And we are to our final team yet to play.
Tokoha Kikugawa faced a surprisingly weak schedule to the title. No Shizuoka, no sister school Tokoha Tachibana. Instead they had to survive teams like Itou Shougyou, Mishima and Kikugawa Nanryou to win the title. To be honest, not a really strong resume.
And this comes off a senbatsu where they won their first two games before losing to Kochi.
Ace Hotta returns and yes, if you see below he has a twitter account.
Anyways, he throws average velocity with 4 different pitches - slider, curve, change, fork. Will not strike out batters, and is just as stingy issuing free passes.
Arita Kougyou got the lucky draw (lucky in that they don't have to play Osaka Touin, that is.). They also got fortunate against Oogaki Nichidai when they were able to get to ace starter Takada and reliever Hashimoto. Because for the first 6 innings they didn't look good at all at the plate.
Ace Furukawa wasn't that bad on the mound, and did suffer from a small bit of bad luck. But if they're going to try and outlast an opponent, I don't think they can do that and be successful in the long run.
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
CF Toji Keisuke
1B Sakakibara Takato
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
2B Kuwahara Tatsuki
RF Kaneko Hisashi
P Hotta Tatsuya
LF Maekawa Naoya
Arita Kougyou (Saga)
2B Hyakutake Shoutarou
LF Kishigawa Yui
RF Senba Kouya
P Furukawa Yuri
1B Kawamoto Sora
SS Kuwahara Kousei (#5)
C Kusano Yoshihiko
3B Yamaguchi Yuuji (#14)
CF Fukuda Kousuke
____________________________________________________________
13:35 - First Pitch
Top 1st
Furukawa falls behind a bit to start, pumps in 2 strikes and gets Toji to ground to short.
Settles down quickly, has Sakakibara chase a changeup outside for the 2nd out.
Tries to work the outsides to Endou, but winds up walking him.
Morishita-kantoku sends Endou! Kusano fires to 2nd, and he's dead meat! Side retired!
Bottom 1st
Hyakutake with a liner to 2nd, Tatsuki shoestrings it for the first out.
Kishigawa with a liner to Maekawa for the 2nd out, and then Senba first pitch grounds to 3rd and the inning is over that quick.
Top 2nd
Matsuki gets another chance at the plate, but much like Sakakibara, chases the changeup away and heads back to the dugout.
Oonishi comebacker off of Furukawa and deflects to the left side. Kousei correcting but just gets the throw in late.
Apprently, Morishita-kantoku doesn't use signs? He's leaving it up to the players?
Tatsuki going after a changeup outside, but this time he pokes it through the left side for a base hit! Tokoha with a chance here in the 2nd!
But Furukawa uses the slider to get way ahead of Kaneko.
Hit-and-run!!
Kaneko singles past Kawamoto into right! Oonishi comes around to score, Tatsuki heading for 3rd as the throw comes in, and on the throw Kaneko takes 2nd! 1-0 Tokoha Kikugawa!
And now he hits Hotta to load the bases?! Uematsu-kantoku calls for time.
No help!! Maekawa with drive to right center! Fukuda back near the wall, falls in! Tatsuki scores! Kaneko scores! Hotta holds up at 3rd, whoops!!
Maekawa doesn't see Hotta at 3rd and had to turn tail! But it's too late and he's run down for the 2nd out. Still has a timely double to make it 3-0!
Furukawa gets Toji to chase a fastball outside this time and the side is retired. But early on, the movie looks awfully familiar...
Bottom 2nd
Furukawa sends a ball to center, Toji charging in, dives... and makes the catch! He flips the ball to his throwing hand as the umpire calls out!
Kawamoto inside outs a fastball and puts it into center for a single.
Bust-and-run! Kousei makes contact, but it's right to Kaneko! With Kawamoto running, he's easily doubled off to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Sakakibara deep bomb to center! Fukuda going back to the wall. Makes the catch right at the wall for the 1st out.
Endou taking an awkward swing on a slider low and pops out to Hyakutake.
Matsuki to give it a go, but has the same luck. Furukawa puts a changeup on the outside corner and the side is retired.
Bottom 3rd
Kusano with a grounder to the gap in short. Endou dives and cuts it down! Throw to first not in time, but good effort!
Uematsu-kantoku has Yamaguchi bunt the runner over.
And now Fukuda with a safety bunt! Oonishi charges in makes the throw to beat a diving Fukuda.
Hyakutake does it! Lines the slider back into center! Kusano scores and Arita Kougyou is on the board! 3-1!
Hyakutake presses the action going for 2nd, throw from Matsuki...
...
Out! The 2nd base ump takes an extra look after the dust has settled and calles Hyakutake out! Side retired!
Not sure what you'd be able to discern with an extra look, but ok.
Top 4th
OW.
Oonishi plunked in the shoulder blade with a fastball. Needs a moment, then heads to 1st.
No bunt from Tatsuki - just as I thought they don't bunt. Meanwhile, Tatsuki spoiling pitches.
Tatsuki with a big swing to right. Fukuda and Senba converging on it... heading to the fence... Fukuda tries to leap onto the padding..
