So we are finally here at the championship game, and the final participants are truly worthy of being here today.
Toukaidai Sagami probably had the entire fall/winter season to stew about their Natsu Koushien loss. And having lost their ace pitcher to the NPB, one wondered if they had missed their chance.
But instead of thinking that they lost out, the instead moved forward. Using a battery of pitchers led by Kondou Masataka, they used their overwhelming offense to force their way back to 2nd place in the Kanto super-regionals, then through the first couple of rounds here at Senbatsu led by captain Satou Hirotsugu.
To win a title though, a team must still be able to show that their pitchers can hold the line. And against Kagoshima Jitsugyou they did just that, shutting them out 2-0.
For Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku, since coming onto the scene in the 2009 Natsu Koushien led by Wakou-kantoku, it was just a matter of time before the team would be a powerhouse in baseball.
Well, it seems to have taken just 2 years.
We saw then an team with offensive potential, but with pitching that still lagged behind. Now, they have a battery in Miyoshi and Takajyou than can rival any in the nation. They seem to have the whole package, offense along with dominant pitching.
It appears that Wakou-kantoku is everything advertised and more. Kyukoku is here, and is here to stay.
(I had the team total stats calculated, but then it got overwritten somehow, so I'm a bit pissed about that. All I have now are game stats. Bah.)
It appears that Nagata will take the hill for Toukaidai Sagami. Certainly in some ways it will be to rest Kondou a bit should they need him. In another way, we've seen that Monma-kantoku isn't afraid to start any pitcher and perhaps this is the matchup he wants.
____________________________________________________________
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa) - Kanto Runner-up
RF Watanabe Masaru
CF Usuda Tetsuya
2B Tanaka Shunta
C Satou Hirotsugu
LF Sugano Tsuyoshi
1B Morishita Shouhei (#5)
3B Isoami Yuuto (#15)
SS Hashimoto Takuma
P Nagata Ryuuto (#11)
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka) - Kyushu Runner-up
2B Hirabaru Yuuta
CF Andou Akito
P Miyoshi Takumi
C Takajyou Shuuto
RF Ryuu Kounosuke
1B Hanada Shun
LF Katou Ryou
3B Tokiyoshi Seiya
SS Ishisako Yuuma
____________________________________________________________
12:34 - Game start!
Before the game, Toukaidai Sagami's players were eager to start, lining up outside the dugout. Kyukoku on the other hand waited for the umpires to come out before they exited the dugout...
Top 1st
Miyoshi looking okay out of the gate. The offspeed pitches are missing, but not by much.
Toukaidai Sagami though appears to be looking in the air for their offense.
Watanabe hits a fairly deep fly to center that Andou handles. Usuda pops it up to Ishisako in shallow left.
Tanaka hits a grounder up the middle. Ishisako makes a great snag, but the distance he had to travel was just too long and the throw is late.
Satou though flies out to right, and there's no harm.
Bottom 1st
Hirabaru starts off a games with a single through the right side for a base hit. Wakou will play for the sensei (first) run.
Miyoshi with a sharp liner, but it's right at Hashimoto! Hirabaru scrambles back to the bag.
Takajyou with a grounder to 2nd! Tanaka dives and makes the stop! Looks at 1st, then home! Hirabaru is being sent home!
But despite some confusion, Tanaka makes a good throw home and Satou makes the easy tag for the 3rd out. Doesn't seem like that was the right thing to do in that situation despite the apparent feeling that getting the 1st run is important in the battle.
Top 2nd
Sugano gives Toukai a lead runner with a single to right. Morishita immediately showing bunt, but whiffs on a 1-2 pitch and what will he do?
Morishita successfully lays down the bunt, and now it's Toukai with a scoring chance.
Hit-and-run! Sugano takes off on the 1-1 pitch, but Isoami must play defensively on a low pitch and foul it off!
Sugano takes off for 3rd! Throw from Takajyou is a bit off and Tokiyoshi had no chance at a tag.
Isoami walks now, and there's runners at the corners. Wakou-kantoku sends someone out to talk with Miyoshi.
Hashimoto with a comebacker to Miyoshi! He immediately looks to 3rd and Sugano is caught off the bag! He's run down and there's 2 outs!
But one wonders if he could have started the 1-6-3 double play to end the inning instead. Now, there's 2 outs, but runners at 2nd and 3rd.
Doesn't matter! Nagata hits an easy comebacker to Miyoshi! He tosses to 1st and gets out of the jam!
Bottom 2nd
Ryuu gets fooled on a slider outside for Nagata's first K.
Hanada does the same on a slider down for out number 2.
But Katou is not easily fooled and takes the 1st pitch strike to right. That's past Watanabe and to the wall. Katou settles in with a double.
However Nagata gets Tokiyoshi to groundout to Hashimoto to end the inning. The longer this game lasts with both teams scoreless, I think the game will favor Toukaidai Sagami as Miyoshi may start to tire.
Top 3rd
Watanabe with a hit to deep left center! That bounces and goes to the wall! Watanabe in with a double.
But the throw from Andou bounces in front of Ishisako and gets away from him! Watanabe alertly sees this and takes 3rd! Big pinch for Kyukoku!
Usuda swinging away, hits a grounder down the first base line! Hanada gets it, looks the runner at 3rd back, then goes to the bag for the out! One down!
Miyoshi can't hold off the middle of the lineup! Tanaka with a ball to right center! That's past Ryuu to the wall! Watanabe scores on the RBI double and Toukaidai Sagami scores the opening run! It's 1-0!
Satou with a single to left! The throw in is cutoff and Toukaidai Sagami now leads 2-0!
Morishita grounds out to 2nd to retire the side, but the first cracks in Kyukoku's armor begin to show.
Bottom 3rd
Ishisako earns a leadoff walk to get the counter going for Kyukoku. Hirabaru bunts him along for Andou.
Andou hits a grounder to the left side. Hashimoto cuts it off and makes a quick throw to 1st for the 2nd out.
Miyoshi up again with a scoring opportunity. Nagata pitching Miyoshi away looking to take away his power zone.
But Miyoshi takes an outside pitch the other way! Watanabe running back towards the foul pole... and makes the catch in front of the wall! Monma taking advantage of the fact that because of the winds, the ball doesn't travel to right! 3 down and 2 opportunities have been lost for Kyukoku!
Top 4th
Miyoshi trying to keep his team in it now.
Isoami with a flyout to right, but Ryuu almost loses the catch! He recovers for the out.
Nagata with a sac bunt. And Hanada throws to 3rd! Hashimoto never stopped running around 2nd as the bunt was towards 3rd and Tokiyoshi came in for the play! Miyoshi, covering 3rd, can't make the tag! Some impressive running by Toukaidai Sagami gives them an extra base!
And Watanabe pays it off! He drives a ball to the right center gap! That'll be down for extra bases as Hashimoto scores on the triple by Watanabe! It's 3-0!
Usuda with a grounder down the 3rd base line! Tokiyoshi bobbles it a bit! Throws to 1st... just in time to get Usuda and end the inning!
But more alert baserunning by Toukaidai Sagami extends their lead!
Bottom 4th
Nagata meanwhile has completely shutdown Kyukoku's offense. Takajyou grounds out to 3rd, Ryuu makes good contact but flies to center, and Hanada is fooled on yet another slider to retire the side.
Top 5th
Tanaka starts off the inning with his 3rd hit of the game, a single through the right side.
Satou connects on a ball and sends it to deep left center! Katou and Andou converge at the wall...
HAITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Satou with his first homerun at Koushien gives Toukaidai Sagami a commanding 5-0 lead!
Miyoshi gets 2 quick outs but then Isoami singles to center.
The inning finally ends when Hashimoto grounds out to 3rd. But Miyoshi is unable to stop the Toukaidai Sagami offense now.
Bottom 5th
Katou with a groundball back up the middle gets things started for Kyukoku.
Wakou-kantoku still asking for the bunt even down 5. Although if they score a run an inning they could tie the game up (assuming Toukaidai Sagami doesn't score).
Tokiyoshi does lay it down. But the struggles with runners in scoring position continue. Ishisako grounds to short for the 2nd out, and Hirabaru hits a deep drive to right but the ballpark once again holds it as Watanabe makes the catch against the wall for the 3rd out.
Nagata allowing some deep balls, but to the "deepest" part of the ballpark where most fly balls go to die.
Toukaidai Sagami in full control of the game now as we head to the break.
Top 6th
Monma-kantoku decides that Nagata has done enough for his team. #3 Mitsui comes in to pinch hit for him as ace Kondou warms up in the bullpen.
Mitsui first pitch flies out to center.
Miyoshi retires Watanabe on a grounder to short for the 2nd out, but Usuda breaks up the 1-2-3 inning by hitting a scorcher past a diving Tokiyoshi down the line for a double.
Tanaka pops out to Takajyou to end the inning, and Kondou comes in from the bullpen to close things out against Kyukoku.
Bottom 6th
Kondou will come in with the middle of the lineup on the horizon.
Good start as Andou grounds out to 2nd.
Miyoshi finally collects his 1st hit with a single to center. Takajyou coming to bat, and I can't imagine him bunting now.
Takajyou with a high chopper back to Kondou. He throws to 1st and Mitsui makes the tag for the 2nd out.
Ryuu hits a sharp liner, but right at Tanaka and the side is retired.
Top 7th
Quick out for Miyoshi as Satou flies out to right.
Sugano reaches down and drives one to right! Ryuu running back to the wall...
HAITAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, I was not expecting that especially after he reached down to get that ball. Sugano collects a home run to make it 6-0!
Isoami laying down a safety bunt! Catches Kyukoku napping! Tokiyoshi comes in but the throw is way too late! However, he gets too greedy and tries to steal 2nd. Takajyou guns him down to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
Hanada leads off the inning with a base hit back up the middle.
Katou though wipes it off as he grounds into the 6-3 double play.
And perhaps in a sign of resignation, #12 Ayukawa comes in to hit for Tokiyoshi. He goes down looking on a fastball inside to end the inning.
Top 8th
#16 Kitagawa comes in for PH Ayukawa and takes over at 3B.
Miyoshi retires the first two batters, but back to the top of the order and Watanabe collects his 3rd hit, a grounder that sneaks past Hirabaru into right.
Usuda flies out to right and the side is retired.
Bottom 8th
Hirabaru draws a one out walk, but once again Kyukoku cannot do anything with it. Andou flies out to left, and Miyoshi strikes out end the inning.
Top 9th
Miyoshi retires the heart of the Toukaidai Sagami order in order, and they'll have one last chance to mount a rally.
Bottom 9th
Takajyou to lead off the inning for Kyukoku, but he is jammed and hits a soft liner to Tanaka for the first out.
Ryuu with a hard lined shot, but right at Watanabe. Toukaidai Sagami just one out out away from the senbatsu title!
Hanada won't let it go that easily in the 9th! He drives a ball to deep center that goes off the wall for a double!
#18 Yamasoto comes in to run as Katou comes to the plate.
Count goes to 2-2 and they're down to their last strike.
He hits a high fastball up the middle! That's in for a base hit! Usuda with the throw home, but Yamasoto scores to break up the shut out! 6-1!
#13 Uchikawa in to hit for Kitagawa.
He's quickly down 0-2...
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uchikawa strikes out and the game is over! No big celebration from the players and they just converge on the mound just as if it was a regular victory instead of the senbatsu title. Just another day at the office - which in reality it was.
Toukaidai Sagami outscored their opponents here at Koushien 46-11 utilizing all 4 pitchers on their staff. Outside of their 2-0 game against Kagoshima Jitsugyou, the games were never in doubt. The offense continued to deliver game after game making life for that staff easy.
The reaction of that team after the game was over I think gives a sense of what this Koushien was all about to Toukaidai Sagami. That this was their goal all along this year. That after that loss to Kounan, the team just picked up their Koushien dirt, went home, and looked at it as a reminder that there was unfinished business left to attend to. Captain Satou, along with Tanaka, Usuda, Watanabe, and Sugano led the team on a mission, perhaps one much like Kounan walked last year, that no team was going to stop them this time, not this year.
Give Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku credit. Their program has gone from on the cusp of being a contender to a full contender in just 4 years. They will in all likelihood join the ranks of new teams that may very well be mentioned with teams such as Osaka Touin, Chiben Wakayama and Yokohama.
But this Koushien, this year - Toukaidai Sagami has made it clear that they will be the team that the Natsu Koushien title will run through. If they can conduct their business much like they did here, we may very well see back-to-back haru-natsu renzoku-yuushou.
Notable Players
Toukaidai Sagami
Nagata Ryuuto - W, 5 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 3 K, BB
Kondou Masataka - 4 IP, ER, 4 H, 3 K, BB
Satou Hirotsugu - 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBI
Watanabe Masaru - 2-5, 2B, 3B, R, RBI
Tanaka Shunta - 3-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI
Sugano Tsuyoshi - 2-5, HR, R, RBI, SB
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku
Miyoshi Takumi - L, CG, 6 ER, 14 H, 0 K, BB
Hanada Shun - 2-4, 2B, R, 2 K
Katou Ryou - 3-4, 2B, RBI
Showing posts with label 83rd Spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 83rd Spring. Show all posts
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Day 11 - Semifinal 2 - Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa) vs. Riseisha (Osaka)
The second matchup is much like the first - a new powerhouse establishing themselves versus a team that has a long history in the tournament. Riseisha reaches the semifinals having shocked Chiben Wakayama (although it probably was more of an implosion than anything else). And outside of the 5th inning, the team did not get many hits off of the Chiben Wakayama pitchers.
Iidzuka for Riseisha gave up just 3 runs to Chiben Wakayama despite allowing 13 baserunners. Pitching on back-to-back days against a strong offense such as Toukaidai Sagami may be too much for him. They may start Watanabe in a pitching tandem system or have Watanabe ready in the bullpen to take over.
I am sure to be called a flip-flopper on Toukaidai Sagami. But to be honest I never really liked them, and never really thought they were a contender with Hifuma Shinta as their ace. So when he graduated and the team made it to the super-regional finals, I figured that they made it because the offense stayed and they improved their pitching.
It was then strange that they not going to their ace after the 1st game (LHP vs. LHB made sense). And then when I did see him, he didn't look sharp at all.
But after yesterday's game I can see why he was the ace. He's not the average pitcher I thought he was. Now, he is dependent on his defense to be successful, but that's not necessarily a bad thing at all.
Having pitched yesterday's game though, I wonder if he'll take the mound again, given that Monma-kantoku has not shied away from using other pitchers - specifically #17 Shouji Takaya.
Both teams do have a backup option on the mound should their aces falter, so it's not an all-or-nothing proposition. The game though I think will come down to the quality of the bullpens.
Looks like Watanabe is starting after all for Riseisha.
____________________________________________________________
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa) - Kanto Runner-up
RF Watanabe Masaru
CF Usuda Tetsuya
2B Tanaka Shunta
C Satou Hirotsugu
LF Sugano Tsuyoshi
1B Morishita Shouhei (#5)
3B Isoami Yuuto (#15)
P Kondou Masataka
SS Hashimoto Takuma
Riseisha (Osaka) - Kinki Runner-up
CF Kaifu Hiroto
2B Masaki Kentarou
SS Ishii Gen
1B Masui Shouta
LF Oonishi Kouhei
C Sakamoto Seishirou
3B Kumamoto Hayato (#16)
RF Hirada Ryouhei
P Watanabe Masaya (#18)
____________________________________________________________
13:34 - Game start!
Top 1st
After a routine grounder by Watanabe, Usuda lines one past Kumamoto down the left field line! Oonishi gets the ball right at the foul pole.
Tanaka with a ball up the middle! Usuda coming around and he scores to make it 1-0 Toukaidai Sagami!
Satou fouls out to Masui, but it's far enough away that Tanaka can advance to 3rd.
And Sugano with a cueshot past Ishii into center! Tanaka scores and it's quickly 2-0!
Morishita flies out to right to end the inning, but Toukaidai Sagami taking advantage of the relief start for Watanabe here in the 1st!
Bottom 1st
Kaifu with a deep drive to left! Sugano running back to the wall, twists and makes the catch for the first out.
Masaki hits a one-out single to left.
Ishii follows that up with a single through the left side! Runners on 1st and 2nd!
うおおおおおお！！！！！！
Masui with a ball to right center! That falls in front of Usuda and Watanabe! Masaki, thinking it might be caught only advances to 3rd, but it's a douten/gyakuten chance for Riseisha!
And Oonishi with a grounder that sneaks by Tanaka and into left! Masaki scores! Ishii coming around, he scores! Just like that Riseisha scores the 同点 run! It's 2-2!
Sakamoto with a hard liner! But it's right at Hashimoto! He catches it and steps on 2nd for the double play! Kondou gets out of the inning, but not before Riseisha strikes back!
Top 2nd
One down for Kondou and he drives one to deep left!! Oonishi back to the wall, and it bounces off the wall! Kondou in with a double!
Masaya certainly trying to hang in there against the Sagami offense. #10 Hara is warming up just in case.
He gets Hashimoto to pop it up! Masui in foul territory again makes the catch for the 2nd out!
But now it's back to the top of the order and Masaru.
And Masaya hangs a change to Masaru! He drives it to right center! That gets by the outfielders! Kondou comes home on the RBI triple and Sagami is back in front at 3-2!!
Usuda then walks on 4 straight and it could be a developing situation for Riseisha.
Usuda gets greedy though and tries to steal 2nd, but Sakamoto throws him out to end the inning! However, it does appear that we're in a barnburner this afternoon!
Bottom 2nd
Kondou facing the bottom of the order gets a respite from the offensive assault. Kumamoto K's on a slider away, Hirada flies out to left, and Hashimoto makes a fine play at 2nd base to throw out Masaya to end the inning.
Top 3rd
One down for Sagami when Satou hits a ball to right! Hirada there to get it, but Satou goes for 2nd and reaches!
Oh! And now Watanabe hits Sugano! Runners on 1st and 2nd with just one down!
And it appears that Okada-kantoku will be nursing his pitching staff through the game. #10 Hara comes in for Watanabe and takes the hill.
With disastrous results!
Morishita with a drive to right center! That goes all the way to the wall! Both runners will easily score on Morishita's triple, making it 5-2!
And now Isoami lines one to right for a hit! It's 6-2 Toukaidai Sagami and Riseisha's bullpen can't stop the barrage!
Monma-kantoku slows the pace with a sac bunt from Kondou (perhaps as a way to rest him).
Hashimoto goes down swinging to end the inning, but it's clear that the Riseisha bullpen is in over their heads against the Toukaidai Sagami offense!
Bottom 3rd
Kondou collects two quick outs, with Morishita making a nice diving stop and throw to get Masaki. Ishii rips a single to left, but Masui grounds to Morishita ending the inning.
Top 4th
Watanabe with a grounder to short. Ishii makes a fine pick and throw to 1st to beat the runner.
But then the offense comes alive again...
Usuda singles to right... Tanaka singles to left...
After Hara gets Satou to flyout, Sugano gets plunked for the 2nd time! Manrui for Sagami!
あ。
Morishita hits a towering drive to left. Oonishi going back to the wall...
...and it's gone!
Morishita with a manrui homerun makes this game a formality now!! It's 10-2 Toukaidai Sagami!
#11 Hoshida comes in for Hara, and with the game all but over might as well get your P's some experience.
Isoami goes for a "bunt hit" but I think it's more trying to get practice in. No need to extend the game any longer than you have to.
Bottom 4th
One down for Riseisha and Sakamoto earns a 4-pitch free pass.
Kumamoto then singles through the left side.
But Hirada flies to right, and #17 Hamaishi who hits for Hoshida grounds to 2nd.
Top 5th
Ace Iidzuka in the game now, but way too late.
Kondou singles to left to start things off. But on a hit-and-run by Sagami, Hashimoto hits it back to Iidzuka. He quickly fires to 2nd for one and Ishii throws to first to finish the double play!
Watanabe pops up to Sakamoto behind the plate to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Kaifu with a hard hit liner, but Hashimoto times his jump perfectly and makes the snag!
Masaki goes down swinging and there's 2 down.
He can't get a 1-2-3 inning though as he walks Ishii, followed by a base hit to left by Masui.
