With the exception of Tokyo, all Super-Regionals will be completed this weekend:
Kanto ex Tokyo
Well, there goes Narashino again... Starter Fukada gives up 2 runs early and the offense can't get going as they lose to Hakuoudai Ashikaga 3-1. Kendai Takasaki seemed to have Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku carrying a 3-1 lead into the final 2 innings, but a 3-spot in the 8th was their downfall.
On the other side, Yokohama starter Itou gives up 5 runs in the first inning, and while they wind up outhitting Sano Nichidai 11-9, they cannot make up the early deficit and lose 5-3. And finally, Kasumigaura gave a great fight against Kiryuu Dai-ichi and had stifled their offense. But with the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 9th, Kiryuu got runners on 1st and 2nd and #7 batter Onoda delivered the sayonara hit to center.
In the semifinals, Hakuoudai's Higa scattered 7 hits over 9 innings, giving up just 1 run in the 9th inning for a 3-1 win over Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku. In the second game, Sano Nichidai had the tables turned on them. Kiryuu Dai-ichi scored 4 in the first inning, knocking starter Inaba out of the game and would go on to win 5-0.
So it'll be Hakuoudai Ashikaga and Kiryuu Dai-ichi will battle for the title while Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku and Sano Nichidai will need to wait for the phone call.
Kyushu
The semifinals did not go as I expected. After the strong performance by Chinzei so far, they went out and got 1-hit by Okinawa Shougaku, losing 4-1. Admittedly, it is not a good showing.
Misato Kougyou's ace Inami struggled to keep Kamimura Gakuen's batters from reaching base as he surrendered 10 hits, but he constantly wiggled his way out of trouble as Misato would never trail, winning 5-1 to advance to the finals!
And so, just over 3 weeks to the day, Misato Kougyou and Okinawa Shougaku will do battle once again at Okinawa Cellular Stadium Naha! In the prefectural final, the teams were scoreless until the 9th when Misato scored 3 to win the title.
Showing posts with label Kyushu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kyushu. Show all posts
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Aki Taikai Recap-to-date - Kyushu Super-Regional
Finishing up prefectural play:
Kumamoto
We had not one, but 2 upsets in the semifinals! First, Seiseikou fell behind Chinzei early and with their offense not setup to come from large deficits, 3 runs late for Chinzei was just too much. Seiseikou falls 5-1!
And in the other semifinals, Kyushu Gakuin could only manage 1 run against Taragi and they are upset as well 2-1! So we had a completely different final with Taragi guaranteeing their 1st ever super regional appearance, while Chinzei would be making their 26th appearance, but first in 15 years!
In that final, Taragi jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Chinzei started fighting back in the 5th. They would pull within 1 in the 8th, but it wouldn't be enough as Taragi claims their first ever title with a 4-3 win!
Nagasaki
As I expected, it was Souseikan and Hasami that progressed through the field. Souseikan easily handled Obama and Sasebo Kougyou to reach the finals and a super-regional birth. As for Hasami, they as expected were involved in 2 close games. First they found a response to every Oomura Kougyou score eventually holding on 6-5. They did the same to Nagasaki Shougyou, but Nagashou mounted a late game rally scoring 4 runs in the final 2 innings. It would just fall short as Hasami would win 8-7.
You can only play so many 1-run games though, and in the final Souseikan put up a run in each of the first 5 innings and defeated Hasami 7-1.
Super-Regionals
The super-regional bracket is as follows - they start 10/26
Kumamoto
We had not one, but 2 upsets in the semifinals! First, Seiseikou fell behind Chinzei early and with their offense not setup to come from large deficits, 3 runs late for Chinzei was just too much. Seiseikou falls 5-1!
And in the other semifinals, Kyushu Gakuin could only manage 1 run against Taragi and they are upset as well 2-1! So we had a completely different final with Taragi guaranteeing their 1st ever super regional appearance, while Chinzei would be making their 26th appearance, but first in 15 years!
In that final, Taragi jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Chinzei started fighting back in the 5th. They would pull within 1 in the 8th, but it wouldn't be enough as Taragi claims their first ever title with a 4-3 win!
Nagasaki
As I expected, it was Souseikan and Hasami that progressed through the field. Souseikan easily handled Obama and Sasebo Kougyou to reach the finals and a super-regional birth. As for Hasami, they as expected were involved in 2 close games. First they found a response to every Oomura Kougyou score eventually holding on 6-5. They did the same to Nagasaki Shougyou, but Nagashou mounted a late game rally scoring 4 runs in the final 2 innings. It would just fall short as Hasami would win 8-7.
You can only play so many 1-run games though, and in the final Souseikan put up a run in each of the first 5 innings and defeated Hasami 7-1.
Super-Regionals
The super-regional bracket is as follows - they start 10/26
- Waseda Saga (Saga 1) vs. winner of Ibusuki Shougyou (Kagoshima 2)-Yaeyama Shoukou (Okinawa 3)
- Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Kyushu 1) vs. Chinsei (Kumamoto 2)
- Kitsuki (Oita 1) vs. Hasami (Nagasaki 2)
- Nichinan Gakuen (Miyazaki 1) vs. Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa 2)
- Misato Kougyou (Okinawa 1) vs. Oita Shougyou (Oita 2)
- Souseikan (Nagasaki 1) vs. Kashima (Saga 2)
- Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima 1) vs. Nishi-Nippon Tankidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka 2)
- Taragi (Kumamoto 1) vs. winner of Nisshou Gakuen (Miyazaki 2)-Ginoza (Okinawa 4)
Friday, June 14, 2013
Haru Taikai Recap 3 - Chuugoku to Kyushu
Chuugoku Super-Regional
Shimane is the host this year, and so qualifies 4 teams while all other prefectures send 1:
Hiroshima's taikai had 43 teams, including the prefectural stalwarts Jyosuikan and Kouryou. But both would be upstaged by the same team - the champions Setouchi. They defeated Kouryou first 5-2 in the quarterfinals, then blanked Jyosuikan 3-0 (striking out 14!) in the semifinals. Both probably behind the ace Yamaoka Taisuke (山岡 泰輔), who apparently has a twitter account. Anyways, in the final, he scattered 10 hits to Hiroshima Shinjyou en route to a 3-1 win.
What is interesting is that in those final 3 games he struck out 15, 14 and 15 batters. That's right, he struck out 15 Kouryou and 14 Jyosuikan batters! This while having a fastball that apparently can tough 140 kph.
Tottori Jyouhoku led the field of seeded teams, but couldn't get past their first game, losing to Yazu 11-5. Yazu isn't really a pushover so it's not that bad of a loss. That win helped propel the team forward, where they faced another seeded team in Yonago Kita. But the duo of Endou and Ukeshima held the Yazu squad to just 1 run, allowing their team to come back with 2 in the 6th for the 2-1 victory.
Yamaguchi is also a 2-stage spring taikai. But from there teams such as Nanyou Kougyou, Ube Shougyou and Iwakuni all failed to advance to the Final 8. Nanyou Kougyou coughed up a lead to Karyou, Ube Shougyou couldn't make a lead last to Ube, and Iwakuni lost to Yanai Gakuen 4-3 in 12 in their first game.
There were some familiar representatives including Ube Koujyou, the aforementioned Karyou, and Hayatomo.
Hayatomo would have one disastrous inning against Suo-Oshima giving up 7 runs in a 7-2 loss. Ube Koujyou would go through 2 close games - first a 5-4 win over Karyou, then using a 3-run Lucky 7 to get past the aforementioned Suo-Oshima 3-2 to reach the final. Their opponent would be Takagawa Gakuen, who had no problems with Nagato and Hikari.
Surprisingly, Takagawa Gakuen's ace Hamamoto Shou (浜本 翔) limited Ube Koujyou to just 2 hits while striking out 5 and walking 1 in a 3-0 shutout!
Shimane also had a 2-stage taikai, with 15 groups and fall champ Masuda Shouyou getting a free pass to the 2nd stage. Risshoudai Shounan and Kaisei also advanced, and both actually in workmanlike fashion got to the finals. But Kaisei's ace Oda would somehow yield just 2 hits, but walked 8 and still managed to give up just 1 run for a 6-1 win. Izumo Nishi would bid sayonara to the island school of Oki for 3rd place (though both advanced so Oki really didn't say "goodbye").
So with 8 teams and 4 from Shimane, they obviously would be broken up with the remaining prefectures drawing a spot against each of the teams:
Oki actually led Takigawa Gakuen before giving up the lead in the 8th. They actually tied the game in the top of the 9th before losing it in sayonara fashion. Again. Setouchi actually led Izumo Nishi comfortably 8-3, but Izumo scored 3 in the 8th to make things interesting.
Kaisei actually blew their 8-3 lead in the 8th inning to Okayama Ridai Fuzoku, but won in the bottom of the 10th. Only Risshoudai Shounan had an easy go with a 6 inning shutout the Tottori champs.
The good times did not roll for the hometown teams though. Both were mercy ruled in 7 in the semifinals!! Setouchi defeated Risshoudai Shounan 9-2, and somehow Takagawa Gakuen scored 7 runs on 4 hits (and 6 walks) to shutout Kaisei 7-0!
In the final, Takagawa Gakuen took a 3-0 lead in the 2nd on Setouchi and managed to stay one step ahead of Setouchi's rallies to win 6-5 for their first spring title!
Chuugoku Super-Regional
Each team qualified 2 for the Super-Regional so it's reach the finals and move on.
In Tokushima the format was a little different. Naruto got a free pass, and it would just be the winner of the prefectural tournament that would advance along with them to the Super-Regional. The 4 seeded teams, Seikou Gakuen, Ikeda, Tokushima Shougyou and Kawashima all advanced to the quarterfinals with relative ease though the former 2 had to survive a 1-run game in the quarterfinals (and in Ikeda's case a 12-inning affair).
For Ikeda, the enchousen matchup proved to be costly as they went into extra innings again against Seikou Gakuen. They cried uncle in the 14th, losing 3-2. Meanwhile Kawashima waited until the bottom of the 9th to tie the game at 1-1 before finally winning in 12.
With both teams having played extra inning affairs, it would undoubtedly have an effect on the pitching staffs. Yet it was Kawashima's pitching that would suffer a critical failure. Seikou Gakuin would score in the final 5 innings for a 10-3 win. But with 10 days off to rest the arms, perhaps they lost the momentum of the tournament as Naruto had an easy 8-3 win in the position round.
Ehime is a 2-stage taikai, and with Saibi participating at Senbatsu, they too would only qualify the winner (along with Saibi) for the Super-Regionals.
There were quite a few casualties in the 1st stage. Saijyou was eliminated by Imabari Nishi in their first game. Uwajima Higashi lost to Uwajima Minami in the block final.
There would be no stopping Imabari Nishi through the prefecturals, including a 4-1 over Matsuyama Seiryou in the final and an easy 6-4 win over Saibi in the position round.
And finally in Kochi, with 2 teams making it to Senbatsu, it would be a 2-stage affair. The winner of the prefectural taikai would face the winner of Kochi and Tosa (the two Senbatsu participants) for seeding.
With those teams out of the way, Kochi Shougyou and Meitoku Gijyuku had relatively little trouble advancing through the bracket. But Kochi Shougyou, despite eking out a 5-4 win over Okou, defeated Meitoku Gijyuku 7-5 to advance for seeding.
In the Senbatsu game, Tosa actually took an early 3-0 lead, but a pair of 2-run innings would give favorite Kochi the lead. Tosa wouldn't give up easy though tying the game in the top of the 9th sending it to enchousen. Alas, Kochi's experience would prevail in the 11th. So it would be Kochi and Kochi Shougyou once again. And despite playing in an extra inning game the day before, Kochi once again bests Kochi Shougyou 3-1 to take 1st in the prefecture.
Onto the Super-Regionals and almost all top seeds advanced. The only casualty oddly enough was Kochi who let a 3-0 lead slip with 4 in the 8th losing 4-3. In other games, Jinsei Gakuen survived a 9th inning rally from Seikou Gakuen to win 3-2, Kotohira was no match for Imabari Nishi, and Naruto had to scramble after giving up a pair in the bottom of the 8th to Kochi Shougyou, managed to tie the game at 2, then close it out with a 3-spot in the 10th.
Naruto and Jinsei Gakuen then had no issues in the semifinals setting up the title game.
Naruto took the early 1-0 and 3-1 lead. But with just 3 outs to go for the title, they give up 3 runs to Jinsei Gakuen who proceeded to shut the door for just their 3rd title and 1st in 15 years.
Kyushu Super-Regionals
Like Shikoku, Senbatsu participants get a free pass. Unlike Shikoku, they get a free pass to the Super-Regionals instead of the seeding game within their prefecture. For this spring Super-Regional, Fukuoka qualifies 3, Kagoshima qualifies 2, host Miyazaki qualifies 4, and all other prefectures 1.
The teams from the Hokubu/Nanbu regionals were redrawn for the quarterfinals. Kurume Shougyou thought to have an easy game, but had to survive another 1-run affair against Yuusei. Toukai Dai-go and Jiyuugaoka wound up drawing each other, and the game did not disappoint. The lead changed 3 times in the span of 3 half-innings before the game would be tied up at 4-4. Toukai Dai-go scored 2 in the top of the 11th, and then held off a rally from Jiyuugaoka to win 6-5. In other games, Kashii shutout Fukushima 2-0, Seirin blanked Ikutokukan 8-0.
And with the way the bracket was drawn, once again the mainstays faced off, but it was Toukai Dai-go who dominated the game, mercy-ruling Kurume Shougyou in the minimum 5 innings! They'd face Kashii, who had no trouble with Seirin.
Interestingly, Kashii made a game out of the final, only holding Toukai Dai-go to just 2 runs in a 2-0 loss. Kurume Shougyou easily made mince meat of Seirin to lock down the last spot for the Super-Regionals.
Kanoya Chuo and Kagoshima Jyouhou both struggled a bit out of the blocks, but pretty much ran over the prefectural taikai after that. It also helped that teams like Kagoshima Jyousai and more importantly Kamimura Gakuen were eliminated in earlier stages, while Shounan lost to Kagoshima Jitsugyou (who then lost to Kanoya Chuo).
Nagasaki was pretty much scratch as 5 of the 7 seeded teams (plus one team who occupied what would have been the 8th seeded team in Oomura Kougyou) advanced to the Best 8. In the quarterfinals, Sasebo Jitsugyou had no problems with no-seed Nagasaki Nishi while sadly (for me anyways) Seihou was blanked by Kaisei 5-0. Interestingly, Nagasaki Nichidai and Hasami both advanced by the unconvincing score of 1-0.
Those games did wind up being a bellweather of sorts as both of those teams would lose in the semifinals, but in close affairs. Kaisei got by Nagasaki Nichidai 5-3, and Hasami narrowly lost to Sasebo Jitsugyou 4-3. In the final, Sasebo Jitsugyou led wire-to-wire 4-1 to advance to the Super-Regional.
Kumamoto's taikai looked a bit weird. Weird in that the "seeded teams" were not really well-known to me except for Kumamoto Kougyou and perhaps Kumamoto Kokufu and Jyouhoku. Yashiro, Chinzei, Kumamoto Kita, and Yashiro Higashi all were seeded teams as well. With so many well-known teams relegated to the ranks of the ordinary, the haru taikai was pretty much thrown into disarray.
Yet 5 of the 7 seeded teams did make it to the semifinals. Kumamoto Kougyou and Kumamoto Kokufu amongst the regulars and Chinzei, Kumamoto Kita and Yashiro Higashi out of the unknowns. But of those, only Kumamoto Kougyou and Yashiro Higashi advanced out of the quarterfinals. Kumamoto Kita was blanked by the aforementioned Yashiro Higashi, Kumamoto Kokufu tapped out in the 15th losing 4-3 to Toukaidai Seishou and Chinzei lost to Buntoku 5-1.
Yashiro Higashi's run would end surprisingly at the hands of Buntoku despite a late game rally. Kumamoto Kougyou on the other hand would successfully make a rally with 3 in the 7th to defeat Toukaidai Seishou 7-6. In the final surprisingly it was Buntoku who dominated the game defeating Kumamoto Kougyou soundly 5-2 to take the title.
Okinawa, without Okinawa Shougaku still had major teams left to duke it out for the spot in the super-regionals. Above-average teams such as Miyako and Ginowan were seeded, as well as perhaps the best known school - Kounan.
Kounan though would not make it past the quarterfinals, losing to a name we haven't really heard in a while - Yaeyama Shoukou. Miyako and Ginowan couldn't even get past their first game, so things really were in flux (with perhaps the exception of the aforementioned Yaeyama Shoukou).
Itoman tried their best, but despite flipping between their two pitchers, they lost 1-0 to Hokuzan. Mawashi and Yaeyama would be the other two teams advancing to the semifinals. The surprising bit is that Yaeyama Shoukou would actually lose to Hokuzan 4-1 in the semis. Mawashi would tie the game in the 9th and then win in 11 against Yaeyama.
In the final, Hokuzan ace Taira Kentarou (平良 拳太郎) would strike out 15 in a 2-hitter against Mawashi for the 2-1 win.
Saga prefecture seems to not have a front-runner as of the 4 seeded teams - Saga Kita, Tosu Shougyou, Kanzaki Seimei and Kashima - only Kashima advanced to the quarterfinals. And even then, they lost in their next game 6-1 to Saga Kougyou. The only other recently successful team to advance into the semifinals was Saga Shougyou who took the lead late against Saga Gakuen to advance. The remaining semifinalists were Koushien participants back in the day - Ryuukoku and Shiota Kougyou.
The semifinals were low-scoring affairs as both Saga Kougyou and Ryuukoku won by the narrow margin of 1-0 and in the final, Saga Kougyou would lead wire-to-wire rebuffing repeated rallies (including one in the bottom of the 9th) by Ryuukoku to win 5-4.
Oita's prefecturals went pretty much scratch to the semifinals, with the only exception being interestingly Jyouhou Kagaku (which translated is Computer Science!) who were mercy ruled in 7 by Kitsuki. Meihou completely swept the floor with their opponents, Youshikan did much the same (though not double digits), and Oita was the weakest of the bunch surviving 2 1-run games.
Both semifinal games would head to enchousen. While I have been unable to pull details, Oita broke a scoreless draw against Youshikan to win 1-0 in 10, and Kitsuki is making perhaps another case to make it's 2nd straight Natsu Koushien by upsetting Meihou 3-2 in 12 innings. Kitsuki would dominate the final, defeating Oita 5-0.
Finally, with 4 bids and home-field advantage at stake in Miyazaki, this would be the year the average team would have the best chance of reaching the Super-Regional.
And it showed. Each of the seeded teams got their opponent's best shot. Takanabe made it just though one round before losing to Miyakonojyou Higashi. Nobeoka Gakuen had to play Nichinan Gakuen in their first game, but would lose in the quarterfinals to Houshou.
The two that made it were Nisshou Gakuen (who had an opening game scare against Miyazaki Oomiya) and Miyazaki Nichidai who survived 2 straight 1-run games against St. Ursula and Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka.
Miyazaki Nichidai had another heart-stopper as they fell behind 3-0 to Miyakonojyou Higashi, came back to lead 6-4 only to blow the lead in the top of the 9th before finally winning in the 10th inning. Houshou would give Nisshou Gakuen all they could handle, but it would not be enough falling 3-2.
All that would be left is seeding. Houshou breezed through Miyakonojyou Higashi 6-2, while Miyazaki Nichidai and Nisshou Gakuen were involved in one heck of a final. After falling behind 1-0 in the 1st, Miyazaki Nichidai would score 5 unanswered runs to take a dominating lead. That is, until the final 3 innings. Several pitchers would be called, but none could answer as Nisshou Gakuen scored 5 unanswered runs, the final one in the bottom of the 9th for the sayonara win.
