Our sandwich game today ends the opening round of the 95th Natsu Koushien. The winner here will play Maebashi Ikuei on the last game of Day 9. Not impossible, but not easy.
Anways we have an all-Kyushu matchup for the final 1st round game.
Shounan makes an appearance at Natsu Koushien after a 4 year hiatus. With defending champion Kamimura Gakuen eliminated by Kagoshima Jyouhou, the path was open to the final where fellow powerhouse Kagoshima Jistugyou waited. And in a game where hits were not at a premium, Shounan prevailed with a walkoff in the bottom of the 9th. Despite the team getting a lot of hits, there are no real standouts amongst the bunch.
As for the mound, Yamashita Atsuhiro is their ace, and from all indications your average lefty ace. Low 130s with the usual slider/curve combo.
Sasebo Jitsugyou successfully defended their Natsu title for their 5th summer appearance. It wasn't easy as they had to defeat Isahaya (a good 3rd tier team in Nagasaki), Kaisei, and lastly Nagasaki Nichidai. Versus Kaisei, they needed a 2-run 8th to move on, and then against Nagasaki Nichidai they were one of the many finals that day that went into enchousen thanks to a run in the bottom of the 9th, winning 2 innings later.
About the only consistent part of the Sajitsu offense is cleanup batter Tazaki. Considering that, Shounan might pitch around him more often than not. Pressure then will fall upon ace Kinoshita Itoshi, a soft tossing lefty who throws in the mid-upper 120s with the default slider and curve. Also, there is 3B Yamaguchi Akira who was actually called upon to start the final and pitched 6 innings. I cannot find information about his pitching through, so I expect Kinoshita to take the bulk of the innings.
So long as neither ace completely falls apart or isn't the ace they were in the natsu taikais, there will be some opportunities for both teams in this game.
Sasebo Jitsugyou (Nagasaki)
CF Sakai Kenya
RF Tahata Yuuto
3B Yamaguchi Akira
LF Tasaki Toshiki
C Yamada Shun
SS Kawabata Jyun
P Kinoshita Itoshi
1B Sasahara Takumi
2B Ushirokado Keita
Shounan (Kagoshima)
CF Ikeda Taishi
LF Kumasako Mitsuhiro
SS Imada Tenshi
C Ogata Sousuke
3B Fujino Yuuta
1B Hongou Kentarou
P Yamashita Atsuhiro
RF Ootani Shinpei
2B Shimada Kiyohita
____________________________________________________________
11:45 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Sakai way early on offspeed pitch, goes one handed and grounds out to 2nd.
Tahata chases a high fastball and flies out to right.
Apparently the curve that Yamashita has is a slow curve (mid-upper 90s). Slider is in high 110s-low 120s.
Yamashita goes full on Yamaguchi, and while he hits the glove, it's inside and he walks Yamaguchi to bring up Tasaki.
Wild pitch from Yamashita sends Yamaguchi to 2nd, but that becomes of inconsequence when he walks Tasaki on 4 straight.
But Yamashita gets Yamada to chase a sinker down in the zone to get out his self-made pinch!
Bottom 1st
Ikeda with a seeing-eye single that gets past Tasaki into center! Yamanoguchi-kantoku has Kumasako bunt him along into scoring position for Imano.
He hits a chopper back up the middle! Ushirokado with it goes to 1st for the out, but Ikeda moves to 3rd.
Kinoshita gets Ogata to chase a slider out of the zone for the 3rd out and the leadoff base hit doesn't come to hurt him early.
Top 2nd
First pitch Kawabata flies out to right.
Counterpart Kinoshita works the count full, but immediately walks back to the when Yamashita misses the glove with his change but right over the plate for strike 3.
Yamashita missing again with his location and walks Ushirokado, flipping the lineup back to the top and Sakai.
Sakai goes to swing early and grounds out to 1st to end the inning. If I was Sajitsu, I'd be extra patient on Yamashita and make him throw strikes, because he's either missing wide or low.
Bottom 2nd
Kinoshita working fast, and Fujino hits a comebacker that Kinoshita leisurely fields and throws to 1st.
Kinoshita's first really bad pitch hits Hongou to put him on. Yamanoguchi-kantoku wants Yamashita to bunt, but winds up behind 1-2. Three-bunts and lays it down.
Ootani liner back up the middle past the stab of Kinoshita! Hongou coming home, NO!
Sakai with a strike right to home plate and Hongou scrambles back to 3rd! Nice throw!
Yamanoguchi-kantoku sends Ootani! Yamada drops ball and he's in without a throw!
And on Day 5, I finally hear 残酷な天使のテーゼ...
And Kinoshita works out of the jam tying up Shimada on an inside fastball! Nicely done!
Top 3rd
Yamaguchi again being patient, has another full count, and draws another walk! Tasaki senses a strike from Yamashita and singles to right! Sajitsu with their first good opportunity in the game!
But Yamada hits a grounder right to Fujino! He goes to 2nd to start the inning ending 5-4-3 double play!
Bottom 3rd
Shounan's batters attacking early in count, but not timing up the pitches. 2 quick groundouts from Ikeda and Kumasako.
Imada decides to wait and takes the cut ball through the right side for a solid single.
Except that he then gets caught taking off early and is run down 1-3-6 to end the inning!
Top 4th
Kawabata chases a full count fastball up in the zone, but still manages to hit a hard grounder to short. Imada's throw is wide, but Hongou makes the tag for the out.
Kinoshita completely fooled on the slider, goes one-handed and grounds to 2nd.
Yamashita almost gets the clean inning, but then hits Sasahara with a slider to put him on. This allows Ushirokado to bat and the lineup to turn over next inning.
Ushirokado grounds to short and Imano takes it himself to 2nd to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Ogata gets another leadoff runner for Shounan, inside outing a pitch the other way for a base hit.
Fujino showing bunt, lays it down, but it's too hard and Kinoshita fires to 2nd. It's high, but Kawabata stretches to make the out.
Yamanoguchi-kantoku believing this to be a close game has Hongou bunt as well and he does successfully.
So it's now up to a one-timer from Yamashita to get the run in.
But Yamashita swings and misses on a slider to end the inning.
Top 5th
So Sasebo Jitsugyou's Shimizu-kantoku used to be a coach over at Seihou. Traitor. (I kid. Managerial jobs are always what coaches strive for so the fact he got one I'm happy about. But to a rival school.. aargh.
Anyways, Sakai with a drive to center! Ikeda running back, but he goes full bore as it goes over his head. One hops to the wall and Sakai in with a double.
Shimizu-kantoku looking to have Tahara bunt. He lays one down that stays on the line, and Hongou has to play. Sakai advances to 3rd.
Yamaguchi up, 2 walks on the day. No bunt so far.
SANSHIN!! Yamaguchi perhaps looking to hit instead of getting on base, chases a screwball for the 2nd out!
Tasaki up, and while he's waiting for a good pitch, Yamashita gets ahead 1-2.
OH!!!
Tasaki gets around on an inside fastball and drives it to left! Kumasako running back towards the foul pole...
...and makes the catch!
Tasaki get a lot of that pitch, but not enough!
Bottom 5th
Ootani catches a hanging slider and drives it to left center! That's to the wall for a leadoff double for Ootani!
Shimada for a bunt and the first pitch is up and in! He tries to get out of the way but it hits the bat! After another failed attempt, he goes for the three-bunt and lays it down! Sasahara charging in looks 3, but ends up going to 1.
Ikeda showing safety squeeze, but like Shimada goes behind 0-2. Waste pitch shows nothing.
SQUEEZE!!!!!
Yamanouchi-kantoku calls for three-bunt squeeze and Ikeda gets a high pitch to bunt!
Kinoshita charging, gets to ball, but can't field it cleanly! Has to go to 1st and Ootani scores! 1-0 Shounan!!
Kumasako tries a safety bunt but is easily thrown out as we head to the break.
Despite Yamashita's perceived control issues, (4 BB, 1 HBP), he's managed to give up nothing. Meanwhile, Kinoshita has left pitches too much in the zone, allowing early baserunners (3 leadoff baserunners) ending up in the 1 run.
Top 6th
Sajitsu continues to try and aggressively swing their way out of the shutout, but it's not working against Yamashita.
Yamada and Kawabata both hit routine grounders to 3rd...
And after swinging his way to 0-2, Kinoshita walks back to the dugout after watching a fastball on the outside corner.
Bottom 6th
One down and grounder to 2nd by Ogata bounces off Ushirokado's glove for an E4.
Fujino bunts him along to 2nd for the one timer.
