高校野球 (Kokoyakyu): Kiryuu Dai-ichi

Showing posts with label Kiryuu Dai-ichi. Show all posts

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Day 1, Game 3 - Shiga Gakuen (Shiga) vs. Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma)

Rounding out the day, it feels like a role reversal. If one were to look at this at name value, Kiryuu Dai-ichi would be the favorite. But instead, Shiga Gakuen has the stronger resume. The offense is solid through the lineup, and the pitching isn't #1 worthy, but it's certainly servicable. Uchiike Kakeru's numbers for Kiryuu Dai-ichi look strong, but it's been mostly against weaker competition. If Shiga Gakuen can keep it level or take the lead early, it may be hard for Kiryuu Dai-ichi to advance.

Shiga Gakuen (Shiga)

RF Tokudome Kaito

2B Ikawa Shou

C Gotou Katsuki

1B Umagoshi Daichi

3B Matsuoka Tatsuki

LF Yamaguchi Ryuuki

CF Nishimura Taiki

SS Kohama Ryouki

P Kamimura Hikari

Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma)

CF Oikawa Keita
LF Shimoma Takumi (#16)
C Takada Shuuhei
3B Kaburagi Fuuka
1B Takarada Yoshimune
RF Ikeda Shuuma (#7)
SS Yanagiya Taichi (#14)
P Uchiike Kakeru
2B Saitou Kyou

____________________________________________________________

16:07 - First Pitch!

Top 1st

Tokudome exercising patience at the plate, draws an opening walk. Igawa, sporting shades, bunts him over. Gotou with a rip shot, but Kaburagi right on it for the 2nd out.

Shiga Gakuen a team of characters it seems. Umagoshi whips the bat over his head as if he's going to take off like a heli. Draws a walk though, so I guess that's a plus.

No base hits for Shiga Gakuen, but they're showing they're willing to take a base if given to them.

Bottom 1st
Kamimura has no nerves it seems unlike all the others. He gets a 1-2-3 inning as easy as you like.

Top 2nd
Yamaguchi chopper to the right side, but he books it and catches the defense napping! He's on with an infield hit!

Nishimura bunts, Uchiike goes to 2nd, but Yamaguchi slides in ahead of the throw!! All safe, and Fukuda-kantoku quick to call time.

No good! Kohama rips a single to right and Yamaguchi scores easily! Not only that but Nishimura takes 3rd! 1-0! Shiga Gakuen!

Tokudome does the right thing, chops a ball to the right side. Saitou snags the ball, but the run scores to make it 2-0!

Ikawa another scorcher! This one's to the right side and Kohama is being waved around! The throw in... and Kohama avoids the tag! It's 3-0!! Holy crap I'm impressed!

Top 3rd
Umagoshi up for his 2nd AB, and gets hit in the foot. Haven't really seen him swing yet. He's bunted to 2nd and moves to 3rd as Yamaguchi looked to put the ball to the right side.

Nishimura Ks to end the inning, but I they seem to have a plan every time they step in the box.

Bottom 3rd
Yanagiya gets the first runner with a scorcher up the 1st base line! Uchiike shows bunt, but tries the buster approach and fouls it off! He does though eventually bunt him along.

Kamimura isn't an overpowering pitcher, but he knows where to go in the zone. He's not afraid to go to either side of the plate and mix things up.

Top 4th
The hit parade continues! Kohama and Kamimura with back to back solid singles. Tokudome not bunting, but uses a jam shot to do the same thing.

Ikawa grounder to the right side, and it finds a spot between a drawn in Takarada and Saitou! That scores 12 to make it 4-0!

Gotou singles past Yanagiya and that's another run! 5-0!

That's it for Uchiike as #10 Aoki comes in... and promptly hits Umagoshi... Oy.

Matsuoka grounder to 1st, AHHHH!!!

It goes through Takarada's wickets! 2 more runners score and it's a blowout now at 7-0.

The damage ends there, but it's more than enough.

Bottom 4th
A rare hiccup for Kamimura as he hits back-to-back batters, but as quickly as it happened, he retires the next 2 batters and the disturbance is over.

Rest of game
There really isn't much more to say so far. Shiga Gakuen continues to add-on while the heart of the Kiryuu lineup tries to start anything. Takada and Kaburagi get base hits the next time around, and Takarada gets a lucky slow chopper back to Kamimura. But he completely has Ikeda guessing and strikes out to retire the side,

The 7th for Kiryuu Dai-ichi sees sloppy play from the leaders. There's a mixup on a fly ball between Yamaguchi and Nishimura. Ikawa tries for a flashy glove toss to 2nd on a grounder up the middle, and Gotou doesn't allow access to home on a close play. It results in 3 runs, but more importantly there's a lack of focus.

That lack of focus seems to still persist. What should have been the 3rd out, instead goes under Kohama's glove and into left. This already with 2 runners on, leads to the 4th run. Shimoma singles to left and it's a 9-5 game... A wild pitch makes things even more tenuous, but Takada grounds out to 3rd to end the inning. Still, that comfortable lead is made even less so.

In the end though, Shiga Gakuen gets their act together and closes out the game. The final is 9-5, though it shouldn't have been that close. They can be a dark horse in the tournament, but they need to focus for the full 9 innings.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Previewing the projected field - Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma)

Kiryuu Dai-ichi is looking to revive themselves in the world of 高校野球, reaching the quarterfinals 2 years ago after a decent hiatus from the scene.

Ace Uchiike Kakeru (内池翔) and Aoki Kaito (青木快人) are the tandem that leads the pitching staff. Uchiike isn't anything special - mid-130s fastball with a slider and curve. His numbers this fall have been solid outside of their game against Urawa Gakuin, but given his repertoire it's not surprising he's not blowing away the competition - but the general lack of free passes is a plus.

Aoki Kaito would be a player Deanna would like. He's a knuckle-scraper, and while that can fool batters, and we've seen them be successful in the majors in a closer role (Darren O'Day and Pat Neshek for instance), I don't know if it can work in long stretches - hence his longest outing was 4 innings in their loss against Jyousou Gakuin.

Offensively, leadoff batter Oikawa Keita (追川恵太) sets the tone for the team, finding ways to get on base or bring in a run. There's also Murota Yoshito(?) (宝田善統) who at least finds a way to get a base hit, and at #5 in the order hopefully has people in front of him to drive in.

With the lack of information, it's hard to project where they will land. The pitching side isn't impressive, but if it's serviceable it could be good enough.

Monday, March 31, 2014

86th Senbatsu - Day 10 - Quarterfinal 4 - Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma) vs. Ryuukokudai Heian (Kyoto)

Our last game may just be a formality now. With the rest day gone, in order for Kiryuu Dai-ichi will have to win an unprecedented 5 games in 5 days, having already played 24 innings in those first 2 steps of that feat.

And given the fact that in the replay they went with ace Yamada again - it lends itself to not if, but when his arm will finally collapse. With the team's offensive struggles to boot their prospects don't look too good, not that they were anyways but at least got an extra game in.