The draw for the super-regional made sure that all top seeds and the Senbatsu participants did not have to play the extra game. Two 2-seeds would also get the benefit of not playing an extra game:
Kurume Shougyou continued to benefit for a relatively easy draw as they handle Kitsuki 7-2. They would not face Souseikan though. Instead Hokuzan's 2-run 7th inning was all they needed to advance. Seiseikou would face Toukai Dai-go (who needed runs in the 8th and 9th to pull off the victory) in the other quarterfinal in their half.
On the opposite side, Buntoku would outlast Kashii in 10 setting up a game with Miyazaki Nichidai who surprisingly had no trouble against Kagoshima's Senbatsu representative. And finally, Sasebo Jitsugyou would easily advance to face an Okinawa Shougaku squad who did not look impressive once again in a 2-0 win over Kagoshima Jyouhou.
Now, at the time, I didn't know if this was more an indictment of Sasebo Jitsugyou than Okishou being mediocre, but they had to scramble against Okinawa Shougaku to send it into extras and win in 12. But it wound up being the former as after Buntoku edged out Miyazaki Nichidai 1-0, they took care of Sasebo Jitsugyou to reach the finals.
Back to the other half and both Kurume Shougyou and Seiseikou shutout their opponents setting up what looked like a great semifinal. And it was. Kurume Shougyou took a 2-0 lead in the middle innings and held off a Seiseikou charge late to win 2-1 to reach the finals.
Surprsingly Kurume Shougyou, the 3 seed out of Fukuoka, would actually take a 4-0 lead over Buntoku early. But Buntoku would chip away at the lead pulling within 1 and then tying it in the bottom of the 9th. It would remain tied at 5 until the 13th when Seki would pull through for Kurume Shougyou with the go-ahead hit. Imamura, who started the game, closed it our for Kurume Shougyou giving them their first ever spring title.
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Well, that's it for the spring tournaments. But don't look now, natsu taikais are out for Kita and Minami Hokkaido, Kanagawa, Kumamoto and Okinawa.
Surprisingly, despite being a x5 year (95th), the field isn't expanding. That seems odd, but guess we'll have to go with it. Stay tuned!
Shimane is the host this year, and so qualifies 4 teams while all other prefectures send 1:
- Okayama - Okayama Ridaifuzoku
- Hiroshima - Setouchi
- Tottori - Yonago Kita
- Yamaguchi - Takagawa Gakuen
- Shimane - Kaisei, Risshoudai Shounan, Izumo Nishi, Oki
Hiroshima's taikai had 43 teams, including the prefectural stalwarts Jyosuikan and Kouryou. But both would be upstaged by the same team - the champions Setouchi. They defeated Kouryou first 5-2 in the quarterfinals, then blanked Jyosuikan 3-0 (striking out 14!) in the semifinals. Both probably behind the ace Yamaoka Taisuke (山岡 泰輔), who apparently has a twitter account. Anyways, in the final, he scattered 10 hits to Hiroshima Shinjyou en route to a 3-1 win.
What is interesting is that in those final 3 games he struck out 15, 14 and 15 batters. That's right, he struck out 15 Kouryou and 14 Jyosuikan batters! This while having a fastball that apparently can tough 140 kph.
Tottori Jyouhoku led the field of seeded teams, but couldn't get past their first game, losing to Yazu 11-5. Yazu isn't really a pushover so it's not that bad of a loss. That win helped propel the team forward, where they faced another seeded team in Yonago Kita. But the duo of Endou and Ukeshima held the Yazu squad to just 1 run, allowing their team to come back with 2 in the 6th for the 2-1 victory.
Yamaguchi is also a 2-stage spring taikai. But from there teams such as Nanyou Kougyou, Ube Shougyou and Iwakuni all failed to advance to the Final 8. Nanyou Kougyou coughed up a lead to Karyou, Ube Shougyou couldn't make a lead last to Ube, and Iwakuni lost to Yanai Gakuen 4-3 in 12 in their first game.
There were some familiar representatives including Ube Koujyou, the aforementioned Karyou, and Hayatomo.
Hayatomo would have one disastrous inning against Suo-Oshima giving up 7 runs in a 7-2 loss. Ube Koujyou would go through 2 close games - first a 5-4 win over Karyou, then using a 3-run Lucky 7 to get past the aforementioned Suo-Oshima 3-2 to reach the final. Their opponent would be Takagawa Gakuen, who had no problems with Nagato and Hikari.
Surprisingly, Takagawa Gakuen's ace Hamamoto Shou (浜本 翔) limited Ube Koujyou to just 2 hits while striking out 5 and walking 1 in a 3-0 shutout!
Shimane also had a 2-stage taikai, with 15 groups and fall champ Masuda Shouyou getting a free pass to the 2nd stage. Risshoudai Shounan and Kaisei also advanced, and both actually in workmanlike fashion got to the finals. But Kaisei's ace Oda would somehow yield just 2 hits, but walked 8 and still managed to give up just 1 run for a 6-1 win. Izumo Nishi would bid sayonara to the island school of Oki for 3rd place (though both advanced so Oki really didn't say "goodbye").
So with 8 teams and 4 from Shimane, they obviously would be broken up with the remaining prefectures drawing a spot against each of the teams:
- Kaisei (Shimane 1) vs. Okayama Ridai Fuzoku (Okayama 1)
- Oki (Shimane 4) vs. Takagawa Gakuen (Yamaguchi 1)
- Risshoudai Shounan (Shimane 2) vs. Yonago Kita (Tottori 1)
- Izumo Nishi (Shimane 3) vs. Setouchi (Hiroshima 1)
Oki actually led Takigawa Gakuen before giving up the lead in the 8th. They actually tied the game in the top of the 9th before losing it in sayonara fashion. Again. Setouchi actually led Izumo Nishi comfortably 8-3, but Izumo scored 3 in the 8th to make things interesting.
Kaisei actually blew their 8-3 lead in the 8th inning to Okayama Ridai Fuzoku, but won in the bottom of the 10th. Only Risshoudai Shounan had an easy go with a 6 inning shutout the Tottori champs.
The good times did not roll for the hometown teams though. Both were mercy ruled in 7 in the semifinals!! Setouchi defeated Risshoudai Shounan 9-2, and somehow Takagawa Gakuen scored 7 runs on 4 hits (and 6 walks) to shutout Kaisei 7-0!
In the final, Takagawa Gakuen took a 3-0 lead in the 2nd on Setouchi and managed to stay one step ahead of Setouchi's rallies to win 6-5 for their first spring title!
Chuugoku Super-Regional
Each team qualified 2 for the Super-Regional so it's reach the finals and move on.
- Kagawa - Jinsei Gakuen, Kotohira
- Tokushima - Naruto, Seikou Gakuen
- Ehime - Imabari Nishi, Saibi
- Kochi - Kochi, Kochi Shougyou
In Tokushima the format was a little different. Naruto got a free pass, and it would just be the winner of the prefectural tournament that would advance along with them to the Super-Regional. The 4 seeded teams, Seikou Gakuen, Ikeda, Tokushima Shougyou and Kawashima all advanced to the quarterfinals with relative ease though the former 2 had to survive a 1-run game in the quarterfinals (and in Ikeda's case a 12-inning affair).
For Ikeda, the enchousen matchup proved to be costly as they went into extra innings again against Seikou Gakuen. They cried uncle in the 14th, losing 3-2. Meanwhile Kawashima waited until the bottom of the 9th to tie the game at 1-1 before finally winning in 12.
With both teams having played extra inning affairs, it would undoubtedly have an effect on the pitching staffs. Yet it was Kawashima's pitching that would suffer a critical failure. Seikou Gakuin would score in the final 5 innings for a 10-3 win. But with 10 days off to rest the arms, perhaps they lost the momentum of the tournament as Naruto had an easy 8-3 win in the position round.
Ehime is a 2-stage taikai, and with Saibi participating at Senbatsu, they too would only qualify the winner (along with Saibi) for the Super-Regionals.
There were quite a few casualties in the 1st stage. Saijyou was eliminated by Imabari Nishi in their first game. Uwajima Higashi lost to Uwajima Minami in the block final.
There would be no stopping Imabari Nishi through the prefecturals, including a 4-1 over Matsuyama Seiryou in the final and an easy 6-4 win over Saibi in the position round.
And finally in Kochi, with 2 teams making it to Senbatsu, it would be a 2-stage affair. The winner of the prefectural taikai would face the winner of Kochi and Tosa (the two Senbatsu participants) for seeding.
With those teams out of the way, Kochi Shougyou and Meitoku Gijyuku had relatively little trouble advancing through the bracket. But Kochi Shougyou, despite eking out a 5-4 win over Okou, defeated Meitoku Gijyuku 7-5 to advance for seeding.
In the Senbatsu game, Tosa actually took an early 3-0 lead, but a pair of 2-run innings would give favorite Kochi the lead. Tosa wouldn't give up easy though tying the game in the top of the 9th sending it to enchousen. Alas, Kochi's experience would prevail in the 11th. So it would be Kochi and Kochi Shougyou once again. And despite playing in an extra inning game the day before, Kochi once again bests Kochi Shougyou 3-1 to take 1st in the prefecture.
Onto the Super-Regionals and almost all top seeds advanced. The only casualty oddly enough was Kochi who let a 3-0 lead slip with 4 in the 8th losing 4-3. In other games, Jinsei Gakuen survived a 9th inning rally from Seikou Gakuen to win 3-2, Kotohira was no match for Imabari Nishi, and Naruto had to scramble after giving up a pair in the bottom of the 8th to Kochi Shougyou, managed to tie the game at 2, then close it out with a 3-spot in the 10th.
Naruto and Jinsei Gakuen then had no issues in the semifinals setting up the title game.
Naruto took the early 1-0 and 3-1 lead. But with just 3 outs to go for the title, they give up 3 runs to Jinsei Gakuen who proceeded to shut the door for just their 3rd title and 1st in 15 years.
Kyushu Super-Regionals
Like Shikoku, Senbatsu participants get a free pass. Unlike Shikoku, they get a free pass to the Super-Regionals instead of the seeding game within their prefecture. For this spring Super-Regional, Fukuoka qualifies 3, Kagoshima qualifies 2, host Miyazaki qualifies 4, and all other prefectures 1.
- Fukuoka - Toukai Dai-go, Kashii, Kurume Shougyou
- Kagoshima - Shoushikan, Kanoya Chuo, Kagoshima Jyouhou
- Nagasaki - Souseikan, Sasebo Jitsugyou
- Kumamoto - Seiseikou, Buntoku
- Okinawa - Okinawa Shougaku, Hokuzan
- Saga - Saga Kougyou
- Oita - Kitsuki
- Miyazaki - Nisshou Gakuen, Miyazaki Nichidai, Houshou, Miyakonojyou Higashi
The teams from the Hokubu/Nanbu regionals were redrawn for the quarterfinals. Kurume Shougyou thought to have an easy game, but had to survive another 1-run affair against Yuusei. Toukai Dai-go and Jiyuugaoka wound up drawing each other, and the game did not disappoint. The lead changed 3 times in the span of 3 half-innings before the game would be tied up at 4-4. Toukai Dai-go scored 2 in the top of the 11th, and then held off a rally from Jiyuugaoka to win 6-5. In other games, Kashii shutout Fukushima 2-0, Seirin blanked Ikutokukan 8-0.
And with the way the bracket was drawn, once again the mainstays faced off, but it was Toukai Dai-go who dominated the game, mercy-ruling Kurume Shougyou in the minimum 5 innings! They'd face Kashii, who had no trouble with Seirin.
Interestingly, Kashii made a game out of the final, only holding Toukai Dai-go to just 2 runs in a 2-0 loss. Kurume Shougyou easily made mince meat of Seirin to lock down the last spot for the Super-Regionals.
Kanoya Chuo and Kagoshima Jyouhou both struggled a bit out of the blocks, but pretty much ran over the prefectural taikai after that. It also helped that teams like Kagoshima Jyousai and more importantly Kamimura Gakuen were eliminated in earlier stages, while Shounan lost to Kagoshima Jitsugyou (who then lost to Kanoya Chuo).
Nagasaki was pretty much scratch as 5 of the 7 seeded teams (plus one team who occupied what would have been the 8th seeded team in Oomura Kougyou) advanced to the Best 8. In the quarterfinals, Sasebo Jitsugyou had no problems with no-seed Nagasaki Nishi while sadly (for me anyways) Seihou was blanked by Kaisei 5-0. Interestingly, Nagasaki Nichidai and Hasami both advanced by the unconvincing score of 1-0.
Those games did wind up being a bellweather of sorts as both of those teams would lose in the semifinals, but in close affairs. Kaisei got by Nagasaki Nichidai 5-3, and Hasami narrowly lost to Sasebo Jitsugyou 4-3. In the final, Sasebo Jitsugyou led wire-to-wire 4-1 to advance to the Super-Regional.
Kumamoto's taikai looked a bit weird. Weird in that the "seeded teams" were not really well-known to me except for Kumamoto Kougyou and perhaps Kumamoto Kokufu and Jyouhoku. Yashiro, Chinzei, Kumamoto Kita, and Yashiro Higashi all were seeded teams as well. With so many well-known teams relegated to the ranks of the ordinary, the haru taikai was pretty much thrown into disarray.
Yet 5 of the 7 seeded teams did make it to the semifinals. Kumamoto Kougyou and Kumamoto Kokufu amongst the regulars and Chinzei, Kumamoto Kita and Yashiro Higashi out of the unknowns. But of those, only Kumamoto Kougyou and Yashiro Higashi advanced out of the quarterfinals. Kumamoto Kita was blanked by the aforementioned Yashiro Higashi, Kumamoto Kokufu tapped out in the 15th losing 4-3 to Toukaidai Seishou and Chinzei lost to Buntoku 5-1.
Yashiro Higashi's run would end surprisingly at the hands of Buntoku despite a late game rally. Kumamoto Kougyou on the other hand would successfully make a rally with 3 in the 7th to defeat Toukaidai Seishou 7-6. In the final surprisingly it was Buntoku who dominated the game defeating Kumamoto Kougyou soundly 5-2 to take the title.
Okinawa, without Okinawa Shougaku still had major teams left to duke it out for the spot in the super-regionals. Above-average teams such as Miyako and Ginowan were seeded, as well as perhaps the best known school - Kounan.
Kounan though would not make it past the quarterfinals, losing to a name we haven't really heard in a while - Yaeyama Shoukou. Miyako and Ginowan couldn't even get past their first game, so things really were in flux (with perhaps the exception of the aforementioned Yaeyama Shoukou).
Itoman tried their best, but despite flipping between their two pitchers, they lost 1-0 to Hokuzan. Mawashi and Yaeyama would be the other two teams advancing to the semifinals. The surprising bit is that Yaeyama Shoukou would actually lose to Hokuzan 4-1 in the semis. Mawashi would tie the game in the 9th and then win in 11 against Yaeyama.
In the final, Hokuzan ace Taira Kentarou (平良 拳太郎) would strike out 15 in a 2-hitter against Mawashi for the 2-1 win.
Saga prefecture seems to not have a front-runner as of the 4 seeded teams - Saga Kita, Tosu Shougyou, Kanzaki Seimei and Kashima - only Kashima advanced to the quarterfinals. And even then, they lost in their next game 6-1 to Saga Kougyou. The only other recently successful team to advance into the semifinals was Saga Shougyou who took the lead late against Saga Gakuen to advance. The remaining semifinalists were Koushien participants back in the day - Ryuukoku and Shiota Kougyou.
The semifinals were low-scoring affairs as both Saga Kougyou and Ryuukoku won by the narrow margin of 1-0 and in the final, Saga Kougyou would lead wire-to-wire rebuffing repeated rallies (including one in the bottom of the 9th) by Ryuukoku to win 5-4.
Oita's prefecturals went pretty much scratch to the semifinals, with the only exception being interestingly Jyouhou Kagaku (which translated is Computer Science!) who were mercy ruled in 7 by Kitsuki. Meihou completely swept the floor with their opponents, Youshikan did much the same (though not double digits), and Oita was the weakest of the bunch surviving 2 1-run games.
Both semifinal games would head to enchousen. While I have been unable to pull details, Oita broke a scoreless draw against Youshikan to win 1-0 in 10, and Kitsuki is making perhaps another case to make it's 2nd straight Natsu Koushien by upsetting Meihou 3-2 in 12 innings. Kitsuki would dominate the final, defeating Oita 5-0.
Finally, with 4 bids and home-field advantage at stake in Miyazaki, this would be the year the average team would have the best chance of reaching the Super-Regional.
And it showed. Each of the seeded teams got their opponent's best shot. Takanabe made it just though one round before losing to Miyakonojyou Higashi. Nobeoka Gakuen had to play Nichinan Gakuen in their first game, but would lose in the quarterfinals to Houshou.
The two that made it were Nisshou Gakuen (who had an opening game scare against Miyazaki Oomiya) and Miyazaki Nichidai who survived 2 straight 1-run games against St. Ursula and Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka.
Miyazaki Nichidai had another heart-stopper as they fell behind 3-0 to Miyakonojyou Higashi, came back to lead 6-4 only to blow the lead in the top of the 9th before finally winning in the 10th inning. Houshou would give Nisshou Gakuen all they could handle, but it would not be enough falling 3-2.
All that would be left is seeding. Houshou breezed through Miyakonojyou Higashi 6-2, while Miyazaki Nichidai and Nisshou Gakuen were involved in one heck of a final. After falling behind 1-0 in the 1st, Miyazaki Nichidai would score 5 unanswered runs to take a dominating lead. That is, until the final 3 innings. Several pitchers would be called, but none could answer as Nisshou Gakuen scored 5 unanswered runs, the final one in the bottom of the 9th for the sayonara win.
The draw for the super-regional made sure that all top seeds and the Senbatsu participants did not have to play the extra game. Two 2-seeds would also get the benefit of not playing an extra game:
- Kitsuki (Oita 1) vs. Winner of Kurume Shougyou (Fukuoka 3)-Miyakonojyou Higahi (Miyazaki 4)
- Souseikan (Nagasaki Senbatsu) vs. Hokuzan (Okayama 1)
- Kanoya Chuo (Kagoshima 1) vs. Seiseikou (Kumamoto Senbatsu)
- Toukai Dai-go (Fukuoka 1) vs. Nisshou Gakuen (Miyazaki 1)
- Kashii (Fukuoka 2) vs. Buntoku (Kumamoto 1)
- Miyazaki Nichidai (Miyazaki 2) vs. Shoushikan (Kagoshima Senbatsu)
- Saga Kougyou (Saga 1) vs. Sasebo Jitsugyou (Nagasaki 1)
- Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa Senbatsu) vs. Winner of Kagoshima Jyouhou (Kagoshima 2)-Houshou (Miyazaki 3)
Kurume Shougyou continued to benefit for a relatively easy draw as they handle Kitsuki 7-2. They would not face Souseikan though. Instead Hokuzan's 2-run 7th inning was all they needed to advance. Seiseikou would face Toukai Dai-go (who needed runs in the 8th and 9th to pull off the victory) in the other quarterfinal in their half.
On the opposite side, Buntoku would outlast Kashii in 10 setting up a game with Miyazaki Nichidai who surprisingly had no trouble against Kagoshima's Senbatsu representative. And finally, Sasebo Jitsugyou would easily advance to face an Okinawa Shougaku squad who did not look impressive once again in a 2-0 win over Kagoshima Jyouhou.
