高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

Our matinee game is a headliner for sure, and a regional affair to boot.

Sendai Ikuei has certainly put the offense on full as usual, racking up 19 runs in their first 2 games most recently defeating Takigawa Dai-ni. However, the team is susceptible to long stretches without scoring opportunities, and ace Satou Sena is not a power pitcher - though I'm not sure if any of the aces here are.

Hanamaki Higashi may have finally gotten the formula right. At first they were a plucky squad that grinded out games, putting pressure with running bases and the like. They're still doing it here, but it's more planned than just turning the dial to 11.

This should be a great way to start the afternoon session.

Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
3B Satou Shouta
CF Aoki Reima
SS Hirasawa Taiga
C Gunji Yuuya
1B Sasaki Ryousuke
LF Kii Kaishuu
RF Sasaki Tooya
2B Yatsu Koudai
P Doumeki Yuuki (#10)

Hanamaki Higashi (Iwate)
SS Tarou Akira
C Fukushima Keito
LF Chida Kyouhei
2B Kumagai Sena
CF Sasaki Yuuya
1B Satou Yuito
RF Chiba Kouta (#11)
3B Kikuchi Shinya
P Katou Mitsunori (#17)

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13:15 - First pitch!

1st Inning
The siren isn't even done blaring and Shouta is at first with a single. Aoki quickly bunts him over.

Hirasawa draws a 4-pitch walk, and are they already in trouble?

Gunji base hit the other way! Shouta coming home and it's already 1-0 Sendai Ikuei!

Ryousuke with another single the other way! Hirasawa comes home and it's 2-0!

Kii hot shot to 3rd! Kikuchi has it! Goes to the bag for 1, throw to first gets the double play! But before that though Sendai Ikuei strikes first in the opening frame for a pair of runs!

Hanamaki Higashi, looking to immediately cut into that deficit gets a walk from Tarou, who is bunted over.

Chida gets under a pitch and hits a blooper to left. Kii and Hirasawa converge, but it falls in! Tarou gambles and goes for it and thus is able to score! 2-1!

Yuuya singles through the right side and it's runners at the corners with 2 outs for Yuito!

But they try the double steal! Hirasawa fires back home and they get Chida for the 3rd out! That's a a really questionable call there, especially with 2 down.

Top 2nd
And now Hanamaki Higashi is sending in ace Takahashi!

Tooya grounder to short! Tarou is able to run it down, but the throw is late and wide!

And now Takahashi hits Yatsu! Hanamaki Higashi back in hot water again!

Doumeki helping his own cause slicing ball down the left field line and all the way to the wall for a double! Tooya scores and it's 3-1.

Shouta walks on 4 straight and it's manrui for Sendai Ikuei!

Aoki liner up the middle, Tarou with the diving catch! Can't quite double off Doumeki, but that's a key out.

Takahashi then strikes out Hirasawa and Hanamaki Higashi is a pitch away from getting out of it,

Grounder to short and Tarou can flip to 2nd to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd
Yuito lines a ball right at Shouta's head! He ducks, but can't get the glove quite on the ball as it goes to left for a base hit.

Chiba tries to bunt, but it's too short and Gunji fires to 2nd to cut down the lead runner.

Unfortunately, Kikuchi does ground into the 5-4-3 double play and the side is retired.

Top 3rd
After the first 2 innings, Takahashi is glad to get a clean, short inning to get some rest.

Bottom 3rd
One down and Tarou gets plunked.. Sasaki-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but Chida grounds to short. Tarou beats Hirasawa to 2nd, but Hirasawa is still able to go to 1st for the out.

Grounder to short, and it's still a relatively quiet inning.

Top 4th
One down and Doumeki showing at least he is the better batter as he singles back up the middle. But two grounders to short later and the side is retired.

Bottom 4th
あら？

Kumagai hits a ball to left. Kii back to the wall. He looks up!

HAITAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kumagai hits a HR to left and brings Hanamaki Higashi within 1!

And after Yuito gets a base hit off of Doumeki, that'll be it for Doumeki.. for now anyways.

Satou Sena comes in for Sasaki Tooya and takes the hill. Doumeki goes to RF.

Pulls the string on Chiba with the forkball for the 2nd out, and then on the next pitch gets Kikuchi to ground to 3rd. Still Hanamaki Higashi is hanging in there!

Top 5th
2 down for Sendai Ikuei and Ryousuke singles to left, then Kii singles to right and there's runners at the corners.

Sena liner, but right to Tarou for the 3rd out!

Bottom 5th
There literally wasn't a bottom of the 5th. Sena needed just 4 pitches and we're at the break.

After a shaky start by both relief starters on the mound, the aces have taken over. But unfortinately for Hanamaki Higashi they find themselves down a run at the break.

Top 6th
One out and there's a reason Doumeki was left in. He gets his 3rd single of the game. And Sendai Ikuei will play for a run? Shouta bunts the runner over.

Takahashi leaves a ball up! Aoki drives it to left... and over Chida's head!! That's to the wall!

Doumeki scores from 1st, Aoki going for 3rd! Relay throw in.... OUT!!!

Aoki tries to take one base too many and the side is retired, but he does reestablish the 2-run lead at 4-2!

Bottom 6th
Chida with a ball to the left side. It's past a diving Shouta, but not Hirasawa! Fires to first and they nail him!

After that, it's 1-2-3 and perhaps Hanamaki Higashi is in trouble!

Bottom 7th
Yuito grounder to 3rd, throw from Shouta, short hops 1st and it's into foul territory! Yuito takes 2nd (just) on the error!

And they'll play for the run as Chiba bunts him over.

Kikuchi gets the run in as he flies out to right. 4-3.

That winds up being all they get, but they're within a run.

Top 8th
Two down and Yatsu gets hit preventing the clean inning.

Doumeki ball up the middle, Kumagai sliders over... but it's off him and into center! It's runners at the corners!

But Shouta grounds to short and the inning is over!

Bottom 8th
Hanamaki Higashi though goes down quickly in order. They still need 1 run, and now they have just 3 outs to go.

Top 9th
Hanamaki Higashi in trouble again! With 1 out, after Hirasawa walks, Gunji's bunt gets fielded by Fukushima, but the ball slips out of the glove! All safe!

Ryouta with a liner to left! Chida coming in, dives.. makes the catch!

And Kii strikes out to retire the side! They're able to hold serve, but...

Bottom 9th
It's the zero hour.

Kumagai grounds to 2nd and there's already 1 down.

But Yuuya lines a ball just over third for a base hit!

But then they try to steal 2nd??? Gunji fires... and they get him! 2 out!!!

Yuito with a ball to right, and Doumeki plays it safe and lets it drop in front of him. They're still alive as #9 Fukuchi runs for Yuito.

And after a strike, #14 Komatsu comes in for Chiba?

Grounder to 2nd, throw to 1st, and that's the ball game! Sendai Ikuei advances to the Best 8!

Tsuruga Kehi's dream of winning Haru-natsu still lives after going extras to defeat Meitoku Gijyuku. The trip doesn't get any easier as now they have to play the ever stingy Hanamaki Higashi. As usual you can't take their 4-2 result against Senshuudai Matsudo as a negative because it is well known that they play to the level of their opponent.

So you can expect to see them play up to the level of Tsuruga Kehi.

The question is, what level is Tsuruga Kehi at? Was that 4-3 win a good or a bad indicator of where the team is for their run this summer?

Hanamaki Higashi (Iwate)
SS Tarou Akira
C Fukushima Keito
LF Chida Kyouhei
2B Kumagai Sena
CF Sasaki Yuuya
1B Satou Yuito
RF Chiba Kouta (#11)
3B Kikuchi Shinya
P Katou Mitsunori (#17)

Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui)
3B Shinohara Ryou
1B Kurisu Kazuma
SS Hayashinaka Yuuki
P Hiranuma Shouta
CF Yamamoto Kouta
RF Matsumoto Teppei (#7)
LF Kinoshita Shougo (#9)
C Kamon Yuusuke
2B Nakai Kidzuku

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15:55 - First pitch!

1st Inning
Early trouble for Hiranuma! Fukushima with a clean single through the left side. And Chida folows that up with a single to right! Fukushima makes it to 3rd so there's a big chance for Hanamaki Higashi early!

And now Hiranuma hits Kumagai! What is going on???

Sasaki with a fly to right. Fukushima tags up! Throw from Matsumoto.... ON A LINE!! Fukushima is out by a wide margin and Hanamaki Higashi is denied the run!

Not a strong start from designated starter Satou. After a lengthy AB, he walks Shinohara.

Kurisu lays down the bunt, but Kikuchi spikes the ball to 1st and Yuito can't handle it! All safe!

Hayashinaka to lay down the bunt again, but he pops it up! Yuito crashes, makes the catch, fires to 1st... double play! Bad break for Tsuruga Kehi.

Worse yet, with 1st open, they basically intentionally walk him. Yamamoto fouls out to Yuito and the inning is over.

Top 2nd
Chiba, getting the start today in RF, collects his first hit when he sinles to right. But Kikuchi and Katou are quickly dispatched thereafter so nothing here.

Bottom 2nd
It would seem that for quite a few of the batters theyare trying to drive up Katou's pitch count. Matsumoto and Kinoshita both go full counts before their ABs resolve.

Kinoshita's ends with a walk, but Kamon grounds into 4-6-3 double play to end inning.

Top 3rd
Fukushima gets things started with his 2nd single of the game, Chida isn't bunting with 1 down, but pops up to 2nd.

Kumagai with a drive to right! Matsumoto tries to make an over the shoulder catch, but he can't do it! It falls in and Fukushims scores from 1st! 1-0 Hanamaki Higashi!

Bottom 3rd
Meanwhile the offense for Tsuruga Kehi stalls as the 8-9-1 batters are quickly retired.

Top 4th
More pressure from Hanamaki Higashi.

Yuito leads off with a clean hit to left. Again, no bunt from Chiba but he watches a fastball hit the outside corner. for strike 3.

Kikuchi though follows that up with a single to right. But with Katou up, Sasaki-kantoku goes for the bunt instead to turn the lineup over. Which he does.

And intentionally or now, Tsuruga Kehi walks Tarou to setup the force. But that also brings up Fukushima who is 2-2 on the day.

Base hit! He's 3-3 as he singles to left! One run is in, they're waving around Kikuchi! Throw in... SAFE!! The C played behind home plate and that allowed Kikuchi to slide in safe! 3-0!

Chida with a ball to center, Yamamoto slides... and that falls in! Tarou comes around and there will be no throw home! 4-0!

Kumagai grounds into a fielder's choice, but it's clear Hiranuma isn't his spring self.

Bottom 4th
If I told you that one of these team won the spring Koushien, you'd probably guess Hanamaki Higashi and you'd be wrong.

