高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

So, the Meiji Jingu Tournament got itself underway yesterday, and the results were not surprising.

First the brackets (next games are in red, completed games in green, winners in bold):

• Toukaidai Sugao (Tokyo) v. Shizuoka (Tokai)
• Urawa Gakuin (Kanto) v. Winner of Ube Koujyou (Chuugoku)-Toukai Dai-yon (Hokkaido)
• Kyushu Gakuin (Kyushu) v. Winner of Eimei (Shikoku)-Tsuruga Kehi (Hokushinetsu)
• Sendai Ikuei (Tohoku) v. Tenri (Kinki)

So, I've been boggled down with work and being burned out in general. At this point now though, all super-regionals are complete and the Meiji Jingu Taikai will be underway shortly.

If you've followed my twitter, you've heard crazy things about the prefecturals. Sadly though, in the end, there are a lot of familiar faces that will probably receive that phone call in February.

Hokkaido (1)

• Toukai Dai-yon

Good for Toukai Dai-yon. I'm generally nowadays not a proponent for private schools, but when it's a school that has not been to Koushien in a while, I'm happy to see that Toukai Dai-yon has carried their success from the fall to the spring. Good luck to you at senbatsu! (Oh wait, Meiji Jingu first!)

Tohoku (2)

• Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
• Oomagari Kougyou (Akita!)

Well, Sendai Ikuei sure looks scary. Sure, they lost in the regionals to Seiwa Gakuen and qualified through the repechage. And in the prefecturals, they barely got by Sendai Nishi. But my guess is they tried to keep their players unexposed and fresh early. Because outside of those games, and perhaps the prefectual final (where it doesn't matter if they won or lost) they just ran rampant through the field, winning their 4 games in the super-regionals by a combined 39-8...

They're baaaaaaaaack....

Now the other qualifier, the runner-up Oomagari Kougyou will have well earned their invitation. Now, Akita is not a strong prefecture by any means, and going undefeated through the prefecturals is nothing to be excited about. But at least they fought through Kakunodate, Akita Chuo, Akita Shougyou and then finally Noshiro Shouyou to win the prefectruals. Not an easy task in-prefecture.

After a slow start against Matsushima out of Miyagi, they went on to defeat Hanamaki Higashi and then Tsuruoka Higashi to reach the finals where they lost 10-4 to Sendai Ikuei. Those quality wins in the super-regionals should allow them to get that 2nd invite.

Kanto (4 + floating bid w/Tokyo)

• Urawa Gakuin (Saitama)
• Kisaradzu Sougou (Chiba)
• Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma)
• Jyousou Gakuin (Ibaraki)
• Matsudo Kokusai (Chiba)

Sadly, while there were a lot of schools that were missing from the super-regionals, there were still quite a few powerhouses still left. And for the most part, they did what they were supposed to do.

Win.

Urawa Gakuin perhaps is on their way back. The prefecturals were pretty much cake save for a late rally from Kawagoe Higashi in the finals.

In the super-regionals, they faced Toukou Gakuen (post-Matsui Yuuki of course). Still, they only managed just a 1-0 win.  Their only tough game afterwards was a 10-8 marathon against Kendai Takasaki. It appears to be a weak Kanto region yet again, but if Urawa Gakuin can win in this fashion, who knows.

Kisaradzu Sougou was barely challenged in the Chiba prefecturals (of which Narashino did not survive, dang). They were lucky enough to have drawn the bye, which may have proved crucial as their semifinal game against Jyousou Gakuin they survived 4-3.

The overall resume for Kisaradzu Sougou is not that strong, but having reached the finals it would be impossible to exclude them from an invitation.

I know Kendai Takasaki is yet another private school, but their style of play differs so much from the norm I would like to see it succeed. Their only challenge in the prefecturals was a 7-6 sayonara win against Kiryuu Dai-ichi, and had barely gotten by Meishuu Hitashi (Ibaraki 2) and Matsudo Kokusai (Chiba 2) before losing to Urawa Gakuin.

And finally Jyousou Gakuin should get the last bid, though they had to work for it all the way through. After a clean 2nd round game, they survived 3 close games against Fujishiro, Tsuchiura Kohoku and Meishuu Hitachi to take the top seed from Ibaraki. Then there were 2 more close games against Sano Nichidai (Tochigi 2) and Hiratsuka Gakuen (Kanagawa 1) before falling to Kisaradzu Sougou.

The only other possible school that could receive an invite is Matsudo Kokusai, and they would have to be invited over Jyousou Gakuin. Now, they lost in the quarterfinals to Kendai Takasaki 9-6, but their prefectural resume is much stronger, defeating schools like Senshuudai Matsudo, and Narashino. Still though, I'm not sure it's enough for failing to make the semifinals.

Tokyo (1 + floating bid w/Kanto)

• Toukaidai Sugao
• Nishogakushadai Fuzoku

Dawwwww....

Man, I was happy to see that Soujitsu and Sanko would have to duke it out immediately and that there would be one less superpower left.

And when Soujitsu lost to Hoseidai in the quarterfinals, another was lost.

Teikyou also fell in the quarterfinals, to Toukaidai Sugao. These two schools would play to reach the final.

On the other side, there was a possibility that Nishogakushadai Fuzoku and Kanto Dai-ichi would meet yet again... for the 3rd time in 1 calendar year. Each almost stumbled before then, Nishogakushadai in a 1-0 win over Waseda Gakuin, Kanto Dai-ichi a 5-4 win over Kokushikan in 14 innings!

But nonetheless they did meet in the semifinals. And like every other game they've played, it went down to the wire...

... and then past it.

Because they went into extra innings where Nishogakushadai Fuzoku scored 2 in the 11th and then held on for dear life as they gave back one, but not both runs.

Standing in their way the next day would be Toukaidai Sugao.

Sadly (for me), that extra inning game perhaps took a little out of them. Because ace Ooe, much like Hoseidai ace Komatsu faltered late, giving up 2 runs in the 8th inning. For Komatsu, his team was already behind. But for Ooe, his team was clinging onto a 1-run lead. The easy math means that they were trailing by 1 going into the top of the 9th. And they could not make a last-ditch comeback. So yet again... Nishogakushadai Fuzoku plays the bridesmaid.

This time though, I think they get that floating bid. There is no Yokohama that might perhaps upset their bid, though Matsudo Kokusai might make a case. It would be ironic though if they were passed over this year for a new name, when last year they would have been the new name instead of Yokohama....

Hokushinetsu (1)

• Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui)

Tsuruga Kehi was merciless the last time we saw them. They were just out to crush the competition - something I hadn't expected from a school in the Hokushinetsu region.

This time around, perhaps they played the game to perfection. In the prefecturals, they guaranteed them a spot by getting to the finals, losing to Fukui Koudai Fukui.

But once they reached the super-regionals, they turned on the switch and outside of giving up 2 runs to Komoro Shougyou (Nagano 3), they crushed Komatsu Ootani, Toyama Dai-ichi and finally Matsushou Gakuen to claim the title. They may be scary yet again.

Tokai (1)

• Shizuoka

I was surprised to find that Shizuoka's victory was just their 2nd overall. For as much success as they've had in getting to Koushien recently, the fact that they have not won in 50 years?

They were challenged twice in their run to the title. Both times was in the title games. First in the prefecturals versus an unknown Hamamatsu Shuugakusha where they won 13-8, then in the super-regional final 7-6 over Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou.

Unfortunately, their resume otherwise is rather weak, defeating no other big name schools en route to the title. They will certainly be unexposed heading into the Meiji Jingu Taikai.

Kinki (6)

• Tenri (Nara)
• Ritsumeikan Uji (Kyoto)
• Ryuukokudai Heian (Kyoto)
• Naradai Fuzoku (Nara)
• Osaka Touin (Osaka)
• Oumi (Shiga)

(Holy crap, what the heck, since when did Tenri ever get back on the powerhouse bandwagon again??!!)

*ahem*

Well, I had gone off the Tenri bandwagon. They had underperformed as one of the supposed duo of Nara (Chiben Gakuen being the other), and disappointed when they did make it to Koushien.

So I guess it would be perfect timing to bail when they do something like this. They were able to defeat both Chiben Gakuen and up-and-comers Naradai Fuzoku (who as you can see qualified themselves).

And then, it's like they summoned the Tenri of old, scoring 6 in the 8th to put away Houtoku Gakuen. They then went and limited Osaka Touin to just 3 runs(!) in a 3-2 win. Bolstered by that, they put away Ryuukokudai Heian 6-1 to take a spot in the finals against Ritsumeikan Uji, where they scored 3 runs in the 1st, and never looked back - winning 8-4 to claim the title.

Of course, this is just the super-regional. The cynicist in me says that they still have time to disappoint come senbatsu.

Since we're in the prefecture, Naradai Fuzoku should get the phone call given they reached the semifinals. The resume is admittedly not strong, having Tenri as their only quality game in the prefectural finals - losing 6-3. And in the super-regionals, they survived a low-scoring game against Toba winning 2-0, and then defeating Minoshima 3-2 - this before losing to Ritsumeikan Uji 4-1. Despite that they shouldn't be passed up as the other quarterfinal losers that I don't expect to get a bid make any strong case.

It was a strange taikai this year, because in the semifinals were just 2 prefectures, and the possibility of a single prefectural final. Nara, as you can see is one.

The other? Kyoto no less.

Ritsumeikan Uji managed to dodge most of the bullets in the Kyoto prefecturals facing just Kita-Saga and Toba before narrowly losing to Ryuukokudai Heian.

Moving onto the super-regionals, they rallied to defeat Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku 11-7 and then soundly defeated Oumi 6-2. You know how the rest of the story goes now.

Finally, the other semifinalist, Ryuukokudai Heian. They got a pass straight to the prefecturals proper with their summer victory. They didn't waste it, blowing through teams like Kyoto Shouei and Kyoto Seishou before edging out Ritsumeikan Uji.

The super-regionals started out good enough with a 7-0 win over Osaka Shoudai Sakai. It was tougher sledding against Kita-Ootsu, rallying from down 4-0 in the 2nd half of the game to win 6-4. There would be no such rally against Tenri, as they fell behind 6-0, losing 6-1.

All 4 schools should get an invite.

The problem is the final 2 schools. Well, maybe just 1.

Osaka Touin will get an invite. If Yokohama can get an invite as a floating bid over Nishogakushadai Fuzoku (who I thought had a stronger resume), Osaka Touin will not be denied.

Not that they aren't deserving. The only close game in the prefecturals was in the semifinals defeating Osaka Shoudai proper 5-1. They started with a 10-0 win in 5 over Hidaka Nakatsu (Wakayama 3) before losing to Tenri 3-2. That narrow loss to the eventual champs will rightly earn them a bid.

So that brings us back to who gets the other bid. The other quarterfinal losers were:

1. Minoshima (Wakayama) - Quality name, but a narrow win to Tsuna, then a loss to Naradai Fuzoku who didn't really compete with Ritsumeikan Uji? Pass
2. Kita-Ootsu (Shiga) - Kita-Ootsu was not really challenged in the prefecturals, only losing to Oumi in the finals 3-1. They edged out Wakayama Higashi (Wakayama 3) in the top of the 9th 8-6, and then actually led against Ryuukokudai Heian before letting it slip away late. Heian's sound loss to Tenri does not help their cause.
3. Oumi (Shiga) - Oumi's road in the prefecturals was brand name wise harder. Hieizan, Hikone Higashi and then Kita-Ootsu in the finals. Super-regionals had a quality win against PL Gakuen, who is making a renaissance of sorts. But they were outmanned versus Ritsumeikan Uji.

