高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

With Day 8 settled, the next 6 games will determine who gets to play in Day 9. While there are some strong teams in this bunch, I think there are opportunities to be had - as long as you draw right.

Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
2B Sugimura Hiroyoshi (杉村 泰嘉)
LF Toyooka Takato (豊岡 稜人)
RF Kitatani Shougo (北谷 奨吾)
1B Ogawa Toranosuke (小河 虎之介)
C Furumoto Kouki (古本 幸希)
3B Kogawa Tomoya (古川 智也)
CF Kawauchi Kyouei (河内 恭英)
P Hori Mizuki (堀 瑞輝)
SS Tanaka Ryouta (田中 亮太)

Kanto Dai-ichi (Higashi Tokyo)
RF (17)Sugaya Keisuke (菅谷 圭祐)
3B Yamakawa Shinta (山川 新太)
LF Yoneda Katsuya (米田 克也)
C Satou Yuusuke (佐藤 佑亮)
1B Ishibashi Kouta (石橋 康太)
SS Murase Yuuto (村瀬 佑斗)
2B Morikawa Youhei (森川 瑶平)
CF Motohashi Keito (本橋 慶人)
P Satou Shouma (佐藤 奨真)

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08:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Sugimura gets things off to a rousing start with a base hit to center and a subsequent steal.

But after a sac bunt, Satou shuts things down with a strikeout of Kitatani on a ball down and in, and a comebacker from Ogawa.

Bottom 1st
Kanto Dai-ichi also getting an early scoring chance. Yamakawa draws a one-out walk before Yoneda hits a single back up the middle.

Yuusuke though forgets he's playing baseball, and golfs a ball high into the air where Sugimura can camp under it for the catch.

But Ishibashi hits another ball back up the middle and Yamakawa comes in without a throw to make it 1-0 Kanto Dai-ichi.

Top 2nd
Again, Hiroshima Shinjyou with a leadoff runner on as Furumoto gets hit. But after a sac bunt, they can do little with it as both Kawauchi and Mori chase balls out of the zone and make poor contact.

Bottom 2nd
Meanwhile, issues still abound for Hori.

He gives up a one-out walk, and on the sac bunt Kogawa sails the throw high. It's stopped, but Ogawa can't secure it coming down.

Still he almost gets a inning-ending double play before striking out Yamakawa to end the frame.

Top 3rd
Satou Shouma seems to be doing enough to keep the batters off the basepaths. Doesn't throw hard, doesn't quite hit his locations, but doesn't make bad misses.

He racks up 2 Ks in the 3rd as the Hiroshima Shinjyou batters still seem unable to figure him out.

Bottom 3rd
Hori managing the game as well, and while he does hit Ishibashi, he gets 3 routine ground balls to keep the game in check.

Top 4th
Kitatani gets on base thanks to a high throw from Murase. It's their 3rd leadoff runner so far, but nothing to show for it.

Ogawa can't lay down the bunt, then just waves under a low fastball for the 1st out.

Furumoto chases a slider for the 2nd out, and Kogawa grounds to 2nd. The Hiroshima Shinjyou offense looking rather dead right now.

Bottom 4th
Kanto Dai-ichi also perhaps looking to get their offense going, has Shouma bunting with a runner on and one out. Except that the 3B crashes in and initiates the 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Top 5th
One down and Hori laces a double down the left field line. Tanaka tries to get a base hit up the middle, but Morikawa chases it down and throws to 1st for the 2nd out. Douten run 90 feet away, but 2 outs.

Sugimura first pitch swinging, hits a ball to the right side, and out of Morikawa's reach! Hori scores and we're tied at 1-1! That's all they get, but it's a new ballgame!

Bottom 5th
Yamakawa tries to give his team back the lead driving a slider down and away to the right centerfield gap for a triple.

It's a great scoring chance, as the 3-4-5 batters step in.

Yoneda hard shot to 3rd, Kogawa has it, and goes home! Yamakawa wasn't committing to go either way and is run down! Yoneda reaches 2nd on the rundown, but Kanto Dai-ichi just went backwards 90 feet.

Hori wants nothing to do with Yuusuke it seems and gives him a free pass.

But it backfires! Ishibashi with a single to right! Yoneda being waved around, throw coming in from Kitatani... and they get him!

Yoneda tries to go outside for the slide, but the throw from Kitatani is just too good! 3 outs!

That play certainly will give Hiroshima Shinjyou some momentum to build on going into the break, but they'll need their offence to click up a tick to two.

Top 6th
Well, that was an uninspiring effort there by Hiroshima Shinjyou. swinging away from the get go into 3 quick groundouts.

Bottom 6th-Top 7th
The game seemingly takes on a "meh" feeling as both teams struggle at the plate. And it's not really because the pitching is really good either. There more than a few balls in the dirt that are being swung at and pitchers aren't necessarily hitting the glove either.

8th-9th Innings
The game as it enters the final stages of regulation enters a processional where the teams slowly reach enchousen. Batters are perhaps pressing to get a base hit, and very little ends up happening.

Such is the case as not only are they pressing at the plate, but on the basepaths. Including the 7th both sides have run themselves out at 2nd 3 times and twice for Hiroshima to actually end the inning.

And as Kanto Dai-ichi is quietly retired in order in the 9th we head to enchousen.

Top 10th
1 down and Tanaka draws a walk.

But then Yonezawa-kantoku relieves Shouma! #11 Takei comes in relief despite Shouma not really struggling at all! That's unheard of that a kantoku would relieve a supposedly "good" pitcher who is not struggling.

Now, if he's saving him for future games and limiting how much of the tank he uses, it makes sense. but it's a strategy not implemented in most teams.

But Takei walks Sugimura and you know if Kanto Dai-ichi lose here he;ll be questioned.

Toyooka tries waiting Takei out, and despite falling behind 1-2 fills up the count, and the 3rd ball was a slider that just missed the bottom of the zone.

But Takei wins the battle, tying up Toyooka on a fastball down and in for the 2nd out!

Kitatani pops out and it's game on for Kanto Dai-ichi!

Bottom 10th
Well, if Hori would let them anyways.

The 9-1-2 batters for Kanto Dai-ichi are retired faster than... well, they're retired quickly.

Top 11th
Things are getting so bad that after Hiroshima Shinjyou draws a walk with 1 down, they bunt the runner over for a 1-timer. But Kawauchi grounds to 2nd and that's that.

Bottom 11th
It was going to be a 1-2-3 inning, but Miyamoto wasted that with a single back up the middle.

And he takes off for 2nd! The throw isn't in time, and the first stolen base for Kanto Dai-ichi puts the sayonara run in scoring position!

But Hori squashes that by blowing a 141 kph fastball by Murase for the 3rd out!

Top 12th
One down and a routine grounder from Tanaka takes a low hop on Murase forcing a late correction and no play at 1st.

After that Sugimura holds off on two consecutive pitches to draw a walk.

Tomooka stands in, and he draws a walk as well! Manrui with 1 down!

Yonezawa-kantoku calls for time. Will Kitatani see if Takei continues to struggle?

No! He swings and lifts a ball to center! Tanaka tagging, throw home..  not in time!! Hiroshima Shinjyou has the 2-1 lead!

Bottom 12th
Does Kanto Dai-ichi have any answer for Hori?

No! Hori in fact strikes out the last 2 batters on a letter-high fastball away and Hiroshima Shinjyou is on to the next round!

Interestingly the focus will probably turn to why Satou was relieved in the 9th. He wasn't struggling despite walking his last batter, and Takei would walk 2 in the 12th that led to the loss. But if Yonezawa-kantoku is trying to save arms, then I think it's a landmark move. If  he did it because he had a quick hook, well... then you might question him (even though his pitch count was high).

For Hori, he certainly managed the game well after perhaps struggling a bit early on. He settled into a rhythm that Kanto Dai-ichi was unable to break.

Our next game may highlight a pitcher who may be major league material. Touhou's Fujishima Kento put in yeoman's work, pitching in 14 of their 17 games. Through that he managed to maintain a K rate close to 1/inning. While one could argue that it was against weaker opposition, his rates didn't really dip that much as they progressed nor did he issue free passes.

He gets to face a Kanto Dai-ichi team that seemed to avoid all the potential mines in the Tokyo field having only to face Teikyou (who has really faded to the 3rd tier of above average teams as of late), and their true rival Nishogakushadai Fuzoku. The offense was steady throughout, but the lighter than normal Tokyo schedule plus the loss to Sapporo Dai-ichi basically on home turf is a query.

Kanto Dai-ichi's pitching staff isn't all that great either. As a whole, the team gives up way too many baserunners for their own good, both via hits and the free pass. Touhou's offensive numbers are almost solid 1-9, and 17 games despite weaker competition should mean something if only that they can take care of the teams they should.

When there's a pairing where it seems equal strengths when matched up, I would go with the better pitching staff, which favors Touhou.

