With less than 2 weeks to Natsu Koushien, we get a flurry of teams qualifying for Koushien. Here's what happened yesterday:
Fukushima - Nichidai Tohoku v. Seikou Gakuin
In this year where it seems like the underdog is finally giving the powerhouse teams their comeuppance, Nichidai Tohoku had a similar opportunity versus the king of the prefecture, Seikou Gakuin.
And it really looked like Nichidai would be able to pull off the upset. Seikou went from pitcher to pitcher to stem the tide, but couldn't as Nichidai Tohoku put run after another on the board to build a 6-2 lead. By the time the game hit the 9th, I was dead certain they would be able to do it.
And they were just one out away from doing it. But with runners on the corners and 2 out, Seikou put 3 hits together, and that 6-2 lead turned into a 6-6 ballgame.
Any time you have the underdog giving up a lead like that, especially in the final, usually the collapse is complete in regulation, or even if they survive into enchousen they can't regain momentum.
2 innings later, Seikou got runners on 1st and 2nd with no out, #3 batter Yananuma delivered the final blow to send Seikou to Koushien for another year.
Chiba - Toukaidai Bouyou v. Senshuudai Matsudo
After the melee in Chiba, 2 Tier 3 schools found themselves in the finals. As one of my twitter follows is wont to mention, Senshuudai Matsudo in prior years kept on losing late in the tournament in enchousen.
But in the round of 16, perhaps they exorcised the demons when they won a 3-2 win in 10 against Shiritsu Funabashi. That seemed to give them momentum as they put away Kisaradzu Sougou early, and then scored 5 early against Kashiwa Nittai to reach the finals.
Toukaidai Bouyou was the forgotten Toukai school in the prefecture - to Toukaidai Urayasu (they had defeated Narashino earlier). But they were always a respectable squad and always made a modest run.
This year was different. This time around they got some breaks. In their 2nd game, they had to walkoff Seibudai Chiba 3-2. Then was a very uncharacteristic 2-0 win over Sodegaura. And instead of facing Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku, they faced Kokubun instead and shut them out 5-0.
Wouldn't you know it, they would have to face sister school Toukaidai Urayasu in the semifinals. And you had to think that Bouyou's run would end here.
Nope, not even close.
In fact the scoreline would have you believe Bouyou was the dominant Toukai school. 12-2 in 5 innings!!
And holy crap, it's like Toukaidai Bouyou was just saving themselves for the stretch run, because in the final, Senshuudai Matsudo was absolutely no match. 6 runs in the 2nd to demoralize them, and the 6 in the 8th for the finishing blow, and they punch their first ever ticket to Natsu Koushien with authority in a 13-2 win.
Toyama - Toyama Shougyou v. Takaoka Shougyou
Sadly for those of us who loved Toyama Dai-ichi's run last year (the prefecture's deepest in 30 years), they showed some cracks early, and went down in the semifinals to Takaoka Shougyou. And outside of a 2-0 win in their 1st game over Toyama Kougyou, the run looked rather solid.
The same could not be said for Toyama Shougyou. Yes, they had some easy games to start, but then in the quarterfinals against Takaoka, they would go scoreless through regulation before wining in 10. And the semifinals against Fujikoshi Kougyou, they managed to keep them at arms length, but an 8-5 win going into the finals doesn't necessarily portend great things.
And early on, it looked like they would be had. After a couple scoreless, Takaoka Shougyou built a 3-0 lead. But that completely collapsed when Toyama Shougyou scored 6 in the 6th. And just for good measure they added 3 more in the 9th to avoid possible drama, and Toyama Shougyou makes their 1st trip in 10 years with a 9-3 win!
Gifu - Oogaki Nichidai v. Gifu Kougyou
Gifu Kougyou admittedly got some help to reach the finals. No Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou to deal with, and the other main players were on the other half of the bracket.
But they had earned their finals appearance with their performance, soundly defeating those in front of them with the exception of the semifinals where they had to use all 9 innings to defeat Gifu Sougou Gakuen 3-2.
But the prefecture was Oogaki Nichidai's to lose. Despite a narrow 3-0 win over Motoshi Shouyou, they easily manhandled their opponents up until defeating Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou 3-1.
The finals were no match. Oogaki Nichidai claimed their 2nd consecutive title with an 11-2 win.
Kyoto - Kyoto Subaru v. Ryuukokudai Heian
I thought maybe this might be Kyoto Subaru's year. Fukuchiyama Seibi fell, Kyoto Gaidai Nishi too. They almost didn't make the finals after coming back to defeat Katsura 8-7 after falling behind 5-0 after the first inning. A 10-0 win the semifinal over Yamashiro perhaps meant good momentum going into the finals.
But on the other side loomed the senbatsu champs Ryuukokudai Heian...
And let's just say that it wasn't pretty. 2 in the 1st and 3 in the 2nd and the rout was on. When it was all said and done, Heian will have a chance to go haru-natsu with a 10-0 win over Kyoto Subaru. Maybe next year guys...
Wakayama - Chiben Wakayama v. Shiritsu Wakayama
Chiben Wakayama has dominated the prefecture for a long time now. In the last 27 years, they have relinquished the natsu title just 7 times. For all the other schools in the prefecture that's rather frustrating knowing that the road to Koushien goes through them.
So it seemed this year too. Outside of a 4-1 win over Touin, it was double digit runs the rest of the way to the finals.
The team to try and slay the monster this year was Shiritsu Wakayama. They almost didn't even make it out of their first game, giving up a 2-0 lead to Wakayama Tousen before winning in 10. It got easier after that, culminating in a 4-1 over Wakayama Shougyou to reach the finals.
Still, it's not like they were lighting the world on fire, and it was Chiben Wakayama after all.
But in the finals, Shiritsu kept Chiben off the board after giving up a run in the 1st. That kept them in the game until the 7th, where it did indeed prove to be lucky for them. Ooshima would deliver the game-tying RBI and the game would remain tied at 1 into enchousen.
In the 11th, Chiben would take the lead again 2-1, but Shiritsu found a response in PH Abe who hit another clutch single to center.
The unbelievable happened one inning later, when with runners on 1st and 2nd, Setoguchi would drive a ball to left center, scoring the sayonara run giving Shiritsu Wakayama the 3-2 victory!!
Shimane - Taisha v. Kaisei
Taisha has been that model Tier 3 school in Shimane. Always good, never great. This year though was completely different, scoring double digits against all opponents until the semifinals where they trailed Yasugi 4-0 going into the bottom of the 9th. Yasugi's ace Saneshige couldn't close out the gae, and Taisha rallied for 4 in the 9th to tie the game. And in the 10th, Shimizu's base hit would complete the comeback to reach the finals.
Kaisei's road was a bit more rockier, but then again it was a bit more difficult as well. First was a 4-2 win over Risshoudai Shounan. Then down 6-0 to Iwamichisuikan, they scored 11 unanswered runs to advance to the semifinals. And then against unknown Daitou, they were in an old-fashioned brawl where after a scoreless 2 innings there were multiple ties and lead changes and 4 ties, but the decisive blow was a 5-run 6th by Kaisei to take a 10-7 lead. They would hold off a final charge by Taisei in the 9th, but they could only score 2 of the 3 runs needed to extend the game, falling 12-11.
In the final, Taisha would fight their best, but in the end another big inning by Kaisei would do them in. Kaisei wins 9-4 and heads back to Koushien.
Showing posts with label Shimane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shimane. Show all posts
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Where we stand (Part 3 - Central)
Gotta keep going, we're going to crown our first qualifier today...
Wakayama - Best 8 (en route)
Regardless of the fact that Minoshima won last year, it's still Chiben Wakayama's prefecture. Despite the slow start in their first game, Kishigawa took the brunt of the damage in a 10-0 win. Ito will be up next for the monarchs of the prefecture.
Minoshima was in some trouble today versus Wakayama Higashi, but 7 runs in the late stages helped push them to a 8-6 win. They may not be the ones to take on Chiben this year. Minabe and Wakayama Shougyou will play for the right to take on Minoshima next.
The rest of the games in the Best 16 are:
Wow, I can't even recognize a lot of the teams that have made the Round of 16.
And then there's the fact that Ryuukokudai Heian continues to play low-scoring games in advancing (though they just put up 5 runs to perhaps put Kyoto Kokusai in their place).
Fukuchiyama Seibi started slow, but did record a mercy rule win last over Horikawa. It will not get any easier as Otokuni defeated Kyoto Seishou, and Kyoto Shouei. Not bad.
The bottom half is filled with unknowns because there were some upsets. Ritsumeikan Uji? Gone yesterday at the hands of Hokuryou 2-1. Kyoto Gaidai Nishi? Gone as well, having trailed Rakutou 3-1 in their opening game before finding a way to tie it in the 9th but eventually lost 4-3 in 11. Might be a change for Kyoto Subaru to finally make some hay.
Tottori - Best 8 (en route)
They just started the Round of 16 play yesterday (they can take their time with just 24 schools).
Tottori Nishi could find the equalizer, but not the go-ahead as they fell to Kurayoshi Higashi 3-2 in 10. Yazu continued to increase their run production each inning in a 19-0 win over Kurayoshi Nougyou.
Today Tottori Jyouhoku never trailed but played the full 9 against Yonago Shouin in a 5-2 win. Yonago Kita meanwhile put crooked numbers up early and won 9-2 over Iwami 9-2 in 7.
Shimane - Round of 16
Shimane with just 39 teams means that for many, just 1 win gets you to the round of 16:
Wakayama - Best 8 (en route)
Regardless of the fact that Minoshima won last year, it's still Chiben Wakayama's prefecture. Despite the slow start in their first game, Kishigawa took the brunt of the damage in a 10-0 win. Ito will be up next for the monarchs of the prefecture.
Minoshima was in some trouble today versus Wakayama Higashi, but 7 runs in the late stages helped push them to a 8-6 win. They may not be the ones to take on Chiben this year. Minabe and Wakayama Shougyou will play for the right to take on Minoshima next.
The rest of the games in the Best 16 are:
- Shiritsu Wakayama v. Tanabe Kougyou
- Kouyasan v. Kouyou
- Kioukan v. Seirin
- Tanabe v. Naga
Wow, I can't even recognize a lot of the teams that have made the Round of 16.
Kita-Sagav. Ayabe - Nishio and Kuroda make a single run stick today for the win- Ryuukokudai Heian v. Kyoto Kokusai
- Higashiyama v. Nishi-Jyouyou
- Otokuni v. Fukuchiyama Seibi
- Seizan v. Yamashiro
- Hokuryou v. Higashi-Uji
- Rakutou v. Kyoto Subaru
- Kumiyama v. Katsura
And then there's the fact that Ryuukokudai Heian continues to play low-scoring games in advancing (though they just put up 5 runs to perhaps put Kyoto Kokusai in their place).
Fukuchiyama Seibi started slow, but did record a mercy rule win last over Horikawa. It will not get any easier as Otokuni defeated Kyoto Seishou, and Kyoto Shouei. Not bad.
The bottom half is filled with unknowns because there were some upsets. Ritsumeikan Uji? Gone yesterday at the hands of Hokuryou 2-1. Kyoto Gaidai Nishi? Gone as well, having trailed Rakutou 3-1 in their opening game before finding a way to tie it in the 9th but eventually lost 4-3 in 11. Might be a change for Kyoto Subaru to finally make some hay.
Tottori - Best 8 (en route)
They just started the Round of 16 play yesterday (they can take their time with just 24 schools).
Tottori Nishi could find the equalizer, but not the go-ahead as they fell to Kurayoshi Higashi 3-2 in 10. Yazu continued to increase their run production each inning in a 19-0 win over Kurayoshi Nougyou.
Today Tottori Jyouhoku never trailed but played the full 9 against Yonago Shouin in a 5-2 win. Yonago Kita meanwhile put crooked numbers up early and won 9-2 over Iwami 9-2 in 7.
Shimane - Round of 16
Shimane with just 39 teams means that for many, just 1 win gets you to the round of 16:
- Taisha v. Matsue Kougyou
- Matsue Nourin v. Matsue Higashi
- Yasu v. Gotsu
- Hamada v. Izumo Nishi
- Kaisei v. Risshoudai Shounan
- Izumo v. Iwamichisuikan
- Shimane Chuo v. Izumo Shougyou
- Meisei v. Daitou
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Aki Taikai Recap-to-date - Chuugoku
Couple more Super-regionals to go...
Okayama
Kanzei apparently was a one-shot deal and they're back to rebuilding as they lost in their first game in the prefecturals to Okayama Ridai Fuzoku 8-0...
Filling the gap is a familiar name - Soushi Gakuen. They dominated the prefecturals with their closest game being the final against Kurashiki Shougyou 8-4. And with Okayama hosting, it might be some good home cooking and a 2nd straight fall champion coming from Okayama.
Okayama Ridai Fuzoku made it to the semifinals, narrowly losing to Kurashiki Shougyou, and because Okayama is hosting they sneak in as the 4th team despite losing the consolation game to Okayama-ken Kyouei 9-6.
Hiroshima
Setouchi, whose ace Yamaoka Daisuke carried the team to their first Koushien, couldn't repeat the feat without him as they suffered a mercy rule loss in the 3rd round of the prefecturals to Hiroshima Shougyou.
Kouryou and Jyousuikan somehow drew each other in the first round with Kouryou winning easily 7-1. Interestingly, run prevention - not run scoring was the MO for Kouryou, but they couldn't keep it up losing in the semifinals to Hiroshima Shinjyou 6-2. Hiroshima Shinjyou would win the title, defeating fellow C Team Soutoku 6-2.
Kouryou being sent to the consolation game almost guaranteed that they would go as the final team. And sadly (for me anyways) it came at the expense of Onomichi. They narrowly lost to Soutoku 5-4 in the semifinals and then got blown out 8-2, missing out on the super-regionals.
Tottori
Man, just 23 schools participating in the Aki Taikai...
Tottori Jyouhoku, the natsu representative, after a slow start in a 3-2 win over Tottori Ikuei blew through the rest of the field, defeating Tottori Shougyou 9-3 in the finals.
Iwami claims the 3rd spot, defeating Kurayoshi Higashi 5-3.
Shimane
Iwami Chisuikan, who finally made it to Koushien after a long hiatus, will not be coming back for the fall. They advanced out of the 1st stage, but was soundly defeated 10-4 to Izumo Nishi in the first game of the 2nd stage.
Kaisei didn't even get out of the 1st stage, and Risshoudai Shounan lost to Yasugi in the quarterfinals, meaning that there was an opportunity for 3 new schools to reach the super-regionals.
Sadly, Yasugi actually wound up being the odd team out! They were narrowly defeated by Taisha 3-2 in the semifinals and then were shutout by Daitou 2-0 in the 3rd place game! As for Taisha, they would defeat the aforementioned Izumo Nishi 4-3 (their 3rd straight 1-run game) to claim the title.
Yamaguchi
Tottori would wind up being the only prefecture to send their natsu representative to the super-regionals as Iwakuni Shougyou would not get past the 2nd round of the regionals.
Filling the void would be fellow school Iwakuni. They did struggle with a 1-0 win over Hikari in the quarterfinals, then allowed Takagawa Gakuen to almost come back from a 6-0 deficit before winning the title 8-6. Takagawa Gakuen is an enigma, having used a 7-spot in the 8th to pull away from Tokuyama Shoukou then turning around to defeat Nanyou Kougyou 4-3.
Joining the two in the super-regionals will be Ube Shougyou. They almost let Saikyou come back in their first game, did not look too impressive, but reversed a 6-0 loss to Takagawa Gakuen and defeated Sakuragaoka to advance.
Okayama
Kanzei apparently was a one-shot deal and they're back to rebuilding as they lost in their first game in the prefecturals to Okayama Ridai Fuzoku 8-0...
Filling the gap is a familiar name - Soushi Gakuen. They dominated the prefecturals with their closest game being the final against Kurashiki Shougyou 8-4. And with Okayama hosting, it might be some good home cooking and a 2nd straight fall champion coming from Okayama.
Okayama Ridai Fuzoku made it to the semifinals, narrowly losing to Kurashiki Shougyou, and because Okayama is hosting they sneak in as the 4th team despite losing the consolation game to Okayama-ken Kyouei 9-6.
Hiroshima
Setouchi, whose ace Yamaoka Daisuke carried the team to their first Koushien, couldn't repeat the feat without him as they suffered a mercy rule loss in the 3rd round of the prefecturals to Hiroshima Shougyou.
Kouryou and Jyousuikan somehow drew each other in the first round with Kouryou winning easily 7-1. Interestingly, run prevention - not run scoring was the MO for Kouryou, but they couldn't keep it up losing in the semifinals to Hiroshima Shinjyou 6-2. Hiroshima Shinjyou would win the title, defeating fellow C Team Soutoku 6-2.
