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Showing posts with label Sano Nichidai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sano Nichidai. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

86th Senbatsu - Day 11 - Semifinal 2 - Sano Nichidai (Tochigi) vs. Ryuukokudai Heian (Kyoto)

Things are always what they seem, it seems... so perhaps this matchup isn't what I think it is.

I say that because Ryuukokudai Heian looked rather average against Kiryuu Dai-ichi - a team that had played 24 innings over the last 2 days.  They started a "relief" pitcher as it were, and from all indications Heian should have dominated.

But perhaps they let their guard down, or looked past them in some way, because Kiryuu came out swinging and put the title contender on their heels.  Give credit to them, they didn't panic, continued to play their own game - which was putting pressure on the basepaths, and the plan worked beautifully as Kiryuu finally had to go to the ace who had gone the aforementioned 24 innings.

Sano Nichidai was given a gift by Meitoku Gijyuku.  Mabuchi-kantoku wanted to play the same-handed matchup so much, he intentionally walked a batter with 3rd base open to do so.  He had tried it in the 7th and it worked out - but not for the reasons perhaps that he thought, but this was a bridge way, way too far to cross.  At some point you have to believe that your team is good enough to get an out.  Instead, Meitoku gave up 2 runs in the 11th, and that pretty much sent them home.

The bigger issue is that Tajima allowed Meitoku to even get back in the game.  They're not a high-scoring squad, but somehow strung 5 consecutive hits to score 4 runs and take the lead.  It's its a symptom of his mentality, then Sano Nichidai had better give him the lead, or else they could be in trouble.

Ryuukokudai Heian still looks like the stronger team, but the shine has been dulled a bit.  An all-Kinki final is at stake if they can win, but Sano Nichidai stands in the way.

Sano Nichidai (Tochigi)
SS Takemura Ritsuki
CF Nagasawa Yoshitaka
2B Yoshida Toshiki
LF Inaba Kousei
RF Koizumi Keita
1B Tamura Kaito
3B Kakizawa Fumiya
P Tajima Daiki
C Sagawa Shou

Ryuukokudai Heian (Kyoto)
CF Tokumoto Kentarou
RF Ootani Tsukasa
2B Himeno Taisei
1B Kawai Taisei
LF Nakaguchi Daichi
3B Tsune Hitoshi
SS Ishikawa Takuya
C Takahashi Yuuya
P Takahashi Keiji (#10)

____________________________________________________________

14:35 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Harada-kantoku alternating back to Keiji for the semifinals.

Takemura grounder to 2nd to start the game.  Himeno on the grass throws to 1st for the out.

But he can't get Nagasawa's ball as it goes to right for a base hit.

AHHHH!!!  Nagasawa picked off at 1st by Keiji!  2 down!

And that's a shame because Yoshida singles through short.

And so does Inaba!  It could have been manrui 1 out.

Instead, Koizumi fouls out to Tamura and that's the inning.

Bottom 1st
Tajima unexpectedly on to start the game.  Tokumoto flies out to right, and Ootani grounds to 2nd.

But on his 2nd full count of the game, he just comes too far inside of Himeno and walks him.

And of course I jinx Tajima.  He falls behind Kawai 3-1 before filling up the count.

And then he hits him on the head with an offspeed pitch.  Guess I spoke too soon.

Nakaguchi though pops it up!  Tamura makes the catch and the 2-out chance goes for naught.

Top 2nd
Keiji struggling with command?  He hits Tamura to start the 2nd inning.  And while Kakizawa is showing bunt, Keiji throws 3 balls...

And walks him!!  Uh oh.  #1 Nakata Ryuuji is warming up, but his longest outing is 1 inning.  Will he be called into long relief?

Tajima up, tries to bunt, but fouls the first offering off.  Fouls the second off and it looks like he's going to have to hit now.

Grounder to 2nd!  Himeno goes to 2nd, one, goes to 1st, double play!

No wait!  No neighborhood call for Ishikawa!  Kakizawa is safe at first, and it's a 4-6-3 retirement of Tajima.  Now a Sagawa base hit can score 2!

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

Matsumoto-kantoku calls for the squeeze on 2-2, but the pitch is high and Sagawa bunts it foul!  2 down for Nichidai!

Takemura up to try and give Nichidai the early lead.  Works the count full..

Ball 4!  Takemura holds off on a very borderline pitch and gets the walk!  Manrui for Nichidai!

But Nagasawa swings on the first pitch and grounds to Kawai!  He goes to the bag for the 3rd out, and Sano Nichidai is kind of getting in it's own way to start...

Bottom 2nd
Tajima hits his 2nd batter, this time the feet of Tsune.

Ishikawa to bunt, misses on the low offering, and Sagawa fires to 1st?

They pick off Tsune off 1st! He gets caught jumping the wrong way when Ishikawa misses the bunt and is picked off!  A rare unforced error by Heian on the basepaths!

And that proves costly as Ishikawa drives a ball to deep left center!!  Nagasawa chasing it back to the wall...

Bounces off the padding!  It goes back into play, but not before Ishikawa has a double!

Yuuya with a looper over Yoshida for a base hit!  Ishikawa comes home as Koizumi fires it back!  It's way late, and that allows Yuuya to advance to 2nd! 1-0 Heian!

Keiji goes down quickly for 2 outs.  Tajima trying to limit the damage.

He gets ahead of Tokumoto 1-2, before he starts fouling off a couple.

Drive to right.  Koizumi going towards the foul pole, still going... まさか!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tokumoto with a 2-run HR to right!  Heian showing the power this time around takes a 3-0 lead!!

Ootani with a soft liner to short ends the inning, but Heian again making the opposition crack under pressure!

Top 3rd
Of course Heian makes it a little tough on themselves.

One down, Inaba hits a slow bounder up the 3rd base line.  Tsune charging in, can't time the hop and Inaba reaches safely!  Base hit for Inaba.

And now Keiji hits Koizumi!  Keiji giving Nichidai an opportunity to get back in the game!

But Tamura goes after the first pitch and grounds to short.  It's a slow roller so Himeno elects to just go to 2nd to keep the force.

It's not needed as Kakizawa flies out to left to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd
Tajima once again gets 2 quick out and looks for a clean inning.

Nakaguchi making that difficult as he works the count full.  Hits scorcher to 3rd.  Kakizawa smothers it!  Throw to 1st, in time to retire the side! Tajima gets his clean inning!

