Since I hope to have all team reviews up and they're by game, please refer to those for analysis on both teams.
Saku Chousei (Nagano)
3B Sakakura Ryoutarou (阪倉 涼太郎)
CF Hanaoka Ryouta (花岡 遼太)
SS Motoyama Hiyuu (元山 飛優)
RF Kouda Naohiro (甲田 尚大)
1B Nakamura Yoshiki (中村 禄樹)
LF (8)Hanaoka Daisuke (花岡 大輔)
C Miyaishi Kai (宮石 翔生)
2B Suzuki Takashi (鈴木 貴士)
P Kobayashi Reo (小林 玲雄)
Naruto (Tokushima)
SS Hino Koutarou (日野 洸太郎)
2B Kamata Kouhei (鎌田 航平)
1B Fuji Yoshimoto (冨士 佳資)
CF Tezuka Kaito (手束 海斗)
C Sahara Yuudai (佐原 雄大)
RF Yatake Masaya (矢竹 将弥)
P Kawano Ryuusei (河野 竜生)
LF Watanabe Yuuya (渡辺 裕哉)
3B Takeishi Ren (武石 蓮)
____________________________________________________________
10:32 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Sakakura with a shallow liner that Yatake charges and makes a shoestring catch. Ryouta quickly gives his team their first base hit. Motoyama's chopper to 3rd is slow enough to allow him to beat out the DP.
Early on though, it seems like Kawano isn't really fooling the batters. His pitches are up and when the batters do swing they're not missing.
Oh wow! Takeishi snags a liner that had extra bases written all over it! 3 outs, but Saku Chousei already making good contact.
Bottom 1st
Kobayashi meanwhile walks his first batter and he is bunted to 2nd.
Fuji tries to mash the slow curve, but can't square it up and grounds out to 2nd.
He's not looking all that great either. Up 1-2 on Tezuka, he cannot get him to chase 2 balls out of the zone.
UH OH.
Tezuka obliterates a ball right down the middle and that is gone! 2-run HR puts Naruto up 2-0!
Things aren't getting any better as he gives up a single and walks another batter when he again fails to get them to chase. Worse yet, there's already a reliever up in the bullpen.
But perhaps he gets a sympathy strike on his opposing counterpart and thus ends the inning - but not before the first shots have been fired by Naruto.
Top 2nd
Two quick outs, but Kawano leaves one over the plate and Miyaishi drives that over the RF head to the wall for a triple.
And then Kawano hits a batter making things a bit tenuous. He even gets the count full to his counterpart before finally finishing him off with a fastball inside.
What looked like an inning to settle down became anything but, and Kawano will need to continue building on each inning.
Bottom 2nd
First pitch groundout from Watanabe, but Kobayashi still struggling with his control, leaving pitches way to high and walking the #9 batter in Takeishi,
Hino showing bunt with 1 down, but I'd rather let him see a few to see if Kobayashi continues to have control issues. And in fact after one attempt, he's swinging away. But he works the count full...
And hits one through the right side! Takeishi goes to 3rd and that will be it for Kobayshi. #11 Shiozawa comes in and not a moment too soon.
Then promptly gives up a shot back up the middle. 3-0.
Shiozawa does at least get a K when Fuji swings at a ball in the dirt.
But a mixup on a pickoff throw to 2nd allows both runners to advance. Which seems fine given that's it's an open base for Tezuka.
And he's crushing balls left and right, but foul.
Shiozawa thinks he has strike 3 on a ball outside, but the umpire won't give it to him (and this is where umps can give a very wide zone). He eventually loses him to load the bases.
Sahara trying to give his best Tezuka impersonation, driving a ball down the right field line, but foul. Instead though, Shiozawa finally gets his team out of the jam by getting him to chase a ball in the dirt for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Kawano meanwhile settling in. He gets a 1-2-3 inning, with the help of a favorable bounce. One down, Ryouta hits one off of Kawano to Hino at SS, who completes the play.
Bottom 3rd
Shiozawa given a clean slate, gets 3 routine groundouts. I think it was a mistake not to make him the starter.
Top 4th
The rhythm that Kawano had goes awry. After a 1-out 4 pitch walk, he gives up a hard single to left by Daisuke and a ball through the right side by Miyaishi to load the bases, causing Moriwaki-kantoku to call time.
Suzuki gets too aggressive and swings on a fastball up and away for the 2nd out.
Shiozawa meanwhile is patient and gets the count to 3-1, but Kawano gets a call on the inside edge for strike 2, and then another on the outside edge for strike 3! Saku Chousei is denied!
Bottom 4th
Shiozawa 's run of 6 retired batters ends when he issues 4 pitch walk to Kamata. But he's wiped out when Miyaishi throws him out trying to steal 2nd.
Top 5th
2 outs for Saku Chousei and Motoyama singles to right.
Kawano has Motoyama taking off too early to 2nd and they have him picked off! But the throw from Fuji is wide and as a result Hino can't field it! Motoyama slides in safely! Now a base hit could get Saku Chousei on the board!
And Kouda lines a ball just off of Kawano's head! It's to center and Motoyama is waved home! Throw in is slightly offline and it's a 3-1 ballgame!
Nakamura strikes out to retire the side, but there's a positive the team can build on if Shiozawa can shut the door.
Bottom 5th
Tezuka certainly not making that easy as he hits a one-out single to right...
And then steals 2nd on the next batter...
Shiozawa perhaps laboring a bit, walking Sahara to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Is the reason why he's not the ace because of his stamina?
Yatake grounder to 3rd, but Sakakura delays just a little, goes to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st, in the dirt and gets away from Nakamura! However Tezuka not going home and there's 2 outs.
Kawano is hit though and the bases are loaded!
#11 Nakayama comes in to hit for Watanabe looking to blow it open.
Shot to 3rd, diving stab by Sakakura! Tags 3rd and the inning is over! Shiozawa in his first self-made jam, but he gets out of it! We're at the break with Naruto leading 3-1, but Saku Chousei building confidence.
Top 6th
Of course I say that and Daisuke goes down on 3 straight to start the post-break.
Kawano perhaps being careful with Miyaishi issues him a free pass.
Suzuki meanwhile can't seem to lay off the high fastball. Chases another one high and away for 2 out, and Shiozawa grounds to 3rd quickly after.
Bottom 6th
Shiozawa should have had 2 outs in the 6th, but Hino's grounder takes a high hop at Nakamura and goes for a base hit.
While he's still missing bats he's getting less and less effective it seems.
Kamata lays down the perfect push bunt, and Shiozawa's shovel toss off the ground goes over the 1B head! Everyone takes an extra base and he's in a bone fide jam now!
Fuji grounds to 1st, and Nakamura runs the runner down! Hino can't advance and there's 2 out! Only problem is, that brings up Tezuka.
But he chases an outside pitch and lines out to SS keeping the deficit at 2 runs!
Top 7th
Saku Chousei gets their first leadoff batter on as Sakakura singles to center. He's bunted to 2nd.
Motoyama grounder to the right side, and it's through! Sakakura scores and it's a 3-2 ballgame! Naruto unable to put the game away has let Saku Chousei back in it!
Kouda grounds into a textbook 4-6-3 double play, but the damage is being done!
Bottom 7th
The lucky 7 for Naruto does not go as well as they are retired on just 7 pitches! It feels like they'll have to fall over the finish line else they may lose this!
Top 8th
Saku Chousei though making things easy on Kawano swinging early and recording 2 quick groundouts.
Miyaishi also hacking away, but still has the discerning eye, working the count full and then punishing a hanging curve to left center for a double. He's a HR short of the cycle, but more importantly he's the tying run in scoring position.
#8 Sasaki comes up to hit, but he grounds out to 1st. Dives into 1st head sliding and severely slowed down, but it wouldn't have mattered.
Bottom 8th
Another string of 6 consecutive outs is broken again when Tateishi is plunked by Shiozawa with 1 down. Naruto playing for 1 insurance run as Hino bunts the runner over.
Shiozawa finishes up his relief stint by striking out Kamata. It's a great relief stint, but maybe too late.
Top 9th
#13 Kurumi Yoshinobu comes in for Nakayama to play CF, moving Tezuka to LF.
PH #7 Okado grounds out to 1st.
