And now, the stretch run...
The first game many consider as the warmup game. With the offensive power teams playing in the second semifinal, people look at this final as one where a team can say they at least made the final - though in Nihon Bunri's case they made the final in that instant classic versus Chuukyoudai Chuukyou.
Nihon Bunri has played 4 close games - even their last game against Seikou Gakuin was close until the top of the 9th. Their key victory in this run was perhaps their comeback win against Toyama Shougyou because of the comeback and the fact that Toyama Shougyou had some quality wins of their own.
Iidzuka is the only pitcher for Bunri they're willing to use it seems, so we'll see how he does in the possible last 2 games.
Mie actually played out of character in their last game. They had gone out to a 3-2 lead against Okinawa Shougaku before in character giving up 2 runs. Out of nowhere they scored 5 immediately thereafter and did NOT let Okinawa Shougaku back into the game.
Mie's record looks rather impressive having defeated 3 known participants in Kouryou, Oogaki Nichidai, and their last opponent Okinawa Shougaku.
Mie too depends on their ace Imai Shigetarou. But despite the lopsided win over Okishou, he did give up 12 hits and 3 walks and was immensely helped by the defense.
So both aces already showing some chinks in the armor and could be taken advantage of - and is the reason why I think a lot of people think the 2nd semifinal is really the final.
What's more, ace Hiranuma still looks strong as in their last game he gave up just 4 hits while striking out 10.
Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
1B Kodachi Otowa (#8)
3B Ikeda Takamasa
2B Arai Makoto
C Kamakura Wataru
LF Kobayashi Masaya
CF Takeishi Ryou (#16)
P Iidzuka Satoshi
Mie (Mie)
CF Nagano Hayato
2B Sada Taiki
SS Utsunomiya Touma
1B Nishioka Musashi
LF Yamamoto Youma (#10)
3B Uchida Ren
RF Seko Ren
C Nakabayashi Kengo
P Imai Shigetarou
____________________________________________________________
11:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Right off the bat, Hoshi gets Nihon Bunri's offense going with a single up the middle. The speed on the fastball though is at 130 which I think is a touch slower than in previous games.
Kurodai pops his bunt! Nakabayashi makes the catch, fires to 1st, but throws it away! It goes into left and Hoshi gets to 2nd after all!
And then he hits Kodachi! Is Imai already out of gas??
Ikeda grounder to 2nd!! Sada to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st... DOUBLE PLAY!!!
Imai's defense gives him yet another assist! And in what appeared could be a disastrous start ends up with nothing at all!
Bottom 1st
Nagano with a grounder off the end of the bat goes the other way through the infield for a leadoff single. As Sada bunts the runner along, Iidzuka's velocity appears down as well! He's down to the low-mid 130s!!
And Utsunomiya with a clean single through the left side! Nagano being waved home, throw from Kobayashi... is cutoff! Mie quickly leads 1-0!
Yamamoto with a bit of an indignant look as he gets rung up the home plate umpire on a ball that seemed clearly outside (and you wonder why the HS players and Japanese LL team pitches outside the way they do...)
Uchida grounds out to end the inning, but the drop in Iidzuka's velocity is very concerning.
Top 2nd
Opportunities again for Nihon Bunri. Arai draws the leadoff walk and is bunted over.
But Kobayashi pulls his grounder to the left side, preventing Arai from advancing to 3rd.
Takeishi flies out to right, and Nihon Bunri can't seem to get that timely hit.
Bottom 2nd
Okay, perhaps he was just warming up because Iidzuka is back in the high 130s. But he still gives up a leadoff hit as Seko singles to right. Nakabayashi moves him along.
Imai with a hard liner back up the middle, Seko scrambles back to 2nd as Kurodai goes for him, but then goes to 1st to get Imai.
And no timely from Nagano as he goes after the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd.
Top 3rd
Change defensively as #16 Yamai comes in for Uchida.
Imai finally retires his first leadoff batter as Iidzuka flies out to right.
Hoshi though looking to make him pay! Drive down the left field line! Yamamoto going towards the foul pole... FOUL!!!
That was close.
But he's not deterred! He pulls a ball through the right side and he's already 2-2 on the day!
Kurodai trying to lay down the bunt can't, but hits a short chopper that acts like one to move Hoshi to scoring position.
Kurodai goes down and slices a ball to center! That's in for a base hit, but Hoshi has to hold up at 3rd! Nihon Bunri once again seemingly ready to jump on Imai!
But Ikeda hits a grounder to short! Utsunomiya with it, goes to 1st... and Nihon Bunri is denied again!!
Bottom 3rd
Iidzuka, despite the slight velo loss, appears to have settled down. The top of Mie's lineup attacking pitches in the zone, hit into 3 groundouts in just 8 pitches.
Top 4th
Nihon Bunri with another baserunner as Kamakura draws a 1 out walk.
SANSHIN!!!
Kobayashi just turns away in disgust as he sees a fastball get called on the outside edge for strike 3! 2 down.
Takeishi can't do anything either as he grounds to short. Utsunomiya's throw is high and takes Nishioka off the bag, but he gets the tag on despite a minor collision.
Bottom 4th
Yamamoto's struggles at the plate continue as he chases a slider away for the first out.
Yamai with a chopper just outside of Ikeda for a base hit.
Hit-and run!!
Seko singles to left! Uchida heading for 3rd, and Kobayashi's throw is cut off! Mie threatening big time against Iidzuka!!
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nakabayashi lays down the squeeze and Iidzuka has no play at home! He has to go to 1st and Mie leads 2-0!!
Imai with a chopper in front of the plate, he thinks it's a foul ball, but Kamakura pick it up and goes to 1st for the 3rd out, but Mie is slowly extending their lead.
Top 5th
Nihon Bunri needs the break to regroup and fast, because they're completely scuffling at the plate.
Iidzuka hits a ball right back to Imai for the first out. Hoshi gets retired for the first time on a slider, and Kurodai quickly chops one to short for an easy play from Utsunomiya...
Bottom 5th
But they can still play defense! Already 1 down, Sada hits a ball to the left side - Kurodai makes a great running pick and throw for the 2nd out!
It's not a complete clean inning though as Iidzuka hits Utsunomiya.
Nishioka with a chopper out in front of home and Kamakura fields and throws for the 3rd out.
We hit the break and both teams have had their opportunities. However, Mie has been the one to capitalize on them so far building a 2-0 lead. Can Nihon Bunri regroup to mount a comeback?
Top 6th
The only concern for Mie is that Imai is already at 84 pitches.
But he seems to be getting better. He goes changeup inside on Kodachi for his 3rd K.
Ikeda grounder up 1st base line past a diving Nishoka into right! He's booking it and gets his double!
Arai can't deliver a base hit and can only move him 90 feet with a short chopper up the 3rd base line. 2 down and they need a base hit from Kamakura.
But he hits a grounder to short! Utsunomiya gets rid of it quickly, but it takes what seems like infinite bounces before Nishioka can glove it for the 3rd out! Bunri again shutout!
Bottom 6th
Nakamura-kantoku has seen enough of Yamamoto and sends in #7 Inaba to hit.
Sadly for him, that spot seems to be a black hole has he strikes out swinging!
Yamai grounder to short, Kurodai runs that one down too! Throw to 1st, AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kodachi for some reason can't secure the ball and the inning continues!
Nakabayashi with a single to left!
And now things really going wrong as Iidzuka walks Imai to load the bases!!! And for Nagano no less!
Nagano, chopper, through the left side!! Seko scores! Nakabayashi being waved in! Throw home... not in time!! Captain Nagano comes through again and gives Mie a 4-0 lead!!
Sada grounds out to short, but Mie may very well be on their way to the final!!
Top 7th
Nihon Bunri trying to fight as Takeishi fights of a pitch to right for a base hit.
But Iidzuka hits a grounder right to 2nd! Sada starts the 4-6-3 double play and just like that Bunri is down to their final 6 outs!
Bottom 7th
Mie fine to leave things as is, go down in order to speed up the game.
Top 8th
#18 Matsubara now in LF for Inaba.
But Nihon Bunri just can't hit themselves out of the funk. Hoshi and Kurodai are quickly retired before Imai issues his 3rd walk.
After ball one to Ikeda, Nakamura-kantoku calls time.
Ikeda a drive to left! Matsubara going back! Still going!
But he stops in front of the wall and makes the catch for the 3rd out! Ikeda can only look out to left as he turns back to his dugout... Mie is just 3 outs away from the final!!
Bottom 8th
Yamai drive to left!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As if to say to Ikeda, "That's how it's done!" he blasts one to about the same place, but the difference is that his ball leaves the field! 5-0 Mie!!
Seko grounder to the gap in the left side, but Kurodai runs that one down too!! Throw to 1st, just not in time to get Seko, but man this guy can field his position.
Nakabayashi bunts him along for Imai to try and add on even more.
But Iidzuka strikes out both Imai and Nagano to retire the side. Still, his team is 3 outs away from elimination...
Top 9th
Imai with a drive to center, but Nagano is there for the catch.
Kamakura flies out to right, and they're down to their final out!
Kobayashi grounds out to 3rd! Yamai to 1st, and Mie advances to the final!!
What a performance by Mie! Even through Imai gave Nihon Bunri opportunities the defense was all but perfect as Imai would pitch a shutout! Not only that, but the offense took advantage of the opportunities it was given - and that was clearly the difference as it put Nihon Bunri on the defensive early.
It's really sad for Nihon Bunri. I really like both of these schools in general and it was sad to see that one of them had to lose. And their players can't help but cry at the fact that they fell one game short of the final. I'm sure that they also remember that final when they almost completed the comeback, and how it would be great to head there once more and revenge that final.
But sadly it is not to be. Nihon Bunri has to be one of the stronger teams out of the Hokushinetsu region annually, and I really do hope one day they get that title.
For Mie, their time is now. They are in the finals, and while the odds are certainly stacked against them, they have the chance, and that's all they can ask for.
Showing posts with label Nihon Bunri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nihon Bunri. Show all posts
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
Jyunjyunkesshou Game 4 - Nihon Bunri (Niigata) v. Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
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Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
1B Kodachi Otowa (#8)
3B Ikeda Takamasa
LF Kobayashi Masaya
2B Arai Makoto
CF Takeishi Ryou (#16)
C Kamakura Wataru
P Iidzuka Satoshi
Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
LF Yaoita Takumaru
2B Fujiwara Issei
3B Yaginuma Kentarou
1B Yasuda Kouki
CF Isagi Shun
SS Ishigaki Mitsuhiro
RF Harada Genki (#17)
C Takano Kouki
P Funabasama Taiga
___________________________________________________________
15:30 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Funabasama walks leadoff batter Hoshi, and is promptly bunts the runner over.
Kodachi with a ball to left center splits the defense! Hoshi comes in on the double and Nihon Bunri leads 1-0!
Ikeda singles to left! Kodachi has to hold at 3rd, but things looking dire already. Saitou-kantoku calls for time.
Kobayashi pops it up! Yaginuma under it for the 2nd out!
But Funabasama goes and walks Arai to load the bases! Big chance for bench starter Takeishi!
SANSHIN!!!!
He just watches as the slider goes over the plate for strike 3! Nihon Bunri leads but it could have been more!
Bottom 1st
Yaoita grounder to left side, Kurodai chases it down, quick throw to first goes off Kodachi's glove! Infield single to start for Seikou! And as expected he's bunted over.
Yaginuma with a single to right center! Yaoita comes home and just like that we're all tied at 1-1!
2 down now and Yaginuma takes off for 2nd! He's in safely and Seikou looks to take the lead!
But Isagi grounds to 1st! Kodachi makes the play to retire the side.
A bit shaky for the converted outfielder and Seikou has tied the game!
Top 2nd
Kamakura needs a moment after an attempted bunt hits him in the hand.
But he'll feel much better after he singles past Funabasama to center!
Iidzuka with a pop fly to left. Yaoita running towards the line, still running! It falls in! Kamakura goes to 3rd, but Nihon Bunri is threatening again!
But on Hoshi's grounder to 2nd, Kamakura gets himself hung up! He's run down, but perhaps prevents the double play instead. Still runners on 2nd and 3rd, 1 down.
Kurodai pops it up! Ishigaki behind the mound makes the catch, 2 out!
Kodachi delivers again! He singles to center and Iidzuka can score giving Nihon Bunri the 2-1 lead!
Ikeda flies out to right, but now we know why they're keeping him in the lineup!
Bottom 2nd
One down and bench starter Harada lines a ball down the left field line all the way to the wall for a double!
Takano single to left! Harada holds up at 3rd, but it's clear opportunities are to be had on both sides!
Grounder to 2nd! Arai goes for the double play, 4-6-3 and Iidzuka is out of the inning!
Top 3rd
Funabasama finally has a clean inning. Bunri hits a couple of fly balls but nothing of consequence.
Bottom 3rd
Yaoita with his 2nd hit in as many ABs with a single up the middle. Fujiwara moves him over, but then puts Yaginuma on with a free pass.
Yasuda can't get the timely as he pops out to Kodachi in foul territory.
Isagi grounder to 2nd, Arai has trouble fielding it, but does go to 1st for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Kamakura with a basehit back up the middle, but neither Iidzuka, Hoshi or Kurodai can do anything to get him around. More specifically Hoshi his a hard shot to the left side, but Ishigaki makes the diving catch.
Bottom 4th-6th
I had nodded off with 2 outs, but apparently I had missed out on an exciting inning, because there was an error by Arai on a grounder by Takano. Funasako then hit an infield single to short. Iiduka then walked Yaoita to load the bases for Fujiwara.
However Fujiwara would ground out to short and Seikou's chance was left begging.
The next 2 innings would be almost uneventful. Nihon Bunri had the best chance in the 6th as Takeishi had a 1-out triple to center - but Kamakura was swinging at anything in the zone and wind up chasing a slider for the 2nd out and Iidzuka fouled out to end the inning.
Top 7th
Hoshi with a chopper up the middle got the Bunri offense again as Kurodai moved him into scoring position. But with 2 down, after Ikeda drew a walk, Kobayashi would bloop one to the right side. All the fielders converged on the ball, but no one could get to it. Hoshi scored from 2nd and extended their lead to 3-1.
Bottom 7th
Yaoita tried to jump-start the Seikou offense with a base hit up the middle. Saitou-kantoku elects to go with the hit-and-run, but Fujiwara fouls out.
The rally would stall because after Yasuda drew a 2-out walk, Isagi grounded to 2nd and that was that.
Bottom 8th
After Funabasama got a 1-2-3 inning, Seikou got another leadoff runner as Ishigaki lined a single to left. But after a sac but to at least get 1 run. PH Fujita and Satou completely wasted the opportunity in just 4 pitches.
Top 9th
Saitou-kantoku having almost sold out send in #18 Imaizumi.
But after 2 outs it all collapsed. After he gave up 2 singles, Imaizumi hit 3 straight batters, driving in 2 and extending the lead to 5-1.
Bottom 9th
Yamagumi would get a 2-out base hit for Seikou, but otherwise the game was over as Nihon Bunri would win 5-1.
Seikou Gakuin had chances early, had chances late while the game was still close, but they were 2-12 with runners in scoring position and could only push 1 run across.
And so one of the better runs for a Fukushima squad ends in the quarterfinals. Nihon Bunri meanwhile gets one step closer to another final and perhaps a chance at a title.
Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
1B Kodachi Otowa (#8)
3B Ikeda Takamasa
LF Kobayashi Masaya
2B Arai Makoto
CF Takeishi Ryou (#16)
C Kamakura Wataru
P Iidzuka Satoshi
Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
LF Yaoita Takumaru
2B Fujiwara Issei
3B Yaginuma Kentarou
1B Yasuda Kouki
CF Isagi Shun
SS Ishigaki Mitsuhiro
RF Harada Genki (#17)
C Takano Kouki
P Funabasama Taiga
___________________________________________________________
15:30 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Funabasama walks leadoff batter Hoshi, and is promptly bunts the runner over.
Kodachi with a ball to left center splits the defense! Hoshi comes in on the double and Nihon Bunri leads 1-0!
Ikeda singles to left! Kodachi has to hold at 3rd, but things looking dire already. Saitou-kantoku calls for time.
Kobayashi pops it up! Yaginuma under it for the 2nd out!
But Funabasama goes and walks Arai to load the bases! Big chance for bench starter Takeishi!
SANSHIN!!!!
He just watches as the slider goes over the plate for strike 3! Nihon Bunri leads but it could have been more!
Bottom 1st
Yaoita grounder to left side, Kurodai chases it down, quick throw to first goes off Kodachi's glove! Infield single to start for Seikou! And as expected he's bunted over.
Yaginuma with a single to right center! Yaoita comes home and just like that we're all tied at 1-1!
2 down now and Yaginuma takes off for 2nd! He's in safely and Seikou looks to take the lead!
But Isagi grounds to 1st! Kodachi makes the play to retire the side.
A bit shaky for the converted outfielder and Seikou has tied the game!
Top 2nd
Kamakura needs a moment after an attempted bunt hits him in the hand.
But he'll feel much better after he singles past Funabasama to center!
Iidzuka with a pop fly to left. Yaoita running towards the line, still running! It falls in! Kamakura goes to 3rd, but Nihon Bunri is threatening again!
But on Hoshi's grounder to 2nd, Kamakura gets himself hung up! He's run down, but perhaps prevents the double play instead. Still runners on 2nd and 3rd, 1 down.
Kurodai pops it up! Ishigaki behind the mound makes the catch, 2 out!
Kodachi delivers again! He singles to center and Iidzuka can score giving Nihon Bunri the 2-1 lead!
Ikeda flies out to right, but now we know why they're keeping him in the lineup!
Bottom 2nd
One down and bench starter Harada lines a ball down the left field line all the way to the wall for a double!
Takano single to left! Harada holds up at 3rd, but it's clear opportunities are to be had on both sides!
Grounder to 2nd! Arai goes for the double play, 4-6-3 and Iidzuka is out of the inning!
Top 3rd
Funabasama finally has a clean inning. Bunri hits a couple of fly balls but nothing of consequence.
Bottom 3rd
Yaoita with his 2nd hit in as many ABs with a single up the middle. Fujiwara moves him over, but then puts Yaginuma on with a free pass.
Yasuda can't get the timely as he pops out to Kodachi in foul territory.
Isagi grounder to 2nd, Arai has trouble fielding it, but does go to 1st for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Kamakura with a basehit back up the middle, but neither Iidzuka, Hoshi or Kurodai can do anything to get him around. More specifically Hoshi his a hard shot to the left side, but Ishigaki makes the diving catch.
Bottom 4th-6th
I had nodded off with 2 outs, but apparently I had missed out on an exciting inning, because there was an error by Arai on a grounder by Takano. Funasako then hit an infield single to short. Iiduka then walked Yaoita to load the bases for Fujiwara.
However Fujiwara would ground out to short and Seikou's chance was left begging.
The next 2 innings would be almost uneventful. Nihon Bunri had the best chance in the 6th as Takeishi had a 1-out triple to center - but Kamakura was swinging at anything in the zone and wind up chasing a slider for the 2nd out and Iidzuka fouled out to end the inning.
Top 7th
Hoshi with a chopper up the middle got the Bunri offense again as Kurodai moved him into scoring position. But with 2 down, after Ikeda drew a walk, Kobayashi would bloop one to the right side. All the fielders converged on the ball, but no one could get to it. Hoshi scored from 2nd and extended their lead to 3-1.
