高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

And then there were 8. The contingent of Tokoku and Hokushinetsu teams are still there, though depleted over the last couple of days.

Mie, though not in those regions, probably shares some of the hopes they do in that they're not a prefecture known for strong baseball. And yet they're here in the Best 8 and got there their own way - by making sure they grinded their way there. Whatever the score, they will wind up playing a close game.

Okinawa Shougaku showed it had some backbone when stood up by Nishougakushadai Fuzoku. There has always been a feeling of not performing to their potential, but this year they've seemed to buck that by defeating not Nishougakushadai Fuzoku and in the first round Sakushin Gakuin.

But there's still something that makes me a non-believer. Whether it was the fact they couldn't keep their lead, or the fact that they've shown promise before. Winning this game might start pushing people towards believers.

Mie (Mie)
CF Nagano Hayato
2B Sada Taiki
SS Utsunomiya Touma
1B Nishioka Musashi
LF Yamamoto Youma (#10)
3B Uchida Ren
RF Seko Ren
C Nakabayashi Kengo
P Imai Shigetarou

Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa)
CF Akamine Ken
2B Nakamura Masaki (#13)
LF Nishihira Daiki
3B Asato Takeru
RF Kubo Shuuto
1B Uehara Kouta
SS Sunagawa Osamu
P Yamashiro Daichi
C Irabu Shouta

____________________________________________________________

08:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Nagano with a base hit past a diving Nakamura into center. Sada bunts him along.

おっと！ Yamashiro hits Utsunomiya (who hasn't done a lot at the plate!) Okishou in some trouble early!

Nishioka single to right! Nagano being waved home! Throw goes to 3rd and Mie leads 1-0!

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

Yamamoto tries the squeeze, but bunts it foul! That puts him at 2 strikes and probably swinging.

Perhaps he should have three-bunted....

He makes a very poor swing on a slider almost in the other batter's box for the 2nd out.

Uchida does the same, and perhaps wishes he didn't make contact as he just rolls a ball to short where Sunagawa just tosses it to 2nd for the 3rd out.

Yamashiro prevents further damage, though even if Mie scored runs, they'd probably give them back in the name of grinding out the game.

Bottom 1st
Akamine hits a ball to right for a base hit, but Seko is a bit lazy in getting the ball in, allowing Akamine to take 2nd!

After a sac bunt, Imai making things really hard on himself as he hits Nishihira.

Asato grounder to 3rd! Akamine going home stops and he's in a rundown! But he's alertly smart about it and gives the runners enough time to advance as far as they can before being tagged out.

So a base hit is still dangerous.

First base is still open, but Imai decides to fight against Kubo. Count runs full..

SANSHIN!

Kubo sprints out of the box but the home plate umpire rings him up for the 3rd out! Imai wiggles out of another one!

Top 2nd
Seko can't help out at the plate right now either as Yamashiro puts one at the knees for the first out.

Nakamura simply hits a ball back to Yamashiro for the 2nd out, and then Mie's batters need to know the proper way to stay alive as he just take a slow swing and hits it right to Sunagawa.

Bottom 2nd
Imai also having an easier time of it after the opening frame. Uehara strikes out on the outside slider, and then he gets 2 groundouts for a 1-2-3 inning.

Top 3rd
2 down and Utsunomiya singles to right. Yamashiro tries to be careful with Nishioka, but winds up walking him.

Small chance for Mie, but Yamamoto can't get the base hit as he grounds to 3rd to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd
Akamine with his 2nd hit of the game, a one-out single to left. But Imai gets himself out of the inning quickly as Kubo grounds into the 6-4-3 double play.

Top 4th
Yamashiro and his control again coming into play as he gives up a one-out walk to Seko. Nakabayashi not bunting with 1 down, bloops one to shallow center. Ken coming in, but he won't get there in time! It falls in and everyone's safe as Seko scrambles into 2nd.

That gets Higa-kantoku to call time.

Iimai grounder to 1st, Uehara goes to 2nd for 1, but Sunagawa sees no play at 1st and snap throws to 3rd just in case Seko went too far (he didn't).

Nagano drive to right! Kubo sprinting back to the wall! It'll fall in near the wall! Seko scores, Imai all the way from 1st scores on the 2R triple! 3-0 Mie!

Sada grounds to 3rd, but Mie's captain giving his team some insurance runs!

Bottom 4th
Which Imai starts giving back!

Asato with a deep drive to left! Yamamoto back towards the left field foul pole...

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mie is never comfortable with a big lead and Asato helps dent that large lead a little. One out solo HR from Okishou's cleanup batter and it's 3-1!

Kubo follows that up with a single to center! And then Uehara with a seeing-eye single sends Uehara to 3rd and Okishou threatens again!

Nakamura-kantoku calls for time.

But Sunagawa hits a drive to left! Yamamoto scrambling back to the wall, turns, and makes the catch right at the wall!

Kubo tags up and it's a 3-2 ballgame!

Imai strikes out his counterpart for the 3rd out, but once again, Mie makes it a tenuous situation for itself.

Top 5th
Utsunomiya having a great game at the plate so far, gets his 2nd hit of the game with a single through the left side.

Then promptly gets himself thrown out by a very wide margin at 2nd. Boy that looked odd.

Nishioka with a drive to left! Nishihira going back to the wall! He gives up!

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

Not to be outdone, Mie's cleanup batter says to Asato, "Hey, I can do that too!" And the ball goes up about 10 rows for a 4-2 lead!

And now Yamamoto finally gets his basehit when there's no runners in scoring position (sic). Single to center and Yamashiro is getting hit hard - not to mention he's already at 94 pitches!!

Uchida with a blooper to left, Nishihira comes in, but has to play it on a hop!

Seko chopper to 3rd, Asato has it goes to AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He loses the ball on the transfer! And by the time he picks it back up everyone's safe!!

But Yamashiro comes right back and blows a ball past Nakabayashi for the 2nd out.

Imai drive to left center! Nishihira won't get this one!  Everyone will come around to score on the bases clearing triple by Imai! 7-2 Mie!!

Nagano single to center! Imai being sent home and Mie takes a 8-2 lead! Nagano takes 2nd on the throw and it certainly looks like they're trying to break that cycle!

Well, we'll see. Sada grounds out to short, so we'll see if this lead can stick, or like all the other ones they start giving it right back.

Bottom 5th
Well... Irabu leadoff single to left...

Imai gets Akamine to regrettably swing on a slider for strike 3.

Nakamura with a short liner to left, but Yamamoto is there for the catch for out number 2.

And at least for an inning Mie seems to have held the large lead... Nishihira swings over the slider for strike 3.

So, we hit the break with Mie all over Okishou ace Yamashiro. But their penchant for close games makes any lead seem unsafe.

Top 6th
Higa-kantoku makes the pitching change. Kubo comes in from right to take the hill while Yamashiro goes to take Kubo's position in RF.

Utsunomiya with a soft liner up the middle, his counterpart Sunagawa stretches out and makes the leaping catch.

Mie's batters seem to be swinging way too early on Kubo's pitches as evidenced by their repeated reaching out to the ball. Yamamoto is able to take a pitch down the right side for a double, but Uchida right afterwards is early too and just pops it up for Sunagawa.

Bottom 6th
Well, Imai walks leadoff batter Asato, thought that's understandable.

Kubo chopper to 2nd, Sada charges turns and backpedal flips to 2nd for one, Utsunomiya to 1st for the double play.

Uehara rolls a ball to 1st and it's another clean inning.

Top 7th
Seko with a blooper to center that falls in for a base hit. Nakabayashi tries to bunt the runner along, but winds up with 2 strikes. Goes for the bust-and-run, singles through the open left side.

Now Imai is able to get a bunt down, but it's not good at all. Kubo goes to 3rd and they almost double off Imai at 1st.

Nagano fares worse as he hits into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Bottom 7th
Leadoff batter reaches yet again as Sunagawa singles up the middle.

あ。 #10 Kinjyou hits for Yamashiro, officially ending his nightmare day.  Kinjyou though goes down swinging.

Irabu, ahead 3-1 lines a single to left and they're in business here in the Lucky 7.

Akamine with a liner to right, but right at Seko for the 2nd out.

Nakamura liner up middle, off Imai's glove! Utsunomiya there to pick it up, fires to first for the 3rd out!

Top 8th
Kinjyou stays in the game to play RF.

Sada with his first basehit of the game, lines a single to left. Utsunomiya bunts him along.

With first base open, they're careful with Nishioka and wind up walking him.

Yamamoto liner, but right to Nakamura. Sada straying a bit too far is doubled off at 2nd and the side is retired.

Bottom 8th
Again, Okishou gets the leadoff runner on. This time Nishihira's hot shot eats up Uchida and it goes into foul territory.

Asato grounder to 2nd, AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Sada just whiffs on the ball and it goes to right! Nishihira takes 3rd on the error!

Kubo with another grounder to 2nd! Sada has this one, goes to 2nd for one, but Utsunomiya double clutches and the throw to 1st isn't in time! Nishihira scores to make it 8-3.

Uehara grounder to 1st, but Nishioka has it! Tags 1st, throws to 2nd where Utsunomiya tags Kubo for the 3rd out.

Top 9th
Higa-kantoku sends another person to the hill, this time 1B Uehara. Kubo goes back to RF and Kinjyou goes to 1B.

Uchida with a really awkward swing on a ball inside hits it to right. Kubo going back towards he foul pole??!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That ball went out? That didn't even look like a HR swing to me, it felt more like a stay alive swing.

Uehara only yields a 2-out walk to Imai, but gets out harmless otherwise.

Bottom 9th
#18 Matsumura in the game now to play RF.

2 down, Irabu gets a base hit up the middle, and is replaced by #12 Akamine Taku.

Ken grounds to 1st, Nishioka goes to the bag, and Mie is in the Best 4 for the first time in school history with a 9-3 win!!

Mie, long a participant at Koushien, has never been able to make a deep run until now. Starting with their win over Kouryou they have persevered through the field and are now into the Best 4 with this win. This win seemed uncharacteristic in that Mie was actually able to keep a big lead. One would hope that doesn't mean that they've peaked too early. They are after all just 1 game from the finals!

