高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

Well, here we are at the finals. Sakushin Gakuin and Hokkai, 2 well-known names, but one perhaps not known for going far. Hokkai played one of their best games yesterday, they'll need an even better one today - especially from ace Oonishi.

Sakushin Gakuin may just need to avoid making major mistakes that have felled other teams. Provided of course Imai holds up the whole game. He got some much needed rest, but he's still on his 4th game in 5 days and the signs of fatigue are already there.

I want a competitive game first and foremost. A blowout would just be such a downer at this point.

Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)

• def Jinsei Gakuen 3-0
• def Hanasaki Tokuharu 6-2
• def Kisaradzu Sougou 3-1
• def Meitoku Gijyuku 10-2

SS Yamamoto Genki (山本 挙輝)
RF Yamanoi Ryuuga (山ノ井 隆雅)
CF Kobayashi Koutarou (小林 虎太郎)
1B Irie Taisei (入江 大生)
2B Fujino Yuusuke (藤野 佑介)
LF Ikari Taisei (碇 大誠)
3B Shinozaki Takashi (篠崎 高志)
C Ayugase Kazuya (鮎ケ瀬 一也)
P Imai Tetsuya (今井 達也)

Hokkai (Minami Hokkaido)

• def Matsuyama Seiryou 2x-1
• def Nichinan Gakuen 4-1
• def Seikou Gakuin 7-3
• def Shuugakukan 4-3

SS Ono Yuuya (小野 雄哉)
2B Kanno Shinji (菅野 伸樹)
3B Satou Yuuki (佐藤 佑樹)
C Satou Taiga (佐藤 大雅)
1B Kawamura Yuuto (川村 友斗)
LF (15)Fuse Taisei (布施 太聖)
RF Gehou Tadashi (下方 忠嗣)
P Oonishi Kento (大西 健斗)
CF Suzuki Yamato (鈴木 大和)

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14:00 - First pitch

4 pitch walk to Yamamoto, 1 more to Yamanoi before he swings on obvious ball on a hit-and-run. Yamanoi swinging to the benefit of Oonishi as he hits into a 6-4-3 double play.

But now Oonishi hits Kobayashi, bringing up the dreaded Irie. Except that he strikes out on a slider away from Oonishi!

Hokkai's first inning also sees Imai struggle a bit on the mound. the difference is that Hokkai is trying to get their knocks off of Imai as opposed to Sakushin trying to get on base against Oonishi. Kanno gets a 1-out single, but it's 2 groundouts thereafter. We even saw cleanup hitter Taiga show a bust-and-run method presumably in an effort to make contact.

That even continues into the 2nd. Kawamura draws a walk, and after a bunt, Gehou shows bunt but ends up chopping one back to Imai.

Oonishi draws the 2nd walk of the inning, bringing up last batter Suzuki.

And he slices the first pitch down the left field line... FAIR! It's in for a base hit and Kawamura scores to give Hokkai the 1-0 lead!

Sakushin Gakuin tries to find a response. Yamamoto sneaks one past Yuuki and Ono can't chase it down as it goes into left. He's able to take 2nd on a stolen base but Kobayashi grounds out to short.

They also now make a change sending in #16 Suzuki for LF Ikari. Not sure why.

Also, the top of the Hokkai order really wants to get after Imai, but all they get instead is 3 quick outs. I don't think that's what they need. Imai though uses it to pump in a 152 kph fastball. That's nice, but that doesn't equal a win.

What does is a leadoff walk by Irie. And then Oonishi leaves one fat in the strike zone and Fujino crushes it to center. It bounces off the top of the fence for a double.

Walking new LF Suzuki isn't a bad thing as it creates a force, but Hirakawa-kantoku calls for time.

Shinozaki with a chopper up 1st base line, Kawamura charging, but it goes under his glove! Kanno backup but everyone's safe and we're tied at 1-1!

Ayugase with a base up past Oonishi and into center! Sakushin Gakuin leads 2-1!

Imai with a single to right, that brings in one more. 3-1 and it looks to be the end of Oonishi, for now anyways. #11 Tama comes in for Fuse and takes the mound. Oonishi goes to LF.

But with no outs, it'll be really difficult to avoid giving up runs. Yamamoto makes sure of that with a hustle double to right, making it 5-1.

Tama gets 2 outs before having to face Irie, He doesn't back down either, giving him nothing to hit and eventually walking him to load the bases. Fujino grounds out to end the inning, but I'll need to see some type of response from Hokkai to think they stand any chance.

And there is a little life. Tama, in his 1st AB at Koushien singles to left. Gehou on the next pitch lits a sinking liner to left, but the defensive replacement Suzuki makes a great diving catch! That kills the rally, though thery're at least getting good contact on Imai.

Unfortunately it may not matter as Hokkai continues to fall further behind. Suzuki lays down a bunt and beats out a surprised Tama. Shinozaki on hit and run singles to right.

And then on Imai's AB he strikes out on ball in dirt. When Taiga goes to throw to 1st, Suzuki comes home and is safe to make it a 6-1 game.

With Hokkai still a mess at the plate, the game looked over before, but seems for sure now.

As a result, the rest of the game is just a victory procession for Sakushin Gakuin. The result not in doubt anymore. Sakushin Gakuin adds on a run, but the game ends 7-1.

Sakushin Gakuin is still the only team from Tochigi to win either Haru or Natsu Koushien tournaments having won both in 1962. Hokkai is the runner-up, the 2nd runner-up for a Hokkaido school in either tournament in as many years. I wish I could say it's because Hokkaido is getting stronger, but I don't think I could. Still it's a good thing for the region, reasons aside. Don't count out Clark Kokusai either now that the Komadai Iwamizawa kantoku is now there.

And so as the closing ceremonies take place, we close the curtain on another Natsu Koushien tournament. We saw things that we're used to seeing, some things that were new, some things that should never had happened, to things that we were glad that did. The game continues to change in Japan for better or worse. For me I can only hope that the idea of any team getting to Koushien can continue to hold.

Well, we're down to the nitty gritty. Best 4, 2 games, 18 innings (minimum anyways) to the title. And perhaps in an oddity, we have teams from all across the country. First up are the central teams, Sakushin Gakuin and Meitoku Gijyuku.

Sakushin Gakuin in terms of competition probably has the strongest resume having defeated 2 Kanto schools. Ace Imai has pitched all innings so far, posted the following lines:

• 8/12 vs Jinsei Gakuen - CG SHO, 5 H, 13 K, 2 BB
• 8/18 vs Hanasaki Tokuharu - CG, 2 ER, 6 H, 10 K, 4 BB
• 8/19 vs Kisaradzu Sougou  - CG, ER, 6 H, 7 K, BB

Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)

• def Jinsei Gakuen 3-0
• def Hanasaki Tokuharu 6-2
• def Kisaradzu Sougou 3-1

SS Yamamoto Genki (山本 挙輝)
RF Yamanoi Ryuuga (山ノ井 隆雅)
1B Irie Taisei (入江 大生)
CF Kobayashi Koutarou (小林 虎太郎)
2B Fujino Yuusuke (藤野 佑介)
LF Ikari Taisei (碇 大誠)
3B Shinozaki Takashi (篠崎 高志)
C Ayugase Kazuya (鮎ケ瀬 一也)
P Imai Tetsuya (今井 達也)

Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)

• def Sakai 7-2
• def Kadena 13-5
• def Naruto 3-0

CF Tachibana Kotarou (立花 虎太郎)
LF Nishimura Shun (西村 舜)
1B Nishiura Souta (西浦 颯大)
C Koga Yuudai (古賀 優大)
RF (18)Taniai Yuuto (谷合 悠斗)
3B Ookita Kaito (大北 海斗)
SS Takamura Kazushi (高村 和志)
2B Imai Ryousuke (今井 涼介)
P Nakano Yasutoshi (中野 恭聖)

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10:03 - First Pitch!

Nakano certainly not blowing by hitters, gets a bad break when Yamanoi's grounder to 1st is missed by Nishiura and deflects past Imai into right. Yamanoi steals 2nd, leaving 1st open, and Nakano doesn't give in, doesn't give Irie a pitch to hit and walks him instead on a 3-2 pitch inside.

The 2nd out comes when Kobayashi hits a dribbler to the right side. Imai's only play is to 1st, but a base hit could score 2. That job is for Fujino now and he's certainly battling, taking a 1-2 pitch just outside, and then barely making contact on a similar pitch.

Makes contact! Down the RF line... FAIR!! It's just fair as both runners will easily score! Fujino at 2nd and Sakushin Gakuin up 2-0! Nakano tried to jam him inside, but Fujino gets the bat in front and makes a great timely hit!

But come the bottom of the inning, there are immediate concerns. While Imai strikes out Tachibana to start off the inning, the control seems to be lacking. And in fact he walks Nishimura.

Nishiura takes some time to come out for his AB as his foot was stepped on on the final play of the top of the 1st. His response is to attack the first pitch and drive it down the RF line foul.

But instead Mabuchi-kantoku calls for the hit-and-run! Nishiura on a 1-2 pitch lines a single to right, and it's runners at the corners for Meitoku Gijyuku! Throw in another walk to Koga and it's manrui, one out!

1st year Taniai has a chance to bring his team level.

He get a fastball down the middle, but it's a grounder to short! He runs to 2nd for 1, throws to 1st... and it beats out a diving Taniai! 3 outs! Imai survives the 1st, but he'll still have 8 innings to go...

Bottom 2 and Ookita not getting message. He's swinging away and flies out to right. Takamura though does stay patient and gets a walk, that's Imai's 3rd BB already. Imai showing bunt, but while the bottom of the lineup is struggling you can't give a struggling pitcher outs.

And he does swing! Grounder back up the middle! AH! Yamamoto makes a great diving stop! Tags 2nd for 1, throw to 1st... not in time! But an excellent play by the SS!