Bottom 7th
Yaoita tried to jump-start the Seikou offense with a base hit up the middle. Saitou-kantoku elects to go with the hit-and-run, but Fujiwara fouls out.
The rally would stall because after Yasuda drew a 2-out walk, Isagi grounded to 2nd and that was that.
Bottom 8th
After Funabasama got a 1-2-3 inning, Seikou got another leadoff runner as Ishigaki lined a single to left. But after a sac but to at least get 1 run. PH Fujita and Satou completely wasted the opportunity in just 4 pitches.
Top 9th
Saitou-kantoku having almost sold out send in #18 Imaizumi.
But after 2 outs it all collapsed. After he gave up 2 singles, Imaizumi hit 3 straight batters, driving in 2 and extending the lead to 5-1.
Bottom 9th
Yamagumi would get a 2-out base hit for Seikou, but otherwise the game was over as Nihon Bunri would win 5-1.
Seikou Gakuin had chances early, had chances late while the game was still close, but they were 2-12 with runners in scoring position and could only push 1 run across.
And so one of the better runs for a Fukushima squad ends in the quarterfinals. Nihon Bunri meanwhile gets one step closer to another final and perhaps a chance at a title.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Day 11, Game 1 - Toyama Shougyou (Toyama) v. Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
While perhaps these teams on this side of the bracket were worried about having to face Osaka Touin, perhaps they're relieved they didn't have to play Tsuruga Kehi.
Our 2nd half of Round of 16 games starts with another regional matchup, this time from the Hokushinetsu region. It's mainstays Nihon Bunri, versus a team stronger in their older days Toyama Shougyou.
Of course, don't let them hear me say that. They've actually done well so far slaying two big prefectures out of the tournament Nichidai Tsurugaoka and Kanzei giving up just 1 run in the process.
Now, they've scored only 5 runs in those games so that may be an issue later on if the pitching starts to falter a bit (They've only used Morita so far and he's starting today).
Nihon Bunri's had a slightly easier time of it, defeating Oita then coming back to edge out Touhou. Iidzuka looked much more in control in the 2nd game than the first lending some evidence that perhaps the walks were planned after all.
They have roughly the same offensive issues as Toyama Shougyou, so Iidzuka will need to do heavy lifting as well.
So on paper 2 similar squads.
Toyama Shougyou (Toyama)
CF Shiina Kouhei
2B Yokomichi Eiji
RF Sakamoto Jyunichirou
LF Kutsuwada Takuma
1B Katou Daisuke
C Tomikawa Seiya
3B Iwase Daiki
SS Yanase Kazuya
P Morita Shunya
Our 2nd half of Round of 16 games starts with another regional matchup, this time from the Hokushinetsu region. It's mainstays Nihon Bunri, versus a team stronger in their older days Toyama Shougyou.
Of course, don't let them hear me say that. They've actually done well so far slaying two big prefectures out of the tournament Nichidai Tsurugaoka and Kanzei giving up just 1 run in the process.
Now, they've scored only 5 runs in those games so that may be an issue later on if the pitching starts to falter a bit (They've only used Morita so far and he's starting today).
Nihon Bunri's had a slightly easier time of it, defeating Oita then coming back to edge out Touhou. Iidzuka looked much more in control in the 2nd game than the first lending some evidence that perhaps the walks were planned after all.
They have roughly the same offensive issues as Toyama Shougyou, so Iidzuka will need to do heavy lifting as well.
So on paper 2 similar squads.
Toyama Shougyou (Toyama)
CF Shiina Kouhei
2B Yokomichi Eiji
RF Sakamoto Jyunichirou
LF Kutsuwada Takuma
1B Katou Daisuke
C Tomikawa Seiya
3B Iwase Daiki
SS Yanase Kazuya
P Morita Shunya
Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
CF Kodachi Otowa
3B Ikeda Takamasa
LF Kobayashi Masaya
2B Arai Makoto
1B Kataoka Yuuto
C Kamakura Wataru
P Iidzuka Satoshi
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
CF Kodachi Otowa
3B Ikeda Takamasa
LF Kobayashi Masaya
2B Arai Makoto
1B Kataoka Yuuto
C Kamakura Wataru
P Iidzuka Satoshi
___________________________________________________________
08:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Not a great start for Iidzuka as he hits Kouhei, giving Tomishou a chance for a run early.
Maekawa-kantoku going for the hit-and-run instead of the bunt, but Yokomichi fouls it off.
Kouhei takes off for 2nd! Yokomich watches the fastball down the middle and he strikes out! Throw from Kamakura in time for the strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play!
Iidzuka though hits another batter in Sakamoto, but it doesn't wind up hurting him as Kutsuwada grounds to short to end the inning.
He's wild again today to start. Is there a plan in place?
Bottom 1st
Morita also starts off with a walk to the leadoff batter. Ooi-kantoku though has Kurodai bunt the runner over.
Kodachi perhaps expecting a slider outside, sees a slider go over the inner half and just freezes. 2 down.
But Morita gives 4 straight balls to Ikeda in a possible unintentional intentional walk to bring up Kobayashi.
He flies out to right and the inning is over. But both pitchers have throw quite a few pitches early.
Top 2nd
Katou with a single to center. Tomikawa showing bunt, but fouls a pair off and has to swing away it seems. A slider down and away sets him down.
Iwase grounder to short, Kurodai flips to 2nd from one knee, Arai's relay as Katou comes in.... and a great pick from Kataoka complete the 6-4-3 double play!
Bottom 2nd
Morita with another leadoff walk here in the 2nd.
Kataoka not bunting, but ends up surprised when he's rung on a changeup called on the outside edge.
Kamakura goes down swinging, but when Tomikawa throws to 3rd, Morita takes off and reaches 3rd!
Iidzuka a little early on the swings, actually slows the bat down and he single to right! Arai scores and Nihon Bunri leads 1-0!
Maezaki-kantoku calls for time.
Hoshi grounds out to Katou, and they almost blow it as Morita takes a little too much time to make it slightly uncomfortable.
Top 3rd
So this must be a plan. He walks the leadoff runner this game apparently and try to get Tomishou to bunt. This time around they do.
But Iidzuka comes back with the slider outside to nail Kouhei, and then Yokomichi get a slider in the middle, but he just grounds to 1st.
Bottom 3rd
No leadoff walk this time, instead he goes straight to retiring the 2-3-4 batters with no issues.
Top 4th
Neither side making any type of decent contact. Tomishou can't get the ball out of the infield and they're just switching places back and forth.
Bottom 4th
Kobayashi ball back up middle. Yanase runs it down, but his throw to 1st short hops Katou and unfortunately brings him into a running Kobayashi. He takes a tumble past the bag, but seems to be ok. As expected, he's bunted to 2nd.
Morita though continues to go to the hammer that is his slider, and it continues to work. Kataoka and Kamakura go down swinging for what is now Morita's 6th K!
Top 5th
Tomikawa ball up middle, Iidzuka stops it with his foot! throws to 1st and he gets the out! Now that's new! And it looks like he did it on the bottom of his cleat where there is a lot of protection.
2 down, Morita tries to hit a ball through the right side, but Arai runs it down near the grass, and makes a spin throw to 1st to retire the side.
Bottom 5th
Hoshi with a high chopper up middle, Yokomichi charges, makes throw, but not in time!
Kurodai shows bunt, but Morita puts it in the dirt! Tomikawa can't block it cleanly and Hoshi takes off for 2nd and reaches safely!
Kurodai still without a hit as he buster hits a ball to 2nd, though he advances he runner.
Kodachi with a single to left! That'll score Hoshi and Nihon Bunri tacks on another run to make it 2-0!
Ikeda fouls out to C Harada near the netting and we're at the mid-game break. Nihon Bunri has done the most with the little opportunities they've been given and it'll be up to Iidzuka to bring them home!
Top 6th
Morita with a drive to center! Kodachi has to turn back and chase after as it take a bounce to the wall! He's in with a double!
He's bunted to 3rd, and with Yokomichis fly to center he's able to tag up and score! Tomishou is still in the game here at 2-1!
Sakamoto drive to deep left center! The fielders won't get to this one either! He's flying around the bases and is in with a triple! Tomishou threatens to tie the game with a base hit!
Liner to left! Kobayashi coming in, dives... makes the catch! Kobayashi prevents the douten run from scoring!
Bottom 6th
Kobayashi singles to center to start off the inning. Arai though can't lay down the bunt and there's 2 strikes! He goes for the three-bunt but fouls it off! One down.
Ooi-kantoku sending in #16 Takeishi to hit for Kataoka. He grounds to short though and Yokomichi goes to 2nd for the force! 2 down.
Kamakura with a single past Iwase for a base hit! Takeishi holds at 2nd.
And Morita doesn't want to deal with Iidzuka and walks him, but it does make it manrui for Burri.
The plan works as Hoshi hits one back up the middle where Yokomichi awaits, he tosses to 2nd and Morita's out of the inning!
Top 7th
Takeishi stays in to play CF, Kodachi goes to 1B.
Iidzuka showing that he had a slider too, takes Katou and Tomikawa down. He jams Iwase but his blooper falls in the right side and almost dies like a chip shot! No one can get to it in time and Iwase's on with a base hit!
Maezaki-kantoku decides to send Iwase, but Kamakura makes another strong throw and Tomishou has just 2 innings left!
Bottom 7th
Another leadoff walk as Kurodai takes 1st. He goes for 2nd! Throw from Tomikawa to 2nd is wide and Yanase can't stop it! It goes to center and Kurodai takes 3rd!
Maezaki-kantoku calls for time...
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Morita throws a ball in the dirt and Tomikawa can't block it! Kurodai comes all the way home by himself and it's 3-1 Nihon Bunri!
2 down now after Morita racks up 2 more K's and Kobayashi takes a ball the other way to right for a base hit. Arai follows that up with a single through the left side! Nihon Bunri threatens again, but Takeishi's liner is snagged by Katou for the 3rd out.
Top 8th
#12 Shiina Kouhei comes in to hit for Yanase. Iidzuka hits him to start the inning!
Another PH! And it's for Morita! #14 Ookura comes in to swing the bat!
And its a bounder to the left side, Kurodai ranges to his right, dives, but it gets by! The pinch hitters are bringing Tomishou back!
Kouhei lays down a bunt to move the runners along, and Ooi-kantoku calls for time. Maekawa-kantoku sends in #18 Koshiba to run for Ookura.
Yokomichi grounder up first base line, FAIR!!!! It's fair as it gets by a diving Kataoka! Hoshi running it down but both runners will come into score!! Yokomichi hustling around the bases slides into 3rd... SAFE!!!
In almost no time flat Tomishou has come back and tied the game at 3-3!!
GYAKUTEN!!!!!
Kutsuwada with a comebacker up the middle and drawn in infield has no chance! Yokomichi scores and Tomishou has the 4-3 lead!!!!
Katou flies out to center, and that's just the 2nd out.
Tomikawa single to left! Sakamoto has to hold at 3rd and it's manrui for Tomishou!!
Iwase single through left side! Sakamoto scores! They're sending in Kutsuwada! Throw from Kobayashi... in time! Kamakura makes the tag and the side is finally retired!
But not before Tomishou rocks Iidzuka and takes a 5-3 lead with just 2 innings to go!
Bottom 8th
#16 Wakagi comes in for Kyouhei and takes over at SS. #10 Iwaki comes in for PR Koshiba and takes over on the hill.
Kamakura liner to center, Kouhei charging in, dives but can't secure the ball! Leadoff hit for Bunri!
Iidzuka not swinging, hits one back to Iwaki! He starts the 1-6-3 double play and there's quickly 2 down!
Hoshi not giving in, takes a slider down the right side for a double!
And now Iwaki walks Kurodai! Douten runner on base!
Kodachi drives a ball to left center! Kouhei running over, but can't catch it! Hoshi scores! They're sending in Kurodai! Relay throw from Yanase....
OUT!!!
Tomikawa comes over and makes the tag! Kurodai slams the helmet into the ground while Tomikawa looks injured! He's holding his glove hand that collided with Kurodai on that slide! He's finally helped up, but his play preserves the lead! Tomishou leads 5-4!
Top 9th
Kouhei gets a 2-out single, but otherwise Iidzuka sets down the Tomishou offense...
Bottom 9th
...but they're down to their final 3 outs!!
Tomikawa is coming out for the last, but if Bunri gets a baserunner, they WILL test him.
4-5-6 batters up for Bunri starting with Ikeda.
He takes a ball off the end of his bat to center for a leadoff single! Kobayashi is not bunting!
But he flies out to right! Just 2 outs left...
AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Arai with a drive to left! Kutsuwada isn't chasing it!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SAYONARA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ball lands almost 20 rows up and Nihon Bunri pulls it off again right at the end 6-5!
It's a time to celebrate, but at the same time, the cameras point to Iwaki tasked with holding the lead, and it's a slow disintegration as he uncontrollably sobs...
And sadly that is the world that we enter into when we watch these games. It's great to celebrate, but when it comes to these types of endings, I tend to remember more the side that loses....
08:00 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Not a great start for Iidzuka as he hits Kouhei, giving Tomishou a chance for a run early.
Maekawa-kantoku going for the hit-and-run instead of the bunt, but Yokomichi fouls it off.
Kouhei takes off for 2nd! Yokomich watches the fastball down the middle and he strikes out! Throw from Kamakura in time for the strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play!
Iidzuka though hits another batter in Sakamoto, but it doesn't wind up hurting him as Kutsuwada grounds to short to end the inning.
He's wild again today to start. Is there a plan in place?
Bottom 1st
Morita also starts off with a walk to the leadoff batter. Ooi-kantoku though has Kurodai bunt the runner over.
Kodachi perhaps expecting a slider outside, sees a slider go over the inner half and just freezes. 2 down.
But Morita gives 4 straight balls to Ikeda in a possible unintentional intentional walk to bring up Kobayashi.
He flies out to right and the inning is over. But both pitchers have throw quite a few pitches early.
Top 2nd
Katou with a single to center. Tomikawa showing bunt, but fouls a pair off and has to swing away it seems. A slider down and away sets him down.
Iwase grounder to short, Kurodai flips to 2nd from one knee, Arai's relay as Katou comes in.... and a great pick from Kataoka complete the 6-4-3 double play!
Bottom 2nd
Morita with another leadoff walk here in the 2nd.
Kataoka not bunting, but ends up surprised when he's rung on a changeup called on the outside edge.
Kamakura goes down swinging, but when Tomikawa throws to 3rd, Morita takes off and reaches 3rd!
Iidzuka a little early on the swings, actually slows the bat down and he single to right! Arai scores and Nihon Bunri leads 1-0!
Maezaki-kantoku calls for time.
Hoshi grounds out to Katou, and they almost blow it as Morita takes a little too much time to make it slightly uncomfortable.
Top 3rd
So this must be a plan. He walks the leadoff runner this game apparently and try to get Tomishou to bunt. This time around they do.
But Iidzuka comes back with the slider outside to nail Kouhei, and then Yokomichi get a slider in the middle, but he just grounds to 1st.
Bottom 3rd
No leadoff walk this time, instead he goes straight to retiring the 2-3-4 batters with no issues.
Top 4th
Neither side making any type of decent contact. Tomishou can't get the ball out of the infield and they're just switching places back and forth.
Bottom 4th
Kobayashi ball back up middle. Yanase runs it down, but his throw to 1st short hops Katou and unfortunately brings him into a running Kobayashi. He takes a tumble past the bag, but seems to be ok. As expected, he's bunted to 2nd.
Morita though continues to go to the hammer that is his slider, and it continues to work. Kataoka and Kamakura go down swinging for what is now Morita's 6th K!
Top 5th
Tomikawa ball up middle, Iidzuka stops it with his foot! throws to 1st and he gets the out! Now that's new! And it looks like he did it on the bottom of his cleat where there is a lot of protection.
2 down, Morita tries to hit a ball through the right side, but Arai runs it down near the grass, and makes a spin throw to 1st to retire the side.
Bottom 5th
Hoshi with a high chopper up middle, Yokomichi charges, makes throw, but not in time!
Kurodai shows bunt, but Morita puts it in the dirt! Tomikawa can't block it cleanly and Hoshi takes off for 2nd and reaches safely!
Kurodai still without a hit as he buster hits a ball to 2nd, though he advances he runner.
Kodachi with a single to left! That'll score Hoshi and Nihon Bunri tacks on another run to make it 2-0!
Ikeda fouls out to C Harada near the netting and we're at the mid-game break. Nihon Bunri has done the most with the little opportunities they've been given and it'll be up to Iidzuka to bring them home!
Top 6th
Morita with a drive to center! Kodachi has to turn back and chase after as it take a bounce to the wall! He's in with a double!
He's bunted to 3rd, and with Yokomichis fly to center he's able to tag up and score! Tomishou is still in the game here at 2-1!
Sakamoto drive to deep left center! The fielders won't get to this one either! He's flying around the bases and is in with a triple! Tomishou threatens to tie the game with a base hit!
Liner to left! Kobayashi coming in, dives... makes the catch! Kobayashi prevents the douten run from scoring!
Bottom 6th
Kobayashi singles to center to start off the inning. Arai though can't lay down the bunt and there's 2 strikes! He goes for the three-bunt but fouls it off! One down.
Ooi-kantoku sending in #16 Takeishi to hit for Kataoka. He grounds to short though and Yokomichi goes to 2nd for the force! 2 down.
Kamakura with a single past Iwase for a base hit! Takeishi holds at 2nd.
And Morita doesn't want to deal with Iidzuka and walks him, but it does make it manrui for Burri.
The plan works as Hoshi hits one back up the middle where Yokomichi awaits, he tosses to 2nd and Morita's out of the inning!
Top 7th
Takeishi stays in to play CF, Kodachi goes to 1B.
Iidzuka showing that he had a slider too, takes Katou and Tomikawa down. He jams Iwase but his blooper falls in the right side and almost dies like a chip shot! No one can get to it in time and Iwase's on with a base hit!
Maezaki-kantoku decides to send Iwase, but Kamakura makes another strong throw and Tomishou has just 2 innings left!
Bottom 7th
Another leadoff walk as Kurodai takes 1st. He goes for 2nd! Throw from Tomikawa to 2nd is wide and Yanase can't stop it! It goes to center and Kurodai takes 3rd!
Maezaki-kantoku calls for time...
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Morita throws a ball in the dirt and Tomikawa can't block it! Kurodai comes all the way home by himself and it's 3-1 Nihon Bunri!
2 down now after Morita racks up 2 more K's and Kobayashi takes a ball the other way to right for a base hit. Arai follows that up with a single through the left side! Nihon Bunri threatens again, but Takeishi's liner is snagged by Katou for the 3rd out.
Top 8th
#12 Shiina Kouhei comes in to hit for Yanase. Iidzuka hits him to start the inning!
Another PH! And it's for Morita! #14 Ookura comes in to swing the bat!
And its a bounder to the left side, Kurodai ranges to his right, dives, but it gets by! The pinch hitters are bringing Tomishou back!
Kouhei lays down a bunt to move the runners along, and Ooi-kantoku calls for time. Maekawa-kantoku sends in #18 Koshiba to run for Ookura.