Now, at the time, I didn't know if this was more an indictment of Sasebo Jitsugyou than Okishou being mediocre, but they had to scramble against Okinawa Shougaku to send it into extras and win in 12. But it wound up being the former as after Buntoku edged out Miyazaki Nichidai 1-0, they took care of Sasebo Jitsugyou to reach the finals.
Back to the other half and both Kurume Shougyou and Seiseikou shutout their opponents setting up what looked like a great semifinal. And it was. Kurume Shougyou took a 2-0 lead in the middle innings and held off a Seiseikou charge late to win 2-1 to reach the finals.
Surprsingly Kurume Shougyou, the 3 seed out of Fukuoka, would actually take a 4-0 lead over Buntoku early. But Buntoku would chip away at the lead pulling within 1 and then tying it in the bottom of the 9th. It would remain tied at 5 until the 13th when Seki would pull through for Kurume Shougyou with the go-ahead hit. Imamura, who started the game, closed it our for Kurume Shougyou giving them their first ever spring title.
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Well, that's it for the spring tournaments. But don't look now, natsu taikais are out for Kita and Minami Hokkaido, Kanagawa, Kumamoto and Okinawa.
Surprisingly, despite being a x5 year (95th), the field isn't expanding. That seems odd, but guess we'll have to go with it. Stay tuned!
Friday, November 9, 2012
Fall Taikai Update - Super-Regional Completion
All Super-Regionals are now complete, and there are a couple of surprises mixed in with some of the usual suspects:
Tokyo (1 bid + 1 floating with Kanto)
Nittai Ebara fired the opening salvo in the bottom of the 1st as Tomosato hit a 2-run HR to left. Back-to-back RBI hits by the battery of Kasahara and Minami no less made it a 4-1 game. And then ace Kasahara in his next AB would hit a home run of his own making it 5-1!
But after back-to-back walks by Kasahara, Motohashi-kantoku would replace him with Furukawa. Much to his dismay, Furukawa would hit cleanup batter Takami Shunsuke (深見 俊介) and then give an oshidashi walk to Koyama Shinjirou (小山 新次郎). He'd get out of the inning, but not after yielding another run to make it 5-3.
Things only got worse for Nittai Ebara as the pitching fell apart the very next inning as Yasuda would put a 5-spot on the board taking an 8-6 lead.
Nittai Ebara would mount a rally in the bottom of the 9th. PH Seki would walk, and Tanaka would hit a double to put the tying run in scoring position with just one down. Minami (now pitching) would hit a sac fly to make it a 1-run game.
That brought up Tomosato, who was 4-4 on the day. But Oogane Shintarou (大金真太郎) would finally retire him with a grounder to 2nd to end the game and give his team a chance at Senbatsu!
In the other semifinal Souka ace Uchino collapsed in the 5th inning, giving up 6 runs to Soujitsu. Those 6 runs would wind up being the final margin as they won 11-5.
So Soujitsu would be a likely candidate for the floating bid should they lose (as long as they had a good showing), while Yasuda Gakuen would in all likelihood need to win to get in.
In the 2nd inning of the final, Yasuda gets the benefit of good luck. Takami would reach 2nd on an error by Soujitsu's LF Suzuki. After a bunt and walk, Motomiya Keita (本宮 佳汰) would lay down a successful safety squeeze to give them the first run. They'd continue to press the initiative as Koyama Takuya (小山 拓哉) would try to steal 3rd. But the throw from Toshimitsu Kensaku (利光健作) would actually hit Takuya on the helmet and deflect into left, allowing him to score making it 2-0.
Toshimitsu would get a run back with a HR in the 5th, but that would be all the scoring they could muster as Oogane would shut Soujitsu down to earn Yasuda Gakuen's first ever title!
Kanto ex Tokyo (4 bids + 1 floating with Tokyo)
So when the draw came out, the 4 brackets were as follows (A & B, C & D)
The biggest upset was in block C where Kasumigaura (while not a slouch by any means) never trailed and defeated Toukaidai Sagami 5-3!
The quarterfinals went more scratch. Narashino, who barely got by Kiryuu Dai-ichi, suffered the same problems Yokohama Hayato faced, but were unable to rally at all, getting mercy ruled 12-0 in 6 innings! (awww....)
Sano Nichidai, down 5-0 to Jyousou Gakuin gets all of the runs back in the lucky 7 to send the game into enchousen. However, outside of that one inning outburst, they couldn't muster any other offense and lost 6-5 in 12. Kasumigaura tried to continue their cinderella run as it were, but after taking the 4-2 lead in the bottom of the 6th, relinquished it right back in the lucky 7 to Utusunomiya Shougyou, losing 5-4.
The games (final score-wise) were much closer, but were not competitive. Both Saitama schools advanced wire-to-wire, setting up a rematch of the prefectural final. In that final, a 4-run first gave Hanasaki Tokuharu all the cushion it needed.
This time around they did not get such a cushion, but did lead 2-0 going into the latter innings. But without the cushion, Urawa Gakuin's rally allowed them to tie the game in the 8th and send it into enchousen. One inning later, Urawa's SS Kigure Naito (木暮騎士) would hit a 2-out double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. After an intentional walk, C Nishikawa Genki (西川元気) would deliver the sayonara hit to give Urawa Gakuin their 3rd straight Kanto Fall title!!
With 4 bids, it seems apparent that the Best 4 participants will get the bids. Kasumigaura, the strongest team of the quarterfinalists will probably not get in because (a) the team they would replace would probably be Utsunomiya Shougyou who defeated them and (b) even if they wanted to make Kasumigaura the 4th team that would put 2 teams from Saitama and from Ibaraki into Senbatsu, which is highly doubtful.
And with Soujitsu losing in the finals to Yasuda Gakuen, the committee will certainly pick them as the floating bid. Had they won, the floating bid may have come back to Kanto.
As it stands, for Kasumigaura to get to Koushien, Yasuda Gakuen or Urawa Gakuin have to win the Meiji Jingu Fall Tournament (If Yasuda Gakuen wins, Soujitsu earns the Meiji Jingu bid and the floating bid shifts back to Kanto. If Urawa Gakuin wins, Kasumigaura earns the Meiji Jingu bid outright). But as you will see later, that will be difficult.
Tokai (3 bids)
And in fact, there was a possibility that neither team would make it as Tokoha Kikugawa had tied the game at 1 in the 8th. Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou though would guarantee that at least one team would make it, making a Tokoha-style finish in the bottom of the 9th to win 2-1.
Komono had done well to make it to the finals, but were boat-raced by Kengifushou falling quickly behind 6-0 and losing 9-3.
This normally would put Komono in a bad situation. As the runner-up, they are first in line to receive the 2nd bid. However, the poor showing would have given the selection committee pause. But with 3 teams advancing, they should be safe.
Kinki (6 bids)
In other games, Yamato Kouryou played Ryuukokudai Heian close, but couldn't get a run on the board losing 2-0. Osaka Shoudai Sakai lasted only 5 innings against Houtoku Gakuen losing 13-0. And finally, Riseisha was fighting for their lives against surging Kyoto Shouei down 1-0 late before tying the game in the 8th. The game would go into enchousen when reliever Sakamoto would finally fail, giving Kyoto Shouei the 3-1 win in 12!
That setup an all-Kyoto final on one side, and a powerhouse matchup on the other.
Kyoto Shouei and Ryuukokudai Heian were up first. Kyoto Shouei didn't have to face Heian in the prefecturals as Heian was paired with Fukuchiyama Seibi. Early on, the teams traded runs with Kyoto Shouei emerging with a 3-2 lead. It stayed that way until the 7th where Heian would get to Enomoto (who came in in relief) for a pair of runs to lead 4-3. However, their reliever Minami fell apart in the next half-inning. He hit back-to-back batters sending in a run, and then ace Enomoto would redeem himself, blasting a manrui home run to blow the game wide open.
Kyoto Shouei seemed to be in full control up 9-4, but Enomoto seemed to be out of sorts coming in relief. He struggled with his control as Heian came back to within 1 with a 4-run 8th! He'd somehow get in together just in time, closing the game out in the 9th to win 9-8!
In the other semi, it was a shocker in that Osaka Touin was not competitive at all against Houtoku Gakuen. In fact they were blanked 8-0 in 7 innings!
So Houtoku Gakuen and ace Inui Youhei (乾 陽平) were the final obstacle in Kyoto Shouei and Enomoto Kazuki (榎本 和輝) bid for their first ever fall title.
There were opportunities for both teams throughout the game as Inui yielded base hits almost every inning, while Enomoto's control issues persisted as he issued free passes. Yet the score was at 1-1 after regulation. Eventually it would become a matter of who would make the first mistake.
And that finally was made by Inui as he yielded 2 runs in the 13th. They still had the bottom half of the inning, and Enomoto was approaching his limit too. He would give up one run, but again found a way to shut the door, win 3-2, and claim Kyoto Shouei's first title!!
Looking at the field for the selection of the half-dozen bids, it almost winds up being as listed above by default. Kyoto Shouei is definitely in, as well as Houtoku Gakuen. While Heian is in the same prefecture as Kyoto Shouei, they didn't play each other in the prefecturals and held their own in the semifinals - so they're in. Those are the definites.
Osaka Touin was uncharacteristically blown out by Houtoku Gakuen. And their wins prior against Kousen and Tenri do not inspire confidence.
But then you look down at the quarterfinalists. Tenri was blown out by Osaka Touin. Daishoudai Sakai too was annihilated. That leaves Riseisha who played Kyoto Shouei close as well and should get in, and Yamato Kouryou who had a nondescript win over Shiga Gakuen before being shutout 2-0 to Heian.
So Osaka Touin now appears safe, as does Riseisha. The question becomes the last bid.
And that boils down to Yamato Kouryou and Tenri.
Tenri in name had the harder opponent in Osaka Touin, but Heian can easily be considered a quality opponent for Yamato Kouryou.
If the committee wants to go by name, then Tenri will go. But I think if they go by play, it may fall to Yamato Kouryou.
Chuugoku (3 bids)
It turns out that not just one, but two prefectures would be eliminated!
So, all else being equal, who has the advantage?
Well, the home team. And that happens to be Yamaguchi-ken.
In fact, all 4 entrants advanced into the second round. Iwakuni Shougyou, Iwakuni and Ube Koujyou all won via the shutout. Hayatomo was able to advance, but only after striking back for a pair of runs right after they gave up the lead in the 7th.
With that alone, Shimane was wiped off the board. Who would be the other prefecture?
In B quadrant, Tottori Jyouhoku started off well against Soutoku, but fell apart in the 2nd half of the game, losing 8-4. Yonago Kita went just 7 innings before they waved the white flag, losing 9-1.
That left 2nd place Yonago Shouin as the last representative. But against Kurashiki Shougyou, that was a tough task. They kept it close, even in fact tying the game at 1-1 in the top of the 5th. Kurashou struck back with 2 in their part of the frame and held on to the 3-1 win.
A valiant effort, but both Japan Sea prefectures were eliminated.
And what appeared to be a blockbuster matchup in the first round wound up being anything but. Jyousuikan would give up after 7 innings, losing to Kanzei 10-0!
This created a bizarre quarterfinal setup:
In the Yamaguchi matchups, Iwakuni Shougyou proved that they were the cream of the crop, as they defeated the only Best 4 team they haven't played - Ube Kougyou, in a shutout 5-0. Iwakuni showed that their 3rd place finish was a product of just being in the wrong half of the bracket. The struggling Hayatomo was unceremoniously upended in a 10-0 defeat in 5 innings.
Soutoku probably wasn't happy to see Kouryou in their crosshairs. They managed to avoid them in the prefecturals, but now when it really matters... it was all Kouryou in a 7-1 win.
That leaves the rematch of Kanzei and Kurashiki Shougyou. Kanzei wouldn't leave anything to chance, scoring 6 runs in the 3rd en route to an 8-4 win.
Another byproduct of the 1st round was that Yamaguchi pretty much guaranteed themselves a team at Senbatsu, especially since due to the 85th tournament, Chuugoku gets an extra bid.
And that would prove key this year as Iwakuni was routed 11-1 by Kanzei, and while Iwakuni Shougyou held with Kouryou, they still lost 2-0.
So we're left with Kouryou and Kanzei in the finals, two teams used to the big game. The game was a low-scoring affair early, then blown open in the span of 2 half-innings where Kouryou scored 3 in the 6th to lead 4-2, only to give up 5 in the lucky 7 to trail 7-4. They'd win 8-5 to take the title.
And on the basis of the semifinal matchups, expect Iwakuni Shougyou to receive the 3rd bid.
Shikoku (3 bids)
In the other games, Imabari Kougyou had a chance to survive as they were deadlocked 1-1 for a long time. Marugame though would bid sayonara to the Ehime representative 2-1. Kochi Shougyou was having a heck of a time in their game, but at 3-3 in the 7th Matsuyama Seiryou scored 6 to pull away. Kochishou would score 3 in the 9th, but it wasn't enough. And Ikeda finally made progress, winning 3-1.
With so many 3 seeds advancing, it would be expected that most if not all of the 1 seeds would advance. And in fact, all did... except for the one team that faced the only #2 seed left.
Nartuo and Kochi had no problems. Ikeda almost got to the semifinals and rallied late, but lost to Saibi 4-3. Tokushou was in another close game. They and Eimei were tied at 2 when Eimei scored a run in the 7th to take the lead. But in the bottom of the 9th they get to ace Akagawa scoring 2 runs for the gyakuten sayonara victory.
Tokushou would try to extend their run against Kochi, and early on the semifinals they held a 2-run lead, even after swapping 3-run innings. But Kochi would put up 2 runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings to win 11-7. In the other semifinal, Saibi was in full control, getting 2 insurance runs in the final 2 innings to lead 4-1. Saibi ace Anraku though didn't get the memo that he and his team needed to close out the game. Naruto would rally for 4 runs and win 5-4.
To the final where Kochi would try to preempt the deficit by getting ahead early. Naruto would have none of it and came back to level the score at 6 in the 6th. Kochi though would score 2 in the 8th giving Naruto no time to stage a rally.
The extra bid will probably go to Saibi, who had Naruto dead to rights, right until the bottom of the 9th.
Kyushu (4 bids)
Now all 8 top seeds would be in play, but by the end of the first round over half would go home. But not the half you may have thought.
Nagasaki Nichidai should have been dead to rights. Enchousen, tied at 1 in the 10th, Moji Gakuen scores 4 runs and should have the game wrapped up. Except they don't close it out! Nagasaki Nichidai scores 4 and extends the game further! I'd like to see what happened in that 10th inning. It wouldn't be until the 13th inning where Nagasaki Nichidai would score the sayonara run to win 6-5!
The only non-contested game was surprisingly Kurume Shougyou vs. Meihou. Kurushou scored 4 in the 1st inning and cruised to a 5-2 win.
The reprieve for the top seeds though wouldn't last. All 3 remaining would lose in the quarterfinals. Kurume Shougyou only went 7 against Souseikan losing 9-0. Kumamoto Kougyou had to face Okinawa Shougaku, and narrowly lost 3-2 in 10 innings. And Shoushikan used a 4-run 4th to defeat Nagasaki Nichidai 6-2. The fourth team to advance would indeed be Seiseikou as they shutout the last Nichidai team as Miyazaki would fall 3-0.
That put Souseikan in the crosshairs of Okinawa Shougaku, while Shoushikan and Seiseikou would square off in the other semi.
And neither game was close.
In fact, both would last just 7 innings and both due to a big inning. For Okishou, it was a 4-run 1st in an 8-1 win. For Seiseikou, it was a 5-run 6th in an 8-0 win.
So it'd be Okinawa Shougaku and Seiseikou in the finals, and both pretty much guaranteed a spot in Senbatsu. It would be just a matter now of who would represent Kyushu at the Meiji Jingu Tournament.
And boy was it a pitchers' duel. Seiseikou's Ootake Koutarou (大竹 耕太郎) versus the tandem of Ura Jyun (宇良 淳) and Higa Kenichirou (比嘉 健一朗). Okishou certainly had more opportunities throughout the game, but the game remained scoreless through 8. But in the top of the 9th, it all unraveled for Seiseikou. Okinawa Shougaku would put up 5 runs in the 9th and claim just their 2nd ever fall title!
Rounding out the projected 4 bids are in all probability the two semifinalists - Souseikan and Shoushikan. Yes, they still lost badly in the semifinals, but they had shutout their competition beforehand (though the quality of the opposition can be argued). Shoushikan defeated both Saga Kita and Nagasaki Nichidai and despite their blowout loss, should get in.
The only other team who could make a case would be Kumamoto Kougyou, who was the only team to actually play Okinawa Shougaku close. And bad news for Souseikan, they would probably be the team on the bubble if there were other considerations.
Tokyo (1 bid + 1 floating with Kanto)
- Champion - Yasuda Gakuen - Sumida-ku (First title!)
- Floating Bid - Waseda Jitsugyou
Nittai Ebara fired the opening salvo in the bottom of the 1st as Tomosato hit a 2-run HR to left. Back-to-back RBI hits by the battery of Kasahara and Minami no less made it a 4-1 game. And then ace Kasahara in his next AB would hit a home run of his own making it 5-1!
But after back-to-back walks by Kasahara, Motohashi-kantoku would replace him with Furukawa. Much to his dismay, Furukawa would hit cleanup batter Takami Shunsuke (深見 俊介) and then give an oshidashi walk to Koyama Shinjirou (小山 新次郎). He'd get out of the inning, but not after yielding another run to make it 5-3.
Things only got worse for Nittai Ebara as the pitching fell apart the very next inning as Yasuda would put a 5-spot on the board taking an 8-6 lead.
Nittai Ebara would mount a rally in the bottom of the 9th. PH Seki would walk, and Tanaka would hit a double to put the tying run in scoring position with just one down. Minami (now pitching) would hit a sac fly to make it a 1-run game.
That brought up Tomosato, who was 4-4 on the day. But Oogane Shintarou (大金真太郎) would finally retire him with a grounder to 2nd to end the game and give his team a chance at Senbatsu!
In the other semifinal Souka ace Uchino collapsed in the 5th inning, giving up 6 runs to Soujitsu. Those 6 runs would wind up being the final margin as they won 11-5.
So Soujitsu would be a likely candidate for the floating bid should they lose (as long as they had a good showing), while Yasuda Gakuen would in all likelihood need to win to get in.
In the 2nd inning of the final, Yasuda gets the benefit of good luck. Takami would reach 2nd on an error by Soujitsu's LF Suzuki. After a bunt and walk, Motomiya Keita (本宮 佳汰) would lay down a successful safety squeeze to give them the first run. They'd continue to press the initiative as Koyama Takuya (小山 拓哉) would try to steal 3rd. But the throw from Toshimitsu Kensaku (利光健作) would actually hit Takuya on the helmet and deflect into left, allowing him to score making it 2-0.
Toshimitsu would get a run back with a HR in the 5th, but that would be all the scoring they could muster as Oogane would shut Soujitsu down to earn Yasuda Gakuen's first ever title!