And yet as Katou retires the 3-4-5 batters in just 7 pitches, he has a no-hitter going.

Top 5th
And even more amazing, Hiranuma is being relieved! #18 Yamazaki comes in to pitch as Hiranuma goes to left!!

Yet it is Yamazaki, and not Hiranuma that gets the first 1-2-3 inning for Tsuruga Kehi! He even strikes out 2 in the process!

Bottom 5th
Katou continues to dominate the Tsuruga Kehi batters.

Yamazaki goes down swinging chasing a forkball. Yamazaki chases the high fastball.

Kamon drives a ball to right! Will they get their first hit?

Yes! It falls in!! Kamon gets a double!!

Nakai grounder to short and AH!!! Tarou flubs the ball and everyone's safe!

Shinohara with a ball to dead center, Sasaki going back, going back....

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shinohara with a 3-run HR to center and we have a ballgame!! It's 4-3!

Kurisu now with a single to center! Can they really tie it up here?

Not right now! Hayashinaka tries to bloop it down the right field line but Chiba makes the sliding catch! But as we hit the break we have a ballgame!

Top 6th
Yamazaki doing well in relief striking out Kikuchi.  After that #12 Nonomura comes in to hit for Katou, so his day is done.

Nonomura for his part strikes out looking for the 2nd out.

Tarou grounds out to 3B, and it's Yamazaki's 2nd clean inning.

Bottom 6th
Ace Takahashi enters the game looking to shut Tsuruga Kehi down the rest of the way.

Hiranuma welcomes him with a base hit back up the middle.

Yamamoto lays down the bunt, Kikuchi throws to 1st.. SAFE!! Kikuchi double-clutches and that costs him the out!

AH! But Matsumoto grounds to short! Tarou starts the 6-4-3 double play and there's suddenly 2 down!

Now #15 Fujiwara comes to hit for Yamazaki?! He grounds out to 2nd, but wasn't Yamazaki keeping them in the game?

Top 7th
So Hiranuma returns to the mound and #17 Mori goes to play LF.

Perhaps the time off worked as he gets the first 2 batters. BUt Kumagai singles to center.

Then Sasaki hits a grounder to 1st, but it goes off of Kurisu as he dives and trickles into shallow right!

Yuito with a ball back up the middle!!  Kusagai comes around and he scores! 5-3 and Hanamaki Higashi looks to pull away again.

Bottom 7th
Kamon with his 2nd hit of the day, a single to right. Nakai bunts him over. Shinohara a chance to tie  it again, but instead it's a sky high popup.

Kurisu also pops it up, and now Tsuruga Kehi is really in trouble.

Top 8th
I'm starting to involuntarily doze off due to lack of sleep, but during that time Hanamaki Higashi puts 5 hits together, 4 consecutive starting with Fukushima (again), scoring 3 runs to make it 8-3 effectively ending this game.

Bottom 8th
Just to show where they're at, Hiranuma grounds to 2nd, but the throw gets away into foul territory.  When he sees this, he turns left, but then realizes he won't get to 2nd. Problem is, he overrun 1st by a wide margin... and thus is thrown out back at 1st.

9th Inning
Tsuruga Kehi makes one last stand in 9th, but despite 2 hits, the game ends and Hanamaki Higashi defeats the spring champs 8-3!

I'm really tied at this point, but it would appear that Hiranuma wasn't the same from the spring to the summer. The team struggled against Shizuoka, and then fell flat against an always game Tsuruga Kehi squad.

For as often as we've seen teams go haru-natsu recently, today proves that this feat is still difficult.

Well, it was about a usual of a day as you can have. As much as Koushien is romanticized, more often than not it is games like these. Doesn't mean we can't have exciting games, it's just that it doesn't happen every game.

Hopefully this one can give us some good baseball.

By now, Hanamaki Higashi should be old hat. A team out of nowhere in Iwate that challenged the establishment. Had two aces who may have been destined for MLB instead of NPB (Kikuchi Yuusei and Ootani Shouhei). And a manger who some international kokoyakyu fans consider cute or cool. They run, steal, try to gain advantages where they can. The only knock I have on them is that they can play to the level of their competition - good or bad.

As for Senshuudai Matsudo, they have been disappointed time and again out of Chiba generally having made at least the quarterfinals, progressing a round each year, but losing. And losing in enchousen each time.

This time around, they took out all that frustration against (my) Narashino. 7 runs in the 7th inning and they were finally on their way to the title. Having defeated Narashino and Kisaradzu Sougou, the question is - what can they do now that they're here?

Senshuudai Matsudo (Chiba)
SS Watanabe Daiki
LF Takada Takumi
3B Okamoto Yoshiki
P Hara Shuu
C Kawamura Keisuke
1B Izume Daichi
RF Teramoto Keiuske
CF Kawazoe Yuusei
2B Itou Akinobu

Hanamaki Higashi (Iwate)
SS Tarou Akira
C Fukushima Keito
LF Senda Kyouhei
2B Kumagai Sena
CF Sasaki Yuuya
3B Komatsu Yuuya (#14)
1B Satou Yuito
RF Satou Tarou (#13)
P Takahashi Takuya

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10:02 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Hm... Senshuudai Matsudo's band is refreshingly different, but I'm not impressed by their ABs at the plate early. Lots of bad swings in a 1-2-3 inning for ace Takahashi.

Bottom 1st
Nice play there by Watanabe in the gap to prevent a leadoff hit. Ran it down, stop and throw back across. Hara throwing in upper 130s-low 140s, which is slightly above average for the straight (fastball).

Hara gets a 1-2-3 inning of his own, including striking out Senda to end the inning.

Top 2nd
Takahashi is about in the same range as Hara, perhaps a tick or two slower. But he's not missing in the wrong places. And gets a mundane 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 2nd
The same cannot be said for Hara has he walks Kumagai to start the inning.

After a bunt, he still can't find the zone and issues another walk.

Worse yet, what should have been a 6-4-3 double play is just 6-3 as Itou fails to cover 2nd in time.

Now it's a HBP! Its manrui for Takahashi!

And he makes them pay! It's a chopper over a leaping Hara to center and 2 runs come in to score! 2-0 and now Senshuudai will be under the gun.

Hara does finally get the last out, but if he's not careful, this game can get away like the others.

Bottom 3rd
The offense for Matsudo not doing anything, and Hara struggling on the mound. Once again he's in a pinch giving up a one out hit and a walk. Komatsu is able to score 1 on a base hit to center, but a fortunate overrun gets the runner thrown out at 2nd fo the 3rd out. Still it's 3-0 but feels like more.

Top 4th
Matsudo fortunate to get a runner when a ball bounces away from Komatsu to start the inning.

EH? Hara goes straight 5-hole on Tarou and it gets to the outfield. And now Senda whiffs on the ball too! Okamoto comes in all the way from 1st on a 2-error play! 3-1.

WHAT?? Now Satou Tarou sells out on a ball to right and it gets by him all the way to the wall! Hara will score and Kawamura has a triple! 3-2, and this is very unlike a normal Hanamaki Higashi team.

Ah... But Matsudo tries for the contact play. It's a chopper, but not high enough as Komatsu high points it and goes home for the easy out. That would kill the rally, but Matsudo somehow is back in the game.

Top 5th
After Hara setttles down for the inning, Matsudo gets something brewing as Watanabe slices a ball to right and Takada directs a ball back up the middle. They fail to cash in as Okamoto grounds right to Komatsu, and he can just walk it to the bag for the 3rd out.

Bottom 5th
Man, you cannot keep on giving free passes and expect to win. This time Fukushima gets the walk.  And when Senda chops one just out of Okamoto's reach. And now Hanamaki Higashi shows their speed as Fukushima takes 3rd on the grounder.

Things get worse as Watanabe goes home with he fielders drawn in, but it's not in time. Run scores, and they don't get an out.

Mochimaru-kantoku goes for the P change, sending in #10 Kadoya for CF Kawazoe. Hara goes to RF, Teramoto goes to LF, Takada goes to CF.

Kameya gets the final 2 outs, but we'll have to see if he can keep them in the game post-break down 4-2.

6th Inning
So Takahashi wants to reestablish his presence on the mound and does just that striking out the side. Meanwhile Kadoya outside of a hit batter, is also doing his job in relief. But the bats need to lift a little, and there isn't a lot of time left.

7th Inning
Matsudo continuing to get chances. Itou and Watanabe this time with back-to-back hits, but it's again with 2 down. Takada reaches out and flies out to left to end the inning.

Meanwhile, Kadoya continues to make Hanamaki Higashi look meek at the plate. He gets his first 1-2-3 inning, but even with that he's given up just 1 hit.

8th Inning
That's a back-breaker. Okamoto hits a ball of the fence in left center. But he presses for 3 and the throw beats him by a good margin. Your run doesn't even tie the game! Why would you do that?

And what might have been a promising inning instead goes 1-2-3.

Hanamaki Higashi is fine going 1-2-3 as they're looking to just close out the game.

9th Inning
It was hard to get excited when Tsuganezawa got a bunt base hit, and then a single from Itou after that because it was with 2-outs once again. Watanabe strikes out swinging to end the game.

Senshuudai Matsudo didn't disgrace themselves at all, and made headway against Takahashi. However, the runs were scored via error and they couldn't drive in a run on their own. Nothing to be disappointed about really.

Hanamaki Higashi look very regular in this game. Nothing flashy, and even had errors. They may be here, but perhaps it's a year ahead of a rebuild (remember, they lost Ootani).

With Maebashi Ikuei in the final, who will face them? Hanamaki Higashi has the offense on their side, while Nobeoka seemingly has the pitching on their side.

Hanamaki Higasahi (Iwate)
2B Yagi Hikaru (#14)
CF Chiba Shouta
LF Kishisato Ryousuke (#1)
RF Oota Ryousuke
3B Tadano Shouta (#3)
C Yamashita Hayato
SS Mogi Kazuhiro
1B Oguma Yuuki (#16)
P Nakazato Yuusuke (#11)

Nobeoka Gakuen (Miyazaki)
2B Kajiwara Shouto
SS Matsumoto Masaya
CF Sakamoto Ryougo
RF Iwashige Akihito
LF Hamada Shintarou
1B Tanaka Yuuki
3B Usuda Ryou (#14)
C Yanase Naoya
P Yokose Takahiro

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13:30 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Yagi up, goes full count, and grounds to 2nd.

Chiba up, and he's not trying to work the count? Swings 1-0 and grounds to 3rd...

Oof... then collides with Tanaka at 1st. He's shaken up a bit, but eventually gets up and heads to dugout. Though, given his stature there's not a lot he won't win in a collision.

Apparently the patience game is being played by Chiba's teammates, because Kishisato goes full, fouls off a couple and takes a walk.