Unfortunately for Kita-Ootsu, it would appear that they are competing with their rival school in Oumi. And Oumi appears to have the better resume, and thus gets the final bid.

Chuugoku (2 + floating bid with Shikoku)

• Ube Koujyou (Yamaguchi)
• Okayama Ridai Fuzoku (Okayama)
• Yonago Kita (Tottori)

There was the standard fare in Chuugoku again. But the draw immediately pitted these schools against one another. Hiroshima Shinjyou v. Kanzei? Check. Kouryou v. Okayama Ridai Fuzoku? Yup. Soushi Gakuen v. Shimonoseki Kougyou? Roger. And Yonago Kita vs. Risshoudai Shounan? You betcha.

What's more, once those matchups were done, the winners of the first 2 games have to re-enter the fray. The perhaps unfortunate part for both Kanzei and Okayama Ridai Fuzoku is that with the draw, they had to play each other after winning the first round of the super-regionals. Okayama Ridai Fuzoku clearly had the better of it in the prefecturals, winning 8-2 thanks to a big inning. Kanzei couldn't avoid the same fate, giving up 3 runs in the 2nd. They would fight back, but a run in the 9th wasn't enough as Kanzei would fall again 4-3. After those 2 games, Ube Shougyou in the semis was no problem, cementing a place in the finals, and more importantly an invitation to senbatsu for sure, win or lose.

Ube Koujyou won the Yamaguchi prefecturals, only challenged by Shimonoseki Kougyou where they let a 5-1 lead get away in the top of the 8th, but scrambled to re-take the lead in the bottom half.

Saijyou Nougyou (Hiroshima 2!) couldn't keep up, losing 15-0 in 5 innings. Soushi Gakuen, had the better of Ube Koujyou early, but they bounced back quickly, shutting out Soushi Gakuen afterwards, winning 4-2.Yonago Kita should have been a pushover, especially after they had to endure a 13 inning game against Masuda Higashi. But, Yonago Kita continued to persevere. They gave Ube Koujyou all they could handle, as the pair of Fukumoto and Takahashi yielded just 1 run to the favorites. But sadly for Yonago Kita, the offense could not push through the tying run and thus fell 1-0.

So that setup the final between Ube Kougyou and Okayama Ridai Fuzoku. Okayama Ridai Fuzoku surely would be considered the favorite considering who they played up until then.

But perhaps Ube Koujyou had some of that sticktuitiveness that Yonago Kita showed rub off on them, because they were able to keep Okayama Ridai Fuzoku's offense in check. In fact, despite the fact that ace Uenishi couldn't hold the 1-0 lead, his school never trailed, as he would close out the 11th with a 2-1 win to claim the title.

By the way, Uenishi's full name? 上西 嵐満, or Uenishi Ranma!

Now, I've included Yonago Kita in the discussion for the floating bid. It will be hard to matchup name-wise with Meitoku Gijyuku. But, the resume isn't weak by any means, and Meitoku had the floating bid last year. Meitoku though did not disappoint posting wins against Chiben Wakayama and Kanto Dai-ichi.

Shikoku (2 + floating bid with Chuugoku)

• Eimei (Kagawa)
• Imabari Nishi (Ehime)
• Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)

Eimei is a deserved winner. In the quarterfinals, Eimei was almost tripped up by Tier 3 Sanbonmatsu. Still, they survived 8-7. That might have woken them up as they easily dispatched Jinsei Gakuen and Kanonji Chuo to claim the prefectural title.

That momentum continued into the super-regionals. They defeated Naruto and Kochi with back-to-back 7-0 mercy rule games to reach the finals.

Imabari Nishi almost never made it to the super-regional final. Against Imabari Kita in the first game, they needed 13 innings to win 2-1. After a seemingly easier time against Uwajima Higashi, Matsuyama Seiryou and Matsuyama Higashi couldn't mount a challenge.

It appeared they needed another warmup game as they handled Kawashima (Tokushima 2) 4-1. They'd need it because Meitoku Gijyuku loomed large next - even without Kishi, because they have another young ace by the name of Kunimitsu Akito (国光 瑛人) who was already acclimating himself in the position.

Kunimitsu was staked to a 4-0 lead early, but perhaps the stage got to him as Imabari Nishi scored 4 in the 5th to level the game. Nakano would come in relief of Kunimitsu and try to hold the line, but would not be able to as Imabari would take the lead in the 8th as ace Sugiuchi would make it stick, winning 5-4.

Once again, the momentum seemed to continue as Sugiuchi would shut down Eimei as his team would slowly build a 2-0 lead. But it appears that he just ran out of steam late. Eimei would score 5 unanswered runs in the final 2 innings to take the lead and hold on for the 5-3 win.

I do think Meitoku Gijyuku, despite getting the floating bid last year, will probably get it again. Kishi was a solid ace that turned the cameras, and it's possible that Kunimitsu might do the same if the JHBF thinks about it.

Kyushu (4)

• Kyushu Gakuin (Kumamoto)
• Itoman (Okinawa)
• Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima)
• Kyushu Sangyoudai Kyushu (Fukuoka)
• Higashi-Fukuoka (Fukuoka)

Kyushu Gakuin's victory in the Kyushu super-regionals was not an easy task. Sure, the prefecturals were as their only real close game was a 5-2 win over Chinzei in the quarterfinals. But they still faced Shuugakukan and Kumamoto Kougyou.

Things got slightly easier once they got to the super-regionals, though they had to rally after giving up 5 runs in an inning to Kaisei (Nagasaki). After that, Chubu Shougyou (Okinawa 1) and Kyushu Sangyoudai Kyushu (Fukuoka 1) were no match as they reached the finals.

Their opponent in the final would be Itoman. Having rolled over the majority of the competition, they seemed to give their players a rest as they lost narrowly to Chubu Shougyou in the prefectural final 3-2.

Their road to the finals were filled with tough competition. They did have a warmup game against Saga Gakuen to start, but after that they surrendered 5 runs late to Meihou (Oita 1) forcing enchousen. They would win in 11 innings 9-6.

Against Kamimura Gakuen in the semifinals they actually relinquished their lead, having to rally to force enchousen and winning 4-3 in 10.

Itoman's late-inning woes would rear its ugly head in the finals, this time with no chance for response. 3 runs in the 8th to tie the game and the sayonara run in the 9th to claim the title.

Kamimura Gakuen will get a bid. Shounan provided some resistance in the 4th round but lost 5-2, and Kagoshima Jyousai reached the finals this time around though they lost 6-2.

Kumamoto Kougyou proved to be no match, but they needed 4 runs in the final 2 innings to force enchousen against Higashi-Fukuoka, winning 6-5 in 11.

The only question will be the last bid. Yes, Kyushu Sangyoudai Kyushu did reach the quarterfinals, and they did win their prefecture. But the blowout loss against Kyushu Gakuin is not promising. However, their biggest competition for the bid would be Higashi-Fukuoka - the runner-up in the prefectuals to Kyushu Sangyoudai Kyushu. The resume isn't that much better, and as a result may not be enough to promote themselves to the final bid.

Well, guess who's on a roll now?

After finally getting back to Koushien this past summer, Toukai Dai-yon decided that they liked it there enough to go back there again in the spring!

Oddly, they had trouble in the quarterfinals of the super-regional against Kitami Kougyou, as they rallied from down 2-0 in the final 2 innings with 2 in the bottom of the 9th to walk off to the semifinals. Compare that to the very next game where they mercy-ruled Komadai Tomakomai 14-7 in 7 innings!

They would have to face a Hokkai squad looking to wipe the bad taste of the summer from their mouths, and having to face Hokkaido Sakae, Hokushou and Sapporo Nichidai just to reach the finals - certainly more difficult that what Toukai Dai-yon had to face,

And yet, while the game was close, Toukai Dai-yon never trailed - scoring a run in the first on their way to a 3-2 win for their 5th title and 1st in 14 years.  This guarantees them a bid at senbatsu and a chance to earn the region one more bid at the Meiji Jingu tournament.

So we're well underway in the Aki Taikai's - the fall tournaments that will give the best indicators who will be invited to Senbatsu.

Here's where things stand in the Hokkaido Super-Regionals:

Hokkaido only gets 1 allocated bid, so all of Hokkaido competes in their own super-region. Before that, teams have to qualify out of their regionals.

• Hakodate Regionals - Hakodate Kougyou, Hakodatedai Yuuto

 Hakodate Kougyou did face difficulty in the A block, while Hakodatedai Yuuto faced almost none.

• Muroran Regionals - Komadai Tomakomai, Hokkaido Sakae

Both schools won their games very easily.

• Sapporo Regionals - Sapporo Nichidai, Hokkai, Sapporo Dai-ichi, Toukai Dai-yon

Sapporo only gets 4 spots given the combined taikai. None of the schools here are surprising, though Toukai Dai-yon is certainly weaker than where they were in the summer.

• Otaru Regionals - Hokushou

Otaru Chouryou almost did it again. Facing Hokushou in the semifinals, they took a 5-4 lead in the 5th, but ace Chiba couldn't hold it, giving up 2 as Hokushou revenged the summer loss with a 6-5 win. That was their only opposition

• Asahikawa Regionals - Asahikawa Kougyou, Asahikawa Ryuukoku

This region was much more competitive, though admittedly Asahikawa Kougyou did have to face Asahikawa Jitsugyou and Asahikawa Meisei.

• Nayoro Regionals - Wakkanai Ootani

Wakkanai Ootani got a great performance from ace Endou, shutting out Shibetsu Shouun 2-0 to win the regionals.

• Kitami Regionals - Kitami Kougyou, Kitami Hokuto

Kitami Kougyou came from behind to defeat Engaru in the opening round 3-2. After that, the rest was a breeze in Block A. Kitami Hokuto after obliterating Kuneppu 32-0 stumbled a bit thereafter in the immediate game thereafter, but otherwise was unchallenged.

• Tokachi Regionals - Obihiro Sanjyou, Shirakaba Gakuen

No Obihiro Ootani this year either, they were mercy ruled by Obihiro Sanjyou in the Block A final. Shirakaba Gakuen had no issues getting through in Block B.

• Kushine Regionals - Kushiro Hokuyou, Nakashibetsu

Kushiro Hokuyou took out one of the regulars in the Block A final, defeating Bushuukan 9-5 in the final. Nakashibetsu comes through with close games versus Kushiro Koryou, Betsukai and a 10-inning final against Kushiro Konan.

To carry my thoughts on the final to my final thoughts on this Koushien...

I for one was happy so many powerhouses were left out of Koushien this year. If I had my way, Komatsu Ootani and Sekine Gakuen would have been here instead of Seiryou and Nihon Bunri respectively. I root for the underdog whenever I can because I think 甲子園 should not be reserved for the top schools who can recruit and bring in talent. There is so much being made about that there are 3917 schools that compete for the right to get to Koushien every spring and summer.

But realistically, only a fraction of those realistically has a chance. Maybe around 200-300, or about 2.5% of the schools realistically have a chance at just getting to Koushien. Once you get here, the chances of winning it are even slimmer - remember, just by location alone, 20 prefectures have not yet even won 1 Natsu Koushien title.

And so if you're talented ballplayer, what do you think when you live in say Tottori, where no one has won a title, and you aspire to win one?

Of course, you go to a school that has a track record of winning titles - and an already weakened prefecture gets even more so.

You want an immediate example? Ace Fukushima, 3B Katsuki and LF Nakamura all hail from... Fukuoka - where the last title won from there was back in 1992 with Nishi-Nippon Tankidai Fuzoku.

And so the stronger get stronger, and the rest, well... who cares because they're not winners.

