Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima)
SS Itoda Tomoya
CF Sasaki Koudai
1B Wataya Itsuki
2B Itagoe Yuuki
C Itoda Takaya
LF Oitate Souki
Jyousou Gakuin (Ibaraki)
CF Suyama Yuuki
2B Arimura Kouta
3B Hanawa Naoki
1B Miyazato Toyota
P Suzuki Shouta
SS Nakamura Jin
LF Ishikawa Dai
RF Ara Masahiro
C Kimura Kentarou
2B Arimura Kouta
3B Hanawa Naoki
1B Miyazato Toyota
P Suzuki Shouta
SS Nakamura Jin
LF Ishikawa Dai
RF Ara Masahiro
C Kimura Kentarou
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13:10 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Suzuki supposedly has a slider, shuuto, 2 seam and curve and changeup. The fastball sits in the upper 130s.
He's definitely working around the zone, but the Kajitsu batters are at least working the counts. It's a clean inning with Sora the only one making good contact lining out to center. But it's 18 pitches in the 1st.
Bottom 1st
Suyama with a clean single to start affairs for Jyousou Gakuin. No bunt, but Arimura hits the ball to the right side on a hit-and-run, moving him along.
After a walk, Miyazato brings in a run with a single to right, already 1-0.
Suzuki with a ball to right center... but it's off Sasaki's glove! E8 and it's manrui!
Jin follows that up with a single past a diving Itagoe into right, and it's 2-0. Miayshita-kantoku calling time.
Top 2nd
Suzuki continues to rack up the pitch count as he cannot retire a batter quickly. Itagoe uses that to draw an 11-pitch walk with one down. Suzuki then hits Takaya on a pitch inside and Kajitsu is in business.
That is until Oitate hits one back to Suzuki and he starts the 1-6-3 double play.
Bottom 2nd
Maruyama much better in the 2nd. He does walk Suyama, but otherwise looks better than he did in the 1st inducing weak contact.
Top 3rd
Kajitsu continues to get chances. Arimura boots a ball allowing the leadoff batter to reach base. But despite a bunt to turn over the lineup, nothing materializes out of it...
Top 4th
Suzuki still struggling. He hits Sora after falling behind 3-0. Wataya bloops one just over an outstretched Arimura. Itagoe bunts them along, and it's a great chance for Kajitsu!
And Takaya delivers! It's a single through the left side! One run scores and we finally see flickers from the opposing team! 2-1!
Oitate with a clean single to right and that ties up the game! 2-2!
3 straight hits now as Yoshioka singles to left! Manrui!
But Maruyama hits one up the middle right to Jin! He spins, tags 2nd and throws to 1st for the 6-3 double play! Inning over, but the cracks are getting bigger!
Bottom 4th
Meanwhile, Maruyama has settled down. He's working the sides of the zone and jamming the Jyousou batters. He gets his 2nd 1-2-3 inning and keeps the momentum going.
Top 5th
Two down and a runner at 1st, and Watays crushes a ball to right center! Sasaki is able to hustle home and in a blink of an eye they have the 3-2 lead! It was only a single because I think Wataya thought it might be gone. Either that or he's really slow.
Bottom 5th
What seemed like another 1-2-3 inning was spoiled when Hanawa singled through the right side. And when Miyaato walked, you thought perhaps he might be spoiling his newfound lead. Instead, he gets a grounder to short and the 3rd out.
Kajitsu certainly has the lead and the advantage, but Maruyama can't let down his guard just yet.
Top 6th
Takaya strikes out as Suzuki records just his 2nd K, OH DEAR.
I amaze at that and then I see Oitate crush a ball! Ishikawa runs to the fence! Is it really! He gives up!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big problems now for Jyousou! 4-2 Kajitsu!
Bottom 6th
Jin trying to claw back free swings a single to right.
Ishikawa follows that with another soft single to left! Is Maruiyama wearing down? Ara almost gets a walk, but instead bunts the runners over.
Kimura on the first pitch, but it's a fly right to Oitate in left.
After falling behind to Suyama, they put him on and now #10, submariner Tanimura comes in.
Rising ball for the 1st strike. Working the bottom of the zone...
Arimura skies one! Kimura behind home makes the catch and Kajitsu is out of the pinch!!
Bottom 7th
It's not over yet though. Hanawa singles back up the middle.
Miyazato with a blooper to shallow center, and it falls in! But Hanawa wan't halfway and he's thrown out at 2nd!
But the walks that Tanimura had (~7/ 9 IP) are rearing their heads. He walks Suzuki and now runs the count full to Jin.
But no! Jin grounds to 2nd! Itagoe turns to 2nd for 1, throw from Tomoya... dug out by Wataya! 3 out and once again they're out of the jam!
Top 9th
Suzuki leaves the mound in mass changes. He goes to right while #10 Kashimura comes in for Ara to take the mound. #16 Noro comes in for Yoshinari to play LF and #12 Suzuki comes in at C.
Things seemingly going downhill fast. Leadoff walk and back-to-back wild pitches.
Tomoya with a squeeze bunt, but goes foul!
He does it again on a pitch way high and somehow pops it into no-man's land! He gets the run home and it's 5-2!
It does go downhill, Sasaki's single to right is overrun by Suzuki and allows him to reach 3rd. Sora singles through the left side, making it 6-2.
