高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

I forgot to cover the Tokyo/Kanto flex bid which seemingly will go to Hanasaki Tokuharu instead of Nishogakushadai Fuzoku because I just can't see the JHBF choosing a team to go for the 2nd straight year on a floating bid - even though their resume is much stronger:

Hanasaki Tokuharu

• Quality wins - Kasukabe Kyouei
• Quality losses(?) - Urawa Gakuin, Kisaradzu Sougou
• Questionable games - Waseda Honjyou (won 5-3), Kitoku (won 4-2)

But I'll cover both just in case. Hopefully the JHBF proves me wrong and chooses the better team (in my opinion).

Hanasaki Tokuharu's ace Takahashi Kouya (高橋 昂也) pitched at Koushien last summer with a good level of success giving up just 1 run in 8 innings of work, striking out 8 and walking just 2. He appears to be able to hold his own against better competition, but it would help if he had good defense behind him. He throws in the low 140s with a slider/curve/fork combo.

The counterpart, Nishogakushadai Fuzoku's Ooe Ryuusei (大江 竜聖) has put up strong numbers at Koushien and has a repertoire similar to Takahashi. He also seems to have gained a couple ticks on the fastball though his numbers are not as strong as at Koushien.

In terms of offense, I'm searching for more detailed game info from Tokyo as box scores are hard to come by (for some reason), but it's certainly promising that against Kanto Dai-ichi (for the umpteenth time), down the lineup almost everyone collected a hit - this compared with Hanasaki Tokuharu and their main guy Okazaki Daisuke (岡崎 大輔).

I'll need to do some extra research (when I'm not at work) to find more batting/pitching details, but pitching being equal the results for Nishogakushadai Fuzoku look much better.

Our final 2 games of the 1st round are upon us and both involve 21st century teams.


First up is Matsuyama Higashi. They were at Senbatsu 1 time before, and that was 82 years ago. That has to be the longest time between appearances I've seen in ever.

Being a 21st century team means you're generally the underdog. And they're facing the Tokyo runner-ups Nishougakushadai Fuzoku who has been hot in recent years in Tokyo. It's a tough ask, but 21st century teams have done it before.

Matsuyama Higashi (Ehime)
LF Shimizu Tomoki
SS Ishiyama Tarou
CF Sakai Yuusuke
C Yoneda Keisuke
P Kameoka Yuuki
1B Yamada Kai
RF Yamada Taisei
3B Arita Toranosuke
2B Matsushita Kouki

Nishougakushadai Fuzoku (Tokyo)
CF Hirano Tomoya (#15)
SS Shimane Kanto
2B Miguchi Eito
3B Kitamoto Kazuki
LF Okada Kouki
C Imamura Taiki
1B Hashimoto Masaya
P Ooe Ryuusei
RF Oobayashi Yuuma (#13)

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14:35 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Ooe not off to a strong start as he walks Shimizu. Ishiyama bunts him along into scoring position.

However, he comes back and gets Sakai on a high fastball, and Yoneda grounds out to 3rd for the 3rd out.

Bottom 1st
Kameoka retires the first two Nishou batters without much incident before giving up a single to Miguchi. But it looks like another day in the office as Kameoka gets cleanup batter Kitamoto to fly out to left.

Top 2nd
Ooe righting the ship in a hurry. Kameoka chases the slider away for Ooe's 2nd K, then Kai watches another slider hit the outside corner.

Taisei makes contact, but its a routine grounder to 1st and Hashimoto takes it to the bag.

Bottom 2nd
Nishou's batters attacking Kameoka's pitches early, but getting nowhere. Okada with a grounder to 3rd, and Imamura a flyout to center. Hashimoto is patient enough at the plate to draw a walk, but Ooe chooses to go after a 2-0 pitch and grounds out to short to end the inning.

Top 3rd
Computer troubles have me trying to catch up with commentary, but the game is going too fast for me!

Ooe just mowing down batters. Arita goes down swinging on a high fastball. Matsushita watches one go by. Shimizu flies out to center, and Ooe is on a roll!

Bottom 3rd
Nishogakusha still attacking Kameoka's pitches trying to break through. But Oobayashi gets all twisted on a fastball up and in, and then in two more pitches Tomoya and Shimane are retired! They're making it easy on them and keeping them in the game!