Well, this iteration of a rare rivalry in Tokyo has gone the way of the boys from Kanto Dai-ichi, having defeated Nishogakushadai Fuzoku 4-3 in a wild finish. Just to let you know how amazing this is, here are the times these two teams have played when the chips are on the line (heck, I didn't even realize it went this far!):

• 2006 Summer Qualifying - 4th Round - 8-9 after Nishogakushadai Fuzoku scores 6 runs late to overtake.
• 2007 Summer Qualifying - 3rd Round - 14x-7 (7 inn) - After falling behind 7-1, they score 13 unanswered to call the game early.
• 2008 Summer Qualifying - Semifinals - 7-2 - Their dominance continues after slowly pulling away to a 4-0 lead, conceding the 2 runs late.
• 2011 Summer Qualifying - Semifinals - 7x-0 (7 inn) - Nishogakushadai Fuzoku reloads, but the results are the same, scoreless through 4, but Kanto Dai-ichi pulls away afterwards.
• 2013 Summer Qualifying - Semifinals - 1-8x (8 inn) - This time Nishogakushadai Fuzoku finally exacts their revenge, pulling the same game that Kanto Dai-ichi did in 2008 - take the lead early, extend it, yield a late run, but win early.
• 2013 Fall Qualifying - Finals - 7x-6 (10 inn) - Oddly the first time they would play in the fall (but not the last). Kanto Dai-ichi tried to slowly inch away like they've done in years past, but Nishogakushadai Fuzoku would have none of it, scoring 4 unanswered to tie the game. But it would be for naught as they would lose in the first frame of extras. Nishogakushadai Fuzoku would get snubbed for Yokohama when they shouldn't have.
• 2014 Fall Qualifying - Semifinals - 5-6 (11 inn) - This was when finally Nishogakushadai Fuzoku made this a real rivalry, coming back the next year, trading punch-for punch with Kanto Dai-ichi, and this time prevailing in extras. While they would be the runner-up yet again, they would get the invite.
• 2015 Fall Qualifying - Finals - 4-3 - Kanto Dai-ichi pulls it out late with 2 runs in the 8th and 9th innings against ace Ooe to claim the title and perhaps deny Nishogakushadai Fuzoku a spot at senbatsu.

So who will play X in the finals?

Will it be Toukaidai Sagami who had their biggest test last time out against Hanasaki Tokuharu? Or will it be Kanto Dai-ichi who has survived 3 close, and yet vastly different, ballgames?

In that game for Toukaidai Sagami, it wasn't until late, and with some help from the defense of Hanasaki Tokuharu that they were able to win. Outside of that 9th inning, they had 5 times when they had runners in scoring position, and converted twice and the on e in the 8th wouldn't have scored if the pitcher wasn't called for a balk.

Their offense literally lives and dies by the middle of the lineup, which was 19/33 in the last 2 games. The 8-9-1-2 batters were 2/30.

Kanto Dai-ichi lives at the top of the lineup. And from their games so far, can play any type of game that is needed and hang in there.

Kanto Dai-ichi (Higashi Tokyo)
CF Okoye Rui
3B Ihashi Toshiki
SS Itou Masato
1B Igarashi Yuuki
RF Nagashima Ryouma
2B Kuroda Shunta
LF Moriyama
C Suzuki Daichi
P Abe Takeshi (#10)

Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
2B Chino Keijirou
CF Miyaji Kyouhei
SS Sugisaki Shigeki
RF Toyoda Hiroshi
1B Isoami Eito
C Nagakura Ren
LF Takeuchi Daiki
3B Kawaji Seitarou
P Yoshida Ryou (#11)

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13:22 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Well, much like last game, Okoye struggles in his first AB, succumbing to the slider in front of the plate.

Ihashi also goes down swinging.

But Itou draws a full count walk to keep the inning going...

That is, until he's caught stealing 2nd.

Bottom 1st
Chino first pitch swings, and lines a single to left.

Miyaji not bunting, lines a ball over Ihashi down the left field line! Chino given the green light around 3rd, and there's no throw! 1-0 Sagami just like that!

Make that 2-0! Sugisaki lines a ball down the right field line this time for another double!

Oh dear...

Toyoda hits a ball to deep left, that's going... going...

HAITAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tokaidai Sagami off to a dream start! It's now 4-0!

Isoami down the right field line again!! He's in with a double!

Now Abe is broken. He walks Nagakura, and Yonezawa-kantoku's seen enough. #16 Kaneko enters the game.

Top 2nd
Nagashima tries to start the long road back with a one out single back up the middle. They go for the hit-and-run, which saves Nagashima as he beats out Yoshida's throw to 2nd.

Moriyama gets plunked in the inner arm and is down for a little while. Seems ok now.

Suzuki flies out to center and the inning is over.

Bottom 2nd
While Chino gets his 2nd base hit of the game, and in as many innings, they go for the bunt.

With 2 down, it looks like Kanto Dai-ichi is going to get out of it, until Itou's pickof the ball goes off his glove and up his arm instead. It goes in the air and Chino can score making it 5-0.

The inning ends when Moriyama makes a leaping catch sprinting back to the wall on a ball hit by Isoami.

3rd Inning
Kaneko gets a base hit to lead off the 3rd, bit while there is no bunting, none of the top 3 of Kanto's lineup can do anything.

Kaneko is shutting things down on his end, but the offense needs to get going and quick.

4th Inning
Igarashi leads off with another base hit, and is moved over to 3rd with 2 outs.

Moriyama draws a walk, but Suzuki grounds out to 3rd to end the inning.

Meanwhile, Chino gets his 3rd hit of the game - all singles. 2 down and Sugisaki gets his 2nd double, somehow getting it past Sugisaki and again down the right field line.

Kuroda though is fooled and has to reach out to make contact. Flyball to center and Okoye has it for the 3rd out.

5th Inning
Kaneko gets a base hit to start the inning. But after he's moved to 2nd, Kanto Dai-ichi looks to hve gotten a break when Yoshida-Isoami-Chino all converge on a bunt by Isoami. With no play, Isoami fires to 3rd and they get Kaneko out at 3rd.

Isoami gets thrown out trying to steal 2nd, and Kanto Dai-ichi looks done.

Isoami got a single back up the middle. Nagakura bunts, and Ihashi throws the ball high. E5, runners at corners.

Another sac bunt, Yoshida gets to it, sees the runner isn't coming home, tries to fire to 1st, but that's off line too.

Kawaji singles through the right side, 7-0 and Yoshida hands the ball off to #11 Komatsubara. He quickly gets 2 outs, including Chino for the first time this game.

But now Miyaji gets his 2nd hit, and scores 2 more. 9-0.

6th Inning
Kanto Dai-ichi gets a chance to break the shutout, but with runners on 1st and 2nd, Moriyama can't pull the trigger on a slider and the side is retired.

Moriyama guesses wrong on a fly ball by Sugisaki an it falls just fair for a double. 2 flyballs later and it's 10-0.

Rest of game
In the 7th Kanto Dai-ichi as a 2-out single by Okoye comes around to score on a double by Itou. 10-1.

With Yoshida at 130+ pitches, ace Ogasawara takes the hill in the 8th.

And things aren't going as planned. Despite hitting 147, he gives up singles to Nagashima and Kuroda. After a K, Suzuki hits a ball back up the middle. Sugisaki makes the diving stop, finds no play at 1st, goes to 3rd. Kuroda is hung up, so he goes for home. The rundown breaks down immediately as Kuroda passes Nagakura and scores! 10-3.

Ogasawara does get the final 2 outs, but the performance this inning is concerning. I think Toukaidai Sagami's pitching is in trouble tomorrow.

Kanto Dai-ichi continues to get solid contact against Ogasawara, but it's more than too late for Kanto Dai-ichi as the game ends at that score. Still, for Kanto Dai-ichi it's an impressive run given the games they had to play - even though in the end they fell short.

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

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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.

The lunchtime game features 2 well-known schools who both have flaws of their own.

Kanto Dai-ichi's only game slightly reminded me of that non-sensical game between Sendai Ikuei and Urawa Gakuin. Only here it was a bit more ordered.

Kanto Dai-ichi had broken open the game against Takaoka Shougyou turning a 1-0 lead into 8-0. But the very next half inning, they gave all 7 runs back. They then lost the lead, regained it back, lost it again before reclaiming it for the final time at 12-10. The teams combined for 28 hits, 8 of which were extra bases and 3 of those were of the HR variety.

So needless to say there are concerns about the pitching staff, and if you have problems there I wish you godspeed sir.

As for Chuukyoudai Chuukyou, their last game against Kagoshima Jitsugyou was not decided until the late stages when they scored 6 runs after the break to pull away for a 7-4 win. Ueno is doing just enough to keep his team ahead, and if he can continue doing that they could be a contender after all. That's a big if though, and the question is if Kanto Dai-ichi is good enough to mitigate that.

Chuukyoudai Chuukyou (Aichi)
LF Kawada Kouhei
2B Katou Daiki
CF Nakamura Kento
C Itou Hiroshi
1B Yatazaki Akedo
SS Satou Yuuki
3B Sugimoto Isamu
RF Naitou Ryousuke
P Ueno Shoutarou

Kanto Dai-ichi (Higashi Tokyo)
CF Okoye Rui
3B Ihashi Toshiki
SS Itou Masato
1B Igarashi Yuuki
RF Nagashima Ryouma
LF Moriyama Shou
C Suzuki Daichi
2B Kuroda Shunta
P Abe Takeshi (#10)

____________________________________________________________

10:45 - First pitch!

