高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

We're headed to the homestretch in the first round, and 2 more regional champions take the field today.

Soushi Gakuen were the champions of a seemingly down Chuugoku region. We've seen Kaisei already, and the 5-0 win they have over them based upon what we've seen doesn't count for much. So the only game we can take anything from is their loss to Tsuruga Kehi, which is problematic precisely because it is a loss.

On the positive side, ace Takada was able to keep his K rates up against Tsuruga Kehi, so his numbers may be believable. Or at least more believable than most. Flipping the coin, on face value it's of concern that against Tsuruga Kehi their supposedly strong offense got choked off.

Toukaidai Koufu on the other hand was pushing all their competition aside up until the super-regional semifinals when Kisaradzu's Takeda (that's right, not ace Hayakawa, but their reliever Takeda) pitched a shutout. This after the team scored more than 5 runs in every game before that. That could be a problem.

The team uses a tandem of pitchers, with both Kikuchi and Matsuba are control pitchers, and while they split time for the most part Kikuchi went the distance in their final 2 games. In the end, their numbers didn't regress, but Kisaradzu's offense may not be the best indicator for their abilities.

There are questions all around, but as mentioned in the previews I think based upon normal projections Soushi Gakuen has the advantage.

Toukaidai Koufu has been on a run of late, representing Yamanashi 3 of the last 4 years. This after being off the map for a decade. And when they make an appearance, you're almost certain to see them make some type of run - of their 17 total (spring + summer) appearances, only 5 times have they exited in their first game, and 3 times they've won 1 game before bowing out. In fact, they've reached the semifinals 5 times!

So, what team do we have here?

Resume-wise it's hard to say. Their quality wins were against Nihon Koukuu in the prefectural final, and then faced Tier 3 schools Kasukabe Kyouei and Kasumigaura before getting shutout by Kisaradzu Sougou.

Matsuba Yukito (松葉 行人) and Kikuchi Hiroki (菊地 大輝) had come in relief last summer, most times to protect a lead, and once to keep the deficit small. He was able to do the former, but not the latter. Unfortunately for Kikuchi, the only videos I found of him were related to Kiyomiya (thank God Waseda Jitsugyou is not in the tournament).

I can't tell if they've switched roles, because Matsuba pitched more of the Super-regionals than Kikuchi. Kikuchi started the first game against Kasukabe Kyouei, but was pulled after giving up 4 runs in the 6th inning. Not that it may matter unless either has improved significantly. Both kept K/BB ratios close to 1 (though Matsuba had his best performance against Soujitsu of all schools). And from my commentary in the summer, neither appeared to be really impressive.

Two mainstays of the offense are back - now 1B Matsuoka Shuunyuu (松岡 隼裕), and now SS Fukutake Shuu (福武 修). Also joining him is RF Harada Ryuusei (原田 隆聖) who slotting behind Matsuoka at least gives him some protection (though most teams don't pitch around batters - it has been happening in an unintentional intentional sense more often).

The bottom of the lineup - where usually offense goes to die - appears to be in place here too. Yes, they did have some success, but when paired against the eventual champions, they went a combined 1-16.

It's an average squad overall in the end, and while it's possible they can win a game offensive black holes are generally hard to overcome.

Opening Round 3 should be an interesting matchup.

Both Waseda Jitsugyou and Toukaidai Koufu are playing on 1 full days rest and following up on divergent games.

Waseda Jitsugyou was almost out managed in their last game versus Hiroshima Shinjyou. Sakoda-kantoku substituted his players and pitchers such that he put them in a position to win the game. They only tied it though and went on to lose 7-6. That game reinforced the idea that the Soujitsu pitching staff is not strong at all and leaves the team vulnerable.

The good news is that the offense at least seems to hold up. They got 16 hits in the game with every position other than the P registering a hit.

For Toukaidai Koufu, Shimonoseki Shougyou couldn't hold a candle as they managed just 5 hits while Toukaidai wore down starter Morimoto and then feasted on the relief staff. They scored crooked numbers in multiple innings suggesting that they can maintain pressure rather than finding a big inning.

Waseda Jitsugyou (Nishi Tokyo)
3B Yamada Jyunpei
RF Tamagawa Ryou
1B Kiyomiya Koutarou
C Katou Masaki
SS Kaneko Kinsuke
2B Tomita Naoki
LF Miyazaki Renta (#11)
P Matsumoto Kou
CF Watanabe Daichi

Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
CF Takabe Eito
2B Fukutake Shuu
LF Kakuyama Hayate
RF Hirai Ren
3B Matsuoka Shunyuu
SS Igarashi Homare
1B Miyagawa Kazutaka
P Kikuchi Hiroki
C Iidzuka Ryuuya

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08:00 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Yamada with a slow chopper up the middle. Igarashi runs it down, but his throw is much too late. He's bunted over.

Kikuchi figures he doesn't want to face Kiyomiya and hits him in the rear end. I joke, but they're pitching him in, prolly just got away from him.

Katou pops out to 2nd, and Kikuchi might get out of the pinch.

But Kaneko won't let him! His grounder sneaks by Matsuoka and into left! Kakuyama's flub trying to pick up the ball means there won't be a throw home and it's 1-0 Soujitsu as Miyazaki flies out to left to end the inning.

Bottom 1st
One down, Matsumoto leaves one over for Fukutake and he drills it over Tamagawa and books it all the way to 3rd! Big douten chance for Tokaidai Koufu!

Kakuyama grounder to 2nd and Soujitsu will yield the run! Quickly we're back level at 1-1!

Hirai tries to continue the inning with a single past Kiyomiya, but Matsuoka grounds out to end the inning.

Top 2nd
Matsumoto gets a leadoff walk, but while a double clutch From Fukutake prevents an immediate double play, Yamada pops out on the next pitch anyways.

Bottom 2nd
Igarashi had a chance I think to walk on a 3-2 pitch, but swung and fouled it off. He eventually grounded to 2nd.

Meanwhile Matsumoto for Waseda not hitting any of his spots at all. Miyagawa more than happy to take the 4-pitch walk.

Kikuchi bunts the runner around, guaranteeing the top of the lineup next inning pending some timely hits her. Though with Matsumoto struggling as he is, I might have waited for the first strike instead.

Iidzuka hits it back to Matsumoto and he goes to 1st to close the inning.

Top 3rd
Tamagawa sinlges to left to start the inning.

あ。

Kiyomiya with a drive to right.. Hirai going after it... Pulls up at the wall!

HAITAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kiyomiya announces his presence finally. 3-1 WasedaAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Katou with a drive to right!!! Hirai isn't even going to bother!!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's back-to-back for Waseda Jitsygyou and now a 4-1 lead!

Kikuchi finally gets his 3 outs, but 2 big blasts put his team in a deep hole.

Bottom 3rd
Takabe gets on with a clean single through the right side, but Fukutake has to hustle to avoid a double play, and Kakuama does ground into the double play. Matsumoto throwing a lot of balls, but Toukaidai Koufu has been unable to punish him for it.

Top 4th
Soujitsu adding to their lead.

Watanabe with a one-out single to right. Very first pitch he steals 2nd with Iidzuka's high throw.

Yamada singles to right, and that makes it 5-1.

Bottom 4th
Hirai with a leadoff single, that is wiped out on the very next pitch as Matsuoka grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.

Igarashi gets a base hit, but is stranded there.

Top 5th
This feels like Waseda's game now. Katou draws a 1-out walk, and then on a comebacker the ball goes off of Kikuchi's glove. That slows down the ball enough that Igarashi's throw is later to 1st.

Toukaidai gets a break when Tomita lines out to center and Katou doesn't realize he caught it and is doubled off.

Bottom 5th
#18 Ogawa hits for Kikuchi, so his day is done.

Iidzuka gets a 1-out single, but Takabe hits right to Tomita. He makes a great pick, and almost turns yet another double play.

Fukutake doubles softly to left center generating a chance to possibly cut the deficit in half.

Kakuyama bouncer to 2nd, Tomita with the WHAAAAAAAAAA???????????

The ball inexplicably gets by Tomita and into right! 2 runs will score on the error and it's 5-3!

Hirai can't pick up his 3rd hit of the game, and as we head to the break there's a flicker of life for Toukaidai Koufu as they only trail by 2.

Top 6th
#10 Matsuba now given the task of keeping Toukaidai Koufu in the game.

Matsumoto with a ball back up the middle. Igarashi runs it down, but his sping throw from the grass is not nearly in time.

Watanabe lays down the bunt, Matsuba gets to it, but he takes too long getting rid of it and Watanabe reaches 1st!

Yamada grounder to the left side, Miyagawa dives at it, and the ball deflects away from Igarashi who was backing him up! All safe and I think Miyagawa had the better play.

Tamagawa flies out to shallow right for the 2nd out, and that brings out Kiyomiya.

He drives a ball deep down the right field line and fair. All 3 runners score and it's 8-3.

Bottom 6th
Toukaidai Koufu has a long way to go, but they look like they're frantically trying to fix it.

Matsuoka singles to right, then Igarashi singles back up the middle. Miyagawa singles through the right side, and after a misplay by Tamagawa, Matsuoka scores to make it 8-4.

Matsuba strikes out, Iidzuka with some sort of safety bunt that doesn't work and there's quickly 2 down.

Takabe hits a slow grounder back up the middle which allows Kaneko to make the play. So after 3 base hits, a run due to an error is all they get.

And that's why my friends it's hard to come from behind.

Top 7th
Waseda continues to threaten more as a walk to PH Taguchi and a catcher's interference puts 2 runners on with 2 outs. Matsuba though gets Yamada to fly out.

Bottom 7th
#10 Kamijyou in for Matsumoto, not surprising given the last inning. He hits a batter, but I think Toukaidai Koufu has come to terms with the loss.

Top 8th
Not that they aren't playing defense though. Kaneko for instance makes a great diving catch on a hard liner by Kaneko to end the inning.