Oonishi pops out to Hashimoto to end the inning, and as we head into the break it's clear that Riseisha should have started Iidzuka first, then gone to the bullpen if he was too tired.
As for Toukaidai Sagami, with their spot in the finals almost set, it would behoove them to move Kondou off the mound to rest him. And if they wanted to keep him in the game, send him to RF or something.
Top 6th
Usuda comes off the break and singles down the left field line. It goes to the wall for a leadoff double.
Tanaka with a fly down the right field line that just falls in fair. He doubles to score Usuda to make it 11-2.
Satou follows that up with a sharp hit up the middle. Ishii is there, but the ball bounces off his glove, high into the air and into center. Tanaka scores to make it 12-2.
Monma-kantoku tries for the hit and run, but Sugano swings at a high fastball and strikes out. Throw to 2nd by Sakamoto in plenty of time for the double play.
Morishita grounds to 3rd to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
A quick 1-2-3 inning from Kondou keeps the game moving towards it's ultimate end...
Top 7th
Iidzuka racks up 2 K's but can't get a clean inning as Hashimoto singles back up the middle.
Then Watanabe singles to left, and Usuda to center. Manrui again for Toukaidai Sagami.
Tanaka goes down and rockets a ball to right. Hirada's body language tells it all as Toukaidai Sagami has hit their 2nd grand slam home run in as many innings. It's now 16-2.
Satou strikes out to end the inning, but the game if it wasn't a blowout then, is one now.
But buyer beware for those teams that rack up the runs...
Bottom 7th
Riseisha ready to ride off into the sunset now as they go down in order.
Top 8th
Sugano starts the inning with a rip single to right. Morishita swings away, grounds to 2nd beats double play attempt.
Morishita steals 2nd on the 1st pitch to Isoami, then advance to 3rd when Masaki fumbles a grounder.
Kondou walks and the bases are loaded again.
Thankfully for Riseisha, Hashimoto grounds into the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
One down and Masui hits a grounder that goes off Tanaka's glove and takes a high bounce into right.
Oonishi then singles to right.
After a fly by Sakamoto, Okada-kantoku sends #15 Matsuyama to run for Masui as #5Kobone comes in to hit for Kumamoto. He flies out to right and that's the end of the inning.
Top 9th
Matsuyama stays in and goes to 1B, #13 Nomura comes in for PH Kobone and goes to 3B.
Toukaidai Sagami's batters go quickly in order, and we're down to the final half inning.
Bottom 9th
#10 Kasama comes in to pitch the final inning.
#14 Kishimoto comes in for Hirata and flies to left. So does Iidzuka.
Kaifu draws a walk and the last bench player, #12 Nagata comes in to hit for Masaki.
Nagata draws a 4 pitch walk.
Ishii hits a drive to deep center, but much like their game today, the park holds it as Usuda makes the catch to end the game.
Oddly enough, the games today turned out to be nothing like what we were expecting from these teams. Instead of 2 close games, it was 2 blowouts.
Even if Iiduzka had started, it seems unlikely that they would have stopped the Toukaidai Sagami Express train from reaching the finals.
Riseisha, even with the blowout loss, should be proud of their run this Haru Koushien. They should be proud to reach the Best 4 among some of the strongest teams in the country.
Toukaidai Sagami todays flexes its offensive might here in the semifinals. But while it may have intimidated the opposition, the team should be forewarned...
When a team scores a blowout such as this one when they scores more then 15 runs...
...the next game, the team's offense short circuits...
Notable Players
Toukaidai Sagami
Kondou Masataka - W, 8 IP, 2 ER, 9 H, 4 K, 2 BB
Tanaka Shunta - 4-6, 2B, GS HR, 4 R, 6 RBI
Morishita Shouhei - 2-5, 3B, GS HR, 2 R, 6 RBI
Usuda Tetsuya - 4-5, 2 2B, 4 R, BB
Riseisha
Ishii Gen - 2-4, R, BB
Masui Shouta - 3-4
Oonishi Kouhei - 2-4, 2 RBI
Iidzuka for Riseisha gave up just 3 runs to Chiben Wakayama despite allowing 13 baserunners. Pitching on back-to-back days against a strong offense such as Toukaidai Sagami may be too much for him. They may start Watanabe in a pitching tandem system or have Watanabe ready in the bullpen to take over.
I am sure to be called a flip-flopper on Toukaidai Sagami. But to be honest I never really liked them, and never really thought they were a contender with Hifuma Shinta as their ace. So when he graduated and the team made it to the super-regional finals, I figured that they made it because the offense stayed and they improved their pitching.
It was then strange that they not going to their ace after the 1st game (LHP vs. LHB made sense). And then when I did see him, he didn't look sharp at all.
But after yesterday's game I can see why he was the ace. He's not the average pitcher I thought he was. Now, he is dependent on his defense to be successful, but that's not necessarily a bad thing at all.
Having pitched yesterday's game though, I wonder if he'll take the mound again, given that Monma-kantoku has not shied away from using other pitchers - specifically #17 Shouji Takaya.
Both teams do have a backup option on the mound should their aces falter, so it's not an all-or-nothing proposition. The game though I think will come down to the quality of the bullpens.
Looks like Watanabe is starting after all for Riseisha.
____________________________________________________________
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa) - Kanto Runner-up
RF Watanabe Masaru
CF Usuda Tetsuya
2B Tanaka Shunta
C Satou Hirotsugu
LF Sugano Tsuyoshi
1B Morishita Shouhei (#5)
3B Isoami Yuuto (#15)
P Kondou Masataka
SS Hashimoto Takuma
Riseisha (Osaka) - Kinki Runner-up
CF Kaifu Hiroto
2B Masaki Kentarou
SS Ishii Gen
1B Masui Shouta
LF Oonishi Kouhei
C Sakamoto Seishirou
3B Kumamoto Hayato (#16)
RF Hirada Ryouhei
P Watanabe Masaya (#18)
____________________________________________________________
13:34 - Game start!
Top 1st
After a routine grounder by Watanabe, Usuda lines one past Kumamoto down the left field line! Oonishi gets the ball right at the foul pole.
Tanaka with a ball up the middle! Usuda coming around and he scores to make it 1-0 Toukaidai Sagami!
Satou fouls out to Masui, but it's far enough away that Tanaka can advance to 3rd.
And Sugano with a cueshot past Ishii into center! Tanaka scores and it's quickly 2-0!
Morishita flies out to right to end the inning, but Toukaidai Sagami taking advantage of the relief start for Watanabe here in the 1st!
Bottom 1st
Kaifu with a deep drive to left! Sugano running back to the wall, twists and makes the catch for the first out.
Masaki hits a one-out single to left.
Ishii follows that up with a single through the left side! Runners on 1st and 2nd!
うおおおおおお！！！！！！
Masui with a ball to right center! That falls in front of Usuda and Watanabe! Masaki, thinking it might be caught only advances to 3rd, but it's a douten/gyakuten chance for Riseisha!
And Oonishi with a grounder that sneaks by Tanaka and into left! Masaki scores! Ishii coming around, he scores! Just like that Riseisha scores the 同点 run! It's 2-2!
Sakamoto with a hard liner! But it's right at Hashimoto! He catches it and steps on 2nd for the double play! Kondou gets out of the inning, but not before Riseisha strikes back!
Top 2nd
One down for Kondou and he drives one to deep left!! Oonishi back to the wall, and it bounces off the wall! Kondou in with a double!
Masaya certainly trying to hang in there against the Sagami offense. #10 Hara is warming up just in case.
He gets Hashimoto to pop it up! Masui in foul territory again makes the catch for the 2nd out!
But now it's back to the top of the order and Masaru.
And Masaya hangs a change to Masaru! He drives it to right center! That gets by the outfielders! Kondou comes home on the RBI triple and Sagami is back in front at 3-2!!
Usuda then walks on 4 straight and it could be a developing situation for Riseisha.
Usuda gets greedy though and tries to steal 2nd, but Sakamoto throws him out to end the inning! However, it does appear that we're in a barnburner this afternoon!
Bottom 2nd
Kondou facing the bottom of the order gets a respite from the offensive assault. Kumamoto K's on a slider away, Hirada flies out to left, and Hashimoto makes a fine play at 2nd base to throw out Masaya to end the inning.
Top 3rd
One down for Sagami when Satou hits a ball to right! Hirada there to get it, but Satou goes for 2nd and reaches!
Oh! And now Watanabe hits Sugano! Runners on 1st and 2nd with just one down!
And it appears that Okada-kantoku will be nursing his pitching staff through the game. #10 Hara comes in for Watanabe and takes the hill.
With disastrous results!
Morishita with a drive to right center! That goes all the way to the wall! Both runners will easily score on Morishita's triple, making it 5-2!
And now Isoami lines one to right for a hit! It's 6-2 Toukaidai Sagami and Riseisha's bullpen can't stop the barrage!
Monma-kantoku slows the pace with a sac bunt from Kondou (perhaps as a way to rest him).
Hashimoto goes down swinging to end the inning, but it's clear that the Riseisha bullpen is in over their heads against the Toukaidai Sagami offense!
Bottom 3rd
Kondou collects two quick outs, with Morishita making a nice diving stop and throw to get Masaki. Ishii rips a single to left, but Masui grounds to Morishita ending the inning.
Top 4th
Watanabe with a grounder to short. Ishii makes a fine pick and throw to 1st to beat the runner.
But then the offense comes alive again...
Usuda singles to right... Tanaka singles to left...
After Hara gets Satou to flyout, Sugano gets plunked for the 2nd time! Manrui for Sagami!
あ。
Morishita hits a towering drive to left. Oonishi going back to the wall...
...and it's gone!
Morishita with a manrui homerun makes this game a formality now!! It's 10-2 Toukaidai Sagami!
#11 Hoshida comes in for Hara, and with the game all but over might as well get your P's some experience.
Isoami goes for a "bunt hit" but I think it's more trying to get practice in. No need to extend the game any longer than you have to.
Bottom 4th
One down for Riseisha and Sakamoto earns a 4-pitch free pass.
Kumamoto then singles through the left side.
But Hirada flies to right, and #17 Hamaishi who hits for Hoshida grounds to 2nd.
Top 5th
Ace Iidzuka in the game now, but way too late.
Kondou singles to left to start things off. But on a hit-and-run by Sagami, Hashimoto hits it back to Iidzuka. He quickly fires to 2nd for one and Ishii throws to first to finish the double play!
Watanabe pops up to Sakamoto behind the plate to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Kaifu with a hard hit liner, but Hashimoto times his jump perfectly and makes the snag!
Masaki goes down swinging and there's 2 down.
He can't get a 1-2-3 inning though as he walks Ishii, followed by a base hit to left by Masui.
Oonishi pops out to Hashimoto to end the inning, and as we head into the break it's clear that Riseisha should have started Iidzuka first, then gone to the bullpen if he was too tired.
As for Toukaidai Sagami, with their spot in the finals almost set, it would behoove them to move Kondou off the mound to rest him. And if they wanted to keep him in the game, send him to RF or something.
Top 6th
Usuda comes off the break and singles down the left field line. It goes to the wall for a leadoff double.
Tanaka with a fly down the right field line that just falls in fair. He doubles to score Usuda to make it 11-2.
Satou follows that up with a sharp hit up the middle. Ishii is there, but the ball bounces off his glove, high into the air and into center. Tanaka scores to make it 12-2.
Monma-kantoku tries for the hit and run, but Sugano swings at a high fastball and strikes out. Throw to 2nd by Sakamoto in plenty of time for the double play.
Morishita grounds to 3rd to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
A quick 1-2-3 inning from Kondou keeps the game moving towards it's ultimate end...
Top 7th
Iidzuka racks up 2 K's but can't get a clean inning as Hashimoto singles back up the middle.
Then Watanabe singles to left, and Usuda to center. Manrui again for Toukaidai Sagami.
Tanaka goes down and rockets a ball to right. Hirada's body language tells it all as Toukaidai Sagami has hit their 2nd grand slam home run in as many innings. It's now 16-2.
Satou strikes out to end the inning, but the game if it wasn't a blowout then, is one now.
But buyer beware for those teams that rack up the runs...
Bottom 7th
Riseisha ready to ride off into the sunset now as they go down in order.
Top 8th
Sugano starts the inning with a rip single to right. Morishita swings away, grounds to 2nd beats double play attempt.
Morishita steals 2nd on the 1st pitch to Isoami, then advance to 3rd when Masaki fumbles a grounder.
Kondou walks and the bases are loaded again.
Thankfully for Riseisha, Hashimoto grounds into the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
One down and Masui hits a grounder that goes off Tanaka's glove and takes a high bounce into right.
Oonishi then singles to right.
After a fly by Sakamoto, Okada-kantoku sends #15 Matsuyama to run for Masui as #5Kobone comes in to hit for Kumamoto. He flies out to right and that's the end of the inning.
Top 9th
Matsuyama stays in and goes to 1B, #13 Nomura comes in for PH Kobone and goes to 3B.
Toukaidai Sagami's batters go quickly in order, and we're down to the final half inning.
Bottom 9th
#10 Kasama comes in to pitch the final inning.
#14 Kishimoto comes in for Hirata and flies to left. So does Iidzuka.
Kaifu draws a walk and the last bench player, #12 Nagata comes in to hit for Masaki.
Nagata draws a 4 pitch walk.
Ishii hits a drive to deep center, but much like their game today, the park holds it as Usuda makes the catch to end the game.
Oddly enough, the games today turned out to be nothing like what we were expecting from these teams. Instead of 2 close games, it was 2 blowouts.
Even if Iiduzka had started, it seems unlikely that they would have stopped the Toukaidai Sagami Express train from reaching the finals.
Riseisha, even with the blowout loss, should be proud of their run this Haru Koushien. They should be proud to reach the Best 4 among some of the strongest teams in the country.
Toukaidai Sagami todays flexes its offensive might here in the semifinals. But while it may have intimidated the opposition, the team should be forewarned...
When a team scores a blowout such as this one when they scores more then 15 runs...
...the next game, the team's offense short circuits...
Notable Players
Toukaidai Sagami
Kondou Masataka - W, 8 IP, 2 ER, 9 H, 4 K, 2 BB
Tanaka Shunta - 4-6, 2B, GS HR, 4 R, 6 RBI
Morishita Shouhei - 2-5, 3B, GS HR, 2 R, 6 RBI
Usuda Tetsuya - 4-5, 2 2B, 4 R, BB
Riseisha
Ishii Gen - 2-4, R, BB
Masui Shouta - 3-4
Oonishi Kouhei - 2-4, 2 RBI
Day 11 - Semifinal 1 - Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka) vs. Nichidai-san (Tokyo)
We're in the homestretch now, and all teams left can see the finish line up ahead. But to win the race, there's just a little more work to be done.
Semifinal number 1 not only features 2 outstanding pitchers, but 2 very very hot hitters right now.
Takajyou Shuuto (Kyukoku) and Azegami Shou (Nichidai-san) went 5-5 and 6-6 respectively in their quarterfinal games completely getting the attention of the fans and probably the scouts as well. Their lines now look that much more impressive:
And it's not those guys above, it's the staff ace(s).
Once you get to this point, it's all about the stamina of the pitchers. You can have the best ace in the country, but if they can't pitch on 1 or 2 days rest and you don't have a backup, you might as
well just mail it in.
Miyoshi against Hokkai two days ago gave up more runs (4) than in the first 2 games combined (3). He gave up more hits and walked more batters, while striking out less batters. That was all in just 2 days rest. Now he'll go on 1 days rest against a Nichidai offense that continues to hit from top to bottom. There will be no easy innings for him today.
Nichidai-san had probably the easiest matchup of the Best 8 matches, which allowed Yoshinaga to pitch "only" 7 innings giving up just 4 hits. He'll be a bit more rested than Miyoshi, which in these stages is extremely important. That isn't to say that Yoshinaga is any less closer to hitting the wall, we just know he's thrown less innings.
Personally, (and I've tried to be as objective as possible) I'd like Kyukoku to reach the finals. But combine the factors together, and I can't see how Nichidai-san isn't favored in this matchup.
____________________________________________________________
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka) - Kyushu Runner-up
2B Hirabaru Yuuta
CF Andou Akito
P Miyoshi Takumi
C Takajyou Shuuto
RF Ryuu Kounosuke
1B Hanada Shun
LF Katou Ryou
3B Tokiyoshi Seiya
SS Ishisako Yuuma
Nichidai-san (Tokyo) - Tokyo Champions
RF Takayama Shun
LF Taniguchi Yuuta (#4)
CF Azegami Shou
3B Yokoo Toshitake
SS Shimizu Kouki
2B Suganuma Kenichi (#7)
1B Kaneko Ryouya
P Yoshinaga Kentarou
C Suzuki Takahiro
____________________________________________________________
11:01 - Game start!
Top 1st
Yoshinaga walks Hirabaru on 4 straight to lead off the game.
Andou tries to bunt the runner along, but is called out on batter's interference!
So now 1 down with Miyoshi coming to bat.
He falls behind 0-2, but works the count full.
CRUSHES A BALL!!!!!!
Miyoshi with a drive to deep left center!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miyoshi absolutely crushes the ball in a no-doubt about it 2-run HR! He gives Kyukoku the early 2-0 lead!
Takajyou with a grounderback to Yoshinaga, and he boots it! Yokoo backing up the play can't double back to field it! That's Takajyou's 6th consecuctive hit and Yoshinaga looking shaky early.
Full count to Ryuu, and he gets him looking on a fastball! Takajyou was taking off for 2nd, but Suzuki nails him to end the inning!
Bottom 1st
Takayama with a drive of his own down the right field line! Ryuu towards the wall, fair! It falls in fair in front of the foul pole! Ryuu gets it in, but not before Takayama is in with a leadoff stand-up triple!
Taniguchi looking for at least a sac fly to cut the deficit in half.
But instead, Miyoshi gets him swinging on a slider down and away! One down!
Azegami up in perfect spot to drive in a run.
And he does!!!!!
He gets his 7th single in a row with a base hit to left! Katou charges in, but it just falls in front! Takayama comes home and the throw is cut off! Another hit by Azegami makes it a 2-1 ballgame!
Cleanup batter Yokoo up, and he's caught looking on a slider on the outside part of the plate.
Shimizu grounds to 2nd to end the inning, but Azegami gets a run back for Nichidai-san!
Top 2nd
Hanada goes down swinging on a sinker in the dirt for out number 1.
お！ Katou with a line shot that almost takes off Yoshinaga's head! He gets out of the way as it goes into center for a base hit. Wakou-kantoku elects to have Tokiyoshi bunt the runner along for a one-timer from Ishisako.
Ishisako with a grounder to 2nd. Suganuma bobbles the ball, but has plenty of time to recover and throw out Ishisako to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Suganuma with a grounder to short, and Ishisako loses the handle on the ball! E6, and the douten run is on base. Kaneko bunts him along to 2nd.
Yoshinaga grounds to short, but it still allows Suganuma to advance to 3rd.
Dangerous Suzuki at bat to tie the game...
Hits a fly to deep left center! Katou comes over and makes the catch to retire the side! Ishisako's error almost costs him, but they keep the runner stranded!
Top 3rd
Yoshinaga not letting Hirabaru get on base easily again, strikes him own swinging on a curve in the dirt.
Andou with a short liner up the middle, Suganuma to his right dives, but it's by him into center!
Miyoshi up again. Can he deliver again?
SANSHIN! Miysohi swings and misses on a fastball outside! Andou taking off on the pitch slides in in front of the throw!
2 down for Takajyou, and Yoshinaga not taking any chances with him. He throws nothing close to the plate and walks him.
There might be a lot of that as Nichidai-san might make Ryuu do all the hard work,
AND HE DOES IT!
Ryuu rips one down the right field side as Takayama has to chase it back up to the wall! Andou comes around to score! Takajyou being sent home! Relay home... not in time! Ryuu makes Nichidai pay for the walk as he makes it a 4-1 ball game!
Hanada with a drive to center! That's over Azegami's head! Ryuu scores to make it 5-1!
Hanada is picked off 2nd to end the inning, but Kyukoku is ripping the cover off the ball against Yoshinaga.
