The next game will be hard for me to handicap because one team I only saw halfway.
Hanasaki Tokuharu I could only watch half of because the prior game (Iwamichisuikan v Kounan) ran so long due to the numerous P changes. Of course, by the time I had to shut it down, they were well on their way to annihilating Misawa Shougyou 15-3. Because of said annihilation though, there isn't a whole lot you can take from the game. About the only thing is that ace Kamakura still only struck out 5, so the dominance wasn't complete per se.
As for Tsuruoka Higashi, the big issue is if ace Fukutani is feeling comfortable on the mound. He had been hit by a liner later in the game and them proceeded to give up several runs thereafter. The only issue is that the pitching of Tottori Jyouhoku wasn't all that spectacular.
(Well, that answers my question. #10 Matsuzaki is taking the hill)
Tsuruoka Higashi (Yamagata)
2B Tanabe Kazu
1B Fujii Shunsuke
CF Kakizaki Kou
LF Abe Hiroshi
SS Ajiki Kanta
RF Maruyama Hiroshi
3B Kurokawa Hiroto
C Takemoto Daiki
P Matsuzaki Yoshihiro (#10)
Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama)
LF Kuguu Ryuuya
2B Oota Kousei
SS Okazaki Daisuke
CF Ootaki Aito
RF Satomi Haruki
3B Kusumoto Kouki (#15)
C Sasaya Takumi
P Kamakura Tomoya
1B Kamimura Kouta
____________________________________________________________
10:55 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Leadoff walk by Kamakura to start the game isn't a good sign, but gets some help as Fujii bunts into the 1-6-3 double play.
And that double play is a shame because Kakizaki and Abe ring base hits to center and left respectively.
Ajiki flies out to left, and despite 3 baserunners, Tsuruoka Higashi gets 0 runs.
Bottom 1st
Well, Tanabe being kept busy in the 1st as all three groundballs go to him. He makes a great play for the last one as the side is retired.
Top 2nd
Once again Tsuruoka Higashi gets baserunners thanks to Kamakura. He walks Kurokawa and then hits Takemoto with one down.
But quickly thereafter Matsuzaki pops out and Tanabe flies out to left.
Bottom 2nd
Ootaki gets a leadoff single and after a bunt Hanasaki Tokuharu is on the verge of opening the scoring.
But Matsuzaki gets Kusumoto to chase a slider for the 2nd out.
Sasaya a hard shot to short, but Ajiki makes the pick! It puts on the seat of his pants, but he gets up and makes the throw to 1st for the 3rd out!
Top 3rd
Fujii a rip shot that bounces off Kusumoto and deflects all the way behind 2nd base for a single. He's bunted over, but Abe strikes out.
Sasaya though makes an error trying to pick him off, and ends up hitting Fujii! The ball goes to the outfield and Fujii takes 3rd!
But Ajiki weakly grounds to 2nd and another runner is left on base.
Bottom 3rd
Matsuzaki issues his first walk to Kamakura, but when they go for the hit-and run Kamimura strikes out and Kamakura gets thrown out.
Kuguu gets on base via an error on the throw by Tanabe, but a fly to right makes it a non-issue.
Top 4th
Maruyama with a drive to deep right center and he's in with a double!
Kurokawa lays down the bunt, but Maruyama doesn't advance! Maybe he thought he might be thrown out at 3rd, but either way the bunt fails!
Takemoto flies out to left so it's up to Matsuzaki.
Matsuzaki hard shot at Kusumoto! He blocks it, picks it up, and make the throw to 1st for the 3rd out!
Bottom 4th
Okazaki gets a leadoff 4-pitch walk. Ootaki not bunting, but succumbs to Matsuzaki's slider.
It's a bunt and run as Kuguu lays it down! Matsuzaki still tries to go to 2nd, but the runner is safe. They still get Kuguu at 1st, so all is not lost.
Kusumoto hits one right to Maruyama, and the side is retired.
Top 5th
Another walk! Kamakura walks Tanabe to start the inning.
AH!!! But he strays too far from the base on the bunt attempt and Sasaya guns him down!
And with that momentum is lost for the inning. Fujii and Kakizaki are retired soon after and the side is retired.
Bottom 5th
Sasaya wiht a single to center and Hanasaki Tokuharu has their 4th leadoff runner on.
But Kamkura can't lay down the bunt and three bunts his way to an out!
Kamimura grounds into a fielder's choice and there's quickly 2 down.
AH!!! Matsuzaki throws to 1st and they pick off Kamimura for the 3rd out!
We hit the break deadlocked at 0, but both sides have had opportunities they couldn't take advantage of, and not to mention that there has been baserunning errors everywhere. Can't tell if it's pressure or what, but whomever can put it together first will probably win this game.
Top 6th
Kamakura perhaps settling down post-break. He does not give up a leadoff runner, striking out Abe looking. And while Maruyama singles through the right side, with 2 outs they can do little with it.
Bottom 6th
Same can be said for Matsuzaki as he strikes out Kuguu on a tough fastball inside. After that it's 2 groundouts and the inning is over.
Top 7th
One down, Matsuzaki singles back up the middle.
And now Tanabe with a single through the left side! Best chance for Tsuruoka Higashi in a while!
Hanasaki Tokuharu changing pitchers! #18 Takahashi comes in relief.
And now Tsuruoka Higashi makes a change! Brings in righty #13 Sakamoto to face him!
But he strikes out on 3 straight!
Takahashi strikes out Kakizaki on an outside fastball and the side is retired!!
Bottom 7th
Ootaki leadoff single to left! He's bunted over and Hanasaki Tokuharu threatening again as Tsuruoka Higashi calls time.
Kusumoto grounder to left side, Ajiki makes another great stop! But is throw to 1st is not in time and everyone's safe!!
2-1 and Kusumoto takes off for 2nd, but the throw from Takemoto is in time! But as they run him down Ootaki edges towards home! And they give up on the out!
And Sasaya back up the middle... Ajiki can't get it! It'ts through to center and Ootaki comes home! 1-0 Hanasaki Tokuharu in the Lucky 7!!!
Takahashi ends up grounding into the 1-6-3 double play, but he now has a lead to work with!
Top 8th
Tsuruoka Higashi playing against the clock now as Abe pops out.
Ajiki without a hit still, but draws a 4-pitch walk.
Maruyama grounder up the 1st base line... past Kamimura and into right! Ajiki takes 3rd and a big chance for Tsuruoka Higashi to tie!
Hanasaki Tokuharu meanwhile calls time.
Kurokawa up the 3rd base line, but Kusumoto has it! It's a contact play and Ajiki's hung out to dry! 2 outs and Tsuruoka Higashi continues to struggle!
#16 Kosunagawa(?) enters to run for Maruyama (who was 3-4 on the day)! They're going for broke.
And they busted out!
Takemoto flies out to center and I think that's going to be it for Tsuruoka Higashi!
Bottom 8th
Hanasaki Tokuharu looking for that insurance run!
After a walk and a single by Okazaki, ace Fukutani finally enters.
Ootaki with a rip shot to 3rd! Kurokawa with it! Throw to 2nd.. in time! 3 out!
Top 9th
But now they're down to their final 3 outs.
Fukutani grounds to 1st for the first out.
Tanabe is frozen for strike 3.
And Sakamoto strikes out on the high fastball for the final out.
It was a hard fought game, with both sides making mistakes. However Hanasaki Tokuharu is able to push through a run, and that's all they needed.
I can't tell if it was just the teams were pressing, or they just couldn't find that timely hit, but for the team from Yamagata, it's another exit before the Best 8...
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Day 10, Game 1 - Waseda Jitsugyou (Nishi Tokyo) v Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
Opening Round 3 should be an interesting matchup.
Both Waseda Jitsugyou and Toukaidai Koufu are playing on 1 full days rest and following up on divergent games.
Waseda Jitsugyou was almost out managed in their last game versus Hiroshima Shinjyou. Sakoda-kantoku substituted his players and pitchers such that he put them in a position to win the game. They only tied it though and went on to lose 7-6. That game reinforced the idea that the Soujitsu pitching staff is not strong at all and leaves the team vulnerable.
The good news is that the offense at least seems to hold up. They got 16 hits in the game with every position other than the P registering a hit.
For Toukaidai Koufu, Shimonoseki Shougyou couldn't hold a candle as they managed just 5 hits while Toukaidai wore down starter Morimoto and then feasted on the relief staff. They scored crooked numbers in multiple innings suggesting that they can maintain pressure rather than finding a big inning.
Waseda Jitsugyou (Nishi Tokyo)
3B Yamada Jyunpei
RF Tamagawa Ryou
1B Kiyomiya Koutarou
C Katou Masaki
SS Kaneko Kinsuke
2B Tomita Naoki
LF Miyazaki Renta (#11)
P Matsumoto Kou
CF Watanabe Daichi
Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
CF Takabe Eito
2B Fukutake Shuu
LF Kakuyama Hayate
RF Hirai Ren
3B Matsuoka Shunyuu
SS Igarashi Homare
1B Miyagawa Kazutaka
P Kikuchi Hiroki
C Iidzuka Ryuuya
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Yamada with a slow chopper up the middle. Igarashi runs it down, but his throw is much too late. He's bunted over.
Kikuchi figures he doesn't want to face Kiyomiya and hits him in the rear end. I joke, but they're pitching him in, prolly just got away from him.
Katou pops out to 2nd, and Kikuchi might get out of the pinch.
But Kaneko won't let him! His grounder sneaks by Matsuoka and into left! Kakuyama's flub trying to pick up the ball means there won't be a throw home and it's 1-0 Soujitsu as Miyazaki flies out to left to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
One down, Matsumoto leaves one over for Fukutake and he drills it over Tamagawa and books it all the way to 3rd! Big douten chance for Tokaidai Koufu!
Kakuyama grounder to 2nd and Soujitsu will yield the run! Quickly we're back level at 1-1!
Hirai tries to continue the inning with a single past Kiyomiya, but Matsuoka grounds out to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Matsumoto gets a leadoff walk, but while a double clutch From Fukutake prevents an immediate double play, Yamada pops out on the next pitch anyways.
Bottom 2nd
Igarashi had a chance I think to walk on a 3-2 pitch, but swung and fouled it off. He eventually grounded to 2nd.
Meanwhile Matsumoto for Waseda not hitting any of his spots at all. Miyagawa more than happy to take the 4-pitch walk.
Kikuchi bunts the runner around, guaranteeing the top of the lineup next inning pending some timely hits her. Though with Matsumoto struggling as he is, I might have waited for the first strike instead.
Iidzuka hits it back to Matsumoto and he goes to 1st to close the inning.
Top 3rd
Tamagawa sinlges to left to start the inning.
あ。
Kiyomiya with a drive to right.. Hirai going after it... Pulls up at the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kiyomiya announces his presence finally. 3-1 WasedaAAAAAA!!!!!!!
Katou with a drive to right!!! Hirai isn't even going to bother!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's back-to-back for Waseda Jitsygyou and now a 4-1 lead!
Kikuchi finally gets his 3 outs, but 2 big blasts put his team in a deep hole.
Bottom 3rd
Takabe gets on with a clean single through the right side, but Fukutake has to hustle to avoid a double play, and Kakuama does ground into the double play. Matsumoto throwing a lot of balls, but Toukaidai Koufu has been unable to punish him for it.
Top 4th
Soujitsu adding to their lead.
Watanabe with a one-out single to right. Very first pitch he steals 2nd with Iidzuka's high throw.
Yamada singles to right, and that makes it 5-1.
Bottom 4th
Hirai with a leadoff single, that is wiped out on the very next pitch as Matsuoka grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.
Igarashi gets a base hit, but is stranded there.
Top 5th
This feels like Waseda's game now. Katou draws a 1-out walk, and then on a comebacker the ball goes off of Kikuchi's glove. That slows down the ball enough that Igarashi's throw is later to 1st.
Toukaidai gets a break when Tomita lines out to center and Katou doesn't realize he caught it and is doubled off.
Bottom 5th
#18 Ogawa hits for Kikuchi, so his day is done.
Iidzuka gets a 1-out single, but Takabe hits right to Tomita. He makes a great pick, and almost turns yet another double play.
Fukutake doubles softly to left center generating a chance to possibly cut the deficit in half.
Kakuyama bouncer to 2nd, Tomita with the WHAAAAAAAAAA???????????
The ball inexplicably gets by Tomita and into right! 2 runs will score on the error and it's 5-3!
Hirai can't pick up his 3rd hit of the game, and as we head to the break there's a flicker of life for Toukaidai Koufu as they only trail by 2.
Top 6th
#10 Matsuba now given the task of keeping Toukaidai Koufu in the game.
Matsumoto with a ball back up the middle. Igarashi runs it down, but his sping throw from the grass is not nearly in time.
Watanabe lays down the bunt, Matsuba gets to it, but he takes too long getting rid of it and Watanabe reaches 1st!
Yamada grounder to the left side, Miyagawa dives at it, and the ball deflects away from Igarashi who was backing him up! All safe and I think Miyagawa had the better play.
Tamagawa flies out to shallow right for the 2nd out, and that brings out Kiyomiya.
He drives a ball deep down the right field line and fair. All 3 runners score and it's 8-3.
Bottom 6th
Toukaidai Koufu has a long way to go, but they look like they're frantically trying to fix it.
Matsuoka singles to right, then Igarashi singles back up the middle. Miyagawa singles through the right side, and after a misplay by Tamagawa, Matsuoka scores to make it 8-4.
Matsuba strikes out, Iidzuka with some sort of safety bunt that doesn't work and there's quickly 2 down.
Takabe hits a slow grounder back up the middle which allows Kaneko to make the play. So after 3 base hits, a run due to an error is all they get.
And that's why my friends it's hard to come from behind.
Top 7th
Waseda continues to threaten more as a walk to PH Taguchi and a catcher's interference puts 2 runners on with 2 outs. Matsuba though gets Yamada to fly out.
Bottom 7th
#10 Kamijyou in for Matsumoto, not surprising given the last inning. He hits a batter, but I think Toukaidai Koufu has come to terms with the loss.
Top 8th
Not that they aren't playing defense though. Kaneko for instance makes a great diving catch on a hard liner by Kaneko to end the inning.
Rest of game
About the only thing worth noting is that Soujitsu was 2 batters away from Kiyomiya and a chance at the cycle.
And so the Kiyomiya hype engine continues for two more days as Waseda Jitsugyou is officially in the Best 8.
Both Waseda Jitsugyou and Toukaidai Koufu are playing on 1 full days rest and following up on divergent games.
Waseda Jitsugyou was almost out managed in their last game versus Hiroshima Shinjyou. Sakoda-kantoku substituted his players and pitchers such that he put them in a position to win the game. They only tied it though and went on to lose 7-6. That game reinforced the idea that the Soujitsu pitching staff is not strong at all and leaves the team vulnerable.
The good news is that the offense at least seems to hold up. They got 16 hits in the game with every position other than the P registering a hit.
For Toukaidai Koufu, Shimonoseki Shougyou couldn't hold a candle as they managed just 5 hits while Toukaidai wore down starter Morimoto and then feasted on the relief staff. They scored crooked numbers in multiple innings suggesting that they can maintain pressure rather than finding a big inning.
Waseda Jitsugyou (Nishi Tokyo)
3B Yamada Jyunpei
RF Tamagawa Ryou
1B Kiyomiya Koutarou
C Katou Masaki
SS Kaneko Kinsuke
2B Tomita Naoki
LF Miyazaki Renta (#11)
P Matsumoto Kou
CF Watanabe Daichi
Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
CF Takabe Eito
2B Fukutake Shuu
LF Kakuyama Hayate
RF Hirai Ren
3B Matsuoka Shunyuu
SS Igarashi Homare
1B Miyagawa Kazutaka
P Kikuchi Hiroki
C Iidzuka Ryuuya
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Yamada with a slow chopper up the middle. Igarashi runs it down, but his throw is much too late. He's bunted over.
Kikuchi figures he doesn't want to face Kiyomiya and hits him in the rear end. I joke, but they're pitching him in, prolly just got away from him.
Katou pops out to 2nd, and Kikuchi might get out of the pinch.
But Kaneko won't let him! His grounder sneaks by Matsuoka and into left! Kakuyama's flub trying to pick up the ball means there won't be a throw home and it's 1-0 Soujitsu as Miyazaki flies out to left to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
One down, Matsumoto leaves one over for Fukutake and he drills it over Tamagawa and books it all the way to 3rd! Big douten chance for Tokaidai Koufu!
