Game 2 will be a bit hard to judge. Okinawa Shougaku only got by Houtoku Gakuen 1-0, but in reality they were never challenged all game. So when they did get their first run they could just cruise to the victory. However, it will be very difficult to implement that strategy as they progress. The offensive problems have appeared here early, and now is a full red flag to their championship prospects.
Much like Riseisha, Hakuoudai Ashikaga had a game that could only highlight negatives on their team. They did defeat Touryou as expected 9-1, and every starter got a base hit, though certainly it was the top half that did the most damage. So since they did what they supposed to, you can't really use it for any judgements going forward.
But if pressed, I think Okinawa Shougaku has more to prove in this game.
Hakuoudai Ashikaga (Tochigi)
CF Shuutou Takahito
2B Nakajima Kenjyu
LF Ooshita Seiichirou
1B Naoi Shuuta
3B Onodera Yuuya
C Ogawa Masaki
SS Shimokado Hikaru
P Higa Araki
RF Oogawa Yoshihiro
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)
____________________________________________________________
11:20 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Shuutou lining a fastball back up the middle, Yamashiro thankfully doesn't successfully block it with his leg. Nakajima bunts him along.
Yamashiro though hitting his spots early, putting Ooshita behind 0-2. But he gets a hold of a slider and send it back up the middle! Nakamura can't get to it and it goes into center! Shuutou getting the wave around, and Akamine's throw home isn't in time! Hakuou leads 1-0!
Trying to limit the damage, he doesn't miss with the slider and Naoi swings and misses for the 2nd out. Onodera follows right after with a popout to Asato. But some solid hits back up the middle might be trouble for Yamashiro.
Bottom 1st
Akamine with a quick swing hits a liner to left, but Ooshita has time to move to his right and make the catch.
However, Higa leaves a slider over the plate and Kubo singles to center. Then they get careful with Nishihira as he falls behind 3-0 before getting a borderline strike. Nishihiro though singles past a diving Shimokado for a base hit. Okishou threatening to tie the game.
Asato first pitching swinging lines out to right, leaving it up to Uehara to keep the inning goin.
Uehara does it! Higa leaves one over the plate and he shoots it to right! Kubo comes in to score and we're all tied at 1-1!
Sunagawa up and Higa still not finding the plate, falling behind 2-0, and 3-0! (That last pitch looked good) before he fires down the pipe for a strike.
He may be squeezed a little by the home plate ump as he doesn't get the call on a ball right near the corner. Manrui for Okishou as Fujita-kantoku calls time.
Irabu stepping in looking to get ahead early here in the 1st. But he chops one to 2nd. Nakajima goes to 1st and Hakuou gets out of the jam, but not before losing the lead.
Top 2nd
Ogawa jammed, but flares one the other way to right for a leadoff hit. Shimokado tries the bust-and-run, then the bunt, but neither work. He swings away and just beats grounding into the 1-6-3 double play despite diving into 1st.
Fujita-kantoku will go for the one-shot timely as Higa bunts him over into scoring position.
Oogawa hits a high chopper, but not high enough as Sunagawa fires to 1st for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Ogawa directing a lot of traffic behind home plate moving fielders around.
After a quick foulout by Yamashiro, Higa falls behind Nakamura before filling up the count. Nakamura hits a ball to the right side, Naoi makes the stop and Higa just beats Nakamura to the bag for the out.
It's a 1-2-3 inning for Higa as Shimokado makes a great catch and quick throw to beat a speedy Akamine for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
2 quick outs for Yamashiro as Shuutou pops out to 2nd, while Nakajima had to defend down 0-2 and popped out to Asato dear the Hakuou dugout.
Ooshita with a sharp hit to the left side, Sunagawa makes the great stop! Throw to 1st in plenty of time to retire the side.
Bottom 3rd
Okishou's batters are struggling to get level swings on the ball. Both Kubo and Nishihira hit high flies to the outfield. Asato finally puts a ball on the ground, but it was on a ball at his shoulders. It's a grounder to 2nd and another clean frame from the Hakuou ace.
Top 4th
Naoi leads off the inning, taking a fastball inside the other way for a base hit. Onodera though pops his bunt up and Uehara makes the catch for the out.
They try the hit-and-run with Ogawa, but he fouls it off. He hits a hard liner, but Nakamura makes the leaping catch for the 2nd out.
Shimokado hits a cue shot to the left side, Sunagawa comes in, but whiffs on the ball! It stops where he made contact, but by the time someone gets to it, everyone's safe.
No harm though as Higa hits a ball right to Uehara. He steps on the bag and the side is retired.
Bottom 4th
More fly balls from Okishou. Uehara with one to left, Ooshita this time has to go back quite a ways to make the catch.
Just to make things interesting, on Sunagawa's flyout to left center, Shuutou gives Ooshita a shove after he makes the catch (actually no one failed to call for the ball, though Shuutou did hold up).
And whatever isn't popped up is pounded into the ground. Irabu swings on a slider very low and bounces it to 3rd.
