高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

I'd like to be able to say that the tournament has been great so far, but to be honest I'm not really one to blow smoke up one's hind quarters so I won't. Most of the games have not been competitive, and the two that were, one was a bit of a snoozer (sorry Shoudoshima/Kamaishi, but while I know why teams employ the severe bunting strategy it doesn't make it any more interesting), and the other didn't really feel like there was much tension in the air (sorry Akashi Shougyou, it really didn't feel like it was anything of your doing that gave you the win outside of executing the squeeze bunts, and even to that extent blame had to be on Nichinan Gakuen's ace for continuing to pitch out of the windup).

Sadly, the opening game of Day 4 won't be any better...

That's because Osaka Touin takes the field, and the unfortunate victim is the Meiji Jingu bid in Tosa. Their key win was against Shoudoshima, who didn't show anything against Kamaishi, and then their 2 losses were to Meitoku Gijuku who also failed to do much against Ryuukokudai Heian. That alone should wave one of the biggest red flags now in the tournament. It makes their 0.260/0.319/0.337 line even more damning, and their ace Osaki, who sports a 5.4 K/9 and 3.4 W/9 rate that much more questionable.

Compare that with Osaka Touin, who while they all didn't impress, all the participants they faced in the fall that qualified for Senbatsu have moved on so far - Chiben Gakuen (ok), Akashi Shougyou (meh), Shiga Gakuen (interesting), and Kisaradzu Sougou (meh) - with only Takamatsu Shougyou yet to play.

Now Osaka Touin does have a weakness this year, and that is their ace Takayama. There has been some fanfare regarding him, but as concerning is the fact that he has walked 31 in his 63.2 innings of work. It would be more of a concern if teams were more welcome to just take a darned walk when it's handed to them, and maybe, maybe, Tosa might be able to as they averaged 4 per game. But unless Takayama just walks in runs left and right, I don't see them troubling the team I call the Yankees (or Kyojin if you like) of the 高校野球 world.

Osaka Touin... do I really have to?

I may be objective in reviews and cannot deny the talent they have (see Nakata Shou), but I dislike the school with a passion especially after the perceived tactics against Mie in the finals not too long ago. And no, I won't let it go because I'm frankly getting tired of aspects of 高校野球 like this and I'm not going to filter it anymore in my posts.

In the prefecturals, they breezed through their first 5 rounds before barely getting by Riseisha in the semifinals, and blowing a 4-run lead against Osaka Shoudai Sakai losing in 13. Momentum was restored against Oumi Kyoudaisha in the super-regionals, and they managed to make it last, narrowly defeated Akashi Shougyou and Shiga Gakuen for the title. The loss to Takamatsu Shougyou in the Meiji Jingu taikai can be taken with a grain of salt because perhaps they didn't want to introduce another strong school.

The team regularly put up double digit hits every game - as expected from Osaka Touin. Two batters that stand out are natch in the middle of the order, 3B Yoshizawa Kazuto (吉澤 一翔) and 1B Furutera Hiroki (古寺 宏輝). Their 9-4 drubbing of Chiben Gakuen I found here. The offense is never a question, and if it is, they wouldn't be here.

What I don't know is if the pitching will make them an unstoppable force. Their ace by far is Takayama Yuuki (高山 優希), a fireballer by all definitions who Deanna might like because his hat flies off every throw. He supposedly reaches 150, though normally sits in the upper 140s and appears infatuated with throwing hard. Which is a problem, given his 29/20 K/BB ratio in the super-regionals and Meiji Jingu tournament. Anyone who cares so much about throwing hard is generally destined to fail. You didn't see Fujinami or Ootani looking at the gun after each pitch. When he does throw an offspeed pitch, it's either the standard slider/curve combo with a forkball thrown in.

The depth behind him is a bit questionable with the immediate option being Iwamoto Yuusei (岩本 悠生) (apparently the hat flying off is a thing now). He doesn't strike out many batters, but could be serviceable if needed to give his ace a rest. The other options (all freshman) - Kagawa Akira (香川麗爾), Tokuyama Souma (徳山 壮磨) and Inoue Daisuke (井上 大輔), saw some action, but in cases where it may have been low-leverage and therefore may not be counted upon.

As long as Takayama can focus on pitching and not the JUGS gun, then Osaka Touin (as usual) is a title contender.

If you're wondering where Day 10 went, I'm counting the rest day as a day. Seeing a day 9 and 10 makes me think that there's no break, then I have to realize they're talking about actual game days.

Anyways, we are one day away from finding out who our spring champion is for 2015. I have to wonder if that may already have been decided.

Think about this. Over the last 3 calendar years, Osaka Touin has been to Koushien 5 times, the only time they didn't make it was senbatsu last year.

Of those 5 appearances, they have won it all 3 times.

And the times they did not win?

• 2013 Summer - They lost in the 3rd round to Meitoku Gijyuku (Kishi Jyunichirou, now at Takushoku Daigaku)
• 2013 Spring - They lost in the 3rd round to Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou (Fujita Ryuuji, now at Rikkyou Daigaku)

That's just mindboggling. You want to talk about a dominant program? This is Exhibit A.

I already had mentioned before the tournament started that I found it surprising with Tanaka's peripherals that Osaka Touin hadn't gone farther in the Kinki Super-Regionals. What I think we should have learned from before is that none of those titles matter - well, it doesn't matter if you are really looking at the main prize of winning senbatsu. Same thing goes for the Meiji Jingu tournament. Seriously, if you were the Kinki representative and if you winning the Meiji Jingu tournament would somehow allow Osaka Touin in, would you actually try to win?

Either way, they're here, and they're 2 games away from winning it (again).

Of course, that close game proved that they were vulnerable, unlike other times. The offense is not as explosive as usual, but can still give pop, which counts for something. Tanaka isn't a full-blown ace, but he's not average either.

Tsuruga Kehi is still a question mark. Outside of the first game, which was about as dominant a 3-0 game could be, they have squeaked by their opposition. Their offense is uneven and even small-ball based outside of Hiranuma, which puts a lot of pressure on Hiranuma to keep the score low. Now, chances are that freaky 5th inning versus Shizuoka probably won't happen since some of it I figure was weather-based. But, when facing Sendai Ikuei, he started showing signs of breaking down. Osaka Touin will no doubt push him to his limit.

Grudgingly, I still favor Osaka Touin. I hope my same friend is right in that Tsuruga Kehi will win this game, but I have my doubts.

Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui)
3B Shinohara Ryou
2B Nakai Kidzuku
SS Hayashinaka Yuuki
P Hiranuma Shouta
CF Yamamoto Kouta
RF Matsumoto Teppei (#17)
1B Ueda Ryouya
C Kamon Yuusuke
LF Kinoshita Shougo (#9)

Osaka Touin (Osaka)
3B Nakayama Yuuto
2B Nagahiro Tomoki
RF Fujii Kenpei
CF Aoyagi Kouki
C Taniguchi Kazuki
SS Fukuda Kouki
1B Yoshizawa Kazuto (#12)
LF Harada Tomoki (#3)
P Tanaka Seiya

__________________________________________________

11:03 - First Pitch!

1st Inning
Shinohara really holding firm at the plate, taking a close pitch to get the count full. And is rewarded with a base hit through the right side. Naturally, Tsuruga Kehi goes with the bunt.

They're really going with the patience game here. Teams do not seem to be doing that a lot, so it's a surprise Azuma-kantoku has done it here. But it's working as Hayashinaka draws a walk.

Hiranuma also goes to the max on Tanaka.  But Tanaka wins on a high fastball! 2 down.

That leaves it to Yamamoto. And they are as patient as, aw... I wrote myself into a corner. Anyways, he again is not trigger happy and he draws a walk! The bases are loaded!!

Matsumoto playing the same game, but Tanaka gets ahead for the first time 1-2, then throws a pitch way up and in to waste it.

うそ!うそだろう?!!!!

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

Whoo hoo!!!!  Did that just happen? Matsumoto drives a pitch to left and while the outfielders run back, they know it's gone! It's 4-0 Tsuruga Kehi!!

There's the 3rd out, but man that is a great start for the Hokushinetsu champs!

Meanwhile Hiranuma sits down the Osaka Touin order. Gets some help from Kinoshita who makes a catch right at the 3rd base fence.

2nd Inning
What the heck? Tanaka is still getting rocked! Back to back gappers score another run and it's 5-0!

Osaka Touin getting something back as a grounder to short from Nakai gets the runner out at 3rd. Heads up play by Fukuda.

Hayashinaka with a ball the other way slicing down the line fair! And it gets by Fujii! Nakai scores and it's 6-0!

Tsuruga Kehi still making Tanaka pitch. Another walk. Another walk.  Manrui?!!

NO. NO F****IN WAY!!!!!

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

HE DID IT AGAIN!! MATSUMOTO DID IT AGAIN!!!!!!

HE HIT HIS 2ND MANRUI HOME RUN!!

It's 10-0 Tsuruga Kehi and Tanaka is finally pulled. #11 Takayama comes in to take over and gets the last out.

Now, you may think I'm happy Osaka Touin is getting hammered. I am. But I'm not necessarily happy in the sense that the camera focuses on Tanaka and while he's getting instruction, he's holding back tears. You know he's going to be strong because 高校野球, but even I know at the end these are still kids. You can't tell me that that won't affect him. It could break him and we may not see him in the summer. He could work harder and get even stronger than before. But this is a moment for him and I do honestly feel sorry for him.

When I root against a school I root against the uniform, never the player.

Nothing going right for Osaka Touin. They get their first hit, then go down as Fukuda lines into a 3 unassisted double play.

3rd Inning
Tsuruga Kehi still getting base hits, but it's singles, not doubles and HRs. Takayama though gets out with no damage.

I'd remove Hiranuma, but this is still Osaka Touin, and Harada just hit a 1-out triple to deep left.

Hiranuma though can pitch aggressively and retires Takayama and Nakayama to strand the runner.

4th Inning
There will be no 3 consecutive manrui HRs as Matsumoto comes in with just a runner on 2nd.

Takayama finally sits him down catching him looking on a fastball just on the outside edge.

About the only thing of note as Ueda flies out is that he's the only one without a hit (0-3), while Yamamoto doesn't have an official AB (0-0, 2 BB, Sac bunt)

Huh, CF Yamamoto loses a fly ball to center and Nagahiro has a leadoff double. But three fly balls later, and the side is retired. Yamamoto does find the ball this time around for the 3rd out.

5th Inning
I've never seen Osaka Touin as cooked as they are now. Nakayama makes not 1, but 2 errors helping load the bases. With Hiranuma out, Takayama gets him to fly out to left. Thankfully for all sides, not another manrui HR.

Side retired in order for Osaka Touin. We're at the break and there's really little to say. The rest of the game may take just a couple of paragraphs.

6th Inning+
Players are being subbed in periodically by both teams. Nishitani-kantoku is giving his bench pitchers #11 Takayama an inning then passing it on to #10 Matsui.

Matsui unfortunately hits Nakai on the head. We have had more pitches hit off of players heads this year than I can remember in all the years past.