Bottom 9th
Those insurance runs pretty much settle affairs. Outside of a double by Hanawa, Jyousou Gakuin goes quietly in the 9th and falls 6-2.
Suzuki never looked comfortable on the mound and Kajitsu's batters continuously ran the count high, putting him in high stress situations. He eventually cracked, and the offense couldn't do anything against a pair of pitchers who on paper seemed vulnerable.
He's definitely working around the zone, but the Kajitsu batters are at least working the counts. It's a clean inning with Sora the only one making good contact lining out to center. But it's 18 pitches in the 1st.
Bottom 1st
Suyama with a clean single to start affairs for Jyousou Gakuin. No bunt, but Arimura hits the ball to the right side on a hit-and-run, moving him along.
After a walk, Miyazato brings in a run with a single to right, already 1-0.
Suzuki with a ball to right center... but it's off Sasaki's glove! E8 and it's manrui!
Jin follows that up with a single past a diving Itagoe into right, and it's 2-0. Miayshita-kantoku calling time.
Top 2nd
Suzuki continues to rack up the pitch count as he cannot retire a batter quickly. Itagoe uses that to draw an 11-pitch walk with one down. Suzuki then hits Takaya on a pitch inside and Kajitsu is in business.
That is until Oitate hits one back to Suzuki and he starts the 1-6-3 double play.
Bottom 2nd
Maruyama much better in the 2nd. He does walk Suyama, but otherwise looks better than he did in the 1st inducing weak contact.
Top 3rd
Kajitsu continues to get chances. Arimura boots a ball allowing the leadoff batter to reach base. But despite a bunt to turn over the lineup, nothing materializes out of it...
Top 4th
Suzuki still struggling. He hits Sora after falling behind 3-0. Wataya bloops one just over an outstretched Arimura. Itagoe bunts them along, and it's a great chance for Kajitsu!
And Takaya delivers! It's a single through the left side! One run scores and we finally see flickers from the opposing team! 2-1!
Oitate with a clean single to right and that ties up the game! 2-2!
3 straight hits now as Yoshioka singles to left! Manrui!
But Maruyama hits one up the middle right to Jin! He spins, tags 2nd and throws to 1st for the 6-3 double play! Inning over, but the cracks are getting bigger!
Bottom 4th
Meanwhile, Maruyama has settled down. He's working the sides of the zone and jamming the Jyousou batters. He gets his 2nd 1-2-3 inning and keeps the momentum going.
Top 5th
Two down and a runner at 1st, and Watays crushes a ball to right center! Sasaki is able to hustle home and in a blink of an eye they have the 3-2 lead! It was only a single because I think Wataya thought it might be gone. Either that or he's really slow.
Bottom 5th
What seemed like another 1-2-3 inning was spoiled when Hanawa singled through the right side. And when Miyaato walked, you thought perhaps he might be spoiling his newfound lead. Instead, he gets a grounder to short and the 3rd out.
Kajitsu certainly has the lead and the advantage, but Maruyama can't let down his guard just yet.
Top 6th
Takaya strikes out as Suzuki records just his 2nd K, OH DEAR.
I amaze at that and then I see Oitate crush a ball! Ishikawa runs to the fence! Is it really! He gives up!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big problems now for Jyousou! 4-2 Kajitsu!
Bottom 6th
Jin trying to claw back free swings a single to right.
Ishikawa follows that with another soft single to left! Is Maruiyama wearing down? Ara almost gets a walk, but instead bunts the runners over.
Kimura on the first pitch, but it's a fly right to Oitate in left.
After falling behind to Suyama, they put him on and now #10, submariner Tanimura comes in.
Rising ball for the 1st strike. Working the bottom of the zone...
Arimura skies one! Kimura behind home makes the catch and Kajitsu is out of the pinch!!
Bottom 7th
It's not over yet though. Hanawa singles back up the middle.
Miyazato with a blooper to shallow center, and it falls in! But Hanawa wan't halfway and he's thrown out at 2nd!
But the walks that Tanimura had (~7/ 9 IP) are rearing their heads. He walks Suzuki and now runs the count full to Jin.
But no! Jin grounds to 2nd! Itagoe turns to 2nd for 1, throw from Tomoya... dug out by Wataya! 3 out and once again they're out of the jam!
Top 9th
Suzuki leaves the mound in mass changes. He goes to right while #10 Kashimura comes in for Ara to take the mound. #16 Noro comes in for Yoshinari to play LF and #12 Suzuki comes in at C.
Things seemingly going downhill fast. Leadoff walk and back-to-back wild pitches.
Tomoya with a squeeze bunt, but goes foul!
He does it again on a pitch way high and somehow pops it into no-man's land! He gets the run home and it's 5-2!
It does go downhill, Sasaki's single to right is overrun by Suzuki and allows him to reach 3rd. Sora singles through the left side, making it 6-2.
Bottom 9th
Those insurance runs pretty much settle affairs. Outside of a double by Hanawa, Jyousou Gakuin goes quietly in the 9th and falls 6-2.
Suzuki never looked comfortable on the mound and Kajitsu's batters continuously ran the count high, putting him in high stress situations. He eventually cracked, and the offense couldn't do anything against a pair of pitchers who on paper seemed vulnerable.