Kakuyama grounder to 2nd and Soujitsu will yield the run! Quickly we're back level at 1-1!
Hirai tries to continue the inning with a single past Kiyomiya, but Matsuoka grounds out to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Matsumoto gets a leadoff walk, but while a double clutch From Fukutake prevents an immediate double play, Yamada pops out on the next pitch anyways.
Bottom 2nd
Igarashi had a chance I think to walk on a 3-2 pitch, but swung and fouled it off. He eventually grounded to 2nd.
Meanwhile Matsumoto for Waseda not hitting any of his spots at all. Miyagawa more than happy to take the 4-pitch walk.
Kikuchi bunts the runner around, guaranteeing the top of the lineup next inning pending some timely hits her. Though with Matsumoto struggling as he is, I might have waited for the first strike instead.
Iidzuka hits it back to Matsumoto and he goes to 1st to close the inning.
Top 3rd
Tamagawa sinlges to left to start the inning.
あ。
Kiyomiya with a drive to right.. Hirai going after it... Pulls up at the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kiyomiya announces his presence finally. 3-1 WasedaAAAAAA!!!!!!!
Katou with a drive to right!!! Hirai isn't even going to bother!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's back-to-back for Waseda Jitsygyou and now a 4-1 lead!
Kikuchi finally gets his 3 outs, but 2 big blasts put his team in a deep hole.
Bottom 3rd
Takabe gets on with a clean single through the right side, but Fukutake has to hustle to avoid a double play, and Kakuama does ground into the double play. Matsumoto throwing a lot of balls, but Toukaidai Koufu has been unable to punish him for it.
Top 4th
Soujitsu adding to their lead.
Watanabe with a one-out single to right. Very first pitch he steals 2nd with Iidzuka's high throw.
Yamada singles to right, and that makes it 5-1.
Bottom 4th
Hirai with a leadoff single, that is wiped out on the very next pitch as Matsuoka grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.
Igarashi gets a base hit, but is stranded there.
Top 5th
This feels like Waseda's game now. Katou draws a 1-out walk, and then on a comebacker the ball goes off of Kikuchi's glove. That slows down the ball enough that Igarashi's throw is later to 1st.
Toukaidai gets a break when Tomita lines out to center and Katou doesn't realize he caught it and is doubled off.
Bottom 5th
#18 Ogawa hits for Kikuchi, so his day is done.
Iidzuka gets a 1-out single, but Takabe hits right to Tomita. He makes a great pick, and almost turns yet another double play.
Fukutake doubles softly to left center generating a chance to possibly cut the deficit in half.
Kakuyama bouncer to 2nd, Tomita with the WHAAAAAAAAAA???????????
The ball inexplicably gets by Tomita and into right! 2 runs will score on the error and it's 5-3!
Hirai can't pick up his 3rd hit of the game, and as we head to the break there's a flicker of life for Toukaidai Koufu as they only trail by 2.
Top 6th
#10 Matsuba now given the task of keeping Toukaidai Koufu in the game.
Matsumoto with a ball back up the middle. Igarashi runs it down, but his sping throw from the grass is not nearly in time.
Watanabe lays down the bunt, Matsuba gets to it, but he takes too long getting rid of it and Watanabe reaches 1st!
Yamada grounder to the left side, Miyagawa dives at it, and the ball deflects away from Igarashi who was backing him up! All safe and I think Miyagawa had the better play.
Tamagawa flies out to shallow right for the 2nd out, and that brings out Kiyomiya.
He drives a ball deep down the right field line and fair. All 3 runners score and it's 8-3.
Bottom 6th
Toukaidai Koufu has a long way to go, but they look like they're frantically trying to fix it.
Matsuoka singles to right, then Igarashi singles back up the middle. Miyagawa singles through the right side, and after a misplay by Tamagawa, Matsuoka scores to make it 8-4.
Matsuba strikes out, Iidzuka with some sort of safety bunt that doesn't work and there's quickly 2 down.
Takabe hits a slow grounder back up the middle which allows Kaneko to make the play. So after 3 base hits, a run due to an error is all they get.
And that's why my friends it's hard to come from behind.
Top 7th
Waseda continues to threaten more as a walk to PH Taguchi and a catcher's interference puts 2 runners on with 2 outs. Matsuba though gets Yamada to fly out.
Bottom 7th
#10 Kamijyou in for Matsumoto, not surprising given the last inning. He hits a batter, but I think Toukaidai Koufu has come to terms with the loss.
Top 8th
Not that they aren't playing defense though. Kaneko for instance makes a great diving catch on a hard liner by Kaneko to end the inning.
Rest of game
About the only thing worth noting is that Soujitsu was 2 batters away from Kiyomiya and a chance at the cycle.
And so the Kiyomiya hype engine continues for two more days as Waseda Jitsugyou is officially in the Best 8.
Friday, August 14, 2015
Day 9, Game 3 - Souseikan (Nagasaki) v Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
The last game of round 2 hopefully isn't a blowout, though it might be.
Souseikan faced Tenri in the first round and dug in against the Nara champs eventually walking them off in the 9th. The pitching wasn't anything to write about either, so that plus Kendai's propensity to run will put the defense at risk.
Kendai Takasaki took a while to warm up, but exploded for 8 runs in the 3rd against Sangawa. The speed is there but it appears it is more selective than just running around the bases. The pitching wasn't bad, but like many other teams wasn't great either.
Kendai Takasaki should be favored to win this matchup and then get an easy pairing with Akita Shougyou in 2 days time.
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)
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 Hashidzume Naoya (#10)
____________________________________________________________
14:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Torikai drive to left center! Kasuga and Satou converge, but it goes off the fence and bounces away from both of them! Torikai in with a leadoff triple!
Shimada does his job, flies out to left and brings Torikai in making it 1-0.
Bottom 1st
Kasuga splits the defense on the left side for a single. No bunting, but Hayashi grounds into a tailor-made 5-4-3 double play.
Fujisaki puts a runner back on though as he hits Souma.
Shibahiki tries to give the ball a ride, but Satou has plenty of room to make the catch.
Top 2nd
Hashidzume's delivery causing fits for most of the Souseikan lineup. Unable to make decent contact they are retired in order.
Bottom 2nd
The same can be said for Fujisaki's sidearm delivery. Miyamoto draws a walk, but then he's caught trying to get a jump on Fuijsaki and is picked off 1-3-6.
Kotani tries the safety bunt, but is thrown out to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Hashidzume records 2 K's against the bottom of the lineup before giving up a hit to Torikai. However, he tries to steal 2nd and gets thrown out.
Bottom 3th
Satou leads off with a single back up the middle. Hashidzume bunts him along, but Kasuga flies out to center. Does move the runner over, but there's 2 outs.
Hayashi grounds to short and once again Kendai Takasaki is stymied.
Top 4th
It really does feel like the teams could hit, but the deliveries of the two starters are throwing everyone off.
Hashidzume was about to get a clean inning, but then walk Washizaki.
Oota with a liner down the left field line.. fair!! It'll go all the way to the wall! Washizaki being waved around! Relay from Kouki home... OUT! A great relay 7-5-2 gets the runner and keeps it a 1-0 ballgame!
Bottom 4th
Man, Kendai's batters have no timing on the ball as Fujisaki's slow pitch speed leaves them ahead of the ball.Tsuge gets the best of the 3 groundballs but Uto picks that up the middle and makes the throw for the 3rd out.
Top 5th
Souseikan continues to get baserunners with 2 outs. This time around Kouki singles through the right side. But a fielder's choice ends the inning. It is a steep uphill battle to score a run when your first base hit in the inning is with 2 out.
Bottom 5th
Miyamoto starts the 5th with a single to right.
Kotani with the push bunt! Takashi goes to field it, but there's confusion as to who's covering 1st1 Fujisaki scrambles, but the throw is wide! All safe and Miyamoto goes to 3rd!
Satou with a fly to left and that'll bring the runner home! The throw is cut off and we're tied at 1-1!
#3 Ooshima to hit for Hashidzume, and he singles through the left side! He's replaced by #16 Yanamoto.
Kasuga grounder to the left side... Uto makes a diving stop, tries to get the runner at 3rd, but instead hits Kotani in the back.
Hayashi with the squeeze, but he pops it up! Fujisaki makes the catch and there's 2 out!
But he leaves one over the plate and Souma lines it into center! Kotani scores! Yanamoto scores! It's 3-1 Kendai Takasaki!
That'll be it for Fujisaki as ace Mizunaga comes in.
Shibahiki grounds to 3rd to end the inning, but Kendai Takasaki gets a big inning to take the lead before the break.
Top 6th
With Hashidzume's day done, ace Kawai enters the game.
Torikai still perfect on the day! He lines a ball back up the middle for another single.
But then he's picked off by Kawai! 1 out!
After that Shimada and Mine pop out for a 3 up 3 down inning!
Top 7th
One down and Oota's hard grounder eats up Shibahiki and allows Oota to get on base.
Kawai has him picked off, but he's instead called for a balk! And soon after he hits Uto! Souseikan with the douten runner on base!
Takashi inside outs a ball to right for a base hit and now it's manrui for Souseikan!
Kouki with a swinging bunt! Kawai scrambles to field it.. Throws home...
He hits Oota! The ball bounces away as Oota scores to make it 3-2 and there's still 1 out!
Obviously Mizunaga is there to be the ace and not a hitter as shown when he chases a ball letter high away. 2 out.
But this brings up Torikai and time is called.
He pops it up! Kasuga under it and makes the catch for the 3rd out! Kendai Takasaki keeps the lead!
Bottom 7th
The P change seems to have reset Kendai's batting back to the beginning when they were struggling. 1-2-3 inning meands now 5 straight batters retired.
Top 8th
Shimada with a ball back up the middle! Souma stops it in the gap, but he won't get the throw over in time! Douten runner on and is bunted over,
Washizaki with a drive to left center! Miyamoto and Kasuga converge, but it falls in just in front of the wall! Shimada will easily score and we're tied at 3-3!!
Oota walks bringing up Uto. He hangs in, fouling off several pitches.
In the ends it's a grounder to short! Hayashi goes to 2nd for 1, relay to first... beats a diving Uto! 3 out! Souseikan gets the tie, but not the lead!
Bottom 8th
Souma walks on 4 straight, and that prompts a time-out.
Shibahiki picks a great time to get a base hit! He singles past Uto for a base hit!
Tsuge swinging! He singles back up the middle! Souma holds up at 3rd and it's manrui for Kendai Takasaki! And Miyamoto, 2-2 on the day is up!
Miyamoto reaches out and pops one up! Mine charging in, charging in, dives!!
He can't get it! It bounces away and that means Souma scores for the 4-3 lead! Mine with within inches as the ball bounces in front and off of Mine's face!
And Kotani takes the next pitch to center! Mine misses the pick and the 2nd run scores easily! 6-3 Kendai Takasaki as #7 Washizaki comes in to take the hill while Asou goes to LF.
Sac bunt is the first thing in order, and then Kawai hits one to right center for a 2-run double. 8-3.
Kasuga bunts the runner over probably more for practice.
And Hayashi will be the only one hitless as he grounds out.
Top 9th
Souseikan goes quietly in 9th as Kendai Takasaki advances 8-3 to play Akita Shougyou in round of 16.
It would appear that Kendai Takasaki needs several innings to figure out a pitcher, because in both cases they put up a big inning after seeing the pitcher at least one time through.
As for Souseikan they certainly didn't play poorly, they just played a better team today.
Souseikan faced Tenri in the first round and dug in against the Nara champs eventually walking them off in the 9th. The pitching wasn't anything to write about either, so that plus Kendai's propensity to run will put the defense at risk.
Kendai Takasaki took a while to warm up, but exploded for 8 runs in the 3rd against Sangawa. The speed is there but it appears it is more selective than just running around the bases. The pitching wasn't bad, but like many other teams wasn't great either.
Kendai Takasaki should be favored to win this matchup and then get an easy pairing with Akita Shougyou in 2 days time.
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)
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 Hashidzume Naoya (#10)
____________________________________________________________
14:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Torikai drive to left center! Kasuga and Satou converge, but it goes off the fence and bounces away from both of them! Torikai in with a leadoff triple!
Shimada does his job, flies out to left and brings Torikai in making it 1-0.
Bottom 1st
Kasuga splits the defense on the left side for a single. No bunting, but Hayashi grounds into a tailor-made 5-4-3 double play.
Fujisaki puts a runner back on though as he hits Souma.
Shibahiki tries to give the ball a ride, but Satou has plenty of room to make the catch.
Top 2nd
Hashidzume's delivery causing fits for most of the Souseikan lineup. Unable to make decent contact they are retired in order.
Bottom 2nd
The same can be said for Fujisaki's sidearm delivery. Miyamoto draws a walk, but then he's caught trying to get a jump on Fuijsaki and is picked off 1-3-6.
Kotani tries the safety bunt, but is thrown out to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Hashidzume records 2 K's against the bottom of the lineup before giving up a hit to Torikai. However, he tries to steal 2nd and gets thrown out.
Bottom 3th
Satou leads off with a single back up the middle. Hashidzume bunts him along, but Kasuga flies out to center. Does move the runner over, but there's 2 outs.
Hayashi grounds to short and once again Kendai Takasaki is stymied.
Top 4th
It really does feel like the teams could hit, but the deliveries of the two starters are throwing everyone off.
Hashidzume was about to get a clean inning, but then walk Washizaki.
Oota with a liner down the left field line.. fair!! It'll go all the way to the wall! Washizaki being waved around! Relay from Kouki home... OUT! A great relay 7-5-2 gets the runner and keeps it a 1-0 ballgame!
Bottom 4th
Man, Kendai's batters have no timing on the ball as Fujisaki's slow pitch speed leaves them ahead of the ball.Tsuge gets the best of the 3 groundballs but Uto picks that up the middle and makes the throw for the 3rd out.
Top 5th
Souseikan continues to get baserunners with 2 outs. This time around Kouki singles through the right side. But a fielder's choice ends the inning. It is a steep uphill battle to score a run when your first base hit in the inning is with 2 out.
Bottom 5th
Miyamoto starts the 5th with a single to right.
Kotani with the push bunt! Takashi goes to field it, but there's confusion as to who's covering 1st1 Fujisaki scrambles, but the throw is wide! All safe and Miyamoto goes to 3rd!
Satou with a fly to left and that'll bring the runner home! The throw is cut off and we're tied at 1-1!
#3 Ooshima to hit for Hashidzume, and he singles through the left side! He's replaced by #16 Yanamoto.
Kasuga grounder to the left side... Uto makes a diving stop, tries to get the runner at 3rd, but instead hits Kotani in the back.
Hayashi with the squeeze, but he pops it up! Fujisaki makes the catch and there's 2 out!
But he leaves one over the plate and Souma lines it into center! Kotani scores! Yanamoto scores! It's 3-1 Kendai Takasaki!
That'll be it for Fujisaki as ace Mizunaga comes in.
Shibahiki grounds to 3rd to end the inning, but Kendai Takasaki gets a big inning to take the lead before the break.
Top 6th
With Hashidzume's day done, ace Kawai enters the game.
Torikai still perfect on the day! He lines a ball back up the middle for another single.
But then he's picked off by Kawai! 1 out!
After that Shimada and Mine pop out for a 3 up 3 down inning!
Top 7th
One down and Oota's hard grounder eats up Shibahiki and allows Oota to get on base.
Kawai has him picked off, but he's instead called for a balk! And soon after he hits Uto! Souseikan with the douten runner on base!
Takashi inside outs a ball to right for a base hit and now it's manrui for Souseikan!
Kouki with a swinging bunt! Kawai scrambles to field it.. Throws home...
He hits Oota! The ball bounces away as Oota scores to make it 3-2 and there's still 1 out!
Obviously Mizunaga is there to be the ace and not a hitter as shown when he chases a ball letter high away. 2 out.
But this brings up Torikai and time is called.
He pops it up! Kasuga under it and makes the catch for the 3rd out! Kendai Takasaki keeps the lead!
Bottom 7th
The P change seems to have reset Kendai's batting back to the beginning when they were struggling. 1-2-3 inning meands now 5 straight batters retired.
