高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

Well, we're down to the nitty gritty. Best 4, 2 games, 18 innings (minimum anyways) to the title. And perhaps in an oddity, we have teams from all across the country. First up are the central teams, Sakushin Gakuin and Meitoku Gijyuku.

Sakushin Gakuin in terms of competition probably has the strongest resume having defeated 2 Kanto schools. Ace Imai has pitched all innings so far, posted the following lines:

• 8/12 vs Jinsei Gakuen - CG SHO, 5 H, 13 K, 2 BB
• 8/18 vs Hanasaki Tokuharu - CG, 2 ER, 6 H, 10 K, 4 BB
• 8/19 vs Kisaradzu Sougou  - CG, ER, 6 H, 7 K, BB

Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)

• def Jinsei Gakuen 3-0
• def Hanasaki Tokuharu 6-2
• def Kisaradzu Sougou 3-1

SS Yamamoto Genki (山本 挙輝)
RF Yamanoi Ryuuga (山ノ井 隆雅)
1B Irie Taisei (入江 大生)
CF Kobayashi Koutarou (小林 虎太郎)
2B Fujino Yuusuke (藤野 佑介)
LF Ikari Taisei (碇 大誠)
3B Shinozaki Takashi (篠崎 高志)
C Ayugase Kazuya (鮎ケ瀬 一也)
P Imai Tetsuya (今井 達也)

Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)

• def Sakai 7-2
• def Kadena 13-5
• def Naruto 3-0

CF Tachibana Kotarou (立花 虎太郎)
LF Nishimura Shun (西村 舜)
1B Nishiura Souta (西浦 颯大)
C Koga Yuudai (古賀 優大)
RF (18)Taniai Yuuto (谷合 悠斗)
3B Ookita Kaito (大北 海斗)
SS Takamura Kazushi (高村 和志)
2B Imai Ryousuke (今井 涼介)
P Nakano Yasutoshi (中野 恭聖)

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10:03 - First Pitch!

Nakano certainly not blowing by hitters, gets a bad break when Yamanoi's grounder to 1st is missed by Nishiura and deflects past Imai into right. Yamanoi steals 2nd, leaving 1st open, and Nakano doesn't give in, doesn't give Irie a pitch to hit and walks him instead on a 3-2 pitch inside.

The 2nd out comes when Kobayashi hits a dribbler to the right side. Imai's only play is to 1st, but a base hit could score 2. That job is for Fujino now and he's certainly battling, taking a 1-2 pitch just outside, and then barely making contact on a similar pitch.

Makes contact! Down the RF line... FAIR!! It's just fair as both runners will easily score! Fujino at 2nd and Sakushin Gakuin up 2-0! Nakano tried to jam him inside, but Fujino gets the bat in front and makes a great timely hit!

But come the bottom of the inning, there are immediate concerns. While Imai strikes out Tachibana to start off the inning, the control seems to be lacking. And in fact he walks Nishimura.

Nishiura takes some time to come out for his AB as his foot was stepped on on the final play of the top of the 1st. His response is to attack the first pitch and drive it down the RF line foul.

But instead Mabuchi-kantoku calls for the hit-and-run! Nishiura on a 1-2 pitch lines a single to right, and it's runners at the corners for Meitoku Gijyuku! Throw in another walk to Koga and it's manrui, one out!

1st year Taniai has a chance to bring his team level.

He get a fastball down the middle, but it's a grounder to short! He runs to 2nd for 1, throws to 1st... and it beats out a diving Taniai! 3 outs! Imai survives the 1st, but he'll still have 8 innings to go...

Bottom 2 and Ookita not getting message. He's swinging away and flies out to right. Takamura though does stay patient and gets a walk, that's Imai's 3rd BB already. Imai showing bunt, but while the bottom of the lineup is struggling you can't give a struggling pitcher outs.

And he does swing! Grounder back up the middle! AH! Yamamoto makes a great diving stop! Tags 2nd for 1, throw to 1st... not in time! But an excellent play by the SS!

Nakano does his best at the plate, but eventually Imai strikes him out looking and the side is retired.

Now, Sakushin perhaps recognizing the situation they're in, are going for it. Yamamoto single to right bobbled by Taniai (who's not having a great game so far) and Yamamoto takes the extra base. Yamanoi singles to right and it's runners at the corners.

Irie still doesn't get his HR, grounds to 2nd. Imai can't get the ball out of the glove and as a result can only get the runner at 2nd while a runner scores. 3-0.

That failure proves costly. Kobayashi hits a fly ball to right, Taniai goes back, but misplays the ball and it's off the wall. Irie had to hold up thinking it was caught and ends up only at 3rd. Not a good game for Taniai...

And now Fujino with a ball deep to left center, and that's off the wall. Both runners score and it's 5-0.

Meitoku gets one of those runs back when Nishimura booms a HR off Imai to left. 5-1.

Nishiura gets hit, and Koga gets a fastball middle and gets a base hit the other way. 2 on for Taniai.

But he takes just one pitch outside before attacking a similar one and popping out, essentially killing the rally.

Sakushin Gakuin snuffing out any possible resistance left goes back to back doubles by the bottom of the lineup no less to start the 4th. Toss in there a couple more hits from Yamanoi and Kobayashi and you have an 8-1 ballgame and Nakano KOd.

And almost to add insult to injury Fujino lines a ball right at new P Kanadzu and he has to basically use survival reflexes to not get a ball planted in his face.

Meitoku gets a run back thanks to an error and sac fly, only to see that evaporate immediately in the top of the 5th with a triple for Shinozaki and a sac fly of their own. 9-2.

Sakushin continues to add runs with 1 in the 6th, while Imai is relieved and sent into the field which is really smart given the score. #10 Ugajin comes in to pitch.

Now, Ugajin does put the bases loaded with 1 out yielding 3 straight singles, but he comes right back to strikeout a game Wakiya on a slider inside, then Ooktita gives a ball a ride, but falls short of the warning track.

The game finally winds down with Irie of all people taking the mound, throwing low-mid 140s heat. and a mid-120s slider. Sakushin Gakuin cruises to the final with a 10-2 win.

And it seems inevitable really. I never though Meitoku Gijyuku was a contender, but in that first inning they could have set the tone if they were to level the score. They didn't and it was pretty much over from there.

Still, they got to the Best 4, easy road or not. Give them credit for getting here, but it was about as far as they were going to go.

Next up is an-all Shikoku matchup. Meitoku Gijyuku and Naruto faced off in the spring taikai where Meitoku Gijuku won 3-2. Of course that game doesn't have the importance this one does - a spot in the Best 4 two days from now.

Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)

• def Sakai 7-2
• def Kadena 13-5

CF Tachibana Kotarou (立花 虎太郎)
LF Nishimura Shun (西村 舜)
1B Nishiura Souta (西浦 颯大)
C Koga Yuudai (古賀 優大)
RF (18)Taniai Yuuto (谷合 悠斗)
3B Ookita Kaito (大北 海斗)
SS Takamura Kazushi (高村 和志)
2B Imai Ryousuke (今井 涼介)
P Nakano Yasutoshi (中野 恭聖)
Naruto (Tokushima)

• def Saku Chousei 3-2
• def Chiben Gakuen 5-2
• def Moriokadai Fuzoku 11-9

SS Hino Koutarou (日野 洸太郎)
2B Kamata Kouhei (鎌田 航平)
1B Fuji Yoshimoto (冨士 佳資)
CF Tezuka Kaito (手束 海斗)
C Sahara Yuudai (佐原 雄大)
RF Yatake Masaya (矢竹 将弥)
P Kawano Ryuusei (河野 竜生)
LF Watanabe Yuuya (渡辺 裕哉)


10:40 - First Pitch!

Tachibana getting Meitoku Gijyuku off to a roaring start as he triples to left center. However, none of the next 3 batters can bring him home! Nishimura pops out, Nishiura watches a fastball on the outer edge, and Koga chases a slider for the 3rd out!

Meitoku does get on the board one inning later though. Ookita would hit a one-out single up the middle. Two batters late, Imai would hit a two-seamer left over the plate by Kawano and line it to left. Watanabe's throw is high and that allows Ookita to slide under the tag. 1-0.

Unfortunately I nodded off, and in the meantime Meitoku got hits from Taniai, Takamura and Imai to make the score 2-0. Nakano's grounder to short would have ended the inning but Hino bobbles it and everyone's safe.  They get to tack on one more when Kawano walks a run and Naruto is in a bit of a bother down 3-0.

While I nodded in and out, in reality there just wasn't much else to the game. Naruto got just 3 hits and 7 base runners on the day, but at no point did you think Meitoku Gijyuku was in danger. And they had many other opportunities to score though they didn't in the end and it wasn't necessary.

Onto the best 16 now and first up are first timers Kadena and mainstays Meitoku Gijyuku. Once again Meitoku Gijyuku has been the benefactor of an easier schedule, so how will the first timers fare?

Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
CF Tachibana Kotarou (立花 虎太郎)
LF Nishimura Shun (西村 舜)
1B Nishiura Souta (西浦 颯大)
RF Wakiya Noriyuki (脇屋 紀之)
C Koga Yuudai (古賀 優大)
3B Ookita Kaito (大北 海斗)
SS Takamura Kazushi (高村 和志)
2B Imai Ryousuke (今井 涼介)
P Nakano Yasutoshi (中野 恭聖)

Meitoku Gijyuku is probably the weakest it's been since I've been covering them, and yet they still have a good chance to advance against Sakai whose ace Okiya has his K and BB rates reversed.

How the heck did they win?