Kouryou being sent to the consolation game almost guaranteed that they would go as the final team. And sadly (for me anyways) it came at the expense of Onomichi. They narrowly lost to Soutoku 5-4 in the semifinals and then got blown out 8-2, missing out on the super-regionals.
Tottori
Man, just 23 schools participating in the Aki Taikai...
Tottori Jyouhoku, the natsu representative, after a slow start in a 3-2 win over Tottori Ikuei blew through the rest of the field, defeating Tottori Shougyou 9-3 in the finals.
Iwami claims the 3rd spot, defeating Kurayoshi Higashi 5-3.
Shimane
Iwami Chisuikan, who finally made it to Koushien after a long hiatus, will not be coming back for the fall. They advanced out of the 1st stage, but was soundly defeated 10-4 to Izumo Nishi in the first game of the 2nd stage.
Kaisei didn't even get out of the 1st stage, and Risshoudai Shounan lost to Yasugi in the quarterfinals, meaning that there was an opportunity for 3 new schools to reach the super-regionals.
Sadly, Yasugi actually wound up being the odd team out! They were narrowly defeated by Taisha 3-2 in the semifinals and then were shutout by Daitou 2-0 in the 3rd place game! As for Taisha, they would defeat the aforementioned Izumo Nishi 4-3 (their 3rd straight 1-run game) to claim the title.
Yamaguchi
Tottori would wind up being the only prefecture to send their natsu representative to the super-regionals as Iwakuni Shougyou would not get past the 2nd round of the regionals.
Filling the void would be fellow school Iwakuni. They did struggle with a 1-0 win over Hikari in the quarterfinals, then allowed Takagawa Gakuen to almost come back from a 6-0 deficit before winning the title 8-6. Takagawa Gakuen is an enigma, having used a 7-spot in the 8th to pull away from Tokuyama Shoukou then turning around to defeat Nanyou Kougyou 4-3.
Joining the two in the super-regionals will be Ube Shougyou. They almost let Saikyou come back in their first game, did not look too impressive, but reversed a 6-0 loss to Takagawa Gakuen and defeated Sakuragaoka to advance.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
7/26 Title Games
Ok, 17 champions have been crowned the last 2 days. Let's see who has advanced to Koushien:
7/26 Title Games
Iwate - Hanamaki Higashi (7th title, 1st in 2 years)
After a rainout on the scheduled day, Moriokadai Fuzoku and Hanamaki Higashi finally clashed.
Moriokadai jumped on Hanamaki in the first inning with an RBI by ace Matsumoto to score Saitou. Matsumoto would hold that lead until the 5th when back to back hits by Motegi and Hosokawa would give Hanamaki Higashi the 2-1 lead. One inning later, it would all fall apart for Matsumoto as Tadano and Motegi (who ended up going 2-3 on the day) would tally 3 more runs to put it out of reach. Hosokawa would scatter 1 run on 5 hits giving Hanamaki Higashi the title!
We know them for their grittiness. Will we see it again this year?
Yamagata - Nichidai Yamagata (16th appearance, 1st in 6 years)
The Yamagata final was also rained out. It perhaps allowed Yonezawa Chuo to contemplate rallying for the final against Nichidai Yamagata.
One day however, would wind up making little difference. For Nichidai Yamagata would put the game out of reach early. Takeda would start with squeeze bunt in the 2nd for a run. In the 3rd Mineta would deliver a 2-run HR to right in a 3-run 3rd.
It was all Nichidai Yamagata after that, as ace Shouji and Aoki would later add HR's of their own in a 7-3 rout for the title.
Yamagata has been winless in the last 6 Natsu Koushien tournaments. If there is any hope, they did to go the Best 8 in 2006. But does such a run exist for them?
Toyama - Toyama Dai-ichi (1st appearance!)
Toyama Dai-ichi was looking for their first title against Sakurai who was looking for their 5th.
Ace Miyamoto would help his own cause opening the scoring for Toyama Dai-ichi in the 2nd with a sac fly to center. 3 innings later Fukui would extend the lead with a base hit to left.
Sakurai would pull within 1 in the bottom of the 5th, but Terazaki and Miyamoto would drive in 2 more runs in the lucky 7th.
That would be enough for Miyamoto as Kuroda-kantoku would finally celebrate his schools first ever title! Now, can they parlay that into a win? Over the last decade, teams from Toyama have advanced to the next round just 40% of the time.
Fukui - Fukui Shougyou (22nd appearance, 1st in 2 years)
So Fukui Shougyou (though not a no-name team by any means), was on the verge on a unique double upset. If they managed to defeat Harue Kougyou in the final, they will have won the Fukui tournament defeating both Hokushinetsu senbatsu representatives!! And with Tsuruga Kehi looking the stronger of the two representatives, it looked certainly possible.
Cleanup batter Ooishi would open the scoring against ace Tsubota with a timely hit to center.
And, that's all that Fukushou would need! Nakamura Fumihide (中村 文英) would completely stifle the Harue offense giving up just 3 hits while striking out 9 in a 2-0 win to give Fukui Shougyou the title and completing the double upset!
Gifu - Oogaki Nichidai (2nd appearance, 1st in 6 years)
Despite having more Natsu Koushien title, Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou looked to be facing an uphill battle against Oogaki Nichidai.
Indeed, 3 straight hits ending with Naitou's 2-run triple followed by a sac fly from Takino would give Oogaki Nichidai a very quick 3-0 lead. Starter Nagano for Shiritsu Fukushou would be pulled after just 1/3 of an inning giving way to Koedo. Oogaki would add a run in the 3rd to make it a 4-run lead.
Starter Takada for Oogaki however would be unable to hold it. Over the next 3 innings, Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou would come back to tie the game.
But just when Shiritsu Gifushou got back into the game, it would slip away yet again. 2 on, and the new Oogaki pitcher Hashimoto would come up big with a 2-run double to right. One more run for good measure in the 7th, and Oogaki Nichidai would defeat Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou 7-4.
Shimane - Iwami Chisuikan (8th appearance, 1st in 8 years)
Iwami Chisuikan, formerly known as Gonokawa, would be looking for their first title since the name change. In their way was Risshoudai Shounan.
It did look like Iwami Chisuikan would be pulling off the rout jumping out to a 5-0 lead early. Ace Tanabe though would let Risshoudai get back within 1 over the next two innings.
But Risshoudai Shounan seemed to have troubles on the mound the entire game. After pulling starter Shimozono after just 2.1 innings, Yoshihara would give up just one run until the 7th when he was pulled after letting the leadoff runner on. Yoshimura would come in, but wound up giving up 4 runs (1 charged to Yoshihara), and that pretty much ended it for Risshoudai as Iwami Chisuikan would win 10-6 to claim their first title in 8 years!
Okayama - Tamano Kounan (3rd appearance, 1st in 11 years)
My dear Kanzei was just one game away from making it to Koushien. And with 4 quick runs early on, it seemed like perhaps they'd get there.
But in the 5th errors would plague Kanzei. 4 runs would come in, giving Tamano Kounan the 5-4 lead. Tamano ace Hoshi settled down after the shaky first 2 innings and would wind up striking out 7 and giving Tamano Kounan the title.
Kagawa - Marugame (4th appearance, 1st in 13 years)
To claim the title, Marugame would have to defeat the defending champions Jinsei Gakuen. It wound up being easier than anyone expected as they would break to a 3-0 lead over the 1st 3 innings, then blow it open late all while ace Miyazaki would give up just 1 run on 6 hits, striking out 9 in a resounding 8-1 victory.
7/26 Title Games
Iwate - Hanamaki Higashi (7th title, 1st in 2 years)
After a rainout on the scheduled day, Moriokadai Fuzoku and Hanamaki Higashi finally clashed.
Moriokadai jumped on Hanamaki in the first inning with an RBI by ace Matsumoto to score Saitou. Matsumoto would hold that lead until the 5th when back to back hits by Motegi and Hosokawa would give Hanamaki Higashi the 2-1 lead. One inning later, it would all fall apart for Matsumoto as Tadano and Motegi (who ended up going 2-3 on the day) would tally 3 more runs to put it out of reach. Hosokawa would scatter 1 run on 5 hits giving Hanamaki Higashi the title!
We know them for their grittiness. Will we see it again this year?
Yamagata - Nichidai Yamagata (16th appearance, 1st in 6 years)
The Yamagata final was also rained out. It perhaps allowed Yonezawa Chuo to contemplate rallying for the final against Nichidai Yamagata.
One day however, would wind up making little difference. For Nichidai Yamagata would put the game out of reach early. Takeda would start with squeeze bunt in the 2nd for a run. In the 3rd Mineta would deliver a 2-run HR to right in a 3-run 3rd.
It was all Nichidai Yamagata after that, as ace Shouji and Aoki would later add HR's of their own in a 7-3 rout for the title.
Yamagata has been winless in the last 6 Natsu Koushien tournaments. If there is any hope, they did to go the Best 8 in 2006. But does such a run exist for them?
Toyama - Toyama Dai-ichi (1st appearance!)
Toyama Dai-ichi was looking for their first title against Sakurai who was looking for their 5th.
Ace Miyamoto would help his own cause opening the scoring for Toyama Dai-ichi in the 2nd with a sac fly to center. 3 innings later Fukui would extend the lead with a base hit to left.
Sakurai would pull within 1 in the bottom of the 5th, but Terazaki and Miyamoto would drive in 2 more runs in the lucky 7th.
That would be enough for Miyamoto as Kuroda-kantoku would finally celebrate his schools first ever title! Now, can they parlay that into a win? Over the last decade, teams from Toyama have advanced to the next round just 40% of the time.
Fukui - Fukui Shougyou (22nd appearance, 1st in 2 years)
So Fukui Shougyou (though not a no-name team by any means), was on the verge on a unique double upset. If they managed to defeat Harue Kougyou in the final, they will have won the Fukui tournament defeating both Hokushinetsu senbatsu representatives!! And with Tsuruga Kehi looking the stronger of the two representatives, it looked certainly possible.
Cleanup batter Ooishi would open the scoring against ace Tsubota with a timely hit to center.
And, that's all that Fukushou would need! Nakamura Fumihide (中村 文英) would completely stifle the Harue offense giving up just 3 hits while striking out 9 in a 2-0 win to give Fukui Shougyou the title and completing the double upset!
Gifu - Oogaki Nichidai (2nd appearance, 1st in 6 years)
Despite having more Natsu Koushien title, Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou looked to be facing an uphill battle against Oogaki Nichidai.
Indeed, 3 straight hits ending with Naitou's 2-run triple followed by a sac fly from Takino would give Oogaki Nichidai a very quick 3-0 lead. Starter Nagano for Shiritsu Fukushou would be pulled after just 1/3 of an inning giving way to Koedo. Oogaki would add a run in the 3rd to make it a 4-run lead.
Starter Takada for Oogaki however would be unable to hold it. Over the next 3 innings, Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou would come back to tie the game.
But just when Shiritsu Gifushou got back into the game, it would slip away yet again. 2 on, and the new Oogaki pitcher Hashimoto would come up big with a 2-run double to right. One more run for good measure in the 7th, and Oogaki Nichidai would defeat Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou 7-4.
Shimane - Iwami Chisuikan (8th appearance, 1st in 8 years)
Iwami Chisuikan, formerly known as Gonokawa, would be looking for their first title since the name change. In their way was Risshoudai Shounan.
It did look like Iwami Chisuikan would be pulling off the rout jumping out to a 5-0 lead early. Ace Tanabe though would let Risshoudai get back within 1 over the next two innings.
But Risshoudai Shounan seemed to have troubles on the mound the entire game. After pulling starter Shimozono after just 2.1 innings, Yoshihara would give up just one run until the 7th when he was pulled after letting the leadoff runner on. Yoshimura would come in, but wound up giving up 4 runs (1 charged to Yoshihara), and that pretty much ended it for Risshoudai as Iwami Chisuikan would win 10-6 to claim their first title in 8 years!
Okayama - Tamano Kounan (3rd appearance, 1st in 11 years)
My dear Kanzei was just one game away from making it to Koushien. And with 4 quick runs early on, it seemed like perhaps they'd get there.
But in the 5th errors would plague Kanzei. 4 runs would come in, giving Tamano Kounan the 5-4 lead. Tamano ace Hoshi settled down after the shaky first 2 innings and would wind up striking out 7 and giving Tamano Kounan the title.
Kagawa - Marugame (4th appearance, 1st in 13 years)
To claim the title, Marugame would have to defeat the defending champions Jinsei Gakuen. It wound up being easier than anyone expected as they would break to a 3-0 lead over the 1st 3 innings, then blow it open late all while ace Miyazaki would give up just 1 run on 6 hits, striking out 9 in a resounding 8-1 victory.
Friday, July 26, 2013
7/26 Update - 3 champions, and 9 more today
Sorry, a headache pretty much KO'd me during games so I wasn't able to do an update.
Anyways, we're in crunchtime now as the number of teams qualifying by the day starts to ramp up hard.
First our qualifiers. The established guard ruled the day on the 25th.
Ibaraki - Jyousou Gakuin (15 appearance, 2nd consecutive)
There were very few surprises in Ibaraki this year.
Top seed Kasumigaura almost stumbled out of the block, sort of expected for a team newly in the upper ranks, in a 2-1 win over Hokota Dai-ichi. That would wake them up as they would outscore their opponents 22-2 thereafter to reach the semis. That shouldn't take away from their quarterfinal opponent Meishuu Higashi who had defeated Fujishiro in the prior round as flurries of runs were scored in the final innings.
On the other part of their half was Kashima Gakuen who clawed their way through the quadrant, which included a late game pull away from #5 seed Tsuchiura Kohoku 6-4, and Hitachi Dai-ichi who survived Tsuchiura Dai-san 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th then an upset of #4 seed Ishioka Dai-ichi 7-5. The two teams would be tied at 1 until Kashima Gakuen broke out for 4 runs in the 9th for the win.
In the other half of the quadrant, #2 Jyousou Gakuin breezed through their games, and in the quarterfinals continued to roll with a mercy rule win over Mito Kougyou who respectfully got through the bracket.
Meanwhile, both #3 Shimotsuma Dai-ni and #4 Suijyou were methodically working their way through. Suijyou after a pair of mercy-rule games, took an early lead over Tsuchiura Dai-ichi 5-0 then held off to win 5-3. Shimotsuma Dai-ni you could say slowly warmed up. After a 4-3 win over Tsuchiura Dai-ni, had a better 5-2 win over Mito Sakuranomaki before blowing away Taga. The warming up though wouldn't be enough as Suijyou's RBI by cleanup batter Hayashi Ryou (林 涼) would be enough to send them to the semis.
Both semfiinals wound up being one-sided. Both Kasumigaura and Jyousou Gakuin cruised through to the finals.
Kasumigaura had a chance this year to finally breakthrough. In 2011, they lost in the bottom of the 9th against Fujishiro, and last year they fell in the quarterfinals. Now, prefectural stalwart Jyousou Gakuin stood in the way.
But much like 2011, Kasumigaura took the early lead with a run in the top of the first, and then even added a run in the 8th for good measure.
The pitching side seemed to be holding. Starter Ueno went short of 5 innings but didn't allow a run. Ichige came in relief and continued to shut down the favorites...
Until the 8th.
Ichige would be tagged with back to back RBI hits by Yoshizawa and Ikezawa and before you knew it the game was tied. Katano, who was part of that 2011 game, came in relief and got out of the inning.
But something was probably in the back of Kasumigaura's minds. Perhaps the shades of 2011 haunted them. Perhaps my theory of what the schools just below the "powerhouse" tiers holds true - that teams need to learn how to win the big game, to not be intimidated by their history or the history of the other teams. To just play with no abandon regardless of the opponent.
Because with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, Kasumigaura would suffer the same fate as 2011. Cleanup batter Uchida would blast a sayonara 2-run HR off Katano to give Jyousou Gakuin their 2nd consecutive title... and leave Kasumigaura broken for 2 of the last 3 years.
Niigata - Nihon Bunri (7th appearance, 1st in 2 years)
This year may have been Murakami Sakuragaoka's best chance to win the title. Constantly exiting either in the 3rd round or the semifinals, they finally got to the title game. But Nihon Bunri stood in the way of them and the title.
Murakami Sakuragaoka looked really good in the title game, pinging Nihon Bunri for a run in the first 2 innings. And even after ace Shiina gave up a 3 spot in the 4th, Murakami pocked ace Ooyanai? Yoshinori (大谷内 睦規) for another run in the 5th and 6th innings to take the lead. However, Shiina's downfall would be the big inning. Nihon Bunri would score 4 in the 7th knocking Shiina out of the game and giving themselves a lead that just forced their opponents to get a run an inning. After a scoreless bottom of the 7th, it was all but over as Nihon Bunri won the title 7-5.
