Well, we're onto Day 5 and the end of the first round/beginning of the 2nd round. Very exciting games so far, though sometimes a bit sloppy. Still, these are high school kids, so those things are bound to happen.
With the draws on Day 4, the teams in this game know that they will play the winners of the next game. It might be a challenge, but they have to win this game first before worrying about that.
Iwakuni Shougyou defends their spring appearance in Senbatsu by winning the Yamaguchi taikai. Despite only giving up 3 runs in the entire tournament, they were at risk to losing to Ube Koujyou before scoring 4 in the 8th, then after a complete blowout of former senbatsu participant Hayatomo edged out unknown Takagawa Gakuen for their first title in 27 years!
Given the performance in the later parts of the taikai, Ganshou will be relying on ace Takahashi Yuuya. A southpaw, he only tosses in the low 130s with a slider and a slow curve. Supposedly, he's able to pitch to both sides of the plate with control, which will be a necessity considering his velocity.
The offense in their close games appears to be average, with no person really standing out. They will swing away as evidenced by their lack of walks, and we will probably see a lot of bunting to try and score the single run. Their performance at senbatsu is mixed, defeating what should have been a decent Riseisha squad, but being outmatched against Yamagata Chuo who was a 3rd tier team in Yamagata.
Gansho's opponent will be first timers Maebashi Ikuei. It must have been a down year in Gunma because many of the strong teams just didn't show up. Kiryuu Dai-ichi was nowhere to be found, Mebashi Shougyou and Takasaki Kenkou Fukushidai both lost in consecutive games to Maebashi Kougyou. The only school left was Tokyo Noudai Dai-ni who got to the finals to face Maebashi Ikuei.
Now, Maebashi Ikuei is no slouch. They could be considered on of the 3rd tier teams in Gunma and has had more success in the last couple of years. In fact, since losing to Kiryuu Shiritsu Shougyou last summer, they have lost just twice - both times to senbatsu champions Urawa Gakuin. Which, despite their poor performance here at Natsu Koushien, is very impressive.
They are not an offensive minded squad, which is fine because they have ace Takahashi Kouna. He is our first ace who might be able to light up the gun. He reportedly throws in the mid 140s and has a slider, curve and forkball. In the Gunma taikai, he almost struck out a batter an inning, but does issue his fair share of walks (~3-4 per 9 IP), so perhaps Gansho can exhibit some patience.
Despite not having much offensive production, the top of the lineup will be an issue - specifically #2 and #3 batters Kusunoki Hiroki and Tsuchiya Keisuke, so Gansho ace Takahashi will have to be on his game for 9 innings. At least they're the early game so perhaps it will be a little cooler... (But not by much...)
Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi)
RF Yokota Hiroki
SS Shigeishi Yuuji
P Takahashi Yuuya
1B Shigeoka Fumiya
C Kurisu Tooru
CF Nakamura Souichirou
LF Fujioka Masaki (#14)
3B Kamidera Yuu
2B Nakagawa Yuuki
Maebashi Ikuei (Gunma)
CF Kudou Youhei
1B Kusunoku Hiroki
SS Tsuchiya Keisuke
3B Arai Kento
C Ogawa Toshiki
RF Itagaki Fumiya
P Takahashi Kouna
LF Tamura Hayato
2B Takhashi Tomoya
____________________________________________________________
09:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Maebashi Ikuei trying to flash the glove early, slow grounder from Yokota, Takahashi flips to Tsuchiya who tries to make the throw to 1st. It's late, but inventive.
Shigeishi trying to bunt falls behind 1-2. Three-bunts, but it's up and in and he fouls it off for the 1st out!
Now Chuunai-kantoku is sending Yokota, but Ogawa fires to 2nd and he's out! Runner erased and Takahashi swings and misses on an outside slider for the 3rd out.
Bottom 1st
Kudou with a drive down the left field line, Shimizu running to the pole, dives... falls in fair! Kudou sliding in with a leadoff triple!
Chance early for Maebashi Ikuei with Kusunoku up.
Ah, but they try the squeeze and it's way outside! Kudou is run down and the runner is erased!
With the chance gone, Kusunoku goes down swinging on a slider away (natch).
Tsuchiya with a deep drive to right, Yokota sprinting back to the wall... makes the catch just before he catches the wall for the 3rd out.
Top 2nd
Much less eventful for Kouna as he catches Shigeoka on an outside slider, and both Kurisu and Nakamura ground out to Tomoya for the 3rd out. (Too many Takahashi's this game!!)
Bottom 2nd
Fellow Takahashi ace Yuuya also pitching with a fast tempo. Arai whiffs on three fastballs for the first out.
Ogawa chases the first pitch and with one arm flies out to left.
Itagaki works the count full, but grounds out to short.
Top 3rd
In fact, both pitchers working very fast. But now that I'm really caught up, turns out that Kouna doesn't throw as fast as the reports said. In fact, he's pretty average in the high 130s with the very occasional low 140.
And he walks his first batter in Fujioka to start the 3rd. Chuunai-kantoku has Kamidera bunt him along for last batter Nakagawa.
Also, Kouna is flying open with his delivery, leaving everything outside to a LHB.
But he does catch one in the inside corner to punch out Nakagawa for the 2nd out.
Yokota gets ahead 3-0, but doesn't like taking the walk, swings and misses on a full count fastball away to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Kouna first pitch lines a single to left. Arai-kantoku has him bunted to 2nd by Tamura.
Tomoya unable to get the timely, chasing a low slider for the 2nd out.
Kudou goes for the slow curve and lines one to right! Kouna being waved home! Relay from Shigeoka...
OUT!!!
Kurisu beautifully blocks the plate and tags Kouna for the 3rd out! Great play from the Gansho defense!
Top 4th
Shigeishi can't catch a break so far as he's called out on a failed check swing.
Yuuya becomes the 7th K victim caught looking at a fastball right down the middle.
And Kouna isn't fast, but his control is very good, striking out Shigeoka on a slider. 8 K's already and he just struck out the side!
Bottom 4th
Yuuya trying to catch up on the Ks gets Kusunoku chasing a high fastball.
Tsuchiya with a ball back up the middle, Yuuya actually kick saves it up in the air! But it goes way up and by the time Nakagawa can get it, Tsuchiya is safe at 1st.
Now Tsuchiya takes off for 2nd! Arai swings and misses on a low slider for the out, but Kurisu shows the ball first for the K then throws to 2nd allowing Tsuchiya to slide in safely!
But there's 2 down and Yuuya just needs one out.
Ogawa though with a drive to right center! Nakamura running back, dives... but it's just out of his reach! Ogawa rounding 2nd, slides into 3rd with a timely RBI triple! Maebashi Ikuei leads 1-0!
Itagaki grounds to 2nd, and Nakagawa makes it a little interesting when he can't field it cleanly.
Top 5th
Gansho's batters continue to struggle against Kouna.
Kurisu swings and misses on a slider for the first out...
Nakamura works the count full, but a forkball inside freezes him...
And can you believe this, he strikes out the side again when he hits 145 on the outside corner to get Fujioka!
11 Ks!!
Bottom 5th
Yuuya still doing well outside of that triple. Kouna goes down swinging for the first out.
Tamura with a drive to right center. Nakamura and Yokota converge, Nakamura calls him off....
AND HE MISSES IT!!
Nakamura leans back and it's behind him!! Tamura going all the way onto 3rd on the complete misjudge!
Tomoya up to try and get the run in...
SQUEEZE!!! Tomoya just bunts it away, but \I've never seen someone leap that far to bunt a pitchout away...
SQUEEZE AGAIN!!!!!
But this time Tomoya misses and strikes out! Tamura is hung up and run down 2-5 to retire the side! That's 2 failed squeezes now and Gansho maintains the one run deficit as we head into the break.
But against Maebashi Ikuei ace Takahashi Kouna... one run might just feel like 10.
Top 6th
The K parade continues! Kouna and Ogawa play the old rope-a-dope as Ogawa feigns outside and Kouna puts a 142 fastball right over the plate for his 9th straight K.
Perhaps to break up the K's Chuunai-kantoku has Nakagawa do a safety bunt. He's out easily 1-3, but it stops the demoralization (maybe).
Yokota the only one able to hit Kouna with another ball back up the middle that just eludes Tomoya.
And in a desperate attempt to get the runner in scoring position, Yokota is sent to 2nd, but Ogawa's snap throw gets him by a good margin for the 3rd out.
Bottom 6th
Yuuya doing what he can to keep his team in it.
But Tschiya drives an outside pitch to right center that Yokota has to play off the wall for a double.
Yuuya gets Arai for the 3rd time as he pops up to Shigeoka for the 3rd out.
Top 7th
Shigeishi actually putting up a fight against Kouna, fouling off several pitches.
Hits a high chopper! Tsuchiya charging in... waits... makes throw to 1st to get Shigeishi for the 1st out.
