Game 2, and the first of our 3 first-timers will battle for a spot in the Best 8.
Seiai like Jyousou Gakuin, dominated Tamano Kounan in the first game, with ace Ono pitched a 4-hit shutout. In their next game against fall Kyushu champ Okinawa Shougaku, Ono went 6 strong, then had to hold on for dear life as Okinawa mounted a late-game rally.
It's possible, that with on just 1 days rest we may see 1B Ichinohe come onto the mound in relief of Ono or to start as certainly he will not be able to be effective for a full game.
Seiai's offense seemingly knows how to hit bad pitching, as they knocked around the 3 pitchers all over the place, despite not scoring a lot of runs. But in their first game against Tamano Kounan, it was really all captain Ichinohe and Narita with the majority of the hitting - which might raise some red flags if not for it being their first ever game at Koushien.
For Nobeoka Gakuen, they opened the 2nd round with a solid 4-2 victory over Jiyuugaoka. The two pitcher strategy for Shigemoto-kantoku working perfectly with relief starter Nasu giving 3 inning of mostly nothing, 2 hits, 1 K, 1 BB and 1 ER to show for it. It's like he's out there as a block for their opponents so that when ace Yokose comes in, its like the opposition did nothing statistically at all.
Now, Shigemoto-kantoku also knows that because Nasu doesn't do anything really, that he has the quick hook to pull him at the first sign of trouble - something most kantoku fail to do.
Offsensively, the team is patient and puts a lot of stress on opposing pitchers. In each of the first 7 innings of their game, they had a runner in scoring position (yes, I realize an opening hit and a bunt puts a runner there, but still), and most batters were at least in some way productive.
I think a lot of the game may depend on the relief staff in some form or another but both put the pressure on Seiai. They need to get to Nasu before ace Yokose comes into the game, and they will probably need to rely on Ichinohe or someone else to give them innings.
Seiai (Aomori)
LF Sotokawa Kazumi (#11)
2B Fujimoto Ren
P Ichinohe Shou (#3)
CF Narita Takuya
1B Yamazaki Shouta (#13)
C Wajima Koutarou
3B Moriyama Hiroto
SS Sasaki Shimon (#15)
RF Kitabatake Kanto (#16)
Nobeoka Gakuen (Miyazaki)
2B Kajiwara Shouto
SS Matsumoto Masaya
CF Sakamoto Ryougo
RF Iwashige Akihito
LF Hamada Shintarou
1B Nozaki Kouji (#13)
3B Watarai Akihiro
C Yanase Naoya
P Nasu Ryouto (#10)
____________________________________________________________
10:45 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
A good first inning for Nasu, 7 pitches and the side is retired with a lazy fly to center and 2 groundouts.
Bottom 1st
As expeted, Harada-kantoku will start with Ichinohe on the mound
Not bad, but the Nobeoka Gakuen batters will take a good look at him apparently.
Kajiwara goes full before pulling an outside slider to 2nd. Matsumoto goes after a slow curve and grounds to short.
And just to flash some control, he pounds a fastball in to Sakamoto for the 3rd out.
Top 2nd
Narita late on a high fastball and grounds to short.
Yamazaki spoiling a couple of pitches at 2-2 works count full.
9th pitch lines up the slow curve and lines one down the left field line for a single.
Harada-kantoku calls hit-and-run! Ah, but Wajima pulls the ball foul.
Wajima going on slow cuve as well, but lifts it to center for the 2nd out.
Moriyama grounds to short, Matsumoto goes the short way for the 3rd out.
Bottom 2nd
Nothing special about Ichinohe on the mound, low-mid 130s fastball with a slider and slow curve.
Iwashige lifts fly to center for 1st out.
Control though is hit and miss though, as he walks Hamada.
Hm, that's another skied fly, this time from Nozaki. Sotokawa has it in left center for the 2nd out.
And Watarai chases a slider in the opposing batter's box. 3 down.
Top 3rd
Sasaki fouls of several of Nasu's pitches, but again, nothing to show for it as he pops out to Matsumoto.
There's a solid base hit from Kitabatake. Just out of the reach of Nasu into center.
But I think Seiai is just leaning into balls and generating upswing, because Sotogawa hits yet another high popup that Nozaki takes while running into Yanase. Fujimoto grounds to short and the side is retired.
Bottom 3th
Yanase chopper back up middle! It's off Ichinohe's glove! Sasaki redirects to the ball, but can't field it! 1st base hit for Nobeoka! Nasu lays down bunt, Wajima looks at 2, but thinks again, goes to 1st.
Kajiwara single to left! Sotogawa goes home even though Yanase held at 3rd and now Kajiwara takes 2nd! Defensive mistake by Seiai!
Ichinohe goes to 2nd, but he throws it away! Yanase scores on error by Ichinohe! 1-0 Nobeoka Gakuen!
Now Masumoto bunts Kajiwara along for Sakamoto.
Sakamoto flies to center to end the inning, but a costly run for Seiai!
Top 4th
Ichinohe fighting at the plate to try and start getting that run back.
But while Sakamoto stumbles and falls, Ichinohe lifted the ball high enough that he had time to recover.
Narita inside jammed pops out to short.
Yamazaki catches one at the end of the bat and its a popup to Kajiwara for the 3rd out.
Bottom 4th
Iwashige drive to deep cener! Narita going back and to his left, makes the catch near the wall for the out.
Hamada watches the fastball catch the bottom edge of the zone, 2 down.
Allows just his 3rd runner in Nozaki after a 4-pitch walk.
Wild pitch from Ichinohe moves the runner to 2nd, but Watarai chases the slider for his 2nd K to end the inning.
Top 5th
One down for Seiai and Moriyama draws a walk, just their 3rd baserunner.
あら？ Nasu falls behind Sasaki 3-1. Yokose is scrambled out of the dugout.
Hit-and-run! Ah, but Sasaki flies out to left. 2 out.
Grounder the 2nd base side by Kitabatake, Kajiwara comes in but can't field the ball! Tries to snap throw to 2nd to catch Moriyama off, but he throws it away! Runners hold as Sakamoto backs up.
Shigemoto-kantoku calling time.
Back to the top of the order and Sotogawa.
After a first pitch strike, Harada-kantoku passes a message to Sotokawa.
1-1, pitch way outside and the umpire deems Sotokawa to have swung. Can't make Harada-kantoku happy.
Goes after yet another slider outside, just gets a piece of it, grounds to short for the 3rd out.
Bottom 5th
Yanase drive to deep center! Narita back to the wall, but it's over his head! Yanase in with a double, and looks like Harada-kantoku has the hook. Ace Ono comes in for Yamazaki and takes the hill, Ichinohe goes to 1st.
Ichinohe was pretty much in the same boat Nasu is in on the mound.
Nasu puts the bunt down to move him to 3rd.
Ah, but Kajiwara hits a fly to shallow center! Narita charging in... makes the catch! Yanase can't come home and there's 2 down!
Matsumoto tries safety bunt, then feigns one, but now falls behind 1-2.
Drive to right! Kitabatake running back, leaps! No chance! Matsumoto in at 3rd and Nobeoka Gakuen leads 2-0!
Ah... it looks like Ono is NG out of the pen as he hits Sakamoto...
