高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

I have to admit, since I wasn't able to do my normal things before the Koushien tournament this year, I never got to see that Shuugakukan has not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 possible starting pitchers who can throw upper 130s at the minimum.

And we have seen all 4 pitchers at some point in time:
#1 - Arimura Taisei (140 kph) - 2 G, 2.1 IP, 0 ER,  0 H, 2 K, 2 BB
#10 - Nakai Yuusuke (141 kph) - 2 G, 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 4 K, 1 BB
#11 - Taura Fumimaru (141 kph) - 2 G, 1 GS, 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 4 K, 3 BB
#12 - Kawabata Kento (141 kph) - 3 G, 2 GS. 10.2 IP, 1 ER, 13 K, 2 BB

That's just ridiculous. I've NEVER seen a team with that much good pitching.  And with 3 of them splitting time, it's hard to think that any one of them is completely empty in the tank. "Ace" Arimura has had the least amount of work. and you have to figure he'll see some extra time with just 2 games to go. And if one struggles, you have options - actual options.

The only weakness, and we saw it last game, is their offense. Despite scoring 4 runs last game, it was on just 5 hits. And they only drew 2 walks to boot. There are 2 batters who have been consistent - SS Matsuo Taiga and LF Amamoto Kousuke who have gone 6-13 and 7-10 respectively, but the drop in hits is concerning as that does leave less room for error on the pitching side, though they have options.

Hokkai is by far the underdog in the matchup. They barely survived against Matsuyama Seiryou, defeated an average Nichinan Gakuen team, and somehow were the team to finally defeat a weaker Seikou Gakuin.

Ace Oonishi will probably be in hot water all night, having pitched all innings so far for Hokkai. His K/BB rates have improved of sorts (6/6, 3/0, 6/2), but I can't imagine him having the same success against this lineup, especially having given up 3 runs in his last outing.

Offensively the one person who stands out is 1B Kawamura who is 5-11 with a HR. The team is batting around 0.333, but against this pitching staff you have to imagine that won't last.

Shuugakukan (Kumamoto)

• def Tokoha Kikugawa 6-1
• def Inabe Sougou Gakuen 6-1
• def Jyousou Gakuin 4-1

SS Matsuo Taiga (松尾 大河)
CF Harada Takumi (原田 拓実)
1B Kimoto Ryouga (木本 凌雅)
C Kuki Ryuuhei (九鬼 隆平)
LF Amamoto Kousuke (天本 昂佑)
3B Hirobe Shuuhei (廣部 就平)
2B Horie Kouhei (堀江 航平)
RF Kimura Yuuji (木村 勇次)
P (12) Kawabata Kento (川端 健斗)

Hokkai (Minami Hokkaido)

• def Matsuyama Seiryou 2x-1
• def Nichinan Gakuen 4-1
• def Seikou Gakuin 7-3

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

____________________________________________________________

13:05 - First pitch

It's an active first inning for Shuugakukan. Matsuo triples to right center, Harada walks. He then gets thrown out at 2nd, Oonishi uncorks a wild pitch, but they recover to throw out Matsuo at home. Kimoto singles to right and finally Amamoto saves extra bases when he lays out for a shallow liner to left.

All that for no runs.

Meanwhile Ono draws a leadoff walk off Kawabata. 2 outs now, and Taiga hits a ball hard at 1st. Kimoto blocks it in front of him, but stumbles, looks to toss to 1st but Kawabata is nowhere to be found! That continues the inning, runners at the corners, no wait, now manrui after he hits Kawamura and where is the rest of the pitching staff?

He gets fortunate when Fuse hits a chopper to the left side. He fields it, and throws to 1st for the 3rd out.

Kajisha-kantoku has a chance to relieve Kawabata by PH for him int he 3rd, but he doesn't...

Come the bottom of the 3rd it all finally bites him in the ass. Kawabata gives up a leadoff walk and a base hit. After getting 2 outs, he is finally relieved by #10 Nakai, but it's with runners on 2nd and 3rd.

And you knew the good luck wasn't going to last. Oonishi drives a ball to the right center field wall for a bases clearing triple. After that, Hirobe throws wide to 1st on a grounder.

0-0 becomes a 2-0 deficit, becomes a 3-0 deficit.