Rest of game
About the only thing worth noting is that Soujitsu was 2 batters away from Kiyomiya and a chance at the cycle.

And so the Kiyomiya hype engine continues for two more days as Waseda Jitsugyou is officially in the Best 8.

Gosh darn it, that was an excellent game that ended wrong (for me anyways). Hopefully the excitement of that game continues the rest of the day.

These two schools has to survive close calls to make it here. Shimonoseki Shougyou had to endure a rain delay and then a douten 2-run HR. But I still maintain that the fistpump given was a bad thing for Shirakaba Gakuen as they had not finalized anything with that HR. And as the innings passed, the momentum from that HR went away and eventually sided back with Shimonoseki Shougyou who won the game in 11.

There's nothing that special with their lineup as almost everyone got a base hit, but nothing standing out. And as for ace Morimoto, he's about as average as you can get. Gave up 4 hits, 5 free passes while striking out 4.

As for Toukaidai Koufu, they got out to a big lead only to see Shizuoka chip away. It wasn't until RP Matsuba came in that they were able to hold on for the win. The bottom of the lineup is a black hole (0-11), and Kikuchi was no better on the mound giving up 11 hits and 5 walks in his 6.2 IP of work.

With the P situation as uncertain as it is, it's hard to pick a side in this matchup. You could say Toukaidai Koufu due to their offense, but having 3 auto outs isn't helpful at all. I think maybe then Shimonoseki Shougyou given that Morimoto prevents the free passes. But the offense is rather anemic.

Shimonoseki Shougyou (Yamaguchi)
CF Tsunenobu Taiichi
SS Matsumoto Chihiro
RF Tomioka Yasuhiro
C Sakaguchi Reito
3B Masumoto Hiromasa
2B Sakamoto Yuuki
LF Sasaki Yuuji
P Morimoto Susumu
1B Maedera Kazuhiro

Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
CF Takabe Eito
2B Fukutake Shuu
LF Kakuyama Ryuu
RF Hirai Ren
3B Matsuoka Shunyuu
SS Igarashi Homare
1B Miyagawa Kazutaka
P Kikuchi Hiroki
C Iidzuka Ryuuya

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10:45- First pitch!

1st Inning
Kikuchi off to a needed good start, getting 3 ground balls for 3 outs.

Morimoto gives up a swinging bunt single to Fukutake, then walks Kakuyama. But he gets 2 easy outs afterwards and it's game on.

Top 2nd
The anemic Shimonseki offense is even more so. It's a 1-2-3 inning once more. Kikuchi has 5 groundouts and a K.

Bottom 2nd
Igarashi starts off with a single to left. He's bunted over, but Kikuchi flies out to left.

WHAT?

Iidzuka with a ball the other way!!  Tomioka chases after it, but pulls up!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was unexpected!! Last batter Iidzuka takes a ball the other way.. and somehow it goes for a 2-run HR!

Top 3rd
It continues to be more of the same. Groundout to 1st, then a K.

Maedera finally gets their first baserunner. A 3-2 walk. At least he steals 2nd and creates an opportunity.

But Tsunenobu strikes out looking. Yeesh, this looks bad.

Bottom 3rd
Because at least Toukaidai Koufu has enough offense to get base hits.

2 down, Hirai and Matsuoka get back-to-back singles. However, Igarashi chases after the first pitch and flies to center.

Top 4th
Matsumoto gets a leadoff walk. At least they can get runners that way,

Now it's a hit-and-run! Tomioka pops one down the line in shallow left... it falls in!! The runners were off from the word go and they're at 2nd and 3rd! Big chance for Shimonoseki Shougyou!

Sakaguchi chopper to 3rd! Matsuoka fields it and lunges for Matsumoto! He gets the tag! That's an unfortunate play for Shimonoseki Shougyou.

They play the bunt for the one-timer, but Sakamoto grounds to short and the inning is over with nothing to show for Shimonoseki Shougyou.

Bottom 4th
Morimoto takes out his frustration on the Toukaidai batters (not really), as he needs just 11 pitches to retire the bottom of the order, striking out 2.

5th Inning
The 5th inning almost went without any fanfare. But with 1 down for Toukaidai in the bottom of the frame, Fukutake would draw a walk.

And on the very next pitch Kadoyama would turn around the pitch and split the defense in right center. Fukutake comes around to score and makes it 3-0.

One more walk from Morimoto and his day would be done. Sasaki-kantoku sends in #10 Murao, and  promptly gets the 4-6-3 DP to end the inning.

And so Toukaidai Koufu extends the lead before the break and given the way things have gone 3 runs may very well be enough.

Fun fact: All the outs that Kikuchi has recorded for Toukaidai Koufu have either been via the K or the groundball.

Top 6th
Two more groundouts for Shimonoseki Shoguyou.

And then out of nowhere Tomioka hits a clean single to left. Then it's a hit-and-run whereSakaguchi follows that up with a single through the right side. So runners at corners with 2 down.

But it's another groundout. This time Masumoto his it to 3rd where Matsuoka goes the short way for the 3rd out.

Bottom 6th
After giving a 1-out walk, we find out that Kikuchi is getting treatment and is sightly delayed in coming out for his AB. He does eventually as #10 Matsuba warms up. And bunts the first pitch moving the runner over.

Iidzuka does it again! Base hit through the left side and Miyagawa scores to make it a 4-0 game.

Takebe first pitch single to the left side as well. Puts runners at the corners.

Throw in a walk and it's manrui.

Kakuyama with a ball deep to the left center field gap. 2 runs are going to score, and they're sending home Takefuku! But the relay is on point and the runner thrown out. Still it's 6-0.

Top 7th
Shimonoseki Shougyou finally tries to make headway. Sakamoto is hit on the first pitch, and then Sasaki takes his first pitch through the left side for a base hit.

At this point Muranaka-kantoku sends in #10 Matsuba.

And he promptly gets to infield flies, the first flyball outs recorded by Toukaidai pitching.

Tsunegoi draws a walk and it's manrui.

Matsumtoto grounder to 3rd, and it bounces off of Matsuoka! Everyone's safe and the shutout is averted! 6-1.

But that's all. Tomioka strikes out and that's all there is, there isn't anything more.

Bottom 7th
#11 Takashima enters the game on the mound for Shimonoseki Shougyou.

Toukaidai plays add-on as Hirai's leadoff single come around to score when where with 2 outs Miyagawa singles back up the middle.

That would be the first of 4 base hits that would extend the lead to 9-1.

Rest of game
By this point Shimonoseki Shougyou was done. The final innings went with little fanfare as Toukaidai Koufu moved onto 3rd round with easy win.

Unfortunately you need really good pitching if your offense can't hit and Shimonoseki Shougyou just didn't have that. We won't really know if it was the bad offense or got things figured out but Kikuchi was obviously much better this game than last.

Now for our last matchup - the ever present Shizuoka versus Toukaidai Koufu.

Once again, for Shizuoka, who did well in the spring, they did not face anyone of note in the prefecture. Not even one of the Tohoka schools. Compare that to Toukaidai Koufu, who not only defeated Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku and Nihon Koukuu, but actually shut them out and mercy ruled them!

Normally I'd give the nod to Shizuoka, but Toukaidai Koufu has a rather good rate when they do get to Koushien. You can't count them out.

Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
CF Takabe Eito
2B Fukutake Shuu
LF Kadoyama Ryuu
RF Hirai Ren
3B Matsuoka Shunyuu
SS Igarashi Homare
1B Miyagawa Kazutaka
P Kikuchi Hiroki
C Iidzuka Ryuuya

Shizuoka (Shizuoka)
CF Suzuki Shouhei
2B Ooishi Tomoki
RF Uchiyama Takeshi
C Horiuchi Kengo
3B Yasumoto Ryuuji
1B Hirano Hidemaru
LF Hirose Shun
P Muraki Fumiya
SS Sanpei Shinya

____________________________________________________________

15:33 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Shizuoka does themselves no favors when Muraki offers a 2-out walk, and then throws away a pickoff throw. Hirai punishes them with a ball to the wall in right and it's quickly 1-0 for Toukaidai.

Bottom 1st
Perhaps Toukaidai didn't want the run that way, so they offer to give it back. It's an irregular hop, but still Matsuoka can't field it cleanly. And then on a mixup covering first they still get the out, but the runner alertly takes 3rd.

Horiuchi then rockets a ball down the left side and it takes a high bounce, and then off the wall. Just like that we're back level at 1.

Bottom 2nd
I thought it might just be nerves the first inning and that both pitchers would settle down. But Hirano singles to right, and then after a bunt Muraki hits a liner to right as well. Just like that Shizuoka is threatening again.

SQUEEZE! But Sanpei pushes it foul.

SQUEEZE!!! Sanpei throws himself at the ball and somehow lays it down perfectly! Hirano scores and Shizokua has a 2-1 lead!

Igarashi saves perhaps another run when he makes a running pick on a chopper back up the middle. Completes the play to 1st for the 3rd out.

Top 3rd
The weirder bit is that both aces can touch 145. So we're seeing some power arms, but both sides are finding ways to hit it.

That's because Takabe and Fukutake go back to back clean singles. And Kadoyama ties the game with a sac fly to left. Just like that.

Things getting away from Muraki quickly. He hits Hirai, and then Matsuoka slices a double to left center making it 3-2.

Igarashi then with a liner down the right field line... fair!!  Both runners will score and it's now 5-2!

Muraki finally gets out of the inning, but that lead was very short-lived.

Bottom 3rd
But now that Toukaidai Koufu has the lead, Kikuchi can't find the strike zone! He walks Ooishi and Horiuchi, then Hirano singles to left and that plates a run.

Watase with a deep ball to center, Takabe backpedaling, looks like he has it. But leaps! And it's off his glove! Horiuchi hustles around and scores making it 5-4! Fortunately, because iit looked like a fly out, the runners weren't going all out. Otherwise it might be tied.

