高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

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.

Interesting that both teams again go to their bench to start the game. Moriokadai Fuzoku gives the ball to it's 3rd different starter in #10 Inoue (though he did pitch to one batter last game). Kawano for Naruto gets a break after 2 straight games, with the ball handed off to #9 Yatake

Naruto (Tokushima)
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 (11)Nakayama Terukazu (中山 晶量)
P (9)Yatake Masaya (矢竹 将弥)
LF Watanabe Yuuya (渡辺 裕哉)
3B Takeishi Ren (武石 蓮)
Moriokadai Fuzoku (Iwate)
1B Ishibashi Taisei (石橋 泰成)
2B Sugawara Yuuki (菅原 優輝)
CF Ueda Taku (植田 拓)
RF Shiotani Hiroki (塩谷 洋樹)
C Itou Yuuki (伊藤 勇貴)
3B Obara Taiga (小原 大河)
LF (16)Nishiyama Yuuki (西山 雄基)
SS (14)Higa Kenshin (比嘉 賢伸)
P (10)Inoue Ryouhei (井上 涼平)

Our first full game of teams who have taken the field. Haru-Natsu contender Chiben Gakuen, who admittedly appear vulnerable. Naruto should provide a decent challenge to the Nara champs.

Naruto (Tokushima)
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)
3B Takeishi Ren (武石 蓮)

Chiben Gakuen (Nara)
LF Osame Daichi (納 大地)
CF Aoki Yuudai (青木 雄大)
2B Oota Hidetake (太田 英毅)
RF Fukumoto Yuuma (福元 悠真)
1B Takahashi Naoki (高橋 直暉)
P Murakami Shouki (村上 頌樹)
3B Oohashi Shunpei (大橋 駿平)
C Okasawa Tomoki (岡沢 智基)

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15:55 - First Pitch!

Well, I thought Naruto was going to give Chiben Gakuen some trouble, but early on it doesn't look good. Bottom 1st, Osame gets fortunate on a high chopper up the middle that he outruns for a base hit.

2 down, runners at 1st and 2nd for Takahashi, Kawano leaves a fastball middle-middle and it's taken to center for a base hit, just out of the reach of a charging Tezuka. Murakami helps his own cause afterwards, with an RBI single to left center. Like that it's 2-0 Chiben Gakuen.

Naruto finally gets something resembling a chance in the 3rd. Hino would lead off with a single through the right side. But Kamata's bunt was nowhere near good enough and Hino would be thrown out. He's find his way to 3rd on a stolen base and a wild pitch, but in the end Tezuka would chase after a slider and ground out to short.

The game enters a period of both sides just swinging away resulting in a lot of outs. Most are ground balls and some good plays by the infields. But it's still 0s as both offenses scuffle.

Naruto would finally get a baserunner in the 5th when Watanabe would single to right. It looked like he would be stranded at 2nd again, but on Kamata's grounder to 2nd, Oota whiffs on the ball! That allows Watanabe to score cutting the deficit to 2-1. There might have been more, but Fuji's fly ball down the left field line is caught by a diving Osame who sold out for it.

That's where we end at the break. Chiben Gakuen has the lead but it's been made a bit less comfortable. There's still work to be done, and Chiben Gakuen still not showing it can separate itself from the competition.

And in fact, the momentum still seems to be with Naruto. Tezuka starts with a 4 pitch walk. Takahashi can't handle the throw on a pickoff and that allows Tezuka to get into scoring position. That proves costly 2 batters ;ater when Sahara singles to center scoring the douten run. 2-2.

Chiben Gakuen may be making progress again on Kawano as the first 2 outs are driven fly balls. It winds up being a 1-2-3 inning in the 6th, but it's something worth monitoring.

Naruto looks to put another stick on the board when Watanabe hits a ball down the right field line for a triple. But Takeishi first pitch pops out to 1st. Hino golfs a ball to shallow left, but Osame charging in makes a spectacular diving catch. The indignity of not scoring from 3rd, no out could hurt them.

The game stalls, perhaps like an object going towards a black hole, as the teams are inexorably pulled towards enchousen.

But in the top of the 9th Naruto gets one last chance. Yatake with a deep ball to right, it looks gone but the hamakaze knocks it down in front of the wall. He's in with a double a bunt over and the have a runner 90 feet away yet again.

Watanabe hits a hot shot to the right side, but Oota is there once again, almost like the entire game, to make the stop and play at 1st.

PH #10 Hama is hit and #14 Takai replaces him. And then if that wasn't enough Murakami walks Hino to load the bases!

But Kamata hits a blooper to right! Oota and Fukumoto converge, but neither can get to it. One run is in! Fukumoto comes up firing, but his throw is over everything! This as Takai scores and now Hino comes in to score and the error costs them another run! It's 5-2! That's all they get, but it may be enough!

Naruto tries to mount one final rally as Fukumoto gets on base thanks to an error by Fuji. But nothing eve materialized, so as Kamata secures the final out, Naturo has defeated the Haru Koushien champs denying them a chance for a haru-natsu title.

But the writing was on the wall. The easy road through Haru Koushien, the same through the prefecturals. And yet there games where they struggled. This was easily gong to be one of them, and in the end it wasn't enough.

Since I hope to have all team reviews up and they're by game, please refer to those for analysis on both teams.

Saku Chousei (Nagano)
3B Sakakura Ryoutarou (阪倉 涼太郎)
CF Hanaoka Ryouta (花岡 遼太)
SS Motoyama Hiyuu (元山 飛優)
RF Kouda Naohiro (甲田 尚大)
1B Nakamura Yoshiki (中村 禄樹)
LF (8)Hanaoka Daisuke (花岡 大輔)
C Miyaishi Kai (宮石 翔生)
2B Suzuki Takashi (鈴木 貴士)
P Kobayashi Reo (小林 玲雄)

Naruto (Tokushima)
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)
3B Takeishi Ren (武石 蓮)

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10:32 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Sakakura with a shallow liner that Yatake charges and makes a shoestring catch. Ryouta quickly gives his team their first base hit. Motoyama's chopper to 3rd is slow enough to allow him to beat out the DP.

Early on though, it seems like Kawano isn't really fooling the batters. His pitches are up and when the batters do swing they're not missing.

Oh wow! Takeishi snags a liner that had extra bases written all over it! 3 outs, but Saku Chousei already making good contact.

Bottom 1st
Kobayashi meanwhile walks his first batter and he is bunted to 2nd.

Fuji tries to mash the slow curve, but can't square it up and grounds out to 2nd.

He's not looking all that great either. Up 1-2 on Tezuka, he cannot get him to chase 2 balls out of the zone.

UH OH.

Tezuka obliterates a ball right down the middle and that is gone! 2-run HR puts Naruto up 2-0!

Things aren't getting any better as he gives up a single and walks another batter when he again fails to get them to chase. Worse yet, there's already a reliever up in the bullpen.

But perhaps he gets a sympathy strike on his opposing counterpart and thus ends the inning - but not before the first shots have been fired by Naruto.

Top 2nd
Two quick outs, but Kawano leaves one over the plate and Miyaishi drives that over the RF head to the wall for a triple.

And then Kawano hits a batter making things a bit tenuous. He even gets the count full to his counterpart before finally finishing him off with a fastball inside.

What looked like an inning to settle down became anything but, and Kawano will need to continue building on each inning.

Bottom 2nd
First pitch groundout from Watanabe, but Kobayashi still struggling with his control, leaving pitches way to high and walking the #9 batter in Takeishi,

Hino showing bunt with 1 down, but I'd rather let him see a few to see if Kobayashi continues to have control issues. And in fact after one attempt, he's swinging away. But he works the count full...

And hits one through the right side! Takeishi goes to 3rd and that will be it for Kobayshi. #11 Shiozawa comes in and not a moment too soon.

Then promptly gives up a shot back up the middle. 3-0.

Shiozawa does at least get a K when Fuji swings at a ball in the dirt.

But a mixup on a pickoff throw to 2nd allows both runners to advance. Which seems fine given that's it's an open base for Tezuka.

And he's crushing balls left and right, but foul.

Shiozawa thinks he has strike 3 on a ball outside, but the umpire won't give it to him (and this is where umps can give a very wide zone). He eventually loses him to load the bases.

Sahara trying to give his best Tezuka impersonation, driving a ball down the right field line, but foul. Instead though, Shiozawa finally gets his team out of the jam by getting him to chase a ball in the dirt for the 3rd out.

Top 3rd
Kawano meanwhile settling in. He gets a 1-2-3 inning, with the help of a favorable bounce. One down, Ryouta hits one off of Kawano to Hino at SS, who completes the play.

Bottom 3rd
Shiozawa given a clean slate, gets 3 routine groundouts. I think it was a mistake not to make him the starter.

Top 4th
The rhythm that Kawano had goes awry. After a 1-out 4 pitch walk, he gives up a hard single to left by Daisuke and a ball through the right side by Miyaishi to load the bases, causing Moriwaki-kantoku to call time.

Suzuki gets too aggressive and swings on a fastball up and away for the 2nd out.

Shiozawa meanwhile is patient and gets the count to 3-1, but Kawano gets a call on the inside edge for strike 2, and then another on the outside edge for strike 3! Saku Chousei is denied!

Bottom 4th
Shiozawa 's run of 6 retired batters ends when he issues 4 pitch walk to Kamata. But he's wiped out when Miyaishi throws him out trying to steal 2nd.