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tatsuki booms a 2-run HR and Tokoha Kikugawa leads 5-1!
Furukawa trying to get back on track gets the 2-seamer back over the plate for strike 3 on Kaneko.
Maekawa with a drive down the right field line... just foul!!
He grounds to 2nd on the next pitch, but Tatsuki doubles his team's lead!
Bottom 4th
Kishigawa with a liner, but Endou makes a small leap to secure it for the out.
Senba with a chopper to 3rd. Oonishi there to field it, throw to 1st... Senba's already there! The throw was wide, but he probably wouldn't have gotten him anyways!
Furukawa with a drive to deep left center! Maekawa and Toji converging...
It's off the metal fence! The fielders have to run it down as it deflects back towards home! Senba scores on the RBI triple, it's 5-2!
SQUEEZE!!!!
Uematsu-kantoku goes for the squeeze immediately! Kawamoto lays down a beauty! Hotta goes home, but it's way too late! Matsuki goes to 1st and gets the out, but Arita Kougyou gets the 2-run HR back! 5-3!!
Kousei pops out to Hotta to end the inning, but this Arita Kougyou team is hanging in there!
Top 5th
Meanwhile Furukawa looks to run a quick inning to get the bats back up. Toji skies a popup that Hyakutake takes for the first out. Then he takes a grounder from Sakakibara for the 2nd out.
Furukawa wants in on the outs and as such uses a high slider to retire Endou for a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 5th
Hotta too looks to clamp things down after the 2-run inning.
Kusano with a soft liner that Oonishi fields for the first out
Yamaguchi tests him again with a grounder, and he's still probably feeling the effects of the deadball as he one bounds the throw to 1st.
Fukuda flies out to right and we hit the break with Tokoha Kikugawa holding a tentative 5-3 lead against a game Arita Kougyou!
Top 6th
Matsuki on his way to the golden sombrero. Looks silly swinging on slider buried by Furukawa.
Oonishi with his 2nd out, taking a slider outside the other way for a base hit.
Tatsuki takes another big swing, but this time it's just a towering fly to right.
Something brewing for Tokoha as Kaneko hits a hanging slider to left center for a single.
Hotta taking a ball the other way, but Senba runs it down near the pole for the 3rd out.
Bottom 6th
Hotta quickly working through the Arita lineup now as he just needs 10 pitches to retire the side.
Top 7th
Furukawa doing the same here in the lucky 7. Maekawa flies out to left, Toji just watches a fastball on the outside corner.
But not a 1-2-3 inning though as he winds up walking Sakakibara.
He takes off for 2nd, throw from Kusano... OUT!
Sakakibara seems to express displeasure on the call (and I think he may be right) in being called out. But he is and the side is retired.
Bottom 7th
Arita batters just flummoxed on the offspeed pitches from Hotta. Furukawa way ahead of a slider and grounds to short. Kawamoto tries to reach out, but can't reach the forkball for the 2nd out.
And perhaps in an attempt to hit anything that's a fastball, Kousei chases a high one and flies out to center.
Top 8th
Endou with a leadoff single to left, brings up Matsuki, who is not bunting and will swing away.
Makes contact! But it's right to Hyakutake! He starts the 4-6-3 double play!
Oonishi up, drive one to deep left, but there's room for Kishigawa for the catch.
Bottom 8th
Arita Kougyou running out of time, but unable to solve Hotta.
This time around he needs just 6 pitches to retire the side, including #15 Nagamatsu who hit for Fukuda.
Top 9th
#16 Sakamoto comes in for PH Nagamatsu and takes over in CF.
Tatsuki with a drive to left! Kishigawa back to the wall and has to play it off the padding! He's in with a double!
Now Furukawa hits Kaneko and they're in a bit of a jam late...
Hotta showing bunt for the first time for Tokoha Kikugawa! He lays it down and now a a base hit can add some insurance runs.
Maekawa though grounds to short! Kousei with the ball looks the runners back and goes to 1st for he 2nd out!
Toji up to try and get the runs in.
Liner, caught by Kousei!! Side retired!
Bottom 9th
Top of the order for Arita Kougyou..
Hyakutake behind 1-2 can only ground out to 2nd.
#13 Urano to hit for Kishigawa, but swings on the first pitch and grounds out to Endou.
2 down and Senba is their last chance. Hotta trying to get Senba to chase a ball outside, but Senba continues to make contact...
And now he hits one to the gap in short! Endou runs it down, but Senba quick as he is dives in safely!
Douten runner coming to the plate in ace Furukawa!
Hotta giving him nothing in the middle, getting called strikes on offspeed pitches at the edges.
Grounder up the middle! Endou there, flips to Tatsuki... game set!! Tokohawa Kikugawa holds on to defeat Arita Kougyou 5-3!!
Man, Arita Kougyou should get a lot of credit. For a first time team, they played with no quit, and a lot of fire. When it looked like it could be a blowout early they found a way to respond to stay in it. They may have lost, but they should be proud.
For Tokoha Kikugawa, it's pretty much status quo. A lot of swinging, quite a few Ks, but a lot of hits to go along with it. It's great to see the the bottom of the lineup performing, but perhaps a little concerning that the top of the lineup didn't really produce.
