Apologies, but these previews may be a bit shorter due to my body catching up on sleep.
Anyways, we almost at the halfway point of seeing all these teams. This is our last full day of 1st Round games. First up is a regional matchup between Tsu Shougyou and Chiben Wakayama.
Tsu Shougyou is here having defeated Inabe Sougou Gakuen for the title, but not having faced anyone else of note. As for Chiben Wakayama, they were able to defeat last year's usurpers Shiritsu Wakayama as well as Minoshima. So perhaps they're in better form than in previous years. But on the overall they're look to be on the decline. However, they're still probably favored to win this matchup against first-timers.
Tsu Shougyou (Mie)
3B Ogouchi Kengo
CF Maeda Yuuta
1B Mastuba Kanou
LF Tsuji Yuuki
SS Egawa Yuuto
2B Takahashi Tomoki
RF Kuritani Taichi
P Sakakura Makoto
C Masuoka Akira
Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)
CF Noguchi Haruki
2B Takimoto Reiichi
RF Yamamoto Ryuuga
C Nishiyama Touma
1B Haruno Kouki
SS Takagaki Eiji
LF Nakao Taisuke
3B Ooishi Kaito
P Saitou Yuuta
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First pitch!
1st Inning
Well, as expected it's a clean inning for Saitou against the first timers.
The same cannot be said for the Tsu Shougyou's Sakakura though...
Noguchi drills a ball to left center all the way to the wall for a triple. Takigawa singles to make it 1-0. Then when he tries to steal 2nd, Masuoka throws it wide and allows Takigawa to reach 3rd.
Then Yamamoto doubles to right center making it 2-0 followed by Sakakura hitting Nishiyama.
Despite the awful start, he does get a 4-6-3 double play and a flyout to end the inning. It's 2 runs, but could have been much worse.
2nd Inning
Tsuji gets Tsu Shougyou first hit to lead off the inning, and Egawa amost bloops one to RF if not for some work by Takimoto but after that the ABs look subpar...
Fortunately, Sakakura has no problem with Chiben's bottom of the lineup and might get some respite there going forward.
Top 4th
Maeda comebacker to Saitou, but the throws it wide and they can't make the play! E1.
And now Tsuji's ball up the middle goes off off Takagaki and they have to play at all!
Egawa punishes Chiben! He singles though the left side and that scores Maeda! It's 2-1!!
Bottom 4th
Uh, oh, here comes Chiben. Nishiyama doubles down the left field line and they're in business!
Haruno deep ball to right Kuritani scrambling back... makes the catch!
Takagaki with a short liner to right, Kuritani charging... makes a shoestring catch!
And what's this? Sakakura strikes out Nakao looking and the inning is over!
Top 5th
Hopefully not gamesmanship, but Saitou hits Sakakura... Some discussion between Miyamoto-kantoku and his ace, but everything seems OK after the long talk.
Ogouchi with a single to left! Sakakura has to hold at 3rd, but Tsu Shougyou can tie up the game! with a timely hit!
Maeda with a slow bouncer up the 3rd base side! Ooishi charging, throws to 1st... SAFE!!!!
Sakakura scores and we're all square at 2-2!!
Matsuba grounds out, but it's a swinging bunt of all things that ties the game!
Bottom 5th
An odd single by Ooishi as the ball fools Takahashi and goes through to right. Perhaps there was some added english on the ball.
After a sac bunt, Chiben Wakayama makes a grave baseball error! Ooishi goes for 3rd on a ball to the SS and is easily thrown out! The ining ends with no damage and what seemed like a runaway right off the get go is a tie ballgame at the break!
Top 6th
Two down for Takahashi and he doubles down the right field side.
Kuritani singles to center! They're sending the runner home! Throw in.. high! Takahashi scores and Tsu Shougyou now has the lead!
Sakakura single to right! They're sending Kuritani! Throw from Yamamoto... That's on the mark and he's meat at the plate! But out of nowhere first-timers Tsu Shougyou has the lead!
Bottom 6th
There's new confidence in Tsu Shougyou. Sakakura going after the 3-4-5 batters, strikes out Yamamoto, strikes out Nishiyama looking(!) and Haruno can only look up in frustration after he hits a loud out to the wall.
Top 7th
Another error from Chiben Wakayama! Takimoto boots a ball from Masuoka.
Ogouchi not bunting and lines a ball over Takimoto! And now it goes under Noguchi's glove! Masuoka scores and It's 4-2 Tsushou!
Maeda and Matsuba both ground out, and perhaps they can limit it to 1 run.
Tsuji to center! Noguchi running back! It's over his head! Ogouchi scores and it's 5-2!!
P Change as #11 Kanaoka comes in.
Egawa grounds to short, but Takagaki airmails the throw! Tsuji scores and it's 6-2!
A walk to Takahashi and #13 Katou enters the game.
He walks a batter efore finally getting the 3rd out. But Chiben Wakayama looks done.
Bottom 7th
Oh dear, after the 1st two out, Sakakura has some issues with his arm. He goes to the dugout for treatment, but my cynical side (which is a large side), wouldn't be surprised.
He finally comes out, but you have to wonder for future games even if they advance.
But after throwing pitches, he takes himself out. #10 Ishikawa comes in.
After the first pitch, Masaoka comes out to talk to him. That's concerning.
He gets out of the inning, but we'll need to pay attention to the last 2 innings and how he performs.
Top 8th
After a Masuoka single, Chiben commit 2 more errors to load the bases. It would have been 3 if not for Tsu Shougyou trying to score 2 on the error. They did get 1 to make it 7-2.
Bottom 8th
And here's where the departure of Sakakura hurts. Yamamoto hits a 2-out, 2-run HR to make it 7-4. No more damage done, but you can see why I'm skeptical when a P gets hit, especially by a powerhouse school.
Top 9th
This is an embarrassment. After a single, Takimoto boots a ball. Ishikawa lays down the squeeze, and Katou flubs on the ball and no one's covering 1st. 8-4.
Masaoka bunts, it's fielded cleanly this time, but again no one covers 1st! 9-4.
Tsu Shougyou is making Chiben field. They lay down one more bunt, and they get it right this time.
Anyways, the game finally finishes with the score as it is. All you can say is that Tsu Shougyou played the game like they wanted to win. I have no idea what the heck happened to Chiben Wakayama.
Showing posts with label Chiben Wakayama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chiben Wakayama. Show all posts
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Monday, March 24, 2014
86th Senbatsu - Day 4 - Game 3 - Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama) vs. Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
Chiben Wakayama and Meitoku Gijyuku have weaknesses and strengths that cross. That is, Chiben Wakayama's pitching is suspect, but so is Meitoku Gijyuku's offense. Ace Kishi for Meikoku Gijyuku is certainly their strong point, but so is Chiben's offense.
Given that, as mentioned in the quadrant writeups, the game will hinge on Kishi to keep his team in the game.
Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)
SS Oohata Tatsuya
2B Tanaka Hiroaki
CF Yamamoto Ryuuga
C Osa Issei (#7)
LF Katayama Shouta (#9)
1B Nishiyama Touma (#16)
RF Haruno Kouki (#18)
3B Ooishi Kaito
P Saitou Yuuta (#11)
Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
3B Ozaki Yuuto
LF Oonishi Kazumasa (#3)
RF Tada Tougo (#7)
1B Nishioka Souta (#11)
P Kishi Jyuunichirou
SS Yasuda Takayuki
2B Mori Shouma
C Mizuno Katsuya (#13)
CF Ootani Yuuki
____________________________________________________________
13:56 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Well, Kishi starts of the game well, with a fork ball outside that Oohata swings and misses for his first K.
Tanaka turns back to the dugout even before being punched out when Kishi's fastball finds the inside half.
Yamamoto avoids the the 3rd K, but grounds to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
There are problem with Saitou's delivery as his hitch at the top of his delivery is a bit too much.
It doesn't seem to bother him as Ozaki pops out to shallow left. Oohata and Katayama almost collide, but Oohata makes the catch.
Oonishi too gets under a ball and pops out to Oohata. And Tada is early on a ball, tries to extend his swing by lunging forward, but just flies out to left.
Top 2nd
The big red "C" makes its appearance again in the ouen-dan as Osa stands in.
First pitch, big cut, popout to Mizuno behind home plate.
The first hit for Chiben is a big one as Kishi out of character leaves one over the plate and Katayama puts it into deep center for a double!
Nishiyama with another rip on a fastball again left over the plate, sends it through the left side. Mabuchi-kantoku sends out #15 Namura to settle the team. But that's 2 pitches Kishi has just served on a platter.
In stands Haruno, and he really stands in. He's 184 cm and 90 kg.
And man can he whip that bat, fouling off a pitch Kishi puts inside...
Kishi uncorks a wild pitch and Katayama takes off for home! Throw from Mizuno is high, and Kishi is late with the tag! It's 1-0 Chiben Wakayama!
Kishi finally retires Haruno as on the 10th pitch his curve gets grounded to short.
Ooishi continues the barrage on Kishi. Yet another ball over the plate, another base hit for Chiben Gakuen...
Saitou flies out to left, but if this is any indicator Meitoku is in a lot of trouble...
Bottom 2nd
Saitou doing his job so far negating the left-heavy lineup of Meitoku. Though Kishi is right-handed. And with 1 out, Saitou wants nothing to do with him and walks him.
