高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

2 matches to go in round 2. Both Shounan and Hanasaki Tokuharu won handily in the 1st round, it'll be interesting to see how these teams fare, because they're certainly not as good as their 1st games indicate.

Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama)

Well, that's more like it. A close game to set the tone for the day. This game though will key in on one key matchup - ace Hayama for Shounan versus the entire Kyoto Shouei offense.

Kyoto Shouei (Kyoto)
SS Abe Hiroya (阿部 大弥)
RF (7)Nitta Daisuke (新田 大輔)
3B Morimoto Yoshio (森元 啓雄)
C Ishihara Tsuyoshi (石原彪)
CF Yamamoto Yuudai (山本 祐大)
1B Kawamoto Kazuha (川本 万葉)
LF (16)Hamano Takurou (浜野 拓郎)
P Takino Masata (滝野 雅太)
SS Eimoto Ren (栄本 廉)

Shounan (Kagoshima)
CF Imada Kaito (今田 塊都)
SS Oosawa Daiki (大沢 大樹)
1B Kamikuri Taisei (上栗 大聖)
LF Yoshiuchi Takumi (吉内 匠)
RF Sekiyama Mio (積山 水音)
2B Orio Kousei (折尾 昂靖)
3B Kouno Katsumaru (河野 勝丸)
P Hayama Shouta (浜屋 将太)
C Maekawa Taisei (前川 大成)

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11:20 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Oh boy, Hayama not really off to the greatest of starts. Abe giving him heck at the plate, wasting several pitches before drawing a leadoff walk.

After that, Nitta walks and Hayama is in a very bad way.

That rings true when Morimoto lines a ball over Oosawa splitting the defense for an RBI double. 1-0.

Ishihara a hot shot to 3rd, but Kouno fields it and looks the runner back before getting the out. 1 down.

Asai-kantoku puts on the contact play, but Yamamoto grounds to short! He catches Nitta in a rundown and the get the 2nd out!

But they throw to 2nd! Yamamoto slides in, but he's out! A terrible baserunning error by Kyoto Shouei short-circuits the inning at 1-0!

Bottom 1st
Oy, what's this? Takino, spotted a run hits Imada, then walks Oosawa, and if that wasn't enough, throws a wild pitch to put both runners in scoring position.

And on what would normally be a good pitch down and in, Kamakuri drives it to deep right! Nitta tries to run it down, but his slide is just short! Both runners score on the triple and like that Shounan has the lead! Toss in a sac fly and it's 3-1!

Takino gets the final 2 outs thereafter, but they're on hard hit balls. Looks like they'll have to work their way back now.

Top 2nd
Kyoto Shouei firing right back. Kawano and Takino both gets base hits to put the douten runner on base.

But Eimoto flies out to center, and unlike his first AB, Abe loses the battle, chasing a slider down and away for the 3rd out.

Bottom 2nd
It's a much better inning for Takino, quickly retiring the first two batters before walking #9 batter Maekawa. Doesn't hurt him as Imada hits a sky high popup that Abe take near 2nd for the 3rd out.

Top 3rd
2 outs for Shouei and big boy Ishihara drives a ball to deep left center for a double.

Yamamoto can't duplicate that and pops out to 2nd.

Bottom 4th
The next opportunity comes in the bottom of the 4th where Orio gets a one-out single up the middle. He's bunted over, but Hamaya strikes out to retire the side.

Bottom 5th
Shounan gets one last crack at scoring before the break when Maekawa's grounder goes under Eimoto's glove.

But Shounan decides to bunt not once, but twice! So when Kamikura flies out to center, we're at the break!

Shounan may have the lead, but they're playing like they're trying to get 1 run each inning. If Kyoto Shouei can get their offense going, they may have a shot yet as Shounan looks desperate to add more runs.

Top 6th
Ishihara strikes again, collecting his 2nd double in as many at bats, this time dear the foul pole.

Hayama makes a good 3-2 pitch to Yamamoto, but he gets enough to bloop it into shallow left center for a base hit! Runners at the corners with 1 down!

Kawamoto gets a great pitch to hit, but he grounds it right at short! 6-4-3 double play and Hayama is out of the jam!!

Bottom 6th
Kyoto Shouei makes a change at pitcher, sending in #10 Takamuki.

