The tarp is on the field right now, under what I think is a lightning delay.
But I'll be writing this up assuming that the game is on.
Now again, I don't have anything against Kounan. In fact it was great to see Kounan go Haru-Natsu. But as I've said before, they've had their title, give someone else one.
Kounan has been challenged in both of their games. As mentioned in the marathon vs Iwamichisuikan, then chipping away against Toba, tying and then winning the game 4-3 late. These close games can either mean they're good at fighting close battles, or they're on the cusp of finally being broken. Which one though I don't know.
As for Kanto Dai-ichi, they got their test in Chuukyoudai Chuukyou where it was a pitching duel all the way through before Igarashi ended the game with one swing.
Ace Tanabe gets the start today after getting the Chuukyoudai Chuukyou game off. Yes. Off. Could this be a case like Nobeoka Gakuen where they have an embarrassment of riches at the position?
Kanto Dai-ichi (Higashi Tokyo)
CF Okoye Rui
LF Ihashi Toshiki (#5)
SS Itou Masato
1B Igarashi Yuuki
RF Nagashima Ryouma
3B Maruyama Shunya (#13)
C Suzuki Daichi
2B Kuroda Shunta
P Tanabe Ren
Kounan (Okinawa)
SS Higa Tatsutoshi
2B Naka Hibiki
LF Gushiken Taiki
1B Kina Chouki
RF Shiroma Gakuto (#18)
C Sakumoto Kazuki
CF Sunagawa Kento
3B Takara Shoubu (#13)
P Hiyane Masaya
____________________________________________________________
15:55 - The tarp is finally coming off, but estimated start time has not been mention yet.
The game is set to start at 16:20 though the rain is still falling.
Top 1st
Okoye goes down swinging after Hiyane pounds him inside.
Ihashi also can't figure out the delivery of Hiyane and is late to a ball inside.
And Itou goes down swinging as well! Hiyane strikes out the side!
Bottom 1st
One down for Kounan and Naka hits a chopper up the middle. Kuroda runs it down, but has no throw to 1st.
Gushiken walks on 4 straight and Kounan perhaps with something brewing. But Kina goes down swinging on a changeup for the 2nd out.
Shiroma liner to right.. but Nagashima is there for the catch! Side retired!
Top 2nd
Igarashi with not a strikeout, but does groundout to short.
Oh?
Nagashima with a drive to left! Gushiken sprinting to the wall! Looking up!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, Nagashima homers to end the game against Chuukyoudai Chuukyou, then homers here to start against Kounan. 1-0.
Bottom 2nd
Sakumoto scorcher up 3rd base line past Maruyama! He'll be in with a leadoff double!
Sunagawa grounder to left side, goes under Maruyama's glove! Itou backs up but there's no play!
Takara grounder to short, OFF ITOU!!! Everyone is safe again and Kounan has manrui, no out!! Kanto Dai-ichi calls time.
There's no place to put Hiyane, and Tanabe goes 3-1 on him! Does run the count full, but this is dangerous!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!
Tanabe with a sense of relief as Suzuki wanted that ball inside, and he went outside corner.
But Higa gets the run in! Deep fly to right, Okoye makes the catch and the tag up makes it 1-1!
Naka liner to center! Okoye charging in! Slides!
Just misses it! He slides another 20 feet as Ihashi gets to the ball! Sunagawa scores and it's 2-1! The weather may have had something to do with it as if it were dry he may have gotten to that ball.
Top 3rd
It seems like a while ago, but Hiyane now gets his 5th K as Tanabe chases the high heat.
Ihashi lays down the bunt, but Takara picks it up despite it looking like it was going to run foul. His throw to 1st is late and the inning continues! This does bring up Itou with 2 outs and perhaps an imperfect AB.
But Itou singles to center! Sunagawa up with the AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunagawa misses the ball! Ihashi heading home! The throw is much too late and we're tied at 2-2!
Igarashi grounds to 1st, but we're back level through 3.5!
Bottom 3rd
Tanabe still struggling a bit. He walks Kina to start the frame and is subsequently bunted to 2nd.
But Sakumoto flies out to left, and Sunagawa chases the changeup for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Nagashima continues his hot hitting! Hits a ball just fair down the right field line for a double. Maruyama bunts him over.