Sakai (Tottori)
CF Matsubara Daichi (松原 大地)
2B Takadzuka Kouta (高塚 孔大)
RF Katsube Kouhei (勝部 浩平)
LF Shiota Kaito (塩田 海斗)
1B Kamoto Yuuki (嘉本 悠貴)
3B Watanabe Jin (渡辺 仁)
SS Ueji Ippo (上地 一歩)
P Oka Naoto (隠家 直人)
C Hama Tomoya (浜 智也)

Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
CF Tachibana Kotarou (立花 虎太郎)
LF Nishimura Shun (西村 舜)
1B Nishiura Souta (西浦 颯大)
RF Wakiya Noriyuki (脇屋 紀之)
C Koga Yuudai (古賀 優大)
3B Ookita Kaito (大北 海斗)
SS Takamura Kazushi (高村 和志)
2B Imai Ryousuke (今井 涼介)
P (10)Kanadzu Tomoyasu (金津 知泰)

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10:15 - First Pitch!

The real question to be asked is if Oka can do anything against Meitoku Gijyuku despite the fact that they've been in decline despite reach Koushien for 6 (now 7 straight years).

An innocuous HBP to Nishimura with one down comes around to score after Meitoku puts the hit-and-run on with Nishiura hitting a single up the middle past a diving Kamichi and Wakiya avoiding the double play. 1-0.

A Koga single through the 4 hole scores another for 2-0. Things were spiraling out of control as Koga was caught off 1st, and yet the throw from Ueji in the rundown was wide allowing Koga to reach 2nd. The inning probably would have continued after Ookita's base hit if not for Koga trying to reach home and getting thrown out.

Fast forward to the 3rd inning and Ueji gets Sakai's first hit on a single through the right side. Oka actually strikes out bunting, bringing up Hama.

And out of nowhere, he hits a ball to deep left. Nishimura goes back to the foul pole, and it actually leaves the yard! It's wasn't a no doubter and seemed like it would have been a routine fly. Instead we suddenly have a tie ballgame at 2-2!

It's Meitoku who would have the next scoring chance in the 4th. After a ground ball from Ookita goes under Watanabe's glove, Takamura lays down a bunt and beats out the throw to 1st, creating a big scoring chance.

And yet, Imai's bunt is poor and gets the lead runner thrown out. PH Tanai almost grounds into a double play for the 2nd out, but does score Ookita from 3rd to take a 3-2 lead. A walk would complicate things more for Oka, but Nishimura chases a slider away and grounds out to 3rd to end the 4th.

Before the break, Meitoku would continue to extend he lead. Nishiura would hit a double down the 1st base line. He would have held up at 3rd on Wakiya's hit to center, but Matsubara fumbled with the ball allowing Nishiura to score for a 4-2 lead.

Nakano enters in the game in the 5th for Meitoku Gijyuku and he's certainly not a flamethrower, and really racks up the pitch count but continues to put up 0's.

On the other hand, Sakai is basically bleeding to death. In the 6th, there's a HBP to Imai, and after a bunt, 2 straight singles - the 2nd of which Watanabe made a great block to prevent extra bases.

But manrui, 1 out is no way to live. Sac fly from Nishiura makes it 5-2.

Sakai finally has a scoring chance in the Lucky 7 when Shiota singles through the right side. After a SB, Kamoto draws a walk. Things might finally be looking up a little.

Watanabe though grounds back to Nakano who opts to get Shiota at 3rd. After that Ueji lines out to 2nd and everyone's lingered off the base too early so Kamoto gets doubled off at 2nd for the inning-ending double play.

Meitoku Gijyuku would score 2 more in the 8th, one on a manrui wild pitch to PH Teranishi. Then on Teranishi's AB he grounded to short. They caught Nishimura in a rundown, but when they got to the 3rd base bag, the tag on Nishimura was safe (since he had first rights) but Nishiura (who came from 2nd) was out. But when that 2nd tag happened, the Nishimura started walking down the line. Everyone was confused who was out and before anyone knew it, Nishimura came home and scored to make it 7-2.

Our matinee game of the day features 2 familiar schools, but both seem to be off their A game this year despite qualifying.

It's hard to figure out who has the better resume. Heian has defeated Fukuchiyama Seibi, who has at least stayed relevant though not a top team. Meitoku Gijyuku's key win was defeating Tosa (twice).

Both teams have strong offensive numbers, though oddly, despite a 0.329/0.393/0.569 line, in 5 of Meitoku Gijyuku's 7 games they scored 5 runs or less - meaning that they seemingly aren't able to drive in runs despite getting on base. Though perhaps a 30-0 win over Kochi Kaiyou may be some of the reason why the numbers are inflated.

On the other hand, Heian scored 7 or more runs in every game up until their loss against Shiga Gakuen (who we've established is no slouch). While it's perhaps not fair to upgrade one team based upon seeing a performance yesterday, it is more information to use and as a result it's probable that Heian has the advantage in the matchup.

So Meitoku Gijyuku this time around avoids any controversy regarding their bid by finishing as the runner-up in the Shikoku super-regionals.

After 2 blowout wins, they settled down to defeat Tosa and Kochi Shougyou to take the prefectural title. Once super-regional play started, they struggled to hold on against Nitta, and then had to face Tosa again, eking out a 4-3 win in 10 innings before ace Nakano finally fell flat in the final.

Speaking of which, Nakano Takashi (中野 恭聖) appears just removed from his stint at Ehime Nishi Senior Little League. Reports have him at 136, though if we take into account regional guns (outside of main stadiums) are generally fast, we would be better to assume that he's in the low 130s. The K numbers are a far cry from the time of Kishi, averaging 2-3 Ks per 9 and has a BB/K rate that looks like a K/BB rate - which is why there might be little data on him.

Worse yet, their final 3 games the managed jut 6 hits in each of them. and their most consistent hitters have been their leadoff hitter, CF Tachibana Koutarou (立花 虎太郎), and their #9 hitter, Nakano himself. That's not all that good.

As a result, while they are returning to Koushien, it's hard to envisage a deep run. Instead it's a fortunate bid in a rebuilding process.

When Meitoku Gijyuku showed their draw, a gasp came upon the entire hall. That was because they had just drawn Tsuruga Kehi, the spring champions. Now, Kishi isn't part of that team, but a matchup such as this early on means one less team to worry about.

Hiranuma is back, though they almost weren't as Fukui Koudai Fukui pushed him to the limit, though they eventually won in 11. The offense wasn't as strong in that game either pushing through 4 runs. Doesn't mean that they can't pull off the haru-natsu renzoku yuushou, but perhaps there will be questions about how the long run might wear them down.

As for Meitoku Gijyuku, they also had a close final against Kochi - blowing a 5-run lead in the bottom of the 8th, and then somehow finding a way to rally in the 9th for a 7-6 win. I don't have the details about how Kochi came back in that game, but a big inning like that late in a championship raises a yellow flag of sorts.

Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
LF Shichihyou Ryuuya
CF Sanada Kazuto
3B Shindou Ren
1B Furukawa Takuto
RF Sada Ryousuke
C Koga Yuudai
SS Takamura Kazuyuki
P Hida Toshiki
2B Fujimoto Hyouga

Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui)
3B Shinohara Ryou
1B Kurisu Kazuma
SS Hayashinaka Yuuki
P Hiranuma Shouta
CF Yamamoto Kouta
RF Matsumoto Teppei (#7)
LF Kinoshita Shougo (#9)
C Kamon Yuusuke
2B Nakai Kidzuku

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10:30 - First pitch!

1st Inning
Shichihyou a chopper up the 3rd base line, takes a right turn and goes fair past Shinohara who can only watch. That was weird.

And now Hiranuma uncorks one after a bunt? Shichihyou at 3rd.

Shindou with a check swing, and the ball goes over Nakai for a single! In one of the strangest manners, Meitoku Gijyuku scores the first run.

Meanwhile, Hida off to a great start. Some slight issues defensively, but as easy as a 1-2-3 inning as you can get.

Bottom 2nd
Hiranuma trying to get that run back, singles to right to start the frame. After a sac bunt, Hida issues a 4-pitch walk, bringing up Kinoshita.

And now a dead ball? Mabuchi-kantoku quickly calls time.

Kamon hits a comebacker to Hida! Goes home for 1, Koga goes to 1st, and that is the easiest double play you'll ever see. Inning over!!

Top 3rd
This doesn't feel like the same Hiranuma. He's giving up solid base hits and issuing walks.

Such is the case here when Sanada singles to right, and then Shindou waits on a borderline pitch and gets the walk.

And now Furukawa with a single throught he right side and Sanada scores to make it 2-0.

Hiranuma leaves one up and Sada singles to left! Shindou comes around, and he scores! 3-0!

Bottom 4th
Hiranuma not hitting bombs, but at least getting on base. I'm sure Meitoku Gijyuku is fine with singles.

But Tsuruga Kehi can't seem to string them together. A single after a fielder's choice (that could have just as easily been a double play) still gives them a chance, but Kinoshita grounds out to end the inning.

Bottom 5th
Shinohara desperately gets something started, lines a 2-out double down the right field line.

Kurisu with a single to center, but Sanada fires home! The throw is on a line and is on target! Shinohara is meat at the plate!! We go to the break as the spring champs are denied!

Bottom 6th
Hayashinaka drive to left! Shichihyou gives up on it!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

That was a big one! Going off the outfield wall separating them from the ouen-dan!

Hiranuma with another single! Yoshimoto too! Oh.... Kehi is pissed off at the 5th inning.

That's it for Hida, Shichihyou comes in from LF to take the hill.

Matsumoto single to center! Hiranuma held at 3rd and Meitoku is at a big risk of losing this lead!

Kinoshita fly to left center, Hiranuma being sent home... SAFE! It's 3-2!

Shichihyou does manage to keep the 8/9 batters hitless, but what was ever more seemingly like a safe lead is not one anymore!

Bottom 7th
Hiranuma doing his part on the mound, has delivered his 4th straight clean inning to turn it back to his offense.

Shinohara leadoff single through the right side! After a bunt, Mabuchi-kantoku makes a P change?

Shichihyou goes back to LF and now Sada comes in from RF!

He gets Hayashinaka to ground to 1st! Shinohara has to hold at 3rd!

But it's the dangerous Hiranuma!

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

Hiranuma strikes out swinging on a slider away and the side is retired!!

