高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

Yuuki hard grounder to 1st. Nishioka fields it for the out,

No one's going to get this one though!  On the fly anyways.  Rei booms one over the drawn in defense and he races around for a triple! Early chance for Jyouhoku!

Yamaguma shot at 1st! Again Nishioka blocks it! Tags Yamaguma and Rei can't score.

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

Imai out of an early jam as he gets Narahara to chase the slider in the dirt for the 3rd out!

Bottom 1st
Nagano with a fly to center to start.

Sada comebacker off Yasutake's left leg and pops over short into left!

Yasutake took a shot there. But he says he's fine. Just in case, Oonishi is warming up.

But he seems fine as he gets Utsunomiya to fly out to center and strikes out Nishioka to retire the side.

Top 2nd
One down and Kurumi slices one over Uchida and down the left field line!  He's in for a double!

Yoza grounder to short, Utsunomiya going to 3rd and they get Kurumi on the contact play! 2 down!

Yasutake grounds to 1st and the inning is over.

Bottom 2nd
4 pitch walk to Yamamoto to start the inning. Uchida bunts him along.

Uh oh, 4 pitch walk to Seko. Could he be hurt or that liner affecting him?  Suetsugu-kantoku calling for time.

Nakabayashi single though the left side! Yamamoto being sent home and there's no throw! Mie leads 1-0!

Imai with a base hit to left! That's by a diving Oyama! Yuuki has to run it down as Seko and Nakabayashi scores! 3-0 Mie!

And that's it for Yasutake.  Perhaps being hit affected him as his timing may have been off after that. #11 Oonishi comes in to take the hill.

He gets Nagano to fly out to left for the 2nd out, but Sada singles through the right side. Imai scores and tumbles but he seems to be ok. 4-0.

Sada then goes and steals 2nd, and on the next pitch, Utsunomiya drives it over Yuuki for a double scoring Sada to make it 5-0.

Nishoka pops out to end the inning, but Mie finds themselves with a big lead!

Top 3rd
Tsujimoto with a ball back up the middle. Utsunomiya gets there, but Tsujimoto hustles up the line and beats the throw.

Yuuki manages to advance the runner with a hard grounder to 1st, but Jyouhoku can't do anything with it thereafter as Rei K's on 3 straight, and Yamaguma flies out to center.

Bottom 3rd
Yamamoto with a single to right to leadoff.  He's bunted to 2nd, but can't advance to 3rd when Seko grounds to 3rd.

Nakahara hits grounder to 3rd, but Narahara whiffs on the ball! It goes through his legs and into left allowing Yamamoto to score. 6-0 Mie.

Imai flies out on the next pitch, but Mie tacks on another run.

Top 4th
#14 Makino comes in to hit for Narahara. Hopefully it's not for the error, but I bet it is.

Jyouhoku goes down in order and it really doesn't look that great for them.

Bottom 4th
#18 Tomita comes in for Makino to play 3B.

Nagano with a single to right, and then promptly steals 2nd. Sada with the sac bunt, but Tomita stumbles! But he turns around and fires to 3rd where Nagano overran the ball! He's tagged out, but Sada does advance to 2nd.

But after that he hits Usunomiya and puts himself in a jam after Nishoka hits a slow roller to 1st advancing the runners.

At this point Suetsugu-kantoku sends in ace Morodomi to relieve Oonishi.

And he gets Yamamoto to ground to 3rd to end the inning.

Top 5th
Imai hits Yoza to start the inning and needs a bit of itai spray on his right elbow.

Morodomi with a single splitting the defense into left.  Nakamura-kantoku calls for time.

But Imai walks Tsujigami on 4 straight! Manrui for Jyouhoku!

And Yuuki hits a chopper up the middle for a base hit! Everyone moves up a station and its 6-1.

One down now after Rei strikes out.

Yamaguma grounder to 1st... AH!!!!!!!!!

Nishioka fails to field the ball cleanly and it gets past him! Morodomi and Tsujigami both come in to score and it's 6-3!!

Tomita grounder to 2nd, but Sada throws to 2nd instead of tagging the runner! Throw to 1st not in time and Yuuki scores! 6-4! Mistake there by Sada!

