高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

Today will have 5 bids possibly given out. Possibly I say because weather has canceled games in Fukuoka and Saga, which means Nagasaki's final may be in jeopardy today.

(UPDATE - Nagasaki's final has been postponed due to rain)

These are technically spoilers (except for Nagasaki) since I haven't gone around to reviewing the semifinal games.

The finals are:

Tochigi

• Sakushin Gakuin (5 summer, 8 spring, last summer appearance 1978) vs. Utsunomiya Kougyou (4 summer, 5 spring, last summer appearance 1986)

Chiba (Why Narashino, why???)

• Yachiyo Higashi (no appearances) vs. Takushokudai Kouryou (5 summer, 4 spring, last summer appearance 2002)

Nagano

• Matsumoto Dai-ichi (no appearances) vs. Nagano Nichidai (1st appearance was last year)

Gifu

• Gifu Kougyou (8 summer, 5 spring, last summer appearance 2006) vs. Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku (3 summer, 1 spring, last summer appearance 2000)

Nagasaki

• Nagasaki Nichidai (7 summer, 2 spring, last summer apperance 2007) vs. Souseikan (no appearances)

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1:40 PM - Games are just underway or in the late stages...

In Tochigi, Sakushin Gakuin leads Utsunomiya Kougyou 4-0 after 7 innings.

To Chiba and Yachiyo Chiba jumps out with 4 runs in the top of the 1st. Takushoku Kouryou gets one back in the 2nd and that's where we sit going into the top of the 3rd.

Nagano Nichidai looks to cruise after scoring 7 runs in the first 2 innings. Matsumoto Dai-ichi's Yamada has been pulled for Aoyanagi, and they got a run back in the 3rd, but still trail 7-1 going into the 4th.

Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku scores a run in the bottom of the 1st to take the lead over Koufu Kougyou and that is the only run scored going into the bottom of the 3rd.

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2:23 PM - We have a winner in Tochigi! Sakushin Gakuin defeats Utsunomiya Kougyou 5-0!

Takushoku Kouryou has clawed back in it in Chiba! They've tied the game in the 5th inning!

Nagano Nichidai scores 2 more in the 4th and hold a commanding 9-1 lead after 7 innings.

Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku scores 2 in the 3rd and has that 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the 5th.

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2:48 PM - We have the 2nd bid of the day! Nagani Nichidai piles on 2 more in the 8th for an 11-1 win over Matsumoto Dai-ichi. They successfully defend their title and look to go farther than the quarterfinals this year!

The game remain tied at 4 going into the 8th inning at the Chiba prefecural final.

Koufu Kougyou cannot put a rally together and remains down 3 to Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku.

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3:10 PM - Yachiyo Higashi just takes the 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th! Ace Murakami hopes to hold off Takushoku Kouryou!

Koufu Kougyou finally gets on the board with a run in the 8th, but they too are in their final 3 outs in the top of the 9th.

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3:24 PM - Yachiyo Higashi does it! They close the door on Takushoku Kouryou and secure their 1st ever Koshien appearance with that go-ahead run in the 9th!

And Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku closes out the 3-1 win over Koufu Kougyou and secure Yamanashi's bid!