Kumamoto - Kumamoto Kougyou (20th appearance, 1st in 4 years)
Buntoku had been to Koushien twice before, both summer appearances. And they performed very well in recent years, losing in the 3rd round or the quarterfinal game. This year though they would have to defeat Kumamoto Kougyou, who had been to Koushien quite often in the 2000's, but was quiet so far in this decade. Still, they have a much bigger history at Koushien than Buntoku.
Once again, it was the underdog who jumped out ahead with a run in the bottom of the first. Kumamoto Kougyou would respond quickly tying the game in the 2nd. Forward to the 5th inning and an error would help Buntoku take a 4-1 lead. Ace Honda seemed to make that lead stick... that is until the 8th where with 2 down and runners on 2nd and 3rd, Nishiyama and ace Yamashita would deliver back to back hits to tie the game.
The game would stay tied until the 10th where Kudou, who entered the game as a PH earlier, would deliver what would end up being the game winning RBI to give Kumamoto Kougyou their first appearance in Koushien this decade.
And now for our final games today.
Iwate
When play finally started in Iwate it became clear that being a seeded team didn't mean a whole hill of beans. 3 seeded teams failed to get past their first game! Kurosawajiri Kougyou, Touno and Morioka Shiritsu all fell flat. Even Moriokadai Fuzoku narrowly beat Morioka Nougyou 5-3 in their opener. Senshuudai Kitakami fell one round later to Kuji Kougyou 6-4.
With one exception (Fukuoka), the schools who upset the seeded teams joined the remaining seeds (who had no trouble at all) in the Best 8.
Oddly enough, all 4 seeded teams were facing no seeds in the quarterfinals.
Morioka Dai-yon and Hanamaki Higashi handled their games easily over Fukuoka and Kuji Kougyou respectively, Ichinoseki Gakuin not surprisingly struggled with Kamaishi Shoukou but won 5-4, and in a bit of a surprise Mizusawa played to a 2-2 draw with Moriokadai Fuzoku! However, a replay generally favors the favorite and true to form Moriokadai won 8-3 in the replay.
So the semifinals would feature Moriokadai Fuzoku facing Ichinoseki Gakuin, and Morioka Dai-yon squaring with Hanamaki Higashi. Ichinoseki Gakuin fell flat once again, providing little resistance to Morioka Dai-ichi, while Hanamaki Higashi gritted their way with a 2-run 8th to get past Morioka Dai-yon and ace Nagasuzu 4-3.
And while they had to wait a day due to rain, familiar foes in Moriokadai Fuzoku and Hanamaki Higashi will face off for the Iwate title.
Yamagata
As much as Tenri has disappointed me over the years, so has Haguro in Yamagata. In fact, they stooped to a new low. Earning the #1 seed, they promptly lost their first game 3-1 to Tsuruoka Higashi.
The 4 seeded teams to reach the semifinals may not have been high seeds, but they are established strong teams within the prefecture.
With top seed Haguro out of the way, #6 Nichidai Yamagata was able to easily win their 3 games to reach the semis. They will play #3 seed Sakata Minami who needed no help, outscoring their opponents 37-3.
On the other half, #2 seed Kunori Gakuen has been better as of late, but doesn't have the experience it seems losing in the 3rd round 2-1 in 14 innings to Shinjyou Higashi. They would face #5 Yamagata Chuo for the right to be in the semis. And while they made a great rally, a 7 run deficit was just too much to overcome as they fell 7-6. #4 seed Yonezawa Chuo was in dire straits after ace Satou surrendered 3 runs to Toukaidai Yamagata in the final 2 innings. But amazingly down 7-5, his team rallies for 3 runs for the comeback victory!
So two veterans on one side of the bracket and two hopefuls on the other. Both semifinal games expected to be very close affairs.
But interestingly, the game between Sakata Minami and Nichidai Yamagata almost was a blowout! After a 5-run 1st by Nichidai it looked rather bad for the defending champs. But they were not defending champions, nor representative 5 of the last 10 years for nothing. They would claw back to within 2 runs by the 4th inning. However, that would be as close as they would get as Nichidai would put up a pair in the 7th to put the game out of reach winning 8-5.
In the battle of Chuo schools, Yamagata Chuo was marked as the favorite - especially since they were able to reach senbatsu earlier this year. But Yonezawa Chuo was not fazed at all. For each time Yamagata was able to get to ace Satou early on, his offense would come right back to level the score. Finally in the 8th, Yonezawa was able to pull ahead as Kusano delivered a timely hit on reliever Ishikawa. Satou was almost able to close it out, but gave up the douten run in the bottom of the 9th. Yonezawa brought them on the precipice of the finals again with a run in the 10th over ace Takahashi (who returned back to the mound), but once against Satou was not able to keep the lead.
Wouldn't you know it though, Yonezawa would do it again in the 11th. Kouchi, easily the man of the game, got his 3rd RBI with his 3rd hit of the game. This time, Satou would finally pitch a clean inning to win the game and send the team to the finals.
Toyama
Toyama went surprisingly smoothly if you were a top seeded team.
Well, almost.
1-2 seed Toyama Shougyou was actually upset by Himi in their 2nd game 4-2 in 12 innings. Himi almost pulled off the double upset, but Jige was unable to hold, resulting in a 2-1 loss to Sakurai. The only other seeded team to lose prior to the quarterfinals was Takaoka Shougyou who fell 6-4 to Takaoka Dai-ichi.
Otherwise, fellow 1-2 seed Toyama Dai-ichi, and 3-4 seeds Tonami Kougyou and Shin-Minato were able to reach the semis. Toyama Dai-ichi blowing through the field, Tonami Kougyou having a little resitance, and Shin-Minato just getting by Tonami Kokusaidai Fuzoku 2-1.
Shin-Minato would narrowly lose to Sakurai 3-2, while Toyama Dai-ichi would mercy rule Tonami Kougyou in 5 innings. Suffice it to say that the title appears to be Toyama Dai-ichi's to lose.
Fukui
So, the final shouldn't have been a surprise really. The Hokushinetsu region was represented by 2 teams from Fukui, so why wouldn't Tsuruga Kehi and Harue Kougyou reach the finals?
Well, for Tsuruga Kehi, their draw included possible games against Fukui Koudai Fukui and Fukui Shougyou, and that is no easy task. They got through Fukui Koudai Fukui 5-1, but wound up stumbling against Fukui Shougyou 5-1. With the major competition out of the way, a routine 5-1 win over Fukui Nourin put them in the finals.
What about Harue Kougyou? They were admittedly the weaker team it seemed despite winning the Hokushinetsu region last fall.
Well, they've survived by the skin of their teeth. Literally.
First up, Keishin. Tied 1-1 going into the 9th, they get the sayonara run off reliever Kitada to advance. Then was Sabae. Despite getting out to a 3-0 lead in the first, Sabae would tie it at 4 by the 6th inning. This game would go into extras before Harue Kougyou would again deliver the sayonara blow in the 11th by cleanup batter Ono.
Finally, Tsuruga Kougyou. Ace Hirata was able to limit their opponent for 4 hits through 10 innings as Kinoshita finally delivered the game winning sac fly to send them to the finals 1-0.
So, despite being at Koushien this spring, Harue Kougyou looks to be the underdog against Fukui Shougyou.
Gifu
Gifu was rather scratch as well. The top 8 seeds advanced to the block finals with the only exception being C Block top seed Mashita Seifu. With their early exit, Chuukyou breezed through to the block finals to face Nagara.
In A Block, Oogaki Nichidai continued their roll through by defeating a surely depleted Teikyoudai Kani squad who needed a sayonara 2-run HR by to rally to defeat Seki Shoukou 6-4 in the bottom of the 9th.
Moving on to B Block, and Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou got a big scare as they trailed Gifu Dai-ichi 2-1. But they get to ace Koshikawa with a run in the 8th, then the sayonara run in the 9th to advance to the block finals. They would face a Minokamo squad who like Teikyoudai Kani, rallied for down 6-3 with 7 unanswered runs in the 7th and 8th off off Kanou ace Gotou for the win.
Yet Minokamo was game for the vaunted Kengifushou. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead right off the bat. Ace Asano would try to hold the lead for the rest of the game, but would surrender the lead after giving up a run in the 4th and 5th. The final blow would be in the 7th as cleanup batter Takenaka would deliver the gyakuten timely hit to win 3-2.
As mentioned in Block C, Chuukyou breezed through to face a Nagara team that had two close calls. Nagara would put up a fight, but found themselves playing a game of catchup they couldn't win following a 3-run 5th. Chuukyou would advance out of the block 7-5.
And finally in Block D, both Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou and Toki Shougyou would actually have a little difficulty getting through the block. Both only had one mercy rule victory, and both needed to survive a close game against a no-name opponent (sorry Hida-Takayama and Oogaki Minami).
The block final would go to Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou as they would put up at least a run in 8 of the 9 innings defeating Toki Shougyou 14-8.
In the semifinals, Block D and Block C would play, leaving Blocks A & B to play in the other semi.
Chuukyou was game for Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou, taking the lead in the 6th with a timely hit from 2nd pitcher Takagi. However, his lead would not last long as he would relinquish runs in the 7th and 8th innings giving Shigifushou the 2-1 win.
The other semifinal was not as competitive. As much as perhaps people wanted an all-Gifu Shougyou final, ace Fujita just did not have it against Oogaki Nichidai. A pair of runs in the 1st turned out to be enough as they pulled away 5-1.
So it will be Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou and Oogaki Nichidai in the final.
Shimane
Shimane looked to have two powerhouses barreling towards the final. One one side Kaisei, who barred through their 3 games going just 17 innings. On the other, Risshoudai Shounan, who wasn't as dominant, still got through their 3 games with relative ease (though against Matsue Kita in their 3rd game they had just one outburst in the 7th for the 3-0 win).
Standing in Kaisei's way to the finals was Iwamichisuikan. They worked their way through the bottom of the bracket all the way to face seeded Hamada. In that quarterfinal game, Iwamichisuikan would put Hamada behind the 8-ball early and often. Despite Hamada tying the game in the 5th, the constant pressure on ace Miura would be too much. 4 runs in the final 3 innings sealed Hamada's fate.
In the semifinal, Iwamichisuikan's Tanabe would outpitch Kaisei ace Onda with cleanup batter Nishida delivering the fatal blow with a HR in the bottom of the 8th. Iwamichisuikan would advance to the final game with a 2-1 win.
Risshoudai Shounan's opponent would be Matsue Shougyou. Having upset Masuda Shougyou, ace Masumoto would outlast Matsue Nourin's Aoyama and and Kadowaki to win 8-5 in 13 innings. An easy win over Masuda Higashi set up the semifinal matchup.
While taking the early lead, Masumoto would get rocked in the middle innings leaving Matsueshou trailing 4-1. His offense would rally in the next 2 innings to tie the game, but bottom 9 Shimozono would deliver the sayonara hit for Risshoudai Shounan to move on to the finals where Iwamichisuikan awaits.
Okayama
Oddly enough, it was better to be a lower seeded team than a higher seeded team this year.
1-4 seed Okayama Jyoutou was the first to fall, being shutout by Kouyou 4-0. Okayama Rikadai Fuzoku would be next to fall one round later, with a 6-2 loss to Kurashiki Kougyou.
However, neither would advance to the best 4. 5-8 seed Kanzei, who was not challenged up until that point, would pull away from Kouyou late to win 5-2. As for Kurashiki Kougyou, while Koujyoukan did suffer a scare from Takahashi Nisshin, ace Fukushima would throw a 4-hit shutout to eliminate the challengers.
In the other 2 quadrants, 1-4 seed Kurashiki Shougyou would face a surely tired 5-8 Okayama Higashi Shougyou squad. They wound up playing Mizushima Kougyou to a 6-6 draw, then just survived in the replay 2-1, then won another 1-run game against Sakuyou.
Perhaps the close games helped Okayama Higashi Shougyou because ace Nogami made a 3-2 2nd inning lead stick to advance the team to a semifinal match versus Kanzei.
And finally, 5-8 Okayama Kyousei was no match for 1-4 Tamano Kounan. Despite a small hiccup versus Mimasaka, where they just managed 1 run on 8 hits, they blew out Kyousei 10-0.
In the semifinals, the bottom of the order would stake Kanzei ace Kodama to a 2-0 lead as Tobe and Ichihara get back-to-back timely hits. Kodama would make that lead stick winning 3-2.
The other semifinal was rather bizarre. First Koujyoukan would go out to a 3-1 lead. Fukushima would hold that score until the 7th and 8th when Tamano pulled within 1, then tied the game. Reliever Satake would come in to try and keep the game level, but wound up giving up the gyakuten run to send the top seed to the finals.
What's so strange about that? They did it on just 4 hits.
Kagawa
Kagawa's top 4 seeds this year did not seem like the usual suspects (with the exception of top seed Jinsei Gakuen). #2 Kotohira and #3 Tadotsu both were teams that had not fared well, but for some reason had success in the spring. Only #4 Marugame Jyousei made some sense as they have been one of the betters teams in prefecture.
And things played out like you expected. Sort of.
Kanonji Chuo gave Jinsei Gakuen a proper fright, but reliever Nakayama kept the score at 4-3 in the final 6 frames. After that Kagawa Tousen Takamatsu actually led Jinsei into the 2nd half of the game, but reliever Yoshinari couldn't maintain the 3-1 lead. A pair of runs in the 7th and 8th spelled their downfall.
So Jinsei Gakuen as a seeded team made the semifinals. They would wind up being the only seeded team to do so.
After getting by a tough 1st round draw in Sangawa, Marugame Jyousei slid past Iiyama to reach the quarterfinals. There they would face an Eimei team who had beaten an unknown Shido team 1-0, then jumped on reliever Matsumoto for Sanbonmatsu who proceeded to fritter away a 7-2 lead and then take the loss in the 10th. Eimei wound up being up for the task, routing Marugame Jyousei 8-1 in 8 innings.
Things were even worse on the other half. Tadotsu, despite just 5 hits, was able to defeat Takamatsu Nishi 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th. But against Takamatsu Shougyou in the next round? Annihilated in 5 innings 10-0.
And Kotohira? Don't even ask. Takamatsu Minami limits them to just 1 run on 3 hits as they "upset" the #2 seed 4-1.
So who would jump on the opportunity? Well, Takamatsu Kita game Takamatsu Minami a job well done, defeated them 5-3, and then 4-hit Shoudouhima to advance to the Best 4. Marugame, despite needing to comeback against Ootemae Takamatsu's relief corps in game 2, took out Takamatsu Shougyou 5-2 to move themselves on the hill.
Semifinal 1 pitted the two heavyweights Jinsei Gakuen and Eimei. The aces traded donuts for the longest time before Nakayama caved and allowed the first run in the 7th for Eimei. Doi would come in relief for the 8th, but gave up 2 more runs. All seemed lost for Jinsei, but Eimei's ace Akagawa cracked in the bottom of the inning. A 2-run timely hit by SS Nishimaru, and another RBI from Oonishi tied the game at 3. Fast forward to the 9th, and Nishimaru would get one more crack at Akagawa. Sure enough, he delivered the sayonara hit to score Shinohara and send Jinsei Gakuen to the finals.
The 2nd semifinal was not exciting at all sadly. Takamatsu Kita was definitely the odd man in the bunch, and well... Starter Horie would not even finish the first inning as Marugame scored 11 runs in the 1st inning. They would win 11-0 on 5 hits and 8 walks...
So it's Marugame and Jinsei Gakuen in the final.
Anyways, we're in crunchtime now as the number of teams qualifying by the day starts to ramp up hard.
First our qualifiers. The established guard ruled the day on the 25th.
Ibaraki - Jyousou Gakuin (15 appearance, 2nd consecutive)
There were very few surprises in Ibaraki this year.
Top seed Kasumigaura almost stumbled out of the block, sort of expected for a team newly in the upper ranks, in a 2-1 win over Hokota Dai-ichi. That would wake them up as they would outscore their opponents 22-2 thereafter to reach the semis. That shouldn't take away from their quarterfinal opponent Meishuu Higashi who had defeated Fujishiro in the prior round as flurries of runs were scored in the final innings.
On the other part of their half was Kashima Gakuen who clawed their way through the quadrant, which included a late game pull away from #5 seed Tsuchiura Kohoku 6-4, and Hitachi Dai-ichi who survived Tsuchiura Dai-san 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th then an upset of #4 seed Ishioka Dai-ichi 7-5. The two teams would be tied at 1 until Kashima Gakuen broke out for 4 runs in the 9th for the win.
In the other half of the quadrant, #2 Jyousou Gakuin breezed through their games, and in the quarterfinals continued to roll with a mercy rule win over Mito Kougyou who respectfully got through the bracket.