Top 1st
One down and Katou singles though the right side. 2 down, and a ptich that was supposed to be outside Itou makes contact with and sends it the other way for a base hit! Runners at the corners!

Kanto Dai-ichi in a lot of trouble now! Yatazaki draws a walk and it's manrui!

Bottom 1st
Kanto Dai-ichi's half is unfortunately not as exciting. Itou draws a 2-out walk, and then is caught badly when trying to steal 2nd.

Top 2nd
One out single for Naitou as Ueno moves him to 2nd with a slow chopper to short. Abe puts himself into another pinch walking Kawada, as the lineup moves closer to the heart.

He falls behind Katou 3-1 too, but gets him to pop up to Ihashi for the 3rd out.

Bottom 2nd
Igarashi draws a leadoff walk, but when Nagashima tries to lay down the bunt Yatazaki spin throws to 2nd and cuts the lead runner down.

Moriyama and Suzuki both hit good fly balls, but they're easy plays to end the inning.

Top 3rd
Yatazaki gets a 2-out single, but otherwise the batters for Chuukyoudai Chuukyou not really squaring up Abe right now.

Bottom 3rd
Looks like we might be settling in for the long haul now. Ueno retires the 8-9-1 batters in order, and while he's not getting as much attention Okoye is getting quite a bit.

Top 4th
Abe leaves one over the plate when it was wanted inside and Naitou gets his 2nd hit in as many ABs.

Ueno with a single of his own to center and they look to threaten again.

Kawada flies out to right, but that does allow Naitou to reach 3rd.

Abe gets Katou swinging to end the inning and we remain scoreless.

Bottom 4th
Unfortunately Kanto Dai-ichi is unable to make such headway. First pitch out for Ihashi and Itou, and Igarashi can only watch strike 3 on the outside corner.

Top 5th
Pitching change for Kanto Dai-ichi as #16 Kaneko enters the game.

Good start as he gets Nakamura on a slider.

2 down and Yatazaki with a slow grounder to short, but Itou misses the ball for some reason.

The error doesn't hurt as Itou tries to steal 2nd, but is out by a country mile.

Bottom 5th
Ueno holds serve as he gets his 3rd consecutive 1-2-3 inning. We head to the break scoreless with opportunities at a premium.

Top 6th
One down and Sugimoto makes a bid for a base hit to right center, but Okoye runs it down en route to another clean inning.

Bottom 6th
Kuroda gets Kanto Dai-ichi's first hit, a single to center. Kaneko moves him along.

Okoye goes down swinging on a changeup so it'll be up to Ihashi.

Ihashi with a foul fly. Sugimoto stops next to the camera well, reaches over... falls in...

Has the catch!!

Top 7th
Ueno with his 2nd hit of the game, a single to right. Kawano tries to bunt him along, but Kaneko crashes on the ball and spin fire to 3rd, and they get Ueno!

Katou and Nakamura are retired thereafter and the game remains scoreless.

Bottom 7th
Now Kanto Dai-ichi gets a leadoff runner of their own! Itou singles through the left side! He's bunted over and Chuuukyoudai Chuukyou calls for time.

Nagashima with a check swing chopper up the middle. Satou waits for it, fires to 1st, but it's not in time! Nagashima dives in safely and it's a big chance for Kanto Dai-ichi!

Moriyama with a fly to center! Nakamura charging, makes the catch! Itou going home, no! He goes back and now there are 2 outs!

Suzuki in a prolonged AB, fouling off pitches hoping to find one to get the timely hit. Eventually he works the count full after falling behind 1-2.

SANSHIN!!!!!

Ueno lets out a scream after he gets Suzuki on a high fastball and the side is retired!!

Top 8th
Kaneko hits Itou in the back to start the inning. Chuukyoudai Chuukyou has a chance here to get a ru in.

Yatazaki with the bunt, but it's too short again! Suzuki up and fires to 2nd and they get the runner!

They lay down the bunt again, and while it works, they are playing for the one-timer. Though one tim may be all they need.

Sugimoto clean single through the left side! Moriyama with it and makes the throw in. Yatazaki holds up at 3rd. Kanto Dai-ichi calls for time.

UH OH! Kaneko hits Naitou and it's manrui for Ueno!

Ueno grounder to 3rd! Igarashi with it! He picks it up and races Sugimoto to the bag! He gets there! 3 out!!!

Oh man, that race to 3rd...

Bottom 8th
2 down for Okoye and he grounds to short. Itou with the throw, but it's not in time to defeat a diving Okoye! (He could easily run through the bag...). Chuukyoudai Chuukyou calls time.

Ihashi draws a 4-pitch walk! That moves Okoye to 2nd as Itou steps in!

But he flies out to right and we're onto the 9th!

Top 9th
Nakamura gets on with 2 outs as Ihashi's throw is just off line.

Itou takes a close 3-2 pitch and walks! Now the go ahead run is at 2nd as Kanto Dai-ichi calls for time.

Grounder to 1st! Off Igarashi! He runs it to the bag... 3 out!

Bottom 9th
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NAGASHIMA DRIVES THE FIRST PITCH TO LEFT! YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KANTO DAI-ICHI WINS IT WITH A SAYONARA HR 1-0!!!!

Where did that come from??? How did that happen after how this game played out?? I'm speechless, but not as much as Ueno is standing there on the mound.

I mean literally, that sucks. Fighting tooth and nail every inning, just hoping to get a runner in scoring position, and yet the game ends on a HR. Ueno is inconsolable. And rightly so. It feels unfair. It probably is unfair. Give him somewhere where he gives up a couple of hits and walked off, that's fine. But a HR? You're asking if it is a joke of some sort.

*whoo*.. I need some air.

This matchup on paper looks like a one-sided affair. About the only saving grace for Takaoka Shougyou is that Kanto Dai-ichi's only key win was an 8-3 over a Teikyou team that has not been able to get back to the days of the 2000s. Still, it is Tokyo, so there's not much you can discount.

Takaoka Shougyou did defeat Toyama Shougyou and Shin0minato, so at least they were tested coming into this Koushien. An average of 0.301 though is not a good sign.

Takaoka Shougyou (Toyama)
RF Ishiguro Taku
SS Komagata Kouki
3B Tagoshi Yoshifumi
C Horiuchi Takuya
1B Yoshikuni Makoto
2B Nakagawa Makoto
LF Kitada Ryuuji
P Hayashi Youta
CF Takahashi Kazuma

Kanto Dai-ichi (Higashi Tokyo)
CF Okoye Rui
3B Ihashi Toshiki
SS Itou Masato
1B Igarashi Yuuki
RF Nagashima Ryouma
C Suzuki Daichi
2B Kuroda Shunta
LF Moriyama Shou
P Abe Takeshi (#10)

____________________________________________________________

10:50 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Abe not off to a great start, walks Ishiguro to start the game, but is bailed out when Komagata lines out to 2nd, doubling off Ishiguro.

But then he comes back and walks Tagoshi. Gets Horiuchi to fly out. but not exactly a clean start for the Higashi Tokyo champs.

Bottom 1st
Okoye with a shot off of Yohsikuni! The ball goes into foul territory and Okoye just motors to 2nd! Throw in, not in time! Wow.

And now Hayashi throws to 2nd with no one covering! Okoye advances to 3rd!

Hayashi saves one out as He gets Ihashi to swing and miss on a ball inside.

But he can't stop Itou! Clean single through the left side and it's 1-0!

And it's a very awkward caught stealing when the throw from Horiuchi is wide, but Nakagawa lunges and supposedly makes the tag!

Hayashi limits the damage after that, but they'll have to play from behind now.

Top 3rd
Takaoka Shougyou still without a hit, but Ishiguro draws his 2nd walk and the team's 3rd. But without a hit, there's little they can do.

Bottom 3rd
Okoye up to lead an inning and he booms one to right for a leadoff triple! Igarashi walks, oh dear...

Well, that got out of hand in a hurry...

Itou with a no doubt HR to left. It's now 4-0 and now things seem to be unraveling.

Igarashi double to center. After a bunt, a wild pitch scores that run, 5-0.

Single by Suzuki and Kuroda. After a strikeout, Hayashi does the one thing he shouldn't - walk Abe.

Why? Because Okoye is up again. And Hayashi falls behind 2-0. And Yoshida-kantoku calls for time.

...and it doesn't matter. Okoye hits his 3rd hit to where he hit his 2nd. And with yet another triple, it makes it 8-0.

...and Hayashi's day is done as #10 Kitamura comes in to get the final out.

Top 4th
Hey! It's Takaoka Shougyou's first hit! Tagoshi pokes one to left center for a base hit.And now Horiuchi lines a single to right! There's progress as Tagoshi goes to 3rd.

And at least they prevent the shutout! Sac fly to center scores 1.