Top 8th
Shimada with a ball back up the middle! Souma stops it in the gap, but he won't get the throw over in time! Douten runner on and is bunted over,
Washizaki with a drive to left center! Miyamoto and Kasuga converge, but it falls in just in front of the wall! Shimada will easily score and we're tied at 3-3!!
Oota walks bringing up Uto. He hangs in, fouling off several pitches.
In the ends it's a grounder to short! Hayashi goes to 2nd for 1, relay to first... beats a diving Uto! 3 out! Souseikan gets the tie, but not the lead!
Bottom 8th
Souma walks on 4 straight, and that prompts a time-out.
Shibahiki picks a great time to get a base hit! He singles past Uto for a base hit!
Tsuge swinging! He singles back up the middle! Souma holds up at 3rd and it's manrui for Kendai Takasaki! And Miyamoto, 2-2 on the day is up!
Miyamoto reaches out and pops one up! Mine charging in, charging in, dives!!
He can't get it! It bounces away and that means Souma scores for the 4-3 lead! Mine with within inches as the ball bounces in front and off of Mine's face!
And Kotani takes the next pitch to center! Mine misses the pick and the 2nd run scores easily! 6-3 Kendai Takasaki as #7 Washizaki comes in to take the hill while Asou goes to LF.
Sac bunt is the first thing in order, and then Kawai hits one to right center for a 2-run double. 8-3.
Kasuga bunts the runner over probably more for practice.
And Hayashi will be the only one hitless as he grounds out.
Top 9th
Souseikan goes quietly in 9th as Kendai Takasaki advances 8-3 to play Akita Shougyou in round of 16.
It would appear that Kendai Takasaki needs several innings to figure out a pitcher, because in both cases they put up a big inning after seeing the pitcher at least one time through.
As for Souseikan they certainly didn't play poorly, they just played a better team today.
Day 9, Game 2 - Tsu Shougyou (Mie) v Toba (Kyoto)
Well, with that game out of the way, we focus on the last 4 teams to try and qualify for the 3rd round. Tsu Shougyou and Toba both are not experienced at Koushien but get an opportunity to move on.
Tsu Shougyou perhaps ended Takashima's tenure at Chiben Wakayama with a sound 9-4 win. Chiben may not have been the team it once was, but to put runs up in each of the final 6 innings was impressive.
Same goes for Toba, whose MO was to just base hit a team to death, actually used a HR to open the scoring en route to a dominant 7-1 over Okayama Gakugeikan.
It's difficult to handicap this game because the Chiben win for Tsushou has to be discounted based upon the end result and how weak Chiben felt. And as for Toba, Okayama Gakugeikan was no world beater either, so some of their results should be taken with a grain of salt.
I would like Tsu Shougyou to win, but I see Toba's strategy and I like it very much.
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
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
____________________________________________________________
12:00 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Ogouchi with a liner to right, but Nakajima highpoints the ball and makes the catch.
Maeda does the same thing to Minami, but this time Minami can't get it! Maeda books it and gets into 2nd ahead of the throw!
Matsuba with a loud out to center does move Maeda to 3rd, but Tsuji hits a routine grounder to 2nd and that's it for Tsushou.
Bottom 1st
Tabuchi liner up the middle, but Takahashi runs it down for the out!
And Iwakiri sees what Maeda did and rips a ball back up the middle, this time out of Takahashi's reach.
Yamada-kantoku goes for the hit and run over the bunt, and it prevents the double play as Ina hits it to short.
Kosono flies out to left and the inning is over.
Top 2nd
Egawa tries to put a ball through the gap in left, but while Iwakiri can't get it Minami will, and throws out Egawa.
On the next pitch, Takahashi grounds to 2nd.
It's not a 3 pitch inning, but it's close as Matsuo needs just 5 pitches to record a clean inning.
Bottom 2nd
Umetani single to right to start the inning. After a sac bunt, Nakajima singles to right! Runners at the corners and Toba with a chance to score the first run.
Yamada-kantoku goes for the hit and run again! But Miyanishi strikes out and Nakajima is a dead duck! He's run down and the inning is over!
Top 3rd
Outside of that double from Maeda in the first, the Tsushou offense has struggled. Matsuo records 2 strikeouts in a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 3rd
Meanwhile Toba continues to hit. Last batter Matsuo punishes a hanging fastball and drives it deep to right center for a double. He's bunted over by Tabuchi.
SQUEEZE!!!!
But Iwakiri misses! Matsuo in a rundown.. but the 3rd base ump says he avoids the tag from Sakakura and is safe!!
So instead Iwakiri singles through the left side and scores Matsuo! 1-0 Toba!
Ina liner to center, and that's in front of Maeda for a base hit! Miyamoto-kantoku calls time.
Kosono single to center! Here we go! Manrui for Toba!!
Single to right for Umetani! 2-0 now!
MINAMI A SINGLE BACK UP THE MIDDLE! 5th straight single and it's 3-0!!
Another timeout from Miyamoto-kantoku.
Nakajima soft liner... Egawa jumps and makes the catch! Umetani the easy double off and the inning is over. But we see the singles engine in action from Toba and if a team isn't prepared, they'll bleed to death.
Top 4th
Maeda trying to get Tsushou back in the game drives a ball to right for a double!
But it looks like it'll be wasted as Matsuba and Tsuji are soon retired for 2 outs.
Egawa comes through! He singles to left and Tsuhou is on the board at 3-1!
Ah~~~~ but he's picked off of 1st to end the inning.
To break
The teams settle down from there with only Iwakiri getting a hit between both teams. Toba has the 3-1 lead and a 10-3 lead in hits.
Top 6th
Ogouchi gets hit to start the frame, but again no bunt as Maeda flies out to center.
Ah, more poor baserunning as Matsuba lines out to short, and Minami rifles to 1st for the double play.
Bottom 6th
Minami ball up middle, but Egawa runs it down! Tries to twirl and throw, but it's not in time! Nakajima bunts him over.
Miyanishi tries the safety bunt, but just gets beaten out.
Matsuo up the middle. Egawa there again an AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
He can't pick it and that means Minami scores to make it 4-1!
Top 7th
Matsuba leadoff single to center. Wild pitch from Matsuo moves him to 2nd.
Tsuji grounds to 2nd to move him to 3rd, Takahashi grounds to 2nd to score the runner, 4-2. They're still behind, but they're chipping away.
Top 8th
Kuritani gets hit by Matsuo, and now #17 Imai will hit for Sakakura as his day is done. But he grounds into the 4-6-3 double play which kills the raly...
Bottom 8th
#10 Ishikawa enters the game to take the hill. He gets a 1-2-3 inning, but now the offense must deliver.
Top 9th
Instead Tsu Shougyou goes down in order and Toba moves onto the round of 16 with a 4-2 win!
Toba's dink and dunk method I've been waiting for a team to do, and Toba so far has executed. Now, the real test will be when they face a stronger team if they will be able to do that. As for Tsu Shougyou, defeating Chiben Wakayama should be an accomplishment in and of itself.
Tsu Shougyou perhaps ended Takashima's tenure at Chiben Wakayama with a sound 9-4 win. Chiben may not have been the team it once was, but to put runs up in each of the final 6 innings was impressive.
Same goes for Toba, whose MO was to just base hit a team to death, actually used a HR to open the scoring en route to a dominant 7-1 over Okayama Gakugeikan.
It's difficult to handicap this game because the Chiben win for Tsushou has to be discounted based upon the end result and how weak Chiben felt. And as for Toba, Okayama Gakugeikan was no world beater either, so some of their results should be taken with a grain of salt.
I would like Tsu Shougyou to win, but I see Toba's strategy and I like it very much.
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
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
____________________________________________________________
12:00 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Ogouchi with a liner to right, but Nakajima highpoints the ball and makes the catch.
Maeda does the same thing to Minami, but this time Minami can't get it! Maeda books it and gets into 2nd ahead of the throw!
Matsuba with a loud out to center does move Maeda to 3rd, but Tsuji hits a routine grounder to 2nd and that's it for Tsushou.
Bottom 1st
Tabuchi liner up the middle, but Takahashi runs it down for the out!
And Iwakiri sees what Maeda did and rips a ball back up the middle, this time out of Takahashi's reach.
Yamada-kantoku goes for the hit and run over the bunt, and it prevents the double play as Ina hits it to short.
Kosono flies out to left and the inning is over.
Top 2nd
Egawa tries to put a ball through the gap in left, but while Iwakiri can't get it Minami will, and throws out Egawa.
On the next pitch, Takahashi grounds to 2nd.
It's not a 3 pitch inning, but it's close as Matsuo needs just 5 pitches to record a clean inning.
Bottom 2nd
Umetani single to right to start the inning. After a sac bunt, Nakajima singles to right! Runners at the corners and Toba with a chance to score the first run.
Yamada-kantoku goes for the hit and run again! But Miyanishi strikes out and Nakajima is a dead duck! He's run down and the inning is over!
Top 3rd
Outside of that double from Maeda in the first, the Tsushou offense has struggled. Matsuo records 2 strikeouts in a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 3rd
Meanwhile Toba continues to hit. Last batter Matsuo punishes a hanging fastball and drives it deep to right center for a double. He's bunted over by Tabuchi.
SQUEEZE!!!!
But Iwakiri misses! Matsuo in a rundown.. but the 3rd base ump says he avoids the tag from Sakakura and is safe!!
So instead Iwakiri singles through the left side and scores Matsuo! 1-0 Toba!
Ina liner to center, and that's in front of Maeda for a base hit! Miyamoto-kantoku calls time.
Kosono single to center! Here we go! Manrui for Toba!!
Single to right for Umetani! 2-0 now!
MINAMI A SINGLE BACK UP THE MIDDLE! 5th straight single and it's 3-0!!
Another timeout from Miyamoto-kantoku.
Nakajima soft liner... Egawa jumps and makes the catch! Umetani the easy double off and the inning is over. But we see the singles engine in action from Toba and if a team isn't prepared, they'll bleed to death.
Top 4th
Maeda trying to get Tsushou back in the game drives a ball to right for a double!
But it looks like it'll be wasted as Matsuba and Tsuji are soon retired for 2 outs.
Egawa comes through! He singles to left and Tsuhou is on the board at 3-1!
Ah~~~~ but he's picked off of 1st to end the inning.
To break
The teams settle down from there with only Iwakiri getting a hit between both teams. Toba has the 3-1 lead and a 10-3 lead in hits.
Top 6th
Ogouchi gets hit to start the frame, but again no bunt as Maeda flies out to center.
Ah, more poor baserunning as Matsuba lines out to short, and Minami rifles to 1st for the double play.
Bottom 6th
Minami ball up middle, but Egawa runs it down! Tries to twirl and throw, but it's not in time! Nakajima bunts him over.
Miyanishi tries the safety bunt, but just gets beaten out.
Matsuo up the middle. Egawa there again an AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
He can't pick it and that means Minami scores to make it 4-1!
Top 7th
Matsuba leadoff single to center. Wild pitch from Matsuo moves him to 2nd.
Tsuji grounds to 2nd to move him to 3rd, Takahashi grounds to 2nd to score the runner, 4-2. They're still behind, but they're chipping away.
Top 8th
Kuritani gets hit by Matsuo, and now #17 Imai will hit for Sakakura as his day is done. But he grounds into the 4-6-3 double play which kills the raly...
Bottom 8th
#10 Ishikawa enters the game to take the hill. He gets a 1-2-3 inning, but now the offense must deliver.
Top 9th
Instead Tsu Shougyou goes down in order and Toba moves onto the round of 16 with a 4-2 win!
Toba's dink and dunk method I've been waiting for a team to do, and Toba so far has executed. Now, the real test will be when they face a stronger team if they will be able to do that. As for Tsu Shougyou, defeating Chiben Wakayama should be an accomplishment in and of itself.
Day 9, Game 1 - Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi) v Takigawa Dai-ni (Hyogo)
The first game of the day sadly looks like a lopsided affair. Sendai Ikuei has watched as other title contenders have fallen by the wayside. Meanwhile, they annihilated Meihou in the 1st round 12-1 behind 20 hits. The pitching was not dominating behind ace Satou Sena, but could certainly be considered at least above average.
Takigawa Dai-ni on the other hand, struggled with Chuuetsu and was only able to win in the bottom of the 9th. The team did get 15 hits, but couldn't push the runs across. As for the pitching, Tomoi was far from dominating, yielding as many walks as Ks (4), and 11 hits in 8 innings.
With the draw falling the way it has though, there is a 2 in 3 chance they will have a tough matchup as either Kounan or Hanamaki Higashi may await. Otherwise, it's another soft matchup with Akita Shougyou.
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
Takigawa Dai-ni (Hyogo)
CF Negoro Shouta
LF Ooshima Masato
3B Kawakita Akihiro
1B Tatehata Ryouta
SS Yuuki Takara
RF Aoki Eiji
2B Yamane Takahiro (#14)
C Shibamoto Yuuki
P Tomoi Hiroto
__________________________________________________
09:30 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
One down and Aoki gets a bloop single just fair down the right field line.
Aoki then goes for 2nd during Hirasawa's AB and then he steals 3rd during Gunji's AB, however he can't get home as Gunji grounds out to end the inning. Odd that they're more stealing bases than getting hits.
Bottom 1st
Negoro gets a leadoff hit against Sena, a hard hit ball to left for a single.
But they push it by having him steal 2nd, and Gunji guns him down.
Sena being worked early, with Takigawa working the count full twice. But it ends up a 1-2-3 inning as both Ooshima and Kawakami ground out to 2nd.
Top 2nd
Kii draws a leadoff walk and is bunted over.
Yatsu can't get the run in and so it'll be to the ace to help his own cause.
And he does! Tomoi misses high on his pitch and Sena softly singles to center scoring Kii! 1-0!
Bottom 2nd
Sena almost gets a quick 1-2-3 inning after retiring the first two in just 5 pitches. But he walks Aoki on 4 straight and has to throw extra pitches. Yamane fouls out to end the inning, but it could have been easier.
Top 3rd
Sendai Ikuei giving Tomoi an easy time of it it seems with swinging away early and often in counts. 9 pitches later, he has a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 3rd
Shibamoto leads off the 3rd directing a ball through the right side for a leadoff hit and is bunted over.
Negoto with a chipper up the middle. Sena leaps and the pal tips off the glove and higher into the air! Yatsu with it quickly and fires to 1st... just in time! Shibamoto advances to 3rd.
Ooshima comebacker right to Sena! Goes to 1st and the inning is over!
Top 4th
Ryousuke leads off the inning with a ball to left center! Ooshima and Negoro converge, but somehow it falls in! Both were not running as fast as I though they should and the ball falls in!
Now a wild pitch from Tomoi moves the runner to 3rd!
Kii scored the first run, now he drives in the run! It's a rip shot past the drawn in infield and Ryousuke scores! 2-0!
Tooya does his 2nd sac bunt, moving Kii to 2nd.
Yatsu with a screamer, but it's right to Kawakita for the 2nd out.
Tomoi could have gotten out of the inning, but instead he walks Sena on a pitch not even close and turns the lineup over!
And now Shouta singles through the left side! Kii goes to 3rd and holds up. Aoki grounds out to short and 1 run is all they get.
Bottom 4th
Now Takigawa swinging at everything themselves. I can barely get ready for the inning when 5 pitches later, it's over!
Top 5th
Hirasawa with a drive to left! Aoki going back, going back... makes the catch with his back to the wall!
Gunji with a drive to left! Now it's Ooshima going back to the wall, but he pulls up!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This time they don't miss! Gunji gives his team the 3-0 lead!
And now things start getting out of hand.
2 down, Kii singles through the left side. Another wild pitch from Tomoi moves him to 2nd. Then a walk.
Then Yatsu hits one hard off the wall for a double, and that scores both runners making it 6-0.
Sena gets a seeing eye single past Yamane, and Shouta rips one back past Tomoi.
And with that #18 Mori relieves Tomoi.
And then walks Aoki, meaning that Hirasawa gets to bat for a 2nd time.
He strikes out looking, but after holding on for 4 innings, Sendai Ikuei breaks through in big way.
Bottom 5th
Sena though not taking advantage of the lead, walks Aoki. And when he does his defense lets him down! Yamane hits a grounder to 1st, but Ryousuke boots the ball! All safe! And with Shibamoto moving the runners over they have a chance to cut the big deficit.
But they do a contact play! Mori hits it right to Shouta and he gets Aoki in a rundown! 2 out!
And Negoro flies out to center and the inning is over! A small scare for Sendai Ikuei, but at the break the game seems in hand.