Oota, behind 1-2, fouls off one... and another... and another, and another!

Yokose finally gets him to ground to 1st, but that's 25 pitches in the inning. Chiba would be proud.

Bottom 1st
And there's Ama-chan's OP theme.

Kajiwara though chops one to short, Mogi makes the play for the 1st out.

Matsumoto hard ball to Oguma, gets in front and takes it to the bag for the 2nd out.

And Matsumoto way out in front of a curve, grounds to Mogi again. Short hops throw, but Oguma makes pitch for a 1-2-3 innning.

Top 2nd
After pitching Tadano low, Yokose goes up and in and Tadano can only roll it to Tanaka for the 1st out.

Yokose doesn't pull out the slider, but the changeup as Yamashita goes down for his first K.

And Mogi first pitch flies out to Sakamoto and the inning is over.

Bottom 2nd
Iwashige short ball to the left side, Mogi charges, gets the throw off and gets Iwashige for out #1.

Hamada swings over a slider letter high for the 2nd out.

Tanaka rolls one to 2nd and... AH!

Yagi whiffs on the ball and it goes 5-hole! Inning continues!

Usuda, after falling 1-2 works the count full. Next pitch... ball!

Oh... that was close... But the inning continues as Yanase steps in with runners at 1st and 2nd.

Sanshin!!!

Nakazato gets Yanase to swing and miss on a slider and the inning is over, but not before he has to throw 11 more pitches.

Top 3rd
Oguma goes after yet another curve, and grounds out to Matsumoto up the middle.

Once again the battery does the ol' setup outside pitch over the plate to get Nakazato.

Yagi with the 6th groundout for Yokose as he hits one to Kajiwara for the 3rd out. Right now he has the Hanamaki batters all fouled up in their timing.

Bottom 3rd
Nakazato doing a great job matching Yokose on the mound, first of all getting his counterpart to pull an outside slider weakly to 2nd and Kajiwara to fly to center on the same.

Matsumoto, though hits a hard grounder up the middle. Yagi makes the great stop, but throws it to 1st when he has no play and throws it away! Sensei (先制) runner on at 2nd base!

But once again Nakazato picks up his 2B. Matsumoto grounds to short and the inning is over!

Top 4th
Wait, who is this person batting as Chiba? He's swinging to put the ball in play!

Slaps one to the left side, takes a high hop that Matsumoto fields, throws to 1st... beats a diving Chiba!

(RUN THROUGH THE BAG!!!!)  (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Kishisato, attacking the 3-1 pitch whizzes it by Tanaka for a base hit.

Hit-and-run! Oota swings, but hits it right to Matsumoto. Has no play at 2nd so goes to 1st for the 2nd out.

Tadano can't get level on a high fastball and flies out t o right and we're still scoreless.

Bottom 4th
This game is whizzing by at a quick pace. Iwashige gets caught on an inside fastball and flies out to Chiba.

Hamada trying to attack first pitch, gets ahead of the changeup and grounds to Mogi.

Tanaka with a slicing liner that Kishisato runs down and we're already to the 5th inning at a neat 40 minutes!

Top 5th
Yamashita with a curve off the end of the bat drops it in center. Mogi laying down bunt, Yokose fields, AHHHHH!!!!!

Yokose falls over and his throw to 1st from the seat of his pants pulls Tanaka off the bag!

Shigemoto-kantoku call for time.

Oguma bunts, but it dies right at home! Yanase goes to 3rd for one, throw to 1st... Oguma just beats it out!

Nakazato up trying to give himself a lead...

But Yokose gets the generous outside strike call! 2 out!

And perhaps with that ouside pitch in mind, Yagi chases a fastball outside to close out the inning!

Bottom 5th
As if to "give back" to Nobeoka, Nakazato gets his own K on the outside corner.

Yanase a blooper to right, Yagi and Oota coming in... Yagi jumps, but can't get and it falls in for a single (he's having a rough day).

Yokose lays down the bunt, Tadano with it goes it 1st, AH!!

Throws it away! Yanase heads to 3rd, but Yagi is backing up the play! Throws to 3rd... and they got him! Nice cover by Yagi! (There you go!)

But man they're not making it easy on themselves! Nakazato uncorks a wild pitch and Yokose heads to 2nd!

Now a base hit from Kajiwara can give Nobeoka the lead!

But he goes after a high slider and hits a comebacker to Nakazato! Tosses it to 1st and the inning is over!

We hit the break with both teams with chances to score, but the starters closing the door. he game is going at breakneck speed... who will wipeout first?

Top 6th
This is not the Chiba I remember! He tries for the safety bunt and is thrown out by Yokose as he dives into 1st. (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Kishisato gets setup with a fastball after a curve and pops out to Yanase for the 2nd out.

And before I can really even finish these recaps, Oota looks at an outside fastball for strike 3!

Bottom 6th
One down, and Sakamoto grounds one back up the middle for a base hit.

2-2, Sakamoto takes off for 2nd! Yamashita with the throw but it's high and Yagi cuts it off...

Chance for a base hit here to take the lead, but Iwashige pops it up! Mogi behind 2nd makes the catch for the 2nd out.

Hamada ball to right side, through for a base hit!! Sakamoto being waved around as Oota throws it in, but it's not going to be in time! Hamada breaks the deadlock as he advances on the throw and Nobeoka Gakuen leads 1-0! Once again, Nobeoka is the master of mid-game adjustments!

Tanaka blast to right center! No one's going to get that! Chiba chasing that to the wall, but Tanaka's going to get in with a RBI triple to make it 2-0!

Sasaki-kantoku calls for time...

Usuda grounds out to Mogi to end the inning, but now Hanamaki Higashi will be on the clock.

Top 7th
But they're playing like a team under a lot of pressure instead of digging in.

Tadano unable to pull trigger on fastball outside, goes down looking.

Yamashita an easy comeback to Yokose for the 2nd out..

And Mogi tries to take a fastball the other way, but it's not hit very hard and Kajiwara makes the play at 1st to retire the side!

Bottom 7th
Two quick outs against the bottom of Nobeoka's order as Yanase grounds to short and Yokose gets a taste of his own cooking as he chases an ouside fastball.

Kajiwara grounds out to 2nd and the inning is over.

Top 8th
Ahh....

Kajiwara injures himself running to 1st base and has to be carried off the field. He's crying so it looks like he won't be returning.

And #5 Kajiwara takes his spot, and goes to 3B, Usuda goes to 2B.

Oguma still not recognizing the outside strike goes down looking.

#15 Takeda hitting for Nakazato first pitch grounds to short.

Yagi finally gets a base runner for Hanamaki Higashi as he singles up the middle past Usuda.

Chiba up with a chance to work the count and get on base... maybe?

He swinging away! Hard shot to 2nd, but Usuda is there to block it! Takes it to 2nd and the inning is over!

Bottom 8th
#17 Hosokawa in for PH Takeda to take the hill.

Matsumoto welcomes him with a base hit to center.

But Hosokawa has him picked off! Rundown... oh...

Hosokawa called for the balk, and now Sasaki-kantoku calls for time.

Sakamoto expectedly bunts Matsumoto to 3rd.

SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But it's a pitchout! Iwashige throws the bat at the ball (which isn't legal anyways), misses, and Matsumoto is run down 2-5-1-6 for the 2nd out!

It almost becomes a 1-2-3 inning of sorts, but Hosokawa walks Iwashige.

Hamada flies out to left and the inning is over...

Top 9th
But they're just 3 outs away from defeat and they haven't played gritty all game!

3-4-5 batters up for Hanamaki Higashi...

Kishisato, first pitch jammed, flies out to center.

Oota flails at the outside fastball and there's 2 outs.

Last chance in Tadano.

He's quickly behind 0-2, now 1-2 fouls off a pitch before holding up on a slider. Works count full... and earns a walk!

Yokose gets up quickly on Yamashita 0-2.

SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!

Yokose gets Yamashita to swing on an outside slider and Nobeoka Gakuen wins 2-0!

Wow, did not expect this game. Nobeoka Gakuen did everything they normally do in a ballgame, made their mid-game adjustments and won the game.

But I am very surprised at Hanamaki Higashi and how they played their game. Instead of playing gritty, they played like Yasuda Gakuen a couple of years back who looked like they had somewhere else to go to.

And the poster boy for Hanamaki Higashi, Chiba Shouta, who can be visibly heard crying, is where I point the style blame to - not necessarily him.

Chiba was good in setting up the rest of the lineup, by taking pitches and getting on base. And yet today, he was swinging away like everyone else. I just didn't understand what their strategy was against Yokose. If it was to score before they made their adjustments, simply willy-nilly swinging wasn't going to get it done. If this was Sasaki-kantoku's doing then he loses a couple of managerial points in how he played this opportunity today.

I won't necessarily go so far as to say that a team deserved a loss, because all these teams worked hard to get here, but they did themselves no favors with how they played today.

Yokose and Yanase did exactly what they were supposed to do. Once they identified that the home plate umpire was giving the outside strike, they went there time and again with Hanamaki unable to adjust.

That's not to take everything away from Yokose's performance. He located his pitches well and hit the spots that Yanase was spotting. The question will be if he can do it on 0 days rest.

@^*%#!

Ugh. I  just lost my Best 8 Review post, so these will have to be abbreviated.

Naruto unfortunately for them in my opinion decided to blowout Tokoha Kikugawa. From recent history having such a game winds up being detrimental in the next game as teams generally struggle. Furthermore, Moriwaki-kantoku never pulled Bandou despite the lead, and pitching on 1 day's rest could be a problem.

For Hanamaki Higashi, they have their usual gritty bits such as #2 citter Chiba. Sasaki-kantoku has basically utilized the entire roster and reorganized the lineup to fit the matchup. Same thing with the pitchers, even pulling in Kishisato (who didn't pitch in the prefecturals at all) for the Saibi game.

He seems to be successful choosing the starter, but the relief staff thereafter struggles, and so runs are to be had.

Hanamaki Higasahi (Iwate)
2B Yagi Hikaru (#14)
CF Chiba Shouta
LF Kishisato Ryousuke (#1)
RF Oota Ryousuke
3B Tadano Shouta (#3)
C Yamashita Hayato
SS Mogi Kazuhiro
1B Oguma Yuuki(#16)
P Hosokawa Toshiki (#17)

Naruto (Tokushima)
2B Nakano Yuuki
CF Koumoto Yuujirou
SS Kawano Yuuto
1B Ise Hayato
RF Inaoka Kenta
C Kusaka Hiroki
3B Matsumoto Takanori
P Bandou Yuugo
LF Narukawa Shuuji


____________________________________________________________

08:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Yagi playing patience game with Bandou, does wind up grounding to short after reaching a full count.

