高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

Well, here we are at the finals. Sakushin Gakuin and Hokkai, 2 well-known names, but one perhaps not known for going far. Hokkai played one of their best games yesterday, they'll need an even better one today - especially from ace Oonishi.

Sakushin Gakuin may just need to avoid making major mistakes that have felled other teams. Provided of course Imai holds up the whole game. He got some much needed rest, but he's still on his 4th game in 5 days and the signs of fatigue are already there.

I want a competitive game first and foremost. A blowout would just be such a downer at this point.

Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)

• def Jinsei Gakuen 3-0
• def Hanasaki Tokuharu 6-2
• def Kisaradzu Sougou 3-1
• def Meitoku Gijyuku 10-2

SS Yamamoto Genki (山本 挙輝)
RF Yamanoi Ryuuga (山ノ井 隆雅)
CF Kobayashi Koutarou (小林 虎太郎)
1B Irie Taisei (入江 大生)
2B Fujino Yuusuke (藤野 佑介)
LF Ikari Taisei (碇 大誠)
3B Shinozaki Takashi (篠崎 高志)
C Ayugase Kazuya (鮎ケ瀬 一也)
P Imai Tetsuya (今井 達也)

Hokkai (Minami Hokkaido)

• def Matsuyama Seiryou 2x-1
• def Nichinan Gakuen 4-1
• def Seikou Gakuin 7-3
• def Shuugakukan 4-3

SS Ono Yuuya (小野 雄哉)
2B Kanno Shinji (菅野 伸樹)
3B Satou Yuuki (佐藤 佑樹)
C Satou Taiga (佐藤 大雅)
1B Kawamura Yuuto (川村 友斗)
LF (15)Fuse Taisei (布施 太聖)
RF Gehou Tadashi (下方 忠嗣)
P Oonishi Kento (大西 健斗)
CF Suzuki Yamato (鈴木 大和)

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14:00 - First pitch

4 pitch walk to Yamamoto, 1 more to Yamanoi before he swings on obvious ball on a hit-and-run. Yamanoi swinging to the benefit of Oonishi as he hits into a 6-4-3 double play.

But now Oonishi hits Kobayashi, bringing up the dreaded Irie. Except that he strikes out on a slider away from Oonishi!

Hokkai's first inning also sees Imai struggle a bit on the mound. the difference is that Hokkai is trying to get their knocks off of Imai as opposed to Sakushin trying to get on base against Oonishi. Kanno gets a 1-out single, but it's 2 groundouts thereafter. We even saw cleanup hitter Taiga show a bust-and-run method presumably in an effort to make contact.

That even continues into the 2nd. Kawamura draws a walk, and after a bunt, Gehou shows bunt but ends up chopping one back to Imai.

Oonishi draws the 2nd walk of the inning, bringing up last batter Suzuki.

And he slices the first pitch down the left field line... FAIR! It's in for a base hit and Kawamura scores to give Hokkai the 1-0 lead!

Sakushin Gakuin tries to find a response. Yamamoto sneaks one past Yuuki and Ono can't chase it down as it goes into left. He's able to take 2nd on a stolen base but Kobayashi grounds out to short.

They also now make a change sending in #16 Suzuki for LF Ikari. Not sure why.

Also, the top of the Hokkai order really wants to get after Imai, but all they get instead is 3 quick outs. I don't think that's what they need. Imai though uses it to pump in a 152 kph fastball. That's nice, but that doesn't equal a win.

What does is a leadoff walk by Irie. And then Oonishi leaves one fat in the strike zone and Fujino crushes it to center. It bounces off the top of the fence for a double.

Walking new LF Suzuki isn't a bad thing as it creates a force, but Hirakawa-kantoku calls for time.

Shinozaki with a chopper up 1st base line, Kawamura charging, but it goes under his glove! Kanno backup but everyone's safe and we're tied at 1-1!

Ayugase with a base up past Oonishi and into center! Sakushin Gakuin leads 2-1!

