高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

So after 48 games we are finally here. At a final that could have been predicted, and probably once we got to the Best 4, wasn't wanted.

Miyagi is looking for it's first ever Koushien title. Of course that means that this would be Sendai Ikuei's first as well. Only twice before has a team from Miyagi reached the finals. Ikuei was first back in 1989, losing to Teikyou 2-0 in 10. Then in 2003 with Tohoku and if you didn't figure it out already, yes - Yu Darvish.

Sendai Ikuei has had to come from deep in the field to get here. The good news was that their first game was relatively early, and they had no problems with Meihou. The closest games they had were in the Round of 16 when they edged out Hanamaki Higashi 4-3, and then the next round where Akita Shougyou put up a fight early before their ace broke down midway.

If we don't count the Meihou game, the team doesn't get extra base hits that often despite what you'd think. Only 11 of the 43 hits have gone for extra bases.

Also, with perhaps the exception of Sasaki Ryousuke, who has been fairly consistent, it is different people delivering each game. Which is good, because you're not overly reliant on one person like some other teams.

As for the pitching, there's Satou Sena, who I swear has been around for forever. He's not an power pitcher by most metrics, as when he's on he doesn't strike out a lot of batters. While his #10 Doumeki Yuuki spelled him for a bit against Hanamaki Higashi, Sena's last outing against Waseda Jitsugyou he struck our just 3, while walking/hitting 7 in all. Not a good sign going into the finals. Don't be surprised if Doumeki starts the game.

The last time a Kanagawa team was in this spot was with Toukaidai Sagami, facing Kounan and Yousuke Shimabukuro, and a revamped Hifumi Shinta who wound up being more wild than effective. Would you believe that the last time a Kanagawa team won a title was back in 1998 with Yokohama and... yep, Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Toukaidai Sagami has only been challenged once against of all teams Hanasaki Tokuharu. Outside of that their schedule has been rather soft, facing Seikou Gakuin, Yuugakukan and last time out Kanto Dai-ichi. They had 19 of their 52 hits go for extra bases, with their 2 key batters being their 3 & 5 hitters Sugisaki and Isoami.

As for the pitching, time is split between ace Ogasawara and #11 Yoshida who have been effective enough. Not dominating, but effective. What is concerning is the end of the semifinal against Kanto Dai-ichi. Yoshida was beginning to struggle late, and when Ogasawara came in, the batters had a bit of a field day. Of course they still won, but with 0 days rest neither pitcher will get themselves right for today. Will they have anything left today?

We're about to find out!

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

Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
3B Satou Shouta
CF Aoki Reima
SS Hirasawa Taiga
C Gunji Yuuya
1B Doumeki Yuuki (#10)
LF Kii Kaishuu
RF Sasaki Tooya
2B Yatsu Koudai
P Satou Sena

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13:02 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
They will go with Sena to start the game, but Doumeki is lingering at 1st.

First pitch forkball, swing over by Chino. He has to fight off pitches as his ouen-dan sings the school's theme.

And he successfully dumps a ball into left for a leadoff hit, and we're off and running.

After an attempt at bunting, they go for the hit-and-run instead, but Miyaji fouls it off. He does get it into play, and advances the runner with a 6-3 putout.

Sena leaves a ball up! Sugisaki drives one to deep center! It's off the top of the padding! He's in with an RBI double and Toukaidai Sagami is already ahead 1-0!

Toyoda a base hit through the left side! Sugisaki being sent home and the throw is much too late! 2-0 Sagami and it's a quick time-out called by Sasaki-kantoku.

Isoami grounds to 3rd for the 2nd out. And while Nagakura makes contact, it's a lineout to right. Inning over, but Toukaidai Sagami off to a strong start.

Bottom 1st
Ogasawara gets the inside strike on Shouta to start his final campaign.

Aoki hits a changeup off the end of his bat and it's a harmless groundout to short.

Hirasawa alsot gets the ball off the end of the bat, but it shoots through the right side for a base hit. And with 2 down, he'll try and steal 2nd! Nagakura's throw to 2nd is high and into center! Hirasawa moves to 3rd.

Ogasawara decides to hit 149 on the gun, which I think is the fastest we've seen, the result though is a walk to Gunji, bringing up Doumeki.

But he weakly grounds to 1st and the side is retired.

Top 2nd
Takeuchi gets a leadoff single and is moved along via out to 2nd and 3rd, flipping the lineup back over to Chino.

And Chino is being as stubborn now as he was in the 1st.

This time though he gets him on the fastball and the side is retired.

Bottom 2nd
Ogasawara effectively using the inside part of the plate against opposite handed hitters as he strikes out Kii looking

Tooya gets a base hit, but when Sasaki-kantoku puts on the hit and run, Yatsu swings and misses on a high pitch and Tooya is more than dead meat at 2nd.

Yatsu, after fouling off a couple of pitches, swings and misses on the changeup. Side retired.

Top 3rd
Sugisaki guides a ball back up the middle for a 1-out single. Toyoda with a grounder up the 3rd base line, Shouta with it in foul territory, but hesitates and his throw to 1st is late.

Isoami checks in with his hit, and that drives in Sugisaki without a throw. 3-0 as Sasaki-kantoku calls time yet again.

It's no help though as Nagakura lines one down the left field side. Another run scores and Toukaidai Sagami is trying to run away with it early now at 4-0.

Monma-kantoku calls for the squeeze, but Takeuchi misses. Isoami is run down for the 2nd out.

Takeuchi flies out to right, but Sagami has doubled their lead. Worse yet, Sena doesn't seem to be able to fix his control issues.

Bottom 3rd
Ogasawara looked to be heading for a clean inning, but on the 2nd groundball to Sugisaki he airmails the throw to 1st.

Aoki takes advantage stepping out and hitting a ball back up the middle! It's past Sugisaki and there will be no throw home! The error costs them a run as it's 4-1.

Hirasawa rips a ball to center! All Miyaji can do is block it and Hirasawa is in with a double! Monma-kantoku calling time now.

Gunji with a base hit! He singles past Chino! Aoki scores and it's 4-2!

Doumeki single to center! Hirasawa comes in! It's a 4-3 ballgame!!

Kii with a liner, but it's a soft one to Ogasawara! He goes to 2nd and that kills the rally! But not before we have a ballgame again!

Top 4th
But now it's a matter of pitcher attrition. Who can hold out?

Senda walks Kawaji to start the frame. Ogasawara bunts him over.

Sena finally retires Chino. Gets a big assist from Hirasawa on the short chopper, but there's 2 down.

Miyaji hits a ball to left, Kii turning around, sprints back! It's over his head! Kawaji can easily score and it's 5-3! Kii got fooled just enough there and Toukaidai Sagami pulls ahead just a little further again.

With 1st open, they are careful with Sugisaki, eventually issuing a walk.

Toyoda singles to left! Kii misplays the ball again! Miyaji definitely scores, and Kii throws to 3rd and gets an oversliding Sugisaki for the out.

But, 3 steps forward, 2 steps back. It's a 3-run lead for Sagami.

Bottom 4th
The bottom of the lineup for Sendai Ikuei though is unable to make headway as they go down in order.

Top 5th
Yamamoto comes in for Kii to start the inning. Probably due to the 2 plays he had last inning.

Sena gets his first 1-2-3 inning. He needs it, but what he needs more is the offense to get going again now that it's turned over.

Bottom 5th
Sugisaki with another error! Shouta gets on base thanks to the wide throw and Sendai Ikuei has a chance perhaps to cut into the lead again.

Sasaki-kantoku calls for the bunt, and Aoki is able to lay it down. But 1st is open as Hirasawa steps in.

Oooo.... And Ogasawara gets the outside strike to get Hirasawa out. 2 down.

Gunji pops out to 2nd and we're at the break. Sena certainly looks like the worse of the 2 pitchers so far, but Ogasawara is not without his issues as well. Still, Sendai Ikuei is chasing 3 with their offense only showing life in 1 inning.

Top 6th
Kawaji with a drive to right. Tooya running to the foul pole! Is this ball gone?

NO! It's an out! Tooya leaps, makes the catch as his back collides with the padding and hangs on! He's on the ground, but he has the ball!

And quickly Ogasawara flies out to left, and Chino strikes out on 3 straight.

Bottom 6th
One down and Yamamoto gets a 4-pitch walk.

#15 Nishimaki is hitting for Tooya! And he singles through the left side!

Yatsu with a single to center! Manrui for Sendai Ikuei for Sena!

But he goes down on 3 straight and it'll be up to Shouta to bring the runners home. Monma-kantoku calls for time.

Ogasawara not really pitching in the zone, trying to take advantage of Ikuei perhaps pressing. Shouta for his part is at least staying alive by fouling pitches off.

 AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shouta, drive to center! Miyaji ranging over, now back! It's past him! Everyone's going to score! Everyone does score! Miyaji is in at 3rd and we're all tied at 6-6!!!!!

Aoki with a blooper to right center! Everyone converging on it!

It's Toyoda! He has a long slide and makes the catch for the 3rd out!

Damage done! It's a 3 inning game!

Top 7th
Nishiwaki stays in at 1B, Doumeki to RF.

Quick flyout to center by Miyaji. Sugisaki soon follows with a grounder to short.

Toyoda liner to right! Doumeki charging! Dives... MAKES THE CATCH!!!!

That's balls right there. It gets past him, it's 7-6 for sure.

Bottom 7th
But with momentum seemingly with Sendai Ikuei, the middle of the lineup is falling flay. Hirasawa with a popup, and Gunji fly to center - suddenly there's 2 out.

Doumeki gets hit and the inning continues.

Sasaki-kantoku tries to send Doumeki.... But Nagakura just gets him with his throw! Side retired!

Top 8th
One down, Nagakura's grounder to Yatsu is muffed putting on the gyakuten run.

Takeuchi fooled badly on the forkball for the 2nd out.

And Kawaji down on the forkball! 3 out!

Bottom 8th
Perhaps they wanted to take the base so that Yamamoto could either drive in the run, or lead off the inning. However, he grounds out to 2nd.

Nishimaki makes good contact, but also grounds out to 2nd.

Yatsu gets hit, but he's called to be in the zone and not getting out of the way, and is therefore called out! 3 down and we're onto the 9th!

Top 9th
Ogasawara drive to right?? Doumeki going back?????

NO WAY!!!!!!!!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where in the world did that come from! First pitch for Sena and it's gone! And Sagami has the lead! It's 7-6!?!!!

Uh oh...

Miyaji double down the left field line...

Sugisaki blooper also down the left field line, Miyaji in for 8-6...

Toyoda with a gapper to left center for a double, 9-6.

Isoami fly ball to right center. Doumeki dives... and makes the catch! But he forgets how many outs are there! Toyoda tags up from 2nd and scores for 10-6.

The bleeding finally ends there, but so does Sendai Ikuei's chance at the title.

Bottom 9th
Sendai Ikuei goes quietly in the bottom of the 9th and as Toyoda makes the final out, they win their 2nd ever Natsu Koushien title!

Man, it's a sad way to end such a great game. Satou Sena is understandably inconsolable, especially after holding out as long as he did. I don't know if you prefer losing like that or in sayonara fashion where it's closer. Perhaps if it was closer you could have though about doing something different. But perhaps like this you know you had nothing left... Perhaps if it was close, you'd look back on Kii's plays before he was pulled and wonder if he had played it right, would they have the lead instead of a tie game.

There's a lot of ifs, and it shouldn't take away from what Toukaidai Sagami did, especially Ogasawara who delivered the real final blow that would KO Satou Sena. Just a bummer way to end an exciting final.

If you follow my twitter feed, you'd think I was overdoing it withe Kiyomiya Koutarou blabber by the media. If anything, I think I'm understating it.

The only thing is, in his last 2 games, he's backing it up. Against Toukaidai Koufu he went 3-4 with 2 2B, a HR, and 5 RBIs. And in last game against Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku, he went 2-4 with a 2B and another HR. So if you're going to be watching the broadcast, there will be a lot of Kiyomiya being said. If you want to make it a drinking game, be careful.

That said, there are other batters too. One of which is 2B Tomita. He hit a HR in 2 consecutive ABs in his last game, though went 0-5 against Toukaidai Koufu.

But for Waseda, their 6 runs last game were on just 8 hits. Sure they made the most of them, but what will happen against what in all likelihood be Satou Sena?

Sendai Ikuei's offensive output, when looked at in hits hasn't declined as they've progressed. There's also no one hitter to single out as everyone can check in with at least 1. That's good in that you won't ever feel like you won't be able to drive a run in, but also bad because you can't call on a hit when you need it.