Yuuya now checking in with a ball past Kouna for a base hit!
Hm... I wonder if Kouna's control is going away as he falls behind Shigeoka 3-1. Does fire one in to fill up the count though.
Chuunai-kantoku calls for the hit-and-run! But Shigeoka fouls it off.
And he doesn't bite on the slider and there's runners on 1st and 2nd for Ganshou! Arai-kantoku calls for time.
Ganshou's batter exhibiting patience as Kurisu also gets ahead 3-1.
Grounder to 2nd! Tomoya to 2nd for one, Tsuchiya sees no play at 1st, but fires to 3rd as Yuuya is of the bag! But the ball gets away from Arai! Yuuya heads home! Throw home.... OUT!!!
Yuuya not able to come home on the errant throw and Kouna gets out of the inning!!! A bad break turned good, then bad all in a matter of seconds...
Bottom 7th
Well, at least the blown play hasn't affected Yuuya.
After an infield popup by Ogawa, Itagaki gets his first hit with a single through short. But when Kouna hits a ball to 3rd, Kamidera goes to 2nd and Nakagawa goes to 1st to complete the double play to end the inning.
Top 8th
Kouna getting back on track with a 143 fastball inside that just twists Nakamura for the K.
Fujioka playing the waiting game, sends the 2-0 pitch into center for a base hit!
But bad luck for Ganshou again as on a hit-and-run Kamidera hits one back up the middle! Tsuchiya right at the bag taps it and throws to 1st for the double play to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
Yuuya doing everything he can to keep his team in it. After a popout from Tamura, he gets Tomoya and Kudou to chase for a 1-2-3 inning...
Top 9th
Now he has to turn it over to his offense, which in this case might include himself.
Last batter Nakagawa up first and he is swinging away.
He hits a chopper over Kouna! Tsuchiya ranging to 2nd, fires to 1st and gets a diving Nakagawa! Not sure if running it out would have helped anyways.
Yokota swings and falls over, but hits a ball to center! Kudou coming in, but it falls in for a base hit!
Eh??! Shigeishi buntinga and fouls it off! Really??!
Yes, really! He does it again, but fouls it off and he's behind 1-2! It seems to be off now though as he takes a ball way outside.
Fastball inside, Shigeishi jammed, but fouls it off...
And fouls off another fastball...
Grounder to 3rd! Arai to 2nd for one, Tomoya to first... double play!!! Game set!!
Yuuya can only look on as the double play strands him on the on-deck circle and his team falls to Maebashi Ikuei 1-0...
Maebashi Ikuei's ace Takahashi Kouna spins the first dominating performance of Natsu Koushien, pitching a complete game shutout striking out 13. His control was excellent.A timely hit by Tsuchiya being the difference in the ball game.
Gansho certainly had their opportunities late as they got hits off of Kouna, but just couldn't get the timely when they needed it. And so their Koushien ends perhaps a little early.
Notable Players
Takahashi Kouna (Maebashi Ikuei) - CG, SHO, 5 H, 13 K, 2 BB
Ogawa Toshiki (Maebashi Ikuei) - 1-3, 3B, RBI
Tsuchiya Keisuke (Maebashi Ikuei) - 2-3, 2B, R
Kudou Youhei (Maebashi Ikuei) - 2-4, 3B
Takahashi Yuuya (Iwakuni Shougyou) - CG, ER, 8 H, 9 K
Yokota Hiroki (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 3-4
Fujioka Masaki (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 1-2, BB
Showing posts with label Iwakuni Shougyou. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iwakuni Shougyou. Show all posts
Monday, August 12, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Day 6, Game 2 - Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi) vs. Yamagata Chuo (Yamagata)
Game 2 has our only remaining Chuugoku team squaring off against the Tohoku Friendship representative.
Iwakuni Shougyou, probably the weakest of the three schools representing Chuugoku now stands as the only team remaining. Kanzei couldn't find home plate if it hit them in the head, and Kouryou make a valiant effort, but couldn't keep with with Saibi in enchousen. So they will try and make the valiant charge for the region.
The offense indeed had problems against Riseisha, only scoring when they were able to take advantage of a leadoff triple by Yokota. Otherwise, they really scuffled at the plate.
On the mound, Takahashi dispersed the baserunners though all the innings and never really let Riseisha have a chance at a big inning. The skill isn't a fully manageable skill since it depends on the opposition, but if he can continue to do that they might have a chance.
Yamagata Chuo comes in as the Tohoku Friendship bid. They actually reached the super-regional quarterfinal, so they're not necessarily like a 21st century team. But in looking at their resume, there's not a whole lot to go on. They reached the prefectural final only to lose to Sakata Minami 3-2. And after a mercy rule win over Aomori Kita, they fell to Seikou Gakuin 4-2.
From the little data we have, Yamagata Chuo had 4 pitchers who accounted for almost all their innings. Takahashi Ryouhei (28 inn), Nagai Daichi (21 inn), ace number Ishikawa Naoya (19.1 inn), Takahashi Kazuki (11 inn). Of the 4, Kazuki is the only southpaw. Sadly, I have almost no other information as to how hard they throw, what type of pitches they have, etc.
What I do know is that the statistics indicate that everyone averages around a K/IP except for Ryouhei (1 every 2), all have a WHIP under 1.00 except for Ishikawa (1.45). Nagai has the lowest ERA at 0.43, but has more walks than hits (7:9).
Offensively, the team batted 0.320, but against Seikou Gakuin managed just 5 hits. No one really stands out as an offensive threat though, so it's hard to say how they will do.
Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi) - Chuugoku 3 seed
CF Nakamura Souichirou
2B Nakagawa Yuuki
P Takahashi Yuuya
1B Shigeoka Fumiya
RF Yokota Hiroki
C Kurisu Tooru
LF Shimizu Kouhei
SS Shigeishi Yuuji
3B Kamidera Yuu
Yamagata Chuo (Yamagata) - Tohoku Friendship Bid
LF Takahashi Ryuusei
SS Konno Shouta
P Takahashi Ryouhei (#8)
RF Kumagai Hiroshi
3B Nakamura Hayate (#16)
C Haga Takahiro
2B Satou Daiki
1B Matsuzawa Shouta
CF Takada Takuma (#17)
____________________________________________________________
11:15 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Well, Ryouhei is pretty much like I expected. Low 130s, slider/curve.
Nakamura quckly grounds out to 1st for the opening out. Nakagawa takes a slider on the outside corner for the 2nd out.
But Yuuya hits a solid base hit through to right! And now Chuunai-kantoku sends him! Throw from Haga is not in time! The ace steals a base!
Shigeoka meanwhile fights at the plate, working the count full and fouling off several curveballs down in the zone.
Finally Ryouhei gets him to put it in play and it's a grounder to 2nd for the third out.
Bottom 1st
Ryuusei tries the safety bunt, but Kamidera is there and makes the throw to easily beat out a diving Ryuusei for the out. Konno swings on the very next pitch and also grounds out to 3rd.
But Yuuya ruins his own chance at a 1-2-3 inning as he walks Ryouhei.
Kumagai hacking away and falls behind 1-2
Ryouhei takes off for 2nd! Kurisu's throw is high and he's in safe!
And now Kumagai with a grounder past a diving Kamidera! Ryouhei is given the stop sign and scrambles back.
That's as far as he'lll get as Nakamura gets all twisted around and pops out Shigeoka to end the inning!
Top 2nd
After a groundout to short by Yokota, Kurisu hits one back up the middle! Satou runs over, but just misses the ball!
No matter though as Ryouhei gets Shimizu to ground into the 5-4-3 double play to end the inning!
Bottom 2nd
It's a rather routine inning for Yuuya as he gets Haga to groundout to 3rd. Satou hits a fly to center that Takada camps under for a while. And Matsuzawa hits a soft liner to Shigeishi.
Top 3rd
Shigeishi with a hot shot to 3rd! Nakamura blocks it, but it defects towards 2nd! He runs it down, but has to eat it! Kamidera bunts him along.
Back to the top of the order and Nakamura (Souichirou). He gets ahead 3-0, but Ryouhei comes back to fill the count with fastballs inside. Does it one more time and Souichirou can't get around on it and becomes the 2nd out.
And Nakagawa is jammed and grounder to 3rd! Hayate throws to first and the side is retired.
Bottom 3rd
Takada lines a shot, but right to Kamidera at 3rd.
Back to the top of the order and Ryuusei, but he can't get around on an inside fastball and goes down for the 2nd out.
And Konno hits a grounder back up the middle! Shigeishi running over, picks it with the end of his glove and makes the throw to 1st for the 3rd out!
Top 4th
Ryouhei feeding Yuuya a steady diet of balls outside that he fouls off. He finally wins the battle by getting him to ground out to 2nd.