The strategy might be working as Yasuda is jammed and flies to right for the 2nd out. Once again, he's very careful with righty Mori and walks him as well to bring up Mizuno, who is also a righty.
But Saitou decides to attack against Mizuno getting ahead 0-2 before getting him to chase a fastball outside and rolling it to 2nd for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Kishi still struggling with his command. He's leaving his fastball high and in the zone, though at least for Oohata he gets him swinging on those pitches.
Tanaka and Yamamoto just miss those pitches and both pop out. But Kishi isn't looking all there.
Bottom 3rd
Meanwhile, Saitou continues to confound the lefties. Ootani and Oonishi make bad contact, while Ozaki's liner goes right to Nishiyama.
Top 4th
Man, Kishi starts off Osa with two piches way up and in before Osa makes contact on one and pops out to Mori behind 2nd.
Katayama rips a ball at 1st, but Nishoka makes a nice stop. But then he leaves a ball over the plate again and Nishiyama puts it down the right field line for a double, and right after that goes high and in on Haruno and plunks him.
And then turns around again with the slider and makes Ooishi twirl like a ballerina for the 3rd out.
Bottom 4th
A lefty finally has success against Saitou! Nishioka squares up the curve and singles to center! Ah, but Yamamoto flubs fielding the ball and Nishioka takes 2nd on the error!
This brings up a chance for Kishi with a runner in scoring position! And he hits a booming ball to left... but it's just a towering fly ball as Katayama makes the catch for the 2nd out.
And back to a lefty now, Yasuda continues the struggles as he grounds out to 2nd. If the lefties can't figure out Saitou, they're toast.
Top 5th
Kishi looks better this inning as he gets 3 groundball outs. Nothing too solid, but it's a start for him to settle down.
Bottom 5th
Yamamoto having troubles in center apparently as a routine fly by Mori is dropped. That's his 2nd fielding issue this game.
Mizuno, despite being a righty, is being asked to bunt. Not sure if that's wise, but Mizuno lays it down.
Ootani delivers! He turns a ball and lines it over a leaping Tanaka into center! Mori is sent home and Yamamoto's throw is nowhere near home! Ootani with the douten timely, and we're at 1-1!
Ozaki again with a grand fly to left, but again Katayama has time to back up and catch it.
Oonishi is way ahead of the slider and just pushes the ball to 2nd where Oohata steps on the bag for the force.
Well, we're at the break and Meitoku's lefties are finally having some success against starter Saitou. Meanwhile, Kishi might be finally starting to settle down, but it's still inconclusive. They've got 4 inning to play to figure things out (in regulation at least).
Top 6th
Yamamoto putting in work in his AB after the errors, fouling pitch after pitch after pitch trying to improve his 1-2 count. 5 fouls balls before Kishi finally wins the battle with a flyout to center.
Osa on the other hand likes the first pitch and singles through the left side.
Takashima-kantoku puts on the hit-and-run, and it works to perfection! Katayama lines a single to right and Osa easily makes it to 3rd! Chiben Wakayama threatens again!
Nishiyama hits a ball to 3rd, and Osa was going on contact! He's run down eventually, but not before both runners advance to 2nd and 3rd! Great job by Osa on that rundown, though it was also poor rundown skills by Meitoku.
With first base open, Kishi gives the unintentional intentional walk to create a force at all bases as Ooishi steps in, already with a hit on the day.
But Kishi misses with his first 2 pitches (just) before finally getting one close that Ooishi fouls off.
Kishi wins! He gets Ooishi to hit a ball to 2nd and Mori flips to Yasuda for the 3rd out! The strategy works and the game remains tied!
Bottom 6th
Tada having some success in making contact and fouling pitches off, but gets caught looking at a pitch outside just too close to take.
Nishioka attacks the first pitch from Saitou, but pops it up. Tanaka moves over to foul territory and makes the catch for the 2nd out.
With 2 outs there's no need to go after Kishi and Saitou rightly walks him again.
But then Saitou can't find the plate against Yasuda and walks him too! That brings up righty Mori!
Saitou catches a break! He leaves a ball over the plate, but Mori pops it up! Nishiyama under it and makes the catch to retire the side
Top 7th
Momentum I think is starting to swing Meitoku's way here ever so slightly late. Kishi has settled down quite a bit since the early innings and despite the hits from Chiben Wakayama in the 6th, he's spotting the ball well.
He works ahead of each of the batters here in the lucky 7, forcing them to defend the plate - well except for Saitou who swung on the first pitch and grounded to 2nd. Oohata and Tanaka's defensive swings wind up in flyouts.
Bottom 7th
However, any gains they have are muted because they're still struggling with starter Saitou. Mizuno, Ootani and Ozaki cannot make good contact, and all are retired in order.
Top 8th
Kishi's changeup makes Yamamoto look silly as he becomes Kishi's 5th K.
Osa with a drive to center! Ootani racing back! Still going! And he makes the catch in front of the fence for the 2nd out!
Katayama with a routine fly to center and that's the inning. Kishi gets a scare from Osa, but survives.
Bottom 8th
Is Mabuchi unfurling his strategy now? #12 Yamagata (a righty) comes in to hit for Oonishi. Unfortunately he skies a ball to Tanaka.
Perhaps not. Tada hits a soft liner to Ooishi for the 2nd out bringing up Nishioka. To which Saitou jams him and forces a grounder to short. Oohata makes the play and we're heading to the last inning in regulation all square!
Top 9th
#9 Sanada comes in for PH Yamagata to take over in RF. Tada goes to his numbered position in LF.
Kishi has bottled up Nishiyama after his first two ABs as Nishiyama grounds out to 1st.
The one person though that has given Kishi fits is Haruno. He's walked him twice.
And now given up a base hit! Haruno singles to center as he gives his team the guts pose! But that momentum is quickly lost as Ooishi's bunt deadens right in front of home, allowing Mizuno to fire to 2nd - just nailing Haruno for the 2nd out!
That leaves it to Kishi's counterpart Saitou to keep the inning going. Instead he grounds out to short. Yasuda flips to Mori and now all Saitou can do is to play for enchousen!
Bottom 9th
And worse yet, Kishi leads off the 9th inning!
Perhaps they should have walked Nishioka to make Kishi bat in the 8th instead of leading off the 9th?
Is Saitou going after Kishi? He is! First pitch strike, then a foul by Kishi and Saitou's ahead 0-2!
SANSHIN!!!! Oh, that's some balls by Saitou! He throws the slider and Kishi is completely fooled! One down!
Has Saitou found another gear? Yasuda pretty much falls victim to the same pitch! He's doubled his K's from the first 8 innings!
Uh oh! Mori connects on a fastball inside and inside-outs it down the right field line! He's in with a double!
Despite Mizuno being a righty, they're choosing to go after him.
Popup! Saitou gets Mizuno to pop up! Uh oh! Oohata and Katayama are converging again... they collide! But fortunately for Takashima-kantoku, Oohata makes a catch. Oh, that could have been disasterous.
We're headed to enchousen!
Top 10th
Oohata gets the bat around on a fastball inside, but it's still a soft liner to right.
2 down and when Kishi doesn't get a strike call on 2-1 to Yamamoto, he leaves the next pitch just a little too much over the plate and Yamamoto turns it for a single to right.
Yamamoto takes off for 2nd! Kishi's ball is in the dirt, but Mizuno makes a great pick and throw, but the extra time allows Yamamoto to reach safely!
No matter though, because Kishi goes back to the slider and Osa can only twist in the wind as the side is retired.
Bottom 10th
One down, and Ozaki finally checks in with his first hit with a single up the middle. Mabuchi-kantoku plays for the sayonara timely as Sanada buts him over leaving it in Tada's hands.
Tada with a ball to the right side.. Tanaka with some type of pick, throws to 1st and they get a diving Tada for the 3rd out! Tanaka saves the game right there!
Top 11th
Kishi missing the plate completely with his pitches and he walks Katayama on 4 straight!! Nishiyama puts him in scoring position with the bunt.
Mabuchi-kantoku calls time as guess who... Haruno steps into the batter's box.
And it looks like it's an intentional walk this time around. That's 3 walks for Haruno now, but it creates the force, and brings up Ooishi... no wait, it's #17 Takimoto to hit. Will Mabuchi-kantoku's strategy backfire?
Kishi gets quickly ahead 0-2... SANSHIN! Kishi pulls the string with the slider and Takimoto falls right in! 2 down!
Takashima-kantoku will stick with Saitou though.
First pitch swinging! Grounder to 2nd, and Mori flips to Yasuda for the 3rd out! Kishi out of another jam!
Bottom 11th
Takimoto stays in at 3B
One down, Kishi with a drive to center! Yamamoto going back, going back.... flattens out and makes the catch in deep center! Just didn't get enough on it.
And with Yasuda's foul fly to Katayama, we head to the 12th!
Top 12th
Kishi at 142 pitches through 11.
Oohata with a liner just over the leaping Mori for a leadoff hit! Jock Rock warms up as Tanaka shows bunt.
But he pops it up! Kishi over to get it, but he drops the ball! Now Chiben is in a mess as Kishi goes to 1st for the force! Oohata fails to run back on the throw and he's run down! 2 outs and Takashima makes the "aww man" face.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kishi with a mistake! Yamamoto pumps his fist in their air right away as that ball just leaves the yard!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After what seemed like something completely unlucky for Chiben Wakayama, Yamamoto gets it all back with interest! 2-1 Chiben Wakayama!
