So I just mentioned 2 posts ago the fact that Akashi Shougyou defeated Houtoku Gakuen twice. So what are the chances for Houtoku Gakuen themselves?
It doesn't really look all that good. Because while they did tough out a win against Touyoudai Himeji, they also had to tough out wins against schools like Ikuei and Shinkou Gakuen in the prefecturals and blew a 2-run lead against Kita-Ootsu before pulling it out in extras and then losing to yet another Shiga team. Worse yet, they were shutout in 2 of their final 3 games of the aki taikai.
Despite all this, ace Nushijima Daigo (主島 大虎) is a good enough pitcher to be garnering a bit of attention. He doesn't throw all that hard (mid 130s), has a slider and a slow curve. He has had games where he's recorded upper teen Ks in a game, but then when you look at the super-regionals, he recorded just 4 and 7 Ks respectively - not exactly eye-bulging figures.
As mentioned before, Houtoku Gakuen suffered 2 shutouts. With a poor offense and no players that stand out, expect a lot of bunting when a player reaches base limiting opportunities.
Showing posts with label Houtoku Gakuen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Houtoku Gakuen. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Sunday, March 23, 2014
86th Senbatsu - Day 3 - Game 1 - Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa) vs. Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo)
I'm not really over the Nihon Bunri loss, but that doesn't matter as Koushien moves on to day 3. After 4 rather one-sided games, we were treated to 2 walkoffs - though the Kainan story is more sad than exciting.
Anyways, our opening game will be very loud and certainly packed, because the neighborhood team of Houtoku Gakuen will face the rowdy Okinawans and Okinawa Shougaku.
Okinawa Shougaku despite all their successes have disappointed to some extent here at Koushien. This may the last year they will be able to make a run like this for a while, so for ace Yamashiro he will need to be on his game as the bottom of the lineup might struggle. Should they make a deep run, his conditioning will be put more into question, but right now it's not a problem.
Houtoku Gakuen's pitching is a bit more suspect than Okinawa Shougaku, and as we've seen pitching has carried the day more than hitting - so ace Nakamura and reliever Tanaka will have to prove they have the goods to carry the day. Otherwise the hometown fans will be leaving disappointed.
Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa)
CF Akamine Ken
2B Kubo Shuuto
LF Nishihira Daiki
3B Asato Takeru
1B Uehara Kouta
SS Sunagawa Osamu
C Irabu Shouta
P Yamashiro Daichi
2B Nakamura Masaki (#13)
Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo)
LF Higa Shouta
CF Oohata Kouhei
3B Ishigaki Shouji
C Kishida Yukinori
1B Fukuyama Takumi
SS Tsuchitani Yuusuke
RF Fukuhara Yuudai
2B Mishina Hayato
P Nakamura Makoto
____________________________________________________________
09:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Well, Makoto seems to throw fairly fast with a fastball in the upper 130s, low 140s.
The first couple of batters have a bit of trouble keeping up as both Ken and Kubo groundout to Mishina. Nishira does the same, but this time sneaks it past Mishina for a base hit.
But it's all at Mishina as Asato hits yet another grounder to 2nd for the 3rd out.
Bottom 1st
Well that's not a great start for Yamashiro. He walks Higa on 4 straight pitches that weren't particularly close. He's bunted over by Kubo.
And Ishigaki gets under a forkball and lifts it to shallow center for a base hit! Higa holds up at 3rd, but Houtoku already threatening!
Yamashiro struggling with his control, but a pitch unintentionally up and in Kishida swings at and pops up! Kouta makes the catch near the Houtoku dugout for the 2nd out!
And Yamashiro gets out of the jam! Fukuyama pops to shallow right! Nakamura backs up and makes the catch to retire the side!!
Top 2nd
Kouta way in front of a changeup but pulls it past Mishina (again!) for a leadoff hit!
Bust-and-run! But they call for a pitch up and Sunagawa can't make contact! Kishida fires to 2nd and Kouta is out by miles.
Sunagawa makes up for it (sort of) by drawing a walk.
Makoto continues to nibble though. After getting ahead 0-2, he nibbles everywhere and the count runs full. He goes up and in, getting Irabu to swing and pop it up!
But the umpire calls catcher interference reaching in for the ball and Irabu is awarded 1st! Higa-kantoku with the gift will play for the one-timer as Yamashiro bunts the runner along.
And Masaki comes through for Okishou! He lines a ball through the infield to left and Sunagawa scores to give Okishou the 1-0 lead!
Even Okinawa's ouen-dan plays Ama-chan!
Ken though sheepishly swings on a pitch outside to end the inning, but catcher's interference leads to a run for the Meiji Jingu champs!
Bottom 2nd
Tsuchitani with a solid hit, but right at Sunagawa for the first out.
Fukuhara shows to be stubborn at the plate, fouling off several pitches, but Yamashiro wins the battle with a fastball on the outside corner that freezes Fukuhara.
Mishina gives Houtoku a runner with a base hit back up the middle past a diving Masaki.
But Nakamura seemingly forgets the count, or just freezes as Yamashiro hits the outside half of the plate for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Despite the timely hits, Okishou for the most part isn't making good contact. Kubo is way head of a pitch, and chops it over the mound. Tsuchitani makes the play for the first out. Nishihira has a swinging bunt up the 3rd base line. Makoto takes it in front of Ishigaki and makes the throw to just beat out Nishihira.
Makoto finishes the inning striking out Asato on a slider.
Bottom 3rd
After 2 quick flyouts, Ishigaki gets his 2nd hit off Yamashiro as he somehow gets around a changeup way inside and golfs it to shallow center for a base hit!
But he can't advance any further as Kishida hits a chopper back to Yamashiro, who goes to 1st for the 3rd out!
Top 4th
Makoto exhibits decent control, though the fastball can go awry from time to time. Such was the case against Sunagawa where he fell behind Sunagawa early in the AB and wound up walking him. Sunagawa takes advantage of that quickly when he swipes 2nd on the very first pitch!
I don't think Kishida is doing any favors behind the plate as he sometimes makes the pitches look bad with the framing. Makoto once again falls behind and walks his counterpart Yamashiro prompting a timeout from Nagata-kantoku.
Masaki with a base hit past Ishigaki! They're waving Sunagawa home as Higa's throw is cut off! But Ishigaki goes back home... and they get him!!
That's a very odd relay that didn't seem necessary, but it works and Houtoku keeps the deficit at 1!
Bottom 4th
Fukuyama trying to get on base, tries to sell ball 4, but the umpire isn't buying it and punches him out on the fastball at the knees.
After that, Tsuchitani flies out easily to center, and Fukuhara's drives a ball to left center - but his bid for a base hit is run down by Nishihira to retire the side.
Top 5th
Ken starts off the inning with a liner opposite way for a base hit.
Kubo's attempts to bunt him over fail, leaving him behind 0-2. He gives it one more go, but strikes out when it rolls foul.