Top 5th
Oogawa with a chopper back up the middle, Nakamura goes to field it, but pulls up after Sunagawa's momentum puts him on a collision course! The ball goes into center for a base hit! Higa-kantoku calls time.
Shuutou almost pops out on his bunt attempt, but Uehara can't quite get there. He tries again on a pitch way outsde, makes contact but foul. He's forced to swing it seems, and lines out to Akamine.
Yamashiro has settled down after the 1st, and certainly not leaving pitch over like earlier. Nakajima chases a slider way low for the 2nd out.
And Ooshita with a ball right to Nakamura for the 3rd out.
Bottom 5th
Yamashiro hits a home run - if we were playing in a silo. Oogawa comes in to shallow right center to make the catch.
Nakamura becomes Higa's 9th flyout lifting a ball to center. Akamine becomes #10 after he takes a half swing and pops out to 3rd.
And so after the teams traded runs in the 1st, they've entered a lull period where neither team really can create an opportunity against another team. Sometimes the break can shake the cobwebs out - let's see if that's the case.
Top 6th
Oddly for Hakuou, they've had the leadoff runner get on in every inning except the 3rd.
Oh, and now the 6th as Naoi chases the fastball in the dirt for the out.
Onodera does get on base with a single to center, but Hakuou can't make anything of it as Ogawa first pitch flies to right, and Shimokado behind 0-2 hits a weak ball back to Yamashiro for the 3rd out.
Bottom 6th
There is a lot of bad contact going on. Kubo hits a slow comebacker right to Higa.
I say that and Nishihira lines a fastball back through the middle for a base hit.
Asato follows that up with a ball through the right side and now runners at the corners for Okishou! Fujita-kantoku calls for time.
Uehara does his job! Flyball to right! Oogawa catches it, but Nishihira comes in to score without a throw and Okishou leads 2-1!
Higa finally gets his routine fly to end the inning, but back-to-back hits are rewarded by Uehara as they break the deadlock!
Top 7th
Higa with a grounder to 2nd, Nakamura finds that Uehara was trying for the ball as well, so he has to wait to make the long throw to Yamashiro, who makes it there in time for the out.
Oogawa digs down and lines a ball past Sunagawa into center for a base hit, and more importantly flipping the lineup.
But Shuutou hits it right to Sunagawa! Goes to 2nd for 1, and despite the dive from Shuutou he gets in safely to prevent the double play.
Shuutou takes off for 2nd, Irabu with the throw, but Shuutou slides in safely! Douten runner in scoring position!
For about 20 seconds.
Nakajima hits a ball back to Yamashiro, who tosses to 1st for the 3rd out. Hakuou running out of time here to mount a rally, and they just haven't been able to make solid contact on the ball.
Bottom 7th
Irabu collects his first base hit with a liner over a leaping Onodera into left. That's it for Higa as Ooshita comes in from LF to pitch. #13 Asahina comes in Higa's spot and goes to LF.
Yamashiro bunts the runner along hoping Nakamura can help his cause.
Liner right to Onodera for the 2nd out! Irabu scrambles back to 2nd.
Ooshita not really a special pitcher, just serviceable it seems. Popup to shallow right center. Shuutou and Oogawa comes in... they collide and the ball falls in! I can't tell who goes to field the ball, but both Irabu and Akamine comes in to score on the play! Kubo's double gives them a 4-1 lead, but attention goes back to the outfield as Oogawa is writing in pain. The umpire is there first followed by Fujita-kantoku and the doctors.
And then the stretcher...
At first I thought it was a shoulder, but from the replay it looks like perhaps he got a knee to his side. He's taken off on the stretcher and attended to.
After about a 10 minute delay, he comes back out again and will stay in the game!
With that settled for the better, they now have to turn to the fact that they're behind 3 runs with only 2 inning on offense left!
And natch, the ball finds him too. Nishihira drives a ball to right center and while Oogawa goes back to chase it, it doesn't look like full speed. 5-1 now for Okishou.
Things may be devolving for Hakuoudai as Ooshita walks Asato...
Uehara with a drive to right! Oogawa going back... makes the catch.
Whew...
The side is retired, but Okinawa Shougaku takes a commanding 5-1 lead.
Top 8th
Ooshita is hit to start the inning, but he wiped off the basepaths as Naoi hits into a 3-6-1 double play.
Onodera nubs one in front of home and Irabu throws him out to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
Sunagawa hits a chopper back up the middle for a base hit, Irabu pops out trying to bunt him along. Higa-kantoku has Yamashiro bunt them along instead.
Nakamura with one back up the middle! Nakajima tries to fire to 1st, but Nakamura is just too fast! All safe, and Fuijita-kantoku calls time again.
Now a ball in the dirt allows Nakamura to take 2nd. A base hit really puts the nail in the coffin.
There it is. Akamine with a ball down the 1st base line past Naoi down the right field line. He books it all the way to 3rd beating the throw, and it's 7-1 Okishou.
That's it for Ooshita on the mound. #10 Hasegawa comes in for Oogawa and takes the hill. Ooshita goes back to LF and Asahina to RF.