Yoshiuchi welcomes him with a single to right. Takamura struggles with his control, and yields another single to Sekiyama.

Orio lays down a bunt, but Takamuki throws it wide of 2nd! Yoshiuchi scores and like that it's a 4-1 game!

Kouno hits a chopper up the middle, and somehow it gets through the infield! That brings in a run to make it 5-1! On replay, the ball was going slightly left, but the spin brought it right and away from the SS. Life of it's own I tell you.

Hayama follows that up with a single before Maekawa gives Takamuki his firs out via a sac bunt.

Now, Kouno does get caught off 3rd for some unknown reason for the 2nd out, but Imada makes sure that the runners score blasting a ball off the wall in right center for a triple and a 7-1 lead.

That's where the carnage would end, but I'm shocked to see Kyoto Shouei's pitching look so bad.

Bottom 7th
You can wrap it up here. After a leadoff double and single, #11 Hiragaito comes into the game.

Walk, base hit, 9-1. Orio thrown out at 3rd.

Hiragaito gives up one more hit before being retired, but might as well get everyone in.

Rest of game
The rest of the game plays out with not much happening as you would expect from a blowout.

There were signs that Kyoto Shouei wasn't as strong as their defeats of Fukuchiyama Seibi and Ritsumeikan Uji suggested, but that was on the pitching side. Put up the offensive numbers you do in all your games and even with regression there should still be something. But there wasn't.

It's still early, but Shounan might sneak in as a possible contender.

Our last game of the 2nd round features two teams who had identical scores, but not so identical games.

Both Maebashi Ikuei and Shounan both won of their games by a score of 1-0. Shounan got theirs from a suicide squeeze after a leadoff double. Maebashi's on a timely triple with a runner on base. Of the 7 hits Shounan got, they had just one extra base hit (Ootani's double). Half of Maebashi Ikuei's 8 hits were of the extra base variety.

Shounan's ace Yamashita had to get himself out of quite a few jams in the game, giving up 5 hits and 6 walks in his complete game effort. Takahashi for Maebashi Ikuei game up 5 hits as well, but walked just 2 and struck out 13 to Yamashita's 5. However, despite the power display Maebashi was more prone to the K, striking out 9 times to Shounan's 5.

Is it possible that the edge in this game actually goes to the first timers?!

Maebashi Ikuei (Gunma)
CF Kudou Youhei
1B Kusunoku Hiroki
SS Tsuchiya Keisuke
3B Arai Kento
C Ogawa Toshiki
RF Itagaki Fumiya
P Takahashi Kouna
LF Tamura Hayato
2B Takahashi Tomoya

Shounan (Kagoshima)
CF Ikeda Taishi
LF Kumasako Mitsuhiro
SS Konda Tenshi
C Ogata Sousuke
3B Fujino Yuuta
P Yamashita Atsuhiro
1B Hongou Kentarou
RF Ootani Shinpei
2B Shimada Kiyohita

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14:20 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
After a quick pop out by Kudou, Kusunoku snaps at his bat after swinging and missing on a fastball inside.

Tsuchiya tries to take advantage of a 3-1 count, but can only ground to short for the 3rd out.

Bottom 1st
No fireworks from Kouna just yet.

Ikeda skies one to Tsuchiya behind 2nd, and Kumasako grounds to 2nd.

Imada though hits a liner to right that Itagaki has to slide to make the catch on.

Top 2nd
Arai, grounder to short, Konda bobbles the ball on the transfer! Throw to 1st... Safe!

The 1B umpire calls Hongou off the bag and Maebashi has a lead runner! Ogawa moves him to 2nd.

Itagaki liner to Fujino, home plate umpire calls no catch! Now... that looks a little funny there.

Umpires get together, set home plate umpire straight, 2 outs.

Kouna lines out to right shortly afterwards, and the game goes on.

Bottom 2nd
One down for Shounan and Fujino draws a four pitch walk.

Yamashita showing bunt, lays it down. Arai overrides Ogawa, quickly throws to 2nd and cuts down Fujino.

Hongou tests Arai again with a bounder.  He smothers it on the short hop and makes the play at 1st.

Top 3rd
As expected Yamashita is getting his contact plays in. Tamura rolls over one to 3rd.

Tomoya with a foul fly, Ogata running over to the Maebashi Ikuei dugout on the 1st base side..

Tumbles in hard!!