Imai with a single to right, that brings in one more. 3-1 and it looks to be the end of Oonishi, for now anyways. #11 Tama comes in for Fuse and takes the mound. Oonishi goes to LF.

But with no outs, it'll be really difficult to avoid giving up runs. Yamamoto makes sure of that with a hustle double to right, making it 5-1.

Tama gets 2 outs before having to face Irie, He doesn't back down either, giving him nothing to hit and eventually walking him to load the bases. Fujino grounds out to end the inning, but I'll need to see some type of response from Hokkai to think they stand any chance.

And there is a little life. Tama, in his 1st AB at Koushien singles to left. Gehou on the next pitch lits a sinking liner to left, but the defensive replacement Suzuki makes a great diving catch! That kills the rally, though thery're at least getting good contact on Imai.

Unfortunately it may not matter as Hokkai continues to fall further behind. Suzuki lays down a bunt and beats out a surprised Tama. Shinozaki on hit and run singles to right.

And then on Imai's AB he strikes out on ball in dirt. When Taiga goes to throw to 1st, Suzuki comes home and is safe to make it a 6-1 game.

With Hokkai still a mess at the plate, the game looked over before, but seems for sure now.

As a result, the rest of the game is just a victory procession for Sakushin Gakuin. The result not in doubt anymore. Sakushin Gakuin adds on a run, but the game ends 7-1.

Sakushin Gakuin is still the only team from Tochigi to win either Haru or Natsu Koushien tournaments having won both in 1962. Hokkai is the runner-up, the 2nd runner-up for a Hokkaido school in either tournament in as many years. I wish I could say it's because Hokkaido is getting stronger, but I don't think I could. Still it's a good thing for the region, reasons aside. Don't count out Clark Kokusai either now that the Komadai Iwamizawa kantoku is now there.

And so as the closing ceremonies take place, we close the curtain on another Natsu Koushien tournament. We saw things that we're used to seeing, some things that were new, some things that should never had happened, to things that we were glad that did. The game continues to change in Japan for better or worse. For me I can only hope that the idea of any team getting to Koushien can continue to hold.

I have to admit, since I wasn't able to do my normal things before the Koushien tournament this year, I never got to see that Shuugakukan has not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 possible starting pitchers who can throw upper 130s at the minimum.

And we have seen all 4 pitchers at some point in time:
#1 - Arimura Taisei (140 kph) - 2 G, 2.1 IP, 0 ER,  0 H, 2 K, 2 BB
#10 - Nakai Yuusuke (141 kph) - 2 G, 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 4 K, 1 BB
#11 - Taura Fumimaru (141 kph) - 2 G, 1 GS, 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 4 K, 3 BB
#12 - Kawabata Kento (141 kph) - 3 G, 2 GS. 10.2 IP, 1 ER, 13 K, 2 BB

That's just ridiculous. I've NEVER seen a team with that much good pitching.  And with 3 of them splitting time, it's hard to think that any one of them is completely empty in the tank. "Ace" Arimura has had the least amount of work. and you have to figure he'll see some extra time with just 2 games to go. And if one struggles, you have options - actual options.

The only weakness, and we saw it last game, is their offense. Despite scoring 4 runs last game, it was on just 5 hits. And they only drew 2 walks to boot. There are 2 batters who have been consistent - SS Matsuo Taiga and LF Amamoto Kousuke who have gone 6-13 and 7-10 respectively, but the drop in hits is concerning as that does leave less room for error on the pitching side, though they have options.

Hokkai is by far the underdog in the matchup. They barely survived against Matsuyama Seiryou, defeated an average Nichinan Gakuen team, and somehow were the team to finally defeat a weaker Seikou Gakuin.

Ace Oonishi will probably be in hot water all night, having pitched all innings so far for Hokkai. His K/BB rates have improved of sorts (6/6, 3/0, 6/2), but I can't imagine him having the same success against this lineup, especially having given up 3 runs in his last outing.