Huh, Nakagawa scorcher past a diving Ihashi down the line for a double.

And now Yonezawa-kantoku sends in #11 Komatsubara.

Liner to center and they're about ready to mitigate the threat.

Except Kitamura singles to left! That scores 1 to make it 8-2.

AHHH!!

Komtasubara throws it awawa on ball 4! Nakagawa scores and it's 8-3!

Ishiguro hit on the first pitch! What in the world is happening??

Komagata single to center! Throw goes to 3rd and AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Okoye throws it away! It goes to the dugout and now 2 more runs are in! It's 8-5!

TAGOSHI WITH A GAPPER TO LEFT CENTER!! NO WAY!

2 more runners score and we're at 8-7 with a chance to tie the game!!

But they don't get it! Horiuchi fouls out and we are right back where we started!

To the break
After all that nonsense, it returns back to a normal game. #16 Kaneko comes in relief for Kanto Dai-ichi and gets 3 Ks in 5th.

I really don't know who is supposed to win this now.

Top 6th
Takahashi with a safety bunt! Ihashi's throw to 1st... SAFE!

Ah.. but he tries to steal 2nd and is thrown out.

And that's a shame as Ishiguro singles through the right side.

And now it's a hit and run! Komagata strikes out, but Ishiguro reaches 2nd safely!

TAGOSHI DOES IT AGAIN!

He singles to left! Ishiguro coming home, no throw!! Douten! We're actually douten!! 8-8!!

Horikoshi can't bring in the gyakuten run (again). But holy cow would you have thought we would go from 8-0 to 8-8?

Bottom 6th
Ihashi goes for the bunt single himself. And Tagoshi throws it away! Ihashi goes to 2nd and Kanto Dai-ichi can re-take the lead!

But Kitamura strikes out Itou for the 1st out.

And now he strikes out Igarashi on a fastball painting the outside corner! 2 out!

Nagashima single through the right side! Ihashi rounding 3rd, but Ishiguro's throw home keeps him at 3rd. So it'll be up to Suzuki.

SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Suzuki is caught looking and somehow Takaoka Dai-ichi is out of the inning!!

Bottom 7th
One down and Moriyama singles to right. Yonezawa-kantoku making some changes. #15 Kuwana comes to run and #18 Hihara hits for Kaneko.

And Hihara singles to left! Kanto Dai-ichi with a chance here again!

OH NO! Kitamura throws it away on a pickoff throw to 1st! Kuwana rounding 3rd, coming home! No throw as both runners take 2 bases! Kanto Dai-ichi has the lead back at 9-8!

AndAnd Okoye hits a ball to deep center! That'll get the other runner home! It's 10-8 now and perhaps this will be enough?

Top 8th
One down and Takahashi gets a single. Ishiguro gets a walk.  But Komagata flies out and there's 2 down. Do they really have another run in them?

WHAT???!!! WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TAGOSHI! NO WAY! NOT YOU AGAIN???!!!!!!

He lines a ball down the right field line! That goes to the wall! Takahashi scores! Ishiguro comes around.. HE SCORES! WE'RE REALLY TIED AGAIN AT 10-10!!

But Ishiguro is hurt. The slide did something and he has to be carried off by piggy back.

Sadly, for what Tagoshi has done, Horiuchi hasn't. He flies out to right and the inning is over. But somehow we're back level again!

Bottom 8th
But Kitamura can't even hold a tie it seems. He walks Itou on 4 straight. Igarashi bunts, Kitamura goes to 2nd.. and throws it away... They dont' aadvance but there's no outs.

Nagashima bunts the runners over.

And Suzuki singles through the right side scoring 1. 11-10 Kanto Dai-ichi.

And with 2 down, Kitamura spikes the ball and it goes 5-hole on Horiuchi. Igarashi scores to make it 12-10.

Top 9th
Man, this feels like a letdown.

Yoshikuni walks to lead off the inning, but a bunt to move the runner over fails, and is almost a double play. Kitada though does end the game as he lines out to ace Tanabe and he doubles off Nakagawa.

Man, what a crummy ending. No final rally, no last AB with a chance to tie. Just over.

Bah.

Kanto Dai-ichi had to breath a sigh of relief after coming back to defeat the Kyushu runner-ups.  The offense wasn't stellar early on, and only won thanks to stringing a couple of hits together.  They're still alive, but need to take leaps and bounds to be successful.

Meitoku Gijyuku saved their Senbatsu run by winning in the final inning against Chiben Wakayama.  Had the game ended in a draw, Kishi would be way too exhausted by the time they reached the final for Meitoku to have a chance.  Still, he only got a whopping 3 full days rest, and will get none should they win today.  That's still a lot to ask for.  But it's better than the alternative they faced.  Their offense though struggled about at as badly as I expected.  And this was against Chiben's so-so pitching staff.

So then we're expecting a possible low-scoring matchup with the last ace standing winning the game.

Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo)
CF Kumai Chihiro
1B Oogawa Kouki
3B Itou Masato
LF Yamaguchi Taisei
RF Moriyama Shou (#14)
C Ikeda Hiromu
2B Shinoda Taisei
SS Igarashi Masahiro
P Abe Takeshi (#10)

Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
3B Ozaki Yuuto
RF Sanada Kazuto
LF Tada Tougo
1B Nishioka Souta (#11)
P Kishi Jyuunichirou
SS Yasuda Takayuki
2B Mori Shouma
C Mizuno Katsuya (#13)
CF Ootani Yuuki

____________________________________________________________

09:03 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Kishi puts the first two pitches on the outside half to start the game.  Kumai makes contact, but pops out to Ozaki near the coach's box.  He's getting first pitch strikes here early, jumping on Oogawa 0-2.  But Oogawa fouls several pitches off.  Finally, on the 8th pitch Kishi puts him away on the low fastball.

Ama-chan plays for the first time as Itou steps in.

Kishi one again gets ahead 1-2, and Itou chases the outside fastball to end the inning.  3 days off and Kishi looks good to start (at least).

Bottom 1st
Abe getting ahead of leadoff batter Ozaki early, gets him to fly to center. Sanada winds up in front of a slider and grounds to short.  And while he falls behind Tada, he gets him to go after an inside fastball.  While he makes solid contact, he just didn't put enough on it as Kumai is there for the catch.

Top 2nd
One pitch, one out as Yamaguchi hits one back to Kishi.

Moriyama squats down and drives a ball to deep right center!  Sanada won't get to it as it dies in front of the wall!  Moriyama slides in with an easy triple!!  Kanto's first hit gives them a great scoring opportunity!

AH!  Ikeda swings on the first pitch and flies to shallow right center!  Ootani comes in to makes the catch and Moriyama has to hold up.

Kishi almost out of the inning, but Shinoda hits a slow chopper up the middle!  Mori charging in, fields it... has to hurry the throw... and Oonishi can't play it off the hop!  The ball gets away in foul terrirtory as Moriyama scores to give Kanto Dai-ichi the lead!  It's 1-0!

Igarashi grounds to short to end the inning, but Kanto perhaps taking advantage of Kishi being a little too eager to get his strikes in.

Bottom 2nd
Abe doing a great job on the mound to start as he places the fastball on the outside edge of the plate for his 1st K.  Kishi pops up on the first pitch to SS Igarashi.

Yasuda with a shot to 1st, bounces off of Oogawa's glove and into right for a base hit!  Meitoku finally has their first hit.

Mori with a scorcher up the 3rd base line, but Itou makes the back-handed stop and goes to first for the 3rd out!

Abe in a relief start so far has performed admirably.

Top 3rd
Kishi uncharacteristically falls behind the last batter Abe and walks him.  Yonezawa-kantoku has him bunted into scoring position.  Now, he falls behind Oogawa 3-1, and he issues a walk to him as well!  Mabushi-kantoku calls for time.

Kishi gets out the pinch!  Itou hits a ball back to him, and he starts the 1-6 3 double play to end the inning!

Bottom 3rd
Abe allows his first leadoff runner as he can't find the fastball on the full count.  Mabuchi-kantoku has Ootani bunt him along.

Ozaki trying to work the count in his favor, but Abe is on his game early as he induces a popup.  Tada also working the count, draws yet another walk to put pressure on Haketa.  Yonezawa-kantoku calls for time.

Tada with a popup down the left field line.  Itou, Igarashi and Yamaguchi all converge... but no one catches it!  Mizuno scores on what turns out to be a bloop double!  I think all 3 of them were expecting some else to try and catch it, but no one did!  1-1!

Nishioka with a solid ping, but it's off the end of the bat.  Kumai coming in makes the running catch, but Meitoku with some luck has tied the game!

Top 4th
Kishi just misses with his 2-2 2-seamer inside to Yamaguchi, but he doesn't miss the 2nd time as Yamaguchi can only turn away in digust.

But then Kishi goes right back and walks Moriyama.  That's 3 already and a bit of a concern if you're a Meitoku fan.

Kishi trying to hold Moriyama at 1st, throws there several times, almost picking him off... but he goes 1 time too many and throws it away!  Oonishi can't field it off the ground and Moriyama heads to 2nd!