And now Iwashige singles through short and Matsumoto can walk home, 3-0 Nobeoka Gakuen!
Oh dear. Hamada drive to deep left center, that's off the wall. Sakamoto and Iwashige all the way from 1st score to make it 5-0.
Ono hits his 2nd batter of the inning and Harada-kantoku calls time.
Watarai flies out to center to end the inning, but as we head to the break it all goes horribly wrong for Seiai as Ono off the bench is completely ineffective. A 5-0 deficit may be too much to overcome considering ace Yanase is a couple of warmup pitches from the mound at any point in time.
Top 6th
Fujimoto trying anything to get on base, tries safety bunt. Then short-circuits own effort by head-sliding into 1st and is called out (just).
Narita gets a two out single to right.
Ono though quickly flies out to center, inning over.
Bottom 6th
#7 Uniwa comes in for Sotogawa to play LF.
Yanase chops one over out of the reach of Sasaki for a base hit. Nasu bunts him over.
Kajiwara singles to left..
And Harada-kantoku admits making a mistake as Ono and Ichinohe switch places.
Bunt up the 1st base line from Matsumoto. Ono waits, waits, goes for the tag... SAFE! He waited too long! Yanase scores and it's 6-0.
Sakamoto scoots one past the feet of Ichinohe to center. Kajiwara scores and it's 7-0.
Iwashige grounder to short, Sasaki going home, throw is high and Matsumoto slides around swipe tag, 8-0.
Hamada single through right side, Sakamoto scores, Iwashige run down 9-5-6 for 2nd out.
Nozaki strikes out to end inning, but the collapse continues for Seiai.
Top 7th
#3 Tanaka comes in for Nozaki to play 1B.
Wajima ball to the left side, takes high hop over Matsumoto for a base hit.
Nasu hits Moriyama, and Seiai finally has a decent scoring chance, though a bit late.
Sasaki though hits a foul fly to new 1B Tanaka for the 1st out.
Kitabatake grounder to 1st, Tanaka goes to 2nd for 1, but that's it.
Uniwa flies out to right, and Seiai remains shutout.
Bottom 7th
#6 Ishizawa now in for Sasaki at SS.
Now the game is well in hand, Ichinohe strikes out the side.
Top 8th
#14 Usuda in for Watarai at 3B.
Narita breaks the 1-2-3 inning with a single to right, but otherwise we're just moving towards the end.
Bottom 8th
Kajiwara practing bunt, Wajima stumbles when spinning around and he's safe. Matsumoto bunts him along to 2nd.
Sakamoto walks on 4 straight and Harada-kantoku switches Ono and Hachinohe back.
Iwashige back up the middle for a base hit, Kajiwara scores to make it 10-0, throw goes to 3rd then 2nd and they get Iwashige trying to take 2nd.
Top 9th
Nasu finally pulled, #11 Ide comes in to pitch.
Wajima and Moriyama down, #14 Kimura (moodmaker for the team) comes in to hit for Ishizawa.
He's certainly fighting at the plate... and just lines a pitch foul down the line.
He's milked the AB to 9 pitches now, and checks a swing to make it full.
Sadly on pitch 10, he fouls out to Usuda for the final out.
This game at least the flow of the game went as expected. Score not necessarily as much.
But man, while they lost badly here, they still won 2 games, including Okinawa Shougaku - all in their first effort! Can't take that away from them.
Nobeoka Gakuen meanwhile breaks into the Best 8 for the first time in their history!
Notable Players
Nasu Ryouto (Nobeoka Gakuen) - 8 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, K, BB, HBP
Iwashige Akihito (Nobeoka Gakuen) - 3-5, R, 2 RBI
Matsumoto Masaya (Nobeoka Gakuen) - 2-3, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Yanase Naoya (Nobeoka Gakuen) - 3-4, 2B, 3 R
Narita Takuya (Seiai) - 2-4
Kitabatake Kanto (Seiai) - 2-3
Showing posts with label Seiai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seiai. Show all posts
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
Day 9 - Game 1 - Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa) vs. Seiai (Aomori)
We're finishing up round 2 with 3 teams awaiting their opponents. The winners will dread making the random draw as its possible that they may draw Yokohama.
Okinawa Shougaku wound up surviving a 9-round right against Fukuchiyama Seibi. They didn't have the disastrous first inning, but the triumvirate of Okishou pitchers still were still rather ineffective with no pitcher giving up less than 2 runs in their stint. Their best hitters that game were #5 and #6 batters Akamine and Taira who were 7-9.
So they advanced, but did not come out looking very pretty at all.
First time participants Seiai completely dominated Tamano Kounan 6-0. Ace Ono spun 9 innings of shutout ball, but did so via contact as he only struck out 5. He did so while not pitching low in the zone like most pitchers do, but going up instead to get contact. As Akitashou's ace's could tell you, doing that is fine - so long as you continue to keep it up there.
Offensively, much like Okishou, their offense came predominantly from captain Ichinohe and cleanup batter Narita with Sasaki checking in with a late double.
Seiai's offense as a whole feels a bit weaker than Okinawa Shougaku though against Okishou's pitching they might stand a better chance.
Okinawa Shougaku should have the edge in the game, but there's always senbatsu that will nag me about their team until they can really prove otherwise.
Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa)
SS Moromizato Takumi
CF Chinen Yuuya
LF Naka Shouji (#9)
1B Shibahiki Yuuma
RF Akamine Ken (#17)
2B Taira Yuuki
3B Kubo Shuuto (#16)
P Higa Kenichiroi
C Gushiken Hideki
Seiai (Aomori)
LF Sotokawa Kazumi (#11)
2B Fujimoto Ren
1B Ichinohe Shou
CF Narita Takuya
C Wajima Koutarou
SS Sasaki Shimon (#15)
3B Moriyama Hiroto
RF Kitabatake Kanto (#16)
P Ono Norio
____________________________________________________________
09:29 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Moromizato goes after an outside offering and grounds to 1st to open the action.
Chinen somehow gets under a regular slider from Ono and foul out to Wajima.
Naka grounder to the left side. Sasaki runs it down in the gap, spins throws to 1st... not in time!
OH!!!!
Shibahiki drives a high curve from Ono to deep left center! Sotogawa and Narita converging, Sotogawa dives.... just out of his reach! Narita doubles back to get the ball in, Naka being waved around 3rd. He scores!
Well! Okinawa Shougaku jumps on Ono early and take the 1-0 lead!
Akamine flies out to left to end the inning, but how will Seiai respond?
Bottom 1st
Sotogawa leans in and pulls n outside pitch to left... but Naka is right thee for the catch.
Fujimoto ahead of the Higa slider and pops it up to shallow center. Taira going out to field it...
Misses it!!! Fujimoto, running out of the box goes for 2nd and gets there safely. Seiai threatening to tie the game.
Ichinohe with with another shallow fly!! Akamine charging in won't get to it! Fujimoto running from 2nd scores and just like that we're tied at 1-1!
うわぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁ。。。
Narita's helmet comes off as a Higa offering goes off the bottom of the helmet. He goes into a crouch as Harada-kantoku comes out to see how he is. He's taken to the dugout as Sotogawa comes in to run for him.
