The semifinal games were surprisingly not close. First, Kishi wound up giving up a 4-run 4th to Imabari Nishi (Ehime 2) as Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi 1) couldn't muster any offense losing 4-0.
On the other side, Ikeda's (Tokushima 3) offense gave Myouzai a game off as they scored early and often to defeat Seikou Gakuen (Tokushima 1) 9-3.
Perhaps though, Ikeda should have actually given Myouzai some time off because he was pulled after 6 innings trailing 1-0 to Imabari Nishi. The bullpen would give up 9 runs thereafter as Imabari Nishi claims their 5th title and first in 4 years!
Despite the loss, I do expect Ikeda to receive an invite, given they were a powerhouse in the 1980's and are seemingly experiencing a renaissance. It's not a 100% guarantee, but it looks fairly good.
The fact that Meitoku Gijyuku lost because of one inning probably bumps out Seikou Gakuen from consideration for the floating bid. It also makes things very tough for the Chuugoku region too to put up a team that could compete with them for the bid.
Showing posts with label Shikoku. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shikoku. Show all posts
Monday, October 28, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Aki Taikai Recap-to-date - Shikoku Super-Regional
Shikoku is already in the semifinal stages, but we need to get there first. Kagawa wound up going to Sakaide as after Eimei pinged Sakaide for a run in the 1st and 2nd innings, Sakaide scored 3 in the 3rd and then put the game away with 5 in the 7th.
The brackets then went as follows:
Komatsushima gets to the super-regionals, but cannot parlay it into a Koushien appearance it seems. Takamatsu Dai-ichi puts up crooked numbers every inning and the game ends 14-3 in 5 innings. But against Meitoku's ace Kishi... let's just say they were shutout and mercy ruled in 7 innings 8-0.
What I said for Komatsushima applies for Teikyou Dai-go as well. Eimei proved to be vulnerable this year it seemed and when Teikyou took a 1-0 lead into the mid-game break it seemed they might be able to do it. But once the 2nd half started, Eimei scored 4 runs and that was that. But against Seikou Gakuen they played catch-up the entire game. And when they finally leveled the score at 3 in the top of the 8th, it must have taken its toll as ace Akagawa couldn't hold off Seikou anymore and a run in the bottom of the 8th put the nail in the coffin for Eimei.
Probably the team in Shikoku that has had tried the most to get back to their olden days is Ikeda. Having to fight teams like Naruto, Naruto Uzushio, Tokushima Shougyou who have emerged as the new powers has been tough. But under ace Myouzai, they may just have a chance.
First up was a solid 7-2 win over Kochi Higashi Kougyou where he struck out 9. Then against Saijyo, he was entrenched in an ace matchup with Shimada. After each surrendered a run early, they started putting up donut after donut. Then in the 9th, with 2 outs Kita draws a walk for Ikeda, not only steals 2nd, but 3rd as well! Myouzai would drive in the run himself with a hit to left.
Now just 3 outs away, Myouzai's defense would let him down. A leadoff error by the SS would get advanced to 2nd on a grounder, and Yanase would hit a double to tie the game. Myouzai would have to load the bases with 2 out, but he got out of the inning with no more damage, sending the game into enchousen.
2 innings later, it would be Saijyo who would return the favor. A one-out error by their 3B would put the gyakuten runner on 2nd, and with 2 out and the runner now at 3rd Fujita delivered the timely hit to put Ikeda up once again 3-2. Yanase would lead off the bottom of the 11th with a base hit and was bunted to 2nd. But he would get hung up with a grounder to short and get tagged out. Shimada, the runner at 1st now would get the douten run back in scoring position with a stolen base but Myouzai would have the final word getting Sakou to fly out to center to end the game and send Ikeda to the semifinals.
Thankfully for Myouzai and Ikeda they have a week off before hitting the mound again.
I'm pulling hard for Ikeda, but I hate to see it be at the expense of a team like Seikou Gakuen if they do win. The losing team will have to hope for the floating bid at that point, and even then remember there is the loser of the Imabari Nishi-Meitoku Gijyuku game to deal with too. If that loser just happens to be Meitoku, forget it - they have 0 chance at the floating bid and may have to be nominated as the 21st century team (if that's even possible).
The brackets then went as follows:
- Sakaide (Kagawa 1) vs. winner of Imabari Nishi (Ehime 2)-Kochi Ootemae (Kochi 3)
- Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi 1) vs. winner of Komatsushima (Tokushima 2)-Takamatsu Dai-ichi (Kagawa 3)
- Seikou Gakuen (Tokushima 1) vs. winner of Eimei (Kagawa 2)-Teikyou Dai-go (Ehime 3)
- Saijyo (Ehime 1) vs. winner of Kochi Higashi Kougyou (Kochi 2)-Ikeda (Tokushima 3)
Komatsushima gets to the super-regionals, but cannot parlay it into a Koushien appearance it seems. Takamatsu Dai-ichi puts up crooked numbers every inning and the game ends 14-3 in 5 innings. But against Meitoku's ace Kishi... let's just say they were shutout and mercy ruled in 7 innings 8-0.
What I said for Komatsushima applies for Teikyou Dai-go as well. Eimei proved to be vulnerable this year it seemed and when Teikyou took a 1-0 lead into the mid-game break it seemed they might be able to do it. But once the 2nd half started, Eimei scored 4 runs and that was that. But against Seikou Gakuen they played catch-up the entire game. And when they finally leveled the score at 3 in the top of the 8th, it must have taken its toll as ace Akagawa couldn't hold off Seikou anymore and a run in the bottom of the 8th put the nail in the coffin for Eimei.
Probably the team in Shikoku that has had tried the most to get back to their olden days is Ikeda. Having to fight teams like Naruto, Naruto Uzushio, Tokushima Shougyou who have emerged as the new powers has been tough. But under ace Myouzai, they may just have a chance.
First up was a solid 7-2 win over Kochi Higashi Kougyou where he struck out 9. Then against Saijyo, he was entrenched in an ace matchup with Shimada. After each surrendered a run early, they started putting up donut after donut. Then in the 9th, with 2 outs Kita draws a walk for Ikeda, not only steals 2nd, but 3rd as well! Myouzai would drive in the run himself with a hit to left.
Now just 3 outs away, Myouzai's defense would let him down. A leadoff error by the SS would get advanced to 2nd on a grounder, and Yanase would hit a double to tie the game. Myouzai would have to load the bases with 2 out, but he got out of the inning with no more damage, sending the game into enchousen.
2 innings later, it would be Saijyo who would return the favor. A one-out error by their 3B would put the gyakuten runner on 2nd, and with 2 out and the runner now at 3rd Fujita delivered the timely hit to put Ikeda up once again 3-2. Yanase would lead off the bottom of the 11th with a base hit and was bunted to 2nd. But he would get hung up with a grounder to short and get tagged out. Shimada, the runner at 1st now would get the douten run back in scoring position with a stolen base but Myouzai would have the final word getting Sakou to fly out to center to end the game and send Ikeda to the semifinals.
Thankfully for Myouzai and Ikeda they have a week off before hitting the mound again.
I'm pulling hard for Ikeda, but I hate to see it be at the expense of a team like Seikou Gakuen if they do win. The losing team will have to hope for the floating bid at that point, and even then remember there is the loser of the Imabari Nishi-Meitoku Gijyuku game to deal with too. If that loser just happens to be Meitoku, forget it - they have 0 chance at the floating bid and may have to be nominated as the 21st century team (if that's even possible).
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Aki Taikai Recap-to-date - Shikoku
Two more to go...
Kagawa
Kagawa may still be in a down cycle. Natsu representative Marugame couldn't get out of the first game, falling to Sakaide 12-3. Interestingly, this is a case where the team defeating the summer representative actually delivers. They edged by both Tonoshou (9-8 in 10), then Jinsei Gakuen (7-6) before getting an "easy win" over Takamatsu Dai-ichi 7-3 to secure their appearance in the super-regionals.
They will play Eimei in the finals for fall bragging rights. Eimei did not concede a run until their quarterfinal game against Marugame Jyousai, then outlasted Kagawa Nishi 7-6 in 12 innings.
As noted, Takamatsu Dai-ichi and Kagawa Nishi will play for the 3rd spot.
Tokushima
Naruto may be back on the rebuilding path as they can only get to the quarterfinals before falling to Ikeda in 12 innings after rallying from down 4-1.
Naruto Uzushio, a possible candidate to replace them, actually had fallen a round earlier to Itano 3-2. And with Tokushima Shougyou failing late to Kaifu 10-7 also in the quarterfinals, it opened things up for the final 4 with no main threat.
Ikeda may be building back up to being a Tokushima powerhouse, but they haven't gotten there yet it seems. They fell behind unknown Seikou Gakuen 3-0 early and couldn't recover falling 3-2 and being sent to the 3rd place game.
The other team looking to break through in recent years is Komatsushima. And it seemed like they would have a great opportunity to win the fall with the other major competitors gone. And after outlasting Kaifu 5-4 they guaranteed themselves at least a spot in the Super-regionals.
With Ikeda going to the consolation game, the prospects looked bleak for Kaifu. Indeed, Ikeda's ace (Myouzai?) pitched a complete game no-hitter sending Ikeda to a spot in the super-regionals.
In the final it was all Komatsushima going out to a 7-0 lead. And it would have been all theirs if the game lasted 7 innings. Because ace Matori completely fell apart in the final 2 innings, giving up 2 in the 8th and then 5 in the 9th sending the game into enchousen.
Apparently there would be no relief for the ace, and that would prove costly because in the 12th Seikou Gakuen would complete the comeback claiming their 2nd fall title!
Ehime
Anraku didn't look right at Natsu Koushien, and after Saibi's loss in the first round of the prefecturals to Saijyou 4-2, something had to be up. Now we know that Anraku probably had an injury that finally was reported (which I'm sure the MLB teams are all up at arms about because after all he'll end up being their property...)
Anyways, that opened the prefecture to the rest of the field who may have thought that there was no hope at all.
Sadly though, even though it opened up it only really did for the other powerhouses. Saijyou and Imabari Nishi were not challenged to the title game. In that final, Saijyou had a 5-1 lead late, allowed Imabari to tie the game with 4 in the 8th before avoiding extras with 3 in the 9th to claim their 15th title.
Touon would battle Teikyou Dai-go for the final spot, but sadly couldn't compete. They would give up runs in just 2 innings, but were mercy ruled 7-0 in 8 innings.
Kochi
Kochi belonged to Meitoku Gijyuku, by a wide margin. Despite losing a majority of their natsu roster, they still had ace Kishi - and that's a big plus. Kishi's closest game was a 5-2 win over Ootemae in the semifinals. That would be before a 17-3 win over Kochi Higashi Kougyou in the finals.
Where was Kochi and Kochi Shougyou? Kochi was actually shutout by Kochi Higashi Kougyou 4-0 in the quarterfinals. Kochi Shougyou actually lost 3-2 to Kochi Higashi in the 2nd round. Kochi Higashi actually made it to the semifinals before losing to Kochi Higashi Kougyou. They could not however reach the super-regionals as Ootemae would defeat them 7-3 to claim the last spot.
Kagawa
Kagawa may still be in a down cycle. Natsu representative Marugame couldn't get out of the first game, falling to Sakaide 12-3. Interestingly, this is a case where the team defeating the summer representative actually delivers. They edged by both Tonoshou (9-8 in 10), then Jinsei Gakuen (7-6) before getting an "easy win" over Takamatsu Dai-ichi 7-3 to secure their appearance in the super-regionals.
They will play Eimei in the finals for fall bragging rights. Eimei did not concede a run until their quarterfinal game against Marugame Jyousai, then outlasted Kagawa Nishi 7-6 in 12 innings.
As noted, Takamatsu Dai-ichi and Kagawa Nishi will play for the 3rd spot.
Tokushima
Naruto may be back on the rebuilding path as they can only get to the quarterfinals before falling to Ikeda in 12 innings after rallying from down 4-1.
Naruto Uzushio, a possible candidate to replace them, actually had fallen a round earlier to Itano 3-2. And with Tokushima Shougyou failing late to Kaifu 10-7 also in the quarterfinals, it opened things up for the final 4 with no main threat.
Ikeda may be building back up to being a Tokushima powerhouse, but they haven't gotten there yet it seems. They fell behind unknown Seikou Gakuen 3-0 early and couldn't recover falling 3-2 and being sent to the 3rd place game.
The other team looking to break through in recent years is Komatsushima. And it seemed like they would have a great opportunity to win the fall with the other major competitors gone. And after outlasting Kaifu 5-4 they guaranteed themselves at least a spot in the Super-regionals.
With Ikeda going to the consolation game, the prospects looked bleak for Kaifu. Indeed, Ikeda's ace (Myouzai?) pitched a complete game no-hitter sending Ikeda to a spot in the super-regionals.
In the final it was all Komatsushima going out to a 7-0 lead. And it would have been all theirs if the game lasted 7 innings. Because ace Matori completely fell apart in the final 2 innings, giving up 2 in the 8th and then 5 in the 9th sending the game into enchousen.
Apparently there would be no relief for the ace, and that would prove costly because in the 12th Seikou Gakuen would complete the comeback claiming their 2nd fall title!
Ehime
Anraku didn't look right at Natsu Koushien, and after Saibi's loss in the first round of the prefecturals to Saijyou 4-2, something had to be up. Now we know that Anraku probably had an injury that finally was reported (which I'm sure the MLB teams are all up at arms about because after all he'll end up being their property...)
Anyways, that opened the prefecture to the rest of the field who may have thought that there was no hope at all.
Sadly though, even though it opened up it only really did for the other powerhouses. Saijyou and Imabari Nishi were not challenged to the title game. In that final, Saijyou had a 5-1 lead late, allowed Imabari to tie the game with 4 in the 8th before avoiding extras with 3 in the 9th to claim their 15th title.
Touon would battle Teikyou Dai-go for the final spot, but sadly couldn't compete. They would give up runs in just 2 innings, but were mercy ruled 7-0 in 8 innings.
Kochi
Kochi belonged to Meitoku Gijyuku, by a wide margin. Despite losing a majority of their natsu roster, they still had ace Kishi - and that's a big plus. Kishi's closest game was a 5-2 win over Ootemae in the semifinals. That would be before a 17-3 win over Kochi Higashi Kougyou in the finals.
Where was Kochi and Kochi Shougyou? Kochi was actually shutout by Kochi Higashi Kougyou 4-0 in the quarterfinals. Kochi Shougyou actually lost 3-2 to Kochi Higashi in the 2nd round. Kochi Higashi actually made it to the semifinals before losing to Kochi Higashi Kougyou. They could not however reach the super-regionals as Ootemae would defeat them 7-3 to claim the last spot.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Haru Taikai Recap 3 - Chuugoku to Kyushu
Chuugoku Super-Regional
Shimane is the host this year, and so qualifies 4 teams while all other prefectures send 1:
Hiroshima's taikai had 43 teams, including the prefectural stalwarts Jyosuikan and Kouryou. But both would be upstaged by the same team - the champions Setouchi. They defeated Kouryou first 5-2 in the quarterfinals, then blanked Jyosuikan 3-0 (striking out 14!) in the semifinals. Both probably behind the ace Yamaoka Taisuke (山岡 泰輔), who apparently has a twitter account. Anyways, in the final, he scattered 10 hits to Hiroshima Shinjyou en route to a 3-1 win.
What is interesting is that in those final 3 games he struck out 15, 14 and 15 batters. That's right, he struck out 15 Kouryou and 14 Jyosuikan batters! This while having a fastball that apparently can tough 140 kph.
Tottori Jyouhoku led the field of seeded teams, but couldn't get past their first game, losing to Yazu 11-5. Yazu isn't really a pushover so it's not that bad of a loss. That win helped propel the team forward, where they faced another seeded team in Yonago Kita. But the duo of Endou and Ukeshima held the Yazu squad to just 1 run, allowing their team to come back with 2 in the 6th for the 2-1 victory.
Yamaguchi is also a 2-stage spring taikai. But from there teams such as Nanyou Kougyou, Ube Shougyou and Iwakuni all failed to advance to the Final 8. Nanyou Kougyou coughed up a lead to Karyou, Ube Shougyou couldn't make a lead last to Ube, and Iwakuni lost to Yanai Gakuen 4-3 in 12 in their first game.
There were some familiar representatives including Ube Koujyou, the aforementioned Karyou, and Hayatomo.
Hayatomo would have one disastrous inning against Suo-Oshima giving up 7 runs in a 7-2 loss. Ube Koujyou would go through 2 close games - first a 5-4 win over Karyou, then using a 3-run Lucky 7 to get past the aforementioned Suo-Oshima 3-2 to reach the final. Their opponent would be Takagawa Gakuen, who had no problems with Nagato and Hikari.
Surprisingly, Takagawa Gakuen's ace Hamamoto Shou (浜本 翔) limited Ube Koujyou to just 2 hits while striking out 5 and walking 1 in a 3-0 shutout!
Shimane also had a 2-stage taikai, with 15 groups and fall champ Masuda Shouyou getting a free pass to the 2nd stage. Risshoudai Shounan and Kaisei also advanced, and both actually in workmanlike fashion got to the finals. But Kaisei's ace Oda would somehow yield just 2 hits, but walked 8 and still managed to give up just 1 run for a 6-1 win. Izumo Nishi would bid sayonara to the island school of Oki for 3rd place (though both advanced so Oki really didn't say "goodbye").
So with 8 teams and 4 from Shimane, they obviously would be broken up with the remaining prefectures drawing a spot against each of the teams:
Oki actually led Takigawa Gakuen before giving up the lead in the 8th. They actually tied the game in the top of the 9th before losing it in sayonara fashion. Again. Setouchi actually led Izumo Nishi comfortably 8-3, but Izumo scored 3 in the 8th to make things interesting.
Kaisei actually blew their 8-3 lead in the 8th inning to Okayama Ridai Fuzoku, but won in the bottom of the 10th. Only Risshoudai Shounan had an easy go with a 6 inning shutout the Tottori champs.
The good times did not roll for the hometown teams though. Both were mercy ruled in 7 in the semifinals!! Setouchi defeated Risshoudai Shounan 9-2, and somehow Takagawa Gakuen scored 7 runs on 4 hits (and 6 walks) to shutout Kaisei 7-0!
In the final, Takagawa Gakuen took a 3-0 lead in the 2nd on Setouchi and managed to stay one step ahead of Setouchi's rallies to win 6-5 for their first spring title!
Chuugoku Super-Regional
Each team qualified 2 for the Super-Regional so it's reach the finals and move on.
In Tokushima the format was a little different. Naruto got a free pass, and it would just be the winner of the prefectural tournament that would advance along with them to the Super-Regional. The 4 seeded teams, Seikou Gakuen, Ikeda, Tokushima Shougyou and Kawashima all advanced to the quarterfinals with relative ease though the former 2 had to survive a 1-run game in the quarterfinals (and in Ikeda's case a 12-inning affair).
For Ikeda, the enchousen matchup proved to be costly as they went into extra innings again against Seikou Gakuen. They cried uncle in the 14th, losing 3-2. Meanwhile Kawashima waited until the bottom of the 9th to tie the game at 1-1 before finally winning in 12.
With both teams having played extra inning affairs, it would undoubtedly have an effect on the pitching staffs. Yet it was Kawashima's pitching that would suffer a critical failure. Seikou Gakuin would score in the final 5 innings for a 10-3 win. But with 10 days off to rest the arms, perhaps they lost the momentum of the tournament as Naruto had an easy 8-3 win in the position round.
Ehime is a 2-stage taikai, and with Saibi participating at Senbatsu, they too would only qualify the winner (along with Saibi) for the Super-Regionals.
There were quite a few casualties in the 1st stage. Saijyou was eliminated by Imabari Nishi in their first game. Uwajima Higashi lost to Uwajima Minami in the block final.
There would be no stopping Imabari Nishi through the prefecturals, including a 4-1 over Matsuyama Seiryou in the final and an easy 6-4 win over Saibi in the position round.
And finally in Kochi, with 2 teams making it to Senbatsu, it would be a 2-stage affair. The winner of the prefectural taikai would face the winner of Kochi and Tosa (the two Senbatsu participants) for seeding.