Yokomichi grounder up first base line, FAIR!!!! It's fair as it gets by a diving Kataoka! Hoshi running it down but both runners will come into score!! Yokomichi hustling around the bases slides into 3rd... SAFE!!!
In almost no time flat Tomishou has come back and tied the game at 3-3!!
GYAKUTEN!!!!!
Kutsuwada with a comebacker up the middle and drawn in infield has no chance! Yokomichi scores and Tomishou has the 4-3 lead!!!!
Katou flies out to center, and that's just the 2nd out.
Tomikawa single to left! Sakamoto has to hold at 3rd and it's manrui for Tomishou!!
Iwase single through left side! Sakamoto scores! They're sending in Kutsuwada! Throw from Kobayashi... in time! Kamakura makes the tag and the side is finally retired!
But not before Tomishou rocks Iidzuka and takes a 5-3 lead with just 2 innings to go!
Bottom 8th
#16 Wakagi comes in for Kyouhei and takes over at SS. #10 Iwaki comes in for PR Koshiba and takes over on the hill.
Kamakura liner to center, Kouhei charging in, dives but can't secure the ball! Leadoff hit for Bunri!
Iidzuka not swinging, hits one back to Iwaki! He starts the 1-6-3 double play and there's quickly 2 down!
Hoshi not giving in, takes a slider down the right side for a double!
And now Iwaki walks Kurodai! Douten runner on base!
Kodachi drives a ball to left center! Kouhei running over, but can't catch it! Hoshi scores! They're sending in Kurodai! Relay throw from Yanase....
OUT!!!
Tomikawa comes over and makes the tag! Kurodai slams the helmet into the ground while Tomikawa looks injured! He's holding his glove hand that collided with Kurodai on that slide! He's finally helped up, but his play preserves the lead! Tomishou leads 5-4!
Top 9th
Kouhei gets a 2-out single, but otherwise Iidzuka sets down the Tomishou offense...
Bottom 9th
...but they're down to their final 3 outs!!
Tomikawa is coming out for the last, but if Bunri gets a baserunner, they WILL test him.
4-5-6 batters up for Bunri starting with Ikeda.
He takes a ball off the end of his bat to center for a leadoff single! Kobayashi is not bunting!
But he flies out to right! Just 2 outs left...
AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Arai with a drive to left! Kutsuwada isn't chasing it!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SAYONARA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ball lands almost 20 rows up and Nihon Bunri pulls it off again right at the end 6-5!
It's a time to celebrate, but at the same time, the cameras point to Iwaki tasked with holding the lead, and it's a slow disintegration as he uncontrollably sobs...
And sadly that is the world that we enter into when we watch these games. It's great to celebrate, but when it comes to these types of endings, I tend to remember more the side that loses....
Monday, August 18, 2014
Day 8, Game 2 - Nihon Bunri (Niigata) vs. Touhou (Aichi)
More teams from the central regions here in Game 2 as Nihon Bunri and Touhou do battle.
Nihon Bunri got a gift of a game from Oita in the first round. Despite having multiple scoring chances, miscommunication on the basepaths led to key outs that kept them off the scoreboard. When Nihon Bunri scored 3 in the 7th, that just broke Oita.
Ace Iidzuka may have had a clever game plan as well, though we'll need to see if it was truly the case. He walked 6, but 4 of those came with 1 out. And in all but the last case, Oita bunted. So every time it was 2 outs, runner on 2nd. Perhaps they did it intentionally so they would get an easy out. But like I said, it will depend on how he pitches today.
Touhou meanwhile, just ran roughshot over Nichinan Gakuen, amassing 20 hits and 11 runs with every starter getting on base. So in that respect, it wasn't much of a game.
But there are concerns. Two of the players at the top of the lineup, Okada and Miyazawa went hitless. #5 hitter Mine only got 1 hit. That has to be concerning considering the offensive output.
The other was bench starter Fujishima. He went 8 strong innings, scattering 9 hits. But he walked 3 and struck out just 2. That is a lot of pressure to potentially put on a defense. We saw a little of this last year in Nobeoka Gakuen, but it can't the main calling card of the pitching staff. Well, it can, but it's very, very tough.
Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
CF Kodachi Otowa
3B Ikeda Takamasa
1B Kawaguchi Tatsurou (#13)
2B Arai Makoto
LF Yamaguchi Naoki (#17)
C Kamakura Wataru
P Iidzuka Satoshi
Touhou (Aichi)
SS Suzuki Daisuke
1B Kodama Daiki
CF Kudou Shun
LF Mizoguchi Yoshichika
3B Miyazawa Kazushige
C Mine Kouhei
P Fujishima Kento (#10)
2B Matsubara Matsunori
RF Okada Satoshi
____________________________________________________________
10:23 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Good start for Fujishima. After filling up the count, he blows a 143 fastball by Hoshi for the first out.
Kurodai though sends a ball back up the middle past a diving Matsubara for a base hit.
Clothing malfunction as Matsubara needs to have his belt replaced.
Fujishima gets contact, and good one at that.
For him. Kodachi grounds into the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning!
Bottom 1st
Iidzuka seeming better with his control. Suzuki with a weak comebacker to 1st. Kodama tries to sell the walk, but has to double back after being rung up.
And Kudou skies a ball in foul territory, Kamakura makes the catch for the out.
Top 2nd
Nihon Bunri trying to make Fujishima throw strikes, and he's happily obliging.
Ikeda strikes out looking on a fastball outside...
Kawaguchi strikes out looking on a fastball outside...
Arai avoids the same fate, but grounds to short. When I said that he only struck out 2 it means there are pitches to hit. The operative word being hit.
Bottom 2nd
One down, and Miyazawa gets Touhou in the hit column with a solid single through the left side. Ooi-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but all Mine can do is advance the runner to 2nd.
Fujishima can't help his own cause, hitting a grounder to the left side that Ikeda takes and throws for the out.
Top 3rd
Yamaguchi springs the safety bunt! Miyazawa charges in, but by the time he gets it he has to eat it! Leadoff single for Nihon Bunri!
It's a pitchout and Yamaguchi was taking off! Throw to 2nd and he's caught in no-man's land! He's rundown for the 1st out!
After that the bottom of the lineup can't make solid contact, and Kamakura and Iidzuka are retired with little trouble.
Bottom 3rd
Touhou's offense having a much harder time as Matsubara goes swinging on a forkball.
Okada with a routine grounder to 1st and Kawaguchi takes that himself.
And it's not until the 3rd that we see a walk from Iidzuka as Suzuki walks on 4 straight.
Kodama with a rip to the right side, but it's right at Arai who makes the pick and throw to 1st for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Hoshi making better contact the 2nd time around though he lines out to Suzuki.
2 down, and Kodachi lines one to the left side! Miyazawa leaps, but it's off his glove and into left! Kodachi sees the slowed down ball and takes off for 2nd! Throw from Mizoguchi not in time!
But Ikeda can't pull the trigger again! Fujishima puts a ball down the middle for strike 3 and the side is retired!
Bottom 4th
Kudou with a ball to keft. Kobayashi coming in, now starts dashing in! But he's too late and the ball falls in! Kudou running all the way reaches 2nd on the blooper!
And now he walks Mizoguchi on 4 straight! If he wanted to set up the force, it doesn't work because Miyazawa lays down the bunt.
Huh, I have a hunch about the next batter. Iidzuka might unintentionally intentionally walk him.
Mine didn't get anything to hit at that AB, and yet, he swings away and strikes out!
Fujishima not getting anything in the zone, he ends up with a walk...AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ball gets under Kamakura and to the backfence! The plan backfires as Kudou comes in to score! 1-0 Touhou!
Matsubara goes down on 3 straight, but the mistake by Kamakura fouls their strategy!
Top 5th
Kawaguchi not seeing the ball at all. He watches another ball paint the outside edge for strike 3. Ikeda and Kawaguchi are 0-4 with 4 K's looking.
Arai first pitch singles past the infield into left.
Yamaguchi swings and grounds into a tailor-made 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Okada tries the safety bunt, but Arai charges in, and undertosses to Kawaguchi to just get Okada.
Suzuki gets his first hit with a liner over Kurodai.
And he takes off for 2nd! Kamakura loses the ball and there's no throw!
Kodama with a liner to left, Kobayashi there, AHHH!!!
The ball bounces over Kobayashi and he has to scramble back! Suzuki scores and Kodama slides into 3rd! 2-0 Touhou on the error!
Kudou grounder to 3rd, it's a contact play! Ikeda goes home and they get Kodama for the out.
But now Kudou goes for 2nd! Throw from Kamakura not in time!
Iidzuka strikes out Mizoguchi to end the inning, but Touhou adds a key run as we hit the break! Fujishima is in full control right now while his offense is putting pressure on Iidzuka and the defense!
Top 6th
Kamakura with a ball to right center! The outfield is drawn in and Kudou has to chase it to the wall! He's in with a leadoff double!
Iidzuka not bunting! He inside-outs a ball to the left side and that's in for a base hit! Runners at the corners with no down!
Hoshi a ball the other way!! That's through the left side and Kamkura scores! It's now just a 2-1 lead!
Ooi-kantoku calls for the sac bunt and Kurodai obliges. Gyakuten runner in scoring position!
Kodachi playing the waiting game, and Fujishima can't put the ball in the zone! He walks him to load the bases! Morita-kantoku calling for time, but though the 4-5 batters for Nihon Bunri are coming up, both of them have done nothing but strike out looking.
Base hit through the left side!!!
Ikeda attacks the first pitch and singles past the drawn in infield! And the relay throw goes to no one and the runners advance another base! 3-2 Nihon Bunri!
And that's it for Fujishima. Ace Ooi comes into the game as Ooi-kantoku sent in #18 Araki to hit for Kawaguchi.
Araki with a grounder to 3rd. It's a contact play and Miyazawa goes home! Mine makes the tag and there's 2 down.
Arai fouls out to end the inning but damage has been done. 3 runs after the break and Nihon Bunri has the lead!
Bottom 6th
Araki stays in to play LF. Yamaguchi goes to CF and Kodachi goes to 1B.
One down for Touhou and Mine hits a ball just out of the reach of Kurodai into center.
Hit-and-run for Touhou, Ooi grounds to short, advancing the runner. But Matsubara grounds to 3rd, Ikeda makes the play and Mine is left stranded.
Top 7th
One down, Kamakura lightly plunked by a changeup.
Iidzuka not bunting, but goes down looking on the fastball outside.
Hoshi, though showing they can hit the other way gets his 2nd single through the gap.
Kurodai though can't quite get to the ball on the outside edge and goes down swinging. Not everyone apparently is quite able to yet.
Bottom 7th
Okada ball back up middle. Kurodai there to field and throw to 1st, 1 down.
Suzuki another grounder to Kurodai. He handles the scooting ball and throws to 1st, 2 dow.
Kodama ball into the gap in left! Kurodai springs and males the pick! Throw from the outfield grass.. not in time! Couldn't quite make the 3rd plat as Kodama dives into the bag.
Kodama takes off for 2nd! Kamakura's throw not nearly in time!
But Kudou hits a grounder back to Iidzuka! He fields it, tosses to 1st and the side is retired!
Top 8th
With Ooi in the game, Nihon Bunri's offense goes silent again. Iidzuka will have to make the 3 runs hold.
Bottom 8th
Touhou's offense appears to be pressing now. Ahead 2-0 Mizoguchi swings away and lines out right to Yamaguchi. Miyazawa ahead 2-1, skies a popup that Kodachi catches for the 2nd out.
Mine tries to work the count, at 2-2 he hits a routine fly to center and ends the inning!
Top 9th
Outside of a hit batter, the Bunri offense lies dormant.
Bottom 9th
#16 Hosoya to hit for Ooi. But he goes down swinging on a forkball. One down.
Matsubara hacking away, chases a slider outside and they're doing to their final out.
#15 Morishita the final chance for Touhou.
Trying to find a way on, he tries to work the count, but the count runs full...
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Iidzuka blows a 143 fastball by him and Nihon Bunri holds on!
Nihon Bunri got a gift of a game from Oita in the first round. Despite having multiple scoring chances, miscommunication on the basepaths led to key outs that kept them off the scoreboard. When Nihon Bunri scored 3 in the 7th, that just broke Oita.
Ace Iidzuka may have had a clever game plan as well, though we'll need to see if it was truly the case. He walked 6, but 4 of those came with 1 out. And in all but the last case, Oita bunted. So every time it was 2 outs, runner on 2nd. Perhaps they did it intentionally so they would get an easy out. But like I said, it will depend on how he pitches today.
Touhou meanwhile, just ran roughshot over Nichinan Gakuen, amassing 20 hits and 11 runs with every starter getting on base. So in that respect, it wasn't much of a game.
But there are concerns. Two of the players at the top of the lineup, Okada and Miyazawa went hitless. #5 hitter Mine only got 1 hit. That has to be concerning considering the offensive output.
The other was bench starter Fujishima. He went 8 strong innings, scattering 9 hits. But he walked 3 and struck out just 2. That is a lot of pressure to potentially put on a defense. We saw a little of this last year in Nobeoka Gakuen, but it can't the main calling card of the pitching staff. Well, it can, but it's very, very tough.
Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
CF Kodachi Otowa
3B Ikeda Takamasa
1B Kawaguchi Tatsurou (#13)
2B Arai Makoto
LF Yamaguchi Naoki (#17)
C Kamakura Wataru
P Iidzuka Satoshi
Touhou (Aichi)
SS Suzuki Daisuke
1B Kodama Daiki
CF Kudou Shun
LF Mizoguchi Yoshichika
3B Miyazawa Kazushige
C Mine Kouhei
P Fujishima Kento (#10)
2B Matsubara Matsunori
RF Okada Satoshi
____________________________________________________________
10:23 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Good start for Fujishima. After filling up the count, he blows a 143 fastball by Hoshi for the first out.
Kurodai though sends a ball back up the middle past a diving Matsubara for a base hit.
Clothing malfunction as Matsubara needs to have his belt replaced.
Fujishima gets contact, and good one at that.
For him. Kodachi grounds into the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning!
Bottom 1st
Iidzuka seeming better with his control. Suzuki with a weak comebacker to 1st. Kodama tries to sell the walk, but has to double back after being rung up.
And Kudou skies a ball in foul territory, Kamakura makes the catch for the out.
Top 2nd
Nihon Bunri trying to make Fujishima throw strikes, and he's happily obliging.
Ikeda strikes out looking on a fastball outside...
Kawaguchi strikes out looking on a fastball outside...
Arai avoids the same fate, but grounds to short. When I said that he only struck out 2 it means there are pitches to hit. The operative word being hit.
Bottom 2nd
One down, and Miyazawa gets Touhou in the hit column with a solid single through the left side. Ooi-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but all Mine can do is advance the runner to 2nd.
Fujishima can't help his own cause, hitting a grounder to the left side that Ikeda takes and throws for the out.
Top 3rd
Yamaguchi springs the safety bunt! Miyazawa charges in, but by the time he gets it he has to eat it! Leadoff single for Nihon Bunri!
It's a pitchout and Yamaguchi was taking off! Throw to 2nd and he's caught in no-man's land! He's rundown for the 1st out!
After that the bottom of the lineup can't make solid contact, and Kamakura and Iidzuka are retired with little trouble.
Bottom 3rd
Touhou's offense having a much harder time as Matsubara goes swinging on a forkball.
Okada with a routine grounder to 1st and Kawaguchi takes that himself.
And it's not until the 3rd that we see a walk from Iidzuka as Suzuki walks on 4 straight.
Kodama with a rip to the right side, but it's right at Arai who makes the pick and throw to 1st for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Hoshi making better contact the 2nd time around though he lines out to Suzuki.
2 down, and Kodachi lines one to the left side! Miyazawa leaps, but it's off his glove and into left! Kodachi sees the slowed down ball and takes off for 2nd! Throw from Mizoguchi not in time!
But Ikeda can't pull the trigger again! Fujishima puts a ball down the middle for strike 3 and the side is retired!
Bottom 4th
Kudou with a ball to keft. Kobayashi coming in, now starts dashing in! But he's too late and the ball falls in! Kudou running all the way reaches 2nd on the blooper!
And now he walks Mizoguchi on 4 straight! If he wanted to set up the force, it doesn't work because Miyazawa lays down the bunt.
Huh, I have a hunch about the next batter. Iidzuka might unintentionally intentionally walk him.
Mine didn't get anything to hit at that AB, and yet, he swings away and strikes out!
Fujishima not getting anything in the zone, he ends up with a walk...AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ball gets under Kamakura and to the backfence! The plan backfires as Kudou comes in to score! 1-0 Touhou!
Matsubara goes down on 3 straight, but the mistake by Kamakura fouls their strategy!
Top 5th
Kawaguchi not seeing the ball at all. He watches another ball paint the outside edge for strike 3. Ikeda and Kawaguchi are 0-4 with 4 K's looking.
Arai first pitch singles past the infield into left.
Yamaguchi swings and grounds into a tailor-made 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Okada tries the safety bunt, but Arai charges in, and undertosses to Kawaguchi to just get Okada.
Suzuki gets his first hit with a liner over Kurodai.
And he takes off for 2nd! Kamakura loses the ball and there's no throw!
Kodama with a liner to left, Kobayashi there, AHHH!!!
The ball bounces over Kobayashi and he has to scramble back! Suzuki scores and Kodama slides into 3rd! 2-0 Touhou on the error!
Kudou grounder to 3rd, it's a contact play! Ikeda goes home and they get Kodama for the out.
But now Kudou goes for 2nd! Throw from Kamakura not in time!
Iidzuka strikes out Mizoguchi to end the inning, but Touhou adds a key run as we hit the break! Fujishima is in full control right now while his offense is putting pressure on Iidzuka and the defense!
Top 6th
Kamakura with a ball to right center! The outfield is drawn in and Kudou has to chase it to the wall! He's in with a leadoff double!
Iidzuka not bunting! He inside-outs a ball to the left side and that's in for a base hit! Runners at the corners with no down!
Hoshi a ball the other way!! That's through the left side and Kamkura scores! It's now just a 2-1 lead!
Ooi-kantoku calls for the sac bunt and Kurodai obliges. Gyakuten runner in scoring position!
Kodachi playing the waiting game, and Fujishima can't put the ball in the zone! He walks him to load the bases! Morita-kantoku calling for time, but though the 4-5 batters for Nihon Bunri are coming up, both of them have done nothing but strike out looking.
Base hit through the left side!!!
Ikeda attacks the first pitch and singles past the drawn in infield! And the relay throw goes to no one and the runners advance another base! 3-2 Nihon Bunri!
And that's it for Fujishima. Ace Ooi comes into the game as Ooi-kantoku sent in #18 Araki to hit for Kawaguchi.
Araki with a grounder to 3rd. It's a contact play and Miyazawa goes home! Mine makes the tag and there's 2 down.
Arai fouls out to end the inning but damage has been done. 3 runs after the break and Nihon Bunri has the lead!
Bottom 6th
Araki stays in to play LF. Yamaguchi goes to CF and Kodachi goes to 1B.
One down for Touhou and Mine hits a ball just out of the reach of Kurodai into center.
Hit-and-run for Touhou, Ooi grounds to short, advancing the runner. But Matsubara grounds to 3rd, Ikeda makes the play and Mine is left stranded.