Bottom 8th
Yamamoto with a drive to deep right center! That's off the eall, and he's in with a triple!

Matsumoto a blooper to left, Sonoda charging in, charging in... Can't get there! Yamamoto comes in and we're all tied at 3-3!

Mori to hit for Kinoshita, can't lay down the bunt.

Liner to 2nd! And Matsumoto is doubled off 1st! 2 out!

But now Kamon an Nakai's bats come to life! They each get a single and more importantly turn the lineup over!

SANSHIN!!!!!!!!

Sada strikes out Shinohara swinging and the inning is over! But the game is tied and all the momentum is with the champs!

Top 9th
Furukawa with a leadoff single! He's quickly bunted over.

Koga chopper to the right side, Shinohara flubs the ball! Everyone's safe! Can Meitoku really rebound?

NO!

Takamura grounds right to Shinohara already standing on the bag, throw to 1st... double play!

Bottom 9th
Kurisu screaming liner to center! Sanada charging, makes another fine play! Hayashinaka down on 3 sraight, bringing up Hiranuma.

Sada not intimidated goes after him and gets ahead in the count!

Hiranuma hits it to 2nd! Fujimoto to 1st. and we're headed to enchousen!

Top 10th
The bats for Meitoku slowly waking up again. Shichihyou gets a 2-out single, but that's all.

Bottom 10th
Matsumoto doing even better this game as he gets on base for the 5th time with one down, and the 2nd via a walk. I'm not sure Sada wanted anything to do with him. And yet he went after Hiranuma.

Mabuchi-kantoku calls for time after Mori bunts the runner over.

Wild pitch from Sada!! Matsumoto advances to 3rd!!

And with the account already at 2-0, they go ad walk Kamon to bring up last batter Nakai.

And they end up walking him too! It creates a force, but it also turns the lineup over!

Shinohara puts the final dagger in with a clean single back up the middle! Tsuruga Kehi comes back to win 4-3 in 10 innings!

That was a shame really. Meitoku played a great game and seemed to have the tiger caged up. But once they let even a small crack upen, Tsuruga Kehi blew right through it. They almost put them back in the cage in the 9th, but it was not to be.

And you can only play with fire so many times. Getting that 3rd out before the lineup turned over was imperative, and they didn't do it, and it cost them the game.

Tsuruga Kehi has to be counting their blessings they came back here. Hiranuma shut it down after a shaky start, and certainly it'll get slightly easier, but they also have work to do.

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.

Today wraps up the first round of the 96th Natsu Koushien tournament with our final game actually starting Round 2.

Chiben Gakuen may actually be supplanting Chiben Wakayama as the predominant baseball school.  As Wakayama has fallen from their heights in the early-mid 2000s, Gakuen has started to see more and more success at Koushien.  Does that mean that Gakuen's "C" will be more prevalent in the years to come? Hard to say, but probably.

Meitoku Gijyuku must be counting their lucky starts.  They avoided traps and pitfalls that befell other major schools elsewhere around the country, and yet still almost didn't make it here as Kishi had to navigate a 1-0 win over Kochi Shougyou and then a 6-5 thriller over Kochi.

Kishi is the same ace we've seen in prior years, so really it's a matter of his supporting cast being able to give Kishi some breathing space so he's not under pressure the entire tournament.

If there was a year that the tournament seemed wide open, it's this one.  And from the looks of the games in recent days, I think everyone knows it.

So, who wants it?

Chiben Gakuen (Nara)
CF Oonishi Ryouta
C Yoshida Takaaki
1B Okamoto Kazuma
SS Yoshioka Fumiya
2B Iwata Taku
RF Takaoka Yuuichi
3B Hirooka Taishi
LF Yamanaka
P Oda Kyouhei

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

____________________________________________________________

09:30 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
I had liked Kishi when I first saw him because it seemed like his control was the best out of everyone that year.  Yeah, he does throw low-mid 140s, but the control I liked the best.

Hasn't changed.

After a groundout to open the game, his sliders get the best of both Yoshida and Okamoto to retire the side in order.

Bottom 1st
Chiben Gakuen not messing around this game, they send out ace Oda to start the game with their relief staff to follow.  In fact, looking at the books, Gakuen's performance is that more stunning given that Oda pitched just 1 inning in the prefecturals! 1!

Looks like Meitoku's plan of action is to attack anything in the zone.  Takano first pitch grounder to short.  Ootani rightly takes an outside pitch the other way, but it's also at Yoshioka.

Kishi, who tends to be wildly hot and cold with the bat here, gives Yoshioka his 3rd assist of the inning with a groundball to end the inning.

Top 2nd
Iwata gets Chiben Gakuen's first hit with a single past a diving Yasuda.

But after that, Kishi just slams the door on the inning.  First, a slider on the outer half to freeze Takaoka, and then Hirooka skies a slider at home.  Mizuno with the catch and the side is retired.

Bottom 2nd
Nishioka has little luck at the plate, getting rung up on a fastball right at the bottom of the zone.

Finally Mori gets Meitoku's first hit, a ball the other way into right for a single.

Oda goes up the ladder to strike out Yasuda for his 2nd K.

Mizuno with a liner the opposite way!  Takaoka charging in, dives... but it bounces by him!  He has to scramble back to the wall as Mori is waved home!  There's no challenge and a bad gamble by Takaoka costs his team a run! 1-0 Meitoku!


Make that 2! Ozaki rips a ball down the 3rd base line, and Hirooka can't stop it!  It deflects into foul territory and Mizuno can score to make it a 2-0 ballgame!

It's also costing Oda some pitches on the mound as now he walks Kazumasa and the lineup turns over to Takano.

Chopper up the middle for Takano AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Iwata plain misses the ball!  It goes into center and Ozaki scores to make it a 3-0 game!

Iwata makes the play on the next ball hit to him, but questionable defense has cost Chiben Gakuen 3 runs!

Top 3rd
Yamanaka with a shot to 3rd, and apparently it's too hot at the hot corner because Kazumasa can't get the glove on the ball, but is lucky to have the ball go off his right ankle to leave it at a single.  With last batter Oda up, Kosaka-kantoku elects to bunt.

Kishi elevates a ball and Ryouta shoots it through the right side!  Yamanaka getting the green light and the throw is cut off! Chiben cuts into the lead at 3-1!

And now is another bunt by Kosaka-kantoku! They'll try to tack on another run with Okamoto at the plate.

Kishi tries to go with the slider, but he leaves it over the plate and Okamoto is expecting it!  Drives it to left for a base hit and Ryouta scores to make it a 3-2 ballgame!

Yoshioka really trying for a HR, just flies out to center again.  Still, Chiben Gakuen makes a big dent in the deficit.

Bottom 3rd
Kishi still cold at the plate, lining out to Takaoka.

Nishioka gets a liner over Oda into center, but only one pitch later is it wiped out as Mori grounds into the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Top 4th
Kishi keeping his defense busy using all of the field.  Though this inning it's left.  While he does record a K v. Takaoka, Iwata and Hirooka both boom balls to deep left - but the park holds it in and Ozaki makes both plays with ease.

Bottom 4th
Yasuda with a ball to deep right!  Takaoka has to play it off the wall and he's in with a leadoff double!

Bunt from Mizuno, and Oda falls down!!  Okamoto can't double back to the ball in time and everyone's safe!  That's a bad break for Chiben there.

Oda unable to find the strike zone after falling down, falls behind Ozaki 3-0 before finally getting a strike.

And now he hits him to load the bases as #11 Murakami starts warming up.  Kosaka-kantoku calls time to buy his P time just in case...

Last batter Kasumasa up for Meitoku to try and open up the game for Meitoku.

SQUEEZE!!!  It's a pitchout!  But Kazumasa's leap to reach it just makes contact to push it foul!

They don't risk another one, but Kazumasa hits it right at 2nd!  Iwata goes home for 1, but Yoshida can't complete the double play.  Still 2 outs, but no runs in.

Not any longer! Takano seeing Oda perfectly, almost takes him out with a liner back up the middle!  It's station-to-station as Mizuno scores to make it 4-2!

Ootani with a full count, makes a cardinal sin in letting a close pitch go.  He goes down looking on the fastball inside and there's 2 out!

That leaves it up to Kishi who is 0-2 on the day.

SANSHIN!!!!  Oda once again brilliant with a screwball that catches the outside corner to freeze Kishi and retire the side!

Top 5th
Kishi seems to have settled back down, after the shaky 3rd.  He retires both Yamanaka and Oda without much incident.

Of course then Ryouta comes up and Kishi leaves another slider over the plate! Ryouta with a drive to center, Ootani racing back, leaps, but it's off his glove!  Ryouta makes it all the way to 3rd and Chiben has a chance to cut the lead once again!

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

No dice!  Kishi goes top shelf with the slider and Yoshioka can't make contact with it! Side retired and Kishi keeps the lead at 2!

Bottom 5th
Nishoka with a slider down the right field line and he's in with a leadoff double!  Mori bunts him over for Yasuda.

Kosaka-kantoku makes a defensive change, sending in #11 Murakami to replace Yamanaka in LF.

Yasuda liner!  But it's right at Iwata and he makes the reflex catch (he was drawn in!!).  2 out!

Mizuno liner! Iwata leaps and makes another catch to end the inning!  Iwata with some good defensive works saves the run.  And as we hit the break, Kishi and Meitoku Gijyuku hold a 4-2 lead, but they can't feel too comfortable with it.

Top 6th
Kishi being too careful with Okamoto going all away, and he takes the 3-2 pitch the other way! Mori racing out to shallow right center, leaps, but can't get it!  He's on with a leadoff single!

Yoshioka with the same and hits one fair down the 1st base line!  Takano has to field it near the wall but gets it back to prevent Okamoto from coming home.  Douten runner in scoring position!

Iwata with a fly to left! Ozaki trying to wind up for the throw... Okamoto racing home as the throw comes in, Yasuda with the relay, but it's not in time! 4-3!

Takaoka with a fly to right, it's deep enough to advance the runner and now a base hit or a wild pitch can tie the game.