With those teams out of the way, Kochi Shougyou and Meitoku Gijyuku had relatively little trouble advancing through the bracket. But Kochi Shougyou, despite eking out a 5-4 win over Okou, defeated Meitoku Gijyuku 7-5 to advance for seeding.
In the Senbatsu game, Tosa actually took an early 3-0 lead, but a pair of 2-run innings would give favorite Kochi the lead. Tosa wouldn't give up easy though tying the game in the top of the 9th sending it to enchousen. Alas, Kochi's experience would prevail in the 11th. So it would be Kochi and Kochi Shougyou once again. And despite playing in an extra inning game the day before, Kochi once again bests Kochi Shougyou 3-1 to take 1st in the prefecture.
Onto the Super-Regionals and almost all top seeds advanced. The only casualty oddly enough was Kochi who let a 3-0 lead slip with 4 in the 8th losing 4-3. In other games, Jinsei Gakuen survived a 9th inning rally from Seikou Gakuen to win 3-2, Kotohira was no match for Imabari Nishi, and Naruto had to scramble after giving up a pair in the bottom of the 8th to Kochi Shougyou, managed to tie the game at 2, then close it out with a 3-spot in the 10th.
Naruto and Jinsei Gakuen then had no issues in the semifinals setting up the title game.
Naruto took the early 1-0 and 3-1 lead. But with just 3 outs to go for the title, they give up 3 runs to Jinsei Gakuen who proceeded to shut the door for just their 3rd title and 1st in 15 years.
Kyushu Super-Regionals
Like Shikoku, Senbatsu participants get a free pass. Unlike Shikoku, they get a free pass to the Super-Regionals instead of the seeding game within their prefecture. For this spring Super-Regional, Fukuoka qualifies 3, Kagoshima qualifies 2, host Miyazaki qualifies 4, and all other prefectures 1.
The teams from the Hokubu/Nanbu regionals were redrawn for the quarterfinals. Kurume Shougyou thought to have an easy game, but had to survive another 1-run affair against Yuusei. Toukai Dai-go and Jiyuugaoka wound up drawing each other, and the game did not disappoint. The lead changed 3 times in the span of 3 half-innings before the game would be tied up at 4-4. Toukai Dai-go scored 2 in the top of the 11th, and then held off a rally from Jiyuugaoka to win 6-5. In other games, Kashii shutout Fukushima 2-0, Seirin blanked Ikutokukan 8-0.
And with the way the bracket was drawn, once again the mainstays faced off, but it was Toukai Dai-go who dominated the game, mercy-ruling Kurume Shougyou in the minimum 5 innings! They'd face Kashii, who had no trouble with Seirin.
Interestingly, Kashii made a game out of the final, only holding Toukai Dai-go to just 2 runs in a 2-0 loss. Kurume Shougyou easily made mince meat of Seirin to lock down the last spot for the Super-Regionals.
Kanoya Chuo and Kagoshima Jyouhou both struggled a bit out of the blocks, but pretty much ran over the prefectural taikai after that. It also helped that teams like Kagoshima Jyousai and more importantly Kamimura Gakuen were eliminated in earlier stages, while Shounan lost to Kagoshima Jitsugyou (who then lost to Kanoya Chuo).
Nagasaki was pretty much scratch as 5 of the 7 seeded teams (plus one team who occupied what would have been the 8th seeded team in Oomura Kougyou) advanced to the Best 8. In the quarterfinals, Sasebo Jitsugyou had no problems with no-seed Nagasaki Nishi while sadly (for me anyways) Seihou was blanked by Kaisei 5-0. Interestingly, Nagasaki Nichidai and Hasami both advanced by the unconvincing score of 1-0.
Those games did wind up being a bellweather of sorts as both of those teams would lose in the semifinals, but in close affairs. Kaisei got by Nagasaki Nichidai 5-3, and Hasami narrowly lost to Sasebo Jitsugyou 4-3. In the final, Sasebo Jitsugyou led wire-to-wire 4-1 to advance to the Super-Regional.
Kumamoto's taikai looked a bit weird. Weird in that the "seeded teams" were not really well-known to me except for Kumamoto Kougyou and perhaps Kumamoto Kokufu and Jyouhoku. Yashiro, Chinzei, Kumamoto Kita, and Yashiro Higashi all were seeded teams as well. With so many well-known teams relegated to the ranks of the ordinary, the haru taikai was pretty much thrown into disarray.
Yet 5 of the 7 seeded teams did make it to the semifinals. Kumamoto Kougyou and Kumamoto Kokufu amongst the regulars and Chinzei, Kumamoto Kita and Yashiro Higashi out of the unknowns. But of those, only Kumamoto Kougyou and Yashiro Higashi advanced out of the quarterfinals. Kumamoto Kita was blanked by the aforementioned Yashiro Higashi, Kumamoto Kokufu tapped out in the 15th losing 4-3 to Toukaidai Seishou and Chinzei lost to Buntoku 5-1.
Yashiro Higashi's run would end surprisingly at the hands of Buntoku despite a late game rally. Kumamoto Kougyou on the other hand would successfully make a rally with 3 in the 7th to defeat Toukaidai Seishou 7-6. In the final surprisingly it was Buntoku who dominated the game defeating Kumamoto Kougyou soundly 5-2 to take the title.
Okinawa, without Okinawa Shougaku still had major teams left to duke it out for the spot in the super-regionals. Above-average teams such as Miyako and Ginowan were seeded, as well as perhaps the best known school - Kounan.
Kounan though would not make it past the quarterfinals, losing to a name we haven't really heard in a while - Yaeyama Shoukou. Miyako and Ginowan couldn't even get past their first game, so things really were in flux (with perhaps the exception of the aforementioned Yaeyama Shoukou).
Itoman tried their best, but despite flipping between their two pitchers, they lost 1-0 to Hokuzan. Mawashi and Yaeyama would be the other two teams advancing to the semifinals. The surprising bit is that Yaeyama Shoukou would actually lose to Hokuzan 4-1 in the semis. Mawashi would tie the game in the 9th and then win in 11 against Yaeyama.
In the final, Hokuzan ace Taira Kentarou (平良 拳太郎) would strike out 15 in a 2-hitter against Mawashi for the 2-1 win.
Saga prefecture seems to not have a front-runner as of the 4 seeded teams - Saga Kita, Tosu Shougyou, Kanzaki Seimei and Kashima - only Kashima advanced to the quarterfinals. And even then, they lost in their next game 6-1 to Saga Kougyou. The only other recently successful team to advance into the semifinals was Saga Shougyou who took the lead late against Saga Gakuen to advance. The remaining semifinalists were Koushien participants back in the day - Ryuukoku and Shiota Kougyou.
The semifinals were low-scoring affairs as both Saga Kougyou and Ryuukoku won by the narrow margin of 1-0 and in the final, Saga Kougyou would lead wire-to-wire rebuffing repeated rallies (including one in the bottom of the 9th) by Ryuukoku to win 5-4.
Oita's prefecturals went pretty much scratch to the semifinals, with the only exception being interestingly Jyouhou Kagaku (which translated is Computer Science!) who were mercy ruled in 7 by Kitsuki. Meihou completely swept the floor with their opponents, Youshikan did much the same (though not double digits), and Oita was the weakest of the bunch surviving 2 1-run games.
Both semifinal games would head to enchousen. While I have been unable to pull details, Oita broke a scoreless draw against Youshikan to win 1-0 in 10, and Kitsuki is making perhaps another case to make it's 2nd straight Natsu Koushien by upsetting Meihou 3-2 in 12 innings. Kitsuki would dominate the final, defeating Oita 5-0.
Finally, with 4 bids and home-field advantage at stake in Miyazaki, this would be the year the average team would have the best chance of reaching the Super-Regional.
And it showed. Each of the seeded teams got their opponent's best shot. Takanabe made it just though one round before losing to Miyakonojyou Higashi. Nobeoka Gakuen had to play Nichinan Gakuen in their first game, but would lose in the quarterfinals to Houshou.
The two that made it were Nisshou Gakuen (who had an opening game scare against Miyazaki Oomiya) and Miyazaki Nichidai who survived 2 straight 1-run games against St. Ursula and Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka.
Miyazaki Nichidai had another heart-stopper as they fell behind 3-0 to Miyakonojyou Higashi, came back to lead 6-4 only to blow the lead in the top of the 9th before finally winning in the 10th inning. Houshou would give Nisshou Gakuen all they could handle, but it would not be enough falling 3-2.
All that would be left is seeding. Houshou breezed through Miyakonojyou Higashi 6-2, while Miyazaki Nichidai and Nisshou Gakuen were involved in one heck of a final. After falling behind 1-0 in the 1st, Miyazaki Nichidai would score 5 unanswered runs to take a dominating lead. That is, until the final 3 innings. Several pitchers would be called, but none could answer as Nisshou Gakuen scored 5 unanswered runs, the final one in the bottom of the 9th for the sayonara win.
The draw for the super-regional made sure that all top seeds and the Senbatsu participants did not have to play the extra game. Two 2-seeds would also get the benefit of not playing an extra game:
Kurume Shougyou continued to benefit for a relatively easy draw as they handle Kitsuki 7-2. They would not face Souseikan though. Instead Hokuzan's 2-run 7th inning was all they needed to advance. Seiseikou would face Toukai Dai-go (who needed runs in the 8th and 9th to pull off the victory) in the other quarterfinal in their half.
On the opposite side, Buntoku would outlast Kashii in 10 setting up a game with Miyazaki Nichidai who surprisingly had no trouble against Kagoshima's Senbatsu representative. And finally, Sasebo Jitsugyou would easily advance to face an Okinawa Shougaku squad who did not look impressive once again in a 2-0 win over Kagoshima Jyouhou.
Now, at the time, I didn't know if this was more an indictment of Sasebo Jitsugyou than Okishou being mediocre, but they had to scramble against Okinawa Shougaku to send it into extras and win in 12. But it wound up being the former as after Buntoku edged out Miyazaki Nichidai 1-0, they took care of Sasebo Jitsugyou to reach the finals.
Back to the other half and both Kurume Shougyou and Seiseikou shutout their opponents setting up what looked like a great semifinal. And it was. Kurume Shougyou took a 2-0 lead in the middle innings and held off a Seiseikou charge late to win 2-1 to reach the finals.
Surprsingly Kurume Shougyou, the 3 seed out of Fukuoka, would actually take a 4-0 lead over Buntoku early. But Buntoku would chip away at the lead pulling within 1 and then tying it in the bottom of the 9th. It would remain tied at 5 until the 13th when Seki would pull through for Kurume Shougyou with the go-ahead hit. Imamura, who started the game, closed it our for Kurume Shougyou giving them their first ever spring title.
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Well, that's it for the spring tournaments. But don't look now, natsu taikais are out for Kita and Minami Hokkaido, Kanagawa, Kumamoto and Okinawa.
Surprisingly, despite being a x5 year (95th), the field isn't expanding. That seems odd, but guess we'll have to go with it. Stay tuned!
Shimane is the host this year, and so qualifies 4 teams while all other prefectures send 1:
- Okayama - Okayama Ridaifuzoku
- Hiroshima - Setouchi
- Tottori - Yonago Kita
- Yamaguchi - Takagawa Gakuen
- Shimane - Kaisei, Risshoudai Shounan, Izumo Nishi, Oki
Hiroshima's taikai had 43 teams, including the prefectural stalwarts Jyosuikan and Kouryou. But both would be upstaged by the same team - the champions Setouchi. They defeated Kouryou first 5-2 in the quarterfinals, then blanked Jyosuikan 3-0 (striking out 14!) in the semifinals. Both probably behind the ace Yamaoka Taisuke (山岡 泰輔), who apparently has a twitter account. Anyways, in the final, he scattered 10 hits to Hiroshima Shinjyou en route to a 3-1 win.
What is interesting is that in those final 3 games he struck out 15, 14 and 15 batters. That's right, he struck out 15 Kouryou and 14 Jyosuikan batters! This while having a fastball that apparently can tough 140 kph.
Tottori Jyouhoku led the field of seeded teams, but couldn't get past their first game, losing to Yazu 11-5. Yazu isn't really a pushover so it's not that bad of a loss. That win helped propel the team forward, where they faced another seeded team in Yonago Kita. But the duo of Endou and Ukeshima held the Yazu squad to just 1 run, allowing their team to come back with 2 in the 6th for the 2-1 victory.
Yamaguchi is also a 2-stage spring taikai. But from there teams such as Nanyou Kougyou, Ube Shougyou and Iwakuni all failed to advance to the Final 8. Nanyou Kougyou coughed up a lead to Karyou, Ube Shougyou couldn't make a lead last to Ube, and Iwakuni lost to Yanai Gakuen 4-3 in 12 in their first game.
There were some familiar representatives including Ube Koujyou, the aforementioned Karyou, and Hayatomo.
Hayatomo would have one disastrous inning against Suo-Oshima giving up 7 runs in a 7-2 loss. Ube Koujyou would go through 2 close games - first a 5-4 win over Karyou, then using a 3-run Lucky 7 to get past the aforementioned Suo-Oshima 3-2 to reach the final. Their opponent would be Takagawa Gakuen, who had no problems with Nagato and Hikari.
Surprisingly, Takagawa Gakuen's ace Hamamoto Shou (浜本 翔) limited Ube Koujyou to just 2 hits while striking out 5 and walking 1 in a 3-0 shutout!
Shimane also had a 2-stage taikai, with 15 groups and fall champ Masuda Shouyou getting a free pass to the 2nd stage. Risshoudai Shounan and Kaisei also advanced, and both actually in workmanlike fashion got to the finals. But Kaisei's ace Oda would somehow yield just 2 hits, but walked 8 and still managed to give up just 1 run for a 6-1 win. Izumo Nishi would bid sayonara to the island school of Oki for 3rd place (though both advanced so Oki really didn't say "goodbye").
So with 8 teams and 4 from Shimane, they obviously would be broken up with the remaining prefectures drawing a spot against each of the teams:
- Kaisei (Shimane 1) vs. Okayama Ridai Fuzoku (Okayama 1)
- Oki (Shimane 4) vs. Takagawa Gakuen (Yamaguchi 1)
- Risshoudai Shounan (Shimane 2) vs. Yonago Kita (Tottori 1)
- Izumo Nishi (Shimane 3) vs. Setouchi (Hiroshima 1)
Oki actually led Takigawa Gakuen before giving up the lead in the 8th. They actually tied the game in the top of the 9th before losing it in sayonara fashion. Again. Setouchi actually led Izumo Nishi comfortably 8-3, but Izumo scored 3 in the 8th to make things interesting.
Kaisei actually blew their 8-3 lead in the 8th inning to Okayama Ridai Fuzoku, but won in the bottom of the 10th. Only Risshoudai Shounan had an easy go with a 6 inning shutout the Tottori champs.
The good times did not roll for the hometown teams though. Both were mercy ruled in 7 in the semifinals!! Setouchi defeated Risshoudai Shounan 9-2, and somehow Takagawa Gakuen scored 7 runs on 4 hits (and 6 walks) to shutout Kaisei 7-0!
In the final, Takagawa Gakuen took a 3-0 lead in the 2nd on Setouchi and managed to stay one step ahead of Setouchi's rallies to win 6-5 for their first spring title!
Chuugoku Super-Regional
Each team qualified 2 for the Super-Regional so it's reach the finals and move on.
- Kagawa - Jinsei Gakuen, Kotohira
- Tokushima - Naruto, Seikou Gakuen
- Ehime - Imabari Nishi, Saibi
- Kochi - Kochi, Kochi Shougyou
In Tokushima the format was a little different. Naruto got a free pass, and it would just be the winner of the prefectural tournament that would advance along with them to the Super-Regional. The 4 seeded teams, Seikou Gakuen, Ikeda, Tokushima Shougyou and Kawashima all advanced to the quarterfinals with relative ease though the former 2 had to survive a 1-run game in the quarterfinals (and in Ikeda's case a 12-inning affair).
For Ikeda, the enchousen matchup proved to be costly as they went into extra innings again against Seikou Gakuen. They cried uncle in the 14th, losing 3-2. Meanwhile Kawashima waited until the bottom of the 9th to tie the game at 1-1 before finally winning in 12.
With both teams having played extra inning affairs, it would undoubtedly have an effect on the pitching staffs. Yet it was Kawashima's pitching that would suffer a critical failure. Seikou Gakuin would score in the final 5 innings for a 10-3 win. But with 10 days off to rest the arms, perhaps they lost the momentum of the tournament as Naruto had an easy 8-3 win in the position round.
Ehime is a 2-stage taikai, and with Saibi participating at Senbatsu, they too would only qualify the winner (along with Saibi) for the Super-Regionals.
There were quite a few casualties in the 1st stage. Saijyou was eliminated by Imabari Nishi in their first game. Uwajima Higashi lost to Uwajima Minami in the block final.
There would be no stopping Imabari Nishi through the prefecturals, including a 4-1 over Matsuyama Seiryou in the final and an easy 6-4 win over Saibi in the position round.
And finally in Kochi, with 2 teams making it to Senbatsu, it would be a 2-stage affair. The winner of the prefectural taikai would face the winner of Kochi and Tosa (the two Senbatsu participants) for seeding.
With those teams out of the way, Kochi Shougyou and Meitoku Gijyuku had relatively little trouble advancing through the bracket. But Kochi Shougyou, despite eking out a 5-4 win over Okou, defeated Meitoku Gijyuku 7-5 to advance for seeding.
In the Senbatsu game, Tosa actually took an early 3-0 lead, but a pair of 2-run innings would give favorite Kochi the lead. Tosa wouldn't give up easy though tying the game in the top of the 9th sending it to enchousen. Alas, Kochi's experience would prevail in the 11th. So it would be Kochi and Kochi Shougyou once again. And despite playing in an extra inning game the day before, Kochi once again bests Kochi Shougyou 3-1 to take 1st in the prefecture.
Onto the Super-Regionals and almost all top seeds advanced. The only casualty oddly enough was Kochi who let a 3-0 lead slip with 4 in the 8th losing 4-3. In other games, Jinsei Gakuen survived a 9th inning rally from Seikou Gakuen to win 3-2, Kotohira was no match for Imabari Nishi, and Naruto had to scramble after giving up a pair in the bottom of the 8th to Kochi Shougyou, managed to tie the game at 2, then close it out with a 3-spot in the 10th.
Naruto and Jinsei Gakuen then had no issues in the semifinals setting up the title game.
Naruto took the early 1-0 and 3-1 lead. But with just 3 outs to go for the title, they give up 3 runs to Jinsei Gakuen who proceeded to shut the door for just their 3rd title and 1st in 15 years.
Kyushu Super-Regionals
Like Shikoku, Senbatsu participants get a free pass. Unlike Shikoku, they get a free pass to the Super-Regionals instead of the seeding game within their prefecture. For this spring Super-Regional, Fukuoka qualifies 3, Kagoshima qualifies 2, host Miyazaki qualifies 4, and all other prefectures 1.
- Fukuoka - Toukai Dai-go, Kashii, Kurume Shougyou
- Kagoshima - Shoushikan, Kanoya Chuo, Kagoshima Jyouhou
- Nagasaki - Souseikan, Sasebo Jitsugyou
- Kumamoto - Seiseikou, Buntoku
- Okinawa - Okinawa Shougaku, Hokuzan
- Saga - Saga Kougyou
- Oita - Kitsuki
- Miyazaki - Nisshou Gakuen, Miyazaki Nichidai, Houshou, Miyakonojyou Higashi
The teams from the Hokubu/Nanbu regionals were redrawn for the quarterfinals. Kurume Shougyou thought to have an easy game, but had to survive another 1-run affair against Yuusei. Toukai Dai-go and Jiyuugaoka wound up drawing each other, and the game did not disappoint. The lead changed 3 times in the span of 3 half-innings before the game would be tied up at 4-4. Toukai Dai-go scored 2 in the top of the 11th, and then held off a rally from Jiyuugaoka to win 6-5. In other games, Kashii shutout Fukushima 2-0, Seirin blanked Ikutokukan 8-0.
And with the way the bracket was drawn, once again the mainstays faced off, but it was Toukai Dai-go who dominated the game, mercy-ruling Kurume Shougyou in the minimum 5 innings! They'd face Kashii, who had no trouble with Seirin.