Top 4th
Keiji though, does the same against the 9-1-2 batters of Nichidai and he may have settled down after the first couple of innings.

Bottom 4th
Tsune grounder to short.  Takemura there, but he doesn't field it cleanly!  E6 and Heian gets another runner.

Ishikawa with the bunt, but it's right to Tajima!  He goes to 2nd for 1, Takeumra to 1st, double play!

Tajima about to skate through an inning 1-2-3, but then hits Yuuya on the first pitch.

Fortunately Keiji is not a good batter, and he strikes out to end the inning.

Top 5th
Keiji has settled down into his groove, and despite Inaba's 3rd hit, he gets his 3 outs with no issue.

Bottom 5th
One down for Ootani and he hits a single through short.

Harada-kantoku puts on the hit-and-run, and Himeno hits a seeing-eye single back up the middle for a base hit!  Ootani advances to 3rd.

Kawai with a single through the right side!

Ootani scores!  Throw home not in time, but they have Kawi caught off 1st!  They start the rundown and tag him out!  Himeno meanwhile takes off for home!  Throw back home...

In time, double play!!

It a 9-2-3-6-2 double play! I think.  Either way, Heian with some weird running decisions after last game, but they do have the lead going into the break.

Top 6th
One down for Nichidai and Kakizawa lines a ball into center.  Keiji follows that up by hitting Tajima and giving Nichidai a good scoring opportunity.

Tajima though feels generous, and proceeds to get himself picked off 1st.

Which is a big shame because Sagawa then singles to left, scoring Kakizawa to make it 4-1.

Takemura flies out to end the inning, but Nichidai isn't doing themselves any favors.

Bottom 6th
Unlike the majority of the other innings, Tajima gets a break in the 6th as it takes just 9 pitches to retire the side in order.

Top 7th
Nagasawa with hard grounder to 2nd.  Himeno doesn't field it cleanly, but his throw to 1st just beats a diving Nagasawa.

And so it continues to go with Sano Nichidai.  Unforced errors costing them over and over.  Yoshida and Inaba are retired thereafter and it looks pretty grim for Sano Nichidai.

Bottom 7th
Yet another error from Nichidai.  Kakizawa with plenty of time on the Yuuya grounder, airmails the throw to 1st and Yuuya is safe.  Keiji bunts him to 2nd.

Tokumoto actually shows bunt?!  And fouls it off?

"Aha ha, just kidding", he says apparently.  He lines a ball down the right field line fair, and hustles all the way to 3rd.  Yuuya can trot home and it's 5-1.

Ootani continues the hitting with a liner over Kakizawa's glove down the left field line.  He's in with an RBI double and it's 6-1.  Matsumoto-kantoku calling time, but I wonder what he can do at this point.

Tajima gets the final 2 outs, but Sano Nichidai is down 5 with just 2 innings to go.

Top 8th
Koizumi gets himself out diving into first in a foot race with a covering Keiji.  But outside of a 2-out hit by Kakizawa, Keiji is easily cruising along.

Bottom 8th
Things just falling apart now for Sano Nichidai.

After a one-out Tsune single, Ishikawa singles back up the middle.  Tsune goes to take 3rd, and the throw goes into the dugout.  It's a 2-base error and Tsune scores to make it 7-1.

Yuuya sac fly to center makes it an 8-1 game before Keiji grounds out to end the inning.

Top 9th
It's pretty much a formality at this point.  Sagawa thought, fighting until the end, gets a leadoff single.

But it's wiped out by a 1-6-3 double play.  Quickly 2 down.  Nagasawa grounder to 1st.  Tamura makes the tag on the diving Nagasawa and that's the game!

We will have an all-Kinki final with Ryuukokudai Heian's 8-1 victory over Sano Nichidai!

Sano Nichidai had a great run, but it ends here at the hands of the Kinki champions who continue to show different aspects of their game - speed in one, power in another.  And no team outside of surprisingly enough Kiryuu Dai-ichi has been able to give them trouble.  And with Harada's management of the pitching staff, they look to be in good position in the final.

Notable Players
Takahashi Keiji (Ryuukokudai Heian) - CG, ER, 9 H, 4 K, 2 BB, 3 HBP
Tokumoto Kentarou (Ryuukokudai Heian) - 2-4, 3B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
Ootani Tsukasa (Ryuukokudai Heian) - 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
Ishikwa Takuya (Ryuukokudai Heian) - 2-4, 2B, 2 R
Tajima Daiki (Ryuukokudai Heian) - 8 IP, 5 ER, 10 H, 3 K, 1 BB, 3 HBP
Inaba Kousei (Sano Nichdai) - 3-4
Kakizawa Fumiya (Sano Nichidai) - 2-3, R, BB
Sagawa Shou (Sano Nichidai) - 2-4, RBI

Monday, March 31, 2014

86th Senbatsu - Day 10 - Quarterfinal 3 - Sano Nichidai (Tochigi) vs. Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)

Meitoku Gijyuku as expected has reached the Best 8 with still a chance to win senbatsu. However, their road has perhaps been too rough for them to finish the race.

Ace Jyunichirou Kishi, already under stress from his weak offense, had to survive 15 innings against Chiben Wakayama.  That one game has already had implications as in their last game versus Kanto Dai-ichi as he did not look as sharp - despite the fact they still went on to win the game.  They day off they were supposed to get, they got yesterday, so it'll be 27+ innings for Kishi going forward to win.  He may win this one, but it doesn't look like he'll hold out.

Sano Nichidai's first big test in Chiben Gakuen almost ended in disaster.  Out to a 4-1 lead, unforced errors allowed Chiben to get back into the game and force enchousen.  They pulled it out in 10, but those mental errors will prove costly.  In addition, their offense hasn't been all too impressive either, which may be a relief to Kishi.

The saving grace is ace Tajima who has looked more than serviceable in his 2 games.  There was the hiccup late against Chiben Gakuen, so perhaps stamina might come into play though like Kishi the day off should help.

Sano Nichidai (Tochigi)
SS Takemura Ritsuki
CF Nagasawa Yoshitaka
2B Yoshida Toshiki
LF Inaba Kousei
RF Koizumi Keita
1B Tamura Kaito
3B Kakizawa Fumiya
P Tajima Daiki
C Sagawa Shou

Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi)
3B Ozaki Yuuto
RF Sanada Kazuto
LF Tada Tougo
1B Nishioka Souta (#11)
P Kishi Jyuunichirou
SS Yasuda Takayuki
2B Mori Shouma
C Mizuno Katsuya (#13)
CF Ootani Yuuki

____________________________________________________________

13:15 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Before the siren can even finish, Takemura hits a single into center!  Nagasawa bunts him over.

