'bout them apples?"
As for Hieizan, they defeated both Kita-Ootsu and Oumi to win the title. Can't get much better than that in-prefecture for form. The question is if that is enough against these upstarts.
Osaka Kaisei (Osaka)
CF Himeno Yuuya
3B Toshima Hiroyoshi
2B Nishioka Yamato
C Tabata Takumi
1B Kishi Raidai
RF Hamaguchi Naoya
LF Fukuda Takeshi
P Mitsuda Yuuya
SS Matoba Yuuto
Hieizan (Shiga)
SS Hayashi Akito
CF Andachi Noritaka
C Nishikawa Naoki
1B Nakashima Shougo (#1)
2B Yokoe Rio (#14)
LF Harada Ryoutarou
3B Yamamoto Shuuhei (#15)
P Yamazaki Ryouta (#18)
RF Maeda Daichi
____________________________________________________________
13:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Yamazaki almost gets a clean inning but Yokoe boots a ball from Nishoka.
Tabata punishes that immediately with a screamer down the 3rd base line just fair and past Yamamoto! Runners at the corners and Osaka Kaisei has something small brewing.
Not small anymore! Kishi rips a shor back up the middle and both runners score! It's 2-0 just like that!!
Bottom 1st
Mitsuda paints the inside corner to get Hayashi to start his game.
But Andachi singles to center, and then steals 2nd thereafter! Definitely not going to be easy.
No problem for Mitsuda though. retires Nishikawa and Nakashima harmlessly to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
A hit batter for Mitsuda comes back to bite him as starter Yamazaki lines a ball over Matoba for a base hit making it a 2-1 game.
Top 3rd
2 down again and Osaka Kaisei starts things up. Tabata singles to right, and then Kishi draws a walk.
Hamaguchi makes the at bat long and drawn out, but gets rung up on a borderline pitch to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
The action is coming out of nowhere!
Andachi with a bunt base hit, and he steals 2nd again! This time it pays off as Nishikawa on the next pitch singles to right, and Andachi makes it home easily to tie the game!
And just as quickly as that run is scored, Nakashima lines out to 2nd and Nishikawa is doubled off to end the inning!
4th-5th Innings
Osaka Kaisei gets leadoff hits in each inning, lays down the bunt, but can't do anything with it. Meanwhile, Hieizan gest runners on base, but then gets themselves run out of the inning, thrown out at 2nd each time. It would appear we are at an impasse.
6th Inning
Yet another leadoff hit for Osaka Kaisei. This time though Fukuda's bunt isn't good at all, but he's fast enough to avoid the double play.
Which is fortunate because he goes and steals second!
And that hustle is paid off! Last batter Matoba, with 2 down, squeezes one past a diving Yamamoto down the line! Fukuda comes around to score and Osaka Kaisei retakes the 3-2 lead!
Nishikawa leads of with a single of his own for Hieizan and too is bunted over. Yokoe fouls pitch after pitch off, but eventually succumbs. The ball is in the dirt though and when Tabata has to throw to 1st, Nishikawa takes 3rd! They still need a hit, but the cushion is greater.
Harada though grounds to 1st and Nishikawa for his effort is left 90 feet short.
Bottom 7th
Hieizan running out of time, gets a leadoff hit from Yamamoto. Sends in #4 Miyazaki to hit for Yamazaki meaning his day is over. But the PH doesn't work, and things get so bad that Hayashi with 2 down tries to bunt for a hit.
Top 8th
#10 Oohara comes in and created a situation for himself where he hits 2 of the first 3 batters.
Things go almost terribly wrong when a liner by Mitsuda almost gets by the defense if not for a leaping catch by Harada. In the end no damae was done.
Bottom 8th
Nishikawa with his 3rd hit, a one-out ringing liner to center.
Nakashima a ball down the right field line... FAIR!! Nishikawa goes to 3rd and Hieizan is in business!
But Yokoe screams a ball to 2nd! Nishoka awkwardly tosses to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st... DOUBLE PLAY!!! The terrible dive into 1st wouldn't have changed things, but what a bad break for Hieizan!
Top 9th
Himeno with a ball to deep left center! Andachi back, back to the wall... It's off the wall for and Himeno in with a double!
Toshima bunting, but Nishikawa up with it quickly and fires to 3rd... OUT! They knew the bunt was coming, they crashed on the ball and got the lead runner!
Oohara closes out the frame, but they need to find a run in the last 3 outs.
Bottom 9th
Harada fighting each pitch with all he's got, but can't catch up to a pitch inside.
But Yamamoto does! He inside outs one past a diving Matoba for a base hit!