Sakakura grounds to left side, Tateishi makes a great pick and throws to 1st for the 2nd out.
And Ryouta strikes out to end the game!
Where Saku Chousei was about to be level, Kawano shuts the door to win 3-2!
It wasn't the prettiest of games, and they had chances to blow the game open, but in the end Naruto holds on. None of the pitchers looked all that great on the mound and that always left the door open one way or the other.
You have to figure against stiffer competition, Naruto and specifically Kawano will run into trouble. But for now they can enjoy the win.
Showing posts with label Saku Chousei. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saku Chousei. Show all posts
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Day 9, Game 2 - Saku Chousei (Nagano) v. Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
Our middle game again is between the two regions dominating Koushien so far - Tohoku and Hokushinetsu!
Seikou Gakuin played about as offensively bereft of a game as you could play against Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku. The duo of Imaizumi and Funabasama did not dominate batters at all, striking out 3 batters combined, but they also kept them off the basepaths as well combining for a 1.00 WHIP. I don't believe that can hold up, but you never know.
Saku Chousei had a similar game against Toukaidai Koufu. The offense managed just 5 hits but wound up scoring 3 runs.
That would wind up being enough as Terazawa and Morozumi struck out 10, while just allowing 8 baserunners. Unlike Seikou Gakuin, the K's mean that perhaps it might hold up in the long term.
Give the results, this should be yet another low scoring game with both teams working hard to manufacture runs.
Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
LF Yaoita Takumaru
2B Fujiwara Issei
3B Yaginuma Kentarou
1B Yasuda Kouki
CF Isagi Shun
RF Iijima Tsubasa
SS Ishigaki Mitsuhiro
C Takano Kouki
P Funabasama Taiga
Saku Chousei (Nagano)
3B Motoyama Hiyuu (#17)
SS Morii Koutarou
CF Wada Osamu
1B Tanabe Naoki (#5)
LF Takeuchi Kousei
2B Hama Ryuutarou
RF McCarthy Ryumikku (#16)
C Kanazawa Ren
P Terasawa Seiya (#10)
____________________________________________________________
12:05 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Not a good start as Terasawa hits Yaoita. Fujiwara bunts him along.
Yaginuma with a soft fly to center, Hama runs it down, and Yaoita doesn't realize it was caught. He's doubled off the inning is over.
Bottom 1st
Motoyama in a prolonged AB with Funabasama but loses the battle swinging at a slider on the outside edge.
Morii catches a slider off the end of the bat and just puts it out of Ishigaki's leap for a base hit.
Fujiwara-kantoku going for the safety bunt as Wada puts it to the left side! Yaginuma charges in, and his throw just beats Wada. 2 down.
AH! Tanabe with a drive to right center and that will bounce all the way to the wall! Morii comes in to score on the timely double from Tanabe! Saku Chousei leads 1-0!
Takeuchi clean single through the left side! Tanabe has to hold at 3rd as Yaoita gets the ball in.
Hama gives the ball a ride, but Yaoita has time to go back and field it for the 3rd out. But Saku Chousei with the first strike!
Top 2nd
Yasuda slider down the left field side, goes all the way to the wall for a double! Seikou threatening to tie it up immediately!
Isagi not bunting, but hits it to the right side to advance the runner.
Iijima grounder to the right side! Infield in, but Hama backpedals to get the ball! His only play is to 1st and Yasuda scores to level it at 1-1!
Ishigaki pops up to end the inning, but Seikou comes right back!
Bottom 2nd
McCarthy ahead of Funasama 3-1, gets green light but rolls one to 2nd for the 1st out.
Kanazawa hits a ball to deep left, but didn't get enough as Yaoita is in front of the fence for the catch.
Terasawa goes down on the slider and Funabasama gets healthy on the bottom of the lineup.
Top 3rd
Two quick outs for Seikou, but Yaoita squares up a hanging slider and sends it to the left center field gap for a double.
But Terasawa makes a great pick on a chopper back up the middle. Runs it to 1st and the side is retired.
Bottom 3rd
Funabasama might be settling down now. 1-pitch groundout to Motoyama, then Morii chases the slider tailing away. Wada pops the sidearm offering up and Takano makes the catch for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Yaginuma with a ball to deep center! Wada running back, but can't get there! It takes a bounce off the wall and he's in with a leadoff double!
Yasuda with a deep fly to right, McCarthy runs it down, but Yaginuma can advance to 3rd on the play.
Oy, and now Terasawa hits Isagi.
Iijima clearly up at the plate with a plan, and he hits a fly to center! Wada is there for the catch, but Yaginuma can score easily taking a 2-1 lead.
Ishigaki locks into Terasawa's fastball and drives that to deep left center! The outfielders have to run back and Isagi can score to take a 3-1 lead! Takano ends the inning on a groundout, but Saku Chousei might be in trouble.
Bottom 4th
2 down for Saku Chousei, and Hama hits a ball down the right field line.. Iijima makes a dive for it, but can't reach it! Hama rounding 2nd, reaches 3rd!
But McCarthy swings on the first pitch and flies out to Isagi in left center for the 3rd out.
Top 5th
Yaoita with his 2nd base hit with a comeback to center. Saitou-kantoku has his go for 2nd, and Kanazawa's throw is offline! It goes into center and Yaoita takes 3rd!
Fujiwara flies out to right, but it's deep enough to score Yaoita to make it a 4-1 game!
Yaginuma flies out to 2nd and the inning is over.
Bottom 5th
Kanazawa draws a leadoff walk. #3 Totsuka PH for Terasawa so his day is done. He flies out to right.
Motoyama with the hit and run grounds to 1st. Yasuda thinks better of it and goes to 1st for the safe out.
Morii with a looper over Fujiwara and that's down for a base hit! Kanazawa score to make it 4-2!
Morii tries to steal 2nd, but Takano throws him out and the side is retired. Seikou Gakuin having the better of it right now, but Saku Chousei has some momentum going into the break.
Top 6th
Ace Morozumi comes in for PH Totsuka to take the hill.
Yasuda almost makes it 5-2 with a booming shot down the left field side, but the strong hamakaze pushes it foul. He winds up striking out looking on a splitter left up in the zone.
Morozumi though then walks Isagi after filling up the count.
But he takes off too early to steal 2nd! Morozumi turns around and throws to 2nd and he almost sneaks in with a dance, but can't quite reach the base.
Iidzuka with a single back up the middle replaces Yasuda on the basepaths. But he tries to steal 2nd and he's thrown out by Kanazawa to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Saku Chousei's batters continue to chase after the slider way outside. Wada and Tanabe both fall victim to it and look silly doing it.
Takeuchi swings at the first pitch not outside, but it jams him. Yasuda makes the catch in foul territory and the side is retired.
Top 7th
Ishigaki with his 2nd hit, a clean single through the left side.
Takano gets a pitch way up an in, and yet still puts the bunt down.
AHH!! They did it again! Ishigaki takes off too early and Morozumi has him! Throw back to 2nd and he's out!
Morozumi throws the splitter and gets Funabasama, but Saku Chousei is running out of innings.
Bottom 7th
One down and #9 Hikigi hits for McCarthy. He draws a walk, though he doesn't realize it for a little bit and needs to be nudged by the umpire.
Kanazawa fooled on another slider, but pops it up to shallow center. Isagi charges in, makes the wide slide... and makes the catch.
Morozumi first pitch swings and flies out to Ishigaki. Until they can solve how not to hit Funabasama's slider, they're lost. If they can even crowd the plate maybe. I don't really know.
Top 8th
Hikigi stays in the game to play RF.
1 down, Fujiwara with a ball to the right side. Hama makes a great diving stop at the outfield grass, but his throw one hops Tanabe and he can't secure it. Infield base hit for Fujiwara.
Morozumi quick throw to 1st and they pick off Yaginuma! 2 down!
Yaginuma liner, snagged by a dashing Tanabe for the 3rd out!
Bottom 8th
Motoyama falls behind 0-2, and just pokes a grounder on yet another outside slider to short.
Morii at the edge, but not crowding the plate and not attacking balls down the middle. Instead he swings on a slider away and grounds to short aided by a head-first slide.
Wada flies out to right and Saku Chousei looks to be going down in defeat.
