高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

With the first two winners not drawing each other, this matchup can breathe easy not having to face Sakushin Gakuin. Shuugakukan is still in play, which is why for the winner of this game, perhaps drawing Meitoku Gijyuku is the lesser of two evils.

Hokkai (Minami Hokkaido)

• def Matsuyama Seiryou 2x-1
• def Nichinan Gakuen 4-1

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

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)

• def Clark Kokusai 5-2
• def Touhou 5-3

3B Matsumoto Kouki (松本 康希)
2B Koizumi Teppei (小泉 徹平)
CF (9)Kanou Satsuki (加納 皐)
P (8)Suzuki Takuto (鈴木 拓人)
LF Kamakura Takashi(鎌倉 誠)
CF (15) Satou Shunya (佐藤 駿矢)
SS Segawa Kouki (瀬川 航騎)
1B (13)Nishikawa Shouya (西川 将也)
C Kadoi Taijyu (門井 泰寿)
____________________________________________________________

13:05 - First pitch!

For Hokkai, this couldn't have been that much worse of a 1st inning.

Satou boots the first groundball from Matsumoto, Oonishi hits 2 batters, a wild pitch scores the first run, a shallow fly ball that shouldn't score anyone does because they can't get under it comfortably, and the first base hit scored the 3rd run of the inning. 3-0 Seikou Gakuin after 1.

Unfortunately for Seikou, they were not immune to the ugliness either. Suzuki walks the first batter, walks another batter after a sac bunt, gives up an RBI single to Oonishi, saw 2B Koizumi flay miss his toss to 2nd on a double play, and then Suzuku hit a batter to bring a 2nd run in, making it a 3-2 ballgame.

Oy. You guys are playing for a spot in the Best 4, clean it up would you?

The do for an inning, but Hokkai almost blows it yet again. Oonishi gives up back-to-back singles to Kanou and Suzuki before Satou is able to snag a hot shot from Kamamura, step on 3rd for 1, and throw to 1st for the double play to retire the side.


And they add to it! Kawamura up to lead off the 5th and he blasts a ball to right center! The fielders converge and it's gone! Solo HR for Hokkai and they're leading 5-3!!

Saitou-kantoku relieves Suzuki with #11 Suzuki Takuto who walks 2 of his 3 batters and throws a wild pitch. #18 Saitou comes in and immediately Hokkai's Suzuki lays down the squeeze, which works, putting them ahead 6-3, which is where we are at the break.
Needless to say, the game up until this point hasn't been pretty, and with Seikou changing pitchers twice in an inning, it might yet get worse.

Thankfully for them it doesn't get too much worse. They give up a run in the 8th. Problem was, they weren't able to generate many opportunities until the 8th where Kanou hit a double, but got thrown out trying to go to 3rd on a grounder to short. After that, Kamakura hit a double that would have scored 1. Instead PH #16 Nakaya grounds out to 2nd netting the team a donut.

And so Seikou Gakuin goes down to Hokkai no less. Just to be clear, I don't like the school because it has won Fukushima 10 times in a row. But I don't dislike the players. It's not their fault they went to the best school - the only school perhaps - that they may remember to go to Koushien. It's what the school represents that I don't like.

Which is why I still feel bad when I see the players from Seikou crying. Their summer is over and a spot in the Best 4 wasn't that far away.

Opening up our last day of Round of 16 action are the "comeback" kids of Touhou vs the Koushien mainstays in Seikou Gakuin. If Touhou can put up any type of decent performance I think they can advance

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)

Ok, heading into the meat of the schedule now. This is where for the most part everyone is in play to face the top teams. Draw right, you could go far, draw wrong, and well, enjoy your summer.

Clark Kokusai I think gets a dream pairing in Seikou Gakuin. It could be better (easier), but to have a decent shot at defeating a 10-consecutive appearance team in your first?

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
3B Matsumoto Kouki (松本 康希)
LF (15)Satou Shunya (佐藤 駿矢)
RF Kanou Satsuki (加納 皐)
CF Suzuki Shunsuke (鈴木 駿輔)
2B Koizumi Teppei (小泉 徹平)
1B Isobe Reiya (磯辺 伶也)
SS Segawa Kouki (瀬川 航騎)
C Kadoi Taijyu (門井 泰寿)
P Suzuki Takuto (鈴木 拓人)

Clark Kokusai (Kita Hokkaido)
LF Abe Yuuto (阿部 勇斗)
2B Fukuda Kengo (福田 健悟)
P (6)Hirasawadzu Toraki (平沢津 虎揮)
1B Yasuda Toshiyuki (安田 世幸)
3B Karasawa Shuuto (樺沢 脩斗)
CF Kanahara You (金原 瑶)
C Kishi Seiya (岸 誠也)
RF (17)Hamamoto Daichi (浜本 大地)
SS (18)Chiba Keita (千葉 慶大)

____________________________________________________________

08:00 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Hirasawadzu's sidearm action is actually generating velo similar to regular overhand pitchers.

Matsumoto hits a ball to shallow right center, but Kanahara charging dives and makes the catch! Great play right off the bat!

Satou tries to lay down a safety bunt, but Karasawa charges in and just makes the throw to 1st over the runner.

The inning is almost a complete success, but Kanou singles to center, and Hirasawadzu plunks Suzuki. He still gets the 0 on a fielder's choice but it's extra work.

Bottom 1st
Clark Kokusai's motto is "打て！打て！打て！" which means "Hit! Hit! Hit!", so they're pretty aggressive with the bats if they like a pitch.

Abe goes down chasing a curveball, and Fukuda grounds out on the first pitch.

But Hirasawada the man of the minute right now as he reaches out and takes an outside pitch the other way into the right center field gap for a double!!

Yasuda follows that up with a single to right and Clark Kokusai has the 1-0 lead!

Karasawa strikes out to end the inning, but that motto seems to be working so far.

Top 2nd
Hirasawadzu missing the zone a bit on Isobe and walks him to lead off the inning.

2 down and Isobe on 2nd now, Suzuki hits a grounder to 2nd. Fukuda looked to have it, but instead he double clutches and his throw to 1st is wild! It goes into the camera well and Isobe scores! 1-1!

Bottom 2nd
Another leadoff walk, this time given by Suzuki. But after a bunt, Kanahara makes the mistake of breaking to 3rd on a grounder to short! Segawa goes to 2nd instead and starts the rundown for the 2nd out!

That really hurts because after that Chiba hits a grounder to 3rd that Matsumoto can't handle, and Abe singles to center. That would have easily scored 1 run there.

Instead it's manrui with Fukuda up, and he grounds to 2nd again to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd
Hirasawadzu leading off the 3rd, goes after a high pitch, but drives it deep to right! Kanou goes back, but it's over his glove! Hirasawadzu is in with a leadoff triple!

And Yasuda on the first pitch singles to left! The tandem does it again, and it's 2-1!

Bottom 4th
All scoring opportunities are belonging to Clark Kokusai. though when Fukuda gets a walk ahead of the combo of Hirasawadzu-Yasuda it seems to throw things off.

Hirasawadzu does gets on base via error when his slow chopper is booted by Koizumi, but Yasuda flies out to right.

Bottom 5th
Man, it's amazing what Clark Kokusai is doing. More often than not we're seeing teams unable to get that timely hit, yet when there's a big hit for the team, it's followed up by one more!

Here it's Kishi that hits a ball to the right center field gap for a triple! And then soon afterwards Hamamoto hits a ball over the drawn in outfield and it's a 3-1 ballgame!

(Entered meeting, so was able to watch, but unable to comment).

Today we will have the last of the 49 teams to take the field, and the start of some team's 2nd games.

First, we need to get the last couple to make their debut for 2015.

Toukaidai Sagami forced the early retirement (as in not reaching Koushien, he apparently had planned on retiring this year regardless) of Yokohama's Watanabe-kantoku. They were dominant throughout, the closest game being a 4-0 win over unknown Souyou, while blowing out Tier 3 schools such as Hiratsuka Gakuen and Nichidai Fujisawa. The team batted a mind-boggling 0.381 and 0.396 in their final 3 games.

Seikou Gakuin is making their 9th straight appearance, but it's much like Chiben Wakayama dominating a prefecture perhaps minus the track record at Koushien given their best result is the quarterfinals (4 out of 11 appearances). The run looks good until the final where they barely beat Nichidai Tohoku 3-2. They only batted 0.355 in their last 3 games, which is concerning considering how they dominate the prefecture in general.

I think Toukaidai Sagami has their act together this time around, and it'll be an uphill battle for Seikou Gakuin to get past the first game.

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
C Satou Toshiya
CF Murasaki Ryuuma
RF Asami Takeshi
1B Nishiyama Shinnosuke
3B Kasahara Akira
SS Fujita Satoshi
LF Kamakura Makoto (#17)
2B Katsuma Takumi
P Morikubo Shouya

Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
2B Chino Keijirou
CF Miyaji Kyouhei
SS Sugisaki Shigeki
RF Toyoda Hiroshi
1B Isoami Eito
C Nagakura Ren
3B Kawaji Seitarou
LF Takeuchi Daiki
P Yoshida Ryou(#11)

____________________________________________________________

08:00 - First Pitch!

1st Inning
Seikou tries to get off to a good start with a 1-out single by Murasaki. But Asami grounds into the 3-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Morikubo was about to get a 1-2-3 inning until Sugisaki doubles to left. Toyoda follows that up with a single back up the middle. He steals 2nd without a throw and Seikou Gakuin already in a bind, but just needs one out.

Isoami zoomer past Kasahara and down the 3rd base line! That easily scores 2 on the double and Toukaidai Sagami is off and running.

After a walk to Takeuchi, Nagakura with a booing ball of his own to left. That's off the wall and 2 more runs score to make it 4-0 already.

In the end it's 8 batters, 4 runs, and perhaps another one-sided game from start to finish.

Bottom 3rd
Once again Toukaidai starting something with 2 down. Isoami beats Kasahara down the 3rd base line for yet another double.

Takeuchi singles to center and that scores Kasahara to make it 5-0 with Takeuchi taking 2nd on throw.

Nagakura singles past Isoami into left and that scores Takeuchi, 6-0.

They try for 7 when Kawachi singles to right, but Asami's throw is on the mark and Nagakura is thrown out.

To break
Toukaisagami is happy to speed up the game up 6. Seikou Gakuin is getting more and more baserunenrs, for instance when they had 1st/2nd with 1 out. But you just don't get the feeling they're going to score. It's probably because they have more free passes (3) than actual hits (2).

To end
There just was nothing there for Seikou Gakuin against relief starter Yoshida.If not for back-to-back hits from Katsunuma and Morikubo in the 8th, they'd be shut out.

After the 1st out in the 9th, Toukaidai puts in their ace Oagasawara. And goes 148 back-to-back. Fast yes, control? We won't get a big indicator unless it's really bad.

He gets the final 2 outs to finish the game. I'd have to look through and see if I can find records of who pitched the majority of time, but if Yoshida was sent out to save the ace, it worked.