Offensively the one person who stands out is 1B Kawamura who is 5-11 with a HR. The team is batting around 0.333, but against this pitching staff you have to imagine that won't last.

Shuugakukan (Kumamoto)

• def Tokoha Kikugawa 6-1
• def Inabe Sougou Gakuen 6-1
• def Jyousou Gakuin 4-1

SS Matsuo Taiga (松尾 大河)
CF Harada Takumi (原田 拓実)
1B Kimoto Ryouga (木本 凌雅)
C Kuki Ryuuhei (九鬼 隆平)
LF Amamoto Kousuke (天本 昂佑)
3B Hirobe Shuuhei (廣部 就平)
2B Horie Kouhei (堀江 航平)
RF Kimura Yuuji (木村 勇次)
P (12) Kawabata Kento (川端 健斗)

Hokkai (Minami Hokkaido)

• def Matsuyama Seiryou 2x-1
• def Nichinan Gakuen 4-1
• def Seikou Gakuin 7-3

SS Ono Yuuya (小野 雄哉)
2B Kanno Shinji (菅野 伸樹)
3B Satou Yuuki (佐藤 佑樹)
C Satou Taiga (佐藤 大雅)
1B Kawamura Yuuto (川村 友斗)
LF (15)Fuse Taisei (布施 太聖)
RF Gehou Tadashi (下方 忠嗣)
P Oonishi Kento (大西 健斗)
CF Suzuki Yamato (鈴木 大和)

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13:05 - First pitch

It's an active first inning for Shuugakukan. Matsuo triples to right center, Harada walks. He then gets thrown out at 2nd, Oonishi uncorks a wild pitch, but they recover to throw out Matsuo at home. Kimoto singles to right and finally Amamoto saves extra bases when he lays out for a shallow liner to left.

All that for no runs.

Meanwhile Ono draws a leadoff walk off Kawabata. 2 outs now, and Taiga hits a ball hard at 1st. Kimoto blocks it in front of him, but stumbles, looks to toss to 1st but Kawabata is nowhere to be found! That continues the inning, runners at the corners, no wait, now manrui after he hits Kawamura and where is the rest of the pitching staff?

He gets fortunate when Fuse hits a chopper to the left side. He fields it, and throws to 1st for the 3rd out.

Kajisha-kantoku has a chance to relieve Kawabata by PH for him int he 3rd, but he doesn't...

Come the bottom of the 3rd it all finally bites him in the ass. Kawabata gives up a leadoff walk and a base hit. After getting 2 outs, he is finally relieved by #10 Nakai, but it's with runners on 2nd and 3rd.

And you knew the good luck wasn't going to last. Oonishi drives a ball to the right center field wall for a bases clearing triple. After that, Hirobe throws wide to 1st on a grounder.

0-0 becomes a 2-0 deficit, becomes a 3-0 deficit.

If Shuugakukan goes on to lose this game, it is WORSE than the Kousei loss because he had 3 other competent pitchers available and failed to go to ANY ONE OF THEM. Any team would kill for 2 above average pitchers, Kajisha-kantoku possibly has 4. 4!

He should be fired on the spot and have to find his own way back to Kumamoto.

Anyways, the game basically continues with one way direction all pointed at Hokkai. They get 1st 2nd with one out in the 4th, thanks to an error, then in the 5th, gives up a leadoff walk and after a fielder's choice, gives up singles to Ono and Kanno for a 4-0 game as we hit the break.

Never expected this.

Top 7th, Shuugakukan gets their best chance yet to score. Kuki doubles to right center. Amamoto singles through the left side for runners at the corners.

Yet Hirobe flies out to shallow center. Horie check swings into fair territory and is out 2-3. Then, Kajisha-kantoku PH for Arimura... with his last P #11 Taura!!

A wild pitch gets a runner in for 4-1. Taura for his part walks. But Hanjyou grounds out to 2nd and 1 run is all they get!

