With less than 2 weeks to Natsu Koushien, we get a flurry of teams qualifying for Koushien. Here's what happened yesterday:
Fukushima - Nichidai Tohoku v. Seikou Gakuin
In this year where it seems like the underdog is finally giving the powerhouse teams their comeuppance, Nichidai Tohoku had a similar opportunity versus the king of the prefecture, Seikou Gakuin.
And it really looked like Nichidai would be able to pull off the upset. Seikou went from pitcher to pitcher to stem the tide, but couldn't as Nichidai Tohoku put run after another on the board to build a 6-2 lead. By the time the game hit the 9th, I was dead certain they would be able to do it.
And they were just one out away from doing it. But with runners on the corners and 2 out, Seikou put 3 hits together, and that 6-2 lead turned into a 6-6 ballgame.
Any time you have the underdog giving up a lead like that, especially in the final, usually the collapse is complete in regulation, or even if they survive into enchousen they can't regain momentum.
2 innings later, Seikou got runners on 1st and 2nd with no out, #3 batter Yananuma delivered the final blow to send Seikou to Koushien for another year.
Chiba - Toukaidai Bouyou v. Senshuudai Matsudo
After the melee in Chiba, 2 Tier 3 schools found themselves in the finals. As one of my twitter follows is wont to mention, Senshuudai Matsudo in prior years kept on losing late in the tournament in enchousen.
But in the round of 16, perhaps they exorcised the demons when they won a 3-2 win in 10 against Shiritsu Funabashi. That seemed to give them momentum as they put away Kisaradzu Sougou early, and then scored 5 early against Kashiwa Nittai to reach the finals.
Toukaidai Bouyou was the forgotten Toukai school in the prefecture - to Toukaidai Urayasu (they had defeated Narashino earlier). But they were always a respectable squad and always made a modest run.
This year was different. This time around they got some breaks. In their 2nd game, they had to walkoff Seibudai Chiba 3-2. Then was a very uncharacteristic 2-0 win over Sodegaura. And instead of facing Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku, they faced Kokubun instead and shut them out 5-0.
Wouldn't you know it, they would have to face sister school Toukaidai Urayasu in the semifinals. And you had to think that Bouyou's run would end here.
Nope, not even close.
In fact the scoreline would have you believe Bouyou was the dominant Toukai school. 12-2 in 5 innings!!
And holy crap, it's like Toukaidai Bouyou was just saving themselves for the stretch run, because in the final, Senshuudai Matsudo was absolutely no match. 6 runs in the 2nd to demoralize them, and the 6 in the 8th for the finishing blow, and they punch their first ever ticket to Natsu Koushien with authority in a 13-2 win.
Toyama - Toyama Shougyou v. Takaoka Shougyou
Sadly for those of us who loved Toyama Dai-ichi's run last year (the prefecture's deepest in 30 years), they showed some cracks early, and went down in the semifinals to Takaoka Shougyou. And outside of a 2-0 win in their 1st game over Toyama Kougyou, the run looked rather solid.
The same could not be said for Toyama Shougyou. Yes, they had some easy games to start, but then in the quarterfinals against Takaoka, they would go scoreless through regulation before wining in 10. And the semifinals against Fujikoshi Kougyou, they managed to keep them at arms length, but an 8-5 win going into the finals doesn't necessarily portend great things.
And early on, it looked like they would be had. After a couple scoreless, Takaoka Shougyou built a 3-0 lead. But that completely collapsed when Toyama Shougyou scored 6 in the 6th. And just for good measure they added 3 more in the 9th to avoid possible drama, and Toyama Shougyou makes their 1st trip in 10 years with a 9-3 win!
Gifu - Oogaki Nichidai v. Gifu Kougyou
Gifu Kougyou admittedly got some help to reach the finals. No Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou to deal with, and the other main players were on the other half of the bracket.
But they had earned their finals appearance with their performance, soundly defeating those in front of them with the exception of the semifinals where they had to use all 9 innings to defeat Gifu Sougou Gakuen 3-2.
But the prefecture was Oogaki Nichidai's to lose. Despite a narrow 3-0 win over Motoshi Shouyou, they easily manhandled their opponents up until defeating Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou 3-1.
The finals were no match. Oogaki Nichidai claimed their 2nd consecutive title with an 11-2 win.
Kyoto - Kyoto Subaru v. Ryuukokudai Heian
I thought maybe this might be Kyoto Subaru's year. Fukuchiyama Seibi fell, Kyoto Gaidai Nishi too. They almost didn't make the finals after coming back to defeat Katsura 8-7 after falling behind 5-0 after the first inning. A 10-0 win the semifinal over Yamashiro perhaps meant good momentum going into the finals.
But on the other side loomed the senbatsu champs Ryuukokudai Heian...
And let's just say that it wasn't pretty. 2 in the 1st and 3 in the 2nd and the rout was on. When it was all said and done, Heian will have a chance to go haru-natsu with a 10-0 win over Kyoto Subaru. Maybe next year guys...
Wakayama - Chiben Wakayama v. Shiritsu Wakayama
Chiben Wakayama has dominated the prefecture for a long time now. In the last 27 years, they have relinquished the natsu title just 7 times. For all the other schools in the prefecture that's rather frustrating knowing that the road to Koushien goes through them.
So it seemed this year too. Outside of a 4-1 win over Touin, it was double digit runs the rest of the way to the finals.
The team to try and slay the monster this year was Shiritsu Wakayama. They almost didn't even make it out of their first game, giving up a 2-0 lead to Wakayama Tousen before winning in 10. It got easier after that, culminating in a 4-1 over Wakayama Shougyou to reach the finals.
Still, it's not like they were lighting the world on fire, and it was Chiben Wakayama after all.
But in the finals, Shiritsu kept Chiben off the board after giving up a run in the 1st. That kept them in the game until the 7th, where it did indeed prove to be lucky for them. Ooshima would deliver the game-tying RBI and the game would remain tied at 1 into enchousen.
In the 11th, Chiben would take the lead again 2-1, but Shiritsu found a response in PH Abe who hit another clutch single to center.
The unbelievable happened one inning later, when with runners on 1st and 2nd, Setoguchi would drive a ball to left center, scoring the sayonara run giving Shiritsu Wakayama the 3-2 victory!!
Shimane - Taisha v. Kaisei
Taisha has been that model Tier 3 school in Shimane. Always good, never great. This year though was completely different, scoring double digits against all opponents until the semifinals where they trailed Yasugi 4-0 going into the bottom of the 9th. Yasugi's ace Saneshige couldn't close out the gae, and Taisha rallied for 4 in the 9th to tie the game. And in the 10th, Shimizu's base hit would complete the comeback to reach the finals.
Kaisei's road was a bit more rockier, but then again it was a bit more difficult as well. First was a 4-2 win over Risshoudai Shounan. Then down 6-0 to Iwamichisuikan, they scored 11 unanswered runs to advance to the semifinals. And then against unknown Daitou, they were in an old-fashioned brawl where after a scoreless 2 innings there were multiple ties and lead changes and 4 ties, but the decisive blow was a 5-run 6th by Kaisei to take a 10-7 lead. They would hold off a final charge by Taisei in the 9th, but they could only score 2 of the 3 runs needed to extend the game, falling 12-11.
In the final, Taisha would fight their best, but in the end another big inning by Kaisei would do them in. Kaisei wins 9-4 and heads back to Koushien.
Showing posts with label Kyoto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kyoto. Show all posts
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Where we stand (Part 3 - Central)
Gotta keep going, we're going to crown our first qualifier today...
Wakayama - Best 8 (en route)
Regardless of the fact that Minoshima won last year, it's still Chiben Wakayama's prefecture. Despite the slow start in their first game, Kishigawa took the brunt of the damage in a 10-0 win. Ito will be up next for the monarchs of the prefecture.
Minoshima was in some trouble today versus Wakayama Higashi, but 7 runs in the late stages helped push them to a 8-6 win. They may not be the ones to take on Chiben this year. Minabe and Wakayama Shougyou will play for the right to take on Minoshima next.
The rest of the games in the Best 16 are:
Wow, I can't even recognize a lot of the teams that have made the Round of 16.
And then there's the fact that Ryuukokudai Heian continues to play low-scoring games in advancing (though they just put up 5 runs to perhaps put Kyoto Kokusai in their place).
Fukuchiyama Seibi started slow, but did record a mercy rule win last over Horikawa. It will not get any easier as Otokuni defeated Kyoto Seishou, and Kyoto Shouei. Not bad.
The bottom half is filled with unknowns because there were some upsets. Ritsumeikan Uji? Gone yesterday at the hands of Hokuryou 2-1. Kyoto Gaidai Nishi? Gone as well, having trailed Rakutou 3-1 in their opening game before finding a way to tie it in the 9th but eventually lost 4-3 in 11. Might be a change for Kyoto Subaru to finally make some hay.
Tottori - Best 8 (en route)
They just started the Round of 16 play yesterday (they can take their time with just 24 schools).
Tottori Nishi could find the equalizer, but not the go-ahead as they fell to Kurayoshi Higashi 3-2 in 10. Yazu continued to increase their run production each inning in a 19-0 win over Kurayoshi Nougyou.
Today Tottori Jyouhoku never trailed but played the full 9 against Yonago Shouin in a 5-2 win. Yonago Kita meanwhile put crooked numbers up early and won 9-2 over Iwami 9-2 in 7.
Shimane - Round of 16
Shimane with just 39 teams means that for many, just 1 win gets you to the round of 16:
Wakayama - Best 8 (en route)
Regardless of the fact that Minoshima won last year, it's still Chiben Wakayama's prefecture. Despite the slow start in their first game, Kishigawa took the brunt of the damage in a 10-0 win. Ito will be up next for the monarchs of the prefecture.
Minoshima was in some trouble today versus Wakayama Higashi, but 7 runs in the late stages helped push them to a 8-6 win. They may not be the ones to take on Chiben this year. Minabe and Wakayama Shougyou will play for the right to take on Minoshima next.
The rest of the games in the Best 16 are:
- Shiritsu Wakayama v. Tanabe Kougyou
- Kouyasan v. Kouyou
- Kioukan v. Seirin
- Tanabe v. Naga
Wow, I can't even recognize a lot of the teams that have made the Round of 16.
Kita-Sagav. Ayabe - Nishio and Kuroda make a single run stick today for the win- Ryuukokudai Heian v. Kyoto Kokusai
- Higashiyama v. Nishi-Jyouyou
- Otokuni v. Fukuchiyama Seibi
- Seizan v. Yamashiro
- Hokuryou v. Higashi-Uji
- Rakutou v. Kyoto Subaru
- Kumiyama v. Katsura
And then there's the fact that Ryuukokudai Heian continues to play low-scoring games in advancing (though they just put up 5 runs to perhaps put Kyoto Kokusai in their place).
Fukuchiyama Seibi started slow, but did record a mercy rule win last over Horikawa. It will not get any easier as Otokuni defeated Kyoto Seishou, and Kyoto Shouei. Not bad.