Kanto ex Tokyo (4 bids + 1 floating with Tokyo)
- Champion - Urawa Gakuin - Saitama-shi, Saitama (3rd consecutive title!, 4th overall)
- Runner-Up - Hanasaki Tokuharu - Kazo-shi, Saitama
- Semifinalist - Jyousou Gakuin - Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki
- Semifinalist - Utsunomiya Shougyou - Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi
So when the draw came out, the 4 brackets were as follows (A & B, C & D)
- A - Jyousou Gakuin (Ibaraki 1) vs. Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma 2)
- A - Sano Nichidai (Tochigi 1) vs. Toukaidai Koufu (Kofu 1)
- B - Narashino (Chiba 1) vs. Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma 3)
- B - Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama 1) vs. Yokohama Hayato (Kanagawa 2)
- C - Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa 1) vs. Kasumigaura (Ibaraki 2)
- C - Hikawa (Yamanashi 1) vs. Utsunomiya Shougyou (Tochigi 2)
- D - Urawa Gakuin (Saitama 2) vs. Choushi Shougyou (Chiba 2)
- D - Maebashi Ikuei (Gunma 1) - Bye
The biggest upset was in block C where Kasumigaura (while not a slouch by any means) never trailed and defeated Toukaidai Sagami 5-3!
The quarterfinals went more scratch. Narashino, who barely got by Kiryuu Dai-ichi, suffered the same problems Yokohama Hayato faced, but were unable to rally at all, getting mercy ruled 12-0 in 6 innings! (awww....)
Sano Nichidai, down 5-0 to Jyousou Gakuin gets all of the runs back in the lucky 7 to send the game into enchousen. However, outside of that one inning outburst, they couldn't muster any other offense and lost 6-5 in 12. Kasumigaura tried to continue their cinderella run as it were, but after taking the 4-2 lead in the bottom of the 6th, relinquished it right back in the lucky 7 to Utusunomiya Shougyou, losing 5-4.
The games (final score-wise) were much closer, but were not competitive. Both Saitama schools advanced wire-to-wire, setting up a rematch of the prefectural final. In that final, a 4-run first gave Hanasaki Tokuharu all the cushion it needed.
This time around they did not get such a cushion, but did lead 2-0 going into the latter innings. But without the cushion, Urawa Gakuin's rally allowed them to tie the game in the 8th and send it into enchousen. One inning later, Urawa's SS Kigure Naito (木暮騎士) would hit a 2-out double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. After an intentional walk, C Nishikawa Genki (西川元気) would deliver the sayonara hit to give Urawa Gakuin their 3rd straight Kanto Fall title!!
With 4 bids, it seems apparent that the Best 4 participants will get the bids. Kasumigaura, the strongest team of the quarterfinalists will probably not get in because (a) the team they would replace would probably be Utsunomiya Shougyou who defeated them and (b) even if they wanted to make Kasumigaura the 4th team that would put 2 teams from Saitama and from Ibaraki into Senbatsu, which is highly doubtful.
And with Soujitsu losing in the finals to Yasuda Gakuen, the committee will certainly pick them as the floating bid. Had they won, the floating bid may have come back to Kanto.
As it stands, for Kasumigaura to get to Koushien, Yasuda Gakuen or Urawa Gakuin have to win the Meiji Jingu Fall Tournament (If Yasuda Gakuen wins, Soujitsu earns the Meiji Jingu bid and the floating bid shifts back to Kanto. If Urawa Gakuin wins, Kasumigaura earns the Meiji Jingu bid outright). But as you will see later, that will be difficult.
Tokai (3 bids)
- Champion - Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou - Gifu-shi, Gifu (4th title, 1st in 51 years)
- Runner-up - Komono - Komono-machi, Mie
- 3rd Bid - Tokoha Kikugawa - Kikugawa-shi, Shizuoka
And in fact, there was a possibility that neither team would make it as Tokoha Kikugawa had tied the game at 1 in the 8th. Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou though would guarantee that at least one team would make it, making a Tokoha-style finish in the bottom of the 9th to win 2-1.
Komono had done well to make it to the finals, but were boat-raced by Kengifushou falling quickly behind 6-0 and losing 9-3.
This normally would put Komono in a bad situation. As the runner-up, they are first in line to receive the 2nd bid. However, the poor showing would have given the selection committee pause. But with 3 teams advancing, they should be safe.
Kinki (6 bids)
- Champion - Kyoto Shouei - Uji-shi, Kyoto (First title!)
- Runner-up - Houtoku Gakuen - Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo
- Semi-finalist -Ryuukokudai Heian - Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
- Semi-finalist - Osaka Touin - Daitou-shi, Osaka
- 5/6 selection - Riseisha - Toyonaka-shi, Osaka
- 5/6 selection - Yamato Kouryou - Kouryou-machi, Kita-katsuragi-gun, Nara
- Other considerations - Tenri - Tenri-shi, Nara
In other games, Yamato Kouryou played Ryuukokudai Heian close, but couldn't get a run on the board losing 2-0. Osaka Shoudai Sakai lasted only 5 innings against Houtoku Gakuen losing 13-0. And finally, Riseisha was fighting for their lives against surging Kyoto Shouei down 1-0 late before tying the game in the 8th. The game would go into enchousen when reliever Sakamoto would finally fail, giving Kyoto Shouei the 3-1 win in 12!
That setup an all-Kyoto final on one side, and a powerhouse matchup on the other.
Kyoto Shouei and Ryuukokudai Heian were up first. Kyoto Shouei didn't have to face Heian in the prefecturals as Heian was paired with Fukuchiyama Seibi. Early on, the teams traded runs with Kyoto Shouei emerging with a 3-2 lead. It stayed that way until the 7th where Heian would get to Enomoto (who came in in relief) for a pair of runs to lead 4-3. However, their reliever Minami fell apart in the next half-inning. He hit back-to-back batters sending in a run, and then ace Enomoto would redeem himself, blasting a manrui home run to blow the game wide open.
Kyoto Shouei seemed to be in full control up 9-4, but Enomoto seemed to be out of sorts coming in relief. He struggled with his control as Heian came back to within 1 with a 4-run 8th! He'd somehow get in together just in time, closing the game out in the 9th to win 9-8!
In the other semi, it was a shocker in that Osaka Touin was not competitive at all against Houtoku Gakuen. In fact they were blanked 8-0 in 7 innings!
So Houtoku Gakuen and ace Inui Youhei (乾 陽平) were the final obstacle in Kyoto Shouei and Enomoto Kazuki (榎本 和輝) bid for their first ever fall title.
There were opportunities for both teams throughout the game as Inui yielded base hits almost every inning, while Enomoto's control issues persisted as he issued free passes. Yet the score was at 1-1 after regulation. Eventually it would become a matter of who would make the first mistake.
And that finally was made by Inui as he yielded 2 runs in the 13th. They still had the bottom half of the inning, and Enomoto was approaching his limit too. He would give up one run, but again found a way to shut the door, win 3-2, and claim Kyoto Shouei's first title!!
Looking at the field for the selection of the half-dozen bids, it almost winds up being as listed above by default. Kyoto Shouei is definitely in, as well as Houtoku Gakuen. While Heian is in the same prefecture as Kyoto Shouei, they didn't play each other in the prefecturals and held their own in the semifinals - so they're in. Those are the definites.
Osaka Touin was uncharacteristically blown out by Houtoku Gakuen. And their wins prior against Kousen and Tenri do not inspire confidence.
But then you look down at the quarterfinalists. Tenri was blown out by Osaka Touin. Daishoudai Sakai too was annihilated. That leaves Riseisha who played Kyoto Shouei close as well and should get in, and Yamato Kouryou who had a nondescript win over Shiga Gakuen before being shutout 2-0 to Heian.
So Osaka Touin now appears safe, as does Riseisha. The question becomes the last bid.
And that boils down to Yamato Kouryou and Tenri.
Tenri in name had the harder opponent in Osaka Touin, but Heian can easily be considered a quality opponent for Yamato Kouryou.
If the committee wants to go by name, then Tenri will go. But I think if they go by play, it may fall to Yamato Kouryou.
Chuugoku (3 bids)
- Champion - Kanzei - Okayama-shi, Okayama (6th title, 1st in 2 years)
- Runner-up - Kouryou - Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima
- 3rd Bid - Iwakuni Shougyou - Iwakuni-shi, Yamaguchi
- A - Hamada (Shimane 2) vs. Ube Kougyou (Yamaguchi 4)
- A - Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi 1) vs. Tamashima Shougyou (Okayama 2)
- B - Soutoku (Hiroshima 1) vs. Tottori Jyouhoku (Tottori 3)
- B - Yonago Kita (Tottori 1) vs. Kouryou (Hiroshima 3)
- C - Kanzei (Okayama 1) vs. Jyosuikan (Hiroshima 2)
- C - Yonago Shouin (Tottori 2) vs. Kurashiki Shougyou (Okayama 3)
- D - Hayatomo (Yamaguchi 2) vs. Shimane Chuo (Shimane 3)
- D - Masuda Shouyou (Shimane 1) vs. Iwakuni (Yamaguchi 3)
It turns out that not just one, but two prefectures would be eliminated!
So, all else being equal, who has the advantage?
Well, the home team. And that happens to be Yamaguchi-ken.
In fact, all 4 entrants advanced into the second round. Iwakuni Shougyou, Iwakuni and Ube Koujyou all won via the shutout. Hayatomo was able to advance, but only after striking back for a pair of runs right after they gave up the lead in the 7th.
With that alone, Shimane was wiped off the board. Who would be the other prefecture?
In B quadrant, Tottori Jyouhoku started off well against Soutoku, but fell apart in the 2nd half of the game, losing 8-4. Yonago Kita went just 7 innings before they waved the white flag, losing 9-1.
That left 2nd place Yonago Shouin as the last representative. But against Kurashiki Shougyou, that was a tough task. They kept it close, even in fact tying the game at 1-1 in the top of the 5th. Kurashou struck back with 2 in their part of the frame and held on to the 3-1 win.
A valiant effort, but both Japan Sea prefectures were eliminated.
And what appeared to be a blockbuster matchup in the first round wound up being anything but. Jyousuikan would give up after 7 innings, losing to Kanzei 10-0!
This created a bizarre quarterfinal setup:
- A - Ube Kougyou (Yamaguchi 4) vs. Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi 1)
- B - Soutoku (Hiroshima 1) vs. Kouryou (Hiroshima 3)
- C - Kanzei (Okayama 1) Kurashiki Shougyou (Okayama 3)
- D - Hayatomo (Yamaguchi 2) vs. Iwakuni (Yamaguchi 3)
In the Yamaguchi matchups, Iwakuni Shougyou proved that they were the cream of the crop, as they defeated the only Best 4 team they haven't played - Ube Kougyou, in a shutout 5-0. Iwakuni showed that their 3rd place finish was a product of just being in the wrong half of the bracket. The struggling Hayatomo was unceremoniously upended in a 10-0 defeat in 5 innings.
Soutoku probably wasn't happy to see Kouryou in their crosshairs. They managed to avoid them in the prefecturals, but now when it really matters... it was all Kouryou in a 7-1 win.
That leaves the rematch of Kanzei and Kurashiki Shougyou. Kanzei wouldn't leave anything to chance, scoring 6 runs in the 3rd en route to an 8-4 win.
Another byproduct of the 1st round was that Yamaguchi pretty much guaranteed themselves a team at Senbatsu, especially since due to the 85th tournament, Chuugoku gets an extra bid.
And that would prove key this year as Iwakuni was routed 11-1 by Kanzei, and while Iwakuni Shougyou held with Kouryou, they still lost 2-0.
So we're left with Kouryou and Kanzei in the finals, two teams used to the big game. The game was a low-scoring affair early, then blown open in the span of 2 half-innings where Kouryou scored 3 in the 6th to lead 4-2, only to give up 5 in the lucky 7 to trail 7-4. They'd win 8-5 to take the title.
And on the basis of the semifinal matchups, expect Iwakuni Shougyou to receive the 3rd bid.
Shikoku (3 bids)
- Champion - Kochi - Kochi-shi, Kochi (6th title, 1st in 6 years)
- Runner-up - Naruto - Naruto-shi, Tokushima
- 3rd Bid - Saibi - Matsuyama-shi, Ehime
- Kochi (Kochi 1) vs. Imabari Kougyou (Ehime 2)-Marugame (Kagawa 3) winner
- Eimei (Kagawa 1) vs. Tokushima Shougyou (Tokushima 2)-Tosa (Kochi 3) winner
- Naruto (Tokushima 1) vs. Kochi Shougyou (Kochi 2)-Matsuyama Seiryou (Ehime 3) winner
- Saibi (Ehime 1) vs. Takamatsu Shougyou (Kagawa 2)-Ikeda (Tokushima 3) winner
In the other games, Imabari Kougyou had a chance to survive as they were deadlocked 1-1 for a long time. Marugame though would bid sayonara to the Ehime representative 2-1. Kochi Shougyou was having a heck of a time in their game, but at 3-3 in the 7th Matsuyama Seiryou scored 6 to pull away. Kochishou would score 3 in the 9th, but it wasn't enough. And Ikeda finally made progress, winning 3-1.
With so many 3 seeds advancing, it would be expected that most if not all of the 1 seeds would advance. And in fact, all did... except for the one team that faced the only #2 seed left.
Nartuo and Kochi had no problems. Ikeda almost got to the semifinals and rallied late, but lost to Saibi 4-3. Tokushou was in another close game. They and Eimei were tied at 2 when Eimei scored a run in the 7th to take the lead. But in the bottom of the 9th they get to ace Akagawa scoring 2 runs for the gyakuten sayonara victory.
Tokushou would try to extend their run against Kochi, and early on the semifinals they held a 2-run lead, even after swapping 3-run innings. But Kochi would put up 2 runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings to win 11-7. In the other semifinal, Saibi was in full control, getting 2 insurance runs in the final 2 innings to lead 4-1. Saibi ace Anraku though didn't get the memo that he and his team needed to close out the game. Naruto would rally for 4 runs and win 5-4.
To the final where Kochi would try to preempt the deficit by getting ahead early. Naruto would have none of it and came back to level the score at 6 in the 6th. Kochi though would score 2 in the 8th giving Naruto no time to stage a rally.
The extra bid will probably go to Saibi, who had Naruto dead to rights, right until the bottom of the 9th.
Kyushu (4 bids)
- Champion - Okinawa Shougaku - Naha-shi, Okinawa (2nd title, 1st in 15 years)
- Runner-up - Seiseikou - Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto
- 3rd Bid - Shoushikan - Shibushi-shi, Kagoshima
- 4th Bid - Souseikan - Isahaya-shi, Nagasaki
- Other Consideration - Kumamoto Kougyou, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto
Now all 8 top seeds would be in play, but by the end of the first round over half would go home. But not the half you may have thought.
- Kagoshima Jyouhou probably lacked experience and became Souseikan's 2nd shutout, losing by the slim margin of 1-0. (who by the way is looking to get an invitation this year after being snubbed).
- Miyazaki's Nisshou Gakuen can't be faulted for losing their game, they had to play Okinawa Shougaku. Down 4-0, they rallied late but still lost 4-2.
- Saga Kita reached the Super-Regionals again, but Shoushikan picked up the flag for Kagoshima and used a 5-run 5th to advance 7-3.
- Seiseikou wanted to prove that their appearance last year wasn't just a fluke. To that end they struck early and pulled ahead late, defeating Oita's Youshikan 6-2.
- And Miyazaki Nichidai would pull the upset on Okinawa's Ginoza, shutting them out 5-0!
Nagasaki Nichidai should have been dead to rights. Enchousen, tied at 1 in the 10th, Moji Gakuen scores 4 runs and should have the game wrapped up. Except they don't close it out! Nagasaki Nichidai scores 4 and extends the game further! I'd like to see what happened in that 10th inning. It wouldn't be until the 13th inning where Nagasaki Nichidai would score the sayonara run to win 6-5!
The only non-contested game was surprisingly Kurume Shougyou vs. Meihou. Kurushou scored 4 in the 1st inning and cruised to a 5-2 win.
The reprieve for the top seeds though wouldn't last. All 3 remaining would lose in the quarterfinals. Kurume Shougyou only went 7 against Souseikan losing 9-0. Kumamoto Kougyou had to face Okinawa Shougaku, and narrowly lost 3-2 in 10 innings. And Shoushikan used a 4-run 4th to defeat Nagasaki Nichidai 6-2. The fourth team to advance would indeed be Seiseikou as they shutout the last Nichidai team as Miyazaki would fall 3-0.
That put Souseikan in the crosshairs of Okinawa Shougaku, while Shoushikan and Seiseikou would square off in the other semi.
And neither game was close.
In fact, both would last just 7 innings and both due to a big inning. For Okishou, it was a 4-run 1st in an 8-1 win. For Seiseikou, it was a 5-run 6th in an 8-0 win.
So it'd be Okinawa Shougaku and Seiseikou in the finals, and both pretty much guaranteed a spot in Senbatsu. It would be just a matter now of who would represent Kyushu at the Meiji Jingu Tournament.
And boy was it a pitchers' duel. Seiseikou's Ootake Koutarou (大竹 耕太郎) versus the tandem of Ura Jyun (宇良 淳) and Higa Kenichirou (比嘉 健一朗). Okishou certainly had more opportunities throughout the game, but the game remained scoreless through 8. But in the top of the 9th, it all unraveled for Seiseikou. Okinawa Shougaku would put up 5 runs in the 9th and claim just their 2nd ever fall title!
Rounding out the projected 4 bids are in all probability the two semifinalists - Souseikan and Shoushikan. Yes, they still lost badly in the semifinals, but they had shutout their competition beforehand (though the quality of the opposition can be argued). Shoushikan defeated both Saga Kita and Nagasaki Nichidai and despite their blowout loss, should get in.
The only other team who could make a case would be Kumamoto Kougyou, who was the only team to actually play Okinawa Shougaku close. And bad news for Souseikan, they would probably be the team on the bubble if there were other considerations.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Fall Taikai Quick Recap (Kyushu)
Kyushu will have their regular 4 teams for Senbatsu. They, along with Shikoku, will be the last Super-Regional to take place. Nagasaki will be the host, and thus will have 4 representatives for the Super-Regionals.
Fukuoka
Fukuoka has 2 stages for their prefectural, but their 1st stage narrows the field down to 8.
In the Hokubu Regionals, no surprise that Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku advanced, same goes for Iidzuka (who defeated Jiyuugaoka 7-3 in the final). Over down south in the Nanbu Regionals, Higashi-Fukuoka and Chikuyou Gakuen also advanced.
So onto the quarterfinals, and on Day 1, Iidzuka advanced with little issue over Nogata while Higashi-Fukuoka were upended by Kurume Shougyou.
Meanwhile, Moji Gakuen were able to rebound after Fukuokadai Oohori tied the game in the 9th to win 3-2 in 10. But more surprising was that Chikuyou Gakuen fired a winning shot in the 9th to defeat Kyukoku 6-5!
The upsets continued into the semifinals where Iidzuka and Chikuyou Gakuen never led in their semifinal matches, thus putting Kurume Shougyou and Moji Gakuen into the finals!
Kurume Shougyou would clinch the title with a 4-0 shutout, but both teams will advance to the Super-Regionals.
Saga
Ok, for as much crap I give Saga Kita because they crushed my dear Kouryou at Natsu Koushien so mercilessly they are a private school, and as a private school generally have better odds of being a good team - and they are.
Despite not being a seeded team, they defeated Karatsu Shougyou and Saga Shougyou on their way to the finals.
On the other half, Saga Gakuen probably was one of the favorites, but Kanzaki Seimei put a stop to that with a 8-1 mercy rule win and went through the rest of the bracket to the finals.
In the finals, Saga Kita put pressure on Kanzaki Seimei all game and had never trailed. That was until a 3-spot in the 7th gave Kanzaki the 5-4 lead.
But they couldn't close it out. Saga Kita would tie the game in the 8th, and pull ahead in the 9th for a 6-5 win for their 2nd consecutive fall title (9th overall).
Nagasaki
Nagasaki was a tale of two halves - of the bracket that is...