Ikeda with a ball to deep left!  Tada, playing in has no chance at it!  It takes a bounce to the wall and Moriyama can walk home!  It's an RBI double for Ikeda as Kanto Dai-ichi takes the lead 2-1!

Shinoda moves Ikeda to 3rd with a chopper to 2nd, but Igarashi can't bring him in as Ozaki sells out on the pop fly in foul territory, making the catch and then crashing into the camera well wall!

Bottom 4th
Kishi looks to get the run back as he singles to right.  Yasuda bunts him into scoring position.

But Abe continues to give Meitoku fits!  Mori off the end of his bat flies out to right... and then Mizuno grounds to 1st!  Oogawa flips to Abe, who just beats out Mizuno for the 3rd out!

Top 5th
One down for Kanto Dai-ichi and Kumai's grounder to 1st is ole'd by Oonishi and goes into right!  For Kishi thankfully, that's all they get as Oogawa quickly flies out to center, and Itou chases the slider for the 3rd out.

Bottom 5th
There's a delay before the bottom of the 5th as Kumai is tended to for some reason.  No obvious injury from the prior plays, but he emerges and takes his position in center.

Abe locating his pitches really well, jamming Ootani and inducing a popup to 1st.

I say that and he leaves one over the plate that Ozaki shoots to the left center field gap for a double!

Sanada follows that up with a liner to left and Abe in a bit of spot with runners at the corners.  Tada, who tied the game before, is up to see if he can do it again.

This time though, Abe's not messing with him.  He's trying to hit the edges but falls behind 3-0!  It's a straight 4-pitch walk and it's manrui for Meitoku Gijyuku!  Yonezawa-kantoku calls times as #4 batter Nishioka steps in.

Ikeda makes one more trip to the mound to confirm things and the AB starts.  Ball way outside and Ikeda make a great smothering dive!

Nishioka with a ball off the bat back up the middle, and it's to the other side of a falling Abe!  The ball sneaks through to center and Ozaki scores the douten run! It's 2-2 and Kishi of all batters is up!

Abe obviously rattled, doesn't want to find the zone against Kishi.... and it's an oshidashi walk!  Sanada comes in to score and Meitoku Gijyuku has their first lead at 3-2!!

He seems to have settled down getting ahead 0-2 to Yasuda.

Grounder to 3rd!  Tada is inexplicably frozen as Itou goes home for 1, Ikeda goes to 1st... double play!

The 5-2-3 double play gets Abe out of the jam, and while Meitoku does take the lead, a pair of runs isn't the worst thing you could expect from that situation.

So we hit the break with a new leader, but it's obvious ace Kishi already isn't his normal self.

Top 6th
Yamaguchi strikes out for the 2nd time as Kishi puts out the forkball for him to wave over.

Ow.  Mizuno needs a moment after Moriyama's foul ball hits him square in the plums.  Laga-san in the background has a good laugh at his expense.

But it's Mizuno with the last laugh as not only Moriyama goes down swinging on the forkball, but Ikeda makes it 4 straight for Kishi chasing the slider outside!

Bottom 6th
Mori leads off the 6th with a bloop hit to right!  Mizuno after some fits and starts (perhaps last half inning related), lays down the bunt on the 1-2 pitch.

Ootani whips around on the inside fastball and drives one to right!  Moriyama going back, still going back, makes the catch near the wall. Ozaki tries to test him as well with a ball down the right field line, but Moriyama runs that one down as well to retire the side.

Top 7th
Really though the question will be how Kanto Dai-ichi reacts now that they're trailing.  The 6th inning certainly was not a good portent of things to come.

Shinoda changes that with one swings!  He gaps one to right center for a leadoff double!  After Igarashi bunts him over, #9 Usui comes in to hit for Abe, signalling the end of his day.

Ball gets away from Mizuno and Shinoda takes a look, but has to scramble back when Mizuno fires to 3rd!  Just slides in safely.

Kishi not backing down, strikes out Usui on the slider away for the 2nd out!  That leaves things to leadoff batter Kumai.

Ah!  But Kumai goes after a ball low and pops it up!  Tada running into foul territory makes the catch!  The teams trading runs every other inning stops here in the 7th and could this be the turning point?

Bottom 7th
Ace Haketa comes in for PH Usui to take the hill.

It could be as Sanada singles back up the middle past a diving Igarashi for a base hit!  Tada bunts him along.

Nishioka with a ball back up the middle!  Shinoda gets there, but it's off his glove!  Sanada being waved home!  Shinoda's throw home, bounces up in the air as Sanada slides home!  But the home plate umpire isn't giving a signal!!  Ikeda goes for the tag as Sanada dives for home again, but he's tagged out!  Sanada missed home completely trying to avoid the tag!

Kishi flies out to left and Haketa keeps Meitoku off the board!

Top 8th
However, outside of the double by Shinoda, Kanto has done little now that they're trailing.

Ookawa behind 1-2 lines a ball to Ozaki.  Itou and Yamaguchi work the count but both wind up chasing the slider becoming Kishi's 9th and 10th Ks.

Bottom 8th
Yasuda gives Meitoku their 5th leadoff runner with a single to right.  After Mori fails to bunt the runner along, Mizuno takes care of it.

Haketa goes down looking on the changeup and Haketa has held serve.

Top 9th
However, the offense needs to step up because they have no time left.

One down, Ikeda with a shot to 3rd.  Ozaki stops it, but it trickles into foul territory and he has no throw!  Douten runner on base!

In a desperate attempt to score the run, Shinoda bunts the runner along.

あら！

Ikeda takes off for 3rd after Mizuno goes to 2nd on a pickoff throw!  He's in safely and now the douten run is 90 feet away!  But Igarashi is behind 1-2!

SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Igarashi becomes the last out as he chases a slider away to end the game!  The 2-run 5th is good enough to give Meitoku Gijyuku the lead for good as Kanto Dai-ichi folds under the pressure of playing from behind!

Things certainly did not look good for Kishi early on as the Kanto batters were taking their walks and knocking him around.  But his offense picked him up and kept them in it.  And when they finally took the lead, Kanto Dai-ichi could find no answer.

Notable Players
Kishi Jyunichirou (Meitoku Gijyuku) - CG, 2 ER, 6 H, 11 K, 3 BB
Sanada Kazuto (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 2-3, R
Yasuda Takayuki (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 2-3
Abe Takeshi (Kanto Dai-ichi) - 6 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, K, 4 BB
Haketa Akihiro (Kanto Dai-ichi) - 2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, K
Ikeda Hiromu (Kanto Dai-ichi) - 2-4, 2B, RBI
Shinoda Taisei (Kanto Dai-ichi) - 2-3, 2B, RBI

Kanto Dai-ichi's will get a big test in Misato Kougyou - something that they hadn't really experienced in the fall until they played Okinawa Shougaku at a seemingly home field advantage.  And now they play the runner-up in the Kyushu super-regional who themselves defeated Okishou.

The good news is that Misato Kougyou's offense is not as strong as Okishou's, so they won't necessarily be routed.  But the lack of offense and pop makes Kanto Dai-ichi one of the paper tigers in this tournament despite the Tokyo Super-Regional win.

Misato Kougyou (Okinawa)
RF Miyagi Ryouta (#7)
CF Kamida Daiki
1B Hanashiro Wataru
3B Takaesu Hiromu
SS Ishiara Kyouji (#18)
P Iha Tomokazu
LF Sunagawa Ryuunousuke (#17)
C Yonamine Shou
2B Nishikuratou Shou (#6)

Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo)
CF Kumai Chihiro
1B Oogawa Kouki
3B Itou Masato
LF Yamaguchi Taisei
RF Moriyama Shou (#14)
C Ikeda Hiromu
2B Shinoda Taisei
SS Igarashi Masahiro
P Haketa Akihiro

____________________________________________________________

11:20 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Koushien gets twice the whistling as there are 2 Okinawa schools here.

Haketa looks like your run-of-the-mill pitcher as Miyagi and Kamita are retired in short order. But Hanashiro waits on him and takes a pitch inside for a full count walk.

The 2 balls to Takaesu appear to be mechanics related as they're not even close.  But he spots a fsatball on the outside corner for the 3rd strike.

Bottom 1st
Well, Iha settles in quickly as Kumai flies out to left, and Oogawa turns back to the dugout as Iha puts one back over the plate after C Yonamine framed outside.

Ama-chan plays as Itou steps in.

Small timeout as Yonaime comes out to the mound, but afterwards Itou chops one up the middle for a base hit!

And again Yonamine comes out after Iha falls behind Yamaguchi 2-0.  He draws a walk and Iha has himself in a mini pinch.

But Moriyama almost goes to a knee and golfs one to right. Miyagi is there to make the catch for the final out.

Top 2nd
Ishiara with a ball to left!  Igarashi goes over to the foul line, slides... but he can't there and it bounces over his head!  He scrambles back to the ball, but Ishiara is in with a double!

Iha not bunting, and winds up as frozen as a popsicle when Haketa's change goes over for strike 3.