Also fortunately for Toukaidai, neither Muraki or Sanpei can bet a base hit to drive in the runs. The lead stays with them.

Top 4th
There are opportunities to be had on both sides as their aces struggle to get a clean inning.

Muraki gives both runs right back when Hirai hits a 2-out single with Iidzuka and Fukutake on 2nd and 3rd. It's now 7-4 and this game will take forever.


Top 5th
Muraki's day is done.#10 Muramatsu relieves him, and then gives up a base hit. He gets that out when Toukaidi tries a hit-and-run which turns into a strike em out throw em out double play.

Bottom 5th
Shizuoka with a scoring chance when Horiuchi gets a leadoff single, and despite a fielders choice, still had a chance with RP Muramatsu at the dish. He fights off several balls, but fails to pull the trigger on one at the bottom of the zone, and the 10th pitch retires the side. Over an hour and a half and we've just hit the break.

Bottom 6th
Shizuoka is trying to claw their way back into this game. After a single by Suzuki and a double by Ooishi, they send Suzuki home on a pop fly down the right field line. The 1B was taking the ball instead of the RF, which made it easier to get home. So it's a 7-5 ball game.

Top 7th
But Muramatsu is a bit shaky in the lucky 7. After it looked like he was going to leave a runner stranded at 1st, he gives up a hit and hits a batter to suddenly make it a manrui situation. Kkuchi makes him work for the 3rd out when he dribbles it to the left side. Muramatsu is up to the task and makes the strong throw to 1st for the 3rd out.

Bottom 7th
Troubling times for Toukaidai Koufu. Kikuchi hits Yasumoto to start the inning, and then Hirano singles to center. After a bunt, it's Muramatsu again who can help his own cause.

But perhaps cognizant of the last AB, with 1st open, Muramatsu earns the free pass and now the gyakuten run is on.

Sanpei can't get a non-sac hit it seems. But he does get one run on a flyout to center. It's 7-6!

Suzuki with ball back up the middle. Hirao makes a great diving stop! Hirano going home! Throw from Hirao gets away from Iidzuka and not only does the run score to tie the game, but now they can push ahead by a couple runs!

Muranaka-kantoku has seen enough. #10 Matsuba comes in to take the mound and finally gets the last out. But we have a new ballgame!

Top 8th
Had. Had a new ball game.

Before I can get my thoughts gathered on this inning, it's single, single, single, 8-7 with Fukutake getting the RBI. Once again, Shizuoka must play catchup.

Bottom 9th
Last chance ups. Douten runner put on when Watase gets nicked.

But time runs out. Neither PH #15 Suzuki or #16 Uchimura can get the timely hit. And as a result they are eliminated on Day 2

And now I can close my eyes and sleep...

Day 4, and I hope to God I don't just collapse from exhaustion at this point...

Toukaidai Koufu pretty much had the hardest road it could have taken to win Yamanashi prefecture, which included playing Hikawa and Nihon Koukuu.  The former game was a breeze, the latter one they had to come back from down 8-3 in the final 2 innings for the victory.

The team hit for a very high average during the prefecturals (0.394), but the pitching as evidenced in the Nihon Koukuu game is shaky enough given the relative strength of the prefecture to give a person pause about giving them the stamp of approval.

For Saku Chousei, their big name team was Chikyuu Kankyou whom they faced in the quarterfinal and actually mercy-ruled.  Perhaps after that they thought it was going to be a breeze, because they then had to walk-off against Kami-Ina Nougyou and rally from behind to defeat Nagano Shougyou.  The problem with this team is that they didn't especially hit for a high average (0.317), and the pitching behind ace Morozumi is more than suspect (#10 Terasawa - 22 IP, 10 ER).

Put all that together and it looks like a win for the first of many Toukaidai schools to participate here at Koushien.

Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
2B Edagawa Hiroya
1B Hisano Rentrarou
CF Mochidzuki Daiki
RF Hirai RenLF Yamada Katsushi
C Ishidzuka Rentarou
SS Igarashi Takashi
P Takahashi Naoya
3B Saitou Shunsuke

Saku Chousei (Nagano)
3B Motoyama Hiyuu (#17)
SS Morii Koutarou
CF Wada Osamu
1B Tanabe Naoki (#5)
LF Takeuchi Hiroshige
2B Hama Ryuutarou
RF McCarthy Ryumikku
C Kanzawa Ren
P Terasawa Seiya (#10)

____________________________________________________________

08:00 - First Pitch!

1st Inning
It's all quite on Toukaidai Koufu's front to start the game as Terasawa, despite the terrible numbers, strikes out Edagawa to start the game, and then induces a grounder and popup from Hisano and Mochidzuki for a clean inning.

On Saku Chousei's side, Motoyama gets a clean single through the right side, but Morii's bunt goes right to Takahashi who turns the 1-6-3 double play.  Wada goes down looking on a fastball inside and the side is retired.

2nd Inning
Saku Chousei decides to return the favor as after Morii can't finish the play on Yamada's one out hit, Ishidzuka grounds into the 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

But on the bats, they're just hacking away at almost any pitch in the zone.  Takahashi has an easy inning at just 6 pitches.

Top 3rd
Terasawa's numbers in the prefectuals were not good, and yet he's setting down the Toukaidai batters.  Igarashi pops out to Morii, Takahashi gets caught looking on a fastball on the outer half, and while Saitou hits a hard single past Tanabe into right, Edagawa pops out to Hama behind 2nd for the 3rd out.

Bottom 3rd
McCarthy earns a walk to lead off the 3rd.  Given the game so far, I expect (and get) a bunt from Kanazawa.

Terasawa doesn't look smooth with the bat, but fouls off enough pitches to eventually draw a walk.  Muranaka-kantoku calls for time.

Motoyama with a chopper to the right side, Hisano snags it, goes to 2nd for one, throw to 1st, not in time!  That looked like a neighborhood play to me, but there's runners at the corners with 2 down for Morii.

Takahashi gets out of the jam as Morii flies out to right to end the inning.  Chances appearing now, but no one able to finish the job as of yet.

Top 4th
Hisano gets a leadoff single through the right side.

But before Mochidzuki gets a chance to bunt, Terasawa picks off Hisano!  He just gets caught leaning the wrong way and can't get back in time!

With no runner, Mochidzuki and Hirai fly out and it's a quick inning for Terasawa!

Bottom 4th
A gift from Takahashi as he plunks Wada goes to waste as Tanabe grounds into a double play.

Takeuchi with a drive to left.  Yamada not even moving!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Takeuchi goes about 10-15 rows up and just like that Saku Chousei has the 1-0 lead!

Yamada makes a great sliding catch on a shallow pop fly from Hama, but Takeuchi's HR is the difference so far.

Top 5th
Yamada with his 2nd hit as Terasawa hast to jump out of the way of a hard shot back up the middle.

No bunt from Ishidzuka but it's a hit and run instead.  Morii has only 1st as his play, so it winds up being like a bunt.

Igarashi with a single to left!  Takeuchi doesn't really rush to get the ball back in and that allows Yamada to  score tying the game at 1-1!

Takahashi lays down the bunt, but Terasawa fires to 2nd!  The ball is low and Morii can't make the pick and everyone's safe!

Terasawa in a pinch, but he slams the door, striking out Saitou looking and inducing a weak comebacker by Hisano.

Bottom 5th
Defensive change as #17 Satou comes in for Hirai to play RF.

McCarthy looking lost at the plate chasing 3 sliders away for the 1st out.

Terasawa manages a 2-out single, but Motoyama grounds to 3rd to end the inning.  Offense is nowhere to be found for the most part, but both teams have managed to scrap together a run.

Top 6th
One out, what was a routine grounder from Mochidzuki is thrown into the ground by Hama and Toukaidai has another runner on base.

Mochidzuki takes off for 2nd, but Kanazawa makes a strong throw and all Morii has to do is put the glove in front of the bag and Mochiduzki slides right into it for the 2nd out.

Satou goes down looking on a fastball down the middle and the side is retired!

Bottom 6th
Morii draws the leadoff walk from Takahashi and is immediately bunted into scoring position.  Tanabe moves him another 90 feet with a grounder to 1st.  Can Takeuchi do it again?

Yes!  He lines a ball to left and Morii can walk in for a 2-1 lead!  Hama is retired right after, but Saku Chousei retakes the lead!

Top 7th
And Fujihara-kantoku decides now is the best time to send in ace Morozumi to close out the game.

After falling behind Yamada 3-0 he manages to fill up the count and then get him to pop out to Morii.

Now he seems to be on track as Ishidzuka can't lay off the splitter for the 2nd out.

Of course I say that and then he hits Igarashi.... and then uncorks a wild pitch to move him to 2nd.

But once again, it's the splitter that bails him out!  Takahashi swings over it and the side is retired!

Bottom 7th
#3 Totsuka comes in to hit for McCarthy, but pops one up.  Igarashi makes it more difficult than it should be, but makes the basket catch nonetheless.

Kanazawa earns a walk, but Morozumi isn't bunting. He hits a deep drive to left, but Yamada has enough room in front of the fence to make the catch.

And it's with two outs oddly that Motoyama tries the safety bunt, but it's right to Saitou for the 3rd out.

Top 8th
#16 Hoshino in to hit for Saitou, but he too can't figure out the splitter.

2 down and Hisano walks on 4 straight.  He falls behind Mochidzuki 3-0 but manages to fill up the count, much to their discomfort.

Morozumi loses Mochidzuki with another walk and Fujihara-kantoku calls for time.

#13 Mutou comes in to hit for Satou and hopefully get the gyakuten hit.  Instead, it's a routine grounder to 2nd and the side is retired.

Bottom 8th
Hoshino stays in the game at RF, while #15 Shimotou comes in to play 3B.