Hongou with a hard grounder to the gap in short, Kawabata makes the backhanded sliding stop and throws to 1st! Sasahara makes the catch, but is pulled off the bag! He goes back and tags it for the 3rd out! Nice play!
Top 7th
Sasahara trying to play the patience game, but Yamashita puts a fastball on the outside corner for strike 3!
Ushirokado gets ahead 2-1, but thinks he'll get a good pitch and doesn't. Grounds out to 3rd.
Sakai behind 1-2, grounds right to Hongou who takes it himself for the 3rd out.
Time running down for Sajitsu their 2nd straight appearance, and Yamashita seems to be locating better now.
Bottom 7th
The aces having trouble against each other especially as Yamashita turns around to walk back after getting frozen by Kinoshita.
Ootani golfs an 0-2 pitch, Sakai and Tahata coming in, both charging in but it falls between them and Ushirokado for a base hit!
Once again, Yamanoguchi-kantoku is calling for a bunt with 1 down and Shimada obliges. But Ikeda is called going around on a slider and is retired 2-3 to end the inning.
Top 8th
Sajitsu's batters look clueless out there. 1-1 to Tahata and he pinwheels around on a screwball. Manages to fill up the count though.
However he swings on an up and in fastball and grounds out to 2nd.
Yamaguchi can't do much but fall behind when a 99 slow curve comes in for strike 2... And he goes down swinging on yet another sinker.
Tasaki getting fastballs all day, but can't get enough contact. He flies out to center to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
Kinoshita at a very tidy 83 pitches, but trailing 1-0.
Kumasako with a chopper up to the left side. Yamaguchi takes it off the short hop and fires to 1st for the out!
Imada gets his 2nd hit with a single to left center.
Hit-and-run! Ogata misses, but the ball is in the dirt and Yamada can only block it! Ogata then grounds to 2nd advancing the runner for Fujino.
Kinoshita gets him to ground to short to end the inning...
Top 9th
...but they're out of time now. They have to score here or they go home.
5-6-7 batters up for Sajitsu.
Two screwballs, and Yamashita is up 0-2 on Yamada.
Yamashta tries it one too many times and Yamada takes it back up the middle for a base hit!
Shimizu-kantoku calling for the bunt from Kawabata...
He shows it, but takes a couple before attempting one. But he fouls it off and he's behind 1-2...
Yamashita trying to get him to bite on a screwball, but no dice.
Kawabata swings away but fouls it off.
Hit-and-run!! Kawabata makes contact and singles through the left side! Runners on 1st and 2nd with no out and Yamanoguchi-kantoku calls time as Fukuyama comes out to the mound.
And while #15 Inoue was in the on-deck circle, he's called back for #14 Sakamoto. Is he there to bunt?
Yes! And he lays a beautiful one down! Looks like Inoue was there if Kawabata bunted. But with no out, he sent in a bunter.
Gyakuten runner in scoring position for captain Sasahara. He's 1-2 on the day.
Looks like they're not really pitching to him. Yamashita falling behind 2-0. Screwball inside 3-0, and I think this is an unintentional intentional walk.
Yep, they make it official as they pitch out.
Another conference now as Ushirokado comes in. Hes 0-2 with a walk.
He's taking pitches but Yamashita gets the outside corner for 1-1. Goes after a fastball on the outer half and fouls it off!
Fastball outside, ball 2.
Sets up inside... Grounder to 3rd!! Fujino goes to 2nd for one, ball to 1st... double play! Ushirokado grounds into the game ending DP.
That's unfortunate as perhaps with an inside pitch, it might have been better for Ushirokado to take the pitch, but that's all in hindsight.
In reality, Sajitsu just couldn't solve the screwball or perhaps figure a strategy to not go after it. They had some chances early when Yamashita was not as accurate, but after that couldn't mount anything until the 9th inning, and by that time the pressure had built against them.
For Shounan, Yamashita certainly used his screwball to the fullest extent. Some timely hitting and well timed bunts, as it were, were enough to advance today. If they thought that bunting was necessary in this game, they'll need it against Maebashi Ikuei where they will get very few baserunners.
Notable Players
Yamashita Atsuhiro (Shounan) - CG, SHO, 5 H, 6 K, 5 BB, HBP
Ootani Shinpei (Shounan) - 3-3, 2B, R, SB
Imada Tenshi (Shounan) - 2-4
Ikeda Taishi (Shounan) - 1-3, RBI
Kinoshita Itoshi (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - CG, ER, 7 H, 5 K, HBP
Sakai Kenya (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 1-4, 2B
Yamada Shuu (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 1-4
Showing posts with label Sasebo Jitsugyou. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sasebo Jitsugyou. Show all posts
Monday, August 12, 2013
Friday, August 17, 2012
Day 9, Game 2 - Ube Koujyou (Yamaguchi) vs. Sasebo Jitsugyou (Nagasaki)
Our penultimate matchup in the 2nd round has teams looking to enter or are in uncharted territory.
For Ube Koujyou, they're already there. They're appearing at their first Natsu Koushien, and have won their first game. Now they're looking to advance for a chance at the Best 8.
Against fellow first-timers Toyama Kougyou, they put runners on base almost every inning putting pressure on their ace Kamezawa, rallying from an early deficit to walk off 5-4.
Their ace Sasanaga as mentioned struggled, giving up 4 runs in the first 3 innings, capped off with a 3-run HR by Toyama Kougyou cleanup hitter Araki. He settled down afterwards, but he needs to avoid the big inning early if he want to help Ube Koujyou advance.
Meanwhile Sasebo Jitsugyou will be looking for their 2nd win this summer, something they haven't been able to do.
In their first round win against Sapporo Dai-ichi, Sajitsu like Ube Kougyou put runners on every inning with less than 2 outs, and always were just a step ahead of the Minami Hokkaido representatives. They had quite a few base hits, but were also taking their fair share of walks.
Ace Kimura scattered 10 hits, 6 of which were thanks to 2 Sapporo Dai-ichi batters. I'm not sure how Ube Koujyou would compare to Sapporo Dai-ichi, especially since the lack of K's in prefectural play did not correlate once they got to Koushien.
Ube Koujyou's done well for their first Natsu Koushien, but I do expect their run to end here in the 2nd round.
Ube Kougyou (Yamaguchi)
LF Tomonaga
C Nishino
SS Yamaoka
RF Hinoguchi
CF Kanemaru
3B Oono
P Sasanaga
1B Sugita
2B Yasuda
Sasebo Jitsugyou (Nagasaki)
CF Nagatani
C Ura
3B Yamaguchi Akira
2B Matsuyama
RF Tateishi
P Kimura
LF Sakai (#17)
SS Yamaguchi Makoto
1B Nagayama (#13)
__________________________________________________
10:45 - First Pitch
Top 1st
Tomonaga swings on the first pitch, ball deflects off Kimura to the right side, as Matsuyama picks it and throws to 1st to record the first out just as the siren trails off.
After a strike out swinging on an inside slider, Hinoguchi hits a ball past the infield into right.
But Kanemaru flies to right to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Nagatani goes down looking on a fastball for the first out.
Ura stands in, takes a 5-pitch walk. Akira laying down the bunt, and it's a safety bunt! Ball goes towards the right side as both Sugita and Yasuda go for the ball. Sugita gets the ball, but no one's covering 1st! Everyone's safe!
But Matsuyama bails Sasanaga out by grounding into the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning!
Top 2nd
Oono with a drive to deep right center! Nagatani and Tateishi head towards the wall and it falls in just in front of it! He goes for 3rd as the relay throw goes wide! And he's in safely!
Sasanaga with a chance to put Ube Koujyou up early, but he sofly lines out to 2nd!
Nishino gets the job done with a fly to right! Tateishi there to make the catch and Oono scores to make it 1-0 Ube Koujyou!
Yasuda follows that up by blooping a ball over Akira's head for a base hit!
Kimura ends the inning by freezing Sugita on a fastball, but the newcomers strike first!
Bottom 2nd
Sasanaga with a quick inning as he induces 2 groundouts from Tateishi and Kimura and throws 3 strikes to Sakai for a clean sheet in the 2nd.
Top 3rd
Tomonaga with a drive to left! Sakai to the wall as the ball bounces off the fence! Leadoff double for Ube Koujyou!
Yamaoka with the sac bunt threatens to extend their lead!
Hinoguchi hits a fly to center, but it's short! Kanemaru with it and Tomonaga can't tag up!
And cleanup batter Kanemaru grounds to 2nd for the 3rd out!
Bottom 3rd
One down, new 1B Nagayama (in because Sasahara was injured last game) draws a walk and flips the lineup back to Nagatani.