()

Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
RF Hoshi Kenta
SS Kurodai Naito
1B Kodachi Otowa (#8)
3B Ikeda Takamasa
LF Kobayashi Masaya
2B Arai Makoto
CF Takeishi Ryou (#16)
C Kamakura Wataru
P Iidzuka Satoshi

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
LF Yaoita Takumaru
2B Fujiwara Issei
3B Yaginuma Kentarou
1B Yasuda Kouki
CF Isagi Shun
SS Ishigaki Mitsuhiro
RF Harada Genki (#17)
C Takano Kouki
P Funabasama Taiga

___________________________________________________________

15:30 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Funabasama walks leadoff batter Hoshi, and is promptly bunts the runner over.

Kodachi with a ball to left center splits the defense! Hoshi comes in on the double and Nihon Bunri leads 1-0!

Ikeda singles to left! Kodachi has to hold at 3rd, but things looking dire already. Saitou-kantoku calls for time.

Kobayashi pops it up! Yaginuma under it for the 2nd out!

But Funabasama goes and walks Arai to load the bases! Big chance for bench starter Takeishi!

SANSHIN!!!!

He just watches as the slider goes over the plate for strike 3! Nihon Bunri leads but it could have been more!

Bottom 1st
Yaoita grounder to left side, Kurodai chases it down, quick throw to first goes off Kodachi's glove! Infield single to start for Seikou!  And as expected he's bunted over.

Yaginuma with a single to right center! Yaoita comes home and just like that we're all tied at 1-1!

2 down now and Yaginuma takes off for 2nd! He's in safely and Seikou looks to take the lead!

But Isagi grounds to 1st! Kodachi makes the play to retire the side.

A bit shaky for the converted outfielder and Seikou has tied the game!

Top 2nd
Kamakura needs a moment after an attempted bunt hits him in the hand.

But he'll feel much better after he singles past Funabasama to center!

Iidzuka with a pop fly to left. Yaoita running towards the line, still running! It falls in! Kamakura goes to 3rd, but Nihon Bunri is threatening again!

But on Hoshi's grounder to 2nd, Kamakura gets himself hung up! He's run down, but perhaps prevents the double play instead. Still runners on 2nd and 3rd, 1 down.

Kurodai pops it up! Ishigaki behind the mound makes the catch, 2 out!

Kodachi delivers again! He singles to center and Iidzuka can score giving Nihon Bunri the 2-1 lead!

Ikeda flies out to right, but now we know why they're keeping him in the lineup!

Bottom 2nd
One down and bench starter Harada lines a ball down the left field line all the way to the wall for a double!

Takano single to left! Harada holds up at 3rd, but it's clear opportunities are to be had on both sides!

Grounder to 2nd! Arai goes for the double play, 4-6-3 and Iidzuka is out of the inning!


Top 3rd
Funabasama finally has a clean inning. Bunri hits a couple of fly balls but nothing of consequence.

Bottom 3rd
Yaoita with his 2nd hit in as many ABs with a single up the middle. Fujiwara moves him over, but then puts Yaginuma on with a free pass.

Yasuda can't get the timely as he pops out to Kodachi in foul territory.

Isagi grounder to 2nd, Arai has trouble fielding it, but does go to 1st for the 3rd out.

Top 4th
Kamakura with a basehit back up the middle, but neither Iidzuka, Hoshi or Kurodai can do anything to get him around. More specifically Hoshi his a hard shot to the left side, but Ishigaki makes the diving catch.

Bottom 4th-6th
I had nodded off with 2 outs, but apparently I had missed out on an exciting inning, because there was an error by Arai on a grounder by Takano. Funasako then hit an infield single to short. Iiduka then walked Yaoita to load the bases for Fujiwara.

However Fujiwara would ground out to short and Seikou's chance was left begging.

The next 2 innings would be almost uneventful. Nihon Bunri had the best chance in the 6th as Takeishi had a 1-out triple to center - but Kamakura was swinging at anything in the zone and wind up chasing a slider for the 2nd out and Iidzuka fouled out to end the inning.

Top 7th
Hoshi with a chopper up the middle got the Bunri offense again as Kurodai moved him into scoring position. But with 2 down, after Ikeda drew a walk, Kobayashi would bloop one to the right side. All the fielders converged on the ball, but no one could get to it. Hoshi scored from 2nd and extended their lead to 3-1.

Bottom 7th
Yaoita tried to jump-start the Seikou offense with a base hit up the middle. Saitou-kantoku elects to go with the hit-and-run, but Fujiwara fouls out.

The rally would stall because after Yasuda drew a 2-out walk, Isagi grounded to 2nd and that was that.

Bottom 8th
After Funabasama got a 1-2-3 inning, Seikou got another leadoff runner as Ishigaki lined a single to left. But after a sac but to at least get 1 run. PH Fujita and Satou completely wasted the opportunity in just 4 pitches.

Top 9th
Saitou-kantoku having almost sold out send in #18 Imaizumi.

But after 2 outs it all collapsed. After he gave up 2 singles, Imaizumi hit 3 straight batters, driving in 2 and extending the lead to 5-1.

Bottom 9th
Yamagumi would get a 2-out base hit for Seikou, but otherwise the game was over as Nihon Bunri would win 5-1.

Seikou Gakuin had chances early, had chances late while the game was still close, but they were 2-12 with runners in scoring position and could only push 1 run across.

And so one of the better runs for a Fukushima squad ends in the quarterfinals. Nihon Bunri meanwhile gets one step closer to another final and perhaps a chance at a title.

()

Oumi (Shiga)
LF Horiguchi Yuuka (#9)
CF Oda Kaito
SS Ueda Kai
3B Hibi Ryousuke
2B Nakaya Jyunpei
1B Yamamoto Daichi (#18)
C Minobe Naoki
P Ogawa Ryouken
LF Sasaji Kenta (#17)

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
LF Yaoita Takumaru
2B Fujiwara Issei
3B Yaginuma Kentarou
1B Yasuda Kouki
CF Isagi Shun
RF Iijima Tsubasa
SS Ishigaki Mitsuhiro
C Takano Kouki
P Imaizumi Keita (#18)

____________________________________________________________

13:20 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Horiguchi with a chopper up the middle, Imaizumi leaps but it goes off his glove! He loses where the ball went to and Horiguchi is on with an infield single!

Taga-kantoku goes for the bust-and-run, but Oda fouls it off. 2 strikes, but he's still showing bunt.

It's another hit-and-run, but Oda goes down swinging. Horiguchi is able to take 2nd.

But he's left stranded there after Ueda hits a comebacker to Imaizumi and Hibi feebly waves at a pitch well outside for Imai's 2nd K.

Bottom 1st
Yaoita with a single back up the middle. Fujiwara with the push bunt and Ogawa takes a bad angle! He falls behind, but Nakaya charging in makes the quick throw... just gets him!

Things get slightly easier after that as Yaginuma chases a low slider, and he snags a quick chopper back up the middle from Yasuda.

Top 2nd
The top of the 2nd has been brought to you by Ishigaki. Because he records/assist on all three outs from the Oumi lineup.

Bottom 2nd
2 down and Ishigaki hits a single to the left side that Ueda runs down, but can't finish the throw to 1st. But Ishigaki tries to steal 2nd and a nice swipe tag from Ueda.

Top 3rd
Sasaji gets on the board with a 1-out single to left, and Taga-kantoku elects to go for the one-timer as Horiguchi moves him along.

SANSHIN!!!!

After a prolonged AB, Ogawa freezes Oda on a changeup!

Bottom 3rd
One down and Imaizumi hits one back at Ogawa! He deflects it with the glove towards short, but Ueda can't do anything with it!

Yaoita with a drive to right center Sasaji running back, loses his hat and it falls in! He barehand the ball, fires it back in! Imaizumi being waved home! Nakaya to Yamamoto to Minobe... OUT!!!

It's a perfect relay for Oumi as they get Sasaji at the plate! 2 out!

Fujiwara grounds to 1st and they successfully defend the 0!

Top 4th
Ueda hard shot at 3rd, Yaginuma can't keep it in front of him and it bounces into left for a basehit!

Hibi swinging, right at Imaizumi! He makes the reflex catch! Boy, not much time to react there!

Nakaya blooper to center, Fujiawara, Ishigaki and Isagi converge, but it falls in! Oumi with a great chance with one out!

AH!!!! Yamamoto hits a grounder to short! Ishigaki starts the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and Oumi comes away with nothing (except for a very dirty jersey for Yamamoto now).

Bottom 4th
Isagi gets another 2-out single for Seikou, but once again the next batter is retired and nothing comes out of it.

Top 5th
Imaizumi seems to be back on track after the last couple of innings. Also helps facing the bottom of the lineup as well. He retires the side in order and has righted the ship.

Bottom 5th
Ogawa with a wide pitch hits a ducking Ishigaki in the helmet. Not serious thankfully.

The temporary baserunner gets 2nd on a sac bunt and 3rd on a groundout.

But Yaoita can't plate him as he grounds out to Nakaya.

It's scoreless at the break, but Seikou has had a better time of it getting baserunners.

Top 6th
Horiguchi with his 2nd single, a lined shot to left center. Isagi is shaded that way and fires it in, leaving Horguchi with a long single.

AH! Imaizumi is called for a balk! On a pickoff throw he's called for the balk and Oumi has a runner in scoring position!

Saitou-kantoku calls for time, but can't stop the bunt from Oda.

Ueda with a drive to deep left!!  Yaoita running back to the fence, still running! Leaps!

Makes the catch as he runs into the fence! Horiguchi will score, but Yaoita prevents more damage! 1-0 Oumi!

Hibi with a clean hit to center and Seikou could be in trouble.

Saitou-kantoku senses it too and sends in ace Funabasama to hold the line.

And he does striking out a frustrated Nakaya on a slider to end the inning. But Oumi has the lead as we emerge from the break!

Bottom 6th
Ogawa just needs 5 pitches to retire the side as the Seikou batters are swinging early and often.

Top 7th
Yamamoto earns a leadoff walk but Minobe pops up his bunt and Yasuda makes the running catch! Taga-kantoku has Ogawa lay one down as well - that goes down successfully.

Sasaji with a liner to left, but it's too hard as Yamamoto has to hold at 3rd. 2 down but Oumi challenging again!

Funabasama jams Horiguchi! He skies one to rigt and Iijima secures it for the out!

Bottom 7th
Ishigaki with 2 outs again for Seikou hts a deep ball to left! That bounces in front of the fence and he has a double!

Takano with a grounder to left side, Ueda charges, throws to 1st... and they get the out!

Top 8th

Oda with a lingle to left to start the inning, but Taga-kantoku tries the bunt and run!  Ueda misses the ball and Takano throws to 2nd and they have Ishigaki easily!

Ueda and Hibi can't do anything after that and the side is retired.

Bottom 8th
Ogawa walks Imaizui and now the gyakuten runner steps into the box.

No bunt, but Yaoita hits it back to Ogawa! He goes to 2nd, Ueda doubletaps the bag and throws to 1st to complete the double play!