Bottom 3rd
Nichidai-san back on its heels early. Miyoshi getting help as the batters are trying to attack early in the count - but to no avail.
Takayama grounds out to 1st, Taniguchi tries a safety bunt but Miyoshi fields his position superbly and throws out a diving Taniguchi.
And Miyoshi gets Azegami! He flies out to center to end the inning!
Top 4th
Katou leads off with a single through the left side. He's bunted to 2nd by Tokiyoshi, then advanced to 3rd on a groundout by Ishisako.
Back to the top of the order and Hirabaru.
ああああああああああああああ！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！
Pitch from Yoshinaga goes under the glove of Suzuki and gets away! Katou scores to make it 6-1 Kyukoku!
Hirabaru flies out to left to end the inning, but Nichidai-san is slowly losing control of the game!
Bottom 4th
Yokoo is hit by Miyoshi and Nichidai-san has another leadoff runner.
Shimizu with a liner back at Miyoshi! It hits him and deflects to 2nd! Hirabaru is in the right place and starts the 4-6-3 double play! But is Miyoshi okay?
He appears to be as the replays showed it hit his wrist on the glove hand.
He takes a couple of throws and is ready to go.
And he gets Suganuma to ground to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 5th
Yoshinaga issues his 3rd walk to Andou to start the 5th.
Miyoshi up, but while he makes good contact, it's right to Takayama.
Takajyou with a grounder past a diving Yokoo to left! He's now reached base safely in his last 8 AB's!
Ryuu pops it up behind home, Suzuki makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Hanada swings and misses on a sinker to end the inning and Yoshinaga finally gets a scoreless inning. But it still wasn't easy.
Bottom 5th
Kaneko fouls out to Tokiyoshi to start off the inning.
Yoshinaga with a grounder to 3rd, Tokiyoshi charging in throws to first, Hanada stretching out makes the great pick as he falls on his back!
And Suzuki flies to to right for a 1-2-3 inning!
Miyoshi easily looking like the better of the 2 pitchers today as Yoshinaga was hit hard in the first couple of innings. That has costed him dearly so far as his team finds itself down 6-1 heading into the break
Top 6th
Katou with another base hit! He hits another grounder through the left side! And again Tokiyoshi lays down his 3rd sac bunt.
Ishisako with a single past a diving Shimizu! Katou holds up at 3rd, but Kyukoku is threatening again as the lineup flip to the top of the order!
Hirabaru though is 0-2 on the day.
Make that 0-3. He is jammed and hits a foul fly to Yokoo for the 2nd out.
And Yoshinaga gets Andou to hit a weak grounder to 3rd! Yokoo makes the play at 1st and Nichidai-san is out of the jam!
Bottom 6th
Takayama with a hard shot at Tokiyoshi and it bounces off of him. He's on with a leadoff single.
No bunting for Taniguchi, but he hits a grounder to 2nd. It's slow enough though that Hirabaru can only go to 2nd.
Azegami with a hard chopper into the ground, Kaneko can only watch as it goes over his head and down the line! Double for Azegami puts 2 runners in scoring position for Yokoo with just 1 down!
Yokoo tries to foul a ball off, but reaches down and pops it up instead! Hanada in foul territory makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Shimizu is hit by Miyoshi and it's manrui for Nichidai-san!
Count goes to 2-0 and Takajyou goes out to talk to Miyoshi.
Another ball high and it's 3-0!
Pumps one in for a strike, then another... finally called by the umpire! Full count, runners will take off!
Fouls it off!
Slider! Suganuma starts his swing and barely fouls it off! Another foul!
Pops it up! Hanada in foul territory, makes the catch! Manrui for Nichidai-san and Miyoshi slams the door shut!
Top 7th
Miyoshi with a 4 pitch walk to start the inning.
Takajyou up, showing bunt? And he lays it down to advance Miyoshi! Miyoshi then advances to 3rd on a groundout to 1st by Ryuu.
Hanada pops out to short though to retire the side.
Bottom 7th
Kaneko first pitch flies out to left. Yoshinaga pops out to Ishisako and there's quickly 2 down.
Suzuki finally gets a hold of one and drives one to center! Andou running back, leaps and it's just over his glove! Takes a bounce to the wall and he's in with a 2 out double!
Takayama with a grounder into the gap at short! Katou coming in as Suzuki is being sent home! Throw is cutoff and Nichidai-san scores their 2nd run of the game! It's now 6-2.
Takayama then takes off for 2nd! Throw is late and he's in scoring position!
Taniguchi with a fly to left! Katou goes back, then comes in to make the catch! 3 outs!
Nichidai-san can only get one run in the lucky 7th. Still a lot of work to go.
Top 8th
Katou with his 4th hit of the day! This time he hits a grounder the opposite way!
Tokiyoshi is, yes, bunting again. At least we know he can lay it down.
Ishisako can't advance the runner as he grounds out to short.
Hirabaru up, still hitless on the day.
Grounder to 2nd, and he's still...
NO!
The throw to first by Suganuma is low and Kaneko can't field it! Hirabaru is safe! Snap throw home is wild and Katou scores! Nichidai-san struggling in all aspects as the score is now 7-2! (Hirabaru is still hitless though.)
Andou grounds out to 2nd to end the inning, but Nichidai-san is in that much bigger of a hole.
Bottom 8th
Two quick outs by Miyoshi and he's about to get a 1-2-3 inning when Shimizu singles to left.
No matter though as he gets ahead of Suganuma1-2 and induces a flyout to left to end the inning.
Top 9th
Miyoshi with his 2nd straight walk. And Wakou-kantoku has Takajyou bunting. He lays it down.
Ryuu with a drive to right! Takayama going back to the wall, and it's over his head! It falls in just short of the wall! Ryuu with an RBI double makes it 8-2!
Hanada with a blooper to shallow center! Shimizu, Suganuma and Azegami all converge, but it falls in between all of them! Ryuu taking off early scores on the play and it's 9-2 Kyukoku!
Ogura-kantoku calls a conference, but it's far too late now.
Hit-and-run! Katou goes down swinging, but Hanada takes 2nd safely (though just). Katou is retired for the first time today.
Tokiyoshi, not knowing what to do now that he has to swing away (kidding), strikes out swinging to end the inning. But 2 more runs make it all but a formality now.
Bottom 9th
Last ups for Nichidai-san. Kaneko flies out to center for out #1.
#18 Hirata, hitting for Yoshinaga, goes down swinging on a fastball outside.
Suzuki flies out to center and that's the ballgame!
Yoshinaga got into trouble early as Miyoshi shocks the Tokyo squad with a homerun to take a quick lead. He would continue to pitch in high-stress situations early and Kyukoku would get timely extra base hits to bring all the runners home.
Meanwhile, Miyoshi was a cool customer on the mound despite giving up leadoff runners early. The Nichidai batters just could never make good contact on the ball the entire game. A surprise given how well the team had hit in the game prior.
So Wakao-kantoku brings a 2nd team to the championship game as just 2 years after taking the team to Natsu Koushien!
Notable Players
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku
Miyoshi Takumi - W, CG, 2 ER, 7 H, 3 K, BB, HBP
Miyoshi Takumi - 1-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Takajyou Shuuto - 2-2, R, BB
Ryuu Kounosuke - 2-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, K
Katou Ryou - 4-5, 2 R, K
Nichidai-san
Yoshinaga Kentarou - L, CG, 8 ER, 13 H, 7 K, 5 BB
Takayama Shun - 3-4, 3B, R, RBI
Azegami Shou - 2-4, 2B, RBI
Semifinal number 1 not only features 2 outstanding pitchers, but 2 very very hot hitters right now.
Takajyou Shuuto (Kyukoku) and Azegami Shou (Nichidai-san) went 5-5 and 6-6 respectively in their quarterfinal games completely getting the attention of the fans and probably the scouts as well. Their lines now look that much more impressive:
- Takajyou - 9-13, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, K - 0.692/0.692/1.000
- Azegami - 9-12, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, HBP - 0.750/0.786/1.000
And it's not those guys above, it's the staff ace(s).
Once you get to this point, it's all about the stamina of the pitchers. You can have the best ace in the country, but if they can't pitch on 1 or 2 days rest and you don't have a backup, you might as
well just mail it in.
Miyoshi against Hokkai two days ago gave up more runs (4) than in the first 2 games combined (3). He gave up more hits and walked more batters, while striking out less batters. That was all in just 2 days rest. Now he'll go on 1 days rest against a Nichidai offense that continues to hit from top to bottom. There will be no easy innings for him today.
Nichidai-san had probably the easiest matchup of the Best 8 matches, which allowed Yoshinaga to pitch "only" 7 innings giving up just 4 hits. He'll be a bit more rested than Miyoshi, which in these stages is extremely important. That isn't to say that Yoshinaga is any less closer to hitting the wall, we just know he's thrown less innings.
Personally, (and I've tried to be as objective as possible) I'd like Kyukoku to reach the finals. But combine the factors together, and I can't see how Nichidai-san isn't favored in this matchup.
____________________________________________________________
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka) - Kyushu Runner-up
2B Hirabaru Yuuta
CF Andou Akito
P Miyoshi Takumi
C Takajyou Shuuto
RF Ryuu Kounosuke
1B Hanada Shun
LF Katou Ryou
3B Tokiyoshi Seiya
SS Ishisako Yuuma
Nichidai-san (Tokyo) - Tokyo Champions
RF Takayama Shun
LF Taniguchi Yuuta (#4)
CF Azegami Shou
3B Yokoo Toshitake
SS Shimizu Kouki
2B Suganuma Kenichi (#7)
1B Kaneko Ryouya
P Yoshinaga Kentarou
C Suzuki Takahiro
____________________________________________________________
11:01 - Game start!
Top 1st
Yoshinaga walks Hirabaru on 4 straight to lead off the game.
Andou tries to bunt the runner along, but is called out on batter's interference!
So now 1 down with Miyoshi coming to bat.
He falls behind 0-2, but works the count full.
CRUSHES A BALL!!!!!!
Miyoshi with a drive to deep left center!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miyoshi absolutely crushes the ball in a no-doubt about it 2-run HR! He gives Kyukoku the early 2-0 lead!
Takajyou with a grounderback to Yoshinaga, and he boots it! Yokoo backing up the play can't double back to field it! That's Takajyou's 6th consecuctive hit and Yoshinaga looking shaky early.
Full count to Ryuu, and he gets him looking on a fastball! Takajyou was taking off for 2nd, but Suzuki nails him to end the inning!
Bottom 1st
Takayama with a drive of his own down the right field line! Ryuu towards the wall, fair! It falls in fair in front of the foul pole! Ryuu gets it in, but not before Takayama is in with a leadoff stand-up triple!
Taniguchi looking for at least a sac fly to cut the deficit in half.
But instead, Miyoshi gets him swinging on a slider down and away! One down!
Azegami up in perfect spot to drive in a run.
And he does!!!!!
He gets his 7th single in a row with a base hit to left! Katou charges in, but it just falls in front! Takayama comes home and the throw is cut off! Another hit by Azegami makes it a 2-1 ballgame!
Cleanup batter Yokoo up, and he's caught looking on a slider on the outside part of the plate.
Shimizu grounds to 2nd to end the inning, but Azegami gets a run back for Nichidai-san!
Top 2nd
Hanada goes down swinging on a sinker in the dirt for out number 1.
お！ Katou with a line shot that almost takes off Yoshinaga's head! He gets out of the way as it goes into center for a base hit. Wakou-kantoku elects to have Tokiyoshi bunt the runner along for a one-timer from Ishisako.
Ishisako with a grounder to 2nd. Suganuma bobbles the ball, but has plenty of time to recover and throw out Ishisako to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Suganuma with a grounder to short, and Ishisako loses the handle on the ball! E6, and the douten run is on base. Kaneko bunts him along to 2nd.
Yoshinaga grounds to short, but it still allows Suganuma to advance to 3rd.
Dangerous Suzuki at bat to tie the game...
Hits a fly to deep left center! Katou comes over and makes the catch to retire the side! Ishisako's error almost costs him, but they keep the runner stranded!
Top 3rd
Yoshinaga not letting Hirabaru get on base easily again, strikes him own swinging on a curve in the dirt.
Andou with a short liner up the middle, Suganuma to his right dives, but it's by him into center!
Miyoshi up again. Can he deliver again?
SANSHIN! Miysohi swings and misses on a fastball outside! Andou taking off on the pitch slides in in front of the throw!
2 down for Takajyou, and Yoshinaga not taking any chances with him. He throws nothing close to the plate and walks him.
There might be a lot of that as Nichidai-san might make Ryuu do all the hard work,
AND HE DOES IT!
Ryuu rips one down the right field side as Takayama has to chase it back up to the wall! Andou comes around to score! Takajyou being sent home! Relay home... not in time! Ryuu makes Nichidai pay for the walk as he makes it a 4-1 ball game!
Hanada with a drive to center! That's over Azegami's head! Ryuu scores to make it 5-1!
Hanada is picked off 2nd to end the inning, but Kyukoku is ripping the cover off the ball against Yoshinaga.
Bottom 3rd
Nichidai-san back on its heels early. Miyoshi getting help as the batters are trying to attack early in the count - but to no avail.
Takayama grounds out to 1st, Taniguchi tries a safety bunt but Miyoshi fields his position superbly and throws out a diving Taniguchi.
And Miyoshi gets Azegami! He flies out to center to end the inning!
Top 4th
Katou leads off with a single through the left side. He's bunted to 2nd by Tokiyoshi, then advanced to 3rd on a groundout by Ishisako.
Back to the top of the order and Hirabaru.
ああああああああああああああ！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！
Pitch from Yoshinaga goes under the glove of Suzuki and gets away! Katou scores to make it 6-1 Kyukoku!
Hirabaru flies out to left to end the inning, but Nichidai-san is slowly losing control of the game!
Bottom 4th
Yokoo is hit by Miyoshi and Nichidai-san has another leadoff runner.
Shimizu with a liner back at Miyoshi! It hits him and deflects to 2nd! Hirabaru is in the right place and starts the 4-6-3 double play! But is Miyoshi okay?
He appears to be as the replays showed it hit his wrist on the glove hand.
He takes a couple of throws and is ready to go.
And he gets Suganuma to ground to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 5th
Yoshinaga issues his 3rd walk to Andou to start the 5th.
Miyoshi up, but while he makes good contact, it's right to Takayama.
Takajyou with a grounder past a diving Yokoo to left! He's now reached base safely in his last 8 AB's!
Ryuu pops it up behind home, Suzuki makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Hanada swings and misses on a sinker to end the inning and Yoshinaga finally gets a scoreless inning. But it still wasn't easy.
Bottom 5th
Kaneko fouls out to Tokiyoshi to start off the inning.
Yoshinaga with a grounder to 3rd, Tokiyoshi charging in throws to first, Hanada stretching out makes the great pick as he falls on his back!
And Suzuki flies to to right for a 1-2-3 inning!
Miyoshi easily looking like the better of the 2 pitchers today as Yoshinaga was hit hard in the first couple of innings. That has costed him dearly so far as his team finds itself down 6-1 heading into the break
Top 6th
Katou with another base hit! He hits another grounder through the left side! And again Tokiyoshi lays down his 3rd sac bunt.
Ishisako with a single past a diving Shimizu! Katou holds up at 3rd, but Kyukoku is threatening again as the lineup flip to the top of the order!
Hirabaru though is 0-2 on the day.
Make that 0-3. He is jammed and hits a foul fly to Yokoo for the 2nd out.
And Yoshinaga gets Andou to hit a weak grounder to 3rd! Yokoo makes the play at 1st and Nichidai-san is out of the jam!
Bottom 6th
Takayama with a hard shot at Tokiyoshi and it bounces off of him. He's on with a leadoff single.
No bunting for Taniguchi, but he hits a grounder to 2nd. It's slow enough though that Hirabaru can only go to 2nd.
Azegami with a hard chopper into the ground, Kaneko can only watch as it goes over his head and down the line! Double for Azegami puts 2 runners in scoring position for Yokoo with just 1 down!
Yokoo tries to foul a ball off, but reaches down and pops it up instead! Hanada in foul territory makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Shimizu is hit by Miyoshi and it's manrui for Nichidai-san!
Count goes to 2-0 and Takajyou goes out to talk to Miyoshi.
Another ball high and it's 3-0!
Pumps one in for a strike, then another... finally called by the umpire! Full count, runners will take off!
Fouls it off!
Slider! Suganuma starts his swing and barely fouls it off! Another foul!
Pops it up! Hanada in foul territory, makes the catch! Manrui for Nichidai-san and Miyoshi slams the door shut!
Top 7th
Miyoshi with a 4 pitch walk to start the inning.
Takajyou up, showing bunt? And he lays it down to advance Miyoshi! Miyoshi then advances to 3rd on a groundout to 1st by Ryuu.
Hanada pops out to short though to retire the side.
Bottom 7th
Kaneko first pitch flies out to left. Yoshinaga pops out to Ishisako and there's quickly 2 down.
Suzuki finally gets a hold of one and drives one to center! Andou running back, leaps and it's just over his glove! Takes a bounce to the wall and he's in with a 2 out double!
Takayama with a grounder into the gap at short! Katou coming in as Suzuki is being sent home! Throw is cutoff and Nichidai-san scores their 2nd run of the game! It's now 6-2.
Takayama then takes off for 2nd! Throw is late and he's in scoring position!
Taniguchi with a fly to left! Katou goes back, then comes in to make the catch! 3 outs!
Nichidai-san can only get one run in the lucky 7th. Still a lot of work to go.
Top 8th
Katou with his 4th hit of the day! This time he hits a grounder the opposite way!
Tokiyoshi is, yes, bunting again. At least we know he can lay it down.
Ishisako can't advance the runner as he grounds out to short.
Hirabaru up, still hitless on the day.
Grounder to 2nd, and he's still...
NO!
The throw to first by Suganuma is low and Kaneko can't field it! Hirabaru is safe! Snap throw home is wild and Katou scores! Nichidai-san struggling in all aspects as the score is now 7-2! (Hirabaru is still hitless though.)
Andou grounds out to 2nd to end the inning, but Nichidai-san is in that much bigger of a hole.
Bottom 8th
Two quick outs by Miyoshi and he's about to get a 1-2-3 inning when Shimizu singles to left.
No matter though as he gets ahead of Suganuma1-2 and induces a flyout to left to end the inning.
Top 9th
Miyoshi with his 2nd straight walk. And Wakou-kantoku has Takajyou bunting. He lays it down.
Ryuu with a drive to right! Takayama going back to the wall, and it's over his head! It falls in just short of the wall! Ryuu with an RBI double makes it 8-2!
Hanada with a blooper to shallow center! Shimizu, Suganuma and Azegami all converge, but it falls in between all of them! Ryuu taking off early scores on the play and it's 9-2 Kyukoku!
Ogura-kantoku calls a conference, but it's far too late now.
Hit-and-run! Katou goes down swinging, but Hanada takes 2nd safely (though just). Katou is retired for the first time today.
Tokiyoshi, not knowing what to do now that he has to swing away (kidding), strikes out swinging to end the inning. But 2 more runs make it all but a formality now.
Bottom 9th
Last ups for Nichidai-san. Kaneko flies out to center for out #1.
#18 Hirata, hitting for Yoshinaga, goes down swinging on a fastball outside.
Suzuki flies out to center and that's the ballgame!
Yoshinaga got into trouble early as Miyoshi shocks the Tokyo squad with a homerun to take a quick lead. He would continue to pitch in high-stress situations early and Kyukoku would get timely extra base hits to bring all the runners home.
Meanwhile, Miyoshi was a cool customer on the mound despite giving up leadoff runners early. The Nichidai batters just could never make good contact on the ball the entire game. A surprise given how well the team had hit in the game prior.
So Wakao-kantoku brings a 2nd team to the championship game as just 2 years after taking the team to Natsu Koushien!