Heian has looked rather impressive, dispatching the Tohoku champs in their most recent game (though Kousei didn't look like they showed up to play). What is also noteworthy is that they have used a different pitcher for each of the first two games, allowing his staff to pretty much get rest - especially since it's 3 games in 3 days for the title now.

There's nothing that would indicate that Heian won't advance to Best 4 today.

Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma)
LF Yoshida Ryuuto
2B Ishii Shouta
RF Yanagiya Sansuke
1B Yamada Tomoki (#1)
C Onoda Toki
CF Kubo Shunsuke
3B Kubota Shinji
SS Takahashi Shoukei

P Toumiya Mao (#11)

Ryuukokudai Heian (Kyoto)
CF Tokumoto Kentarou
RF Ootani Tsukasa
2B Himeno Taisei
1B Kawai Taisei
LF Nakaguchi Daichi
3B Tsune Hitoshi
SS Ishikawa Takuya
C Takahashi Yuuya
P Motouji Reiji (#18)

____________________________________________________________

15:19 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Motouji on the mound again for Heian and he's off and running. Strikes out Yoshida looking on a slider.

Ishii with a ball to the gap in short, Tsune ranges to field it, but it bounces off his glove and into the air! It goes behind Ishikawa for a base hit!

But Yanagiya hits a grounder to short! Ishikawa starts the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning!

Bottom 1st
Going to Toumiya for Fukuda-kantoku probably can't be helped with Yamada going 24 innings in 2 days. He's at first, so if Toumiya struggles (which his peripherals suggest), he might yet still enter.

And it indeed is a shaky start as Toumiya walks Tokumoto to start his campaign.

But Tokumoto has the twichy foot and takes off for 2nd too early! Toumiya starts the rundown and there's 1 out!

Again a deep count to Ootani, but he flies out to left.

Looks like it's going to be a lot of near walks as Himeno goes to 2-2. But Toumiya puts over the slider for strike 3!!

One down, 8 to go...

Top 2nd
Yamada leads off with a clean single through the left side! Onoda puts down the bunt, but Kawai elects to go to 2nd!! His throw is high and Ishikawa can't secure it! All safe!

Kubo now looking to bunt as well, but winds up fouling a couple off. 2 strikes, and he's still bunting! He lays it down and successfully advances the runners!

Kubota with the first pitch single to center! Yamada scores and it's Kiryuu Dai-ichi that takes the early lead! 1-0!

Shoukei up now to perhaps extend the lead with a sac fly or base hit.

Chopper to 3rd! Onoda has to scramble back, and Tsune goes to 2nd! They get the runner there and keep the force at either 1st or 2nd.

Toumiya to try and help his own cause with a base hit.

Drive to left!! Nakaguchi going back, going back!! Makes the, NO!!

Nakaguchi tries to make the basket catch, but can't finish it! Onoda scores! Shoukei running all the way from 1st, he scores!! Kiryuu Dai-ichi is up 3-0!!

Yoshida grounder to 1st. Kawai makes the tag, AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The ball somehow gets knocked out of Kawai's glove and that means Yoshida is safe! Even more important, Toumiya scores from 2nd and it's 4-0 Kiryuu Dai-ichi!

Ishii flies out to right, but this is certainly a surprise!

Bottom 2nd
Of course, it's back to the nail-biting game that is Toumiya.

He walks Kawai to lead off the inning, and is bunted over.

Tsune with a single to left! Yoshida tries to go home with the throw, but it's not in time and it allows Tsune to take 2nd! 4-1 Kiryuu.

(Hint to Yoshida - keep the force on. You know Toumiya isn't that great, but you're putting him an bad position)

Case in point, Ishikawa grounder to short would have been an inning ending double play. Instead, it's 2 outs, runner on 3rd for Yuuya.

No harm this time though as Yuuya flies out to right. But Heian is taking the slow road back to douten.

Top 3rd
Yanagiya becomes the 2nd K victim as he goes after Motouji's slider.

Meanwhile, Yamada has Kawai on his backside as he scorches a grounder to right.

But Onoda too chases the slider, and Kubo grounds to 2nd to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd
Toumiya going after Motouji, despite him being a hitting pitcher. But he gets him all twisted on a fastball inside for the 1st out.

After getting ahead of Tokumoto 1-2, the count runs full, and he misses inside for his 3rd walk.

And it gets even more hairy when Toumiya plunks Ootani on the back. Fukuda-kantoke calls time as #18 Takano warms up in the bullpen.

Toumiya still can't find the zone, falling behind 2-0 to Himeno as well...

DOUBLE STEAL!!! Onoda fires to 3rd, but not in time! And it's 3-0 to Himeno!

Toumiya puts one over, Himeno takes. And another!!

Himeno with a ball to deep right! Yanagiya near the foul pole makes the catch, and Tokumoto can walk home to make it a 4-2 ballgame! Ootani advances to 3rd on the play.

Kawai up, and Toumiya falls behind him 3-1... Gives up yet another walk...

Finally, Toumiya gets ahead for a change, 1-2 on Nakaguchi...

Liner down 1st base line, foul, but he's perhaps timing things up now.

Kawai takes off for 2nd, but it's a slow curve from Toumiya and Onoda has no throw. Now a base hit can tie the game!

Toumiya wins! He gets Nakaguchi to fly out to center and he yields only the 1 yet again. He can't keep doing that though...

Top 4th
Tsune makes a great stretching catch on a liner from Shoukei on what looked like a clean inning. But a small hiccup as Motouji walks Toumiya.

Yoshida though makes that hiccup look a bit bigger after Yoshida singles to right, putting runners at the corners!

But Ishii gets under one and flies out to center. Tokumoto secures it for the the 3rd out.

Bottom 4th
Fukuda-kantoku will try to piece together this game on the mound. #15 Itoi comes in to pitch and occupies Toumiya's spot in the lineup.

Good start as Tsune swings and misses on the slider for the first out.

Ishikawa with a ball back up the middle, Ishii tries to make the sliding catch, but it gets through.

Now Ishikawa getting in on stealing act! He takes off on the 1-1 count and beats the throw!

Once again though, Itoi pulls the string on the slider, striking out Yuuya for the second out.

Itou successfully puts up the bagel as Motouji grounds to 3rd to end the inning.

Top 5th
One down and Yamada booms a ball to dead center! Tokumoto sprinting back, makes the catch near the fence for the 2nd out.

The clean inning is ruined when Motouji walks Onoda, but that's the extent of the things as Kubo strikes out looking to end the inning.

Bottom 5th
Tokumoto finally gets to put the ball in play, but flies out to right. Instead it's Ootani who gest a single back up the middle.

But Itou gets ahead of Himeno 0-2... and then throws the ball away on a throw to 1st! Now Himeno has a chance to get back yet another run.

Himeno gets more life afer Kubota can't catch a foul fly! Will that come back to haunt them?

NO! Himeno swings and misses on the slider and there's 2 outs!

Onoda goes out to have a word with Itoi before pitching to Kawai. Once again, Itou is ahead of Kawai 1-2 before the pseudo-pitchout. And another ball wide fills up the count.

