Saibi is the benefactor of Takamatsu Shougyou's win at Meiji Jingu. Their record was just 5-2 during that time, but should be sufficient enough to get the bid. You can't necessarily fault their record either, falling short in extras against Imabari Nishi in the semifinals, then after winning the 3rd place game, beating Kochi Shougyou and Naruto before falling in a close one to Takamatsu Shougyou in the semifinals.
Predominantly the team used ace Kikuchi Satoo (菊池 怜雄) when they needed the game. There is very little information on him that I can find, but in his numbers during the super-regionals, it's not promising. His K/BB tallies was 9/7, 5/6, 5/2, 3/7. 2 of his games he had more free passes than strikeouts, and that's never good.
Offensively, the team does collect hits down the line, though if you wanted me to highlight a batter or two, I could point out leadoff hitter SS Wada Renjirou (和田 蓮次郎) which I have a defensive video for instead of one at the plate, and CF Miura Shunya (三浦 俊哉) though he hits in the 7-hole.
With the pitching apparently on very shaky ground, it is no wonder then that Takamatsu Shougyou didn't mind winning - or maybe that the other teams didn't mind either. Sadly, the team may have reached their peak when they had Jyoukou-kantoku and ace Anraku because it really doesn't look like they have a chance here.
Showing posts with label Saibi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saibi. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Day 10 - Game 1 - Round of 16 - Hanamaki Higashi (Iwate) vs. Saibi (Ehime)
Today's games feature many of the powerhouses that could contend for the title. It also oddly enough is the first of 3 teams where a team from Shikoku is at risk.
Of course, the first team up from the small island is the one perhaps considered to be a favorite to win it all.
But Anraku's first game seemed odd. And it was for several reasons.
First of all Anraku's sitting velocity was all over the place. We'd see him in the mid-upper 130s, then in the low 140s and then he'd go hit high 140s with the occasional 150+.
Which brings me to my second point. The majority of his pitches were fastballs. Yes, his sitting fastball was in a range of mid 130s to high 140s.
What?
Is he throwing fastballs to reduce wear on his arm, and using changes in velocity a la Toua Tokuchi in One Outs, to get batters out? That's an interesting proposition there if it is true.
But perhaps I overspeculate. It probably is that they are just saving his arm. But if that's the case, why leave Anraku in a 9-2 ballgame in the 9th inning when you have #11 Miyata in the pen? Answer probably is, the yakyu default answer - he's the ace and he should finish the game.
Well, we'll see how that goes as the tournament goes on.
Up for them is Hanamaki Higashi who looked.. well, rather un-Hanamaki like in their first game.
Instead they boomed out 5 runs before Hikone Higashi could answer and cruised to a 9-5 win. Yes, they have their slap hitting gnat that just annoys a pitcher and the opposing defense in Chiba Shouta, but otherwise this team does not look like your (um... damn I can't use that analogy) normal Hanamaki Higashi team!
The pitching line from the Hanamaki staff is a mixed bag. They struck out 11, but gave up 9 hits as Hikone was very aggressive at the plate. Should be interesting to see how they fare against Saibi today.
Hanamaki Higasahi (Iwate)
2B Yagi ? (#14)
CF Chiba Shouta
LF Kishisato Ryousuke (#1)
RF Oota Ryousuke
3B Tadano Shouta (#3)
1B Oguma Isamu (#16)
C Yamashita Hayato
SS Mogi Kazuo
P Kouno Masa (#10)
Saibi (Ehime)
RF Yamashita Takuma
SS Hayashi Kanya (#13)
2B Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
3B Oota Yuuya
LF Goutouji Shin (#8)
1B Fujiwara Kouki
CF Machida Takahiro (#6)
C Kaneko Kouhei
____________________________________________________________
08:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
After falling behind 3-0 to leadoff batter Yagi, he goes three straight strikes to for the first out.
Machida for Saibi coming in from LF to play SS, Kanya goes just to the 3rd base side of 2B!
Chiba still beats the shift! He hits it just to the 1B side of 2nd and it's past Usagawa for a base hit!
Anraku having problems with control early as he falls behind Kishisato 3-1...
Single to right! Chiba holds up at 2nd..
Once again, Anraku pitching from behind to Ryousuke also behind 3-1...
Takes a fastball to left for a base hit! Chiba advances a station and it's manrui for Hanamaki Higashi!
AH!
Anraku hits Tadano with a slider forcing in a run! 押し出し! 1-0 Hanamaki Higashi!
Oguma follow that with a fly to center! Machida fields it and Kishisato can walk home to make it 2-0!
Yamashita ball to left! But it hangs up and Goutouji catches it for the 3rd out.
A lot of varying fastballs an slow curves from Anraku, but control issues put Saibi behind early!
Bottom 1st
Yamashita down on a slider down and in from selected starter Kouno.
Kanya with a rip down the 3rd base line, 5-holes Tadano! Kanya presses for 2nd... and gets in just ahead of the throw!
Oh! Now Kouno hits Usagawa with a curve and Saibi has a chance to get those runs back with Anraku up to bat.
Looks early on a swing, tries to 1-hand it and still almost lines it down the right field line!
Kouno though climbs the ladder on him though and gets the K! Yuuya now looked to to get the timely.
But Kouno gets him to go after a change outside! He grounds to Oguma for the 3rd out!
Top 2nd
Sasaki-kantoku has gone almost all lefty against Anraku. But against the bottom of the Hanamaki lineup, Anraku gets back on track.
Mogi with a routine grounder to short, Kouno goes fishing on a fastball on the outer half, and Yagi gets a fastball over the middle, but lines right to Goutouji for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Interesting Kouno that. He's feeding Saibi continuous offspeed pitches either the slider or the change. Goutouji and Fujiwara can't help but try to line those for base hits and instead ground out.
Machida works a well earned walk where we actually get to see him throw fastballs (they're in the low 120s).
But Kaneko goes down looking when Kouno puts a changeup on the outside corner.
Top 3rd
Chiba facing the 5-man infield again... goes down swinging on a slow curve from Anraku for the first out!
But Anraku hits his 2nd batter in Kishisato and Hanamaki has another runner on.
Ryousuke liner down the right field line, fair! Kishisato flying around the bases as Yamashita goes to the corner to field it! Kishisato comes in all the way from 1st to make it a 3-0 ballgame! And they're still threatening!
Tadano comebacker! Fielded by Anraku! He has Ryousuke caught between the bases! He's run down for the 2nd out!
Oguma goes down looking for the 3rd out, but Hanamaki Higashi is extending their lead!
Bottom 3rd
Saibi hasn't been able to figure out Kouno just yet, gets retired in order, and I think I have a theory that will have to wait until next inning.
Top 4th
Yamashita give a good fight to Anraku, but he goes down looking on one of the few sliders he's thrown.
Mogi though continues the barrage on Anraku as Mogi singles past a diving Oota and Machida for a base hit!
Kouno bunts Mogi along for a one timer from Yagi.
But he too goes down looking and the side is retired!
Bottom 4th
I think Kouno is succeeding because he has the same thing that Kazuya did for Obihiro Ootani. If the pitch tracker is to be believed, his fastball is mid 120s at best. His slider is in the upper 110s which is a narrower gap than most. And in the case of slow pitches, it might be helping him out.
Saibi trying to exert extreme patience against Kouno now. Anraku runs the count full before he winds up flying out to right.
Yuuya gets as far as 2-2 before chasing a slider for the 2nd out.
Goutouji goes full as well, fouls off 6 pitches before hitting a single to center.
Fujiwara reached the 3rd full count this inning...
Liner down the 3rd base line... fair!! It gets past Tadano and goes all the way to the wall! Throw goes to 3rd as Fujiwara takes 2nd! Throw back there not in time!
Chance for Saibi as Machida steps in.
He gets behind 1-2 after fouling one off...
But then takes 2 close pitches and fills up the count.
But he's ahead of the changeup! It's a grounder to 3rd and Tadano goes to 1st for the 3rd out!
Top 5th
So the shift is a little different than I described earlier. Machida comes in for CF to take a position way inside - where a fielder would charge to if there was a bunt. the SS plays just about normal.
But with 2 strikes Jyoukou-kantoku pulls him back. As if on cue, Chiba chops one there. Oota charges and throws to 1st to just beat him.
Kishisato up now, and Anraku pulls out the slider one more time! Kishisato goes down swinging for the 2nd out!
And Ryouta goes down swinging for the 3rd out!
Bottom 5th
Kaneko still exhibiting patience draws a leadoff walk!
Sasaki-kantoku pulls Kouno for #11 Nakazato as we hit the top of the order.
Hit and run! Yamashita though goes down swinging! Hayato (crap, there were 2 Yamashitas too) throws to 2nd and gets the counterpart Yamashita out!
Kanya flies out to center to end the inning, and as we hit the break, Saibi is in a bit of trouble down 3-0 with very few scoring chances against Hanamaki Higashi.
Top 6th
Anraku doing his best, to keep the team in it. After giving a leadoff walk and subsequent bunt, he gets 2 straight flyouts to center to keep the deficit at 3.
Bottom 6th
Hmm... The patience strategy seems to be stalling. Usagawa gets rung up when a slider catches the outside corner. After a hard lineout to Yagi, Yuuya gets punched out as well on a fastball on the same outside edge.
Top 7th
Two quick outs and the shift comes up for Chiba again.
Chiba with a drive to right! Where's the RF?? Someone is sprinting back to the wall as Chiba flies around the bases and is in with a triple! He's beaten the shift twice! Though I was expecting the RF to play straight, he was shifted too which isn't as good, but is very One Outs-ish.
Kishisato up to try and add a run.
SANSHIN!!! Anraku dials up the slider yet again to end the inning!
Bottom 7th
One down for Saibi and Fujiwara hits a ball to the left side! Mogi with it, but Fujiwara hustles down the line and is in with a base hit!
Pitch gets away from Hayato! Fujiwara takes off for 2nd as Hayato looks for a foul ball call! Fujiwara going to 3rd!! Hayati scrambles to the ball, fires to 3rd, but not in time!! Fujiwara taking full advantage of the confusion and is now 90 feet away!
Machida back up the middle! Through for a base hit! Fujiwara scores to make it 3-1!
Ah... but Kaneko, not bunting hits a comebacker right to Nakazato! He starts the 1-6-3 double play to end the inning! They're on the board, but still down and running out of time...
Top 8th
Where was this all game? Anraku getting 2 strikes against each of the batters this inning, and retires all 3 via the slider! Where was this in the 1st inning??
Bottom 8th
Takuma first pitch single up the middle for a base hit! Saibi has the lead runner on.
Ah Kanya with grounder to AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yagi trying to get Takuma crossing him, whiffs on the ball instead!! He spins around as the ball goes into right! Takuma takes 3rd and Hanamaki is in a pinch!
Sasaki-kantoku pulls Nakazato for #17 Hosokawa to preserve the lead.
ダメです！！！！！！
Usagawa first pitch singles to right center!! Takuma scores and it's 3-2! And Anraku is stepping to the plate!
Ah, but he bails out on the 1-2 and hits it to 2nd! Yagi this time smothers it, tags Usagawa and throws out a very awkward head-sliding Anraku for the double play!! Kanya goes to 3rd, but there's 2 out.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yuuya swings on the first pitch, hard grounder to short! Mogi dives, but it deflects off his glove!! It trickles into the outfield for a base hit and Kanya walks home! We're 同点 at 3-3!!!
Goutouji unlike all the other batters this inning, plays waiting game. Fights at full count and draws a walk!! Gyakuten run in scoring position as Sasaki-kantoku calls time.
Ah! Goutouji is caught off 1st! They run him down, but then run down Yuuya in some rundown I don't think I'll figure out. Let's just say he's run down and the inning is over.
BUT! Saibi has tied the ball game and Anraku has seemingly gotten his groove back!
Top 9th
Where other teams might be pressing though, Hanamaki Higashi appears to be showing some calmness at the plate. They're taking pitches and waiting for something to hit.
Both Hayato and Mogi go deep into the count before flying out to right.
Hosokawa singles to left with 2 down and the top of the lineup coming up!
But Yagi hits into a fielders choice at 2nd and the inning is over. Anraku holds the line...
Bottom 9th
As his team has a sayonara chance in the bottom of the 9th. And with Chiba leading off the inning for Hanamaki, it would behoove them to win in regulation.
Fujiwara out in front of a pitch and grounds to 3rd. Tadano with it, throws to first... AHHHH!!!!!!
It's out of Oguma's glove! Tadano's throw one hops to Oguma and he can't secure it! Sayonara run on for Saibi!
Machida lays down a perfect bunt and now the runner is in scoring position!!
Kaneko up and it doesn't look like they're really pitching to him as they fall behind 3-0! Ah, but Hosokawa fires one, then another into the zone and the count runs full.
Kaneko with an excuse me swing pops out to Mogi at 2nd and there's 2 down for Saibi.
What?? Kishisato is taking the mound??!!!
I don't know what to say about this move. Kishisato never pitched in the prefecurals!
To put Kishisato on the mound, Tadano goes to LF and #5 Mihara comes in for Hosokawa to take 3B.
And he does it! Takuma grounds to short! Mogi goes to 1st and Hanamaki is out of the pinch! We're to enchousen!
Top 10th
Chiba up, no shift this time..
But he still finds a way! Single to center to start the extra frame.
Kishisato grounder up the 1st base side AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
It gets by Fujiwara and down the right field line!! Chiba easily in at 3rd! Kishisato digging for 2 makes it! Jyoukou-kantoku calling time...
And they'll load the bases for the force... ball 4 to Ryousuke and now Tadano comes up.
Anraku pumping fastballs to the plate. Gets Tadano on a slider for the first out!
But he can't get clean out of it! Oguma singles to left! Chiba comes home and it's 4-3!
Hayato now with a fly to deep left center. Goutouji has it, and Kishisato can come in to make it 5-3! Oh it's not looking good...
AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mogi with a drive to right center!! That splits the defense!!! One run in... Oguma rounding 3rd... he scores on the triple from Mogi!! 4 runs for Hanamaki Higashi this inning might spell Saibi's downfall!! It's 7-3!!
Bottom 10th
Kanya down 0-2 to Kishisato... He singles through to left!
Usagawa up, and Saibi not panicking. He works the count full and takes a walk!
That puts 2 up for Anraku. Wouldn't it be funny if..
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anraku a bomb to right center!! The OF are giving up near the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anraku delivers a 3-run HR to pull Saibi within 1, IT'S 7-6!!!!
Yuuya with a popup to the left side. Mihara, Mogi and Tadano all converge on it...
NO ONE GETS IT AND IT FALLS FAIR!!!!!
It catches the line and Yuuya is at 2nd!!
From down 7-3, Saibi has the douten runner at 2nd!
Goutouji in to bunt... But it's too hard! Kishisato goes to 3rd, but Mihara drops it!
AHH!!! But Yuuya held up! Now he's run down! They tag him out and now there 1 out with a runner on 1st!
Still the douten runner still on base.
Morita up for his first AB.
Grounder to 3rd! Mihara to 2nd for one, throw to first...
GAME SET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Morita grounds into the 5-4-3 double play and the game is over!!
Ah the momentum for Saibi complete dissolves and Hanamaki Higashi holds on for the victory!
Hanamaki Higashi, seemingly in control, sees their lead disappear. But they don't panic, go into extras, pull Kishisato out of a hat on the mound, has a Hanamaki Higashi style inning and holds on for the win.
As for Anraku, he's inconsolable as Hanamaki Higashi celebrates the win... as well as the other players having been eliminated way too early for their expectation.
But they certainly fought back not once but twice... though the 2nd rally falls just short.
He's better now in the interview, not visibly crying, but I'm sure there will be some when the cameras are gone.. I'm sure he's apologizing to his seniors for not helping them reach total victory. He'll have one more go, but for those seniors the summer is over and I'm sure he's sorry for that.
And for the rest of the field... it just opened up even further...
Notable Players
Chiba Shouta (Hanamaki Higashi) - 3-5, 3B, 2 R
Oota Ryousuke (Hanamaki Higashi) - 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - 10 IP, 7 ER, 11 H, 14 K, 2 BB, 2 HBP
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - 1-5, HR, R, 3 RBI
Fujiwara Kouki (Saibi) - 2-5, 2B, R
Of course, the first team up from the small island is the one perhaps considered to be a favorite to win it all.
But Anraku's first game seemed odd. And it was for several reasons.
First of all Anraku's sitting velocity was all over the place. We'd see him in the mid-upper 130s, then in the low 140s and then he'd go hit high 140s with the occasional 150+.
Which brings me to my second point. The majority of his pitches were fastballs. Yes, his sitting fastball was in a range of mid 130s to high 140s.
What?
Is he throwing fastballs to reduce wear on his arm, and using changes in velocity a la Toua Tokuchi in One Outs, to get batters out? That's an interesting proposition there if it is true.
But perhaps I overspeculate. It probably is that they are just saving his arm. But if that's the case, why leave Anraku in a 9-2 ballgame in the 9th inning when you have #11 Miyata in the pen? Answer probably is, the yakyu default answer - he's the ace and he should finish the game.
Well, we'll see how that goes as the tournament goes on.
Up for them is Hanamaki Higashi who looked.. well, rather un-Hanamaki like in their first game.
Instead they boomed out 5 runs before Hikone Higashi could answer and cruised to a 9-5 win. Yes, they have their slap hitting gnat that just annoys a pitcher and the opposing defense in Chiba Shouta, but otherwise this team does not look like your (um... damn I can't use that analogy) normal Hanamaki Higashi team!
The pitching line from the Hanamaki staff is a mixed bag. They struck out 11, but gave up 9 hits as Hikone was very aggressive at the plate. Should be interesting to see how they fare against Saibi today.
Hanamaki Higasahi (Iwate)
2B Yagi ? (#14)
CF Chiba Shouta
LF Kishisato Ryousuke (#1)
RF Oota Ryousuke
3B Tadano Shouta (#3)
1B Oguma Isamu (#16)
C Yamashita Hayato
SS Mogi Kazuo
P Kouno Masa (#10)
Saibi (Ehime)
RF Yamashita Takuma
SS Hayashi Kanya (#13)
2B Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
3B Oota Yuuya
LF Goutouji Shin (#8)
1B Fujiwara Kouki
CF Machida Takahiro (#6)
C Kaneko Kouhei
____________________________________________________________
08:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
After falling behind 3-0 to leadoff batter Yagi, he goes three straight strikes to for the first out.
Machida for Saibi coming in from LF to play SS, Kanya goes just to the 3rd base side of 2B!
Chiba still beats the shift! He hits it just to the 1B side of 2nd and it's past Usagawa for a base hit!
Anraku having problems with control early as he falls behind Kishisato 3-1...
Single to right! Chiba holds up at 2nd..
Once again, Anraku pitching from behind to Ryousuke also behind 3-1...
Takes a fastball to left for a base hit! Chiba advances a station and it's manrui for Hanamaki Higashi!
AH!
Anraku hits Tadano with a slider forcing in a run! 押し出し! 1-0 Hanamaki Higashi!
Oguma follow that with a fly to center! Machida fields it and Kishisato can walk home to make it 2-0!
Yamashita ball to left! But it hangs up and Goutouji catches it for the 3rd out.
A lot of varying fastballs an slow curves from Anraku, but control issues put Saibi behind early!
Bottom 1st
Yamashita down on a slider down and in from selected starter Kouno.
Kanya with a rip down the 3rd base line, 5-holes Tadano! Kanya presses for 2nd... and gets in just ahead of the throw!
Oh! Now Kouno hits Usagawa with a curve and Saibi has a chance to get those runs back with Anraku up to bat.
Looks early on a swing, tries to 1-hand it and still almost lines it down the right field line!
Kouno though climbs the ladder on him though and gets the K! Yuuya now looked to to get the timely.
But Kouno gets him to go after a change outside! He grounds to Oguma for the 3rd out!
Top 2nd
Sasaki-kantoku has gone almost all lefty against Anraku. But against the bottom of the Hanamaki lineup, Anraku gets back on track.
Mogi with a routine grounder to short, Kouno goes fishing on a fastball on the outer half, and Yagi gets a fastball over the middle, but lines right to Goutouji for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Interesting Kouno that. He's feeding Saibi continuous offspeed pitches either the slider or the change. Goutouji and Fujiwara can't help but try to line those for base hits and instead ground out.
Machida works a well earned walk where we actually get to see him throw fastballs (they're in the low 120s).
But Kaneko goes down looking when Kouno puts a changeup on the outside corner.
Top 3rd
Chiba facing the 5-man infield again... goes down swinging on a slow curve from Anraku for the first out!
But Anraku hits his 2nd batter in Kishisato and Hanamaki has another runner on.
Ryousuke liner down the right field line, fair! Kishisato flying around the bases as Yamashita goes to the corner to field it! Kishisato comes in all the way from 1st to make it a 3-0 ballgame! And they're still threatening!
Tadano comebacker! Fielded by Anraku! He has Ryousuke caught between the bases! He's run down for the 2nd out!
Oguma goes down looking for the 3rd out, but Hanamaki Higashi is extending their lead!
Bottom 3rd
Saibi hasn't been able to figure out Kouno just yet, gets retired in order, and I think I have a theory that will have to wait until next inning.
Top 4th
Yamashita give a good fight to Anraku, but he goes down looking on one of the few sliders he's thrown.
Mogi though continues the barrage on Anraku as Mogi singles past a diving Oota and Machida for a base hit!
Kouno bunts Mogi along for a one timer from Yagi.
But he too goes down looking and the side is retired!
Bottom 4th
I think Kouno is succeeding because he has the same thing that Kazuya did for Obihiro Ootani. If the pitch tracker is to be believed, his fastball is mid 120s at best. His slider is in the upper 110s which is a narrower gap than most. And in the case of slow pitches, it might be helping him out.
Saibi trying to exert extreme patience against Kouno now. Anraku runs the count full before he winds up flying out to right.
Yuuya gets as far as 2-2 before chasing a slider for the 2nd out.
Goutouji goes full as well, fouls off 6 pitches before hitting a single to center.
Fujiwara reached the 3rd full count this inning...
Liner down the 3rd base line... fair!! It gets past Tadano and goes all the way to the wall! Throw goes to 3rd as Fujiwara takes 2nd! Throw back there not in time!
Chance for Saibi as Machida steps in.
He gets behind 1-2 after fouling one off...
But then takes 2 close pitches and fills up the count.
But he's ahead of the changeup! It's a grounder to 3rd and Tadano goes to 1st for the 3rd out!
Top 5th
So the shift is a little different than I described earlier. Machida comes in for CF to take a position way inside - where a fielder would charge to if there was a bunt. the SS plays just about normal.
But with 2 strikes Jyoukou-kantoku pulls him back. As if on cue, Chiba chops one there. Oota charges and throws to 1st to just beat him.
Kishisato up now, and Anraku pulls out the slider one more time! Kishisato goes down swinging for the 2nd out!
And Ryouta goes down swinging for the 3rd out!
Bottom 5th
Kaneko still exhibiting patience draws a leadoff walk!