The bottom half is filled with unknowns because there were some upsets. Ritsumeikan Uji? Gone yesterday at the hands of Hokuryou 2-1. Kyoto Gaidai Nishi? Gone as well, having trailed Rakutou 3-1 in their opening game before finding a way to tie it in the 9th but eventually lost 4-3 in 11. Might be a change for Kyoto Subaru to finally make some hay.
Tottori - Best 8 (en route)
They just started the Round of 16 play yesterday (they can take their time with just 24 schools).
Tottori Nishi could find the equalizer, but not the go-ahead as they fell to Kurayoshi Higashi 3-2 in 10. Yazu continued to increase their run production each inning in a 19-0 win over Kurayoshi Nougyou.
Today Tottori Jyouhoku never trailed but played the full 9 against Yonago Shouin in a 5-2 win. Yonago Kita meanwhile put crooked numbers up early and won 9-2 over Iwami 9-2 in 7.
Shimane - Round of 16
Shimane with just 39 teams means that for many, just 1 win gets you to the round of 16:
- Taisha v. Matsue Kougyou
- Matsue Nourin v. Matsue Higashi
- Yasu v. Gotsu
- Hamada v. Izumo Nishi
- Kaisei v. Risshoudai Shounan
- Izumo v. Iwamichisuikan
- Shimane Chuo v. Izumo Shougyou
- Meisei v. Daitou
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Aki Taikai Recap-to-date - Kinki
Once again, Kinki is in a big state of flux, and if the rotation holds true, Osaka and Hyogo will be short a representative this time around!
Shiga
Shiga has the basic single elimination system, and it has gone for the most part surprisingly scratch as they move onto the semifinals and finals this weekend.
Not surprisingly Hikone Higashi is back on the warpath again, and score-wise looks the best of the rest remaining with 2 mercy rule wins. They will face Oumi, who survived a 12-inning game against Hieizan - certainly not a pushover, but could put the team's strength into question.
On the other half could be Hikone Higashi's biggest threat - Oumi Kyoudaisha. Admittedly, they too had a close call against Shiga Gakuen in the quarterfinals (much like Oumi), and they showed promise in the summer too, but they defeated Oumi in the summer and the offense seems stronger.
Interestingly, Oumi Kyoudaisha's opponent will be a rematch of their 1st round game in the summer - Youkaichi. The offense surely looks strong, but the pitching seems the weakest of the lot and they haven't played really tough competition.
Kyoto
Aw... Kyoto Gaidai Nishi can't get up for the Super-regionals again...
Kyoto too is in the semifinals, and there is one outlier who will be trying to fight for a spot in the Super-regionals - Nishi-Jyouyou. They didn't face much competition and has not dominated them either. To secure a spot they will have to defeat Ryuukokudai Heian who most recently annihilated Kyoto Seishou 11-2.
On the other side, Ritsumeikan Uji was challenged by Ritsumeikan proper then had to outslug the aforementioned Kyoto Gaidai Nishi 10-5. They will face the other long school name (see what I mean about scratch?) Fukuchiyama Seibi. An uncharacteristic 11-8 game against Nissei puts up a red flag, but settled down afterwards for 4-0 and 5-1 wins.
Nara
Sakurai not surprisingly couldn't duplicate their success in the summer.
However, this time around (so far anyways), Chiben Gakuen is still alive - though a 2-0 and 11-5 wins against no-name teams do not bode well. They should have no trouble with Nara Tousen... maybe. They will face the winner of Kashiba (who narrowly lost to Sakurai in the summer) and Kansai Chuo.
Yamato Kouryou's been inconsistent, but gets to face a Kashihara Gakuin team who too has failed to live up to expectations. Naradai Fuzoku, who was one game away from reaching Natsu Koushien, will look to get to Haru Koushien with unknown Heijyou immediately standing in the way.
Wakayama
Wakayama has the weird thing of having a tournament just to advance 4 into the quarterfinals, then having the remaining teams later compete in blocks for the other 4. Chiben Wakayama obviously took the time to qualify the first time around, cruising comfortably until they qualified where they might have send out the reserves so as to not tip off the competition. Still, they got to the finals where they lost to Shinguu 6-3, though that result doesn't matter. Also advancing was Kainan and Shiritsu Wakayama.
The rest would have to battle it out again, and the ones that climbed out of the ruckus were:
With only 2 bids up for grabs in the major prefectures, it's all out for all the schools from Osaka and Hyogo - and that generally doesn't bode well for the non-powerhouse schools...
But there was a small victory for them as Riseisha and Osaka Touin would have to play in the round of 32. Surprisingly, Riseisha mercy ruled Osaka Touin 13-1 in 5 innings! Guess they have a bit of rebuilding to do.
Still though, that means that Riseisha has the inside rail at one of the two spots, and with PL Gakuen obliterating teams on the other half, it is a steep climb for the other 14 schools.
Hyogo
I don't know if it is a down cycle in Hyogo, but the powerhouse teams seem to be on the same part of the cycle.
I say this because in the quarterfinals, only one powerhouse managed to survive and they barely got away. Houtoku Gakuen edged out Akashi Shougyou 3-2 and will face an Ichikawa team who beat Suma Gakuen 2-1 in 12.
The other side was supposed to be a Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku vs. Touyoudai Himeji affair, but both teams wound up losing! Sanda Shousei would beat Kobe 3-2 in 10 innings, while Yashiro had the largest margin of victory in the quarters - a 4-2 win over Himeji.
This bodes well for Houtoku as they should advance to the Super-regionals (sorry Ichikawa), while Sanda Shouei and Yashiro will battle it out for a rare spot in the Super-regionals.
Shiga
Shiga has the basic single elimination system, and it has gone for the most part surprisingly scratch as they move onto the semifinals and finals this weekend.
Not surprisingly Hikone Higashi is back on the warpath again, and score-wise looks the best of the rest remaining with 2 mercy rule wins. They will face Oumi, who survived a 12-inning game against Hieizan - certainly not a pushover, but could put the team's strength into question.
On the other half could be Hikone Higashi's biggest threat - Oumi Kyoudaisha. Admittedly, they too had a close call against Shiga Gakuen in the quarterfinals (much like Oumi), and they showed promise in the summer too, but they defeated Oumi in the summer and the offense seems stronger.
Interestingly, Oumi Kyoudaisha's opponent will be a rematch of their 1st round game in the summer - Youkaichi. The offense surely looks strong, but the pitching seems the weakest of the lot and they haven't played really tough competition.
Kyoto
Aw... Kyoto Gaidai Nishi can't get up for the Super-regionals again...
Kyoto too is in the semifinals, and there is one outlier who will be trying to fight for a spot in the Super-regionals - Nishi-Jyouyou. They didn't face much competition and has not dominated them either. To secure a spot they will have to defeat Ryuukokudai Heian who most recently annihilated Kyoto Seishou 11-2.
On the other side, Ritsumeikan Uji was challenged by Ritsumeikan proper then had to outslug the aforementioned Kyoto Gaidai Nishi 10-5. They will face the other long school name (see what I mean about scratch?) Fukuchiyama Seibi. An uncharacteristic 11-8 game against Nissei puts up a red flag, but settled down afterwards for 4-0 and 5-1 wins.
Nara
Sakurai not surprisingly couldn't duplicate their success in the summer.
However, this time around (so far anyways), Chiben Gakuen is still alive - though a 2-0 and 11-5 wins against no-name teams do not bode well. They should have no trouble with Nara Tousen... maybe. They will face the winner of Kashiba (who narrowly lost to Sakurai in the summer) and Kansai Chuo.
Yamato Kouryou's been inconsistent, but gets to face a Kashihara Gakuin team who too has failed to live up to expectations. Naradai Fuzoku, who was one game away from reaching Natsu Koushien, will look to get to Haru Koushien with unknown Heijyou immediately standing in the way.
Wakayama
Wakayama has the weird thing of having a tournament just to advance 4 into the quarterfinals, then having the remaining teams later compete in blocks for the other 4. Chiben Wakayama obviously took the time to qualify the first time around, cruising comfortably until they qualified where they might have send out the reserves so as to not tip off the competition. Still, they got to the finals where they lost to Shinguu 6-3, though that result doesn't matter. Also advancing was Kainan and Shiritsu Wakayama.
The rest would have to battle it out again, and the ones that climbed out of the ruckus were:
- Kinkidai Shinguu, who will have an intercity battle with Shinguu
- Tanabe, who will face Kainan to start
- Arita Chuo, who drew the short straw and will face Chiben Wakayama leaving
- Kouyasan to play Shiritsu Wakayama.
With only 2 bids up for grabs in the major prefectures, it's all out for all the schools from Osaka and Hyogo - and that generally doesn't bode well for the non-powerhouse schools...
But there was a small victory for them as Riseisha and Osaka Touin would have to play in the round of 32. Surprisingly, Riseisha mercy ruled Osaka Touin 13-1 in 5 innings! Guess they have a bit of rebuilding to do.
Still though, that means that Riseisha has the inside rail at one of the two spots, and with PL Gakuen obliterating teams on the other half, it is a steep climb for the other 14 schools.
Hyogo
I don't know if it is a down cycle in Hyogo, but the powerhouse teams seem to be on the same part of the cycle.
I say this because in the quarterfinals, only one powerhouse managed to survive and they barely got away. Houtoku Gakuen edged out Akashi Shougyou 3-2 and will face an Ichikawa team who beat Suma Gakuen 2-1 in 12.
The other side was supposed to be a Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku vs. Touyoudai Himeji affair, but both teams wound up losing! Sanda Shousei would beat Kobe 3-2 in 10 innings, while Yashiro had the largest margin of victory in the quarters - a 4-2 win over Himeji.
This bodes well for Houtoku as they should advance to the Super-regionals (sorry Ichikawa), while Sanda Shouei and Yashiro will battle it out for a rare spot in the Super-regionals.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Remaining prefectural titles recap (Part 2)
Okay, more prefectures here below:
Ishikawa - Seiryou (16th appearance, 1st in 6 years)
In recent years, Seiryou has surged back into the discussion of teams in Ishikawa. To a bit of a surprise, I noticed that Ishikawa in 8 of the last 10 years has been represented by either Kanazawa or Yuugakukan (4 times each). Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa and Seiryou make up the other 2 appearances.
Yet, Matsui Hideki's alma mater has been on the precipice of reaching Koushien having reached the semifinals and finals the last 2 years eliminated by - yup, you guessed it, Kanazawa and Yuugakukan.
And so the big 3 started on their journey, and to Seiryou's benefit, the twin threats to their title run were on the other side of the bracket. That allowed Seiryou a straight shot to the title game - so long as they didn't trip themselves up. And for the most part they didn't. They weren't mercy-rule dominating, but they still weren't really challenged.
Surprisingly though the other two did have some difficulty. In #2 Yuugakukan's first game, they briefly held the lead after a 3-run 4th versus Komatsu, but were either tied or trailing otherwise. In fact, they were down to their last 3 outs before scoring 2 runs to advance. #3 Kanazawa looked rather mortal versus Komatsu Shougyou and #5-8 seed Komatsu Ootani. Which had to be good for Seiryou. Even better was that in the semifinal, the pair would go 13 innings with both sides emptying their bullpen before 2B Fujiguchi for Yuugakukan would decide things with a sayonara home run!
