高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

So, this will be short, mostly because I'm still disgusted about what happened yesterday (it looks like perhaps the powerhouses are not letting the cinderella teams get away anymore):

Niigata - Sekine Gakuen v. Nihon Bunri
Ishikawa - Komatsu Ootani v. Seiryou
I'm lumping these together because I don't want to dedicate time to these games.

Sekine Gakuen led Nihon Bunri 2-1 going into the bottom of the 9th.  Single, flyout, walk, 3-run gyakuten sayonara HR, Bunri wins 4-2.

Komatsu Ootani led Seiryou 8-0 going into bottom of 9th. They cannot record 3 outs as Seiryou scores 9 in a slow-motion collapse as they win 9-8.

You can see my twitter feed to see my feelings regarding this.  I may even do a post about this before the finals today.

Gunma - Kendai Takasaki v. Isesaki Seimei
The score itself was close, but the game perhaps wasn't.  Kawai, Takahashi and Matsuno combine on a no-hitter as they defeat Isesaki Seimei 1-0.

The only run was scored in the 3rd when after a double to LCF by then starter Kawai, Hoshino goes for a safety bunt with 2 out and brings the runner home.

Tochigi - Sakushin Gakuin v. Sano Nichidai
Sano Nichidai opened the scoring with a run in the first, but Sakushin Gakuin eventually wore down their opponents, scoring 7 runs in the 6th and 7th innings en route to a 7-1 win and their 4th consecutive trip to Natsu Koushien.

Saitama - Shiritsu Kawagoe v. Kasukabe Kyouei
Shiritsu Kawagoe and Kasukabe Kyouei did not have to play any powerhouse teams for the title, and avoided the pitfalls that are associated with playing in big prefectures such as this one.  Both schools had been to Koushien before, Shiritsu Kawagoe as Kawagoe Shougyou back in 1971, and Kasukabe Kyouei 4 times, the most recent being in 2005.

The game was very close with the teams trading runs in the 4th and 5th ending with Shiritsu Kawagoe leading 2-1.  It stayed that way until the 8th when Kamijyou couldn't hold the lead for Shiritsu.  Kasukabe Kyouei would score 6 in the bottom half of the frame, leaving them with almost no time to respond.  Kasukabe Kyouei would advance for the 5th time with a 7-2 win.

Nagano - Saku Chousei v. Nagano Shougyou
Nagano Shougyou had been a powerhouse back in the day, but has ceded way to the private schools such as Saku Chousei, Matsushou Gakuen and the like.

But they reached the final where they would have to exorcise the demon by defeating Saku Chousei to take the title.  And when I saw them score 6 in the 2nd, I thought perhaps the trend of upsets would continue.

Sadly it would not be.  A 4-run 7th was the key in Saku Chousei's comeback as they would win 10-9 to claim their 6th title.

Hyogo - Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku v. Sanda Shousei
Even though neither school had reached Natsu Koushien before, Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku had at least gone to senbatsu.  So Sanda Shousei could have easily been called the underdog.

But the game was over early.  7 runs in the 3rd for Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku and that pretty much sealed things.  Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku would go on to win 11-1.

Tottori - Yazu v. Tottori Jyouhoku
In recent times Tottori Jyouhoku has dominated the prefecture leaving schools like Yazu who used to go to Koushien behind.  Yesterday was a chance for Yazu to perhaps claim something from past times.

Yazu would take an early lead when with the bases loaded and 2 out, Nishigaki would deliver a base hit to center scoring 2.

Kamatani for Yazu would hold off the Tottori Jyouhoku offense, but in the 5th he would cede a run due to a wild pitch.  Later on, after an intentional walk to load the bases, he would get out of the jam with a fly to center.

Kamatani wouldn't let them get any closer as he gave up just the 1 run on 6 hit to win 2-1.

Okayama - Okayama Ridai Fuzoku v. Kanzei
There would be no Cinderellas in Okayama as 2 familiar foes met up for the title - though neither had really been to Koushien in a couple of years, as Kurashiki Shougyou had stolen the show for most part.

Kaznei would score early and often against Okayama Ridai, putting up all their runs before the break.  It would be more than enough as they would win 9-4.

Hiroshima - Hiroshima Shinjyou v Kouryou
Kouryou and Jyosuikan have given up control of the prefecture to the masses the last 2 years, but Kouryou returned to the finals this year looking to reclaim the throne.

Hiroshima Shinjyou had gone to senbatsu earlier this year and was looking to perhaps make a return trip this summer.

Things looked good in the first, as Nishijima's timely triple gave them the 1-0 lead.

Kouryou would strike right back.  1 out, runners at the corners and cleanup batter Oota delivers a hit to left to tie the game.  Kita would give his team the lead right after with a single to center.

That would be all the scoring in the game as Kouryou would go on to punch their ticket with a 2-1 win.

Kagawa - Sakaide Shougyou v. Ootemae Takamatsu
We really hadn't heard from either of these schools, though both are more than decent teams within Kagawa.  Sakaide Shougyou time was in the 80s and early 90s where they went to Natsu Koushien 4 of their 5 prior times.  Ootemae Takamatsu has been forever a Tier 3 school, but with none of the current powerhouses in the final (and having survived Jinsei Gakuen 8-7 in 13 in the semifinals), they had a chance to make their first trip.