Oyama grounds to 2nd to end the inning, but Jyouhoku has closed the gap significantly!

Bottom 5th
Seko draws a one out walk, and promptly takes 2nd! Throw from Yoza... not in time!

With 2 outs, it's funny to see Imai walk to 1st on a 3-1 pitch only to be called back, then Morodomi walk off the mound on the next pitch only to find it's ball 4.

Nagano liner to left for a base hit, but it's right to Oyama and Seko can't go home!

Suetsugu-kanoktu calls for time.

And Sada pops it up! Rei under it, makes the catch, and we hit the break!

Mie had taken a commanding lead, but Mie being Mie, they've let Jyouhoku back into it and they'll have to grind it out again.

Top 6th
Now that the game is close, Imai is comfortable again and retires the side in just 7 pitches.  Assist goes to Utsunomiya who runs down a ball up the middle by Yoza and makes the running throw for the out.

Bottom 6th
Looks like we're entering an entrenchment period.  Utsunomiya falls behind 0-2 and grounds to 2nd.  Nishioka watches a slider for strike 3 and it's a 7 pitch inning.

Yamamoto drive to left center! Oyama sprinting back, dives.. and makes the catch! Great play by Oyama to end the inning!

Top 7th
I can barely keep up with how fast the innings are going. Trying to catch up again, Imai once again retires the side in 10 pitches!

Bottom 7th
Both teams free swinging at this point. Morodomi also needs just 10 pitches to retire the side.

Top 8th
Yamagami the first batter to take pitches in a while, and draws the leadoff walk!

But instead of bunting, Suetsugu-kantoku sends in #16 Abe to hit for Tomita, which means he's swinging?

He swings on the first pitch but pops it up! Nishoka makes the catch on the line for the first out.

Oyama comebacker to Imai! He goes to 2nd for one, relay throw... not in time! Oyama prevents the double play.

And now he takes off for 2nd! Pitchout! But it's too far out and Nakabayashi 's late with his throw!

Kurumi single to center! Oyama rounding 3rd, throw to Imai and he holds onto it! 6-5!!

Yoza hits back to Imai and he throws to 1st for the 3rd out, but Jyouhoku pulls within 1!

Bottom 8th
#15 Tsutsumi comes in for Abe and takes over at 3B.

Imai grounder to 2nd, but Tsujigami throws it away! Imai hustles to 2nd. He gets to move to 3rd when Nagano hits a hard grounder to Tsujigami and all he can do is block it and go to 1st.

Sada with a fly to left! Oyama with the catch and Imai takes off for home! Throw in... not in time! 7-5 Mie!

Utstunomiya with a scorcher to 3rd! Tsutsumi can't field it and it kicks to foul territory! Utsunomiya takes 2nd and Mie is threatening again as Suetsugu-kantoku calls time.

Nishioka single up the middle! Yuuki is on the ball quickly, and that makes Utsunomiya hold up at 3rd.

But Morodomi can't seem to buy a strike when he wants one and walks Yamamoto on a full count!

Uchida fly ball to right, Kurumi running towards the foul pole, still running.... Makes the catch at the padding! 3 out! He saves several runs, but they've got one more to make up.

Top 9th
Morodomi turns around in frustration after he strikes out looking on a pitch on the outer half of the plate.

Tsujigami flies out on the next pitch and they're down to their final out.

Yuuki falling behind 1-2, fouls one off, then another, then checks his swing.. and fouls off another.

But the war is lost as Yuuki chops one to short. Utsunomiya fires to 1st and Mie holds on (what's new?) to win 7-5!

Mie has another one of their type of games. Despite taking a big lead, they for some reason or another let their opponent back in the game. And yet when they do that, they tend to play better. Go figure.

Give credit to Jyouhoku for not giving up. Mie let them back into the game, they took it and almost found their way back to level. They fell short, but shouldn't be disappointed with their play.

The game was delayed slightly due to rain, and after Yasutake retires Shouhei and Yamaguchi, it starts raining again as the Laga-san has to get his poncho.

The minute the rain comes down, so does the hits.  After walking Chuuko, Ishii singles back up the middle.  Mineo follows that up with a slicer down the left field line fair!  Chuuko scores and Bouyou leads 1-0!