Suzuki grounder to 3rd, off Takara! It's right to Higa, but he has to go to 1st! Nagashima scores and it's 3-2 Kanto Dai-ichi!
Another error! Grounder to 2nd and it's off Naka's glove and into the air! Kuroda is safe and Kounan has to call time.
Tanabe strikes out for the 2nd time, but Kanto Dai-ichi retakes the lead.
Bottom 4th
Higa with a grounder to 3rd, and that's off of Maruyama and into foul territory! Higa going for 2nd! Maruyama throws and it's wide!!! Higa going for 3rd! Nagashima charging, throws to 3rd...
AND THEY GET HIM!!! Despite all the errors Maruyama made, Nagashima of all people bails him out with a strong throw to get a greedy Higa!
Top 5th
Ihashi with a one-out walk. And with 2 down Igarashi singles past a diving Higa.
And that brings up of all people, Nagashima.
Do you even pitch to this guy right now?
They do and he goes down swinging on a changeup! 3 out!
Bottom 5th
The bottom of the 5th goes very quickly and we hit the break with Kanto Dai-ichi holds a slim 3-2 lead! There's been mistakes on both sides as well as timely hitting. It'll be the team who can execute in the rain that will win this game.
Top 6th
Hiyane with his 8th K, tying up Maruyama in the process. Gets Suzuki too on a ball in the dirt.
Doesn't quite get the 3 Ks he did in the 1st inning, but Kuroda's groundout to 2nd will easily suffice.
Bottom 6th
Shiroma base hit to center puts the douten runner on. Sakumoto moves him to scoring position.
And now #16 Ninomiya hits for Sunagawa. But Tanabe sits him down on a fastball down and in!
With Takara's walk though it puts two runners on for Hiyane.
Grounder to 2nd... off Kuroda! He can't find it! Shiroma coming home!
No wait! He stops! But now he's caught in no-man's land! Kuroda fires to 3rd and they get him! Oh, man, that's 2 3rd outs at 3rd base...
Top 7th
This is interesting. #12 Katou is hitting for Tanabe! His day is done!
Okoye becomes Hiyane's 10th K en route to a clean frame.
Bottom 7th
It is #16 Kaneko who takes the hill.
One down and Naka continues to rake! Hits it by Kuroda for a single!
Hit-and-run!! Gushiken with a single through the right side and it's runners at the corners now! Kanto Dai-ichi calls time.
SQUEEZE!!!! The squeeze is on, but Kina fouls it back!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They go with the forkball and Suzuki somehow is able to catch the foul tip! 2 out!
Shiroma scorcher up 3rd base line.... FOUL!!! JUST FOUL!!!
But he won't be denied!! Shiroma liner... just out of the reach of a diving Itou!! Naka will score and we're all tied at 3-3! Sakumoto pops out thereafter, but we have a new ballgame!
Top 8th
Igarashi with a gapper to right center gets on with a 1-out double.
Nagashima with one right at Kina, but he blocks it and takes it himself for the second out.
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maruyama goes down swinging and Kounan will look to take the lead in the 8th!
Bottom 8th
But the bottom third of the order goes down with not so much as a whimper. Two flyouts to left and a K on Hiyane and just like that we're off to the 9th!
Top 9th
Problem is, we're in the next inning and Kanto Dai-ichi is only now sending up their 7-8-9 hitters!
One down, Kuroda singles to left. He's not stopping!!! Going for 2... and he somehow slides underneath the tag!!
Kaneko is all tied up and now there's 2 outs!
It's all up to Okoye now, but he's hitless on the day.
おおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおお！！！！！！！！！！！！！！
OKOYE ANNIHILATES THE BALL! HE LETS OUT A SCREAM!!!!!!!!!!! ISHIKAWA CAN ONLY RUN HELPLESSLY TO THE WALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He finally gets his first hit of the game, and boy is ever a big one!!!! He gives his team the 5-3 lead with just 3 outs to go!!
Bottom 9th
Kounan not done yet!!
Higa ball to deep left!! Ihashi to the foul pole, but it stays in the yard! Higa gets a leadoff double!
Naka reaches down and pops it up! Kaneko and Igarashi almost mess it up but Kaneko makes the catch!!
Gushiken fighting tooth and nail fouls of a couple of pitches.