Alas, for Okinawa Shougaku the run falls short yet again. It's odd, they've had the team to challenge for the Koushien title, but whether it be the schedule or the weather, they just not been able to break through. That'll be it for this team of players, the kouhai's will have to step up and sooner rather than later because aki taikais are underway.

One of the big powers enters the field now and faces a team that still has something to prove.

Okinawa Shougaku made Sakushin Gakuin look just silly. 1 run on 3 hits and 14 strikeouts. Sakushin Gakuin is not one of those teams that's strong in prefecture and then weak at Koushien. At worst, they're generally middle of the road. For me, on the mound that has to be their best performance in recent years where I've always believed they've underperformed their talent.

Now, on offense... that's another story.  They managed just 4 hits but was able to patch together 3 runs in the effort.  So once again, the offense will be a glaring issue because you can't win a game 0-0.

Nishougakushadai Fuzoku helped me a little prove to the JHBF they had made a mistake in defeating Kaisei (Nagasaki) 7-5.  They put up runs in each of the first 5 innings as every starter registered a base hit.

The only question that remains might be the pitching staff.  Ookuro cruised through the first 4 innings, but struggled in the 5th and had to be bailed out by fellow kousai Ooe who completely shut down the Kaisei offense.  Not a strikeout pitcher, just recorded outs.  This will be a great test for Nishougakushadai and could be an indicator how strong the team may be.

Nishougakushadai Fuzoku (Higashi Tokyo)
CF Suematsu Yuuya
3B Kitamoto Kazuki
SS Takehara Yuuta
1B Komine Eisuke
LF Miyamoto Yuuki
RF Hata Shoutarou
C Imamura Daiki (#12)
P Kishida Yuuta (#17)
2B Miguchi Eito (#15)

Today we'll be starting to see teams hit the field for the 2nd time, starting with our 3rd game in Kanzei v. Toyama Shougyou.

But first we need to get the rest of the teams on the field, and starting action today will be the last Kanto squad in Sakushin Gakuin, versus the apparent underachievers Okinawa Shougaku.

Sakushin Gakuin did not have to play any big name opponent out of the prefecture.  Even in the final against Sano Nichidai, they are not considered one of the top tiered schools.  And the only game that was close was their 5-4 quarterfinal win over Seiran Taito.

Despite the lack of competition, the Sakushin offensive numbers are not spectacular.  An average of just 0.337, though they did average 1.5 doubles and triples per game.  Plus they did steal 23 bases in their 6 games, so maybe they're playing the small ball game.

Okinawa Shougaku continues to be dominant with their pitching, giving up just 3 runs in their 5 games.  Yamashiro continues to be an effective pitcher in prefecture.  But like Sakushin Gakuin, their problems are on offense where they hit just 0.324, with less XBH on average.  The bottom of the lineup especially is a black hole, and you just cannot afford to give up outs.

So it's highly likely we're going to see a very low scoring game to start Day 7.

Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
SS Soeda Manami
3B Yoshizawa Yuuma
LF Asayama Hirokazu
1B Tanaka Takuma
CF Nakamura Kouichirou
RF Akaki Rikuya
2B Satou Ryoumu
C Yokoo Norimitsu
P Fujinuma Takumi

Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa)
CF Akamine Ken
2B Nakamura Masaki (#13)
LF Nishihira Daiki
3B Asato Takeru
RF Kubo Shuuto
1B Uehara Kouta
SS Sunagawa Osamu
P Yamashiro Daichi
C Irabu Shouta

____________________________________________________________

08:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
So they say it's SS Sunagawa's birthday today. Soeda congratulates him by hitting the first ball in play to him for the out.

Yoshizawa a stubborn batter for Yamashiro at the plate, but on the 9th pitch he gets him twisted up on a fastball inside for the K.

Asayama with a drive to center!  Ken running back to the wall, back still!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So much for lack of offense to start.  Asayama with a HR to center no less and Sakushin takes the 1-0 lead!

Tanaka flies out to left, but it looks like we might be headed for a melee rather than a siege.

Bottom 1st
It may be early, but the whistles are out in the Okinawa ouen-dan.

Ken tries to drive the ball, but Nakamura is there in left center to make the catch.  Nakamura gets ahead 3-1, but his hit goes right to 2nd.

Nishihira with a ball to left.  Asayama going back to the wall..  HE LOOKS UP!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

Um, did I say low scoring game?  *ahem*

Nishihira hits his own HR, telling Asayama anything you can do I can do! We're all tied at 1-1!

Asato goes down looking to end the inning but it looks like we might have an interesting game on our hands!

Top 2nd
Yamashiro taking things into his own hands early.  He strikes out Nakamura looking on the outer edge, the Akaki swinging on yet another 140 kph fastball.

It's not a clean inning though, as Satou's routine grounder gets booted by Sunagawa.

He doesn't make the same error twice as he takes Yokoo's grounder to 2nd for the 3rd out.

Bottom 2nd
Fujinuma certainly not blowing batters away by any means, but it looks like the Okishou batters are not timing themselves very well to his speed.

Kubo and Sunagawa just roll over the ball to the left side of the infield, while Kouta swings over the slider.

Top 3rd
Yamashiro meanwhile is throwing a bit of gas (I say a bit because he's hitting 140).

Yet another K, Fujinuma the victim this time as he swings on a fastball outside.  After a groundout, Yoshizawa becomes Yamashiro's 5th K frozen on a slider over the plate.

Bottom 3rd
Yamashiro gives, and apparently receives Ks.  Fujinuma throws the change and he swings over it for the 1st out.

Fujinuma trying to catch up, hangs his 4th K when Irabu fails to check his swing and the 1st base ump rings him up.

Ken with a weak grounder to short, Soeda charges, makes throw and the side is retired.

Top 4th
More and more K's for Yamashiro.  Tanaka fails to even swing at the fastball down the middle.  And Nakamura goes down for the 2nd time on a two-seamer down the zone.  7 Ks already.

Bottom 4th
Ah, Fujinuma issues his first walk as he want's little to do with Nishihira.

Asato though follows it up with a singles through right side!  Nishihira takes 3rd on the play and Okishou is threatening!

Kubo up as Haisai Oji-san plays and the whistles fill the stadium.

Grounder to 2nd!  Satou to 2nd for one, throw to 1st... No!

Soeda can't seem to get the ball out of his glove and he can't turn the double play! Nishihira scores and Okishou takes the 2-1 lead!

Higa-kantoku sends Kubo to 2nd, but Yokoo makes a strong throw and he's out by a good margin.  3 outs, but Okishou takes their first lead!

Top 5th
Yet another K for Yamashiro.  He paints the outside corner with the fastball to gets Akaki for the 2nd time.

Satou takes a half-hearted swing, and grounds to 2nd.

Yokoo with a liner that hits Yamashiro!  He locates and throws to 1st for the out, and he looks ok.  But Sakushin is not ok as outside of that HR, the offense has done nothing.

Bottom 5th
Pitching change for Sakushin Gakuin! #11 Takahashi comes in for Fujinuma and goes to left, and Asayama comes in from LF to take the hill.

Not a great start as he walks Kouta to start the inning.  Higa-kantoku tries the hit-and-run, but Sunagawa fouls it off.  Sunagawa works the count full, and it's another hit-and-run! He fouls it off again.

And again!  But this time the ball is low and Sunagawa gets a walk!

Yamashiro lays down the bunt, but Yokoo up with the ball quickly and fires to 3rd!  He guns down Kouta for the 1st out!

Irabu tries it again, but Asayama charges in and fires to 3rd again!  They get the lead runner again and Okinawa Shougaku is an out away from spoiling a great opportunity!

Top of the order for Okishou and Ken.

He flies out to right and Okishou is left with nothing as we hit the break!  Momentum had been with Okishou and ace Yamashiro, but that has to give Sakushin Gakuin confidence as we hit the break.

Top 6th
Takahashi anticipates the fastball away, and yet still can't make contact as he becomes another K victim.

Soeda with a base hit to center!  That's just their 2nd hit of the game!

Kobari-kantoku calling for the bunt, but Yoshizawa can't lay it down!  2 strikes now, and it's a bust-and-run!  But really it's a bunt as he grounds weakly to 3rd.

Yamashiro having a harder time of things with a runner on, falls behind Asayama 3-1 before getting a pitch over to fill the count.

SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Asayama had walked away and squats down at the delayed strike 3!  He can't believe it as he goes down looking to retire the side!  That looked outside.

Bottom 6th
Nakamura leads off the Okishou 2nd half with a single to left center.  And then Kobari-kantoku has him moving to 2nd! Throw from Yokoo... in time, but Nakamura's slide dislodges the ball!

Nishihira with a liner to right allows him to move another 90 feet.

Asato grounder to short! Soeda going home! Nakamura slides in and he beats the tag!  Gamble doesn't pay off and Okishou leads 3-1!

A K and a great throw from Yokoo to nail Asato trying to steal 2nd and the inning is over.  But the game may slowly be getting away from them.

Top 7th
Oh, this isn't the time to look lost at the plate.  Yamashiro not only strikes out the side, the 4-5-6 batters are 0-9 with 8 Ks!!

Bottom 7th
Asayama back on track against the lower half of the lineup, retires them in order tacking on 2 Ks while he's at it.

Top 8th
Yamashiro may be conserving himself, going for contact outs versus K's.  He gets 2 quick groundouts, but Takahashi proves to be more stubborn, eventually getting jammed but blooping one to right.

Yamashiro moves to 1st, and pick off Takahashi to end the inning!

Bottom 8th
Irabu finally checks in with a single to center.  Ken appears to be bunting, but never does drawing a walk.

It's at this time that Yokoo fires a pitch back to 2nd and Irabu is way out of position and is picked off.

So with 2nd open, Ken decides to take it back, and gets no throw from Yokoo as he loses his grip on the ball.

And then Asayama walks Nakamura to put everything back where it was before the pickoff. Kobari-kantoku calls for time.

Asayama does himself no favors as his pickoff throw to 2nd is high and into center, allowing the runners to advance.

But he clamps down and gets Nishihira looking for the 2nd out in much the same way he was rung up.

Asato pops up to 2nd to end the inning, but Sakushin is down to their final 3 outs.

Top 9th
Soeda chopper to left side, Sunagawa charges, makes pick off bounce, and his throw to 1st is in time for the 1st out!