Ball 4! They elect to go outside, but he doesn't do anything. Douten runner on base for Nakaguchi.

But Nakaguchi hits one off the end of the bat! Kubo in cengter to field it and the inning is over! We hit the break with Kiryuu Dai-ichi nursing a 2-run lead over Ryuukokudai Heian!

Top 6th
Harada-kantoku makes a change before the 6th. Motouji leaves the mound and in steps ace number Nakata.

And he's working quickly on the mound. Against the bottom of Kiryuu's lineup, he gets Kubo to foul out to Kawai and Shoukei to ground to 2nd. He then emphatically heads to the dugout as he rings up Itou on the slider.

Bottom 6th
? Itou walks Tsune, but that pitch even though it didn't hit the framed glove still came over for what I thought was a strike.

Tsune takes off! Onoda fies to 2nd... OUT!!

Onoda finally wins the battle as he guns down Tsune!

But Itoi puts the runner back on 1st as he hits Ishikawa.

Ishikawa takes off for 2nd, but Onoda can't secure the ball to make the throw! Heian is running roughshot on the basepaths!

Whatever was working for Itoi isn't as he falls behind Yuuya 3-1 before finally getting a swing.

SANSHIN!!!!! Yuuya strikes out looking on a fastball inside!

Well, Nakata was in for his 1 inning as #17 Iwashita comes in to hit for him. And now Fukuda-kantoku sends in sidearmer #18 Takano to counter!

And Iwashita is all crossed up! He falls behind 0-2, but manages to take a couple to level the count.

SANSHIN!!!!!!

Iwashita feebly swings at the curve and Heian is held off the board!

Top 7th
#10 Takahashi Keiji enters the game now presumably to finish the game. This as ace Yamada warms up in the bullpen!

As for Keiji, his inning is rather short. Just a grand total of 7 pitches and he retires the top of the Kiryuu lineup.

Bottom 7th
Fukuda-kantoku things he's gone far enough. Ace Yamada takes the hill as #3 Hayamizu enters the last spot in the lineup and takes over at 1B.

Tokumoto greets him with a single to right. And then he takes off for 2nd! Onoda double-clutches and this throw is way late!

Ootani grounder to short, AHHHH!!!!

Shoukei can't field the ball and everyone's safe!!! Fukuda-kantoku quickly calls for time...

Himeno up, looking to bunt the runners along.

AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! Yamada throws to 2nd, but no one's covering! Shoukei is late and it goes into center! everyone advances a base on the error!

Yamada makes that error effectively a bunt as Himeno strikes out on a slider outside.

Kawai up to try and possibly tie the game. Gives the ball a rip, but foul.

Grounder to 3rd! Kubota bounces the ball home! Onoda's tag is late as a result and it's 4-3!

Nakaguchi with a liner to right! Yanagiya makes the catch, Ootani tagging up! Yanagiya's throw home... not in time!! Heian has jumped on Kiryuu's miscues and has tied the game in their lucky 7!

Top 8th
Now how will Kiryuu respond now that their lead is gone?

After such a good start at the plate, Yamada is retired for the 2nd time chasing the slider outside.

2 down for Kiryuu, Kubo gets Kiryuu's first hit since the 4th with a single to right.

Kubo takes off for 2nd! No throw from Yuuya! Kiryuu with a mini-chance as they walk Kubota on 4 straight. Harada-kantoku calls for time.

Keiji gets ahead of Shoukei 0-2, but Shoukei levels the count.

Shoukei gets one off the handle and towards 3rd! Tsune makes the throw to 1st, 3 out!

Bottom 8th
Is this the final stanza for Kiryuu Dai-ichi? Yamada hits Tsune to start off the inning. Ishikawa bunts him along.

Yuuya with ball to deep center! Kubo makes the catch, but Tsune advances another 90 feet. It'll be up to Keiji to try and drive the run in.

Rip down the 1st base line.. Foul!!!!!

Now with 2 strikes, he starts fouling off anything close. 1, 2, 3 foul balls. Yet another foul... Ball 2... Ball 3! The top of the lineup looms large!

Grounder to short! Shoukei up with it! Throw to 1st.. 3 out! Yamada sneaks out of one as we head to the final inning of regulation!

Top 9th
Hayamizu in for his first AB. Winds up flying to center for the 1st out.

Yoshioka with a liner to right, but it's right to Otani for the 2nd out.

And Kiryuu will have to play for enchousen as Ishii lines to 2nd for the 3rd out!

Bottom 9th
Chopper to short by Tokumoto, quick throw to 1st... in time! But not by much!

Full count to Ootani, but he flies out to right.

Himeno pops it up! Onoda secures it for the 3rd out. We're headed to enchousen again!

Top 10th
Yanagiya singles to left for a base hit! Yamada in to bunt, lays it down.

Onoda can't drive him in! Popup to center too shallow to even advance the runner.

SANSHIN! Kubo can only turn and head back to the dugout after being rung up!

Bottom 10th
Comebacker from Kawai hits Yamada in foot and deflects toward the right side!

Wild pitch! Kawai advances to 2nd! And now 3rd as Nakaguchi bunts him along.

Time from Fukuda-kantoku as the sayonara run is 90 feet away!

They will not walk Tsune and Yuuya to load the bases. Or so I thought. Depsite getting 2 strikes, they wind up waking Tsune, and then walk Yuuya to indeed load the bases.

Wild pitch!!!! Kawai sprints home and Heian comes back to win 5-4 in 10 innings!

(Final writeup tomorrow as I am falling asleep)

Sunday, March 30, 2014

86th Senbatsu - Day 9 - Replay - Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima) vs. Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma)

So remember when I said we didn't know anything about these teams because they blew out their opponents in the first round?

Well, we still don't know anything about these teams - because I could barely keep up with the action as the teams apparently wanted to set some type of record for shortest 15 inning draw in history.

2 hours, 24 minutes.

And because I was blogging, tweeting, and scoring - I could barely discern anything from the game. Not that I think I could mind you even if I was paying attention considering they'd hit every first pitch into play if they could have.

Kidding aside, the fact that they weren't hacking away from the 9th inning onwards suggested they wanted to play a sudden death type of game. But it'd be rather improbable to have both teams actually planning such a strategy.

I'd almost want to reiterate what I said in jest yesterday. I don't think these teams thought they had a shot at winning senbatsu, so they decided - let's play to a draw, and then we get to play again all by ourselves! We'll have the limelight all to ourselves!

All the other 7 qualified teams would also be thanking them because all their teams get an extra day of rest.

Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
SS Nakabayashi Kouki
LF Tanaka Takuya
2B Nishijima Haruto
CF Sakagaki Kazuya
3B Okuda Shingo
RF Nikaku Taiyou
1B Kumata Jyunpei
C Tanaka Keisuke
P Yamaoka Shuuya

Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma)
LF Yoshida Ryuuto
2B Ishii Shouta
RF Yanagiya Sansuke
P Yamada Tomoki
C Onoda Toki
3B Kubota Shinji
CF Kubo Shunsuke
1B Hayamizu Takanari
SS Takahashi Shoukei

____________________________________________________________

15:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Both aces are out to start again. No relief starts for the replay!