Nakayama almost has a 3rd error when his throw short hops Harada, but he stays with it and recatches the ball just in time for the 3rd out in the 7th.

Tsuruga Kehi doing situational play. Some sac bunts, and even a squeeze bunt in the 8th that scores 1. 11-0. But while it is validly pointed out that this is a non-leverage situation it's still practice.

Though by the 8th Hiranuma needs to go to a different position at least. He doesn't need to throw any more this game - even if he's at 90 starting the 8th.

But in true 高校野球 form, he finishes the game. Out of defiance maybe Fukuda give the ball one final drive, but perhaps the hamakaze knocks it down and Mori has it for the final out.

There really wasn't much to say after the first 2 innings. Tsuruga Kehi made Tanaka throw strikes, and when he did he was hit hard. When does a batter have 2 consecutive manrui HRs in a game. When does a a player get 2 manrui HRs in a Koushien??

Tsuruga Kehi, who had appeared to struggle on offense, just methodically dismantled the #1 team over the last 3 years.

And like I mentioned before, Tanaka finally lets the tears come out after the game. How can you not after giving up 10 runs in less than 2 innings of work? Was it wrong of Nishitani-kantoku to leave him in? Prolly not in Japanese terms. Being relieved like that after the work he's done would lose face.

But this is pretty bad.

No doubt though we'll see them back at Koushien, and Nishitani-kantoku will have them ready. Just hope Tanaka will be ok.

Tsuruga Kehi now has to be the front-runner to win after this game. They executed a strategy that I advocate to no end, but never see. Making a pitcher hang themselves. And it worked.

Please do it more often, underdog teams in 高校野球. It works.

Before I go on with the commentary, I'll be making a chance to how I do things, though the timing perhaps isn't as good.

Trying to cover the first 2 rounds inning by inning isn't bad necessarily, however when you hit a blowout status, or even just a 1-sided game, trying to make interesting commentary becomes about as bad as some of the commentators on MBS/NHK.

Also, over the years I have become noticeably more bitter watching games. It's not that I don't like 高校野球 now. It's just that I've becomed more seasoned, and more knowledgeable. And the purity and joy that I loved so much isn't quite there.

What the success of Osaka Touin and Nichidai-san has shown, and the story of Kousei Gakuin (now Hachinohe Gakuin Kousei) has shown is that much like in college basketball, there may be some upsets, but in the end it's generally the national powerhouses that continue to win. Even if you're Tenri or Nihon Bunri, or Mie, or Kanzei, or or or.. more often than not you'll get there, but not go far.

And when it comes to games here at Koushien, this year is an anomaly, but there is a clear dilenation of tiers between teams because there is a clear delineation of regions. It's just that this year it was so severe and coincidentally by strength of region that it's just funny. No Kyushu, no Shikoku, no Chuugoku, no Tohoku, and probably after today, no Hokkaido. It is possible that after today we will have 3 Kanto schools and 1 Kinki school left.

What does that say about the state of 高校野球 now?

So now, my commentary on the games will focus less on the play-to-play action, and more on observations I see during the game. There will still be some play-by-play, but you can get that on the box scores and on the game replays provided by MBS.

So onto our first game. Jyousou Gakuin is up and against it against Osaka Touin. They have had an easy schedule to get to the Best 8 and now face an Osaka Touin squad that yes, struggled offensively against Kousei Gakuin, and did struggle against Tenri in the super-regionals. But Osaka Touin now has gained that "fearsome" status that will give a team wins because they are who they are (remember Seiryou's 9-8 win over Komatsu Ootani in the Ishikawa finals last summer).

You shouldn't look ahead but you can't ignore Tsuruga Kehi on the horizon. Hiranuma may not be 100% , and we'll learn more today, but you have to start prepping for that as well in the back of your head.

Jyousou Gakuin (Ibaraki)
2B Ugusa Kouki
CF Takeuchi Ryou
RF Wada Shingo
1B Ishii Daiki
LF Arahara Hiroki
SS Minakami Yuuheio
C Takase Shoutarou
P Suzuki Shouta
3B Ara Masahiro (#15)

Osaka Touin (Osaka)
3B Nakayama Yuuto
2B Nagahiro Tomoki
LF Hamada Kouhei (#3)
CF Aoyagi Kouki
RF Fujii Kempei
C Taniguchi Kazuki
SS Fukuda Kouki
1B Yoshizawa Kazuto (#12)
P Tanaka Seiya

__________________________________________________

08:30 - First Pitch!

1st Inning
Huh, Ugusa hits the first pitch to center, and Aoyagi runs back, but it's more of a jog.

So when I say that Jyousou Gakuin is probably be up against it Ugusa does that. 1-0 Jyousou Gakuin.

Wada slices one down the left field side for a double. If life would like to prove me wrong about Jyousou Gakuin's chances, I'd be happy to be wrong.

Today there was some rain expected, and the umbrellas are out.

Side retired, but Jyousou Gakuin does appear to be on the ball early.

One out walk to Nagahiro, can't be giving Osaka Touin extra runners.

Suzuki paying A LOT of attention to Nagahiro. And despite all those throws over, he still takes off on a run-and-hit (I say it that way because Hamada swung way late on that pitch). Still wound up like a sac bunt without the risk of bunting poorly (though there's still the risk of a double play).

Ara smothers a ball up the 3rd base line from Aoyagi. The long throw to 1st takes a bounce or two, but gets there in time to end the inning.

2nd Inning
This is about as patient I've seen a team. 5 of the first 7 batters have seen at least 5 pitches including the first 2 this inning. Jyousou is expecting either a low scoring game or want to avoid the double play at the bottom of the lineup as Suzuki bunts Takase over with 1 out.

Nothing doing though to score the run. Ara flies out to center.

Only runners Osaka Touin are getting are because of Suzuki. Hits Fujii to start the inning.

Really, Osaka Touin bunting??

Maybe they should have as Taniguchi wipes out his runner with a 5-4-3 double play.

Strike zone seems wide today. Don't know who that will help.

Suzuki hitting his spots well (outside of the dead ball). Jams Fukuda to retire the side.

3rd Inning
Tanaka with a 1-2-3 inning. Jyousou getting bat on the ball and making decent contact, but they're right to fielers.

Osaka Touin with their first hit as Yoshizawa checks in with a double past a diving Shimizu and down the line.

Another bunt from Nisitani-kantoku? Why?

Oh, that's why. Shimizu short hops the throw and Ishii can't pick it. Time called from Sasaki-kantoku.

Nakayama sac fly to left and that will score the run. 1-1.

Suzuki gets another 5-4-3 double play, this time ending the inning. But you can't keep a good team down forever, and Osaka Touin finally has their reply.

4th Inning
Oh hey, Minakami with a 2-out single. Still hitting the ball square.

And what was that by Nakayama? It's like he didn't want to be in front of the ball, and then just ole'd it.

Suzuki walks and its manrui for Jyousou Gakuin.

Ara base hit right through the infield and into right. That scores 2 and gives Jyousou a 3-1 lead! Nishitani-kantoku calling for time.

Ugusa flies out to end the inning, but I don't remember seeing Jyousou on the ball as they have been today.

Also, it's funny when my two feeds which are not synched do something that is.

Also, Osaka Touin is the one who is lost at the plate. Suzuki is throwing strikes and they're swinging at balls. 2 K's against the heart of the lineup?

5th Inning
Another error from Nakayama as he drops a transfer on what would have been the 3rd out.

ほ？

Arahara connects on one real good. Fujii waits for it at the wall, as they wave Ishii home. Relay throw home is in time and the inning is over! This despite Fujii overthrowing the 1st cutoff man and Fukuda coming over to cover the throw!

Uh oh, the doctors are coming over to the Jyousou Gakuin dugout. Looks like Ishii hurt himself when sliding into home. From the replays his arm got caught on Taniguchi's leg and it looks like he could have hyper extended it or even dislocated it?

After a delay, he comes out to his position. With a piece of something up his nose. So it was a bloody nose instead?

He gets tested immediately, making a good pick on a short throw from Shimizu.

Fukuda with a ball to right center. Fielders spring to the wall, but it just clears it for a homerun! 3-2 now the gap and Suzuki just plain missed with his location there. Was supposed to be away, went down the middle.

Yoshizawa with a liner to left for a base hit and have they solved the puzzle?

Not sure, but Nishitani-kantoku has Tanaka bunting. Takase up quickly and fires to 2nd. Get the lead runner, and SS Minakami well off to leave it at that.

Side retired, but as we hit the break Jyousou Gakuin certainly looks the better team, but I have this niggling feeling that Osaka Touin is figuring things out.

6th Inning
Leadoff walk to Minakami. Tanaka had already thrown 89 pitches through 5.

That was a mess of a bunt by Takase. Easy picking for Taniguchi.

Another walk from Suzuki. Jyousou continues to play the waiting game on him and it's working to get men on base.

No timely hit from Ara, so it's up to Ugusa. Hit the ball to the outfield in each of his ABs, but they just need a liner instead.

Instead, it's a grounder to 2nd. Nagahiro goes the short way to end the self-made pinch.

Suzuki himself is at 71 pitches. Not as bad as Tanaka, but still a fair amount.

Count runs full to the first batter Nagahiro, and #18 Inoue is warming up in the bullpen.

Liner to center, right at Takeuchi. Now a deep ball from Hamada, but the defense is playing back and Arahara is there to run it down.

Takaoka fouls out, but I think they're getting closer. We've seen Sasaki-kantoku go to his bullpen before. But generally they go to them when it's too late. Will the same apply here?

7th Inning
Where was the defense to help out Harada? Takeuchi with the push bunt up the 1st base line, Harada fields it, but with no one at first has to dive at Takeuchi to tag him before he reached the bag.

Also, this inning they're not going deep into counts. Not sure if that's the right thing to do.

Nagahiro almost causes another error when he drops a grounder. Still 3 outs.

Fujii liner to center, but Takeuchi is well placed. And despite a charge in, has no problems with the catch.

Osaka Touin trying to hit the HR to tie the game instead of base hits it would appear. Taniguchi with one to deep left center, but Takeuchi is there.

Fukuda single up the middle, but there's 2 down.

Suzuki misses on a ball inside and it goes over the middle. Yoshizawa all over that and drives it to the gap in right center. That'll go to the wall and Fukuda scores to make it a 3-3 game.

Oh dear.

Fukuda has a grounder go off his glove and into center. Yoshizawa scores and it's 4-3 Osaka Touin.

Nakayama is left without a hit, but that's of little consequence. They've finally broken through and taken the lead on Jyousou Gakuin.

8th Inning
Jyousou Gakuin has abandoned their patient strategy here in the 8th. They're almost sunk at this point as it only takes 9 pitches for Tanaka to retire the side.

Uh oh, Minakami with a bad throw to 1st gives Osaka Touin another runner.

And then Suzuki hits Aoyagi.

2 down, Taniguchi delivers a liner to left scoring Nagahiro to make it 5-3.

