高校野球 (Kokoyakyu): Hiroshima Shinjyou

Showing posts with label Hiroshima Shinjyou. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

98th Natsu Koushien - Day 11, Game 3 - Kisaradzu Sougou (Chiba) v Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)

Headache gone, but not 100%. Last game disappointed a bit, let's see if things pick up in the afternoon session.

Kisaradzu Sougou (Chiba)
2B Koike Kouki (小池航貴)
CF Kido Ryou (木戸涼)
SS Minemura Takaki (峯村貴希)
RF Toriumi Ranma (鳥海嵐万)
1B Yamashita Hikaru (山下輝)
LF Hosoda Yuuki (細田悠貴)
3B Inoue Mizuki (井上瑞樹)
P Hayakawa Takahisa (早川隆久)
C Oozawa Shou (大沢翔)

Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
2B Sugimura Hiroyoshi (杉村泰嘉)
3B Furukawa (田中政範)
LF (14)Tanaka Masanori (田中政範)
RF Kitatani Shougo (北谷奨吾)
1B Ogawa Toranousuke (小河虎之介)
C Furumoto Kouki (古本幸希)

CF Kawauchi Kyouei (河内恭英)
P Hori Mizuki (堀瑞輝)
SS Tanaka Ryouta (田中亮太)

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13:27 - First Pitch!

I didn't even get a chance to finish putting my twitter post to this blog post when Kido blasted a ball through the hamazake and out to RF for a home run. 1-0 Kidaradzu Sougou.

I thought perhaps it might be another one of those games. Thankfully it wasn't because Hori would shut it down afterwards.

And actually, both aces would shut things down for a while. Hori wouldn't give up a hit until the 3rd when OOsawa would hit a double to right center, but be stranded. Hayakawa wouldn't give up a hit until the 4th when Sugimura would get a leadoff single back up the middle. He would get picked off by Oozawa, and then on a Furukawa walk Tanaka would ground into the 6-4-3 double play.

The difference is while both were recording their fair share of strikeouts, Hori would get a few flyball outs while Hayakawa were almost all on the ground.

Kisaradzu Sougou would get one more chance to add to their lead in the 5th after a leadoff hit, but Hosoda would be stranded at 2nd as the bottom of the lineup would be unable to deliver.

So at the break the aces combined have given up just 4 hits, 1 walk and stuck out 9. At this point, since Kisaradzu Sougou has the lead, the impetus will be on them to get their offense going soon.

The problem is, they're only with 1 of the 4 hits while Kisaradzu Sougou has had runners on for the last couple. There was the aforementioned 5th, the 6th where they got a 1-out single (that was later picked off), and now int he 7th when Toriumi gets a leadoff single.

Later in the inning, 2 down Toriumi on 2nd, Inoue comes through with a base hit up the middle. Toriumi is waved home and the throw not nearly in time. 2-0 and Hiroshima Shinjyou's task gets that much harder.

And while Hori would only give up 2 runs, his team would only be able to muster just 3 hits against ace Hayakawa as they would indeed fall 2-0. A masterful performance by the Chiba ace. And he must continue that because next up will be Sakushin Gakuin!

Monday, August 15, 2016

98th Natsu Koushien - Day 9, Game 3 - Toyama Dai-ichi (Toyama) v Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)

Lucky Toyama Dai-ichi who managed just 2 hits, but the win, will face off against a Hiroshima Shinjyou squad who came back in the 9th and won in extras. I'm not sure Toyama Dai-ichi can survive another game like that.

Toyama Dai-ichi (Toyama)
CF Houdatsu Hiroki (宝達洋樹)
SS Sasaki Hiromi (佐々木拓海)
2B Iwaki Shunki (岩城竣貴)
C Hazama Yuuki (狭間悠希)
3B Kawahara Taisei (河原大成)
RF Yamashita Ryuuya (山下瑠也)
1B Matsui Taiga (松井大駆)
LF Taniguchi Taisei (谷口大成)
P Nakatsuhara Genki (中津原元輝)

Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
2B Sugimura Hiroyoshi (杉村泰嘉)
SS Tanaka Ryouta (田中亮太)
RF Kitatani Shougo (北谷奨吾)
LF Toyooka Takato (豊岡稜人)
3B (14)Tanaka Masanori (田中政範)
1B (5)Furukawa Tomoki (古川智也)
CF Kawauchi Kyouei (河内恭英)
P Hori Mizuki (堀瑞輝)
C Furumoto Kouki (古本幸希)

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15:07 - First Pitch!

As expected Hiroshima Shinjyou is generating the opportunities early. Nakatsuhara gives up a leadoff single to Sugimura, then walks Ryouta. But after a sac bunt, they get an unfortunate break when Tomooka hits it right at Nakatsuhara who looks the runners back.

In the 2nd, it's Furukawa who gets the leadoff single. After a bunt and walk, Furumoto hits into the 5-4-3 double play to retire the side.

As for Toyama Dai-ichi, well, it's more of the same. 3 no-hit innings and counting...

Hiroshima Shinjyou finally gets on the board, but in a weird way. Sugimura gets a leadoff hit, and after a bunt and base hit by Kitatani, Tomooka hits a ball to 1st. Matsui gets the out at 1st and throws to 2nd. Kitatani runs back to stall and Toyama Dai-ichi actually ignores Sugimura and gets the 3rd out despite giving up the run. 1-0.

Toyama Dai-ichi beats their drought of a base hit when Houdatsu drives a ball to center just out of the reach of Kawauchi. After a sac bunt, Iwaki hits a grounder to short, but when Ryouta double clutches, he goes to 1st conceding the run. 1-1.

Hiroshima Shinjyou gets one more crack at a run when Sugimura singles to lead off the 5th, but after a bunt, Kitatani can't get the bat off his shoulder and Toyooka grounds out. Toyama Dai-ichi goes back to their feckless selves.

Toyama Dai-ichi does get a leadoff hit for Mori to start the post-break action, but after a failed bunt attempt, they do it again - and with 2 outs, Iwaki's prospects are poor and he actually fouls out to Furumoto on the back netting.

Hiroshima Shinjyou also seemingly on the offensive post-break. Masanori singles to start the inning. After a sac bunt and a walk, Hori hits a grounder to 2nd, but Iwaki fumbles on the ball trying to tag the runner and everyone's safe. That error would prove costly as Furumoto would hit a ball off the padding in center. It would score two to make it 3-1, but the 3rd stopped at 3rd and then tried coming home, and it was just a mess for the 2nd out.

Next pitch, the TOOTBLAN is complete as Furumoto is picked off 2nd right on the leg.

Eventually Toyama Dai-ichi would collapse in the 8th for 4 more runs to solidify the result. Hiroshima Shinjyou advances 7-1.

There really isn't much to see here. Toyama Dai-ichi got fortunate once, but not twice as they fall in the 2nd round.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

98th Natsu Koushien - Day 4, Game 1 - Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima) v Kanto Dai-ichi (Higashi Tokyo)

With Day 8 settled, the next 6 games will determine who gets to play in Day 9. While there are some strong teams in this bunch, I think there are opportunities to be had - as long as you draw right.

Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
2B Sugimura Hiroyoshi (杉村泰嘉)
LF Toyooka Takato (豊岡稜人)
RF Kitatani Shougo (北谷奨吾)
1B Ogawa Toranosuke (小河虎之介)
C Furumoto Kouki (古本幸希)
3B Kogawa Tomoya (古川智也)
CF Kawauchi Kyouei (河内恭英)
P Hori Mizuki (堀瑞輝)
SS Tanaka Ryouta (田中亮太)

Kanto Dai-ichi (Higashi Tokyo)
RF (17)Sugaya Keisuke (菅谷圭祐)
3B Yamakawa Shinta (山川新太)
LF Yoneda Katsuya (米田克也)
C Satou Yuusuke (佐藤佑亮)
1B Ishibashi Kouta (石橋康太)
SS Murase Yuuto (村瀬佑斗)
2B Morikawa Youhei (森川瑶平)
CF Motohashi Keito (本橋慶人)
P Satou Shouma (佐藤奨真)

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08:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Sugimura gets things off to a rousing start with a base hit to center and a subsequent steal.

But after a sac bunt, Satou shuts things down with a strikeout of Kitatani on a ball down and in, and a comebacker from Ogawa.

Bottom 1st
Kanto Dai-ichi also getting an early scoring chance. Yamakawa draws a one-out walk before Yoneda hits a single back up the middle.

Yuusuke though forgets he's playing baseball, and golfs a ball high into the air where Sugimura can camp under it for the catch.