Ogawa walks another batter and that gets Taga-kantoku's attetion. Saitou-kantoku sends in #16 Minemura to run at 1B.

And they try to do it again! Minemura tries to steal 2nd, but Minobe cuts him down with an excellent throw once again!

Top 9th
#14 Fujita in for PR Minemura to play 2B.

Funabasama going on a quick pace retires Oumi in order, and allows his team one last chance to equalize.

Bottom 9th
Yaginuma gets his first hit of the game, a clean single through the right side and the douten runner is on base! Will Yasuda bunt?

He does! It's a safety bunt! Hibi charges, fires to 1st, but not nearly in time! Sayonara run in scoring position!!

Taga-kantoku calls for time.

Isagi bunts the runners along and it's #13 Ebinuma to hit for Iijima. With the runner on 2nd being the only runner that counts, I would walk the batter.

But they fight! Ebinuma grounds to 2nd, Nakaya fires home, but the throw delays Minobe's tag and everyone's safe! 1-1!

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

Ishigaki lays down the squeeze, Yamamoto fields it, but it's too late! Yasuda scores and Seikou Gakuin wins 2-1!

Oh, how a great game goes awry so quickly. Oumi perhaps failed to grasp the situation and play it differently.  With Ebinuma in as the PH and runners and 2nd/3rd, walking him would have created a force play at any base. It would also have opened the possibility of a double play which would have ended the game.

Seikou Gakuin played that final inning to perfection and as a result are moving on.

Our middle game again is between the two regions dominating Koushien so far - Tohoku and Hokushinetsu!

Seikou Gakuin played about as offensively bereft of a game as you could play against Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku.  The duo of Imaizumi and Funabasama did not dominate batters at all, striking out 3 batters combined, but they also kept them off the basepaths as well combining for a 1.00 WHIP.   I don't believe that can hold up, but you never know.

Saku Chousei had a similar game against Toukaidai Koufu.  The offense managed just 5 hits but wound up scoring 3 runs.

That would wind up being enough as Terazawa and Morozumi struck out 10, while just allowing 8 baserunners.  Unlike Seikou Gakuin, the K's mean that perhaps it might hold up in the long term.

Give the results, this should be yet another low scoring game with both teams working hard to manufacture runs.

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
LF Yaoita Takumaru
2B Fujiwara Issei
3B Yaginuma Kentarou
1B Yasuda Kouki
CF Isagi Shun
RF Iijima Tsubasa
SS Ishigaki Mitsuhiro
C Takano Kouki
P Funabasama Taiga

Saku Chousei (Nagano)
3B Motoyama Hiyuu (#17)
SS Morii Koutarou
CF Wada Osamu
1B Tanabe Naoki (#5)
LF Takeuchi Kousei
2B Hama Ryuutarou
RF McCarthy Ryumikku (#16)
C Kanazawa Ren
P Terasawa Seiya (#10)

____________________________________________________________

12:05 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Not a good start as Terasawa hits Yaoita.  Fujiwara bunts him along.

Yaginuma with a soft fly to center, Hama runs it down, and Yaoita doesn't realize it was caught.  He's doubled off the inning is over.

Bottom 1st
Motoyama in a prolonged AB with Funabasama but loses the battle swinging at a slider on the outside edge.

Morii catches a slider off the end of the bat and just puts it out of Ishigaki's leap for a base hit.

Fujiwara-kantoku going for the safety bunt as Wada puts it to the left side!  Yaginuma charges in, and his throw just beats Wada.  2 down.

AH!  Tanabe with a drive to right center and that will bounce all the way to the wall!  Morii comes in to score on the timely double from Tanabe! Saku Chousei leads 1-0!

Takeuchi clean single through the left side! Tanabe has to hold at 3rd as Yaoita gets the ball in.

Hama gives the ball a ride, but Yaoita has time to go back and field it for the 3rd out.  But Saku Chousei with the first strike!

Top 2nd
Yasuda slider down the left field side, goes all the way to the wall for a double! Seikou threatening to tie it up immediately!

Isagi not bunting, but hits it to the right side to advance the runner.

Iijima grounder to the right side!  Infield in, but Hama backpedals to get the ball!  His only play is to 1st and Yasuda scores to level it at 1-1!

Ishigaki pops up to end the inning, but Seikou comes right back!

Bottom 2nd
McCarthy ahead of Funasama 3-1, gets green light but rolls one to 2nd for the 1st out.

Kanazawa hits a ball to deep left, but didn't get enough as Yaoita is in front of the fence for the catch.

Terasawa goes down on the slider and Funabasama gets healthy on the bottom of the lineup.

Top 3rd
Two quick outs for Seikou, but Yaoita squares up a hanging slider and sends it to the left center field gap for a double.

But Terasawa makes a great pick on a chopper back up the middle.  Runs it to 1st and the side is retired.

Bottom 3rd
Funabasama might be settling down now.  1-pitch groundout to Motoyama, then Morii chases the slider tailing away.  Wada pops the sidearm offering up and Takano makes the catch for the 3rd out.

Top 4th
Yaginuma with a ball to deep center!  Wada running back, but can't get there!  It takes a bounce off the wall and he's in with a leadoff double!

Yasuda with a deep fly to right, McCarthy runs it down, but Yaginuma can advance to 3rd on the play.

Oy, and now Terasawa hits Isagi.

Iijima clearly up at the plate with a plan, and he hits a fly to center! Wada is there for the catch, but Yaginuma can score easily taking a 2-1 lead.

Ishigaki locks into Terasawa's fastball and drives that to deep left center! The outfielders have to run back and Isagi can score to take a 3-1 lead!  Takano ends the inning on a groundout, but Saku Chousei might be in trouble.

Bottom 4th
2 down for Saku Chousei, and Hama hits a ball down the right field line.. Iijima makes a dive for it, but can't reach it!  Hama rounding 2nd, reaches 3rd!

But McCarthy swings on the first pitch and flies out to Isagi in left center for the 3rd out.

Top 5th
Yaoita with his 2nd base hit with a comeback to center.  Saitou-kantoku has his go for 2nd, and Kanazawa's throw is offline!  It goes into center and Yaoita takes 3rd!

Fujiwara flies out to right, but it's deep enough to score Yaoita to make it a 4-1 game!

Yaginuma flies out to 2nd and the inning is over.

Bottom 5th
Kanazawa draws a leadoff walk.   #3 Totsuka PH for Terasawa so his day is done. He flies out to right.

Motoyama with the hit and run grounds to 1st. Yasuda thinks better of it and goes to 1st for the safe out.

Morii with a looper over Fujiwara and that's down for a base hit!  Kanazawa score to make it 4-2!

Morii tries to steal 2nd, but Takano throws him out and the side is retired.  Seikou Gakuin having the better of it right now, but Saku Chousei has some momentum going into the break.

Top 6th
Ace Morozumi comes in for PH Totsuka to take the hill.

Yasuda almost makes it 5-2 with a booming shot down the left field side, but the strong hamakaze pushes it foul.  He winds up striking out looking on a splitter left up in the zone.

Morozumi though then walks Isagi after filling up the count.

But he takes off too early to steal 2nd!  Morozumi turns around and throws to 2nd and he almost sneaks in with a dance, but can't quite reach the base.

Iidzuka with a single back up the middle replaces Yasuda on the basepaths.  But he tries to steal 2nd and he's thrown out by Kanazawa to end the inning.

Bottom 6th
Saku Chousei's batters continue to chase after the slider way outside.  Wada and Tanabe both fall victim to it and look silly doing it.

Takeuchi swings at the first pitch not outside, but it jams him.  Yasuda makes the catch in foul territory and the side is retired.

Top 7th
Ishigaki with his 2nd hit, a clean single through the left side.

Takano gets a pitch way up an in, and yet still puts the bunt down.

AHH!!  They did it again!  Ishigaki takes off too early and Morozumi has him!  Throw back to 2nd and he's out!

Morozumi throws the splitter and gets Funabasama, but Saku Chousei is running out of innings.

Bottom 7th
One down and #9 Hikigi hits for McCarthy.  He draws a walk, though he doesn't realize it for a little bit and needs to be nudged by the umpire.

Kanazawa fooled on another slider, but pops it up to shallow center.  Isagi charges in, makes the wide slide... and makes the catch.

Morozumi first pitch swings and flies out to Ishigaki.  Until they can solve how not to hit Funabasama's slider, they're lost.  If they can even crowd the plate maybe.  I don't really know.

Top 8th
Hikigi stays in the game to play RF.

1 down, Fujiwara with a ball to the right side.  Hama makes a great diving stop at the outfield grass, but his throw one hops Tanabe and he can't secure it. Infield base hit for Fujiwara.

Morozumi quick throw to 1st and they pick off Yaginuma!  2 down!

Yaginuma liner, snagged by a dashing Tanabe for the 3rd out!

Bottom 8th
Motoyama falls behind 0-2, and just pokes a grounder on yet another outside slider to short.

Morii at the edge, but not crowding the plate and not attacking balls down the middle.  Instead he swings on a slider away and grounds to short aided by a head-first slide.

Wada flies out to right and Saku Chousei looks to be going down in defeat.

Top 9th
One down, Morozumi hits Isagi with a fastball.  Iijima lays down the bunt, but it's right in front of the plate!  Kanazawa goes to 2nd for one, relay to 1st for the double play.

Bottom 9th
Tanabe hits a drive to deep center, Isagi sprinting back, makes the running catch for the 1st out.

Takeuchi pops out to Fujiwara and Saku Chousei down to their final out.

Funabasama hits Hama and so that allows the douten runner to step into the plate.

And now Funabasama hits Hikigi.  The douten runner is on base and Saitou-kantoku calls for time.

But Kanazawa quickly behind 0-2 swinging on the outside slider.

He gets a hack at it, but hits it well foul.

They go inside, and Kanazawa is able to get around and foul it off.

But the pitch that has plagued Saku Chousei gets them one last time. Kanazawa twirls around and strikes out to end the game.  Seikou Gakuin defeats Saku Chousei 4-2.

Saku Chousei struggled with the outside slider from Funabasama all game, and as a result struck out or hit playable balls for the fielders.  That's pretty much what it boiled down to.

Seikou Gakuin moves on, but the question will be if the opposition can solve that sweeping slider.  In addition, 3 of the 4 runs scored by Seikou were done in the course of an out (groundout/sac fly). It will be left to see when if they need a base hit they can deliver.

()

Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Hyogo)
CF Terayama Hiroto
2B Hayashi Kazuto
RF Takahashi Yuu
3B Takemura Riku
1B Iisako Keiji
LF Murase Yuuto
SS Uemura Shinya
C Nishi Toshihiro
P Kuroda Tetsuya

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
LF Yaoita Takumaru
2B Fujiwara Issei
3B Yaginuma Kentarou
1B Yasuda Kouki
CF Isagi Shun
RF Iijima Tsubasa
SS Fujita Satoshi (#14)
C Takano Kouki
P Imaizumi Keita (#18)

____________________________________________________________

13:07 - First Pitch!