Umpire goes over... calls foul, but more importantly goes down to check on him. He's okay and runs back to his position behind the plate.

Tomoya with a liner, but to Hongou for the out..

And Kudou too rolls over one to 2nd.

Bottom 3rd
It's possible Kouna is playing the contact game too to get quicker outs, as Ootani swings on the first pitch and grounds to second.

That's debunked as Shimada pulls one through the gap at short for his team's first hit.

Ikeda showing bunt, but takes all the way to 3-1. Goes for the hit-and-run, but Ikeda pulls it foul.

But Ikeda actually goes for it on 3-2, and he successfully lays it down!

Kumasako pulls one to the right side! Kusunoki ranging over, slides, but it's off his glove! It defects towards 2nd and Tomoya is out of position! Everone's safe!

Konda drive to left! Tamura going back, back, back pedaling...

Makes the catch! Man those backpedaling plays worry me. But side retired!

Top 4th
Kusunoku strikes out for the 2nd time against the pitcher who doesn't really record them. Not good.

That aside, Yamashita's plan of contact outs is working well so far. Tsuchiya doesn't make all that good contact in his ball to 2nd, and Arai does boom one to center, but it's easily playable.

Bottom 4th
Defensive change. #14 Uchida comes in for Kusunoku and takes over at 1B.

It takes until the 4th inning for Kouna to record his first K, and it's after falling behind Fujino 3-0 to boot for the 2nd out of the inning. Hit 144 on that pitch.

But I also think that he doesn't mind the quick outs on the field as well. Yamashita makes a bit for a hit with a ball to the gap in short, but Tsuchiya with the backhanded glove pick and cross body throw gets him to end the inning.

Top 5th
Ogawa checks in with Maebashi's first hit, rebounding the ball back up the middle for a leadoff single. Itagaki moves him over 90 feet.

Kouna at 2-2 hits a foul fly that is playable. Hongou, Shimada and Ootani all converge, Hongou goes for it, but it falls in foul.

Yamashita goes slow curve on Kouna, and he tries to slow down his bat to make contact, but it just prolonged the silliness of it.

Tamura up to try and break the deadlock.

And it gets a little easier as a ball gets by Ogata! Ogawa heads to 3rd.

He too can't check his swing and the count runs full.

Rocket to 2nd... AH!!!!

The ball 5-holes Shimada and goes to right center! Ogawa scores and Tamura takes 2nd! Maebashi Ikuei takes the 1-0 lead!!

Tomoya grounds out to end the inning, but we have a breakthrough!

Bottom 5th
Hongou with another had ball to Arai who hands that one like all the others.

Ootani liner down first base line, fair!!  He's on his horse and reaches 2nd ahead of the throw!

Shimada lays down the bunt! Arai having to charge in again throws to 1st.... SAFE!!

The 1st base umpire calls him safe, and I don't know about that. The ball was sno-coned, but it looked like he had control.  So Maebashi Ikuei in a big pinch.

SQUEEZE!!!  Ikeda lays it down! Kouna undertosses home....

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

Ogawa blocking the plate gets Ootani high on the body as he slides in for the out! 2 down!

Kumasako goes down swinging and the side is retired!

So yeas, once again we are at the break and we have... a 1-0 game... But not necessarily in the way we thought.

Top 6th
Kudou with a hard shot to Hongou, block it, quickly regathers it and beats Kudou down the line for the out.

Uchida up for his first AB... Singles to right!

Perhaps a chance to play a little add-on right after the break.

Hit-and-run! Tsuchiya liner, caught by Fujino! Picks off Uchida easily at 1st and the inning is over.

Bottom 6th
Kouna still pitching to contact, Konda and Ogata both ground out, while Fujino goes down swinging on a slider to retire the side.

Top 7th
Maebashi Ikuei apparently fine playing the contact game. Arai and Ogawa are retired on the first pitch each on routine grounders.

Itagaki swings after a sinker to retire the side.

Bottom 7th
Shounan doing the same really, but the difference is, they're behind a run!

Yamashita chases the high fastball and hits one back to Kouna. 3 pitches later the side is retired...

Top 8th
Yamashita tries to get the slow curve past Kouna, but he makes an easy swing and singles to left center.