One one side, it was all chalk. Sasebo Jitsugyou and Nagasaki Nichidai barreled towards each other in a semifinal matchup. In that matchup, the teams just combined for 6 total hits (2 and 4 respectively). The difference though was probably the errors. Sasebo Jitsugyou committed 4 errors in the game as Nagasaki Nichidai went on to a 3-0 win and a spot in the Super-Regionals.
The other half saw things shaken up. Seihou, who wasn't seeded never had to face seeded Sasebo Shougyou but wound up giving up 3 runs in the 8th and losing to Souseikan, who themselves were passed up not too long ago in the selection process due to a bad semifinal game.
Meanwhile, Hasami continues to show good strength and despite also being unseeded defeated a seeded Nagasaki Sougou Kagaku but couldn't survive a shootout against unknown Isahaya.
Isahaya continued their cinderella run, defeating Souseikan 5-3 to reach the finals. Their dreams for a fall title would end though as Nagasaki Nichidai easily handled them 9-2 for their 12th fall title (and first since 2007).
Oita
In Oita, outside of a slow start by some teams, Oita Nishi, Meihou, Youshikan and Touin all reached the semis without much trouble.
Meihou would blank Oita Nishi 2-0, and in a bit of a shocker, Youshikan limited Touin to just 1 run in a 3-1 victory assuring them only their 3rd trip to the Super-Regionals!
Of course, facing Meihou, there were expected to finish as the runner-up. But instead they outscored Meihou 5-1 in the final 3 innings to win 6-3, thus claiming their 2nd ever fall title! (Their last appearance and title were 19 years ago)
Miyazaki
There were a lot of regulars back in the seeded ranks of the Miyazaki taikai. Nichinan Gakuen, Nobeoka Gakuen and Nisshou Gakuen specifically.
Nichinan Gakuen though lost in the semifinals to Miyazaki Gakuen - a bit of an upset as ace Ryou failed to close the game in the bottom of the 9th, giving up 3 runs and losing 3-2. Miyazaki Gakuen in turn would lose to familiar Miyazaki Nichidai in the quarterfinals. Nobeoka Gakuen was able to advance despite having to play St. Ursula and Miyakonojyou Shougyou.
Unknown Houshou was the last seeded team, but couldn't get past Nobeoka Kougyou in the 3rd round.
The semifinals saw Nisshou Gakuen advance easily past Takanabe (who had advanced out of Houshou's bracket), while a 4-spot in the 6th sent Miyazaki Nichidai to the title. Nisshou Gakuen would claim the top spot with an easy 12-5 win.
Kumamoto
I liked the story of Seiseikou. I had kind of wished they'd go further at Koushien, but there's not a lot you can do when you have to face Osaka Touin...
But it does look like they've been able to brunt the loss of players and outside of a 4-1 win over Kumamoto Shougyou, were able to easily reach the finals - denying Jyouhoku in the semifinals again (Hitsuyuukan did it in the Natsu taikai).
Meanwhile, Kumamoto Kougyou had to navigate a minefield to advance through the brackets. After an uncharacteristic blowout over Shuugakukan, they played the aforementioned Hitsuyuukan, then went 10 innings against Kumamoto Kokufu and a surging Kumamoto Kita to reach the finals themselves.
Seiseikou will go to the Super-Regionals, but as the 2nd seed as Kumamoto Kougyou summits the top with an easy 6-0 win.
Kagoshima
Kamimura Gakuen had looked to continue to prove they're still the top dog in the prefecture advancing out of their quadrant without opposition. Things looked even better when their main blockade to the Super-Regionals, Kagoshima Jitsugyou, fell to Shoushikan 3-2 in the 3rd round. But then they annihilated Kagoshima Jyousai in the quarterfinals and there was probably cause for concern.
Rightly so as Kamimura Gakuen would wind up losing 3-1. Meanwhile, on the other side, Shounan and Kagoshima Jyouhou did have a hiccup along the way, but digested teams en route to a semifinal showdown. That became a defensive affair as Kagoshima Jyouhou outscored Shounan 2-1 in the first 3 innings, then held serve the rest of the way.
In the finals, Kagoshima Jyouhou would limit Shounan to just 1 run on 5 hits and take the fall title 2-1.
Okinawa
I really wished Maebara had won last summer. It seemed like a one-shot deal.
It was. Against Misato in the first round they lost 4-1... *sighs* oh well...
Instead, the Okinawa taikai was filled with the usual suspects - Miyako, Kadena, Ginoza, Okinawa Shougaku, Kounan, and even the aforementioned Misato.
There is little to go on outside of scores, and the final 4 consisted of 4 regulars. Miyako scored in the top of the 1st to take the lead, but were forced to play catch-up the rest of the game. They would fall short, losing 5-4.
Kounan and Okinawa Shougyou by name alone implied a hard-fought game, and it was. Okinawa Shougaku took a 2-0 lead over Kounan before Uehara blasted a HR to tie the game. The deadlock would not be decided until the 10th when Okinawa Shougyou pushed in the go-ahead run to advance to the finals.
And in the finals, it looked like the semifinal game took a lot out of Okishou as Ginoza took the lead in the 1st and won wire-to-wire 5-3 to earn their 4th ever title - their first in 10 years (it's their 8th appearance overall).
Super-Regionals
The draw for the Super-Regionals are as follows:
It will be a border battle in the 3rd round probably as Saga Kita will be playing on Nagasaki Nichidai's home turf.
Okinawa Shougaku is back in the mix for Senbatsu, but Kumamoto Kougyou looms large in the pivotal 3rd round.
Fukuoka
Fukuoka has 2 stages for their prefectural, but their 1st stage narrows the field down to 8.
In the Hokubu Regionals, no surprise that Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku advanced, same goes for Iidzuka (who defeated Jiyuugaoka 7-3 in the final). Over down south in the Nanbu Regionals, Higashi-Fukuoka and Chikuyou Gakuen also advanced.
So onto the quarterfinals, and on Day 1, Iidzuka advanced with little issue over Nogata while Higashi-Fukuoka were upended by Kurume Shougyou.
Meanwhile, Moji Gakuen were able to rebound after Fukuokadai Oohori tied the game in the 9th to win 3-2 in 10. But more surprising was that Chikuyou Gakuen fired a winning shot in the 9th to defeat Kyukoku 6-5!
The upsets continued into the semifinals where Iidzuka and Chikuyou Gakuen never led in their semifinal matches, thus putting Kurume Shougyou and Moji Gakuen into the finals!
Kurume Shougyou would clinch the title with a 4-0 shutout, but both teams will advance to the Super-Regionals.
Saga
Ok, for as much crap I give Saga Kita because they crushed my dear Kouryou at Natsu Koushien so mercilessly they are a private school, and as a private school generally have better odds of being a good team - and they are.
Despite not being a seeded team, they defeated Karatsu Shougyou and Saga Shougyou on their way to the finals.
On the other half, Saga Gakuen probably was one of the favorites, but Kanzaki Seimei put a stop to that with a 8-1 mercy rule win and went through the rest of the bracket to the finals.
In the finals, Saga Kita put pressure on Kanzaki Seimei all game and had never trailed. That was until a 3-spot in the 7th gave Kanzaki the 5-4 lead.
But they couldn't close it out. Saga Kita would tie the game in the 8th, and pull ahead in the 9th for a 6-5 win for their 2nd consecutive fall title (9th overall).
Nagasaki
Nagasaki was a tale of two halves - of the bracket that is...
One one side, it was all chalk. Sasebo Jitsugyou and Nagasaki Nichidai barreled towards each other in a semifinal matchup. In that matchup, the teams just combined for 6 total hits (2 and 4 respectively). The difference though was probably the errors. Sasebo Jitsugyou committed 4 errors in the game as Nagasaki Nichidai went on to a 3-0 win and a spot in the Super-Regionals.
The other half saw things shaken up. Seihou, who wasn't seeded never had to face seeded Sasebo Shougyou but wound up giving up 3 runs in the 8th and losing to Souseikan, who themselves were passed up not too long ago in the selection process due to a bad semifinal game.
Meanwhile, Hasami continues to show good strength and despite also being unseeded defeated a seeded Nagasaki Sougou Kagaku but couldn't survive a shootout against unknown Isahaya.
Isahaya continued their cinderella run, defeating Souseikan 5-3 to reach the finals. Their dreams for a fall title would end though as Nagasaki Nichidai easily handled them 9-2 for their 12th fall title (and first since 2007).
Oita
In Oita, outside of a slow start by some teams, Oita Nishi, Meihou, Youshikan and Touin all reached the semis without much trouble.
Meihou would blank Oita Nishi 2-0, and in a bit of a shocker, Youshikan limited Touin to just 1 run in a 3-1 victory assuring them only their 3rd trip to the Super-Regionals!
Of course, facing Meihou, there were expected to finish as the runner-up. But instead they outscored Meihou 5-1 in the final 3 innings to win 6-3, thus claiming their 2nd ever fall title! (Their last appearance and title were 19 years ago)
Miyazaki
There were a lot of regulars back in the seeded ranks of the Miyazaki taikai. Nichinan Gakuen, Nobeoka Gakuen and Nisshou Gakuen specifically.
Nichinan Gakuen though lost in the semifinals to Miyazaki Gakuen - a bit of an upset as ace Ryou failed to close the game in the bottom of the 9th, giving up 3 runs and losing 3-2. Miyazaki Gakuen in turn would lose to familiar Miyazaki Nichidai in the quarterfinals. Nobeoka Gakuen was able to advance despite having to play St. Ursula and Miyakonojyou Shougyou.
Unknown Houshou was the last seeded team, but couldn't get past Nobeoka Kougyou in the 3rd round.
The semifinals saw Nisshou Gakuen advance easily past Takanabe (who had advanced out of Houshou's bracket), while a 4-spot in the 6th sent Miyazaki Nichidai to the title. Nisshou Gakuen would claim the top spot with an easy 12-5 win.
Kumamoto
I liked the story of Seiseikou. I had kind of wished they'd go further at Koushien, but there's not a lot you can do when you have to face Osaka Touin...
But it does look like they've been able to brunt the loss of players and outside of a 4-1 win over Kumamoto Shougyou, were able to easily reach the finals - denying Jyouhoku in the semifinals again (Hitsuyuukan did it in the Natsu taikai).
Meanwhile, Kumamoto Kougyou had to navigate a minefield to advance through the brackets. After an uncharacteristic blowout over Shuugakukan, they played the aforementioned Hitsuyuukan, then went 10 innings against Kumamoto Kokufu and a surging Kumamoto Kita to reach the finals themselves.
Seiseikou will go to the Super-Regionals, but as the 2nd seed as Kumamoto Kougyou summits the top with an easy 6-0 win.
Kagoshima
Kamimura Gakuen had looked to continue to prove they're still the top dog in the prefecture advancing out of their quadrant without opposition. Things looked even better when their main blockade to the Super-Regionals, Kagoshima Jitsugyou, fell to Shoushikan 3-2 in the 3rd round. But then they annihilated Kagoshima Jyousai in the quarterfinals and there was probably cause for concern.
Rightly so as Kamimura Gakuen would wind up losing 3-1. Meanwhile, on the other side, Shounan and Kagoshima Jyouhou did have a hiccup along the way, but digested teams en route to a semifinal showdown. That became a defensive affair as Kagoshima Jyouhou outscored Shounan 2-1 in the first 3 innings, then held serve the rest of the way.
In the finals, Kagoshima Jyouhou would limit Shounan to just 1 run on 5 hits and take the fall title 2-1.
Okinawa
I really wished Maebara had won last summer. It seemed like a one-shot deal.
It was. Against Misato in the first round they lost 4-1... *sighs* oh well...
Instead, the Okinawa taikai was filled with the usual suspects - Miyako, Kadena, Ginoza, Okinawa Shougaku, Kounan, and even the aforementioned Misato.
There is little to go on outside of scores, and the final 4 consisted of 4 regulars. Miyako scored in the top of the 1st to take the lead, but were forced to play catch-up the rest of the game. They would fall short, losing 5-4.
Kounan and Okinawa Shougyou by name alone implied a hard-fought game, and it was. Okinawa Shougaku took a 2-0 lead over Kounan before Uehara blasted a HR to tie the game. The deadlock would not be decided until the 10th when Okinawa Shougyou pushed in the go-ahead run to advance to the finals.
And in the finals, it looked like the semifinal game took a lot out of Okishou as Ginoza took the lead in the 1st and won wire-to-wire 5-3 to earn their 4th ever title - their first in 10 years (it's their 8th appearance overall).
Super-Regionals
The draw for the Super-Regionals are as follows:
- Kagoshima Jyouhou (Kagoshima 1) vs. Winner of Kanzaki Seimei (Saga 2)-Souseikan (Nagasaki 3/4)
- Kurume Shougyou (Fukuoka 1) vs. Meihou (Oita 2)
- Kumamoto Kougyou (Kumamoto 1) vs. Isahaya (Nagasaki 2)
- Nisshou Gakuen (Miyazaki 1) vs. Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa 2)
- Nagasaki Nichidai (Nagasaki 1) vs. Moji Gakuen (Fukuoka 2)
- Saga Kita (Saga 1) vs. Soushikan (Kagoshima 2)
- Youshikan (Oita 1) vs. Seiseikou (Kumamoto 2)
- Ginowan (Okinawa 1) vs. Winner of Miyazaki Nichidai (Miyazaki 2)-Sasebo Jitsugyou (Nagasaki 3/4)
It will be a border battle in the 3rd round probably as Saga Kita will be playing on Nagasaki Nichidai's home turf.
Okinawa Shougaku is back in the mix for Senbatsu, but Kumamoto Kougyou looms large in the pivotal 3rd round.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Fall Tournament Recap and possible invitees (Kyushu)
In the interests of getting my projections out before the invitations
are posted I am including them here before they are announced.
Oita is the home for the tournament this time around, so they'll get an extra bid (4) this year to the super-regionals.
Oita
Oita had a resurgence at Koshien it seemed when Imamiya Kenta and Meihou made a deep run only to run into Hanamaki Higashi. But otherwise the prefecture has struggled as a whole.
So it's really hard to peg who's strong in the region. There's Meihou, but they lost in the 3rd round 7-4 to Oita. For their part, Oita made it to the semifinals after defeating Oita Houfu in the next game.
There was last year's fall winner Touin, and they made it to the Best 4 which included a win against 2008 participant Hita Rinkou.
And with the prefecture weaker, other teams scrambled to try and give their school a chance at the title. Oita Kagaku Gijyutsu was one of those teams, surviving two 1-run games including one against Youshikan. The other would be Beppu Aoyama, 2005 Natsu reprentative. In their 3 games they only yielded 3 runs, all against Tsukumi.
With the extra bid, all 4 teams would advance to the super-regionals. The question was where would they be seeded.
Touin, despite winning last year, would give up a 5-spot to Oita in the top of the 1st. That would be the winning margin as they won 10-5. Meanwhile, Oita Kagaku Gijyutsu would continue to surprise, as they head to the finals with a 5-3 win!
And they would complete the upset by scoring the first 5 runs in an 8-4 win over Oita in the finals, giving themselves their first ever fall title!
Fukuoka
Kyukoku without their 1-2 battery mates would have to try and repeat the feat. And though they seemed to gain momentum as the tournament progress, they would only make it to the quarterfinals of the Hokubu region before being unceremoniously ousted 9-2 by Kurate Ryuutoku.
That allowed teams that had perhaps taken a back seat to rise again (at least for now). In the Hokubu region, that meant Iidzuka and Jiyuugaoka would advance to the semis where they would clash. Jiyuugaoka would get the better of that matchup and never trail in a 8-4 win. Ikutokukan would be their matchup in the regional finals, and they more than held their own. Trailing 2-0, then later 4-3, they would rally to tie the score and send it into enchousen. But eventually the lack of pitching depth would catch up with Ikutokukan and reliever Akiyoshi would give up a 4-spot to Jiyuugaoka, signaling their death knell.
The Nanbu region had teams such as Oomuta, Chikuyou Gakuen and Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou. Eager to take the opportunity of regaining the seat at the head of the table, each of these teams reached the semifinals. Of note, Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou had to defeat Higashi-Fukuoka, Yanagawa and Nishi-Nippon Tankidai Fuzoku just to reach the Best 4!
Fukuoka Dai-ichi would be the 4th member of the semifinals, and though they had a great run, and held their own against Oomuta, their ace Chou would fade late yielding 5 runs in the last 4 innings to fall 7-3.
Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou meanwhile may have felt that their luck had run out as they trailed Chikuyou Gakuen 4-1 heading into the late innings. But somehow they managed to rally for 4 runs in the top of the 8th to take a 5-4 lead! They'd hold onto the lead and face their 5th former Koushien participant just for an automatic bid!
And boy did they ever shut the door. With the end in sight for an automatic bid, they annihilated Oomuta 15-0 to secure a place in the super-regionals.
So in the championship, which would be done just for seeding purposes, Jiyuugaoka would jump out to a 6-1 lead en route to a 8-5 win. This would be just their 2nd ever fall title. Meanwhile Oomuta would claim the final spot, scoring the sayonara run over Ikutokukan 3-2.
Saga
Deanna would probably go on and on about Saga Kita if she could. That magical run culminating in the gyakuten win over Kouryou perhaps jumpstarted something in the region. Though they may not have returned to senbatsu, they were experiencing a slight bump much like Saga Shougyou's win back in 1994. But Karatsu Shougyou's Kitakata has graduated to the majors, so it'll have to be another team to step up
But who? Perhaps a recent participant such as Saga Gakuen or Saga Shougyou? Or perhaps someone new?
Early on, it there were some new names advancing through the field. Keitoku for instance was able to move through their quadrant after the early upset of Saga Shougyou by Kanzaki Seimei. They'd beat the same team 5-1 for a spot in the semis.
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Opposite them, 1995 Natsu representative Ryuukoku cut their way through, including a quality 3-0 win over Ogi.
On the other half, Karatsu Shougyou after a 1-0 win the first round to Karatsu Nishi, fell 1-0 to Kashima.
However, they couldn't advance past the next stage as Koushikan won a high-scoring 9-6 affair to advance to the semis.
The final spot in the Best 4 would be filled by a familiar face. Despite one of Waseda Saga's better runs in the field, they are rejected yet again, this time a 3-1 loss to Tosu in the quarterfinals. Don't count Waseda Saga out though, for a school that was established just in 2010, it's scary to think what might happen in future years.
For now, Tosu takes full advantage of the opportunity. Ace Hase limits Koushikan to just 1 run in a 4-1 win, securing one of two spots for the super-regional. Meanwhile, Keitoku threw 5 different pitchers in an attempt to stop Ryuukoku... but to no avail. A 7-1 win would give Ryuukoku the other bid.
In the final, Ryuukoku would break a 1-1 tie in the 6th, but ace Nakano couldn't finish it out. Tosu would score 2 in the 8th as Hase would shut the door in the 9th giving Tosu their first title in 9 years (10th overall).
Nagasaki
I'm not sure what got me hooked on Seihou from Nagasaki. Perhaps it was their failed run in 2006 with a 21-0 loss to Yokohama in the final that made me root for the underdog. I got paid off 3 years later when Imamura Takeru took the same school over Kikuchi Yuusei and Hanamaki Higashi for the title. It also doesn't mean I can't ask for more. Ne?
But there are other claimants to the head of the class. Nagasaki Nichidai has represented the prefecture more than a couple of times. Hasami last year upended the same Yokohama squad in a shocking upset.
In the Nagasaki Regionals, last year's Natsu representative Kaisei wanted to show they were sticking around, and while it was tough sledding in the semifinal and final, a 3-1 win over Nagasaki Shougyou gave them the win.