And then one major error makes this a game. 2 down, Matsuo on 2nd thanks to a HBP. Kuki with a base hit to right which might score 1.

Until the ball somehow gets past Gehou's glove... and all the way to the wall.

In shades of Waseda Jitsugyou-Kanzei, Kuki makes it all the way around and beats the throw in. We have a 4-3 game.

I REPEAT, WE HAVE A 4-3 GAME.

Now, Hokkai would go quietly in the 8th, leaving it all to Shuugakukan to make one last run.

But the bottom of the lineup was due, a 6-9 part of the lineup which to this point was 1-11...

Hirobe grounds out to 3rd...

Horie grounds out to 2nd... Last chance in Taura...

Chopper to short, throw to 1st... safe!! Taura's slide doesn't cost him as he still gets in ahead of the throw!

Up to Hanjyou...

Chopper to short again... throw to 1st... GAME SET!

There is no comeback, Hokkai holds on for a 4-3 win!

Hokkai almost gives it up in bizarre circumstances but they prevail. Shuugakukan's run at a title is short circuited, but not because of the players, it is because of Kajisha-kantoku not utilizing his entire pitching staff. A pitching staff that mind you any manager would kill for. 4 viable pitchers.

And yet, Kawabata was the one most used, and perhaps the one most likely to be pulled at any sign of trouble. Except he wasn't. He was left in to endure two manrun situations and was only replaced when again there were runners in scoring position. He was left in when you could have lifted him for a PH after struggling for the 2nd straight inning.

None of that happened. And as a result, they were in a hole they could never get out of.

This loss is worse in my opinion because Kajisha-kantoku obviously had options and failed to use them. This when it seemed he had managed it well to this point.

They could have won the championship. They instead are going home.

Hokkai will get their chance to be the 2nd team from Hokkaido to win Natsu Koushien. But it will not be easy. They will need the same patience they showed today against Imai tomorrow. And Oonishi will probably need to pitch the game of his life.

It's not impossible. But it'll be difficult.

With the first two winners not drawing each other, this matchup can breathe easy not having to face Sakushin Gakuin. Shuugakukan is still in play, which is why for the winner of this game, perhaps drawing Meitoku Gijyuku is the lesser of two evils.

Hokkai (Minami Hokkaido)

• def Matsuyama Seiryou 2x-1
• def Nichinan Gakuen 4-1

SS Ono Yuuya (小野 雄哉)
2B Kanno Shinji (菅野 伸樹)
3B Satou Yuuki (佐藤 佑樹)
C Satou Taiga (佐藤 大雅)
1B Kawamura Yuuto (川村 友斗)
LF (15)Fuse Taisei (布施 太聖)
RF Gehou Tadashi (下方 忠嗣)
P Oonishi Kento (大西 健斗)
CF Suzuki Yamato (鈴木 大和)

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)

• def Clark Kokusai 5-2
• def Touhou 5-3

3B Matsumoto Kouki (松本 康希)
2B Koizumi Teppei (小泉 徹平)
CF (9)Kanou Satsuki (加納 皐)
P (8)Suzuki Takuto (鈴木 拓人)
LF Kamakura Takashi(鎌倉 誠)
CF (15) Satou Shunya (佐藤 駿矢)
SS Segawa Kouki (瀬川 航騎)
1B (13)Nishikawa Shouya (西川 将也)
C Kadoi Taijyu (門井 泰寿)
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13:05 - First pitch!

For Hokkai, this couldn't have been that much worse of a 1st inning.

Satou boots the first groundball from Matsumoto, Oonishi hits 2 batters, a wild pitch scores the first run, a shallow fly ball that shouldn't score anyone does because they can't get under it comfortably, and the first base hit scored the 3rd run of the inning. 3-0 Seikou Gakuin after 1.

Unfortunately for Seikou, they were not immune to the ugliness either. Suzuki walks the first batter, walks another batter after a sac bunt, gives up an RBI single to Oonishi, saw 2B Koizumi flay miss his toss to 2nd on a double play, and then Suzuku hit a batter to bring a 2nd run in, making it a 3-2 ballgame.