Ozaki snags a scorching liner from Osa and Meitoku will be down to their final 3 outs!
Bottom 12th
Mori already gets Meitoku on the road to douten with a first pitch single through the right side! Mizuno moves him over to 2nd.
Ootani with a ball to the left side, that's just out of the reach of a diving Oohata! Ootani rounding 3rd.. held up!
And that's it for Saitou. Ace Azuma comes in to try and close it out.
Ozaki up, not showing squeeze here as he takes a couple.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ozaki lays down the perfect squeeze bunt and Azuma can only go to 1st! Mori scores and we're all tied again at 2-2!!
Sanada grounds to short, but the game continues on with just 3 innings left!
Top 13th
One down, Nishiyama with a shot down the 3rd base line. Ozaki makes the great diving stop in foul territory, and makes the strong throw to 1st to complete the great play!
Two down, and Haruno continues to get on base with a single, but Takimoto can't do anything with it grounding into a fielder's choice.
Bottom 13th
The problem now is, Azuma is a righty against a left-heavy lineup. Will that matter?
Well, after falling behind 2-0 he works it to 2-2 and then gets the 144 fastball off Tada's bat and into Nishyama's glove for the out.
But right before Kishi, he walks Nishioka on 4 straight to bring up Kishi!!
But Kishi shows bunt?!!! And does the bust-and-run??!! He chops the ball and advances the runner at his own expense, but is that really the way you want to use Kishi??!!
That means Kishi is leaving it to Yasuda to bring the sayonara run in...
But again Azuma is being careful with Yasuda being a lefty...
Yet on a full count he goes after him! Yasuda pops it up and Takimoto makes the catch carefully on the bullpen for the 3rd out!
Top 14th
We're running out of innings as both teams scramble to find the winning run.
Azuma in for his first AB, pops out to Yasuda. Oohata tries to put a ball past Kishi, but he makes the pick off the ground for the 2nd out.
Tanaka flies out to center, and Chiben Wakayama has just 3 outs to play with...
Bottom 14th
Meitoku should realize that this game cannot go to a tie. It'll almost be like a loss because Kishi will have to pitch another 9 innings (at least!).
Mori leads off with a first pich single to right! Mizuno, after 2 failed bunt attempts rightly goes for broke and bunts with 2 strikes, successfully laying it down, and setting the groundwork for Ootani again. Can he deliver one more time?
Azuma may not give him that chance. He goes inside on all his pitches and walks him, and since his run doesn't count, it's fine. It creates the force, and it brings up righty Ozaki.
One batter down, Ozaki gets under Azuma's slider and pops out to Haruno.
But it still leaves righty Sanada...
He hits a small liner to the left side, and Oohata runs it down for the 3rd out! We're down to the last ups for both sides!
Top 15th
The Chiben ouen-dan gets louder now with all at stake. Yamamoto makes contact, but it's a short liner that Sanada runs down.
Osa with a ball to the left side, Yasuda makes a great sliding stop in the gap, but his throw right off his hand is high! Nishioka can't get it and it goes to the camera well advancing Osa into scoring position!
Mabuchi-kantoku calls time as Katayama steps in...
Comebacker to Kishi! He snags it out of the air! Osa is caught in between and gets rundown! But again, he stays alive long enough for Katayama to reach 2nd. But there's 2 outs now for Nishiyama.
This is dangerous. Kishi falls behind Nishiyama 3-1 with Haruno on deck!!!
Fastball low, Nishiyama fouls it off. At least Kishi has run it full...
BALL 4!! The fastball is outside and now Haruno is up! And he's only been retired once in his 6 plate appearances!!
And Haruno delivers again! First pitch single to left, but Katayama has to hold at 3rd! Manrui for Chiben with Takimoto at the dish!!
TAKIMOTO SWINGS AT THE FIRST PITCH! It's a grounder to 2nd and Mori is up with it! Goes to 1st and Kishi survives! Now all Chiben Wakayama can play for is a draw!
Bottom 15th
And Meitoku Gijyuku must sell out for the win.
Tada gives his best to get on base, but winds up grounding to short. 2 outs to go.
Nishioka with a ball off the end of the bat, goes up the middle for a base hit! No way Kishi is bunting here, no bust-and-run either. Just "swing away", as it were.
Though Kishi is still being selective at the plate taking pitch after pitch and getting ahead 3-1.
BALL FOUR!!! Azuma walks Kishi moving the sayonara run into scoring position!
It'll be up to Yasuda again to try and end it here...
Yasuda with a flare up the middle... just over a leaping Oohata!!! Nishioka has to hold at 3rd, but Meitoku with a big chance!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Azuma throws a wild pitch and is helpless as Nishioka walks home for the sayonara 3-2 win...
*sighs*
It's a good walk completely spoiled really. For both teams to have fought tooth and nail, for it to end like this is just heartbreaking really. I'm not necessarily a fan of Chiben Wakayama, but when I saw that Takashima-kantoku had brought out 6 pitchers, I wondered if even being an older kantoku, he was learning some things. And perhaps it seemed like he was. But you just don't plan for a 15 inning affair, nor the pressure of having to play for just a draw while the opposition can sell out for the win.
I do feel bad for Chiben Wakayama. They did deserve better - even a "better" loss would have been ok really. Just not... that.
Notabale Players
Kishi Jyuunichirou (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 15 IP, 2 ER, 12 H, 7 K, 4 BB, HBP
Mori Shouma (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 3-5, 2B, R, BB
Ootani Yuuki (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 2-5, RBI
Nishoka Souta (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 2-6, R, BB
Saitou Yuuta (Chiben Wakayama) -11.1 IP, ER, 6 H, 3 K, 4 BB
Azuma Yuusuke (Chiben Wakayama) - 3 IP, ER, 3 H, K, 3 BB
Haruno Kouki (Chiben Wakayama) - 3-4, BB, HBP
Katayama Shouta (Chiben Wakayama) - 2-6, 2B, R, BB
Nishiyama Touma (Chiben Wakayama) - 2-5, 2B, BB
Given that, as mentioned in the quadrant writeups, the game will hinge on Kishi to keep his team in the game.
Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)
SS Oohata Tatsuya
2B Tanaka Hiroaki
CF Yamamoto Ryuuga
C Osa Issei (#7)
LF Katayama Shouta (#9)
1B Nishiyama Touma (#16)
RF Haruno Kouki (#18)
3B Ooishi Kaito
P Saitou Yuuta (#11)
Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
3B Ozaki Yuuto
LF Oonishi Kazumasa (#3)
RF Tada Tougo (#7)
1B Nishioka Souta (#11)
P Kishi Jyuunichirou
SS Yasuda Takayuki
2B Mori Shouma
C Mizuno Katsuya (#13)
CF Ootani Yuuki
____________________________________________________________
13:56 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Well, Kishi starts of the game well, with a fork ball outside that Oohata swings and misses for his first K.
Tanaka turns back to the dugout even before being punched out when Kishi's fastball finds the inside half.
Yamamoto avoids the the 3rd K, but grounds to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
There are problem with Saitou's delivery as his hitch at the top of his delivery is a bit too much.
It doesn't seem to bother him as Ozaki pops out to shallow left. Oohata and Katayama almost collide, but Oohata makes the catch.
Oonishi too gets under a ball and pops out to Oohata. And Tada is early on a ball, tries to extend his swing by lunging forward, but just flies out to left.
Top 2nd
The big red "C" makes its appearance again in the ouen-dan as Osa stands in.
First pitch, big cut, popout to Mizuno behind home plate.
The first hit for Chiben is a big one as Kishi out of character leaves one over the plate and Katayama puts it into deep center for a double!
Nishiyama with another rip on a fastball again left over the plate, sends it through the left side. Mabuchi-kantoku sends out #15 Namura to settle the team. But that's 2 pitches Kishi has just served on a platter.
In stands Haruno, and he really stands in. He's 184 cm and 90 kg.
And man can he whip that bat, fouling off a pitch Kishi puts inside...
Kishi uncorks a wild pitch and Katayama takes off for home! Throw from Mizuno is high, and Kishi is late with the tag! It's 1-0 Chiben Wakayama!
Kishi finally retires Haruno as on the 10th pitch his curve gets grounded to short.
Ooishi continues the barrage on Kishi. Yet another ball over the plate, another base hit for Chiben Gakuen...
Saitou flies out to left, but if this is any indicator Meitoku is in a lot of trouble...
Bottom 2nd
Saitou doing his job so far negating the left-heavy lineup of Meitoku. Though Kishi is right-handed. And with 1 out, Saitou wants nothing to do with him and walks him.
The strategy might be working as Yasuda is jammed and flies to right for the 2nd out. Once again, he's very careful with righty Mori and walks him as well to bring up Mizuno, who is also a righty.
But Saitou decides to attack against Mizuno getting ahead 0-2 before getting him to chase a fastball outside and rolling it to 2nd for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Kishi still struggling with his command. He's leaving his fastball high and in the zone, though at least for Oohata he gets him swinging on those pitches.
Tanaka and Yamamoto just miss those pitches and both pop out. But Kishi isn't looking all there.
Bottom 3rd
Meanwhile, Saitou continues to confound the lefties. Ootani and Oonishi make bad contact, while Ozaki's liner goes right to Nishiyama.
Top 4th
Man, Kishi starts off Osa with two piches way up and in before Osa makes contact on one and pops out to Mori behind 2nd.