But Ishibashi hits another ball back up the middle and Yamakawa comes in without a throw to make it 1-0 Kanto Dai-ichi.

Top 2nd
Again, Hiroshima Shinjyou with a leadoff runner on as Furumoto gets hit. But after a sac bunt, they can do little with it as both Kawauchi and Mori chase balls out of the zone and make poor contact.

Bottom 2nd
Meanwhile, issues still abound for Hori.

He gives up a one-out walk, and on the sac bunt Kogawa sails the throw high. It's stopped, but Ogawa can't secure it coming down.

Still he almost gets a inning-ending double play before striking out Yamakawa to end the frame.

Top 3rd
Satou Shouma seems to be doing enough to keep the batters off the basepaths. Doesn't throw hard, doesn't quite hit his locations, but doesn't make bad misses.

He racks up 2 Ks in the 3rd as the Hiroshima Shinjyou batters still seem unable to figure him out.

Bottom 3rd
Hori managing the game as well, and while he does hit Ishibashi, he gets 3 routine ground balls to keep the game in check.

Top 4th
Kitatani gets on base thanks to a high throw from Murase. It's their 3rd leadoff runner so far, but nothing to show for it.

Ogawa can't lay down the bunt, then just waves under a low fastball for the 1st out.

Furumoto chases a slider for the 2nd out, and Kogawa grounds to 2nd. The Hiroshima Shinjyou offense looking rather dead right now.

Bottom 4th
Kanto Dai-ichi also perhaps looking to get their offense going, has Shouma bunting with a runner on and one out. Except that the 3B crashes in and initiates the 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Top 5th
One down and Hori laces a double down the left field line. Tanaka tries to get a base hit up the middle, but Morikawa chases it down and throws to 1st for the 2nd out. Douten run 90 feet away, but 2 outs.

Sugimura first pitch swinging, hits a ball to the right side, and out of Morikawa's reach! Hori scores and we're tied at 1-1! That's all they get, but it's a new ballgame!

Bottom 5th
Yamakawa tries to give his team back the lead driving a slider down and away to the right centerfield gap for a triple.

It's a great scoring chance, as the 3-4-5 batters step in.

Yoneda hard shot to 3rd, Kogawa has it, and goes home! Yamakawa wasn't committing to go either way and is run down! Yoneda reaches 2nd on the rundown, but Kanto Dai-ichi just went backwards 90 feet.

Hori wants nothing to do with Yuusuke it seems and gives him a free pass.

But it backfires! Ishibashi with a single to right! Yoneda being waved around, throw coming in from Kitatani... and they get him!

Yoneda tries to go outside for the slide, but the throw from Kitatani is just too good! 3 outs!

That play certainly will give Hiroshima Shinjyou some momentum to build on going into the break, but they'll need their offence to click up a tick to two.

Top 6th
Well, that was an uninspiring effort there by Hiroshima Shinjyou. swinging away from the get go into 3 quick groundouts.

Bottom 6th-Top 7th
The game seemingly takes on a "meh" feeling as both teams struggle at the plate. And it's not really because the pitching is really good either. There more than a few balls in the dirt that are being swung at and pitchers aren't necessarily hitting the glove either.

8th-9th Innings
The game as it enters the final stages of regulation enters a processional where the teams slowly reach enchousen. Batters are perhaps pressing to get a base hit, and very little ends up happening.

Such is the case as not only are they pressing at the plate, but on the basepaths. Including the 7th both sides have run themselves out at 2nd 3 times and twice for Hiroshima to actually end the inning.

And as Kanto Dai-ichi is quietly retired in order in the 9th we head to enchousen.

Top 10th
1 down and Tanaka draws a walk.

But then Yonezawa-kantoku relieves Shouma! #11 Takei comes in relief despite Shouma not really struggling at all! That's unheard of that a kantoku would relieve a supposedly "good" pitcher who is not struggling.

Now, if he's saving him for future games and limiting how much of the tank he uses, it makes sense. but it's a strategy not implemented in most teams.

But Takei walks Sugimura and you know if Kanto Dai-ichi lose here he;ll be questioned.

Toyooka tries waiting Takei out, and despite falling behind 1-2 fills up the count, and the 3rd ball was a slider that just missed the bottom of the zone.

But Takei wins the battle, tying up Toyooka on a fastball down and in for the 2nd out!

Kitatani pops out and it's game on for Kanto Dai-ichi!

Bottom 10th
Well, if Hori would let them anyways.

The 9-1-2 batters for Kanto Dai-ichi are retired faster than... well, they're retired quickly.

Top 11th
Things are getting so bad that after Hiroshima Shinjyou draws a walk with 1 down, they bunt the runner over for a 1-timer. But Kawauchi grounds to 2nd and that's that.

Bottom 11th
It was going to be a 1-2-3 inning, but Miyamoto wasted that with a single back up the middle.

And he takes off for 2nd! The throw isn't in time, and the first stolen base for Kanto Dai-ichi puts the sayonara run in scoring position!

But Hori squashes that by blowing a 141 kph fastball by Murase for the 3rd out!

Top 12th
One down and a routine grounder from Tanaka takes a low hop on Murase forcing a late correction and no play at 1st.

After that Sugimura holds off on two consecutive pitches to draw a walk.

Tomooka stands in, and he draws a walk as well! Manrui with 1 down!

Yonezawa-kantoku calls for time. Will Kitatani see if Takei continues to struggle?

No! He swings and lifts a ball to center! Tanaka tagging, throw home.. not in time!! Hiroshima Shinjyou has the 2-1 lead!

Bottom 12th
Does Kanto Dai-ichi have any answer for Hori?

No! Hori in fact strikes out the last 2 batters on a letter-high fastball away and Hiroshima Shinjyou is on to the next round!

Interestingly the focus will probably turn to why Satou was relieved in the 9th. He wasn't struggling despite walking his last batter, and Takei would walk 2 in the 12th that led to the loss. But if Yonezawa-kantoku is trying to save arms, then I think it's a landmark move. If he did it because he had a quick hook, well... then you might question him (even though his pitch count was high).

For Hori, he certainly managed the game well after perhaps struggling a bit early on. He settled into a rhythm that Kanto Dai-ichi was unable to break.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Day 8, Game 1 - Waseda Jitsugyou (Nishi Tokyo) v Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)

So before we start. YAY Iwakumi Hiashi! おめでとうございました!!!!!

Today is an interesting set of games and the weather, rainy though it was, means that it'll be extra humid and certainly will affect play - especially later on in the day when we have our headliner game of the day.

Our leader though will be Waseda Jitsugyou facing Hiroshima Shinjyou.

Neither team looked all that impressive in their opening round games. Yes, Soujitsu defeated Imabari Nishi 6-0, but Matsumoto and Hattori combined for just 2 Ks on the day. That is a huge red flag and would put a lot of pressure on the defense with so many balls in play.

Offensively, they look like an average team. The bottom third of the order - generally a good indicator about a team's offense was 1-12. In fact, the only player with more than 1 hit was leadoff batter Yamada. The top of the order might be able to produce, but you're either killing a rally or an entire inning once you hit the bottom of the lineup.

Hiroshima Shinjyou was much of the same as ace Hori struck out 3 while yielding 10 hits. Offensively, it was their 3-4-5 hitters that struggled also going 1-12. That is a big red flag if your best hitters are struggling.

Waseda Jitsugyou (Nishi Tokyo)
3B Yamada Jyunpei
RF Tamagawa Ryou
1B Kiyomiya Koutarou
C Katou Masaki
SS Kaneko Ginyu(?)
2B Tomita Naoki
LF Miyazaki Renta (#11)
P Matsumoto Kou
CF Watanabe Daichi

Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
2B Sugimura Hiroyoshi
LF Ogasawara Shin (#14)
RF Katou Masaya
CF Fujimoto Tatsuki
1B Sadanaga Masaaki
SS Iwamoto Takuya
3B Koizumi Tokio
C Toumetsuka Takashi
P Hori Mizuki

____________________________________________________________

08:00 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Hori off to work on the team from Tokyo. Gives up an infield hit to Tamagawa which was really close, and walks Katou, but a routine grounder to short from Kaneko ends the inning.

Bottom 1st
Hiroshima Shinjyou rightly working he count versus Matsumoto, gets a walk, but not much else other than increasing the pitch count.

Top 2nd
Tomita liner to left, but Koizumi makes a leaping catch for the out!

As expected, a lot of contact as Miyazaki foul out and Matsumoto grounds out to Iwamoto to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd
Iwamoto gets Hiroshima Shinjyou's first hit, a liner to right.

And he straight steals 2nd without a throw!