Notable Players
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku
Miyoshi Takumi - W, CG, 2 ER, 7 H, 3 K, BB, HBP
Miyoshi Takumi - 1-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Takajyou Shuuto - 2-2, R, BB
Ryuu Kounosuke - 2-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, K
Katou Ryou - 4-5, 2 R, K
Nichidai-san
Yoshinaga Kentarou - L, CG, 8 ER, 13 H, 7 K, 5 BB
Takayama Shun - 3-4, 3B, R, RBI
Azegami Shou - 2-4, 2B, RBI
Friday, April 1, 2011
Day 10 - Best 8 Game 4 - Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa) vs. Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima)
The last Best 8 game will pit cross-country powerhouses in what should be a great matchup.
Kagoshima Jitsugyou opened with a tough matchup against Kanto champions Urawa Gakuin. They exchanged runs early before Kajitsu scored 3 runs in the 5th and 6th innings and Noda shut the door. Then against 21st century team Jyounan, the offense was relentless putting runners on every inning in a 7-2 win.
Ace Noda Shougo has seemed to have a "bend but not break" mentality that has allowed him to be effective despite allowing baserunners:
18 IP, 4 ER, 16 H, 19 K, 10 BB for a 2.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 9.5 K/9, 5 BB/9
The team has supported him by hitting 0.369 in the first 2 games, led by the following:
Toyozumi Kouta - 0.444/0.500/0.444
Agemura Kyouhei - 0.555/0.600/0.777
Sasaki Daisuke - 0.571/0.625/0.571
They get another Kanto team in runner up Toukaidai Sagami who has been nothing but exactly what people expected out of them - an offensive explosion.
Against the Chuugoku champion Kanzei and Tokai Champion Oogaki Nichidai, the team has won by a total of 22-6 with a slash line of 0.411/0.476/0.589 with Usuda Tetsuya (0.636/0.636/0.909) and Satou Hirotsugu (0.555/0.555/0.778) leading the way.
At first I had thought that Toukaidai Sagami hadn't skipped a beat losing Hifumi Shinta, and that perhaps they were better.
Well...
After seeing the 2nd game, I'm not so sure anymore. Ace Kondou Masataka seems to be an ace in number only, even though he was the pitcher used in the super-regionals. He's a pitchers who will depend heavily on the defense to support him.
Now, looking at all the pitchers used, none really stands out as a true ace, but out of the three the real ace appears to be #17 Shouji Takuya who didn't pitch for them at all in the fall tournament and was added to the Koushien roster. But while he has given up just 1 run on 6 hits in his 9.2 innings of work, he has K just 5 batters and walked the same number.
So there does appear to be a bigger void than I originally thought at the ace position, but having faced the teams they have, it may not be as big as others think it might be.
So... I expect this to be a very good, offensive, high-scoring ballgame. I realize it could be a blowout as well, but it should be interesting nonetheless.
____________________________________________________________
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa) - Kanto Runner-up
RF Watanabe Masaru
CF Usuda Tetsuya
2B Tanaka Shunta
C Satou Hirotsugu
LF Sugano Tsuyoshi
1B Morishita Shouhei (#3)
3B Isoami Yuuto (#15)
P Kondou Masataka
SS Hashimoto Takuma
Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima) - Kyushu Champions
SS Hirayama Taikai
2B Sugiyama Tadashi
RF Toyozumi Kouta
3B Hamada Ryuunosuke
1B Agemura Kyouhei
P Noda Shougo
C Kuroki Kentarou
CF Maruyama Tetsuhiro
LF Sasaki Daisuke
____________________________________________________________
14:04 - Game start!
Top 1st
Noda already issues his first walk to Usuda with one down.
Tanaka hits a ball to 3rd! Hamada goes to 2nd for one, relay to 1st, double play! Just like that Noda and Kajitsu will be on the sticks!
Bottom 1st
Hirayama with a grounder past a diving Morishita into center! Sugiyama bunts the runner along to 2nd.
Toyozumi hits a fly to right Watanabe with the catch as Hirayama tags up to 3rd.
But Kondou, who gets the start today, gets Hirayama to hit a grounder to 1st. Morishita takes it to the bag for the out to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Grounder from Satou to 3rd. It takes a higher bounce and goes off Hamada's chest! He has no play and Toukaidai Sagami has the lead batter on. Sugano three-bunts, and successfully lays it down.
Morishita reaches down and hits a blooper into center! Satou holds at 3rd, but Toukaidai Sagami threatens to take the early lead!
おっと！ Noda almost tumbles over and is called for a balk! The runners advance, and Satou scores to make it 1-0 Toukaidai Sagami!
Isoami with a hit to the right side! Sugiyama ranges over and makes a good play to 1st for the out, but Morishita advances to 3rd.
Now Noda walks Kondou on 4 straight to put runners at the corners!
Hashimoto swings at an outside pitch for strike 3, but it's a balk that opens the scoring!
Bottom 2nd
Kuroki gets a two-out hit back up the middle on a curve. Hirayama follows that up with a single to left.
Sasaki hits a grounder up the middle! Hashimoto dives and makes the grab! Goes to 2nd for the out and he prevents the tying run from scoring!
Top 3rd
Outside of that untimely balk, Noda looks strong. Watanabe strikes out on a slider away for the first out. Usuda flies out to center for the 2nd out, and Tanaka K's looking on a curve to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Hirayama reaches base for the 2nd time today drawing a leadoff walk. Sugiyama once again lays down the bunt. Another chance for Kajitsu.
Except that Toyozumi swings on the first pitch and pops it up! Hashimoto behind the mound makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Hamada runs the count full but swings on a high change flying out to right to end the inning!
Top 4th
Noda continuing to breeze along. Satou hits a dribbler in front of home that Kuroki handles, Sugano grounds out to 1st, and Morishita flies out to 1st.
Bottom 4th
Kondou also surprisingly breezing along. Agemura goes down swinging, Noda flies out to right, and Kuroki lines out to 3rd.
Where was this pitching last game?
Top 5th
Noda running up the pitch count a little this inning. Isoami grounds out to 3rd and Kondou goes down swinging for 2 outs, but it takes 11 pitches.
Hashimoto goes down 1-2 quickly after some questionable calls, but counters when he takes an outside pitch to left! Sasaki going back, suddenly sprints back! He misjudges the ball and it goes over his head! Hashimoto in with a double, except Sasaki's throw in gets away from Hirayama! Hamada has to go retrieve it as Hashimoto advances to 3rd!
Chance for Sagami to pad their lead, but Watanabe grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Kondou really impressive on the mound. He gets Maruyama to ground out to 3rd, gets Sasaki looking at a fastball on the inside corner, and induces Hirayama to weakly groundout to 2nd.
Kondou is really surprising me right now. Didn't think he would be stopping an offense like Kajitsu in this manner.
Top 6th
Noda gets 2 quick outs before yielding a base hit to Satou. But Sugano grounds up the first line. Agemura with the tag to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
One down, Toyozumi hits a slow roller to short. Hashimoto charges in, throws to 1st, but Toyozumi beats it out! Great hustle from Toyozumi!
But Hamada hits a ball to 3rd! Morishita goes to 2nd for one, throw to 1st... double play! Just when they were able to get a runner on, it's wiped out!
Top 7th
Morishita with a grounder past Sugiyama into left! Leadoff batter on for Toukaidai Sagami!
And Monma-kantoku pushes for the 2nd run! Morishita takes off for 2nd! Throw from Kuroki is late!
Now Isoami singles through the right side! Toyozumi up throwing and Morishita stops at 3rd. Big chance for Toukaidai Sagami.
But Kondou hits it to 3rd! Morishita was running on contact and Hamada easily throws him out at home! One down, runners at 1st and 2nd for Hashimoto.
He hits a blooper to left! That falls in front of Sasaki and it's manrui for the top of the order! 大ピンチ！
Watanabe with a fly to left! Sasaki has to back up to catch the ball and has no chance at the runner going home! Isoami scores to make it 2-0 Toukaidai Sagami!
Usuda hits a high fastball to center! Maruyama charging in, makes the catch to retire the side! Noda should feel fortunate that he only gave up one run, but at the same time his team is now down 2 runs with 3 innings to go.
Bottom 7th
Kondou showing good command of his pitches, being able to throw any of them for a strike.
Agemura pops it up behind home as Satou catches it for the 1st out.
Noda with a grounder to 2nd, Tanaka ranging over, but whiffs on the play!
Kuroki not bunting here, but goes down swinging on a fastball up! 2 outs!
And Sasaki pops it up! Watanabe under it for the 3rd out, and the side is retired!
Top 8th
Tanaka with a chopper up the middle, Sugiyama grabs the ball behind 2nd, makes what looks like a blind throw to 1st, and almost gets him!
After a popout by Satou to Sugiyama, Sugano tries his luck with him. Sugiyama takes the slow grounder, goes to 2nd for one, but the throw to 1st is late.
Sugano takes off for 2nd, but stops when he realizes he's going to be thrown out tries to get back, but is rundown to end the inning. (I need to rewatch that part to figure out who was involved).
Bottom 8th
One down for Kajitsu and top batter Hirayama gets his 3rd hit on a single through the left side!
And Miyashita-kantoku has Sugiyama bunt again? That doesn't make sense down 2.
Toyozumi grounds out to 2nd and Kajitsu's condition becomes critical.
Top 9th
Morishita with a liner behind Noda for a base hit! Isoami lays down the bunt, but Kuroki misses the handle! His throw to 1st is late and now there's runners on 1st and 2nd with no out!
Kondou though is hitting! But he flies out to shallow left and the runners can't advance!
Hashimoto up, and it's a hit-and-run! Hashimoto reaches down and lines one to center! But Maruyama is there for the catch! It's an easy toss to 2nd for the double play to end the inning!
Bottom 9th
Hamada looking to get the offense started pops it up! Tanaka with it for the first out!
Agemura swings on the first pitch and pops it up! Isoami with with catch in foul territory, and Kajitsu is down to their last out!
It's up to Noda to continue the game...
But he is jammed by Kondou! Tanaka just in the infield grass, catches it and that's the game!
Ace Kondou Masataka skillfully pitches a shutout against the Meiji Jingu runner-ups. I must admit, I am surprised at his performance considering how he did when coming in relief last game. He threw both his offspeed and fastballs for strikes and rarely fell behind.
Noda for Kagoshima Jitsugyou wasn't that bad himself as he only gave up 2 runs. It just so happened that the Toukaidai Sagami batters were able to get timely hits to bring the runs in. It also appeared that Noda began to tire near the end - understandable considering that he had pitched 2 days prior.
Even though Kagoshima Jitsugyou was eliminated today, like many of the teams I have mentioned, it would not be surprising to see them come back in the summer to make another run.
For Toukaidai Sagami, they're one game away from reaching the finals, and a chance to claim a championship!
Notable Players
Toukaidai Sagami
Kondou Masataka - W, CG, 0 ER, 6 H, 3 K, BB
Morishita Shouhei - 3-4, SB
Hashimoto Takuma - 2-4, 2B, K
Satou Hirotsugu - 2-4, R
Kagoshima Jitsugyou
Noda Shougo - L, CG, 2 ER, 9 H, 4 K, 2 BB
Hirayama Taikai - 2-3, BB
Kagoshima Jitsugyou opened with a tough matchup against Kanto champions Urawa Gakuin. They exchanged runs early before Kajitsu scored 3 runs in the 5th and 6th innings and Noda shut the door. Then against 21st century team Jyounan, the offense was relentless putting runners on every inning in a 7-2 win.
Ace Noda Shougo has seemed to have a "bend but not break" mentality that has allowed him to be effective despite allowing baserunners:
18 IP, 4 ER, 16 H, 19 K, 10 BB for a 2.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 9.5 K/9, 5 BB/9
The team has supported him by hitting 0.369 in the first 2 games, led by the following:
Toyozumi Kouta - 0.444/0.500/0.444
Agemura Kyouhei - 0.555/0.600/0.777
Sasaki Daisuke - 0.571/0.625/0.571
They get another Kanto team in runner up Toukaidai Sagami who has been nothing but exactly what people expected out of them - an offensive explosion.
Against the Chuugoku champion Kanzei and Tokai Champion Oogaki Nichidai, the team has won by a total of 22-6 with a slash line of 0.411/0.476/0.589 with Usuda Tetsuya (0.636/0.636/0.909) and Satou Hirotsugu (0.555/0.555/0.778) leading the way.
At first I had thought that Toukaidai Sagami hadn't skipped a beat losing Hifumi Shinta, and that perhaps they were better.
Well...
After seeing the 2nd game, I'm not so sure anymore. Ace Kondou Masataka seems to be an ace in number only, even though he was the pitcher used in the super-regionals. He's a pitchers who will depend heavily on the defense to support him.
Now, looking at all the pitchers used, none really stands out as a true ace, but out of the three the real ace appears to be #17 Shouji Takuya who didn't pitch for them at all in the fall tournament and was added to the Koushien roster. But while he has given up just 1 run on 6 hits in his 9.2 innings of work, he has K just 5 batters and walked the same number.
So there does appear to be a bigger void than I originally thought at the ace position, but having faced the teams they have, it may not be as big as others think it might be.
So... I expect this to be a very good, offensive, high-scoring ballgame. I realize it could be a blowout as well, but it should be interesting nonetheless.
____________________________________________________________
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa) - Kanto Runner-up
RF Watanabe Masaru
CF Usuda Tetsuya
2B Tanaka Shunta
C Satou Hirotsugu
LF Sugano Tsuyoshi
1B Morishita Shouhei (#3)
3B Isoami Yuuto (#15)
P Kondou Masataka
SS Hashimoto Takuma
Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima) - Kyushu Champions
SS Hirayama Taikai
2B Sugiyama Tadashi
RF Toyozumi Kouta
3B Hamada Ryuunosuke
1B Agemura Kyouhei
P Noda Shougo
C Kuroki Kentarou
CF Maruyama Tetsuhiro
LF Sasaki Daisuke
____________________________________________________________
14:04 - Game start!
Top 1st
Noda already issues his first walk to Usuda with one down.
Tanaka hits a ball to 3rd! Hamada goes to 2nd for one, relay to 1st, double play! Just like that Noda and Kajitsu will be on the sticks!
Bottom 1st
Hirayama with a grounder past a diving Morishita into center! Sugiyama bunts the runner along to 2nd.
Toyozumi hits a fly to right Watanabe with the catch as Hirayama tags up to 3rd.
But Kondou, who gets the start today, gets Hirayama to hit a grounder to 1st. Morishita takes it to the bag for the out to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Grounder from Satou to 3rd. It takes a higher bounce and goes off Hamada's chest! He has no play and Toukaidai Sagami has the lead batter on. Sugano three-bunts, and successfully lays it down.
Morishita reaches down and hits a blooper into center! Satou holds at 3rd, but Toukaidai Sagami threatens to take the early lead!
おっと！ Noda almost tumbles over and is called for a balk! The runners advance, and Satou scores to make it 1-0 Toukaidai Sagami!
Isoami with a hit to the right side! Sugiyama ranges over and makes a good play to 1st for the out, but Morishita advances to 3rd.
Now Noda walks Kondou on 4 straight to put runners at the corners!
Hashimoto swings at an outside pitch for strike 3, but it's a balk that opens the scoring!
Bottom 2nd
Kuroki gets a two-out hit back up the middle on a curve. Hirayama follows that up with a single to left.
Sasaki hits a grounder up the middle! Hashimoto dives and makes the grab! Goes to 2nd for the out and he prevents the tying run from scoring!
Top 3rd
Outside of that untimely balk, Noda looks strong. Watanabe strikes out on a slider away for the first out. Usuda flies out to center for the 2nd out, and Tanaka K's looking on a curve to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Hirayama reaches base for the 2nd time today drawing a leadoff walk. Sugiyama once again lays down the bunt. Another chance for Kajitsu.
Except that Toyozumi swings on the first pitch and pops it up! Hashimoto behind the mound makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Hamada runs the count full but swings on a high change flying out to right to end the inning!
Top 4th
Noda continuing to breeze along. Satou hits a dribbler in front of home that Kuroki handles, Sugano grounds out to 1st, and Morishita flies out to 1st.
Bottom 4th
Kondou also surprisingly breezing along. Agemura goes down swinging, Noda flies out to right, and Kuroki lines out to 3rd.
Where was this pitching last game?
Top 5th
Noda running up the pitch count a little this inning. Isoami grounds out to 3rd and Kondou goes down swinging for 2 outs, but it takes 11 pitches.
Hashimoto goes down 1-2 quickly after some questionable calls, but counters when he takes an outside pitch to left! Sasaki going back, suddenly sprints back! He misjudges the ball and it goes over his head! Hashimoto in with a double, except Sasaki's throw in gets away from Hirayama! Hamada has to go retrieve it as Hashimoto advances to 3rd!
Chance for Sagami to pad their lead, but Watanabe grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Kondou really impressive on the mound. He gets Maruyama to ground out to 3rd, gets Sasaki looking at a fastball on the inside corner, and induces Hirayama to weakly groundout to 2nd.
Kondou is really surprising me right now. Didn't think he would be stopping an offense like Kajitsu in this manner.
Top 6th
Noda gets 2 quick outs before yielding a base hit to Satou. But Sugano grounds up the first line. Agemura with the tag to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
One down, Toyozumi hits a slow roller to short. Hashimoto charges in, throws to 1st, but Toyozumi beats it out! Great hustle from Toyozumi!
But Hamada hits a ball to 3rd! Morishita goes to 2nd for one, throw to 1st... double play! Just when they were able to get a runner on, it's wiped out!
Top 7th
Morishita with a grounder past Sugiyama into left! Leadoff batter on for Toukaidai Sagami!
And Monma-kantoku pushes for the 2nd run! Morishita takes off for 2nd! Throw from Kuroki is late!
Now Isoami singles through the right side! Toyozumi up throwing and Morishita stops at 3rd. Big chance for Toukaidai Sagami.
But Kondou hits it to 3rd! Morishita was running on contact and Hamada easily throws him out at home! One down, runners at 1st and 2nd for Hashimoto.
He hits a blooper to left! That falls in front of Sasaki and it's manrui for the top of the order! 大ピンチ！
Watanabe with a fly to left! Sasaki has to back up to catch the ball and has no chance at the runner going home! Isoami scores to make it 2-0 Toukaidai Sagami!
Usuda hits a high fastball to center! Maruyama charging in, makes the catch to retire the side! Noda should feel fortunate that he only gave up one run, but at the same time his team is now down 2 runs with 3 innings to go.
Bottom 7th
Kondou showing good command of his pitches, being able to throw any of them for a strike.
Agemura pops it up behind home as Satou catches it for the 1st out.
Noda with a grounder to 2nd, Tanaka ranging over, but whiffs on the play!
Kuroki not bunting here, but goes down swinging on a fastball up! 2 outs!
And Sasaki pops it up! Watanabe under it for the 3rd out, and the side is retired!
Top 8th
Tanaka with a chopper up the middle, Sugiyama grabs the ball behind 2nd, makes what looks like a blind throw to 1st, and almost gets him!
After a popout by Satou to Sugiyama, Sugano tries his luck with him. Sugiyama takes the slow grounder, goes to 2nd for one, but the throw to 1st is late.
Sugano takes off for 2nd, but stops when he realizes he's going to be thrown out tries to get back, but is rundown to end the inning. (I need to rewatch that part to figure out who was involved).
Bottom 8th
One down for Kajitsu and top batter Hirayama gets his 3rd hit on a single through the left side!
And Miyashita-kantoku has Sugiyama bunt again? That doesn't make sense down 2.
Toyozumi grounds out to 2nd and Kajitsu's condition becomes critical.
Top 9th
Morishita with a liner behind Noda for a base hit! Isoami lays down the bunt, but Kuroki misses the handle! His throw to 1st is late and now there's runners on 1st and 2nd with no out!
Kondou though is hitting! But he flies out to shallow left and the runners can't advance!
Hashimoto up, and it's a hit-and-run! Hashimoto reaches down and lines one to center! But Maruyama is there for the catch! It's an easy toss to 2nd for the double play to end the inning!
Bottom 9th
Hamada looking to get the offense started pops it up! Tanaka with it for the first out!
Agemura swings on the first pitch and pops it up! Isoami with with catch in foul territory, and Kajitsu is down to their last out!
It's up to Noda to continue the game...
But he is jammed by Kondou! Tanaka just in the infield grass, catches it and that's the game!