If Shuugakukan goes on to lose this game, it is WORSE than the Kousei loss because he had 3 other competent pitchers available and failed to go to ANY ONE OF THEM. Any team would kill for 2 above average pitchers, Kajisha-kantoku possibly has 4. 4!

He should be fired on the spot and have to find his own way back to Kumamoto.

Anyways, the game basically continues with one way direction all pointed at Hokkai. They get 1st 2nd with one out in the 4th, thanks to an error, then in the 5th, gives up a leadoff walk and after a fielder's choice, gives up singles to Ono and Kanno for a 4-0 game as we hit the break.

Never expected this.

Top 7th, Shuugakukan gets their best chance yet to score. Kuki doubles to right center. Amamoto singles through the left side for runners at the corners.

Yet Hirobe flies out to shallow center. Horie check swings into fair territory and is out 2-3. Then, Kajisha-kantoku PH for Arimura... with his last P #11 Taura!!

A wild pitch gets a runner in for 4-1. Taura for his part walks. But Hanjyou grounds out to 2nd and 1 run is all they get!

And then one major error makes this a game. 2 down, Matsuo on 2nd thanks to a HBP. Kuki with a base hit to right which might score 1.

Until the ball somehow gets past Gehou's glove... and all the way to the wall.

In shades of Waseda Jitsugyou-Kanzei, Kuki makes it all the way around and beats the throw in. We have a 4-3 game.

I REPEAT, WE HAVE A 4-3 GAME.

Now, Hokkai would go quietly in the 8th, leaving it all to Shuugakukan to make one last run.

But the bottom of the lineup was due, a 6-9 part of the lineup which to this point was 1-11...

Hirobe grounds out to 3rd...

Horie grounds out to 2nd... Last chance in Taura...

Chopper to short, throw to 1st... safe!! Taura's slide doesn't cost him as he still gets in ahead of the throw!

Up to Hanjyou...

Chopper to short again... throw to 1st... GAME SET!

There is no comeback, Hokkai holds on for a 4-3 win!

Hokkai almost gives it up in bizarre circumstances but they prevail. Shuugakukan's run at a title is short circuited, but not because of the players, it is because of Kajisha-kantoku not utilizing his entire pitching staff. A pitching staff that mind you any manager would kill for. 4 viable pitchers.

And yet, Kawabata was the one most used, and perhaps the one most likely to be pulled at any sign of trouble. Except he wasn't. He was left in to endure two manrun situations and was only replaced when again there were runners in scoring position. He was left in when you could have lifted him for a PH after struggling for the 2nd straight inning.

None of that happened. And as a result, they were in a hole they could never get out of.

This loss is worse in my opinion because Kajisha-kantoku obviously had options and failed to use them. This when it seemed he had managed it well to this point.

They could have won the championship. They instead are going home.

Hokkai will get their chance to be the 2nd team from Hokkaido to win Natsu Koushien. But it will not be easy. They will need the same patience they showed today against Imai tomorrow. And Oonishi will probably need to pitch the game of his life.

It's not impossible. But it'll be difficult.

Having defeated Riseisha, Jyousou Gakuin has to feel good about themselves, and people have to look at them with a more discerning eye for as a title contender. Shuugakukan has had it easy so far with 2 wins against so-so competition. Jyousou should present a huge step up. Will they be able to handle it?

Jyousou Gakuin (Ibaraki)

• def Oumi 11-0
• def Chuukyou 8-3
• def Riseisha 7-4

2B Arimura Kouta (有村 恒汰)
CF Suyama Yuuki (陶山 勇軌)
1B Miyazawa Toyota (宮里 豊汰)
3B Hanawa Naoki (花輪 直輝)
C Shimizu Kazema (清水 風馬)
SS Nakamura Jin (中村 迅)
LF Ishikawa Dai (石川 大)
P Suzuki Shouta (鈴木 昭汰)
RF Suzuki Kaito (鈴木 海斗)

Shuugakukan (Kumamoto)

• def Tokoha Kikugawa 6-1
• def Inabe Sougou Gakuen 6-1

SS Matsuo Taiga (松尾 大河)
CF Harada Takumi (原田 拓実)
1B Kimoto Ryouga (木本 凌雅)
C Kuki Ryuuhei (九鬼 隆平)
LF Amamoto Kousuke (天本 昂佑)
3B Hirobe Shuuhei (廣部 就平)
2B Horie Kouhei (堀江 航平)
RF Kimura Yuuji (木村 勇次)
P (12) Kawabata Kento (川端 健斗)

____________________________________________________________

08:00 - First pitch

Well, Kawabata gives up a leadoff walk, which could always spell trouble. But he then trades 2 outs for 2 bases meaning Hanawa's groundout to 2nd leaves the runner stranded.