1st Inning
Imaizumi with the bench start making quick work of the top of the lineup as Teryama grounds to 3rd and Hayashi can only watch the forkball for strike 3.

But Takahashi drives a ball to deep right!  Iijima back to the wall, and it deflects off the fence and back towards the field!  Takahashi takes advantage and slides in with a triple!

Takemura though with a comebacker to Imaizumi!  Goes to 1st and the threat is averted!

After two quick out of his own, Kuroda runds into trouble.  First he walks Yaginuma on 4 straight.  Then a shot back up the middle by Yasuda.  That's followed up by a walk to Isagi and it's manrui for Iijima!

SANSHIN!!!

But like Imaizumi, Kuroda gets out of the jam! Iijima chases the slider and the side is retired!

Top 2nd
Kobe Kokusaidai's batters appear to have trouble timing Imaizumi's pitches.  Only Murase here in the 2nd makes solid contact, and even then it's right to Yaginuma who makes a great stop and throw for the out.

Bottom 2nd
I wonder if Seikou Gakuin knows what they are and aren't.  I say that because before the game the Japanese who commented on Seikou were looking at their team batting averages and were scared.  But I'm sure they know the competition in Fukushima is not as strong. so the results mean less.

Which is why after a one-out walk to Takano, Saitou-kantoku was having Imaizumi bunt.  Though in the end, he wound up bunting out (as it were).

Yaoita punishes a fastball up in the zone by Kuroda and singles to right center!  Takano advances to 3rd and Seikou Gakuin is threatening again!

But Fujiwara grounds to 3rd!  Takemura rushes his throw and bounces it, but Iisako makes the pick for the 3rd out!

Top 3rd
Wow, I can't believe the expediency that Imaizumi is sitting down the Kobe Kokusaidai batters.  He's using his offspeed pitches predominantly against the batters, and so far they can't get the timing down!  He under 30 pitches through 3!

Bottom 3rd
Yaginuma catches a fastball left up by Kuroda and lines a shot tor right for a base hit.

Yasuda was setting up the bunt, but after getting 2 strikes he has to swing away.  Before that Yaginuma takes off for 2nd!  Throw to 2nd not in time and now they don't need the bunt!

Better yet, Yasuda draws a walk!

Isagi showing bunt, but hasn't actually offered as of yet.

Instead he swings!  Grounder to 2nd, Hayashi goes to 2nd for 1, but Isagi is too fast to be double off.

And then Saitoiu-kantoku has Isagi take 2nd!  And he gets no throw!  Saitou-kantoku not afraid to put the game in motion.

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

Iijima lays down the squeeze and Yaginuma takes off for home! Kuroda charging in, tries to flip the ball, but can't! Everyone's safe and Seikou leads 1-0!

Fujita showing bunt too, and he gets hit by a ball that was a one bounder!  Manrui for Seikou Gakuin!

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

The pitch is high and Takano can't put the ball down on the ground! Kuroda makes the catch as everyone scrambles back! It's up to Imaizumi now to help his own cause.

It's a swinging bunt!  Kuroda rushes over to the ball on the 3rd base line, fires to 1st... In time!  Imaizumi perhaps not the fastest player out there and Kuroda had plenty of time to make the play

Top 4th
Imaizumi continued on cruise control until someone bumped the controls and Takemura drew a 2-out walk.  Imaizumi's still trying to fix the controls when he throws a ball in the dirt and Takemura advances to 2nd.

And then Iisako has to duck on a 2-2 pitch that goes over his head.

Now the alarm bell need to go off because Iisako drives a pitch to left center! The defense can't get to it as it rolls all the way to the wall!  Iisako is in with a RBI triple and we're tied at 1-1!

Murase with a grounder to the left side!  Fujita runs it down in the gaps, throw to 1st... in time!  Fujita prevents the gyakuten run from scoring but Iisako has tied the game!

Bottom 4th
And for this inning at least it seems like the roles are reversed as Kuroda needs just 9 pitches to retire the top of the order.

Top 5th
.

Just 7 more spots left in the Round of 16, and for the teams playing today, even less as 3 spots in Day 11 are reserved for tomorrow's winners.

Seikou Gakuin back on Day 2 defeated Aikoudai Meiden 4-3. However, they trailed for most of the game until the finally got to ace Azuma in the 7th.

Before that though, Seikou had just managed just 3 hits in the first 5 innings, two of them from RF Yaoita. That has to be concerning because it means either you're waiting for the pitcher to break down, or you're taking that long to adjust (usually the former).

As for starter Ishii, Meiden had repeated chances against him, but more than often aggressively used the bunt to their detriment.  Ace Kon did not fare much better, allowing baserunners in every inning he pitched.

Fukui Shougyou could have gone down on the wrong side of history. Arguably facing one of the slowest pitchers in Koushien history, they could manage just 1 meager run for 7 innings. They couldn't figure out starter Satou and more often than not took awful swings.

Now, they did manage to outlast him and once that happened, the expected result occurred. Certainly they'll do better against more standard pitching, but one wonders by how much.

Ace Nakamura is nothing to really write home about as he walked/hit quite a few batters and gave Obihiro more than their fair share of scoring opportunities. Reliever Hasegawa did okay in relief, but seemed to get a bit sketchy when under pressure.

So there are a lot of unknowns in this game, and one even wonders if the winner will be able to answer them.

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
SS Nishimura Daiki
2B Ishino Yuuta
CF Yaoita Hyuuma (#9)
1B Sonobe Satoshi
LF Yokomizu Kazuto
RF Sakatani Ryou (#8)
3B Ihara Takashi
C Hirose Kazumi
P Ishii Naru (#10)

Fukui Shougyou (Fukui)
CF Yamamoto Takuma
C Nakamura Tatsuya
3B Seki Ryouma
LF Ooishi Itsuki
RF Yasuda Atsuki
1B Hayashi Katsumi
P Hasegawa Ryouta (#10)
2B Nakaya Masato
SS Miyazaki Masaya

____________________________________________________________

08:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Seikou perhaps picking up on Hasegawa work the count on him hard as each one goes deep versus the starter.

But for now, it's just probing him as each of the first three batters fail to leave the infield in a 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 1st
Meanwhile, Ishii giving Fukui Shougyou a good start by hitting Yamamoto. Yonemaru-kantoku takes the opportunity to bunt him along.

Seki though can't bring him home, much less advance him as he grounds to short. Up to cleanup batter Ooishi.

He gets one off the end of the bat, slices it into center for a base hit! Yamamoto rounding 3rd, throw home... up the first base line! 1-0 Fukushou!

Yasuda line up the middle, caught by Nishimura! 3 out, but the hit batter comes back to hurt Seikou!

Top 2nd
Nakaya getting a lot of work as he field another popup, this time by Sonobe on the right field foul line.

Yokomizu with a ball back up the middle, Nakaya scrambling makes a great diving stop, glove tosses to Miyazaki, but there's to play at 1st.

With one down, there's no bunt. But Sakatani flies one quickly to left, and Ihara hits a ball up the first base line at Hayashi for the 3rd out.

Bottom 2nd
More troubles for Ishii as he walks Hayashi to lead off the inning. Hasegawa immediately bunts him along.

But neither Nakaya or Miyazaki can bring him in. In fact both wind up early on the ball and hit comebackers to Ishii to end the inning.

Top 3rd
Hasegawa gives up his first leadoff runner when Hirose earns a walk.

Ishii tries to but him along, but pops it up. Hasegawa there, but winds up dropping it! Not a problem though as Hirose is an easy out at second having gone back on the perceived catch.

Nishimura tries the safety bunt, but it's a routine play for Seki, though Nishimura almost gets to the base despite diving.

Ishino though gets under a high fastball, and Hayashi secures it in foul territory for the 3rd out.

Bottom 3rd
Ishii making life really hard for himself.  Walks Yamamoto on 4 pitches. Tatsuya once again lays down a bunt setting the table for Seki.

But then Ishii comes back to get Seki all turned around on a fastball inside.  He stumbles after the swing and heads back to the dugout.

Ooishi ball to the left side! Nishimura into the gap, gets to the ball, but the throw to 1st is wide and late! This time though Yamamoto doesn't score. However Saitou-kantoku calls for time.

Ooishi takes off for 2nd, no throw from Hirose!

Now a base hit can open the game up for Fukushou.

But bad luck for Fukushou! Yasuda with check swing inadvertently hits the ball into fair territory! Ishii goes to 1st and the side is retired!

Top 4th
Seikou meanwhile cannot get a level swing on the ball from Hasegawa it seems. Yaoita pops out to Nakamura at home.  Sonobe grounds to Seki.

Yokomizu the only hitter seemingly about to get to Hasegawa as he lines one over a leaping Seki for a base hit.

Sakatani first pitch swinging, single past Nakaya into right! Yokomizu heading to 3rd! Throw from Yasuda...

OUT!!!!

His throw take a couple of bounces but is on line and gets Yokomizu to end the inning!

Bottom 4th
Ishii finally retires his first leadoff batter when Hayashi grounds out to short.

Hasegawa with a ball back up the middle. Nishimura over to get it, slides, but it's off his foot and into center for a base hit!

So Ishii prevents the leadoff runner, but not a runner altogether.

Yonemaru has Nakaya lay down the bunt for last batter Miyazaki.

Comebacker up the middle! It goes off Ishii's knee! But it goes right to Ihara! He throws to 1st and the side is retired!

Ishii with a bit of a limp heading to the dugout though... will he be ok to continue?

Top 5th
Ihara with routine grounder to 1st and Hayashi makes the putout.

Hirose tries it again, with a little more effort and this one goes off Hayashi and off towards 2nd for a base hit.

Ishii with the bunt, but it's right to Hasegawa, goes to 2nd for 1, throw to first, and Ishii is slow up the line and is out for the double play! Sure looked like the deflection affected him there...

Bottom 5th
Ishii leaves a slider over the plate and Yamamoto singles to left! Tatsuya continues to have 0 AB's as he bunts Yamamoto along.

Seki with a grounder to the right side. Sonobe with it, flips to Ishii... just beats Seki to the bag! Man Ishii is just really not running as fast right now.

But he's still on the mound pitching to Ooishi.

Ooishi with a ball to right! But Ishii finally retires him as Sakatani is there to make the catch!

We hit the break with the only difference being a leadoff dead ball for Fukui Shougyou as that runner would come around to score giving them the 1-0 lead we currently have.

As expected, both teams have had their share of scoring opportunities but have been unable to capitalize against the relief starters outside of the 1st.

Top 6th
Top of the lineup still having issues with Hasegawa as both Nishimura and Ishino remain hitless on the day.

Yaoita ball to right side, Hayashi dives and has it! No! It dribbles under his glove! Nakaya covering, but no play at 1st!

Sonobe with a ball off the end of the bat to center. Yamamoto going back, still going back! Leaps!

OOH!