9th Inning
One down and Ara singles past Fukuda into center. Then Tanaka walks Ugusa? The douten runner is aboard!

Understandably Nishitani-kantoku calls for time.

What?? Sasaki-kantoku calls for a bunt? It advances the runners, but there's 2 out!

Wada flies out to center and that's the game.

Well, it certainly was harder that I thought it would be. But I did think that the Osaka Touin batters were gaining momentum. And where were the other pitchers that Sasaki-kantoku had used before? If the were useful, they should have come in in the 7th inning when they really started hitting him deep. Also, why abandon working the count? You were getting baserunners with that method before.

Jyousou Gakuin proved they certainly are a good team, but unless the pitching depth improves this is probably what you get.

As for Osaka Touin, their offense certainly isn't as powerful from start to finish, but they do appear to get things going later as they get more pitches in. It may mean no full blowouts all the way through, but it also means leads aren't safe late.

Seriously, how much would Kousei like to rid themselves of Osaka Touin. They've faced them twice in back-to-back Koushien finals and lost both times. You could even jokingly say they changed their official school name to get rid of the bad mojo.

And yet here we are again. Kousei, probable underdogs to the powerhouse Osaka Touin.

I'm sick of it too, so here we go.

Hachinohe Gakuin Kousei (Aomori)
CF Arai Katshuhiro
RF Kasumi Shouta
SS Adachi Yuuya
LF Sawada Shunichi
2B Nakazaki Jyukiya
3B Kobayashi Naoki
C Baba Ryuusei
1B Sawaya Kousuke
P Nakagawa Masashi

Osaka Touin (Osaka)
3B Nakayama Yuuto
2B Nagahiro Tomoki
RF Fujii Kenpei
CF Aoyagi Kouki
LF Harada Tomoki (#3)
C Taniguchi Kazuki
SS Fukuda Kouki
1B Yoshizawa Kazuto (#12)
P Tanaka Seiya

__________________________________________________

11:25 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Tanaka ready to rack up the Ks, fastball at the knees to Arai to start the game.

After a quick flyout by Kasumi, Tanaka tries to sell a 3-2 fastball on the outside corner by running off the mound, but the umpire doesn't buy it.

Unfortunately, Kousei commits their first unforced error. Adachi is caught wide of 1st and is picked off for the 3rd out.

Bottom 1st
One down for Osaka Touin and Nagahiro gets a hit to left.

Nishitani-kantoku starts the wheels early and sends Nagahiro. Throw is late and Osaka Touin is on the move.

Nakagawa almost throws behind Fujii, but perhaps fortunately, he ends up hitting him.

Well, that's not good. He may have not minded hitting Fujii, but then he throws at Aoyagi, and when he ducks it goes off his helmet. He's holding his head, and is led back for an injury runner. Manrui for Osaka Touin.

Harada hits a fly ball down the left side. Sawada decides to take the given out in foul territory, even if it means Nagahiro scores from 3rd. 1-0.

And it's another HBP! This time he hits Taniguchi in the back. Manrui once again.

The game sadly looks over before it's really begun. He walks Fukuda to force in a run, 2-0.

Yoshizawa strikes out to retire the side, but damage has already been done.

Top 2nd
Nakazaki with a clean hit to left gets Kousei a runner with 1 down.

But Kobayashi can't check his swing on a high fastball, and goes down for the 2nd out. Baba grounds to 2nd, and as Nagahiro tosses the short way, the side is retired.

Bottom 2nd
Nakagawa's 2nd inning goes much better than his first - though it would be really hard to get any worse.

3 pitches in and he's retired both Tanaka and Nakayama. Nagahiro is a bit more stubborn, but ends up grounding out harmlessly to short.

Top 3rd
With Tanaka striking out batters at a strong clip, it's not surprising he's recording them here.

Ogasawara behind 1-2, can't check his swing and goes down. Nakagawa goes down swinging on a forkball.

Arai hits a dying ball to center, but Aoyagi runs it down for the 3rd out.

Bottom 3rd
It may have been 1st inning jitters, but it may cost them in the end. Osaka Touin is going after pitches in the zone and helping him out to some extent. Facing the heart of the order, he gets Fujii on a pop out, Aoyagi hits a grounder to short, and Harada is too early on a slider and weakly grounds to 2nd.

Top 4th
Kousei gets a leadoff runner when Kasumi draws a walk. Adachi isn't bunting and gets a great pitch from Tanaka, but he grounds it right to Yoshizawa. Goes to 2nd for one, but Fukuda stops there as there is no one covering 1st.

Sawada ahead of a slider, grounds one right to Nakayama. Goes to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st... double play to end the inning.


Bottom 4th
Bottom of the order being more patient against Nakagawa, but he's staying low in the zone and making them reach down to make contact. As a result, Taniguchi and Fukuda both ground out.

Yoshizawa watches a fastball paint the outside corner for strike 3 and the side is retired.

Top 5th
Tanaka meanwhile is playing the outside/inside game, and avoiding the middle of the zone if possible. Kousei then is either jammed, trying to pull outside pitches, or is early to swing and winds up with a weak grounder. Nakayama and Kobayashi are 2 such batters.

Baba can't square up Tanaka's fastball and foul tips it back for strike 3. Side retired.

Bottom 5th
Ever since the 1st, Nakagawa has not allowed a runner on base. He gets two more weak grounders and a fly ball, and it's now 13 straight retired as we hit the break. Nakagawa looks good, but that abominable 1st is the difference in the game. Kousei will need to step up the offense to have any shot.

Top 6th
Kousei gets their 4th runner of the as a grounder by Nakagawa takes a high hop and eats up Nakayama. Arai hits a foul ball to right field, Fujii chases after it, and makes the sliding catch in foul territory right before the fence.

Kasumi grounds out to 2nd though and the inning is over.

Bottom 6th
Again against the heart of the Osaka Touin lineup and Nakagawa continues to dominate. Fujii swings over a changeup in the dirt for the first out. Aoyagi chases a slider low. And Harada grounds out to short. 16 straight retired by Nakagawa.

Top 7th
Kousei running out of time.

Adachi, looking for any way on base, hits the 3-2 pitch back up the middle for a base hit! Nakai-kantoku will not play for 1 and has Sawada hit.

But Kousei's batters can't recognize a ball out of the zone. Sawada is fooled on the curveball and goes down for the first out.

Nakazaki gets a fastball down the middle, but flies out to center.Kobayashi  succumbs to the forkball and it's 3 doun.

Bottom 7th
Taniguchi connects on a hanging slider and hits a HR to left. 3-0.

2 down, Tanaka hits a ball to short, but Adachi short hops the throw. He's safe at first.

Nakayama drives a ball to deep right center, and that goes fo a double to the wall. Tanaka scores and it's 4-0.

Nagahiro grounds out to end the inning.

Top 8th
#15 Himeno hits for Ogasawara and gets a one-out walk. #14 Endou hits for Nakagawa and hits a grounder to 2nd, Nagahiro flips to Fukuda but he's focused on going to 1 and drops the ball.

After a popup from Arai, Kasumi lines a ball just over Fukuda for a base hit. Himeno comes home uncontested to make it 4-1.

Adachi flies out to center, and Kousei at least prevents the shutout.


Bottom 8th

#13 Nakajima comes in for Himeno to play 1B. #11 Goya comes in for Endou to take the hill.

After yielding a leadoff walk, and 2 outs, Nakai-kantoku pulls him for Yagi to get some work.. He doesn't finish an AB as Fujji is caught stealing 2nd.

Top 9th
Kousei goes down in order with PH #12 Sueyoshi striking out to end the game.

Yep, I'll just leave this here before I flip a table.

And now another regional champion steps in and their task is much harder as Toukaidai Sugao faces off against Natsu champion Osaka Touin. The Kinki region is weak this year it seems, but Osaka Touin is Osaka Touin after all.

13:05 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Good start for Katsumata as he gets Nakayama to pop out to Etou. However, he turns around and walks Nagahiro.

Nishitani-kantoku gets the wheels going as he sends Nagahiro on the 2-1 pitch. It's low and that delays Saitou enough to make the throw late.

And now he hits Fukuda. Oy. That puts runners on for cleanup batter Aoyagi.

But Katsumata gets him to sky a ball to left for the 2nd out.

But Fujii puts the ball into shallow center! Ogawa can't get to it and Osaka Touin scores the first run as Nagahiro scores from 2nd. 1-0.

Taniguchi with his own base hit and the Tokyo champs are in a lot of trouble!

Ah! And now Katsumata walks Harada! Oshidashi and Osaka Touin leads 2-0!

Yoshizawa skies one to 2nd, and as Ochiai secures it, the summer champs look real good to start.

Bottom 1st
Toukaidai Sugao looks to get one of the runs back as Ogawa delivers a scorcher back up the middle for a 1-out single.

Meanwhile, Tanaka on the mound seems to be overthrowing a bit as a lot of his fastballs are going high. That results in a 2-out walk to Itou. Still, he gets Motohashi to chase a high fastball and flies out to center to end the inning.

Top 2nd
It's a much more relaxing inning for Katsumata. He takes advantage of the bottom of the order to get 2 quick outs, and while he walks Nagahiro (again), Fukuda hit a sky fly to right center to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd
Despite Tanaka's control problem, Sugao's batters are still swinging away. They're battling away, but they're also swinging on bad pitches. Tanaka gets his 1-2-3 inning and maintains his 2-run advantage.

Top 3rd
There's a clear mandate for Katsumata. Pitch inside. Even if it means walking the leadoff batter (which he does).

But it does him no good if he can't pitch inside. Fujii blasts one to left that Motohashi can't get to and that goes all the way to the wall for a triple. Aoyagi scores and it's 3-0.

Make that 4-0. After a grounder that couldn't score Fujii from 3rd, Harada blasts a hanging pitch to dead center. Ogawa has no chance at that one and it's another triple and the rout is on at 5-0.

Tanaka can't directly help his own cause but does advance the runner to 3rd. Nakayama still is without a hit in 3 trips as the leadoff batter as he pops out to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd
Toukaidai Sugao's batters are still swinging away and letting Tanaka stay ahead in counts. Ochiai swings on the first pitch and grounds out. Etou falls behind in the count, works it full, but then gets handcuffed on a pitch inside for the 2nd out. Ogawa goes down as well and this game could be over already.

Top 4th
The hits keep coming for Osaka Touin. Nagahiro finally gets a chance to hit and takes one the other way down the right field line for a double. After a safety bunt moves him over, Aoyagi does more than enough to get him in, slicing one over Itou down the left field line for a double. 6-0 now in favor of the summer champs.

After a walk to Fujii, the kantoku's seen enough. #11 Yamaguchi comes in for Ochiai to take the mound. Katsumata goes to RF and Koiso goes to 2B. Yamaguchi records the final 2 outs and will look to keep the deficit, well... honorable.

Bottom 4th
But the offense still can't muster any traction.  Katsumata drives a ball to deep right, but Fujii is already back to range over to make the catch. All Toukaidai Sugao gets is a 2-out Motohashi HBP.