Nakabayashi takes 3 pitches! It's a miracle! He does groundout to short though.

Takuya also taking pitches, goes to 2-2 before he makes contact. Shot to 3rd, but Kubota has it and goes to 1st for the 2nd out.

And I think we're going to have a normal game because while all 3 batters are retired in order, they are taking pitches.

Bottom 1st
That being the case, which ace will run out of gas first?

Yoshida for Kiryuu hitting a ton of pitches foul. Finally gets the ball into play and bloops a single to left center! Takuya has the ball go off the soft ground (it rained quite a bit) and off his glove, and that allows Yoshida to go to 2nd!

Ishii with the bunt to move him over, and it takes a great play from Okuda on the bare-handed throw to just get him out.

Yanagiya single to center! He delivers a first pitch single to center and Kiryuu Dai-ichi leads 1-0!

Yanagiya takes off for 2nd! Throw from Keisuke... not in time! Kiryuu trying to leave no doubt this game! Yamada does the right thing - hitting a grounder to the right side to advance the runner.

Yamaoka leaves it at 1 though as Onoda chases the slider, but it's Hiroshima Shinjyou that must chase the run!

Top 2nd
Hiroshima gets the douten runner on after Yamada hits Sakagaki.

Hit-and-run! Sakagaki takes off, and Okuda hits a sharp liner... caught by Kubota! Sakagaki is helpless as he's doubled off at 1st for the double play!

Nikaku grounds out to end the inning, but hard luck for Hiroshima there.

Bottom 2nd
Other than the Yanagiya single, each AB so far has gone at least 3 pitches. Kubota is no different as he goes 2-2 before hitting a weak grounder back to Yamaoka.

Kubo works count full before missing on the cutter.

But Hayamizu drives a ball to center! Sakagaki running back to the wall... slips and falls! The ground wreaking havoc for Hiroshima! I don't think he would have gotten to it anyways, and Hayamizu doesn't take an extra base.

The small chance for Kiryuu evaporates as Takahashi pops one up. It's still a bit of an adventure in the outfield, but Nakabayashi makes the catch for the 3rd out.

Top 3rd
Kumata breaks trend and swings on the first pitch, but hits a weak ball back to Yamada.

Keisuke getting ahead of Yamada 3-0, but Yamada comes back to fill up the count and throws a ballsy slider inside that just catches the inside edge.

Hiroshima taking pitches, but having no additional success at the plate. Yamaoka grounds to short and they're still hitless.

Bottom 3rd
Yoshioka first pitch lines a base hit just onto the outfield grass in left. Once again, Ishii bunts him along.

Yanagiya blooper to short center! Takuya charging in, but it drops in! Yoshida had to hold up, but the top of the order for Kiryuu is threatening yet again!

Looks like Hiroshima will play for the DP instead of the back home with Yamada coming up.

Yanagiya taking off for 2nd! It's a pitchout! Yamada strikes out swinging, but Keisuke double clutches and the throw is late! Now a base hit from Onoda could score 2!

But instead it's a grounder to 3rd! Okuda comes up with it, goes to 1st, and that's the 3rd out! Yamaoka getting into trouble again, but only has yielded that one run!

Top 4th
Still nothing going for Hiroshima... Nakabayashi and Takuya both ground out.

Nishijima with a hard grounder to 2nd, but Ishii can't field it cleanly! Throws to 1st... not in time! A diving Nishijima beats out the throw!

Sakagaki with a ball down the right field side.. fair! Nishijima off on contact makes it to 3rd! Douten runner on 3rd!

Okuda grounder to 2nd! Hayamizu can't get it! Ishii backing up the play gets the ball, but finds no one at first! Yamada scrambles as Ishii throws to 1st...

And Yamada steps on 1st just beating out Okuda for the 3rd out!

Bottom 4th
Kubota starts off the inning with a walk from Yamaoka who actually threw behind him on the full count. Kubo bunts him along for Hayamizu.

Yamaoka careful with Hayamizu, mainly working away. But he leaves one over and Hayamizu drives one to right! Nikaku is there to make the catch, but Kubota tags up to 3rd.

But once again Yamaoka gets out of the pinch! Takahashi pops it up on the 1st base side and Keisuke makes the catch in foul territory for the 3rd out!

Top 5th
Hiroshima's hitters can't even get the ball in the outfield to challenge the fielders' ability in the wet.

Yamada gets 2 more groundouts before Keisuke finally hits a ball to the outfield. But it's a high fly and Yoshida has plenty of time to get to it.

Bottom 5th
Yamaoka finally retires Yoshida on a grounder to 2nd.

Ishii though, finally able to swing the bat, hits a ball back up the middle! Yamaoka stumbles to field it as the ball bounces off the mound and into center for a base hit!

How does the saying go? Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me?

Well, it's not quite that, but Ishii tries to pull a Yanagiya and steal 2nd, but this time Yamaoka has him picked off! Ishii is run down 1-3-6 for the 2nd out!

And with everything all out of sorts, Yanagiya goes down on 3 straight pitches, just watching the fastball down the middle for the 3rd out!

So Yamaoka has allowed baserunners every inning, but yielded just one run. Unfortunately, his team has 2 hits total...

Top 6th
Apparently, Hiroshima's batters got the message about hitting the ball in the air.

But they can't be too routine of a fly...

Yamaoka hits one almost right to Yoshida, and then Nakabayashi pops one up next to home and Onoda makes the catch.

Takuya hits a popup to left, but it's in foul territory where the astroturf is, and Yoshida is free to make the sliding catch near the fence for the out!

Bottom 6th
Kiryuu Dai-ichi making a change in strategy possibly, trying to shorten the game. Yamada and Onoda both get out on the first pitch. Kubota tries to keep Yamaoka's pitch count rising, but eventually grounds to 1st.

Top 7th
Nishijima one of the few batters having success against Yamada today, collects his 2nd hit with a grounder past a diving Hayamizu.

Despite it being late in the game, Sakoda-kantoku does not elect to have #4 batter Sakagaki bunt.

Hit and run! Sakagaki hit it down the left field line! Yoshida running over from his position in left proper... still running into foul territory... dives... and makes the catch! Yoshida with his 2nd great catch of the game!

#18 Toometsuka comes in to hit for Nikaku. Sharp grounder to the right side, smothered by Hayamizu! Goes to the bag and a leadoff hit goes begging!

Bottom 7th
Toometsuka stays in to play RF.

Kubo scooter down the 3rd base line, past the diving Okuda for a leadoff single!

Hayamizu swinging away, ball back up middle for a seeing-eye single! Are things falling apart for Yamaoka?

Takahashi with the bunt, Okuda charging in, AHH!!

The ball takes an irregular final bounce and Okuda can't adjust! All safe! Oh boy, things are not looking good for Hiroshima now..

Yoshida puts the bat out on the ball and hits a soft liner to right for a base hit! Kubo scores to make it 2-0!

Ishii tries to get the sac fly, but it's too short and everyone has to hold.