But that's for another game as they draw Day 10, Game 3
Notable Players
Hotta Tatsuya (Tokoha Kikugawa) - CG, 3 ER, 6 H, K
Senba Kouya (Arita Kougyou) - 2-4, R
Furukawa Yuri (Arita Kougyou) - 1-3, 3B, R, RBI
Hyakutake Shoutarou (Arita Kougyou) - 1-4, RBI
Showing posts with label Arita Kougyou. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arita Kougyou. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Day 1 - Game 1 - Arita Kougyou (Saga) vs. Oogaki Nichidai (Gifu)
And with the grand opening ceremonies out of the way, Arita Kougyou and Oogaki Nichidai turn right back around and head to the dugouts under the sold out crowd!
Oogaki Nichidai prevailed in a prefecture that wound up having a quarterfinalist. Plus, they beat both Kenritsu and Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou. Ace Takada Kouki gave up no more than 1 run in any outing until the final where he may have been fatigued, he seems to top out around 140 kph and I don't really have any other info otherwise.
Offensively, look for #2 batter Ookubo Takashi and #3 Naitou Hiroki to deliver the punch for the offense.
Arita Kougyou reached Koushien without having to face many of the mainstays in Saga. Kanzaki Seimei is definitely an above average team, and with Waseda Saga starting to assert themselves it may in hindsight prove to be a strong matchup after all.
Considering the low scoring affairs they went through, the key to the team's success lies in their ace Furukawa Yuri. He struck out just over 9 per CG in the last 3 games and is reported to hit 146 on the gun (90 mph) featuring a slider and changeup.
Offensively, it appears the team across the board are solid enough, but SS Fujikawa Shuu and 3B Kuwahara Kousei may be the most consistent of them all.
Considering the fact that Oogaki Nichidai has the prior experience, they are probably favored. It's hard to gauge how Arita Kougyou will do considering their competition in the prefecturals, but if ace Furukawa isn't a total "fraud" on the mound (i.e. stats are inflated), they may make things interesting since K's means no baserunners and no stress on the defense.
Anyways the teams head to home plate and away we go!!
Arita Kougyou (Saga)
2B Hyakutake Shoutarou
LF Kishigawa Yui
SS Fujikawa Shuu
P Furukawa Yuri
RF Senba Kouya
3B Kuwahara Kousei
1B Kawamoto Sora
C Kusano Yoshihiko
CF Fukuda Kousuke
Oogaki Nichidai (Gifu)
CF Shibata Yuushi
2B Ookubo Takashi
1B Naitou Hiroki
3B Takino Yoshi
RF Kaneda Kai
LF Tanaka Ken
SS Tatsuno Rikiya
C Yokoe Taisei
P Takada Kouki
____________________________________________________________
10:30 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Ok, so some of the crowd has left, but it's still rather full.
Hyakutake giving Takada an easy first batter, chasing a ball out of the zone for an opening K.
Looks like Takada hits 130 at best so far with a fastball? That's not so good. But Kishigawa swings on a 2-0 ball and grounds easily to 2nd.
And Fuijikawa makes contact on the first pitch, but it's a lazy fly to end the inning. 7 pitches, 3 outs. Not a bad way to start.
Bottom 1st
First pitch 141 and over Shibata's head. Oy.
Grounder to short on the next pitch, Fujikawa ranges over, makes a strong throw that just beats Shibata for the first out.
As expected, he sits in the upper 130's, oh - and there's a slow curve in the 100s that Ookubo pops foul down the left field side. Kuwahara makes the catch near the fence for the 2nd out.
And a change perhaps to Naitou who grounds to 3rd. Kuwahara with a good throw to 1st for the 3rd out and so far so good, if not a little nerves.
Top 2nd
Yeah, sliders in low 120s Takada doesn't throw hard at all.
Furukawa with grounder to short, 5-hole! It goes right under Tatsuno for an E6! Arita Kougyou taking advantage immediately with a sac bunt from Senba.
That brings up Kuwahara who had some nice plays to start the game. Oogaki's strategy apparently is to pitch predominantly on the outside and let the batters get themselves out.
Of course as I say that, they go inside and Kuwahara pops it up. Yokoe and Takino collide but Yokoe makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Kawamoto pops out to 2nd and another stressless inning for Takada. A bit concerned though about his velocity though and if Arita will eventually line things up.
Bottom 2nd
Takino grounder to left side, nice range by Kawamoto who flips to a covering Furukawa just beating Takino for the 1st out.
Furukawa's control seems to be still a little off as his waste pitch on 0-2 goes 145 and high, then 146 and higher.
Then throws a great change at 120 for the karaburi sanshin.
The high pitches aren't good for Oogaki I guess as Tanaka flies out to left to end the inning.
So Oogaki's ace doesn't throw hard at all, and Arita's ace has early control issues. This should be interesting.
Top 3rd
Kusano gets ahead 2-0 before chasing a pitch outside. Next ball is a flyout right at Kaneda for out #1.