As mentioned before, Satou Sena is the ace - but he's not alone. His partner of sorts Doumeki is certainly serviceable, though perhaps to be used in short stints as from his Hanamaki Higashi performance.

The crowd today will probably be pro-Waseda. The hype will have encompassed the stadium by now.

Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
3B Satou Shouta
CF Aoki Reima
SS Hirasawa Taiga
C Gunji Yuuya
1B Sasaki Ryousuke
LF Kii Kaishuu
RF Sasaki Tooya
2B Yatsu Koudai
P Satou Sena

Waseda Jitsugyou (Nishi Tokyo)
3B Yamada Jyunpei
RF Tamagawa Ryou
1B Kiyomiya Koutarou
C Katou Masaki
SS Kaneko Kinsuke
2B Tomita Naoki
LF Miyazaki Renta (#11)
P Matsumoto Kou
CF Watanabe Daichi

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08:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Shouta work the count deep, and gets a high fastball to drive, but it's right to Miyazaki.

Aoki also works the count full, and grounds out to short.

Hirasawa grounds to short, and Matsumoto has to work for it, but gets the clean inning.

Bottom 1st
Sena not necessarily sharp early, going behind 3-1 to Yamada before getting the out, then not geting what looked like a strike to walk Tamagawa.

The media gets the Kiyomiya hype machine on full bore, but then he grounds into the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Top 2nd
Dunno what it is with the strike zone, but Matsumoto walks Gunji to start the inning. There will be no bunting though, as Ryousuke flies out to Miyazaki in shallow left center.

Kii though singles to left! That puts a runner in scoring position!

But Tooya grounds to Kiyomiya! He goes to 2nd for 1, but no throw back for the double play.

Which ends up not mattering because Yatsu grounds into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd
Sena doing well to keep the ball down. Gets 2 groundballs before hitting Tomita - undoubtedly trying to pitch him in, before getting a can of corn to end the inning.

Top 3rd
Sena of all people contacts a hanging slider down the left field line for a double.

Shouta with a drive to left! Miyazaki going back, going back... Off the padding! Sena held up in case it was caught, so he only makes it to 3rd.

Aoki hits the high fastball the other way! That's fair and will score both runs! 2-0 Sendai Ikuei!

Now Aoki takes off for 2nd! Throw from Katou, not in time! That allows him to get to 3rd when Hirasawa grounds out to the right side.

Gunji chopper to the left side! Yamada charging gets to it, but goes to 1st! Kiyomiya is spun around as his arm runs into a sprinting Gunji. Looks ok though.

Bottom 3rd
Matsumoto grounder to short, but Hirasawa loses the ball before the transfer, and it's an E6. He's bunted over.

Yamada now draws a walk at least creating a force, but if there's no double play Kiyomiya would be up.

And Tamagawa hits a liner, but right to center for the 2nd out.

So Kiyomiya does step in. He htis a chopper back up the middle! Yatsu gets to it, but no one's covering 2nd! Tries to get Matsumoto overrunning 3rd, but no deal! Manrui for Soujitsu!

AH! Sena spins around and he picks off Yamada at 2nd! Inning over!

Top 4th
After a one-out infield hit to Yatsu and a sac bunt, Izumi-kantoku switches out Matsumoto for #10 Kamijyou!

Grounder to 3rd! But the ball bounces off of Yamada!  Kaneko not in position anymore and Yatsu can score! 4-0 Sendai Ikuei!

And now a single by Aoki!

おおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおお！！！！！！！！！！！！！！

Hirasawa with a drive to right center!!! Watanabe and Tamagawa going to the fence! But Tamagawa breaks away!!!

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

3-run HR from Hirasawa opens the floodgates!! It's 7-0 Sendai Ikuei!

Bottom 4th
Does the Waseda offense have an answer?

Not so far. Katou quickly flies to left, and Kaneko can only hit one back to Sena.

Tomita does get an infield single, but Miyazaki strikes out on a change inside to retire the side.

Top 5th
A HBP doesn't hurt Kamijyou as he gets a DP, but he still gives up a double to Tooya, showing the offense isn't going to let up.

Bottom 5th
Sena still giving up the occasional walk, this time to Kamijyou. But he's wiped out with a 6-4-3 double play of their own.

Yamada with a grounder up the middle, but Yatsu makes a great stop and throw for the 3rd out! We're already at the break and Sendai Ikuei is in full control!

Top 6th
#17 Yoshino in the game now for Waseda.

Gives up a walk to Shouta, but he's caught stealing to end the inning.

Bottom 6th
Up by so much, there's no need to attack Kiyomiya so he's given the unintentional intentional walk.

Kaneko makes things interesting with 2 outs as he singles to left, but Tomita swings on the first pitch and flies out to center. Inning over.

Rest of game
The game devolves wherein Waseda is getting it's bench players in and in a little way so is Sendai Ikuei. Even the commentators cut down on the Kiyomiya talk and accidentally refers to Waseda Jitsugyou as Waseda Daigaku.

Satou Sena does finish the game with a shutout as Sendai Ikuei advances to the finals 7-0.

My loyalties in this game are odd too. Sendai Ikuei hasn't won a title. The last time they got this far in the summer was 19 years ago.

And yet I plan on rooting for Akita Shougyou.

Why?

Akita Shougyou is the final public school remaining. If you follow this scene long enough, you find that a lot of the schools who make it are private. So for them to be here is a great accomplishment.

Also they are from Akita, which is not a very strong prefecture. The last time a school got here was back in 1995, and a school from here has never a title.


The win against Ryuukoku despite the 16 Ks from Narita Takeru wasn't all that much to write home about. Now, the win against Kendai Takasaki where he struck out 7 can make you take notice. It does mean that they could at least compete.

Sendai Ikuei put away a very disorganized Hanamaki Higashi last time out, but it is still a quality win. They still managed to put out 11 hits, so the offense is still there, but facing ace Narita for Akita Shougyou may be something entirely different.

Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
3B Satou Shouta
CF Aoki Reima
SS Hirasawa Taiga
C Gunji Yuuya
1B Sasaki Ryousuke
LF Kii Kaishuu
RF Doumeki Yuuki(#10)
2B Yatsu Koudai
P Satou Sena

Akita Shougyou (Akita)
CF Aida Kaito
SS Kusanagi Teruya
1B Takeda Yoshiki
3B Kominami Tenyou
P Narita Takeru
2B Furuya Ryouhei
LF Narita Kazu
RF Konno Toui
C Kudou Kei

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13:10 - First pitch!

1st Inning
Good start as Takeru strikes Satou out on a fastball away.

And the gets the outside corner on Aoki for the 2nd out!

Kudou gets a chance to catch a foul ball for the 3rd out, but misses. It winds up not hurting them as Hirasawa softly lines out to Furuya.

It's not as much of a statement as Narita's was, but Sena gets 2 routine grounders and a pop fly to start his campaign.

2nd Inning
This is probably what we're going to see for most of this game - a lot of outs. Only 1 K this inning for Takeru, but with the groundouts come quicker innings.

Sena does the exact same thing. 2 routine grounders and a K to end the inning. Sit back and watch these 2 aces deal.

3rd Inning
5 pitches. Just 5. That's all that Takeru needed to get a 1-2-3 inning.

Kazu breaks through for Akitashou! Well, for a base hit at least. Leads off with a single past a diving Yatsu into center. He's bunted over for #9 batter Kudou.

Kudou with a ball back up the middle. Yatsu with the stop and throw... gets him but the runner moves to 3rd.

Aida grounds to 3rd though and the inning is over. But Akita Shougyou is the first to make progress.

4th Inning
Shouta perhaps the biggest challenge so far, goes 10 pitches before flying out to right on a letter high fastball.

Aoki takes a ball deep to center, but well in play for the 2nd out.

Hirasawa with a ball deep now, this time to right! Konno going back to the foul pole!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hirasawa does one better and with one swing gives Sendai Ikuei the 1-0 lead!

Another flyball out retires the side, but you have to be concerned he's leaving the pitches up for Ikuei to mash.

The problem now is that Akitashou is on the back foot now that they're behind. Takeda gets on due to a hit batter, but while he advances to 2nd via passed ball, he can go no further.

Top 5th
Another pitch up and Ryousuke scorches it to right for a base hit.

And now the pressure is getting to them, bunt to the right side, Takeda and Takeru can't decide who's taking it and in the end no one does. Everyone's safe.

Doumeki walks, and it's manrui... Akita Shougyou calls time.

And of all things, it's a blooper by Yatsu that perhaps will break Akita Shougyou. 2 runs score on the ball to center and it's 3-0 Ikuei.

Make that 4-0 as Sena singles to right.

Bottom 5th
One down and Kazu gets his 2nd hit of the game, another single back up the middle. Konno not bunting, but grounds into a fielder's choice.

Kudou singles to right and that puts runners on 1st and 2nd.

Oh?

Aida grounder past Shouta and down the line! One run scores as Kudou is held at 3rd. It's 1 run, though and there'll be more work to be done as Kusunagi gets frustrated as having a pitch to hit, then grounds to short to end the inning. Its 4-1 though and only 4 innings left to go.

Top 6th
Akita Shougyou waving the white flag it seems.

After giving up another run, Narita moves to RF as #10 Saitou takes the hill.

Rest of game
Well, Takeru makes a great throw from RF to nail a runner tagging up for home. He actually pitches the last 3 innings.

Akita Shougyou actually makes some noise in the 9th.

After two strikcouts, Kazu draws a respect walk. Then Shibata gets a talking to and then a base hit. Then Kudou gets double to left scoring 1, and then another when Shouta throws the ball away trying to get Kudou out at 2nd.

Aida rips a ball back to Sena, who makes the catch to end the game at 6-3.

I would have rather had the game end at 6-1 than make a small comeback and fall short like they did. It's like giving a team hope and then crushing it. You saw it in Aida collapsing after Sena catches the liner.

*sighs*

Our matinee game is a headliner for sure, and a regional affair to boot.

Sendai Ikuei has certainly put the offense on full as usual, racking up 19 runs in their first 2 games most recently defeating Takigawa Dai-ni. However, the team is susceptible to long stretches without scoring opportunities, and ace Satou Sena is not a power pitcher - though I'm not sure if any of the aces here are.

Hanamaki Higashi may have finally gotten the formula right. At first they were a plucky squad that grinded out games, putting pressure with running bases and the like. They're still doing it here, but it's more planned than just turning the dial to 11.

This should be a great way to start the afternoon session.

Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
3B Satou Shouta
CF Aoki Reima
SS Hirasawa Taiga
C Gunji Yuuya
1B Sasaki Ryousuke
LF Kii Kaishuu
RF Sasaki Tooya
2B Yatsu Koudai
P Doumeki Yuuki (#10)

Hanamaki Higashi (Iwate)
SS Tarou Akira
C Fukushima Keito
LF Chida Kyouhei
2B Kumagai Sena
CF Sasaki Yuuya
1B Satou Yuito
RF Chiba Kouta (#11)
3B Kikuchi Shinya
P Katou Mitsunori (#17)

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13:15 - First pitch!

1st Inning
The siren isn't even done blaring and Shouta is at first with a single. Aoki quickly bunts him over.

Hirasawa draws a 4-pitch walk, and are they already in trouble?

Gunji base hit the other way! Shouta coming home and it's already 1-0 Sendai Ikuei!

Ryousuke with another single the other way! Hirasawa comes home and it's 2-0!

Kii hot shot to 3rd! Kikuchi has it! Goes to the bag for 1, throw to first gets the double play! But before that though Sendai Ikuei strikes first in the opening frame for a pair of runs!

Hanamaki Higashi, looking to immediately cut into that deficit gets a walk from Tarou, who is bunted over.

Chida gets under a pitch and hits a blooper to left. Kii and Hirasawa converge, but it falls in! Tarou gambles and goes for it and thus is able to score! 2-1!

Yuuya singles through the right side and it's runners at the corners with 2 outs for Yuito!

But they try the double steal! Hirasawa fires back home and they get Chida for the 3rd out! That's a a really questionable call there, especially with 2 down.

Top 2nd
And now Hanamaki Higashi is sending in ace Takahashi!

Tooya grounder to short! Tarou is able to run it down, but the throw is late and wide!

And now Takahashi hits Yatsu! Hanamaki Higashi back in hot water again!

Doumeki helping his own cause slicing ball down the left field line and all the way to the wall for a double! Tooya scores and it's 3-1.