Ishiho grounds to 2nd to end the inning, but Bouyou strikes first under the rain!

Bottom 1st
The rain certainly having an effect as Harada walks Yuuki to start the inning.

Rei (not related) stands in to bunt, but Harada continues to throw balls before firing a strike at 2-0.  Rei does lay down the bunt and the runner moves over.  Rei had to almost do a push bunt to make it go far enough to not get Yuuki thrown out.

Yamange grounds to 1st, but it's hard to see with the reflection off of the wet ground.

Narahara goes down swinging on an fastball over the outer half and the side is retired.

Top 2nd
The rain is really coming down at Koushien.  Tsujigami looks at his hand after Kuboyama hits a grounder that kinda dies when it gets to him.

Harada hits a hard ball to the right side, Tsujigami out in right field fields the ball and throws Harada out to retire the side.

The umpires call everyone in as Jyouhoku's school song ends. They've seen enough.

10:54 - Rain Delay

11:10 - Resume Play (though the field still look poor)

Bottom 2nd
My guess, they're going to rush these games through before conditions get bad again.

Kurumi with a base hit through the right side.

He takes off for 2nd, throw isn't in time, but Kurumi slip slides over the bag! Scrambles back just in time. Oy.

The laundry people are going to have a long night ahead of them.

Oyama with a push bunt! Kuboyama crashing, and Ishiho vacates to cover 1st!  Everyone's safe!

Chopper to the right side! Kuboyama coming in and Ishiho fails to cover 1st! Everyone's safe and Kurumi scores! 1-1 and Aikawa has to call time!

Yasutake with the bunt, and this time, they finally get it right... just.  The throw from Kuboyama pulls Ishiho from the bag, but he has enough time to reestablish contact.

Tsujigami fly to shallow center, Shouhei coming in.. Makes the catch, and Yoza is doubled off at 2nd to end the inning.

So weather 2, players 0.  Really though it's 1-1.

Top 3rd
With conditions the way they are, the batters are waiting more as hard ground balls may die enough to be fielded.

And with one down, Yamaguchi earns a walk.

Bunting is probably also affected, though that's more expected.

And no bunt, Chuuko lines a ball the other way over Rei for a single.

Mineo grounder to right side, Tsujigami can't field it cleanly and its into right! Yaamguchi comes in to score and Bouyou retakes the lead 2-1!

Ishiho singles past Tsujigami! Chuuko scores and it's a 3-1 game.

Kimura strikes out to retire the side, but more damage has been done.

Bottom 3rd
Jyouhoku trying to scrap back a run, gets a 1-out base hit from Sukzui instead hits a grounder to short. Yamaguchi gets the lead runner though and there's 2 out.  Narahara skies a pitch and pops out to Ishiho to retire the side.

Top 4th
#10 Oonishi comes into the game to relieve Yasutake, and immediately he makes things complicated in the 4th giving up a single to Shouhei and hitting Yamaguchi with bases empty.

Chuuko with shot up 1st base line, but Yamagami makes great diving stop! Tosses to Oonishi and the side is retired!

Bottom 4th
Kurumi with grounder to the left side.  Yaamguchi makes a great stop, but the throw is late.

There's no bunt from any of the Jyouhok batters and that backfrires as the bottom of the lineup goes quietlly.

Top 5th
With the ground the way it is, generating offense will be difficult.  Oonishi gives up another 2-out single, but Ishiho is stranded as Kimura pops out.

Bottom 5th
Yuuki didn't get the memo apparently.  He scorches a ball past a diving Ishii into foul territory! He's in with a double!

Rei first pitch flies to center, Yuuki advances to 3rd.

Yamaguma with the single through the left side! Yuuki scores to make it a 1-run ball game.  It's 3-2!

Ama-chan plays and Narahar singles back up the middle! Jyouhoku threatening as people go for their umbrellas and ponchos.

Kurumi liner to rightChukyou going back, reaches up and makes the catch to retire the side

They've made it to the break as Toukaidai Bouyou holds on to a slim 1-run lead under very muddy conditions.

Top 6th
Everyone really scrambling in the stands as the rain really comes down once again, and again while Jyouhoku is on defense.  Not to mention the wind is really blowing.