Perhaps the extra inning game though hurt Ootemae Takamatsu, because despite going out to a 3-1 lead through 6, Saji couldn't finish it off.  He would give up 2 in the 7th to tie the game, and then 2 more in the 9th giving Sakaide Shougyou the 5-3 win.

31 down, 16 to go.

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:

• Shiritsu Wakayama v. Tanabe Kougyou
• Kouyasan v. Kouyou
• Kioukan v. Seirin
• Tanabe v. Naga

Kyoto - Best 8 (en route)
Wow, I can't even recognize a lot of the teams that have made the Round of 16.

• Kita-Saga v. 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

Wow, outside of the normal schools (plus Kyoto Subaru and Otokuni), I don't really recognize the teams.

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

 Many teams will breathe a sigh of relief as at least two of the strong schools will be eliminated (Kaisei, Risshoudai Shounan, Iwamichisuikan).

So, because I can't work on the brackets at work, it really makes it difficult to get them prepared.  These are all done manually and it took a lot of my free time back then.

Anyways, almost all prefectures are underway, and some are in the final stages:

Okinawa - Best 4

• Semifinal 1 - Okinawa Shougaku v. Ginoza
• Semifinal 2 - Itoman v. Urasoe Shougyou

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.

And now for those that happened on the 27th:

Higashi Tokyo - Shuutoku (5th title, 1st in 9 years)
I realize I'm cheating in covering Higashi Tokyo, but for a reason.

Almost no one (Teikyou) was able to stop Shuutoku.

No one.

How bad was it for the field?  Well, Shuutoku in their 8 games had 2 non-mercy rule games - their 4-2 defeat of Teikyou, and the final (which has no mercy rule).

But Teikyou did have the best shot at Shuutoku.  In fact, they had the 2-1 lead through 6 innings.  But as is the case - and will always be the case until they prove me otherwise - until they can develop an ace, they will never win Koushien.  And so it was that Teikyou would give up 3 runs in the final 3 innings to fall 4-2.  That would be the best shot any team would have at stopping them.

Credit should be given though where credit is due.  All of the other seeded teams at the edges of the bracket advanced to the semifinals.  #2 Nishougakushadai Fuzoku did not dominate at all, save for the semifinal where they defeated #3 Kanto Dai-ichi who save for a narrow win over Adachi Gakuen did dominate the field  (Hope you caught all that).  And finally, Tokyo Jitsygyou who out of nowhere won their 4 games as the #4 seed location on the bracket to reach the semifinals where they, like many, got mercy ruled.

Chiba - Kisaradzu Sougou (4th title, 2nd consecutive)
Chiba breaks my heart so hard, I really don't want to talk about it.  Not that it probably wasn't expected, but that my hopes were brought up really high, only to have them crushed like a spider on the heel of someone's shoe.

Despite 171 teams playing in the Chiba taikai, out of the 16 seeded teams, 10 were able to advance to the Round of 16.  Some of the notable casualties? Choushi Shougyou, Shigakukan, and Kashiwa Nittai.

Now, the reason why I cannot be unbiased really regarding Chiba is the fact that I am unapologetic in rooting for Narashino. They're a public school who consistently does well and has been good enough to break through and get to Koushien on several occasions.

However, despite my homerism, I'm still a realist at heart (okay, pessimist).  I knew Narashino wasn't as good this year, and was a B (5-8) seed for the summer taikai.  But, they did make it into the round of 16 and that was a start.  A solid 5-2 win over unseeded Nichidai Narashino wasn't convincing, but they were still alive.  Next up was C (9-16) seed Narita.  I remember seeing the end part of that game, Narashino trailing 5-3.  Somehow, and I still can't believe it, Narashino comes back to score a pair of runs to tie the game. 3 innings later, they win the game and I'm running around at home hooting and hollering.  Perhaps it may still be their year after all.  And when they soundly defeat a Toukaidai Bouyou squad who was a bit inconsistent but still cut their way through the field, it was just one more game.  One more game to win and Narashino will get back to Koushien!

On the other side, things did not as clear.  Only Senshuudai Matsudo, Kisaradzu Sougou and Takushokudai Kouryou were left of the seeded teams.    The former and latter would meet in the quarterfinals, and A seed Senshuudai would win... 1-0.  That would put them in a matchup against Kisaradzu Sougou who had easy games versus unseeded Ryuukeidai Kashiwa and Keiyou.

In that semi Kisaradzu Sougou held the 2-1 lead going to the top of the 9th.  But top seed Senshuudai failed to give in scoring the douten run to send it into extras.  As the innings ticked off, it became clear that Matsudo's ace Takahashi looked finished.  In the 11th inning the sayonara run stood at 2nd, in the 12th he fought off a sanrui, 1 out pinch.  Then in the 13th, after yet again facing sanrui, 1 out pinch then intentional walks to load the bases (again), Takahashi almost gets out of the pinch, but with 2 down it's a full count oshidashi sayonara walk to send Kisaradzu Sougou to the finals yet again.  For Senshuudai Matsudo, it's their 3rd straight year being eliminated in enchousen.