Nakano does his best at the plate, but eventually Imai strikes him out looking and the side is retired.

Now, Sakushin perhaps recognizing the situation they're in, are going for it. Yamamoto single to right bobbled by Taniai (who's not having a great game so far) and Yamamoto takes the extra base. Yamanoi singles to right and it's runners at the corners.

Irie still doesn't get his HR, grounds to 2nd. Imai can't get the ball out of the glove and as a result can only get the runner at 2nd while a runner scores. 3-0.

That failure proves costly. Kobayashi hits a fly ball to right, Taniai goes back, but misplays the ball and it's off the wall. Irie had to hold up thinking it was caught and ends up only at 3rd. Not a good game for Taniai...

And now Fujino with a ball deep to left center, and that's off the wall. Both runners score and it's 5-0.

Meitoku gets one of those runs back when Nishimura booms a HR off Imai to left. 5-1.

Nishiura gets hit, and Koga gets a fastball middle and gets a base hit the other way. 2 on for Taniai.

But he takes just one pitch outside before attacking a similar one and popping out, essentially killing the rally.

Sakushin Gakuin snuffing out any possible resistance left goes back to back doubles by the bottom of the lineup no less to start the 4th. Toss in there a couple more hits from Yamanoi and Kobayashi and you have an 8-1 ballgame and Nakano KOd.

And almost to add insult to injury Fujino lines a ball right at new P Kanadzu and he has to basically use survival reflexes to not get a ball planted in his face.

Meitoku gets a run back thanks to an error and sac fly, only to see that evaporate immediately in the top of the 5th with a triple for Shinozaki and a sac fly of their own. 9-2.

Sakushin continues to add runs with 1 in the 6th, while Imai is relieved and sent into the field which is really smart given the score. #10 Ugajin comes in to pitch.

Now, Ugajin does put the bases loaded with 1 out yielding 3 straight singles, but he comes right back to strikeout a game Wakiya on a slider inside, then Ooktita gives a ball a ride, but falls short of the warning track.

The game finally winds down with Irie of all people taking the mound, throwing low-mid 140s heat. and a mid-120s slider. Sakushin Gakuin cruises to the final with a 10-2 win.

And it seems inevitable really. I never though Meitoku Gijyuku was a contender, but in that first inning they could have set the tone if they were to level the score. They didn't and it was pretty much over from there.

Still, they got to the Best 4, easy road or not. Give them credit for getting here, but it was about as far as they were going to go.

Well, 3 relatively non-competitve games so far. Sakushin Gakuin has looked really good so far, and is poised to make it's best run for the title since 2011.

Standing in their way is Kisaradzu Sougou, which has had to survive several low scoring games. The question is if they're up to challenge. Oddly, these teams have not met in the last 10 years.

This inter-regional matchup is probably the marquee game of the day as both Hanasaki Tokuharu and Sakushin Gakuin fight for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama)
2B Chimaru Tsuyoshi (千丸 剛)

(Was still in meeting, so unfortunately not able to cover this game).

Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
SS Yamamoto Genki (山本 挙輝)
RF Yamanoi Ryuuga (山ノ井 隆雅)
CF Kobayashi Koutarou (小林 虎太郎)
1B Irie Taisei (入江 大生)
2B Fujino Yuusuke (藤野 佑介)
LF Ikari Taisei (碇 大誠)
3B Shinozaki Takashi (篠崎 高志)
C Ayugase Kazuya (鮎ケ瀬 一也)
P Imai Tetsuya (今井 達也)

Jinsei Gakuen (Kagawa)
RF Tsurumoto Yoshiteru (弦本 義輝)
SS Doi Rikimaru (土井 力丸)
1B Yamachi Kento (山地 健斗)
3B Matsui Eikichi (松井 永吉)
2B Nakahara Teruya (中原 輝也)
LF Miyakawa Kaisei (宮川 魁成)
P Watanabe Yuu (渡辺 悠)
C Matsubara Keisuke (松原 圭亮)
CF Inoue Daisuke (井上 大輔)

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13:55 - First pitch!

Top 1st
.

The last game of the day should be a cracker of a game.

Sakushin Gakuin had no trouble in it's first game against Ueda Nishi. While the score was 10-6, the actual gap was much larger on the scoreboard. The only negative is the pitching. Kurai and Arita combined struck out 3 while walking 4.

Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku for lack of a better term survived Osaka Kaisei having to rally not once but twice against them to win 10-9.

I'd like to say something nice about both schools, but right now I'm not a fan of either.

Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
LF Akagi Rikuya
2B Yoshizawa Yuuma
SS Soeda Shinkai
1B Asayama Hirokazu
RF Kobayashi Koutarou
3B Kurosaki Kento
C Yokoo Nobumoto
P Kurai Yuusuke
CF Oohashi Kazuki

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

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16:17 - First Pitch!

I'll need to fix his name in prior posts if I get to it, but it's ace Tomiyama, not Toyama.
So the first inning goes without much incident. Both aces retire the side in order.

In fact, the first hit of the game comes from Kobayashi in the 2nd with a bloop single in front of Nakayama. On the very next pitch though Kurosaki grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.

As for facing Yamamoto for the first time, it looked like Kurai was going to avoid him. After falling behind 3-0, he continues to attack and actually strikes him out on a fastball away!

Kyukoku's first hit is also a blooper, one from Wakisaki that just evades a diving Kobayashi.Unlike Kobayashi's though Wakisaki is able to take 2nd.

Uto absolutely crushes a ball to left. Kobayashi chases after it, reaches out, and somehow makes the catch! Wakisaki has to hurry and get back to 2nd as he thought certainly that Kobayashi wasn't going to get there.

Kameya grounder up the middle, Soeda is able to run that one down! Throw to 1st and the side is retired here in the 2nd.

Yokoo tries to jumpstart the offense in the 3rd for Sakushin Gakuin dumping a ball to right.

Once again though that runner is wiped out by a 6-4-3 double play.

Oohashi is unfortunately hit on the helmet by a slider that gets away from Tomiyama. Kurosaki comes in to run for him.

And with the count 1-2 he steals 2nd without a throw!

But Akagi strikes out on a slider in the opposing batter's box and the inning is over.

Fortunately for Sakushin Gakuin, Oohashi emerges and will continue playing.

The game re-enters silent mode with both teams doing a whole lot of nothing. What I'm not understanding is how some of the Sakushin Gakuin batters are completely fooled on Tomiyama's slider that ends up in the opposite box.

Sakushin Gakuin finally gets a good chance at a run when Kobayashi leads off the 5th with a single. and 2 batters late Yokoo follows suit. But Tomiyama gets a popup and a groundout, and just as quickly as the opportunity appeared, it disappeared.

Right before the break Tomiyama draws his 2nd walk (again curious because he's the #9 hitter and why aren't you going after him?).

And Yoshii hits a ball down the 1st base line fair! Tomiyama heads to 3rd and is being waved around! The relay throw home... And he's tagged out! The game remains deadlocked at 0 as we reach the mid-game break.

Sakushin Gakuin getting chances in the 6th as Akagi singles, but they don't bunt and then Araki is thrown  out stealing 2nd. Soeda is then hit by a pitch and would have stolen 2nd if the batter didn't walk. Kobayashi grounds out, and that's the end of that.

Suddenly, though not out of nowhere, Kyukoku's Yamamoto crushes an outside pitch to left... and it leaves the yard! That's Yamamoto's 3rd HR in the last 2 games, and gives his team the 1-0 lead!

Sakushin Gakuin trying to find a response, gets one when Yokoo double to left center. After a walk to PH Sekiguchi (Kurai's day is done), Oohashi bunts the runners over. Then Akagi walks, bringing up Yoshizawa, hitless on the day.

And on the very first pitch he grounds to short ending the inning!

Next half inning, Arita comes in to pitch, and Yoshizawa is rewarded by being benched.

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At this point my body finally had enough and I fell asleep. Apparently right before Kyukoku scored their 2nd run. Sakushin Gakuin couldn't mount anything remotely close to a rally and so Kyukoku eliminates the Tochigi champs 2-0 setting up game v Waseda Jitsugyou.

And now the final team to take the field, the ever present Sakushin Gakuin. Now, they weren't really tested in the prefecturals with their only key opponent being Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku (that of the gyakuten v Kanzei fame). Other than that, the team batted a crushing 0.372.

Ueda Nishi drawing this team was unfortunate. Despite the 3-0 win over Miyazaki Nichidai there was little in that game that suggested that they would be able to hang with Sakushin Gakuin.

I really like Ueda Nishi for some non-reasonable reason, but I cannot imagine them going any farther than here.

Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
LF Akagi Rikuya
3B Fujino Yuusuke(#16)
SS Soeda Shinkai
1B Asayama Hirokazu
RF Kobayashi Koutarou
CF Oohashi Kazuki
2B Kurosaki Kento (#5)
C Yokoo Nobumoto
P Kurai Yuusuke

Ueda Nishi (Nagano)
SS Kouno Seiya
2B Saitou Takashi
1B Mitsui Shuuhei
3B Ooyabu Shouya
CF Matsumoto Daisuke
LF Nishizawa Daisuke(#16)
C Noguchi Masahi
P Kusagai Kouki
RF Sekiguchi Daisuke

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12:45 - First Pitch!

1st Inning
Well, Ueda Nishi ace Kusagai not intimidated early, does yield a 2-out single to Soeda, but nothing more.

Offensively, they get a walk from Saitou and he's able to steal 2nd, but neither Mitsui or Ooyabu can get a base hit.

Top 2nd
2 down and Kurosaki hits a ball to shallow left center, and drops in front of Matsumoto for a base hit!

Yokoo with a single to right! Kurosaki coming home and he will score! Sakushin Gakuin with the first strike at 1-0!

Top 3rd
More pressure from Sakushin Gakuin. Leadoff single from Araki eventually moves to 3rd at the cost of an out a base.