It's why I now almost despise the powerhouses with a passion. Their brand name carries them so far, from recruiting all the way to in-game play where the no-names have to fight the constant whipping they receive just to have a chance. And even then, like in the case of Komatsu Ootani and Sekine Gakuen this year and like Kakunodate and Kasumigaura last year, getting the final 3 outs is mentally more tough than anything out there.

And yet, it's Seiryou that's lauded for their comeback because they're Seiryou and they showed their power when I argue that no, it's poor Komatsu Ootani who couldn't overcome the victim mentality when things started to go wrong.

I think my best comparison is saying the powerhouse schools are say the Big 5 conferences in college football, and the rest of the schools are the other Division 1 schools. Yes, they're there, but no, they're rarely if ever going to be considered for the title.

Think about this. With Osaka Touin's win today, they have won 3 of the last 7 Natsu Koushien titles.

Okay, but one could argue to me.. "Well you rooted for Komadai Tomakomai in 2006 and they were going to their 3rd straight Natsu title? What about that?"

Well, for one, they're from Hokkaido - and until they won back in 2004, no team had won from Hokkaido. So I wanted them to make the most of their run while they had it. You can see that they went to Koushien one more year, but after that has faded into almost anonymity.

"And what about rooting for Kouryou back in 2007?"

That's a fair question. And my answer is it was during that time that I still had not seen 高校野球 the way I do now. And I rooted for Kouryou because they seemed like a strong team that deserved to win.

Of course, while I still like Kouryou, if I were to go back to 2007 knowing what I know now, I probably would root for Saga Kita.

And that's why this year I was happy to see the non-powerhouses have their day. Kasukabe Kyouei defeating Ryuukokudai Heian right off the bat, Toyama Shougyou, Mie, Jyouhoku, Moriokadai Fuzoku amongst others. It was fun to see their fanbases be able to cheer for a victory as opposed to just being there.

But in the end Osaka Touin won - and I can understand it because of the dynamic that exists today. But the pessimist in me sees that one tactic in the 7th as something that made the win unbearable - because since they were losing - to Mie no less, they would resort to things like that to gain an advantage and "rightly" claim the title.

In America - I wouldn't doubt it at all. In Japan, in 高校野球, I would have said in the past "Never.". But now I can't discount the possibility, and that is what saddens me and puts a even bigger shadow on something that I liked so much.

And so here we are...

It's been a topsy-turvy tournament to say the least, with the tone being set in the very first game setting the one as senbatsu champs Ryuukokudai Heian was shown the door. From there we saw two regions not known for strong baseball - Tohoku and Hokushinetsu, go almost clean through to the 3rd round. We even had a possibility of an all-Hokushinetsu final has the results yesterday been different!

In the end though, we have none of that. Instead, we have a perennial Koushien team trying to play David to one of the - if not the - most dominant powerhouses in recent years, the Goliath that is Osaka Touin.

Osaka Touin was supposed to be here - especially given the dearth of other powerhouses in this year's field. They went and routed Riseisha, they went and routed PL Gakuen.

The road here at Koushien though was anything but smooth. The Kaisei gamei, the Kendai Takasaki game, and last but not least facing a team that was trying to not only emulate, but surpass them. They have certainly been tested.

They've perhaps gotten things together at the right time versus the right opponent. Tsuruga Kehi for the first half of the game traded blows before they just plain ran out of gas.

There are consequences of course. Ace Fukushima threw 160 pitches yesterday. They did rest him for a game earlier against Yazu, where #10 Tanaka would throw a 3-hitter.

Still though, 160 pitches is 160 pitches. What will they have left? And do they feel arrogant enough to start Tanaka throwing down the challenge to Mie?

Because this is Mie's first trip to the finals, their first trip even just to the Best 4. They're in a position that they've never been in before with a chance to win the title.

Mie was tested right off the bat as they had to comeback against Kouryou eventually winning in 11. Then they had to face Oogaki Nichidai, upstart Jyouhoku, before seemingly hitting their stride defeating both Okinawa Shougaku and Nihon Bunri soundly.

They have always felt to me like the ultimate blue-collar team. Never the big-name talent, just players who put their nose to the grindstone and were never cheated in a game, no matter how the opponent.

Ace Imai Shigetarou has been through this before. He was the last line of defense against Anraku and Saibi last year, allowing 1 ER in 2 innings. This year, he has carried the team through all the games and threw around 130 pitches in his effort against Nihon Bunri, though near the end it wasn't as stressful.

I could analyze this game to death, but there's something about this Mie team that just throws all that out the window. They'll be in it for sure, whether or not they can win... well I guess we'll find out.

Mie (Mie)
CF Nagano Hayato
2B Sada Taiki
SS Utsunomiya Touma
1B Nishioka Musashi
LF Inaba Ryuuya
3B Yamai Tatsuya (#16)
RF Seko Ren
C Nakabayashi Kengo
P Imai Shigetarou

Osaka Touin (Osaka)
LF Nakamura Makoto
2B Minemoto Takumi
3B Katsuki Kazuya
1B Shouzui Yuuya (#8)
RF Aoyagi Kouki (#13)
C Yokoi Yuuya
CF Mori Shinnosuke (#9)
SS Fukuda Kouki
P Fukushima Kousuke

Home Plate Umpire - Furukawa
1st Base Umpire - Tachibana
2nd Base Umpire - Ootsuki? (大槻)
3rd Base Umpire - Doi

______________________________________________________

13:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Nagano liner back at Fukushima! He gets his glove on it, deflects it straight up and makes the catch for the first out! Bad luck there for Nagano, but a nice play from Fukushima.

Sada gets ahead 3-0 before Fukushima puts in 2 strikes. He takes an easy swing and lines a ball to center for a single.  However, Utsunomiya can't do anything and grounds to short. Fukuda tries to go for the double play, but Utsunomiya beats out the throw at 1st.

Nishioka with a liner, but right at Katsuki and he makes the catch to retire the side! Some good defense by Osaka Touin, but Mie is making good contact on Fukushima's pitches early, and that is something to watch out for.

Bottom 1st
But there's a problem for Mie. Imai is maxing out at 130. Which means he's lost significant velocity from yesterday.

Nakamura with a liner to left, but Inaba - making the start today makes the catch.

Minemoto with a ball up the middle, Sada makes the stop, tries the jump throw, but it's offline and late. Nishioka snags it, but can't make the tag. Good try though.

Hit-and-run from Nishitani-kantoku! Katsuki grounds to 2nd, and working to plan Sada's only play is to 1st. 2 down though as Shouzui steps in.

Grounder to 3rd! Yamai with the great pick on the short hop! Throw to 1st low, but Nishioka makes a great pick on his end to secure the out. Scoreless through 1.

Top 2nd
Inaba makes the most of his start! He hits a gapper to right center that splits the defense for a leadoff double!

But Yamai wastes the chance! He pops his bunt, Fukushima secures it and it's like any normal base hit+bunt scenario.

Fukushima though falling behind Seko 3-0, but then firing strikes in once again to fill the count. He ends up walking him, but it also creates the force.

Nakabayashi drive to left! Nakamura going back to the fence! It falls in front of the wall! Inaba scores! Seko being waved around! Throw in... he scores!! #8 batter Nakabayashi helps out his battery mate and gives Mie the 2-0 lead!

Imai tries to help his own cause, but he fouls out to Katsuki near the camera well.

Nagano working the count as a base hit could mean a 3rd run. Count goes full...

And he walks Nagano! Creates a force, but with 2 out I don't think that was the idea this time.

Sada jammed and hits a bouncer up the 3rd base line. Katsuki makes the throw to 1st and the side is retired. Mie though strikes first with a timely double from Nakabayashi! Though 2 runs is still really meaningless at this point.

Bottom 2nd
Aoyagi waiting for his pitch, lines a ball to left. Seko coming in, slides.. makes the catch for the 1st out!

Yokoi clean liner to left for a single, Inaba waits for the bounce into his mitt.

Mori chases a slider way away for the 2nd out. The ball gets away from Nakabayashi and Yokoi can take 2nd.

Imai playing exclusively away from Fukuda, but gets the count full after falling behind 3-0.

But Imai gives him too much of a strike! He lines it to right for a basehit! Relay throw in not nearly enough and it's a 2-1 ballgame!

Fukushima chases the slider as well. Nakabayashi throws to 1st to complete the play, but already Osaka Touin has one of the runs back.

Top 3rd
Both pitchers having to work. Fukushima 36 pitches through 2 innings so far.

Utsunomiya gets the bat around on an inside fastball and puts it past Fukushima's feet into center.

Nakamura-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but Nishioka fouls it up the 3rd base line.

Nishioka goes down and drives a ball, but it's more of a golf swing as Mori is there near the wall for the catch.

Inaba meanwhile is on fire at the right time! He bloops a ball to left and Nakamura has no play on it. Runners on 1st and 2nd for Yamai.

Unlike Imai, Fukushima's velocity doesn't seem to have dropped. His fastball is in the upper 130s.

But Yamai is having no luck! He's jammed, chops one to 3rd and Katsuki starts the 5-4-3 double play to end the inning!

Bottom 3rd
Nakamura slicer down the left field line... fair!  Inaba has to run it down, but Nakamura is in with a leadoff double!

AH! Imai throws a wild pitch and the douten runner is 90 feet away! Nakamura-kantoku calls time.

SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Minemoto chases the slider down and away and Imai dodges 1 bullet. But still 2 to go.

And that's it. Katsuki with a fly to deep left center. The throw just goes into the infield and we're douten at 2-2!

Shouzui flies out to right, but as expected, Osaka Touin has tied the game.

Top 4th
Seko ball up the middle, Fukuda makes the pick, takes a couple of steps.. fires from 2nd and is there for the out.

Nakabayashi can't repeat his first AB and skies a ball to Fukuda for the 2nd out.

The bottom of the lineup this time around proves to be easy as Imai goes down looking to end the inning.

Bottom 4th
Aoyagi gets under a high fastball and pops out to short. Yokoi goes after the first pitch and drives it to center. Nagano running back towards right center makes the catch.

And Mori helicopters a swing, but merely grounds out to Nishoka for the 3rd out. Both aces get a 1-2-3 inning this frame.

Top 5th
Nagano on a ball just inches from the ground hits a liner to center! What the??!!

Sada with the bunt, Fukushima goes to 2nd... AHHHHH!!!

He throws it wide and Fukuda can't snag it! It goes into center and Nagano takes 3rd!

Utsunomiya overswinging at his AB when he just needs at minimum a sac fly.

But then he just goes down and makes contact on a pitch and bloops it to center! Mori coming in, but he can't get there! Nagano comes in and Mie retakes the lead! 3-2!

Nakatani-kantoku calls time...

Nishioka tries to lay down the bunt, but he pops it up! Shouzui makes the charging catch and goes to 1st to double off Utsunomiya! Big mistake, and while it's often seen, the cleanup batter bunting backfires for Mie and what was a great scoring opportunity leads to just 1 run.

Bottom 5th
Bottom of Osaka Touin's lineup trying to attack Imai early this inning. But neither Fukuda nor Fukushima can make any headway and there's 2 out.

Nakamura works the count, but chases the changeup for the 3rd out! The game going at a quick pace, and Mie holds a fragile 3-2 lead over Osaka Touin heading into the break!

Both teams certainly having opportunities against the aces on the mound. Mie though has squandered good scoring opportunities with poor bunting fundamentals. Will that hurt them later?

Top 6th
#5 Uchida (who apparently is injured) to hit for struggling Yamai and it pays immediate dividends! He singles to left! Seko successfully bunts him along.

Nakabayashi with a ball off the end of the bat, flies out to right. Uchida makes it to 3rd, but there's 2 out for Imai. He's quickly down 0-2...