Higa settes down after that thankfully and retires the next two batters to retire the side. But Seiai volleys back a shot and we're back to level!
Top 2nd
Narita comes out for the top of the 2nd, glad to see he's ok.
Okinawa facing the same problems Tamano Kounan did though, trying to get a level swing on a high pitch over the plate. Moriyama winds up retiring all 3 of Okishou's batters, including Kubo who fouled off several attemps, off bad contact and Seiai goes back on the offensive.
Bottom 2nd
Moriyama after making 3 outs, hits a slow ball back up the middle, Morimizato runs it down, but misses the snag. Leadoff runner on for Seiai.
But Kitabatake is swinging and gets ahead of a slider! Taira starts the 5-4-3 double play and there 2 out!
Ono undaunted hits a ball to shallow center for a single bringing up Sotogawa.
Grounder to short, AH! Ball goes 5-hole on Moromizato and Seiai's inning continues!
Fujimoto back up the middle, past Taira and into center! Ono's being waved home!! Throw in from Chinen...
OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gushiken gets the swipe tag on Fujimoto and Chinen's throw keep the game tied at 1!
Top 3rd
Defense on both sides struggling as a grounder from Gushiken bounces off Moriyama and to Sasaki. His throw is way late and Okishou has the leadoff runner on.
Morimizato tries to bunt him along, but it just goes foul both times.
SANSHIN! He chases a high slider for the 1st out!
Chinen not seeing anything on the inner half or down in the zone.
He's late on the fastball and grounds to 3rd! Sasaki starts the 6-4... 3 double play! Side retired!
Bottom 3rd
One down, Narita feeling no effects of the dead ball (for now anyways), singles to left!
And he takes off for 2nd, no throw from Gushiken! Wajima in position for an RBI with a timely.. but he slowly chops one up the middle. Moromizato fields and goes to 1st for the out, 2 down Narita at 3rd.
Sasaki thinks he has ball 4 on the 3-1 pitch, but can't toss his bat away quite yet according to the ump. He does though, one ball later.
EH??
1-2 pitch to Moriyama and Gushiken pops up as Narita is in no mans land! He's run down and the inning inexplicably ends for Seiai on that note.
Top 4th
Naka becomes just Ono's 2nd K as he watches a slider catch the outside corner for the 1st out.
Akamine though he winds up losing on 4 straight. And now he can't find a strike to Taira, falling behind 2-0!
Taira with a grounder to 2nd, Fujimoto tags Akamine on the move for the 3rd out.
Bottom 4th
Moriyama with yet another hit for Seiai and what feels like a ton to center which means they're timing Higa well.
Kitabatake tries to bunt the runner over but goes behind 0-2.
He goes back up the middle! It just gets by Higa and clears into center! Yet another ball squared up.
2 on, no out and Harada-kantoku has Ono bunt the runners along.
Sotogawa rips one down the 3rd base line... past a diving Kubo and down the line! Moriyama and Kitabatake both score on Sotogawa's timely double! Seiai leads 3-1!! The Seiai offense is completely KOing him here.
Sure enough, Higa-kantoku pulls him and puts in Ura.
He gets Moromizato to quickly ground to 2nd for out #2.
Ichinohe with a ball to left center! That will fall in the gap! Sotogawa scores and it's a 4-1 ballgame!
Narita grounds to 2nd to end the inning but Seiai has taken back the lead!
Top 5th
Ono walks his 2nd batter in Ura with one out, Gushiken bunts him to scoring position.
But Morimizato chases the high slider and pops up to Moriyama to end the inning!
Bottom 5th
And now Ura plunks Wajima to start the inning.
Kitabatake with the bunt, Gushiken quickly fields, throws to 2nd.... cuts down Wajima for the 1st out!
Suzuki caught leaning the wrong way! Ura goes to 1st and he's picked off!
Moriyama pops out to Moromizato to end the inning. But an avalanche of hits has given Seiai the lead!
Top 6th
Chinen grounder to the right side, great diving stop by Fujimoto! Finishes the play to 1st, one down!
Higa-kantoku changing things up hoping for a different result, but #15 Nishihira repeats the same story grounding to Sasaki.
Shibahiki too goes after a fastball on the inner half and grounds out to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Nishihira stays in to play LF.
Different pitcher, same result. Kitabatake with yet another base hit back up the middle. Ono bunts him along for the top of the order.
Kitabatake breaks for 3rd! Ura fires over and they get him for the 2nd out. I can't tell if that was a bad read or they actually were trying to straight steal 3rd. But there 2 down.
Make that 3 as Sotogawa chops one to Kubo for the last out.
Top 7th
Akamine quickly down 0-2 swinging at a couple of ball, works it level before Wajima buys a strike for the 1st out
Taira with a ball to right. Kitabatake back to the wall?!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's a line drive of a HR if I've ever seen one, but it's a HR all the same as he makes it 4-2!
Kubo though continues to struggle like the rest of the team, skying one in front of home. Wajima nd Ono converge, no one really calling it. Wajima making the basket catch as Ono pats him on the helmet.
#14 Uehara to hit for Ura, but a good charge into one, but flies out to right to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
More changes for Okinawa Shougaku. #5 Sunagawa comes in for Kubo to play 3B, #12 Yamashiro in for PH Uehara takes over on the mound.
Fujimoto with a hard liner, but right to new 3B Sunagawa for the out.
And Yamashiro is able to do what the other two pitchers couldn't - get a 1-2-3 inning! Both Ichinohe and Narita ground out to Shibahike and can the tide be turning for Okishou late in the game?
Top 8th
Ono falls behind Gushiken 3-0 before tailing a ball over the plate for a strike.
Gushiken attacks the next and that will find the gap! Sotogawa chasing it to the wall and there's a leadoff double!
Moromizato ball back up the middle! They're sending Gushiken! Throw from Narita... not in time! 2 hits into he 8th and it's a 1-run ball game!
4-3 as Harada-kantoku calls time for damage control.
Chinen up to bunt goes behind 0-2 to the whistle of "Haisai Oji-san".
SANSHIN! Chinen misses the three bunt and there's 1 down!
Nishihira, grounder to 3rd! Moriyama with a superb pick to his right, goes to 2nd for one, throw to first...
OUT!!!!!!!!! The 1B umpire emphatically punches out a diving Nishihira and he pounds his helmet on the base in frustration. (Though if you ran good sir, instead of diving, you might be safe).
Bottom 8th
Wajima with Seiai's first hit off of Yamashiro, a single off the end of his bat to right. Sasaki tries to bunt him over, but misses his first two attempts. Show bunt again, takes it back... but is punched out! 1 down!
Moriyama, 2 hits early on, can't find the magic again as he flies out to right.
But Kitabatake does! Single through the left side and Seiai has a mini chance here to get that insurance run back as Higa-kantoku calls time.
Ono ahead of a slider and flies out to center! Yamashiro has held the line for Okinawa Shougaku...
Top 9th
...Can his offense mount the counter-attack in the waning moments?
Shibahiki will start it off for Okishou as Ono fires a slider inside for a strike.
Chopper to short, takes a high bounce but Sasaki is there to field it, leans back for the throw... offline but Ichinohe makes the tag! 1 down!
Akamine first pitching swinging comebacker to Ono! He walks it over to 1st and makes the toss for the 2nd out!