Oy. You guys are playing for a spot in the Best 4, clean it up would you?

The do for an inning, but Hokkai almost blows it yet again. Oonishi gives up back-to-back singles to Kanou and Suzuki before Satou is able to snag a hot shot from Kamamura, step on 3rd for 1, and throw to 1st for the double play to retire the side.


And they add to it! Kawamura up to lead off the 5th and he blasts a ball to right center! The fielders converge and it's gone! Solo HR for Hokkai and they're leading 5-3!!

Saitou-kantoku relieves Suzuki with #11 Suzuki Takuto who walks 2 of his 3 batters and throws a wild pitch. #18 Saitou comes in and immediately Hokkai's Suzuki lays down the squeeze, which works, putting them ahead 6-3, which is where we are at the break.
Needless to say, the game up until this point hasn't been pretty, and with Seikou changing pitchers twice in an inning, it might yet get worse.

Thankfully for them it doesn't get too much worse. They give up a run in the 8th. Problem was, they weren't able to generate many opportunities until the 8th where Kanou hit a double, but got thrown out trying to go to 3rd on a grounder to short. After that, Kamakura hit a double that would have scored 1. Instead PH #16 Nakaya grounds out to 2nd netting the team a donut.

And so Seikou Gakuin goes down to Hokkai no less. Just to be clear, I don't like the school because it has won Fukushima 10 times in a row. But I don't dislike the players. It's not their fault they went to the best school - the only school perhaps - that they may remember to go to Koushien. It's what the school represents that I don't like.

Which is why I still feel bad when I see the players from Seikou crying. Their summer is over and a spot in the Best 4 wasn't that far away.

Last Round of 16 game. Winner gets a crack at Seikou Gakuin, which seems like a good and bad matchup at the same time by now. From the games so far, Hokkai by far has the bigger task ahead of them while Nichinan Gakuen has shown their competence in their games so far.

Nichinan Gakuen (Miyazaki)
CF (16)Matsunaga Haruomi (松永 悠臣)
3B Yoshiga Kenshin (芳賀 憲伸)
2B Maeda Naoki (前田 尚輝)
LF Masuda Kaisei (益田 海成)
RF Hamamoto Itsuki (浜本 樹)
C Hagiwara Hiro (萩原 哲)
SS Ishijima Yuuto (石嶋 友翔)
1B Ishida Kouhei (石田 航平)
P Moriyama Genki (森山 弦暉)
Hokkai (Minami Hokkaido)
SS Ono Yuuya (小野 雄哉)
2B Kanno Shinji (菅野 伸樹)
3B Satou Yuuki (佐藤 佑樹)
C Satou Taiga (佐藤 大雅)
1B Kawamura Yuuto (川村 友斗)
LF (15)Fuse Taisei (布施 太聖)
RF Gehou Tadashi (下方 忠嗣)
P Oonishi Kento (大西 健斗)
CF Suzuki Yamato (鈴木 大和)

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15:22 - First pitch!

Well, Nichinan Gakuen not wasting any time. Yoshiga hits a single through the left side. 2 down now and Yoshiga at 3rd, Masuda hits a hard grounder up the 3rd base line and off of Yuuki into foul territory. Yoshiga scores easily and it's 1-0 just like that.

Surprisingly to me anyways, Hokkai would have a response soon after. Bottom 2nd,Taiga leads off with a base hit past Maeda. 2 down and Taiga now at 3rd, Gehou would hit a single to left and there we are at a tie game, 1-1.

I'm actually surprised to see Hokkai having as much success as they are against ace Moriyama. I guess part of it is that Moriyama isn't really firing it in there as he maxes out in the mid-120s. So in the 3rd they have runners at the corners and 2 out, but fail to score. and then in the 4th they get back to back hits from Fuse and Gehou, but when Oonishi strikes out Fuse must've had his signs crossed up because he's stuck in no-man's land and run down for the 3rd out. While they have the advantage right now on offense, they need to be converting these opportunities into runs.