Sasaki-kantoku pulls Kouno for #11 Nakazato as we hit the top of the order.
Hit and run! Yamashita though goes down swinging! Hayato (crap, there were 2 Yamashitas too) throws to 2nd and gets the counterpart Yamashita out!
Kanya flies out to center to end the inning, and as we hit the break, Saibi is in a bit of trouble down 3-0 with very few scoring chances against Hanamaki Higashi.
Top 6th
Anraku doing his best, to keep the team in it. After giving a leadoff walk and subsequent bunt, he gets 2 straight flyouts to center to keep the deficit at 3.
Bottom 6th
Hmm... The patience strategy seems to be stalling. Usagawa gets rung up when a slider catches the outside corner. After a hard lineout to Yagi, Yuuya gets punched out as well on a fastball on the same outside edge.
Top 7th
Two quick outs and the shift comes up for Chiba again.
Chiba with a drive to right! Where's the RF?? Someone is sprinting back to the wall as Chiba flies around the bases and is in with a triple! He's beaten the shift twice! Though I was expecting the RF to play straight, he was shifted too which isn't as good, but is very One Outs-ish.
Kishisato up to try and add a run.
SANSHIN!!! Anraku dials up the slider yet again to end the inning!
Bottom 7th
One down for Saibi and Fujiwara hits a ball to the left side! Mogi with it, but Fujiwara hustles down the line and is in with a base hit!
Pitch gets away from Hayato! Fujiwara takes off for 2nd as Hayato looks for a foul ball call! Fujiwara going to 3rd!! Hayati scrambles to the ball, fires to 3rd, but not in time!! Fujiwara taking full advantage of the confusion and is now 90 feet away!
Machida back up the middle! Through for a base hit! Fujiwara scores to make it 3-1!
Ah... but Kaneko, not bunting hits a comebacker right to Nakazato! He starts the 1-6-3 double play to end the inning! They're on the board, but still down and running out of time...
Top 8th
Where was this all game? Anraku getting 2 strikes against each of the batters this inning, and retires all 3 via the slider! Where was this in the 1st inning??
Bottom 8th
Takuma first pitch single up the middle for a base hit! Saibi has the lead runner on.
Ah Kanya with grounder to AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yagi trying to get Takuma crossing him, whiffs on the ball instead!! He spins around as the ball goes into right! Takuma takes 3rd and Hanamaki is in a pinch!
Sasaki-kantoku pulls Nakazato for #17 Hosokawa to preserve the lead.
ダメです！！！！！！
Usagawa first pitch singles to right center!! Takuma scores and it's 3-2! And Anraku is stepping to the plate!
Ah, but he bails out on the 1-2 and hits it to 2nd! Yagi this time smothers it, tags Usagawa and throws out a very awkward head-sliding Anraku for the double play!! Kanya goes to 3rd, but there's 2 out.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yuuya swings on the first pitch, hard grounder to short! Mogi dives, but it deflects off his glove!! It trickles into the outfield for a base hit and Kanya walks home! We're 同点 at 3-3!!!
Goutouji unlike all the other batters this inning, plays waiting game. Fights at full count and draws a walk!! Gyakuten run in scoring position as Sasaki-kantoku calls time.
Ah! Goutouji is caught off 1st! They run him down, but then run down Yuuya in some rundown I don't think I'll figure out. Let's just say he's run down and the inning is over.
BUT! Saibi has tied the ball game and Anraku has seemingly gotten his groove back!
Top 9th
Where other teams might be pressing though, Hanamaki Higashi appears to be showing some calmness at the plate. They're taking pitches and waiting for something to hit.
Both Hayato and Mogi go deep into the count before flying out to right.
Hosokawa singles to left with 2 down and the top of the lineup coming up!
But Yagi hits into a fielders choice at 2nd and the inning is over. Anraku holds the line...
Bottom 9th
As his team has a sayonara chance in the bottom of the 9th. And with Chiba leading off the inning for Hanamaki, it would behoove them to win in regulation.
Fujiwara out in front of a pitch and grounds to 3rd. Tadano with it, throws to first... AHHHH!!!!!!
It's out of Oguma's glove! Tadano's throw one hops to Oguma and he can't secure it! Sayonara run on for Saibi!
Machida lays down a perfect bunt and now the runner is in scoring position!!
Kaneko up and it doesn't look like they're really pitching to him as they fall behind 3-0! Ah, but Hosokawa fires one, then another into the zone and the count runs full.
Kaneko with an excuse me swing pops out to Mogi at 2nd and there's 2 down for Saibi.
What?? Kishisato is taking the mound??!!!
I don't know what to say about this move. Kishisato never pitched in the prefecurals!
To put Kishisato on the mound, Tadano goes to LF and #5 Mihara comes in for Hosokawa to take 3B.
And he does it! Takuma grounds to short! Mogi goes to 1st and Hanamaki is out of the pinch! We're to enchousen!
Top 10th
Chiba up, no shift this time..
But he still finds a way! Single to center to start the extra frame.
Kishisato grounder up the 1st base side AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
It gets by Fujiwara and down the right field line!! Chiba easily in at 3rd! Kishisato digging for 2 makes it! Jyoukou-kantoku calling time...
And they'll load the bases for the force... ball 4 to Ryousuke and now Tadano comes up.
Anraku pumping fastballs to the plate. Gets Tadano on a slider for the first out!
But he can't get clean out of it! Oguma singles to left! Chiba comes home and it's 4-3!
Hayato now with a fly to deep left center. Goutouji has it, and Kishisato can come in to make it 5-3! Oh it's not looking good...
AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mogi with a drive to right center!! That splits the defense!!! One run in... Oguma rounding 3rd... he scores on the triple from Mogi!! 4 runs for Hanamaki Higashi this inning might spell Saibi's downfall!! It's 7-3!!
Bottom 10th
Kanya down 0-2 to Kishisato... He singles through to left!
Usagawa up, and Saibi not panicking. He works the count full and takes a walk!
That puts 2 up for Anraku. Wouldn't it be funny if..
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anraku a bomb to right center!! The OF are giving up near the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anraku delivers a 3-run HR to pull Saibi within 1, IT'S 7-6!!!!
Yuuya with a popup to the left side. Mihara, Mogi and Tadano all converge on it...
NO ONE GETS IT AND IT FALLS FAIR!!!!!
It catches the line and Yuuya is at 2nd!!
From down 7-3, Saibi has the douten runner at 2nd!
Goutouji in to bunt... But it's too hard! Kishisato goes to 3rd, but Mihara drops it!
AHH!!! But Yuuya held up! Now he's run down! They tag him out and now there 1 out with a runner on 1st!
Still the douten runner still on base.
Morita up for his first AB.
Grounder to 3rd! Mihara to 2nd for one, throw to first...
GAME SET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Morita grounds into the 5-4-3 double play and the game is over!!
Ah the momentum for Saibi complete dissolves and Hanamaki Higashi holds on for the victory!
Hanamaki Higashi, seemingly in control, sees their lead disappear. But they don't panic, go into extras, pull Kishisato out of a hat on the mound, has a Hanamaki Higashi style inning and holds on for the win.
As for Anraku, he's inconsolable as Hanamaki Higashi celebrates the win... as well as the other players having been eliminated way too early for their expectation.
But they certainly fought back not once but twice... though the 2nd rally falls just short.
He's better now in the interview, not visibly crying, but I'm sure there will be some when the cameras are gone.. I'm sure he's apologizing to his seniors for not helping them reach total victory. He'll have one more go, but for those seniors the summer is over and I'm sure he's sorry for that.
And for the rest of the field... it just opened up even further...
Notable Players
Chiba Shouta (Hanamaki Higashi) - 3-5, 3B, 2 R
Oota Ryousuke (Hanamaki Higashi) - 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - 10 IP, 7 ER, 11 H, 14 K, 2 BB, 2 HBP
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - 1-5, HR, R, 3 RBI
Fujiwara Kouki (Saibi) - 2-5, 2B, R
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Day 7 - Game 2 - Saibi (Ehime) vs. Mie (Mie)
It's been almost one whole week, and we finally get to see the ace that everyone's talked about for months, and has even been the subject of talk in the states - Saibi's Anraku Tomohiro. His run through Senbatsu was one that was documented and questioned thoroughly especially after his eventual breakdown not just in the finals, but in the semifinals as well.
Surprisingly, it almost didn't happen. Against Kawanoe in the semifinals they actually trailed 2-0 entering the 8th inning. But, they would rally for the victory and have no problems with Imabari Nishi for the title.
Anraku is still as advertised. Throwing even harder now - expect low-mid 150s with a cut ball, slider and curve. I don't know if he's going to try and hit 160 considering last spring, but he will throw hard.
The ony question for him now, can he last through the blazing (and I mean approaching 40C) heat to finish what he couldn't in the spring?
Sadly for me Mie wound up drawing the short straw. Interestingly, they actually had to defeat more than their share of strong teams to win the tournament. Starting in round 2 they barely beat out Inabe Sougou Gakuen 2-1. Then their final 3 games were against defending champ Matsusaka, Uji-Yamada Shougyou and then Komono. Oddly, they got through those games easier than against Inabe Sougou.
I don't have anything on ace Wakabayashi Hiroto, and offensively probably you can focus on Utsunomiya Azuma and Nishimura Koudai.
Other than that, I got no other info on these guys. (Which doesn't portend good things for them against Anraku... and I wanted Mie to win a game too...)
Saibi (Ehime)
RF Yamashita Takuma
SS Hayashi Kanya (#13)
2B Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
3B Oota Yuuya
LF Goutouji Shin (#8)
1B Fujiwara Kouki
CF Machida Takahiro (#6)
C Kaneko Kouhei
Mie (Mie)
LF Hamamura Eisaku
SS Nishimura Koudai
CF Nagano Hayato
2B Utsunomiya Azuma
1B Shimada Takumi
RF Ogawa Ryuusei
3B Seko Ren
C Kitade Kazuma
P Wakabayashi Hiroto
____________________________________________________________
10:31 - First Pitch
Top 1st
Yamashita starts off the game on a great note with a single back up the middle. Kanya moves him along to 2nd.
Usagawa liner to short! Nishimura catches it, throws to 2nd
OW...
Utsunomiya misses the ball and it hits Yamashita in the face. The ball deflects back a good amount back to 3rd and he's pulled out for an injury runner.
And Wakabayashi gets Anraku to one-hand a swing and pop it up! Utsunomiya behind 2nd, makes the catch for the out.
Bottom 1st
After about a 10 minute delay, Yamashita has to be pulled. #15 Morita comes in to replace him
How will the delay affect Anraku?
Hamamura takes a 151 fastball the other way through short for a base hit!
Nishimura falls behind 0-2 trying to bun, goes for the three-bunt... but fails. One down.
Nagano gets a hold of a slider! Morita running back... it's over his head! Hamamura coming round 3rd, being waved home! Throw goes to 3rd and it's 1-0 Mie!
AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wild pitch all the way to the backstop and Nagano scores to make it 2-0!
Anraku finally settles down as he gets Utsunomiya to chase a 151 fastball away for strike 2 and then Shimada makes contact on a 155 fastball but grounds out to 2nd.
But surprising start for Mieko here in the 1st as they jump on Anraku after the delay!
Top 2nd
Ah, Wakabayashi hits Oota to start off the inning. Goutouji bunts him along to 2nd.
But Wakabayashi then hits Fujiwara! He's not making things easy on himself after being given a lead.
Then he turns around and gets Machida on a fastball outside for the 2nd out! He's almost out of it.
And then he walks Kaneko on 4 straight - it's manrui now!! What is going on?
EH????
He still can't throw a strike! Falls behind 2-0... 3-0!
OSHIDASHI!!!
He walks in a run, literally! Saibi gets a run back at 2-1!
Okita-kantoku calls time as Nishimura steps in. He'd better be waiting because Wakabayashi can't hit the broadside of a barn.
Nope, goes after the first pitch because I guess they think he'll have to just pump in a strike instead temporarily instead of whatever strategy they had.
But he flies out to deep right and the inning is over. Wakabayashi fortunate to have gotten away with just 1 run.
Bottom 2nd
Ogawa lines a single to left off Anraku to lead off the 2nd! Seko bunts him into scoring position.
But Anraku has the upper hand against the bottom of Mie's order. Kitade is jammed and grounds to first. Wakabayashi goes after an outside fastball and grounds to 2nd.
Top 3rd
Usagawa with a ball to left center! Hamamura sprinting to his left, dives... misses it!!
It goes all the way to the wall as Nagano backing up runs it down! Usagawa pushes for 3rd... slides in safely! Already douten chance for Saibi!
But Wakabayashi gets Anraku for the 2nd time! Popup to short, 1 down!
Back to control issues though as he falls behind Oota... and walks him. Runners at the corners for Goutouji.
Jammed! Blooper to right center! Nagano sprinting in... dives... can't get it!
It falls in and Usagawa scores. 同点! 2-2!
Machida with a base hit to center! Oota being waved home!! Throw from Nagano, up the 1st base line! Machida with the 逆転 timely and Saibi leads 3-2!
That'll be it for Wakabayashi. #11 Masaki comes in to replace him.
But there's no relief so far. Full count to Kaneko, gets hit for another manrui situation.
Morita comebacker, snagged by Masaki!! Goes to 1st, but the damage has been done. Wakabayashi's wildness costs his team the early 2-run lead!
Bottom 3rd
Once again, baserunner for Mie! Hamamura takes a slider inside and singles back up the middle! Nishimura will bunt the douten run over.
Nagano gets jammed! Kanya behind the mound makes the catch for the 2nd out!
Utsunomiya up, and he's swinging away. 149 up, missed. 153 outside.. missed.
Anraku goes 154 and Utsunomiya goes down on 3 straight!
Top 4th
Masaki perhaps settling down as Kanya flies out to center.
Oh! He goes 143 to punch out Usagawa!
And then 145 to get Anraku? Wakabayashi was the main ace during the Mie taikai, so I'm confused now.
Bottom 4th
Anraku was never touted to be unhittable. That went to Matsui over at Toukou Gakuen.
Mie certainly getting their hacks in. Ogawa checks in with a single past a sprinting Usagawa for a one-out single.
Okita-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run! Seko though hits it right back to Anraku who goes to 1st for the 2nd out.
Kitade trying to get the douten runner home, takes an outside fastball the other way, but right to Usagawa for the 3rd out.
Top 5th
So Masaki throws low 140s with a slider in the low 130s.
Oota flies out to center to start the inning before Masaki hits Goutouji.
Fujiwara battling Masaki fouling of several pitches. Hits liner to right side, caught by Utsunomiya! Goes to 1st and doubles out Goutouji to end the inning!
Bottom 5th
Masaki with a ball to left center, but Goutouji over makes the catch.
Hamamura has Anraku's number this game as he singles back up the middle yet again!
If only Nishimura could have similar luck. Hig goun as he grounds to 2nd. Usagawa goes to 1st for the 2nd out.
And Anraku, decided to go with only fastballs, strikes out Nagano on 3 straight to end the inning.
Mie heads to the break having frittered away an early 2-0 lead. But they have been getting their knocks in against Anraku, so there still seems like a chance to get back in the gane.
Top 6th
Machida starts the inning taking a very close 3-2 pitch outside and drawing the walk.
Pitch gets away from Masaki and Machida takes 2nd!
Kaneko with a weak grounder to short allowing Machida to move 90 feet.
Morita gets the job done. Fly to right caught by Ogawa, but no chance at home. Machida scores to make it a 4-2 ballgame.
Kanya follows that up on the next pitch with a base hit to left.
Uh oh. Thinks may be falling apart for Masaki as Usagawa singles past Nishimura.
But once again the pitchers for Mie retire Anraku! He hits a liner to short and the damage is limited just 1 run.
Bottom 6th
Oof. Cleanup batter Utsunomiya chases a 150 fastball near the LH batters box for the 1st out.
Shimada elects to go after the slider but pops out to Fujiwara.
And Ogawa tries to get around on an Anraku fastball, but not quite, grounding to Usagawa for the 3rd out.
Top 7th
If there's something that Masaki is doing well, its going around the zone pitching outside, but also inside to the batters.
Oota chases a high slider for the 1st out, and then because I wrote that about him, he leaves one in the middle that Gotouji takes to right.
Fujiwara with a grounder to 3rd, Seko goes to 2nd... AH!!
Seko throws it low and it gets by Utsunomiya! Everyone's safe! Trouble for Mieko as Kaneko steps in...
Oh...
Kaneko deep drive right! Ogawa, playing in, runs back but it's over his head!! Both runners score as Kaneko slides in with a 2-RBI triple to make to 6-2.
Morita with a blooper to left. Hamamura coming in dives, and can only trap it! Morita's RBI single makes it a 7-2 game.
Kanya flies out to center, but Saibi looks to be in control.
Bottom 7th
Okita emptying bench.#16 Watsuji hitting for Seko, flies out to left.
Kitade gets caught looking at a fastball on the outer half of the plate, and #17 Nakano hitting for Masaki grounds to short for a 1-2-3 inning.
Top 8th
Watsuji stays in the game to play 3B while #18 Imai comes in for PH Nakano and takes the hill.
He's a lefty who throws in the upper 120s, so nothing really special there.
He winds up walking Ankraku with 1 down, and Jyoukou-kantoku will try and play for a run as Oota bunts him over.
And the get it when Imai leaves one over that Goutouji drives over Hamamura's head for a double. 8-2 in favor of Saibi.
Fujiwara grounder to 2nd and the inning is over.
Bottom 8th
Hamamura gets a bad break as Kaneko sells the outside corner for the 1st out.
Nishimura comebacker to Anraku, and I think I've figured out what's been nagging me about Anraku right now. I'll explain after the game.
Nagano swings at a fastball high and in and pops out to Kanya for the 3rd out.
Top 9th
Imai almost gets a 1-2-3 inning after two quick retirements, but much like the entire game for Mie, he walks Morita.
Morita goes for 2nd, throw from Kitade skips by Nishimura and into center. Morita takes 3rd.
Kanya lines a single over Nishimura and it's a 9-2 ballgame.
Usagawa lines out to left and the inning is over.
Bottom 9th
Last chance for Mie.
Utsunomiya starts off the inning with a base hit to right.
Down 7, no bunting and Shimada with one to the left side past Kanya for a base hit. Runners on 1st and 2nd.
Ogawa up, and he hits a ball to center. Machida charging in, dives.. but misses it! Runners scramble to advance. Throw from Morita to 3rd... OVER EVERYONE!!! It goes into the camera well and the runners get 90 more feet. Utsunomiya scores to make it 9-3.
Eh? Now Anraku hits Watsuji and it's manrui!
#13 Yamaguchi to hit for Imai.
Liner to right! That falls in! Runners move a station and it's 9-4.
Hamamura liner to left! Goutouji running back, leaps!
IT'S OVER HIS HEAD!!
Goutouji flops on the grass as the ball goes to the wall! Machida backing up gets the ball in, but it's a 2-run double and it's 9-6!! With only one down!
Douten runner in Nishimura up. Drive to center!
But Machida is there for the catch. Yamaguchi comes home and it's a 9-7 game.
Douten runner still comes up in Nagano, but now there's 2 out.
Nagano last chance..
Fastball, grounder to 2nd! Usagawa with it, goes to 1st... game set!!
Anraku and Mieko makes it interesting in the 9th, but 7 runs just too much to overcome, Saibi advances 9-7!
Man, the one thing that endears me to Mie is the fact that it seems more than any other team, they wear their emotions on their sleeve. Doesn't even matter which year, you see a lot of them now crying and that's ok.
Oh, so the thing that was nagging me about Anraku. In the spirit of trying to preserve him is he just not throwing as hard as he could? Becaseu we saw him hit higher speeds on the gun.
But if you're conserving and then going for it whenever you like, doesn't that mess with your mechanics? And it's not like you can turn the speed on and off like a switch and still be effective. I mean there is the case of Verlander who gets stronger as the game goes along, but I could liken that to a slow warmup. That isn't this.
And the struggle in the 9th is concerning as well. It may very well be worth watching in their next game... Against Hanamaki Higashi in Day 10!
Notable Players
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - CG, 7 ER, 11 H, 7 K, 0 BB/HBP
Goutouji Shin (Saibi) - 3-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, HBP
Morita Shouhei (Saibi) - 1-2, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Hamamura Eisaku (Mie) - 4-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Ogawa Ryuusei (Mie) - 3-4, R
Surprisingly, it almost didn't happen. Against Kawanoe in the semifinals they actually trailed 2-0 entering the 8th inning. But, they would rally for the victory and have no problems with Imabari Nishi for the title.
Anraku is still as advertised. Throwing even harder now - expect low-mid 150s with a cut ball, slider and curve. I don't know if he's going to try and hit 160 considering last spring, but he will throw hard.
The ony question for him now, can he last through the blazing (and I mean approaching 40C) heat to finish what he couldn't in the spring?
Sadly for me Mie wound up drawing the short straw. Interestingly, they actually had to defeat more than their share of strong teams to win the tournament. Starting in round 2 they barely beat out Inabe Sougou Gakuen 2-1. Then their final 3 games were against defending champ Matsusaka, Uji-Yamada Shougyou and then Komono. Oddly, they got through those games easier than against Inabe Sougou.
I don't have anything on ace Wakabayashi Hiroto, and offensively probably you can focus on Utsunomiya Azuma and Nishimura Koudai.
Other than that, I got no other info on these guys. (Which doesn't portend good things for them against Anraku... and I wanted Mie to win a game too...)
Saibi (Ehime)
RF Yamashita Takuma
SS Hayashi Kanya (#13)
2B Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
3B Oota Yuuya
LF Goutouji Shin (#8)
1B Fujiwara Kouki
CF Machida Takahiro (#6)
C Kaneko Kouhei
Mie (Mie)
LF Hamamura Eisaku
SS Nishimura Koudai
CF Nagano Hayato
2B Utsunomiya Azuma
1B Shimada Takumi
RF Ogawa Ryuusei
3B Seko Ren
C Kitade Kazuma
P Wakabayashi Hiroto
____________________________________________________________
10:31 - First Pitch
Top 1st
Yamashita starts off the game on a great note with a single back up the middle. Kanya moves him along to 2nd.
Usagawa liner to short! Nishimura catches it, throws to 2nd
OW...
Utsunomiya misses the ball and it hits Yamashita in the face. The ball deflects back a good amount back to 3rd and he's pulled out for an injury runner.
And Wakabayashi gets Anraku to one-hand a swing and pop it up! Utsunomiya behind 2nd, makes the catch for the out.
Bottom 1st
After about a 10 minute delay, Yamashita has to be pulled. #15 Morita comes in to replace him
How will the delay affect Anraku?
Hamamura takes a 151 fastball the other way through short for a base hit!
Nishimura falls behind 0-2 trying to bun, goes for the three-bunt... but fails. One down.
Nagano gets a hold of a slider! Morita running back... it's over his head! Hamamura coming round 3rd, being waved home! Throw goes to 3rd and it's 1-0 Mie!
AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wild pitch all the way to the backstop and Nagano scores to make it 2-0!
Anraku finally settles down as he gets Utsunomiya to chase a 151 fastball away for strike 2 and then Shimada makes contact on a 155 fastball but grounds out to 2nd.
But surprising start for Mieko here in the 1st as they jump on Anraku after the delay!
Top 2nd
Ah, Wakabayashi hits Oota to start off the inning. Goutouji bunts him along to 2nd.
But Wakabayashi then hits Fujiwara! He's not making things easy on himself after being given a lead.
Then he turns around and gets Machida on a fastball outside for the 2nd out! He's almost out of it.
And then he walks Kaneko on 4 straight - it's manrui now!! What is going on?
EH????
He still can't throw a strike! Falls behind 2-0... 3-0!
OSHIDASHI!!!
He walks in a run, literally! Saibi gets a run back at 2-1!
Okita-kantoku calls time as Nishimura steps in. He'd better be waiting because Wakabayashi can't hit the broadside of a barn.
Nope, goes after the first pitch because I guess they think he'll have to just pump in a strike instead temporarily instead of whatever strategy they had.
But he flies out to deep right and the inning is over. Wakabayashi fortunate to have gotten away with just 1 run.
Bottom 2nd
Ogawa lines a single to left off Anraku to lead off the 2nd! Seko bunts him into scoring position.
But Anraku has the upper hand against the bottom of Mie's order. Kitade is jammed and grounds to first. Wakabayashi goes after an outside fastball and grounds to 2nd.
Top 3rd
Usagawa with a ball to left center! Hamamura sprinting to his left, dives... misses it!!
It goes all the way to the wall as Nagano backing up runs it down! Usagawa pushes for 3rd... slides in safely! Already douten chance for Saibi!
But Wakabayashi gets Anraku for the 2nd time! Popup to short, 1 down!
Back to control issues though as he falls behind Oota... and walks him. Runners at the corners for Goutouji.
Jammed! Blooper to right center! Nagano sprinting in... dives... can't get it!
It falls in and Usagawa scores. 同点! 2-2!
Machida with a base hit to center! Oota being waved home!! Throw from Nagano, up the 1st base line! Machida with the 逆転 timely and Saibi leads 3-2!
That'll be it for Wakabayashi. #11 Masaki comes in to replace him.
But there's no relief so far. Full count to Kaneko, gets hit for another manrui situation.
Morita comebacker, snagged by Masaki!! Goes to 1st, but the damage has been done. Wakabayashi's wildness costs his team the early 2-run lead!
Bottom 3rd
Once again, baserunner for Mie! Hamamura takes a slider inside and singles back up the middle! Nishimura will bunt the douten run over.
Nagano gets jammed! Kanya behind the mound makes the catch for the 2nd out!
Utsunomiya up, and he's swinging away. 149 up, missed. 153 outside.. missed.
Anraku goes 154 and Utsunomiya goes down on 3 straight!
Top 4th
Masaki perhaps settling down as Kanya flies out to center.
Oh! He goes 143 to punch out Usagawa!
And then 145 to get Anraku? Wakabayashi was the main ace during the Mie taikai, so I'm confused now.
Bottom 4th
Anraku was never touted to be unhittable. That went to Matsui over at Toukou Gakuen.
Mie certainly getting their hacks in. Ogawa checks in with a single past a sprinting Usagawa for a one-out single.
Okita-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run! Seko though hits it right back to Anraku who goes to 1st for the 2nd out.
Kitade trying to get the douten runner home, takes an outside fastball the other way, but right to Usagawa for the 3rd out.
Top 5th
So Masaki throws low 140s with a slider in the low 130s.
Oota flies out to center to start the inning before Masaki hits Goutouji.
Fujiwara battling Masaki fouling of several pitches. Hits liner to right side, caught by Utsunomiya! Goes to 1st and doubles out Goutouji to end the inning!
Bottom 5th
Masaki with a ball to left center, but Goutouji over makes the catch.
Hamamura has Anraku's number this game as he singles back up the middle yet again!
If only Nishimura could have similar luck. Hig goun as he grounds to 2nd. Usagawa goes to 1st for the 2nd out.
And Anraku, decided to go with only fastballs, strikes out Nagano on 3 straight to end the inning.
Mie heads to the break having frittered away an early 2-0 lead. But they have been getting their knocks in against Anraku, so there still seems like a chance to get back in the gane.
Top 6th
Machida starts the inning taking a very close 3-2 pitch outside and drawing the walk.
Pitch gets away from Masaki and Machida takes 2nd!
Kaneko with a weak grounder to short allowing Machida to move 90 feet.
Morita gets the job done. Fly to right caught by Ogawa, but no chance at home. Machida scores to make it a 4-2 ballgame.
Kanya follows that up on the next pitch with a base hit to left.
Uh oh. Thinks may be falling apart for Masaki as Usagawa singles past Nishimura.
But once again the pitchers for Mie retire Anraku! He hits a liner to short and the damage is limited just 1 run.
Bottom 6th
Oof. Cleanup batter Utsunomiya chases a 150 fastball near the LH batters box for the 1st out.
Shimada elects to go after the slider but pops out to Fujiwara.
And Ogawa tries to get around on an Anraku fastball, but not quite, grounding to Usagawa for the 3rd out.
Top 7th
If there's something that Masaki is doing well, its going around the zone pitching outside, but also inside to the batters.
Oota chases a high slider for the 1st out, and then because I wrote that about him, he leaves one in the middle that Gotouji takes to right.
Fujiwara with a grounder to 3rd, Seko goes to 2nd... AH!!
Seko throws it low and it gets by Utsunomiya! Everyone's safe! Trouble for Mieko as Kaneko steps in...
Oh...
Kaneko deep drive right! Ogawa, playing in, runs back but it's over his head!! Both runners score as Kaneko slides in with a 2-RBI triple to make to 6-2.
Morita with a blooper to left. Hamamura coming in dives, and can only trap it! Morita's RBI single makes it a 7-2 game.
Kanya flies out to center, but Saibi looks to be in control.
Bottom 7th
Okita emptying bench.#16 Watsuji hitting for Seko, flies out to left.
Kitade gets caught looking at a fastball on the outer half of the plate, and #17 Nakano hitting for Masaki grounds to short for a 1-2-3 inning.
Top 8th
Watsuji stays in the game to play 3B while #18 Imai comes in for PH Nakano and takes the hill.
He's a lefty who throws in the upper 120s, so nothing really special there.
He winds up walking Ankraku with 1 down, and Jyoukou-kantoku will try and play for a run as Oota bunts him over.
And the get it when Imai leaves one over that Goutouji drives over Hamamura's head for a double. 8-2 in favor of Saibi.
Fujiwara grounder to 2nd and the inning is over.
Bottom 8th
Hamamura gets a bad break as Kaneko sells the outside corner for the 1st out.
Nishimura comebacker to Anraku, and I think I've figured out what's been nagging me about Anraku right now. I'll explain after the game.
Nagano swings at a fastball high and in and pops out to Kanya for the 3rd out.
Top 9th
Imai almost gets a 1-2-3 inning after two quick retirements, but much like the entire game for Mie, he walks Morita.
Morita goes for 2nd, throw from Kitade skips by Nishimura and into center. Morita takes 3rd.
Kanya lines a single over Nishimura and it's a 9-2 ballgame.
Usagawa lines out to left and the inning is over.
Bottom 9th
Last chance for Mie.
Utsunomiya starts off the inning with a base hit to right.
Down 7, no bunting and Shimada with one to the left side past Kanya for a base hit. Runners on 1st and 2nd.
Ogawa up, and he hits a ball to center. Machida charging in, dives.. but misses it! Runners scramble to advance. Throw from Morita to 3rd... OVER EVERYONE!!! It goes into the camera well and the runners get 90 more feet. Utsunomiya scores to make it 9-3.
Eh? Now Anraku hits Watsuji and it's manrui!
#13 Yamaguchi to hit for Imai.
Liner to right! That falls in! Runners move a station and it's 9-4.
Hamamura liner to left! Goutouji running back, leaps!
IT'S OVER HIS HEAD!!
Goutouji flops on the grass as the ball goes to the wall! Machida backing up gets the ball in, but it's a 2-run double and it's 9-6!! With only one down!
Douten runner in Nishimura up. Drive to center!
But Machida is there for the catch. Yamaguchi comes home and it's a 9-7 game.
Douten runner still comes up in Nagano, but now there's 2 out.
Nagano last chance..
Fastball, grounder to 2nd! Usagawa with it, goes to 1st... game set!!
Anraku and Mieko makes it interesting in the 9th, but 7 runs just too much to overcome, Saibi advances 9-7!
Man, the one thing that endears me to Mie is the fact that it seems more than any other team, they wear their emotions on their sleeve. Doesn't even matter which year, you see a lot of them now crying and that's ok.
Oh, so the thing that was nagging me about Anraku. In the spirit of trying to preserve him is he just not throwing as hard as he could? Becaseu we saw him hit higher speeds on the gun.
But if you're conserving and then going for it whenever you like, doesn't that mess with your mechanics? And it's not like you can turn the speed on and off like a switch and still be effective. I mean there is the case of Verlander who gets stronger as the game goes along, but I could liken that to a slow warmup. That isn't this.
And the struggle in the 9th is concerning as well. It may very well be worth watching in their next game... Against Hanamaki Higashi in Day 10!
Notable Players
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - CG, 7 ER, 11 H, 7 K, 0 BB/HBP
Goutouji Shin (Saibi) - 3-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, HBP
Morita Shouhei (Saibi) - 1-2, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Hamamura Eisaku (Mie) - 4-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Ogawa Ryuusei (Mie) - 3-4, R
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
95th Natsu Koushien Title Contenders
Well, at least as best as I can anyways:
Title Contenders
Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) - 2nd straight time a school goes haru-natsu?
Ok, I panned Uragaku for the longest time back in Senbatsu (Haru Koushien). But Ojima Kazuya (小島 和哉) proved me wrong time and time again - and laughed all the way to the title.
As much as I still may have my doubts regarding him as an ace, you have to be special if you can throw a perfect game. Yes, that's right, Ojima in the quarterfinals against Saitama Heisei went 27 up, 27 down. That's saying something.
It looks like his stuff hasn't changed. Still has a change and a screwball to go with the normal slider and curve. Reports have him in the low 140s but I don't necessarily buy it especially since smaller stadiums seem to have faster radars.
And the team is on a roll - the last tournament game they lost was in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Meiji Jingu Tournament against Harue Kougyou. The most runs Ojima's given up in a game during that timespan? 2 - against Toukaidai Bouyou in the Kanto Spring Super-Regional Tournament.
If he continues to pitch like this, despite not being a "fireballer", watch out. We may have back-to-back Haru-Natsu Renzoku Yuushou (spring-summer champions).
Speaking of which...
Osaka Touin (Osaka) - 6th ever back-to-back Natsu champion?
Osaka Touin had a chance in the spring to be the first ever 3-time calendar consecutive Koushien champion. But injuries to key players - Mori Tomoya (森 友哉) and Kinden Takuya (近田 拓矢) crippled their offense as they fell to Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou.
Now, both of the lynchpins are back, and the offense is chugging along as good as new. Their weakness is probably back to where it was before Fujinami - their pitching. Ace Kuzukawa Tomoya (葛川 知哉) and reliever Amimoto Kousuke (網本 光祐) are definitely above average, but nothing about either stands out.
But if one or both of them can be good enough, Osaka Touin may just defend their title. This is a short blurb, on a title contender, but when you talk Osaka Touin, the story is generally the same - 打て、打て、打て!
Saibi (Ehime) - Can Anraku carry the team all the way?
The story of Anraku Tomohiro (安楽 智大) has been well heard of, 232 pitches in his first game, velocity dropped immensely by the final due to flat out fatigue.
Now it would be just a matter of if Saibi could give Anraku another chance at Koushien this summer this year. And with the exception of a scare against Kawanoe which required a late-game comeback, Anraku pitched all but 2 outs in his team's run to the title.
Saibi has the opposite problem of Osaka Touin. Great pitching, average offense. We saw it at Senbatsu, the offense on average scoring 3-4 runs a game. That's not bad, but it's not dominating either. They will need to avoid the "bad day" as Anraku can't carry the team if the team can't score.
Which brings us back to Anraku himself. Certainly he won't suffer the same workload early as he did at Senbatsu, but it's possible he could play 4 of the last 5 calendar days of the tournament. He's throwing faster than ever, reportedly hitting 157 on the gun - but as perhaps he may have learned, hitting the high numbers on the gun doesn't mean a whole lot if you can't deliver when it really matters. If Anraku's stamina can hold up under the summer humid heat, Saibi may just challenge for the title yet again - and this time win.
Potential Contenders
Nichidai-san (Nishi Tokyo)
For those that know me and my coverage, I really don't like Nichidai-san. My fellow colleagues would say, "Why don't you like them? I like X player, and Y player - they're really good". Well, to be honest they ruined my 2011 Natsu Koushien trip by defeating both Kanzei and Narashino.
But before all that went down, Nichidai-san and Osaka Touin to me epitomizes the one thing about kokoyakyu I really don't like. Strong teams with pedigrees will continue to accumulate talent at the expense of weaker schools. There is no parity in kokoyakyu - quite the opposite in fact.
But regardless of my feelings toward them, Sanko I have to begrudgingly admit can be a title contender. The only reason why I don't have them in the upper tier is two-fold.
First, the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the fall taikai to Souka (though they did avenge that with a 7-0 victory in the summer) and second, outside of Hino - and no offense to them it's a bit of a stretch - they did not face a quality opponent towards the title. So the gaudy 75-9 score they accumulated is a bit inflated.
However, they did get a chance to play Urawa Gakuin in the Kanto Spring Super-Regionals, and though they lost 2-0, ace Ooba Ryoutarou (大場 遼太郎) limited Uragaku to just 4 hits while racking up 10 on Ojima. The top half of the lineup is especially dangerous for teams that are not careful.
Shuutoku (Higashi Tokyo)
Tokyo for as big as the field is was barely contested this year. Shuutoku almost as easily blew through the field. Their only close game was their 5th round game when they had to play Teikyou. But as Teikyou is wont to do, their pitching failed them later allowing Shuutoku to tie and eventually win the game. And while the score in the final versus Nishougakushadai Fuzoku looked rather ugly (13-6), the game was never really in doubt.
Looking at the pitching staff, there is ace Nishibayashi Kenshin (西林 賢人) and reliever Yusa Kazuki (遊佐 和輝). Interestingly in that game against Teikyou, CF Iino Shouta (飯野 周太) started the game (not well mind you) with Yusa coming in relief for 7 innings. That is an interesting call for a team to make knowing you're playing in a key game. Does that mean that Shuutoku has two pitchers they can call on? Not sure, but if they do it may help their chances.
Yokohama (Kanagawa)
I have to admit, Yokohama is kind of like the teams I described when talking about Nichidai-san. They have represented Kanagawa 7 times (including this year) since 2000. In their prior 6 Natsu appearances, they have reached the quarterfinals and semifinals 2 times each though recently they haven't been as successful.
Yokohama's road to Koushien at least by name was probably one of the hardest. Starting from the Round of 16, they played in order:
From my fellow kokoyakyu sources #3 and #4 batters Asama and Takahama were ironically labeled "Matsui-killers" and did in fact cause his downfall. Who knows if the articles and discussion got to both sides' heads.
The only problem with Yokohama is that their offense looks a bit below average, despite the HRs in the Toukou Gakuen matchup.
On the mound is ace Itou Masashi (伊藤 将司), who apparently has a twitter account if you want to send him your best wishes. A lefty, he apparently throws in the mid-130's which would put him in the Ojima range.
What seems to perhaps benefit Yokohama is that at least 7 of their starting 9 are 2nd years! For a school such as Yokohama that has such a big pool of players to draw from, to predominantly use 2nd years means a lot. And since they theoretically have one more year of chances at Koushien, they may be able to play with nothing to lose - because they don't. That's scary - and something you cannot measure.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
To be honest, outside of these 6 teams I don't know who else could really be a challenger for the title. Sure, there will be other teams who will go deep, but if they run into any of these teams they will certainly be an underdog.
Title Contenders
Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) - 2nd straight time a school goes haru-natsu?
Ok, I panned Uragaku for the longest time back in Senbatsu (Haru Koushien). But Ojima Kazuya (小島 和哉) proved me wrong time and time again - and laughed all the way to the title.
As much as I still may have my doubts regarding him as an ace, you have to be special if you can throw a perfect game. Yes, that's right, Ojima in the quarterfinals against Saitama Heisei went 27 up, 27 down. That's saying something.
It looks like his stuff hasn't changed. Still has a change and a screwball to go with the normal slider and curve. Reports have him in the low 140s but I don't necessarily buy it especially since smaller stadiums seem to have faster radars.
And the team is on a roll - the last tournament game they lost was in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Meiji Jingu Tournament against Harue Kougyou. The most runs Ojima's given up in a game during that timespan? 2 - against Toukaidai Bouyou in the Kanto Spring Super-Regional Tournament.
If he continues to pitch like this, despite not being a "fireballer", watch out. We may have back-to-back Haru-Natsu Renzoku Yuushou (spring-summer champions).
Speaking of which...
Osaka Touin (Osaka) - 6th ever back-to-back Natsu champion?
Osaka Touin had a chance in the spring to be the first ever 3-time calendar consecutive Koushien champion. But injuries to key players - Mori Tomoya (森 友哉) and Kinden Takuya (近田 拓矢) crippled their offense as they fell to Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou.
Now, both of the lynchpins are back, and the offense is chugging along as good as new. Their weakness is probably back to where it was before Fujinami - their pitching. Ace Kuzukawa Tomoya (葛川 知哉) and reliever Amimoto Kousuke (網本 光祐) are definitely above average, but nothing about either stands out.
But if one or both of them can be good enough, Osaka Touin may just defend their title. This is a short blurb, on a title contender, but when you talk Osaka Touin, the story is generally the same - 打て、打て、打て!
Saibi (Ehime) - Can Anraku carry the team all the way?
The story of Anraku Tomohiro (安楽 智大) has been well heard of, 232 pitches in his first game, velocity dropped immensely by the final due to flat out fatigue.
Now it would be just a matter of if Saibi could give Anraku another chance at Koushien this summer this year. And with the exception of a scare against Kawanoe which required a late-game comeback, Anraku pitched all but 2 outs in his team's run to the title.
Saibi has the opposite problem of Osaka Touin. Great pitching, average offense. We saw it at Senbatsu, the offense on average scoring 3-4 runs a game. That's not bad, but it's not dominating either. They will need to avoid the "bad day" as Anraku can't carry the team if the team can't score.
Which brings us back to Anraku himself. Certainly he won't suffer the same workload early as he did at Senbatsu, but it's possible he could play 4 of the last 5 calendar days of the tournament. He's throwing faster than ever, reportedly hitting 157 on the gun - but as perhaps he may have learned, hitting the high numbers on the gun doesn't mean a whole lot if you can't deliver when it really matters. If Anraku's stamina can hold up under the summer humid heat, Saibi may just challenge for the title yet again - and this time win.
Potential Contenders
Nichidai-san (Nishi Tokyo)
For those that know me and my coverage, I really don't like Nichidai-san. My fellow colleagues would say, "Why don't you like them? I like X player, and Y player - they're really good". Well, to be honest they ruined my 2011 Natsu Koushien trip by defeating both Kanzei and Narashino.
But before all that went down, Nichidai-san and Osaka Touin to me epitomizes the one thing about kokoyakyu I really don't like. Strong teams with pedigrees will continue to accumulate talent at the expense of weaker schools. There is no parity in kokoyakyu - quite the opposite in fact.
But regardless of my feelings toward them, Sanko I have to begrudgingly admit can be a title contender. The only reason why I don't have them in the upper tier is two-fold.
First, the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the fall taikai to Souka (though they did avenge that with a 7-0 victory in the summer) and second, outside of Hino - and no offense to them it's a bit of a stretch - they did not face a quality opponent towards the title. So the gaudy 75-9 score they accumulated is a bit inflated.
However, they did get a chance to play Urawa Gakuin in the Kanto Spring Super-Regionals, and though they lost 2-0, ace Ooba Ryoutarou (大場 遼太郎) limited Uragaku to just 4 hits while racking up 10 on Ojima. The top half of the lineup is especially dangerous for teams that are not careful.
Shuutoku (Higashi Tokyo)
Tokyo for as big as the field is was barely contested this year. Shuutoku almost as easily blew through the field. Their only close game was their 5th round game when they had to play Teikyou. But as Teikyou is wont to do, their pitching failed them later allowing Shuutoku to tie and eventually win the game. And while the score in the final versus Nishougakushadai Fuzoku looked rather ugly (13-6), the game was never really in doubt.
Looking at the pitching staff, there is ace Nishibayashi Kenshin (西林 賢人) and reliever Yusa Kazuki (遊佐 和輝). Interestingly in that game against Teikyou, CF Iino Shouta (飯野 周太) started the game (not well mind you) with Yusa coming in relief for 7 innings. That is an interesting call for a team to make knowing you're playing in a key game. Does that mean that Shuutoku has two pitchers they can call on? Not sure, but if they do it may help their chances.
Yokohama (Kanagawa)
I have to admit, Yokohama is kind of like the teams I described when talking about Nichidai-san. They have represented Kanagawa 7 times (including this year) since 2000. In their prior 6 Natsu appearances, they have reached the quarterfinals and semifinals 2 times each though recently they haven't been as successful.
Yokohama's road to Koushien at least by name was probably one of the hardest. Starting from the Round of 16, they played in order:
- Yokohama Hayato - 2-run 6th gave them the final 3-2 margin
- Toukou Gakuen - Lack of offense plus pair of HR's from Takahama Yuuji (高浜 祐仁) and Asama Daiki (浅間 大基) spell doom for heralded ace Matsui.
- Toukaidai Sagami - Sagami's pitching has not been the same, and yielded all 7 runs in the 6-8 innings for the mercy-rule loss.
- Hiratsuka Gakuen - While not a powerhouse, Hiratsuka is actually one of the best "3rd tier"* teams out of Kanagawa and did only lose to Yokohama 3-0.
From my fellow kokoyakyu sources #3 and #4 batters Asama and Takahama were ironically labeled "Matsui-killers" and did in fact cause his downfall. Who knows if the articles and discussion got to both sides' heads.
The only problem with Yokohama is that their offense looks a bit below average, despite the HRs in the Toukou Gakuen matchup.
On the mound is ace Itou Masashi (伊藤 将司), who apparently has a twitter account if you want to send him your best wishes. A lefty, he apparently throws in the mid-130's which would put him in the Ojima range.