#18 Oohashi to hit for Nagasawa, but since we know he's up there to hit, Yamashiro tuns the aggressiveness back on him striking him out on the 2-seamer away.

Last chance in Asayama.

Grounder up middle, Satou runs it down. Throw to 1st... OUT!  Asayama lets out his frustration as Okinawa Shougaku defeats Sakushin Gakuin 3-1!

Yamashiro with a dominant performance to start day 7, dispatching the Tochigi champs with little difficulty.  The offenses were not great, and so something like this was to be expected, but Yamashiro outside of that HR to Asayama put them in a complete blackout.

And so it's yet another Kanto school that is eliminated.  As for Okinawa Shougaku, it's a good start, but as we figured, the offense will constantly be under siege to support their ace.

Well, it's all over in Okinawa, and Okinawa Shougaku successfully defends their title!  Their closest game was their very first in a 1-0 win over Okinawa Suisan, then ran the table 36-3 to win the title.

The game versus Itoman was a bit close early, but they finally broke through late with 6 runs in the final 3 innings to claim the title.  This is their 2nd consecutive and 7th natsu title!

One down, 48 to go!

Toyokawa has not been intimidated all senbatsu so far.  A gutsy opening game versus Nihon Bunri, and then easily handling Ikeda (and the history behind it).

Tanaka Sora is the lynchpin in this team.  His dominance on the mound is what has helped this team reach the quarterfinals in their first ever appearance.  The only question will be - now that the schedule has changed to play 3 games in 3 days, can he hold out until the end?

Okinawa Shougaku's last win of 8-1 is a bit deceiving as the game was tied at 1-1 before they pulled away in the 2nd half.  The offense can take advantage of weak pitching perhaps, but may not get that benefit here.  In that, fist half of the game though, they had just 3 hits - and all in the 1st inning.

I'm not sure they were expecting Toyokawa when the brackets first came out, but I wonder if perhaps they would have rather taken that revenge matchup versus Nihon Bunri instead...

Toyokawa (Aichi)
3B Nakamura Kazuya
CF Sugiura Kenta
C Himi Taisuke
SS Takakuwa Heishirou
1B Itou Tappei
RF Takeichi Keishi
LF Yamada Daichi
P Tanaka Sora
2B Shima Kairi

Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa)
CF Akamine Ken
2B Kubo Shuuto
LF Nishihira Daiki
3B Asato Takeru
1B Uehara Kouta
SS Sunagawa Osamu
C Irabu Shouta
P Yamashiro Daichi
2B Nakamura Masaki (#13)

____________________________________________________________

10:48 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Kazuya pops a ball down the left field line, fair!  He's on with the leadoff hit.  Sugiura bunts him along.

AH!  A pitch low gets away from Irabu and Kazuya advances to 3rd!

Himi with the looper falls into center and Toyokawa quickly strikes! 1-0!

Takakuwa with a ball down the right field line, and that's fair!  Himi goes to 3rd, and Takakuwa takes 2nd as Kubo gets the ball in!  Yamashiro in big trouble early!

Itou liner opposite way, over a leaping Asato!!  Himi scores from 3rd, Nishihira has trouble fielding it and Takakuwa comes home!!  Throw is cut off and Toyokawa leads 3-0 now!!

Higa-kantoku quickly calls time.

Takeichi just out in front of the slider and pops it up for the 2nd out.

Yamashiro finally gets out of the inning with Yamada's groundout to short, but Okinawa Shougaku have dug themselves a hole early!

Bottom 1st
Well, that's new.  Tanaka doesn't seem to getting some of those borderline calls and he walks Akamine to start the game. It continues with Kubo, though he lays down the bunt.

Nishihira hits a comebacker to Tanaka who catches Akamine off 2nd, but in trying to run him down Nishihira goes to 2nd... so it's a wash with a lot of effort expended (unless Nishihira is slower than Akamine).

Doesn't matter though as Asato just dribbles a ball back to Tanaka for the 3rd out.

Top 2nd
The bottom of Toyokawa's lineup seems to provide Yamashiro no trouble as he gets Tanaka to groundout to 1st and Shima to chase the slider.

It's the top of the lineup that gives him fits.

Kazuya painting the lines apparently as he grounds a ball past a diving Uehara down the 1st base line for a double!

Then he hits Sugiura (it was a full count) to put runners on for Himi who already has a timely hit.  Can he add one more?

YES!!  He singles to right!  Kazuya rounding 3rd, throw coming in for Kubo up the 3rd base line, and it gets away from Irabu!  He scrambles to get it and Sugiura is waved home!  Irabu looks home, but no one's home!  Sugiura comes in uncontested and it's 5-0!

Takakuwa grounds to 3rd, and after Asato makes a great grab (the ball looked like it wanted to spin a different direction), the side is retired.

But for the Meiji Jingu champs, this looks real bad.

Bottom 2nd
Uehara singles to center to leadoff the inning, and it looks like Higa will play a run at a time as Sunagawa bunts him over.

But Irabu grounds back to Tanaka, and Yamashiro chases the slider for the final 2 outs, stranding him at 2nd.

Top 3rd
In an attempt to shake things up, Higa-kantoku sends Kubo in to take the hill. Yamashiro goes to replace him in RF.

Man the umpire today has a narrow strike zone.  I swear that 1-2 pitch to Itou was on the corner.  And if it was, it cost him as Itou hits a ball to the left side.  Sunagawa gets to the gap, but boots the ball away!  Base hit for Toyokawa!  Takeichi bunts him along to 2nd.

Oh dear.

Yamada takes one the other way into the right center field gap!  Itou can stroll home and it's 6-0 Toyokawa!

Kubo gets the last 2 batters out, Toyokawa is putting the foot down on Okishou's throats right now...

Bottom 3rd
Tanaka is having some control issues, but nothing serious to be worried about yet.  He strikes out 2 more batters en route to his first 1-2-3 inning.

Top 4th
Kubo perhaps settling down in relief as he gets Kazuya and Sugiura on grounders.

I say that and then Himi goes off and doubles into left center.

Takakuwa with a drive to left center!!  Akamine going back to his right...  still going...

Makes the catch near the wall for the 3rd out!  They finally get a donut on the board, but it still took a bit of work.

Bottom 4th
Nishihira with a ball off the end of the bat going like a bunt up the 3rd base side.  Nakamura charging in, his throw is late and one hops Itou and up in the air!  Shima backs up the play though.

Asato not bunting here as perhaps they're a bit too far behind now with the game almost half over.

But he hits a grounder to 3rd!  Nakamura smothers it, looks to 2nd then fires to 1st, just beating out Asato.

Uehara takes one the other way!  Takakuwa can't get to it and it goes to left! There's no throw home on the play and Okishou is on the board thanks to Uehara! 6-1.

Sunagawa his one back to Tanaka!  Goes to 2nd for one, AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Both Takakuwa and Shima are there at 2nd, but neither one get the ball!!  It goes to center as everyone is safe!  E6 and that gets Imai-kantoku to call time.

Irabu chopper up middle!  Takakuwa shovels it to Shima, who goes to 1st for the inning-ending double play!

The error by the middle infielders don't cost them any more runs, but Okinawa Shougaku is on the board, and in some ways that's just as important.

Top 5th
Kubo outside of the 3rd has done outstanding in relief.  Toyokawa's batters are still making contact, but nothing like what they were against Yamashiro.

Bottom 5th
After that shaky bit, Tanaka gets to feast against the bottom of Okishou's lineup.  And much like the 3rd he racks up 2 more K's in a 1-2-3 inning.

Tanaka has looked a bit more hittable against the middle parts of the lineup, but has only given up the 1 run.  Okishou can at least be comforted that Kubo is doing a great job in emergency relief.

Top 6th
There's a breakthrough in the 8-9 batters as Shima gets a one-out single to left center.

But Kubo again doing some fine work.  Kazuya chases the high curve and grounds into the 4-6-3 double play.

Bottom 6th
Tanaka gets two consecutive groundouts from Kubo and Nishihira, before serving one over that Asato takes back up the middle for a basehit.

Uehara hits a ball into left center, Sugiura racing to his right... makes the running catch to end the inning!

Top 7th
Kubo walking Sugiura on 4 straight gets a timeout from Higa-kantoku.

And Himi, who's 3-3 on the day, lays down the bunt!  It's successful, but he's also 3-3 today!

Kubo gets one of the 2 outs he needs when Takakuwa plays golf and pops out to short.

Ama-chan plays with the ouen dan in full voice.

Sanshin!  Itou chases the slider inside for the 3rd out.

Bottom 7th
2 quick outs for Tanaka, and Yamashiro's day is officially done.  #10 Kinjyou comes to hit for him and gets hit himself.

But Nakamura grounds to short and Okishou fails to gain any more traction.

Top 8th
Kinjyou stays in to play RF.

Toyokawa's bats have fallen to a murmur against Kubo.  Once again he records a clean inning to at least given them a chance at a comeback.

Bottom 8th
Akamine with a rip over a leaping Nakamura down the left field line!  He's in with a leadoff triple!

Imai-kantoku calls time as a graphic has him at 101 pitches.

Kubo swings on the first pitch and hits a chopper to 3rd.  Akamine holds as the out is recorded at 1st.

Tanaka leaves one over the plate and Nishihira drives that over Yamada's head and to the wall!  Akamine scores on the double to make it 6-2.  It's a start, but there's a ways to go.

SANSHIN!!  Tanaka goes with the slider outside instead of the shuuto and Asato misses for the 2nd out!

Uehara trying to continue the inning, falls behind 1-2.  Tanaka runs off the mound on what he thinks is strike 3, but the ump perhaps squeezes him.

But Uehara hits a soft grounder to 2nd.  Shima makes the out at 1st and Okishou is limited to just the 1!

Top 9th
Shima, after a slow start, hits a seeing eye single through the right side!

Kazuya with the buster hit, hits one to the left side.  Asato has no play as he was crashing in, and by the time Sunagawa gets to it, he has no play!

Sugiura instead shows the bunt late and moves the runners along for Himi.  It's another chance situation for him.  Can he deliver a 3rd time?  Will Okishou even let him?

Kubo pitching him outside.  Might just put him on.

But no, they catch the outside edge for strike 2.

SANSHIN!!!!!!