He moves to 3rd after a groundout, so they'll need a base hit from Toumetsuka. But instead it's a lazy fly to center.

Top 3rd
Watanabe, the only Waseda hitter in the bottom 3rd to get a hit, gets one here to lead the 3rd. Yamada bunts him over.

Tamagawa single to left! Watanabe puts on the brakes at 3rd as Kiyomiya comes up next.

And he comes though, guides a liner over Sugimura and Soujitsu has the first run! 1-0!

But he blunders on the basepath! Liner from Katou goes to short and Iwamoto goes to 1st to double him off to end the inning!

Bottom 3rd
New LF Harada gets a 2-out weak grounder base hit and steals 2nd, but is left stranded.

Top 4th
Soujitsu gets a big break when after a base hit from Kaneko and one down a wild pitch allows him to not only take 2nd, but 3rd!

Miyazaki makes it an easy walk home as he crushes a ball left over the plate to right and over Katou's head! That goes for a triple and Waseda now leads 2-0!

After a walk, Watababe does his duty again and hits a sac fly to left, making it 3-0.

Oddly, after giving up another base hit and then a 1st pitch strike to Tamagawa, #10 Sekitou comes in for RF Katou and takes the hill. Hori goes to 1B and Sadanaga to LF.

Very first pitch from Sekitou gets them out of the inning, but Waseda expands their lead.

Bottom 4th
Horishima Shinjyou playing the waiting game on Matsumoto.

With one down, both Sadanaga and Iwamoto play the waiting game and draw walks. Then #12 Matsui is sent in to hit for Koizumi, and he singles to left! Manrui for Hiroshima!

Izumi-kantoku calls time.

No help! Toumetsuka back up the middle under Matsumoto! Sadanaga and Iwamoto come home! It's 3-2!

Another PH from Sakoda-kantoku! #17 Kitadani for Hori as his day is officially done.

Ball to center! Watanabe going back, going back, GOING BACK!

It's over his head!! Matsui scores! Toumetsuka scores! Hiroshima Shinjyou has the lead at 4-3!!

That's it for Matsumoto as #10 Kamijyou comes in.

After a flyout, Harada grounds to 2nd but Tomita can't find the grip! E4 and the inning continues!

Ogasawara goes to steal 2nd! Katou goes to throw, but Kitadani is coming home! Katou tries to stop his throw, but spikes the ball instead! The run scores on a gutsy call and it's 5-3!

Sekitou grounds out to end the inning, but out of nowhere Hiroshima Shinjyou has taken the lead!

Top 5th
Waseda firing right back! Kiyomiya starts it off with a single to left. Katou follows that up with a single past Iwamoto into center! Kaneko bunts them along and now a base hit can tie the game right back up!

Tomita grounder and through to right! Kiyomiya scores! Katou waved around, gets no throw! Just like that we're tied at 5-5!

Tomita continues the pressure stealing 2nd to put the gyakuten runner in scoring position.

Miyazaki draws a walk and once again Izumi-kantoku uses the bunt to move the runners into scoring position.

But Watanabe can't get the base hit. He ground to 2nd and a tie is all Soujitsu can get for now.

Bottom 5th
One down and Sadanaga gets his 1st base hit of the game with a ball to left. And then he steals 2nd!

Iwamoto single to right, but Sadanaga has to hold at 3rd.

Contact play! But it's right to Kamijyou! He runs down Sadanaga for the 2nd out!

Izumi-kantoku frantically pointing his fingers as #17 Yoshida comes in to replace Kamijyou.

Toumetsuka first pitch swings and its a soft chopper up the middle! Kaneko has it and throws to 1st for the 3rd out!

And after all that we're tied at 5-5! I don't know who has the advantage though Waseda has been getting runners on base at a more even clip so there will probably be more opportunities now that they've gone to their bullpens.

Top 6th
Soujitsu's at it again. Tamagawa gets a fortunate high bounce that eats up Matsui. Then Sekitou hits Kiyomiya.

After that #11 Oofuka comes in.

But Katou with a chopper back up the middle, gets through! Tamagawa rounding 3rd, throw in cut off! Soujitsu retakes the lead at 6-5!

Kaneko grounds into a DP to end the inning, but Hiroshima Shinjyou will need to come back again.

Bottom 6th
Kitadani collects his 2nd hit of the game with a single back up the middle. However Kiyomiya alerly lets a popped bunt drop and throws to 1st. They get Sugimura first on the force and then have Kitadani in a pickle. He's run down and there's 2 out.

Harada continues his hot hitting with a single to right center.

What's this Oofuka with a drive to center!Watanabe back, Watanabe still back!! STILL BACK AGAIN!!

Collides with the wall! But he makes the catch!!! 3 out! That's a great catch by Watanabe!

Bottom 7th
With Yoshida being hit for, #18 Hattori comes in as the 4th P for Waseda.

Sadanaga with yet another hit, this one back up the middle.

He tries to steal 2nd, but is thrown out with a strike from Katou. 2 down and Iwamoto strikes out as perhaps Hiroshima Shinjyou is running on empty.

Top 8th
After giving up a 2-out walk, Sakoda-kantoku pulls his reliever card. He sends in #13 Sasaki for CF Fujimoto to take the hill. Oofuka goes to 1B and Sadanaga goes to CF.

LINER! Sasaki snags it from the air!! 3 out!!!

Bottom 8th
Everything Sakoda-kantoku has done I think has been done to setup the endgame. Putting in Matsui and Kitadani at the bottom of the order (they're 3-4) to moving around his fielders with the P changes. Leaving Oofuka who almost hit the HR to play 1B instead.

It's all for now!!!

Matsui starts with a walk. After a sac bunt, Kitadani gets his 3rd base hit! It's a single to the right side, but once again Matsui has to hold at 3rd.

NOT ANYMORE!!

Sugimura singles to left and he can trot home! 6-6!!!! And you have Harada coming up next!

But he goes after the first pitch and flies to center! It's not nearly deep enough to do anything with.

And Oofuka goes after the first pitch! But it's a slow chopper back up the middle Tomita has it, throws to 1st... 3 out!

ああああああ~~~~

It was all lined for Sakoda-kantoku, but sadly the pieces didn't quite fall into place.

Top 9th
Katou once again with pressure leading off with a single to left. But Kaneko pops up his bunt and there's 1 down!

Oofuka doesn't help his own cause now as he walks Tomita, moving the gyakuten runner to 2nd.

And with that Sakoda makes more changes. Oofuka and Sasaki switch positions (1B & P), and #16 Oohara comes in to play 3B.

Miyazaki reaches out and pops one up! Sugimura and Kitadani converge, converge...

They don't get there!! It falls in and that means Tomita scores! Miyazaki is being waved around! Throw home... OUT!!! They get the second runner, but the all important gyakuten run is home!

Bottom 9th
Does Sakoda-kantoku have one last trick up his sleeve?

Sasaki grounds out to short...

Sadanaga can't take the bat off his shoulder and goes down looking.

The last card is #15 Okuda.

Ah... but he strikes out swinging to end the game. Waseda moves on with a 7-6 win.

But I want to talk about what Hiroshima Shinjyou did. Right from the get-go Sakoda-kantoku went about inserting players into the lineup, starting with Harada in for Ogasawara. Then it was placing Matsuii and Kitadani in the 4th when they needed base hits. Then it was managing the pitching replacing the middle of the lineup with pitchers who could actually hit.

And it setup perfectly for the end of the game when they were searching for a run. And it almost worked.

Never have I seen a team implement their bench to the manner that Sakoda-kantoku did. Much like the game that never ended with Iwamichisuikan and switching pitchers back and forth, it was another fantasy idea of mine that if I were to manage a team, I would want to use the entire lineup like what he did.

I am so impressed with his job, I wish he could have won - forget the fact I hate Soujitsu.

2 managers who did 2 things I always wanted to do, and ALMOST won their games. They were innovative, thought out of the box, and goddammit they should have been rewarded.

Friday, August 7, 2015

Day 2, Game 2 - Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima) v Kasumigaura (Ibaraki)

Well, that was slighty better in terms of a competitive game. Perhaps we're rounding into form.
Both of these schools are making their first appearance, and their form doesn't really have any landmark games except for Hiroshima Shinjyou defeating Jyosuikan. Both teams were dominant in prefecture, but again versus weaker competition it's hard to find a favorite.

Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
2B Sugimura Hiroyoshi
LF Ogasawara Shin (#14)
SS Iwamoto Takuya
CF Fujimoto Tatsuki
C Toumetsuka Takashi
1B Sadanaga Masaaki
RF Kitatani Shougo (#17)
3B Koizumi Tokio
P Hori Mizuki

Kasumigaura (Ibaraki)
LF Satou Takumi
1B Hotate Ryou (#13)
RF Sekiguchi Jyunosuke
CF Shimizu Tatsuki
P Ayabe Shou
SS Ogawa Shouhei
C Saitou Tomonori
2B Mashiko Yuuya
3B Iimura Shouta

____________________________________________________________

10:30 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Ayabe working really quickly, needs just 10 pitches to get a 1-2-3 inning. Fastball pretty much average in speed.

Bottom 1st
Not a good start for Hori on the flipside. Leadoff walk, and then when Hotate can't lay down the bunt, he singles to center instead.

But after a sac bunt, it's another contact play. The result leaves the runners in place as Iwamoto starts the rundown, but it's all not necessary.

Worse yet, Ayabe is walked to load the bases.

Somehow though Hori gets Ogawa to chase a ball outside to end the inning.

Top 2nd
Man, those leadoff walks will get you every time. Ayabe issues one, and then after several attempts at a hit-and-run including a scorcher just foul past the 3rd base bag, Sadanaga drives a ball to the right center field wall for a triple And Hiroshima Shinjyou is up 1-0.

Kitatani with a single to center! That scores Sadanaga and it's 2-0 just like that. Takahashi-kantoku calls for time.

Ayabe limits the damage to just that, but as we've seen so far the team that falls behind has work to do.

3rd Inning
Sugimura with a leadoff hit to right that gets him to 2nd after Sekiguchi fails to field the ball cleanly. But when Ogasawara whifs on a bunt, he's caught too far off the bag and thrown out.
Sakoda-kantoku responds by replacing him with #89 Katou, who doubles to center.

Despite an error that allows a runner to get on base, Ayabe gets away with no damage.

However, the offense is unable to get the timely hit. Hotate adds a double to his single, but can't advance any further.

4th Inning
Ayabe seemingly flirting with disaster every inning. A 1-out and 2-out single put him at risk again, but he sneaks out of it with a flyout to right.

Kasumigaura at risk of a 1-2-3 inning when Saitou bounces one off the top of the padding in dead center for a double.

Mashiko singles to left, and new LF Katou flubs the ball! Saitou comes around to score and it's 2-1!

That's all they get, but Kasumigaura is starting to boom he ball, as shown in Iimura's loud 3rd out to center.

Bottom 5th
After a quick 1-2-3 inning for Shinjyou, Kasumigaura continues their booming ways. Hotate gets his 3rd hit of the game, and 2nd double, when he pounds a ball to left center. Sekiguchi follows that up with a single through the right side. Runners at the corners, and Sakoda-kantoku calling time again.

Shinjyou looks for the squeeze, but instead Shimizu takes the ball the other way to left for a game tying single! We're at 2-2 and Shinjyou looks like they're on their heels now!

Throw in an error and it would be manrui with 2 out. Saitou grounds to 2nd though and Hori prevents Kasumigaura from taking the lead.

I believe we have our first decent game of the tournament.

Top 6th
That break came at the right time for Hiroshima Shinjyou. Back-to-back base hits by Toumetsuka and Sadanaga put Kasumigaura in a bind.

Now on 2nd and 3rd, Shinjyou does the contact play, and this time it pays off. Runner scores to give them back the lead at 3-2.

They then try the squeeze, but Hotate alertly pushed the ball home with his glove and gets the tag at home.

But they press on and Sugimura re-establishes the 2-run lead.as he singles to center. That knocks Ayabe out of the game as #10 Adaka comes in. He closes out the inning, but they're back to where they started.

Bottom 6th
Mashiko gets on thanks to an error, but while he's advanced to 2nd, he goes no further. Even Hotate, who was 3-3 is retired to end the inning.

7th-8th Inning
The lucky 7 is anything but as Fujimoto is caught napping off of 1st, and Shimizu gets on base, but ends up in a strike em out throw em out double play.

The game is now at the point where it is just marching to the end with Kasumigaura on the wrong side of the ledger. The 8th comes and goes with the only thing to report being ace Hori cramping up.

Bottom 9th
With a walk to lead off the 9th, Kasumigaura presses on. #16 Katou runs for Iimura, and #18 Nemoto bats for Satou. He almost hits into a DP, but beats out the throw.

Hotate gives more hope when he gets his 4th hit. But they're down to their last out needing a base hit The tying run now at 2nd after Sekiguchi grounds to 1st.

Shimizu flies out to center though, and while there is some drama, Hiroshima Shinjyou advances with a 4-2 win.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

86th Senbatsu - Day 9 - Replay - Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima) vs. Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma)

So remember when I said we didn't know anything about these teams because they blew out their opponents in the first round?

Well, we still don't know anything about these teams - because I could barely keep up with the action as the teams apparently wanted to set some type of record for shortest 15 inning draw in history.

2 hours, 24 minutes.

And because I was blogging, tweeting, and scoring - I could barely discern anything from the game. Not that I think I could mind you even if I was paying attention considering they'd hit every first pitch into play if they could have.

Kidding aside, the fact that they weren't hacking away from the 9th inning onwards suggested they wanted to play a sudden death type of game. But it'd be rather improbable to have both teams actually planning such a strategy.

I'd almost want to reiterate what I said in jest yesterday. I don't think these teams thought they had a shot at winning senbatsu, so they decided - let's play to a draw, and then we get to play again all by ourselves! We'll have the limelight all to ourselves!

All the other 7 qualified teams would also be thanking them because all their teams get an extra day of rest.

Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
SS Nakabayashi Kouki
LF Tanaka Takuya
2B Nishijima Haruto
CF Sakagaki Kazuya
3B Okuda Shingo
RF Nikaku Taiyou
1B Kumata Jyunpei
C Tanaka Keisuke
P Yamaoka Shuuya

Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma)
LF Yoshida Ryuuto
2B Ishii Shouta
RF Yanagiya Sansuke
P Yamada Tomoki
C Onoda Toki
3B Kubota Shinji
CF Kubo Shunsuke
1B Hayamizu Takanari
SS Takahashi Shoukei

____________________________________________________________

15:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Both aces are out to start again. No relief starts for the replay!

Nakabayashi takes 3 pitches! It's a miracle! He does groundout to short though.

Takuya also taking pitches, goes to 2-2 before he makes contact. Shot to 3rd, but Kubota has it and goes to 1st for the 2nd out.

And I think we're going to have a normal game because while all 3 batters are retired in order, they are taking pitches.

Bottom 1st
That being the case, which ace will run out of gas first?

Yoshida for Kiryuu hitting a ton of pitches foul. Finally gets the ball into play and bloops a single to left center! Takuya has the ball go off the soft ground (it rained quite a bit) and off his glove, and that allows Yoshida to go to 2nd!

Ishii with the bunt to move him over, and it takes a great play from Okuda on the bare-handed throw to just get him out.

Yanagiya single to center! He delivers a first pitch single to center and Kiryuu Dai-ichi leads 1-0!

Yanagiya takes off for 2nd! Throw from Keisuke... not in time! Kiryuu trying to leave no doubt this game! Yamada does the right thing - hitting a grounder to the right side to advance the runner.

Yamaoka leaves it at 1 though as Onoda chases the slider, but it's Hiroshima Shinjyou that must chase the run!

Top 2nd
Hiroshima gets the douten runner on after Yamada hits Sakagaki.

Hit-and-run! Sakagaki takes off, and Okuda hits a sharp liner... caught by Kubota! Sakagaki is helpless as he's doubled off at 1st for the double play!

Nikaku grounds out to end the inning, but hard luck for Hiroshima there.

Bottom 2nd
Other than the Yanagiya single, each AB so far has gone at least 3 pitches. Kubota is no different as he goes 2-2 before hitting a weak grounder back to Yamaoka.

Kubo works count full before missing on the cutter.

But Hayamizu drives a ball to center! Sakagaki running back to the wall... slips and falls! The ground wreaking havoc for Hiroshima! I don't think he would have gotten to it anyways, and Hayamizu doesn't take an extra base.

The small chance for Kiryuu evaporates as Takahashi pops one up. It's still a bit of an adventure in the outfield, but Nakabayashi makes the catch for the 3rd out.

Top 3rd
Kumata breaks trend and swings on the first pitch, but hits a weak ball back to Yamada.

Keisuke getting ahead of Yamada 3-0, but Yamada comes back to fill up the count and throws a ballsy slider inside that just catches the inside edge.

Hiroshima taking pitches, but having no additional success at the plate. Yamaoka grounds to short and they're still hitless.