Instead it's a grounder to Hiraoka and the side is retired!

Bottom 6th
Bottom of the lineup trying to get on base, Kazumasa tries the safety bunt, but dives to first on a relatively close play at first and 1 down.

Despite no one on base Oda rather not wants to deal with Takano, and winds up walking him.

Ootani works another long AB versus Oda, but can't crack the code just yet as he chases the high fastball for the 3rd out.

Top 7th
Looks like Oda's day is done.  One down and #17 Osamu comes in to PH for him, he winds up grounding out to 2nd.

Ryouta on fire today against Kishi, hits a deep ball down the left field line... fair!  He's in with a double and is a HR away from the cycle!

But Yoshida can't bring him in! He pops it up behind home plate and Mizuno makes the catch to retire the side!

Bottom 7th
With that, #10 Uranaka comes in the game and takes over on the mound.

Kishi with a ball back up the middle, just out of the reach of Yoshioka for a leadoff single.  Nishioka bunts him along for Mori.

Ball back up middle, past a diving Iwata into center!  Kishi rounding 3rd gets the stop sign and Meitoku is threatening here in the 7th!

Uh oh.  Something's wrong.  Ryouta calls time, and is walking slowly in. Looks like he might be injured, but from the replay it's hard to tell what's wrong.

Looking at it carefully again, it looks like on the step before reaching the ball, his right leg/angle bent a bit, then after the throw, it gave again.

But after a small delay, he emerges from the dugout and the game continues with Yasuda given a big chance here.

The delay seems to have affected Uranaka because he walk Yasuda on 4 straight to load the bases for Mizuno! Kosaka-kantoku calls for time.

Grounder to 2nd!  Iwata goes to 2nd for 1, but Yoshioka drops the ball on the transfer!  They only get 1 and Kishi scores and it's 5-3!

Now Mabuchi-kanoku sends in #11 Tanaka to hit for Ozaki.

ああああああああ！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！

First pitch Tanaka swings and pumps his fist in the air!  Osamu back to the wall....

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tanaka needs just 1 pitch and he hits a 3-run HR to blow open the game! The ball ends up about 15 rows up and it's 8-3 Meitoku Gijyuku!

That's it for Uranaka.  Okamoto comes in from 1B to take the hill and #13 Shimizu comes in for Uranaka to take the hill.

He gets Kazumasa to ground out, but the destruction is complete.

Top 8th
#18 Tada comes in for PH Tanaka to take over in left.

And Chiben, probably broken now, goes quietly in just 8 pitches...

Bottom 8th
With the game out of hand, no need for Oonishi to hurt himself further, he's replaced by #16 Takeda.

Takano starts off the 8th with a walk and after a groundball advances him Kishi in garbage time collects another base hit and an RBI as Takano scores on the play. 9-3.  Liner to left by Mori, 10-3.

That's it for Okamoto.  He goes back to 1st as Murakami comes in from LF to take the hill.  #14 Takahashi comes in for Shimizu to take over in LF.

Yasuda goes down and bloops a ball to left. Runners move up a station and it's manrui for Mizuno.

Mizuno understands the need to finish the game and save energy, strikes out swinging.

Tada gives the ball a ride, Takaoka has to scramble back, but has enough time to park under it and make the catch for the out.  Side retired, and Chiben will get their last ABs

Top 9th
The game may be out of hand, but Hirooka finally checks in with a base hit, and a HR no less to left field. 10-4.

But that just delays the inevitable.  Murakami and Takahashi are quietly dispatched as Kishi and Meitoku Gijyuku take care of Chiben Gakuen 10-4.

It was a good game to start too.  A pitchers duel that started to see cracks in both pitchers armor as Chiben Gakuen was scoring runs against Kishi.

However, the game ended on one pitch when PH Tanaka sent a curve into the stands for a 3-run HR. That unfortunately crushed the spirits of Chiben Gakuen resulting the score you see.

Kishi as mentioned was far from dominating and left several pitches up and Chiben promptly punished them.  He'll need to clean those up if they want to make a deep run, powerhouse team or not.

It's sad for Chiben Gakuen to end their year this way, but the kouhais will be winding up now to secure a spot at senbatsu.

Meitoku Gijyuku as expected has reached the Best 8 with still a chance to win senbatsu. However, their road has perhaps been too rough for them to finish the race.

Ace Jyunichirou Kishi, already under stress from his weak offense, had to survive 15 innings against Chiben Wakayama.  That one game has already had implications as in their last game versus Kanto Dai-ichi as he did not look as sharp - despite the fact they still went on to win the game.  They day off they were supposed to get, they got yesterday, so it'll be 27+ innings for Kishi going forward to win.  He may win this one, but it doesn't look like he'll hold out.

Sano Nichidai's first big test in Chiben Gakuen almost ended in disaster.  Out to a 4-1 lead, unforced errors allowed Chiben to get back into the game and force enchousen.  They pulled it out in 10, but those mental errors will prove costly.  In addition, their offense hasn't been all too impressive either, which may be a relief to Kishi.

The saving grace is ace Tajima who has looked more than serviceable in his 2 games.  There was the hiccup late against Chiben Gakuen, so perhaps stamina might come into play though like Kishi the day off should help.

Sano Nichidai (Tochigi)
SS Takemura Ritsuki
CF Nagasawa Yoshitaka
2B Yoshida Toshiki
LF Inaba Kousei
RF Koizumi Keita
1B Tamura Kaito
3B Kakizawa Fumiya
P Tajima Daiki
C Sagawa Shou

Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
3B Ozaki Yuuto
RF Sanada Kazuto
LF Tada Tougo
1B Nishioka Souta (#11)
P Kishi Jyuunichirou
SS Yasuda Takayuki
2B Mori Shouma
C Mizuno Katsuya (#13)
CF Ootani Yuuki

____________________________________________________________

13:15 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Before the siren can even finish, Takemura hits a single into center!  Nagasawa bunts him over.

Yoshida with hit to right, the ball gets by Sanada and goes to the wall!  Takemura already in, but Yoshida advances to 3rd on the error!! 1-0 Sano Nichidai!

Mabuchi-kantoku calls for time.

Inaba up to tack on another run, but his fly to left is too short!  Yoshida holds up.

Koizumi flies out to left to end the inning, but a couple of base hits give Sano Nichidai the early lead!

Bottom 1st
Grounder to short from Ozaki, Takemura fumbles with the ball, his throw to 1st is high but Tamura makes the tag!

Ah.. but he's hurt.  He may have landed funny and is taken off for treatment.  It's taking quite a while too, might have been really serious...

It's also really quiet in the stadium right now...

And he emerges to take his position!  But how will his mobility be?

More importantly, the break may have affected Tajima a bit as he walks Sanada.

Tada pops up a short bunt that falls in.  Tajima goes to 1st to just get Tada for the 2nd out.  Meitoku will play for 1.

Nishoka with a slider to left center!  Sanada rounds 3rd and will easily score to tie the game at 1-1!

Kishi gets grazed by Tajima and the 2-out rally continues.  I think we have the home plate umpire that will call go-arounds and HBP easily.

Tajima gets Yasuda to hit one off the end of his bat back to him.  Goes to 1st for the 3rd out, but we're back level.

Top 2nd
One down for Nichidai and Kakizawa gets one off the end of his bat, but pokes it to left center for a base hit.

Tajima shows bunt early in the AB, but is hitting after the count hits 2 strikes.

It's a hit and run, but Tajima just kind of dumps it to Kishi.  It's pretty much a bunt as Tajima is retired.

Sagawa working the count on Kishi, runs it full... and hits a ball to right center!  Ootani has no chance at it as Kakizawa comes around to score on the double!  Sano Nichidai retakes the lead at 2-1!

Takemura tries to poke a ball for a base hit, but flies out to Tada for the 3rd out.  Considering that Kishi has given up a run in each of the first 2 innings he does not to appear to be 100% stamina-wise.

Bottom 2nd
And this is Meitoku's problem.  If they get into a scoring affair with Sano Nichidai, they will lose as their offense is not capable of scoring a lot of runs.

And as the bottom of the order goes down in order with little resistance, Kishi needs to draw the line and soon.

Top 3rd
It's not necessarily that Kishi is leaving pitches in the zone.  They're just hittable.

One down and Yoshida takes it the other way, just out of the reach of Ozaki for a single.

Hit-and run!  Kishi this time leaves it over and Inaba hits a hard grounder to the left side!  Yasuda sprinting over, and it's off his glove!  He has to chase it down as Yoshida takes 3rd!  Nichidai threatening again!

Koizumi with yet another fly to left, but it's too shallow and Yoshida has to hold.

Tamura with a grounder to the right side, but a diving Nishoka can't get to it!  Yoshida scores and it's 3-1 Sano Nichidai!

Kakizawa with another groudner to the right side, Mori going over, slides... and doesn't come up with it!  Inaba scores and it's 4-1!

Kishi finally gets out of the inning, but it's only because Ozaki fielded the hot grounder from Tajima and could just step on the bag at 3rd for the out.

Kishi's speed doesn't look too terrible, but he was already looking a bit out of sorts in the prior game, and it's just worse here...

Bottom 3rd
That and they don't really have the offense to play a barnburner game like this might be headed towards.

Still, Tajima doesn't attack the batters and walks Sanada to lead off the inning.  Tada tries to bunt, but Kakizawa comes up with it quickly and fires to 2nd to get the lead runner.

Mabuchi-kantoku goes for the hit and run instead, but Nishoka can only advance the runner with a groundout to 3rd.  A pop up by Kishi ends the inning.

Top 4th
One down for Sano Nichidai and they get yet another runner as Takaemura singles to center.

This time around though, Kishi retires both Nagasawa and Yoshida (who had been 2-2) and gets his first bagel of the game.

Bottom 4th
Meitoku continues to have issues at the dish.  Mori's fly out to to right get sandwiched by Tajima's first 2 K's of the game for his first 1-2-3 inning.