They go with the change and Himi bites!  He's finally retired!

Takakuwa with a ball to center, but Akamine is there to make the catch for the 3rd out.  Kubo's done his part giving up just 1 run over 7 innings of work.

Bottom 9th
Now, can the offense dig deep and find something?

Sunagawa scorcher to the left side, Nakamura with the diving stop.  Quick throw to 1st... Short hops Itou and he can't secure it!  Leadoff batter on for Okishou.

#4 Fuchigami in to hit for Irabu...

Fouls off a couple and the count is at 2-2.

Grounder up middle!  Takakuwa to 2nd for 1, Shima to 1st... double play!  Okishou down to their final out!

Kinjyou the last chance...

Kinjyou low shot right to Shima, has to play the in between hop and it goes off his glove into right!  There's still some life for Okishou.

And now Nakamura gets his first hit at the right time, with a ball back up the middle for a base hit.  The dream continues.

But it does come to an end.  Akamine grounds to 2nd.  Shima gathers it and goes to 1st to end the game!  First timers Toyokawa moves on to the Best 4 with a 6-2 win!

Toyokawa never gave Okinawa Shougaku a chance to be in this game.  The opened the scoring early, expanded the lead, and in some ways crushed Okishout's spirit.  Kubo kept them in the game, but the offense could never get themselves right after that start.

And once again Okinawa Shougaku falls short, despite their successful fall campaign.  They'll have to right the ship once again for the summer campaign.

Toyokawa meanwhile is the team no one wants to face.  Riseisha will get the honors tomorrow.

But there are some cracks.  The 3-4-5 batters for Okishou were 5-12, and while that's not enough to create offense per se, it is an indicator that perhaps he's a bit more vulnerable than we thought.  And remember that they'll have no rest going forward, so how will his arm hold up?

Still, they're a scary team.

Notable Players
Tanaka Sora (Toyokawa) - CG, ER, 8 H, 6 K, BB
Himi Taisuke (Toyokawa) - 3-4, 2B, R, RBI
Nakamura Kazuya (Toyokawa) - 3-5, 2B, 2R
Itou Tappei (Toyokawa) - 2-4
Yamashiro Daichi (Okinawa Shougaku) - 2 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, K, 0 BB, HBP
Kubo Shuuto (Okinawa Shougaku) - 7 IP, ER, 6 H, 5 K, BB
Nishihira Daiki (Okinawa Shougaku) - 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
Uehara Kouta (Okinawa Shougaku) - 2-4

Game 2 will be a bit hard to judge.  Okinawa Shougaku only got by Houtoku Gakuen 1-0, but in reality they were never challenged all game.  So when they did get their first run they could just cruise to the victory.  However, it will be very difficult to implement that strategy as they progress.  The offensive problems have appeared here early, and now is a full red flag to their championship prospects.

Much like Riseisha, Hakuoudai Ashikaga had a game that could only highlight negatives on their team.  They did defeat Touryou as expected 9-1, and every starter got a base hit, though certainly it was the top half that did the most damage.  So since they did what they supposed to, you can't really use it for any judgements going forward.

But if pressed, I think Okinawa Shougaku has more to prove in this game.

Hakuoudai Ashikaga (Tochigi)
CF Shuutou Takahito
2B Nakajima Kenjyu
LF Ooshita Seiichirou
1B Naoi Shuuta
3B Onodera Yuuya
C Ogawa Masaki
SS Shimokado Hikaru
P Higa Araki
RF Oogawa Yoshihiro

Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa)
CF Akamine Ken
2B Kubo Shuuto
LF Nishihira Daiki
3B Asato Takeru
1B Uehara Kouta
SS Sunagawa Osamu
C Irabu Shouta
P Yamashiro Daichi
2B Nakamura Masaki (#13)

____________________________________________________________

11:20 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Shuutou lining a fastball back up the middle, Yamashiro thankfully doesn't successfully block it with his leg.  Nakajima bunts him along.

Yamashiro though hitting his spots early, putting Ooshita behind 0-2.  But he gets a hold of a slider and send it back up the middle!  Nakamura can't get to it and it goes into center!  Shuutou getting the wave around, and Akamine's throw home isn't in time! Hakuou leads 1-0!

Trying to limit the damage, he doesn't miss with the slider and Naoi swings and misses for the 2nd out.  Onodera follows right after with a popout to Asato.  But some solid hits back up the middle might be trouble for Yamashiro.

Bottom 1st
Akamine with a quick swing hits a liner to left, but Ooshita has time to move to his right and make the catch.

However, Higa leaves a slider over the plate and Kubo singles to center.  Then they get careful with Nishihira as he falls behind 3-0 before getting a borderline strike.  Nishihiro though singles past a diving Shimokado for a base hit.  Okishou threatening to tie the game.

Asato first pitching swinging lines out to right, leaving it up to Uehara to keep the inning goin.

Uehara does it!  Higa leaves one over the plate and he shoots it to right!  Kubo comes in to score and we're all tied at 1-1!

Sunagawa up and Higa still not finding the plate, falling behind 2-0, and 3-0! (That last pitch looked good) before he fires down the pipe for a strike.

He may be squeezed a little by the home plate ump as he doesn't get the call on a ball right near the corner.  Manrui for Okishou as Fujita-kantoku calls time.

Irabu stepping in looking to get ahead early here in the 1st.  But he chops one to 2nd.  Nakajima goes to 1st and Hakuou gets out of the jam, but not before losing the lead.

Top 2nd
Ogawa jammed, but flares one the other way to right for a leadoff hit.  Shimokado tries the bust-and-run, then the bunt, but neither work.  He swings away and just beats grounding into the 1-6-3 double play despite diving into 1st.

Fujita-kantoku will go for the one-shot timely as Higa bunts him over into scoring position.

Oogawa hits a high chopper, but not high enough as Sunagawa fires to 1st for the 3rd out.

Bottom 2nd
Ogawa directing a lot of traffic behind home plate moving fielders around.

After a quick foulout by Yamashiro, Higa falls behind Nakamura before filling up the count.  Nakamura hits a ball to the right side, Naoi makes the stop and Higa just beats Nakamura to the bag for the out.

It's a 1-2-3 inning for Higa as Shimokado makes a great catch and quick throw to beat a speedy Akamine for the 3rd out.

Top 3rd
2 quick outs for Yamashiro as Shuutou pops out to 2nd, while Nakajima had to defend down 0-2 and popped out to Asato dear the Hakuou dugout.

Ooshita with a sharp hit to the left side, Sunagawa makes the great stop! Throw to 1st in plenty of time to retire the side.

Bottom 3rd
Okishou's batters are struggling to get level swings on the ball.  Both Kubo and Nishihira hit high flies to the outfield.  Asato finally puts a ball on the ground, but it was on a ball at his shoulders.  It's a grounder to 2nd and another clean frame from the Hakuou ace.

Top 4th
Naoi leads off the inning, taking a fastball inside the other way for a base hit.  Onodera though pops his bunt up and Uehara makes the catch for the out.

They try the hit-and-run with Ogawa, but he fouls it off.    He hits a hard liner, but Nakamura makes the leaping catch for the 2nd out.

Shimokado hits a cue shot to the left side, Sunagawa comes in, but whiffs on the ball!  It stops where he made contact, but by the time someone gets to it, everyone's safe.

No harm though as Higa hits a ball right to Uehara.  He steps on the bag and the side is retired.

Bottom 4th
More fly balls from Okishou.  Uehara with one to left, Ooshita this time has to go back quite a ways to make the catch.

Just to make things interesting, on Sunagawa's flyout to left center, Shuutou gives Ooshita a shove after he makes the catch (actually no one failed to call for the ball, though Shuutou did hold up).

And whatever isn't popped up is pounded into the ground.  Irabu swings on a slider very low and bounces it to 3rd.

Top 5th
Oogawa with a chopper back up the middle, Nakamura goes to field it, but pulls up after Sunagawa's momentum puts him on a collision course!  The ball goes into center for a base hit!  Higa-kantoku calls time.

Shuutou almost pops out on his bunt attempt, but Uehara can't quite get there.  He tries again on a pitch way outsde, makes contact but foul.  He's forced to swing it seems, and lines out to Akamine.

Yamashiro has settled down after the 1st, and certainly not leaving pitch over like earlier. Nakajima chases a slider way low for the 2nd out.

And Ooshita with a ball right to Nakamura for the 3rd out.

Bottom 5th
Yamashiro hits a home run - if we were playing in a silo.  Oogawa comes in to shallow right center to make the catch.

Nakamura becomes Higa's 9th flyout lifting a ball to center.  Akamine becomes #10 after he takes a half swing and pops out to 3rd.

And so after the teams traded runs in the 1st, they've entered a lull period where neither team really can create an opportunity against another team.  Sometimes the break can shake the cobwebs out - let's see if that's the case.

Top 6th
Oddly for Hakuou, they've had the leadoff runner get on in every inning except the 3rd.

Oh, and now the 6th as Naoi chases the fastball in the dirt for the out.

Onodera does get on base with a single to center, but Hakuou can't make anything of it as Ogawa first pitch flies to right, and Shimokado behind 0-2 hits a weak ball back to Yamashiro for the 3rd out.

Bottom 6th
There is a lot of bad contact going on.  Kubo hits a slow comebacker right to Higa.

I say that and Nishihira lines a fastball back through the middle for a base hit.

Asato follows that up with a ball through the right side and now runners at the corners for Okishou!  Fujita-kantoku calls for time.

Uehara does his job!  Flyball to right!  Oogawa catches it, but Nishihira comes in to score without a throw and Okishou leads 2-1!

Higa finally gets his routine fly to end the inning, but back-to-back hits are rewarded by Uehara as they break the deadlock!

Top 7th
Higa with a grounder to 2nd, Nakamura finds that Uehara was trying for the ball as well, so he has to wait to make the long throw to Yamashiro, who makes it there in time for the out.

Oogawa digs down and lines a ball past Sunagawa into center for a base hit, and more importantly flipping the lineup.

But Shuutou hits it right to Sunagawa!  Goes to 2nd for 1, and despite the dive from Shuutou he gets in safely to prevent the double play.

Shuutou takes off for 2nd, Irabu with the throw, but Shuutou slides in safely!  Douten runner in scoring position!

For about 20 seconds.