Makoto leaves one over the plate and Nishihira lines it to center! Oohata charging in on the dying liner, dives... and makes the catch! 2 out!
But Asato singles to right! Ken advances to 3rd on the single and Okishou is threatening again!
Nagata-kantoku has seen enough. He calls off Makoto off the mound, and sends in Kishida to take the other half of the battery. #12 Kawabata takes over at C and in Makoto's spot.
He doesn't throw particularly hard, but that change he has has some movement on it.
And another changeup gets Kouta completely fooled and they get out of the jam!
Bottom 5th
Meanwhile though Houtoku's offense is really struggling. Mishina can't quite get the sweet spot on the ball and he flies out to right.
Kawabata does about as well as Makoto did at the dish, swinging at pitches as though he's guessing.
Higa lurches forward to get a forkball, but hits a liner to Masaki for the 3rd out.
And so we reach the break with the difference in the ballgame being a timely hit from 2nd year Masaki after a catcher's interference extended the inning. Even withstanding that, it's clear that Okinawa Shougaku has created more opportunities for themselves.
Top 6th
While perhaps not necessary, #9 Kubo for Okishou tosses a couple of pitches off the bullpen.
Well, I missed something as Kishida's fastball actually sits in the upper 130s. But it's his offspeed pitches that have the Okishou batters flailing as Sunagawa whiffs on a curve (which is actually in the upper 110s).
Irabu with a grounder to 3rd, but Ishigaki airmails the ball into the camera well, putting Irabu at 2nd with 1 down instead of there being 2 outs.
Kishida then pulls out the slow curve on Yanashiro who flies out to center for the 2nd out.
But then he gets careful with Masaki as he's 2-2 on the day. This time though it's the pitcher that wins the battle as Kishida puts out the changeup outside that Masaki can't reach.
Bottom 6th
Oohata with a comebacker! Yamashiro slows it down with the glove as Masaki fields it and goes to 1st to beat a diving Oohata!
Ishigaki though continues to be the bright spot for Houtoku as he gets around on a fastball inside and turns it to right for a base hit.
Kishida with a drive down the right field line!! Kubo sprinting towards the foul pole... Makes the running catch in front of the wall! That was a solid drive, but Kubo robs him of a base hit!
Once again, Ishigaki is left stranded. Fukuyama tries to wait for the change, but grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 7th
Kishida is doing his best to keep Houtoku in it, as he retires the side in order, with an assist by Mishina on a great stop on Kubo's hot grounder, and capped off by Nishihira flailing on a changeup for Kishida's 4th K!
Bottom 7th
Problem is, Houtoku's batters are hitting everything up and not out. Tsuchitani fouls out to Irabu near home plate, Fukuhara pops up to Sunagawa, and the one ball not popped out Mishina grounds back to Yamashiro.
It's not looking good for Houtoku Gakuen at all.
Top 8th
Kishida as mentioned before has the fastball in the upper 130s, a slider in the low 120s, a changeup in the 110s and the slow curve in the high 90s.
Kishida goes to the change after a couple of curveballs which allow Asato to size up the ball and single to center.
Kouta tried to bunt him over, but when that failed, went to the buster hit... and whiffed on the changeup.
Higa-kantoku then calls on Sunagawa to bunt the runner over for a one-timer, and he obliges.
And an odd call by Nagata-kantoku as #11 Ishihama comes in at 2-0 to replace Fukuhara in RF. Not sure what that was about, but Irabu grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
After new C Kawabata quickly flies out to center, Higa tries to work the count to get on base, but instead is frozen on a 2-seamer that seemingly got back over the plate.
Oohata gets a favorable count at 3-1, but flies out to right to end the inning. I'm not sure if there is a rally in Houtoku at all.
Top 9th
Fukuyama with a great pick on a short hop from Yamashiro to get the first out.
Misaki works the count full, and gets stopped when he's punched out on a pitch right on the knees (maybe lower).
For the 3rd straight batter, the count runs full on Ken. Kishida finishes out his relief work as Ken lifts a ball to left for the 3rd out.
Bottom 9th
That is unless Houtoku can score 1 here in the 9th. But it hasn't looked like they could all game.
Ishigaki the perfect man to lead off the inning, 3-3 on the day.
But he hits one right to Kouta at 1st! He makes the stop and walks it over for the 1st out!
Kishida can't do any better as he quickly grounds out to Asato.
Last chances as #14 Ida comes in to hit for Fukuyama.
SANSHIN! Ida can't catch up to a 141 fastball up and in and Okinawa Shougaku makes the 1-run stick! They advance with a 1-0 victory!
To be honest though, that 1 run might as well have felt like 10 the way Houtoku was not hitting the ball. There wasn't really a time in the game other than the 1st inning where Yamashiro was under stress.
It won't be as easy for Okinawa Shougaku going forward though, and 1 run isn't going to cut it. So they'd better shore up their offense before the next game,
Notable Players
Yamashiro Daichi (Okinawa Shougaku) - CG, SHO, 4 H, 6 K, BB
Nakamura Masaki (Okinawa Shougaku) - 2-4, RBI, 2 K
Asato Takeru (Okinawa Shougaku) - 2-4, K
Sunagawa Osamu (Okinawa Shougaku) - 0-1, R, SB, 2 BB
Nakamura Makoto (Houtoku Gakuen) - 4.2 IP, ER, 6 H, 3 K, 3 BB
Kishida Yukinori (Houtoku Gakuen) - 4.1 IP, 0 R, H, 5 K
Ishigaki Shouji (Houtoku Gakuen) - 3-4
Mishina Hayato (Houtoku Gakuen) 1-3
Anyways, our opening game will be very loud and certainly packed, because the neighborhood team of Houtoku Gakuen will face the rowdy Okinawans and Okinawa Shougaku.
Okinawa Shougaku despite all their successes have disappointed to some extent here at Koushien. This may the last year they will be able to make a run like this for a while, so for ace Yamashiro he will need to be on his game as the bottom of the lineup might struggle. Should they make a deep run, his conditioning will be put more into question, but right now it's not a problem.
Houtoku Gakuen's pitching is a bit more suspect than Okinawa Shougaku, and as we've seen pitching has carried the day more than hitting - so ace Nakamura and reliever Tanaka will have to prove they have the goods to carry the day. Otherwise the hometown fans will be leaving disappointed.
Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa)
CF Akamine Ken
2B Kubo Shuuto
LF Nishihira Daiki
3B Asato Takeru
1B Uehara Kouta
SS Sunagawa Osamu
C Irabu Shouta
P Yamashiro Daichi
2B Nakamura Masaki (#13)
Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo)
LF Higa Shouta
CF Oohata Kouhei
3B Ishigaki Shouji
C Kishida Yukinori
1B Fukuyama Takumi
SS Tsuchitani Yuusuke
RF Fukuhara Yuudai
2B Mishina Hayato
P Nakamura Makoto
____________________________________________________________
09:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Well, Makoto seems to throw fairly fast with a fastball in the upper 130s, low 140s.