Top 9th
One down, Morozumi hits Isagi with a fastball. Iijima lays down the bunt, but it's right in front of the plate! Kanazawa goes to 2nd for one, relay to 1st for the double play.
Bottom 9th
Tanabe hits a drive to deep center, Isagi sprinting back, makes the running catch for the 1st out.
Takeuchi pops out to Fujiwara and Saku Chousei down to their final out.
Funabasama hits Hama and so that allows the douten runner to step into the plate.
And now Funabasama hits Hikigi. The douten runner is on base and Saitou-kantoku calls for time.
But Kanazawa quickly behind 0-2 swinging on the outside slider.
He gets a hack at it, but hits it well foul.
They go inside, and Kanazawa is able to get around and foul it off.
But the pitch that has plagued Saku Chousei gets them one last time. Kanazawa twirls around and strikes out to end the game. Seikou Gakuin defeats Saku Chousei 4-2.
Saku Chousei struggled with the outside slider from Funabasama all game, and as a result struck out or hit playable balls for the fielders. That's pretty much what it boiled down to.
Seikou Gakuin moves on, but the question will be if the opposition can solve that sweeping slider. In addition, 3 of the 4 runs scored by Seikou were done in the course of an out (groundout/sac fly). It will be left to see when if they need a base hit they can deliver.
Seikou Gakuin played about as offensively bereft of a game as you could play against Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku. The duo of Imaizumi and Funabasama did not dominate batters at all, striking out 3 batters combined, but they also kept them off the basepaths as well combining for a 1.00 WHIP. I don't believe that can hold up, but you never know.
Saku Chousei had a similar game against Toukaidai Koufu. The offense managed just 5 hits but wound up scoring 3 runs.
That would wind up being enough as Terazawa and Morozumi struck out 10, while just allowing 8 baserunners. Unlike Seikou Gakuin, the K's mean that perhaps it might hold up in the long term.
Give the results, this should be yet another low scoring game with both teams working hard to manufacture runs.
Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
LF Yaoita Takumaru
2B Fujiwara Issei
3B Yaginuma Kentarou
1B Yasuda Kouki
CF Isagi Shun
RF Iijima Tsubasa
SS Ishigaki Mitsuhiro
C Takano Kouki
P Funabasama Taiga
Saku Chousei (Nagano)
3B Motoyama Hiyuu (#17)
SS Morii Koutarou
CF Wada Osamu
1B Tanabe Naoki (#5)
LF Takeuchi Kousei
2B Hama Ryuutarou
RF McCarthy Ryumikku (#16)
C Kanazawa Ren
P Terasawa Seiya (#10)
____________________________________________________________
12:05 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Not a good start as Terasawa hits Yaoita. Fujiwara bunts him along.
Yaginuma with a soft fly to center, Hama runs it down, and Yaoita doesn't realize it was caught. He's doubled off the inning is over.
Bottom 1st
Motoyama in a prolonged AB with Funabasama but loses the battle swinging at a slider on the outside edge.
Morii catches a slider off the end of the bat and just puts it out of Ishigaki's leap for a base hit.
Fujiwara-kantoku going for the safety bunt as Wada puts it to the left side! Yaginuma charges in, and his throw just beats Wada. 2 down.
AH! Tanabe with a drive to right center and that will bounce all the way to the wall! Morii comes in to score on the timely double from Tanabe! Saku Chousei leads 1-0!
Takeuchi clean single through the left side! Tanabe has to hold at 3rd as Yaoita gets the ball in.
Hama gives the ball a ride, but Yaoita has time to go back and field it for the 3rd out. But Saku Chousei with the first strike!
Top 2nd
Yasuda slider down the left field side, goes all the way to the wall for a double! Seikou threatening to tie it up immediately!
Isagi not bunting, but hits it to the right side to advance the runner.
Iijima grounder to the right side! Infield in, but Hama backpedals to get the ball! His only play is to 1st and Yasuda scores to level it at 1-1!
Ishigaki pops up to end the inning, but Seikou comes right back!
Bottom 2nd
McCarthy ahead of Funasama 3-1, gets green light but rolls one to 2nd for the 1st out.
Kanazawa hits a ball to deep left, but didn't get enough as Yaoita is in front of the fence for the catch.
Terasawa goes down on the slider and Funabasama gets healthy on the bottom of the lineup.
Top 3rd
Two quick outs for Seikou, but Yaoita squares up a hanging slider and sends it to the left center field gap for a double.
But Terasawa makes a great pick on a chopper back up the middle. Runs it to 1st and the side is retired.
Bottom 3rd
Funabasama might be settling down now. 1-pitch groundout to Motoyama, then Morii chases the slider tailing away. Wada pops the sidearm offering up and Takano makes the catch for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Yaginuma with a ball to deep center! Wada running back, but can't get there! It takes a bounce off the wall and he's in with a leadoff double!
Yasuda with a deep fly to right, McCarthy runs it down, but Yaginuma can advance to 3rd on the play.
Oy, and now Terasawa hits Isagi.
Iijima clearly up at the plate with a plan, and he hits a fly to center! Wada is there for the catch, but Yaginuma can score easily taking a 2-1 lead.
Ishigaki locks into Terasawa's fastball and drives that to deep left center! The outfielders have to run back and Isagi can score to take a 3-1 lead! Takano ends the inning on a groundout, but Saku Chousei might be in trouble.
Bottom 4th
2 down for Saku Chousei, and Hama hits a ball down the right field line.. Iijima makes a dive for it, but can't reach it! Hama rounding 2nd, reaches 3rd!
But McCarthy swings on the first pitch and flies out to Isagi in left center for the 3rd out.
Top 5th
Yaoita with his 2nd base hit with a comeback to center. Saitou-kantoku has his go for 2nd, and Kanazawa's throw is offline! It goes into center and Yaoita takes 3rd!
Fujiwara flies out to right, but it's deep enough to score Yaoita to make it a 4-1 game!
Yaginuma flies out to 2nd and the inning is over.
Bottom 5th
Kanazawa draws a leadoff walk. #3 Totsuka PH for Terasawa so his day is done. He flies out to right.
Motoyama with the hit and run grounds to 1st. Yasuda thinks better of it and goes to 1st for the safe out.
Morii with a looper over Fujiwara and that's down for a base hit! Kanazawa score to make it 4-2!
Morii tries to steal 2nd, but Takano throws him out and the side is retired. Seikou Gakuin having the better of it right now, but Saku Chousei has some momentum going into the break.
Top 6th
Ace Morozumi comes in for PH Totsuka to take the hill.
Yasuda almost makes it 5-2 with a booming shot down the left field side, but the strong hamakaze pushes it foul. He winds up striking out looking on a splitter left up in the zone.
Morozumi though then walks Isagi after filling up the count.
But he takes off too early to steal 2nd! Morozumi turns around and throws to 2nd and he almost sneaks in with a dance, but can't quite reach the base.
Iidzuka with a single back up the middle replaces Yasuda on the basepaths. But he tries to steal 2nd and he's thrown out by Kanazawa to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Saku Chousei's batters continue to chase after the slider way outside. Wada and Tanabe both fall victim to it and look silly doing it.
Takeuchi swings at the first pitch not outside, but it jams him. Yasuda makes the catch in foul territory and the side is retired.
Top 7th
Ishigaki with his 2nd hit, a clean single through the left side.
Takano gets a pitch way up an in, and yet still puts the bunt down.
AHH!! They did it again! Ishigaki takes off too early and Morozumi has him! Throw back to 2nd and he's out!
Morozumi throws the splitter and gets Funabasama, but Saku Chousei is running out of innings.
Bottom 7th
One down and #9 Hikigi hits for McCarthy. He draws a walk, though he doesn't realize it for a little bit and needs to be nudged by the umpire.
Kanazawa fooled on another slider, but pops it up to shallow center. Isagi charges in, makes the wide slide... and makes the catch.
Morozumi first pitch swings and flies out to Ishigaki. Until they can solve how not to hit Funabasama's slider, they're lost. If they can even crowd the plate maybe. I don't really know.
Top 8th
Hikigi stays in the game to play RF.
1 down, Fujiwara with a ball to the right side. Hama makes a great diving stop at the outfield grass, but his throw one hops Tanabe and he can't secure it. Infield base hit for Fujiwara.