#13 Furuhashi hits for Oohara, and tries the drag bunt! The toss is just in time to get the out and Hieizan is down to their final out!
And they'll put it in the hands of their captain. #5 Kawai hits for Maeda.
BASE HIT! Down to his last strike Kawai singles to left! Fukuda fires home as Yamamoto is waved around, but it's not in time! We're tied at 3-3!!!
And now Hayashi singles to center! Could Hieizan actually end it here??
NO! Andachi grounds to 1st and for the consecutive games, we're off to enchousen!
Top 10th
With Oohara out, #11 Nishimura comes in to take the mound. His sidearm motion gets the first two out, but can't stop Fukuda from getting his 2nd hit of the game.
Mitsuda with a ball that sneaks by Yokoe for a base hit! Fukuda goes to 3rd, and Nishimura's got to be careful as time is called.
Matoba drive to right center! That will score Fukuda and Osaka Kaisei has the 4-3 lead!
Nakashima comes in to take the hill finally as the ace number.
But his first pitch is ripped to the left side! Mitsuda and Matoba score and it's 6-3!
Toshima with a ball off of Nakashima and there's no play! One more run in and it's 7-3!!
Nishioka with their 6th consecutive hit! How bad will it get??
Tabata finally grounds to 3rd to end the inning, but 6 straight hits with 2 down crush any hopes Hieizan had.
Bottom 10th
And while Nishikawa gets his 4th hit of the game, that's all they can muster as they fall by that score.
Got to feel bad for Hieizan having come back like they did only to lose like that. Of course they're understandably upset. But they've got nothing to be ashamed of.
Osaka Kaisei didn't look like a world beater today. but they don't have to be all the time. Just when they need to. Still, it'll be interesting to see how they progress.
That team is Osaka Kaisei.
They were considered as an unknown team to me, but yet had improved over the last several years. What made this run impressive is that their recent losses included Osaka Touin, Ookanmuri and Osaka Taiikudai Namishou.
Who did they beat in the final 3 games to claim the title?
Osaka Touin, Ookanmuri and Osaka Taiikudai Namishou.
As the saying goes, "How 'bout them apples?"
As for Hieizan, they defeated both Kita-Ootsu and Oumi to win the title. Can't get much better than that in-prefecture for form. The question is if that is enough against these upstarts.
Osaka Kaisei (Osaka)
CF Himeno Yuuya
3B Toshima Hiroyoshi
2B Nishioka Yamato
C Tabata Takumi
1B Kishi Raidai
RF Hamaguchi Naoya
LF Fukuda Takeshi
P Mitsuda Yuuya
SS Matoba Yuuto
Hieizan (Shiga)
SS Hayashi Akito
CF Andachi Noritaka
C Nishikawa Naoki
1B Nakashima Shougo (#1)
2B Yokoe Rio (#14)
LF Harada Ryoutarou
3B Yamamoto Shuuhei (#15)
P Yamazaki Ryouta (#18)
RF Maeda Daichi
____________________________________________________________
13:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Yamazaki almost gets a clean inning but Yokoe boots a ball from Nishoka.
Tabata punishes that immediately with a screamer down the 3rd base line just fair and past Yamamoto! Runners at the corners and Osaka Kaisei has something small brewing.
Not small anymore! Kishi rips a shor back up the middle and both runners score! It's 2-0 just like that!!
Bottom 1st
Mitsuda paints the inside corner to get Hayashi to start his game.
But Andachi singles to center, and then steals 2nd thereafter! Definitely not going to be easy.
No problem for Mitsuda though. retires Nishikawa and Nakashima harmlessly to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
A hit batter for Mitsuda comes back to bite him as starter Yamazaki lines a ball over Matoba for a base hit making it a 2-1 game.
Top 3rd
2 down again and Osaka Kaisei starts things up. Tabata singles to right, and then Kishi draws a walk.
Hamaguchi makes the at bat long and drawn out, but gets rung up on a borderline pitch to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
The action is coming out of nowhere!
Andachi with a bunt base hit, and he steals 2nd again! This time it pays off as Nishikawa on the next pitch singles to right, and Andachi makes it home easily to tie the game!
And just as quickly as that run is scored, Nakashima lines out to 2nd and Nishikawa is doubled off to end the inning!
4th-5th Innings
Osaka Kaisei gets leadoff hits in each inning, lays down the bunt, but can't do anything with it. Meanwhile, Hieizan gest runners on base, but then gets themselves run out of the inning, thrown out at 2nd each time. It would appear we are at an impasse.
6th Inning
Yet another leadoff hit for Osaka Kaisei. This time though Fukuda's bunt isn't good at all, but he's fast enough to avoid the double play.