What seems to perhaps benefit Yokohama is that at least 7 of their starting 9 are 2nd years! For a school such as Yokohama that has such a big pool of players to draw from, to predominantly use 2nd years means a lot. And since they theoretically have one more year of chances at Koushien, they may be able to play with nothing to lose - because they don't. That's scary - and something you cannot measure.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
To be honest, outside of these 6 teams I don't know who else could really be a challenger for the title. Sure, there will be other teams who will go deep, but if they run into any of these teams they will certainly be an underdog.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Day 13, Championship - Saibi (Ehime) vs. Urawa Gakuin (Saitama)
So here we are, the 決勝 between Kanto champions Urawa Gakuin and the surprising Shikoku 3-seed Saibi.
Urawa Gakuin, for as many Koushien tournaments they've been to, this is their first championship game. Their first appearance, the Natsu Koushien in 1968, they reached the semifinals. The Haru Koushien in 1992 they also reached the semifinals before losing.
They had a renaissance last year having won 2 games before bowing out. And now this year they are back in the championship game.
After seeing the competition they faced, I thought that their offense wasn't for real. But while Kishimoto for Tsuruga Kehi was fatigued in the game, they roughed him up for 11 hits (including a HR) and 5 runs.
Meanwhile ace Ojima has continued to not be pressured at all. Tsuruga Kehi's strategy of attacking Ojima basically failed. He doesn't throw particularly hard, and perhaps people think that he should be hittable. But I think the best way to deal with him is to back him into a corner. By swinging early, Ojima can dictate the action and the pitches his opponents are swinging at.
Saibi has had a very short Koushien history. But it's a very successful one:
But Saibi has basically played close games throughout the fall taikai and the Haru Koushien. Outside of the first 2 games in the Ehime taikai, 6 of their 8 games were decided by 1 run. In fact, their largest margin of victory was 3 against Seiseikou and a battered Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou.
Unfortunately for Saibi, they will be without their leadoff batter Ueda as he injured his middle finger on his throwing/batting hand in the semifinals. Yamashita takes over in the leadoff spot, with Oota moving up to #2 and Goutouji coming in as a starting member. It's a shame almost that Yamashita is in the leadoff spot considering how he's hitting. The bottom of the lineup needs to get on base ahead of him to really take advantage of his hitting.
But really, it's been Anraku who has been the one carrying the team. Starting with his 232 pitch enchousen performance against Kouryou, he has basically put the team on his back to reach the final. His pitch location has gotten worse in his last game, and he predominantly threw off-speed pitches early on. This will be his 3rd game in 3 days, and the most important of them all.
Saibi (Ehime) - Shikoku 3 seed
CF Yamashita Takuma (#9)
RF Oota Yuuya (#5)
SS Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
3B Morita Shouhei (#15)
1B Fujiwara Kouki
LF Goutouji Shin
C Kaneko Kouhei
2B Machida Takahiro
Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) - Kanto Champions
SS Takemura Haruki
2B Nie Hayato
CF Yamane Yuuta
3B Takada Ryouta
1B Kigure Naito
RF Saitou Ryousuke
C Nishikawa Genki
P Ojima Kazuya
LF Hattori Masamitsu
____________________________________________________________
12:32 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Yamashita already making an impact! He swings on the first pitch and grounds one past Ojima into center!
Oota pops up his bunt! Ojima goes to field it, but drops it! But Yamashita had to hold due to the possible catch and is easily thrown out at 2nd.
Usagawa tries to work the count, but falls behind 0-2. He hits a towering popup that Hattori finally calls of Takemura and Yamane for.
That brings up cleanup batter (and ace!) Anraku. He's certainly working the count versus Ojima, then goes and wastes the advantage on a shoulder high fastball. 2-2 count.
And then misses on a fastball on the outer half for strike 3! Nice start for Ojima! And I think Saibi is taking pitches when they can.
Bottom 1st
Anraku willing to throw more fastballs here, but the speed is still a bit slow in the mid-130s.
Takemura grounds out to 2nd for the first out.
Anraku's control still doesn't look good, and he's throwing slower to start.
Nie with a grounder up the middle! Machida ranging over, makes the sliding pick, throws as he's going down to the ground and it gets to 1st in time! Nice play and a strong arm from Machida!
And Yamane grounds to short. Usagawa with the routine play and we're scoreless after 1.
Top 2nd
Morita with a ball to right center gives Uragaku another leadoff runner!
Fujiwara trying to bunt him along, fouls off his first attempt. Lays down the push bunt to move him along for new starting member Goutouji.
Goutouji tries for a base hit through the left side, but Takemura makes a great sliding stop! Throw to first is up the line, but Kigure makes the tag for the out!
Kaneko with a grounder to short! Takemura dives, but this time the ball trickles past him into left! Morita heads home without stopping and the throw is late! Kaneko coming through with a base hit to give Saibi the first strike! 1-0!!
Machida working the count on Ojima, runs it full.
Single to right! Kaneko on a dead run heads for 3rd and slides in safely!
With Yamashita coming up, Mori-kantoku calls time.
And Yamashita isn't swinging away, in fact he gets ahead 3-1! Will they just walk him and deal with Oota?
No, they go inside and get him to groundout to 2nd for the 3rd out. But Kaneko gives them the early lead!
Bottom 2nd
Anraku gets the ball he wants against cleanup batter Takada, but he's sluggish chasing the short blooper and it falls in behind him for a base hit!
Kigure bunts him along, but Saitou can't advance him at all as he flies out to right.
Nishiyama turns on one and lines it through to left! Takada has to hold at 3rd. There was a mistake by Anraku.
But Anraku gets Ojima to chase a ball outside and pops it up! Usagawa turns his head away it seems as he makes the catch for the 3rd out!
Top 3rd
Oota not getting memo about working count, swings on first pitch and flies to shallow left.
Usagawa tries, but winds up getting behind 0-2 before chasing a ball away for Ojima's 2nd K.
Anraku is almost put in the same position, but guides a ball into center for a 2-out hit.
Morita up 2-1, can't check his swing, starts playing defensive. Grounds to 1st to end inning, but they are playing it right in my opinion.
Bottom 3rd
Uragaku trying to work Anraku as well, but he continues to miss in the right places if he does. As a result they are having trouble dealing with him.
Hattori chases a fastball away for the first out, Takemura behind 0-2 grounds to 1st, and on a full count Nie grounds to 2nd.
Top 4th
Fujiwara attacks Ojima and lines a ball down the left field line! That goes to the wall for a leadoff double!
But Goutouji can't bunt him along! He's forced to swing away and can't get around a fastball going down for the 1st out.
That brings up Kaneko who had the timely RBI single earlier.
But this time up 2-2, he handcuffs him on a ball inside and rings him up for his 4th K!
That leaves it up to last batter Machida to drive him in. But he swings away early and grounds to Takemura for the 3rd out.
Ojima is certainly hittable, and it looks like most Saibi batters have a plan at the plate.
Bottom 4th
I have a feeling the tables have turned. With Anraku not hitting his locations, I think Urawa is attacking earlier in the count. What they don't understand is that he's not leaving them in hittable areas.
So in the span of 7 pitches, Anraku retires the 3-4-5 batters without a ball leaving the infield!
Top 5th
One down and Ojima issues his first walk to Oota. Jyoukou-kantoku will play for the one timer as Usagawa bunts him along.
But Anraku swings and misses on a fastball away and Ojima holds the line!
Bottom 5th
Anraku with a slow curve and Saitou grounds it past Fujiwara for a base hit!
Mori-kantoku electing to have Nishikawa hit.
And Nishikawa has Anraku's number!! He hits one to deep center, and Yamashita leaps, but it's just out of his reach! It one-bounds to the wall and he's in with a double!
Runners on 2nd and 3rd as Jyoukou-kantoku calls time.
Anraku going after Ojima, gets ahead 0-2, but Ojima fouls a couple off. Another away, another foul.
Grounder to the left side! Usagawa dives, but can't get to it! Saitou comes in to score and Nishikawa advances to 3rd! Ojima helps his own cause with a douten single! It's 1-1!
Hattori up to give Uragaku the lead.
SQUEEZE!!!
Mori-kantoku puts on the squeeze, but the ball is above Hattori's head! Kaneko holds the ball until Anraku points to 3rd! Throw from Kaneko and they have Nishikawa picked off! What a break for Saibi!
And Hattori grounds back to Anraku. He goes to 1st for the 2nd out.
Takemura with a grounder to 1st, but Fujiwara can't get a hold of the ball! By the time he does it's too late! The inning continues dangerously for Saibi as Nie comes to bat!
Takemura takes off on the first pitch, but there's no throw from Kaneko.
And now Anraku hits Nie! Manrui for Uragaku as Jyoukou-kantoku calls time...
Yamane attacks the first pitch and singles to center! Yamashita bobbles the ball, but 2 runs score on the play anyways on the hit! Urawa Gakuin now leads 3-1!
Takada driving the first pitch deep to left! All Goutouji can do is play it off the wall for yet another double! Both runners score and it's 5-1 Uragaku!
Kigure with a drive to left center! Again Goutouji can only chase it as it lands at the base of the wall for another double! 3 straight hard hit doubles and it's gone from 1-1 to 6-1!!
Saitou up for the 2nd time, continuing to pour it on! He singles to shallow right center and Kigure scores to make it 7-1!!
Nishikawa follows suit with another single to center and will Jyoukou-kantoku pull the plug?
It doesn't look like it as he leaves Anraku in, but he finally gets Ojima to pop out to Usagawa to end the inning.
But it looks like Anraku has just run out of gas and his team finds themselves with what seems like an insurmountable deficit as we hit the break!!
Top 6th
Morita driving a pitch into right center has a leadoff double!
But Fujiwara chases the first pitch and grounds to 3rd, unable to advance Morita.
A surprise as #8 Ueda comes in to hit, but he is just as unproductive, grounding to short on a 0-1 pitch.
Kaneko tries to find the right pitch, gets ahead 3-1 before Ojima puts one in on the outer half. He grounds to short as well and Saibi is in deep trouble if not already lost.
Bottom 6th
Oota is staying in the game at CF! Yamashita shifts to RF and Oota goes to LF!
After a K to Hattori, Takemura resumes the hit parade with a liner to right. Mori-kantoku will still play for another run as Nie bunts him along.
And now Anraku hits Yamane! Oy.
Mori-kantoku will not let up! He starts the double steal and Kaneko's throw is not in time!
And now he hits Takada.
#10 Yamaguchi warming up, but putting him in admits defeat and the inability to have Anraku fight through the rest of the game.
Kigure with a ball to center. It falls in front of Ueda who fires home as Yamane is waved in! Kaneko with the tag, but not in time! It's 9-1 Uragaku.
Saitou grounds to short to end the inning, but it's almost elementary now.
Top 7th
#11 Yamane comes in to hit for Machida, and takes a close pitch inside on a full count for a walk. He's replaced by #13 Nakagawa.
Yamashita follows that up with a single to right. 2 runners on with no out, but a long journey to go.
Case in point, Oota grounds into the 6-4-3 double play, and Usagawa flies out to left to end the inning as quickly as it got started.
Bottom 7th
Jyoukou-kantoku has waved the white flag. Anraku moves to 1st, #10 Yamaguchi comes in for Fujiwara and takes the hill, while #14 Hayashi Kanya comes in for PR Nakagawa to take over at 2B.
And while he gives up a walk to last batter Hattori, he retires the other batters without too much trouble.
Top 8th
It's really a formality now and the Saibi batters probably realize this too. They go down in order - Anraku grounding back to Ojima, Morita and Yamguchi going down on strikes.
Bottom 8th
Mass changes for Saibi.
Oota comes in from LF to the mound. #16 Tsunedzuka comes in for Yamaguchi and goes to LF. Meanwhile, #18 Hayashi Kento comes in for Anraku and goes to 3B shifting Morita goes to 1B. Anraku's day is officially done.
The extra runs Urawa Gakuin aren't necessary, but show respect to Saibi instead of easing up.
Nie singles to left, followed by a sharp grounder to right by Yamane. Takada walks to put the bases loaded.
Kigure grounds to short and Usagawa goes home to cut down the lead runner.,
But a hit batter to Saitou brings in a run to make it 10-1.
Nishikawa then splits the outfield with a ball to left center for a bases clearing double, 13-1.
Ojima records the 2nd out on a grounder to 3rd.
But Hattori walks, Takemura blasts one over the drawn in outfield to score two more, 15-1.
Nie up for his 2nd AB this inning scorches one past Morita into right for a double, 16-1.
Yamane makes it 17-1 with a liner over Usagawa's head.
Takada flies out to center to end the inning.
Top 9th
Ueda up for his 2nd AB, grounds back to Ojima. #12 Utsunomiya, hitting for Kaneko, also grounds back to Ojima.
Hayashi flies out to left, Hattori makes the catch and Urawa Gakuin wins their first ever Koushien title (Haru or Natsu)!!
Urawa Gakuin's players sprint to their oen-dan to celebrate, while Anraku's tears finally come out after the loss is finally realized. He put up a great effort for as long as he could, but 3 games in 3 days was just too much to handle for the 2nd year fireballer. It's always hard to see the losing team, especially in games like these, but here's to hoping Anraku gets another chance here at Koushien before his time is up. He's earned it in my opinion.
Meanwhile Ojima, a 2nd year himself, masterfully worked through Haru Koushien, and while he never threw hard, he managed to deftly avoid big innings and keep his team always in it. Do not be surprised if they may challenge in the summer, but again, the lack of a fireballer will always make it difficult in single-elimination scenarios.
But that's for a later time! For only the second time in the prefecture's history, a team from Saitama wins Koushien! And for Urawa Gakuin, they get to celebrate their first ever Koushien title!! Enjoy it! You've earned it!
Notable Players
Ojima Kazuya (Urawa Gakuin) - W, CG, ER, 8 H, 7 K, 2 BB
Nishikawa Genki (Urawa Gakuin) - 4-5, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI
Kigure Naito (Urawa Gakuin) - 2-4, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
Yamane Yuuta (Urawa Gakuin) - 3-5, 3 R, RBI, SB, HBP
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - L, 6 IP, 3 ER, 12 H, 2 K, 0 BB, 3 HBP
Yamashita Takuma (Saibi) - 2-4
Morita Shouhei (Saibi) - 2-4, 2B, R, K
Urawa Gakuin, for as many Koushien tournaments they've been to, this is their first championship game. Their first appearance, the Natsu Koushien in 1968, they reached the semifinals. The Haru Koushien in 1992 they also reached the semifinals before losing.
They had a renaissance last year having won 2 games before bowing out. And now this year they are back in the championship game.
After seeing the competition they faced, I thought that their offense wasn't for real. But while Kishimoto for Tsuruga Kehi was fatigued in the game, they roughed him up for 11 hits (including a HR) and 5 runs.
Meanwhile ace Ojima has continued to not be pressured at all. Tsuruga Kehi's strategy of attacking Ojima basically failed. He doesn't throw particularly hard, and perhaps people think that he should be hittable. But I think the best way to deal with him is to back him into a corner. By swinging early, Ojima can dictate the action and the pitches his opponents are swinging at.
Saibi has had a very short Koushien history. But it's a very successful one:
- 2004 Haru Koushien - Champions
- 2004 Natsu Koushien - Runner-up
- 2005 Natsu Koushien - 2nd Round
- 2008 Natsu Koushien - 1st Round Loss
But Saibi has basically played close games throughout the fall taikai and the Haru Koushien. Outside of the first 2 games in the Ehime taikai, 6 of their 8 games were decided by 1 run. In fact, their largest margin of victory was 3 against Seiseikou and a battered Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou.
Unfortunately for Saibi, they will be without their leadoff batter Ueda as he injured his middle finger on his throwing/batting hand in the semifinals. Yamashita takes over in the leadoff spot, with Oota moving up to #2 and Goutouji coming in as a starting member. It's a shame almost that Yamashita is in the leadoff spot considering how he's hitting. The bottom of the lineup needs to get on base ahead of him to really take advantage of his hitting.
But really, it's been Anraku who has been the one carrying the team. Starting with his 232 pitch enchousen performance against Kouryou, he has basically put the team on his back to reach the final. His pitch location has gotten worse in his last game, and he predominantly threw off-speed pitches early on. This will be his 3rd game in 3 days, and the most important of them all.
Saibi (Ehime) - Shikoku 3 seed
CF Yamashita Takuma (#9)
RF Oota Yuuya (#5)
SS Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
3B Morita Shouhei (#15)
1B Fujiwara Kouki
LF Goutouji Shin
C Kaneko Kouhei
2B Machida Takahiro
Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) - Kanto Champions
SS Takemura Haruki
2B Nie Hayato
CF Yamane Yuuta
3B Takada Ryouta
1B Kigure Naito
RF Saitou Ryousuke
C Nishikawa Genki
P Ojima Kazuya
LF Hattori Masamitsu
____________________________________________________________
12:32 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Yamashita already making an impact! He swings on the first pitch and grounds one past Ojima into center!
Oota pops up his bunt! Ojima goes to field it, but drops it! But Yamashita had to hold due to the possible catch and is easily thrown out at 2nd.
Usagawa tries to work the count, but falls behind 0-2. He hits a towering popup that Hattori finally calls of Takemura and Yamane for.
That brings up cleanup batter (and ace!) Anraku. He's certainly working the count versus Ojima, then goes and wastes the advantage on a shoulder high fastball. 2-2 count.
And then misses on a fastball on the outer half for strike 3! Nice start for Ojima! And I think Saibi is taking pitches when they can.
Bottom 1st
Anraku willing to throw more fastballs here, but the speed is still a bit slow in the mid-130s.
Takemura grounds out to 2nd for the first out.
Anraku's control still doesn't look good, and he's throwing slower to start.
Nie with a grounder up the middle! Machida ranging over, makes the sliding pick, throws as he's going down to the ground and it gets to 1st in time! Nice play and a strong arm from Machida!
And Yamane grounds to short. Usagawa with the routine play and we're scoreless after 1.
Top 2nd
Morita with a ball to right center gives Uragaku another leadoff runner!
Fujiwara trying to bunt him along, fouls off his first attempt. Lays down the push bunt to move him along for new starting member Goutouji.
Goutouji tries for a base hit through the left side, but Takemura makes a great sliding stop! Throw to first is up the line, but Kigure makes the tag for the out!
Kaneko with a grounder to short! Takemura dives, but this time the ball trickles past him into left! Morita heads home without stopping and the throw is late! Kaneko coming through with a base hit to give Saibi the first strike! 1-0!!
Machida working the count on Ojima, runs it full.
Single to right! Kaneko on a dead run heads for 3rd and slides in safely!
With Yamashita coming up, Mori-kantoku calls time.
And Yamashita isn't swinging away, in fact he gets ahead 3-1! Will they just walk him and deal with Oota?
No, they go inside and get him to groundout to 2nd for the 3rd out. But Kaneko gives them the early lead!
Bottom 2nd
Anraku gets the ball he wants against cleanup batter Takada, but he's sluggish chasing the short blooper and it falls in behind him for a base hit!
Kigure bunts him along, but Saitou can't advance him at all as he flies out to right.
Nishiyama turns on one and lines it through to left! Takada has to hold at 3rd. There was a mistake by Anraku.
But Anraku gets Ojima to chase a ball outside and pops it up! Usagawa turns his head away it seems as he makes the catch for the 3rd out!
Top 3rd
Oota not getting memo about working count, swings on first pitch and flies to shallow left.
Usagawa tries, but winds up getting behind 0-2 before chasing a ball away for Ojima's 2nd K.
Anraku is almost put in the same position, but guides a ball into center for a 2-out hit.
Morita up 2-1, can't check his swing, starts playing defensive. Grounds to 1st to end inning, but they are playing it right in my opinion.
Bottom 3rd
Uragaku trying to work Anraku as well, but he continues to miss in the right places if he does. As a result they are having trouble dealing with him.
Hattori chases a fastball away for the first out, Takemura behind 0-2 grounds to 1st, and on a full count Nie grounds to 2nd.
Top 4th
Fujiwara attacks Ojima and lines a ball down the left field line! That goes to the wall for a leadoff double!
But Goutouji can't bunt him along! He's forced to swing away and can't get around a fastball going down for the 1st out.
That brings up Kaneko who had the timely RBI single earlier.
But this time up 2-2, he handcuffs him on a ball inside and rings him up for his 4th K!
That leaves it up to last batter Machida to drive him in. But he swings away early and grounds to Takemura for the 3rd out.
Ojima is certainly hittable, and it looks like most Saibi batters have a plan at the plate.
Bottom 4th
I have a feeling the tables have turned. With Anraku not hitting his locations, I think Urawa is attacking earlier in the count. What they don't understand is that he's not leaving them in hittable areas.
So in the span of 7 pitches, Anraku retires the 3-4-5 batters without a ball leaving the infield!
Top 5th
One down and Ojima issues his first walk to Oota. Jyoukou-kantoku will play for the one timer as Usagawa bunts him along.
But Anraku swings and misses on a fastball away and Ojima holds the line!
Bottom 5th
Anraku with a slow curve and Saitou grounds it past Fujiwara for a base hit!
Mori-kantoku electing to have Nishikawa hit.
And Nishikawa has Anraku's number!! He hits one to deep center, and Yamashita leaps, but it's just out of his reach! It one-bounds to the wall and he's in with a double!
Runners on 2nd and 3rd as Jyoukou-kantoku calls time.
Anraku going after Ojima, gets ahead 0-2, but Ojima fouls a couple off. Another away, another foul.
Grounder to the left side! Usagawa dives, but can't get to it! Saitou comes in to score and Nishikawa advances to 3rd! Ojima helps his own cause with a douten single! It's 1-1!
Hattori up to give Uragaku the lead.
SQUEEZE!!!
Mori-kantoku puts on the squeeze, but the ball is above Hattori's head! Kaneko holds the ball until Anraku points to 3rd! Throw from Kaneko and they have Nishikawa picked off! What a break for Saibi!
And Hattori grounds back to Anraku. He goes to 1st for the 2nd out.
Takemura with a grounder to 1st, but Fujiwara can't get a hold of the ball! By the time he does it's too late! The inning continues dangerously for Saibi as Nie comes to bat!
Takemura takes off on the first pitch, but there's no throw from Kaneko.
And now Anraku hits Nie! Manrui for Uragaku as Jyoukou-kantoku calls time...
Yamane attacks the first pitch and singles to center! Yamashita bobbles the ball, but 2 runs score on the play anyways on the hit! Urawa Gakuin now leads 3-1!
Takada driving the first pitch deep to left! All Goutouji can do is play it off the wall for yet another double! Both runners score and it's 5-1 Uragaku!
Kigure with a drive to left center! Again Goutouji can only chase it as it lands at the base of the wall for another double! 3 straight hard hit doubles and it's gone from 1-1 to 6-1!!
Saitou up for the 2nd time, continuing to pour it on! He singles to shallow right center and Kigure scores to make it 7-1!!
Nishikawa follows suit with another single to center and will Jyoukou-kantoku pull the plug?
It doesn't look like it as he leaves Anraku in, but he finally gets Ojima to pop out to Usagawa to end the inning.
But it looks like Anraku has just run out of gas and his team finds themselves with what seems like an insurmountable deficit as we hit the break!!
Top 6th
Morita driving a pitch into right center has a leadoff double!