Nakajima hits a ball back to Yamashiro, who tosses to 1st for the 3rd out.  Hakuou running out of time here to mount a rally, and they just haven't been able to make solid contact on the ball.

Bottom 7th
Irabu collects his first base hit with a liner over a leaping Onodera into left.  That's it for Higa as Ooshita comes in from LF to pitch.  #13 Asahina comes in Higa's spot and goes to LF.

Yamashiro bunts the runner along hoping Nakamura can help his cause.

Liner right to Onodera for the 2nd out!  Irabu scrambles back to 2nd.

Ooshita not really a special pitcher, just serviceable it seems.  Popup to shallow right center. Shuutou and Oogawa comes in...  they collide and the ball falls in!  I can't tell who goes to field the ball, but both Irabu and Akamine comes in to score on the play!  Kubo's double gives them a 4-1 lead, but attention goes back to the outfield as Oogawa is writing in pain.  The umpire is there first followed by Fujita-kantoku and the doctors.

And then the stretcher...

At first I thought it was a shoulder, but from the replay it looks like perhaps he got a knee to his side.  He's taken off on the stretcher and attended to.

After about a 10 minute delay, he comes back out again and will stay in the game!

With that settled for the better, they now have to turn to the fact that they're behind 3 runs with only 2 inning on offense left!

And natch, the ball finds him too.  Nishihira drives a ball to right center and while Oogawa goes back to chase it, it doesn't look like full speed.  5-1 now for Okishou.

Things may be devolving for Hakuoudai as Ooshita walks Asato...

Uehara with a drive to right!  Oogawa going back...  makes the catch.

Whew...

The side is retired, but Okinawa Shougaku takes a commanding 5-1 lead.

Top 8th
Ooshita is hit to start the inning, but he wiped off the basepaths as Naoi hits into a 3-6-1 double play.

Onodera nubs one in front of home and Irabu throws him out to end the inning.

Bottom 8th
Sunagawa hits a chopper back up the middle for a base hit, Irabu pops out trying to bunt him along.  Higa-kantoku has Yamashiro bunt them along instead.

Nakamura with one back up the middle!  Nakajima tries to fire to 1st, but Nakamura is just too fast! All safe, and Fuijita-kantoku calls time again.

Now a ball in the dirt allows Nakamura to take 2nd. A base hit really puts the nail in the coffin.

There it is.  Akamine with a ball down the 1st base line past Naoi down the right field line.  He books it all the way to 3rd beating the throw, and it's 7-1 Okishou.

That's it for Ooshita on the mound.  #10 Hasegawa comes in for Oogawa and takes the hill.  Ooshita goes back to LF and Asahina to RF.

Kubo drives in one more before Hasegawa retires the side.  8-1 as we head to the 9th.

Top 9th
2 down for Hakuoudai and Asahina singles through the left side and steals 2nd.  But that's the last gasp for them as PH #12 Seshita grounds to short to end the game.

It was a close game early, but almost on cue Okinawa Shougaku pulled away after the mid-game break.  ace Higa broke down, and Ooshita wasn't much help in relief.  Yamashiro kept the Hakuoudai offense in check for the entire game, allowing just the one run in the 1st.  They'll be the ones to face Toyokawa next, and unless they can find a way to break down ace Tanaka Sora, it could be a long game for the Meiji Jingu champs...

Notable Players
Yamashiro Daichi (Okinawa Shougaku) - CG, ER, 8 H, 4 K, 0 BB, HBP
Kubo Shuuto (Okinawa Shougaku) - 3-5, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
Nishihira Daiki (Okinawa Shougaku) - 3-5, 3B, 2 R, RBI
Higa Araki (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) - 6+ IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 0 K, 1 BB
Ogawa Masaki (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) - 2-4
Oogawa Yoshihiro (Hakuoudai Ashikaga) 1-3

I'm not really over the Nihon Bunri loss, but that doesn't matter as Koushien moves on to day 3.  After 4 rather one-sided games, we were treated to 2 walkoffs - though the Kainan story is more sad than exciting.

Anyways, our opening game will be very loud and certainly packed, because the neighborhood team of Houtoku Gakuen will face the rowdy Okinawans and Okinawa Shougaku.

Okinawa Shougaku despite all their successes have disappointed to some extent here at Koushien.  This may the last year they will be able to make a run like this for a while, so for ace Yamashiro he will need to be on his game as the bottom of the lineup might struggle.  Should they make a deep run, his conditioning will be put more into question, but right now it's not a problem.

Houtoku Gakuen's pitching is a bit more suspect than Okinawa Shougaku, and as we've seen pitching has carried the day more than hitting - so ace Nakamura and reliever Tanaka will have to prove they have the goods to carry the day.  Otherwise the hometown fans will be leaving disappointed.


Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa)
CF Akamine Ken
2B Kubo Shuuto
LF Nishihira Daiki
3B Asato Takeru
1B Uehara Kouta
SS Sunagawa Osamu
C Irabu Shouta
P Yamashiro Daichi
2B Nakamura Masaki (#13)

Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo)
LF Higa Shouta
CF Oohata Kouhei
3B Ishigaki Shouji
C Kishida Yukinori
1B Fukuyama Takumi
SS Tsuchitani Yuusuke
RF Fukuhara Yuudai
2B Mishina Hayato
P Nakamura Makoto

____________________________________________________________

09:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Well, Makoto seems to throw fairly fast with a fastball in the upper 130s, low 140s.

The first couple of batters have a bit of trouble keeping up as both Ken and Kubo groundout to Mishina.  Nishira does the same, but this time sneaks it past Mishina for a base hit.

But it's all at Mishina as Asato hits yet another grounder to 2nd for the 3rd out.

Bottom 1st
Well that's not a great start for Yamashiro.  He walks Higa on 4 straight pitches that weren't particularly close.  He's bunted over by Kubo.

And Ishigaki gets under a forkball and lifts it to shallow center for a base hit!  Higa holds up at 3rd, but Houtoku already threatening!

Yamashiro struggling with his control, but a pitch unintentionally up and in Kishida swings at and pops up!  Kouta makes the catch near the Houtoku dugout for the 2nd out!

And Yamashiro gets out of the jam!  Fukuyama pops to shallow right!  Nakamura backs up and makes the catch to retire the side!!

Top 2nd
Kouta way in front of a changeup but pulls it past Mishina (again!) for a leadoff hit!

Bust-and-run!  But they call for a pitch up and Sunagawa can't make contact!  Kishida fires to 2nd and Kouta is out by miles.

Sunagawa makes up for it (sort of) by drawing a walk.

Makoto continues to nibble though.  After getting ahead 0-2, he nibbles everywhere and the count runs full.  He goes up and in, getting Irabu to swing and pop it up!

But the umpire calls catcher interference reaching in for the ball and Irabu is awarded 1st! Higa-kantoku with the gift will play for the one-timer as Yamashiro bunts the runner along.

And Masaki comes through for Okishou!  He lines a ball through the infield to left and Sunagawa scores to give Okishou the 1-0 lead!

Even Okinawa's ouen-dan plays Ama-chan!

Ken though sheepishly swings on a pitch outside to end the inning, but catcher's interference leads to a run for the Meiji Jingu champs!

Bottom 2nd
Tsuchitani with a solid hit, but right at Sunagawa for the first out.

Fukuhara shows to be stubborn at the plate, fouling off several pitches, but Yamashiro wins the battle with a fastball on the outside corner that freezes Fukuhara.

Mishina gives Houtoku a runner with a base hit back up the middle past a diving Masaki.

But Nakamura seemingly forgets the count, or just freezes as Yamashiro hits the outside half of the plate for the 3rd out.

Top 3rd
Despite the timely hits, Okishou for the most part isn't making good contact.  Kubo is way head of a pitch, and chops it over the mound.  Tsuchitani makes the play for the first out.  Nishihira has a swinging bunt up the 3rd base line.  Makoto takes it in front of Ishigaki and makes the throw to just beat out Nishihira.

Makoto finishes the inning striking out Asato on a slider.

Bottom 3rd
After 2 quick flyouts, Ishigaki gets his 2nd hit off Yamashiro as he somehow gets around a changeup way inside and golfs it to shallow center for a base hit!

But he can't advance any further as Kishida hits a chopper back to Yamashiro, who goes to 1st for the 3rd out!

Top 4th
Makoto exhibits decent control, though the fastball can go awry from time to time.  Such was the case against Sunagawa where he fell behind Sunagawa early in the AB and wound up walking him.  Sunagawa takes advantage of that quickly when he swipes 2nd on the very first pitch!

I don't think Kishida is doing any favors behind the plate as he sometimes makes the pitches look bad with the framing.  Makoto once again falls behind and walks his counterpart Yamashiro prompting a timeout from Nagata-kantoku.

Masaki with a base hit past Ishigaki!  They're waving Sunagawa home as Higa's throw is cut off!  But Ishigaki goes back home... and they get him!!

That's a very odd relay that didn't seem necessary, but it works and Houtoku keeps the deficit at 1!

Bottom 4th
Fukuyama trying to get on base, tries to sell ball 4, but the umpire isn't buying it and punches him out on the fastball at the knees.

After that, Tsuchitani flies out easily to center, and Fukuhara's drives a ball to left center - but his bid for a base hit is run down by Nishihira to retire the side.

Top 5th
Ken starts off the inning with a liner opposite way for a base hit.

Kubo's attempts to bunt him over fail, leaving him behind 0-2.  He gives it one more go, but strikes out when it rolls foul.

Makoto leaves one over the plate and Nishihira lines it to center!  Oohata charging in on the dying liner, dives... and makes the catch!  2 out!

But Asato singles to right!  Ken advances to 3rd on the single and Okishou is threatening again!

Nagata-kantoku has seen enough.  He calls off Makoto off the mound, and sends in Kishida to take the other half of the battery.  #12 Kawabata takes over at C and in Makoto's spot.

He doesn't throw particularly hard, but that change he has has some movement on it.

And another changeup gets Kouta completely fooled and they get out of the jam!

Bottom 5th
Meanwhile though Houtoku's offense is really struggling.  Mishina can't quite get the sweet spot on the ball and he flies out to right.

Kawabata does about as well as Makoto did at the dish, swinging at pitches as though he's guessing.