Tamura showing bunt, and on the 2-1 pitch the corners crash in.  But he takes that for a ball, as well as the next one as now Maebashi Ikuei has 2 on no out. Yamanoguchi-kantoku calls time as #10 Kawabata warms up.

Now Tomoya up to bunt and he lays it down.

Contact play! Kouna takes off on the hit by Kudou! But Shimada goes home and Kouna is out by a good margin!

Uchida hit up the middle, Konda knocks it down! Flips to Shimada and there's 3 out!

Bottom 8th
The contact pitching is working as Kouna is just at 87 pitches.

Shimada wants to change that a bit, goes 7 pitches, but can only hit a comebacker to Kouna.

After a popup by Ikeda, #18 Setouchi hits for Kumasako.

Grounder to the right of the mound, Tomoya charging, throws across his body and gets the last out! Nice play!

Top 9th
#17 Fukuyama comes on for PH Setouchi and takes over in LF. Also, #15 Jyouso comes in for Shimada to take over at 2B.

Tsuchiya fly to left. Fukuyama going to his right, still going, still going...

Caches it at the fence just in foul territory! One down.

Oh? Yamanoguchi-kantoku sends in #10 Kawabata to pitch for Yamashita?

All he does is throw fastballs and get K's it seems. Arai goes down looking and Ogawa goes down swinging to end the inning.

Bottom 9th
And just like that, we're at the bottom of the 9th inning already!

Konda catches a slider and puts it behind Kouna into center for a base hit!

Ogata up, will Yamanoguchi-kantoku have him bunt?

No! Konda takes off! Throw from Ogawa.... offline!  It goes into center, but Konda can't advance.

Meanwhile Ogata behind 0-2....

SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ogata chases the slider for the first out!

Now #13 Houman comes in to hit for Fujino...

Drive to left!  Tamura running to the left field line... FOUL!  Oh, but not by a whole lot.

...Goes full swing on a fastball outside and it's 2-2.

...Slider in the dirt and the count runs full.

SANSHIN!!  Houman chases the slider! Ogawa goes to 1st to complete the out, but Konda breaks for 3rd! Throw from Uchida, not in time!! Douten run 90 feet away!!

#16 Maemura to hit for Kawabata.

He's swinging away, falls behind 1-2...

SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maemura chases the slider and the game is over!

Kouna saves the strikeouts for last as after giving up the opening hit in the 9th, he strikes out the side to secure the 1-0 win!

As expected the teams aces kept the opposition off the board for most of the game. What was surprising was the Kouna wasn't striking out batters at the clip he was in the first game.

But this could have been the plan all along. For striking out a lot of batters is good, but adds to a pitch count. By pitching to contact (as long as you have the control for it), you can cut down your pitches. I don't have an exact count right now, (oh, NHK just showed 118 pitches, thanks!) which in kokoyakyu figures is really good.

And considering that in just 2 days time, they'll be playing Yokohama? They need a fresh Kouna as they can get.  You can win the game striking out batters, but you may not win the war.

For Shounan, Yamashita did everything he could to win the game. His line today was actually a lot better than his first game, and yet the one run that scored was due to an unfortunate error.

And twice they had a runner at third come home and both times, Maebashi Ikuei cut the runner down at home. They had their chances, and you can understand the team's reaction to the loss. But, they can hold their heads high that they played 2 great games at Koushien and did their school and their friends, family, classmates, etc. proud.

Notable Players
Takahashi Kouna (Maebashi Ikuei) - CG, SHO, 5 H, 6 K, BB
Ogawa Toshiki (Maebashi Ikuei) - 1-4, R
Yamashita Atsuhiro (Shounan) - 8.1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 4 K, BB
Ootani Shinpei (Shounan) - 1-3, 2B
Konda Tenshi (Shounan) - 1-4, SB

Our sandwich game today ends the opening round of the 95th Natsu Koushien.  The winner here will play Maebashi Ikuei on the last game of Day 9.  Not impossible, but not easy.

Anways we have an all-Kyushu matchup for the final 1st round game.

Shounan makes an appearance at Natsu Koushien after a 4 year hiatus.  With defending champion Kamimura Gakuen eliminated by Kagoshima Jyouhou, the path was open to the final where fellow powerhouse Kagoshima Jistugyou waited.  And in a game where hits were not at a premium, Shounan prevailed with a walkoff in the bottom of the 9th.  Despite the team getting a lot of hits, there are no real standouts amongst the bunch.

