Seikou Gakuin almost suffered the same fate as Chiben Wakayama. In the final against Nichidai Tohoku, Seikou Gakuin never led during regulation. Instead they had to come back from 2-run deficits twice, the second of which in the last two innings to force enchousen where they finally took the lead when it mattered - with a sayonara run in the bottom of the 10th.
Seikou certaintly wasn't infallable this year. Against Gakusha Ishikawa they actually trailed 8-4 after 2 innings before rallying to win 10-9. Still, they managed to hold off the competition and win their 7th straight title, the longest such current run in kokoyakyu.
Aikoudai Meiden returns to Koushien again, though not without some difficulty. In the block final, they couldn't shake off Meiwa but never trailed winning 6-5. Then in the finals, they looked rather pedestrian against a very game Aichi Reimei holding on for a 2-1 win to head to Koushien for a 2nd straight year. Their offense also looked rather average as well, with most of their mercy rule games coming early.
Both teams seems to be on a down year despite reaching Koushien. Not sure who the edge goes to.
Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi)
RF Yamamoto ?
LF Onda Kouki
SS Nakano Yoshiki
1B Ishihama Ryouta (#15)
2B Hattori Shinsou
CF Tomozawa Takashi
3B Tokunami Yuuto
C Ono Kouta (#13)
P Azuma Katsuki
Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
SS Nishimura Daiki
2B Ishino Yuuta
LF Yokomizu Kazuto
1B Sonobe Satoshi
RF Satou Shouhei (#18)
CF Yaoita Hyuuma (#9)
3B Ihara Takashi
C Hirose Kazumi
P Ishii Naru (#10)
____________________________________________________________
09:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Well, Ishii throws about as slow as I remember, not really hitting 130 with his fastball. Yamamoto with a hit to left, Yokomizu plays the hop and the leadoff batter is on board.
Yokota tries the safety bunt, but fouls it off instead. He does run the count full. And there is mention of Kurano-kantoku for Meiden using the term AMB478 in reference to Aikoudai Meiden Baseball 48. Really? That's about as corny as it gets, though I guess you can't fault him for trying.
Onda tries the three bunt, but Hirose makes the catch and doubles off Yamamoto as they tried the bunt-and-run. 2 outs.
Nakano battling Ishii hard at the plate, fouling off a couple before earning a walk. Ishii finally hit 130 on the gun, but the slider and slow curve are, well... slow, in the high 110-low 120s and high 90s respectively.
Ishihama gets the start at cleanup despite having an average of 0.000.
あ。
NO WAY.
Ishihama goes down and drives one to left! Yokomizu back to the wall....
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The guy with no hits in the Aichi taikai hits a 2-run HR?!! Unbelievable! 2-0 Meiden!
Hattori pops out to 2nd, but that's a surprise to start the game!
Bottom 1st
Azuma more of a standard ace, fastball in the mid-upper 130s with a slider seemingly in the mid 110s which is a bit of a gap.
But his control is good early as he gets Nishimura looking, then when Ishino thinks he has ball 4, the ump rings him up for the 2nd K looking!
Yokomizu makes contact, but it's a routine groundout to 1st to end the inning. A good start for Meiden indeed.
Top 2nd
Ishii settling down after the surprise 2-run HR. Meiden is working the count, so while Ishii retires the side in order with 3 very routine outs, his needs 17 pitches to do so, so his pitch count is climbing rather quickly.
Bottom 2nd
Azuma after a good 1st, misses around the plate to cleanup batter Sonobe, falls behind 3-0 and eventually walks him. Saitou-kantoku will play for the run and has Satou bunt.
Yaoita with a comebacker under Azuma's glove into center and now it's runners at the corners and a great scoring opportunity for Ihara!
Ihara plays the drag squeeze up the first base line! Ishihama plays the ball, but only has 1st for the out! Sonobe scores to make it 2-1!
Douten runner on 2nd, and Hirose goes into bunker mode fouling off a couple of pitches but winds up hitting one back to Azuma who tosses it to first for the 3rd out. However, some good mechanics help cut the deficit in half!
Top 3rd
Azuma lines up the curve from Ishii and slices it through the middle and into center for a leadoff single. Back to the top of the order and Yamamoto. Kurano-kantoku is not calling for the bunt as Yamamoto fouls one off.
However, he grounds to 3rd and Ihara cuts down the leadoff runner. Onda tries to surprise the defense with another bunt, but Hirose quickly gets on it, and despite a double clutch throws him out.
Nakano is very patient for a 3-hole hitter, working his 2nd AB also to 3 balls. Ishi though wins the battle when Nakano skies one to shallow left for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
Azuma's control is back on track it seems, with Ishii a rounder to Ishihama who takes it himself, Nishimura who chases a screwball inside for his 2nd K, and Ishino a chopper to Hattori who makes a bit of a soft toss, but still beats Ishino to the bag for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Ishii trying to pitch inside to Ishihama winds up nicking him and putting him on.
Hattori also lays down a drag bunt up the first base line that stays fair and does the job.
Oh? Kurano-kantoku has Tomozawa bunting as well?! His first attempts goes foul, but he's still showing it. He does! They do indeed call for it looking for a one-off from Tokunami.
But Tokunami is jammed by Ishii and Ishino in the grass in shallow right makes the catch for the 3rd out. A double bunt seems like it is indicative of how Kurano-lantoku things of his offense.
Bottom 4th
Hm, Seikou's batters can't seem to figure out Azuma. After a routine grounder by Kokumizu, both Sonobe and Satou go chasing pitches out of the zone and Azuma has 5 K's so far.
Top 5th
Ishii into a good groove now. Ono a hard grounder, but right to Sonobe. Azuma tries to bloop one to left, but it hangs up too long.
Yamamoto with one to center... and while Yaoita looks like he should have been there, it drops in front for a base hit. Things getting a little dicier when Onda lines one to right moving Yamamoto to scoring position.
But a grounder to short is handled by Nishimura who flips to 2nd just in time for the 3rd out. Small hiccup there, but nothing serious.
Bottom 5th
Apparently Yaoita is the only one who can size up Azuma, skipping one past Ishihama into right. He has both of Seikou's hits so far today.
Ihara with the drag bunt again up the right side. Azuma goes to 2nd, OH!
He throws it away! Yaoita goes to 3rd and now Seikou looks to tie the game with a mere sac fly (or more likely squeeze bunt).
Hirose showing bunt, but not getting the favorable calls on balls that looks like, well... balls. Instead he's behind 0-2.
Squeeze! But he pops it up! Azuma catches it, throws to 3rd for the double play. WHAT?!
Throws to 1st.. triple play!!! The team celebrates the 1-5-3 triple play that gets Azuma out of the big jam!
ほ。。。。。
That might demoralize Seikou heading into the break. Pehaps the can regrroup during the time off.
Top 6th
Ishihama with a scorcher through the left side means he's been safe on all 3 ABs despite no hits prior.
Kurano-kantoku goes for the double bunt to move him to 3rd. Wonder what this is all about.
Tokunami up, and Kurano-kantoku calls him over and now Tokunami showing bunt too? That doesn't make any sense.
But with the count 3-1, he singles through to right! Ishihama scores and it's 3-1 Meiden! Ono replays the hit and now perhaps things are unraveling for Ishii? Captain Itou goes to talk to Ishii,
Azuma up and he's showing bunt? Ah, perhaps for that one pitch. He swings and grounds to Ishino who just does get Ono at 2nd for the 3rd out. But Meiden's double bunt pays off this time and they extend their lead.
Bottom 6th
Ishii's day is done as #8 Sakatani comes in to hit..
AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sakatani with a blast to right! Yamamoto running back to the fence...
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a pinch hit HR for Sakatani and Seikou gets that run right back!
Ishino follows that up with a shot that bounces off Ishihama for a base hit! Seikou immediately trying to counter and then some!
But Ishino's bunt goes to Azuma. He goes to 2nd... and this time gets the lead runner.
Yokomizu though lines out right to Azuma who easily doubles off a running Ishino and the inning is over. But Seikou continues to fight.
Top 7th
Sakatani stays in to play LF, and ace Kon comes in for Yokomizu and takes over on the mound. Kon is not a hard tosser either, ranging in the low 130s. Plus, there's a bit of wildness there too.
Which so far isn't hurting him. Versus the top of the order, he gets a groundout from Yamamoto and a towering infield pop up from Onda. He almost gets the 3 up 3 down, but Nishimura can't cleanly field it and Nakano gets on base. That lasts for all of 3 pitches as Ishihama is finally retired on a grounder to 2nd.
Bottom 7th
Sonobe jumps on the first pitch and lines it over Tokunami's head and down the line for a leadoff double! Douten runner in scoring position! Interestingly Saitou-kantoku is not having Satou bunt!
After a foul ball, Saitou-lantoku has a message relayed from Ishigaki to Satou.
Satou takes a couple of good hacks, but grounds out to 1st. Ishihama, already near 1st flips to Azuma instead and almost costs them an out. Job done though, Sonobe stands on 3rd for Yaoita who is 2-2 so far.
And in trying to pitch inside to Yaoita, Azuma hits him! Ihara up to bat as Ono goes out to talk to him.
Saitou-kantoku calls for the safety squeeze, but Ihara bunts it foul up the 3rd base line!
Now it's Kurano-kantoku who calls for a conference on the mound.
Meiden, playing for the squeeze throws two balls outside, but Ihara isn't biting, the runners aren't going.
Ihara goes for the safety squeeze, but the bunt is right at Tokunami! He goes home and Ono makes the tag for the 2nd out! Saitou-kantoku can only laugh at the situation.
Hirose up, and he singles to right! Yaoita is being sent home.. No wait! He scampers back to 2nd as the throw in would have definitely beat him. But now it's manrui for Sakatani who hit the PH HR earlier!
Azuma and Ono trying to hit the outside corner just does to get the count 1-2. They try again, but it's outside. Fastball down and away, nothing doing! Full count and everyone will be on the move!
Grounder to the left side! It's through! Yaoita scores! Ihara being sent home.. throw is late and he scores! Sakatani advances to 2nd on the throw and he single-handedly has brought his team back! It's 4-3 Seikou Gakuin!
Azuma gets Nishimura to ground out to end the inning, but the damage is more than done as Sakatani has the manrui gyakuten timely!
Top 8th
One down for Meiden and Tomozawa gets around on an inside pitch and singles to right center. Kurano-kantoku continues to play aggressive bunting as Tokunami moves him to 2nd, but now there's 2 outs as they leave it up to Ono.
? Now Kurano trying for the hit-and-run??! It's different, I'll give it that, but the strategy is certainly unconventional...
AH! Kon catches Tomozawa trying to jump early and he's caught! 1-6-5 and the inning is over! Meiden trying to be too aggressive costs them!
Bottom 8th
Ishino with a chopper to the left side. Nakano tries to quickly fire to 1st, but Ishino dives in safely. Saitou-kantoku will play for the insurance run as Kon is showing bunt. He can't lay it down though, and falls behind 0-2. He tries the bunt yet again, but runs it foul for the 1st out.
No matter for Sonobe as he lines a screwball back up the middle for a base hit! Meiden in big trouble with Satou stepping in. But he chases a screwball way outside and there's 2 outs. However the wild pitch allows the runners to advance for uh oh... Yaoita.
But Ishihama makes a great diving stop on a scorcher fryom Yaoita and takes it himself for the 3rd out! Azuma and Meiden out of the jam!
Top 9th
But they're also running out of time. Kurano-kantoku going to the bench as #3 Wakahara hits for Ono.
He gets ahead 3-1, and draws the leadoff walk!
Azuma will step in to hit as #17 Nakata comes in to run for Wakahara. Kurano-kantoku with just 3 outs to go, bunts the runner along 90 feet for an out.
Back to the top of the order and Yamamoto. Kon giving him nothing to hit, and he's swinging anyways. He flies out to right, and Nakata goes to 3rd.
Last chance for Meiden as Onda steps in. He swings on the first pitch and skies one to center! Yaoita under it... and secures it for the last out!
They've done it! Seikou Gakuin rallies for 3 unanswered runs to defeat Aikoudai Meiden 4-3!
To be honest, the game seemed to belong to Meiden early. The triple play in the 5th seemed to signify that it would be their game. And yet, after the break, it was Seikou Gakuin who made it theirs.
Or... should I say Sakatani Ryou did. In 2 ABs he goes 2-2 with a HR and 3 RBIs. You can't do much better than that.
Now, Seikou will have issues going forward. The pitching is good, but not necessarily great. But considering their track record, they may still have another win or two in them.
Meiden will go home certainly disappointed. But expect them to retool and go for the aki taikais and a chance at senbatsu next year.
Notable Players
Ishii Naru (Seikou Gakuin) - 6 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 0 K, BB, HBP
Sakatani Ryou (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-2, HR, R, 3 RBI
Sonobe Satoshi (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-3, 2B, R, BB
Azuma Katsuki (Aikoudai Meiden) - CG, 4 ER, 9 H, 7 K, BB, HBP
Ishihama Ryouta (Aikoudai Meiden) - 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Yamamoto ? (Aikoudai Meiden) - 2-5
Showing posts with label Aikoudai Meiden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aikoudai Meiden. Show all posts
Friday, August 9, 2013
Friday, August 10, 2012
Day 3, Game 1 - Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi) vs. Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa)
Yesterday was a mixed bag of games. You had a team finally complete a comeback win in Sakushin Gakuin, a closely contested match between Risshoudai Shounan and Moriokadai Fuzoku, records set by Toukou Gakuen's ace Matsui Yuuki, and the guilty blowout (sorry Kitsuki, I really wanted you to put up a good performance).
Today, we open the action with 2 teams who could be contenders to the title, and if nothing else are favorites to advance out of Block B - Urasoe Shougyou and Aikoudai Meiden.
Urasoe Shougyou is definitely more of the unknown quantity here in the matchup. Looking at their historical performance, they don't make it to Koushien as often as other schools, but they make their appearances count.
This year, they had 4 hotly contested games against Kounan, Kadena, a game Maehara squad, and finally Okinawa Shougaku to win their 4th ever summer title. In fact the total run differential between all 4 games was a mere 7 runs.
So carrying a 0.307 team batting average isn't necessarily as bad as it might seem. I don't have information on individual games, so I can't really key in on certain players to watch. As for the pitcher(s) on the mound, Miyara-kantoku uses a combination of ace Miyazato (who features a good curveball) and #10 Teruya (who can supposedly hit 150 kph) in all their games. It didn't work for Kitsuki, but no offense to Kitsuki, Urasoe Shougyou is no Kitsuki.