Higa lurches forward to get a forkball, but hits a liner to Masaki for the 3rd out.

And so we reach the break with the difference in the ballgame being a timely hit from 2nd year Masaki after a catcher's interference extended the inning.  Even withstanding that, it's clear that Okinawa Shougaku has created more opportunities for themselves.

Top 6th
While perhaps not necessary, #9 Kubo for Okishou tosses a couple of pitches off the bullpen.

Well, I missed something as Kishida's fastball actually sits in the upper 130s.  But it's his offspeed pitches that have the Okishou batters flailing as Sunagawa whiffs on a curve (which is actually in the upper 110s).

Irabu with a grounder to 3rd, but Ishigaki airmails the ball into the camera well, putting Irabu at 2nd with 1 down instead of there being 2 outs.

Kishida then pulls out the slow curve on Yanashiro who flies out to center for the 2nd out.

But then he gets careful with Masaki as he's 2-2 on the day.  This time though it's the pitcher that wins the battle as Kishida puts out the changeup outside that Masaki can't reach.

Bottom 6th
Oohata with a comebacker! Yamashiro slows it down with the glove as Masaki fields it and goes to 1st to beat a diving Oohata!

Ishigaki though continues to be the bright spot for Houtoku as he gets around on a fastball inside and turns it to right for a base hit.

Kishida with a drive down the right field line!! Kubo sprinting towards the foul pole... Makes the running catch in front of the wall!  That was a solid drive, but Kubo robs him of a base hit!

Once again, Ishigaki is left stranded.  Fukuyama tries to wait for the change, but grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.

Top 7th
Kishida is doing his best to keep Houtoku in it, as he retires the side in order, with an assist by Mishina on a great stop on Kubo's hot grounder, and capped off by Nishihira flailing on a changeup for Kishida's 4th K!

Bottom 7th
Problem is, Houtoku's batters are hitting everything up and not out.  Tsuchitani fouls out to Irabu near home plate, Fukuhara pops up to Sunagawa, and the one ball not popped out Mishina grounds back to Yamashiro.

It's not looking good for Houtoku Gakuen at all.

Top 8th
Kishida as mentioned before has the fastball in the upper 130s, a slider in the low 120s, a changeup in the 110s and the slow curve in the high 90s.

Kishida goes to the change after a couple of curveballs which allow Asato to size up the ball and single to center.

Kouta tried to bunt him over, but when that failed, went to the buster hit... and whiffed on the changeup.

Higa-kantoku then calls on Sunagawa to bunt the runner over for a one-timer, and he obliges.

And an odd call by Nagata-kantoku as #11 Ishihama comes in at 2-0 to replace Fukuhara in RF.  Not sure what that was about, but Irabu grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.

Bottom 8th
After new C Kawabata quickly flies out to center, Higa tries to work the count to get on base, but instead is frozen on a 2-seamer that seemingly got back over the plate.

Oohata gets a favorable count at 3-1, but flies out to right to end the inning.  I'm not sure if there is a rally in Houtoku at all.

Top 9th
Fukuyama with a great pick on a short hop from Yamashiro to get the first out.

Misaki works the count full, and gets stopped when he's punched out on a pitch right on the knees (maybe lower).

For the 3rd straight batter, the count runs full on Ken.  Kishida finishes out his relief work as Ken lifts a ball to left for the 3rd out.

Bottom 9th
That is unless Houtoku can score 1 here in the 9th.  But it hasn't looked like they could all game.

Ishigaki the perfect man to lead off the inning, 3-3 on the day.

But he hits one right to Kouta at 1st!  He makes the stop and walks it over for the 1st out!

Kishida can't do any better as he quickly grounds out to Asato.

Last chances as #14 Ida comes in to hit for Fukuyama.

SANSHIN!  Ida can't catch up to a 141 fastball up and in and Okinawa Shougaku makes the 1-run stick!  They advance with a 1-0 victory!

To be honest though, that 1 run might as well have felt like 10 the way Houtoku was not hitting the ball.  There wasn't really a time in the game other than the 1st inning where Yamashiro was under stress.

It won't be as easy for Okinawa Shougaku going forward though, and 1 run isn't going to cut it.  So they'd better shore up their offense before the next game,

Notable Players
Yamashiro Daichi (Okinawa Shougaku) - CG, SHO, 4 H, 6 K, BB
Nakamura Masaki (Okinawa Shougaku) - 2-4, RBI, 2 K
Asato Takeru (Okinawa Shougaku) - 2-4, K
Sunagawa Osamu (Okinawa Shougaku) - 0-1, R, SB, 2 BB
Nakamura Makoto (Houtoku Gakuen) - 4.2 IP, ER, 6 H, 3 K, 3 BB
Kishida Yukinori (Houtoku Gakuen) - 4.1 IP, 0 R, H, 5 K
Ishigaki Shouji (Houtoku Gakuen) - 3-4
Mishina Hayato (Houtoku Gakuen) 1-3

Okinawa Shougaku has shown promise in recent times, but have yet to put the whole package together for that special run that other schools have been able to do.  Last summer they got to the 3rd round but were upset by unknown Seiai.  They managed to win it all in the fall... but the question will be whether or not they can do it again.

Road to Senbatsu
Okinawa Prefecturals

• def. Kounan 2-0
• def. Yokatsu 8-0 (8 inn)
• def. Mawashi 2-0
• def. Ginowan 10-0 (5 inn)
• lost Misato Kougyou 3-0 (10 inn)

Kyushu Super-Regionals

• def. Nichinan Gakuen 3-1
• def. Hasami 9-1 (7 inn)
• def. Chinzei 4-1
• def. Misato Kougyou 4-3

Meiji Jingu Tournament

• def. Kanto Dai-ichi 8-3
• def. Komadai Tomakomai 5-3
• def. Iwakuni 11-1 (5 inn)
• def. Nihon Bunri 9-8

Yamashiro Daichi (山城 大智) takes over as the teams ace, and did a wonderful job throughout the prefecturals not allowing a run until the 10th inning of the finals where Misato Kougyou scored 3.

He would get back to work in the super-regionals, going the distance in each of the first 3 games allowing just a run a piece.  Kantoku Higa Kouya (比嘉 公也) would continue to go with Daichi in the rematch in the finals (again!).  However after giving up 3 runs over 5 innings, Higa would try to go with Kamizato Kounosuke (神里 廣之介).  However, he did not even record an out before Higa went back to his ace.  Daichi would hold down the fort just enough for his team to come back with a pair of runs in the 8th inning for the gyakuten victory.  This despite the fact that they had just 5 hits on the day (they did manage 6 walks from the Misato duo of Nagamine Tsubasa (長嶺 飛翔) and Iha Tomokazu (伊波 友和).

Kamizato would get another chance on the mount, starting the game against Iwakuni, and did manage to go 2 innings in the shortened affair.  But it looked like Higa-kantoku had possibly found another reliever in Kubo Shuuto (久保 柊人) to spell Daichi.  He came in in each of the first 2 games, going 6 against Kanto Dai-ichi, and closing the game out in the 9th versus Komadai Tomakomai.

However, the success was marred in the finals where in relief of a struggling Daichi, he would give up 5 runs in just 2 innings, including one of the many HRs that were hit that day.  And thanks to a gassed Iidzuka, Okishou scored 9 runs in the 7th and 8th innings for an unbelievable comeback to take the title and make Souseikan indebted to them (as they would be the beneficiaries of the Meiji Jingu bid that Okishou won).

Looking at the opponents, it would appear that they faced a tough schedule.  Kounan, Mawashi, Ginowan and Misato Kougyou are generally stronger teams in the prefecture. So for all to be blanked (in regulation) may be impressive.  Their schedule actually appeared to get easier in the super-regionals, as the only main opponents were right off the bat in Nichinan Gakuen and then the rematch against Misato Kougyou.

Even at Meiji Jingu their schedule was not necessarily as robust.  Kanto Dai-ichi did win Tokyo, but one could argue that their schedule wasn't as strong.  Komadai Tomakomai will be back at Koushien, but they definitely aren't the same team of almost a decade ago.  Iwakuni's loss wasn't as bad as the score indicated, but they were under pressure the entire game.  And then finally if not for the opposing ace flat-lining they would have been completetly outmatched.

Still, they did (with the exception of one game) what teams need to do in these tournaments - win.

Daichi did pitch at Natsu Koushien (go to 1:15 in the video, he wears #12).  His delivery is rather strange, as he seems to throw three-quarters, but the delivery is abbreviated when there are runners on base and he appears to be low to the ground when delivering.  He hit 137 in the video, but given the changes in velocity, he may be more in line with the low-mid 130s, with perhaps a cutter in the high 120s and a slider in the mid 110s.  The location isn't quite there though, but it would appear if he misses, he misses low and that's a good thing.  The delivery in the fall looks more smooth.

There is less information on his relievers, Kounosuke for the brief time he was on the mound so far as I can tell threw in the mid-upper 130s.  Kubo, who wears #4 and also plays the outfield as well runs in the upper 130s with a supposed slider/curve/change combination.  That's rather impressive from your starting RF.

Offensively, leadoff batter Akamine Ken (赤嶺 謙) sets the table for the Okishou offense, getting on base at a major clip batting 8 for 16 during the Meiji Jingu tournament.  The rest of the Okishou batters ran hot and cold throughout the games.  For instance C Irabu Shouta (伊良部 渉太) went 0-fer in games against Kanto Dai-ichi and Iwakuni, but was 3-5 with 3 walks in his other 2 games.  Of course the 3-4 hitters of Nishihira Daiki (西平 大樹) and Anzato Ken (安里 健) are there for a reason, but they appear to be inconsistent as well at the plate.

Okishou has shown they can get deep into a tournament, but they have yet to show that they can go further at Koushien.  Unless they get a hell draw, I think a quarterfinal appearance can be penciled in, but after that will be up to the mental strength of the team.

Next up, cross island rival and Kyushu runner-up Misato Kougyou!

So we have a champion, and perhaps in doing so endorses one of my theories about the urban super-regionals not perhaps trying as hard...

Day 3
Ryuuokudai Heian's ace Inudzuka couldn't get past the 2nd inning as he failed to record an out giving up 5 runs in the 3rd to Nihon Bunri which included a solo HR by opposing pitcher Iidzuka.  That erased an 2-0 early lead and forced Heian to chase.