As for the mound, Yamashita Atsuhiro is their ace, and from all indications your average lefty ace. Low 130s with the usual slider/curve combo.

Sasebo Jitsugyou successfully defended their Natsu title for their 5th summer appearance.  It wasn't easy as they had to defeat Isahaya (a good 3rd tier team in Nagasaki), Kaisei, and lastly Nagasaki Nichidai.  Versus Kaisei, they needed a 2-run 8th to move on, and then against Nagasaki Nichidai they were one of the many finals that day that went into enchousen thanks to a run in the bottom of the 9th, winning 2 innings later.

About the only consistent part of the Sajitsu offense is cleanup batter Tazaki.  Considering that, Shounan might pitch around him more often than not.  Pressure then will fall upon ace Kinoshita Itoshi, a soft tossing lefty who throws in the mid-upper 120s with the default slider and curve.  Also, there is 3B Yamaguchi Akira who was actually called upon to start the final and pitched 6 innings.  I cannot find information about his pitching through, so I expect Kinoshita to take the bulk of the innings.

So long as neither ace completely falls apart or isn't the ace they were in the natsu taikais, there will be some opportunities for both teams in this game.

Sasebo Jitsugyou (Nagasaki)
CF Sakai Kenya
RF Tahata Yuuto
3B Yamaguchi Akira
LF Tasaki Toshiki
C Yamada Shun
SS Kawabata Jyun
P Kinoshita Itoshi
1B Sasahara Takumi
2B Ushirokado Keita

Shounan (Kagoshima)
CF Ikeda Taishi
LF Kumasako Mitsuhiro
SS Imada Tenshi
C Ogata Sousuke
3B Fujino Yuuta
1B Hongou Kentarou
P Yamashita Atsuhiro
RF Ootani Shinpei
2B Shimada Kiyohita

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11:45 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Sakai way early on offspeed pitch, goes one handed and grounds out to 2nd.

Tahata chases a high fastball and flies out to right.

Apparently the curve that Yamashita has is a slow curve (mid-upper 90s).  Slider is in high 110s-low 120s.

Yamashita goes full on Yamaguchi, and while he hits the glove, it's inside and he walks Yamaguchi to bring up Tasaki.

Wild pitch from Yamashita sends Yamaguchi to 2nd, but that becomes of inconsequence when he walks Tasaki on 4 straight.

But Yamashita gets Yamada to chase a sinker down in the zone to get out his self-made pinch!

Bottom 1st
Ikeda with a seeing-eye single that gets past Tasaki into center!  Yamanoguchi-kantoku has Kumasako bunt him along into scoring position for Imano.

He hits a chopper back up the middle!  Ushirokado with it goes to 1st for the out, but Ikeda moves to 3rd.

Kinoshita gets Ogata to chase a slider out of the zone for the 3rd out and the leadoff base hit doesn't come to hurt him early.

Top 2nd
First pitch Kawabata flies out to right.

Counterpart Kinoshita works the count full, but immediately walks back to the when Yamashita misses the glove with his change but right over the plate for strike 3.

Yamashita missing again with his location and walks Ushirokado, flipping the lineup back to the top and Sakai.

Sakai goes to swing early and grounds out to 1st to end the inning.  If I was Sajitsu, I'd be extra patient on Yamashita and make him throw strikes, because he's either missing wide or low.

Bottom 2nd
Kinoshita working fast, and Fujino hits a comebacker that Kinoshita leisurely fields and throws to 1st.

Kinoshita's first really bad pitch hits Hongou to put him on.  Yamanoguchi-kantoku wants Yamashita to bunt, but winds up behind 1-2.  Three-bunts and lays it down.

Ootani liner back up the middle past the stab of Kinoshita!  Hongou coming home, NO!

Sakai with a strike right to home plate and Hongou scrambles back to 3rd!  Nice throw!

Yamanoguchi-kantoku sends Ootani!  Yamada drops ball and he's in without a throw!

And on Day 5, I finally hear 残酷な天使のテーゼ...

And Kinoshita works out of the jam tying up Shimada on an inside fastball! Nicely done!

Top 3rd
Yamaguchi again being patient, has another full count, and draws another walk!  Tasaki senses a strike from Yamashita and singles to right!  Sajitsu with their first good opportunity in the game!