That's not to say the tandem doesn't have issues. Against Futenma, they gave up 7 runs. And in the final against Okinawa Shougaku they conceded 5 more runs. So it's certainly far from perfect.
And they'll be tested early as they face an Aikoudai Meiden squad looking to improve on the quarterfinal appearance in the spring when they faded late against runner-up Kousei Gakuin.
Meiden early on wound up drawing last year's Aichi representative, Shigakukan, and scored all their runs in the middle innings for an 8-5 win. After yet another scare against relative unknown Aichi Sangyoudai Kougyou, they eventually made it to the finals where they were 3 outs away from being eliminated by Touhou. That's when Touhou experienced an almost fatal self-destruction as they gave up both runs. The damage suffered would prove to be fatal 2 innings later, and thus Aikoudai Meiden finds themselves back at Koushien.
The offensive issues Meiden had in the spring still persist as they hit a sub-average 0.316. They'll need their 2-3-4 batters to step up and carry the squad as Hamada, though strong, may have issues with fatigue should they make a deep run.
Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi)
2B Kimura
3B Nakano
SS Satou
1B Torii
RF Matsuoka (#15)
LF Matsui
CF Araki
P Hamada
C Nakamura
Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa)
1B Agarie
CH Ooshiro Rishuu
2B Touma
P Miyazato
C Iraha
LF Goya
RF Teruya (#10)
3B Kise
SS Uchima
__________________________________________________
9:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Meiden's batters are making contact on Miyazato's pitches, but aren't making solid hits. Kimura and Nakano both softly fly out to center, and Satou grounds out to 1st.
Bottom 1st
Hamada with a quick inning. First pitch groundout to Agarie, Rishuu goes down swinging on 4 pitches, and Touma hits a routine grounder back to Hamada.
Top 2nd
Much of the same for Miyazato. Torii, Matsuoka and Matsui all ground out to the left side of the infield.
Bottom 2nd
Miyazato with a drive to right center. Araki running back to the wall!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ace Miyazato gets a hold of a hanger and drives it opposite field for a home run! Urasoe Shougyou takes the 1-0 lead!
Now with one down Goya hits a hard single back up the middle. Hamada getting hit hard here in the 2nd.
Teruya with a swinging bunt up the 3rd base line, Nakano takes his time to get to the ball, and his throw is late... and high! It gets past Torii and now Goya takes 3rd!
Kise with the squeeze bunt! It's perfectly placed and Torii can only go to 1st! Goya scores to make it 2-0 Urashou!
Uchima fouls out to right field and the inning is over, but not before Urasoe Shougyou gets to Hamada for a pair of runs!
Top 3rd
After 2 more routine outs, last batter Nakamura gets Meiden's first hit on a ball back up the middle past Uchima into center.
Kimura though flies out to right as Teruya makes a leaping catch while jogging for the 3rd out. Meiden missing on making good contact with the ball.
Bottom 3rd
Agarie leads off the 3rd with a roller that shoots through the infield into right. Rishuu bunts him along for Touma.
Hamada's numbers haven't changed really - fastball in the mid-upper 130s, slider in the high 120s and a curve in the high 100-low 110s.
Touma with a routine grounder to short, but Satou misses the ball! Everyone's safe, and Miyazato's coming to bat!
He hits a slow chopper back to Hamada, and now Hamada misses fielding it! It deflects to the left side and by the time he can get to it everyone's safe!!
Iraha tries the squeeze on the 1-1 count, but pops it foul. He'll have to swing away... and goes down swinging on a high fastball for the 2nd out.
Goya with a drive to right center! Araki and Matsuoka running back to the wall, still running!!
It's off the fence and bounces back to the infield! Matsuoka gets the ball in, but not before Goya clears the bases on a triple, giving Urashou the 5-0 lead!!
Hamada finally ends the inning by jamming Teruya, but Hamada is getting killed on the mound. A 5-0 deficit for Meiden will be hard to make up, but they do have time.
Top 4th
Nakano with a bid for a base hit to the right side, but Touma makes the great diving stop and throws him out!
Satou manages to scoot one past Touma this time and into center for a hit.
Torii connects hard, but hits a liner right at Rishuu for the 2nd out.
Matsuoka bloops one to right allowing Satou to advance to 3rd. Miyara-kantoku calls for time.
Matsui with a hard grounder to short. Uchima makes a diving stop, but can't find the ball! He finds it, makes a snap throw to 1st... but it's over everyone!! Satou scores! Matsuoka scores on the play and Meiden's on the board at 5-2!
There's time on the field as Uchima got dirt in his eye and had to get it cleaned out. He sprints out squinting a bit, but otherwise fine.
Araki with a grounder to 1st, Agarie gathers it on a tricky hop and goes to the bag for the 3rd out. Meiden cuts into the deficit, but there's still work to do!
Bottom 4th
Hamada settles down, at least against the bottom of the order, quickly retiring the 8-9-1 batters in order which included 2 K's. Now if only he can do that against the heart of the order.
Top 5th
Hamada leads off with a solid single back up the middle. Miyara-kantoku decides this is a good time and switches pitchers sending Teruya to the mound and Miyazato to right.
Nakamura despite getting a hit in his last AB bunts, but Teruya fields it quickly and guns down Hamada at 2nd!
Kimura hits a ball back up the middle, but right at Uchima! He underhands to Touma who fires to 1st for the double play!
Bottom 5th
Well, that's a first. 2 down, Miyazato up, he swings and loses the bat! It flies and lands in front of the Meiden dugout. Miyazato goes to gather it , then goes back to his dugout and changes gloves.
And then goes down swinging on the next pitch... Hamada has 6 K's, but more importantly has given up 5 runs and his team trails heading into the break,
Top 6th
One down and Satou draws a walk. Then Torii drives one deep in the left center field gap! Goya and Rishuu converge on the ball , but it falls in behind them right in front of the wall! Satou scores all the way from first and Meiden gets another run back! It's 5-3!
Teruya's problems continue as he walks Matsuoka, putting the douten runner on base! Miyara-kantoku calls for time, as the momentum is starting to swing to Meiden.
Matsuoka takes off on the first pitch and Iraha's throw is late! Now a base hit could tie the game!
And it's a wild pitch! No! The umpire (rightly) claims a dead ball! While it's manrui, the wild pitch would have scored a run! Will it be a good break for Urashou?
Araki hits a fly to center, but it's too shallow and Torii can't tag up! Teruya about to get out of the jam!
But he hits Hamada on the first pitch! Oshidashi dead ball as Torii finally comes home to make it 5-4!
Last batter Nakamura up to try and get the douten and perhaps gyakuten runner in.
SANSHIN!!! Teruya blows a high 147 kph fastball by him for the 3rd out! Meiden gets another pair of runs, but still finds themselves behind Urashou!
Bottom 6th
Well that was an uneventful half inning. Hamada still isn't looking sharp, but at least he's missing in the right places. He gets an easy popup (as long as Araki and Matsuoka don't collide), and 2 routine grounders.
Top 7th
So Hamada has settled down, and Meiden has scored 2 pairs of runs. Do they at least have one more run left in them?
One down and Nakano singles just in front of Goya. Satou showing bunt, but not offering so far....
Instead he swings away and is jammed! He flies out to left for the 2nd out.
Torii gets way under one and pops it up! Touma has plenty of time and secure the ball for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
After a long AB that saw C Nakamura get hit by another foul ball, Kise draws a walk.
Uchima lays a hard drag bunt to 2nd, and no one is there! By the time Kimura is there to field it, everyone's safe! Big pinch for Hamada!
But Nakamura catches Kise way off base on a bunt play, throws to 2nd and Satou makes a great diving tag to get Kise out.
Agarie, behind 2-2, thows his bat at the ball and it manages to hit it towards 1st! Torii makes the tag, but it advances the runner.
Rishuu gets around on a ball and hits a ball to shallow right! Matsuoka charges in but can't get to it! Uchima comes home as the throw is cutoff and Urashou leads 6-4!
Rishuu is subsequently picked off, but they get the insurance run!
Top 8th
Teruya's control problems persist as he walks Matsuoka on 4 straight. Miyara-kantoku elects to bring Miyazato back onto the mound to get the final 6 outs.
Matsui showing bunt down 2 this late? He lays it down, but it dies right in front of the plate! Iraha is able to fire to 2nd and cut down Matsuoka!
Now Oofuji-kantoku sends in #9 Touda in to hit for Araki. But he grounds to 2nd. Touma makes a great flip to 2nd for the 2nd out.
It's up to Hamada who drives one to deep center! Rishuu running back, still running back... stops in front of the wall and makes the catch for the 3rd out! Hamada hits it to the deepest part of the park and it just falls short. Miyazato breathes a sigh of relief as the side is retired.
Bottom 8th
Touda stays in the game in center.
Iraha draws a 2-out walk, but that's inconsequential Hamada get the final out.
Top 9th
#9 Tamaki comes in for Teruya and takes over in RF as a defensive replacement.
Meiden finds themselves down to their last 3 outs again down 2 runs, much like the Aichi final.
Nakamura first pitch grounds to 3rd. Back to the top of the order and Kimura.
And on a full count, he drives the ball into the right center field gap for a double!
Nakano with a hard hit to right, but Tamaki is there for the catch. Kimura advances to 3rd, but what matters is the run at the plate as that is the douten run.
It's up to Satou to keep the game alive.
But two swings and he falls behind 1-2! Down to their last strike!
Ball in the dirt for ball 2... Satou hits one to left center, but it hangs up! Goya running over makes the sliding catch and that's the ballgame! Urasoe Shougyou does indeed show their strength here in the first game defeating ace Hamada and Aikoudai Meiden! They stand poised now to be the favorite to advance out of Block B.
As for Aikoudai Meiden they only have to look at themselves for this one. There were mental erros made early on that cost the team several runs. Because of that, Hamada's final summer ends as quickly as it started here at Koushien.
Notable Players
Miyazato Taiyuu (Urasoe Shougyou) - SV, 6 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 K, 0 BB
Goya Yoshihiro (Urasoe Shougyou) - 2-4, 3B, R, 3 RBI
Matsuoka Daisuke (Aikoudai Meiden) - 1-2, R, 2 BB, SB
Today, we open the action with 2 teams who could be contenders to the title, and if nothing else are favorites to advance out of Block B - Urasoe Shougyou and Aikoudai Meiden.
Urasoe Shougyou is definitely more of the unknown quantity here in the matchup. Looking at their historical performance, they don't make it to Koushien as often as other schools, but they make their appearances count.
This year, they had 4 hotly contested games against Kounan, Kadena, a game Maehara squad, and finally Okinawa Shougaku to win their 4th ever summer title. In fact the total run differential between all 4 games was a mere 7 runs.
So carrying a 0.307 team batting average isn't necessarily as bad as it might seem. I don't have information on individual games, so I can't really key in on certain players to watch. As for the pitcher(s) on the mound, Miyara-kantoku uses a combination of ace Miyazato (who features a good curveball) and #10 Teruya (who can supposedly hit 150 kph) in all their games. It didn't work for Kitsuki, but no offense to Kitsuki, Urasoe Shougyou is no Kitsuki.
That's not to say the tandem doesn't have issues. Against Futenma, they gave up 7 runs. And in the final against Okinawa Shougaku they conceded 5 more runs. So it's certainly far from perfect.
And they'll be tested early as they face an Aikoudai Meiden squad looking to improve on the quarterfinal appearance in the spring when they faded late against runner-up Kousei Gakuin.
Meiden early on wound up drawing last year's Aichi representative, Shigakukan, and scored all their runs in the middle innings for an 8-5 win. After yet another scare against relative unknown Aichi Sangyoudai Kougyou, they eventually made it to the finals where they were 3 outs away from being eliminated by Touhou. That's when Touhou experienced an almost fatal self-destruction as they gave up both runs. The damage suffered would prove to be fatal 2 innings later, and thus Aikoudai Meiden finds themselves back at Koushien.
The offensive issues Meiden had in the spring still persist as they hit a sub-average 0.316. They'll need their 2-3-4 batters to step up and carry the squad as Hamada, though strong, may have issues with fatigue should they make a deep run.
Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi)
2B Kimura
3B Nakano
SS Satou
1B Torii
RF Matsuoka (#15)
LF Matsui
CF Araki
P Hamada
C Nakamura
Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa)
1B Agarie
CH Ooshiro Rishuu
2B Touma
P Miyazato
C Iraha
LF Goya
RF Teruya (#10)
3B Kise
SS Uchima
__________________________________________________
9:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Meiden's batters are making contact on Miyazato's pitches, but aren't making solid hits. Kimura and Nakano both softly fly out to center, and Satou grounds out to 1st.
Bottom 1st
Hamada with a quick inning. First pitch groundout to Agarie, Rishuu goes down swinging on 4 pitches, and Touma hits a routine grounder back to Hamada.
Top 2nd
Much of the same for Miyazato. Torii, Matsuoka and Matsui all ground out to the left side of the infield.
Bottom 2nd
Miyazato with a drive to right center. Araki running back to the wall!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ace Miyazato gets a hold of a hanger and drives it opposite field for a home run! Urasoe Shougyou takes the 1-0 lead!
Now with one down Goya hits a hard single back up the middle. Hamada getting hit hard here in the 2nd.
Teruya with a swinging bunt up the 3rd base line, Nakano takes his time to get to the ball, and his throw is late... and high! It gets past Torii and now Goya takes 3rd!
Kise with the squeeze bunt! It's perfectly placed and Torii can only go to 1st! Goya scores to make it 2-0 Urashou!
Uchima fouls out to right field and the inning is over, but not before Urasoe Shougyou gets to Hamada for a pair of runs!
Top 3rd
After 2 more routine outs, last batter Nakamura gets Meiden's first hit on a ball back up the middle past Uchima into center.
Kimura though flies out to right as Teruya makes a leaping catch while jogging for the 3rd out. Meiden missing on making good contact with the ball.
Bottom 3rd
Agarie leads off the 3rd with a roller that shoots through the infield into right. Rishuu bunts him along for Touma.
Hamada's numbers haven't changed really - fastball in the mid-upper 130s, slider in the high 120s and a curve in the high 100-low 110s.
Touma with a routine grounder to short, but Satou misses the ball! Everyone's safe, and Miyazato's coming to bat!
He hits a slow chopper back to Hamada, and now Hamada misses fielding it! It deflects to the left side and by the time he can get to it everyone's safe!!
Iraha tries the squeeze on the 1-1 count, but pops it foul. He'll have to swing away... and goes down swinging on a high fastball for the 2nd out.
Goya with a drive to right center! Araki and Matsuoka running back to the wall, still running!!