Yanagiya with a hard grounder to 2nd, *sighs*

The ball bounces high off of Nishijima's glove and into right scoring another run to make it 3-0. Nishijima looks a bit distraught about the error...

Yamada tacks on another run with a sac fly before Onoda grounds out to end the inning. But it's a 4-0 lead and I just don't think Hiroshima has it in them for a comeback.

Top 8th
#11 Sasaki comes in to hit for Kumata, but goes down swinging.

And while Yamaoka gets on base due to an error, Nakabayashi pops out to 2nd to make it a relatively quick inning.

Bottom 8th
Sasaki stays in to play 1B.

Yamaoka with 2 quick outs, but then Hayamizeu hits a ball to left center. Takuya sells out on the sliding catch, but he's unfortunately no Yoshida and the ball gets by him. Sakagaki backing up gets the ball in, but not before Hayamizu's in with a triple.

Yamaoka finishes his Koushien performance freezing Takahashi on a fastball. At least he gets that memory, if nothing else.

Top 9th
Credit to Hiroshima Shinjyou though, they're not just trying to hit the first pitch - they're still trying to get on base.

But unfortunately it's the same old story. 3 up, 3 down for Hiroshima as Sakagaki chases the slider for the final out.

While it did not have the frenetic pace of their first game, they still finished this game in 98 minutes.

Both pitchers did not look the worse for wear, so it perhaps would be which ace could hold out the longest which would determine the game.

It would be apparent though that Kiryuu Dai-ichi had all the chances in the game though, and finally pulled away in the 7th.

While the issues for Kiryuu Dai-ichi are apparent, they have to time to rest. They'll play their 3rd game in 3 days tomorrow when they play Ryuukokudai Heian!

Notable Players
Yamada Tomoki (Kiryuu Dai-ichi) - CG, SHO, 3 H, 3 K, HBP
Yoshida Ryuuto (Kiryuu Dai-ichi) - 3-4, R, RBI
Yanagiya Sansuke (Kiryuu Dai-ichi) - 2-4, RBI, K, 2 SB
Hayamizu Takanari (Kiryuu Dai-ichi) - 3-4, 2B, 3B, R
Yamaoka Shouya (Hiroshima Shinjyou) - 8 IP, 2 ER, 10 H, 6 K, BB
Nishijima Haruto (Hiroshima Shinjyou) - 2-4
Sakagaki Kazuya (Hiroshima Shinjyou) - 1-3, HBP

Saturday, March 29, 2014

86th Senbatsu - Day 8 - Game 2 - Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma) vs. Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)

Both Hiroshima Shinjyou and Kiryuu Dai-ichi breezed through their first round games with both teams giving up a combined total of 5 hits. Hiroshima Shinjyou defeated Hokushinetsu runner-up Toukai Dai-san while Kiryuu Dai-ichi defeated Shikoku champs Imabari Nishi. Both teams from weaker regions, but Imabari Nishi theoretically might have more pull.

In reality though we don't know any more about these teams then we did before save for maybe a little in regards to the pitching. Hiroshima Shinjyou's ace Yamaoka clearly dominated his opponents more than his counterpart, but then again Toukai Dai-san may have been the weaker team of the two.

So really, we don't know anything at all...

Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma)
LF Yoshida Ryuuto
2B Ishii Shouta
RF Yanagiya Sansuke
P Yamada Tomoki
C Onoda Toki
1B Hayamizu Takanari
CF Kubo Shunsuke
3B Kubota Shinji
SS Takahashi Shoukei

Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
SS Nakabayashi Kouki
LF Tanaka Takuya
2B Nishijima Haruto
CF Sakagaki Kazuya
3B Okuda Shingo
RF Nikaku Taiyou
1B Kumata Jyunpei
C Tanaka Keisuke
P Yamaoka Shuuya

____________________________________________________________

11:35 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Yoshida hot shot to 3rd, bounces off of Okuda and towards the camera well! E5 to start the game. Ishii bunts him over (and almost is safe!).

But Yanagiya can't even move the runner 90 feet as he grounds the other way to short. In fact, he's stranded when Yamada grounds right to Kumata at 1st.

Bottom 1st
Yamada off to a good start, striking out Nakabayashi on an outside fastball, and then having Takuya sky a ball to center.

Nishijima ruins the clean inning with a single past a diving Takahashi. Yamada compounds things by hitting Sakagaki (though really he didn't try that hard to get out of the way). He's redeemed when Shingo hits a lazy fly to left for the 3rd out.

Top 2nd
Onoda's bid for a base hit goes begging as his liner is snagged by a leaping Nishijima.

After that, it's smooth sailing as Hayamizu whiffs on the outside fastball, and Kubo quickly grounds to 1st there after.

Bottom 2nd
Yamada gets a real HBP when he plunks Nikaku on the back.

But instead of a bunt, Nikaku takes off for 2nd! Onoda with the strong throw, but Nikaku just slides in ahead of the tag!

Kumata lays down the bunt, and Yamada goes to 3rd!! Safe!! Nikaku slides in ahead of the throw, and Yamada puts himself in to a big pinch as Fukuda-kantoku calls time.

Keisuke with a fly to left! Yoshida camps, ready to throw home, and makes the catch! Nikaku races for home, relay throw... not in time! The hit batter comes around to score and Hiroshima Shinjyou leads 1-0!

Sakoda-kantoku has last batter Yamaoka bunt the runner along to flip the lineup back to Nakabayashi.

And all of a sudden, Yamada is struggling. He walks Nakabayashi on 4 straight! Though to be fair, he looks to have been squeezed a bit.

Now Takuya with a liner to right for a base hit! Kumata stops at 3rd and it's manrui for Hiroshima!

Yamada can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Nakajima hits a grounder to 2nd, and Ishii goes the short way for the 3rd out. Early on though, Yamada is not helping his own cause.

Top 3rd
That should help! Takahashi with one down hits a streaking grounder past the glove of Okuda for a single.

Yoshida with the safety bunt! Okuda charging in, but he's coming in from a ways away and his throw is late! All safe!

And Takahashi takes off for 3rd! No throw from Keisuke!! Douten runner 90 feet away!

Ishii with a pop fly to right. Nikaku coming in, makes the catch... and Takahashi has to hold up as Nikaku's throw forces him to hold up!

Yamaoka gets out of the jam! Yanagiya pops one up! Takuya comes in and secures the ball to retire the side!

Bottom 3rd
Yamada gets a quick out as Sakagaki fouls out to Hayamizu. A well placed slider the causes Okuda to pound one in the dirt to 2nd...

And it's a quick 1-2-3 inning as he goes exclusively outside to Nikaku and he swings and misses on the fastball for the 3rd out.

Top 4th
The pace seems to be going very quickly in this game. I can barely keep up with the outs.

Yamada first pitch swings and chops one to 2nd for the out. Then Yamaoka decides that he too wants to go outside and gets Onoda to chase a ball for the 2nd out.

He caps it off with a routine comebacker from Hayamizu for his 2nd clean inning.