Hit-and-run! Nagayama takes off as Nagatani singles through the infield to right! Hinokuchi fires to 3rd, but Nagayama is in safely! And Nagatani smartly advances to 2nd on the throw!
Big chance for Ura if he can at least get a sac fly.
But he goes down on a slider inside and there's 2 down!
Up to Akira now to get the douten run home. He fights off a couple after the count goes 2-2.
Single through to left! Nagayama scores! Nagatani being waved around! Throw from Tomonaga...not in time! Akira with the 2-out 2-run double gives Sajitsu the 2-1 lead!
Now Sasanaga walks Matsuyama and Ube Koujyou really in trouble here!
Tateishi with a first pitch line shot to left! Akira holds up at 3rd. Manrui now for Kimura.
But he swings away and hits a fly to right! Hinokuchi back and makes the catch for the 3rd out! Sasanaga limits the damage, but can't preserve the lead.
Top 4th
Oono with a shot to deep left! Sakai running back, reaches out his glove, and makes the catch as he tumbles in front of the wall! Nice play!
Sasanaga gets on base with a single back up the middle.
Ozaki-kantoku puts on the hit-and-run,and Nishino singles through to left! Sasanaga holds at 2nd.
Chance for Ube Koujyou to score the douten run, but Yasuda hits a fly to center! Nagatani with the catch and Sasanaga doesn't tag up!
Doesn't matter though as Sugita rolls a grounder to 1st. Nagayama takes it to the bag to retire the side.
Bottom 4th
Sakai with a sharp liner to right for a leadoff single. Makoto lays down the bunt, Nishino goes to 2nd, but the throw is wide! Everyone's safe!
Nagayama successfully lays down the bunt and now a base hit can really expand the lead.
But Sasanaga catches Makoto off base! He throws to 2nd and that's the 2nd out! One more and he's out of the pinch!
Nagatani gets the bat around on an inside pitch and singles to left again! Sakai scores to make it 3-1 Sajitsu!
Ura with a grounder that deflects off Sugita! Nagatani rounding 2nd pressing for 3rd, and is in safely!
Ura taking off for 2nd, throw from Nishino there, but the ball is knocked out and goes into center! Nagatani scores on the error and it's now 4-1!!
Akira grounds to 3rd to end the inning, but Sajitsu doubles their run total here in the 4th!
Top 5th
Kimura leaves one up and Tomonaga lines it down the left field line fair! He's in with his 2nd double of the day!
Yamaoka with a ball to right center! Tateishi, playing in ranges to his right, dives, and misses it! It goes to the wall with Nagatani in chase! Tomonaga scores as Yamaoka has an RBI triple! It's 4-2!!
Hinoguchi now with a single to right! Yamaoka scores to make it a 1-run ball game! It's 4-3!!
Shimizu-kantoku calls for a pitching change. #11 Yamashita comes in for Nagayama and takes over on the mound. Kimura moves to 1B.
But to Kinoshita's first batter, he falls behind Kanemaru 3-0 before getting a strike.
Kanemaru completely crushes a hanging slider from Kinoshita!! There's no doubt about this one! The ball clears by a wide margin as Kanemaru hits a gyakuten 2-run HR to give Ube Koujyou the 5-4 lead!
Kinoshita finally gets the first out of the inning as Oono flies out to right. But Sasanaga keeps the hit parade going with a chopper back up the middle!
But Kinoshita finally shuts the door on the inning as Nishino grounds to 1st and Yasuda to short. But 4 consecutive hits, capped of by Kanemaru's 2-run HR has given newcomers Ube Koujyou the lead!
Bottom 5th
Matsuyama looks to get the lead back for Sajitsu as he flares one to center.
He then takes off on the 2-2 pitch! Ball inside and dropped by Nishino and Matsuyama reaches safely.
Tateishi tries to keep his AB going, but his attempt to foul one off leads to a flyout to shallow center to Yamaoka.
Kimura with a fly ball to center, but Kanemaru is there for the out. And Yamaoka makes a great stop on a grounder by Sakai for the 3rd out.
We hit the break with Ube Koujyou having come through big in the 4th to take the lead and knock out the ace of the Sajitsu staff. The question will be if the relief staff can hold on and if the offense can mount a rally.
Top 6th
Sugita reaches out and grounds one through the right side for a leadoff single. Nagatomo lays down the bunt to put him in scoring position for Yamaoka. He first pitch singles past a diving Makoto. Runners on 1st and 3rd now for Ube Koujyou!
Hinokuchi slices a ball past Akira, fair! It's fair down down the left field line as Sugita scores! Hinokuchi with a RBI double to make the lead 6-4!
Kanemaru up with 1st base open, they can be careful with him.
Or not.
Kinoshita puts once over as Kanemaru singles to right! Yamaoka and Hinokuci both score and now it's Ube Koujyou who has doubled up Sajitsu at 8-4!
Oono goes down swinging for the 2nd out.
Kanemaru now takes off for 2nd during Sasanaga's AB and he just beats the throw from Ura.
Sasanaga flies out to center to end the inning, but it is starting to look clear that Sajitsu does not have the armpower to stay in this game.
Bottom 6th
One down, and Kinoshita, who I guess is not used to going up to bat, arrives late then hits a single to center!
Nagatani gets the green light on 3-1 and grounds into the 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Top 7th
One down and Yasuda hits a letter high fastball to left for a base hit.
Sugita with a grounder to 2nd, and it goes under Matsuyama's glove into right! Runners on 1st and 3rd now for Ube Koujyou on the error!
Tomonaga with the bunt, but Yasuda not going home! So only Sugita advances on the bunt. 2 down.
Yamaoka with a liner... fair! Fair down the 3rd base line! Sakai quickly gets it in, but not before both runners score to make it 10-4.
Hinokuchi strikes out swinging to end the inning, but they've extended their lead.
Bottom 7th
It's an easy inning for Sasanaga as he strikes out 2 in a clean 1-2-3 inning.
Top 8th
Kanemaru reaches down and his one down the right field line. Tateishi running over, puts his glove out but can't catch it! He chases it down as it goes to the wall and Kanemaru slides in with a triple.
Oono with a hit past a diving Makoto into center for a base hit.
Shimizu-kantoku decides at this point to probably let his ace finish it, so Kimura takes the hill once again with #14 Yoshitake coming in for Kinoshita and going to 2st.
Sasanaga with his 3rd hit of the day, a single to left.
Nishino reaches down and hits one to center. Nagatani makes the running catch and makes the easy toss to 1st for the third out.
Bottom 8th
Sasanaga records 3 more groundouts here in the 8th as they are dormy to advance now.
Top 9th
Yasuda with another ball slicing past Akira down the left field line. Sakai there to, he slips! Sakai slips and falls as the ball follows the curvature near the foul pole! Yasuda continuing to run to 3rd, and turns for home! Throw in in not in time and it's a running HR for Yasuda. 12-4.
Kimura retires the next 3 batters to end the inning, and now it's last call for Sasebo Jitsugyou.
Bottom 9th
#7 Tanaka in to hit for Makoto, draws a 4 pitch walk. #10 Koyanagi in for Yoshitake also draws a walk (he's replaced by #15 Fukuda).
Nagatani with a ball to left. That's over Tomonaga's head. Tanaka scores on the double to make it 12-5.
Ura follows that up with a ball to the left center field gap. It rolls all the way to the wall as both Fukuda and Nagatani score to make it 12-7 on the double.
Akira tries to go for it all with a drive to left. But Tomonaga is there near the foul pole for the 1st out. If the rally was to be serious, he needed to try and draw a walk. The HR would have still put them down 3.
Matsuyama does indeed sit, and he walks on 4 straight.
Ozaki-kantoku's waited as long as he could, but before it gets out of hand, he sends in Kanemaru from center to take the mound. Sasanaga goes to replace him in center.
Tateishi flies out to right for the 2nd out.
Last chance for Sajitsu lies with ace Kimura.
Kimura pops it up. Nishino under it and makes the catch to send Ube Koujyou to the round of 16 with a 12-7 win! Sajitsu tried to mount a last minute rally, but it was just too much Ube Koujyou pounded out too many hits against an ineffective Sajitsu staff.
So for Sajitsu their road ends in the 2nd round, unable to win their 2nd consecutive game. Things did look good early as they were able to get to a 4-1 lead, but Ube Koujyou was able to figure out ace Kimura and it was game over. Still, getting a win is getting a win, so they should be proud of that, though it still hurts.
For Ube Koujyou, their cinderella run at Koushien continues as they wait for the winner of the next game in the 3rd round for a spot in the Best 8. For a first timer team, they certainly aren't playing like one. And I'm not impressed by their hitting because their hitting is for the most part hard and low.