Which is fortunate because he goes and steals second!
And that hustle is paid off! Last batter Matoba, with 2 down, squeezes one past a diving Yamamoto down the line! Fukuda comes around to score and Osaka Kaisei retakes the 3-2 lead!
Nishikawa leads of with a single of his own for Hieizan and too is bunted over. Yokoe fouls pitch after pitch off, but eventually succumbs. The ball is in the dirt though and when Tabata has to throw to 1st, Nishikawa takes 3rd! They still need a hit, but the cushion is greater.
Harada though grounds to 1st and Nishikawa for his effort is left 90 feet short.
Bottom 7th
Hieizan running out of time, gets a leadoff hit from Yamamoto. Sends in #4 Miyazaki to hit for Yamazaki meaning his day is over. But the PH doesn't work, and things get so bad that Hayashi with 2 down tries to bunt for a hit.
Top 8th
#10 Oohara comes in and created a situation for himself where he hits 2 of the first 3 batters.
Things go almost terribly wrong when a liner by Mitsuda almost gets by the defense if not for a leaping catch by Harada. In the end no damae was done.
Bottom 8th
Nishikawa with his 3rd hit, a one-out ringing liner to center.
Nakashima a ball down the right field line... FAIR!! Nishikawa goes to 3rd and Hieizan is in business!
But Yokoe screams a ball to 2nd! Nishoka awkwardly tosses to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st... DOUBLE PLAY!!! The terrible dive into 1st wouldn't have changed things, but what a bad break for Hieizan!
Top 9th
Himeno with a ball to deep left center! Andachi back, back to the wall... It's off the wall for and Himeno in with a double!
Toshima bunting, but Nishikawa up with it quickly and fires to 3rd... OUT! They knew the bunt was coming, they crashed on the ball and got the lead runner!
Oohara closes out the frame, but they need to find a run in the last 3 outs.
Bottom 9th
Harada fighting each pitch with all he's got, but can't catch up to a pitch inside.
But Yamamoto does! He inside outs one past a diving Matoba for a base hit!
#13 Furuhashi hits for Oohara, and tries the drag bunt! The toss is just in time to get the out and Hieizan is down to their final out!
And they'll put it in the hands of their captain. #5 Kawai hits for Maeda.
BASE HIT! Down to his last strike Kawai singles to left! Fukuda fires home as Yamamoto is waved around, but it's not in time! We're tied at 3-3!!!
And now Hayashi singles to center! Could Hieizan actually end it here??
NO! Andachi grounds to 1st and for the consecutive games, we're off to enchousen!
Top 10th
With Oohara out, #11 Nishimura comes in to take the mound. His sidearm motion gets the first two out, but can't stop Fukuda from getting his 2nd hit of the game.
Mitsuda with a ball that sneaks by Yokoe for a base hit! Fukuda goes to 3rd, and Nishimura's got to be careful as time is called.
Matoba drive to right center! That will score Fukuda and Osaka Kaisei has the 4-3 lead!
Nakashima comes in to take the hill finally as the ace number.
But his first pitch is ripped to the left side! Mitsuda and Matoba score and it's 6-3!
Toshima with a ball off of Nakashima and there's no play! One more run in and it's 7-3!!
Nishioka with their 6th consecutive hit! How bad will it get??
Tabata finally grounds to 3rd to end the inning, but 6 straight hits with 2 down crush any hopes Hieizan had.
Bottom 10th
And while Nishikawa gets his 4th hit of the game, that's all they can muster as they fall by that score.
Got to feel bad for Hieizan having come back like they did only to lose like that. Of course they're understandably upset. But they've got nothing to be ashamed of.
Osaka Kaisei didn't look like a world beater today. but they don't have to be all the time. Just when they need to. Still, it'll be interesting to see how they progress.
Day 3, Game 2 - Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi) v Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui)
When Meitoku Gijyuku showed their draw, a gasp came upon the entire hall. That was because they had just drawn Tsuruga Kehi, the spring champions. Now, Kishi isn't part of that team, but a matchup such as this early on means one less team to worry about.
Hiranuma is back, though they almost weren't as Fukui Koudai Fukui pushed him to the limit, though they eventually won in 11. The offense wasn't as strong in that game either pushing through 4 runs. Doesn't mean that they can't pull off the haru-natsu renzoku yuushou, but perhaps there will be questions about how the long run might wear them down.
As for Meitoku Gijyuku, they also had a close final against Kochi - blowing a 5-run lead in the bottom of the 8th, and then somehow finding a way to rally in the 9th for a 7-6 win. I don't have the details about how Kochi came back in that game, but a big inning like that late in a championship raises a yellow flag of sorts.
Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
LF Shichihyou Ryuuya
CF Sanada Kazuto
3B Shindou Ren
1B Furukawa Takuto
RF Sada Ryousuke
C Koga Yuudai
SS Takamura Kazuyuki
P Hida Toshiki
2B Fujimoto Hyouga
Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui)
3B Shinohara Ryou
1B Kurisu Kazuma
SS Hayashinaka Yuuki
P Hiranuma Shouta
CF Yamamoto Kouta
RF Matsumoto Teppei (#7)
LF Kinoshita Shougo (#9)
C Kamon Yuusuke
2B Nakai Kidzuku
____________________________________________________________
10:30 - First pitch!
1st Inning
Shichihyou a chopper up the 3rd base line, takes a right turn and goes fair past Shinohara who can only watch. That was weird.
And now Hiranuma uncorks one after a bunt? Shichihyou at 3rd.
Shindou with a check swing, and the ball goes over Nakai for a single! In one of the strangest manners, Meitoku Gijyuku scores the first run.
Meanwhile, Hida off to a great start. Some slight issues defensively, but as easy as a 1-2-3 inning as you can get.
Bottom 2nd
Hiranuma trying to get that run back, singles to right to start the frame. After a sac bunt, Hida issues a 4-pitch walk, bringing up Kinoshita.
And now a dead ball? Mabuchi-kantoku quickly calls time.
Kamon hits a comebacker to Hida! Goes home for 1, Koga goes to 1st, and that is the easiest double play you'll ever see. Inning over!!
Top 3rd
This doesn't feel like the same Hiranuma. He's giving up solid base hits and issuing walks.
Such is the case here when Sanada singles to right, and then Shindou waits on a borderline pitch and gets the walk.
And now Furukawa with a single throught he right side and Sanada scores to make it 2-0.
Hiranuma leaves one up and Sada singles to left! Shindou comes around, and he scores! 3-0!
Bottom 4th
Hiranuma not hitting bombs, but at least getting on base. I'm sure Meitoku Gijyuku is fine with singles.
But Tsuruga Kehi can't seem to string them together. A single after a fielder's choice (that could have just as easily been a double play) still gives them a chance, but Kinoshita grounds out to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Shinohara desperately gets something started, lines a 2-out double down the right field line.
Kurisu with a single to center, but Sanada fires home! The throw is on a line and is on target! Shinohara is meat at the plate!! We go to the break as the spring champs are denied!
Bottom 6th
Hayashinaka drive to left! Shichihyou gives up on it!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
That was a big one! Going off the outfield wall separating them from the ouen-dan!
Hiranuma with another single! Yoshimoto too! Oh.... Kehi is pissed off at the 5th inning.
That's it for Hida, Shichihyou comes in from LF to take the hill.
Matsumoto single to center! Hiranuma held at 3rd and Meitoku is at a big risk of losing this lead!
Kinoshita fly to left center, Hiranuma being sent home... SAFE! It's 3-2!
Shichihyou does manage to keep the 8/9 batters hitless, but what was ever more seemingly like a safe lead is not one anymore!
Bottom 7th
Hiranuma doing his part on the mound, has delivered his 4th straight clean inning to turn it back to his offense.
Shinohara leadoff single through the right side! After a bunt, Mabuchi-kantoku makes a P change?
Shichihyou goes back to LF and now Sada comes in from RF!
He gets Hayashinaka to ground to 1st! Shinohara has to hold at 3rd!
But it's the dangerous Hiranuma!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hiranuma strikes out swinging on a slider away and the side is retired!!
Bottom 8th
Yamamoto with a drive to deep right center! That's off the eall, and he's in with a triple!
Matsumoto a blooper to left, Sonoda charging in, charging in... Can't get there! Yamamoto comes in and we're all tied at 3-3!
Mori to hit for Kinoshita, can't lay down the bunt.
Liner to 2nd! And Matsumoto is doubled off 1st! 2 out!
But now Kamon an Nakai's bats come to life! They each get a single and more importantly turn the lineup over!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!
Sada strikes out Shinohara swinging and the inning is over! But the game is tied and all the momentum is with the champs!
Top 9th
Furukawa with a leadoff single! He's quickly bunted over.
Koga chopper to the right side, Shinohara flubs the ball! Everyone's safe! Can Meitoku really rebound?
NO!
Takamura grounds right to Shinohara already standing on the bag, throw to 1st... double play!
Bottom 9th
Kurisu screaming liner to center! Sanada charging, makes another fine play! Hayashinaka down on 3 sraight, bringing up Hiranuma.