Meanwhile, both #3 Shimotsuma Dai-ni and #4 Suijyou were methodically working their way through. Suijyou after a pair of mercy-rule games, took an early lead over Tsuchiura Dai-ichi 5-0 then held off to win 5-3. Shimotsuma Dai-ni you could say slowly warmed up. After a 4-3 win over Tsuchiura Dai-ni, had a better 5-2 win over Mito Sakuranomaki before blowing away Taga. The warming up though wouldn't be enough as Suijyou's RBI by cleanup batter Hayashi Ryou (林 涼) would be enough to send them to the semis.
Both semfiinals wound up being one-sided. Both Kasumigaura and Jyousou Gakuin cruised through to the finals.
Kasumigaura had a chance this year to finally breakthrough. In 2011, they lost in the bottom of the 9th against Fujishiro, and last year they fell in the quarterfinals. Now, prefectural stalwart Jyousou Gakuin stood in the way.
But much like 2011, Kasumigaura took the early lead with a run in the top of the first, and then even added a run in the 8th for good measure.
The pitching side seemed to be holding. Starter Ueno went short of 5 innings but didn't allow a run. Ichige came in relief and continued to shut down the favorites...
Until the 8th.
Ichige would be tagged with back to back RBI hits by Yoshizawa and Ikezawa and before you knew it the game was tied. Katano, who was part of that 2011 game, came in relief and got out of the inning.
But something was probably in the back of Kasumigaura's minds. Perhaps the shades of 2011 haunted them. Perhaps my theory of what the schools just below the "powerhouse" tiers holds true - that teams need to learn how to win the big game, to not be intimidated by their history or the history of the other teams. To just play with no abandon regardless of the opponent.
Because with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, Kasumigaura would suffer the same fate as 2011. Cleanup batter Uchida would blast a sayonara 2-run HR off Katano to give Jyousou Gakuin their 2nd consecutive title... and leave Kasumigaura broken for 2 of the last 3 years.
Niigata - Nihon Bunri (7th appearance, 1st in 2 years)
This year may have been Murakami Sakuragaoka's best chance to win the title. Constantly exiting either in the 3rd round or the semifinals, they finally got to the title game. But Nihon Bunri stood in the way of them and the title.
Murakami Sakuragaoka looked really good in the title game, pinging Nihon Bunri for a run in the first 2 innings. And even after ace Shiina gave up a 3 spot in the 4th, Murakami pocked ace Ooyanai? Yoshinori (大谷内 睦規) for another run in the 5th and 6th innings to take the lead. However, Shiina's downfall would be the big inning. Nihon Bunri would score 4 in the 7th knocking Shiina out of the game and giving themselves a lead that just forced their opponents to get a run an inning. After a scoreless bottom of the 7th, it was all but over as Nihon Bunri won the title 7-5.
Kumamoto - Kumamoto Kougyou (20th appearance, 1st in 4 years)
Buntoku had been to Koushien twice before, both summer appearances. And they performed very well in recent years, losing in the 3rd round or the quarterfinal game. This year though they would have to defeat Kumamoto Kougyou, who had been to Koushien quite often in the 2000's, but was quiet so far in this decade. Still, they have a much bigger history at Koushien than Buntoku.
Once again, it was the underdog who jumped out ahead with a run in the bottom of the first. Kumamoto Kougyou would respond quickly tying the game in the 2nd. Forward to the 5th inning and an error would help Buntoku take a 4-1 lead. Ace Honda seemed to make that lead stick... that is until the 8th where with 2 down and runners on 2nd and 3rd, Nishiyama and ace Yamashita would deliver back to back hits to tie the game.
The game would stay tied until the 10th where Kudou, who entered the game as a PH earlier, would deliver what would end up being the game winning RBI to give Kumamoto Kougyou their first appearance in Koushien this decade.
And now for our final games today.
Iwate
When play finally started in Iwate it became clear that being a seeded team didn't mean a whole hill of beans. 3 seeded teams failed to get past their first game! Kurosawajiri Kougyou, Touno and Morioka Shiritsu all fell flat. Even Moriokadai Fuzoku narrowly beat Morioka Nougyou 5-3 in their opener. Senshuudai Kitakami fell one round later to Kuji Kougyou 6-4.
With one exception (Fukuoka), the schools who upset the seeded teams joined the remaining seeds (who had no trouble at all) in the Best 8.
Oddly enough, all 4 seeded teams were facing no seeds in the quarterfinals.
Morioka Dai-yon and Hanamaki Higashi handled their games easily over Fukuoka and Kuji Kougyou respectively, Ichinoseki Gakuin not surprisingly struggled with Kamaishi Shoukou but won 5-4, and in a bit of a surprise Mizusawa played to a 2-2 draw with Moriokadai Fuzoku! However, a replay generally favors the favorite and true to form Moriokadai won 8-3 in the replay.
So the semifinals would feature Moriokadai Fuzoku facing Ichinoseki Gakuin, and Morioka Dai-yon squaring with Hanamaki Higashi. Ichinoseki Gakuin fell flat once again, providing little resistance to Morioka Dai-ichi, while Hanamaki Higashi gritted their way with a 2-run 8th to get past Morioka Dai-yon and ace Nagasuzu 4-3.
And while they had to wait a day due to rain, familiar foes in Moriokadai Fuzoku and Hanamaki Higashi will face off for the Iwate title.
Yamagata
As much as Tenri has disappointed me over the years, so has Haguro in Yamagata. In fact, they stooped to a new low. Earning the #1 seed, they promptly lost their first game 3-1 to Tsuruoka Higashi.
The 4 seeded teams to reach the semifinals may not have been high seeds, but they are established strong teams within the prefecture.
With top seed Haguro out of the way, #6 Nichidai Yamagata was able to easily win their 3 games to reach the semis. They will play #3 seed Sakata Minami who needed no help, outscoring their opponents 37-3.
On the other half, #2 seed Kunori Gakuen has been better as of late, but doesn't have the experience it seems losing in the 3rd round 2-1 in 14 innings to Shinjyou Higashi. They would face #5 Yamagata Chuo for the right to be in the semis. And while they made a great rally, a 7 run deficit was just too much to overcome as they fell 7-6. #4 seed Yonezawa Chuo was in dire straits after ace Satou surrendered 3 runs to Toukaidai Yamagata in the final 2 innings. But amazingly down 7-5, his team rallies for 3 runs for the comeback victory!
So two veterans on one side of the bracket and two hopefuls on the other. Both semifinal games expected to be very close affairs.
But interestingly, the game between Sakata Minami and Nichidai Yamagata almost was a blowout! After a 5-run 1st by Nichidai it looked rather bad for the defending champs. But they were not defending champions, nor representative 5 of the last 10 years for nothing. They would claw back to within 2 runs by the 4th inning. However, that would be as close as they would get as Nichidai would put up a pair in the 7th to put the game out of reach winning 8-5.
In the battle of Chuo schools, Yamagata Chuo was marked as the favorite - especially since they were able to reach senbatsu earlier this year. But Yonezawa Chuo was not fazed at all. For each time Yamagata was able to get to ace Satou early on, his offense would come right back to level the score. Finally in the 8th, Yonezawa was able to pull ahead as Kusano delivered a timely hit on reliever Ishikawa. Satou was almost able to close it out, but gave up the douten run in the bottom of the 9th. Yonezawa brought them on the precipice of the finals again with a run in the 10th over ace Takahashi (who returned back to the mound), but once against Satou was not able to keep the lead.
Wouldn't you know it though, Yonezawa would do it again in the 11th. Kouchi, easily the man of the game, got his 3rd RBI with his 3rd hit of the game. This time, Satou would finally pitch a clean inning to win the game and send the team to the finals.
Toyama
Toyama went surprisingly smoothly if you were a top seeded team.
Well, almost.
1-2 seed Toyama Shougyou was actually upset by Himi in their 2nd game 4-2 in 12 innings. Himi almost pulled off the double upset, but Jige was unable to hold, resulting in a 2-1 loss to Sakurai. The only other seeded team to lose prior to the quarterfinals was Takaoka Shougyou who fell 6-4 to Takaoka Dai-ichi.
Otherwise, fellow 1-2 seed Toyama Dai-ichi, and 3-4 seeds Tonami Kougyou and Shin-Minato were able to reach the semis. Toyama Dai-ichi blowing through the field, Tonami Kougyou having a little resitance, and Shin-Minato just getting by Tonami Kokusaidai Fuzoku 2-1.
Shin-Minato would narrowly lose to Sakurai 3-2, while Toyama Dai-ichi would mercy rule Tonami Kougyou in 5 innings. Suffice it to say that the title appears to be Toyama Dai-ichi's to lose.
Fukui
So, the final shouldn't have been a surprise really. The Hokushinetsu region was represented by 2 teams from Fukui, so why wouldn't Tsuruga Kehi and Harue Kougyou reach the finals?
Well, for Tsuruga Kehi, their draw included possible games against Fukui Koudai Fukui and Fukui Shougyou, and that is no easy task. They got through Fukui Koudai Fukui 5-1, but wound up stumbling against Fukui Shougyou 5-1. With the major competition out of the way, a routine 5-1 win over Fukui Nourin put them in the finals.
What about Harue Kougyou? They were admittedly the weaker team it seemed despite winning the Hokushinetsu region last fall.
Well, they've survived by the skin of their teeth. Literally.
First up, Keishin. Tied 1-1 going into the 9th, they get the sayonara run off reliever Kitada to advance. Then was Sabae. Despite getting out to a 3-0 lead in the first, Sabae would tie it at 4 by the 6th inning. This game would go into extras before Harue Kougyou would again deliver the sayonara blow in the 11th by cleanup batter Ono.
Finally, Tsuruga Kougyou. Ace Hirata was able to limit their opponent for 4 hits through 10 innings as Kinoshita finally delivered the game winning sac fly to send them to the finals 1-0.
So, despite being at Koushien this spring, Harue Kougyou looks to be the underdog against Fukui Shougyou.
Gifu
Gifu was rather scratch as well. The top 8 seeds advanced to the block finals with the only exception being C Block top seed Mashita Seifu. With their early exit, Chuukyou breezed through to the block finals to face Nagara.
In A Block, Oogaki Nichidai continued their roll through by defeating a surely depleted Teikyoudai Kani squad who needed a sayonara 2-run HR by to rally to defeat Seki Shoukou 6-4 in the bottom of the 9th.
Moving on to B Block, and Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou got a big scare as they trailed Gifu Dai-ichi 2-1. But they get to ace Koshikawa with a run in the 8th, then the sayonara run in the 9th to advance to the block finals. They would face a Minokamo squad who like Teikyoudai Kani, rallied for down 6-3 with 7 unanswered runs in the 7th and 8th off off Kanou ace Gotou for the win.
Yet Minokamo was game for the vaunted Kengifushou. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead right off the bat. Ace Asano would try to hold the lead for the rest of the game, but would surrender the lead after giving up a run in the 4th and 5th. The final blow would be in the 7th as cleanup batter Takenaka would deliver the gyakuten timely hit to win 3-2.
As mentioned in Block C, Chuukyou breezed through to face a Nagara team that had two close calls. Nagara would put up a fight, but found themselves playing a game of catchup they couldn't win following a 3-run 5th. Chuukyou would advance out of the block 7-5.
And finally in Block D, both Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou and Toki Shougyou would actually have a little difficulty getting through the block. Both only had one mercy rule victory, and both needed to survive a close game against a no-name opponent (sorry Hida-Takayama and Oogaki Minami).
The block final would go to Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou as they would put up at least a run in 8 of the 9 innings defeating Toki Shougyou 14-8.
In the semifinals, Block D and Block C would play, leaving Blocks A & B to play in the other semi.
Chuukyou was game for Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou, taking the lead in the 6th with a timely hit from 2nd pitcher Takagi. However, his lead would not last long as he would relinquish runs in the 7th and 8th innings giving Shigifushou the 2-1 win.
The other semifinal was not as competitive. As much as perhaps people wanted an all-Gifu Shougyou final, ace Fujita just did not have it against Oogaki Nichidai. A pair of runs in the 1st turned out to be enough as they pulled away 5-1.
So it will be Shiritsu Gifu Shougyou and Oogaki Nichidai in the final.
Shimane
Shimane looked to have two powerhouses barreling towards the final. One one side Kaisei, who barred through their 3 games going just 17 innings. On the other, Risshoudai Shounan, who wasn't as dominant, still got through their 3 games with relative ease (though against Matsue Kita in their 3rd game they had just one outburst in the 7th for the 3-0 win).
Standing in Kaisei's way to the finals was Iwamichisuikan. They worked their way through the bottom of the bracket all the way to face seeded Hamada. In that quarterfinal game, Iwamichisuikan would put Hamada behind the 8-ball early and often. Despite Hamada tying the game in the 5th, the constant pressure on ace Miura would be too much. 4 runs in the final 3 innings sealed Hamada's fate.
In the semifinal, Iwamichisuikan's Tanabe would outpitch Kaisei ace Onda with cleanup batter Nishida delivering the fatal blow with a HR in the bottom of the 8th. Iwamichisuikan would advance to the final game with a 2-1 win.
Risshoudai Shounan's opponent would be Matsue Shougyou. Having upset Masuda Shougyou, ace Masumoto would outlast Matsue Nourin's Aoyama and and Kadowaki to win 8-5 in 13 innings. An easy win over Masuda Higashi set up the semifinal matchup.
While taking the early lead, Masumoto would get rocked in the middle innings leaving Matsueshou trailing 4-1. His offense would rally in the next 2 innings to tie the game, but bottom 9 Shimozono would deliver the sayonara hit for Risshoudai Shounan to move on to the finals where Iwamichisuikan awaits.
Okayama
Oddly enough, it was better to be a lower seeded team than a higher seeded team this year.
1-4 seed Okayama Jyoutou was the first to fall, being shutout by Kouyou 4-0. Okayama Rikadai Fuzoku would be next to fall one round later, with a 6-2 loss to Kurashiki Kougyou.
However, neither would advance to the best 4. 5-8 seed Kanzei, who was not challenged up until that point, would pull away from Kouyou late to win 5-2. As for Kurashiki Kougyou, while Koujyoukan did suffer a scare from Takahashi Nisshin, ace Fukushima would throw a 4-hit shutout to eliminate the challengers.
In the other 2 quadrants, 1-4 seed Kurashiki Shougyou would face a surely tired 5-8 Okayama Higashi Shougyou squad. They wound up playing Mizushima Kougyou to a 6-6 draw, then just survived in the replay 2-1, then won another 1-run game against Sakuyou.
Perhaps the close games helped Okayama Higashi Shougyou because ace Nogami made a 3-2 2nd inning lead stick to advance the team to a semifinal match versus Kanzei.
And finally, 5-8 Okayama Kyousei was no match for 1-4 Tamano Kounan. Despite a small hiccup versus Mimasaka, where they just managed 1 run on 8 hits, they blew out Kyousei 10-0.
In the semifinals, the bottom of the order would stake Kanzei ace Kodama to a 2-0 lead as Tobe and Ichihara get back-to-back timely hits. Kodama would make that lead stick winning 3-2.
The other semifinal was rather bizarre. First Koujyoukan would go out to a 3-1 lead. Fukushima would hold that score until the 7th and 8th when Tamano pulled within 1, then tied the game. Reliever Satake would come in to try and keep the game level, but wound up giving up the gyakuten run to send the top seed to the finals.
What's so strange about that? They did it on just 4 hits.
Kagawa
Kagawa's top 4 seeds this year did not seem like the usual suspects (with the exception of top seed Jinsei Gakuen). #2 Kotohira and #3 Tadotsu both were teams that had not fared well, but for some reason had success in the spring. Only #4 Marugame Jyousei made some sense as they have been one of the betters teams in prefecture.
And things played out like you expected. Sort of.
Kanonji Chuo gave Jinsei Gakuen a proper fright, but reliever Nakayama kept the score at 4-3 in the final 6 frames. After that Kagawa Tousen Takamatsu actually led Jinsei into the 2nd half of the game, but reliever Yoshinari couldn't maintain the 3-1 lead. A pair of runs in the 7th and 8th spelled their downfall.
So Jinsei Gakuen as a seeded team made the semifinals. They would wind up being the only seeded team to do so.
After getting by a tough 1st round draw in Sangawa, Marugame Jyousei slid past Iiyama to reach the quarterfinals. There they would face an Eimei team who had beaten an unknown Shido team 1-0, then jumped on reliever Matsumoto for Sanbonmatsu who proceeded to fritter away a 7-2 lead and then take the loss in the 10th. Eimei wound up being up for the task, routing Marugame Jyousei 8-1 in 8 innings.
Things were even worse on the other half. Tadotsu, despite just 5 hits, was able to defeat Takamatsu Nishi 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th. But against Takamatsu Shougyou in the next round? Annihilated in 5 innings 10-0.