But with Taira up, Ono gets skittish! Despite Wajima going out to talk to him, he walks him on 4 straight.
#18 Asato comes in to hit for Sunagawa..
Grounder to 3rd! It's slow and Moriyama charges! Throw...
OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Asato dives, and the throw beats him to end the game!!
Ah, the guts dive into 1st may have cost them the game!
Ono faded late as evidenced by the HR by Taira and the back-to-back hits in the 8th may have signified a change in momentum.
But Nishihira ends the inning with a double play where he dives into 1st on a close play, and then in the 9th Asato does the same. And so their rally runs short here in the 2nd round.
For Seiai, it is 2 strong efforts now, now adding the fall Kyushu champs to their board of victims. Not bad for a first time team. They weren't cheated at the plate at all as many of their hits were back up the middle - the sign of a team in the zone. And they got hits often too.
But there are weaknesses showing. Ono faded late giving up 2 of his 3 runs in the final 3 innings. And then when Yamashiro came in throwing upper 130s, the offense completely shut down. If they face a pitcher like that at the beginning, they could be in a bit of trouble.
For now though, they can enjoy the victory and a spot in the 3rd round.
Notable Players
Ono Norio (Seiai) - CG, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 K, 3 BB
Kitabatake Kanto (Seiai) - 3-4
Fujimoto Ren (Seiai) - 2-4, 2B
Ichinohe Shou (Seiai) - 2-4, 2B, RBI, SB
Sotogawa Kazumi - 1-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Taira Yuuki (Okinawa Shougaku) - 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB
Gushiken Hideki (Okinawa Shougaku) - 1-3, 2B, R
Okinawa Shougaku wound up surviving a 9-round right against Fukuchiyama Seibi. They didn't have the disastrous first inning, but the triumvirate of Okishou pitchers still were still rather ineffective with no pitcher giving up less than 2 runs in their stint. Their best hitters that game were #5 and #6 batters Akamine and Taira who were 7-9.
So they advanced, but did not come out looking very pretty at all.
First time participants Seiai completely dominated Tamano Kounan 6-0. Ace Ono spun 9 innings of shutout ball, but did so via contact as he only struck out 5. He did so while not pitching low in the zone like most pitchers do, but going up instead to get contact. As Akitashou's ace's could tell you, doing that is fine - so long as you continue to keep it up there.
Offensively, much like Okishou, their offense came predominantly from captain Ichinohe and cleanup batter Narita with Sasaki checking in with a late double.
Seiai's offense as a whole feels a bit weaker than Okinawa Shougaku though against Okishou's pitching they might stand a better chance.
Okinawa Shougaku should have the edge in the game, but there's always senbatsu that will nag me about their team until they can really prove otherwise.
Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa)
SS Moromizato Takumi
CF Chinen Yuuya
LF Naka Shouji (#9)
1B Shibahiki Yuuma
RF Akamine Ken (#17)
2B Taira Yuuki
3B Kubo Shuuto (#16)
P Higa Kenichiroi
C Gushiken Hideki
Seiai (Aomori)
LF Sotokawa Kazumi (#11)
2B Fujimoto Ren
1B Ichinohe Shou
CF Narita Takuya
C Wajima Koutarou
SS Sasaki Shimon (#15)
3B Moriyama Hiroto
RF Kitabatake Kanto (#16)
P Ono Norio
____________________________________________________________
09:29 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Moromizato goes after an outside offering and grounds to 1st to open the action.
Chinen somehow gets under a regular slider from Ono and foul out to Wajima.
Naka grounder to the left side. Sasaki runs it down in the gap, spins throws to 1st... not in time!
OH!!!!
Shibahiki drives a high curve from Ono to deep left center! Sotogawa and Narita converging, Sotogawa dives.... just out of his reach! Narita doubles back to get the ball in, Naka being waved around 3rd. He scores!
Well! Okinawa Shougaku jumps on Ono early and take the 1-0 lead!
Akamine flies out to left to end the inning, but how will Seiai respond?
Bottom 1st
Sotogawa leans in and pulls n outside pitch to left... but Naka is right thee for the catch.
Fujimoto ahead of the Higa slider and pops it up to shallow center. Taira going out to field it...
Misses it!!! Fujimoto, running out of the box goes for 2nd and gets there safely. Seiai threatening to tie the game.
Ichinohe with with another shallow fly!! Akamine charging in won't get to it! Fujimoto running from 2nd scores and just like that we're tied at 1-1!
うわぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁぁ。。。
Narita's helmet comes off as a Higa offering goes off the bottom of the helmet. He goes into a crouch as Harada-kantoku comes out to see how he is. He's taken to the dugout as Sotogawa comes in to run for him.
Higa settes down after that thankfully and retires the next two batters to retire the side. But Seiai volleys back a shot and we're back to level!
Top 2nd
Narita comes out for the top of the 2nd, glad to see he's ok.
Okinawa facing the same problems Tamano Kounan did though, trying to get a level swing on a high pitch over the plate. Moriyama winds up retiring all 3 of Okishou's batters, including Kubo who fouled off several attemps, off bad contact and Seiai goes back on the offensive.
Bottom 2nd
Moriyama after making 3 outs, hits a slow ball back up the middle, Morimizato runs it down, but misses the snag. Leadoff runner on for Seiai.
But Kitabatake is swinging and gets ahead of a slider! Taira starts the 5-4-3 double play and there 2 out!
Ono undaunted hits a ball to shallow center for a single bringing up Sotogawa.
Grounder to short, AH! Ball goes 5-hole on Moromizato and Seiai's inning continues!
Fujimoto back up the middle, past Taira and into center! Ono's being waved home!! Throw in from Chinen...
OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gushiken gets the swipe tag on Fujimoto and Chinen's throw keep the game tied at 1!
Top 3rd
Defense on both sides struggling as a grounder from Gushiken bounces off Moriyama and to Sasaki. His throw is way late and Okishou has the leadoff runner on.
Morimizato tries to bunt him along, but it just goes foul both times.
SANSHIN! He chases a high slider for the 1st out!
Chinen not seeing anything on the inner half or down in the zone.
He's late on the fastball and grounds to 3rd! Sasaki starts the 6-4... 3 double play! Side retired!
Bottom 3rd
One down, Narita feeling no effects of the dead ball (for now anyways), singles to left!
And he takes off for 2nd, no throw from Gushiken! Wajima in position for an RBI with a timely.. but he slowly chops one up the middle. Moromizato fields and goes to 1st for the out, 2 down Narita at 3rd.
Sasaki thinks he has ball 4 on the 3-1 pitch, but can't toss his bat away quite yet according to the ump. He does though, one ball later.
EH??
1-2 pitch to Moriyama and Gushiken pops up as Narita is in no mans land! He's run down and the inning inexplicably ends for Seiai on that note.
Top 4th
Naka becomes just Ono's 2nd K as he watches a slider catch the outside corner for the 1st out.
Akamine though he winds up losing on 4 straight. And now he can't find a strike to Taira, falling behind 2-0!
Taira with a grounder to 2nd, Fujimoto tags Akamine on the move for the 3rd out.
Bottom 4th
Moriyama with yet another hit for Seiai and what feels like a ton to center which means they're timing Higa well.