Interestingly, Kashii made a game out of the final, only holding Toukai Dai-go to just 2 runs in a 2-0 loss. Kurume Shougyou easily made mince meat of Seirin to lock down the last spot for the Super-Regionals.
Kanoya Chuo and Kagoshima Jyouhou both struggled a bit out of the blocks, but pretty much ran over the prefectural taikai after that. It also helped that teams like Kagoshima Jyousai and more importantly Kamimura Gakuen were eliminated in earlier stages, while Shounan lost to Kagoshima Jitsugyou (who then lost to Kanoya Chuo).
Nagasaki was pretty much scratch as 5 of the 7 seeded teams (plus one team who occupied what would have been the 8th seeded team in Oomura Kougyou) advanced to the Best 8. In the quarterfinals, Sasebo Jitsugyou had no problems with no-seed Nagasaki Nishi while sadly (for me anyways) Seihou was blanked by Kaisei 5-0. Interestingly, Nagasaki Nichidai and Hasami both advanced by the unconvincing score of 1-0.
Those games did wind up being a bellweather of sorts as both of those teams would lose in the semifinals, but in close affairs. Kaisei got by Nagasaki Nichidai 5-3, and Hasami narrowly lost to Sasebo Jitsugyou 4-3. In the final, Sasebo Jitsugyou led wire-to-wire 4-1 to advance to the Super-Regional.
Kumamoto's taikai looked a bit weird. Weird in that the "seeded teams" were not really well-known to me except for Kumamoto Kougyou and perhaps Kumamoto Kokufu and Jyouhoku. Yashiro, Chinzei, Kumamoto Kita, and Yashiro Higashi all were seeded teams as well. With so many well-known teams relegated to the ranks of the ordinary, the haru taikai was pretty much thrown into disarray.
Yet 5 of the 7 seeded teams did make it to the semifinals. Kumamoto Kougyou and Kumamoto Kokufu amongst the regulars and Chinzei, Kumamoto Kita and Yashiro Higashi out of the unknowns. But of those, only Kumamoto Kougyou and Yashiro Higashi advanced out of the quarterfinals. Kumamoto Kita was blanked by the aforementioned Yashiro Higashi, Kumamoto Kokufu tapped out in the 15th losing 4-3 to Toukaidai Seishou and Chinzei lost to Buntoku 5-1.
Yashiro Higashi's run would end surprisingly at the hands of Buntoku despite a late game rally. Kumamoto Kougyou on the other hand would successfully make a rally with 3 in the 7th to defeat Toukaidai Seishou 7-6. In the final surprisingly it was Buntoku who dominated the game defeating Kumamoto Kougyou soundly 5-2 to take the title.
Okinawa, without Okinawa Shougaku still had major teams left to duke it out for the spot in the super-regionals. Above-average teams such as Miyako and Ginowan were seeded, as well as perhaps the best known school - Kounan.
Kounan though would not make it past the quarterfinals, losing to a name we haven't really heard in a while - Yaeyama Shoukou. Miyako and Ginowan couldn't even get past their first game, so things really were in flux (with perhaps the exception of the aforementioned Yaeyama Shoukou).
Itoman tried their best, but despite flipping between their two pitchers, they lost 1-0 to Hokuzan. Mawashi and Yaeyama would be the other two teams advancing to the semifinals. The surprising bit is that Yaeyama Shoukou would actually lose to Hokuzan 4-1 in the semis. Mawashi would tie the game in the 9th and then win in 11 against Yaeyama.
In the final, Hokuzan ace Taira Kentarou (平良 拳太郎) would strike out 15 in a 2-hitter against Mawashi for the 2-1 win.
Saga prefecture seems to not have a front-runner as of the 4 seeded teams - Saga Kita, Tosu Shougyou, Kanzaki Seimei and Kashima - only Kashima advanced to the quarterfinals. And even then, they lost in their next game 6-1 to Saga Kougyou. The only other recently successful team to advance into the semifinals was Saga Shougyou who took the lead late against Saga Gakuen to advance. The remaining semifinalists were Koushien participants back in the day - Ryuukoku and Shiota Kougyou.
The semifinals were low-scoring affairs as both Saga Kougyou and Ryuukoku won by the narrow margin of 1-0 and in the final, Saga Kougyou would lead wire-to-wire rebuffing repeated rallies (including one in the bottom of the 9th) by Ryuukoku to win 5-4.
Oita's prefecturals went pretty much scratch to the semifinals, with the only exception being interestingly Jyouhou Kagaku (which translated is Computer Science!) who were mercy ruled in 7 by Kitsuki. Meihou completely swept the floor with their opponents, Youshikan did much the same (though not double digits), and Oita was the weakest of the bunch surviving 2 1-run games.
Both semifinal games would head to enchousen. While I have been unable to pull details, Oita broke a scoreless draw against Youshikan to win 1-0 in 10, and Kitsuki is making perhaps another case to make it's 2nd straight Natsu Koushien by upsetting Meihou 3-2 in 12 innings. Kitsuki would dominate the final, defeating Oita 5-0.
Finally, with 4 bids and home-field advantage at stake in Miyazaki, this would be the year the average team would have the best chance of reaching the Super-Regional.
And it showed. Each of the seeded teams got their opponent's best shot. Takanabe made it just though one round before losing to Miyakonojyou Higashi. Nobeoka Gakuen had to play Nichinan Gakuen in their first game, but would lose in the quarterfinals to Houshou.
The two that made it were Nisshou Gakuen (who had an opening game scare against Miyazaki Oomiya) and Miyazaki Nichidai who survived 2 straight 1-run games against St. Ursula and Miyakonojyou Izumigaoka.
Miyazaki Nichidai had another heart-stopper as they fell behind 3-0 to Miyakonojyou Higashi, came back to lead 6-4 only to blow the lead in the top of the 9th before finally winning in the 10th inning. Houshou would give Nisshou Gakuen all they could handle, but it would not be enough falling 3-2.
All that would be left is seeding. Houshou breezed through Miyakonojyou Higashi 6-2, while Miyazaki Nichidai and Nisshou Gakuen were involved in one heck of a final. After falling behind 1-0 in the 1st, Miyazaki Nichidai would score 5 unanswered runs to take a dominating lead. That is, until the final 3 innings. Several pitchers would be called, but none could answer as Nisshou Gakuen scored 5 unanswered runs, the final one in the bottom of the 9th for the sayonara win.
The draw for the super-regional made sure that all top seeds and the Senbatsu participants did not have to play the extra game. Two 2-seeds would also get the benefit of not playing an extra game:
- Kitsuki (Oita 1) vs. Winner of Kurume Shougyou (Fukuoka 3)-Miyakonojyou Higahi (Miyazaki 4)
- Souseikan (Nagasaki Senbatsu) vs. Hokuzan (Okayama 1)
- Kanoya Chuo (Kagoshima 1) vs. Seiseikou (Kumamoto Senbatsu)
- Toukai Dai-go (Fukuoka 1) vs. Nisshou Gakuen (Miyazaki 1)
- Kashii (Fukuoka 2) vs. Buntoku (Kumamoto 1)
- Miyazaki Nichidai (Miyazaki 2) vs. Shoushikan (Kagoshima Senbatsu)
- Saga Kougyou (Saga 1) vs. Sasebo Jitsugyou (Nagasaki 1)
- Okinawa Shougaku (Okinawa Senbatsu) vs. Winner of Kagoshima Jyouhou (Kagoshima 2)-Houshou (Miyazaki 3)
Kurume Shougyou continued to benefit for a relatively easy draw as they handle Kitsuki 7-2. They would not face Souseikan though. Instead Hokuzan's 2-run 7th inning was all they needed to advance. Seiseikou would face Toukai Dai-go (who needed runs in the 8th and 9th to pull off the victory) in the other quarterfinal in their half.
On the opposite side, Buntoku would outlast Kashii in 10 setting up a game with Miyazaki Nichidai who surprisingly had no trouble against Kagoshima's Senbatsu representative. And finally, Sasebo Jitsugyou would easily advance to face an Okinawa Shougaku squad who did not look impressive once again in a 2-0 win over Kagoshima Jyouhou.
Now, at the time, I didn't know if this was more an indictment of Sasebo Jitsugyou than Okishou being mediocre, but they had to scramble against Okinawa Shougaku to send it into extras and win in 12. But it wound up being the former as after Buntoku edged out Miyazaki Nichidai 1-0, they took care of Sasebo Jitsugyou to reach the finals.
Back to the other half and both Kurume Shougyou and Seiseikou shutout their opponents setting up what looked like a great semifinal. And it was. Kurume Shougyou took a 2-0 lead in the middle innings and held off a Seiseikou charge late to win 2-1 to reach the finals.
Surprsingly Kurume Shougyou, the 3 seed out of Fukuoka, would actually take a 4-0 lead over Buntoku early. But Buntoku would chip away at the lead pulling within 1 and then tying it in the bottom of the 9th. It would remain tied at 5 until the 13th when Seki would pull through for Kurume Shougyou with the go-ahead hit. Imamura, who started the game, closed it our for Kurume Shougyou giving them their first ever spring title.
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Well, that's it for the spring tournaments. But don't look now, natsu taikais are out for Kita and Minami Hokkaido, Kanagawa, Kumamoto and Okinawa.
Surprisingly, despite being a x5 year (95th), the field isn't expanding. That seems odd, but guess we'll have to go with it. Stay tuned!
Friday, November 9, 2012
Fall Taikai Update - Super-Regional Completion
All Super-Regionals are now complete, and there are a couple of surprises mixed in with some of the usual suspects:
Tokyo (1 bid + 1 floating with Kanto)
Nittai Ebara fired the opening salvo in the bottom of the 1st as Tomosato hit a 2-run HR to left. Back-to-back RBI hits by the battery of Kasahara and Minami no less made it a 4-1 game. And then ace Kasahara in his next AB would hit a home run of his own making it 5-1!
But after back-to-back walks by Kasahara, Motohashi-kantoku would replace him with Furukawa. Much to his dismay, Furukawa would hit cleanup batter Takami Shunsuke (深見 俊介) and then give an oshidashi walk to Koyama Shinjirou (小山 新次郎). He'd get out of the inning, but not after yielding another run to make it 5-3.
Things only got worse for Nittai Ebara as the pitching fell apart the very next inning as Yasuda would put a 5-spot on the board taking an 8-6 lead.
Nittai Ebara would mount a rally in the bottom of the 9th. PH Seki would walk, and Tanaka would hit a double to put the tying run in scoring position with just one down. Minami (now pitching) would hit a sac fly to make it a 1-run game.
That brought up Tomosato, who was 4-4 on the day. But Oogane Shintarou (大金真太郎) would finally retire him with a grounder to 2nd to end the game and give his team a chance at Senbatsu!
In the other semifinal Souka ace Uchino collapsed in the 5th inning, giving up 6 runs to Soujitsu. Those 6 runs would wind up being the final margin as they won 11-5.
So Soujitsu would be a likely candidate for the floating bid should they lose (as long as they had a good showing), while Yasuda Gakuen would in all likelihood need to win to get in.
In the 2nd inning of the final, Yasuda gets the benefit of good luck. Takami would reach 2nd on an error by Soujitsu's LF Suzuki. After a bunt and walk, Motomiya Keita (本宮 佳汰) would lay down a successful safety squeeze to give them the first run. They'd continue to press the initiative as Koyama Takuya (小山 拓哉) would try to steal 3rd. But the throw from Toshimitsu Kensaku (利光健作) would actually hit Takuya on the helmet and deflect into left, allowing him to score making it 2-0.
Toshimitsu would get a run back with a HR in the 5th, but that would be all the scoring they could muster as Oogane would shut Soujitsu down to earn Yasuda Gakuen's first ever title!
Kanto ex Tokyo (4 bids + 1 floating with Tokyo)
So when the draw came out, the 4 brackets were as follows (A & B, C & D)
The biggest upset was in block C where Kasumigaura (while not a slouch by any means) never trailed and defeated Toukaidai Sagami 5-3!
The quarterfinals went more scratch. Narashino, who barely got by Kiryuu Dai-ichi, suffered the same problems Yokohama Hayato faced, but were unable to rally at all, getting mercy ruled 12-0 in 6 innings! (awww....)
Sano Nichidai, down 5-0 to Jyousou Gakuin gets all of the runs back in the lucky 7 to send the game into enchousen. However, outside of that one inning outburst, they couldn't muster any other offense and lost 6-5 in 12. Kasumigaura tried to continue their cinderella run as it were, but after taking the 4-2 lead in the bottom of the 6th, relinquished it right back in the lucky 7 to Utusunomiya Shougyou, losing 5-4.
The games (final score-wise) were much closer, but were not competitive. Both Saitama schools advanced wire-to-wire, setting up a rematch of the prefectural final. In that final, a 4-run first gave Hanasaki Tokuharu all the cushion it needed.
This time around they did not get such a cushion, but did lead 2-0 going into the latter innings. But without the cushion, Urawa Gakuin's rally allowed them to tie the game in the 8th and send it into enchousen. One inning later, Urawa's SS Kigure Naito (木暮騎士) would hit a 2-out double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. After an intentional walk, C Nishikawa Genki (西川元気) would deliver the sayonara hit to give Urawa Gakuin their 3rd straight Kanto Fall title!!
With 4 bids, it seems apparent that the Best 4 participants will get the bids. Kasumigaura, the strongest team of the quarterfinalists will probably not get in because (a) the team they would replace would probably be Utsunomiya Shougyou who defeated them and (b) even if they wanted to make Kasumigaura the 4th team that would put 2 teams from Saitama and from Ibaraki into Senbatsu, which is highly doubtful.
And with Soujitsu losing in the finals to Yasuda Gakuen, the committee will certainly pick them as the floating bid. Had they won, the floating bid may have come back to Kanto.
As it stands, for Kasumigaura to get to Koushien, Yasuda Gakuen or Urawa Gakuin have to win the Meiji Jingu Fall Tournament (If Yasuda Gakuen wins, Soujitsu earns the Meiji Jingu bid and the floating bid shifts back to Kanto. If Urawa Gakuin wins, Kasumigaura earns the Meiji Jingu bid outright). But as you will see later, that will be difficult.
Tokai (3 bids)
And in fact, there was a possibility that neither team would make it as Tokoha Kikugawa had tied the game at 1 in the 8th. Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou though would guarantee that at least one team would make it, making a Tokoha-style finish in the bottom of the 9th to win 2-1.
Komono had done well to make it to the finals, but were boat-raced by Kengifushou falling quickly behind 6-0 and losing 9-3.
This normally would put Komono in a bad situation. As the runner-up, they are first in line to receive the 2nd bid. However, the poor showing would have given the selection committee pause. But with 3 teams advancing, they should be safe.
Kinki (6 bids)
In other games, Yamato Kouryou played Ryuukokudai Heian close, but couldn't get a run on the board losing 2-0. Osaka Shoudai Sakai lasted only 5 innings against Houtoku Gakuen losing 13-0. And finally, Riseisha was fighting for their lives against surging Kyoto Shouei down 1-0 late before tying the game in the 8th. The game would go into enchousen when reliever Sakamoto would finally fail, giving Kyoto Shouei the 3-1 win in 12!
That setup an all-Kyoto final on one side, and a powerhouse matchup on the other.
Kyoto Shouei and Ryuukokudai Heian were up first. Kyoto Shouei didn't have to face Heian in the prefecturals as Heian was paired with Fukuchiyama Seibi. Early on, the teams traded runs with Kyoto Shouei emerging with a 3-2 lead. It stayed that way until the 7th where Heian would get to Enomoto (who came in in relief) for a pair of runs to lead 4-3. However, their reliever Minami fell apart in the next half-inning. He hit back-to-back batters sending in a run, and then ace Enomoto would redeem himself, blasting a manrui home run to blow the game wide open.
Kyoto Shouei seemed to be in full control up 9-4, but Enomoto seemed to be out of sorts coming in relief. He struggled with his control as Heian came back to within 1 with a 4-run 8th! He'd somehow get in together just in time, closing the game out in the 9th to win 9-8!
In the other semi, it was a shocker in that Osaka Touin was not competitive at all against Houtoku Gakuen. In fact they were blanked 8-0 in 7 innings!
So Houtoku Gakuen and ace Inui Youhei (乾 陽平) were the final obstacle in Kyoto Shouei and Enomoto Kazuki (榎本 和輝) bid for their first ever fall title.
There were opportunities for both teams throughout the game as Inui yielded base hits almost every inning, while Enomoto's control issues persisted as he issued free passes. Yet the score was at 1-1 after regulation. Eventually it would become a matter of who would make the first mistake.
And that finally was made by Inui as he yielded 2 runs in the 13th. They still had the bottom half of the inning, and Enomoto was approaching his limit too. He would give up one run, but again found a way to shut the door, win 3-2, and claim Kyoto Shouei's first title!!
Looking at the field for the selection of the half-dozen bids, it almost winds up being as listed above by default. Kyoto Shouei is definitely in, as well as Houtoku Gakuen. While Heian is in the same prefecture as Kyoto Shouei, they didn't play each other in the prefecturals and held their own in the semifinals - so they're in. Those are the definites.
Osaka Touin was uncharacteristically blown out by Houtoku Gakuen. And their wins prior against Kousen and Tenri do not inspire confidence.
But then you look down at the quarterfinalists. Tenri was blown out by Osaka Touin. Daishoudai Sakai too was annihilated. That leaves Riseisha who played Kyoto Shouei close as well and should get in, and Yamato Kouryou who had a nondescript win over Shiga Gakuen before being shutout 2-0 to Heian.
So Osaka Touin now appears safe, as does Riseisha. The question becomes the last bid.
And that boils down to Yamato Kouryou and Tenri.
Tenri in name had the harder opponent in Osaka Touin, but Heian can easily be considered a quality opponent for Yamato Kouryou.
If the committee wants to go by name, then Tenri will go. But I think if they go by play, it may fall to Yamato Kouryou.
Chuugoku (3 bids)
It turns out that not just one, but two prefectures would be eliminated!
So, all else being equal, who has the advantage?
Well, the home team. And that happens to be Yamaguchi-ken.
In fact, all 4 entrants advanced into the second round. Iwakuni Shougyou, Iwakuni and Ube Koujyou all won via the shutout. Hayatomo was able to advance, but only after striking back for a pair of runs right after they gave up the lead in the 7th.
With that alone, Shimane was wiped off the board. Who would be the other prefecture?
In B quadrant, Tottori Jyouhoku started off well against Soutoku, but fell apart in the 2nd half of the game, losing 8-4. Yonago Kita went just 7 innings before they waved the white flag, losing 9-1.
That left 2nd place Yonago Shouin as the last representative. But against Kurashiki Shougyou, that was a tough task. They kept it close, even in fact tying the game at 1-1 in the top of the 5th. Kurashou struck back with 2 in their part of the frame and held on to the 3-1 win.
A valiant effort, but both Japan Sea prefectures were eliminated.
And what appeared to be a blockbuster matchup in the first round wound up being anything but. Jyousuikan would give up after 7 innings, losing to Kanzei 10-0!
This created a bizarre quarterfinal setup:
In the Yamaguchi matchups, Iwakuni Shougyou proved that they were the cream of the crop, as they defeated the only Best 4 team they haven't played - Ube Kougyou, in a shutout 5-0. Iwakuni showed that their 3rd place finish was a product of just being in the wrong half of the bracket. The struggling Hayatomo was unceremoniously upended in a 10-0 defeat in 5 innings.
Soutoku probably wasn't happy to see Kouryou in their crosshairs. They managed to avoid them in the prefecturals, but now when it really matters... it was all Kouryou in a 7-1 win.
That leaves the rematch of Kanzei and Kurashiki Shougyou. Kanzei wouldn't leave anything to chance, scoring 6 runs in the 3rd en route to an 8-4 win.
Another byproduct of the 1st round was that Yamaguchi pretty much guaranteed themselves a team at Senbatsu, especially since due to the 85th tournament, Chuugoku gets an extra bid.
And that would prove key this year as Iwakuni was routed 11-1 by Kanzei, and while Iwakuni Shougyou held with Kouryou, they still lost 2-0.