Doesn't matter though as after a walk Kobayashi singles to right easily scoring the run making it 2-0.

Bottom 4th
Mitsui with a leadoff single to right. Now one down, Matsumoto singles through the right side.

Wild pitch! Douten runner moves into scoring position!

Nishizawa fly to right, and that'll bring one run in. 2-1.

Noguchi singles to right! That brings in Matsumoto and we're tied at 2-2!

Top 5th
Sakushin Gakuin already on the counterattack!

Araki singles, Fujino's shot to the left side goes off Kouno and into foul territory! By the time they retrieve it it's runners at 2nd and 3rd!

Soeda pays it off! He singles to left and that'll score both runs! Sakushin Gakuin re-establishes the 2-run lead at 4-2.

Kusagai prevents any further damage, but they're back to where they started....

Eventually we hit the break with Sakushin holding the advantage. Ueda Nishi is digging in better than I thought, but they still seem behind the proverbial 8-ball.

Bottom 6th
Matsumoto tries to get his team back in the game with a 2-out double, but Nishizawa flies out to end the inning.

Top 7th
#17 Satou Takao comes in to hit for Kurai as his day is now officially done.

He joins the hit parade with a grounder to deep short, beating out the throw!

Now he takes out for 2nd! Throw in, not in time!

Araki makes it a no-doubter with a gapper to right center! It'll go for a triple and it's 5-2.

That'll be the end of the day too for Kusagai. #11 Yanagisawa comes in to pitch.

And promptly hits Fujino to start his stint.

Soeda gaps one to left center and that'll go for a triple and 2 more runs to make it 7-2.

Asayama singles to left and makes it 8-2, and this game is well and over with still no outs.

Final damage, 9-2.

Rest of game
Ueda Nishi works to make it respectable, scores a pair of runs in 8th to make it 9-4. Eventually the score settles to 10-6.

Ueda Nishi finds their bats much too late to make a comeback, but do show holes in Sakushin Gakuin's pitching depth.

Today we'll be starting to see teams hit the field for the 2nd time, starting with our 3rd game in Kanzei v. Toyama Shougyou.

But first we need to get the rest of the teams on the field, and starting action today will be the last Kanto squad in Sakushin Gakuin, versus the apparent underachievers Okinawa Shougaku.

Sakushin Gakuin did not have to play any big name opponent out of the prefecture.  Even in the final against Sano Nichidai, they are not considered one of the top tiered schools.  And the only game that was close was their 5-4 quarterfinal win over Seiran Taito.

Despite the lack of competition, the Sakushin offensive numbers are not spectacular.  An average of just 0.337, though they did average 1.5 doubles and triples per game.  Plus they did steal 23 bases in their 6 games, so maybe they're playing the small ball game.

Okinawa Shougaku continues to be dominant with their pitching, giving up just 3 runs in their 5 games.  Yamashiro continues to be an effective pitcher in prefecture.  But like Sakushin Gakuin, their problems are on offense where they hit just 0.324, with less XBH on average.  The bottom of the lineup especially is a black hole, and you just cannot afford to give up outs.

So it's highly likely we're going to see a very low scoring game to start Day 7.

Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
SS Soeda Manami
3B Yoshizawa Yuuma
LF Asayama Hirokazu
1B Tanaka Takuma
CF Nakamura Kouichirou
RF Akaki Rikuya
2B Satou Ryoumu
C Yokoo Norimitsu
P Fujinuma Takumi

Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa)
CF Akamine Ken
2B Nakamura Masaki (#13)
LF Nishihira Daiki
3B Asato Takeru
RF Kubo Shuuto
1B Uehara Kouta
SS Sunagawa Osamu
P Yamashiro Daichi
C Irabu Shouta

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08:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
So they say it's SS Sunagawa's birthday today. Soeda congratulates him by hitting the first ball in play to him for the out.

Yoshizawa a stubborn batter for Yamashiro at the plate, but on the 9th pitch he gets him twisted up on a fastball inside for the K.

Asayama with a drive to center!  Ken running back to the wall, back still!

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

So much for lack of offense to start.  Asayama with a HR to center no less and Sakushin takes the 1-0 lead!

Tanaka flies out to left, but it looks like we might be headed for a melee rather than a siege.

Bottom 1st
It may be early, but the whistles are out in the Okinawa ouen-dan.

Ken tries to drive the ball, but Nakamura is there in left center to make the catch.  Nakamura gets ahead 3-1, but his hit goes right to 2nd.

Nishihira with a ball to left.  Asayama going back to the wall..  HE LOOKS UP!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

Um, did I say low scoring game?  *ahem*

Nishihira hits his own HR, telling Asayama anything you can do I can do! We're all tied at 1-1!

Asato goes down looking to end the inning but it looks like we might have an interesting game on our hands!

Top 2nd
Yamashiro taking things into his own hands early.  He strikes out Nakamura looking on the outer edge, the Akaki swinging on yet another 140 kph fastball.

It's not a clean inning though, as Satou's routine grounder gets booted by Sunagawa.

He doesn't make the same error twice as he takes Yokoo's grounder to 2nd for the 3rd out.

Bottom 2nd
Fujinuma certainly not blowing batters away by any means, but it looks like the Okishou batters are not timing themselves very well to his speed.

Kubo and Sunagawa just roll over the ball to the left side of the infield, while Kouta swings over the slider.

Top 3rd
Yamashiro meanwhile is throwing a bit of gas (I say a bit because he's hitting 140).

Yet another K, Fujinuma the victim this time as he swings on a fastball outside.  After a groundout, Yoshizawa becomes Yamashiro's 5th K frozen on a slider over the plate.

Bottom 3rd
Yamashiro gives, and apparently receives Ks.  Fujinuma throws the change and he swings over it for the 1st out.

Fujinuma trying to catch up, hangs his 4th K when Irabu fails to check his swing and the 1st base ump rings him up.

Ken with a weak grounder to short, Soeda charges, makes throw and the side is retired.

Top 4th
More and more K's for Yamashiro.  Tanaka fails to even swing at the fastball down the middle.  And Nakamura goes down for the 2nd time on a two-seamer down the zone.  7 Ks already.

Bottom 4th
Ah, Fujinuma issues his first walk as he want's little to do with Nishihira.

Asato though follows it up with a singles through right side!  Nishihira takes 3rd on the play and Okishou is threatening!

Kubo up as Haisai Oji-san plays and the whistles fill the stadium.

Grounder to 2nd!  Satou to 2nd for one, throw to 1st... No!

Soeda can't seem to get the ball out of his glove and he can't turn the double play! Nishihira scores and Okishou takes the 2-1 lead!

Higa-kantoku sends Kubo to 2nd, but Yokoo makes a strong throw and he's out by a good margin.  3 outs, but Okishou takes their first lead!

Top 5th
Yet another K for Yamashiro.  He paints the outside corner with the fastball to gets Akaki for the 2nd time.

Satou takes a half-hearted swing, and grounds to 2nd.

Yokoo with a liner that hits Yamashiro!  He locates and throws to 1st for the out, and he looks ok.  But Sakushin is not ok as outside of that HR, the offense has done nothing.

Bottom 5th
Pitching change for Sakushin Gakuin! #11 Takahashi comes in for Fujinuma and goes to left, and Asayama comes in from LF to take the hill.

Not a great start as he walks Kouta to start the inning.  Higa-kantoku tries the hit-and-run, but Sunagawa fouls it off.  Sunagawa works the count full, and it's another hit-and-run! He fouls it off again.

And again!  But this time the ball is low and Sunagawa gets a walk!

Yamashiro lays down the bunt, but Yokoo up with the ball quickly and fires to 3rd!  He guns down Kouta for the 1st out!

Irabu tries it again, but Asayama charges in and fires to 3rd again!  They get the lead runner again and Okinawa Shougaku is an out away from spoiling a great opportunity!

Top of the order for Okishou and Ken.

He flies out to right and Okishou is left with nothing as we hit the break!  Momentum had been with Okishou and ace Yamashiro, but that has to give Sakushin Gakuin confidence as we hit the break.

Top 6th
Takahashi anticipates the fastball away, and yet still can't make contact as he becomes another K victim.

Soeda with a base hit to center!  That's just their 2nd hit of the game!

Kobari-kantoku calling for the bunt, but Yoshizawa can't lay it down!  2 strikes now, and it's a bust-and-run!  But really it's a bunt as he grounds weakly to 3rd.

Yamashiro having a harder time of things with a runner on, falls behind Asayama 3-1 before getting a pitch over to fill the count.

SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Asayama had walked away and squats down at the delayed strike 3!  He can't believe it as he goes down looking to retire the side!  That looked outside.

Bottom 6th
Nakamura leads off the Okishou 2nd half with a single to left center.  And then Kobari-kantoku has him moving to 2nd! Throw from Yokoo... in time, but Nakamura's slide dislodges the ball!

Nishihira with a liner to right allows him to move another 90 feet.

Asato grounder to short! Soeda going home! Nakamura slides in and he beats the tag!  Gamble doesn't pay off and Okishou leads 3-1!

A K and a great throw from Yokoo to nail Asato trying to steal 2nd and the inning is over.  But the game may slowly be getting away from them.

Top 7th
Oh, this isn't the time to look lost at the plate.  Yamashiro not only strikes out the side, the 4-5-6 batters are 0-9 with 8 Ks!!

Bottom 7th
Asayama back on track against the lower half of the lineup, retires them in order tacking on 2 Ks while he's at it.

Top 8th
Yamashiro may be conserving himself, going for contact outs versus K's.  He gets 2 quick groundouts, but Takahashi proves to be more stubborn, eventually getting jammed but blooping one to right.

Yamashiro moves to 1st, and pick off Takahashi to end the inning!

Bottom 8th
Irabu finally checks in with a single to center.  Ken appears to be bunting, but never does drawing a walk.