That they did though as a sac fly in the 4th, followed by timely doubles from Ootani and Kawai in the 5th tied the game at 5-5!

But already on their 3rd pitcher, Tanaka was asked to go in long relief.  However, in the 7th Kodachi delivered a double to push ahead what would be the eventual winning run to end Kinki's hopes of having a 2nd bid!

The second game between Komadai Tomakomai and Okinawa Shougaku was marred by errors.  So much so that in a game that wound up 5-3, only 1 run was earned!!

In the 1st, a throwing error by 3B Tamaru with 2 outs continued the inning, and it was punished by Okishou with hits from Irabu and Fuchigami for a 3-0 lead.  Fuchigami would feel bad about scoring on the error, so he had one of his own in the top of the 2nd allowing Komadai to take 1 back.

That run would be given back to Okishou as in the 3rd SS Ogasawara would make an error of his own to make it 4-1.  Akamine Ken would get the only RBI of the game as he would get a hit to center extending the lead to 5-1.

More errors would get Komadai within 2 in the 8th, but that would be the closest they would get in the mistake-filled game.

Day 4
Day 4 was anti-climactic for semifinal matches.  Imabari Nishi and Nihon Bunri trade a run in each of the first 2 innings, but then after a run in the 3rd, Nihon Bunri blows up for 4 runs in the 4th.  Errors did not help Imabari's cause either has eventually would be mercy-ruled 10-3 in 7 innings.

It was worse for Iwakuni.  Errors put them behind 2-0 early, as Okinawa Shougaku put up runs in every inning culminating in back-to-back-to-back doubles in a 7-run 4th.  The game would only last 4.5 innings as Okishou mercy-ruled Iwakuni 11-1.

Day 5 - Championship
Nihon Bunri had the opportunity to be the first Hokushinetsu representative to win the Meiji Jingu tournament since Seiryou in 1991.  More importantly, it would mean a bid in all likelihood for Chikyuu Kankyou.

Okinawa Shougaku was looking to give Kyushu their 4th title and 1st since Yanagigaura back in 2004.  Chinzei would be able to breathe a sigh of relief as their main competitor for the final bid in Souseikan would be given the Meiji Jingu bid.

And it was one of those game you just couldn't believe, even if we told you...

Hoshi starts the game off for Nihon Bunri with a leadoff HR to right.  In the 3rd, Kamakura would hit a 2-out solo HR to left, making it 2-0!  Ace Iidzuka would blast his 2nd of the tournament to right in the 4th, extending it to 3-0!

Higa-kantoku tried to stop the bleeding as he sent in Kubo from RF to switch places with ace Yamashiro Daichi, but the power output didn't stop there. In the 5th, back-to-back doubles by Kobayashi and Kamakura were paid off by Yamaguchi's 2-run double of his own.  Even a failed send home of Yamaguchi didn't stop the inning as Iidzuka would his 2nd HR of the game to center making it a 7-0 game!!!

And cleanup batter Ikeda had had enough of everyone else going yard, and blasted one to left in the 6th giving Nihon Bunri a commanding 8-0 lead!!

Facing elimination in the bottom of the 7th, Okinawa Shougaku went to work - and made this already crazy game into a comeback for the ages.

With one down, Iidzuka would plunk Irabu.  Kaneshiro would hit for Fuchigami and hit a double to right.

And that's when ace Yamashiro Daichi (yes, he returned to the mound in the 7th) would keep his team alive with a 3-run HR to left center!  While the next 2 batters would be retired, Okishou was still in the game at 8-3...

Now the 8th inning.  Kubo starts it off with a triple to right.  Nishihira plates him with a single to center... 8-4.

Anzato booms a 2-run HR to left-center... It's now 8-6.  And still Ooi-kantoku doesn't send in someone like Kodachi, or last game's starter Fujita, instead sticking with ace Iidzuka...

Uehara flies out to right for the first out, but Irabu singles to left.  Now with 2 out, Yamashiro Daichi singles to left.

The inning looks to be over after Sunagawa hits one back to Iidzuka, but something goes horribly wrong and he throws it away allowing Irabu to score making it 8-7...

With Ooi-kantoku leaving Iidzuka on the mound even still, it sealed Nihon Bunri's fate.  He would walk Akamine Ken, sending up Kubo for his 2nd AB of the inning.

And he wouldn't miss.  Kubo would hit one to right, scoring both Daichi and Ken to complete the comeback. 9-8.  In a minor way, Okinawa Shougaku did what Nihon Bunri couldn't do in 2009.  (Sorry Nihon Bunri, but while I like you, until you can win a big game final, it will always come back to that game...)

So, with Okinawa Shougaku's victory Chinzei can rest easy.  With the Meiji Jingu bid, Souseikan will be invited and Chinzei can hold onto their last Kyushu bid (or technically vice versa).  Sadly for Chikyuu Kankyou, Nihon Bunri's collapse means that they will be on the sidelines watching senbatsu from home...

Well, we're off in the Meiji Jingu tournament to decide the last bid to go to a region and there have been some surprises.

Day 1
Ryuukokudai Heian (Kinki) did what I though they would against Mie (Tokai).  Starting in the 3rd, Imai and Nakaguchi with back to back hits would drive in a run each to make it a 2-0 game.  That would be followed up by the Takahashi battery (C Yuuhashi & P Keiji) in the 4th for another 2 runs.  And a Mie error in the 5th would give them a 5-0 lead.

But as Mie is wont to do, they scrap their way back after the break.  Nishioka would get them on the board in the 6th with a groundout.  2 innings later, Seko would get a timely RBI, and Nishioka would follow that up with a 2-run double to make it a 1-run ballgame.

However, that would be the closest they would get.  Ootsuka would come in as Heian's 3rd pitcher and shut down Mie to secure the 5-4 win.

Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo) did not start Abe Takeshi in their game against Okinawa Shougaku (Kyushu).  But then again, he's actually wearing #10 apparently!  The ace number belongs to Haketa Akihiro, who did start the game.

And he held the Okishou offense in check as his team jumped on ace Yamashiro. Yamaguchi started things off with a timely single with runners at the corners, and then Ikeda followed that up with a double and it was 2-0 Kanto in the 1st.  Ikeda would deliver again in the 3rd, with another base hit to make it a 3-0 ballgame.  That would be it for Yamashiro as Kubo would come in from right to swap places.

The game stayed at 3-0 until post-break where Okishou finally got to Haketa. With runners at the corners, Akamine Ken delivered a base hit to score 1, and then Kubo himself would hit a double to make it a 1-run ballgame.

Haketa would give way in the 8th still holding onto the lead.  I would have expected them to go Abe, but again I would have been wrong. Instead they went to unknown Tanabe Ren. That didn't go well when Anzato would get a hit to left, tying the game.

It then went all wrong in the 9th as Tanabe would only record one out while giving up 5 runs, ensuring Okishou's advance to the next round.

Day 2
The first game of the 2nd round was a no-contest affair sadly. My supposed favorite, Hachinohe Gakuen Kousei (Tohoku) was never in the game against Imabari Nishi (Shikoku) as their #3 batter Ochi Itsuki would drive in 3 of their 5 runs en route to a 5-1 victory. Of course, it didn't help also that the team committed 4 errors in the game as well...

The second game almost seemed like the first. Hakuoudai Ashikaga (Kanto) quickly took the lead over Iwakuni (Chuugoku) with a sac fly from Ooshita in the first and a timely from Higa in the 2nd.  Kawamoto's double in the 3rd would bring Iwakuni within 1, but a pair in the 5th seemed to make the game a copy of the first.

But much like Kanto Dai-ichi, things went horribly wrong in the 8th inning for Hakuoudai.  Tsuchiya would start it off with a timely hit to center to make it a 4-2 ballgame.  With the bases loaded, Kameya would hit a grounder to short. Kamon would go home, only to throw it away... 2 runs would score and the game was tied at 4. Ace Higa would be relieved as Ooshita would come in from left to pitch. Sadly, a wild pitch would allow the gyakuten run to score.

Iwakuni would tack on one more as Yanagawa would shut the door in the 9th ensuring that Kanto would not get another bid (Nisshougakushadai Fuzoku should get the floating bid now).

The schools with some hope left may be:

• Hokkaido - Sapporo Ootani
• Hokushinetsu - Chikyuu Kankyou
• Kinki - Sanda Shousei
• Chuugoku/Shikoku - Takigawa Gakuen
• Kyushu - Souseikan

We're finishing up round 2 with 3 teams awaiting their opponents. The winners will dread making the random draw as its possible that they may draw Yokohama.

Okinawa Shougaku wound up surviving a 9-round right against Fukuchiyama Seibi. They didn't have the disastrous first inning, but the triumvirate of Okishou pitchers still were still rather ineffective with no pitcher giving up less than 2 runs in their stint. Their best hitters that game were #5 and #6 batters Akamine and Taira who were 7-9.

So they advanced, but did not come out looking very pretty at all.

First time participants Seiai completely dominated Tamano Kounan 6-0. Ace Ono spun 9 innings of shutout ball, but did so via contact as he only struck out 5. He did so while not pitching low in the zone like most pitchers do, but going up instead to get contact. As Akitashou's ace's could tell you, doing that is fine - so long as you continue to keep it up there.

Offensively, much like Okishou, their offense came predominantly from captain Ichinohe and cleanup batter Narita with Sasaki checking in with a late double.

Seiai's offense as a whole feels a bit weaker than Okinawa Shougaku though against Okishou's pitching they might stand a better chance.

Okinawa Shougaku should have the edge in the game, but there's always senbatsu that will nag me about their team until they can really prove otherwise.

Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa)
SS Moromizato Takumi
CF Chinen Yuuya
LF Naka Shouji (#9)
1B Shibahiki Yuuma
RF Akamine Ken (#17)
2B Taira Yuuki
3B Kubo Shuuto (#16)
P Higa Kenichiroi
C Gushiken Hideki

Seiai (Aomori)
LF Sotokawa Kazumi (#11)
2B Fujimoto Ren
1B Ichinohe Shou
CF Narita Takuya
C Wajima Koutarou
SS Sasaki Shimon (#15)
3B Moriyama Hiroto
RF Kitabatake Kanto (#16)
P Ono Norio

____________________________________________________________

09:29 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Moromizato goes after an outside offering and grounds to 1st to open the action.