Shigeoka catches a slider in the zone and gets a base hit through the left side!
Two down for Kurisu and he singles past Ryouhei's glove into center! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Shimizu.
Sanshin! Shimizu can't reach an inside fastball and goes down to end the inning!
Bottom 4th
Ryouhei works the count full, but is called out on a letter high fastball.
Kumagai swinging early, grounds back to Yuuya.
And Nakamura is late on a fastball and goes down on 3 straight for a stress-free 1-2-3 inning!
Top 5th
Shigeishi with a drive the opposite way! Kumagai running back as Takada sprints to help, but it falls in! Shigeishi rounds for 3rd and will take it standing up!
Jyouji-kantoku calls for time.
SQUEEZE!!!!
Souichirou pushes the squeeze bunt to the right side! Ryouhei and Matsuzawa charging overplay the ball! Satou retrieves it and tries to beat Soichirou to the bag, but he can't get there! Shigeishi scores to make it 1-0 Iwakuni Shougyou!
And after a sac bunt, Jyouji-kantoku brings in a lefty to face Yuuya. #11 Takahashi Kazuki comes in for Matsuzawa and takes the hill while Ryuouhei moves to 1st.
And it works! Yuuya pops out Satou to end the inning, but Shigeishi's leadoff triple helps break the deadlock!
Bottom 5th
Haga with a grounder past a diving Kimidera for a base hit!
Satou lays down the bunt, Yuuya takes his time, and the throw to Nakagawa covering is not in time!
That brings up new P Kazuki. He's not bunting?!
No! And he gets ahead 3-1!
OHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kazuki with a drive to center right! The outfield's drawn in! They're running back, but they have no chance! It one hops to the wall! Haga scores! Satou right behind him! Kazuki with a 2-RBI triple gives Yamagata Chuo the lead! It's 2-1!
またぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁ！！！！！！！！！！！！！！
Takada with a drive to right, and again the outfield is in! Yokota will chase that all the way to the wall! Takada with back-to-back triples extend the lead to 3-1!!
Back to the top of the lineup and Ryuusei. But on the first pitch he hits it back to Yuuya! Takada can't score as Yuuya goes to 1st.
And now Konno hits it to the right side. Yuuya with it again, looks Takada back and gets the 2nd out!
And the top of the lineup is useless! Ryouhei grouds to short and none of the top batters can get Takada in from 3rd! It's the bottom of the lineup that comes through here in the 5th to give Yamagata Chuo the lead here at the break!
Top 6th
Shigeoka with a ball to right for a leadoff hit!
Hit-and-run! Yokota with a grouner to the right side! Nakagawa chasing it to the outfield, picks it, turns, throws to 1st.. OUT! (Huh?)
Throws to 3rd!! Nakamura with the tag... OUT!!!
It's your standard 4-3-5 double play???!!!
Eh? I thought Yokoka had reached safely even with the dive, but on replay he was out! (STOP DIVING!)
Kurisu grounds out to 2nd and a promising inning goes to waste!
Bottom 6th
Kumagai first pitch singles past Kamidera for a leadoff single! Nakamura bunts him along.
えぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇ？？？？？？？？？？？？？？
Haga connects on a slider and sends it to left! The outfield is in again and Shimizu will chase that to the wall! Haga is in with a double and it's 4-1 Yamagata Chuo!!
Satou can't extend the lead as he pops out to Nakagawa.
Oy. Yuuya hits Kazuki to put runners at 1st and 2nd now! Fortunately, Takada can't check his swing on a ball away and the inning is over. But Yamagata Chuo is punishing mistakes by Yuuya.
Top 7th
The Lucky 7 for Iwakuni Shougyou begins with Shimizu getting their first walk off of Kazuki!
Shigeishi also playing the waiting game, runs the count full, and stays alive fouling off pitches.
It pays off! He gets around on an inside fastball and bloops it into shallow left! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Kamidera.
Safety bunt!
Both Satou and Ryouhei charge in at first, but Ryouhei doubles back to receive the throw for the 1st out. Back to the top of the order and Souichirou.
Base hit!! Souichirou singles through to center and that scores Shimizu! It's too hard though and Takada gets it in quickly to prevent Shigeishi from scoring. But it's now 4-2!
Nakagawa showing squeeze, but can't lay it down twice! Has to swings away and chases a curve in the dirt for the 2nd out!
Now that brings up Yuuya. Can he help his own cause?
Grounder to 3rd! Hayate blocks it in front of him, makes the quick throw...
OUT!!!
Ryouhei makes a great stretch and pick to just get out Yuuya and the inning is over! But they do get back one run, and that is manageable.
Bottom 7th
Ryuusei cannot get around on an inside fastball and goes down swinging.
Konno tries the safety bunt and it dies up the 3rd base line! Kurisu makes the desperate throw to 1st, but not in time!
Ryouhei with a base hit to right! Now runners on 1st and 2nd for Yamagata Chuo!
EH?
Jyouji-kantoku calls for a double steal with Kumagai at bat?! He misses and Kurisu throws out Konno with miles to spare! 2 out!
Now Kumagai walks and now there's runners on 1st and 2nd again! This time for Hayate who's 0-2 on the day. And he's quickly down 0-2.
And Hayate is still hitless. Grounder to 3rd is taken by Kamidera to the bag and the side is retired.
Top 8th
Shigeishi with his third hit of the day, a single past a diving Konno.
Yokota bunts him along. Getting a run in the 8th and 9th would tie the game after all.
But Kurisu hits a comebacker to Kazuki! He looks Shigeishi back and goes to 1st for the 2nd out!
Chuunai-kantoku goes to the bench. #10 Morimoto comes in to hit for Shimizu.
Like the man he replaced, he works the count full and fouls pitches off. And he works the walk! That brings up Shigeishi who is 3-3 on the day!!
Jyouji-kantoku calls for time. This will be a key AB. What will they do with a man that has beaten them all day?
And they're going after him! A couple of pitches inside and Kazuki is ahead 1-2!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shigeishi cannot get around on another fastball inside and he goes down swinging to end the inning!!
Bottom 8th
Morimoto stays in the game in LF.
2 outs and Kazuki slices a ball down the left field line! Shimizu chases that down near the wall and Kazuki has a double!
And his day is done on the mound. #15 Satou Miharu comes in to run for him.
Takada with another booming hit to left! Shimizu back to the wall, Miharu scores! Takada dives in with his 2nd triple of the day to make it 5-2!
Ryuusei with a grounder to 3rd. Kamidera with the throw to AHHH!!!
The ball is short and gets by Shigeoka! Ryuusei is safe and it's now 6-2!!
Kanno pops out to Kurisu to end the inning, but the game seems all but decided now.
Top 9th
#1 Ishikawa comes in for PR Miharu and takes the hill.
Last ups for Ganshou as #17 Saitou hits for Kamidera, but flies out to center.
Nakamura bloops in a single just fair down the right field line for a single!
#14 Fujioka comes in to hit for Nakagawa, but grounds out to 3rd.
Yuuya keeps the game alive for now with a single past Hayate into left. But Shigeoka flies to center and the game is over! Yamagata Chuo gets their first win at Koushien!
In an amazing display of power (but not HR power!), Yamagata Chuo puts up 6 on ace Yuuya and Iwakuni Shougyou and advance into the next round!
Well color me surprised. I never expected to see that. Even if the Ganshou outfield wasn't playing that far in, those balls would still go in for hits I think.
For Iwakuni Shougyou, it still have be considered a mild success. Defeating Riseisha is no small matter, even if you lose to Yamagata Chuo. They may be the first team I see gathering Koushien dirt, but I think it's well earned.
Yamagata Chuo moves on to face Kanto champs Urawa Gakuin. I don't think they'll take them as lightly - especially in the outfield. But I am intrigued about the upcoming game!
Notable Players
Takahashi Ryouhei (Yamagata Chuo) - 4.2 IP, ER, 7 H, 2 K
Takahashi Kazuki (Yamagata Chuo) - W, 3.1 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 K, 2 BB
Takahashi Kazuki (Yamagata Chuo) - 2-2, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, HBP
Takada Takumi (Yamagata Chuo) - 2-4, 2 3B, R, 2 RBI, K
Haga Takahiro (Yamagata Chuo) - 2-3, 2B, R, RBI
Shigeoka Fumiya (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 3-5
Nakamura Souichirou (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 3-5, 2 RBI
Shigeishi Yuuji (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 3-4. 3B, R, K
Iwakuni Shougyou, probably the weakest of the three schools representing Chuugoku now stands as the only team remaining. Kanzei couldn't find home plate if it hit them in the head, and Kouryou make a valiant effort, but couldn't keep with with Saibi in enchousen. So they will try and make the valiant charge for the region.
The offense indeed had problems against Riseisha, only scoring when they were able to take advantage of a leadoff triple by Yokota. Otherwise, they really scuffled at the plate.