One down, Harada insides out a ball to right for a base hit.

But the defense holds itself together to make the catches on two fly balls from Shouhei and Yamaguchi to end the inning.

Bottom 6th
Pitching change for Bouyou. Ace Utsugi comes in for Kuboyama to take the hill while Harada goes to 1B.

And it's not a good start as Utsugi hits Oyama to lead things off.  Yoza lays down too neat of a bunt and Utsugi has no problems fielding it.

Oonishi grounds to 3rd, and Oyama heads up goes to 3rd after Ishii looks him back.

Tsujigami grounder to short, Yamaguchi fies to 1st, and Jyouhoku is denied the douten run!

Top 7th
Now with the wind blowing, Bouyou wants to test the defense that way.  But Oyama and Yuuki are up to the task as the duo records all 3 outs here in the 7th.

Bottom 7th
Jyouhoku too testing the Bouyou outfield.  After a routine fly, Rei tries to poke one into shallow right-center, but Chuuko races in and runs it down!

Yamagami drive to deep right!  Chuuko running to the foul pole... and the wind knocks it down as he makes the running catch!

Top 8th
Oonishi issues a leadoff walk to Ishiho, and after a walk, Suetsugu-kantoku sends in ace Morodomi for Oonishi.

Utsugi grounds to 3rd, throw by Narahara up the 1st base line and Yamaguma collides with Utsugi.  Everyone seems to be fine.

Morodomi closes the frame as Harada can't hold off on a ball out of the zone.  No runs given up, but they're still trailing by 1.

Bottom 8th
Utsuki walks Narahara to leadoff the 8th!  Even with 2 hits, Kurumi is asked to bunt... and lays it down.

Count goes full on Oyama.. and he walks! Gyakuten run in scoring position!

Hit-and-run! But Yoza fouls it off!

Yoza liner to the opposite side and it's manrui!  Aihara-kantoku quickly calls for time!

But standing in now is Morodomi.  Showing bunt!  Takes a pitch.

SQUEEZEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With the terrible conditions, Morodomi lays down the bunt!  Harada has no play but to 1st and we're all tied at 3-3!!

Tsujigami drive to left center!!!!  That splits the defense to the wall!  Both runners will score on the RBI double and Jyouhoku leads 5-3!!!!

Aihara-kantoku makes the pitching change.  Harada returns back to the hill while #13 Teraoka comes in for Utsugi and goes to 1B.

Yuuki grounds out to 3rd, but Tsujigami with his only hit of the ballgame, gives his team the lead!!

Top 9th
Top of the lineup due up as Bouyou looks to stay alive.

Uh oh, Morodomi's pitches are high.  Falls behind Shouhei 3-0 before firing a strike.

Shouhei attacks a ball that would have been a walk and the count is full!

Just gets around on the inside fastball and fouls it off!

Ball 4!!!

Suetsugu-kantoku calls for time.

Yamaguchi righty works the count given the situation, and he works the count full, goes after a high ball but fouls it off.

Just gets a hold of one down and away to foul that one off...

Up the 3rd base line... foul...

Fouls it off himself... 10th pitch of AB...

Grounder to 3rd, Narahara to 2nd for 1, Tsujigami's throw to 1st in the mud and gets away!  Yamaguchi to 2nd, but there's 1 out.

Chuuko drive to right.... Kurumi going back, going back... Makes the backpedaling catch, 2 down as Yamaguchi goes to 3rd.  But his run doesn't matter.

It's Ishii who steps in...

But he twirls and pops it up!  Yamaguma with it in foul territory... and makes the catch to end the game!  Jyouhoku comes back late to defeat Toukaidai Bouyou 5-3!

This game though must've been miserable to play in.  Muddy conditions, wind blowing about.  A fluke play or something weather affected could have easily changed the game.

And in some ways it did considering Morodomi's squeeze.  The mud probably killed the ball, making sure that it didn't go too far and perhaps get the runner thrown out at home.

In the end though, Jyouhoku found a way to win and they advance over the first-timers.

And it must be miserable too for Bouyou's players to be scooping mud into their bags.  Just miserable all around....