But Fujiwara chases the first pitch and grounds to 3rd, unable to advance Morita.
A surprise as #8 Ueda comes in to hit, but he is just as unproductive, grounding to short on a 0-1 pitch.
Kaneko tries to find the right pitch, gets ahead 3-1 before Ojima puts one in on the outer half. He grounds to short as well and Saibi is in deep trouble if not already lost.
Bottom 6th
Oota is staying in the game at CF! Yamashita shifts to RF and Oota goes to LF!
After a K to Hattori, Takemura resumes the hit parade with a liner to right. Mori-kantoku will still play for another run as Nie bunts him along.
And now Anraku hits Yamane! Oy.
Mori-kantoku will not let up! He starts the double steal and Kaneko's throw is not in time!
And now he hits Takada.
#10 Yamaguchi warming up, but putting him in admits defeat and the inability to have Anraku fight through the rest of the game.
Kigure with a ball to center. It falls in front of Ueda who fires home as Yamane is waved in! Kaneko with the tag, but not in time! It's 9-1 Uragaku.
Saitou grounds to short to end the inning, but it's almost elementary now.
Top 7th
#11 Yamane comes in to hit for Machida, and takes a close pitch inside on a full count for a walk. He's replaced by #13 Nakagawa.
Yamashita follows that up with a single to right. 2 runners on with no out, but a long journey to go.
Case in point, Oota grounds into the 6-4-3 double play, and Usagawa flies out to left to end the inning as quickly as it got started.
Bottom 7th
Jyoukou-kantoku has waved the white flag. Anraku moves to 1st, #10 Yamaguchi comes in for Fujiwara and takes the hill, while #14 Hayashi Kanya comes in for PR Nakagawa to take over at 2B.
And while he gives up a walk to last batter Hattori, he retires the other batters without too much trouble.
Top 8th
It's really a formality now and the Saibi batters probably realize this too. They go down in order - Anraku grounding back to Ojima, Morita and Yamguchi going down on strikes.
Bottom 8th
Mass changes for Saibi.
Oota comes in from LF to the mound. #16 Tsunedzuka comes in for Yamaguchi and goes to LF. Meanwhile, #18 Hayashi Kento comes in for Anraku and goes to 3B shifting Morita goes to 1B. Anraku's day is officially done.
The extra runs Urawa Gakuin aren't necessary, but show respect to Saibi instead of easing up.
Nie singles to left, followed by a sharp grounder to right by Yamane. Takada walks to put the bases loaded.
Kigure grounds to short and Usagawa goes home to cut down the lead runner.,
But a hit batter to Saitou brings in a run to make it 10-1.
Nishikawa then splits the outfield with a ball to left center for a bases clearing double, 13-1.
Ojima records the 2nd out on a grounder to 3rd.
But Hattori walks, Takemura blasts one over the drawn in outfield to score two more, 15-1.
Nie up for his 2nd AB this inning scorches one past Morita into right for a double, 16-1.
Yamane makes it 17-1 with a liner over Usagawa's head.
Takada flies out to center to end the inning.
Top 9th
Ueda up for his 2nd AB, grounds back to Ojima. #12 Utsunomiya, hitting for Kaneko, also grounds back to Ojima.
Hayashi flies out to left, Hattori makes the catch and Urawa Gakuin wins their first ever Koushien title (Haru or Natsu)!!
Urawa Gakuin's players sprint to their oen-dan to celebrate, while Anraku's tears finally come out after the loss is finally realized. He put up a great effort for as long as he could, but 3 games in 3 days was just too much to handle for the 2nd year fireballer. It's always hard to see the losing team, especially in games like these, but here's to hoping Anraku gets another chance here at Koushien before his time is up. He's earned it in my opinion.
Meanwhile Ojima, a 2nd year himself, masterfully worked through Haru Koushien, and while he never threw hard, he managed to deftly avoid big innings and keep his team always in it. Do not be surprised if they may challenge in the summer, but again, the lack of a fireballer will always make it difficult in single-elimination scenarios.
But that's for a later time! For only the second time in the prefecture's history, a team from Saitama wins Koushien! And for Urawa Gakuin, they get to celebrate their first ever Koushien title!! Enjoy it! You've earned it!
Notable Players
Ojima Kazuya (Urawa Gakuin) - W, CG, ER, 8 H, 7 K, 2 BB
Nishikawa Genki (Urawa Gakuin) - 4-5, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI
Kigure Naito (Urawa Gakuin) - 2-4, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
Yamane Yuuta (Urawa Gakuin) - 3-5, 3 R, RBI, SB, HBP
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - L, 6 IP, 3 ER, 12 H, 2 K, 0 BB, 3 HBP
Yamashita Takuma (Saibi) - 2-4
Morita Shouhei (Saibi) - 2-4, 2B, R, K
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Day 12, Semifinal #2 - Kochi (Kochi) vs. Saibi (Ehime)
Well, we know one team who's in the finals. Who will step up to face them tomorrow?
One thing we do know, it will be a team from Shikoku - which is not what I would have expected at all.
Oddly enough, Kochi has not faced off against Saibi as they were on opposite sides of the Shikoku taikai. They got here by first shocking Kanzei (ok, perhaps just me only) with a 5-1 upset. After that, the team has played very close, low-scoring games defeating Tokoha Kikugawa then upsetting the Meiji Jingu champs Sendai Ikuei.
For Saibi, it was the only extra inning affair again Kouryou, then handling Seiseikou and battering an already battered Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou battery for 6 runs.
I really don't know what to expect from this game, especially since this isn't a rematch from the fall. It's been a while for Kochi to reach the finals, while Saibi is going for their 2nd finals in their 2nd attempt.
Who wants it more?
(I'll insert more here when the game is over)
Kochi (Kochi) - Shikoku Champions
2B Wada Yoshito
SS Doi Kouyou
1B Ichikawa Gou
3B Wada Ren
LF Matagawa Ryouyuu
CF Ueta Shunya
RF Sugimoto Daiki
C Maeda Ryuusei (#12)
P Sakai Yuuya (#10)
Saibi (Ehime) - Shikoku 3 seed
CF Ueda Kyousuke
RF Yamashita Takuma
SS Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
LF Oota Yuuya (#5)
3B Morita Shouhei (#15)
1B Fujiwara Kouki
C Kaneko Kouhei
2B Machida Takahiro
____________________________________________________________
13:22 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Anraku throwing a lot of off-speed pitches to start. Perhaps he can't locate his fastball?
More like his fastball is not as fast as before, only in the upper 130s. Yoshito grounds to 1st on one such one.
More off-speed pitches to Doi.
OH!
Doi gets a hold of a fastball from Anraku! Oota running back to the fence!! Looks up!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Doi with a HR in the first just like the previous game gives his team a 1-0 lead!
Anraku continues with his steady diet of non-fastballs. Ichikawa strikes out looking on a slider and Ren flies out to right.
But if Anraku's fastball is wordly today and he's throwing off-speed pitches almost exclusively, this could be a big problem for Saibi.
Bottom 1st
One pitch, one out. Kyousuke flies out to left.
Yamashita tries to work the count, but winds up grounding out to short for the 2nd out.
Usagawa is called going around on a slider down and in and it's a 1-2-3 inning to start for Sakai.
Top 2nd
Shunya with a ball up the middle, Usagawa with a great diving stop, but the ball slips out of the glove on the way to throw to 1st and Shunya is safe!
And now he tries to steal 2nd! Throw from Kaneko is a bit of a loop and Ueta is in safely! And the ball gets away fro Usagawa allowing Ueta to reach 3rd!
Ah, looks like the dirt from the slide got in his eyes.
Luckily for Saibi, it doesn't hurt them as Maeda grounds to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
After a groundout by Anraku to start the 2nd, Oota works a walk off of Sakai.
But when Jyoukou-kantoku runs the hit-and-run, Morita grounds right to Ren who goes to 2nd and still gets the lead runner! Yoshito fires to 1st and the twin-tandem gets the double play!
Top 3rd
Bottom of the order and Sakai steps in.
Grounder to short, and the hop unexpectedly eats up Usagawa! He drops it and his throw to 1st is late!
Back to the top of the order and Yoshito, and ooooh... He gets called out on a very questionable fastball in the bottom of the zone.
Anraku continues to throw predominantly off-speed pitches which only help to speed up the bats.
Doi gets around on one, but grounds to Fujiwara. He goes to short for 1, goes back to Fujiwara for the double play!
Bottom 3rd
So far Saibi is going after early pitches, but like last game, it seems like when they're able to go deeper into counts they get better results.
Fujiwara grounds out to short on a 1-1 count. Kaneko hits a soft liner to short on the same 1-1 count.
Machida has to swing away after falling behind 1-2, and grounds out... to short to end the inning.
Top 4th
Anraku is back to hitting the low-mid 140s, but it seems hittable.
Ichikawa on the 2-2 pitch walks back to the dugout only to be called back by the umpire! He wasn't called out!
He is later though as he is frozen on a fastball down the middle.
Ren goes after the first pitch and hits a deep fly to center. Ueda is there near the fence to make the catch.
And it looks like he's using his fastball more now as he buries a fastball and gets Matagawa to chase to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Hm. I think someone's heard me over on Saibi's bench...
After a quick flyout by Ueda, Yamashita and Usagawa work back-to-back full count walks. That sets the table for Anraku, who should still implement the strategy.
Once again, he is working the count and gets ahead 2-1. Oddly, Jyoukou-kantoku has Oota go out and talk to Anraku.
On the very next pitch, Sakai bounces it in front of Maeda! It bounces high into the air and to the backstop! Runners advance, and now it's Shimada-kantoku calling for time!
Anraku goes after the 3-1 pitch but can't make contact! Full count yet again for Sakai!
Check swing by Anraku makes contact with the next pitch and fouls it off!
Ball low and Sakai has walked the bases loaded!!
Shimada-kantoku as Sakamoto warming up along with another pitcher. He's got to make a decision quick because Sakai is in a real pinch!
Grounder to 3rd by Oota. Off Ren's foot as he shuffles over and it's into foul territory! He chases it down but has no play! Yamashita scores and it's 1-1!!
Now Morita looking to give Saibi the lead, but he deviates from the plan! He swings on the 1-1 pitch and pops it up! Ren in foul territory makes the catch for the 2nd out!
And Fujiwara also chases a pitch early and falls behind. He winds up chasing a fastball away for the 3rd out and Sakai limits the damage to the douten run! (Saibi's 6-7 hitters let him off the hook.)
Top 5th
#7 Goutouji comes in to play CF for Ueda.
Ueta leads off the inning with a grounder past a diving Usagawa! Sugimoto tries to bunt him over, but Anraku instead fires to 2nd! Usagawa makes the out but the slide from Ueta prevents a throw to 1st.
Maeda up and it looks like Sakai's day is over. #18 Takeuchi is in the on deck circle instead of Sakai.
Shimada-kantoku sending Sugimoto! Throw from Kaneko... not in time! Kochi threatens to take the lead once again!
But Maeda bails swing on an ball up and in for the 2nd out.
Takeuchi trying to get the timely pinch-hit runs the count full but is called out looking on a borderline fastball to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Ace Sakamoto comes in the game for Kochi to hold the tie.
One pitch, one out. Kaneko flies out to center.
Last batter Machida pulls a ball on the outer half and singles to left! Jyoukou-kantoku elects to have Goutouji bunt the runner along for a one-shot.
And it works! Yamashita hits a grounder past a diving Doi! Machida is being waved home! Throw in from Matagawa is up the 1st base line and late! Machida scores and Yamashita takes 2nd on the throw! Yamashita with the gyakuten RBI to give Saibi the 2-1 lead!
Usagawa still without a ball in play as he feebly swings on a sinker to end the inning, but even putting ace Sakamoto in hasn't help Kochi here in recent inning as Saibi ties, then takes the lead as we hit the break!
Top 6th
Defensive change as the outfielders play the shuffle game. Goutouji goes from CF to LF, Oota goes from LF to RF, and Yamashita goes from RF to CF.
The defense doesn't affect this inning though as leadoff batter Yoshito grounds to 2nd, Doi looks at a 146 kph heater down the pipe, and Ichikawa grounds to 1st to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Things are changing quickly as Anraku singles back up the middle, going 5-hole on Sakamoto.
Oota looking to bunt, but actually gets ahead 3-1 before the count runs full.
The cameras go to the 3rd base coaches' box and it's former CF Ueda with his middle finger bandaged up. That can't be good for them.
Back to the action, and Jyoukou tries the hit-and-run only to have Oota miss and Anraku left out to dry. He's run down for the 2nd out.
And Morita pops out to Yoshito to end the inning.
Top 7th
Ren with a drive to left-center! Yamashita running over, leaps!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anraku tries to put a fastball by Kochi's cleanup hitter, but he drives it out of the ballpark! Kochi with their 2nd HR of the day ties the game at 2-2!!
Anraku retires the next 3 without much issue, but the HR bug has bit him yet again - this time in the Lucky 7!!
Bottom 7th
Fujiwara with a bit of bad luck has his check swing hit the ball in play in front of home. Maeda goes to 1st for the out.
Kaneko with a lazy fly to center is the 2nd out. Machida softly lines out to 3rd and Saibi can't get anything on their Lucky 7.
Top 8th
#17 Okuda in to hit for Maeda as the Kochi oen-dan plays Born This Way. He grounds to 1st.
Sakamoto without a hit still as he pops one to Usagawa behind 2nd.
Back to the top of the order and Yoshito.
Down 1-2, he bloops one into left center for a single.
But he's stranded there when Doi flies out to center to retire the side. Are we headed for another enchousen game?
Bottom 8th
#2 Kawakami Shouta now in at C.
Goutouji gets ahead of Sakamoto 3-1, but can only hit a fly to center.
Yamashita with a ball driven to left! Matagawa chasing it to the wall!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yamashita trying to give Anraku a break! He drives a HR to give Saibi the lead at 3-2.
Sakamoto trying to hold the line at 1, gets Usagawa to climb the ladder for the 2nd out.
But when Anraku has a grounder take a high bounce past Yoshito into right, Shimada-kantoku has seen enough. Ren comes in from 3B to take the hill and #16 Kawakami Yuuta comes in Sakamoto's place to play 3B.
Oota pops out to Shouta to end the inning, and it's crunch time for Kochi!!
Top 9th
3-4-5 batters up for Kochi.
Ichikawa with a pop fly down the 3rd base line. Machida going out is called off by Oota, but the ball pops out when he dives for it! Ichikawa running all the way reaches 3rd safely! What a quick turn of events!!
But Anraku gest Ren to pop it up! Machida under it and makes the catch for the 1st out!
Matagawa with a hard ball at short! Usagawa there, but he can't field it cleanly! Goes to get the ball but has no play!!! 1st and 3rd with just 1 out!
Ueta with a grounder to 3rd! Morita going home... he's out by a good margin!
They're down to their final out as Sugimoto steps in.
Anraku gets ahead 0-2! Sugimoto with a fly ball to right! Oota under it and this time he will not drop it as he secures it for the 3-2 victory! Saibi will advance to the finals to win their 2nd Haru Koushien title in as many attempts!
You can tell from the players to the kantoku though that Kochi had a chance at this game. Anraku wasn't at his best and by the 2 HR's they hit, he was certainly human. Yet they were never able to take advantage of other opportunities to extend the lead or retake it. Considering it would have been their 1st appearance in a final in 38 years, they know this was the best chance they've had and it slipped away.
But give credit to Anraku for hanging in there despite definitely being not 100%. He did just enough to allow his offense (and by that I mean Yamashita) time to pull the game out for him.
Saibi got as many hits as Kochi. But it was the 4 walks but the timing of those hits that made all the difference. And so Saibi, the Shikoku 3-seed will face off against Kanto Champions Urawa Gakuin for the 85th Haru Koushien title!!
Notable Players
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - W, CG, 2 ER, 5 H, 7 K, 0 BB
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - 2-3
Yamashita Takuma (Saibi) - 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Sakai Yuuya (Kochi) - ND, 4 IP, ER, 0 H, 2 K, 4 BB
Sakamoto Yuuta (Kochi) - L, 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 K, 0 BB
Doi Kouyou (Kochi) - 1-4, HR, R, RBI
Wada Ren (Kochi) - 1-4, HR, R, RBI
Ueta Shunya (Kochi) - 2-4
One thing we do know, it will be a team from Shikoku - which is not what I would have expected at all.
Oddly enough, Kochi has not faced off against Saibi as they were on opposite sides of the Shikoku taikai. They got here by first shocking Kanzei (ok, perhaps just me only) with a 5-1 upset. After that, the team has played very close, low-scoring games defeating Tokoha Kikugawa then upsetting the Meiji Jingu champs Sendai Ikuei.
For Saibi, it was the only extra inning affair again Kouryou, then handling Seiseikou and battering an already battered Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou battery for 6 runs.
I really don't know what to expect from this game, especially since this isn't a rematch from the fall. It's been a while for Kochi to reach the finals, while Saibi is going for their 2nd finals in their 2nd attempt.
Who wants it more?
(I'll insert more here when the game is over)
Kochi (Kochi) - Shikoku Champions
2B Wada Yoshito
SS Doi Kouyou
1B Ichikawa Gou
3B Wada Ren
LF Matagawa Ryouyuu
CF Ueta Shunya
RF Sugimoto Daiki
C Maeda Ryuusei (#12)
P Sakai Yuuya (#10)
Saibi (Ehime) - Shikoku 3 seed
CF Ueda Kyousuke
RF Yamashita Takuma
SS Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
LF Oota Yuuya (#5)
3B Morita Shouhei (#15)
1B Fujiwara Kouki
C Kaneko Kouhei
2B Machida Takahiro
____________________________________________________________
13:22 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Anraku throwing a lot of off-speed pitches to start. Perhaps he can't locate his fastball?
More like his fastball is not as fast as before, only in the upper 130s. Yoshito grounds to 1st on one such one.
More off-speed pitches to Doi.
OH!
Doi gets a hold of a fastball from Anraku! Oota running back to the fence!! Looks up!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Doi with a HR in the first just like the previous game gives his team a 1-0 lead!
Anraku continues with his steady diet of non-fastballs. Ichikawa strikes out looking on a slider and Ren flies out to right.
But if Anraku's fastball is wordly today and he's throwing off-speed pitches almost exclusively, this could be a big problem for Saibi.
Bottom 1st
One pitch, one out. Kyousuke flies out to left.
Yamashita tries to work the count, but winds up grounding out to short for the 2nd out.
Usagawa is called going around on a slider down and in and it's a 1-2-3 inning to start for Sakai.
Top 2nd
Shunya with a ball up the middle, Usagawa with a great diving stop, but the ball slips out of the glove on the way to throw to 1st and Shunya is safe!
And now he tries to steal 2nd! Throw from Kaneko is a bit of a loop and Ueta is in safely! And the ball gets away fro Usagawa allowing Ueta to reach 3rd!
Ah, looks like the dirt from the slide got in his eyes.
Luckily for Saibi, it doesn't hurt them as Maeda grounds to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
After a groundout by Anraku to start the 2nd, Oota works a walk off of Sakai.
But when Jyoukou-kantoku runs the hit-and-run, Morita grounds right to Ren who goes to 2nd and still gets the lead runner! Yoshito fires to 1st and the twin-tandem gets the double play!
Top 3rd
Bottom of the order and Sakai steps in.
Grounder to short, and the hop unexpectedly eats up Usagawa! He drops it and his throw to 1st is late!
Back to the top of the order and Yoshito, and ooooh... He gets called out on a very questionable fastball in the bottom of the zone.
Anraku continues to throw predominantly off-speed pitches which only help to speed up the bats.
Doi gets around on one, but grounds to Fujiwara. He goes to short for 1, goes back to Fujiwara for the double play!
Bottom 3rd
So far Saibi is going after early pitches, but like last game, it seems like when they're able to go deeper into counts they get better results.
Fujiwara grounds out to short on a 1-1 count. Kaneko hits a soft liner to short on the same 1-1 count.
Machida has to swing away after falling behind 1-2, and grounds out... to short to end the inning.
Top 4th
Anraku is back to hitting the low-mid 140s, but it seems hittable.
Ichikawa on the 2-2 pitch walks back to the dugout only to be called back by the umpire! He wasn't called out!
He is later though as he is frozen on a fastball down the middle.
Ren goes after the first pitch and hits a deep fly to center. Ueda is there near the fence to make the catch.
And it looks like he's using his fastball more now as he buries a fastball and gets Matagawa to chase to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Hm. I think someone's heard me over on Saibi's bench...
After a quick flyout by Ueda, Yamashita and Usagawa work back-to-back full count walks. That sets the table for Anraku, who should still implement the strategy.
Once again, he is working the count and gets ahead 2-1. Oddly, Jyoukou-kantoku has Oota go out and talk to Anraku.
On the very next pitch, Sakai bounces it in front of Maeda! It bounces high into the air and to the backstop! Runners advance, and now it's Shimada-kantoku calling for time!
Anraku goes after the 3-1 pitch but can't make contact! Full count yet again for Sakai!
Check swing by Anraku makes contact with the next pitch and fouls it off!
Ball low and Sakai has walked the bases loaded!!
Shimada-kantoku as Sakamoto warming up along with another pitcher. He's got to make a decision quick because Sakai is in a real pinch!
Grounder to 3rd by Oota. Off Ren's foot as he shuffles over and it's into foul territory! He chases it down but has no play! Yamashita scores and it's 1-1!!
Now Morita looking to give Saibi the lead, but he deviates from the plan! He swings on the 1-1 pitch and pops it up! Ren in foul territory makes the catch for the 2nd out!
And Fujiwara also chases a pitch early and falls behind. He winds up chasing a fastball away for the 3rd out and Sakai limits the damage to the douten run! (Saibi's 6-7 hitters let him off the hook.)
Top 5th
#7 Goutouji comes in to play CF for Ueda.
Ueta leads off the inning with a grounder past a diving Usagawa! Sugimoto tries to bunt him over, but Anraku instead fires to 2nd! Usagawa makes the out but the slide from Ueta prevents a throw to 1st.
Maeda up and it looks like Sakai's day is over. #18 Takeuchi is in the on deck circle instead of Sakai.
Shimada-kantoku sending Sugimoto! Throw from Kaneko... not in time! Kochi threatens to take the lead once again!
But Maeda bails swing on an ball up and in for the 2nd out.
Takeuchi trying to get the timely pinch-hit runs the count full but is called out looking on a borderline fastball to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
Ace Sakamoto comes in the game for Kochi to hold the tie.
One pitch, one out. Kaneko flies out to center.
Last batter Machida pulls a ball on the outer half and singles to left! Jyoukou-kantoku elects to have Goutouji bunt the runner along for a one-shot.
And it works! Yamashita hits a grounder past a diving Doi! Machida is being waved home! Throw in from Matagawa is up the 1st base line and late! Machida scores and Yamashita takes 2nd on the throw! Yamashita with the gyakuten RBI to give Saibi the 2-1 lead!