It's at this time that Yokoo fires a pitch back to 2nd and Irabu is way out of position and is picked off.

So with 2nd open, Ken decides to take it back, and gets no throw from Yokoo as he loses his grip on the ball.

And then Asayama walks Nakamura to put everything back where it was before the pickoff. Kobari-kantoku calls for time.

Asayama does himself no favors as his pickoff throw to 2nd is high and into center, allowing the runners to advance.

But he clamps down and gets Nishihira looking for the 2nd out in much the same way he was rung up.

Asato pops up to 2nd to end the inning, but Sakushin is down to their final 3 outs.

Top 9th
Soeda chopper to left side, Sunagawa charges, makes pick off bounce, and his throw to 1st is in time for the 1st out!

#18 Oohashi to hit for Nagasawa, but since we know he's up there to hit, Yamashiro tuns the aggressiveness back on him striking him out on the 2-seamer away.

Last chance in Asayama.

Grounder up middle, Satou runs it down. Throw to 1st... OUT!  Asayama lets out his frustration as Okinawa Shougaku defeats Sakushin Gakuin 3-1!

Yamashiro with a dominant performance to start day 7, dispatching the Tochigi champs with little difficulty.  The offenses were not great, and so something like this was to be expected, but Yamashiro outside of that HR to Asayama put them in a complete blackout.

And so it's yet another Kanto school that is eliminated.  As for Okinawa Shougaku, it's a good start, but as we figured, the offense will constantly be under siege to support their ace.

Well, after that blowout, let's hope this one doesn't end the same way, shall we?

I'm worried about that though. Sakushin looks as strong as they were last year when they reached the best 8. And Nichidai Yamagata, though they defeated Nichidai-san maybe proved Sanko to be a false powerhouse this year.

I actually do worry this game will also get out of hand.

Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
CF Suzuki Masashi
3B Soeda Shinkai
1B Nakamura Kouichiro
C Yamashita Yuuto
RF Kobayashi Yuusuke
SS Kawakami Shuugo
LF Takanohashi Hiroki
2B Yamanashi Kouta
P Watanabe Yuuma

Nichidai Yamagata (Yamagata)
CF Aoki Tatsuya
2B Nakano Takumu
LF Mineta Jyunnosuke
SS Okumura Hiromu
1B Yoshioka ?
C Asanuma Takanori
RF Takeda Shouhei
P Shouji Misaki
3B Itasaka Hiroki

____________________________________________________________

16:07 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Suzuki with a drive down the right field line. Takeda running towards the line, makes the leaping catch as he runs into the padding.

But as expected, Sakushin looking to jump on Nichidai early. Soeda takes a fastball outside and actually drives it to right center. That falls in near the wall and Soeda is off to the races for a triple.

Nakamura to look for the quick timely or even a sac fly.

But Shouji working the upper part of the strike zone gets Nakamura to swing and miss on a slider.

The gig might be up early though as Yamashita booms another fastball on the outer half to almost the same spot. Once again Aoki and Takeda converge, but can't get there in time. He's in with a double. and it's 1-0.

Kobayashi goes down on three straight to end the inning, but already Sakushin Gakuin is on the board.

Bottom 1st
Aoki looking to launch a quick counter singles back up the middle.

Nakano tries the safety bunt, but it's like a grounder to Soeda instead. He goes to 2nd and they cut down the lead runner.

Mineda takes the outside fastball the other way over Kawakami and into center. Kobari-kantoku calls time as cleanup batter Okumura comes to bat.

Watanabe places a perfect fastball on the inside corner and there's 2 down.

Yoshioka on the first pitch singles back up the middle! Nakano's held up at 3rd as the throw goes high.

Manrui 2 outs for Asanuma...

Singles through the left side! Nakano scores, they're sending Mineta! Throw home... SAFE!!!!


Mineta goes on the fair side of the line and goes around the tag! Nichidai Yamagata takes the 2-1 lead!

Takeda with a ball to the right side, Yamanashi is there, AHHHH!!!

It's just out of his reach and it goes to right! Yoshioka comes around 3rd and he scores, Yamashita sees Asanuma caught in between throws, AHHH!!!

He throws it away allowing both runners to scramble back! It's 3-1 and a mess of an inning for Watanabe! He gets Shouji to fly out to end the inning, but once again Nichidai Yamagata emphatically responds in the 1st.

Top 2nd
And it may be that Shouji needs to work out the kinks in the 1st inning as he induces Kawakami to chase a fastball outside for the first out.

But this Sakushin team can hit. Takanohashi puts one in the gap in left center this time for a double.

Yamanashi does advance the runner after he pulls a slider to 1st. 2 down though.

Watanabe up to help his own cause...

But Shouji goes outside with the slider and Watanabe chases it for the 3rd out! No damage done!

Bottom 2nd
Oy, it's not Sakushin that's hitting, but Nichidai! Itasaka goes down and lines the low slider down the left field side for a leadoff double!

Aoki tries to lay down the bunt twice, but fouls off both attempts. When you're hitting, just continue.

Ah, but Itasaka follows the base hit with terrible running. Aoki hits one to the left side, Itasaki breaks for 3rd, but Kawakami has time to go to 3rd. Itasaka is run down and that's a mistake for Nichidai Yamagata.

Nakano then proceeds to get ahead of a slider and pop out to center.

Mineda fouls out and the early threat is dissipated.

Top 3rd
Szuki with a hot shot to 1st, Yoshioka makes the spinning pick and goes to the bag for the out.

Shouji, perhaps a little skittish with Soeda up to bat, walks him.

Hit-and-run from Sakushin! But Nakamura waves at a ball way outside! Throw to 2nd from Asanuma is offline and goes off Okumura's glove! Soeda cannot advance to 3rd though.

2 out for Yamashita, and this time Shouji is not squeamish. Put a slow curve and slider in for a strike, then gets the generous call on a ball outside to end the inning!

Bottom 3rd
Watanabe on a slow curve hits Okumura on the back.

Yoshioka swinging away booms one to deep left center! Takanohashi and Suzuki converging, it's Suzuki who stretches out and makes the catch!

But Kobari-kantoku has seen enough. #10 Asayama comes in to relieve Watanabe.

Asanuma goes for the bunt! Asayama fields it goes to 2nd, throws it away!! Okumura advances to 3rd and Sakushin is in another pinch!

Takeda trying to bunt? Takes a couple of pitches, but falls behind 1-2.

SANSHIN! Takeda swings right through that fastball for the 2nd out. Shouji up to help his own cause, but if last AB was an indication, it may not be likely.

Yep, he gives a regretful swing for strike 2, then can't pull the trigger on the fastball and the side is retired.

Top 4th
Kobayashi gives Sakushin a leadoff runner with a single to left.

He then takes off for 2nd! Kawakami swings and misses but the throw to 2nd is late.

Kawakami though can't take advantage. He grounds to short. Okumura loses the ball for a second, but then recovers 180 spins and throws to 1st to get the out.

Working the outside half, Shouji gets Takanohashi to swing on a slider outside and hits it off the end of the bat to left center. Mineda there to catch it for the 2nd out.

Yamanashi hits a comebacker to Shouji who snags and walks it over to Yoshioka for the 3rd out!

Bottom 4th
Asayama a bit careful with Itasaka runs the count full, does give in with the full count pitch, but Itasaka grounds out to short.

Aoki unable to catch up to the fastball gets a small piece of it and hits a pop out to Kawakami for the 2nd out.

Nakano way out in front of the slider, one-hands it to Nakamura who tosses to Asayama for the 3rd out.

Top 5th
Asayama very patient at the plate, doesn't give into any of the balls outside, fills up count. But Shouji gets the bottom of the zone on the slider and Asanuma turns back to the dugout.

Suzuki attacking early, but grounds to Itasaka for the 2nd out.

Soeda, like Asayama goes behind 1-2, takes 2 pitches to full up the count. He does swing at the strike, but grounds to short for the 3rd out.

Bottom 5th
Asayama hits his first batter in Mineta to start the 5th. Okumura showing bunt for the first pitch, but back to hitting. After getting ahead 2-0, Asayama levels the count. Tries to go inside, but Okumura just gets a piece of it and fouls it off.

Asayama climbs the latter on the fastball and Okumura swings under it for the 1st out.

Nichidai batters seem less apt to swing it seems. Yoshioka on a 0-1 pitch just watches a fastball down the middle for strike 2.

Yoshikoka hot shot to 1st! It's off Nakamura's glove! He goes to recover, tosses to sprinting Asayama, just beats Yoshioka to the bag for the 2nd out.

Asanuma liner, but right to Soeda for the 3rd out.

So we hit the midgame break with a situation similar to Nichidai Yamagata's first game, where they trailed early, came back immediately to take the lead. Asayama has done really well in relief for his 2nd straight relief outing, while Shouji is confounding the Sakushin batters.

There is still 4 innings left to go and usually if something happens it's then.

Top 6th
Nakamura puts a bal between a diving Itasaka and Okumura for a leadoff hit.

But Yamashita hits into a tailor made 6-4-3 double play.  Quickly 2 out.

Kobayashi with a blast to left! Mineta running back, but he gives up!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That DP becomes even more important because with it Nichidai Yamagata still leads by 1!


Shouji comes back to paint the inside corner to Kawakami to end the inning, but that lead for Nichidai Yamagata got that much more tenuous!

Bottom 6th
One down and Shouji is fighting the heck out of his AB. Where was this the other 2 ABs when there were runners in scoring position!

And he hits one under the glove of a diving Kawakami! Araki-kantoku has Itasaka bunt him over for the top of the lineup.

Aoki with a big swing, but it looks like he got under it.  He does and Kobayashi secures it for the 3rd out.

Top 7th
Ahead 3-1 against Shouji, Takanohashi goes after a high fastball for some reason and fouls out to Itasaka near the dugout.