Morozumi quick throw to 1st and they pick off Yaginuma! 2 down!
Yaginuma liner, snagged by a dashing Tanabe for the 3rd out!
Bottom 8th
Motoyama falls behind 0-2, and just pokes a grounder on yet another outside slider to short.
Morii at the edge, but not crowding the plate and not attacking balls down the middle. Instead he swings on a slider away and grounds to short aided by a head-first slide.
Wada flies out to right and Saku Chousei looks to be going down in defeat.
Top 9th
One down, Morozumi hits Isagi with a fastball. Iijima lays down the bunt, but it's right in front of the plate! Kanazawa goes to 2nd for one, relay to 1st for the double play.
Bottom 9th
Tanabe hits a drive to deep center, Isagi sprinting back, makes the running catch for the 1st out.
Takeuchi pops out to Fujiwara and Saku Chousei down to their final out.
Funabasama hits Hama and so that allows the douten runner to step into the plate.
And now Funabasama hits Hikigi. The douten runner is on base and Saitou-kantoku calls for time.
But Kanazawa quickly behind 0-2 swinging on the outside slider.
He gets a hack at it, but hits it well foul.
They go inside, and Kanazawa is able to get around and foul it off.
But the pitch that has plagued Saku Chousei gets them one last time. Kanazawa twirls around and strikes out to end the game. Seikou Gakuin defeats Saku Chousei 4-2.
Saku Chousei struggled with the outside slider from Funabasama all game, and as a result struck out or hit playable balls for the fielders. That's pretty much what it boiled down to.
Seikou Gakuin moves on, but the question will be if the opposition can solve that sweeping slider. In addition, 3 of the 4 runs scored by Seikou were done in the course of an out (groundout/sac fly). It will be left to see when if they need a base hit they can deliver.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Day 4, Game 1 - Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi) v. Saku Chousei (Nagano)
Day 4, and I hope to God I don't just collapse from exhaustion at this point...
Toukaidai Koufu pretty much had the hardest road it could have taken to win Yamanashi prefecture, which included playing Hikawa and Nihon Koukuu. The former game was a breeze, the latter one they had to come back from down 8-3 in the final 2 innings for the victory.
The team hit for a very high average during the prefecturals (0.394), but the pitching as evidenced in the Nihon Koukuu game is shaky enough given the relative strength of the prefecture to give a person pause about giving them the stamp of approval.
For Saku Chousei, their big name team was Chikyuu Kankyou whom they faced in the quarterfinal and actually mercy-ruled. Perhaps after that they thought it was going to be a breeze, because they then had to walk-off against Kami-Ina Nougyou and rally from behind to defeat Nagano Shougyou. The problem with this team is that they didn't especially hit for a high average (0.317), and the pitching behind ace Morozumi is more than suspect (#10 Terasawa - 22 IP, 10 ER).
Put all that together and it looks like a win for the first of many Toukaidai schools to participate here at Koushien.
Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
2B Edagawa Hiroya
1B Hisano Rentrarou
CF Mochidzuki Daiki
RF Hirai RenLF Yamada Katsushi
C Ishidzuka Rentarou
SS Igarashi Takashi
P Takahashi Naoya
3B Saitou Shunsuke
Saku Chousei (Nagano)
3B Motoyama Hiyuu (#17)
SS Morii Koutarou
CF Wada Osamu
1B Tanabe Naoki (#5)
LF Takeuchi Hiroshige
2B Hama Ryuutarou
RF McCarthy Ryumikku
C Kanzawa Ren
P Terasawa Seiya (#10)
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First Pitch!
1st Inning
It's all quite on Toukaidai Koufu's front to start the game as Terasawa, despite the terrible numbers, strikes out Edagawa to start the game, and then induces a grounder and popup from Hisano and Mochidzuki for a clean inning.
On Saku Chousei's side, Motoyama gets a clean single through the right side, but Morii's bunt goes right to Takahashi who turns the 1-6-3 double play. Wada goes down looking on a fastball inside and the side is retired.
2nd Inning
Saku Chousei decides to return the favor as after Morii can't finish the play on Yamada's one out hit, Ishidzuka grounds into the 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
But on the bats, they're just hacking away at almost any pitch in the zone. Takahashi has an easy inning at just 6 pitches.
Top 3rd
Terasawa's numbers in the prefectuals were not good, and yet he's setting down the Toukaidai batters. Igarashi pops out to Morii, Takahashi gets caught looking on a fastball on the outer half, and while Saitou hits a hard single past Tanabe into right, Edagawa pops out to Hama behind 2nd for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
McCarthy earns a walk to lead off the 3rd. Given the game so far, I expect (and get) a bunt from Kanazawa.
Terasawa doesn't look smooth with the bat, but fouls off enough pitches to eventually draw a walk. Muranaka-kantoku calls for time.
Motoyama with a chopper to the right side, Hisano snags it, goes to 2nd for one, throw to 1st, not in time! That looked like a neighborhood play to me, but there's runners at the corners with 2 down for Morii.
Takahashi gets out of the jam as Morii flies out to right to end the inning. Chances appearing now, but no one able to finish the job as of yet.
Top 4th
Hisano gets a leadoff single through the right side.
But before Mochidzuki gets a chance to bunt, Terasawa picks off Hisano! He just gets caught leaning the wrong way and can't get back in time!
With no runner, Mochidzuki and Hirai fly out and it's a quick inning for Terasawa!
Bottom 4th
A gift from Takahashi as he plunks Wada goes to waste as Tanabe grounds into a double play.
Takeuchi with a drive to left. Yamada not even moving!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Takeuchi goes about 10-15 rows up and just like that Saku Chousei has the 1-0 lead!
Yamada makes a great sliding catch on a shallow pop fly from Hama, but Takeuchi's HR is the difference so far.
Top 5th
Yamada with his 2nd hit as Terasawa hast to jump out of the way of a hard shot back up the middle.
No bunt from Ishidzuka but it's a hit and run instead. Morii has only 1st as his play, so it winds up being like a bunt.
Igarashi with a single to left! Takeuchi doesn't really rush to get the ball back in and that allows Yamada to score tying the game at 1-1!
Takahashi lays down the bunt, but Terasawa fires to 2nd! The ball is low and Morii can't make the pick and everyone's safe!
Terasawa in a pinch, but he slams the door, striking out Saitou looking and inducing a weak comebacker by Hisano.
Bottom 5th
Defensive change as #17 Satou comes in for Hirai to play RF.
McCarthy looking lost at the plate chasing 3 sliders away for the 1st out.
Terasawa manages a 2-out single, but Motoyama grounds to 3rd to end the inning. Offense is nowhere to be found for the most part, but both teams have managed to scrap together a run.
Top 6th
One out, what was a routine grounder from Mochidzuki is thrown into the ground by Hama and Toukaidai has another runner on base.
Mochidzuki takes off for 2nd, but Kanazawa makes a strong throw and all Morii has to do is put the glove in front of the bag and Mochiduzki slides right into it for the 2nd out.
Satou goes down looking on a fastball down the middle and the side is retired!
Bottom 6th
Morii draws the leadoff walk from Takahashi and is immediately bunted into scoring position. Tanabe moves him another 90 feet with a grounder to 1st. Can Takeuchi do it again?
Yes! He lines a ball to left and Morii can walk in for a 2-1 lead! Hama is retired right after, but Saku Chousei retakes the lead!
Top 7th
And Fujihara-kantoku decides now is the best time to send in ace Morozumi to close out the game.
After falling behind Yamada 3-0 he manages to fill up the count and then get him to pop out to Morii.
Now he seems to be on track as Ishidzuka can't lay off the splitter for the 2nd out.
Of course I say that and then he hits Igarashi.... and then uncorks a wild pitch to move him to 2nd.
But once again, it's the splitter that bails him out! Takahashi swings over it and the side is retired!
Bottom 7th
#3 Totsuka comes in to hit for McCarthy, but pops one up. Igarashi makes it more difficult than it should be, but makes the basket catch nonetheless.
Kanazawa earns a walk, but Morozumi isn't bunting. He hits a deep drive to left, but Yamada has enough room in front of the fence to make the catch.