Top 5th
That relief from Yamaguchi on the mound appears to have been temporary...

First a one-out walk to Tanaka. Then a wild pitch, a HBP, and then another wild pitch. That's capped off with a boomer by Nagahiro to center. Ogawa chase after it, but misjudges and it still falls in behind him. Both runners score and it's 8-0. Yamaguchi finally records the last 2 outs, but 4 non-round numbers later and you might as well get ready for the next game.

Bottom 5th
Playing from so far behind, Toukaidai Sugao's batters can't seem to be patient anymore - not that they were to begin with. Swinging at anything close leads to 3 easy outs, and as we hit the break the Tokyo champs look pretty battered.

Top 6th
Yamaguchi doesn't seem to be faring better with respect to the hit by pitches. In fact he starts the post-break with back-to-back dead balls. He's bailed out when Harada can't lay down the bunt and the lead runner Fujii is caught in no-man's land. Harada would single soon afterwards, so that mistake saved a run.  They get an ugly 1-6-3 double play to end the inning where Yamaguchi thought he didn't have a cover at 2nd, then decided to go there anyways when the person did come. They still managed to turn it though.

Bottom 6th
Katsumata gets Sugao their 2nd base hit, but otherwise it's business as usual for Tanaka on the mound. Itou ahead 3-1 still swings away and grounds to 3rd for the final out.

Top 7th
Yamaguchi finds a way again to put himself in a pinch, walking to and a single sandwiched in between to load the bases. But after a prolonged battle, Yamaguchi climbs the ladder on Fujii as he gets all twisted around to avoid giving up a run.

Bottom 7th-End
With the first 2 outs recorded, I encountered technical difficulties again. But little happened other than the kantoku's getting other players in the game. Osaka Touin would cruise, though left Tanaka on the mound to finish the 8-0 victory.

As expected, Osaka Touin made easy work of the Tokyo champions. The numbers simply didn't support Toukaidai Sugao as a championship team and it showed today. The question now will be, how much of Osaka Touin's performance is real, and how much is just beating up on weaker competition?

Ok, now to the team that in my opinion has a black hat, Osaka Touin.

I won't go back into the details, but I'm not surprised that they've been able to reload and qualify for Senbatsu, though they only reached the quarterfinals.

You'd think that maybe they just reached the quarterfinals and perhaps packed it in a bit knowing that brand name might carry them and they wouldn't have to show their wares as much compared to the rest, but Nishitani-kantoku sent out ace Tanaka Seiya (田中 誠也), so there's that.

Tanaka has some experience at Koushien as Nishitani-kantoku sent him to start their first game against Kaisei (Shimane), and struggled giving up 5 runs (4 earned) in his 5 innings of work. Given, it was mostly in the 1st inning, and it was probably nerves because he still struck out 7 in his time on the mound. He came back against Yazu to pitch a complete game shutout, yielding just 3 hits while striking out 7.

He was rarely pitching in high leverage situations as outside of a 5-1 win over Osaka Shoudai, his team had only one other full game before their loss to Tenri, and that was in the final against PL Gakuen, and that's only because it was required since it was the prefectural final.

Tanaka's K rates are massive. He struck out 74 in 57 IP of work, including 10 in his loss to Tenri. He did issue 23 walks, but still maintained a WHIP of 1.12. He looks to be the guy as the other 3 pitchers used pitched a total of 4 innings. Still, Nishitani-kantoku has brought along #10 Matsui Koutarou (松井 孝太郎) and #11 Takayama Yuuki (高山 優希), but I'm not sure how much time either pitcher will get.

Offensively, the team batted 0.399(!), with an ISO of 0.249(!!). 42 of their 101 hits went for extra bases. As you'd expect from an Osaka Touin team. You can point to just about the entire roster for guys who look like they could hit, so I'm not really sure which players to key in on.

The strength of their competition should regress their numbers significantly, but they should still be able to hit. The question will be whether or not the pitching can hold out. Tanaka isn't as good as the numbers project, but this team might just be scary, yet again.

*sighs*

And so here we are...

It's been a topsy-turvy tournament to say the least, with the tone being set in the very first game setting the one as senbatsu champs Ryuukokudai Heian was shown the door. From there we saw two regions not known for strong baseball - Tohoku and Hokushinetsu, go almost clean through to the 3rd round. We even had a possibility of an all-Hokushinetsu final has the results yesterday been different!

In the end though, we have none of that. Instead, we have a perennial Koushien team trying to play David to one of the - if not the - most dominant powerhouses in recent years, the Goliath that is Osaka Touin.

Osaka Touin was supposed to be here - especially given the dearth of other powerhouses in this year's field. They went and routed Riseisha, they went and routed PL Gakuen.

The road here at Koushien though was anything but smooth. The Kaisei gamei, the Kendai Takasaki game, and last but not least facing a team that was trying to not only emulate, but surpass them. They have certainly been tested.

They've perhaps gotten things together at the right time versus the right opponent. Tsuruga Kehi for the first half of the game traded blows before they just plain ran out of gas.

There are consequences of course. Ace Fukushima threw 160 pitches yesterday. They did rest him for a game earlier against Yazu, where #10 Tanaka would throw a 3-hitter.

Still though, 160 pitches is 160 pitches. What will they have left? And do they feel arrogant enough to start Tanaka throwing down the challenge to Mie?

Because this is Mie's first trip to the finals, their first trip even just to the Best 4. They're in a position that they've never been in before with a chance to win the title.

Mie was tested right off the bat as they had to comeback against Kouryou eventually winning in 11. Then they had to face Oogaki Nichidai, upstart Jyouhoku, before seemingly hitting their stride defeating both Okinawa Shougaku and Nihon Bunri soundly.

They have always felt to me like the ultimate blue-collar team. Never the big-name talent, just players who put their nose to the grindstone and were never cheated in a game, no matter how the opponent.

Ace Imai Shigetarou has been through this before. He was the last line of defense against Anraku and Saibi last year, allowing 1 ER in 2 innings. This year, he has carried the team through all the games and threw around 130 pitches in his effort against Nihon Bunri, though near the end it wasn't as stressful.

I could analyze this game to death, but there's something about this Mie team that just throws all that out the window. They'll be in it for sure, whether or not they can win... well I guess we'll find out.

Mie (Mie)
CF Nagano Hayato
2B Sada Taiki
SS Utsunomiya Touma
1B Nishioka Musashi
LF Inaba Ryuuya
3B Yamai Tatsuya (#16)
RF Seko Ren
C Nakabayashi Kengo
P Imai Shigetarou

Osaka Touin (Osaka)
LF Nakamura Makoto
2B Minemoto Takumi
3B Katsuki Kazuya
1B Shouzui Yuuya (#8)
RF Aoyagi Kouki (#13)
C Yokoi Yuuya
CF Mori Shinnosuke (#9)
SS Fukuda Kouki
P Fukushima Kousuke

Home Plate Umpire - Furukawa
1st Base Umpire - Tachibana
2nd Base Umpire - Ootsuki? (大槻)
3rd Base Umpire - Doi

______________________________________________________

13:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Nagano liner back at Fukushima! He gets his glove on it, deflects it straight up and makes the catch for the first out! Bad luck there for Nagano, but a nice play from Fukushima.

Sada gets ahead 3-0 before Fukushima puts in 2 strikes. He takes an easy swing and lines a ball to center for a single.  However, Utsunomiya can't do anything and grounds to short. Fukuda tries to go for the double play, but Utsunomiya beats out the throw at 1st.

Nishioka with a liner, but right at Katsuki and he makes the catch to retire the side! Some good defense by Osaka Touin, but Mie is making good contact on Fukushima's pitches early, and that is something to watch out for.

Bottom 1st
But there's a problem for Mie. Imai is maxing out at 130. Which means he's lost significant velocity from yesterday.

Nakamura with a liner to left, but Inaba - making the start today makes the catch.

Minemoto with a ball up the middle, Sada makes the stop, tries the jump throw, but it's offline and late. Nishioka snags it, but can't make the tag. Good try though.

Hit-and-run from Nishitani-kantoku! Katsuki grounds to 2nd, and working to plan Sada's only play is to 1st. 2 down though as Shouzui steps in.

Grounder to 3rd! Yamai with the great pick on the short hop! Throw to 1st low, but Nishioka makes a great pick on his end to secure the out. Scoreless through 1.

Top 2nd
Inaba makes the most of his start! He hits a gapper to right center that splits the defense for a leadoff double!

But Yamai wastes the chance! He pops his bunt, Fukushima secures it and it's like any normal base hit+bunt scenario.

Fukushima though falling behind Seko 3-0, but then firing strikes in once again to fill the count. He ends up walking him, but it also creates the force.

Nakabayashi drive to left! Nakamura going back to the fence! It falls in front of the wall! Inaba scores! Seko being waved around! Throw in... he scores!! #8 batter Nakabayashi helps out his battery mate and gives Mie the 2-0 lead!

Imai tries to help his own cause, but he fouls out to Katsuki near the camera well.

Nagano working the count as a base hit could mean a 3rd run. Count goes full...

And he walks Nagano! Creates a force, but with 2 out I don't think that was the idea this time.

Sada jammed and hits a bouncer up the 3rd base line. Katsuki makes the throw to 1st and the side is retired. Mie though strikes first with a timely double from Nakabayashi! Though 2 runs is still really meaningless at this point.

Bottom 2nd
Aoyagi waiting for his pitch, lines a ball to left. Seko coming in, slides.. makes the catch for the 1st out!

Yokoi clean liner to left for a single, Inaba waits for the bounce into his mitt.

Mori chases a slider way away for the 2nd out. The ball gets away from Nakabayashi and Yokoi can take 2nd.

Imai playing exclusively away from Fukuda, but gets the count full after falling behind 3-0.

But Imai gives him too much of a strike! He lines it to right for a basehit! Relay throw in not nearly enough and it's a 2-1 ballgame!

Fukushima chases the slider as well. Nakabayashi throws to 1st to complete the play, but already Osaka Touin has one of the runs back.

Top 3rd
Both pitchers having to work. Fukushima 36 pitches through 2 innings so far.

Utsunomiya gets the bat around on an inside fastball and puts it past Fukushima's feet into center.

Nakamura-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but Nishioka fouls it up the 3rd base line.

Nishioka goes down and drives a ball, but it's more of a golf swing as Mori is there near the wall for the catch.

Inaba meanwhile is on fire at the right time! He bloops a ball to left and Nakamura has no play on it. Runners on 1st and 2nd for Yamai.

Unlike Imai, Fukushima's velocity doesn't seem to have dropped. His fastball is in the upper 130s.

But Yamai is having no luck! He's jammed, chops one to 3rd and Katsuki starts the 5-4-3 double play to end the inning!

Bottom 3rd
Nakamura slicer down the left field line... fair!  Inaba has to run it down, but Nakamura is in with a leadoff double!

AH! Imai throws a wild pitch and the douten runner is 90 feet away! Nakamura-kantoku calls time.

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

Minemoto chases the slider down and away and Imai dodges 1 bullet. But still 2 to go.