So the finals were B seeds Narashino and defending champion Kisaradzu Sougou.  I wound up missing the game because I forgot about the early start time.

Perhaps it would have been a good thing.

See, Narashino jumped out to a 4-1 lead after a 3-run 2nd.  Things looked good, and my earlier concerns about Narashino's pitching (from the Narita game) were waning.

But ace Matsuyama (who came in the 2nd inning) to reliever relief starter Matsumoto, faltered.  Kisaradzu would sclore 4 in the 4th to take the lead and then 1 more an inning later for a 6-4 lead.  Narashino would be scrambling after that, reclaiming one back in the 7th.

That's as close as they'd get as Chiba would be able to finish the game giving his team their 2nd straight title (and breaking my heart).

Yamanashi - Hikawa (4th title, 1st in 3 years)
Oh how I longed for Nihon Koukuu (aka Japan Aviation Academy) to return to Koushien.  But since their appearance in 2008, have kind of fallen off the map, despite being seeded several times.

This year, they were not only unseeded, but buried in the bottom of the bracket.

The early leader in the clubhouse was Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku, who won 2 of the last 4 Natsu titles and posted double digit wins in their first two games.  All the other teams at least had one game where they were tested - even the other 1-4 seeds.  Toukaidai Koufu had to hold off Koufu Shougyou 7-6, Hikawa despite getting just 8 hits against Tsuru won 2-1, and Fujikawaguchiko flat out lost giving up a 4-2 lead in a 5-4 loss to Koufu Jyousai.

The only other team to have any type of blowout was actually Nihon Koukuu!  But they're not the pretty type of blowouts.  They're the ones where they just decide to outscore you, pitching be damned.  For after an innocent looking 7-3 win over Shirane, they go 13-7 and 13-6 (8 inn) there after.  Certainly a valid strategy, but one that generally doesn't work as you move up.

But, when faced with Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku, they were able to get out to a 5-1 lead!  With just 3 outs to go, the Nihon Koukuu kantoku elects to move ace Tanaka off the mound for Nakano to get the last 3 outs.

Except he doesn't. He gives up 4 runs tying the game! He would get bailed out big time by cleanup batter Ishida whose 2nd hit of the game is of the sayonara variety.  Headed to the semifinals, they'd face the other top seed in their half of the bracket, Toukaidai Koufu who had to rally from down 5-2 to defeat Minobu.  Despite that close game, Toukaidai would build a 7-3 lead... only to see Nihon Koukuu score a gyakuten 6 runs in the 7th for a 9-7 win and a chance for the Yamanashi title!

Going back to the other half, upset minded Koufu Jyousai's run lasted just one more game as they fell 5-0 to Sundai Koufu.  Meanwhile, Koma was giving Hikawa fits as they led 3-0.  Hikawa though would fight back like quality teams would and win 4-3.  And in the semifinals it was a rare 9-1 blowout to move to the finals.

And so it was that Nihon Koukuu would play Hikawa for the Yamanashi title.  In the end, Nihon Koukuu outrun strategy would fail as their offense struggled against ace Yamada, only putting up more than 1 run in an inning in the 9th, when the game was already out of reach.  Hikawa wins 8-5 to claim the title.

Wakayama - Minoshima (8th title, 1st in 29 years)
With Wakayama it was always was going to be a question of how Chiben Wakayama was going to win their nth straight title (9th in this case).

Or was it?  During Chiben Wakayama's run at Natsu Koushien, they reached the semifinals once and the Best 8 three times.  However, all but one occurred in the first 3 years of that run.  In more recent years, Chiben Wakayama has seemed to weaken, even failing to win their first game 2 of the last 3 years.  It's really attributed to growing weaknesses both at the plate and on the mound.  Last year, 3 of their 5 games to the title were decided by 2 runs or less - hardly the mark of a dynastic team.

So perhaps it was no surprise then when in the 2nd round Kihoku Kougyou, behind the HR from Horita and a solid outing from ace Nakai, would dethrone the 8-time defending champions 2-1 (though perhaps the school performing the feat may have been a surprise).

Now the question was, who would take their place?

It wasn't going to be Kihoku Kougyou.  Despite handing the ball off to Nakai with a 3-2 lead through 4, he would give up 4 runs (most importantly 2 in the 9th) to fall 6-5 to Wakayama Higashi in the block final (remember that Wakayama has 4 blocks which then redraw for the semifinals).

Realistically, the team that has risen most to challenge Chiben Wakayama in recent years has been Minoshima.  In first started in their first appearance in any Koushien in 19 years, where they went to the quarterfinals of the 2009 senbatsu before losing to eventual champions Seihou.

Of course, that was 4 years ago and they haven't been back since.  The team has suffered through fits of inconsistency, but over the past year split a series with them with both games going by the final of 2-1.

Some inconsistency remained as put up a rather average 4-1 win over Kenritsu Wakayama Shougyou in the 2nd round.  But they still advanced out of their block.

The other would-be contenders would be seeded Minabe out of Block B, and surprise team Hidaka Nakatsu who after a strong 2 games upset seeded Kinkidai Shinguu then held off Minabe Ryuujin 9-6 to advance out of Block C.