On the mound, Takahashi dispersed the baserunners though all the innings and never really let Riseisha have a chance at a big inning. The skill isn't a fully manageable skill since it depends on the opposition, but if he can continue to do that they might have a chance.
Yamagata Chuo comes in as the Tohoku Friendship bid. They actually reached the super-regional quarterfinal, so they're not necessarily like a 21st century team. But in looking at their resume, there's not a whole lot to go on. They reached the prefectural final only to lose to Sakata Minami 3-2. And after a mercy rule win over Aomori Kita, they fell to Seikou Gakuin 4-2.
From the little data we have, Yamagata Chuo had 4 pitchers who accounted for almost all their innings. Takahashi Ryouhei (28 inn), Nagai Daichi (21 inn), ace number Ishikawa Naoya (19.1 inn), Takahashi Kazuki (11 inn). Of the 4, Kazuki is the only southpaw. Sadly, I have almost no other information as to how hard they throw, what type of pitches they have, etc.
What I do know is that the statistics indicate that everyone averages around a K/IP except for Ryouhei (1 every 2), all have a WHIP under 1.00 except for Ishikawa (1.45). Nagai has the lowest ERA at 0.43, but has more walks than hits (7:9).
Offensively, the team batted 0.320, but against Seikou Gakuin managed just 5 hits. No one really stands out as an offensive threat though, so it's hard to say how they will do.
Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi) - Chuugoku 3 seed
CF Nakamura Souichirou
2B Nakagawa Yuuki
P Takahashi Yuuya
1B Shigeoka Fumiya
RF Yokota Hiroki
C Kurisu Tooru
LF Shimizu Kouhei
SS Shigeishi Yuuji
3B Kamidera Yuu
Yamagata Chuo (Yamagata) - Tohoku Friendship Bid
LF Takahashi Ryuusei
SS Konno Shouta
P Takahashi Ryouhei (#8)
RF Kumagai Hiroshi
3B Nakamura Hayate (#16)
C Haga Takahiro
2B Satou Daiki
1B Matsuzawa Shouta
CF Takada Takuma (#17)
____________________________________________________________
11:15 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Well, Ryouhei is pretty much like I expected. Low 130s, slider/curve.
Nakamura quckly grounds out to 1st for the opening out. Nakagawa takes a slider on the outside corner for the 2nd out.
But Yuuya hits a solid base hit through to right! And now Chuunai-kantoku sends him! Throw from Haga is not in time! The ace steals a base!
Shigeoka meanwhile fights at the plate, working the count full and fouling off several curveballs down in the zone.
Finally Ryouhei gets him to put it in play and it's a grounder to 2nd for the third out.
Bottom 1st
Ryuusei tries the safety bunt, but Kamidera is there and makes the throw to easily beat out a diving Ryuusei for the out. Konno swings on the very next pitch and also grounds out to 3rd.
But Yuuya ruins his own chance at a 1-2-3 inning as he walks Ryouhei.
Kumagai hacking away and falls behind 1-2
Ryouhei takes off for 2nd! Kurisu's throw is high and he's in safe!
And now Kumagai with a grounder past a diving Kamidera! Ryouhei is given the stop sign and scrambles back.
That's as far as he'lll get as Nakamura gets all twisted around and pops out Shigeoka to end the inning!
Top 2nd
After a groundout to short by Yokota, Kurisu hits one back up the middle! Satou runs over, but just misses the ball!
No matter though as Ryouhei gets Shimizu to ground into the 5-4-3 double play to end the inning!
Bottom 2nd
It's a rather routine inning for Yuuya as he gets Haga to groundout to 3rd. Satou hits a fly to center that Takada camps under for a while. And Matsuzawa hits a soft liner to Shigeishi.
Top 3rd
Shigeishi with a hot shot to 3rd! Nakamura blocks it, but it defects towards 2nd! He runs it down, but has to eat it! Kamidera bunts him along.
Back to the top of the order and Nakamura (Souichirou). He gets ahead 3-0, but Ryouhei comes back to fill the count with fastballs inside. Does it one more time and Souichirou can't get around on it and becomes the 2nd out.
And Nakagawa is jammed and grounder to 3rd! Hayate throws to first and the side is retired.
Bottom 3rd
Takada lines a shot, but right to Kamidera at 3rd.
Back to the top of the order and Ryuusei, but he can't get around on an inside fastball and goes down for the 2nd out.
And Konno hits a grounder back up the middle! Shigeishi running over, picks it with the end of his glove and makes the throw to 1st for the 3rd out!
Top 4th
Ryouhei feeding Yuuya a steady diet of balls outside that he fouls off. He finally wins the battle by getting him to ground out to 2nd.
Shigeoka catches a slider in the zone and gets a base hit through the left side!
Two down for Kurisu and he singles past Ryouhei's glove into center! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Shimizu.
Sanshin! Shimizu can't reach an inside fastball and goes down to end the inning!
Bottom 4th
Ryouhei works the count full, but is called out on a letter high fastball.
Kumagai swinging early, grounds back to Yuuya.
And Nakamura is late on a fastball and goes down on 3 straight for a stress-free 1-2-3 inning!
Top 5th
Shigeishi with a drive the opposite way! Kumagai running back as Takada sprints to help, but it falls in! Shigeishi rounds for 3rd and will take it standing up!
Jyouji-kantoku calls for time.
SQUEEZE!!!!
Souichirou pushes the squeeze bunt to the right side! Ryouhei and Matsuzawa charging overplay the ball! Satou retrieves it and tries to beat Soichirou to the bag, but he can't get there! Shigeishi scores to make it 1-0 Iwakuni Shougyou!
And after a sac bunt, Jyouji-kantoku brings in a lefty to face Yuuya. #11 Takahashi Kazuki comes in for Matsuzawa and takes the hill while Ryuouhei moves to 1st.
And it works! Yuuya pops out Satou to end the inning, but Shigeishi's leadoff triple helps break the deadlock!
Bottom 5th
Haga with a grounder past a diving Kimidera for a base hit!
Satou lays down the bunt, Yuuya takes his time, and the throw to Nakagawa covering is not in time!
That brings up new P Kazuki. He's not bunting?!
No! And he gets ahead 3-1!
OHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kazuki with a drive to center right! The outfield's drawn in! They're running back, but they have no chance! It one hops to the wall! Haga scores! Satou right behind him! Kazuki with a 2-RBI triple gives Yamagata Chuo the lead! It's 2-1!
またぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁ！！！！！！！！！！！！！！
Takada with a drive to right, and again the outfield is in! Yokota will chase that all the way to the wall! Takada with back-to-back triples extend the lead to 3-1!!
Back to the top of the lineup and Ryuusei. But on the first pitch he hits it back to Yuuya! Takada can't score as Yuuya goes to 1st.
And now Konno hits it to the right side. Yuuya with it again, looks Takada back and gets the 2nd out!
And the top of the lineup is useless! Ryouhei grouds to short and none of the top batters can get Takada in from 3rd! It's the bottom of the lineup that comes through here in the 5th to give Yamagata Chuo the lead here at the break!
Top 6th
Shigeoka with a ball to right for a leadoff hit!
Hit-and-run! Yokota with a grouner to the right side! Nakagawa chasing it to the outfield, picks it, turns, throws to 1st.. OUT! (Huh?)
Throws to 3rd!! Nakamura with the tag... OUT!!!
It's your standard 4-3-5 double play???!!!
Eh? I thought Yokoka had reached safely even with the dive, but on replay he was out! (STOP DIVING!)
Kurisu grounds out to 2nd and a promising inning goes to waste!
Bottom 6th
Kumagai first pitch singles past Kamidera for a leadoff single! Nakamura bunts him along.
えぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇぇ？？？？？？？？？？？？？？
Haga connects on a slider and sends it to left! The outfield is in again and Shimizu will chase that to the wall! Haga is in with a double and it's 4-1 Yamagata Chuo!!
Satou can't extend the lead as he pops out to Nakagawa.
Oy. Yuuya hits Kazuki to put runners at 1st and 2nd now! Fortunately, Takada can't check his swing on a ball away and the inning is over. But Yamagata Chuo is punishing mistakes by Yuuya.
Top 7th
The Lucky 7 for Iwakuni Shougyou begins with Shimizu getting their first walk off of Kazuki!
Shigeishi also playing the waiting game, runs the count full, and stays alive fouling off pitches.
It pays off! He gets around on an inside fastball and bloops it into shallow left! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Kamidera.
Safety bunt!
Both Satou and Ryouhei charge in at first, but Ryouhei doubles back to receive the throw for the 1st out. Back to the top of the order and Souichirou.
Base hit!! Souichirou singles through to center and that scores Shimizu! It's too hard though and Takada gets it in quickly to prevent Shigeishi from scoring. But it's now 4-2!