And that's it. Katsuki with a fly to deep left center. The throw just goes into the infield and we're douten at 2-2!

Shouzui flies out to right, but as expected, Osaka Touin has tied the game.

Top 4th
Seko ball up the middle, Fukuda makes the pick, takes a couple of steps.. fires from 2nd and is there for the out.

Nakabayashi can't repeat his first AB and skies a ball to Fukuda for the 2nd out.

The bottom of the lineup this time around proves to be easy as Imai goes down looking to end the inning.

Bottom 4th
Aoyagi gets under a high fastball and pops out to short. Yokoi goes after the first pitch and drives it to center. Nagano running back towards right center makes the catch.

And Mori helicopters a swing, but merely grounds out to Nishoka for the 3rd out. Both aces get a 1-2-3 inning this frame.

Top 5th
Nagano on a ball just inches from the ground hits a liner to center! What the??!!

Sada with the bunt, Fukushima goes to 2nd... AHHHHH!!!

He throws it wide and Fukuda can't snag it! It goes into center and Nagano takes 3rd!

Utsunomiya overswinging at his AB when he just needs at minimum a sac fly.

But then he just goes down and makes contact on a pitch and bloops it to center! Mori coming in, but he can't get there! Nagano comes in and Mie retakes the lead! 3-2!

Nakatani-kantoku calls time...

Nishioka tries to lay down the bunt, but he pops it up! Shouzui makes the charging catch and goes to 1st to double off Utsunomiya! Big mistake, and while it's often seen, the cleanup batter bunting backfires for Mie and what was a great scoring opportunity leads to just 1 run.

Bottom 5th
Bottom of Osaka Touin's lineup trying to attack Imai early this inning. But neither Fukuda nor Fukushima can make any headway and there's 2 out.

Nakamura works the count, but chases the changeup for the 3rd out! The game going at a quick pace, and Mie holds a fragile 3-2 lead over Osaka Touin heading into the break!

Both teams certainly having opportunities against the aces on the mound. Mie though has squandered good scoring opportunities with poor bunting fundamentals. Will that hurt them later?

Top 6th
#5 Uchida (who apparently is injured) to hit for struggling Yamai and it pays immediate dividends! He singles to left! Seko successfully bunts him along.

Nakabayashi with a ball off the end of the bat, flies out to right. Uchida makes it to 3rd, but there's 2 out for Imai. He's quickly down 0-2...

He has to swing away, and hits one right to Fukuda. Throw to 1st and Uchida is stranded at 3rd.

Bottom 6th
Uchida, despite the injury will stay in to play 3B...

Minemoto with a clean single through the left side.

Katsuki not bunting, but he hits it right to short! Utsunomiya to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st as Minemoto slides in... DOUBLE PLAY!!!

Sada hanging in there makes the throw to 1st as Katsuki dives short to 1st! 2 out!

(Cue Docomo mushroom sliding into first...)

Shouzui tries to check his swing, but makes contact with the ball and hits it right back to Imai! He goes to 1st and the side is retired!!

Top 7th
Nagano proving his worth as a leadoff batter as he gets his 2nd base hit to center! 4 quality ABs so far today!

Hit-and-run!! Nagano takes off on the 0-1 pitch, Sada swings and misses, but Yokoi airmails the throw!

Sada further helps the throw as he just throws the bat at the ball and hits it to the right side advancing him to 3rd.

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

But it's a pitchout!!!!!

Utsunomiya has no chance to foul it off and Nagano is run down! 2 out!

Oh, is Nakamura-kantoku trying to give Osaka Touin a chance? He's playing traditional 高校野球 which is completely failing him! It's when he lets his players play that they do their best.

Utsunomiya does draw the walk. But Nishioka lines out to Nakamura in deep left for the 3rd out.

Bottom 7th
Aoyagi leading off the inning, tries to appeal for a dead ball that clearly wasn't. But head ump Furukawa confers. No dead ball is given, but it seems strange.

He eventually draws a walk. Yokoi bunts him along.

But Imai seems to be affected as he hits Mori...

And now Fukuda singles to center! Manrui for Osaka Touin!

Nakamura-kantoku calls for time...

Fukushima does the best thing he can. He avoids the double play at least by striking out swinging and rotates the lineup.

Nakamura jammed, bloops one to center! Nagano charges in, dives... but can't make the catch! 2 runs score and Touin takes the 4-3 lead.

Minemoto grounds out to Imai, but Touin does take the lead with just 2 innings to go.

Top 8th
Mie though is playing desperate. Inaba, Uchida and Seko all fly out and they'll be down to their final 3 outs.

Bottom 8th
Apparently that is it for Imai on the mound for now. He goes to RF as #12 Mori replaces Seko and takes the hill.

Katsuki starts him off with a single to center. Shouzui bunts him along.

Now #11 Setoue comes in to pitch for Mori, and #18 Matsumura comes in for Inaba to play LF.

And he hits Aoyagi...

Settles down a bit, fires a couple of strikes and gets Yokoi to pop up to center. Nagano charges in... makes the running catch for the 2nd out.

He then fires 2 strikes in to Mori.. and he pops it up! Matsumura with the catch and the side is retired.

Top 9th
But it's Osaka Touin that has the 4-3 lead going into the 9th...

And it's the 8-9-1 batters up for Mie. Nagano may get to bat with 2 outs...

Nakabayashi completely different from last inning's ABs. Tries to take pitches, drives a ball to center and Mori is there for the out.

Imai will stand in to hit, despite his poor BA.

But he fouls off pitches staying alive...

And singles up the middle to set it up for Nagano.

Nagano with a liner to left and that's in for a single. Imai as the douten run is in scoring position.

Nakatani-kantoku calls for time.

Now Nakamura-kantoku goes with a PH? #13 Suzuki stands in to hit for Sada.

SANSHIN!!!!

Suzuki too eager perhaps chases the changeup inside and there's 2 out.

Utsunomiya grounder to short, Fukuda throws to 1st, and a diving Utsunomiya can't stop the inevitable. Osaka Touin claims the title with a 4-3 win over Mie.

I'm sorry, but while my alliances are clearly against Osaka Touin, I wouldn't have minded them winning because well... they're Osaka Touin and they're a powerhouse, and etc. etc.

But I have issue with this win. Yes, Mie did themselves no favors during the game. The failed bunt in the 2nd... the failed squeeze in the 7th. If Mie had just played the game straight up - especially in the 7th, they could certainly be in a better position.

I can't really get over the dead ball request that Aoyagi made in the 7th though. It clearly wasn't a dead ball, he knew it, but he got the umpires to confer and it wound up throwing off Imai's rhythm as Osaka Touin would score the douten and gyakuten runs.

And as I was clearly reminded, the saying goes, "You play to win the game."

Sure, of course you do.

But I would rather it be done the right way. One that doesn't require seemingly underhanded tactics. I'm no optimist, let me tell you - otherwise why would I be thinking this? But when I first started watching 高校野球, it was because I thought the premise was pure and wholesome.

As you've read my thoughts on it in recent years, I have found that that vision is far from reality.

As I see the interviews going on with Fukushima and Nakamura, they are crying because they won. And of course there can only be one winner. But more often than not, like in real life - it's the big cats that generally rule the day.

Life isn't fair, and I know that. It's just sad to think that it applies to the extent that it does here.

And now onto our game of the day.

Osaka Touin had to smile even before reaching Koushien, seeing a lot of the powerhouses from other prefectures not even qualify. It just meant that they had less competition to face to get to and win the finals.

But the road has been far from easy. First was a ridiculous game versus Kaisei that they barely won 7-6. Then came facing Meitoku Gijyuku, for the 3rd straight year, and holding on to win that game. After an easy time against Yazu, they slowed down Kendai's running attack enough (with some fortunate events) to reach the semifinals.

And that resume presents a problem. Because their opponent appears to be a team that can beat them at their own game - Tsuruga Kehi.

Now, their offense slowed down last game as they only scored 7 runs against Hachinohe Gakuin Kousei, but they still average over 12 runs a game so far and do not have any signs of stopping. In fact, given some of their actions, they'd rather continue pummeling their opponents if given the opportunity.

If I were Mie, I honestly don't really know who I'd want to face. A seemingly weaker Osaka Touin squad (their team average is under 0.300!) that has done it before, or a ridiculously strong team (only Nakamoto has an average UNDER 0.300) that's never been there before...

Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui)
1B Shinohara Ryou
3B Shimomura Takamasa
SS Asai Kouya
C Okada Kouta
CF Mine Kentarou
RF Oyana Shou
P Hiranuma Shouta
LF Yamamoto Akihiro
2B Nakamoto Takahiro

Osaka Touin (Osaka)
LF Nakamura Makoto
2B Minemoto Takumi
3B Katsuki Kazuya
1B Shouzui Yuuya (#8)
CF Mori Shinnosuke (#9)
RF Aoyagi Kouki (#13)
C Yokoi Yuuya
SS Fukuda Kouki
P Fukushima Kousuke

______________________________________________________

13:28 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Good start for Fukushima as he gets Shinohara to hit a weak grounder to 2nd. Shimomura though hits an easy single to right.

Asai with a lines single through to left, and could the engine already be revved up??

Okada almost takes out Fukushima with a hard liner back at him and he can only spin out of the way... Manrui for Tsuruga Kehi!!

Mine single to left! Shimomura scores as everyone moves up a station., 1-0 Kehi already!

OH MY.

Oyana just CRUSHED a ball to right. Aoyagi going back to the wall!!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DEAR LORD.

Who the heck can stop this team? They took the challenge of facing Osaka Touin and just stepped all over it.

5-0 TSURUGA KEHI.

Hiranuma and Yamamoto groundout to 2nd, but this is beyond ridiculuous.

Bottom 1st
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Nakamura drive to left center!!!

Mine going back to the wall! He looks up!!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, then is it going to be this type of game? It's only 1 run, but it's a statement nonetheless. 5-1!

And now Minemoto draws a walk! Katsuki follows that up with a single to right! Nishitani-kantoku calling for the bunt from Shouzui! He fouls 2 off but lays the 3rd one down!

Mori scorcher up the 1st base line... FAIR!!!!!!! It gets past Shinohara and into right! Both runners are going to score and it's a 5-3 ballgame!! What the heck is going on here?!!

Huranuma retires Aoyagi and Yokoi to retire the side, and while Osaka Touin got the wrong end of that inning, it could have gone much worse.

Top 2nd
The engine goes into action again. Nakamoto singles back up the middle for a leadoff hit. Shinohara lays down a bunt to move him over to murderer's row.

Fukushima avoids one bullet as Shimomura flies out to center. But then he adds pressure to himself by throwing a wild pitch moving Nakamoto to 3rd. And then he walks Yokoi...

SANSHIN!!!

Fukushima comes out unscathed as he gets Okada to chase the cut ball for the 3rd out!

Bottom 2nd
Both pitchers having success against the bottom of the lineups. Hiranuma strikes out Fukuda on a changeup inside, while Fukushima flies out to center.

But he wants nothing to do with Nakamura and he walks him.