One down, Wada hits a single to left.  After that Wada earns a 4-pitch walk.  Muranaka-kantoku has seen enough and #10 Sugimoto is sent in relief of the ace.

But it's another straight 4 balls and now it's manrui for Saku Chousei!

Muranaka-kantoku calls time while #13 Shiraishi comes in to run for Tanabe.

What's this?!  The umpire calls a dead ball as Hama starts and stops his swing!  Hama might have baited that one, but the umpire awards it and it's 3-1 Saku Chousei.

Top 9th
Shiraishi stays in to play 1B, while #14 Suyama goes to play RF.

The splitter claims another victim as Yamada goes down swinging.  Ishidzuka can't figure it out either and he goes down for the 2nd out.  Last chance falls to Igarashi.

Igarashi grounder to 3rd, Motoyama takes his time, throws to 1st and that's the game! Saku Chousei wins with a 3-1 over Toukaidai Koufu!!

It was touch and go for both sides, but once Saku Chousei retook the lead, they went to their ace to shut the door.  He wasn't completely dominating by any means, but his splitter drove the batters crazy to the tune of 5 K's in just 3 innings of work.  Saku Chousei's offense is certain to struggle again in their next game, no matter who they face.  So the pitching will need to be on point going forward.  And Terasawa doesn't seem to be as bad as the prefectural numbers indicate.

As for Toukaidai Koufu, it certainly is disappointing given the numbers they had put up to be limited to just 1 run on 5 hits.  But it was a good run, and given the state of Yamanashi, they'll be challenging again sooner rather than later.

Notable Players to be done later (I'm going to try and get a quick nap in).

Well, one half of the Senbatsu kesshou (決勝) has advanced to the final.  Now it's time for the other half to try and punch their ticket.

Their path looks a lot like last years.  A lot of good pitching with enough offense to win - though their quarterfinal against Toukou Gakuen was probably the highest-stress game that the pitching staff had to face.

And that's why Jyouma is starting today, so that Kanazawa can rest for the final.  Jyouma's done a good job the first couple of games at Koushien, so he should at least give Kanazawa some innings off.

But they'll be facing an nontraditional team in Toukaidai Koufu.

At first it was easy to see where they deviated from most teams - a frenetic pace that lent itself to making opponents create errors/opportunities.  Yet against Sakushin Gakuin they didn't do that.  Instead, they just played a different style of baseball which included a hit-and-run with a runner on 3rd base.

So I think what Toukaidai Koufu tries to do is to make the opponent off-balance in some way, whether it be through tempo, base-running, etc.  I wonder what will be the strategy they implement this time around.

The offense for Toukaidai was on right off the bat, hitting hard liners around the field putting Sakushin Gakuin on their heels early.  Unlike Sakushin Gakuin though, Kousei Gakuin does have a little more offensive firepower (though certainly nothing like Osaka Touin), and thus can put up more of a fight.  Still, the scales should tilt in their favor in any high-scoring affair.

So, who will join Osaka Touin in the finals?


Kousei Gakuin (Aomori)
RF Ameku
LF Sekiguchi (#18)
C Tamura
SS Houjyou
3B Oosugi
P Jyouma (#4)
1B Takeda
CF Kimura
2B Kishigawa (#14)

Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
SS Watnanabe
CF Saitou Keisuke
LF Yamamoto
C Ishii
3B Aihara
RF Tanaka (#15)
1B Akiya
P Honda (#10)
2B Shinkai

____________________________________________________________

11:29 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Ameku with a drive to center-right-center!  Keisuke running back to the fence, not in time!  He plays if off the bounce as Ameku is in with a leadoff double!

Sekiguchi lays down the bunt, Honda looks to 3rd, but goes to 1st for the out.

Now a sac fly can score the run.

Even better!  Tamura hits a hard liner to left and with the outfield playing back near the wall, it falls easily!  1-0 Kousei!

Houjyou swings on a high pitch and sends it to deep center!  Keisuke running back, running back!  Jumps at the padding!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Houjyou at 1st looking out in center in disbelief!  Even he can't believe he hit that one out!  He starts jogging as his shocking HR makes it 3-0!!

I mean, I can see what he's thinking.  That ball was like almost at his shoulders it was that high.  How he managed to hit it out he doesn't know.

Honda comes back to strike out Oosugi and get Jyouma to fly to left.  But once again the big bats out early for Kousei!

Bottom 1st
Jyouma doing what he normally does - get contact.

Watanabe softly lines out to Houjyou.  Keisuke grounds also to Houjyou.

Yamamoto with a harder hit to the right side.  Kishigawa makes the stop heading towards 2nd.  But his throw to 1st pulls Takeda off the bag for a base hit.

Tamura with the snap throw to 1st and they nail Yamamoto to end the inning.

Top 2nd
Takeda hits a hard liner on the first pitch, but it's right to Yamamoto.

Kimura swings early and also flies out to Yamamoto.

Kishigawa works the count a little to 2-2, but... flies out to Yamamoto.

So it's a good 1-2-3 inning for Honda's confidence.  But Takeda's liner should be a notice that they're seeing the ball decently early.

Bottom 2nd
Ishii up again, swings on the first pitch and grounds to Houjyou.

Aihara turns on an outside pitch from Jyouma and sends it past Oosugi down the 3rd base line!  Sekiguchi retrieves it, but Aihara is in with a double!

That's the first extra base hit for a batter against Kousei Gakuin!

AHHH!!!!!  Jyouma picks off Aihara at 2nd!  That's the 2nd pickoff by Kousei this game!

Sanshin!  Tanaka swings and misses on an ouside fastball and the side is retired!  There are a lot of mental errors being made on the Toukaidai side instead so far!

Top 3rd
Back to the top of the order and Ameku.  He flies out to left.

Sekiguchi does not continue the trend of flying to left.  Instead he foul tips into Ishii's glove for a K.

Tamura with a grounder to short, and it's a quick inning for Honda.  He seems to have settled down since the 1st.

Bottom 3rd
The ground balls continue as both Akiya and Honda hit grounders over to Kishigawa.  He's playing a bit back and can easily reach both balls.

Shinkai goes twirling on an outside slider and the side is retired. 9 up, 9 down (kinda).

Top 4th
2-1 and Houjyou gives a ball another run.  Very far, but very foul.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Houjyou with a blast to center!  Keisuke running back!  Running back!!!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Houjyou with another homerun to center!!!!!  WOW!

4-0 Kousei!!!

Oosugi trying to jump on a probably shaken Honda swings on the first pitch and pops out to Watanabe.

Jyouma grounds to 3rd for the 2nd out as #11 Kinoshita warms up in the bullpen.

Takeda doesn't let Honda get out the inning that quickly afterwards sending a single back past Shinkai into center.

Kimura though flies out to center to end the inning, but not before Houjyou hits his 2nd HR on the day!

Bottom 4th
Watanabe can only head to the dugout after being rungup on a strike at the knees(? I thought it was low).

Keisuke swings early and flies out to shallow left.  Cameras focus to the bullpen where ace Kanbara is throwing.

And Yamamoto with a bounder to 2nd.  Kishimoto up with it and makes the easy throw to 1st to retire the side.

Top 5th
#11 Kinoshita, not Kanbara takes over for Honda on the mound.  He has not taken the mound at all, not even in the prefecturals.

And he starts by freezing Kishigawa on an inside 133kph fastball.

Ameku goes down swinging on a curve down and in for the 2nd out!

But Sekiguchi ruins the party with a seeing eye single up the middle!  He subsequently tries to steal 2nd and is thrown out and ends the inning.

Bottom 5th
Ishii with a leadoff runner for Toukaidai as he singles through the left side.

Hit-and-run!  Aihara can't check his swing and is rung up!  Throw to 2nd by Tamura as Ishii scurries back!  Throw to 1st is wide and he gets back safely.

Hit-and-run again!  This time Tanaka singles past Takeda into right!   Ishii advances to 3rd!

Comebacker to Jyouma!  Goes to 2nd for one!  Throw is a bit wide, but Houjyou makes it to the bag, throw to first... SAFE!!!!

The diving Akiya beats out the throw and that lets Ishii score to make it 4-1!

I don't know about Akiya being safe, and the replay seems to confirm my suspicions, though I'm not sure.

Kinoshita with another hit-and-run!  This time though he grounds to short for the 3rd out.  But a slight execution miss by Jyouma gives Toukaidai Koufu a run right before the break!

Top 6th
Tamura reaches out the bat and lines a ball back up the middle for a base hit.

And that brings up Houjyou.  They can't be pitching to him, can they?

Well they are!

The announcers are talking about the only 3 HR game done by Kiyohara back in 1985 for PL Gakuen,  But his weren't consecutve.

Grounder to short.  Watanabe to, THROWS IT AWAY!!!!

He tries to go to 2nd, but misses completely as it goes towards the fence on the 1st base side!  Tamura scores all the way from first on the 3 base error and it's now 5-1!

Muranaka-kantoku calls for time to get his team to regroup.

But Kinoshita may still be rattled as he walks Oosugi, then hits Jyouma to load the bases!

Manrui for Takeda!  And no out!!

Takeda gets frozen on a curve on the outside corner for the 1st out!

Kimura is able to lift a ball to center and it's deep enough to score Houjyou to make it 6-1.

Kishigawa up, and I think Kousei would be better of just ticking off the outs.  He grounds out to 3rd to end the inning

Bottom 6th
Shinkai swinging early in the count, pops up to Takeda.

Watanabe with his first hit, a grounder back up the middle.

Keisuke with a liner to the left side, Houjyou clims the ladder and makes the great catch!

Muranaka-kantoku continues to press as he issues another hit-and-run order.  Yamamoto hits a soft liner back up the middle for a base hit and there's runners at the corners.

Ishii now with a grounder back up the middle! Jyouma can't kick save it and that scores Watanabe to make it 6-2!  They haven't given up yet!