Fukuda makes decent contact, but it too is right at an outfielder. Tanaka secures it for the 2nd out.
And Hyakutake quickly ends the side, hitting a pop fly to Ookubo who is a bit busy to start. If nothing else, when Takada is in the zone he's low and Arita's batters are golfing it for easy outs.
Bottom 3rd
Hyakutake ranging over to his right on a grounder by Tatsuno, and hastily throws to 1st with the ball up the line a bit. Kawamoto makes a great stretch to record the out.
Furukawa not afraid to go inside jamming Yokoe into a pop fly he catches for the 2nd out.
And apparently Furukawa wants to go higher on the radar, hitting 147 to counterpart Takada before he gets way in front of a change and grounds weakly to Fujikawa to end the inning.
With temperatures at 37C, he may want to tone that down a bit.
Top 4th
Arita Kougyou's offense still yet to figure out Takada as Kishigawa hits a harmless comebacker to Takada to start the inning.
Perhaps Uematsu-kantoku is telling his players to hit ground balls because Fujikawa follows suit with a groundout to 2nd.
And while Furukawa hit a scorcher foul up the 3rd base line, he wound up just swinging at air on a slider in the left handed batter's box for the 3rd out.
Bottom 4th
Spoke too soon on the high pitches, Shibata blasts one to right center that is out of the reach of Senba and goes to the wall! Shibata running all the way, reaches 3rd easily! 1st hit for either team and Oogaki has a great chance to open the scoring!
But Ookubo hits a fly too shallow to center! Fukuda with it and Shibata has to hold.
Infield in to Naitou, but Furukawa not in the zone at all.
WHOA! Sakaguchi-kantoku calls for the squeeze, Furukawa's pitch is almost at Naitou's hip and he still lays it down beautifully! Only play is to 1st and Shibata scores to make it 1-0 Oogaki!
Uh oh. Takino lines a ball back up the middle for a base hit. That's not good if they're hitting balls back up the middle.
But Kaneda grounds out to short. Fujikawa with another good throw to 1st for the 3rd out (Arita's strength is definitely on the defensive side). But a leadoff triple leads to trouble for Arita Kougyou and Oogaki takes the 1-0 lead!
Top 5th
Arita still unable to crack Takada. Senba tries to attack early, but lazily flies out to center. Kuwahara tries to work the count, but swings on 3-1 and flies out to left. Kawamoto swings on an inside pitch and fouls out to Yokoe near Arita's on-deck circle for the 3rd out.
I think Arita's best shot is to work the count. Oogaki is trying to hit the edges of the zone, and keeping him honest - if possible, might be best.
Bottom 5th
Looks like Fujikawa is in for treatment, and after a while, it looks like the nifty SS has to leave the game! #14 Yamaguchi Yuuji takes his place and goes to 3B, Kuwahara goes to SS. That might hurt them a lot defensively, we'll have to see.
Tanaka though decides to go back up the middle and it gets past Furukawa into center for a leadoff single. Furukawa trying to give Tatsuno nothing to bunt, but goes down 3-0 instead before firing a strike. And then on 3-1 he goes change away for strike 2.
Sakaguchi-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but all Tatsuno can do is foul off the high pitch.
Tatsuno with the ball back up the middle! New SS Kuwahara makes a great pick, but in trying to set his feet for the DP, gives Tanaka time to slide in safely! Kuwahara though alertly finishes the play at first for at least one out.
End result is a sac bunt with Yokoe up to bat. Once again though, Furukawa having trouble hitting the strike zone as he falls behind 3-0 before getting the high strike call.
Yokoe with a grounder to 3rd, and it's off Yamaguchi and into left! Kishigawa comes in to field it, and he misplays it! Tanaka coming home and the throw is late giving Oogaki a 2-0 lead.
Furukawa gets a little reprieve with a K looking on counterpart Takada, but that is short-lived! Shibata comes through again with a ball that whizzes by Furukawa's head into center! Yokoe sent home, throw in from Fukuda...Safe! Yokoe just beats the swipe tag and it's a 3-0 lead for Oogaki Nichidai!
Ookubo with a blast to center. Fukuda backing up makes the catch for the 3rd out. As we head to break though Oogaki has taken advantage of Furukawa's control issues to take a 3-0 lead.
Top 6th
Arita Kougyou still cannot make solid contact on any of Takada's offerings as Kusano and Fukuda both fly out to the outfield - thout Fukuda at least makes Tanaka sprint into shallow left-center for the 2nd out.
Hyakutake gets Arikou's 2nd baserunner as he's hit by a pitch - still no hits yet though.
Check that! Kishigawa on the hit-and-run grounds a ball past a diving Naitou into right! Hyakutake easily takes 3rd and Arikou has their first hit and a chance for a run!
Aw, but Yamaguchi up for his first AB in place of Fujikawa flies out to right to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Furukawa still with some control issues does jam Naitou. Kuwahara makes the shoestring catch for the first out. Still, Takino makes great contact on a 0-0 pitch and singles past Hyakutake into center.
I lost connection there for a sec, but it appears that Kaneda was jammed and fouled out to Yamaguchi, and though there was a WP, Tanaka grounds out to 1st to end the inning.