And I guess I was dead wrong about Ube Koujyou in this game. Not gonna jinx them now.
Notable Players
Kanemaru Shou (Ube Koujyou) - 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
Yamaoka Yuuki (Ube Koujyou) - 3-5, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
Hinokuchi Yoshio? (Ube Koujyou) - 3-5. 2 R, 2 RBI, K
Yasuda Shou (Ube Koujyou) - 3-5, Running HR, 2 R, RBI
Nagatani Ryouya (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 3-5, 2B, 3 R, RBI
Yamaguchi Akira (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI
For Ube Koujyou, they're already there. They're appearing at their first Natsu Koushien, and have won their first game. Now they're looking to advance for a chance at the Best 8.
Against fellow first-timers Toyama Kougyou, they put runners on base almost every inning putting pressure on their ace Kamezawa, rallying from an early deficit to walk off 5-4.
Their ace Sasanaga as mentioned struggled, giving up 4 runs in the first 3 innings, capped off with a 3-run HR by Toyama Kougyou cleanup hitter Araki. He settled down afterwards, but he needs to avoid the big inning early if he want to help Ube Koujyou advance.
Meanwhile Sasebo Jitsugyou will be looking for their 2nd win this summer, something they haven't been able to do.
In their first round win against Sapporo Dai-ichi, Sajitsu like Ube Kougyou put runners on every inning with less than 2 outs, and always were just a step ahead of the Minami Hokkaido representatives. They had quite a few base hits, but were also taking their fair share of walks.
Ace Kimura scattered 10 hits, 6 of which were thanks to 2 Sapporo Dai-ichi batters. I'm not sure how Ube Koujyou would compare to Sapporo Dai-ichi, especially since the lack of K's in prefectural play did not correlate once they got to Koushien.
Ube Koujyou's done well for their first Natsu Koushien, but I do expect their run to end here in the 2nd round.
Ube Kougyou (Yamaguchi)
LF Tomonaga
C Nishino
SS Yamaoka
RF Hinoguchi
CF Kanemaru
3B Oono
P Sasanaga
1B Sugita
2B Yasuda
Sasebo Jitsugyou (Nagasaki)
CF Nagatani
C Ura
3B Yamaguchi Akira
2B Matsuyama
RF Tateishi
P Kimura
LF Sakai (#17)
SS Yamaguchi Makoto
1B Nagayama (#13)
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10:45 - First Pitch
Top 1st
Tomonaga swings on the first pitch, ball deflects off Kimura to the right side, as Matsuyama picks it and throws to 1st to record the first out just as the siren trails off.
After a strike out swinging on an inside slider, Hinoguchi hits a ball past the infield into right.
But Kanemaru flies to right to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Nagatani goes down looking on a fastball for the first out.
Ura stands in, takes a 5-pitch walk. Akira laying down the bunt, and it's a safety bunt! Ball goes towards the right side as both Sugita and Yasuda go for the ball. Sugita gets the ball, but no one's covering 1st! Everyone's safe!
But Matsuyama bails Sasanaga out by grounding into the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning!
Top 2nd
Oono with a drive to deep right center! Nagatani and Tateishi head towards the wall and it falls in just in front of it! He goes for 3rd as the relay throw goes wide! And he's in safely!
Sasanaga with a chance to put Ube Koujyou up early, but he sofly lines out to 2nd!
Nishino gets the job done with a fly to right! Tateishi there to make the catch and Oono scores to make it 1-0 Ube Koujyou!
Yasuda follows that up by blooping a ball over Akira's head for a base hit!
Kimura ends the inning by freezing Sugita on a fastball, but the newcomers strike first!
Bottom 2nd
Sasanaga with a quick inning as he induces 2 groundouts from Tateishi and Kimura and throws 3 strikes to Sakai for a clean sheet in the 2nd.
Top 3rd
Tomonaga with a drive to left! Sakai to the wall as the ball bounces off the fence! Leadoff double for Ube Koujyou!
Yamaoka with the sac bunt threatens to extend their lead!
Hinoguchi hits a fly to center, but it's short! Kanemaru with it and Tomonaga can't tag up!
And cleanup batter Kanemaru grounds to 2nd for the 3rd out!
Bottom 3rd
One down, new 1B Nagayama (in because Sasahara was injured last game) draws a walk and flips the lineup back to Nagatani.
Hit-and-run! Nagayama takes off as Nagatani singles through the infield to right! Hinokuchi fires to 3rd, but Nagayama is in safely! And Nagatani smartly advances to 2nd on the throw!
Big chance for Ura if he can at least get a sac fly.
But he goes down on a slider inside and there's 2 down!
Up to Akira now to get the douten run home. He fights off a couple after the count goes 2-2.
Single through to left! Nagayama scores! Nagatani being waved around! Throw from Tomonaga...not in time! Akira with the 2-out 2-run double gives Sajitsu the 2-1 lead!
Now Sasanaga walks Matsuyama and Ube Koujyou really in trouble here!
Tateishi with a first pitch line shot to left! Akira holds up at 3rd. Manrui now for Kimura.
But he swings away and hits a fly to right! Hinokuchi back and makes the catch for the 3rd out! Sasanaga limits the damage, but can't preserve the lead.
Top 4th
Oono with a shot to deep left! Sakai running back, reaches out his glove, and makes the catch as he tumbles in front of the wall! Nice play!
Sasanaga gets on base with a single back up the middle.
Ozaki-kantoku puts on the hit-and-run,and Nishino singles through to left! Sasanaga holds at 2nd.
Chance for Ube Koujyou to score the douten run, but Yasuda hits a fly to center! Nagatani with the catch and Sasanaga doesn't tag up!
Doesn't matter though as Sugita rolls a grounder to 1st. Nagayama takes it to the bag to retire the side.
Bottom 4th
Sakai with a sharp liner to right for a leadoff single. Makoto lays down the bunt, Nishino goes to 2nd, but the throw is wide! Everyone's safe!
Nagayama successfully lays down the bunt and now a base hit can really expand the lead.
But Sasanaga catches Makoto off base! He throws to 2nd and that's the 2nd out! One more and he's out of the pinch!
Nagatani gets the bat around on an inside pitch and singles to left again! Sakai scores to make it 3-1 Sajitsu!
Ura with a grounder that deflects off Sugita! Nagatani rounding 2nd pressing for 3rd, and is in safely!
Ura taking off for 2nd, throw from Nishino there, but the ball is knocked out and goes into center! Nagatani scores on the error and it's now 4-1!!
Akira grounds to 3rd to end the inning, but Sajitsu doubles their run total here in the 4th!
Top 5th
Kimura leaves one up and Tomonaga lines it down the left field line fair! He's in with his 2nd double of the day!
Yamaoka with a ball to right center! Tateishi, playing in ranges to his right, dives, and misses it! It goes to the wall with Nagatani in chase! Tomonaga scores as Yamaoka has an RBI triple! It's 4-2!!
Hinoguchi now with a single to right! Yamaoka scores to make it a 1-run ball game! It's 4-3!!
Shimizu-kantoku calls for a pitching change. #11 Yamashita comes in for Nagayama and takes over on the mound. Kimura moves to 1B.
But to Kinoshita's first batter, he falls behind Kanemaru 3-0 before getting a strike.
Kanemaru completely crushes a hanging slider from Kinoshita!! There's no doubt about this one! The ball clears by a wide margin as Kanemaru hits a gyakuten 2-run HR to give Ube Koujyou the 5-4 lead!
Kinoshita finally gets the first out of the inning as Oono flies out to right. But Sasanaga keeps the hit parade going with a chopper back up the middle!
But Kinoshita finally shuts the door on the inning as Nishino grounds to 1st and Yasuda to short. But 4 consecutive hits, capped of by Kanemaru's 2-run HR has given newcomers Ube Koujyou the lead!
Bottom 5th
Matsuyama looks to get the lead back for Sajitsu as he flares one to center.
He then takes off on the 2-2 pitch! Ball inside and dropped by Nishino and Matsuyama reaches safely.
Tateishi tries to keep his AB going, but his attempt to foul one off leads to a flyout to shallow center to Yamaoka.
Kimura with a fly ball to center, but Kanemaru is there for the out. And Yamaoka makes a great stop on a grounder by Sakai for the 3rd out.
We hit the break with Ube Koujyou having come through big in the 4th to take the lead and knock out the ace of the Sajitsu staff. The question will be if the relief staff can hold on and if the offense can mount a rally.