Minemoto with a drive to left.

Naw...

Can't be...

Mine going back to the wall.

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hiranuma leaves it over the plate and Minemoto knows exactly what to do with it! Amazingly... we're tied at 5-5!!

Katsuki grounds out to 1st, but Osaka Touin has already made up the 5-run deficit!!

Top 3rd
Mine goes down swinging and perhaps Fukushima has settled down.

NOPE! NOT AT ALL!!!

OYANA DRIVE TO RIGHT! Does he have his 2nd HR???

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He does! It can get more ridiculous! Oyama with 5 RBIs already and he gives Tsuruga Kehi the 6-5 lead!!

And then he walks Hiranuma! Oh boy.

But once again, there is respite at the bottom of the lineup. Yamamoto strikes out, and Nakamoto pops up to Minemoto to end the inning.

But these teams are trading haymakers like there's no tomorrow!

Bottom 3rd
Shouzui working a long AB against Hiranuma but Hiranuma finally wins on the 12th pitch with a groundout to short.

Mori meanwhile gets his 2nd hit with a seeing eye-single to right.

But both Aoyagi and Yokoi uppercut two balls into 2 infield flies and Hiranuma finally as a clean frame.

Top 4th
In this type of game you cannot give the other team free runners. Yet Fukuda does just that as he bobbles the ball on Shinohara's groundout. Shimomura bunts him over.

But Shinohara goes on contact and Asai's grounder goes to short. But Fukuda goes to 3rd and he's caught! Asai doesn't even have time to get to 2nd.

Okada flies out to left and Fukushima holds serve.

Bottom 4th
Fukuda chopper up middle... it gets through! He finally gets his first hit of Koushien! Fukushima bunts him over.

Nakamura will not take another walk (though he should) and hits a hard bounder to 2nd. Nakamoto goes to 1st, and the runner advances.

Minemoto with his own liner slicing past Hiranuma into center! Fukuda scores and we're level again at 6-6!!

Katsuki earns a walk and that means Hiranuma has to face Shouzui - though he's 0-1 so far.

Shouzui with a fly to right, but the defense is playing in???!!

Mine and Oyana have to scramble back as the ball goes all the way to the wall!  Minemoto scores! Katsuki comes around.. he scores!!! Osaka Touin takes the lead on Shouzui's triple!! It's 8-6!!!

うそ！うそだろう！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！

Mori with a drive to right! Oyana going towards the foul pole!!!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mori with a 2-run HR gives Osaka Touin the 10-6 lead!!!

Aoyagi strikes out to end the inning, but Shouzui and Mori land back-to-back blows and is Tsuruga Kehi on the ropes?

Top 5th
Mine chases a slider outside for the first out.

Oyana will not get 3 consecutive HRs, but he does bloop a single to left.

おっと。。。

Fukushima hits Hiranuma on his right leg...

Yamamoto revenges that with a liner to right! Oyana comes around from 2nd to score and it's 10-7!!!

Nakamoto lifts a ball to right! Aoyagi having to scramble back! That's over his head as it bounds to the wall! Hiranuma scores on the double and it's 10-8!!

Shinohara oddly struggling at the top of the lineup. He goes down swinging on a changeup for the 2nd out.

And Shimomura grounds to 3rd! Katsuki with it, takes his time and makes the throw to 1st for the 3rd out!

Tsuruga Kehi doesn't get all the runs back, but cuts the deficit to 2!

Bottom 5th
Shimomura makes a great play on a short hop to reture Yokoi.

Fukuda chases a shoulder-high fastball and flies out to right.

And Hiranuma flies out to deep center and we hit the break.

ドン。。。

Top 6th
Asai shut down after the 1st as he grounds to 3rd.

Okada with a grounder to the left side, Fukuda sells out and dives, but it's out of his reach.

But Mine groudns to short! Fukuda goes to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st... double play!!!  6-4-3 double play and Tsuruga Kehi fails to gain ground!

Bottom 6th
Both pitchers are over the 100 pitch mark now, with Hiranuma at exactly 100.

Even now, he still wants nothing to do with Nakamura, he walks him to start the inning.

Wild pitch from Hiranuma! Nakamura heads to 2nd!

Another wild pitch! It bounces in front and then goes all the way to the backstop and Nakamura heads to 3rd!

Minemoto draws a 4-pitch walk.

And that's it for Hiranuma. But he's still in the game.

But it's not #11 Umino, it's LF Yamamoto!! He and Hiranuma switch places!

Katsuki rudely welcomes him with a drive to left! That's over Hiranuma's head! Nakamura comes to score, Minemoto heads to 3rd, he's given the wave around! Katsuki has a 2-RBI double and Osaka Touin leads 12-8!!

Shouzui liner, but Asai makes the snag for the 2nd out!

Mori makes poor contact, but hits it to the right side to advance the runner to 3rd.

Aoyagi grounder to short, throw to first is short and goes off of Shinohara's glove! Katsuki scores and it's 13-8!!

And it looks like Aoyagi needs some treatment as his head slide into first scraped him up in some way, I think his arm.

It looks like they're thinking about an injury-runner, but I'm not sure the umpires will let that fly. After a delay, he comes out to 1st.

However, he gets caught off 1st and is run down to end the inning.

Top 7th
Tsuruga Kehi trying to hit their way out of the deficit.

Oyana with a sharp drive to center, but Mori sprinting back makes the catch.

Hiranuma with a liner to left, but Aoyaji makes the catch there too.

Yamamoto tries a different strategy with a safety bunt! Katsuki charges in, but his throw is late!

And Nakamoto pays that off! He drives one to left center and that'll go over the drawn in defense and to the wall! Yamamoto scores to make it 13-9!!

Shinohara flies out to left to end the inning, and now it's time that Tsuruga Kehi's enemy...

Bottom 7th
Yokoi draws a leadoff walk and Osaka Touin would like to play add-on. But Fukuda pops up his bunt and Okada makes the catch.

Fukushima flies out to left, and that brings out Nakamura again, who is actually just 1-2 with 2 BB and that HR.

Nakamura with a popup to shallow right center... Everyone converges on it, and it's Nakamoto who makes the sliding catch for the 3rd out!

Top 8th
Fukushima leaves a ball too close to the plate and Shimomura singles past a diving Fukuda.

Shimomura takes off for 2nd! Throw from Yokoi not even close! Through remember they're down 4.

Asai tries to stay alive, but flies out to right.

Nakatani-kantoku calling for time, Fukushima is sitting at 132 pitches.

Fukushima can't throw a strike! He falls behind Okada before getting a ball in. But he still winds up walking him and that brings up Mine who is 1-3 on the day with 2 Ks and a double play to his name.,

Mine drive to left, but it's not nearly deep enough. Nakamura is there for the catch.

And that brings up Oyana... he may be their last real chance in this game....

At first it looks like they're going to pitch around him, but two strong swings level the count.

Comebacker! Fukushima squats and squeezes the ball! Goes to 1st and Tsuruga Kehi comes up snake eyes!!

Bottom 8th
Minemoto with a single through the right side. Katsuki on the very next pitch hits a gapper to right center past the outfielders. Minemoto comes all the way around from 1st to score and make it 14-9.

Wild pitch from Yamamoto sends him to 3rd and this could be it. He then walks Shouzui, they get that back after he's caught trying to steal 2nd.

Still, Mori hits a sac fly to right to make it 15-9.

The day officially ends for Hiranuma. #10 Taniguchi comes in for him to take the hill while Yamamoto goes back to left. And while he hits the first batter, he gets Yokoi to fly to center to end the inning.

Top 9th
#17 Matsuoka hits for RP Taniguchi, and gives a pretty good AB. However Fukushima wins as he flies out to left.

Yamamoto with a grounder to the right side. Shinohara grabs the ball, tosses to Fukushima who barely beats Yamamoto to the bag for the 2nd out.

Nakamoto gets hit to flip the lineup over to the top and Yonemitsu.

And he singles through the right side. Nakamoto goes to 3rd, but they're still a long ways from a tie game.

Shimomura now steps in to try and keep the dream alive. Down 0-2, he takes two pitches Fukushima tries to paint the corner with.

But on the 3-2 pitch, Shimomura hits a liner to left! Nakamura is there for the catch and on his 160th pitch Fukushima closes out the game!! Osaka Touin prevails 15-9!!

Yet even in this crazy game, you have to feel for Tsuruga Kehi. They went through this entire tournament being the proverbial bully, and I even proclaimed then to be wearing the black hats. Yet, those words were spoken in hyperbole and we have to remember they are still kids.

And perhaps you need that confidence, that arrogance - whether visible or not, is necessary to win the tournament. For Tsuruga Kehi, it was more apparent and hence the black hat comments.

You can perhaps question not relieving Hiranuma in prior games to rest his arm - especially the Hachinohe Gakuin Kousei game. But in the end they played a great tournament and just ran into a team that could finally keep up with them.

And so we have our final set. It's an all central affair with Osaka Touin trying to win their 4th title against Mie who is trying to win their 1st.

People may not realize that back in 2012 these two teams faced off. Kendai back then was like the Kendai now, free running and exciting the crowd.

But when they faced Osaka Touin, they got thrown out once and we never saw them try again as they fell 3-1.

If they have to running game, they are lost. That's all I think it really boils down to.

Osaka Touin (Osaka)
LF Nakamura Makoto
2B Minemoto Takumi
3B Katsuki Kazuya
1B Shouzui Yuuya (#8)
RF Aoyagi Kouki (#13)
C Yokoi Yuuya
CF Mori Shinnosuke (#9)
SS Fukuda Kouki
P Fukushima Kousuke

Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma)
CF Hirayama Takayuki
2B Hoshino Yuusuke
RF Wakimoto Naoto
1B Nagashima Ryouhei
C Tsuge Sena
LF Yamagami Takashi
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke (#15)
SS Yokomizo Takuto
P Kawai Tomoya (#11)

______________________________________________________

13:10 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Kawai gets an easy popup from Nakamura to start.

Minemoto hot shot to 3rd, Shibahiki with a great stop and throw gets him out.

Katsuki high chopper up middle, Yokomizo ranges, gets it, spins, throws.. but not in time!

He took an extra step and that probably cost him the out.

Shouzui with a single through the left side and could they be in trouble like Kousei?

No! Kawai snaga the comebacker from Aoyagi and goes to 1st to retire the side!

Bottom 1st
We'll see if they can run right off the bat as Fukushima walks Hirayama!

And he does! Throw from Yokoi is high and he's in safely!

Hoshino with the bunt! Yokoi can only go to 1st. 1 down.

Wakimoto does his job! He hits a ball to center! Mori catches, fires home as Hirayama tags up, but it's not in time! Kendai leads 1-0!

Nagashima bloops a ball to center that falls in front of Mori.

But Fukushima with a quick toss to 1st gets Nagashima to end the inning!

Top 2nd
Yokoi hot shot to 3rd! Shibahiki with a wave of the hand picks the high bounce! He loses it on the way down, but gathers it and throws to 1st... out!  Nice play by the 2nd year!