Top 5th
Sano Nichidai's batters suddenly change tack as both Inaba and Koizumi both swing early and are retired.  Tamura's flyout to center makes it a 7 pitch inning.

Bottom 5th
Ootani searching to get on base, swings early in the count and grounds to short.  Tajima has had his moments, but he looks better this game than in his last.

Ozaki hits a hard liner right at Tamura for the 2nd out... and Sanada looks befuddled as Sagawa's pitch frame goes back over the plate on a ball down the middle for strike 3.  Another victim of changing location after the batter takes a peek down to see where they're going with the pitch.

And so we hit the break with Sano Nichidai holding onto that early 4-1 lead.  Meitoku will be hard pressed to find a way to score 3 runs given their offense, and while Kishi has leveled off from his poor start, there's no guarantee he can hold on for the whole game.

Top 6th
Kishi has indeed settled down with yet another short inning of routine stuff.  Kakizawa grounds out to short, Tajima strikes out swinging and Sagawa hits a lazy fly to left in a grand total of 9 pitches.  He's keeping his team in it, but it may be too late.

Bottom 6th
Tada with a chopper to short, Takemura has to wait for the hop, but his throw to 1st beats a diving Tada for the out.

Nishioka comes back and lines a ball to right for a base hit.  Kishi follows that up whipping the bat around and shoots a ball through the left side for a base hit.

And now Yasuda with a grounder through the right side!  Nishoka holds at 3rd and it's manrui for Meitoku!  Where did this come from?  Matsumoto-kantoku calls time.

Mori with a single through the left side!  Everyone advances a station and it's 4-2!

Now 5 straight hits from Meitoku!!  Mizuno with a ball to right center!  Kishi scores!  Yasuda coming around, he scores!! WE'RE TIED UP AT 4-4!! WTF?!

Matsumoto-kantoku calling time again, as I'm sure he's as shocked as I am about Meitoku's explosion at the plate.

Ootani grounder to short!  Takemura goes to 2nd for 1, throw to first... not in time!!!  Ootani's slide beats out the throw and that means Mori scores from 3rd to give Meitoku the 5-4 lead!!

Ozaki flies out to right to end the inning, but out of nowhere Meitoku has put a big inning together and not only closed the deficit, but taken the lead!!

Top 7th
Now can Sano Nichidai play from behind?  Top of the order due up.

Takemura fly ball to left, Tada slips!  He gets back up and charges in making the running catch.  But afterwards #3 Oonishi comes out to replace him at LF.

But Nagasawa drives a ball to left center!  Ootani runs it down but not before Nagasawa has a double!

And now Mabuchi-kantoku intentionally walks Yoshida??  I can understand if it's the 9th, but here in the 7th?

DOUBLE STEAL!!!

Mizuno fires to 3rd, but Nagasawa slides in time and the walk backfires as there are 2 runners in scoring position now for Inaba!

Kishi still fighting though, gets the count to 2-2...  but they it goes full after a pitchout.

Flyball to left!  Oonishi with it and Nagasawa comes home!  Throw in is up the first base line and Mizuno's tag isn't in time!  We're back tied at 5-5!!

Mabuchi-kantoku calls time again as Koizumi steps in.

Count at 2-2, Mizuno goes out to talk with Kishi and it's a rather long chat.

They try to go inside to Koizumi, but it's just too much inside.

They double up and Koizumi hits one to center!  But it hands up and Ootani tracks it for the 3rd out.  The intentional walk was still a bit questionable, but regardless we're tied up again!

Bottom 7th
It looks like Meitoku is back to normal after that power inning.  Sanada grounds back to Tajima, new LF Oonishi can't check his swing, and Nishoka just flat out misses the ball to end the inning.

Top 8th
So if Meitoku's offense is back to normal, and the game is tied, Kishi cannot afford to give up another run.

Tamura with a liner to center!  Ootani late going back, leaps!  And makes the great contorting catch!  Not sure how he did that, but he makes the desperate leaping catch!

More defensive work as Ozaki smothers a hot shot from Kakizawa and makes the strong throw to 1st for the out.

And Tajima challenges Ootani again with a shallow ball to center, but he's up for it as well, making the diving catch to end the inning.

Bottom 8th
Not the best time for Tajima to lose the strike zone... he walks Kishi to lead off the inning!  Yasuda bunts him over for Mori.  Can he deliver the go-ahead shot?

Chopper to 3rd. Kakizawa with it, looks Kishi back and goes to 1st for the 2nd out!  It'll be up to Mizuno to drive in the run now.

Mizuno pops it up!  Sagawa going near his dugout, makes the catch!!  And tumbles into his dugout!  He holds up the glove with the ball, and the side is retired.  He also looks to be ok, which is good considering that was a good spill he had there.

Top 9th
Sadly Sagawa can't turn that into something at the plate as he grounds to short.

Back to the top of the lineup and Takemura, down 0-2, fouls off several balls before he can inside out one to left for a base hit.

Nagasawa butns the ball, Kishi slips while fielding the ball, throw to 1st.. SAFE!!!  Nagasawa slides in ahead of the throw and now Kishi is in a pinch!

This with Yoshida up to bat!

Kishi jams him!  It's a grounder to 1st.  Nishioka's only play is to 1st and they go ahead run is 90 feet away!

But Inaba pops it up!  Mori secures the ball and the side is retired!

Bottom 9th
Can Meitoku avoid another enchousen game?

#9 batter Ootani leads off the inning, but goes down swinging on the slider.  Back to the top of the order and Ozaki.

But Ozaki extends out to hit an outside pitch and flies out to Koizumi for the 2nd out.

Down to Sanada to keep the inning going.  They really can't afford to have it go to extras.

SANSHIN!!  Tajima's pitch supposedly catches the outside edge and we are indeed headed to enchousen!

Top 10th
Kishi will have to make the best of it.  He gives the outside forkball to Koizumi and he chases it.

After Mori takes a trip to the outfield to make a catch, Kishi collects yet another K as his slider is waved at my Kakizawa.

Bottom 10th
Apparently Oonishi isn't much of a hitter as he tries the safety bunt to get on base.  Doesn't quite work.

Nishioka with a hard shot goes into right for a base hit!

Kishi with a ball to the gap in short, and Takemura playing to his left, has to scramble over to get it.  Makes the sliding grab, but has no play!  Matsumoto-kantoku calls time.

What's this??  Yasuda singles to center!  Nishioka has to hold at 3rd, but it's manrui with just 1 out!

Mori gets extra instructions before heading up to bat.  Any decent fly could end this.

Goes after the first pitch, fouls it off!

Grounder up middle!!!  Takemura goes towards 2nd, dives... makes the stop!  Steps on 2nd, throw to 1st... IN TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Takemura saves the game with the 6-3 double play to end the inning!!!

Top 11th
Can Sano Nichidai turn that momentum into a run?

One down for Nichidai, and Sagawa singles to right center!  Mabuchi-kantoku calls time as Nagasawa steps in.

AH!!!  Kishi hits Nagasawa to bring up Yoshida!!

They're being extra careful with him, but do you really want to walk him?  Count goes to 2-0...

3-0! Are they really?? They are!!  They walk him to go after Inaba!!  This despite the fact it loads the bases!

But Kishi goes after him and he's quickly up 0-2.  After a pitchout, they try the slider but he doesn't bite!

Slow chopper to the left side!  Yasuda has it, but has no throw!  Sagawa scores and the strategy blows up in Mabuchi-kantoku's face!

Koizumi with a single to left!  Nagasawa scores!  Yoshida sent home!  Throw from Oonishi... in time to get Yoshida!

But 2 runs score on a backfired strategy and Meitoku will have to scramble to get back into the game.

Bottom 11th
Which is something they're not really accustomed to doing, despite the 4-run 6th.

Mizuno grounds out to 3rd... So does PH #14 Takahashi.

Already down to Ozaki... and he hits a fly to center!  Nagasawa over to field it... Game set!  Sano Nichidai wins in 11 7-5!

But perhaps instead of the fact that Kishi had to play another extra inning game, or that the offense somehow found a way to get back in the game, the focus and deserved criticism will be placed on Mabuchi-kantoku who decided with 3rd base "open" to walk Yoshida for the 2nd time to face Inaba in a same-handed matchup.  That plan backfired and cost his team the game.

Surely there comes a point where you can manage to give your team the best ability to get out of the inning, but walking to put the go-ahead run on 3rd base - even with 2 outs - is just plain mismanagement.

About the only good thing about this is that Kishi doesn't have to throw anymore.

For Sano Nichidai, they find themselves fortunate to advance despite blowing a 3-run lead.  Needless to say, despite falling into the doldrums of the middle innings, they woke up late and did what was necessary to win the game.  They may have trouble in the semifinals as the pitching is still suspect, but they can rejoice in the face that I believe this is their first time ever in the Best 4 of any Koushien.

Notable Players
Tajima Daiki (Sano Nichidai) - 11 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 7 K, 3 BB, 2 HBP
Inaba Kousei (Sano Nichidai) - 2-5, R, 2 RBI
Yoshida Toshiki (Sano Nichidai) - 2-4, R, RBI, SB, 2 IBB
Kishi Jyunichirou (Meitoku Giyuku) - 11 IP, 7 ER, 15 H, 3 K, BB, 2 IBB
Nishioka Souta (Meitoku Giyuku) - 3-5, R, RBI
Kishi Jyunichirou (Meitoku Giyuku) - 2-3, R, BB, HBP
Mizuno Katsuya (Meitoku Giyuku) - 1-5, 2 RBI

Kanto Dai-ichi had to breath a sigh of relief after coming back to defeat the Kyushu runner-ups.  The offense wasn't stellar early on, and only won thanks to stringing a couple of hits together.  They're still alive, but need to take leaps and bounds to be successful.