Liner to left! THAT'S A BASE HIT!!! HIGA WILL SCORE AND IT'S 5-4!!!
Kanto Dai-ichi calls time!
Now Kina steps in, he's hitless on the day!
Grounder to short! Itou doesn't have Kuroda there! Has to take it himself! Gets the out at 2nd! Throw to 1st... HIGH!!!!
NOW IT'S SHIROMA UP FOR KOUNAN!!!
.Count goes to 1-2 after he swings over a slider!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE BALL GETS AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SASAKI THROWS TO 1ST!!!!!!!
OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kanto Dai-ichi holds on to defeat Kounan 5-4 behind the as clutch as you can get 2-run HR by Okoye!
Whoo.... I don't know what to say.
Showing posts with label Kounan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kounan. Show all posts
Monday, August 17, 2015
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Day 11, Game 4 - Toba (Kyoto) v Kounan (Okinawa)
Apologies, I didn't have enough time to get the pregame writeup done here. But Kounan is off a very mentally draining game against Iwamichisuikan to start the tournament. They won't see many nearly as many pitching changes in this game, but they will face an offense in Toba that like to get singles, and a lot of them.
Toba (Kyoto)
LF Tabuchi Kouichirou
3B Iwakiri Kaito
CF Ina Kasumi
1B Kozono Shinnosuke
C Umetani Seigo
SS Minami Musashi
2B Nakajima Kouhei
RF Miyanishi Jyunya
P Matsuo Daiki
Kounan (Okinawa)
SS Higa Tatsutoshi
2B Naka Hibiki
LF Gushiken Taiki
1B Kina Chouki
RF Ishikawa Ryou
C Sakumoto Kazuki
CF Sunagawa Kento
3B Ganaha Makoto
P Hiyane Masaya
____________________________________________________________
15:40 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Good start for Hiyane as he gets 2 quick groundouts before Ina flies out to right for a clean inning.
Bottom 1st
It's just as quick for Matsuo. He needs just 8 pitches to get 3 groundouts.
2nd Inning
More of the same for Kounan in the 2nd. Hiyane just needs 9 pitches to get another clean frame.
Same cannot be said for Toba as Nakajima airmails a throw on Kina's ground ball. Ishikawa singles to left and there's runners at the corners!
Ishikawa takes off for 2nd, but no throw! Toba looking for double steal perhaps?
And Sakumoto singles to center Kina comes home! Ishikawa waved around! Throw from Ina... On a line! Umetani with the tag... OUT!
Kounan tries for 2 runs, but a great throw from Ina gives them just 1!
Matsuo escapes the inning without any further damage, but Kounan is on the board.
Top 3rd
Hiyane's perfect game is gone, he hits Miyanishi with one down.
Now that they have a baserunner, they send him to 2nd! Miyanishi takes and steals the bag!
But Matsuo flies out to right.
Huh, and it's raining now. with 2 down.
Tabuchi with the safety bunt! Ganaha throw to 1st... not in time!
Tabuchi takes off for 2nd! With the bunt play no one was covering 2nd and Tabuchi takes it without a challenge! That's heads up by Tabuchi!
Iwakiri works the count full, and just does get the walk. It's manrui, but with 2 outs.
Hiyane trying to pound Ina inside, but he's missing and now behind 2-0.
Tries again, but Ina whips it back over Ganaha and down the left field line!! 2 runs will score and Toba has the 2-1 lead!
Kosono walks on 4 straight, and it's manrui again. This time though Umetani flies out to right and the side is retired.
Bottom 3rd
One down and Higa doubles to right center! Douten runner on for Naka, but he flies out to shallow left.
Matsuo leaves one over for Gushiken and he singles to left! But Higa has to hold at 3rd!
And that proves costly! Kina grounds to 3rd! Iwakiri with a strong throw to 1st gets the out! Side retired!
4th Inning
It was almost 3 up, 3 down for both sides but strangely with 2 outs and a Sunagawa grounder to 2nd, no one was at 1st to receive the throw.
Yet Kounan gives it right back to Toba as Sunagawa is caught stealing 2nd.
Top 5th
Matsuo a leadoff single for Toba. Tabuchi lays down the bunt, Kina crashes, throws to 2nd, but it's high and wide! Everyone's safe!!