In the final, Yuugakukan's pitching staff was indeed depleted as Seiryou would take a 1-0 lead in the 2nd and never relinquish it. Seiryou would use their own trio of pitchers (Iwashita, Muroki and Hatakenaka) to secure the 5-2 win and their 16th trip to Koushien on the year that their famous player retired from baseball.
Shiga - Hikone Higashi (1st appearance)
Shiga is kind of the same way as many other rural prefectures - a handful of teams control the bids to Natsu Koushien. In this case, there are 4 repeat winners who account for 9 of the last 10 titles - Oumi (4), Kita-Ootsu (3), and Hachiman Shougyou (2) with the other being Shiga Gakuen.
So here, too many of the other schools are looking up at a select few who decide amongst themselves who goes - generally.
This year though, only Oumi was seeded out of the "Big 3". Instead, it would be Hieizan (who was better in the 2000's), Hachiman Kougyou, and Hikone Higashi.
And when both Hachiman Shougyou and Kita-Ootsu eliminated early on, and Oumi playing fairly strong, perhaps they would claim yet another title.
But out of the best 4, one seeded team did not make it. Hieizan would be ousted by unknown Oumi Kyoudaisha 3-1, behind a 10 strikeout performance by ace Sasaki. Another win put them in the semifinals to face Oumi. In that semifinal, Oumi quickly got to Sasaki for 3 runs, only to see Kyoudaisha fight back with 3 in the 3rd off Oumi ace Kikubayashi. It would stay that way until the 9th when Horii would give Oumi the 4-3 lead. Kyoudaisha though, somehow didn't get the memo that weaker teams fold at the end, because down to their last out Naka delivers the douten run with a single to right, and with the bases loaded Noguchi would single to right center for the gyakuten sayonara win!
So Oumi was gone, which was a great relief to the other semifinalists. Sadly, while Hachiman Kougyou did manage to reach the semis, they didn't look all that impressive. And paired against Hikone Higashi - who probably is one of the better 2nd tier teams in Shiga, and had defeated Kita-Ootsu earlier, it would be a disaster. A 5-inning mercy-rule win later and Hikone Higashi would be one step away from their first ever Natsu Koushien bid.
Oumi Kyoudaisha's intimidation factor continued to be 0 as they actually scored right off the bat in the top of the 1st. And while Sasaki would relinquish the lead one inning later, he performed very will. Unfortunately, Hikone Higashi got timely hits from Yamanaka and Takeda later on and would win 3-2 for their first title.
Hats off to Oumi Kyoudaisha though. I don't know if we'll ever see them again, but man it was a great run they had... just a bit short.
Kyoto - Fukuchiyama Seibi (4th appearance, 1st in 5 years)
Kyoto has been the same as Shiga. 3 teams have gone to Koushien in the last 10 years - Kyoto Gaidai Nishi (4), Ryuukokudai Heian (4, one as Heian in 2003), Fukuchiyama Seibi (2). Lately though Heian has been the representative with 3 of their 4 appearances happening in the last 4 years.
So to see another team breakthrough would be a rarity. And it would probably be prudent to see how each of the teams progressed.
Well, first my favorite powerhouse in the prefecture - Kyoto Gaidai Nishi... lost in their first game to Tounan 10-5. There goes that.
Fukuchiyama Seibi struggled in their first game against Rakutou. Despite just getting 1 run on 2 hits they somehow won 1-0. After that was smooth sailing to the Best 8. Ryuukokudai Heian had no such trouble getting to the Best 8, but was paired with the Kyoto representative in Senbatsu - Kyoto Shouei. And despite their lackluster performance at Koushien, ace Enomoto limited them to just a run on 6 hits in a 3-1 victory.
They would play a Fukuchiyama Seibi squad who survived a Kita-Saga game where they blew a 2-run lead in the bottom of the 9th, then in the 11th almost blew another 2-run lead winning 4-3.
In that blockbuster semifinal (which could have easily been a final), offense was at a premium with Enomoto and Seibi's ace Nakamura combining to give up just 9 hits. But a timely hit by Sano for Seibi would be the only run in the game as they would move to the finals.
Now, since all 3 of the powerhouses were on one side of the bracket, it was just a matter of who would try to challenge them for the title.
Kyoto Kougakkan was able to slip their way through the field, including a 4-1 win over Kyoto Subaru (I'm only mentioning them because they're my irrational cheering team) to setup a quarterfinal match versus Ritsumeikan Uji - a team that could be considered 2nd tier. A 3-run 8th would help them pull off the upset.
They'd play a Toba squad (who back in 2012 went to Senbatsu) who breezed through the field. Sadly for Kyoto Kougakkan, their run ended here in a mercy-rule loss.
So that meant Toba would be the last barrier between Fukuchiyama Seibi and their 3rd title in the last 8 years. Toba sadly would not be up to the task as 5 errors would lead to a 5-0 loss.
Ishikawa - Seiryou (16th appearance, 1st in 6 years)
In recent years, Seiryou has surged back into the discussion of teams in Ishikawa. To a bit of a surprise, I noticed that Ishikawa in 8 of the last 10 years has been represented by either Kanazawa or Yuugakukan (4 times each). Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa and Seiryou make up the other 2 appearances.
Yet, Matsui Hideki's alma mater has been on the precipice of reaching Koushien having reached the semifinals and finals the last 2 years eliminated by - yup, you guessed it, Kanazawa and Yuugakukan.
And so the big 3 started on their journey, and to Seiryou's benefit, the twin threats to their title run were on the other side of the bracket. That allowed Seiryou a straight shot to the title game - so long as they didn't trip themselves up. And for the most part they didn't. They weren't mercy-rule dominating, but they still weren't really challenged.
Surprisingly though the other two did have some difficulty. In #2 Yuugakukan's first game, they briefly held the lead after a 3-run 4th versus Komatsu, but were either tied or trailing otherwise. In fact, they were down to their last 3 outs before scoring 2 runs to advance. #3 Kanazawa looked rather mortal versus Komatsu Shougyou and #5-8 seed Komatsu Ootani. Which had to be good for Seiryou. Even better was that in the semifinal, the pair would go 13 innings with both sides emptying their bullpen before 2B Fujiguchi for Yuugakukan would decide things with a sayonara home run!
In the final, Yuugakukan's pitching staff was indeed depleted as Seiryou would take a 1-0 lead in the 2nd and never relinquish it. Seiryou would use their own trio of pitchers (Iwashita, Muroki and Hatakenaka) to secure the 5-2 win and their 16th trip to Koushien on the year that their famous player retired from baseball.
Shiga - Hikone Higashi (1st appearance)
Shiga is kind of the same way as many other rural prefectures - a handful of teams control the bids to Natsu Koushien. In this case, there are 4 repeat winners who account for 9 of the last 10 titles - Oumi (4), Kita-Ootsu (3), and Hachiman Shougyou (2) with the other being Shiga Gakuen.
So here, too many of the other schools are looking up at a select few who decide amongst themselves who goes - generally.
This year though, only Oumi was seeded out of the "Big 3". Instead, it would be Hieizan (who was better in the 2000's), Hachiman Kougyou, and Hikone Higashi.
And when both Hachiman Shougyou and Kita-Ootsu eliminated early on, and Oumi playing fairly strong, perhaps they would claim yet another title.
But out of the best 4, one seeded team did not make it. Hieizan would be ousted by unknown Oumi Kyoudaisha 3-1, behind a 10 strikeout performance by ace Sasaki. Another win put them in the semifinals to face Oumi. In that semifinal, Oumi quickly got to Sasaki for 3 runs, only to see Kyoudaisha fight back with 3 in the 3rd off Oumi ace Kikubayashi. It would stay that way until the 9th when Horii would give Oumi the 4-3 lead. Kyoudaisha though, somehow didn't get the memo that weaker teams fold at the end, because down to their last out Naka delivers the douten run with a single to right, and with the bases loaded Noguchi would single to right center for the gyakuten sayonara win!
So Oumi was gone, which was a great relief to the other semifinalists. Sadly, while Hachiman Kougyou did manage to reach the semis, they didn't look all that impressive. And paired against Hikone Higashi - who probably is one of the better 2nd tier teams in Shiga, and had defeated Kita-Ootsu earlier, it would be a disaster. A 5-inning mercy-rule win later and Hikone Higashi would be one step away from their first ever Natsu Koushien bid.
Oumi Kyoudaisha's intimidation factor continued to be 0 as they actually scored right off the bat in the top of the 1st. And while Sasaki would relinquish the lead one inning later, he performed very will. Unfortunately, Hikone Higashi got timely hits from Yamanaka and Takeda later on and would win 3-2 for their first title.
Hats off to Oumi Kyoudaisha though. I don't know if we'll ever see them again, but man it was a great run they had... just a bit short.
Kyoto - Fukuchiyama Seibi (4th appearance, 1st in 5 years)
Kyoto has been the same as Shiga. 3 teams have gone to Koushien in the last 10 years - Kyoto Gaidai Nishi (4), Ryuukokudai Heian (4, one as Heian in 2003), Fukuchiyama Seibi (2). Lately though Heian has been the representative with 3 of their 4 appearances happening in the last 4 years.
So to see another team breakthrough would be a rarity. And it would probably be prudent to see how each of the teams progressed.
Well, first my favorite powerhouse in the prefecture - Kyoto Gaidai Nishi... lost in their first game to Tounan 10-5. There goes that.
Fukuchiyama Seibi struggled in their first game against Rakutou. Despite just getting 1 run on 2 hits they somehow won 1-0. After that was smooth sailing to the Best 8. Ryuukokudai Heian had no such trouble getting to the Best 8, but was paired with the Kyoto representative in Senbatsu - Kyoto Shouei. And despite their lackluster performance at Koushien, ace Enomoto limited them to just a run on 6 hits in a 3-1 victory.
They would play a Fukuchiyama Seibi squad who survived a Kita-Saga game where they blew a 2-run lead in the bottom of the 9th, then in the 11th almost blew another 2-run lead winning 4-3.
In that blockbuster semifinal (which could have easily been a final), offense was at a premium with Enomoto and Seibi's ace Nakamura combining to give up just 9 hits. But a timely hit by Sano for Seibi would be the only run in the game as they would move to the finals.
Now, since all 3 of the powerhouses were on one side of the bracket, it was just a matter of who would try to challenge them for the title.
Kyoto Kougakkan was able to slip their way through the field, including a 4-1 win over Kyoto Subaru (I'm only mentioning them because they're my irrational cheering team) to setup a quarterfinal match versus Ritsumeikan Uji - a team that could be considered 2nd tier. A 3-run 8th would help them pull off the upset.
They'd play a Toba squad (who back in 2012 went to Senbatsu) who breezed through the field. Sadly for Kyoto Kougakkan, their run ended here in a mercy-rule loss.
So that meant Toba would be the last barrier between Fukuchiyama Seibi and their 3rd title in the last 8 years. Toba sadly would not be up to the task as 5 errors would lead to a 5-0 loss.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Day 5 - Game 2 - Toba (Kyoto) vs. Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
Our matinee game will be another one of those possible David vs. Goliath type matchups.