Top 5th
2 outs for Saku Chousei and Motoyama singles to right.

Kawano has Motoyama taking off too early to 2nd and they have him picked off! But the throw from Fuji is wide and as a result Hino can't field it! Motoyama slides in safely! Now a base hit could get Saku Chousei on the board!

And Kouda lines a ball just off of Kawano's head! It's to center and Motoyama is waved home! Throw in is slightly offline and it's a 3-1 ballgame!

Nakamura strikes out to retire the side, but there's a positive the team can build on if Shiozawa can shut the door.

Bottom 5th
Tezuka certainly not making that easy as he hits a one-out single to right...

And then steals 2nd on the next batter...

Shiozawa perhaps laboring a bit, walking Sahara to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Is the reason why he's not the ace because of his stamina?

Yatake grounder to 3rd, but Sakakura delays just a little, goes to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st, in the dirt and gets away from Nakamura! However Tezuka not going home and there's 2 outs.

Kawano is hit though and the bases are loaded!

#11 Nakayama comes in to hit for Watanabe looking to blow it open.

Shot to 3rd, diving stab by Sakakura! Tags 3rd and the inning is over! Shiozawa in his first self-made jam, but he gets out of it! We're at the break with Naruto leading 3-1, but Saku Chousei building confidence.

Top 6th
Of course I say that and Daisuke goes down on 3 straight to start the post-break.

Kawano perhaps being careful with Miyaishi issues him a free pass.

Suzuki meanwhile can't seem to lay off the high fastball. Chases another one high and away for 2 out, and Shiozawa grounds to 3rd quickly after.

Bottom 6th
Shiozawa should have had 2 outs in the 6th, but Hino's grounder takes a high hop at Nakamura and goes for a base hit.

While he's still missing bats he's getting less and less effective it seems.

Kamata lays down the perfect push bunt, and Shiozawa's shovel toss off the ground goes over the 1B head! Everyone takes an extra base and he's in a bone fide jam now!

Fuji grounds to 1st, and Nakamura runs the runner down! Hino can't advance and there's 2 out! Only problem is, that brings up Tezuka.

But he chases an outside pitch and lines out to SS keeping the deficit at 2 runs!

Top 7th
Saku Chousei gets their first leadoff batter on as Sakakura singles to center. He's bunted to 2nd.

Motoyama grounder to the right side, and it's through! Sakakura scores and it's a 3-2 ballgame! Naruto unable to put the game away has let Saku Chousei back in it!

Kouda grounds into a textbook 4-6-3 double play, but the damage is being done!

Bottom 7th
The lucky 7 for Naruto does not go as well as they are retired on just 7 pitches! It feels like they'll have to fall over the finish line else they may lose this!

Top 8th
Saku Chousei though making things easy on Kawano swinging early and recording 2 quick groundouts.

Miyaishi also hacking away, but still has the discerning eye, working the count full and then punishing a hanging curve to left center for a double. He's a HR short of the cycle, but more importantly he's the tying run in scoring position.

#8 Sasaki comes up to hit, but he grounds out to 1st. Dives into 1st head sliding and severely slowed down, but it wouldn't have mattered.

Bottom 8th
Another string of 6 consecutive outs is broken again when Tateishi is plunked by Shiozawa with 1 down. Naruto playing for 1 insurance run as Hino bunts the runner over.

Shiozawa finishes up his relief stint by striking out Kamata. It's a great relief stint, but maybe too late.

Top 9th
#13 Kurumi Yoshinobu comes in for Nakayama to play CF, moving Tezuka to LF.

PH #7 Okado grounds out to 1st.

Sakakura grounds to left side, Tateishi makes a great pick and throws to 1st for the 2nd out.

And Ryouta strikes out to end the game!

Where Saku Chousei was about to be level, Kawano shuts the door to win 3-2!

It wasn't the prettiest of games, and they had chances to blow the game open, but in the end Naruto holds on. None of the pitchers looked all that great on the mound and that always left the door open one way or the other.

You have to figure against stiffer competition, Naruto and specifically Kawano will run into trouble. But for now they can enjoy the win.

Still looking for a compelling game from start to finish. I think we're getting closer.

This is strange. Usually these schools have some track record during their prefectuals I can point to, but here to I have nothing. The only quality win of any kind was Naruto over Komatsuhima 7-5 in the quarterfinals.

The only other thing to go on is overall prefectural strength, and there despite Fukuoka being slightly more metropolitan, the advantage might go to Naruto.

Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka)
SS Yoshii Kouhei
CF Yamaguchi Youhei
C Iwasaki Kaito
3B Yamamoto Musashi
LF Wakisaka Ryuuji
1B Uto Sou
2B Kameya Shouhei
RF Nakayama
P Tomiyama Ryouga

Naruto (Tokushima)
CF Hori Kouki
2B Kamata Kouhei
RF Yatake Shouya
LF Tedzuka Kaito
C Sahara Yuuto
1B Mori Yuuta
P Kawano Ryuusei
3B Takeishi Ren
SS Hino Koutarou

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13:01 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Yoshii is jammed but fists the ball over Kamata for a soft single. That's all they get though as the first inning otherwise goes smoothly for Kawano.

Bottom 1st
Almost the same. Yatake with a single to left center, but again not much else.

Top 2nd
Kyukoku trying to prove me wrong early. A single from Uto is paid off when Nakayama punishes a mistake to deep right center. Uto easily scores to make it 1-0.

Bottom 2nd
Naruto trying to strike back. Sahara goes to left center, and that takes a bounce to the wall. He's in with a leadoff double and subsequently bunted over.

Kawano, for a P hangs in there for a 11 pitch AB, but on that 11th pitch swings and misses on a slider away. 2 down, and the douten runner still stands at 3rd.

Sanshin! Tateisihi chases a ball high and despite the leadoff double, they can't bring him in!

Top 3rd
Kyukoku forges ahead! Yohii literally golfs a ball to the wall in center and he's in with a triple! Yamaguchi flies out to deep right, and that gets the run in to make it 2-0.

3/4 Innings
After that, the game enters a bit of a lull where the pitchers are back in the groove, and nothing of importance is happening. Doesn't mean there aren't hits or anything, but there is no feel of a momentum shift.

Top 5th
Kyukoku looking to edge away just a little more. Nakayma leads off witha  chopper up the middle. Kamata actually runs it down, but can't make the throw in time. Yoshii gets his 3rd hit of the game, a base hit to right.

But bad luck for Kyukoku, or good luck for Naruto - Yamaguchi lines out to Mori and Yoshii is a dead duck and doubled off.

Bottom 5th
Naruto meanwhile cannot get any traction. The bottom of the order is retired with little issue, and they'll need to circle the wagons for the 2nd half of the game.

Top 6th
Instead of Naruto circling the wagons for a rally, After a hit batter, Kyukoku rattles off 2 hits with Yamamoto and Wakisaka making it 3-0. And then after a sac bunt, Kameya sneaks it through the left side to plate another run. They've quickly doubled the lead to 4-0 and are looking for more with just 1 down.

Nakayama now 3-3. Single to center makes it 5-0 and all these hits are squared up.

There's another from Tomiyama. That actually splits the outfield defense in left center and it's 7-0 as both runners come to score.

#12 Ozaki comes in to pitch, gives up another hit to Yoshii, but then finally cleans up the mess and gets them in the dugout.

Yikes...

Bottom 6th
You'd think with this lead you'd want to pitch to contact. But Hori leads off with a single, then after a sac bunt, Tomiyama issues a walk. Then another base hit, and then a 4-pitch walk.

If you count that up, that's 4 batters - and that means a run was walked in.

And yet. With it still manrui, Mori and Ozaki both pop out and 1 run is all they get.

Bottom 7th
Kyukoku goes to #11 Nogi, with Tomiyama going to 1B, and Uto going to LF. Nogi actually pitched the final 3 games of the Fukuoka taikai.

And Naruto finds him more to their liking! Takeishi singles back up the middle on the first pitch. After a walk and a sac bunt, Kamata singles to left and gets another run home. 7-2 though, and there's still a lot of work to do.

And unfortunately, Yatake, who was 1-1 with 2 walks, actually ends up grounding into a 6-4-3 double play!

Rest of game
Naruto falls apart a bit in the 9th, but only gives up 1 run. It could have been more, but a great stop by Hino prevented that.

The game finally ends in Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku's favor 8-2.

We're now into our first full day of 2nd round action as Nisshougakushadai Fuzoku has already punched their ticket into the 3rd round.

First up, the powder blue unis of Oumi versus the school that people here in the US would equate to an anime - Naruto.

Oumi almost sleepwalked through the Shiga prefecturals.  This despite playing Hikone Higashi (W 11-1) and then Kita-Ootsu (W 4-0).  It was so lopsided, the team averaged 0.491 and gave up 4 runs in 6 games

Obviously they won't be that good, and in fact when adjusted for competition, should be more realistic.  The problem will be we don't know how much it will be adjusted.

Naruto managed to win the Tokushima prefecturals, but it was far from pretty.  Despite 3 blowout games, they gave up at least 3 runs in each game, barely beating out Naruto Uzushio for the title.  The team hit 0.449, but again you have to be cognizant of the talent level.