But Aihara pops it up!  Houjyou running it, but it's Sekiguchi running in, running, in!!  Dives... and makes the catch!  Kousei almost has a misplay in the outfield but Sekiguchi bails them out!

Top 7th
Ace Kanbara enter the game here in the 7th.  Ameku first up hits a hot shot to 3rd, but Aihara fields it and makes the play at 1st.

Sekiguchi tries to poke one to left, but hits it just a bit too hard to Yamamoto.

Tamura has his 3rd hit of the day, a single past a diving Watanabe to center.

That brings up Houjyou again, who apparently could set some records with another HR, one of which is HR's in a Natsu Koushien (5, also by Kiyohara in 1985).

But he goes down swinging on a slider and the side is retired.

Bottom 7th
Time for the Toukaidai bats to start heating up if they want to make a comeback.

Instead it's the opposite.  5 pitches and Jyouma has retired the side.

Top 8th
Kousei, much like Osaka Touin quite content to tick off the outs.

Oosugi with a routine grounder to short.  Jyouma hits a hard liner, but also to short.  And Takeda goes down swinging for the 2nd AB for a 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 8th
Shinkai way ahead of a pitch, rolls one to 3rd.  Watanabe works the count full, but hits a chopper to 3rd that Oosugi fields for the 2nd out.

And Keisuke grounds to 2nd to retire the side.

Top 9th
Kimura goes down looking on a slider.  Kishigawa gets his first hit of Koushien when he singles past a diving Aihara into left.  Ameku follows that up with a grounder to right and just like that 2 runners are on for Sekiguchi.

Sekiguchi tries to lay down the bunt, but Kanbara fields it quickly and goes to 3rd for the easy out.

あ。

Tamura demolishes a pitch from Kanbara, and there's no doubt about that one.  Yamamoto can only turn around a couple of times before it flies out to left.  3-run HR from Tamura makes it 9-2.

And now Kanbara hits Houjyou.  I'd like to believe that wasn't intentional.

Oosugi then decides to line a ball to center.  Houjyou presses to 3rd, makes it safely and Oosugi goes to 2nd and is safe!  Guess they figure if that was intentional, they'll just score more?

But Jyouma reaches out and rolls one to 2nd to end the inning.

Bottom 9th
Yamamoto leads off the 9th with a full extention swing and base hit to right.

Ishii with a more traditional inside out swing, singles to right.

Aihara with a slow chopper to the right side.  Jyouma gets there, but the safe play is to 1st and he takes it.

Tanaka grounds to 3rd.  Oosugi again takes the easy play and gives up the run for the out.  9-3.

Akiya with a ball back up the midle.  Houjyou with the great stop, spins, throws, and gets Akiya to end the game!

Kousei Gakuin comes out with the bats again and secures a rematch with Osaka Touin!

(The person broadcasting the game starts singing the Sakushin Gakuin song over the Kousei Gakuin one after they win.  I didn't Japanese could be that disrespectful, but I guess I was wrong.  And I think he's a Sanko fan too, which may explain his "dislike" of Kousei.  I really hope Kousei Gakuin beats Osaka Touin tomorrow so he can shut his yap.  Or sing the Sakushin song again in vain as Kousei stands proudly.)

____________________________________________________________

Toukaidai Koufu was not their normal selves in the game.  Mental errors on the basepaths and the offensive output from Kousei were just too much.  It certainly hurts more, on the loss since they certainly could have played better, but they shouldn't be disappointed with their Koushien this year.  It was a great run to the finals, and I had a great time watching them play.

So as expected, we have our final.  Though once again, I'm surprised by the offensive output by Kousei Gakuin.  They're going to need some of that tomorrow if they're going to defeat Osaka Touin.

Jyouma was his normal self in the game, lots of contact, lots of groundball outs.  More importantly, he rested Kanazawa for tomorrow's rematch.

Expect a full house tomorrow, and I'll be waving the Kousei Gakuin flag in defiance of the broadcaster (not that I wasn't going to root for Kousei Gakuin despite the odds anyways).


Notable Players
Jyouma Ryuuhei (Kousei Gakuin) - CG, 3 ER, 9 H, 4 K
Houjyou Fumiya (Kousei Gakuin) - 2-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, HBP, K
Tamura Tatsuhiro (Kousei Gakuin) - 4-5, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI
Yamamoto Shun (Toukaidai Koufu) - 3-4, R
Ishii Shinjirou (Toukaidai Koufu) - 3-4, R, RBI

Today is our second pair of quarterfinal games.  And while the big names headlined the first day, today the teams that compose the supporting cast will take the field.  It's not to marginalize what they've done.  It's just that right now there are 2 teams that everyone else has to beat.  And it's been the same 2 teams since this spring.

For Sakushin Gakuin, this is getting personal.  They're one step away from a 2nd consecutive Best 4, and now with the draw, one step away from facing Kousei Gakuin - again.

Talk about story lines.  What were the odds that going into the Natsu Koushien qualifying, we would have the possibility of a rematch of last year's semifinal AND a rematch of last spring's final??!!

But first thing's first, they have to get past Toukaidai Koufu to do so.

Toukaidai Koufu is a rather bizarre team.  None of their games so far has gone longer then 100 minutes.

That's right.  Longer.  Don't believe me?

• Round 1 vs. Seiritsu Gakuen - 86 minutes
• Round 2 vs. Ryuukokudai Heian - 98 minutes
• Round 3 vs. Ube Koujyou - 95 minutes

It's unheard of.  You may have one game that takes 2 hours, and in a rare occasion one game last 100 minutes.

But all 3?!

It can't be a coincidence.  But what would be the reasoning behind it?

Well, I mentioned a theory last game, but I think it has to do with throwing off the opponent.

By running a faster paced game, and committing no errors in doing so,  it might make the opposing team play faster (swing at pitches earlier in the count, rush plays on the field, etc.).  And that in turn could cause errors or lapses of judgement.  Which could lead to runs, and a win.  And since their pitching is used to the tempo and used to getting contact, it only quickens the pace.

And that's pretty much what they've done.  Win - to the tune of 3-0, 4-2 and 3-2.

So, how does Sakushin Gakuin counteract that?

Well, if at any point they're feeling rushed on the mound, take extra time between pitches.  If it's while they're batting, call for time more often to slow it down.

Because the team seems like they can hit, though pushing them in for runs at times can be an issue.  And the pair of Tsutsui and Mizunuma don't really strike out or walk anybody either.  Which means they depend on pitch selection and location, and rushing that can only lead to disaster.

The key to the game may the time of the game.  If it's another sub-100 minute game, the odds may in fact lie with Toukaidai Koufu.  If it goes above 100 minutes and is a more normal length, Sakushin may have the advantage.


Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
SS Ishii Kazushige
CF Tsuruta (#7)
RF Shinohara
C Takayama
1B Yamashita (#13)
LF Yoshida (#16)
3B Takashima
2B Yamanashi
P Tsutsui (#10)

Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
SS Watnanabe
CF Saitou Keisuke
LF Yamamoto
C Ishii Shinjirou
1B Akiya
3B Aihara
RF Tanaka (#15)
P Kanbara
2B Shinkai

____________________________________________________________

9:00 - First Pitch

Top 1st
One down, and Tsuruta laces one back up the middle over Kanbara's glove for a base hit.

And now Kanbara walks Shinohara!  Chance early for Sakushin!

But Kanbara gets Takayama to bite on a slider down and away for the 2nd out.  And Yamashita lines out to Takashima for the 3rd out.

Bottom 1st
One down and Keisuke drives one to right!  Shinohara running it down, but it lands at the base of the wall!  Keisuke's in with a double!

Yamamoto lays down the bunt, and Tsutsui and Takashima converge late!  But they're letting it go as it looks to be going foul, still fair, still fair... and it barely goes foul!  Break for Sakushin!

Or is it??!!

Yamamoto drives the next pitch to center!  Tsutruta running back, but he has no chance!  It takes a bounce before hitting the wall!  Keisuke scores easily as Yamamoto slides ahead of the throw for a triple!  1-0 Toukaidai!

Chance now to extend it to 2 runs with cleanup hitter Shinjirou up.  But he pops it up!  Yamashita there for the 2nd out.

And Tsutsui gets out of the inning with minimal damage as Akiya grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.

But still Toukaidai Koufu takes the lead!

Top 2nd
Kanbara is going a bit slower than in prior games, but the Sakushin batters are somewhat complying with the pace.

Yoshida runs the count 2-2 before being frozen on a curve.  Takashima and Yamanashi quickly ground out for a 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 2nd
Toukaidai's batters are working with what they're given.  Aihara takes another outside pitch the other way deep and over the defense again to center-right-center (That's like NNE, in compass terms, I think).

Tanaka bunts him over for Kanbara.

Hit-and-run???!!!!

It's not a sac bunt, but a hit-and-run with a runner on 3rd??!!

Kanbara makes contact and grounds to short.  Kazushige's only play is to 1st and Toukaidai takes a 2-0 lead!

And now Shinkai pulls a line shot to left for a single, and it's obvious that Tsutsui is in a lot of trouble.

Yet #18 Mizumoto who has been warming up, nor #1 Ootani (whom we actually see out for the first time! and is warming up) is being put in.

Watanabe with a line shot right at 3rd!  Takashima can't field it!  It goes out of his glove and goes up the 3rd base line!!  All safe!

Kobari-kantoku calling time as the game is teetering at this point given the error just now and how hard the Toukaidai batters are hitting the ball.

Tsutsui behind Keisuke 3-1, and walks him!  Manrui now for Yamamoto!  Will they change pitchers now?

Doesn't look like it.

But Tsutsui gets out of the jam as Yamamoto hits an easy comebacker to him for the 3rd out.  But Toukaidai has added to their lead.

Top 3rd
#3 Wakui in to hit for Tsutsui.  Looks like they wanted to get a PH in there since they were going to replace him anyways, but that's a big gamble in the bottom of the 2nd.