Sorry Toba, but that's kinda what you are. I believe they basically qualified by process of elimination. of the 4 quarter-finalists that lost Osaka Touin was almost guaranteed a bid. Naradai Fuzoku would lose out because they would be the 3rd team from Nara. And Mizoguchi eliminated themselves with a 15-3 loss to Riseisha.
So Toba, sorry but you were by default the last team from the Kinki region invited. Though for what it's worth, you did beat Fukuchiyama Seibi.
Seikou Gakuin made the Tohoku super-regional finals by defeating Hanamaki Higashi. But that's the only notable win on their schedule. They did limit Kousei Gakuin to 3 runs though, so that has to mean something. Problem is, we just don't know what - especially considering the below-average performance Hanamaki Higashi put up compared to prior years.
Seikou Gakuin, by their performance and schedule should be the favorite in this game. Though with little else to go on, it's just a paper David vs. Goliath.
2B Kanzaki Tomoki
RF Isaka Tomonori
P Gomi Takuya
CF Hanada Keisuke
SS Arai Kouji
LF Matsuzawa Kazuki
3B Matsumiya Yoshiki
C Kitagawa Rukiya
SS Hirano Yuuma
C Nagai Ryou
1B Sonobe Satoshi
RF Anzai Satoshi
LF Sekine Ryou
3B Kyouda Seiki
2B Minowa Masato
P Okano Yuuichirou
__________________________________________________
11:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
I'd be interested to see how Okano carried a sub-1.00 ERA this past fall. I wonder if part of it is because teams lost players or lost teams altogether due to last year's disaster...
After Okano assists on the first two outs, he walks Isaka in front of cleanup batter Gomi.
But Gomi looks at strike 3 and that's the inning for Okano.
Bottom 1st
Saitou with a comebacker that is about to go under Gomi, but he deflects it with the glove! It goes to his SS, but Arai has no play at 1st.
Hirano tries laying down the bunt, but can't and the count goes to 0-2.
Hit-and-run is put on and Hirano singles through the left side! Saitou holds at 2nd, but a chance developing for Seikou.
Bunt is put on and the runners advance.
Sonobe walks and now it's manrui for Anzai as Yamada-kantoku calls for time.
Gomi gets Anzai to swing at a garbage pitch (sorry, had to put that pun in there) and the infield fly is called.
Sekine flies out to center, and Toba's out of the jam!
Top 2nd
So apparently the KSMS on their left sleeve, and the ones that some of the older folk at the top of oen-dan represents "Kyoto Secondary Middle School", which was the original name of the school.
And in the time it took me to write that, Toba goes 1-2-3
Bottom 2nd
And in the time it took me to fix parts of this entry, Seikou Gakuin goes down 1-2-3. Boy, that was a quick 1-2-3 inning.
Top 3rd
Ok, so about Okano. Stuff-wise, it's about the same as most others. Fastball in the mid 130s with a slider & shuuto. But he exhibits good control, which is more than what others could say.
But Eda gives Toba their first hit, a single under the diving Hirano for a 2-out single.
Yamada-kantoku tries the hit-and-run, but Kanzaki again hits a comebacker to Okano, ending the inning.
Bottom 3rd
So from what I can see, Gomi has a fastball in the high 120s occasionally hitting 130-131 and a slider in the 110s and a change of some sort in the 100s.
Hirano collects his second hit on another single to left.
Nagai hits a grounder to short. Arai starts the 6-4-3 double play, but Kanzaki's throw is high and wide and Eda can't get the sweep tag. 2 down.
Sonobe with a base hit just past the dive of Arai and will that failed DP cost them?
No! Anzai can't check his swing on a slider in the dirt and the inning is over!
Top 4th
2 quick outs for Toba, and Hanada with a hard liner to left! Sekine running back, leaps...
and makes the catch! WOW! Otherwise that's a double (it was getting close to the wall, but still)
Bottom 4th
This game is going about as fast as the first one. 4 innings in the books, and were averaging 10 minutes per inning!
Gomi is showing good control and mix of pitches. Seikou's batters are unable to make good contact right now as Sekine-Kyouda-Minowa go down in order.
Top 5th
In an interesting play, Okano's pitch hits the bottom of Arai's bat and stays in fair territory. He's thrown out 2-3.
Toba still cannot put any pressure on Okano and go down in order yet again.
Bottom 5th
We finally get a baserunner when Saitou collects his second hit, this one to center.
Hirano isn't called on to bunt like so many other times, but the hit-and-run does the same thing as he grounds out to 2nd.
And Nagai grimaces as he hits a fly ball to center. Hanada camps under it for the out, and we hit the break with a scoreless draw so far and just 5 hits between both teams!
Top 6th
Eda with a blast to center! Saitou running back, but it's over his head! Eda settles in with a 1-out double!
No bunt from Kanzaki yet. Instead he grounds out to 2nd, but does advance the runner. Up to Isaka to deliver a one-timer to take the lead.
He takes a good hack, but misses on the 3-1. But on the full count pitch he flies out to left. The best scoring opportunity on both sides since the 3rd, and it goes begging.
Bottom 6th
Now it's Seikou's turn for a chance! Anzai lines a hanging fastball into left center! It goes all the way to the wall for a one-out double!
Sekine with a comebacker to Gomi. But he sees Anzai caught in between and starts the rundown! Gomi to Matsumiya to Arai to Gomi to Kanzaki...
But Sekine's slide tangled himself with Kanzaki and he's called out and Anzai goes back to 2nd! Gomi needs one more out.
Kyouda with a ball of the end of his bat back up the middle! It gets past Gomi and goes into center! Anzai's being sent home! The throw from Hanada isn't in time and Seikou Gakuin finally score the first run of the ball game! It's 1-0!
Minowa flies out to left, but Toba needs to find enough offense for one run with just 3 innings left to go.
Top 7th
And who better than their cleanup batter (and ace) Gomi to start the inning!
Gomi's hit to SS is bobbled by Hirano and Gomi dives in with a single (he really didn't have to do that, but yes, showing one's guts etc.)
Hanada up and he's swinging away. Wouldn't this be one of those times bunting would be a good idea?
Instead, Hanada grounds into the 6-4-3 double play...
And Arai can't check his swing on a high full count fastball, and Toba is turned away.
Bottom 7th
Gomi may be leaving pitches in the zone now as Okano hits a solid single past a diving Eda.
But Saitou-kantoku has Saitou swing away, and he twirls himself into a K on a slider in the dirt.
Now they try the bust-and-run, but Hirano fouls it off. He then lays down the bunt successfully as Saitou-kantoku looks for the insurance run.
Huh, I didn't notice until now, but there's a guy wearing a Toba uniform in the first row behind home just 2 seats away for Laga-san.
Whoops. Didn't pay attention there. Gomi loses Nagai after getting ahead 1-2.
Sonobe with a ball back up the middle. Just like Kyouda's it goes through to center! Okano is sent home, and the throw is again late! Seikou gets the insurance run to make it 2-0!
Anzai flies out to right to end the inning, but they get that all important run.
Top 8th
Yamada-kantoku goes to the bench early here in the 8th calling #12 Kuramuro to PH for Matsuzawa.
He's lucky a pitch was called a ball when he called time, but didn't notice. He ends up hitting a soft liner back to Okano.
Okano's pace is speeding up now as Matsumiya looks at a fastball on the outside corner for strike 3.
Kitagawa flies out to right, and time is running short for Toba.
Bottom 8th
#18 Oooka comes in for PH Kuramuro and takes over in LF.
Sekine with a grounder to 1st, but Eda can't field it cleanly. Sekine hustles down the line and they have no play. Kyouda plays a game of chicken after bunting down the 1st base line, but no further advancement than 2nd for Sekine.
Gomi though retires the next two batters, and if this is his final line, it's not bad at all. It's just bad that the offense is unable to do anything.
Top 9th
Though I suppose it's one of the reasons why Okano carried that sub-1.00 ERA.
Well, it's the top of the order and Eda, who's 2-3 on the day. Swings on the first pitch, but gets under it and pops out to center.
#17 Uchida comes in for Kanzaki, and flies out to left on the first pitch.
And Iisaka pops up to short, and Okano shuts out Toba!
It's a great performance by Okano has he lives up to his fall rep. And if not for some timely hits, Toba could have had a chance for the upset.
Gomi did a great job on the mound, just left a couple of pitches too fat and gave up 2 runs. But 2 over 8 is nothing to be ashamed of. It was a good game, just not good enough.
Notable Players
Gomi Takuya (Toba) - CG, 2 ER, 8 H, 3 K, 2 BB
Eda Yuuki (Toba) - 2-4, 2B
Okano Yuuichirou (Seikou Gakuin) - CG, 0 ER, 2 H, 5 K, BB
Saitou Yuuki (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-4, 2 K
Sonobe Satoshi (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-3, RBI, BB
Sorry Toba, but that's kinda what you are. I believe they basically qualified by process of elimination. of the 4 quarter-finalists that lost Osaka Touin was almost guaranteed a bid. Naradai Fuzoku would lose out because they would be the 3rd team from Nara. And Mizoguchi eliminated themselves with a 15-3 loss to Riseisha.
So Toba, sorry but you were by default the last team from the Kinki region invited. Though for what it's worth, you did beat Fukuchiyama Seibi.
Seikou Gakuin made the Tohoku super-regional finals by defeating Hanamaki Higashi. But that's the only notable win on their schedule. They did limit Kousei Gakuin to 3 runs though, so that has to mean something. Problem is, we just don't know what - especially considering the below-average performance Hanamaki Higashi put up compared to prior years.
Seikou Gakuin, by their performance and schedule should be the favorite in this game. Though with little else to go on, it's just a paper David vs. Goliath.
Toba (Kyoto)
1B Eda Yuuki2B Kanzaki Tomoki
RF Isaka Tomonori
P Gomi Takuya
CF Hanada Keisuke
SS Arai Kouji
LF Matsuzawa Kazuki
3B Matsumiya Yoshiki
C Kitagawa Rukiya
Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
CF Saitou YuukiSS Hirano Yuuma
C Nagai Ryou
1B Sonobe Satoshi
RF Anzai Satoshi
LF Sekine Ryou
3B Kyouda Seiki
2B Minowa Masato
P Okano Yuuichirou
__________________________________________________
11:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
I'd be interested to see how Okano carried a sub-1.00 ERA this past fall. I wonder if part of it is because teams lost players or lost teams altogether due to last year's disaster...
After Okano assists on the first two outs, he walks Isaka in front of cleanup batter Gomi.
But Gomi looks at strike 3 and that's the inning for Okano.
Bottom 1st
Saitou with a comebacker that is about to go under Gomi, but he deflects it with the glove! It goes to his SS, but Arai has no play at 1st.
Hirano tries laying down the bunt, but can't and the count goes to 0-2.
Hit-and-run is put on and Hirano singles through the left side! Saitou holds at 2nd, but a chance developing for Seikou.
Bunt is put on and the runners advance.
Sonobe walks and now it's manrui for Anzai as Yamada-kantoku calls for time.