Yoshida with hit to right, the ball gets by Sanada and goes to the wall!  Takemura already in, but Yoshida advances to 3rd on the error!! 1-0 Sano Nichidai!

Mabuchi-kantoku calls for time.

Inaba up to tack on another run, but his fly to left is too short!  Yoshida holds up.

Koizumi flies out to left to end the inning, but a couple of base hits give Sano Nichidai the early lead!

Bottom 1st
Grounder to short from Ozaki, Takemura fumbles with the ball, his throw to 1st is high but Tamura makes the tag!

Ah.. but he's hurt.  He may have landed funny and is taken off for treatment.  It's taking quite a while too, might have been really serious...

It's also really quiet in the stadium right now...

And he emerges to take his position!  But how will his mobility be?

More importantly, the break may have affected Tajima a bit as he walks Sanada.

Tada pops up a short bunt that falls in.  Tajima goes to 1st to just get Tada for the 2nd out.  Meitoku will play for 1.

Nishoka with a slider to left center!  Sanada rounds 3rd and will easily score to tie the game at 1-1!

Kishi gets grazed by Tajima and the 2-out rally continues.  I think we have the home plate umpire that will call go-arounds and HBP easily.

Tajima gets Yasuda to hit one off the end of his bat back to him.  Goes to 1st for the 3rd out, but we're back level.

Top 2nd
One down for Nichidai and Kakizawa gets one off the end of his bat, but pokes it to left center for a base hit.

Tajima shows bunt early in the AB, but is hitting after the count hits 2 strikes.

It's a hit and run, but Tajima just kind of dumps it to Kishi.  It's pretty much a bunt as Tajima is retired.

Sagawa working the count on Kishi, runs it full... and hits a ball to right center!  Ootani has no chance at it as Kakizawa comes around to score on the double!  Sano Nichidai retakes the lead at 2-1!

Takemura tries to poke a ball for a base hit, but flies out to Tada for the 3rd out.  Considering that Kishi has given up a run in each of the first 2 innings he does not to appear to be 100% stamina-wise.

Bottom 2nd
And this is Meitoku's problem.  If they get into a scoring affair with Sano Nichidai, they will lose as their offense is not capable of scoring a lot of runs.

And as the bottom of the order goes down in order with little resistance, Kishi needs to draw the line and soon.

Top 3rd
It's not necessarily that Kishi is leaving pitches in the zone.  They're just hittable.

One down and Yoshida takes it the other way, just out of the reach of Ozaki for a single.

Hit-and run!  Kishi this time leaves it over and Inaba hits a hard grounder to the left side!  Yasuda sprinting over, and it's off his glove!  He has to chase it down as Yoshida takes 3rd!  Nichidai threatening again!

Koizumi with yet another fly to left, but it's too shallow and Yoshida has to hold.

Tamura with a grounder to the right side, but a diving Nishoka can't get to it!  Yoshida scores and it's 3-1 Sano Nichidai!

Kakizawa with another groudner to the right side, Mori going over, slides... and doesn't come up with it!  Inaba scores and it's 4-1!

Kishi finally gets out of the inning, but it's only because Ozaki fielded the hot grounder from Tajima and could just step on the bag at 3rd for the out.

Kishi's speed doesn't look too terrible, but he was already looking a bit out of sorts in the prior game, and it's just worse here...

Bottom 3rd
That and they don't really have the offense to play a barnburner game like this might be headed towards.

Still, Tajima doesn't attack the batters and walks Sanada to lead off the inning.  Tada tries to bunt, but Kakizawa comes up with it quickly and fires to 2nd to get the lead runner.

Mabuchi-kantoku goes for the hit and run instead, but Nishoka can only advance the runner with a groundout to 3rd.  A pop up by Kishi ends the inning.

Top 4th
One down for Sano Nichidai and they get yet another runner as Takaemura singles to center.

This time around though, Kishi retires both Nagasawa and Yoshida (who had been 2-2) and gets his first bagel of the game.

Bottom 4th
Meitoku continues to have issues at the dish.  Mori's fly out to to right get sandwiched by Tajima's first 2 K's of the game for his first 1-2-3 inning.

Top 5th
Sano Nichidai's batters suddenly change tack as both Inaba and Koizumi both swing early and are retired.  Tamura's flyout to center makes it a 7 pitch inning.

Bottom 5th
Ootani searching to get on base, swings early in the count and grounds to short.  Tajima has had his moments, but he looks better this game than in his last.

Ozaki hits a hard liner right at Tamura for the 2nd out... and Sanada looks befuddled as Sagawa's pitch frame goes back over the plate on a ball down the middle for strike 3.  Another victim of changing location after the batter takes a peek down to see where they're going with the pitch.

And so we hit the break with Sano Nichidai holding onto that early 4-1 lead.  Meitoku will be hard pressed to find a way to score 3 runs given their offense, and while Kishi has leveled off from his poor start, there's no guarantee he can hold on for the whole game.

Top 6th
Kishi has indeed settled down with yet another short inning of routine stuff.  Kakizawa grounds out to short, Tajima strikes out swinging and Sagawa hits a lazy fly to left in a grand total of 9 pitches.  He's keeping his team in it, but it may be too late.

Bottom 6th
Tada with a chopper to short, Takemura has to wait for the hop, but his throw to 1st beats a diving Tada for the out.

Nishioka comes back and lines a ball to right for a base hit.  Kishi follows that up whipping the bat around and shoots a ball through the left side for a base hit.

And now Yasuda with a grounder through the right side!  Nishoka holds at 3rd and it's manrui for Meitoku!  Where did this come from?  Matsumoto-kantoku calls time.

Mori with a single through the left side!  Everyone advances a station and it's 4-2!

Now 5 straight hits from Meitoku!!  Mizuno with a ball to right center!  Kishi scores!  Yasuda coming around, he scores!! WE'RE TIED UP AT 4-4!! WTF?!

Matsumoto-kantoku calling time again, as I'm sure he's as shocked as I am about Meitoku's explosion at the plate.