Top 4th
Ooe hit a hiccup to start the inning as he walks Ishiyama. Sakai tries to bunt him along, but gets to 2 strikes. Hits a chopper off of the plate and goes up the 1st base line. Hashimoto chooses to let the ball go, but it still stays fair, stays fair... and stays fair!!!  All safe!

AH! And now Ooe hits Yoneda! Just like that it's manrui for Matsuyama Higashi!

Kameoka liner to right for a base hit! Ishiyama scores and it's 1-0 Matsuyama Higashi!

Kai with a shot up the 3rd base side, but Kitamoto has it! Goes home to get the lead runner. One down.

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

Taisei lays down the push squeeze and the only play is at first! Yoneda scores and it's 2-0 Matsuyama!

Arita strikes out, but Ooe has done damage to his own team!

Bottom 4th
Meanwhile, now it's Kameoka on a roll! He strikes out Miguchi on an outside fastball!

Kitamoto swings at a high fastball and hits it to left. Shimizu running back, running back...

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

With a swing of the bat, Kitamoto brings his team within 1! It's 2-1!

But Kameoka doesn't mind it at all. Okada? Slider away. Imamura? Fastball up and in.

He strikes out the side! But Nishogakushadai gets one run back.

Top 5th
I don't understand Ooe at all. It's like he just plain forgot how to pitch in the 4th. Because he strikes out Matsushita for the 2nd time, then Shimizu. And after that Ishiyama hits a comebacker. 3 up, 3 down.

Bottom 5th
Hashimoto grounder up the 1st base line.. fair!! He hustles as Taisei reaches the ball and gets 2nd easily.

But Ooe flubs his bunt! He pops it up and it's easy pickings for Kameoka!

Oobayashi at the bottom of the order is the 2nd batter to actually work the count. He runs it full, and hits a liner, but right to Arita.

And Tomoya goes after the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd! We're racing though this game at breakneck speed much to the advantage of Mastuyama Higashi. With Nishougakusha's batters swinging at everything, they're shortening the game for them!

Top 6th
#9 Suzuki in for Oobayashi to play RF.

Matsuyama Higashi back on the warpath? Sakai leads off with a single to center.

And Horiuchi-kantoku starts him! Imamura double-clutches and has no chance!

Now Yoneda with a solid single to right! Sakai stops at 3rd but they're threatening again!

Kameoka on a ball down and in. Okada is running back! He's still running back!! It's over his head! That'll go all the way to the wall and score both runners! Matsuyama Higashi leads Nishogakushadai Fuzoku 4-1!!! And Kameoka has 3 of the teams 4 runs!

Kai comes back to strike out Kai and Taisei on back to back fastballls away. Arita lines out to center, but Nishougakusadai is in real trouble now!

Bottom 6th
One down for Nishogakushadai and Miguchi hits a ball to deep left. Shimizu playing in has to run it down, and it falls in! He's in with a double!

Kitamoto chimes in with a liner to right. Miguchi holds up at 3rd.

And now Kameoka hits Okada! Manrui for Nishougakushadai! Horiuchi-kantoku calls for time.

Imamura liner to center for a base hit! Miguchi scores! Kitamoto being waved around! He scores!! It's a 4-3 game!

Kameoka refusing to give in, fighting tooth and nail and keeping to the plan. He puts the fastball inside on Hashimoto for the 2nd out.

Ooe up again in a key spot. This time he needs a base hit.

Back to the wall with 2 strikes, he fouls off pitch after pitch working the count full allowing the runners to take off.

Liner to center... falls in! Okada rounding 3rd will score and were all square at 4-4!!!!

Suzuki hits a comebacker to Kameoka to end the inning, but we have a new ballgame!

Top 7th
Can Matsuyama Higashi re-rally here in the Lucky 7?

One down and Shimizu gets things started with a single to right.

Horiuchi-kantoku giving the green light and Shimizu takes off! Ooe bounces the ball and Imamura has no throw! The go-ahead run is in scoring position!

And now Ooe walks Ishiyama! Is Ooe falling apart yet again?

Ooe is so concerned with the bunt that he's missing the strike zone to induce a bad bunt! He's behind 3-1 to Sakai! He manages to fill up the count...