To the Sasebo Regionals and Hasami and Seihou marched through the brackets with no one able to stop their eventual meetup in the finals. Seihou's timing might suggest that they'd head back to senbatsu, but they wouldn't win the region as Hasami wins 6-3.
Finally in the Naka Regionals lied Nagasaki Nichidai. They too looked fairly strong, but their shot at winning the regionals was rejected by Souseikan in an 11-6 loss in the finals.
Like the super-regionals, winning the region matters as teams receive a bye. Now with 3 regions and 4 byes, one 2nd place team has to be "upgraded" as it were. That went to Seihou.
They'd reward that bid with a 3-2 win over Nagasaki Shougyou in the quarters. Hasami and Souseikan would also advance with 1-run victories. Kaisei though would have to face Nagasaki Nichidai, and their run ended there with a 3-0 shutout loss.
Hasami would be next on the docket for Nagasaki Nichidai. Scrappy as they were they never led in the game, though after going down 5-1 in the bottom of the 9th they would rally for 3 runs of their own falling 5-4 and with it a chance to return to Koushien.
Souseikan and Seihou had a tight game. After trading runs in the first two innings, things seemed to quiet down. But as soon as the teams reached the 2nd half of the game, the offensive spigots opened wide. After trading another pair of runs in the 6th, the lead with switch 4 times as each team scored one more run than the last. Eventually Souseikan would score 2 in the 9th to tie the game up at 10. And when Seihou failed to score in the bottom of the 9th, it was all over. Souseikan tacked on 3 more in the 10th for the win and the other bid to the super-regionals.
Souseikan's late inning rallies wouldn't end there. In the finals, down 4-1, they would start their rally again in the 6th. They'd tie the game in the 7th, and when Nagasaki Nichidai scored 2 in the 8th, Souseikan scored 3 to take the lead and claim their first ever fall title.
Miyazaki
Was it really that weird to ask the stalls at Meiji Jingu for former Miyazaki Shougyou's ace Akagawa Katsuki? Okay, kinda off topic, but a year after his appearance Miyakonojyou Shougyou's team would make it to the Best 8, falling to Chuukyoudai Chuukyou.
Teams from Miyazaki of late have been able to advance past the first round, but little further than that. Who would be the ones to try this time around?
Well, last summer's representative Nichinan Gakuen made a strong case with a semifinal run that included 3 shutouts against St. Ursula and Hyuuga Gakuin. Despite that though, Miyakonojyou Shougyou would rudely shut the door on a super-regional bid mercy ruling them 10-3 in 8 innings.
The other half of the quadrant had Nisshou Gakuen tiptoeing through their part winning games by the margin of 3-2, 3-1 and 1-0. Their semifinal would not be against Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka as expected, but Miyazaki Nishi who defeated them 3-2. Furthermore, Miyazaki Nishi would end Nisshou Gakuen's run of low-scoring victories shutting them out 2-0 and guaranteeing themselves their first ever super-regional bid.
Miyazaki Nishi wasn't done though. They made a run at Miyakonojyou Shougyou as well. Holding a 1-0 lead since the first, they were 2 innings away from claiming their 1st ever fall title. However, Miyakonokyou Shougyou would score 3 in the 8th giving them their 5th fall title and first in 5 years.
Kumamoto
Ask who are the strong teams in Kumamoto, and you'd probably get 2 responses - Kyushu Gakuin and Kumamoto Kougyou. Of late though, some schools have been able to break through the duo including Jyouhoku and Senshuudai Tamana. Others are still on the cusp of breaking through, but not yet - such as Luther Gakuin.
Kyushu Gakuin wanted to reaffirm their spot at the top of the prefecture, and though they were slowed down by Seiseikou and Kumamoto Shougyou, they handily defeated a Kuma Kougyou squad who surprised everyone by reaching the semifinals for a guaranteed spot. Jyouhoku didn't get past the 2nd round, losing to the aforementioned Kumamoto Shougyou.
Meanwhile Luther Gakuin, Senshuudai Tamana and Kumamoto Kougyou were all in the same quadrant... and they would eventually play each other. First up was last year's summer representative Senshuudai Tamana versus Kumamoto Kougyou. Kumamoto Kougyou won that easily 9-1. Next up for them was Luther Gakuin. So often Luther would fall short losing to teams like Kumamoto Kougyou. This time though, they prevailed, outlasting them in a 5-4 win to advance to the semis.
Standing in their way to the super-regionals was Toukai Dai-ni, who had a fairly strong run of their own. Yet, Luther Gakuin would jump out to a 4-0 lead and win by that same margin 6-2.
But while Luther Gakuin may have qualified for the super-regionals, Kyushu Gakuin decided to put them back in their place. A 15-1 victory would give them their 19th fall prefectural title.
Kagoshima
If you thought breaking through a ceiling of 2 teams was bad, try 4.
Since 1989, Kagoshima's representatives that have made it to senbatsu have been one of 4 teams:
So really, it's only news when one of those teams goes down - sad to say.
Interestingly though, they weren't all split up. Kagoshima Kougyou wound up in the same bracket as Shounan. Instead one of the seeded spots went to the team that was not one of the aforementioned 4 to make it to Koushien - Kagoshima Shougyou.
Well, that was a mistake. First game against Fukiage... they lose 4-1. That left Reimei to carry the flag in the quadrant... except they lost in their first game too, 7-6 to Shouyou. Shouyou would actually reach the semifinals... only to get railroaded by Kamimura Gakuen 16-2.
Okay, well... what about Shounan and Kagoshima Kougyou? Well, Shounan actually lasted just one game before falling to unknown Makurazaki 2-1!
That's 2 teams down.
Kagoshima Kougyou would avenge Shounan's loss by defeating Makurazaki 7-0. Yet even they weren't immune. In the very next round, they too would be dispatched by Sendai (that's 川内 to you) 9-2.
Lastly, there was Kagoshima Jitsugyou. Amazingly, they too lasted just 2 games, losing to Kagoshima 1-0! That left Kamimura Gakuen as the only one of the quartet still standing! Taking Kajitsu's place in the Best 4 would be Kagoshima Jyousai - certainly not a slouch, but not one of the Big 4 either.
And in the battle for the other super-regional spot, it would be Kagoshima Jyousai who would shutout Sendai 4-0.
So the finals are actually a rematch of last year's fall final - Kagoshima Jyousai v. Kamimura Gakuen.
And much like last year, Kamimura Gakuen wins again 4-1 for their 6th title.
Okinawa
Okinawa surprisingly has had a lot of success since the end of the last millennia. Starting with Okinawa Shougaku winning the 1999 senbatsu, Okinawa has won 3 Haru Koushien titles, Urasoe Shougyou reached the Best 4, and Kounan achieved the Haru-Natsu renzoku yuushou.
Itoman and Kadena have carried the flag for the prefecture since Shimabukuro's departure for Chuo Daigaku, though Urasoe Shougyou and Okinawa Shougaku lie in wait as well.
This year though, Okinawa Shogaku would not participate. Due to violence within the club, they withdrew from the tournament despite being given a seed.
Taking their place was Chinen. Given the free pass over Okishou, they took it to the semifinals with a 6-5 win over Shuri. There they would face Kadena, who had to defeat former participants such as Yaeyama Shoukou, and Okinawa Suisan. Yet even those wouldn't be enough to defeat Chinen. Chinen would grab a spot in the super-regionals with a 4-1 win.
On the other half, seeded Urasoe Shougyou unassumingly went about its business reaching the semifinals. Itoman would be right there to meet them, having worked their way through the bracket and defeated seeded Mawashi 3-0. In the semifinal, Itoman would prevail in a high scoring 8-6 game.
And interestingly, Itoman would manage to defeat Chinen 4-3 to claim their first ever fall title!
Super-Regionals
So with all prefectures accounted for, the draw for the super-regionals took place. Kyushu Gakuin and Jiyuugaoka may have been placed in the same quadrant, but there was no noticeable competition in the adjacent quadrant (Oita Kagaku Gijyutsu, Chinen, Souseikan, Ryuukoku... really?), thereby almost guaranteeing one of them a spot at senbatsu.
Meanwhile, Kamimura Gakuen probably will face their toughest test should Nagasaki Nichidai defeat Oomuta (which they should). Outside of that though, they should breeze through to the semifinals.
Finally, the last quadrant is actually a pretty tough one. Itoman and Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou would have to square off, then possibly face Miyakonojyou Shougyou or perhaps Luther Gakuin.
As the tournament kicked off, the first shock was that Oomuta and Nagasaki Nichidai wound up playing to a 2-2 draw! That meant they'd have to play again, and while Nagasaki Nichidai won the rematch 7-2, playing an extra game certainly couldn't have helped them.
The second was that Luther Gakuin, despite finally making it to the super-regionals, was dispatched by Beppu Aoyama 4-1! I certainly didn't see that one coming.
The surprises kept on coming. 2nd round action saw Jiyuugaoka having to force extra innings against Miyazaki Nishi, only to lose 5-4 in the 11th! Next was the Ryuukoku-Souseikan game which saw both teams go the full 15 before Souseikan would win 2-1 in the last half-inning! And Beppu Aoyama continued to shock the field scoring the first 6 runs in an 11-6 win over Miyakonojyou Shougyou!
Onto the quarterfinals and Kyushu Gakuin finally got a challenge, but it was from Miyazaki Nishi! Kyushu Gakuin would win 2-0, but it was a strong showing from a Miyazaki Nishi squad who was probably not expected to even be here.
Even more teams would struggle. Kamimura Gakuen, perhaps one of the shoe-ins to head to senbatsu actually trailed against Oita! First in the 3rd at 3-0, then in the 8th at 6-5. Both times though they were immediately able to rally back and take the lead - perhaps showing a bit of maturity. However, give credit to Oita for giving one of the stronger teams in the region a run for their money.
Still, Oita's game pales in comparison to Beppu Aoyama. Facing yet another strong team in Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou, they don't let a 1-run deficit deter them. They score 2 in the 6th to take a 3-2 lead! And the trio of Nakamura-Yasuo-Ishida shut the door on the game almost giving the committee no reason not to invite them to senbatsu!
To the semis and Souseikan's run now would get much tougher against Kyushu Gakuin. So much so they would be mercy ruled 9-0 in 7 innings.
As for Beppu Aoyama, they certainly had a great run, but it would not be able to continue against Kamimura Gakuen. Though they held them scoreless the first 4 innings, eventually Kamimura broke through with 4 in the 5th en route to a 6-2 win.
Kamimura Gakuen would finally put their stamp on the region in the finals, scoring 8 runs in the first inning against Kyushu Gakuin to claim their first ever (!!) super-regional title, and an automatic invitation to Haru Koushien!
And despite Souseikan's bad loss in the quarterfinals, I expect the Best 4 to receive a phone call come January.
Automatic Bid - Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima) - 3rd appearance, 1st in 3 years
Projected Bid - Kyushu Gakuin (Kumamoto) - 5th appearance, 2nd consecutive
Projected Bid - Souseikan (Nagasaki) - 1st appearance
Projected Bid - Beppu Aoyama (Oita) - 1st appearance
Kyushu Super-Regionals (4 bids)
Kyushu had a lot of promise in Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku, but the battery has graduated, and the area is once again up for grabs.Oita is the home for the tournament this time around, so they'll get an extra bid (4) this year to the super-regionals.
Oita
Oita had a resurgence at Koshien it seemed when Imamiya Kenta and Meihou made a deep run only to run into Hanamaki Higashi. But otherwise the prefecture has struggled as a whole.
So it's really hard to peg who's strong in the region. There's Meihou, but they lost in the 3rd round 7-4 to Oita. For their part, Oita made it to the semifinals after defeating Oita Houfu in the next game.
There was last year's fall winner Touin, and they made it to the Best 4 which included a win against 2008 participant Hita Rinkou.
And with the prefecture weaker, other teams scrambled to try and give their school a chance at the title. Oita Kagaku Gijyutsu was one of those teams, surviving two 1-run games including one against Youshikan. The other would be Beppu Aoyama, 2005 Natsu reprentative. In their 3 games they only yielded 3 runs, all against Tsukumi.
With the extra bid, all 4 teams would advance to the super-regionals. The question was where would they be seeded.
Touin, despite winning last year, would give up a 5-spot to Oita in the top of the 1st. That would be the winning margin as they won 10-5. Meanwhile, Oita Kagaku Gijyutsu would continue to surprise, as they head to the finals with a 5-3 win!
And they would complete the upset by scoring the first 5 runs in an 8-4 win over Oita in the finals, giving themselves their first ever fall title!
Fukuoka
Kyukoku without their 1-2 battery mates would have to try and repeat the feat. And though they seemed to gain momentum as the tournament progress, they would only make it to the quarterfinals of the Hokubu region before being unceremoniously ousted 9-2 by Kurate Ryuutoku.
That allowed teams that had perhaps taken a back seat to rise again (at least for now). In the Hokubu region, that meant Iidzuka and Jiyuugaoka would advance to the semis where they would clash. Jiyuugaoka would get the better of that matchup and never trail in a 8-4 win. Ikutokukan would be their matchup in the regional finals, and they more than held their own. Trailing 2-0, then later 4-3, they would rally to tie the score and send it into enchousen. But eventually the lack of pitching depth would catch up with Ikutokukan and reliever Akiyoshi would give up a 4-spot to Jiyuugaoka, signaling their death knell.
The Nanbu region had teams such as Oomuta, Chikuyou Gakuen and Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou. Eager to take the opportunity of regaining the seat at the head of the table, each of these teams reached the semifinals. Of note, Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou had to defeat Higashi-Fukuoka, Yanagawa and Nishi-Nippon Tankidai Fuzoku just to reach the Best 4!
Fukuoka Dai-ichi would be the 4th member of the semifinals, and though they had a great run, and held their own against Oomuta, their ace Chou would fade late yielding 5 runs in the last 4 innings to fall 7-3.
Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou meanwhile may have felt that their luck had run out as they trailed Chikuyou Gakuen 4-1 heading into the late innings. But somehow they managed to rally for 4 runs in the top of the 8th to take a 5-4 lead! They'd hold onto the lead and face their 5th former Koushien participant just for an automatic bid!
And boy did they ever shut the door. With the end in sight for an automatic bid, they annihilated Oomuta 15-0 to secure a place in the super-regionals.
So in the championship, which would be done just for seeding purposes, Jiyuugaoka would jump out to a 6-1 lead en route to a 8-5 win. This would be just their 2nd ever fall title. Meanwhile Oomuta would claim the final spot, scoring the sayonara run over Ikutokukan 3-2.
Saga
Deanna would probably go on and on about Saga Kita if she could. That magical run culminating in the gyakuten win over Kouryou perhaps jumpstarted something in the region. Though they may not have returned to senbatsu, they were experiencing a slight bump much like Saga Shougyou's win back in 1994. But Karatsu Shougyou's Kitakata has graduated to the majors, so it'll have to be another team to step up
But who? Perhaps a recent participant such as Saga Gakuen or Saga Shougyou? Or perhaps someone new?
Early on, it there were some new names advancing through the field. Keitoku for instance was able to move through their quadrant after the early upset of Saga Shougyou by Kanzaki Seimei. They'd beat the same team 5-1 for a spot in the semis.
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Opposite them, 1995 Natsu representative Ryuukoku cut their way through, including a quality 3-0 win over Ogi.
On the other half, Karatsu Shougyou after a 1-0 win the first round to Karatsu Nishi, fell 1-0 to Kashima.
However, they couldn't advance past the next stage as Koushikan won a high-scoring 9-6 affair to advance to the semis.
The final spot in the Best 4 would be filled by a familiar face. Despite one of Waseda Saga's better runs in the field, they are rejected yet again, this time a 3-1 loss to Tosu in the quarterfinals. Don't count Waseda Saga out though, for a school that was established just in 2010, it's scary to think what might happen in future years.
For now, Tosu takes full advantage of the opportunity. Ace Hase limits Koushikan to just 1 run in a 4-1 win, securing one of two spots for the super-regional. Meanwhile, Keitoku threw 5 different pitchers in an attempt to stop Ryuukoku... but to no avail. A 7-1 win would give Ryuukoku the other bid.
In the final, Ryuukoku would break a 1-1 tie in the 6th, but ace Nakano couldn't finish it out. Tosu would score 2 in the 8th as Hase would shut the door in the 9th giving Tosu their first title in 9 years (10th overall).
Nagasaki
I'm not sure what got me hooked on Seihou from Nagasaki. Perhaps it was their failed run in 2006 with a 21-0 loss to Yokohama in the final that made me root for the underdog. I got paid off 3 years later when Imamura Takeru took the same school over Kikuchi Yuusei and Hanamaki Higashi for the title. It also doesn't mean I can't ask for more. Ne?
But there are other claimants to the head of the class. Nagasaki Nichidai has represented the prefecture more than a couple of times. Hasami last year upended the same Yokohama squad in a shocking upset.
In the Nagasaki Regionals, last year's Natsu representative Kaisei wanted to show they were sticking around, and while it was tough sledding in the semifinal and final, a 3-1 win over Nagasaki Shougyou gave them the win.
To the Sasebo Regionals and Hasami and Seihou marched through the brackets with no one able to stop their eventual meetup in the finals. Seihou's timing might suggest that they'd head back to senbatsu, but they wouldn't win the region as Hasami wins 6-3.
Finally in the Naka Regionals lied Nagasaki Nichidai. They too looked fairly strong, but their shot at winning the regionals was rejected by Souseikan in an 11-6 loss in the finals.
Like the super-regionals, winning the region matters as teams receive a bye. Now with 3 regions and 4 byes, one 2nd place team has to be "upgraded" as it were. That went to Seihou.
They'd reward that bid with a 3-2 win over Nagasaki Shougyou in the quarters. Hasami and Souseikan would also advance with 1-run victories. Kaisei though would have to face Nagasaki Nichidai, and their run ended there with a 3-0 shutout loss.
Hasami would be next on the docket for Nagasaki Nichidai. Scrappy as they were they never led in the game, though after going down 5-1 in the bottom of the 9th they would rally for 3 runs of their own falling 5-4 and with it a chance to return to Koushien.
Souseikan and Seihou had a tight game. After trading runs in the first two innings, things seemed to quiet down. But as soon as the teams reached the 2nd half of the game, the offensive spigots opened wide. After trading another pair of runs in the 6th, the lead with switch 4 times as each team scored one more run than the last. Eventually Souseikan would score 2 in the 9th to tie the game up at 10. And when Seihou failed to score in the bottom of the 9th, it was all over. Souseikan tacked on 3 more in the 10th for the win and the other bid to the super-regionals.
Souseikan's late inning rallies wouldn't end there. In the finals, down 4-1, they would start their rally again in the 6th. They'd tie the game in the 7th, and when Nagasaki Nichidai scored 2 in the 8th, Souseikan scored 3 to take the lead and claim their first ever fall title.
Miyazaki
Was it really that weird to ask the stalls at Meiji Jingu for former Miyazaki Shougyou's ace Akagawa Katsuki? Okay, kinda off topic, but a year after his appearance Miyakonojyou Shougyou's team would make it to the Best 8, falling to Chuukyoudai Chuukyou.
Teams from Miyazaki of late have been able to advance past the first round, but little further than that. Who would be the ones to try this time around?
Well, last summer's representative Nichinan Gakuen made a strong case with a semifinal run that included 3 shutouts against St. Ursula and Hyuuga Gakuin. Despite that though, Miyakonojyou Shougyou would rudely shut the door on a super-regional bid mercy ruling them 10-3 in 8 innings.