Ootani grounder to short!  Takemura goes to 2nd for 1, throw to first... not in time!!!  Ootani's slide beats out the throw and that means Mori scores from 3rd to give Meitoku the 5-4 lead!!

Ozaki flies out to right to end the inning, but out of nowhere Meitoku has put a big inning together and not only closed the deficit, but taken the lead!!

Top 7th
Now can Sano Nichidai play from behind?  Top of the order due up.

Takemura fly ball to left, Tada slips!  He gets back up and charges in making the running catch.  But afterwards #3 Oonishi comes out to replace him at LF.

But Nagasawa drives a ball to left center!  Ootani runs it down but not before Nagasawa has a double!

And now Mabuchi-kantoku intentionally walks Yoshida??  I can understand if it's the 9th, but here in the 7th?

DOUBLE STEAL!!!

Mizuno fires to 3rd, but Nagasawa slides in time and the walk backfires as there are 2 runners in scoring position now for Inaba!

Kishi still fighting though, gets the count to 2-2...  but they it goes full after a pitchout.

Flyball to left!  Oonishi with it and Nagasawa comes home!  Throw in is up the first base line and Mizuno's tag isn't in time!  We're back tied at 5-5!!

Mabuchi-kantoku calls time again as Koizumi steps in.

Count at 2-2, Mizuno goes out to talk with Kishi and it's a rather long chat.

They try to go inside to Koizumi, but it's just too much inside.

They double up and Koizumi hits one to center!  But it hands up and Ootani tracks it for the 3rd out.  The intentional walk was still a bit questionable, but regardless we're tied up again!

Bottom 7th
It looks like Meitoku is back to normal after that power inning.  Sanada grounds back to Tajima, new LF Oonishi can't check his swing, and Nishoka just flat out misses the ball to end the inning.

Top 8th
So if Meitoku's offense is back to normal, and the game is tied, Kishi cannot afford to give up another run.

Tamura with a liner to center!  Ootani late going back, leaps!  And makes the great contorting catch!  Not sure how he did that, but he makes the desperate leaping catch!

More defensive work as Ozaki smothers a hot shot from Kakizawa and makes the strong throw to 1st for the out.

And Tajima challenges Ootani again with a shallow ball to center, but he's up for it as well, making the diving catch to end the inning.

Bottom 8th
Not the best time for Tajima to lose the strike zone... he walks Kishi to lead off the inning!  Yasuda bunts him over for Mori.  Can he deliver the go-ahead shot?

Chopper to 3rd. Kakizawa with it, looks Kishi back and goes to 1st for the 2nd out!  It'll be up to Mizuno to drive in the run now.

Mizuno pops it up!  Sagawa going near his dugout, makes the catch!!  And tumbles into his dugout!  He holds up the glove with the ball, and the side is retired.  He also looks to be ok, which is good considering that was a good spill he had there.

Top 9th
Sadly Sagawa can't turn that into something at the plate as he grounds to short.

Back to the top of the lineup and Takemura, down 0-2, fouls off several balls before he can inside out one to left for a base hit.

Nagasawa butns the ball, Kishi slips while fielding the ball, throw to 1st.. SAFE!!!  Nagasawa slides in ahead of the throw and now Kishi is in a pinch!

This with Yoshida up to bat!

Kishi jams him!  It's a grounder to 1st.  Nishioka's only play is to 1st and they go ahead run is 90 feet away!

But Inaba pops it up!  Mori secures the ball and the side is retired!

Bottom 9th
Can Meitoku avoid another enchousen game?

#9 batter Ootani leads off the inning, but goes down swinging on the slider.  Back to the top of the order and Ozaki.

But Ozaki extends out to hit an outside pitch and flies out to Koizumi for the 2nd out.

Down to Sanada to keep the inning going.  They really can't afford to have it go to extras.

SANSHIN!!  Tajima's pitch supposedly catches the outside edge and we are indeed headed to enchousen!

Top 10th
Kishi will have to make the best of it.  He gives the outside forkball to Koizumi and he chases it.

After Mori takes a trip to the outfield to make a catch, Kishi collects yet another K as his slider is waved at my Kakizawa.

Bottom 10th
Apparently Oonishi isn't much of a hitter as he tries the safety bunt to get on base.  Doesn't quite work.

Nishioka with a hard shot goes into right for a base hit!

Kishi with a ball to the gap in short, and Takemura playing to his left, has to scramble over to get it.  Makes the sliding grab, but has no play!  Matsumoto-kantoku calls time.

What's this??  Yasuda singles to center!  Nishioka has to hold at 3rd, but it's manrui with just 1 out!

Mori gets extra instructions before heading up to bat.  Any decent fly could end this.

Goes after the first pitch, fouls it off!

Grounder up middle!!!  Takemura goes towards 2nd, dives... makes the stop!  Steps on 2nd, throw to 1st... IN TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Takemura saves the game with the 6-3 double play to end the inning!!!

Top 11th
Can Sano Nichidai turn that momentum into a run?

One down for Nichidai, and Sagawa singles to right center!  Mabuchi-kantoku calls time as Nagasawa steps in.

AH!!!  Kishi hits Nagasawa to bring up Yoshida!!

They're being extra careful with him, but do you really want to walk him?  Count goes to 2-0...

3-0! Are they really?? They are!!  They walk him to go after Inaba!!  This despite the fact it loads the bases!

But Kishi goes after him and he's quickly up 0-2.  After a pitchout, they try the slider but he doesn't bite!

Slow chopper to the left side!  Yasuda has it, but has no throw!  Sagawa scores and the strategy blows up in Mabuchi-kantoku's face!

Koizumi with a single to left!  Nagasawa scores!  Yoshida sent home!  Throw from Oonishi... in time to get Yoshida!

But 2 runs score on a backfired strategy and Meitoku will have to scramble to get back into the game.

Bottom 11th
Which is something they're not really accustomed to doing, despite the 4-run 6th.

Mizuno grounds out to 3rd... So does PH #14 Takahashi.

Already down to Ozaki... and he hits a fly to center!  Nagasawa over to field it... Game set!  Sano Nichidai wins in 11 7-5!

But perhaps instead of the fact that Kishi had to play another extra inning game, or that the offense somehow found a way to get back in the game, the focus and deserved criticism will be placed on Mabuchi-kantoku who decided with 3rd base "open" to walk Yoshida for the 2nd time to face Inaba in a same-handed matchup.  That plan backfired and cost his team the game.