Wakui goes down swinging though for the first out.

Back to the top of the order and Kazushige and he grounds out to short.

Kanbara back to his quick tempo working the count full on Tsuruta before throwing a ball 55 feet for ball 4.

And Tsuruta takes off for 2nd!  Throw from Shinjirou is high, but Watanabe has time to come down and make the tag for the out!  3 outs!

Bottom 3rd
Well, ace Ootani may have been out there, but it's Mizunuma pressed into early service here in the 3rd.

And Mizunuma immediately shuts the door, getting groundouts from Shinjirou and Aihara sandwiched around a foulout from Akiya for a 1-2-3 inning!

Top 4th
Shinohara with a grounder past Watanabe into center for a base hit!

Takayama follows that up with a ball on the opposite side of 2nd for another base hit!  Runners at 1st and 2nd for Sakushin to start the 4th!

Yamashita showing bunt, but takes to up 3-1.  And still up on the count, Kobari-kantoku has him bunt, which he does successfully.

So it's up to Yoshida and Takashima at the least to drive the runners in.

Yoshida reaches out for a ball way outside!  Up the 3rd base line... FAIR!  Aihara dives, but can't reach the ball as it goes up the left field line!  Shinohara scores!  Takayama being waved around... he scores!  Yoshida with an bailout swing keeps it fair, and more importantly ties the game!  It's 2-2!!

Takashima grounds to 2nd, advancing Yoshida 90 feet.

Yamanashi goes down looking to end the inning, but Sakushin Gakuin has gotten the runs back and we have a new ballgame!

Bottom 4th
Tanaka with a blooper to shallow right, and it falls in between Yamanashi and Shinohara for a base hit!  Kanbara bunts him along looking to get the lead back.

Comebacker to Mizunuma!  He turns to 2nd and has Tanaka caught in between!  He's run down 1-5-6 and there's 2 outs!

Mizunuma gets Watanabe to ground to short to end the inning and Mizunuma continues to put up 0's!

Top 5th
Mizunuma looking to help his own cause lines one into center for a base hit!

Kazushige not bunting as "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah" is being played in the Sakushin oen-dan.  He goes down 0-2 and flies to right.

Tsuruta grounds to 1st.  Akiya tries the 3-6-1 double play, but can't turn the back half of it.

Shinohara goes full on Kanbara and singles the other way to keep the inning going for Takayama.

After going down 0-1, Kobari-kantoku passes a message to Takayama.

Takayama with a soft liner up the middle!  Shinkai is there, but bobbles the ball!  Everyone is safe!

Wait!  Watanabe backing up, fires to 3rd and Tsuruta over ran the base!  He gives up as he's tagged out to end the inning!  What a baserunning blunder!

Bottom 5th
Keisuke with the first real hard hit against Mizunuma, pulling a ball through the gap in right for a leadoff single.

Yamamoto lays down the bunt, but Takashima is crashing in and throws to 2nd to get the lead runner!

Shinjirou gets his hands around an inside fastball and singles to left!  Chance for Toukaidai!

Akiya too just gets his hands around one, and puts one just over a turned around Yamanashi into right!  Runners had to wait on the fly so it's manrui for Aihara.

Shot to 3rd!  Takashima has it pop out of his glove!  Kazushige fields it and makes the play at 1st, but Yamamoto scores to make it 3-2!

Tanaka with another hard ball to the left side!  Takashima dives but can't come up with it!  Shinjirou scores to make it 4-2!!

Kanbara grounds to short to end the inning, but right before the break they retake the 2-run lead!

Top 6th
One down and Yoshida tries to jump start the offense with a blooper over Shinkai into right.

But he can't hit for others as Takashima chases a slider, and Yamanashi grounds to 2nd to quickly end the 6th

Bottom 6th
Defensive change as #14 Asano comes in for Takashima.

Shinkai with a drive to left-center!  Again it's over the defence and one bounds to the wall!  He in with a double!

Watanabe with a great bunt down the 3rd base line.  Mizunuma sliding with his feet near the base line, makes a great throw for the out.  But Toukaidai threatens again.

Keisuke with a single to right! He's 4-4 as now Toukaidai leads 5-2!

Yamamoto with a grounder to short, but Kazushige can't quite backhand it and everyone's safe!

The Toukaidai batters seem to be masters of getting around an inside pitch because Shinjirou hits one off the label and still manages to hit one over Asano into left!

Manrui for Akiya!  Chopper to the left side!  Mizunuma can't get to it!  Kazushige does and fires home, and gets the out. 2 down.

Aihara flies out to left, but Toukaidai Koufu is threatening to pull away once again!

Top 7th
Mizunuma with his 2nd base hit, a bounder past a diving Watanabe.

But he's replaced at fist by Kazushige when he grounds to short.

Wild pitch from Kanbara sends Kazushige to 2nd.  Tsuruta turns on a fastball and singles through to right.  Kazushige advances to 3rd.

Shinohara doesn very little with the outside pitch, othere than shoot it through to left, plating Kazushige and making to 5-3.

Takayama with a ball just out of the reach of Aihara into left!  Tsuruta rounds 3rd and the throw is taken up the line by Shinjirou!  It's 5-4!!

#10 Honda warms up.

Yamashita though contiues to be shutout on the day as he flies to right.

But that brinds up Yoshida who had that 2-run double earlier.  He swings on the first pitch though and grounds to 2nd!  Shinkai retires him at 1st and Toukaidai Koufu holds the lead!

Bottom 7th
Oh!  Here's a surprise!  Ace Ootani enter the game and take the hill!

Tanaka lines one past Kazushige into center!  Leadoff runner on for Toukaidai!

Kanbara lays down the bunt.  Yamashita fields it, goes to 2nd, but throws it away!  Tanaka advances to 3rd and Sakushin Gakuin is in a lot of trouble!

Shinkai with another blooper that finds its way to the outfield for a base hit!  Tanaka scores to make it 6-4!

Watanabe with a ball to center, but Tsuruta is there for the catch.  Runners hold.

Keisuke is finally retired as Ootani strikes him out.  And he finally gets out of the pinch as Yamamoto grounds out to 2nd.

Top 8th
Once again though Sakushin Gakuin finds themselves 2 behind with 2 innings to go.

One down, grounder to short by Yamanashi.  Watanabe one hops the throw and Akiya can't make the pick.

Ootani looks like he gives one a ride, but it's right to Tanaka for out #2.

And Kazushige can only hit a weak comebacker to Kanbara to end the inning.

Bottom 8th
Shunjirou with a drive to left!  Yoshida doesn't even move!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shinjirou almost seals Toukaidai's spot in the Best 4 with a leadoff homerun here in the bottom of the 8th!  7-4!

One down and Aihara hits a shallow fly to center.  Everyone converges, but no one take initiative to get it and it falls in.

Two down and Kanbara drives one to deep center!  Tsuruta running back, dives, but can't get it!  It bounces off the wall as Kanbara has an RBI triple to make it 8-4.

Shinkai strikes out to end the inning, but the book is almost closed on Sakushin Gakuin.

Top 9th
Shinohara gets a one out single to right center, his 4th on the day.

But Takayama grounds into the 1-4-3 double play and the game is over!

Well, what do you know.  The game goes a "pedestrian" 127 minutes and Toukaidai Koufu advances to the Best 4!

That was unexpected.  This game, they didn't go their quick, frenetic pace, and put an 8 spot against last year's semifinalists.  I don't know what to chalk this one up to.

But it was clear early that Sakushin Gakuin was in trouble early as starter Tsutsui was being hard hit.  Things never improved as they had to play catchup the entire game and eventually fell too far behind.  The stage seemed to be all set for a rematch, but unfortunately Tokaidai Koufu got in the way.

As for Toukaidai Koufu, they seemed to prove they could play a "regular" game as well with this performance.  Perhaps they didn't want to exert too much energy with the pace knowing full well they'd have a game tomorrow.  But hat will be the case going forward anyways.

But ti was a dominating performance by the team from Yamanashi.  They reach the semifinals for the 3rd time in school history, and will look to reach the finals for the first time if the can defeat Kousei Gakuin.


Notable Players
Ishii Shinjirou (Toukaidai Koufu) - 3-5, HR, 2 R, RBI
Saitou Keisuke (Toukaidai Koufu)- 3-4, 2B, R, RBI, K
Tanaka Ryuuta (Toukaidai Koufu) - 3-4, R, RBI
Shinohara Yuuta (Sakushin Gakuin) - 4-4, R, RBI, BB
Takayama Ryousuke (Sakushin Gakuin) - 3-5, R, RBI, K
Yoshida Koudai (Sakushin Gakuin)- 2-4, 2B, K

And now our last game to fill out our Best 8.  The winner of this game will face last year's Best 4 finisher Sakushin Gakuin 2 days from now.

Wouldn't it be something if one of those teams was a first timer to Natsu Koushien?

Not only have the won their first aggregate (Spring/Summer) game, but they are one win away from reaching the Best 8!  They've certainly exceeded my expectations this Koushien.

Toukaidai Koufu has basically breezed through Koushien.  And I don't refer to blowout wins.  I mean more in that their games have taken 72 and 90 minutes.  That's fast.

I'm not sure if this is their pace, but it seems to work, and keep them out of the sun too.  Today, they're giving ace Kanbara a rest, though he's thrown the least amount of pitches for any player who's pitched 2 full games.  In fact, Muranaka-kantoku's sitting 2 of his normal starting OF too.

OH.  He going for an all RH lineup against Sasanaga.


Ube Kougyou (Yamaguchi)
LF Tomonaga
SS Yamaoka
RF Hinoguchi
CF Kanemaru
3B Oono
P Sasanaga
C Nishino
2B Yasuda
1B Sugita

Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
SS Watnanabe
2B Shinkai
LF Yamamoto
C Ishii
1B Akiya
3B Aihara
RF Tanaka (#15)
P Honda (#10)
CF Itahashi (#18)

____________________________________________________________

15:32 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Strikeout of Tomonaga is a good way to start if you're spot starter Honda.