But Yamada hits a grounder right to Fujino!  He goes to 2nd to start the inning ending 5-4-3 double play!

Bottom 3rd
Shounan's batters attacking early in count, but not timing up the pitches.  2 quick groundouts from Ikeda and Kumasako.

Imada decides to wait and takes the cut ball through the right side for a solid single.

Except that he then gets caught taking off early and is run down 1-3-6 to end the inning!

Top 4th
Kawabata chases a full count fastball up in the zone, but still manages to hit a hard grounder to short.  Imada's throw is wide, but Hongou makes the tag for the out.

Kinoshita completely fooled on the slider, goes one-handed and grounds to 2nd.

Yamashita almost gets the clean inning, but then hits Sasahara with a slider to put him on.  This allows Ushirokado to bat and the lineup to turn over next inning.

Ushirokado grounds to short and Imano takes it himself to 2nd to end the inning.

Bottom 4th
Ogata gets another leadoff runner for Shounan, inside outing a pitch the other way for a base hit.

Fujino showing bunt, lays it down, but it's too hard and Kinoshita fires to 2nd. It's high, but Kawabata stretches to make the out.

Yamanoguchi-kantoku believing this to be a close game has Hongou bunt as well and he does successfully.

So it's now up to a one-timer from Yamashita to get the run in.

But Yamashita swings and misses on a slider to end the inning.

Top 5th
So Sasebo Jitsugyou's Shimizu-kantoku used to be a coach over at Seihou.  Traitor.  (I kid. Managerial jobs are always what coaches strive for so the fact he got one I'm happy about.  But to a rival school.. aargh.

Anyways, Sakai with a drive to center!  Ikeda running back, but he goes full bore as it goes over his head. One hops to the wall and Sakai in with a double.

Shimizu-kantoku looking to have Tahara bunt.  He lays one down that stays on the line, and Hongou has to play.  Sakai advances to 3rd.

Yamaguchi up, 2 walks on the day.  No bunt so far.

SANSHIN!!  Yamaguchi perhaps looking to hit instead of getting on base, chases a screwball for the 2nd out!

Tasaki up, and while he's waiting for a good pitch, Yamashita gets ahead 1-2.

OH!!!

Tasaki gets around on an inside fastball and drives it to left!  Kumasako running back towards the foul pole...

...and makes the catch!

Tasaki get a lot of that pitch, but not enough!

Bottom 5th
Ootani catches a hanging slider and drives it to left center!  That's to the wall for a leadoff double for Ootani!

Shimada for a bunt and the first pitch is up and in!  He tries to get out of the way but it hits the bat!  After another failed attempt, he goes for the three-bunt and lays it down!  Sasahara charging in looks 3, but ends up going to 1.

Ikeda showing safety squeeze, but like Shimada goes behind 0-2.  Waste pitch shows nothing.

SQUEEZE!!!!!

Yamanouchi-kantoku calls for three-bunt squeeze and Ikeda gets a high pitch to bunt!

Kinoshita charging, gets to ball, but can't field it cleanly!  Has to go to 1st and Ootani scores!  1-0 Shounan!!

Kumasako tries a safety bunt but is easily thrown out as we head to the break.

Despite Yamashita's perceived control issues, (4 BB, 1 HBP), he's managed to give up nothing.  Meanwhile, Kinoshita has left pitches too much in the zone, allowing early baserunners (3 leadoff baserunners) ending up in the 1 run.

Top 6th
Sajitsu continues to try and aggressively swing their way out of the shutout, but it's not working against Yamashita.

Yamada and Kawabata both hit routine grounders to 3rd...

And after swinging his way to 0-2, Kinoshita walks back to the dugout after watching a fastball on the outside corner.

Bottom 6th
One down and grounder to 2nd by Ogata bounces off Ushirokado's glove for an E4.

Fujino bunts him along to 2nd for the one timer.

Hongou with a hard grounder to the gap in short, Kawabata makes the backhanded sliding stop and throws to 1st!  Sasahara makes the catch, but is pulled off the bag!  He goes back and tags it for the 3rd out!  Nice play!

Top 7th
Sasahara trying to play the patience game, but Yamashita puts a fastball on the outside corner for strike 3!

Ushirokado gets ahead 2-1, but thinks he'll get a good pitch and doesn't.  Grounds out to 3rd.