Gomi gets Anzai to swing at a garbage pitch (sorry, had to put that pun in there) and the infield fly is called.
Sekine flies out to center, and Toba's out of the jam!
Top 2nd
So apparently the KSMS on their left sleeve, and the ones that some of the older folk at the top of oen-dan represents "Kyoto Secondary Middle School", which was the original name of the school.
And in the time it took me to write that, Toba goes 1-2-3
Bottom 2nd
And in the time it took me to fix parts of this entry, Seikou Gakuin goes down 1-2-3. Boy, that was a quick 1-2-3 inning.
Top 3rd
Ok, so about Okano. Stuff-wise, it's about the same as most others. Fastball in the mid 130s with a slider & shuuto. But he exhibits good control, which is more than what others could say.
But Eda gives Toba their first hit, a single under the diving Hirano for a 2-out single.
Yamada-kantoku tries the hit-and-run, but Kanzaki again hits a comebacker to Okano, ending the inning.
Bottom 3rd
So from what I can see, Gomi has a fastball in the high 120s occasionally hitting 130-131 and a slider in the 110s and a change of some sort in the 100s.
Hirano collects his second hit on another single to left.
Nagai hits a grounder to short. Arai starts the 6-4-3 double play, but Kanzaki's throw is high and wide and Eda can't get the sweep tag. 2 down.
Sonobe with a base hit just past the dive of Arai and will that failed DP cost them?
No! Anzai can't check his swing on a slider in the dirt and the inning is over!
Top 4th
2 quick outs for Toba, and Hanada with a hard liner to left! Sekine running back, leaps...
and makes the catch! WOW! Otherwise that's a double (it was getting close to the wall, but still)
Bottom 4th
This game is going about as fast as the first one. 4 innings in the books, and were averaging 10 minutes per inning!
Gomi is showing good control and mix of pitches. Seikou's batters are unable to make good contact right now as Sekine-Kyouda-Minowa go down in order.
Top 5th
In an interesting play, Okano's pitch hits the bottom of Arai's bat and stays in fair territory. He's thrown out 2-3.
Toba still cannot put any pressure on Okano and go down in order yet again.
Bottom 5th
We finally get a baserunner when Saitou collects his second hit, this one to center.
Hirano isn't called on to bunt like so many other times, but the hit-and-run does the same thing as he grounds out to 2nd.
And Nagai grimaces as he hits a fly ball to center. Hanada camps under it for the out, and we hit the break with a scoreless draw so far and just 5 hits between both teams!
Top 6th
Eda with a blast to center! Saitou running back, but it's over his head! Eda settles in with a 1-out double!
No bunt from Kanzaki yet. Instead he grounds out to 2nd, but does advance the runner. Up to Isaka to deliver a one-timer to take the lead.
He takes a good hack, but misses on the 3-1. But on the full count pitch he flies out to left. The best scoring opportunity on both sides since the 3rd, and it goes begging.
Bottom 6th
Now it's Seikou's turn for a chance! Anzai lines a hanging fastball into left center! It goes all the way to the wall for a one-out double!
Sekine with a comebacker to Gomi. But he sees Anzai caught in between and starts the rundown! Gomi to Matsumiya to Arai to Gomi to Kanzaki...
But Sekine's slide tangled himself with Kanzaki and he's called out and Anzai goes back to 2nd! Gomi needs one more out.
Kyouda with a ball of the end of his bat back up the middle! It gets past Gomi and goes into center! Anzai's being sent home! The throw from Hanada isn't in time and Seikou Gakuin finally score the first run of the ball game! It's 1-0!
Minowa flies out to left, but Toba needs to find enough offense for one run with just 3 innings left to go.
Top 7th
And who better than their cleanup batter (and ace) Gomi to start the inning!
Gomi's hit to SS is bobbled by Hirano and Gomi dives in with a single (he really didn't have to do that, but yes, showing one's guts etc.)
Hanada up and he's swinging away. Wouldn't this be one of those times bunting would be a good idea?
Instead, Hanada grounds into the 6-4-3 double play...
And Arai can't check his swing on a high full count fastball, and Toba is turned away.
Bottom 7th
Gomi may be leaving pitches in the zone now as Okano hits a solid single past a diving Eda.
But Saitou-kantoku has Saitou swing away, and he twirls himself into a K on a slider in the dirt.
Now they try the bust-and-run, but Hirano fouls it off. He then lays down the bunt successfully as Saitou-kantoku looks for the insurance run.
Huh, I didn't notice until now, but there's a guy wearing a Toba uniform in the first row behind home just 2 seats away for Laga-san.
Whoops. Didn't pay attention there. Gomi loses Nagai after getting ahead 1-2.
Sonobe with a ball back up the middle. Just like Kyouda's it goes through to center! Okano is sent home, and the throw is again late! Seikou gets the insurance run to make it 2-0!
Anzai flies out to right to end the inning, but they get that all important run.
Top 8th
Yamada-kantoku goes to the bench early here in the 8th calling #12 Kuramuro to PH for Matsuzawa.
He's lucky a pitch was called a ball when he called time, but didn't notice. He ends up hitting a soft liner back to Okano.
Okano's pace is speeding up now as Matsumiya looks at a fastball on the outside corner for strike 3.
Kitagawa flies out to right, and time is running short for Toba.
Bottom 8th
#18 Oooka comes in for PH Kuramuro and takes over in LF.
Sekine with a grounder to 1st, but Eda can't field it cleanly. Sekine hustles down the line and they have no play. Kyouda plays a game of chicken after bunting down the 1st base line, but no further advancement than 2nd for Sekine.
Gomi though retires the next two batters, and if this is his final line, it's not bad at all. It's just bad that the offense is unable to do anything.
Top 9th
Though I suppose it's one of the reasons why Okano carried that sub-1.00 ERA.
Well, it's the top of the order and Eda, who's 2-3 on the day. Swings on the first pitch, but gets under it and pops out to center.
#17 Uchida comes in for Kanzaki, and flies out to left on the first pitch.
And Iisaka pops up to short, and Okano shuts out Toba!
It's a great performance by Okano has he lives up to his fall rep. And if not for some timely hits, Toba could have had a chance for the upset.
Gomi did a great job on the mound, just left a couple of pitches too fat and gave up 2 runs. But 2 over 8 is nothing to be ashamed of. It was a good game, just not good enough.
Notable Players
Gomi Takuya (Toba) - CG, 2 ER, 8 H, 3 K, 2 BB
Eda Yuuki (Toba) - 2-4, 2B
Okano Yuuichirou (Seikou Gakuin) - CG, 0 ER, 2 H, 5 K, BB
Saitou Yuuki (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-4, 2 K
Sonobe Satoshi (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-3, RBI, BB
Sunday, July 24, 2011
93rd Koushien Qualifying - July 13th-23rd (Kinki Region)
A lot to go over here, but it will have to be summarized more than usual.
Mie
Games began at Yokkaichi on the 15th with Tsu Nishi mercy ruling Subaru Gakuen 8-1 in 8. Since then we have reached the round of 16.
After the opening game all teams started play. Hisai Nourin scores 3 runs late to beat Matsusaka Shougyou 4-3. Akatsuki Gakuen scores 6 in the 5th, but needs every run as Yokkaichi Yogou scores 5 in the last 4 innings to barely get beaten 7-6. Tsu Shougyou fights back to tie the game at 5, after being down 3, in the 8th then goes on to beat Hisai in the bottom of the 12th. Yokkaichi scores the sayonara run over Yokkaichi Chuo Kougyou 2-1.
Rain started to impede play on the 18th. Games at Ise and Tsu were cancelled. After Ouka's 7-3 win over Toba, Yokkaichi Minami and Kinan can only get through 4½ before the game is called. Yokkaichi was the only place to play a full slate. And that wound up being fortunate for Kawagoe, not so much for Nabari Kiyougaoka. Nabari held a 7-1 lead through 7 innings. Kawagoe scores 4 in the 8th and 3 in the 9th for the 8-7 sayonara victory. The rained out games would be played on the 21st. Owase scores 3 in the 9th for a 6-4 win over Asake.
Onto the 2nd round, Tsu outlasts Nissei Gakuen Dai-ichi 2-1 in 12. And Tsu Higashi plates the only run in the top of the 9th to beat Kogakkan. Kaisei and Ouka tango for 13 innings, with Kaisei prevailing 3-2. Kawagoe continues its narrow escapes, scoring their runs late to win 2-1 over Minami-Ise.
Kyoto
When we last left Kyoto, they were in the middle of round 2.
Kyoto Kyouei scores late to beat Tanabe 4-3. Kumiyama down 5-1 in the bottom of the 9th scores 5 for the win! Yes, it's heartbreaking for Nantan, but at the same time it's what kokoyakyu is all about.
3rd round and Kyoto Gaidai Nishi defeats Kyoto Gakuen 7-2. Suzaku outlasts Rakutou 5-4 in 12. Yamashiro scores 3 in the 10th to defeat Ayabe. Ryuukokudai Heian scores 1 run in the 1st against Kyoto Kyouei, and surprisingly that's the only run scored!
Round of 16 play and my team - Kyoto Gaidai Nishi gets blitzed by a 5-run 5th from Kyoto Ryouyou 10-5... My more irrational team in Kyoto, Kyoto Subaru, scores in each of the last 5 innings, but can't make up for its pitching. They fall 11-8 to Toba.
In one of the most bizarre games, Ritsumeikan Uji had just scored 3 in the top of the 7th to lead 6-1 when Kumiyama out of nowhere scores 8! Not only that, but Uji comes back with 3 the very next inning to tie the game! The game would only go one more inning as Uji would win 12-9.
The next game that day would also go into extras where Yamashiro scored 3 in the 8th to tie it up. And even though they scored 2 in the 10th, they almost blew that lead.
What those first 2 extra inning games meant though was that Ryuukokudai Heian's game against Higashiyama, which they were winning 7-2 after 5½ was called a no-game expending extra effort. Fortunately for them they had 2 days off due to the rain. When play resumed Ryuukokudai Heian won 8-1 in 7.
The last games finished up with Fukuchiyama Seibi shutting out Doushisha Kokusai, and Nishi-Jyouou mercy ruling Rakuhoku.
Onto quarterfinal action, and Kyoto Ryouyou continues their surprising run with a 5-2 win over Toba. But they'd face their toughest test against Ritsumeikan Uji who handled Fukuchiyama 8-1 in 7. Meanwhile, Ryuukokudai Heian was in trouble versus Yamashiro, but scored 6 in the 8th for a gyakuten win! There'll be a blockbuster game next as they face Fukuchiyama Seibi who themselves had to hold off Nishi-Jyouyou 4-3.
Nara
Until I see someone challenge Chiben Gakuen, it's almost pointless covering this prefecture.
But to note some close games:
Wakayama
While there are some competitors now to Chiben Wakayama, which include Minoshima and Kouyou, it's still Chiben Wakayama's prefecture.
We advance to coverage of the 3rd round which sees one contender in Minoshima faltering late, giving up the tying and sayonara runs to Shiritsu Wakayama 2-1, and Touin taken to 14 by Hatsushiba Hashimoto but winning 4-2.