Ace Kondou Masataka skillfully pitches a shutout against the Meiji Jingu runner-ups. I must admit, I am surprised at his performance considering how he did when coming in relief last game. He threw both his offspeed and fastballs for strikes and rarely fell behind.
Noda for Kagoshima Jitsugyou wasn't that bad himself as he only gave up 2 runs. It just so happened that the Toukaidai Sagami batters were able to get timely hits to bring the runs in. It also appeared that Noda began to tire near the end - understandable considering that he had pitched 2 days prior.
Even though Kagoshima Jitsugyou was eliminated today, like many of the teams I have mentioned, it would not be surprising to see them come back in the summer to make another run.
For Toukaidai Sagami, they're one game away from reaching the finals, and a chance to claim a championship!
Notable Players
Toukaidai Sagami
Kondou Masataka - W, CG, 0 ER, 6 H, 3 K, BB
Morishita Shouhei - 3-4, SB
Hashimoto Takuma - 2-4, 2B, K
Satou Hirotsugu - 2-4, R
Kagoshima Jitsugyou
Noda Shougo - L, CG, 2 ER, 9 H, 4 K, 2 BB
Hirayama Taikai - 2-3, BB
Day 10 - Best 8 Game 3 - Riseisha (Osaka) vs. Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)
So one semifinal matchup has been set, and today we'll determine our other matchup.
The first game will be an all regional affair as Chiben Wakayama and Riseisha square off. The teams were on different sides of the fall super-regionals, so these particular squads have not meet in competitive play.
Chiben Wakayama makes it to the Best 8 for the 4th time in the past decade. However, in all those prior appearances that was as far as they were able to go.
This year though, the team appears to have both the pitching and hitting to break through.
Interestingly, the team has not yet used their ace pitcher Uenoyama. Instead they have used #10 Aoki Yuuto for all but 1 inning. Against Sado and Kousei Gakuin, he has put up the following numbers:
17 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 20 K, 6 BB for a 1.59 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 10.588 K/9, 3.17 BB/9
Offensively, the team is hitting 0.328, which is impressive considering that Chiben's offense has been a bit starved as of late. Shima Naohiro leads the team hitting 0.714/0.750/0.714. The team seems to have gotten the majority of their hits in the latter stages of the game, which possibly means that either they finally hone in on a pitcher after a couple of ABs or they take advantage when the starter begins to tire. If it's the latter, then that could prove to be an issue as they face tougher competition (although at the same time they could be more fatigued because they have less rest time between games).
Riseisha has been a bit more of a mixed bag. An error in the first by Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutsu helped them win 4-0, then turned the offensive switch on against Kyushu Gakuin winning 8-2.
After positing just a 0.167 against Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutusu, they then hit 0.361 against Kyushu Gakuin for a combined team average of 0.283. It's even odder consider that Kyushu Gakuin was probably the better team and they hit better against them. Possibly could be a matter of playing to one's level, but you can't say for sure.
Their most consistent hitter is leadoff hitter Kaifu Hiroto who is 0.500/0.555/0.625 so far.
Riseisha has used 2 different pitchers so far in #18 Watanabe Masaya (9 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 8 K, 2 BB) and ace Iidzuka Takafumi (9 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 5 K, 5 BB). Not sure who they'll use today, but whomever takes the mound will have their hands full (perhaps they'll use a tandem).
I don't know who would be favored in this matchup, but it should be a great game (much like the first game yesterday!).
____________________________________________________________
Riseisha (Osaka) - Kinki Runner-up
CF Kaifu Hiroto
2B Masaki Kentarou
SS Ishii Gen
1B Masui Shouta
LF Oonishi Kouhei
C Sakamoto Seishirou
3B Kumamoto Hayato (#16)
RF Hirada Ryouhei
P Iidzuka Takafumi
Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama) - Kinki 3rd/4th Place
RF Yamamoto Ryuuta
SS Ogasawara Tomohiro
C Michibata Shunsuke
CF Miyagawa Yuuki
1B Hiroaka Yukihiro
3B Shima Naohiro
LF Nakamura Kousei
2B Kawasaki Kousuke
P Aoki Yuuto (#10)
____________________________________________________________
11:00 - Game start!
Top 1st
Kaifu leads off the game with a single to left! Masaki bunts the runner along for the heart of the lineup.
Ishii falls behind though, and grounds out to 2nd. It'll have to be up to Masui.
Wild pitch from Aoki! It goes behind Masui and off Michibata's glove! But Kaifu doesn't go! Michibata recovers quickly and the run doesn't score!
And Aoki gets a foul fly from Masui! Nakamura and Yamamoto converge, and it's Yamamoto who catches it for the 3rd out! Riseisha unable to take advantage of the leadoff hit!
Bottom 1st
Yamamoto starts off their 1st inning with a basehit through the right side! Ogasawara bunts him along and Chiben Wakayama hash their own scoring opportunity!
2-2 to Michibata and he hits a fly down the right field side! Masui and Hirada converge in foul territory, but neither can make the catch and they almost collide!
Now it's a show down the 3rd base line foul!
Iidzuka, considering the thought "discretion is the better part of valor" throws a 3-2 slider outside for ball 4.
That only works though if you can get the next batter out. He falls behind Miyakawa 2-0.
Miyakawa with a shot back at Iidzuka! He fields it, goes to 2nd for one, throw out first.... double play!
Masui had trouble securing the ball, but got it just in time to get Miyakawa to end the inning!
Top 2nd
One down, Aoki issues his first walk to Sakamoto.
Kumamoto drives a ball down the left field line... just foul! Wow, that had HR distance there I think.
But Aoki gets him to reach down on a slider and hit a fly to deep left for the 2nd out.
Hirada, very patient at the plate, works the count full. He makes good contact, but it's a liner at Ogasawara to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Hiraoka hits a hard grounder to short. Ishii gets in front, but doesn't pick it cleanly! He doubles back, but it's too late.
Shima tries to lay down the bunt, but he pops it up! Sakamoto gets out of his crouch and makes the catch!
Nakamaura with a grounder to short. Ishii can't field that one cleanly either! He does get the lead runner at 2nd though.
Iidzuka gets Kawasaki to pop out to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Both pitchers entrenching themselves in a pitcher's battle now.
Iidzuka is caught looking on a fastball on the outside corner, and both Kaifu and Masaki ground out to 2nd for a 1-2-3- inning.
Bottom 3rd
Iidzuka hangs a slider to Aoki and he drives it to right! That's over Kaifu's head! Aoki in at 2nd with a double!
Yamamoto bunts him along for Ogasawara.
But he swings at the first pitch and grounds it to 3rd! Kumamoto with the ball, goes to 1st and the runner has to hold!
Michibata up in another key situation, and again Iidzuka does not directly challenge him. Tries a 3-1 pitch inside, but misses for ball 4.
Runners at the corners with 2 down for Miyakawa.
Grounder to short! Ishii up with this one, flips to 2nd for the out! Chiben Wakayama can't score on the leadoff double by Aoki!
Top 4th
Ishii rips a slicer down the left field line... foul!
三振！ Aoki gets Ishii to swing at a fastball down and away for strike 3!
まだ三振！！ Masui with an excuse-me swing on a high fastball goes down on strikes!
Oonishi refuses to be the 3rd K victim this inning and lines one over Shima down the left field line! Nakamura gets the ball in, and Oonishi is in with a 2-out double!
Sakamoto with a grounder to the left side. Ogasawara ranging to his right, but the ball takes a high bounce and goes past him!
They're sending Oonishi home! Nakamura double clutches with his throw, and it comes in late! Sakamoto with the timely single makes it 1-0 Riseisha!
Kumamoto goes down swinging and that's 3 K's for Aoki this inning, but 2 base hits in the middle give Riseisha the lead!
Bottom 4th
Iidzuka continuing to show good command of the zone. A nice snag by Ishii of a Shima liner highlights Iidzuka's 1-2-3 inning.
Top 5th
Hirada grounds one back at Aoki! He has his glove there, but can't find the ball! It's into center for a leadoff hit!
Iidzuka bunts him along for the top of the lineup.
Odd... At 1-0, Takashima-kantoku pulls Nakamura from LF and puts in #14 Numakura. I seem to remember him doing this before, but couldn't figure out why then either.
And Kaifu walks on 4 straight to put runners on 1st and 2nd.
Tamaki with a shot to 1st! Hiraoka fields it and goes to the bag for out #2. Runners advance into scoring position.
Ishii up now for Riseisha, 0-2 on the day.
ああああああああああ！！！！！！！！！！！
Pitch from Aoki goes off Michibata's glove, bounces off his mask and goes away! Hirada comes in to score on the battery miss and Riseisha leads 2-0! It looks like the signs were mixed up and Michibata was late to react!
Now Ishii walks on 4 straight! What is happening here in the 5th?? #12 Furuta warms up in the bullpen.
えええええ？？？？？？？？
Aoki hits Masui to load the bases! Takashima-kantoku calls for a conference as Oonishi comes to the plate.
Aoki still can't find the zone falling behind 2-0 before throwing a strike. But a change down and away makes it 3-1.
Grounder to the left side! Ogasawara running to his right... can't get to it! Kaifu scores! Ishii is being sent home! Throw from Numakura not in time! Oonishi with a 2-out RBI single makes 4-0 Riseisha!!
Sakamoto with a shot to center! Miyakawa running back, and it's over his head! It takes a bounce to the wall! Oonishi and Masui scores and it's now 6-0!!
Takashima-kantoku has seen enough and has called in #11 Oojino to replace Aoki on the mound.
But Oojino can't stop the bleeding! Kumamoto with a single through the left side and there's runners at the corners!
Hirada up again this inning! He singles through the right side! That scores Sakamoto! 7-0!!!
Iidzuka with a ball that sneaks through to right! Kumamoto scores and it's 8-0 Riseisha!!!!!!!
Kaifu lines out to left to end the inning, but what the heck happened??!! Chiben Wakayama implodes for 7 runs this inning and find themselves down 8-0!!
Bottom 5th
Two quick outs for Iidzuka this inning, but then the lineup turns over and Yamamoto singles to right! Ogasawara follows that up with his own hit to right!
And now Michibata walks for the 3rd time giving Chiben Wakayama a manrui situation!
Miyakawa with a fly to right! The outfield was in a no-doubles situation and the ball falls in! 2 runners score to make it 8-2.
Hiraoka with a hard shot at 1st, but Masui is there for the stop. He takes it to the bag to retire the side.
Chiben Wakayama manages to get a couple of runs back, but as we head into the break a complete meltdown by Chiben in the 5th finds them behind by 6 runs with 4 innings to go!
Top 6th
I get a good laugh as someone on the #koshien feed says that it's okay, and recalls the Chiben Wakayama-Teikyou comeback in 2006 (which I was there in person for).
Oojino gets 2 quick outs. And while Masui gets his first base hit of the game, Oonishi pops up to Ogasawara to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Iidzuka, who had been cruising right along until the 5th, seems to be laboring a bit more as his pitches aren't finding the plate as much. While he retires the side in order, each batter takes at least 5 pitches in their AB.
Top 7th
A few words on Oojino. He's a 2nd-year righty with a fastball that is in the 130s, and a slider in the low 120s, and a curve in the 110s.
With one down Kumamoto hits one to left center! That takes a bounce in front of the wall and Kumamoto is in at 2nd.
Takashima-kantoku makes another pitching change, sending in Uenoyama for Oojino.
As noted in the preview, Uenoyama is a sidearm pitcher who can hit the mid 130s.
His pitches to start are a bit low, and he winds up walking Hirada.
Uenoyama falls behind Ootsuka too 3-0, but Okada has Ootsuka bunt the runners along.
Back to the top of the order and Kaifu, and Uenoyama manages to even the count at 2-2. Uenoyama finally goes up on Kaifu and he goes down swinging.
Bottom 7th
Uenoyama holds on as long as he can at the plate, but grounds to short on the 9th pitch of the AB.
Iidzuka looks to be hitting his spots again now though, and that's a good sign for Riseisha.
Yamamoto goes down looking on what looks like a two-seamer on the inside part of the plate.
Iidzuka with another sharp two-seamer on the outside part of the plate gets Ogasawara looking to end the inning! He looks in full control now!
Top 8th
One down for Risei and Uenoyama hits Ishii. Masui bunts the runner along to 2nd for Oonishi who is 2-4 on the day.
But Oonishi hits a dribbler in front of the plate. Uenoyama fields it and throws to 1st for the out.
Bottom 8th
Michibata, perhaps irked he's been walked 3 times, goes down and takes a slider from Iidzuka to deep left! Kaifu has to run it down at the wall, and Michibata is in with a leadoff double.
Miyakawa with a single to left! Michibata's being waved home! Throw from Oonishi is just late! It's 8-3 on the RBI single by Miyakawa.
Hiroka with a fly to right, and Hirada is there for the 1st out.
With Shima at the plate, Okada-kantoku sends #18 Watanabe to the bullpen.
Shima now with a ball though to right puts runners at the corners.
三振!!!!!
Iidzuka with a shuuto on the outside corner strikes out Numakura for the 2nd out!
#15 Takagaki comes in to hit for Kawasaki.
三振!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Iidzuka freezes Takagai on a shuuto that catches the inside part for strike 3!
Top 9th
#13 Nishitani comes in for PH Takagaki and takes over at 2B.
Sakamoto is hit to start the inning. Kumamoto three-bunts, but goes down on strikes.
Uenoyama walks Hirada for the 2nd time today putting 2 runners on.
Iidzuka squaring to bunt, even at 2 strikes. Successfully lays it down.
Kaifu with a high chopper down the 3rd base line. Shima makes a play at it and then realizes he doesn't have one! Everyone's safe as Sakamoto scores to make it 9-3.
Masaki with a single to right, and Hirada scores to make it 10-3.
Ishii goes down swinging to end the inning, and Riseisha is just 3 outs away from the Best 4!
Bottom 9th
Uenoyama puts a charge into the ball, but Oonishi in front of the wall makes the catch.
Yamamoto singles to right.
Ogasawara with a liner right at Oonishi for the 2nd out.
Iidzuka with the rare pitch inside to Michibata, and it jams him! He pops out to Iidzuka for the 2nd out.
On a side note, I had completely forgotten about Chiben Wakayama's "Jock Rock" since they couldn't have a band!
That as Miyakawa flies out to center to end the game!
Riseisha, already further then they had gone before, now reaches the Best 4!
Early on, the teams were locked in an expected pitchers battle. Riseisha managed to break the deadlock in the 4th, but it was the 5th inning where things just went awry. I seemed to remember a mid-AB defensive substitution made before, but I can't recall if it was Takashima-kantoku who had done it.
But the odd substitution of #14 Numakura for team captain Nakamura seemed to throw the entire team off. 6 of the next 7 runners would reach base safely and it seemed like game over after that. Come to think of it, I didn't realize that the substitution had been for their captain until just now.
Pulling your captain mid-game is rather unusual as it would seem doing so would indicate loss of face for Nakamura. So I wonder what happened there.
So Chiben Wakayama is denied a spot in the Best 4 yet again. Meanwhile Riseisha, already with the deepest run in school history, advances to the Best 4 with a chance to reach the title game!
Notable Players
Riseisha
Iidzuka Takafumi - W, CG, 3 ER, 10 H, 4 K, 3 BB
Oonishi Kouhei - 2-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Sakamoto, Seishirou - 2-3, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, K, BB, HBP
Hirada Ryouhei - 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
Chiben Wakayama
Aoki Yuuto - L, 7.1 IP, 8 ER, 11 H, 6 K, 2 BB, HBP
Michibata Shunsuke - 1-2, 2B, R, 3 BB
Yamamoto Ryuuta - 3-5, R, K
Miyakawa Yuuki - 2-5, 3 RBI
The first game will be an all regional affair as Chiben Wakayama and Riseisha square off. The teams were on different sides of the fall super-regionals, so these particular squads have not meet in competitive play.
Chiben Wakayama makes it to the Best 8 for the 4th time in the past decade. However, in all those prior appearances that was as far as they were able to go.
This year though, the team appears to have both the pitching and hitting to break through.
Interestingly, the team has not yet used their ace pitcher Uenoyama. Instead they have used #10 Aoki Yuuto for all but 1 inning. Against Sado and Kousei Gakuin, he has put up the following numbers:
17 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 20 K, 6 BB for a 1.59 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 10.588 K/9, 3.17 BB/9
Offensively, the team is hitting 0.328, which is impressive considering that Chiben's offense has been a bit starved as of late. Shima Naohiro leads the team hitting 0.714/0.750/0.714. The team seems to have gotten the majority of their hits in the latter stages of the game, which possibly means that either they finally hone in on a pitcher after a couple of ABs or they take advantage when the starter begins to tire. If it's the latter, then that could prove to be an issue as they face tougher competition (although at the same time they could be more fatigued because they have less rest time between games).
Riseisha has been a bit more of a mixed bag. An error in the first by Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutsu helped them win 4-0, then turned the offensive switch on against Kyushu Gakuin winning 8-2.
After positing just a 0.167 against Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutusu, they then hit 0.361 against Kyushu Gakuin for a combined team average of 0.283. It's even odder consider that Kyushu Gakuin was probably the better team and they hit better against them. Possibly could be a matter of playing to one's level, but you can't say for sure.
Their most consistent hitter is leadoff hitter Kaifu Hiroto who is 0.500/0.555/0.625 so far.
Riseisha has used 2 different pitchers so far in #18 Watanabe Masaya (9 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 8 K, 2 BB) and ace Iidzuka Takafumi (9 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 5 K, 5 BB). Not sure who they'll use today, but whomever takes the mound will have their hands full (perhaps they'll use a tandem).
I don't know who would be favored in this matchup, but it should be a great game (much like the first game yesterday!).
____________________________________________________________
Riseisha (Osaka) - Kinki Runner-up
CF Kaifu Hiroto
2B Masaki Kentarou
SS Ishii Gen
1B Masui Shouta
LF Oonishi Kouhei
C Sakamoto Seishirou
3B Kumamoto Hayato (#16)
RF Hirada Ryouhei
P Iidzuka Takafumi
Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama) - Kinki 3rd/4th Place
RF Yamamoto Ryuuta
SS Ogasawara Tomohiro
C Michibata Shunsuke
CF Miyagawa Yuuki
1B Hiroaka Yukihiro
3B Shima Naohiro
LF Nakamura Kousei
2B Kawasaki Kousuke
P Aoki Yuuto (#10)
____________________________________________________________
11:00 - Game start!
Top 1st
Kaifu leads off the game with a single to left! Masaki bunts the runner along for the heart of the lineup.
Ishii falls behind though, and grounds out to 2nd. It'll have to be up to Masui.
Wild pitch from Aoki! It goes behind Masui and off Michibata's glove! But Kaifu doesn't go! Michibata recovers quickly and the run doesn't score!
And Aoki gets a foul fly from Masui! Nakamura and Yamamoto converge, and it's Yamamoto who catches it for the 3rd out! Riseisha unable to take advantage of the leadoff hit!
Bottom 1st
Yamamoto starts off their 1st inning with a basehit through the right side! Ogasawara bunts him along and Chiben Wakayama hash their own scoring opportunity!
2-2 to Michibata and he hits a fly down the right field side! Masui and Hirada converge in foul territory, but neither can make the catch and they almost collide!
Now it's a show down the 3rd base line foul!
Iidzuka, considering the thought "discretion is the better part of valor" throws a 3-2 slider outside for ball 4.
That only works though if you can get the next batter out. He falls behind Miyakawa 2-0.
Miyakawa with a shot back at Iidzuka! He fields it, goes to 2nd for one, throw out first.... double play!
Masui had trouble securing the ball, but got it just in time to get Miyakawa to end the inning!
Top 2nd
One down, Aoki issues his first walk to Sakamoto.
Kumamoto drives a ball down the left field line... just foul! Wow, that had HR distance there I think.
But Aoki gets him to reach down on a slider and hit a fly to deep left for the 2nd out.
Hirada, very patient at the plate, works the count full. He makes good contact, but it's a liner at Ogasawara to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Hiraoka hits a hard grounder to short. Ishii gets in front, but doesn't pick it cleanly! He doubles back, but it's too late.