Taking that into account, the one aspect that could prove to be their downfall is Naruto's pitching.  If they give up runs at the pace they did in-prefecture, here at Koushien will be much worse

Naruto (Tokushima)
2B Hori Kiyotaka
SS Takashima Keita
CF Narugawa Takashi
3B Kitao Hayato
RF Hashikawa Ryousuke
C Mukai Kouki
1B Mori Yuuta
P Kawano Tatsuo (#10)
LF Matsushita Kouichi

Oumi (Shiga)
LF Horiguchi Yuuka (#9)
CF Oda Kaito
SS Ueda Kai
3B Hibi Ryousuke
2B Nakaya Jyunpei
1B Yamamoto Daichi (#18)
C Minobe Naoki
P Ogawa Ryouken
LF Sasaji Kenta (#17)

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08:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
After what seemed like a good start, the middle of Naruto's lineup gets to work,

Narukawa begins with a blooper to center.  Kitao follows that up with a liner to left.  And then Ogawa finishes it up himself by hitting Hashikawa.  From 2 out, no on he loads the bases!

Mukai with a ball to right, but Sasaji is there to make the catch.  Ogawa gets himself out of his own pinch in the 1st

Bottom 1st
Naruto flashing the leather early as Kaito bloops a ball into shallow left.  Matsushita charges in, dives, rolls... and makes a spectacular catch!

And despite hitting Ueda with the slow curve, Kawano gets Hibi to pop out to Mukai to end the inning.

Top 2nd
Hibi with a great leaping catch on a liner by Mori to start the inning!

It looks like Ogawa might get a clean inning, but then Matsushita ruins it with a line single to right.  But a bad break for Naruto as Hori's hot shot to the right side hits Matsushita in the foot and he's called out for interference.

Bottom 2nd
Nakaya with Oumi's first hit, a solid single through the left side.

Yamamoto showing bunt, doesn't offer on the first couple.

Bust-and run!  Yamamoto hacks at it and singles through the right side!  Nakaya has to hold at 2nd, but Oumi is threatening!

Now finally does Taga-kantoku have Minobe bunt the runners along.

Ogawa after falling behind 0-2, is disciplined enough to take 3 balls before Kawano yanks the chain on the ball and gets him swinging for the 2nd out.

But once again Ogawa hits a batter with the ball (Sasaji) and it's manrui yet again!  Lineup turns over to Horiguchi.

First pitch opposite way! It's past Takashima into left! Nakaya scores! Yamamoto comes home, no throw! Horiguchi comes through in big way to give Oumi a 2-0 lead!

Kaito first pitch drives the slow curve to right!  Hashikawa running back... running back... over his head!  Sasaji's going to score, Horiguchi being waved around, no throw! Back to back pitches and it's 4-0 on Kaito's triple!

Ueda with a shot past Takashima! Kaito can walk home and now it's 5-0 Oumi!  Moriwaki-kantoku has to call time.

Taga-kantoku putting the screws on as he sends Ueda! Mukai's throw is way short and he has the base easily.

Hibi strikes out swinging to end the inning, but Oumi pounds the rookie pitcher for 5 big runs early.

Top 3rd
Naruto already looking in bad shape as Ogawa needs just 8 pitches (and a great charging play on a slow roller by Nakaya) to retire the side.

Bottom 3rd
Kawano going exclusively to the slow curve to start and that allows Yamamoto to line it up for a one out single to left.

Minobe follows that up hitting a hanging fastball to right for a base hit, Yamamoto was running on the play and easily takes 3rd.

Ogawa not having much luck.  He goes down swinging for the 2nd time and there's 2 down.

Kawano gets out of the inning after rallying from down 3-0 to Sasaji, getting him to sky a ball to center to retire the side.

Top 4th
Mori finally breaks up the streak of out with a 2-out single through the right side. But Kawano flies out to end the inning.

Bottom 4th
Kawano perhaps putting himself in trouble again, gives up a leadoff walk to Horiguchi.  He's bailed out when he gets Kaito to hit a double play.

Ueda meanwhile tries to make havoc on the base paths as he hits his 2nd single, and then steals 2nd!!  Hibi pops out to 2nd and the inning is over.

Top 5th
Naruto continuing to struggle, and is giving Ogawa an easy time of things.  He retires the side in just 3 pitches with none of the balls leaving the infield!

Bottom 5th
After that 2nd inning, Kawano hasn't had an easy time of things, but has at least kept Oumi off the board.

The same thing happens here in the 5th, though it's self-inflicted.  2 outs, he hits Minobe, and then walks Ogawa.

But with two outs, Sasaji goes after the first pitch and fouls out to Mori to end the inning.  Oumi's only been able to score in one inning, but it was a big inning as they try to put the game out of reach.

Top 6th
Narukawa gets his 2nd hit of the game with a clean single to right.

And now Ogawa hits Kitao and he's put his team in a jam!

Which he gets out of! Hashikawa grounds into the 6-4-3 double play!  Naruto still can string anything together as Ogawa gets Mukai to fly out to center to end the inning.

Bottom 6th
Oumi just running circles around Mukai.  After Kaito draws a 1-out walk, he takes 2nd with little difficulty.

Ueda then lines a ball the other way!  Hashikawa runs it down, but not before Kaito scores to make it 6-0.

Hibi grounder to left side, but Kitao can't make the pick! It goes to left for a base hit and we could be seeing a repeat of the 2nd if Moriwaki-kantoku isn't careful.

Nakaya with an excuse me swing, puts the bat on the ball and the momentum takes it to left for a base hit! Ueda scores to make it 7-0.

Yamamoto with a ball to shallow right...  Hashikawa charging in, slides... he's got it, no!  It leakes out of his glove and Hibi scores to make it 8-0!  Moriwaki-kantoku calls time, but doesn't pull Kawano?

And Yamamoto steals 2nd with nothing Mukai can do about it.

Minobe shot right at 1st, Mori charges in and makes the tag for the 2nd out.

Ogawa grounds to 3rd to end the inning, but the game seems all but over though I don't know why Kawano is still in the game...

Top 7th
The decision makes even less sense when with one out #17 Tezuka comes and hits for Kawano.

Tezuka manages to work the count full, but bites on the slider for the K.

Matsushita with a base hit through the left side, and that's their 5th hit with 2 outs so far.  In fact only one has has not been with 2 outs.

And that helps mitigate any damage.

Hori drive to left!  Sasaji running back, makes the backpedaling catch for the 3rd out.

Bottom 7th
#11 Nakayama comes in the game and takes the hill.

After wondering why they didn't put him in sooner (he gets Sasaji and Horiguchi to sky balls into the stratosphere), he then walks Kaito by pounding the ground about 55 feet from the mound.

As he throws 2 more low, you can at least say he doesn't miss high.

Oh and Kaito steals 2nd, but you'd probably figured that would have happened.

And another ball about 55 feet and Kaito takes 3rd.

Nakayama manages to leave Kaito on 3rd as Ueda grounds to Kitao to end the inning.

Top 8th
Naruto waving the white flag it seems.  They're really just letting the bats fly.  Kitao has the best of it, driving it to the fence, but Ogawa needs just 5 pitches to retire the side.

Bottom 8th
#15 Kamata comes in for Hori to take over at 2B.

#3 Yamashita comes in to hit for Hibi, and goes down in just 3 pitches.

Oumi quickly goes down in order as they'd like to wrap up the game.

Top 9th
#14 Kihara comes in for PH Yamashita and goes to 2B, Nakaya goes to 3B.

Hashikawa and Mori get base hits to hopefully try to prevent the shutout, but PH #13 Yamamoto lines into the game-ending 6-3 double play to end the game

Oumi behind 2 big innings dispatch Naruto 8-0.

This game gave me the feeling that Naruto was rebuilding.  Almost all the bench players were kouhai's and He refused to pull Kawano both times he could have.  It could be that despite rebuilding they still managed to win the tournament and return to Koushien.  That's scary for the rest of the teams in Tokushima for the upcoming year.

But this is now and Oumi is the beneficiaries of the game as Ogawa shuts down the Naruto offense, scattering the majority of hits with 2 outs.  The offense was about as expected, with them able to string together hits in 2 innings to score their runs.

@^*%#!

Ugh. I  just lost my Best 8 Review post, so these will have to be abbreviated.

Naruto unfortunately for them in my opinion decided to blowout Tokoha Kikugawa. From recent history having such a game winds up being detrimental in the next game as teams generally struggle. Furthermore, Moriwaki-kantoku never pulled Bandou despite the lead, and pitching on 1 day's rest could be a problem.

For Hanamaki Higashi, they have their usual gritty bits such as #2 citter Chiba. Sasaki-kantoku has basically utilized the entire roster and reorganized the lineup to fit the matchup. Same thing with the pitchers, even pulling in Kishisato (who didn't pitch in the prefecturals at all) for the Saibi game.

He seems to be successful choosing the starter, but the relief staff thereafter struggles, and so runs are to be had.

Hanamaki Higasahi (Iwate)
2B Yagi Hikaru (#14)
CF Chiba Shouta
LF Kishisato Ryousuke (#1)
RF Oota Ryousuke
3B Tadano Shouta (#3)
C Yamashita Hayato
SS Mogi Kazuhiro
1B Oguma Yuuki(#16)
P Hosokawa Toshiki (#17)

Naruto (Tokushima)
2B Nakano Yuuki
CF Koumoto Yuujirou
SS Kawano Yuuto
1B Ise Hayato
RF Inaoka Kenta
C Kusaka Hiroki
3B Matsumoto Takanori
P Bandou Yuugo
LF Narukawa Shuuji


____________________________________________________________

08:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Yagi playing patience game with Bandou, does wind up grounding to short after reaching a full count.