He has to swing away, and hits one right to Fukuda. Throw to 1st and Uchida is stranded at 3rd.

Bottom 6th
Uchida, despite the injury will stay in to play 3B...

Minemoto with a clean single through the left side.

Katsuki not bunting, but he hits it right to short! Utsunomiya to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st as Minemoto slides in... DOUBLE PLAY!!!

Sada hanging in there makes the throw to 1st as Katsuki dives short to 1st! 2 out!

(Cue Docomo mushroom sliding into first...)

Shouzui tries to check his swing, but makes contact with the ball and hits it right back to Imai! He goes to 1st and the side is retired!!

Top 7th
Nagano proving his worth as a leadoff batter as he gets his 2nd base hit to center! 4 quality ABs so far today!

Hit-and-run!! Nagano takes off on the 0-1 pitch, Sada swings and misses, but Yokoi airmails the throw!

Sada further helps the throw as he just throws the bat at the ball and hits it to the right side advancing him to 3rd.

SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But it's a pitchout!!!!!

Utsunomiya has no chance to foul it off and Nagano is run down! 2 out!

Oh, is Nakamura-kantoku trying to give Osaka Touin a chance? He's playing traditional 高校野球 which is completely failing him! It's when he lets his players play that they do their best.

Utsunomiya does draw the walk. But Nishioka lines out to Nakamura in deep left for the 3rd out.

Bottom 7th
Aoyagi leading off the inning, tries to appeal for a dead ball that clearly wasn't. But head ump Furukawa confers. No dead ball is given, but it seems strange.

He eventually draws a walk. Yokoi bunts him along.

But Imai seems to be affected as he hits Mori...

And now Fukuda singles to center! Manrui for Osaka Touin!

Nakamura-kantoku calls for time...

Fukushima does the best thing he can. He avoids the double play at least by striking out swinging and rotates the lineup.

Nakamura jammed, bloops one to center! Nagano charges in, dives... but can't make the catch! 2 runs score and Touin takes the 4-3 lead.

Minemoto grounds out to Imai, but Touin does take the lead with just 2 innings to go.

Top 8th
Mie though is playing desperate. Inaba, Uchida and Seko all fly out and they'll be down to their final 3 outs.

Bottom 8th
Apparently that is it for Imai on the mound for now. He goes to RF as #12 Mori replaces Seko and takes the hill.

Katsuki starts him off with a single to center. Shouzui bunts him along.

Now #11 Setoue comes in to pitch for Mori, and #18 Matsumura comes in for Inaba to play LF.

And he hits Aoyagi...

Settles down a bit, fires a couple of strikes and gets Yokoi to pop up to center. Nagano charges in... makes the running catch for the 2nd out.

He then fires 2 strikes in to Mori.. and he pops it up! Matsumura with the catch and the side is retired.

Top 9th
But it's Osaka Touin that has the 4-3 lead going into the 9th...

And it's the 8-9-1 batters up for Mie. Nagano may get to bat with 2 outs...

Nakabayashi completely different from last inning's ABs. Tries to take pitches, drives a ball to center and Mori is there for the out.

Imai will stand in to hit, despite his poor BA.

But he fouls off pitches staying alive...

And singles up the middle to set it up for Nagano.

Nagano with a liner to left and that's in for a single. Imai as the douten run is in scoring position.

Nakatani-kantoku calls for time.

Now Nakamura-kantoku goes with a PH? #13 Suzuki stands in to hit for Sada.

SANSHIN!!!!

Suzuki too eager perhaps chases the changeup inside and there's 2 out.

Utsunomiya grounder to short, Fukuda throws to 1st, and a diving Utsunomiya can't stop the inevitable. Osaka Touin claims the title with a 4-3 win over Mie.

I'm sorry, but while my alliances are clearly against Osaka Touin, I wouldn't have minded them winning because well... they're Osaka Touin and they're a powerhouse, and etc. etc.

But I have issue with this win. Yes, Mie did themselves no favors during the game. The failed bunt in the 2nd... the failed squeeze in the 7th. If Mie had just played the game straight up - especially in the 7th, they could certainly be in a better position.

I can't really get over the dead ball request that Aoyagi made in the 7th though. It clearly wasn't a dead ball, he knew it, but he got the umpires to confer and it wound up throwing off Imai's rhythm as Osaka Touin would score the douten and gyakuten runs.

And as I was clearly reminded, the saying goes, "You play to win the game."

Sure, of course you do.

But I would rather it be done the right way. One that doesn't require seemingly underhanded tactics. I'm no optimist, let me tell you - otherwise why would I be thinking this? But when I first started watching 高校野球, it was because I thought the premise was pure and wholesome.

As you've read my thoughts on it in recent years, I have found that that vision is far from reality.

As I see the interviews going on with Fukushima and Nakamura, they are crying because they won. And of course there can only be one winner. But more often than not, like in real life - it's the big cats that generally rule the day.

Life isn't fair, and I know that. It's just sad to think that it applies to the extent that it does here.

And now onto our game of the day.

Osaka Touin had to smile even before reaching Koushien, seeing a lot of the powerhouses from other prefectures not even qualify. It just meant that they had less competition to face to get to and win the finals.

But the road has been far from easy. First was a ridiculous game versus Kaisei that they barely won 7-6. Then came facing Meitoku Gijyuku, for the 3rd straight year, and holding on to win that game. After an easy time against Yazu, they slowed down Kendai's running attack enough (with some fortunate events) to reach the semifinals.

And that resume presents a problem. Because their opponent appears to be a team that can beat them at their own game - Tsuruga Kehi.

Now, their offense slowed down last game as they only scored 7 runs against Hachinohe Gakuin Kousei, but they still average over 12 runs a game so far and do not have any signs of stopping. In fact, given some of their actions, they'd rather continue pummeling their opponents if given the opportunity.

If I were Mie, I honestly don't really know who I'd want to face. A seemingly weaker Osaka Touin squad (their team average is under 0.300!) that has done it before, or a ridiculously strong team (only Nakamoto has an average UNDER 0.300) that's never been there before...

Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui)
1B Shinohara Ryou
3B Shimomura Takamasa
SS Asai Kouya
C Okada Kouta
CF Mine Kentarou
RF Oyana Shou
P Hiranuma Shouta
LF Yamamoto Akihiro
2B Nakamoto Takahiro

Osaka Touin (Osaka)
LF Nakamura Makoto
2B Minemoto Takumi
3B Katsuki Kazuya
1B Shouzui Yuuya (#8)
CF Mori Shinnosuke (#9)
RF Aoyagi Kouki (#13)
C Yokoi Yuuya
SS Fukuda Kouki
P Fukushima Kousuke

______________________________________________________

13:28 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Good start for Fukushima as he gets Shinohara to hit a weak grounder to 2nd. Shimomura though hits an easy single to right.

Asai with a lines single through to left, and could the engine already be revved up??

Okada almost takes out Fukushima with a hard liner back at him and he can only spin out of the way... Manrui for Tsuruga Kehi!!

Mine single to left! Shimomura scores as everyone moves up a station., 1-0 Kehi already!

OH MY.

Oyana just CRUSHED a ball to right. Aoyagi going back to the wall!!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DEAR LORD.

Who the heck can stop this team? They took the challenge of facing Osaka Touin and just stepped all over it.

5-0 TSURUGA KEHI.

Hiranuma and Yamamoto groundout to 2nd, but this is beyond ridiculuous.

Bottom 1st
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Nakamura drive to left center!!!

Mine going back to the wall! He looks up!!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, then is it going to be this type of game? It's only 1 run, but it's a statement nonetheless. 5-1!

And now Minemoto draws a walk! Katsuki follows that up with a single to right! Nishitani-kantoku calling for the bunt from Shouzui! He fouls 2 off but lays the 3rd one down!

Mori scorcher up the 1st base line... FAIR!!!!!!! It gets past Shinohara and into right! Both runners are going to score and it's a 5-3 ballgame!! What the heck is going on here?!!

Huranuma retires Aoyagi and Yokoi to retire the side, and while Osaka Touin got the wrong end of that inning, it could have gone much worse.

Top 2nd
The engine goes into action again. Nakamoto singles back up the middle for a leadoff hit. Shinohara lays down a bunt to move him over to murderer's row.

Fukushima avoids one bullet as Shimomura flies out to center. But then he adds pressure to himself by throwing a wild pitch moving Nakamoto to 3rd. And then he walks Yokoi...

SANSHIN!!!

Fukushima comes out unscathed as he gets Okada to chase the cut ball for the 3rd out!

Bottom 2nd
Both pitchers having success against the bottom of the lineups. Hiranuma strikes out Fukuda on a changeup inside, while Fukushima flies out to center.

But he wants nothing to do with Nakamura and he walks him.

Minemoto with a drive to left.

Naw...

Can't be...

Mine going back to the wall.

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hiranuma leaves it over the plate and Minemoto knows exactly what to do with it! Amazingly... we're tied at 5-5!!

Katsuki grounds out to 1st, but Osaka Touin has already made up the 5-run deficit!!

Top 3rd
Mine goes down swinging and perhaps Fukushima has settled down.

NOPE! NOT AT ALL!!!

OYANA DRIVE TO RIGHT! Does he have his 2nd HR???

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He does! It can get more ridiculous! Oyama with 5 RBIs already and he gives Tsuruga Kehi the 6-5 lead!!

And then he walks Hiranuma! Oh boy.

But once again, there is respite at the bottom of the lineup. Yamamoto strikes out, and Nakamoto pops up to Minemoto to end the inning.

But these teams are trading haymakers like there's no tomorrow!

Bottom 3rd
Shouzui working a long AB against Hiranuma but Hiranuma finally wins on the 12th pitch with a groundout to short.

Mori meanwhile gets his 2nd hit with a seeing eye-single to right.

But both Aoyagi and Yokoi uppercut two balls into 2 infield flies and Hiranuma finally as a clean frame.

Top 4th
In this type of game you cannot give the other team free runners. Yet Fukuda does just that as he bobbles the ball on Shinohara's groundout. Shimomura bunts him over.

But Shinohara goes on contact and Asai's grounder goes to short. But Fukuda goes to 3rd and he's caught! Asai doesn't even have time to get to 2nd.

Okada flies out to left and Fukushima holds serve.

Bottom 4th
Fukuda chopper up middle... it gets through! He finally gets his first hit of Koushien! Fukushima bunts him over.

Nakamura will not take another walk (though he should) and hits a hard bounder to 2nd. Nakamoto goes to 1st, and the runner advances.

Minemoto with his own liner slicing past Hiranuma into center! Fukuda scores and we're level again at 6-6!!

Katsuki earns a walk and that means Hiranuma has to face Shouzui - though he's 0-1 so far.

Shouzui with a fly to right, but the defense is playing in???!!

Mine and Oyana have to scramble back as the ball goes all the way to the wall!  Minemoto scores! Katsuki comes around.. he scores!!! Osaka Touin takes the lead on Shouzui's triple!! It's 8-6!!!

うそ！うそだろう！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！

Mori with a drive to right! Oyana going towards the foul pole!!!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mori with a 2-run HR gives Osaka Touin the 10-6 lead!!!

Aoyagi strikes out to end the inning, but Shouzui and Mori land back-to-back blows and is Tsuruga Kehi on the ropes?

Top 5th
Mine chases a slider outside for the first out.

Oyana will not get 3 consecutive HRs, but he does bloop a single to left.

おっと。。。

Fukushima hits Hiranuma on his right leg...

Yamamoto revenges that with a liner to right! Oyana comes around from 2nd to score and it's 10-7!!!