Sunagawa succeeds in at least moving Ishiara over with a grounder to 2nd, but that effort goes for naught when Yonamine chases a fastball outside to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd
Ikeda struggles with Iha's split as he chases one in the dirt for Iha's 2nd K.

Oddly, he doesn't gow with his out pitch, and that means Shinoda can inside-out a fastball to the left side past a diving Ishiara for a base hit.

Hit-and-run for Kanto!  Igarashi chops one up the middle, and as both Nishikuratou and Ishiara both coverge, Nishikuratou tries to field it, but boots it!  Everyone's safe!

AH!  Haketa pops up his bunt, Hanashiro makes the catch and goes to 2nd for the easy double play to end the inning.

Top 3rd
Miyagi with a sharp liner to center quickly flies over Kumai's head!  He's in with a 1-out double!

And now Kamida singles to right! Miyagi holds up at 3rd and Misato Kougyou is threatening!  Yonezawa-kantoku calls for time.

Ama-chan plays as Hanashiro steps in, already with a walk on the day.  And despite Haketa's attempts to nibble, he's not biting.  Haketa falls behind 3-0 before having to pitch in the zone.  Hanashiro thinks he has ball 4 on the 3-1 change, but the home plate umpire unflinching calls a strike.

Which is fine because Hanashiro puts the next pitch back up the middle!  Igarashi tries to make the stop, but it's off the end of his glove and into center!  Miyagi scores and Misato opens the scoring! It's 1-0!

Takaesu with another ball almost in the same place!  This time Igarashi does make the stop, flips to 2nd, and Shinoda finishes the double play to end the inning, though not before that booming double by Miyagi comes around to score!

Bottom 3rd
Iha was on his way to a clean inning, after 2 quick outs, he plunks Itou to bring up Yamaguchi.  The walk doesn't hurt as Iha gets a swinging 3rd strike on a fastball way too far outside again.

Top 4th
Haketa breaks out the slow curve this inning, on his way to 3 straight groundouts.  His control still seems not all there as he seems to fly his pitches (especially the fastball) high.

Bottom 4th
Bench starter Moriyama whips his bat around the high fastball and sends it straight to right.  Ikeda's bunt is quickly anticipated by Iha and he manages to cut down Moriyama at 2nd.

Guess it doesn't matter as Iha gets called for a balk for failing to step towards first.

Shinoda gives it right back as he fouls out to Yonamine for the 2nd out, and a grounder to 3rd by Igarashi ends the threat for Kanto Dai-ichi.

Top 5th
One down and Nishikuratou with a shallow hit to left.  Yamaguchi almost makes the shoestring catch, but the ball slips out as he brings the glove back up!

Two down, and Kamida for some reason on 1-1 tries the safety bunt.  And then at 1-2, the pitch gets away from Ikeda and Nishikuratou advances to 2nd!  But Kamida winds up watching strike 3 on the outside half, and that's that.

Bottom 5th
Haketa gets punched out by Iha when he thinks twice about a ball that tails back to the outside corner.

Fast foward a batter, and Oogawa 5-holes Iha for a base hit.  He's left there when Itou lifts a slider to right for the 3rd out.

We hit the break with Misato Kougyou leading 1-0, but it certainly looks like they can string hits together, while Kanto Dai-ichi is getting their knocks, but not really coordinated.

Top 6th
Post break, and this time Haketa's getting pop flies.  Two straight to start the inning anyways.

After his control issues reappear in a 4-pitch walk to Ishiara where nothing was close, Iha fouls tips an outside fastball into Ikeda's glove for the 3rd out.

Bottom 6th
Yamaguchi tries to drive a base hit to left, but Sunagawa tracks it down before it gets by him.

2 down, and Ikeda makes solid contact and drives it to right center, but he gets under it just a little too much and Miyagi is able to run it down.

Top 7th
Sunagawa checks in with a base hit, taking a fastball the other way for a leadoff single.  Yonamine bunts him along.

Nishikuratou with a ball to shallow left, but Yamaguchi is playing in and makes the catch.

Miyagi base hit through the left side!  Sunagawa being waved around... throw home from Yamaguchi... not in time!  Miyagi gives Misato Kougyou the 2-0 lead!

Itou makes a great pick on a ball from Kamida to end the inning, but Kanto's deficit got enormously bigger.

Bottom 7th
Kanto Dai-ichi can hit the ball, but the best they can seemingly do is drive it high for the fielders to catch.  Igarashi hits one such ball deep, but Sunagawa has enough time to run it down.

Haketa's day comes to a close as #9 Usui comes in to hit for him.  But he never swings the bat as Iha walks him on 4 straight.

Kumai catches a break when his comebacker to Iha goes off his glove and trickles behind the mound! Ishiara can't assist in time and Iha's late as well by the time he picks up the ball!

While still 2 outs, Kamiya-kantoku calls for time.

Oogawa being patient and taking pitches, has the count go 2-2 before fouling a fastball inside off his foot.  Iha tries to go to the well again, but Oogawa takes to fill up the count.

Iha does it again, this time on the slider, and Oogawa rolls it up the 1st base line, and it stays fair! Hanashiro goes to the bag and that ends the threat!

Top 8th
#10 Abe comes in the game now to relieve Haketa.  He comes in Oogawa's spot, as Usui stays in at RF, and Moriyama goes to 1B.

Abe actually makes short work of the middle of the Misato order, I'm actually impressed.

Bottom 8th
Itou gets them started with a base hit though the right side.

And now Yamaguchi actually sizes up a ball and lines it to center!  Kanto Dai-ichi with some solid hits here in the 8th.

And #17 Oouchi is in to hit for Moriyama?  He tries the safety bunt, but while he's thrown out he does advance the runners.

But Ikeda takes an ill-advised swing on an inside fastball and pops out to Hanashiro for the 2nd out.

And now #18 Sei comes in to hit for Shinoda as Yonezawa pulls out all the stops.

Interestingly, Iha doesn's really come close with his pitches, and while it's manrui (and #13 Maeda comes in to run for Sei), Yonezawa-kantoku is out of left-handed batters as Igarashi has to bat.

Igarashi with a desperate swing on a slider outside, bloops it to right!  Miyagi charging in, but has no chance!  Itou scores!  Yamaguchi being waved home... throw in... not in time!  Igarashi's bloop single ties the game at 2-2!!

Usui with a drive to left!  Sunagawa has no chance at the ball as it carems off the wall and back towards center!  Maeda scores!  Igarashi comes in all the way from 1st on the triple and Kanto Dai-ichi now leads 4-2!!  Iha completely missed on his location there and left it over the plate for Usui!

Kumai flies out to left to end the inning, but what a turn of events!!

Top 9th
Oouchi stays in to play 2B, Maeda over at 1B...

Iha tries to start the long road back with a single to right!  But immediately thereafter, Sunagawa hits a grounder to 3rd!  Itou goes to 2nd for one, relay from Oouchi... in time!!  Double play and Misato Kougyou is down to their final out!

And Yonamine hits a fly to left!  Yamaguchi under it, secures it tightly and that's the game!

Kanto Dai-ichi comes back with 4 runs in the 8th to defeat the Kyushu runner-up and first timers Misato Kougyou!

It all happened out of nowhere.  The 3-4 batters for Kanto Dai-ichi get on base, Iha gets 2 outs thereafter and looks to get out of the jam.  But after working around lefty Sei, he got to have a same-handed matchup.  And yet Igarashi gets lucky with his timely and then Usui comes out of nowhere to with a game winning triple!

Certainly you have to feel bad for Misato Kougyou having gotten so far and on the verge of winning the game, and yet in the span of 3 pitches it all went awry.  But they're not a bad team at all.  They had their chances, just couldn't capitalize on them.

As for Kanto Dai-ichi, they must find themselves fortunate to walk away with a win.  With their part of the bracket looking the way it is, looking for a cardiac kids type game every time will not work.  The offense will need to get started earlier on if they want a chance to make a deep run.

Notable Players
Abe Takeshi (Kanto Dai-ichi) - W, 2 IP, 0 R, H, 0 K, 0 BB
Haketa Akihiro (Kanto Dai-ichi) - 7 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 6 K, 2 BB
Igarashi Masahiro (Kanto Dai-ichi) - 2-4, 2 RBI
Usui Kouhei (Kanto Dai-ichi) - 1-1, 3B, 2 RBI, BB
Itou Masato (Kanto Dai-ichi) - 2-3, R, HBP
Iha Tomokazu (Misato Kougyou) - 8 IP, 4 ER, 10 H, 3 K, 3 BB, HBP
Miyagi Ryouta (Misato Kougyou) - 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
Hanashiro Wataru (Misato Kougyou) - 1-3, RBI, BB

Kanto Dai-ichi managed to climb out of the Tokyo Super-Regionals to earn the only bid from the JHBF.  In so doing, they revenged a loss to Nisshougakushadai Fuzoku from the summer in the final and unbeknownst to them eliminated their rival from senbatsu.