The first couple of batters have a bit of trouble keeping up as both Ken and Kubo groundout to Mishina. Nishira does the same, but this time sneaks it past Mishina for a base hit.
But it's all at Mishina as Asato hits yet another grounder to 2nd for the 3rd out.
Bottom 1st
Well that's not a great start for Yamashiro. He walks Higa on 4 straight pitches that weren't particularly close. He's bunted over by Kubo.
And Ishigaki gets under a forkball and lifts it to shallow center for a base hit! Higa holds up at 3rd, but Houtoku already threatening!
Yamashiro struggling with his control, but a pitch unintentionally up and in Kishida swings at and pops up! Kouta makes the catch near the Houtoku dugout for the 2nd out!
And Yamashiro gets out of the jam! Fukuyama pops to shallow right! Nakamura backs up and makes the catch to retire the side!!
Top 2nd
Kouta way in front of a changeup but pulls it past Mishina (again!) for a leadoff hit!
Bust-and-run! But they call for a pitch up and Sunagawa can't make contact! Kishida fires to 2nd and Kouta is out by miles.
Sunagawa makes up for it (sort of) by drawing a walk.
Makoto continues to nibble though. After getting ahead 0-2, he nibbles everywhere and the count runs full. He goes up and in, getting Irabu to swing and pop it up!
But the umpire calls catcher interference reaching in for the ball and Irabu is awarded 1st! Higa-kantoku with the gift will play for the one-timer as Yamashiro bunts the runner along.
And Masaki comes through for Okishou! He lines a ball through the infield to left and Sunagawa scores to give Okishou the 1-0 lead!
Even Okinawa's ouen-dan plays Ama-chan!
Ken though sheepishly swings on a pitch outside to end the inning, but catcher's interference leads to a run for the Meiji Jingu champs!
Bottom 2nd
Tsuchitani with a solid hit, but right at Sunagawa for the first out.
Fukuhara shows to be stubborn at the plate, fouling off several pitches, but Yamashiro wins the battle with a fastball on the outside corner that freezes Fukuhara.
Mishina gives Houtoku a runner with a base hit back up the middle past a diving Masaki.
But Nakamura seemingly forgets the count, or just freezes as Yamashiro hits the outside half of the plate for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Despite the timely hits, Okishou for the most part isn't making good contact. Kubo is way head of a pitch, and chops it over the mound. Tsuchitani makes the play for the first out. Nishihira has a swinging bunt up the 3rd base line. Makoto takes it in front of Ishigaki and makes the throw to just beat out Nishihira.
Makoto finishes the inning striking out Asato on a slider.
Bottom 3rd
After 2 quick flyouts, Ishigaki gets his 2nd hit off Yamashiro as he somehow gets around a changeup way inside and golfs it to shallow center for a base hit!
But he can't advance any further as Kishida hits a chopper back to Yamashiro, who goes to 1st for the 3rd out!
Top 4th
Makoto exhibits decent control, though the fastball can go awry from time to time. Such was the case against Sunagawa where he fell behind Sunagawa early in the AB and wound up walking him. Sunagawa takes advantage of that quickly when he swipes 2nd on the very first pitch!
I don't think Kishida is doing any favors behind the plate as he sometimes makes the pitches look bad with the framing. Makoto once again falls behind and walks his counterpart Yamashiro prompting a timeout from Nagata-kantoku.
Masaki with a base hit past Ishigaki! They're waving Sunagawa home as Higa's throw is cut off! But Ishigaki goes back home... and they get him!!
That's a very odd relay that didn't seem necessary, but it works and Houtoku keeps the deficit at 1!
Bottom 4th
Fukuyama trying to get on base, tries to sell ball 4, but the umpire isn't buying it and punches him out on the fastball at the knees.
After that, Tsuchitani flies out easily to center, and Fukuhara's drives a ball to left center - but his bid for a base hit is run down by Nishihira to retire the side.
Top 5th
Ken starts off the inning with a liner opposite way for a base hit.
Kubo's attempts to bunt him over fail, leaving him behind 0-2. He gives it one more go, but strikes out when it rolls foul.
Makoto leaves one over the plate and Nishihira lines it to center! Oohata charging in on the dying liner, dives... and makes the catch! 2 out!
But Asato singles to right! Ken advances to 3rd on the single and Okishou is threatening again!
Nagata-kantoku has seen enough. He calls off Makoto off the mound, and sends in Kishida to take the other half of the battery. #12 Kawabata takes over at C and in Makoto's spot.
He doesn't throw particularly hard, but that change he has has some movement on it.
And another changeup gets Kouta completely fooled and they get out of the jam!
Bottom 5th
Meanwhile though Houtoku's offense is really struggling. Mishina can't quite get the sweet spot on the ball and he flies out to right.
Kawabata does about as well as Makoto did at the dish, swinging at pitches as though he's guessing.
Higa lurches forward to get a forkball, but hits a liner to Masaki for the 3rd out.
And so we reach the break with the difference in the ballgame being a timely hit from 2nd year Masaki after a catcher's interference extended the inning. Even withstanding that, it's clear that Okinawa Shougaku has created more opportunities for themselves.
Top 6th
While perhaps not necessary, #9 Kubo for Okishou tosses a couple of pitches off the bullpen.
Well, I missed something as Kishida's fastball actually sits in the upper 130s. But it's his offspeed pitches that have the Okishou batters flailing as Sunagawa whiffs on a curve (which is actually in the upper 110s).
Irabu with a grounder to 3rd, but Ishigaki airmails the ball into the camera well, putting Irabu at 2nd with 1 down instead of there being 2 outs.
Kishida then pulls out the slow curve on Yanashiro who flies out to center for the 2nd out.
But then he gets careful with Masaki as he's 2-2 on the day. This time though it's the pitcher that wins the battle as Kishida puts out the changeup outside that Masaki can't reach.
Bottom 6th
Oohata with a comebacker! Yamashiro slows it down with the glove as Masaki fields it and goes to 1st to beat a diving Oohata!
Ishigaki though continues to be the bright spot for Houtoku as he gets around on a fastball inside and turns it to right for a base hit.
Kishida with a drive down the right field line!! Kubo sprinting towards the foul pole... Makes the running catch in front of the wall! That was a solid drive, but Kubo robs him of a base hit!
Once again, Ishigaki is left stranded. Fukuyama tries to wait for the change, but grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 7th
Kishida is doing his best to keep Houtoku in it, as he retires the side in order, with an assist by Mishina on a great stop on Kubo's hot grounder, and capped off by Nishihira flailing on a changeup for Kishida's 4th K!