Sakai behind 1-2, grounds right to Hongou who takes it himself for the 3rd out.

Time running down for Sajitsu their 2nd straight appearance, and Yamashita seems to be locating better now.

Bottom 7th
The aces having trouble against each other especially as Yamashita turns around to walk back after getting frozen by Kinoshita.

Ootani golfs an 0-2 pitch, Sakai and Tahata coming in, both charging in but it falls between them and Ushirokado for a base hit!

Once again, Yamanoguchi-kantoku is calling for a bunt with 1 down and Shimada obliges.  But Ikeda is called going around on a slider and is retired 2-3 to end the inning.

Top 8th
Sajitsu's batters look clueless out there.  1-1 to Tahata and he pinwheels around on a screwball.  Manages to fill up the count though.

However he swings on an up and in fastball and grounds out to 2nd.

Yamaguchi can't do much but fall behind when a 99 slow curve comes in for strike 2... And he goes down swinging on yet another sinker.

Tasaki getting fastballs all day, but can't get enough contact.  He flies out to center to end the inning.

Bottom 8th
Kinoshita at a very tidy 83 pitches, but trailing 1-0.

Kumasako with a chopper up to the left side.  Yamaguchi takes it off the short hop and fires to 1st for the out!

Imada gets his 2nd hit with a single to left center.

Hit-and-run!  Ogata misses, but the ball is in the dirt and Yamada can only block it!  Ogata then grounds to 2nd advancing the runner for Fujino.

Kinoshita gets him to ground to short to end the inning...

Top 9th
...but they're out of time now.  They have to score here or they go home.

5-6-7 batters up for Sajitsu.

Two screwballs, and Yamashita is up 0-2 on Yamada.

Yamashta tries it one too many times and Yamada takes it back up the middle for a base hit!

Shimizu-kantoku calling for the bunt from Kawabata...

He shows it, but takes a couple before attempting one.  But he fouls it off and he's behind 1-2...

Yamashita trying to get him to bite on a screwball, but no dice.

Kawabata swings away but fouls it off.

Hit-and-run!!  Kawabata makes contact and singles through the left side!  Runners on 1st and 2nd with no out and Yamanoguchi-kantoku calls time as Fukuyama comes out to the mound.

And while #15 Inoue was in the on-deck circle, he's called back for #14 Sakamoto.  Is he there to bunt?

Yes!  And he lays a beautiful one down!  Looks like Inoue was there if Kawabata bunted.  But with no out, he sent in a bunter.

Gyakuten runner in scoring position for captain Sasahara.  He's 1-2 on the day.

Looks like they're not really pitching to him.  Yamashita falling behind 2-0.  Screwball inside 3-0, and I think this is an unintentional intentional walk.

Yep, they make it official as they pitch out.

Another conference now as Ushirokado comes in.  Hes 0-2 with a walk.

He's taking pitches but Yamashita gets the outside corner for 1-1.  Goes after a fastball on the outer half and fouls it off!

Fastball outside, ball 2.

Sets up inside... Grounder to 3rd!!  Fujino goes to 2nd for one, ball to 1st... double play!  Ushirokado grounds into the game ending DP.

That's unfortunate as perhaps with an inside pitch, it might have been better for Ushirokado to take the pitch, but that's all in hindsight.

In reality, Sajitsu just couldn't solve the screwball or perhaps figure a strategy to not go after it. They had some chances early when Yamashita was not as accurate, but after that couldn't mount anything until the 9th inning, and by that time the pressure had built against them.

For Shounan, Yamashita certainly used his screwball to the fullest extent.  Some timely hitting and well timed bunts, as it were, were enough to advance today.  If they thought that bunting was necessary in this game, they'll need it against Maebashi Ikuei where they will get very few baserunners.


Notable Players
Yamashita Atsuhiro (Shounan) - CG, SHO, 5 H, 6 K, 5 BB, HBP
Ootani Shinpei (Shounan) - 3-3, 2B, R, SB
Imada Tenshi (Shounan) - 2-4
Ikeda Taishi (Shounan) - 1-3, RBI
Kinoshita Itoshi (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - CG, ER, 7 H, 5 K, HBP
Sakai Kenya (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 1-4, 2B
Yamada Shuu (Sasebo Jitsugyou) - 1-4