So we're left with Kouryou and Kanzei in the finals, two teams used to the big game. The game was a low-scoring affair early, then blown open in the span of 2 half-innings where Kouryou scored 3 in the 6th to lead 4-2, only to give up 5 in the lucky 7 to trail 7-4. They'd win 8-5 to take the title.
And on the basis of the semifinal matchups, expect Iwakuni Shougyou to receive the 3rd bid.
Shikoku (3 bids)
In the other games, Imabari Kougyou had a chance to survive as they were deadlocked 1-1 for a long time. Marugame though would bid sayonara to the Ehime representative 2-1. Kochi Shougyou was having a heck of a time in their game, but at 3-3 in the 7th Matsuyama Seiryou scored 6 to pull away. Kochishou would score 3 in the 9th, but it wasn't enough. And Ikeda finally made progress, winning 3-1.
With so many 3 seeds advancing, it would be expected that most if not all of the 1 seeds would advance. And in fact, all did... except for the one team that faced the only #2 seed left.
Nartuo and Kochi had no problems. Ikeda almost got to the semifinals and rallied late, but lost to Saibi 4-3. Tokushou was in another close game. They and Eimei were tied at 2 when Eimei scored a run in the 7th to take the lead. But in the bottom of the 9th they get to ace Akagawa scoring 2 runs for the gyakuten sayonara victory.
Tokushou would try to extend their run against Kochi, and early on the semifinals they held a 2-run lead, even after swapping 3-run innings. But Kochi would put up 2 runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings to win 11-7. In the other semifinal, Saibi was in full control, getting 2 insurance runs in the final 2 innings to lead 4-1. Saibi ace Anraku though didn't get the memo that he and his team needed to close out the game. Naruto would rally for 4 runs and win 5-4.
To the final where Kochi would try to preempt the deficit by getting ahead early. Naruto would have none of it and came back to level the score at 6 in the 6th. Kochi though would score 2 in the 8th giving Naruto no time to stage a rally.
The extra bid will probably go to Saibi, who had Naruto dead to rights, right until the bottom of the 9th.
Kyushu (4 bids)
Now all 8 top seeds would be in play, but by the end of the first round over half would go home. But not the half you may have thought.
Nagasaki Nichidai should have been dead to rights. Enchousen, tied at 1 in the 10th, Moji Gakuen scores 4 runs and should have the game wrapped up. Except they don't close it out! Nagasaki Nichidai scores 4 and extends the game further! I'd like to see what happened in that 10th inning. It wouldn't be until the 13th inning where Nagasaki Nichidai would score the sayonara run to win 6-5!
The only non-contested game was surprisingly Kurume Shougyou vs. Meihou. Kurushou scored 4 in the 1st inning and cruised to a 5-2 win.
The reprieve for the top seeds though wouldn't last. All 3 remaining would lose in the quarterfinals. Kurume Shougyou only went 7 against Souseikan losing 9-0. Kumamoto Kougyou had to face Okinawa Shougaku, and narrowly lost 3-2 in 10 innings. And Shoushikan used a 4-run 4th to defeat Nagasaki Nichidai 6-2. The fourth team to advance would indeed be Seiseikou as they shutout the last Nichidai team as Miyazaki would fall 3-0.
That put Souseikan in the crosshairs of Okinawa Shougaku, while Shoushikan and Seiseikou would square off in the other semi.
And neither game was close.
In fact, both would last just 7 innings and both due to a big inning. For Okishou, it was a 4-run 1st in an 8-1 win. For Seiseikou, it was a 5-run 6th in an 8-0 win.
So it'd be Okinawa Shougaku and Seiseikou in the finals, and both pretty much guaranteed a spot in Senbatsu. It would be just a matter now of who would represent Kyushu at the Meiji Jingu Tournament.
And boy was it a pitchers' duel. Seiseikou's Ootake Koutarou (大竹 耕太郎) versus the tandem of Ura Jyun (宇良 淳) and Higa Kenichirou (比嘉 健一朗). Okishou certainly had more opportunities throughout the game, but the game remained scoreless through 8. But in the top of the 9th, it all unraveled for Seiseikou. Okinawa Shougaku would put up 5 runs in the 9th and claim just their 2nd ever fall title!
Rounding out the projected 4 bids are in all probability the two semifinalists - Souseikan and Shoushikan. Yes, they still lost badly in the semifinals, but they had shutout their competition beforehand (though the quality of the opposition can be argued). Shoushikan defeated both Saga Kita and Nagasaki Nichidai and despite their blowout loss, should get in.
The only other team who could make a case would be Kumamoto Kougyou, who was the only team to actually play Okinawa Shougaku close. And bad news for Souseikan, they would probably be the team on the bubble if there were other considerations.
Tokyo (1 bid + 1 floating with Kanto)
- Champion - Yasuda Gakuen - Sumida-ku (First title!)
- Floating Bid - Waseda Jitsugyou
Nittai Ebara fired the opening salvo in the bottom of the 1st as Tomosato hit a 2-run HR to left. Back-to-back RBI hits by the battery of Kasahara and Minami no less made it a 4-1 game. And then ace Kasahara in his next AB would hit a home run of his own making it 5-1!
But after back-to-back walks by Kasahara, Motohashi-kantoku would replace him with Furukawa. Much to his dismay, Furukawa would hit cleanup batter Takami Shunsuke (深見 俊介) and then give an oshidashi walk to Koyama Shinjirou (小山 新次郎). He'd get out of the inning, but not after yielding another run to make it 5-3.
Things only got worse for Nittai Ebara as the pitching fell apart the very next inning as Yasuda would put a 5-spot on the board taking an 8-6 lead.
Nittai Ebara would mount a rally in the bottom of the 9th. PH Seki would walk, and Tanaka would hit a double to put the tying run in scoring position with just one down. Minami (now pitching) would hit a sac fly to make it a 1-run game.
That brought up Tomosato, who was 4-4 on the day. But Oogane Shintarou (大金真太郎) would finally retire him with a grounder to 2nd to end the game and give his team a chance at Senbatsu!
In the other semifinal Souka ace Uchino collapsed in the 5th inning, giving up 6 runs to Soujitsu. Those 6 runs would wind up being the final margin as they won 11-5.
So Soujitsu would be a likely candidate for the floating bid should they lose (as long as they had a good showing), while Yasuda Gakuen would in all likelihood need to win to get in.
In the 2nd inning of the final, Yasuda gets the benefit of good luck. Takami would reach 2nd on an error by Soujitsu's LF Suzuki. After a bunt and walk, Motomiya Keita (本宮 佳汰) would lay down a successful safety squeeze to give them the first run. They'd continue to press the initiative as Koyama Takuya (小山 拓哉) would try to steal 3rd. But the throw from Toshimitsu Kensaku (利光健作) would actually hit Takuya on the helmet and deflect into left, allowing him to score making it 2-0.
Toshimitsu would get a run back with a HR in the 5th, but that would be all the scoring they could muster as Oogane would shut Soujitsu down to earn Yasuda Gakuen's first ever title!
Kanto ex Tokyo (4 bids + 1 floating with Tokyo)
- Champion - Urawa Gakuin - Saitama-shi, Saitama (3rd consecutive title!, 4th overall)
- Runner-Up - Hanasaki Tokuharu - Kazo-shi, Saitama
- Semifinalist - Jyousou Gakuin - Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki
- Semifinalist - Utsunomiya Shougyou - Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi
So when the draw came out, the 4 brackets were as follows (A & B, C & D)
- A - Jyousou Gakuin (Ibaraki 1) vs. Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma 2)
- A - Sano Nichidai (Tochigi 1) vs. Toukaidai Koufu (Kofu 1)
- B - Narashino (Chiba 1) vs. Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma 3)
- B - Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama 1) vs. Yokohama Hayato (Kanagawa 2)
- C - Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa 1) vs. Kasumigaura (Ibaraki 2)
- C - Hikawa (Yamanashi 1) vs. Utsunomiya Shougyou (Tochigi 2)
- D - Urawa Gakuin (Saitama 2) vs. Choushi Shougyou (Chiba 2)
- D - Maebashi Ikuei (Gunma 1) - Bye
The biggest upset was in block C where Kasumigaura (while not a slouch by any means) never trailed and defeated Toukaidai Sagami 5-3!
The quarterfinals went more scratch. Narashino, who barely got by Kiryuu Dai-ichi, suffered the same problems Yokohama Hayato faced, but were unable to rally at all, getting mercy ruled 12-0 in 6 innings! (awww....)
Sano Nichidai, down 5-0 to Jyousou Gakuin gets all of the runs back in the lucky 7 to send the game into enchousen. However, outside of that one inning outburst, they couldn't muster any other offense and lost 6-5 in 12. Kasumigaura tried to continue their cinderella run as it were, but after taking the 4-2 lead in the bottom of the 6th, relinquished it right back in the lucky 7 to Utusunomiya Shougyou, losing 5-4.
The games (final score-wise) were much closer, but were not competitive. Both Saitama schools advanced wire-to-wire, setting up a rematch of the prefectural final. In that final, a 4-run first gave Hanasaki Tokuharu all the cushion it needed.
This time around they did not get such a cushion, but did lead 2-0 going into the latter innings. But without the cushion, Urawa Gakuin's rally allowed them to tie the game in the 8th and send it into enchousen. One inning later, Urawa's SS Kigure Naito (木暮騎士) would hit a 2-out double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. After an intentional walk, C Nishikawa Genki (西川元気) would deliver the sayonara hit to give Urawa Gakuin their 3rd straight Kanto Fall title!!
With 4 bids, it seems apparent that the Best 4 participants will get the bids. Kasumigaura, the strongest team of the quarterfinalists will probably not get in because (a) the team they would replace would probably be Utsunomiya Shougyou who defeated them and (b) even if they wanted to make Kasumigaura the 4th team that would put 2 teams from Saitama and from Ibaraki into Senbatsu, which is highly doubtful.
And with Soujitsu losing in the finals to Yasuda Gakuen, the committee will certainly pick them as the floating bid. Had they won, the floating bid may have come back to Kanto.
As it stands, for Kasumigaura to get to Koushien, Yasuda Gakuen or Urawa Gakuin have to win the Meiji Jingu Fall Tournament (If Yasuda Gakuen wins, Soujitsu earns the Meiji Jingu bid and the floating bid shifts back to Kanto. If Urawa Gakuin wins, Kasumigaura earns the Meiji Jingu bid outright). But as you will see later, that will be difficult.
Tokai (3 bids)
- Champion - Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou - Gifu-shi, Gifu (4th title, 1st in 51 years)
- Runner-up - Komono - Komono-machi, Mie
- 3rd Bid - Tokoha Kikugawa - Kikugawa-shi, Shizuoka
And in fact, there was a possibility that neither team would make it as Tokoha Kikugawa had tied the game at 1 in the 8th. Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou though would guarantee that at least one team would make it, making a Tokoha-style finish in the bottom of the 9th to win 2-1.
Komono had done well to make it to the finals, but were boat-raced by Kengifushou falling quickly behind 6-0 and losing 9-3.
This normally would put Komono in a bad situation. As the runner-up, they are first in line to receive the 2nd bid. However, the poor showing would have given the selection committee pause. But with 3 teams advancing, they should be safe.
Kinki (6 bids)
- Champion - Kyoto Shouei - Uji-shi, Kyoto (First title!)
- Runner-up - Houtoku Gakuen - Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo
- Semi-finalist -Ryuukokudai Heian - Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
- Semi-finalist - Osaka Touin - Daitou-shi, Osaka
- 5/6 selection - Riseisha - Toyonaka-shi, Osaka
- 5/6 selection - Yamato Kouryou - Kouryou-machi, Kita-katsuragi-gun, Nara
- Other considerations - Tenri - Tenri-shi, Nara
In other games, Yamato Kouryou played Ryuukokudai Heian close, but couldn't get a run on the board losing 2-0. Osaka Shoudai Sakai lasted only 5 innings against Houtoku Gakuen losing 13-0. And finally, Riseisha was fighting for their lives against surging Kyoto Shouei down 1-0 late before tying the game in the 8th. The game would go into enchousen when reliever Sakamoto would finally fail, giving Kyoto Shouei the 3-1 win in 12!
That setup an all-Kyoto final on one side, and a powerhouse matchup on the other.
Kyoto Shouei and Ryuukokudai Heian were up first. Kyoto Shouei didn't have to face Heian in the prefecturals as Heian was paired with Fukuchiyama Seibi. Early on, the teams traded runs with Kyoto Shouei emerging with a 3-2 lead. It stayed that way until the 7th where Heian would get to Enomoto (who came in in relief) for a pair of runs to lead 4-3. However, their reliever Minami fell apart in the next half-inning. He hit back-to-back batters sending in a run, and then ace Enomoto would redeem himself, blasting a manrui home run to blow the game wide open.
Kyoto Shouei seemed to be in full control up 9-4, but Enomoto seemed to be out of sorts coming in relief. He struggled with his control as Heian came back to within 1 with a 4-run 8th! He'd somehow get in together just in time, closing the game out in the 9th to win 9-8!
In the other semi, it was a shocker in that Osaka Touin was not competitive at all against Houtoku Gakuen. In fact they were blanked 8-0 in 7 innings!
So Houtoku Gakuen and ace Inui Youhei (乾 陽平) were the final obstacle in Kyoto Shouei and Enomoto Kazuki (榎本 和輝) bid for their first ever fall title.
There were opportunities for both teams throughout the game as Inui yielded base hits almost every inning, while Enomoto's control issues persisted as he issued free passes. Yet the score was at 1-1 after regulation. Eventually it would become a matter of who would make the first mistake.
And that finally was made by Inui as he yielded 2 runs in the 13th. They still had the bottom half of the inning, and Enomoto was approaching his limit too. He would give up one run, but again found a way to shut the door, win 3-2, and claim Kyoto Shouei's first title!!
Looking at the field for the selection of the half-dozen bids, it almost winds up being as listed above by default. Kyoto Shouei is definitely in, as well as Houtoku Gakuen. While Heian is in the same prefecture as Kyoto Shouei, they didn't play each other in the prefecturals and held their own in the semifinals - so they're in. Those are the definites.
Osaka Touin was uncharacteristically blown out by Houtoku Gakuen. And their wins prior against Kousen and Tenri do not inspire confidence.
But then you look down at the quarterfinalists. Tenri was blown out by Osaka Touin. Daishoudai Sakai too was annihilated. That leaves Riseisha who played Kyoto Shouei close as well and should get in, and Yamato Kouryou who had a nondescript win over Shiga Gakuen before being shutout 2-0 to Heian.
So Osaka Touin now appears safe, as does Riseisha. The question becomes the last bid.
And that boils down to Yamato Kouryou and Tenri.
Tenri in name had the harder opponent in Osaka Touin, but Heian can easily be considered a quality opponent for Yamato Kouryou.
If the committee wants to go by name, then Tenri will go. But I think if they go by play, it may fall to Yamato Kouryou.
Chuugoku (3 bids)
- Champion - Kanzei - Okayama-shi, Okayama (6th title, 1st in 2 years)
- Runner-up - Kouryou - Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima
- 3rd Bid - Iwakuni Shougyou - Iwakuni-shi, Yamaguchi
- A - Hamada (Shimane 2) vs. Ube Kougyou (Yamaguchi 4)
- A - Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi 1) vs. Tamashima Shougyou (Okayama 2)
- B - Soutoku (Hiroshima 1) vs. Tottori Jyouhoku (Tottori 3)
- B - Yonago Kita (Tottori 1) vs. Kouryou (Hiroshima 3)
- C - Kanzei (Okayama 1) vs. Jyosuikan (Hiroshima 2)
- C - Yonago Shouin (Tottori 2) vs. Kurashiki Shougyou (Okayama 3)
- D - Hayatomo (Yamaguchi 2) vs. Shimane Chuo (Shimane 3)
- D - Masuda Shouyou (Shimane 1) vs. Iwakuni (Yamaguchi 3)
It turns out that not just one, but two prefectures would be eliminated!
So, all else being equal, who has the advantage?
Well, the home team. And that happens to be Yamaguchi-ken.
In fact, all 4 entrants advanced into the second round. Iwakuni Shougyou, Iwakuni and Ube Koujyou all won via the shutout. Hayatomo was able to advance, but only after striking back for a pair of runs right after they gave up the lead in the 7th.
With that alone, Shimane was wiped off the board. Who would be the other prefecture?
In B quadrant, Tottori Jyouhoku started off well against Soutoku, but fell apart in the 2nd half of the game, losing 8-4. Yonago Kita went just 7 innings before they waved the white flag, losing 9-1.
That left 2nd place Yonago Shouin as the last representative. But against Kurashiki Shougyou, that was a tough task. They kept it close, even in fact tying the game at 1-1 in the top of the 5th. Kurashou struck back with 2 in their part of the frame and held on to the 3-1 win.
A valiant effort, but both Japan Sea prefectures were eliminated.
And what appeared to be a blockbuster matchup in the first round wound up being anything but. Jyousuikan would give up after 7 innings, losing to Kanzei 10-0!
This created a bizarre quarterfinal setup:
- A - Ube Kougyou (Yamaguchi 4) vs. Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi 1)
- B - Soutoku (Hiroshima 1) vs. Kouryou (Hiroshima 3)
- C - Kanzei (Okayama 1) Kurashiki Shougyou (Okayama 3)
- D - Hayatomo (Yamaguchi 2) vs. Iwakuni (Yamaguchi 3)
In the Yamaguchi matchups, Iwakuni Shougyou proved that they were the cream of the crop, as they defeated the only Best 4 team they haven't played - Ube Kougyou, in a shutout 5-0. Iwakuni showed that their 3rd place finish was a product of just being in the wrong half of the bracket. The struggling Hayatomo was unceremoniously upended in a 10-0 defeat in 5 innings.
Soutoku probably wasn't happy to see Kouryou in their crosshairs. They managed to avoid them in the prefecturals, but now when it really matters... it was all Kouryou in a 7-1 win.
That leaves the rematch of Kanzei and Kurashiki Shougyou. Kanzei wouldn't leave anything to chance, scoring 6 runs in the 3rd en route to an 8-4 win.
Another byproduct of the 1st round was that Yamaguchi pretty much guaranteed themselves a team at Senbatsu, especially since due to the 85th tournament, Chuugoku gets an extra bid.
And that would prove key this year as Iwakuni was routed 11-1 by Kanzei, and while Iwakuni Shougyou held with Kouryou, they still lost 2-0.
So we're left with Kouryou and Kanzei in the finals, two teams used to the big game. The game was a low-scoring affair early, then blown open in the span of 2 half-innings where Kouryou scored 3 in the 6th to lead 4-2, only to give up 5 in the lucky 7 to trail 7-4. They'd win 8-5 to take the title.
And on the basis of the semifinal matchups, expect Iwakuni Shougyou to receive the 3rd bid.
Shikoku (3 bids)
- Champion - Kochi - Kochi-shi, Kochi (6th title, 1st in 6 years)
- Runner-up - Naruto - Naruto-shi, Tokushima
- 3rd Bid - Saibi - Matsuyama-shi, Ehime
- Kochi (Kochi 1) vs. Imabari Kougyou (Ehime 2)-Marugame (Kagawa 3) winner
- Eimei (Kagawa 1) vs. Tokushima Shougyou (Tokushima 2)-Tosa (Kochi 3) winner
- Naruto (Tokushima 1) vs. Kochi Shougyou (Kochi 2)-Matsuyama Seiryou (Ehime 3) winner
- Saibi (Ehime 1) vs. Takamatsu Shougyou (Kagawa 2)-Ikeda (Tokushima 3) winner
In the other games, Imabari Kougyou had a chance to survive as they were deadlocked 1-1 for a long time. Marugame though would bid sayonara to the Ehime representative 2-1. Kochi Shougyou was having a heck of a time in their game, but at 3-3 in the 7th Matsuyama Seiryou scored 6 to pull away. Kochishou would score 3 in the 9th, but it wasn't enough. And Ikeda finally made progress, winning 3-1.
With so many 3 seeds advancing, it would be expected that most if not all of the 1 seeds would advance. And in fact, all did... except for the one team that faced the only #2 seed left.