Liner to left... fair!!! Shimizu given the go signal and he's heading home! Throw from Okada, the relay... not in time! Matsuyama Higashi retakes the lead at 5-4!!

Yoneda with a ball back up the middle! Shimane stretches and makes the pick off the ground! Flips to 2nd for one, Miguchi goes to 3rd, but can't catch Ishiyama off the bag. 2 down.

Ooe finally gets out of the inning, retiring the dangerous Kameoka on a slider in the dirt. But no matter! Matsuyama has the lead once again!

Bottom 7th
Top of the order for Nishougakushadai to try and come back once more.

Tomoya behind in the count, chases a ball outside and chops it to the right side. Kameoka snags it and goes to 1st for the out. Shimane also behind 1-2 grounds out to Ishiyama.

Miguchi down 0-2 also grounds to short. He tries diving into 1st, but to no avail. 3 up, 3 down, and Matsuyama Higashi is 6 outs away from a spot in the 2nd round!

Top 8th
Ooe is like Jekyll and Hyde on the mound. In the 8th, he's dominant again. Strikes out 2, and barely beats Taisei to the bag. It's all the first time I see an umpire start motioning safe, then changing his call.

Bottom 8th
Uh oh. Is it nerves for Kameoka? He walks Kitamoto to start the inning!

After trying the hit and run, Okada tries the bunt. But now he's 0-2.

Kameoka paying a lot of attention to Kitamoto, and almost picks him off.

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

Kameoka puts it right at the knees and he's rung up Okada! 1 down.

Another hit and run! But Kameoka jams Imamura and pops it up! Arita with it for the 2nd out!

Maybe out of frustration, Ichihara-kantoku sends Kitamoto! The pitch is high and Yoneda fires to 2nd...

OUT!!

The ball is there in plenty of time and Nishogakushadai has run themselves out of the inning!

Top 9th
Matsushita earns the golden sombrero here in the 9th, striking out for the 4th time on a slider in the dirt. That's 15 K's for Ooe, but he's losing!

Shimizu goes down swinging, and that's 16!

Ishiyama grounds out to 3rd and it's closing time for Matsuyama Higashi!

Bottom 9th
And worse for Nishogakushadai, it's the bottom of the lineup who's a combined 2-8.

Hashimoto comebacker to Kameoka! He goes to 1st and they're 2 outs away!

Ooe grounder up the middle, Ishiyama over and AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He misses the ball and it goes off his foot and into left field! E6 and the douten runner is on! Horiuchi-kantoku calls time as #14 Hirano Jyun comes in to hit for Suzuki.

Kameoka perhaps being careful with Jyun, goes to 3-0! Will Jyun let 2 strikes pass?

He lets one go.

He can't hold his swing and it's strike 2!

Pops it up! Matsushita and Ishiyama converge, bump! But Kai has it for the 2nd out!

Tomoya the last chance.

Chopper back up the middle. Off Kameoka's glove! He chases it down, but everyone's safe! Yoneda goes out to talk to him.

Shimane with no hits so far is their last chance now.

Safety bunt??!!  He gets a good jump, but it rolls foul!

Grounder to 2nd! Matsushita with it! Goes to 1st...

GAME SET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matsuyama Higashi defeats the Tokyo runner-ups Nishougakushadai Fuzoku 5-4!

That was unexpected by a wide margin. As I mentioned during the game, Nishougakushadai allowed Kameoka to pitch whatever he wanted because they were just attacking pitches early in the count. Despite the fact that he threw 136 pitches, 11 of the 38 batters went 2 pitches or less into the AB before putting the ball in play. Only 5 times did he ever reach 3 balls. Yes, Nishougakushadai Fuzoku got their runs, but for the most part he wasn't in high leverage counts or situations.

On the mound, Ooe went from one extreme to another. Where else do you strike out 16, give out 4 free passes, and 5 runs to lose the game? In fact, all of their scoring came in the 3 innings where they got at least 1 hit. Even if they had advanced, I'm not sure how good their chances would be.

So tip your hat to Matsuyama Higashi. They didn't just take this as their 1 free game and go home. They took the game to the metropolitan team, and it turned out to be more then they could handle. Now, will it be enough for the next game?  Possibly as they will face either Toukai Dai-yon or Toyohashi Kougyou. They'll have their chances for sure if they play like they did today.