Shima tries to lay down the bunt, but he pops it up! Sakamoto gets out of his crouch and makes the catch!
Nakamaura with a grounder to short. Ishii can't field that one cleanly either! He does get the lead runner at 2nd though.
Iidzuka gets Kawasaki to pop out to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Both pitchers entrenching themselves in a pitcher's battle now.
Iidzuka is caught looking on a fastball on the outside corner, and both Kaifu and Masaki ground out to 2nd for a 1-2-3- inning.
Bottom 3rd
Iidzuka hangs a slider to Aoki and he drives it to right! That's over Kaifu's head! Aoki in at 2nd with a double!
Yamamoto bunts him along for Ogasawara.
But he swings at the first pitch and grounds it to 3rd! Kumamoto with the ball, goes to 1st and the runner has to hold!
Michibata up in another key situation, and again Iidzuka does not directly challenge him. Tries a 3-1 pitch inside, but misses for ball 4.
Runners at the corners with 2 down for Miyakawa.
Grounder to short! Ishii up with this one, flips to 2nd for the out! Chiben Wakayama can't score on the leadoff double by Aoki!
Top 4th
Ishii rips a slicer down the left field line... foul!
三振！ Aoki gets Ishii to swing at a fastball down and away for strike 3!
まだ三振！！ Masui with an excuse-me swing on a high fastball goes down on strikes!
Oonishi refuses to be the 3rd K victim this inning and lines one over Shima down the left field line! Nakamura gets the ball in, and Oonishi is in with a 2-out double!
Sakamoto with a grounder to the left side. Ogasawara ranging to his right, but the ball takes a high bounce and goes past him!
They're sending Oonishi home! Nakamura double clutches with his throw, and it comes in late! Sakamoto with the timely single makes it 1-0 Riseisha!
Kumamoto goes down swinging and that's 3 K's for Aoki this inning, but 2 base hits in the middle give Riseisha the lead!
Bottom 4th
Iidzuka continuing to show good command of the zone. A nice snag by Ishii of a Shima liner highlights Iidzuka's 1-2-3 inning.
Top 5th
Hirada grounds one back at Aoki! He has his glove there, but can't find the ball! It's into center for a leadoff hit!
Iidzuka bunts him along for the top of the lineup.
Odd... At 1-0, Takashima-kantoku pulls Nakamura from LF and puts in #14 Numakura. I seem to remember him doing this before, but couldn't figure out why then either.
And Kaifu walks on 4 straight to put runners on 1st and 2nd.
Tamaki with a shot to 1st! Hiraoka fields it and goes to the bag for out #2. Runners advance into scoring position.
Ishii up now for Riseisha, 0-2 on the day.
ああああああああああ！！！！！！！！！！！
Pitch from Aoki goes off Michibata's glove, bounces off his mask and goes away! Hirada comes in to score on the battery miss and Riseisha leads 2-0! It looks like the signs were mixed up and Michibata was late to react!
Now Ishii walks on 4 straight! What is happening here in the 5th?? #12 Furuta warms up in the bullpen.
えええええ？？？？？？？？
Aoki hits Masui to load the bases! Takashima-kantoku calls for a conference as Oonishi comes to the plate.
Aoki still can't find the zone falling behind 2-0 before throwing a strike. But a change down and away makes it 3-1.
Grounder to the left side! Ogasawara running to his right... can't get to it! Kaifu scores! Ishii is being sent home! Throw from Numakura not in time! Oonishi with a 2-out RBI single makes 4-0 Riseisha!!
Sakamoto with a shot to center! Miyakawa running back, and it's over his head! It takes a bounce to the wall! Oonishi and Masui scores and it's now 6-0!!
Takashima-kantoku has seen enough and has called in #11 Oojino to replace Aoki on the mound.
But Oojino can't stop the bleeding! Kumamoto with a single through the left side and there's runners at the corners!
Hirada up again this inning! He singles through the right side! That scores Sakamoto! 7-0!!!
Iidzuka with a ball that sneaks through to right! Kumamoto scores and it's 8-0 Riseisha!!!!!!!
Kaifu lines out to left to end the inning, but what the heck happened??!! Chiben Wakayama implodes for 7 runs this inning and find themselves down 8-0!!
Bottom 5th
Two quick outs for Iidzuka this inning, but then the lineup turns over and Yamamoto singles to right! Ogasawara follows that up with his own hit to right!
And now Michibata walks for the 3rd time giving Chiben Wakayama a manrui situation!
Miyakawa with a fly to right! The outfield was in a no-doubles situation and the ball falls in! 2 runners score to make it 8-2.
Hiraoka with a hard shot at 1st, but Masui is there for the stop. He takes it to the bag to retire the side.
Chiben Wakayama manages to get a couple of runs back, but as we head into the break a complete meltdown by Chiben in the 5th finds them behind by 6 runs with 4 innings to go!
Top 6th
I get a good laugh as someone on the #koshien feed says that it's okay, and recalls the Chiben Wakayama-Teikyou comeback in 2006 (which I was there in person for).
Oojino gets 2 quick outs. And while Masui gets his first base hit of the game, Oonishi pops up to Ogasawara to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Iidzuka, who had been cruising right along until the 5th, seems to be laboring a bit more as his pitches aren't finding the plate as much. While he retires the side in order, each batter takes at least 5 pitches in their AB.
Top 7th
A few words on Oojino. He's a 2nd-year righty with a fastball that is in the 130s, and a slider in the low 120s, and a curve in the 110s.
With one down Kumamoto hits one to left center! That takes a bounce in front of the wall and Kumamoto is in at 2nd.
Takashima-kantoku makes another pitching change, sending in Uenoyama for Oojino.
As noted in the preview, Uenoyama is a sidearm pitcher who can hit the mid 130s.
His pitches to start are a bit low, and he winds up walking Hirada.
Uenoyama falls behind Ootsuka too 3-0, but Okada has Ootsuka bunt the runners along.
Back to the top of the order and Kaifu, and Uenoyama manages to even the count at 2-2. Uenoyama finally goes up on Kaifu and he goes down swinging.
Bottom 7th
Uenoyama holds on as long as he can at the plate, but grounds to short on the 9th pitch of the AB.
Iidzuka looks to be hitting his spots again now though, and that's a good sign for Riseisha.
Yamamoto goes down looking on what looks like a two-seamer on the inside part of the plate.
Iidzuka with another sharp two-seamer on the outside part of the plate gets Ogasawara looking to end the inning! He looks in full control now!
Top 8th
One down for Risei and Uenoyama hits Ishii. Masui bunts the runner along to 2nd for Oonishi who is 2-4 on the day.
But Oonishi hits a dribbler in front of the plate. Uenoyama fields it and throws to 1st for the out.
Bottom 8th
Michibata, perhaps irked he's been walked 3 times, goes down and takes a slider from Iidzuka to deep left! Kaifu has to run it down at the wall, and Michibata is in with a leadoff double.
Miyakawa with a single to left! Michibata's being waved home! Throw from Oonishi is just late! It's 8-3 on the RBI single by Miyakawa.
Hiroka with a fly to right, and Hirada is there for the 1st out.
With Shima at the plate, Okada-kantoku sends #18 Watanabe to the bullpen.
Shima now with a ball though to right puts runners at the corners.
三振!!!!!
Iidzuka with a shuuto on the outside corner strikes out Numakura for the 2nd out!
#15 Takagaki comes in to hit for Kawasaki.
三振!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Iidzuka freezes Takagai on a shuuto that catches the inside part for strike 3!
Top 9th
#13 Nishitani comes in for PH Takagaki and takes over at 2B.
Sakamoto is hit to start the inning. Kumamoto three-bunts, but goes down on strikes.
Uenoyama walks Hirada for the 2nd time today putting 2 runners on.
Iidzuka squaring to bunt, even at 2 strikes. Successfully lays it down.
Kaifu with a high chopper down the 3rd base line. Shima makes a play at it and then realizes he doesn't have one! Everyone's safe as Sakamoto scores to make it 9-3.
Masaki with a single to right, and Hirada scores to make it 10-3.
Ishii goes down swinging to end the inning, and Riseisha is just 3 outs away from the Best 4!
Bottom 9th
Uenoyama puts a charge into the ball, but Oonishi in front of the wall makes the catch.
Yamamoto singles to right.
Ogasawara with a liner right at Oonishi for the 2nd out.
Iidzuka with the rare pitch inside to Michibata, and it jams him! He pops out to Iidzuka for the 2nd out.
On a side note, I had completely forgotten about Chiben Wakayama's "Jock Rock" since they couldn't have a band!
That as Miyakawa flies out to center to end the game!
Riseisha, already further then they had gone before, now reaches the Best 4!
Early on, the teams were locked in an expected pitchers battle. Riseisha managed to break the deadlock in the 4th, but it was the 5th inning where things just went awry. I seemed to remember a mid-AB defensive substitution made before, but I can't recall if it was Takashima-kantoku who had done it.
But the odd substitution of #14 Numakura for team captain Nakamura seemed to throw the entire team off. 6 of the next 7 runners would reach base safely and it seemed like game over after that. Come to think of it, I didn't realize that the substitution had been for their captain until just now.
Pulling your captain mid-game is rather unusual as it would seem doing so would indicate loss of face for Nakamura. So I wonder what happened there.
So Chiben Wakayama is denied a spot in the Best 4 yet again. Meanwhile Riseisha, already with the deepest run in school history, advances to the Best 4 with a chance to reach the title game!
Notable Players
Riseisha
Iidzuka Takafumi - W, CG, 3 ER, 10 H, 4 K, 3 BB
Oonishi Kouhei - 2-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Sakamoto, Seishirou - 2-3, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, K, BB, HBP
Hirada Ryouhei - 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
Chiben Wakayama
Aoki Yuuto - L, 7.1 IP, 8 ER, 11 H, 6 K, 2 BB, HBP
Michibata Shunsuke - 1-2, 2B, R, 3 BB
Yamamoto Ryuuta - 3-5, R, K
Miyakawa Yuuki - 2-5, 3 RBI
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Nichidai-san vs. Seisei Game posted
Just a quick note that the Nichidai-san vs. Seisei game that was the 2nd game of Day 6 is now posted. I finally had enough time to watch the entire game and make my entry.
Day 9 - Best 8 Game 2 - Kakogawa Kita (Hyogo) vs. Nichidai-san (Tokyo)
Our second Best 8 game features a team that may be a surprise versus one that was expected to be here.
Kakogawa Kita was the beneficiary of circumstance. Earlier on, the favorite to advance, Yokohama was upset by Hasami. With the powerhouse gone, it suddenly became a free-for-all. Kakogawa Kita struggled early against Kanazawa but outlasted them 4-0. Then against Hasami, an error right off the bat eventually put them in front, and Inoue's skillful pitching made sure that that run was the only one they needed.
Kakogawa Kita's Inoue Maito has been really steady through these 2 games:
18 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 10 K, 5 BB, HBP for a 0.00(!) ERA, 0.89 WHIp, 5 K/9, and 3 BB(+HBP)/9
Not bad. But it's absolutely necessary because the team as a while can't hit - just 0.216. Which means that Inoue's going to have to carry them the entire way.
Their opponent will be Nichidai-san, whose probably the odds on favorite to win it all. But, they had to rally against Meitoku Gijyuku, then had another tenuous game against Seisei winning 3-1.
Yoshinaga has put up some strong K numbers, but he has also been hittable:
18 IP, 5 ER, 17 H, 16 K, 7 BB for a 2.50 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9
Relatively speaking...
That's okay though because the team is hitting 0.339. The thing is, there is no big hitter on the team - everyone's just hitting well.
With such a well rounded offense as that one, you can't game plan against one person, you have to game plan against the entire team.
____________________________________________________________
Kakogawa Kita (Hyogo) - Kinki 5th-8th place
2B Shibumura Ryousuke
SS Takeda Yuuki
CF Shibata Seiji
P Inoue Maito
RF Tokura Kenshi
LF Odashima Suguru (#10)
C Satou Hiroki
3B Ujihashi Yuuto
1B Yamamoto Takaki
Nichidai-san (Tokyo) - Tokyo Champions
RF Takayama Shun
LF Taniguchi Yuuta (#4)
CF Azegami Shou
3B Yokoo Toshitake
SS Shimizu Kouki
2B Suganuma Kenichi (#7)
1B Kaneko Ryouya
P Yoshinaga Kentarou
C Suzuki Takahiro
____________________________________________________________
13:30 - Game start!
Top 1st
Yoshinaga starts off the game by getting Shibumura to ground out to 2nd.
Takeda, seeing the ball fairly well early, lines one to left for a base hit.
Shibata though hits a grounder to short. Shimizu starts the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning! Of course Shibata dives into 1st and you can see him stop for a split second as he dives.
Bottom 1st
After a pop out, Taniguchi singles to right.
Taniguchi takes off on the 1-1 pitch to Azegami! Throw to 2nd not in time!
Azegami with a grounder up the middle! Inoue knees down to try and field it, but it goes to center! Shibata throws home, and that allows Azegami to take 2nd!
まずいですね。。。 Yokoo walks on 4 straight.
Manrui for Nichidai-san and Fukumura-kantoku calls time.
With nowhere to put Shimizu, Inoue has to go after him. Getting ahead 1-2, he just misses on the outside with a change.
Shimizu with a grounder to short! Takeda can't field the ball cleanly! He quickly gets the ball to 2nd for one, relay by Shibumura is high! No double play and Taniguchi scores to make it 1-0 Nichidai-san!
Suganuma with a hard shot at 3rd! Ujihashi makes a great stop and throws to 1st to end the inning!
But for an offensively starved team, giving up a run already is not the start they wer envisioning.
Top 2nd
Ahead in the count 3-1 Inoue swings away and pops out to Kaneko.
Inoue first pitch swings and flies out to center.
And Odashima swings and misses on a fastball outside for strike 3 to retire the side.
Bottom 2nd
Inoue trying to survive on offspeed pitches falls behind 3-1. After a foul, he catches Kaneko looking on a fastball on the insider part of the plate.
He falls behind Yoshinaga 3-1, and walks him. Suzuki lays down the bunt, and Yoshinaga moves into scoring position for the top of the order.
Takayama with a grounder up the middle! Takeda diving to his left can't reach it! Yoshinaga comes in to score making it 2-0!
Inoue hits Taniguchi, and Kakogawa is not in a good way at all.
Azegami singles to left! Takayama being sent home as Takeda throws home! It's not in time and Azegami takes 2nd.
Conference from Fukumura-kantoku is to no avail. Yokoo blows a ball by Ujihashi into left! Both runners score on the single by Yokoo and it's 5-0 Nichidai-san.
Shimizu follows that with a single up the middle. Suganuma will represent the 9th batter to come to the plate this inning. He grounds out to 2nd to end the inning, but the game already looks over for
Top 3rd
Satou draws a walk to start the inning, but is erased when Ujihashi grounds into the 5-4-3 double play. Yamamoto pops out to Yokoo behind the mound to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Kaneko leads off the 3rd with a base hit through the left side. Ogura-kantoku has Yoshinaga bunt the runner along.
Wild pitch from Inoue advances the runner to 3rd, and Sanko is on the verge of scoring their 6th run.
Suzuki hits a chopper back to Inoue. He looks back the runner and makes the play at 1st. 2 down.
Inoue can't put the 0 on the board! Takayama drives a ball to deep right center! Kaneko scores as Takayama gets around the throw and is in 3rd safely! It's 6-0 Sanko.
Taniguchi battles against Inoue, but pops out on the 11th pitch. Nichidai-san adds another run to their totals. It'll be a question now of whether Kakogawa Kita can avoid the shutout.
Top 4th
Yoshinaga takes care of the top of the order, and Kakogawa Kita has to head back out on defense.
Bottom 4th
Azegami gets his 3rd hit of the day as he hits a fly to left center than sneaks in. It hangs in the air long enough that he takes 2nd!
Inoue though gets Yokoo to swing at a pitch at his eyes for strike 3.
Shimizu strikes out swinging on a fastball away for the 2nd out.
Suganuma drives a ball away and almost hits a home run, but it goes foul. He hacks at a high fastball and does the exact same thing down the left field line.
On the 9th pitch, Inoue gets him to ground out to 2nd to end the inning and finally puts up a donut hole.
Top 5th
Inoue with a ball back up the middle gets Kakogawa Kita their first hit!
Looking to break the shutout, Tokura bunts him along.
Odashima though pops it up! Shimizu in front of 2nd catches it for the 2nd out.
Up to Satou now, but Inoue is caught off base! Suzuki throws to 2nd, but Inoue breaks for 3rd! Throw from Shimizu is late, and the run is just 90 feet away!
But Satou hits a fly to center! Azegami ranges to his left and makes the catch to retire the side.
Bottom 5th
Kaneko with a grounder to short. Takeda dives to his left, but can't make the snag. Leadoff single for Sanko.
Yoshinaga getting in on the hit parade driving one to deep center. He's in with an RBI double to make it 7-0.
Suzuki flies out to center for the 1st out of the inning.
Takayama grounds out to 2nd for the 2nd out, and Yoshinaga advances to 3rd.
Taniguchi walks and there's runners at the corners.
Azegami with a grounder up the middle. Shibumura slides but can't get to it. Yoshinaga scores, and as they get the ball in, Taniguchi keeps on running home! Takeda tries to fire the relay in, but it's too late and it's now 9-0. Nichidai-san taking advantage of an asleep defense and another run scores.
Yokoo grounds to short to end the inning, but Nichidai-san has been in full control of the game.
Top 6th
Kakogawa Kita putting up little resistance as they go down in order here in the 6th
Bottom 6th
#18 Nishijima comes in for Odashima and takes over on the hill. Inoue goes to left.
Shimizu with a shot to 3rd that eats up Ujihashi. It goes to the wall for a leadoff double. He advances to 3rd on a groundout to 2nd from Suganuma.
Kaneko hits it to 2nd as well, but with the infield in, Shibumura is able to hold the runner.
Not for long though. Yoshinaga drives another ball to left. That's to the wall for a double and it's 10-0.
Suzuki follows that up with a single past Ujihashi into left. Yoshinaga holds at 3rd.
Takayama with a grounder to short. And he beats out the throw from Takeda! Yoshinaga scores to make it 11-0.
Taniguchi grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 7th
Takeda starts off the inning with a grounder to the left side for a base hit. But a 4-6-3 double play means there's quickly two outs.
Inoue then collects his 2nd hit of the day as he hits a ball down the left field line for a double. He then takes things into his own hands by stealing 3rd!
But Tokura swings at a slider away for strike 3 to end the threat.
Bottom 7th
Azegami makes it 2 batters today with 5 hits as he singles to right center. After a flyout by Yokoo, Shimizu singles to left, and Suganuma singles to center. Manrui for Kaneko.
With that single from Suganuma, every starting member now has a base hit.
Kaneko hits it back to Nishijima! He goes home for the force, and Satou goes to 1st for the 1-2-3 double play!
Top 8th
Nichidai-san will pull their pitcher now. #11 Nakano comes in for Suganuma and take the hill. Yoshinaga goes to left and Taniguchi goes to 2nd.
#7 Tashiro comes in to hit for Nishijima. That means that Inoue will probably take the mound one last time. Tashiro strikes out as Nakano priceeds to retire next two batters for a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 8th
Inoue does indeed take the hill as #17 Hagiwara comes in for PH Tashiro and takes over in LF.
Inoue almost gets a 1-2-3 inning, but then Takayama blasts one to center. Shibata can't run it down and Takayama is in with a triple.
Taniguchi with a shallow fly to left center, Hagiwara charging in slides, but can't make the catch. Takayama scores to make it 12-0.
Azegami with a fly to deep left. Hagiwara running back, midjudges the wind! He reaches back over himself, and the ball drops in. It's 13-0 as Azegami beats the throw into 3rd with his 6th hit of the day.
And a first pitch dead ball to Yokoo gest Fukumura-kantoku to call a conference.
Shimizu flies out to left to end the inning, and Kakogawa Kita will get more one chance to prevent the shutout.
Top 9th
#17 Seki comes in for Yoshinaga and so his day is officially done.
Yamamoto starts off the inning with a single up the middle. He takes off for 2nd and just beats the throw. They may yet prevent the shutout.