Another bunt! Kina crashing again! But he can't field it cleanly! Has to go to 1st and the bunt succeeds!
And Ina gets his job done! He hits a fly to center that easily gets Matsuo home and it's 3-1 Toba!
Kozono strikes out, but the lead is extended!
Bottom 5th
#16 Ninomiya comes in to hit for Ganaha.
And Matsuo issues his first walk of the game to Ninomiya. Hiyane tries to lay down the bunt, but he three bunts his way to a K.
Higa shot to short, but Minami makes the leaping catch! Tries to double off Ninomiya, but the throw is short and gets by Kozono! Ninomiya takes 2nd!
Naka can't capitalize! He grounds to short and the side is retired! We head to the break with Toba having the lead over the Okinawan champs!
Top 6th
Umetani with a ball to the right side, Nakajima runs it down, but has no play at 1st. Minami bunts him over.
Nakajima working the count, takes a couple close pitches inside to run the count full, but can't hold off the last one for the K.
Miyanishi grounds to 1st, and strands Umetani at 2B.
Bottom 6th
I don't really understand. It seems like Kounan is averse to taking a walk. Up 3-1 on the count, Gushiken swings away and grounds out.
Ishikawa lines a ball to right center! That''ll go for extra bases! Kina holds at 3rd, but now a base hit can tie this game right up! Toba calls for time.
Sakumoto grounder to short! He looks at home and 3rd, but rifles to 1st and just gets Sakumoto out. One run scores though and its 3-2.
But Sunagawa can't drive in the douten run! He grounds to 2nd and the side is retired!
Top 7th
2 down and Iwakiri almost makes it a 4-2 ball game just pushing a ball foul down the left field line.
He then is patient enough to draw the walk. Though he later tries to steal 2nd and is thrown out.
Bottom 7th
Ninomiya with a drive to deep center! That's over Ina's head and to the wall! Douten runner on in scoring position!
Hiyane tries to bunt the runners over, but he bunts through the ball for the K.
Higa comes through with a single to center! The throw goes home and allows Higa to go to 2nd!
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They put on the squeeze but Naka bunts right through it! Ninomiya is run down and there 2 outs! Is Matsuo going to get out of this jam?
NO!
Naka drives the very next pitch to left and it'll go over the drawn in outfield! Naka makes it all the way to 3rd and we're tied at 3-3!!
Now Matsuo hits Gushiken! Now the question is, is Matsuo breaking down late?
Not yet! He gets Kina to chase the slider in the dirt and gets the 3rd out! But Matsuo needs to survive 2 more innings yet he's given up a run in each of the last 2!
Top 8th
Toba if nothing else likes to grind out ABs. Ina does so and draws a leadoff walk.
Kozono not bunting, but in a long AB with Hiyane.
Liner! Right to Ishikawa! Throws to 1st... they tag Ina for the double play!!
And with Umetani flying out to right Kounan gets the chance to take the lead!
Bottom 8th
Full count to Ishikawa and Matsuo leaves one up! Ishikawa singles past a diving Iwakiri for a base hit!
Sakumoto lays down the bunt, it stays fair! They make the tag but the ball comes out! However, it was after the tag, so the out stands. However, Ishikawa advances to 3rd on the play!
Sunagawa slices a ball to left! That falls in and Ishikawa scores! 4-3 Kounan!
Matsuo gets his final 2 outs, but the damage is done. Now they have just 3 outs to score a run of their own.
Top 9th
#14 Kawai to hit for Minami to start the 9th. But he flies out to right, 1 down.
Nakajima flies out to left, and there's 2 down.
Miyanishi flies out to center, and that's the ballgame! Kounan advanves with the 4-3 win at the end!
Toba (Kyoto)
LF Tabuchi Kouichirou
3B Iwakiri Kaito
CF Ina Kasumi
1B Kozono Shinnosuke
C Umetani Seigo
SS Minami Musashi
2B Nakajima Kouhei
RF Miyanishi Jyunya
P Matsuo Daiki
Kounan (Okinawa)
SS Higa Tatsutoshi
2B Naka Hibiki
LF Gushiken Taiki
1B Kina Chouki
RF Ishikawa Ryou
C Sakumoto Kazuki
CF Sunagawa Kento
3B Ganaha Makoto
P Hiyane Masaya
____________________________________________________________
15:40 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Good start for Hiyane as he gets 2 quick groundouts before Ina flies out to right for a clean inning.