Nakagawa showing squeeze, but can't lay it down twice! Has to swings away and chases a curve in the dirt for the 2nd out!
Now that brings up Yuuya. Can he help his own cause?
Grounder to 3rd! Hayate blocks it in front of him, makes the quick throw...
OUT!!!
Ryouhei makes a great stretch and pick to just get out Yuuya and the inning is over! But they do get back one run, and that is manageable.
Bottom 7th
Ryuusei cannot get around on an inside fastball and goes down swinging.
Konno tries the safety bunt and it dies up the 3rd base line! Kurisu makes the desperate throw to 1st, but not in time!
Ryouhei with a base hit to right! Now runners on 1st and 2nd for Yamagata Chuo!
EH?
Jyouji-kantoku calls for a double steal with Kumagai at bat?! He misses and Kurisu throws out Konno with miles to spare! 2 out!
Now Kumagai walks and now there's runners on 1st and 2nd again! This time for Hayate who's 0-2 on the day. And he's quickly down 0-2.
And Hayate is still hitless. Grounder to 3rd is taken by Kamidera to the bag and the side is retired.
Top 8th
Shigeishi with his third hit of the day, a single past a diving Konno.
Yokota bunts him along. Getting a run in the 8th and 9th would tie the game after all.
But Kurisu hits a comebacker to Kazuki! He looks Shigeishi back and goes to 1st for the 2nd out!
Chuunai-kantoku goes to the bench. #10 Morimoto comes in to hit for Shimizu.
Like the man he replaced, he works the count full and fouls pitches off. And he works the walk! That brings up Shigeishi who is 3-3 on the day!!
Jyouji-kantoku calls for time. This will be a key AB. What will they do with a man that has beaten them all day?
And they're going after him! A couple of pitches inside and Kazuki is ahead 1-2!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shigeishi cannot get around on another fastball inside and he goes down swinging to end the inning!!
Bottom 8th
Morimoto stays in the game in LF.
2 outs and Kazuki slices a ball down the left field line! Shimizu chases that down near the wall and Kazuki has a double!
And his day is done on the mound. #15 Satou Miharu comes in to run for him.
Takada with another booming hit to left! Shimizu back to the wall, Miharu scores! Takada dives in with his 2nd triple of the day to make it 5-2!
Ryuusei with a grounder to 3rd. Kamidera with the throw to AHHH!!!
The ball is short and gets by Shigeoka! Ryuusei is safe and it's now 6-2!!
Kanno pops out to Kurisu to end the inning, but the game seems all but decided now.
Top 9th
#1 Ishikawa comes in for PR Miharu and takes the hill.
Last ups for Ganshou as #17 Saitou hits for Kamidera, but flies out to center.
Nakamura bloops in a single just fair down the right field line for a single!
#14 Fujioka comes in to hit for Nakagawa, but grounds out to 3rd.
Yuuya keeps the game alive for now with a single past Hayate into left. But Shigeoka flies to center and the game is over! Yamagata Chuo gets their first win at Koushien!
In an amazing display of power (but not HR power!), Yamagata Chuo puts up 6 on ace Yuuya and Iwakuni Shougyou and advance into the next round!
Well color me surprised. I never expected to see that. Even if the Ganshou outfield wasn't playing that far in, those balls would still go in for hits I think.
For Iwakuni Shougyou, it still have be considered a mild success. Defeating Riseisha is no small matter, even if you lose to Yamagata Chuo. They may be the first team I see gathering Koushien dirt, but I think it's well earned.
Yamagata Chuo moves on to face Kanto champs Urawa Gakuin. I don't think they'll take them as lightly - especially in the outfield. But I am intrigued about the upcoming game!
Notable Players
Takahashi Ryouhei (Yamagata Chuo) - 4.2 IP, ER, 7 H, 2 K
Takahashi Kazuki (Yamagata Chuo) - W, 3.1 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 K, 2 BB
Takahashi Kazuki (Yamagata Chuo) - 2-2, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, HBP
Takada Takumi (Yamagata Chuo) - 2-4, 2 3B, R, 2 RBI, K
Haga Takahiro (Yamagata Chuo) - 2-3, 2B, R, RBI
Shigeoka Fumiya (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 3-5
Nakamura Souichirou (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 3-5, 2 RBI
Shigeishi Yuuji (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 3-4. 3B, R, K
Friday, March 22, 2013
Day 1, Game 2 - Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi) vs. Riseisha (Osaka)
Next up on the docket is a first timer facing a recent regular.
For Riseisha, they were off to a roaring start in the prefecturals, but as they progressed higher up their offense continued to get baserunners - but couldn't seem to bring them home. Not surprisingly, their opponents were Osaka Touin, Kansei Gakuin and Kyoto Shouei.
The pitching though help up fairly well. But despite Sakamoto Daiki holding the ace number, it's southpaw #10 Higashino Ryuuji who actually took most of the innings during the fall. Both actually though average just about a K/IP, and rarely walk a batter. But in terms of runs given up, Higashino does a better job at preventing runs than Sakamoto.
Like most teams, the offense for Riseisha lies at the top of the order with 3 and 4 batters Miyazaki Shin and Okita Katsutoshi driving them in.
Their oen-dan today has a yellow R in a purple background.
Iwakuni Shougyou got their first bid by reaching the semifinals of the Chuugoku super-regional. It probably held some home-field advantage as the super-regional was held in their prefecture this year. In addition, they were not really tested until that semifinal game against Kouryou - where they saw their offense just generate 7 hits and struck out 13 times in a 2-0 loss.
The offense is pretty bad as they carried a batting average of just 0.249. What saves them is their ability to take walks. In fact, their OBP is over a full 110 points higher. Only ace Takahashi Yuuya and #5 batter Yokota Hiroki carry an average over 0.300. But as long as their opposing pitcher is able to throw strikes, the offense is in trouble.
This puts a lot of pressure on aforementioned ace Takahashi as is the only pitcher of record in the fall. He too is not an overpowering pitcher, instead using contact to allow less than a baserunner per inning. Only info I have is that he throws in the upper 130s.
Iwakuni Shougyou will be quickly behind the 8-ball as the offense will have to swing away.
Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi) - Chuugoku 3 seed
CF Nakamura Souichirou
2B Nakagawa Yuuki
P Takahashi Yuuya
1B Shigeoka Fumiya
RF Yokota Hiroki
C Kurisu Tooru
LF Shimizu Kouhei
SS Shigeishi Yuuji
3B Kamidera Yuu
Riseisha (Osaka) - Kinki 3/4 seed
CF Hasegawa Seiya
SS Yoshida Yuuki
2B Miyazaki Shin
LF Okita Katsutoshi
3B Miyamoto Takeshi
1B Higashi Noriyuki (#17)
RF Inoue Kazuya
P Higashino Ryuuji (#10)
C Yoshidzuka Kouhei
____________________________________________________________
13:35 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Nakamura swings at a first pitch slider and lines out right to Hasegawa.
As expected, Higashino is throwing strikes and Gansho is swinging away. Nakagawa grounds out to 2nd.
Looks like Higashino throws in the low-mid 130s as Takahashi grounds to short to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Takahashi is a quick worker on the mound as after a quick flyout to right by Hasegawa, Yoshida sees three quick pitches, watching a slider hit the outside corner for strike 3.
Looks like he hits the high 120s, with a slider in the low-mid 110s and a slow curve in the 90-100s. I say that then he hits 135.
But it's a quick inning for the Yamaguchi ace as Miyazaki hits an easy comebacker to Takahashi to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Shigeoka gets the first base hit, a grounder the other way into right. Higashino looks to have a slider in the low-mid 120s.
Interestingly Chunnai-kantoku is not having Yokota bunt despite the bad offense. It comes back to bite them as Yokota hits a ball right to Miyamoto who starts the 5-4-3 double play.
It's a shame as Kurisu fists one right on the left field line for a single.
Shimizu weakly grounds to 2nd and the inning is over.
Bottom 2nd
After a deep fly from Okita, Miyamoto gets Riseisha's first hit with a grounder sneaking under Nakagawa into right.
Takahashi's quick pitching gets him into a bit of a pinch as he falls behind Higashi 3-0. Het gest him to ground out to 2nd, but it was on a hit and run, so all Ganshou got was a 6-4-3 out at 1st.
That leaves it to Inoue to try and break the scoring.
Inoue takes an outside pitch the other way, but it's to shallow left and Miyamoto has to hold at 3rd.
But Takahashi gets out of the jam! Higashino waves on a 129 pitch inside and we remain scoreless!
Top 3rd
Shigeishi is getting a good look at Higashino to start the 3rd as he fouls off several pitches, even a fastball down and outside that he reaches out for, eventually working the count full. And on the 10th pitch he's paid off as he shoots one past a diving Miyamoto into left.