Sada not intimidated goes after him and gets ahead in the count!
Hiranuma hits it to 2nd! Fujimoto to 1st. and we're headed to enchousen!
Top 10th
The bats for Meitoku slowly waking up again. Shichihyou gets a 2-out single, but that's all.
Bottom 10th
Matsumoto doing even better this game as he gets on base for the 5th time with one down, and the 2nd via a walk. I'm not sure Sada wanted anything to do with him. And yet he went after Hiranuma.
Mabuchi-kantoku calls for time after Mori bunts the runner over.
Wild pitch from Sada!! Matsumoto advances to 3rd!!
And with the account already at 2-0, they go ad walk Kamon to bring up last batter Nakai.
And they end up walking him too! It creates a force, but it also turns the lineup over!
Shinohara puts the final dagger in with a clean single back up the middle! Tsuruga Kehi comes back to win 4-3 in 10 innings!
That was a shame really. Meitoku played a great game and seemed to have the tiger caged up. But once they let even a small crack upen, Tsuruga Kehi blew right through it. They almost put them back in the cage in the 9th, but it was not to be.
And you can only play with fire so many times. Getting that 3rd out before the lineup turned over was imperative, and they didn't do it, and it cost them the game.
Tsuruga Kehi has to be counting their blessings they came back here. Hiranuma shut it down after a shaky start, and certainly it'll get slightly easier, but they also have work to do.
Hiranuma is back, though they almost weren't as Fukui Koudai Fukui pushed him to the limit, though they eventually won in 11. The offense wasn't as strong in that game either pushing through 4 runs. Doesn't mean that they can't pull off the haru-natsu renzoku yuushou, but perhaps there will be questions about how the long run might wear them down.
As for Meitoku Gijyuku, they also had a close final against Kochi - blowing a 5-run lead in the bottom of the 8th, and then somehow finding a way to rally in the 9th for a 7-6 win. I don't have the details about how Kochi came back in that game, but a big inning like that late in a championship raises a yellow flag of sorts.
Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
LF Shichihyou Ryuuya
CF Sanada Kazuto
3B Shindou Ren
1B Furukawa Takuto
RF Sada Ryousuke
C Koga Yuudai
SS Takamura Kazuyuki
P Hida Toshiki
2B Fujimoto Hyouga
Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui)
3B Shinohara Ryou
1B Kurisu Kazuma
SS Hayashinaka Yuuki
P Hiranuma Shouta
CF Yamamoto Kouta
RF Matsumoto Teppei (#7)
LF Kinoshita Shougo (#9)
C Kamon Yuusuke
2B Nakai Kidzuku
____________________________________________________________
10:30 - First pitch!
1st Inning
Shichihyou a chopper up the 3rd base line, takes a right turn and goes fair past Shinohara who can only watch. That was weird.
And now Hiranuma uncorks one after a bunt? Shichihyou at 3rd.
Shindou with a check swing, and the ball goes over Nakai for a single! In one of the strangest manners, Meitoku Gijyuku scores the first run.
Meanwhile, Hida off to a great start. Some slight issues defensively, but as easy as a 1-2-3 inning as you can get.
Bottom 2nd
Hiranuma trying to get that run back, singles to right to start the frame. After a sac bunt, Hida issues a 4-pitch walk, bringing up Kinoshita.
And now a dead ball? Mabuchi-kantoku quickly calls time.
Kamon hits a comebacker to Hida! Goes home for 1, Koga goes to 1st, and that is the easiest double play you'll ever see. Inning over!!
Top 3rd
This doesn't feel like the same Hiranuma. He's giving up solid base hits and issuing walks.
Such is the case here when Sanada singles to right, and then Shindou waits on a borderline pitch and gets the walk.
And now Furukawa with a single throught he right side and Sanada scores to make it 2-0.
Hiranuma leaves one up and Sada singles to left! Shindou comes around, and he scores! 3-0!
Bottom 4th
Hiranuma not hitting bombs, but at least getting on base. I'm sure Meitoku Gijyuku is fine with singles.
But Tsuruga Kehi can't seem to string them together. A single after a fielder's choice (that could have just as easily been a double play) still gives them a chance, but Kinoshita grounds out to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Shinohara desperately gets something started, lines a 2-out double down the right field line.
Kurisu with a single to center, but Sanada fires home! The throw is on a line and is on target! Shinohara is meat at the plate!! We go to the break as the spring champs are denied!
Bottom 6th
Hayashinaka drive to left! Shichihyou gives up on it!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
That was a big one! Going off the outfield wall separating them from the ouen-dan!
Hiranuma with another single! Yoshimoto too! Oh.... Kehi is pissed off at the 5th inning.