Bottom 1st
It's just as quick for Matsuo. He needs just 8 pitches to get 3 groundouts.
2nd Inning
More of the same for Kounan in the 2nd. Hiyane just needs 9 pitches to get another clean frame.
Same cannot be said for Toba as Nakajima airmails a throw on Kina's ground ball. Ishikawa singles to left and there's runners at the corners!
Ishikawa takes off for 2nd, but no throw! Toba looking for double steal perhaps?
And Sakumoto singles to center Kina comes home! Ishikawa waved around! Throw from Ina... On a line! Umetani with the tag... OUT!
Kounan tries for 2 runs, but a great throw from Ina gives them just 1!
Matsuo escapes the inning without any further damage, but Kounan is on the board.
Top 3rd
Hiyane's perfect game is gone, he hits Miyanishi with one down.
Now that they have a baserunner, they send him to 2nd! Miyanishi takes and steals the bag!
But Matsuo flies out to right.
Huh, and it's raining now. with 2 down.
Tabuchi with the safety bunt! Ganaha throw to 1st... not in time!
Tabuchi takes off for 2nd! With the bunt play no one was covering 2nd and Tabuchi takes it without a challenge! That's heads up by Tabuchi!
Iwakiri works the count full, and just does get the walk. It's manrui, but with 2 outs.
Hiyane trying to pound Ina inside, but he's missing and now behind 2-0.
Tries again, but Ina whips it back over Ganaha and down the left field line!! 2 runs will score and Toba has the 2-1 lead!
Kosono walks on 4 straight, and it's manrui again. This time though Umetani flies out to right and the side is retired.
Bottom 3rd
One down and Higa doubles to right center! Douten runner on for Naka, but he flies out to shallow left.
Matsuo leaves one over for Gushiken and he singles to left! But Higa has to hold at 3rd!
And that proves costly! Kina grounds to 3rd! Iwakiri with a strong throw to 1st gets the out! Side retired!
4th Inning
It was almost 3 up, 3 down for both sides but strangely with 2 outs and a Sunagawa grounder to 2nd, no one was at 1st to receive the throw.
Yet Kounan gives it right back to Toba as Sunagawa is caught stealing 2nd.
Top 5th
Matsuo a leadoff single for Toba. Tabuchi lays down the bunt, Kina crashes, throws to 2nd, but it's high and wide! Everyone's safe!!
Another bunt! Kina crashing again! But he can't field it cleanly! Has to go to 1st and the bunt succeeds!
And Ina gets his job done! He hits a fly to center that easily gets Matsuo home and it's 3-1 Toba!
Kozono strikes out, but the lead is extended!
Bottom 5th
#16 Ninomiya comes in to hit for Ganaha.
And Matsuo issues his first walk of the game to Ninomiya. Hiyane tries to lay down the bunt, but he three bunts his way to a K.
Higa shot to short, but Minami makes the leaping catch! Tries to double off Ninomiya, but the throw is short and gets by Kozono! Ninomiya takes 2nd!
Naka can't capitalize! He grounds to short and the side is retired! We head to the break with Toba having the lead over the Okinawan champs!
Top 6th
Umetani with a ball to the right side, Nakajima runs it down, but has no play at 1st. Minami bunts him over.
Nakajima working the count, takes a couple close pitches inside to run the count full, but can't hold off the last one for the K.
Miyanishi grounds to 1st, and strands Umetani at 2B.
Bottom 6th
I don't really understand. It seems like Kounan is averse to taking a walk. Up 3-1 on the count, Gushiken swings away and grounds out.
Ishikawa lines a ball to right center! That''ll go for extra bases! Kina holds at 3rd, but now a base hit can tie this game right up! Toba calls for time.
Sakumoto grounder to short! He looks at home and 3rd, but rifles to 1st and just gets Sakumoto out. One run scores though and its 3-2.
But Sunagawa can't drive in the douten run! He grounds to 2nd and the side is retired!
Top 7th
2 down and Iwakiri almost makes it a 4-2 ball game just pushing a ball foul down the left field line.
He then is patient enough to draw the walk. Though he later tries to steal 2nd and is thrown out.