Road to Senbatsu
Block 8 Regionals

• def. Higashi 9-2 (7 inn)
• def. Komae 10-0 (5 inn)

Tokyo Super-Regionals

• def. Komagome Gakuen 4-3
• def. Ouji Sougou 7-0 (7 inn)
• def. Jyouhoku 6-1
• def. Adachi Nishi 7-0 (7 inn)
• def. Toukaidai Takanawadai 4-0
• def. Nisshougakushadai Fuzoku 7-6 (10 inn)

Meiji Jingu Tournament

• lost Okinawa Shougaku 8-3

Kanto Dai-ichi did not have to face many of the other strong teams as many of them got knocked out elsewhere in the bracket, and as shown in the scores above, decisively beat most of the teams they were supposed to beat.

There were some exceptions.  In the opening round of the Super-Regionals, Komagome Gakuen actually held a 3-0 lead before ace Hachiya fell apart in the final 2 innings.  And in that revenge match versus Nisshougakushadai Fuzoku, they let a 3-run slip away before scrapping out a sayonara win in the 10th.  And then against Okinawa Shougaku, they held a slim 3-2 lead before a puzzling decision by kantoku Yonezawa Takamitsu (米沢 貴光) to go with lightly used #11 Tanabe Ren (田邉 廉)

So now onto the team.

While Haketa Akihiro (羽毛田 晶啓) wears the ace number, he was not predominantly used in the super-regionals.  That goes to #10, rookie lefty Abe Takeshi (阿部 武士).  But we have more information on Haketa.  He throws in the low 130s with a slider and forkball.  We even have more info on Tanabe, who imploded against Okishou, than Abe.  His specs are pretty much average, low 130s fastball with a slider and curve.

Offensively, there is C Ikeda ? (池田 瞳夢) who I don't have any batting info on, but was 2-4 against Okinawa Shougaku, and 1B Ookawa Kouki (大川 公輝) who was 4-4.

Kanto Dai-ichi appears to be a team that can handle its business against weaker competition, something that is very needed in single-elimination tournaments.  However, with just 3 games against tougher competition with mixed results, they may not be able to be considered as a favorite to win it all.

Next up, up to the mountainous Hokushinetsu region and champs Nihon Bunri!

Well, we're off in the Meiji Jingu tournament to decide the last bid to go to a region and there have been some surprises.

Day 1
Ryuukokudai Heian (Kinki) did what I though they would against Mie (Tokai).  Starting in the 3rd, Imai and Nakaguchi with back to back hits would drive in a run each to make it a 2-0 game.  That would be followed up by the Takahashi battery (C Yuuhashi & P Keiji) in the 4th for another 2 runs.  And a Mie error in the 5th would give them a 5-0 lead.

But as Mie is wont to do, they scrap their way back after the break.  Nishioka would get them on the board in the 6th with a groundout.  2 innings later, Seko would get a timely RBI, and Nishioka would follow that up with a 2-run double to make it a 1-run ballgame.

However, that would be the closest they would get.  Ootsuka would come in as Heian's 3rd pitcher and shut down Mie to secure the 5-4 win.

Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo) did not start Abe Takeshi in their game against Okinawa Shougaku (Kyushu).  But then again, he's actually wearing #10 apparently!  The ace number belongs to Haketa Akihiro, who did start the game.

And he held the Okishou offense in check as his team jumped on ace Yamashiro. Yamaguchi started things off with a timely single with runners at the corners, and then Ikeda followed that up with a double and it was 2-0 Kanto in the 1st.  Ikeda would deliver again in the 3rd, with another base hit to make it a 3-0 ballgame.  That would be it for Yamashiro as Kubo would come in from right to swap places.

The game stayed at 3-0 until post-break where Okishou finally got to Haketa. With runners at the corners, Akamine Ken delivered a base hit to score 1, and then Kubo himself would hit a double to make it a 1-run ballgame.

Haketa would give way in the 8th still holding onto the lead.  I would have expected them to go Abe, but again I would have been wrong. Instead they went to unknown Tanabe Ren. That didn't go well when Anzato would get a hit to left, tying the game.

It then went all wrong in the 9th as Tanabe would only record one out while giving up 5 runs, ensuring Okishou's advance to the next round.

Day 2
The first game of the 2nd round was a no-contest affair sadly. My supposed favorite, Hachinohe Gakuen Kousei (Tohoku) was never in the game against Imabari Nishi (Shikoku) as their #3 batter Ochi Itsuki would drive in 3 of their 5 runs en route to a 5-1 victory. Of course, it didn't help also that the team committed 4 errors in the game as well...

The second game almost seemed like the first. Hakuoudai Ashikaga (Kanto) quickly took the lead over Iwakuni (Chuugoku) with a sac fly from Ooshita in the first and a timely from Higa in the 2nd.  Kawamoto's double in the 3rd would bring Iwakuni within 1, but a pair in the 5th seemed to make the game a copy of the first.

But much like Kanto Dai-ichi, things went horribly wrong in the 8th inning for Hakuoudai.  Tsuchiya would start it off with a timely hit to center to make it a 4-2 ballgame.  With the bases loaded, Kameya would hit a grounder to short. Kamon would go home, only to throw it away... 2 runs would score and the game was tied at 4. Ace Higa would be relieved as Ooshita would come in from left to pitch. Sadly, a wild pitch would allow the gyakuten run to score.

Iwakuni would tack on one more as Yanagawa would shut the door in the 9th ensuring that Kanto would not get another bid (Nisshougakushadai Fuzoku should get the floating bid now).

The schools with some hope left may be:

• Hokkaido - Sapporo Ootani
• Hokushinetsu - Chikyuu Kankyou
• Kinki - Sanda Shousei
• Chuugoku/Shikoku - Takigawa Gakuen
• Kyushu - Souseikan

So Osaka Touin is in the finals.  Who will they face?

Kousei Gakuin has been the favorite to win since the fall when they won the Meiji Jingu tournament.  They hadn't lost a step after losing their seniors who led the run to the championship game last summer.  After a bit of a slow start against Hokkaido champion Hokushou, they handled Oumi with ease, and then put no question who was the better team in the rematch against Aikoudai Meiden, winning 5-2 in much the same way as the fall.  They are poised to win it all.

Standing in their way is a Kanto Dai-ichi squad that has clawed their way through all 3 stages.  First, against a game Beppu Aoyama squad they eked out a 1-0 win.  Then they held off Kinki champions Chiben Gakuen despite what seemed like a tired Nakamura.

And yet they threw him out there again against a strong Yokohama squad, and with the help of a crucial call in the 5th that took back a run, looked strong in a 4-2 win!

But the burden is squarely on Nakamura to stand and deliver the next two days.  If he can't Kanto doesn't have a chance.

3B  Isobe Yuuta (#9)
RF  Kishi Naoya (#16)
2B  Kiuchi Jyunshou
CF  Akiyama Shouta
LF  Itou Hiroki
SS  Yoshie Masakazu (#5)
1B  Anzai Kouyou
C  Matsutani Tsubasa
P  Daigo Shunpei (#10)

RF  Ameku Shouto
LF  Murase Daijyu
C  Tamura Tatsuhiro
SS  Houjyou Fumiya
1B  Takeda Toshiki
3B  Oosugi Akinobu
P  Jyouma Ryuuhei
CF  Kimura Takumi
2B  Kishigawa Kenta

__________________________________________________

13:20 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Isobe gets Kanto's offense going with a base hit in front of Ameku.  Afer a sac bunt, Kiuchi gets ahead 3-0 but Jyouma manages to fill up the count.  But he loses him a ball low!  Runners on 1st and 2nd now as Kanazawa warms up in the bullpen!

But cleanup batter Akiyama swings on the first pitch and hits one to 2nd!  Kishigawa starts the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning!

Bottom 1st
Well, as you can see, Yonezawa-kantoku is rolling with reliever Daigo to start the game.  Can he give his team effective innings, or will it backfire?

So far so good.  Ameku hits one to Anzai for the 1st out, Murase grounds one back to Daigo.

And Tamura grounds out to short for the 3rd out!  Daigo gets the first inning under his belt with no hiccups!

Top 2nd
Hm.  As Kanto takes their AB's, #11 Uehara is warming up in the bullpen.  Looks like Nakamura may be a last chance option for Kanto.

After a quick groundout by Itou, Yoshie and Anzai go deep in counts against Jyouma, but he retires them both for a 1-2-3 inning.  Despite perhaps not being a natural starter, he's been doing a great job on the mound.

Bottom 2nd
Oh?  Daigo records his first K in Houjyou.  I say that because Daigo's fastball touches 130.  He has possible 3 change pitches, one sitting each in the 110s, 100s and 90s.

Takeda with a dying liner to left, but Itou makes a shoestring catch!

And Oosugi with a weak grounder to 2nd means he has another 1-2-3 inning!

Top 3rd
One down and Daigo hits a low liner past Houjyou!  Isobe follows that up with a ball past Oosugi into left as well!  Chance for Kanto!

Kishi after falling behind 0-2, takes some really close pitches and fills up the count!

Slicer to left!  Murase charging in, but it falls in!  Manrui for Kanto for #3 batter Kiuchi!