Top 6th
It's a 1-2-3 inning for Mori, but Sendai Ikuei is more than happy to accelerate the game now.
Bottom 6th
Takigawa still hacking away, but its' an easy 3 outs for Sena.
Rest of game
I had/am having an emergency with my phone but in the meantime nothing really significant happens with the game. Takigawa Dai-ni avoids the shutout when Ooshims delivers a 2-out single to make it 7-1 and that's where the game ends. Nothing surprising other than it took a while for Sendai Ikuei to get started.
Takigawa Dai-ni on the other hand, struggled with Chuuetsu and was only able to win in the bottom of the 9th. The team did get 15 hits, but couldn't push the runs across. As for the pitching, Tomoi was far from dominating, yielding as many walks as Ks (4), and 11 hits in 8 innings.
With the draw falling the way it has though, there is a 2 in 3 chance they will have a tough matchup as either Kounan or Hanamaki Higashi may await. Otherwise, it's another soft matchup with Akita Shougyou.
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
Takigawa Dai-ni (Hyogo)
CF Negoro Shouta
LF Ooshima Masato
3B Kawakita Akihiro
1B Tatehata Ryouta
SS Yuuki Takara
RF Aoki Eiji
2B Yamane Takahiro (#14)
C Shibamoto Yuuki
P Tomoi Hiroto
__________________________________________________
09:30 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
One down and Aoki gets a bloop single just fair down the right field line.
Aoki then goes for 2nd during Hirasawa's AB and then he steals 3rd during Gunji's AB, however he can't get home as Gunji grounds out to end the inning. Odd that they're more stealing bases than getting hits.
Bottom 1st
Negoro gets a leadoff hit against Sena, a hard hit ball to left for a single.
But they push it by having him steal 2nd, and Gunji guns him down.
Sena being worked early, with Takigawa working the count full twice. But it ends up a 1-2-3 inning as both Ooshima and Kawakami ground out to 2nd.
Top 2nd
Kii draws a leadoff walk and is bunted over.
Yatsu can't get the run in and so it'll be to the ace to help his own cause.
And he does! Tomoi misses high on his pitch and Sena softly singles to center scoring Kii! 1-0!
Bottom 2nd
Sena almost gets a quick 1-2-3 inning after retiring the first two in just 5 pitches. But he walks Aoki on 4 straight and has to throw extra pitches. Yamane fouls out to end the inning, but it could have been easier.
Top 3rd
Sendai Ikuei giving Tomoi an easy time of it it seems with swinging away early and often in counts. 9 pitches later, he has a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 3rd
Shibamoto leads off the 3rd directing a ball through the right side for a leadoff hit and is bunted over.
Negoto with a chipper up the middle. Sena leaps and the pal tips off the glove and higher into the air! Yatsu with it quickly and fires to 1st... just in time! Shibamoto advances to 3rd.
Ooshima comebacker right to Sena! Goes to 1st and the inning is over!
Top 4th
Ryousuke leads off the inning with a ball to left center! Ooshima and Negoro converge, but somehow it falls in! Both were not running as fast as I though they should and the ball falls in!
Now a wild pitch from Tomoi moves the runner to 3rd!
Kii scored the first run, now he drives in the run! It's a rip shot past the drawn in infield and Ryousuke scores! 2-0!
Tooya does his 2nd sac bunt, moving Kii to 2nd.
Yatsu with a screamer, but it's right to Kawakita for the 2nd out.
Tomoi could have gotten out of the inning, but instead he walks Sena on a pitch not even close and turns the lineup over!
And now Shouta singles through the left side! Kii goes to 3rd and holds up. Aoki grounds out to short and 1 run is all they get.
Bottom 4th
Now Takigawa swinging at everything themselves. I can barely get ready for the inning when 5 pitches later, it's over!
Top 5th
Hirasawa with a drive to left! Aoki going back, going back... makes the catch with his back to the wall!
Gunji with a drive to left! Now it's Ooshima going back to the wall, but he pulls up!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This time they don't miss! Gunji gives his team the 3-0 lead!
And now things start getting out of hand.
2 down, Kii singles through the left side. Another wild pitch from Tomoi moves him to 2nd. Then a walk.
Then Yatsu hits one hard off the wall for a double, and that scores both runners making it 6-0.
Sena gets a seeing eye single past Yamane, and Shouta rips one back past Tomoi.
And with that #18 Mori relieves Tomoi.
And then walks Aoki, meaning that Hirasawa gets to bat for a 2nd time.
He strikes out looking, but after holding on for 4 innings, Sendai Ikuei breaks through in big way.
Bottom 5th
Sena though not taking advantage of the lead, walks Aoki. And when he does his defense lets him down! Yamane hits a grounder to 1st, but Ryousuke boots the ball! All safe! And with Shibamoto moving the runners over they have a chance to cut the big deficit.
But they do a contact play! Mori hits it right to Shouta and he gets Aoki in a rundown! 2 out!
And Negoro flies out to center and the inning is over! A small scare for Sendai Ikuei, but at the break the game seems in hand.
Top 6th
It's a 1-2-3 inning for Mori, but Sendai Ikuei is more than happy to accelerate the game now.
Bottom 6th
Takigawa still hacking away, but its' an easy 3 outs for Sena.
Rest of game
I had/am having an emergency with my phone but in the meantime nothing really significant happens with the game. Takigawa Dai-ni avoids the shutout when Ooshims delivers a 2-out single to make it 7-1 and that's where the game ends. Nothing surprising other than it took a while for Sendai Ikuei to get started.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Day 8, Game 4 - Hanamaki Higashi (Iwate) v Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui)
Tsuruga Kehi's dream of winning Haru-natsu still lives after going extras to defeat Meitoku Gijyuku. The trip doesn't get any easier as now they have to play the ever stingy Hanamaki Higashi. As usual you can't take their 4-2 result against Senshuudai Matsudo as a negative because it is well known that they play to the level of their opponent.
So you can expect to see them play up to the level of Tsuruga Kehi.
The question is, what level is Tsuruga Kehi at? Was that 4-3 win a good or a bad indicator of where the team is for their run this summer?
Hanamaki Higashi (Iwate)
SS Tarou Akira
C Fukushima Keito
LF Chida Kyouhei
2B Kumagai Sena
CF Sasaki Yuuya
1B Satou Yuito
RF Chiba Kouta (#11)
3B Kikuchi Shinya
P Katou Mitsunori (#17)
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
____________________________________________________________
15:55 - First pitch!
1st Inning
Early trouble for Hiranuma! Fukushima with a clean single through the left side. And Chida folows that up with a single to right! Fukushima makes it to 3rd so there's a big chance for Hanamaki Higashi early!
And now Hiranuma hits Kumagai! What is going on???
Sasaki with a fly to right. Fukushima tags up! Throw from Matsumoto.... ON A LINE!! Fukushima is out by a wide margin and Hanamaki Higashi is denied the run!
Not a strong start from designated starter Satou. After a lengthy AB, he walks Shinohara.
Kurisu lays down the bunt, but Kikuchi spikes the ball to 1st and Yuito can't handle it! All safe!
Hayashinaka to lay down the bunt again, but he pops it up! Yuito crashes, makes the catch, fires to 1st... double play! Bad break for Tsuruga Kehi.
Worse yet, with 1st open, they basically intentionally walk him. Yamamoto fouls out to Yuito and the inning is over.
Top 2nd
Chiba, getting the start today in RF, collects his first hit when he sinles to right. But Kikuchi and Katou are quickly dispatched thereafter so nothing here.
Bottom 2nd
It would seem that for quite a few of the batters theyare trying to drive up Katou's pitch count. Matsumoto and Kinoshita both go full counts before their ABs resolve.
Kinoshita's ends with a walk, but Kamon grounds into 4-6-3 double play to end inning.
Top 3rd
Fukushima gets things started with his 2nd single of the game, Chida isn't bunting with 1 down, but pops up to 2nd.
Kumagai with a drive to right! Matsumoto tries to make an over the shoulder catch, but he can't do it! It falls in and Fukushims scores from 1st! 1-0 Hanamaki Higashi!
Bottom 3rd
Meanwhile the offense for Tsuruga Kehi stalls as the 8-9-1 batters are quickly retired.
Top 4th
More pressure from Hanamaki Higashi.
Yuito leads off with a clean hit to left. Again, no bunt from Chiba but he watches a fastball hit the outside corner. for strike 3.
Kikuchi though follows that up with a single to right. But with Katou up, Sasaki-kantoku goes for the bunt instead to turn the lineup over. Which he does.
And intentionally or now, Tsuruga Kehi walks Tarou to setup the force. But that also brings up Fukushima who is 2-2 on the day.
Base hit! He's 3-3 as he singles to left! One run is in, they're waving around Kikuchi! Throw in... SAFE!! The C played behind home plate and that allowed Kikuchi to slide in safe! 3-0!
Chida with a ball to center, Yamamoto slides... and that falls in! Tarou comes around and there will be no throw home! 4-0!
Kumagai grounds into a fielder's choice, but it's clear Hiranuma isn't his spring self.
Bottom 4th
If I told you that one of these team won the spring Koushien, you'd probably guess Hanamaki Higashi and you'd be wrong.
And yet as Katou retires the 3-4-5 batters in just 7 pitches, he has a no-hitter going.
Top 5th
And even more amazing, Hiranuma is being relieved! #18 Yamazaki comes in to pitch as Hiranuma goes to left!!
Yet it is Yamazaki, and not Hiranuma that gets the first 1-2-3 inning for Tsuruga Kehi! He even strikes out 2 in the process!
Bottom 5th
Katou continues to dominate the Tsuruga Kehi batters.
Yamazaki goes down swinging chasing a forkball. Yamazaki chases the high fastball.
Kamon drives a ball to right! Will they get their first hit?
Yes! It falls in!! Kamon gets a double!!
Nakai grounder to short and AH!!! Tarou flubs the ball and everyone's safe!
Shinohara with a ball to dead center, Sasaki going back, going back....
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shinohara with a 3-run HR to center and we have a ballgame!! It's 4-3!
Kurisu now with a single to center! Can they really tie it up here?
Not right now! Hayashinaka tries to bloop it down the right field line but Chiba makes the sliding catch! But as we hit the break we have a ballgame!
Top 6th
Yamazaki doing well in relief striking out Kikuchi. After that #12 Nonomura comes in to hit for Katou, so his day is done.
Nonomura for his part strikes out looking for the 2nd out.
Tarou grounds out to 3B, and it's Yamazaki's 2nd clean inning.
Bottom 6th
Ace Takahashi enters the game looking to shut Tsuruga Kehi down the rest of the way.
Hiranuma welcomes him with a base hit back up the middle.
Yamamoto lays down the bunt, Kikuchi throws to 1st.. SAFE!! Kikuchi double-clutches and that costs him the out!
AH! But Matsumoto grounds to short! Tarou starts the 6-4-3 double play and there's suddenly 2 down!
Now #15 Fujiwara comes to hit for Yamazaki?! He grounds out to 2nd, but wasn't Yamazaki keeping them in the game?
Top 7th
So Hiranuma returns to the mound and #17 Mori goes to play LF.
Perhaps the time off worked as he gets the first 2 batters. BUt Kumagai singles to center.
Then Sasaki hits a grounder to 1st, but it goes off of Kurisu as he dives and trickles into shallow right!
Yuito with a ball back up the middle!! Kusagai comes around and he scores! 5-3 and Hanamaki Higashi looks to pull away again.
Bottom 7th
Kamon with his 2nd hit of the day, a single to right. Nakai bunts him over. Shinohara a chance to tie it again, but instead it's a sky high popup.
Kurisu also pops it up, and now Tsuruga Kehi is really in trouble.
Top 8th
I'm starting to involuntarily doze off due to lack of sleep, but during that time Hanamaki Higashi puts 5 hits together, 4 consecutive starting with Fukushima (again), scoring 3 runs to make it 8-3 effectively ending this game.
Bottom 8th
Just to show where they're at, Hiranuma grounds to 2nd, but the throw gets away into foul territory. When he sees this, he turns left, but then realizes he won't get to 2nd. Problem is, he overrun 1st by a wide margin... and thus is thrown out back at 1st.
9th Inning
Tsuruga Kehi makes one last stand in 9th, but despite 2 hits, the game ends and Hanamaki Higashi defeats the spring champs 8-3!
I'm really tied at this point, but it would appear that Hiranuma wasn't the same from the spring to the summer. The team struggled against Shizuoka, and then fell flat against an always game Tsuruga Kehi squad.
For as often as we've seen teams go haru-natsu recently, today proves that this feat is still difficult.
So you can expect to see them play up to the level of Tsuruga Kehi.
The question is, what level is Tsuruga Kehi at? Was that 4-3 win a good or a bad indicator of where the team is for their run this summer?
Hanamaki Higashi (Iwate)
SS Tarou Akira
C Fukushima Keito
LF Chida Kyouhei
2B Kumagai Sena
CF Sasaki Yuuya
1B Satou Yuito
RF Chiba Kouta (#11)
3B Kikuchi Shinya
P Katou Mitsunori (#17)
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
____________________________________________________________
15:55 - First pitch!
1st Inning
Early trouble for Hiranuma! Fukushima with a clean single through the left side. And Chida folows that up with a single to right! Fukushima makes it to 3rd so there's a big chance for Hanamaki Higashi early!
And now Hiranuma hits Kumagai! What is going on???
Sasaki with a fly to right. Fukushima tags up! Throw from Matsumoto.... ON A LINE!! Fukushima is out by a wide margin and Hanamaki Higashi is denied the run!
Not a strong start from designated starter Satou. After a lengthy AB, he walks Shinohara.
Kurisu lays down the bunt, but Kikuchi spikes the ball to 1st and Yuito can't handle it! All safe!
Hayashinaka to lay down the bunt again, but he pops it up! Yuito crashes, makes the catch, fires to 1st... double play! Bad break for Tsuruga Kehi.
Worse yet, with 1st open, they basically intentionally walk him. Yamamoto fouls out to Yuito and the inning is over.
Top 2nd
Chiba, getting the start today in RF, collects his first hit when he sinles to right. But Kikuchi and Katou are quickly dispatched thereafter so nothing here.
Bottom 2nd
It would seem that for quite a few of the batters theyare trying to drive up Katou's pitch count. Matsumoto and Kinoshita both go full counts before their ABs resolve.
Kinoshita's ends with a walk, but Kamon grounds into 4-6-3 double play to end inning.
Top 3rd
Fukushima gets things started with his 2nd single of the game, Chida isn't bunting with 1 down, but pops up to 2nd.
Kumagai with a drive to right! Matsumoto tries to make an over the shoulder catch, but he can't do it! It falls in and Fukushims scores from 1st! 1-0 Hanamaki Higashi!
Bottom 3rd
Meanwhile the offense for Tsuruga Kehi stalls as the 8-9-1 batters are quickly retired.
Top 4th
More pressure from Hanamaki Higashi.
Yuito leads off with a clean hit to left. Again, no bunt from Chiba but he watches a fastball hit the outside corner. for strike 3.
Kikuchi though follows that up with a single to right. But with Katou up, Sasaki-kantoku goes for the bunt instead to turn the lineup over. Which he does.
And intentionally or now, Tsuruga Kehi walks Tarou to setup the force. But that also brings up Fukushima who is 2-2 on the day.
Base hit! He's 3-3 as he singles to left! One run is in, they're waving around Kikuchi! Throw in... SAFE!! The C played behind home plate and that allowed Kikuchi to slide in safe! 3-0!
Chida with a ball to center, Yamamoto slides... and that falls in! Tarou comes around and there will be no throw home! 4-0!
Kumagai grounds into a fielder's choice, but it's clear Hiranuma isn't his spring self.
Bottom 4th
If I told you that one of these team won the spring Koushien, you'd probably guess Hanamaki Higashi and you'd be wrong.
And yet as Katou retires the 3-4-5 batters in just 7 pitches, he has a no-hitter going.
Top 5th
And even more amazing, Hiranuma is being relieved! #18 Yamazaki comes in to pitch as Hiranuma goes to left!!
Yet it is Yamazaki, and not Hiranuma that gets the first 1-2-3 inning for Tsuruga Kehi! He even strikes out 2 in the process!
Bottom 5th
Katou continues to dominate the Tsuruga Kehi batters.
Yamazaki goes down swinging chasing a forkball. Yamazaki chases the high fastball.