Once again, Shouji goes outside with his slider and Yamanashi swings through it for the 2nd out.

Asayama with a hard hit to the right side! Yoshioka reaches out to his right and makes the snag! Tosses to Shouji and the side is retired!

Bottom 7th
Defensive changes for Sakushin as #17 Tamagawa comes in for Takanohashi in LF.

Nakano with a hard liner but right to Kawakami for the out.

Mineta goes full on Asayama, but goes after the fastball inside and hits one back to Asayama for the 2nd out.

And Okumura better put someting on him because he's hit for the second time this game.

Yoshioka up and there's another hot liner right to short. Side retired.

Top 8th
Top of the order up for Sakushin Gakuin as time is starting to run out.

Suzuki out in front hits chopper to 3rd, Itasaka gets rid of it quickly and just gets Aoki for the 1st out.

Soeda looking to get on base, works count full...

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

Soeda leasps back, but can only tilt his head as he's punched out. 2 down.

Nakamura grounder to 2nd, Nakano goes to 1st and once again Shouji puts up a clean frame!

Bottom 8th
Asanum lines a ball to left center for a lead off single! Plays it safe as the ball bounced off Suzuki's glove and out in front of him.

Takeda with the bunt, but Nakamura charging in throws to 2nd and cuts down Asanuma!

Shouji jumps on the first pitch from Asayama! Drives one to deep right center!! Suzuki back to the wall, plays it on the hop! Takeda being waved around, relay home...

High! Yamashita has to leap up and the tag is late again! It's 4-2 Nichidai Yamagata!

Itasaka hard shot to 3rd, Soeda with a great diving stop holds the runner and goes to 1st for the 2nd out!

But Aoki with a drive to deep center! No one's going to get to that one! It's off the wall and Shouji will score to make it 5-2!!

That prompts Kobari-kantoku to pull Asayama. He's fighting showing his disappointment as he hands the ball over to #11 Fujinuma.

He comes in and strikes out Nakano on 3 straight, but the damage has been done. Their deficit just got more difficult.

Bottom 9th
Shouji still throwing strikes gets ahead of Nakamura, then puts him away with the slider! One down!

Kobayashi goes on first pitch, lines out to Aoki... 2 down!

#13 Tanaka to hit for Kawakami as their last chance...

Goes down swinging! Asanua completes the play at first and Nichidai Yamagata's done it! For just the 2nd time in the school's history they reach the Best 8 and do so in superb fashion over Sakushin Gakuin!

I'm beginning to wonder if Nichidai Yamagata is the Urawa Gakuin for me this year. I keep on panning them as they face seemingly tough competition, but they keep on winning. It's probably different because I can see how Shouji is successful, while I couldn't with Ojima.

Shouji, much like Kishi worked around the strike zone, but rarely within it, winds up striking out 12, but otherwise shutting down the Sakushin offense. Perhaps a concern is that when Shouji was hit, he was hit hard. Of the 6 hits, he gave up 2 doubles, a triple and a HR. He will have his hands full with Meitoku's offense.

As for Sakushin Gakuin, while there were those hits, they were generally few and far between. So more often than not they were spinning their wheels. They were often behind in counts and wound up having to play more defensive than offensive, which might have hurt.

It's a disappointing loss for sure, but they do have some young players on their roster and may return yet again next year.


Notable Players
Shouji Misaki (Nichidai Yamagata) - CG, 2 ER, 6 H, 12 K, BB
Shouji Misaki (Nichidai Yamagata) - 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
Asanuma Takanori (Nichidai Yamagata) - 2-3, 2 RBI
Kobayashi Yuusuke (Sakushin Gakuin) - 2-4, HR, R, RBI, SB
Soeda Shinkai (Sakushin Gakuin) - 1-3, 3B, R, BB

Onto our brunchtime game and it'll be an uphill batter for one school.

Sakushin Gakuin did what any good team should do against a weaker squad - run circles around them.

From the first inning onwards, and with few breaks in between, they put runners on base and stressed out the defense to no end putting up runs in 6 of the 9 innings. Better still, they got production from all parts of the lineup. You don't want to have dead spots in your lineup, but most schools do. Their performance in their opening game may suggest good things for them.

The pitching though, might be an issue. Watanabe was effective for the most part, but a 3-run HR in the 4th is concerning. Even more so, reliever Asayama was also effective until the 9th where he gave up 3 hits and a run.

This suggests to me that neither pitcher really has a lot of stamina and when fatigued, will be very vulnerable.

That's good, because Kumamoto Kougyou will need all the help they can get against last year's quaterfinalists.

Kumamoto Kougyou survived a 3-2 win over Tottori Jyouhoku. They came out to a 3-0 lead, looked to be cruising, but then ace Yamashita starts giving up hits which lead to runs, which leads to a nailbiting 9th inning.

They did have many scoring opportunities thanks to some patience at the plate and quite a few number of hits. But they could never really convert those to runs, stranding 10 just in the first 5 innings. As a result they let Tottori Jyouhoku stick around.

Offensively, cleanup batter Kudou and leadoff batter Sakai had the most success. Otherwise it was rather inconsistent.

Suffice it to say that edge to Sakushin Gakuin.


Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
LF Kobayashi Yuusuke (#9)
3B Soeda Shinkai
C Yamashita Yuuto
RF Nakamura Kouichirou (#3)
1B Tanaka Takuma (#13)
SS Kawakami Shuugo
CF Suzuki Masashi
2B Yamanashi KoutaP Watanabe Yuuma

Kumamoto Kougyou (Kumamoto)
1B Sakai Shun
CF Kiyomizu Takumi (#13)
2B Nishiyama Tenshou
3B Kudou Seiya
LF Takaki Eiji
SS Horita Takafumi
RF Matsushita Ryoumu
P Yamashita Kouta
C Honda Masahiro

____________________________________________________________

10:41 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Well, not a good for for Yamashita. Kobayashi sends one to left center, aggressively goes for 2! Throw in from Kiyomizu not in time.

Soeda grounder to the left side, Horita with a great diving stop! Goes to 3rd!!

OUT!!!!

Horita with a great play cuts down the lead runner!

So, instead, Kobari-kantoku sends Soeda to 2nd on the 2-1 pitch! Honda to throw, but loses handle! Sakushin threatening again!

あ。

Yamashita drives a ball to left.  Takaki running back, but gives up early!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It starts early again for Sakushin Gakuin! 2-run HR Yamashita, and 2-0 Sakushin!

Oy.

Now Yamashita walks Tanaka on 4 straight...  and then hits Kawakami?! This looks ugly early.

He does get Suzuki to hit a comebacker to him to retire the inning, but Kumamoto Kougyou behind the 8-bal right from the get go!

Bottom 1st
One down for Kumamoto Kougyou and Kiyomizu with a chop to the right side. Nakamura there to field it, but Kiyomizu beats out Watanabe for a base hit!

Nishiyama trying the safety bunt, but fouls it off.  Winds up watching a slider on the outsider corner for the 2nd out.

Kudou with a liner, but right to Kawakami for the 3rd out.

Top 2nd
A better start to the 2nd as Yamanashi chases a slider for Yamashita's first K. Watanabe he gets to ground to 1st, and Kobayashi goes after a pitch outside and flies out to right.

Much better from the ace.

Bottom 2nd
Watanabe issues his first walk, with 4 straight to Takaki. Hayashi-kantoku has Horita bunt him along.

His control seems to be just a little off. Missing the glove by a tiny bit, and as a result not getting them in the zone.

But he fills up the count to Matsushita and induces a grounder to 1st for the 2nd out. Takaki goes to 3rd.

He's left stranded there as Yamashita grounds to short for the 3rd out.

Top 3rd
One down and Yuuto (need to differentiate the Yamashitas) hits a ball about 6 inches from the ground past Kudou for a base hit.

Yamashita careful with Nakamura trying to hit the corners, but missing. He winds up walking him.

Then he turns around and catches those edges, allowing him to go off the plate and Tanaka follows for the 2nd out.

Kawakami grounds out to 2nd and the side is retired.

Bottom 3rd
Unfortunately while Yamashita has kept things at 2-0, the offense continues to spin their wheels against Watanabe.

For after Honda goes down looking on a slider, Sakai and Kiyomizu both ground out to quickly end the inning

Top 4th
Yamashita now getting ahead in counts and delivering quick innings of his own.

Both Suzuki and Yamanashi get to two strikes and ground out, and while Watanabe gets a base hit, it's another groundout by Kobayashi to end the inining.

Bottom 4th
One down, Kudou drive to deep center!  Suzuki running back, running back...

Makes the leaping catch as he rolls to the wall! Nice play!

Takaki with a drive to center again!  Suzuki running back, and back!

Bails into the wall as it falls in! Takaki running full speed reaches 3rd!  Small chance for Kumamoto Kougyou!

Horita up, works the count full.

Soft liner to right side... Yamanashi makes the shoe string catch for the 3rd out!

Top 5th
Soeda hit in the right elbow to start off the inning. Yuuto bunts him along for Nakamura.

Kouta through trying to shut the door. Nakamura chases a slider away for the 2nd out.

Tanaka though continues to work the count on Kouta. Takes some very close pitches but earns the walk.

Kawakami also taking some close pitches while down 0-2.

He singles through to right! Soeda scores to make it a 3-0 game!

Suzuki strikes out to end the inning, but Sakushin tacks on another run.

Bottom 5th
Watanabe continues to cruise along making short work of the bottom of Kumamoto Kougyou's order.

We hit the break with Sakushin comfortably ahead 3-0.

Top 6th
Watanabe spoils a couple of pitches foul down the 3rd base line, which allows him to straighten out the bat and hit a one out single back up the middle.

After Kobayashi goes fishing, Soeda singles to right.

But Kouta gets Yuuto to swing on a slider and ground to 3rd to 3nd the inning.