Shouta walks on 4 straight and it's manrui for Sendai Ikuei!

Aoki liner up the middle, Tarou with the diving catch! Can't quite double off Doumeki, but that's a key out.

Takahashi then strikes out Hirasawa and Hanamaki Higashi is a pitch away from getting out of it,

Grounder to short and Tarou can flip to 2nd to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd
Yuito lines a ball right at Shouta's head! He ducks, but can't get the glove quite on the ball as it goes to left for a base hit.

Chiba tries to bunt, but it's too short and Gunji fires to 2nd to cut down the lead runner.

Unfortunately, Kikuchi does ground into the 5-4-3 double play and the side is retired.

Top 3rd
After the first 2 innings, Takahashi is glad to get a clean, short inning to get some rest.

Bottom 3rd
One down and Tarou gets plunked.. Sasaki-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, but Chida grounds to short. Tarou beats Hirasawa to 2nd, but Hirasawa is still able to go to 1st for the out.

Grounder to short, and it's still a relatively quiet inning.

Top 4th
One down and Doumeki showing at least he is the better batter as he singles back up the middle. But two grounders to short later and the side is retired.

Bottom 4th
あら？

Kumagai hits a ball to left. Kii back to the wall. He looks up!

HAITAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kumagai hits a HR to left and brings Hanamaki Higashi within 1!

And after Yuito gets a base hit off of Doumeki, that'll be it for Doumeki.. for now anyways.

Satou Sena comes in for Sasaki Tooya and takes the hill. Doumeki goes to RF.

Pulls the string on Chiba with the forkball for the 2nd out, and then on the next pitch gets Kikuchi to ground to 3rd. Still Hanamaki Higashi is hanging in there!

Top 5th
2 down for Sendai Ikuei and Ryousuke singles to left, then Kii singles to right and there's runners at the corners.

Sena liner, but right to Tarou for the 3rd out!

Bottom 5th
There literally wasn't a bottom of the 5th. Sena needed just 4 pitches and we're at the break.

After a shaky start by both relief starters on the mound, the aces have taken over. But unfortinately for Hanamaki Higashi they find themselves down a run at the break.

Top 6th
One out and there's a reason Doumeki was left in. He gets his 3rd single of the game. And Sendai Ikuei will play for a run? Shouta bunts the runner over.

Takahashi leaves a ball up! Aoki drives it to left... and over Chida's head!! That's to the wall!

Doumeki scores from 1st, Aoki going for 3rd! Relay throw in.... OUT!!!

Aoki tries to take one base too many and the side is retired, but he does reestablish the 2-run lead at 4-2!

Bottom 6th
Chida with a ball to the left side. It's past a diving Shouta, but not Hirasawa! Fires to first and they nail him!

After that, it's 1-2-3 and perhaps Hanamaki Higashi is in trouble!

Bottom 7th
Yuito grounder to 3rd, throw from Shouta, short hops 1st and it's into foul territory! Yuito takes 2nd (just) on the error!

And they'll play for the run as Chiba bunts him over.

Kikuchi gets the run in as he flies out to right. 4-3.

That winds up being all they get, but they're within a run.

Top 8th
Two down and Yatsu gets hit preventing the clean inning.

Doumeki ball up the middle, Kumagai sliders over... but it's off him and into center! It's runners at the corners!

But Shouta grounds to short and the inning is over!

Bottom 8th
Hanamaki Higashi though goes down quickly in order. They still need 1 run, and now they have just 3 outs to go.

Top 9th
Hanamaki Higashi in trouble again! With 1 out, after Hirasawa walks, Gunji's bunt gets fielded by Fukushima, but the ball slips out of the glove! All safe!

Ryouta with a liner to left! Chida coming in, dives.. makes the catch!

And Kii strikes out to retire the side! They're able to hold serve, but...

Bottom 9th
It's the zero hour.

Kumagai grounds to 2nd and there's already 1 down.

But Yuuya lines a ball just over third for a base hit!

But then they try to steal 2nd??? Gunji fires... and they get him! 2 out!!!

Yuito with a ball to right, and Doumeki plays it safe and lets it drop in front of him. They're still alive as #9 Fukuchi runs for Yuito.

And after a strike, #14 Komatsu comes in for Chiba?

Grounder to 2nd, throw to 1st, and that's the ball game! Sendai Ikuei advances to the Best 8!

The first game of the day sadly looks like a lopsided affair. Sendai Ikuei has watched as other title contenders have fallen by the wayside. Meanwhile, they annihilated Meihou in the 1st round 12-1 behind 20 hits. The pitching was not dominating behind ace Satou Sena, but could certainly be considered at least above average.

Takigawa Dai-ni on the other hand, struggled with Chuuetsu and was only able to win in the bottom of the 9th. The team did get 15 hits, but couldn't push the runs across. As for the pitching, Tomoi was far from dominating, yielding as many walks as Ks (4), and 11 hits in 8 innings.

With the draw falling the way it has though, there is a 2 in 3 chance they will have a tough matchup as either Kounan or Hanamaki Higashi may await. Otherwise, it's another soft matchup with Akita Shougyou.

Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
3B Satou Shouta
CF Aoki Reima
SS Hirasawa Taiga
C Gunji Yuuya
1B Sasaki Ryousuke
LF Kii Kaishuu
RF Sasaki Tooya
2B Yatsu Koudai
P Satou Sena

Takigawa Dai-ni (Hyogo)
CF Negoro Shouta
LF Ooshima Masato
3B Kawakita Akihiro
1B Tatehata Ryouta
SS Yuuki Takara
RF Aoki Eiji
2B Yamane Takahiro (#14)
C Shibamoto Yuuki
P Tomoi Hiroto

__________________________________________________

09:30 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
One down and Aoki gets a bloop single just fair down the right field line.

Aoki then goes for 2nd during Hirasawa's AB and then he steals 3rd during Gunji's AB, however he can't get home as Gunji  grounds out to end the inning. Odd that they're more stealing bases than getting hits.

Bottom 1st
Negoro gets a leadoff hit against Sena, a hard hit ball to left for a single.

But they push it by having him steal 2nd, and Gunji guns him down.

Sena being worked early, with Takigawa working the count full twice. But it ends up a 1-2-3 inning as both Ooshima and Kawakami ground out to 2nd.

Top 2nd
Kii draws a leadoff walk and is bunted over.

Yatsu can't get the run in and so it'll be to the ace to help his own cause.

And he does! Tomoi misses high on his pitch and Sena softly singles to center scoring Kii! 1-0!

Bottom 2nd
Sena almost gets a quick 1-2-3 inning after retiring the first two in just 5 pitches. But he walks Aoki on 4 straight and has to throw extra pitches. Yamane fouls out to end the inning, but it could have been easier.

Top 3rd
Sendai Ikuei giving Tomoi an easy time of it it seems with swinging away early and often in counts.  9 pitches later, he has a 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 3rd
Shibamoto leads off the 3rd directing a ball through the right side for a leadoff hit and is bunted over.

Negoto with a chipper up the middle. Sena leaps and the pal tips off the glove and higher into the air! Yatsu with it quickly and fires to 1st... just in time! Shibamoto advances to 3rd.

Ooshima comebacker right to Sena! Goes to 1st and the inning is over!

Top 4th
Ryousuke leads off the inning with a ball to left center! Ooshima and Negoro converge, but somehow it falls in! Both were not running as fast as I though they should and the ball falls in!

Now a wild pitch from Tomoi moves the runner to 3rd!

Kii scored the first run, now he drives in the run! It's a rip shot past the drawn in infield and Ryousuke scores! 2-0!

Tooya does his 2nd sac bunt, moving Kii to 2nd.

Yatsu with a screamer, but it's right to Kawakita for the 2nd out.

Tomoi could have gotten out of the inning, but instead he walks Sena on a pitch not even close and turns the lineup over!

And now Shouta singles through the left side! Kii goes to 3rd and holds up.  Aoki grounds out to short and 1 run is all they get.

Bottom 4th
Now Takigawa swinging at everything themselves. I can barely get ready for the inning when 5 pitches later, it's over!

Top 5th
Hirasawa with a drive to left! Aoki going back, going back... makes the catch with his back to the wall!

Gunji with a drive to left! Now it's Ooshima going back to the wall, but he pulls up!!

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

This time they don't miss! Gunji gives his team the 3-0 lead!

And now things start getting out of hand.

2 down, Kii singles through the left side. Another wild pitch from Tomoi moves him to 2nd. Then a walk.

Then Yatsu hits one hard off the wall for a double, and that scores both runners making it 6-0.

Sena gets a seeing eye single past Yamane, and Shouta rips one back past Tomoi.

And with that #18 Mori relieves Tomoi.

And then walks Aoki, meaning that Hirasawa gets to bat for a 2nd time.

He strikes out looking, but after holding on for 4 innings, Sendai Ikuei breaks through in big way.

Bottom 5th
Sena though not taking advantage of the lead, walks Aoki. And when he does his defense lets him down! Yamane hits a grounder to 1st, but Ryousuke boots the ball! All safe! And with Shibamoto moving the runners over they have a chance to cut the big deficit.

But they do a contact play! Mori hits it right to Shouta and he gets Aoki in a rundown! 2 out!

And Negoro flies out to center and the inning is over! A small scare for Sendai Ikuei, but at the break the game seems in hand.

Top 6th
It's a 1-2-3 inning for Mori, but Sendai Ikuei is more than happy to accelerate the game now.

Bottom 6th
Takigawa still hacking away, but its' an easy 3 outs for Sena.

Rest of game
I had/am having an emergency with my phone but in the meantime nothing really significant happens with the game. Takigawa Dai-ni avoids the shutout when Ooshims delivers a 2-out single to make it 7-1 and that's where the game ends. Nothing surprising other than it took a while for Sendai Ikuei to get started.

If nothing else, let's hope for a safe game to close it out. No injuries would be nice.

As for a close game, that'll be up to Meihou because Sendai Ikuei is on a mission. They scored no less than 9 runs in each of their games. Yes, every game. And with their narrow loss to Tsuruga Kehi, they want revenge.

Meihou barely got in defeating Oita Shougyou 1-0 in the final. I don't need any analysis of this game. Meihou needs help and a lot of it.

Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
3B Satou Shouta
CF Aoki Reima
SS Hirasawa Taiga
C Gunji Yuuya
1B Sasaki Ryousuke
LF Kii Kaishuu
RF Sasaki Tooya
2B Yatsu Koudai
P Satou Sena

Meihou (Oita)
SS Ooba Tatsuya
2B Tsuji Keita
3B Kudou Shunya
LF Yamanaka Taiki
1B Sugizono Daiki (#13)
RF Horimoto Shouta
P Maeda Tsuyoshi
C Asou Ryuusei
CF Douda Kouhei

____________________________________________________________

16:20 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Uh... how do I put this?

First batter E5, tries to take 2nd but runs all the way to Tokyo, and gets thrown out at 2nd.

After that. 2B to fence, HR to center, 2B, 2B, 4-3 (finally), 1B, K.

9 batters, 5 runs, and we know who is the better team.

Bottom 1st
Kudou for Meihou manages a walk, but against ace Sena who can throw 145... Yeah...

Top 3rd
Apparently the 2nd inning was a break, because the first two pitches went single and double for a 6-0 lead.

After a double play where Sasaki lined out to 1st, Yatsu starts another chain. Single, double, double and now 8-0...

To Break
To be honest, there's isn't a whole lot worth reporting. Meihou is certainly trying their best, but as the first adn 3rd innings indicate, it's nowhere near enough to match Sendai Ikuei. As for ace Staou Sena, he's throwing hard for sure, but there are times where his control leaves him.

To End
Thankfully Meihou fought until the end. And in the 7th when they were emptying their bench, after Horita drew a walk, PH Kuroiwa singled to center and scored a run.

The game would finaly end with Sendai Ikuei winning 12-1. Domeki would relieve Sena in the 9th, and walk the bases loaded, so if there's concerns it may be with the pitching.

And now the main feature of today, the Meiji Jingu champs Sendai Ikuei against one of the scarier pitchers in baseball, Hiranuma Shouta of Tsuruga Kehi. Let's sit back and enjoy this shall we?

Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
3B Satou Shouta
CF Aoki Reima
SS Hirasawa Taiga
C Gunji Yuuya
1B Sasaki Ryousuke
LF Kii Kaishuu
RF Sasaki Tooya
2B Yatsu Koudai
P Satou Sena

Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui)
3B Shinohara Ryou
2B Nakai Kidzuku
SS Hayashinaka Yuuki
P Hiranuma Shouta
CF Yamamoto Kouta
LF Matsumoto Teppei (#17)
1B Ueda Ryouya
C Kamon Yuusuke
RF Mori Shigeki (#7)

__________________________________________________

11:55 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Well, that's a way to start. Hiranuma's sweeping slider makes Shouta fan the opposing dugout he swung so hard.

Aoki early on a slider outside and grounds out to short.

Hirasawa fighting valiantly at the plate fouling off several offerings, but grounding to 2nd in the end.

Bottom 1st
Sena, wanting to show there's 2 sided to this battle, pulls out his forkball and strikes out Shinohara.

Not so fortunate with Nakai as he connects on a high fastball and drives it to deep right center for a double!

Hayashinaka gets a fastball down the middle, but pulls it to Shouta. Looks back the runner, goes to 1st, but the throw is offline! Ryousuke makes the swipe tag though for the out.

Topping it off he goes 3 straight forkballs on Hiranuma and the side is retired!

Top 2nd
Gunji attacks the first pitch from Hiranuma and drives it to deep left center. However, he's just under it and Matsumoto runs it down for the out.

Then against the left Ryousuke, he goes inside with the slider, and ties him up for his 2nd K.

Kii flies out to right and 2 clean innings so far.

Bottom 2nd
Yamamoto hot shot up the middle, but Sena picks it out of the air and makes the play at 1st.

Matsumoto becones the 3rd victim to the forkball.

Ueda gets a great pitch down the middle, but doesn't hit it square. Tooya is there to end the inning.

Top 3rd
Hiranuma cruising along, gets a foul fly and yet another K. Sena grounds to short and should be the end of the inning, but Hayashinaka boots the ball! E6 and Sendai Ikuei has their first runner.

Doesn't last long though. Shouta flies out to center and the inning is over.

Bottom 3rd
One down for Mori and he hits a ball into the gap on the left side. Hirasawa runs it down, tumbles, and throws it anyways?! It's way offline, and to no one at all! That allows Mori to take 2nd. That was so not necessary.

With 1st open, I think Sena unintentionally intentionally walks Shinohara to create the force.

Sena tells them, he doesn't need it! He strikes out Nakai on a forkball, and Hayashinaka?

Yep, you guessed it! Another forkball and the side is retired!

Top 4th
Aoki with a roller up the 1st base line, Ueda there, but the ball bounces off the bag and away from Ueda! He should have moved up to the base to wait for it.

One down and Gunji hits a ball back up the middle. Hayashinaka with it, but he gets himself twisted around! He manages to toss to 2nd for the out.

Perhaps out of precaution, Azuma-kantoku switches the keystone positions.

Hiranuma gives his men a rest as he strikes out Ryousuke to retire the side.

Bottom 4th
Hiranuma for some reason can't hit Sena so far. Even when he leaves the forkball high he ends up being fooled and pulling it to 2nd.

But then he issues his 2nd walk to Yamamoto.

Azuma-kantoku needing runs sends Yamamoto! Throw from Gunji not in time!

Satou goes to his forkball and gets Matsumoto to ground to 3rd, and then Ueda makess contact, but it's just a grounder to short to end the inning! Sena's out of the inning, but he's leaving some of his pitches up.

Top 5th
Hiranuma doing everything possible to shut down the Sendai Ikuei offense. 8 pitches and the side is retired without hitting a ball into the outfield.

Bottom 5th
Kamon on the board with a liner to center! He's bunted to 2nd by Mori.

With the same situation as the 3rd, he walks Shinohara.

Nakai sharp grounder to 1st! Ryousuke tags the bag, throws to 2nd... but it's not in time!

Hayashinaka up to try and bring the 2 runners in.

Swings on a high fastball! Goes to right, and that will fall in! Kamon scores! Shinohara waved around, throw home... not in time! Hayashinaka breaks the deadlock and gives Tsuruga Kehi the 2-0 lead!

Hiranuma connects on a forkball and drives it to center! He's under it though and Aoki makes the catch. Sena's done well, but now his offense will have to come through as Hayashinaka gives his team the lead before the break!

Top 6th
But Sendai Ikuei needs runners first, and they can't even get that. Sena goes down on a slider for Hiranuma's 5th K. And neither Shouta or Aoki get the ball out of the infield either (only 3 balls have).

Yikes.

Bottom 6th
One down and a questionable dead ball is called. Replay shows the ball went clean through.

Ueda lines one to left and Kii is just there to make the catch.

But the dead ball costs Sena pitches as Kamon battles for 10 pitches before finally grounding out to short.

Top 7th
Lucky 7 for Sendai Ikuei and they need a lot of help.

Hirasawa blows the fastball inside on Hiranaka and he can't get around on it. Gunji grounds to 1st and there's quickly 2 outs.

Ryousuke with a ball to left, Matsumoto going back, and he's twisted around! The ball falls in and he's in with a double! Sasaki-kantoku then elects to send in #15 Seto to run for him.

No surprise why as they go for a hit and run! But Kii fouls it off.

And again! But this time it's inside! Kamon goes to 3rd and Seto is out by a wide margin! Inning over!

Bottom 7th
Seto stays in the game to play 1B.

One down and Shinohara, who finally gets to swing the bat, gets a single to left.

Nakai with a liner to center, but Aoki is in the right place to field it.

Azuma-kantoku sends Shinohara to 2nd! Throw from Gunji is not in time! But Hayashinaka grounds to short and the inning is over!

Top 8th
Kii ball down the left field line.. fair!! Kii slides in with a double! He's replaced by #10 Domeki, and #11 Tateyama hits for Tooya.

But he flies out to right.

Oh! Hiranuma hits Yatsu! Do they have a chance? Sena up to help his cause.

Hiranuma shuts the door there with a K.

Shouta with a chopper over Hiranuma! Nakai there, goes to 1st... OUT!  3 out and Sendai Ikuei will be down to their final 3 outs!

Bottom 8th
#17 Saida comes in for Domeki to play RF, #16 Yamamoto comes in for Tateyama to play RF.

Sena retires the side in order with little trouble, leaving it to his offense one last time.

Top 9th
3 outs from victory for Hiranuma.

SANSHIN!!! Aoki can only helplessly watch as the fastball tails back over the outside corner for strike 3!

Hirasawa looper to the right side... over a leaping Nakai into center! Sendai Ikuei can bring the tying run to the plate.

Gunji with a ball to right center, and that's in for a hit! Hirasawa takes 3rd! Now the tying runner is on base.

Seto slow grounder to 2nd! Nakai's only play is to 1st and a run scores! 2-1 and the douten runner is in scoring position!

Saida the last chance for Sendai Ikuei.

But he hits a grounder to 2nd! Nakai makes the throw to 1st and Tsuruga Kehi holds on!

It was certainly shaky there late for Hiranuma and the Hokushinetsu champs, but 2 runs is enough after all.

Whoo.

For about 6.2 innings, Sendai Ikuei could do nothing. But when they finally did something, Sasaki-kantoku sold out to score runs and it might have cost the in the 9th when Ryousuke and Kii were not available, having been lifted after their hits. Sena, for his part held Tsuruga Kehi to just 5 hits. It just so happens that 2 of them came in 1 inning and resulted in 2 runs.

Tsuruga Kehi wins, but it's concerning that Hiranuma faltered late. He's going to get little rest going forward and showing problems now isn't good. The offense only putting out 5 hits isn't good either. There are a lot of question marks this team is going to have to answer if they want to take the title, because in all probability Osaka Touin looms large.

Well, it's from one contender to another in Meiji Jingu champs Sendai Ikuei. Kamimura Gakuen is tasked with stopping them, but it's a tall order to ask for.

Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
3B Satou Shouta
CF Aoki Reima
SS Hirasawa Taiga
C Gunji Yuuya
1B Sasaki Ryousuke
LF Kii Kaishuu
RF Sasaki Tooya
2B Yatsu Koudai
P Satou Sena

Kamimura Gakuen (Kagoshima)
2B Tokou Masao
RF Kido Keiji
LF Tanaka Hairi (#16)
CF Yamamoto Takuya
C Toyoda Shougo
1B Matsumoto Kenta
3B Kodama Kazuya
P Kitashouji Kyouhei
SS Yamashita Takato (#17)

__________________________________________________

11:22 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Not a bad start as Kitashouji gets Shouta to ground out to short.

But then he leaves one over the plate for Aoki and he drives it the other way into right center. Yamamoto runs it down at the wall, but Sendai Ikuei is already knocking at the door.

Of which Hirasawa breaks down! It's a clean single through the right side and just like that it's 1-0.

Kitashouji fights back, as he jams Gunji and gets him to ground into a 6-3 double play to end the inning. But Sendai Ikuei is off and running.

Bottom 1st
Kamimura Gakuen seems up to the fight as Kido takes the first pitch through the left side for a 1-out single. Oda-kantoku will play the small ball game and have Tanaka bunt the runner over - which he does.

Satou Sena I think is the first pitcher we've seen who can hit 140. Though right now he's behind Yamamoto 3-0. Check that, he walked him.

His pitches continue to fly wide as he falls behind Toyoda 2-1. But he successfully gets a ball inside enough to induce a roller to 2nd to end the inning. Some form issues, but no damage.

Top 2nd
Kitashouji is leaving pitches in the zone though! A slider doesn't slide and Ryousuke sends it down the left field line for a double!

And now there's a fastball belt high and Kii takes that one the opposite way! Kido goes back, but it's over his head! Ryousuke scores and it's a 2-0 game.

Kitashouji finally records his first out as Tooya lines out to left.

But he continues to put pitches right down the middle! 3-2 to Yatsu right over and he lines it down the left field line for a double! Tanaka fumbles with the ball, but Kii doesn't head home.

Sena does though when he hits a ball to left. Tanaka makes the catch, but has no play at home. 3-0 Sendai Ikuei.

Shouta grounds to 1st to end the inning. But it's already not looking good.

Bottom 2nd
Sena doing his best on the mound to stymy the Kamimura batters. Easy flyout to center from Matsumoto, and Kodama does the same, oh!

Kodama's shallow fly ball to center goes off the glove of Yatsu, who's backing up, and Aoki who's backing him up deflects it off his glove and makes the barehanded catch! A bit of drama there, but in the end goes down as a P-4-8. Somehow.

About the only thing you could say right now about Sena's pitching is his control as he walks Kitashouji. But that doesn't hurt him as Yamashita makes contact on the end of the bat it seems, and lines out to Kii to end the inning.

Top 3rd
Sendai Ikuei continues to put runners on base. Aoki singles to right to lead off the inning. There's no bunting, but Hirasawa still manages to advance him with a slow grounder to 2nd.

Gunji has a hot shot to 3rd and Kodama makes a great stop, but the throw to 1st isn't in time.

That's ok though as Kitashouji gets Ryousuke to ground into a tailor made 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. Finally a 0 on the board for Kamimura Gakuen as they look to get the bats going.

Bottom 3rd
Kido seems to have Sena figured out as with one out again he hits a clean single past a running Yatsu into center.

Tanaka in his first real AB (he bunted his first time up), battles with Sena, fouling off pitch after pitch while slowly working the count full.

And on the 11th pitch, he loses him!  Gunji goes to the mound as Kamimura Gakuen has a great chance here in the 3rd!

Yamamoto chases a forkball and grounds it right to 2nd. Yatsu goes to 2nd for 1, but the relay to 1st is too slow. Still a chance, but there's 2 down.

And Oda-kantoku sends Yamamoto! Gunji's throw to 2nd is in plenty of time and the inning is over! Kamimura runs them out of a scoring opportunity!

Top 4th
Kii with a drive to left. Tanaka scrambling over, dives, but it's just out of his reach! Kii is in with a double and Sendai Ikuei immediately putting the pressure on!

Tooya does the right thing and looks for a pitch to take the other way, and while he grounds out, he advances Kii to 3rd.

There's no squeeze bunt either as Nakatsu hits a grounder to short. That allows Yamashita to look Kii back before making the out.

And Sena pops it up! Matsumoto in foul territory makes the catch to end the inning! Kitashouji getting into and out of pinches the last 2 inning without damage.

Bottom 4th
Sena still having the occasional hiccup. He goes too far inside on Toyoda and hits him (though he really didn't move a whole lot). But after getting Matsumoto on a nasty forkball, he walks Kodama to put 2 runners on yet again.

Kitashouji manages to at least advance the runners with a slow roller to the left side. But they'll need a base hit to score the runners now.