Shibumura hits a hanging slider to right! That's in for a base hit! Throw goes to the cutoff man as Yamamoto scores, breaking the shutout! Its 13-1!
Takeda with a ball that sneaks through the infield to left and that's 3 straight hits for Kakogawa.
Shibata looks to get in on the act, but swings at a slider out of the zone for the first out.
Inoue with a single to center, and that scores Shibumura to make it 13-2. Runners at the corners for Tokura. He though is fooled by the slider away again, and there's 2 outs.
Hagiwara hits a grounder to 2nd. Taniguchi tosses it to 2nd to end the game.
Unfortunately for the boys from Hyogo, their run comes to an abrupt end here against Nichidai-san. Inoue was just no match for the Nichidai-san lineup, while Yoshinaga held the Kakogawa Kita batters in check.
Nonetheless, it was a good run by Kakogawa Kita to make it to the Best 8, and they'll still provide a good challenge to the other teams in the summer.
Nichidai-san now is on a collision course with Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku. That should be an entertaining can't miss game.
Notable Players
Kakogawa Kita
Takeda Yuuki - 3-4
Inoue Maito - 3-4, 2B, RBI, SB
Nichidai-san
Yoshinaga Kentarou - W, 7 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 3 K, BB
Azegami Shou - 6-6, 2B, 3B, R, 3 RBI
Taniguchi Yuuta - 2-4, 2B, 4 R, W, HBP, SB
Takayama Shun - 4-6, 2 3B, 2 R, RBI
Shimizu Kouki - 3-6, 2B, R, RBI, K
Yoshinaga Kentarou - 2-3, 2 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB
Kaneko Ryouya - 2-5, 2 R, K
Kakogawa Kita was the beneficiary of circumstance. Earlier on, the favorite to advance, Yokohama was upset by Hasami. With the powerhouse gone, it suddenly became a free-for-all. Kakogawa Kita struggled early against Kanazawa but outlasted them 4-0. Then against Hasami, an error right off the bat eventually put them in front, and Inoue's skillful pitching made sure that that run was the only one they needed.
Kakogawa Kita's Inoue Maito has been really steady through these 2 games:
18 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 10 K, 5 BB, HBP for a 0.00(!) ERA, 0.89 WHIp, 5 K/9, and 3 BB(+HBP)/9
Not bad. But it's absolutely necessary because the team as a while can't hit - just 0.216. Which means that Inoue's going to have to carry them the entire way.
Their opponent will be Nichidai-san, whose probably the odds on favorite to win it all. But, they had to rally against Meitoku Gijyuku, then had another tenuous game against Seisei winning 3-1.
Yoshinaga has put up some strong K numbers, but he has also been hittable:
18 IP, 5 ER, 17 H, 16 K, 7 BB for a 2.50 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9
Relatively speaking...
That's okay though because the team is hitting 0.339. The thing is, there is no big hitter on the team - everyone's just hitting well.
With such a well rounded offense as that one, you can't game plan against one person, you have to game plan against the entire team.
____________________________________________________________
Kakogawa Kita (Hyogo) - Kinki 5th-8th place
2B Shibumura Ryousuke
SS Takeda Yuuki
CF Shibata Seiji
P Inoue Maito
RF Tokura Kenshi
LF Odashima Suguru (#10)
C Satou Hiroki
3B Ujihashi Yuuto
1B Yamamoto Takaki
Nichidai-san (Tokyo) - Tokyo Champions
RF Takayama Shun
LF Taniguchi Yuuta (#4)
CF Azegami Shou
3B Yokoo Toshitake
SS Shimizu Kouki
2B Suganuma Kenichi (#7)
1B Kaneko Ryouya
P Yoshinaga Kentarou
C Suzuki Takahiro
____________________________________________________________
13:30 - Game start!
Top 1st
Yoshinaga starts off the game by getting Shibumura to ground out to 2nd.
Takeda, seeing the ball fairly well early, lines one to left for a base hit.
Shibata though hits a grounder to short. Shimizu starts the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning! Of course Shibata dives into 1st and you can see him stop for a split second as he dives.
Bottom 1st
After a pop out, Taniguchi singles to right.
Taniguchi takes off on the 1-1 pitch to Azegami! Throw to 2nd not in time!
Azegami with a grounder up the middle! Inoue knees down to try and field it, but it goes to center! Shibata throws home, and that allows Azegami to take 2nd!
まずいですね。。。 Yokoo walks on 4 straight.
Manrui for Nichidai-san and Fukumura-kantoku calls time.
With nowhere to put Shimizu, Inoue has to go after him. Getting ahead 1-2, he just misses on the outside with a change.
Shimizu with a grounder to short! Takeda can't field the ball cleanly! He quickly gets the ball to 2nd for one, relay by Shibumura is high! No double play and Taniguchi scores to make it 1-0 Nichidai-san!
Suganuma with a hard shot at 3rd! Ujihashi makes a great stop and throws to 1st to end the inning!
But for an offensively starved team, giving up a run already is not the start they wer envisioning.
Top 2nd
Ahead in the count 3-1 Inoue swings away and pops out to Kaneko.
Inoue first pitch swings and flies out to center.
And Odashima swings and misses on a fastball outside for strike 3 to retire the side.
Bottom 2nd
Inoue trying to survive on offspeed pitches falls behind 3-1. After a foul, he catches Kaneko looking on a fastball on the insider part of the plate.
He falls behind Yoshinaga 3-1, and walks him. Suzuki lays down the bunt, and Yoshinaga moves into scoring position for the top of the order.
Takayama with a grounder up the middle! Takeda diving to his left can't reach it! Yoshinaga comes in to score making it 2-0!
Inoue hits Taniguchi, and Kakogawa is not in a good way at all.
Azegami singles to left! Takayama being sent home as Takeda throws home! It's not in time and Azegami takes 2nd.
Conference from Fukumura-kantoku is to no avail. Yokoo blows a ball by Ujihashi into left! Both runners score on the single by Yokoo and it's 5-0 Nichidai-san.
Shimizu follows that with a single up the middle. Suganuma will represent the 9th batter to come to the plate this inning. He grounds out to 2nd to end the inning, but the game already looks over for
Top 3rd
Satou draws a walk to start the inning, but is erased when Ujihashi grounds into the 5-4-3 double play. Yamamoto pops out to Yokoo behind the mound to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Kaneko leads off the 3rd with a base hit through the left side. Ogura-kantoku has Yoshinaga bunt the runner along.
Wild pitch from Inoue advances the runner to 3rd, and Sanko is on the verge of scoring their 6th run.
Suzuki hits a chopper back to Inoue. He looks back the runner and makes the play at 1st. 2 down.
Inoue can't put the 0 on the board! Takayama drives a ball to deep right center! Kaneko scores as Takayama gets around the throw and is in 3rd safely! It's 6-0 Sanko.
Taniguchi battles against Inoue, but pops out on the 11th pitch. Nichidai-san adds another run to their totals. It'll be a question now of whether Kakogawa Kita can avoid the shutout.
Top 4th
Yoshinaga takes care of the top of the order, and Kakogawa Kita has to head back out on defense.
Bottom 4th
Azegami gets his 3rd hit of the day as he hits a fly to left center than sneaks in. It hangs in the air long enough that he takes 2nd!
Inoue though gets Yokoo to swing at a pitch at his eyes for strike 3.
Shimizu strikes out swinging on a fastball away for the 2nd out.
Suganuma drives a ball away and almost hits a home run, but it goes foul. He hacks at a high fastball and does the exact same thing down the left field line.
On the 9th pitch, Inoue gets him to ground out to 2nd to end the inning and finally puts up a donut hole.
Top 5th
Inoue with a ball back up the middle gets Kakogawa Kita their first hit!
Looking to break the shutout, Tokura bunts him along.
Odashima though pops it up! Shimizu in front of 2nd catches it for the 2nd out.
Up to Satou now, but Inoue is caught off base! Suzuki throws to 2nd, but Inoue breaks for 3rd! Throw from Shimizu is late, and the run is just 90 feet away!
But Satou hits a fly to center! Azegami ranges to his left and makes the catch to retire the side.
Bottom 5th
Kaneko with a grounder to short. Takeda dives to his left, but can't make the snag. Leadoff single for Sanko.
Yoshinaga getting in on the hit parade driving one to deep center. He's in with an RBI double to make it 7-0.
Suzuki flies out to center for the 1st out of the inning.
Takayama grounds out to 2nd for the 2nd out, and Yoshinaga advances to 3rd.
Taniguchi walks and there's runners at the corners.
Azegami with a grounder up the middle. Shibumura slides but can't get to it. Yoshinaga scores, and as they get the ball in, Taniguchi keeps on running home! Takeda tries to fire the relay in, but it's too late and it's now 9-0. Nichidai-san taking advantage of an asleep defense and another run scores.
Yokoo grounds to short to end the inning, but Nichidai-san has been in full control of the game.
Top 6th
Kakogawa Kita putting up little resistance as they go down in order here in the 6th
Bottom 6th
#18 Nishijima comes in for Odashima and takes over on the hill. Inoue goes to left.
Shimizu with a shot to 3rd that eats up Ujihashi. It goes to the wall for a leadoff double. He advances to 3rd on a groundout to 2nd from Suganuma.
Kaneko hits it to 2nd as well, but with the infield in, Shibumura is able to hold the runner.
Not for long though. Yoshinaga drives another ball to left. That's to the wall for a double and it's 10-0.
Suzuki follows that up with a single past Ujihashi into left. Yoshinaga holds at 3rd.
Takayama with a grounder to short. And he beats out the throw from Takeda! Yoshinaga scores to make it 11-0.
Taniguchi grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 7th
Takeda starts off the inning with a grounder to the left side for a base hit. But a 4-6-3 double play means there's quickly two outs.
Inoue then collects his 2nd hit of the day as he hits a ball down the left field line for a double. He then takes things into his own hands by stealing 3rd!
But Tokura swings at a slider away for strike 3 to end the threat.
Bottom 7th
Azegami makes it 2 batters today with 5 hits as he singles to right center. After a flyout by Yokoo, Shimizu singles to left, and Suganuma singles to center. Manrui for Kaneko.
With that single from Suganuma, every starting member now has a base hit.
Kaneko hits it back to Nishijima! He goes home for the force, and Satou goes to 1st for the 1-2-3 double play!
Top 8th
Nichidai-san will pull their pitcher now. #11 Nakano comes in for Suganuma and take the hill. Yoshinaga goes to left and Taniguchi goes to 2nd.
#7 Tashiro comes in to hit for Nishijima. That means that Inoue will probably take the mound one last time. Tashiro strikes out as Nakano priceeds to retire next two batters for a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 8th
Inoue does indeed take the hill as #17 Hagiwara comes in for PH Tashiro and takes over in LF.
Inoue almost gets a 1-2-3 inning, but then Takayama blasts one to center. Shibata can't run it down and Takayama is in with a triple.
Taniguchi with a shallow fly to left center, Hagiwara charging in slides, but can't make the catch. Takayama scores to make it 12-0.
Azegami with a fly to deep left. Hagiwara running back, midjudges the wind! He reaches back over himself, and the ball drops in. It's 13-0 as Azegami beats the throw into 3rd with his 6th hit of the day.
And a first pitch dead ball to Yokoo gest Fukumura-kantoku to call a conference.
Shimizu flies out to left to end the inning, and Kakogawa Kita will get more one chance to prevent the shutout.
Top 9th
#17 Seki comes in for Yoshinaga and so his day is officially done.
Yamamoto starts off the inning with a single up the middle. He takes off for 2nd and just beats the throw. They may yet prevent the shutout.
Shibumura hits a hanging slider to right! That's in for a base hit! Throw goes to the cutoff man as Yamamoto scores, breaking the shutout! Its 13-1!
Takeda with a ball that sneaks through the infield to left and that's 3 straight hits for Kakogawa.
Shibata looks to get in on the act, but swings at a slider out of the zone for the first out.
Inoue with a single to center, and that scores Shibumura to make it 13-2. Runners at the corners for Tokura. He though is fooled by the slider away again, and there's 2 outs.
Hagiwara hits a grounder to 2nd. Taniguchi tosses it to 2nd to end the game.
Unfortunately for the boys from Hyogo, their run comes to an abrupt end here against Nichidai-san. Inoue was just no match for the Nichidai-san lineup, while Yoshinaga held the Kakogawa Kita batters in check.
Nonetheless, it was a good run by Kakogawa Kita to make it to the Best 8, and they'll still provide a good challenge to the other teams in the summer.
Nichidai-san now is on a collision course with Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku. That should be an entertaining can't miss game.
Notable Players
Kakogawa Kita
Takeda Yuuki - 3-4
Inoue Maito - 3-4, 2B, RBI, SB
Nichidai-san
Yoshinaga Kentarou - W, 7 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 3 K, BB
Azegami Shou - 6-6, 2B, 3B, R, 3 RBI
Taniguchi Yuuta - 2-4, 2B, 4 R, W, HBP, SB
Takayama Shun - 4-6, 2 3B, 2 R, RBI
Shimizu Kouki - 3-6, 2B, R, RBI, K
Yoshinaga Kentarou - 2-3, 2 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB
Kaneko Ryouya - 2-5, 2 R, K
Day 9 - Best 8 Game 1- Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka) vs. Hokkai (Hokkaido)
So we're into the Best 8 now, and talking with my friend @RealKenDick, he wasn't too thrilled with the remaining field. I correctly pointed out that he felt that way because all the teams that should have made for the most part did. There are minor surprises, but nothing that you look at and go "Wow!"
In addition, there isn't that truly dominating figure that people buzz over. Last year it was Shimabukuro Yousuke and Hifumi Shinta. The year before that it was Kikuchi Yuusei. You could argue that Nichidai-san's Yoshinaga might qualify or perhaps the pitcher I'll highlight below, but I didn't hear the buzz about them like I did with the others.
While I agree that there isn't that person or team that the people may necessarily rally over, I think that the remaining games will be very enjoyable to watch.
In fact, I wish these two teams that open up the Best 8 did not have to face either other right now.
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku, or Kyukoku as you've seen me reference them as, I think will be a powerhouse team for years to come (at least for as long as Wakao-kantoku is heading things anyways). When they came to Koushien a couple of years back, they actually won a couple of games before bowing out. Back then I thought if given a couple of years, they'd be a powerhouse not only in a prefecture that had a power vacuum, but in the country as well.
Well, here they are again, and they're here with a chance to play in the semifinals. And this time, they have that dominating pitcher in Miyoshi Takumi. Through 2 games, his line is as follows (my scoring is a bit different than the official scoring):
18 IP, 3 ER, 10 H, 23 K, 4 BB for a 1.50 ERA/0.78 WHIP and a 11.5 K/9 and 2 BB/9 ratio
The offense was already there for Kyukoku and they haven't really missed a step since 2009. The stars so far for the team have been:
Andou Akito - 4-7, HR, R, RBI, BB, K
Takajyou Shuuto - 4-8, HR, R, 3 RBI, K
But that's not to say that the rest of the team can't hit. The team according to official statistics is hitting 0.305 right now. So their opponents will be hard pressed to generate offense of their own.
Hokkai got to this point via 2 pitcher's duels. First, they played unknown Soushi Gakuin who not even 12 months ago didn't really exist. That game they won 2-1 with a late run. Then against Tenri they executed their strategy with excellent precision and Tenri was unable to adapt, losing by the slim margin of 1-0.
Teams from Hokkaido, until Komadai Tomakomai in the mid 2000's, was never seriously considered as a contender to win it all although there were several strong schools in the region iteself, Hokkai being one of them.
Hokkai has another good pitcher in Tamakuma Shouichi, who has put up somewhat similar numbers through his 2 games:
18 IP, ER, 12 H, 13 K, 3 BB for a 0.50 ERA/0.83 WHIP and a 6.5 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 ratio
Interestingly enough, Hokkai actually has some offense to go with the pitching. The team is actually hitting 0.311 so far led by a couple of guys, one of which is Tamakuma himself hitting 4-7 with a 2B. Kawagoe Seiji is 5-7 with a 2B and a HR.
I still like Kyukoku in this matchup, but Hokkai may have more than just a snowball's chance in, well... you know.
____________________________________________________________
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka) - Kyushu Runner-up
2B Hirabaru Yuuta
CF Andou Akito
P Miyoshi Takumi
C Takajyou Shuuto
RF Ryuu Kounosuke
1B Hanada Shun
LF Katou Ryou
3B Tokiyoshi Seiya
SS Ishisako Yuuma
Hokkai (Hokkaido) - Hokkaido Champions
SS Mori Takahiro
3B Tama Taisuke
2B Kawasaki Kazuya
RF Kawagoe Seiji
1B Zeniya Kouki
C Tamaki Kouta
LF Ujiie Ryou
P Tamakuma Shouichi
CF Isoda Kouyou
____________________________________________________________
11:00 - Game start!
Top 1st
Hirabaru starts the game off with a single to center!
Wakou-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run! The ball is hit to short, but Mori's only play is to first.
Miyoshi goes down looking on a fastball that hits the outside corner! 2 down!
Takajyou with a base hit to right! Hirabaru comes around as Isoda tries to get the ball in! Hirabaru scores and it's 1-0!
Tamaki notices Takajyou heading for 2nd! He throws to 2nd and they gun him down! The inning is over but not before Kyukoku gets on the board!
Bottom 1st
One down and Miyoshi walks Tama. Hirakawa-kantoku goes for the bunt for the one-timer but Kawagoe flies out to right to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Tamakuma settling down after the slightly shaky 1st inning. He gets Ryuu to reach out and ground to 2nd, Hanada hits a fly to shallow left, and Katou too grounds out to 2nd.
Bottom 2nd
The game continues to go at a quick pace. Miyoshi makes quick work of the Hokkai batters. Zeniya pops out to Hirabaru on the foul line, Tamaki flies out to center and Ujiie grounds out to 2nd.
Top 3rd
Tokiyoshi starts the inning off with a walk. Ishisako bunts the runner along as the lineup flips back to the top of the order.
Hirabaru gets his 2nd hit as he singles to center! Tokiyoshi has to hold at 3rd!
Andou pops it up! Ujiie at the left field line makes the catch for the 2nd out!
And Tamakuma gets Miyoshi to pop it up! Ujiie parks under it and makes the catch to retire the side!
Bottom 3rd
One down and Isoda hits a shallow fly to center Andou charging in, dives... but can't get to it! It bounces away from him and Isoda's in with a double!
Back to the top of the order and Mori. He grounds to 2nd, but Hirabaru's only play is to first.
2 down for Tama.
AH!!!!!!!!!
Wild pitch from Miyoshi!! Isoda comes in to score and we're tied at 1-1!
Tama with a shot at Hirabaru, and that goes off of him! Tama is on base.
Miyoshi gets Kawasaki to fly out to center to end the inning, but a costly wild pitch ties the game!
Top 4th
Takajyou with a fly to right! Kawagoe coming in for the catch.
And it bounces in front of him???
What the heck happened there? Takajyou is on at 2nd with a gift double!
Ryuu with a drive to right! Kawagoe running back makes the catch but Takajyou is able to tag up!
One down and a scoring opportunity for Kyukoku! Hirakawa-kantoku calls for a conference...
But Hanada hits a ball back up the middle! Mori dives, but it's out of his reach! Takajyou scores and it's 2-1! Kyukoku retakes the lead!
Tamakuma gets Katou to fly out to right - and then Tokiyoshi hits a sharp liner, but right at Kawasaki to end the inning.
But a fielding misjudgement winds up costing Hokkai the lead! And they can't afford that.
Bottom 4th
One down for Hokkai when Miyoshi hits Zeniya.
Tamaki hits a fly to center, Andou there for the 2nd out.
And Zeniya takes off for 2nd! Takajyou's throw is late and he's in scoring positon!
Ujiie with a single back up the middle! That's through for a base hit! Zeniya is being sent home! The throw home is late and Hokkai has tied the game!
This time it's Takajyou seeing Ujiie takeoff for 2nd and he guns him down to end the inning! But another timely hit ties the game once again at 2-2!
Top 5th
Tamakuma gets two quick groundout and he looks to get an easy inning.