Bottom 3rd
Yoshioka first pitch lines a base hit just onto the outfield grass in left. Once again, Ishii bunts him along.

Yanagiya blooper to short center! Takuya charging in, but it drops in! Yoshida had to hold up, but the top of the order for Kiryuu is threatening yet again!

Looks like Hiroshima will play for the DP instead of the back home with Yamada coming up.

Yanagiya taking off for 2nd! It's a pitchout! Yamada strikes out swinging, but Keisuke double clutches and the throw is late! Now a base hit from Onoda could score 2!

But instead it's a grounder to 3rd! Okuda comes up with it, goes to 1st, and that's the 3rd out! Yamaoka getting into trouble again, but only has yielded that one run!

Top 4th
Still nothing going for Hiroshima... Nakabayashi and Takuya both ground out.

Nishijima with a hard grounder to 2nd, but Ishii can't field it cleanly! Throws to 1st... not in time! A diving Nishijima beats out the throw!

Sakagaki with a ball down the right field side.. fair! Nishijima off on contact makes it to 3rd! Douten runner on 3rd!

Okuda grounder to 2nd! Hayamizu can't get it! Ishii backing up the play gets the ball, but finds no one at first! Yamada scrambles as Ishii throws to 1st...

And Yamada steps on 1st just beating out Okuda for the 3rd out!

Bottom 4th
Kubota starts off the inning with a walk from Yamaoka who actually threw behind him on the full count. Kubo bunts him along for Hayamizu.

Yamaoka careful with Hayamizu, mainly working away. But he leaves one over and Hayamizu drives one to right! Nikaku is there to make the catch, but Kubota tags up to 3rd.

But once again Yamaoka gets out of the pinch! Takahashi pops it up on the 1st base side and Keisuke makes the catch in foul territory for the 3rd out!

Top 5th
Hiroshima's hitters can't even get the ball in the outfield to challenge the fielders' ability in the wet.

Yamada gets 2 more groundouts before Keisuke finally hits a ball to the outfield. But it's a high fly and Yoshida has plenty of time to get to it.

Bottom 5th
Yamaoka finally retires Yoshida on a grounder to 2nd.

Ishii though, finally able to swing the bat, hits a ball back up the middle! Yamaoka stumbles to field it as the ball bounces off the mound and into center for a base hit!

How does the saying go? Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me?

Well, it's not quite that, but Ishii tries to pull a Yanagiya and steal 2nd, but this time Yamaoka has him picked off! Ishii is run down 1-3-6 for the 2nd out!

And with everything all out of sorts, Yanagiya goes down on 3 straight pitches, just watching the fastball down the middle for the 3rd out!

So Yamaoka has allowed baserunners every inning, but yielded just one run. Unfortunately, his team has 2 hits total...

Top 6th
Apparently, Hiroshima's batters got the message about hitting the ball in the air.

But they can't be too routine of a fly...

Yamaoka hits one almost right to Yoshida, and then Nakabayashi pops one up next to home and Onoda makes the catch.

Takuya hits a popup to left, but it's in foul territory where the astroturf is, and Yoshida is free to make the sliding catch near the fence for the out!

Bottom 6th
Kiryuu Dai-ichi making a change in strategy possibly, trying to shorten the game. Yamada and Onoda both get out on the first pitch. Kubota tries to keep Yamaoka's pitch count rising, but eventually grounds to 1st.

Top 7th
Nishijima one of the few batters having success against Yamada today, collects his 2nd hit with a grounder past a diving Hayamizu.

Despite it being late in the game, Sakoda-kantoku does not elect to have #4 batter Sakagaki bunt.

Hit and run! Sakagaki hit it down the left field line! Yoshida running over from his position in left proper... still running into foul territory... dives... and makes the catch! Yoshida with his 2nd great catch of the game!

#18 Toometsuka comes in to hit for Nikaku. Sharp grounder to the right side, smothered by Hayamizu! Goes to the bag and a leadoff hit goes begging!

Bottom 7th
Toometsuka stays in to play RF.

Kubo scooter down the 3rd base line, past the diving Okuda for a leadoff single!

Hayamizu swinging away, ball back up middle for a seeing-eye single! Are things falling apart for Yamaoka?

Takahashi with the bunt, Okuda charging in, AHH!!

The ball takes an irregular final bounce and Okuda can't adjust! All safe! Oh boy, things are not looking good for Hiroshima now..

Yoshida puts the bat out on the ball and hits a soft liner to right for a base hit! Kubo scores to make it 2-0!

Ishii tries to get the sac fly, but it's too short and everyone has to hold.

Yanagiya with a hard grounder to 2nd, *sighs*

The ball bounces high off of Nishijima's glove and into right scoring another run to make it 3-0. Nishijima looks a bit distraught about the error...

Yamada tacks on another run with a sac fly before Onoda grounds out to end the inning. But it's a 4-0 lead and I just don't think Hiroshima has it in them for a comeback.

Top 8th
#11 Sasaki comes in to hit for Kumata, but goes down swinging.

And while Yamaoka gets on base due to an error, Nakabayashi pops out to 2nd to make it a relatively quick inning.

Bottom 8th
Sasaki stays in to play 1B.

Yamaoka with 2 quick outs, but then Hayamizeu hits a ball to left center. Takuya sells out on the sliding catch, but he's unfortunately no Yoshida and the ball gets by him. Sakagaki backing up gets the ball in, but not before Hayamizu's in with a triple.

Yamaoka finishes his Koushien performance freezing Takahashi on a fastball. At least he gets that memory, if nothing else.

Top 9th
Credit to Hiroshima Shinjyou though, they're not just trying to hit the first pitch - they're still trying to get on base.

But unfortunately it's the same old story. 3 up, 3 down for Hiroshima as Sakagaki chases the slider for the final out.

While it did not have the frenetic pace of their first game, they still finished this game in 98 minutes.

Both pitchers did not look the worse for wear, so it perhaps would be which ace could hold out the longest which would determine the game.

It would be apparent though that Kiryuu Dai-ichi had all the chances in the game though, and finally pulled away in the 7th.

While the issues for Kiryuu Dai-ichi are apparent, they have to time to rest. They'll play their 3rd game in 3 days tomorrow when they play Ryuukokudai Heian!

Notable Players
Yamada Tomoki (Kiryuu Dai-ichi) - CG, SHO, 3 H, 3 K, HBP
Yoshida Ryuuto (Kiryuu Dai-ichi) - 3-4, R, RBI
Yanagiya Sansuke (Kiryuu Dai-ichi) - 2-4, RBI, K, 2 SB
Hayamizu Takanari (Kiryuu Dai-ichi) - 3-4, 2B, 3B, R
Yamaoka Shouya (Hiroshima Shinjyou) - 8 IP, 2 ER, 10 H, 6 K, BB
Nishijima Haruto (Hiroshima Shinjyou) - 2-4
Sakagaki Kazuya (Hiroshima Shinjyou) - 1-3, HBP

Saturday, March 29, 2014

86th Senbatsu - Day 8 - Game 2 - Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma) vs. Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)

Both Hiroshima Shinjyou and Kiryuu Dai-ichi breezed through their first round games with both teams giving up a combined total of 5 hits. Hiroshima Shinjyou defeated Hokushinetsu runner-up Toukai Dai-san while Kiryuu Dai-ichi defeated Shikoku champs Imabari Nishi. Both teams from weaker regions, but Imabari Nishi theoretically might have more pull.

In reality though we don't know any more about these teams then we did before save for maybe a little in regards to the pitching. Hiroshima Shinjyou's ace Yamaoka clearly dominated his opponents more than his counterpart, but then again Toukai Dai-san may have been the weaker team of the two.

So really, we don't know anything at all...

Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma)
LF Yoshida Ryuuto
2B Ishii Shouta
RF Yanagiya Sansuke
P Yamada Tomoki
C Onoda Toki
1B Hayamizu Takanari
CF Kubo Shunsuke
3B Kubota Shinji
SS Takahashi Shoukei

Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
SS Nakabayashi Kouki
LF Tanaka Takuya
2B Nishijima Haruto
CF Sakagaki Kazuya
3B Okuda Shingo
RF Nikaku Taiyou
1B Kumata Jyunpei
C Tanaka Keisuke
P Yamaoka Shuuya

____________________________________________________________

11:35 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Yoshida hot shot to 3rd, bounces off of Okuda and towards the camera well! E5 to start the game. Ishii bunts him over (and almost is safe!).

But Yanagiya can't even move the runner 90 feet as he grounds the other way to short. In fact, he's stranded when Yamada grounds right to Kumata at 1st.