That's it for Hida, Shichihyou comes in from LF to take the hill.
Matsumoto single to center! Hiranuma held at 3rd and Meitoku is at a big risk of losing this lead!
Kinoshita fly to left center, Hiranuma being sent home... SAFE! It's 3-2!
Shichihyou does manage to keep the 8/9 batters hitless, but what was ever more seemingly like a safe lead is not one anymore!
Bottom 7th
Hiranuma doing his part on the mound, has delivered his 4th straight clean inning to turn it back to his offense.
Shinohara leadoff single through the right side! After a bunt, Mabuchi-kantoku makes a P change?
Shichihyou goes back to LF and now Sada comes in from RF!
He gets Hayashinaka to ground to 1st! Shinohara has to hold at 3rd!
But it's the dangerous Hiranuma!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hiranuma strikes out swinging on a slider away and the side is retired!!
Bottom 8th
Yamamoto with a drive to deep right center! That's off the eall, and he's in with a triple!
Matsumoto a blooper to left, Sonoda charging in, charging in... Can't get there! Yamamoto comes in and we're all tied at 3-3!
Mori to hit for Kinoshita, can't lay down the bunt.
Liner to 2nd! And Matsumoto is doubled off 1st! 2 out!
But now Kamon an Nakai's bats come to life! They each get a single and more importantly turn the lineup over!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!
Sada strikes out Shinohara swinging and the inning is over! But the game is tied and all the momentum is with the champs!
Top 9th
Furukawa with a leadoff single! He's quickly bunted over.
Koga chopper to the right side, Shinohara flubs the ball! Everyone's safe! Can Meitoku really rebound?
NO!
Takamura grounds right to Shinohara already standing on the bag, throw to 1st... double play!
Bottom 9th
Kurisu screaming liner to center! Sanada charging, makes another fine play! Hayashinaka down on 3 sraight, bringing up Hiranuma.
Sada not intimidated goes after him and gets ahead in the count!
Hiranuma hits it to 2nd! Fujimoto to 1st. and we're headed to enchousen!
Top 10th
The bats for Meitoku slowly waking up again. Shichihyou gets a 2-out single, but that's all.
Bottom 10th
Matsumoto doing even better this game as he gets on base for the 5th time with one down, and the 2nd via a walk. I'm not sure Sada wanted anything to do with him. And yet he went after Hiranuma.
Mabuchi-kantoku calls for time after Mori bunts the runner over.
Wild pitch from Sada!! Matsumoto advances to 3rd!!
And with the account already at 2-0, they go ad walk Kamon to bring up last batter Nakai.
And they end up walking him too! It creates a force, but it also turns the lineup over!
Shinohara puts the final dagger in with a clean single back up the middle! Tsuruga Kehi comes back to win 4-3 in 10 innings!
That was a shame really. Meitoku played a great game and seemed to have the tiger caged up. But once they let even a small crack upen, Tsuruga Kehi blew right through it. They almost put them back in the cage in the 9th, but it was not to be.
And you can only play with fire so many times. Getting that 3rd out before the lineup turned over was imperative, and they didn't do it, and it cost them the game.
Tsuruga Kehi has to be counting their blessings they came back here. Hiranuma shut it down after a shaky start, and certainly it'll get slightly easier, but they also have work to do.
Day 3, Game 1 - Imabari Nishi (Ehime) v Waseda Jitsugyou (Nishi Tokyo)
As is the case generally when it comes to the Koushien tournament, rarely if ever does the entire tournament feel compelling from start to finish. I was fortunate to be part of one back in 2006 which included another late-inning loss by Kanzei (to Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku), the elation and debacle that was the Teikyou-Chiben Wakayama game, and the 1st ever draw in a final and the subsequent replay between Waseda Jitsygyou (Saitou Yuuki) and Komadai Tomakomai (Tanaka Masahiro). The last game of the day, while long in duration, was compelling even if my body was about to just force quit into sleep mode.
Anyways, we move onto Day 3 where quite a few powerhouse teams will take the stage. First up is the aforementioned Waseda Jitsugyou (aka Soujitsu) who hasn't really been the same since that title run.
However, they appear to have rounded into form. As part of their 6 wins to the title, they had to get through Toritsu Hino (which they almost didn't), Nichidai-san, and Toukaidai Sugao. Compare that to Imabari Nishi, whose only key win might be in the final against Komatsu where they eked out a 4-3 win.
While Imabari Nishi has been a regular competitor at Koushien, it's advantage Tokyo in this matchup.
Oh, and do you notice the name playing at 1B for Waseda Jitsugyou? He said he wanted to play for them when his team won the LLWS. Yep, it's Kiyomiya Koutarou.