Usagawa still without a ball in play as he feebly swings on a sinker to end the inning, but even putting ace Sakamoto in hasn't help Kochi here in recent inning as Saibi ties, then takes the lead as we hit the break!
Top 6th
Defensive change as the outfielders play the shuffle game. Goutouji goes from CF to LF, Oota goes from LF to RF, and Yamashita goes from RF to CF.
The defense doesn't affect this inning though as leadoff batter Yoshito grounds to 2nd, Doi looks at a 146 kph heater down the pipe, and Ichikawa grounds to 1st to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Things are changing quickly as Anraku singles back up the middle, going 5-hole on Sakamoto.
Oota looking to bunt, but actually gets ahead 3-1 before the count runs full.
The cameras go to the 3rd base coaches' box and it's former CF Ueda with his middle finger bandaged up. That can't be good for them.
Back to the action, and Jyoukou tries the hit-and-run only to have Oota miss and Anraku left out to dry. He's run down for the 2nd out.
And Morita pops out to Yoshito to end the inning.
Top 7th
Ren with a drive to left-center! Yamashita running over, leaps!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anraku tries to put a fastball by Kochi's cleanup hitter, but he drives it out of the ballpark! Kochi with their 2nd HR of the day ties the game at 2-2!!
Anraku retires the next 3 without much issue, but the HR bug has bit him yet again - this time in the Lucky 7!!
Bottom 7th
Fujiwara with a bit of bad luck has his check swing hit the ball in play in front of home. Maeda goes to 1st for the out.
Kaneko with a lazy fly to center is the 2nd out. Machida softly lines out to 3rd and Saibi can't get anything on their Lucky 7.
Top 8th
#17 Okuda in to hit for Maeda as the Kochi oen-dan plays Born This Way. He grounds to 1st.
Sakamoto without a hit still as he pops one to Usagawa behind 2nd.
Back to the top of the order and Yoshito.
Down 1-2, he bloops one into left center for a single.
But he's stranded there when Doi flies out to center to retire the side. Are we headed for another enchousen game?
Bottom 8th
#2 Kawakami Shouta now in at C.
Goutouji gets ahead of Sakamoto 3-1, but can only hit a fly to center.
Yamashita with a ball driven to left! Matagawa chasing it to the wall!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yamashita trying to give Anraku a break! He drives a HR to give Saibi the lead at 3-2.
Sakamoto trying to hold the line at 1, gets Usagawa to climb the ladder for the 2nd out.
But when Anraku has a grounder take a high bounce past Yoshito into right, Shimada-kantoku has seen enough. Ren comes in from 3B to take the hill and #16 Kawakami Yuuta comes in Sakamoto's place to play 3B.
Oota pops out to Shouta to end the inning, and it's crunch time for Kochi!!
Top 9th
3-4-5 batters up for Kochi.
Ichikawa with a pop fly down the 3rd base line. Machida going out is called off by Oota, but the ball pops out when he dives for it! Ichikawa running all the way reaches 3rd safely! What a quick turn of events!!
But Anraku gest Ren to pop it up! Machida under it and makes the catch for the 1st out!
Matagawa with a hard ball at short! Usagawa there, but he can't field it cleanly! Goes to get the ball but has no play!!! 1st and 3rd with just 1 out!
Ueta with a grounder to 3rd! Morita going home... he's out by a good margin!
They're down to their final out as Sugimoto steps in.
Anraku gets ahead 0-2! Sugimoto with a fly ball to right! Oota under it and this time he will not drop it as he secures it for the 3-2 victory! Saibi will advance to the finals to win their 2nd Haru Koushien title in as many attempts!
You can tell from the players to the kantoku though that Kochi had a chance at this game. Anraku wasn't at his best and by the 2 HR's they hit, he was certainly human. Yet they were never able to take advantage of other opportunities to extend the lead or retake it. Considering it would have been their 1st appearance in a final in 38 years, they know this was the best chance they've had and it slipped away.
But give credit to Anraku for hanging in there despite definitely being not 100%. He did just enough to allow his offense (and by that I mean Yamashita) time to pull the game out for him.
Saibi got as many hits as Kochi. But it was the 4 walks but the timing of those hits that made all the difference. And so Saibi, the Shikoku 3-seed will face off against Kanto Champions Urawa Gakuin for the 85th Haru Koushien title!!
Notable Players
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - W, CG, 2 ER, 5 H, 7 K, 0 BB
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - 2-3
Yamashita Takuma (Saibi) - 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Sakai Yuuya (Kochi) - ND, 4 IP, ER, 0 H, 2 K, 4 BB
Sakamoto Yuuta (Kochi) - L, 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 K, 0 BB
Doi Kouyou (Kochi) - 1-4, HR, R, RBI
Wada Ren (Kochi) - 1-4, HR, R, RBI
Ueta Shunya (Kochi) - 2-4
Monday, April 1, 2013
Day 11, Quarterfinal #4 - Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou (Gifu) vs. Saibi (Ehime)
Our final quarterfinal matchup may or may not be an exciting matchup. It's all because it depends on the battery for Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou. The battery of Fujita and Kouyama each suffered injuries that jeopardized their participation going forward.
Now, with just 1 day of rest their team takes the field once again, and perhaps as no surprise, both are out on the field to start the game. It still begs the question though as to what their actual health is coming in. Kouyama because of the offense he brings, and Fujita because he's the ace.
If they're not 100% (especially Fujita), Kengifushou will probably be in a heap of trouble against Saibi.
And that's because Saibi has ace Anraku - who has completely taken the Haru Koushien by storm by the performance he had against Kouryou. 3 days later, he comes back to limit Seiseikou to just 1 run on 7 hits.
Now, he comes back on 1 day's rest to try and send his team to the semifinals.
This for him and his team is where fatigue will start to set in. Anraku was fortunate enough to have that 232 pitch performance in the first game - but that's not to say that it depleted him so much that his stamina is much shorter.
Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou (Gifu) - Tokai Champions
LF Kawamura Renji
SS Noda Gento
3B Azuma Taito (#4)
1B Takenaka Hiroki
C Kouyama Takurou
CF Aoki Shouya
RF Hayashi Tomonori
2B Okimoto Takuya (#14)
P Fujita Ryouji
Saibi (Ehime) - Shikoku 3 seed
CF Ueda Kyousuke
RF Yamashita Takuma
SS Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
3B Oota Yuuya
1B Morita Shouhei (#15)
LF Goudouji Shin
C Kaneko Kouhei
2B Machida Takahiro
____________________________________________________________
13:46 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Kawamura right off the bat swings on the first pitch and hits a fly ball down the right field line. Yamashita sprinting into foul territory, makes the catch against the fence for the 1st out! Nice defensive play to start the game!
Anraku goes away on Noda and retires him on three straight, looking at a slider for the out.
And Anraku works Azuma in and out, striking him out on a fastball outside, and it looks to be business as usual for the Saibi ace.
Bottom 1st
Oy, the battery is already battered and Ueda starts Saibi off with a zinger past Fujita into center for a base hit.
After the sac bunt by Yamashita, a pitch from Fujita gets away from Kouyama and he loses track of it! Ueda advances to 3rd, and Saibi already threatening here in the 1st.
Liner from Usagawa! Azuma leaps, and it's off the end of his glove and into right field! Ueda scores and Saibi quickly takes the 1-0 lead!
Fujita not going to buckle down early, gives cleanup batter Anraku no fastballs to hit and gets him to chase on a slider away for the 2nd out.
And then he turns around, pitches away exclusively to Oota before freezing him on a fastball inside for the 3rd out. And if not for another inch of vertical from Azuma, it would still be a scoreless game.
Top 2nd
Takenaka hits a comebacker off of Anraku! It deflects towards 3rd, but Oota can't get there to field it in time. Wasn't a hard hit ball though, so Anraku is fine.
Kouyama trying to bunt Takenaka along, can't and falls behind 1-2. Still shows bunt though.
It's a bust-and-run! Kouyama tries to put it through the right side, but it's right to Morita! He goes to 2nd for one, throw to 1st... wide!! It gets away from Machida and into foul territory! Kouyama takes off for 2nd, but the ball bounces off the wall and right to Kaneko! He goes to 2nd and Kouyama is out by a mile for your run of the mill 3-6, E6, 2-6 DP.
Aoki with a fly to center. Ueda going back, going back, backpedals... and makes the catch on the warning track for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Saibi continues to put the pressure on Kengifushou as Morita hits a 3-1 single just past a diving Noda into left. Goudouji squares to bunt, but continues to take pitches, eventually falling behind 2-2. Forced to swing away, he waves on a changeup away for the first out.
Kaneko also trying to bunt, this time what looks like a safety bunt, but for the 2nd straight batter they can't put one down.
Instead it's a hit-and-run! But Kaneko can't make contact on a slider away and Kouyama throws out Morita for the strike 'em out-throw 'em out double play to end the inning!
Top 3rd
Bottom of the order attacking early as Hayashi takes the first pitch and grounds to 1st.
Okiyama with a shot past a diving Oota down the left field line for a double! Anraku left that one over the plate.
Fujita up to help his own cause now and tie the game with a base hit.
And it's a grounder to the right side, through for a base hit! But Okiyama is held up at 3rd! Runners at the corners as the lineup turns over to Kawamura.
Grounder to short! Usagawa has it, looks to start the 6-4-3 double play. But Machida is a touch late to 2nd causing Usagawa to delay for a split second. Throw to 1st is not in time and Okimoto scores to tie the game at 1-1!
Fujita-kantoku pressing with the hit-and-run! Noda with a liner back up the middle, caught by a diving Machida! Great catch to end the inning by the 2nd baseman! But Kengifushou manages to put together a run from the bottom of the order and we're back to level!
Bottom 3rd
Machida turns around to start the 3rd, but unlike the sports highlight shows he does not come back to hit a home run or some key hit, instead he fouls out to Takenaka to start the inning.
It's back to the top of the order for Saibi, and Fujita immediately goes to the off-speed pitches. Ueda is given absolutely nothing in the zone and yet he still chases a change down in the zone for the 2nd out.
Yamashita though with a drive to left center!! Kawamura and Aoki converge on the ball, but it falls in front of the wall! Yamashita on his wheels slides into 3rd safely with a 2-out triple!
Usagawa with another chance to drive in a run and gets ahead 2-0. But he chases a ball wide and pops it up! Noda ranging towards the left field line makes the catch and Fujita is out of the jam!
Top 4th
Anraku trying to get back on track gets Azuma to pop out to Usagawa.
But Takenaka turns on a fastball inside and drives it to right! Yamashita back to the wall, but can't get there in time and he's in with a double!
Kouyama up now perhaps to give Kengifushou the lead, falls behind 1-2 but manages to work the count full... and the Anraku offering isn't even close! Anraku once again in trouble here in the 4th as Kaneko goes out to talk to his ace.
Aoki stands in and once again Anraku gets ahead 1-2. But again he tries to get Aoki to chase to no avail and the count runs full!
And Anraku walks him too! It's manrui for Kengifushou!
Hayashi with a swinging dribbler to the right side! It's off Anraku's glove and to the right side! Machida picks it up and can only go to 1st for the out. Takenaka scores and Kengifushou takes the 2-1 lead!
2 down and Okimoto steps in looking for another base hit.
But Anraku ramps up the fastball and gets him to chase one up and in for the 3rd out. Still, he doesn't look sharp at all as Kengifushou gets the upper hand.
Bottom 4th
Anraku up to start the 4th and perhaps he's pressing because of his pitching because he waves on two straight sliders away and he's down on 3 pitches.
Oota comes back though and shoots one past a diving Azuma into left.
Morita up now, and Fujita can't find the zone at all. He walks him on 5 pitches and now it's Fujita who looks a bit shaky.
Goudouji with the bunt up the 3rd base side. Fujita takes it ahead of Kouyama, fires to 1st, but it's not in time! Everyone's safe and now Fujita in a manrui pinch!
Kaneko stepping in, struck out in his last AB - how well is he?
Fujita quickly gets ahead of him 0-2, and Kaneko sends one to left center! But it's shallow, and Oota can't advance as Aoki takes it for the 2nd out.
Machida the last chance here to extend the inning for Saibi and Fujita is giving him nothing in the zone and no fastballs.
SANSHIN!!!
Machida chases a 2-2 pitch in the dirt! Kouyama coolly steps on home for the force and Fujita holds on to the slim 1 run lead!
Top 5th
After a quick comebacker by Fujita for the 1st out, it's back to the top and Kawamura.
Anraku hangs one and Kawamura drives it to deep center! Ueda sprinting back to the fence, slides, but it falls right in front of the fence! The ball is fired back in quickly, but Kawamura just slides in with a 1-out triple! Anraku is back in the fire once again!
Noda looking to bring the run in and extend the lead.
Grounder to short! Usagawa fires it home, but it short hops Kaneko and he can't field it cleanly! It bounces away as Kawamura scores to give Kengifushou the 3-1 lead!!
Azuma up looking to put more pressure on Anraku. But he lines one right to Morita! Morita then walks over to 1st doubling off Noda for the 3-unassisted double play to end the inning.
Anraku and Saibi though look to be in a bit of trouble...
Bottom 5th
Top batter Ueda to lead off the 5th, and Fujita goes and plunks him on the first pitch.
Yamashita lays down the bunt, but it's right to Azuma. He fires to Noda at 2nd, but the throw is down the 2nd base side! Noda fields it, but Ueda runs full speed into him and they collide! Both players are down as Ueda is called out. Man, that looked hard.
Ueda is the first to get up and walk back to the dugout, but Noda stays down. He gets looked at, but says he's fine and stays in the game.
Usagawa takes advantage of the break and drives the first pitch from Fujita to deep right! Hayashi running back to the fence, slides, and it too falls in front of the fence! Yamashita flying around the bases, scores all the way from 1st on the RBI triple by Usagawa! Saibi pulls within 1 at 3-2 and threatens to tie the game with Anraku stepping in!
But once again Fujita goes slider away on Anraku. And while he lays off the first two sliders, both are called for strikes. Down 1-2, Anraku swings and misses on the 3rd slider and goes down swinging for the 3rd time today.
That leaves it up to Oota, who's 1-3 with 2 K's, to get the timely hit.
Fujita again not giving in, throwing a bunch of off-speed pitches down in the zone to Oota. Down 1-2, Oota manages to hold off on a couple to fill up the count.
SANSHIN!!!!!
But Fujita wins the battle yet again! Oota, on appeal, cannot check his swing and Fujita strands the douten run at 3rd!
We head to the break with Kengifushou, injured battery and all, leading a rather mortal-looking Anraku who does not appear to have his best stuff today. Has the pitch count finally taken it's toll?
Top 6th
Takenaka off the break with a grounder to short. Usagawa double clutches then throws it short to 1st getting by Morita for an E6. Kouyama bunts him to 2nd as Kengifushou looks to add on as many runs as possible.
Aoki with a liner to right, over a leaping Machida! Yamashita quickly gets it back in as Takenaka has to hold at 3rd. Once again though Anraku in trouble...
Hayashi up and Fujita-kantoku tries the hit-and-run! But the pitch is outside and Hayashi can only defensively foul it off!
2 strikes and again Fujita-kantoku sends Aoki! Hayashi swings and misses, but the ball is in the dirt and Kaneko has no throw to 2nd. A base hit here could put Saibi in a world of trouble.
SANSHIN!!!!
Anraku buckles down though and gets Okimoto to chase a slider away for out #3! His team trails by just 1.
Bottom 6th
Possible injury change for Kengifushou (as if things weren't bad enough). #15 Nagao comes in for SS Noda who probably was hurt in the collision earlier.
And Fujita is all over the place to Morita. Pitches are slow and not even close as he walks him to put the douten runner on. That gets Fujita-kantoku's attention as he sends Touyama out to calm his team (especially his son) down.
Meanwhile, the gears are turning for Jyoukou-kantoku as he sends in #3 Fujiwara to hit for Goudouji.
And he comes in to sac the runner along. Interesting.
Fujita continues to struggle and the velocity stays down to Kaneko. And Kaneko lines one... past a diving Nagao into center! But Morita had to hold to wait for the ball to clear the infield and thus couldn't advance! So runners on 1st and 2nd only for Saibi!
Machida steps in and swings on the first pitch and pops it up! Okimoto under it as the infield fly rule is called and that's 2 outs now for Saibi.
And Fujita gets out of the inning! Ueda pops it up! Nagao goes out to shallow left and secures the ball for the 3rd out! He's certainly laboring more now but he hangs up another bagel on Saibi!
Top 7th
Fujiwara comes in the game to play 1B. Morita shifts to 3B and Oota goes out to LF.
Fujita quickly out on a first pitch fly to center. Anraku then comes back to shut down Kawamura and Nagao for just his 2nd 1-2-3 inning this game.
Bottom 7th
Fujita's day is done now. His dad has seen enough and will rely on the bullpen to finish out the last 3 innings. Coming in is #10 Kuzuya.
Yamashita rudely greets him with a liner to left to start the lucky 7.
After an Usagawa flyout to center, that brings up cleanup batter Anraku - who has been held in check to the tune of 0-3 with 3 K's.
And this is worse!! Anraku hits one back to Kuzuya who goes to 2nd for one, relay from Nagao to 1st... beats Anraku for the inning-ending double play!!!
Top 8th
Anraku back to struggling here in the 8th. He falls behind Azuma 3-1 before getting him to ground to 3rd. Takenaka and Kouyama run the count deep against him as well, but Anraku somehow manages to slide off the hook once again.
However, time is running out for his team. Just 6 outs to go else their run is over.
Bottom 8th
That's interesting. Despite not looking all that bad, Fujita-kantoku relieves Kuzuya and sends in #5 Gotou Masato. Masato has had just 2 innings of work last fall, even less than Kuzuya.
Oota welcomes him as well with a liner to left. Jyoukou-kantoku playing for the douten run as Morita bunts him along.
Uh oh. Masato going to the slider repeatedly trying to get Fujiwara to chase, but he can't get him to bite and he can't find the zone! He walks him and that gets Fujita-kantoku to send out #18 Hashimoto to calm down Masato.
And it's doing the opposite! Masato was throwing his fastball up in the low-mid 130's but now is sitting in the high 120's as he's still not hitting the strike zone!! He's definitely rattled as he walks Kaneko to load the bases!!
Fujita-kantoku in full scramble mode as #11 Touyama (who earlier went to the mound during a timeout), now takes the hill...
Jyoukou-kantoku, sensing a ripe opportunity, sends in #14 Hayashi Kanya in to hit for Machida as Kengifushou plays the infield in for a play at the plate.
First pitch Kanya hits it to 3rd! It's off the glove of Azuma! Everyone's safe and Kanya with the timely hit has tied the game at 3-3!!
Back to the top of the order and Ueda as Kengifushou looks to be reeling.
SQUEEZE!!!!
Ueda tries the squeeze, but fouls it off!
But he does one better! He singles through the drawn in infield and Fujiwara scores to give Saibi their first lead since the 2nd inning! It's 4-3 Saibi!!!!!
Yamashita to try and extend the lead, but he pops it up! Takenaka settles under it as the infield fly is called for the 2nd out. Touyama almost out of the jam.
But Touyama struggles against the lefty Usagawa! He walks him and walks in a run to make it 5-3!
That brings up the always dangerous, though not today, Usagawa.
And now Touyama is ramping it up. Fastballs in the mid-upper 130's, but he's all over the place. He somehow manages to get 2 strikes as Anraku continues to flail. But then he suddenly becomes more patient and works the count full....
And Touyama walks him! He throws his first slider and it's high as he walks in another run to make it 6-3 Saibi!
That's it for Touyama. Hayashi comes in from RF to pitch as #16 Niwa comes in for Touyama to take over in right.
Hayashi gets Oota to swing on the first pitch and fly to left. The inning is mercifully over for Kengifushou, but not before a complete collapse here in the 8th...
Top 9th
So despite Anraku struggling all game, it's Kengifushou's bullpen that has collapsed.
Hayashi will stay in the game at 2nd as Anraku looks to close it out.
Aoki though will not make it that easy. He hits one past a diving Morita into left for a base hit.
But Aoki presses too far when he tries to take 2nd on a ball that gets away from Kaneko! He throws to 2nd and is thrown out! Not a smart move considering his run doesn't matter (it does, but really it doesnt).
And now with no one on base Anraku has the clear position of advantage as Hayashi chases a slider for the 2nd out!
Last chance for Kengifushou as #12 Banno comes in to hit for Okimoto. Anraku gets ahead 0-2, but then tries to get him to chase with no luck - filling up the count.
Banno then singles to left! There's still a faint light for Kengifushou! #13 Iwata comes in to run for Banno.
Niwa up for his first AB, and what a time to have it...
And Kaneko loses track of another ball! This time he can't find it and Iwata takes 2nd!
Anraku comes back to get ahead 1-2 as Niwa fouls one off...
Niwa with a ball to the right side... that gets past a diving Hayashi!! Iwata holds at 3rd and Kengifuhsou is able to send the douten runner to the plate!
Moreover, the lineup for Kengifushou flips back to the top and Kawamura.
Ohhhhhhhhhh.......
Fujita-kantoku sends Niwa on the first pitch! Throw from Kaneko... not in time!! That was a very risky call by Fujita-kantoku there. His run still doesn't matter - only Kawamura.
Despite Kawamura representing the douten run, with 1st open Anraku can afford to pitch defensively to Kawamura as he falls behind 3-1. Yet he goes inside with a fastball for strike 2!
Payoff pitch... grounder to 3rd!! Morita with it, goes to 1st... Beats a diving Kawamura and Saibi comes from behind to defeat Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou 6-3!!
So despite Anraku looking rather shaky on the mound, they are bailed out by an obviously shorthanded Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou and advance to the semifinals!
But really you have to wonder what might have been for Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou. If Fujita wasn't injured from last game, would Fujita have gone longer and held the lead? Because up until the 6th, he had done a superb job on the mound. We'll never know, but it certainly is a shame that we'll never really know - because they really looked like a contender in that Osaka Toin game, and even with the injuries looked good outside the bullpen.
Alas, that isn't the case. Instead Saibi is the team that manages to survive and advance into an all-Shikoku matchup with rival Kochi! Interestingly, Kochi and Saibi didn't play in the super-regionals so it should be interesting.
Notable Players
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - W, CG, 3 ER, 9 H, 8 K, 2 BB
Yamashita Takuma (Saibi) - 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB
Oota Yuuya (Saibi) - 2-5, R, 2 K
Fujita Ryouji (Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou) - ND, 6 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 8 K, 2 BB, HBP
Takenaka Hiroki (Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou) - 2-4, 2B, R
Aoki Shouya (Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou) - 2-3, BB
Now, with just 1 day of rest their team takes the field once again, and perhaps as no surprise, both are out on the field to start the game. It still begs the question though as to what their actual health is coming in. Kouyama because of the offense he brings, and Fujita because he's the ace.
If they're not 100% (especially Fujita), Kengifushou will probably be in a heap of trouble against Saibi.