Top 7th
One down, Kamakura lightly plunked by a changeup.
Iidzuka not bunting, but goes down looking on the fastball outside.
Hoshi, though showing they can hit the other way gets his 2nd single through the gap.
Kurodai though can't quite get to the ball on the outside edge and goes down swinging. Not everyone apparently is quite able to yet.
Bottom 7th
Okada ball back up middle. Kurodai there to field and throw to 1st, 1 down.
Suzuki another grounder to Kurodai. He handles the scooting ball and throws to 1st, 2 dow.
Kodama ball into the gap in left! Kurodai springs and males the pick! Throw from the outfield grass.. not in time! Couldn't quite make the 3rd plat as Kodama dives into the bag.
Kodama takes off for 2nd! Kamakura's throw not nearly in time!
But Kudou hits a grounder back to Iidzuka! He fields it, tosses to 1st and the side is retired!
Top 8th
With Ooi in the game, Nihon Bunri's offense goes silent again. Iidzuka will have to make the 3 runs hold.
Bottom 8th
Touhou's offense appears to be pressing now. Ahead 2-0 Mizoguchi swings away and lines out right to Yamaguchi. Miyazawa ahead 2-1, skies a popup that Kodachi catches for the 2nd out.
Mine tries to work the count, at 2-2 he hits a routine fly to center and ends the inning!
Top 9th
Outside of a hit batter, the Bunri offense lies dormant.
Bottom 9th
#16 Hosoya to hit for Ooi. But he goes down swinging on a forkball. One down.
Matsubara hacking away, chases a slider outside and they're doing to their final out.
#15 Morishita the final chance for Touhou.
Trying to find a way on, he tries to work the count, but the count runs full...
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Iidzuka blows a 143 fastball by him and Nihon Bunri holds on!
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Day 2, Game 3 - Nihon Bunri (Niigata) v. Oita (Oita)
4 games so far, only one so far that's been clean and close. Maybe this one will turn out well.
Oita is making their first ever appearance and it did not come cheaply. They had to play Touin, Kitsuki and defeated both of them with shutouts, withe the final victory coming back from behind to tie Meihou at 5-5 before winning 6-5 in 10! For Oita prefecture, that is a pretty big gauntlet to face.
Nihon Bunri's run seemed like fits and starts. You'd have games like defeating Horikoshi in the semifinals 9-1, then a game like the finals where they needed a 3-run HR to defeat Sekine Gakuen. That lack of consistency will hurt a team eventually, and with Niigata as weak as they generally are, it doesn't bode well for them.
If nothing else, I expect Oita to hang in there.
Oita (Oita)
1B Inoue Kyousuke
2B Kawamuro Akihiro
CF Anan Daiki
P Sano Koudai
LF Ninomiya Momota
3B Satou Riku (#15)
C Imagawa Ryouta
RF Ishimoto Yuuya
SS Hamada Mizuki
Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
CF Kodachi Otowa
3B Ikeda Takamasa
1B Kataoka Yuuto
LF Kobayashi Masaya
2B Arai Makoto
C Kamakura Wataru
P Iidzuka Satoshi
____________________________________________________________
13:45 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Inoue ahead 3-1 on Iidzuka, drives a ball to left! Hoshi running back, but that's easily over his head! Inoue in with a standing (though he did slide) triple!
Kawamuro up and he too gets ahead 3-1. Hits grounder to short, and Kurodai's slide to the ball boots it to foul territory! Inoue scores and Oita leads 1-0!
Sano-kanoku looking for more sends Kawamura on a hit-and-run, but Anan strikes out and Kawamuro tries to dance his way to 2nd, but is called out.
Sano goes down swinging to end the inning, but Oita strikes first in their first ever game at Koushien!
Bottom 1st
Hoshi looks to strike back with a soft single to left. Kurodai though tries to bunt the runner over, but winds up with 2 strikes. They instead try the buster, but he chases a ball way outside for strike 3.
Kodachi goes back up the middle, but Kawamuro is right there for the 4-6-3 double play to retire the side.
Top 2nd
Iidzuka falling behind in counts regularly, winds up going full on Ninomiya before getting a grounder to 3rd. Satou on the other hand gets a free pass.
Sano-kantoku calls for the sac bunt with 1 out, but Imagawa pushes 2 of them foul. Apparently both sides can't lay down the bunt as he pops out to Iiduzka for the 2nd out.
Ishimoto doesn't see that Iidzuka's been falling behind batters, and goes down on 3 straight, the last one a neck-high fastball he has no business going after.
Bottom 2nd
Ikeda with a ball buzzing by Sano into center for a base hit.
Kataoka not bunting (remember about the things we learned, Nihon Bunri doesn't really bunt anymore).
But it would help not chasing after sliders in the opposing batter's box...
Kobayashi somehow gets around on a pitch at his hands, and puts enough on it to send it through to left for a base hit.
That inconsistent play I mentioned earlier continues as Arai also chases a slider on the outside part for the 2nd out.
Wow, Nihon Bunri's batters are getting fooled. Despite 2 singles, Sano strikes out the side as Kamakura chases another slider.
Top 3rd
After a quick flyout, Iidzuka issues his 2nd walk to Inoue. Kawamuro tries the safety bunt, but a charging Ikeda makes the throw to just beat him out.
Anan tries to play the waiting game, getting ahead 3-1, but it's right at Iiduzka who goes to 1st for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
The game is going at a decent clip, as Iidzuka and Hoshi try to find a ball to hit, both wind up flying out.
Kurodai though catches a hanging slider and lines it down the left field side all the way to the wall for a double. However, Kodachi can't do anything with it as he gets under a fastball and flies out to Anan in shallow center. 3 out and Sano is holding his own on the mound.
Top 4th
One down, and it's time for the free pass of the inning. This inning's winner is Ninomiya. Sano-kantoku calls for the bunt again looking for the one-timer from Imagawa.
And Imagawa hits a single past a diving Arai! They're sending Ninomiya home!
That's not going to end well.
Hoshi, playing in throws home and Ninomiya has no chance. 3 out and change.
Bottom 4th
Meanwhile Sano issues his first walk to Ikeda to lead off the 4th.
Kataoka grounder to 2nd, Kawamuro goes to 2nd for 1, but Kataoka beats out the throw to prevent double play.
Despite that, he's replaced by #17 Yamaguchi at first.
Sano really wanted that called strike 3 on the 2-2 fork to Kobayashi, but gets a groundout instead.
Uh oh!
Arai blasts one to left! Ninomiya back to the foul pole...
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Arai keeps it just fair as it bounced at the end of the ouen-dan section and Nihon Bunri takes the 2-1 lead!
Kamakura goes down looking on a 3-2 fastball down the middle, but Arai's blast gives his team the lead!
Top 5th
#13 Kawaguchi comes in for PR Yamaguchi to play 1B.
Oita looks to get the run back as Ishimoto singles through the right side.
AHHH!!!
But signs get crossed up as Hamada doesn't go through with his bunt and Kamakura snap throws to 1st catching Ishimoto off guard! He's tagged out and that's a big error by Oita.
And again with 1 out, Iidzuka walks a batter.
No bunt!
Inoue swings away and drives a ball to right! Hoshi scrambles back, but has no chance! Hamada sprinting around as Hoshi races back to the wall! He's waved around!
Throw from Arai,... not in time! Inoue strikes again and this time drives in the douten run! It's 2-2!
SQUEEZE!!!!
AHHHHH!!!!!!
Inoue is caught in no-man's land when Kawamuro doesn't offer on the ball! What in the world is Oita doing??
Meanwhile, it's another walk to Kawamuro, but the tradeoff isn't good at all.
Worse yet, Anan also manages to draw a walk. Instead of two out, runners on 1st and 2nd, it would have been one out, manrui.
Iidzuka throwing a lot of pitches, goes full on his 3rd straight batter in Sano, but this time he wins as Sano can't help but chase a slider outside for the 3rd out.
Bottom 5th
Iidzuka checks in with a single past a diving Satou. Hoshi on the next pitch joins in with a single past a diving Hamada and Sano-kantoku calls for time.
Now Ooi-kantoku calls for the bunt, but Kurodai just spins it foul. He eventually lays it down, and now Nihon Bunri threatens to open the game up.
Kodachi though gets too much under the ball! Ninomiya comes in with the catch, and the runners have to hold!
Now it's Sano's turn to fall behind as he goes 3-1 to Ikeda. 1st base is open though, so perhaps they wouldn't mind the BB.
He's bailed out! Ikeda decides to swing at a shoulder-high fastball and chops it back to Sano! Goes to 1st and he's out of the pinch! We hit the break all square at 2, but Oita has wasted opportunities that Nihon Bunri ace Iidzuka has been giving them - especially when your line after 5 IP includes 5 H and 6 BBs. And yet you've only scored 2 runs.
Top 6th
Oita's batters freely swinging a lot more now, but they're falling behind in counts and getting themselves out. After a Ninomiya comebacker, Satou and Imagawa both go down swinging and I think they might be in trouble now.
Bottom 6th
But it looks like not everyone has cracked Sano just yet. Kawaguchi in his first AB flies out to right. And after a groundout by Kobayashi, Sano exacts some form of revenge in getting Arai to ground out to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 7th
One down, and Hamada goes for the push bunt up the 1st base side! Arai charges in, makes the snap throw, but Hamada dives in just ahead of the throw.
Inoue up, and it's a grounder to short! Kurodai goes to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st is high! Inoue makes a late break for 2nd, but that allows Kamamura to get to the ball and throw to 2nd to get Inoue to end the inning!
That second of hesitation causes the 3rd out. If Nihon Bunri didn't have momentum before, they have it now.
Bottom 7th
And wouldn't you know it, Kamakura drives a ball to left center for a leadoff double.
Iidzuka with a single to center and Kamakura is sent home! Throw home up the 1st base line and Nihon Bunri has 3-2 lead!
And that my friends is game.
Hoshi with a bomb to right. The hamazake won't knock this one down as Hoshi's 2-run HR puts the nail in the coffin at 5-2.
Nihon Bunri almost goes quietly after that, but Ikeda hits one off the base of the wall in dead center for a double.
Kawaguchi strikes out looking to retire the side, but the ending has pretty much been written.
Top 8th
Kawamur opens the frame with a single past a diving Ikeda. Ooi-kantoku calls time immediately thereafter. I don't think Oita will be bunting down 3 with just 2 to go.
And then Anan shows bunt. Really?!
That's a little better. Sano-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but Anan fouls it off.
The end result through is a flyout to left.
Sano can't buy a hit, and unfortunately grounds into the inning ending 5-4-3 double play.
Bottom 8th
The flood gates may be opening. One down, Arai and Kamakura get back to back singles.
After Iidzuka goes down swinging, Sano issues a walk to load the bases. Sano-kantoku calls for time.
Sano gets out of the pinch after getting Kurodai to ground to 2nd. No more damage done and the score is still respectable.
Top 9th
Much like last game, the batters for Oita are trying to get their hacks in. But Ninomiya and Satou go down swinging.
Imagawa staves off elimination with a single to right.
It's only temporary though as Imagawa strikes out to end the game. Nihon Bunri pulls away late to defeat Oita 5-2.
Oita early showed a lot of fight and had chances to score runs against the Niigata champs. But key baserunning errors wiped out those opportunities and let Nihon Bunri regroup and eventually pull away in the 7th.
It's not to say that Sano wouldn't have given up those HR's anyways, but he was under more pressure given the close game and that perhaps came to a head in the 7th, especially after the missed squeeze the half inning before.
Nihon Bunri advances, but Iidzuka looks about as shaky as one can get for a winner. Now, if those 1-out BB's were intentional to get Oita to bunt, it worked (for the most part). But I think he has control issues and that will become an issue sooner rather than later.
Notable Players
Iidzuka Satoshi (Nihon Bunri) - CG, 2 ER, 8 H, 9 K, 6 BB
Hoshi Kenta (Nihon Bunri) - 3-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB
Arai Makoto (Nihon Bunri) - 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Inoue Kyousuke (Oita) - 2-3, 2 3B, R, RBI
Kawamuro Akihiro (Oita) - 2-2, RBI, BB
Oita is making their first ever appearance and it did not come cheaply. They had to play Touin, Kitsuki and defeated both of them with shutouts, withe the final victory coming back from behind to tie Meihou at 5-5 before winning 6-5 in 10! For Oita prefecture, that is a pretty big gauntlet to face.
Nihon Bunri's run seemed like fits and starts. You'd have games like defeating Horikoshi in the semifinals 9-1, then a game like the finals where they needed a 3-run HR to defeat Sekine Gakuen. That lack of consistency will hurt a team eventually, and with Niigata as weak as they generally are, it doesn't bode well for them.
If nothing else, I expect Oita to hang in there.
Oita (Oita)
1B Inoue Kyousuke
2B Kawamuro Akihiro
CF Anan Daiki
P Sano Koudai
LF Ninomiya Momota
3B Satou Riku (#15)
C Imagawa Ryouta
RF Ishimoto Yuuya
SS Hamada Mizuki
Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
CF Kodachi Otowa
3B Ikeda Takamasa
1B Kataoka Yuuto
LF Kobayashi Masaya
2B Arai Makoto
C Kamakura Wataru
P Iidzuka Satoshi
____________________________________________________________
13:45 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Inoue ahead 3-1 on Iidzuka, drives a ball to left! Hoshi running back, but that's easily over his head! Inoue in with a standing (though he did slide) triple!
Kawamuro up and he too gets ahead 3-1. Hits grounder to short, and Kurodai's slide to the ball boots it to foul territory! Inoue scores and Oita leads 1-0!
Sano-kanoku looking for more sends Kawamura on a hit-and-run, but Anan strikes out and Kawamuro tries to dance his way to 2nd, but is called out.
Sano goes down swinging to end the inning, but Oita strikes first in their first ever game at Koushien!
Bottom 1st
Hoshi looks to strike back with a soft single to left. Kurodai though tries to bunt the runner over, but winds up with 2 strikes. They instead try the buster, but he chases a ball way outside for strike 3.
Kodachi goes back up the middle, but Kawamuro is right there for the 4-6-3 double play to retire the side.
Top 2nd
Iidzuka falling behind in counts regularly, winds up going full on Ninomiya before getting a grounder to 3rd. Satou on the other hand gets a free pass.
Sano-kantoku calls for the sac bunt with 1 out, but Imagawa pushes 2 of them foul. Apparently both sides can't lay down the bunt as he pops out to Iiduzka for the 2nd out.
Ishimoto doesn't see that Iidzuka's been falling behind batters, and goes down on 3 straight, the last one a neck-high fastball he has no business going after.
Bottom 2nd
Ikeda with a ball buzzing by Sano into center for a base hit.
Kataoka not bunting (remember about the things we learned, Nihon Bunri doesn't really bunt anymore).
But it would help not chasing after sliders in the opposing batter's box...
Kobayashi somehow gets around on a pitch at his hands, and puts enough on it to send it through to left for a base hit.
That inconsistent play I mentioned earlier continues as Arai also chases a slider on the outside part for the 2nd out.
Wow, Nihon Bunri's batters are getting fooled. Despite 2 singles, Sano strikes out the side as Kamakura chases another slider.
Top 3rd
After a quick flyout, Iidzuka issues his 2nd walk to Inoue. Kawamuro tries the safety bunt, but a charging Ikeda makes the throw to just beat him out.
Anan tries to play the waiting game, getting ahead 3-1, but it's right at Iiduzka who goes to 1st for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
The game is going at a decent clip, as Iidzuka and Hoshi try to find a ball to hit, both wind up flying out.
Kurodai though catches a hanging slider and lines it down the left field side all the way to the wall for a double. However, Kodachi can't do anything with it as he gets under a fastball and flies out to Anan in shallow center. 3 out and Sano is holding his own on the mound.
Top 4th
One down, and it's time for the free pass of the inning. This inning's winner is Ninomiya. Sano-kantoku calls for the bunt again looking for the one-timer from Imagawa.
And Imagawa hits a single past a diving Arai! They're sending Ninomiya home!
That's not going to end well.
Hoshi, playing in throws home and Ninomiya has no chance. 3 out and change.
Bottom 4th
Meanwhile Sano issues his first walk to Ikeda to lead off the 4th.
Kataoka grounder to 2nd, Kawamuro goes to 2nd for 1, but Kataoka beats out the throw to prevent double play.
Despite that, he's replaced by #17 Yamaguchi at first.
Sano really wanted that called strike 3 on the 2-2 fork to Kobayashi, but gets a groundout instead.
Uh oh!
Arai blasts one to left! Ninomiya back to the foul pole...
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Arai keeps it just fair as it bounced at the end of the ouen-dan section and Nihon Bunri takes the 2-1 lead!
Kamakura goes down looking on a 3-2 fastball down the middle, but Arai's blast gives his team the lead!
Top 5th
#13 Kawaguchi comes in for PR Yamaguchi to play 1B.
Oita looks to get the run back as Ishimoto singles through the right side.
AHHH!!!
But signs get crossed up as Hamada doesn't go through with his bunt and Kamakura snap throws to 1st catching Ishimoto off guard! He's tagged out and that's a big error by Oita.
And again with 1 out, Iidzuka walks a batter.
No bunt!
Inoue swings away and drives a ball to right! Hoshi scrambles back, but has no chance! Hamada sprinting around as Hoshi races back to the wall! He's waved around!
Throw from Arai,... not in time! Inoue strikes again and this time drives in the douten run! It's 2-2!
SQUEEZE!!!!
AHHHHH!!!!!!
Inoue is caught in no-man's land when Kawamuro doesn't offer on the ball! What in the world is Oita doing??
Meanwhile, it's another walk to Kawamuro, but the tradeoff isn't good at all.
Worse yet, Anan also manages to draw a walk. Instead of two out, runners on 1st and 2nd, it would have been one out, manrui.
Iidzuka throwing a lot of pitches, goes full on his 3rd straight batter in Sano, but this time he wins as Sano can't help but chase a slider outside for the 3rd out.
Bottom 5th
Iidzuka checks in with a single past a diving Satou. Hoshi on the next pitch joins in with a single past a diving Hamada and Sano-kantoku calls for time.
Now Ooi-kantoku calls for the bunt, but Kurodai just spins it foul. He eventually lays it down, and now Nihon Bunri threatens to open the game up.
Kodachi though gets too much under the ball! Ninomiya comes in with the catch, and the runners have to hold!
Now it's Sano's turn to fall behind as he goes 3-1 to Ikeda. 1st base is open though, so perhaps they wouldn't mind the BB.
He's bailed out! Ikeda decides to swing at a shoulder-high fastball and chops it back to Sano! Goes to 1st and he's out of the pinch! We hit the break all square at 2, but Oita has wasted opportunities that Nihon Bunri ace Iidzuka has been giving them - especially when your line after 5 IP includes 5 H and 6 BBs. And yet you've only scored 2 runs.
Top 6th
Oita's batters freely swinging a lot more now, but they're falling behind in counts and getting themselves out. After a Ninomiya comebacker, Satou and Imagawa both go down swinging and I think they might be in trouble now.
Bottom 6th
But it looks like not everyone has cracked Sano just yet. Kawaguchi in his first AB flies out to right. And after a groundout by Kobayashi, Sano exacts some form of revenge in getting Arai to ground out to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 7th
One down, and Hamada goes for the push bunt up the 1st base side! Arai charges in, makes the snap throw, but Hamada dives in just ahead of the throw.