Surely there comes a point where you can manage to give your team the best ability to get out of the inning, but walking to put the go-ahead run on 3rd base - even with 2 outs - is just plain mismanagement.

About the only good thing about this is that Kishi doesn't have to throw anymore.

For Sano Nichidai, they find themselves fortunate to advance despite blowing a 3-run lead.  Needless to say, despite falling into the doldrums of the middle innings, they woke up late and did what was necessary to win the game.  They may have trouble in the semifinals as the pitching is still suspect, but they can rejoice in the face that I believe this is their first time ever in the Best 4 of any Koushien.

Notable Players
Tajima Daiki (Sano Nichidai) - 11 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 7 K, 3 BB, 2 HBP
Inaba Kousei (Sano Nichidai) - 2-5, R, 2 RBI
Yoshida Toshiki (Sano Nichidai) - 2-4, R, RBI, SB, 2 IBB
Kishi Jyunichirou (Meitoku Giyuku) - 11 IP, 7 ER, 15 H, 3 K, BB, 2 IBB
Nishioka Souta (Meitoku Giyuku) - 3-5, R, RBI
Kishi Jyunichirou (Meitoku Giyuku) - 2-3, R, BB, HBP
Mizuno Katsuya (Meitoku Giyuku) - 1-5, 2 RBI

Friday, March 28, 2014

86th Senbatsu - Day 7 - Game 3 - Chiben Gakuen (Nara) vs. Sano Nichidai (Tochigi)

Our final game of the day is Sano Nichidai versus Chiben Gakuen.  Sano Nichidai faced a Chinzei squad bereft of offense, so when they scored 2 runs in the 5th it would be more than enough to advance.  Tajima had 12 Ks but you have to adjust that based upon the competition.

Chiben Gakuen easily dispatched a Mie team that I had high hopes for - especially after the performance of Toyokawa.  Offensively, they pretty much took apart Mie right from the beginning and looked rather impressive, especially with 2 HRs from Okamoto.  Oda wasn't dominating by any means, and he did give up some big hits to Mie, which could be an issue.

Chiben Gakuen (Nara)
RF Hirooka Taishi
CF Oonishi Ryouta
1B Okamoto Kazuma (#5)
SS Yoshioka Fumiuya (#6)
LF Takaoka Yuuichi
2B Iwata Taku
C Yoshida Takaaki
3B Shimizu Seiya (#15)
P Oda Kyouhei

Sano Nichidai (Tochigi)
CF Nagasawa Yoshitaka
SS Takemura Ritsuki
2B Yoshida Toshiki
LF Inaba Kousei
P Tajima Daiki
3B Kakizawa Fumiya
RF Koizumi Keita
1B Tamura Kaito
C Sagawa Shou
____________________________________________________________

14:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1
Before the siren can wind down, Hirooka swings on the first pitch slider and grounds to 3rd.

Heavy diet of slider from Tajima to start as Ryouta grounds one to 2nd.  Okamoto goes after one too and hits one to left.  Inaba, already playing back goes near the fence to make the catch for the 3rd out.

Bottom 1st
One down for Sano Nichidai and Takemura goes down to hit the forkball dropping it in shallow left center for a base hit.

Toshiki with a drive to left center!  Takaoka has to chase it back to the wall!  Takemura rounding 3rd, given the green light!  He scores, but the cutoff throw goes to 3rd where Toshiki gets too aggressive and is easily thrown out.

Inaba pops out to Iwata on the grass behind 2nd for the 3rd out.  Sano Nichidai gets 1, but a base running error prevents more.

Top 2nd
Yoshioka looks to get Chiben back on track, lines a ball to center for a base hit.  Takaoka fails to bunt the runner over, looks to swing away, but ends up watching a fastball hit the outside corner for the 1st out.

Iwata with a hot shot to 1st, Tamura has it right at the bag for the out.  And the inning is over just like that when Takaaki grounds right to 3rd.  Kakizawa blocks it in front of him and he makes the throw in time for the out.

Bottom 2nd
Oda getting back on track after the first, striking out Tajima with a fastball outside, and then inducing two towering pop flies to the outfield.

Top 3rd
Tajima really on his game early.  While the counts to run deep on Shimzu and Oda, he blows the fastball by both of them to register his 2nd and 3rd Ks.  He completes the clean inning as Hirooka grounds to 3rd.

Bottom 3rd
On the other side, Oda issues his first walk to Tamura.  Sagawa doing the buster hitting for the first two strikes, but now a 2 strikes he shows bunt and yet manages to go from 1-2 to a full count!  He then three bunts and fouls out.  That made no sense.

Back to the top of the order and Nagasawa.  At 2 strikes, he punches pitch after pitch the other way until he gets one he likes and lines it past Yoshioka for a base hit.

Tamura showing bunt with 1 down?  Takes a couple before finally swinging away.  Hits a ball to short, and Yoshioka elects to get the lead runner at 3rd.  Makes sense if you can't turn 2 (which I don't think they could have).

Quick timeout from Kosaka-kantoku.

Oda gets himself out of the jam as Toshiki grounds to 2nd.

Top 4th
By far Sano Nichidai has the advantage with the sticks right now, but that was to be expected given the aces for both squads.  Generally, Tajima is working ahead of the batters and making them work.

Of course I say that and Ryouta lines a ball to right.  He's flying around 1st and reaches 2nd on what would normally be a single!

But with the double, 1st base is open, and I think Tajima knows it.  He's giving Okamoto nothing to hit, falling behind 2-1.

So Ryouta takes it into his own hands!  He takes off for 3rd and easily beats the throw!  Man he's fast.

Also, Okamoto would like to hit, so he sheepishly swings at ball 4 to fill the count.

Tajima obliges!  He throws the slider and Okamoto swings and misses! 1 out!

AH!  Sagawa just completely misses on the 2-1 pitch and Ryouta can just walk home!  That was a very lackadaisical attempt by Sagawa and it costs them a run!  1-1!

What's more, Tajima walks Yoshioka putting the gyakuten runner on base.  Takaoka bunts him over for Iwata.  But he grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.

Still, the passed ball by Sagawa ties up the game!

Bottom 4th
Inaba with the leadoff single past a diving Yoshioka into left.  Tajima with the bunt, and Shimizu can't glove the ball!  Everyone's safe!