It's off the fence and bounces back to the infield! Matsuoka gets the ball in, but not before Goya clears the bases on a triple, giving Urashou the 5-0 lead!!
Hamada finally ends the inning by jamming Teruya, but Hamada is getting killed on the mound. A 5-0 deficit for Meiden will be hard to make up, but they do have time.
Top 4th
Nakano with a bid for a base hit to the right side, but Touma makes the great diving stop and throws him out!
Satou manages to scoot one past Touma this time and into center for a hit.
Torii connects hard, but hits a liner right at Rishuu for the 2nd out.
Matsuoka bloops one to right allowing Satou to advance to 3rd. Miyara-kantoku calls for time.
Matsui with a hard grounder to short. Uchima makes a diving stop, but can't find the ball! He finds it, makes a snap throw to 1st... but it's over everyone!! Satou scores! Matsuoka scores on the play and Meiden's on the board at 5-2!
There's time on the field as Uchima got dirt in his eye and had to get it cleaned out. He sprints out squinting a bit, but otherwise fine.
Araki with a grounder to 1st, Agarie gathers it on a tricky hop and goes to the bag for the 3rd out. Meiden cuts into the deficit, but there's still work to do!
Bottom 4th
Hamada settles down, at least against the bottom of the order, quickly retiring the 8-9-1 batters in order which included 2 K's. Now if only he can do that against the heart of the order.
Top 5th
Hamada leads off with a solid single back up the middle. Miyara-kantoku decides this is a good time and switches pitchers sending Teruya to the mound and Miyazato to right.
Nakamura despite getting a hit in his last AB bunts, but Teruya fields it quickly and guns down Hamada at 2nd!
Kimura hits a ball back up the middle, but right at Uchima! He underhands to Touma who fires to 1st for the double play!
Bottom 5th
Well, that's a first. 2 down, Miyazato up, he swings and loses the bat! It flies and lands in front of the Meiden dugout. Miyazato goes to gather it , then goes back to his dugout and changes gloves.
And then goes down swinging on the next pitch... Hamada has 6 K's, but more importantly has given up 5 runs and his team trails heading into the break,
Top 6th
One down and Satou draws a walk. Then Torii drives one deep in the left center field gap! Goya and Rishuu converge on the ball , but it falls in behind them right in front of the wall! Satou scores all the way from first and Meiden gets another run back! It's 5-3!
Teruya's problems continue as he walks Matsuoka, putting the douten runner on base! Miyara-kantoku calls for time, as the momentum is starting to swing to Meiden.
Matsuoka takes off on the first pitch and Iraha's throw is late! Now a base hit could tie the game!
And it's a wild pitch! No! The umpire (rightly) claims a dead ball! While it's manrui, the wild pitch would have scored a run! Will it be a good break for Urashou?
Araki hits a fly to center, but it's too shallow and Torii can't tag up! Teruya about to get out of the jam!
But he hits Hamada on the first pitch! Oshidashi dead ball as Torii finally comes home to make it 5-4!
Last batter Nakamura up to try and get the douten and perhaps gyakuten runner in.
SANSHIN!!! Teruya blows a high 147 kph fastball by him for the 3rd out! Meiden gets another pair of runs, but still finds themselves behind Urashou!
Bottom 6th
Well that was an uneventful half inning. Hamada still isn't looking sharp, but at least he's missing in the right places. He gets an easy popup (as long as Araki and Matsuoka don't collide), and 2 routine grounders.
Top 7th
So Hamada has settled down, and Meiden has scored 2 pairs of runs. Do they at least have one more run left in them?
One down and Nakano singles just in front of Goya. Satou showing bunt, but not offering so far....
Instead he swings away and is jammed! He flies out to left for the 2nd out.
Torii gets way under one and pops it up! Touma has plenty of time and secure the ball for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
After a long AB that saw C Nakamura get hit by another foul ball, Kise draws a walk.
Uchima lays a hard drag bunt to 2nd, and no one is there! By the time Kimura is there to field it, everyone's safe! Big pinch for Hamada!
But Nakamura catches Kise way off base on a bunt play, throws to 2nd and Satou makes a great diving tag to get Kise out.
Agarie, behind 2-2, thows his bat at the ball and it manages to hit it towards 1st! Torii makes the tag, but it advances the runner.
Rishuu gets around on a ball and hits a ball to shallow right! Matsuoka charges in but can't get to it! Uchima comes home as the throw is cutoff and Urashou leads 6-4!
Rishuu is subsequently picked off, but they get the insurance run!
Top 8th
Teruya's control problems persist as he walks Matsuoka on 4 straight. Miyara-kantoku elects to bring Miyazato back onto the mound to get the final 6 outs.
Matsui showing bunt down 2 this late? He lays it down, but it dies right in front of the plate! Iraha is able to fire to 2nd and cut down Matsuoka!
Now Oofuji-kantoku sends in #9 Touda in to hit for Araki. But he grounds to 2nd. Touma makes a great flip to 2nd for the 2nd out.
It's up to Hamada who drives one to deep center! Rishuu running back, still running back... stops in front of the wall and makes the catch for the 3rd out! Hamada hits it to the deepest part of the park and it just falls short. Miyazato breathes a sigh of relief as the side is retired.
Bottom 8th
Touda stays in the game in center.
Iraha draws a 2-out walk, but that's inconsequential Hamada get the final out.
Top 9th
#9 Tamaki comes in for Teruya and takes over in RF as a defensive replacement.
Meiden finds themselves down to their last 3 outs again down 2 runs, much like the Aichi final.
Nakamura first pitch grounds to 3rd. Back to the top of the order and Kimura.
And on a full count, he drives the ball into the right center field gap for a double!
Nakano with a hard hit to right, but Tamaki is there for the catch. Kimura advances to 3rd, but what matters is the run at the plate as that is the douten run.
It's up to Satou to keep the game alive.
But two swings and he falls behind 1-2! Down to their last strike!
Ball in the dirt for ball 2... Satou hits one to left center, but it hangs up! Goya running over makes the sliding catch and that's the ballgame! Urasoe Shougyou does indeed show their strength here in the first game defeating ace Hamada and Aikoudai Meiden! They stand poised now to be the favorite to advance out of Block B.
As for Aikoudai Meiden they only have to look at themselves for this one. There were mental erros made early on that cost the team several runs. Because of that, Hamada's final summer ends as quickly as it started here at Koushien.
Notable Players
Miyazato Taiyuu (Urasoe Shougyou) - SV, 6 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 K, 0 BB
Goya Yoshihiro (Urasoe Shougyou) - 2-4, 3B, R, 3 RBI
Matsuoka Daisuke (Aikoudai Meiden) - 1-2, R, 2 BB, SB
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The field is set, who are the favorites?
With Fukui-ken qualifying the last team in Fukui Koudai Fukui, the field is set. Some teams such as Hanamaki Higashi (Iwate) and ace Hamada, Yokohama (Kanagawa), Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma), and Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka) are markedly absent.
Who's left, who's new, and more importantly, who can challenge for the title?
With the Haru Koushien champions qualifying, albeit with a late scare as they almost punted a 10-1 lead in the final against Riseisha, Osaka Touin has to be considered the front-runners to win and thus achieve haru-natsu renzoku yuusho, or spring-summer champions.
But the exact reason they almost gave up that lead, is the same reason they may not be able to win.
In the spring, Fujinami was able to hold out until the end. But I said back then that in the spring the weather is much, much more favorable. Come the summer, the heat and humidity would be much less accommodating.
And as mentioned, in the Osaka taikai he couldn't finish out the final game and had to turn it over to reliever Sawada to close it out. There's no doubt that they'll have to lean on Sawada more if they wish to be the 7th ever spring-summer champions.
Osaka Touin has been known for their offense. Nishitani-kantoku's management of the pitching staff will be key to victory.
Kousei Gakuin (Aomori) - 6th appearance, 2nd consecutive
While we're at it, let's look at the bridesmaids for the last two calendar Koushien tournaments - Kousei Gakuin.
When I saw them in person, there was nothing about the team that stood out, and when they were annihilated in last summer's final against Nichidai-san, I figured that'd be the end of that.
Instead, they replaced ace Akita with Kanazawa, qualified for Senbatsu this year, and reached the finals before losing to Osaka Touin 7-3.
Then came the Aomori taikai where they had 2 scares right off the bat against Misawa and former powerhouse Aomori Yamada. Once they cleared those two, the path to the final was much easier.
The pitching for Kousei Gakuin is deeper, but not as strong. 2B/P Jyouma has been used interchangably by Nakai-kantoku which will be a great help in keeping the arms fresh. The offense isn't as strong, but is still very solid. They have become a good all-around team from a prefecture not known for contending baseball teams.
Nichidai-san (Nishi Tokyo) - 15th appearance, 2nd consecutive
As much as I dislike Sanko, you have to give them their due - they were the dominating team last summer, and in the Nishi Tokyo final, they trailed 1-0 to Kousei Gakuen before Kousei crumbled giving up the game-winning double to the wall.
Sanko despite almost losing in the final, gave up just 3 runs in 7 games. Despite losing Yoshinaga, Saitou has taken over as the ace number, with Ooba as their main reliever and has done a great job.
Offensively, the first 4 games saw them post double-digit runs in 3 of them. But against the tougher competition - Hino, Souka and Kousei Gakuen, they won 3-0, 3-1 and 2-1.
So it will be interesting to see how the offense reacts to a good pitcher, especially if they draw one in the early going. But the opportunity to be a repeat champion is good motivation in and of itself.
Sakushin Gakuin was another, "Oh, that's nice they got to the semifinals" team before losing to Kousei Gakuin. They then made it to Senbatsu as well and got to the 2nd round before giving up a 1-run lead in extras to Naruto.
Sakushin profiles to be a poor man's Kousei Gakuin. Not as good of an offense, and a pitching tandem of Tsutsui and Mizunuma that is not as strong as Kanazawa-Jyouma. But with a rather weaker field then usual, a favorable draw could get them back to the semifinals.
Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi) - 10th appearance, 1st in 5 years
Aikoudai Meiden almost didn't make it like Nichidai-san. Down 2 runs to Touhou in the final, Touhou crumbled giving up the lead, the 2nd of which was due to a passed ball. Meiden would win in 11, and be yet another team to make both Senbatsu and Natsu Koushien this year.
Hamada is certainly more than an average pitcher, but he's almost all alone on the mound. Azuma is the reliever Kurano-kantoku would go to, but from his usage is not that trusted.
Meiden's offense is also a weakness. As witnessed against Touhou and earlier against Aichi Sangyoudai Kougyou, the offense can disappear leaving Hamada to try to carry the team - much more than the usual.
After 3 years of unable to reach Natsu Koushien, they finally book their tickets here in 2012. They were here in the spring, and reached the quarterfinals, and were 3 outs away from defeating eventual champion Osaka Touin, but ace Satou Takuya couldn't close the door.
Up until that moment, Urawa Gakuin was just like any other team in Saitama - underwhelming. For as big as Saitama is in population, it has NEVER won a Natsu Koushien tournament.
Never.
Why the heck is that? I mean, they have the 5th biggest population by prefecture. The 4 bigger ones - Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka and Aichi - all have won a Natsu Koushien, but Saitama has not.
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that Saitama is so close to Tokyo, so close to Kanagawa. If you were a good baseball player in middle school, you were probably recruited by teams down south. Why play for a team locally when you can go to a prestigious school such as Nichidai-san, or Waedsa Jitsugyou or Teikyou?
Urawa Gakuin in the Saitama taikai gave up just 2 runs. Ace Satou was responsible for one of the two (Yamaguchi Rui gave up the other). They did defeat Seibou Gakuen and last year's representative Hanasaki Tokuharu. But because it's still in prefecture, despite the impressive results, it doesn't prove anything.
They batted 0.361 in the spring and 0.350 this summer, but the question will be whether they can string the hits together, or if Satou and Yamaguchi will can hold up if they don't.
And so Urawa Gakuin enters the 94th Natsu Koushien, with a good performance in the spring to perhaps portend things in this summer. But they'll probably need things to fall their way for it to happen.
Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa) - 4th appearance, 1st in 4 years
This is just Urasoe Shougyou's 4th ever Natsu Koushien appearance, but apart from their first appearance where they lost in the first round, they have reached the semifinals in 1997 (losing to Chiben Wakayama) and 2008 (losing to Tokoha Kikugawa - I remember that game and the 9-run 2nd by Kikugawa and how happy I was!).
The appearance had been somewhat in coming as outside of a surprising loss to Chuubu Shougyou last summer in the 3rd round, they had reached at least the quarterfinals in other taikais.
This time around, their road to the title saw them face such well-known schools as Kounan, Kadena and in the final - Urasoe Shougaku. And before that final against Urasoe Shougaku, they outlasted cinderella Maebara, who had their sights on their first ever title.
I don't have a lot of information on Urasoe Shougyou other than they faithfully use a tandem of pitchers - Miyazato ? (宮里 泰悠) and Teruya Hikaru (照屋 光). Teruya is a fireballer, able to hit 150+ on the gun. I can't find a whole lot on Miyazato, but the tandem seems to have worked.
It will be interesting to see what happens on the big stage. Will they be able to continue the successes at Koushien?
Who's left, who's new, and more importantly, who can challenge for the title?
Title Favorites
Osaka Touin (Osaka) - 6th appearance, 1st in 4 yearsWith the Haru Koushien champions qualifying, albeit with a late scare as they almost punted a 10-1 lead in the final against Riseisha, Osaka Touin has to be considered the front-runners to win and thus achieve haru-natsu renzoku yuusho, or spring-summer champions.
But the exact reason they almost gave up that lead, is the same reason they may not be able to win.
In the spring, Fujinami was able to hold out until the end. But I said back then that in the spring the weather is much, much more favorable. Come the summer, the heat and humidity would be much less accommodating.
And as mentioned, in the Osaka taikai he couldn't finish out the final game and had to turn it over to reliever Sawada to close it out. There's no doubt that they'll have to lean on Sawada more if they wish to be the 7th ever spring-summer champions.
Osaka Touin has been known for their offense. Nishitani-kantoku's management of the pitching staff will be key to victory.
Kousei Gakuin (Aomori) - 6th appearance, 2nd consecutive
While we're at it, let's look at the bridesmaids for the last two calendar Koushien tournaments - Kousei Gakuin.
When I saw them in person, there was nothing about the team that stood out, and when they were annihilated in last summer's final against Nichidai-san, I figured that'd be the end of that.
Instead, they replaced ace Akita with Kanazawa, qualified for Senbatsu this year, and reached the finals before losing to Osaka Touin 7-3.