Bottom 7th
Ninomiya with a drive to deep center! That's over Ina's head and to the wall! Douten runner on in scoring position!
Hiyane tries to bunt the runners over, but he bunts through the ball for the K.
Higa comes through with a single to center! The throw goes home and allows Higa to go to 2nd!
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They put on the squeeze but Naka bunts right through it! Ninomiya is run down and there 2 outs! Is Matsuo going to get out of this jam?
NO!
Naka drives the very next pitch to left and it'll go over the drawn in outfield! Naka makes it all the way to 3rd and we're tied at 3-3!!
Now Matsuo hits Gushiken! Now the question is, is Matsuo breaking down late?
Not yet! He gets Kina to chase the slider in the dirt and gets the 3rd out! But Matsuo needs to survive 2 more innings yet he's given up a run in each of the last 2!
Top 8th
Toba if nothing else likes to grind out ABs. Ina does so and draws a leadoff walk.
Kozono not bunting, but in a long AB with Hiyane.
Liner! Right to Ishikawa! Throws to 1st... they tag Ina for the double play!!
And with Umetani flying out to right Kounan gets the chance to take the lead!
Bottom 8th
Full count to Ishikawa and Matsuo leaves one up! Ishikawa singles past a diving Iwakiri for a base hit!
Sakumoto lays down the bunt, it stays fair! They make the tag but the ball comes out! However, it was after the tag, so the out stands. However, Ishikawa advances to 3rd on the play!
Sunagawa slices a ball to left! That falls in and Ishikawa scores! 4-3 Kounan!
Matsuo gets his final 2 outs, but the damage is done. Now they have just 3 outs to score a run of their own.
Top 9th
#14 Kawai to hit for Minami to start the 9th. But he flies out to right, 1 down.
Nakajima flies out to left, and there's 2 down.
Miyanishi flies out to center, and that's the ballgame! Kounan advanves with the 4-3 win at the end!
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Day 6, Game 3 - Iwamichisuikan (Shimane) v Kounan (Okinawa)
This should be another game where a team is up against it. Kounan returns to Koushien having defeated Itoman and Okinawa Shougaku. They're not an offensively powered squad, so it'll be up to the pitching to hold serve. We've heard that story before.
Iwamichisuikan returns after defeating Risshoudai Shounan and Unfortunately no Kaisei to supllant the form.
Also both teams are batting rather poorly compared to other schools. This has the looks of a 1-0 game
Iwamichisuikan (Shimane)
LF Tanaka Masaki
2B Araki Yuusaku
3B Abe Kazuma
1B Izumi Yuutarou
RF Murakami Kouki
SS Kamino Daisuke
CF Suyama Eishi
C Fujiwara Ryouta
P Andou Ibuki (#18)
Kounan (Okinawa)
SS Higa Tatsutoshi
2B Naka Hibiki
LF Gushiken Taiki
1B Kina Chouki
RF Ishikawa Ryou
C Sakumoto Kazuki
CF Sunagawa Kento
3B Ganaha Makoto
P Hiyane Masaya
____________________________________________________________
14:05 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Leadoff runner on for Iwamichisuikan as Tanka singles to center. But Araki almsot grounds into a double play, and Ab actually does.
Bottom 1st
Shaky for Andou as Higa draws a walk. After a bunt, he walks Gushiken.
2 down for Ishikawa and he hits a slow chopper to the right side. Andou misses it and no one is in position to back it up! Higa scores on the defensive gaffe and Kounan leads 1-0!
Bottom 2nd
Sunagawa puts Kounan in position for another run when he bombs a ball off the fence in right for a triple.
Ganaha not squeezing, but strikes out.
SQUEEZE!!! Hiyane tries to lay down the squeeze but misses! Sunagawa is hung out to dry and there's 2 outs! Hiyane Ks and the great chance for Kounan is frittered away!
Bottom 3rd
After 3 straight walks with 2 outs, Tanaka comes in from LF to take the hill. Andou goes to CF, and Suyama to LF. And gets a flyout to right.
Bottom 4th
uh, everyone returns back to their positions. I think I've figured out the pitching changes. Tanaka comes in from LF when there's a pinch.
So when Sunagawa singles, and advances to 3rd on a hit-and-run with Higa, he enters the game, and get a foul fly to Abe.