Yamamoto collides with the wall, ball goes back towards the field! He gets up and throws it in, but Sonobe heading for 3rd, gets in safely! Yaoita scores and we're tied at 1-1!

More importantly, is Yamamoto ok? The 2B umpire comes out to him and he's taken back to the dugout. Can go under his own power and only looks a little dazed.

After a couple of minutes, he's out and we're back to playing.

Hasegawa gets Yokomizu to fly out to right, but we have a new ballgame!

Bottom 6th
Ishii continuing to allow baserunners as Hayashi singles to center with 1 down.  But he continues to find a way to strand those runners.

Hasegawa chases a fastball outside for the 2nd out, and Nakaya 2 pitches later flies out to right, and that's their 7th runner stranded.

Top 7th
Sakatani has to take a moment after fouling a slider inside off his ankle. Hasegawa figures he likes that pitch, throws it again and this time gets Sakatani for his 1st K.

Ihara with a strong grounder to 1st, but Hayashi fields it easily for the 2nd out.

Bottom of the lineup attacking early in count, but to no results. Hirose flies out to center and they're back out on the field

Bottom 7th
With the end of regulation fast approaching, both teams look to be pressing. Fukui Shougyou goes down harmlessly in just 8 pitches.

Top 8th
Ishii getting on the board with a hit to left. But Saitou-kantoku elects not to bunt.

Puts on the hit-and-run though! Nishimura makes contact but it's to right for the 1st out.

Tries it again with Ishino, but again fouled off!

Once more with effort!

And Ishino flies out to left.  2 down.

Meanwhile Hasegawa has gone to his 2nd straight 3-0 count...But a strike and a uncalled for swing fill up the count.

Yaoita with a drive to center, but Yamamoto is back there early enough and makes the catch for the 3rd out.

Bottom 8th
Seki gets Fukushou their first leadoff baserunner since the 5th with a single to center. Cleanup batter Ooishi bunts him along to 2nd.

Yasuda remains hitless on the day as he gets under a fastball and lifts it to left for the 2nd out.

Ball gets away from Hirose! Seki heads to 3rd and it's crunch time!

Ishii puts a slider on the outer edge for strike 2! That's followed by a waste pitch to level the count.  And again even though they're trying to buy a strike.

Hayashi with blooper to right! Ishino running back... but he won't get to it! It falls in and Seki scores to make it a 2-1 ball game!

Hasegawa makes it back-to-back hits for Fukushou with a single to center! That gets a mound conference for Saitou-kantoku.

Perhaps this is the end of Ishii? He has the count run full on Nakaya.

Grounder to short, high hop!!  Nishimura leaps, makes the grab, and goes to 1st! Throw wide, but Sonobe makes the swipe tag for the 3rd out!

Nice recovery by Nishimura, but his team is down 1 with just 3 outs to go!

Top 9th
But if you want someone up, it's Sonobe. First pitch popup!  Tatsuya going back but it's out of play.

Hasegawa gets to 2-2, but throws waste pitch to fill up the count...

Ball 4! Hasegawa doesn't give in though and he walks him on a low slider!

Yonemaru-kantoku calling time, but what's this??

Saitou-kantoku is pulling Yonemaru who's 2-3 and putting in #18 Saitou! Why on earth would you do that unless...

Yep, he's there to bunt the runner along. Which he does.

Really?

Sakatani up first pitch grounds to 2nd. Sonobe heads to 3rd.

Last chance as #17 Itou hits for Ihara...

Gets behind 1-2 on a fastball outside.

Fly ball to left! Ooishi under it and makes the catch to end the game! Fukui Shougyou wins 2-1!

Fukui Shougyou gets very fortunate in the bottom of the 8th when Ishii makes a great pitch but Hayashi just gets enough to put it in the grass.  He's crying, along with many of the others, but they've got nothing to be ashamed about.

If nothing else, blame can be rightly placed on Saitou-kantoku who pinch hit for his only batter to hit Hasegawa for someone who could bunt. If it were anyone else in the lineup, maybe I'd understand. But that PH call is inexcusable. It may not have mattered in the end, but in that situation you have to reassess the situation.

Fukui Shougyou fortunate to win this game, and it's obvious the offense needs to pick it up or else it'll be an ugly 3rd round game.

Notable Players
Hasegawa Ryouta (Fukui Shougyou) - CG, ER, 7 H, K, 2 BB
Hayashi Katsumi (Fukui Shougyou) - 2-3, GW RBI, BB
Oonishi Itsuki (Fukui Shougyou) - 2-3, RBI
Ishii Naru (Seikou Gakuin) - 8 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 2 K, 2 BB, HBP
Yokomizu Kazuto (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-3
Sonobe Satoshi (Seikou Gakuin) - 1-3, 3B, RBI, BB

Seikou Gakuin almost suffered the same fate as Chiben Wakayama.  In the final against Nichidai Tohoku, Seikou Gakuin never led during regulation.  Instead they had to come back from 2-run deficits twice, the second of which in the last two innings to force enchousen where they finally took the lead when it mattered - with a sayonara run in the bottom of the 10th.

Seikou certaintly wasn't infallable this year.  Against Gakusha Ishikawa they actually trailed 8-4 after 2 innings before rallying to win 10-9.  Still, they managed to hold off the competition and win their 7th straight title, the longest such current run in kokoyakyu. 

Aikoudai Meiden returns to Koushien again, though not without some difficulty.  In the block final, they couldn't shake off Meiwa but never trailed winning 6-5.  Then in the finals, they looked rather pedestrian against a very game Aichi Reimei holding on for a 2-1 win to head to Koushien for a 2nd straight year.  Their offense also looked rather average as well, with most of their mercy rule games coming early.

Both teams seems to be on a down year despite reaching Koushien.  Not sure who the edge goes to. 

Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi)
RF Yamamoto ?
LF Onda Kouki
SS Nakano Yoshiki
1B Ishihama Ryouta (#15)
2B Hattori Shinsou
CF Tomozawa Takashi
3B Tokunami Yuuto
C Ono Kouta (#13)
P Azuma Katsuki

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
SS Nishimura Daiki
2B Ishino Yuuta
LF Yokomizu Kazuto
1B Sonobe Satoshi
RF Satou Shouhei (#18)
CF Yaoita Hyuuma (#9)
3B Ihara Takashi
C Hirose Kazumi
P Ishii Naru (#10)

____________________________________________________________

09:01 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Well, Ishii throws about as slow as I remember, not really hitting 130 with his fastball.  Yamamoto with a hit to left, Yokomizu plays the hop and the leadoff batter is on board.

Yokota tries the safety bunt, but fouls it off instead.  He does run the count full.  And there is mention of Kurano-kantoku for Meiden using the term AMB478 in reference to Aikoudai Meiden Baseball 48.  Really?  That's about as corny as it gets, though I guess you can't fault him for trying.

Onda tries the three bunt, but Hirose makes the catch and doubles off Yamamoto as they tried the bunt-and-run.  2 outs.

Nakano battling Ishii hard at the plate, fouling off a couple before earning a walk.  Ishii finally hit 130 on the gun, but the slider and slow curve are, well... slow, in the high 110-low 120s and high 90s respectively.

Ishihama gets the start at cleanup despite having an average of 0.000.

あ。

NO WAY.

Ishihama goes down and drives one to left!  Yokomizu back to the wall....

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The guy with no hits in the Aichi taikai hits a 2-run HR?!!  Unbelievable!  2-0 Meiden!

Hattori pops out to 2nd, but that's a surprise to start the game!

Bottom 1st
Azuma more of a standard ace, fastball in the mid-upper 130s with a slider seemingly in the mid 110s which is a bit of a gap.

But his control is good early as he gets Nishimura looking, then when Ishino thinks he has ball 4, the ump rings him up for the 2nd K looking!

Yokomizu makes contact, but it's a routine groundout to 1st to end the inning.  A good start for Meiden indeed.

Top 2nd
Ishii settling down after the surprise 2-run HR.  Meiden is working the count, so while Ishii retires the side in order with 3 very routine outs, his needs 17 pitches to do so, so his pitch count is climbing rather quickly.

Bottom 2nd
Azuma after a good 1st, misses around the plate to cleanup batter Sonobe, falls behind 3-0 and eventually walks him.  Saitou-kantoku will play for the run and has Satou bunt.

Yaoita with a comebacker under Azuma's glove into center and now it's runners at the corners and a great scoring opportunity for Ihara!

Ihara plays the drag squeeze up the first base line!  Ishihama plays the ball, but only has 1st for the out!  Sonobe scores to make it 2-1!

Douten runner on 2nd, and Hirose goes into bunker mode fouling off a couple of pitches but winds up hitting one back to Azuma who tosses it to first for the 3rd out.  However, some good mechanics help cut the deficit in half!

Top 3rd
Azuma lines up the curve from Ishii and slices it through the middle and into center for a leadoff single.  Back to the top of the order and Yamamoto.  Kurano-kantoku is not calling for the bunt as Yamamoto fouls one off.

However, he grounds to 3rd and Ihara cuts down the leadoff runner.  Onda tries to surprise the defense with another bunt, but Hirose quickly gets on it, and despite a double clutch throws him out.

Nakano is very patient for a 3-hole hitter, working his 2nd AB also to 3 balls.  Ishi though wins the battle when Nakano skies one to shallow left for the 3rd out.

Bottom 3rd
Azuma's control is back on track it seems, with Ishii a rounder to Ishihama who takes it himself, Nishimura who chases a screwball inside for his 2nd K, and Ishino a chopper to Hattori who makes a bit of a soft toss, but still beats Ishino to the bag for the 3rd out.

Top 4th
Ishii trying to pitch inside to Ishihama winds up nicking him and putting him on.

Hattori also lays down a drag bunt up the first base line that stays fair and does the job.

Oh?  Kurano-kantoku has Tomozawa bunting as well?! His first attempts goes foul, but he's still showing it.  He does! They do indeed call for it looking for a one-off from Tokunami.

But Tokunami is jammed by Ishii and Ishino in the grass in shallow right makes the catch for the 3rd out.  A double bunt seems like it is indicative of how Kurano-lantoku things of his offense.

Bottom 4th
Hm, Seikou's batters can't seem to figure out Azuma.  After a routine grounder by Kokumizu, both Sonobe and Satou go chasing pitches out of the zone and Azuma has 5 K's so far.

Top 5th
Ishii into a good groove now.  Ono a hard grounder, but right to Sonobe.  Azuma tries to bloop one to left, but it hangs up too long.

Yamamoto with one to center... and while Yaoita looks like he should have been there, it drops in front for a base hit.  Things getting a little dicier when Onda lines one to right moving Yamamoto to scoring position.

But a grounder to short is handled by Nishimura who flips to 2nd just in time for the 3rd out.  Small hiccup there, but nothing serious.

Bottom 5th
Apparently Yaoita is the only one who can size up Azuma, skipping one past Ishihama into right.  He has both of Seikou's hits so far today.

Ihara with the drag bunt again up the right side.  Azuma goes to 2nd, OH!