Bottom 1st
Yamada off to a good start, striking out Nakabayashi on an outside fastball, and then having Takuya sky a ball to center.

Nishijima ruins the clean inning with a single past a diving Takahashi. Yamada compounds things by hitting Sakagaki (though really he didn't try that hard to get out of the way). He's redeemed when Shingo hits a lazy fly to left for the 3rd out.

Top 2nd
Onoda's bid for a base hit goes begging as his liner is snagged by a leaping Nishijima.

After that, it's smooth sailing as Hayamizu whiffs on the outside fastball, and Kubo quickly grounds to 1st there after.

Bottom 2nd
Yamada gets a real HBP when he plunks Nikaku on the back.

But instead of a bunt, Nikaku takes off for 2nd! Onoda with the strong throw, but Nikaku just slides in ahead of the tag!

Kumata lays down the bunt, and Yamada goes to 3rd!! Safe!! Nikaku slides in ahead of the throw, and Yamada puts himself in to a big pinch as Fukuda-kantoku calls time.

Keisuke with a fly to left! Yoshida camps, ready to throw home, and makes the catch! Nikaku races for home, relay throw... not in time! The hit batter comes around to score and Hiroshima Shinjyou leads 1-0!

Sakoda-kantoku has last batter Yamaoka bunt the runner along to flip the lineup back to Nakabayashi.

And all of a sudden, Yamada is struggling. He walks Nakabayashi on 4 straight! Though to be fair, he looks to have been squeezed a bit.

Now Takuya with a liner to right for a base hit! Kumata stops at 3rd and it's manrui for Hiroshima!

Yamada can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Nakajima hits a grounder to 2nd, and Ishii goes the short way for the 3rd out. Early on though, Yamada is not helping his own cause.

Top 3rd
That should help! Takahashi with one down hits a streaking grounder past the glove of Okuda for a single.

Yoshida with the safety bunt! Okuda charging in, but he's coming in from a ways away and his throw is late! All safe!

And Takahashi takes off for 3rd! No throw from Keisuke!! Douten runner 90 feet away!

Ishii with a pop fly to right. Nikaku coming in, makes the catch... and Takahashi has to hold up as Nikaku's throw forces him to hold up!

Yamaoka gets out of the jam! Yanagiya pops one up! Takuya comes in and secures the ball to retire the side!

Bottom 3rd
Yamada gets a quick out as Sakagaki fouls out to Hayamizu. A well placed slider the causes Okuda to pound one in the dirt to 2nd...

And it's a quick 1-2-3 inning as he goes exclusively outside to Nikaku and he swings and misses on the fastball for the 3rd out.

Top 4th
The pace seems to be going very quickly in this game. I can barely keep up with the outs.

Yamada first pitch swings and chops one to 2nd for the out. Then Yamaoka decides that he too wants to go outside and gets Onoda to chase a ball for the 2nd out.

He caps it off with a routine comebacker from Hayamizu for his 2nd clean inning.

Bottom 4th
Any rattling I thought Yamada had after that 2nd inning seems to have disappeared. 2 groundouts and a "I think I should swing" swing from Yamaoka mark Yamada's 2nd consecutive clean inning.

Top 5th
Kubo with a fly foul down the left field side, Takuya going towards the fence.. makes the catch in front of the Kiryuu ouen-dan.

After Kubota goes down swinging on the changeup, Takahashi flies out to left for yet another 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 5th
This quick play is generally doing nothing but generating outs.

Nakabayashi first pitch grounds out to Takahashi. Takuya takes a whopping 5 pitches before he flies out to center.

And Nakajima lines one sharply right to Hayamizu for the 3rd out.

5 innings in 50 minutes with the teams combining for 4 hits an a run. It's like the teams have somewhere to be at later, or they saw the first game running slightly late so they're trying to get back on schedule.

Top 6th
Another one pitch out. Yoshida grounds out to short.

Yamaoka quickly gets ahead of Ishii 0-2, and gets him to hit a ball back up the middle. Nakabayashi gets that one too for the 2nd out.

There's a small breather as Yanagiya gets ahead 3-0 before Yamaoka fights back to fill the count. But once again, another grounder to short. Nakabayashi picks up 3 assists in another quick half inning.

Bottom 6th
Sakagaki actually showing a modicum of patience at the plate, gets rewarded as his ball up the middle sneaks by Ishii for a leadoff hit. Okuda moves him along.

Nikaku with a bounder to the left side, gets by Kubota! But Takahashi backs up the play and fields it! Fies to first, beats out a diving (and rolling, and tumbling) Nikaku. He does advance the runner.

But Hiroshima Shinjyou back to swinging away and Kumata grounds to 2nd to end the inning.

Top 7th
Yamada with a grounder to 2nd, and Nishijima boots it! Kiryuu with their first runner since the 3rd inning!

AH! Yamaoka throws it away! His pickoff throw goes into foul territory as Yamada races to 2nd.

He's heading for 3rd!! Kumata fires from at the fence... and it reaches Okuda on the fly!! Yamada can only walk back to the dugout after being thrown out trying to press the initiative.

Which is a real shame beacause Onoda hits a clean single through the left side!

But once again the early swings come back on Kiryuu. Hayamizu and Kubo fly out on just 3 pitches and Kiryuu is literally swinging themselves into oblivion,

Bottom 7th
Dear Lord, I'm about a full half inning behind the game. Keisuke and Yamaoka get retired on just 2 pitches each before Nakabayashi pokes a ball to center for a base hit.

And then to try and help the offense, he gets a great jump and steals 2nd!

But already behind 0-2, Takuya hits a short liner to left where Yoshida is waiting.

Top 8th
Kubota gets another leadoff runner for Kiryuu as he lines a ball to right! Takahashi bunts him along.

Yoshida with a chopper to the wrong side. Nakabayashi times the bounce, catches and fires to 1st... In time for the 2nd out!

Ishii with a huge chop off the ground! Nakabayashi charging towards 2nd... catches, throws... but a diving (WHY?) Ishii beats it out! Now a base hit can tie the game up!

Yanagiya up and just hacking away. Fouling off pitch after pitch.

After several sliders, Yamaoka challenges with the fastball, and Yanagiya makes him pay! Clean single to left and Kubota can just walk home to tie the game! It's 1-1!

Yamada quickly flies out to center, but the constant hacking finally produces some results!

Bottom 8th
Nishijima with a hard grounder to 1st, Hayamizu loses track of it! Yamada scrambling to cover the bag gets there in front of a diving (AGAIN WHY?) Nishijima for the 1st out.

2 down now and Okuda hits a blooper to right center! Wait, it's not a blooper, it's a gapper! Yanagiya there to field it, but not before Okuda reaches 2nd! Small chance for Hiroshima!

That is quickly snuffed out. Nikaku hits a foul fly that hangs up en enough for Yanagiya to catches near the bullpen for the 3rd out.

Top 9th
Yamaoka falling behind leadoff batter Onoda 3-0 before firing 2 fastballs in to fill the count. Now Onoda starts fouling pitches off. Yamaoka wins the battle with a groundout to 3rd.

Hayamizu with a grounder to short, bu it takes a final bad hop that bounces off of Nakabayashi! He makes a bad decision forcing the throw to 1st. It's late and high, and fortunately for him not in the camera well.

With the gyakuten runner on, Fukuda-kantoku will play for the one shot. #17 Onaga comes in to run for Hayamizu and is bunted over by Kubo. So 2 down for Kubota.

Interestingly, Kiryuu Dai-ichi chooses now to start taking pitches. Kubota working the count full.

AH!!!

Yamaoka fires to 2nd and they pick off Onaga! Inning over!

I get to see the replay, and it appears that while Nakabayashi gives him the bag, when he goes for the tag with the glove, it collides with Onaga's arm for the out!

Bottom 9th
Onaga stays in the game in CF, Kubo goes to 1B.

In fact Hiroshima Shinjyou also is taking more pitches (slightly) here in the 9th as well. It's like both team disposed of the first 8 innings and wanted to play sudden death ball.

Still, both Kumada and Keisuke pop out, while Yamaoka feebly swings at the fastball outside to end the inning.

So the teams get what they wanted. Sudden death ball.

Top 10th
Kubota gets another full AB against Yamaoka, but goes down swinging.

Takahashi with a grounder to 2nd, and Nakabayashi even with taking his time, throws it into the dirt pulling Kumata off the bag! Kiryuu will play for the one-timer again as Yoshida bunts him along.

Ishii first pitch singles to shallow right!! They're sending Takahashi home! Nikaku fires... it's on a rope! Keisuke has it and Takahashi is thrown out at home to end the inning!