Chiba does gritty things spoiling away pitch after pitch after getting count full. 8... 9... 10... 11... all foul.

12th pitch, foul again. Naruto not realizing this perhaps, but this is rapidly increasing pitch count for later.

13th pitch, ball 4! They should have done what Major did in whatever ep I can't remember and just walked him beforehand to save pitches.

Now in the middle of the lineup, the strategy is seemingly abandoned as Kishisato swings away.  That's to his detriment as he whiffs on a forkball down 2-2 for the out!

That leaves it to cleanup batter Oota, but it looks like the Naruto battery wants nothing to do with him getting 3 balls before catching the outside half.

But Oota gives them an out when he goes after a ball inside and rolls one to Ise for the 3rd out. But Bandou has thrown a lot of pitches.

Bottom 1st
Looks like the strategy for starter Hosokawa and Saski-kantoku is to go away to all the batters, and so far it's working.

But to Naruto's credit, they are trying to take it the other way. It's just that both Nakano and Koumoto both ground to short, and Kawano goes to 2nd.

Top 2nd
Hm, after building the pitch count in the 1st, they're giving pitches back in the 2nd - though Bandou is throwing more strikes. Tadano falls behind 0-2 and chases a fork ball, grounding to 2nd. Yamashita goes on the next pitch and grounds to short.

Mogi also swings on the first pitch and hits a high slider back up the middle. But again after falling behind 0-2, Oguma grounds to a fielder's choice at 2nd for the 3rd out.

Bottom 2nd
Against Ise, Hosokawa works both sides, eventually getting him to pull a fastball in right to Mogi.

Inaoka gets a rare ball in the middle of the plate, but all he can do is ground to 2nd.

Kusaka the first time we see Hosokawa have issues with control, winds up walking Kusaka.

But comes right back to strike out Matsuki on a screwball and the inning is over!

Top 3rd
Once again with 2 strikes Bandou uses the fork and Hosokawa chases.

Yagi with a sharp ball back up the middle, but Bandou finds a present in his glove.

Chiba after that 13 pitch AB, trolls Bandou who things throwing a strike will be fine. Lines one to center for a base hit.

Kishisato though likes the high fastball and flies out to left for the 3rd out.

Bottom 3rd
Hosokawa now inside to Bandou jams him and he hits a soft fly to Oguma. But against #9 batter Narukawa, he winds up hitting him with the curve. Moriwaki-kantoku will play for the one-time as Nakano bunts him along.

Koumoto though attacks a 1st pitch fastball on what looks like the outer half and just rolls one to short. Mogi the easy play for the 3rd out.

Top 4th
Oota making contact with the fork, lines one to center!  The ball hits off the heel of Koumoto's glove and pops up! Oota takes off for 2nd and beats the throw!

Tadano with the safety bunt, but a crashing Ise has it within milliseconds it seems and goes to 3rd! Oota realizing he's out goes back, but he's in a rundown. But despite the time it takes, Tadano doesn't advance!

Yamashita popup behind home, Kusaka makes a great catch against the padding, but he enjoys the nice play that Tadano takes 2nd!

It winds up not hurting them as Mogi goes after the outside fastball and grounds out to 2nd.

So despite the hustle double, it winds up resulting in nothing.

Bottom 4th
Another jam job done by Hosokawa and Kawano hits one back to Hosokawa.

Ise actually gets a good fastball to lineup but grounds right to Mogi for the 2nd out.

Inaoka actually able to hit a fly ball to the outfield, but he was out in front of a slider and lifts it to Oota for the 3rd out.

Top 5th
Oguma gets a good changeup to hit, but hits it right back to Bandou for the first out.

Hosokawa works the count full on Bandou, but winds up hitting another comebacker for the 2nd out.

So back to the top of the order and Yagi. I'd almost take the out to have Chiba start the inning.

And Bandou obliges by spotting the fastball on the inside corner for the 3rd strike.

Bottom 5th
Kusaka gets a 3-2 count, takes the outside fastball back the other way past a diving Yagi for a base hit! Naruto finally breaks the no-hitter!

Bust-and-run! Matsumoto grounds one to 1st! Oguma looks 2, but goes to 1st for the out.

Bandou drives a ball to center! Chiba scampering back, looks back, scampers more...  Makes the catch! Kusaka holds at 2nd and there's 2 down!

Narukawa flies out to right though and we hit the break scoreless! Both Hosokawa and Bandou have pitch well so far, though it looks like Naruto is starting to make better contact on Hosokawa's offerings. Bandou meanwhile has given up baserunners in every inning except the 5th, but has clamped down there after.

I do imagine Sasaki-kantoku will be going to the bullpen in the 2nd half. Can they get to Bandou before then?

Top 6th
Chiba leading off the 6th, falls behind 2-2 and now goes into defensive mode, gets to 3-2 right off the bat.

Foul ball #1... #2...

Nope, lasts just 2 pitches as he walks on the 3rd 3-2 pitch.

Kishisato drive to center! Koumoto back going back...

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

It's off the first wall on the backscreen! Chiba sets that up with the walk and the ace number (though he doesn't really pitch) gives his team the 2-0 lead!!

Bandou trying to recover, Oota grounds one to Ise.

Tadano can't get to the fastball on the outer half for the 2nd out.

And Yamashita flies out to Narukawa.

But as expected an ace finally breaks down and it's Bandou!

Bottom 6th
Oof. Leadoff batter Nakano for Naurto looks rather silly swinging at slider near LH batters box for 1st out.

Hosokawa trying to entice Koumoto away, but he doesn't bit and he draws a walk.

Uh oh, now Hosokawa behind Kawano now 3-0!

Ball 4! Runners on 1st and 2nd for Ise!

But only now does Sasaki-kantoku sends out #11 Nakazato to the bullpen. That might be a problem.

Sasaki-kantoku calls time to buy time for Nakazato.

Ball 1 wide to Ise....

Grounder to short, Mogi can't secure it! It goes to left and Koumoto comes to score! Kawano goes to 3rd and he's a good chance of blowing the 2-run lead they just got. 2-1!

And Sasaki-kantoku is still sticking with Hosokawa...

Inaoka lines a fastball the other way down the left field line... FAIR!!  Kawano scores, Ise takes 3rd and Inaoka takes 2nd on the throw in! Douten at 2-2 and Naruto still threatening!

And Sasaki-kantoku is still sticking with Hosokawa...

Kusaka hard grounder to 2nd! Yagi goes home and Ise is caught in between! He's run down and there's 2 out!

But still runners at the corners with 2 out.

Matsumoto single through short! Inaoka will come in to score easily and Naruto has come back!! 逆転, 3-2 Naruto!

Bandou hits one back to Hosokawa for the 3rd out, but the damage has been done. Naruto takes the lead and now Hanamaki Higashi will have to start all over again.

Top 7th
Mogi starts off the inning with a line single to left center. Oguma moves him over for Hosokawa.

But Bandou falls behind 3-0 before Kusaka goes out to see him.

Liner to left! Narukawa to his right... makes the sliding catch! 2 out.

Yagi bounds one to Kawano and the side is retired!

Bottom 7th
Narukawa early on a slider, flies out to center. Nakano lifts one to the right side and Yagi makes the catch.

Ah, but on a full count to Koumoto, he walks him.

And then against Kawano he's all over the place. He manages to get the count full, but walks him too.

And now finally does Sasaki-kantoku send in #11 Nakazato to relieve him to face Ise, that's a tough first batter.

But Ise flyball to center! Chiba ranging to his left.. makes the running catch for the 3rd out! They prevent Naruto from scoring, but still trail with just 6 outs to go!

Top 8th
Chiba does lead off the 8th...

And he's ahead 2-0. I'd almost consider walking him even though he's the douten runner to save pitches...

Because 2 strikes later, he's in his defensive mode. Ball 3 outside, here we go!

Foul... foul...

Ball 4! Again, I think it might have been the best choice. But you just can't miss to Kishisato like last time.

Bandou pulls the slow curve and Kishisato whiffs over it.

Kishisato bleeder to short, Kawano throw to 1st... OUT! Just gets Kishisato on a bang-bang play!

Oota up and Sasaki-kantoku sending a message out to him.

Oota goes after 2nd pitch, looks like high fastball, flies out to center. 2 down.

Tadano grounder to 1st... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The ball hits the bag and bounds over Ise into right! Chiba rounding 3rd, he scores!!  The lucky bounce ties the game at 3-3!!!!

Yamashita drive to deep left center!  Narukawa running to it, won't get there! Tadano heading for 3rd, going home... he scores!  Yamashita in with a double and Hanamaki Higashi has taken the lead at 4-3!!

Moriwaki-kantoku calls a conference to try and calm things down.

Mogi with a single to the right side... Nakano chasing after it, can't get it! Yamashita scores and it's now 5-3!

Things quickly falling apart as Bandou hits Oguma... Is this the end for Naruto?

Not yet perhaps. Nakazato flies out to center and the deficit is at 2, still a lot, but manageable.

Bottom 8th
Inaoka gets a good fastball to hit, but pulls it right to Oguma for the first out.

Kusaska jammed on fastball inside, grounds to 2nd, 2 down!

Matsumoto works a walk, and at least the douten runner can get to the plate.

Ah! But Nakazato has Matsumoto caught off 1st! They start the rundown, but it looks rather awkward. They move him to 2nd, but the Ogawa buries the throw and he's safe!

AH!AH! Now Nakazato throws it away to 2nd and Matsumoto goes to 3rd! One base hit can make this a 1-run game!