The semifinal draw would not be kind for Wakayama Higashi as they drew Minoshima and proceeded to fall 8-0.  For Minabe, a 5-run first helped provide a cushion for starter Matsuda as they would defeat Hidaka Nakatasu 8-5.

And so Minabe would be the final opponent standing between Minoshima and their first appearance in almost 3 decades. Sadly for Minabe, they were not able to put up a fight and lost 10-1.  A bit of a sad way to lose in the final, but congrats of course go out to the new champions Minoshima!

Tottori - Tottori Jyouhoku (3rd appearance, 2nd consecutive)
Despite just having 25 teams, it was not good to be a seeded team.

Why?

Because 3 of the 4 seeded teams - Yonago Kita, Iwami, and Kurayoshi Sougou Sangyou, all lost in their first games!  Yonago Kita was soundly defeated by defending champs Tottori Jyouhoku (who wasn't seeded!), Iwami was done in by a sole RBI from Yonago Shouin's Tsuchie, and despite more chances for Kurayoshi Sougou Sangyou thanks to walks from Tottori Nishi's ace Mastuoka,  Tottori Nishi would get to reliever Sawada as he entered in the 10th for the sayonara victory.

Tottori Jyouhoku's only challenge on their way to the final was in semifinal opponent Kurayoshi Higashi.  Ace Uehara struggled in the game, giving up 3 runs after his team had just taken a 2-0 lead.  But reliever Fukuiwa would clamp things down for Tottori Jyouhoku as they would eventually get to Higashi ace Tamagawa for 3 more runs, knocking him out of the game.  Itou would clamp things down there after, and Kurayoshi Higashi would get a run off of Fukuiwa in the 8th... but Uehara would come back in the 9th and close it out for the 5-4 win and a spot in the finals.

On the other half, the 2 prior champions to Tottori Jyouhoku wound up advancing through the brackets.  2010 champion Yazu had no problems reaching the semis with 2 sound victories.  Conversely, 2011 winner Tottori Shougyou needed 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Tottori Ikuei 3-2, and then after blowing a 3-0 lead to aforementioned Tottori Nishi, scored 2 in the bottom of the 8th to win 5-3.

Perhaps playing from the lead was something Tottori Shougyou was unable to do this year, because in the semifinal, they had a 4-1 lead over Yazu heading to the top of the 9th.  There Yazu would score 5 runs to take a 6-4 lead, leaving Tottori Shougyou almost no time to rally.  Indeed they would fail to come back and Yazu would be in the final.

In the final, Yazu and Tottori Jyouhoku would trade blows several times, leaving the teams tied at 2 after the first 3, then again at 5 after 7.  However, reliever Kamatani for Yazu would break down in his 5th inning of work giving up 3 runs in the 8th inning.

That would prove to be too much as Tottori Jyouhoku would claim their 2nd consecutive title.

Tokushima - Naruto (8th title, 2nd consecutive)
In Tokushima there seemed no clear front-runner for the title.  Even the top tier teams struggled at some point in the tournament.

Defending champion Naruto even suffered from it as well.  Despite the first round bye and 6-2 opening win over Tomioka Nishi, they played a Tokushima Kagaku Gijyutsu squad who blew a 5-run lead to Awa only to win 10-8, then down 3-0 in the bottom of the 9th, came back to tie off Jyounouchi ace Yanagimoto and then win in 10.

In that game Bandou would be stung for 4 runs in the 7th, falling behind 4-2.  However, Naruto would recover quickly scoring 3 in their 7th and 2 more for good measure in the 8th to win 7-4.

The next challenge would be Naruto Uzushio, who blew past their first 2 opponents before hitting resurging Ikeda.  They slowly were able to overcome a 5-run 3rd, getting to every one of Ikeda's 4 pitchers they would throw out there, winning 6-5.

Both pitching staffs would be rocked early, with Naruto taking a 6-5 lead after 2.  From then on though, Bandou would keep Uzushio at bay just enough to make that lead stick winning 8-7 for a spot in the finals.

On the other side, many teams were under the banner of survive and advance.  For Seikou Gakuen, after an easy first round, ace Tokuda almost let a 4-1 lead slip away against Anan Tousen, but won 4-3.  After that, they trailed Aratano 5-2 before scoring 4 runs in the final 2 innings to tie the game up at 6.  Aratano reliever Fukuzumi was anything but, relinquishing the 5-1 lead then giving up 5 more in the 10th for an 11-6 loss.

They would face a Kawashima team who beat Tokushima Kita in the opening round 3-1, upset powerhouse Tokushima Shougyou 3-2 in the next round, and then if that weren't enough, outlasting Komatsushima 4-3 in 13 innings!

Interstingly enough, the semifinal game would be a cakewalk compared to their previous games.  Ace Ueda would make a 4-run 4th stick, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits for a 5-3 win.

But for Kawashima, facing Naruto for their first title would be a lot to ask.  Indeed, after giving up 5 runs in the first two innings, it was a formality thereafter.