And Kotohira? Don't even ask. Takamatsu Minami limits them to just 1 run on 3 hits as they "upset" the #2 seed 4-1.
So who would jump on the opportunity? Well, Takamatsu Kita game Takamatsu Minami a job well done, defeated them 5-3, and then 4-hit Shoudouhima to advance to the Best 4. Marugame, despite needing to comeback against Ootemae Takamatsu's relief corps in game 2, took out Takamatsu Shougyou 5-2 to move themselves on the hill.
Semifinal 1 pitted the two heavyweights Jinsei Gakuen and Eimei. The aces traded donuts for the longest time before Nakayama caved and allowed the first run in the 7th for Eimei. Doi would come in relief for the 8th, but gave up 2 more runs. All seemed lost for Jinsei, but Eimei's ace Akagawa cracked in the bottom of the inning. A 2-run timely hit by SS Nishimaru, and another RBI from Oonishi tied the game at 3. Fast forward to the 9th, and Nishimaru would get one more crack at Akagawa. Sure enough, he delivered the sayonara hit to score Shinohara and send Jinsei Gakuen to the finals.
The 2nd semifinal was not exciting at all sadly. Takamatsu Kita was definitely the odd man in the bunch, and well... Starter Horie would not even finish the first inning as Marugame scored 11 runs in the 1st inning. They would win 11-0 on 5 hits and 8 walks...
So it's Marugame and Jinsei Gakuen in the final.
Monday, July 15, 2013
7/14 Update - Out of the blocks (Chuugoku & Shikoku)
Most of Chuugoku and Shikoku have started along with most of the other prefectures. Let's see where they're at.
Tottori
Nothing really of note so far in the 6 games played. The closest game was Yonago Higashi rallying from down 5-0 to Tottori Nishi to pull within 2, but lost 6-3. Tottori Jyouhoku has advanced easily past the first round.
Okayama
Much like Tottori, not many close games in Okayama to start either. Okayama Gakugeikan and Okayama Shoudai Fuzoku both advanced on day 1. Kanzei's attempt to return to 甲子園 started off with a 5-0 win over Okayama Housen.
The only really close games was at Acorn Stadium. Tamano holding off Konkou Gakuen 5-4, and Okayama outscoring Wakeshizutani to win 9-6.
Shimane
An exciting opening game in Shimane on the 14th as Mitoya and Matsue Kougyou traded runs every other inning, with Matsue Kougyou leading 5-4. But just 3 outs from advancing, they cannot close it out and Mitoya scores 2 in the bottom of the 9th for the sayorara win!
Hiroshima
Opening day at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium was interesting for several reasons. First Soutoku and Hiroshima Shougyou would fight for 13 innings with Soutoku pulling off the 4-3 sayonara win in 13 innings. The other interesting fact was that the pitcher used for Hiroshima Shougyou was #10 Inosencio Wilson. From what I've been able to discern, his father was Filipino and was actually studying back in the Philippines before coming to high school in Japan.
Anyways, the first couple of days have the seeded teams watching as the rest of the field fights it out in the lower levels. It's a mixed bag, but there are quite a few close games starting out.
In Kure Nikou, Kure Mitsuta led Kumano 7-0 but the tandem of Maeda and Sugimoto barely held Kumano off winning 7-6. At Shimanami, Kure Shouwa also holds on, turning a 3-0 lead into a 3-2 win over Mihara.
Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi doesn't mess around on opening day. 10 games across 4 stadiums. Honestly though, I believe they had their opening ceremonies the day before.
Anyways, in opening action Ube Tousen trades blows with Ube Frontier Kagawa and wins 10-8. Takamori continually chases Kudamatsu, and just falls short 5-4. A 5-run 8th gives Shimonoseki Nishi the 7-4 win over Ootsu Ryokuyou.
Meanwhile, the seeded teams that did not manage to draw a bye played the next day. How a 5-8 seed gets a 1st round bye while a 1-4 seed doesn't is beyond me. No upsets thus far, though Ube Kougyou did not look especially sharp against Houhoku winning 3-1. Yanai Gakuen and Karyou both advance, but will be facing 5-8 seeded teams in their next matchup (Iwakuni and Nanyou Kougyou respectively).
Kagawa
Opening round games have been completed, and seeded teams are queued up. One school has already played and that's Jinsei Gakuen. They had an easy first game and will face a Kanonji Chuo squad who uncharacteristically almost lost in their first round game against Sakaide, recovered to mercy rule Mitoyo Kougyou.
Otherwise, Kasada used late-game heroics to score 2 in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Takamatsu Sakurai and will face Iiyama next.
Tokushima
Not much to report in Tokushima, all games were pretty much one-sided. About the only interesting game was Wakimachi scoring 11 unanswered to turn a 6-1 loss into an eventual 12-7 win over Komatsushima Nishi. Otherwise Kawashima, Tomioka Nishi, Tokushima Shougyou and Jyounouchi all advance.
Ehime
Interestingly, very low scoring games dominate early action. Yet only a handful were contested. Iyo Nougyou used a run in the 1st and 9th to defeat Yoshida 2-0. Niihama Higashi outlasted Kita-Uwa 3-2 in 11 innings. And Minami-Uwa used a run in the lucky 7th to get by Matsuyama Kougyou 4-3.
Kochi
Much like Tokushima, mostly lopsided games. Seeded teams do not get later games and as such, Kochi, Kochi Shougyou and Meitoku Gijyuku have all played and advanced.
But Kochi Tousen had their dreams crushed when they could not close a 6-2 lead in the top of the 9th. 6 runs later and Aki Sakuragaoka would advance. And Kochi Ootemae would fight but lose in the bottom of the 13th 2-1 to Nakamura.
Tottori
Nothing really of note so far in the 6 games played. The closest game was Yonago Higashi rallying from down 5-0 to Tottori Nishi to pull within 2, but lost 6-3. Tottori Jyouhoku has advanced easily past the first round.
Okayama
Much like Tottori, not many close games in Okayama to start either. Okayama Gakugeikan and Okayama Shoudai Fuzoku both advanced on day 1. Kanzei's attempt to return to 甲子園 started off with a 5-0 win over Okayama Housen.
The only really close games was at Acorn Stadium. Tamano holding off Konkou Gakuen 5-4, and Okayama outscoring Wakeshizutani to win 9-6.
Shimane
An exciting opening game in Shimane on the 14th as Mitoya and Matsue Kougyou traded runs every other inning, with Matsue Kougyou leading 5-4. But just 3 outs from advancing, they cannot close it out and Mitoya scores 2 in the bottom of the 9th for the sayorara win!
Hiroshima
Opening day at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium was interesting for several reasons. First Soutoku and Hiroshima Shougyou would fight for 13 innings with Soutoku pulling off the 4-3 sayonara win in 13 innings. The other interesting fact was that the pitcher used for Hiroshima Shougyou was #10 Inosencio Wilson. From what I've been able to discern, his father was Filipino and was actually studying back in the Philippines before coming to high school in Japan.
Anyways, the first couple of days have the seeded teams watching as the rest of the field fights it out in the lower levels. It's a mixed bag, but there are quite a few close games starting out.
In Kure Nikou, Kure Mitsuta led Kumano 7-0 but the tandem of Maeda and Sugimoto barely held Kumano off winning 7-6. At Shimanami, Kure Shouwa also holds on, turning a 3-0 lead into a 3-2 win over Mihara.
Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi doesn't mess around on opening day. 10 games across 4 stadiums. Honestly though, I believe they had their opening ceremonies the day before.
Anyways, in opening action Ube Tousen trades blows with Ube Frontier Kagawa and wins 10-8. Takamori continually chases Kudamatsu, and just falls short 5-4. A 5-run 8th gives Shimonoseki Nishi the 7-4 win over Ootsu Ryokuyou.
Meanwhile, the seeded teams that did not manage to draw a bye played the next day. How a 5-8 seed gets a 1st round bye while a 1-4 seed doesn't is beyond me. No upsets thus far, though Ube Kougyou did not look especially sharp against Houhoku winning 3-1. Yanai Gakuen and Karyou both advance, but will be facing 5-8 seeded teams in their next matchup (Iwakuni and Nanyou Kougyou respectively).
Kagawa
Opening round games have been completed, and seeded teams are queued up. One school has already played and that's Jinsei Gakuen. They had an easy first game and will face a Kanonji Chuo squad who uncharacteristically almost lost in their first round game against Sakaide, recovered to mercy rule Mitoyo Kougyou.
Otherwise, Kasada used late-game heroics to score 2 in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Takamatsu Sakurai and will face Iiyama next.
Tokushima
Not much to report in Tokushima, all games were pretty much one-sided. About the only interesting game was Wakimachi scoring 11 unanswered to turn a 6-1 loss into an eventual 12-7 win over Komatsushima Nishi. Otherwise Kawashima, Tomioka Nishi, Tokushima Shougyou and Jyounouchi all advance.
Ehime
Interestingly, very low scoring games dominate early action. Yet only a handful were contested. Iyo Nougyou used a run in the 1st and 9th to defeat Yoshida 2-0. Niihama Higashi outlasted Kita-Uwa 3-2 in 11 innings. And Minami-Uwa used a run in the lucky 7th to get by Matsuyama Kougyou 4-3.
Kochi
Much like Tokushima, mostly lopsided games. Seeded teams do not get later games and as such, Kochi, Kochi Shougyou and Meitoku Gijyuku have all played and advanced.
But Kochi Tousen had their dreams crushed when they could not close a 6-2 lead in the top of the 9th. 6 runs later and Aki Sakuragaoka would advance. And Kochi Ootemae would fight but lose in the bottom of the 13th 2-1 to Nakamura.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
93rd Koushien Qualifying - Chuugoku/Shikoku Update
Tottori
Yazu seemed to have the game in control after scoring 4 in the 3rd. But they had other opportunities to extend the lead and was not able to. That would hurt them in the end as Sakai would score a pair of runs in the 7th and 8th for a gyakuten 5-4 victory!
Sakai's opponent in the championship would be Tottori Shougyou as ace Hashimoto throws a 4-hit shutout over Tottori Ikuei.
In the finals, Sakai would have to play catchup, not once, but twice. Right after Tottori Shougyou scored their 2nd run in the 5th, Sakai scored a pair of their own. Same thing happened right after Tottori Shougyou scored a run in the bottom of the 6th. While it gave them the tie once again, they were unable to take the outright lead.
And Tottori Shougyou would ensure Sakai would have no time to rally. They score the sayonara run for the win and only their 2nd title - the first being 7 years ago.
Okayama
Kanzei and Okayama Rikaidai Fuzoku was easily the most competitive game of the 4 quarterfinal games. Both teams struggled to get hits, though Rikaidai did get the opening run in the 1st on a HR by Fujioka. Kanzei tried fighting back throughout the game, and finally broke through in the 8th scoring the douten run. In the 9th, they would get to reliever Fujioka and score the gyakuten run. Rikaidai was not able to mount a 9th inning rally and fell 2-1.
Outside of that game, Okayama Gakugeikan, Sakuyou and Konkou Gakuen all advanced with little difficulty.
And the semifinals were actually much of the same. Okayama Gakugeikan got mercy ruled in 5 by Okayama 12-2, and while Sakuyou managed to get a 2-0 lead early, a 10-1 run by Konkou Gakuen in the 3rd-6th innings made the game out of reach.
So it'll be Kanzei and Konkou Gakuen for the final.
Shimane
It seemed to be getting easier for top seed Iwamichisuikan. In the quarterfinals they won 11-0 over Iinan in 5 innings. Their opponent would be #4 Taisha, though it didn't seem that way at first. Masuda Higashi scored 7 unanswered to take a 8-1 lead going into the 5th. Then suddenly Taisha went on their own run the next two innings, scoring 10 unanswered!! Masuda wouldn't give it up that easily as they scored 3 to tie the game at 11! Taisha would finally put Masuda Higashi away with 2 in the 9th for the 13-11 win!
On the other half of the bracket, 2 seed Kaisei under the managing of Nonomura-kantoku again helped rally the troops against Yasugi. 3 runs in the 5th would tie the game, and a pair of runs in the 7th and 8th gave them the win. 3 seed Matsue Shougyou would make it a scratch bracket as they used a 4-run 5th to defeat Izumo 7-5.
The semis have been postponed to today due to rain.
Hiroshima
Our 3rd seeded team in Hiroshima was to fall in the 4th round. Hiroshima Kokusaidai Gakuin after building a 4-1 lead on Shiritsu Kure, saw that lead turn into a one-run deficit before tying it at 6 in the 8th. But it would be Kure who would have the final laugh, scoring the sayonara run in the 11th.
Kinkidai Fukuyama who had beaten Kouryou, got mercy ruled by Hiroshima Kougyou 11-0 after they scored 10(!) in the 5th.
Hiroshima Sougyou Gijyutsu for the 2nd game in the tournament showed offense, scoring 10 runs in a 10-5 win over Miyajima Kougyou. They did give up the runs late which could be worrysome against harder competition.
Miyoshi, who had upset Hiroshima Shougyou was soundly defeated by Hiroshima Shinjyou 13-5.
Soutoku went from mercy rule to enchousen back to mercy rule as took take care of Aki Minami 10-0 in 6.
Onomichi Shougyou would be the next to fall by the wayside. They trailed 2-1 to Hatsukaichi Nishi in the bottom of the 9th when they were able to force extras. Yet they still had trouble getting to ace Nakai. And in the 13th it would be Hatsukaichi who would get to ace Maeda, scoring a run in the 13th. With no response from Onomichi they would fall 3-2.
And finally Jyousuikan advances with a 4-2 win over Onomichi Higashi.
So moving onto the quarterfinals at Shimanami Stadium, Soutoku stayed with Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutsu responding to each score that they put on the board. But when Sougou Gijyutsu scored a run in the 6th to take the lead, not only did they tie it in the 7th, they scored again in the 8th to take their first lead! Down 1 with just 3 outs to go, Sougou Gijyutsu was unable to plate the tying run.
In the matinee game, Jyousuikan and Hiroshima Kougyou battled it out in the middle innings, with Jyousuikan maintaining the one-run lead they held in the first. An insurance run in the 7th to make it 6-4 is enough for a ticket to the semis.
Over at Kure Nikou, Sanyou completely had their way with Hatsukaichi Nishi, getting their 4th mercy win in as many games, 15-0!
The field would be rounded out by Hiroshima Shinjyou who only trailed 0-1 in the 1st inning. 7 innings later, they had a 15-8 mercy win.
Yamaguchi
The round of 16 was predominantly dominated by low-scoring affairs.
Yanai Gakuen woke up to find themselves in a pitchers' battle with Suou-Ooshima. Making things worse was that Suou-Ooshima tied the game at 1 in the 8th. In the end though they would pull it out, but not until the bottom of the 9th. Fellow B seed Onoda had the same issue with Ube Kougyou, except for the fact they were actually down 1! They won the game by scoring a run in the final 2 innings.
We would have an upset though, Shimonoseki Kougyou ace Matsumoto would limit A seed Shimonoseki Shougyou to just 1 run on 8 hits in a 4-1 win.
And despite getting just 2 hits, Shimonoseki Kokusai makes those count as LF Fujita hits a home run in the 7th to give them a 1-0 win over Hayatomo!
The quarterfinals would see every single favorite lose save for one.
Kagawa
After blowing a 6-1 lead to Miki in the 3rd round, Sakaide Shougyou scores more runs in the 13th inning then they did the entire game. They win 15-6.
Shoudoshima, down 1 in the 9th ties the game then wins it in 12 against Takamatsu.
Onto the quarterfinals and Eimei, though unseeded, advances with at 5-1 win over Takamatsu Shougyou. Sakaide Shougyou comes from behind against Shoudoshima to win 7-6 in the bottom of the 9th. Marugame uses a 5-run 5th and uses it to hold onto a 6-5 win over Sangawa. And finally, Kanonji Dai-ichi just takes Marugame Jyousei to task, mercy ruling them 8-0 in 7!
Tokushima
After rain washes out a couple of days, play get back on track on the 21st. Tomioka Nishi allows Anan Nishi to tie the game in the 9th, but it only extends it for one more inning.
In the quarterfinals, Jyounan gets shocked by Seikou Gakuen (no, not Seikou Gakuin) who despite getting just 4 hits, scores the one and only run in the ballgame!
Naruto Kougyou's bid gets derailed by Komatsushima as they score a run in the bottom of the 8th and 9th for the win.
And the remaining seeded teams, Naruto and Tokushima Shougyou advance with ease.
Ehime
Let's see, what to note...
Matsuyama Kougyou gets its 2nd close game in as many played. Up 6-1 after 1 they allow Niihama Minami to tie the game, the after taking the lead, they give it up. Down 10-8, they score 3 to take the lead this time for good.
Teikyou Dai-go scores just 1, which is enough to beat Yawatahama, though it's not a great start.