Then came the Aomori taikai where they had 2 scares right off the bat against Misawa and former powerhouse Aomori Yamada. Once they cleared those two, the path to the final was much easier.
The pitching for Kousei Gakuin is deeper, but not as strong. 2B/P Jyouma has been used interchangably by Nakai-kantoku which will be a great help in keeping the arms fresh. The offense isn't as strong, but is still very solid. They have become a good all-around team from a prefecture not known for contending baseball teams.
Nichidai-san (Nishi Tokyo) - 15th appearance, 2nd consecutive
As much as I dislike Sanko, you have to give them their due - they were the dominating team last summer, and in the Nishi Tokyo final, they trailed 1-0 to Kousei Gakuen before Kousei crumbled giving up the game-winning double to the wall.
Sanko despite almost losing in the final, gave up just 3 runs in 7 games. Despite losing Yoshinaga, Saitou has taken over as the ace number, with Ooba as their main reliever and has done a great job.
Offensively, the first 4 games saw them post double-digit runs in 3 of them. But against the tougher competition - Hino, Souka and Kousei Gakuen, they won 3-0, 3-1 and 2-1.
So it will be interesting to see how the offense reacts to a good pitcher, especially if they draw one in the early going. But the opportunity to be a repeat champion is good motivation in and of itself.
Title Contenders
Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi) - 8th appearance, 2nd consecutiveSakushin Gakuin was another, "Oh, that's nice they got to the semifinals" team before losing to Kousei Gakuin. They then made it to Senbatsu as well and got to the 2nd round before giving up a 1-run lead in extras to Naruto.
Sakushin profiles to be a poor man's Kousei Gakuin. Not as good of an offense, and a pitching tandem of Tsutsui and Mizunuma that is not as strong as Kanazawa-Jyouma. But with a rather weaker field then usual, a favorable draw could get them back to the semifinals.
Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi) - 10th appearance, 1st in 5 years
Aikoudai Meiden almost didn't make it like Nichidai-san. Down 2 runs to Touhou in the final, Touhou crumbled giving up the lead, the 2nd of which was due to a passed ball. Meiden would win in 11, and be yet another team to make both Senbatsu and Natsu Koushien this year.
Hamada is certainly more than an average pitcher, but he's almost all alone on the mound. Azuma is the reliever Kurano-kantoku would go to, but from his usage is not that trusted.
Meiden's offense is also a weakness. As witnessed against Touhou and earlier against Aichi Sangyoudai Kougyou, the offense can disappear leaving Hamada to try to carry the team - much more than the usual.
Dark Horses
Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) - 11th appearance, 1st in 4 yearsAfter 3 years of unable to reach Natsu Koushien, they finally book their tickets here in 2012. They were here in the spring, and reached the quarterfinals, and were 3 outs away from defeating eventual champion Osaka Touin, but ace Satou Takuya couldn't close the door.
Up until that moment, Urawa Gakuin was just like any other team in Saitama - underwhelming. For as big as Saitama is in population, it has NEVER won a Natsu Koushien tournament.
Never.
Why the heck is that? I mean, they have the 5th biggest population by prefecture. The 4 bigger ones - Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka and Aichi - all have won a Natsu Koushien, but Saitama has not.
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that Saitama is so close to Tokyo, so close to Kanagawa. If you were a good baseball player in middle school, you were probably recruited by teams down south. Why play for a team locally when you can go to a prestigious school such as Nichidai-san, or Waedsa Jitsugyou or Teikyou?
Urawa Gakuin in the Saitama taikai gave up just 2 runs. Ace Satou was responsible for one of the two (Yamaguchi Rui gave up the other). They did defeat Seibou Gakuen and last year's representative Hanasaki Tokuharu. But because it's still in prefecture, despite the impressive results, it doesn't prove anything.
They batted 0.361 in the spring and 0.350 this summer, but the question will be whether they can string the hits together, or if Satou and Yamaguchi will can hold up if they don't.
And so Urawa Gakuin enters the 94th Natsu Koushien, with a good performance in the spring to perhaps portend things in this summer. But they'll probably need things to fall their way for it to happen.
Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa) - 4th appearance, 1st in 4 years
This is just Urasoe Shougyou's 4th ever Natsu Koushien appearance, but apart from their first appearance where they lost in the first round, they have reached the semifinals in 1997 (losing to Chiben Wakayama) and 2008 (losing to Tokoha Kikugawa - I remember that game and the 9-run 2nd by Kikugawa and how happy I was!).
The appearance had been somewhat in coming as outside of a surprising loss to Chuubu Shougyou last summer in the 3rd round, they had reached at least the quarterfinals in other taikais.
This time around, their road to the title saw them face such well-known schools as Kounan, Kadena and in the final - Urasoe Shougaku. And before that final against Urasoe Shougaku, they outlasted cinderella Maebara, who had their sights on their first ever title.
I don't have a lot of information on Urasoe Shougyou other than they faithfully use a tandem of pitchers - Miyazato ? (宮里 泰悠) and Teruya Hikaru (照屋 光). Teruya is a fireballer, able to hit 150+ on the gun. I can't find a whole lot on Miyazato, but the tandem seems to have worked.
It will be interesting to see what happens on the big stage. Will they be able to continue the successes at Koushien?
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Day 10 - Quarterfinal #3 - Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi) vs. Kousei Gakuin (Aomori)
Our second half of quarterfinal action begins with a bang. It's a rematch of the Meiji Jingu final as Tohoku champion Kousei Gakuin squares off with Tokai champion Aikoudai Meiden.
In that prior game, Aikoudai Meiden had built a 5-2 lead before Kousei tied it up in the 7th, and scored the go-ahead run in the 8th. Furthermore, the game may have had a Yokohama moment as a strikeout in the dirt ended the game, but it was apparently possible for the batter to have run around the bases had he and the runners been aware of it.
So fast forward 4 months and the two teams square off again, though this time for a spot in the semifinals.
Kousei Gakuin dominated Hokushou in a 3-0 win in the first game, then blitzed Oumi 13-1.
Aikoudei Meiden has had equal success, shutting out Miyazaki Nishi 8-0, and then Riseisha 9-2.
So both teams have shown themselves to be true title contenders, and yet here they are again, fighting for a spot in the Best 4.
LF Araki Yuuto
3B Nakano Yoshiki
SS Satou Daisuke
RF Matsuoka Daisuke
1B Torii Tatsunori
C Nakamura Yuutarou
P Hamada Tatsurou
CF Matsubara Fumiya
LF Murase Daijyu
C Tamura Tatsuhiro
SS Houjyou Fumiya
1B Takeda Toshiki
3B Oosugi Akinobu
P Jyouma Ryuuhei
CF Kimura Takumi
2B Kishigawa Kenta
__________________________________________________
11:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
One down and Araki gets plunked by starter Jyouma. Nakano up, and he tries the safety bunt! Jyouma can't field it and Kishigawa is out of position! All safe!
Early trouble for Kousei early, but then Satou can't lay down the bunt, and he has to swing away! Jyouma strikes him out for the 2nd out!
SANSHIN!!!
And Matsuoka also goes down swinging as Jyouma gets out of an early pinch!
Bottom 1st
Two quick outs for Hamada to start the game, but then Tamura blasts a ball to center! Matsubara back, watches it take a bounce to the wall! Tamura in with a double.
Houjyou up, and he hits a ball to left! Araki running in, has it... loses it!!!
He can't hold onto the ball after he stretches down to get it! Tamura, running on 2 outs, scores easily and Kousei strikes first! 1-0!
And Nakai-kantoku starts the running game, sending Houjyou to 2nd, with no challenge from Nakamura! Adding to problems, after an 8 pitch AB, Hamada walks Takeda adding to his pitch count!
And while he goes full on Oosugi, he gets him to chase to end the inning. But a stressful inning for ace Hamada as Kousei takes the early lead!
Top 2nd
A really quick inning for Jyouma after the 1st. 10 pitches to record a 1-2-3 inning, and 6 of those were for Nakamura!
Bottom 2nd
Kousei gets a leadoff runner as Jyouma is hit by Hamada. But Takumi can't advance the runner and is caught looking on a fastball at the knees!
Nakai-kantoku then looks for the one-timer with a sac bunt from Kishigawa.
But Ameku strikes out looking as well on a fastball on the outside corner!
Top 3rd
Jyouma doing a great job of neutralizing the Meiden lineup first time through.
Matsubara's struggles continue after being demoted to the bottom of the lineup. Heswings over a slider. Toshiki and Araki groundout and it's a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 3rd
Murase with a grounder to short. Takes an irregular hop, but Satou adjusts in time before it hits his face! Tamura works the count full, but Hamada gets him to fly out to left. Houjyou becomes Hamada's 4th K as he watches a fastball go by him for the 3rd out.
It's a 1-2-3 inning, but none of his innings have been stress-free.
Top 4th
Nakano gets his 2nd base hit, a rope to right.
Bunt-and-run is on, but Nakano gets caught between 1st and 2nd! Tamura throws for 2nd, instead of closing the gap and that allows Nakano to return to 1st!
Satou in effect bunts, as he hits a high chopper to 2nd. Douten runner in scoring position.
Matsuoka hits a scorcher to 1st, but Takeda is there for the putout. Nakano advances to 3rd.
Torii goes down on a slider and slices it to right center! That's through the gap and to the wall! Nakano scores as Torii has a stand-up triple! 1-1!
Eh?? Switch-hitting Nakamura bunts on the first pitch?? It's right to Jyouma who makes the play at 1st for the 3rd out.
Not sure about that call, but Meiden equalizes here in the 4th!
Bottom 4th
I don't know if Kousei's batters are seeing the ball well, because Takeda becomes Hamada's 6th K, and 5th looking as he watches a fastball hit the corner for the strikeout.
And Oosugi goes down swinging on a fastball outside!
Jyouma manages to make contact, but all he can do is hit a fly to left for the 3rd out.
Top 5th
One down, and Matsubara tries for a safety bunt. And while he looked dead to rights, the ball is late getting to 1st and Matsubara dives in safely! Not sure how that happened!
Hit-and-run! Kurano-kantoku puts it on and Toshiki grounds it right where Houjyou was! Matsubara stops at 2nd.
Araki up and... he's bunting??!
But he can't lay it down and he winds up looking at strike 3 inside!
Oh?
Nakai-kantoku calls for a pitching change! With the heart of the Meiden order up, he sends in Kanazawa for Kishigawa and Jyouma goes back to 2nd!
And a slight rain comes down at Koushien...
Nakano bunting? Must be feigning it to get balls? And now at 1-1, Kurano-kantoku sends out #13 Itou to give instructions to Nakano?
Nakano with a hard grounder to 3rd, but Oosugi is up with it and makes the play at 1st for the out!
Bottom 5th
Hamada finally gets his easy inning. Takuma quickly flies to right for the first out, Kanazawa hits a routine grounder to 2nd, and Ameku - though he got the count full, strikes out swinging to end the inning.
We hit the break tied at 1 with the pitchers dominating the action. As to be expected in this matchup.
Top 6th
Satou starts off the 2nd half with a grounder past a diving Oosugi! Leadoff single for Satou as Matsuoka bunts him along.
Nakamura with a slow chopper up the 3rd base side! Kanazawa there to field it, and AHHHHHH!!!!!
Kanazawa throws it away!! It goes up the right field foul territory as Satou comes in to score! Meiden takes the lead on the error, 2-1!!
And now Nakamura is caught off 1st! Tamura throws to 1st, but Nakamura avoids the tag!!
But he pushes his luck and tries to steal 2nd, and is caught to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Hamada looking stronger as the game has continued, getting two quick outs and then freezing Houjyou on 3 straight to end the inning!
Top 7th
Kanazawa settling down retiring the first two batters before Toshiki singles to left.
Araki puts a charge on the ball, but Houjyou picks it before it hits the dirt for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
Takeda with Kousei's first hit since the 1st! He lines one into the gap in right-center! He doesn't stop heading for 2nd and he's in easily!
Douten chance for Kousei as Oosugi looks to bunt. He lays it down and Kousei is a sacrifice away from tying the game!
Jyouma does one better, hitting one through a drawn in infield to right as Takeda scores! Douten!! 2-2!!!
Kurano-kantoku calls for time.
Takumi with another single through the right side! Runners on first and second for Kousei!! Still 1 down!
Kanazawa bunting! Nakamura makes the play at 1st, but a base hit could score 2 now! The lineup turns over for Ameku.
The Meiden battery is being careful with Ameku, apparently unintentionally intentionally walking him. That is until he swings at a 3-1 pitch outside and fouls it off? Now what will they do?
They go after him! He hits one up the middle! Satou with it, throws to 1st... just in time to beat Ameku!
But Kousei comes back in the lucky 7th to tie the game at 2!
Top 8th
Nakano is badly fooled on a ball in the dirt and goes down for the 1st out.
And after a flyout to center, Matsuoka manages to draw a walk on the 7th pitch of the AB. That gets Nakai-kantoku to call times as Torii steps in.
Kanazawa gets ahead of Torii 1-2. Torii fighting, fouling one off. And another. At this point any hit or walk is crucial.
Ball down and away. Hit-and-run, and Torii is about to foul it off. Holds off on another ball down and away!
Down the first base line, foul! 10th pitch of the AB, wild pitch! Torii walks, but Matsuoka can't advance past 2nd.
Now a base hit could score 1!
Bunt?! Wild pitch!! Nakamura just freezes there as Tamura fires to 3rd.. SAFE!! Now runners at the corners for Meiden as Nakai-kantoku calls time once again.
Can Nakamura get a hit now? And will he be showing bunt still?
He's still showing bunt? Why??
And now Kurano-kantoku sends out Itou to talk to him again! What's going on???!
Bunt again, and it's down for a ball. 2-1. There's no way he'd be bunting.
But he shows it again and takes it for a strike?!
Nakamura finally swings away and hits one down the right field line! But it hangs up enough that Ameku is there to run it down for the 3rd out! Kanazawa out of the jam!
Bottom 8th
Murase with a ball down the right field line.. fair!! Matsuoka runs it down, but Murase continues going all the way for a leadoff double!
Tamura, not bunting as he fouls one off! Camera goes to the over field view and the outfield is playing slightly in.
Oh? Nakai-kantoku sends in #17 Sekiguchi now to run for Murase!
Ball inside for strike 2. But Takura hits a deep fly to center! Matsubara goes back for the catch, but Sekiguchi is able to tag up to 3rd!
Now Houjyou with the opportunity to get the gyakuten runner home!