The other half of the quadrant had Nisshou Gakuen tiptoeing through their part winning games by the margin of 3-2, 3-1 and 1-0. Their semifinal would not be against Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka as expected, but Miyazaki Nishi who defeated them 3-2. Furthermore, Miyazaki Nishi would end Nisshou Gakuen's run of low-scoring victories shutting them out 2-0 and guaranteeing themselves their first ever super-regional bid.
Miyazaki Nishi wasn't done though. They made a run at Miyakonojyou Shougyou as well. Holding a 1-0 lead since the first, they were 2 innings away from claiming their 1st ever fall title. However, Miyakonokyou Shougyou would score 3 in the 8th giving them their 5th fall title and first in 5 years.
Kumamoto
Ask who are the strong teams in Kumamoto, and you'd probably get 2 responses - Kyushu Gakuin and Kumamoto Kougyou. Of late though, some schools have been able to break through the duo including Jyouhoku and Senshuudai Tamana. Others are still on the cusp of breaking through, but not yet - such as Luther Gakuin.
Kyushu Gakuin wanted to reaffirm their spot at the top of the prefecture, and though they were slowed down by Seiseikou and Kumamoto Shougyou, they handily defeated a Kuma Kougyou squad who surprised everyone by reaching the semifinals for a guaranteed spot. Jyouhoku didn't get past the 2nd round, losing to the aforementioned Kumamoto Shougyou.
Meanwhile Luther Gakuin, Senshuudai Tamana and Kumamoto Kougyou were all in the same quadrant... and they would eventually play each other. First up was last year's summer representative Senshuudai Tamana versus Kumamoto Kougyou. Kumamoto Kougyou won that easily 9-1. Next up for them was Luther Gakuin. So often Luther would fall short losing to teams like Kumamoto Kougyou. This time though, they prevailed, outlasting them in a 5-4 win to advance to the semis.
Standing in their way to the super-regionals was Toukai Dai-ni, who had a fairly strong run of their own. Yet, Luther Gakuin would jump out to a 4-0 lead and win by that same margin 6-2.
But while Luther Gakuin may have qualified for the super-regionals, Kyushu Gakuin decided to put them back in their place. A 15-1 victory would give them their 19th fall prefectural title.
Kagoshima
If you thought breaking through a ceiling of 2 teams was bad, try 4.
Since 1989, Kagoshima's representatives that have made it to senbatsu have been one of 4 teams:
- Kagoshima Kougyou
- Kagoshima Jitsugyou
- Kamimura Gakuen
- Shounan (fka Kagoshima Shoukou)
So really, it's only news when one of those teams goes down - sad to say.
Interestingly though, they weren't all split up. Kagoshima Kougyou wound up in the same bracket as Shounan. Instead one of the seeded spots went to the team that was not one of the aforementioned 4 to make it to Koushien - Kagoshima Shougyou.
Well, that was a mistake. First game against Fukiage... they lose 4-1. That left Reimei to carry the flag in the quadrant... except they lost in their first game too, 7-6 to Shouyou. Shouyou would actually reach the semifinals... only to get railroaded by Kamimura Gakuen 16-2.
Okay, well... what about Shounan and Kagoshima Kougyou? Well, Shounan actually lasted just one game before falling to unknown Makurazaki 2-1!
That's 2 teams down.
Kagoshima Kougyou would avenge Shounan's loss by defeating Makurazaki 7-0. Yet even they weren't immune. In the very next round, they too would be dispatched by Sendai (that's 川内 to you) 9-2.
Lastly, there was Kagoshima Jitsugyou. Amazingly, they too lasted just 2 games, losing to Kagoshima 1-0! That left Kamimura Gakuen as the only one of the quartet still standing! Taking Kajitsu's place in the Best 4 would be Kagoshima Jyousai - certainly not a slouch, but not one of the Big 4 either.
And in the battle for the other super-regional spot, it would be Kagoshima Jyousai who would shutout Sendai 4-0.
So the finals are actually a rematch of last year's fall final - Kagoshima Jyousai v. Kamimura Gakuen.
And much like last year, Kamimura Gakuen wins again 4-1 for their 6th title.
Okinawa
Okinawa surprisingly has had a lot of success since the end of the last millennia. Starting with Okinawa Shougaku winning the 1999 senbatsu, Okinawa has won 3 Haru Koushien titles, Urasoe Shougyou reached the Best 4, and Kounan achieved the Haru-Natsu renzoku yuushou.
Itoman and Kadena have carried the flag for the prefecture since Shimabukuro's departure for Chuo Daigaku, though Urasoe Shougyou and Okinawa Shougaku lie in wait as well.
This year though, Okinawa Shogaku would not participate. Due to violence within the club, they withdrew from the tournament despite being given a seed.
Taking their place was Chinen. Given the free pass over Okishou, they took it to the semifinals with a 6-5 win over Shuri. There they would face Kadena, who had to defeat former participants such as Yaeyama Shoukou, and Okinawa Suisan. Yet even those wouldn't be enough to defeat Chinen. Chinen would grab a spot in the super-regionals with a 4-1 win.
On the other half, seeded Urasoe Shougyou unassumingly went about its business reaching the semifinals. Itoman would be right there to meet them, having worked their way through the bracket and defeated seeded Mawashi 3-0. In the semifinal, Itoman would prevail in a high scoring 8-6 game.
And interestingly, Itoman would manage to defeat Chinen 4-3 to claim their first ever fall title!
Super-Regionals
So with all prefectures accounted for, the draw for the super-regionals took place. Kyushu Gakuin and Jiyuugaoka may have been placed in the same quadrant, but there was no noticeable competition in the adjacent quadrant (Oita Kagaku Gijyutsu, Chinen, Souseikan, Ryuukoku... really?), thereby almost guaranteeing one of them a spot at senbatsu.
Meanwhile, Kamimura Gakuen probably will face their toughest test should Nagasaki Nichidai defeat Oomuta (which they should). Outside of that though, they should breeze through to the semifinals.
Finally, the last quadrant is actually a pretty tough one. Itoman and Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou would have to square off, then possibly face Miyakonojyou Shougyou or perhaps Luther Gakuin.
As the tournament kicked off, the first shock was that Oomuta and Nagasaki Nichidai wound up playing to a 2-2 draw! That meant they'd have to play again, and while Nagasaki Nichidai won the rematch 7-2, playing an extra game certainly couldn't have helped them.
The second was that Luther Gakuin, despite finally making it to the super-regionals, was dispatched by Beppu Aoyama 4-1! I certainly didn't see that one coming.
The surprises kept on coming. 2nd round action saw Jiyuugaoka having to force extra innings against Miyazaki Nishi, only to lose 5-4 in the 11th! Next was the Ryuukoku-Souseikan game which saw both teams go the full 15 before Souseikan would win 2-1 in the last half-inning! And Beppu Aoyama continued to shock the field scoring the first 6 runs in an 11-6 win over Miyakonojyou Shougyou!
Onto the quarterfinals and Kyushu Gakuin finally got a challenge, but it was from Miyazaki Nishi! Kyushu Gakuin would win 2-0, but it was a strong showing from a Miyazaki Nishi squad who was probably not expected to even be here.
Even more teams would struggle. Kamimura Gakuen, perhaps one of the shoe-ins to head to senbatsu actually trailed against Oita! First in the 3rd at 3-0, then in the 8th at 6-5. Both times though they were immediately able to rally back and take the lead - perhaps showing a bit of maturity. However, give credit to Oita for giving one of the stronger teams in the region a run for their money.
Still, Oita's game pales in comparison to Beppu Aoyama. Facing yet another strong team in Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou, they don't let a 1-run deficit deter them. They score 2 in the 6th to take a 3-2 lead! And the trio of Nakamura-Yasuo-Ishida shut the door on the game almost giving the committee no reason not to invite them to senbatsu!
To the semis and Souseikan's run now would get much tougher against Kyushu Gakuin. So much so they would be mercy ruled 9-0 in 7 innings.
As for Beppu Aoyama, they certainly had a great run, but it would not be able to continue against Kamimura Gakuen. Though they held them scoreless the first 4 innings, eventually Kamimura broke through with 4 in the 5th en route to a 6-2 win.
Kamimura Gakuen would finally put their stamp on the region in the finals, scoring 8 runs in the first inning against Kyushu Gakuin to claim their first ever (!!) super-regional title, and an automatic invitation to Haru Koushien!
And despite Souseikan's bad loss in the quarterfinals, I expect the Best 4 to receive a phone call come January.
Automatic Bid - Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima) - 3rd appearance, 1st in 3 years
Projected Bid - Kyushu Gakuin (Kumamoto) - 5th appearance, 2nd consecutive
Projected Bid - Souseikan (Nagasaki) - 1st appearance
Projected Bid - Beppu Aoyama (Oita) - 1st appearance
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
2011 Haru Taikai - Kyushu Update Final
Well, the Kyushu Taikais have completed, and while the winner won't be a big surprise, there were some surprises.
The opening game saw Kanoya Chuo (Kagoshima 4) easily handle Jiyuugaoka (Fukuoka 3). Then in their 2nd round game jumped out quickly to a 7-0 lead against surprise team Hasami (Nagasaki Senbatsu) and cruised to a 10-4 win!
That would be as far as they would get though as Iidzuka (Fukuoka 2) outlasted them 5-1 to reach the Best 4.
Joining them would be Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima 1). After having no problems with Chiharadai (Kumamoto), they wound up in a rematch against Kanoya (Kagoshima 3). This is notable because Kanoya actually upset Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka Senbatsu) 5-4! Sadly for Kanoya, they fared little better the 2nd time around, losing 5-1 instead of 7-1.
In the semis, it was a one-sided affair. After Kamimura Gakuen scored 4 in the top of the 1st, Iidzuka would score 11 unanswered runs to call the game in 7 innings.
So Iiduzka would be one of the finals participants. What about the other side?
Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima Senbatsu) would have a bit of trouble against Itoman (Okinawa), but advance 8-5 which set them up with a quarterfinal against one of the few good teams not from Fukuoka or Kagoshima, Nobeoka Gakuen (Miyazaki). After pulling ahead 3-0 in the top of the 5th, Nobeoka would claw back to within 1 in the bottom of the inning, but that would be as close as they would get.
Meanwhile, Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou (Fukuoka 1) had no troubles in their 1st round game and squared off against Kyushu Gakuin (Kumamoto Senbatsu). Kyushu Gakuin had struggled against Sasebo Kougyou (Nagasaki 1) falling behind in the mid-game 3-2 before tying the game in the 7th and pulling ahead in the top of the 9th to win 6-3.
Kyushu Gakuin's struggles would continue against Jyoutou falling 5-1.
And then Jyoutou would get steamrolled by Kajitsu 13-0 in 5 innings...
So it would be Iidzuka and Kajitsu for the title - and if I mentioned that the winner wasn't a surprise, you can guess who won.
Kajitsu pulled out to a 2-0 lead late, and to remove any doubt, they scored 3 runs in the last 2 innings to win 5-0. This is Kajitsu's 14th spring title, and 2nd consecutive.
The opening game saw Kanoya Chuo (Kagoshima 4) easily handle Jiyuugaoka (Fukuoka 3). Then in their 2nd round game jumped out quickly to a 7-0 lead against surprise team Hasami (Nagasaki Senbatsu) and cruised to a 10-4 win!
That would be as far as they would get though as Iidzuka (Fukuoka 2) outlasted them 5-1 to reach the Best 4.
Joining them would be Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima 1). After having no problems with Chiharadai (Kumamoto), they wound up in a rematch against Kanoya (Kagoshima 3). This is notable because Kanoya actually upset Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka Senbatsu) 5-4! Sadly for Kanoya, they fared little better the 2nd time around, losing 5-1 instead of 7-1.
In the semis, it was a one-sided affair. After Kamimura Gakuen scored 4 in the top of the 1st, Iidzuka would score 11 unanswered runs to call the game in 7 innings.
So Iiduzka would be one of the finals participants. What about the other side?
Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima Senbatsu) would have a bit of trouble against Itoman (Okinawa), but advance 8-5 which set them up with a quarterfinal against one of the few good teams not from Fukuoka or Kagoshima, Nobeoka Gakuen (Miyazaki). After pulling ahead 3-0 in the top of the 5th, Nobeoka would claw back to within 1 in the bottom of the inning, but that would be as close as they would get.
Meanwhile, Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou (Fukuoka 1) had no troubles in their 1st round game and squared off against Kyushu Gakuin (Kumamoto Senbatsu). Kyushu Gakuin had struggled against Sasebo Kougyou (Nagasaki 1) falling behind in the mid-game 3-2 before tying the game in the 7th and pulling ahead in the top of the 9th to win 6-3.
Kyushu Gakuin's struggles would continue against Jyoutou falling 5-1.
And then Jyoutou would get steamrolled by Kajitsu 13-0 in 5 innings...
So it would be Iidzuka and Kajitsu for the title - and if I mentioned that the winner wasn't a surprise, you can guess who won.
Kajitsu pulled out to a 2-0 lead late, and to remove any doubt, they scored 3 runs in the last 2 innings to win 5-0. This is Kajitsu's 14th spring title, and 2nd consecutive.
Monday, April 18, 2011
2011 Haru Taikai - Kyushu Taikai Update 2
So the final 2 prefectures have been completed and we have the brackets for the Kyushu Taikai.
Nagasaki
In semifinal action, Kaisei would jump out early against Sasebo Kougyou 1-0, but Sasebo would equalize in the 5th, then again in the 6th. Then in the bottom of the 8th they would get to ace Nagae scoring the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 8th.
After going scoreless in the first 5 innings, Obama would have to play catchup against Oomura Kougyou. They did it, scoring 2 in the bottom of the 8th tying the game at 3.
But in the top of the 9th, Obama ace Tanemura couldn't keep the momentum going. Oomura Kougyou would score the go-ahead run in the top of the 9th to win also by the score of 4-3.
The final would see another scoreless battle early until Oomura Kougyou scored 1 in the top of the 5th, then saw Sasebo Kougyou strike right back with 4 in the bottom of the inning. Oomura scuffled trying to find a way to come back. And in the top of the 9th, they finally did. But they could only pull within 1, and lost... yep 4-3.
This is Sasebo Kougyou's 11th title, but their first in 52 years!
Kumamoto
When we last left Kumamoto, they were finishing up quarterfinal play. Toukai Dai-ni continues the strong performances of the group of schools, edging Kumamoto Kita 4-3.
Amakusa Kougyou meanwhile couldn't keep up with Chiharadai, falling 10-3 setting up a matchup with Toukai Dai-ni. In that matchup Chiharadai would advance to the finals with a 4-2 win.
On the other side Senshuudai Tamana falls just short yet again losing a close one 4-3 (that score must be popular) to Kumamoto Kokufu.
In the finals, Kumamoto Kokufu would get to starter Nema early scoring 5 runs in the first 3 innings. Chiharadai scuffled to get 2 runs back, but still trailed 5-2.
And then things suddenly fell apart for Kumamoto Kokufu...
Starter Sonoda was replaced on the mound by Asakuno. After getting the first 2 outs, Asakuno walks 2 batters, then gives up a single to center to Hayashi loading the bases.
Sidearmer Fukushima would then come in the game to try and get the team out of the jam.
Chiharadai countered with #9 Moriuchi who had been benched for this game despite doing well in the prior games.
And wouldn't you know it, he gets a hold of a 3-2 pitch and drives it to left center for a triple tying the game at 5-5! That would be the deathknell for Kumamoto Kokufu as they would give up 2 more runs to fall 7-5 giving Chiharadai only their 3rd title, and 1st in 22 years!
Kyushu Taikai
The draw has occurred for the Kyushu Taikai and the pairings are as follows.
Quadrant 1
Hasami (Nagasaki Senbatsu) vs. Jiyuugaoka (Fukuoka 3)-Kanoya Chuo (Kagoshima 4) winner
Oita Shougyou (Oita) vs. Iidzuka (Fukuoka 2)
I will be interested to see what Hasami does here. Their upset of Yokohama was impressive, but will things change now that the bullseye is on them now? Jiyuugaoka, Oita Shougyou and Iiduzka are no pushovers.
Quadrant 2
Chiharadai (Kumamoto) vs. Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima 1)
Kanoya (Kagoshima 3) vs. Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka Senbatsu)
Chiharadai may have made it to the taikais, but looming in this section is both Kamimura Gakuen and Kyukoku...
Quadrant 3
Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima Senbatsu) vs. Itoman (Okinawa)
Shiota Kougyou (Saga) vs. Nobeoka Gakuen (Miyazaki)
Kajitsu should have a tough opening game against Itoman, and then a probable matchup against Nobeoka Gakuen.
Quadrant 4
Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou (Fukuoka 1) vs. Kagoshima Jyousai (Kagoshima 2)
Sasebo Kougyou (Nagasaki) vs. Kyushu Gakuin (Kumamoto Senbatsu)
Kyushu Gakuin has done well as of late, but I wonder how Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou is now?
Nagasaki
In semifinal action, Kaisei would jump out early against Sasebo Kougyou 1-0, but Sasebo would equalize in the 5th, then again in the 6th. Then in the bottom of the 8th they would get to ace Nagae scoring the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 8th.
After going scoreless in the first 5 innings, Obama would have to play catchup against Oomura Kougyou. They did it, scoring 2 in the bottom of the 8th tying the game at 3.
But in the top of the 9th, Obama ace Tanemura couldn't keep the momentum going. Oomura Kougyou would score the go-ahead run in the top of the 9th to win also by the score of 4-3.
The final would see another scoreless battle early until Oomura Kougyou scored 1 in the top of the 5th, then saw Sasebo Kougyou strike right back with 4 in the bottom of the inning. Oomura scuffled trying to find a way to come back. And in the top of the 9th, they finally did. But they could only pull within 1, and lost... yep 4-3.
This is Sasebo Kougyou's 11th title, but their first in 52 years!
Kumamoto
When we last left Kumamoto, they were finishing up quarterfinal play. Toukai Dai-ni continues the strong performances of the group of schools, edging Kumamoto Kita 4-3.
Amakusa Kougyou meanwhile couldn't keep up with Chiharadai, falling 10-3 setting up a matchup with Toukai Dai-ni. In that matchup Chiharadai would advance to the finals with a 4-2 win.
On the other side Senshuudai Tamana falls just short yet again losing a close one 4-3 (that score must be popular) to Kumamoto Kokufu.
In the finals, Kumamoto Kokufu would get to starter Nema early scoring 5 runs in the first 3 innings. Chiharadai scuffled to get 2 runs back, but still trailed 5-2.
And then things suddenly fell apart for Kumamoto Kokufu...
Starter Sonoda was replaced on the mound by Asakuno. After getting the first 2 outs, Asakuno walks 2 batters, then gives up a single to center to Hayashi loading the bases.
Sidearmer Fukushima would then come in the game to try and get the team out of the jam.
Chiharadai countered with #9 Moriuchi who had been benched for this game despite doing well in the prior games.
And wouldn't you know it, he gets a hold of a 3-2 pitch and drives it to left center for a triple tying the game at 5-5! That would be the deathknell for Kumamoto Kokufu as they would give up 2 more runs to fall 7-5 giving Chiharadai only their 3rd title, and 1st in 22 years!
Kyushu Taikai
The draw has occurred for the Kyushu Taikai and the pairings are as follows.
Quadrant 1
Hasami (Nagasaki Senbatsu) vs. Jiyuugaoka (Fukuoka 3)-Kanoya Chuo (Kagoshima 4) winner
Oita Shougyou (Oita) vs. Iidzuka (Fukuoka 2)
I will be interested to see what Hasami does here. Their upset of Yokohama was impressive, but will things change now that the bullseye is on them now? Jiyuugaoka, Oita Shougyou and Iiduzka are no pushovers.