Osaka
Looking at block play we had the following notable games:
Block play was going on in Hyogo. Notable games include:
Mie
Games began at Yokkaichi on the 15th with Tsu Nishi mercy ruling Subaru Gakuen 8-1 in 8. Since then we have reached the round of 16.
After the opening game all teams started play. Hisai Nourin scores 3 runs late to beat Matsusaka Shougyou 4-3. Akatsuki Gakuen scores 6 in the 5th, but needs every run as Yokkaichi Yogou scores 5 in the last 4 innings to barely get beaten 7-6. Tsu Shougyou fights back to tie the game at 5, after being down 3, in the 8th then goes on to beat Hisai in the bottom of the 12th. Yokkaichi scores the sayonara run over Yokkaichi Chuo Kougyou 2-1.
Rain started to impede play on the 18th. Games at Ise and Tsu were cancelled. After Ouka's 7-3 win over Toba, Yokkaichi Minami and Kinan can only get through 4½ before the game is called. Yokkaichi was the only place to play a full slate. And that wound up being fortunate for Kawagoe, not so much for Nabari Kiyougaoka. Nabari held a 7-1 lead through 7 innings. Kawagoe scores 4 in the 8th and 3 in the 9th for the 8-7 sayonara victory. The rained out games would be played on the 21st. Owase scores 3 in the 9th for a 6-4 win over Asake.
Onto the 2nd round, Tsu outlasts Nissei Gakuen Dai-ichi 2-1 in 12. And Tsu Higashi plates the only run in the top of the 9th to beat Kogakkan. Kaisei and Ouka tango for 13 innings, with Kaisei prevailing 3-2. Kawagoe continues its narrow escapes, scoring their runs late to win 2-1 over Minami-Ise.
Kyoto
When we last left Kyoto, they were in the middle of round 2.
Kyoto Kyouei scores late to beat Tanabe 4-3. Kumiyama down 5-1 in the bottom of the 9th scores 5 for the win! Yes, it's heartbreaking for Nantan, but at the same time it's what kokoyakyu is all about.
3rd round and Kyoto Gaidai Nishi defeats Kyoto Gakuen 7-2. Suzaku outlasts Rakutou 5-4 in 12. Yamashiro scores 3 in the 10th to defeat Ayabe. Ryuukokudai Heian scores 1 run in the 1st against Kyoto Kyouei, and surprisingly that's the only run scored!
Round of 16 play and my team - Kyoto Gaidai Nishi gets blitzed by a 5-run 5th from Kyoto Ryouyou 10-5... My more irrational team in Kyoto, Kyoto Subaru, scores in each of the last 5 innings, but can't make up for its pitching. They fall 11-8 to Toba.
In one of the most bizarre games, Ritsumeikan Uji had just scored 3 in the top of the 7th to lead 6-1 when Kumiyama out of nowhere scores 8! Not only that, but Uji comes back with 3 the very next inning to tie the game! The game would only go one more inning as Uji would win 12-9.
The next game that day would also go into extras where Yamashiro scored 3 in the 8th to tie it up. And even though they scored 2 in the 10th, they almost blew that lead.
What those first 2 extra inning games meant though was that Ryuukokudai Heian's game against Higashiyama, which they were winning 7-2 after 5½ was called a no-game expending extra effort. Fortunately for them they had 2 days off due to the rain. When play resumed Ryuukokudai Heian won 8-1 in 7.
The last games finished up with Fukuchiyama Seibi shutting out Doushisha Kokusai, and Nishi-Jyouou mercy ruling Rakuhoku.
Onto quarterfinal action, and Kyoto Ryouyou continues their surprising run with a 5-2 win over Toba. But they'd face their toughest test against Ritsumeikan Uji who handled Fukuchiyama 8-1 in 7. Meanwhile, Ryuukokudai Heian was in trouble versus Yamashiro, but scored 6 in the 8th for a gyakuten win! There'll be a blockbuster game next as they face Fukuchiyama Seibi who themselves had to hold off Nishi-Jyouyou 4-3.
Nara
Until I see someone challenge Chiben Gakuen, it's almost pointless covering this prefecture.
But to note some close games:
- Round 2 - Sakurai scores 4 in the 9th to beat Heijyou 7-5.
- The coverage in Nara could be made even more pointless as the only other team to break the Tenri-Chiben Gakuen barrier, Kooriyama, loses in their first game to Unebi 3-1.
- Gose Jitsugyou gets the lead against Yamato Kouryou with 3 in the 8th for a 1 run lead, loses it with 2 in the top of the 9th, then wins it 7-6 with 2 in the bottom of the 9th!
- Ichijyou wins 6-5 in 10 over Kashihara Gakuin.
- Round 3 - Nara Jyouhou Shougyou pulls off the sayonara win after allowing Takatori Kokusai to score 2 in the 9th to tie it up.
- Nara scores 4 in the 8th and achieves the gyakuten win over Ichijyou!
Wakayama
While there are some competitors now to Chiben Wakayama, which include Minoshima and Kouyou, it's still Chiben Wakayama's prefecture.
We advance to coverage of the 3rd round which sees one contender in Minoshima faltering late, giving up the tying and sayonara runs to Shiritsu Wakayama 2-1, and Touin taken to 14 by Hatsushiba Hashimoto but winning 4-2.
Osaka
Looking at block play we had the following notable games:
- Kantodai Dai-ichi ties the game in the bottom of the 9th against Sakuranomiya, but loses 9-7 in 11.
- Osaka Shougyoudai scores 2 in the bottom of the 9th for the gyakuten sayonara win over Momoyama Gakuin.
- Nougei and Izumi-Ootsu start scoring runs like there's no tomorrow. Nougei leads 5-0, then Izumi-Ootsu leads 6-5, then Nougei leads 8-6. Izumi-Ootsu would try to come back, but Nougei just had one more run, winning 11-10.
- Tondabayashi, just 6 outs away from elimination, rallies to tie the game then wins 5-4 in 10 against Yuuhigaoka.
- Takatsuki Kita scores 3 in the bottom of the 9th to force enchousen, but ultimately falls 6-4 in 12 to Minoo Gakuen.
- Fukui tries repeatedly to put away Settsu even in the 12th inning, but Settsu rallies time and again, eventually winning 5-4 in 13.
- Kishiwada Sangyou scores 3 in the bottom of the 8th for a 8-7 win over Ootsuka.
Block play was going on in Hyogo. Notable games include:
- Block 11 Seed Touban Kougyou looks to be in dire straits against Himeji, but they score 5 in the 8th for a 7-6 gyakuten win.
- Kobe Kita rallies late to send it to extras, then wins in 14 over Koudera.
- Akashi Tousen barely beats out the transition team of Amagasaki Higashi/Amagasaki Sousei 1-0.
- Kenritsu Itami and Amagasaki Kita finally get their game in, and sure enough it goes into extras. Amagasaki Kita forces enchousen, but loses in 10.
- Right before the aforementioned game,Block 4 seed Mukonosou Sougyou looked to have the game in hand scoring 2 in the 9th to go up 3. But Ikawadani rallies for 3 to tie it, then also won in 10.
- Block 12 seed Sanda Shousei with 3 runs in the 7th and 8th innings tie the game at 7 with Himeji Kougyou. They would win in 12.
- In another 8-7 game, Aboshi scores 6 unanswered after Nishinomiya Kabutoyama scored 6 in the 3rd. And in 12, Aboshi would finish the job.
- Block 14 seed Touyoudai Himeji is yet another seeded team that has trouble in their first game. Against Takaradzuka Kita, they were 1-1 going to extras. Not until they scored 5 in the 11th did they finally win the game.
- Kawanishi Midoridai pushes Akashi into enchousen where they win 9-6 in 12.
- In Block 16, seeded Awaji Mihara loses a 3-run lead to Seiryou, giving up 2 in the bottom of the 9th in the process. Seiryou completes the comeback with a run in the 10th.
- Block 7 seed Kobe Murano Kougyou becomes the next seeded team to fall, as Himeji Nishi upsets them 2-0.
- Block 2 seed Kansei Gakuin behind late to Amagasaki Sangyou 7-5 scores 6 in the 8th to win 11-7.
- Mikage scores the sayonara run to beat Higashi-Nada 4-3.
- Kounan and Iwa play the first 9 innings without either scoring a run. It isn't until the 11th before Kounan scores the only run.
- Himeji Higashi tries to rally against Kenritsudai Fuzoku, but falls one run short 8-7.
- And anime-related, Nishinomiya Kita wins a game! They beat Hokuetsu Sanda 8-0 in 7 innings!
- Block semis started on the 17th. Takigawa Dai-ni, seeded team from Block 5, becomes the next to fall, losing 3-2 to Wadayama. Shinkou Gakuen, Block 6 seed, has similar troubled though they defeat Kakogawa Nishi 4-3.
- Sumoto scores 5 runs in the last 3 innings to defeat Kita-Suma 6-4.
- Part of the games on the 18th were rained out, but it wasn't a total loss of games. Sanda Shousei got another score from Aioi Sangyou, but won 4-3. Hyogo Shougyou outlasts Akashi Kita 2-1 in 11. Seiryou continues their run with a 4-3 win over Nagata.
- Ikawadani's run end in the 3rd round as Suma Higashi scores the winning run in the 11th.
- Oh my gosh! Nishinomiya Kita wins a 2nd game! They hold on to beat Kenritsu Itami 4-3 after Itami scores 3 in the 9th!
- Shiritsu Shinkou scores the only run in their game against Sayou. Suma Gakuen wins 1-0 over Kobe Tousen as well.
- Kansei Gakuin's run ends in their 2nd game. They rally, but fall to Himeji Shikisai 4-3.
- Mikage goes 13 against Takaradzuka Higashi winning 2-0.
- Despite there being just 1 day turnaround, Suma Gakuen rises to the occasion to defeat Wadayama 4-3 to win block 5!
- Houtoku Gakuen finishes out strong with a 8-1 win in 8 over Sumoto in Block 1.
- Touban Kougyou survives to win Block 11 with a 1-0 win over Himeji Minami.
- Kakogawa Higashi after defeating seeded Izushi moves on from Block 15 with a 4-3 sayonara win over Akashi Nishi. This inlcuded having to score a run in the 10th to keep the game alive!
- Touyoudai Himeji shuts out Hyogo Shougyou 4-0 to advance out of Block 14.
- Akou upsets Sanda Shousei 2-1 to win Block 12!
- Suma Higashi defeats Shiritsu Shinkou 3-2 to win Block 4.
- Shinkou Gakuen mercy rules Kobe Kouryou Gakuen to win Block 6.
- Himeji Shikisai rallies in the last 2 innings, but falls short against Nigawa Gakuin 4-3 in the Block 3 final. Kawanishi Midoridai survives in Block 2 over Kotogaoka by the same score.
- Oh well, it was good while it lasted. Yashiro advances out of Block 9 with a 7-0 win over Nishinomiya Kita. At least they weren't mercy ruled.
- Block 10, Kakogawa Kita has no problem with Kobe Takatsuka.
- Block 13, Ichikawa was the seeded team, Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku was the favorite. They win 8-2.