Nakamoto lifts a ball to right! Aoyagi having to scramble back! That's over his head as it bounds to the wall! Hiranuma scores on the double and it's 10-8!!

Shinohara oddly struggling at the top of the lineup. He goes down swinging on a changeup for the 2nd out.

And Shimomura grounds to 3rd! Katsuki with it, takes his time and makes the throw to 1st for the 3rd out!

Tsuruga Kehi doesn't get all the runs back, but cuts the deficit to 2!

Bottom 5th
Shimomura makes a great play on a short hop to reture Yokoi.

Fukuda chases a shoulder-high fastball and flies out to right.

And Hiranuma flies out to deep center and we hit the break.

ドン。。。

Top 6th
Asai shut down after the 1st as he grounds to 3rd.

Okada with a grounder to the left side, Fukuda sells out and dives, but it's out of his reach.

But Mine groudns to short! Fukuda goes to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st... double play!!!  6-4-3 double play and Tsuruga Kehi fails to gain ground!

Bottom 6th
Both pitchers are over the 100 pitch mark now, with Hiranuma at exactly 100.

Even now, he still wants nothing to do with Nakamura, he walks him to start the inning.

Wild pitch from Hiranuma! Nakamura heads to 2nd!

Another wild pitch! It bounces in front and then goes all the way to the backstop and Nakamura heads to 3rd!

Minemoto draws a 4-pitch walk.

And that's it for Hiranuma. But he's still in the game.

But it's not #11 Umino, it's LF Yamamoto!! He and Hiranuma switch places!

Katsuki rudely welcomes him with a drive to left! That's over Hiranuma's head! Nakamura comes to score, Minemoto heads to 3rd, he's given the wave around! Katsuki has a 2-RBI double and Osaka Touin leads 12-8!!

Shouzui liner, but Asai makes the snag for the 2nd out!

Mori makes poor contact, but hits it to the right side to advance the runner to 3rd.

Aoyagi grounder to short, throw to first is short and goes off of Shinohara's glove! Katsuki scores and it's 13-8!!

And it looks like Aoyagi needs some treatment as his head slide into first scraped him up in some way, I think his arm.

It looks like they're thinking about an injury-runner, but I'm not sure the umpires will let that fly. After a delay, he comes out to 1st.

However, he gets caught off 1st and is run down to end the inning.

Top 7th
Tsuruga Kehi trying to hit their way out of the deficit.

Oyana with a sharp drive to center, but Mori sprinting back makes the catch.

Hiranuma with a liner to left, but Aoyaji makes the catch there too.

Yamamoto tries a different strategy with a safety bunt! Katsuki charges in, but his throw is late!

And Nakamoto pays that off! He drives one to left center and that'll go over the drawn in defense and to the wall! Yamamoto scores to make it 13-9!!

Shinohara flies out to left to end the inning, and now it's time that Tsuruga Kehi's enemy...

Bottom 7th
Yokoi draws a leadoff walk and Osaka Touin would like to play add-on. But Fukuda pops up his bunt and Okada makes the catch.

Fukushima flies out to left, and that brings out Nakamura again, who is actually just 1-2 with 2 BB and that HR.

Nakamura with a popup to shallow right center... Everyone converges on it, and it's Nakamoto who makes the sliding catch for the 3rd out!

Top 8th
Fukushima leaves a ball too close to the plate and Shimomura singles past a diving Fukuda.

Shimomura takes off for 2nd! Throw from Yokoi not even close! Through remember they're down 4.

Asai tries to stay alive, but flies out to right.

Nakatani-kantoku calling for time, Fukushima is sitting at 132 pitches.

Fukushima can't throw a strike! He falls behind Okada before getting a ball in. But he still winds up walking him and that brings up Mine who is 1-3 on the day with 2 Ks and a double play to his name.,

Mine drive to left, but it's not nearly deep enough. Nakamura is there for the catch.

And that brings up Oyana... he may be their last real chance in this game....

At first it looks like they're going to pitch around him, but two strong swings level the count.

Comebacker! Fukushima squats and squeezes the ball! Goes to 1st and Tsuruga Kehi comes up snake eyes!!

Bottom 8th
Minemoto with a single through the right side. Katsuki on the very next pitch hits a gapper to right center past the outfielders. Minemoto comes all the way around from 1st to score and make it 14-9.

Wild pitch from Yamamoto sends him to 3rd and this could be it. He then walks Shouzui, they get that back after he's caught trying to steal 2nd.

Still, Mori hits a sac fly to right to make it 15-9.

The day officially ends for Hiranuma. #10 Taniguchi comes in for him to take the hill while Yamamoto goes back to left. And while he hits the first batter, he gets Yokoi to fly to center to end the inning.

Top 9th
#17 Matsuoka hits for RP Taniguchi, and gives a pretty good AB. However Fukushima wins as he flies out to left.

Yamamoto with a grounder to the right side. Shinohara grabs the ball, tosses to Fukushima who barely beats Yamamoto to the bag for the 2nd out.

Nakamoto gets hit to flip the lineup over to the top and Yonemitsu.

And he singles through the right side. Nakamoto goes to 3rd, but they're still a long ways from a tie game.

Shimomura now steps in to try and keep the dream alive. Down 0-2, he takes two pitches Fukushima tries to paint the corner with.

But on the 3-2 pitch, Shimomura hits a liner to left! Nakamura is there for the catch and on his 160th pitch Fukushima closes out the game!! Osaka Touin prevails 15-9!!

Yet even in this crazy game, you have to feel for Tsuruga Kehi. They went through this entire tournament being the proverbial bully, and I even proclaimed then to be wearing the black hats. Yet, those words were spoken in hyperbole and we have to remember they are still kids.

And perhaps you need that confidence, that arrogance - whether visible or not, is necessary to win the tournament. For Tsuruga Kehi, it was more apparent and hence the black hat comments.

You can perhaps question not relieving Hiranuma in prior games to rest his arm - especially the Hachinohe Gakuin Kousei game. But in the end they played a great tournament and just ran into a team that could finally keep up with them.

And so we have our final set. It's an all central affair with Osaka Touin trying to win their 4th title against Mie who is trying to win their 1st.

And now, the stretch run...

The first game many consider as the warmup game. With the offensive power teams playing in the second semifinal, people look at this final as one where a team can say they at least made the final - though in Nihon Bunri's case they made the final in that instant classic versus Chuukyoudai Chuukyou.

Nihon Bunri has played 4 close games - even their last game against Seikou Gakuin was close until the top of the 9th. Their key victory in this run was perhaps their comeback win against Toyama Shougyou because of the comeback and the fact that Toyama Shougyou had some quality wins of their own.

Iidzuka is the only pitcher for Bunri they're willing to use it seems, so we'll see how he does in the possible last 2 games.

Mie actually played out of character in their last game. They had gone out to a 3-2 lead against Okinawa Shougaku before in character giving up 2 runs. Out of nowhere they scored 5 immediately thereafter and did NOT let Okinawa Shougaku back into the game.

Mie's record looks rather impressive having defeated 3 known participants in Kouryou, Oogaki Nichidai, and their last opponent Okinawa Shougaku.

Mie too depends on their ace Imai Shigetarou. But despite the lopsided win over Okishou, he did give up 12 hits and 3 walks and was immensely helped by the defense.

So both aces already showing some chinks in the armor and could be taken advantage of - and is the reason why I think a lot of people think the 2nd semifinal is really the final.

What's more, ace Hiranuma still looks strong as in their last game he gave up just 4 hits while striking out 10.

Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
1B Kodachi Otowa (#8)
3B Ikeda Takamasa
2B Arai Makoto
C Kamakura Wataru
LF Kobayashi Masaya
CF Takeishi Ryou (#16)
P Iidzuka Satoshi

Mie (Mie)
CF Nagano Hayato
2B Sada Taiki
SS Utsunomiya Touma
1B Nishioka Musashi
LF Yamamoto Youma (#10)
3B Uchida Ren
RF Seko Ren
C Nakabayashi Kengo
P Imai Shigetarou

____________________________________________________________

11:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Right off the bat, Hoshi gets Nihon Bunri's offense going with a single up the middle. The speed on the fastball though is at 130 which I think is a touch slower than in previous games.

Kurodai pops his bunt! Nakabayashi makes the catch, fires to 1st, but throws it away! It goes into left and Hoshi gets to 2nd after all!

And then he hits Kodachi! Is Imai already out of gas??

Ikeda grounder to 2nd!! Sada to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st... DOUBLE PLAY!!!

Imai's defense gives him yet another assist! And in what appeared could be a disastrous start ends up with nothing at all!

Bottom 1st
Nagano with a grounder off the end of the bat goes the other way through the infield for a leadoff single. As Sada bunts the runner along, Iidzuka's velocity appears down as well! He's down to the low-mid 130s!!

And Utsunomiya with a clean single through the left side! Nagano being waved home, throw from Kobayashi... is cutoff! Mie quickly leads 1-0!

Yamamoto with a bit of an indignant look as he gets rung up the home plate umpire on a ball that seemed clearly outside (and you wonder why the HS players and Japanese LL team pitches outside the way they do...)

Uchida grounds out to end the inning, but the drop in Iidzuka's velocity is very concerning.

Top 2nd
Opportunities again for Nihon Bunri. Arai draws the leadoff walk and is bunted over.

But Kobayashi pulls his grounder to the left side, preventing Arai from advancing to 3rd.

Takeishi flies out to right, and Nihon Bunri can't seem to get that timely hit.

Bottom 2nd
Okay, perhaps he was just warming up because Iidzuka is back in the high 130s. But he still gives up a leadoff hit as Seko singles to right. Nakabayashi moves him along.

Imai with a hard liner back up the middle, Seko scrambles back to 2nd as Kurodai goes for him, but then goes to 1st to get Imai.

And no timely from Nagano as he goes after the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd.

Top 3rd
Change defensively as #16 Yamai comes in for Uchida.

Imai finally retires his first leadoff batter as Iidzuka flies out to right.

Hoshi though looking to make him pay! Drive down the left field line! Yamamoto going towards the foul pole... FOUL!!!

That was close.

But he's not deterred! He pulls a ball through the right side and he's already 2-2 on the day!

Kurodai trying to lay down the bunt can't, but hits a short chopper that acts like one to move Hoshi to scoring position.

Kurodai goes down and slices a ball to center! That's in for a base hit, but Hoshi has to hold up at 3rd! Nihon Bunri once again seemingly ready to jump on Imai!

But Ikeda hits a grounder to short! Utsunomiya with it, goes to 1st... and Nihon Bunri is denied again!!

Bottom 3rd
Iidzuka, despite the slight velo loss, appears to have settled down. The top of Mie's lineup attacking pitches in the zone, hit into 3 groundouts in just 8 pitches.

Top 4th
Nihon Bunri with another baserunner as Kamakura draws a 1 out walk.

SANSHIN!!!

Kobayashi just turns away in disgust as he sees a fastball get called on the outside edge for strike 3! 2 down.

Takeishi can't do anything either as he grounds to short. Utsunomiya's throw is high and takes Nishioka off the bag, but he gets the tag on despite a minor collision.

Bottom 4th
Yamamoto's struggles at the plate continue as he chases a slider away for the first out.

Yamai with a chopper just outside of Ikeda for a base hit.

Hit-and run!!

Seko singles to left! Uchida heading for 3rd, and Kobayashi's throw is cut off! Mie threatening big time against Iidzuka!!

SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nakabayashi lays down the squeeze and Iidzuka has no play at home! He has to go to 1st and Mie leads 2-0!!

Imai with a chopper in front of the plate, he thinks it's a foul ball, but Kamakura pick it up and goes to 1st for the 3rd out, but Mie is slowly extending their lead.