Top 5th
Murakami with a ball to deep right. Off the wall! He's booking it around 2nd, and just gets into 3rd. Big chance to tie the game.
Kamino does it! Ball to left center and Sunagawa can't get to it!
Murakami scores and it's 1-1!
Unfortunately, Iwamichisuikan can't muster more than that as Fujiwara and Matsumoto fly out.
Bottom 5th
Once again Andou returns to the mound, and gives up 2 singles. And that is the official end of Andou. Tanaka takes over at P while #15 Matsumoto replaces Andou.
Ishikawa flies out to center, and that's deep enough to score Gushiken. Kounan retakes lead at 2-1 as we head to the break.
Rest of game
This game is literally taking forever because there is a pitching change every inning. Tanaka comes in from LF to take the mound, then returns to LF at the start of the next inning.
It works to some extent. Of the 11 inherited runners he has, 2 have scored.
In the top of the 8th, Tanaka is harmlessly hit with 2 out.
Araki follows that up with a single through the left side. Still 2 outs though.
And then out of nowhere. Abe drives a ball off the wall in left center, and what seemed like a game out of reach was not anymore because it is 4-3 with the douten runner in scoring position..
Then a wild pitch puts that run 90 feet away. Then Hiyane walk Izumi.
Then Hiyane releases another wild pitch and Abe walks home to tie the game?! It's 4-4?!
And now Murakami walks. And Ueno walks? Somehow we're manrui??
And #13 Hashi to hit for Suyama.
And he singles to right? One run scores, the second run is cut down at the plate.
So when this game seemed well in hand, it's completely reversed and now Iwamichisuikan leads 5-4?
Bottom 8th
New 3B Seo has the ball find him first up, from PH #16 Ninomiya no less, and it goes off of him for an error. He's natually bunted over.
And then after being warned sever times, Tanaka balks moving the douten runner 90 feet away.
Naka fly to center. Abe, having moved from 3B charges at the ball. PR Toguchi tags up! Throw home... Relay from Araki...
OUT!!! Somehow that throw gets there in time and Kounan is denied the douten run!
Bottom 9th
So will this strategy of Iwamichisuikan's actually work? They just have 3 outs left to go, but with the 3-4-5 batters up.
Gushiken's hard grounder eats up Kamino alive. Leadoff batter on as they're looking to bunt. #14 Takana comes to run for him. And the bunt is completed.
Ishikawa comes through! Base hit to right! Takana coming home... throw in.. SAFE!!! Kounan has tied the game!
And now Sakumoto bunts the sayonara runner into scoring position as #18 Shiroma come in to hit.
SINGLE TO LEFT! Throw home... LATE!!! Kounan has come back to win 6-5 at the very last!
I really don't know what to make of this game. Iwamichisuikan implemented a strategy I had considered if I ever became a kantoku myself (which is in la la land). And it almost worked. But I think they leaned on Tanaka too much and he fell apart at the end.
Which is a shame. It takes some mental fortitude to continuously be put into high leverage situations and get out of them. Tanaka did that when coming in "relief" during an inning. But pressed into full service it might have been too much.
Hey, I give credit to Suemitsu-kantoku to thinking out of the box. Not often you would see something like that where old traditions are hard to break. Just fell short here.
Iwamichisuikan returns after defeating Risshoudai Shounan and Unfortunately no Kaisei to supllant the form.
Also both teams are batting rather poorly compared to other schools. This has the looks of a 1-0 game
Iwamichisuikan (Shimane)
LF Tanaka Masaki
2B Araki Yuusaku
3B Abe Kazuma
1B Izumi Yuutarou
RF Murakami Kouki
SS Kamino Daisuke
CF Suyama Eishi
C Fujiwara Ryouta
P Andou Ibuki (#18)
Kounan (Okinawa)
SS Higa Tatsutoshi
2B Naka Hibiki
LF Gushiken Taiki
1B Kina Chouki
RF Ishikawa Ryou
C Sakumoto Kazuki
CF Sunagawa Kento
3B Ganaha Makoto
P Hiyane Masaya
____________________________________________________________
14:05 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Leadoff runner on for Iwamichisuikan as Tanka singles to center. But Araki almsot grounds into a double play, and Ab actually does.