Meitoku Gijyuku saved their Senbatsu run by winning in the final inning against Chiben Wakayama.  Had the game ended in a draw, Kishi would be way too exhausted by the time they reached the final for Meitoku to have a chance.  Still, he only got a whopping 3 full days rest, and will get none should they win today.  That's still a lot to ask for.  But it's better than the alternative they faced.  Their offense though struggled about at as badly as I expected.  And this was against Chiben's so-so pitching staff.

So then we're expecting a possible low-scoring matchup with the last ace standing winning the game.

Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo)
CF Kumai Chihiro
1B Oogawa Kouki
3B Itou Masato
LF Yamaguchi Taisei
RF Moriyama Shou (#14)
C Ikeda Hiromu
2B Shinoda Taisei
SS Igarashi Masahiro
P Abe Takeshi (#10)

Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
3B Ozaki Yuuto
RF Sanada Kazuto
LF Tada Tougo
1B Nishioka Souta (#11)
P Kishi Jyuunichirou
SS Yasuda Takayuki
2B Mori Shouma
C Mizuno Katsuya (#13)
CF Ootani Yuuki

____________________________________________________________

09:03 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Kishi puts the first two pitches on the outside half to start the game.  Kumai makes contact, but pops out to Ozaki near the coach's box.  He's getting first pitch strikes here early, jumping on Oogawa 0-2.  But Oogawa fouls several pitches off.  Finally, on the 8th pitch Kishi puts him away on the low fastball.

Ama-chan plays for the first time as Itou steps in.

Kishi one again gets ahead 1-2, and Itou chases the outside fastball to end the inning.  3 days off and Kishi looks good to start (at least).

Bottom 1st
Abe getting ahead of leadoff batter Ozaki early, gets him to fly to center. Sanada winds up in front of a slider and grounds to short.  And while he falls behind Tada, he gets him to go after an inside fastball.  While he makes solid contact, he just didn't put enough on it as Kumai is there for the catch.

Top 2nd
One pitch, one out as Yamaguchi hits one back to Kishi.

Moriyama squats down and drives a ball to deep right center!  Sanada won't get to it as it dies in front of the wall!  Moriyama slides in with an easy triple!!  Kanto's first hit gives them a great scoring opportunity!

AH!  Ikeda swings on the first pitch and flies to shallow right center!  Ootani comes in to makes the catch and Moriyama has to hold up.

Kishi almost out of the inning, but Shinoda hits a slow chopper up the middle!  Mori charging in, fields it... has to hurry the throw... and Oonishi can't play it off the hop!  The ball gets away in foul terrirtory as Moriyama scores to give Kanto Dai-ichi the lead!  It's 1-0!

Igarashi grounds to short to end the inning, but Kanto perhaps taking advantage of Kishi being a little too eager to get his strikes in.

Bottom 2nd
Abe doing a great job on the mound to start as he places the fastball on the outside edge of the plate for his 1st K.  Kishi pops up on the first pitch to SS Igarashi.

Yasuda with a shot to 1st, bounces off of Oogawa's glove and into right for a base hit!  Meitoku finally has their first hit.

Mori with a scorcher up the 3rd base line, but Itou makes the back-handed stop and goes to first for the 3rd out!

Abe in a relief start so far has performed admirably.

Top 3rd
Kishi uncharacteristically falls behind the last batter Abe and walks him.  Yonezawa-kantoku has him bunted into scoring position.  Now, he falls behind Oogawa 3-1, and he issues a walk to him as well!  Mabushi-kantoku calls for time.

Kishi gets out the pinch!  Itou hits a ball back to him, and he starts the 1-6 3 double play to end the inning!

Bottom 3rd
Abe allows his first leadoff runner as he can't find the fastball on the full count.  Mabuchi-kantoku has Ootani bunt him along.

Ozaki trying to work the count in his favor, but Abe is on his game early as he induces a popup.  Tada also working the count, draws yet another walk to put pressure on Haketa.  Yonezawa-kantoku calls for time.

Tada with a popup down the left field line.  Itou, Igarashi and Yamaguchi all converge... but no one catches it!  Mizuno scores on what turns out to be a bloop double!  I think all 3 of them were expecting some else to try and catch it, but no one did!  1-1!

Nishioka with a solid ping, but it's off the end of the bat.  Kumai coming in makes the running catch, but Meitoku with some luck has tied the game!

Top 4th
Kishi just misses with his 2-2 2-seamer inside to Yamaguchi, but he doesn't miss the 2nd time as Yamaguchi can only turn away in digust.

But then Kishi goes right back and walks Moriyama.  That's 3 already and a bit of a concern if you're a Meitoku fan.

Kishi trying to hold Moriyama at 1st, throws there several times, almost picking him off... but he goes 1 time too many and throws it away!  Oonishi can't field it off the ground and Moriyama heads to 2nd!

Ikeda with a ball to deep left!  Tada, playing in has no chance at it!  It takes a bounce to the wall and Moriyama can walk home!  It's an RBI double for Ikeda as Kanto Dai-ichi takes the lead 2-1!

Shinoda moves Ikeda to 3rd with a chopper to 2nd, but Igarashi can't bring him in as Ozaki sells out on the pop fly in foul territory, making the catch and then crashing into the camera well wall!

Bottom 4th
Kishi looks to get the run back as he singles to right.  Yasuda bunts him into scoring position.

But Abe continues to give Meitoku fits!  Mori off the end of his bat flies out to right... and then Mizuno grounds to 1st!  Oogawa flips to Abe, who just beats out Mizuno for the 3rd out!

Top 5th
One down for Kanto Dai-ichi and Kumai's grounder to 1st is ole'd by Oonishi and goes into right!  For Kishi thankfully, that's all they get as Oogawa quickly flies out to center, and Itou chases the slider for the 3rd out.

Bottom 5th
There's a delay before the bottom of the 5th as Kumai is tended to for some reason.  No obvious injury from the prior plays, but he emerges and takes his position in center.

Abe locating his pitches really well, jamming Ootani and inducing a popup to 1st.

I say that and he leaves one over the plate that Ozaki shoots to the left center field gap for a double!

Sanada follows that up with a liner to left and Abe in a bit of spot with runners at the corners.  Tada, who tied the game before, is up to see if he can do it again.

This time though, Abe's not messing with him.  He's trying to hit the edges but falls behind 3-0!  It's a straight 4-pitch walk and it's manrui for Meitoku Gijyuku!  Yonezawa-kantoku calls times as #4 batter Nishioka steps in.

Ikeda makes one more trip to the mound to confirm things and the AB starts.  Ball way outside and Ikeda make a great smothering dive!

Nishioka with a ball off the bat back up the middle, and it's to the other side of a falling Abe!  The ball sneaks through to center and Ozaki scores the douten run! It's 2-2 and Kishi of all batters is up!

Abe obviously rattled, doesn't want to find the zone against Kishi.... and it's an oshidashi walk!  Sanada comes in to score and Meitoku Gijyuku has their first lead at 3-2!!

He seems to have settled down getting ahead 0-2 to Yasuda.

Grounder to 3rd!  Tada is inexplicably frozen as Itou goes home for 1, Ikeda goes to 1st... double play!

The 5-2-3 double play gets Abe out of the jam, and while Meitoku does take the lead, a pair of runs isn't the worst thing you could expect from that situation.

So we hit the break with a new leader, but it's obvious ace Kishi already isn't his normal self.

Top 6th
Yamaguchi strikes out for the 2nd time as Kishi puts out the forkball for him to wave over.

Ow.  Mizuno needs a moment after Moriyama's foul ball hits him square in the plums.  Laga-san in the background has a good laugh at his expense.

But it's Mizuno with the last laugh as not only Moriyama goes down swinging on the forkball, but Ikeda makes it 4 straight for Kishi chasing the slider outside!

Bottom 6th
Mori leads off the 6th with a bloop hit to right!  Mizuno after some fits and starts (perhaps last half inning related), lays down the bunt on the 1-2 pitch.

Ootani whips around on the inside fastball and drives one to right!  Moriyama going back, still going back, makes the catch near the wall. Ozaki tries to test him as well with a ball down the right field line, but Moriyama runs that one down as well to retire the side.

Top 7th
Really though the question will be how Kanto Dai-ichi reacts now that they're trailing.  The 6th inning certainly was not a good portent of things to come.

Shinoda changes that with one swings!  He gaps one to right center for a leadoff double!  After Igarashi bunts him over, #9 Usui comes in to hit for Abe, signalling the end of his day.

Ball gets away from Mizuno and Shinoda takes a look, but has to scramble back when Mizuno fires to 3rd!  Just slides in safely.

Kishi not backing down, strikes out Usui on the slider away for the 2nd out!  That leaves things to leadoff batter Kumai.

Ah!  But Kumai goes after a ball low and pops it up!  Tada running into foul territory makes the catch!  The teams trading runs every other inning stops here in the 7th and could this be the turning point?

Bottom 7th
Ace Haketa comes in for PH Usui to take the hill.

It could be as Sanada singles back up the middle past a diving Igarashi for a base hit!  Tada bunts him along.

Nishioka with a ball back up the middle!  Shinoda gets there, but it's off his glove!  Sanada being waved home!  Shinoda's throw home, bounces up in the air as Sanada slides home!  But the home plate umpire isn't giving a signal!!  Ikeda goes for the tag as Sanada dives for home again, but he's tagged out!  Sanada missed home completely trying to avoid the tag!

Kishi flies out to left and Haketa keeps Meitoku off the board!

Top 8th
However, outside of the double by Shinoda, Kanto has done little now that they're trailing.

Ookawa behind 1-2 lines a ball to Ozaki.  Itou and Yamaguchi work the count but both wind up chasing the slider becoming Kishi's 9th and 10th Ks.

Bottom 8th
Yasuda gives Meitoku their 5th leadoff runner with a single to right.  After Mori fails to bunt the runner along, Mizuno takes care of it.

Haketa goes down looking on the changeup and Haketa has held serve.

Top 9th
However, the offense needs to step up because they have no time left.

One down, Ikeda with a shot to 3rd.  Ozaki stops it, but it trickles into foul territory and he has no throw!  Douten runner on base!