Top 7th
Furukawa starts off the lucky 7 with a grounder past Takino into left for a base hit! That brings out a conference from Sakaguchi-kantoku.
After a bunt from Senba, Kuwahara postures the bust-and-run, and hits one down the left field line... past Tanaka and to the wall! Furukawa coming home and it's Arita Kougyou is on the board at 3-1!
OOHH!! Kawamoto with a ball through the left side! Kuwahara is aggressively being sent home and the throw from Tanaka is offline! Back-to-back RBI doubles make it a 3-2 ballgame!!
After a flyout to left by Kusano, Sakaguchi-kantoku pulls his starter. #10 Hashimoto comes in relief to try and get out of the pinch.
Meanwhile Uematsu-kantoku makes his own moves. #16 Sakamoto comes in to run for Kawamoto while #15 Nagamatsu hits for Fukuda.
But Oogaki's Hashimoto rules the day as he gets Nagamatsu swings and misses for the 3rd out. But is indeed the lucky 7 for Arita Kougyou as they pull within 1!
Bottom 7th
#13 Urazato comes in for PR Sakamoto takes over at 1B. Nagamatsu stays in to play CF.
With new life, Furukawa looks better on the mound.
Tatsuno hits a hard liner, but right at Yamaguchi who snags it for the 1st out. Furukawa paints the outside corner to get Yokoe on 3 straight, and Hashimoto in his 1st AB in relief, just waves at a pitch outside for the 3rd out.
That definitely looks promising if you're Arita Kougyou.
Top 8th
Uh oh. Hashimoto walks leadoff batter Hyakutake on 4 straight, Uematsu-kantoku calls for the immediate bunt which Kishigawa executes.
Hashimoto finally fires a strike to Yamaguchi, but his velocity is about as low as Takada's with less control! His fastball is low 130s at best.
After getting Yamaguchi to swing at a couple to level the count at 2-2, he misses high to fill up the count. Yamaguchi semi bails him out chopping a high pitch to 1B Naitou who applies the tag for the 2nd out. Hyakutake advances to 3rd, but there's 2 out for Furukawa.
And they're intentionally walking him! They're taking the bat away from their best hitter! This is rather rare in a situation where you're not doing it for the force out!
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Senba drive to left center!! Shibata chasing it to the wall... over his head! Hyakutake scores... Furukawa rounding 3rd.... he scores all the way from 1st! Senba, gyakuten 2-run double makes it 4-3 Arita Kougyou!!!
Kuwahara with a grounder through the right side! Senba is being sent home! Throw in.. not in time! It's 5-3 Arita Kougyou!!
That's it for Hashimoto as #11 Wakuda comes in to try and stop the bleeding.
Kuwahara actually bails out Arita Kougyou as he tries to steal 2nd, but is thrown out easily. But it all goes wrong for reliever Hashimoto as the 1st timers take the lead late!
Bottom 8th
Shibata the right man up for Oogaki Nichidai... and he gaps one into left center for a leadoff double! Oogaki looking to strike back immediately!
Ookubo not bunting, hits it right to Kuwahara! He goes to 3rd, but Yamaguchi can't hang onto the ball! All safe!
Oh, why not get the guaranteed out there up 2...
Ookubo taking off for 2nd, throw from Kusano, goes into center! Shibata walks home and it's now 5-4 Arita Kougyou!
Sakaguchi-kantoku has Naitou bunt the runner along to 3rd and it looks like Arikou will surrender the lead!
But on Takino's bunt attempt on what looked like a safety squeeze, Ookubo is caught off 3rd! He's run down 2-5-2 and the douten runner is wiped out! Takino grounds out to 3rd and the inning is over with the lead in tact! What a disaster for Oogaki Nichidai!
Top 9th
One down for Arita Kougyou and Kusuno hits a weak grounder back up the middle. Ookubo takes it in front of Tatsuno and his throw across his body isn't in time! One down, runner at 1st. Uematsu-kantoku plays for the one run as Nagahama bunts the runner along.
Hyakutake takes a 4 pitch walk to brings up Kishigawa who is 1-3 on the day.
Make that 1-4 as he fouls out to Takino for the 3rd out. It's hang on time for Arita Kougyou!
Bottom 9th
Kaneda first pitch swings and grounds to 2nd for the first out!
Tanaka falling behind quickly 0-2, fights off a pitch, but chases a head-high pitch and pops up to Kusuno for the 2nd out!
It's up to Tatsuno to keep the game alive...
Fouls off a couple of pitches... and another... and yet another.... He's not making it easy for Furukawa.
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tatsuno can only lean back as he is called out on a fastball on the outside corner! Arita Kougyou pulls of the gyakuten win 5-4 over Oogaki Nichidai!
I am shocked! Arita Kougyou instead of getting to ace Takada, gets to the relief staff and comeback for the victory! And Hashimoto can be seen crying - certainly he feels bad for giving up the lead that Takada had maintained.
But the low velocity meant that Oogaki had to be exact, and they weren't - and they paid for it. It's a disappointing loss for sure for a school such as theirs.