Ehime - Saibi (4th title, 1st in 5 years)
All eyes in Ehime would be on Saibi and ace Anraku.  Given his performance at Senbatsu, many were eager to see him at Natsu Koushien.

Jyoukou-kantoku continued to take no chances, throwing Anraku out there in every game save for the last two outs of their win against Matsuyama Chuo.  Saibi would outclass their opponents early with Anraku giving up just 1 run on 11 hits while striking out 29 in 20.1 IP.

So the question would be, who could challenge them?

Well, #4 seed Tanbara actually got shutout by Imabari Kita 5-0.  Filling the gap would be Kawanoe, who themselves had 3 mercy rule games to meet Yawatahama in the quarterfinals.  And despite just 1 run on 5 hits, the tandem of Oonishi and Doi would give up just 3 hits and strike out 16 Yawatahama batters to win 1-0 to meet Saibi.

In that semifinal, a timely hit by Takahara and an error from Saibi gave Kawanoe a 2-0 lead.  Meanwhile, Oonishi and Doi were shutting down the Saibi offense and things started to look bleak.

But Kawanoe's kantoku had pulled Oonishi after 2.2 IP, and Doi was trying to finish the game.  But Yamashita blasted a HR in the 8th to pull them within 1.  And in the 9th, he would relinquish the lead with RBI hits from Kaneko and Hayashi Kanya.  Senba would get the last 2 outs of the inning, but the damage had been done.  Anraku closed it out for the win.

So, who would be the last barrier between Anraku and Natsu Koushien?

Well, despite Tanbara's loss, both #2 Imabari Nishi and #3 Matsuyama Seiryou both marched towards the semifinals.  Both though faced a different challenge in the quarterfinals.  Imabari Nishi played Touon and despite getting just 4 hits, won 2-0.  As for Matsuyama Seiryou, instead of a pitching affair they were in a brawl with Niihama Higashi using 5 runs in the 6th and 7th to win 13-9.

So #2 and #3 would meet to face Saibi.  Ace Kanno for Imabari Nishi would give them a 1-0 lead with his only hit of the ballgame.  But it would be all he would need as he pitches a 3-hit shutout to move to the finals.

Imabari Nishi would try to implement a rotation of Kanno and Ishigaki on the mound for the finals, but Kanno was rocked right off the bat for 4 runs in 1+ innings of work.  While the rotation would give up just 1 run thereafter, it was too late.  Anraku would allow Imabari Nishi to pull within 2, but that would be as close as they would get, meaning that Saibi and Anraku would return to Koushien once again!

Kochi - Meitoku Gijyuku (15th title, 4th consecutive)
It was not business as usual in Kochi, despite the 2 teams who wound up in the final.  Not sure what is going on, but it almost signifies a loss of talent among the upper teams.

Why do I say that?  Well, Tosa lost right off the bat to Kochi Minami 6-0.   Now, one might say, "that's not terrible, Tosa was a decent team sure, but not one who was one of the powerhouses."

Sure, I could go with that, but following that Kochi Shougyou lost in the 2nd round after ace Uemoto collapses in the 8th inning, giving up 3 runs to Kochi Nougyou and losing 3-2.

"Okay, Kochi Nougyou got lucky in one inning.  Still not necessarily a big deal."

Well, what about the fact that while Kochi and Meitoku Gijyuku did manage to advance, their victories were not as sweeping as one might think?

Kochi's 2nd round win over Kochi Nishi 7-1 was helped by a 4-run 8th.  Meitoku actually trailed Kochi Kougyou before a 5-run 6th distanced themselves enough to win 7-3.  Move onto the quarterfinals, and Kochi started reliever Sakai against Sukumo Kougyou.  Having just gone up 4-0 through 7, Sakai falters almost giving up the entire lead.  Ace Sakamoto has to come in to shut the door advancing 4-3.  Meitoku had no such luxury facing Okou, who is probably on the same level as Tosa.  Kishi though gives up 2 early runs leaving them to chase.  And while a 2-run 5th would be enough, it would be just enough as Okou would keep it close falling by the same 4-3 score.

Now, both teams would actually win their semifinals with relative ease (at least compared to the games above).   Nakamura would fall to Kochi 5-1, while Kochi Chuo (who in their 2nd round game against Yusuhara trailing 3-0 going into the final 3 innings would score 10 runs to send the game into enchousen, winning 1 inning later!) would be shutout by Kishi & Ogata 6-0.

Kochi would turn to Sakai again to start the game against Meitoku Gijyuku and ace Kishi.  And while he was able to go head-to-head for a little while, he would give up a run in the 5th and another in the 7th.  That would be all Kishi would need, though he survived the 9th to win 2-1 and give his team their 4th consecutive Natsu title!

Fukuoka - Jiyuugaoka (1st appearance)
When block play finally ended on the 14th, the likes of Jiyuugaoka, Kurume Shougyou and Teikyou Dai-go all joined the field in the 2nd stage.

In the second stage, the story early on was Moji Gakuen.  Facing unknown Fukushou, they fritter away a 3-1 lead in the last 2 innings, head into extras, and down 4-3 in the 10th they score 2 to win.  Then against Fukuoka Koudai Jyoutou this happened.  Talk about comeback kids.