Shouta is also having some of his own issues on the mound for Jyousou Gakuin. Primarily that #3 batter Kimoto hit a line single down the right field line, and then it took a great running catch by Suyama to prevent an extra base hit by Kuki to deep right center.

It actually seems like Kawabata is the better pitcher early. Despite the leadoff walk, he's setting down the Jyousou lineup, even striking out the side in the 2nd with some well located pitches.

And now out of nowhere, Shouta leaves a ball up to Amamoto and he drives one to left! Ishikawa going back to the wall, but it's gone! 1-0 Shuugakukan and this is a bit of a surprise.

Now, Suzuki retires the side thereafter, but it's clear who has the scoring chances right now.

Oh boy...

Shuugakukan doubles their lead in the 3rd when Shouta leaves a fastball middle-milddle and Matsuo drives that to left for a HR! 2-0 Shuugakukan and we may have something on our hands!

I did mention this on twitter that Shuugakukan did beat Seiseikou, Kumamoto Kougyou, Buntoku and Kyushu Gakuin, all above average schools in the prefecture. But what really stands out is that Shuugakukan has possibly 4 viable pitchers they can turn to! Ace Arimura, #10 Nakai, #11 Taura and today's starter #12 Kawabata. That's a huge advantage in late stages, provided they get there.

Which of course Jyousou Gakuin is trying to prevent. And in the 5th they finally get to Kawabata.

First Nakamura gets a 1-out walk. 2 down, with Nakamura on 2nd now from a wild pitch and Shouta despite being relieved, hits a single to left, scoring Nakamura and making it 2-1 before the break,

Shuugakukan uses the break to send in someone from the bullpen, this time it's #10 Nakai, who retires the top of the Jyousou lineup in order.

In the bottom of the 6th it all goes wrong for Jyousou Gakuin. 2 outs, and Hirobe has just hit a dobule to left center. Horie seeming hits a routine grounder to short. but Nakamura has it go 5-hole on him and into the outfield allowing Hirobe to score making it a 3-1 ballgame. And if that weren't bad enough he gets another grounder, tries to go the short way for the out, but throws it in the dirt and it goes into the outfield.

Throw in a wild pitch from Kurata for good measure and Shuugakukan scores 2 runs in the 6th without the benefit of a hit to make it 4-1,

The game seemed in hand, but they gave themselves a scare in the 9th. Nakai would give up back to back ringing singles to start the inning. And even after a 1-out walk to Shimizu, Kajisha-kantoku sticks with Nakai. Only when Nakamura pops out does he send in ace Arimura. Jyousou Gakuin counters with #12 Yoshinari.

In the end though, Yoshinari would not be able to lift the bat off the shoulder as he would go down looking to end the game.

Unfortunately, I was in a meeting when Shuugakukan was in play, so I can't really handicap this.

..

Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
CF Kurihara Gen (栗原 健)
SS Akai Kensuke (赤井 啓輔)
3B Suzuki Ren (鈴木 蓮夢)
C Yonezawa Toshiki (米沢 利紀)
RF Sakamoto Akiyoshi (坂本 章善)
2B Hori Keiichirou (堀 慶一朗)
P Ochiai Ryuuto (落合 竜杜)
1B (14)Makino Fumiya (牧野 郁弥)
LF Yamamoto Yuudai (山本 雄大)

Shuugakukan (Kumamoto)
CF Harada Takumi (原田 拓実)
SS Matsuo Taiga (松尾 大河)
1B Kimoto Ryouga (木本 凌雅)
C Kuki Ryuuhei (九鬼 隆平)
2B Horie Kouhei (堀江 航平)
3B Hirobe Shuuhei (廣部 就平)
LF Amamoto Kousuke (天本 昂佑)
RF Kimura Yuuji (木村 勇次)
P (12)Kawabata Kento (川端 健斗)


____________________________________________________________

16:25 - First pitch!