Kitabatake tries to bunt the runner over but goes behind 0-2.
He goes back up the middle! It just gets by Higa and clears into center! Yet another ball squared up.
2 on, no out and Harada-kantoku has Ono bunt the runners along.
Sotogawa rips one down the 3rd base line... past a diving Kubo and down the line! Moriyama and Kitabatake both score on Sotogawa's timely double! Seiai leads 3-1!! The Seiai offense is completely KOing him here.
Sure enough, Higa-kantoku pulls him and puts in Ura.
He gets Moromizato to quickly ground to 2nd for out #2.
Ichinohe with a ball to left center! That will fall in the gap! Sotogawa scores and it's a 4-1 ballgame!
Narita grounds to 2nd to end the inning but Seiai has taken back the lead!
Top 5th
Ono walks his 2nd batter in Ura with one out, Gushiken bunts him to scoring position.
But Morimizato chases the high slider and pops up to Moriyama to end the inning!
Bottom 5th
And now Ura plunks Wajima to start the inning.
Kitabatake with the bunt, Gushiken quickly fields, throws to 2nd.... cuts down Wajima for the 1st out!
Suzuki caught leaning the wrong way! Ura goes to 1st and he's picked off!
Moriyama pops out to Moromizato to end the inning. But an avalanche of hits has given Seiai the lead!
Top 6th
Chinen grounder to the right side, great diving stop by Fujimoto! Finishes the play to 1st, one down!
Higa-kantoku changing things up hoping for a different result, but #15 Nishihira repeats the same story grounding to Sasaki.
Shibahiki too goes after a fastball on the inner half and grounds out to end the inning.
Bottom 6th
Nishihira stays in to play LF.
Different pitcher, same result. Kitabatake with yet another base hit back up the middle. Ono bunts him along for the top of the order.
Kitabatake breaks for 3rd! Ura fires over and they get him for the 2nd out. I can't tell if that was a bad read or they actually were trying to straight steal 3rd. But there 2 down.
Make that 3 as Sotogawa chops one to Kubo for the last out.
Top 7th
Akamine quickly down 0-2 swinging at a couple of ball, works it level before Wajima buys a strike for the 1st out
Taira with a ball to right. Kitabatake back to the wall?!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's a line drive of a HR if I've ever seen one, but it's a HR all the same as he makes it 4-2!
Kubo though continues to struggle like the rest of the team, skying one in front of home. Wajima nd Ono converge, no one really calling it. Wajima making the basket catch as Ono pats him on the helmet.
#14 Uehara to hit for Ura, but a good charge into one, but flies out to right to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
More changes for Okinawa Shougaku. #5 Sunagawa comes in for Kubo to play 3B, #12 Yamashiro in for PH Uehara takes over on the mound.
Fujimoto with a hard liner, but right to new 3B Sunagawa for the out.
And Yamashiro is able to do what the other two pitchers couldn't - get a 1-2-3 inning! Both Ichinohe and Narita ground out to Shibahike and can the tide be turning for Okishou late in the game?
Top 8th
Ono falls behind Gushiken 3-0 before tailing a ball over the plate for a strike.
Gushiken attacks the next and that will find the gap! Sotogawa chasing it to the wall and there's a leadoff double!
Moromizato ball back up the middle! They're sending Gushiken! Throw from Narita... not in time! 2 hits into he 8th and it's a 1-run ball game!
4-3 as Harada-kantoku calls time for damage control.
Chinen up to bunt goes behind 0-2 to the whistle of "Haisai Oji-san".
SANSHIN! Chinen misses the three bunt and there's 1 down!
Nishihira, grounder to 3rd! Moriyama with a superb pick to his right, goes to 2nd for one, throw to first...
OUT!!!!!!!!! The 1B umpire emphatically punches out a diving Nishihira and he pounds his helmet on the base in frustration. (Though if you ran good sir, instead of diving, you might be safe).
Bottom 8th
Wajima with Seiai's first hit off of Yamashiro, a single off the end of his bat to right. Sasaki tries to bunt him over, but misses his first two attempts. Show bunt again, takes it back... but is punched out! 1 down!
Moriyama, 2 hits early on, can't find the magic again as he flies out to right.
But Kitabatake does! Single through the left side and Seiai has a mini chance here to get that insurance run back as Higa-kantoku calls time.
Ono ahead of a slider and flies out to center! Yamashiro has held the line for Okinawa Shougaku...
Top 9th
...Can his offense mount the counter-attack in the waning moments?
Shibahiki will start it off for Okishou as Ono fires a slider inside for a strike.
Chopper to short, takes a high bounce but Sasaki is there to field it, leans back for the throw... offline but Ichinohe makes the tag! 1 down!
Akamine first pitching swinging comebacker to Ono! He walks it over to 1st and makes the toss for the 2nd out!
But with Taira up, Ono gets skittish! Despite Wajima going out to talk to him, he walks him on 4 straight.
#18 Asato comes in to hit for Sunagawa..
Grounder to 3rd! It's slow and Moriyama charges! Throw...
OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Asato dives, and the throw beats him to end the game!!
Ah, the guts dive into 1st may have cost them the game!
Ono faded late as evidenced by the HR by Taira and the back-to-back hits in the 8th may have signified a change in momentum.
But Nishihira ends the inning with a double play where he dives into 1st on a close play, and then in the 9th Asato does the same. And so their rally runs short here in the 2nd round.
For Seiai, it is 2 strong efforts now, now adding the fall Kyushu champs to their board of victims. Not bad for a first time team. They weren't cheated at the plate at all as many of their hits were back up the middle - the sign of a team in the zone. And they got hits often too.
But there are weaknesses showing. Ono faded late giving up 2 of his 3 runs in the final 3 innings. And then when Yamashiro came in throwing upper 130s, the offense completely shut down. If they face a pitcher like that at the beginning, they could be in a bit of trouble.
For now though, they can enjoy the victory and a spot in the 3rd round.
Notable Players
Ono Norio (Seiai) - CG, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 K, 3 BB
Kitabatake Kanto (Seiai) - 3-4
Fujimoto Ren (Seiai) - 2-4, 2B
Ichinohe Shou (Seiai) - 2-4, 2B, RBI, SB
Sotogawa Kazumi - 1-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Taira Yuuki (Okinawa Shougaku) - 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB
Gushiken Hideki (Okinawa Shougaku) - 1-3, 2B, R
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Day 4 - Game 3 - Seiai (Aomori) vs. Tamano Kounan (Okayama)
Onto our afternoon games under the blazing sun and we have a matchup that for most Japanese will probably get glossed over since they're not regular schools.
Tamano Kounan just did win the title with narrow wins over Koujyoukan in the semis and Kanzei in the finals (see, all my major teams fell short this year). Their offense was inconsistent and pitching faded down the stretch, but it was good enough to win their 3rd title.
Ace Hoshi Kei had been given some rest by relievers Nakagawa and Hitomi in the semifinals before facing Kanzei. He's your average ace, mid 130s stuff with a slider and change.
Seiai, much like Ueda Nishi has been close many times but until this year had been unable to break through. This year they did it while having to not only defeat Kousei Gakuin, but Aomori Yamada (who is also rebuilding).