Quadrant 2
Chiharadai (Kumamoto) vs. Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima 1)
Kanoya (Kagoshima 3) vs. Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka Senbatsu)
Chiharadai may have made it to the taikais, but looming in this section is both Kamimura Gakuen and Kyukoku...
Quadrant 3
Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima Senbatsu) vs. Itoman (Okinawa)
Shiota Kougyou (Saga) vs. Nobeoka Gakuen (Miyazaki)
Kajitsu should have a tough opening game against Itoman, and then a probable matchup against Nobeoka Gakuen.
Quadrant 4
Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou (Fukuoka 1) vs. Kagoshima Jyousai (Kagoshima 2)
Sasebo Kougyou (Nagasaki) vs. Kyushu Gakuin (Kumamoto Senbatsu)
Kyushu Gakuin has done well as of late, but I wonder how Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou is now?
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
2011 Haru Taikai - Kyushu Taikai
Most of Kyushu had already started their haru taikai's while Senbatsu was going on. As a result, most places did not include their representatives if they sent one.
What I didn't realize was that the haru taikais actually go to the super-regional level. So those senbatsu teams actually get a free pass to the super-regionals having missed the prefecturals. All prefectures receive one invite except for Fukuoka who gets 3 and Kagoshima who is hosting this year (they get 4).
Right now, all but Nagasaki and Kumamoto had actually completed their tournaments.
Fukuoka
With Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku out of the picture, the tournament was up for grabs.
Well, kinda...
Turns out the major players in the prefecture were separated in the brackets.
The first main casualty of the tournament was Nishi Nippon Tankidai Fuzoku who lost in the 4th round on the Nanbu regionals to Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou 9-1.
In fact, Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou didn't have any trouble save for a 3-1 win over Fukuoka Kougyou in the following round. Even Yanagawa didn't pose too much trouble losing 8-2.
In the Nanbu finals, they faced off against Higashi-Fukuoka where they shut them out 5-0. Higashi-Fukuoka by the way had a 5-3 game against Toukai Dai-go who is certainly above average, but not quite top tier.
In the Hokubu regionals, seeded Touchiku was the first to fall, tying Kita-Kyushu Shiritsu 0-0 in 15 before losing 4-0 the next game. At the finals though, we had two familiar friends in Iidzuka and Jiyuugaoka. Iidzuka would win going away 7-2.
So in the format Fukuoka uses, the champions and runner ups would play for respective placing. Jiyuugaoka led 1-0, then rallied for 3 runs in the 3rd when Higashi-Fukuoka scored 3 of their own in the bottom of the 2nd. Jiyuugaoka would win 5-3 to get the last spot.
The championship game had the teams scoring a run back and forth until the bottom of the 3rd. There, Iidzuka stopped the flow of runs and it would stay that way as the game progressed. However Motomura couldn't hold off Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou as they would score 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th to win 6-2.
Saga
With no Koushien teams the established guard remained to challenge for the title.
Saga Kita and Saga Shougyou faced off in Round 3, where Saga Kita would win 3-2.
However, Saga Kita and Imari Nourin would both fall to Karatsu Shougyou, 7-1 and 1-0 respectively in the quarterfinals and 3rd rounds.
Their opponent in the semifinals was Saga Gakuen, who had eked out several games prior. They wouldn't have the same luck though as they lost 3-0.
Saga Kougyou made it to the semis, although their performance was a bit uneven, easily handling Takeo and Tosu Kougyou, but having trouble against Imari in between.
Their opponent would be the surprising Shiota Kougyou, who had the benefit of seeing seeded Ryuukoku losing to Imari Shougyou in the 3rd round. Shiota Kougyou throughout the entire tournament had 1-run ballgames. Against Saga Kougyou, they would have their 2nd consecutive 2-1 win to send them against Karatsu Shougyou.
And in those finals, Shiota Kougyou would actually win in a blowout, 3-1. Hey, it's a blowout considering they won 4-3, 4-3, 2-1 and 2-1! This is just their 2nd ever title, their first being in 1933!
Nagasaki
Nagasaki is in their Best 4 right now. Hasami was gone at Koushien, so they couldn't participate.
Former senbatsu winner Seihou was a seeded team, but was actually upset in the semifinals against fellow seed Kaisei.
Nagasaki Nanzan and Sasebo Kougyou faced off in another quarterfinal with Sasebo Kougyou winning 6-1. Sasebo will play Kaisei for a spot in the finals.
On the other side sat Nagasaki Nichidai, the team that has represented Nagasaki in recent years, and pushed Kikuchi Yuusei a couple of years ago.
Something funny happened on the way to the finals though...
Obama (please don't insert joke here, although the Obama in Fukui appears to have somewhat embraced it), in the 2nd round had surprised seeded Keihou 6-4. Then after handling Nagasaki Kougyou, squared off against Nagasaki Nichidai...
...and WON 2-1!
They should have faced Souseikan, but they too were upset by Seiryou 5-4. Instead, they'll play Oomura Kougyou who defeated Seiryou 3-1.
Oita
Oita recently has been notable when it was represented by Meihou and adorable SS/P Imamiya Kenta.
Of course, he's since moved on to the hometown Softbank Hawks, but Meihou is still going. They were a #2 seed along with Tsurusaki Kougyou. Tsurusaki Kougyou was shocked by Oita Shougyou 12-2. Meihou and Oita Shougyou both made it to the semifinals with relative ease.
If all went as planned, they'd face top seeds Touin and Nihon Bunridai Fuzoku. Of course things rarely go as planned. Touin got involved in a slugfest against Oita Toumei, and lost. Oita Toumei then met fellow surprise Oita Houfu, and lost that game 3-0. So it would be Meihou and Oita Houfu in one semi.
Meanwhile, Nihon Bunridai Fuzoku had a slight bump against Kunisaki, but then beat former 21st century invite Oita Uenogaoka to land a spot in the semis against Oita Shougyou.
Meihou's experience was too much for Oita Houfu as they fell down early 3-0 and never recovered, falling 9-3. Meanwhile Oita Shougyou surprised top seed Nihon Bunridai Fuzoku, jumping to a 2-1 lead in the 1st - which would be the closest Bunri would ever get, losing 7-5.
So Meihou and Oita Shougyou met in the finals...
And Oita Shougyou won 2-1! And although this is their 19th title, it was their first in 24 years.
Miyazaki
Entering into the Haru Taikais, the 4 teams given seeding were Nobeoka Gakuen and Miyazaki Kita on one side, and Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka and Saitou Shougyou on the other.
That left other well known teams to fight through the brackets such as Nichinan Gakuen, St. Ursula, Miyazaki Shougyou and Miyazaki Nichidai.
Nichinan Gakuen and St. Ursula would lose right off the bat. Surprisingly, Saitou Shougyou had to face Miyazaki Shougyou in the 1st round! And they got annihilated 13-0! So much for being seeded...
If that matchup that early was unexpected, Miyazaki Shougyou then had to face Miyazaki Nichidai! Nichidai would win that one 5-4.
Meanwhile Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka imposed their offensive will winning their first 3 games 35-13 setting up an interesting semifinal. Miyazaki Nichidai would actually put up a good fight against Miyakonojyou, but when they took a 1-0 lead in the 5th Miyakonojyou would strike back with 2 runs of their own and eventually win 3-1.
Nobeoka Gakuen had a couple of slow games to start the tournament, but then had to pick it up against Miyazaki Gakuen. They held on to win 11-10 to meet Nobeoka Seiun who earlier had upset Miyazaki Kita 2-1.
Sadly for Seiun, a 5-run 5th did them in as they were mercy ruled 8-1 in the semis.
In the end then, two favorites would meet in the finals. And as expected, the teams were at a standoff for the first 6 innings. But Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka would finally break through with runs in the 7th and 8th innings giving Nobeoka Gakuen their 2nd consecutive haru taikai title. Let's see if that translates into their 2nd consecutive Natsu Koushien appearance too.
Kumamoto
Kumamoto is the only other prefecture who has not completed play - but is about to determine the Best 4. Kyushu Gakuin is absent because they were at senbatsu.
On one quadrant, seeded Senshuudai Tamana and Yashiro Higashi made it to the quarterfinals without any issue, and in yet another strong run by Senshuudai they make it to the Best 4 with a 3-1 win.
In the other quadrant, Hitsuyuukan was upended by Kumamoto Kougyou who surprisingly didn't get a seed. They couldn't make it 2 "upsets" as Kumamoto Kokufu dispatched them 8-2.
The other side has seeded Kumamoto Kita facing Toukai Dai-ni in one quarterfinal, and Chiharadai who has blown through their game so far versus Amakusa Kougyou who earlier upset Shuugakukan 7-6.
Kagoshima
Even with super-regional champ Kagoshima Jitsugyou receiving an automatic bid, there still remained many good teams that received seeds such as Kagoshima Shougyou, Kagoshima Kougyou, Shounan and Kamimura Gakuen.
But of those 4 teams, only Kamimura Gakuen advanced out of the 4th round.
Of course, with 4 teams qualifying, Kanoya and Kagoshima Chuo already qualified for the super-regional. But bragging rights are still important. Kanoya would win in the 3rd place game 2-1.
And in the championship, Kamimura Gakuen dispatched Kagoshima Jyousai 10-0 to take their 5th title.
Okinawa
As is the case in Okinawa, the torch is being passed again now that Kounan has won it all and their ace has moved on to Chuo Daigaku. It isn't more evident than losing in the 3rd round to fellow top tier team Maebara.
So who would rise to fill in the void left by Kounan?
Kadena who played 2nd fiddle to Kounan? Maybe. They beat powerhouse Okinawa Shokagu 6-2 in the 3rd round and advanced all the way to the finals.
Okinawa Suisan? Not this year. They lost 6-5 to Naha Kokusai in the 2nd round.
Urasoe Shougyou and Miyako both have good teams, but also both lost to Itoman, who advanced to the finals.
In that final, Itoman took a 1-0 lead early, only to have Kadena tie the game in the top of the 8th. However, Itoman would have the last laugh, scoring a sayonara run in the bottom of the 9th to win their 2nd consecutive spring title.
What I didn't realize was that the haru taikais actually go to the super-regional level. So those senbatsu teams actually get a free pass to the super-regionals having missed the prefecturals. All prefectures receive one invite except for Fukuoka who gets 3 and Kagoshima who is hosting this year (they get 4).
Right now, all but Nagasaki and Kumamoto had actually completed their tournaments.
Fukuoka
With Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku out of the picture, the tournament was up for grabs.
Well, kinda...
Turns out the major players in the prefecture were separated in the brackets.
The first main casualty of the tournament was Nishi Nippon Tankidai Fuzoku who lost in the 4th round on the Nanbu regionals to Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou 9-1.
In fact, Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou didn't have any trouble save for a 3-1 win over Fukuoka Kougyou in the following round. Even Yanagawa didn't pose too much trouble losing 8-2.
In the Nanbu finals, they faced off against Higashi-Fukuoka where they shut them out 5-0. Higashi-Fukuoka by the way had a 5-3 game against Toukai Dai-go who is certainly above average, but not quite top tier.
In the Hokubu regionals, seeded Touchiku was the first to fall, tying Kita-Kyushu Shiritsu 0-0 in 15 before losing 4-0 the next game. At the finals though, we had two familiar friends in Iidzuka and Jiyuugaoka. Iidzuka would win going away 7-2.
So in the format Fukuoka uses, the champions and runner ups would play for respective placing. Jiyuugaoka led 1-0, then rallied for 3 runs in the 3rd when Higashi-Fukuoka scored 3 of their own in the bottom of the 2nd. Jiyuugaoka would win 5-3 to get the last spot.
The championship game had the teams scoring a run back and forth until the bottom of the 3rd. There, Iidzuka stopped the flow of runs and it would stay that way as the game progressed. However Motomura couldn't hold off Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou as they would score 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th to win 6-2.
Saga
With no Koushien teams the established guard remained to challenge for the title.
Saga Kita and Saga Shougyou faced off in Round 3, where Saga Kita would win 3-2.
However, Saga Kita and Imari Nourin would both fall to Karatsu Shougyou, 7-1 and 1-0 respectively in the quarterfinals and 3rd rounds.
Their opponent in the semifinals was Saga Gakuen, who had eked out several games prior. They wouldn't have the same luck though as they lost 3-0.
Saga Kougyou made it to the semis, although their performance was a bit uneven, easily handling Takeo and Tosu Kougyou, but having trouble against Imari in between.
Their opponent would be the surprising Shiota Kougyou, who had the benefit of seeing seeded Ryuukoku losing to Imari Shougyou in the 3rd round. Shiota Kougyou throughout the entire tournament had 1-run ballgames. Against Saga Kougyou, they would have their 2nd consecutive 2-1 win to send them against Karatsu Shougyou.
And in those finals, Shiota Kougyou would actually win in a blowout, 3-1. Hey, it's a blowout considering they won 4-3, 4-3, 2-1 and 2-1! This is just their 2nd ever title, their first being in 1933!
Nagasaki
Nagasaki is in their Best 4 right now. Hasami was gone at Koushien, so they couldn't participate.
Former senbatsu winner Seihou was a seeded team, but was actually upset in the semifinals against fellow seed Kaisei.
Nagasaki Nanzan and Sasebo Kougyou faced off in another quarterfinal with Sasebo Kougyou winning 6-1. Sasebo will play Kaisei for a spot in the finals.
On the other side sat Nagasaki Nichidai, the team that has represented Nagasaki in recent years, and pushed Kikuchi Yuusei a couple of years ago.
Something funny happened on the way to the finals though...
Obama (please don't insert joke here, although the Obama in Fukui appears to have somewhat embraced it), in the 2nd round had surprised seeded Keihou 6-4. Then after handling Nagasaki Kougyou, squared off against Nagasaki Nichidai...
...and WON 2-1!
They should have faced Souseikan, but they too were upset by Seiryou 5-4. Instead, they'll play Oomura Kougyou who defeated Seiryou 3-1.
Oita
Oita recently has been notable when it was represented by Meihou and adorable SS/P Imamiya Kenta.
Of course, he's since moved on to the hometown Softbank Hawks, but Meihou is still going. They were a #2 seed along with Tsurusaki Kougyou. Tsurusaki Kougyou was shocked by Oita Shougyou 12-2. Meihou and Oita Shougyou both made it to the semifinals with relative ease.
If all went as planned, they'd face top seeds Touin and Nihon Bunridai Fuzoku. Of course things rarely go as planned. Touin got involved in a slugfest against Oita Toumei, and lost. Oita Toumei then met fellow surprise Oita Houfu, and lost that game 3-0. So it would be Meihou and Oita Houfu in one semi.
Meanwhile, Nihon Bunridai Fuzoku had a slight bump against Kunisaki, but then beat former 21st century invite Oita Uenogaoka to land a spot in the semis against Oita Shougyou.
Meihou's experience was too much for Oita Houfu as they fell down early 3-0 and never recovered, falling 9-3. Meanwhile Oita Shougyou surprised top seed Nihon Bunridai Fuzoku, jumping to a 2-1 lead in the 1st - which would be the closest Bunri would ever get, losing 7-5.
So Meihou and Oita Shougyou met in the finals...
And Oita Shougyou won 2-1! And although this is their 19th title, it was their first in 24 years.
Miyazaki
Entering into the Haru Taikais, the 4 teams given seeding were Nobeoka Gakuen and Miyazaki Kita on one side, and Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka and Saitou Shougyou on the other.
That left other well known teams to fight through the brackets such as Nichinan Gakuen, St. Ursula, Miyazaki Shougyou and Miyazaki Nichidai.
Nichinan Gakuen and St. Ursula would lose right off the bat. Surprisingly, Saitou Shougyou had to face Miyazaki Shougyou in the 1st round! And they got annihilated 13-0! So much for being seeded...
If that matchup that early was unexpected, Miyazaki Shougyou then had to face Miyazaki Nichidai! Nichidai would win that one 5-4.
Meanwhile Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka imposed their offensive will winning their first 3 games 35-13 setting up an interesting semifinal. Miyazaki Nichidai would actually put up a good fight against Miyakonojyou, but when they took a 1-0 lead in the 5th Miyakonojyou would strike back with 2 runs of their own and eventually win 3-1.
Nobeoka Gakuen had a couple of slow games to start the tournament, but then had to pick it up against Miyazaki Gakuen. They held on to win 11-10 to meet Nobeoka Seiun who earlier had upset Miyazaki Kita 2-1.
Sadly for Seiun, a 5-run 5th did them in as they were mercy ruled 8-1 in the semis.
In the end then, two favorites would meet in the finals. And as expected, the teams were at a standoff for the first 6 innings. But Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka would finally break through with runs in the 7th and 8th innings giving Nobeoka Gakuen their 2nd consecutive haru taikai title. Let's see if that translates into their 2nd consecutive Natsu Koushien appearance too.
Kumamoto
Kumamoto is the only other prefecture who has not completed play - but is about to determine the Best 4. Kyushu Gakuin is absent because they were at senbatsu.
On one quadrant, seeded Senshuudai Tamana and Yashiro Higashi made it to the quarterfinals without any issue, and in yet another strong run by Senshuudai they make it to the Best 4 with a 3-1 win.
In the other quadrant, Hitsuyuukan was upended by Kumamoto Kougyou who surprisingly didn't get a seed. They couldn't make it 2 "upsets" as Kumamoto Kokufu dispatched them 8-2.
The other side has seeded Kumamoto Kita facing Toukai Dai-ni in one quarterfinal, and Chiharadai who has blown through their game so far versus Amakusa Kougyou who earlier upset Shuugakukan 7-6.
Kagoshima
Even with super-regional champ Kagoshima Jitsugyou receiving an automatic bid, there still remained many good teams that received seeds such as Kagoshima Shougyou, Kagoshima Kougyou, Shounan and Kamimura Gakuen.
But of those 4 teams, only Kamimura Gakuen advanced out of the 4th round.
- Kagoshima Shougyou lost in their 1st game to Kanoya 5-3. In fact Kanoya actually made it to the semifinals before losing to Kamimura Gakuen 7-1 with most of those runs coming in the 6th inning.
- Kagoshima Kougyou managed just one round better, but losing to Reimei 8-5.
- And Shounan, who made it to the 4th round, was surprised by Takeodai 3-1.
Of course, with 4 teams qualifying, Kanoya and Kagoshima Chuo already qualified for the super-regional. But bragging rights are still important. Kanoya would win in the 3rd place game 2-1.
And in the championship, Kamimura Gakuen dispatched Kagoshima Jyousai 10-0 to take their 5th title.
Okinawa
As is the case in Okinawa, the torch is being passed again now that Kounan has won it all and their ace has moved on to Chuo Daigaku. It isn't more evident than losing in the 3rd round to fellow top tier team Maebara.
So who would rise to fill in the void left by Kounan?
Kadena who played 2nd fiddle to Kounan? Maybe. They beat powerhouse Okinawa Shokagu 6-2 in the 3rd round and advanced all the way to the finals.
Okinawa Suisan? Not this year. They lost 6-5 to Naha Kokusai in the 2nd round.
Urasoe Shougyou and Miyako both have good teams, but also both lost to Itoman, who advanced to the finals.
In that final, Itoman took a 1-0 lead early, only to have Kadena tie the game in the top of the 8th. However, Itoman would have the last laugh, scoring a sayonara run in the bottom of the 9th to win their 2nd consecutive spring title.
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