It would seem with these schools that these bids come one year too late. One year after their team hits their peak. Most times, the team cannot live up to their prior performance and quietly bow out.

Hopefully, this is not one of those cases.

It helps that the team was able to head to Natsu Koushien last year after being passed up for Yokohama. It also helped that despite most of the numbered starters were seniors, it was mostly in number only as quite a few underclassmen took the field.

What generally does not help though, is losing your ace. With the loss of Oguro, the ace number fell to their next in line, Ooe Ryuusei (大江 竜聖). He shouldn't be phased by the big stage though as Ichihara-kantoku gave him innings last summer - though he did falter a bit against Okinawa Shougaku.

Their road this year was on paper much harder than that of the eventual champions. First off was a game against Souka in block play. Sure, they aren't a powerhouse, but they're not the pushover you'd be expecting.

After that, in the super-regionals, they faced 3rd level teams such as Hino, Waseda Gakuin and Yukigaya before clashing with Kanto Dai-ichi yet again. And once again, they had the last word - albeit in 11 innings. And while Ooe would fight valiantly in the final, they would eventually fall.

What's concerning is that it appears that it's the Ooe show all the time. Unlike last year, there does not appear to be a 2nd pitcher that the team goes to. Kishida remains from last year, but does not appear to be trusted at all. It'll be interesting to see then if Ichihara-kantoku has an ace up his sleeve, else despite some of the good peripherals (>K/IP), he's not unhittable by any stretch of the imagination.

Offensively, the teams isn't lost at the plate, and do have strong numbers from a team in Tokyo. Remember though, that while they did face Kanto Dai-ichi and to some extent Toukaidai Sugao, the competition I mentioned earlier while above-average, are not powerhouses - so surprisingly there is some inflation to take into account.

It also focuses around a pair of plaeyrs, leadoff batter 3B Miguchi Eito (三口 英斗) and LF Okada Kouki (岡田 浩輝). Both were on th roster last summer, and Miguchi played in both games.

Again it boils down to pitching for this squad. If Ooe is all they really have, they will probably struggle to win multiple games. If they have someone else reliable as well, then barring running into a powerhouse, they could be a Best 8 squad.

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

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

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

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

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

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

One Kaisei exits stage right, another enters, they hope with better results.  In their road to the title, they only needed to defeat one powerhouse team in Souseikan to win the title.  The team doesn't hit very well, and the pitching appeared so-so in the prefecturals, so it might be an uphill battle.

Nishougakushadai Fuzoku finally got their time at Koushien after I thought they were unfairly omitted from Senbatsu.  Road wasn't that easy either having to face Toukaidai Takanawadai, Toua Gakuen, Seiritsu Gakuen and then Teikyou to win the title.  Sure they did avoid some of the tougher teams, but anytime you defeat Teikyou, you've done something right.

Weird thing is, ace Ookuro doesn't look like anything special, but that could just be a result of the competition they faced.  Still, it looks like he depends on a lot of contact plays.

Both schools are going to their bench for starters, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out later.

Kaisei 海星 (Nagasaki)
CF Nakajima Seiichirou
SS Takayama Ryou
LF Minewaki Manabu
3B Hirayu Aoi (#3)
C Kuwahara Yuito
RF Hattori Nukuhiro
2B Honda Yuuya
3B Murakami Taiga (#13)
P Ishiba Takumi (#11)

Nishougakushadai Fuzoku (Higashi Tokyo)
CF Seimatsu Yuuya
3B Kitamoto Kazuki
SS Takehara Yuuta
1B Komine Eisuke
LF Okada Yuuki (#16)
RF Hata Shoutarou
C Imamura Daiki (#12)
P Ookuro Kazuyuki
2B Miguchi Eito (#15)

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15:10 - First Pitch!

1st Inning
As expected, Ookuro is getting a lot of contact.  Nakajima flies out to left.

After giving up a walk, we see what might be one key.  He picks off Takayama at 1st with a fairly quick throw.

That helps because Minewaki bloops one to right for a base hit.  But Hirayuu grounds out to 2nd and it's a safe 1st for Ookuro and Nishougakusadai.