Chiba does gritty things spoiling away pitch after pitch after getting count full. 8... 9... 10... 11... all foul.

12th pitch, foul again. Naruto not realizing this perhaps, but this is rapidly increasing pitch count for later.

13th pitch, ball 4! They should have done what Major did in whatever ep I can't remember and just walked him beforehand to save pitches.

Now in the middle of the lineup, the strategy is seemingly abandoned as Kishisato swings away.  That's to his detriment as he whiffs on a forkball down 2-2 for the out!

That leaves it to cleanup batter Oota, but it looks like the Naruto battery wants nothing to do with him getting 3 balls before catching the outside half.

But Oota gives them an out when he goes after a ball inside and rolls one to Ise for the 3rd out. But Bandou has thrown a lot of pitches.

Bottom 1st
Looks like the strategy for starter Hosokawa and Saski-kantoku is to go away to all the batters, and so far it's working.

But to Naruto's credit, they are trying to take it the other way. It's just that both Nakano and Koumoto both ground to short, and Kawano goes to 2nd.

Top 2nd
Hm, after building the pitch count in the 1st, they're giving pitches back in the 2nd - though Bandou is throwing more strikes. Tadano falls behind 0-2 and chases a fork ball, grounding to 2nd. Yamashita goes on the next pitch and grounds to short.

Mogi also swings on the first pitch and hits a high slider back up the middle. But again after falling behind 0-2, Oguma grounds to a fielder's choice at 2nd for the 3rd out.

Bottom 2nd
Against Ise, Hosokawa works both sides, eventually getting him to pull a fastball in right to Mogi.

Inaoka gets a rare ball in the middle of the plate, but all he can do is ground to 2nd.

Kusaka the first time we see Hosokawa have issues with control, winds up walking Kusaka.

But comes right back to strike out Matsuki on a screwball and the inning is over!

Top 3rd
Once again with 2 strikes Bandou uses the fork and Hosokawa chases.

Yagi with a sharp ball back up the middle, but Bandou finds a present in his glove.

Chiba after that 13 pitch AB, trolls Bandou who things throwing a strike will be fine. Lines one to center for a base hit.

Kishisato though likes the high fastball and flies out to left for the 3rd out.

Bottom 3rd
Hosokawa now inside to Bandou jams him and he hits a soft fly to Oguma. But against #9 batter Narukawa, he winds up hitting him with the curve. Moriwaki-kantoku will play for the one-time as Nakano bunts him along.

Koumoto though attacks a 1st pitch fastball on what looks like the outer half and just rolls one to short. Mogi the easy play for the 3rd out.

Top 4th
Oota making contact with the fork, lines one to center!  The ball hits off the heel of Koumoto's glove and pops up! Oota takes off for 2nd and beats the throw!

Tadano with the safety bunt, but a crashing Ise has it within milliseconds it seems and goes to 3rd! Oota realizing he's out goes back, but he's in a rundown. But despite the time it takes, Tadano doesn't advance!

Yamashita popup behind home, Kusaka makes a great catch against the padding, but he enjoys the nice play that Tadano takes 2nd!

It winds up not hurting them as Mogi goes after the outside fastball and grounds out to 2nd.

So despite the hustle double, it winds up resulting in nothing.

Bottom 4th
Another jam job done by Hosokawa and Kawano hits one back to Hosokawa.

Ise actually gets a good fastball to lineup but grounds right to Mogi for the 2nd out.

Inaoka actually able to hit a fly ball to the outfield, but he was out in front of a slider and lifts it to Oota for the 3rd out.

Top 5th
Oguma gets a good changeup to hit, but hits it right back to Bandou for the first out.

Hosokawa works the count full on Bandou, but winds up hitting another comebacker for the 2nd out.

So back to the top of the order and Yagi. I'd almost take the out to have Chiba start the inning.

And Bandou obliges by spotting the fastball on the inside corner for the 3rd strike.

Bottom 5th
Kusaka gets a 3-2 count, takes the outside fastball back the other way past a diving Yagi for a base hit! Naruto finally breaks the no-hitter!

Bust-and-run! Matsumoto grounds one to 1st! Oguma looks 2, but goes to 1st for the out.

Bandou drives a ball to center! Chiba scampering back, looks back, scampers more...  Makes the catch! Kusaka holds at 2nd and there's 2 down!

Narukawa flies out to right though and we hit the break scoreless! Both Hosokawa and Bandou have pitch well so far, though it looks like Naruto is starting to make better contact on Hosokawa's offerings. Bandou meanwhile has given up baserunners in every inning except the 5th, but has clamped down there after.

I do imagine Sasaki-kantoku will be going to the bullpen in the 2nd half. Can they get to Bandou before then?

Top 6th
Chiba leading off the 6th, falls behind 2-2 and now goes into defensive mode, gets to 3-2 right off the bat.

Foul ball #1... #2...

Nope, lasts just 2 pitches as he walks on the 3rd 3-2 pitch.

Kishisato drive to center! Koumoto back going back...

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's off the first wall on the backscreen! Chiba sets that up with the walk and the ace number (though he doesn't really pitch) gives his team the 2-0 lead!!

Bandou trying to recover, Oota grounds one to Ise.

Tadano can't get to the fastball on the outer half for the 2nd out.

And Yamashita flies out to Narukawa.

But as expected an ace finally breaks down and it's Bandou!

Bottom 6th
Oof. Leadoff batter Nakano for Naurto looks rather silly swinging at slider near LH batters box for 1st out.

Hosokawa trying to entice Koumoto away, but he doesn't bit and he draws a walk.

Uh oh, now Hosokawa behind Kawano now 3-0!

Ball 4! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Ise!

But only now does Sasaki-kantoku sends out #11 Nakazato to the bullpen. That might be a problem.

Sasaki-kantoku calls time to buy time for Nakazato.

Ball 1 wide to Ise....

Grounder to short, Mogi can't secure it! It goes to left and Koumoto comes to score! Kawano goes to 3rd and he's a good chance of blowing the 2-run lead they just got. 2-1!

And Sasaki-kantoku is still sticking with Hosokawa...

Inaoka lines a fastball the other way down the left field line... FAIR!!  Kawano scores, Ise takes 3rd and Inaoka takes 2nd on the throw in! Douten at 2-2 and Naruto still threatening!

And Sasaki-kantoku is still sticking with Hosokawa...

Kusaka hard grounder to 2nd! Yagi goes home and Ise is caught in between! He's run down and there's 2 out!

But still runners at the corners with 2 out.

Matsumoto single through short! Inaoka will come in to score easily and Naruto has come back!! 逆転, 3-2 Naruto!

Bandou hits one back to Hosokawa for the 3rd out, but the damage has been done. Naruto takes the lead and now Hanamaki Higashi will have to start all over again.

Top 7th
Mogi starts off the inning with a line single to left center. Oguma moves him over for Hosokawa.

But Bandou falls behind 3-0 before Kusaka goes out to see him.

Liner to left! Narukawa to his right... makes the sliding catch! 2 out.

Yagi bounds one to Kawano and the side is retired!

Bottom 7th
Narukawa early on a slider, flies out to center. Nakano lifts one to the right side and Yagi makes the catch.

Ah, but on a full count to Koumoto, he walks him.

And then against Kawano he's all over the place. He manages to get the count full, but walks him too.

And now finally does Sasaki-kantoku send in #11 Nakazato to relieve him to face Ise, that's a tough first batter.

But Ise flyball to center! Chiba ranging to his left.. makes the running catch for the 3rd out! They prevent Naruto from scoring, but still trail with just 6 outs to go!

Top 8th
Chiba does lead off the 8th...

And he's ahead 2-0. I'd almost consider walking him even though he's the douten runner to save pitches...

Because 2 strikes later, he's in his defensive mode. Ball 3 outside, here we go!

Foul... foul...

Ball 4! Again, I think it might have been the best choice. But you just can't miss to Kishisato like last time.

Bandou pulls the slow curve and Kishisato whiffs over it.

Kishisato bleeder to short, Kawano throw to 1st... OUT! Just gets Kishisato on a bang-bang play!

Oota up and Sasaki-kantoku sending a message out to him.

Oota goes after 2nd pitch, looks like high fastball, flies out to center. 2 down.

Tadano grounder to 1st... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The ball hits the bag and bounds over Ise into right! Chiba rounding 3rd, he scores!!  The lucky bounce ties the game at 3-3!!!!

Yamashita drive to deep left center!  Narukawa running to it, won't get there! Tadano heading for 3rd, going home... he scores!  Yamashita in with a double and Hanamaki Higashi has taken the lead at 4-3!!

Moriwaki-kantoku calls a conference to try and calm things down.

Mogi with a single to the right side... Nakano chasing after it, can't get it! Yamashita scores and it's now 5-3!

Things quickly falling apart as Bandou hits Oguma... Is this the end for Naruto?

Not yet perhaps. Nakazato flies out to center and the deficit is at 2, still a lot, but manageable.

Bottom 8th
Inaoka gets a good fastball to hit, but pulls it right to Oguma for the first out.

Kusaska jammed on fastball inside, grounds to 2nd, 2 down!

Matsumoto works a walk, and at least the douten runner can get to the plate.

Ah! But Nakazato has Matsumoto caught off 1st! They start the rundown, but it looks rather awkward. They move him to 2nd, but the Ogawa buries the throw and he's safe!

AH!AH! Now Nakazato throws it away to 2nd and Matsumoto goes to 3rd! One base hit can make this a 1-run game!

But Bandou ahead of the changeup and he grounds to Tadano for the 3rd out!

Top 9th
#10 Maegawa comes in for Narukawa and takes over in RF. Inaoka goes to LF.

After a popout by Yagi, it's the Chiba show.

Yep, 2-2 and he fouls 1... 2... 3... 4... takes ball 3... ball 4!

So he's 1-1 with 4 walks.

Bandou retires the next 2 batters, but Naruto has a lot of work to do now...

Bottom 9th
#5 Mihara comes in for Oguma and goes to 3B, Tadano returns to his nubmered position of 1B.

Nakazato struggling with the zone, falls behind 3-0 and while he gets a strike him, ends up walking him! Douten runner will come to the plate!

And now he's having trouble with Nakano, going 2-0 before getting a generous call on a ball out and low.

So they try the low zone again.. and get it!  2-2!

Slider way outside though, and it's a full count. Oh, Nakano goes after ball 4 but fouls it off. I don't hear anyone warming up in the bullpen.

BALL 4!!!

And only now with the douten runner on base with no out, does Sasaki-kantoku switch out Nakazato for #10 Kouno.

Normal kokoyakyu practice would be to bunt here to move the douten runner to scoring position.

Indeed Koumoto is showing bunt.

But while they're worried about defense, Kouno falls behind 2-0!