Katayama rips a ball at 1st, but Nishoka makes a nice stop. But then he leaves a ball over the plate again and Nishiyama puts it down the right field line for a double, and right after that goes high and in on Haruno and plunks him.
And then turns around again with the slider and makes Ooishi twirl like a ballerina for the 3rd out.
Bottom 4th
A lefty finally has success against Saitou! Nishioka squares up the curve and singles to center! Ah, but Yamamoto flubs fielding the ball and Nishioka takes 2nd on the error!
This brings up a chance for Kishi with a runner in scoring position! And he hits a booming ball to left... but it's just a towering fly ball as Katayama makes the catch for the 2nd out.
And back to a lefty now, Yasuda continues the struggles as he grounds out to 2nd. If the lefties can't figure out Saitou, they're toast.
Top 5th
Kishi looks better this inning as he gets 3 groundball outs. Nothing too solid, but it's a start for him to settle down.
Bottom 5th
Yamamoto having troubles in center apparently as a routine fly by Mori is dropped. That's his 2nd fielding issue this game.
Mizuno, despite being a righty, is being asked to bunt. Not sure if that's wise, but Mizuno lays it down.
Ootani delivers! He turns a ball and lines it over a leaping Tanaka into center! Mori is sent home and Yamamoto's throw is nowhere near home! Ootani with the douten timely, and we're at 1-1!
Ozaki again with a grand fly to left, but again Katayama has time to back up and catch it.
Oonishi is way ahead of the slider and just pushes the ball to 2nd where Oohata steps on the bag for the force.
Well, we're at the break and Meitoku's lefties are finally having some success against starter Saitou. Meanwhile, Kishi might be finally starting to settle down, but it's still inconclusive. They've got 4 inning to play to figure things out (in regulation at least).
Top 6th
Yamamoto putting in work in his AB after the errors, fouling pitch after pitch after pitch trying to improve his 1-2 count. 5 fouls balls before Kishi finally wins the battle with a flyout to center.
Osa on the other hand likes the first pitch and singles through the left side.
Takashima-kantoku puts on the hit-and-run, and it works to perfection! Katayama lines a single to right and Osa easily makes it to 3rd! Chiben Wakayama threatens again!
Nishiyama hits a ball to 3rd, and Osa was going on contact! He's run down eventually, but not before both runners advance to 2nd and 3rd! Great job by Osa on that rundown, though it was also poor rundown skills by Meitoku.
With first base open, Kishi gives the unintentional intentional walk to create a force at all bases as Ooishi steps in, already with a hit on the day.
But Kishi misses with his first 2 pitches (just) before finally getting one close that Ooishi fouls off.
Kishi wins! He gets Ooishi to hit a ball to 2nd and Mori flips to Yasuda for the 3rd out! The strategy works and the game remains tied!
Bottom 6th
Tada having some success in making contact and fouling pitches off, but gets caught looking at a pitch outside just too close to take.
Nishioka attacks the first pitch from Saitou, but pops it up. Tanaka moves over to foul territory and makes the catch for the 2nd out.
With 2 outs there's no need to go after Kishi and Saitou rightly walks him again.
But then Saitou can't find the plate against Yasuda and walks him too! That brings up righty Mori!
Saitou catches a break! He leaves a ball over the plate, but Mori pops it up! Nishiyama under it and makes the catch to retire the side
Top 7th
Momentum I think is starting to swing Meitoku's way here ever so slightly late. Kishi has settled down quite a bit since the early innings and despite the hits from Chiben Wakayama in the 6th, he's spotting the ball well.
He works ahead of each of the batters here in the lucky 7, forcing them to defend the plate - well except for Saitou who swung on the first pitch and grounded to 2nd. Oohata and Tanaka's defensive swings wind up in flyouts.
Bottom 7th
However, any gains they have are muted because they're still struggling with starter Saitou. Mizuno, Ootani and Ozaki cannot make good contact, and all are retired in order.
Top 8th
Kishi's changeup makes Yamamoto look silly as he becomes Kishi's 5th K.
Osa with a drive to center! Ootani racing back! Still going! And he makes the catch in front of the fence for the 2nd out!
Katayama with a routine fly to center and that's the inning. Kishi gets a scare from Osa, but survives.
Bottom 8th
Is Mabuchi unfurling his strategy now? #12 Yamagata (a righty) comes in to hit for Oonishi. Unfortunately he skies a ball to Tanaka.
Perhaps not. Tada hits a soft liner to Ooishi for the 2nd out bringing up Nishioka. To which Saitou jams him and forces a grounder to short. Oohata makes the play and we're heading to the last inning in regulation all square!
Top 9th
#9 Sanada comes in for PH Yamagata to take over in RF. Tada goes to his numbered position in LF.
Kishi has bottled up Nishiyama after his first two ABs as Nishiyama grounds out to 1st.
The one person though that has given Kishi fits is Haruno. He's walked him twice.
And now given up a base hit! Haruno singles to center as he gives his team the guts pose! But that momentum is quickly lost as Ooishi's bunt deadens right in front of home, allowing Mizuno to fire to 2nd - just nailing Haruno for the 2nd out!
That leaves it to Kishi's counterpart Saitou to keep the inning going. Instead he grounds out to short. Yasuda flips to Mori and now all Saitou can do is to play for enchousen!
Bottom 9th
And worse yet, Kishi leads off the 9th inning!
Perhaps they should have walked Nishioka to make Kishi bat in the 8th instead of leading off the 9th?
Is Saitou going after Kishi? He is! First pitch strike, then a foul by Kishi and Saitou's ahead 0-2!
SANSHIN!!!! Oh, that's some balls by Saitou! He throws the slider and Kishi is completely fooled! One down!
Has Saitou found another gear? Yasuda pretty much falls victim to the same pitch! He's doubled his K's from the first 8 innings!
Uh oh! Mori connects on a fastball inside and inside-outs it down the right field line! He's in with a double!
Despite Mizuno being a righty, they're choosing to go after him.
Popup! Saitou gets Mizuno to pop up! Uh oh! Oohata and Katayama are converging again... they collide! But fortunately for Takashima-kantoku, Oohata makes a catch. Oh, that could have been disasterous.
We're headed to enchousen!
Top 10th
Oohata gets the bat around on a fastball inside, but it's still a soft liner to right.
2 down and when Kishi doesn't get a strike call on 2-1 to Yamamoto, he leaves the next pitch just a little too much over the plate and Yamamoto turns it for a single to right.
Yamamoto takes off for 2nd! Kishi's ball is in the dirt, but Mizuno makes a great pick and throw, but the extra time allows Yamamoto to reach safely!
No matter though, because Kishi goes back to the slider and Osa can only twist in the wind as the side is retired.
Bottom 10th
One down, and Ozaki finally checks in with his first hit with a single up the middle. Mabuchi-kantoku plays for the sayonara timely as Sanada buts him over leaving it in Tada's hands.
Tada with a ball to the right side.. Tanaka with some type of pick, throws to 1st and they get a diving Tada for the 3rd out! Tanaka saves the game right there!
Top 11th
Kishi missing the plate completely with his pitches and he walks Katayama on 4 straight!! Nishiyama puts him in scoring position with the bunt.
Mabuchi-kantoku calls time as guess who... Haruno steps into the batter's box.
And it looks like it's an intentional walk this time around. That's 3 walks for Haruno now, but it creates the force, and brings up Ooishi... no wait, it's #17 Takimoto to hit. Will Mabuchi-kantoku's strategy backfire?
Kishi gets quickly ahead 0-2... SANSHIN! Kishi pulls the string with the slider and Takimoto falls right in! 2 down!
Takashima-kantoku will stick with Saitou though.
First pitch swinging! Grounder to 2nd, and Mori flips to Yasuda for the 3rd out! Kishi out of another jam!
Bottom 11th
Takimoto stays in at 3B
One down, Kishi with a drive to center! Yamamoto going back, going back.... flattens out and makes the catch in deep center! Just didn't get enough on it.
And with Yasuda's foul fly to Katayama, we head to the 12th!
Top 12th
Kishi at 142 pitches through 11.
Oohata with a liner just over the leaping Mori for a leadoff hit! Jock Rock warms up as Tanaka shows bunt.
But he pops it up! Kishi over to get it, but he drops the ball! Now Chiben is in a mess as Kishi goes to 1st for the force! Oohata fails to run back on the throw and he's run down! 2 outs and Takashima makes the "aww man" face.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kishi with a mistake! Yamamoto pumps his fist in their air right away as that ball just leaves the yard!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After what seemed like something completely unlucky for Chiben Wakayama, Yamamoto gets it all back with interest! 2-1 Chiben Wakayama!
Ozaki snags a scorching liner from Osa and Meitoku will be down to their final 3 outs!
Bottom 12th
Mori already gets Meitoku on the road to douten with a first pitch single through the right side! Mizuno moves him over to 2nd.
Ootani with a ball to the left side, that's just out of the reach of a diving Oohata! Ootani rounding 3rd.. held up!
And that's it for Saitou. Ace Azuma comes in to try and close it out.
Ozaki up, not showing squeeze here as he takes a couple.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ozaki lays down the perfect squeeze bunt and Azuma can only go to 1st! Mori scores and we're all tied again at 2-2!!
Sanada grounds to short, but the game continues on with just 3 innings left!
Top 13th
One down, Nishiyama with a shot down the 3rd base line. Ozaki makes the great diving stop in foul territory, and makes the strong throw to 1st to complete the great play!