But Bandou ahead of the changeup and he grounds to Tadano for the 3rd out!

Top 9th
#10 Maegawa comes in for Narukawa and takes over in RF. Inaoka goes to LF.

After a popout by Yagi, it's the Chiba show.

Yep, 2-2 and he fouls 1... 2... 3... 4... takes ball 3... ball 4!

So he's 1-1 with 4 walks.

Bandou retires the next 2 batters, but Naruto has a lot of work to do now...

Bottom 9th
#5 Mihara comes in for Oguma and goes to 3B, Tadano returns to his nubmered position of 1B.

Nakazato struggling with the zone, falls behind 3-0 and while he gets a strike him, ends up walking him! Douten runner will come to the plate!

And now he's having trouble with Nakano, going 2-0 before getting a generous call on a ball out and low.

So they try the low zone again.. and get it!  2-2!

Slider way outside though, and it's a full count. Oh, Nakano goes after ball 4 but fouls it off. I don't hear anyone warming up in the bullpen.

BALL 4!!!

And only now with the douten runner on base with no out, does Sasaki-kantoku switch out Nakazato for #10 Kouno.

Normal kokoyakyu practice would be to bunt here to move the douten runner to scoring position.

Indeed Koumoto is showing bunt.

But while they're worried about defense, Kouno falls behind 2-0!

Finally one in the zone, but Koumoto fouls it off!

Comebacker! Kouno catches it in the 5-hole! Maekawa is stuck off 3rd! He's run down and there's 2 outs! Still runners on 2nd and 3rd, but with only one out to spare.

And cleanup batter Ise is up. Will they risk putting the gyakuten runner on base?

YES!

They walk him on 4 pitches and will go to face Inaoka! Sasaki-kantoku calls time.

Nakazato gets ahead 0-1... Inaoka swings, 0-2!

Grounder to 2nd! Yagi blocks it! goes to field it... can't get it! CAN'T GET IT... CAN'T GET IT!!!!!!!

He has to eat the ball and Nakano scores! We're at 5-4 and the sayonara run is at 2nd!!!!

Kusaka up to deliver the winning hit.

NO! Pops it up! Mogi under it, Mihara coming over! Mogi! Mihara!!

It's Mihara who makes the catch! GAME SET!!

Oh my god what a finish! I knew this game would be close, but not to this extent!!

Bandou trying not to cry, but you can tell he and the rest of the team are holding it back.  But man what a game.

The two keys I had earlier came to fruition. Bandou did fatigue on the mound, and Hanamaki Higashi would have to go their bullpen. But Sasaki-kantoku almost pulled the trigger late, not once, but twice - putting the reliever into a complete high leverage situation. That works if you're in the majors and you're playing the sabermetric game. But these are high schoolers! Dear lord man, have better judgement!

But because of it Naruto was able to mount 2 rallies and make this game about as close as you can get.

I need a drink...

Wow, well did not expect those two results. What else do we have in store?

Tokoha Kikugwa had their first game against first timers Arita Kougyou. It was the bottom of the Tokoha lineup that provided the production for the team while Hotta toed the line with contact and being knocked out.

For Naruto, Bandou started fading in the middle to late innings allowing Shuutoku back in the game. Will stamina be an issue on just 1 days' rest?

Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
CF Toji Keisuke
1B Sakakibara Takato
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
2B Kuwahara Tatsuki
RF Kaneko Hisashi
P Watanabe Ryuusei (#10)
LF Maekawa Naoya

Naruto (Tokushima)
2B Nakano Yuuki
CF Koumoto Yuujirou
SS Kawano Yuuto
1B Ise Hayato
RF Hashikawa Ryousuke (#11)
C Kusaka Hiroki
3B Matsumoto Takanori
P Bandou Yuugo
LF Narukawa Shuuji

____________________________________________________________

13:20 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Well, good start for Bandou as he makes quick work of Tokoha. Finishes the frame with a fastball that Endou can only stare at for strike 3.

Bottom 1st
Nakano quick out with fly to center.

Koumoto gets one off end of bat to Kawano. But he loses the handle and by the time he regroups, it's too late! E6.

Kawano hitting! Right to Sakakibara! Goes to 2nd.. AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He throws it away behind Endou!  2 errors, 2 men on base!

Ise looking for the timely...

SANSHIN!

Watanabe gets the 2nd out as Ise swings under a high forkball! He's almost out of the jam!

Hashikawa with the single through the left side! Koumoto holds at 3rd and it's manrui for Naruto!

Kusaka attacks early! Single to center! Koumoto in, Kawano being sent in! Throw for Toji...

It's high! Matsuki has to jump to get it and it costs the tag at home! 2-0 Naruto!

Oh, the hits are coming in for Naruto early! Matsumoto lines one over Oonishi's head and down the line! Hashimoto scores, 3-0 and there's runners at 2nd and 3rd!

Watanabe finally gets out of the inning when Bandou grounds to 2nd, but it's a terrible start for the Tokoha spot starter as he's not helped at all by his defense.

Top 2nd
Bandou once again sharp early on. Matsuki chases an outside forkball, while Oonishi looks at a fastball on the outside corner on a 3-2 pitch.

Kuwahara has a much better outcome on his 3-2 pitch as he draws a walk.

Morishita-kantoku sends him! Throw from Kusaka... High! And Kawano's arm hits Kuwahara and the ball goes to shallow left! Kuwahara goes to 3rd and Tokoha might get one back!

Kaneko also working the count, spoils pitch after pitch in the zone and works the count full...

But Bandou comes right back with a fastball inside and tie up Kaneko for the K!

Bottom 2nd
Narukawa getting his hits off of Watanabe as he singles to left. Nakano tries to bunt, but pops it up as Matsuki gets it for the 1st out.

Moriwaki-kantoku will play for the one-timer still as he will have Koumoto bunt as well. Despite falling behind 0-2 trying, he three-bunts and lays it down.

Watanabe gets his donut finally as Kawano hits it hard but right at Kuwahara for the 3rd out.

Top 3rd
Tokoha Kikugawa apparently is committing to the waiting game on Bandou as Watanabe draws the walk.

Of course I say that and Maekawa swings on the first pitch...

And the second....

And on a slider at the letters, he swings again, 1 down.

If you're going to play the patience game, the entire team has to be on board... *sighs*

But apparently, neither leadoff batter Toji or last batter Maekawa got the memo.

Toji uppercuts a ball, Nakano lets a kettle of water boil and makes the catch.

Sakakibara gets ahead 3-1, but at last minute decides to swing. Drives a ball deep to right...

...but Hashikawa is there right against the corner for the 3rd out.

I think waiting is the right thing to do, but all batters have to commit to drawing a walk until the last possible pitch.

Bottom 3rd
Watanabe has been doing well all things considered if not for the errors in the 1st.

Much more relaxed apparently, he gets Ise under a high fastball and flies to center.

He then gets the high strike to Hashikawa  for the 2nd out..

And gets his 1-2-3 inning as Kusaka hits a silo HR to Sakakibara for the 3rd out.

Top 4th
Looks like they've abandoned the waiting game...

Endou falling behind 1-2 hits a comebacker to Bandou.

Matsuki gets hit by Bandou to put a runner on, but when Morishita-kantoku puts on the hit-and-run, Oonishi swings and misses leaving Matsuki to be meat at 2nd.

Which is a shame because Bandou then walks Oonishi...

But Kuwahara is jammed on a cut ball inside and grounds to 3rd to end the inning.

Bottom 4th
Matsumoto checks in with his 2nd hit of the day, a ball back up the middle. Bandou bunts him along.

But Watanabe can't find the plate on #9 batter Narukawa and walks him. Morishita-kantoku figures that's enough for Watanabe and in comes #11 Hodzumi.

But so far no relief! Nakano with a single through the right side fills up the bases for Koumoto!

Koumoto with a drive to left! Maekawa running to the line... but it falls in! 2 runs will score on the double and it's 5-0 Naruto!

Hodzumi's stint on the mound is short as ace Hotta enters the game.

The barrage continues though. Kawano singles to center and the runners move a station, 6-0.

Ise attacks the next pitch and singles through the left side, another station, 7-0.

Hashikawa grounder to 2nd... Kuwahara whiffs on the pick. Kawano scores to make it 8-0.

A visibly exasperated Morishita-kantoku calls another conference.

And a walk to Kusaka puts manrui for Matsumoto who's up for the 2nd time this inning.

Matsumoto grounder to 3rd. Oonishi goes home for one, Matsuki goes to 1st and just gets Matsumoto for the the 5-2-3 double play to end the inning.

But this inning and the desperation to find a pitcher means this game is probably over

Top 5th
It's a rather easy inning for Bandou yet again. Maekawa makes a bid for a hit with a sharp ball to short, but its right to Kawano who smothers it and goes to 1st for the 3rd out..

Bottom 5th
Hotta continues to have streaks on the mound. Foul out to Bandou, walks Narukawa. pop fly (admittedly with a basket catch by Kuwahara)from Nakano, walk to Koumoto.

But then it's all downhill. Ise singles under Oonishi's glove down the 3rd base line for an RBI. Hashikawa singles to right center, brings in one more...

Kusaka singles through the right side, scoring Ise. Kaneko throws out Hashikawa at 3rd to end the inning, but it's more damage to a surely derelict Tokoha Kikugawa ship.  11-0 Naruto as we hit the break.

Top 6th
One thing Tokoha's done right is get Bandou to 90 pitches through 5 innings.