Inoue up, and it's a grounder to short! Kurodai goes to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st is high! Inoue makes a late break for 2nd, but that allows Kamamura to get to the ball and throw to 2nd to get Inoue to end the inning!
That second of hesitation causes the 3rd out. If Nihon Bunri didn't have momentum before, they have it now.
Bottom 7th
And wouldn't you know it, Kamakura drives a ball to left center for a leadoff double.
Iidzuka with a single to center and Kamakura is sent home! Throw home up the 1st base line and Nihon Bunri has 3-2 lead!
And that my friends is game.
Hoshi with a bomb to right. The hamazake won't knock this one down as Hoshi's 2-run HR puts the nail in the coffin at 5-2.
Nihon Bunri almost goes quietly after that, but Ikeda hits one off the base of the wall in dead center for a double.
Kawaguchi strikes out looking to retire the side, but the ending has pretty much been written.
Top 8th
Kawamur opens the frame with a single past a diving Ikeda. Ooi-kantoku calls time immediately thereafter. I don't think Oita will be bunting down 3 with just 2 to go.
And then Anan shows bunt. Really?!
That's a little better. Sano-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but Anan fouls it off.
The end result through is a flyout to left.
Sano can't buy a hit, and unfortunately grounds into the inning ending 5-4-3 double play.
Bottom 8th
The flood gates may be opening. One down, Arai and Kamakura get back to back singles.
After Iidzuka goes down swinging, Sano issues a walk to load the bases. Sano-kantoku calls for time.
Sano gets out of the pinch after getting Kurodai to ground to 2nd. No more damage done and the score is still respectable.
Top 9th
Much like last game, the batters for Oita are trying to get their hacks in. But Ninomiya and Satou go down swinging.
Imagawa staves off elimination with a single to right.
It's only temporary though as Imagawa strikes out to end the game. Nihon Bunri pulls away late to defeat Oita 5-2.
Oita early showed a lot of fight and had chances to score runs against the Niigata champs. But key baserunning errors wiped out those opportunities and let Nihon Bunri regroup and eventually pull away in the 7th.
It's not to say that Sano wouldn't have given up those HR's anyways, but he was under more pressure given the close game and that perhaps came to a head in the 7th, especially after the missed squeeze the half inning before.
Nihon Bunri advances, but Iidzuka looks about as shaky as one can get for a winner. Now, if those 1-out BB's were intentional to get Oita to bunt, it worked (for the most part). But I think he has control issues and that will become an issue sooner rather than later.
Notable Players
Iidzuka Satoshi (Nihon Bunri) - CG, 2 ER, 8 H, 9 K, 6 BB
Hoshi Kenta (Nihon Bunri) - 3-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB
Arai Makoto (Nihon Bunri) - 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Inoue Kyousuke (Oita) - 2-3, 2 3B, R, RBI
Kawamuro Akihiro (Oita) - 2-2, RBI, BB
Saturday, March 22, 2014
86th Senbatsu - Day 2 - Game 3 - Nihon Bunri (Niigata) - Toyokawa (Aichi)
Our final matchup of the day pits a possible title contender in Nihon Bunri against perhaps a trap game in Toyokawa.
I think Nihon Bunri might stand a chance here at Senbatsu, but with teams from areas that aren't as strong you never know. And I think Toyokawa is a sleeper in the field too. So while I hope for an exciting game, I don't think I want one like the last game.
Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
1B Kodachi Otowa
3B Ikeda Takamasa
P Iidzuka Satoshi
LF Kobayashi Masaya
CF Takeishi Ryou
C Kamamura Wataru
2B Arai Makoto
Toyokawa (Aichi)
3B Nakamura Kazuya
CF Sugiura Kenta
C Himi Taisuke
SS Takakuwa Heishirou
1B Satou Ren (#16)
RF Takeichi Keishi
2B Shima Kairi
P Tanaka Sora
LF Yamada Daichi
____________________________________________________________
14:01 - First Pitch!
I think Nihon Bunri might stand a chance here at Senbatsu, but with teams from areas that aren't as strong you never know. And I think Toyokawa is a sleeper in the field too. So while I hope for an exciting game, I don't think I want one like the last game.
Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
1B Kodachi Otowa
3B Ikeda Takamasa
P Iidzuka Satoshi
LF Kobayashi Masaya
CF Takeishi Ryou
C Kamamura Wataru
2B Arai Makoto
Toyokawa (Aichi)
3B Nakamura Kazuya
CF Sugiura Kenta
C Himi Taisuke
SS Takakuwa Heishirou
1B Satou Ren (#16)
RF Takeichi Keishi
2B Shima Kairi
P Tanaka Sora
LF Yamada Daichi
____________________________________________________________
14:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Tanaka firing strikes and gets Hoshi on a slider that just drops out for the first out. Kurodai falls victim to the same pitch and Tanaka has 2 quick Ks.
Kodachi with a chopper up the middle, Takakuwa with the great play by the bag, but the throw isn't in time to beat the speedy Kodachi...
But Ikeda rolls over another slider and grounds out to 2nd for the 3rd out. Satou looks darn good.
Bottom 1st
Iidzuka up all business as he gets Nakamura to chase the fastball up and away for the first out.
Sugiura can't get level on another high fastball and chops one to Arai.
And then a 142 fastball down and away is waved at by Himi for the 3rd out. Yeah, this looks good to start.
Top 2nd
After a hard groundout to 2nd by Iidzuka, Kobayashi almost takes out Tanaka's legs on a ball up the middle.
Bust-and-run! Takeishi hits a grounder to the left side! Yamada has it, but has to go back slightly and as a result the ball trickles out! All safe! Chance early for Nihon Bunri!
Kamakura with the chopper over Tanaka! Takakuwa charges in, only has the play at first and takes it. 2 down with both runners in scoring position now!
Tanaka shuts the door! He pulls the slider on Arai for his 3rd K!
Bottom 2nd
Toyokawa's ouen-dan a bright red with a white TK logo.
Iidzuka and his counterpart Tanaka harder throwers than most, as Iidzuka can hit upper 130s and Tanaka the lower 140s.
But it's the offspeed pitches the batters are going for. Takakuwa goes on the slider, hitting a weak chopper to the left side. Ikeda cuts in front of Kurodai and makes the throw for the out.
Satou with a laser shot to center, but Takeishi has to move very little to field it.
And Takeichi lifts a change to the lower atmosphere as Kurodai makes the catch for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Back to the top of the order and Hoshi. He hits a grounder to Takakuwa near 2nd and his quick throw is picked by Itou for the out.
I can barely keep up as Kurodai grounds on the first pitch and grounds to 2nd. Kodachi looks to have crushed the ball, but it was really off the end of the bat and Sugiura is there to make the catch.
Bottom 3rd
The game is moving quickly, but this time because the batters are just overmatched by the strong pitching. Shima just watches the fastball go by for Iiduzka's 3rd K.
After a groundout by Tanaka, Yamada finally gets Toyokawa a baserunner when his ball sneaks by Ikeda and Kurodai for a base hit.
But wouldn't you know it, he gets caught off stealing early and is run down 1-6-3...
Top 4th
Ikeda becomes another K victim as he chases the slider. Tanaka tries Iidzuka further and further away before Iidzuka finally says enough. Tanaka comes back just enough for Iidzuka to roll it over to 2nd.
And a 142kph 2-seamer comes back over the plate for strike 3 on Kobayashi! That's 5 K's for Tanaka!
Bottom 4th
Nakamura goes after the first pitch and flies out to left. Iidzuka finally makes a mistake as he hits Sugiura to give Toyokawa a baserunner. This as #3 batter Himi steps in.
Ah, but Imai-kantoku calls for the bunt! Himi lays it down and advances the runner for Takakuwa.
Iiduzka gets away with a high slider that Takakuwa swings under. Then he gets him to offer on a ball up the ladder. And to finish him off? A fastball down when Kamakura calls for it up. Devious that.
Top 5th
Oh man, we have a pitcher's duel going on.
Takeishi is just made to look silly as he screws himself on a slider. Kamakura is way out in front of a slider, but Takakuwa makes the acrobatic quick throw for the 2nd out.
Arai finally makes contact, but grounds to Shima for the 3rd out. That's 3 clean innings now for Tanaka.
Bottom 5th
Satou lifts a slider down the right field line, Hoshi makes the flashy sliding catch for the first out.
Takeishi catches a ball down the 1st base side, and Kodachi just can't get it as it goes to right for a base hit.
Shima with the pop bunt down the 1st base side. Kodachi goes to field it, but he boots it! Uh oh, chance for Toyokawa as Ooi-kantoku calls time!
Ama-chan! And again a different part than what we heard in the summer.
Tanaka with a ball up the middle, Arai with it... loses it! Makes the desperate shovel to Kurodai and they get the runner at 2nd, but Toyokawa gets one more chance as last batter Yamada steps in.
But Iidzuka can't find the plate and falls behind 3-0.. and walks him! Manrui for Toyokawa!!
Worse yet, it's back to the top of the lineup and Nakamura!!
But Nakamura is swinging away and fouls off the first 2 pitches quickly finding himself fighting at 0-2.
Just fouls one off up the 1st base line...
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nakamura can't lay off the "obvious" high fastball and Iiduzka is out of the jam! We hit the break in a neat 50 minutes with the score deadlocked at 0 - perhaps for the foreseeable future because these aces are dealing.
Top 6th
There is that pop in the catcher's glove that make one take notice. Tanaka has that pop.
And he locates really well...
Hoshi goes down swinging for the 2nd time, this time on the fastball just outside his bat. Kurodai quickly down 0-2 after a couple of pitches outside. Tanaka nibbles once, then pulls the slider and gets Kurodai twisting in the wind.
And Kodachi goes down on the hard slider inside and it's 3 more Ks for Tanaka. Good lord, 9 Ks through 6.
Bottom 6th
Iiduzka is having to play catchup to Tanaka it seems, and outside of the shaky 5th is matching him.
Nakamura with a solid comebacker, but Iidzuka's glove is right there to pick it for the out.
Toyokawa is making more contact, that's for sure - and it can force problems, such as Himi's grounder to 2nd that Arai just flat flubs.
Takakuwa given the bunt signal at 2-1, but he fouls it off! So it's back to swinging away as he slowly works the count full.
Hit and run! But Takakuwa lines it right to Arai who tosses to first for the easy L4-3 DP!
Top 7th
Tanaka continues to paint the edges and then some making the Nihon Bunri batters swing at anything close. Ikeda chases the slider away for Tanaka's 10th K.
Iidzuka with a drive to left center! Yamada and Sugiura already back converge... and it's Yamada who makes the sliding catch for the out! Close, but yet so far...
Kobayashi rolls over a pitch for the 3rd out, and we continue to be scoreless!
Bottom 7th
Satou becomes a K victim as he chases an outside fastball that was too close to take...
Takeichi guesses right on the slider and hits one to left center! That's in the gap for a double and Toyokawa has their 2nd chance of the game!
Shima trying to advance the runner, 3B umpire says he didn't check his swing and falls behind 1-2. Fastball away brands him with a 2nd K.
Against his counterpart, Iiduzka works outside and way in to get ahead 1-2 before going way away to level the count. But Tanaka falls to his own strategy as he chases the splitter down and in. That's 3 more K's for 8 on the day!
Top 8th
Takeishi's squaring of the ball with the bat works as he slashes the fastball back up the middle for a leadoff hit!
There's a small time out as Takeishi has to work out a supposed cramp. After a little stretching, he fine as Kamakura steps in.
Kamkura looks to bunt and offers on the first pitch but misses. Tanaka making it very difficult to do it, pitching outside to Kamakura.
SWING! It's a hit-and-run! But the ball is buried and Kamakura misses! Doesn't matter because Takeishi takes 2nd!
Tanaka exacts revenge by getting Kamakura to chase on a change inside.
Sensing a rare chance, Ooi-kantoku sends in #15 Takeuchi to hit for Arai.
Takeuchi isn't biting on anything outside and goes 3-0 before a border line ball comes for a strike. Eventually it's a unintentional intentional walk to create the force as Imai-kantoku calls time. #14 Hagino meanwhile takes over for Takeuchi at 1st.
Back to the top of the order and Hoshi. Can he break the deadlock?
Not when you swing at a fastball in the opposing batters box... (kinda joking)
AH!!!! Tanaka leaves one over and Hoshi is all over it! Takeichi sprinting back.... near the wall... can't get there! It drops in as Takeishi is being sent home! The throw is not nearly in time and Nihon Bunri finally breaks the tie here in the 8th! 1-0 Nihon Bunri!!
Imai-kantoku with another timeout to settle the team down...
Kurodai looking to lift a ball instead hits one off the end of his bat right to Shima who checks the runner and goes to 1st for the 2nd out.
Tanaka being careful with Kodachi with 1st base open, falls behind 3-1. Doesn't completely give in and makes Kodachi foul off a couple of pitches.
Comebacker to Tanaka! It's off his glove!! The ball fortuitously goes toward 1st allowing Tanaka to field it and fire for the 3rd out!! But one mistake from Tanaka gives Nihon Bunri the lead!!
Bottom 8th
Now can Iidzuka make it stick? #16 Kaidzu comes in for Hagino to take over at 2B.
And after a bathroom break by Takeishi, we're back up and running.
9-1-2 for Toyokawa as Ama-chan plays. Will they press?
Doesn't look like it as Yamada takes his time, but chops a splitter to 2nd. Kaidzu flips to 1st for the out.
As the new guy, the ball is finding Kaidzu as Nakamura also hits one right to him. No problem as he fields it cleanly for the 2nd out.
Sugiura trying to be the thorn in Iidzuka's side works the count full. But he can't lay off the chin high fastball and he hits a roller to Iiduzka that he can just leisurely throw to 1st for the 3rd out! Toyokawa's running out of time!!
Top 9th
Ikeda first pitch gets down and drives the ball to right center for a leadoff single! Iidzuka not bunting in this situation, they're going all out.
Though Iidzuka could learn not to hit the change.
Grounder by Iiduzka... gets past Shima!! Ikeda on his horse heads to 3rd, but what is Iiduzka doing going to 2nd?! Shima fires to 2nd and easily gets Iidzuka for the out. That made no sense.
Kobayashi scorcher to 3rd! Nakamura makes an amazing stop! Ikeda has to hold as Nakamura goes to 1st for the 2nd out!
And there's no timely for Takeishi as his attempt as the buster hit rolls to short where Takakura goes to 1st to retire the side! Will that baserunning mistake hurt?
Bottom 9th
Well, there's 3 outs to go... and the 3-4-5 batters are up...
There might be a kph or 2 off his fastball now.. Himi with a half swing fouls a pitch off to make it 2-2..
And Iiduzka has to duck for his life as Himi lines one right past his head.
#18 Yamamoto comes in to run for Himi as they look for the douten run.
What's more, #4 Takakuwa is bunting! Lays it down... Iiduzka goes to 2nd??!! He gets the out (barely!), goes to 1st... safe! Man that was close to being a total disaster for Iidzuka..
Satou with a short chopper. Iidzuka takes his time (almost too much) for the 2nd out!
Takeichi with a ball to the right side, through! Hoshi fires home and Takakuwa holds up! Kamakura fires to 3rd... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHY IN THE WORLD DO YOU THINK THAT IS NECESSARY!!!
Kamakura throws it away off of Ikeda's glove allowing Takakura to score making it 1-1!!!
After some tense pitches against Shima, Iidzuka gets Shima to swing and miss on a high fastball, but a poor decision by Kamakura costs Nihon Bunri the win (for now).
Onto enchousen!
Top 10th
So we're back at square 1 with max 5 innings to go.
Kamakura doesn't help his cause going 0-4 now with a grounder to 2nd.
Kaidzu in for his first AB of the game, has a swinging bunt up the 1st base line. Itou comes in to take it, but no one covers 1st!
Back to the top of the lineup and Hoshi. I doubt Tanaka will make the same mistake.
Instead, he turns one over to the right side right between Itou and Shima for a base hit! Kaidzu makes it all the way to 3rd and Nihon Bunri comes right back to threaten! Imai-kantoku calls time as Kurodai comes up. A sac fly will suffice if he can do it.
Tanaka pitching to the low part of the zone to prevent that, gets ahead 1-2 after Kurodai fouls one off himself.
Kurodai with a slow grouner to the right side... Shima charging in fields it... double clutches!! He has to go to 1st as Kaidzu scores and Nihon Bunri just like that retakes the lead at 2-1!!
Kodachi with a blooper to left! Yamada charging in... can't get there! Hoshi being waved around running at top speed! Throw from Yamada.... SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hoshi slides in just under the tag and it's a 3-1 lead for Nihon Bunri!!
Ikeda flies out to left, but Nihon Bunri gets the lead back with interest. Toyokawa down to their final 3 outs yet again!
Bottom 10th
This time though it's the 8-9-1 batters.
But Tanaka shows maturity as he just puts the bat on the ball and places one in center for a base hit!
Yamada with a dive to left center!! Kobayashi running over... stretches... can't get it! Tanaka easily scores as Yamada comes in with a triple! It's 3-2 and the douten run is 90 feet away with no out!
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nakamura shoots one off the drawn in Kaidzu and into right! Yamada scores and we're all tied up again!! It's 3-3!!!!!
Ah!! Sugiura gets unlucky with a fastball going off his bat as he ducks. It goes right to Iidzuka for the 1-6-3 DP!!
Of course we're headed to another inning as Imai flies out to center...
Top 11th
One down and Kobayashi hits a ball up the middle. Takakuwa with another fine play and throw to 1st for the 2nd out! Takeishi flies out to right to end the inning, and now it's Toyokawa's turn!!
Bottom 11th
And it's the 4-5-6 batters for Toyokawa due up!
Takakuwa does what he should and just pokes the ball to center for a base hit. Satou bunts him along into scoring position.
Iiduzka trying to buckle down as best he can, gets Takeichi twisted on a slider away for the 2nd out.
He's being careful with Shima, falling behind 2-0, but two swings on splitters bring him level. He might be tiring as he's flying open, but he gets Shima to ground to 1st. Kodachi has it and goes to the bag to end the inning!!
Top 12th
Kamakura with a scorcher up the 3rd base line... just foul! And the slider from Tanaka puts him away.
Kaidzu looking for a spark tries the safety bunt, but rolls it foul. And again he's behind 0-2. He certainly was put in for defensive purposes...
Uh oh, is Tanaka having cramping issues? He's taking extra time out there. Kaidzu winds up grounding to 2nd.
Hoshi with a base hit past Takakuwa's glove for a base hit! He's pressing for 2nd (WHY?) and Yamada throws to 2nd.. OUT!
*sighs*
Bottom 12th
Tanaka up to start the inning, and considering the cramping issues might now want to run. But Iidzuka decides to run the count full....
And now Tanaka is doing his best to waste pitches from Iidzuka, but his swing certainly looks stiff. He winds up flying out to left.
Yamada looking to get on base, woks the count, but also ends up with a groundout (Ikeda just a tad high on the throw, but it's fine...)
What momentum Toyokawa has seems to be dissipating as the batters flail away at Iidzuka's pitches.. Nakamura waves and misses and were on to the 13th.
Top 13th
It's a 3 inning game, and neither team wants to replay the game. Tanaka sits at a whopping 170 pitches.