Nartuo and Kochi had no problems. Ikeda almost got to the semifinals and rallied late, but lost to Saibi 4-3. Tokushou was in another close game. They and Eimei were tied at 2 when Eimei scored a run in the 7th to take the lead. But in the bottom of the 9th they get to ace Akagawa scoring 2 runs for the gyakuten sayonara victory.
Tokushou would try to extend their run against Kochi, and early on the semifinals they held a 2-run lead, even after swapping 3-run innings. But Kochi would put up 2 runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings to win 11-7. In the other semifinal, Saibi was in full control, getting 2 insurance runs in the final 2 innings to lead 4-1. Saibi ace Anraku though didn't get the memo that he and his team needed to close out the game. Naruto would rally for 4 runs and win 5-4.
To the final where Kochi would try to preempt the deficit by getting ahead early. Naruto would have none of it and came back to level the score at 6 in the 6th. Kochi though would score 2 in the 8th giving Naruto no time to stage a rally.
The extra bid will probably go to Saibi, who had Naruto dead to rights, right until the bottom of the 9th.
Kyushu (4 bids)
- Champion - Okinawa Shougaku - Naha-shi, Okinawa (2nd title, 1st in 15 years)
- Runner-up - Seiseikou - Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto
- 3rd Bid - Shoushikan - Shibushi-shi, Kagoshima
- 4th Bid - Souseikan - Isahaya-shi, Nagasaki
- Other Consideration - Kumamoto Kougyou, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto
Now all 8 top seeds would be in play, but by the end of the first round over half would go home. But not the half you may have thought.
- Kagoshima Jyouhou probably lacked experience and became Souseikan's 2nd shutout, losing by the slim margin of 1-0. (who by the way is looking to get an invitation this year after being snubbed).
- Miyazaki's Nisshou Gakuen can't be faulted for losing their game, they had to play Okinawa Shougaku. Down 4-0, they rallied late but still lost 4-2.
- Saga Kita reached the Super-Regionals again, but Shoushikan picked up the flag for Kagoshima and used a 5-run 5th to advance 7-3.
- Seiseikou wanted to prove that their appearance last year wasn't just a fluke. To that end they struck early and pulled ahead late, defeating Oita's Youshikan 6-2.
- And Miyazaki Nichidai would pull the upset on Okinawa's Ginoza, shutting them out 5-0!
Nagasaki Nichidai should have been dead to rights. Enchousen, tied at 1 in the 10th, Moji Gakuen scores 4 runs and should have the game wrapped up. Except they don't close it out! Nagasaki Nichidai scores 4 and extends the game further! I'd like to see what happened in that 10th inning. It wouldn't be until the 13th inning where Nagasaki Nichidai would score the sayonara run to win 6-5!
The only non-contested game was surprisingly Kurume Shougyou vs. Meihou. Kurushou scored 4 in the 1st inning and cruised to a 5-2 win.
The reprieve for the top seeds though wouldn't last. All 3 remaining would lose in the quarterfinals. Kurume Shougyou only went 7 against Souseikan losing 9-0. Kumamoto Kougyou had to face Okinawa Shougaku, and narrowly lost 3-2 in 10 innings. And Shoushikan used a 4-run 4th to defeat Nagasaki Nichidai 6-2. The fourth team to advance would indeed be Seiseikou as they shutout the last Nichidai team as Miyazaki would fall 3-0.
That put Souseikan in the crosshairs of Okinawa Shougaku, while Shoushikan and Seiseikou would square off in the other semi.
And neither game was close.
In fact, both would last just 7 innings and both due to a big inning. For Okishou, it was a 4-run 1st in an 8-1 win. For Seiseikou, it was a 5-run 6th in an 8-0 win.
So it'd be Okinawa Shougaku and Seiseikou in the finals, and both pretty much guaranteed a spot in Senbatsu. It would be just a matter now of who would represent Kyushu at the Meiji Jingu Tournament.
And boy was it a pitchers' duel. Seiseikou's Ootake Koutarou (大竹 耕太郎) versus the tandem of Ura Jyun (宇良 淳) and Higa Kenichirou (比嘉 健一朗). Okishou certainly had more opportunities throughout the game, but the game remained scoreless through 8. But in the top of the 9th, it all unraveled for Seiseikou. Okinawa Shougaku would put up 5 runs in the 9th and claim just their 2nd ever fall title!
Rounding out the projected 4 bids are in all probability the two semifinalists - Souseikan and Shoushikan. Yes, they still lost badly in the semifinals, but they had shutout their competition beforehand (though the quality of the opposition can be argued). Shoushikan defeated both Saga Kita and Nagasaki Nichidai and despite their blowout loss, should get in.
The only other team who could make a case would be Kumamoto Kougyou, who was the only team to actually play Okinawa Shougaku close. And bad news for Souseikan, they would probably be the team on the bubble if there were other considerations.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Fall Tournament Recap and possible invitees (Chuugoku & Shikoku)
In the interests of getting my projections out before the invitations are posted I am including them here before they are announced. (The reviews are finally up.)
Hiroshima
Hiroshima you wouldn't think would have the history of a rural prefecture such as say Nara, but with a couple of rare few exceptions it's been dominated by two schools - Jyosuikan and Kouryou, whileother schools like Onomichi and last year's senbatsu representative Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutsu look up through the ceiling.
Not a surprise then that all 4 made it out of small pool play into the prefecturals. It also wasn't a surprise when HSG lost in the 3rd round to Hiroshima Kougyou.
It was a surprise though when Kouryou also lost in the 3rd round to 2000 Natsu representative Setouchi 8-5.
With Jyosuikan's main opponent eliminated, Jyosuikan looked to be the front-runner. And while they struggled against Hiroshima Shinjyou 8-6 in the quarterfinals, they blew out Hiroshima Kanon 19-1!
On the other side, Onomichi took advantage of the Kouryou upset. They made it to the finals with a defeat of Hiroshima Shougyou 10-5. Hiroshou is interesting in that they have a pitcher by the name of Insencio Wilson. I can't find a whole lot about him though
Doesn't matter though as Hiroshima Shougyou and Hiroshima Kanon would advance to the super-regionals. For the record though, Wilson gives Hiroshou the 5-3 win in the consolation game.
As for Onomichi and Jyosuikan, the title would once again escape Onomichi as ace Okita would give up 4 in the 3rd which would be more than enough.
Tottori
Tottori has been in a bit of a drought in recent years, having only 1 win in the last 15 years in the Natsu Koushien tournament, and one senbatsu appearance in the last 25!
And in more recent years, the head of the table has been passed around annually it seems.
I suppose if you look at the last couple of winners, you'd be looking at Tottori Shougyou, Yasu (who had that lone win), and last year's fall winner Tottori Ikuei.
The first two were in one quadrant while Tottori Ikuei was on the other quadrant in their half. Sure enough, the two faced off in the quarterfinals, and Yasu advanced with an 8-3 win. Next up would be Tottori Ikuei, and they came up with 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th for the 2-1 comeback win! That would force Yasu into a loser out game.
Meanwhile, Tottori Jyouhoku (2009 Natsu representative) had no trouble at all, yielding all 3 of their runs in the run-up to 1st round opponent Yonago Shouin. Yonago Tousen would have to fight for their spot in the super-regionals after losing 5-0 in the semis.
Yet against Tottori Ikuei, they stumbled. After scoring the first run, Tottori Ikuei would score 2 in the bottom of the 1st and 2 more in the 4th. Tottori would take their 2nd consecutive title (and 2nd overall!) with a 5-1 win!
Yasu would be the prefecture's 3rd representative with an 8-3 win against Yonago Tousen.
Okayama
Kanzei's run this past summer shocked me, not sure it shocked others. Though they didn't win, I hoped it would be a re-emergence of the school in the prefecture.
And though they advanced out of pool play, they weren't as imposing as before. Worse yet, they drew Kurashiki Shougyou, the other recent Natsu Koushien representative in the very first round.
Unlike Kanzei's games at Koushien, this was a high scoring affair, one that they would lose 11-7. With their main rival gone, Kurashiki Shougyou became the overwhelming favorite to win the prefecture. Indeed they easily won their next 2 games to reach the finals.
On the other half, the games were much more tempered. Konkou Gakuen reaches the semis with just a 2-1 and 1-0 win. Meanwhile, Tamano Kounan defeats 2007 representative Okayama Ridai Fuzoku 5-2 and Koujyoukan 2-1.
After trading a run in the 1st, a 3-spot for Tamano Kounan would be the winning margin as they advanced to the finals with a 4-1 win.
With such lackluster performances, Kurashiki Shougyou seemed poised to take the title.
Except no one gave Tamano Kounan the memo. They broke out to an 8-0 lead and never looked back, taking their 3rd ever fall title (1st in 8 years)! Joining the pair would be Okayama Kyousei who sent Konkou Gakuen home 9-6.
Shimane
With twin giants Shirane and Mori graduating from Kaisei, it would leave a void in the prefecture. Before Kaisei, it was famed Risshoudai Shounan in 2009, and in the spring Oki back in 2003. Indeed, Kaisei would lose their very first game 8-6 to Daitou.
Well, some of the better teams in the past included Iwamichisuikan, Taisha and last fall's winner Matsue Shougyou. All 3 (as well as Risshoudai Shounan) advanced out of regional play, though Matsue Shougyou faced fellow Best 4 from last year Izumo and won 6-5.
In the 2nd stage, Risshoudai Shounan was next to fall, losing to Mitoya in the first round 12-11. They in turn were blasted by Iwamichisuikan 10-3. Taisha barely got away against Izumo Nishi 7-6 and advanced to the best 4 with a win over Oota.
Matsue Shougyou would not be joining them as they lost 7-0 to Yasugi in the first round as well. Instead, Matsue Minami and Hamada would be joining them in the semifinals.
The semifinal draw had the two favorites facing each other, meaning that in all likelihood the winner of the Hamada-Matsue Minami game would be the one advancing.
In that crucial semifinal, Matsue Minami took a 3-0 lead early. However, they would not be able to hold it. Just 6 outs away from guaranteeing themselves a bid, they give up 5 unanswered runs. They managed to scrounge up a run in the 9th, but it would not be enough - essentially sealing their fate.
Taisha would finally have a chance at a title as they ran away with a 5-1 win over Iwamichisuikan. And they would finally get their first title in 20 years, shutting out Hamada 5-0 for their 6th fall title. Iwamichisuikan took the 3rd bid with a 10-2 win over Matsue Minami.
Yamaguchi
Surprisingly, despite sharing the same super-regional with prefectures such as Hiroshima and Okayama, Yamaguchi sent 9 representatives to senbatsu in the aughties. Not a bad track record.
The 2010's though have not proven to be as kind, not yet anyways.
But despite the good track records in the fall super-regionals, the prefecture really hasn't had any school stand out. Perhaps Nanyou Kougyou or Shimonoseki Shougyou, but it's hard to really say.
In pool play, Nanyou Kougyou did advance, though not without some tough games against Takagawa Gakuen and Iwakuni. Shimonoseki Shougyou did not fare as well losing 5-3 in the regional final to Shimonoseki Chuo Kougyou.
Without a clear picture of the prefecture, it was up for grabs. On one side, it was Hayatomo that clinched one bid shutting out Yamaguchi Koujyou 5-0. The other guaranteed bid did not go to Nanyou Kougyou, but to Iwakuni Kougyou instead as they scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th for a gyakuten 4-3 win!
So we had two teams that may not have been expecting a title playing for one. And in the early going, it was a close game, though Hayatomo built a 2-0 lead. Iwakuni Kougyou scored 2 in the 5th to tie the game.
Sadly, after that, they would fall apart as Hayatomo scored 8 unanswered runs to take their 1st title in 45 years (and 3rd overall) with a 10-3 win!
Nanyou Kougyou had no trouble securing the final bid with a 7-1 win over Yamaguchi Koujyou.
Super-Regionals
Looking at the field as a whole, it seemed rather... lackluster. Sure, you had teams such as Jyosuikan, Kurashiki Shougyou and perhaps Nanyou Kougyou. But behind those teams, it felt like there was a severe dropoff.
Worse yet, Kurashiki Shouyou and Jyosuikan drew each other in the first round! It'd be clear the winner of that game had a route to at least the semifinals. The only other teams perhaps standing in their way would be either the aforementioned Nanyou Kougyou or perhaps Yasu.
On the other side, you might as well roll dice. There was no clear favorite. Maybe you could say Taisha, maybe Onomichi could surprise, but really, you could pull names out of a hat and be just as accurate.
So first we go back to the key matchup - Kurashiki Shougyou-Jyosuikan. The game swung early as a 3-0 lead for Kurashiki Shougyou evaporated in the 3rd. Trailing 4-3 in the 9th, they score 4 for a 7-5 gyakuten win. Coupled with a 4-1 win over Hamada, and they had their Best 4 appearance.
But it wouldn't be against Nanyou Kougyou. In fact, it would be against unknown Hayatomo! They not only mercy ruled Yasu 7-0, but then defeated Nanyou Kougyou 3-1!
One bad inning though would derail Hayatomo's run. Perhaps facing one of the more important games of their school's history, ace Aidzu would give up 5 runs in the 1st inning. They would fight, but never recover, falling 6-3.
On the other side, teams started shaking themselves out. Tottori Jyouhoku and Taisha advanced with easy wins, Onomichi shutout Iwamichisuikan, and Iwakuni Kougyou outlasted Okayama Kyousei. Then in the quarters, Onomichi would be unceremoniously removed with a 9-1 loss to Taisha, while Tottori Jyouhoku just edged out Iwakuni Kougyou 2-1.
Perhaps this would be the time that Taisha, a team who has waited to break through would finally do so. That would not the be the case though. Tottori Jyouhoku would mercy rule them in the semifinals 7-0.
That put two eastern teams in the region in the finals. A regular in Kurashiki Shougyou, and a Tottori Jyouhoku team that made their one and only appearance 3 years ago.
Kurashiki Shougyou's ace Nishi though would give up a 4-spot in the 2nd, and they suddenly were in trouble. In fact, Tottori Jyouhoku's ace Nishisaka would only give up 1 run in a CG win giving his team their first ever fall title, and their first ever senbatsu apperance!
Automatic Bid - Tottori Jyouhoku (Tottori) - 1st appearance
Projected Bid - Kurashiki Shougyou (Okayama) - 3rd appearance, 1st in 22 years
Kagawa
Kagawa has seen the good times pass it by it seems. Despite having a winning record in both Haru and Natsu Koushien tournaments, the majority of that happened decades ago. Recently, they have struggled to advance out of the 1st round. Eimei has made 2 consecutive runs at it in the summer, but it's possible their time is now up.
Meanwhile, teams such as Takamatsu Shougyou, Akiyama's former team Sangawa, and Kanonji Chuo look to restore respectability to the prefecture.
But perhaps showing that there still is a long way to go, almost all those teams struggled in the tournament. Takamatsu Shougyou's games to the semis was won by no greater than 3 runs. Kanonji Chuo had two close games before finally getting an easy win against Takamatsu Sakurai.
Sangawa and Eimei had a bit of an easier time... that is until they faced each other in the quarterfinals. Sangawa had the better of the matchup, but just, in a 6-5 win. Rounding out the best 4 was Sanbonmatsu who had survived some close games.
Kanonji Chuo almost seemed to exercise their demons against Takamatsu Shougyou leading 3-1 in the 9th. However, Takashou would break their hearts yet again, scoring 4 in the 9th for the 5-3 win. Sanbonmatsu's run would end at Sangawa's hands as they lost 5-1.
In the finals, Takashou's ace Tanigawa would give up just 2 hits (though he walked 9), in a 2-0 shutout of Sangawa giving his team their 25th fall title (last was in 2008). Kanonji Chuo would take the last spot with a 7-0 win over Sanbonmatsu.
Tokushima
Tokushima also has had a winning record at Koushien. Of late, the 2 teams who have had the most success are Tokushima Shougyou and Naruto Kougyou. Famed Ikeda last had success in the early 90's but has faded out of the picture in recent years.
Tokushima Shougyou bowed out in the 2nd round to Kawashima. Ikeda and Naruto Kougyou were in the same quadrant and wound up facing each other in the quarterfinals. Ikeda's struggles continued as they were routed 9-1.
Joining those two in the best 4 would be Tokushima Kita - who needed 2 1-run victories, and Naruto - who outscored their opponents 40-8. However, they didn't really face anyone of note, so it's possible that offense is just a mirage.
They'd have to prove that against Naruto Kougyou though. As for Kawashima and Tokushima Kita, it appeared that they'd have to win to get in.
The game would be one to remember. Kawashima's ace Satou would throw a no-hitter against Tokushima Kita. Irregardless of what happens after, that's a moment they're going to remember. Better yet, it would give them their 2nd ever super-regional appearance (their 1st was just 2 years ago).
Their opponent in the final would indeed be Naruto. Scoring 4 in the 3rd, they'd never look back. Naruto Kougyou would fight back against starter Goutouda, but fall short 7-5.
Riding the wave of the no-hitter, Satou would continue his assault on the Naruto batters, throwing 7 more shutout innings. But the tank would finally run empty, surrendering 3 in the 8th. Meanwhile, ace Kobayashi would quiet the Kawashima bats limiting them to just 1 run. Naruto would win their 11th title, but their 1st in 18 years. Tokushima Kita couldn't recover from the no-hitter, losing 3-1.
Ehime
Ehime continues the trend of winning prefectures. They enjoyed success in the early aughites, but in the last several have receded a bit. Teams such as Saibi, Kawanoe and Matsuyama Shougyou dominated the times. But perhaps it's Imabari Nishi who has dominated the scene recently, especially in the fall tournaments, that would continue to reign.
Exiting out of pool play, it would be Imabari Nishi, along with Saibi, 2010 Natsu representative Uwajima Higashi, and Komatsu who would get favorable draws.
And yet, they didn't have an easy time. In fact, Saibi would fall before reaching the semifinals, losing 5-3 to Kawanoishi. For the remaining teams, only Uwajima Higashi had a margin of victory over 3.
The party crashers also had their sights on Imabari Nishi in the semis. Scoring 3 against starter Ishigaki, it looked perhaps that they might have a chance. But Imabari would equalize in the 5th, and score the go-ahead run on ace Yano in the 8th inning. Kawanoishi would have to qualify in the 3rd place game after the 4-3 loss.
Komatsu and Uwajima Higashi would have their own struggle. Tied at 1 going into the 9th, Komatsu would score the go-ahead run. But Uwajima Higashi had their half, and managed to score one of their own, sending it to enchousen. It would only last 2 innings though, when Komatsu would emphatically stamp their ticket to the finals with 4 runs.
In the finals, Imabari Nishi would fall behind yet again as Komatsu would score 5 unanswered runs. This time around though, ace Nakano would not give them the opportunity to rally back as he would give up 2 runs giving his team their first ever fall title and first ever super-regional apperance!
And as for Kawanoishi, their party crashing would be over as they lost 10-3 to Uwajima Higashi in the 3rd place game.
Kochi
No one beats Kochi though in terms of success. They have a 0.615 winning percentage at Koushien. Furthermore, since 1993 they have failed to send a representative in senbatsu just 3 times.
Most of the time, the representative has been either Kochi, Kochi Shougyou, or Meitoku Gijyuku. Break though those three, and you've achieved something.
And so we start the Kochi prefecturals. The aforementioned trio, along with Tosa, were the seeded teams. Tosa represented Kochi back in the 1993 senbatsu, though they lost to Tohoku.
So it's no surprise that all 4 teams (yes, even Tosa) made the Best 4. Kochi though, almost got upended in the first round with a 6-5 win over Ootemae. Even with that, the big 3 gave up 10 runs in their 9 combined games. Tosa gave up 7 in their 3.
In the semis, Kochi wound up throwing 3 pitchers at Meitoku Gijyuku to no avail. They'd fall 4-1.
Tosa would have to win their game against Kochi Shougyou. Losing here means having to win the 3rd place game. But they would have no such luck. Kochishou would beat them 7-1.
That would seal Tosa's fate. Having to face Kochi in the 3rd place game, they folded 9-0 and would have to wait until next summer for another shot.