Tanbara not only upsets #2 Kawanoe, they mercy rule them in 8 innings 9-2!
Either Nitta likes the score 7-5, or they like the game close. Up 6-0, they allow Saijyou (albeit a good team) to score 5 in the last two innings. An insurance run in the 9th gives them their 2nd 7-5 win.
Saibi ends Teikyou Dai-go's season early yet again with a 6-2 win. And Uwajima Higashi will be their next opponent as they defeat Matsuyama Kougyou 2-1.
Kochi
Well, things were pretty much going as planned, with games not really being a tug of war so to speak. Meitoku Gijyuku advances to the semis, though they did have a bit of a scare against Kochi Chuo. They didn't win that game until the bottom of the 8th.
Okou and Tosa played to a scoreless draw in regulation, and it wouldn't be until the 11th when Kakehi would drive in the sayonara run for Tosa and send their team to the semis.
Joining them would be Kochi and Kochi Shougyou. That should setup to be an amazing game.
But as is the case during this time of year, rain gets in the way again.
Yazu seemed to have the game in control after scoring 4 in the 3rd. But they had other opportunities to extend the lead and was not able to. That would hurt them in the end as Sakai would score a pair of runs in the 7th and 8th for a gyakuten 5-4 victory!
Sakai's opponent in the championship would be Tottori Shougyou as ace Hashimoto throws a 4-hit shutout over Tottori Ikuei.
In the finals, Sakai would have to play catchup, not once, but twice. Right after Tottori Shougyou scored their 2nd run in the 5th, Sakai scored a pair of their own. Same thing happened right after Tottori Shougyou scored a run in the bottom of the 6th. While it gave them the tie once again, they were unable to take the outright lead.
And Tottori Shougyou would ensure Sakai would have no time to rally. They score the sayonara run for the win and only their 2nd title - the first being 7 years ago.
Okayama
Kanzei and Okayama Rikaidai Fuzoku was easily the most competitive game of the 4 quarterfinal games. Both teams struggled to get hits, though Rikaidai did get the opening run in the 1st on a HR by Fujioka. Kanzei tried fighting back throughout the game, and finally broke through in the 8th scoring the douten run. In the 9th, they would get to reliever Fujioka and score the gyakuten run. Rikaidai was not able to mount a 9th inning rally and fell 2-1.
Outside of that game, Okayama Gakugeikan, Sakuyou and Konkou Gakuen all advanced with little difficulty.
And the semifinals were actually much of the same. Okayama Gakugeikan got mercy ruled in 5 by Okayama 12-2, and while Sakuyou managed to get a 2-0 lead early, a 10-1 run by Konkou Gakuen in the 3rd-6th innings made the game out of reach.
So it'll be Kanzei and Konkou Gakuen for the final.
Shimane
It seemed to be getting easier for top seed Iwamichisuikan. In the quarterfinals they won 11-0 over Iinan in 5 innings. Their opponent would be #4 Taisha, though it didn't seem that way at first. Masuda Higashi scored 7 unanswered to take a 8-1 lead going into the 5th. Then suddenly Taisha went on their own run the next two innings, scoring 10 unanswered!! Masuda wouldn't give it up that easily as they scored 3 to tie the game at 11! Taisha would finally put Masuda Higashi away with 2 in the 9th for the 13-11 win!
On the other half of the bracket, 2 seed Kaisei under the managing of Nonomura-kantoku again helped rally the troops against Yasugi. 3 runs in the 5th would tie the game, and a pair of runs in the 7th and 8th gave them the win. 3 seed Matsue Shougyou would make it a scratch bracket as they used a 4-run 5th to defeat Izumo 7-5.
The semis have been postponed to today due to rain.
Hiroshima
Our 3rd seeded team in Hiroshima was to fall in the 4th round. Hiroshima Kokusaidai Gakuin after building a 4-1 lead on Shiritsu Kure, saw that lead turn into a one-run deficit before tying it at 6 in the 8th. But it would be Kure who would have the final laugh, scoring the sayonara run in the 11th.
Kinkidai Fukuyama who had beaten Kouryou, got mercy ruled by Hiroshima Kougyou 11-0 after they scored 10(!) in the 5th.
Hiroshima Sougyou Gijyutsu for the 2nd game in the tournament showed offense, scoring 10 runs in a 10-5 win over Miyajima Kougyou. They did give up the runs late which could be worrysome against harder competition.
Miyoshi, who had upset Hiroshima Shougyou was soundly defeated by Hiroshima Shinjyou 13-5.
Soutoku went from mercy rule to enchousen back to mercy rule as took take care of Aki Minami 10-0 in 6.
Onomichi Shougyou would be the next to fall by the wayside. They trailed 2-1 to Hatsukaichi Nishi in the bottom of the 9th when they were able to force extras. Yet they still had trouble getting to ace Nakai. And in the 13th it would be Hatsukaichi who would get to ace Maeda, scoring a run in the 13th. With no response from Onomichi they would fall 3-2.
And finally Jyousuikan advances with a 4-2 win over Onomichi Higashi.
So moving onto the quarterfinals at Shimanami Stadium, Soutoku stayed with Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutsu responding to each score that they put on the board. But when Sougou Gijyutsu scored a run in the 6th to take the lead, not only did they tie it in the 7th, they scored again in the 8th to take their first lead! Down 1 with just 3 outs to go, Sougou Gijyutsu was unable to plate the tying run.
In the matinee game, Jyousuikan and Hiroshima Kougyou battled it out in the middle innings, with Jyousuikan maintaining the one-run lead they held in the first. An insurance run in the 7th to make it 6-4 is enough for a ticket to the semis.
Over at Kure Nikou, Sanyou completely had their way with Hatsukaichi Nishi, getting their 4th mercy win in as many games, 15-0!
The field would be rounded out by Hiroshima Shinjyou who only trailed 0-1 in the 1st inning. 7 innings later, they had a 15-8 mercy win.
Yamaguchi
The round of 16 was predominantly dominated by low-scoring affairs.
Yanai Gakuen woke up to find themselves in a pitchers' battle with Suou-Ooshima. Making things worse was that Suou-Ooshima tied the game at 1 in the 8th. In the end though they would pull it out, but not until the bottom of the 9th. Fellow B seed Onoda had the same issue with Ube Kougyou, except for the fact they were actually down 1! They won the game by scoring a run in the final 2 innings.
We would have an upset though, Shimonoseki Kougyou ace Matsumoto would limit A seed Shimonoseki Shougyou to just 1 run on 8 hits in a 4-1 win.
And despite getting just 2 hits, Shimonoseki Kokusai makes those count as LF Fujita hits a home run in the 7th to give them a 1-0 win over Hayatomo!
The quarterfinals would see every single favorite lose save for one.
- Yanai Gakuen would limit Ube Koujyou to just one run in a 2-1 win.
- Nanyou Kougyou and Shimonoseki Kokusai are in a close game until Nanyou gives up 4 in the 8th for the upset!
- Iwakuni never takes the lead over Onoda and falls 5-2!
- The only favored team to win is Sakuragaoka, who defeats Shimonoseki Kougyou 12-1 in 8.
Kagawa
After blowing a 6-1 lead to Miki in the 3rd round, Sakaide Shougyou scores more runs in the 13th inning then they did the entire game. They win 15-6.
Shoudoshima, down 1 in the 9th ties the game then wins it in 12 against Takamatsu.
Onto the quarterfinals and Eimei, though unseeded, advances with at 5-1 win over Takamatsu Shougyou. Sakaide Shougyou comes from behind against Shoudoshima to win 7-6 in the bottom of the 9th. Marugame uses a 5-run 5th and uses it to hold onto a 6-5 win over Sangawa. And finally, Kanonji Dai-ichi just takes Marugame Jyousei to task, mercy ruling them 8-0 in 7!
Tokushima
After rain washes out a couple of days, play get back on track on the 21st. Tomioka Nishi allows Anan Nishi to tie the game in the 9th, but it only extends it for one more inning.
In the quarterfinals, Jyounan gets shocked by Seikou Gakuen (no, not Seikou Gakuin) who despite getting just 4 hits, scores the one and only run in the ballgame!
Naruto Kougyou's bid gets derailed by Komatsushima as they score a run in the bottom of the 8th and 9th for the win.
And the remaining seeded teams, Naruto and Tokushima Shougyou advance with ease.
Ehime
Let's see, what to note...
Matsuyama Kougyou gets its 2nd close game in as many played. Up 6-1 after 1 they allow Niihama Minami to tie the game, the after taking the lead, they give it up. Down 10-8, they score 3 to take the lead this time for good.
Teikyou Dai-go scores just 1, which is enough to beat Yawatahama, though it's not a great start.
Tanbara not only upsets #2 Kawanoe, they mercy rule them in 8 innings 9-2!
Either Nitta likes the score 7-5, or they like the game close. Up 6-0, they allow Saijyou (albeit a good team) to score 5 in the last two innings. An insurance run in the 9th gives them their 2nd 7-5 win.
Saibi ends Teikyou Dai-go's season early yet again with a 6-2 win. And Uwajima Higashi will be their next opponent as they defeat Matsuyama Kougyou 2-1.
Kochi
Well, things were pretty much going as planned, with games not really being a tug of war so to speak. Meitoku Gijyuku advances to the semis, though they did have a bit of a scare against Kochi Chuo. They didn't win that game until the bottom of the 8th.
Okou and Tosa played to a scoreless draw in regulation, and it wouldn't be until the 11th when Kakehi would drive in the sayonara run for Tosa and send their team to the semis.
Joining them would be Kochi and Kochi Shougyou. That should setup to be an amazing game.
But as is the case during this time of year, rain gets in the way again.
Friday, July 22, 2011
93rd Koushien Qualifying - July 13th-21st (Chuugoku Region)
Well, I'm heading towards the middle, mostly because I know updating the Kinki and Chuubu regions will be a pain in the...
Yamaguchi
Day 1 of games at Yamaguchi featured Shimonoseki Nishi giving up the tying run in the bottom of the 9th against Ube Nishi, but winning 1 inning later and Houfu responding to Ooshima Shousen Tousen's 3 runs in the 6th with 3 of their own in the 7th and a sayonara run in the 9th.
Day 2 (17th) had Tokuyama Shoukou holding on against Iwakuni Kougyou 4-3. Saikyou and Keishin were tied at 3 after Keishin scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th. Saikyou though tripled their run total in the 11th scoring 6 out of nowhere to win 9-3. Top 4 seed Shimonoseki Shougyou got the short end of the seeded teams having to play an extra game, but breezed against Seiryou 14-4. And finally Tokuyama and Hikarigaoka were scoreless through 9, but the game wouldn't need to go further into extras. Tokuyama scores the sayonara run in the bottom of the 9th for the win, this despite Tawara and Yasuno combining for 9 free passes.
Day 3 rounded out 1st round play. 5-8 seed Yanai Gakuen advances easily over Shin-Nanyou and will play neighbor Yanai Shoukou. Fellow seed Onoda has no trouble with the transition team of Ootsu Ryokuyou/Yamaguchi Suisan. They'll play Nagato (no, not that Nagato - although I bet she could beat a team all by herself) who pulled it out in 11 against Yamaguchi-ken Koujyou.
We did have our first upset in day 3 when 5-8 seed Shimonoseki Chuo Kougyou was actually shutout by Hayatomo 5-0 (in fact they were 5-hit!). And in another minor upset, Karyou loses their 1st round game when Takamizu scores 3 in the bottom of the 8th to take a 3-2 lead.
Round 2 was slated to start on the 19th, but in a repeating story Typhoon Ma-on delayed things a bit. Games finally got underway 2 days later, and with the few teams that are participating the entire 2nd round was played on the 21st so all teams were in play.
Busicom Yanai
Round 2 (16th-17th)
Round 1 came and went, with little that was notable outside of Risshoudai Shounan winning their first game against Matsue Kougyou.
Round 2 got the majority of teams involved, including the favorites.
Round 3
Hm. In the time range I'm recapping, Okayama has gone all the way from starting to the Best 8.
Oy. There's a lot to go through.
Tottori in just one week has already reached the quarterfinals. Such is the case with a rural prefecture where populations continue to migrate to cities.
Round 1
Then things finally got interesting...
Tottori Shougyou, who had just gone down 1-0 to Kurayoshi Higashi, scores 4. Kurayoshi Higashi immediately replies with 3 to tie the game. It stayed that way until the 8th when Tottori Shougyou got to the 3rd pitcher, Ishikawa for the winning run.
And in the last quarterfinal, Tottori Jyouhoku got a 3-2 lead in the 1st inning. They maintained it after trading a run in the 3rd. But Tottori Chuo Ikuei scored 2 in the 5th to take the lead. An insurance run in the 7th proved to be the difference as Tottori Jyouhoku scored a run in the 8th to pull within 1.
Yamaguchi
Day 1 of games at Yamaguchi featured Shimonoseki Nishi giving up the tying run in the bottom of the 9th against Ube Nishi, but winning 1 inning later and Houfu responding to Ooshima Shousen Tousen's 3 runs in the 6th with 3 of their own in the 7th and a sayonara run in the 9th.
Day 2 (17th) had Tokuyama Shoukou holding on against Iwakuni Kougyou 4-3. Saikyou and Keishin were tied at 3 after Keishin scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th. Saikyou though tripled their run total in the 11th scoring 6 out of nowhere to win 9-3. Top 4 seed Shimonoseki Shougyou got the short end of the seeded teams having to play an extra game, but breezed against Seiryou 14-4. And finally Tokuyama and Hikarigaoka were scoreless through 9, but the game wouldn't need to go further into extras. Tokuyama scores the sayonara run in the bottom of the 9th for the win, this despite Tawara and Yasuno combining for 9 free passes.
Day 3 rounded out 1st round play. 5-8 seed Yanai Gakuen advances easily over Shin-Nanyou and will play neighbor Yanai Shoukou. Fellow seed Onoda has no trouble with the transition team of Ootsu Ryokuyou/Yamaguchi Suisan. They'll play Nagato (no, not that Nagato - although I bet she could beat a team all by herself) who pulled it out in 11 against Yamaguchi-ken Koujyou.
We did have our first upset in day 3 when 5-8 seed Shimonoseki Chuo Kougyou was actually shutout by Hayatomo 5-0 (in fact they were 5-hit!). And in another minor upset, Karyou loses their 1st round game when Takamizu scores 3 in the bottom of the 8th to take a 3-2 lead.
Round 2 was slated to start on the 19th, but in a repeating story Typhoon Ma-on delayed things a bit. Games finally got underway 2 days later, and with the few teams that are participating the entire 2nd round was played on the 21st so all teams were in play.
Busicom Yanai
- Top 4 seed Iwakuni started play but didn't pull away until late defeating Kumage Minami 10-6. Yanai will be their opponent as they beat Tokuyama Shoukou 9-4.
- Yanai Gakuen gets its second shutout in as many games. Suou-Ooshima is next on the docket.
- Top 4 seed Ube Koujyou finds themselves immediately in the trenches against Onoda Kougyou. Onoda ties the game at 3 in the 9th sending it into extras. Ube Koujyou survives scoring the sayonara run in the 11th. Saikyou steps up to take them on in the round of 16.
- Onoda moves on defeating Nagato 6-1. Ube Kougyou, who scores its 2nd mercy win will be up next.
- Shimonoseki Shougyou gets some trouble from Shimonoseki Nishi, winning only by the margin of 2-0. They must be feeling like this is preseason because they'll face another Shimonoseki school in Shimonoseki Kougyou, who kept up with Toyora and pulled ahead when it matted with a sayonara run in the 10th.
- Hayatomo continues their run with another shutout, this time over Hagi Shoukou. Shimonoseki Kokusai, who edged Nishiichi will try to stop the Cinderella run.
- Nanyou Kougyou gets through its first game, defeating Seikou 5-0. They play Takagawa Gakuen, who had to survive a late charge from Houfu.
- 5-8 seed Sakuragaoka trailed Iwakuni Shougyou for much of the game. But again, it's not how you start, but how you finish. Sakuragaoka takes a 1-run lead in the top of the 9th with a pair of runs, and after Iwakuni tied it up, put them to the test again with a run in the 10th. Iwakuni had no response this time and Sakuragaoka survives. Takamizu and Tokuyama were involved in an offensive affair with Takamizu coming back and winning 9-8.
Round 2 (16th-17th)
- The 16th saw the first of the seeded teams take the field. Personal favorite Kouryou handled Shoubara Jitsugyou with ease 10-1. Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutsu, who made a decent showing at Koshien, and is seeded this year beats Numata 13-6. Sanjyou mercy ruled Yoshida in 5.