It perhaps looked like they'd do it again in the semifinals against Nanchiku, tying the game late and going into extras.  Nanchiku for their part, had just upset Higashi-Fukuoka.  But when Doi gave up a run in the 11th, Moji couldn't find anything left in the tank as they fell 3-2.

On the other half, everyone who advanced had blowouts save for Jiyuugaoka who had to play Kurume Shougyou and escaped with a 5-3 win.  After that was a quarterfinal game against Jiyuugaoka.  And much like Moji Gakuen had done in the 2nd stage, they staged a comeback in the bottom of the 9th for 2 runs to send Teikyou Dai-go home falling short yet again.  Their opponent in the semifinals would be Kyusandai Kyushu who mercy-ruled Tobata and Yuusei to get there.  Still, against a upper level team, they would fall short losing 6-1, setting tup the final matchup.

And perhaps as expected Nanchiku would give up quick runs early and was not in contention.  Jiyuugaoka would go on to win 9-1.  What surprised me the most was that it was their first ever title!

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.

Well, with the opening ceremonies completed, the other teams exit as Mie and Tottori Jyouhoku take the field for the tournament opener.

Now, admittedly there probably won't be a whole lot of people here.  Though with the final game being a headliner, it's quite possible the stands might be a little more full than expected for a game like this.

That's not to say Mie or Tottori Jyouhoku aren't good teams, they're just not attention grabbers.

Tottori Jyouhoku won the Chuugoku Super-Regionals, albeit against a slightly weaker field.  Their offense is pedestrian at best (and that was against a weaker field), which means much of the burden will lie with ace Hirata Shouma and reliever Nishisaka Ryou.

First up for them will be Mie.  Now, Mie is no perennial title contender, however they did take Aikoudai Meiden the full 9 in the Toukai Super-Regional final, falling just short 4-3.  Their offense is probably a tick better than Tottori's, but it'll probably also boil down to their ace Miura Koutarou.  They have used many other relievers, but none with extensive playing time, meaning it'll probably be Miura or bust.

I would probably expect a low-scoring affair due to the offenses more than the pitching.  Though if either ace wears down, their game - and subsequently their tournament, ends just after it started.

RF  Satou Kouji
2B  Komai Yuusuke (#6)
CF  Kimura Tatsuya
1B  Kawano Shou
3B  Taniguchi  Hibiki (#15)
LF  Hamada Kouki
C  Kinoshita Yuugo
SS  Hirayama Takuma (#5)
P  Hirata Shouma

3B  Kitade Kazuma
CF  Ishizaki Shouki
1B  Okamoto Takurou
RF  Ogawa Tomoya
SS  Maekawa Naoki
P  Miura Koutarou
C  Kobayashi Daiki
2B  Oda Hayao
LF  Maekawa Jinya

___________________________________________________________________________
 
10:32 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Miura starts the game off by getting Satou to swing at three straight pitches.  But as quickly as he records his first K, he walks Kumai on 4 straight, and almost walks Kimura on 4 pitches (it was 5).

And immediately timeout is called  as #15 Shigeyama comes out to the mound.

Cleanup batter Kawano looks for a ball to hit as he fouls off a 2-0 pitch.  Miura gets in a second strike on the outside corner and now Kawano is on the defense just fouling off a pitch.

The swings give Miura a second wind as he strikes out Kawano on a lsider, then Taniguchi on three straight to end the inning!

Bottom 1st
Hirata looking good to start, but a routine grounder to short is thrown high by Hirayama and Mie gets a baserunner.

But just as quickly, Kitade is caught off first and a pickoff throw forces him to 2nd where despite a collision Hirayama holds onto the ball.

It's too bad as Ishizaki takes a ball the other way into the gap.  He rounds the bases as the ball falls softly in for a stand-up triple!  Mie back on the offensive!

Okamoto up and he's brushed back with a pitch up and in!

But when Hirata tries to go down and away, Okamoto golfs it to center!   Kimura fields it conceding the run and Mie scores the first run of the tournament!  They lead 1-0!

Ogawa goes down swinging to end the inning, but not before Mie draws first blood!

Top 2nd
A little on ace Miura.  He's pretty much your average pitcher, with a fastball that can hit 135.  His slider is a bit erratic and can be anywhere from 125~132.  He also has a curve in the high 100's-low 110's.

Despite his lack of control early, he manages to strike out Hamada to start the inning, then gets some help as Kitade plays self-defense on a liner right at him for the 2nd out.  Finally Hirayama flies out to center and it's a much smoother inning for Miura.

Bottom 2nd
Mie's oen-dan goes into Big6 songs.  Whee!

Miura's opponent is about the same.  Fastball in the 134~138 range, slider in the low 120's and a change in the 100's.  He does seem to exhibit better control than Miura.

But Naoki lines a fastball right back up the middle for a leadoff hit.  Miura lays down the bunt and it's up to Kobayashi to get the runner home.

He gets ahead 3-1, but eventually winds up grounding to 3rd.  Oda comes up now to try and play add on.

They try to paint the corner on a 1-2 pitch, but it goes begging.  Doesn't matter because they try it again and Oda offers and misses to end the inning.