Top 6th
Sugita reaches out and grounds one through the right side for a leadoff single. Nagatomo lays down the bunt to put him in scoring position for Yamaoka. He first pitch singles past a diving Makoto. Runners on 1st and 3rd now for Ube Koujyou!
Hinokuchi slices a ball past Akira, fair! It's fair down down the left field line as Sugita scores! Hinokuchi with a RBI double to make the lead 6-4!
Kanemaru up with 1st base open, they can be careful with him.
Or not.
Kinoshita puts once over as Kanemaru singles to right! Yamaoka and Hinokuci both score and now it's Ube Koujyou who has doubled up Sajitsu at 8-4!
Oono goes down swinging for the 2nd out.
Kanemaru now takes off for 2nd during Sasanaga's AB and he just beats the throw from Ura.
Sasanaga flies out to center to end the inning, but it is starting to look clear that Sajitsu does not have the armpower to stay in this game.
Bottom 6th
One down, and Kinoshita, who I guess is not used to going up to bat, arrives late then hits a single to center!
Nagatani gets the green light on 3-1 and grounds into the 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Top 7th
One down and Yasuda hits a letter high fastball to left for a base hit.
Sugita with a grounder to 2nd, and it goes under Matsuyama's glove into right! Runners on 1st and 3rd now for Ube Koujyou on the error!
Tomonaga with the bunt, but Yasuda not going home! So only Sugita advances on the bunt. 2 down.
Yamaoka with a liner... fair! Fair down the 3rd base line! Sakai quickly gets it in, but not before both runners score to make it 10-4.
Hinokuchi strikes out swinging to end the inning, but they've extended their lead.
Bottom 7th
It's an easy inning for Sasanaga as he strikes out 2 in a clean 1-2-3 inning.
Top 8th
Kanemaru reaches down and his one down the right field line. Tateishi running over, puts his glove out but can't catch it! He chases it down as it goes to the wall and Kanemaru slides in with a triple.
Oono with a hit past a diving Makoto into center for a base hit.
Shimizu-kantoku decides at this point to probably let his ace finish it, so Kimura takes the hill once again with #14 Yoshitake coming in for Kinoshita and going to 2st.
Sasanaga with his 3rd hit of the day, a single to left.
Nishino reaches down and hits one to center. Nagatani makes the running catch and makes the easy toss to 1st for the third out.
Bottom 8th
Sasanaga records 3 more groundouts here in the 8th as they are dormy to advance now.
Top 9th
Yasuda with another ball slicing past Akira down the left field line. Sakai there to, he slips! Sakai slips and falls as the ball follows the curvature near the foul pole! Yasuda continuing to run to 3rd, and turns for home! Throw in in not in time and it's a running HR for Yasuda. 12-4.
Kimura retires the next 3 batters to end the inning, and now it's last call for Sasebo Jitsugyou.
Bottom 9th
#7 Tanaka in to hit for Makoto, draws a 4 pitch walk. #10 Koyanagi in for Yoshitake also draws a walk (he's replaced by #15 Fukuda).
Nagatani with a ball to left. That's over Tomonaga's head. Tanaka scores on the double to make it 12-5.
Ura follows that up with a ball to the left center field gap. It rolls all the way to the wall as both Fukuda and Nagatani score to make it 12-7 on the double.
Akira tries to go for it all with a drive to left. But Tomonaga is there near the foul pole for the 1st out. If the rally was to be serious, he needed to try and draw a walk. The HR would have still put them down 3.
Matsuyama does indeed sit, and he walks on 4 straight.
Ozaki-kantoku's waited as long as he could, but before it gets out of hand, he sends in Kanemaru from center to take the mound. Sasanaga goes to replace him in center.
Tateishi flies out to right for the 2nd out.
Last chance for Sajitsu lies with ace Kimura.
Kimura pops it up. Nishino under it and makes the catch to send Ube Koujyou to the round of 16 with a 12-7 win! Sajitsu tried to mount a last minute rally, but it was just too much Ube Koujyou pounded out too many hits against an ineffective Sajitsu staff.
So for Sajitsu their road ends in the 2nd round, unable to win their 2nd consecutive game. Things did look good early as they were able to get to a 4-1 lead, but Ube Koujyou was able to figure out ace Kimura and it was game over. Still, getting a win is getting a win, so they should be proud of that, though it still hurts.
For Ube Koujyou, their cinderella run at Koushien continues as they wait for the winner of the next game in the 3rd round for a spot in the Best 8. For a first timer team, they certainly aren't playing like one. And I'm not impressed by their hitting because their hitting is for the most part hard and low.
And I guess I was dead wrong about Ube Koujyou in this game. Not gonna jinx them now.
Notable Players
Kanemaru Shou (Ube Koujyou) - 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
Yamaoka Yuuki (Ube Koujyou) - 3-5, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
Hinokuchi Yoshio? (Ube Koujyou) - 3-5. 2 R, 2 RBI, K
Yasuda Shou (Ube Koujyou) - 3-5, Running HR, 2 R, RBI
Nagatani Ryouya (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 3-5, 2B, 3 R, RBI
Yamaguchi Akira (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Day 4, Game 4 - Sapporo Dai-ichi (Minami Hokkaido) vs. Sasebo Jitsugyou (Nagasaki)
Wrapping up today's schedule is a cross-country battle between Minami Hokkaido representative Sapporo Dai-ichi and Nagasaki's Sasebo Jitsugyou.
Sapporo Dai-ichi really earned their 3rd Natsu Koushien appearance as they had to defeat both Hokushou and Hokkai in back-to-back games and then came from behind to deny Sapporo Nichidai their first ever appearance.
Looking at their last 3 games against the aforemetioned teams, Sapporo Dai-ichi was very consistent. They batted 0.332 as a team overall, 0.333 versus in those 3 games. Top of the order batters Saitou and Takaishi are the table setters for the team.
On the other side of the ball, Kikuchi-kantoku rode ace Chiku for as long as he could, then went to his relievers #11 Yokouchi and #10 Kikuta when Tomohisa failed (it so happened to be the championship game!). Up until the final, they had yielded just 3 runs. None of the pitchers appear to be K masters (when compared to say Hokkai or Hokushou's successful runs).
Opposing them in the 1st base dugout is Sasebo Jitsugyou making their 4th appearance. Outside of their 1st game, the team appears to be a version of last year's Touyoudai Himeji - lots of low scoring affairs. This despite hitting 0.325 if you remove the 12-0 1st round win, as well as facing a Nagasaki Shougyou team that may have been implementing a platoon matchup with a left and a righty pitcher.
Shimizu-kantoku has used the pitcher timeshare to the maximum here, using #1 Kimura and #11 Kinoshita in roughly equal amounts in the final couple of games, much like Saga Kita. Wonder if this will continue at Koushien.
Sadly, because of the poor performance of Hokkaido teams since Komadai Tomakomai, the advantage probably lies with Sajitsu.
Sapporo Dai-ichi (Minami Hokkaido)
3B Saitou
2B Takaishi
1B Yamada
C Murata
SS Takahashi
RF Satou
CF Chikazawa
P Chiku
LF Kaze
Sasebo Jitsugyou (Nagasaki)
CF Nagatani
C Ura
3B Yamaguchi Akira
2B Matsuyama
RF Tateishi
P Kimura
LF Sakai (#17)
1B Sasahara
SS Yamaguchi Makoto
__________________________________________________
15:39 - First Pitch
Top 1st
Saitou start the game with a liner down the left field side! Saitou stumbles around 1st, but then Sakai's throw misses the cutoff man and allows Saitou to take 2nd! Takaishi bunts him along to 3rd.
Yamada tries to drive the run in, but is frozen on a slightly delayed strike 3 call on a fastball on the outside corner.
Cleanup batter Murata draws a full count walk to keep the inning going, but Takahashi grounds out to 3rd to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Nagatani goes down swinging on a slider way down and away.
Ura then draws a walk, which Shimizu-kantoku electing to have Akira bunt him over for a one-timer from Matsuyama.
First pitch Matsuyama swings out of his shoes... but misses. He eventually flies out to left to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Chikuzawa first pitch hits a liner to center, Satou pushes him further 90 feet.
Kimura for Sajitsu has a fastball in the high 120s, with a cutter, slider and change and curveball.
Chiku can't connect on one such cutter and goes down for the 2nd out.
And Kikuchi-kantoku tries to set the game in motion by sending Chikuzawa, but he's easily thrown out to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
For Chiku, he has a fastball in the mid 130s and at least a slider in the mid 120s.
But he walks his 2nd batter this game in Tateishi. Kimura lays down the bunt, but Murata tries to get the force at 2nd, but the throw is wide and late!