Top 5th
Nihon Bunri needs the break to regroup and fast, because they're completely scuffling at the plate.

Iidzuka hits a ball right back to Imai for the first out. Hoshi gets retired for the first time on a slider, and Kurodai quickly chops one to short for an easy play from Utsunomiya...

Bottom 5th
But they can still play defense! Already 1 down, Sada hits a ball to the left side - Kurodai makes a great running pick and throw for the 2nd out!

It's not a complete clean inning though as Iidzuka hits Utsunomiya.

Nishioka with a chopper out in front of home and Kamakura fields and throws for the 3rd out.

We hit the break and both teams have had their opportunities. However, Mie has been the one to capitalize on them so far building a 2-0 lead. Can Nihon Bunri regroup to mount a comeback?

Top 6th
The only concern for Mie is that Imai is already at 84 pitches.

But he seems to be getting better. He goes changeup inside on Kodachi for his 3rd K.

Ikeda grounder up 1st base line past a diving Nishoka into right! He's booking it and gets his double!

Arai can't deliver a base hit and can only move him 90 feet with a short chopper up the 3rd base line. 2 down and they need a base hit from Kamakura.

But he hits a grounder to short! Utsunomiya gets rid of it quickly, but it takes what seems like infinite bounces before Nishioka can glove it for the 3rd out!  Bunri again shutout!

Bottom 6th
Nakamura-kantoku has seen enough of Yamamoto and sends in #7 Inaba to hit.

Sadly for him, that spot seems to be a black hole has he strikes out swinging!

Yamai grounder to short, Kurodai runs that one down too! Throw to 1st, AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kodachi for some reason can't secure the ball and the inning continues!

Nakabayashi with a single to left!

And now things really going wrong as Iidzuka walks Imai to load the bases!!! And for Nagano no less!

Nagano, chopper, through the left side!!  Seko scores! Nakabayashi being waved in! Throw home... not in time!! Captain Nagano comes through again and gives Mie a 4-0 lead!!

Sada grounds out to short, but Mie may very well be on their way to the final!!

Top 7th
Nihon Bunri trying to fight as Takeishi fights of a pitch to right for a base hit.

But Iidzuka hits a grounder right to 2nd! Sada starts the 4-6-3 double play and just like that Bunri is down to their final 6 outs!

Bottom 7th
Mie fine to leave things as is, go down in order to speed up the game.

Top 8th
#18 Matsubara now in LF for Inaba.

But Nihon Bunri just can't hit themselves out of the funk. Hoshi and Kurodai are quickly retired before Imai issues his 3rd walk.

After ball one to Ikeda, Nakamura-kantoku calls time.

Ikeda a drive to left! Matsubara going back! Still going!

But he stops in front of the wall and makes the catch for the 3rd out! Ikeda can only look out to left as he turns back to his dugout... Mie is just 3 outs away from the final!!

Bottom 8th
Yamai drive to left!!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As if to say to Ikeda, "That's how it's done!" he blasts one to about the same place, but the difference is that his ball leaves the field! 5-0 Mie!!

Seko grounder to the gap in the left side, but Kurodai runs that one down too!! Throw to 1st, just not in time to get Seko, but man this guy can field his position.

Nakabayashi bunts him along for Imai to try and add on even more.

But Iidzuka strikes out both Imai and Nagano to retire the side. Still, his team is 3 outs away from elimination...

Top 9th
Imai with a drive to center, but Nagano is there for the catch.

Kamakura flies out to right, and they're down to their final out!

Kobayashi grounds out to 3rd! Yamai to 1st, and Mie advances to the final!!

What a performance by Mie! Even through Imai gave Nihon Bunri opportunities the defense was all but perfect as Imai would pitch a shutout! Not only that, but the offense took advantage of the opportunities it was given - and that was clearly the difference as it put Nihon Bunri on the defensive early.

It's really sad for Nihon Bunri. I really like both of these schools in general and it was sad to see that one of them had to lose. And their players can't help but cry at the fact that they fell one game short of the final. I'm sure that they also remember that final when they almost completed the comeback, and how it would be great to head there once more and revenge that final.

But sadly it is not to be. Nihon Bunri has to be one of the stronger teams out of the Hokushinetsu region annually, and I really do hope one day they get that title.

For Mie, their time is now. They are in the finals, and while the odds are certainly stacked against them, they have the chance, and that's all they can ask for.

()

Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
1B Kodachi Otowa (#8)
3B Ikeda Takamasa
LF Kobayashi Masaya
2B Arai Makoto
CF Takeishi Ryou (#16)
C Kamakura Wataru
P Iidzuka Satoshi

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
LF Yaoita Takumaru
2B Fujiwara Issei
3B Yaginuma Kentarou
1B Yasuda Kouki
CF Isagi Shun
SS Ishigaki Mitsuhiro
RF Harada Genki (#17)
C Takano Kouki
P Funabasama Taiga

___________________________________________________________

15:30 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Funabasama walks leadoff batter Hoshi, and is promptly bunts the runner over.

Kodachi with a ball to left center splits the defense! Hoshi comes in on the double and Nihon Bunri leads 1-0!

Ikeda singles to left! Kodachi has to hold at 3rd, but things looking dire already. Saitou-kantoku calls for time.

Kobayashi pops it up! Yaginuma under it for the 2nd out!

But Funabasama goes and walks Arai to load the bases! Big chance for bench starter Takeishi!

SANSHIN!!!!

He just watches as the slider goes over the plate for strike 3! Nihon Bunri leads but it could have been more!

Bottom 1st
Yaoita grounder to left side, Kurodai chases it down, quick throw to first goes off Kodachi's glove! Infield single to start for Seikou!  And as expected he's bunted over.

Yaginuma with a single to right center! Yaoita comes home and just like that we're all tied at 1-1!

2 down now and Yaginuma takes off for 2nd! He's in safely and Seikou looks to take the lead!

But Isagi grounds to 1st! Kodachi makes the play to retire the side.

A bit shaky for the converted outfielder and Seikou has tied the game!

Top 2nd
Kamakura needs a moment after an attempted bunt hits him in the hand.

But he'll feel much better after he singles past Funabasama to center!

Iidzuka with a pop fly to left. Yaoita running towards the line, still running! It falls in! Kamakura goes to 3rd, but Nihon Bunri is threatening again!

But on Hoshi's grounder to 2nd, Kamakura gets himself hung up! He's run down, but perhaps prevents the double play instead. Still runners on 2nd and 3rd, 1 down.

Kurodai pops it up! Ishigaki behind the mound makes the catch, 2 out!

Kodachi delivers again! He singles to center and Iidzuka can score giving Nihon Bunri the 2-1 lead!

Ikeda flies out to right, but now we know why they're keeping him in the lineup!

Bottom 2nd
One down and bench starter Harada lines a ball down the left field line all the way to the wall for a double!

Takano single to left! Harada holds up at 3rd, but it's clear opportunities are to be had on both sides!

Grounder to 2nd! Arai goes for the double play, 4-6-3 and Iidzuka is out of the inning!


Top 3rd
Funabasama finally has a clean inning. Bunri hits a couple of fly balls but nothing of consequence.

Bottom 3rd
Yaoita with his 2nd hit in as many ABs with a single up the middle. Fujiwara moves him over, but then puts Yaginuma on with a free pass.

Yasuda can't get the timely as he pops out to Kodachi in foul territory.

Isagi grounder to 2nd, Arai has trouble fielding it, but does go to 1st for the 3rd out.

Top 4th
Kamakura with a basehit back up the middle, but neither Iidzuka, Hoshi or Kurodai can do anything to get him around. More specifically Hoshi his a hard shot to the left side, but Ishigaki makes the diving catch.

Bottom 4th-6th
I had nodded off with 2 outs, but apparently I had missed out on an exciting inning, because there was an error by Arai on a grounder by Takano. Funasako then hit an infield single to short. Iiduka then walked Yaoita to load the bases for Fujiwara.

However Fujiwara would ground out to short and Seikou's chance was left begging.

The next 2 innings would be almost uneventful. Nihon Bunri had the best chance in the 6th as Takeishi had a 1-out triple to center - but Kamakura was swinging at anything in the zone and wind up chasing a slider for the 2nd out and Iidzuka fouled out to end the inning.

Top 7th
Hoshi with a chopper up the middle got the Bunri offense again as Kurodai moved him into scoring position. But with 2 down, after Ikeda drew a walk, Kobayashi would bloop one to the right side. All the fielders converged on the ball, but no one could get to it. Hoshi scored from 2nd and extended their lead to 3-1.

Bottom 7th
Yaoita tried to jump-start the Seikou offense with a base hit up the middle. Saitou-kantoku elects to go with the hit-and-run, but Fujiwara fouls out.

The rally would stall because after Yasuda drew a 2-out walk, Isagi grounded to 2nd and that was that.

Bottom 8th
After Funabasama got a 1-2-3 inning, Seikou got another leadoff runner as Ishigaki lined a single to left. But after a sac but to at least get 1 run. PH Fujita and Satou completely wasted the opportunity in just 4 pitches.

Top 9th
Saitou-kantoku having almost sold out send in #18 Imaizumi.

But after 2 outs it all collapsed. After he gave up 2 singles, Imaizumi hit 3 straight batters, driving in 2 and extending the lead to 5-1.

Bottom 9th
Yamagumi would get a 2-out base hit for Seikou, but otherwise the game was over as Nihon Bunri would win 5-1.

Seikou Gakuin had chances early, had chances late while the game was still close, but they were 2-12 with runners in scoring position and could only push 1 run across.

And so one of the better runs for a Fukushima squad ends in the quarterfinals. Nihon Bunri meanwhile gets one step closer to another final and perhaps a chance at a title.

People may not realize that back in 2012 these two teams faced off. Kendai back then was like the Kendai now, free running and exciting the crowd.

But when they faced Osaka Touin, they got thrown out once and we never saw them try again as they fell 3-1.

If they have to running game, they are lost. That's all I think it really boils down to.

Osaka Touin (Osaka)
LF Nakamura Makoto
2B Minemoto Takumi
3B Katsuki Kazuya
1B Shouzui Yuuya (#8)
RF Aoyagi Kouki (#13)
C Yokoi Yuuya
CF Mori Shinnosuke (#9)
SS Fukuda Kouki
P Fukushima Kousuke

Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma)
CF Hirayama Takayuki
2B Hoshino Yuusuke
RF Wakimoto Naoto
1B Nagashima Ryouhei
C Tsuge Sena
LF Yamagami Takashi
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke (#15)
SS Yokomizo Takuto
P Kawai Tomoya (#11)

______________________________________________________

13:10 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Kawai gets an easy popup from Nakamura to start.

Minemoto hot shot to 3rd, Shibahiki with a great stop and throw gets him out.

Katsuki high chopper up middle, Yokomizo ranges, gets it, spins, throws.. but not in time!

He took an extra step and that probably cost him the out.

Shouzui with a single through the left side and could they be in trouble like Kousei?

No! Kawai snaga the comebacker from Aoyagi and goes to 1st to retire the side!

Bottom 1st
We'll see if they can run right off the bat as Fukushima walks Hirayama!

And he does! Throw from Yokoi is high and he's in safely!

Hoshino with the bunt! Yokoi can only go to 1st. 1 down.

Wakimoto does his job! He hits a ball to center! Mori catches, fires home as Hirayama tags up, but it's not in time! Kendai leads 1-0!

Nagashima bloops a ball to center that falls in front of Mori.

But Fukushima with a quick toss to 1st gets Nagashima to end the inning!