Finally one in the zone, but Koumoto fouls it off!

Comebacker! Kouno catches it in the 5-hole! Maekawa is stuck off 3rd! He's run down and there's 2 outs! Still runners on 2nd and 3rd, but with only one out to spare.

And cleanup batter Ise is up. Will they risk putting the gyakuten runner on base?

YES!

They walk him on 4 pitches and will go to face Inaoka! Sasaki-kantoku calls time.

Nakazato gets ahead 0-1... Inaoka swings, 0-2!

Grounder to 2nd! Yagi blocks it! goes to field it... can't get it! CAN'T GET IT... CAN'T GET IT!!!!!!!

He has to eat the ball and Nakano scores! We're at 5-4 and the sayonara run is at 2nd!!!!

Kusaka up to deliver the winning hit.

NO! Pops it up! Mogi under it, Mihara coming over! Mogi! Mihara!!

It's Mihara who makes the catch! GAME SET!!

Oh my god what a finish! I knew this game would be close, but not to this extent!!

Bandou trying not to cry, but you can tell he and the rest of the team are holding it back.  But man what a game.

The two keys I had earlier came to fruition. Bandou did fatigue on the mound, and Hanamaki Higashi would have to go their bullpen. But Sasaki-kantoku almost pulled the trigger late, not once, but twice - putting the reliever into a complete high leverage situation. That works if you're in the majors and you're playing the sabermetric game. But these are high schoolers! Dear lord man, have better judgement!

But because of it Naruto was able to mount 2 rallies and make this game about as close as you can get.

I need a drink...

Today's games feature many of the powerhouses that could contend for the title. It also oddly enough is the first of 3 teams where a team from Shikoku is at risk.

Of course, the first team up from the small island is the one perhaps considered to be a favorite to win it all.

But Anraku's first game seemed odd. And it was for several reasons.

First of all Anraku's sitting velocity was all over the place.  We'd see him in the mid-upper 130s, then in the low 140s and then he'd go hit high 140s with the occasional 150+.

Which brings me to my second point. The majority of his pitches were fastballs. Yes, his sitting fastball was in a range of mid 130s to high 140s.

What?

Is he throwing fastballs to reduce wear on his arm, and using changes in velocity a la Toua Tokuchi in One Outs, to get batters out? That's an interesting proposition there if it is true.

But perhaps I overspeculate. It probably is that they are just saving his arm. But if that's the case, why leave Anraku in a 9-2 ballgame in the 9th inning when you have #11 Miyata in the pen?  Answer probably is, the yakyu default answer - he's the ace and he should finish the game.

Well, we'll see how that goes as the tournament goes on.

Up for them is Hanamaki Higashi who looked.. well, rather un-Hanamaki like in their first game.

Instead they boomed out 5 runs before Hikone Higashi could answer and cruised to a 9-5 win. Yes, they have their slap hitting gnat that just annoys a pitcher and the opposing defense in Chiba Shouta, but otherwise this team does not look like your (um... damn I can't use that analogy) normal Hanamaki Higashi team!

The pitching line from the Hanamaki staff is a mixed bag. They struck out 11, but gave up 9 hits as Hikone was very aggressive at the plate. Should be interesting to see how they fare against Saibi today.

Hanamaki Higasahi (Iwate)
2B Yagi ? (#14)
CF Chiba Shouta
LF Kishisato Ryousuke (#1)
RF Oota Ryousuke
3B Tadano Shouta (#3)
1B Oguma Isamu (#16)
C Yamashita Hayato
SS Mogi Kazuo
P Kouno Masa (#10)

Saibi (Ehime)
RF Yamashita Takuma
SS Hayashi Kanya (#13)
2B Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
3B Oota Yuuya
LF Goutouji Shin (#8)
1B Fujiwara Kouki
CF Machida Takahiro (#6)
C Kaneko Kouhei

____________________________________________________________

08:01 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
After falling behind 3-0 to leadoff batter Yagi, he goes three straight strikes to for the first out.

Machida for Saibi coming in from LF to play SS, Kanya goes just to the 3rd base side of 2B!

Chiba still beats the shift! He hits it just to the 1B side of 2nd and it's past Usagawa for a base hit!

Anraku having problems with control early as he falls behind Kishisato 3-1...

Single to right! Chiba holds up at 2nd..

Once again, Anraku pitching from behind to Ryousuke also behind 3-1...

Takes a fastball to left for a base hit! Chiba advances a station and it's manrui for Hanamaki Higashi!

AH!

Anraku hits Tadano with a slider forcing in a run! 押し出し! 1-0 Hanamaki Higashi!

Oguma follow that with a fly to center! Machida fields it and Kishisato can walk home to make it 2-0!

Yamashita ball to left! But it hangs up and Goutouji catches it for the 3rd out.

A lot of varying fastballs an slow curves from Anraku, but control issues put Saibi behind early!

Bottom 1st
Yamashita down on a slider down and in from selected starter Kouno.

Kanya with a rip down the 3rd base line, 5-holes Tadano! Kanya presses for 2nd... and gets in just ahead of the throw!

Oh! Now Kouno hits Usagawa with a curve and Saibi has a chance to get those runs back with Anraku up to bat.

Looks early on a swing, tries to 1-hand it and still almost lines it down the right field line!

Kouno though climbs the ladder on him though and gets the K! Yuuya now looked to to get the timely.

But Kouno gets him to go after a change outside! He grounds to Oguma for the 3rd out!

Top 2nd
Sasaki-kantoku has gone almost all lefty against Anraku. But against the bottom of the Hanamaki lineup, Anraku gets back on track.

Mogi with a routine grounder to short, Kouno goes fishing on a fastball on the outer half, and Yagi gets a fastball over the middle, but lines right to Goutouji for the 3rd out.

Bottom 2nd
Interesting Kouno that. He's feeding Saibi continuous offspeed pitches either the slider or the change. Goutouji and Fujiwara can't help but try to line those for base hits and instead ground out.

Machida works a well earned walk where we actually get to see him throw fastballs (they're in the low 120s).

But Kaneko goes down looking when Kouno puts a changeup on the outside corner.

Top 3rd
Chiba facing the 5-man infield again... goes down swinging on a slow curve from Anraku for the first out!

But Anraku hits his 2nd batter in Kishisato and Hanamaki has another runner on.

Ryousuke liner down the right field line, fair!  Kishisato flying around the bases as Yamashita goes to the corner to field it! Kishisato comes in all the way from 1st to make it a 3-0 ballgame! And they're still threatening!

Tadano comebacker! Fielded by Anraku! He has Ryousuke caught between the bases! He's run down for the 2nd out!

Oguma goes down looking for the 3rd out, but Hanamaki Higashi is extending their lead!

Bottom 3rd
Saibi hasn't been able to figure out Kouno just yet, gets retired in order, and I think I have a theory that will have to wait until next inning.

Top 4th
Yamashita give a good fight to Anraku, but he goes down looking on one of the few sliders he's thrown.

Mogi though continues the barrage on Anraku as Mogi singles past a diving Oota and Machida for a base hit!

Kouno bunts Mogi along for a one timer from Yagi.

But he too goes down looking and the side is retired!

Bottom 4th
I think Kouno is succeeding because he has the same thing that Kazuya did for Obihiro Ootani. If the pitch tracker is to be believed, his fastball is mid 120s at best. His slider is in the upper 110s which is a narrower gap than most. And in the case of slow pitches, it might be helping him out.

Saibi trying to exert extreme patience against Kouno now.  Anraku runs the count full before he winds up flying out to right.

Yuuya gets as far as 2-2 before chasing a slider for the 2nd out.

Goutouji goes full as well, fouls off 6 pitches before hitting a single to center.

Fujiwara reached the 3rd full count this inning...

Liner down the 3rd base line... fair!! It gets past Tadano and goes all the way to the wall! Throw goes to 3rd as Fujiwara takes 2nd! Throw back there not in time!

Chance for Saibi as Machida steps in.

He gets behind 1-2 after fouling one off...

But then takes 2 close pitches and fills up the count.

But he's ahead of the changeup! It's a grounder to 3rd and Tadano goes to 1st for the 3rd out!

Top 5th
So the shift is a little different than I described earlier. Machida comes in for CF to take a position way inside - where a fielder would charge to if there was a bunt. the SS plays just about normal.

But with 2 strikes Jyoukou-kantoku pulls him back. As if on cue, Chiba chops one there. Oota charges and throws to 1st to just beat him.

Kishisato up now, and Anraku pulls out the slider one more time! Kishisato goes down swinging for the 2nd out!

And Ryouta goes down swinging for the 3rd out!

Bottom 5th
Kaneko still exhibiting patience draws a leadoff walk!

Sasaki-kantoku pulls Kouno for #11 Nakazato as we hit the top of the order.

Hit and run! Yamashita though goes down swinging! Hayato (crap, there were 2 Yamashitas too) throws to 2nd and gets the counterpart Yamashita out!

Kanya flies out to center to end the inning, and as we hit the break, Saibi is in a bit of trouble down 3-0 with very few scoring chances against Hanamaki Higashi.

Top 6th
Anraku doing his best, to keep the team in it. After giving a leadoff walk and subsequent bunt, he gets 2 straight flyouts to center to keep the deficit at 3.

Bottom 6th
Hmm... The patience strategy seems to be stalling. Usagawa gets rung up when a slider catches the outside corner. After a hard lineout to Yagi, Yuuya gets punched out as well on a fastball on the same outside edge.

Top 7th
Two quick outs and the shift comes up for Chiba again.

Chiba with a drive to right!  Where's the RF?? Someone is sprinting back to the wall as Chiba flies around the bases and is in with a triple! He's beaten the shift twice! Though I was expecting the RF to play straight, he was shifted too which isn't as good, but is very One Outs-ish.

Kishisato up to try and add a run.

SANSHIN!!!  Anraku dials up the slider yet again to end the inning!

Bottom 7th
One down for Saibi and Fujiwara hits a ball to the left side! Mogi with it, but Fujiwara hustles down the line and is in with a base hit!

Pitch gets away from Hayato! Fujiwara takes off for 2nd as Hayato looks for a foul ball call! Fujiwara going to 3rd!! Hayati scrambles to the ball, fires to 3rd, but not in time!!  Fujiwara taking full advantage of the confusion and is now 90 feet away!

Machida back up the middle! Through for a base hit! Fujiwara scores to make it 3-1!

Ah... but Kaneko, not bunting hits a comebacker right to Nakazato! He starts the 1-6-3 double play to end the inning!  They're on the board, but still down and running out of time...

Top 8th
Where was this all game? Anraku getting 2 strikes against each of the batters this inning, and retires all 3 via the slider! Where was this in the 1st inning??