Chinen somehow gets under a regular slider from Ono and foul out to Wajima.

Naka grounder to the left side.  Sasaki runs it down in the gap, spins throws to 1st... not in time!

OH!!!!

Shibahiki drives a high curve from Ono to deep left center! Sotogawa and Narita converging, Sotogawa dives.... just out of his reach!  Narita doubles back to get the ball in, Naka being waved around 3rd. He scores!

Well! Okinawa Shougaku jumps on Ono early and take the 1-0 lead!

Akamine flies out to left to end the inning, but how will Seiai respond?

Bottom 1st
Sotogawa leans in and pulls n outside pitch to left... but Naka is right thee for the catch.

Fujimoto ahead of the Higa slider and pops it up to shallow center. Taira going out to field it...

Misses it!!! Fujimoto, running out of the box goes for 2nd and gets there safely. Seiai threatening to tie the game.

Ichinohe with with another shallow fly!! Akamine charging in won't get to it! Fujimoto running from 2nd scores and just like that we're tied at 1-1!

うわぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁ。。。

Narita's helmet comes off as a Higa offering goes off the bottom of the helmet. He goes into a crouch as Harada-kantoku comes out to see how he is. He's taken to the dugout as Sotogawa comes in to run for him.

Higa settes down after that thankfully and retires the next two batters to retire the side. But Seiai volleys back a shot and we're back to level!

Top 2nd
Narita comes out for the top of the 2nd, glad to see he's ok.

Okinawa facing the same problems Tamano Kounan did though, trying to get a level swing on a high pitch over the plate. Moriyama winds up retiring all 3 of Okishou's batters, including Kubo who fouled off several attemps, off bad contact and Seiai goes back on the offensive.

Bottom 2nd
Moriyama after making 3 outs, hits a slow ball back up the middle, Morimizato runs it down, but misses the snag. Leadoff runner on for Seiai.

But Kitabatake is swinging and gets ahead of a slider! Taira starts the 5-4-3 double play and there 2 out!

Ono undaunted hits a ball to shallow center for a single bringing up Sotogawa.

Grounder to short, AH! Ball goes 5-hole on Moromizato and Seiai's inning continues!

Fujimoto back up the middle, past Taira and into center! Ono's being waved home!!  Throw in from Chinen...

OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gushiken gets the swipe tag on Fujimoto and Chinen's throw keep the game tied at 1!

Top 3rd
Defense on both sides struggling as a grounder from Gushiken bounces off Moriyama and to Sasaki. His throw is way late and Okishou has the leadoff runner on.

Morimizato tries to bunt him along, but it just goes foul both times.

SANSHIN! He chases a high slider for the 1st out!

Chinen not seeing anything on the inner half or down in the zone.

He's late on the fastball and grounds to 3rd! Sasaki starts the 6-4... 3 double play! Side retired!

Bottom 3rd
One down, Narita feeling no effects of the dead ball (for now anyways), singles to left!

And he takes off for 2nd, no throw from Gushiken! Wajima in position for an RBI with a timely.. but he slowly chops one up the middle. Moromizato fields and goes to 1st for the out, 2 down Narita at 3rd.

Sasaki thinks he has ball 4 on the 3-1 pitch, but can't toss his bat away quite yet according to the ump. He does though, one ball later.

EH??

1-2 pitch to Moriyama and Gushiken pops up as Narita is in no mans land! He's run down and the inning inexplicably ends for Seiai on that note.

Top 4th
Naka becomes just Ono's 2nd K as he watches a slider catch the outside corner for the 1st out.

Akamine though he winds up losing on 4 straight. And now he can't find a strike to Taira, falling behind 2-0!

Taira with a grounder to 2nd, Fujimoto tags Akamine on the move for the 3rd out.

Bottom 4th
Moriyama with yet another hit for Seiai and what feels like a ton to center which means they're timing Higa well.

Kitabatake tries to bunt the runner over but goes behind 0-2.

He goes back up the middle! It just gets by Higa and clears into center! Yet another ball squared up.

2 on, no out and Harada-kantoku has Ono bunt the runners along.

Sotogawa rips one down the 3rd base line... past a diving Kubo and down the line! Moriyama and Kitabatake both score on Sotogawa's timely double! Seiai leads 3-1!! The Seiai offense is completely KOing him here.

Sure enough, Higa-kantoku pulls him and puts in Ura.

He gets Moromizato to quickly ground to 2nd for out #2.

Ichinohe with a ball to left center! That will fall in the gap! Sotogawa scores and it's a 4-1 ballgame!

Narita grounds to 2nd to end the inning but Seiai has taken back the lead!


Top 5th
Ono walks his 2nd batter in Ura with one out, Gushiken bunts him to scoring position.

But Morimizato chases the high slider and pops up to Moriyama to end the inning!

Bottom 5th
And now Ura plunks Wajima to start the inning.

Kitabatake with the bunt, Gushiken quickly fields, throws to 2nd.... cuts down Wajima for the 1st out!

Suzuki caught leaning the wrong way! Ura goes to 1st and he's picked off!

Moriyama pops out to Moromizato to end the inning. But an avalanche of hits has given Seiai the lead!

Top 6th
Chinen grounder to the right side, great diving stop by Fujimoto! Finishes the play to 1st, one down!

Higa-kantoku changing things up hoping for a different result, but #15 Nishihira repeats the same story grounding to Sasaki.

Shibahiki too goes after a fastball on the inner half and grounds out to end the inning.

Bottom 6th
Nishihira stays in to play LF.

Different pitcher, same result. Kitabatake with yet another base hit back up the middle. Ono bunts him along for the top of the order.

Kitabatake breaks for 3rd! Ura fires over and they get him for the 2nd out. I can't tell if that was a bad read or they actually were trying to straight steal 3rd. But there 2 down.

Make that 3 as Sotogawa chops one to Kubo for the last out.

Top 7th
Akamine quickly down 0-2 swinging at a couple of ball, works it level before Wajima buys a strike for the 1st out

Taira with a ball to right. Kitabatake back to the wall?!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's a line drive of a HR if I've ever seen one, but it's a HR all the same as he makes it 4-2!

Kubo though continues to struggle like the rest of the team, skying one in front of home. Wajima nd Ono converge, no one really calling it.  Wajima making the basket catch as Ono pats him on the helmet.

#14 Uehara to hit for Ura, but a good charge into one, but flies out to right to end the inning.

Bottom 7th
More changes for Okinawa Shougaku. #5 Sunagawa comes in for Kubo to play 3B, #12 Yamashiro in for PH Uehara takes over on the mound.

Fujimoto with a hard liner, but right to new 3B Sunagawa for the out.

And Yamashiro is able to do what the other two pitchers couldn't - get a 1-2-3 inning! Both Ichinohe and Narita ground out to Shibahike and can the tide be turning for Okishou late in the game?

Top 8th
Ono falls behind Gushiken 3-0 before tailing a ball over the plate for a strike.

Gushiken attacks the next and that will find the gap! Sotogawa chasing it to the wall and there's a leadoff double!

Moromizato ball back up the middle! They're sending Gushiken! Throw from Narita... not in time! 2 hits into he 8th and it's a 1-run ball game!

4-3 as Harada-kantoku calls time for damage control.

Chinen up to bunt goes behind 0-2 to the whistle of "Haisai Oji-san".

SANSHIN! Chinen misses the three bunt and there's 1 down!

Nishihira, grounder to 3rd! Moriyama with a superb pick to his right, goes to 2nd for one, throw to first...

OUT!!!!!!!!! The 1B umpire emphatically punches out a diving Nishihira and he pounds his helmet on the base in frustration. (Though if you ran good sir, instead of diving, you might be safe).

Bottom 8th
Wajima with Seiai's first hit off of Yamashiro, a single off the end of his bat to right. Sasaki tries to bunt him over, but misses his first two attempts. Show bunt again, takes it back... but is punched out! 1 down!

Moriyama, 2 hits early on, can't find the magic again as he flies out to right.

But Kitabatake does! Single through the left side and Seiai has a mini chance here to get that insurance run back as Higa-kantoku calls time.

Ono ahead of a slider and flies out to center! Yamashiro has held the line for Okinawa Shougaku...

Top 9th
...Can his offense mount the counter-attack in the waning moments?

Shibahiki will start it off for Okishou as Ono fires a slider inside for a strike.

Chopper to short, takes a high bounce but Sasaki is there to field it, leans back for the throw... offline but Ichinohe makes the tag! 1 down!

Akamine first pitching swinging comebacker to Ono! He walks it over to 1st and makes the toss for the 2nd out!

But with Taira up, Ono gets skittish! Despite Wajima going out to talk to him, he walks him on 4 straight.

#18 Asato comes in to hit for Sunagawa..

Grounder to 3rd! It's slow and Moriyama charges! Throw...

OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Asato dives, and the throw beats him to end the game!!

Ah, the guts dive into 1st may have cost them the game!

Ono faded late as evidenced by the HR by Taira and the back-to-back hits in the 8th may have signified a change in momentum.

But Nishihira ends the inning with a double play where he dives into 1st on a close play, and then in the 9th Asato does the same. And so their rally runs short here in the 2nd round.

For Seiai, it is 2 strong efforts now, now adding the fall Kyushu champs to their board of victims. Not bad for a first time team. They weren't cheated at the plate at all as many of their hits were back up the middle - the sign of a team in the zone. And they got hits often too.

But there are weaknesses showing. Ono faded late giving up 2 of his 3 runs in the final 3 innings. And then when Yamashiro came in throwing upper 130s, the offense completely shut down. If they face a pitcher like that at the beginning, they could be in a bit of trouble.

For now though, they can enjoy the victory and a spot in the 3rd round.


Notable Players
Ono Norio (Seiai) - CG, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 K, 3 BB
Kitabatake Kanto (Seiai) - 3-4
Fujimoto Ren (Seiai) - 2-4, 2B
Ichinohe Shou (Seiai) - 2-4, 2B, RBI, SB
Sotogawa Kazumi - 1-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Taira Yuuki (Okinawa Shougaku) - 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB
Gushiken Hideki (Okinawa Shougaku) - 1-3, 2B, R