That leaves it to Kamidera who immediately shows bunt. However, he can't lay it down and falls behind 0-2. Will Chuunai-kantoku call for the three-bunt? Sure looks like it.
He pops it out foul and is retired for the first out. Not good execution there for Ganshou.
That cycles the order back to the top and Nakamura.
Chuunai-kantoku tries to send Shigeyama on a hit-and-run, but Nakamura misses and Shigeyama is thrown out by a mile at 2nd.
Nakamura goes down swinging and another leadoff runner is wasted.
Bottom 3rd
Takahashi does appear have good control as Kurisu isn't moving his glove a whole lot. As a result, he gest two straight groundouts from Yoshidzuka and Hasegawa before Yoshida pops out to Kamidera (who records all 3 putouts) to reture the side.
Top 4th
The game is moving at a brisk pace. Takahashi is hitting his spots, and Higashino is throwing strikes. So Gansho has to swing away. Nakagawa strikes out, Takahashi flies out to center, and Shigeoka goes down swinging.
Bottom 4th
The game is going faster than I can type. Miyazaki grounds out to 1st, Okita hits a liner to 1st that Shigeoka picks off the ground, and Miyamoto flies to left. 6 pitches and the sides change.
Top 5th
Yokota can finally wait for a couple of pitches and is ahead 3-0 before an inside fastball is called for a strike.
And instead of waiting on the 3-1, he swings away fouling the pitch off and filling the count.
But he gets a pitch up in the zone and he slices it to left! Okita runs over to the left field line, dives, but misses it as it runs to the wall! Yokota hesitates a bit at 2nd, but turns on the after burners and reaches 3rd safely!
Kurisu at bat now, and I think Riseisha is expecting a squeeze bunt. Higashino's pitches are all low but he's not offering - thus he gets ahead 3-0 before a "trick" fastball over the plate (Yoshidzuka was framed outside) makes it 3-1. Kurisu swings away, but flies to shallow left and Yokota has to hold.
Shimizu up and the Riseisha battery is still thinking squeeze as the first pitch is way outside. But while perhaps they realize there's no bunt, the pitches are still down in the zone just in case. Ahead 2-1, Shimizu swings away, but fouls it off.
There is no squeeze still as Shimizu holds up to fill the count.
And an inside fastball from Higashino is called a ball by home plate umpire Tachibana and runners are at the corners for Shigeishi.
1-0 to Shigeishi and he shows bunt, but takes it back and the runners go back to their bases.
Shigeishi sows bunt again, but this time it's a feint home allowing Shimizu to take 2nd!
And with the Riseisha battery thinking squeeze, Shigeishi gets ahead 3-0 and earns a walk! It's manru for Ganshou as Okada-kantoku calls for time.
What will Ganshou do now? They can't feint a squeeze and the bases are full. Oddly enough, I think it's Ganshou who is in a corner, not Riseisha.
I guess not! Higashino buries a ball in the dirt and it bounced away from Yoshidzuka! He can't find it and everyone advances on the wild pitch! Yokota scores to break the scoreless tie at 1-0!
#11 Sakai is heading to the bullpen to warm up...
Now can Kamidera get a base hit?
Sadly no. He hits a comebacker to Higashino who runs down Shimizu for the 2nd out. Kamidera advances to 2nd on the rundown.
That leaves it to Nakamura to try and capitlaize on the opportunity.
Higashino continues to pitch down in the zone, and Ganshou's batters are not biting. Nakamura gets ahead 3-1 before a fastball inside fills up the count.
Meanwhile, ace Sakamoto joins Sakai in the bullpen.
No need though right now as Nakamura is twisted around on another inside fastball to retire the side. But an unforced error by the battery gives underdog Gansho the lead.
Bottom 5th
Higashi looks to get the run back quickly as he singles behind Takahashi and a diving Nakagawa into center. Inoue lays down a great bunt to move the runner along for Higashino.
The Ganshou battery is being a bit careful with Higashino, with all pitches away. Higashino catches on this and swings away hoping for an opposite field base hit, but instead it's a flyout to right.
Yoshidzuka swings away on the first pitch and pops it up! Shigeishi camps under the ball near 2nd and secures it for the 3rd out! So as we head to the break, it's Iwakuni Shougyou who acatually hold the narrow 1-run lead!
Top 6th
Higashino post-break appears to have a 1-2-3 inning after making quick work of Nakagawa and Takahashi, but Shigeoka bloops one to shallow left-center.
The inning still ends quickly as Yokota hits a grounder right to Higashi who takes a step to 1st to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
Meanwhile Takahashi is chugging along. Back to the top of the order and Hasegawa, he first pitch grounds out to 1st.
But against Yoshida he throws 3 fastballs high before throwing a strike. The next ball grazes Yoshida though it's a free base all the same.
Versus Miyazaki, Takahashi continues to leave balls a bit up as Miyazaki just hits one into the oen-dan section foul.
Okada-kantoku gets the game in motion by sending Yoshida. The pitch is high and Kurisu's throw doesn't make it in time.
At 3-1, the Gansho battery goes for the double play by walking Miyazaki. Chuunai-kantoku calls time briefly to setup the double play.
Okita obliges! He swing on the first pitch fastball and hits a comebacker to Takahashi! He goes to 2nd for one, Shigeishi double clutches, but has plenty of time to throw out Okita to end the inning!!
Top 7th
Higashino is doing his best to try and keep the deficit at 1. Kurisu goes down looking, Shimizu hits a slow roller that gets past Higashino, but Yoshida backs up.
However, once again Shigeishi throws a wrench in things. He once again fouls off several pitches getting into a double-digit pitch AB. And once again Shigeishi wins the battle! He earns a 12 pitch walk! (Why isn't he higher up in the lineup?)
Kamidera looks to not waste Shigeishi's efforts this time around, but instead he hits a comebacker to Higashino to retire the side.
Bottom 7th
Time is running alarmingly short for Riseisha with just 9 outs to go. I bet they weren't expecting to be in this position.
(Why is Riseisha playing graduation music??!)
Once again, Miyamoto hits a ball back up the middle, this time on the front side of Takahashi and past a diving Shigeishi into center. Higashi tries a hard bunt, but Shigeoka beats him to the bag for the out. Does the job though. Now it's up to the bottom of the lineup to deliver.
But Takahashi's pitches are all high again. The 4th pitch is inside and it's a 4-pitch walk. Chuunai-kantoku calls for a longer conference this time. Still another double play can get Takahashi out of the inning.
Takahashican't seem to get the ball down. But after a ball, Okada-kantoku pulls Higashino back and sends in #16 Tateishi to hit?
Now we know why! Tateishi lays down the safety and dives into 1st safely! Manrui for Riseisha as Okada-kantoku plays all in! Now #12 Hatta comes in to hit for Yoshidzuka. Takahashi still has some issues with control but gets ahead 1-2.
Hatta pokes one, but it goes foul. Fastball up, and Hatta fouls that one off. Takahashi tries to bury one, but it's outside and not close.
Fastball inside isn't inside enough and Hatta fouls that off.
Another one inside and Hatta nubs it towards the mound! Takahashi charges in, almost looks like a glove toss, but gets Miyamoto at home! 2 outs!
Still not out of the jam, Hasegawa steps in. But he chases a ball low and pops it up! Nakamura is under it and makes the catch! Takahashi gets out of another jam!
Top 8th
As expected #1 Sakamoto comes in for Tateishi and takes the hill. Hatta stays in at C.
Nakamura hits a slow roller to 1st, and Higashi loses it on the transfer! Nakamura reaches on the error! Chuunai-kantoku will play for the run as Nakagawa bunts him along.
Takahashi quickly grounds out to 2nd, but advances Nakamura to 3rd. It's up to Shigeoka to get the timely hit for the insurance run.
But he can't get it! He chops one right to Miyamoto who makes the putout at 1st. Takahashi will have to nurse the one-run lead once again.
Bottom 8th
Oh, but Takahashi makes it difficult for himself again. He hits Yoshida a second time (this time really plunked him) to give Riseisha a leadoff batter. And he's still missing high. Even the next pitch with was a strike Kurisu framed the glove outside.
But again, Riseisha give him an assist. Miyazaki hits a grounder back to Takahashi. He stops it this time, and gets the lead runner.
Okita has "Go, Go, Summer" as his song?
Okita can't do any better! He grounds to Kamidera who also gets the lead runner.
Miyamoto looks to keep the inning going by any means. But instead he grounds to 2nd! Nakagawa goes the short way and despite a leadoff runner, Riseisha can't advance him past 1st!
Top 9th
Sakamoto has a fastball in the high 130s with a curve, slider and changeup. And he's doing his darnest to give his team a chance in the bottom of the 9th.
Yokota though is trying to get a leadoff runner, he fouls off a couple of pitches before hitting one past Higashi and Miyazaki into right!
Chuunia-kantoku puts on the bunt-and-run, and Kurisu lays a nice one down to advance the runner.