Kochi Shougyou would then have to face Meitoku Gijyuku for the title and the 1st round bye. However, Meitoku Gijyuku takes their seat again at the head of the prefecture with their own 7-1 win. Despite this being their 6th straight super-regional appearance, this was their first title in 4 years (and 15th overall).
Super-Regionals
Each of the winners (Meitoku Gijyuku, Komatsu, Naruto, and Tokushima Shougyou) would earn a bye, while the other teams slugged it out. Once under way, only Naruto had an easy go of it. Takamatsu Shougyou had to face Naruto Kougyou and won 1-0. Meitoku Gijyuku survived 4-3 over Uwajima Higashi. Komatsu? Sadly, their run ended against Kochi 6-0.
Kochi would continue their run, exacting revenge on ace Ogata, scoring 3 in the 9th for a 7-4 win and a probable bid to senbatsu. Naruto would join them as they continued their rampage with a 7-1over Tokushima Shougyou.
The question then would be who would get the automatic bid. In all likelihood, Kochi's name will give them a bid, and Naruto's high powered offense would be something to see at Koushien. But it never hurts to guarantee that phone call.
Once again, Naruto would come out firing and getting a 3-1 lead. And though Kitashiro would tie the game in the 4th, Naruto took the lead back 4-3 in the 5th. Kochi would just not go away, tying the game in the 9th. And just when you'd think Naruto would fold, they didn't as Hinoshita would give his team their first super-regional title in 42 years with a bases loaded hit to right.
Automatic Bid - Naruto (Tokushima) - 7th appearance, 1st in 32 years
Projected Bid - Kochi (Kochi) - 16th appearance, 1st in 2 years
Chuugoku Super-Regionals (2 bids + 1 floating bid w/Shikoku)
Chuugoku with 5 prefectures award an extra bid to the super-regionals to the host prefecure. This year, that is Hiroshima. So all Best 4 teams will advance perhaps releasing a bit of the pressure. Let's start there:Hiroshima
Hiroshima you wouldn't think would have the history of a rural prefecture such as say Nara, but with a couple of rare few exceptions it's been dominated by two schools - Jyosuikan and Kouryou, whileother schools like Onomichi and last year's senbatsu representative Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutsu look up through the ceiling.
Not a surprise then that all 4 made it out of small pool play into the prefecturals. It also wasn't a surprise when HSG lost in the 3rd round to Hiroshima Kougyou.
It was a surprise though when Kouryou also lost in the 3rd round to 2000 Natsu representative Setouchi 8-5.
With Jyosuikan's main opponent eliminated, Jyosuikan looked to be the front-runner. And while they struggled against Hiroshima Shinjyou 8-6 in the quarterfinals, they blew out Hiroshima Kanon 19-1!
On the other side, Onomichi took advantage of the Kouryou upset. They made it to the finals with a defeat of Hiroshima Shougyou 10-5. Hiroshou is interesting in that they have a pitcher by the name of Insencio Wilson. I can't find a whole lot about him though
Doesn't matter though as Hiroshima Shougyou and Hiroshima Kanon would advance to the super-regionals. For the record though, Wilson gives Hiroshou the 5-3 win in the consolation game.
As for Onomichi and Jyosuikan, the title would once again escape Onomichi as ace Okita would give up 4 in the 3rd which would be more than enough.
Tottori
Tottori has been in a bit of a drought in recent years, having only 1 win in the last 15 years in the Natsu Koushien tournament, and one senbatsu appearance in the last 25!
And in more recent years, the head of the table has been passed around annually it seems.
I suppose if you look at the last couple of winners, you'd be looking at Tottori Shougyou, Yasu (who had that lone win), and last year's fall winner Tottori Ikuei.
The first two were in one quadrant while Tottori Ikuei was on the other quadrant in their half. Sure enough, the two faced off in the quarterfinals, and Yasu advanced with an 8-3 win. Next up would be Tottori Ikuei, and they came up with 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th for the 2-1 comeback win! That would force Yasu into a loser out game.
Meanwhile, Tottori Jyouhoku (2009 Natsu representative) had no trouble at all, yielding all 3 of their runs in the run-up to 1st round opponent Yonago Shouin. Yonago Tousen would have to fight for their spot in the super-regionals after losing 5-0 in the semis.
Yet against Tottori Ikuei, they stumbled. After scoring the first run, Tottori Ikuei would score 2 in the bottom of the 1st and 2 more in the 4th. Tottori would take their 2nd consecutive title (and 2nd overall!) with a 5-1 win!
Yasu would be the prefecture's 3rd representative with an 8-3 win against Yonago Tousen.
Okayama
Kanzei's run this past summer shocked me, not sure it shocked others. Though they didn't win, I hoped it would be a re-emergence of the school in the prefecture.
And though they advanced out of pool play, they weren't as imposing as before. Worse yet, they drew Kurashiki Shougyou, the other recent Natsu Koushien representative in the very first round.
Unlike Kanzei's games at Koushien, this was a high scoring affair, one that they would lose 11-7. With their main rival gone, Kurashiki Shougyou became the overwhelming favorite to win the prefecture. Indeed they easily won their next 2 games to reach the finals.
On the other half, the games were much more tempered. Konkou Gakuen reaches the semis with just a 2-1 and 1-0 win. Meanwhile, Tamano Kounan defeats 2007 representative Okayama Ridai Fuzoku 5-2 and Koujyoukan 2-1.
After trading a run in the 1st, a 3-spot for Tamano Kounan would be the winning margin as they advanced to the finals with a 4-1 win.
With such lackluster performances, Kurashiki Shougyou seemed poised to take the title.
Except no one gave Tamano Kounan the memo. They broke out to an 8-0 lead and never looked back, taking their 3rd ever fall title (1st in 8 years)! Joining the pair would be Okayama Kyousei who sent Konkou Gakuen home 9-6.
Shimane
With twin giants Shirane and Mori graduating from Kaisei, it would leave a void in the prefecture. Before Kaisei, it was famed Risshoudai Shounan in 2009, and in the spring Oki back in 2003. Indeed, Kaisei would lose their very first game 8-6 to Daitou.
Well, some of the better teams in the past included Iwamichisuikan, Taisha and last fall's winner Matsue Shougyou. All 3 (as well as Risshoudai Shounan) advanced out of regional play, though Matsue Shougyou faced fellow Best 4 from last year Izumo and won 6-5.
In the 2nd stage, Risshoudai Shounan was next to fall, losing to Mitoya in the first round 12-11. They in turn were blasted by Iwamichisuikan 10-3. Taisha barely got away against Izumo Nishi 7-6 and advanced to the best 4 with a win over Oota.
Matsue Shougyou would not be joining them as they lost 7-0 to Yasugi in the first round as well. Instead, Matsue Minami and Hamada would be joining them in the semifinals.
The semifinal draw had the two favorites facing each other, meaning that in all likelihood the winner of the Hamada-Matsue Minami game would be the one advancing.
In that crucial semifinal, Matsue Minami took a 3-0 lead early. However, they would not be able to hold it. Just 6 outs away from guaranteeing themselves a bid, they give up 5 unanswered runs. They managed to scrounge up a run in the 9th, but it would not be enough - essentially sealing their fate.
Taisha would finally have a chance at a title as they ran away with a 5-1 win over Iwamichisuikan. And they would finally get their first title in 20 years, shutting out Hamada 5-0 for their 6th fall title. Iwamichisuikan took the 3rd bid with a 10-2 win over Matsue Minami.
Yamaguchi
Surprisingly, despite sharing the same super-regional with prefectures such as Hiroshima and Okayama, Yamaguchi sent 9 representatives to senbatsu in the aughties. Not a bad track record.
The 2010's though have not proven to be as kind, not yet anyways.
But despite the good track records in the fall super-regionals, the prefecture really hasn't had any school stand out. Perhaps Nanyou Kougyou or Shimonoseki Shougyou, but it's hard to really say.
In pool play, Nanyou Kougyou did advance, though not without some tough games against Takagawa Gakuen and Iwakuni. Shimonoseki Shougyou did not fare as well losing 5-3 in the regional final to Shimonoseki Chuo Kougyou.
Without a clear picture of the prefecture, it was up for grabs. On one side, it was Hayatomo that clinched one bid shutting out Yamaguchi Koujyou 5-0. The other guaranteed bid did not go to Nanyou Kougyou, but to Iwakuni Kougyou instead as they scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th for a gyakuten 4-3 win!
So we had two teams that may not have been expecting a title playing for one. And in the early going, it was a close game, though Hayatomo built a 2-0 lead. Iwakuni Kougyou scored 2 in the 5th to tie the game.
Sadly, after that, they would fall apart as Hayatomo scored 8 unanswered runs to take their 1st title in 45 years (and 3rd overall) with a 10-3 win!
Nanyou Kougyou had no trouble securing the final bid with a 7-1 win over Yamaguchi Koujyou.
Super-Regionals
Looking at the field as a whole, it seemed rather... lackluster. Sure, you had teams such as Jyosuikan, Kurashiki Shougyou and perhaps Nanyou Kougyou. But behind those teams, it felt like there was a severe dropoff.
Worse yet, Kurashiki Shouyou and Jyosuikan drew each other in the first round! It'd be clear the winner of that game had a route to at least the semifinals. The only other teams perhaps standing in their way would be either the aforementioned Nanyou Kougyou or perhaps Yasu.
On the other side, you might as well roll dice. There was no clear favorite. Maybe you could say Taisha, maybe Onomichi could surprise, but really, you could pull names out of a hat and be just as accurate.
So first we go back to the key matchup - Kurashiki Shougyou-Jyosuikan. The game swung early as a 3-0 lead for Kurashiki Shougyou evaporated in the 3rd. Trailing 4-3 in the 9th, they score 4 for a 7-5 gyakuten win. Coupled with a 4-1 win over Hamada, and they had their Best 4 appearance.
But it wouldn't be against Nanyou Kougyou. In fact, it would be against unknown Hayatomo! They not only mercy ruled Yasu 7-0, but then defeated Nanyou Kougyou 3-1!
One bad inning though would derail Hayatomo's run. Perhaps facing one of the more important games of their school's history, ace Aidzu would give up 5 runs in the 1st inning. They would fight, but never recover, falling 6-3.
On the other side, teams started shaking themselves out. Tottori Jyouhoku and Taisha advanced with easy wins, Onomichi shutout Iwamichisuikan, and Iwakuni Kougyou outlasted Okayama Kyousei. Then in the quarters, Onomichi would be unceremoniously removed with a 9-1 loss to Taisha, while Tottori Jyouhoku just edged out Iwakuni Kougyou 2-1.
Perhaps this would be the time that Taisha, a team who has waited to break through would finally do so. That would not the be the case though. Tottori Jyouhoku would mercy rule them in the semifinals 7-0.
That put two eastern teams in the region in the finals. A regular in Kurashiki Shougyou, and a Tottori Jyouhoku team that made their one and only appearance 3 years ago.
Kurashiki Shougyou's ace Nishi though would give up a 4-spot in the 2nd, and they suddenly were in trouble. In fact, Tottori Jyouhoku's ace Nishisaka would only give up 1 run in a CG win giving his team their first ever fall title, and their first ever senbatsu apperance!
Automatic Bid - Tottori Jyouhoku (Tottori) - 1st appearance
Projected Bid - Kurashiki Shougyou (Okayama) - 3rd appearance, 1st in 22 years
Shikoku Super-Regionals (2 bids + 1 floating bid w/Chuugoku)
With 4 prefectures occupying this region, each prefecture sends 3 representatives with the winners needing just 3 games to win the super-regionals.Kagawa
Kagawa has seen the good times pass it by it seems. Despite having a winning record in both Haru and Natsu Koushien tournaments, the majority of that happened decades ago. Recently, they have struggled to advance out of the 1st round. Eimei has made 2 consecutive runs at it in the summer, but it's possible their time is now up.
Meanwhile, teams such as Takamatsu Shougyou, Akiyama's former team Sangawa, and Kanonji Chuo look to restore respectability to the prefecture.
But perhaps showing that there still is a long way to go, almost all those teams struggled in the tournament. Takamatsu Shougyou's games to the semis was won by no greater than 3 runs. Kanonji Chuo had two close games before finally getting an easy win against Takamatsu Sakurai.
Sangawa and Eimei had a bit of an easier time... that is until they faced each other in the quarterfinals. Sangawa had the better of the matchup, but just, in a 6-5 win. Rounding out the best 4 was Sanbonmatsu who had survived some close games.
Kanonji Chuo almost seemed to exercise their demons against Takamatsu Shougyou leading 3-1 in the 9th. However, Takashou would break their hearts yet again, scoring 4 in the 9th for the 5-3 win. Sanbonmatsu's run would end at Sangawa's hands as they lost 5-1.
In the finals, Takashou's ace Tanigawa would give up just 2 hits (though he walked 9), in a 2-0 shutout of Sangawa giving his team their 25th fall title (last was in 2008). Kanonji Chuo would take the last spot with a 7-0 win over Sanbonmatsu.
Tokushima
Tokushima also has had a winning record at Koushien. Of late, the 2 teams who have had the most success are Tokushima Shougyou and Naruto Kougyou. Famed Ikeda last had success in the early 90's but has faded out of the picture in recent years.
Tokushima Shougyou bowed out in the 2nd round to Kawashima. Ikeda and Naruto Kougyou were in the same quadrant and wound up facing each other in the quarterfinals. Ikeda's struggles continued as they were routed 9-1.
Joining those two in the best 4 would be Tokushima Kita - who needed 2 1-run victories, and Naruto - who outscored their opponents 40-8. However, they didn't really face anyone of note, so it's possible that offense is just a mirage.
They'd have to prove that against Naruto Kougyou though. As for Kawashima and Tokushima Kita, it appeared that they'd have to win to get in.
The game would be one to remember. Kawashima's ace Satou would throw a no-hitter against Tokushima Kita. Irregardless of what happens after, that's a moment they're going to remember. Better yet, it would give them their 2nd ever super-regional appearance (their 1st was just 2 years ago).
Their opponent in the final would indeed be Naruto. Scoring 4 in the 3rd, they'd never look back. Naruto Kougyou would fight back against starter Goutouda, but fall short 7-5.
Riding the wave of the no-hitter, Satou would continue his assault on the Naruto batters, throwing 7 more shutout innings. But the tank would finally run empty, surrendering 3 in the 8th. Meanwhile, ace Kobayashi would quiet the Kawashima bats limiting them to just 1 run. Naruto would win their 11th title, but their 1st in 18 years. Tokushima Kita couldn't recover from the no-hitter, losing 3-1.
Ehime
Ehime continues the trend of winning prefectures. They enjoyed success in the early aughites, but in the last several have receded a bit. Teams such as Saibi, Kawanoe and Matsuyama Shougyou dominated the times. But perhaps it's Imabari Nishi who has dominated the scene recently, especially in the fall tournaments, that would continue to reign.
Exiting out of pool play, it would be Imabari Nishi, along with Saibi, 2010 Natsu representative Uwajima Higashi, and Komatsu who would get favorable draws.
And yet, they didn't have an easy time. In fact, Saibi would fall before reaching the semifinals, losing 5-3 to Kawanoishi. For the remaining teams, only Uwajima Higashi had a margin of victory over 3.
The party crashers also had their sights on Imabari Nishi in the semis. Scoring 3 against starter Ishigaki, it looked perhaps that they might have a chance. But Imabari would equalize in the 5th, and score the go-ahead run on ace Yano in the 8th inning. Kawanoishi would have to qualify in the 3rd place game after the 4-3 loss.
Komatsu and Uwajima Higashi would have their own struggle. Tied at 1 going into the 9th, Komatsu would score the go-ahead run. But Uwajima Higashi had their half, and managed to score one of their own, sending it to enchousen. It would only last 2 innings though, when Komatsu would emphatically stamp their ticket to the finals with 4 runs.
In the finals, Imabari Nishi would fall behind yet again as Komatsu would score 5 unanswered runs. This time around though, ace Nakano would not give them the opportunity to rally back as he would give up 2 runs giving his team their first ever fall title and first ever super-regional apperance!
And as for Kawanoishi, their party crashing would be over as they lost 10-3 to Uwajima Higashi in the 3rd place game.
Kochi
No one beats Kochi though in terms of success. They have a 0.615 winning percentage at Koushien. Furthermore, since 1993 they have failed to send a representative in senbatsu just 3 times.
Most of the time, the representative has been either Kochi, Kochi Shougyou, or Meitoku Gijyuku. Break though those three, and you've achieved something.
And so we start the Kochi prefecturals. The aforementioned trio, along with Tosa, were the seeded teams. Tosa represented Kochi back in the 1993 senbatsu, though they lost to Tohoku.
So it's no surprise that all 4 teams (yes, even Tosa) made the Best 4. Kochi though, almost got upended in the first round with a 6-5 win over Ootemae. Even with that, the big 3 gave up 10 runs in their 9 combined games. Tosa gave up 7 in their 3.
In the semis, Kochi wound up throwing 3 pitchers at Meitoku Gijyuku to no avail. They'd fall 4-1.
Tosa would have to win their game against Kochi Shougyou. Losing here means having to win the 3rd place game. But they would have no such luck. Kochishou would beat them 7-1.
That would seal Tosa's fate. Having to face Kochi in the 3rd place game, they folded 9-0 and would have to wait until next summer for another shot.
Kochi Shougyou would then have to face Meitoku Gijyuku for the title and the 1st round bye. However, Meitoku Gijyuku takes their seat again at the head of the prefecture with their own 7-1 win. Despite this being their 6th straight super-regional appearance, this was their first title in 4 years (and 15th overall).
Super-Regionals
Each of the winners (Meitoku Gijyuku, Komatsu, Naruto, and Tokushima Shougyou) would earn a bye, while the other teams slugged it out. Once under way, only Naruto had an easy go of it. Takamatsu Shougyou had to face Naruto Kougyou and won 1-0. Meitoku Gijyuku survived 4-3 over Uwajima Higashi. Komatsu? Sadly, their run ended against Kochi 6-0.
Kochi would continue their run, exacting revenge on ace Ogata, scoring 3 in the 9th for a 7-4 win and a probable bid to senbatsu. Naruto would join them as they continued their rampage with a 7-1over Tokushima Shougyou.
The question then would be who would get the automatic bid. In all likelihood, Kochi's name will give them a bid, and Naruto's high powered offense would be something to see at Koushien. But it never hurts to guarantee that phone call.
Once again, Naruto would come out firing and getting a 3-1 lead. And though Kitashiro would tie the game in the 4th, Naruto took the lead back 4-3 in the 5th. Kochi would just not go away, tying the game in the 9th. And just when you'd think Naruto would fold, they didn't as Hinoshita would give his team their first super-regional title in 42 years with a bases loaded hit to right.
Automatic Bid - Naruto (Tokushima) - 7th appearance, 1st in 32 years
Projected Bid - Kochi (Kochi) - 16th appearance, 1st in 2 years
Monday, May 9, 2011
2011 Haru Taikai - Shikoku Update Final
We have our champion in the Shikoku super-region, and it went pretty much as expected.
Kawanoe wasn't able to do much against Meitoku Gijyuku as ace Oonishi gave up just 6 hits while striking out 9 in a complete game shutout.
Over at the other semi, scrappy Mishima dug in against Kagawa Nishi. After a scoreless first 5 innings, Mishima tried in the 6th and 7th to get ahead of Kagawa with a singleton in each frame. But each time, Kagawa fought right back to level the score. And so it was until the 9th frame tied at 2-2 when last batter Yano delivered the sayonara hit to set up a rematch of the fall final against Meitoku.
In that original matchup, Kagawa Nishi was steamrolled by Meitoku Gijyuku 15-1.
And when it comes to the 2nd time around, especially with established teams, it's never as easy. Meitoku Gijyuku also decided to send their relief pitcher Fukunaga instead of their ace Omatsu.
While he was effective for the first 4 innings, he struggled in the 5th allowing 2 runners to reach. That prompted Mabuchi-kantoku to send up their ace Omatsu to try and shut things down.
However, cleanup batter Kobayashi would have none of it, delivering a timely 2-RBI hit in a 3-run inning.
Kagawa Nishi ace Utsunomiya would not let the opportunity slip by them and while he surrendered a run in the 6th inning, that would be all that he would give up. This was Kagawa Nishi's first ever spring title!