Bottom 4th
Any rattling I thought Yamada had after that 2nd inning seems to have disappeared. 2 groundouts and a "I think I should swing" swing from Yamaoka mark Yamada's 2nd consecutive clean inning.

Top 5th
Kubo with a fly foul down the left field side, Takuya going towards the fence.. makes the catch in front of the Kiryuu ouen-dan.

After Kubota goes down swinging on the changeup, Takahashi flies out to left for yet another 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 5th
This quick play is generally doing nothing but generating outs.

Nakabayashi first pitch grounds out to Takahashi. Takuya takes a whopping 5 pitches before he flies out to center.

And Nakajima lines one sharply right to Hayamizu for the 3rd out.

5 innings in 50 minutes with the teams combining for 4 hits an a run. It's like the teams have somewhere to be at later, or they saw the first game running slightly late so they're trying to get back on schedule.

Top 6th
Another one pitch out. Yoshida grounds out to short.

Yamaoka quickly gets ahead of Ishii 0-2, and gets him to hit a ball back up the middle. Nakabayashi gets that one too for the 2nd out.

There's a small breather as Yanagiya gets ahead 3-0 before Yamaoka fights back to fill the count. But once again, another grounder to short. Nakabayashi picks up 3 assists in another quick half inning.

Bottom 6th
Sakagaki actually showing a modicum of patience at the plate, gets rewarded as his ball up the middle sneaks by Ishii for a leadoff hit. Okuda moves him along.

Nikaku with a bounder to the left side, gets by Kubota! But Takahashi backs up the play and fields it! Fies to first, beats out a diving (and rolling, and tumbling) Nikaku. He does advance the runner.

But Hiroshima Shinjyou back to swinging away and Kumata grounds to 2nd to end the inning.

Top 7th
Yamada with a grounder to 2nd, and Nishijima boots it! Kiryuu with their first runner since the 3rd inning!

AH! Yamaoka throws it away! His pickoff throw goes into foul territory as Yamada races to 2nd.

He's heading for 3rd!! Kumata fires from at the fence... and it reaches Okuda on the fly!! Yamada can only walk back to the dugout after being thrown out trying to press the initiative.

Which is a real shame beacause Onoda hits a clean single through the left side!

But once again the early swings come back on Kiryuu. Hayamizu and Kubo fly out on just 3 pitches and Kiryuu is literally swinging themselves into oblivion,

Bottom 7th
Dear Lord, I'm about a full half inning behind the game. Keisuke and Yamaoka get retired on just 2 pitches each before Nakabayashi pokes a ball to center for a base hit.

And then to try and help the offense, he gets a great jump and steals 2nd!

But already behind 0-2, Takuya hits a short liner to left where Yoshida is waiting.

Top 8th
Kubota gets another leadoff runner for Kiryuu as he lines a ball to right! Takahashi bunts him along.

Yoshida with a chopper to the wrong side. Nakabayashi times the bounce, catches and fires to 1st... In time for the 2nd out!

Ishii with a huge chop off the ground! Nakabayashi charging towards 2nd... catches, throws... but a diving (WHY?) Ishii beats it out! Now a base hit can tie the game up!

Yanagiya up and just hacking away. Fouling off pitch after pitch.

After several sliders, Yamaoka challenges with the fastball, and Yanagiya makes him pay! Clean single to left and Kubota can just walk home to tie the game! It's 1-1!

Yamada quickly flies out to center, but the constant hacking finally produces some results!

Bottom 8th
Nishijima with a hard grounder to 1st, Hayamizu loses track of it! Yamada scrambling to cover the bag gets there in front of a diving (AGAIN WHY?) Nishijima for the 1st out.

2 down now and Okuda hits a blooper to right center! Wait, it's not a blooper, it's a gapper! Yanagiya there to field it, but not before Okuda reaches 2nd! Small chance for Hiroshima!

That is quickly snuffed out. Nikaku hits a foul fly that hangs up en enough for Yanagiya to catches near the bullpen for the 3rd out.

Top 9th
Yamaoka falling behind leadoff batter Onoda 3-0 before firing 2 fastballs in to fill the count. Now Onoda starts fouling pitches off. Yamaoka wins the battle with a groundout to 3rd.

Hayamizu with a grounder to short, bu it takes a final bad hop that bounces off of Nakabayashi! He makes a bad decision forcing the throw to 1st. It's late and high, and fortunately for him not in the camera well.

With the gyakuten runner on, Fukuda-kantoku will play for the one shot. #17 Onaga comes in to run for Hayamizu and is bunted over by Kubo. So 2 down for Kubota.

Interestingly, Kiryuu Dai-ichi chooses now to start taking pitches. Kubota working the count full.

AH!!!

Yamaoka fires to 2nd and they pick off Onaga! Inning over!

I get to see the replay, and it appears that while Nakabayashi gives him the bag, when he goes for the tag with the glove, it collides with Onaga's arm for the out!

Bottom 9th
Onaga stays in the game in CF, Kubo goes to 1B.

In fact Hiroshima Shinjyou also is taking more pitches (slightly) here in the 9th as well. It's like both team disposed of the first 8 innings and wanted to play sudden death ball.

Still, both Kumada and Keisuke pop out, while Yamaoka feebly swings at the fastball outside to end the inning.

So the teams get what they wanted. Sudden death ball.

Top 10th
Kubota gets another full AB against Yamaoka, but goes down swinging.

Takahashi with a grounder to 2nd, and Nakabayashi even with taking his time, throws it into the dirt pulling Kumata off the bag! Kiryuu will play for the one-timer again as Yoshida bunts him along.

Ishii first pitch singles to shallow right!! They're sending Takahashi home! Nikaku fires... it's on a rope! Keisuke has it and Takahashi is thrown out at home to end the inning!

Bottom 10th
In the 90 seconds my internet goes wonky, Nakabayashi and Takuya have managed to get themselves out and I get to see Nishijima ground out to 2nd.

Top 11th
Yanagiya gives Kiryuu the gakuten runner as he singles to right. But Yamada isn't bunting! And he flies out to right instead!

That's okay though as Onoda singles to right! Kiryuu with something brewing here.

But Onaga first pitch grounds to 2nd! Nishijima goes to 2nd for 1, but Nakabayashi's throw to 1st is late. Gyakuten run 90 feet away.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Onaga gets caught off 1st by Yamaoka! He's run down 1-3-6 and the inning is over! That's the 2nd time he's been caught on the basepaths!!

Bottom 11th
Now it's Hiroshima Shinjyou's turn! Sakagaki lines one past Takahashi to center!

Okuda bunts the runner along. AHHH!!!

Kubota short hops Kubo and everyone's safe! And after Nikaku's bunt, the sayonara run is 90 feet away!

And so they rightly walk Kumata to load the bases.

Keisuke with a chance to end the game with a decent fly ball.

But instead it's a grounder to 1st! Kubo goes home for 1, Onoda goes to 1st... double play! Keisuke dives into 1st (WHY, WHY????!!!) grounds into the 3-2-4 double play and the inning is over!

Top 12th
Kubo with the dribbler up the 3rd base side, Okuda fire to first beating a diving Kubo.