Kurodai with a slow grounder to short, Takakuwa fires, beating a diving Kurodai (again, WHY the diving?)
Kodachi barely staying alive just fouling off Tanaka's offerings before grounding to 1st. But Itou is expecting Tanaka to cover, forgetting he has the cramping issues! Kodachi beats out the confused duo and Nihon Bunri has a runner!
And Kodachi takes off for 2nd! Imai fires to 2nd, but is way too late! Nihon Bunri with a chance!
Ikeda with a ball back up the middle... past a diving Takakuwa! Kodachi thinks about it, but Sugiura's throw home makes him think otherwise.
Imai-kantoku calls time as Iidzuka steps in...
Iidzuka with a grounder up the 1st base line! It stays fair as Itou tags 1st! Goes home!!!
OUT!!!! Kodachi broke for home and is thrown out by Itou! Nihon Bunri's chance goes begging and momentum may be back with Toyokawa!
Bottom 13th
One down, Iidzuka falls behind Imai 3-0 and eventually draws a walk bringing up Takakuwa. Who bunts the runner along...
So Toyokawa will play for the one chance with Satou...
And that does it! Satou drives the ball to deep left center where no one can get it! Imai can walk home as Toyokawa pulls off the victory 4-3 over Nihon Bunri!
Augh....
The game was as close as I expected, but did not go as I expected. For 8 innings it was a complete pitchers' duel, and then suddenly the bats opened up on both sides. And for every punch Nihon Bunri delivered, Toyokawa had a reply. Is there some remnant of the Okinawa Shougaku game? Maybe, but they had 2 chances to close the game, and failed both time. And some key mistakes for Bunri on the basepaths due to pressing perhaps contributed to the loss.
With the loss of Nihon Bunri, Toyokawa becomes no secret to anyone anymore. Ikeda should be a piece of cake with the time off, but after that will probably be Okinawa Shougaku. If they can get past that game, a spot in the title game looks quite possible.
*sighs* There goes one of my teams again...
Notable Players
Tanaka Sora (Toyokawa) - 13 IP, 3 ER, 13 H, 12 K, BB
Takeichi Keishi (Toyokawa) - 3-5, 2B
Yamada Daichi (Toyokawa) - 2-4, 3B, R, RBI, BB
Satou Ren (Toyokawa) - 1-5, GW RBI
Iidzuka Satoshi (Nihon Bunri) - 12.2+ IP, 3 ER, 10 H, 11 K, 2 BB, HBP
Hoshi Kenta (Nihon Bunri) - 3-6, 2B, R, 2 K
Kodachi Otowa (Nihon Bunri) - 3-6, RBI, K
Takeishi Ryou (Nihon Bunri) 2-5, R, SB
Kodachi with a chopper up the middle, Takakuwa with the great play by the bag, but the throw isn't in time to beat the speedy Kodachi...
But Ikeda rolls over another slider and grounds out to 2nd for the 3rd out. Satou looks darn good.
Bottom 1st
Iidzuka up all business as he gets Nakamura to chase the fastball up and away for the first out.
Sugiura can't get level on another high fastball and chops one to Arai.
And then a 142 fastball down and away is waved at by Himi for the 3rd out. Yeah, this looks good to start.
Top 2nd
After a hard groundout to 2nd by Iidzuka, Kobayashi almost takes out Tanaka's legs on a ball up the middle.
Bust-and-run! Takeishi hits a grounder to the left side! Yamada has it, but has to go back slightly and as a result the ball trickles out! All safe! Chance early for Nihon Bunri!
Kamakura with the chopper over Tanaka! Takakuwa charges in, only has the play at first and takes it. 2 down with both runners in scoring position now!
Tanaka shuts the door! He pulls the slider on Arai for his 3rd K!
Bottom 2nd
Toyokawa's ouen-dan a bright red with a white TK logo.
Iidzuka and his counterpart Tanaka harder throwers than most, as Iidzuka can hit upper 130s and Tanaka the lower 140s.
But it's the offspeed pitches the batters are going for. Takakuwa goes on the slider, hitting a weak chopper to the left side. Ikeda cuts in front of Kurodai and makes the throw for the out.
Satou with a laser shot to center, but Takeishi has to move very little to field it.
And Takeichi lifts a change to the lower atmosphere as Kurodai makes the catch for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Back to the top of the order and Hoshi. He hits a grounder to Takakuwa near 2nd and his quick throw is picked by Itou for the out.
I can barely keep up as Kurodai grounds on the first pitch and grounds to 2nd. Kodachi looks to have crushed the ball, but it was really off the end of the bat and Sugiura is there to make the catch.
Bottom 3rd
The game is moving quickly, but this time because the batters are just overmatched by the strong pitching. Shima just watches the fastball go by for Iiduzka's 3rd K.
After a groundout by Tanaka, Yamada finally gets Toyokawa a baserunner when his ball sneaks by Ikeda and Kurodai for a base hit.
But wouldn't you know it, he gets caught off stealing early and is run down 1-6-3...
Top 4th
Ikeda becomes another K victim as he chases the slider. Tanaka tries Iidzuka further and further away before Iidzuka finally says enough. Tanaka comes back just enough for Iidzuka to roll it over to 2nd.
And a 142kph 2-seamer comes back over the plate for strike 3 on Kobayashi! That's 5 K's for Tanaka!
Bottom 4th
Nakamura goes after the first pitch and flies out to left. Iidzuka finally makes a mistake as he hits Sugiura to give Toyokawa a baserunner. This as #3 batter Himi steps in.
Ah, but Imai-kantoku calls for the bunt! Himi lays it down and advances the runner for Takakuwa.
Iiduzka gets away with a high slider that Takakuwa swings under. Then he gets him to offer on a ball up the ladder. And to finish him off? A fastball down when Kamakura calls for it up. Devious that.
Top 5th
Oh man, we have a pitcher's duel going on.
Takeishi is just made to look silly as he screws himself on a slider. Kamakura is way out in front of a slider, but Takakuwa makes the acrobatic quick throw for the 2nd out.
Arai finally makes contact, but grounds to Shima for the 3rd out. That's 3 clean innings now for Tanaka.
Bottom 5th
Satou lifts a slider down the right field line, Hoshi makes the flashy sliding catch for the first out.
Takeishi catches a ball down the 1st base side, and Kodachi just can't get it as it goes to right for a base hit.
Shima with the pop bunt down the 1st base side. Kodachi goes to field it, but he boots it! Uh oh, chance for Toyokawa as Ooi-kantoku calls time!
Ama-chan! And again a different part than what we heard in the summer.
Tanaka with a ball up the middle, Arai with it... loses it! Makes the desperate shovel to Kurodai and they get the runner at 2nd, but Toyokawa gets one more chance as last batter Yamada steps in.
But Iidzuka can't find the plate and falls behind 3-0.. and walks him! Manrui for Toyokawa!!
Worse yet, it's back to the top of the lineup and Nakamura!!
But Nakamura is swinging away and fouls off the first 2 pitches quickly finding himself fighting at 0-2.
Just fouls one off up the 1st base line...
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nakamura can't lay off the "obvious" high fastball and Iiduzka is out of the jam! We hit the break in a neat 50 minutes with the score deadlocked at 0 - perhaps for the foreseeable future because these aces are dealing.
Top 6th
There is that pop in the catcher's glove that make one take notice. Tanaka has that pop.
And he locates really well...
Hoshi goes down swinging for the 2nd time, this time on the fastball just outside his bat. Kurodai quickly down 0-2 after a couple of pitches outside. Tanaka nibbles once, then pulls the slider and gets Kurodai twisting in the wind.
And Kodachi goes down on the hard slider inside and it's 3 more Ks for Tanaka. Good lord, 9 Ks through 6.
Bottom 6th
Iiduzka is having to play catchup to Tanaka it seems, and outside of the shaky 5th is matching him.
Nakamura with a solid comebacker, but Iidzuka's glove is right there to pick it for the out.
Toyokawa is making more contact, that's for sure - and it can force problems, such as Himi's grounder to 2nd that Arai just flat flubs.
Takakuwa given the bunt signal at 2-1, but he fouls it off! So it's back to swinging away as he slowly works the count full.
Hit and run! But Takakuwa lines it right to Arai who tosses to first for the easy L4-3 DP!
Top 7th
Tanaka continues to paint the edges and then some making the Nihon Bunri batters swing at anything close. Ikeda chases the slider away for Tanaka's 10th K.
Iidzuka with a drive to left center! Yamada and Sugiura already back converge... and it's Yamada who makes the sliding catch for the out! Close, but yet so far...
Kobayashi rolls over a pitch for the 3rd out, and we continue to be scoreless!
Bottom 7th
Satou becomes a K victim as he chases an outside fastball that was too close to take...
Takeichi guesses right on the slider and hits one to left center! That's in the gap for a double and Toyokawa has their 2nd chance of the game!
Shima trying to advance the runner, 3B umpire says he didn't check his swing and falls behind 1-2. Fastball away brands him with a 2nd K.
Against his counterpart, Iiduzka works outside and way in to get ahead 1-2 before going way away to level the count. But Tanaka falls to his own strategy as he chases the splitter down and in. That's 3 more K's for 8 on the day!
Top 8th
Takeishi's squaring of the ball with the bat works as he slashes the fastball back up the middle for a leadoff hit!
There's a small time out as Takeishi has to work out a supposed cramp. After a little stretching, he fine as Kamakura steps in.
Kamkura looks to bunt and offers on the first pitch but misses. Tanaka making it very difficult to do it, pitching outside to Kamakura.
SWING! It's a hit-and-run! But the ball is buried and Kamakura misses! Doesn't matter because Takeishi takes 2nd!
Tanaka exacts revenge by getting Kamakura to chase on a change inside.
Sensing a rare chance, Ooi-kantoku sends in #15 Takeuchi to hit for Arai.
Takeuchi isn't biting on anything outside and goes 3-0 before a border line ball comes for a strike. Eventually it's a unintentional intentional walk to create the force as Imai-kantoku calls time. #14 Hagino meanwhile takes over for Takeuchi at 1st.
Back to the top of the order and Hoshi. Can he break the deadlock?
Not when you swing at a fastball in the opposing batters box... (kinda joking)
AH!!!! Tanaka leaves one over and Hoshi is all over it! Takeichi sprinting back.... near the wall... can't get there! It drops in as Takeishi is being sent home! The throw is not nearly in time and Nihon Bunri finally breaks the tie here in the 8th! 1-0 Nihon Bunri!!
Imai-kantoku with another timeout to settle the team down...
Kurodai looking to lift a ball instead hits one off the end of his bat right to Shima who checks the runner and goes to 1st for the 2nd out.
Tanaka being careful with Kodachi with 1st base open, falls behind 3-1. Doesn't completely give in and makes Kodachi foul off a couple of pitches.
Comebacker to Tanaka! It's off his glove!! The ball fortuitously goes toward 1st allowing Tanaka to field it and fire for the 3rd out!! But one mistake from Tanaka gives Nihon Bunri the lead!!
Bottom 8th
Now can Iidzuka make it stick? #16 Kaidzu comes in for Hagino to take over at 2B.
And after a bathroom break by Takeishi, we're back up and running.
9-1-2 for Toyokawa as Ama-chan plays. Will they press?
Doesn't look like it as Yamada takes his time, but chops a splitter to 2nd. Kaidzu flips to 1st for the out.
As the new guy, the ball is finding Kaidzu as Nakamura also hits one right to him. No problem as he fields it cleanly for the 2nd out.
Sugiura trying to be the thorn in Iidzuka's side works the count full. But he can't lay off the chin high fastball and he hits a roller to Iiduzka that he can just leisurely throw to 1st for the 3rd out! Toyokawa's running out of time!!
Top 9th
Ikeda first pitch gets down and drives the ball to right center for a leadoff single! Iidzuka not bunting in this situation, they're going all out.
Though Iidzuka could learn not to hit the change.
Grounder by Iiduzka... gets past Shima!! Ikeda on his horse heads to 3rd, but what is Iiduzka doing going to 2nd?! Shima fires to 2nd and easily gets Iidzuka for the out. That made no sense.
Kobayashi scorcher to 3rd! Nakamura makes an amazing stop! Ikeda has to hold as Nakamura goes to 1st for the 2nd out!
And there's no timely for Takeishi as his attempt as the buster hit rolls to short where Takakura goes to 1st to retire the side! Will that baserunning mistake hurt?
Bottom 9th
Well, there's 3 outs to go... and the 3-4-5 batters are up...
There might be a kph or 2 off his fastball now.. Himi with a half swing fouls a pitch off to make it 2-2..
And Iiduzka has to duck for his life as Himi lines one right past his head.
#18 Yamamoto comes in to run for Himi as they look for the douten run.
What's more, #4 Takakuwa is bunting! Lays it down... Iiduzka goes to 2nd??!! He gets the out (barely!), goes to 1st... safe! Man that was close to being a total disaster for Iidzuka..
Satou with a short chopper. Iidzuka takes his time (almost too much) for the 2nd out!
Takeichi with a ball to the right side, through! Hoshi fires home and Takakuwa holds up! Kamakura fires to 3rd... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHY IN THE WORLD DO YOU THINK THAT IS NECESSARY!!!
Kamakura throws it away off of Ikeda's glove allowing Takakura to score making it 1-1!!!
After some tense pitches against Shima, Iidzuka gets Shima to swing and miss on a high fastball, but a poor decision by Kamakura costs Nihon Bunri the win (for now).
Onto enchousen!
Top 10th
So we're back at square 1 with max 5 innings to go.
Kamakura doesn't help his cause going 0-4 now with a grounder to 2nd.
Kaidzu in for his first AB of the game, has a swinging bunt up the 1st base line. Itou comes in to take it, but no one covers 1st!
Back to the top of the lineup and Hoshi. I doubt Tanaka will make the same mistake.
Instead, he turns one over to the right side right between Itou and Shima for a base hit! Kaidzu makes it all the way to 3rd and Nihon Bunri comes right back to threaten! Imai-kantoku calls time as Kurodai comes up. A sac fly will suffice if he can do it.
Tanaka pitching to the low part of the zone to prevent that, gets ahead 1-2 after Kurodai fouls one off himself.
Kurodai with a slow grouner to the right side... Shima charging in fields it... double clutches!! He has to go to 1st as Kaidzu scores and Nihon Bunri just like that retakes the lead at 2-1!!
Kodachi with a blooper to left! Yamada charging in... can't get there! Hoshi being waved around running at top speed! Throw from Yamada.... SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hoshi slides in just under the tag and it's a 3-1 lead for Nihon Bunri!!
Ikeda flies out to left, but Nihon Bunri gets the lead back with interest. Toyokawa down to their final 3 outs yet again!
Bottom 10th
This time though it's the 8-9-1 batters.
But Tanaka shows maturity as he just puts the bat on the ball and places one in center for a base hit!
Yamada with a dive to left center!! Kobayashi running over... stretches... can't get it! Tanaka easily scores as Yamada comes in with a triple! It's 3-2 and the douten run is 90 feet away with no out!
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nakamura shoots one off the drawn in Kaidzu and into right! Yamada scores and we're all tied up again!! It's 3-3!!!!!
Ah!! Sugiura gets unlucky with a fastball going off his bat as he ducks. It goes right to Iidzuka for the 1-6-3 DP!!
Of course we're headed to another inning as Imai flies out to center...
Top 11th
One down and Kobayashi hits a ball up the middle. Takakuwa with another fine play and throw to 1st for the 2nd out! Takeishi flies out to right to end the inning, and now it's Toyokawa's turn!!
Bottom 11th
And it's the 4-5-6 batters for Toyokawa due up!
Takakuwa does what he should and just pokes the ball to center for a base hit. Satou bunts him along into scoring position.
Iiduzka trying to buckle down as best he can, gets Takeichi twisted on a slider away for the 2nd out.
He's being careful with Shima, falling behind 2-0, but two swings on splitters bring him level. He might be tiring as he's flying open, but he gets Shima to ground to 1st. Kodachi has it and goes to the bag to end the inning!!
Top 12th
Kamakura with a scorcher up the 3rd base line... just foul! And the slider from Tanaka puts him away.
Kaidzu looking for a spark tries the safety bunt, but rolls it foul. And again he's behind 0-2. He certainly was put in for defensive purposes...
Uh oh, is Tanaka having cramping issues? He's taking extra time out there. Kaidzu winds up grounding to 2nd.
Hoshi with a base hit past Takakuwa's glove for a base hit! He's pressing for 2nd (WHY?) and Yamada throws to 2nd.. OUT!
*sighs*
Bottom 12th
Tanaka up to start the inning, and considering the cramping issues might now want to run. But Iidzuka decides to run the count full....
And now Tanaka is doing his best to waste pitches from Iidzuka, but his swing certainly looks stiff. He winds up flying out to left.
Yamada looking to get on base, woks the count, but also ends up with a groundout (Ikeda just a tad high on the throw, but it's fine...)
What momentum Toyokawa has seems to be dissipating as the batters flail away at Iidzuka's pitches.. Nakamura waves and misses and were on to the 13th.
Top 13th
It's a 3 inning game, and neither team wants to replay the game. Tanaka sits at a whopping 170 pitches.
Kurodai with a slow grounder to short, Takakuwa fires, beating a diving Kurodai (again, WHY the diving?)
Kodachi barely staying alive just fouling off Tanaka's offerings before grounding to 1st. But Itou is expecting Tanaka to cover, forgetting he has the cramping issues! Kodachi beats out the confused duo and Nihon Bunri has a runner!
And Kodachi takes off for 2nd! Imai fires to 2nd, but is way too late! Nihon Bunri with a chance!
Ikeda with a ball back up the middle... past a diving Takakuwa! Kodachi thinks about it, but Sugiura's throw home makes him think otherwise.
Imai-kantoku calls time as Iidzuka steps in...
Iidzuka with a grounder up the 1st base line! It stays fair as Itou tags 1st! Goes home!!!
OUT!!!! Kodachi broke for home and is thrown out by Itou! Nihon Bunri's chance goes begging and momentum may be back with Toyokawa!
Bottom 13th
One down, Iidzuka falls behind Imai 3-0 and eventually draws a walk bringing up Takakuwa. Who bunts the runner along...
So Toyokawa will play for the one chance with Satou...
And that does it! Satou drives the ball to deep left center where no one can get it! Imai can walk home as Toyokawa pulls off the victory 4-3 over Nihon Bunri!
Augh....
The game was as close as I expected, but did not go as I expected. For 8 innings it was a complete pitchers' duel, and then suddenly the bats opened up on both sides. And for every punch Nihon Bunri delivered, Toyokawa had a reply. Is there some remnant of the Okinawa Shougaku game? Maybe, but they had 2 chances to close the game, and failed both time. And some key mistakes for Bunri on the basepaths due to pressing perhaps contributed to the loss.
With the loss of Nihon Bunri, Toyokawa becomes no secret to anyone anymore. Ikeda should be a piece of cake with the time off, but after that will probably be Okinawa Shougaku. If they can get past that game, a spot in the title game looks quite possible.
*sighs* There goes one of my teams again...