Two down, and Haruno continues to get on base with a single, but Takimoto can't do anything with it grounding into a fielder's choice.
Bottom 13th
The problem now is, Azuma is a righty against a left-heavy lineup. Will that matter?
Well, after falling behind 2-0 he works it to 2-2 and then gets the 144 fastball off Tada's bat and into Nishyama's glove for the out.
But right before Kishi, he walks Nishioka on 4 straight to bring up Kishi!!
But Kishi shows bunt?!!! And does the bust-and-run??!! He chops the ball and advances the runner at his own expense, but is that really the way you want to use Kishi??!!
That means Kishi is leaving it to Yasuda to bring the sayonara run in...
But again Azuma is being careful with Yasuda being a lefty...
Yet on a full count he goes after him! Yasuda pops it up and Takimoto makes the catch carefully on the bullpen for the 3rd out!
Top 14th
We're running out of innings as both teams scramble to find the winning run.
Azuma in for his first AB, pops out to Yasuda. Oohata tries to put a ball past Kishi, but he makes the pick off the ground for the 2nd out.
Tanaka flies out to center, and Chiben Wakayama has just 3 outs to play with...
Bottom 14th
Meitoku should realize that this game cannot go to a tie. It'll almost be like a loss because Kishi will have to pitch another 9 innings (at least!).
Mori leads off with a first pich single to right! Mizuno, after 2 failed bunt attempts rightly goes for broke and bunts with 2 strikes, successfully laying it down, and setting the groundwork for Ootani again. Can he deliver one more time?
Azuma may not give him that chance. He goes inside on all his pitches and walks him, and since his run doesn't count, it's fine. It creates the force, and it brings up righty Ozaki.
One batter down, Ozaki gets under Azuma's slider and pops out to Haruno.
But it still leaves righty Sanada...
He hits a small liner to the left side, and Oohata runs it down for the 3rd out! We're down to the last ups for both sides!
Top 15th
The Chiben ouen-dan gets louder now with all at stake. Yamamoto makes contact, but it's a short liner that Sanada runs down.
Osa with a ball to the left side, Yasuda makes a great sliding stop in the gap, but his throw right off his hand is high! Nishioka can't get it and it goes to the camera well advancing Osa into scoring position!
Mabuchi-kantoku calls time as Katayama steps in...
Comebacker to Kishi! He snags it out of the air! Osa is caught in between and gets rundown! But again, he stays alive long enough for Katayama to reach 2nd. But there's 2 outs now for Nishiyama.
This is dangerous. Kishi falls behind Nishiyama 3-1 with Haruno on deck!!!
Fastball low, Nishiyama fouls it off. At least Kishi has run it full...
BALL 4!! The fastball is outside and now Haruno is up! And he's only been retired once in his 6 plate appearances!!
And Haruno delivers again! First pitch single to left, but Katayama has to hold at 3rd! Manrui for Chiben with Takimoto at the dish!!
TAKIMOTO SWINGS AT THE FIRST PITCH! It's a grounder to 2nd and Mori is up with it! Goes to 1st and Kishi survives! Now all Chiben Wakayama can play for is a draw!
Bottom 15th
And Meitoku Gijyuku must sell out for the win.
Tada gives his best to get on base, but winds up grounding to short. 2 outs to go.
Nishioka with a ball off the end of the bat, goes up the middle for a base hit! No way Kishi is bunting here, no bust-and-run either. Just "swing away", as it were.
Though Kishi is still being selective at the plate taking pitch after pitch and getting ahead 3-1.
BALL FOUR!!! Azuma walks Kishi moving the sayonara run into scoring position!
It'll be up to Yasuda again to try and end it here...
Yasuda with a flare up the middle... just over a leaping Oohata!!! Nishioka has to hold at 3rd, but Meitoku with a big chance!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Azuma throws a wild pitch and is helpless as Nishioka walks home for the sayonara 3-2 win...
*sighs*
It's a good walk completely spoiled really. For both teams to have fought tooth and nail, for it to end like this is just heartbreaking really. I'm not necessarily a fan of Chiben Wakayama, but when I saw that Takashima-kantoku had brought out 6 pitchers, I wondered if even being an older kantoku, he was learning some things. And perhaps it seemed like he was. But you just don't plan for a 15 inning affair, nor the pressure of having to play for just a draw while the opposition can sell out for the win.
I do feel bad for Chiben Wakayama. They did deserve better - even a "better" loss would have been ok really. Just not... that.
Notabale Players
Kishi Jyuunichirou (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 15 IP, 2 ER, 12 H, 7 K, 4 BB, HBP
Mori Shouma (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 3-5, 2B, R, BB
Ootani Yuuki (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 2-5, RBI
Nishoka Souta (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 2-6, R, BB
Saitou Yuuta (Chiben Wakayama) -11.1 IP, ER, 6 H, 3 K, 4 BB
Azuma Yuusuke (Chiben Wakayama) - 3 IP, ER, 3 H, K, 3 BB
Haruno Kouki (Chiben Wakayama) - 3-4, BB, HBP
Katayama Shouta (Chiben Wakayama) - 2-6, 2B, R, BB
Nishiyama Touma (Chiben Wakayama) - 2-5, 2B, BB
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
32 teams in 32 days - Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)
So once again, Takashima-kantoku (高嶋 仁) and his Chiben Wakayama squad return to Koushien. Though in recent years they have not been as competitive and this actually is their first trip back to Senbastsu in 3 years. What was a dominant team though has had weaknesses in one part of their game or another. Has time passed Takashima-kantoku by? Surely there are some that do not like his old-school managing, and you could make an argument he resides in a prefecture that is not as strong as others. But he did manage to have successful runs in the past.
Road to Senbatsu
Newcomer Tournament
To the prefecturals and once again Takashima-kantoku held back his main starters as much as possible to defeat both Arita Chuo and Shiritsu Wakayama to ensure a spot in the super-regionals. With the final against Kainan meaningless other than the fall prefectural title, they fell to Kainan.
Once they hit the super-regionals, they sent out their 2 main starters, ace Nakano Rei (中野 嶺) and #10 Adzuma Yuusuke (東妻 勇輔) who pitched all but 1/3 of an inning in all 4 games. Both starters split time on the mound each game with exception of the Houtoku Gakuen game where Azuma was asked to go the full distance, despite giving up 5 in the first 2 innings (Chiben scored 5 themselves, but didn't pull away until the 5th inning). As you can see from the videos (or lack thereof), I do not have any info on either pitcher
Here's the thing though. If Takashima-kantoku was worried about giving up too much info on his pitchers, he wouldn't have sent out either Nakano or Azuma in the semifinals or finals given that Kinki receives 6 bids. Now, you could argue that being in the semifinals isn't enough, but unless you're totally blown out I figure you're safe. So while I think he played the regionals/prefecturals correctly, I think once he got to the Super-Regionals either he tried to win it all - even though winning it is not the end goal, nor is it necessary, or he knew that he could only throw those other pitchers in the prefecturals.
Which then makes me wonder about the strength of their staff. Azuma certainly went his longest stint in the Houtoku Gakuen game and perhaps could be excused for giving up 3 in the 8th. And given the review of Ryuukokudai Heian, you could understand the runs that they gave up. But at the same time, it is an indictment of their potential at Senbatsu if they perhaps cannot hold their own in region.
Offensively, in many of their games, they went for extra bases early and often. However, it screeched to a halt against Heian, where C Nishiyama Touma (西山 統麻) recorded the only extra base hit. Ignore that game and Katayama Shouta (片山 翔太) with to a lesser extent Ooishi Kaito (大石 海斗) and Oobatake Tatsuya (大畑 達矢) provided most of the spark in the offense.
Well, for handicapping Chiben Wakayama's chances, they did not really face a seasoned opponent until the super-regional semifinal, and in those last 2 games, the pitching did falter. The offense being slowed considerably by Heian also raises a red flag. So, probably Chiben's chanes this senbatsu appears to be similar to their runs in recent years, win a game or two and then bow out when they face a tough opponent.
Next up, the hometown 18 of Houtoku Gakuen!
Road to Senbatsu
Newcomer Tournament
- def. Kishikawa 10-3 (mercy rule?)
- def. Kainan 5-2
- lost Shinguu 6-3
- def. Arita Chuo 6-0
- def. Shirtisu Wakayama 6-3
- def. Kainan 6-5
- def. Ichikawa 10-1 (7 inn)
- def. Naradai Fuzoku 10-0 (5 inn)
- def. Houtoku Gakuen 16-8 (8 inn)
- lost Ryuuokudai Heian 6-4
To the prefecturals and once again Takashima-kantoku held back his main starters as much as possible to defeat both Arita Chuo and Shiritsu Wakayama to ensure a spot in the super-regionals. With the final against Kainan meaningless other than the fall prefectural title, they fell to Kainan.
Once they hit the super-regionals, they sent out their 2 main starters, ace Nakano Rei (中野 嶺) and #10 Adzuma Yuusuke (東妻 勇輔) who pitched all but 1/3 of an inning in all 4 games. Both starters split time on the mound each game with exception of the Houtoku Gakuen game where Azuma was asked to go the full distance, despite giving up 5 in the first 2 innings (Chiben scored 5 themselves, but didn't pull away until the 5th inning). As you can see from the videos (or lack thereof), I do not have any info on either pitcher
Here's the thing though. If Takashima-kantoku was worried about giving up too much info on his pitchers, he wouldn't have sent out either Nakano or Azuma in the semifinals or finals given that Kinki receives 6 bids. Now, you could argue that being in the semifinals isn't enough, but unless you're totally blown out I figure you're safe. So while I think he played the regionals/prefecturals correctly, I think once he got to the Super-Regionals either he tried to win it all - even though winning it is not the end goal, nor is it necessary, or he knew that he could only throw those other pitchers in the prefecturals.