The game hits the break all square at 1-1. Neither ace is completely dominating if you look at strikeouts, but both have managed the game really well as it has zipped along at a quick 50 minutes.

Hokkai would get first crack at breaking the deadlock. Bottom 6, Yuuki whizzes one past Moriyama into center for a base hit. Taiga lays down a bunt, but the Nichinan defense waits for it to go foul... which it never does! And to make matters worse, after a conference, Kawamura lays down a bunt that Moriyama fields, goes to 3rd, only to see the 3B not covering the bag! All safe and it's manrui, no out!!

Now Nichinan gets one of those outs back when Fuse grounds to short. Ishijima goes home for 1, but that's all they get.

And now Gehou grounds to short! Ishijima goes to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st is the double play and somehow Nichinan Gakuen escapes!

However, they aren't immediately able to turn that into momentum for their side, so it kind of sits in the middle while the two teams fight for it. In the meantime, both teams scuffle at the plate.

And then suddenly the run comes out of nowhere. Bottom 8th, Moriyama innocuously hits Sugano. After a sac bunt Taiga drives a ball into the left center field gap! That will score Sugano and it's 2-1 Hokkai!

And then...

Kawamura hits a ball to right, Hamamoto chases after it, goes to the wall...

And it's gone! It's gone! Hamamoto hits a 2-run HR and Hokkai is suddenly up 4-1!!

There would be no coming back for Nichinan Gakuen as Moriyama futilely screams while holding back tears. Nichinan would go down in order in the 9th as Hokkai moves onto the best 8, 4-1.

With Clark Kokusai's loss, Hokkaido could be eliminated in back-to-back games.

Matsuyama Seiryou (Ehime)
CF Oomura Hiroki (大村 弘稀)
2B Sasaki Kai (佐々木 魁)
RF Kawabata Youta (河端 陽太)
C Inaba Tomoya (稲葉 智也)
3B Fukuzato Riki (福里 李希)
SS Nii Hirotaka (新居 裕崇)
1B Matsumoto Yuuma (松本 侑馬)
LF Hasegawa Tomohiro (長谷川 智大)
P Aduwa Makoto (アドゥワ 誠)

Hokkai (Minami Hokkaido)
SS Ono Yuuya (小野 雄哉)
2B Kanno Shinji (菅野 伸樹)
3B Satou Yuuki (佐藤 佑樹)
P Oonishi Kento (大西 健斗)
RF Gehou Tadashi (下方 忠嗣)
1B Kawamura Yuuto (川村 友斗)
C Satou Taiga (佐藤 大雅)
LF Inoue Yuuki (井上 雄喜)
CF Suzuki Yamato (鈴木 大和)

____________________________________________________________

10:30 - First pitch!

Top 1st
.

Sorry for the abrupt intro, but I got out of work late, and work has been busy with quarter-end close. This will be a little behind, you can check the twitter for quick updates.

Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima)
1B Arimura Kenta
CF Andou Masayuki
RF Muroya Tarou
3B Wataya Itsuki
C Tsukiji Rui
2B Itagoi Yuka
LF Oitachi Yuuki (#17)
SS Hasebe Daiki
P Hashimoto Takumi

Hokkai (Minami Hokkaido)
CF Kakinuma Kazuki (#9)
C Watanabe Shouta
3B Tanno Ryousuke
LF Kamanaka Junpei
1B Satou Yuuki
2B Ooya Masayuki
P Yamamoto Itsuki (#8)
RF Kanno Ryousuke (#18)
SS Nagasawa Kentarou

____________________________________________________________

10:37 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
It was a rough start for relief starter Yamamoto. First pitch perhaps wanting to get it over and Arimura singles to right. Next up was a walk, and a sac bunt.