But then he goes full and loses Yamaoka.

And then after a quick flyout to left, he goes full again to Kanemaru and walks him.

Oono with a short flyer to right. Itahashi sprinting in from his position, reaches out and makes the stumbling catch!  The wind is really blowing in from RF today, so he really had to book it.

Bottom 1st
Watanabe with a comebacker off Sasanaga's glove!  It deflects to Yamaoka who goes to 1st for the out!

Shinkai goes down on a slider and there's 2 out.

Figures that the only lefty left in the lineup - Yamamoto, draws a walk against Sasanaga.

Ishii grounds to 3rd, who goes to 2nd for the force to retire the side.

Top 2nd
One down and Nishino registers Ube Koujyou's first hit with a ball clean through the right side.

Yasuda with a grounder to short, Watanabe with the shovel toss to Shinkai and he fires to first for textbook 6-4-3 double play.

Bottom 2nd
Akiya starts off with a single to left.  Aihara tries to bunt him over, but Sasagawa goes to 2nd and gets the lead runner!

Tanaka with a comebacker to Sasanaga!  He decides to go to 2nd, but Aihara's safe!  Throw to 1st, Tanaka's also safe!  Toukaidai Koufu with a developing situation!

But Honda grounds to 2nd!  Yasuda with the tag of Tanaka, goes to 1st for the double play!

I dunno about that tag, but it's called and the side is retired.

Top 3rd
It's finally a quiet inning for Honda.  He strikes out Sugita to start the inning, then gets Tomonaga to ground out.

Yamaoka tries the safety bunt, Akiya with the ball flips to Honda who just beats out Yamaoka to the bag.

Bottom 3rd
The game is starting to go at Toukaidai Koufu's pace.  They're swinging away early in counts, as Itahashi grounds to short, Watanabe to 3rd, and Shinkai with a pop to Yamaoka in shallow left.

Top 4th
Hinoguchi works the count full, but is jammed and lines out to Watanabe.

Kanemaru swings on the first pitch and hits a can of corn to Watanabe as well.

And Oono gets frozen on a fastball across the plate and the side is retired.

Bottom 4th
The only theory I have about Toukaidai Koufu's fast play lies in the fact they have no errors.  If they can play fast and have no errors, and other teams aren't used to the quick pace, perhaps they can force them into errors if they get them to play fast as well.

Sasanaga gets the call on a fastball on the outside corner for a 3 pitch strikeout.  Ishii swings on the first pitch (much like Kanemaru!) and flies out to right.

Akiya with a hard grounder to the left side.  Oono makes a great stop!  Throws to 1st and Sasanaga is cruising along!

Top 5th
And if they're rushing at the plate too, perhaps they'll swing at pitches they wouldn't.

One down for Ube Koujyou and Nishino hits a ball to right center!  The wind knocks it down, but Nishino's still in with a double!

Ace Kanbara is warming up in the bullpen.

Yasuda with a hard hit, past a diving Aihara down the left field line!  That'll go for extra bases!  Nishino scores on the double by Yasuda! 1-0!

Sugita with a drive to center!!  Tanaka running back to the fence, it's over his head and bounces to the wall!  Yasuda scores as Sugita hits the 3rd straight double!  2-0 Ube Koujyou!

Back to the top of the order and Tomonaga, but he goes down looking on a fastball.

Yamaoka to try and add one more run, and Honda helps out by throwing a wild pitch!  Sugita advances to 3rd!

And now he hits a hard liner!  But it's right to Shinkai for the 3rd out.  But the 7-8-9 hitters go back-to-back-to-back doubles to give them a 2-0 lead!

Bottom 5th
One down and Tanaka hits a grounder to the left side.  Yamaoka runs it down, tries to throw to 1st, but it's not in time.  Good effort though!

#13 Ishiwa to hit for Honda - his day is done as Kanbara continues to warm up.

Ishiwa with a base hit to left!  Douten runner is on for Toukaidai!  Ozaki-kantoku calls time as #14 Kuriyama comes in to run for Ishiwa.

Itahashi in and showing bunt.  But he takes a couple of pitches and falls behind 0-2.  Takes one too many as he takes one at the knees for strike 3!  2 down!

Up to Watanabe who's hitless on the day. 

Down 1-2, he desparately fighting at the plate.

Watanabe with a drive to right center!  Kanemaru and Hinokuchi are chasing back after it!  It falls in at the wall  Tanaka scores!  Kuriyama being sent around 3rd, he scores!  Watanabe with a timely triple and we're all square at 2-2!!

Shinkai pops out to short, but an eventful 5th inning here!  We hit the break all square at 2-2!  And now Toukaidai's ace Kanbara will be entering the game.

We're playing a 4-inning ballgame!

Top 6th
And yes, ace Kanbara comes in for PR Kuriyama and takes the hill.

One down and Kanemaru chops a ball over Kanbara and into center for a leadoff single.  Ozaki-kantoku tries to start the hit-and-run, but Oono flies out to right.

Sasanaga turns on a fastball and singles past a diving Shinkai into right.

Small chance for Ube Koujyou though quickly ends when Nishino chases a forkball in the dirt for strike 3.

Bottom 6th
Grounder back up the middle by Yamamoto gives them the leadoff runner.  Ishii shows bunt and lays it down.  Sasanaga is there quickly, but falls down!  That forces him to go to 1st.

Yamamoto advances another 90 feet when Akiya grouds to 2nd, but now they have to have a base hit or error.

Aihara up, works the count full, then takes a pitch way inside for ball 4!  Ozaki-kantoku calls for time.

Tanaka now steps in, he started that 2-run 5th with a single.

But Sasanaga won't let him have one this time!  He grounds to short where Yamaoka makes the throw to 1st to retire the side!

Top 7th
Kanbara cruising along at ludicrous speed.  This time around he retires both Yasuda and Sugita, and then freezes Tomonaga again on a fastball.

Bottom 7th
Kanbara with a grounder to short.  Yamaoka throws it away, and it goes into the camera well!  Kanbara goes to 2nd.

Itahashi lays don the great sac bunt down the 3rd base line and he would ahve been safe had he not dove.

And they basically intentionally walk Watanabe to set up a double play opportunity.

Ozaki-kantoku calls time as Shinkai steps in.  He was batting in the 9-spot last game, but now is batting in the 2-spot in the order.

Slow chopper to the left side!  Oono can't get to it!  Yamaoka gets there, makes the throw to 1st, and gets Shinkai!

But Kanbara scores to make it 3-2 Toukaidai, and Watanabe, alertly seeing that both Oono and Yamaoka were going for the play, advance to 3rd!

Sasanaga though limits the damage to just the one run as he gets Yamamoto to groundout to short.

Top 8th
One down, Hinokuchi singles to left center!  He thinks about 2, but scrambles back when Yamamoto gets to the ball and fires it in.

Kanemaru hits a comebacker to Kanbara!  Throw to 2nd, almost too high but Watanabe has it!  Throw to 1st... double play!

Kanbara turns the inning-ending 1-6-3 double play!  Ube Koijyou will be to their final 3 outs!

Bottom 8th
Ishii starts off the inning with a 7 pitch walk.  Muranaka-kantoku tries to send him to 2nd, but Nishino guns him down, erasing the runner.

Furthermore, Akiya goes down swinging on the very next pitch.  2 down.

Aihara keep the inning going with a single through the left side.

Now Sasanaga walks Tanaka on 4 straight and there's a runner in scoring position for Kanbara.

And another baserunning error!  Sasanaga picks off Aihara at 2nd and the inning is over.  Now it's hang on time if you're Toukaidai Koufu

Top 9th
And if you're Ube Koujyou, you got 3 outs left in your Cinderella run.

Oono with a drive to center!  Tanaka back and makes the catch!  One down!

Sasanaga with a hard hit to the left side!  Watanabe with a great backhanded stop!  Throw to 1st, beats out Sasanaga!

One out left!  Nishino steps in, swings on the first pitch!  Grounder to 2nd!  Shinkai charging in, picks it, throws.

OUT!  The throw beats out a diving Nishino and Toukaidai Koufu advance to the Best 8 for the 3rd time in school history!

Ube Koujyou had one heck of a run in my opinion.  Sure, they didn't beat any of the big names in Toyama Kougyou or Sasebo Jitsugyou, but to win 2 games in your first ever Natsu Koushien I think is impressive.  So while they didn't reach the Best 8, they had a great Koushien tournament.

For Toukaidai Koufu, they're onto the Best 8, and surprisingly every time except once they've at least reached the Best 8 at Koushien (Spring or Summer), they've advanced to the semifinals and lost.

They'll look to at least continue that trend with their fast play style against Sakushin Gakuin.  It's seemed to work so far.


Notable Players
Kanbara Yuu (Toukaidai Koufu) - W, 4 IP, 3 K, 2 BB
Watanabe Ryou (Toukaidai Koufu) - 1-3, 3B, 2 RBI, BB
Sasanaga Minori (Ube Koujyou) - 8 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 6 H, 3 K, 5 BB
Nishino Koutarou (Ube Koujyou) - 2-4, 2B, R
Yasuda Shou (Ube Koujyou) - 1-3, 2B, R, RBI

Our final matchup in day 9, and the 2nd round is a match of enigmas.

Ryuukokudai Heian was actually involved in a high-scoring affair against Asahikawa Kougyou.  The runs at the beginning of the game made sense - they took advantage of walks issued by Kanno.  But in the 2nd half of the game, in what I have to attribute as pitcher fatigue, they put up 5 runs before winning in 11.