Kakizawa lays down his bunt and now both runners are in scoring position for Koizumi.

Koizumi inside-outs a ball and bloops it to left!  Takaoka charging, but he can't get there!  Inaba scores to make it 2-1!

あ。

Tamura with a blast to right center!  There's no way the fielders are going to get to that!  Tajima scores, Koizumi reaching 3rd being waved in!  Throw in goes to 3rd where they get Tamura trying to stretch it out to a triple.  I'll forgive that one since it was to RF.  But his base hit gives Sano Nichidai the 4-1 lead!

Fortunate for Oda as Sagawa singles to left.  However, he limits the damage as he retires Nagasawa to end the inning.  Still, he's being knocked around and may not be long for this game.

Top 5th
In fact, being due up 3rd, he may not get an AB.

Takaaki goes down looking on a cut fastball?  It looked like a fastball but was 10 kph slower.

After a groundout by Shimizu, it is indeed the end of Oda's day.  #16 Nakanishi pinch hits for him.  But he can do no better also grounding out to short.

Bottom 5th
#18 Uranaka comes in for PH Nakanishi to take the hill.

Uranaka doesn't particularly throw very hard, but he fools Takemura on the forkball for the first out.

Toshiki gets the bat around on the inside pitch, but he flies out to right.  Today is the first day I can recall where the wind is blowing normally from right to left field.

It's a clean first inning for Uranaka thanks to an assist from Hirooka!  Popup from Inaba, Hirooka charging in toward the foul line, makes the sliding catch!

As perhaps expected, Oda had troubles with the Sano Nichidai lineup and as a result his squad finds themselves behind against a fairly strong ace in Tajima.

Top 6th
Hirooka gets around on the inside fastball and drives it to left center!  Nagasawa chases it down at the wall and it's a leadoff double!  Ryouta moves him over with a grounder to 2nd, bringing up Okamoto.

Tajima goes after him, getting Okamoto to chase 2 consecutive sliders.  He at least holds up on the 3rd one, and just foul tips the 4th one.  Tajima misses wide to fill up the count.

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

Tajima fires the gas on the inside half and Okamoto doesn't even move the bat! 2 out!

Ball back to Tajima!  He fumbles it a bit, but throws it to first. AHHHHH!!!

Tajima throws it into the ground and Tamura can't field it!  Tajima's unforced error gives Chiben Gakuen some life! It's 4-2!

Yoshida makes a diving catch on the short pop from Takaoka, but there's still plenty of time with the deficit sitting at 2.

Bottom 6th
With Uranaka's slower pitching, Sano's bats are just a step ahead of where they should be.  Tajima and Kakizawa both roll grounders to Yoshioka.

Koizumi finds the speed just fine and grounds a ball back up the middle.  Iwata keeps it in front of him, but can do no more.

Tamura continues the bigger trend though and pulls one to 2nd.  Iwata goes the short way for the 3rd out.

Top 7th
Despite hitting Shimizu with 2 outs, Tajima continues to make batters pound the ball into the ground.  All 3 outs recorded were via the groundball.

Bottom 7th
Last batter Sagawa gets hit on the hand truing to lead out of the pitch.  Nagasawa bunts him along.

Now 2 down, Uranaka doesn't want anything to do with Toshiki and walks him on 4 straight.  That works as Inaba pops out to Iwata behind 2nd for the 3rd out.

Top 8th
After falling behind to Hirooka, he throws 3 sraight strikes, the last hit to short.

Ryouta gets to wreak havoc on the basepaths as he pokes a ball to left for a base hit.

Okamoto shot to short, and Takemura overruns the ball and can't make the grab!  It trickles into center as Ryouta heads to 3rd!  Chance for Chiben with 1 down!

Yoshioka opens the door!  First pitch single through the left side and the score is now 4-3, with still only 1 down!

Takaoka with a ball up the first base line, あああああああ!!!!

Takaoka, running to field the ball, kicks it back towards home and there's no play!  Manrui!  It's a repeat of the Komadai Tomakomai game!

Iwata up to tie or take the lead...

He ties the game!  Another single through the left side and Okamoto scores to tie the game at 4-4!!

And still one down!

Tajima gets one break when Takaaki pops out to Tamura in foul territory.

But still Shimizu with his first base hit can give Chiben Gakuen the lead.

Tajima catches another break!  Shimizu goes around and despite the ball getting away, the inning is over.  But we have a new ballgame with all the momentum sitting with Chiben Gakuen!

Bottom 8th
Sano Nichidai has no answers!  Tajima hits a weak grounder back to Uranaka.  Kakizawa works the count full in an attempt to get on base, but strikes out on the fastball inside.

And Koizumi grounds to 2nd!  3 up, 3 down!

Top 9th
And Chiben Gakuen has a chance to take the lead here in the 9th!

Uranaka's good work is done as #3 Oonishi Ritsuki hits for him in an attempt to start the offense.  But he strikes out swinging.

Hirooka is quickly retired and Ryouta strikes out looking, so the momentum may be lost.

Bottom 9th
Okamoto takes the hill for Chiben Gakuen.  Shimizu goes to 1st, and #14 Kaminakano comes in for PH Ritsuki and takes over at 3B.

Tamura with a ball to deep right, but Hirooka is there for the catch.

Sano Nichidai perhaps in sense of desperation, swings away early in counts which only helps Okamoto get outs.  4 pitches later, and the side is retired.  We're headed to enchousen!

Top 10th
And the first thing Tajima does is hit Okamoto, putting the gyakuten runner on base!  Yoshida bunts him over to 2nd.

But Okamoto gets too aggressive!  Takaoka hits a grounder to short and Okamoto takes off!  Takemura goes to 3rd and Okamoto is meat!

Yoshioka flies out to deep right to end the inning, but will the baserunning mistake cost them?

Bottom 11th
Takemura gives Sano Nichidai the sayonara runner with a single to center!  Toshiki not bunting, but Okamoto can't find the zone either!  He falls behind 3-0, and despite a strike he walks him!  Chiben Gakuen in a big pinch!

Inaba with the bunt, and Shimizu fields it and goes to 3rd???!!  It's not in time and Sano Nichidai may get up to 3 tries to get the run in!  Kosaka-kantoku calls time.

First up, Tajima.

Okamoto going after him, gets ahead 0-2...

SANSHIN!!!!!

Okamoto puts the fastball just out of Tajima's reach and there's 1 down.