Kamon drives a ball to right! Will they get their first hit?
Yes! It falls in!! Kamon gets a double!!
Nakai grounder to short and AH!!! Tarou flubs the ball and everyone's safe!
Shinohara with a ball to dead center, Sasaki going back, going back....
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shinohara with a 3-run HR to center and we have a ballgame!! It's 4-3!
Kurisu now with a single to center! Can they really tie it up here?
Not right now! Hayashinaka tries to bloop it down the right field line but Chiba makes the sliding catch! But as we hit the break we have a ballgame!
Top 6th
Yamazaki doing well in relief striking out Kikuchi. After that #12 Nonomura comes in to hit for Katou, so his day is done.
Nonomura for his part strikes out looking for the 2nd out.
Tarou grounds out to 3B, and it's Yamazaki's 2nd clean inning.
Bottom 6th
Ace Takahashi enters the game looking to shut Tsuruga Kehi down the rest of the way.
Hiranuma welcomes him with a base hit back up the middle.
Yamamoto lays down the bunt, Kikuchi throws to 1st.. SAFE!! Kikuchi double-clutches and that costs him the out!
AH! But Matsumoto grounds to short! Tarou starts the 6-4-3 double play and there's suddenly 2 down!
Now #15 Fujiwara comes to hit for Yamazaki?! He grounds out to 2nd, but wasn't Yamazaki keeping them in the game?
Top 7th
So Hiranuma returns to the mound and #17 Mori goes to play LF.
Perhaps the time off worked as he gets the first 2 batters. BUt Kumagai singles to center.
Then Sasaki hits a grounder to 1st, but it goes off of Kurisu as he dives and trickles into shallow right!
Yuito with a ball back up the middle!! Kusagai comes around and he scores! 5-3 and Hanamaki Higashi looks to pull away again.
Bottom 7th
Kamon with his 2nd hit of the day, a single to right. Nakai bunts him over. Shinohara a chance to tie it again, but instead it's a sky high popup.
Kurisu also pops it up, and now Tsuruga Kehi is really in trouble.
Top 8th
I'm starting to involuntarily doze off due to lack of sleep, but during that time Hanamaki Higashi puts 5 hits together, 4 consecutive starting with Fukushima (again), scoring 3 runs to make it 8-3 effectively ending this game.
Bottom 8th
Just to show where they're at, Hiranuma grounds to 2nd, but the throw gets away into foul territory. When he sees this, he turns left, but then realizes he won't get to 2nd. Problem is, he overrun 1st by a wide margin... and thus is thrown out back at 1st.
9th Inning
Tsuruga Kehi makes one last stand in 9th, but despite 2 hits, the game ends and Hanamaki Higashi defeats the spring champs 8-3!
I'm really tied at this point, but it would appear that Hiranuma wasn't the same from the spring to the summer. The team struggled against Shizuoka, and then fell flat against an always game Tsuruga Kehi squad.
For as often as we've seen teams go haru-natsu recently, today proves that this feat is still difficult.
Day 8, Game 3 - Osaka Kaisei (Osaka) v Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka)
This should be an interesting game. Osaka Kaisei, the giant killer, gets to face a team that gained prominence when famed Tohoku kantoku Wakou moved to build their program.
Osaka Kaisei's game was one of stops and starts. It was the only game so far delayed due to rain, and the team, while it had its base hits, couldn't put runs on the board until the game reached enchousen. But, given their record this year it's clear this team will fight until the bitter end.
Osaka Kaisei (Osaka)
CF Himeno Yuuya
3B Toshima Hiroyoshi
2B Nishioka Yamato
C Tabata Takumi
1B Kishi Raidai
LF Fukuda Takeshi
RF Hamaguchi Naoya
P Mitsuda Yuuya
SS Matoba Yuuto
Osaka Kaisei's game was one of stops and starts. It was the only game so far delayed due to rain, and the team, while it had its base hits, couldn't put runs on the board until the game reached enchousen. But, given their record this year it's clear this team will fight until the bitter end.
Osaka Kaisei (Osaka)
CF Himeno Yuuya
3B Toshima Hiroyoshi
2B Nishioka Yamato
C Tabata Takumi
1B Kishi Raidai
LF Fukuda Takeshi
RF Hamaguchi Naoya
P Mitsuda Yuuya
SS Matoba Yuuto
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka)
SS Yoshii Kouhei
CF Yamaguchi Youhei
C Iwasaki Kaito
3B Yamamoto Musashi
LF Wakisaka Ryuuji
1B Uto Sou
2B Kameya Shouhei
RF Nakayama Tatasuhide
P Nogi Kaito (#11)
SS Yoshii Kouhei
CF Yamaguchi Youhei
C Iwasaki Kaito
3B Yamamoto Musashi
LF Wakisaka Ryuuji
1B Uto Sou
2B Kameya Shouhei
RF Nakayama Tatasuhide
P Nogi Kaito (#11)
____________________________________________________________
13:20 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
The siren hasn't stopped blaring and the ball is in left field. Toshima bunts the runner over.
Nishoka gets hit and already Kyukoku in trouble.
But Tabata pops out to Kameya and he's almost out of the jam.
Kishi grounder to left side! Just out of the reach of Yamamoto! Nakayama fires home as Himeno is waved around! He's safe! Osaka Kaisei is on the board!
SQUEEZE! Fukuda lays down the bunt! Yamamoto charging, throws... SAFE!!! Nishioka scores and now they're up 2-0!!
Hamaguchi flies out, but quickly Osaka Kaisei is off and running!
Bottom 1st
Meanwhile, it's a quick 1-2-3 inning for Kyukoku as perhaps Mitsuda would like to get back on the bats.
Top 2nd
Mitsuda ball to deep left! Wakisaka chasing it to fence, but can't get there! It falls in fair for a double!
Bunt from Matoba and Nogi fires to 3rd, but Yamamoto muffs the throw! All safe, and Osaka Kaisei threatens again!
Ah, but Himeno fouls out...
And now Toshima tries the squeeze but it's back to Nogi who tosses home for the easy out.
Nogi saves the inning by snagging a hot comebacker up the middle and throwing to 1st for the 3rd out. No runs, but Kyukoku under constant pressure.
Bottom 2nd
Yamamoto tries to get one back all by himself! It's deep to left, but Fukuda has space to get it.
Wakisaka going after the first pitch and he grounds to 3rd.
Uto with a harmless fly to left and it's another clean inning.
Top 3rd
One down and Nogi hits Kishi.
And then hits Fukuda!
And gives up a deep drive to Hamaguchi! It lands at the base of the wall and both hit batters score on the double!! It's 4-0!
As well as the end of Nogi. #10 Nakamura enters the game.
Nakamura gets the final 2 outs thanks to an assist by Uto who tumbles into the camera well.
Bottom 3rd
Kyukoku finally gets some sembalance of offense when Nakayama punishes a mistake from Mitsuda to the wall in right center.
Mitsuda then walks last batter Nakamura and there's some life there.
Yoshii with a blooper to left... and it lands in no-man's land! Everyone's safe and it's manrui approaching the heart of the lineup!
Yamaguchi ball to center, and that brings in 1.
UH OH!
Did Mitsuda hang one?
Himeno to the wall, climbs the wall!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And just like that we're all tied!!
Iwasaki with one swings makes it 4-4! Osaka Kaisei has to start all over again!
YAMAMOTO WITH A DRIVE TO CENTER!!! Iwasaki going back, going back!!!
And there's room for the catch. 3 out. But we have a new ballgame!
Top 4th
One down and Toshima hits a ball to shallow center. Yamaguchi charging in, but the ball bounces by him! Nakayama is backing up, but it'll be a double.
But Nishioka pops out, and while Tabata makes good contact, Yamaguchi doesn't have to go far for the 3rd out.
Bottom 4th
Kyukoku gets a leadoff base hit from Wakisaka and is bunted over.
A chance to take the lead but Kameya flies out to left.
SANSHIN!!!
And Nakayama, who had the double earlier goes down in 3 pitches with the final one painting the outside corner!
Top 5th
Kishi gest a break when his grounder to short takes an irregular bounce and gets past Yoshii.
Fukuda tries to but the runner off, but Yamamoto goes to 2nd and just cuts down the lead runner.
2 down now and Mitsuda trying to help his own cause with a single to right, but Matoba's screamer to 1st is blocked by Uto who goes to the bag for the 3rd ou.
Bottom 5th
More problems for Osaka Kaisei as PH Onaka (who is hitting for Nakamura, which means the ace is coming in) gets a 4 pitch walk.
Yoshii single up the middle! Onaka to 3rd and Osaka Kaisei in a big pinch with no out.
Yamaguchi once again does his job. Drives a ball to deep right! Hamaguchi makes the catch right at the fence and Onaka can walk in for a 5-4 lead for Kyukoku!
Iwasaki with a ball back up the middle and through for a base hit. The barrage continues as Mitsuda tries to mitigate the damage.
Nope! Yamamoto drive to left! Fukuda going to the wall.. but turns around as the ball goes out for a 2nd 3-run HR as now they take an 8-4 lead!
Wakisaka drive to left center! Himeno going back to the wall.. can't make the catch! That'll go down for a double and Kyukoku is looking to pour it on here before the break.
Finally Mitsuda gets the last 2 outs, but at 8-4 that grittiness I though I saw during the Osaka taikai will be severely tested now.
Top 6th
Osaka Kaisei trying to work their way back, but it's against the ace Toyama. Toshima gets his 2nd hit of the game with one down.
2 down, Tabata with a grounder to the right side, just under the glove of Yoshii for a base hit!
And now Kishi with a base hit to center! Toshima is coming home, but Yamaguchi can't pick the ball! He has to double back and the run can safely score! 8-5.
Fukuda draws a walk and it's manrui! But there's still a ways to go.
WHAT???!! Toyama walks Hamaguchi and that makes it 8-6!!
MITSUDA WITH A GAPPER TO LEFT CENTER!!! ONE RUN SCORES!!! TWO RUNS SCORE!!! THEY'RE WAVING AROUND HAMAGUCHI!!! THROW IN... PLENTY OF TIME, 3 OUT!!
2 runs do score and I can't believe it, it's 8-8!!!!!
Bottom 6th
Spurned with the new life, Mitsuda makes quick work of the 8-9-1 batters and give his guys a chance to run with the momentum they've gained.
Top 7th
Himeno hits ball to left. Wakisaka going back, going back to the wall... HE LOOKS UP!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ball just clears the fence and Himeno has given Osaka Kaisei the lead again!! IT'S 9-8!!!
Toyama gets the last 2 outs, but Osaka Kaisei has come all the way back!
Bottom 7th
Mitsuda mowing through the Kyukoku batters now.
WHAT?????
YAMAMOTO DRIVES ONE TO DEEP CENTER!!! HIMENO TRYING TO RUN IT DOWN, HE LEAPS!!!!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yamamoto has his 2nd HR of the game and this one to dead center tying the game at 9-9!!!!!
Wakisaka tries to make it 10-9, but skies it instead to Himeno in center for the 3rd out.
Top 8th
One down for Osaka Kaisei and Kishi hits a ball down the right field line... FAIR!! Kishi books it to 2nd and they're in business once again!
They're going for broke now as Kishi, 4-4 on the day is run for by #14 Noguchi.
Now Fukuda is hit! 2 runners on.
Now it's a hit and run! But Hamaguchi lines right to Nakayama! The runners are dead meat and the inning is over?
Did Yamamoto-kantoku do too much?
Bottom 8th
Mitsuda doing everything he can, striking out Uto looking and a quick groundout from Kameya.
Weak groundout to 2nd from Nakayama and we head to the 9th inning where everything is in play!!
Top 9th
Perfect guy to lead off for Osaka Kaisei in Mitsuda.
And what do you know, it's a base hit to left!!!
Matoba lays down the bunt and Kusuki-kantoku calls for time.
Himeno with a grounder right to 3rd! Yamamoto holds the runner and throws to 1st for the 2nd out!
And Toyama gets Tosaki to ground to 3rd! Yamamoto gathers it in, throws to 1st.. and it's 3 out! Now Mitsuda will have to play for enchousen, and it would be guaranteed he'd have to face Yamammoto again!!
Bottom 9th
Grounder to 1st by Toyama... New 1B Kinoshita bobbles the ball! Toss to 1st is too late!
AHHHHHH!! Now it's a wild pitch from Mitsuda and the sayonara run goes to 2nd! Yamamoto-kantoku calls time.
Bunt for Yoshii... Kinoshita crashink looks to 3rd... but has to flip around and turns to 1st for the out. One down sayonara run 90 feet away.
And you can't walk the next 2 batters because that brings up Yamamoto! They need one out so they can put him on!
AUGHHHHHHH.......
It won't even get to Yamamoto. Yamaguchi singles up the middle and the game is over. Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuokzu walks off Osaka Kaisei 10-9.
I'm taking a break...
13:20 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
The siren hasn't stopped blaring and the ball is in left field. Toshima bunts the runner over.
Nishoka gets hit and already Kyukoku in trouble.
But Tabata pops out to Kameya and he's almost out of the jam.
Kishi grounder to left side! Just out of the reach of Yamamoto! Nakayama fires home as Himeno is waved around! He's safe! Osaka Kaisei is on the board!
SQUEEZE! Fukuda lays down the bunt! Yamamoto charging, throws... SAFE!!! Nishioka scores and now they're up 2-0!!
Hamaguchi flies out, but quickly Osaka Kaisei is off and running!
Bottom 1st
Meanwhile, it's a quick 1-2-3 inning for Kyukoku as perhaps Mitsuda would like to get back on the bats.
Top 2nd
Mitsuda ball to deep left! Wakisaka chasing it to fence, but can't get there! It falls in fair for a double!
Bunt from Matoba and Nogi fires to 3rd, but Yamamoto muffs the throw! All safe, and Osaka Kaisei threatens again!
Ah, but Himeno fouls out...
And now Toshima tries the squeeze but it's back to Nogi who tosses home for the easy out.
Nogi saves the inning by snagging a hot comebacker up the middle and throwing to 1st for the 3rd out. No runs, but Kyukoku under constant pressure.
Bottom 2nd
Yamamoto tries to get one back all by himself! It's deep to left, but Fukuda has space to get it.
Wakisaka going after the first pitch and he grounds to 3rd.
Uto with a harmless fly to left and it's another clean inning.
Top 3rd
One down and Nogi hits Kishi.
And then hits Fukuda!
And gives up a deep drive to Hamaguchi! It lands at the base of the wall and both hit batters score on the double!! It's 4-0!
As well as the end of Nogi. #10 Nakamura enters the game.
Nakamura gets the final 2 outs thanks to an assist by Uto who tumbles into the camera well.
Bottom 3rd
Kyukoku finally gets some sembalance of offense when Nakayama punishes a mistake from Mitsuda to the wall in right center.
Mitsuda then walks last batter Nakamura and there's some life there.
Yoshii with a blooper to left... and it lands in no-man's land! Everyone's safe and it's manrui approaching the heart of the lineup!
Yamaguchi ball to center, and that brings in 1.
UH OH!
Did Mitsuda hang one?
Himeno to the wall, climbs the wall!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And just like that we're all tied!!
Iwasaki with one swings makes it 4-4! Osaka Kaisei has to start all over again!
YAMAMOTO WITH A DRIVE TO CENTER!!! Iwasaki going back, going back!!!
And there's room for the catch. 3 out. But we have a new ballgame!
Top 4th
One down and Toshima hits a ball to shallow center. Yamaguchi charging in, but the ball bounces by him! Nakayama is backing up, but it'll be a double.
But Nishioka pops out, and while Tabata makes good contact, Yamaguchi doesn't have to go far for the 3rd out.
Bottom 4th
Kyukoku gets a leadoff base hit from Wakisaka and is bunted over.
A chance to take the lead but Kameya flies out to left.
SANSHIN!!!
And Nakayama, who had the double earlier goes down in 3 pitches with the final one painting the outside corner!
Top 5th
Kishi gest a break when his grounder to short takes an irregular bounce and gets past Yoshii.
Fukuda tries to but the runner off, but Yamamoto goes to 2nd and just cuts down the lead runner.
2 down now and Mitsuda trying to help his own cause with a single to right, but Matoba's screamer to 1st is blocked by Uto who goes to the bag for the 3rd ou.