Bottom 6th
#15 Shimizu comes in to hit for Sakai, quickly hits a grounder to short! It eats up Kawakmai and Shimizu slides in safely!

Kobari-kantoku pulls Watanabe and puts in Asayama.

And as quickly as he comes in, 2 pitches later, he has 2 outs and Shimizu at 3rd.

Kudou after falling down 0-2 takes 3 really close pitches to fill up the count.

Finally fouls off a couple...

SANSHIN!!!!!

Kudou stops in his tracks as he's punched out on a fastball that Noguchi deems caught the outside edge!

Top 7th
Once again Kouta is back to getting quick outs. After Nakamura and Tanaka are quickly retired, Kawakami takes the first pitch and singles to right. Winds up taking 2nd when Suzuki's throw goes to no one in particular.

But Suzuki flies out to center and the inning is over.

Bottom 7th
Promising start in Kumamoto Kougyou's lucky 7 as Takaki gets his 2nd hit of the day.

Then on the very next pitch, Horita grounds into a 5-4-3 double play.

The inning is completed when Matsushita is caught looking an outside fastball.

Top 8th
Yamanashi opens the frame with a gapper to right center. The defense is in and he's off to the races. Slides into 3rd just to get his jersey dirty.

Starts the work back by getting Asayama to chase a slider for the 1st out.

But the defense of the run fails immediately thereafter. Kobyashi takes the first ball deep to left, one bounding to the wall. He's in with a double and it's 4-0.

Soeda takes a 4-pitch walk.

Kouta retires the next two batters, but it's just a formality now.

Bottom 8th
Asayama racking up the K's as Kumamoto Kougyou perhaps looks to just avoid the shutout. Only Honda avoids the dreaded K with a flyout to left.

Top 9th
Horita makes a great diving stop and throw to rob Tanaka of a base hit.

2 down after Kawakami's flyout, but Kouta still has to finish the inning. Suzuki and Yamashita both collect base hits garnering a conference from Hayashi-kantoku.

After that Kouta strikes out Asayama to end the inning.

Bottom 9th
Yamamoto with a deep fly down the left side, but Kobayashi in foul territory catches it at the fence.

Nishiyama tries to prevent the shutout with a base hit to the left side.

Kudou booms a ball to center, but Suzuki is there with some room to spare.

Takaki grounds to 2nd and the game is over. Sakushin Gakuin in strong performance shutout Kumamoto Kougyou.

A fairly dominating performance as a 2-run HR in the opening frame set the tone while Watanabe and Asayama as they hold Kumamoto to just 5 hits and 6 total baserunners in a combined shutout.

It's unfortunately not pretty for Kumamoto Kougyou, but they can at least say they won a game while at Koushien.

For Sakushin Gakuin, the pitching was more than good enough, with Asayama recording a K/IP. The offense may need a checkup after this game.

Notable Players
Watanabe Yuuma (Sakushin Gakuin) - 5+ IP, 3 H, 2 K, BB
Asayama ? (Sakushin Gakuin) - 4 IP, 2 H, 4 K
Yamashita Yuuto (Sakushin Gakuin) - 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBI
Kawakami Shuugo - 2-4, RBI, HBP
Kobayashi Yuusuke (Sakushin Gakuin) - 2-5, 2 2B, RBI
Takaki Eiji (Kumamoto Kougyou) - 2-2, 3B, BBNishiyama Tenshou (Kumamoto Kougyou) - 1-4

With Naruto moving on to the 2nd round and Shuutoku off the board, the winners from yesterday continue to hold their breath as to who will be left with the Sendai Ikuei-Urawa Gakuin winner.  But for now, we turn our focus to our brunchtime matchup between Koushien regular Sakushin Gakuin and first-timers Sakurai.

Sakurai was the beneficiary of a rare year in Nara. There were hints that it would be a down year in Nara. It wasn't Tenri or Chiben Gakuen representing Nara in Senbatsu, but unknown Yamato Kouryou - who didn't look all that impressive.

Fast-forward to the summer and before you knew it all 3 aforementioned teams would be eliminated leaving an opportunity that all remaining schools would be tripping over themselves to take advantage of.

Sakurai would climb over the masses and be successful, defeating Yamato Kouryou who was the last vestige of the upper tier.

They will be facing a Sakushin Gakuin squad who is now at Natsu Koushien for their 3rd straight year.  Though they had to earn it this time around.  A 1-0 win over Sano Nichidai in the finals, and 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Seiran Taito and advance to Koushien.

Despite the close calls, prefectural strength and experience should give the edge to Sakushin Gakuin.

Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
RF Kobayashi Yuusuke
3B Soeda Shinkai
C Yamashita Yuuto
1B Nakamura Kouichirou
LF Emata Yuusuke (#16)
CF Suzuki Masashi
SS Kawakami Shuugo
2B Yamanashi Kouta
P Watanabe Yuuma

Sakurai (Nara)
SS Sugiyama Kouki
3B Nishiguchi Taiki
RF Okamoto Yuuhei
1B Yokoyama Tomoaki
LF Kinoshita Kunio
P Takeno Kouhei
C Shimada Kouta
CF Kasei Masato
2B Okada Shun

____________________________________________________________

10:55 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Hm.... Not a good start.  Takeno walks Kobayashi on 4 straight, then a passed ball by Shimada puts the runner in scoring position. Fortunately for him, Soeda hits it back to him and he can look the runner back before going to 1st.

Takeno pretty much your average lefty as he climbs the latter on Yamashita for the 2nd out.

But Nakamura hits one to right!  Azuma going back and it's off his glove!  Kobayashi scores to make it 1-0 right of the bat!

Emata with a grounder to short, should end inning, but doesn't!  He short hops it and Yokoyama can't pick it.  Nakamura was heading home all the way and just slides around the tag from Shimada to make it 2-0.

Suzuki flies out to right, but it's not looking good for the Nara representatives.

Bottom 1st
Oh, it isn't looking good at all... Sugiyama and Nishiguchi both go fishing on balls out of the zone for 2 Ks.

Okamoto stays patient at the plate, and eventually works a walk.  Cleanup batter Yokoyama gets it off the end of the bat and bloops one into center.  Okamoto takes 3rd.

So here's a small chance for Sakurai and Kinoshita.

Ah, but Kinoshita is frozen on a fastball inside and the side is retired.

Top 2nd
Takeno looking a little better against the bottom of Sakushin's lineup.  He induces a grounder from Kawakami, and both Yamanashi and Watanabe end up looking a bit silly swinging at air for a much needed 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 2nd
Watanabe has some deliberate delivery there and doesn't throw fast (high 120s-130).  Sakurai perhaps still trying to time him as Takeno grounds out to 3rd.

Shimada booms one down the left side... but just is a bit ahead of it as it lands deep into his ouen-dan.  He goes down swinging for the 2nd out... and Kasai quickly flies out to center after that.

Top 3rd
Back to the top of the order and Takeno in trouble again.  Kobayashi with a deep drive over Okamoto's head and to the wall for a leadoff triple.  Then he plunks Soeda and things might be getting worse.

But a grounder to short but Yamashita is fielded by Sugiyama who holds the runner at 3rd before going to 1st for the out!

Nakamura with a chopper up the first base line, Yokoyama fires home and gets Kobayashi who is going on contact.  Two outs!

Ah!  Takeno is called for a balk in his 3rd/1st fake and that means that Soeda makes it 3-0 Sakushin Gakuin!

Oh... grounder to 2nd by Emata is booted by Okada and everyone's safe...

Things go from bad to worse as Suzuki walks to lead the bases. And it does get worse when Kawakami singles through to right.  2 more runs score to make it 5-0 Sakushin Gakuin...

Yamanashi strikes out to end the inning, but Sakurai risks having the game get out of hand early.

Bottom 3rd
Sakurai trying anything to counter, as they were patient last inning, are attacking now.  Okada though chases an outside fastball for the first out.  Sugiyama and Nishiguchi are retired quickly thereafter to end the inning.

Top 4th
*sighs* Watanabe strikes out, but the ball goes back to the screen and he reaches 1st safely.  Kobayashi then hits a deep double to left and Sakushin threatens again.

Soeda hits a fly to center deep enough to score Watanabe to make it 6-0.  Yamashita and Nakamura are retired thereafter, but Sakurai does look outclassed today.

Bottom 4th
Okamoto with a good eye, works the count yet again and earns a walk. Yokoyama then turns the next pitch around and singles to center.

Well, chance for Sakurai with no outs.

ええええええ？？？？！！！！！！

Kinoshita with a drive to left!  Emata running back... running back to the pole!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's this out of nowhere!  Kinoshita take the hanging fastball and makes a blowout something less so!  It's 6-3!!


And with one down, Shimada singles back up the middle!  Might they have figured out Watanabe?

Ah, well they'll have to wait another inning.  Kasei hits it right back to Watanabe for the 1-6-3 double play.  But at least the deficit is manageable!

Top 5th
Takeno doing his best to keep the deficit at 3.  Emata flies out to left, Takeno gets an assist from Kasei who charges in and makes a diving catch on Suzuki's shallow fly.

Bad luck for Takeno though as a grounder to 2nd from Kawakami takes a high hop over Okada for a base hit.  He then takes 2nd on the Sakurai battery.

But no harm done, Yamanashi grounds to 2nd to retire the side.

Bottom 5th
One down, and Sugiyama loops one over a leaping Yamanashi for a base hit.

Nishiguchi sizing up a buster hit, hits a seeing eye single past Nakamura and Yamanashi for a basehit!  Are they threatening?  Kobari-kantoku not leaving anything to chance calls for time.

Up now is Okamoto who is 0-0 with 2 walks.  With runners in scoring position though he falls behind 0-2...

Grounder up the middle, Yamanashi charging, misses ball, but regroups to at least get the runner out at 2nd.  2 outs now for Yokoyama who is 2-2 on the day.  On deck is Kinoshita who blasted the 3-run HR.