Bottom 10th
In the 90 seconds my internet goes wonky, Nakabayashi and Takuya have managed to get themselves out and I get to see Nishijima ground out to 2nd.

Top 11th
Yanagiya gives Kiryuu the gakuten runner as he singles to right. But Yamada isn't bunting! And he flies out to right instead!

That's okay though as Onoda singles to right! Kiryuu with something brewing here.

But Onaga first pitch grounds to 2nd! Nishijima goes to 2nd for 1, but Nakabayashi's throw to 1st is late. Gyakuten run 90 feet away.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Onaga gets caught off 1st by Yamaoka! He's run down 1-3-6 and the inning is over! That's the 2nd time he's been caught on the basepaths!!

Bottom 11th
Now it's Hiroshima Shinjyou's turn! Sakagaki lines one past Takahashi to center!

Okuda bunts the runner along. AHHH!!!

Kubota short hops Kubo and everyone's safe! And after Nikaku's bunt, the sayonara run is 90 feet away!

And so they rightly walk Kumata to load the bases.

Keisuke with a chance to end the game with a decent fly ball.

But instead it's a grounder to 1st! Kubo goes home for 1, Onoda goes to 1st... double play! Keisuke dives into 1st (WHY, WHY????!!!) grounds into the 3-2-4 double play and the inning is over!

Top 12th
Kubo with the dribbler up the 3rd base side, Okuda fire to first beating a diving Kubo.

Kubota takes 4 pitches but pops out to Kumata. And Takahashi chases the fastball outside for the 3rd out.

Bottom 12th
Yamaoka tries to draw the walk, but in his attempts to foul off pitches with the count full he swings an a pitch eye high and grounds to 3rd. Nakabayashi and Takuya are retired on 1 pitch each and we're already headed to the 13th.

Top 13th
2 flyouts to center and I can take a breather as Yanagiya starts taking pitches. Eventually, after fouling off a couple, he runs the count full...

AND DRAWS A WALK!

This is news people! With all the swinging away, this is the first walk issued by Yamaoka!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled game, already in progress.

And we move to the bottom of the 13th as Yamada has grounded to 2nd to end the inning.

Bottom 13th
It's more of the same. Nishijima gounds to 2nd, Sakagaaki grounds to 3rd. Okuda changes things up with a strikeout on a forkball.

Top 14th
So apparently the strategy is, first batter work the count to get on base. If they don't, hack away. If they do, bunt, then hack away.

Onoda works the count full, but grounds to 3rd. So 3 pitchers later, the side is retired.

Bottom 14th
Nikaku blows that theory out of the water swinging on the first pitch. Kumata takes 2 pitches to grounds to 3rd.

Keisuke with a grounder to 2nd to end the... no, wait. Ishii boots the ball, then can't field it at all so it's an E4 and the inning continues.

What, what?

Keisuke must have read something wrong because he just takes off for 2nd! Yamada calmly goes to 2nd ant that's the inning!

Top 15th
We are already at the last inning!

Nakabayashi almost throws away the grounder from Kubota but Kumata keeps the foot on the bag.

Takahashi quickly then grounds to 1st. Kumata's toss to Yamaoka is a bit high, but Yamaoka emphatically steps on 1st for the 2nd out.

And Yoshida just waves on the slider for the 3rd out.

Bottom 15th
So the best Kiryuu Dai-ichi can play for is a draw.

And with the endgame at hand, Sakota-kantoku rightly pinch hits for Yamaoka. #17 Fujimoto gets those honors.

But he follows the game plan and quickly grounds out to 1st.

Nakabayashi making things interesting! He singles back up the middle! Hiroshima Shinjyou with the sayonara run on base!

After a bunt by Takuya, Fukuda-kantoku calls time. Nishijima looking to end it here in the 15th.

Fastball over the middle for strike 1. Nishijima goes after the 2nd pitch and is behind 0-2

Ball way out and up... 1-2. Yamada with the token turn to 2nd.

Popup! Kubo ranging to his right, still going, still going... Makes the catch!

The game in a neat 2 hours and 24 minutes ends in a 1-1 draw! (That has to be a record)

I have no idea what either team's strategy was other than just to swing away. The best I can come up with is that these teams know they won't win Koushien. So, instead of having a winner and loser, how about playing another game for free?

Not to mention the fact that all other teams get one extra day of rest. Meitoku Gijyuku approves.

So, Kiryuu Dai-ichi and Hiroshima Shinjyou will do it again tomorrow as the only game of Day 9 at 13:00 JST.

Notable Players
I'll do this after the conclusion of games today. A lot of not very much to go through.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

86th Senbatsu - Day 5 - Game 1 - Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima) vs. Toukai Dai-san (Nagano)

Our opening matchup of Day 5 might be an even matchup, but not necessarily in a Nihon Bunri-Toyokawa kind of way.

Hiroshima Shinjyou's offense seems to be rather good, but put in the context of Iwakuni finishing first in Chuugoku could put an even bigger damper than normal regression would. Take that one step further and ace Yamaoka's walks become even more concerning.

For Toukai Dai-san, I had been interested in seeing them at Koushien (along with the Ueda schools), and they're made more interesting with their ace Takai Julian. That not withstanding, his peripherals look rather good, so it's possible they will hold up for the most part against tougher competition. He certainly looks to be the key in this matchup.

Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
SS Nakabayashi Kouki
LF Tanaka Takuya
2B Nishijima Haruto
CF Sakagaki Kazuya
3B Okuda Shingo
RF Nikaku Taiyou
1B Sasaki Akita (#11)
C Tanaka Keisuke
P Yamaoka Shuuya

Toukai Dai-san (Nagano)
CF Kobayashi Kenji
SS Tanada Yuuta
C Hara Yuushi
RF Urano Masaya
1B Hara Hirotaka
2B Aoki Koudai
LF Ikeda Shouta
P Takai Julian
3B Ide Hayato

____________________________________________________________

09:02 - First Pitch!

Top 1
Julian's velo appears to vary. The fastball is anywhere from about 134-139 and the slider can be in the upper 120s, so there can be a smaller gap between the two.

Nakabayashi gets the better of him in the opening AB as he reaches out and pokes a ball above Tanada into left.

Takuya has the oddest stance, ducking as if to shorten the strike zone. They try the hit and run, but on the full count, he pops up and just hacks at the pitch striking out. Nakabayashi though successfully steals 2nd.

There's quickly 2 outs as Nishijima hits a hard grounder right at Hirotaka.

It looks like Hiroshima Shinjyou might play the waiting game with Takai as #4 batter Sakagaki works the count full again this time drawing a walk.

Okuda takes full advantage! He hits a clean single through the left side and Nakabayashi can walk home! Hiroshima Shinjyou takes the 1-0 lead!

Nikaku follows that with a liner to center, but it hangs up just enough for Kobayashi to come in and catch it. Inning over, but Takai already apparently having issues.

Bottom 1st
Yamaoka looking to get on a better start, striking out Kobayashi on a slider inside then follows that with a fastball outside to get Tanada swinging.

Yamaoka completes the trifecta when he pulls out the changeup that Yuushi is way out in front of.

Oh dear, this might not be as close as I thought...

Top 2nd
Sasaki pounds a ball into the ground but is thrown out by Ide who charges in on the chopper.

Julian seems to be doing better against the bottom of the lineup as Keisuke grounds out as well and Yamaoka just whiffs on the slider. But his test will be next inning when the lineup flips back up to the top.

Bottom 2nd
Oh, this is bad. Urano chases the changeup into the dirt and that's 4 Ks in 4 ABs so far.

Well, that's good. The first ball in play is a base hit as Hirotaka takes a fastball back up the middle for a base hit.

And that's something you don't see everyday. Grounder to 2nd, the runner Hirotaka actually takes out Nakabayashi who is making the throw, causing him to send it wide and allowing Aoki to go to 2nd.

Ikeda though with a soft liner to Okuda in foul territory for the 3rd out.

Top 3rd
3rd inning starts promising enough for Takai anyways. Nakabayashi gets one off the end of the bat and pops out to Hirotaka.

Takuya's stance weirds me out. How you're able to generate any power bent down like that is beyond me. If nothing else, he's fouling off pitches.

And apparently a base hit as he just punches one to shallow left - out of the reach of a sliding Ikeda.

Hirotaka does the right thing as Nishijima's ball hit to him he steps on 1st first, then goes to 2nd to catch Takuya for the 3-6 DP to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd
Takai gets in his cuts against Yamaoka, but again falls to the changeup. Ide hacks away, early but works hard afterwards filling up the count... only to succumb to the high fastball.