- The biggest shock happened at Miyoshi Kinsai. Seeded Hiroshima Shougyou scored 2 in the 8th to take a 4-2 lead over Miyoshi. Then out of nowhere it appears Hiroshima Shougyou suddenly forgot how to play baseball. Despite relievers Tasaka and Shimotake giving up just 5 hits, the defense fails them as Miyoshi scores 8 in the top of the 9th! Hiroshima Shougyou shocked tries to rally, but down 6 can only muster 2.
- In other games on the 16th, Funairi scores the go-ahead run in the 8th against Kannabe to win 2-1. Takeda manages just 6 hits but gets the only run in their game versus Kannabe Asahi. Fukuyama Myououdai blows a 3-0 lead to Sera but recovers to win the game 5-4 in the bottom of the 9th. Onomichi moves on with a 7-1 win over Fukuyama Kougyou. Kinkidai Fukuyama almost blows a 5-0 lead in the top of the 9th to Fukuyama Shougyou but win a nailbiter 5-4.
- Moving along to the 17th and Onomichi Shougyou and Jyousuikan win their first game with little resistance while Hiroshima Kokusai Gakuin just gets a 5-2 win over Mihara.
- Fukuyama Seishikan scores 7 unanswered runs late to defeat Hiroshima Kanon 8-7. Hasukaichi Nishi responds to Gokou's 3 runs early with 4 runs late for a 4-3 win.
- Hiroshima Sougyou Gijyutsu continues on its march of redemption defeating perennial power Onomichi 2-1. Sanyou has no problem with Saijyou Nougyou.
- Miyoshi continues their run by defeating Hiroshima Kokutaiji 7-2.
- Well, #^$*... Kouryou struggles against Kinkidai Fukuyama, and when Kinkidai scores 3 in the 7th, to take a 5-3 lead Kouryou has to scramble. Unfortunately for them, they can only manage 1 run and their summer end prematurely. At least I have Hiroshima Sougou Gijyutsu to root for.
- Hatsukaichi Nishi makes a comeback to defeat Kamo 5-4 in 10.
- Jyousuikan advances easily, but Soutoku is pushed into extras by Eishin before winning 5-2 in 10.
- Shiritsu Kure defeats Kure Shougyou 2-1 in 10.
Round 1 came and went, with little that was notable outside of Risshoudai Shounan winning their first game against Matsue Kougyou.
Round 2 got the majority of teams involved, including the favorites.
- Top seed Iwamichisuikan shuts out Hamada 4-0 as Kawano throws a 4-hitter.
- #2 seed Kaisei struggles against Izumo Koigyou but advances 4-3.
- Masuda Higashi ekes out a 1-0 win over Matsue Higashi.
- Goutsu uses a 6-run 5th to defeat Matsue Minami 9-7.
- #4 seed Taisha mercy rules Hirata 8-0.
- Jyouhou Kagaku, down 6-1 mounts a comeback capped by a 2-run bottom of the 9th to defeat Matsue Nourin 7-6.
- Daitou scores 3 in the top of the 9th to reverse the game against Matsue Kita and win 6-5.
- #3 seed Matsue Shougyou wins 5-2 over Ooda.
Round 3
- Iwamichisuikan gets back on track as a #1 seed defeating Masuda Shougyou 8-1 in 7.
- Iinan gets the gyakuten victory as 4 in the 8th gives them the 7-6 victory over Izumo Shougyou.
- Masuda Higashi matches Masuda run for run, but breaks free at the right time, scoring a run in the bottom of the 9th for the win.
- Masuda Higashi will play Taisha who score 8 runs for the 2nd consecutive game in a 7-inning win over Goutsu.
- Kaisei too gets on track with a 10-1 win over Meisei. They get Yasugi next.
- Matsue Shougyou survives a 2-1 win over Daitou. They'll need to get their act together before playing Izumo.
Hm. In the time range I'm recapping, Okayama has gone all the way from starting to the Best 8.
Oy. There's a lot to go through.
- Oddly enough, B seed (5-8 seed) Kurashiki Kougyou plays on the first day. No matter as they beat Okayama Hakuryou 7-3.
- Kanzei plays on day 2 (and isn't seeded), and defeats Okayama Daianji 10-0 in 6.
- Okayama Rikaidai Fuzoku, who made some good runs recently starts off scoring in every inning aginast Tamano Shougyou en route to a 10-0 win in 5.
- Tsuyama allows Tsuyama Higashi to tie the game in the top of the 9th but win in the bottom half.
- Wakeshizutani get the one and only run in the bottom of the 9th over Meisei Gakuin.
- Kurashiki Washuu scores all 5 runs in the last 4 innings to defeat Mimasaka 5-3.
- B seed Kurashiki Kougyou will be Rikaidai Fuzoku's next opponent, though they scored just one run in the bottom of the 9th to beat Kasaoka Kougyou.
- Kurashiki Shougyou almost fell out right from the start. Kouyou's ace Takada held them scoreless for 10 innings. But there's only so far a pitcher can go sometimes, and Takada's limit was the 11th. 4 runs later and Kouyou was eliminated.
- B seed Tamano Kounan has little trouble winning 9-0 in 7 over Tsuyama.
- Kanzei moves on with a 1-hitter against Higashi-Okayama Kougyou.
- Kasaoka Shougyou breaks a 3-all tie against Okayama Higashi Shougyou in the top of the 9th to win 4-3.
- A seed Mizushima Kougyou responds after Okayama Jyoutou scores a run to tie it at 1 in the bottom of the 8th. Mizushima scores 2 in the top of the 9th for the win, but it's not comfortable at all of a start.
- A seed Sakuyou has no problems with Soujya Minami, winning 7-1.
- B seed Okayama Kyousei gives up 2 in the first to Kurashiki Washuu, but dominates thereafter winning 14-2 in 8.
- Closing out round 2, A seed Soushi Gakuen rallies to go extra innings against Katsuyama, but it's Katsuyama who wins in the bottom of the 12th!
- The upsets continue as Kanzei upsets Kurashiki Shougyou, shutting them out 4-0 (though this isn't a real "upset" considering Kanzei's status in Okayama. They'll play Okayama Rikaidai Fuzoku who mercy ruled B seed Kurashiki Kougyou 7-0. (Not a good day for Kurashiki it seems)
- The other quarterfinal will be the status quo as A seed Okayama Gakugeikan and B seed Tamano Kounan will square off.
- On the other side of the bracket, Sakuyou beats out Okayama Minami late 3-1, and will play Okayama Kyousei, though they needed 3 in the top of the 9th just to tie before winning it in the 10th.
- Katsuyama's high from beating Soushi Gakuen ends after Konkou Gakuen spoils the party with a 10-0 rout. They play Mizushima Kougyou who won 2-0 despite giving up 9 hits and walking 4.
Tottori in just one week has already reached the quarterfinals. Such is the case with a rural prefecture where populations continue to migrate to cities.
Round 1
- Sakai, after scoring 2 in the first to Yonago Higashi, give up 5 to fall behind. But they had the rest of the game to catch up and they did. They'd tie the game in the 6th and take the lead in the 7th winning 7-5.
- Tottori Kouryou just beats out Yonago Kita 3-2.
- Tottori Shougyou in a back and forth game versus Kurayoshi Kita, and score the go-ahead run in the 8th for a 6-5 win.
- Sakai continues to look strong as ace Inori throws a 3-hit shutout over Tottori Kougyou.
- Tottori Higashi scores 3 in the bottom of the 8th to separate themselves from Tottori Nishi 5-2.
- Tottori Shougyou 3-hits Kurayoshi Sougou in a 4-0 win.
- Outside of these games, most were uncontested.
Then things finally got interesting...
Tottori Shougyou, who had just gone down 1-0 to Kurayoshi Higashi, scores 4. Kurayoshi Higashi immediately replies with 3 to tie the game. It stayed that way until the 8th when Tottori Shougyou got to the 3rd pitcher, Ishikawa for the winning run.
And in the last quarterfinal, Tottori Jyouhoku got a 3-2 lead in the 1st inning. They maintained it after trading a run in the 3rd. But Tottori Chuo Ikuei scored 2 in the 5th to take the lead. An insurance run in the 7th proved to be the difference as Tottori Jyouhoku scored a run in the 8th to pull within 1.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
7.28 Prefectural Finals
With postponements due to rain, 13 prefectures are hoping to give out their bids today.
Aomori
Rained out yesterday.
Gunma
In the first game yesterday, Jyutoku's ace Oka strikes out 12 and throws a 3-hitter to send his team to the finals with a 2-0 shutout over Shiritsu Maebashi. They'll face Tokyo Noudai Dai-ichi as they defeat Kiryuu Minami thanks to 3B Numazawa's 3-3, 2 RBI day.
Jyutoku's only appearances were back-to-back summers in 1991-2. Tokyo Noudai Dai-ichi has had 4 summer and 3 spring appearances but hasn't been since 1994.
Ishikawa
The first semifinal was an interesting one between Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa and Nanao. Nihon Koukuu gets on Nanao's Nakajima scoring 2 runs in the top of the 1st.
Now here's an interesting tidbit. Remember Saga Kita with their dual aces, Baba and Kubo and how they used the tandem to win the title? Well, Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa has not 2, but 3 pitchers they've used up until this game, Kurimoto, Hanada and Nakata.
Kurimoto pitched 3 innings of shutout ball before handing it over to Hanada. He went 2-2/3 before passing it on to Nakata. But then things go awry. Nanao, against the 3rd pitcher of the day, scores 4 runs and takes the lead!
Nihon Koukuu has one more trick up its sleeve though. LF Kitadera is called in to pitch! And he shuts down the Nanao offense!
But they still trailed 4-2 going into the top of the 9th. Desparate, they put a rally together and score 4 in the top of the 9th! And Kitadera sits down the Nanao batters in the bottom of the 9th and they advance with a 6-2 victory!
So, can Nihon Koukuu's plethora of arms get them through one more game for their first ever appearance? Or can Komatsu Kougyou get their 3rd summer bid?
Fukui
Hokuriku jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Fukui Shougyou in the first semi. It stayed that way until the 6th until Fukusho blew up Takano for 3 runs. He was relieved by Takahashi who got out of the mess.
But Hokuriku would not go quietly. In the bottom half of the frame, they responded against ace Takezawa scoring 3 runs of their own, regaining the slim one-run lead.
Yoshikawa would be brought in to preserve the lead, and he does just that, sending Hokuriku to the finals with a 4-3 win.
Who would Hokuriku play in the finals?
Well, Fukui Koudai Fukui answered with a HR from 3B Nakajima in the 3rd for a 1-0 lead against Tsuruga Kehi. It would not last though as Tsuruga went ahead 2-1 in the 6th. An insurance run in the 8th sealed the finals appearance while ace Yamada struck out 10.
In terms of pitching dominance, the edge may have to go with Tsuruga Kehi and their ace Yamada. But is his arm good for one more game? Or can Hokuriku's pitch-to-contact staff rule the day?
Gifu/Mie
Rained out yesterday.
Tottori
The semifinal games were a bit anti-climactic. Yonago Shouin does get the lead with a homerun by SS Takahashi in the 2nd. But Tottori Shougyou scores 5 in the bottom of the inning and never looks back, winning 11-1 (no mercy rules here in the semis).
Tottori Jyouhoku's Nakao throws a 3 hitter in a 4-0 victory over Tottori Nishi.
So it'll be Tottori Shougyou looking for their 2nd prefecture title (their only other one was in 2004) versus Tottori Jyouhoku who tries for their 1st ever.
Shimane
The games here suffered the same fate. Taisha scored 9 unanswered runs to win 10-1 over Izumo Shougyou, while Masuda Higashi managed just 4 hits in a 4-1 loss to Risshoudai Shounan.
Taisha looks for their 9th summer appearance while Risshoudai Shounan looks for the upset and their 1st ever shot on the Koshien grounds.
Tokushima
Rain, rain, go away, come again another day...
Fukuoka
Chikuyou Gakuen trailed Shuuyuukan 2-1 but continued to work the count creating multiple opportunities. Then in the 8th, they tied the game up! And 10 walks in a game is too much to give an opponent. Chikuyou pushed through the winning run just 2 innings later.
In the Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku-Jiyuugaoka game, Kokusaidai scored 2 in the 4th only to see Jiyuugaoka plate 2 of their own in the 5th. But in the 8th inning, 2 home runs capped off a 4-run 8th as Kokusaidai advances 6-2.
Saga
Imari Nourin breaks a 1-1 tie against Saga Gakuen with 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th for a 4-1 victory. They'll look to secure their 1st ever championship, but will have to face last year's defending champion in Saga Shougyou. Against Kashima Jitsugyou they traded runs in the 1st and 3rd innings before Sasshou scored a run in the bottom of the 4th. Ooda and Kasatsugu combined to shut down Kashima for the 4-3 win.
Oita
Meihou looks to return to Koshien and take revenge on Hanamaki Higashi. Ace Noguchi shuts down the Oita offense giving up 4 hits in 8-2/3 innings for a 6-0 victory. They'll match up with the defending champions Hita Rinkou. While they only managed 6 hits, they combined that with 8 walks to defeat Tsukumi 2-0.
Miyazaki
Miyakonojyou Shougyou finally knows their opponent in the finals. It will be defending champion Miyzaki Shougyou as their ace Yoshida 3-hits Miyazaki Nichidai 2-0 to advance.
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1:52 PM - Middle of the 3rd here, and Oominato holds a 1-0 lead over Aomori Yamada! Already starting pitcher Saitou has been pulled for ace Inoue.
Tokyo Noudai Dai-ni scores a run in the 2nd, just like Oominato, and they lead Jyutoku 1-0 in the top of the 6th!
Komatsu Kougyou gets on the board first against Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa with a run in the top of 2nd, but Ishikawa scores 3 unanswered and leads 3-1 in the middle of the 4th.
Hokuriku and Tsuruga Kehi traded a run in the 1st inning and that is the score heading into the top of the 4th.
Gifu's final has been rained out today. Same with Mie.
Tottori Jyouhoku appears on their way to their first ever appearance! They've jumped out quickly with 2 runs in the top of the1st inning and 3 runs in the 2nd. They lead Tottori Shougyou 5-0 going into the bottom half of the 3rd.
Risshoudai Shounan exploded for 8 in the top of the 2nd against Taisha. They're on their way to securing Shimane's bid as the game enters the 4th inning.
Naruto Dai-ichi and Tokushima Kita are currently in a scoreless draw going into the top of the 4th.
In Fukuoka, RF Amano and C Kouno have hit homeruns for Kyushi Kokusaidai Fuzoku as they take a 3-0 lead over Chikuyou Gakuen in the top of the 5th.
The game is in the middle of the 4th in Saga. Saga Shougyou and Imari Nourin remain scoreless.
Meihou brings out the big guns as they throw out Imamiya for the final. They take the lead in the bottom of the 3rd, but Hita Rinkou immediately tied it up in the 4th. That's where we stand heading into the 6th.
Miyakonojyou Shougyou opens the scoring in the 4th with 2 runs against Miyazaki Shougyou's ace Yoshida. That's the margin right now as they bat in the top of the 6th.
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2:52 PM - Aomori Yamada ties it up with Oominato in the bottom of the 5th! The game has just moved into the top of the 7th. Aomori Yamada though bursted for 3 runs in the 6th and the hopes for Oominato may be fading...
It's final in Gunma! Tokyo Noudai Dai-ni shuts out Jyutoku 2-0 for their 5th summer appearance!
Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa scored a run in the 5th to extend the lead to 3 runs. But Komatsu Kougyou strikes for 4 in the 7th and takes the lead! Ishikawa leveled the score in the bottom of the 7th and that's where we stand heading into Komatsu's 8th. Hamada has given way to Kurimoto for Ishikawa.
Tsuruga Kehi puts up a 3-spot in the bottom of the 4th and lead 4-1 over Hokuriku moving into the 6th.
Tottori Jyouhoku now leads 6-0 against Tottori Shougyou in the 8th inning.
Shimane's bid is all but secured. Risshoudai Shounan now leads by 11 over Taisha with 2 innings left to play.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Naruto Dai-ichi and Tokushima Kita remain deadlocked at 0-0 moving into the 8th inning.
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku is 3 outs away from their first appearance since 1982! They still lead Chikuyou Gakuen 5-0.
Imari Nourin breaks through against ace Kasatsugu! They score 1 in the bottom of the 5th and hold that lead moving into their half of the 7th.
Meihou is getting to Uratsuka late in the game! They score 2 in the 6th and 1 in the 7th. Hita Rinkou has just been retired in the 8th and they have 3 outs left to stage a rally.
Miyazaki Shougyou drew within 1 with a run in the bottom of the 6th, but gets the door slammed as Miyakonojyou Shougyou scores 3 in the 7th! The game moves to the bottom of the 8th and Miyashou is running out of time.
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3:25 PM - Games across the country are going final!
Oominato desperately tries to rally against Aomori Yamada. They draw within 1 in the 9th, but can't bring that tying run home. Aomori Yamada wins its 6th consecutive title!