Bottom 8th
Takuma first pitch single up the middle for a base hit! Saibi has the lead runner on.

Ah Kanya with grounder to AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yagi trying to get Takuma crossing him, whiffs on the ball instead!!  He spins around as the ball goes into right! Takuma takes 3rd and Hanamaki is in a pinch!

Sasaki-kantoku pulls Nakazato for #17 Hosokawa to preserve the lead.

ダメです！！！！！！

Usagawa first pitch singles to right center!!  Takuma scores and it's 3-2! And Anraku is stepping to the plate!

Ah, but he bails out on the 1-2 and hits it to 2nd! Yagi this time smothers it, tags Usagawa and throws out a very awkward head-sliding Anraku for the double play!!  Kanya goes to 3rd, but there's 2 out.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yuuya swings on the first pitch, hard grounder to short! Mogi dives, but it deflects off his glove!!  It trickles into the outfield for a base hit and Kanya walks home! We're 同点 at 3-3!!!

Goutouji unlike all the other batters this inning, plays waiting game. Fights at full count and draws a walk!! Gyakuten run in scoring position as Sasaki-kantoku calls time.

Ah! Goutouji is caught off 1st! They run him down, but then run down Yuuya in some rundown I don't think I'll figure out. Let's just say he's run down and the inning is over.

BUT! Saibi has tied the ball game and Anraku has seemingly gotten his groove back!

Top 9th
Where other teams might be pressing though, Hanamaki Higashi appears to be showing some calmness at the plate. They're taking pitches and waiting for something to hit.

Both Hayato and Mogi go deep into the count before flying out to right.

Hosokawa singles to left with 2 down and the top of the lineup coming up!

But Yagi hits into a fielders choice at 2nd and the inning is over. Anraku holds the line...

Bottom 9th
As his team has a sayonara chance in the bottom of the 9th. And with Chiba leading off the inning for Hanamaki, it would behoove them to win in regulation.

Fujiwara out in front of a pitch and grounds to 3rd. Tadano with it, throws to first... AHHHH!!!!!!

It's out of Oguma's glove! Tadano's throw one hops to Oguma and he can't secure it! Sayonara run on for Saibi!

Machida lays down a perfect bunt and now the runner is in scoring position!!

Kaneko up and it doesn't look like they're really pitching to him as they fall behind 3-0! Ah, but Hosokawa fires one, then another into the zone and the count runs full.

Kaneko with an excuse me swing pops out to Mogi at 2nd and there's 2 down for Saibi.

What??  Kishisato is taking the mound??!!!

I don't know what to say about this move. Kishisato never pitched in the prefecurals!

To put Kishisato on the mound, Tadano goes to LF and #5 Mihara comes in for Hosokawa to take 3B.

And he does it! Takuma grounds to short! Mogi goes to 1st and Hanamaki is out of the pinch! We're to enchousen!

Top 10th
Chiba up, no shift this time..

But he still finds a way! Single to center to start the extra frame.

Kishisato grounder up the 1st base side AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

It gets by Fujiwara and down the right field line!! Chiba easily in at 3rd! Kishisato digging for 2 makes it! Jyoukou-kantoku calling time...

And they'll load the bases for the force... ball 4 to Ryousuke and now Tadano comes up.

Anraku pumping fastballs to the plate. Gets Tadano on a slider for the first out!

But he can't get clean out of it! Oguma singles to left! Chiba comes home and it's 4-3!

Hayato now with a fly to deep left center. Goutouji has it, and Kishisato can come in to make it 5-3! Oh it's not looking good...

AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mogi with a drive to right center!! That splits the defense!!!  One run in... Oguma rounding 3rd... he scores on the triple from Mogi!!  4 runs for Hanamaki Higashi this inning might spell Saibi's downfall!!  It's 7-3!!

Bottom 10th
Kanya down 0-2 to Kishisato... He singles through to left!

Usagawa up, and Saibi not panicking.  He works the count full and takes a walk!

That puts 2 up for Anraku. Wouldn't it be funny if..

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anraku a bomb to right center!! The OF are giving up near the wall!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anraku delivers a 3-run HR to pull Saibi within 1, IT'S 7-6!!!!

Yuuya with a popup to the left side. Mihara, Mogi and Tadano all converge on it...

NO ONE GETS IT AND IT FALLS FAIR!!!!!

It catches the line and Yuuya is at 2nd!!

From down 7-3, Saibi has the douten runner at 2nd!

Goutouji in to bunt... But it's too hard! Kishisato goes to 3rd, but Mihara drops it!

AHH!!!  But Yuuya held up! Now he's run down!  They tag him out and now there 1 out with a runner on 1st!

Still the douten runner still on base.

Morita up for his first AB.

Grounder to 3rd! Mihara to 2nd for one, throw to first...

GAME SET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Morita grounds into the 5-4-3 double play and the game is over!!

Ah the momentum for Saibi complete dissolves and Hanamaki Higashi holds on for the victory!

Hanamaki Higashi, seemingly in control, sees their lead disappear. But they don't panic, go into extras, pull Kishisato out of a hat on the mound, has a Hanamaki Higashi style inning and holds on for the win.

As for Anraku, he's inconsolable as Hanamaki Higashi celebrates the win... as well as the other players having been eliminated way too early for their expectation.

But they certainly fought back not once but twice... though the 2nd rally falls just short.

He's better now in the interview, not visibly crying, but I'm sure there will be some when the cameras are gone.. I'm sure he's apologizing to his seniors for not helping them reach total victory. He'll have one more go, but for those seniors the summer is over and I'm sure he's sorry for that.

And for the rest of the field... it just opened up even further...

Notable Players
Chiba Shouta (Hanamaki Higashi) - 3-5, 3B, 2 R
Oota Ryousuke (Hanamaki Higashi) - 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - 10 IP, 7 ER, 11 H, 14 K, 2 BB, 2 HBP
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - 1-5, HR, R, 3 RBI
Fujiwara Kouki (Saibi) - 2-5, 2B, R

Hanamaki Higashi once again makes their appearance at Koushien, and as long as Sasaki-kantoku is there, the team will have a lot of grittiness attached to them. They did lose Ootani Shouhei but interestingly got to Koushien when they couldn't with him last year.

Hanamaki Higashi has had to be the most confusing team as of late as their uniforms do not match their positions.  #1 Kishisato who would normally be an ace plays LF. Their main starter is Hosokawa Toshiki who wears #17.

As usual, I can't really find information on the players which means it's a team that plays as a team - again not surprising for Sasaki's squad.

They will face a game Hikone Higashi squad who had to play Kita-Ootsu and then Shiga Gakuen early before defeating Oumi Kyoudaisha for the title.  The offense will probably be more like playing against the former an latter teams mentioned. Not a lot of hits and a low-scoring game.

Ace Hirao Takuya looks to be your average lefty with mid 130s stuff.

So I expect that it will be a close game because that's the type of game Hanamaki Higashi likes playing, and against ace Hirao I don't see any hindrance to that.

Hanamaki Higasahi (Iwate)
2B Yagi ? (#14)
CF Chiba Shouta
LF Kishisato Ryousuke (#1)
C Yamashita Hayato
3B Tadano Shouta (#3)
RF Oota Ryousuke
SS Mogi Kazuo
1B Terui Nozomu (#12)
P Nakazato Yuusuke (#11)

Hikone Higashi (Shiga)
CF Kawabata Masahiro
3B Tanizawa Tsubasa
SS Yamanaka Shunsuke
RF Oozawa ?
1B Fujitani Kouhei
LF Tanaka Ryou
C Takeda Keita
P Hirao Takuya
2B Tsuji ?

____________________________________________________________

13:30 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Well, expected start as Yagi works count full, but strikes out looking on a high fastball.

Chiba grounds to short, beats out throw to 1st like gritty team should.

Except that Kishisato strikes out swinging and Chiba is picked off 1st by Takeda.  Doh.

Bottom 1st
Nakazato's inning less interesting. Kawabata pops out to Mogi on the first pitch, Tanizawa watches a slider on outside corner for strike 2, and Yamanaka grounds out to short.  Man, he works fast...

Top 2nd
One down and Tadano singles through the right side.

Oota with liner over Fujitani down the 1st base line, fair!  Oozawa has to run it down at the wall and Oota is in with an RBI triple! 1-0 Hanamaki Higashi!

Mogi with a single up the middle, Oota scores and it's 2-0!

Terui singles through short! This isn't gritty, this is just smacking a fish at your opponent's face!

To which Muranaka-kantoku calls time.

That seems to do the trick, at least for now as Nakazato flies to left, and then Yagi goes down on 3 straight to end the inning.  But no grinding out a run, Hanamaki Higashi just smacked their way to them!

Bottom 2nd
Oozawa goes down swinging on an inside fastball for out #1.

Fujitani goes full on Nakazato and draws a walk...

Only to have Tanaka unable to check his swing for a K, and Yamashita throw to 1st to pick off Fujitani. What the...

Top 3rd
There's the grittiness I was looking for. Chiba with 2 strikes, fouls, fouls, fouls... and on the 13th pitch... earns a walk!

Kishisato not so gritty, swings on 2nd pitch, flies to center.

Yamashita grounder to 3rd, goes to 2nd for one... and Tsuji runs to the dugout! There's only 2 outs and now the inning continues!

Tadano with a ball to right center!  Oozawa running it down, but flubs the ball! Yamashita waved home as Tadano takes 2nd and the brain fart costs Hikone Higashi a run! It's 3-0!!

Oota grounds to short, but Hanamaki Higashi extends their lead!

Bottom 3rd
4th K for Nishizato with a slider inside that Takeda can't get around on.

After Hirao grounds out to short, Tsuji too succumbs to the slider and the inning is quickly over.

Top 4th
This isn't the Hanamaki Higashi team I'm used to. Mogi with a drive to left, over Tanaka's head for a leadoff double!

Terui bunts, Hirao throws the ball into the ground! Is that because he was trying to hold onto the ball to go to 2nd since Mogi was scrambling back?  Either way it looks bad, and everyone is safe.

Nakazato tries the bunt, but this time Hirao fields it and goes to 3rd for the force.

Yagi with a single through 2nd and Terui comes in to score. 4-0 and runners at the corners.

Chiba steps in and you know it's going to be a long AB.

Sure enough 7 pitches, and he chops one to short. Yamanaka with no play but to 1st, and it's now 5-0.

Kishisato flies out to left, but tack on 2 more for Hanamaki Higashi.

Bottom 4th
Kawabata with a quick grounder to 2nd for the first out.

Tanizawa attacks early, chops ball past Nakazato's glove into center for a base hit - their fist one of the day!

I can't get a word in on Nakazato's pitching because Yamanaka grounds to short and Mogi starts the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning! (Biiiiig stretch from 1B Terui).