Kakizawa with his chance to end the game.  First pitch strike on the outside corner, second fouled off...

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

Okamoto gets Kakizawa on the slider and there's 2 out!  One more and Chiben Gakuen may be able to pull the game out.

Grounder to short... Yoshioka can't get it!!  サヨナラ!!!

Takemura comes home and Sano Nichidai pulls it out in enchousen 5x-4!!

Notable Players
Tajima Daiki (Sano Nichdai) - 10 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 8 K, BB, 2 HBP
Koizumi Keita (Sano Nichidai) - 3-4, R, 2 RBI
Tamura Kaito (Sano Nichidai) - 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Okamoto Kazuma (Chiben Wakayama) - 5.2+ IP, ER, 3 H, 4 K, 2 BB, HBP
Yoshioka Fumiya (Chiben Wakayama) - 2-3, RBI, BB
Okamoto Kazuma (Chiben Wakayama) - 0-4, 2 K, HBP

Sunday, March 23, 2014

86th Senbatsu - Day 3 - Game 3 - Chinzei (Kumamoto) vs. Sano Nichidai (Tochigi)

Our final matchup of the day brings us to the other half of the bracket and an east-west matchup between semifinalists Sano Nichidai from Kanto and Chinzei from Kyushu.

The difference between the two schools is night and day.  Chinzei can be considered similar to say Hasami of a couple years back where they live on low-scoring games.  The team carries a low batting average, and the pitching is very suspect - though as mentioned it may be because ace Suzaki pitches to contact.

Sano Nichidai's ace Tajima can get his Ks on the other hand, and doesn't give up many walks.  I'm not sure Matsumoto-kantoku will go to the bench on offense as he didn't use anyone else outside of the starting 9 (and reliever Inaba).

Chinzei, almost no matter who they faced, probably had their work cut out for them.  Let's see if that's really the case...

Chinzei (Kumamoto)
RF Nakano Kouta
2B Iwashita Shouya
3B Ishio Yuuki
C Shimazaki Masato
SS Fujitake Takahiro
CF Nakano Shin
LF Matsushita Akira
1B Sakamoto Reiya (#13)
P Suzkai Takurou

Sano Nichidai (Tochigi)
CF Nagasawa Yoshitaka
SS Takemura Ritsuki
2B Yoshida Toshiki
1B Tamura Kaito
3B Kakizawa Fumiya
LF Inaba Kousei
RF Koizumi Keita
P Tajima Daiki
C Sagawa Shou

____________________________________________________________

14:08 - First Pitch!

Top 1
Nakano with the right idea early, taking pitches, but getting the green light at 3-1 missing the fastball.  And then chases the fastball high and away for the K.

But the Chinzei offense not off to a good start there as Iwashita hits a grounder back to Tajima, and Ishio fouls out to end the inning.

Bottom 1st
Tajima is have the same success on the mound so far, but Sano's batters are sizing up the ball early.  While they're retired in order, Takemura and Yoshida both hit hard balls at Iwashita.

Top 2nd
Shimazaki whips that bat around and pulls the ball to left field for a leadoff single!  Fujitake's bunt though is no good as Suzaki goes to 2nd for the force.

Perhaps some of the batters have the wait signal as Fukuyama gets ahead 3-1 before having the high strike called.  He strikes out, but Fujitake steals 2nd on the play.  Meanwhile, Suzaki hits 145 with that K.

Matsushita swings under a fastball and that's the inning for Chinzei.

Bottom 2nd
Seeing Suzaki's delivery, it's a sidearm delivery, but it's compact compared to others like it.

Tamura and Kakizawa both make contact, but they're routine outs - though Iwashita is playing in the ocean where he's standing.

It seems to be working though as Inaba completely misses on the changeup.

Top 3rd
Well, the bench starter Sakamoto has little luck either, chasing the slider in the dirt for the out.  Tajima with the cut ball strikes out Suzaki.

Nakano prevents Tajima from striking out the side, but golfs a ball that Yoshida can camp under for the 3rd out.

Bottom 3rd
Tajima is the one with the first base hit for Sano Nichidai as he hits one past a diving Iwashita in the outfield grass (that's how far back he's playing apparently).  Matsumoto-kantoku plays for the timely with the Sagawa bunt.

And Nagasawa fighting off a ball, leaves it in play as Matsushita races over and makes the catch right near the padding!

Top 4th
If I were Chinzei's Egami-kantoku, I'd tell my batters that their AB doesn't start until 2 strikes.  Tajima seems inconsistent enough with his control that you might draw walks and put pressure on him.

Instead, the numbers illustrating a very poor offense show themselves here as none of the batters can get the ball out of the infield with Ishio looking very silly on a slider in the dirt.

Bottom 4th
Could it be that for Suzaki, that compact sidearm delivery is messing with the batters?

Perhaps not as Takemura inside-outs a ball to the left side for a base hit.

Yoshida squares up the changeup, but it's a liner right to Fukuyama and Takemura has to scramble back to prevent being doubled off.

After yet another pitchout, Takemura takes off on the next pitch.  Shimasaki fires to 2nd and they just get a sliding Takemura!  (It's too obvious to go on the next pitch after a pitchout).

Tamura replaces the runner on first when his grounder up the middle can't be run down by Iwashita in shallow center.

Whatever Suzaki is doing is working as Kakizawa chases the slider away and Sano Nichidai remains scoreless!

Top 5th
Chinzei apparently insists on swinging away, as only a couple of ABs have gone deep into counts.  Fujitake softly lines out to short, Fukuyama swings and misses on a cutball that instead of being inside, was outside, and Matushita swings on the first pitch for a routine grounder to 2nd.

It's the swinging away that's making Tajima look good on the mound guys...

Bottom 5th
Meanwhile, Sano Nichidai's offense could be finally warming up as they get their 2nd leadoff batter on with a single by Inaba past a sliding Fujitake.

And now Suzaki is called for a balk and Sano Nichidai has their best scoring chance as Egami-kantoku calls time.

Koizumi goes for the sac bunt, but rolls his first attempt foul.  He lays down the bunt, but Suzaki is on it quickly and Inaba has to go back to 2nd!  Suzaki goes to 1st, AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Suzaki throws it away! Now not only everyone is safe, but they're both in scoring position!

And it looks like they're unintentionally intentionally walking Tajima to create the force.  #9 batter Sagawa will look to give Sano Nichidai the lead.