A bit uncharacteristic of Yamaoka as he plunks Kobayashi.

It's a small respite as Tanada goes down for the 2nd time, and that's 7 Ks for Yamaoka... Yikes.

Top 4th
Julian was seemingly on his way to a quick inning when he retired Sakagaki and Okuda on 3 pitches. But Nikaku works the count, and on the full count singles to center.

Nikaku then takes off for 2nd, and easily beats the throw from Yuushi.

Sasaki though grounds to 3rd for the 2nd time and ends the inning.

Bottom 4th
#3 Kumada comes in for Sasaki to take over at 1B.

Urano breaks the streak of K's with a slow grounder back to Yamaoka, but it's little consolation as Hirotaka grounds out to 2nd. They're really struggling at the plate.

Top 5th
And now it's Hiroshima Shinjyou back on the bats. Back-to-back-to back hits by Yamaoka, Nakabayashi and Takuya puts the bases loaded for Nishijima as Fujii-kantoku calls time.

Doesnt help as Nishijima sends one to left! Ikeda trying to deke, but has to scramble back as it's over his head! Yamaoka and Nakabayashi score to make it a 3-0 game, and still only 1 out...

Julian gets the 2nd out, getting Sakagaki to chase on a slider, but Yuushi throws it away trying to snap throw to 1st and the runners advance. He finally gets out of the inning after a long AB versus Okuta, but it's not looking good.

Bottom 5th
This game looks officially one-sided now. The side is retired in order, including #16 Tominaga pinch-hitting for Takai meaning his day is done... 10 K's through 5.

Top 6th
Takai is holding his shoulder in the dugout, so was there an injury issue? #10 Nakamura comes into the game to pitch.

After a quick out, Nakamura plunks Kumata. After that Keisuke singles through the right side, and Nakamura gets unlucky when a comebacker gets slowed down by his glove and Tanada has no play when he can finally scramble to the ball. Shibata scores from 3rd and it's 4-0.

Nakamura gets himself into further trouble, walking Nakabayashi to load the bases, but gets out of it when he successfully field a comebacker to start the 1-2-3 double play.

Bottom 6th
Ide gets a slow ball back up the middle that sneaks through for a leadoff hit - just the 2nd of the day.

But that's all they get. The next 3 batters record an out and they're back on defense just as quickly.

Top 7th
Well, Nakamura settles down in his 2nd inning of relief, retiring the 3-4-5 batters in order.

Bottom 7th
Sadly, there's not much for Toukai Dai-san here. No more Ks at least, but 3 groundouts.

Top 8th
Ide in a losing battle chases a foul ball from Keisuke, actually leaping into the camera well. Sure, if the game was close I could see that, but there's no need to hurt yourself on that.

Aoki though makes a nice pick on a ball from Keisuke up the middle and records the 3rd out.

Bottom 8th
Ikeda with a sharp liner to left, but right at Takuya.

#13 Tanaka Hiromu comes in to hit for Nakamura, gets his cuts in, but becomes the 11th K.

And Ide flies out to right.

Top 9th
#11 Hirabayashi will get a chance on the mound to finish out the game.

Hirabayashi almost gets a clean inning, but gives up a 2 out walk to Takuya. He promptly steals 2nd, and winds up scoring when Nishijima's base hit to left goes under Ikeda's glove and back to the wall for a 2-base error. 5-0.

That'll be it for Hirabayashi as #18 Fukuzawa comes in to get the final out.

Sakagaki lines a single to center to make it a 6-0 game. Fukuzawa does get the final out as Okuda grounds to short.

Bottom 9th
Yamaoka racks up 2 more Ks en route to a 2-hit shutout.

Well, right off the bat, the game appeared one sided. Julian kept his team in it for a while, but perhaps burdened with an injury he falters in the 5th and leaves the game. While the relief staff couldn't fare much better, it didn't quite matter as the offense could no nothing against Yamaoka.

I don't think this will be the indicator for Hiroshima Shinjyou as it was apparent that Toukai Dai-san was outmatched, so we'll have to wait until next round to perhaps see their true ability.

Notable Players
Yamaoka Shuuya (Hiroshima Shinjyou) - CG, SHO, 2 H, 13 K, 0 BB, HBP
Nishijima Haruto (Hiroshima Shinjyou) - 2-5, R, 2 RBI
Nakabayashi Kouki (Hiroshima Shinjyou) - 2-4, 2 R, BB, SB
Takai Julian (Toukai Dai-san) - 5 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 3 K, BB
Hara Hirotaka (Toukai Dai-san) - 1-3
Ide Hayato (Toukai Dai-san) - 1-3

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

32 teams in 32 days - Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)

This is Hiroshima Shinjyou's first trip to Koushien, either in spring or summer. And one would not fault someone for thinking that their one chance to make it had passed last summer. In the Hiroshima taikai, they had defeated Jyosuikan to reach the finals, went to a 15 inning draw against Setouchi only to lose 1-0 two days later. For a school like then, it's possible the team worked 3 years to build a team. And yet, they were able to regroup and make another run - which took them all the way to Senbatsu!

Road to Senbatsu
Hokubu Regionals Round-Robin - Zone A

def. Miyoshi Seiryou 12-0 (5 inn)
def. Nisshoukan 7-1
def. Sera 7-1

Hiroshima Prefecturals

def. Miyajima Kougyou 4-0
def. Hiro 10-3
def. Hiroshima Shougyou 11-2 (7 inn)
def. Kouryou 6-2
def. Soutoku 5-3

Chuugoku Super-Regionals

def. Iwami 3-1
def. Kouryou 9-2 (7 inn)
def. Takagawa Gakuen 3x-2 (10 inn)
lost Iwakuni 4-3

So, they were able to back up their performance in the fall and in so doing defeated the other prefectural power Kouryou, not once, but twice (which is generally very hard to do). The win against Soutoku has to be taken with a little bit of a discount as they had rested their ace.

Super-regional play got off to a bit of a shaky start with a narrow win against Tottori's 3rd place team Iwami though ace Yamaoka Shuuya (山岡就也) did limit them to just 3 hits. Then after their 2nd win over Kouryou, Yamaoka was involved in a battle with Soutoku and ace Sakai. In general Shinjyou had the better of it, but miscues by Sakai (including a wild pitch) sent Shinjyou to the finals.

In those finals though, two fielding errors in the 1st inning - first a poor FC choice by C Tanaka Keisuke (田中啓輔) when on a bunt he fielded he threw to 3rd where there was no chance for a play, then later he threw to 2nd on a pickoff, but the defense wasn't ready for it. So both mistakes led to 2 runs in the first. Iwakuni would continue to be patient against Yamaoka, drawing walks and picking their spots, scoring another run in the 4th thanks to 2 walks and a base hit by leadoff batter Kawamoto.

It wouldn't be until the 8th inning when Hiroshima Shinjyou would fight back. Top of the order, back-to-back singles to the left side by Nakabayashi and LF Tanaka got the inning started. 2B Nishijima Haruto (西島晴人) would then line a ball down the right field line scoring 1. Sakagaki Kazuya (阪垣　和也) would get a sac fly to score another, and after an errant throw by Azuma, new RF Nikaku Hiroaki (二角太陽) - younger brother of Yuudai who plays for Rikkio, pokes one to right tying the game. Nikaku would steal 2nd and 3rd but be stranded there when #10 Funabashi would strike out.

But Yamaoka would go completely off the rails, walking Kawamura, throwing a wild pitch, and then after a bunt, throwing another wild pitch, giving Iwakuna a run without the benefit of a hit. That would be all she wrote for Hiroshima Shinjyou as they would fall 4-3.

Videos of Yamaoka are available, predominantly against Soutoku in the Hiroshima finals (1, 2, 3). He can throw in the upper 130s and possibly has a cutter/two-seamer to go with the standard set of pitches. However, he doesn't strikeout a lot of batters, and as seen in the Iwakuni game, he walks quite a few. In fact in his 4 games in the super-regional, he almost allowed the same number of hits, walks and strikeouts (22, 18 and 21 respectively)!

The pitching once again worries me. What Yamaoka reminds me of is Toukaidai Sagami's Hifumi Shinta. You know, the one who struck out and walked a ton of people and was wildly effective - and couldn't win the big one as a result.

It is generally not a recipe for success, and with no backups he's it for Hiroshima Shinjyou. Yamaoka has shown it can work, but if opposing teams are patient I think he'll struggle.

Next up, across the water to the Shikoku champs Imabari Nishi!

高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)