Top 5th
Yamashita opens the inning checking in with his first hit a single through to left.

Tadano, despite being 2-2, tries to bunt the runner along, but winds up in a fielder's choice.

And then Oota grounds to 1st, Fujitana steps on 1st, then goes to 2nd where Yamanaka tags Tadano for the 3U-6 DP!

Bottom 5th
Oozawa with a blooper down the right field line, both Terui and Yagi try to converge on it, but it falls in fair! Oozawa in with a leadoff double!

Ok, about Nakazato. low-mid 130s with a slider in the low 120s and a slow curve in the high 90s-low 100s.

Down 5, no bunting from Muranaka-kantoku.

But Fujitani is called out on not holding his swing (sure looked like he did from the video).

Tanaka with a slow grounder to the left side, but it somehow finds its way past both Tadano and Mogi!  Oozawa coming home and the throw is cutoff!  5-1 now!

Takeda going down drives a ball to deep right center!  Chiba playing in, has to run back to the ball!  Takeda in with a RBI triple and its 5-2 now!

That gets Sasaki-kantoku's attention as he calls for time.

It's Hikone Higashi exhibiting grittiness as Hirao earns walk.

SQUEEZE!

But what's this! Nakazato with the ball and Takeda stops and goes back!  Nakazato immediately goes him and Yamashita starts the rundown, tagging Takeda for the 2nd out! What happened there?

And now #17 Hosokawa comes in to replace Nakazato on the hill.

Kawabata with deep drive to right, but Oota is there for the 3rd out.

But Hikone scratches through a couple of runs and the deficit is much more manageable as we head into the break!

Top 6th
Mogi hard liner, right at Tanizawa for the out.

Terui chases a buried slider and there's 2 down.  Hosokawa can't check his swing and Hikone Higashi quickly returns to the dugout.  These inning are now going really fast.

Bottom 6th
Defensive change for Hanamaki Higashi.  Tadano goes to his numbered position at 1B, #5 Mihara comes in for Terui and goes to 3B.

Hosokawa back to shutting down the Hikone offense. Tanizawa quickly grounds to short.  Yamanaka chases a sinker outside.

Oozawa with a comebacker off of Hosokawa and defects to right side for base hit.

But he's ok and gets Fujitani to spin like a top to retire the side.

Top 7th
Yagi tries to go after Hirao (no, not really) with a comebacker up the middle for a base hit.

Chiba showing bunt, predictably (from Hanamaki Higashi) bust-and-runs easily putting a ball through the gap in left.

Kishisato finally able to do something - bunt the runners along, for cleanup batter Yamashita.

Yamashita with a chopper to the right side! Tsuji looking home... thinks, goes to 1st! Yagi scores to make it 6-2!

Tadano goes down on 3 straight, but they're look to be in control of the game.

Bottom 7th
Tanaka swings and misses on a changeup for the first out.  Takeda quickly grounds to short thereafter.

Hirao gets a hit off of Hosokawa blooping one the other way.

Hosokawa doesn't seem to be anything interesting.  A southpaw, he throws upper 120s-130 with a slider, sinker and slow curve.

Tsuji sofly flies out to Yagi for the 3rd out.

Top 8th
One down for Hanamaki Higashi, Mogi goes down and dives a ball to left. Tanaka actually heading back towards the foul pole??!!

It's off the fence!  Mogi heading for 2, but Tanaka's throw goes over the cutoff man!  Mogi breaks for 3rd and gets there without a throw!

But once again, a bunt sends a team backwards.  Mihara with the safety bunt, but Mogi goes too far and is run down. Mihara goes to 2nd on play.

Hosokawa hard ball to short. Yamanaka blocks it, but can't field it for a throw.

Yagi takes advantage with a ball to center for a base hit scoring Mihara to make it 7-2.

Kawabata tries to cut down Hosokawa at 3rd, but he's called safe (that was close) and Yagi takes 2nd.

Chiba with a base hit past Yamanaka. Hosokawa in, Yagi being waved around!  Throw from Tanaka, not in time and it's 9-2 Hanamaki Higashi!

That's the end for Hiaro as #10 Tanabe comes in. He gets Kishisato to ground to 1st and the inning is mercifully over for Hikone Higashi.

Bottom 8th
Kawabata leads off the inning by going on a curve and hitting a soft liner to center for a single.

Tanizawa fouling off a couple, then hits grounder to short. Mogi goes to 2nd, AH!!!

Yagi drops the ball!  All safe!

And now Kawabata breaks for 3rd!  Yamashita looks to 2nd for the trail runner, but he's not going!  Now runners at corners for Yamanaka.

Grounder to AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The ball gets to Mogi so fast it goes 5 hole and into left center!  Kawabata scores and it's 9-3!

Sasaki-kantoku calling time...

Oozawa liner to left!  Kishisato there for the catch, but Tanizawa can come in to make it 9-4!

Ah, but Fujitani just can't help the cause as he strikes out looking on a fastball.

But Hikone keeps going! Tanaka with a base hit to right! Yamanaka coming around, he scores and it's 9-5!!

Takeda with a hard grounder to 3rd! Mihara stumbles, spins, throws... gets the 3rd out!

That must be some relief to Hosokawa, but Hikone has gotten all those runs back.

Top 9th
Tanabe an over-the-top thrower hits high 130s on the gun, has at slider and forkball.

Yamashita can't catch up to the fastball and strikes out swinging.

Tadano... can't catch up to the fastball and strikes out swinging...

Oota... yep, can't catch up to the fastball and strikes out swinging. Yikes, where was this earlier?

Bottom 9th
 #15 Suzuta to hit for Tanabe.

But chases a ball away and is retired for the first out.

#16 Masuda to hit for Tsuji, but grounds out to 2nd.

Last chance at the top of the order and Kawabata.

First pitch flies out to left, and that's the game.

First, I apologize for the lack of details at times this game. While the game lasted a normal 2 hours, both pitchers' tempo were rather fast and sometimes it was hard to keep up.

The stand full of supporters clad in red cheer the effort of Hikone Higashi, and it was a great effort, especially the rallies at the end.

But it came late, especially since Hirao was left on the mound to give up 3 runs - the same 3 runs that they got back in the bottom of the inning.

Still, they actually exhibited grittiness that I would associate with Hanamaki Higashi, and for that, I am appreciative.

For Hanamaki Higashi, this was a mostly dominating win from start to finish. Yes, they did so some of the things that they're famous for. But in this game they hit and hit often combine that with grittiness and it could be a good combination.

The pitching is not at the level of Ootani, but it seems to be getting the job done for now.  They'll get a couple of days off to plan for their next game.


Notable Players
Chiba Shouta (Hanamaki Higashi) - 3-4, 2 RBI, BB
Mogi Kazuo (Hanamaki Higashi) - 3-4, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI
Yagi ? (Hanamaki Higashi) - 3-5, 3 R
Oozawa ? (Hikone Higashi) - 2-3, 2B, R, RBI
Tanaka Ryou (Hikone Higashi) - 2-4, R, RBI
Takeda Keita (Hikone Higashi) - 1-4, 3B, R

And now to the marquee game of the day.

When the draw came out, kokoyakyu writers everywhere probably circled this game immediately.  Not just because this was a match between scrappy Hanamaki Higashi and yet another offensive powerhouse in Osaka Touin, but because this game would feature the two tallest pitchers in the field by far - 193 cm (6'4") Ootani Shouhei for Hanamaki Higashi and 197 cm (6'5½") Fujinami Shintarou.

Yet, strangely enough, during the fall tournament, Hanamaki Higashi never turned to Ootani.

Not once.

Even more strange, Ootani appeared in just 5 of the teams 11 games.  I have had no time to research the reason why, but if whatever the reason was continues, this could be a slight problem for the team - especially since they're facing an offensive team right off the bat... again. 

That team is Osaka Touin.  And this time around it appears they have a #1 truly worthy of the number in Fujinami.  Now, he's not one of the fireballers that records a lot of K's (though he does throw pretty darn fast).  Instead, he uses the fastball and 12-6 curve to induce weak contact.

However, all Osaka Touin needs is a serviceable pitcher and the team automatically becomes a contender due to the offense.  Of the 118 hits, they had 38 doubles, 5 triples and 11 homeruns.  That's 46% of their hits going for extra bases for an ISO of 0.269.  Now, certainly their true level isn't that high, but even with regression it's still really good.

This should be one heck of a game to close the opening day of the tournament.

C  Mori Tomoya
2B  Oonishi Tomoya
RF  Mizumoto Gen
1B  Tabata Yoshiki
CF  Hakusui Kenta
LF  Yasui Kouki
SS  Mizutani Yukiya (#14)
3B  Kasamatsu Yuuya (#15)
P  Fujinami Shintarou

2B  Oota Kazumasa
CF  Oomukai Yuuji
SS  Oosawa Eiki
P  Ootani Shouhei
1B  Takahashi Shouto
3B  Gotou Yuudai (#13)
RF  Tanaka Daiki (#7)
C  Sasaki Ryuuki
LF  Chiba Shuunta (#14)
__________________________________________________

15:57 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Not so good of a start for Ootani as he walks Mori to leadoff the game.  Nishitani-kantoku puts on the bust-and-run but Oonishi grounds out to 2nd, but at least advances the runner.

Mizumoto with another hard hit to short.  Oota keeps it in front of him and makes the play at 1st.  2 down.

Hm.... Tabata gets plunked on an offspeed pitch and that puts a runner in scoring position for Hakusui.

Ootani is not exhibiting good control on the mound so far, walking one, hitting another and not really finding the plate.  And already C Sasaki goes to the mound for a conference.

But a passed ball continues to add pressure to the situation.

But a 136 kph slider inside gets Hakusui swinging and the inning ends without any damage.

Bottom 1st
Fujinami's innings starts much like Ootani's, walking leadoff batter Oota.  Unlike Ootani, Fujinami is hitting the high 140's and even 150 on the radar gun.

OH.  That's nasty.  Going down to a 117 slider for strike 3.

Sasaki-kantoku sends Oota, but he's thrown out at 2nd.  Oosawa grounds to short to end the inning.

Top 2nd
Well, now we see Ootani throwing hard, hitting the high 140's, but he still has no consistent control.  Perhaps that's why he's effective.  When the pitch is in the zone, it's good, but neither the batter or the pitcher know necessarily when that is.

And thus, he strikes out the first 2 batters and gets Kasamatsu to fly out to left.

Bottom 2nd
WHOA.

Ootani crushes a pitch right down the middle to right.  Mizumoto goes back to the wall, but gives up?!

HAITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh man, now we know why he's in the middle of the lineup.  It's Hanamaki Higashi with the 1-0 lead!