Kubota takes 4 pitches but pops out to Kumata. And Takahashi chases the fastball outside for the 3rd out.

Bottom 12th
Yamaoka tries to draw the walk, but in his attempts to foul off pitches with the count full he swings an a pitch eye high and grounds to 3rd. Nakabayashi and Takuya are retired on 1 pitch each and we're already headed to the 13th.

Top 13th
2 flyouts to center and I can take a breather as Yanagiya starts taking pitches. Eventually, after fouling off a couple, he runs the count full...

AND DRAWS A WALK!

This is news people! With all the swinging away, this is the first walk issued by Yamaoka!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled game, already in progress.

And we move to the bottom of the 13th as Yamada has grounded to 2nd to end the inning.

Bottom 13th
It's more of the same. Nishijima gounds to 2nd, Sakagaaki grounds to 3rd. Okuda changes things up with a strikeout on a forkball.

Top 14th
So apparently the strategy is, first batter work the count to get on base. If they don't, hack away. If they do, bunt, then hack away.

Onoda works the count full, but grounds to 3rd. So 3 pitchers later, the side is retired.

Bottom 14th
Nikaku blows that theory out of the water swinging on the first pitch. Kumata takes 2 pitches to grounds to 3rd.

Keisuke with a grounder to 2nd to end the... no, wait. Ishii boots the ball, then can't field it at all so it's an E4 and the inning continues.

What, what?

Keisuke must have read something wrong because he just takes off for 2nd! Yamada calmly goes to 2nd ant that's the inning!

Top 15th
We are already at the last inning!

Nakabayashi almost throws away the grounder from Kubota but Kumata keeps the foot on the bag.

Takahashi quickly then grounds to 1st. Kumata's toss to Yamaoka is a bit high, but Yamaoka emphatically steps on 1st for the 2nd out.

And Yoshida just waves on the slider for the 3rd out.

Bottom 15th
So the best Kiryuu Dai-ichi can play for is a draw.

And with the endgame at hand, Sakota-kantoku rightly pinch hits for Yamaoka. #17 Fujimoto gets those honors.

But he follows the game plan and quickly grounds out to 1st.

Nakabayashi making things interesting! He singles back up the middle! Hiroshima Shinjyou with the sayonara run on base!

After a bunt by Takuya, Fukuda-kantoku calls time. Nishijima looking to end it here in the 15th.

Fastball over the middle for strike 1. Nishijima goes after the 2nd pitch and is behind 0-2

Ball way out and up... 1-2. Yamada with the token turn to 2nd.

Popup! Kubo ranging to his right, still going, still going... Makes the catch!

The game in a neat 2 hours and 24 minutes ends in a 1-1 draw! (That has to be a record)

I have no idea what either team's strategy was other than just to swing away. The best I can come up with is that these teams know they won't win Koushien. So, instead of having a winner and loser, how about playing another game for free?

Not to mention the fact that all other teams get one extra day of rest. Meitoku Gijyuku approves.

So, Kiryuu Dai-ichi and Hiroshima Shinjyou will do it again tomorrow as the only game of Day 9 at 13:00 JST.

Notable Players
I'll do this after the conclusion of games today. A lot of not very much to go through.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

86th Senbatsu - Day 5 - Game 2 - Imabari Nishi (Ehime) vs. Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma)

The final quadrant appears to be rather weak in half of it as the second matchup gives a feeling much like the first game.

Both Imabari Nishi and Kiryuu Dai-ichi's offenses are rather weak, dependent on base hits, and in Kiryuu Dai-ichi's case whatever few they can get.

As for the pitching, Imabari's Jinno you might just play craps to determine if he's going to be good or not while Kiryuu Dai-ichi's Yamada will keep his defense busy just about every AB.

It's not going to be a pretty game I don't think. It'll either be very boring, or very interesting and probably nothing else in between.

Imabari Nishi (Ehime)
SS Tagashira Kanji
2B Wakasa Daichi
C Ochi Tatsuki
1B Akigawa Yuushi
P Jinno Yasuhiro
RF Sugino Kouta (#8)
LF Nishihara Kento (#17)
CF Yoshihara Yuunosuke (#16)
3B Sugiuchi Kouki

Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma)
LF Yoshida Ryuuto
2B Ishii Shouta
RF Yanagiya Sansuke
P Yamada Tomoki
C Onoda Toki
1B Hayamizu Takanari
CF Kubo Shunsuke
3B Kubota Shinji
SS Takahashi Shoukei

____________________________________________________________

11:31 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Well, Imabari Nishi is swinging away relatively early in counts. Tagashira hits a liner to right, but Yanagiya is there for the catch. After that though, 2 routine outs and it's a good start for Yamada.

Bottom 1st
Yoshida meanwhile has success right off the bat, hitting a single to left center. He's bunted over to 2nd, and moved to 3rd on a grounder.

Jinno just 1 out away from getting out of the jam, but he leaves a slider over the plate and Yamada sends it to left center for a base hit, scoring Yoshida and giving Kiryuu Dai-ichi the 1-0 lead!

Yamada though for some reason takes off too early and is run down for the 3rd out.

Top 2nd
Still nothing new for Imabari Nishi as they continue to go early on counts producing few results. Akigawa and Jinno with easy flyouts, while Sugino strikes out swinging on the slider.

Bottom 2nd
Once again Kiryuu leads off with a base hit as Onoda lines a ball to right. Once again, Fukuda-kantoku calls for the bunt, and Hayamizu obliges.

Kubo quickly cashes in the run! He drives the first pitch to deep left center and Yoshihara has no chance! Onoda scores to make it 2-0. Oono-kanoku calls time.

But Oono can't help Jinno stop the bleeding. Kubota with a grounder through the left side, though Kubo has to hold at 3rd.

Not for long though as after Takahashi gets hit in the head by a pitch, Yoshida grounds to short. Tagashira's only play is to 1st and Kubo scores to make it 3-0.

Ishii adds in a liner to center for good measure to round out the scoring at 4-0 as Yanagiya flies to right to end the inning.

Top 3rd
Small delay as Takahashi was still being tended to, but he comes out to continue the game.

Yamada continues to frustrate the Imabari batters. After Nishihara strikes out on the outside fastball, Oono-kantoku actually pinch-hits #7 Nishimoto for Yoshihara before he even gets an AB!

Sadly, Nishimoto can't do any better, skying the ball in front of home for Yamada to catch.

Sugiuchi swings and stumbles, but it doesn't matter as he flies out to right to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd
Nishimoto goes to his numbered position, and so does Sugino. Nishihara goes to to RF.

But Kiryuu continues to lay the metal on the ball. Yamada lines a ball deep to right, but Nishihara thankfully is playing back to field it.

Onoda though collects his 2nd hit with a smash through the left side past Sugiuchi.

With 2 down, and for the 2nd time in 3 innings(!), Onoda takes off too early and is picked off 1-6 for the 3rd out. What's up with that?

Top 4th
Imabari Nishi finally catches a break when Yamada misses inside on a full count pitch. Seeing as though it's their first opportunity, Wakasa bunts him over to 2nd.