Jyouma once again gets ahead 0-2 on Kiuchi.  Kiuchi fouls one off.  Waste pitch, 1-2.  Slider up and in, 2-2.  Ball inside, fought off by Kiuchi.  High slider, popped up!  Kishigawa and Takeda converging in foul territory, both dive.. neither has it!  Will that cost them?

NO!  Kiuchi is caught looking for strike 3!  2 down!

Akiyama swings on the first pitch again!  And he bails out Jyouma by flying to left!  Big chance for Kanto goes begging!

Bottom 3rd
Jyouma goes full on Daigo before delivering Kousei's first hit, a liner to left.

Kimura lays down the bunt, but Daigo quickly picks it up!  Yoshie saves the high throw and they get the lead runner.  Nakai-kantoku has Kishigawa bunt as well, and this time they advance the runner for top batter Ameku.

But Ameku grounds out to 2nd and the inning is over.  I'm surprised a bit that Daigo is doing this good of a job against the tournament favorites.

Top 4th
Itou grounds out to short for his 2nd time today.

Yoshie with a drive to center!  Kimura running back, turning right, then back left!  He's turned around as the ball falls in front of the wall!  Yoshie in with a double!

Jyouma gets ahead of Anzai 0-2, and doesn't get a call on a ball at the knees.  Anzai hits a chopper to short.  Houjyou makes a great pick and throw for the out, but Yoshie advances to 3rd.

But #8 batter Matsutani is up, and he's had struggles at the plate.  They continue as he flies out to right toend the inning.

Bottom 4th
Daigo falls behind Murase 3-0, gets one back, and almost gets the out when Murase hits a foul fly.  Anzai doesn't sell out at the fence and it falls in.

Instead he hits a liner right at Isobe, who puts the glove in front of his face and makes the catch.

He falls behind Tamura 3-1 and..

Oh my....

He blasts one to left!  Itou running back!  Looking up!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That ball is easily 10 rows up in left as Kousei finally gets to Daigo!  They open the scoring at 1-0!

And no Houjyou with a first pitch liner to left center for a base hit!  And after Takeda hits a hard foul ball, Nakamura heads to the bullpen.

And Houjyou with a big lead takes off when the ball goes in the dirt!  Matsutani can't get anything on the throw and he's in safely!  Takeda walks on the next pitch prompting Yonezawa-kantoku to call time, perhaps to buy Nakamura time to warm up.

Daigo meanwhile gets ahead of Oosugi 0-2.  Oosugi though takes on the other way!  Itou up with it, but his throw home is cut off!  Houjyou scores to make it 2-0!

Daigo still on the mound as Jyouma steps in.  Can he perhaps deliver a crippling blow early?  Not sure Daigo's going to let him as he falls behind 3-1.  But Jyouma takes one over the plate to fill up the count.

He pops him up!  Kimura in center makes the catch for the 2nd out!

And now Nakamura is being recalled to the dugout!  But the crisis isn't over just yet as Kimura steps in.

But he hits a grounder to 1st.  Anzai makes the out to retire the side, but Kousei gets to the relief starter!

Top 5th
Daigo with a swinging bunt!  Oosugi charging in, but can't field the ball!  Daigo gets his 2nd hit of the day!

Isobe 2-2 on the day, bunting??!  He hits it too hard and Jyouma goes to 2nd for the force!  Why was Isobe not swinging away there??

And now they send Isobe, but Tamura with a great throw to 2nd and they have Isobe for the 2nd out!

Kishi battles with Jyouma, but on the 10th pitch of the AB he's frozen for the K!

Bottom 5th
Kishigawa showing some power with a ball down the left field line!  That goes all the way to the wall for a double!  Ameku trying for a safety bunt still moves him to 3rd.

Murase with a ball to left!  Itou camping under it, makes the catch, throws for home, but the relay is no good!  Kishigawa scores to make it 3-0!

Cameras go to Yonezawa-kantoku who is telling Itou to move back for Tamura.

Tamura blasts one to left!  Really?  Is he really??  Itou running back and to his right, turns himself around going left, and makes the sliding catch at the wall for the 3rd out!  Whoa that was a close one! Looks like the kantoku was right after all!

But Kousei adds on a run and as we hit the break Kanto finds themselves down 3-0!

Top 6th
Kiuchi leads off the inning with a single down the right field line.  Cleanup batter Akiyama tries to bunt, but falls behind 1-2.  Akiyama with a ball up the middle.  Houjyou in front of it, but can't field it cleanly!  He barely gets the toss to Kishigawa for the out.

Itou lines out to right for the 2nd out.

Akiyama takes off for 2nd!  Throw from Matsutani is wide and goes into center and Akiyama eases into 3rd!  Chance to narrow the margin for Kanto!

But Yoshie hits a grounder to 2nd!  Kishigawa's throw beats out a diving Yoshie for the 3rd out!

Bottom 6th
Nakamura takes the hill now for Kanto.  But is it too late?

Well, at least he holds down the Kousei offense.  The 4-5-6 batters come and go as Kanto takes the sticks again.

Top 7th
Bottom third of the order up for Kanto.  Anzai quickly grounds out to 2nd. Matsutani hits a foul fly to Houjyou.

Nakamura with a grounder to short, but it's off Houjyou's glove and goes to left!  Still some life in the Lucky  7 for Kanto!

Isobe though, grounds to short.  Houjyou goes to 2nd for the 3rd out.

Bottom 7th
On 0 days rest and in relief, Nakamura looks good!  Jyouma with a grounder to short.  He freezes Kimura on a fastball inside, and gets Kishigawa to swing on a fastball on the outside corner for the 3rd out!

Top 8th
Time quickly running out on Kanto.  Kishi with a high chopper up the 3rd base line.  Oosugi with it, but the throw is high!  Leadoff man on from the error!

Kiuchi rightly hitting as they need 3 runs.  But Jyouma pops him up!  Houjyou in shallow left makes the catch!

Akiyama with a grounder up the middle.  Houjyou there, but doesn't have it!  It goes through!  Kishi booking it for 3rd!  Throw from Kimura, not in time!  Akiyama going for 2nd, throw from Oosugi, not in time!!

Runners on 2nd and 3rd now with just one down!

Chance for Kanto as Itou steps in!

He hits a fly to right!  Ameku ready for the throw home!  He throws it as Kishi charges for home!  It's a liner right to Tamura...

And they get him a the plate!  Kishi is gunned down at home for the 3rd out!  Great defensive play by Ameku denies Kanto a run!

Bottom 8th
Ameku with a blast to center!  Akiyama running back to the wall, slides, but it bounces off the base of the wall!  He's in with a double!

Murase trying to bunt him over instead free bunts and fouls off to Matsutani.

Tamura with a base hit through the left side puts runners at the corners for cleanup batter Houjyou!

WHOA!

Houjyou launches one to left!  Itou climbing on the fence!   FOUL!!!! Nakamura breathes a sight of relief.

But not for long!  Houjyou shoots one up the middle, and its through to center!  Ameku scores, Tamura being waved around!  Akiyama throwing home...  Cut off!  Nakamura cuts the ball off and tries to get Houjyou at 2nd!  Safe!!  Houjyou's timely hit gives Kousei a commanding 5-0 lead!

Takeda goes down on a failed check swing for the 2nd out.

BAM!

Oosugi with a booming hit to right center!  Akiyama running to the wall, and it's off the base!  RBI triple for Oosugi makes it 6-0.

Jyouma grounds to short to end the inning, but Kousei appears to be on cruise control finally to a matchup against Osaka Touin.

Top 9th
#17 Sekiguchi takes over for Murase in LF.

Yoshie not giving up, ripping one into the right-center field gap for a standup triple!

Anzai follows that up lining one through the infield past Kishigawa into center!  Yoshie scores to make it 6-1!

#6 Kishida comes to run for Anzai and #13 Hino hits for Matsutani.

Matsutani with a single to left!  Runners on 1st and 2nd, no out!

What will Yonezawa-kantoku do?  Will he leave Nakamura in to hit?  He will!  He won't gamble!

Nakamura falls behind 1-2, and holds off a borderline pitch.  But he eventually goes down swinging for the first out.

Isobe to try and continue the momentum...

But he hits a grounds to 2nd!  Kishigawa goes to 2nd for one, Houjyou's throw to 1st, in time!  Kousei Gakuin wins!

Jyouma in a complete game effort gives up just the one run in the 9th as they advance to their 2nd finals!

And as I continue writing, the Kanto players are collecting the dirt from the grounds.

Kousei Gakuin has looked strong in all their games so far and ace Kanazawa will be rested for the championship game thanks to Jyouma.  The offense continues to look strong as well, and it should make for a great game.

For Kanto Dai-ichi, Yonezawa-kantoku perhaps realized that they couldn't start Nakamura on 0 days rest.  But Daigo couldn't prevent Kousei from getting on the board and playing from behind is not the place where they wanted to be.

But they played very well throughout the tournament, perhaps surprising some despite being the Tokyo champions.  It'll be a hard road to navigate in the summer though.  But they'll have time to work on the pitching before then.