Sakai now looking to lay down the bunt. Misses on his first attempt and now swings away to fall behind 1-2.
But Chiku throws 3 balls not even close and without the benefit of a hit, it's manrui for Sajitsu and #8 batter Sasahara. Kikuchi-kantoku calls for time.
Sasahara a bit eager, swinging on a slider up and in, then on a slider down and away. Then he manages to hold off on a borderline fastball and a fastball low as well.
Chiku finally retires him when he fouls out to 1st. Makoto now up with still only one down.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shimizu-kantoku calls for the squeeze, but Makoto misses! Once again, Tateishi is left in the lurch and is run down while the runners advance.
And Chiku gets out of the pinch as Makoto grounds to short! Manrui with no down and Sajitsu fails to score!
Top 3rd
It's a quick inning for Sapporo Dai-ichi as Kaze is caught looking on a fastball, Saitou grounds to 3rd, and Takaishi hits a weak comebacker to Kimura.
Bottom 3rd
Just like that Sajitsu is back on the sticks.
Nagatani starts it off with a single past a diving Saitou into left. Ura sacrifices him over, though he does make it close at 1st.
Akira then draws a walk and Sasebo is starting to threaten again.
Matsuyama reaches down and slices a ball away to left center! Kaze and Chikazawa charging in, Kaze dives, but it's just out of his reach! Chikazawa gets the ball in, but Nagatani scores to give Sajitsu a 1-0 lead on Matsuyama's double!
Tateishi swings at the first pitch and hits a fly down the right field line. Satou is there for the catch as the runners tags up! The throw is offline and it's now 2-0 Sajitsu!
Kimura goes down swinging on a slider away, but Sajitsu strikes first!
Top 4th
One down for Sapporo and Yamada fists a ball over Akira's head for a base hit! Takahashi follows that up with a grounder past a diving Akira and Sapporo has a scoring situation developing!
Chikuzawa with yet another single to left and it's now manrui for Sapporo as Shimizu-kantoku calls for time with Satou stepping into the box.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Satou, on the 1-1 pitch dives on a pitch down and away and somehow manages to bunt the ball in play! Ura gets the ball, tries to reach back, but can't reach Murata who scores! Ura though has the presence of mind to get up and throw to 1st as Satou had to get up and run. He gets the job done though and the deficit is cut in half at 2-1!
Chiku up for Sapporo and he draws a walk. Manrui once again for Sapporo Dai-ichi. However, Kaze swings on the first pitch and grounds out to short.
Bottom 4th
Sakai works the count full against Chiku, but goes down swinging. Sasahara goes full as well, then bloops one to left.
Shimizu-kantoku has Makoto try to bunt, but he can't. Even when he three bunts (it's three, not free as I found out), he fouls out.
Nagatani flies out to left and the inning is over.
Top 5th
Saitou leads off the inning with a single to left. Takaishi bunts him over to 2nd.
Yamada swings on the first pitch and singles through to right! Saitou rounds 3rd, as Tateishi throws home! Ura with the swipe tag... SAFE!! Saitou just outruns the tag and is safe! We're all tied up at 2-2!!
Now Kikuchi-kantoku is asking cleanup batter Murata to bunt, but like Makoto last half inning he can't and fouls out!
2 down for Takahashi, and he's down on strikes!
But wait a minute, the count was 1-1! How can that be a strikeout? Sapporo's players talk to the plate umpire and after much discussion, and looking at the scoreboard, they finally determine that it was in fact 1-2, and not a strikeout. Sajitsu's players are wondering what's going on and talk to the plate umpire.
The right call was made, and one pitch later Takaashi goes down swinging anyways.
Bottom 5th
One down for Sajitsu and he hits a ball back up the middle. Takahashi runs it down, but has no play.
Matsuyama hits a shallow liner, but Satou charges in and makes the running catch!
Shimizu-kantoku then tries to send Akira, but he's thrown out to end the inning. We head to the break with Sapporo Dai-ichi having clawed their way back level.
Top 6th
Chikuzawa first pitch singles to center AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Nagatani whiffs on the bounds and has to go back to retrieve it! Chikuzawa advances to 2nd! Satou sacrifices him to 3rd and Sapporo Dai-ichi threatens to take the lead!
Chiku up and he shows bunt! But he doesn't offer at the pitch.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He does though when the count is 2-2 and he fouls out! 2 down!
And Kimura is bailed out as he gets Kaze to groundout to short to end the inning!
Bottom 6th
Tateishi works another count full, but chases a slider away for the first out. Chiku though then turns around and walks Kimura on 4 straight.
He throws 2 more to Sakai before he chases a slider down in the zone. Eventually Sakai works his 3rd full count in as many AB's and draws a walk. He's walked, struckout and walked on those 3 full counts.
That gets Kikuchi-kantoku to call time.
After the conference, Chiku immediately gets ahad of Sasahara 0-2.
But Sasahara hits a single to right! Kimura being waved around as Satou's throw is short, rolls on the ground and is late at home! Sajitsu retakes the 3-2 lead! Murata though catches Sasahara off 1st and he snap throws to 1st! He's caught in a rundown and 2-3-6 for the 2nd out! Sakai stays at 3rd.
Chiku meanwhile still can't find the strike zone and he walks Masato of all batters.
#11 Yokouchi begins to warm up in the bullpen as leadoff batter Nagatani steps in.
Masato takes off for 2nd on the 2-0 pitch. Murata's throw to 2nd is cutoff by Takaishi as he snap throws to 3rd.
Nagatani gets ahead 3-0, but a called strike and an unforunate pitch that hits the bat on what would have been ball 4 fills up the count. He then chases a ball way outside the zone and the inning is over. But Sajitsu retakes the lead!
Top 7th
Saitou with a fly ball to left. Sakai running back to the wall, still running... STILL RUNNING!!!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, are you kidding me???!!
Saitou gets that run right back with a homerun that too is at least 10 rows back! We're tied again at 3-3!!!!!
Takaishi with a grounder to the right side! Sasahara can't get it, but Matsuyama backing up the play does. But Kimura can't find the bag on the toss and Takaishi is safe! Yamada immediately lays down the bunt to put the gyakuten runner in scoring position.
Murata first pitch swings and hits a fly to right. Tateishi makes the catch and fires it in as Takaishi tags up! The throw in is good, but the relay throw is tossed over and that allows him to slide in safely! Now a base hit will give Sapporo Dai-ichi the lead!
But no! Takahashi goes down swinging to end the Lucky 7 for Sapporo, and it was a success as they have at least leveled the score!
Bottom 7th
Chiku's control issues remain as Ura works a full count walk. How long will Kikuchi-kantoku leave him in the game??
And again, he throws 2 more balls before he finally records a strike. Then a slider seems to be sheepishly called a strike by the home plate umpire.
Shimizu-kantoku calls for the three bunt, but Akira fouls it off and strikes out!
Matsuyama up and he basically fists a ball inside over Takahashi and into center for a single! Runners on 1st and 2nd with just one down and Sajitsu threatens again!
Chiku gets ahead of Tateishi 0-2, but he's clearly laboring on the mound. Meanwhile, Tateishi is fouling off pitch after pitch, raising Chiku's pitch count even further.
Tateishi with a hot shot through the left side for a base hit! Ura holds up at 3rd as it's manrui for Sajitsu here in the 7th!
Kikuchi-kantoku calls time, but Chiku's already at 146 pitches through only 6.1 innings!
Kimura steps in as the first pitch is buried by Chiku. Kikuchi-kantoku must not want to go to his bullpen at all.
Kimura shows sqeeze, but takes it back for a called strike. Another pitch buried short. Now a fastball high and it's 3-1 to Kimura! There's no place to put him! You bet he's taking all the way.
BALL 4! OSHIDASHI! Sajitsu once again retakes the lead on the bases loaded walk at 4-3!
And only now does Kikuchi-kantoku send in #11 Yokouchi to relieve him. Sorry, but that just a case of being stubborn as opposed to doing the right thing at 146 pitches. 4 walks in the last 1.1 innings was a clear sign that he was laboring.
Yokouchi ahead 2-2, throws a borderline curve, but doesn't get the call. He comes back though and rifles a fastball in there for strike 3! 2 down!
AH!! Yokouchi hits Sasahara and that brings in a run making it 5-3.
Yokouchi finally ends the inning as Makoto grounds out to 2nd. But a self-created mess blows up on Sapporo Dai-ichi and they're back to being behind 2, now with just 2 innings to go.
Top 8th
Chikuzawa gets on for the 4th time, this time by letting a borderline pitch go by for ball 4.
Shimizu sends in #7 Tanaka in for Sakai as a defensive replacement before Satou steps in.