And it's with two outs oddly that Motoyama tries the safety bunt, but it's right to Saitou for the 3rd out.
Top 8th
#16 Hoshino in to hit for Saitou, but he too can't figure out the splitter.
2 down and Hisano walks on 4 straight. He falls behind Mochidzuki 3-0 but manages to fill up the count, much to their discomfort.
Morozumi loses Mochidzuki with another walk and Fujihara-kantoku calls for time.
#13 Mutou comes in to hit for Satou and hopefully get the gyakuten hit. Instead, it's a routine grounder to 2nd and the side is retired.
Bottom 8th
Hoshino stays in the game at RF, while #15 Shimotou comes in to play 3B.
One down, Wada hits a single to left. After that Wada earns a 4-pitch walk. Muranaka-kantoku has seen enough and #10 Sugimoto is sent in relief of the ace.
But it's another straight 4 balls and now it's manrui for Saku Chousei!
Muranaka-kantoku calls time while #13 Shiraishi comes in to run for Tanabe.
What's this?! The umpire calls a dead ball as Hama starts and stops his swing! Hama might have baited that one, but the umpire awards it and it's 3-1 Saku Chousei.
Top 9th
Shiraishi stays in to play 1B, while #14 Suyama goes to play RF.
The splitter claims another victim as Yamada goes down swinging. Ishidzuka can't figure it out either and he goes down for the 2nd out. Last chance falls to Igarashi.
Igarashi grounder to 3rd, Motoyama takes his time, throws to 1st and that's the game! Saku Chousei wins with a 3-1 over Toukaidai Koufu!!
It was touch and go for both sides, but once Saku Chousei retook the lead, they went to their ace to shut the door. He wasn't completely dominating by any means, but his splitter drove the batters crazy to the tune of 5 K's in just 3 innings of work. Saku Chousei's offense is certain to struggle again in their next game, no matter who they face. So the pitching will need to be on point going forward. And Terasawa doesn't seem to be as bad as the prefectural numbers indicate.
As for Toukaidai Koufu, it certainly is disappointing given the numbers they had put up to be limited to just 1 run on 5 hits. But it was a good run, and given the state of Yamanashi, they'll be challenging again sooner rather than later.
Notable Players to be done later (I'm going to try and get a quick nap in).
Toukaidai Koufu pretty much had the hardest road it could have taken to win Yamanashi prefecture, which included playing Hikawa and Nihon Koukuu. The former game was a breeze, the latter one they had to come back from down 8-3 in the final 2 innings for the victory.
The team hit for a very high average during the prefecturals (0.394), but the pitching as evidenced in the Nihon Koukuu game is shaky enough given the relative strength of the prefecture to give a person pause about giving them the stamp of approval.
For Saku Chousei, their big name team was Chikyuu Kankyou whom they faced in the quarterfinal and actually mercy-ruled. Perhaps after that they thought it was going to be a breeze, because they then had to walk-off against Kami-Ina Nougyou and rally from behind to defeat Nagano Shougyou. The problem with this team is that they didn't especially hit for a high average (0.317), and the pitching behind ace Morozumi is more than suspect (#10 Terasawa - 22 IP, 10 ER).
Put all that together and it looks like a win for the first of many Toukaidai schools to participate here at Koushien.
Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
2B Edagawa Hiroya
1B Hisano Rentrarou
CF Mochidzuki Daiki
RF Hirai RenLF Yamada Katsushi
C Ishidzuka Rentarou
SS Igarashi Takashi
P Takahashi Naoya
3B Saitou Shunsuke
Saku Chousei (Nagano)
3B Motoyama Hiyuu (#17)
SS Morii Koutarou
CF Wada Osamu
1B Tanabe Naoki (#5)
LF Takeuchi Hiroshige
2B Hama Ryuutarou
RF McCarthy Ryumikku
C Kanzawa Ren
P Terasawa Seiya (#10)
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First Pitch!
1st Inning
It's all quite on Toukaidai Koufu's front to start the game as Terasawa, despite the terrible numbers, strikes out Edagawa to start the game, and then induces a grounder and popup from Hisano and Mochidzuki for a clean inning.
On Saku Chousei's side, Motoyama gets a clean single through the right side, but Morii's bunt goes right to Takahashi who turns the 1-6-3 double play. Wada goes down looking on a fastball inside and the side is retired.
2nd Inning
Saku Chousei decides to return the favor as after Morii can't finish the play on Yamada's one out hit, Ishidzuka grounds into the 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
But on the bats, they're just hacking away at almost any pitch in the zone. Takahashi has an easy inning at just 6 pitches.
Top 3rd
Terasawa's numbers in the prefectuals were not good, and yet he's setting down the Toukaidai batters. Igarashi pops out to Morii, Takahashi gets caught looking on a fastball on the outer half, and while Saitou hits a hard single past Tanabe into right, Edagawa pops out to Hama behind 2nd for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
McCarthy earns a walk to lead off the 3rd. Given the game so far, I expect (and get) a bunt from Kanazawa.
Terasawa doesn't look smooth with the bat, but fouls off enough pitches to eventually draw a walk. Muranaka-kantoku calls for time.
Motoyama with a chopper to the right side, Hisano snags it, goes to 2nd for one, throw to 1st, not in time! That looked like a neighborhood play to me, but there's runners at the corners with 2 down for Morii.
Takahashi gets out of the jam as Morii flies out to right to end the inning. Chances appearing now, but no one able to finish the job as of yet.
Top 4th
Hisano gets a leadoff single through the right side.
But before Mochidzuki gets a chance to bunt, Terasawa picks off Hisano! He just gets caught leaning the wrong way and can't get back in time!
With no runner, Mochidzuki and Hirai fly out and it's a quick inning for Terasawa!
Bottom 4th
A gift from Takahashi as he plunks Wada goes to waste as Tanabe grounds into a double play.
Takeuchi with a drive to left. Yamada not even moving!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Takeuchi goes about 10-15 rows up and just like that Saku Chousei has the 1-0 lead!
Yamada makes a great sliding catch on a shallow pop fly from Hama, but Takeuchi's HR is the difference so far.
Top 5th
Yamada with his 2nd hit as Terasawa hast to jump out of the way of a hard shot back up the middle.
No bunt from Ishidzuka but it's a hit and run instead. Morii has only 1st as his play, so it winds up being like a bunt.
Igarashi with a single to left! Takeuchi doesn't really rush to get the ball back in and that allows Yamada to score tying the game at 1-1!
Takahashi lays down the bunt, but Terasawa fires to 2nd! The ball is low and Morii can't make the pick and everyone's safe!
Terasawa in a pinch, but he slams the door, striking out Saitou looking and inducing a weak comebacker by Hisano.
Bottom 5th
Defensive change as #17 Satou comes in for Hirai to play RF.
McCarthy looking lost at the plate chasing 3 sliders away for the 1st out.
Terasawa manages a 2-out single, but Motoyama grounds to 3rd to end the inning. Offense is nowhere to be found for the most part, but both teams have managed to scrap together a run.
Top 6th
One out, what was a routine grounder from Mochidzuki is thrown into the ground by Hama and Toukaidai has another runner on base.
Mochidzuki takes off for 2nd, but Kanazawa makes a strong throw and all Morii has to do is put the glove in front of the bag and Mochiduzki slides right into it for the 2nd out.
Satou goes down looking on a fastball down the middle and the side is retired!
Bottom 6th
Morii draws the leadoff walk from Takahashi and is immediately bunted into scoring position. Tanabe moves him another 90 feet with a grounder to 1st. Can Takeuchi do it again?
Yes! He lines a ball to left and Morii can walk in for a 2-1 lead! Hama is retired right after, but Saku Chousei retakes the lead!
Top 7th
And Fujihara-kantoku decides now is the best time to send in ace Morozumi to close out the game.
After falling behind Yamada 3-0 he manages to fill up the count and then get him to pop out to Morii.
Now he seems to be on track as Ishidzuka can't lay off the splitter for the 2nd out.
Of course I say that and then he hits Igarashi.... and then uncorks a wild pitch to move him to 2nd.
But once again, it's the splitter that bails him out! Takahashi swings over it and the side is retired!