But it looks like Hamada and Nakamura aren't going to touch Houjyou as they fall behind 3-0.
Check that Hamada does throw a strike, and Houjyou lines it foul. And they still go after him as he fouls off another one. Guess it wasn't an intentional walk after all.
Houjyou now fighting at the plate as he fouls one off. He goes for the squeeze and it hits him! The Meiden battery is arguing for a strikeout, but the umpire calls a dead ball!
That puts runners at the corners for Takeda. He fouls one off! Nakamura running towards the back screen, leaps to try and beat the ball to the fence, but can't!
And after a pitchout, Takeda swings and fouls it off! No squeeze here! (I think...)
Another foul! Hamada needs the K or a double play. Gotta keep the ball on the ground. Fastball outside, misses wide.
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hamada hits the outside corner with the fastball and Takeda is retired! 2 down! It'll be up to Oosugi, 0-2 so far today.
Houjyou takes off for 2nd, and gets no throw! Hamada falls behind Oosugi 3-0.
He hits a ball to center! Matsubara running over, makes a desperate dive...
MISSES!!!!
The ball goes all the way to the wall! Sekiguchi and Houjyou easily score. And Oosugi is being waved around! The throw in is not in time and Oosugi has an inside-the-park homerun! Kousei leads 5-2!!!!
And now Jyouma walks. Have they given up?
Takumi strikes out to end the inning, but Kousei seems to have taken an insurmountable lead here with just 3 outs to go!
Top 9th
Has Kousei once again struck late against Meiden? It'll be 8-9-1 batters up for Meiden.
Hamada leading off, no hits on the day. He hits a comebacker to Kanazawa and goes down for the 1st out!
#16 Matsui coming in to hits for Matsubara. Can he somehow start something?
No! He grounds out to short! Houjyou makes the play for the 2nd out!
It's up to Toshiki to keep the game going for Meiden...
But he hits one to 2nd! Jyouma opens and ends the game as he throws to Takeda to end the game!
Aomori's Kousei Gakuin has made the semifinals by defeating Meiden for a second time! And the game almost was a complete copy of the Meiji Jingu final as Meiden held the lead early, Kousei tied the game in the 7th and took the lead in the 8th!
To defeat a team in such a manner twice, you have to give credit to Nakai-kantoku for going with what works instead of trying a new strategy. As a result, his team moves one step closer to the championship.
Meiden finally made a good run this year, but falls short yet again. Kurano-kantoku will have to find something more for their pitching staff if they are to compete for the title.
In that prior game, Aikoudai Meiden had built a 5-2 lead before Kousei tied it up in the 7th, and scored the go-ahead run in the 8th. Furthermore, the game may have had a Yokohama moment as a strikeout in the dirt ended the game, but it was apparently possible for the batter to have run around the bases had he and the runners been aware of it.
So fast forward 4 months and the two teams square off again, though this time for a spot in the semifinals.
Kousei Gakuin dominated Hokushou in a 3-0 win in the first game, then blitzed Oumi 13-1.
Aikoudei Meiden has had equal success, shutting out Miyazaki Nishi 8-0, and then Riseisha 9-2.
So both teams have shown themselves to be true title contenders, and yet here they are again, fighting for a spot in the Best 4.
Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi)
2B Kimura ToshikiLF Araki Yuuto
3B Nakano Yoshiki
SS Satou Daisuke
RF Matsuoka Daisuke
1B Torii Tatsunori
C Nakamura Yuutarou
P Hamada Tatsurou
CF Matsubara Fumiya
Kousei Gakuin (Aomori)
RF Ameku ShoutoLF Murase Daijyu
C Tamura Tatsuhiro
SS Houjyou Fumiya
1B Takeda Toshiki
3B Oosugi Akinobu
P Jyouma Ryuuhei
CF Kimura Takumi
2B Kishigawa Kenta
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11:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
One down and Araki gets plunked by starter Jyouma. Nakano up, and he tries the safety bunt! Jyouma can't field it and Kishigawa is out of position! All safe!
Early trouble for Kousei early, but then Satou can't lay down the bunt, and he has to swing away! Jyouma strikes him out for the 2nd out!
SANSHIN!!!
And Matsuoka also goes down swinging as Jyouma gets out of an early pinch!
Bottom 1st
Two quick outs for Hamada to start the game, but then Tamura blasts a ball to center! Matsubara back, watches it take a bounce to the wall! Tamura in with a double.
Houjyou up, and he hits a ball to left! Araki running in, has it... loses it!!!
He can't hold onto the ball after he stretches down to get it! Tamura, running on 2 outs, scores easily and Kousei strikes first! 1-0!
And Nakai-kantoku starts the running game, sending Houjyou to 2nd, with no challenge from Nakamura! Adding to problems, after an 8 pitch AB, Hamada walks Takeda adding to his pitch count!
And while he goes full on Oosugi, he gets him to chase to end the inning. But a stressful inning for ace Hamada as Kousei takes the early lead!
Top 2nd
A really quick inning for Jyouma after the 1st. 10 pitches to record a 1-2-3 inning, and 6 of those were for Nakamura!
Bottom 2nd
Kousei gets a leadoff runner as Jyouma is hit by Hamada. But Takumi can't advance the runner and is caught looking on a fastball at the knees!
Nakai-kantoku then looks for the one-timer with a sac bunt from Kishigawa.
But Ameku strikes out looking as well on a fastball on the outside corner!
Top 3rd
Jyouma doing a great job of neutralizing the Meiden lineup first time through.
Matsubara's struggles continue after being demoted to the bottom of the lineup. Heswings over a slider. Toshiki and Araki groundout and it's a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 3rd
Murase with a grounder to short. Takes an irregular hop, but Satou adjusts in time before it hits his face! Tamura works the count full, but Hamada gets him to fly out to left. Houjyou becomes Hamada's 4th K as he watches a fastball go by him for the 3rd out.
It's a 1-2-3 inning, but none of his innings have been stress-free.
Top 4th
Nakano gets his 2nd base hit, a rope to right.
Bunt-and-run is on, but Nakano gets caught between 1st and 2nd! Tamura throws for 2nd, instead of closing the gap and that allows Nakano to return to 1st!
Satou in effect bunts, as he hits a high chopper to 2nd. Douten runner in scoring position.
Matsuoka hits a scorcher to 1st, but Takeda is there for the putout. Nakano advances to 3rd.
Torii goes down on a slider and slices it to right center! That's through the gap and to the wall! Nakano scores as Torii has a stand-up triple! 1-1!
Eh?? Switch-hitting Nakamura bunts on the first pitch?? It's right to Jyouma who makes the play at 1st for the 3rd out.
Not sure about that call, but Meiden equalizes here in the 4th!
Bottom 4th
I don't know if Kousei's batters are seeing the ball well, because Takeda becomes Hamada's 6th K, and 5th looking as he watches a fastball hit the corner for the strikeout.
And Oosugi goes down swinging on a fastball outside!
Jyouma manages to make contact, but all he can do is hit a fly to left for the 3rd out.
Top 5th
One down, and Matsubara tries for a safety bunt. And while he looked dead to rights, the ball is late getting to 1st and Matsubara dives in safely! Not sure how that happened!
Hit-and-run! Kurano-kantoku puts it on and Toshiki grounds it right where Houjyou was! Matsubara stops at 2nd.
Araki up and... he's bunting??!
But he can't lay it down and he winds up looking at strike 3 inside!
Oh?
Nakai-kantoku calls for a pitching change! With the heart of the Meiden order up, he sends in Kanazawa for Kishigawa and Jyouma goes back to 2nd!
And a slight rain comes down at Koushien...
Nakano bunting? Must be feigning it to get balls? And now at 1-1, Kurano-kantoku sends out #13 Itou to give instructions to Nakano?
Nakano with a hard grounder to 3rd, but Oosugi is up with it and makes the play at 1st for the out!
Bottom 5th
Hamada finally gets his easy inning. Takuma quickly flies to right for the first out, Kanazawa hits a routine grounder to 2nd, and Ameku - though he got the count full, strikes out swinging to end the inning.
We hit the break tied at 1 with the pitchers dominating the action. As to be expected in this matchup.
Top 6th
Satou starts off the 2nd half with a grounder past a diving Oosugi! Leadoff single for Satou as Matsuoka bunts him along.
Nakamura with a slow chopper up the 3rd base side! Kanazawa there to field it, and AHHHHHH!!!!!
Kanazawa throws it away!! It goes up the right field foul territory as Satou comes in to score! Meiden takes the lead on the error, 2-1!!
And now Nakamura is caught off 1st! Tamura throws to 1st, but Nakamura avoids the tag!!
But he pushes his luck and tries to steal 2nd, and is caught to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Hamada looking stronger as the game has continued, getting two quick outs and then freezing Houjyou on 3 straight to end the inning!
Top 7th
Kanazawa settling down retiring the first two batters before Toshiki singles to left.
Araki puts a charge on the ball, but Houjyou picks it before it hits the dirt for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
Takeda with Kousei's first hit since the 1st! He lines one into the gap in right-center! He doesn't stop heading for 2nd and he's in easily!
Douten chance for Kousei as Oosugi looks to bunt. He lays it down and Kousei is a sacrifice away from tying the game!
Jyouma does one better, hitting one through a drawn in infield to right as Takeda scores! Douten!! 2-2!!!
Kurano-kantoku calls for time.
Takumi with another single through the right side! Runners on first and second for Kousei!! Still 1 down!
Kanazawa bunting! Nakamura makes the play at 1st, but a base hit could score 2 now! The lineup turns over for Ameku.
The Meiden battery is being careful with Ameku, apparently unintentionally intentionally walking him. That is until he swings at a 3-1 pitch outside and fouls it off? Now what will they do?
They go after him! He hits one up the middle! Satou with it, throws to 1st... just in time to beat Ameku!
But Kousei comes back in the lucky 7th to tie the game at 2!
Top 8th
Nakano is badly fooled on a ball in the dirt and goes down for the 1st out.
And after a flyout to center, Matsuoka manages to draw a walk on the 7th pitch of the AB. That gets Nakai-kantoku to call times as Torii steps in.
Kanazawa gets ahead of Torii 1-2. Torii fighting, fouling one off. And another. At this point any hit or walk is crucial.
Ball down and away. Hit-and-run, and Torii is about to foul it off. Holds off on another ball down and away!
Down the first base line, foul! 10th pitch of the AB, wild pitch! Torii walks, but Matsuoka can't advance past 2nd.
Now a base hit could score 1!
Bunt?! Wild pitch!! Nakamura just freezes there as Tamura fires to 3rd.. SAFE!! Now runners at the corners for Meiden as Nakai-kantoku calls time once again.
Can Nakamura get a hit now? And will he be showing bunt still?
He's still showing bunt? Why??
And now Kurano-kantoku sends out Itou to talk to him again! What's going on???!
Bunt again, and it's down for a ball. 2-1. There's no way he'd be bunting.
But he shows it again and takes it for a strike?!
Nakamura finally swings away and hits one down the right field line! But it hangs up enough that Ameku is there to run it down for the 3rd out! Kanazawa out of the jam!
Bottom 8th
Murase with a ball down the right field line.. fair!! Matsuoka runs it down, but Murase continues going all the way for a leadoff double!
Tamura, not bunting as he fouls one off! Camera goes to the over field view and the outfield is playing slightly in.
Oh? Nakai-kantoku sends in #17 Sekiguchi now to run for Murase!
Ball inside for strike 2. But Takura hits a deep fly to center! Matsubara goes back for the catch, but Sekiguchi is able to tag up to 3rd!
Now Houjyou with the opportunity to get the gyakuten runner home!
But it looks like Hamada and Nakamura aren't going to touch Houjyou as they fall behind 3-0.
Check that Hamada does throw a strike, and Houjyou lines it foul. And they still go after him as he fouls off another one. Guess it wasn't an intentional walk after all.
Houjyou now fighting at the plate as he fouls one off. He goes for the squeeze and it hits him! The Meiden battery is arguing for a strikeout, but the umpire calls a dead ball!
That puts runners at the corners for Takeda. He fouls one off! Nakamura running towards the back screen, leaps to try and beat the ball to the fence, but can't!
And after a pitchout, Takeda swings and fouls it off! No squeeze here! (I think...)
Another foul! Hamada needs the K or a double play. Gotta keep the ball on the ground. Fastball outside, misses wide.
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hamada hits the outside corner with the fastball and Takeda is retired! 2 down! It'll be up to Oosugi, 0-2 so far today.
Houjyou takes off for 2nd, and gets no throw! Hamada falls behind Oosugi 3-0.
He hits a ball to center! Matsubara running over, makes a desperate dive...
MISSES!!!!
The ball goes all the way to the wall! Sekiguchi and Houjyou easily score. And Oosugi is being waved around! The throw in is not in time and Oosugi has an inside-the-park homerun! Kousei leads 5-2!!!!
And now Jyouma walks. Have they given up?
Takumi strikes out to end the inning, but Kousei seems to have taken an insurmountable lead here with just 3 outs to go!
Top 9th
Has Kousei once again struck late against Meiden? It'll be 8-9-1 batters up for Meiden.
Hamada leading off, no hits on the day. He hits a comebacker to Kanazawa and goes down for the 1st out!
#16 Matsui coming in to hits for Matsubara. Can he somehow start something?
No! He grounds out to short! Houjyou makes the play for the 2nd out!
It's up to Toshiki to keep the game going for Meiden...
But he hits one to 2nd! Jyouma opens and ends the game as he throws to Takeda to end the game!
Aomori's Kousei Gakuin has made the semifinals by defeating Meiden for a second time! And the game almost was a complete copy of the Meiji Jingu final as Meiden held the lead early, Kousei tied the game in the 7th and took the lead in the 8th!
To defeat a team in such a manner twice, you have to give credit to Nakai-kantoku for going with what works instead of trying a new strategy. As a result, his team moves one step closer to the championship.
Meiden finally made a good run this year, but falls short yet again. Kurano-kantoku will have to find something more for their pitching staff if they are to compete for the title.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Day 8 - Game 1 - Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi) vs. Riseisha (Osaka)
Day 8 represents the 2/3rd's mark of the tournament, the filling of the Best 8, and the last day of 3 game sets (Thank God, I need the sleep).
First up is Riseisha (Kinki 3/4) vs. Aikoudai Meiden (Tokai Champs).
Riseisha received a challenge from Chikyuu Kankyou in the first 5 innings, but managed to pull away late in part perhaps due to Urushido's tiring on the mound. They won 5-2, but was not terribly impressive.