But he's left to watch as Yokoyama flies out to center to end the inning.  Sakurai unable to cut into the lead any further heading into the break. They have cut the lead in half, but the offense still isn't quite clicking...

Top 6th
Watanabe's day is done as #7 Takahashi comes in to bat for him.

Takeno greets him by giving him a free pass to 1B.

Kobari-kantoku continues to keep the game moving as Takahashi takes 2nd with no throw (Shimada drops it on the transfer).

Kobayashi with a hot shot to short.  Ball takes a high hop and hits Sugiyama in the chest.  He gathers himself and fires to first to retire Kobayashi for the first time this game.  Takahashi moves to 3rd.

And odd time to try a waste pitch on a squeeze behind 2-0 because at 3-0 you're going to walk him more often than not (which they do).

Soeda takes 2nd without a throw as perhaps the Sakurai battery has given up on trying to throw runners out?

Well, Yamashita gets his 1st hit - a timely through to left.  Takahashi scores, and Soeda just slides in the 5-hole Shimada leaves and it's now 8-3 Sakushin Gakuin.

Make that 9-3 as Nakamura pulls one deep to right center that goes all the way to the wall for a triple.

That ends the day for Takeno on the mound.  #10 Kaji comes in for Kasei and takes the hill.  Takeno goes to LF and Kinoshita to CF.

Kaji is a side-armer who throws even slower.  PH Tamagawa in for Emata singles to center to make to 10-3.

Kaji does retire the next two batters as Suzuki skies one to 2nd and Kawakami grounds to 2nd.  But the rout is back on again.

Bottom 6th
Tamagawa stays in to play LF, and #10 Asayama comes in for PH Takahashi and takes over on the mound.

With a new pitcher, Sakurai has to start adjusting all over again... and the results speak for themselves.  Kinoshita towering popup to Yamanashi, and both Takeno and Shimada both flail.

Top 7th
Sensing the end, Morishima-kantoku starts emptying the bench.  #12 Ueji comes in to replace Shimada.

One down and Asayama up for his first AB hits one over the head of Yokoyama for a double.

Kobayashi bypasses a chance for the cycle, instead getting his 3rd extra base hit.  Asayama flies around the bases and scores from first.  11-3.

After a Soeda groundout, Yamashita is plunked to bring up Nakamura who promptly ends the inning with a fly to center.

Bottom 7th
Sakurai trying to restart the offense, but 2 groundouts to Kawakami and a laser that's caught by Yamanashi ends the inning.

Top 8th
Kaji almost gets a 1-2-3 inning, but Kawakami spoils it with a single to left.  But he gets Yamanashi to fly out to left thereafter.  I think both teams want to get out of here.

Bottom 8th
Okamoto finally is rewarded for his patience with a base hit, but otherwise the Sakurai offense remains silent.

Top 9th
#11 Azuma replaces Takeno in LF, and #14 Yamamoto replaces Okada at 2B.

Looks like Sakushin Gakuin not done.  Asayama starts off with a walk.  After Kobayashi pops out, PH Tanaka comes in for Soeda and hits an infield single to Sugiyama.  Yamashita bloops one to left to load the bases.

Sakurai not helping things.  Grounder up the first base line is whiffed by Yokoyama and a run scores to make it 12-3.  Tamagawa then gets hit forcing in another run, 13-3.

Suzuki hits a sac fly to right, and it's 14-3.  Kawakami singles past a drawn in infield and it's 15-3.

Kaji hits Yamanashi in the back and it's manrui again.  At least it's not hard throws.

But Sakushin Gakuin has batted around...

Asayama with a hard hit that goes off of Yokyama's glove.  Both he and Yamamoto go for it, and 2 runs score.  17-3.

Mercifully the inning ends when Kobayashi pops out to 2nd.

Bottom 9th
#14 Yoshizawa comes in for PH Tanaka and takes over at 3B.

Morishima emptying the bench.

#16 Sugimoto to hit for Azuma, flies out to center.

#15 Sasaki to hit for Ueji, he singles to right center.  #18 Iguchi runs for him...

#13 Takaya with a single to left center puts runners at 1st and 2nd.

#14 Yamamoto to hit for Okada, grounder to the right side, Yamanashi goes to 2nd, and he throws it away!  Iguchi scores to make it 17-4.

With #17 Tatezumi hitting for Sugiyama, he hits a grounder back up the middle.  Yamanashi turns to 2nd, but then 1st, and all safe!  Takaya scores to make it 17-5.

Nishiguchi to try and keep the momentum, but he grounds into the 6-4 3 double play to end the game.

Well Morishima-kantoku at least was able to get everyone in the game, which for a team that may never see Koushien for a long time, is a nice gesture.

Despite the loss, Sakurai's members before leaving the field, line up near the infield dirt, place their caps down in front of them kneel and bow saying "Arigatou gozaimashita!".  Even their intro was very respectful.  I like that and I'm sorry to seem them routed as such.

Sakushin Gakuin will move on with the win.


Notable Players
Kobayashi Yuusuke (Sakushin Gakuin) - 3-6, 2 2B, 3B, R, RBI
Nakamura Kouichirou (Sakushin Gakuin) - 2-6, 2B, 3B, 4 R, RBI
Kawakami Shuugo (Sakushin Gakuin) - 4-6, R, 3 RBI
Kinoshita Kunio (Sakurai) - 1-3, HR, R, 3 RBI
Okamoto Youhei (Sakurai) - 1-2, 2 BB, R
All the bench players for Sakurai who got in the game and made something of it in the 9th.

Today is our second pair of quarterfinal games.  And while the big names headlined the first day, today the teams that compose the supporting cast will take the field.  It's not to marginalize what they've done.  It's just that right now there are 2 teams that everyone else has to beat.  And it's been the same 2 teams since this spring.

For Sakushin Gakuin, this is getting personal.  They're one step away from a 2nd consecutive Best 4, and now with the draw, one step away from facing Kousei Gakuin - again.

Talk about story lines.  What were the odds that going into the Natsu Koushien qualifying, we would have the possibility of a rematch of last year's semifinal AND a rematch of last spring's final??!!

But first thing's first, they have to get past Toukaidai Koufu to do so.

Toukaidai Koufu is a rather bizarre team.  None of their games so far has gone longer then 100 minutes.

That's right.  Longer.  Don't believe me?

• Round 1 vs. Seiritsu Gakuen - 86 minutes
• Round 2 vs. Ryuukokudai Heian - 98 minutes
• Round 3 vs. Ube Koujyou - 95 minutes

It's unheard of.  You may have one game that takes 2 hours, and in a rare occasion one game last 100 minutes.

But all 3?!

It can't be a coincidence.  But what would be the reasoning behind it?

Well, I mentioned a theory last game, but I think it has to do with throwing off the opponent.

By running a faster paced game, and committing no errors in doing so,  it might make the opposing team play faster (swing at pitches earlier in the count, rush plays on the field, etc.).  And that in turn could cause errors or lapses of judgement.  Which could lead to runs, and a win.  And since their pitching is used to the tempo and used to getting contact, it only quickens the pace.

And that's pretty much what they've done.  Win - to the tune of 3-0, 4-2 and 3-2.

So, how does Sakushin Gakuin counteract that?

Well, if at any point they're feeling rushed on the mound, take extra time between pitches.  If it's while they're batting, call for time more often to slow it down.

Because the team seems like they can hit, though pushing them in for runs at times can be an issue.  And the pair of Tsutsui and Mizunuma don't really strike out or walk anybody either.  Which means they depend on pitch selection and location, and rushing that can only lead to disaster.

The key to the game may the time of the game.  If it's another sub-100 minute game, the odds may in fact lie with Toukaidai Koufu.  If it goes above 100 minutes and is a more normal length, Sakushin may have the advantage.


Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
SS Ishii Kazushige
CF Tsuruta (#7)
RF Shinohara
C Takayama
1B Yamashita (#13)
LF Yoshida (#16)
3B Takashima
2B Yamanashi
P Tsutsui (#10)

Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
SS Watnanabe
CF Saitou Keisuke
LF Yamamoto
C Ishii Shinjirou
1B Akiya
3B Aihara
RF Tanaka (#15)
P Kanbara
2B Shinkai

____________________________________________________________

9:00 - First Pitch

Top 1st
One down, and Tsuruta laces one back up the middle over Kanbara's glove for a base hit.

And now Kanbara walks Shinohara!  Chance early for Sakushin!

But Kanbara gets Takayama to bite on a slider down and away for the 2nd out.  And Yamashita lines out to Takashima for the 3rd out.

Bottom 1st
One down and Keisuke drives one to right!  Shinohara running it down, but it lands at the base of the wall!  Keisuke's in with a double!

Yamamoto lays down the bunt, and Tsutsui and Takashima converge late!  But they're letting it go as it looks to be going foul, still fair, still fair... and it barely goes foul!  Break for Sakushin!

Or is it??!!

Yamamoto drives the next pitch to center!  Tsutruta running back, but he has no chance!  It takes a bounce before hitting the wall!  Keisuke scores easily as Yamamoto slides ahead of the throw for a triple!  1-0 Toukaidai!

Chance now to extend it to 2 runs with cleanup hitter Shinjirou up.  But he pops it up!  Yamashita there for the 2nd out.

And Tsutsui gets out of the inning with minimal damage as Akiya grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.

But still Toukaidai Koufu takes the lead!

Top 2nd
Kanbara is going a bit slower than in prior games, but the Sakushin batters are somewhat complying with the pace.

Yoshida runs the count 2-2 before being frozen on a curve.  Takashima and Yamanashi quickly ground out for a 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 2nd
Toukaidai's batters are working with what they're given.  Aihara takes another outside pitch the other way deep and over the defense again to center-right-center (That's like NNE, in compass terms, I think).

Tanaka bunts him over for Kanbara.