Bottom 1st
Shaky for Andou as Higa draws a walk. After a bunt, he walks Gushiken.
2 down for Ishikawa and he hits a slow chopper to the right side. Andou misses it and no one is in position to back it up! Higa scores on the defensive gaffe and Kounan leads 1-0!
Bottom 2nd
Sunagawa puts Kounan in position for another run when he bombs a ball off the fence in right for a triple.
Ganaha not squeezing, but strikes out.
SQUEEZE!!! Hiyane tries to lay down the squeeze but misses! Sunagawa is hung out to dry and there's 2 outs! Hiyane Ks and the great chance for Kounan is frittered away!
Bottom 3rd
After 3 straight walks with 2 outs, Tanaka comes in from LF to take the hill. Andou goes to CF, and Suyama to LF. And gets a flyout to right.
Bottom 4th
uh, everyone returns back to their positions. I think I've figured out the pitching changes. Tanaka comes in from LF when there's a pinch.
So when Sunagawa singles, and advances to 3rd on a hit-and-run with Higa, he enters the game, and get a foul fly to Abe.
Top 5th
Murakami with a ball to deep right. Off the wall! He's booking it around 2nd, and just gets into 3rd. Big chance to tie the game.
Kamino does it! Ball to left center and Sunagawa can't get to it!
Murakami scores and it's 1-1!
Unfortunately, Iwamichisuikan can't muster more than that as Fujiwara and Matsumoto fly out.
Bottom 5th
Once again Andou returns to the mound, and gives up 2 singles. And that is the official end of Andou. Tanaka takes over at P while #15 Matsumoto replaces Andou.
Ishikawa flies out to center, and that's deep enough to score Gushiken. Kounan retakes lead at 2-1 as we head to the break.
Rest of game
This game is literally taking forever because there is a pitching change every inning. Tanaka comes in from LF to take the mound, then returns to LF at the start of the next inning.
It works to some extent. Of the 11 inherited runners he has, 2 have scored.
In the top of the 8th, Tanaka is harmlessly hit with 2 out.
Araki follows that up with a single through the left side. Still 2 outs though.
And then out of nowhere. Abe drives a ball off the wall in left center, and what seemed like a game out of reach was not anymore because it is 4-3 with the douten runner in scoring position..
Then a wild pitch puts that run 90 feet away. Then Hiyane walk Izumi.
Then Hiyane releases another wild pitch and Abe walks home to tie the game?! It's 4-4?!
And now Murakami walks. And Ueno walks? Somehow we're manrui??
And #13 Hashi to hit for Suyama.
And he singles to right? One run scores, the second run is cut down at the plate.
So when this game seemed well in hand, it's completely reversed and now Iwamichisuikan leads 5-4?
Bottom 8th
New 3B Seo has the ball find him first up, from PH #16 Ninomiya no less, and it goes off of him for an error. He's natually bunted over.
And then after being warned sever times, Tanaka balks moving the douten runner 90 feet away.
Naka fly to center. Abe, having moved from 3B charges at the ball. PR Toguchi tags up! Throw home... Relay from Araki...
OUT!!! Somehow that throw gets there in time and Kounan is denied the douten run!
Bottom 9th
So will this strategy of Iwamichisuikan's actually work? They just have 3 outs left to go, but with the 3-4-5 batters up.
Gushiken's hard grounder eats up Kamino alive. Leadoff batter on as they're looking to bunt. #14 Takana comes to run for him. And the bunt is completed.
Ishikawa comes through! Base hit to right! Takana coming home... throw in.. SAFE!!! Kounan has tied the game!
And now Sakumoto bunts the sayonara runner into scoring position as #18 Shiroma come in to hit.
SINGLE TO LEFT! Throw home... LATE!!! Kounan has come back to win 6-5 at the very last!
I really don't know what to make of this game. Iwamichisuikan implemented a strategy I had considered if I ever became a kantoku myself (which is in la la land). And it almost worked. But I think they leaned on Tanaka too much and he fell apart at the end.
Which is a shame. It takes some mental fortitude to continuously be put into high leverage situations and get out of them. Tanaka did that when coming in "relief" during an inning. But pressed into full service it might have been too much.
Hey, I give credit to Suemitsu-kantoku to thinking out of the box. Not often you would see something like that where old traditions are hard to break. Just fell short here.
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