Yamashita with a dying liner to left center, Kii and Aoki converging... and it's Aoki who makes the running catch to retire the side! Sena stays clean through 4, but he's making it really hard on himself.

Top 5th
Back to the top of the order for Sendai Ikuei and Shouta hits a ball back at Kitashouji! It's off his glove and to the left side, but it's right at Kodama! He throws it to 1st for the normal 1-5-3 putout.

Aoki soon afterwards flies out to left, and Hirasawa hits a soft liner that Yamashita ranges over to catch and finally Kitashouji has a 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 5th
Sena continues to fight on, using his forkball to keep Kamimura off the basepaths. Tokou swings on top of one and grounds out to short. Kido, trying to work the count, gets to 2-2, but then swings over another forkball.

Tanaka up without an official AB so far, also tries to work the count, but Sena gets him on... you guess it, another slider! That's only his 3rd K, but he's only allowed 2 hits as we hit the break. Kamimura Gakuen has had their chances, but Sena continually shuts the door and appears to be getting things right on the mound. There's still plenty of time, but they can't dilly dally about either.

Top 6th
Gunji with a hot shot to 3rd goes off Kodama's glove! It's right to Yamashita who makes the throw to 1st, but it's not in time ! E5 and once again Sendai Ikuei has a leadoff runner on.

Ryousuke hits a ball to 1st.Matsumoto steps on 1st, throws to 2nd, but it's wide! The ball goes off Yamashita's glove and into left as Gunji heads to 3rd!

And now Kii with a blooper to left! Yamashita and Tanaka converge, Yamashita dives, but can't get it! Gunji scores and it's a 4-0 ballgame.

And now Sasaki-kantoku calls for the bunt! Tooya lays it down, but right in front of home! Toyoda right on it, throws to 2nd.. but it's wide! Yamashita is pulled off and when he lunges with his foot, Kii gets there first! Still only 1 down and Sendai Ikuei looks for more runs.

Nakatsu with a liner over Kodama's head into left! Kii is being waved around... and the throw is cutoff! Kii scores and it's 5-0 and the rout might be on.

Sena still without a hit, but at least he's productive. He does so again here as he grounds out to 3rd advancing the runners.

And perhaps not wanting to see his ace face the top of the lineup again, Oda-kantoku pulls his ace in favor of #10 Shinzato. He does the job for now, as Shouta flies out to left to end the inning. The gap though, has gotten wider.

Bottom 6th
And the batters still haven't figured out Sena just yet. Yamamoto and Toyoda are looking for the forkball and are now making poor contact on the ball. And Matsumoto just whiffs on balls out of the zone to end the inning.

Top 7th
Defensive change as #18 Fujie comes in for Matsumoto at 1B.

Shinzato looking well in relief as he strikes out Aoki on a slider.

Hirasawa is quickly retired thereafter on a routine groundout.

But Gunji attacks the first pitch and sends it down the right field line for a double! He's not out of the woods just yet.

And Ryousuke welcomes Shinzato to the party! He singles through the left side! Gunji is waved around and the throw is cutoff. 6-0 now for Sendai Ikuei.

Kii delivers yet another base hit, a double to left! He's 4-4 on the day! Ryousuke holds at 3rd.

Shinzato is able to do damage control though as Tooya grounds to 1st to end the inning. But it's another run in a game already out of reach.

Bottom 7th
One down and Shinzato makes an impact! He hits a hard grounds to 3rd that deflects off of Shouta's glove! Again it's right to Hirasawa, but his throw is late.

#15 Yonashiro comes in to hit for Yamashita., but grounds into a fielder's choice.

Back to the top of the order and Tokou has a clean single through the left side! That's 2 hits in this inning! There's 2 outs, but perhaps they can score.

Nope, Kido hits a grounder to 3rd. Shouta makes the throw to 1st, and Kamimura remains shutout.

Top 8th
#6 Ihara comes in for PH Yonashiro to play SS.

Ah... Nakatsu is hit on the head by a pitch and leaves for an injury runner.

Sasaki-kantoku continues to put on the hit-and-run and while Sena strikes out, Tooya steals 2nd.

Shouta follows that up with a hard single to center, but it's too hard for Tooya to score.

Sasaki-kantoku continues to send runners, as Shouta takes off for 2nd on the 1st pitch and reaches safely. Shinzato finally gets some relief as Aoki flies out to AHHHHH!!!!

Aoki had hit a fly to right, but Kido completely flubs the catch! Both runners come around to score and it's 8-0!!

Things seemingly are spiraling out of control when Shinzato hits Hirasawa while up 0-2!

He finally gets his 2nd out in Gunji, but not before he advances the runners.

Ryousuke with a blooper to center... and that falls in between everyone! 2 more runners score and it's 10-0.

And since things continue to just disintegrate, here's a quick summary of what else happens next:

• #15 Seto comes in to run for Ryousuke,
• Shinzato throws a pickoff move wide and Seto moves to 2nd,
• Kii hits a ball right to 3rd and off Kodama's glove for an E5,
• Kii is replaced by #10 Domeki, and #11 Tateyama PH for Tooya,
• Domeki steals 2nd, Toyoda's throw is high, Seto scores (11-0) ,
• Tateyama hits blooper to center, Domeki scores (12-0),
• Nakatsu (2nd AB this inning), grounds to 1st to finally end the inning.

Bottom 8th
Seto stays in at 1B, #17 Saitou comes in for Domeki to play LF, and Tateyama stays in to play RF.

With the game well in hand now, Kamimura Gakuen is retired in order, with Tanaka and Toyoda both striking out looking.

9th Inning
Nothing really happened on Sendai Ikuei's part of the 9th.

And as for Kamimura Gakuen, Shinzato and Ihara both came through with hits with 2 out. But Sena puts Kamimura out of their misery as Tokou is frozen on a forkball for strike 3.

Sadly, another blowout, but again not that surprising.

Sendai Ikuei looked very impressive during the super-regionals and it looks to have carried over to Senbatsu. Sena's forkball is a pretty good weapon, and as long as he can throw it for strikes as well when needed (like he did in the 9th), the team has a good shot at contending for the title.

For Kamimura Gakuen, like all the other teams before them, it's back to the drawing board. There's a lot to get right between now and the summer, and with the region as weak as it is, they'll have to work that much harder to improve.

Sendai Ikuei comes into Senbatsu as probably the favorite to beat - this despite the fact that they weren't even the qualifier out of Miyagi (that was Rifu, by the way).  What is even more impressive is that in their 16 games, they lost only once (that was early on to Seiwa Gakuen), and only one other team was within 5 when the siren sounded (that was Urawa Gakuin after they lost 4-1 in the Meiji Jingu title game!).  All this while beating teams such as the aforementioned Rifu, Tohoku, Hachinohe Gakuin Kousei, and Kyushu Gakuin.

Leading the way is staff ace Satou Sena (佐藤 世那). He throws right around 140, and reportedly actually has a forkball, sinker and splitter instead of the usual curve and slider.

Offensively, the team looks to catcher and cleanup batter Gunji Yuuya (郡司 裕也). He was 5-12 in the Meiji Jingu taikai and drove in 6 runs. The person who really revved things up as the tournament progressed was #3 batter Hirasawa Taiga (平沢 大河). Despite being the SS, he hit 5-10 with a 2B, 3B and a HR plating 5. That 3-4 combo may be a force to be reckoned with.

The roster as of the Meiji Jingu tournament was as follows:

1. P Satou Sena (佐藤　世那)
2. C Gunji Yuuya (郡司　裕也)
3. 1B Sasaki Ryousuke (佐々木　良介)
4. 2B Yatsu Koudai (谷津　航大)
5. 3B Satou Shouta (佐藤　将太)
6. SS Hirasawa Taiga (平沢　大河)
7. LF Kii Kaishuu (紀伊　海秀)
8. CF Aoki Reima (青木　玲磨)
9. RF Sasaki Tooya (佐々木　柊野)
10. (P) Domeki Yuuki (百目木　優貴)
11. (P) Kobayashi Yuuta (小林　勇太)
12. (C) Wakasa Takeru (若狭　武瑠)
13. (IF) Seto Taichi (瀬戸　泰地)
14. (IF) Sasaki Keita (佐々木　啓太)
15. (C) Maeno Koudai (前野　　広大)
16. (OF) Yoshino Katsutoshi (吉野　克駿)
17. (OF) Saida Kaito (齋田　海斗)
18. (OF) Tateyama Takehiro (立山　貴大)

One of these teams in the next game hopes that this one will go on with less drama than their first one.

Jyousou Gakuin had no drama. A slow start perhaps, but no drama.  After a few 3 up, 3 down innings, they exploded for 6 runs, knocked starter Oogushi out, and cruised to victory.  Ace Iida never saw a runner get past 2nd base, and gave up just 4 hits on the day.

Now, this did appear to be a down year for Hokushou (or they just didn't show up), and the fact that the offense for Jyousou only broke out in the middle innings could be concerning.

Sendai Ikuei? They'd like a nice easy game after the yahoo of a first rounder. I still don't know what to make of it.

First against senbatsu ace Ojima, they basically walk their way to a 5 run lead, only to give it back and then some. Then a whole lot of nothing, and then hits and errors and next thing you know they have the lead back for good.

So as a result, I don't know what to make of this team because that game wasn't your normal game against a normal team.

So to summarize, I have no idea who has the advantage in this game, if one even exists at all. I just know one team would like to have a normal game.

Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
SS Kumagai Takahiro
2B Kikuna Yuuki
LF Hasegawa Hiro
CF Uebayashi Seiji
1B Mizuma Toshiki (#9)
C Kobayashi Ryou
RF Shutou Daichi (#17)
3B Katou Naoya
P Suzuki Takato

Jyousou Gakuin (Ibaraki)
CF Takashima Shouta
RF Yoshinari Yuusuke
2B Shindou Suguru
C Uchida Yasuhito
1B Ishii Daiki
SS Yoshizawa Gakushi
LF Ikezawa Kouhei
P Iida Harumi
3B Arahara Hiroki

____________________________________________________________

13:15 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Sendai Ikuei attacking early against Iida, wind up with 2 quick outs.

Hasegawa refuses to give the opposing ace such an easy inning, takes it to 2-2 before flying out to center.

Bottom 1st
Takashima gets to a 3-1 count, but swings at high fastball and flies out to left.

Yoshinari sees slider, misses slider for 2 out.

And a grounder to 3rd from Shindou gives Suzuki a very relaxing inning

Top 2nd
Uebayashi still hitless at Koushien as he quickly grounds out to 2nd. Mizuma, wanting to mimic his cleanup hitter, does the same.

Ryou with a grounder to 1st, gets past Ishii and down the foul side of 1st! Ryou, thinking it was foul finally scrambles to 1st.

Doesn't matter though. Shutou flies out to left to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd
Uchida with a hard liner to center, Uebayashi running to his left makes the catch.

Ishii trying to swing level on a high fastball, hits one back to Suzuki for the 2nd out.

And apparently they like the high pitches because Yoshizawa goes on one and grounds to 3rd.

Top 3rd
Katou, jammed on a shuuto grounds to 3rd.  Suzuki way ahead of the slider, goes down for the 2nd out.

And Kumagai winds up watching a fastball inside for the 3rd out.

Bottom 3rd
Every Jyousou Gakuin player seems to be looking specifically for the middle-high pitch.

But all they're getting are groundouts.  The bottom of the order pulls the ball to either the 2B or SS in a 1-2-3 inning.

Top 4th
Meanwhike Kikuna finds such a ball and drives it to deep left center!  Yoshinari back to the wall, turns to play the bounce! Kikuna in easily with a triple!

Iida should try to get Hasegawa out as Uebayashi is on deck..

But he's missing his pitches on the outside half and walks him.  Sasaki-kantoku calls for time...

Uebayashi fly ball to left! Yoshinari there to make the catch, fires home!  It's there on the fly!  Collision!!!!!

OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uchida holds onto the ball as he's hit and they have the double play!!  What a great throw by Uchida and a great presence to block the line and hold onto to the ball as you're being hit!

Mizuma goes down swinging, and what seemed like a no-win situation turns into a big win for Jyousou in this half-inning!

Bottom 4th
Suzuki misses with his location outside, but the fastball finds the bottom of the zone to K Takashima.

More high swings, more groundouts. Yoshinari and Shindou become the 7th and 8th groundouts this game for Suzuki.

Top 5th
Meanwhile it's Sendai Ikuei who is having the chances on the bases as Ryou singles to center.