One down for Tokoha and they finally collect their first hit. Sakakibara singles back up the middle past a diving Nakano.

Endou makes better contact, but flies out to Hashikawa in deep right.

And on a hit-and-run Matsuki flies out to center.

Bottom 6th
Kusaka with his 2nd hit a single to center. No bunt from Matsumoto, drives one to deep left... Maekawa makes the catch in front of the wall.

Bandou perhaps getting practice in bunts Kusaka to 2nd.

Narukawa meanwhile gets his 3rd walk of the game.

Nakano ball back up the middle, Nakano being sent home, gets around the tag of Matsuki and it's 12-0.

Koumoto liner laced back up middle, Narukawa holds at 3rd, manrui for Kawano.

He flies out to Toji to end the inning.

Top 7th
As I said in a tweet, it would behoove Naruto to (1) Pull Bandou. You can put him in a position, just not on the mound, (2) stop scoring. Generally teams that score a lot of runs fall a little flat in their next game. And considering they're either playing Hanamaki Higashi or Meitoku Gijyuku, this is a problem.

Case in point, Oonishi singles back up the middle. Kuwahara follows that up with another one to center this time on the fly.

Kaneko scoots one through the right side scoring Oonishi and Tokoha prevents the shutout.

Bandou goes back to retire the next 3 batters, but that small burst alone shows that Bandou might be fatiguing

Bottom 7th
With #15 Imasaka hitting for Hotta, #12 Watanabe Naoki comes in to pitch.

Ise welcomes him with what else, a base hit.

But he comes back to retire the next 3 batters and the game gets one half inning closer to its conclusion.

Top 8th
#10 Maegawa comes in for Hashikawa and takes over in RF.

With the shutout prevented, Tokoha Kikugawa goes back to doing a lot of nothing. Nothing to see here folks, carry on.

Bottom 8th
One down and Narukawa gets his 4th walk. His day ends as #15 Tanaka comes in to run for him.

Hit-and-run is put on and Nakano singles to right.

Koumoto singles through short, Tanaka scores, 13-1 and runners at corners.

Koumoto takes off for 2nd and gets there safely. Tokoha walks Kawano to create the force I guess.

Ise singles through the left side, scoring 2, 15-1.

Maegawa grounder up the 3rd base side, Oonishi can't get the glove on it and it's to left. to score 1, 16-1.

Kusaka hits one off the top of the padded wall, scoring 1 more. 17-1.

Naoki is pulled for #14 Amuro, though if I heard the positions earlier, he's a catcher. Well, it's junk time anyways.

Bandou in for his 2nd AB, pop up to Endou for the 2nd out.

PR Tanaka gets to bat and flies out so shallow left to end the inning.

Top 9th
Tanaka stays in the game at LF.

Oonishi, Kuwahara and #17 PH Hanadou go down in order and the game is mercifully over.

Naruto with the "impressive" win, but risk losing the war in the next game.

I'm sure it hurts for Tokoha Kikugawa losing by such a margin - you can see some players crying probably because of the score, but at some point you just have to shrug your shoulders and say that it really wasn't your day. They can at least say that they got to Koushien and had a victory (they can skip this part of the story).


Notable Players
Bandou Yuugo (Naruto) - CG, ER, 4 H, 8 K, 3 BB, HBP
Narukawa Shuuji (Naruto) - 1-1, 2 R, 4 BB
Ise Hayato (Naruto) - 4-6, R, 4 RBI
Kusaka Hiroki (Naruto) - 3-5, 2B, R, 3 RBI
Kaneko Hisashi (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 1-3, RBI
Oonishi Yuuki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 1-3, R, BB

Well, things are certainly not going as expected. What lies in store for the last game of Day 8?

Shuutoku's final score against Oita Shougyou looks like a blowout, but it was only that way in the final innings.  Before the 6th inning, they managed a grand total of 2 hits.  Naruto's pitching should provide more resistance.

For Naruto they have some modicum of success, and I forgot about ace Bandou. But, much like Shuutoku, it wasn't until late that the team exploded for their runs.

It might be a game much like last where first team to blink, loses.

Shuutoku (Higashi Tokyo)
SS Kozawa Masahiko
3B Morita Kannosuke
CF Iino Shuuta
C Yamashita Ryuuji
RF Kobayashi Hiroshi
2B Sakai Yoshiki
LF Tachi Ryouhei (#11)
1B Nemoto Shougo
P Nishibayashi Kento

Naruto (Tokushima)
2B Nakano Yuuki
CF Koumoto Yuujirou
SS Kawano Yuuto
1B Ise Hayato
RF Inaoka Kenta
C Kusaka Hiroki
3B Matsumoto Takanori
P Bandou Yuugo
LF Narukawa Shuuji

____________________________________________________________

15:50 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Kozawa with a seeing eye single back up the middle. Immediately Abo-kantoku goes for the bunt. Iino winds up moving him to 3rd after hitting a hard grounder right to Ise.

Cleanup batter Yamashita gets jammed inside by Bandou and pops out to Kawano for the 3rd out. Leadoff hit doesn't come back to hurt him early.

Bottom 1st
I barely have time to write anything for the inning because in 6 pitches it's all over! Each of the top 3 batters take a pitch before being retired and I need to get to the 2nd inning!

Top 2nd
Apparently both teams are just going after the first pitches of the aces because neither team is playing the game of attrition! Kobayashi on a 1-2 count pops out to Kusaka. Sakai foul flies to Nakano... and Tachi chases a slider to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd
Ise swinging away, falls behind 1-2.  Drives one to left!!  Tachi sprinting back.. still back...

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Naruto's agressiveness strikes first with cleanup Ise's HR (27th overall at Koushien!), 1-0!

Inaoka on the fastball from Nishibayashi! That's to left center and past Tachi all the way to the wall! He's in with a double!!

Abo-kantoku calls time.

Kusaka laying down the bunt and now a sac fly can extend the lead.

Matsumoto does that with a drive to deep left center! Iino running back... reaches out..

And it's in and out of his glove!  Not sure what happened there but the ball falls down as Inaoka scores to make it a 2-0 game!!

Nishibayashi ends the inning finally getting Bandou to fly out to center, and Narukawa can't check his swing and goes down.

But it looks like Shuutoku blinks first handing the veterans the lead.

Top 3rd
Shuutoku seems to be getting pitches to hit, but are still not getting them flush.

Nemoto and Nishibayashi both fly out on just such pitches, and Kozawa chases after a pitch up and in and grounds to short.

Bottom 3rd
Nakano with the safety bunt and Nishibayashi fields. But Nemoto is out of position! Tries to scramble back to the bag but can't and Nakano's on safely. Koumoto moves him over in to scoring position.

But after Nishibayashi walks Kawano, Abo-kantoku pulls him for #10 Yusa.

Welcome to the game, now meet Ise.

Who just blasts the first pitch to dead center!!  Iino back to the fence... off the padding!  Nakano scores, Kawano rounding 3rd, he'll score all the way from 1st and it's quickly 4-0 Naruto!

Inaoka with a drive to deep right center!  Iino and Kobayashi converge and it's Iino who has it for the 2nd out.

Kusaka spins like a ballerina for the 3rd out, but Ise now responsible for 3 of the teams 4 runs so far.

Top 4th
Morita with a drive of a hanging curve sends it to left center for a leadoff double!

Iino single through the right side! Morita being waved home!  Throw comes in late and Shuutoku is on the board at 4-1!

Abo-kantoku has cleanup batter Yamashita bunt the runner along for Kobayashi.

He's jammed by a Bandou offering inside and flies out to center.

Sakai gets ahead of Bandou 3-1, but count goes full.

He jammed too! But it's going to shallow center! Koumoto charging in... falls in!

Koumoto with the quick crow hop and throw home.... late!  Iino scores from 2nd and Shuutoku pulls back within 2! 4-2!!

Abo-kantoku sends Sakai! Throw form Kusaka... just in time to nail Sakai for the 3rd out. But Shuutoku won't let Naruto dictate things!

Bottom 4th
Naruto immediately responds! Matsumoto grounder up the first base line.. over the bag at 3rd and to the wall for a double! Bandou moves him over...

Narukawa liner to right for a base hit! Just like that Naruto gets another run and it's 5-2!

Hit and run! Nakano singles to left and Shuutoku could be in a world of hurt soon..

But a break for Yusa! He gets Koumoto to ground into the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Top 5th
One down and Nemoto is hit in the butt by Bandou and heads to 1st.

Bandou wild pitch! Nemoto goes to to 2nd now!

Yuza hot shot to 1st! Ise fields it and goes to the bag. Nemoto heads to 3rd, but there's 2 out.

Kozawa single to right! Nemoto can walk home and once again, Shuutoku pulls back to within 2 at 5-3!

Abo-kantoku tries again and sends Kozawa. But Kusaka makes a throw right on the money and they just get Kozawa for the 3rd out.

Bottom 5th
Yusa struggling to have a clean inning as he winds up walking Kawano to start the 5th.

No bunt from Ise. But he's out in front of a fastball away and grounds one to short! Kawano starts the 6-4-3 double play and there's now 2 down!

Ow.

Inaoka goes down! He fouls a ball off his front knee and is still down! They're trying to get him to stand up, but he can't! They're having to carry him off the field for treatment.

He hit his knee when it was fully extended, that is not good.

But he comes out and appears to be no worse for wear (maybe).