Worse yet, 2 wild pitches brought both runs in making it 2-0. After that he got the next 2 out to end the inning, but it is an ominous start to say the least. Not to mention ace Watanabe Kairi was warming up.

Bottom 1st
Now that's the fight I'd like to see! One out single by Shouta up the middle is paid off by Tanno as he doubles off the left center field wall and its 2-1!

Top 2nd
Yamamoto has a simple slider curve combo, but at least can get up to 140 with the fastball. In fact he strikes out the side, including Oitachi who regretted chasing a ball at the eyes.

Bottom 2nd
Ooya with a leadoff single to the right side and bunted over.

Kanno hits a ball up the middle, but Hasebe runs it down! Spins, throws to 1st and gets the out and saves a run! Ooya is able to advance to 3rd, but Nagasawa weakly grounds to 2nd to end the inning.

Top 3rd
One out single past a diving Nagasawa and Arimura already has 2 hits. If there is a weakness of Yamamoto it's his lack of control at times. And it shows when he goes up and in and hits Andou almost in the head.

A hard ball to 1st almost goes for a hit when Satou can't field it cleanly. But when Wataya singles through the left side scoring 2, making it 4-1 it's not good for Hokkai at all.

When Tsukiji bloops one just out of the reach of Ooya, you get the feeling it's not their day.

Speaking of day, Yamamoto's day on the mound is over after he walks the next batter on 4 straight. Ace Watanabe Kairi comes in. He throws just as hard, and perhaps a little more control. Does get the last out though, but Hokkai's prospects do not look good now.

Bottom 3rd
#7 Mogami Jyunya comes in for Oitachi to play left.

I've counted Hokkai out early twice just because they don't generally show offense and the pitching is giving up runs left and right. But then Kamanaka hits a 2-out 2-run HR to right center and we've got a ball game again at 4-3. At this point neither side's pitching looks strong and it'll boil down to which team can take advantage the most.

Top 4th
Hokkai's pitching just can't keep them in the game. Leadoff walk, bunt, ANOTHER wild pitch. And Arimura collects his 3rd hit to make it 5-3.

Kairi gets the next two batters out, but this game is ugly.

Bottom 4th
Really quick inning for Hokkai. If the top of the lineup is the only part producing, it's going to be a long game for them.

Top 5th
I finally feel settled down. But the game has decided to end early. No, no rain, just a ton of runs. Hokkai's pitching craters here and what was a 5-3 game has gone double digits.

IN ONE INNING.

14 batters, 10 runs. 15-3 and there won't be much to say the rest of the game.

Bottom 5th
Other than to show how bad the game is ace Watanabe hits a batter with 2 out. UP 12. Tanno gets a run in with a double to right center making it 15-4.

Bottom 6th
Hokkai sending #13 Takahoko to hit for Satou. Subs perhaps being worked in so they can play on field.

Also, Hashimoto is mercifully relieved after throwing ball 4 to the backstop w/one down. Arimura comes in from 1B to take hill. Mashimoto goes to LF, and #10 Shibata takes over at 1B.

And on and on...
There isn't much else to say. Kajitsu not really trying adding on, but are swinging away and pounding the ball, add more runs in 8th as Arimura goes 4-5 with yet another single. They're even stealing bases maybe getting work in, and maybe hoping perhaps they can get outs that way to shorten game.

Also, Takahoko makes a great diving stop for the 3rd out after Kajitsu scored 3 more. Then collects a base hit in bottom of inning.  Good for him in this blowout.

Game finally ends in 2 hrs 43 minutes at 18-4. Kajitsu moves on but for how much longer is not certain.

Some of Hokkai's players are crying as they scoop their Koushien dirt. It was a blowout, but it was their blowout. They did earn the right to be here, even if the score doesn't indicate as such. You can only do what you can do to get here, so for winning Minami Hokkaido congratulations are in order. But their summer is over, and focus will turn to making it for senbatsu next year.

Kajitsu advance yes, but there are obvious issues. They'd better hope not to draw Sakushin Gakuin.