Top 1st
.

The other semifinal is a shock as well. While Osaka Touin clearly wasn't their usual dominating selves, it seemed that they would at least make a deeper run. Instead they fell at the hands of Kisaradzu Sougou (no less) who had good pitching for sure, but managed to put together one good inning to defeat them.

Tsuruga Kehi was also slated to be here, but in perhaps the biggest upset, the lesser known Kaisei from Nagasaki somehow shutdown the Hokushinetsu champs. I thought the pitching would let them down first, but instead it was the offense.

In both cases, those teams that pulled off the upsets did the rest of the field a solid, but it sadly didn't help their own cases. Kisaradzu Sougou never went to reliever Takeda and perhaps paid for it dearly when Hayakawa couldn't close out the games against Shuugakukan. Kaisei went toe-to-toe with the Meiji Jingu champs, but just ran out of steam in the end.

In the end, this game may be self-explanatory. Shuugakukan has managed their pitching staff very effectively so far, allowing their players to get rest, and therefore be effective. This is opposite of Takamatsu Shougyou, who has a very shallow staff who may already be cracking if last game was any indication. There is a possibility of a Aki-Haru renzoku yuushou (Yes, I know that's isn't a thing, but I just made it one.), but I'm not sure it's possible.

CF Anzai Tsubasa

Last pairing could be a tough one for a region champion as they are facing a region in form. Shuugakukan has posted good numbers, and despite a weaker super-regional schedule, their 4-2 loss to Touhou looks all that better. But while that may be the case, their offense certainly isn't as strong as their 0.374/0.411/0.637 line would indicate, and their pitching trio of Arimura/Horie/Nakai can somewhat hold their own.

Hanasaki Tokuharu has an ace in Takahashi that struck out more than 10 per 9. But in their game against Kisaradzu Sougou, that value was cut in half. I have no doubt that he can strike out batters, but probably not at the clip his fall stats indicate. In addition, in their two losses to Urawa Gakuin and the aforementioned Kisaradzu Sougou the offense, which had batted 0.309/0.408/0.520 were basically shut down. This may be due to the fact that a third of their lineup batted 0.260 or worse, so potential scoring opportunities could die on the vine depending where in the lineup they are.

Despite Kanto having success compared to Kyushu, Shuugakukan stands a chance against the floating bid from Kanto IF Arimura can manage the game.

Shuugakukan gets their second Senbatsu appearance in spectacular fashion by winning the super-regionals. Now, they had some hiccups, starting with a struggle against Kaishin in the prefectural quarterfinals, then having to come back against Kyushu Gakuin in the finals. But after the first game of the super-regionals where they had to come back late against Meihou, they breezed their way to the title. Despite that they were ousted in their first game of the Meiji Jingu tournament, losing 4-2 to Touhou.

Now, what has helped this team make such a run?

Perhaps it's pitching because while ace Arimura Taisei (有村 大誠) seems to be a solid ace - high 130s fastball along with a slider and curve, he actually was used less in the last couple of games, instead turning the ball over to 2B Horie Kouhei (堀江 航平) who actually was slated to be the ace until an injury prevented him from doing so, though it seems to not prevent him from pitching altogether. Weird bit is that he can still throw in the mid 130s with a slider in the 120s and a curve/changeup combo in the 110s. Even weirder, his numbers were better than Arimura's in the games where they pitched together. Also used, but not as effective were Nakai Yuusuke (中井 雄亮), who appears to be the left-handed version of Horie but worse, and to a lesser extent Taura Fumimaru (田浦 文丸) and Kawabata Kento (川端 健斗) who didn't give up a run in their stints in the super-regionals. It's weird unless Horie is coming back from injury and is finally back up to speed, which would mean they could be getting better at the position at the right time.

Offensively, there are several players who can appear to go off in a given game. They include 1B Kimoto Ryuuga (木本 凌雅), C Kuki Ryuuhei (九鬼 隆平) and especially LF Amamoto Kousuke (天本 昂佑). They aren't necessarily starved for offense per se, though 2 runs against Touhou isn't very good.

So it looks like the team should be able to hold its own against weaker competition, but may struggle once they run into established Koushien powerhouses. Barring a bad draw, expect them to finish in the middle somewhere.