He throws it away!  Yaoita goes to 3rd and now Seikou looks to tie the game with a mere sac fly (or more likely squeeze bunt).

Hirose showing bunt, but not getting the favorable calls on balls that looks like, well... balls.  Instead he's behind 0-2.

Squeeze!  But he pops it up!  Azuma catches it, throws to 3rd for the double play. WHAT?!

Throws to 1st.. triple play!!!  The team celebrates the 1-5-3 triple play that gets Azuma out of the big jam!

ほ。。。。。

That might demoralize Seikou heading into the break.  Pehaps the can regrroup during the time off.

Top 6th
Ishihama with a scorcher through the left side means he's been safe on all 3 ABs despite no hits prior.

Kurano-kantoku goes for the double bunt to move him to 3rd.  Wonder what this is all about.

Tokunami up, and Kurano-kantoku calls him over and now Tokunami showing bunt too?  That doesn't make any sense.

But with the count 3-1, he singles through to right!  Ishihama scores and it's 3-1 Meiden!  Ono replays the hit and now perhaps things are unraveling for Ishii?  Captain Itou goes to talk to Ishii,

Azuma up and he's showing bunt?  Ah, perhaps for that one pitch.  He swings and grounds to Ishino who just does get Ono at 2nd for the 3rd out.  But Meiden's double bunt pays off this time and they extend their lead.

Bottom 6th
Ishii's day is done as #8 Sakatani comes in to hit..

AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sakatani with a blast to right! Yamamoto running back to the fence...

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

It's a pinch hit HR for Sakatani and Seikou gets that run right back!

Ishino follows that up with a shot that bounces off Ishihama for a base hit!  Seikou immediately trying to counter and then some!

But Ishino's bunt goes to Azuma.  He goes to 2nd... and this time gets the lead runner.

Yokomizu though lines out right to Azuma who easily doubles off a running Ishino and the inning is over.  But Seikou continues to fight.

Top 7th
Sakatani stays in to play LF, and ace Kon comes in for Yokomizu and takes over on the mound.  Kon is not a hard tosser either, ranging in the low 130s.  Plus, there's a bit of wildness there too.

Which so far isn't hurting him.  Versus the top of the order, he gets a groundout from Yamamoto and a towering infield pop up from Onda.  He almost gets the 3 up 3 down, but Nishimura can't cleanly field it and Nakano gets on base.  That lasts for all of 3 pitches as Ishihama is finally retired on a grounder to 2nd.

Bottom 7th
Sonobe jumps on the first pitch and lines it over Tokunami's head and down the line for a leadoff double!  Douten runner in scoring position!  Interestingly Saitou-kantoku is not having Satou bunt!

After a foul ball, Saitou-lantoku has a message relayed from Ishigaki to Satou.

Satou takes a couple of good hacks, but grounds out to 1st.  Ishihama, already near 1st flips to Azuma instead and almost costs them an out. Job done though, Sonobe stands on 3rd for Yaoita who is 2-2 so far.

And in trying to pitch inside to Yaoita, Azuma hits him!  Ihara up to bat as Ono goes out to talk to him.

Saitou-kantoku calls for the safety squeeze, but Ihara bunts it foul up the 3rd base line!

Now it's Kurano-kantoku who calls for a conference on the mound.

Meiden, playing for the squeeze throws two balls outside, but Ihara isn't biting, the runners aren't going.

Ihara goes for the safety squeeze, but the bunt is right at Tokunami!  He goes home and Ono makes the tag for the 2nd out!  Saitou-kantoku can only laugh at the situation.

Hirose up, and he singles to right!  Yaoita is being sent home.. No wait!  He scampers back to 2nd as the throw in would have definitely beat him.  But now it's manrui for Sakatani who hit the PH HR earlier!

Azuma and Ono trying to hit the outside corner just does to get the count 1-2.  They try again, but it's outside.  Fastball down and away, nothing doing!  Full count and everyone will be on the move!

Grounder to the left side!  It's through!  Yaoita scores!  Ihara being sent home.. throw is late and he scores!  Sakatani advances to 2nd on the throw and he single-handedly has brought his team back!  It's 4-3 Seikou Gakuin!

Azuma gets Nishimura to ground out to end the inning, but the damage is more than done as Sakatani has the manrui gyakuten timely!

Top 8th
One down for Meiden and Tomozawa gets around on an inside pitch and singles to right center.  Kurano-kantoku continues to play aggressive bunting as Tokunami moves him to 2nd, but now there's 2 outs as they leave it up to Ono.

?  Now Kurano trying for the hit-and-run??!  It's different, I'll give it that, but the strategy is certainly unconventional...

AH!  Kon catches Tomozawa trying to jump early and he's caught!  1-6-5 and the inning is over!  Meiden trying to be too aggressive costs them!

Bottom 8th
Ishino with a chopper to the left side.  Nakano tries to quickly fire to 1st, but Ishino dives in safely.  Saitou-kantoku will play for the insurance run as Kon is showing bunt.  He can't lay it down though, and falls behind 0-2.  He tries the bunt yet again, but runs it foul for the 1st out.

No matter for Sonobe as he lines a screwball back up the middle for a base hit!  Meiden in big trouble with Satou stepping in.  But he chases a screwball way outside and there's 2 outs.  However the wild pitch allows the runners to advance for uh oh...  Yaoita.

But Ishihama makes a great diving stop on a scorcher fryom Yaoita and takes it himself for the 3rd out!  Azuma and Meiden out of the jam!

Top 9th
But they're also running out of time. Kurano-kantoku going to the bench as #3 Wakahara hits for Ono.

He gets ahead 3-1, and draws the leadoff walk!

Azuma will step in to hit as #17 Nakata comes in to run for Wakahara.  Kurano-kantoku with just 3 outs to go, bunts the runner along 90 feet for an out.

Back to the top of the order and Yamamoto.  Kon giving him nothing to hit, and he's swinging anyways.  He flies out to right, and Nakata goes to 3rd.

Last chance for Meiden as Onda steps in.  He swings on the first pitch and skies one to center!  Yaoita under it... and secures it for the last out!

They've done it!  Seikou Gakuin rallies for 3 unanswered runs to defeat Aikoudai Meiden 4-3!

To be honest, the game seemed to belong to Meiden early.  The triple play in the 5th seemed to signify that it would be their game.  And yet, after the break, it was Seikou Gakuin who made it theirs.

Or... should I say Sakatani Ryou did.  In 2 ABs he goes 2-2 with a HR and 3 RBIs.  You can't do much better than that.

Now,  Seikou will have issues going forward.  The pitching is good, but not necessarily great.  But considering their track record, they may still have another win or two in them.

Meiden will go home certainly disappointed.  But expect them to retool and go for the aki taikais and a chance at senbatsu next year.

Notable Players
Ishii Naru (Seikou Gakuin) - 6 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 0 K, BB, HBP
Sakatani Ryou (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-2, HR, R, 3 RBI
Sonobe Satoshi (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-3, 2B, R, BB
Azuma Katsuki (Aikoudai Meiden) - CG, 4 ER, 9 H, 7 K, BB, HBP
Ishihama Ryouta (Aikoudai Meiden) - 2-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Yamamoto ? (Aikoudai Meiden) - 2-5

Our first quarterfinal matchup is a gut check for one team, and an great opportunity for the other team to do what has only been done one other time in school history.

Tsuruga Kehi has reached the quarterfinals in rather convincing fashion, showing displays of offense against Kyoto Shouei and the flashes of brilliance by ace Kishimoto.  While a 3-0 win over first-timers Moriokadai Fuzoku in their prior game doesn't look too stellar, it was perhaps a good break and at the same time a check to keep them in line for the stretch run.

Going back to Kishimoto, he has pitched rather superbly in his 3 games so far.  Now, the extra game may prove to be an issue going forward in terms of his stamina, but we haven't seen it yet.  So for as long as he continues to throw good innings out there, Tsuruga Kehi has a shot.

As for their opponents, Seikou Gakuin has reached the Best 8 defeating a very game Naruto squad.  While it was just their 2nd game at Koushien, it's perhaps further than most were expecting them to go.  But the game was not easy, and if not for the efforts of Sonobe, they could have easily been going home 3 days ago instead of playing for a spot in the semifinals.

They've reached this position before, in the 2008 and 2010 Natsu Koushien tournaments.  In both cases, they've been turned away - rather rudely in fact, giving up double digit runs to Yokohama and Kounan.

So this game is key for the team that has dominated Fukushima-ken for so long.  Do they have the talent and effort to finally get over the hill and reach the semifinals and beyond?


Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui) - Hokushinetsu Runner-up
CF Mine Kentarou
3B Yonemitsu Issei
1B Yamada Seiya
C Kita Ryouta
SS Asai Hiroya
LF Miyazaki Hiroya (#13)
RF Iwata Shinya
2B Yamane Takaki
P Kishimoto Jyunki

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima) - Tohoku Runner-up
LF Yaoita Hyuuma
SS Ishigaki Mitsuhiro (#16)
1B Sonobe Satoshi
RF Satou Shouhei
2B Ishino Yuuta
3B Nishimura Daiki (#6)
CF Isagi Jyun (#18)
C Hirose Kazumi
P Ishii Naru

___________________________________________________________

11:01 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Ishii working quickly makes short work of Mine, getting him to chase a changeup away.  Issei gets jammed and rolls one to Sonobe.

And before you can get settled into your seat, Yamada is frozen on a slider inside and Ishii fires 2 K's right out of the gate!  About as good of a start as you would want from Seikou Gakuin

Bottom 1st
Yaoita takes a couple of pitches before going after a high fastball and grounding to Asai.

Ishigaki on the other hand takes the first ball and serves it back into center for a base hit, bringing up last game's hero Sonobe.

He's quickly behind 0-2 as Kishimoto gets a generous call on the outside corner.

And as a result, he goes after the next pitch and hits a harmless fly to right.

Cleanup batter Satou steps in but he too falls behind 0-2.  After fouling off a couple of pitches, he eventually chases a cutter outside for the 3rd out.  Not a bad start from Kishimoto and the velocity still seems to be there.

Top 2nd
Kita gets hit by Ishii, and while he didn't really move out of the way, he's awarded 1st base. Azuma-kantoku asking #5 batter Asai to bunt, and after fouling one off, successfully lays one down.

Ishii not backing down, goes after bench starter Miyazaki and gets him to chase a buried changeup for the 2nd out.

Iwata though goes down and loops one into center!  Isagi charging in, Kita being waved home!  Throw from Isagi is offline and Tsuruga Kehi strikes first in the opening quarterfinal.  It's 1-0!

Now Azuma-kantoku sends Iwata to 2nd!  Throw from Hirose is high and he's in safely!

Ishii jams Yamane inducing a grounder to 2nd to end the inning, but a hit batter comes back to get Ishii here in the 2nd as Tsuruga Kehi takes the early lead.

Bottom 2nd
Not sure what it is about the high ball that batters like recently, but Ishino swings at one and flies out to center.