In almost a mirror image of the top of the 1st, Ishiba gives up a 1-out walk to Kitamoto.  Takehara bunts him along, AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Hirayu throws the ball away at 1st and Kitamoto advances to 3rd!  Kaisei already in trouble!

Komine grounder up middle!  Takayama with the great sliding stop!  Throws to 3rd!! He gets Takehara on the tag! That's a heads up play by the Kaisei SS!

But they're not out of the woods yet!  Okada first pitch singles to center!  And now Ishiba walks Imamura to load the bases! This could get ugly quick...

Imamura looper to right center!  Komine scores! Okada waved around, he scores!  Nishougakushadai takes a 3-0 lead!

Ookuro grounder to 3rd, Hirayu's throw to 1st offline again!  But Murakami makes the tag and the side is retired.

Oh boy....

Top 2nd
Well, Kaisei certainly willing to play the waiting game as Kuwahara draws a leadoff walk.  But Hattori pops his bunt up and Imamura makes the catch for the out.

Honda also goes deep into the count, but winds up swinging under the curveball for the 2nd out.

Murakami also goes down swinging on the curve and the side is retired.

Bottom 2nd
Defensive change already given the 1st inning.  Harada enters game for Murakami and goes to 3rd, Hirayu goes back to his numbered position at 1B.

Miguchi leads off the inning with a base hit to right and is moved over to 2nd.  Kitamoto hits a fly to right for out #2.

Ishiba might get a 0, Takehara grounder to 2nd, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Honda just whiffs on the ball as it deflects off his leg into right! Miguchi scores to make it 4-0!

Komine first pitch laces one to center and Kaisei is in a bad way early.

Thankfully for them, Okada grounds to short.  Takayama, the only player who seems to be playing defense, makes the play at 1st for the 3rd out.  But this looks really bad for Kaisei.

Top 3rd
Ishiba finally gets some good luck his way when his screamer down the 1st base line takes a high hop and eats up Komine into right!  He's in with a leadoff double!

And now Nakajima singles through the right side!  Ishiba holds at 3rd, but Kaisei's bats are coming alive!

Are they ever!!  Takayama single to left!  Ishiba scores and Kaisei is on the board at 4-1!

Oddly, with the momentum, Katou-kantoku has Minewaki bunt the runners over.  Base hit could score 2, but they team just put together 3 hits.

And Hirayu hits a fly to center.  But it's not deep enough and the runners have to hold...

SANSHIN!!  Kuwahara chases after the curve and just like that, a strong rally fizzles out.  Kaisei gets a run, but it could have been much more..

Bottom 3rd
Hata drive to left!  Minewaki back to the wall... looking up....

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

Oh, momentum can be a fickle thing.  Kaisei looked to be on their way back when a sac bunt seemingly derailed things, and now a first pitch HR nullifies that work just a half-inning ago.  5-1 Nishhougakushadai.

One down now, and Ookuro lines one to right for a base hit.  Ishiba trying to play damage control as he gets Miguchi to strike out.

He manages to retire the side when Suematsu can't check his swing, but the offense will need to get wound up all over again...

Top 4th
It's a fairly quick 1-2-3 inning for Ookuro highlighted by Komine attempt to make a catch while leaping into the camera well.  Looked rather awkward if you ask me.

Bottom 4th
After a leadoff single by Kitamoto and a sac bunt, Ishiba is relieved by ace Yoshida on the mound.

Oh man you know it's bad when Komine hits a ball to center, Kitamoto scores, and yet Komine doesn't take 2nd on the bad throw... 6-1 Nishougakushadai.

To make up for it, he takes off for 2nd! Kuwahara's throw to 2nd is in time, but Takayama can't field the ball cleanly and he's safe.

Hata tries to go for the moon, but Yoshida will have none of that, blowing a 144 kph ball past him for the 3rd out.

Top 5th
One down and Ookuro issues his 3rd walk to Nakajima.

Takayama with the safety bunt, Ookuro's throw to first... SAFE!!

Takayama does the head-sliding thing, but still makes it anyways.

Minewaki drive to right! Hata running back, running back!  Loses track of it as it falls in front of him!  Nakajima scores and it's a 6-2 ballgame!

Ah! Hirayu gets plunked in the leg and it's manrui for Kaisei!

Kuwahara fly ball to center, but it's too short!  Nakajima makes the catch and the runners have to hold! 2 down!