Which then makes me wonder about the strength of their staff. Azuma certainly went his longest stint in the Houtoku Gakuen game and perhaps could be excused for giving up 3 in the 8th. And given the review of Ryuukokudai Heian, you could understand the runs that they gave up. But at the same time, it is an indictment of their potential at Senbatsu if they perhaps cannot hold their own in region.
Offensively, in many of their games, they went for extra bases early and often. However, it screeched to a halt against Heian, where C Nishiyama Touma (西山 統麻) recorded the only extra base hit. Ignore that game and Katayama Shouta (片山 翔太) with to a lesser extent Ooishi Kaito (大石 海斗) and Oobatake Tatsuya (大畑 達矢) provided most of the spark in the offense.
Well, for handicapping Chiben Wakayama's chances, they did not really face a seasoned opponent until the super-regional semifinal, and in those last 2 games, the pitching did falter. The offense being slowed considerably by Heian also raises a red flag. So, probably Chiben's chanes this senbatsu appears to be similar to their runs in recent years, win a game or two and then bow out when they face a tough opponent.
Next up, the hometown 18 of Houtoku Gakuen!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Day 6, Game 1 - Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima) vs. Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)
We're full into the 2nd round of games (Kousei Gakuin-Yuugakukan was the first), and we're now into the teams that get one less game to win the title - but trade it off with a bit shorter schedule and recovery time.
So our first game of the day are between two regulars at Koushien now. - Chiben Wakayama and Kamimura Gakuen.
Chiben Wakayama's story is more of the usual... kind of.
You see, they've now represented Wakayama now for the 8th straight year, and since 2000 have only missed Koushien in 2001 and 2004. That's domination that almost rivals that of Tenri and Chiben Gakuen in Nara.
But if you look at their Koushien results since 2000, it's actually gone downhill. In 2000 & 2002 they reached the finals. From 2003 to 2008, they for the most part reached the Best 8 and Best 4. But since 2009, they have not been able to progress reach the Best 8.
Is that because of better competition from other prefectures? Is it perhaps the loss of managing skills by Takashima-kantoku? Is it the loss of talent to other schools or perhaps other prefectures?
It's hard to say really. But what is obvious is that their foothold in the prefecture is slipping.
In 3 of their 5 games, they were at risk of losing. 1st round against Tanabe, they did 1-hit them, but only won 2-0. In their next game they trailed Minabe 4-3, but rallied for 2 to win the game. And in the final against Naga, they had to go 14 innings to win the title by the score of 4-2.
The team batted just 0.263 in their 5 games (0.250 in the last 2). That really isn't that good at all.
The good news is that the pitching staff does average a K/IP. Though again, given it's still against a Wakayama field that is still catching up, it's may not be surprising. Takashima-kantoku relies on a pitching staff to carry the team. Not just ace Oojino, #10 Doi, #11 Yoshikawa and to a lesser extent #13 Hara.
Opposing Chiben Wakayama is Kamimura Gakuen. They appeared in recent years as evidenced by the fact that all 3 Natsu appearances have happened since 2007 - and all combined appearances have happened since 2005.
They were challenged twice during their run, a 2-0 won over Ei, and a 6-3 win over Kagoshima Kougyou in the quarterfinals. Offensively, they batted 0.368 in the prefecturals (0.382 in their last 3 games).
On the mound, Yamamoto-kantoku uses a tandem of ace Kakizawa and reliever (and LF) Hirayabu. However Hirayabu is only good for about 2 innings per game, so it's not a true timeshare. Neither are really strikeout pitchers, so the defense will need to be above par.
Chiben Wakayama's domination shouldn't be underestimated. However, it's possible that the dominance may be coming to an end, and sooner rather than later. Will Kamimura Gakuen send them home? Hard to say. Chiben's pitching staff may limit Kamimura Gakuen's offense, but their own offense may prevent them from scoring themselves. It may be a close game.
Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima)
CF Niiro
SS Tanaka
RF Koga
P Kakizawa
LF Matsuki (#17)
2B Nagao
3B Nakazono
C Nakano
1B Nikou
Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)
CF Numakura
2B Sakamoto
3B Ookura
SS Shima
P Yoshikawa (#11)
LF Takagaki
RF Amano
1B Noyama
C Kawasaki
____________________________________________________________
8:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
One down and Tanaka singles past a diving Tanaka into center. Koga grounds to 3rd, but avoids the double play. Kakizawa though looks at a fastball for strike 3 to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Numakura with a hard it to center. Niiro ranging to his left, makes a spectacular diving catch!
Sakamoto though continues the hard hitting with a solid base hit up the middle.
Ookura with a hard grounder to 1st, and it's off Nikou and defects towards 2nd! Nagao retrieves it, but the glove toss is too late!
Trouble for Kamimura early!
Shima though grounds to 1st. Nikou tries for the 3-6-3 double play, but they can't turn the back end.
Now things get as bad as it can get as Yoshikawa works a walk to load the bases!
But Takagaki chases a slider away for strike 3 and the inning is over!
Top 2nd
Matsuki becomes Yoshikawa's 3rd K victim as he goes down swinging.
Kamimura's batters are really working the count on Yoshikawa. Nagao goes full against him, and hits a line to left! Takagaki running back, but it's over his head! He runs it down as it goes to the wall, but Nagao's in with a triple!
Nakazono too works the count a little to 2-1, but pops out to Noyama for the 2nd out.
That leaves it to catcher Nakano.
He goes ahead 3-0, but Yoshikawa fills up the count. Chopper to 3rd, Ookura goes to tag Nagao, but he misses and the umpire calls safe! Nagao isn't called for going too wide off the baseline!
Wow. Will that cost them?
YES!!
#9 batter Nikou drives a hanging change to left! Takagaki back, going back...
It's off the wall! Nagao scores, Nakano from 1st being waved around 3rd and he scores! 2 out, 2-RBI double for Nikou gives Kamimura Gakuen the 2-0 lead!
Back to the top of the order and Niiro, he tries to sell a HBP, but the home plate umpire isn't buying it as he didn't move.
However, Yoshikawa walks him on 4 straight and now there's runners at 1st and 2nd for Tanaka who hit a sharp single in the 1st.
Tanaka though lines out to right, and the inning is over. But a bad decision for what would have been the 3rd out costs Chiben Wakayama a pair of runs!
Bottom 2nd
Amano slices one past a diving Tanaka into center for a leadoff single. Noyama swinging away grounds to short but Tanaka has no one at 2nd, so he makes the play at first.
After a flyout, Kakizawa throws a wild pitch allowing Amano to advance to 3rd.
But Numakura hits an easy grounder to 1st and the side is retired.
Top 3rd
So for the info on Yoshikawa. He a southpaw throws in the upper 130s and has a slider (high 120s), curve (110s) and forkball (low 120s).
After a quick out by Koga, Kakizawa works the count full, but strikes out again, this time swinging on a slider in the dirt.
Matsuki goes down on a slider to strike out for his 2nd time and Yoshikawa seems to have settled down.
Bottom 3rd
Kakizawa for throwing mid 140's doesn't generate a lot of Ks. He uses his variety of offspeed pitches (cutter, slider, curve, sinker and change) to get his outs. If you're watching, don't even ask me to try and figure out which pitch is which.
After a routine grounder to Nagao, Ookura hits one back up the middle on the 2nd base side. Nagao makes a great sliding stop, pop and throw to retire Ookura.
Shima goes down swinging on a sinker down and away for Kakizawa's 2nd out and first 1-2-3 inning.
Top 4th
Nagao becomes Yoshizawa's 6th K swinging on a slider down and away.
Nakano with the team's 4th hit a solid single past Shima to center.
With 1 down, the graphic comes up on bunting for Kamimura Gakuen.
They don't.
Seriously, no sac bunts. A #5 batter once attempted one but apparently missed. Or maybe feinted one and got called at offering.
And so Nakazono on a hit-and-run flies out to right. 2 down.
Nikou with his 2nd base hit! He gets around on an inside pitch and singles to left! Runners on 1st and 2nd!
AH! Now Niiro is hit by Yoshizawa! Manrui for Kamimura and Tanaka!
Yoshikawa gets ahead 0-2 though, and looks to get out of the pinch. But he steps off twice, odd.
0-2 pitch is your traditional waste pitch, not even close. Next one is buried away.
Tanaka reaches down and hits one to the right side! That's past Noyama into right! Nakano scores! Amano up with the throw as they send Nikou... and he's thrown out with relative ease. Not sure why you'd press there especially on a short ball like that one, but Kamimura Gakuen does extend their lead to 3-0.
Bottom 4th
Yoshizawa gets on for the 2nd time without the benefit of a hit. He's hit in the foot.
Takagaki with the grounder up the middle, Nagao there for the AH!!!!!!!!
The ball takes a bad hop and gets past Nagao to center! Yoshizawa advances to 3rd! Nagao probably would've had it anyways if he hadn't been setting himself up for the double play!