Bottom 7th
Problem is, Houtoku's batters are hitting everything up and not out. Tsuchitani fouls out to Irabu near home plate, Fukuhara pops up to Sunagawa, and the one ball not popped out Mishina grounds back to Yamashiro.
It's not looking good for Houtoku Gakuen at all.
Top 8th
Kishida as mentioned before has the fastball in the upper 130s, a slider in the low 120s, a changeup in the 110s and the slow curve in the high 90s.
Kishida goes to the change after a couple of curveballs which allow Asato to size up the ball and single to center.
Kouta tried to bunt him over, but when that failed, went to the buster hit... and whiffed on the changeup.
Higa-kantoku then calls on Sunagawa to bunt the runner over for a one-timer, and he obliges.
And an odd call by Nagata-kantoku as #11 Ishihama comes in at 2-0 to replace Fukuhara in RF. Not sure what that was about, but Irabu grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
After new C Kawabata quickly flies out to center, Higa tries to work the count to get on base, but instead is frozen on a 2-seamer that seemingly got back over the plate.
Oohata gets a favorable count at 3-1, but flies out to right to end the inning. I'm not sure if there is a rally in Houtoku at all.
Top 9th
Fukuyama with a great pick on a short hop from Yamashiro to get the first out.
Misaki works the count full, and gets stopped when he's punched out on a pitch right on the knees (maybe lower).
For the 3rd straight batter, the count runs full on Ken. Kishida finishes out his relief work as Ken lifts a ball to left for the 3rd out.
Bottom 9th
That is unless Houtoku can score 1 here in the 9th. But it hasn't looked like they could all game.
Ishigaki the perfect man to lead off the inning, 3-3 on the day.
But he hits one right to Kouta at 1st! He makes the stop and walks it over for the 1st out!
Kishida can't do any better as he quickly grounds out to Asato.
Last chances as #14 Ida comes in to hit for Fukuyama.
SANSHIN! Ida can't catch up to a 141 fastball up and in and Okinawa Shougaku makes the 1-run stick! They advance with a 1-0 victory!
To be honest though, that 1 run might as well have felt like 10 the way Houtoku was not hitting the ball. There wasn't really a time in the game other than the 1st inning where Yamashiro was under stress.
It won't be as easy for Okinawa Shougaku going forward though, and 1 run isn't going to cut it. So they'd better shore up their offense before the next game,
Notable Players
Yamashiro Daichi (Okinawa Shougaku) - CG, SHO, 4 H, 6 K, BB
Nakamura Masaki (Okinawa Shougaku) - 2-4, RBI, 2 K
Asato Takeru (Okinawa Shougaku) - 2-4, K
Sunagawa Osamu (Okinawa Shougaku) - 0-1, R, SB, 2 BB
Nakamura Makoto (Houtoku Gakuen) - 4.2 IP, ER, 6 H, 3 K, 3 BB
Kishida Yukinori (Houtoku Gakuen) - 4.1 IP, 0 R, H, 5 K
Ishigaki Shouji (Houtoku Gakuen) - 3-4
Mishina Hayato (Houtoku Gakuen) 1-3
Thursday, February 13, 2014
32 teams in 32 days - Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo)
And now for the hometown favorites Houtoku Gakuen. Here for the 2nd straight year, they're trying to revive themselves as a true title contender as their success in their backyard (the stadium is just a 15 minute drive down Mukougawa) has waned in recent years.
Road to Senbatsu
Hanshin Regionals - D Block
#10 Tanaka Kazuma (田中 和馬) is the other pitcher mainly used by kantoku Nagata Yuuji (永田 裕治). Another less used option is C Kishida Yukinori (岸田 行倫) though he also plays SS (?!).
What's a bit puzzling is that I saw pictures of Nakamura wearing #2 and Kishida wearing #6, which begged the question of who was the ace during that time... but I digress.
What's odd is that outside of the boxscores, I cannot get any more information on other players other than digests of complete games. Ishigaki Shouji (石垣 昭二) is their 3B and has had several extra base hits in the super-regionals. The aforementioned Kishida also was successful at the plate, but the XBH were against lesser competition. SS Tsuchiya Yuusuke (土谷 勇輔) and 2B Mishina Hayato (三品 勇人) may provide solid defensive work on the left side.
But with little information on the actual players, it generally means there are no big stars on the team. Not that it's necessarily an indicator of how successful a team can be (hello, Maebashi Ikuei) though. But a team that's lightly tested and who struggled against fellow Koushien participants does not give the team positive marks for a long run unless they get an easier road.
Next up, fellow semifinalist Riseisha!
Road to Senbatsu
Hanshin Regionals - D Block
- def. Takaradzuka 9-0 (7 inn)
- def. Kenritsu Amagasaki 11-1 (5 inn)
- def. Nishinomiya Higashi 8-1 (7 inn)
- def. Akasi Minami 14-2 (7 inn)
- def. Himeji Kougyou 8-1 (7 inn)
- def. Akashi Shougyou 3-2
- def. Ichikawa 8-0 (7 inn)
- def. Sanda Shousei 9-2
- def. Kansaidai Hokuyou 8-6
- def. Fukuchiyama Seibi 1-0
- lost Chiben Wakayama 16-8 (8 inn)
#10 Tanaka Kazuma (田中 和馬) is the other pitcher mainly used by kantoku Nagata Yuuji (永田 裕治). Another less used option is C Kishida Yukinori (岸田 行倫) though he also plays SS (?!).
What's a bit puzzling is that I saw pictures of Nakamura wearing #2 and Kishida wearing #6, which begged the question of who was the ace during that time... but I digress.
What's odd is that outside of the boxscores, I cannot get any more information on other players other than digests of complete games. Ishigaki Shouji (石垣 昭二) is their 3B and has had several extra base hits in the super-regionals. The aforementioned Kishida also was successful at the plate, but the XBH were against lesser competition. SS Tsuchiya Yuusuke (土谷 勇輔) and 2B Mishina Hayato (三品 勇人) may provide solid defensive work on the left side.
But with little information on the actual players, it generally means there are no big stars on the team. Not that it's necessarily an indicator of how successful a team can be (hello, Maebashi Ikuei) though. But a team that's lightly tested and who struggled against fellow Koushien participants does not give the team positive marks for a long run unless they get an easier road.
Next up, fellow semifinalist Riseisha!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Day 6, Game 1 - Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) vs. Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo)
It's a bit weird with the format this year (with the expanded field), that we're still having teams playing their first games, and we're on Day 6.
But, here we are with some of our opening round teams playing their 2nd game. In this case, it's Tokoha Kikugawa facing home team Houtoku Gakuen.
And I do mean home team - the school is about 20 minutes away by car!
Houtoku Gakuen had some hot and cold stretches during the fall taikais. They would win the Hyogo prefecturals by edging out Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku 2-1, then pretty much did the same against Fukuchiyama Seibi (the same team Kyoto Shouei blew out 22-3). Fast forward to the semifinal and they then mercy-rule current Haru-Natsu champs Osaka Touin before losing in the finals to Kyoto Shouei 3-2 in 13 innings.