Their offense against the stronger teams will not wow you, so it'll be up to ace Ono and 1B Ichinohe to shoulder the burden.
Seiai (Aomori)
2B Fujimoto Ren
LF Uniwa Shoutarou
1B Ichinohe Shou
CF Narita Takuya
3B Moriyama Hiroto
C Wajima Koutarou
SS Sasaki Shimon (#15)
RF Kitabatake Kanto (#16)
P Ono Norio
Tamano Kounan (Okayama)
CF Kawakami Rui
RF Kikkawa Tooru
SS Fujimoto Taku
1B Satou Romoya
3B Kashino Takuya
LF Kouso Kensuke
P Hoshi Kei
C Hatou Shigeo
2B Saitou Ruse
____________________________________________________________
13:45 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
First pitch Fujimoto grounds to Satou before siren even ends.
Looks like the guns were slow (or I adjusted too far down). Hoshi throws upper 130s, though control is a bit off.
But it's good enough to get Uniwa to chase a high fastball for the 2nd out.
Captain Ichinohe quickly pops out to Fujimoto and the side is retired.
Bottom 1st
Kawakami gets under an 0-2 offering from Ono and flies out to Kitabatake.
Kikkawa on a 2-2 pitch waves meekly at an outside pitch and in an unusual gesture floats and snipes the bat in slight annoyance for swinging at that pitch.
Ono's sidearm deliver plunks Fujimoto, but ends up being of no consequence when Satou grounds to Sasaki who takes it himself to the bag for the 3rd out.
Top 2nd
Narita first pitch hits a solid single to right. Moriyama tries to bunt, but can't and he falls behind 0-2.
Chopper to Hoshi, but it's off his glove! It deflect to the gap in short and Fujimoto is out of position! Everyone's safe!
Wild pitch from Hoshi as he puts one right in front of Hatou and it bounces away! Runners advance 90 feet!
Wajima liner to 1st! Satou makes the catch, fires to 3rd... double play!! Oy, don't runners know the saying, "liner wait for it to get past the infield"?
Oh, and that's a shame as Sasaki hits one to center! Kawakami coming in but it lands in front of him! Moriyama being sent home, throw from Kawakami... Safe!!
It could have been 2 runs, but they'll have to settle for one as Sasaki delivers! 1-0 Seiai!
Kitabatake flies out to Kouso and the inning is over.
Bottom 2nd
Ono's tempo is rather quick as Kashino flies out to center, and Kouso chases a slider away.
Hoshi up with two down puts a ball up the 3rd base line that Moriyama oles, but again, no damage done as Hatou flies out to shallow left.
Top 3rd
Hoshi certainly a contact pitcher inducing two groundsout from Ono and Fujimoto. Ono's grounder was hard hit and Kashino almost threw the ball wide.
Hoshi though does have a K victim, and actually doubles him up as Uniwa just takes a ball on the inside half for his 2nd K of the game.
Bottom 3rd
Saitou with no luck against Ono, hits a towering popup that Moriyama takes behind the mound.
Kawakami checks in with a hit through the left side, and Tano-kantoku calls for Kikkawa to lay down the bunt - which he does.
2 down and looking for the timely from Fujimoto.
But he's having trouble sizing up the ball and falls behind 0-2.
And as a sidearmer he actually goes up the latter on Fujimoto who just kind of waves at the ball for the third out.
Top 4th
This game whizzing along quickly as both pitches work fast.
Ichinohe with a ball to center right. Kawakami running back near the wall, backs up...
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kawakami backs into the wall as it lands in the first row! 2-0 Seiai, though that didn't seem like it was going t go out considering the swing.
That's the 19th HR this Koushien! I think they're using juiced balls because this seems like an inordinate amount so far.
Hoshi sits down the next three batters with relative ease, but a surprising HR by the Seiai captain doubles the lead!
Bottom 4th
It looks like Ono despite going sidearm either pitches low at the edges or up when in the zone. Which is rather strange if you ask me.
Ono issues his first walk to Satou here in the 4th. Tano-kantoku has him bunted him along to 2nd, but Kashino bunts it too hard. Ono makes a strong, albeit high, throw to cut down the lead runner.
Unable to advance the runner via bunt, Kashino takes off with 2 down during Hoshi's AB! Throw is over everyone, but Kashino trips over the bag and can't advance - not that he'd be able to with Narita covering.
However, Hoshi grounds back to Ono who goes to 1st to retire the side.
Top 5th
Hoshi hasn't been that terrible so far. Here in the 5th he's hitting relatively most of his spots, and getting ground balls. Sasaki grounds one back to him, Kitabatake a routine grounder to 2nd, and someone not named Uniwa strikes out when Ono swings and miss on an outside pitch.
Bottom 5th
Tamano Kounan going aggressive early in the AB looking for success, but has had none.
Hatou grounds out to Moriyama, Satou flies out to center, and Kawakami despite fouling off a couple chops one to short and gets himself out diving into 1st.
3 outs and the game is moving along rather expediently. Hoshi hasn't pitched badly for Tamano Kounan, but a wild pitch followed by a timely and then an unexpected HR have been the difference at 2-0.
Ono isn't all that spectacular as a sidearmer, but he's getting the job done right now though pitching up in the zone as a sidearmer still seems weird to me.
Top 6th
Full count to Fujimoto and you can hear the "あああああああああ....." from him as the changeup plunks him on the back of the leg. He's ok, and some itai spray will help too.
Uniwa glad to do something other than strike out, lays down excellent bunt to move Fujimoto along for captain Ichinohe.
Apparently now Hoshi is trying to prove me wrong in that he's not doing badly, because a wild pitch puts Fujimoto at 3rd.
Hoshi throws a 57' pitch that Ichinohe somehow manages to foul off.
And then gets paid off when he takes an outside pitch the other way for a base hit. Fujimoto strolls home to make it 3-0.
Narita with a ball to the right side, fair! It says fair down the 1st base line! Ichinohe thinks the ball is sill in the infield (or foul) and hesitates a bit. But the ball is in right and he finishes coming home to make it 4-0. Narita ends up at 2nd though just.
His stay there is rather short as he gets picked off by Hotou. Moriyama grounds out to end the inning, but a dead ball plus timely hitting double Seiai's lead!
Bottom 6th
Ono is making the Tamano batters swing at his pitches. Kikkawa skies a ball to left, Fujimoto reaches out and meekly grounds a ball to short, and Satou hits a silo HR to Sasaki for the 3rd out.
Top 7th
Changes for Tamano Kounan, #10 Nakagawa comes in for Kikkawa and takes over on the mound. Hoshi goes to LF and Kouso goes to RF.
Wajima hits a ball to the new RF, Kouso charging in makes the diving catch for the first out. But then Nakagawa plunks Sasaki who must have initially thought he wouldn't get awarded 1st.
Apparently for those who can run, they have the green light. Sasaki takes off and easily beats Hatou's throw.
Kitabatake can't get his first hit as he flies out to center.
Nakagawa looks like another average lefty. After first pitch, there's a long conference on the mound, not sure what they're talking about.
Whatever it is, it didn't help! Ono with his first hit laces one to center! Sasaki walks home and it's a 5-0 lead for Seiai!