Imabari Nishi (Ehime)
SS Sugiuchi Kouki
2B Nakauchi Riki
C Takao Yousuke
P Fujiwara Yoshiki
CF Yamauchi Jyunya
1B Akigawa Atsushi
LF Kikugawa Tomoki
RF Sugino Akihiko
3B Yoshiwara Yuunosuke
Waseda Jitsugyou (Nishi Tokyo)
3B Yamada Jyunpei
RF Tamagawa Ryou
1B Kiyomiya Koutarou
C Katou Masaki
SS Kaneko Ginyu(?)
2B Tomita Naoki
LF Taguchi Kinomasa
P Matsumoto Kou
CF Watanabe Daichi
Anyways, we move onto Day 3 where quite a few powerhouse teams will take the stage. First up is the aforementioned Waseda Jitsugyou (aka Soujitsu) who hasn't really been the same since that title run.
However, they appear to have rounded into form. As part of their 6 wins to the title, they had to get through Toritsu Hino (which they almost didn't), Nichidai-san, and Toukaidai Sugao. Compare that to Imabari Nishi, whose only key win might be in the final against Komatsu where they eked out a 4-3 win.
While Imabari Nishi has been a regular competitor at Koushien, it's advantage Tokyo in this matchup.
Oh, and do you notice the name playing at 1B for Waseda Jitsugyou? He said he wanted to play for them when his team won the LLWS. Yep, it's Kiyomiya Koutarou.
Imabari Nishi (Ehime)
SS Sugiuchi Kouki
2B Nakauchi Riki
C Takao Yousuke
P Fujiwara Yoshiki
CF Yamauchi Jyunya
1B Akigawa Atsushi
LF Kikugawa Tomoki
RF Sugino Akihiko
3B Yoshiwara Yuunosuke
Waseda Jitsugyou (Nishi Tokyo)
3B Yamada Jyunpei
RF Tamagawa Ryou
1B Kiyomiya Koutarou
C Katou Masaki
SS Kaneko Ginyu(?)
2B Tomita Naoki
LF Taguchi Kinomasa
P Matsumoto Kou
CF Watanabe Daichi
____________________________________________________________
08:02 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Sugiuchi drives a ball to right, Tamagawa goes back, then has to leap up and makes the catch. Almost got fooled there.
Matsumoto gets a 1-2-3 inning, but early on Imabari Nishi's batters are taking their pitches.
Bottom 1st
Yamaguchi base hit up the middle. Bunt over and Kiyomiya already has a scoring opporunity.
Fujiwara goes after him, pitching inside and getting a popout to 1st.
There's always a danger of going inside, and Fujiwara hits Katou. Oono-kantoku calls for time.
Fujiwara leaves one right over the plate and Kaneko drives it to right center. That'll bounce all the way to the wall for a 2-run triple. Soujitsu already up 2-0.
Uh oh. Grouner to 1st was to end the ining, but Fujiwara whiffs receiving the ball and the error scores another run. 3-0. Imabari Nishi quickly with their back to the wall.
2nd Inning
Imabari Nishi is able to get their first hit when Akigawa doubles off the wall in left center. It's with 2 down though and he's left stranded.
It winds up being a quick inning all around as Fujiwara retires the 8-9-1 of the Waseda lineup in order.
3rd Inning
Imabari Nishi gets 2 base hits, but they're again with 2 outs. Takao hits a grounder to 2nd, and that's that for the chance.
Fujiwara was given a mandate to pitch inside, but he hits Kiyomiya. And then Katou.
And the Oono-kantoku plays musical chairs. Fujiwara to 1B, Akigawa to 3B, Yoshiwara to 2B, Nakauchi to SS, and Sugiuchi to P.
After a 4 pitch walk, more changes.
#12 Katou comes in for Kikugawa and takes over at C, Takao goes to 1B, Fujiwara to CF, and Yamauchi to LF.
After a K, Sugiuchi falls behind 3-0 to Tagouchi, but finds a way to fill up the count.
Sugiuchi jams him and gets a flyout to left! They get out of the jam with no damage!
Bottom 4th
Situation developing for Waseda as Watanabe and Yamaguchi get back-to-back singles to right. Oono-kantoku has to call time again when the count goes to 3-0 on Tamagawa... and Kiyomiya on deck.
They fight, and get fortunate when Tamagawa check swings a popup to 1st. And then Kiyomiya goes after the 1st pitch and flies out to center! Imabari Nishi out of another jam, but still trailing.