Tottori Shougyou tries to mount a rally late but can only muster 3 runs. Tottori Jyouhoku can celebrate their 1st ever appearance with their 6-3 win!
Risshoudai Shounan convincingly defeats Taisha 12-3 to claim Shimane's bid and their 1st appearance at Koshien!
In Fukuoka, Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku defeats Chikuyou Gakuen 9-0! Their 27 year wait is over!
Meihou does prevail over Hita Rinkou 4-1 and successfully make the spring/summer Koshien appearance!
Miyakonojyou Shougyou will make their 2nd apperance after defeating Miyazaki Shougyou 5-1!
Komatsu Kougyou has taken the lead in the 10th against Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa! Nihon Koukuu needs one run to stay alive!
Hokuriku fights back! 3 in the top of the 7th ties the game against Tsuruga Kehi heading into the bottom of the frame!
Naruto Dai-ichi and Tokushima Kita remain at 0-0 heading to the 11th!!
Saga Shougyou ties the game in the top of the 8th against Imari Nourin and they're now headed to extra innings!!
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3:39 PM - Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa finds a way to tie the game! They move to the 11th and Komatsu Kougyou has been shut down. Does Ishikawa have a run in them?
Naruto Dai-ichi breaks through in the 11th over Sakamoto and Tokushima Kita! They hold a fragile 1-run lead heading into Tokushima half of the inning!
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3:47 PM - They keep playing in Ishikawa! Nihon Koukuu can't score and we move to the 12th!
Tsuruga Kehi and Hokuriku remain tied at 4 in the 8th inning.
And in Saga, Imari Nourin's magical run may have fallen short. Saga Shougyou scores 2 in the top of the 10th and appear to have successfully defended their title.
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3:47 PM - Tokushima Kita rallies! Down that run to Naruto Dai-ichi they not only tie the game, but score the sayonara run! Tokushima Kita in dramatic fashion earns their 1st ever Koshien appearance!
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!
Sorry for the shorthand, but Saga's gone final! Imari Nourin does it! They somehow rally for 3 runs against Sasshou's Kasatsugu and they defeat Saga Shougyou 4-3!!!!!!!!
I can't believe what I just saw!
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4:07 PM - Komatsu Kougyou and Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa move to the 13th inning! Komatsu has relieved Oonishi with Murata, while Nihon Koukuu has relieved Kurimoto with Nakata.
Hokuriku and Tsuruga Kehi move to the 9th inning still tied at 4! Hokuriku is now on their 3rd pitcher, Takano, while Tsuruga Kehi stays with their ace Yamada.
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4:13 PM - The games move into the bottom half of the 13th and 9th respectively. Can Nihon Koukuu or Tsuruga Kehi end it here?
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4:24 PM - Komatsu Kougyou goes to their 3rd pitcher of the day in Higashide. He shuts down Nihon Koukuu and we're in the 14th. Remember, a tie game after 15 and they have to replay the entire game!!
And Tsuruga Kehi can't push a run across either! They become the 4th extra innning game today!
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4:31 PM - Nakata quickly shuts down Komatsu Kougyou. We're reaching the point where teams run up against fatigue. Either they resign to the fate of a replayed game, or one team just capitulates against the tiredness.
No more news yet about the 10th inning in Fukui.
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4:35 PM - And that's what I'm talking about! With one inning left to play, Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa gets to Higashide and they score the sayonara run in the bottom of the 14th! They earn their 1st ever bid to Koshien!
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4:46 PM - Fukui is the only final left. Hokuriku and Tsuruga Kehi move on to the 11th still tied at 4-4!
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4:56 PM - Yamada continues to blank Hokuriku. As we head to the bottom of the 11th, how much longer can he hold out?
He doesn't have to! It goes final! Tsuruga Kehi scores a run in the bottom of the 11th! They did it! They're off to Koshien! Hokuriku try as they could fall short and their dreams of heading to Koshien are crushed...
What a day... Blowouts at first where you had to feel bad for the losing schools, followed by teams desperately trying to make a last stand, to those that just couldn't hold on any longer.
This, this is what kokoyakyu is all about.
Aomori
Rained out yesterday.
Gunma
In the first game yesterday, Jyutoku's ace Oka strikes out 12 and throws a 3-hitter to send his team to the finals with a 2-0 shutout over Shiritsu Maebashi. They'll face Tokyo Noudai Dai-ichi as they defeat Kiryuu Minami thanks to 3B Numazawa's 3-3, 2 RBI day.
Jyutoku's only appearances were back-to-back summers in 1991-2. Tokyo Noudai Dai-ichi has had 4 summer and 3 spring appearances but hasn't been since 1994.
Ishikawa
The first semifinal was an interesting one between Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa and Nanao. Nihon Koukuu gets on Nanao's Nakajima scoring 2 runs in the top of the 1st.
Now here's an interesting tidbit. Remember Saga Kita with their dual aces, Baba and Kubo and how they used the tandem to win the title? Well, Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa has not 2, but 3 pitchers they've used up until this game, Kurimoto, Hanada and Nakata.
Kurimoto pitched 3 innings of shutout ball before handing it over to Hanada. He went 2-2/3 before passing it on to Nakata. But then things go awry. Nanao, against the 3rd pitcher of the day, scores 4 runs and takes the lead!
Nihon Koukuu has one more trick up its sleeve though. LF Kitadera is called in to pitch! And he shuts down the Nanao offense!
But they still trailed 4-2 going into the top of the 9th. Desparate, they put a rally together and score 4 in the top of the 9th! And Kitadera sits down the Nanao batters in the bottom of the 9th and they advance with a 6-2 victory!
So, can Nihon Koukuu's plethora of arms get them through one more game for their first ever appearance? Or can Komatsu Kougyou get their 3rd summer bid?
Fukui
Hokuriku jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Fukui Shougyou in the first semi. It stayed that way until the 6th until Fukusho blew up Takano for 3 runs. He was relieved by Takahashi who got out of the mess.
But Hokuriku would not go quietly. In the bottom half of the frame, they responded against ace Takezawa scoring 3 runs of their own, regaining the slim one-run lead.
Yoshikawa would be brought in to preserve the lead, and he does just that, sending Hokuriku to the finals with a 4-3 win.
Who would Hokuriku play in the finals?
Well, Fukui Koudai Fukui answered with a HR from 3B Nakajima in the 3rd for a 1-0 lead against Tsuruga Kehi. It would not last though as Tsuruga went ahead 2-1 in the 6th. An insurance run in the 8th sealed the finals appearance while ace Yamada struck out 10.
In terms of pitching dominance, the edge may have to go with Tsuruga Kehi and their ace Yamada. But is his arm good for one more game? Or can Hokuriku's pitch-to-contact staff rule the day?
Gifu/Mie
Rained out yesterday.
Tottori
The semifinal games were a bit anti-climactic. Yonago Shouin does get the lead with a homerun by SS Takahashi in the 2nd. But Tottori Shougyou scores 5 in the bottom of the inning and never looks back, winning 11-1 (no mercy rules here in the semis).
Tottori Jyouhoku's Nakao throws a 3 hitter in a 4-0 victory over Tottori Nishi.
So it'll be Tottori Shougyou looking for their 2nd prefecture title (their only other one was in 2004) versus Tottori Jyouhoku who tries for their 1st ever.
Shimane
The games here suffered the same fate. Taisha scored 9 unanswered runs to win 10-1 over Izumo Shougyou, while Masuda Higashi managed just 4 hits in a 4-1 loss to Risshoudai Shounan.
Taisha looks for their 9th summer appearance while Risshoudai Shounan looks for the upset and their 1st ever shot on the Koshien grounds.
Tokushima
Rain, rain, go away, come again another day...
Fukuoka
Chikuyou Gakuen trailed Shuuyuukan 2-1 but continued to work the count creating multiple opportunities. Then in the 8th, they tied the game up! And 10 walks in a game is too much to give an opponent. Chikuyou pushed through the winning run just 2 innings later.
In the Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku-Jiyuugaoka game, Kokusaidai scored 2 in the 4th only to see Jiyuugaoka plate 2 of their own in the 5th. But in the 8th inning, 2 home runs capped off a 4-run 8th as Kokusaidai advances 6-2.
Saga
Imari Nourin breaks a 1-1 tie against Saga Gakuen with 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th for a 4-1 victory. They'll look to secure their 1st ever championship, but will have to face last year's defending champion in Saga Shougyou. Against Kashima Jitsugyou they traded runs in the 1st and 3rd innings before Sasshou scored a run in the bottom of the 4th. Ooda and Kasatsugu combined to shut down Kashima for the 4-3 win.
Oita
Meihou looks to return to Koshien and take revenge on Hanamaki Higashi. Ace Noguchi shuts down the Oita offense giving up 4 hits in 8-2/3 innings for a 6-0 victory. They'll match up with the defending champions Hita Rinkou. While they only managed 6 hits, they combined that with 8 walks to defeat Tsukumi 2-0.
Miyazaki
Miyakonojyou Shougyou finally knows their opponent in the finals. It will be defending champion Miyzaki Shougyou as their ace Yoshida 3-hits Miyazaki Nichidai 2-0 to advance.
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1:52 PM - Middle of the 3rd here, and Oominato holds a 1-0 lead over Aomori Yamada! Already starting pitcher Saitou has been pulled for ace Inoue.
Tokyo Noudai Dai-ni scores a run in the 2nd, just like Oominato, and they lead Jyutoku 1-0 in the top of the 6th!
Komatsu Kougyou gets on the board first against Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa with a run in the top of 2nd, but Ishikawa scores 3 unanswered and leads 3-1 in the middle of the 4th.
Hokuriku and Tsuruga Kehi traded a run in the 1st inning and that is the score heading into the top of the 4th.
Gifu's final has been rained out today. Same with Mie.
Tottori Jyouhoku appears on their way to their first ever appearance! They've jumped out quickly with 2 runs in the top of the1st inning and 3 runs in the 2nd. They lead Tottori Shougyou 5-0 going into the bottom half of the 3rd.
Risshoudai Shounan exploded for 8 in the top of the 2nd against Taisha. They're on their way to securing Shimane's bid as the game enters the 4th inning.
Naruto Dai-ichi and Tokushima Kita are currently in a scoreless draw going into the top of the 4th.
In Fukuoka, RF Amano and C Kouno have hit homeruns for Kyushi Kokusaidai Fuzoku as they take a 3-0 lead over Chikuyou Gakuen in the top of the 5th.
The game is in the middle of the 4th in Saga. Saga Shougyou and Imari Nourin remain scoreless.
Meihou brings out the big guns as they throw out Imamiya for the final. They take the lead in the bottom of the 3rd, but Hita Rinkou immediately tied it up in the 4th. That's where we stand heading into the 6th.
Miyakonojyou Shougyou opens the scoring in the 4th with 2 runs against Miyazaki Shougyou's ace Yoshida. That's the margin right now as they bat in the top of the 6th.
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2:52 PM - Aomori Yamada ties it up with Oominato in the bottom of the 5th! The game has just moved into the top of the 7th. Aomori Yamada though bursted for 3 runs in the 6th and the hopes for Oominato may be fading...
It's final in Gunma! Tokyo Noudai Dai-ni shuts out Jyutoku 2-0 for their 5th summer appearance!
Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa scored a run in the 5th to extend the lead to 3 runs. But Komatsu Kougyou strikes for 4 in the 7th and takes the lead! Ishikawa leveled the score in the bottom of the 7th and that's where we stand heading into Komatsu's 8th. Hamada has given way to Kurimoto for Ishikawa.
Tsuruga Kehi puts up a 3-spot in the bottom of the 4th and lead 4-1 over Hokuriku moving into the 6th.
Tottori Jyouhoku now leads 6-0 against Tottori Shougyou in the 8th inning.
Shimane's bid is all but secured. Risshoudai Shounan now leads by 11 over Taisha with 2 innings left to play.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Naruto Dai-ichi and Tokushima Kita remain deadlocked at 0-0 moving into the 8th inning.
Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku is 3 outs away from their first appearance since 1982! They still lead Chikuyou Gakuen 5-0.
Imari Nourin breaks through against ace Kasatsugu! They score 1 in the bottom of the 5th and hold that lead moving into their half of the 7th.
Meihou is getting to Uratsuka late in the game! They score 2 in the 6th and 1 in the 7th. Hita Rinkou has just been retired in the 8th and they have 3 outs left to stage a rally.
Miyazaki Shougyou drew within 1 with a run in the bottom of the 6th, but gets the door slammed as Miyakonojyou Shougyou scores 3 in the 7th! The game moves to the bottom of the 8th and Miyashou is running out of time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3:25 PM - Games across the country are going final!
Oominato desperately tries to rally against Aomori Yamada. They draw within 1 in the 9th, but can't bring that tying run home. Aomori Yamada wins its 6th consecutive title!
Tottori Shougyou tries to mount a rally late but can only muster 3 runs. Tottori Jyouhoku can celebrate their 1st ever appearance with their 6-3 win!
Risshoudai Shounan convincingly defeats Taisha 12-3 to claim Shimane's bid and their 1st appearance at Koshien!
In Fukuoka, Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku defeats Chikuyou Gakuen 9-0! Their 27 year wait is over!
Meihou does prevail over Hita Rinkou 4-1 and successfully make the spring/summer Koshien appearance!
Miyakonojyou Shougyou will make their 2nd apperance after defeating Miyazaki Shougyou 5-1!
Komatsu Kougyou has taken the lead in the 10th against Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa! Nihon Koukuu needs one run to stay alive!
Hokuriku fights back! 3 in the top of the 7th ties the game against Tsuruga Kehi heading into the bottom of the frame!
Naruto Dai-ichi and Tokushima Kita remain at 0-0 heading to the 11th!!
Saga Shougyou ties the game in the top of the 8th against Imari Nourin and they're now headed to extra innings!!
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3:39 PM - Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa finds a way to tie the game! They move to the 11th and Komatsu Kougyou has been shut down. Does Ishikawa have a run in them?
Naruto Dai-ichi breaks through in the 11th over Sakamoto and Tokushima Kita! They hold a fragile 1-run lead heading into Tokushima half of the inning!
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3:47 PM - They keep playing in Ishikawa! Nihon Koukuu can't score and we move to the 12th!
Tsuruga Kehi and Hokuriku remain tied at 4 in the 8th inning.
And in Saga, Imari Nourin's magical run may have fallen short. Saga Shougyou scores 2 in the top of the 10th and appear to have successfully defended their title.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3:47 PM - Tokushima Kita rallies! Down that run to Naruto Dai-ichi they not only tie the game, but score the sayonara run! Tokushima Kita in dramatic fashion earns their 1st ever Koshien appearance!
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!
Sorry for the shorthand, but Saga's gone final! Imari Nourin does it! They somehow rally for 3 runs against Sasshou's Kasatsugu and they defeat Saga Shougyou 4-3!!!!!!!!
I can't believe what I just saw!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4:07 PM - Komatsu Kougyou and Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa move to the 13th inning! Komatsu has relieved Oonishi with Murata, while Nihon Koukuu has relieved Kurimoto with Nakata.
Hokuriku and Tsuruga Kehi move to the 9th inning still tied at 4! Hokuriku is now on their 3rd pitcher, Takano, while Tsuruga Kehi stays with their ace Yamada.
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4:13 PM - The games move into the bottom half of the 13th and 9th respectively. Can Nihon Koukuu or Tsuruga Kehi end it here?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4:24 PM - Komatsu Kougyou goes to their 3rd pitcher of the day in Higashide. He shuts down Nihon Koukuu and we're in the 14th. Remember, a tie game after 15 and they have to replay the entire game!!
And Tsuruga Kehi can't push a run across either! They become the 4th extra innning game today!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4:31 PM - Nakata quickly shuts down Komatsu Kougyou. We're reaching the point where teams run up against fatigue. Either they resign to the fate of a replayed game, or one team just capitulates against the tiredness.
No more news yet about the 10th inning in Fukui.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4:35 PM - And that's what I'm talking about! With one inning left to play, Nihon Koukuu Ishikawa gets to Higashide and they score the sayonara run in the bottom of the 14th! They earn their 1st ever bid to Koshien!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4:46 PM - Fukui is the only final left. Hokuriku and Tsuruga Kehi move on to the 11th still tied at 4-4!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4:56 PM - Yamada continues to blank Hokuriku. As we head to the bottom of the 11th, how much longer can he hold out?
He doesn't have to! It goes final! Tsuruga Kehi scores a run in the bottom of the 11th! They did it! They're off to Koshien! Hokuriku try as they could fall short and their dreams of heading to Koshien are crushed...
What a day... Blowouts at first where you had to feel bad for the losing schools, followed by teams desperately trying to make a last stand, to those that just couldn't hold on any longer.
This, this is what kokoyakyu is all about.
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