Kubo drives in one more before Hasegawa retires the side. 8-1 as we head to the 9th.
Top 9th
2 down for Hakuoudai and Asahina singles through the left side and steals 2nd. But that's the last gasp for them as PH #12 Seshita grounds to short to end the game.
It was a close game early, but almost on cue Okinawa Shougaku pulled away after the mid-game break. ace Higa broke down, and Ooshita wasn't much help in relief. Yamashiro kept the Hakuoudai offense in check for the entire game, allowing just the one run in the 1st. They'll be the ones to face Toyokawa next, and unless they can find a way to break down ace Tanaka Sora, it could be a long game for the Meiji Jingu champs...
Notable Players
Yamashiro Daichi (Okinawa Shougaku) - CG, ER, 8 H, 4 K, 0 BB, HBP
Kubo Shuuto (Okinawa Shougaku) - 3-5, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
Nishihira Daiki (Okinawa Shougaku) - 3-5, 3B, 2 R, RBI
Higa Araki (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) - 6+ IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 0 K, 1 BB
Ogawa Masaki (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) - 2-4
Oogawa Yoshihiro (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) 1-3
Showing posts with label Hakuoudai Ashikaga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hakuoudai Ashikaga. Show all posts
Friday, March 28, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
86th Senbatsu - Day 3 - Game 2 - Touryou (Miyagi) vs. Hakuoudai Ashikaga (Tochigi)
Our sandwich game pits the Kanto winners Hakuoudai Ashikaga (whose trip to Senbatsu is their first!) and unknown Touryou.
Hakuou's stats do not look stellar, but given their competition it's possible there is very little adjusting to do unlike many of the other schools because of inflation against weak teams. If that's the case, then they don't look as bad of a team.
Touryou gets no breaks here in their first game. Their pitching looks very shaky given their high walk rates allowed and they had shaky games against weaker competition. The lineup has holes in the oddest places as well, so it's hard to buy their story. But we'll find out soon enough if what they're trying to sell is the real deal or just a lemon.
Touryou (Miyagi)
CF Yamazaki Seigo
2B Shibata Yuusuke
SS Kudou Kakeru
C Itou Takuto
1B Itou Shouya
3B Shiraishi Masatsugu
RF Umeki Masaya
LF Kobayashi Issei
P Satou Kouga
Hakuoudai Ashikaga (Tochigi)
CF Shuutou Takahito
2B Nakajima Kenjyu
LF Ooshita Seiichirou
1B Naoi Shuuta
3B Onodera Yuuya
RF Oogawa Yoshihiro
SS Shimokado Hikaru
P Higa Araki
C Ogawa Masaki
____________________________________________________________
11:37 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
First pitch from Higa is grounded to 1st for a quick out.
Shibata though turns on a ball and pulls it down the right field line for an easy double! That's a great way to start for Touryou!
But Kudou can't even move him over as he flies out to right.
AHH!! A pickoff attempt by Higa goes into center and Shibata goes to 3rd! Base hit can score a run here.
Ah, but Takuto can only hit a grounder to 2nd and that's the inning.
Bottom 1st
Shuutou with a grounder to 1st, gets through Shouta and deflects behind a covering Shibata! An inauspicious error to start the game for Touryou's defense. Nakajima bunts him over.
Ooshita with a scorcher down the 3rd base line... fair past a diving Shiraishi! Shuutou easily scores from 2nd as Ooshita beats the throw in for a double! 1-0 Hakuoudai!
Naoi puts in a productive out, grounding to 1st to advance the runner. But Satou strands him there as he gets Onodera to wave at a fastball high and away for the 3rd out. Not before Hakuoudai gets on the board though!
Top 2nd
Nothing doing for Touryou's offense this inning it seems. Shouya falls behind quickly and grounds out to 1st. Shiraishi on the next pitch hits a routine fly to right. And Umeki, though he decides to work the count, watches a fastball down the middle to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Shimokado rips one down the 3rd base line, Shiraishi with a great diving stop! Throws to 1st, but Shouya can't pick it off the bounce! That's goes in as a base hit.
Fujita-kantoku will go for the one-time shot as Higa bunts the runner along. But Ogawa can't do anything as he grounds to short to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Higa doesn't throw particularly hard, high 120s-low 130s with either a slider or changeup around 120.
After a groundout by Kobayashi, Satou sneaks one past a diving Nakajima into right for a base hit.
2 down now, and Shibata, not finding anything to his liking, walks on 4 straight prompting a visit to the mound from Ogawa.
Kudou though hits a ball right to Shuutou in center, and the side is retired.
Bottom 3rd
Satou appears to be around the same velocity as Higa, with a slider and changeup in the upper 110s.
One down and Nakajima lines one past a lunging Kudou for a base hit.
Ooshita all over Satou's pitches! He takes a slider the other way into the gap! Nakajima heading for 3rd, being waved home! The relay throw... not in time! Nakajima scores all the way from 1st on the double and Hakuoudai leads 2-0!!
And now Naoi singles past Shibata! Runners at the corners as Chiba-kantoku calls time.