Mori with a liner to center, but Nakamura comes in and is there to make the catch.

Fukuda a bit early on the ball, controls his swing, but grounds to 1st. Nagashima takes it to the bag for the 3rd out.

Bottom 2nd
So the only thing that can derail Kendai is simply not having any baserunners.

And I'm not sure if they'll be able to hit for one, because here in the 2nd both Tsuge and Yamagami both are fooled on Fukushima's pitches and ground out while Shibahiki can't hold up his swing on a ball in the dirt.

Top 3rd
Osaka Touin not having as hard of a time getting on base. Fukushima singles back up the middle, and is bunted along to 2nd.

Kawai climbs the ladder on Katsuki and he swings! Yokomizo camps under it for the 2nd out.

Shouzui liner to center, Hirayama charging in, reaches out.. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hirayama misses the ball and it gets by! Fukushima scores! Minemoto being waved around and he scores on the lucky triple! Osaka Touin leads 2-1!

Aoyagi fouls out to Nagashima, but that decision to go for it by Hirayama costs them the lead!

Bottom 3rd
2 Ks at the bottom of the lineup and we're back to Hirayama.

He tries the safety bunt! Katsuki charging in and fires to 1st... SAFE!! He barely head slides in ahead of the throw.

And then he takes of for 2nd! Yokoi's throw... Fukuda can't secure it! Hirayama trying to manufacture another run on his own.

Hoshino with a ball to right, Aoyagi backing up makes the catch to retire the side.

Top 4th
Osaka Touin is playing small ball??!!

After Yokoi singles to center, Mori bunts him over! This feels odd coming from them.

Because Fukuda strikes out swinging on a slider in the dirt, and Fukushima simply grounds out to 1st for the 3rd out. I guess they figure those 2 can't normally hit.

Bottom 4th
Wakimoto with a slicer down the right field line! Aoyagi runs it down, but he's in with a double! Nagashima with the push bunt forces Katsuki to field it and Wakimoto advances to 3rd.

Tsuge takes a pitch the other way... and that's in for a basehit! Wakimoto can walk home and we're all tied at 1-1!

2 down for Kendai and Aoyagi-kantoku calls the hit-and-run! Shibahiki takes the ball to right and there's runners at the corners!

Shibahiki takes off to 2nd! Yokomizo swings and misses! Throw to 2nd and Tsuge takes off for home! Minemoto's cuts the ball but loses the grip! Tsuge scores!!

NO!

The home plate umpire calls Yokomizo for batter's interference on the throw and he's out! We're still tied at 2-2!

(Personally, I don't know if that was the right call...)

Top 5th
Aoyagi-kantoku figures 4 innings is enough for Kawai and #10 Matsuno comes in to take over.

But he walks Nakamura to start the 5th.

Minemoto not bunting, but kinda throws the bat at the ball down 1-2 and dribbles it to the left side like a bunt. He advances the runner nonetheless.

AH! Pitch from Matsuno is high and deflects off Tsuge's glove! Nakamura takes off for 3rd and reaches with no throw!

Katsuki hits a ball to left, but it's too shallow and Nakamura can't score.

Matsuno gets out of the pinch as Shouzui grounds out to short! Yokomizo's completes the play at 1st and Kendai holds serve.

Bottom 5th
Hoshino with a 2-out liner to center brings up Wakimoto. But will Hoshino run?

Wakimoto swings!!!

Drive to right! Aoyagi heading towards the foul pole! Still going!  He's in front of the fence!

Makes the catch!!!

The hamakaze finally wins a match and it's at the expense of Wakimoto!

We hit the break and so far Kendai has been able to run, but not to the extent of other games, but some bad luck has prevented them from taking the lead. But they have proven that they will try the double steal!

Top 6th
Aoyagi becomes Matsuno's 1st K victim as he chases the slider.  Yokoi becomes the 2nd after swinging at a ball in the opposite batters box!

Mori flies out to left, and it's another scoreless inning for Kendai!

Bottom 6th
Kendai's batters continue to mostly struggle against Fukushima. 2 down, Yamagami gets on base as a short chopper forces Minemoto to charge in and his underhand flip is too high and takes Shouzui off the bag.

Yamagami takes off for 2nd but Yokoi tries to frame the pitch for the K instead! Doesn't get the call and Yamagami is in scoring position!

But Shibahiki flies out to right and that ends things in the 6th.

Top 7th
Matsuno on the verge of walking leadoff batter Fukuda, but gets him to chase the slider inside for the out.

Fukushima with a single to right turns the lineup over for Nakamura.

He hits a drive to left! Yamagami heading to the fence, but he's pulling up!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leadoff batter Nakamura puts Osaka Touin ahead with one swing! 4-2!

Ah! And now Matsuno hits Minemoto! Aoyagi-kantoku quickly scrambles the bullpen.

Minemoto takes off for 2nd! Throw from Tsuge... not in time!! Katsuki with a flyout to right advances the runner to 3rd.

Oy, Matsuno walks Shouzui.

After an 0-1 pitch up and in, Aoyagi-kantoku calls time.

It doesn't help! (I think) Matsuno walks Aoyagi and the bases are loaded! Perhaps they figure that marginal run they would score is worth getting a force at any base.

Yokoi swings on the first pith though and hits a pop fly to Nagashima for the 3rd out.

Bottom 7th
One down and #17 Kinjyou hits for Matsuno, but he goes down on 3 pitches all on the slider it seems. Really a waste of an AB.

2 down, and while Hirayama draws a walk, his run would only make it a 1-run game.

He goes for 2nd, and with it ties the record for SB at Koushien!

The record is nice, but I think he wants the win.

Liner to right side, Shouzui dives, makes the catch!! That denies them the run!

Top 8th
Grounder to short, AHHH!!!

It takes a high hop and hits him in the head! Mori is safe, but how is Yokomizo?

Oh, the replay shows the ball hitting his neck, but that still hurts.

Fukuda grounder up middle! Yokomizo knocks it down but can only go to 1st.

Mori advances to 3rd with a fly ball to right.

Nakamura shot at 3rd... And Shibahiki can't pick it! It goes to left and Mori scores to make it a 3-run margin at 5-2.

Takahashi gets Minemoto to end the inning, but 3 runs in 2 innings is a lot to ask of Kendai.

Bottom 8th
Hoshino liner up right side, but Shouzui snags that one too!

2 down, Tsuge with a shallow fly to left center. Mori charges in, dives but can't get there. It kicks awa and Tsuge is in with a double.

Yamagami with a drive to center, but Mori going back easily fields it and Kendai may fall once again to the powerhouse.

Top 9th
#5 Nakasuji comes in for Yokomizo.

Takahashi retires the side in order, but his team is against the wall.

Bottom 9th
Kendai goes quietly in 9th and Osaka Touin defeats Kendai Takasaki once again 5-2 to advance to Best 4.

Kendai didn't deviate from their plan, but you could say they were partially a victim of bad luck. The batter's interference on the double steal, Wakimoto's deep fly that just missed being a HR, the two liners that Shouzui were able to snag. It just wasn't their day.

And it's too bad because their baseball is so fun to watch and something you just don't see everyday. There are parts of their team that are young, so perhaps we'll see this team again soon.

I don't have time for a writeup, but god speed Yazu...

Osaka Touin (Osaka)
LF Nakamura Makoto
2B Minemoto Takumi
3B Katsuki Kazuya
1B Masazui Yuuya (#8)
RF Aoyagi Kouki (#13)
C Yokoi Yuuya
CF Mori Shinnosuke (#9)
SS Fukuda Kouki
P Tanaka Seiya (#10)

Yazu (Tottori)
CF Nishihara Tomoya
2B Oomoto Takahisa
SS Nakao Naoya
1B Ookubo Ryouhei
C Nishigaki Masaki
LF Takeuchi Shun
RF Kawada Kenichirou
3B Fujiwara Naoki
P Kamatani Kouhei

______________________________________________________

10:40 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Well, Kamatani going after Nakamura and gets him looking on a fastball on the inner half!

Minemoto grounder to short, Oomoto with the throw, but just not enough on it to get the out.

Katsuki a simple fly to left and there's 2 out.

Minemoto takes off for 2nd! Nishigaki's throw to 2nd... In time! 3 out!

Bottom 1st
Nakao gets Yazu their first base hit after 2 quick outs. But he tries to steal 2nd... and backpedals as he's tagged.

Top 2nd
Masazui looks like he waited until the last minute to decide on swinging, flies out to center.

Aoyagi clean single through the left side.

Tokunaga-kantoku must have done a great coaching job on Kamatani as he's going right after Osaka Touin! Yokoi strikes out on a changeup on the outside edge!

Mori with a liner, but right to Takeuchi and it's another clean inning!

Bottom 2nd
Yazu's batters to start are stubborn at least. Nishigaki goes 7 pitches before he strikes out. Takeuchi goes 8 before finally placing one in right center for a base hit.

Kawada sharp shot up 1st base line, but Masazui makes a great backhanded stop! Goes to 1st for 3rd out.

Yazu in the early stages is holding their own. But this is a marathon and there are many innings to go.

Top 3rd
Kamatani getting 2 quick outs from the bottom of the lineup. He's have a clean inning, but an irregular bounce on a ball up they middle by Nakamura catches Nakao off guard and it goes into center.

Kamatani walks Minemoto... could this be where Osaka Touin strikes?

No! Katsuki gets jammed and he just rolls an easy ball to Ookubo! Tags 1st and Kamatani is out of the mini-pinch!

Bottom 3rd
Yazu meanwhile, cannot get any traction against relief starter Tanaka and go down in order.

Top 4th
One down for Osaka Touin and Aoyagi hits a single right in front of Takeuchi.

Yokoi with a blooper to center, Nakao and Nishihara converge, but it falls right in between them!

AH! Mori liner to left for a base hit! It's manrui for Osaka Touin! There's no place to put Fukuda as he steps in.

And Kamatani bends down as he thought for sure he had Fukuda on the 2-2 slider inside.

OSHIDASHI!  His slider just misses outside and he walks in a run! Osaka Touin takes a 1-0 lead!

Tanaka grounder to 1st! Ookubo goes home and they get the lead runner. 2 down and Kamatani can still get out of the jam.

No!!  His full count pitch to Nakamura goes low and he walks in another run! 2-0 Osaka Touin!

And now he hits Minemoto on the elbow! That brings in another run! 3-0 Osaka Touin and the dream for Yazu is crashing down hard.

Katsuki grounder up middle, Oomoto with a diving attempt, but can only deflect it! 2 runs are going to score on the play and they've blown it open now leading 5-0.

Masazui up for the 2nd time, records the 1st and 3rd outs of the inning, grounding out to short. But Kamatani, who had been strong all game has finally broken.

Bottom 4th
Trailing big now, Yazu still goes with their patience strategy, but it's still not producing any results. They are retired in order.

Top 5th
C Nishigaki removes the gear and will take the hill! Ace Kamatani gives way for #12 Ooishi who will do the receiving work now.