Satou not bunting here, even though he had the last 3 times, and flies out to left. That decision isn't as questionable as you are playing for 2 runs. But you can try for one run an inning still. There's no right or wrong there in my opinion.
However, results-based wise, the decision backfires as Yokouchi grounds into the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
One down for Sajitsu, and Ura has his groundball go between the wickets of Takahashi and into center.
Akira lays down the bunt, but when Yokouchi pulls up from fielding it, both Yamada and Takaishi charge in, which means no one is covering 1st. All safe!
Matsuyama with a base hit through the right side! Ura holds up at 3rd and it's manrui for Sajitsu once again!
Tateishi with a drive to center, but Chikazawa charging in makes the catch and the runners have to hold.
Kimura grounds out to 3rd, Saitou elects to go to 2nd and they barely get Matsuyama for the 3rd out. Yokouchi's done what he could...
Top 9th
Now can they find 2 runs before they record 3 outs?
#13 Nagayama replaces Sasahara at 1B
Kaze falls behind 0-2 and grounds to 3rd.
Saitou gets ahead 2-0 and drives a ball to deep center! Nagatani sprinting back to wall, makes the running catch! 2 down! Up to Takaishi to keep the game alive.
Grounder to 1st, takes a high hop and off of Nagayama into right! Still life for Sapporo Dai-ichi!
But Yamada hits a grounder to 2nd. Matsuyama throws to 1st, and that's the ballgame! Sasebo Jitsugyou despite numerous comebacks from Sapporo Dai-ichi put the game away late and will advance!
A well played game on both sides to finish out Day 4, but the final turning point may have been the oshidashi walk that would give Sajitsu the lead for good. Chiku had run the count to 3 balls to 6 of the prior 10 batters before the walk, and had given up 4 walks, 3 hits and struck out 3. He was certainly out of gas.
Unless you have no confidence in your relief corps, you needed to send in Yokouchi sooner. Even if it didn't work out, at least you made the right decision.
But so it goes, the team from Minami Hokkaido goes home after a hard fought, but 5-3 loss to Sasebo Jitsugyou.
As for Sajitsu, they'll prepare for a 2nd round matchup with Ube Koujyou. They were helped out by walks this time around, but it'll certainly be different next time around.
Notable Players
Matsuyama Kazuhiro (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 3-5, 2B, R, RBI
Sasahara Takumi (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 2-3, RBI, HBP
Yamaguchi Akira (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 2-3, R, BB, K
Saitou Hiromu (Sapporo Dai-ichi) - 3-5, HR, 2 R, RBI
Chikazawa Masaki (Sapporo Dai-ichi) - 3-3, BB
Sapporo Dai-ichi really earned their 3rd Natsu Koushien appearance as they had to defeat both Hokushou and Hokkai in back-to-back games and then came from behind to deny Sapporo Nichidai their first ever appearance.
Looking at their last 3 games against the aforemetioned teams, Sapporo Dai-ichi was very consistent. They batted 0.332 as a team overall, 0.333 versus in those 3 games. Top of the order batters Saitou and Takaishi are the table setters for the team.
On the other side of the ball, Kikuchi-kantoku rode ace Chiku for as long as he could, then went to his relievers #11 Yokouchi and #10 Kikuta when Tomohisa failed (it so happened to be the championship game!). Up until the final, they had yielded just 3 runs. None of the pitchers appear to be K masters (when compared to say Hokkai or Hokushou's successful runs).
Opposing them in the 1st base dugout is Sasebo Jitsugyou making their 4th appearance. Outside of their 1st game, the team appears to be a version of last year's Touyoudai Himeji - lots of low scoring affairs. This despite hitting 0.325 if you remove the 12-0 1st round win, as well as facing a Nagasaki Shougyou team that may have been implementing a platoon matchup with a left and a righty pitcher.
Shimizu-kantoku has used the pitcher timeshare to the maximum here, using #1 Kimura and #11 Kinoshita in roughly equal amounts in the final couple of games, much like Saga Kita. Wonder if this will continue at Koushien.
Sadly, because of the poor performance of Hokkaido teams since Komadai Tomakomai, the advantage probably lies with Sajitsu.
Sapporo Dai-ichi (Minami Hokkaido)
3B Saitou
2B Takaishi
1B Yamada
C Murata
SS Takahashi
RF Satou
CF Chikazawa
P Chiku
LF Kaze
Sasebo Jitsugyou (Nagasaki)
CF Nagatani
C Ura
3B Yamaguchi Akira
2B Matsuyama
RF Tateishi
P Kimura
LF Sakai (#17)
1B Sasahara
SS Yamaguchi Makoto
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15:39 - First Pitch
Top 1st
Saitou start the game with a liner down the left field side! Saitou stumbles around 1st, but then Sakai's throw misses the cutoff man and allows Saitou to take 2nd! Takaishi bunts him along to 3rd.
Yamada tries to drive the run in, but is frozen on a slightly delayed strike 3 call on a fastball on the outside corner.
Cleanup batter Murata draws a full count walk to keep the inning going, but Takahashi grounds out to 3rd to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Nagatani goes down swinging on a slider way down and away.
Ura then draws a walk, which Shimizu-kantoku electing to have Akira bunt him over for a one-timer from Matsuyama.
First pitch Matsuyama swings out of his shoes... but misses. He eventually flies out to left to end the inning.
Top 2nd
Chikuzawa first pitch hits a liner to center, Satou pushes him further 90 feet.
Kimura for Sajitsu has a fastball in the high 120s, with a cutter, slider and change and curveball.
Chiku can't connect on one such cutter and goes down for the 2nd out.
And Kikuchi-kantoku tries to set the game in motion by sending Chikuzawa, but he's easily thrown out to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
For Chiku, he has a fastball in the mid 130s and at least a slider in the mid 120s.
But he walks his 2nd batter this game in Tateishi. Kimura lays down the bunt, but Murata tries to get the force at 2nd, but the throw is wide and late!
Sakai now looking to lay down the bunt. Misses on his first attempt and now swings away to fall behind 1-2.
But Chiku throws 3 balls not even close and without the benefit of a hit, it's manrui for Sajitsu and #8 batter Sasahara. Kikuchi-kantoku calls for time.
Sasahara a bit eager, swinging on a slider up and in, then on a slider down and away. Then he manages to hold off on a borderline fastball and a fastball low as well.
Chiku finally retires him when he fouls out to 1st. Makoto now up with still only one down.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shimizu-kantoku calls for the squeeze, but Makoto misses! Once again, Tateishi is left in the lurch and is run down while the runners advance.
And Chiku gets out of the pinch as Makoto grounds to short! Manrui with no down and Sajitsu fails to score!
Top 3rd
It's a quick inning for Sapporo Dai-ichi as Kaze is caught looking on a fastball, Saitou grounds to 3rd, and Takaishi hits a weak comebacker to Kimura.
Bottom 3rd
Just like that Sajitsu is back on the sticks.
Nagatani starts it off with a single past a diving Saitou into left. Ura sacrifices him over, though he does make it close at 1st.
Akira then draws a walk and Sasebo is starting to threaten again.
Matsuyama reaches down and slices a ball away to left center! Kaze and Chikazawa charging in, Kaze dives, but it's just out of his reach! Chikazawa gets the ball in, but Nagatani scores to give Sajitsu a 1-0 lead on Matsuyama's double!
Tateishi swings at the first pitch and hits a fly down the right field line. Satou is there for the catch as the runners tags up! The throw is offline and it's now 2-0 Sajitsu!
Kimura goes down swinging on a slider away, but Sajitsu strikes first!
Top 4th
One down for Sapporo and Yamada fists a ball over Akira's head for a base hit! Takahashi follows that up with a grounder past a diving Akira and Sapporo has a scoring situation developing!
Chikuzawa with yet another single to left and it's now manrui for Sapporo as Shimizu-kantoku calls for time with Satou stepping into the box.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Satou, on the 1-1 pitch dives on a pitch down and away and somehow manages to bunt the ball in play! Ura gets the ball, tries to reach back, but can't reach Murata who scores! Ura though has the presence of mind to get up and throw to 1st as Satou had to get up and run. He gets the job done though and the deficit is cut in half at 2-1!
Chiku up for Sapporo and he draws a walk. Manrui once again for Sapporo Dai-ichi. However, Kaze swings on the first pitch and grounds out to short.
Bottom 4th
Sakai works the count full against Chiku, but goes down swinging. Sasahara goes full as well, then bloops one to left.
Shimizu-kantoku has Makoto try to bunt, but he can't. Even when he three bunts (it's three, not free as I found out), he fouls out.