There's one out as Onodera is jammed and fouls out to Takuto behind the plate.
But Satou just can't find the zone against Oogawa and walks him to load the bases for Shimokado!
Buckling down, Satou pumps in 2 strikes... and gets Shimokado to hit a grounder to short. Kudou goes to 2nd to end the inning, but Hakuou tacks on another run.
Top 4th
Shouya gives Touryou their 3rd hit with a 1-out single back up the middle into center.
Shiraishi tries to lay down the bunt twice, but it just rolls foul both times. He then swings and misses on the slider for the 2nd out.
Umeki pops out to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Thanks to my connection crapping out on me, I missed out on this entire inning, I'll have to get back to it late, but Hakuou scores 4 to make it a 6-0 ballgame.
Top 5th
Well, back to watching the action, and just in time to see Touryou do nothing sadly.
A Kobayashi strikeout, followed by 2 groundouts by Satou and Yamazaki continue the relative futility of their offense.
Bottom 5th
Shimokado continues the apparent hit parade with a solid single to left. Higa bunts him along to scoring position.
Ogawa delivers with a liner over a leaping Shibata for a base hit and a 7-0 ball game as the throw home is cut off.
Satou manages to limit the damage as Shuutou grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning, but the game already seems out of reach for the Tohoku runner-ups as we head into the break.
Top 6th
Touryou's offense continues to scuffle. Grounder after grounder to the infield defense. Kudou robs himself of a hit when he dives into 1st as his team goes 1-2-3.
Bottom 6th
Satou struggling on the mound as Nakajima doubles down the right field line to start the inning. Chiba-kantoku figures it's time and sends in #10 Okamoto to relieve him.
After a bit of nerves, falling behind Ooshita 3-0, he works the count full and induces a grounder to 1st. Nakajima advances to 3rd on the play.
And we can close the book on Satou as Naoi singles to left scoring Nakajima to make it 8-0.
2 down now, and a wild pitch from Okamoto allows Naoi to advance into scoring position. And now a passed ball right under Takuto's legs moves the runner to 3rd...
Okamoto though gets out of the inning after he snags the comebacker from Oogawa.
Top 7th
Much like basketball, I think I'd like to see the Touryou bench empty.
I say that and Shiraishi lines a slider to left field for a 1-out single. And then Umeki takes a slider through to right, and Touryou finally has something cooking. Fujita-kantoku calls for time.
Ah, but Kobayashi winds up grounding into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning...
Bottom 7th
1 down, Shouya for Touryou makes a great diving stop on a bid for a base hit by Higa. Shovels to Okamoto to complete the play.
Okamoto almost gets the clean inning, but he walks Ogawa with 2 down.
But another comebacker, this time from Shuutou, ends the inning.
Top 8th
Okamoto providing a spark on both sides as he gets the bat under the changeup and finds the gap in right center for a leadoff double!
Yamazaki does it! He singles back up the middle! Okamoto is waved home, and the throw is cut off! Touryou gets on the board at 8-1!
However, after an attempt at a safety bunt, the next two batters are retired.
Bottom 8th
Ooshita gets a little lucky with his hit towards center as Yamazaki gets fooled and comes in late to field it as Ooshita slides into 2nd.
Okamoto then strikes out Naoi, but the ball gets away from Takuto and Naoi reaches base.
Onodera with the sac fly makes it a 9-1 game as PH Hiraga grounds out to end the inning thereafter.
Top 9th
#13 Asahina in for PH Hiraga to play RF.
Last ups, and Shiraishi gets his 2nd base hit with a solid knock to right. However, the next two batters are retired, including PH Aizawa to end the game.
Touryou certainly did their best for a while, but Hakuoudai Ashikaga turned on the afterburners in the 4th and never looked back. They can at least be proud to have reached the Tohoku final, and reached Koushien though.
Hakuoudai Ashikaga will need to prep for Okinawa Shougaku next, and like Okishou that game will not be anything like this one.
Notable Players
Higa Araki (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) - CG, ER, 8 H, 3 K, BB
Ooshita Seiichirou (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) - 4-5, 4 2B, R, 3 RBI
Nakajima Kenjyu (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) - 3-2, 2B, 2 R
Naoi Shuuta (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) - 3-5, 3B, R, RBI
Satou Kouga (Touryou) - 5+ IP, 7 ER, 13 H, 2 K, BB
Okamoto Naoki (Touryou) - 4 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 K, BB
Shiraishi Masatsugu (Touryou) - 2-4, K
Okamoto Naoki (Touryou) - 1-1, 2B
Shibata Yuusuke (Touryou) - 1-3, 2B, BB
Hakuou's stats do not look stellar, but given their competition it's possible there is very little adjusting to do unlike many of the other schools because of inflation against weak teams. If that's the case, then they don't look as bad of a team.
Touryou gets no breaks here in their first game. Their pitching looks very shaky given their high walk rates allowed and they had shaky games against weaker competition. The lineup has holes in the oddest places as well, so it's hard to buy their story. But we'll find out soon enough if what they're trying to sell is the real deal or just a lemon.