But for the timers from Saga, they do indeed continue! They gritted out a win against an above average school and will move on! Where they play next I'm not sure yet, but they did hold the drawing.
Notable Players
Senba Kouya (Arita Kougyou) - 1-2, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Kuwahara Kousei (Arita Kougyou) - 2-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Shibata Yuushi (Oogaki Nichidai) - 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2R, RBI
Takino Yoshi (Oogaki Nichidai) - 2-4, SB
Oogaki Nichidai prevailed in a prefecture that wound up having a quarterfinalist. Plus, they beat both Kenritsu and Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou. Ace Takada Kouki gave up no more than 1 run in any outing until the final where he may have been fatigued, he seems to top out around 140 kph and I don't really have any other info otherwise.
Offensively, look for #2 batter Ookubo Takashi and #3 Naitou Hiroki to deliver the punch for the offense.
Arita Kougyou reached Koushien without having to face many of the mainstays in Saga. Kanzaki Seimei is definitely an above average team, and with Waseda Saga starting to assert themselves it may in hindsight prove to be a strong matchup after all.
Considering the low scoring affairs they went through, the key to the team's success lies in their ace Furukawa Yuri. He struck out just over 9 per CG in the last 3 games and is reported to hit 146 on the gun (90 mph) featuring a slider and changeup.
Offensively, it appears the team across the board are solid enough, but SS Fujikawa Shuu and 3B Kuwahara Kousei may be the most consistent of them all.
Considering the fact that Oogaki Nichidai has the prior experience, they are probably favored. It's hard to gauge how Arita Kougyou will do considering their competition in the prefecturals, but if ace Furukawa isn't a total "fraud" on the mound (i.e. stats are inflated), they may make things interesting since K's means no baserunners and no stress on the defense.
Anyways the teams head to home plate and away we go!!
Arita Kougyou (Saga)
2B Hyakutake Shoutarou
LF Kishigawa Yui
SS Fujikawa Shuu
P Furukawa Yuri
RF Senba Kouya
3B Kuwahara Kousei
1B Kawamoto Sora
C Kusano Yoshihiko
CF Fukuda Kousuke
Oogaki Nichidai (Gifu)
CF Shibata Yuushi
2B Ookubo Takashi
1B Naitou Hiroki
3B Takino Yoshi
RF Kaneda Kai
LF Tanaka Ken
SS Tatsuno Rikiya
C Yokoe Taisei
P Takada Kouki
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10:30 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Ok, so some of the crowd has left, but it's still rather full.
Hyakutake giving Takada an easy first batter, chasing a ball out of the zone for an opening K.
Looks like Takada hits 130 at best so far with a fastball? That's not so good. But Kishigawa swings on a 2-0 ball and grounds easily to 2nd.
And Fuijikawa makes contact on the first pitch, but it's a lazy fly to end the inning. 7 pitches, 3 outs. Not a bad way to start.
Bottom 1st
First pitch 141 and over Shibata's head. Oy.
Grounder to short on the next pitch, Fujikawa ranges over, makes a strong throw that just beats Shibata for the first out.
As expected, he sits in the upper 130's, oh - and there's a slow curve in the 100s that Ookubo pops foul down the left field side. Kuwahara makes the catch near the fence for the 2nd out.
And a change perhaps to Naitou who grounds to 3rd. Kuwahara with a good throw to 1st for the 3rd out and so far so good, if not a little nerves.
Top 2nd
Yeah, sliders in low 120s Takada doesn't throw hard at all.
Furukawa with grounder to short, 5-hole! It goes right under Tatsuno for an E6! Arita Kougyou taking advantage immediately with a sac bunt from Senba.
That brings up Kuwahara who had some nice plays to start the game. Oogaki's strategy apparently is to pitch predominantly on the outside and let the batters get themselves out.
Of course as I say that, they go inside and Kuwahara pops it up. Yokoe and Takino collide but Yokoe makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Kawamoto pops out to 2nd and another stressless inning for Takada. A bit concerned though about his velocity though and if Arita will eventually line things up.
Bottom 2nd
Takino grounder to left side, nice range by Kawamoto who flips to a covering Furukawa just beating Takino for the 1st out.
Furukawa's control seems to be still a little off as his waste pitch on 0-2 goes 145 and high, then 146 and higher.
Then throws a great change at 120 for the karaburi sanshin.
The high pitches aren't good for Oogaki I guess as Tanaka flies out to left to end the inning.
So Oogaki's ace doesn't throw hard at all, and Arita's ace has early control issues. This should be interesting.
Top 3rd
Kusano gets ahead 2-0 before chasing a pitch outside. Next ball is a flyout right at Kaneda for out #1.
Fukuda makes decent contact, but it too is right at an outfielder. Tanaka secures it for the 2nd out.
And Hyakutake quickly ends the side, hitting a pop fly to Ookubo who is a bit busy to start. If nothing else, when Takada is in the zone he's low and Arita's batters are golfing it for easy outs.
Bottom 3rd
Hyakutake ranging over to his right on a grounder by Tatsuno, and hastily throws to 1st with the ball up the line a bit. Kawamoto makes a great stretch to record the out.