Top 2nd
Yokoi hot shot to 3rd! Shibahiki with a wave of the hand picks the high bounce! He loses it on the way down, but gathers it and throws to 1st... out!  Nice play by the 2nd year!

Mori with a liner to center, but Nakamura comes in and is there to make the catch.

Fukuda a bit early on the ball, controls his swing, but grounds to 1st. Nagashima takes it to the bag for the 3rd out.

Bottom 2nd
So the only thing that can derail Kendai is simply not having any baserunners.

And I'm not sure if they'll be able to hit for one, because here in the 2nd both Tsuge and Yamagami both are fooled on Fukushima's pitches and ground out while Shibahiki can't hold up his swing on a ball in the dirt.

Top 3rd
Osaka Touin not having as hard of a time getting on base. Fukushima singles back up the middle, and is bunted along to 2nd.

Kawai climbs the ladder on Katsuki and he swings! Yokomizo camps under it for the 2nd out.

Shouzui liner to center, Hirayama charging in, reaches out.. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hirayama misses the ball and it gets by! Fukushima scores! Minemoto being waved around and he scores on the lucky triple! Osaka Touin leads 2-1!

Aoyagi fouls out to Nagashima, but that decision to go for it by Hirayama costs them the lead!

Bottom 3rd
2 Ks at the bottom of the lineup and we're back to Hirayama.

He tries the safety bunt! Katsuki charging in and fires to 1st... SAFE!! He barely head slides in ahead of the throw.

And then he takes of for 2nd! Yokoi's throw... Fukuda can't secure it! Hirayama trying to manufacture another run on his own.

Hoshino with a ball to right, Aoyagi backing up makes the catch to retire the side.

Top 4th
Osaka Touin is playing small ball??!!

After Yokoi singles to center, Mori bunts him over! This feels odd coming from them.

Because Fukuda strikes out swinging on a slider in the dirt, and Fukushima simply grounds out to 1st for the 3rd out. I guess they figure those 2 can't normally hit.

Bottom 4th
Wakimoto with a slicer down the right field line! Aoyagi runs it down, but he's in with a double! Nagashima with the push bunt forces Katsuki to field it and Wakimoto advances to 3rd.

Tsuge takes a pitch the other way... and that's in for a basehit! Wakimoto can walk home and we're all tied at 1-1!

2 down for Kendai and Aoyagi-kantoku calls the hit-and-run! Shibahiki takes the ball to right and there's runners at the corners!

Shibahiki takes off to 2nd! Yokomizo swings and misses! Throw to 2nd and Tsuge takes off for home! Minemoto's cuts the ball but loses the grip! Tsuge scores!!

NO!

The home plate umpire calls Yokomizo for batter's interference on the throw and he's out! We're still tied at 2-2!

(Personally, I don't know if that was the right call...)

Top 5th
Aoyagi-kantoku figures 4 innings is enough for Kawai and #10 Matsuno comes in to take over.

But he walks Nakamura to start the 5th.

Minemoto not bunting, but kinda throws the bat at the ball down 1-2 and dribbles it to the left side like a bunt. He advances the runner nonetheless.

AH! Pitch from Matsuno is high and deflects off Tsuge's glove! Nakamura takes off for 3rd and reaches with no throw!

Katsuki hits a ball to left, but it's too shallow and Nakamura can't score.

Matsuno gets out of the pinch as Shouzui grounds out to short! Yokomizo's completes the play at 1st and Kendai holds serve.

Bottom 5th
Hoshino with a 2-out liner to center brings up Wakimoto. But will Hoshino run?

Wakimoto swings!!!

Drive to right! Aoyagi heading towards the foul pole! Still going!  He's in front of the fence!

Makes the catch!!!

The hamakaze finally wins a match and it's at the expense of Wakimoto!

We hit the break and so far Kendai has been able to run, but not to the extent of other games, but some bad luck has prevented them from taking the lead. But they have proven that they will try the double steal!

Top 6th
Aoyagi becomes Matsuno's 1st K victim as he chases the slider.  Yokoi becomes the 2nd after swinging at a ball in the opposite batters box!

Mori flies out to left, and it's another scoreless inning for Kendai!

Bottom 6th
Kendai's batters continue to mostly struggle against Fukushima. 2 down, Yamagami gets on base as a short chopper forces Minemoto to charge in and his underhand flip is too high and takes Shouzui off the bag.

Yamagami takes off for 2nd but Yokoi tries to frame the pitch for the K instead! Doesn't get the call and Yamagami is in scoring position!

But Shibahiki flies out to right and that ends things in the 6th.

Top 7th
Matsuno on the verge of walking leadoff batter Fukuda, but gets him to chase the slider inside for the out.

Fukushima with a single to right turns the lineup over for Nakamura.

He hits a drive to left! Yamagami heading to the fence, but he's pulling up!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leadoff batter Nakamura puts Osaka Touin ahead with one swing! 4-2!

Ah! And now Matsuno hits Minemoto! Aoyagi-kantoku quickly scrambles the bullpen.

Minemoto takes off for 2nd! Throw from Tsuge... not in time!! Katsuki with a flyout to right advances the runner to 3rd.

Oy, Matsuno walks Shouzui.

After an 0-1 pitch up and in, Aoyagi-kantoku calls time.

It doesn't help! (I think) Matsuno walks Aoyagi and the bases are loaded! Perhaps they figure that marginal run they would score is worth getting a force at any base.

Yokoi swings on the first pith though and hits a pop fly to Nagashima for the 3rd out.

Bottom 7th
One down and #17 Kinjyou hits for Matsuno, but he goes down on 3 pitches all on the slider it seems. Really a waste of an AB.

2 down, and while Hirayama draws a walk, his run would only make it a 1-run game.

He goes for 2nd, and with it ties the record for SB at Koushien!

The record is nice, but I think he wants the win.

Liner to right side, Shouzui dives, makes the catch!! That denies them the run!

Top 8th
Grounder to short, AHHH!!!

It takes a high hop and hits him in the head! Mori is safe, but how is Yokomizo?

Oh, the replay shows the ball hitting his neck, but that still hurts.

Fukuda grounder up middle! Yokomizo knocks it down but can only go to 1st.

Mori advances to 3rd with a fly ball to right.

Nakamura shot at 3rd... And Shibahiki can't pick it! It goes to left and Mori scores to make it a 3-run margin at 5-2.

Takahashi gets Minemoto to end the inning, but 3 runs in 2 innings is a lot to ask of Kendai.

Bottom 8th
Hoshino liner up right side, but Shouzui snags that one too!

2 down, Tsuge with a shallow fly to left center. Mori charges in, dives but can't get there. It kicks awa and Tsuge is in with a double.

Yamagami with a drive to center, but Mori going back easily fields it and Kendai may fall once again to the powerhouse.

Top 9th
#5 Nakasuji comes in for Yokomizo.

Takahashi retires the side in order, but his team is against the wall.

Bottom 9th
Kendai goes quietly in 9th and Osaka Touin defeats Kendai Takasaki once again 5-2 to advance to Best 4.

Kendai didn't deviate from their plan, but you could say they were partially a victim of bad luck. The batter's interference on the double steal, Wakimoto's deep fly that just missed being a HR, the two liners that Shouzui were able to snag. It just wasn't their day.

And it's too bad because their baseball is so fun to watch and something you just don't see everyday. There are parts of their team that are young, so perhaps we'll see this team again soon.

Mie makes their first foray into the Best 4, who will join them next?

Kousei has barely survived their two games, needing some help from Bushuukan to win late, then only prevailed against Seiryou in 10 innings. It certainly doesn't feel like the teams from several years ago that reached 3 consecutive calendar finals.

And worse yet, they're facing the offensive juggernaut this year.

No, not Osaka Touin (again), but Tsuruga Kehi!

The Fukui representative have outscored their opponents 42-2! And simply put, until a team can prove that they're not who we see they are, they have to be considered one of, if not the favorite.

Hachinohe Gakuin Kousei (Aomori)
3B Houjyou Hiroyuki
SS Adachi Yuuya
1B Moriyama Hiroki
2B Fukae Taisei
RF Arai Katsunori
LF Nakazaki Jyukiya (#16)
CF Arai Katsutaka
C Baba Ryuusei (#12)
P Goya Kai (#11)

Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui)
1B Shinohara Ryou
3B Shimomura Takamasa
SS Asai Kouya
C Okada Kouta
CF Mine Kentarou
RF Oyana Shou
P Hiranuma Shouta
LF Yamamoto Akihiro
2B Nakamoto Takahiro

____________________________________________________________

10:55 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Interesting! After Houjyou grounds out to 3rd, he walks up to Moriyama in the on-deck circle and relays info about Hiranuma!

Meanwhile, Adachi draws a 4-pitch walk.

Moriyama not bunting.. works the count, and he draws a walk!

Fukae decides to go for it, but uppercuts the 2-1 pitch. Shimomura in foul territory makes the catch for the 2nd out.

SANSHIN!!

Hiranuma gets out of the inning as Katsunori is twisted on a fastball down and in for the 3rd out! Kousei certainly trying to work the count against Hiranuma, but can't get the timely to drive in the run.

Bottom 1st
Goya getting the bench start, definitely a bit tentative, but still attacking the Kehi batters.

Shinohara liner, but right at Moriyama. Shimomura with a foul fly, and Moriyama makes that catch near the fence for the 2nd out.

But then he walks Asai and Okada bak to back and without having to swing a bat they have a chance to score.

Ah, well....

Mine with a drive to right. Nakazaki not even moving.

That, my friends is a no-doubter. 3-0 Tsuruga Kehi.

Oyana follows that up with a single to center.

But thankfully for Goya, he strikes out Hiranuma to retire the side. But the Tsuruga Kehi offense is already up and running.

Top 2nd
Looks like the bottom of the lineup has abandoned the patient strategy. 9 pitches Hiranuma needs to retire the side in the 2nd.

Bottom 2nd
Yamamoto with a single to right to start the inning.

Ah.... Goya hits Nakamoto on the head. He looks ok, but is replaced at 1st for an injury runner in Oyana.

Goya meanwhile makes way for #10 Yagi.

And including a sac bunt, Yagi retires the side in order!

Top 3rd
10 pitches to retire the side - this game feels like it's over already.

Bottom 3rd
And one down, Mine and Oyana both single to left, Nakazaki's defense a bit shaky.

Yagi gets out of the inning as Hiranuma lines to 2nd and Fukae doubles off Oyana.

Top 4th
Fukae grounder up the 3rd base line... fair!! Shimomura can't make the diving catch and he's in with a double!

AH! And now a balk is called on Hiranuma! He never gets set.

But Hiranuma comes right back to get Katsunori to chase a slider in the dirt and jams Nakazaki into a short fly that he catches himself.

Bottom 4th
Yamamoto comes around to score when after a leadoff hit and a bunt+groundout move him to 3rd, Shimomura singles to center. 4-0.

Top 5th
More of the same from Kousei. Sadly nothing of note.

Bottom 5th
Leadoff single from Okada comes in after a bunt and double off the wall in center. 5-0.

Yamamoto with 2 down goes to deep right center and off the wall for a triple, 6-0.

Ace Nakagawa comes in for Yagi.

Nakamura welcomes him with a single through the right side, 7-0.

Shinohara grounds out to end the inning, and as we hit the break the only question left to ask is can Kousei prevent Kehi from scoring double digits?

Top 6th
3 up, 3 down...

Bottom 6th
#17 Takaku in for Nakazaki in LF.

Kehi is on the verge of scoring another run when Asai gets hit by Nakagawa, steals 2nd and takes 3rd on Baba's throwing error. Mine grounds to 3rd, so no run.

Top 7th
Fukae with the leadoff walk. One down, Takaku singles through the right side.