In a desperate attempt to score the run, Shinoda bunts the runner along.

あら！

Ikeda takes off for 3rd after Mizuno goes to 2nd on a pickoff throw!  He's in safely and now the douten run is 90 feet away!  But Igarashi is behind 1-2!

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

Igarashi becomes the last out as he chases a slider away to end the game!  The 2-run 5th is good enough to give Meitoku Gijyuku the lead for good as Kanto Dai-ichi folds under the pressure of playing from behind!

Things certainly did not look good for Kishi early on as the Kanto batters were taking their walks and knocking him around.  But his offense picked him up and kept them in it.  And when they finally took the lead, Kanto Dai-ichi could find no answer.

Notable Players
Kishi Jyunichirou (Meitoku Gijyuku) - CG, 2 ER, 6 H, 11 K, 3 BB
Sanada Kazuto (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 2-3, R
Yasuda Takayuki (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 2-3
Abe Takeshi (Kanto Dai-ichi) - 6 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, K, 4 BB
Haketa Akihiro (Kanto Dai-ichi) - 2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, K
Ikeda Hiromu (Kanto Dai-ichi) - 2-4, 2B, RBI
Shinoda Taisei (Kanto Dai-ichi) - 2-3, 2B, RBI

Chiben Wakayama and Meitoku Gijyuku have weaknesses and strengths that cross.  That is, Chiben Wakayama's pitching is suspect, but so is Meitoku Gijyuku's offense.  Ace Kishi for Meikoku Gijyuku is certainly their strong point, but so is Chiben's offense.

Given that, as mentioned in the quadrant writeups, the game will hinge on Kishi to keep his team in the game.

Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)
SS Oohata Tatsuya
2B Tanaka Hiroaki
CF Yamamoto Ryuuga
C Osa Issei (#7)
LF Katayama Shouta (#9)
1B Nishiyama Touma (#16)
RF Haruno Kouki (#18)
3B Ooishi Kaito
P Saitou Yuuta (#11)

Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
3B Ozaki Yuuto
LF Oonishi Kazumasa (#3)
RF Tada Tougo (#7)
1B Nishioka Souta (#11)
P Kishi Jyuunichirou
SS Yasuda Takayuki
2B Mori Shouma
C Mizuno Katsuya (#13)
CF Ootani Yuuki

____________________________________________________________

13:56 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Well, Kishi starts of the game well, with a fork ball outside that Oohata swings and misses for his first K.

Tanaka turns back to the dugout even before being punched out when Kishi's fastball finds the inside half.

Yamamoto avoids the the 3rd K, but grounds to 2nd to end the inning.

Bottom 1st
There are problem with Saitou's delivery as his hitch at the top of his delivery is a bit too much.

It doesn't seem to bother him as Ozaki pops out to shallow left.  Oohata and Katayama almost collide, but Oohata makes the catch.

Oonishi too gets under a ball and pops out to Oohata.  And Tada is early on a ball, tries to extend his swing by lunging forward, but just flies out to left.

Top 2nd
The big red "C" makes its appearance again in the ouen-dan as Osa stands in.

First pitch, big cut, popout to Mizuno behind home plate.

The first hit for Chiben is a big one as Kishi out of character leaves one over the plate and Katayama puts it into deep center for a double!

Nishiyama with another rip on a fastball again left over the plate, sends it through the left side.  Mabuchi-kantoku sends out #15 Namura to settle the team.  But that's 2 pitches Kishi has just served on a platter.

In stands Haruno, and he really stands in.  He's 184 cm and 90 kg.

And man can he whip that bat, fouling off a pitch Kishi puts inside...

Kishi uncorks a wild pitch and Katayama takes off for home!  Throw from Mizuno is high, and Kishi is late with the tag! It's 1-0 Chiben Wakayama!

Kishi finally retires Haruno as on the 10th pitch his curve gets grounded to short.

Ooishi continues the barrage on Kishi.  Yet another ball over the plate, another base hit for Chiben Gakuen...

Saitou flies out to left, but if this is any indicator Meitoku is in a lot of trouble...

Bottom 2nd
Saitou doing his job so far negating the left-heavy lineup of Meitoku.  Though Kishi is right-handed.  And with 1 out, Saitou wants nothing to do with him and walks him.

The strategy might be working as Yasuda is jammed and flies to right for the 2nd out.  Once again, he's very careful with righty Mori and walks him as well to bring up Mizuno, who is also a righty.

But Saitou decides to attack against Mizuno getting ahead 0-2 before getting him to chase a fastball outside and rolling it to 2nd for the 3rd out.

Top 3rd
Kishi still struggling with his command.  He's leaving his fastball high and in the zone, though at least for Oohata he gets him swinging on those pitches.

Tanaka and Yamamoto just miss those pitches and both pop out. But Kishi isn't looking all there.

Bottom 3rd
Meanwhile, Saitou continues to confound the lefties.  Ootani and Oonishi make bad contact, while Ozaki's liner goes right to Nishiyama.

Top 4th
Man, Kishi starts off Osa with two piches way up and in before Osa makes contact on one and pops out to Mori behind 2nd.

Katayama rips a ball at 1st, but Nishoka makes a nice stop.  But then he leaves a ball over the plate again and Nishiyama puts it down the right field line for a double, and right after that goes high and in on Haruno and plunks him.

And then turns around again with the slider and makes Ooishi twirl like a ballerina for the 3rd out.

Bottom 4th
A lefty finally has success against Saitou! Nishioka squares up the curve and singles to center!  Ah, but Yamamoto flubs fielding the ball and Nishioka takes 2nd on the error!

This brings up a chance for Kishi with a runner in scoring position!  And he hits a booming ball to left... but it's just a towering fly ball as Katayama makes the catch for the 2nd out.

And back to a lefty now, Yasuda continues the struggles as he grounds out to 2nd.  If the lefties can't figure out Saitou, they're toast.

Top 5th
Kishi looks better this inning as he gets 3 groundball outs.  Nothing too solid, but it's a start for him to settle down.

Bottom 5th
Yamamoto having troubles in center apparently as a routine fly by Mori is dropped.  That's his 2nd fielding issue this game.

Mizuno, despite being a righty, is being asked to bunt.  Not sure if that's wise, but Mizuno lays it down.

Ootani delivers!  He turns a ball and lines it over a leaping Tanaka into center!  Mori is sent home and Yamamoto's throw is nowhere near home! Ootani with the douten timely, and we're at 1-1!

Ozaki again with a grand fly to left, but again Katayama has time to back up and catch it.

Oonishi is way ahead of the slider and just pushes the ball to 2nd where Oohata steps on the bag for the force.

Well, we're at the break and Meitoku's lefties are finally having some success against starter Saitou.  Meanwhile, Kishi might be finally starting to settle down, but it's still inconclusive.  They've got 4 inning to play to figure things out (in regulation at least).

Top 6th
Yamamoto putting in work in his AB after the errors, fouling pitch after pitch after pitch trying to improve his 1-2 count.  5 fouls balls before Kishi finally wins the battle with a flyout to center.

Osa on the other hand likes the first pitch and singles through the left side.

Takashima-kantoku puts on the hit-and-run, and it works to perfection!  Katayama lines a single to right and Osa easily makes it to 3rd!  Chiben Wakayama threatens again!

Nishiyama hits a ball to 3rd, and Osa was going on contact!  He's run down eventually, but not before both runners advance to 2nd and 3rd!  Great job by Osa on that rundown, though it was also poor rundown skills by Meitoku.

With first base open, Kishi gives the unintentional intentional walk to create a force at all bases as Ooishi steps in, already with a hit on the day.

But Kishi misses with his first 2 pitches (just) before finally getting one close that Ooishi fouls off.

Kishi wins!  He gets Ooishi to hit a ball to 2nd and Mori flips to Yasuda for the 3rd out!  The strategy works and the game remains tied!

Bottom 6th
Tada having some success in making contact and fouling pitches off, but gets caught looking at a pitch outside just too close to take.

Nishioka attacks the first pitch from Saitou, but pops it up.  Tanaka moves over to foul territory and makes the catch for the 2nd out.

With 2 outs there's no need to go after Kishi and Saitou rightly walks him again.

But then Saitou can't find the plate against Yasuda and walks him too!  That brings up righty Mori!

Saitou catches a break! He leaves a ball over the plate, but Mori pops it up!  Nishiyama under it and makes the catch to retire the side

Top 7th
Momentum I think is starting to swing Meitoku's way here ever so slightly late.  Kishi has settled down quite a bit since the early innings and despite the hits from Chiben Wakayama in the 6th, he's spotting the ball well.

He works ahead of each of the batters here in the lucky 7, forcing them to defend the plate - well except for Saitou who swung on the first pitch and grounded to 2nd.  Oohata and Tanaka's defensive swings wind up in flyouts.

Bottom 7th
However, any gains they have are muted because they're still struggling with starter Saitou.  Mizuno, Ootani and Ozaki cannot make good contact, and all are retired in order.

Top 8th
Kishi's changeup makes Yamamoto look silly as he becomes Kishi's 5th K.

Osa with a drive to center!  Ootani racing back!  Still going!  And he makes the catch in front of the fence for the 2nd out!

Katayama with a routine fly to center and that's the inning.  Kishi gets a scare from Osa, but survives.

Bottom 8th
Is Mabuchi unfurling his strategy now?  #12 Yamagata (a righty) comes in to hit for Oonishi.  Unfortunately he skies a ball to Tanaka.

Perhaps not.  Tada hits a soft liner to Ooishi for the 2nd out bringing up Nishioka.  To which Saitou jams him and forces a grounder to short.  Oohata makes the play and we're heading to the last inning in regulation all square!

Top 9th
#9 Sanada comes in for PH Yamagata to take over in RF.  Tada goes to his numbered position in LF.

Kishi has bottled up Nishiyama after his first two ABs as Nishiyama grounds out to 1st.

The one person though that has given Kishi fits is Haruno.  He's walked him twice.