Touryou (Miyagi)
CF Yamazaki Seigo
2B Shibata Yuusuke
SS Kudou Kakeru
C Itou Takuto
1B Itou Shouya
3B Shiraishi Masatsugu
RF Umeki Masaya
LF Kobayashi Issei
P Satou Kouga
Hakuoudai Ashikaga (Tochigi)
CF Shuutou Takahito
2B Nakajima Kenjyu
LF Ooshita Seiichirou
1B Naoi Shuuta
3B Onodera Yuuya
RF Oogawa Yoshihiro
SS Shimokado Hikaru
P Higa Araki
C Ogawa Masaki
____________________________________________________________
11:37 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
First pitch from Higa is grounded to 1st for a quick out.
Shibata though turns on a ball and pulls it down the right field line for an easy double! That's a great way to start for Touryou!
But Kudou can't even move him over as he flies out to right.
AHH!! A pickoff attempt by Higa goes into center and Shibata goes to 3rd! Base hit can score a run here.
Ah, but Takuto can only hit a grounder to 2nd and that's the inning.
Bottom 1st
Shuutou with a grounder to 1st, gets through Shouta and deflects behind a covering Shibata! An inauspicious error to start the game for Touryou's defense. Nakajima bunts him over.
Ooshita with a scorcher down the 3rd base line... fair past a diving Shiraishi! Shuutou easily scores from 2nd as Ooshita beats the throw in for a double! 1-0 Hakuoudai!
Naoi puts in a productive out, grounding to 1st to advance the runner. But Satou strands him there as he gets Onodera to wave at a fastball high and away for the 3rd out. Not before Hakuoudai gets on the board though!
Top 2nd
Nothing doing for Touryou's offense this inning it seems. Shouya falls behind quickly and grounds out to 1st. Shiraishi on the next pitch hits a routine fly to right. And Umeki, though he decides to work the count, watches a fastball down the middle to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Shimokado rips one down the 3rd base line, Shiraishi with a great diving stop! Throws to 1st, but Shouya can't pick it off the bounce! That's goes in as a base hit.
Fujita-kantoku will go for the one-time shot as Higa bunts the runner along. But Ogawa can't do anything as he grounds to short to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Higa doesn't throw particularly hard, high 120s-low 130s with either a slider or changeup around 120.
After a groundout by Kobayashi, Satou sneaks one past a diving Nakajima into right for a base hit.
2 down now, and Shibata, not finding anything to his liking, walks on 4 straight prompting a visit to the mound from Ogawa.
Kudou though hits a ball right to Shuutou in center, and the side is retired.
Bottom 3rd
Satou appears to be around the same velocity as Higa, with a slider and changeup in the upper 110s.
One down and Nakajima lines one past a lunging Kudou for a base hit.
Ooshita all over Satou's pitches! He takes a slider the other way into the gap! Nakajima heading for 3rd, being waved home! The relay throw... not in time! Nakajima scores all the way from 1st on the double and Hakuoudai leads 2-0!!
And now Naoi singles past Shibata! Runners at the corners as Chiba-kantoku calls time.
There's one out as Onodera is jammed and fouls out to Takuto behind the plate.
But Satou just can't find the zone against Oogawa and walks him to load the bases for Shimokado!
Buckling down, Satou pumps in 2 strikes... and gets Shimokado to hit a grounder to short. Kudou goes to 2nd to end the inning, but Hakuou tacks on another run.
Top 4th
Shouya gives Touryou their 3rd hit with a 1-out single back up the middle into center.
Shiraishi tries to lay down the bunt twice, but it just rolls foul both times. He then swings and misses on the slider for the 2nd out.
Umeki pops out to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Thanks to my connection crapping out on me, I missed out on this entire inning, I'll have to get back to it late, but Hakuou scores 4 to make it a 6-0 ballgame.
Top 5th
Well, back to watching the action, and just in time to see Touryou do nothing sadly.
A Kobayashi strikeout, followed by 2 groundouts by Satou and Yamazaki continue the relative futility of their offense.
Bottom 5th
Shimokado continues the apparent hit parade with a solid single to left. Higa bunts him along to scoring position.
Ogawa delivers with a liner over a leaping Shibata for a base hit and a 7-0 ball game as the throw home is cut off.
Satou manages to limit the damage as Shuutou grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning, but the game already seems out of reach for the Tohoku runner-ups as we head into the break.
Top 6th
Touryou's offense continues to scuffle. Grounder after grounder to the infield defense. Kudou robs himself of a hit when he dives into 1st as his team goes 1-2-3.
Bottom 6th
Satou struggling on the mound as Nakajima doubles down the right field line to start the inning. Chiba-kantoku figures it's time and sends in #10 Okamoto to relieve him.
After a bit of nerves, falling behind Ooshita 3-0, he works the count full and induces a grounder to 1st. Nakajima advances to 3rd on the play.
And we can close the book on Satou as Naoi singles to left scoring Nakajima to make it 8-0.