Bottom 7th
#3 Totsuka comes in to hit for McCarthy, but pops one up. Igarashi makes it more difficult than it should be, but makes the basket catch nonetheless.
Kanazawa earns a walk, but Morozumi isn't bunting. He hits a deep drive to left, but Yamada has enough room in front of the fence to make the catch.
And it's with two outs oddly that Motoyama tries the safety bunt, but it's right to Saitou for the 3rd out.
Top 8th
#16 Hoshino in to hit for Saitou, but he too can't figure out the splitter.
2 down and Hisano walks on 4 straight. He falls behind Mochidzuki 3-0 but manages to fill up the count, much to their discomfort.
Morozumi loses Mochidzuki with another walk and Fujihara-kantoku calls for time.
#13 Mutou comes in to hit for Satou and hopefully get the gyakuten hit. Instead, it's a routine grounder to 2nd and the side is retired.
Bottom 8th
Hoshino stays in the game at RF, while #15 Shimotou comes in to play 3B.
One down, Wada hits a single to left. After that Wada earns a 4-pitch walk. Muranaka-kantoku has seen enough and #10 Sugimoto is sent in relief of the ace.
But it's another straight 4 balls and now it's manrui for Saku Chousei!
Muranaka-kantoku calls time while #13 Shiraishi comes in to run for Tanabe.
What's this?! The umpire calls a dead ball as Hama starts and stops his swing! Hama might have baited that one, but the umpire awards it and it's 3-1 Saku Chousei.
Top 9th
Shiraishi stays in to play 1B, while #14 Suyama goes to play RF.
The splitter claims another victim as Yamada goes down swinging. Ishidzuka can't figure it out either and he goes down for the 2nd out. Last chance falls to Igarashi.
Igarashi grounder to 3rd, Motoyama takes his time, throws to 1st and that's the game! Saku Chousei wins with a 3-1 over Toukaidai Koufu!!
It was touch and go for both sides, but once Saku Chousei retook the lead, they went to their ace to shut the door. He wasn't completely dominating by any means, but his splitter drove the batters crazy to the tune of 5 K's in just 3 innings of work. Saku Chousei's offense is certain to struggle again in their next game, no matter who they face. So the pitching will need to be on point going forward. And Terasawa doesn't seem to be as bad as the prefectural numbers indicate.
As for Toukaidai Koufu, it certainly is disappointing given the numbers they had put up to be limited to just 1 run on 5 hits. But it was a good run, and given the state of Yamanashi, they'll be challenging again sooner rather than later.
Notable Players to be done later (I'm going to try and get a quick nap in).
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Day 2, Game 1 - Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi) vs. Saku Chousei (Nagano)
Day 1 was filled with games that I had kind of expected - nothing spectacular (especially on the mound), and somewhat competitive. With so few very experienced teams in the field, there will be a lot of unknown matchups. If I had actually handicapped the first 3 games so far, I'd be 2-1 (correct on Sendai Ikuei and Iidzuka and wrong on Tokoha Tachibana).
Starting off Day 2 may be a bit more of a lopsided matchup as Best 4 finalist Sakushin Gakuin will face Nagano representative Saku Chousei.
Now, Sakushin Gakuin isn't like other national powerhouses in that they can't reload as quickly as say Nichidai-san. However, they were able to turn around and not only reach senbatsu the following year, but Natsu Koushien as well. This is in part thanks to a weaker prefecture than others, as well as only facing one notable team in Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku. The offense recorded a remarkable 0.398 batting average spread across a good part of the team. Perhaps one person to key on will be leadoff batter Ishii.
Interestingly, Sakushin did not primarily use their ace number Ootani. Instead, they went to #10 Tsutsui and #18 Mizunuma. I don't know if Ootani is injured, but it seems rather curious.
Saku Chousei was no slouch in their prefecturals either as they were not challenged at all on their way to the Nagano title posting an equally impressive 0.383 batting average while defeating such teams as Tokyo Shidai Shiojiri, Maruko Shigakukan and Matsumoto Dai-ichi. The key will be the top of the order and batters Minamisawa and Morii.
On the mound, Fujiwara-kantoku used ace Gomi when it really mattered, though he wasn't afraid to use his bullpen for the early round games. #10 Shiogawa was trusted the most in later games, while #11 Hosoya was used in earlier rounds.
Taking results and prefectural strength into consideration, this should give Sakushin Gakuin an advantage in the match-up. However, the fact that the ace isn't available for some reason is cause for concern. The only other time I remember that being the case, the ace was either injured or wasn't very good...
Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
SS Ishii
LF Tsuruta
RF Shinohara
C Takayama
1B Yamashita (#13)
CF Fuse
3B Takashima
2B Yamanashi
P Tsutsui (#10)
Saku Chousei (Nagano)
SS Kamishima
CF Minamisawa
RF Morii
3B Terao
1B Itagaki
LF Ogawa (#17)
2B Yanagizawa
C Shishido
P Gomi
__________________________________________________
09:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Trying to catch up on the game so far, Shinohara does get a 2-out single for Sakushin but is quickly left on base when cleanup batter Takayama grounds to short.
Bottom 1st
Tsutsui gets Kamishima swinging to lead off the inning, but the ball gets away from Takayama and Kamishima reaches safely! He's bunted to 2nd and moves to 3rd on a grounder to 1st.
And for Saku Chousei, their cleanup batter delivers! Terao gets around on one and singles to left, scoring Kamishima! Saku Chousei leads 1-0!
Itagaki with a drive to right! Shinohara sprinting back, but it's over his leaping attempt! The throw home is weak and now Saku Chousei quickly gets ahead 2-0!!
Ogawa delivers the 3rd straight solid hit as he lines one down the left field line! That's for another double and it's now 3-0!
Yanagizawa lines out to right to end the inning, but like the first two games yesterday, a team gets out to a quick lead! Can Sakushin come back when the others failed?
Top 2nd
Nothing so far, as once again Sakushin gets a 2-out single - this time from Takashima. But again, the next batter is retired and the story continues.
Bottom 2nd
After retiring the first 2 batters easily, Tsutsui struggles with the top of the lineup, yielding back-to-back hits to left.
Fortuntely, Tsutsui gets a dribbler back to him from Morii to end the inning without any damage.
Top 3rd
According to the announcers, Gomi carries a splitter, slider, curve and slow curve to match his mid 130's fastball.
After getting ahead of ace Tsutsui 1-2, he winds up walking him. But top of the order and Ishii watches a curve fall over the plate for strike 3.
Two down and Shinohara delivers a base hit that trickles into right! Tsutsui tries to press for 3rd, but Morii makes a good throw and easily nails him for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
Grounder to 3rd by Terao is bobbled by Takashima and then he loops the throw to 1st which gets by Yamashita allowing Ogawa to get to 2nd. After a fly moves him to 3rd, Ogawa delivers a single to center to give Saku Chousei a 4-0 lead!
Now they press as Ogawa steals 2nd! Takayama's throw is short and goes into center! The game appears to be quickly getting away from Sakushin Gakuin in the early going.
But Ogawa goes on contact and Yanagizawa's ball to short means that Ogawa is thrown out at home. They try to regain momentum by stealing 2nd again, but Shishido grounds to 1st to end the inning.
Top 4th
Takayama is trying to get the Sakushin offense going as he takes one the other way down the right field line for a double.
And now Takayama makes a running mistake going on contact! Yamashita grounds back to Kamishima who starts the rundown! But in a lucky break, Terao's throw back to 2nd is low and it gets by Yanagizawa!
Fuse with a slicer to right center! Minamizawa trying to run it down, can't make the catch! The runners had to hold up and they can only advance one base! But it's now manrui now for Takashima as time is called.
Takashima hits a soft grounder to 2nd, but Yanagizawa for some reason can't field it cleanly! They're only able to get Fuse at 2nd as Sakushin gets on the board at 4-1.
Yamanashi with a liner into the right center field gap splits the outfielders! The ball goes all the way to the wall as Yamanashi 2-RBI triple pulls Sakuishin within 1 at 4-3!!
And it looks like they'll go to the bullpen as #3 Wakui hits for Tsutsui. Unfortunately the gamble doesn't pay off as he bunts one back to Gomi.
Ishii fouls out to end the inning, but an offensive outburst puts Sakushin within striking distance!