As for their pitching, I don't know if using a triumvirate of pitchers is what they will be using going forward, but each of them brought something different and perhaps were used in an effective manner to prevent fatigue and perhaps prevent getting hard hit as some of them weren't as effective as others.
Aikoudai Meiden had no trouble with Miyazaki Nishi, winning 8-0 thanks in part to a 14K effort by ace Hamada. That certainly won't continue, but seeing the hits spread around the players in the lineup is promising for future games. Other than that, there's little to take away from the game.
I would say that Aikoudai Meiden has the advantage in the matchup, but we've seen before that a combination of pitchers can be effective (darn you Saga Kita!)
CF Matsubara Fumiya
LF Araki Yuuto
SS Satou Daisuke
RF Matsuoka Daisuke
1B Torii Tatsunori
3B Nakano Yoshiki
P Hamada Tatsurou
C Nakamura Yuutarou
Riseisha (Osaka)
2B Miyazaki Shin
3B Shouno Yuuto
RF Harada Ryouhei
1B Kobone Makoto
SS Kumamoto Hayato
LF Okita Katsutoshi
CF Hasegawa Seiya (#15)
C Inui Hayato
P Higashino Ryuuji (#17)
__________________________________________________
09:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Kimura with a ringing double down the left field line to start the game against starter Higashino!
Matsubara with the bunt, Higashino fields, throw to 1st is not in time! Runners at the corners immediately for Meiden!
Araki looking to cash in. But he goes down swinging on a slider and there's one down.
Kurano-kantoku decides to get the running game going and sends Matsubara! Throw to 2nd by Inui not in time!
Higashino gets Satou to pop it up! Okita with the catch and the runners have to hold. 2 down!
All he needs now is to retire Matsuoka and he's out of the jam. He gets ahead 1-2, check swing? 2-2.
SANSHIN!
Meiden can't capitalize on the early runners and Riseisha will look to take advantage in their half of the inning!
Bottom 1st
Miyazaki with a ball up the middle. Satou dives, but can't quite field it. Shouno sends him along to 2nd.
However, Harada and Kobone are retired quickly and the opportunity fizzles.
Top 2nd
Higashino having a much better 2nd. Retires the first two batters before Hamada just about sneaks one through the right side. Miyazaki is there to field it, but can't quite get a handle on it.
Nakamura though goes down swinging and he's settled down for now.
Bottom 2nd
Hamada gets two quick groundouts before Hasegawa singles through the left side.
Inui with a grounder that gets past Torii, but Kimura is there and makes the play to Hamada covering for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Back to the top of the order and Kimura blasts one to left again! Okita running back and it bounces to the wall! Kimura with his 2nd double of the game!
Matsubara lays down the bunt again, and though he's out at first, Kimura advances to 3rd once again. Can someone get him in this time?
Araki tries for the safety squeeze, but he pops it up! Shouno charging in makes the diving catch and there's two outs.
Against Higashino I would have expected them to still be aggressive instead of choosing for the traditional path.
The Riseisha battery elects to unintentionally intentionally walk Satou to get to Matsuoka who K'd in his last opportunity just like this in the 1st.
This time Matsuoka delivers, driving one to right and scoring Kimura! 1-0 Meiden!
Torii reaches down and gets a ball at the end of the bat, and Okita is running back?! He's still running back??!
That's over his head!!??
It bounces to the wall! Satou scores! Matsuoka easily scores as Torii has a stand up triple! How the heck did that ball go all the way to the wall??! Either way, it's 3-0 Meiden!
Nakano with a grounder to the right side. Somehow that gets by a diving Miyazaki and goes into right scoring Torii! It's 4-0 Meiden!
And this time Higashino doesn't make it to the end of the 3rd. Okada-kantoku sends in #11, RHP Sakamoto.
Sakamoto gets out of the inning when Nakano tries to steal 2nd and is thrown out by Inui. But Meiden with 3 timely hits take a 4-0 lead over Riseisha!
Bottom 3rd
Hamada looking very good early, hitting the catcher's spots fairly close if not hitting it exactly. Sakamoto falls victim to a fastball on the inside corner.
Not afraid to back down either, as on a full count to Miyazaki he goes inside, but misses to issue his 1st walk.
Shouno chases a ball outside for the 2nd out. And Harada suffers the same fate as he is fooled on a ball high and away. 3 Ks for the inning for Hamada.
Top 4th
He turns around now and picks up the bat and is frozen on a change down the middle.
After retiring Nakamura, Kimura fists a ball to the left side. Shouno takes it in front of Kumamoto, but bobbles the ball! Kimura on again with an infield hit!
Matsubara goes down on a fastball down the middle to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Huh, must be a new thing to mimic Chiben's "C". Riseisha has a yellow R on a blue background whose size actually rivals that of Chiben's.
Kobone takes a pitch away through the right side for a leadoff single. Kumamoto appears to show bunt as Okada-kantoku may play for 1 at a time. Though I'm immediately proven wrong as he swings away and fouls one off.
Kumamoto with a great eye takes a couple of pitches inside, working the count full.
Hamada gives in with a fastball down the middle and Kumamoto blasts it to center! Matsubara stops as to play it off the wall, and it lands at the base! Kobone scores on the double and it's 4-1 Meiden!
More importantly, no one down!
Okita grounds out to 2nd, allowing Kumamoto to advance to 3rd.
Hasegawa lines one to right! Matsuoka there for the catch and his throw catches too much air. Hamada cuts it off and Kumamoto scores easily to make it 4-2 Meiden!
Inui flies out to right and the inning is over. But Riseisha cuts the deficit in half!
Top 5th
One down and Satou gets his 2nd walk. Matsuoka with a chopper up the 1st base line and Kobone goes to Miyazaki at 1B for the 2nd out.
And Sakamoto gets Torii looking on a fastball down the middle for the 3rd out! Sakamoto holds serve right after they gets 2 runs back!
Bottom 5th
Now can Riseisha close the gap further before the break?
Miyazaki with a slow chopper up the 3rd base side. Nakano charges in, but can't handle the bounce! Miyazaki with an infield single! (Though the scorers charge an error)
Shouno bunts him over as Okada-kantoku will look for a one-timer to cut the deficit to 1.
But Hamada falls behind Harada 3-0 with Kobone on deck.
And he loses him! Hamada will have to deal with Riseisha's cleanup batter! Kurano-kantoku calls for time.
Hamada jams Kobone! Torii under it for the catch and Hamada preserves the lead at 2 as we head to the break.
Top 6th
Nakano leads off the 6th with a double to left center. As expected, Hamada is showing bunt, but fouls his first attempt.
He pulls it back and swings on the next ball, but pops up to Kumamoto in shallow center, though the catch is a bit scary.
Nakamura tries to bunt, but he fails and falls behind 0-2. And so he fouls off a couple before reaching down and putting one just over the infield to right for a base hit!
Runners at the corners for top batter Kimura!
Nakamura takes off for 2nd and he's in there safely with a delayed throw!
SQUEEZE! Kimura lays down the squeeze! Sakamoto's only play is to 1st! One run scores!
Miyazaki at 1st fires home! They were sending Nakamura! The throw is in plenty of time to get Nakamura at home. They were trying for the 2-run bunt! However, Riseisha is prepared for it and gets the trailing runner to end the inning.
But Meiden tacks one back on to lead 5-2.
Bottom 6th
Kumamoto with a comebacker that Hamada doesn't field! Satou charges late, but makes the play at first for the out.
Okita gets on the board with his first hit, lining one to center.
Hasegawa follows that up with a liner to left and Riseisha's got 2 runners on.
Okada-kantoku tries the hit-and-run, but Inui pops it up! Satou on the outfield grass in center makes the catch.
#13 Uji pinch hits for Sakamoto as Higashi will as planned enter the game for the final 3 innings.
He falls behind 2-2, and fouls off a couple of hard pitches before working the count full.
But Hamada gets him to ground to 3rd! Nakano goes to 1st and the inning is over!
Top 7th
Ace Higashi does enter the game to hold the fort while the offense regroups.
One down, and right before Araki grounds out to 1st, I notice that Meiden's oen-dan has a small golden "M" on a purple background. It's much smaller than Riseisha's, that despite Meiden having more students (though Riseisha IS closer to Koushien than Meiden).
And Satou with a defensive swings on a ball inside lines out to 2nd for Riseisha's first 1-2-3 inning!
Bottom 7th
Why is Riseisha playing the graduation song at most graduations here??!
Miyazaki with good contact, but gets under it and Matsubara can camp under it in deep center for the out.
#14 Miyamoto comes in to hit for Shouno, but goes down on 3 straight pitches.
Hamada gets his first 1-2-3 inning as Harada hits a high fly to right to end the inning.
Top 8th
Miyamoto stays in the game at 3B.
Higashi issues his first walk to Matsuoka. Torii bunts him to 2nd.
Nakano with an opposite field drive! Okita running back and that's over his head again! Matsuoka coes to score on the double and Meiden regains their 4-run margin. It's 6-2!
Hamada pops one out to new 3B Miyamoto for the 2nd out. And Nakamura lines out to Miyazaki to end the inning. But the gap widens with just 2 innings left to go!
Bottom 8th
Kobone gives a good fight, fouling off 4 pitches before missing on a high fastball for the first out.
Kumamoto with a grounder that hops over the glove of Nakano into left for a base hit. Now, Hamada grazes Okita and Riseisha has two runners on!
Hasegawa hits a short fly down the right field line! Matsuoka running in strafes the line and makes the catch for the 2nd out!
Hamada perhaps laboring a bit falls behind Inui 3-0 before filling up the count. Runners will take off, but Inui flies out to right! Matsuoka there for the catch and Riseisha is retired!
Top 9th
Kimura with his 4th hit of the day, a single through the right side!
And he takes off for 2nd! Throw by Inui, and he's safe! (Dunno about that one. Looks like Kumamoto may have had the tag there)
Compounding things is that Matsubara works a 9-pitch walk!
Araki with a grounder to 3rd. Miyamoto's throw to 1st is high! It goes over Kobone and into foul territory! Kimura scores! Matsubara being waved home! Throw in and Matsubara gets around the swipe tag! 2-run error makes it 8-2 Meiden!
Okada-kantoku pulls Higashi and brings in #10 Suzuki to finish the inning.
Full count to Satou and he's hit right on the knee. Runners on 1st and 2nd as Okada-kantoku calls time.
Passed ball by Inui advances the runners.
Matsuoka crushes a liner to right! Harada with the catch and Araki scores to make it 9-2.
Nakano collects his 4th hit with a single past a diving Kobone. Runners at the corners for Hamada, though I'd just take him out at this point.
But he grounds out to short and the inning is over. Meiden adds 3 more runs to what is now a mere formality.
Bottom 9th
#18 Oosuka takes over for Matsuoka in RF.
#8 Fujiyama in to get his hacks as he PH for Suzuki. Instead he goes down looking on 3 straight.
Miyazaki flies to right, and #16 Ueda grounds to 3rd to end the game.
A fairly dominating performance by the Meiji Jingu runner-ups as they rout Riseisha 9-2. The battery of pitchers were unable to hold back the Meiden offense, and while they made it close in the middle innings, they couldn't keep it up.
Perhaps given some more time with their pitching, Riseisha may have something for the summer. For now, they'll head home and continue to build on their Koushien experience.
As for Meiden, we have the Meiji Jingu rematch in the quarterfinals! While revenge is not necessarily a Japanese trait, I don't think they'd mind giving one back to Kousei Gakuin here at senbatsu.
We'll get that game in 2 days time!
First up is Riseisha (Kinki 3/4) vs. Aikoudai Meiden (Tokai Champs).
Riseisha received a challenge from Chikyuu Kankyou in the first 5 innings, but managed to pull away late in part perhaps due to Urushido's tiring on the mound. They won 5-2, but was not terribly impressive.
As for their pitching, I don't know if using a triumvirate of pitchers is what they will be using going forward, but each of them brought something different and perhaps were used in an effective manner to prevent fatigue and perhaps prevent getting hard hit as some of them weren't as effective as others.
Aikoudai Meiden had no trouble with Miyazaki Nishi, winning 8-0 thanks in part to a 14K effort by ace Hamada. That certainly won't continue, but seeing the hits spread around the players in the lineup is promising for future games. Other than that, there's little to take away from the game.
I would say that Aikoudai Meiden has the advantage in the matchup, but we've seen before that a combination of pitchers can be effective (darn you Saga Kita!)
Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi)
2B Kimura ToshikiCF Matsubara Fumiya
LF Araki Yuuto
SS Satou Daisuke
RF Matsuoka Daisuke
1B Torii Tatsunori
3B Nakano Yoshiki
P Hamada Tatsurou
C Nakamura Yuutarou
Riseisha (Osaka)
2B Miyazaki Shin
3B Shouno Yuuto
RF Harada Ryouhei
1B Kobone Makoto
SS Kumamoto Hayato
LF Okita Katsutoshi
CF Hasegawa Seiya (#15)
C Inui Hayato
P Higashino Ryuuji (#17)
__________________________________________________
09:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Kimura with a ringing double down the left field line to start the game against starter Higashino!
Matsubara with the bunt, Higashino fields, throw to 1st is not in time! Runners at the corners immediately for Meiden!
Araki looking to cash in. But he goes down swinging on a slider and there's one down.
Kurano-kantoku decides to get the running game going and sends Matsubara! Throw to 2nd by Inui not in time!
Higashino gets Satou to pop it up! Okita with the catch and the runners have to hold. 2 down!
All he needs now is to retire Matsuoka and he's out of the jam. He gets ahead 1-2, check swing? 2-2.
SANSHIN!
Meiden can't capitalize on the early runners and Riseisha will look to take advantage in their half of the inning!
Bottom 1st
Miyazaki with a ball up the middle. Satou dives, but can't quite field it. Shouno sends him along to 2nd.
However, Harada and Kobone are retired quickly and the opportunity fizzles.
Top 2nd
Higashino having a much better 2nd. Retires the first two batters before Hamada just about sneaks one through the right side. Miyazaki is there to field it, but can't quite get a handle on it.
Nakamura though goes down swinging and he's settled down for now.
Bottom 2nd
Hamada gets two quick groundouts before Hasegawa singles through the left side.
Inui with a grounder that gets past Torii, but Kimura is there and makes the play to Hamada covering for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Back to the top of the order and Kimura blasts one to left again! Okita running back and it bounces to the wall! Kimura with his 2nd double of the game!
Matsubara lays down the bunt again, and though he's out at first, Kimura advances to 3rd once again. Can someone get him in this time?
Araki tries for the safety squeeze, but he pops it up! Shouno charging in makes the diving catch and there's two outs.