2 down now, and a wild pitch from Okamoto allows Naoi to advance into scoring position. And now a passed ball right under Takuto's legs moves the runner to 3rd...
Okamoto though gets out of the inning after he snags the comebacker from Oogawa.
Top 7th
Much like basketball, I think I'd like to see the Touryou bench empty.
I say that and Shiraishi lines a slider to left field for a 1-out single. And then Umeki takes a slider through to right, and Touryou finally has something cooking. Fujita-kantoku calls for time.
Ah, but Kobayashi winds up grounding into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning...
Bottom 7th
1 down, Shouya for Touryou makes a great diving stop on a bid for a base hit by Higa. Shovels to Okamoto to complete the play.
Okamoto almost gets the clean inning, but he walks Ogawa with 2 down.
But another comebacker, this time from Shuutou, ends the inning.
Top 8th
Okamoto providing a spark on both sides as he gets the bat under the changeup and finds the gap in right center for a leadoff double!
Yamazaki does it! He singles back up the middle! Okamoto is waved home, and the throw is cut off! Touryou gets on the board at 8-1!
However, after an attempt at a safety bunt, the next two batters are retired.
Bottom 8th
Ooshita gets a little lucky with his hit towards center as Yamazaki gets fooled and comes in late to field it as Ooshita slides into 2nd.
Okamoto then strikes out Naoi, but the ball gets away from Takuto and Naoi reaches base.
Onodera with the sac fly makes it a 9-1 game as PH Hiraga grounds out to end the inning thereafter.
Top 9th
#13 Asahina in for PH Hiraga to play RF.
Last ups, and Shiraishi gets his 2nd base hit with a solid knock to right. However, the next two batters are retired, including PH Aizawa to end the game.
Touryou certainly did their best for a while, but Hakuoudai Ashikaga turned on the afterburners in the 4th and never looked back. They can at least be proud to have reached the Tohoku final, and reached Koushien though.
Hakuoudai Ashikaga will need to prep for Okinawa Shougaku next, and like Okishou that game will not be anything like this one.
Notable Players
Higa Araki (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) - CG, ER, 8 H, 3 K, BB
Ooshita Seiichirou (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) - 4-5, 4 2B, R, 3 RBI
Nakajima Kenjyu (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) - 3-2, 2B, 2 R
Naoi Shuuta (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) - 3-5, 3B, R, RBI
Satou Kouga (Touryou) - 5+ IP, 7 ER, 13 H, 2 K, BB
Okamoto Naoki (Touryou) - 4 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 K, BB
Shiraishi Masatsugu (Touryou) - 2-4, K
Okamoto Naoki (Touryou) - 1-1, 2B
Shibata Yuusuke (Touryou) - 1-3, 2B, BB
Sunday, February 2, 2014
32 teams in 32 days - Hakuoudai Ashikaga (Tochigi)
And now onto the Kanto region, where they were awarded 5 representatives. First up, the Kanto champs Hakuoudai Ashikaga - who to my surprise had not ever gone to senbatsu before. This despite the fact that they've been to Natsu Koushien 3 times.
Anyways, here was their road to senbatsu.
Road to Senbatsu
Tochigi Prefecturals
Having qualified for the Tohoku Super-Regional, perhaps Hakuoudai finally had their letdown being blanked by Sano Nichidai 5-0.
The loss also put them in a bad spot right off the bat having to play Saitama champs Hanasaki Tokuharu right off the bat. And yet, they never trailed taking a 6-1 lead before holding on to win 6-5. Then ace Higa Shin (比嘉 新) limited my Narashino squad to just 1 run in a fairly dominant 3-1 win. Just a day later, he'd repeat his performance against Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku.
Having gone back-to-back days, kantoku Fujita Shinji (藤田 慎二) let him rest in favor of relief starter Hasegawa Keita (長谷川 慶太) and normal LF Ooshita Seichirou (大下 誠一郎) in the title game against Kiryuu Dai-ichi who also rested their ace. Again, this probably in the name of not giving up too much information. Hakuoudai would win the battle of the backup starters 6-3 claiming their first ever Tohoku title and their 1st bid to senbatsu.
Higa would retake the hill in their first game against Iwakuni in the Meiji Jingu tournament, and things looked good as with some well placed balls (including one from himself), they built a 4-1 lead. However, Higa would lose support in the field in the 8th as SS Kamon Hikaru (下門 光瑠) would go home on a play with the bases loaded, hitting the runner and allowing Iwakuni to eventually take the lead to win 6-4.
Interestingly, ace Higa does not throw particularly hard, somewhere in the low 130s. Reports vary on his repertoire, he has a slider for sure, but either has a curve/change, perhaps a forkball, and might have a cutter as well.
I have to wonder though how much Fujita-kantoku really will lean on the relief staff. Ooshita is more known as a power-hitter on the team more than a pitcher, and yet is turned to more than who would be their reliever in #10 Hasegawa. And yet, I do not see him pitching outside of the final against Kiryuu Dai-ichi.