Bottom 4th
As expected, #18 Mizunuma comes in to pitch.
It appears that Mizunuma can throw in the low-mid 130's with a slider about 6-7 kph slower, a curve and a slow curve.
And he immediately shuts down the Saku Chousei offense, retiring the side quickly in order, putting his team back on the sticks to find the douten run.
Top 5th
One down, Shinohara collects his 3rd hit of the game, lacing a ball to right.
However, he's quickly wiped out as Takayama grounds into the inning ending 4-6-3 double play.
Bottom 5th
Takashima having issues with throwing the ball as he puts one high to 1st. Yamashita snags it and makes the swipe tag on Morii for the first out.
Mizunuma is looking really good on the mound, hitting the spots called for as Terao is finall retired on a shuuto just on the outside corner.
A slow roller to short would have ended the inning, but Ishii whiffs on the ball and the inning continues.
Now another grounder should end the inning, but Takashima's throw is right into the ground and it goes past Yamashita. Now there's runners on 2nd and 3rd when Mizunuma should have been out of the inning.
Yanagizawa tests Yamanashi at 2nd, but he makes the play for the 3rd out. Sakushin Gakuin gets out of their own jam with no damage and as they head to the break they trail by 1... though it could have been much, much worse...
And if they want to make a comeback, the defense will have to shape up quite a bit.
Top 6th
It can't be the infield that's causing the errors as Kamishima can't field a routine grounder by Yamashita!
And instead of a bunt, they're going for the hit-and-run as the pitch is fouled off by Fuse.
Now they try the bunt, but it hits Fuse for the 2nd strike. He has to swing away and hits a hard ball to Yanagizawa. He blocks the ball and gets the lead runner.
Looks like Kobari-kantoku has had enough of Takashima at 3rd and puts in #16 Yoshida Koudai to hit for him.
And he hits a high ball to right. Morii is running back, still running back. Pulls up!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yoshida with the daida gyakuten 2-run HR and the Kobari-kantoku's move pays off! Sakushin Gakuin takes their first lead here right after the break 6-5! They're the first team to actually take the lead after falling behind!!
Gomi retires the next two batters, but the damage is done. He has relinquished the lead here in the 6th.
Bottom 6th
#14 Asano comes in for PH Yoshida and takes over at 3rd.
One down and #13 Terunuma comes in to hit for Gomi so his day is done.
And now Teranuma drives one to deep right center! Fuse runs back to the wall as the ball bounces off the padding! He's in with a double!
However on two straight pitches Mizunuma retires Kamishima and Minamizawa to end the threat.
Top 7th
#10 Shiokawa is in to relieve Gomi and promptly walks Ishii on 4 straight. No bunting for Kobari-kantoku and Tsuruta singles through the right side. That puts runners at 1st and 2nd for Shinohara who already has 3 hits on the day. This with Shiokawa in, who seems to be struggling a bit here to start.
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shinohara crushes a ball to right! Morii runs back, but quickly gives up as the ball leaves the yard! He collects his 4th hit with a bang! His 3-run HR gives Sakushin Gakuin a 8-4 lead!
Now Takayama drives one to right center! That's all the way to the wall and Takayama makes 3rd easily!
#11 Hosoya is warming up as Yamashita drives one to center! Minamizawa gets under it, but it's deep enough to score Takayama to make it 9-4!
Shiokawa manages to retire the next two batters, but the gamble by Fujiwara-kantoku does not pay off as Sakushin jumps all over the reliever to make it a 5-run ballgame.
Bottom 7th
What's this??!! Morii swings on a Mizunuma slow curve and drives it to left! Tsuruta at the wall...
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now it's Mizunuma's turn to give one up as Morii connects for a solo HR to make it 9-5!
Terao then attacks the first pitch and lines it to right for another hit! Is Mizunuma tiring already?? Not yet it seems as he jams Itagaki induing a fly to center.
Ogawa hits a foul fly and new 3B Asano makes a nice catch at the bullpen for the 2nd out. And a groundout by Yanagizawa ends the Lucky 7 for Saku Chousei, leaving them still trailing by 4.
Top 8th
#7 Oohara comes in to play LF for Ogawa.
Shiokawa has settled down nicely, and strikes out the side, but I bet Fujiwara-kantoku is wondering where that was in the 7th...
Bottom 8th
After a K to Shishido, #16 Yokoyama hits for Shiokawa meaning that Hosoya will pitch the 9th. But Yokoyama strikes out too.
Kamishima with a hot liner back to Mizunuma and he knocks it up in the air. He calmly fields it and makes the 3rd out.
Top 9th
#11 Hosoya does come in the game to pitch the 9th.
One down, and Hosoya hits Shinohara who was 4-4 on the day. But the inning ends when Takayama grounds into his 2nd DP of the day.
Bottom 9th
No harm though as Sakushin Gakuin is 3 outs away from advancing.
Minamizawa with a chopper to 3rd, but Asano in there this time makes the play. Morii quickly swings and pops out to Takayama.
Terao swings on the first pitch and grounds out to short to end the game! Sakushin Gakuin is the first team this tournament to come back from behind to win the game! Thanks to some timely hitting and rare HR's to right field, they take the lead and pull away for a 9-5 win.
It was definitely scary for last year's best 4 team, but they managed to pull it off here on day 2. The defense, especially on the left side is suspect, and will need to be shored up before next game if they want to increase their chances of advancing further.
As for Saku Chousei, they were able to get out to an early lead, but the pitching couldn't hold it for the rest of the game, and the pitching depth just wasn't there to match Sakushin Gakuin. As a result their summer ends early here on day 2.
Starting off Day 2 may be a bit more of a lopsided matchup as Best 4 finalist Sakushin Gakuin will face Nagano representative Saku Chousei.
Now, Sakushin Gakuin isn't like other national powerhouses in that they can't reload as quickly as say Nichidai-san. However, they were able to turn around and not only reach senbatsu the following year, but Natsu Koushien as well. This is in part thanks to a weaker prefecture than others, as well as only facing one notable team in Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku. The offense recorded a remarkable 0.398 batting average spread across a good part of the team. Perhaps one person to key on will be leadoff batter Ishii.
Interestingly, Sakushin did not primarily use their ace number Ootani. Instead, they went to #10 Tsutsui and #18 Mizunuma. I don't know if Ootani is injured, but it seems rather curious.
Saku Chousei was no slouch in their prefecturals either as they were not challenged at all on their way to the Nagano title posting an equally impressive 0.383 batting average while defeating such teams as Tokyo Shidai Shiojiri, Maruko Shigakukan and Matsumoto Dai-ichi. The key will be the top of the order and batters Minamisawa and Morii.
On the mound, Fujiwara-kantoku used ace Gomi when it really mattered, though he wasn't afraid to use his bullpen for the early round games. #10 Shiogawa was trusted the most in later games, while #11 Hosoya was used in earlier rounds.
Taking results and prefectural strength into consideration, this should give Sakushin Gakuin an advantage in the match-up. However, the fact that the ace isn't available for some reason is cause for concern. The only other time I remember that being the case, the ace was either injured or wasn't very good...
Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
SS Ishii
LF Tsuruta
RF Shinohara
C Takayama
1B Yamashita (#13)
CF Fuse
3B Takashima
2B Yamanashi
P Tsutsui (#10)
Saku Chousei (Nagano)
SS Kamishima
CF Minamisawa
RF Morii
3B Terao
1B Itagaki
LF Ogawa (#17)
2B Yanagizawa
C Shishido
P Gomi
__________________________________________________
09:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Trying to catch up on the game so far, Shinohara does get a 2-out single for Sakushin but is quickly left on base when cleanup batter Takayama grounds to short.
Bottom 1st
Tsutsui gets Kamishima swinging to lead off the inning, but the ball gets away from Takayama and Kamishima reaches safely! He's bunted to 2nd and moves to 3rd on a grounder to 1st.
And for Saku Chousei, their cleanup batter delivers! Terao gets around on one and singles to left, scoring Kamishima! Saku Chousei leads 1-0!
Itagaki with a drive to right! Shinohara sprinting back, but it's over his leaping attempt! The throw home is weak and now Saku Chousei quickly gets ahead 2-0!!