Yamamoto-kantoku calls for time.
Amano with a drive to left! Matsuki turns out and runs back! Still running! It's over his head and to the wall! Yoshikawa scores! Takagaki from 1st is waved around! Throw home... not in time! The HBP and error cost then a pair of runs, Amano narrows the deficit to 3-2!
Noyama not bunting with one down, grounds out to short and is unable to advance the runner. Kawasaki does with his grounder to 2nd, but there's now 2 outs.
Numakura hits a hard liner, but right at Niiro for the 3rd out. Still Chiben Wakayama has pulled to within 1.
Top 5th
Koga with a single to left-center. Wait! He's running through to 2nd! Numakura fires the ball in and he's SAFE!!
The throw looks like it beat him, but either he slid around the tag or it wasn't made fast enough!
Kakizawa moves the runner along with a grounder to 2nd.
And playing a lefty/righty matchup or just replacing Matuski, Yamamoto-kantoku sends in #7 Hirayabu to hit. But he hits it straight to Sakamoto who checks the run before going to 1st. 2 down now for Nagao.
He draws a walk, and so there's runners at the corners with Nakazono up next. But flies out to 2nd and the threat is gone.
Bottom 5th
Hirayabu stays in and goes to LF.
Quick out for Kakizawa as Sakamoto flies out to left.
Ookura with a dive to left! Hirayabu running back towards the foul pole... makes the running catch at the fence for the 2nd out! Nice play!
Shima flies out to right and we hit the break with Kamimura Gakuen leading Chiben Wakayama 3-2! Yoshizawa has settled down after the 2nd inning and has 6 K's. Kakizawa has pitched very well, but an error leads to a pair of unearned runs.
Top 6th
Nakano swings at a fastball letter high and way away for Yoshikawa's 7th K.
Two down, and Yoshikawa issues his 2nd walk to Niiro.
Yamamoto-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but Tanaka hits a ball back up the middle where Shima is waiting and tags 2nd for the out.
Bottom 6th
Hirayabu now goes to the mound as Kakizawa goes to left.
And he does a great job in his first inning of relief, inducing 3 groundouts for a 1-2-3 inning.
Top 7th
One down, and Kakizawa slices a ball past a diving Shima into left.
Hirayabu up and they do the hit-and-run!
But Hirayabu swings and misses for the K! Kawasaki throws to 2nd and they get Kakizawa for the strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play!
Bottom 7th
Noyama hits a grounder to short, Tanaka makes a great backhand on the ball, and he makes a strong throw to 1st for the out!
Kawasaki with a base hit to center and Chiben has their first runner since the 4th. Back to the top of the order and Numakura.
Grounder to short! Tanaka starts the 6-4-3 double play and they're out of the inning.
Top 8th
#12 Nakatani is in the game now for Takagaki in left.
Well, Yoshizawa is keeping his team in the game, not letting a ball leave the infield in a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 8th
#14 Nakanishi to hit for Sakamoto and he pops out to Nagao.
Ookura draws a walk and the douten run is in scoring position.
But Shima hits a grounder to short! Tanaka starts the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and Chiben Wakayama has just 1 inning left!
Top 9th
Crap, there's defensive changes all over the place and the broadcast did a non-existent job of saying any of them.
Ok, got it:
Anyways, Nikou draws a 4-pitch walk, and for the first time Kamimura Gakuen does a bunt for the first time and succeeds!
Uh oh, now Oojino hits Tanaka. He's creating his own pinch.
Wild pitch from Oojino! Nikou goes to 3rd! And on the next pitch Tanaka steals 2nd wih no throw!
Now a base hit can put the game almost out of reach!
Koga with a chopper in front of the plate! Oojino with the ball, throws to 1st, and hits Koga! Everyone's safe!!
No, wait. Koga is called out for not getting out of the throwing lane. 2 down.
Kakizawa work the count full for the 2nd time and draws a walk. Manrui for Kamimura!
But Hirayabu hits a fly to center! Amano there for the catch and Kamimura is denied a run!
Bottom 9th
Down to their last 3 outs, is there a rally in them?
#16 Yamaguchi to hit fo Oojino. But he first pitch flies out to center.
Nakatani in for his first AB and he grounds out to 2nd.
Last chance for Chiben Wakayama, but Amano grounds to 2nd! Nagao with it, throws to 1st, and Kamimura Gakuen advances!
As expected, it was a close game with Kamimura's offense for the most part slowed down by Yoshizawa, but not completely stopped. And while some help from the defense allowed Chiben to make it close, they couldn't get the douten run across.
So Chiben Wakayama's summer ends in the first round, and the slide at Koushien continues. For Kamimura Gakuen, their drive for respectability will continue as they must face runner-ups Kousei Gakuin for a spot in the Best 8. The pitching staff was not challenged by the Chiben batters, so it'll be intersting to see how Kousei's offense fares. As for their offense, the certainly had some solid hits, but Yoshikawa was effectively wild, striking out and walking his fair share of batters. Jyouma and Kanazawa will not be that way.
Notable Players
Kakizawa Takahiro (Kamimura Gakuen) - W, 5 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 K, 2 BB
Hirayabu Jyunichirou (Kamimura Gakuen) - SV, 4 IP, 0 ER, H, BB
Nikou Takuma (Kamimura Gakuen) - 2-3, 2 RBI, BB
Tanaka Koudai (Kamimura Gakuen) -2-4, RBI, HBP
Yoshikawa Yuudai (Chiben Wakayama) - L, 8 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 8 K, 4 BB
Amano Yashuhiro (Chiben Wakayama) - 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
So our first game of the day are between two regulars at Koushien now. - Chiben Wakayama and Kamimura Gakuen.
Chiben Wakayama's story is more of the usual... kind of.
You see, they've now represented Wakayama now for the 8th straight year, and since 2000 have only missed Koushien in 2001 and 2004. That's domination that almost rivals that of Tenri and Chiben Gakuen in Nara.
But if you look at their Koushien results since 2000, it's actually gone downhill. In 2000 & 2002 they reached the finals. From 2003 to 2008, they for the most part reached the Best 8 and Best 4. But since 2009, they have not been able to progress reach the Best 8.
Is that because of better competition from other prefectures? Is it perhaps the loss of managing skills by Takashima-kantoku? Is it the loss of talent to other schools or perhaps other prefectures?
It's hard to say really. But what is obvious is that their foothold in the prefecture is slipping.
In 3 of their 5 games, they were at risk of losing. 1st round against Tanabe, they did 1-hit them, but only won 2-0. In their next game they trailed Minabe 4-3, but rallied for 2 to win the game. And in the final against Naga, they had to go 14 innings to win the title by the score of 4-2.
The team batted just 0.263 in their 5 games (0.250 in the last 2). That really isn't that good at all.
The good news is that the pitching staff does average a K/IP. Though again, given it's still against a Wakayama field that is still catching up, it's may not be surprising. Takashima-kantoku relies on a pitching staff to carry the team. Not just ace Oojino, #10 Doi, #11 Yoshikawa and to a lesser extent #13 Hara.
Opposing Chiben Wakayama is Kamimura Gakuen. They appeared in recent years as evidenced by the fact that all 3 Natsu appearances have happened since 2007 - and all combined appearances have happened since 2005.
They were challenged twice during their run, a 2-0 won over Ei, and a 6-3 win over Kagoshima Kougyou in the quarterfinals. Offensively, they batted 0.368 in the prefecturals (0.382 in their last 3 games).
On the mound, Yamamoto-kantoku uses a tandem of ace Kakizawa and reliever (and LF) Hirayabu. However Hirayabu is only good for about 2 innings per game, so it's not a true timeshare. Neither are really strikeout pitchers, so the defense will need to be above par.
Chiben Wakayama's domination shouldn't be underestimated. However, it's possible that the dominance may be coming to an end, and sooner rather than later. Will Kamimura Gakuen send them home? Hard to say. Chiben's pitching staff may limit Kamimura Gakuen's offense, but their own offense may prevent them from scoring themselves. It may be a close game.
Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima)
CF Niiro
SS Tanaka
RF Koga
P Kakizawa
LF Matsuki (#17)
2B Nagao
3B Nakazono
C Nakano
1B Nikou
Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)
CF Numakura
2B Sakamoto
3B Ookura
SS Shima
P Yoshikawa (#11)
LF Takagaki
RF Amano
1B Noyama
C Kawasaki
____________________________________________________________
8:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
One down and Tanaka singles past a diving Tanaka into center. Koga grounds to 3rd, but avoids the double play. Kakizawa though looks at a fastball for strike 3 to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Numakura with a hard it to center. Niiro ranging to his left, makes a spectacular diving catch!
Sakamoto though continues the hard hitting with a solid base hit up the middle.
Ookura with a hard grounder to 1st, and it's off Nikou and defects towards 2nd! Nagao retrieves it, but the glove toss is too late!
Trouble for Kamimura early!
Shima though grounds to 1st. Nikou tries for the 3-6-3 double play, but they can't turn the back end.
Now things get as bad as it can get as Yoshikawa works a walk to load the bases!
But Takagaki chases a slider away for strike 3 and the inning is over!
Top 2nd
Matsuki becomes Yoshikawa's 3rd K victim as he goes down swinging.
Kamimura's batters are really working the count on Yoshikawa. Nagao goes full against him, and hits a line to left! Takagaki running back, but it's over his head! He runs it down as it goes to the wall, but Nagao's in with a triple!