Shigeishi though is 3 batters away so someone has to get on base to get him up this inning.
Meanwhile Sakamoto is trying to blow away the batters, hitting 140 on the gun. It's not fast, but it's fast enough, and that's what matters. Shigeishi will get an AB, and after Shimizu strikes out swinging, perhaps the best batter Ganshou could have up is up.
Once again, Shigeishi falls behind 1-2, but this time the ace wins. Sakamoto gets a high fastball by him to retire the side.
Bottom 9th
So it's hold on time for Iwakuni Shougyou, while Riseisha finds themselves 3 outs away from going home.
And it's the 6-7-8 batters up for Riseisha, starting with Higashi. He hits a grounder to 2nd, and Nakagawa almost throws it wide but makes the out.
Inoue hits a bounding ball to the right side, Nakagawa is there again and makes a better throw for the 2nd out!
It's up to #15 Shibata now! And he hits a fly ball to center! Nakamura is under it, makes the catch, and he jumps up in the air! Iwakuni Shougyou pulls off the upset of Riseisha with a 1-0 masterpiece!
I did not see that one coming at all!
Takahashi and his defense held onto that 1-run lead by the skin of their teeth as Riseisha had several opportunities in the late innings, but just couldn't convert. And who would have figured that a wild pitch would have decided the game?! And you can't even fault Riseisha, it was probably the plan to keep the ball down, it was just in that one pitch that ultimately decided the game.
And so Iwakuni Shougyou has a chance to win a second game as they move on to face Yamagata Chuo. Meanwhile for Riseisha it has to be a disappointing loss. Probably pegged as the favorites in this matchup, the offense was nowhere to be seen in the early innings, and when they finally got baserunners, they couldn't drive them in. Takahashi in fact faced just 8 more than the minimum in his victory!
Notable Players
Takahashi Yuuya (Iwakuni Shougyou) - CG, W, 0 ER, 5 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 2 HBP
Yokota Hiroki (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 2-4, 3B, R
Shigeishi Yuuji (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 1-2, 2 BB, K
Higashino Ryuuji (Riseisha) - L, 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 7 K, 3 BB
Miyamoto Takeshi (Riseisha) - 2-4
For Riseisha, they were off to a roaring start in the prefecturals, but as they progressed higher up their offense continued to get baserunners - but couldn't seem to bring them home. Not surprisingly, their opponents were Osaka Touin, Kansei Gakuin and Kyoto Shouei.
The pitching though help up fairly well. But despite Sakamoto Daiki holding the ace number, it's southpaw #10 Higashino Ryuuji who actually took most of the innings during the fall. Both actually though average just about a K/IP, and rarely walk a batter. But in terms of runs given up, Higashino does a better job at preventing runs than Sakamoto.
Like most teams, the offense for Riseisha lies at the top of the order with 3 and 4 batters Miyazaki Shin and Okita Katsutoshi driving them in.
Their oen-dan today has a yellow R in a purple background.
Iwakuni Shougyou got their first bid by reaching the semifinals of the Chuugoku super-regional. It probably held some home-field advantage as the super-regional was held in their prefecture this year. In addition, they were not really tested until that semifinal game against Kouryou - where they saw their offense just generate 7 hits and struck out 13 times in a 2-0 loss.
The offense is pretty bad as they carried a batting average of just 0.249. What saves them is their ability to take walks. In fact, their OBP is over a full 110 points higher. Only ace Takahashi Yuuya and #5 batter Yokota Hiroki carry an average over 0.300. But as long as their opposing pitcher is able to throw strikes, the offense is in trouble.
This puts a lot of pressure on aforementioned ace Takahashi as is the only pitcher of record in the fall. He too is not an overpowering pitcher, instead using contact to allow less than a baserunner per inning. Only info I have is that he throws in the upper 130s.
Iwakuni Shougyou will be quickly behind the 8-ball as the offense will have to swing away.
Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi) - Chuugoku 3 seed
CF Nakamura Souichirou
2B Nakagawa Yuuki
P Takahashi Yuuya
1B Shigeoka Fumiya
RF Yokota Hiroki
C Kurisu Tooru
LF Shimizu Kouhei
SS Shigeishi Yuuji
3B Kamidera Yuu
Riseisha (Osaka) - Kinki 3/4 seed
CF Hasegawa Seiya
SS Yoshida Yuuki
2B Miyazaki Shin
LF Okita Katsutoshi
3B Miyamoto Takeshi
1B Higashi Noriyuki (#17)
RF Inoue Kazuya
P Higashino Ryuuji (#10)
C Yoshidzuka Kouhei
____________________________________________________________
13:35 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Nakamura swings at a first pitch slider and lines out right to Hasegawa.
As expected, Higashino is throwing strikes and Gansho is swinging away. Nakagawa grounds out to 2nd.
Looks like Higashino throws in the low-mid 130s as Takahashi grounds to short to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Takahashi is a quick worker on the mound as after a quick flyout to right by Hasegawa, Yoshida sees three quick pitches, watching a slider hit the outside corner for strike 3.
Looks like he hits the high 120s, with a slider in the low-mid 110s and a slow curve in the 90-100s. I say that then he hits 135.
But it's a quick inning for the Yamaguchi ace as Miyazaki hits an easy comebacker to Takahashi to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Shigeoka gets the first base hit, a grounder the other way into right. Higashino looks to have a slider in the low-mid 120s.
Interestingly Chunnai-kantoku is not having Yokota bunt despite the bad offense. It comes back to bite them as Yokota hits a ball right to Miyamoto who starts the 5-4-3 double play.
It's a shame as Kurisu fists one right on the left field line for a single.
Shimizu weakly grounds to 2nd and the inning is over.
Bottom 2nd
After a deep fly from Okita, Miyamoto gets Riseisha's first hit with a grounder sneaking under Nakagawa into right.
Takahashi's quick pitching gets him into a bit of a pinch as he falls behind Higashi 3-0. Het gest him to ground out to 2nd, but it was on a hit and run, so all Ganshou got was a 6-4-3 out at 1st.
That leaves it to Inoue to try and break the scoring.
Inoue takes an outside pitch the other way, but it's to shallow left and Miyamoto has to hold at 3rd.
But Takahashi gets out of the jam! Higashino waves on a 129 pitch inside and we remain scoreless!
Top 3rd
Shigeishi is getting a good look at Higashino to start the 3rd as he fouls off several pitches, even a fastball down and outside that he reaches out for, eventually working the count full. And on the 10th pitch he's paid off as he shoots one past a diving Miyamoto into left.
That leaves it to Kamidera who immediately shows bunt. However, he can't lay it down and falls behind 0-2. Will Chuunai-kantoku call for the three-bunt? Sure looks like it.
He pops it out foul and is retired for the first out. Not good execution there for Ganshou.
That cycles the order back to the top and Nakamura.
Chuunai-kantoku tries to send Shigeyama on a hit-and-run, but Nakamura misses and Shigeyama is thrown out by a mile at 2nd.
Nakamura goes down swinging and another leadoff runner is wasted.
Bottom 3rd
Takahashi does appear have good control as Kurisu isn't moving his glove a whole lot. As a result, he gest two straight groundouts from Yoshidzuka and Hasegawa before Yoshida pops out to Kamidera (who records all 3 putouts) to reture the side.
Top 4th
The game is moving at a brisk pace. Takahashi is hitting his spots, and Higashino is throwing strikes. So Gansho has to swing away. Nakagawa strikes out, Takahashi flies out to center, and Shigeoka goes down swinging.
Bottom 4th
The game is going faster than I can type. Miyazaki grounds out to 1st, Okita hits a liner to 1st that Shigeoka picks off the ground, and Miyamoto flies to left. 6 pitches and the sides change.
Top 5th
Yokota can finally wait for a couple of pitches and is ahead 3-0 before an inside fastball is called for a strike.
And instead of waiting on the 3-1, he swings away fouling the pitch off and filling the count.
But he gets a pitch up in the zone and he slices it to left! Okita runs over to the left field line, dives, but misses it as it runs to the wall! Yokota hesitates a bit at 2nd, but turns on the after burners and reaches 3rd safely!
Kurisu at bat now, and I think Riseisha is expecting a squeeze bunt. Higashino's pitches are all low but he's not offering - thus he gets ahead 3-0 before a "trick" fastball over the plate (Yoshidzuka was framed outside) makes it 3-1. Kurisu swings away, but flies to shallow left and Yokota has to hold.
Shimizu up and the Riseisha battery is still thinking squeeze as the first pitch is way outside. But while perhaps they realize there's no bunt, the pitches are still down in the zone just in case. Ahead 2-1, Shimizu swings away, but fouls it off.
There is no squeeze still as Shimizu holds up to fill the count.
And an inside fastball from Higashino is called a ball by home plate umpire Tachibana and runners are at the corners for Shigeishi.