AND WHY ARE YOU SLIDING INTO FIRST???? AUGH!!!!!!!! Gotou dives himself out when he hits a high chopper to 3rd.  Tanaka then strikes out to end the inning, but Ootani puts his team ahead with a booming HR!
 
Top 3rd
Ootani's control issues continue as he walks #9 batter Fujinami to lead-off the inning.  And now with Mori bunting, Ootani turns up the heat, hitting 148 and 145.

But another fastball is too much as Mori singles through the left side.  Runners on 1st and 2nd, no out.

Oonishi tries to bunt again, but pops the first one out foul.  And when he tries again, he fails!  He has to swing away, or free bunt!

He free bunts, but the pitch is over his head instead of the plate.  Another slider is too high(?!) as the count goes to 2-2.

Oonishi lays it down, but Ootani is right there and throws out Fujinami at 3rd!  One down, and another failed bunt!

Turning to Ootani's pitches, he has the fastball in the upper 140's, and a slider/fork in the high 120's-low 130's.  The fastball he can command, the offspeed... not as well.

Mizumoto grounds to 2nd, Oota's only play is to Ootani at 1st, so 2 runners in scoring position with 2 outs.

Ootani thinks he has Tabata on a 2-2 change, but doesn't get the call.  Instead, he throws the forkball and gets the call then to end the inning!

Bottom 3rd
For Osaka Touin, Fujinami has all the pitches that were covered earlier, and a two-seamer that is slightly slower than the fastball.  And his control is definitely above average.

He strikes out the first two batters, though it's entertaining watching #9 batter Chiba crouching and moving around in the box.

But then the lineup turns over, and both Oota and Oomukai reach on slow grounders to the left side.  Man, they are fast.

However, Oosawa grounds out to 1st to end the inning.

Top 4th
Hakusui finally gets hold of a ball, but gets under it as Oomukai is able to run it down in left center.

Yasui hits a pitch that Ootani leaves up and singles to left.

Also, Osaka Touin's band is kinda slow and too metered.  Needs more pace.

Ootani looks a bit better on the mound now.  He gets Mizutani to ground into the 6-4-3 inning ending double play!

Bottom 4th
Ootani leads off the 4th, and Fujinami is giving him NOTHING over the plate.  It's all away.  He gives up a walk, but probably considers that a win.  It'll be up to the rest of the offense to deliver for the rest of the game probably.

Shouto showed bunt and fouled it off, but swung away after that.  Fujinami is still throwing away but then crosses him up on a slider inside for his 6th K.

Gotou shows bunt, but quickly falls behind 0-2.  And on a bizarre play, Tabata backing up to 1st is called for missing the bag after taking the toss from Fujinami and everyone's safe!  Runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 out for Tanaka!

And he chops a two-seamer past a diving Oonishi into right!  Ootani is being waved home!  The throw is late and Hanamaki Higashi takes a 2-0 lead!!!

Now, #10 Sawada is warming up for Osaka Touin!  What's going on?

Ryuuki from the get-go is showing squeeze, but has yet to offer on a pitch until 3-1!  But he fouls it off.  Full count, what will Sasaki-kantoku have him do?

He free bunts, but doesn't recognize the slider in time and fouls out! Now it's busy Chiba at the plate.  He really chokes up on the bat.

But Hanamaki Higashi makes a running mistake!  Tanaka takes off for 2nd, but there's no throw!  It may have been supposed to be a delayed steal, but because Mori didn't throw it, Gotou is caught in between and run down!  Big mistake!

Top 5th
Still though, Hanamaki Higashi hold the 2-0 lead.

What I think I have to ask is where is the high-powered offense that was in the fall tournament?  Are they playing more conservatively at Koushien with the bunting?  Is the Osaka region THAT weak?  Are they just at a quandary because Ootani's pitches are so inconsistent?

Because as we enter the 5th, Kasamatsu and Fujinami both K on terrible (or great I guess depending on how you look at them) pitches from Ootani.  Another not-so-good pitch hits Mori.  But Oonishi flies out to right to end the inning.

So the question regarding Ootani is - is he effectively wild so that the batters don't know what to expect while he doesn't make a mistake over the plate?

Bottom 5th
Chiba tries a slap hit up the left side, but it's just a shade too hard and Kasamatsu throws him out.  Oota goes on the first pitch too and grounds out to 2nd.

Loks like the 9-1-2 batters are more of Ichiro-type infield hit players.

Oomukai goes down looking and we hit the break with the Osaka Touin offense nowhere to be seen, Hanamaki Higashi with the one with the HR!

Top 6th
The problem with Ootani's pitching is that while you aren't depending on the fastball to throw a strike because enough of his off-speed pitches catch the strike zone, there's has to be a limit to how effective that can be, especially in single elimination settings.

Post-break, Oonishi walks yet another batter in Mizumoto.  Then on a short fly to left by Tabata, Tanaka, Oomukai and Oosawa all converge, but no one catches the ball!  A rare fielding mistake gives Osaka Touin a chance to tie the game!

And Sakaki-kantoku calls time after Hakusui bunts the runners along.  Yasui, who's 1-2 on the day is the first one to try and level the score.

And boy does Ootani catch a break.  A ball in the dirt hits the umpire and stays near home.  But now #11 Sasaki is warming up in the bullpen as the count goes 3-1.  A rising 2-seamer gets the count full.

Yasui gets one run back as he hits a grounder to 2nd.  Oota makes the play at first and it's 2-1.

Mizutani looks to extend the inning at least, and works the count full.  But a ball outside (and perhaps poorly framed) means the inning continues.

Kasamatsu up now, but Ootani gets ahead 1-2 with a couple of fastballs.

But he makes his first mistake at the worst time!!  He hangs a slider over the outside part of the plate and Kasamatsu drives it to left-center!  Tanaka tries to run it down, but it falls in front of the wall!  Tabata scores!  Mizutani rounds 3rd and he scores!  Gyakuten for Osaka Touin as they take a 3-2 lead!

Fujinami K's to end the inning, but a walk and a uncharacteristic defensive gaffe cost Hanamaki Higashi the lead!

Bottom 6th
Oosawa staring the inning for Hanamaki and he cannot afford to be out.  Because if he doesn't reach, expect Ootani to be given 1st base.

The count runs full and he fouls off a one, then another, and yet one more.  But he hits it to short and Mizutani makes the play.

And as expected, the first pitch is away.

Ootani decides to swing away, but lines out right to Kasamatsu.  (The question here is do you take the walk, or do you swing away?  I think more than anything else you need base-runners, so you have to take the walk.  The only exception is if you think the rest of your offense is that inept.)

Anyways, Shouto grounds to 2nd to end the inning, and now Hanamaki Higashi is on their heels.

Top 7th
Now Osaka Touin can go for the single run.  Against Hanamaki's offense, despite their scrappiness, another run is a lot to overcome.

Mori starts it off by (a) not being hit, and (b) hitting a double down the left field line.  And with a bunt to 3rd, they're that close to that insurance run I was talking about.

OH?

Mizumoto tries the squeeze on the 1-1 pitch, but fouls it off!

Ootani freezes him on a shuuto on the outside corner!  One more and he gets out of the jam!

Tabata is a little early on one pitch and drives it hard foul.

Oh boy...

Ootani makes his 2nd mistake, and this may be the nail in the coffin.  He hangs another shuuto and Tabata drives that to left.  Tanaka goes a bit towards the wall, but he knows...

...that's a goner.

And so Osaka Touin takes the 5-2 lead here in the 7th.  Looks like Ootani's luck finally ran out.

Yasui strikes out looking to end the inning, but they may have all the runs they need now.

Bottom 7th
Fujinami seems to have settled down nicely, retiring the side in order for the 3rd straight inning.  Despite my thoughts on Hanamaki Higashi's grittiness, they don't look like a team which can come back like previous years.

Top 8th
Kasamatsu collects his 2nd hit of the game with a soft liner to right.  Fujinami tries to lay down the bunt but gets Kasamatsu thrown out at 2nd instead.

A wild pitch by Ootani gets that runner to 2nd, but Mori is finally retired 4-3.

Bottom 8th
Ootani will get one more AB, but he needs runners in front of him first.  And even then he may not get a chance to swing the bat.

And it appears that Fujinami is taking advantage of the fact Hanamaki Higashi is trying to get runners by getting ahead with first pitch strikes.  That way they have to play a bit more defensively.  Oota for example weakly grounded back to Fujinami after falling behind.

Oomukai goes for the drag bunt up the 1st base line, and his dive just beats out Fujinami for an infield single!  Now Oosawa has to get on, but I wonder if they'll walk Ootani anyways if it gets to that point.

Ooh.  Fujinami gets the call on an outside fastball and gets ahead 1-2.  And with Oosawa swinging away, he hits a comebacker to Fujinami to end the inning.

Top 9th
After a first pitch out, Ootani gets into trouble, walking Mizumoto on 4 straight then hitting Tabata on the first pitch.

And a poor pickoff throw by Ryuuki goes into right and scores Mizumoto, making it 6-2.

A 4-pitch walk to Hakusui may be the end for Ootani, but Sasaki-kantoku just calls for time.  Perhaps Sasaki wants to see if Ootani has the mental toughness to finish it out.

Well, that's a good sign, Yasui goes down on 3 straight, though Hakusui steals 2nd in the process.

But yet another wild pitch scores another run for 7-2.

Oh....

A ball gets away from Ootani, and hits Mizutani's helmet.

And with 170 pitches thrown, Sasaki-kantoku I think wants to be safe rather than see mental toughness.  #11 Sasaki comes in for Chiba and takes the mound as Ootani goes to left and Tanaka goes to right.

They seem to get out of the inning when Ryuuki has Mizutani picked off 1st, but when Hakusui dekes home  Takahashi throws to 3rd, but it's high and sails into foul ground.  Both runners score and it's 9-2.

Finally, Sasaki strikes out Kasamatsu to end the inning.  The resignation showed here, as Osaka Touin scored 4 runs on no hits.

Bottom 9th
After a popout by Ootani, Hanamki Higashi starts a mini rally with Shouto and PH Kosui (#7) getting 2 singles.

But soon the inevitable happens.  PH Takahashi Hisashi (#16), and Obara (#12) strike out to end the game.

This looked like a different Hanamaki Higashi team than in past years.  The pitching wasn't as dominant, and the talent to be scrappy enough offensively seemed lacking.  As a result, they fell to Osaka Touin here today.  Was it a disappointing game?  Yeah, in some ways.  But like the saying goes, things don't always go as expected.


Notable Players
Tabata Yoshiki (Osaka Touin) - 2-3, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, K, 2 HBP
Mori Tomoya (Osaka Touin) - 2-3, 2B, R, 2 BB
Ootani Kazuya (Hanamaki Higashi) - 1-3, HR, 2 R, BB