Apparently no relief is to be had. Nakagawa walks Fujimoto.
And in response to Uniwa's ineffectiveness, #11 Sotogawa comes in to hit for him. He makes contact, but lines out to a charging Kawakami. But Seiai continues to add to their lead.
Bottom 7th
Sotogawa says in to play LF.
But Tamano Kounan still struggling with Ono. Kashino with a fly out to center.
Perhaps something promising, Kouso gets Tamano's 3rd hit with a ball to right.
Hoshi hits a ball to deep left, and Sotogawa has to back up and make a backpedaling catch for the 2nd out.
Kouso advances to 2nd on a balk, but while Hatou makes very good contact on a hard liner, Kitabatake charging in makes the catch.
Top 8th
The gods are apparently not with Tamano Kounan. One out, Narita hits a grounder to 2nd, but on the last bounce, it takes a hop triple of the last one and Saitou can only watch as it goes over his head for a base hit.
The gods give it back when Moriyama grounds into the 5-4-3 double play. And from the looks of that play, Moriyama is not fast. Not at all.
Bottom 8th
Saitou takes a ball coming back in to him and turns it back around through the left side for just their 4th hit.
Kawakami up, and he completely chases a ball out of the zone, still makes contact, but grounds to short.
#15 Matsuoka coming in to hit for Nakagawa, his day is done.
Ono with a wild pitch of his own and Saitou advances to 3rd.
But once again Ono climbs the ladder and Matsuoka strikes out! 2 down for Tamano.
Fujimoto takes an outside pitch the other way, but flies out to right to end the inning. The shutout continues.
Top 9th
#18 Genma comes in for PH Matsuoka and takes the hill. Good start as Wajima hits a comebacker for the for the first out.
Sasaki with a fly ball to right. Kouso coming over to his right... misjudges it and it goes over his head! Kawakami backs him up but Sasaki has a double!
And wouldn't you know it #17 Kase, who comes in to hit for Kitabatake, takes the first pitch and lines it fair down the left field line for back-to-back doubles and a 6-0 lead. Genma then walks Ono and it's all sorts of bad for Tamano Kounan.
But Genma retires the next 2 batters, with some help with a nice play from Fujimoto.
Bottom 9th
Defensive changes for Seiai. #6 Ishizawa comes in for Moriyama and goes to SS, Sasaki shifts to 3B, and #9 Itagaki comes in for PH Kase to play RF.
Ono meanwhile completes his efficient performance finishing the game under 100 pitches as he retires Tamano Kounan in order for a 6-0 shutout.
I'd have to say I'm rather surprised by this. I didn't expect necessarily a Seiai win, much less a dominating shutout. However, Tamano Kounan never adjusted to a simple strategy from ace Ono - pitch up in the middle of the zone, low on the edges and outside (or so it seemed).
And so the first timers advance to the next round! Some of Tamano Kounan's players (especially Kouso) are taking it pretty hard, probably perhaps because of the result. But they got here and that at least means something.
Notable Players
Ono Norio (Seiai) - CG, SHO, 4 H, 5 K, BB, HBP
Ichinohe Shou (Seiai) - 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI
Narita Takuya (Seiai) - 3-4, 2B
Sasaki Shimon (Seiai) - 2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, HBP
Saitou Ruse (Tamano Kounan) - 1-3
Hoshi Kei (Tamano Kounan) - 1-3
Tamano Kounan just did win the title with narrow wins over Koujyoukan in the semis and Kanzei in the finals (see, all my major teams fell short this year). Their offense was inconsistent and pitching faded down the stretch, but it was good enough to win their 3rd title.
Ace Hoshi Kei had been given some rest by relievers Nakagawa and Hitomi in the semifinals before facing Kanzei. He's your average ace, mid 130s stuff with a slider and change.
Seiai, much like Ueda Nishi has been close many times but until this year had been unable to break through. This year they did it while having to not only defeat Kousei Gakuin, but Aomori Yamada (who is also rebuilding).
Their offense against the stronger teams will not wow you, so it'll be up to ace Ono and 1B Ichinohe to shoulder the burden.
Seiai (Aomori)
2B Fujimoto Ren
LF Uniwa Shoutarou
1B Ichinohe Shou
CF Narita Takuya
3B Moriyama Hiroto
C Wajima Koutarou
SS Sasaki Shimon (#15)
RF Kitabatake Kanto (#16)
P Ono Norio
Tamano Kounan (Okayama)
CF Kawakami Rui
RF Kikkawa Tooru
SS Fujimoto Taku
1B Satou Romoya
3B Kashino Takuya
LF Kouso Kensuke
P Hoshi Kei
C Hatou Shigeo
2B Saitou Ruse
____________________________________________________________
13:45 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
First pitch Fujimoto grounds to Satou before siren even ends.
Looks like the guns were slow (or I adjusted too far down). Hoshi throws upper 130s, though control is a bit off.
But it's good enough to get Uniwa to chase a high fastball for the 2nd out.
Captain Ichinohe quickly pops out to Fujimoto and the side is retired.
Bottom 1st
Kawakami gets under an 0-2 offering from Ono and flies out to Kitabatake.
Kikkawa on a 2-2 pitch waves meekly at an outside pitch and in an unusual gesture floats and snipes the bat in slight annoyance for swinging at that pitch.
Ono's sidearm deliver plunks Fujimoto, but ends up being of no consequence when Satou grounds to Sasaki who takes it himself to the bag for the 3rd out.
Top 2nd
Narita first pitch hits a solid single to right. Moriyama tries to bunt, but can't and he falls behind 0-2.
Chopper to Hoshi, but it's off his glove! It deflect to the gap in short and Fujimoto is out of position! Everyone's safe!
Wild pitch from Hoshi as he puts one right in front of Hatou and it bounces away! Runners advance 90 feet!
Wajima liner to 1st! Satou makes the catch, fires to 3rd... double play!! Oy, don't runners know the saying, "liner wait for it to get past the infield"?
Oh, and that's a shame as Sasaki hits one to center! Kawakami coming in but it lands in front of him! Moriyama being sent home, throw from Kawakami... Safe!!
It could have been 2 runs, but they'll have to settle for one as Sasaki delivers! 1-0 Seiai!
Kitabatake flies out to Kouso and the inning is over.
Bottom 2nd
Ono's tempo is rather quick as Kashino flies out to center, and Kouso chases a slider away.
Hoshi up with two down puts a ball up the 3rd base line that Moriyama oles, but again, no damage done as Hatou flies out to shallow left.
Top 3rd
Hoshi certainly a contact pitcher inducing two groundsout from Ono and Fujimoto. Ono's grounder was hard hit and Kashino almost threw the ball wide.
Hoshi though does have a K victim, and actually doubles him up as Uniwa just takes a ball on the inside half for his 2nd K of the game.
Bottom 3rd
Saitou with no luck against Ono, hits a towering popup that Moriyama takes behind the mound.
Kawakami checks in with a hit through the left side, and Tano-kantoku calls for Kikkawa to lay down the bunt - which he does.
2 down and looking for the timely from Fujimoto.
But he's having trouble sizing up the ball and falls behind 0-2.
And as a sidearmer he actually goes up the latter on Fujimoto who just kind of waves at the ball for the third out.