Inui Youhei is still their ace, throws in the low 140s with the standard fare. Has average numbers - 5 K/9, 5:2 K/BB ratio, 0.95 WHIP. Yet he was able to 1-hit Osaka Touin, so it's a bit bizarre.
If we assume that Osaka Touin is significantly not as strong as last year (which is easily plausible since they lost Fujinami), then the story makes more sense in that Inui is like all other pitchers, and that the offense significantly takes a hit when facing Koushien-level competition.
It's probably why some of the starting numbers in the fall have been replaced. 2B Miki has been moved in favor of Yamaguchi Daisuke, and LF Arai has been replaced with Yokota Yuuka. They had hit 7 & 8 in the lineup.
Their best batter is at the top of the lineup in Katsuoka Shizuya, who batted 0.373 and half his hits went for extra bases. Direcly behind him is Kurino Wataru who led the team in steals (8), though if Katsuoka gets on base ahead of Kurino, how much will he be able to run?
Their first opponent will be Tokoha Kikugawa, who capitalized on errors made by Kyushu champions Okinawa Shougaku in order to win 9-5. The 9 runs belied the fact that they weren't able to get to Okishou's ace until the latter half of the game. Of course when they did, they showed the offense that they displayed during the fall - including 2 HRs.
The other problem is that Hotta looked rather hittable against Harue Kougyou. Reliever Hodzumi in addition was not effective either. And while Harue Kougyou isn't just some random team, it can probably be agreed that they're not top tier. So the offense will be hard pressed to deliver game after game. But if they can take it a game at a time, it might be possible.
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) - Tokai 3 seed
CF Toji Keisuke
LF Maekawa Naoya
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
RF Kaneko Hisashi (#17)
1B Kuwahara Tatsuki
P Watanabe Naoki (#10)
2B Imasaka Ryousuke
Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo) - Kinki Runner-up
RF Katsuoka Shizuya
CF Kurino Wataru
SS Kishida Yukinori
1B Katahama Daiki
C Matsutani Tatsuki
2B Yamaguchi Daisuke
LF Yokota Yuuta
3B Hagihara Mikito
P Inui Youhei
____________________________________________________________
09:00 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Toji swings on the first pitch and flies to left.
Inui firing strikes early, Maekawa swinging and missing on a fastball high for the out.
And Endou flies out to right and the inning is over in 7 pitches.
Bottom 1st
Watanabe getting the start instead of Hotta, perhaps to see how much they can get away with in resting their ace. As I mentioned before about Tokoha Kikugawa, I wouldn't trust the relief staff, but perhaps there's something I'm missing.
He goes full on Katsuoka before freezing him on a pitch inside.
Kurino tries a safety bunt, but Watanabe is there quickly and makes the throw for the 2nd out.
And Kishida goes full has to swing at the next pitch and flies to left. 1-2-3, but as noted he went full twice.
Top 2nd
Of course, I mention he's throwing strikes and he walks Matsuki on 4 straight.
Then he comes back and climbs the ladder on Oonishi for his 2nd K.
Matsuki tries to steal 2nd, Matsutani's throw seems late, but instead the camera shifts and Matsuki's out easily! That seems odd.
And Kaneko grounds to 3rd and the side is retired.
Bottom 2nd
Watanabe actually gets ahead of Katahama but runs the count full and walks him! Matsutani bunts him over.
And a curve gets bu Matsuki somehow! Now Katahama is on 3rd!
As expected, Houtoku punishes the strategy! Yamaguchi singles to center and Katahama easily scores to make it 1-0 Houtoku!
Watanabe gets Yokota and Hagihara to fly out to center and that ends the inning, but unless Tokoha plans to outscore Houtoku, they may have to call on Hotta's services early.
Top 3rd
It continues to be rather quick for Inui. Like the first, he requires just 7 pitches to retire the bottom of the order as a strikeout of Watanabe is sandwiched by two fly balls. Though to be honest, Katsuoka's backpedaling on Kuwahara's fly ball looked rather awkward and as if he wasn't an actual outfielder.
Bottom 3rd
Perhaps Watanabe heard me, because he's throwing strikes now.
Inui hits a comeback to Watanabe, and behind 1-2 Katsuoka grounds out to 2nd.
And apparently those strikes come in spurts as Watanabe goes full on Kurino before he grounds to 1st.
Top 4th
So for those that haven't read my prior game posts on Inui, he throws in the low 140s with a forkball to go with the standard fare.
Toji gets the bat around an inside fastball and lines it down the right field line... fair! Katsuoka runs it down and fumbles a bit with the ball! Still though, Toji winds up at 2nd with a leadoff double!
Maekawa tries to bunt Toji to 3rd, but he fails in his 2 attempts! Now he has to swing away!
And instead swings badly on a fastball way outside for the first out.
Endou with a grounder to left! They're sending Toji??!! That's really shallow!
But Yokota's throw is way up the 1st base line and Toji scores to tie it at 1-1! Either Morishita-kantoku has information or they like to press. Either way it works this time.
Matsuki is given the green light to swing, but flies out to center for the 2nd out. Oonishi grounds out to 2nd on the first pitch to end the inning, but some aggressive running and timely hitting give us a time game!
Bottom 4th
One down for Houtoku and Katahama with a base hit to left! He's moved over for a one shot from Yamaguchi, but he swings on the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd. As quickly as an opportunity presented itself, it disappeared.
Top 5th
Kaneko swings under a shoulder high fastball and pops up to Hagihara for the first out.
Kurihara with a grounder to 3rd, but Hagihara's throw is short and Katahama can't field it! E5 and Tokoha has another runner on!
#16 Kikuchi to hit for Watanabe, so that means Hotta will be entering the game.
Kikuchi though can't do anything as he swings on a slider in the dirt.
And apparently Houtoku Gakuen sees a weakness in Tokoha's they like the high pitch. Because Imasaka sees nothing except those and strikes out swinging to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
So ace Hotta actually comes in for Kaneko and takes the hill, Kikuchi moves to right.
And this game just whizzes along. Yokota gets ahead of a curveball and goes down. Hagihara follows that with a first pitch grounder to 3rd, and then Inui hits a high fly to Endou to end the inning!
We hit the break at a sub 2-hr pace, and for Tokoha Kikugawa, they got the innings they wanted from Watanabe as after a shaky first 2 innings, he settles down and hands the game over to his ace level.
For Houtoku, Inui has done fairly well against Tokoha's offense save for the score in the 4th. And I think they have something they can take advantage of.
Top 6th
And just as expected, Toji is behind 1-2, and they give him a couple of high fastballs which he manages to foul off. After laying off a slider in the dirt, he hits a pitch outside for a fly out to left.