Shutou tries the bunt, but pops it up! Arahara charging in makes the catch for the 1st out.

Katou, after fouling off a couple of inside pitches goes after a slider outside and hits one back to Iida. He goes to 1st for the 2nd out.

Last batter Suzuki is patient at the plate, takes a couple of borderline pitches, but earns a walk.

Kumagai up and Iida continues to try and paint the edges. Kumagai fouls one way inside. But once again a slider way away fills up the count.

Fastball misses low and it's manrui for Kikuna...  Sasaki-kantoku calls time...

Kikuna swings on the first pitch!  Hits a grounder to 2nd! Ishii goes to 1st and Iida is out of the pinch!

Bottom 5th
So now they're going for the low stuff. Uchida grounds to short reaching out for one, and then both Ishii and Yoshizawa both fly out to center.

We hit the break with Sendai Ikuei having the better of it, both on the bases, and on the mound as Suzuki has a well... no-hitter so far. Jyousou Gakuin has been rather fortunate not having given up a run so far despite Iida having given up just 2 hits.

Top 6th
One down for Sendai Ikuei and Uebayashi finally gets his first hit of Natsu Koushien hitting one back up the middle.

Oh shoot, I was just thinking "wouldn't it be funny if Jyousou met Hanamaki Higashi and there were two Sasaki kantoku's?" and then I noticed that Sendai Ikuei's kantoku is also a Sasaki.

So, Jyunichirou-kantoku calls for a bunt with one down which Mizuma executes.

But once again Iida not finding the one, perhaps intentionally to create more force plays?

#3 Onodera comes in to hit for Shutou, gets behind 2-2 as Iida comes inside on him.

Grounder to 3rd! Arahara with it and goes to 1st to end the inning! Once again he gets out of the pinch!

Bottom 6th
I did jinx Suzuki after all. Ikezawa hits grounder back up the middle for a base hit! And with their first baserunner this game, you know what they're going to do.

Chikara-kantoku has Iida bunt the runner over, hoping that Arahara or Takashima can somehow find that 2nd base hit.

And on the 1-2 pitch, Arahara claims he hit the catcher's mitt.  And the homeplate umpire grants him first base!

That gets Jyunichirou-kantoku moving the gears. #10 Baba come in for new 1B Onodera to take the hill, Suzuki goes to right, and Mizuma goes to 1st.

Takashima with a blast to right center! That splits the defense!!  Suzuki to running to retrieve the ball, but by the time he gets it in it's a 2-run triple and the shutout is gone! Jyousou Gakuin leads 2-0!!

Yoshinari goes for the safety squeeze, gets self out for the 2nd out.

#15 Ganryuu comes in to hit for Shindou. Hits a popup in foul territory. Mizuma to the camera well... jumps into the camera well!!

MAKES THE CATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's ok it looks like, but man that's going all out.

Top 7th
Defensive changes for Jyousou as Ganryuu takes over in RF. Yoshinari goes to C, and Uchida goes to 3B.

Sendai Ikuei pressing now as Katou pops up to Shindou behind 2nd.

PH #15 Abe, in for Suzuki, flies out to right.. and Kumagai jammed grounds to 3rd and the side is quickly retired.

Bottom 7th
#16 Kawashima comes in for PH Abe and goes to RF.

Jyousou Gakuin, having scored a pair of runs, resume futility.  Uchida watches a fastball hit the outside half, Ishii swings an one even further than that.

And Yoshizawa flies out to right.

Top 8th
うおおおおおおおおおおおおお～～～～～～～～～～～！！！！

Kikuna with a bomb to right! Ganryuu gives token chase but that ball is out of here!! It's 2-1 now Jyousou Gakuin!

Hasegawa liner, caught by a leaping Shindou! Oh... things are getting scary if you're Jyousou Gakuin.

Uebayshi up now and that's really scary.  Iida up 1-2, tries to get him to chase a fastball away with no dice.

Liner! Iida with a defend my face pose catches the ball for 2 out!

But these liners suggest Iida's effectiveness is wearing thin.

SANSHIN!!!  Mizuma can only watch as he's punched out on an outside slider to end the inning! Bu there's still one more inning to go...

Bottom 8th
Ikezawa gets the call on 3-2 and earns a walk. Iida bunts him along looking for the insurance run back, and Jyunichirou-kantoku calls time.

Ganryuu up for his first AB watches the count all the way to 3-2.

Ganryuu lines a ball to center! Uebayashi fires home, gets there on one bounce!  Runner at the corners as Jyunichirou-kantoku calls time once more...

It's back to the top of the order and Takashima.

Skies one to center! Uebayashi in shallow center to make the catch and Ikezawa wasn't even contemplating going.

Ganryuu takes off for 2nd, and gets no throw! Now a base hit can score 2!

Yoshinari soft liner to left! It falls in!!

Ikezawa scores! Ganryuu coming home, throw cutoff!!

They go to 2nd and cut down Yoshinari, but not before 2 runs score and it's 4-1!!

Top 9th
Ryou with a blast, but foul deep into the 1st base ouen-dan, trying to survive at the plate.

Draws the walk. #12 Fukuda comes in to run for him as Chikara-kantoku calls time.

Baba, looking up as he falls behind 1-2. Reaches out and hits one, but right to Ganryuu.

Katou fighting as well, count full.   Pops one up!  Ishii ducking a bit, makes the catch in foul territory for the 2nd out!

Last chance as #14 Sasaki comes in to hit for Kawashima.

He quickly falls behind 0-2 as Iida goes away, once, twice... 2-2 now...

Just gets a piece of one.

Grounder to 2nd!  Shindou charging... throw to first... beats a running Sasaki for the final out!  The senbatsu killers in Sendai Ikuei are felled by Jyousou Gakuin 4-1!

It really did look like Jyousou Gakuin was holding on for dear life. Sendai Ikuei had chances in the 4th, 5th and even a small one in the 6th.

Furthermore, Suzuki was lights out for the first half of the game. But when the seal was opened with Jyousou's first hit, it went all downhill for Sendai Ikuei (I claim a little responsibility for jinxing it by tweeting the perfect game after 5). But they got their hits when they needed them and that's what's most important.

Jyousou Gakuin's Iida was good enough to win this game, but the late game performance may be a bit concerning for them going forward. Stamina will be wanting later in the tournament, and it will only get worse.


Notable Players
Iida Harumi (Jyousou Gakuin) - CG, ER, 4 H, 3 K, 5 BB
Takashima Shouta (Jyousou Gakuin) - 1-3, 3B, 2 RBI
Yoshinari Yuusuke (Jyousou Gakuin) - 1-4, 2 RBI
Ikezawa Kouhei (Jyousou Gakuin) - 1-2, 2 R, BB
Suzuki Takato (Sendai Ikuei) - 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 1 H, 2K
Kikuna Yuuki (Sendai Ikuei) - 2-4, 3B, HR, R, RBI
Kobayashi Ryou (Sendai Ikuei) - 1-2, 2 BB

Well, with the new format, there were no guaranteed "blocks of death" as it were. That didn't mean however that the initial draw could create "deathmatches". Such is the case here ending Day 3. The Fall Meiji Jingu champions wind up playing the senbatsu champions in a doozy of an opening round matchup. The only question is whether Sendai Ikuei will be up to the task.

I say this because they didn't look all that impressive at senbatsu, and while they mostly swept through the Miyagi taikai, it took an unfortunate collapse by Shibata to allow Sendai Ikuei to reach Natsu Koushien.

Urawa Gakuin has been on some kind of roll. I shouldn't be surprised by ace Ojima anymore, but the results he and his team are producing are on a scale equal to that of the haru-natsu renzoku yuushou squads of recent years.  They have not lost in competition since the Meiji Jingu tournament.

And speaking of which, they are looking to be the 3rd team in the last 4 years to perform the haru-natsu perfecta.  

Urawa Gakuin (Saitama)
SS Takemura Haruki
LF Hattori Masamitsu
CF Yamane Yuuta
3B Takada Ryouta
1B Kigure Naita
RF Saitou Ryousuke
C Nishikawa Genki
P Ojima Kazuya
2B Tsuda Shouki

Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
SS Kumagai Takahiro
2B Kikuna Yuuki
LF Hasegawa Hiro
CF Uebayashi Seiji
1B Mizuma Toshiki (#9)
C Kobayashi Ryou
RF Kawashima Yuuta (#16)
3B Katou Naoya
P Suzuki Takato

____________________________________________________________

16:35 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
First pitch a popup to Kumagai behind 2nd base before the siren even finishes.

Hattori with a grounder to 3rd.  It's off Katou and goes towards 2nd!  He recovers, but instead of eating it, he airmails it out of play!  You could call that E5, E5 and Hattori is at 2nd!

Yamane makes him pay for the error!  He blasts one to left center that falls in for a double!  Hattori scores and it's 1-0 Urawa Gakuin!

Suzuki gets cleanup batter Takada to hit a foul fly to Kawashima, and Kigure to ground to short to end the inning, but Urawa Gakuin with the first strike!

Bottom 1st
Kumagai leads off with a single through the right side.  Sendai Ikuei looking to strike back.

Wild pitch for Ojima!  Douten runner in scoring position.

And now Ojima walks Kikuna!

AHHH!!!  Another wild pitch from Ojima!  Now 2 runners in scoring position!  And a walk to Hasegawa!!

What is going on??!!  Manrui, no out for cleanup batter Uebayashi!!

Count at 1-1 and Uebayashi gives Ojima a partial reprieve swinging at a pitch way up and in.

High inside again, and Uebayashi just fouls it off.

SANSHIN!!  Ojima gets Uebayashi to chase a slider down and in for the first out.  Ojima still not out of the woods just yet.

Yep, Ojima hits Mizuma and with 3 walks/hit batters, it's 1-1.

Ryou up, and Ojima runs the count full on him too.  This is the wrong time to start struggling.

Ojima hits the glove, but it's called a ball!  Oshidashi again and Sendai Ikuei takes a 2-1 lead.

Sensing blood perhaps Sasaki-kantoku PH for Kawashima right off the bat.  #15 Abe comes in to hit.

But he goes after an Ojima offering way too high!  2 out.

Katou up and Ojima still under red alert conditions.  But Katou bails him out twice, swinging on high pitches to put the count level at 2-2.

But Ojima is high again and now with 2 outs everyone's on the move.

He throws high yet again, and forces in yet another run.  It's 3-1 now and #11 Wakumoto heads to the bullpen.

Suzuki the 9th batter up, and he hits a curve to left!  It falls in!  Mizuma scores, throw home from Hattori late and Ryou scores to make it 5-1.

And so inexplicably, unbelievably, Kumagai is up AGAIN this inning.

Full count, Kumagai fouls off several before hitting one back up the middle scoring Katou and it's 6-1.

Ojima finally gets out of the inning when Kikuna grounds to 2nd.

But this has been a shocking disaster for Ojima right off the bat.  They still have 8 innings to go, but they've got a lot of work to do...

Top 2nd
Abe stays in the game at RF, and it turns out Kawashima may have had an accident crashing into the fence on a foul ball and had to be pulled.

The offense for Urawa Gakuin has yet to get started it seems.  Saitou grounds to short, and Nishikawa hits a deep drive but Hasegawa is able to park under it for the 2nd out.

Ojima grounds to Kumagai as well and the side is retired.

Bottom 2nd
Hard ball by Hasegawa to Kigure at 1st.  He blocks it, flips to Ojima, but he drops it and Hasegawa is safe.

Despite the lack of control, he gets Uebayashi to strike out as his ball outside is more inside and up.

Mizuma squares to bunt and manages to lay one down despite the ball almost at his chest.  2 outs, though I don't know why you'd bunt with an obviously struggling ace.  Ryou first pitch swings and grounds out to Takemura ending the inning with no damage.

Top 3rd
Tsuda with a blast to left!  That's over Hasegawa's head and to the wall for a leadoff double from the #9 hitter!

Oh, and now Suzuki hits Takemura!  Hattori up, and he's taking balls and getting ahead 3-1.  Suzuki fills up the count, and tries to go inside, but Hattori whips the bat around and actually pulls it foul!

Hattori with a ball to right, and Abe completely misplays it, letting it bounce under his glove and behind him!  Uebayashi alertly backed up the play and only Tsuda scored to make it 6-2.

Yamane earns a walk after a full count.  Manrui for Urawa Gakuin.

Wild pitch?!  Takemura comes in to score and it's 6-3.

Cleanup batter Takada looked awful swinging on that high outside fastball.  One down.