And that's because Saibi has ace Anraku - who has completely taken the Haru Koushien by storm by the performance he had against Kouryou. 3 days later, he comes back to limit Seiseikou to just 1 run on 7 hits.
Now, he comes back on 1 day's rest to try and send his team to the semifinals.
This for him and his team is where fatigue will start to set in. Anraku was fortunate enough to have that 232 pitch performance in the first game - but that's not to say that it depleted him so much that his stamina is much shorter.
Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou (Gifu) - Tokai Champions
LF Kawamura Renji
SS Noda Gento
3B Azuma Taito (#4)
1B Takenaka Hiroki
C Kouyama Takurou
CF Aoki Shouya
RF Hayashi Tomonori
2B Okimoto Takuya (#14)
P Fujita Ryouji
Saibi (Ehime) - Shikoku 3 seed
CF Ueda Kyousuke
RF Yamashita Takuma
SS Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
3B Oota Yuuya
1B Morita Shouhei (#15)
LF Goudouji Shin
C Kaneko Kouhei
2B Machida Takahiro
____________________________________________________________
13:46 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Kawamura right off the bat swings on the first pitch and hits a fly ball down the right field line. Yamashita sprinting into foul territory, makes the catch against the fence for the 1st out! Nice defensive play to start the game!
Anraku goes away on Noda and retires him on three straight, looking at a slider for the out.
And Anraku works Azuma in and out, striking him out on a fastball outside, and it looks to be business as usual for the Saibi ace.
Bottom 1st
Oy, the battery is already battered and Ueda starts Saibi off with a zinger past Fujita into center for a base hit.
After the sac bunt by Yamashita, a pitch from Fujita gets away from Kouyama and he loses track of it! Ueda advances to 3rd, and Saibi already threatening here in the 1st.
Liner from Usagawa! Azuma leaps, and it's off the end of his glove and into right field! Ueda scores and Saibi quickly takes the 1-0 lead!
Fujita not going to buckle down early, gives cleanup batter Anraku no fastballs to hit and gets him to chase on a slider away for the 2nd out.
And then he turns around, pitches away exclusively to Oota before freezing him on a fastball inside for the 3rd out. And if not for another inch of vertical from Azuma, it would still be a scoreless game.
Top 2nd
Takenaka hits a comebacker off of Anraku! It deflects towards 3rd, but Oota can't get there to field it in time. Wasn't a hard hit ball though, so Anraku is fine.
Kouyama trying to bunt Takenaka along, can't and falls behind 1-2. Still shows bunt though.
It's a bust-and-run! Kouyama tries to put it through the right side, but it's right to Morita! He goes to 2nd for one, throw to 1st... wide!! It gets away from Machida and into foul territory! Kouyama takes off for 2nd, but the ball bounces off the wall and right to Kaneko! He goes to 2nd and Kouyama is out by a mile for your run of the mill 3-6, E6, 2-6 DP.
Aoki with a fly to center. Ueda going back, going back, backpedals... and makes the catch on the warning track for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Saibi continues to put the pressure on Kengifushou as Morita hits a 3-1 single just past a diving Noda into left. Goudouji squares to bunt, but continues to take pitches, eventually falling behind 2-2. Forced to swing away, he waves on a changeup away for the first out.
Kaneko also trying to bunt, this time what looks like a safety bunt, but for the 2nd straight batter they can't put one down.
Instead it's a hit-and-run! But Kaneko can't make contact on a slider away and Kouyama throws out Morita for the strike 'em out-throw 'em out double play to end the inning!
Top 3rd
Bottom of the order attacking early as Hayashi takes the first pitch and grounds to 1st.
Okiyama with a shot past a diving Oota down the left field line for a double! Anraku left that one over the plate.
Fujita up to help his own cause now and tie the game with a base hit.
And it's a grounder to the right side, through for a base hit! But Okiyama is held up at 3rd! Runners at the corners as the lineup turns over to Kawamura.
Grounder to short! Usagawa has it, looks to start the 6-4-3 double play. But Machida is a touch late to 2nd causing Usagawa to delay for a split second. Throw to 1st is not in time and Okimoto scores to tie the game at 1-1!
Fujita-kantoku pressing with the hit-and-run! Noda with a liner back up the middle, caught by a diving Machida! Great catch to end the inning by the 2nd baseman! But Kengifushou manages to put together a run from the bottom of the order and we're back to level!
Bottom 3rd
Machida turns around to start the 3rd, but unlike the sports highlight shows he does not come back to hit a home run or some key hit, instead he fouls out to Takenaka to start the inning.
It's back to the top of the order for Saibi, and Fujita immediately goes to the off-speed pitches. Ueda is given absolutely nothing in the zone and yet he still chases a change down in the zone for the 2nd out.
Yamashita though with a drive to left center!! Kawamura and Aoki converge on the ball, but it falls in front of the wall! Yamashita on his wheels slides into 3rd safely with a 2-out triple!
Usagawa with another chance to drive in a run and gets ahead 2-0. But he chases a ball wide and pops it up! Noda ranging towards the left field line makes the catch and Fujita is out of the jam!
Top 4th
Anraku trying to get back on track gets Azuma to pop out to Usagawa.
But Takenaka turns on a fastball inside and drives it to right! Yamashita back to the wall, but can't get there in time and he's in with a double!
Kouyama up now perhaps to give Kengifushou the lead, falls behind 1-2 but manages to work the count full... and the Anraku offering isn't even close! Anraku once again in trouble here in the 4th as Kaneko goes out to talk to his ace.
Aoki stands in and once again Anraku gets ahead 1-2. But again he tries to get Aoki to chase to no avail and the count runs full!
And Anraku walks him too! It's manrui for Kengifushou!
Hayashi with a swinging dribbler to the right side! It's off Anraku's glove and to the right side! Machida picks it up and can only go to 1st for the out. Takenaka scores and Kengifushou takes the 2-1 lead!
2 down and Okimoto steps in looking for another base hit.
But Anraku ramps up the fastball and gets him to chase one up and in for the 3rd out. Still, he doesn't look sharp at all as Kengifushou gets the upper hand.
Bottom 4th
Anraku up to start the 4th and perhaps he's pressing because of his pitching because he waves on two straight sliders away and he's down on 3 pitches.
Oota comes back though and shoots one past a diving Azuma into left.
Morita up now, and Fujita can't find the zone at all. He walks him on 5 pitches and now it's Fujita who looks a bit shaky.
Goudouji with the bunt up the 3rd base side. Fujita takes it ahead of Kouyama, fires to 1st, but it's not in time! Everyone's safe and now Fujita in a manrui pinch!
Kaneko stepping in, struck out in his last AB - how well is he?
Fujita quickly gets ahead of him 0-2, and Kaneko sends one to left center! But it's shallow, and Oota can't advance as Aoki takes it for the 2nd out.
Machida the last chance here to extend the inning for Saibi and Fujita is giving him nothing in the zone and no fastballs.
SANSHIN!!!
Machida chases a 2-2 pitch in the dirt! Kouyama coolly steps on home for the force and Fujita holds on to the slim 1 run lead!
Top 5th
After a quick comebacker by Fujita for the 1st out, it's back to the top and Kawamura.
Anraku hangs one and Kawamura drives it to deep center! Ueda sprinting back to the fence, slides, but it falls right in front of the fence! The ball is fired back in quickly, but Kawamura just slides in with a 1-out triple! Anraku is back in the fire once again!
Noda looking to bring the run in and extend the lead.
Grounder to short! Usagawa fires it home, but it short hops Kaneko and he can't field it cleanly! It bounces away as Kawamura scores to give Kengifushou the 3-1 lead!!
Azuma up looking to put more pressure on Anraku. But he lines one right to Morita! Morita then walks over to 1st doubling off Noda for the 3-unassisted double play to end the inning.
Anraku and Saibi though look to be in a bit of trouble...
Bottom 5th
Top batter Ueda to lead off the 5th, and Fujita goes and plunks him on the first pitch.
Yamashita lays down the bunt, but it's right to Azuma. He fires to Noda at 2nd, but the throw is down the 2nd base side! Noda fields it, but Ueda runs full speed into him and they collide! Both players are down as Ueda is called out. Man, that looked hard.
Ueda is the first to get up and walk back to the dugout, but Noda stays down. He gets looked at, but says he's fine and stays in the game.
Usagawa takes advantage of the break and drives the first pitch from Fujita to deep right! Hayashi running back to the fence, slides, and it too falls in front of the fence! Yamashita flying around the bases, scores all the way from 1st on the RBI triple by Usagawa! Saibi pulls within 1 at 3-2 and threatens to tie the game with Anraku stepping in!
But once again Fujita goes slider away on Anraku. And while he lays off the first two sliders, both are called for strikes. Down 1-2, Anraku swings and misses on the 3rd slider and goes down swinging for the 3rd time today.
That leaves it up to Oota, who's 1-3 with 2 K's, to get the timely hit.
Fujita again not giving in, throwing a bunch of off-speed pitches down in the zone to Oota. Down 1-2, Oota manages to hold off on a couple to fill up the count.
SANSHIN!!!!!
But Fujita wins the battle yet again! Oota, on appeal, cannot check his swing and Fujita strands the douten run at 3rd!
We head to the break with Kengifushou, injured battery and all, leading a rather mortal-looking Anraku who does not appear to have his best stuff today. Has the pitch count finally taken it's toll?
Top 6th
Takenaka off the break with a grounder to short. Usagawa double clutches then throws it short to 1st getting by Morita for an E6. Kouyama bunts him to 2nd as Kengifushou looks to add on as many runs as possible.
Aoki with a liner to right, over a leaping Machida! Yamashita quickly gets it back in as Takenaka has to hold at 3rd. Once again though Anraku in trouble...
Hayashi up and Fujita-kantoku tries the hit-and-run! But the pitch is outside and Hayashi can only defensively foul it off!
2 strikes and again Fujita-kantoku sends Aoki! Hayashi swings and misses, but the ball is in the dirt and Kaneko has no throw to 2nd. A base hit here could put Saibi in a world of trouble.
SANSHIN!!!!
Anraku buckles down though and gets Okimoto to chase a slider away for out #3! His team trails by just 1.
Bottom 6th
Possible injury change for Kengifushou (as if things weren't bad enough). #15 Nagao comes in for SS Noda who probably was hurt in the collision earlier.
And Fujita is all over the place to Morita. Pitches are slow and not even close as he walks him to put the douten runner on. That gets Fujita-kantoku's attention as he sends Touyama out to calm his team (especially his son) down.
Meanwhile, the gears are turning for Jyoukou-kantoku as he sends in #3 Fujiwara to hit for Goudouji.
And he comes in to sac the runner along. Interesting.
Fujita continues to struggle and the velocity stays down to Kaneko. And Kaneko lines one... past a diving Nagao into center! But Morita had to hold to wait for the ball to clear the infield and thus couldn't advance! So runners on 1st and 2nd only for Saibi!
Machida steps in and swings on the first pitch and pops it up! Okimoto under it as the infield fly rule is called and that's 2 outs now for Saibi.
And Fujita gets out of the inning! Ueda pops it up! Nagao goes out to shallow left and secures the ball for the 3rd out! He's certainly laboring more now but he hangs up another bagel on Saibi!
Top 7th
Fujiwara comes in the game to play 1B. Morita shifts to 3B and Oota goes out to LF.
Fujita quickly out on a first pitch fly to center. Anraku then comes back to shut down Kawamura and Nagao for just his 2nd 1-2-3 inning this game.
Bottom 7th
Fujita's day is done now. His dad has seen enough and will rely on the bullpen to finish out the last 3 innings. Coming in is #10 Kuzuya.
Yamashita rudely greets him with a liner to left to start the lucky 7.
After an Usagawa flyout to center, that brings up cleanup batter Anraku - who has been held in check to the tune of 0-3 with 3 K's.
And this is worse!! Anraku hits one back to Kuzuya who goes to 2nd for one, relay from Nagao to 1st... beats Anraku for the inning-ending double play!!!
Top 8th
Anraku back to struggling here in the 8th. He falls behind Azuma 3-1 before getting him to ground to 3rd. Takenaka and Kouyama run the count deep against him as well, but Anraku somehow manages to slide off the hook once again.
However, time is running out for his team. Just 6 outs to go else their run is over.
Bottom 8th
That's interesting. Despite not looking all that bad, Fujita-kantoku relieves Kuzuya and sends in #5 Gotou Masato. Masato has had just 2 innings of work last fall, even less than Kuzuya.
Oota welcomes him as well with a liner to left. Jyoukou-kantoku playing for the douten run as Morita bunts him along.
Uh oh. Masato going to the slider repeatedly trying to get Fujiwara to chase, but he can't get him to bite and he can't find the zone! He walks him and that gets Fujita-kantoku to send out #18 Hashimoto to calm down Masato.
And it's doing the opposite! Masato was throwing his fastball up in the low-mid 130's but now is sitting in the high 120's as he's still not hitting the strike zone!! He's definitely rattled as he walks Kaneko to load the bases!!
Fujita-kantoku in full scramble mode as #11 Touyama (who earlier went to the mound during a timeout), now takes the hill...
Jyoukou-kantoku, sensing a ripe opportunity, sends in #14 Hayashi Kanya in to hit for Machida as Kengifushou plays the infield in for a play at the plate.
First pitch Kanya hits it to 3rd! It's off the glove of Azuma! Everyone's safe and Kanya with the timely hit has tied the game at 3-3!!
Back to the top of the order and Ueda as Kengifushou looks to be reeling.
SQUEEZE!!!!
Ueda tries the squeeze, but fouls it off!
But he does one better! He singles through the drawn in infield and Fujiwara scores to give Saibi their first lead since the 2nd inning! It's 4-3 Saibi!!!!!
Yamashita to try and extend the lead, but he pops it up! Takenaka settles under it as the infield fly is called for the 2nd out. Touyama almost out of the jam.
But Touyama struggles against the lefty Usagawa! He walks him and walks in a run to make it 5-3!
That brings up the always dangerous, though not today, Usagawa.
And now Touyama is ramping it up. Fastballs in the mid-upper 130's, but he's all over the place. He somehow manages to get 2 strikes as Anraku continues to flail. But then he suddenly becomes more patient and works the count full....
And Touyama walks him! He throws his first slider and it's high as he walks in another run to make it 6-3 Saibi!
That's it for Touyama. Hayashi comes in from RF to pitch as #16 Niwa comes in for Touyama to take over in right.
Hayashi gets Oota to swing on the first pitch and fly to left. The inning is mercifully over for Kengifushou, but not before a complete collapse here in the 8th...
Top 9th
So despite Anraku struggling all game, it's Kengifushou's bullpen that has collapsed.
Hayashi will stay in the game at 2nd as Anraku looks to close it out.
Aoki though will not make it that easy. He hits one past a diving Morita into left for a base hit.
But Aoki presses too far when he tries to take 2nd on a ball that gets away from Kaneko! He throws to 2nd and is thrown out! Not a smart move considering his run doesn't matter (it does, but really it doesnt).
And now with no one on base Anraku has the clear position of advantage as Hayashi chases a slider for the 2nd out!
Last chance for Kengifushou as #12 Banno comes in to hit for Okimoto. Anraku gets ahead 0-2, but then tries to get him to chase with no luck - filling up the count.
Banno then singles to left! There's still a faint light for Kengifushou! #13 Iwata comes in to run for Banno.
Niwa up for his first AB, and what a time to have it...
And Kaneko loses track of another ball! This time he can't find it and Iwata takes 2nd!
Anraku comes back to get ahead 1-2 as Niwa fouls one off...
Niwa with a ball to the right side... that gets past a diving Hayashi!! Iwata holds at 3rd and Kengifuhsou is able to send the douten runner to the plate!
Moreover, the lineup for Kengifushou flips back to the top and Kawamura.
Ohhhhhhhhhh.......
Fujita-kantoku sends Niwa on the first pitch! Throw from Kaneko... not in time!! That was a very risky call by Fujita-kantoku there. His run still doesn't matter - only Kawamura.
Despite Kawamura representing the douten run, with 1st open Anraku can afford to pitch defensively to Kawamura as he falls behind 3-1. Yet he goes inside with a fastball for strike 2!
Payoff pitch... grounder to 3rd!! Morita with it, goes to 1st... Beats a diving Kawamura and Saibi comes from behind to defeat Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou 6-3!!
So despite Anraku looking rather shaky on the mound, they are bailed out by an obviously shorthanded Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou and advance to the semifinals!
But really you have to wonder what might have been for Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou. If Fujita wasn't injured from last game, would Fujita have gone longer and held the lead? Because up until the 6th, he had done a superb job on the mound. We'll never know, but it certainly is a shame that we'll never really know - because they really looked like a contender in that Osaka Toin game, and even with the injuries looked good outside the bullpen.
Alas, that isn't the case. Instead Saibi is the team that manages to survive and advance into an all-Shikoku matchup with rival Kochi! Interestingly, Kochi and Saibi didn't play in the super-regionals so it should be interesting.
Notable Players
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - W, CG, 3 ER, 9 H, 8 K, 2 BB
Yamashita Takuma (Saibi) - 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB
Oota Yuuya (Saibi) - 2-5, R, 2 K
Fujita Ryouji (Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou) - ND, 6 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 8 K, 2 BB, HBP
Takenaka Hiroki (Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou) - 2-4, 2B, R
Aoki Shouya (Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou) - 2-3, BB
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Day 9, Game 2 - Saibi (Ehime) vs. Seiseikou (Kumamoto)
Next up is a Nishi-nippon matchup between Saibi and one of my irrational teams that I like in Seiseikou.
Saibi survived the only extra inning affair so far, giving up a 3-run lead in the 9th inning before winning in 13 innings. Anraku threw 232 pitches in that affair and thankfully he's playing on 3 days rest so he should be fairly fresh given the circumstances.
That's good, because the offense did not look all that particularly good in the game. They managed just one extra base hit and struck out 12 times in their opening game.
Opposing them will be Seiseikou, a team who has managed to return to Koushien, but at the same time suffers from the same problem that plagued them last summer.
In their opening game against Jyousou Gakuin, they strung 3 of their 4 hits together to score 2 runs, while Ootake tossed a shutout despite giving up 9 hits and only striking out 2.
There really isn't a whole lot to say about this matchup. Both teams offensively do not look particularly good, but in comparing the two Saibi should have a slight advantage at the plate with an even bigger one on the mound (so long as Anraku isn't fatigued from the first game).
Saibi (Ehime) - Shikoku 3 seed
CF Ueda Kyousuke
RF Yamashita Takuma
SS Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
3B Oota Yuuya
1B Morita Shouhei (#15)
LF Goudouji Shin
C Kaneko Kouhei
2B Machida Takahiro
Seiseikou (Kumamoto) - Kyushu Runner-up
SS Nakagawa Koushi
RF Kawahara Ryouhei
P Ootake Koutarou
C Andou Taichi
LF Hayashi Tatsuya
CF Hirashita Yuusei
1B Nishibashi Goujirou
2B Kobayashi Taichi
3B Oka Taisei
____________________________________________________________
11:34 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Ueda hacks at the first pitch from Ootake and take the high fastball to right. Kawahara charging in slides, but can't secure the ball and Saibi has their leadoff batter on.
Yamashita with the bust-and-run swings on the first pitch and grounds to 2nd. Kobayashi's only play is to 1st.
Usagawa takes more than 1 pitch, and in fact is having a long AB against Ootake fouling off a couple before running the count full.
OH! Ball up and in and it hits him! He goes down to the ground! Usagawa does get up and head to 1st, but on replay the ball seemed to hit him in the bottom of his right hand then deflect into his body, causing the reaction we saw. Ouch.
Ootake now in a pinch with cleanup batter Anraku up. He falls behind 2-0, but manages to even the count.
And he gets the outside corner to freeze Anraku for the 2nd out!
Double steal!! Jyoukou-kantoku sends the runners and the throw from Andou to 3rd is wide
But Oota can't catch up to a fastball down the middle and Ootake and Seiseikou get out of the inning!
Bottom 1st
Nakagawa with a half-hearted swing ground one slowly to the right side. Machida charges in and throws to 1st for the out.
Anraky doesn't seem too the worse for wear, and the speed doesn't seem to have taken a hit as he hits 147 on Kawahara.
Kawahara with a liner back at Anraku, and it hits him on the arm and deflects to the left side for a base hit! He takes some practice throws, but seems fine.
Ootake takes the 1-0 pitch back up the middle for a base hit! Seiseikou threatening in their half of the first inning! That brings up cleanup batter Andou!
But it doesn look like Anraku is fine. Speed hasn't taken a hit, nor does the accuracy. He gets ahead of Andou 1-2 before firing a waste ball outside. He just misses high on an off-speed and the count runs full.
SANSHIN! Anraku with a change on the inside corner freezes Andou for the 2nd out!
Hayashi up to try and bring in the run.
But he's jammed! Ball rolls to Oota who goes to 1st for the 3rd out! A bit of a scare on the mound for Anraku in more ways than one, but it seems like he got out unscathed!
Top 2nd
It's a relatively quick inning for Ootake after the eventful 1st. Morita tries to inside-out one the other way, but lines right to Kawahara. Goutouji hits a chopper right back to Ootake, and Kaneko behind 0-2 grounds one to Nishibashi for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Hirashita tries to power a ball inside, but hits a routine fly to Goutouji in left center.
Anraku firing strikes meanwhile to Nishibashi gets the inside corner again on a slider for another K.
And Kobayashi becomes Anraku's 3rd K victim as he too cannot pull the trigger on a slider inside.
Top 3rd
Ootake gets his 3rd K as Machida chases a fastball outside.
Back to the top of the order and Ueda first pitch grounds right at Oka for the 2nd out.
And Yamashita, after fouling off several pitches grounds to Nishibashi for the 1-2-3 inning. Both pitchers are settling down very nicely now.
Bottom 3rd
Last batter Oka due up first, looking to get on any way possible feigns bunt, but the count eventually runs to 2-2. He looks at a fastball in the bottom of the zone, and that's Anraku's 4th K and all of them looking!
Nakagawa with a slow ball to the left side, but quick enough to get by Oota! Usagawa backing it up can't field it cleanly and Nakagawa's on safely!
Kawahara trying to bunt him along can't and falls behind 0-2! He's forced to swing away, and then he gets hit on the head! He's okay, but as per precaution, he's replaced with an injury runner at 1st. Meanwhile Jyoukou-kantoku, always with a smile, calls for time.
And that brings up the always dangerous Ootake.
Liner down the right field line, foul! Wow he took a good rip at that one. Then he checks up on a slider down in the zone.
Another slider down in the zone, and Ootake swings and makes contact! Grounder to short, and Usagawa can't field it cleanly! He's too focused on turning 2 that he forgets to secure the ball first!
Manrui for Seiseikou as Andou steps in!
Anraku not phased as he gets ahead of him 0-2. He's trying to pour on the speed at 149 kph, but the count goes to 2-2.
Andou with a rip down the left side also foul! They're just ahead of these pitches.
Whoa, Andou barely stays alive after chasing a buried slider.