Tagashira takes it on his own to take off for 3rd! Throw from Onoda not nearly in time and Imabari Nishi can get on the board with any decent fly ball to the outfield.

Instead he pops out to Ishii. And Yamada gets Akiyama out on front of a slider, and it results in a weak grounder to 2nd.

Bottom 4th
Kubo draws a full count walk and is immediately bunted over.

Takahashi exacts revenge as he takes the ball the other way on Jinno! Sugino misjudges the ball's speed and has to chase it back to the wall, giving Takahashi an RBI triple, and making it 5-0.

I just realized that Kiryuu's ouen-dan was playing Ama-chan. I think.

Despite another run sitting on 3rd, neither Yoshida or Ishii can drive him in, still it's a fairly comfortable lead given the circumstances.

Top 5th
Jinno with a ball back up the middle... just outside of the diving glove of Takahashi and Imabari Nishi has their first hit!

But after a Mizuno flyout to center, Yamada induces the 6-4-3 double play from Nishihara to end the inning.

Bottom 5th
No clean inning for Jinno. Yamada lines a single past Wakasa into center.

Interestingly, Oono-kantoku as Yamada (who's 2-2 so far), bunt the runner along. Ochi goes out to talk with Jinno.

Hayamizu pops up the first pitch! Ochi running back towards the 3rd base side... Makes the catch as we hear the thud of him colliding with the plastic window!

So thankfully no runs for Imabari Nishi, but it's clear they're in a lot of trouble.

Top 6th
One down and Sugiuchi hits a liner to right center. Kubo tries to charge in and track it down, but he's just a little late. Manages to catch it on the hop as he dives, limiting it to a single.

However, the next 2 batters can only get groundball outs, and so Imabari Nishi remains scoreless.

Bottom 6th
Hey! Jinno finally bets his first clean inning as he retires the bottom of the Kiryuu lineup in order! Yay for moral victories!

Top 7th
Unfortunately, that's about all they're getting because the offense has produced just 3 baserunners. 3 flyball outs from the heart of the lineup, and at this point you need to at least try and play to prevent the shutout.

Bottom 7th
Sugiuchi robs Yoshida of a base hit, as playing way in, he makes the diving stop and throw for the out.

Ishii gets hit flush in the back, prompting a quick visit from Ochi.

Yanagiya checks in with his first hit, sending the hanging fastball into the opposite field gap for a double.

Jinno finally clamps it down, with Yamada hitting a shallow fly unable to score Ishii from 3rd, and Onoda actually goes down swinging on the slider for the 3rd out.

Top 8th
Sugino with a drive to center... Kubo sprinting back... leaps and stretches out... lands and tumbles, but makes the catch! Sugino is probably wondering if his team can just catch a break...

#10 Kadota comes in to hit for Nishihara, but can't fare any better, and neither can Nishimoto...

Bottom 8th
Kadota says in at 1B. Akigawa goes to CF and Sugino goes to RF.

Hayamizu finally checks in with a base hit, a liner over Sugiuchi for a single. With that, every batter has a base hit. He's rewarded by being replaced by #17 Onaga on the basepaths. Kubo bunts him to 2nd.

Once again Jinno shuts down the last 2 batters and for his part, has kept Kiryuu Dai-ichi scoreless over the last 4 innings.

Top 9th
Onaga stays in at LF, Yoshida goes to CF, and Kubo goes to 1B.

Sugiuchi with a blooper to center, Yoshida charging in can't make it and it's a base hit! Sugiuchi taking off for 2nd, and Yoshida has no throw because no one is covering the bag! Heads up there from the last batter.

He gets advanced to 3rd on a groundout by Tagashira, and they have their best chance at preventing the shutout.

But Wakasa goes down swinging, so it'll be up to Ochi.

Hot shot to 1st, Kubota with the stop, but flubs on the ball! He tries to go back to it, but in the hurry misses again! That means that Sugiuchi can score preventing the shutout. 5-1.

Akigawa pops out to short, and that ends the game. Sadly this game felt like the first, with the Shikoku champs struggling in all phases of the game. I was surprised to see how Kiryuu was so solid in their base hitting early jumping out to the 5-0 lead. It did stall later, but should give them some confidence going into the next game against Hiroshima Shinjyou.

With Imabari Nishi's loss, only 3rd/4th place Meitoku Gijyuku remains for Shikoku...

Notable Players
Yamada Tomoki (Kiryuu Dai-ichi) - CG, SHO, 3 H, 3 K, BB
Onoda Toki (Kiryuu Dai-ichi) - 2-3, R
Yamada Tomoki (Kiryuu Dai-ichi) - 2-4, RBI
Kubo Shunsuke (Kiryuu Dai-ichi) - 1-3, 2B, 2 R, BB
Jinno Yasuhiro (Imabari Nishi) - 8 IP, 5 ER, 11 H, 4 K, BB, 2 HBP
Sugiuchi Kouki (Imabari Nishi) - 2-3, 2B, R
Jinno Yasuhiro (Imabari Nishi) - 1-3

Sunday, February 2, 2014

32 teams in 32 days - Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma)

Kiryuu Dai-ichi perhaps is making a comeback here with their runner-up performance in the Kanto Super-Regionals. They might still have a bit of a ways to go, but this is a start - especially after being unseeded in the prefecturals.

Road to Senbatsu
Gunma Prefecturals

def. Isesaki Seimei 3-0
def. Maebashi 2-1
def. Kiryuu 6-4
def. Numata 5-2
def. Takasaki Shougyoudai Fuzoku 3-2
lost Kendai Takasaki 3-2 (13 inn)

Super-Regionals

def. Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku 3-0
def. Kasumigaura 2x-1
def. Sano Nichidai 5-0
lost Hakuoudai Ashikaga 6-3

Hm, looking at Kiryuu Dai-ichi's resume, it doesn't look all that appealing. Their only game of note was their loss to Kendai Takasaki in the final, and then in the Super-Regionals they faced 2nd and 3rd tier schools up to (and including) their loss against Hakuoudai Ashikaga.

The good news is that it would appear that their pitching appears to be doing their job against the competition - remember that they put up their relief corps against Hakuoudai (though that could be interpreted now as a possible weakness). The staff is led by ace Yamada Kazuki (山田知輝) who throws in the upper 120s-lower 130s with a possible slider, curve and changeup.

Behind him is #11 Higashinomiya(?) Kazuo (東宮万夫) and #18 Nishiyama Yuuto (西山雄登). However, they were only used in the final when both teams did not necessarily have incentive to play their 1st team.

Oddly enough, despite Kiryuu Dai-ichi's status as an upper tier team in prefecture, there is very little information on the players outside of the pitchers. I found a short video with highlights of their game against Sano Nichidai, but that's about it.

That means I have surprisingly very little to go on regarding the Kanto runner-ups. The record does not suggest a very robust team to handle senbatsu and perhaps highlights how weak the Kanto region might have been (*ahem*Nisshougakushadai Fuzoku*ahem*), but we'll need to put them in context relative to the other regions.

高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)