Kigure with a drive to left center, Hasegawa has to play it off the wall and now it's 6-5 Sendai Ikuei.

Still one out and Saitou up to bat.  Suzuki gets his 2nd out also via the K as Saitou chases a changeup down and in.

Nishikawa up to hit.

And that ball is crushed.  It goes off the wall as well for another double that scores Kigure to make it tied at 6-6.

Ojima with a grounder past a diving Kikuna and Nishikawa scores.  7-6 Urawa as now they have batted around.

That knocks Suzuki out of the game.  Or at least to RF.  #10 Baba comes in for Shutou and takes the hill, Suzuki goes to RF.

Baba starts off by walking Tsuda.  Back to the top of the order and Takemura.  Wild pitch sends both runners into scoring position.

Takemura singles through to right, Ojima scores to make it 8-6.  Hattori singles to center and Tsuda comes in to make it 9-6.

Yamane ends the inning unable to check his swing.  But inexplicably, Urawa Gakuin scores 8 to now take a 3-run lead.

I don't even know what's going on anymore. *flips table* *walks away*

Bottom 3rd
(Not really walking away.)

But perhaps we have some order back in the game.  For Ojima is throwing strikes and getting outs.  11 pitches, 3 outs against the bottom of the order (soft liner to Takemura, flyout to Yamane, dribbler up the first base line that Ojima flips to 1st).

Top 4th
Baba hasn't gotten the message as he hits Takada to start the inning.  Kigure bunts the runner along to play add-on.

Saitou looking for his 1st hit, still is looking as he goes down swinging for the 2nd straight AB.

Nishikawa though delivers yet again, this time a single through to left.  Takada aggressively sent home and a bobble by Hasegawa allows him to score putting Urawa in double digits at 10-6.

Ojima flies out to center to end the inning, but if we looked at the lead and not the actual score, it might have been more what we could have been expecting.

Bottom 4th
Because Ojima seems to have finally settled down (enough).

Kumagai grounds out to short, Kigure gets ahead but flies out to left, and Hasegawa looks just plain sill chasing a high ball for the 3rd out.

Top 5th
Baba settling down too it seems.  He finally retires Tsuda with a fastball down the middle, then freezes Takemura as well on a changes right at the bottom of the zone.

Finally, Hattori hits it hard, but right to Kator who goes to 1st for their 2nd 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 5th
Ojima somehow has Uebayashi's number despite the 1st inning.  He gets him to hit a routine fly to right for the firsr out.

Mizuma too falls victim grounding out to Takemura.

Ryou lines out to Kigure to end the inning.  And we finally hit the break with the game at a completely weird 10-6.

Top 6th
Baba has settled down too.  Though he accidentally goes up and in on Takada, glancing one off the helmet, he gets both Yamane and Kigure to fly out to center and records a 3rd strikeout on Saitou.

Bottom 6th
Baba for his 2nd AB singles to center.  Katou follows that up with one of his own, and Yamane's throw to 3rd goes over the moon and everyone advances a base.

Onodera to hit for Suzuki, but hits a hard ball to 2nd preventing the runners from advancing.

Kumagai with a ball to right center.  Yamane running over to field it AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

The ball goes off his glove and falls in!   Baba and Katou score and it's 10-8.

Kikuna with a blooping liner that falls in fair next to the right field line!  Kumagai scores and Kikuna takes 2nd!  It's 10-9!

I don't even think the players know what's going on anymore.  Hasegawa runs off to first thinking he has a walk when it's really 3-2.

It turns out better for Hasegawa as he singles back up the middle, Kikuna scores and it douten... at 10-10....

And Uebayashi has had absolutely NOTHING to do with it.  He is jammed and pops out to Kigure near the mound.

Mizuna strikes out to end the inning, and with 3 innings to go we have a new ballgame - or at least what is supposed to resemble one.

Top 7th
Onodera stays in the game at 1B, Mizuma goes to RF.

Baba looking the better pitcher right now.  He gets 3 routine groundsouts from the bottom of the lineup and gives his team a chance a the lucky 7.

Bottom 7th
Ryou leads off the inning with a walk.  Baba lays down the bunt, Ojima fields it, throws to 2nd, wide!  Takemura has to leave the bag.  All safe!

Now Sasaki-kantoku has Uebayashi talk to both runners.

Next pitch, Nishikawa fires to 2nd and what is Ryou doing off 2nd!  He's run down 2-6-5, but Takada throws to 2nd as Baba slides and and the tag is made.

No call... still no call as the umpire comes in...

OUT!!!  He calls him out! It's a 2-6-5-4 rundown double play!

I don't understand, even...

what just...

um, you see... uh... there...

Katou walks and then Onodera pops out to Takemura to end the inning.

Top 8th
Takekura opens the 8th with a single to center.  Hattori behind 0-2 hits a bunt that looks more like a grounder to advance the runner.

And now a ball goes 5-hole on Kobayashi and Takemura heads to 3rd.

Yamane is called for not checking his swing (though it seemed like he did).  2 outs, go-ahead run still 90 feet away.

Takada with a blooper... Onoder backing up... falls backwards as he makes the catch.  3 out and still tied at 10 apiece.

Bottom 8th
Kumagai liner to center for a leadoff hit.  Kikuna looking to bunt, but Ojima winds up walking him to put the gyakuten runner in scoring again, again with no outs.

Hasegawa hit on the back, and we're back to the first inning again it seems.  Manrui, Uebayashi up at bat.

And Uebayashi still can't buy a hit.  Ojima gets him to chase a fastball low, and that's his 3rd K against Ojima.

Mizuma up.  And behind 1-2, he chases a fastball down and away for the 2nd out.

Ryou now trying to get just one run in, any way possible.

Falls behind 1-2 after a fastball on the outside corner.

SANSHIN!?!

Ryou swings and miss on a fastball on the outside part of the plate and all Ryou can do is look up.  Manrui, 0 out, 3 Ks. And Ojima at 170 pitches or there abouts.

Top 9th
Kigure up to start, on 1-1 pitch swings at a 55' pitch.  Waits one more ball, then swings at 60' pitch.

Saitou picks a good time to get his first hit, as he singles in front of Uebayashi in center.

Nishiyama up, he's frozen on a fastball on the outside corner.

Ojima up to help his own cause, falls behind 1-2...

Liner, right to Kumagai for the 3rd out!  Now Ojima has to play for enchousen!

Bottom 9th
173 pitches and counting for Ojima.

175 is a shot from Baba right to Takada who fires to 1st for the out.

And now Ojima seems to be having cramps or something like that as he's stretching out his foot.

Water is sent out to him, and it does look like it's cramps.  It's been even hotter than the hottest days today.

Ojima will press on, as the bullpen warms up.  There won't be much time to pull him with it being bottom 9 and all.

Katou with a blast to right center!  Saitou sprinting back, still going... Makes the running catch!

Onodera up now, and Ojima throws two fairly wide and falls behind.  Fires one in there, and he lines one to right.

That's it for Ojima. Mori-kantoku in this crucial time sends in #10 Yamaguchi to relieve Ojima and preserve the tie.

Perhaps with the top of the lineup up, and Ojima certainly not 100% in the legs, Mori-kantoku figured it was time.

But Yamaguchi is stepping into a fire here in the bottom of the 9th.  He gets ahead of Kumagai 2-2, and forces him to start swinging at anything close.

Drive to left!  That's easily over Hattori's head!  He quickly turns it around, but Onodera is heading home!  Throw is not in time and Sendai Ikuei bids Urawa Gakuin sayonara!

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Okay, I'm going to do a writeup on this game, because I know that there will be things said in the Japanese media that I don't think will be fair.

The biggest thing that will come to the forefront will be Ojima being relieved with 2 outs and a runner on 1st.  Yes, Ojima had been trying to stretch or do something with his heel or lower leg in the 9th.  And he did get the first 2 outs after all.  The Japanese way would be for Ojima to collapse on the mound and then replace him. (See games 1 and 2).  By pulling him out "early" and the game ending thereafter, the manager will get criticized, and IMO unfairly.

We really don't know if he was injured before the game either.  It's possible he was pitching with an injury - with certainly would explain his line today when you compare it to all the games prior.  So to throw 180+ pitches under some time of lower body injury would be herculean at best.  Considering how Ojima was apologizing to Mori-kantoku after the game, it's possible it was the case.

But if you add a possible injury to the ace, the pressure of a possible haru-natsu, and then for reliever Yamaguchi to not blow it for his ace?  I mean you couldn't see it coming, but in hindsight was a possibility.

And I know for a good more than half of the roster it's their last year.  But Ojima still has one year left.  Now, he won't have the same backup behind him but there's still in theory one more year.  Given the heat that Saibi took for working Anraku, Mori-kantoku - despite the 180+ pitches, could at least have been looking out for his ace a little.

The whole pitching deal with Urawa Gakuin will take away from the fact that Sendai Ikuei won the game.  And they should get credit for that.  But despite this winding up being a great game, it was still ugly on many levels.  It was a bear of a game.   A not-so-bad looking one at the end, but one nonetheless (I don't know if I used the right analogy there, but oh well).  I mean, if you look at the box score, only one batter for Sendai Ikuei had more than one hit.  And they scored 11 runs.  That was how nutty this game really was.


Notable Players
Baba Kousuke (Sendai Ikuei) - W, 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 7 K, BB, 2 HBP
Kumagai Takahiro (Sendai Ikuei) - 4-6, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Kikuna Yuuki (Sendai Ikuei) - 1-2, 2B, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
Hattori Masamitsu (Urawa Gakuin) - 2-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Nishikawa Genki (Urawa Gakuin) - 2-5, 2B, R, RBI

It's crunch time now for these schools as the schedule shrink considerably and teams start playing with less rest.  In this battle of champions, Sendai Ikuei is fortunate to get an extra day of rest, while Kochi gets just 1 full day.

Kochi has reached the quarterfinals riding their pitching tandem of Sakai and Sakamoto.  The upset over Kanzei was not a fluke striking out 13 of the 27 possible outs against Tokoha Kikugawa while the middle of the order helped lift the team to victory.

The offense isn't going to overpower you though, especially at the bottom of the lineup, and that can become an issue if they need to score runs in a quick manner. 

Sendai Ikuei, after an easy win over Souseikan struggled to rally against Waseda Jitsugyou for the victory.  Up until the final 2 innings they had just managed 3 hits and a walk against Soujitsu ace Niyama.  That is a surprise considering they won the fall tournament, and it puts into question their chances going forward - especially now considering what Kochi has done so far.

I still like Sendai Ikuei in this matchup, but I am certainly not as confident in their prospects as I was before Koushien started.

Kochi (Kochi) - Shikoku Champions
2B Wada Yoshito
SS Doi Kouyou
3B Wada Ren
1B Ichikawa Gou
LF Matagawa Ryouyuu
CF Ueta Shunya
RF Sugimoto Daiki
C Maeda Ryuusei (#12)
P Sakai Yuuya (#10)

Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi) - Tohoku Champions (Meiji Jingu Champions)
SS Kumagai Takahiro
2B Kikuna Yuuka
LF Hasegawa Hiro
CF Uebayashi Seiji
1B Mizuma Toshiki
C Kobayashi Ryou
3B Katou Naoya
RF Satou Seiya
P Suzuki Takato

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11:01 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Suzuki looking good to start, locating his pitches in the zone with some fair amount of accuracy.  So while he goes full on Yoshito, he puts one in the bottom of the zone for a K.

Doi quickly grounds to 3rd, with a nice pick from Katou.

But before Suzuki can get his 1-2-3 inning, Ren puts one into the gap on the left side.  Kumagai makes a great effort to not only run it down, but make a quick throw.  Despite it being down the 1st base line and Ren being safe, it was still a nice try.

Shimada-kantoku decides to push the action with Ren, having him take off for 2nd on an 0-2 count to Ichikawa.  Kobayashi tries to fire to 2nd, but the throw is a bit wide and Kumagai's attempt to swipe tag back towards 2nd winds up missing.

No matter though as Suzuki gets Ichikawa to chase an offspeed pitch down in the zone to end the inning.

Bottom 1st
Whoa, Sakai's control does not look good early.  One ball goes inside and almost hits Kumagai, and the next one makes Kumagai duck as the ball flies over his head.

Kumagai though gets the green light at 3-1 and grounds out to Doi.

Kikuna goes after the first pitch and it looks to just get over the infield.  Doi scampers back and towards the left field line and indeed it falls just out of his reach for a base hit.