As perhaps expected he goes down swinging after that and we hit the mid-game break with Naruto holding a 5-3 lead. But Shuutoku isn't backing down from the fight and is volleying shots back to Naruto though they still haven't answered the opening salvo which is the difference in the game.

Top 6th
One down Iino collects his 2nd hit of the day on a ball back up the middle.

They're running again on Kusaka! His throw to 2nd... dropped by Kawano and he's safe! Chance here for Shuutoku if they can get a timely.

Yamashita can't deliver. He goes after a curve insider and flies out to Narukawa.

Kobayashi single though short! Iino coming around, throw home... late!!! Timely from Kobayashi pulls Shuutoku within 1 here in the 6th! It's 5-4!!

Sakai chopper back up the middle, but it's too slow and Kawano can take it to 2nd himself to retire the side, but Shuutoku is pulling ever closer!

Bottom 6th
Kusaka launching counterattack! He singles to right and we may be off and running again!

Matsumoto up, and Moriwaki-kantoku letting him hit considering he's 2-2.

Drive to right! But it hangs up in the hamazake and Kobayashi has it for the first out.

They go for the hit and run, but Bandou hits it right to Kozawa who goes to 1st for the 2nd out.

Narukawa flies out to center, and Bandou will have to protect the one point lead.

Top 7th
One down for Shuutoku and Nemoto bloops one to shallow center for a basehit.

AH!!! Wild pitch to the backstop sends Nemoto to 2nd!

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!  Another wild pitch on the next pitch sends him to 3rd! Moriwaki-kantoku quickly calling time as Yusa gets ahead 3-0.

Bandou fills up the count, but now Yusa continually fights off his offerings.

After the 4th fouloff, Kusaksa goes out to talk to Bandou.

Chopper to right side! Nakano goes home!!  Kusaka with the tag...

SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nemoto just gets in first and we are tied at 5-5!!!! And there's still only one down!

Ah, but Kozawa early on the slider and grounds to short! Kawano starts the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning, but not before Shuutoku finally draws level!!

Bottom 7th
Ah, Yusa allows another leadoff runner as he hits Nakano. Koumoto lays down the bunt and moves him into scoring position for Kawano.

But Yusa puts him into a corner down 0-2 and jams a ball to 3rd! Morita holds the runner and there's 2 down now for Naruto!

Abo-kantoku calls time with Ise coming up.

And it looks like they'll pitch around him and test out Inaoka.

2 pitches and he's quickly down 0-2...

SANSHIN!!!!!

Inaoka goes around on a slider outside and raises the bat above his head in frustration as he leaves 2 runners on the bases!

Top 8th
Iino with his 3rd hit of the game! He singles to right with one down.

Yamashita up, no bunt..

But he's down looking on 3 straight with the finisher on the outside corner.

Kobayashi quickly down on 2 strikes...

SANSHIN!!!!!!  He goes down on strikes and Bandou finally has a clean inning.

Bottom 8th
Yusa settling down against the bottom of Naruto's lineup.  Both Kusaka and Matsumtoto chase a high fastball and ground out to Kozawa.

Bandou under yet another high offering and pops out to Sakai to end the inning!

Top 9th
Sakai grounder to the right side! Nakano there, but can't pick it! His recovery is too late and Shuutoku has their gyakuten runner on base!

Tachi up and anticipating bun, Matsumoto is charging in from 3rd.

But Tachi turns the tables! He takes the ball the other way into the gap and now there's 2 on with no out! Moriwaki-kantoku quickly calls time...

Nemoto lays down the bunt, but Bandou is on it quickly, spin throws to 3rd... gets the out! One down same situation!!

Yusa showing bunt early, but swings away and is behind 1-2...

SANSHIN!!!!!!

Bandou goes inside and Yusa twists himself for the 2nd out! He can only smile as he heads back to the dugout.

That puts it in Kozaki's hands.

First pitch he gets ahead of a cut ball and grounds to 2nd! Nakano goes to 1st and Naruto gets out of the pinch!!

Bottom 9th
Narukawa a single to right! Sayonara alert as #15 Tanaka replaces Narukawa on the bases.

Nakano successfully bunts the runner along as Abo-kantoku calls for time.

Koumoto drive to right center!  Iino and Kobayashi converging, Kobayashi takes over dives... and makes the catch!!  2 out, but Tanaka moves to 3rd!!

Kawano up and Yusa falls behind 2-0.

Grounder to 3rd! Morita with it! Goes to 1st...

We're headed to enchousen!!!

Top 10th
Tanaka stays in the game at LF

Shuutoku perhaps pressing a bit. Morita hacking away, quickly falls behind 0-2, and goes down swinging!

Iino drive to right!! Inaoka running over, near the pole!

Makes the catch right at the fence for the 2nd out! The hamakaze definitely killed that one...

Yamashita grounds to 2nd and Shuutoku will have to play defense!

Bottom 10th
Oh no!

Even I could see that pitch was fat! Ise drives it to left center! It one hops to the wall for a double!

Inaoka bunting. Lays it down.

It's between Yusa and Nemoto and no one can field it for the out! Nemoto goes back to get it, but everyone's safe and now...

...they walk Kusaka for the force at home.

Abo-kantoku with a quick conference as Matsumoto steps in...

Liner! That's in for a base hit, sayonara!!! Naruto wins 6-5!!

But the Shuutoku players collapse on their knees as the Naruto players celebrate at home!

It's hard to celebrate a team win when another school suffers defeat, and from the Shuutoku players you can see that the loss hurts, especially when they clawed their way back.

You could tell that they were pressing at the end, knowing that in any inning Naruto could somehow luck their way into a run, and a run is all they would need. Plus, Yusa had to be called into service early as Nishibayashi was ineffective. Perhaps they also knew that his effectiveness was running out. Though we know Sakurai was available off the bench.

But now is not the time for second guessing. It's time to applaud the efforts of the first timers, who fought one of the stronger teams in the field and almost pulled off a comeback to remember. No one, especially Yusa should be disappointed or apologize for losing the game.

Naruto can celebrate the victory for now, but they'll need to rest up, because Tokoha Kikugawa awaits in 2 days. Bandou certainly wasn't perfect this game, and was repeatedly exploited by the Shuutoku offense.


Notable Players
Ise Hayato (Naruto) - 3-4, 2 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
Matsumoto Takanori (Naruto) - 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI (incl GW)
Narukawa Shuuji (Naruto) - 2-4, RBI
Yusa Kazuki (Shuutoku) - 6.2+ IP, 2 ER, 10 H, 3 K, 3 BB, HBP
Iino Shuuta (Shuutoku) - 3-5, 2 R, RBI
Sakai Yoshiki (Shuutoku) - 2-4, RBI
Kozawa Masahiko (Shuutoku) - 2-5

(I wish I could've had a proper writeup, but technical difficulties delayed me from doing so...)

Seiryou (Ishikawa)
SS Kitamura Takumi
3B Aihara Tomoya
LF Machiba Daisuke
C Kanoya Atsushi
2B Maruyama Masashi
1B Satou Hiroshi
P Iwashita Daiki
RF Fukami Naoto
CF Oono Jyunpei

Naruto (Tokushima)
2B Nakano Yuuki
CF Koumoto Yuujirou
SS Kawano Yuuto
1B Ise Hayato
RF Inaoka Kenta
C Kusaka Hiroki
3B Matsumoto Takanori
P Bandou Yuugo
LF Narukawa Shuuji

____________________________________________________________

08:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Kitamura opens the game with a single through the gap at short.  1st year Aihara showing bunt but falls behind 1-2.  He still shows it, lays it down, but right to Bandou!  He goes to 2nd, AH!

He throws it high and everyone's safe!

Moriwaki-kantoku calls for time as Machiba steps in.

Bunt!  But he pops it up and Ise charges in to catch it.

For those not familiar with Bandou, he's your run of the mill ace.  Fastball in the high-120s-low 130s and a change/slider in the 110s.  But nothing's going well as he walks Kanoya to load the bases!

Maruyama up with a great chance, and flies to center.  Koumoto with the catch, they go to 3rd... and they get the runner!  And they get him before the runner from 3rd scores so no run!!  Bandou gets out of the jam with poor baserunning for Seiryou!

Bottom 1st
Nakano with ball back up the middle off Kitamura's glove and into center for a base hit!

Wild pitch from Iwashita!  Nakano heads to 2nd, going for 3rd!  Throw from Kanoya is way in time and that's poor baserunning on Naruto's part.

After a groundout from Koumoto, Kawano with a blast to left!  That's to the wall and he's in with a double!

Iwashita clamps down and whizzes a 140 kph fastball by him for strike 3!  Side retired, but both teams a bit sloppy out on the bases.

Top 2nd
Bandou settling in after a shaky opening frame.  Satou works the count full, but grounds to 3rd.  Iwashita chases a cutter away for the 2nd out.  And while Fukami makes solid contact, it's right to Kawano who tosses to 1st for the 3rd out.

Bottom 2nd
Ok, for Seiryou ace Iwashita.  He throws high 130s-low 140, looks like a slider in the high 120s-low 130s.

Hangs a pitch over the plate and Inaoka booms one to right center for a leadoff double! Kusaka to bunt, but pops it up!  Satou charging in makes the catch, fires to 2nd and doubles off Inaoka!

Matsumoto grounds to 3rd and Iwashita gets off the hook!

Top 3rd
Bandou cruising along.  He gets Oono to grounds out to short, the Kitamura to chase a ball out of the zone, and then a routine grounder to Nakano by Aihara.