Bottom 5th
More problems for Osaka Kaisei as PH Onaka (who is hitting for Nakamura, which means the ace is coming in) gets a 4 pitch walk.
Yoshii single up the middle! Onaka to 3rd and Osaka Kaisei in a big pinch with no out.
Yamaguchi once again does his job. Drives a ball to deep right! Hamaguchi makes the catch right at the fence and Onaka can walk in for a 5-4 lead for Kyukoku!
Iwasaki with a ball back up the middle and through for a base hit. The barrage continues as Mitsuda tries to mitigate the damage.
Nope! Yamamoto drive to left! Fukuda going to the wall.. but turns around as the ball goes out for a 2nd 3-run HR as now they take an 8-4 lead!
Wakisaka drive to left center! Himeno going back to the wall.. can't make the catch! That'll go down for a double and Kyukoku is looking to pour it on here before the break.
Finally Mitsuda gets the last 2 outs, but at 8-4 that grittiness I though I saw during the Osaka taikai will be severely tested now.
Top 6th
Osaka Kaisei trying to work their way back, but it's against the ace Toyama. Toshima gets his 2nd hit of the game with one down.
2 down, Tabata with a grounder to the right side, just under the glove of Yoshii for a base hit!
And now Kishi with a base hit to center! Toshima is coming home, but Yamaguchi can't pick the ball! He has to double back and the run can safely score! 8-5.
Fukuda draws a walk and it's manrui! But there's still a ways to go.
WHAT???!! Toyama walks Hamaguchi and that makes it 8-6!!
MITSUDA WITH A GAPPER TO LEFT CENTER!!! ONE RUN SCORES!!! TWO RUNS SCORE!!! THEY'RE WAVING AROUND HAMAGUCHI!!! THROW IN... PLENTY OF TIME, 3 OUT!!
2 runs do score and I can't believe it, it's 8-8!!!!!
Bottom 6th
Spurned with the new life, Mitsuda makes quick work of the 8-9-1 batters and give his guys a chance to run with the momentum they've gained.
Top 7th
Himeno hits ball to left. Wakisaka going back, going back to the wall... HE LOOKS UP!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ball just clears the fence and Himeno has given Osaka Kaisei the lead again!! IT'S 9-8!!!
Toyama gets the last 2 outs, but Osaka Kaisei has come all the way back!
Bottom 7th
Mitsuda mowing through the Kyukoku batters now.
WHAT?????
YAMAMOTO DRIVES ONE TO DEEP CENTER!!! HIMENO TRYING TO RUN IT DOWN, HE LEAPS!!!!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yamamoto has his 2nd HR of the game and this one to dead center tying the game at 9-9!!!!!
Wakisaka tries to make it 10-9, but skies it instead to Himeno in center for the 3rd out.
Top 8th
One down for Osaka Kaisei and Kishi hits a ball down the right field line... FAIR!! Kishi books it to 2nd and they're in business once again!
They're going for broke now as Kishi, 4-4 on the day is run for by #14 Noguchi.
Now Fukuda is hit! 2 runners on.
Now it's a hit and run! But Hamaguchi lines right to Nakayama! The runners are dead meat and the inning is over?
Did Yamamoto-kantoku do too much?
Bottom 8th
Mitsuda doing everything he can, striking out Uto looking and a quick groundout from Kameya.
Weak groundout to 2nd from Nakayama and we head to the 9th inning where everything is in play!!
Top 9th
Perfect guy to lead off for Osaka Kaisei in Mitsuda.
And what do you know, it's a base hit to left!!!
Matoba lays down the bunt and Kusuki-kantoku calls for time.
Himeno with a grounder right to 3rd! Yamamoto holds the runner and throws to 1st for the 2nd out!
And Toyama gets Tosaki to ground to 3rd! Yamamoto gathers it in, throws to 1st.. and it's 3 out! Now Mitsuda will have to play for enchousen, and it would be guaranteed he'd have to face Yamammoto again!!
Bottom 9th
Grounder to 1st by Toyama... New 1B Kinoshita bobbles the ball! Toss to 1st is too late!
AHHHHHH!! Now it's a wild pitch from Mitsuda and the sayonara run goes to 2nd! Yamamoto-kantoku calls time.
Bunt for Yoshii... Kinoshita crashink looks to 3rd... but has to flip around and turns to 1st for the out. One down sayonara run 90 feet away.
And you can't walk the next 2 batters because that brings up Yamamoto! They need one out so they can put him on!
AUGHHHHHHH.......
It won't even get to Yamamoto. Yamaguchi singles up the middle and the game is over. Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuokzu walks off Osaka Kaisei 10-9.
I'm taking a break...
Day 8, Game 2 - Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi) v Shimonoseki Shougyou (Yamaguchi)
Gosh darn it, that was an excellent game that ended wrong (for me anyways). Hopefully the excitement of that game continues the rest of the day.
These two schools has to survive close calls to make it here. Shimonoseki Shougyou had to endure a rain delay and then a douten 2-run HR. But I still maintain that the fistpump given was a bad thing for Shirakaba Gakuen as they had not finalized anything with that HR. And as the innings passed, the momentum from that HR went away and eventually sided back with Shimonoseki Shougyou who won the game in 11.
There's nothing that special with their lineup as almost everyone got a base hit, but nothing standing out. And as for ace Morimoto, he's about as average as you can get. Gave up 4 hits, 5 free passes while striking out 4.
As for Toukaidai Koufu, they got out to a big lead only to see Shizuoka chip away. It wasn't until RP Matsuba came in that they were able to hold on for the win. The bottom of the lineup is a black hole (0-11), and Kikuchi was no better on the mound giving up 11 hits and 5 walks in his 6.2 IP of work.
With the P situation as uncertain as it is, it's hard to pick a side in this matchup. You could say Toukaidai Koufu due to their offense, but having 3 auto outs isn't helpful at all. I think maybe then Shimonoseki Shougyou given that Morimoto prevents the free passes. But the offense is rather anemic.
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 Maedera Kazuhiro
Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
CF Takabe Eito
2B Fukutake Shuu
LF Kakuyama Ryuu
RF Hirai Ren
3B Matsuoka Shunyuu
SS Igarashi Homare
1B Miyagawa Kazutaka
P Kikuchi Hiroki
C Iidzuka Ryuuya
____________________________________________________________
10:45- First pitch!
1st Inning
Kikuchi off to a needed good start, getting 3 ground balls for 3 outs.
Morimoto gives up a swinging bunt single to Fukutake, then walks Kakuyama. But he gets 2 easy outs afterwards and it's game on.
Top 2nd
The anemic Shimonseki offense is even more so. It's a 1-2-3 inning once more. Kikuchi has 5 groundouts and a K.
Bottom 2nd
Igarashi starts off with a single to left. He's bunted over, but Kikuchi flies out to left.
WHAT?
Iidzuka with a ball the other way!! Tomioka chases after it, but pulls up!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was unexpected!! Last batter Iidzuka takes a ball the other way.. and somehow it goes for a 2-run HR!
Top 3rd
It continues to be more of the same. Groundout to 1st, then a K.
Maedera finally gets their first baserunner. A 3-2 walk. At least he steals 2nd and creates an opportunity.
But Tsunenobu strikes out looking. Yeesh, this looks bad.
Bottom 3rd
Because at least Toukaidai Koufu has enough offense to get base hits.
2 down, Hirai and Matsuoka get back-to-back singles. However, Igarashi chases after the first pitch and flies to center.
Top 4th
Matsumoto gets a leadoff walk. At least they can get runners that way,
Now it's a hit-and-run! Tomioka pops one down the line in shallow left... it falls in!! The runners were off from the word go and they're at 2nd and 3rd! Big chance for Shimonoseki Shougyou!
Sakaguchi chopper to 3rd! Matsuoka fields it and lunges for Matsumoto! He gets the tag! That's an unfortunate play for Shimonoseki Shougyou.
They play the bunt for the one-timer, but Sakamoto grounds to short and the inning is over with nothing to show for Shimonoseki Shougyou.
Bottom 4th
Morimoto takes out his frustration on the Toukaidai batters (not really), as he needs just 11 pitches to retire the bottom of the order, striking out 2.
5th Inning
The 5th inning almost went without any fanfare. But with 1 down for Toukaidai in the bottom of the frame, Fukutake would draw a walk.
And on the very next pitch Kadoyama would turn around the pitch and split the defense in right center. Fukutake comes around to score and makes it 3-0.
One more walk from Morimoto and his day would be done. Sasaki-kantoku sends in #10 Murao, and promptly gets the 4-6-3 DP to end the inning.
And so Toukaidai Koufu extends the lead before the break and given the way things have gone 3 runs may very well be enough.
Fun fact: All the outs that Kikuchi has recorded for Toukaidai Koufu have either been via the K or the groundball.
Top 6th
Two more groundouts for Shimonoseki Shoguyou.
And then out of nowhere Tomioka hits a clean single to left. Then it's a hit-and-run whereSakaguchi follows that up with a single through the right side. So runners at corners with 2 down.
But it's another groundout. This time Masumoto his it to 3rd where Matsuoka goes the short way for the 3rd out.
Bottom 6th
After giving a 1-out walk, we find out that Kikuchi is getting treatment and is sightly delayed in coming out for his AB. He does eventually as #10 Matsuba warms up. And bunts the first pitch moving the runner over.
Iidzuka does it again! Base hit through the left side and Miyagawa scores to make it a 4-0 game.
Takebe first pitch single to the left side as well. Puts runners at the corners.
Throw in a walk and it's manrui.
Kakuyama with a ball deep to the left center field gap. 2 runs are going to score, and they're sending home Takefuku! But the relay is on point and the runner thrown out. Still it's 6-0.
Top 7th
Shimonoseki Shougyou finally tries to make headway. Sakamoto is hit on the first pitch, and then Sasaki takes his first pitch through the left side for a base hit.
At this point Muranaka-kantoku sends in #10 Matsuba.
And he promptly gets to infield flies, the first flyball outs recorded by Toukaidai pitching.
Tsunegoi draws a walk and it's manrui.
Matsumtoto grounder to 3rd, and it bounces off of Matsuoka! Everyone's safe and the shutout is averted! 6-1.
But that's all. Tomioka strikes out and that's all there is, there isn't anything more.
Bottom 7th
#11 Takashima enters the game on the mound for Shimonoseki Shougyou.
Toukaidai plays add-on as Hirai's leadoff single come around to score when where with 2 outs Miyagawa singles back up the middle.
That would be the first of 4 base hits that would extend the lead to 9-1.
Rest of game
By this point Shimonoseki Shougyou was done. The final innings went with little fanfare as Toukaidai Koufu moved onto 3rd round with easy win.
Unfortunately you need really good pitching if your offense can't hit and Shimonoseki Shougyou just didn't have that. We won't really know if it was the bad offense or got things figured out but Kikuchi was obviously much better this game than last.
These two schools has to survive close calls to make it here. Shimonoseki Shougyou had to endure a rain delay and then a douten 2-run HR. But I still maintain that the fistpump given was a bad thing for Shirakaba Gakuen as they had not finalized anything with that HR. And as the innings passed, the momentum from that HR went away and eventually sided back with Shimonoseki Shougyou who won the game in 11.
There's nothing that special with their lineup as almost everyone got a base hit, but nothing standing out. And as for ace Morimoto, he's about as average as you can get. Gave up 4 hits, 5 free passes while striking out 4.
As for Toukaidai Koufu, they got out to a big lead only to see Shizuoka chip away. It wasn't until RP Matsuba came in that they were able to hold on for the win. The bottom of the lineup is a black hole (0-11), and Kikuchi was no better on the mound giving up 11 hits and 5 walks in his 6.2 IP of work.
With the P situation as uncertain as it is, it's hard to pick a side in this matchup. You could say Toukaidai Koufu due to their offense, but having 3 auto outs isn't helpful at all. I think maybe then Shimonoseki Shougyou given that Morimoto prevents the free passes. But the offense is rather anemic.
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 Maedera Kazuhiro
Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
CF Takabe Eito
2B Fukutake Shuu
LF Kakuyama Ryuu
RF Hirai Ren
3B Matsuoka Shunyuu
SS Igarashi Homare
1B Miyagawa Kazutaka
P Kikuchi Hiroki
C Iidzuka Ryuuya
____________________________________________________________
10:45- First pitch!
1st Inning
Kikuchi off to a needed good start, getting 3 ground balls for 3 outs.
Morimoto gives up a swinging bunt single to Fukutake, then walks Kakuyama. But he gets 2 easy outs afterwards and it's game on.
Top 2nd
The anemic Shimonseki offense is even more so. It's a 1-2-3 inning once more. Kikuchi has 5 groundouts and a K.
Bottom 2nd
Igarashi starts off with a single to left. He's bunted over, but Kikuchi flies out to left.
WHAT?
Iidzuka with a ball the other way!! Tomioka chases after it, but pulls up!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was unexpected!! Last batter Iidzuka takes a ball the other way.. and somehow it goes for a 2-run HR!
Top 3rd
It continues to be more of the same. Groundout to 1st, then a K.
Maedera finally gets their first baserunner. A 3-2 walk. At least he steals 2nd and creates an opportunity.
But Tsunenobu strikes out looking. Yeesh, this looks bad.
Bottom 3rd
Because at least Toukaidai Koufu has enough offense to get base hits.
2 down, Hirai and Matsuoka get back-to-back singles. However, Igarashi chases after the first pitch and flies to center.
Top 4th
Matsumoto gets a leadoff walk. At least they can get runners that way,
Now it's a hit-and-run! Tomioka pops one down the line in shallow left... it falls in!! The runners were off from the word go and they're at 2nd and 3rd! Big chance for Shimonoseki Shougyou!
Sakaguchi chopper to 3rd! Matsuoka fields it and lunges for Matsumoto! He gets the tag! That's an unfortunate play for Shimonoseki Shougyou.
They play the bunt for the one-timer, but Sakamoto grounds to short and the inning is over with nothing to show for Shimonoseki Shougyou.
Bottom 4th
Morimoto takes out his frustration on the Toukaidai batters (not really), as he needs just 11 pitches to retire the bottom of the order, striking out 2.
5th Inning
The 5th inning almost went without any fanfare. But with 1 down for Toukaidai in the bottom of the frame, Fukutake would draw a walk.
And on the very next pitch Kadoyama would turn around the pitch and split the defense in right center. Fukutake comes around to score and makes it 3-0.
One more walk from Morimoto and his day would be done. Sasaki-kantoku sends in #10 Murao, and promptly gets the 4-6-3 DP to end the inning.
And so Toukaidai Koufu extends the lead before the break and given the way things have gone 3 runs may very well be enough.
Fun fact: All the outs that Kikuchi has recorded for Toukaidai Koufu have either been via the K or the groundball.
Top 6th
Two more groundouts for Shimonoseki Shoguyou.
And then out of nowhere Tomioka hits a clean single to left. Then it's a hit-and-run whereSakaguchi follows that up with a single through the right side. So runners at corners with 2 down.
But it's another groundout. This time Masumoto his it to 3rd where Matsuoka goes the short way for the 3rd out.
Bottom 6th
After giving a 1-out walk, we find out that Kikuchi is getting treatment and is sightly delayed in coming out for his AB. He does eventually as #10 Matsuba warms up. And bunts the first pitch moving the runner over.
Iidzuka does it again! Base hit through the left side and Miyagawa scores to make it a 4-0 game.
Takebe first pitch single to the left side as well. Puts runners at the corners.
Throw in a walk and it's manrui.
Kakuyama with a ball deep to the left center field gap. 2 runs are going to score, and they're sending home Takefuku! But the relay is on point and the runner thrown out. Still it's 6-0.
Top 7th
Shimonoseki Shougyou finally tries to make headway. Sakamoto is hit on the first pitch, and then Sasaki takes his first pitch through the left side for a base hit.
At this point Muranaka-kantoku sends in #10 Matsuba.
And he promptly gets to infield flies, the first flyball outs recorded by Toukaidai pitching.
Tsunegoi draws a walk and it's manrui.
Matsumtoto grounder to 3rd, and it bounces off of Matsuoka! Everyone's safe and the shutout is averted! 6-1.
But that's all. Tomioka strikes out and that's all there is, there isn't anything more.
Bottom 7th
#11 Takashima enters the game on the mound for Shimonoseki Shougyou.
Toukaidai plays add-on as Hirai's leadoff single come around to score when where with 2 outs Miyagawa singles back up the middle.