Sagawa ball back up middle... past Iwashita!  That will at least score 1!  Inaba scores, Koizumi being sent home... Throw goes to 3rd... and they get Tajima trying to take 3rd on the base hit.  Still 2 runs score and Sano Nichidai breaks through to lead 2-0.

Nagasawa and Takemura both pop out to end the inning, and the throw out at 3rd was very heads up.  But not so heads up plays earlier cost Chinzei, and with their offense in full neutral, 2 runs will seem so far away...

Top 6th
Well, there's something to be happy about.  2 down for Chinzei and Nakano goes down to drive a slider into the right center field gap.  He books it for 2nd and beats the throw.

Iwashita grounds to 2nd, but Yoshida bobbles the ball! He regroups, throws to 1st...

... and just beats out a diving Iwashita...

*sighs*

Bottom 6th
Yoshida with the first solid hit off of Suzaki with a drive to left center that takes a hop to the wall.

And then with 1 down, Kakizawa's liner is somehow caught by Iwashita who climbs the ladder and comes up with the ball.  Fires to 2nd, and they double off a scrambling Yoshida!

Doesn't make up for the head-slide, but it's still cool.

Top 7th
Shimazaki gets his 2nd base hit off of Tajima with a 1-out single to right.  Sadly, that's all they get as Fujitake flies out to right and Fukuyama becomes the 9th K victim.

Bottom 7th
So Sano Nichidai gets another runner in scoring position when Koizumi lines a ball down the left field line for a 1-out double.  But once again Suzaki wiggles out of it with a flyout to left from Tajima, and a nice play by Fujitake on a grounder by Sagawa.

Top 8th
It's the end of the line for Suzaki - who didn't do a bad job at all, as #18 Takana comes in to hit for him.

But it's more of the same, 3 up 3 down.

Bottom 8th
#16 Morikawa comes in for Sakamoto and takes over on the hill.  Takana stays in at 1B.

After a failed safety bunt, Morikawa has some control issues, hitting Takemura and then hitting Yoshida (though that one wasn't called a HBP).  After Yoshida flies out to left (and Takemura tagging up to 2nd!), #10 Yamamoto comes in to pitch.

A wild pitch though sends Takemura to 3rd.  And then he goes up, making Tamura have to duck on a fastball.

The adventurous inning finally comes to a close when Tamura grounds out to 1st.

Top 9th
Ama-chan will play for the last time as Chinzei gets their last ups.

Ishio checks in with a 2-out single to center to extend the game a little longer as the music goes back to their own rally song.

Shimazaki decides he's not going to be the one to end it as he gets his 3rd single under the glove of Kakizawa.  That prompts a visit from Matsumoto-kantoku.

Fujitake is actually waiting on pitches, but unfortunate for him, Tajima pumps in 2 strikes.  Another fastball outside and Fujitake whiffs to end the game.

Chinzei performed better than I thought.  The offense was as bad as advertized, but the pitching and defense - outside of the 5th inning, kept them in it.  The problem is that with a terrible offense, the pitching and defense have to be perfect and they weren't.

And don't get me started about the head-sliding issues.

The game as is, Chinzei had no shot.  But if they just did some things differently I think they might have stood a chance.  Because while the 12 Ks from Tajima look impressive, he was bailed out a lot by the swinging bats of Chinzei - this despite the fact their offensive stats are just plain awful.  There is a missing art of making a pitcher with bad control work harder that teams could use to their advantage.

Well, for Chinzei, they can celebrate the fact they got to Koushien, but I think they could have done more.  For Sano Nichidai, they certainly get to move on, but it won't be this easy going forward.

Notable Players
Tajima Daiki (Sano Nichidai) - CG, SHO, 5 H, 12 K, 0 BB
Sagawa Shou (Sano Nichidai) - 1-3, 2 RBI
Yoshida Toshiki (Sano Nichidai) - 1-4, 2B
Suzaki Takurou (Chinzei) - 7 IP, ER, 7 H, 2 K, BB
Shimazaki Masato (Chinzei) - 3-4
Nakano Kouta (Chinzei) - 1-4, 2B, 2 K
Ishio Yuuki (Chinzei) - 1-4, K

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

32 teams in 32 days - Sano Nichidai (Tochigi)

Sano Nichidai makes their 4th trip to Senbatsu after a 7-year hiatus despite the fact that it would be the 2nd place team in prefecture that would eventually win the Kanto Super-Regionals.

Road to Senbatsu
Tochigi Prefecturals
  • def. Ishibashi 10x-0 (5 inn)
  • def. Tochigi Shougyou 11-0 (5 inn)
  • def. Utsunomiya Minami 5-0
  • def. Seiran Taito 9-3
  • def. Hakuoudai Ashikaga 5-0
Super-Regionals
  • def. Toukaidai Koufu 3-1
  • def. Yokohama 5-3
  • lost Kiryuu Dai-ichi 5-0
Sano Nichidai pretty much dominated Tochigi, defeating both a more than decent Seiran Taito and prefectural upper tier Hakuoudai.  That continued into the super-regionals where they jumped on Yokohama 5-0 after the 1st inning as ace Tajima Taiki (田嶋 大樹) held off one of the more vaunted teams in kokoyakyu.  Their run would end after kantoku Matsumoto Hiroshi (松本 弘司) decided to start Inaba Kousei (稲葉 恒成) over Tajima.  Inaba would only record 2 outs as Kiryuu would score 4 of their eventual 5 runs in the 1st.

Finally I have some information on players on a team.  First of all ace Tajima.  He's a lefty who throws in the low 140s with a forkball and sinker to go along with the standard fare.  Not necessarily a strikeout pitcher, he still gets his fare share of K's while scattering hits across the innings (like against Yokohama).  There may have been some nerves for Inaba, a freshman who throws in the low 130s with at least a slider.  How much he'll be trusted will be unknown.

Other players who have been noted by various sites include, Yoshida ? (吉田 叡生) who is apparently one of their better power hitters though got this bounding single against Yokohama, Takemura Norio (竹村 律生) and Kakizawa Ikuya (柿澤 郁也).  Not much explaining why necessarily, but perhaps these players will be ones to watch come March.

(Even with some info I think a post will be in order regarding how hard it sometimes can be in obtaining information regarding players.)

Next team up... Yokohama (and IMO I'd better find a good reason to have them selected)...