Maekawa swings on a high pitch and hits a booming fly to right that Katsuoka secures.
And Endou chases a ball down and flies out to Yokota to end the inning.
I get it now! If Tokoha Kikugawa is a good hitting team, perhaps the idea isn't to go from side to side, it's to go up and down! If you miss side-to-side, you might leave one in their wheelhouse. If you pitch high and they swing, they can't drive through the ball, or they can't swing through it because it is high. If they swing low, they're reaching for it, and again aren't driving it and probably golfing it into the air!
Bottom 6th
Now it's Hotta's turn to nibble, working the outside and thus the count full. But he does eventually get Katsuoka to ground to 2nd.
And quickly thereafter, Kurino grounds to 3rd, and Kishida fies out to Toji near the infield and it's a quick inning for Houtoku!
Top 7th
I think the Tokoha batters are catching on, and thus waiting for a better pitch, but the results are the same. Matsuki grounds out to 2nd, Oonishi grounds out to 3rd, and Hotta in his first AB strikes out swinging on a fastball outside for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
One down for Houtoku, and Matsutani lines a curve back up the middle for a base hit!
And now Nagata-kantoku starts the hit-and-run! Yamaguchi grounds to 3rd, Oonishi charges in, throws and beats out a flopping Yamaguchi. (I don't know how better to explain it, he was completely horizontal about 4 feet off the ground like a belly flop.)
#13 Sakai to hit for Yokota.
Sakai drives the first pitch he sees! Maekawa running back, reaches his glove out and it's over him! Matsutani being sent home and Sakai delivers with a PH RBI double! It's 2-1 Houtoku Gakuen! He's given a warm welcome back in the dugout as he's replaced at 1st by #15 Sugiura.
Hagihara flies out to center to end the inning, but the Lucky 7 is lucky for Sakai and Houtoku Gakuen!
Top 8th
Sugiura stays in the game at LF.
AH! Kuwahara is sent to the ground after being hit by Inui! He's fine, but the douten runner is on base!
Kikuchi with a liner to right! Katsuoka gets it in quickly and Kuwahara has to hold at 2nd.
But with no out, Morishita-kantoku doesn't call for a bunt!
And Imasaka chases a fastball outside for the first out! One down, but that will flip the lineup back to the top and Toji.
Inui working from side to side now, but his control is not as good! He falls behind Toji 3-0 before fighting back to fill the count. But Toji doesn't chase on a ball way outside and it's manrui for Maekawa!!
Nagata-kantoku calls for time.
Fastball high and Maekawa fouls it off. And another foul! Will Inui take advantage of Maekawa's aggressiveness?
Well at 0-2 he throws a waste pitch, then another high pitch that Maekawa swings at, but grounds to Yamaguchi! He goes home for the force and there's 2 down!
Last chance in Endou to tie the game here in the 8th. Fastball on the outside corner taken for a strike. Goes there again and Endou fouls it off, quickly falling behind 0-2.
Another outside, and Endou emergency swings it foul! Pitch high, no swing!
Grounder to short! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ball 5-holes Kishida into left center!!!
Kikuchi scores! Toji scores!! Maekawa being sent home!!!!
Throw from Kishida... SAFE!!!!
Maekawa slides in ahead of the throw and Matsuki clears the bases on an unfortunate play for Houtoku Gakuen!! Tokoha leads 4-2!!
Matsuki pops out to 2nd, but Tokoha Kikugawa gets some lick in the 8th and now have a 2-run lead!!
Bottom 8th
The home team now has little time to regroup and mount a rally.
One down for Houtoku and Katsuoka goes down and guides a ball through to center for a base hit!
Nagata-kantoku hoping for some more luck as he sends ini #12 Arai to hit for Kuwano.
He hits a fly to right center! But Toji sprinting over makes the catch! Kikuchi points in and Toji fires it to 1st! Katsuoka scrambles back, but Toji's throw beats him for the double play!!
Nagata-kantoku isn't happy about that as now his team is down to their last 3 outs!!
Top 9th
It takes a little bit of work, but Inui retires the side in order. He's done what he could on the mound now. It's up to the offense to try and make a final rally.
Bottom 9th
3-4-5 batters for Houtoku up as well.
But Hotta goes right after Kishida with 2 strikes. But then two balls not close and the advantage is gone.
Kishida lines a shot past a leaping Oonishi down the left field line! He's in easily with a double!
I will never understand the "waste" pitches that aren't even close. You're just giving away pitches and any advantage you had as the pitcher.
And now Hotta is trying to nibble or get the batter to chase and is getting nowhere! He walks Katahama on 4 straight! The douten runner is on for Houtoku!
Matsutani up and showing bunt, pitch inside - bunts it foul. Next pitch, buster shot! But he fouls it back! He's down 0-2, but still showing bunt!
Pitch way up and in for ball 1.
He goes for it! lays it down! Hotta goes to 1st and now the douten runner is in scoring position for Yamaguchi!
And Tokoha's defense is way in! Where is the "no doubles" defense??
Well, Hotta gets ahead of Yamaguchi 1-2.
Fly to right! Kikuchi with the catch, Kishida comes in to score, but Imasaka's throw home is high! Hotta backing up play retrieves it, and Katahama is caught off 3rd??!!
WHAT????!!!!!!!
Hotta starts the rundown, and 1-5-2-1 Hotta makes the tag and jumps in the air! Tokoha Kikugawa survives to defeat Houtoku Gakuen 4-3!!
Oh man, that's the second base running error in as many innings for Houtoku Gakuen and this one costs them the game!!
And you can see it as the players go out to the oen-dan, some of them are crying because the game was there for the taking, but unforced errors cost them.
So it'll be back to the drawing board for Houtoku Gakuen. They'll have the entire spring and summer to stew over that loss and to work their way back to Koushien once again.
For Tokoha Kikugawa, they get a lot of bounces their way - the 5-hole bases-clearing double, and the two baserunning errors mean that they advance on to play Kochi in the 3rd round. As much as perhaps their aggressiveness helped them in the past, they may need to be more disciplined lest they swing themselves out of Koushien instead of into the finals.
Notable Players
Watanabe Naoki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, K, BB
Hotta Tatsuya (Tokoha Kikugawa) - W, 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, K, BB
Endou Kouhei (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Inui Youhei (Houtoku Gakuen) - L, CG, 4 ER, 4 H, 8 K, 2 BB, HBP
Sakai Shuugo (Houtoku Gakuen) - 1-1, 2B, RBI
Katahama Daiki (Houtoku Gakuen) - 1-2, BB
Yamguchi Daisuke (Houtoku Gakuen) - 1-3, 2 RBI
But, here we are with some of our opening round teams playing their 2nd game. In this case, it's Tokoha Kikugawa facing home team Houtoku Gakuen.
And I do mean home team - the school is about 20 minutes away by car!