- Migake suffers whiplash in the Block 7 final. Ono mercy rules them 10-0 in 5.
- Akashi Shougyou calmly advances out of Block 8, defeating Shikama 4-1
- And rounding out things, in Block 16 Seiryou edges out Suma Shoufuu 2-1.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
93rd Koushien Qualifying - July 10th-12th (Kinki & Chuugoku Prefectures)
Kyoto
On the first full day of games in Kyoto, Saikyou and Kyoto Meitoku were in a closely contested battle before Saikyou plated the go-ahead run in the 10th to win 6-5. Meanwhile Tounan who had done well recently was unceremoniously ousted by Ayabe 1-0.
In other games on the 10th Ritsumeikan Uji, another strong team in the prefecture, starts off with a 8-0 win in 7 over Rakuyou Kougyou.
Onto the 11th and at Wakasa Stadium, Rakuhoku survives an opening barrage by Otokuni and picks off a run in he 5th and 7th for a 6-5 win. At Miyadzu Municipal, another irrational pet team of mine Kyoto Subaru needs a 3-run 8th to beat Kyoto Seishou 4-2.
At Taiyougaoka, a team of mine that actually has a chance - Kyoto Gaidai Nishi handled Miyadzu 8-1 in 7 and will face Kyoto Gakuen next as they held off Rakusei 5-4.
The 12th saw teams who played in the 1st round back on the field to face those lucky enough to draw a 1st round bye. Ritsumeikan Uji had no trouble with that as they beat Kita-Saga 5-1, and Kyoto Shouei slid past Hanazono 6-5.
Back to Miyadzu Municipal, and Higashi-Uji gets the lead back after allowing Jyounan Ryousou to tie it in the bottom of the 8th. Kousugi closes the door for the win 4-3.
Nara
Chiben Gakuen is the heads-on clear favorite, but might as well give some teams their time in the sun.
Takamado had the lead in the beginning, and more importantly in the end against Yamabe winning 8-6. In the battle of Takada, the lead changed hand 3 times - all in the 2nd half of the game. Takada's 2 runs in the top of the 9th tied it at 5. But Takada Shougyou made the 3rd and final lead change, scoring the sayonara run in the bottom of the 9th to win 6-5.
And on the 12th, Totsukawa did well to tie the game at 7 to eventually send it into extras, but Oouda scores the sayonara run to win 3-2 in 11 innings. Ouji Kougyou led 2-0, then 3-2, but trailed 4-3 going into the top of the 9th versus Tomigaoka. But no matter, Ouji scores 2 in the top of the 9th, retaking the lead for good.
Osaka
How Osaka can take breaks during their tournament is beyond me, but after the games on the 10th, they're on break until the 14th.
Anyways, not many notable games, though Perfect Liberty Gakuen (aka PL Gakuen) defeated Sakai 5-0 in their 1st game. Two more to go before advancing to the prefecturals!
Tsukinoki mounted a huge comeback, down 6-1 to Senri, they score 4 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th to win 7-6!
And finally, Han-ai blows a 2-run lead in the bottom of the 9th, but recovers and scores the winning run in the 10th to beat Kansai Ookura.
Hyogo
Hm... on the 10th we had Shikama Kougyou edging Himeji Shougyou 2-1, our first extreme blowout when Himeji Kougyou scored 71 in 4 innings against Hikami Nishi (isn't there a point where there IS no point to scoring more runs?), Akashi Nishi held onto a 4-3 lead over Sanda Gakuen, Ikawadani uses a 3-run 8th to defeat Shouyou 5-3.
Moving onto the 12th, Hyogo Shougyou made an early 1-0 run stick against Akashi Shimizu. Rokko Island couldn't make a 2-0 1st inning lead stick as Miki would come back to win 3-2. Houjyou held a 4-0 lead over Kakogawa Minami, but couldn't make it stick. They started giving back runs in the 7th culminating in a 3-run 9th to send them home 5-4.
Akashi Jyousai gets the short end of the stick, as they yield a run to Akashi in the top of the 7th, they can't score in the bottom half, and the game is called due to rain.
Over at Tomioka Kounotori, Iwa scores 5 unanswered runs late to defeate Sanda Shouunkan 5-3.
Hiroshima
Over at Coca-Cola West, the 10th had 2 low scoring affairs with Misuzugaoka defeating Itsukaichi 1-0, and Kabe winning 2-1 over Kure Miyahara in 12. Those missing runs as it were came the next day as Shoubara Kakuchi defeats Namiki Gakuin 8-1 in 7, and Saijyou Shisui falls 15-0 to Shuudou.
Blowouts were also the case at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium on the 10th.
At Kure Nikou, Ootake defeats Kure Shouwa 3-2 in 11 while Motomachi stays one step ahead of Asakita with an 8-7 victory.
Kannabe Asahi down 4-0 scores 6 in the bottom of the 8th against Mihara Higashi to win 6-4 at Mihara Municipal.
At Mihara Kinsai, Miyoshi Seiryou puts together 2 runs late to defeat Chiyoda 3-2. Onto the 11th, Yoshida scores 6 unanswered runs to pass Hatsukaichi 7-4.
And finally over at Higashi-Hiroshima Aqua, Fukuyama Kougyou pulls out a 4-3 win over Kamo Kita.
On the first full day of games in Kyoto, Saikyou and Kyoto Meitoku were in a closely contested battle before Saikyou plated the go-ahead run in the 10th to win 6-5. Meanwhile Tounan who had done well recently was unceremoniously ousted by Ayabe 1-0.
In other games on the 10th Ritsumeikan Uji, another strong team in the prefecture, starts off with a 8-0 win in 7 over Rakuyou Kougyou.
Onto the 11th and at Wakasa Stadium, Rakuhoku survives an opening barrage by Otokuni and picks off a run in he 5th and 7th for a 6-5 win. At Miyadzu Municipal, another irrational pet team of mine Kyoto Subaru needs a 3-run 8th to beat Kyoto Seishou 4-2.
At Taiyougaoka, a team of mine that actually has a chance - Kyoto Gaidai Nishi handled Miyadzu 8-1 in 7 and will face Kyoto Gakuen next as they held off Rakusei 5-4.
The 12th saw teams who played in the 1st round back on the field to face those lucky enough to draw a 1st round bye. Ritsumeikan Uji had no trouble with that as they beat Kita-Saga 5-1, and Kyoto Shouei slid past Hanazono 6-5.
Back to Miyadzu Municipal, and Higashi-Uji gets the lead back after allowing Jyounan Ryousou to tie it in the bottom of the 8th. Kousugi closes the door for the win 4-3.
Nara
Chiben Gakuen is the heads-on clear favorite, but might as well give some teams their time in the sun.
Takamado had the lead in the beginning, and more importantly in the end against Yamabe winning 8-6. In the battle of Takada, the lead changed hand 3 times - all in the 2nd half of the game. Takada's 2 runs in the top of the 9th tied it at 5. But Takada Shougyou made the 3rd and final lead change, scoring the sayonara run in the bottom of the 9th to win 6-5.
And on the 12th, Totsukawa did well to tie the game at 7 to eventually send it into extras, but Oouda scores the sayonara run to win 3-2 in 11 innings. Ouji Kougyou led 2-0, then 3-2, but trailed 4-3 going into the top of the 9th versus Tomigaoka. But no matter, Ouji scores 2 in the top of the 9th, retaking the lead for good.
Osaka
How Osaka can take breaks during their tournament is beyond me, but after the games on the 10th, they're on break until the 14th.
Anyways, not many notable games, though Perfect Liberty Gakuen (aka PL Gakuen) defeated Sakai 5-0 in their 1st game. Two more to go before advancing to the prefecturals!
Tsukinoki mounted a huge comeback, down 6-1 to Senri, they score 4 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th to win 7-6!
And finally, Han-ai blows a 2-run lead in the bottom of the 9th, but recovers and scores the winning run in the 10th to beat Kansai Ookura.
Hyogo
Hm... on the 10th we had Shikama Kougyou edging Himeji Shougyou 2-1, our first extreme blowout when Himeji Kougyou scored 71 in 4 innings against Hikami Nishi (isn't there a point where there IS no point to scoring more runs?), Akashi Nishi held onto a 4-3 lead over Sanda Gakuen, Ikawadani uses a 3-run 8th to defeat Shouyou 5-3.
Moving onto the 12th, Hyogo Shougyou made an early 1-0 run stick against Akashi Shimizu. Rokko Island couldn't make a 2-0 1st inning lead stick as Miki would come back to win 3-2. Houjyou held a 4-0 lead over Kakogawa Minami, but couldn't make it stick. They started giving back runs in the 7th culminating in a 3-run 9th to send them home 5-4.
Akashi Jyousai gets the short end of the stick, as they yield a run to Akashi in the top of the 7th, they can't score in the bottom half, and the game is called due to rain.
Over at Tomioka Kounotori, Iwa scores 5 unanswered runs late to defeate Sanda Shouunkan 5-3.
Hiroshima
Over at Coca-Cola West, the 10th had 2 low scoring affairs with Misuzugaoka defeating Itsukaichi 1-0, and Kabe winning 2-1 over Kure Miyahara in 12. Those missing runs as it were came the next day as Shoubara Kakuchi defeats Namiki Gakuin 8-1 in 7, and Saijyou Shisui falls 15-0 to Shuudou.
Blowouts were also the case at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium on the 10th.
At Kure Nikou, Ootake defeats Kure Shouwa 3-2 in 11 while Motomachi stays one step ahead of Asakita with an 8-7 victory.
Kannabe Asahi down 4-0 scores 6 in the bottom of the 8th against Mihara Higashi to win 6-4 at Mihara Municipal.
At Mihara Kinsai, Miyoshi Seiryou puts together 2 runs late to defeat Chiyoda 3-2. Onto the 11th, Yoshida scores 6 unanswered runs to pass Hatsukaichi 7-4.
And finally over at Higashi-Hiroshima Aqua, Fukuyama Kougyou pulls out a 4-3 win over Kamo Kita.
Monday, July 27, 2009
7.27 Prefectural Finals!
Well, there are supposed to be 7 bids up for grabs today, weather permitting. The Chubu, Hokushinetsu and Kanto regions are slated for rain I think later, so perhaps they'll get the games in.
Anyways, here are the recaps and finals matchups for today:
Aomori
As mentioned before, Aomori Yamada finds themselves in familiar territory looking for their 6th straight summer appearance and 10th summer overall. On the other side sits Oominato, looking for their first ever.
Sadly, one has to think that this is a one-sided affair. Outside of the 2-0 win over ②Seiai, their smallest margin of victory was 6 in the semis against Misawa. The pitching staff has given up all of 3 runs in 6 games.
Oominato has some good games behind them, but had to survive some close games against Hachinohe Kita, Aomori and Aomori Minami.
So can David slay Goliath?
Niigata
In the 2nd semifinal Gosen, looking for their first ever appearance, broke a 3-3 tie with Chuuetsu in the 5th with a run. That lead would last, until the bottom of the 8th. That was when Chuuetsu scores 2 to take the 5-4 lead. Toujyou shuts the door and they advance to the finals!