Furukawa not afraid to go inside jamming Yokoe into a pop fly he catches for the 2nd out.
And apparently Furukawa wants to go higher on the radar, hitting 147 to counterpart Takada before he gets way in front of a change and grounds weakly to Fujikawa to end the inning.
With temperatures at 37C, he may want to tone that down a bit.
Top 4th
Arita Kougyou's offense still yet to figure out Takada as Kishigawa hits a harmless comebacker to Takada to start the inning.
Perhaps Uematsu-kantoku is telling his players to hit ground balls because Fujikawa follows suit with a groundout to 2nd.
And while Furukawa hit a scorcher foul up the 3rd base line, he wound up just swinging at air on a slider in the left handed batter's box for the 3rd out.
Bottom 4th
Spoke too soon on the high pitches, Shibata blasts one to right center that is out of the reach of Senba and goes to the wall! Shibata running all the way, reaches 3rd easily! 1st hit for either team and Oogaki has a great chance to open the scoring!
But Ookubo hits a fly too shallow to center! Fukuda with it and Shibata has to hold.
Infield in to Naitou, but Furukawa not in the zone at all.
WHOA! Sakaguchi-kantoku calls for the squeeze, Furukawa's pitch is almost at Naitou's hip and he still lays it down beautifully! Only play is to 1st and Shibata scores to make it 1-0 Oogaki!
Uh oh. Takino lines a ball back up the middle for a base hit. That's not good if they're hitting balls back up the middle.
But Kaneda grounds out to short. Fujikawa with another good throw to 1st for the 3rd out (Arita's strength is definitely on the defensive side). But a leadoff triple leads to trouble for Arita Kougyou and Oogaki takes the 1-0 lead!
Top 5th
Arita still unable to crack Takada. Senba tries to attack early, but lazily flies out to center. Kuwahara tries to work the count, but swings on 3-1 and flies out to left. Kawamoto swings on an inside pitch and fouls out to Yokoe near Arita's on-deck circle for the 3rd out.
I think Arita's best shot is to work the count. Oogaki is trying to hit the edges of the zone, and keeping him honest - if possible, might be best.
Bottom 5th
Looks like Fujikawa is in for treatment, and after a while, it looks like the nifty SS has to leave the game! #14 Yamaguchi Yuuji takes his place and goes to 3B, Kuwahara goes to SS. That might hurt them a lot defensively, we'll have to see.
Tanaka though decides to go back up the middle and it gets past Furukawa into center for a leadoff single. Furukawa trying to give Tatsuno nothing to bunt, but goes down 3-0 instead before firing a strike. And then on 3-1 he goes change away for strike 2.
Sakaguchi-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but all Tatsuno can do is foul off the high pitch.
Tatsuno with the ball back up the middle! New SS Kuwahara makes a great pick, but in trying to set his feet for the DP, gives Tanaka time to slide in safely! Kuwahara though alertly finishes the play at first for at least one out.
End result is a sac bunt with Yokoe up to bat. Once again though, Furukawa having trouble hitting the strike zone as he falls behind 3-0 before getting the high strike call.
Yokoe with a grounder to 3rd, and it's off Yamaguchi and into left! Kishigawa comes in to field it, and he misplays it! Tanaka coming home and the throw is late giving Oogaki a 2-0 lead.
Furukawa gets a little reprieve with a K looking on counterpart Takada, but that is short-lived! Shibata comes through again with a ball that whizzes by Furukawa's head into center! Yokoe sent home, throw in from Fukuda...Safe! Yokoe just beats the swipe tag and it's a 3-0 lead for Oogaki Nichidai!
Ookubo with a blast to center. Fukuda backing up makes the catch for the 3rd out. As we head to break though Oogaki has taken advantage of Furukawa's control issues to take a 3-0 lead.
Top 6th
Arita Kougyou still cannot make solid contact on any of Takada's offerings as Kusano and Fukuda both fly out to the outfield - thout Fukuda at least makes Tanaka sprint into shallow left-center for the 2nd out.
Hyakutake gets Arikou's 2nd baserunner as he's hit by a pitch - still no hits yet though.
Check that! Kishigawa on the hit-and-run grounds a ball past a diving Naitou into right! Hyakutake easily takes 3rd and Arikou has their first hit and a chance for a run!
Aw, but Yamaguchi up for his first AB in place of Fujikawa flies out to right to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Furukawa still with some control issues does jam Naitou. Kuwahara makes the shoestring catch for the first out. Still, Takino makes great contact on a 0-0 pitch and singles past Hyakutake into center.
I lost connection there for a sec, but it appears that Kaneda was jammed and fouled out to Yamaguchi, and though there was a WP, Tanaka grounds out to 1st to end the inning.
Top 7th
Furukawa starts off the lucky 7 with a grounder past Takino into left for a base hit! That brings out a conference from Sakaguchi-kantoku.
After a bunt from Senba, Kuwahara postures the bust-and-run, and hits one down the left field line... past Tanaka and to the wall! Furukawa coming home and it's Arita Kougyou is on the board at 3-1!