Kawanoe wasn't able to do much against Meitoku Gijyuku as ace Oonishi gave up just 6 hits while striking out 9 in a complete game shutout.
Over at the other semi, scrappy Mishima dug in against Kagawa Nishi. After a scoreless first 5 innings, Mishima tried in the 6th and 7th to get ahead of Kagawa with a singleton in each frame. But each time, Kagawa fought right back to level the score. And so it was until the 9th frame tied at 2-2 when last batter Yano delivered the sayonara hit to set up a rematch of the fall final against Meitoku.
In that original matchup, Kagawa Nishi was steamrolled by Meitoku Gijyuku 15-1.
And when it comes to the 2nd time around, especially with established teams, it's never as easy. Meitoku Gijyuku also decided to send their relief pitcher Fukunaga instead of their ace Omatsu.
While he was effective for the first 4 innings, he struggled in the 5th allowing 2 runners to reach. That prompted Mabuchi-kantoku to send up their ace Omatsu to try and shut things down.
However, cleanup batter Kobayashi would have none of it, delivering a timely 2-RBI hit in a 3-run inning.
Kagawa Nishi ace Utsunomiya would not let the opportunity slip by them and while he surrendered a run in the 6th inning, that would be all that he would give up. This was Kagawa Nishi's first ever spring title!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
2011 Haru Taikai - Shikoku Update 2
Shikoku's tournament is short (just 7 games in total), and the first round (which is the quarterfinals) are done.
Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi 2) - which really isn't fair if you ask me - mercy-ruled Jyounan (Tokushima 1) 8-1 in 7 innings.
They'll face off against Kawanoe (Ehime 1), who rallied to beat Sangawa (Kagawa 2). After jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st, Sangawa struck back with 5 runs in the next half inning and it seemed like all momentum was lost. But after a run in the 4th, they would retake the lead with a pair in the 5th. An insurance run in the 7th proved to be the difference as Sangawa would get a run in the 9th, but fall short 7-6.
Kagawa Nishi (Kagawa 1) used a 3-run 1st inning to advance against a late-inning charge from Jyoutou (Tokushima 2) 4-2.
And in the surprise of the tournament (which again isn't saying too much, but in this case is really surprising), Kochi (Kochi 1) was out-dueled by Mishima (Ehime 2)! They were not phased after falling behind 2-0 in the top of the 1st, immediately got one of the runs back, took the lead with a pair in the 5th, and for good measure added a run in the 8th!
Realistically, this should be a Meitoku Gijyuku-Kagawa Nishi final, but there's still the semifinals to be had.
Meitoku Gijyuku (Kochi 2) - which really isn't fair if you ask me - mercy-ruled Jyounan (Tokushima 1) 8-1 in 7 innings.
They'll face off against Kawanoe (Ehime 1), who rallied to beat Sangawa (Kagawa 2). After jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st, Sangawa struck back with 5 runs in the next half inning and it seemed like all momentum was lost. But after a run in the 4th, they would retake the lead with a pair in the 5th. An insurance run in the 7th proved to be the difference as Sangawa would get a run in the 9th, but fall short 7-6.
Kagawa Nishi (Kagawa 1) used a 3-run 1st inning to advance against a late-inning charge from Jyoutou (Tokushima 2) 4-2.
And in the surprise of the tournament (which again isn't saying too much, but in this case is really surprising), Kochi (Kochi 1) was out-dueled by Mishima (Ehime 2)! They were not phased after falling behind 2-0 in the top of the 1st, immediately got one of the runs back, took the lead with a pair in the 5th, and for good measure added a run in the 8th!
Realistically, this should be a Meitoku Gijyuku-Kagawa Nishi final, but there's still the semifinals to be had.
Monday, April 18, 2011
2011 Haru Taikai - Shikoku Taikai
The draws aren't out for the Shikoku Taikai yet, but the prefecturals are done.
In Shikoku, any teams that qualified for Senbatsu automatically advance to a challenge match against the winner of the prefecturals. That challenge match determines seeding. So that also means that if you were in a prefecture with a Senbatsu participant, you had to win the tournament to make it to the Shikoku Taikai.
Kagawa
If there ever was more of a predictable field of seeded teams, I'd like to see it. Outside of Kagawa Nishi who automatically advances to the challenge game, there was Sangawa, Takamatsu Shougyou, Kanonji Chuo, Jinsei Gakuen, Marugame Jyousai, Takamatsu Kita, and Eimei.
Sangawa and Takamatsu Shougyou made it to the quarterfinals where they faced off with Sangawa winning 4-1. Takamatsu Kougei upset Jinsei Gakuen and took their place to face Kanonji Chuo, gave them a good fight, but lost 10-8. Shido upset Takamatsu Kita to face Marugame Jyousai, but too would lose 3-1. And Eimei, supposedly with the easier bracket with no other seeded team, wound up being upset in the first round to Sakaide who reached the semifinals.
Kanonji Chuo gave Sangawa a good battle, but a 2-run HR by Yamagoe would be the difference in the game giving Sangawa a 4-2 win. Meanwhile, Sakaide actually got in front of Marugame Jyousai 1-0 in the top of the 2nd, but that was short-lived. Marugame would crush Sakaide right there with 6 runs to win 6-1.
Now the finals mattered as only the winner would advance to the Shikoku Taikai. Marugame would get ahead quickly with a run in the top of the 1st, this time only to see Sangawa score 2 in the bottom of the 1st. Marugame would strike back in the 3rd to take the lead 3-2. It would stay that way for a long time until Sangawa found the equalizer in the bottom of the 8th. The game would continue into extras where Sangawa would get to ace Kawai in the 12th to score the sayonara run.
That game however would take its toll on Sangawa though, and while starter Yoshida had been rested in the "championship" game, Kagawa Nishi would score 6 in the first to apparently remove all suspense from the game. But Sangawa would score 2 in the 3rd to try and start the offense. However, they could just muster a run in the 8th and 9th innings to lose 6-4.
Because of the challenge match, the awards are a bit fuzzy. Sangawa is the prefectural champion which is their 3rd consecutive. I'm not sure what Kagawa Nishi's top seed represents.
Tokushima
With Jyounan advancing to the challenge game, the seeds (in order) not surprisingly went to Tokushima Shougyou, Komatsushima, Tokushima Kita and Kawashima.
Kawashima was the first seeded team to fall, losing in the 2nd round 10-9 to Tomioka Nishi. That paved the way for unseeded Naruto to clear to the Best 4 with an 11-1 win over Tomioka Nishi.
Komatsushima and Tokushima Kita would be the next to go, Komatsushima getting shutout by Seikou Gakuen 4-0 while Jyoutou slipped by Tokushima Kita 5-4.
So only Tokushima Shougyou was able to advance to the semifinals. And against Naruto they scored 5 in the top of the 3rd and seemed poised to advance. Quickly Naruto struck back with a run in the 3rd and 3 in the 4th to cut the deficit to just 1. Tokushou added an insurance run in the 6th, but the 7th was indeed lucky for Naruto as they scored 4 to take an 8-6 lead and that would be the final margin.
In the other semifinal, Jyoutou, who is more known for being a strong academic school than a strong baseball school went toe-to-toe with Seikou Gakuen finally separating themselves with a 3-run 8th inning to win 6-2.
That made then for a Naruto-Jyoutou final where certainly the advantage was with Naruto. And indeed ace Kouura gave up runs early and often, putting his team in a 0-5 hole after 5 innings.
But then suddenly Jyoutou's offense came alive. A run in the 6th, and 3 more in the lucky 7th would pull them within 1. However Naruto would get a run in their half of the 7th and Jyoutou was down 2 with just 2 innings left.
Somehow Jyoutou mounted one last rally in the 9th, and scored 3 to take a 7-6 lead! Kouura would make that slim lead stick in the bottom of the 9th giving Jyoutou a spot in the Shikoku Taikai!
The last matter of business to take care of would be to find the seeding for the Shikoku Taikai. So Jyounan (城南) and Jyoutou (城東) would square off. By the way, their uniforms look very similar and would be very confusing to follow (at least in my opinion).
On a somewhat related thought, there's a Jyousei (城西) and Jyouhoku (城北) and I wonder if all the uniforms look alike.
Anyways, onto to the challenge game. Jyoutou, drawing the visiting team struck first with a run right from the outset. Jyounan would then come and take the lead right back with a 2-run bottom 1st.
Jyoutou would keep the deficit at 1 after trading runs in the 4th/5th inning and then find the equalizer one inning later. But it was right at that time that Jyounan would turn on the after burners scoring a total of 6 runs in the next 2 innings and taking a commanding 9-3 lead. Jyoutou would manage to get 2 in the 9th, but that would be far from enough.
Tokushima's awards follow Kagawa's lead, so Jyoutou is actually the official prefectural winner - which is their first ever.
Ehime
Fun fact for the day - Did you know that the best winning percentage for a prefecture in the Natsu Koushien belongs to Ehime (114-59-1 for a 0.659 percentage!).
Ehime has a 2-tiered system for the spring taikai with small blocks in regions determining the field of 16. Regional powerhouse Imabari Nishi didn't even make it out of the 1st level of play, losing 11-9 to Mishima in the block final.
Even without Imabari Nishi, there were still some good schools that advanced including Saijyou, Teikyou Dai-go and Saibi.
Saijyou though struggled out of the gate against Matsuyama Kita 1-0, and would eventually fall hard against Mishima losing 14-3. Teikyou Dai-go and Saibi would meet in the quarterfinals with Teikyou prevailing 8-6.
On the other side, it was fairly open. Yawatahama had little trouble with their first two games, while Kawanoe had the same experience defeating last year's Natsu participant Uwajima Highashi 5-1.
Teikyou Dai-go looked to finally have broken the curse of good, but not good enough as they worked their way to a 2-0 lead early. However Mishima would strike hard in the 3rd, scoring 3 to take the lead. Undaunted, Teikyou managed to score the equalizer in the 7th, and the game would go into extras where sadly they would fall yet again 4-3.
In the other semifinal, Kawanoe jumped out in front with a 1-0 lead in the first. Yawatahama would then tie then take the lead in the 5th 3-1. Kawanoe countered with 3 in the bottom of the frame retaking the lead at 4-3. An insurance run in the 8th made it a 2-run ballgame and perhaps made it out of reach.
Of course, no one told Yawatahama that as they proceeded to tie the game. This game would also go into extras, and once again the home team would bid their opponents sayonara in the 10th inning as Kawanoe pushed in the winning run.
Kawanoe started off building a 2-0 lead over Mishima. Mishima would struggle to score runs until the latter stages, but tied the game in the 7th with a pair of runs, then took the lead 3-2 the next inning. But ace Okusada for Mishima couldn't hold that lead. In fact Kawanoe scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th to take a commanding 7-3 lead and would win by that margin.
Surprisingly, despite the numerous times Kawanoe has been to Koushien, this is their 1st ever spring prefectural title.
Kochi
With Meitoku Gijyuku in the challenge game, it left the other two schools, Kochi and Kochi Shougyou would fight for the right to be in the challenge game.
No, really. You'd have to go back to 1994 to find a team not any of the aforementioned schools that went to Natsu Koushien. And in that same time period, only Muroto in 2007 was a different school other than those 3 to go to Senbatsu.
Funny thing was that Kochi and Kochi Shougyou would have to meet in the semis. And with Kochi winning 5-3, we pretty much had the challenge match set.
Tosa, who had performed well last year, couldn't keep up with Kochi, getting mercy ruled 10-0 in 8 innings.
On the other side, the aforementioned Muroto made it to the semis to face unknown Ootemae. The game ended up being rather exciting as the teams would stay tied throughout most of the game with the teams trading a run in the 3rd. In the end, Ootemae actually prevailed in the top of the 9th to win 2-1.
The championship game started off a shocker as Ootemae scored 2 in the 1st, and then a run in the 5th and 6th to take a 4-0 lead on Kochi! But then either they got nervous or Kochi woke up because 1 run in the 6th and 3 in the 7th quickly tied the game up! Ootemae managed to stop the bleeding and kept the score level, but having lost the lead it would only be a matter of time before Kochi would prevail. And sure enough in the 10th they did to make things all right in the world (joking) winning 5-4 for their 3rd consecutive title and 22nd overall.
As for the challenge match, it would be a predicable low scoring affair. Kochi would break the deadlock in the 7th with 2 runs. Meitoku Gijyuku would mount a last minute rally in the 9th, but fall just short losing 2-1.
In Shikoku, any teams that qualified for Senbatsu automatically advance to a challenge match against the winner of the prefecturals. That challenge match determines seeding. So that also means that if you were in a prefecture with a Senbatsu participant, you had to win the tournament to make it to the Shikoku Taikai.
Kagawa
If there ever was more of a predictable field of seeded teams, I'd like to see it. Outside of Kagawa Nishi who automatically advances to the challenge game, there was Sangawa, Takamatsu Shougyou, Kanonji Chuo, Jinsei Gakuen, Marugame Jyousai, Takamatsu Kita, and Eimei.
Sangawa and Takamatsu Shougyou made it to the quarterfinals where they faced off with Sangawa winning 4-1. Takamatsu Kougei upset Jinsei Gakuen and took their place to face Kanonji Chuo, gave them a good fight, but lost 10-8. Shido upset Takamatsu Kita to face Marugame Jyousai, but too would lose 3-1. And Eimei, supposedly with the easier bracket with no other seeded team, wound up being upset in the first round to Sakaide who reached the semifinals.
Kanonji Chuo gave Sangawa a good battle, but a 2-run HR by Yamagoe would be the difference in the game giving Sangawa a 4-2 win. Meanwhile, Sakaide actually got in front of Marugame Jyousai 1-0 in the top of the 2nd, but that was short-lived. Marugame would crush Sakaide right there with 6 runs to win 6-1.
Now the finals mattered as only the winner would advance to the Shikoku Taikai. Marugame would get ahead quickly with a run in the top of the 1st, this time only to see Sangawa score 2 in the bottom of the 1st. Marugame would strike back in the 3rd to take the lead 3-2. It would stay that way for a long time until Sangawa found the equalizer in the bottom of the 8th. The game would continue into extras where Sangawa would get to ace Kawai in the 12th to score the sayonara run.
That game however would take its toll on Sangawa though, and while starter Yoshida had been rested in the "championship" game, Kagawa Nishi would score 6 in the first to apparently remove all suspense from the game. But Sangawa would score 2 in the 3rd to try and start the offense. However, they could just muster a run in the 8th and 9th innings to lose 6-4.
Because of the challenge match, the awards are a bit fuzzy. Sangawa is the prefectural champion which is their 3rd consecutive. I'm not sure what Kagawa Nishi's top seed represents.
Tokushima
With Jyounan advancing to the challenge game, the seeds (in order) not surprisingly went to Tokushima Shougyou, Komatsushima, Tokushima Kita and Kawashima.
Kawashima was the first seeded team to fall, losing in the 2nd round 10-9 to Tomioka Nishi. That paved the way for unseeded Naruto to clear to the Best 4 with an 11-1 win over Tomioka Nishi.
Komatsushima and Tokushima Kita would be the next to go, Komatsushima getting shutout by Seikou Gakuen 4-0 while Jyoutou slipped by Tokushima Kita 5-4.
So only Tokushima Shougyou was able to advance to the semifinals. And against Naruto they scored 5 in the top of the 3rd and seemed poised to advance. Quickly Naruto struck back with a run in the 3rd and 3 in the 4th to cut the deficit to just 1. Tokushou added an insurance run in the 6th, but the 7th was indeed lucky for Naruto as they scored 4 to take an 8-6 lead and that would be the final margin.
In the other semifinal, Jyoutou, who is more known for being a strong academic school than a strong baseball school went toe-to-toe with Seikou Gakuen finally separating themselves with a 3-run 8th inning to win 6-2.
That made then for a Naruto-Jyoutou final where certainly the advantage was with Naruto. And indeed ace Kouura gave up runs early and often, putting his team in a 0-5 hole after 5 innings.
But then suddenly Jyoutou's offense came alive. A run in the 6th, and 3 more in the lucky 7th would pull them within 1. However Naruto would get a run in their half of the 7th and Jyoutou was down 2 with just 2 innings left.
Somehow Jyoutou mounted one last rally in the 9th, and scored 3 to take a 7-6 lead! Kouura would make that slim lead stick in the bottom of the 9th giving Jyoutou a spot in the Shikoku Taikai!
The last matter of business to take care of would be to find the seeding for the Shikoku Taikai. So Jyounan (城南) and Jyoutou (城東) would square off. By the way, their uniforms look very similar and would be very confusing to follow (at least in my opinion).
On a somewhat related thought, there's a Jyousei (城西) and Jyouhoku (城北) and I wonder if all the uniforms look alike.
Anyways, onto to the challenge game. Jyoutou, drawing the visiting team struck first with a run right from the outset. Jyounan would then come and take the lead right back with a 2-run bottom 1st.
Jyoutou would keep the deficit at 1 after trading runs in the 4th/5th inning and then find the equalizer one inning later. But it was right at that time that Jyounan would turn on the after burners scoring a total of 6 runs in the next 2 innings and taking a commanding 9-3 lead. Jyoutou would manage to get 2 in the 9th, but that would be far from enough.
Tokushima's awards follow Kagawa's lead, so Jyoutou is actually the official prefectural winner - which is their first ever.
Ehime
Fun fact for the day - Did you know that the best winning percentage for a prefecture in the Natsu Koushien belongs to Ehime (114-59-1 for a 0.659 percentage!).
Ehime has a 2-tiered system for the spring taikai with small blocks in regions determining the field of 16. Regional powerhouse Imabari Nishi didn't even make it out of the 1st level of play, losing 11-9 to Mishima in the block final.
Even without Imabari Nishi, there were still some good schools that advanced including Saijyou, Teikyou Dai-go and Saibi.
Saijyou though struggled out of the gate against Matsuyama Kita 1-0, and would eventually fall hard against Mishima losing 14-3. Teikyou Dai-go and Saibi would meet in the quarterfinals with Teikyou prevailing 8-6.
On the other side, it was fairly open. Yawatahama had little trouble with their first two games, while Kawanoe had the same experience defeating last year's Natsu participant Uwajima Highashi 5-1.
Teikyou Dai-go looked to finally have broken the curse of good, but not good enough as they worked their way to a 2-0 lead early. However Mishima would strike hard in the 3rd, scoring 3 to take the lead. Undaunted, Teikyou managed to score the equalizer in the 7th, and the game would go into extras where sadly they would fall yet again 4-3.
In the other semifinal, Kawanoe jumped out in front with a 1-0 lead in the first. Yawatahama would then tie then take the lead in the 5th 3-1. Kawanoe countered with 3 in the bottom of the frame retaking the lead at 4-3. An insurance run in the 8th made it a 2-run ballgame and perhaps made it out of reach.
Of course, no one told Yawatahama that as they proceeded to tie the game. This game would also go into extras, and once again the home team would bid their opponents sayonara in the 10th inning as Kawanoe pushed in the winning run.
Kawanoe started off building a 2-0 lead over Mishima. Mishima would struggle to score runs until the latter stages, but tied the game in the 7th with a pair of runs, then took the lead 3-2 the next inning. But ace Okusada for Mishima couldn't hold that lead. In fact Kawanoe scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th to take a commanding 7-3 lead and would win by that margin.
Surprisingly, despite the numerous times Kawanoe has been to Koushien, this is their 1st ever spring prefectural title.
Kochi
With Meitoku Gijyuku in the challenge game, it left the other two schools, Kochi and Kochi Shougyou would fight for the right to be in the challenge game.
No, really. You'd have to go back to 1994 to find a team not any of the aforementioned schools that went to Natsu Koushien. And in that same time period, only Muroto in 2007 was a different school other than those 3 to go to Senbatsu.
Funny thing was that Kochi and Kochi Shougyou would have to meet in the semis. And with Kochi winning 5-3, we pretty much had the challenge match set.
Tosa, who had performed well last year, couldn't keep up with Kochi, getting mercy ruled 10-0 in 8 innings.