Nishimura gets a hold of a Kishimoto slider and sends it over a chasing Miyazaki for a one out double!  Seikou threatening to get the run back immediately!

Line from Isagi!  But it's right at Yamane!  And Nishimura took off before the ball cleared the infield and he's doubled off of 2nd!  What an untimely baserunning mistake for Seikou!

Top 3rd
And there's a reason Kishimoto is at the bottom of the lineup as he's completely fooled on a change way outside.  1 down.

Back to the top of the order and Mine.  He grounds to Ishigaki and there's quickly 2 down.

Issei refuses to let Ishii have an easy inning and lines one down the right field line for a double.

Ishii though gets ahead of Yamada 0-2.

Looks like he left one over though as Yamada drives it to center.

Isagi chasing it back, still chasing it back.  At the wall??!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yamada not only gets a hold of one, but sends it just over the wall for a 2-run homerun!  What seemed like an innocuous inning has now become a 3-0 lead!

Kita with a hard liner of his own, but Isagi is near enough to run it down for the 3rd out.  A 2-out 2-run HR by Yamada extends Tsuruga's lead and you have to start being concerned if you're in the Seikou Gakuin camp.

Bottom 3rd
Things continue to look bad for Seikou Gakuin,  Neither Hirose nor Ishii can get on base, and despite Yaoita getting on base with a comebacker behind Kishimoto, and his subsequent steal of 2nd Kishimoto neatly gets out of the inning with a groundout from Ishigaki.

Top 4th
Ishii meanwhile is not so fortunate.  He hits his 2nd batter to lead off an inning, prompting Saitou-kantoku to call time.

Miyazaki not bunting, but advances the runner anyways with a comebacker to Ishii.

Iwata with his 2nd base hit on a grounder to right!  Asai is held up at 3rd.

Azuma-kantoku with the hit and run!  Yamane with the grounder to 1st, Sonobe has to wait to toss it to Ishino covering 1st for the 2nd out.

Oh!  Kishimioto must have heard me the last AB!  He rips the first pitch past Ishigaki into left!  One run will score, two runs will score as Kishimoto adds on to his lead with a timely 2-out base hit!  Tsuruga Kehi now leads 5-0!!

Mine grounds out to 3rd, but Tsuruga Kehi continues to pull away from Seikou.

Bottom 4th
Defensive change for Tsuruga Kehi as #7 Kobayashi comes in for Miyazaki and takes over in LF.

And Kishimoto continues to set down the Seikou batters with relative ease!  Sonobe and Satou both hit pop flies, and you know things are going well for you when a comebacker from Ishino deflects off of Kishimoto's foot right to Issei who fires to 1st for the 3rd out.

Top 5th
It's actually a very quick inning for Ishii as Issei flies out to left, Yamada gets under a curve and flies out to center.

With two down Kita takes the first pitch through the right side for a base hit, but is immediately left stranded as Asai takes the next pitch and grounds to 3rd.

Bottom 5th
Things are not looking good for Seikou as Nishimura chases a ball outside and grounds to short.  Isagi looks at a cutter on the outside corner and goes down for Kishimoto's 2nd K.

Hirose tries to start something with a base hit back up the middle, but Ishii can't keep the inning going.  He grounds to short where Asai flips it to 2nd and just gets Hirose for the 3rd out.

So we head to the break with Tsuruga Kehi building a 5-0 lead.  It does look like Seikou Gakuin is once again outmatched and barring a major comeback will fall once again in the Best 8.

Top 6th
Tsuruga Kehi once again on the attack as new LF Kobayashi laces one into left center for a leadoff double!  Iwata with the push bunt moves him to 3rd.

Yamane with a grounder to the right side, Sonobe dives but can't get it, but Ishino dives and does stop it!  Kobayashi does not take off for home and Ishino tosses to Sonobe who's scrambling to 1st.  But it's not in time!  Eveyrone's safe!!

Kishimoto with a rip down the 3rd base line.. FAIR!  It's fair past a diving Nishimura!  Kobayashi scores as Kishimoto drives in yet another run, this time on a double!  It's 6-0!

And oddly, Saitou-kantoku pulls starter Hirose from the game and puts in #12 Hiruta.

Mine's struggles at the plate today continue as he can't even drive in a run.  He flies out to shallow right for the 2nd out.

Isse grounds to 2nd to end the inning, but the game looks well in hand now for Tsuruga Kehi.

Bottom 6th
And whether it's Kishimoto finding his groove or Seikou or the team starting to fold, Kishimoto retires the top of the order in order without much fanfare.

Top 7th
Oh.

Yamada just crushed one to left center so hard, it was by far one of the - if not the, furthest HR so far.  It's now 7-0.

Kita with a drive down the left field line... for a HR??!!

Yamada and Kita go back to back and make it a 8-0 game.

And that proves to be the death knell for Ishii.  Saitou-kantoku ends his day by sending in #10 Sakuma.

Sakuma off to a good start inducing a first pitch groundout by Asai to short.

But after going 0-2 to Kobayashi, he can't get him to bite on any of his offpseed offering and winds up walking him.  And Azuma-kantoku continues to apply pressure!  He sends Kobayashi to 2nd, and the throw from Hiruta is not in time!

And then Hiruta lets a ball go through the wickets and allows Kobayashi to advance to 3rd.  Things seem to get even worse as Sakuma hits Iwata.  Saitou-kantoku calls time.

Yamane records an RBI as he grounds to short.  Ishigaki goes to 2nd for 1, but that's all they can get as Kobayashi scores to make it 9-0.

Sakuma finally ends the inning when he catches Kishimoto looking, but at this stage it really doesn't look like it matters.

Bottom 7th
Mass changes for Tsuruga Kehi.  With the game in hand, Azuma-kantoku hands the ball off from Kishimoto to #18 Misome.  Misome comes into Kobayashi's spot in the lineup (strange since Kobayashi had done well in his stint).  Kishimoto stays in the game and goes to 1B.  Yamada moves from 1B to C (?!) and finally Yamada moves from C to LF(??!).

Quite the arrangement if you ask me.

And it really doesn't seem to matter.  Satou goes down swinging, then Ishino can't pull the trigger on a fastball outside.

Nishimura breaks it up with a single to left, and Saitou-kantoku sends in #15 Kaga to hit for Isagi hoping to prevent the shutout.

He pops out to Asai though in shallow left and Seikou is still left holding the donut.

Top 8th
#8 Sakatani comes in for PH Kaga and takes over in CF.

Sakuma does issue another walk, this time with one down to Issei.  This ahead of the Yamada-Kita pair that went back-to-back just an inning before.

But Yamada flies out routinely to Satou, and while Issei tallies another SB on the Seikou battery, Kita pops out to a meandering Ishino who winds up in center field.

Bottom 8th
1st AB for Hiruta and he grounds out to Kishimoto at 1st.

Sakuma goes after a high fastball and singles through to right.  Misome leaves one up in the zone and Yaoita takes it to right center for a double.  Seikou with a great chance to avoid the shutout.

Ishigaki with a grounder to 3rd.  Sakuma running con contact gets caught in between.  Issei starts and finishes the rundown for the 2nd out.  Both runners advance on the play.

Sonobe up, and Misome leaves one up again!  Sonobe scorches it past a diving Asai into left-center.  Both runners score on the double and Seikou Gakuin avoids the shutout!  It's 9-2!

That prompts a pitching change from Azuma-kantoku.  #10 Makishita comes in for Misome and takes the hill.

Satou with a grounder up the 3rd base line.  Issei slides to cover it, but it 5-holes him and continues down the line!  Kita gets it in, but not before Sonobe scores to make it a 9-3 game.

Things are geting worse for the Tsuruga Kehi relievers as not only does Makishita start losing Ishino after getting ahead, he winds up hitting him to put him on base.

Azuma-kantoku appears to have a shorter leash on Makishita as he pulls him immediately after that HBP and puts in #11 Tamamura.

Tamamura gets the job done though, as he gets the dangerous Nishimura to ground to 2nd to end the inning.

Top 9th
It's a neat 1-2-3 inning for Sakuma as he needs just 8 pitches to retire the side.

Bottom 9th
But barring a major comeback there are the last ups for Seikou Gakuin.

Tamamura hits 146 on the gun, but also hits new CF Sakatani to start the inning.  But he comes right back and gets Hiruta on a failed check swing for the 1st out.

#5 Ihara comes in to hit for Sakuma, and Tamamura's inconsistency on the mound costs him as he walks him.

Azuma-kantoku has seen enough.  He sends Kishimoto back to the hill and puts in #16 Nakanishi in Tamamura's spot.

And with Kishimoto in the game, he closes out the final 2 batters to end the game and sends Tsuruga Kehi into the semifinals for just the 2nd time in school history!  And they did it by basically putting pressure on early and often, building an insurmountable lead.

Meanwhile for Seikou Gakuin, they once again get stymied at the Best 8.  Their pitching was no match for the Tsuruga Kehi offence and they displayed that early and often.   Their offense only managed to string hits (and subsequently runs) together after Kishimoto was relieved of his duties.  Azuma-kantoku has a short leash with his pitchers, and I'm beginning to think it's a trust issue.

So it'll look like Tsuruga Kehi will need to depend even more now on ace Kishimoto to bring them to their 1st ever finals!

Notable Players
Kishimoto Jyunki (Tsuruga Kehi) - W, 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 3 K, 0 BB
Kishimoto Jyunki (Tsuruga Kehi) -  2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 K
Yamada Seiya (Tsuruga Kehi) - 2-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, K
Kita Ryouta (Tsuruga Kehi) - 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, HBP

Sonobe Satoshi (Seikou Gakuin) - 1-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Nishimura Daiki (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-4, 2B
Yaoita Hyuuma (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-5, 2B, R, SB

We're now into the round of 16, and first up is a battle between Naruto and Seikou Gakuin.

Naruto if you remember was deadlocked with Utsunomiya Shougyou before scoring in the 8th to pull out the victory.  But they only managed just 5 hits off of the tandem of Iioka-Arai, which is not promising.  Even the in-play outs were not really solid hits, so despite the win the offense looks to be a weakness.

For Seikou Gakuin, they had no problems with Masuda Shouyou, pulling away early and extending the lead for an 8-0 win.  However, Masuda's defense was full of miscues that weren't necessarily errors that helped Seikou in their victory.  In fact, I believe a Masuda miscue of some sort happened in every inning that Seikou scored in - if not more. 

I'm sure Naruto won't be that shaky defensively, so I would expect Seikou's offense to be put in check.  In addition, 7 of the 11 hits were done by their 3-4-5 hitters, so they'll probably need the rest of the lineup to step up going forward as well.

As for Ishii he struck out 9, but Masuda's offense is not very strong compared to others so that should be taken with a grain of salt.

I do expect this to be a close game, but I also expect Seikou Gakuin to have an advantage as well because they have a stronger middle of the lineup.

Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima) - Tohoku Runner-up
SS Ishigaki Mitsuhiro (#16)
2B Ishino Yuuta
LF Yaoita Hyuuma
1B Sonobe Satoshi
RF Satou Shouhei
CF Isagi Jyun (#18)
3B Nishimura Daiki (#6)
C Hirose Kazumi
P Ishii Naru

Naruto (Tokushima) - Shikoku Runner-up
SS Kawano Yuuto
2B Nakano Yuuki
RF Inaoka Kenta
1B Ise Hayato
C Kusaka Hiroki
CF Koumoto Yuujirou
3B Matsumoto Takanori
P Bandou Yuugo
LF Narukawa Shuuji

___________________________________________________________

11:37 - First pitch!

Top 1st
It's wet as we start the 2nd game, but not terrible conditions.

Ishigaki with a blooper down the right field line!  Nakano and Inaoka converge on it, but neither calls the other off!  It falls in and then they collide!  It's not serious, but it takes time for them to retrieve the ball.  As a result Ishigaki is in with a triple!

And now Bandou walks Ishino, getting Moriwaki-kantoku up to call time.

Yaoita with a fly to center, that's deep enough to get Ishigaki in to give Seikou Gakuin the quick 1-0 lead!

Sonobe is a bit bemused when he gets called looking on a slider that looks rather low.

Satou picks him up though!  He reaches down and laces a liner over a leaping Nakano and splits the outfield defense!  It goes all the way to the wall for a triple and Seikou leads 2-0!

Isagi goes down trying to protect the bottom of the zone, but goes down swinging to end the inning.  But they pick up a quick 2 run!

Bottom 1st
One down, Nakano with a solid single to left.

Inaoka up, gets hit on the hand!  He's in quite a bit of pain, but after some "itai spray", he's back in the box (It was called a swing and thus a foul).

To add insult to injury, he's called out on a ball on the outside corner.

Ise with a single back up the middle!  Nakano rounds 2nd and reaches 3rd and Naruto looks to take back a run.

But Kusaka can't do it!  Ishii gets him to flyout to right and the threat is over!

Top 2nd
There's a delay as Inaoka receives treatment for the injured hand.

It looks like #18 Kitao is warming up on the mound while #16 Maekawa is throwing in case Inaoka can't continue.

But, after about a couple of minutes, he emerges and we're back playing again!

Nishimura laces a ball to left for a leadoff single!  Hirose bunts the runner along for Ishii.

He has the buster style of swinging and hits a ball to deep center!  Koumoto is there for the catch and a good throw means Nishimura can't advance!

And Bandou gets Ishigaki to chase a ball outside and groundout to Nakano to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd
Ishii still struggling with his command as he walks Koumoto to lead off the inning.

Matsumoto not bunting and grounds to 3rd!  Nishimura goes to 2nd for 1, but Ishino's throw to 1st is wild!  That allows Matsumoto to advance to 2nd!

Ah!  Now Ishii hits Bandou right on the knee!  That has to hurt!  As he works his way to first, Naruto has a great chance with 1 down!

But Narukawa gets under one and flies out to center!  2 down as we go back to the top of the order and Kawano!

SANSHIN!

Ishii freezes him on a fastball down the middle and the side is retired!

Top 3rd
Seikou batters are attacking Bandou's pitches early in the count.  Ishino flies out to right on a 0-1 count, Yaoita on a 1-0 count singles down the right field line.

Sonobe pops out to Kawano on a 1-1 count.

And Satou almost screws himself into the ground on that first swing.  Bandou finally gets him on a slider in the dirt to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd
Bandou is keeping his team in the game, and with Ishii rather wild so far, it would behoove Naruto to take advantage of this opportunity to catch up.

Well, I guess Ishii is effectively wild.  He pitches in to quite a few batters, perhaps too close, and so it proabably surprises them when the rifles one in where he wants it - as Nakano turns to walk back to the dugout.

Ishii goes high on Bandou, who winds up hitting a fly to center for the 2nd out.

And then on Ise he goes high and in and he defensive swings a grounder to 1st for the 3rd out.

Top 4th
Isagi with a comebacker to Bandou's glove side, but he must have miscalculated on the bounce as it dips under his glove and past Nakano into center.  Nishimura bunts him to 2nd.

Hirose with a half swing on a ball way outside, and the momentum of the ball seems to carry over Matsumoto into left!  Runners at the corners with 1 out!

Ishii shows squeeze at first, but then tries to swing and fouls it off!

He fouls off another one, but right at Ishigaki on the on-deck circle!  He's ok though.

And Ishii goes down and singles to left!  Isagi scores to make it 3-0!

Ishigaki with a grounder to short!   Kawano goes to 2nd for 1, but Nakano stops as he won't make it to first in time.

Ishino flies out to center and the runners are left stranded, but Seikou extends their lead.

Bottom 4th
Kusaka with a grounder to the left side.  Ishigaki runs it down in the gap, turns and throws to 1st!  Sonome makes a great pick on the short throw and gets the out!

And I guess the deep counts work for Ishii today.  He goes full on Koumoto who strikes out on a slider in the dirt, then goes full on Matsumoto as well who grounds to 2nd.

Top 5th
Yaoita drives a ball down and away deep to left!  Narukawa to the wall, jumps, and misses it!  It deflects off the wall and he's in with a double!

Sonobe with a drive to center!  Koumoto back to the wall!  Jumps!  Makes the catch!  Nice play from Koumoto!

Satou with a fly to right, that's caught by Inaoka for the 2nd out, and right after Isagi flies out t Narukawa in shallow center and as quickly as Yaoita got to 2nd, the inning is over and he's stranded there!

Bottom 5th
Grounder to short from Bandou, goes 5-hole on Ishigaki!  He lifts his glove up before securing the ball!  E6 and leadoff runner on for Naruto!  Narukawa bunts him along for the top of the lineup.

But Kawano is 0-2 so far.

AH!! He heard me.  He crushes an Ishii offering deep to left!  Yaoita running back, but it's off the wall for a double!  Bandou scores to make it a 3-1 ballgame!

Nakano can't drive in the run as he flies out to left.

Inaoka with a slow roller up the right side, everyone charges for the ball, but no one is covering 1st!  Ishino takes it and makes the only play, which is to check the runner at 3rd to see if they overran.

Kawano hasn't so everyone's safe!

AH!!  And now Ishii hits Ise!  Manrui for Naruto with Kusaka up!

Saitou-kantoku calls for time.

A strike and a foul ball puts Kusaka behind 0-2!

But Kusaka takes a ball away though the right side for a base hit!  Kawano scores!  Inaoka rounds 3rd he scores!  Satou misses gripping the ball off the ground and that allows Ise to head to 3rd!  同点！

Koumoto up and Ishii can't believe he doesn't get the call on a 1-2 fastball on the outside corner!  He does though get him to chase and hit a soft liner to Ishigaki for the 3rd out.

But Naruto strikes for 3 here in the 5th and we have a 4-inning ballgame left to play!

Top 6th
One down for Seikou and Hirose with a fly to right center, falls in for a base hit!  Saitou-kantoku has Ishii bunt for a one-timer from Ishigaki.

But Ishigaki gets fooled on a curve and flies out to right to end the inning!

Bottom 6th
Matsuki with a slow grounder up the 3rd base line.  Nishimura charging in, makes he quick throw and just beats out Matsuki for the out!  Nice play by the hot corner!

And he freezes him on a fastball inside right at (or somewhat below) the knees!

But before Ishii can get a 1-2-3 inning, Narukawa spoils it with a grounder past Ishii's feet and into center!

Kawano battling at the plate fouls a couple off, but Ishii fires one inside one more time and gets Kawano out to end the inning!

Top 7th
Bandou hasn't done that bad of a job after the first.  His control is much better and he is limiting runners on base.

Ishino pops out to shallow left, Yaoita chases a changeup down for the 2nd out.

Sonobe with a drive to center!  Koumoto back to the fence, looks up!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sonobe delivers with a fly to almost dead center!  And he slipped after his swing!  Either way it's 4-3!!

Satou hits a hard liner right to Matsumoto to end the inning, but cleanup batter Sonobe breaks the draw!

Bottom 7th
Nakano with a quick fly to center for the first out.

Inaoka works the count full, but chases a buried slider for the 2nd out!

And once again Ishii goes full on his 7th batter, and this time the batter wins!  Ise singles to left!

But Ishii gets Kusaka to swing on a slider away and flies out to center for the 3rd out!

Top 8th
Bandou working quickly trying to get his team back on the bats again.  And he does just that retiring the side in order to keep the deficit at 1/

Bottom 8th
Defensive change, #5 Ihara comes in for Ishino and takes over at 2B

Koumoto swings down and lifts one to right center.  Sakatani and Satou race over and it's Satou who makes the catch.

And after that it's back-to-back harmless flies to center to end the inning.

Top 9th
After retiring Ishii with relative ease, Ishigaki and Ihara go back to back full counts on Bandou.  Ishigaki pops out to short, while in his first AB, Ihara earns a walk.

Yaoita grounds to short to end the inning, and it's now hang-on time for Seikou Gakuin!

Bottom 9th
9-1-2 due up for Naruto.

Narukawa quickly behind 1-2 and has to defend.  Fouls one off, but he grounds to short!  Ishigaki's throw is short, but Sonobe picks it for the 1st out!

One again Ishii gets ahead of Kawano 0-2 and he's on the defensive!

SANSHIN!!!

Fastball in side freezes him and there's 2 down! It's all up to Nakano!

He's behind now 1-2!  Grounder to the right side, it's through!  Nakano keeps the game alive for Inaoka!

Grounder up the 1st base line... foul!!  1st base umpire calls foul, though just!  He's behind 1-2!

Pitch outside, doesn't swing, doesn't get call!  2-2!

Fouls one down the left field line!  Yaoita chasing it down, dives.. just misses it!  Inaoka is still alive!

Grounder to 2nd!  Ihara with it!  Goes to 2nd and game set!  Sonobe's HR in the 7th proves to be the difference as Seikou Gakuin is the first to advance to the Best 8 with a 4-3 win over Naruto!

It was a valiant effort by Naruto to rally and tie the game in the 5th, but outside of that inning, they just couldn't figure out Ishii.  At times he was inconsistent, even to the point of hitting a couple of batters.  But when he needed the pitches he got them and so Seikou Gakuin moves on!

Seikou Gakuin has Sonobe to thank for pulling through for the team.  Even outside of the actual scoring they had other chances to score, but just couldn't convert.  If not for the HR, it's possible Naruto would have gained momentum with Bandou continuing to shut down the Seikou offense.


Notable Players
Ishii Naru (Seikou Gakuin) - W, CG, 0 ER, 8 H, 8 K, BB, 2 HBP
Sonobe Satoshi (Seikou Gakuin) - 1-4, HR, R, RBI, K
Hirose Kazumi (Seikou Gakuin) - 2-3
Bandou Yuugo (Naruto) - L, CG, 4 ER, 10 H, 5 K, 2 BB
Kusaka Hiroki (Naruto) - 1-4, 2 RBI
Kawano Yuuto (Naruto) - 1-4, 2B, R, 3 K