Offensively they do not appear to be as strong as perhaps other contenders. Higa at best seems to be someone that could be Ojima from Urawa Gakuin who doesn't throw hard, but perhaps get the job done. There doesn't look to be any solid backup behind him, so it'll be boom or bust for the first-timers. Higa can certainly last for 1 or 2 games, but after that the competition will be rough.
Next up today... runner-ups Kiryuu Dai-ichi!
Anyways, here was their road to senbatsu.
Road to Senbatsu
Tochigi Prefecturals
- def. Yasaka Chuo 6-3
- def. Oyama 2x-1 (11 inn)
- def. Tochigi 15-0 (5 inn)
- def. Sakushin Gakuin 3-2
- def. Kokugakuin Tochigi 4x-3 (10 inn)
- lost Sano Nichidai 5-0
- def. Hanasaki Tokuharu 6-5
- def. Narashino 3-1
- def. Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku 3-1
- def. Kiryuu Dai-ichi 6-3
- lost Iwakuni 6-4
Having qualified for the Tohoku Super-Regional, perhaps Hakuoudai finally had their letdown being blanked by Sano Nichidai 5-0.
The loss also put them in a bad spot right off the bat having to play Saitama champs Hanasaki Tokuharu right off the bat. And yet, they never trailed taking a 6-1 lead before holding on to win 6-5. Then ace Higa Shin (比嘉 新) limited my Narashino squad to just 1 run in a fairly dominant 3-1 win. Just a day later, he'd repeat his performance against Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku.
Having gone back-to-back days, kantoku Fujita Shinji (藤田 慎二) let him rest in favor of relief starter Hasegawa Keita (長谷川 慶太) and normal LF Ooshita Seichirou (大下 誠一郎) in the title game against Kiryuu Dai-ichi who also rested their ace. Again, this probably in the name of not giving up too much information. Hakuoudai would win the battle of the backup starters 6-3 claiming their first ever Tohoku title and their 1st bid to senbatsu.
Higa would retake the hill in their first game against Iwakuni in the Meiji Jingu tournament, and things looked good as with some well placed balls (including one from himself), they built a 4-1 lead. However, Higa would lose support in the field in the 8th as SS Kamon Hikaru (下門 光瑠) would go home on a play with the bases loaded, hitting the runner and allowing Iwakuni to eventually take the lead to win 6-4.
Interestingly, ace Higa does not throw particularly hard, somewhere in the low 130s. Reports vary on his repertoire, he has a slider for sure, but either has a curve/change, perhaps a forkball, and might have a cutter as well.
I have to wonder though how much Fujita-kantoku really will lean on the relief staff. Ooshita is more known as a power-hitter on the team more than a pitcher, and yet is turned to more than who would be their reliever in #10 Hasegawa. And yet, I do not see him pitching outside of the final against Kiryuu Dai-ichi.
Offensively they do not appear to be as strong as perhaps other contenders. Higa at best seems to be someone that could be Ojima from Urawa Gakuin who doesn't throw hard, but perhaps get the job done. There doesn't look to be any solid backup behind him, so it'll be boom or bust for the first-timers. Higa can certainly last for 1 or 2 games, but after that the competition will be rough.
Next up today... runner-ups Kiryuu Dai-ichi!
Sunday, November 17, 2013
44th Meiji Jingu Tournament - Days 1 & 2
Well, we're off in the Meiji Jingu tournament to decide the last bid to go to a region and there have been some surprises.
Day 1
Ryuukokudai Heian (Kinki) did what I though they would against Mie (Tokai). Starting in the 3rd, Imai and Nakaguchi with back to back hits would drive in a run each to make it a 2-0 game. That would be followed up by the Takahashi battery (C Yuuhashi & P Keiji) in the 4th for another 2 runs. And a Mie error in the 5th would give them a 5-0 lead.
But as Mie is wont to do, they scrap their way back after the break. Nishioka would get them on the board in the 6th with a groundout. 2 innings later, Seko would get a timely RBI, and Nishioka would follow that up with a 2-run double to make it a 1-run ballgame.
However, that would be the closest they would get. Ootsuka would come in as Heian's 3rd pitcher and shut down Mie to secure the 5-4 win.
Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo) did not start Abe Takeshi in their game against Okinawa Shougaku (Kyushu). But then again, he's actually wearing #10 apparently! The ace number belongs to Haketa Akihiro, who did start the game.
And he held the Okishou offense in check as his team jumped on ace Yamashiro. Yamaguchi started things off with a timely single with runners at the corners, and then Ikeda followed that up with a double and it was 2-0 Kanto in the 1st. Ikeda would deliver again in the 3rd, with another base hit to make it a 3-0 ballgame. That would be it for Yamashiro as Kubo would come in from right to swap places.
The game stayed at 3-0 until post-break where Okishou finally got to Haketa. With runners at the corners, Akamine Ken delivered a base hit to score 1, and then Kubo himself would hit a double to make it a 1-run ballgame.
Haketa would give way in the 8th still holding onto the lead. I would have expected them to go Abe, but again I would have been wrong. Instead they went to unknown Tanabe Ren. That didn't go well when Anzato would get a hit to left, tying the game.