Nagatani flies out to left and the inning is over.
Top 5th
Saitou leads off the inning with a single to left. Takaishi bunts him over to 2nd.
Yamada swings on the first pitch and singles through to right! Saitou rounds 3rd, as Tateishi throws home! Ura with the swipe tag... SAFE!! Saitou just outruns the tag and is safe! We're all tied up at 2-2!!
Now Kikuchi-kantoku is asking cleanup batter Murata to bunt, but like Makoto last half inning he can't and fouls out!
2 down for Takahashi, and he's down on strikes!
But wait a minute, the count was 1-1! How can that be a strikeout? Sapporo's players talk to the plate umpire and after much discussion, and looking at the scoreboard, they finally determine that it was in fact 1-2, and not a strikeout. Sajitsu's players are wondering what's going on and talk to the plate umpire.
The right call was made, and one pitch later Takaashi goes down swinging anyways.
Bottom 5th
One down for Sajitsu and he hits a ball back up the middle. Takahashi runs it down, but has no play.
Matsuyama hits a shallow liner, but Satou charges in and makes the running catch!
Shimizu-kantoku then tries to send Akira, but he's thrown out to end the inning. We head to the break with Sapporo Dai-ichi having clawed their way back level.
Top 6th
Chikuzawa first pitch singles to center AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Nagatani whiffs on the bounds and has to go back to retrieve it! Chikuzawa advances to 2nd! Satou sacrifices him to 3rd and Sapporo Dai-ichi threatens to take the lead!
Chiku up and he shows bunt! But he doesn't offer at the pitch.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He does though when the count is 2-2 and he fouls out! 2 down!
And Kimura is bailed out as he gets Kaze to groundout to short to end the inning!
Bottom 6th
Tateishi works another count full, but chases a slider away for the first out. Chiku though then turns around and walks Kimura on 4 straight.
He throws 2 more to Sakai before he chases a slider down in the zone. Eventually Sakai works his 3rd full count in as many AB's and draws a walk. He's walked, struckout and walked on those 3 full counts.
That gets Kikuchi-kantoku to call time.
After the conference, Chiku immediately gets ahad of Sasahara 0-2.
But Sasahara hits a single to right! Kimura being waved around as Satou's throw is short, rolls on the ground and is late at home! Sajitsu retakes the 3-2 lead! Murata though catches Sasahara off 1st and he snap throws to 1st! He's caught in a rundown and 2-3-6 for the 2nd out! Sakai stays at 3rd.
Chiku meanwhile still can't find the strike zone and he walks Masato of all batters.
#11 Yokouchi begins to warm up in the bullpen as leadoff batter Nagatani steps in.
Masato takes off for 2nd on the 2-0 pitch. Murata's throw to 2nd is cutoff by Takaishi as he snap throws to 3rd.
Nagatani gets ahead 3-0, but a called strike and an unforunate pitch that hits the bat on what would have been ball 4 fills up the count. He then chases a ball way outside the zone and the inning is over. But Sajitsu retakes the lead!
Top 7th
Saitou with a fly ball to left. Sakai running back to the wall, still running... STILL RUNNING!!!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, are you kidding me???!!
Saitou gets that run right back with a homerun that too is at least 10 rows back! We're tied again at 3-3!!!!!
Takaishi with a grounder to the right side! Sasahara can't get it, but Matsuyama backing up the play does. But Kimura can't find the bag on the toss and Takaishi is safe! Yamada immediately lays down the bunt to put the gyakuten runner in scoring position.
Murata first pitch swings and hits a fly to right. Tateishi makes the catch and fires it in as Takaishi tags up! The throw in is good, but the relay throw is tossed over and that allows him to slide in safely! Now a base hit will give Sapporo Dai-ichi the lead!
But no! Takahashi goes down swinging to end the Lucky 7 for Sapporo, and it was a success as they have at least leveled the score!
Bottom 7th
Chiku's control issues remain as Ura works a full count walk. How long will Kikuchi-kantoku leave him in the game??
And again, he throws 2 more balls before he finally records a strike. Then a slider seems to be sheepishly called a strike by the home plate umpire.
Shimizu-kantoku calls for the three bunt, but Akira fouls it off and strikes out!
Matsuyama up and he basically fists a ball inside over Takahashi and into center for a single! Runners on 1st and 2nd with just one down and Sajitsu threatens again!
Chiku gets ahead of Tateishi 0-2, but he's clearly laboring on the mound. Meanwhile, Tateishi is fouling off pitch after pitch, raising Chiku's pitch count even further.
Tateishi with a hot shot through the left side for a base hit! Ura holds up at 3rd as it's manrui for Sajitsu here in the 7th!
Kikuchi-kantoku calls time, but Chiku's already at 146 pitches through only 6.1 innings!
Kimura steps in as the first pitch is buried by Chiku. Kikuchi-kantoku must not want to go to his bullpen at all.
Kimura shows sqeeze, but takes it back for a called strike. Another pitch buried short. Now a fastball high and it's 3-1 to Kimura! There's no place to put him! You bet he's taking all the way.
BALL 4! OSHIDASHI! Sajitsu once again retakes the lead on the bases loaded walk at 4-3!
And only now does Kikuchi-kantoku send in #11 Yokouchi to relieve him. Sorry, but that just a case of being stubborn as opposed to doing the right thing at 146 pitches. 4 walks in the last 1.1 innings was a clear sign that he was laboring.
Yokouchi ahead 2-2, throws a borderline curve, but doesn't get the call. He comes back though and rifles a fastball in there for strike 3! 2 down!
AH!! Yokouchi hits Sasahara and that brings in a run making it 5-3.
Yokouchi finally ends the inning as Makoto grounds out to 2nd. But a self-created mess blows up on Sapporo Dai-ichi and they're back to being behind 2, now with just 2 innings to go.
Top 8th
Chikuzawa gets on for the 4th time, this time by letting a borderline pitch go by for ball 4.
Shimizu sends in #7 Tanaka in for Sakai as a defensive replacement before Satou steps in.
Satou not bunting here, even though he had the last 3 times, and flies out to left. That decision isn't as questionable as you are playing for 2 runs. But you can try for one run an inning still. There's no right or wrong there in my opinion.
However, results-based wise, the decision backfires as Yokouchi grounds into the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
One down for Sajitsu, and Ura has his groundball go between the wickets of Takahashi and into center.
Akira lays down the bunt, but when Yokouchi pulls up from fielding it, both Yamada and Takaishi charge in, which means no one is covering 1st. All safe!
Matsuyama with a base hit through the right side! Ura holds up at 3rd and it's manrui for Sajitsu once again!
Tateishi with a drive to center, but Chikazawa charging in makes the catch and the runners have to hold.
Kimura grounds out to 3rd, Saitou elects to go to 2nd and they barely get Matsuyama for the 3rd out. Yokouchi's done what he could...
Top 9th
Now can they find 2 runs before they record 3 outs?
#13 Nagayama replaces Sasahara at 1B
Kaze falls behind 0-2 and grounds to 3rd.
Saitou gets ahead 2-0 and drives a ball to deep center! Nagatani sprinting back to wall, makes the running catch! 2 down! Up to Takaishi to keep the game alive.
Grounder to 1st, takes a high hop and off of Nagayama into right! Still life for Sapporo Dai-ichi!
But Yamada hits a grounder to 2nd. Matsuyama throws to 1st, and that's the ballgame! Sasebo Jitsugyou despite numerous comebacks from Sapporo Dai-ichi put the game away late and will advance!
A well played game on both sides to finish out Day 4, but the final turning point may have been the oshidashi walk that would give Sajitsu the lead for good. Chiku had run the count to 3 balls to 6 of the prior 10 batters before the walk, and had given up 4 walks, 3 hits and struck out 3. He was certainly out of gas.
Unless you have no confidence in your relief corps, you needed to send in Yokouchi sooner. Even if it didn't work out, at least you made the right decision.
But so it goes, the team from Minami Hokkaido goes home after a hard fought, but 5-3 loss to Sasebo Jitsugyou.
As for Sajitsu, they'll prepare for a 2nd round matchup with Ube Koujyou. They were helped out by walks this time around, but it'll certainly be different next time around.
Notable Players
Matsuyama Kazuhiro (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 3-5, 2B, R, RBI
Sasahara Takumi (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 2-3, RBI, HBP
Yamaguchi Akira (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 2-3, R, BB, K
Saitou Hiromu (Sapporo Dai-ichi) - 3-5, HR, 2 R, RBI
Chikazawa Masaki (Sapporo Dai-ichi) - 3-3, BB
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