Against Higashino I would have expected them to still be aggressive instead of choosing for the traditional path.
The Riseisha battery elects to unintentionally intentionally walk Satou to get to Matsuoka who K'd in his last opportunity just like this in the 1st.
This time Matsuoka delivers, driving one to right and scoring Kimura! 1-0 Meiden!
Torii reaches down and gets a ball at the end of the bat, and Okita is running back?! He's still running back??!
That's over his head!!??
It bounces to the wall! Satou scores! Matsuoka easily scores as Torii has a stand up triple! How the heck did that ball go all the way to the wall??! Either way, it's 3-0 Meiden!
Nakano with a grounder to the right side. Somehow that gets by a diving Miyazaki and goes into right scoring Torii! It's 4-0 Meiden!
And this time Higashino doesn't make it to the end of the 3rd. Okada-kantoku sends in #11, RHP Sakamoto.
Sakamoto gets out of the inning when Nakano tries to steal 2nd and is thrown out by Inui. But Meiden with 3 timely hits take a 4-0 lead over Riseisha!
Bottom 3rd
Hamada looking very good early, hitting the catcher's spots fairly close if not hitting it exactly. Sakamoto falls victim to a fastball on the inside corner.
Not afraid to back down either, as on a full count to Miyazaki he goes inside, but misses to issue his 1st walk.
Shouno chases a ball outside for the 2nd out. And Harada suffers the same fate as he is fooled on a ball high and away. 3 Ks for the inning for Hamada.
Top 4th
He turns around now and picks up the bat and is frozen on a change down the middle.
After retiring Nakamura, Kimura fists a ball to the left side. Shouno takes it in front of Kumamoto, but bobbles the ball! Kimura on again with an infield hit!
Matsubara goes down on a fastball down the middle to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Huh, must be a new thing to mimic Chiben's "C". Riseisha has a yellow R on a blue background whose size actually rivals that of Chiben's.
Kobone takes a pitch away through the right side for a leadoff single. Kumamoto appears to show bunt as Okada-kantoku may play for 1 at a time. Though I'm immediately proven wrong as he swings away and fouls one off.
Kumamoto with a great eye takes a couple of pitches inside, working the count full.
Hamada gives in with a fastball down the middle and Kumamoto blasts it to center! Matsubara stops as to play it off the wall, and it lands at the base! Kobone scores on the double and it's 4-1 Meiden!
More importantly, no one down!
Okita grounds out to 2nd, allowing Kumamoto to advance to 3rd.
Hasegawa lines one to right! Matsuoka there for the catch and his throw catches too much air. Hamada cuts it off and Kumamoto scores easily to make it 4-2 Meiden!
Inui flies out to right and the inning is over. But Riseisha cuts the deficit in half!
Top 5th
One down and Satou gets his 2nd walk. Matsuoka with a chopper up the 1st base line and Kobone goes to Miyazaki at 1B for the 2nd out.
And Sakamoto gets Torii looking on a fastball down the middle for the 3rd out! Sakamoto holds serve right after they gets 2 runs back!
Bottom 5th
Now can Riseisha close the gap further before the break?
Miyazaki with a slow chopper up the 3rd base side. Nakano charges in, but can't handle the bounce! Miyazaki with an infield single! (Though the scorers charge an error)
Shouno bunts him over as Okada-kantoku will look for a one-timer to cut the deficit to 1.
But Hamada falls behind Harada 3-0 with Kobone on deck.
And he loses him! Hamada will have to deal with Riseisha's cleanup batter! Kurano-kantoku calls for time.
Hamada jams Kobone! Torii under it for the catch and Hamada preserves the lead at 2 as we head to the break.
Top 6th
Nakano leads off the 6th with a double to left center. As expected, Hamada is showing bunt, but fouls his first attempt.
He pulls it back and swings on the next ball, but pops up to Kumamoto in shallow center, though the catch is a bit scary.
Nakamura tries to bunt, but he fails and falls behind 0-2. And so he fouls off a couple before reaching down and putting one just over the infield to right for a base hit!
Runners at the corners for top batter Kimura!
Nakamura takes off for 2nd and he's in there safely with a delayed throw!
SQUEEZE! Kimura lays down the squeeze! Sakamoto's only play is to 1st! One run scores!
Miyazaki at 1st fires home! They were sending Nakamura! The throw is in plenty of time to get Nakamura at home. They were trying for the 2-run bunt! However, Riseisha is prepared for it and gets the trailing runner to end the inning.
But Meiden tacks one back on to lead 5-2.
Bottom 6th
Kumamoto with a comebacker that Hamada doesn't field! Satou charges late, but makes the play at first for the out.
Okita gets on the board with his first hit, lining one to center.
Hasegawa follows that up with a liner to left and Riseisha's got 2 runners on.
Okada-kantoku tries the hit-and-run, but Inui pops it up! Satou on the outfield grass in center makes the catch.
#13 Uji pinch hits for Sakamoto as Higashi will as planned enter the game for the final 3 innings.
He falls behind 2-2, and fouls off a couple of hard pitches before working the count full.
But Hamada gets him to ground to 3rd! Nakano goes to 1st and the inning is over!
Top 7th
Ace Higashi does enter the game to hold the fort while the offense regroups.
One down, and right before Araki grounds out to 1st, I notice that Meiden's oen-dan has a small golden "M" on a purple background. It's much smaller than Riseisha's, that despite Meiden having more students (though Riseisha IS closer to Koushien than Meiden).
And Satou with a defensive swings on a ball inside lines out to 2nd for Riseisha's first 1-2-3 inning!
Bottom 7th
Why is Riseisha playing the graduation song at most graduations here??!
Miyazaki with good contact, but gets under it and Matsubara can camp under it in deep center for the out.
#14 Miyamoto comes in to hit for Shouno, but goes down on 3 straight pitches.
Hamada gets his first 1-2-3 inning as Harada hits a high fly to right to end the inning.
Top 8th
Miyamoto stays in the game at 3B.
Higashi issues his first walk to Matsuoka. Torii bunts him to 2nd.
Nakano with an opposite field drive! Okita running back and that's over his head again! Matsuoka coes to score on the double and Meiden regains their 4-run margin. It's 6-2!
Hamada pops one out to new 3B Miyamoto for the 2nd out. And Nakamura lines out to Miyazaki to end the inning. But the gap widens with just 2 innings left to go!
Bottom 8th
Kobone gives a good fight, fouling off 4 pitches before missing on a high fastball for the first out.
Kumamoto with a grounder that hops over the glove of Nakano into left for a base hit. Now, Hamada grazes Okita and Riseisha has two runners on!
Hasegawa hits a short fly down the right field line! Matsuoka running in strafes the line and makes the catch for the 2nd out!
Hamada perhaps laboring a bit falls behind Inui 3-0 before filling up the count. Runners will take off, but Inui flies out to right! Matsuoka there for the catch and Riseisha is retired!
Top 9th
Kimura with his 4th hit of the day, a single through the right side!
And he takes off for 2nd! Throw by Inui, and he's safe! (Dunno about that one. Looks like Kumamoto may have had the tag there)
Compounding things is that Matsubara works a 9-pitch walk!
Araki with a grounder to 3rd. Miyamoto's throw to 1st is high! It goes over Kobone and into foul territory! Kimura scores! Matsubara being waved home! Throw in and Matsubara gets around the swipe tag! 2-run error makes it 8-2 Meiden!
Okada-kantoku pulls Higashi and brings in #10 Suzuki to finish the inning.
Full count to Satou and he's hit right on the knee. Runners on 1st and 2nd as Okada-kantoku calls time.
Passed ball by Inui advances the runners.
Matsuoka crushes a liner to right! Harada with the catch and Araki scores to make it 9-2.
Nakano collects his 4th hit with a single past a diving Kobone. Runners at the corners for Hamada, though I'd just take him out at this point.
But he grounds out to short and the inning is over. Meiden adds 3 more runs to what is now a mere formality.
Bottom 9th
#18 Oosuka takes over for Matsuoka in RF.
#8 Fujiyama in to get his hacks as he PH for Suzuki. Instead he goes down looking on 3 straight.
Miyazaki flies to right, and #16 Ueda grounds to 3rd to end the game.
A fairly dominating performance by the Meiji Jingu runner-ups as they rout Riseisha 9-2. The battery of pitchers were unable to hold back the Meiden offense, and while they made it close in the middle innings, they couldn't keep it up.
Perhaps given some more time with their pitching, Riseisha may have something for the summer. For now, they'll head home and continue to build on their Koushien experience.
As for Meiden, we have the Meiji Jingu rematch in the quarterfinals! While revenge is not necessarily a Japanese trait, I don't think they'd mind giving one back to Kousei Gakuin here at senbatsu.
We'll get that game in 2 days time!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Day 4 - Game 3 - Miyazaki Nishi (Miyazaki) vs. Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi)
Wrapping up Day 4 has a surprise invitee facing what was the 2nd best team in the fall. Yes, yet another underdog battle.
Miyazaki Nishi probably wasn't imagining being invited to Koushien after losing in the quarterfinals 2-0 to Kyushu Gakuin. I mean, they invite 4 teams and generally it's those that make the semifinals.
Yet when the announcements came out, the committee maybe to (a) get another 21st century team invited since they were the Kyushu nominee and (b) make it appear that it's not automatic to get an invitation, punished Souseikan for their 9-0 loss in the semifinal by giving Miyazaki Nishi a bid.
It's rather remarkable that they even made it as far as they did. Their offense is on par with Takasaki's offense. They have a team batting average of 0.246, and just 8 extra base hits of the 56 hits overall. They don't walk and they rarely steal bases.
Their ace Todaka isn't terrible at allowing baserunners, but probably posts the lowest strikeout rate of all the ace number pitchers in the tournament (2.36 K/9!!). That means a lot of balls in play and a lot of pressure on the defense. Even then in 7 games they committed just 7 errors.
But something tells me that their defense will be pushed to the limit, because they've drawn Aikoudai Meiden.
If there was any team that probably had been tested this past fall, it was Ichiro's alma mater. They played 20 tournament games this past fall. 20! And went 19-1 with their only loss being the Meiji Jingu final to Kousei Gakuin!
Now, 13 of them were played in prefecture, so there's a good chance a lot of the numbers are skewed a bit. But on the surface, the numbers look absolutely sick. The offense (in 20 games) has a slash line of 0.362/0.458/0.603! Ace Hamada recorded slightly more than a K/inning, while allowing less than a baserunner/inning! And as for the defense, they only committed 6 errors in those 20 games (sorry, there's no way I can do sabermetrics to evaluate defense, so this is all you get for analysis).
Now certainly, the offense isn't as good as that, and the pitching isn't as dominant as shown either. But it has to be good to a big extent, and regression from such a high level would still suggest a title-contending team.
Which is not good news for Miyazaki Nishi...
SS Hiwatashi Satoru
LF Gotou Kouhri (#9)
C Harada Taiki
P Todaka Tatsurou
1B Tomita Hiroki
3B Takahashi Yuuta
RF Takahashi Ryou (#7)
2B Watanabe Ryuutarou
CF Matsubara Fumiya
LF Araki Yuuto
SS Satou Daisuke
RF Matsuoka Daisuke
1B Torii Tatsunori
3B Nakano Yoshiki
P Hamada Tatsurou
C Nakamura Yuutarou
__________________________________________________
13:24 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Aw! Miyazaki Nishi has "宮西" in white on a red background in their oen-dan!
Okamoto fouls off several pitches before being frozen on the outside corner for the 1st out. And after a groundout, Hamada strikes out Gotou on a slider away
Bottom 1st
Kimura with a swinging bunt. Harada with the strong throw and that beats a diving Kimura.
*sighs*
And Todaka retires the next two batters on groundouts and it's a scoreless first frame.
Top 2nd
After two quick outs, Tomita singles to right. And while Yuuta lines a ball, Nakano makes a leaping catch for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Well, that can't be right, can it? Todaka's fastball is in the high 110s?? And he has a slider in the 100's and a slow curve in the high 70s-low 80s???!!!
This might be a problem for Meiden in that they've probably never seen anything that slow as a fastball, and thus their timing might be off?
After a flyout by Satou, Matsuoka grounds out to 2nd, except that Tomita loses the ball?! So man on via the error.
Hit-and-run! Kurano-kantoku starts the hit and run and Torii singles to left! Matsuoka heads for 3rd and the throw isn't in time!
Nakano with the safety bunt, but fouls it off! Count goes to 2-2.
Nakano swings away and hits one to left. Gotou coming in making the catch, and they're sending the runner home anyways! Gotou's throw isn't in time and Nakano gets the sac fly. Meiden takes a 1-0 lead!
Hamada gently placing a hit into right and runners are at the corners again for last battter Nakamura!
Nakamura tries a safety bunt, Todaka throws to first... and just gets him! Three outs and Todaka gives up just the one run.
Top 3rd
Hamada's fastball isn't that fast (low-mid 130s), but he's very effective with them, locating them with great accuracy. Combine that with the slider in the high 110-low 120s and I can see why.
He tries out Ryou swingin and Watanabe looking on 2 fastballs on the outside corner. Okamoto grounds to short and it's an easy 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 3rd
Kimura leads off the 3rd slicing a ball past a diving Hiwatasi for a base hit.
Matsubara pops it up on the hit-and-run, but Kimura doesn't notice to return! Watanabe flicks the ball to 1st, and Tomita makes the stretch for the double play!
And Araki's timing n the slow curve is all off and he grounds out to 1st to end the inning!
Top 4th
Hamada continues to pound the outside corner as he strikes out Gotou for the 2nd out of the inning.
But he leaves one just a little fat and Harada singles to center.
But now that he's getting the outside corner, he's getting batters to chase, just like Todaka to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Satou takes the first pitch away and bloops it to left for a single. Finally they go for the straight steal and Satou makes it in easily.
Todaka then loses Matsuoka and now there's runners on 1st and 2nd for Meiden.
Torii goes for the safety bunt, Todaka to field it, but can't field it cleanly! The throw is late and it's manrui for Meiden as Kodama-kantoku calls for time.
SQUEEZE!!!!
They try the squeeze! It goes up the 1st base line, Tomita charging, quick throw home... OUT!
Harada's foot blocks the slide and he makes the stretching pick for the force!
Hamada with the grounder to 1st. Tomita throwing home again, and they get the force again! 2 down!
Nakamura with a hard grounder to the left side, under a diving Hiwatashi! One run scores, two runs score and Meiden now leads 3-0!
Kimura flies out to left, but they finally get that timely base hit to extend the lead!