2 down and Takaku goes for 2nd and gets no throw from Okada.

Baba with a single to left, Fukae and Takaku score preventing the shutout at 7-2.

Bottom 7th
Nakagawa walks his counterpart, but otherwise pitches a clean frame. Kehi still siting at 7 runs.

Top 8th
Moriyama gets a 2-out single, but that's all that Kousei can muster.

Bottom 8th
#7 Kitanuki getting playing time in RF for Arai Katsunori.

PH #17 Matsuoka, in for Shinohara, draws a walk and is replaced by #16 Yonemitsu.

With 2 outs, #18 Matsmoto comes in for Katsutaka and goes to 1B, Moriyama goes to LF and Takaku goes to CF.

Top 9th
Didn't even need notice it was raining at Koushien.

Yonemitsu stays in to play 1B.

Captain Chiba gets an AB in the final frame, but like so many other innings, they go down in order as Tsuruga Kehi wins 7-2.

Sadly for Kousei their run ended about as quickly as it could have as Mine hit the 3-run HR in the 1st inning. After that they played a catchup game they couldn't win.

And so the same story repeats itself...

Kehi perhaps looked a little more "vulnerable" with Nakagawa shutting them down, but it could also be because they know they're playing in 2 days.

And then there were 8. The contingent of Tokoku and Hokushinetsu teams are still there, though depleted over the last couple of days.

Mie, though not in those regions, probably shares some of the hopes they do in that they're not a prefecture known for strong baseball. And yet they're here in the Best 8 and got there their own way - by making sure they grinded their way there. Whatever the score, they will wind up playing a close game.

Okinawa Shougaku showed it had some backbone when stood up by Nishougakushadai Fuzoku. There has always been a feeling of not performing to their potential, but this year they've seemed to buck that by defeating not Nishougakushadai Fuzoku and in the first round Sakushin Gakuin.

But there's still something that makes me a non-believer. Whether it was the fact they couldn't keep their lead, or the fact that they've shown promise before. Winning this game might start pushing people towards believers.

Mie (Mie)
CF Nagano Hayato
2B Sada Taiki
SS Utsunomiya Touma
1B Nishioka Musashi
LF Yamamoto Youma (#10)
3B Uchida Ren
RF Seko Ren
C Nakabayashi Kengo
P Imai Shigetarou

Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa)
CF Akamine Ken
2B Nakamura Masaki (#13)
LF Nishihira Daiki
3B Asato Takeru
RF Kubo Shuuto
1B Uehara Kouta
SS Sunagawa Osamu
P Yamashiro Daichi
C Irabu Shouta

____________________________________________________________

08:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Nagano with a base hit past a diving Nakamura into center. Sada bunts him along.

おっと！ Yamashiro hits Utsunomiya (who hasn't done a lot at the plate!) Okishou in some trouble early!

Nishioka single to right! Nagano being waved home! Throw goes to 3rd and Mie leads 1-0!

SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yamamoto tries the squeeze, but bunts it foul! That puts him at 2 strikes and probably swinging.

Perhaps he should have three-bunted....

He makes a very poor swing on a slider almost in the other batter's box for the 2nd out.

Uchida does the same, and perhaps wishes he didn't make contact as he just rolls a ball to short where Sunagawa just tosses it to 2nd for the 3rd out.

Yamashiro prevents further damage, though even if Mie scored runs, they'd probably give them back in the name of grinding out the game.

Bottom 1st
Akamine hits a ball to right for a base hit, but Seko is a bit lazy in getting the ball in, allowing Akamine to take 2nd!

After a sac bunt, Imai making things really hard on himself as he hits Nishihira.

Asato grounder to 3rd! Akamine going home stops and he's in a rundown! But he's alertly smart about it and gives the runners enough time to advance as far as they can before being tagged out.

So a base hit is still dangerous.

First base is still open, but Imai decides to fight against Kubo. Count runs full..

SANSHIN!

Kubo sprints out of the box but the home plate umpire rings him up for the 3rd out! Imai wiggles out of another one!

Top 2nd
Seko can't help out at the plate right now either as Yamashiro puts one at the knees for the first out.

Nakamura simply hits a ball back to Yamashiro for the 2nd out, and then Mie's batters need to know the proper way to stay alive as he just take a slow swing and hits it right to Sunagawa.

Bottom 2nd
Imai also having an easier time of it after the opening frame. Uehara strikes out on the outside slider, and then he gets 2 groundouts for a 1-2-3 inning.

Top 3rd
2 down and Utsunomiya singles to right. Yamashiro tries to be careful with Nishioka, but winds up walking him.

Small chance for Mie, but Yamamoto can't get the base hit as he grounds to 3rd to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd
Akamine with his 2nd hit of the game, a one-out single to left. But Imai gets himself out of the inning quickly as Kubo grounds into the 6-4-3 double play.

Top 4th
Yamashiro and his control again coming into play as he gives up a one-out walk to Seko. Nakabayashi not bunting with 1 down, bloops one to shallow center. Ken coming in, but he won't get there in time! It falls in and everyone's safe as Seko scrambles into 2nd.

That gets Higa-kantoku to call time.

Iimai grounder to 1st, Uehara goes to 2nd for 1, but Sunagawa sees no play at 1st and snap throws to 3rd just in case Seko went too far (he didn't).

Nagano drive to right! Kubo sprinting back to the wall! It'll fall in near the wall! Seko scores, Imai all the way from 1st scores on the 2R triple! 3-0 Mie!

Sada grounds to 3rd, but Mie's captain giving his team some insurance runs!

Bottom 4th
Which Imai starts giving back!

Asato with a deep drive to left! Yamamoto back towards the left field foul pole...

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mie is never comfortable with a big lead and Asato helps dent that large lead a little. One out solo HR from Okishou's cleanup batter and it's 3-1!

Kubo follows that up with a single to center! And then Uehara with a seeing-eye single sends Uehara to 3rd and Okishou threatens again!

Nakamura-kantoku calls for time.

But Sunagawa hits a drive to left! Yamamoto scrambling back to the wall, turns, and makes the catch right at the wall!

Kubo tags up and it's a 3-2 ballgame!

Imai strikes out his counterpart for the 3rd out, but once again, Mie makes it a tenuous situation for itself.

Top 5th
Utsunomiya having a great game at the plate so far, gets his 2nd hit of the game with a single through the left side.

Then promptly gets himself thrown out by a very wide margin at 2nd. Boy that looked odd.

Nishioka with a drive to left! Nishihira going back to the wall! He gives up!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not to be outdone, Mie's cleanup batter says to Asato, "Hey, I can do that too!" And the ball goes up about 10 rows for a 4-2 lead!

And now Yamamoto finally gets his basehit when there's no runners in scoring position (sic). Single to center and Yamashiro is getting hit hard - not to mention he's already at 94 pitches!!

Uchida with a blooper to left, Nishihira comes in, but has to play it on a hop!

Seko chopper to 3rd, Asato has it goes to AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He loses the ball on the transfer! And by the time he picks it back up everyone's safe!!

But Yamashiro comes right back and blows a ball past Nakabayashi for the 2nd out.

Imai drive to left center! Nishihira won't get this one!  Everyone will come around to score on the bases clearing triple by Imai! 7-2 Mie!!

Nagano single to center! Imai being sent home and Mie takes a 8-2 lead! Nagano takes 2nd on the throw and it certainly looks like they're trying to break that cycle!

Well, we'll see. Sada grounds out to short, so we'll see if this lead can stick, or like all the other ones they start giving it right back.

Bottom 5th
Well... Irabu leadoff single to left...

Imai gets Akamine to regrettably swing on a slider for strike 3.

Nakamura with a short liner to left, but Yamamoto is there for the catch for out number 2.

And at least for an inning Mie seems to have held the large lead... Nishihira swings over the slider for strike 3.

So, we hit the break with Mie all over Okishou ace Yamashiro. But their penchant for close games makes any lead seem unsafe.

Top 6th
Higa-kantoku makes the pitching change. Kubo comes in from right to take the hill while Yamashiro goes to take Kubo's position in RF.

Utsunomiya with a soft liner up the middle, his counterpart Sunagawa stretches out and makes the leaping catch.

Mie's batters seem to be swinging way too early on Kubo's pitches as evidenced by their repeated reaching out to the ball. Yamamoto is able to take a pitch down the right side for a double, but Uchida right afterwards is early too and just pops it up for Sunagawa.

Bottom 6th
Well, Imai walks leadoff batter Asato, thought that's understandable.

Kubo chopper to 2nd, Sada charges turns and backpedal flips to 2nd for one, Utsunomiya to 1st for the double play.

Uehara rolls a ball to 1st and it's another clean inning.

Top 7th
Seko with a blooper to center that falls in for a base hit. Nakabayashi tries to bunt the runner along, but winds up with 2 strikes. Goes for the bust-and-run, singles through the open left side.

Now Imai is able to get a bunt down, but it's not good at all. Kubo goes to 3rd and they almost double off Imai at 1st.

Nagano fares worse as he hits into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Bottom 7th
Leadoff batter reaches yet again as Sunagawa singles up the middle.

あ。 #10 Kinjyou hits for Yamashiro, officially ending his nightmare day.  Kinjyou though goes down swinging.

Irabu, ahead 3-1 lines a single to left and they're in business here in the Lucky 7.

Akamine with a liner to right, but right at Seko for the 2nd out.

Nakamura liner up middle, off Imai's glove! Utsunomiya there to pick it up, fires to first for the 3rd out!

Top 8th
Kinjyou stays in the game to play RF.

Sada with his first basehit of the game, lines a single to left. Utsunomiya bunts him along.

With first base open, they're careful with Nishioka and wind up walking him.

Yamamoto liner, but right to Nakamura. Sada straying a bit too far is doubled off at 2nd and the side is retired.

Bottom 8th
Again, Okishou gets the leadoff runner on. This time Nishihira's hot shot eats up Uchida and it goes into foul territory.

Asato grounder to 2nd, AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Sada just whiffs on the ball and it goes to right! Nishihira takes 3rd on the error!

Kubo with another grounder to 2nd! Sada has this one, goes to 2nd for one, but Utsunomiya double clutches and the throw to 1st isn't in time! Nishihira scores to make it 8-3.

Uehara grounder to 1st, but Nishioka has it! Tags 1st, throws to 2nd where Utsunomiya tags Kubo for the 3rd out.

Top 9th
Higa-kantoku sends another person to the hill, this time 1B Uehara. Kubo goes back to RF and Kinjyou goes to 1B.

Uchida with a really awkward swing on a ball inside hits it to right. Kubo going back towards he foul pole??!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That ball went out? That didn't even look like a HR swing to me, it felt more like a stay alive swing.

Uehara only yields a 2-out walk to Imai, but gets out harmless otherwise.

Bottom 9th
#18 Matsumura in the game now to play RF.

2 down, Irabu gets a base hit up the middle, and is replaced by #12 Akamine Taku.

Ken grounds to 1st, Nishioka goes to the bag, and Mie is in the Best 4 for the first time in school history with a 9-3 win!!

Mie, long a participant at Koushien, has never been able to make a deep run until now. Starting with their win over Kouryou they have persevered through the field and are now into the Best 4 with this win. This win seemed uncharacteristic in that Mie was actually able to keep a big lead. One would hope that doesn't mean that they've peaked too early. They are after all just 1 game from the finals!

Alas, for Okinawa Shougaku the run falls short yet again. It's odd, they've had the team to challenge for the Koushien title, but whether it be the schedule or the weather, they just not been able to break through. That'll be it for this team of players, the kouhai's will have to step up and sooner rather than later because aki taikais are underway.