Hit-and-run???!!!!

It's not a sac bunt, but a hit-and-run with a runner on 3rd??!!

Kanbara makes contact and grounds to short.  Kazushige's only play is to 1st and Toukaidai takes a 2-0 lead!

And now Shinkai pulls a line shot to left for a single, and it's obvious that Tsutsui is in a lot of trouble.

Yet #18 Mizumoto who has been warming up, nor #1 Ootani (whom we actually see out for the first time! and is warming up) is being put in.

Watanabe with a line shot right at 3rd!  Takashima can't field it!  It goes out of his glove and goes up the 3rd base line!!  All safe!

Kobari-kantoku calling time as the game is teetering at this point given the error just now and how hard the Toukaidai batters are hitting the ball.

Tsutsui behind Keisuke 3-1, and walks him!  Manrui now for Yamamoto!  Will they change pitchers now?

Doesn't look like it.

But Tsutsui gets out of the jam as Yamamoto hits an easy comebacker to him for the 3rd out.  But Toukaidai has added to their lead.

Top 3rd
#3 Wakui in to hit for Tsutsui.  Looks like they wanted to get a PH in there since they were going to replace him anyways, but that's a big gamble in the bottom of the 2nd.

Wakui goes down swinging though for the first out.

Back to the top of the order and Kazushige and he grounds out to short.

Kanbara back to his quick tempo working the count full on Tsuruta before throwing a ball 55 feet for ball 4.

And Tsuruta takes off for 2nd!  Throw from Shinjirou is high, but Watanabe has time to come down and make the tag for the out!  3 outs!

Bottom 3rd
Well, ace Ootani may have been out there, but it's Mizunuma pressed into early service here in the 3rd.

And Mizunuma immediately shuts the door, getting groundouts from Shinjirou and Aihara sandwiched around a foulout from Akiya for a 1-2-3 inning!

Top 4th
Shinohara with a grounder past Watanabe into center for a base hit!

Takayama follows that up with a ball on the opposite side of 2nd for another base hit!  Runners at 1st and 2nd for Sakushin to start the 4th!

Yamashita showing bunt, but takes to up 3-1.  And still up on the count, Kobari-kantoku has him bunt, which he does successfully.

So it's up to Yoshida and Takashima at the least to drive the runners in.

Yoshida reaches out for a ball way outside!  Up the 3rd base line... FAIR!  Aihara dives, but can't reach the ball as it goes up the left field line!  Shinohara scores!  Takayama being waved around... he scores!  Yoshida with an bailout swing keeps it fair, and more importantly ties the game!  It's 2-2!!

Takashima grounds to 2nd, advancing Yoshida 90 feet.

Yamanashi goes down looking to end the inning, but Sakushin Gakuin has gotten the runs back and we have a new ballgame!

Bottom 4th
Tanaka with a blooper to shallow right, and it falls in between Yamanashi and Shinohara for a base hit!  Kanbara bunts him along looking to get the lead back.

Comebacker to Mizunuma!  He turns to 2nd and has Tanaka caught in between!  He's run down 1-5-6 and there's 2 outs!

Mizunuma gets Watanabe to ground to short to end the inning and Mizunuma continues to put up 0's!

Top 5th
Mizunuma looking to help his own cause lines one into center for a base hit!

Kazushige not bunting as "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah" is being played in the Sakushin oen-dan.  He goes down 0-2 and flies to right.

Tsuruta grounds to 1st.  Akiya tries the 3-6-1 double play, but can't turn the back half of it.

Shinohara goes full on Kanbara and singles the other way to keep the inning going for Takayama.

After going down 0-1, Kobari-kantoku passes a message to Takayama.

Takayama with a soft liner up the middle!  Shinkai is there, but bobbles the ball!  Everyone is safe!

Wait!  Watanabe backing up, fires to 3rd and Tsuruta over ran the base!  He gives up as he's tagged out to end the inning!  What a baserunning blunder!

Bottom 5th
Keisuke with the first real hard hit against Mizunuma, pulling a ball through the gap in right for a leadoff single.

Yamamoto lays down the bunt, but Takashima is crashing in and throws to 2nd to get the lead runner!

Shinjirou gets his hands around an inside fastball and singles to left!  Chance for Toukaidai!

Akiya too just gets his hands around one, and puts one just over a turned around Yamanashi into right!  Runners had to wait on the fly so it's manrui for Aihara.

Shot to 3rd!  Takashima has it pop out of his glove!  Kazushige fields it and makes the play at 1st, but Yamamoto scores to make it 3-2!

Tanaka with another hard ball to the left side!  Takashima dives but can't come up with it!  Shinjirou scores to make it 4-2!!

Kanbara grounds to short to end the inning, but right before the break they retake the 2-run lead!

Top 6th
One down and Yoshida tries to jump start the offense with a blooper over Shinkai into right.

But he can't hit for others as Takashima chases a slider, and Yamanashi grounds to 2nd to quickly end the 6th

Bottom 6th
Defensive change as #14 Asano comes in for Takashima.

Shinkai with a drive to left-center!  Again it's over the defence and one bounds to the wall!  He in with a double!

Watanabe with a great bunt down the 3rd base line.  Mizunuma sliding with his feet near the base line, makes a great throw for the out.  But Toukaidai threatens again.

Keisuke with a single to right! He's 4-4 as now Toukaidai leads 5-2!

Yamamoto with a grounder to short, but Kazushige can't quite backhand it and everyone's safe!

The Toukaidai batters seem to be masters of getting around an inside pitch because Shinjirou hits one off the label and still manages to hit one over Asano into left!

Manrui for Akiya!  Chopper to the left side!  Mizunuma can't get to it!  Kazushige does and fires home, and gets the out. 2 down.

Aihara flies out to left, but Toukaidai Koufu is threatening to pull away once again!

Top 7th
Mizunuma with his 2nd base hit, a bounder past a diving Watanabe.

But he's replaced at fist by Kazushige when he grounds to short.

Wild pitch from Kanbara sends Kazushige to 2nd.  Tsuruta turns on a fastball and singles through to right.  Kazushige advances to 3rd.

Shinohara doesn very little with the outside pitch, othere than shoot it through to left, plating Kazushige and making to 5-3.

Takayama with a ball just out of the reach of Aihara into left!  Tsuruta rounds 3rd and the throw is taken up the line by Shinjirou!  It's 5-4!!

#10 Honda warms up.

Yamashita though contiues to be shutout on the day as he flies to right.

But that brinds up Yoshida who had that 2-run double earlier.  He swings on the first pitch though and grounds to 2nd!  Shinkai retires him at 1st and Toukaidai Koufu holds the lead!

Bottom 7th
Oh!  Here's a surprise!  Ace Ootani enter the game and take the hill!

Tanaka lines one past Kazushige into center!  Leadoff runner on for Toukaidai!

Kanbara lays down the bunt.  Yamashita fields it, goes to 2nd, but throws it away!  Tanaka advances to 3rd and Sakushin Gakuin is in a lot of trouble!

Shinkai with another blooper that finds its way to the outfield for a base hit!  Tanaka scores to make it 6-4!

Watanabe with a ball to center, but Tsuruta is there for the catch.  Runners hold.

Keisuke is finally retired as Ootani strikes him out.  And he finally gets out of the pinch as Yamamoto grounds out to 2nd.

Top 8th
Once again though Sakushin Gakuin finds themselves 2 behind with 2 innings to go.

One down, grounder to short by Yamanashi.  Watanabe one hops the throw and Akiya can't make the pick.

Ootani looks like he gives one a ride, but it's right to Tanaka for out #2.

And Kazushige can only hit a weak comebacker to Kanbara to end the inning.

Bottom 8th
Shunjirou with a drive to left!  Yoshida doesn't even move!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shinjirou almost seals Toukaidai's spot in the Best 4 with a leadoff homerun here in the bottom of the 8th!  7-4!

One down and Aihara hits a shallow fly to center.  Everyone converges, but no one take initiative to get it and it falls in.

Two down and Kanbara drives one to deep center!  Tsuruta running back, dives, but can't get it!  It bounces off the wall as Kanbara has an RBI triple to make it 8-4.

Shinkai strikes out to end the inning, but the book is almost closed on Sakushin Gakuin.

Top 9th
Shinohara gets a one out single to right center, his 4th on the day.

But Takayama grounds into the 1-4-3 double play and the game is over!

Well, what do you know.  The game goes a "pedestrian" 127 minutes and Toukaidai Koufu advances to the Best 4!

That was unexpected.  This game, they didn't go their quick, frenetic pace, and put an 8 spot against last year's semifinalists.  I don't know what to chalk this one up to.

But it was clear early that Sakushin Gakuin was in trouble early as starter Tsutsui was being hard hit.  Things never improved as they had to play catchup the entire game and eventually fell too far behind.  The stage seemed to be all set for a rematch, but unfortunately Tokaidai Koufu got in the way.

As for Toukaidai Koufu, they seemed to prove they could play a "regular" game as well with this performance.  Perhaps they didn't want to exert too much energy with the pace knowing full well they'd have a game tomorrow.  But hat will be the case going forward anyways.

But ti was a dominating performance by the team from Yamanashi.  They reach the semifinals for the 3rd time in school history, and will look to reach the finals for the first time if the can defeat Kousei Gakuin.


Notable Players
Ishii Shinjirou (Toukaidai Koufu) - 3-5, HR, 2 R, RBI
Saitou Keisuke (Toukaidai Koufu)- 3-4, 2B, R, RBI, K
Tanaka Ryuuta (Toukaidai Koufu) - 3-4, R, RBI
Shinohara Yuuta (Sakushin Gakuin) - 4-4, R, RBI, BB
Takayama Ryousuke (Sakushin Gakuin) - 3-5, R, RBI, K
Yoshida Koudai (Sakushin Gakuin)- 2-4, 2B, K