Ogawa delivers the 3rd straight solid hit as he lines one down the left field line! That's for another double and it's now 3-0!
Yanagizawa lines out to right to end the inning, but like the first two games yesterday, a team gets out to a quick lead! Can Sakushin come back when the others failed?
Top 2nd
Nothing so far, as once again Sakushin gets a 2-out single - this time from Takashima. But again, the next batter is retired and the story continues.
Bottom 2nd
After retiring the first 2 batters easily, Tsutsui struggles with the top of the lineup, yielding back-to-back hits to left.
Fortuntely, Tsutsui gets a dribbler back to him from Morii to end the inning without any damage.
Top 3rd
According to the announcers, Gomi carries a splitter, slider, curve and slow curve to match his mid 130's fastball.
After getting ahead of ace Tsutsui 1-2, he winds up walking him. But top of the order and Ishii watches a curve fall over the plate for strike 3.
Two down and Shinohara delivers a base hit that trickles into right! Tsutsui tries to press for 3rd, but Morii makes a good throw and easily nails him for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
Grounder to 3rd by Terao is bobbled by Takashima and then he loops the throw to 1st which gets by Yamashita allowing Ogawa to get to 2nd. After a fly moves him to 3rd, Ogawa delivers a single to center to give Saku Chousei a 4-0 lead!
Now they press as Ogawa steals 2nd! Takayama's throw is short and goes into center! The game appears to be quickly getting away from Sakushin Gakuin in the early going.
But Ogawa goes on contact and Yanagizawa's ball to short means that Ogawa is thrown out at home. They try to regain momentum by stealing 2nd again, but Shishido grounds to 1st to end the inning.
Top 4th
Takayama is trying to get the Sakushin offense going as he takes one the other way down the right field line for a double.
And now Takayama makes a running mistake going on contact! Yamashita grounds back to Kamishima who starts the rundown! But in a lucky break, Terao's throw back to 2nd is low and it gets by Yanagizawa!
Fuse with a slicer to right center! Minamizawa trying to run it down, can't make the catch! The runners had to hold up and they can only advance one base! But it's now manrui now for Takashima as time is called.
Takashima hits a soft grounder to 2nd, but Yanagizawa for some reason can't field it cleanly! They're only able to get Fuse at 2nd as Sakushin gets on the board at 4-1.
Yamanashi with a liner into the right center field gap splits the outfielders! The ball goes all the way to the wall as Yamanashi 2-RBI triple pulls Sakuishin within 1 at 4-3!!
And it looks like they'll go to the bullpen as #3 Wakui hits for Tsutsui. Unfortunately the gamble doesn't pay off as he bunts one back to Gomi.
Ishii fouls out to end the inning, but an offensive outburst puts Sakushin within striking distance!
Bottom 4th
As expected, #18 Mizunuma comes in to pitch.
It appears that Mizunuma can throw in the low-mid 130's with a slider about 6-7 kph slower, a curve and a slow curve.
And he immediately shuts down the Saku Chousei offense, retiring the side quickly in order, putting his team back on the sticks to find the douten run.
Top 5th
One down, Shinohara collects his 3rd hit of the game, lacing a ball to right.
However, he's quickly wiped out as Takayama grounds into the inning ending 4-6-3 double play.
Bottom 5th
Takashima having issues with throwing the ball as he puts one high to 1st. Yamashita snags it and makes the swipe tag on Morii for the first out.
Mizunuma is looking really good on the mound, hitting the spots called for as Terao is finall retired on a shuuto just on the outside corner.
A slow roller to short would have ended the inning, but Ishii whiffs on the ball and the inning continues.
Now another grounder should end the inning, but Takashima's throw is right into the ground and it goes past Yamashita. Now there's runners on 2nd and 3rd when Mizunuma should have been out of the inning.
Yanagizawa tests Yamanashi at 2nd, but he makes the play for the 3rd out. Sakushin Gakuin gets out of their own jam with no damage and as they head to the break they trail by 1... though it could have been much, much worse...
And if they want to make a comeback, the defense will have to shape up quite a bit.
Top 6th
It can't be the infield that's causing the errors as Kamishima can't field a routine grounder by Yamashita!
And instead of a bunt, they're going for the hit-and-run as the pitch is fouled off by Fuse.
Now they try the bunt, but it hits Fuse for the 2nd strike. He has to swing away and hits a hard ball to Yanagizawa. He blocks the ball and gets the lead runner.
Looks like Kobari-kantoku has had enough of Takashima at 3rd and puts in #16 Yoshida Koudai to hit for him.
And he hits a high ball to right. Morii is running back, still running back. Pulls up!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yoshida with the daida gyakuten 2-run HR and the Kobari-kantoku's move pays off! Sakushin Gakuin takes their first lead here right after the break 6-5! They're the first team to actually take the lead after falling behind!!
Gomi retires the next two batters, but the damage is done. He has relinquished the lead here in the 6th.
Bottom 6th
#14 Asano comes in for PH Yoshida and takes over at 3rd.
One down and #13 Terunuma comes in to hit for Gomi so his day is done.
And now Teranuma drives one to deep right center! Fuse runs back to the wall as the ball bounces off the padding! He's in with a double!
However on two straight pitches Mizunuma retires Kamishima and Minamizawa to end the threat.
Top 7th
#10 Shiokawa is in to relieve Gomi and promptly walks Ishii on 4 straight. No bunting for Kobari-kantoku and Tsuruta singles through the right side. That puts runners at 1st and 2nd for Shinohara who already has 3 hits on the day. This with Shiokawa in, who seems to be struggling a bit here to start.
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shinohara crushes a ball to right! Morii runs back, but quickly gives up as the ball leaves the yard! He collects his 4th hit with a bang! His 3-run HR gives Sakushin Gakuin a 8-4 lead!
Now Takayama drives one to right center! That's all the way to the wall and Takayama makes 3rd easily!
#11 Hosoya is warming up as Yamashita drives one to center! Minamizawa gets under it, but it's deep enough to score Takayama to make it 9-4!
Shiokawa manages to retire the next two batters, but the gamble by Fujiwara-kantoku does not pay off as Sakushin jumps all over the reliever to make it a 5-run ballgame.
Bottom 7th
What's this??!! Morii swings on a Mizunuma slow curve and drives it to left! Tsuruta at the wall...
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now it's Mizunuma's turn to give one up as Morii connects for a solo HR to make it 9-5!
Terao then attacks the first pitch and lines it to right for another hit! Is Mizunuma tiring already?? Not yet it seems as he jams Itagaki induing a fly to center.
Ogawa hits a foul fly and new 3B Asano makes a nice catch at the bullpen for the 2nd out. And a groundout by Yanagizawa ends the Lucky 7 for Saku Chousei, leaving them still trailing by 4.
Top 8th
#7 Oohara comes in to play LF for Ogawa.
Shiokawa has settled down nicely, and strikes out the side, but I bet Fujiwara-kantoku is wondering where that was in the 7th...
Bottom 8th
After a K to Shishido, #16 Yokoyama hits for Shiokawa meaning that Hosoya will pitch the 9th. But Yokoyama strikes out too.
Kamishima with a hot liner back to Mizunuma and he knocks it up in the air. He calmly fields it and makes the 3rd out.
Top 9th
#11 Hosoya does come in the game to pitch the 9th.
One down, and Hosoya hits Shinohara who was 4-4 on the day. But the inning ends when Takayama grounds into his 2nd DP of the day.
Bottom 9th
No harm though as Sakushin Gakuin is 3 outs away from advancing.
Minamizawa with a chopper to 3rd, but Asano in there this time makes the play. Morii quickly swings and pops out to Takayama.
Terao swings on the first pitch and grounds out to short to end the game! Sakushin Gakuin is the first team this tournament to come back from behind to win the game! Thanks to some timely hitting and rare HR's to right field, they take the lead and pull away for a 9-5 win.
It was definitely scary for last year's best 4 team, but they managed to pull it off here on day 2. The defense, especially on the left side is suspect, and will need to be shored up before next game if they want to increase their chances of advancing further.
As for Saku Chousei, they were able to get out to an early lead, but the pitching couldn't hold it for the rest of the game, and the pitching depth just wasn't there to match Sakushin Gakuin. As a result their summer ends early here on day 2.
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