SANSHIN!! But he can't check his swing on a fastball up and there's 2 out!
Hayashi on the first pitch hits one back to Anraku! He fields it and tosses to 1st for the 3rd out! Seiseikou threatening again but comes up empty!
Top 4th
Usagawa can't get around on a fastball on the inner half and becomes Ootake's 4th K.
Anraku has to walk away from home again after he's caught looking on a fastball on the outside corner.
I can't seem to figure out the umpire's strike zone though as what seems like a good pitch on the outer half is called for a ball.
Oota swings and misses on a change and Ootake is matching Anraku inning for inning so far!
Bottom 4th
Hirashita with a ball back up the middle past Anraku for a leadoff hit!
Nishibashi showing bunt, but fouls off his first attempt! He does manage to lay down the bunt though to advance the runner into scoring position.
And Anraku hits his 2nd batter in Kobayashi! Another situation developing for Anraku! Is the arm bothering him after being hit?
Ikeda-kantoku calling for the bunt, but Oka hits it too hard up the 3rd base side! Anraku runs over to it, spins to 3rd and gets Hirashita for the 2nd out!
And Nakagawa goes down on a pitch and tries to bloop it in, but Goutouji is there to make the catch and retire the side. Once again Seiseikou gets runners on base, but again they cannot get the timely hit to bring them in.
Top 5th
Morita leads off the inning with a single to right. Jyoukou-kantoku immediately has Goutouji bunt the runner along.
Kaneko with a grounder to 1st that Nishibashi has some trouble fielding, but is near the bag anyways and has time to gather it and make the out. Morita advances to 3rd, but there's 2 out.
Machida with a blooper to right. Kobayashi running back, leaps, but it's off his glove! Machida scores on the base hit and Saibi leads 1-0!
Ueda grounds to short to end the inning, but Machida and Saibi has broken the deadlock!
Bottom 5th
Kawahara gets jammed by Anraku and pops out to Oota in foul territory for the 1st out.
Ootake gets the better of Anraku again, taking a pitch the other way for his 2nd hit. He's been able to reach in all 3 plate appearances.
Andou with a slow grounder to the left side. Oota dives but can't get to it! Usagawa backs up the play, but double clutches and the throw to 1st is late! All safe! Seiseikou threatening!
But Hayashi first pitch swings and flies out to Yamashita for the 2nd out. That leaves it up to Hirashita to drive the run in.
Hirashita is patient enough to work the count full.
Blooper up the middle! Usagawa and Machida race behind 2nd, Machida dives... and it splits the two into center! Ootake coming home! Throw from Ueda is late! Kaneko fires to 2nd, but Hirashita slides in safely! Timely hit from Hirashita ties the game at 1-1 and they're still threatening!
After a ball to Nishibashi, Jyoukou-kantoku calls a quick timeout.
Nishibashi also runs the count full. And is caught looking on a fastball inside for the 3rd out! But as we head into the break, Seiseikou is hanging in there against a strong Saibi squad! If Anraku continues to struggle and Saibi allows them to hang around like this they may have a chance to win the game!
Top 6th
Yamashita up 3-1, chases a ball up in the zone and flies out to center for the first out.
Usagawa gets caught looking on a fastball on the outside corner for Ootake's 7th K.
Anraku takes it into his own hands, and gets his first hit - a double into the left center field gap.
But Ootake will have none of it! He gets Oota to chase a fastball outside to retire the side! He doesn't throw fast by any means, but he has stifled the Saibi offense so far this game!
Bottom 6th
Meanwhile, the bottom of Seiseikouu's lineup continues to struggle. Kobayashi remains hitless when he chases a ball out of the zone, while Oka softly lines back to Anraku.
Nakagawa tries to bloop one into center, but a charging Ueda makes a sliding catch fo rthe 3rd out.
Top 7th
Saibi's Lucky 7 is no match for Ootake right now. He rings up Morita looking, then gets Goutouji to swing ahead of a change up, and then Kaneko grounds to 1st to end the inning!
Just like that Ootake is cruising along and Seiseikou is hanging in the ballgame!
Bottom 7th
Kawahara with a ball back up the middle, Anraku kick deflects it right to Usagawa who goes to 1st for the out! It's Anraku and Saibi that gets lucky, not Seiseikou!
Anraku gets Ootake to chase a high fastball, and he hits a fly to left! Goutouji makes the catch as he falls/trips and Ootake if finally retired this game!
Andou also skies one to left. Goutouji easily under this one and Seiseikou's Lucky 7 also comes and goes with nary a sound.
Top 8th
Machida with his 2nd hit of the game, a liner to left for a base hit. That resets the lineup back to top batter Ueda. Jyoukou-kantoku wants him to bunt, but he can't execute and falls behind 1-2.
And having to swing away he can't catch up to a fastball on the outer half, and Ootake has his 11th K!
Jyoukou-kantoku has Yamashita try and bunt, but he too can't execute! He's trying to press any initiative, and even calls for a hit-and-run, though Yamashita fouls that off too.
In addition, the pace is slowing as Ootake goes to 1st quite a bit.
But it seems to be working as Yamashita pops out to Andou behind home!
Usagawa keeps the inning going with a single past a diving Nakagawa into left! More importantly, it brings up Anraku.
And Anraku first pitch takes it the other way! It's quickly past Hayashi and headed towards the wall! Anraku barely beats out the throw at 3rd, but more importantly 3 runners come in to score on his timely triple and Anraku gives himself the 3-1 lead!!
Ikeda-kantoku calling for time, but it may be too late!
Oota runs the count full on Ootake and hits a ball to left! Again Hayashi has to run back and it falls in! Oota in with a double making it a 4-1 ballgame!
Morita flies out to Hirashita in left-center, but back-to-back extra base hits cost Seiseikou big late!
Bottom 8th
It's all hands on deck for Seiseikou as they need 3 runs in 2 innings. And even with Anraku at 134 pitches, he still seems to be on task here in the 8th. Worse yet for Seiseikou, they're heading towards the bottom of the lineup, which after Hirashita in the #6 spot has been rendered ineffective.
Hayashi with a drive to right, but he gets under it and that allows Yamashita to run it down in deep right.
That brings up Hirashita and with no one on base to drive in, Anraku doesn't have to pitch to him and walks him on 4 straight.
Now can the bottom of the lineup do anything?
Ikeda-kantoku, sensing the situation also tries the hit and run, but after a foul off, he grounds to short. Usagawa goes the short way to cut down the lead runner.
Ikeda then turns to #16 Takenaga to hit for Kobayashi, hoping to spark something.
But he grounds to 1st and Morita has no problems taking it to the bag for the 3rd out. Seiseikou running out of time.
Top 9th
#14 Taguchi comes in for PH Takenaga and takes over at 2B.
Goutouji meanwhile collects his first hit when he grounds one through the left side. Jyoukou-kantoku, not wanting to leave anything to chance has Kaneko bunting. He chops one high in front of home and gets the job done.
Machida with a liner back at Ootake! It's off his glove, but right to Taguchi! He catches it for the 2nd out and tags 2nd to get Goutouji for the 3rd out! It's your standard 1-4U double play!
Bottom 9th
The fact though still remains that Seiseikou has just 3 outs remaining in their Haru Koushien run.
Ikeda-kantoku sends in #12 Sakada to hit for Oka.
Liner down the right field line, but Yamashita is right there for the out! That's some advance scouting if Jyoukou-kantoku put him there.
Back up to Nakagawa and he immediately chops one right to 2nd! Machida goes to 1st for the 2nd out!
Kawahara the last chance for Seiseikou and he's quickly behind 0-2!
SANSHIN!!
Anraku blows a 148 kph pitch past Kawahara for the final out and Saibi advances to the Best 8!
It certainly wasn't easy though. Saibi's offense struggled against Seiseikou ace Ootake, while Seiseikou continued to put runners on and pressured Anraku. However, Anraku beared down on several occasions to shut out his opponent and deny them home plate. And in the end it was Anraku himself who put the team on his back and carried them to the quarterfinals.
Still, you have to give credit to Seiseikou. If not for two mistakes in back-to-back batters in the 8th it could have been a different ballgame. But the slowing of the pace of play seemed to indicate that Ootake perhaps was starting to labor a but under the pressure late. If only they could have capitalized on their earlier opportunities it too could have been a different ballgame.
But as it stands it is Saibi who will advance into the next round and Shikoku is having a great tournament so far, much to my surprise.
Notable Players
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - W, CG, ER, 7 H, 8 K, BB, 2 HBP
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - 2-4, 2B, 3B, R, 2 RBI, 2 K
Machida Takahiro (Saibi) - 2-4, R, RBI, K
Ootake Koutarou (Seiseikou) - L, CG, 4 ER, 9 H, 11 K, HBP
Ootake Koutarou (Seiseikou) - 2-4, R
Hirashita Yuusei (Seiseikou) - 2-3, RBI, BB
Saibi survived the only extra inning affair so far, giving up a 3-run lead in the 9th inning before winning in 13 innings. Anraku threw 232 pitches in that affair and thankfully he's playing on 3 days rest so he should be fairly fresh given the circumstances.
That's good, because the offense did not look all that particularly good in the game. They managed just one extra base hit and struck out 12 times in their opening game.
Opposing them will be Seiseikou, a team who has managed to return to Koushien, but at the same time suffers from the same problem that plagued them last summer.
In their opening game against Jyousou Gakuin, they strung 3 of their 4 hits together to score 2 runs, while Ootake tossed a shutout despite giving up 9 hits and only striking out 2.
There really isn't a whole lot to say about this matchup. Both teams offensively do not look particularly good, but in comparing the two Saibi should have a slight advantage at the plate with an even bigger one on the mound (so long as Anraku isn't fatigued from the first game).
Saibi (Ehime) - Shikoku 3 seed
CF Ueda Kyousuke
RF Yamashita Takuma
SS Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
3B Oota Yuuya
1B Morita Shouhei (#15)
LF Goudouji Shin
C Kaneko Kouhei
2B Machida Takahiro
Seiseikou (Kumamoto) - Kyushu Runner-up
SS Nakagawa Koushi
RF Kawahara Ryouhei
P Ootake Koutarou
C Andou Taichi
LF Hayashi Tatsuya
CF Hirashita Yuusei
1B Nishibashi Goujirou
2B Kobayashi Taichi
3B Oka Taisei
____________________________________________________________
11:34 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Ueda hacks at the first pitch from Ootake and take the high fastball to right. Kawahara charging in slides, but can't secure the ball and Saibi has their leadoff batter on.
Yamashita with the bust-and-run swings on the first pitch and grounds to 2nd. Kobayashi's only play is to 1st.
Usagawa takes more than 1 pitch, and in fact is having a long AB against Ootake fouling off a couple before running the count full.
OH! Ball up and in and it hits him! He goes down to the ground! Usagawa does get up and head to 1st, but on replay the ball seemed to hit him in the bottom of his right hand then deflect into his body, causing the reaction we saw. Ouch.
Ootake now in a pinch with cleanup batter Anraku up. He falls behind 2-0, but manages to even the count.
And he gets the outside corner to freeze Anraku for the 2nd out!
Double steal!! Jyoukou-kantoku sends the runners and the throw from Andou to 3rd is wide
But Oota can't catch up to a fastball down the middle and Ootake and Seiseikou get out of the inning!
Bottom 1st
Nakagawa with a half-hearted swing ground one slowly to the right side. Machida charges in and throws to 1st for the out.
Anraky doesn't seem too the worse for wear, and the speed doesn't seem to have taken a hit as he hits 147 on Kawahara.
Kawahara with a liner back at Anraku, and it hits him on the arm and deflects to the left side for a base hit! He takes some practice throws, but seems fine.
Ootake takes the 1-0 pitch back up the middle for a base hit! Seiseikou threatening in their half of the first inning! That brings up cleanup batter Andou!
But it doesn look like Anraku is fine. Speed hasn't taken a hit, nor does the accuracy. He gets ahead of Andou 1-2 before firing a waste ball outside. He just misses high on an off-speed and the count runs full.
SANSHIN! Anraku with a change on the inside corner freezes Andou for the 2nd out!
Hayashi up to try and bring in the run.
But he's jammed! Ball rolls to Oota who goes to 1st for the 3rd out! A bit of a scare on the mound for Anraku in more ways than one, but it seems like he got out unscathed!
Top 2nd
It's a relatively quick inning for Ootake after the eventful 1st. Morita tries to inside-out one the other way, but lines right to Kawahara. Goutouji hits a chopper right back to Ootake, and Kaneko behind 0-2 grounds one to Nishibashi for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Hirashita tries to power a ball inside, but hits a routine fly to Goutouji in left center.
Anraku firing strikes meanwhile to Nishibashi gets the inside corner again on a slider for another K.
And Kobayashi becomes Anraku's 3rd K victim as he too cannot pull the trigger on a slider inside.
Top 3rd
Ootake gets his 3rd K as Machida chases a fastball outside.
Back to the top of the order and Ueda first pitch grounds right at Oka for the 2nd out.
And Yamashita, after fouling off several pitches grounds to Nishibashi for the 1-2-3 inning. Both pitchers are settling down very nicely now.
Bottom 3rd
Last batter Oka due up first, looking to get on any way possible feigns bunt, but the count eventually runs to 2-2. He looks at a fastball in the bottom of the zone, and that's Anraku's 4th K and all of them looking!
Nakagawa with a slow ball to the left side, but quick enough to get by Oota! Usagawa backing it up can't field it cleanly and Nakagawa's on safely!
Kawahara trying to bunt him along can't and falls behind 0-2! He's forced to swing away, and then he gets hit on the head! He's okay, but as per precaution, he's replaced with an injury runner at 1st. Meanwhile Jyoukou-kantoku, always with a smile, calls for time.
And that brings up the always dangerous Ootake.
Liner down the right field line, foul! Wow he took a good rip at that one. Then he checks up on a slider down in the zone.
Another slider down in the zone, and Ootake swings and makes contact! Grounder to short, and Usagawa can't field it cleanly! He's too focused on turning 2 that he forgets to secure the ball first!
Manrui for Seiseikou as Andou steps in!
Anraku not phased as he gets ahead of him 0-2. He's trying to pour on the speed at 149 kph, but the count goes to 2-2.
Andou with a rip down the left side also foul! They're just ahead of these pitches.
Whoa, Andou barely stays alive after chasing a buried slider.
SANSHIN!! But he can't check his swing on a fastball up and there's 2 out!
Hayashi on the first pitch hits one back to Anraku! He fields it and tosses to 1st for the 3rd out! Seiseikou threatening again but comes up empty!
Top 4th
Usagawa can't get around on a fastball on the inner half and becomes Ootake's 4th K.
Anraku has to walk away from home again after he's caught looking on a fastball on the outside corner.
I can't seem to figure out the umpire's strike zone though as what seems like a good pitch on the outer half is called for a ball.
Oota swings and misses on a change and Ootake is matching Anraku inning for inning so far!
Bottom 4th
Hirashita with a ball back up the middle past Anraku for a leadoff hit!
Nishibashi showing bunt, but fouls off his first attempt! He does manage to lay down the bunt though to advance the runner into scoring position.
And Anraku hits his 2nd batter in Kobayashi! Another situation developing for Anraku! Is the arm bothering him after being hit?
Ikeda-kantoku calling for the bunt, but Oka hits it too hard up the 3rd base side! Anraku runs over to it, spins to 3rd and gets Hirashita for the 2nd out!
And Nakagawa goes down on a pitch and tries to bloop it in, but Goutouji is there to make the catch and retire the side. Once again Seiseikou gets runners on base, but again they cannot get the timely hit to bring them in.
Top 5th
Morita leads off the inning with a single to right. Jyoukou-kantoku immediately has Goutouji bunt the runner along.
Kaneko with a grounder to 1st that Nishibashi has some trouble fielding, but is near the bag anyways and has time to gather it and make the out. Morita advances to 3rd, but there's 2 out.
Machida with a blooper to right. Kobayashi running back, leaps, but it's off his glove! Machida scores on the base hit and Saibi leads 1-0!
Ueda grounds to short to end the inning, but Machida and Saibi has broken the deadlock!
Bottom 5th
Kawahara gets jammed by Anraku and pops out to Oota in foul territory for the 1st out.
Ootake gets the better of Anraku again, taking a pitch the other way for his 2nd hit. He's been able to reach in all 3 plate appearances.
Andou with a slow grounder to the left side. Oota dives but can't get to it! Usagawa backs up the play, but double clutches and the throw to 1st is late! All safe! Seiseikou threatening!
But Hayashi first pitch swings and flies out to Yamashita for the 2nd out. That leaves it up to Hirashita to drive the run in.
Hirashita is patient enough to work the count full.
Blooper up the middle! Usagawa and Machida race behind 2nd, Machida dives... and it splits the two into center! Ootake coming home! Throw from Ueda is late! Kaneko fires to 2nd, but Hirashita slides in safely! Timely hit from Hirashita ties the game at 1-1 and they're still threatening!
After a ball to Nishibashi, Jyoukou-kantoku calls a quick timeout.
Nishibashi also runs the count full. And is caught looking on a fastball inside for the 3rd out! But as we head into the break, Seiseikou is hanging in there against a strong Saibi squad! If Anraku continues to struggle and Saibi allows them to hang around like this they may have a chance to win the game!
Top 6th
Yamashita up 3-1, chases a ball up in the zone and flies out to center for the first out.
Usagawa gets caught looking on a fastball on the outside corner for Ootake's 7th K.
Anraku takes it into his own hands, and gets his first hit - a double into the left center field gap.
But Ootake will have none of it! He gets Oota to chase a fastball outside to retire the side! He doesn't throw fast by any means, but he has stifled the Saibi offense so far this game!
Bottom 6th
Meanwhile, the bottom of Seiseikouu's lineup continues to struggle. Kobayashi remains hitless when he chases a ball out of the zone, while Oka softly lines back to Anraku.
Nakagawa tries to bloop one into center, but a charging Ueda makes a sliding catch fo rthe 3rd out.
Top 7th
Saibi's Lucky 7 is no match for Ootake right now. He rings up Morita looking, then gets Goutouji to swing ahead of a change up, and then Kaneko grounds to 1st to end the inning!
Just like that Ootake is cruising along and Seiseikou is hanging in the ballgame!
Bottom 7th
Kawahara with a ball back up the middle, Anraku kick deflects it right to Usagawa who goes to 1st for the out! It's Anraku and Saibi that gets lucky, not Seiseikou!
Anraku gets Ootake to chase a high fastball, and he hits a fly to left! Goutouji makes the catch as he falls/trips and Ootake if finally retired this game!
Andou also skies one to left. Goutouji easily under this one and Seiseikou's Lucky 7 also comes and goes with nary a sound.
Top 8th
Machida with his 2nd hit of the game, a liner to left for a base hit. That resets the lineup back to top batter Ueda. Jyoukou-kantoku wants him to bunt, but he can't execute and falls behind 1-2.
And having to swing away he can't catch up to a fastball on the outer half, and Ootake has his 11th K!
Jyoukou-kantoku has Yamashita try and bunt, but he too can't execute! He's trying to press any initiative, and even calls for a hit-and-run, though Yamashita fouls that off too.
In addition, the pace is slowing as Ootake goes to 1st quite a bit.
But it seems to be working as Yamashita pops out to Andou behind home!
Usagawa keeps the inning going with a single past a diving Nakagawa into left! More importantly, it brings up Anraku.
And Anraku first pitch takes it the other way! It's quickly past Hayashi and headed towards the wall! Anraku barely beats out the throw at 3rd, but more importantly 3 runners come in to score on his timely triple and Anraku gives himself the 3-1 lead!!
Ikeda-kantoku calling for time, but it may be too late!
Oota runs the count full on Ootake and hits a ball to left! Again Hayashi has to run back and it falls in! Oota in with a double making it a 4-1 ballgame!
Morita flies out to Hirashita in left-center, but back-to-back extra base hits cost Seiseikou big late!
Bottom 8th
It's all hands on deck for Seiseikou as they need 3 runs in 2 innings. And even with Anraku at 134 pitches, he still seems to be on task here in the 8th. Worse yet for Seiseikou, they're heading towards the bottom of the lineup, which after Hirashita in the #6 spot has been rendered ineffective.
Hayashi with a drive to right, but he gets under it and that allows Yamashita to run it down in deep right.
That brings up Hirashita and with no one on base to drive in, Anraku doesn't have to pitch to him and walks him on 4 straight.
Now can the bottom of the lineup do anything?
Ikeda-kantoku, sensing the situation also tries the hit and run, but after a foul off, he grounds to short. Usagawa goes the short way to cut down the lead runner.
Ikeda then turns to #16 Takenaga to hit for Kobayashi, hoping to spark something.
But he grounds to 1st and Morita has no problems taking it to the bag for the 3rd out. Seiseikou running out of time.
Top 9th
#14 Taguchi comes in for PH Takenaga and takes over at 2B.
Goutouji meanwhile collects his first hit when he grounds one through the left side. Jyoukou-kantoku, not wanting to leave anything to chance has Kaneko bunting. He chops one high in front of home and gets the job done.
Machida with a liner back at Ootake! It's off his glove, but right to Taguchi! He catches it for the 2nd out and tags 2nd to get Goutouji for the 3rd out! It's your standard 1-4U double play!
Bottom 9th
The fact though still remains that Seiseikou has just 3 outs remaining in their Haru Koushien run.
Ikeda-kantoku sends in #12 Sakada to hit for Oka.
Liner down the right field line, but Yamashita is right there for the out! That's some advance scouting if Jyoukou-kantoku put him there.
Back up to Nakagawa and he immediately chops one right to 2nd! Machida goes to 1st for the 2nd out!
Kawahara the last chance for Seiseikou and he's quickly behind 0-2!
SANSHIN!!
Anraku blows a 148 kph pitch past Kawahara for the final out and Saibi advances to the Best 8!
It certainly wasn't easy though. Saibi's offense struggled against Seiseikou ace Ootake, while Seiseikou continued to put runners on and pressured Anraku. However, Anraku beared down on several occasions to shut out his opponent and deny them home plate. And in the end it was Anraku himself who put the team on his back and carried them to the quarterfinals.
Still, you have to give credit to Seiseikou. If not for two mistakes in back-to-back batters in the 8th it could have been a different ballgame. But the slowing of the pace of play seemed to indicate that Ootake perhaps was starting to labor a but under the pressure late. If only they could have capitalized on their earlier opportunities it too could have been a different ballgame.
But as it stands it is Saibi who will advance into the next round and Shikoku is having a great tournament so far, much to my surprise.
Notable Players
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - W, CG, ER, 7 H, 8 K, BB, 2 HBP
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - 2-4, 2B, 3B, R, 2 RBI, 2 K
Machida Takahiro (Saibi) - 2-4, R, RBI, K
Ootake Koutarou (Seiseikou) - L, CG, 4 ER, 9 H, 11 K, HBP
Ootake Koutarou (Seiseikou) - 2-4, R
Hirashita Yuusei (Seiseikou) - 2-3, RBI, BB
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