Top 3rd
Miura gets himself into trouble yet again.  One down, he hits top batter Satou.  Then Komai lays down a bunt down the 3rd base line that stays fair for a base hit!

Kimura make Miura pay for it as he lines one over Okamoto down the right field line for a double!  That scores Satou and the game is tied at 1-1!

Kawano then hits a grounder to 3rd.  Kitade charges, but his only play is to 1st.  That scores Komai to make it 2-1!  Taniguchi grounds a chopper to 2nd to end the inning, but not before the Chuugoku champs take the lead!

Bottom 3rd
Jinya manages to reach 1st via a dead ball and is bunted to 2nd.  He's advanced to 3rd on a grounder, but there's two outs and they need a one-timer from Okamoto.

Hirata gets him to hit a chopper back to him, but he can't field it cleanly and it goes off his glove! It deflects back towards the left side of 2nd.  Hirayama comes in, but bobbles the ball allowing Jinya to score, tying the game at 2-2!!

Dunno if that chopper rattled him a bit, but he walks Ogawa and now is in a slight pinch.  But he gets Naoki to strike out on a slider down and in to limit the damage.

Top 4th
Miura seems to have on and off innings.  After having a soft liner forcing him to duck for a single, he gets Hirayama to hit a comebacker to him.  Miura proceeds to start the inning ending 1-6-3 double play.

Bottom 4th
Meanwhile, Mie's batters seem to be timing Hirata well.  Miura hits a deep fly to center, followed by a liner to center by Kobayashi.  Oda finally succeeds in actually getting a hit with a liner to center.  Jinya is not as lucky though, as Hirata starts throwing junk and he strikes out to end the inning.

Top 5th
Miura continues to have trouble with leadoff batter Satou, issuing a one-out walk.  But when Komai lines one to Jinya in shallow left, he's too aggressive!  Jinya throws him out trying to return to 1st and the inning is over!

Bottom 5th
Kitade starts off the Mie offense with a slicer over Taniguchi!  It goes all the way to the wall for a leadoff double!  Ishizaki lays down the bunt, and it's up to Okamoto.

And he takes a pitch letter high and drives it to center!  It's over a running Kimura!  Okamoto eases into 2nd with an RBI double!  3-2 Mie!

But Mie helps him limit the damage as Ogawa chases a ball in the dirt, and then Okamoto is caught in between 2nd and 3rd and is run down.  But as we head to the break, Mie leads 3-2!

The game is about what I expected.  Not necessarily good offenses per se, and the pitching is average.  It'll come down to who can get the timely hits more than anything else.

Top 6th
Miura is certainly settling down it seems.  First pitch strikes and a bit more control as the game has progressed.  Kimura pops out to right, cleanup batter Kawano strikes out swinging on a slider outside, and while Taniguchi slices down the left field line for a single (good play by Jinya to limit him), Hamada routinely grounds out to short to end the inning.

Bottom 6th
Bad luck seems to plague the Chuugoku champions.  Naoki hits a hard ball to the right side, but Kawano smothers it!  However, his toss to 1st glances off Hirata's glove and Naoki's safe!

Mie continues to play for a run at a time, and Miura bunts him along.

Kobayashi can't hold up his swing on a ball down and away, and it's up to Oda once again.  He hit a liner back up the middle last time up.

Hirata, aware of this isn't giving him anything good.  Sliders down or fastballs away.

Oda's doing his best, fouling off pitches to stay alive...

And he lines one over Taniguchi into left!  But Hamada is playing in and Naoki can't score!

Up to Jinya to try and get the runs home.

But instead Oda runs the team out of the inning as he's thrown out trying to steal 2nd!  Why?!

Top 7th
Lucky 7 for Tottori Jyouhoku, and they're starting to run out of time.

Kinoshita gets a break when a grounder to 3rd is thrown short by Kitade and bounces over Okamoto's glove.  E5 and the tying run is aboard.

Hirayama tests Kitade again with a bunt down the left side.  Kitade's throw is short again, but Okamoto just picks it for the out.

Trouble for Miura!  Last batter Hirata grounds one past a diving Kitade to left!  Jinya is playing in again, so the runners have to stop.  But the tying run is 90 feet away!

Okita-kantoku calls time to try and slow down the momentum.

But Miura's nemesis is at the plate in leadoff batter Satou. This time around, Miura gets ahead 1-2!  But Satou works the count full, and drives a pitch down and in to center!  It's deep enough and Kinoshita scores easily!  We're douten at 3-3!!

Komai makes Kitade make one more play at 3rd to end the inning, but the 7th indeed provides to be lucky as Tottori Jyouhoku ties the game!

Bottom 7th
Jinya's troubles at the plate continue as he continues to swing at sliders down and in for a K.

Kitade looks to make up for the error as he reaches out and hits a seeing-eye single to left.

Odd, Okita-kantoku isn't calling or a bunt.

Oy...  Kitade pushes it when a ball gets away from Kinoshita, but Ishizaki was holding up the stop sign and Kinoshita throws him out easily.  Ishizaki hits a lazy fly to center and the inning is over just like that.  Momentum may be swinging to Tottori at just the right time.