It then went all wrong in the 9th as Tanabe would only record one out while giving up 5 runs, ensuring Okishou's advance to the next round.
Day 2
The first game of the 2nd round was a no-contest affair sadly. My supposed favorite, Hachinohe Gakuen Kousei (Tohoku) was never in the game against Imabari Nishi (Shikoku) as their #3 batter Ochi Itsuki would drive in 3 of their 5 runs en route to a 5-1 victory. Of course, it didn't help also that the team committed 4 errors in the game as well...
The second game almost seemed like the first. Hakuoudai Ashikaga (Kanto) quickly took the lead over Iwakuni (Chuugoku) with a sac fly from Ooshita in the first and a timely from Higa in the 2nd. Kawamoto's double in the 3rd would bring Iwakuni within 1, but a pair in the 5th seemed to make the game a copy of the first.
But much like Kanto Dai-ichi, things went horribly wrong in the 8th inning for Hakuoudai. Tsuchiya would start it off with a timely hit to center to make it a 4-2 ballgame. With the bases loaded, Kameya would hit a grounder to short. Kamon would go home, only to throw it away... 2 runs would score and the game was tied at 4. Ace Higa would be relieved as Ooshita would come in from left to pitch. Sadly, a wild pitch would allow the gyakuten run to score.
Iwakuni would tack on one more as Yanagawa would shut the door in the 9th ensuring that Kanto would not get another bid (Nisshougakushadai Fuzoku should get the floating bid now).
The schools with some hope left may be:
Day 1
Ryuukokudai Heian (Kinki) did what I though they would against Mie (Tokai). Starting in the 3rd, Imai and Nakaguchi with back to back hits would drive in a run each to make it a 2-0 game. That would be followed up by the Takahashi battery (C Yuuhashi & P Keiji) in the 4th for another 2 runs. And a Mie error in the 5th would give them a 5-0 lead.
But as Mie is wont to do, they scrap their way back after the break. Nishioka would get them on the board in the 6th with a groundout. 2 innings later, Seko would get a timely RBI, and Nishioka would follow that up with a 2-run double to make it a 1-run ballgame.
However, that would be the closest they would get. Ootsuka would come in as Heian's 3rd pitcher and shut down Mie to secure the 5-4 win.
Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo) did not start Abe Takeshi in their game against Okinawa Shougaku (Kyushu). But then again, he's actually wearing #10 apparently! The ace number belongs to Haketa Akihiro, who did start the game.
And he held the Okishou offense in check as his team jumped on ace Yamashiro. Yamaguchi started things off with a timely single with runners at the corners, and then Ikeda followed that up with a double and it was 2-0 Kanto in the 1st. Ikeda would deliver again in the 3rd, with another base hit to make it a 3-0 ballgame. That would be it for Yamashiro as Kubo would come in from right to swap places.
The game stayed at 3-0 until post-break where Okishou finally got to Haketa. With runners at the corners, Akamine Ken delivered a base hit to score 1, and then Kubo himself would hit a double to make it a 1-run ballgame.
Haketa would give way in the 8th still holding onto the lead. I would have expected them to go Abe, but again I would have been wrong. Instead they went to unknown Tanabe Ren. That didn't go well when Anzato would get a hit to left, tying the game.
It then went all wrong in the 9th as Tanabe would only record one out while giving up 5 runs, ensuring Okishou's advance to the next round.
Day 2
The first game of the 2nd round was a no-contest affair sadly. My supposed favorite, Hachinohe Gakuen Kousei (Tohoku) was never in the game against Imabari Nishi (Shikoku) as their #3 batter Ochi Itsuki would drive in 3 of their 5 runs en route to a 5-1 victory. Of course, it didn't help also that the team committed 4 errors in the game as well...
The second game almost seemed like the first. Hakuoudai Ashikaga (Kanto) quickly took the lead over Iwakuni (Chuugoku) with a sac fly from Ooshita in the first and a timely from Higa in the 2nd. Kawamoto's double in the 3rd would bring Iwakuni within 1, but a pair in the 5th seemed to make the game a copy of the first.
But much like Kanto Dai-ichi, things went horribly wrong in the 8th inning for Hakuoudai. Tsuchiya would start it off with a timely hit to center to make it a 4-2 ballgame. With the bases loaded, Kameya would hit a grounder to short. Kamon would go home, only to throw it away... 2 runs would score and the game was tied at 4. Ace Higa would be relieved as Ooshita would come in from left to pitch. Sadly, a wild pitch would allow the gyakuten run to score.
Iwakuni would tack on one more as Yanagawa would shut the door in the 9th ensuring that Kanto would not get another bid (Nisshougakushadai Fuzoku should get the floating bid now).
The schools with some hope left may be:
- Hokkaido - Sapporo Ootani
- Hokushinetsu - Chikyuu Kankyou
- Kinki - Sanda Shousei
- Chuugoku/Shikoku - Takigawa Gakuen
- Kyushu - Souseikan
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