Top 5th
There's a delay as it appears that Satou was injured when his slide home was blocked by Harada's foot.
After a while, Kurano-kantoku gives the maru signal, and soon thereafter he takes the field.
8th K for Hamada as Tomita goes down swinging. Yuuta goes down looking on the outside corner.
And make it 3 K's in the inning as Ryou is a victim of the outside corner - much like everyone else it seems.
Bottom 6th
One down, and Todaka give up just his 2nd walk to Araki.
Satou with a base hit over Takahashi down the line, Gotou there, AND IT GOES UNDER HIS GLOVE!
He has to turn around, but Araki easily scores as Satou gingerly gets to 3rd on the error! 4-0 Meiden!
Matsuoka with a soft base hit to left, and that makes it 5-0.
They're putting the pressure now as Matsuoka takes and steals 2nd. It's getting to them as a wild pitch sends the runner to 3rd.
Torii with a hard hit past the drawn in infield makes it a 6-0 ballgame. Nakano tries the safety bunt, though it ends up looking like a regular one.
Todaka can't get out of the inning yet though. He walks Hamada to put runners at 1st and 2nd.
Nakamura tries the safety bunt, but fails for the 3rd out. To the break, and Todaka has probably been figured out.
Top 6th
Post-break, and #17 Uomoto comes in to PH for Watanabe, but grounds out to 1st. Nakano makes a nice running pick on a grounder from Okamoto. And Hiwatashi hits a hard ball up the middle, but Kimura makes a great sliding block and his throw just beats out Hiwatashi.
Bottom 6th
#11 Kutsukake comes in for PH Uomoto and takes over on the mount. Todaka goes to 2nd.
Kutsukake doesn't seem any different than Todaka, but induces 2 comebackers for 2 quick outs. Araki reaches out on a ball outside and flies out for a 1-2-3 inning.
Top 7th
Harada gets Miyazaki Nishi's 3rd hit, taking a ball away to left. Todaka's woes extend to the plate as he strikes out for the 3rd time. And Tomita grounds into a fielder's choice. Miyazaki cannot do anything about Hamada's control of the outside part of the plate.
Bottom 7th
Satou lines one over Todaka and into right for a base hit!
#16 Matsui comes in to PH for Matsuoka. But Matsui grounds into the 1-6-3 double play.
Torii continues the inning as he singles past a diving Todaka. Nakano follows that with a single to left. Hamada hits a hanging fastball to right center. Ryou runs it down, but both baserunners score to make it 8-0.
Nakamura with a drive to left... Gotou runs back and makes the catch just as he stumbles! But it's clear that Miyazaki's run will end hee.
Top 8th
#18 Oosuka comes in for PH Matsui.
One down and #18 Hidaka comes in to PH for Ryou, but goes down swinging. Kutsukake becomes Hamada's 13th victim and it's been a clean game.
Bottom 8th
#10 Yokogami comes in for PH Hidaka and takes over in RF.
Kimura just gets the ball on the end of the bat and lines it over Hiwatashi for a leadoff single. Matsubara tries the safety bunt, but it's just a sac bunt in the end.
Araki with a liner at 2nd, Todaka reaches out and it deflects off the glove! Everyone's safe. He then takes 2nd on indifference.
Kodama-kantoku calls for time.
Kutsukake gets Satou to hit a comebacker. Runners have to hold and there 2 down. Oosuka walks on 4 straight and it's manrui for Torii.
Torii makes contact, but at the end of the bat and he flies out to left. Three out, and three more left to go barring a comeback.
Top 9th
#6 Satou finally leaves the game as #14 Wakahara comes in for him and takes over at 2B while Kimura goes to SS.
Okamoto's grounder finds the new SS but Kimura makes a nice pick and throw... #16 Kawagoe PH for Hiwatashi, but becomes the 14th K for Hamada... And Gotou grounds to short to end the game.
Miyazaki Nishi certainly earned their bid, but had the unfortunate fortune of facing Aikoudai Meiden. They can be proud of what they accomplished this past fall in reaching Koushien, and now can proudly say they were the first team from Miyazaki Nishi to get to Koushien.
Next up for Aikoudai Meiden... Riseisha.
Notable Players
Hamada Tatsurou (Aikoudai Meiden) - CG, 0 ER, 3 H, 14 K, 0 BB - 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Torii Tatsunori (Aikoudai Meiden) - 3-4, 2 R, RBI
Satou Daisuke (Aikoudai Meiden) - 3-5, R
Harada Taiki (Miyazaki Nishi) - 2-3
Miyazaki Nishi probably wasn't imagining being invited to Koushien after losing in the quarterfinals 2-0 to Kyushu Gakuin. I mean, they invite 4 teams and generally it's those that make the semifinals.
Yet when the announcements came out, the committee maybe to (a) get another 21st century team invited since they were the Kyushu nominee and (b) make it appear that it's not automatic to get an invitation, punished Souseikan for their 9-0 loss in the semifinal by giving Miyazaki Nishi a bid.
It's rather remarkable that they even made it as far as they did. Their offense is on par with Takasaki's offense. They have a team batting average of 0.246, and just 8 extra base hits of the 56 hits overall. They don't walk and they rarely steal bases.
Their ace Todaka isn't terrible at allowing baserunners, but probably posts the lowest strikeout rate of all the ace number pitchers in the tournament (2.36 K/9!!). That means a lot of balls in play and a lot of pressure on the defense. Even then in 7 games they committed just 7 errors.
But something tells me that their defense will be pushed to the limit, because they've drawn Aikoudai Meiden.
If there was any team that probably had been tested this past fall, it was Ichiro's alma mater. They played 20 tournament games this past fall. 20! And went 19-1 with their only loss being the Meiji Jingu final to Kousei Gakuin!
Now, 13 of them were played in prefecture, so there's a good chance a lot of the numbers are skewed a bit. But on the surface, the numbers look absolutely sick. The offense (in 20 games) has a slash line of 0.362/0.458/0.603! Ace Hamada recorded slightly more than a K/inning, while allowing less than a baserunner/inning! And as for the defense, they only committed 6 errors in those 20 games (sorry, there's no way I can do sabermetrics to evaluate defense, so this is all you get for analysis).
Now certainly, the offense isn't as good as that, and the pitching isn't as dominant as shown either. But it has to be good to a big extent, and regression from such a high level would still suggest a title-contending team.
Which is not good news for Miyazaki Nishi...
Miyazaki Nishi (Miyazaki)
CF Okamoto TaitoSS Hiwatashi Satoru
LF Gotou Kouhri (#9)
C Harada Taiki
P Todaka Tatsurou
1B Tomita Hiroki
3B Takahashi Yuuta
RF Takahashi Ryou (#7)
2B Watanabe Ryuutarou
Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi)
2B Kimura ToshikiCF Matsubara Fumiya
LF Araki Yuuto
SS Satou Daisuke
RF Matsuoka Daisuke
1B Torii Tatsunori
3B Nakano Yoshiki
P Hamada Tatsurou
C Nakamura Yuutarou
__________________________________________________
13:24 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Aw! Miyazaki Nishi has "宮西" in white on a red background in their oen-dan!
Okamoto fouls off several pitches before being frozen on the outside corner for the 1st out. And after a groundout, Hamada strikes out Gotou on a slider away
Bottom 1st
Kimura with a swinging bunt. Harada with the strong throw and that beats a diving Kimura.
*sighs*
And Todaka retires the next two batters on groundouts and it's a scoreless first frame.
Top 2nd
After two quick outs, Tomita singles to right. And while Yuuta lines a ball, Nakano makes a leaping catch for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Well, that can't be right, can it? Todaka's fastball is in the high 110s?? And he has a slider in the 100's and a slow curve in the high 70s-low 80s???!!!
This might be a problem for Meiden in that they've probably never seen anything that slow as a fastball, and thus their timing might be off?
After a flyout by Satou, Matsuoka grounds out to 2nd, except that Tomita loses the ball?! So man on via the error.
Hit-and-run! Kurano-kantoku starts the hit and run and Torii singles to left! Matsuoka heads for 3rd and the throw isn't in time!
Nakano with the safety bunt, but fouls it off! Count goes to 2-2.
Nakano swings away and hits one to left. Gotou coming in making the catch, and they're sending the runner home anyways! Gotou's throw isn't in time and Nakano gets the sac fly. Meiden takes a 1-0 lead!
Hamada gently placing a hit into right and runners are at the corners again for last battter Nakamura!
Nakamura tries a safety bunt, Todaka throws to first... and just gets him! Three outs and Todaka gives up just the one run.
Top 3rd
Hamada's fastball isn't that fast (low-mid 130s), but he's very effective with them, locating them with great accuracy. Combine that with the slider in the high 110-low 120s and I can see why.
He tries out Ryou swingin and Watanabe looking on 2 fastballs on the outside corner. Okamoto grounds to short and it's an easy 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 3rd
Kimura leads off the 3rd slicing a ball past a diving Hiwatasi for a base hit.
Matsubara pops it up on the hit-and-run, but Kimura doesn't notice to return! Watanabe flicks the ball to 1st, and Tomita makes the stretch for the double play!
And Araki's timing n the slow curve is all off and he grounds out to 1st to end the inning!
Top 4th
Hamada continues to pound the outside corner as he strikes out Gotou for the 2nd out of the inning.
But he leaves one just a little fat and Harada singles to center.
But now that he's getting the outside corner, he's getting batters to chase, just like Todaka to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Satou takes the first pitch away and bloops it to left for a single. Finally they go for the straight steal and Satou makes it in easily.
Todaka then loses Matsuoka and now there's runners on 1st and 2nd for Meiden.
Torii goes for the safety bunt, Todaka to field it, but can't field it cleanly! The throw is late and it's manrui for Meiden as Kodama-kantoku calls for time.
SQUEEZE!!!!
They try the squeeze! It goes up the 1st base line, Tomita charging, quick throw home... OUT!
Harada's foot blocks the slide and he makes the stretching pick for the force!
Hamada with the grounder to 1st. Tomita throwing home again, and they get the force again! 2 down!
Nakamura with a hard grounder to the left side, under a diving Hiwatashi! One run scores, two runs score and Meiden now leads 3-0!
Kimura flies out to left, but they finally get that timely base hit to extend the lead!
Top 5th
There's a delay as it appears that Satou was injured when his slide home was blocked by Harada's foot.
After a while, Kurano-kantoku gives the maru signal, and soon thereafter he takes the field.
8th K for Hamada as Tomita goes down swinging. Yuuta goes down looking on the outside corner.
And make it 3 K's in the inning as Ryou is a victim of the outside corner - much like everyone else it seems.
Bottom 6th
One down, and Todaka give up just his 2nd walk to Araki.
Satou with a base hit over Takahashi down the line, Gotou there, AND IT GOES UNDER HIS GLOVE!
He has to turn around, but Araki easily scores as Satou gingerly gets to 3rd on the error! 4-0 Meiden!
Matsuoka with a soft base hit to left, and that makes it 5-0.
They're putting the pressure now as Matsuoka takes and steals 2nd. It's getting to them as a wild pitch sends the runner to 3rd.
Torii with a hard hit past the drawn in infield makes it a 6-0 ballgame. Nakano tries the safety bunt, though it ends up looking like a regular one.
Todaka can't get out of the inning yet though. He walks Hamada to put runners at 1st and 2nd.
Nakamura tries the safety bunt, but fails for the 3rd out. To the break, and Todaka has probably been figured out.
Top 6th
Post-break, and #17 Uomoto comes in to PH for Watanabe, but grounds out to 1st. Nakano makes a nice running pick on a grounder from Okamoto. And Hiwatashi hits a hard ball up the middle, but Kimura makes a great sliding block and his throw just beats out Hiwatashi.
Bottom 6th
#11 Kutsukake comes in for PH Uomoto and takes over on the mount. Todaka goes to 2nd.
Kutsukake doesn't seem any different than Todaka, but induces 2 comebackers for 2 quick outs. Araki reaches out on a ball outside and flies out for a 1-2-3 inning.
Top 7th
Harada gets Miyazaki Nishi's 3rd hit, taking a ball away to left. Todaka's woes extend to the plate as he strikes out for the 3rd time. And Tomita grounds into a fielder's choice. Miyazaki cannot do anything about Hamada's control of the outside part of the plate.
Bottom 7th
Satou lines one over Todaka and into right for a base hit!
#16 Matsui comes in to PH for Matsuoka. But Matsui grounds into the 1-6-3 double play.
Torii continues the inning as he singles past a diving Todaka. Nakano follows that with a single to left. Hamada hits a hanging fastball to right center. Ryou runs it down, but both baserunners score to make it 8-0.
Nakamura with a drive to left... Gotou runs back and makes the catch just as he stumbles! But it's clear that Miyazaki's run will end hee.
Top 8th
#18 Oosuka comes in for PH Matsui.
One down and #18 Hidaka comes in to PH for Ryou, but goes down swinging. Kutsukake becomes Hamada's 13th victim and it's been a clean game.
Bottom 8th
#10 Yokogami comes in for PH Hidaka and takes over in RF.
Kimura just gets the ball on the end of the bat and lines it over Hiwatashi for a leadoff single. Matsubara tries the safety bunt, but it's just a sac bunt in the end.
Araki with a liner at 2nd, Todaka reaches out and it deflects off the glove! Everyone's safe. He then takes 2nd on indifference.
Kodama-kantoku calls for time.
Kutsukake gets Satou to hit a comebacker. Runners have to hold and there 2 down. Oosuka walks on 4 straight and it's manrui for Torii.
Torii makes contact, but at the end of the bat and he flies out to left. Three out, and three more left to go barring a comeback.
Top 9th
#6 Satou finally leaves the game as #14 Wakahara comes in for him and takes over at 2B while Kimura goes to SS.
Okamoto's grounder finds the new SS but Kimura makes a nice pick and throw... #16 Kawagoe PH for Hiwatashi, but becomes the 14th K for Hamada... And Gotou grounds to short to end the game.
Miyazaki Nishi certainly earned their bid, but had the unfortunate fortune of facing Aikoudai Meiden. They can be proud of what they accomplished this past fall in reaching Koushien, and now can proudly say they were the first team from Miyazaki Nishi to get to Koushien.
Next up for Aikoudai Meiden... Riseisha.
Notable Players
Hamada Tatsurou (Aikoudai Meiden) - CG, 0 ER, 3 H, 14 K, 0 BB - 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Torii Tatsunori (Aikoudai Meiden) - 3-4, 2 R, RBI
Satou Daisuke (Aikoudai Meiden) - 3-5, R
Harada Taiki (Miyazaki Nishi) - 2-3
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