That would be the first of 4 base hits that would extend the lead to 9-1.
Rest of game
By this point Shimonoseki Shougyou was done. The final innings went with little fanfare as Toukaidai Koufu moved onto 3rd round with easy win.
Unfortunately you need really good pitching if your offense can't hit and Shimonoseki Shougyou just didn't have that. We won't really know if it was the bad offense or got things figured out but Kikuchi was obviously much better this game than last.
Day 8, Game 1 - Waseda Jitsugyou (Nishi Tokyo) v Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
So before we start. YAY Iwakumi Hiashi! おめでとうございました!!!!!
Today is an interesting set of games and the weather, rainy though it was, means that it'll be extra humid and certainly will affect play - especially later on in the day when we have our headliner game of the day.
Our leader though will be Waseda Jitsugyou facing Hiroshima Shinjyou.
Neither team looked all that impressive in their opening round games. Yes, Soujitsu defeated Imabari Nishi 6-0, but Matsumoto and Hattori combined for just 2 Ks on the day. That is a huge red flag and would put a lot of pressure on the defense with so many balls in play.
Offensively, they look like an average team. The bottom third of the order - generally a good indicator about a team's offense was 1-12. In fact, the only player with more than 1 hit was leadoff batter Yamada. The top of the order might be able to produce, but you're either killing a rally or an entire inning once you hit the bottom of the lineup.
Hiroshima Shinjyou was much of the same as ace Hori struck out 3 while yielding 10 hits. Offensively, it was their 3-4-5 hitters that struggled also going 1-12. That is a big red flag if your best hitters are struggling.
Waseda Jitsugyou (Nishi Tokyo)
3B Yamada Jyunpei
RF Tamagawa Ryou
1B Kiyomiya Koutarou
C Katou Masaki
SS Kaneko Ginyu(?)
2B Tomita Naoki
LF Miyazaki Renta (#11)
P Matsumoto Kou
CF Watanabe Daichi
Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
2B Sugimura Hiroyoshi
LF Ogasawara Shin (#14)
RF Katou Masaya
CF Fujimoto Tatsuki
1B Sadanaga Masaaki
SS Iwamoto Takuya
3B Koizumi Tokio
C Toumetsuka Takashi
P Hori Mizuki
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Hori off to work on the team from Tokyo. Gives up an infield hit to Tamagawa which was really close, and walks Katou, but a routine grounder to short from Kaneko ends the inning.
Bottom 1st
Hiroshima Shinjyou rightly working he count versus Matsumoto, gets a walk, but not much else other than increasing the pitch count.
Top 2nd
Tomita liner to left, but Koizumi makes a leaping catch for the out!
As expected, a lot of contact as Miyazaki foul out and Matsumoto grounds out to Iwamoto to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Iwamoto gets Hiroshima Shinjyou's first hit, a liner to right.
And he straight steals 2nd without a throw!
He moves to 3rd after a groundout, so they'll need a base hit from Toumetsuka. But instead it's a lazy fly to center.
Top 3rd
Watanabe, the only Waseda hitter in the bottom 3rd to get a hit, gets one here to lead the 3rd. Yamada bunts him over.
Tamagawa single to left! Watanabe puts on the brakes at 3rd as Kiyomiya comes up next.
And he comes though, guides a liner over Sugimura and Soujitsu has the first run! 1-0!
But he blunders on the basepath! Liner from Katou goes to short and Iwamoto goes to 1st to double him off to end the inning!
Bottom 3rd
New LF Harada gets a 2-out weak grounder base hit and steals 2nd, but is left stranded.
Top 4th
Soujitsu gets a big break when after a base hit from Kaneko and one down a wild pitch allows him to not only take 2nd, but 3rd!
Miyazaki makes it an easy walk home as he crushes a ball left over the plate to right and over Katou's head! That goes for a triple and Waseda now leads 2-0!
After a walk, Watababe does his duty again and hits a sac fly to left, making it 3-0.
Oddly, after giving up another base hit and then a 1st pitch strike to Tamagawa, #10 Sekitou comes in for RF Katou and takes the hill. Hori goes to 1B and Sadanaga to LF.
Very first pitch from Sekitou gets them out of the inning, but Waseda expands their lead.
Bottom 4th
Horishima Shinjyou playing the waiting game on Matsumoto.
With one down, both Sadanaga and Iwamoto play the waiting game and draw walks. Then #12 Matsui is sent in to hit for Koizumi, and he singles to left! Manrui for Hiroshima!
Izumi-kantoku calls time.
No help! Toumetsuka back up the middle under Matsumoto! Sadanaga and Iwamoto come home! It's 3-2!
Another PH from Sakoda-kantoku! #17 Kitadani for Hori as his day is officially done.
Ball to center! Watanabe going back, going back, GOING BACK!
It's over his head!! Matsui scores! Toumetsuka scores! Hiroshima Shinjyou has the lead at 4-3!!
That's it for Matsumoto as #10 Kamijyou comes in.
After a flyout, Harada grounds to 2nd but Tomita can't find the grip! E4 and the inning continues!
Ogasawara goes to steal 2nd! Katou goes to throw, but Kitadani is coming home! Katou tries to stop his throw, but spikes the ball instead! The run scores on a gutsy call and it's 5-3!
Sekitou grounds out to end the inning, but out of nowhere Hiroshima Shinjyou has taken the lead!
Top 5th
Waseda firing right back! Kiyomiya starts it off with a single to left. Katou follows that up with a single past Iwamoto into center! Kaneko bunts them along and now a base hit can tie the game right back up!
Tomita grounder and through to right! Kiyomiya scores! Katou waved around, gets no throw! Just like that we're tied at 5-5!
Tomita continues the pressure stealing 2nd to put the gyakuten runner in scoring position.
Miyazaki draws a walk and once again Izumi-kantoku uses the bunt to move the runners into scoring position.
But Watanabe can't get the base hit. He ground to 2nd and a tie is all Soujitsu can get for now.
Bottom 5th
One down and Sadanaga gets his 1st base hit of the game with a ball to left. And then he steals 2nd!
Iwamoto single to right, but Sadanaga has to hold at 3rd.
Contact play! But it's right to Kamijyou! He runs down Sadanaga for the 2nd out!
Izumi-kantoku frantically pointing his fingers as #17 Yoshida comes in to replace Kamijyou.
Toumetsuka first pitch swings and its a soft chopper up the middle! Kaneko has it and throws to 1st for the 3rd out!
And after all that we're tied at 5-5! I don't know who has the advantage though Waseda has been getting runners on base at a more even clip so there will probably be more opportunities now that they've gone to their bullpens.
Top 6th
Soujitsu's at it again. Tamagawa gets a fortunate high bounce that eats up Matsui. Then Sekitou hits Kiyomiya.
After that #11 Oofuka comes in.
But Katou with a chopper back up the middle, gets through! Tamagawa rounding 3rd, throw in cut off! Soujitsu retakes the lead at 6-5!
Kaneko grounds into a DP to end the inning, but Hiroshima Shinjyou will need to come back again.
Bottom 6th
Kitadani collects his 2nd hit of the game with a single back up the middle. However Kiyomiya alerly lets a popped bunt drop and throws to 1st. They get Sugimura first on the force and then have Kitadani in a pickle. He's run down and there's 2 out.
Harada continues his hot hitting with a single to right center.
What's this Oofuka with a drive to center!Watanabe back, Watanabe still back!! STILL BACK AGAIN!!
Collides with the wall! But he makes the catch!!! 3 out! That's a great catch by Watanabe!
Bottom 7th
With Yoshida being hit for, #18 Hattori comes in as the 4th P for Waseda.
Sadanaga with yet another hit, this one back up the middle.
He tries to steal 2nd, but is thrown out with a strike from Katou. 2 down and Iwamoto strikes out as perhaps Hiroshima Shinjyou is running on empty.
Top 8th
After giving up a 2-out walk, Sakoda-kantoku pulls his reliever card. He sends in #13 Sasaki for CF Fujimoto to take the hill. Oofuka goes to 1B and Sadanaga goes to CF.
LINER! Sasaki snags it from the air!! 3 out!!!
Bottom 8th
Everything Sakoda-kantoku has done I think has been done to setup the endgame. Putting in Matsui and Kitadani at the bottom of the order (they're 3-4) to moving around his fielders with the P changes. Leaving Oofuka who almost hit the HR to play 1B instead.
It's all for now!!!
Matsui starts with a walk. After a sac bunt, Kitadani gets his 3rd base hit! It's a single to the right side, but once again Matsui has to hold at 3rd.
NOT ANYMORE!!
Sugimura singles to left and he can trot home! 6-6!!!! And you have Harada coming up next!
But he goes after the first pitch and flies to center! It's not nearly deep enough to do anything with.
And Oofuka goes after the first pitch! But it's a slow chopper back up the middle Tomita has it, throws to 1st... 3 out!
ああああああ~~~~
It was all lined for Sakoda-kantoku, but sadly the pieces didn't quite fall into place.
Top 9th
Katou once again with pressure leading off with a single to left. But Kaneko pops up his bunt and there's 1 down!
Oofuka doesn't help his own cause now as he walks Tomita, moving the gyakuten runner to 2nd.
And with that Sakoda makes more changes. Oofuka and Sasaki switch positions (1B & P), and #16 Oohara comes in to play 3B.
Miyazaki reaches out and pops one up! Sugimura and Kitadani converge, converge...
They don't get there!! It falls in and that means Tomita scores! Miyazaki is being waved around! Throw home... OUT!!! They get the second runner, but the all important gyakuten run is home!
Bottom 9th
Does Sakoda-kantoku have one last trick up his sleeve?
Sasaki grounds out to short...
Sadanaga can't take the bat off his shoulder and goes down looking.
The last card is #15 Okuda.
Ah... but he strikes out swinging to end the game. Waseda moves on with a 7-6 win.
But I want to talk about what Hiroshima Shinjyou did. Right from the get-go Sakoda-kantoku went about inserting players into the lineup, starting with Harada in for Ogasawara. Then it was placing Matsuii and Kitadani in the 4th when they needed base hits. Then it was managing the pitching replacing the middle of the lineup with pitchers who could actually hit.
And it setup perfectly for the end of the game when they were searching for a run. And it almost worked.
Never have I seen a team implement their bench to the manner that Sakoda-kantoku did. Much like the game that never ended with Iwamichisuikan and switching pitchers back and forth, it was another fantasy idea of mine that if I were to manage a team, I would want to use the entire lineup like what he did.
I am so impressed with his job, I wish he could have won - forget the fact I hate Soujitsu.
2 managers who did 2 things I always wanted to do, and ALMOST won their games. They were innovative, thought out of the box, and goddammit they should have been rewarded.
Today is an interesting set of games and the weather, rainy though it was, means that it'll be extra humid and certainly will affect play - especially later on in the day when we have our headliner game of the day.
Our leader though will be Waseda Jitsugyou facing Hiroshima Shinjyou.
Neither team looked all that impressive in their opening round games. Yes, Soujitsu defeated Imabari Nishi 6-0, but Matsumoto and Hattori combined for just 2 Ks on the day. That is a huge red flag and would put a lot of pressure on the defense with so many balls in play.
Offensively, they look like an average team. The bottom third of the order - generally a good indicator about a team's offense was 1-12. In fact, the only player with more than 1 hit was leadoff batter Yamada. The top of the order might be able to produce, but you're either killing a rally or an entire inning once you hit the bottom of the lineup.
Hiroshima Shinjyou was much of the same as ace Hori struck out 3 while yielding 10 hits. Offensively, it was their 3-4-5 hitters that struggled also going 1-12. That is a big red flag if your best hitters are struggling.
Waseda Jitsugyou (Nishi Tokyo)
3B Yamada Jyunpei
RF Tamagawa Ryou
1B Kiyomiya Koutarou
C Katou Masaki
SS Kaneko Ginyu(?)
2B Tomita Naoki
LF Miyazaki Renta (#11)
P Matsumoto Kou
CF Watanabe Daichi
Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
2B Sugimura Hiroyoshi
LF Ogasawara Shin (#14)
RF Katou Masaya
CF Fujimoto Tatsuki
1B Sadanaga Masaaki
SS Iwamoto Takuya
3B Koizumi Tokio
C Toumetsuka Takashi
P Hori Mizuki
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Hori off to work on the team from Tokyo. Gives up an infield hit to Tamagawa which was really close, and walks Katou, but a routine grounder to short from Kaneko ends the inning.
Bottom 1st
Hiroshima Shinjyou rightly working he count versus Matsumoto, gets a walk, but not much else other than increasing the pitch count.
Top 2nd
Tomita liner to left, but Koizumi makes a leaping catch for the out!
As expected, a lot of contact as Miyazaki foul out and Matsumoto grounds out to Iwamoto to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Iwamoto gets Hiroshima Shinjyou's first hit, a liner to right.
And he straight steals 2nd without a throw!
He moves to 3rd after a groundout, so they'll need a base hit from Toumetsuka. But instead it's a lazy fly to center.
Top 3rd
Watanabe, the only Waseda hitter in the bottom 3rd to get a hit, gets one here to lead the 3rd. Yamada bunts him over.
Tamagawa single to left! Watanabe puts on the brakes at 3rd as Kiyomiya comes up next.
And he comes though, guides a liner over Sugimura and Soujitsu has the first run! 1-0!
But he blunders on the basepath! Liner from Katou goes to short and Iwamoto goes to 1st to double him off to end the inning!
Bottom 3rd
New LF Harada gets a 2-out weak grounder base hit and steals 2nd, but is left stranded.
Top 4th
Soujitsu gets a big break when after a base hit from Kaneko and one down a wild pitch allows him to not only take 2nd, but 3rd!
Miyazaki makes it an easy walk home as he crushes a ball left over the plate to right and over Katou's head! That goes for a triple and Waseda now leads 2-0!
After a walk, Watababe does his duty again and hits a sac fly to left, making it 3-0.
Oddly, after giving up another base hit and then a 1st pitch strike to Tamagawa, #10 Sekitou comes in for RF Katou and takes the hill. Hori goes to 1B and Sadanaga to LF.
Very first pitch from Sekitou gets them out of the inning, but Waseda expands their lead.
Bottom 4th
Horishima Shinjyou playing the waiting game on Matsumoto.
With one down, both Sadanaga and Iwamoto play the waiting game and draw walks. Then #12 Matsui is sent in to hit for Koizumi, and he singles to left! Manrui for Hiroshima!
Izumi-kantoku calls time.
No help! Toumetsuka back up the middle under Matsumoto! Sadanaga and Iwamoto come home! It's 3-2!
Another PH from Sakoda-kantoku! #17 Kitadani for Hori as his day is officially done.
Ball to center! Watanabe going back, going back, GOING BACK!
It's over his head!! Matsui scores! Toumetsuka scores! Hiroshima Shinjyou has the lead at 4-3!!
That's it for Matsumoto as #10 Kamijyou comes in.
After a flyout, Harada grounds to 2nd but Tomita can't find the grip! E4 and the inning continues!
Ogasawara goes to steal 2nd! Katou goes to throw, but Kitadani is coming home! Katou tries to stop his throw, but spikes the ball instead! The run scores on a gutsy call and it's 5-3!
Sekitou grounds out to end the inning, but out of nowhere Hiroshima Shinjyou has taken the lead!
Top 5th
Waseda firing right back! Kiyomiya starts it off with a single to left. Katou follows that up with a single past Iwamoto into center! Kaneko bunts them along and now a base hit can tie the game right back up!
Tomita grounder and through to right! Kiyomiya scores! Katou waved around, gets no throw! Just like that we're tied at 5-5!
Tomita continues the pressure stealing 2nd to put the gyakuten runner in scoring position.
Miyazaki draws a walk and once again Izumi-kantoku uses the bunt to move the runners into scoring position.
But Watanabe can't get the base hit. He ground to 2nd and a tie is all Soujitsu can get for now.
Bottom 5th
One down and Sadanaga gets his 1st base hit of the game with a ball to left. And then he steals 2nd!
Iwamoto single to right, but Sadanaga has to hold at 3rd.
Contact play! But it's right to Kamijyou! He runs down Sadanaga for the 2nd out!
Izumi-kantoku frantically pointing his fingers as #17 Yoshida comes in to replace Kamijyou.
Toumetsuka first pitch swings and its a soft chopper up the middle! Kaneko has it and throws to 1st for the 3rd out!