First up he strikes out Aoyagi on a fastball on the outer half.  And then it's back-to-back flyouts from Mori and Yokoi! The C has a 1-2-3 inning!  Good for him!

Bottom 5th
Sadly it's much of the same for Yazu. 3 up, 3 down.

It was a great first couple of innings as Yazu held serve with Osaka Touin, but with the 5 runs and the inability to get any hits by the Yazu offense the game looks all but over.

Top 6th
Nishigaki not exactly with great control either, as he walks Fukuda to start the inning. 2 down, he walks Nakamura as well.

And he can't keep a clean sheet. Katsuki singles to right scoring Fukuda from 2nd without a throw.

He does get the 3rd out after that, but it really does feel like formalities.

Bottom 6th
Nishihara with the one of the harder hits by a Yazu batter, but he lines out to Fukuda for the 3rd out. Bench starter Tanaka with a 2-hit shutout going.

Top 7th
Runner on 3rd, no out, Nakao makes a great sliding stop on a hard shot from Yokoi. He's able to hold the runner and make he play at 1st.

Mori iwth a ball right at Ookubo. He looks the runner back and goes to the bag for the 2nd out.

And Nishigaki strands the runner! Fukuda pops up the first pitch and Nakao is there on the foul line to make the catch!

Bottom 7th
16 straight retired by Tanaka after he finishes up his 5th consecutive clean inning.

8th-9th Innings
More players come in, Osaka Touin scores more runs. Final score 10-0.

To be honest, asking Yazu to win would be like asking any AA squad to beat a major league team. Sure, it's possible, but not probable. But you should dream for at least a little that you could beat them. But I'm sure there was a collective groan when they found out they were facing them. All you can do is shrug your shoulders, go out there and do what you can.

So now we know the the unlucky team that will have to face the winner of this game is Yazu out of Tottori...  God speed...

Osaka Touin was involved in a bizarre game against Kaisei (Shimane) where they scored 7 runs on 5 hits thanks to balks, wild pitches, just about anything that wasn't normal.  But the thing is, they only got 5 hits.  If it were any other school, I'm sure they'd figure out a way to dirty up the game like Kaisei did.

The thing is, this is Meitoku Gijyuku, and they have Kishi Jyunichirou and chances are they won't do that.  Their game against Chiben Gakuen was close to start, but Chiben's pitching fell apart at the end and that allowed Meitoku to cruise to a 10-4 win.

But Kishi did give up 4 runs on 9 hits.  So I wonder if they can play it straight and still have a chance...

Osaka Touin (Osaka)
LF Nakamura Makoto
2B Minemoto Takumi
3B Katsuki Kazuya
1B Masazui Yuuya (#8)
CF Mori Shinnosuke (#9)
C Yokoi Yuuya
RF Fujii Kenpei (#11)
SS Fukuda KoukiP Fukushima Kousuke

Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
RF Takano Kouhei
CF Ootani Yuuki
LF Tada Tougo (#18)
P Kishi Jyunichirou
1B Nishioka Souta
2B Mori Shouma
SS Yasuda Takayuki
C Mizuno Katsuya
3B Ozaki Yuuto (#7)

____________________________________________________________

14:25 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Kishi puts a fastball in the inner half, freezing Nakamura.

Minemoto with a grounder up the middle.  Ootani running it down, Minemoto's going full speed into 2nd!  Throw from Ootani.. not in time!

Oy....

Katsuki with a drive to right, Takano going back to the wall, going back...

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

Katsuki beats the hamakaze and puts it over the wall!  Just like that Osaka Touin leads 2-0!!

And now Masazui singles back up the middle! Kishi might already be in trouble!!

He is throwing a lot of pitches here in the first as Shinnousuke fouls off pitches.  He eventually draws a walk and Mabuchi-kantoku calls for time.

Osaka Touin I think wants to send a message to Kishi this time around, Nishitani-kantoku sends the runner on a hit-and-run though Yokoi fouls it off.

Kishi gets his 2nd K on a cut ball that Yokoi swings and misses on.

Fujii screamer down 1st base line, picked by Nishioka! Goes to the bag and he saves 2 runs! But Katsuki's 2-run HR puts Kishi and Meitoku Gijyuku in an immediate hole!

Bottom 1st
Takano pitched inside by Fukushima, gets around on it, but skies it to left.  Nakamura there for the catch near the left field foul pore.

Ootani with a grounder to the right side, Minemoto can't run it down and it goes through for a base hit.

Tada grounder to 2nd, but Minemoto loses the ball! Quick throw to 1st, not in time and everyone's safe!  He may have been anticipating the ball there...

...because despite being hot and cold, Kishi steps into the box.

But Fukushima gets him to chase a high fastball!  He can't get level and pops it up!  Masazui under it in foul territory and there's 2 out!  Might be the cold Kishi today at the plate.

Nishida ahead 3-1 after taking a close pitch, but he swings and just hits a fly to center for the 3rd out. Meitoku with a chance to cut into the deficit, but come up with nothing.

Top 2nd
Much cleaner inning for Kishi against the bottom of the lineup.  Fukuda grounds to 2nd and Fukushima strikes out swinging.

Nakamura with a hard chopper to the left side, Yasuda makes a great pick on the short bounce and throws to 1st for the 3rd out.

Bottom 2nd
Mori goes down looking on a fastball for the first out.

Yasuda with a drive to right center!  Mori and Fujii going to the fence!  They're looking up!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These guys are just spitting on the hamakaze at Koushien and hitting it out to right field!  Yasuda on the netting and it's 2-1!

Fukushima retires Mizuno and Ozaki to end the inning, but despite my doubts they're going to butt heads for better or worse.

Top 3rd
Minemoto with a sharp liner to right for a base hit, bringing up Kazuki... again...

Katsuki with a liner to center and Minemoto takes 3rd! Kishi in trouble again!

Masazui racking up the pitches on Kishi, goes 8 pitches before Kishi finally gets an infield fly.

Kishi gets the popup, but it's into shallow left!  Tada charging in, but he can't get there in time!  Unlucky for Kishi and he gets the popup, but not the out. 3-1 Osaka Touin.

Yokoi line single to left, that scores Katsuki and it's 4-1!

Finally out of the heart of the Osaka Touin lineup, Kishi gets the 2nd and 3rd outs. But he continues to lose ground to the heart of the lineup...

Bottom 3rd
Takano chopper up first base line, Masazui with the ball.  But Fukushima is late covering and Takano is safe.

Ootani tries to get 2 runs back with one swing, but the hamazake wins this time.  Fujii makes the catch for the out.

Meitoku going about this the wrong way as they're trying to get the runs back with one swing.  Tada with a ball to right center, but it's very much in play for Mori to make the catch.

Fujishima hits Kishi on his left hand (his non-throwing hand) and is on base for Nishioka.

But Fukushima can't find the strike zone and walks Nishioka to load the bases for Shouma!

Shouma bails him out swinging on an outside pitch and grounding to short. Meitoku loses another opportunity.

Top 4th
Ootani misjudges a ball hit at him, his late sprint forward costs him a chance at the catch and Nakamura has a leadoff double.

Kishi finally retires Minemoto as he fouls out on the 3rd base side.  But that still brings up Katsuki.

Behind 3-1, they decide to walk him to create the force and hopefully get a double play from Masazui.

Kishi's pitch count already at 80.  His 81st Masazui sends it back past Kishi into center. Nakamura scores to make it a 5-1 ballgame.

Shinnosuke flies out to Tada to end the inning, but suffice it to say that Kishi is in bad shape.

Bottom 4th
Mabuchi-kantoku apparently had his voice raised, not sure if it was yelling, but Meitoku's batters are seemingly swinging away more now. Unsurprisingly, they go down in order.

Top 5th
Kishi, away from the heart of the lineup is fine as he retires the side in order. But they're more than happy to speed up the tempo if Meitoku is going to start hacking away.

Bottom 5th
Meitoku is trying to hit their way out of the deficit when he's walked and hit batters. 2 quick outs before Tada gets hit by Fukushima.

Kishi swings on the first pitch and grounds to 2nd.  3 outs and as we hit the break, I'm declaring this game over in favor of Osaka Touin. I think Mabuchi-kantoku told them to swing the bats, and they are...

and they'll lose.

Top 6th
Kishi with his 100th pitch strikes out Fukushima to start the 6th.

Nakamura and Minemoto quickly follow in order and not lost on me is that if this score held, it would be the same score that Meitoku Gijyuku beat them last year.

Bottom 6th

Nishioka with a single to center gives them just their 2nd leadoff runner.

#12 Namura hits for Shouma, but grounds right to 1st.  Masazui cuts down the lead runner.

2 down and Mizuno gets a base hit up the middle.

#14 Sanada to hit for Ozaki, but first pitch grounds to short, inning over.

Top 7th
Namura stays in to play 2B, #5 Oonishi comes in for Sanada to play 3B.

Osaka Touin is retired in order without incident.

Bottom 7th
So Ootani works the count and gets a walk.

Tada doesn't appear to be discriminantly swinging, and is able to single through the right side for a base hit.

And now Kishi is patient at the plate... He lines a ball to center and the bases are loaded.

Is it possible they're finally learning?

But Nishioka hits a fly ball to left.  Nakamura fields it, but Ootani can't go home.

Mabuchi-kantoku pulls his last card in #11 Tanaka to hit for Namura.

He's getting several lives in the AB.  A pop foul is just missed by Katsuki.  A pitch inside he just fouls off.

But he pops it up!  Minemoto charging out, Mori charging in... Minemoto makes the catch and the side is retired!

It took a great play, but Meitoku's margin of error they made razor thin. This was probably their best chance.

Top 8th
#17 Takamura comes in for PH Tanaka and goes to 2B.

Fujii checks in with a base hit, their first since the 4th, though that's inconsequential.

Bottom 8th-9th Inning
The rest of the game goes without incident and without anything of note. Well, except for the fact that a well timed error on a ground ball by Tada meant that Kishi could get one more AB. 

Kishi gives the crowd one last thing to remember him by as he blasts a 2-run HR to left, ruining the poetic 5-1 finish that perhaps would have been fitting in their eyes.

Nishioka takes the next pitch to left for a base hit, prompting a visit from Nakatani-kantoku as Mabuchi-kantoku sends in #11 Abeki.

But he strikes out to end the game...

The middle of the lineup gave Kishi fits early and often and put his team in the deficit they faced the entire game.  Mabuchi-kantoku wanted his team to hit themselves out of it, but given his control issues it was the wrong strategy to employ and cost his team outs and innings that they needed to catch up.

By the time Kishi had hit his 2-run HR, it was with the game out of reach - yes, even despite the fact it was a 2-run ballgame after that.

So Kishi goes away with a 1-1 record at Koushien versus Osaka Touin (his first year he came in relief when his team was behind).  He certainly can be considered as one of the better pitchers at Koushien and may have a career beyond 高校野球, but his time at Koushien ends here.

As for Osaka Touin, handicappers probably have them now as the odds on favorite to win it all given the field remaining. It will have to be up to the rest of the field to stop them - starting with Yazu.