And now given up a base hit!  Haruno singles to center as he gives his team the guts pose!  But that momentum is quickly lost as Ooishi's bunt deadens right in front of home, allowing Mizuno to fire to 2nd - just nailing Haruno for the 2nd out!

That leaves it to Kishi's counterpart Saitou to keep the inning going.  Instead he grounds out to short.  Yasuda flips to Mori and now all Saitou can do is to play for enchousen!

Bottom 9th
And worse yet, Kishi leads off the 9th inning!

Perhaps they should have walked Nishioka to make Kishi bat in the 8th instead of leading off the 9th?

Is Saitou going after Kishi?  He is!  First pitch strike, then a foul by Kishi and Saitou's ahead 0-2!

SANSHIN!!!! Oh, that's some balls by Saitou!  He throws the slider and Kishi is completely fooled!  One down!

Has Saitou found another gear?  Yasuda pretty much falls victim to the same pitch!  He's doubled his K's from the first 8 innings!

Uh oh!  Mori connects on a fastball inside and inside-outs it down the right field line!  He's in with a double!

Despite Mizuno being a righty, they're choosing to go after him.

Popup!  Saitou gets Mizuno to pop up!  Uh oh!  Oohata and Katayama are converging again... they collide!  But fortunately for Takashima-kantoku, Oohata makes a catch.  Oh, that could have been disasterous.

We're headed to enchousen!

Top 10th
Oohata gets the bat around on a fastball inside, but it's still a soft liner to right.

2 down and when Kishi doesn't get a strike call on 2-1 to Yamamoto, he leaves the next pitch just a little too much over the plate and Yamamoto turns it for a single to right.

Yamamoto takes off for 2nd! Kishi's ball is in the dirt, but Mizuno makes a great pick and throw, but the extra time allows Yamamoto to reach safely!

No matter though, because Kishi goes back to the slider and Osa can only twist in the wind as the side is retired.

Bottom 10th
One down, and Ozaki finally checks in with his first hit with a single up the middle.  Mabuchi-kantoku plays for the sayonara timely as Sanada buts him over leaving it in Tada's hands.

Tada with a ball to the right side.. Tanaka with some type of pick, throws to 1st and they get a diving Tada for the 3rd out!  Tanaka saves the game right there!

Top 11th
Kishi missing the plate completely with his pitches and he walks Katayama on 4 straight!!  Nishiyama puts him in scoring position with the bunt.

Mabuchi-kantoku calls time as guess who... Haruno steps into the batter's box.

And it looks like it's an intentional walk this time around.  That's 3 walks for Haruno now, but it creates the force, and brings up Ooishi... no wait, it's #17 Takimoto to hit.  Will Mabuchi-kantoku's strategy backfire?

Kishi gets quickly ahead 0-2... SANSHIN!  Kishi pulls the string with the slider and Takimoto falls right in!  2 down!

Takashima-kantoku will stick with Saitou though.

First pitch swinging!  Grounder to 2nd, and Mori flips to Yasuda for the 3rd out!  Kishi out of another jam!

Bottom 11th
Takimoto stays in at 3B

One down, Kishi with a drive to center!  Yamamoto going back, going back.... flattens out and makes the catch in deep center!  Just didn't get enough on it.

And with Yasuda's foul fly to Katayama, we head to the 12th!

Top 12th
Kishi at 142 pitches through 11.

Oohata with a liner just over the leaping Mori for a leadoff hit!  Jock Rock warms up as Tanaka shows bunt.

But he pops it up!  Kishi over to get it, but he drops the ball!  Now Chiben is in a mess as Kishi goes to 1st for the force!  Oohata fails to run back on the throw and he's run down!  2 outs and Takashima makes the "aww man" face.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kishi with a mistake!  Yamamoto pumps his fist in their air right away as that ball just leaves the yard!!

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

After what seemed like something completely unlucky for Chiben Wakayama, Yamamoto gets it all back with interest!  2-1 Chiben Wakayama!

Ozaki snags a scorching liner from Osa and Meitoku will be down to their final 3 outs!

Bottom 12th
Mori already gets Meitoku on the road to douten with a first pitch single through the right side!  Mizuno moves him over to 2nd.

Ootani with a ball to the left side, that's just out of the reach of a diving Oohata!  Ootani rounding 3rd.. held up!

And that's it for Saitou.  Ace Azuma comes in to try and close it out.

Ozaki up, not showing squeeze here as he takes a couple.

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

Ozaki lays down the perfect squeeze bunt and Azuma can only go to 1st!  Mori scores and we're all tied again at 2-2!!

Sanada grounds to short, but the game continues on with just 3 innings left!

Top 13th
One down, Nishiyama with a shot down the 3rd base line.  Ozaki makes the great diving stop in foul territory, and makes the strong throw to 1st to complete the great play!

Two down, and Haruno continues to get on base with a single, but Takimoto can't do anything with it grounding into a fielder's choice.

Bottom 13th
The problem now is, Azuma is a righty against a left-heavy lineup.  Will that matter?

Well, after falling behind 2-0 he works it to 2-2 and then gets the 144 fastball off Tada's bat and into Nishyama's glove for the out.

But right before Kishi, he walks Nishioka on 4 straight to bring up Kishi!!

But Kishi shows bunt?!!!  And does the bust-and-run??!!  He chops the ball and advances the runner at his own expense, but is that really the way you want to use Kishi??!!

That means Kishi is leaving it to Yasuda to bring the sayonara run in...

But again Azuma is being careful with Yasuda being a lefty...

Yet on a full count he goes after him!  Yasuda pops it up and Takimoto makes the catch carefully on the bullpen for the 3rd out!

Top 14th
We're running out of innings as both teams scramble to find the winning run.

Azuma in for his first AB, pops out to Yasuda.  Oohata tries to put a ball past Kishi, but he makes the pick off the ground for the 2nd out.

Tanaka flies out to center, and Chiben Wakayama has just 3 outs to play with...

Bottom 14th
Meitoku should realize that this game cannot go to a tie.  It'll almost be like a loss because Kishi will have to pitch another 9 innings (at least!).

Mori leads off with a first pich single to right!  Mizuno, after 2 failed bunt attempts rightly goes for broke and bunts with 2 strikes, successfully laying it down, and setting the groundwork for Ootani again.  Can he deliver one more time?

Azuma may not give him that chance.  He goes inside on all his pitches and walks him, and since his run doesn't count, it's fine.  It creates the force, and it brings up righty Ozaki.

One batter down, Ozaki gets under Azuma's slider and pops out to Haruno.

But it still leaves righty Sanada...

He hits a small liner to the left side, and Oohata runs it down for the 3rd out!  We're down to the last ups for both sides!

Top 15th
The Chiben ouen-dan gets louder now with all at stake.  Yamamoto makes contact, but it's a short liner that Sanada runs down.

Osa with a ball to the left side, Yasuda makes a great sliding stop in the gap, but his throw right off his hand is high!  Nishioka can't get it and it goes to the camera well advancing Osa into scoring position!

Mabuchi-kantoku calls time as Katayama steps in...

Comebacker to Kishi!  He snags it out of the air! Osa is caught in between and gets rundown!  But again, he stays alive long enough for Katayama to reach 2nd.  But there's 2 outs now for Nishiyama.

This is dangerous.  Kishi falls behind Nishiyama 3-1 with Haruno on deck!!!

Fastball low, Nishiyama fouls it off.  At least Kishi has run it full...

BALL 4!!  The fastball is outside and now Haruno is up!  And he's only been retired once in his 6 plate appearances!!

And Haruno delivers again!  First pitch single to left, but Katayama has to hold at 3rd!  Manrui for Chiben with Takimoto at the dish!!

TAKIMOTO SWINGS AT THE FIRST PITCH! It's a grounder to 2nd and Mori is up with it!  Goes to 1st and Kishi survives!  Now all Chiben Wakayama can play for is a draw!

Bottom 15th
And Meitoku Gijyuku must sell out for the win.

Tada gives his best to get on base, but winds up grounding to short.  2 outs to go.

Nishioka with a ball off the end of the bat, goes up the middle for a base hit!  No way Kishi is bunting here, no bust-and-run either.  Just "swing away", as it were.

Though Kishi is still being selective at the plate taking pitch after pitch and getting ahead 3-1.

BALL FOUR!!!  Azuma walks Kishi moving the sayonara run into scoring position!

It'll be up to Yasuda again to try and end it here...

Yasuda with a flare up the middle... just over a leaping Oohata!!!  Nishioka has to hold at 3rd, but Meitoku with a big chance!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Azuma throws a wild pitch and is helpless as Nishioka walks home for the sayonara 3-2 win...

*sighs*

It's a good walk completely spoiled really.  For both teams to have fought tooth and nail, for it to end like this is just heartbreaking really. I'm not necessarily a fan of Chiben Wakayama, but when I saw that Takashima-kantoku had brought out 6 pitchers, I wondered if even being an older kantoku, he was learning some things.  And perhaps it seemed like he was.  But you just don't plan for a 15 inning affair, nor the pressure of having to play for just a draw while the opposition can sell out for the win.

I do feel bad for Chiben Wakayama. They did deserve better - even a "better" loss would have been ok really.  Just not... that.

Notabale Players
Kishi Jyuunichirou (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 15 IP, 2 ER, 12 H, 7 K, 4 BB, HBP
Mori Shouma (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 3-5, 2B, R, BB
Ootani Yuuki (Meitoku Gijyuku) -  2-5, RBI
Nishoka Souta (Meitoku Gijyuku) - 2-6, R, BB
Saitou Yuuta (Chiben Wakayama) -11.1 IP, ER, 6 H, 3 K, 4 BB
Azuma Yuusuke (Chiben Wakayama) - 3 IP, ER, 3 H, K, 3 BB
Haruno Kouki (Chiben Wakayama) - 3-4, BB, HBP
Katayama Shouta (Chiben Wakayama) - 2-6, 2B, R, BB
Nishiyama Touma (Chiben Wakayama) - 2-5, 2B, BB