Hasegawa taking a patient approach to Sakai to start, and while he makes good contact, he lines out to right to Sugimoto for the 2nd out.

It looks like despite Sakai's early control issues, Sasaki-kantoku is having their batters go after the first strike, which I wonder about considering that if his control is off Sakai could be walking batters.

And in fact, Uebayashi does indeed draw a walk.

I think they heard me as Mizuma takes 2 straight balls to start his AB.  But again swings on the first ball near the zone and fouls it off.

Well, I thought they heard me anyways.  Mizuma swings on the next pitch and it's a comebacker to Sakai.  But it deflects off his glove and goes towards Doi who was backing up.  He throws to 1st and the inning is over.

Top 2nd
Suzuki continues to look good on the mound starting this game.  After a routine fly to left by Matagawa, Ueta swings and misses on a change inside, and Sugimoto becomes Suzuki's 3rd K chasing a ball down and away.

Bottom 2nd
Meanwhile, the Ikuei batters continue to swing away at balls near the zone.  As a result, Sakai records 2 quick outs as Kobayashi flies out to left, and Katou fouls out to Maeda near the back netting.

This despite Sakai still having some issues - as evidenced by Satou being hit.

Still, last batter ace Suzuki swings away, falls behind 0-2 then gets frozen for the 3rd out.  Outside of the HBP, I think Ikuei is making it easy for Sakai to get back on track.

Top 3rd
Kochi's bottom of the lineup, battery mates Maeda and Sakai on the other hand take a couple.  Given, both are still retired - Maeda on a comebacker to Suzuki and Sakai on a grounder to 1st, but they still don't let Suzuki make it a total cake walk.

And apparently Suzuki doesn't like them himself as he inexplicably walks leadoff batter Yoshito on 4 straight.

Doi feigns the running safety bunt twice, and all it gets him is a 1-1 count.

But Shimada-kantoku undaunted sends Yoshito to 2nd again on a 2-strike count and Kobayashi's throw gets there, but takes a hop that Kumagai has to field such that Yoshito slides in!  So both of the Wada twins now have a SB in the game!

 It's all for naught though as Doi chases another ball in the dirt for Suzuki's 4th K.

Bottom 3rd
I do not like the way that Sendai Ikuei is approaching the game.  It reminds me of Seiritsu Gakuen last summer where it felt like they wanted to get the game over with as soon as possible so they could make their train ride home.  Their batters are swinging at anything close and are not getting any results other than a quick inning for a struggling Sakai.

In fact, it takes him just 7 pitches to retire the top of Sendai Ikuei's order - and with no balls leaving the infield either.

Top 4th
Despite the Ikuei offense being rather non-existent, Suzuki is doing his best to buy his team time to get it together.  Starts off the 4th by retiring Ren 6-3.

Ichikawa though takes a ball the other way for a base hit.

Matagawa gets around on a ball inside and flies to right.  Satou ranging back, looks to have it...

But he makes a last second jump and the ball actually falls behind him!!

Despite appearing to get there in time Satou misjudges the ball and it falls in!  Ichikawa thinking it would be caught had to hold up and only reaches 3rd on the double by Matagawa and Kochi is threatening here in the 4th! That's a pretty bad misplay by Satou.

AH!

Wild pitch from Suzuki gets away from Kobayashi!  Ichikawa running in and is safe!  It's another error by the Sendai Ikuei defense allowing Kochi to take the 1-0 lead!

Sasaki-kantoku calls for time to try and settle his team down.

Suzuki does that, though in a roundabout way, by falling behind 3-0 then working the count full on Ueta before getting him to whiff on a changeup for the 2nd out.

Against Sugimoto though he falls behind 3-0 again but loses him to a walk.  And after Kobayashi can't cleanly field a ball in the dirt, Sugimoto alertly takes 2nd giving the chance for Kochi to break it open with a base hit.

Maeda with a ball up the 3rd base line, fair!!  Katou can't field it cleanly!  Throws to 1st... SAFE!!

Maeda just dives in just ahead of the throw and is safe!  Matagawa scores to make it a 2-0 Kochi lead!!

Shimada-kantoku continuing to press Sendai Ikuei!  Maeda is sent to 2nd and takes it without even an acknowledgement by the Ikuei battery!!  I know about the delay steal of home that some teams use, but to not even to try and do anything about stealing 2nd is beyond me.

Sakai with a high bounder to 3rd.  Katou fields and throws to 1st finally ending the inning, but not before Kochi takes a fairly large 2-0 lead!

Bottom 4th
Sendai Ikuei's Uebayashi is one of the few players in the order who is taking pitches and earns his 2nd walk.  Perhaps Kochi's battery is also trying to avoid him?

Mizuma also taking some pitches and getting ahead of Sakai, but goes after a ball inside and pops it up!  Maeda running over to the Sendai Ikuei dugout and makes the catch for the first out.

Kobayashi with a ball to the right side, Ichikawa playing in fields it, goes to 2nd for one, relay back by Doi and Sakai is there to cover for the 3-6-1 double play to end the inning!!

Sendai Ikuei a bit more patient, but perhaps not enough yet as a leadoff walk by Uebayashi goes for naught!

Top 5th
Hm, Suzuki seems to be struggling now as he throws at Yoshito's feet and puts him on to start the inning.

And when Doi attempts to bunt, Suzuki throws inside and hits him!  Two runners on for Kochi with the always dangerous Ren up!

Suzuki still having control issues, falling behind Ren 3-1 before coming back to get him to swing and miss for the first out.

And then he gets Ichikawa to swing and miss on a change for the 2nd out!

But just when he looks to get out of the jam, he falls behind Matagawa 3-0 and eventually issues his 3rd free base of the inning to load the bases for Ueta!

Ueta hits a ball up the 3rd base line, Katou playing it behind the bag goes the long way to 1st but gets the 3rd out to get Suzuki out of his self-imposed pinch.

Bottom 5th
Katou's day is over at 3B with #13 Watanabe coming in to PH for him.

Once again though, Sendai Ikuei is swinging away early and often.  Watanabe and Satou both swing on the 2nd pitch and fly out to Matagawa in left center.

Suzuki's day is done as well, and given last inning I don't blame Sasaki-kantoku at all.  #16 Onodera comes in to hit.

Onodera actually takes a couple of pitches, and hits a comebacker back to Sakai.  It glances off his glove but to Doi who goes to 1st for the 3rd out.

So as we hit the break it's the team from Shikoku who leads the game over a team that just seems to be swinging away on anything hittable.

Top 6thSo #15 Abe comes in for PH Watanabe and takes over at 3B.  #10 Baba comes in for Onodera and takes the hill.

Baba is laboring a bit on the mound as well.  Sugimoto and Maeda test him out, and run a long AB before being retired.

Sakai feebly waves at a ball down for the 3rd out, and Baba survives his 1st inning of relief.

Bottom 6th
Kumagai once again going early, hits a hard ball to Yoshito and while the throw is a bit wide, Ichikawa stretches for the first out.

Kikuna actually works the count and gets ahead 3-1 before fouling several pitches off.  And several more...

And then he gives it a ride to right!  Sugimoto going back, still going back, at the wall!

But he makes the catch as he softly collides with the padding for the 2nd out!  Kikuna did not miss that ball by much.

Hasegawa up and he quickly hits a slow roller to the right side.  Yoshito charges, but his throw to 1st is high and forces Ichikawa off the bag.

Uebayashi this time around hacks away!  He give it a good rip, but Ueta is there for the catch to retire the side.

Top 7th
After a quick out by Yoshito, Baba continues Suzuki's control issues by hitting Doi.  That's Doi's 2nd HBP this game.

Ren with a ball up the 3rd base line.  And now Abe can't field the ball cleanly and his throw to 1st pulls Mizuma off the bag!

Once again Sasaki-kantoku has to call time.

Baba comes back and jams Ichikawa who flies out to center for the 2nd out.

And he finally gets out of the inning by getting Matagawa to chase a ball buried.  He's keeping Kochi at bat, but the offense is quickly (and given their disposition at the dish - very quickly) running out.

Bottom 7th
Looks like Sakai's day is done as ace Yuuta comes in for a 3-inning save.

And it's one pitch, one out as Mizuma flies out to right.

Kobayashi gets Sendai Ikuei's 2nd hit of the game as he laces one to center!  Perhaps that will get the offense started in their lucky 7!

Abe up for his first AB, swings at a 1-0 fastball and flies out to Sugimoto for the 2nd out.

Yuuta lets one get away in the dirt that Maeda has to chase down.  Kobayashi advances into scoring position.  Base hit here can pull the fall champs within 1.

And now Yuuta falls behind Satou 3-0!  He comes right back throw and fires in 2 strikes to fill up the count.

Now Satou lines one into left for a base hit!  Kobayashi is held up at 3rd as Matagawa fires the ball back in.

Shimada-kantoku calls for time as Baba comes up for his first AB.  He's 1-2 so far here at Koushien.

But Yuuta ties him up on a ball inside and the side is retired!  Sendai Ikuei's best chance is left begging and with only 6 outs to go!

Top 8th
Kochi is fine to play at Sendai Ikuei's pace now this late in the game.  They go down 1-2-3 on just 10 pitches and retake the field.

Bottom 8th
Top of the order and Kumagai swings on the first pitch and flies out to center.  Kikuna soon follows with one to left.

Hasegawa lets 3 balls go by as none of them are close.  But after taking one down the middle, he hits a laser to right - but right to Sugimoto for the 3rd out.

Top 9th
After Baba retires the first 2 batters of the inning, he loses Doi on a 3-2 pitch way inside.  That means that he'll have to face Ren one more time.

And now a timely steal of 2nd on a ball bounced to Kobayashi means that Doi is in scoring position hoping he can add yet another insurance run.  Meanwhile, Ren keeps his AB alive.

But this time Ren chases that same fastball to Doi up and in to end the inning.

Bottom 9th
Baba's done his part, but can the offense show any sign of life this late?

Well, if any person could start the inning, Uebayashi is probably your best option.

And like most of his AB's he gets ahead 3-1 but gets the green light and whiffs on a ball inside for strike 2.

Uebayashi this time takes it upon himself to get on base and shoots one back up the middle for a leadoff single!  Now can the people following him build on this?

YES!  Sorta.

Mizuma gets hit on a ball that gets away from Yuuta and while he's smarting a bit from that, there are runners on 1st and 2nd now with no out for Sendai Ikuei!!

We're getting deeper into the lineup though as Kobayashi steps in.  If they're going to score, it'll be up to the bottom of the order...

Kobayashi goes after the 1-0 pitch and sends it to right.  Sugimoto backing up, still backing up, still backing up... and makes the catch deep in right.  Uebayshi advances to 3rd, but the douten run still remains at 1st base.

Interestingly it's only now that Shimada-kantoku calls time.  Perhaps it's because now he can remind them that really the person to be worried about is Mizuma at 1st.  Uebayashi's run doesn't matter in the sense that it would still leave Kochi with the lead.

But Abe hits a grounder to short!  Doi flips to 2nd for one, relay from Yoshito is in time!  Double play and Kochi has upset the Meiji Jingu Champions!!  They advance to the semifinals for the first time in 38 years!

Kochi wouldn't have been able to do it without the pitching tandem of Sakai and Sakamoto.  Sakai spun 6 innings of 2 hit ball before handing it over to the ace who while a bit shaky finished off the game.

But while Kochi should get their share of credit for the game, you cannot overlook the fact that Sendai Ikuei was just as culpable if not more for their loss here today.  I couldn't get over the fact that they were just hacking away at the plate and basically in many ways assisting the Kochi pitchers by keeping their pitch counts low as well as perhaps not taking advantage of when the opposition was faltering on the mound.

And so the last representative of the Tohoku region is eliminated while a team from Shikoku moves on.


Notable Players
Sakai Yuuya (Kochi) - W, 6 IP, 2 H, K, 2 BB, HBP
Sakamoto Yuuta (Kochi) - SV, 3 IP, 3 H, K, HBP
Matagawa Ryouyuu (Kochi) - 1-3, 2B, R, BB
Maeda Ryuusei (Kochi) - 1-4, RBI, SB
Doi Kouyou (Kochi) - 0-2, K, BB, 2 HBP
Suzuki Takato (Sendai Ikuei) - L, 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 8 K, 3 BB, 2 HBP
Baba Kousuke (Sendai Ikuei) - 4 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 3 K, BB, HBP
Uebayashi Seiji (Sendai Ikuei) - 1-2, 2 BB
Kobayashi Ryou (Sendai Ikuei) - 1-4