Notable Players
Tanaka Sora (Toyokawa) - 13 IP, 3 ER, 13 H, 12 K, BB
Takeichi Keishi (Toyokawa) - 3-5, 2B
Yamada Daichi (Toyokawa) - 2-4, 3B, R, RBI, BB
Satou Ren (Toyokawa) - 1-5, GW RBI
Iidzuka Satoshi (Nihon Bunri) - 12.2+ IP, 3 ER, 10 H, 11 K, 2 BB, HBP
Hoshi Kenta (Nihon Bunri) - 3-6, 2B, R, 2 K
Kodachi Otowa (Nihon Bunri) - 3-6, RBI, K
Takeishi Ryou (Nihon Bunri) 2-5, R, SB
Thursday, February 6, 2014
32 teams in 32 days - Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
I've been hoping that Nihon Bunri somehow gets back to that magical year when they almost came back to defeat Chuukyoudai Chuukyou for the Natsu Koushien title. However, they have for the most part retreated back into a Niigata powerhouse, but a passed over regular at Koushien.
Road to Senbatsu
North Niigata Regionals
Ace Iidzuka Satoshi (飯塚 悟史) somehow got known for his bat when in the Meiji Jingu tournament he went 3-8 with not 1, not 2, but 3 HR's!! This after batting a paltry 0.143 in the Super-Regionals. But his pitching got some notice when he had a short stint last summer against Osaka Touin and gave up a hit, walked and struck out 1 in 2 innings of work. He generally throws in the upper 130s, touching 140 with a forkball to go with the standard arsenal. However, in his final 3 games of work he gave up 5 runs in each outing.
Kodachi Otowa (小太刀 緒飛), who started the game against Osaka Touin was given the ball early in their run, but wasn't really trusted later on by kantoku Ooi Michio (大井 道夫). Instead against Imabari Nishi, Ooi went with Fujita Yuuhei (藤田 優平), a lefty who doesn't dominate, but in his start against Imabari Nishi pitched efficiently throwing just 86 pitches in his 7 innings of work, striking out 2, walking 2 and giving up 3 runs on 8 hits.
Kodachi appears to be more comfortable at the plate, though in terms of consistently you may want to look at OF Hoshi Kenta (星 兼太), 3B Ikeda Takamasa (池田 貴将) and C Kamakura Kou (鎌倉 航). These three by far were Nihon Bunri's better hitters, and each hit a HR against Okinawa Shougaku, though in that game, who didn't?
There certainly is a lot to possibly be optimistic about, especially with the Meiji Jingu performance. But you have to remember it is still the Hokushinetsu region and success doesn't come as often.
Next up, the breakthrough of Toukai Dai-san from Nagano!
Road to Senbatsu
North Niigata Regionals
- def. Kamo Gyousei 10-0 (5 inn)
- def. Niigata Seiryou 13-0 (5 inn)
- def. Sekine Gakuen 8-1 (7 inn)
- def. Hokuetsu 2-1
- def. Sanjyou 3-1
- def. Niigata Meikun 4-3
- def. Tsuruga Kehi 5-1
- def. Toyama Dai-ichi 4-0
- def. Chikyuu Kankyou 4-3 (10 inn)
- def. Toukai Dai-san 6-5 (11 inn)
- def. Ryuukokudai Heian 6-5
- def. Imabari Nishi 10x-3 (7 inn)
- lost Okinawa Shougaku 9-8
Ace Iidzuka Satoshi (飯塚 悟史) somehow got known for his bat when in the Meiji Jingu tournament he went 3-8 with not 1, not 2, but 3 HR's!! This after batting a paltry 0.143 in the Super-Regionals. But his pitching got some notice when he had a short stint last summer against Osaka Touin and gave up a hit, walked and struck out 1 in 2 innings of work. He generally throws in the upper 130s, touching 140 with a forkball to go with the standard arsenal. However, in his final 3 games of work he gave up 5 runs in each outing.
Kodachi Otowa (小太刀 緒飛), who started the game against Osaka Touin was given the ball early in their run, but wasn't really trusted later on by kantoku Ooi Michio (大井 道夫). Instead against Imabari Nishi, Ooi went with Fujita Yuuhei (藤田 優平), a lefty who doesn't dominate, but in his start against Imabari Nishi pitched efficiently throwing just 86 pitches in his 7 innings of work, striking out 2, walking 2 and giving up 3 runs on 8 hits.
Kodachi appears to be more comfortable at the plate, though in terms of consistently you may want to look at OF Hoshi Kenta (星 兼太), 3B Ikeda Takamasa (池田 貴将) and C Kamakura Kou (鎌倉 航). These three by far were Nihon Bunri's better hitters, and each hit a HR against Okinawa Shougaku, though in that game, who didn't?
There certainly is a lot to possibly be optimistic about, especially with the Meiji Jingu performance. But you have to remember it is still the Hokushinetsu region and success doesn't come as often.
Next up, the breakthrough of Toukai Dai-san from Nagano!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
44th Meiji Jingu Tournament - We have a champion!
So we have a champion, and perhaps in doing so endorses one of my theories about the urban super-regionals not perhaps trying as hard...
Day 3
Ryuuokudai Heian's ace Inudzuka couldn't get past the 2nd inning as he failed to record an out giving up 5 runs in the 3rd to Nihon Bunri which included a solo HR by opposing pitcher Iidzuka. That erased an 2-0 early lead and forced Heian to chase.
That they did though as a sac fly in the 4th, followed by timely doubles from Ootani and Kawai in the 5th tied the game at 5-5!
But already on their 3rd pitcher, Tanaka was asked to go in long relief. However, in the 7th Kodachi delivered a double to push ahead what would be the eventual winning run to end Kinki's hopes of having a 2nd bid!
The second game between Komadai Tomakomai and Okinawa Shougaku was marred by errors. So much so that in a game that wound up 5-3, only 1 run was earned!!
In the 1st, a throwing error by 3B Tamaru with 2 outs continued the inning, and it was punished by Okishou with hits from Irabu and Fuchigami for a 3-0 lead. Fuchigami would feel bad about scoring on the error, so he had one of his own in the top of the 2nd allowing Komadai to take 1 back.
That run would be given back to Okishou as in the 3rd SS Ogasawara would make an error of his own to make it 4-1. Akamine Ken would get the only RBI of the game as he would get a hit to center extending the lead to 5-1.
More errors would get Komadai within 2 in the 8th, but that would be the closest they would get in the mistake-filled game.
Day 4
Day 4 was anti-climactic for semifinal matches. Imabari Nishi and Nihon Bunri trade a run in each of the first 2 innings, but then after a run in the 3rd, Nihon Bunri blows up for 4 runs in the 4th. Errors did not help Imabari's cause either has eventually would be mercy-ruled 10-3 in 7 innings.
It was worse for Iwakuni. Errors put them behind 2-0 early, as Okinawa Shougaku put up runs in every inning culminating in back-to-back-to-back doubles in a 7-run 4th. The game would only last 4.5 innings as Okishou mercy-ruled Iwakuni 11-1.
Day 5 - Championship
Nihon Bunri had the opportunity to be the first Hokushinetsu representative to win the Meiji Jingu tournament since Seiryou in 1991. More importantly, it would mean a bid in all likelihood for Chikyuu Kankyou.
Okinawa Shougaku was looking to give Kyushu their 4th title and 1st since Yanagigaura back in 2004. Chinzei would be able to breathe a sigh of relief as their main competitor for the final bid in Souseikan would be given the Meiji Jingu bid.
And it was one of those game you just couldn't believe, even if we told you...
Hoshi starts the game off for Nihon Bunri with a leadoff HR to right. In the 3rd, Kamakura would hit a 2-out solo HR to left, making it 2-0! Ace Iidzuka would blast his 2nd of the tournament to right in the 4th, extending it to 3-0!
Higa-kantoku tried to stop the bleeding as he sent in Kubo from RF to switch places with ace Yamashiro Daichi, but the power output didn't stop there. In the 5th, back-to-back doubles by Kobayashi and Kamakura were paid off by Yamaguchi's 2-run double of his own. Even a failed send home of Yamaguchi didn't stop the inning as Iidzuka would his 2nd HR of the game to center making it a 7-0 game!!!
And cleanup batter Ikeda had had enough of everyone else going yard, and blasted one to left in the 6th giving Nihon Bunri a commanding 8-0 lead!!
Facing elimination in the bottom of the 7th, Okinawa Shougaku went to work - and made this already crazy game into a comeback for the ages.
With one down, Iidzuka would plunk Irabu. Kaneshiro would hit for Fuchigami and hit a double to right.
And that's when ace Yamashiro Daichi (yes, he returned to the mound in the 7th) would keep his team alive with a 3-run HR to left center! While the next 2 batters would be retired, Okishou was still in the game at 8-3...
Now the 8th inning. Kubo starts it off with a triple to right. Nishihira plates him with a single to center... 8-4.
Anzato booms a 2-run HR to left-center... It's now 8-6. And still Ooi-kantoku doesn't send in someone like Kodachi, or last game's starter Fujita, instead sticking with ace Iidzuka...
Uehara flies out to right for the first out, but Irabu singles to left. Now with 2 out, Yamashiro Daichi singles to left.
The inning looks to be over after Sunagawa hits one back to Iidzuka, but something goes horribly wrong and he throws it away allowing Irabu to score making it 8-7...
With Ooi-kantoku leaving Iidzuka on the mound even still, it sealed Nihon Bunri's fate. He would walk Akamine Ken, sending up Kubo for his 2nd AB of the inning.
And he wouldn't miss. Kubo would hit one to right, scoring both Daichi and Ken to complete the comeback. 9-8. In a minor way, Okinawa Shougaku did what Nihon Bunri couldn't do in 2009. (Sorry Nihon Bunri, but while I like you, until you can win a big game final, it will always come back to that game...)
So, with Okinawa Shougaku's victory Chinzei can rest easy. With the Meiji Jingu bid, Souseikan will be invited and Chinzei can hold onto their last Kyushu bid (or technically vice versa). Sadly for Chikyuu Kankyou, Nihon Bunri's collapse means that they will be on the sidelines watching senbatsu from home...
Day 3
Ryuuokudai Heian's ace Inudzuka couldn't get past the 2nd inning as he failed to record an out giving up 5 runs in the 3rd to Nihon Bunri which included a solo HR by opposing pitcher Iidzuka. That erased an 2-0 early lead and forced Heian to chase.
That they did though as a sac fly in the 4th, followed by timely doubles from Ootani and Kawai in the 5th tied the game at 5-5!
But already on their 3rd pitcher, Tanaka was asked to go in long relief. However, in the 7th Kodachi delivered a double to push ahead what would be the eventual winning run to end Kinki's hopes of having a 2nd bid!
The second game between Komadai Tomakomai and Okinawa Shougaku was marred by errors. So much so that in a game that wound up 5-3, only 1 run was earned!!
In the 1st, a throwing error by 3B Tamaru with 2 outs continued the inning, and it was punished by Okishou with hits from Irabu and Fuchigami for a 3-0 lead. Fuchigami would feel bad about scoring on the error, so he had one of his own in the top of the 2nd allowing Komadai to take 1 back.
That run would be given back to Okishou as in the 3rd SS Ogasawara would make an error of his own to make it 4-1. Akamine Ken would get the only RBI of the game as he would get a hit to center extending the lead to 5-1.
More errors would get Komadai within 2 in the 8th, but that would be the closest they would get in the mistake-filled game.
Day 4
Day 4 was anti-climactic for semifinal matches. Imabari Nishi and Nihon Bunri trade a run in each of the first 2 innings, but then after a run in the 3rd, Nihon Bunri blows up for 4 runs in the 4th. Errors did not help Imabari's cause either has eventually would be mercy-ruled 10-3 in 7 innings.
It was worse for Iwakuni. Errors put them behind 2-0 early, as Okinawa Shougaku put up runs in every inning culminating in back-to-back-to-back doubles in a 7-run 4th. The game would only last 4.5 innings as Okishou mercy-ruled Iwakuni 11-1.
Day 5 - Championship
Nihon Bunri had the opportunity to be the first Hokushinetsu representative to win the Meiji Jingu tournament since Seiryou in 1991. More importantly, it would mean a bid in all likelihood for Chikyuu Kankyou.
Okinawa Shougaku was looking to give Kyushu their 4th title and 1st since Yanagigaura back in 2004. Chinzei would be able to breathe a sigh of relief as their main competitor for the final bid in Souseikan would be given the Meiji Jingu bid.
And it was one of those game you just couldn't believe, even if we told you...
Hoshi starts the game off for Nihon Bunri with a leadoff HR to right. In the 3rd, Kamakura would hit a 2-out solo HR to left, making it 2-0! Ace Iidzuka would blast his 2nd of the tournament to right in the 4th, extending it to 3-0!
Higa-kantoku tried to stop the bleeding as he sent in Kubo from RF to switch places with ace Yamashiro Daichi, but the power output didn't stop there. In the 5th, back-to-back doubles by Kobayashi and Kamakura were paid off by Yamaguchi's 2-run double of his own. Even a failed send home of Yamaguchi didn't stop the inning as Iidzuka would his 2nd HR of the game to center making it a 7-0 game!!!
And cleanup batter Ikeda had had enough of everyone else going yard, and blasted one to left in the 6th giving Nihon Bunri a commanding 8-0 lead!!
Facing elimination in the bottom of the 7th, Okinawa Shougaku went to work - and made this already crazy game into a comeback for the ages.
With one down, Iidzuka would plunk Irabu. Kaneshiro would hit for Fuchigami and hit a double to right.
And that's when ace Yamashiro Daichi (yes, he returned to the mound in the 7th) would keep his team alive with a 3-run HR to left center! While the next 2 batters would be retired, Okishou was still in the game at 8-3...
Now the 8th inning. Kubo starts it off with a triple to right. Nishihira plates him with a single to center... 8-4.
Anzato booms a 2-run HR to left-center... It's now 8-6. And still Ooi-kantoku doesn't send in someone like Kodachi, or last game's starter Fujita, instead sticking with ace Iidzuka...
Uehara flies out to right for the first out, but Irabu singles to left. Now with 2 out, Yamashiro Daichi singles to left.
The inning looks to be over after Sunagawa hits one back to Iidzuka, but something goes horribly wrong and he throws it away allowing Irabu to score making it 8-7...
With Ooi-kantoku leaving Iidzuka on the mound even still, it sealed Nihon Bunri's fate. He would walk Akamine Ken, sending up Kubo for his 2nd AB of the inning.
And he wouldn't miss. Kubo would hit one to right, scoring both Daichi and Ken to complete the comeback. 9-8. In a minor way, Okinawa Shougaku did what Nihon Bunri couldn't do in 2009. (Sorry Nihon Bunri, but while I like you, until you can win a big game final, it will always come back to that game...)
So, with Okinawa Shougaku's victory Chinzei can rest easy. With the Meiji Jingu bid, Souseikan will be invited and Chinzei can hold onto their last Kyushu bid (or technically vice versa). Sadly for Chikyuu Kankyou, Nihon Bunri's collapse means that they will be on the sidelines watching senbatsu from home...
Monday, October 21, 2013
86th Haru Koushien - Third Super-Regional Champ crowned, scratch so far
The all-Nagano final was not to be. Chikyuu Kankyou (Nagano 2) gave Nihon Bunri (Niigata 1) a great fight, sent the semifinal into enchousen, but ace Hoshino couldn't hold on falling 4-3 in 10 innings.
Meanwhile, Toukai Dai-san (Nagano 1) continued their solid run leading Hokuriku (Fukui 2) wire-to-wire 5-2 to make the championship game.
The final finished up a couple of hours ago, and looking at the boxscore, it looks like Toukai Dai-san tried to take the fight to Nihon Bunri early on with a 4-0 lead, but Nihon Bunri rallied not once, but twice sending the game to enchousen tied at 5-5.
In the 11th, Hirabayashi would give it up for Toukai Dai-san, as with one out a walk, single, double steal followed by intentional walk would load the bases for 3B Ikeda who would deliver the sayonara hit to give Nihon Bunri the title.
While Toukai Dai-san's key games are both against the Niigata representatives, I expect them to be the 2nd representative out of Hokushinetsu.
Meanwhile, Toukai Dai-san (Nagano 1) continued their solid run leading Hokuriku (Fukui 2) wire-to-wire 5-2 to make the championship game.
The final finished up a couple of hours ago, and looking at the boxscore, it looks like Toukai Dai-san tried to take the fight to Nihon Bunri early on with a 4-0 lead, but Nihon Bunri rallied not once, but twice sending the game to enchousen tied at 5-5.
In the 11th, Hirabayashi would give it up for Toukai Dai-san, as with one out a walk, single, double steal followed by intentional walk would load the bases for 3B Ikeda who would deliver the sayonara hit to give Nihon Bunri the title.
While Toukai Dai-san's key games are both against the Niigata representatives, I expect them to be the 2nd representative out of Hokushinetsu.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Day 1 - Game 2 - Nihon Bunri (Niigata) vs. Osaka Touin (Osaka)
(Sorry, no time for writeup. I'm undermanned on the computer... will have one later, but suffice it to say, Nihon Bunri is in for an uphill battle...)
Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
CF Takeishi Ryou (#7)
LF Watanabe Ryuuhei (#15)
1B Iidzuka Satoshi (#1)
RF Oguro Kazuki
2B Watanabe Taiga
SS Shiraishi Takayo
3B Ikeda Takamasa
C Kamakura Kouta
P Ooyachi Atsunori (#10)
Osaka Touin (Osaka)
LF Minemoto Takumi (#4)
CF Takagi Toshiki
C Mori Tomoya
1B Kinden Takuya
3B Kasamatsu Yuuya
2B Katsuki Kazuya (#14)
RF Fukumori Hiroto (#7)
SS Mizutani Yukiya
P Kuzukawa Tomoya
____________________________________________________________
12:59 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Oy, first pitch and it hits Takeishi before the siren even ends.
Kuzukawa looks bad on the mound with two more off pitches. But Ooi-kantoku tries to hit-and-rub, but Ruuuhei misses and while the throw is offline, there's enough time to still tag Takeishi for the out.
Which is a shame because Ryuuhei singles through the right side. And then a wild pitch sends him to 2nd!
He even falls behind Iidzuka but gets bailed out when he swings at a bad pitch and flies out to left.
Cleanup batter Oguro up, and I don't know why they're not taking pitches seeing as Kuzukawa looks off on the mound. Instead he's swinging away on outside pitches and fouling them off.
Oguro grounds out to short to end the inning, but Nihon Bunri helped Kuzukawa out on that one.
Bottom 1st
Minemoto swinging away early in count, hits ball to right side. Taiga makes great diving stop but throw to 1st is just a hair late.
Nishitani-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, Takagi grounds out to 2nd for the 1st out.
Finally focusing on Ooyachi, he's a lefty who throws in the high 120s-low 130s touching mid 130s, with a curve in the mid 110s, and maybe some type of slider in the low 120s. That's not a good sign - he'd better stay accurate.
Uh oh. Ooyachi goes careful on Mori, runs the count full and walks him to bring up Kinden.
Count runs full on Kinden too as Ooyachi tries not to give up the big hit. Instead he hits Kinden and it's manrui for Oosaka Touin!
Back against the wall, a sac fly from Kasamatsu isn't the worst thing that can happen. Takeishi tries to get the runner going to 3rd, but no dice. 1-0 Osaka Touin.
Katsuki with a poke into left center and that falls in! Mori scores to make it 2-0 now.