Houtoku Gakuen had some hot and cold stretches during the fall taikais. They would win the Hyogo prefecturals by edging out Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku 2-1, then pretty much did the same against Fukuchiyama Seibi (the same team Kyoto Shouei blew out 22-3). Fast forward to the semifinal and they then mercy-rule current Haru-Natsu champs Osaka Touin before losing in the finals to Kyoto Shouei 3-2 in 13 innings.
Inui Youhei is still their ace, throws in the low 140s with the standard fare. Has average numbers - 5 K/9, 5:2 K/BB ratio, 0.95 WHIP. Yet he was able to 1-hit Osaka Touin, so it's a bit bizarre.
If we assume that Osaka Touin is significantly not as strong as last year (which is easily plausible since they lost Fujinami), then the story makes more sense in that Inui is like all other pitchers, and that the offense significantly takes a hit when facing Koushien-level competition.
It's probably why some of the starting numbers in the fall have been replaced. 2B Miki has been moved in favor of Yamaguchi Daisuke, and LF Arai has been replaced with Yokota Yuuka. They had hit 7 & 8 in the lineup.
Their best batter is at the top of the lineup in Katsuoka Shizuya, who batted 0.373 and half his hits went for extra bases. Direcly behind him is Kurino Wataru who led the team in steals (8), though if Katsuoka gets on base ahead of Kurino, how much will he be able to run?
Their first opponent will be Tokoha Kikugawa, who capitalized on errors made by Kyushu champions Okinawa Shougaku in order to win 9-5. The 9 runs belied the fact that they weren't able to get to Okishou's ace until the latter half of the game. Of course when they did, they showed the offense that they displayed during the fall - including 2 HRs.
The other problem is that Hotta looked rather hittable against Harue Kougyou. Reliever Hodzumi in addition was not effective either. And while Harue Kougyou isn't just some random team, it can probably be agreed that they're not top tier. So the offense will be hard pressed to deliver game after game. But if they can take it a game at a time, it might be possible.
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) - Tokai 3 seed
CF Toji Keisuke
LF Maekawa Naoya
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
RF Kaneko Hisashi (#17)
1B Kuwahara Tatsuki
P Watanabe Naoki (#10)
2B Imasaka Ryousuke
Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo) - Kinki Runner-up
RF Katsuoka Shizuya
CF Kurino Wataru
SS Kishida Yukinori
1B Katahama Daiki
C Matsutani Tatsuki
2B Yamaguchi Daisuke
LF Yokota Yuuta
3B Hagihara Mikito
P Inui Youhei
____________________________________________________________
09:00 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Toji swings on the first pitch and flies to left.
Inui firing strikes early, Maekawa swinging and missing on a fastball high for the out.
And Endou flies out to right and the inning is over in 7 pitches.
Bottom 1st
Watanabe getting the start instead of Hotta, perhaps to see how much they can get away with in resting their ace. As I mentioned before about Tokoha Kikugawa, I wouldn't trust the relief staff, but perhaps there's something I'm missing.
He goes full on Katsuoka before freezing him on a pitch inside.
Kurino tries a safety bunt, but Watanabe is there quickly and makes the throw for the 2nd out.
And Kishida goes full has to swing at the next pitch and flies to left. 1-2-3, but as noted he went full twice.
Top 2nd
Of course, I mention he's throwing strikes and he walks Matsuki on 4 straight.
Then he comes back and climbs the ladder on Oonishi for his 2nd K.
Matsuki tries to steal 2nd, Matsutani's throw seems late, but instead the camera shifts and Matsuki's out easily! That seems odd.
And Kaneko grounds to 3rd and the side is retired.
Bottom 2nd
Watanabe actually gets ahead of Katahama but runs the count full and walks him! Matsutani bunts him over.
And a curve gets bu Matsuki somehow! Now Katahama is on 3rd!
As expected, Houtoku punishes the strategy! Yamaguchi singles to center and Katahama easily scores to make it 1-0 Houtoku!
Watanabe gets Yokota and Hagihara to fly out to center and that ends the inning, but unless Tokoha plans to outscore Houtoku, they may have to call on Hotta's services early.
Top 3rd
It continues to be rather quick for Inui. Like the first, he requires just 7 pitches to retire the bottom of the order as a strikeout of Watanabe is sandwiched by two fly balls. Though to be honest, Katsuoka's backpedaling on Kuwahara's fly ball looked rather awkward and as if he wasn't an actual outfielder.
Bottom 3rd
Perhaps Watanabe heard me, because he's throwing strikes now.
Inui hits a comeback to Watanabe, and behind 1-2 Katsuoka grounds out to 2nd.
And apparently those strikes come in spurts as Watanabe goes full on Kurino before he grounds to 1st.
Top 4th
So for those that haven't read my prior game posts on Inui, he throws in the low 140s with a forkball to go with the standard fare.
Toji gets the bat around an inside fastball and lines it down the right field line... fair! Katsuoka runs it down and fumbles a bit with the ball! Still though, Toji winds up at 2nd with a leadoff double!
Maekawa tries to bunt Toji to 3rd, but he fails in his 2 attempts! Now he has to swing away!
And instead swings badly on a fastball way outside for the first out.
Endou with a grounder to left! They're sending Toji??!! That's really shallow!
But Yokota's throw is way up the 1st base line and Toji scores to tie it at 1-1! Either Morishita-kantoku has information or they like to press. Either way it works this time.
Matsuki is given the green light to swing, but flies out to center for the 2nd out. Oonishi grounds out to 2nd on the first pitch to end the inning, but some aggressive running and timely hitting give us a time game!
Bottom 4th
One down for Houtoku and Katahama with a base hit to left! He's moved over for a one shot from Yamaguchi, but he swings on the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd. As quickly as an opportunity presented itself, it disappeared.
Top 5th
Kaneko swings under a shoulder high fastball and pops up to Hagihara for the first out.
Kurihara with a grounder to 3rd, but Hagihara's throw is short and Katahama can't field it! E5 and Tokoha has another runner on!
#16 Kikuchi to hit for Watanabe, so that means Hotta will be entering the game.
Kikuchi though can't do anything as he swings on a slider in the dirt.
And apparently Houtoku Gakuen sees a weakness in Tokoha's they like the high pitch. Because Imasaka sees nothing except those and strikes out swinging to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
So ace Hotta actually comes in for Kaneko and takes the hill, Kikuchi moves to right.
And this game just whizzes along. Yokota gets ahead of a curveball and goes down. Hagihara follows that with a first pitch grounder to 3rd, and then Inui hits a high fly to Endou to end the inning!
We hit the break at a sub 2-hr pace, and for Tokoha Kikugawa, they got the innings they wanted from Watanabe as after a shaky first 2 innings, he settles down and hands the game over to his ace level.
For Houtoku, Inui has done fairly well against Tokoha's offense save for the score in the 4th. And I think they have something they can take advantage of.