OOHH!! Kawamoto with a ball through the left side! Kuwahara is aggressively being sent home and the throw from Tanaka is offline! Back-to-back RBI doubles make it a 3-2 ballgame!!
After a flyout to left by Kusano, Sakaguchi-kantoku pulls his starter. #10 Hashimoto comes in relief to try and get out of the pinch.
Meanwhile Uematsu-kantoku makes his own moves. #16 Sakamoto comes in to run for Kawamoto while #15 Nagamatsu hits for Fukuda.
But Oogaki's Hashimoto rules the day as he gets Nagamatsu swings and misses for the 3rd out. But is indeed the lucky 7 for Arita Kougyou as they pull within 1!
Bottom 7th
#13 Urazato comes in for PR Sakamoto takes over at 1B. Nagamatsu stays in to play CF.
With new life, Furukawa looks better on the mound.
Tatsuno hits a hard liner, but right at Yamaguchi who snags it for the 1st out. Furukawa paints the outside corner to get Yokoe on 3 straight, and Hashimoto in his 1st AB in relief, just waves at a pitch outside for the 3rd out.
That definitely looks promising if you're Arita Kougyou.
Top 8th
Uh oh. Hashimoto walks leadoff batter Hyakutake on 4 straight, Uematsu-kantoku calls for the immediate bunt which Kishigawa executes.
Hashimoto finally fires a strike to Yamaguchi, but his velocity is about as low as Takada's with less control! His fastball is low 130s at best.
After getting Yamaguchi to swing at a couple to level the count at 2-2, he misses high to fill up the count. Yamaguchi semi bails him out chopping a high pitch to 1B Naitou who applies the tag for the 2nd out. Hyakutake advances to 3rd, but there's 2 out for Furukawa.
And they're intentionally walking him! They're taking the bat away from their best hitter! This is rather rare in a situation where you're not doing it for the force out!
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Senba drive to left center!! Shibata chasing it to the wall... over his head! Hyakutake scores... Furukawa rounding 3rd.... he scores all the way from 1st! Senba, gyakuten 2-run double makes it 4-3 Arita Kougyou!!!
Kuwahara with a grounder through the right side! Senba is being sent home! Throw in.. not in time! It's 5-3 Arita Kougyou!!
That's it for Hashimoto as #11 Wakuda comes in to try and stop the bleeding.
Kuwahara actually bails out Arita Kougyou as he tries to steal 2nd, but is thrown out easily. But it all goes wrong for reliever Hashimoto as the 1st timers take the lead late!
Bottom 8th
Shibata the right man up for Oogaki Nichidai... and he gaps one into left center for a leadoff double! Oogaki looking to strike back immediately!
Ookubo not bunting, hits it right to Kuwahara! He goes to 3rd, but Yamaguchi can't hang onto the ball! All safe!
Oh, why not get the guaranteed out there up 2...
Ookubo taking off for 2nd, throw from Kusano, goes into center! Shibata walks home and it's now 5-4 Arita Kougyou!
Sakaguchi-kantoku has Naitou bunt the runner along to 3rd and it looks like Arikou will surrender the lead!
But on Takino's bunt attempt on what looked like a safety squeeze, Ookubo is caught off 3rd! He's run down 2-5-2 and the douten runner is wiped out! Takino grounds out to 3rd and the inning is over with the lead in tact! What a disaster for Oogaki Nichidai!
Top 9th
One down for Arita Kougyou and Kusuno hits a weak grounder back up the middle. Ookubo takes it in front of Tatsuno and his throw across his body isn't in time! One down, runner at 1st. Uematsu-kantoku plays for the one run as Nagahama bunts the runner along.
Hyakutake takes a 4 pitch walk to brings up Kishigawa who is 1-3 on the day.
Make that 1-4 as he fouls out to Takino for the 3rd out. It's hang on time for Arita Kougyou!
Bottom 9th
Kaneda first pitch swings and grounds to 2nd for the first out!
Tanaka falling behind quickly 0-2, fights off a pitch, but chases a head-high pitch and pops up to Kusuno for the 2nd out!
It's up to Tatsuno to keep the game alive...
Fouls off a couple of pitches... and another... and yet another.... He's not making it easy for Furukawa.
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tatsuno can only lean back as he is called out on a fastball on the outside corner! Arita Kougyou pulls of the gyakuten win 5-4 over Oogaki Nichidai!
I am shocked! Arita Kougyou instead of getting to ace Takada, gets to the relief staff and comeback for the victory! And Hashimoto can be seen crying - certainly he feels bad for giving up the lead that Takada had maintained.
But the low velocity meant that Oogaki had to be exact, and they weren't - and they paid for it. It's a disappointing loss for sure for a school such as theirs.
But for the timers from Saga, they do indeed continue! They gritted out a win against an above average school and will move on! Where they play next I'm not sure yet, but they did hold the drawing.
Notable Players
Senba Kouya (Arita Kougyou) - 1-2, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Kuwahara Kousei (Arita Kougyou) - 2-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Shibata Yuushi (Oogaki Nichidai) - 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2R, RBI
Takino Yoshi (Oogaki Nichidai) - 2-4, SB
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