Nakazono too works the count a little to 2-1, but pops out to Noyama for the 2nd out.
That leaves it to catcher Nakano.
He goes ahead 3-0, but Yoshikawa fills up the count. Chopper to 3rd, Ookura goes to tag Nagao, but he misses and the umpire calls safe! Nagao isn't called for going too wide off the baseline!
Wow. Will that cost them?
YES!!
#9 batter Nikou drives a hanging change to left! Takagaki back, going back...
It's off the wall! Nagao scores, Nakano from 1st being waved around 3rd and he scores! 2 out, 2-RBI double for Nikou gives Kamimura Gakuen the 2-0 lead!
Back to the top of the order and Niiro, he tries to sell a HBP, but the home plate umpire isn't buying it as he didn't move.
However, Yoshikawa walks him on 4 straight and now there's runners at 1st and 2nd for Tanaka who hit a sharp single in the 1st.
Tanaka though lines out to right, and the inning is over. But a bad decision for what would have been the 3rd out costs Chiben Wakayama a pair of runs!
Bottom 2nd
Amano slices one past a diving Tanaka into center for a leadoff single. Noyama swinging away grounds to short but Tanaka has no one at 2nd, so he makes the play at first.
After a flyout, Kakizawa throws a wild pitch allowing Amano to advance to 3rd.
But Numakura hits an easy grounder to 1st and the side is retired.
Top 3rd
So for the info on Yoshikawa. He a southpaw throws in the upper 130s and has a slider (high 120s), curve (110s) and forkball (low 120s).
After a quick out by Koga, Kakizawa works the count full, but strikes out again, this time swinging on a slider in the dirt.
Matsuki goes down on a slider to strike out for his 2nd time and Yoshikawa seems to have settled down.
Bottom 3rd
Kakizawa for throwing mid 140's doesn't generate a lot of Ks. He uses his variety of offspeed pitches (cutter, slider, curve, sinker and change) to get his outs. If you're watching, don't even ask me to try and figure out which pitch is which.
After a routine grounder to Nagao, Ookura hits one back up the middle on the 2nd base side. Nagao makes a great sliding stop, pop and throw to retire Ookura.
Shima goes down swinging on a sinker down and away for Kakizawa's 2nd out and first 1-2-3 inning.
Top 4th
Nagao becomes Yoshizawa's 6th K swinging on a slider down and away.
Nakano with the team's 4th hit a solid single past Shima to center.
With 1 down, the graphic comes up on bunting for Kamimura Gakuen.
They don't.
Seriously, no sac bunts. A #5 batter once attempted one but apparently missed. Or maybe feinted one and got called at offering.
And so Nakazono on a hit-and-run flies out to right. 2 down.
Nikou with his 2nd base hit! He gets around on an inside pitch and singles to left! Runners on 1st and 2nd!
AH! Now Niiro is hit by Yoshizawa! Manrui for Kamimura and Tanaka!
Yoshikawa gets ahead 0-2 though, and looks to get out of the pinch. But he steps off twice, odd.
0-2 pitch is your traditional waste pitch, not even close. Next one is buried away.
Tanaka reaches down and hits one to the right side! That's past Noyama into right! Nakano scores! Amano up with the throw as they send Nikou... and he's thrown out with relative ease. Not sure why you'd press there especially on a short ball like that one, but Kamimura Gakuen does extend their lead to 3-0.
Bottom 4th
Yoshizawa gets on for the 2nd time without the benefit of a hit. He's hit in the foot.
Takagaki with the grounder up the middle, Nagao there for the AH!!!!!!!!
The ball takes a bad hop and gets past Nagao to center! Yoshizawa advances to 3rd! Nagao probably would've had it anyways if he hadn't been setting himself up for the double play!
Yamamoto-kantoku calls for time.
Amano with a drive to left! Matsuki turns out and runs back! Still running! It's over his head and to the wall! Yoshikawa scores! Takagaki from 1st is waved around! Throw home... not in time! The HBP and error cost then a pair of runs, Amano narrows the deficit to 3-2!
Noyama not bunting with one down, grounds out to short and is unable to advance the runner. Kawasaki does with his grounder to 2nd, but there's now 2 outs.
Numakura hits a hard liner, but right at Niiro for the 3rd out. Still Chiben Wakayama has pulled to within 1.
Top 5th
Koga with a single to left-center. Wait! He's running through to 2nd! Numakura fires the ball in and he's SAFE!!
The throw looks like it beat him, but either he slid around the tag or it wasn't made fast enough!
Kakizawa moves the runner along with a grounder to 2nd.
And playing a lefty/righty matchup or just replacing Matuski, Yamamoto-kantoku sends in #7 Hirayabu to hit. But he hits it straight to Sakamoto who checks the run before going to 1st. 2 down now for Nagao.
He draws a walk, and so there's runners at the corners with Nakazono up next. But flies out to 2nd and the threat is gone.
Bottom 5th
Hirayabu stays in and goes to LF.
Quick out for Kakizawa as Sakamoto flies out to left.
Ookura with a dive to left! Hirayabu running back towards the foul pole... makes the running catch at the fence for the 2nd out! Nice play!
Shima flies out to right and we hit the break with Kamimura Gakuen leading Chiben Wakayama 3-2! Yoshizawa has settled down after the 2nd inning and has 6 K's. Kakizawa has pitched very well, but an error leads to a pair of unearned runs.
Top 6th
Nakano swings at a fastball letter high and way away for Yoshikawa's 7th K.
Two down, and Yoshikawa issues his 2nd walk to Niiro.
Yamamoto-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but Tanaka hits a ball back up the middle where Shima is waiting and tags 2nd for the out.
Bottom 6th
Hirayabu now goes to the mound as Kakizawa goes to left.
And he does a great job in his first inning of relief, inducing 3 groundouts for a 1-2-3 inning.
Top 7th
One down, and Kakizawa slices a ball past a diving Shima into left.
Hirayabu up and they do the hit-and-run!
But Hirayabu swings and misses for the K! Kawasaki throws to 2nd and they get Kakizawa for the strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play!
Bottom 7th
Noyama hits a grounder to short, Tanaka makes a great backhand on the ball, and he makes a strong throw to 1st for the out!
Kawasaki with a base hit to center and Chiben has their first runner since the 4th. Back to the top of the order and Numakura.
Grounder to short! Tanaka starts the 6-4-3 double play and they're out of the inning.
Top 8th
#12 Nakatani is in the game now for Takagaki in left.
Well, Yoshizawa is keeping his team in the game, not letting a ball leave the infield in a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 8th
#14 Nakanishi to hit for Sakamoto and he pops out to Nagao.
Ookura draws a walk and the douten run is in scoring position.
But Shima hits a grounder to short! Tanaka starts the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and Chiben Wakayama has just 1 inning left!
Top 9th
Crap, there's defensive changes all over the place and the broadcast did a non-existent job of saying any of them.
Ok, got it:
- PH Nakanishi stays in and plays 2B.
- #15 Ikezoe comes in for Numakura and goes to RF.
- Amano goes from RF to CF.
- #1 Oojino comes in for Yoshikawa and takes the hill.
Anyways, Nikou draws a 4-pitch walk, and for the first time Kamimura Gakuen does a bunt for the first time and succeeds!
Uh oh, now Oojino hits Tanaka. He's creating his own pinch.
Wild pitch from Oojino! Nikou goes to 3rd! And on the next pitch Tanaka steals 2nd wih no throw!
Now a base hit can put the game almost out of reach!
Koga with a chopper in front of the plate! Oojino with the ball, throws to 1st, and hits Koga! Everyone's safe!!
No, wait. Koga is called out for not getting out of the throwing lane. 2 down.
Kakizawa work the count full for the 2nd time and draws a walk. Manrui for Kamimura!
But Hirayabu hits a fly to center! Amano there for the catch and Kamimura is denied a run!
Bottom 9th
Down to their last 3 outs, is there a rally in them?
#16 Yamaguchi to hit fo Oojino. But he first pitch flies out to center.
Nakatani in for his first AB and he grounds out to 2nd.
Last chance for Chiben Wakayama, but Amano grounds to 2nd! Nagao with it, throws to 1st, and Kamimura Gakuen advances!
As expected, it was a close game with Kamimura's offense for the most part slowed down by Yoshizawa, but not completely stopped. And while some help from the defense allowed Chiben to make it close, they couldn't get the douten run across.
So Chiben Wakayama's summer ends in the first round, and the slide at Koushien continues. For Kamimura Gakuen, their drive for respectability will continue as they must face runner-ups Kousei Gakuin for a spot in the Best 8. The pitching staff was not challenged by the Chiben batters, so it'll be intersting to see how Kousei's offense fares. As for their offense, the certainly had some solid hits, but Yoshikawa was effectively wild, striking out and walking his fair share of batters. Jyouma and Kanazawa will not be that way.
Notable Players
Kakizawa Takahiro (Kamimura Gakuen) - W, 5 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 K, 2 BB
Hirayabu Jyunichirou (Kamimura Gakuen) - SV, 4 IP, 0 ER, H, BB
Nikou Takuma (Kamimura Gakuen) - 2-3, 2 RBI, BB
Tanaka Koudai (Kamimura Gakuen) -2-4, RBI, HBP
Yoshikawa Yuudai (Chiben Wakayama) - L, 8 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 8 K, 4 BB
Amano Yashuhiro (Chiben Wakayama) - 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
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