1-0 to Shigeishi and he shows bunt, but takes it back and the runners go back to their bases.
Shigeishi sows bunt again, but this time it's a feint home allowing Shimizu to take 2nd!
And with the Riseisha battery thinking squeeze, Shigeishi gets ahead 3-0 and earns a walk! It's manru for Ganshou as Okada-kantoku calls for time.
What will Ganshou do now? They can't feint a squeeze and the bases are full. Oddly enough, I think it's Ganshou who is in a corner, not Riseisha.
I guess not! Higashino buries a ball in the dirt and it bounced away from Yoshidzuka! He can't find it and everyone advances on the wild pitch! Yokota scores to break the scoreless tie at 1-0!
#11 Sakai is heading to the bullpen to warm up...
Now can Kamidera get a base hit?
Sadly no. He hits a comebacker to Higashino who runs down Shimizu for the 2nd out. Kamidera advances to 2nd on the rundown.
That leaves it to Nakamura to try and capitlaize on the opportunity.
Higashino continues to pitch down in the zone, and Ganshou's batters are not biting. Nakamura gets ahead 3-1 before a fastball inside fills up the count.
Meanwhile, ace Sakamoto joins Sakai in the bullpen.
No need though right now as Nakamura is twisted around on another inside fastball to retire the side. But an unforced error by the battery gives underdog Gansho the lead.
Bottom 5th
Higashi looks to get the run back quickly as he singles behind Takahashi and a diving Nakagawa into center. Inoue lays down a great bunt to move the runner along for Higashino.
The Ganshou battery is being a bit careful with Higashino, with all pitches away. Higashino catches on this and swings away hoping for an opposite field base hit, but instead it's a flyout to right.
Yoshidzuka swings away on the first pitch and pops it up! Shigeishi camps under the ball near 2nd and secures it for the 3rd out! So as we head to the break, it's Iwakuni Shougyou who acatually hold the narrow 1-run lead!
Top 6th
Higashino post-break appears to have a 1-2-3 inning after making quick work of Nakagawa and Takahashi, but Shigeoka bloops one to shallow left-center.
The inning still ends quickly as Yokota hits a grounder right to Higashi who takes a step to 1st to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
Meanwhile Takahashi is chugging along. Back to the top of the order and Hasegawa, he first pitch grounds out to 1st.
But against Yoshida he throws 3 fastballs high before throwing a strike. The next ball grazes Yoshida though it's a free base all the same.
Versus Miyazaki, Takahashi continues to leave balls a bit up as Miyazaki just hits one into the oen-dan section foul.
Okada-kantoku gets the game in motion by sending Yoshida. The pitch is high and Kurisu's throw doesn't make it in time.
At 3-1, the Gansho battery goes for the double play by walking Miyazaki. Chuunai-kantoku calls time briefly to setup the double play.
Okita obliges! He swing on the first pitch fastball and hits a comebacker to Takahashi! He goes to 2nd for one, Shigeishi double clutches, but has plenty of time to throw out Okita to end the inning!!
Top 7th
Higashino is doing his best to try and keep the deficit at 1. Kurisu goes down looking, Shimizu hits a slow roller that gets past Higashino, but Yoshida backs up.
However, once again Shigeishi throws a wrench in things. He once again fouls off several pitches getting into a double-digit pitch AB. And once again Shigeishi wins the battle! He earns a 12 pitch walk! (Why isn't he higher up in the lineup?)
Kamidera looks to not waste Shigeishi's efforts this time around, but instead he hits a comebacker to Higashino to retire the side.
Bottom 7th
Time is running alarmingly short for Riseisha with just 9 outs to go. I bet they weren't expecting to be in this position.
(Why is Riseisha playing graduation music??!)
Once again, Miyamoto hits a ball back up the middle, this time on the front side of Takahashi and past a diving Shigeishi into center. Higashi tries a hard bunt, but Shigeoka beats him to the bag for the out. Does the job though. Now it's up to the bottom of the lineup to deliver.
But Takahashi's pitches are all high again. The 4th pitch is inside and it's a 4-pitch walk. Chuunai-kantoku calls for a longer conference this time. Still another double play can get Takahashi out of the inning.
Takahashican't seem to get the ball down. But after a ball, Okada-kantoku pulls Higashino back and sends in #16 Tateishi to hit?
Now we know why! Tateishi lays down the safety and dives into 1st safely! Manrui for Riseisha as Okada-kantoku plays all in! Now #12 Hatta comes in to hit for Yoshidzuka. Takahashi still has some issues with control but gets ahead 1-2.
Hatta pokes one, but it goes foul. Fastball up, and Hatta fouls that one off. Takahashi tries to bury one, but it's outside and not close.
Fastball inside isn't inside enough and Hatta fouls that off.
Another one inside and Hatta nubs it towards the mound! Takahashi charges in, almost looks like a glove toss, but gets Miyamoto at home! 2 outs!
Still not out of the jam, Hasegawa steps in. But he chases a ball low and pops it up! Nakamura is under it and makes the catch! Takahashi gets out of another jam!
Top 8th
As expected #1 Sakamoto comes in for Tateishi and takes the hill. Hatta stays in at C.
Nakamura hits a slow roller to 1st, and Higashi loses it on the transfer! Nakamura reaches on the error! Chuunai-kantoku will play for the run as Nakagawa bunts him along.
Takahashi quickly grounds out to 2nd, but advances Nakamura to 3rd. It's up to Shigeoka to get the timely hit for the insurance run.
But he can't get it! He chops one right to Miyamoto who makes the putout at 1st. Takahashi will have to nurse the one-run lead once again.
Bottom 8th
Oh, but Takahashi makes it difficult for himself again. He hits Yoshida a second time (this time really plunked him) to give Riseisha a leadoff batter. And he's still missing high. Even the next pitch with was a strike Kurisu framed the glove outside.
But again, Riseisha give him an assist. Miyazaki hits a grounder back to Takahashi. He stops it this time, and gets the lead runner.
Okita has "Go, Go, Summer" as his song?
Okita can't do any better! He grounds to Kamidera who also gets the lead runner.
Miyamoto looks to keep the inning going by any means. But instead he grounds to 2nd! Nakagawa goes the short way and despite a leadoff runner, Riseisha can't advance him past 1st!
Top 9th
Sakamoto has a fastball in the high 130s with a curve, slider and changeup. And he's doing his darnest to give his team a chance in the bottom of the 9th.
Yokota though is trying to get a leadoff runner, he fouls off a couple of pitches before hitting one past Higashi and Miyazaki into right!
Chuunia-kantoku puts on the bunt-and-run, and Kurisu lays a nice one down to advance the runner.
Shigeishi though is 3 batters away so someone has to get on base to get him up this inning.
Meanwhile Sakamoto is trying to blow away the batters, hitting 140 on the gun. It's not fast, but it's fast enough, and that's what matters. Shigeishi will get an AB, and after Shimizu strikes out swinging, perhaps the best batter Ganshou could have up is up.
Once again, Shigeishi falls behind 1-2, but this time the ace wins. Sakamoto gets a high fastball by him to retire the side.
Bottom 9th
So it's hold on time for Iwakuni Shougyou, while Riseisha finds themselves 3 outs away from going home.
And it's the 6-7-8 batters up for Riseisha, starting with Higashi. He hits a grounder to 2nd, and Nakagawa almost throws it wide but makes the out.
Inoue hits a bounding ball to the right side, Nakagawa is there again and makes a better throw for the 2nd out!
It's up to #15 Shibata now! And he hits a fly ball to center! Nakamura is under it, makes the catch, and he jumps up in the air! Iwakuni Shougyou pulls off the upset of Riseisha with a 1-0 masterpiece!
I did not see that one coming at all!
Takahashi and his defense held onto that 1-run lead by the skin of their teeth as Riseisha had several opportunities in the late innings, but just couldn't convert. And who would have figured that a wild pitch would have decided the game?! And you can't even fault Riseisha, it was probably the plan to keep the ball down, it was just in that one pitch that ultimately decided the game.
And so Iwakuni Shougyou has a chance to win a second game as they move on to face Yamagata Chuo. Meanwhile for Riseisha it has to be a disappointing loss. Probably pegged as the favorites in this matchup, the offense was nowhere to be seen in the early innings, and when they finally got baserunners, they couldn't drive them in. Takahashi in fact faced just 8 more than the minimum in his victory!
Notable Players
Takahashi Yuuya (Iwakuni Shougyou) - CG, W, 0 ER, 5 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 2 HBP
Yokota Hiroki (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 2-4, 3B, R
Shigeishi Yuuji (Iwakuni Shougyou) - 1-2, 2 BB, K
Higashino Ryuuji (Riseisha) - L, 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 7 K, 3 BB
Miyamoto Takeshi (Riseisha) - 2-4
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