Their opponent will be Nihon Bunri, who have made their fair share of appearances (both spring and summer). And their run has been equally as impressive as Aomori Yamada - a margin of victory of at least 7, and only 1 run given up in 30 innings (a lot of mercy games).
On the other hand, outside of their first game, they've been involved in close low-scoring affairs.
The difference is that both teams have experience. Nihon Bunri has 4 summer and 3 spring appearances, with their last summer appearance when I saw them live in 2006. Chuuetsu has 8 prior summer appearances with the last one being in 2003.
Gifu
In the 2nd semifinal yesterday, Chuukyou scored to in the top of the 8th for a 2-1 lead over Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou. But then in the bottom of the 9th, Gifu scores 2 for the heart-crushing loss for Chuukyou.
So Kakamigahara will be looking for their 1st ever bid, but it's up against Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou who has appeared 26 times in the summer Koshien and 27 in the spring.
Neither team, at least according to the scores, have been dominating. This could be an interesting matchup, but by experience alone the advantage has to go to Kenristu Gifu Shougyou.
Mie
In the 2nd semifinal, Mie had no problems with Kogakkan, winning 7-0 in 7, setting up a finals matchup with Kaisei.
Kaisei (11 summer, 2 spring, last summer apperance in 1998), had some trouble with Hisai and Kuwana Nishi in their first games of the tournament, but have since cruised since then. Mie (9 summer, 9 spring, last summer appearance in 2006) also had a rought 2 game stretch against Inabe and Kinkidai Tousen.
Hard to say who will advance here. Finally, what appears to be an equal matchup.
Kyoto
While Kyoto Gaidai Nishi scored the 1st run in the semifinal, Fukuchiyama Seibi scored two immediately in the top of the 4th. And when Gaidai Nishi pulled within one in the bottom of the 8th, Seibi shut the door with 3 runs in the 9th for the 6-2 win.
And so it will be (Ryuukokudai) Heian, who's appeared more times than I can count (28 summer, 36 spring, last summer appearance 2003) versus Fukuchiyama Seibi (3 summer, 1 spring, defending champion)
Heian has dominated their half of the bracket, while Seibi has been dealing in close pitching matches. You have to figure this to be a low scoring affair, but who knows?
Tokushima
Tokushima Kita shocks Naruto Kougyou in the 1st semifinal responding to Naruto's runs with more of their own! They outslug them to win 10-6 and advance to the finals! The matinee game sees Ogata pitch a 2-hitter for Naruto Dai-ichi as they beat Komatsushima Nishi 2-0.
And so at Oronamin C Stadium we have Tokushima Kita looking for their first bid versus Naruto Dai-ichi, looking for their 2nd overall (their only other summer appearance being in 2004, though they had 4 other spring appearances prior).
Nagasaki
Nagasaki Nichidai vs. Souseikan. They should get their game in today. You can refer to yesterday's post for info.
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10:35 AM - Mie's finals have been postponed due to rain.
11:41 AM - Gifu's finals have also been postponed.
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12:37 PM - Tokushima's finals have been postponed.
Niigata's finals are underway, and it may be over before it starts. Nihon Bunri scores 7 in the 1st and are in the top of the 2nd. Not good for Chuuetsu.
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1:27 PM - Aomori joins the list of those that have been postponed.
Looks like rain delayed proceedings at Niigata as the game is only at the top of the 4th and the score is 8-1 Nihon Bunri over Chuuetsu.
Fukuchiyama Seibi scores 2 in the top of the 1st inning over Ryuukokudai Heian. But Heian scores 2 in the bottom of the 2nd to tie it, and one in the 4th to take the 3-2 lead. The game moves to the top of the 6th.
Nagasaki Nichidai jumps all over Souseikan in the top of the 1st inning, scoring 4 runs. We're in the bottom of the 1st.
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2:07 PM - Chuuetsu gets a run back in the 5th, but they still trail 8-4 as they bat in the top of the 7th.
In Kyoto, Seibi turns the tables! They score a run in the top of the 6th and another in the 8th for a 4-3 lead! Heian has 6 more outs to try and rally!
Nagasaki Nichidai extends their lead to 6-2. The game goes into the top of the 4th.
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2:28 PM - Nihon Bunri scores one more in the bottom of the 7th and it's 9-4 in their favor.
Fukuchiyama Seibi is 3 outs away from securing Kyoto's bid! They still lead 4-3 over Ryuukokudai Heian!
Nagasaki Nichidai leads 6-2 over Souseikan in the middle of the 5th.
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2:44 PM - It's over in Kyoto! Somehow, someway, Heian scores 2 in the bottom of the 9th and defeats Fukuchiyama Seibi 5-4!!
In Niigata, Nihon Bunri scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th and it's 12-4 over Chuuetsu.
Souseikan gets one run in the 5th and it's now 6-3 Nagasaki Nichidai.
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3:06 PM - Nihon Bunri finally seals the deal defeating Chuuetsu 12-4 for Niigata's bid.
Souseikan gets another run back in the bottom of the 7th and trail 6-4 as they head to the top of the 8th.
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3:34 PM - Nagasaki Nichidai gets back the run in the top of the 8th and go on to win 7-4 over Souseikan.
And that's it for bids today!
Anyways, here are the recaps and finals matchups for today:
Aomori
As mentioned before, Aomori Yamada finds themselves in familiar territory looking for their 6th straight summer appearance and 10th summer overall. On the other side sits Oominato, looking for their first ever.
Sadly, one has to think that this is a one-sided affair. Outside of the 2-0 win over ②Seiai, their smallest margin of victory was 6 in the semis against Misawa. The pitching staff has given up all of 3 runs in 6 games.
Oominato has some good games behind them, but had to survive some close games against Hachinohe Kita, Aomori and Aomori Minami.
So can David slay Goliath?
Niigata
In the 2nd semifinal Gosen, looking for their first ever appearance, broke a 3-3 tie with Chuuetsu in the 5th with a run. That lead would last, until the bottom of the 8th. That was when Chuuetsu scores 2 to take the 5-4 lead. Toujyou shuts the door and they advance to the finals!
Their opponent will be Nihon Bunri, who have made their fair share of appearances (both spring and summer). And their run has been equally as impressive as Aomori Yamada - a margin of victory of at least 7, and only 1 run given up in 30 innings (a lot of mercy games).
On the other hand, outside of their first game, they've been involved in close low-scoring affairs.
The difference is that both teams have experience. Nihon Bunri has 4 summer and 3 spring appearances, with their last summer appearance when I saw them live in 2006. Chuuetsu has 8 prior summer appearances with the last one being in 2003.
Gifu
In the 2nd semifinal yesterday, Chuukyou scored to in the top of the 8th for a 2-1 lead over Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou. But then in the bottom of the 9th, Gifu scores 2 for the heart-crushing loss for Chuukyou.
So Kakamigahara will be looking for their 1st ever bid, but it's up against Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou who has appeared 26 times in the summer Koshien and 27 in the spring.
Neither team, at least according to the scores, have been dominating. This could be an interesting matchup, but by experience alone the advantage has to go to Kenristu Gifu Shougyou.
Mie
In the 2nd semifinal, Mie had no problems with Kogakkan, winning 7-0 in 7, setting up a finals matchup with Kaisei.
Kaisei (11 summer, 2 spring, last summer apperance in 1998), had some trouble with Hisai and Kuwana Nishi in their first games of the tournament, but have since cruised since then. Mie (9 summer, 9 spring, last summer appearance in 2006) also had a rought 2 game stretch against Inabe and Kinkidai Tousen.
Hard to say who will advance here. Finally, what appears to be an equal matchup.
Kyoto
While Kyoto Gaidai Nishi scored the 1st run in the semifinal, Fukuchiyama Seibi scored two immediately in the top of the 4th. And when Gaidai Nishi pulled within one in the bottom of the 8th, Seibi shut the door with 3 runs in the 9th for the 6-2 win.
And so it will be (Ryuukokudai) Heian, who's appeared more times than I can count (28 summer, 36 spring, last summer appearance 2003) versus Fukuchiyama Seibi (3 summer, 1 spring, defending champion)
Heian has dominated their half of the bracket, while Seibi has been dealing in close pitching matches. You have to figure this to be a low scoring affair, but who knows?
Tokushima
Tokushima Kita shocks Naruto Kougyou in the 1st semifinal responding to Naruto's runs with more of their own! They outslug them to win 10-6 and advance to the finals! The matinee game sees Ogata pitch a 2-hitter for Naruto Dai-ichi as they beat Komatsushima Nishi 2-0.
And so at Oronamin C Stadium we have Tokushima Kita looking for their first bid versus Naruto Dai-ichi, looking for their 2nd overall (their only other summer appearance being in 2004, though they had 4 other spring appearances prior).
Nagasaki
Nagasaki Nichidai vs. Souseikan. They should get their game in today. You can refer to yesterday's post for info.
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10:35 AM - Mie's finals have been postponed due to rain.
11:41 AM - Gifu's finals have also been postponed.
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12:37 PM - Tokushima's finals have been postponed.
Niigata's finals are underway, and it may be over before it starts. Nihon Bunri scores 7 in the 1st and are in the top of the 2nd. Not good for Chuuetsu.
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1:27 PM - Aomori joins the list of those that have been postponed.
Looks like rain delayed proceedings at Niigata as the game is only at the top of the 4th and the score is 8-1 Nihon Bunri over Chuuetsu.
Fukuchiyama Seibi scores 2 in the top of the 1st inning over Ryuukokudai Heian. But Heian scores 2 in the bottom of the 2nd to tie it, and one in the 4th to take the 3-2 lead. The game moves to the top of the 6th.
Nagasaki Nichidai jumps all over Souseikan in the top of the 1st inning, scoring 4 runs. We're in the bottom of the 1st.
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2:07 PM - Chuuetsu gets a run back in the 5th, but they still trail 8-4 as they bat in the top of the 7th.
In Kyoto, Seibi turns the tables! They score a run in the top of the 6th and another in the 8th for a 4-3 lead! Heian has 6 more outs to try and rally!
Nagasaki Nichidai extends their lead to 6-2. The game goes into the top of the 4th.
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2:28 PM - Nihon Bunri scores one more in the bottom of the 7th and it's 9-4 in their favor.
Fukuchiyama Seibi is 3 outs away from securing Kyoto's bid! They still lead 4-3 over Ryuukokudai Heian!
Nagasaki Nichidai leads 6-2 over Souseikan in the middle of the 5th.
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2:44 PM - It's over in Kyoto! Somehow, someway, Heian scores 2 in the bottom of the 9th and defeats Fukuchiyama Seibi 5-4!!
In Niigata, Nihon Bunri scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th and it's 12-4 over Chuuetsu.
Souseikan gets one run in the 5th and it's now 6-3 Nagasaki Nichidai.
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3:06 PM - Nihon Bunri finally seals the deal defeating Chuuetsu 12-4 for Niigata's bid.
Souseikan gets another run back in the bottom of the 7th and trail 6-4 as they head to the top of the 8th.
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3:34 PM - Nagasaki Nichidai gets back the run in the top of the 8th and go on to win 7-4 over Souseikan.
And that's it for bids today!
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