Top 4th
This game whizzing along quickly as both pitches work fast.
Ichinohe with a ball to center right. Kawakami running back near the wall, backs up...
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kawakami backs into the wall as it lands in the first row! 2-0 Seiai, though that didn't seem like it was going t go out considering the swing.
That's the 19th HR this Koushien! I think they're using juiced balls because this seems like an inordinate amount so far.
Hoshi sits down the next three batters with relative ease, but a surprising HR by the Seiai captain doubles the lead!
Bottom 4th
It looks like Ono despite going sidearm either pitches low at the edges or up when in the zone. Which is rather strange if you ask me.
Ono issues his first walk to Satou here in the 4th. Tano-kantoku has him bunted him along to 2nd, but Kashino bunts it too hard. Ono makes a strong, albeit high, throw to cut down the lead runner.
Unable to advance the runner via bunt, Kashino takes off with 2 down during Hoshi's AB! Throw is over everyone, but Kashino trips over the bag and can't advance - not that he'd be able to with Narita covering.
However, Hoshi grounds back to Ono who goes to 1st to retire the side.
Top 5th
Hoshi hasn't been that terrible so far. Here in the 5th he's hitting relatively most of his spots, and getting ground balls. Sasaki grounds one back to him, Kitabatake a routine grounder to 2nd, and someone not named Uniwa strikes out when Ono swings and miss on an outside pitch.
Bottom 5th
Tamano Kounan going aggressive early in the AB looking for success, but has had none.
Hatou grounds out to Moriyama, Satou flies out to center, and Kawakami despite fouling off a couple chops one to short and gets himself out diving into 1st.
3 outs and the game is moving along rather expediently. Hoshi hasn't pitched badly for Tamano Kounan, but a wild pitch followed by a timely and then an unexpected HR have been the difference at 2-0.
Ono isn't all that spectacular as a sidearmer, but he's getting the job done right now though pitching up in the zone as a sidearmer still seems weird to me.
Top 6th
Full count to Fujimoto and you can hear the "あああああああああ....." from him as the changeup plunks him on the back of the leg. He's ok, and some itai spray will help too.
Uniwa glad to do something other than strike out, lays down excellent bunt to move Fujimoto along for captain Ichinohe.
Apparently now Hoshi is trying to prove me wrong in that he's not doing badly, because a wild pitch puts Fujimoto at 3rd.
Hoshi throws a 57' pitch that Ichinohe somehow manages to foul off.
And then gets paid off when he takes an outside pitch the other way for a base hit. Fujimoto strolls home to make it 3-0.
Narita with a ball to the right side, fair! It says fair down the 1st base line! Ichinohe thinks the ball is sill in the infield (or foul) and hesitates a bit. But the ball is in right and he finishes coming home to make it 4-0. Narita ends up at 2nd though just.
His stay there is rather short as he gets picked off by Hotou. Moriyama grounds out to end the inning, but a dead ball plus timely hitting double Seiai's lead!
Bottom 6th
Ono is making the Tamano batters swing at his pitches. Kikkawa skies a ball to left, Fujimoto reaches out and meekly grounds a ball to short, and Satou hits a silo HR to Sasaki for the 3rd out.
Top 7th
Changes for Tamano Kounan, #10 Nakagawa comes in for Kikkawa and takes over on the mound. Hoshi goes to LF and Kouso goes to RF.
Wajima hits a ball to the new RF, Kouso charging in makes the diving catch for the first out. But then Nakagawa plunks Sasaki who must have initially thought he wouldn't get awarded 1st.
Apparently for those who can run, they have the green light. Sasaki takes off and easily beats Hatou's throw.
Kitabatake can't get his first hit as he flies out to center.
Nakagawa looks like another average lefty. After first pitch, there's a long conference on the mound, not sure what they're talking about.
Whatever it is, it didn't help! Ono with his first hit laces one to center! Sasaki walks home and it's a 5-0 lead for Seiai!
Apparently no relief is to be had. Nakagawa walks Fujimoto.
And in response to Uniwa's ineffectiveness, #11 Sotogawa comes in to hit for him. He makes contact, but lines out to a charging Kawakami. But Seiai continues to add to their lead.
Bottom 7th
Sotogawa says in to play LF.
But Tamano Kounan still struggling with Ono. Kashino with a fly out to center.
Perhaps something promising, Kouso gets Tamano's 3rd hit with a ball to right.
Hoshi hits a ball to deep left, and Sotogawa has to back up and make a backpedaling catch for the 2nd out.
Kouso advances to 2nd on a balk, but while Hatou makes very good contact on a hard liner, Kitabatake charging in makes the catch.
Top 8th
The gods are apparently not with Tamano Kounan. One out, Narita hits a grounder to 2nd, but on the last bounce, it takes a hop triple of the last one and Saitou can only watch as it goes over his head for a base hit.
The gods give it back when Moriyama grounds into the 5-4-3 double play. And from the looks of that play, Moriyama is not fast. Not at all.
Bottom 8th
Saitou takes a ball coming back in to him and turns it back around through the left side for just their 4th hit.
Kawakami up, and he completely chases a ball out of the zone, still makes contact, but grounds to short.
#15 Matsuoka coming in to hit for Nakagawa, his day is done.
Ono with a wild pitch of his own and Saitou advances to 3rd.
But once again Ono climbs the ladder and Matsuoka strikes out! 2 down for Tamano.
Fujimoto takes an outside pitch the other way, but flies out to right to end the inning. The shutout continues.
Top 9th
#18 Genma comes in for PH Matsuoka and takes the hill. Good start as Wajima hits a comebacker for the for the first out.
Sasaki with a fly ball to right. Kouso coming over to his right... misjudges it and it goes over his head! Kawakami backs him up but Sasaki has a double!
And wouldn't you know it #17 Kase, who comes in to hit for Kitabatake, takes the first pitch and lines it fair down the left field line for back-to-back doubles and a 6-0 lead. Genma then walks Ono and it's all sorts of bad for Tamano Kounan.
But Genma retires the next 2 batters, with some help with a nice play from Fujimoto.
Bottom 9th
Defensive changes for Seiai. #6 Ishizawa comes in for Moriyama and goes to SS, Sasaki shifts to 3B, and #9 Itagaki comes in for PH Kase to play RF.
Ono meanwhile completes his efficient performance finishing the game under 100 pitches as he retires Tamano Kounan in order for a 6-0 shutout.
I'd have to say I'm rather surprised by this. I didn't expect necessarily a Seiai win, much less a dominating shutout. However, Tamano Kounan never adjusted to a simple strategy from ace Ono - pitch up in the middle of the zone, low on the edges and outside (or so it seemed).
And so the first timers advance to the next round! Some of Tamano Kounan's players (especially Kouso) are taking it pretty hard, probably perhaps because of the result. But they got here and that at least means something.
Notable Players
Ono Norio (Seiai) - CG, SHO, 4 H, 5 K, BB, HBP
Ichinohe Shou (Seiai) - 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI
Narita Takuya (Seiai) - 3-4, 2B
Sasaki Shimon (Seiai) - 2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, HBP
Saitou Ruse (Tamano Kounan) - 1-3
Hoshi Kei (Tamano Kounan) - 1-3
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