Top 8th
Problem is, they still cannot get good contact on Miura's pitches.  It's the middle of the lineup, and Kimura hits a grounder to 2nd, Kawano nubs one back to Miura for 2 quick outs.

Taniguchi though seems to be getting in the groove as he sends one into the left center field gap for a 2-out double!  Chance for Tottori, but Hamada steps in 0-3 on the day.  Miura needs to get him as Kinoshita stands on the on-deck circle.

Hm?  Miura's throwing in the low 140's?  Didn't notice that now.  He just threw a 144 pitch.

But it's a high change that he dribbles back to Miura who throws him out to end the inning!

Bottom 8th
Okamoto gets his 2nd hit of the day, a ball just under the glove of Hirayama into left!  It's a given that Ogawa's going to try to lay down the bunt.

But he can't lay it down!  He's down 1-2 in the count and is still showing bunt?  Yes, he still going for it!

And he lays it down beautifully!  Mie now has the go-ahead run in scoring position for Naoki!  But he's just 1-3 with a single back up the middle in the 2nd...

Naoki gets good contact on one, but it's right at Satou!  He doesn't move an inch to record the 2nd out!

Now Miura has to help his own cause with 2 out.  Can he do it?  He did hit a deep drive to center, but otherwise has laid down 2 bunts.

Grounder to short... off Hirayama and into center!!!  Kimura runs it down, but not before Okamoto scores giving Mie the 4-3 lead!

Kobayashi with a single to left!  Miura advances to 3rd as Hamada runs it down and Tottori is in big trouble!  Yamamoto-kantoku calls time and tries to settle down Hamada.

But Oda guides a pitch down and in to the right side and just past a diving Komai into right!  Miura scores on the RBI double and it's now 5-3 Mie!

And finally Yamamoto-kantoku pulls the plug on Hirata when he falls behind Jinya 2-0.  #10 Nishisaka enters the game.  He looks like the same, a righty who has a fastball in the 140's and a change in the high 110's.

But Nishisaka strikes him out on a wild pitch!  Kinoshita hurries to the ball, but everyone's safe!  Kobayashi scores and it's now 6-3 Mie!

Kitade properly strikes out to end the inning, but the damage is done.  Tottori Jyouhoku finds them down 3 again with just 3 outs to go...

Top 9th
Miura gets ahead of Kinoshita 0-2, but nibbles and fills up the count.  And walks him!!

#4 Yokozeki comes in to PH for Hirayama.  But he's way ahead of an 0-2 curve and strikes out swinging!

New P Nishisaka offers at 3 straight pitches away and there's quickly 2 outs!  It's down to captain Satou to keep the game alive!

OH!!!!

Satou with a solid drive to right!  Ogawa running to the wall...

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Satou drives a ball out to right (which isn't easy) and pulls Tottori Jyouhoku within 1!  It's 6-5!!

And now is it Miura that's rattled??  He walks Komai on 4 straight and now the douten run is aboard!  Okita-kantoku calls time.  He needs Miura to settle down quick or else it could get out of hand.

Kimura with a solid hit though the right side!  Runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 out!!  And cleanup batter Kawano stands in!!

Whoa.  Big swing and miss on the first pitch.

Fouls off the second, and he's down to his last strike...

Pitch outside, and he holds off.. 1-2.

Fouls off another one letter high away...

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

Kawano finally bites on the slider away and misses to end the game!  Mie holds on to win 6-5!!!!

Tottori Jyouhoku mounted a rally here in the 9th, but just falls short.  It's Mie who will advance to the next round as the Chuugoku champions gather their Koushien dirt and will return back to Tottori.

For Mie, it's a hard fought win that will not get any easier.  With Miura already laboring in their first game, and no real relievers to speak of, it will be difficult to advance in the next round.


Notable Players
Satou Kouji (Tottori Jyouhoku) - 1-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB, HBP
Kimura Tatsuya (Tottori Jyouhoku) - 2-4, 2B, RBI, BB
Taniguchi Hibiki (Tottori Jyouhoku) - 2-4, 2B, K
Oda Hayao (Mie) - 3-4, 2B, RBI, K
Okamoto Takurou (Mie) - 2-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI

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.

• 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.

That meant that no A seed would be in the semifinals, only 3 B seeds. Yanai Gakuen would dispatch the only unseeded team, defeating Shimonoseki Kokusai 7-0. In the other semi, Onoha would have to play catchup the entire game, and while they tied the game in the 2nd at 2, that's the furthest they get. Down 7-2 in the 7th they'd rally for 4 but could never tie the game again.

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.

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

• 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.

Ube Municipal

• 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

• 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.

Houfu Sports Center

• 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.

Hiroshima
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.

Round 3

• 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.
  

Shimane
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.

Luckily for Shimane, their days off coincided with the Typhoon so they didn't lose any days on the schedule.

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.

Okayama
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.

Round 2

• 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!

Round 3

• 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
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.

Round 2

• 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.

The trend seemed to continue in the quarterfinals (yes, 2 games and you're in the quarterfinals). Yasu mercy ruled Yonago Shouin, and Sakai defeated Tottori Higashi 6-1.

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.

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.