5th Inning
It's another 2 out hit for Imabari Nishi as Sugiuchi goes to the wall in center. Nakuchi draws a walk, but they still need a base hit.
And they can't get it. Takao pops up to Kiyomiya, and that's 2 more stranded.
It's 1-2-3 for Waseda and we're at the break. Imabari Nishi has prevented it from becoming a blowout, but the offense needs those base hits they're getting earlier in the inning instead of with 2 outs.
Top 6th
Seems like they listened?
Yamauchi singles to center, Akigawa singles to left.
But Katou right to Yamaguchi, steps on bag and throw to 1st for the double play.
Bottom 7th
Tamagawa with a 1-out double to left center, Kiyomiya finally pays it off with a solid through ball on the right side, plating the runner and making it 4-0.
Katou follows that up with another base hit, and it finally feels like Imabari Nishi has finally cracked. 2 batters later, Tomita doubles down the right field line and it's 6-0.
Rest of game
Imabari Nishi rolls over after that, retired in order in the 8th and 9th to close out the game. They had chances, but they weren't of the optimal variety and could never deliver the timely hit.
Waseda Jitsugyou advances, but doesn't look all that impressive doing so. They'll need to especially get the pitching straightened out unles they're of the bend, but not break variety.
Matsumoto gets a 1-2-3 inning, but early on Imabari Nishi's batters are taking their pitches.
Bottom 1st
Yamaguchi base hit up the middle. Bunt over and Kiyomiya already has a scoring opporunity.
Fujiwara goes after him, pitching inside and getting a popout to 1st.
There's always a danger of going inside, and Fujiwara hits Katou. Oono-kantoku calls for time.
Fujiwara leaves one right over the plate and Kaneko drives it to right center. That'll bounce all the way to the wall for a 2-run triple. Soujitsu already up 2-0.
Uh oh. Grouner to 1st was to end the ining, but Fujiwara whiffs receiving the ball and the error scores another run. 3-0. Imabari Nishi quickly with their back to the wall.
2nd Inning
Imabari Nishi is able to get their first hit when Akigawa doubles off the wall in left center. It's with 2 down though and he's left stranded.
It winds up being a quick inning all around as Fujiwara retires the 8-9-1 of the Waseda lineup in order.
3rd Inning
Imabari Nishi gets 2 base hits, but they're again with 2 outs. Takao hits a grounder to 2nd, and that's that for the chance.
Fujiwara was given a mandate to pitch inside, but he hits Kiyomiya. And then Katou.
And the Oono-kantoku plays musical chairs. Fujiwara to 1B, Akigawa to 3B, Yoshiwara to 2B, Nakauchi to SS, and Sugiuchi to P.
After a 4 pitch walk, more changes.
#12 Katou comes in for Kikugawa and takes over at C, Takao goes to 1B, Fujiwara to CF, and Yamauchi to LF.
After a K, Sugiuchi falls behind 3-0 to Tagouchi, but finds a way to fill up the count.
Sugiuchi jams him and gets a flyout to left! They get out of the jam with no damage!
Bottom 4th
Situation developing for Waseda as Watanabe and Yamaguchi get back-to-back singles to right. Oono-kantoku has to call time again when the count goes to 3-0 on Tamagawa... and Kiyomiya on deck.
They fight, and get fortunate when Tamagawa check swings a popup to 1st. And then Kiyomiya goes after the 1st pitch and flies out to center! Imabari Nishi out of another jam, but still trailing.
5th Inning
It's another 2 out hit for Imabari Nishi as Sugiuchi goes to the wall in center. Nakuchi draws a walk, but they still need a base hit.
And they can't get it. Takao pops up to Kiyomiya, and that's 2 more stranded.
It's 1-2-3 for Waseda and we're at the break. Imabari Nishi has prevented it from becoming a blowout, but the offense needs those base hits they're getting earlier in the inning instead of with 2 outs.
Top 6th
Seems like they listened?
Yamauchi singles to center, Akigawa singles to left.
But Katou right to Yamaguchi, steps on bag and throw to 1st for the double play.
Bottom 7th
Tamagawa with a 1-out double to left center, Kiyomiya finally pays it off with a solid through ball on the right side, plating the runner and making it 4-0.
Katou follows that up with another base hit, and it finally feels like Imabari Nishi has finally cracked. 2 batters later, Tomita doubles down the right field line and it's 6-0.
Rest of game
Imabari Nishi rolls over after that, retired in order in the 8th and 9th to close out the game. They had chances, but they weren't of the optimal variety and could never deliver the timely hit.
Waseda Jitsugyou advances, but doesn't look all that impressive doing so. They'll need to especially get the pitching straightened out unles they're of the bend, but not break variety.
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