Top 6th
And just as expected, Toji is behind 1-2, and they give him a couple of high fastballs which he manages to foul off. After laying off a slider in the dirt, he hits a pitch outside for a fly out to left.
Maekawa swings on a high pitch and hits a booming fly to right that Katsuoka secures.
And Endou chases a ball down and flies out to Yokota to end the inning.
I get it now! If Tokoha Kikugawa is a good hitting team, perhaps the idea isn't to go from side to side, it's to go up and down! If you miss side-to-side, you might leave one in their wheelhouse. If you pitch high and they swing, they can't drive through the ball, or they can't swing through it because it is high. If they swing low, they're reaching for it, and again aren't driving it and probably golfing it into the air!
Bottom 6th
Now it's Hotta's turn to nibble, working the outside and thus the count full. But he does eventually get Katsuoka to ground to 2nd.
And quickly thereafter, Kurino grounds to 3rd, and Kishida fies out to Toji near the infield and it's a quick inning for Houtoku!
Top 7th
I think the Tokoha batters are catching on, and thus waiting for a better pitch, but the results are the same. Matsuki grounds out to 2nd, Oonishi grounds out to 3rd, and Hotta in his first AB strikes out swinging on a fastball outside for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
One down for Houtoku, and Matsutani lines a curve back up the middle for a base hit!
And now Nagata-kantoku starts the hit-and-run! Yamaguchi grounds to 3rd, Oonishi charges in, throws and beats out a flopping Yamaguchi. (I don't know how better to explain it, he was completely horizontal about 4 feet off the ground like a belly flop.)
#13 Sakai to hit for Yokota.
Sakai drives the first pitch he sees! Maekawa running back, reaches his glove out and it's over him! Matsutani being sent home and Sakai delivers with a PH RBI double! It's 2-1 Houtoku Gakuen! He's given a warm welcome back in the dugout as he's replaced at 1st by #15 Sugiura.
Hagihara flies out to center to end the inning, but the Lucky 7 is lucky for Sakai and Houtoku Gakuen!
Top 8th
Sugiura stays in the game at LF.
AH! Kuwahara is sent to the ground after being hit by Inui! He's fine, but the douten runner is on base!
Kikuchi with a liner to right! Katsuoka gets it in quickly and Kuwahara has to hold at 2nd.
But with no out, Morishita-kantoku doesn't call for a bunt!
And Imasaka chases a fastball outside for the first out! One down, but that will flip the lineup back to the top and Toji.
Inui working from side to side now, but his control is not as good! He falls behind Toji 3-0 before fighting back to fill the count. But Toji doesn't chase on a ball way outside and it's manrui for Maekawa!!
Nagata-kantoku calls for time.
Fastball high and Maekawa fouls it off. And another foul! Will Inui take advantage of Maekawa's aggressiveness?
Well at 0-2 he throws a waste pitch, then another high pitch that Maekawa swings at, but grounds to Yamaguchi! He goes home for the force and there's 2 down!
Last chance in Endou to tie the game here in the 8th. Fastball on the outside corner taken for a strike. Goes there again and Endou fouls it off, quickly falling behind 0-2.
Another outside, and Endou emergency swings it foul! Pitch high, no swing!
Grounder to short! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ball 5-holes Kishida into left center!!!
Kikuchi scores! Toji scores!! Maekawa being sent home!!!!
Throw from Kishida... SAFE!!!!
Maekawa slides in ahead of the throw and Matsuki clears the bases on an unfortunate play for Houtoku Gakuen!! Tokoha leads 4-2!!
Matsuki pops out to 2nd, but Tokoha Kikugawa gets some lick in the 8th and now have a 2-run lead!!
Bottom 8th
The home team now has little time to regroup and mount a rally.
One down for Houtoku and Katsuoka goes down and guides a ball through to center for a base hit!
Nagata-kantoku hoping for some more luck as he sends ini #12 Arai to hit for Kuwano.
He hits a fly to right center! But Toji sprinting over makes the catch! Kikuchi points in and Toji fires it to 1st! Katsuoka scrambles back, but Toji's throw beats him for the double play!!
Nagata-kantoku isn't happy about that as now his team is down to their last 3 outs!!
Top 9th
It takes a little bit of work, but Inui retires the side in order. He's done what he could on the mound now. It's up to the offense to try and make a final rally.
Bottom 9th
3-4-5 batters for Houtoku up as well.
But Hotta goes right after Kishida with 2 strikes. But then two balls not close and the advantage is gone.
Kishida lines a shot past a leaping Oonishi down the left field line! He's in easily with a double!
I will never understand the "waste" pitches that aren't even close. You're just giving away pitches and any advantage you had as the pitcher.
And now Hotta is trying to nibble or get the batter to chase and is getting nowhere! He walks Katahama on 4 straight! The douten runner is on for Houtoku!
Matsutani up and showing bunt, pitch inside - bunts it foul. Next pitch, buster shot! But he fouls it back! He's down 0-2, but still showing bunt!
Pitch way up and in for ball 1.
He goes for it! lays it down! Hotta goes to 1st and now the douten runner is in scoring position for Yamaguchi!
And Tokoha's defense is way in! Where is the "no doubles" defense??
Well, Hotta gets ahead of Yamaguchi 1-2.
Fly to right! Kikuchi with the catch, Kishida comes in to score, but Imasaka's throw home is high! Hotta backing up play retrieves it, and Katahama is caught off 3rd??!!
WHAT????!!!!!!!
Hotta starts the rundown, and 1-5-2-1 Hotta makes the tag and jumps in the air! Tokoha Kikugawa survives to defeat Houtoku Gakuen 4-3!!
Oh man, that's the second base running error in as many innings for Houtoku Gakuen and this one costs them the game!!
And you can see it as the players go out to the oen-dan, some of them are crying because the game was there for the taking, but unforced errors cost them.
So it'll be back to the drawing board for Houtoku Gakuen. They'll have the entire spring and summer to stew over that loss and to work their way back to Koushien once again.
For Tokoha Kikugawa, they get a lot of bounces their way - the 5-hole bases-clearing double, and the two baserunning errors mean that they advance on to play Kochi in the 3rd round. As much as perhaps their aggressiveness helped them in the past, they may need to be more disciplined lest they swing themselves out of Koushien instead of into the finals.
Notable Players
Watanabe Naoki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, K, BB
Hotta Tatsuya (Tokoha Kikugawa) - W, 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, K, BB
Endou Kouhei (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Inui Youhei (Houtoku Gakuen) - L, CG, 4 ER, 4 H, 8 K, 2 BB, HBP
Sakai Shuugo (Houtoku Gakuen) - 1-1, 2B, RBI
Katahama Daiki (Houtoku Gakuen) - 1-2, BB
Yamguchi Daisuke (Houtoku Gakuen) - 1-3, 2 RBI
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