But Andou works the count full and draws a walk!
Wakou will push the issue and have Andou run! Throw from Tamaki is late and now a runner is in scoring position!
Tamakuma walks his 2nd straight batter in Miyoshi and what seemed like an easy inning isn't anymore!
And it really isn't! Takajyou hits a ball to right, and it falls in! Kawagoe up with the ball as they send Andou home! The throw is late and Kyukoku retakes the lead once again! It's 3-2!!
Things are really scary now as he hits Ryuu and the bases are now loaded!
But Hanada grounds out to 1st. Zeniya takes it to be bag for the out and the side is retired.
Once again, Kyukoku manufactures another run! Hokkai will be hard pressed to keep pace.
Bottom 5th
Will the trend of trading runs continue?
Tamakuma goes down swinging on a slider down and away.
Isoda pops out to 2nd... and Mori flies out to left! Miyoshi breaks the cycle of trading runs! And as we head to the break Kyukoku hold a very, very slim one-run margin!
Top 6th
Back from the break, will Kyukoku be able to add an insurance run?
Katou takes the first pitch and grounds to 1st.
Tokiyoshi can't hold up an a 2-2 slider, and becomes Tamakuma's 2nd K of the game.
Ishisako with an easy comebacker to Tamakuma and he goes to 1st for the 3rd out. Tamakuma's managed to keep Kyukoku scoreless here, now can the offense make a response of their own?
Bottom 6th
Sadly no! Miyoshi retires the side in order! Has Hokkai's chance at this game passed?
Top 7th
One down for Kyukoku and Andou goes for a safety bunt! All the fielders decide to wait for the ball to roll foul... but it never does! Andou on with a bunt single!
Miyoshi finally makes solid contact, but it's right at Tama! He goes to 2nd for one, but Kawasaki's throw to 1st is wide! Miyoshi takes 2nd on the error!
Takajyou up, already 3-3 on the day.
And he hits a dribbler in front of home! Tamaki goes to field it, throws to first... not in time!! Runners at the corners now and it's another pinch for Hokkai!
Ryuu with a ball up the middle! Kawasaki running over, dives... and has it! He touches the bag with the ball to retire the side and Tamakuma is out of the jam!
Bottom 7th
Hirakawa-kantoku will go to his bench and call on #15 Matsumoto. He delivered the timely hit last game. Can he do it again?
No! Miyoshi induces a grounder to 2nd! Hirabaru running in makes the nice pick and he tosses to 1st for the out!
Tamaki with a grounder up the 3rd base line, and it gets by Tokiyoshi! Tamaki hustles in with a double!
And now Hirakawa-kantoku sends in #16 Ishikawa to hit for Ujiie.
Ishikawa with another scorcher down the 3rd base line! THAT'S BY TOKIYOSHI!!!
Katou runs the ball down at the wall, but Tamaki scores on the double tying it once again at 3-3!!
There's only one down, can Hokkai take the lead?
Sanshin! Tamakuma strikes out on a slider away and there's 2 down!
It's up to Isoda who had a double earlier. But he hits a fly to center! Andou there to make the catch and the side is retired! Hokkai ties the game yet again, but cannot pull ahead!
Top 8th
Ishikawa stays in the game and goes to LF. Matsumoto stays as well and goes to 3B, and Tama goes to 1B.
うおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおお！！！！！！！！！
Hanada drives a fastball down the heart of the plate to right! Kawagoe to the wall....
HAITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hanada just like that unties the game with one swing of the bat! Kyukoku once again takes the lead! It's 4-3!!!!!
After a groundout by Katou, Tokiyoshi singles to center! Kyukoku pushing for an insurance run!
Ishisako bunts him along to 2nd and they'll look to Hirabaru at the top of the order for the timely hit.
Hirakawa-kantoku calls for a conference. Hokkai cannot afford to give up a 2nd run.
But Hirabaru delivers! He hits a sharp grounder to short that eats up Mori! Tokiyoshi comes around 3rd to score and Kyukoku has the largest lead of the game here in the 8th at 5-3!
Andou grounds out to short to end the inning, but now Hokkai will have to find 2 runs somewhere in the next 6 outs!
Bottom 8th
Top of the order for Hokkai.
One down and Tama gets the offense started with a base hit through the left side.
But Kawaski hits one right to Hirabaru! He goes to 2nd for one, relay to 1st... double play!
Now Hokkai will be down to their last 3 outs!
Top 9th
One down for Kyukoku, and Takajyou gets his 5th(!) base hit of the day! He slices one over Tama's head into right!
But much like last inning, Ryuu hits one to Kawasaki! He starts the 4-6 3 double play to end the inning!
Bottom 9th
Hokkai with one last chance here.
Kawagoe with a fly to shallow left! Ishisako and Katou converge... and collide!!
Ishisako can't hold onto the ball and Kawagoe is in at 2nd!
More importantly though, both players are slow to get up. The medical staff comes out to look at the players. Katou is the first to get up, but Ishisako needs Kouchou to come out with that "itai spray" to put on his ankle. Eventually he gets up heads back to the infield and both players are ready to go.
Matsumoto first pitch swinging grounds out to 2nd. Kawagoe advances to 3rd on the play.
おお！！
Tamaki works a walk, and now the douten run is on base!
Ishikawa up for Hokkai, does he have another hit in him?
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He rips one through the left side! Kawagoe comes home and Hokkai is within one at 5-4!!!!!!!!!!
Tamakuma with an opportunity to tie the game!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But Miyoshi won't let him!! He gets Tamakuma to swing on another outside slider for the 2nd out!
Isoda is their last chance.
He hits a comebacker to Miyoshi! Miyoshi gathers it in and tosses to 1st to end the game!!!
That crooked score in the 8th proves to be the difference as Hokkai could only manage to get one of those runs back! Kyukoku gives Fukuoka a team in the Best 4 for the first time in 42 years!
The game wound up being as advertised and more! Kyukoku held the lead early, but then as the game approached the midpoint the teams started trading runs back and forth as each had a response for the other. At the time Kyukoku still held a 1-run margin.
And when Hokkai tied the game up once more, Kyukoku put up an extra run on the board thanks to a leadoff homerun and a timely hit for Hirabaru extended the lead to 2.
Hokkai would only be able to get back one run, which was all that they could do the entire game, and fell short losing 5-4.
Given Hokkai's performance today, they shouldn't be totally disappointed in the loss. Having shown down a team of this calibur, I expect big things from them come the summertime.
Notable Players
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku
Miyoshi Takumi - W, CG, 4 ER, 8 H, 4 K, 3 BB, HBP
Takajyou Shuuto - 5-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Hanada Shun - 2-4, HR, R, RBI
Hokkai
Tamakuma Shouichi - L, CG, 4 ER, 11 H, 2 K, 2 BB, HBP
Ishikawa Keita - 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI
Tamaki Kouta - 1-3, 2B, R, BB
In addition, there isn't that truly dominating figure that people buzz over. Last year it was Shimabukuro Yousuke and Hifumi Shinta. The year before that it was Kikuchi Yuusei. You could argue that Nichidai-san's Yoshinaga might qualify or perhaps the pitcher I'll highlight below, but I didn't hear the buzz about them like I did with the others.
While I agree that there isn't that person or team that the people may necessarily rally over, I think that the remaining games will be very enjoyable to watch.
In fact, I wish these two teams that open up the Best 8 did not have to face either other right now.
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku, or Kyukoku as you've seen me reference them as, I think will be a powerhouse team for years to come (at least for as long as Wakao-kantoku is heading things anyways). When they came to Koushien a couple of years back, they actually won a couple of games before bowing out. Back then I thought if given a couple of years, they'd be a powerhouse not only in a prefecture that had a power vacuum, but in the country as well.
Well, here they are again, and they're here with a chance to play in the semifinals. And this time, they have that dominating pitcher in Miyoshi Takumi. Through 2 games, his line is as follows (my scoring is a bit different than the official scoring):
18 IP, 3 ER, 10 H, 23 K, 4 BB for a 1.50 ERA/0.78 WHIP and a 11.5 K/9 and 2 BB/9 ratio
The offense was already there for Kyukoku and they haven't really missed a step since 2009. The stars so far for the team have been:
Andou Akito - 4-7, HR, R, RBI, BB, K
Takajyou Shuuto - 4-8, HR, R, 3 RBI, K
But that's not to say that the rest of the team can't hit. The team according to official statistics is hitting 0.305 right now. So their opponents will be hard pressed to generate offense of their own.
Hokkai got to this point via 2 pitcher's duels. First, they played unknown Soushi Gakuin who not even 12 months ago didn't really exist. That game they won 2-1 with a late run. Then against Tenri they executed their strategy with excellent precision and Tenri was unable to adapt, losing by the slim margin of 1-0.
Teams from Hokkaido, until Komadai Tomakomai in the mid 2000's, was never seriously considered as a contender to win it all although there were several strong schools in the region iteself, Hokkai being one of them.
Hokkai has another good pitcher in Tamakuma Shouichi, who has put up somewhat similar numbers through his 2 games:
18 IP, ER, 12 H, 13 K, 3 BB for a 0.50 ERA/0.83 WHIP and a 6.5 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 ratio
Interestingly enough, Hokkai actually has some offense to go with the pitching. The team is actually hitting 0.311 so far led by a couple of guys, one of which is Tamakuma himself hitting 4-7 with a 2B. Kawagoe Seiji is 5-7 with a 2B and a HR.
I still like Kyukoku in this matchup, but Hokkai may have more than just a snowball's chance in, well... you know.
____________________________________________________________
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka) - Kyushu Runner-up
2B Hirabaru Yuuta
CF Andou Akito
P Miyoshi Takumi
C Takajyou Shuuto
RF Ryuu Kounosuke
1B Hanada Shun
LF Katou Ryou
3B Tokiyoshi Seiya
SS Ishisako Yuuma
Hokkai (Hokkaido) - Hokkaido Champions
SS Mori Takahiro
3B Tama Taisuke
2B Kawasaki Kazuya
RF Kawagoe Seiji
1B Zeniya Kouki
C Tamaki Kouta
LF Ujiie Ryou
P Tamakuma Shouichi
CF Isoda Kouyou
____________________________________________________________
11:00 - Game start!
Top 1st
Hirabaru starts the game off with a single to center!
Wakou-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run! The ball is hit to short, but Mori's only play is to first.
Miyoshi goes down looking on a fastball that hits the outside corner! 2 down!
Takajyou with a base hit to right! Hirabaru comes around as Isoda tries to get the ball in! Hirabaru scores and it's 1-0!
Tamaki notices Takajyou heading for 2nd! He throws to 2nd and they gun him down! The inning is over but not before Kyukoku gets on the board!
Bottom 1st
One down and Miyoshi walks Tama. Hirakawa-kantoku goes for the bunt for the one-timer but Kawagoe flies out to right to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Tamakuma settling down after the slightly shaky 1st inning. He gets Ryuu to reach out and ground to 2nd, Hanada hits a fly to shallow left, and Katou too grounds out to 2nd.
Bottom 2nd
The game continues to go at a quick pace. Miyoshi makes quick work of the Hokkai batters. Zeniya pops out to Hirabaru on the foul line, Tamaki flies out to center and Ujiie grounds out to 2nd.
Top 3rd
Tokiyoshi starts the inning off with a walk. Ishisako bunts the runner along as the lineup flips back to the top of the order.
Hirabaru gets his 2nd hit as he singles to center! Tokiyoshi has to hold at 3rd!
Andou pops it up! Ujiie at the left field line makes the catch for the 2nd out!
And Tamakuma gets Miyoshi to pop it up! Ujiie parks under it and makes the catch to retire the side!
Bottom 3rd
One down and Isoda hits a shallow fly to center Andou charging in, dives... but can't get to it! It bounces away from him and Isoda's in with a double!
Back to the top of the order and Mori. He grounds to 2nd, but Hirabaru's only play is to first.
2 down for Tama.
AH!!!!!!!!!
Wild pitch from Miyoshi!! Isoda comes in to score and we're tied at 1-1!
Tama with a shot at Hirabaru, and that goes off of him! Tama is on base.
Miyoshi gets Kawasaki to fly out to center to end the inning, but a costly wild pitch ties the game!
Top 4th
Takajyou with a fly to right! Kawagoe coming in for the catch.
And it bounces in front of him???
What the heck happened there? Takajyou is on at 2nd with a gift double!
Ryuu with a drive to right! Kawagoe running back makes the catch but Takajyou is able to tag up!
One down and a scoring opportunity for Kyukoku! Hirakawa-kantoku calls for a conference...
But Hanada hits a ball back up the middle! Mori dives, but it's out of his reach! Takajyou scores and it's 2-1! Kyukoku retakes the lead!
Tamakuma gets Katou to fly out to right - and then Tokiyoshi hits a sharp liner, but right at Kawasaki to end the inning.
But a fielding misjudgement winds up costing Hokkai the lead! And they can't afford that.
Bottom 4th
One down for Hokkai when Miyoshi hits Zeniya.
Tamaki hits a fly to center, Andou there for the 2nd out.
And Zeniya takes off for 2nd! Takajyou's throw is late and he's in scoring positon!
Ujiie with a single back up the middle! That's through for a base hit! Zeniya is being sent home! The throw home is late and Hokkai has tied the game!
This time it's Takajyou seeing Ujiie takeoff for 2nd and he guns him down to end the inning! But another timely hit ties the game once again at 2-2!
Top 5th
Tamakuma gets two quick groundout and he looks to get an easy inning.
But Andou works the count full and draws a walk!
Wakou will push the issue and have Andou run! Throw from Tamaki is late and now a runner is in scoring position!
Tamakuma walks his 2nd straight batter in Miyoshi and what seemed like an easy inning isn't anymore!
And it really isn't! Takajyou hits a ball to right, and it falls in! Kawagoe up with the ball as they send Andou home! The throw is late and Kyukoku retakes the lead once again! It's 3-2!!
Things are really scary now as he hits Ryuu and the bases are now loaded!
But Hanada grounds out to 1st. Zeniya takes it to be bag for the out and the side is retired.
Once again, Kyukoku manufactures another run! Hokkai will be hard pressed to keep pace.
Bottom 5th
Will the trend of trading runs continue?
Tamakuma goes down swinging on a slider down and away.
Isoda pops out to 2nd... and Mori flies out to left! Miyoshi breaks the cycle of trading runs! And as we head to the break Kyukoku hold a very, very slim one-run margin!
Top 6th
Back from the break, will Kyukoku be able to add an insurance run?
Katou takes the first pitch and grounds to 1st.
Tokiyoshi can't hold up an a 2-2 slider, and becomes Tamakuma's 2nd K of the game.
Ishisako with an easy comebacker to Tamakuma and he goes to 1st for the 3rd out. Tamakuma's managed to keep Kyukoku scoreless here, now can the offense make a response of their own?
Bottom 6th
Sadly no! Miyoshi retires the side in order! Has Hokkai's chance at this game passed?
Top 7th
One down for Kyukoku and Andou goes for a safety bunt! All the fielders decide to wait for the ball to roll foul... but it never does! Andou on with a bunt single!
Miyoshi finally makes solid contact, but it's right at Tama! He goes to 2nd for one, but Kawasaki's throw to 1st is wide! Miyoshi takes 2nd on the error!
Takajyou up, already 3-3 on the day.
And he hits a dribbler in front of home! Tamaki goes to field it, throws to first... not in time!! Runners at the corners now and it's another pinch for Hokkai!
Ryuu with a ball up the middle! Kawasaki running over, dives... and has it! He touches the bag with the ball to retire the side and Tamakuma is out of the jam!
Bottom 7th
Hirakawa-kantoku will go to his bench and call on #15 Matsumoto. He delivered the timely hit last game. Can he do it again?
No! Miyoshi induces a grounder to 2nd! Hirabaru running in makes the nice pick and he tosses to 1st for the out!
Tamaki with a grounder up the 3rd base line, and it gets by Tokiyoshi! Tamaki hustles in with a double!
And now Hirakawa-kantoku sends in #16 Ishikawa to hit for Ujiie.
Ishikawa with another scorcher down the 3rd base line! THAT'S BY TOKIYOSHI!!!
Katou runs the ball down at the wall, but Tamaki scores on the double tying it once again at 3-3!!
There's only one down, can Hokkai take the lead?
Sanshin! Tamakuma strikes out on a slider away and there's 2 down!
It's up to Isoda who had a double earlier. But he hits a fly to center! Andou there to make the catch and the side is retired! Hokkai ties the game yet again, but cannot pull ahead!
Top 8th
Ishikawa stays in the game and goes to LF. Matsumoto stays as well and goes to 3B, and Tama goes to 1B.
うおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおお！！！！！！！！！
Hanada drives a fastball down the heart of the plate to right! Kawagoe to the wall....
HAITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hanada just like that unties the game with one swing of the bat! Kyukoku once again takes the lead! It's 4-3!!!!!
After a groundout by Katou, Tokiyoshi singles to center! Kyukoku pushing for an insurance run!
Ishisako bunts him along to 2nd and they'll look to Hirabaru at the top of the order for the timely hit.
Hirakawa-kantoku calls for a conference. Hokkai cannot afford to give up a 2nd run.
But Hirabaru delivers! He hits a sharp grounder to short that eats up Mori! Tokiyoshi comes around 3rd to score and Kyukoku has the largest lead of the game here in the 8th at 5-3!
Andou grounds out to short to end the inning, but now Hokkai will have to find 2 runs somewhere in the next 6 outs!
Bottom 8th
Top of the order for Hokkai.
One down and Tama gets the offense started with a base hit through the left side.
But Kawaski hits one right to Hirabaru! He goes to 2nd for one, relay to 1st... double play!
Now Hokkai will be down to their last 3 outs!
Top 9th
One down for Kyukoku, and Takajyou gets his 5th(!) base hit of the day! He slices one over Tama's head into right!
But much like last inning, Ryuu hits one to Kawasaki! He starts the 4-6 3 double play to end the inning!
Bottom 9th
Hokkai with one last chance here.
Kawagoe with a fly to shallow left! Ishisako and Katou converge... and collide!!
Ishisako can't hold onto the ball and Kawagoe is in at 2nd!
More importantly though, both players are slow to get up. The medical staff comes out to look at the players. Katou is the first to get up, but Ishisako needs Kouchou to come out with that "itai spray" to put on his ankle. Eventually he gets up heads back to the infield and both players are ready to go.
Matsumoto first pitch swinging grounds out to 2nd. Kawagoe advances to 3rd on the play.
おお！！
Tamaki works a walk, and now the douten run is on base!
Ishikawa up for Hokkai, does he have another hit in him?
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He rips one through the left side! Kawagoe comes home and Hokkai is within one at 5-4!!!!!!!!!!
Tamakuma with an opportunity to tie the game!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But Miyoshi won't let him!! He gets Tamakuma to swing on another outside slider for the 2nd out!
Isoda is their last chance.
He hits a comebacker to Miyoshi! Miyoshi gathers it in and tosses to 1st to end the game!!!
That crooked score in the 8th proves to be the difference as Hokkai could only manage to get one of those runs back! Kyukoku gives Fukuoka a team in the Best 4 for the first time in 42 years!
The game wound up being as advertised and more! Kyukoku held the lead early, but then as the game approached the midpoint the teams started trading runs back and forth as each had a response for the other. At the time Kyukoku still held a 1-run margin.
And when Hokkai tied the game up once more, Kyukoku put up an extra run on the board thanks to a leadoff homerun and a timely hit for Hirabaru extended the lead to 2.
Hokkai would only be able to get back one run, which was all that they could do the entire game, and fell short losing 5-4.
Given Hokkai's performance today, they shouldn't be totally disappointed in the loss. Having shown down a team of this calibur, I expect big things from them come the summertime.
Notable Players
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku
Miyoshi Takumi - W, CG, 4 ER, 8 H, 4 K, 3 BB, HBP
Takajyou Shuuto - 5-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Hanada Shun - 2-4, HR, R, RBI
Hokkai
Tamakuma Shouichi - L, CG, 4 ER, 11 H, 2 K, 2 BB, HBP
Ishikawa Keita - 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI
Tamaki Kouta - 1-3, 2B, R, BB
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