ああ！

Ookuro hits Hattori and that forces in a run! 6-3 now!

Katou-kantoku correctly sensing momentum, sends in #10 Ogawa to hit for Honda.

And he hits a soft liner to center! That's down for a base hit!  Minewaki scores and it's a 6-4 ballgame!

That's it for Ookuro.  #18, rookie Ooe comes into the game!

あああああああああああああああ!!!!!!!!!!!

Ooe hits Harada and that forces in another run!  It's 6-5!!  And Yoshida is up again as Jock Rock plays in the Kaisei ouen-dan.

SANSHIN!!!!  The rookie battery survives the massacre as Yoshida goes down on a slider!  On just 2 hits, Kaisei scores 4 runs and only trails by 1!

Bottom 5th
#14 Shinguu comes in the game for PH Ogawa to play 2B.

Imamura test him out with a ball to the right side!  Shinguu gets there, but can't get the glove on the ball and he's on with a single!  Ooe tries to bunt the runner along, but Yoshida quickly field and fires to 2nd to get the force!

Miguchi lays down another bunt, but Yoshida once again goes to 2nd and gets the force!

But maybe that's planned because Miguchi takes off for 2nd and Kawahara doesn't even bother with a throw!

And that pays off! Suematsu with a base hit to center!  Miguchi scores easily with his speed and Suemtasu takes 2nd on the throw home! 7-5!

Kitamoto grounds back to Yoshida for the 3rd out, but Nishougakushadai is able to get back a run as we head to the break   But despite Nishougakushadai scoring every inning, they're only leading by 2 runs.

Top 6th
Wow. The rookie battery of Ooe and Imamura doing work v. Kaise.

Nakajima first pitch flyout to left.

Takayama hard grounder, but right to Miguchi.

Of course, I mention it on twitter, and then Ooe walks Minewaki.

Minewaki is caught off 1st!  The rundown starts, but Komine throws it away!  Minewaki doesn't notice (his back is to the throw), and he merely returns to 1st.

Ooe closes out the inning getting Hirayu to swing and miss on a fastball away for the 3rd out!

Bottom 6th
Takehara finally checks in with a base hit and now every batter has a base hit.

But he gets carried away and tries to steal 2nd... and is thrown out very plainly by Kuwahara.

Komine and Okada are quickly retired afterwards and Kaisei will be back on the bats once again for the Lucky 7.

Top 7th
Ooe continuing to befuddle the Kaisei batters.  In fact, after retiring the side in order, out of the 9 batters he has faced, only Nakajima has hit the ball out of the infield.

Bottom 7th
Rookie Imamura doesn't care about the stage.  With one down he singles to center for his 3rd hit of the game!

But he's caught off the bag and thrown out!  No, wait!  Yoshida's called for the balk!

Yoshida clamps down though and retires both Ooe and Miguchi to retire the inning.  No harm done, but time is running short.

Top 8th
Captain Harada gets his base hit at Koushien with a single to center. Yoshida bunts him to 2nd.

Nakajima with a drive to left, but Okada is right there for the catch!

Ooe puts up another donut as he gets Takayama to ground to 2nd for the 3rd out!

Bottom 8th
Yoshida's done his job.  He sits down the top of Nishougakusha's lineup in just 6 pitches!

Top 9th
But they need 2 runs here to stay alive.

Needing 2 runs, Minewaki takes a hack at 3-0, and again at 3-1!   Why?!

His third swing flies out to center!  You need baserunners!

Hirayu swings on the first pitch and he flies out to center! 2 out! Just like that, the last chance sits with Kuwahara!

Chopper! Ooe fields it on the left side! Throw to 1st, game set!

The relief battery of Ooe and Imamura shut down the Kaisei offense in the 2nd half, and preserve the lead as they win 7-5!

Well, as the numbers from the Higashi Tokyo taikai show, we now know who the real ace of the staff is.  Ooe doesn't blow you away, but he does make your offense look feeble.

While the overall game isn't pretty, there are good things to take from it as Nishougakushadai moves forward.  Will the fate of the team lie with the rookies?  Time will tell.

Kaisei for their part played a great game, and while they managed to make the make the game close, they just weren't able to put anything together to bridge the gap.  Judging by their success, they'll be back sooner rather than later.