Things go from bad to worse as Ooyachi hits Fukumori to load the bases again...
But mercifully, Mizutani chases a ball in the dirt for strike 3 to end the inning. 9 batters, 2 hits, 3 walks/hit batters and 2 runs. Could have been worse...
Top 2nd
Taiga works count full on Kuzukawa, hits blooper to right that Fukumori just can't slide and reach. Katsuki runs it down but Taiga ends up on 2nd, make that 3rd after the bunt from Shiraishi.
Ikeda with a blast to center! Takagi running it down at the wall, but can't get there! Taiga scores and Nihon Bunri gets a run back at 2-1!
Oh... but he follows that up with a mistake. Grounder to 2nd by Kamakura and Ikeda tries for 3rd, but gets rundown 4-5-6 for the 2nd out.
Ooyachi flies out to right and that ends the threat. But Nihon Bunri does get a run back!
Bottom 2nd
Osaka Touin continues to hit. Kuzukawa hits one down the right field side for a leadoff double An immediate bunt to 3rd, followed by a slow grounder to the right side brings him in, clockwork style. 3-1.
Oh.
Mori just hit a ball to left that kept on carrying for a HR. 4-1 Touin.
Oh boy...
Kinden just hit a no-doubter to left that rocketed out in a hurry. Back-to-back jacks and it's 5-1 and ugly.
And believe you me, Kasamatsu is trying his hardest to go back-to-back-to-back. Instead he grounds out to 3rd.
No matter. They're well on their way to a win.
Top 3rd
Nihon Bunri is trying at the plate, I'll give them that, but it's not getting results. Takeishi strikes out swinging on 3 straight, Ryuuhei works the count full, but grounds out to 2nd, and Iidzuka strikes out looking for a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 3rd
A bit late, Ooyachi is replaced by #17 Kanno Koujiryou.
And he does rather well in relief to start. Katsuki with a routine grounder to 2nd, and though Fukumori hits a hard single through the right side, Mizutani quickly grounds to 3rd and Kuzukawa strikes out swinging to end the inning.
Top 4th
Just to show how badly it's going for Nihon Bunri, Oguro hits a ball off of Kasamatsu. It deflects right to Mizutani who easily throws out Oguro for the first out.
And while Shiraishi inside outs a pitch inside back up the middle, Mizutani makes an over the shoulder catch on a pop fly from Ikeda to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Just when I think Kanno is cruising in relief - Minemoto flies out to right, and Takagi routine grounder to 3rd, Mori does it again. This time he pulls one to right off the righty Kanno and it's 6-1.
Kanno then wants nothing to do with Kinden and walks him on 4 straight. Kasamatsu still trying to join HR party, grounds to short to end inning.
Top 5th
Nihon Bunri just swinging away now, two quick outs and almost 3 if Kasamatsu didn't throw the ball away. Takeishi goes to 2nd, but he's stranded when Ryuuhei strikes out swinging.
Bottom 5th
Katsuki hits a gapper to left center for a leadoff double and is bunted to 3rd by Fukumori. Need those fundamentals just in case you can't hit the HR.
Mizutani can't bring him home even though he hits a chopper to Shiraishi (just not high enough).
And Kanno can't put up another bagel. Kuzukawa slices one over a leaping Ikeda fair for a double to make it 7-1.
For those wondering about Kanno, he's a side-armer who throws in the mid-upper 130's with an apparent sinker in the high 120s-low 130s.
Oh dear. After a walk to Minemoto, Takagi laces one to right. Kuzukawa is held up at 3rd and it's manrui for Mori. So, nowhere to put him.
Ooi-kantoku sends in #11 Kodachi to try and get Mori out... to no avail. He lines one to right, and while I think Oguro may have had the shoestring catch, it's waved off and 2 runners score to make it 9-1.. Suppose it's not a HR which is a victory, I guess...
Kinden grounds out hard to Ikeda at 3rd for the last out, and Nihon Bunri may not want the break so they can just finish the game faster...
Top 6th
Iidzuka leads off the post-break action with a drive over Minemoto's head. He calmly walks it down as Iidzuka strolls in with a double.
Oh, I guess I should talk about Kuzukawa. He's a side armer who in some ways reminds me of Hifumi Shinta. Doesn't throw as hard (high 130s-low 140s), not as much side action on his pitches, and therefore not as many hit batters - but just as inconsistent. Has some type of change in the high 110s-low 120s.
Sadly, despite a wild pitch that gets Iidzuka to 3rd, neither Taiga nor Shiraishi can drive him in as Nihon Bunri tries to hit against the wildly effective Kuzukawa.
Bottom 6th
Kasamatsu almost gets into the HR parade. He crushes one to left center that I swear was going to go out, but instead it hits the wall for a double. Almost Kasamatsu, almost.
And it's hard to pitch around Osaka Touin's lineup, so even while Katsuki walks on 4 straight, Fukumori bunts one to the left side that Ikeda is late to. His throw can't be cleanly picked by Iidzuka and it's manrui for Mizutani, who is the only Touin batter left without a hit.
Ooi-kantoku calls time, since at this point it's just trying to get home.
Kodachi almost doesn't give Mizutani a chance, falling behind 3-1. But Mizutani rips one... right to Ikeda for the 1st out.
Kuzukawa despite the two doubles, gives a half-hearted swing on a ball in the dirt for the 2nd out.
Kodachi almost gets out of trouble... until he uncorks a wild pitch allowing Kasamatsu to score putting Osaka Touin in double digits. 10-1.
And in a bit of mercy, a wild pitch that goes over everything is not capitalized upon by the runners even though it's ball 4.
Takagi mercifully ends the inning striking out swinging.
Top 7th
If I were Osaka Touin with a 10-1 lead, I'd try to get my bullpen some work. Heaven knows they're probably going to need it.
Kamakura with 1-out gets around on a Kuzukawa offering singling past Kasamatsu. Sadly, PH #16 Iwano lines out right to Kinden who doubles off a helpless Kamakura.
Bottom 7th
Ace number Iiduzka finally takes the mound, with #3 Oota taking over for PH Iwano and going to 1B, while #8 Hoshi comes in for Takeishi and goes to CF.
I realize that it's a blowout and all and Osaka Touin probably wants to get out of the heat as well, but Iidzuka looked pretty good in a a 1-2-3 inning. He finally retired Mori on a grounder to 2nd, Kinden lined out to right, and Kasamatsu hit a lazy fly to left.
Top 8th
Kuzukawa still out there, and after getting the low strike 3 on Hoshi, he hits Ryuuhei.
But in more insult to injury, Iidzuka lines out to Mizutani who doubles off Ryuuhei for another DP.
Bottom 8th
Iidzuka doesn't throw any softer (mid-upper 130s), with a slider and presumably change, and has an interesting over the top delivery, that reminds me of a Dodgers P who I can't remember.
Nishitani-kantoku starts emptying the bench.
Top 9th
Tamura stays in to play RF, Tsujita in LF, Minemoto moves to 2B, Fukuda goes to SS, and #11 Takanishi takes the hill.
Oho! Nihon Bunri doesn't totally capitulate as with one down, Taiga drives a ball to left field that carries into the ouen-dan for a HR! It's 10-2, but at least they're not giving up. Shiraishi follows that up with a base hit through the right side.
With 2 out, Kamakura fights hard against the reliever, fouling off several balls. However, he's called out on a check swing and the game is over.
It certainly was bad for Nihon Bunri, but at least they finished out the game right. It's hard to hold your head high after a game like that, but they should take pride in getting there at least, even if their performance wasn't what they wanted.
As for Osaka Touin, today's game was a statement to the field. They will punish you if you make mistakes on the mound. Yes, there is their pitching that can be a big chink in their armor, but you need to shut down the offense if you're going to have any chance.
Who, if anyone will be able to step up? All we know is, either Minoshima or Hikawa will be the next team up.
Notable Players
Kuzukawa Tomoya (Osaka Touin) - 8 IP, ER, 6 H, 6 K, 2 HBP
Mori Tomoya (Osaka Touin) - 3-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB
Kinden Takuya (Osaka Touin) - 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB, HBP
Kuzukawa Tomoya (Osaka Touin) - 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI, 2 K
Iidzuka Satoshi (Nihon Bunri) - 2 IP, 0 ER, H, K, BB
Watanabe Taiga (Nihon Bunri) - 2-4, 2B HR, 2 R, RBI
Ikeda Takamasa (Nihon Bunri) - 1-4, 2B, RBI
Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
CF Takeishi Ryou (#7)
LF Watanabe Ryuuhei (#15)
1B Iidzuka Satoshi (#1)
RF Oguro Kazuki
2B Watanabe Taiga
SS Shiraishi Takayo
3B Ikeda Takamasa
C Kamakura Kouta
P Ooyachi Atsunori (#10)
Osaka Touin (Osaka)
LF Minemoto Takumi (#4)
CF Takagi Toshiki
C Mori Tomoya
1B Kinden Takuya
3B Kasamatsu Yuuya
2B Katsuki Kazuya (#14)
RF Fukumori Hiroto (#7)
SS Mizutani Yukiya
P Kuzukawa Tomoya
____________________________________________________________
12:59 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Oy, first pitch and it hits Takeishi before the siren even ends.
Kuzukawa looks bad on the mound with two more off pitches. But Ooi-kantoku tries to hit-and-rub, but Ruuuhei misses and while the throw is offline, there's enough time to still tag Takeishi for the out.
Which is a shame because Ryuuhei singles through the right side. And then a wild pitch sends him to 2nd!
He even falls behind Iidzuka but gets bailed out when he swings at a bad pitch and flies out to left.
Cleanup batter Oguro up, and I don't know why they're not taking pitches seeing as Kuzukawa looks off on the mound. Instead he's swinging away on outside pitches and fouling them off.
Oguro grounds out to short to end the inning, but Nihon Bunri helped Kuzukawa out on that one.
Bottom 1st
Minemoto swinging away early in count, hits ball to right side. Taiga makes great diving stop but throw to 1st is just a hair late.
Nishitani-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, Takagi grounds out to 2nd for the 1st out.
Finally focusing on Ooyachi, he's a lefty who throws in the high 120s-low 130s touching mid 130s, with a curve in the mid 110s, and maybe some type of slider in the low 120s. That's not a good sign - he'd better stay accurate.
Uh oh. Ooyachi goes careful on Mori, runs the count full and walks him to bring up Kinden.
Count runs full on Kinden too as Ooyachi tries not to give up the big hit. Instead he hits Kinden and it's manrui for Oosaka Touin!
Back against the wall, a sac fly from Kasamatsu isn't the worst thing that can happen. Takeishi tries to get the runner going to 3rd, but no dice. 1-0 Osaka Touin.
Katsuki with a poke into left center and that falls in! Mori scores to make it 2-0 now.
Things go from bad to worse as Ooyachi hits Fukumori to load the bases again...
But mercifully, Mizutani chases a ball in the dirt for strike 3 to end the inning. 9 batters, 2 hits, 3 walks/hit batters and 2 runs. Could have been worse...
Top 2nd
Taiga works count full on Kuzukawa, hits blooper to right that Fukumori just can't slide and reach. Katsuki runs it down but Taiga ends up on 2nd, make that 3rd after the bunt from Shiraishi.
Ikeda with a blast to center! Takagi running it down at the wall, but can't get there! Taiga scores and Nihon Bunri gets a run back at 2-1!
Oh... but he follows that up with a mistake. Grounder to 2nd by Kamakura and Ikeda tries for 3rd, but gets rundown 4-5-6 for the 2nd out.
Ooyachi flies out to right and that ends the threat. But Nihon Bunri does get a run back!
Bottom 2nd
Osaka Touin continues to hit. Kuzukawa hits one down the right field side for a leadoff double An immediate bunt to 3rd, followed by a slow grounder to the right side brings him in, clockwork style. 3-1.
Oh.
Mori just hit a ball to left that kept on carrying for a HR. 4-1 Touin.
Oh boy...
Kinden just hit a no-doubter to left that rocketed out in a hurry. Back-to-back jacks and it's 5-1 and ugly.
And believe you me, Kasamatsu is trying his hardest to go back-to-back-to-back. Instead he grounds out to 3rd.
No matter. They're well on their way to a win.
Top 3rd
Nihon Bunri is trying at the plate, I'll give them that, but it's not getting results. Takeishi strikes out swinging on 3 straight, Ryuuhei works the count full, but grounds out to 2nd, and Iidzuka strikes out looking for a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 3rd
A bit late, Ooyachi is replaced by #17 Kanno Koujiryou.
And he does rather well in relief to start. Katsuki with a routine grounder to 2nd, and though Fukumori hits a hard single through the right side, Mizutani quickly grounds to 3rd and Kuzukawa strikes out swinging to end the inning.
Top 4th
Just to show how badly it's going for Nihon Bunri, Oguro hits a ball off of Kasamatsu. It deflects right to Mizutani who easily throws out Oguro for the first out.
And while Shiraishi inside outs a pitch inside back up the middle, Mizutani makes an over the shoulder catch on a pop fly from Ikeda to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Just when I think Kanno is cruising in relief - Minemoto flies out to right, and Takagi routine grounder to 3rd, Mori does it again. This time he pulls one to right off the righty Kanno and it's 6-1.
Kanno then wants nothing to do with Kinden and walks him on 4 straight. Kasamatsu still trying to join HR party, grounds to short to end inning.
Top 5th
Nihon Bunri just swinging away now, two quick outs and almost 3 if Kasamatsu didn't throw the ball away. Takeishi goes to 2nd, but he's stranded when Ryuuhei strikes out swinging.
Bottom 5th
Katsuki hits a gapper to left center for a leadoff double and is bunted to 3rd by Fukumori. Need those fundamentals just in case you can't hit the HR.
Mizutani can't bring him home even though he hits a chopper to Shiraishi (just not high enough).
And Kanno can't put up another bagel. Kuzukawa slices one over a leaping Ikeda fair for a double to make it 7-1.
For those wondering about Kanno, he's a side-armer who throws in the mid-upper 130's with an apparent sinker in the high 120s-low 130s.
Oh dear. After a walk to Minemoto, Takagi laces one to right. Kuzukawa is held up at 3rd and it's manrui for Mori. So, nowhere to put him.
Ooi-kantoku sends in #11 Kodachi to try and get Mori out... to no avail. He lines one to right, and while I think Oguro may have had the shoestring catch, it's waved off and 2 runners score to make it 9-1.. Suppose it's not a HR which is a victory, I guess...
Kinden grounds out hard to Ikeda at 3rd for the last out, and Nihon Bunri may not want the break so they can just finish the game faster...
Top 6th
Iidzuka leads off the post-break action with a drive over Minemoto's head. He calmly walks it down as Iidzuka strolls in with a double.
Oh, I guess I should talk about Kuzukawa. He's a side armer who in some ways reminds me of Hifumi Shinta. Doesn't throw as hard (high 130s-low 140s), not as much side action on his pitches, and therefore not as many hit batters - but just as inconsistent. Has some type of change in the high 110s-low 120s.
Sadly, despite a wild pitch that gets Iidzuka to 3rd, neither Taiga nor Shiraishi can drive him in as Nihon Bunri tries to hit against the wildly effective Kuzukawa.
Bottom 6th
Kasamatsu almost gets into the HR parade. He crushes one to left center that I swear was going to go out, but instead it hits the wall for a double. Almost Kasamatsu, almost.
And it's hard to pitch around Osaka Touin's lineup, so even while Katsuki walks on 4 straight, Fukumori bunts one to the left side that Ikeda is late to. His throw can't be cleanly picked by Iidzuka and it's manrui for Mizutani, who is the only Touin batter left without a hit.
Ooi-kantoku calls time, since at this point it's just trying to get home.
Kodachi almost doesn't give Mizutani a chance, falling behind 3-1. But Mizutani rips one... right to Ikeda for the 1st out.
Kuzukawa despite the two doubles, gives a half-hearted swing on a ball in the dirt for the 2nd out.
Kodachi almost gets out of trouble... until he uncorks a wild pitch allowing Kasamatsu to score putting Osaka Touin in double digits. 10-1.
And in a bit of mercy, a wild pitch that goes over everything is not capitalized upon by the runners even though it's ball 4.
Takagi mercifully ends the inning striking out swinging.
Top 7th
If I were Osaka Touin with a 10-1 lead, I'd try to get my bullpen some work. Heaven knows they're probably going to need it.
Kamakura with 1-out gets around on a Kuzukawa offering singling past Kasamatsu. Sadly, PH #16 Iwano lines out right to Kinden who doubles off a helpless Kamakura.
Bottom 7th
Ace number Iiduzka finally takes the mound, with #3 Oota taking over for PH Iwano and going to 1B, while #8 Hoshi comes in for Takeishi and goes to CF.
I realize that it's a blowout and all and Osaka Touin probably wants to get out of the heat as well, but Iidzuka looked pretty good in a a 1-2-3 inning. He finally retired Mori on a grounder to 2nd, Kinden lined out to right, and Kasamatsu hit a lazy fly to left.
Top 8th
Kuzukawa still out there, and after getting the low strike 3 on Hoshi, he hits Ryuuhei.
But in more insult to injury, Iidzuka lines out to Mizutani who doubles off Ryuuhei for another DP.
Bottom 8th
Iidzuka doesn't throw any softer (mid-upper 130s), with a slider and presumably change, and has an interesting over the top delivery, that reminds me of a Dodgers P who I can't remember.
Nishitani-kantoku starts emptying the bench.
- #9 Tamura comes in to hit for Katsuki, strikes out looking,
- #13 Tsujita in for Fukumori, flies out to center,
- #17 Fukuda in for Mizutani, draws full count walk,
- #12 Kume in for Kuzukawa (his day is done), liner to right for runners at the corners.
Top 9th
Tamura stays in to play RF, Tsujita in LF, Minemoto moves to 2B, Fukuda goes to SS, and #11 Takanishi takes the hill.
Oho! Nihon Bunri doesn't totally capitulate as with one down, Taiga drives a ball to left field that carries into the ouen-dan for a HR! It's 10-2, but at least they're not giving up. Shiraishi follows that up with a base hit through the right side.
With 2 out, Kamakura fights hard against the reliever, fouling off several balls. However, he's called out on a check swing and the game is over.
It certainly was bad for Nihon Bunri, but at least they finished out the game right. It's hard to hold your head high after a game like that, but they should take pride in getting there at least, even if their performance wasn't what they wanted.
As for Osaka Touin, today's game was a statement to the field. They will punish you if you make mistakes on the mound. Yes, there is their pitching that can be a big chink in their armor, but you need to shut down the offense if you're going to have any chance.
Who, if anyone will be able to step up? All we know is, either Minoshima or Hikawa will be the next team up.
Notable Players
Kuzukawa Tomoya (Osaka Touin) - 8 IP, ER, 6 H, 6 K, 2 HBP
Mori Tomoya (Osaka Touin) - 3-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB
Kinden Takuya (Osaka Touin) - 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB, HBP
Kuzukawa Tomoya (Osaka Touin) - 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI, 2 K
Iidzuka Satoshi (Nihon Bunri) - 2 IP, 0 ER, H, K, BB
Watanabe Taiga (Nihon Bunri) - 2-4, 2B HR, 2 R, RBI
Ikeda Takamasa (Nihon Bunri) - 1-4, 2B, RBI
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