And after all that we're tied at 5-5! I don't know who has the advantage though Waseda has been getting runners on base at a more even clip so there will probably be more opportunities now that they've gone to their bullpens.
Top 6th
Soujitsu's at it again. Tamagawa gets a fortunate high bounce that eats up Matsui. Then Sekitou hits Kiyomiya.
After that #11 Oofuka comes in.
But Katou with a chopper back up the middle, gets through! Tamagawa rounding 3rd, throw in cut off! Soujitsu retakes the lead at 6-5!
Kaneko grounds into a DP to end the inning, but Hiroshima Shinjyou will need to come back again.
Bottom 6th
Kitadani collects his 2nd hit of the game with a single back up the middle. However Kiyomiya alerly lets a popped bunt drop and throws to 1st. They get Sugimura first on the force and then have Kitadani in a pickle. He's run down and there's 2 out.
Harada continues his hot hitting with a single to right center.
What's this Oofuka with a drive to center!Watanabe back, Watanabe still back!! STILL BACK AGAIN!!
Collides with the wall! But he makes the catch!!! 3 out! That's a great catch by Watanabe!
Bottom 7th
With Yoshida being hit for, #18 Hattori comes in as the 4th P for Waseda.
Sadanaga with yet another hit, this one back up the middle.
He tries to steal 2nd, but is thrown out with a strike from Katou. 2 down and Iwamoto strikes out as perhaps Hiroshima Shinjyou is running on empty.
Top 8th
After giving up a 2-out walk, Sakoda-kantoku pulls his reliever card. He sends in #13 Sasaki for CF Fujimoto to take the hill. Oofuka goes to 1B and Sadanaga goes to CF.
LINER! Sasaki snags it from the air!! 3 out!!!
Bottom 8th
Everything Sakoda-kantoku has done I think has been done to setup the endgame. Putting in Matsui and Kitadani at the bottom of the order (they're 3-4) to moving around his fielders with the P changes. Leaving Oofuka who almost hit the HR to play 1B instead.
It's all for now!!!
Matsui starts with a walk. After a sac bunt, Kitadani gets his 3rd base hit! It's a single to the right side, but once again Matsui has to hold at 3rd.
NOT ANYMORE!!
Sugimura singles to left and he can trot home! 6-6!!!! And you have Harada coming up next!
But he goes after the first pitch and flies to center! It's not nearly deep enough to do anything with.
And Oofuka goes after the first pitch! But it's a slow chopper back up the middle Tomita has it, throws to 1st... 3 out!
ああああああ~~~~
It was all lined for Sakoda-kantoku, but sadly the pieces didn't quite fall into place.
Top 9th
Katou once again with pressure leading off with a single to left. But Kaneko pops up his bunt and there's 1 down!
Oofuka doesn't help his own cause now as he walks Tomita, moving the gyakuten runner to 2nd.
And with that Sakoda makes more changes. Oofuka and Sasaki switch positions (1B & P), and #16 Oohara comes in to play 3B.
Miyazaki reaches out and pops one up! Sugimura and Kitadani converge, converge...
They don't get there!! It falls in and that means Tomita scores! Miyazaki is being waved around! Throw home... OUT!!! They get the second runner, but the all important gyakuten run is home!
Bottom 9th
Does Sakoda-kantoku have one last trick up his sleeve?
Sasaki grounds out to short...
Sadanaga can't take the bat off his shoulder and goes down looking.
The last card is #15 Okuda.
Ah... but he strikes out swinging to end the game. Waseda moves on with a 7-6 win.
But I want to talk about what Hiroshima Shinjyou did. Right from the get-go Sakoda-kantoku went about inserting players into the lineup, starting with Harada in for Ogasawara. Then it was placing Matsuii and Kitadani in the 4th when they needed base hits. Then it was managing the pitching replacing the middle of the lineup with pitchers who could actually hit.
And it setup perfectly for the end of the game when they were searching for a run. And it almost worked.
Never have I seen a team implement their bench to the manner that Sakoda-kantoku did. Much like the game that never ended with Iwamichisuikan and switching pitchers back and forth, it was another fantasy idea of mine that if I were to manage a team, I would want to use the entire lineup like what he did.
I am so impressed with his job, I wish he could have won - forget the fact I hate Soujitsu.
2 managers who did 2 things I always wanted to do, and ALMOST won their games. They were innovative, thought out of the box, and goddammit they should have been rewarded.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Day 7, Game 4 - Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima) v Chuukyoudai Chuukyou (Aichi)
Our last game of the day pits Kagoshima Jitsugyou and Chuukyoudai Chuukyou for a spot in the 3rd round.
Kagoshima Jitsugyou demolished Hokkai so much that it's hard to determine how good the team really is. 18-4 usually means nothing other than a general likelihood of losing the next game.
Chuukyoudai Chuukyou was quite the opposite. Against Gifu Jyouhoku they had an easy win, but it was only by the margin of 4-1, and 3 of the runs were in the 1st. There's easily questions as to whether the offense can really produce at a clip to take them deep.
Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima)
1B Arimura Kenta
CF Andou Masayuki
RF Muroya Tarou
3B Wataya Itsuki
C Tsukiji Rui
2B Itagoi Yuka
LF Mogami Atsuya
SS Hasebe Daiki
P Hashimoto Takumi
Chuukyoudai Chuukyou (Aichi)
LF Kawada Kouhei
2B Katou Daiki
CF Nakamura Kento
C Itou Hiroshi
1B Yatazaki Akedo
3B Sugimoto Isamu
SS Satou Yuuki
RF Naitou Ryousuke
P Ueno Shoutarou
____________________________________________________________
15:30 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
All's good for Ueno to start, a relatively uneventful 1-2-3 inning。
Bottom 1st
Same cannot be said for ace Hashimoto. He goes the distance against Kawada, issuing a walk. But when Katou tries to lay down the bunt, Hashimoto rifles it to 2nd and just gets the lead runner. No double play though.
Katou ends up doing it himself, stealing 2nd during Nakamura's AB.
He freezes cleanup batter Itou on a slider down the middle and the side is retired.
Top 2nd
More of the same for Ueno as he just needs 10 pitches to retire the side.
Bottom 2nd
Same goes for Chuukyoudai Chuukyou. Yatazaki hits a soft liner over Itagoi for a base hit. This time the bunt is successful.
Satou singles to left, and for a change, the runner is held up at 3rd. This time with the high hop the ball took, I think you could have sent him home.
Naitou does the job though hitting a single to left makes it 1-0 Chuukyoudai Chukyou.
Ueno flies to right, but his throw to prevent the runners from advancing short hops Wataya and bounces away allowing the runners to advance!
Kawada walks for the 2nd time and it's manrui.
Katou flies out to left, and Hashimoto gets away with just 1 point of damage.
Top 3rd
Itagoi base hit through the right side, bunted over to 2nd.
Hasebe grounder to short, Satou has Itagoi dead to rights, but throws it wide! All safe! Kajitsu has a chance to tie it up!
Arimura does it! Single though the right side and Itogoi crosses home to tie it at 1-1!!
They'll play for the one timer as Andou bunts the runners along.
Ueno though hits Muroya and it's manrui!
This time it's Ueno who gives the team the slip! Wataya grounds to 2nd and the inning is over!
Bottom 3rd
Nakamura safety bunt! Wataya coming in from way back, has no play!
And no bunt from Takahashi-kantoku! He sends Nakamura instead and he steals 2nd!
Itou strikes out and cannot advance the runner further.
Yatazaki can't either, grounding to short back up the middle.
And now they try to steal 3rd! Tsukiji makes the throw, and they get him at 3rd! Oh, you never want to do that...
Top 4th
Seems like there is a lot of added pressure to score a run. Mogami gets a one out single back up the middle, and then they try the hit-and-run. Except Itagoi misses and Mogami is thrown out. It's 3 up and 3 down as a result.
5th Inning
The 5th inning goes without much fanfare with both sides going down in order. That leaves us 1-1 at the break with neither side really gaining any momentum thanks to the aces on the mound.
Top 6th
Kajitsu trying to swing for the fences it seems. Muroya gets a single, but there are 2 loud outs to center by Andou and Wataya.
Bottom 6th
No bunting here it seems now, they're trying to take the bases outright. One down, Itou singles past a diving Hasebe. He takes off for and steals 2nd!
Yatazaki single to center will bring him in! Chuukyoudai Chuukyou takes the lead back at 2-1!
Sugimoto and Satou follow that up with base hits of their own and we're manrui!
Naitou drive to deep right! Muroya to the wall, slides... doesn't have it! 2 runners score on the deep double and Chuukyoudai Chuukyou has a 4-1 lead!
That'll be it for Hashimoto. Arimura moves from 1st to take the hill. He gets the final 2 outs, but the damage may have been irreparably done.
Top 7th
New 1B Shibata starts off with a single up the middle! Itagoi not bunting, but he gets a walk!
Hashimoto lays down a good bunt and now they can pull within 1 with a good base hit.
Hasebe can't do that, but he can get a sac fly to center! That scores Shibata to make it 4-2.
Not out of the woods yet though as Arimura is walked.
Andou singles to left! Itagoi scores and it's 4-3! Can Kajitsu tie the game?
Muroya deep ball down the RF line... FOUL! That had the distance, but pulled foul!
Instead, it's right back up Ueno to goes to 1st for the 3rd out!
Bottom 7th
Katou scorcher right to Muroya and it deflects off of him and into the dugout! Bad break for Kajitsu!
And it gets worse! Muroya is hobbling and after trying to work it out he can't. But being their power hitter they move him to 1st and sub in Moriguchi for Shibata to play 3B.
Nakamura lays down the bunt, Arimura there, goes to 3rd, NO!
Moriguchi is not covering the bag and he has to go to 1st! The defensive sub hurts them immediately!
And again! Itou singles past Moriguchi and that allows Katou to score! 5-3 on an unfortunate play!
That's all they get, but hat might be all they need.
Top 8th
Moriguchi tries to make up for it with a 2-out single, but there's little you can do with that. The side is retired soon thereafter and perhaps Kagoshima Jitsugyou has finally broke.
Bottom 8th
Kajitsu has broken down. New 3B Adachi doubles to right off the padding. After a failed bunt, Naitou doubles over Hashimoto to make it 6-3.
Ueno with a ball back up the middle that Itagoi runs down. However he makes an unwarranted throw that sails high and out of play. Naitou scores to make it 7-3.
Top 9th
Kajitsu goes quietly in order as Chuukyoudai Chuukyou pulls away in the final stages to move onto the Round of 16.
Kagoshima Jitsugyou demolished Hokkai so much that it's hard to determine how good the team really is. 18-4 usually means nothing other than a general likelihood of losing the next game.
Chuukyoudai Chuukyou was quite the opposite. Against Gifu Jyouhoku they had an easy win, but it was only by the margin of 4-1, and 3 of the runs were in the 1st. There's easily questions as to whether the offense can really produce at a clip to take them deep.
Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima)
1B Arimura Kenta
CF Andou Masayuki
RF Muroya Tarou
3B Wataya Itsuki
C Tsukiji Rui
2B Itagoi Yuka
LF Mogami Atsuya
SS Hasebe Daiki
P Hashimoto Takumi
Chuukyoudai Chuukyou (Aichi)
LF Kawada Kouhei
2B Katou Daiki
CF Nakamura Kento
C Itou Hiroshi
1B Yatazaki Akedo
3B Sugimoto Isamu
SS Satou Yuuki
RF Naitou Ryousuke
P Ueno Shoutarou
____________________________________________________________
15:30 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
All's good for Ueno to start, a relatively uneventful 1-2-3 inning。
Bottom 1st
Same cannot be said for ace Hashimoto. He goes the distance against Kawada, issuing a walk. But when Katou tries to lay down the bunt, Hashimoto rifles it to 2nd and just gets the lead runner. No double play though.
Katou ends up doing it himself, stealing 2nd during Nakamura's AB.
He freezes cleanup batter Itou on a slider down the middle and the side is retired.
Top 2nd
More of the same for Ueno as he just needs 10 pitches to retire the side.
Bottom 2nd
Same goes for Chuukyoudai Chuukyou. Yatazaki hits a soft liner over Itagoi for a base hit. This time the bunt is successful.
Satou singles to left, and for a change, the runner is held up at 3rd. This time with the high hop the ball took, I think you could have sent him home.
Naitou does the job though hitting a single to left makes it 1-0 Chuukyoudai Chukyou.
Ueno flies to right, but his throw to prevent the runners from advancing short hops Wataya and bounces away allowing the runners to advance!
Kawada walks for the 2nd time and it's manrui.
Katou flies out to left, and Hashimoto gets away with just 1 point of damage.
Top 3rd
Itagoi base hit through the right side, bunted over to 2nd.
Hasebe grounder to short, Satou has Itagoi dead to rights, but throws it wide! All safe! Kajitsu has a chance to tie it up!
Arimura does it! Single though the right side and Itogoi crosses home to tie it at 1-1!!
They'll play for the one timer as Andou bunts the runners along.
Ueno though hits Muroya and it's manrui!
This time it's Ueno who gives the team the slip! Wataya grounds to 2nd and the inning is over!
Bottom 3rd
Nakamura safety bunt! Wataya coming in from way back, has no play!
And no bunt from Takahashi-kantoku! He sends Nakamura instead and he steals 2nd!
Itou strikes out and cannot advance the runner further.
Yatazaki can't either, grounding to short back up the middle.
And now they try to steal 3rd! Tsukiji makes the throw, and they get him at 3rd! Oh, you never want to do that...
Top 4th
Seems like there is a lot of added pressure to score a run. Mogami gets a one out single back up the middle, and then they try the hit-and-run. Except Itagoi misses and Mogami is thrown out. It's 3 up and 3 down as a result.
5th Inning
The 5th inning goes without much fanfare with both sides going down in order. That leaves us 1-1 at the break with neither side really gaining any momentum thanks to the aces on the mound.
Top 6th
Kajitsu trying to swing for the fences it seems. Muroya gets a single, but there are 2 loud outs to center by Andou and Wataya.
Bottom 6th
No bunting here it seems now, they're trying to take the bases outright. One down, Itou singles past a diving Hasebe. He takes off for and steals 2nd!
Yatazaki single to center will bring him in! Chuukyoudai Chuukyou takes the lead back at 2-1!
Sugimoto and Satou follow that up with base hits of their own and we're manrui!
Naitou drive to deep right! Muroya to the wall, slides... doesn't have it! 2 runners score on the deep double and Chuukyoudai Chuukyou has a 4-1 lead!
That'll be it for Hashimoto. Arimura moves from 1st to take the hill. He gets the final 2 outs, but the damage may have been irreparably done.
Top 7th
New 1B Shibata starts off with a single up the middle! Itagoi not bunting, but he gets a walk!
Hashimoto lays down a good bunt and now they can pull within 1 with a good base hit.
Hasebe can't do that, but he can get a sac fly to center! That scores Shibata to make it 4-2.
Not out of the woods yet though as Arimura is walked.
Andou singles to left! Itagoi scores and it's 4-3! Can Kajitsu tie the game?
Muroya deep ball down the RF line... FOUL! That had the distance, but pulled foul!
Instead, it's right back up Ueno to goes to 1st for the 3rd out!
Bottom 7th
Katou scorcher right to Muroya and it deflects off of him and into the dugout! Bad break for Kajitsu!
And it gets worse! Muroya is hobbling and after trying to work it out he can't. But being their power hitter they move him to 1st and sub in Moriguchi for Shibata to play 3B.
Nakamura lays down the bunt, Arimura there, goes to 3rd, NO!
Moriguchi is not covering the bag and he has to go to 1st! The defensive sub hurts them immediately!
And again! Itou singles past Moriguchi and that allows Katou to score! 5-3 on an unfortunate play!
That's all they get, but hat might be all they need.
Top 8th
Moriguchi tries to make up for it with a 2-out single, but there's little you can do with that. The side is retired soon thereafter and perhaps Kagoshima Jitsugyou has finally broke.
Bottom 8th
Kajitsu has broken down. New 3B Adachi doubles to right off the padding. After a failed bunt, Naitou doubles over Hashimoto to make it 6-3.
Ueno with a ball back up the middle that Itagoi runs down. However he makes an unwarranted throw that sails high and out of play. Naitou scores to make it 7-3.
Top 9th
Kajitsu goes quietly in order as Chuukyoudai Chuukyou pulls away in the final stages to move onto the Round of 16.
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