Bottom 3rd
Bandou with a dying fly to center, Ono makes the neat sliding catch for the first out.  Narukawa a bit ahead of the Iwashita offering, and grounds to Maruyama.

And it's a proper 1-2-3 inning for Iwashita as Nakano flies out to Michiba in foul territory.

Top 4th
Ooh.  Bandou looks perhaps to get a generous call on a fastball outside to catch Machiba looking.  Did hit his target though.

Kanoya down to 2 strikes and chases an offspeed pitch low.  Makes contact, but Naruyama with the easy catch.

Maruyama though stubborn at the plate, fouls off a couple, almost takes off his 3rd base coach's head as he spins to the ground, and is rewarded by getting hit.  Well, he's on base. 

It doesn't look like Seiryou has Bnadou timed out just yet.  So Hayashi-kantoku sets the game in motion!  Maruyama breaks for 2nd and the throw is late and wide.

But Satou golfs a ball to left that Narukawa fields for the 3rd out.

Bottom 4th
Same problem for Naruto right now.  Outside of the two hangers, the offense has had trouble sizing up Iwashita's pitches.

Koumoto and Kawano both get on top of Iwashita's offerings and ground out.  Though on the latter it deflects off Iwashita's glove and Kitamura makes a good adjustment and quick throw for the out.

Ise finally makes good contact and the ball is too hot for Aihara as hit bounces off him and into left for a base hit.

Inaoka though continues Naruto's ineffectiveness as he chases a forkball for the 3rd out.

Top 5th
Hard shot from Iwashita eats up Matsumoto and actually deflects off his arm or hand and goes to 2nd base!

OW.

3B coach Kimura goes out to him and uses the "itai" spray, but that was a hard ricochet.  And after that, he's tested immediately with a sac bunt.  Waits to see if it goes foul, but fires a ball to 1st to get Fukami.  Looks like he's ok.

Oono just under a ball from Bandou and flies out to center.  Iwashita not advancing (perhaps respecting the arm?). Back to the top of the order and Kitamura.

Bandou putting himself in a bit of a pinch as he plunks Kitamura.  Aihara up next as Kawano goes to talk to Bandou, while now Hayashi sends a message to Aihara.

Bandou gets out of the inning as Aihara grounds to Nakano who goes the short way for the 3rd out.

Bottom 5th
Naruto making better contact it seems now.  Kusaka with a hard grounder to Maruyama for the first out.

Oh, it looks like Iwashita hung another one.  Matsumoto puts it to right center and it runs all the way to the wall for a double.  That's their 3rd one today.

Bandou with a liner back up the middle puts runners at the corners and this is Naruto's best chance since the 2nd.  Hayashi-kantoku calls time as #9 Narukawa steps in to bat.

Iwashits trying to give Narukawa nothing to hit, but he falls behind 3-1.

Comebacker to Iwashita!  He tries to look back Matsumoto before turning 2, but the delay means the relay from Kitamura is late!  Matsumoto scores and it's 1-0 Naruto!  That's a fundamental mistake there.  If you're going to try and turn 2 just go for it.  Otherwise, like here, you get neither.

Looks like Iwashita's continues to struggle here in the 5th as Narukawa takes 2nd on him, and then follows that up by walking Nakano after a prolonged AB.  Koumoto up and he's just as stubborn.

Iwashita finally gets out of the inning with a groundout, but a bit of a defensive hiccup costs them a run heading into the break.

Top 6th
Well, that's an inauspicious start for Bandou.  He walks Machiba on 4 straight.  And now cleanup batter Kanoya is showing bunt.  Not sure about that.

Well, that's better, Hayashi-kantoku tries the hit-and-run but Kanoya fouls it off.  Welp, they go for the bunt after all and Kanoya lays it down.

Maruyama with a rip down the 3rd base line.. FAIR!  It's past a diving Matsumoto and down the left field line!  Machiba will come around to score and it's 1-1 on the timely double!

Chance now for Seiryou to take the lead, but Satou swings and misses on a slider for the 2nd out.  Iwashita suffers a similar fate, though he manages to make contact and ground back to Bandou.  But it looks like we might have action on both sides to end the game!

Bottom 6th
Iwashita making a routine play a little more interesting as he makes Satou pick up a low throw.

Anyways, Ise slices a ball off the end of the bat and up the middle for a base hit.

And then Ise almsot gets caught off 1st.  Snap throw from Kanoya there in time, but Satou can't hold on to it.  That allows Inaoka to bunt the runner along looking for a one-timer from Kusaka.

Kusaka with a liner, but right to Machiba for the 3rd out.

Top 7th
Seiryou certainly hitting the ball harder, but it's right at players.  Fukami with a hard grounder to Ise, Oono one right to Matsumoto.

Kitano out in front of a ball outside, pulls it to short for the 3rd out.  Could be a matter of time though before those hard hit balls find the holes.

Bottom 7th
Iwashita flying open on a couple of pitches, walks his 2nd batter.  Bandou looking to bunt the runner along, but fouls off 2 balls and might have to swing away.  Still flashing it though, takes a ball.  Battery wary of a bust-and-run throws one way outside.

But he lays it down!  Iwashita fields it.  goes to 2nd, just beats Matsumoto to get the lead runner as the relay throw is not in time.  That brings up Narukawa who also shows bunt.

Iwashita not breathing heavily, but he is sweating a lot.

Narukawa lays one down, Aihara with it, throws it away!!  Runners advance to 2nd and 3rd and now Iwashita's in a big pinch as Hayashi-kantoku calls time.

Worse yet, it's back to the top of the order and Nakano...

After getting ahead 1-2, Iwashita throws two wide and fills up the count.  Ball high and it's manrui now for Koumoto!

Defensive change.  #10 Katou comes in for... Aihara and goes to 1B, and Satou goes to 3B?  That seems odd...

Oh, there goes the neighborhood!  Koumoto drives a ball to right center going all the way to the wall!  He slides in at 3rd, clearing the bases and Naruto takes a 4-1 lead!

Kawano flies out to left, but not deep enough as Koumoto has to hold.

Doesn't matter though, Ise collects his 3rd hit, dropping one in right to make it 5-1.  No change on the mound as Inaoka puts one back up the middle.  Kusaka gets his first hit thereafter with a ball through the gap in short.  No pitching change yet, and I don't know why, Iwashita's done.

That brings up Matsumoto for his 2nd AB this inning.

And just as I write that, Matsumoto blasts one to left.  That leaves for a manrui HR to make it 9-1.

Only now does Hayashi-kantoku send in #11 Muroki.  He goes in for Fukami as Iwashita goes to RF.

And Muroki strikes out Bandou to end the inning,  Sad that Hayashi-kantoku didn't trust his relief staff earlier.

Top 8th
Katou singles back up the middle, but they will need a lot more of those if they want to get back in the game.

Machiba works the count, fouls off a couple and earns a walk.  Moriwaki-kantoku calls time, though right now nothing to worry about.

Seiryou not bunting (thankfully). Kanoya with a hard ball right at Ise who knocks it down and takes it to 1st for the out.  Maruyama flies out to center, leaving it up to Satou to try and get any runs back.

He grounds out to short, and Naruto will soon be dormy to advance.

Bottom 8th
Muroki doesn't seem like a bad pitcher.  Fastball in the mid 130s and a change in the 110s.  Though, the control isn't there as he walks Narukawa.  He's replaced at 1B by #15 Tanaka.  Passed ball sends him to 2nd.

Guess we can see why perhaps Hayashi-kantoku didn't want to go to the bullpen.  Muroki tends to fly open the shoulder and throw balls wide.  He walks Nakano as well.

And after a sac bunt, Kawano blasts one to right over Iwashita's head for a triple.  11-1 Naruto as Muroki is replaced by #18 Hatanaka.

Hatanaka starts off his stint walking Ise.  Moriwaki-kantoku getting his bench players some time as #10 Maegawa hits for Inaoka.

He singles to center.  Kawano scores as Ise is thrown out trying to stretch to 3rd.  12-1.

Kusaka strikes out looking to end the inning, and mercifully for Seiryou, the game will end in one more half inning.

Top 9th
Maekawa stays in to play RF, Tanaka in LF.

Iwashita starts off with a grounder past Matsumoto, PH Yanase gets one past Ise.  He's replaced by #14 Muranaka.

Oono makes solid contact, singles to left center.  Iwashita scores to make it 12-2 as Moriwaki-kantoku calls time.

Huh.  Kitamura with a no-doubter to left center.  Narukawa doesn't give chase as it's now 12-5.

But still a long ways to go...

Bandou ticking off the first out, getting Katou to miss on a change.  Machiba goes on the first ball and flies out to center.  Quickly 2 outs as Kanoya steps in.

Kanoya with a chopper to the right side, Nakano charging in, fields it, but trips and tumbles over.

Maruyama lines out to Matsumoto and the game is over.

Sadly for Seiryou, bad bullpen management lead to 11 runs and ruin 6 good innings by the team.  It's a rather disappointing performance for a team that looked good early.  But Naruto did what good teams should do and take advantage of such an event.


Notable Players
Matsumoto Yuuto (Naruto) - 2-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
Kawano Yuuto (Naruto) - 2-5, 2B, 3B, R, 2 RBI
Nakano Yuuki (Naruto) - 1-2, 2 R, 3 BB
Kitamura Takumi (Seiryou) - 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI
Iwashita Daiki (Seiryou) - 2-4, R