On the other side, the aforementioned Muroto made it to the semis to face unknown Ootemae. The game ended up being rather exciting as the teams would stay tied throughout most of the game with the teams trading a run in the 3rd. In the end, Ootemae actually prevailed in the top of the 9th to win 2-1.
The championship game started off a shocker as Ootemae scored 2 in the 1st, and then a run in the 5th and 6th to take a 4-0 lead on Kochi! But then either they got nervous or Kochi woke up because 1 run in the 6th and 3 in the 7th quickly tied the game up! Ootemae managed to stop the bleeding and kept the score level, but having lost the lead it would only be a matter of time before Kochi would prevail. And sure enough in the 10th they did to make things all right in the world (joking) winning 5-4 for their 3rd consecutive title and 22nd overall.
As for the challenge match, it would be a predicable low scoring affair. Kochi would break the deadlock in the 7th with 2 runs. Meitoku Gijyuku would mount a last minute rally in the 9th, but fall just short losing 2-1.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Super-regional wrap-up (Part 2)
Okay, we start the wheels again and hit the remaining super-regionals.
Kinki
The final day of 1st round games featured a big upset. Shinkou Gakuen, Hyogo's #3 seed jumped on Shiga's champion Oumi 3-0 before Oumi got on the board with a run in the 5th and went on to win 4-1! Meanwhile there was a titanic matchup between Fukuchiyama Seibi and PL Gakuen to conclude 1st round play. Seibi jumped on PL with 2 runs in the first and played hang-on the rest of the way. PL managed to pull within 1 in the 8th, but couldn't push the douten run across.
Sunday would have possibly 2 possible blowouts. First off was Chiben Wakayama against Ritsumeikan Uji. But after taking the lead 1-0 in the 1st, a run in the 2nd and 3rd for Uji meant that Ritsumeikan had the lead! Chiben fires right back with runs in the 4th and 5th and they pulled back in front!
And then it all went wrong. 2 innings later, Uji explodes for 5 runs and takes a commanding 7-3 lead.
That seemed to wake up the Chiben squad though. But there wouldn't be much time left. A run in the 8th would cut the deficit to 3. Then in the 9th, they score 1 run... then 2! Chiben was within 1! But ace Kawabe would be able to record the final out eliminating the formidable powerhouse from the tournament and a place at senbatsu.
The 2nd game was also much closer than expected as well. Osaka Touin faced off against Ikuei (Hyogo 3) and ace Fukumoto shutout the Ikuei squad. However, Ikuei's ace Horita(?) only allowed 2 runs to the powerhouse in the loss. While they won't get an automatic bid, he sure looked good.
(Here's a video of Horita. 3/4 delivery it seems, a bit of control issues in the video)
Now the other quarterfinal games wouldn't be played until the following weekend, and that meant for those teams they would have to play 3 games in 5 days to win the super-regional. They'd get a day off in between each game, but still.
First off was one of my favorite teams Tenri against Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku.
While Kobe Kokusaidai had taken the 1-0 lead in the 5th, Tenri asserted itself with 3 in the 6th. But then in the bottom of the 7th Kobe Kokusaidai takes out ace Nishiguchi with 4 runs of their own. Down 5-3 doesn't seem like a lot for Tenri, but they were unable to recover and fall to Okamoto and Kobe Kokusaidai.
Then there was Shinkou Gakuen versus Fukuchiyama Seibi. Shinkou gets the jump again, taking a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning! But in the 4th, Seibi manages to equalize. And then nothing happens. We head into extras and still nothing from either team. The 13th inning comes and goes and now there's a real possibility that we could have a tie game. But in the end, Shinkou would break through with the sayonara run in the 14th inning to send Fukuchiyama Seibi home and secure a spot at senbatsu!!
Now while the semifinalists are almost assuredly guaranteed a spot in senbatsu, it wouldn't hurt to have a good showing. Unfortunately for Ritsumeikan Uji, ace Kawabe just wasn't on his game, giving up 2 runs in the 1st and 2nd and another 5 in the 5th en route to a 9-1 7-inning loss to Osaka Touin.
And as for Shinkou Gakuen, Kobe Kokusaidai's Okamoto completely shut down their offense. Add sloppy conditions late and an 8-run 8th (and still going) gives the umpires a reason to shut down the game mercifully for Shinkou.
That meant it was down to Osaka Touin and Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku. And in a reversal, it was Osaka Touin that was blanked. Okamoto finishes out the run by his team with a 3-0 shutout. In the fall, Okamoto pitched 78.1 innings with an ERA of 1.15 and we'll see a lot more of him come the spring.
Chuugoku
We had a high quality Best 4 field, but things certainly didn't turn out as exciting as perhaps people though. In the first semi, Kanzei wound up having no trouble with Iwamichisuikan shutting them out 5-0. Meanwhile a 5-spot in the 3rd inning helped Kaisei beat Kouryou 5-3.
So it will be Kanzei and Kaisei who will probably get the bids. But there was the final and a spot in the Meiji Jingu tournament to be had.
Itohara for Kaisei opened the scoring in the top of the 1st with a solo homerun. Kanzei would quickly tie it back up in the bottom half of the frame. Then in the 3rd, Itohara gets another timely hit to put them ahead 2-1. And if that wasn't enough, he induces an error while stealing 2nd scoring 2 runs and extending the lead to 4-1.
But Kanzei would take one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning. And in the 5th Yamaguchi gets an inside-the-park homerun for Kanzei pulling within 1. But ace Shirane would not let Kanzei equalize and Kaisei would take the Chuugoku super-regionals with a 4-3 win!
Shikoku
So we hit the semifinals with bids at senbatsu at stake.
Okou certainly was an underdog against Kochi. But they were the ones to open the scoring with a run in the 2nd. However, 6 unanswered runs in the next 3 innings by Kochi pretty much ended the game right then and there.
In the matchup between Ehime teams Saibi also got the jump on the top seeded team Imabari Nishi with a run in the 3rd. Imabari though would tie it up in the 5th and 2 more in the 6th and that would be the end of that.
Kochi and Imabari Nishi will be familiar faces at Koshien, but which one will advance to the national tournament?
Early on, it looked like Kochi would run away with it, building a 3-run lead. However, Imabari Nishi would turn the tables in the 4th, scoring 4 runs. Kochi would equalize in the 5th and it would stay that way, meaning extra innings in the championship game. In the 11th, ace Tsutsui would try to end it right there as his 2-out double put Kochi ahead 5-4.
Imabari Nishi though had other plans. With no out, Tsutsui would hit Nagai. A sac bunt would move him to 2nd, and in a bold move, he steals 3rd! With the tying run only 90 feet away, Sasaki singles to left tying the game! After another sac bunt to put the winning run in scoring position, Aida delivers the sayonara hit to right as Sasaki scores sending the Ehime team to the nationals!
Kyushu
Whoops. I never got around in the other update to cover what had happened to get to the Best 4. Well, now you'll get a recap of everything!
First up are the 3 1st round games that the #3 and #4 seeded teams from Fukuoka and Miyazaki were awarded. And perhaps surprisingly, they held up pretty well. Miyazaki Nichidai (Miyazaki 4) got the lead against Kagoshima Jyousei (Kagoshima 2). But after equalizing in the 6th, Jyousei would put 2 together in the 8th for a late-inning win. The new Imari representative, Imari Shougyou (Saga 2), couldn't keep up with Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou falling 7-0 in 8 innings. The same went for Oita (Oita 2), who gave up 10 runs in the 4th to Miyazaki Shougyou (Miyzaki 3), and were eliminated one inning later.
With those game completed, it was time for the top seeds to take the field. But instead of showing their dominance they instead muddied up the waters even more.
Jiyuugaoka (Fukuoka 1) had no trouble with Kagoshima Jyousei, shutting them out 4-0. Jyouhoku's (Kumamoto 2) ace Nogata gave up a first inning run to Meihou (Oita 1) and new ace Yamano (who struggled against Hanamaki Higashi) made it stick.
But in the bottom half of this side, things were different. Nichinan Gakuen (Miyazaki 1) had a 1-0 lead on Kadena (Okinawa 2), but Nakazaki would not be able to hold it. He would relinquish the lead in the 6th giving up 2 runs, and his team would never recover. And Sasebo Jitsugyou (Nagasaki 2) would get a jump on Saga Shouygou (Saga 1) scoring 2 in the 3rd and another 2 in the 7th while ace Hirakura would yield only 1 run in a complete game effort.
In the other side of the super-regionals, more 1 seeds would fall. Kyushu Gakuin (Kumamoto 1) would trail from wire-to-wire against Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou losing 6-2. Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima 1) would suffer the same fate against Miyazaki Kougyou (Miyazaki 2) as Hamada would yield 1 run.
As for the last 2 games, Kounan's (Okinawa 1) Shimabukuro would continue to lead his team to Koshien yet again with a 3-1 win over Toukai Dai-go, while in the battle of commericial schools Nagasaki (Nagasaki 1) would slip through with a 1-0 win over Miyazaki.
So heading to the crucial quarterfinals, Saga and Kumamoto were already eliminated.
And the first probable bid would go to Jiyuugaoka as they were able to score 2 runs off of Yamano while their ace Ono made it interesting yielding a run in the 9th, but nothing more. Their opponent in the semis would be Kadena, who held a 5-0 lead against Sasebo Jitsugyou but allowed them to make it close with 4 in the bottom of the 9th.
Things were just as close on the other side as well. Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou and Miyazaki Kougyou were tied at 2 for most of the game until Miyazaki put up 3 in the 7th to take the lead for good. And Shimabukuro would continue to dominate in a 2-0 win over Nagashou.
This means that we'll see 2 Okinawa teams at Koshien! I know someone who'll like that!
But back to the super-regionals. Kadena continued to impress, this time against Jiyuugaoka. They shut out the Fukuoka squad 4-0 and secure a spot in the finals! Could it be an all-Okinawa final?
Sure looked like it early! Kounan would score 2 quick runs in the top of the 1st, but Miyazaki would come back with a run of their own against not Shimabukuro, but Sunagawa.
The decision to hold back Shimabukuro would prove costly though as Miyazaki would score 2 runs in the 3rd. Shimabukuro would enter the game, but the damage had been done. Miyazaki's ace Hamada would shut down the Kounan offense and advance to the finals with a 3-2 win.
So it would be a (relieved) Kadena facing not Kounan, but Miyazaki Kougyou. But the home field advantage would not be enough for them. Kadena would get 2 runs in the 3rd against Hamada and then extend that lead to 4. And while Ikehara for Kadena would give up 2 runs in the 7th, he cruised to victory giving his team its first ever Kyushu super-regional win!
Well, the majority of our field for the Spring Koshien is set, as well as our participants for the Meiji Jingu tournament. I'll recap that later today.
Kinki
The final day of 1st round games featured a big upset. Shinkou Gakuen, Hyogo's #3 seed jumped on Shiga's champion Oumi 3-0 before Oumi got on the board with a run in the 5th and went on to win 4-1! Meanwhile there was a titanic matchup between Fukuchiyama Seibi and PL Gakuen to conclude 1st round play. Seibi jumped on PL with 2 runs in the first and played hang-on the rest of the way. PL managed to pull within 1 in the 8th, but couldn't push the douten run across.
Sunday would have possibly 2 possible blowouts. First off was Chiben Wakayama against Ritsumeikan Uji. But after taking the lead 1-0 in the 1st, a run in the 2nd and 3rd for Uji meant that Ritsumeikan had the lead! Chiben fires right back with runs in the 4th and 5th and they pulled back in front!
And then it all went wrong. 2 innings later, Uji explodes for 5 runs and takes a commanding 7-3 lead.
That seemed to wake up the Chiben squad though. But there wouldn't be much time left. A run in the 8th would cut the deficit to 3. Then in the 9th, they score 1 run... then 2! Chiben was within 1! But ace Kawabe would be able to record the final out eliminating the formidable powerhouse from the tournament and a place at senbatsu.
The 2nd game was also much closer than expected as well. Osaka Touin faced off against Ikuei (Hyogo 3) and ace Fukumoto shutout the Ikuei squad. However, Ikuei's ace Horita(?) only allowed 2 runs to the powerhouse in the loss. While they won't get an automatic bid, he sure looked good.
(Here's a video of Horita. 3/4 delivery it seems, a bit of control issues in the video)
Now the other quarterfinal games wouldn't be played until the following weekend, and that meant for those teams they would have to play 3 games in 5 days to win the super-regional. They'd get a day off in between each game, but still.
First off was one of my favorite teams Tenri against Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku.
While Kobe Kokusaidai had taken the 1-0 lead in the 5th, Tenri asserted itself with 3 in the 6th. But then in the bottom of the 7th Kobe Kokusaidai takes out ace Nishiguchi with 4 runs of their own. Down 5-3 doesn't seem like a lot for Tenri, but they were unable to recover and fall to Okamoto and Kobe Kokusaidai.
Then there was Shinkou Gakuen versus Fukuchiyama Seibi. Shinkou gets the jump again, taking a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning! But in the 4th, Seibi manages to equalize. And then nothing happens. We head into extras and still nothing from either team. The 13th inning comes and goes and now there's a real possibility that we could have a tie game. But in the end, Shinkou would break through with the sayonara run in the 14th inning to send Fukuchiyama Seibi home and secure a spot at senbatsu!!
Now while the semifinalists are almost assuredly guaranteed a spot in senbatsu, it wouldn't hurt to have a good showing. Unfortunately for Ritsumeikan Uji, ace Kawabe just wasn't on his game, giving up 2 runs in the 1st and 2nd and another 5 in the 5th en route to a 9-1 7-inning loss to Osaka Touin.
And as for Shinkou Gakuen, Kobe Kokusaidai's Okamoto completely shut down their offense. Add sloppy conditions late and an 8-run 8th (and still going) gives the umpires a reason to shut down the game mercifully for Shinkou.
That meant it was down to Osaka Touin and Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku. And in a reversal, it was Osaka Touin that was blanked. Okamoto finishes out the run by his team with a 3-0 shutout. In the fall, Okamoto pitched 78.1 innings with an ERA of 1.15 and we'll see a lot more of him come the spring.
Chuugoku
We had a high quality Best 4 field, but things certainly didn't turn out as exciting as perhaps people though. In the first semi, Kanzei wound up having no trouble with Iwamichisuikan shutting them out 5-0. Meanwhile a 5-spot in the 3rd inning helped Kaisei beat Kouryou 5-3.
So it will be Kanzei and Kaisei who will probably get the bids. But there was the final and a spot in the Meiji Jingu tournament to be had.
Itohara for Kaisei opened the scoring in the top of the 1st with a solo homerun. Kanzei would quickly tie it back up in the bottom half of the frame. Then in the 3rd, Itohara gets another timely hit to put them ahead 2-1. And if that wasn't enough, he induces an error while stealing 2nd scoring 2 runs and extending the lead to 4-1.
But Kanzei would take one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning. And in the 5th Yamaguchi gets an inside-the-park homerun for Kanzei pulling within 1. But ace Shirane would not let Kanzei equalize and Kaisei would take the Chuugoku super-regionals with a 4-3 win!
Shikoku
So we hit the semifinals with bids at senbatsu at stake.
Okou certainly was an underdog against Kochi. But they were the ones to open the scoring with a run in the 2nd. However, 6 unanswered runs in the next 3 innings by Kochi pretty much ended the game right then and there.
In the matchup between Ehime teams Saibi also got the jump on the top seeded team Imabari Nishi with a run in the 3rd. Imabari though would tie it up in the 5th and 2 more in the 6th and that would be the end of that.
Kochi and Imabari Nishi will be familiar faces at Koshien, but which one will advance to the national tournament?
Early on, it looked like Kochi would run away with it, building a 3-run lead. However, Imabari Nishi would turn the tables in the 4th, scoring 4 runs. Kochi would equalize in the 5th and it would stay that way, meaning extra innings in the championship game. In the 11th, ace Tsutsui would try to end it right there as his 2-out double put Kochi ahead 5-4.
Imabari Nishi though had other plans. With no out, Tsutsui would hit Nagai. A sac bunt would move him to 2nd, and in a bold move, he steals 3rd! With the tying run only 90 feet away, Sasaki singles to left tying the game! After another sac bunt to put the winning run in scoring position, Aida delivers the sayonara hit to right as Sasaki scores sending the Ehime team to the nationals!
Kyushu
Whoops. I never got around in the other update to cover what had happened to get to the Best 4. Well, now you'll get a recap of everything!
First up are the 3 1st round games that the #3 and #4 seeded teams from Fukuoka and Miyazaki were awarded. And perhaps surprisingly, they held up pretty well. Miyazaki Nichidai (Miyazaki 4) got the lead against Kagoshima Jyousei (Kagoshima 2). But after equalizing in the 6th, Jyousei would put 2 together in the 8th for a late-inning win. The new Imari representative, Imari Shougyou (Saga 2), couldn't keep up with Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou falling 7-0 in 8 innings. The same went for Oita (Oita 2), who gave up 10 runs in the 4th to Miyazaki Shougyou (Miyzaki 3), and were eliminated one inning later.
With those game completed, it was time for the top seeds to take the field. But instead of showing their dominance they instead muddied up the waters even more.
Jiyuugaoka (Fukuoka 1) had no trouble with Kagoshima Jyousei, shutting them out 4-0. Jyouhoku's (Kumamoto 2) ace Nogata gave up a first inning run to Meihou (Oita 1) and new ace Yamano (who struggled against Hanamaki Higashi) made it stick.
But in the bottom half of this side, things were different. Nichinan Gakuen (Miyazaki 1) had a 1-0 lead on Kadena (Okinawa 2), but Nakazaki would not be able to hold it. He would relinquish the lead in the 6th giving up 2 runs, and his team would never recover. And Sasebo Jitsugyou (Nagasaki 2) would get a jump on Saga Shouygou (Saga 1) scoring 2 in the 3rd and another 2 in the 7th while ace Hirakura would yield only 1 run in a complete game effort.
In the other side of the super-regionals, more 1 seeds would fall. Kyushu Gakuin (Kumamoto 1) would trail from wire-to-wire against Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou losing 6-2. Kagoshima Jitsugyou (Kagoshima 1) would suffer the same fate against Miyazaki Kougyou (Miyazaki 2) as Hamada would yield 1 run.
As for the last 2 games, Kounan's (Okinawa 1) Shimabukuro would continue to lead his team to Koshien yet again with a 3-1 win over Toukai Dai-go, while in the battle of commericial schools Nagasaki (Nagasaki 1) would slip through with a 1-0 win over Miyazaki.
So heading to the crucial quarterfinals, Saga and Kumamoto were already eliminated.
And the first probable bid would go to Jiyuugaoka as they were able to score 2 runs off of Yamano while their ace Ono made it interesting yielding a run in the 9th, but nothing more. Their opponent in the semis would be Kadena, who held a 5-0 lead against Sasebo Jitsugyou but allowed them to make it close with 4 in the bottom of the 9th.
Things were just as close on the other side as well. Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou and Miyazaki Kougyou were tied at 2 for most of the game until Miyazaki put up 3 in the 7th to take the lead for good. And Shimabukuro would continue to dominate in a 2-0 win over Nagashou.
This means that we'll see 2 Okinawa teams at Koshien! I know someone who'll like that!
But back to the super-regionals. Kadena continued to impress, this time against Jiyuugaoka. They shut out the Fukuoka squad 4-0 and secure a spot in the finals! Could it be an all-Okinawa final?
Sure looked like it early! Kounan would score 2 quick runs in the top of the 1st, but Miyazaki would come back with a run of their own against not Shimabukuro, but Sunagawa.
The decision to hold back Shimabukuro would prove costly though as Miyazaki would score 2 runs in the 3rd. Shimabukuro would enter the game, but the damage had been done. Miyazaki's ace Hamada would shut down the Kounan offense and advance to the finals with a 3-2 win.
So it would be a (relieved) Kadena facing not Kounan, but Miyazaki Kougyou. But the home field advantage would not be enough for them. Kadena would get 2 runs in the 3rd against Hamada and then extend that lead to 4. And while Ikehara for Kadena would give up 2 runs in the 7th, he cruised to victory giving his team its first ever Kyushu super-regional win!
Well, the majority of our field for the Spring Koshien is set, as well as our participants for the Meiji Jingu tournament. I'll recap that later today.
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