So, would then Heian suffer from a poor offense if Kanno had been able to say consistent all game?  It's hard to say.  Furthermore, ace Tamura couldn't make it through 7 and needed the bullpen to cover the rest.  Even still they gave up 8 runs total.

As for Toukaidai Koufu, I really don't have any new analysis about them.  They won a game in 76 minutes, with ace Kanbara not challenged at all, and the offense could just cruise on the 3 runs it scored.

There's almost nothing I could take from that game that could apply to the next one, because I'm sure they'll not play at the same tempo this time around.

But I won't be able to say necessarily that Kanbara has bad control or low stamina that Ryuukokudai Heian can take advantage of, or if Toukaidai Koufu's offense was taking parts of the game off given the dynamic.

I think Heian will be at a disadvantage in the game, only because I think the offense will struggle more this time around, and if you can't score, you can't win.


Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi)
SS Watnanabe
CF Saitou Keisuke
LF Yamamoto
C Ishii
1B Akiya
3B Aihara
RF Saitou Hiroki
P Kanbara
2B Shinkai

Ryuukokudai Heian (Kyoto)
CF Izawa
2B Umeda
1B Kubota
RF Takahashi
LF Arita
3B Shimada
SS Kimura
C Hiraki
P Tamura

____________________________________________________________

13:26 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Well it certainly feels like we're not moving a ludicrous speed to start.  But Tamura is retiring the Toukadai batters to start.  Watanabe with a grounder to 3rd.  Keisuke hit a hard liner, but right at Kubota.

Yamamoto denies the clean inning as he drives a fat fastball into the right center field gap for a double.  Ishii is then hit on the next pitch.

Akiya up to try and give Toukaidai the lead here in the top of the 1st.  But he hits a comebacker to Tamura who goes to 1st and ends the inning.  A bit shaky to start, but no damage donw.

Bottom 1st
Izawa with a first pitch fly to Yamamoto.  Umeda is rung up on a slider that seems a bit low.

Kubota with a chopper to Akiya.  He takes it to the bag and it's a clean inning for him to start.

Top 2nd
Aihara takes the pitch away and past a diving Kubota down the right field line!  He's in with a double.

Hiroki tries to bunt, but pops it up.  A charging Tamura catches it for the 1st out.

Kanbara up, and down 1-2, he's fouling everything off, even ones that would be balls.  He then hits a grounder to short, and Kimura fumbles with the ball!  The throw is late and everyone's safe!

Shinkai with a ball to the right side!  Umeda dives, but the umpire calls no catch!  He goes to 2nd then for the force and then Kimura notices Aihara off base and he's run down for the weird 4-6-5 double play!

Bottom 2nd
Though from the replay it looked like he had it in the fly and if so it would be a bad break for Ryuukokudai.

One down after Takahashi's K, and Aihara lines one past the stab of Kanbara into center for a base hit!

Shimada with a grounder right to Watanabe!  He starts the 6-4-3 double play and it's another quick inning for Ryuukokudai!

Top 3rd
Watanabe jumps on a hanging slider and drives that to center!  Izawa runs it down as it lands at the base of the wall., but Watanabe is in with a leadoff double!

After a bunt by Keisuke, that brings up Yamamoto, who quickly swings on the first pitch and hits that to left!  Arita running that down and that lands on the base of the wall!  Watanabe scores on the timely double, and in just 3 pitches Toukaidai Koufu scores a run!  1-0!

Ishii can't advance Yamamoto as he fouls out to Kubota, and Akiya grounds to short.  And while Kimura fumbles a bit with the ball he has time to make the out.

Bottom 3rd
Kimura with a hard hit to left!  That gets by a drawn in Yamamoto and he has to chase it down to the wall!  Leadoff double for Kimura!

Ah!  But Ishii makes a snap throw to 2nd and they get Kimra off base for the 1st out!

After that pickoff, Hiraki grounds out to short and Tamura can only watch a fastball go by him for the 3rd strike and the 3rd out.

Top 4th
The game is going by quickly, but not at a frentic pace.  Toukaidai Koufu's batters are taking pitches, they're just getting retired.  Aihara flies to right, Hiroki grounds to 2nd, and then Kanbara finishes it off with a fly to center.

Bottom 4th
As expected, Ryuukokudai's batters are having trouble finding finding the holes out there.  Though Ishii and Umeda go down via the K to start.

Kubota prevents the 1-2-3 inning with a single back up the middle.

Count goes full on Takahashi, Kubota takes off on the pitch, but Takahashi goes down swinging on a slider for the 3rd out.

Top 5th
Shinkai leads the inning off taking the first pitch to center.  Watanabe tries the safety bunt, and almost beats out the throw from Tamura.

Keisuke flies out to to shallow left, and there's quickly 2 down.

Yamamoto with a ball to shallow center!  Keisuke runs in, and pulls up as it falls in!  Shinkai scores and it's 2-0 Toukdaidai!

Ishii give the ball a drive to deep left center.  Arita ranging in front of the wall, moves towards center, and makes the catch for the 3rd out.

Toukaidai Koufu extends their lead, but I'm puzzled why in that case Keisuke didn't sell out.  It was a fly ball and it wasn't going get by him, and more importantly it would have prevented the run.

Arita with a comebacker to Kanbara.  He runs it himself to the bag for the 1st out.

Shimada able to get his bat around on an inside pitch and hits it right off the bag!  It deflects high into left and Shimada is able to take 2nd!

Kimura with a single to center!  Shimada makes a late break for 3rd as he had to wait on the ball.  Keisuke comes up throwing, the ball is there, SAFE!!

Shimada is safe as the replays show Aihara fielding the ball high on the hop and thus is late on the tag! Runners at the corners for Ryuukokudai!

Hiraki lifts a ball to right!  Hiroki is there with the catch, Shimada breaks for home.  Relay throw home is not in time and Ryuukokudai Heian is on the board!  It's 2-1!

Kanbara strikes out fellow ace Tamura to retire the side, but Ryuukokudai gets the run back and trails by one again heading into the break!  Ryuukokudai Heian's kept the game close, so they still ahve a chance.

Top 6th
Akiya hit by Tamura to start off the 6th.  Aihara feigns the bunt and swings away, but flies out to center.

Hiroki with a grounder to the 2nd.  Umeda quickly flips to Kimura who goes to 1st for the double play!

Bottom 6th
#15 Tanaka comes into the game for Hiroki and takes over in right.

Izawa swings on the first pitch and single to center!  Leadoff runner on for Ryuukokudai!  Umeda bunts him over into scoring position.

But Kubota pops it up!  Shinkai under it and makes the catch for the 2nd out.

And Takahashi hits a chopper up the middle.  Watanabe makes the quick snag and throw to retire the side!

Top 7th
Tamura crusing along, as Kanbara goes down on 3 straight.  Shinkai pops out to Umeda.

Back to the top of the order for Toukaidai.

Watanabe drives a ball from Tamura to left.  Arita running back to the fence?!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watanabe with a solo homerun to left about 15 rows up and Toukaidai gets an insurance run!  It's 3-1!

Keisuke fouls out to retire the side, but Toukaidai gets some much needed breathing room.

Bottom 7th
Another defensive replacement as #18 Itabashi comes in for Keisuke in CF.

They're going to need it as Arita drives one into the left center field gap for a double!

And now Ishii lets a ball get by him and Arita advances to 3rd!

But Shimada hits a hard grounder to 2nd!  Arita can't score on the play and there's one down!

Kimura up, 2-2 on the day, but he chases a ball in the dirt!  Ishii throws to 1st, and Akiya makes a great pick to retire Kimura for the 2nd out.  Again, Akiya stays at 3rd!

SANSHIN!!  Hiraki can't pull the trigger on a fastball and goes down looking!  Ryuukokudai cannot score with a runner on 3rd and no out!  That might be the nail in the coffin.

Top 8th
Yamamoto leads off the 8th with a single to left.  He's 4-4 on the day!

And with that hit, Harada-kantoku makes a change.  Izawa comes in from center to take the hill while #15 Maemoto comes in for Tamura and goes to center.

Ishii lays down the sac bunt to advance Yamamoto to 2nd.

Pitch from Izawa up at Akiya's head and he hits the deck.  Plate umpire calls dead ball, but I don't think he actually got hit.

But Toukaidai goes along with it and sends in injury runner to 1st.

Aihara with a single through to right!  Yamamoto scores on the single and it's 4-1 Toukaidai!  Still just one down and runners at the corners for Toukaidai!

Tanaka up for his first AB, and can't check his swing on an inside pich and becomes out #2.

Kanbara chops one to 3rd for the 3rd out, but Toukaidai Koufu continues to pull away from Ryuukokudai Heian!

Bottom 8th
Again, almost a 1-2-3 inning for Kanbara, but Umeda singles to right.  A wild pitch to Kubota sends him to 2nd.

But Kanbara jams Kubota and he pops it up!  Yamamoto there for the catch and again Ryuukokudai Heian is denied!

Top 9th
One down and Watanabe gets his 3rd base hit of the day, a comebacker that just misses Izawa and continues to center.

Itabashi hits a hard grounder to 1st.  Kubota blocks the ball, then takes it himlself for the 2nd out.

In steps Yamamoto for his 5th AB.  He has two singles and two doubles.

This time though, he goes down swinging on a slider to end the inning.

Bottom 9th
Last ups for Ryuukokudai Heian.

Takahashi grounds out to short, though he does run it out.  First pitch to Arita, Kanbara plunks him!

Shimada inside-outs one and flares it down the right field line... fair!!  Arita advances to 3rd on the play and Ryuukokudai Heian sends the tying runner to the plate!

Kimura with a harball to the left side!  Aihara dives and makes the stop.  Throws to 2nd... OUT!  They just get Shimada at 2nd!  Arita scores to make it 4-2, but there's 2 down!

Still the tying run comes to the plate in PH #13 Megata who's hitting for Hiraki.

But he grounds one to 2nd!  Shinkai goes to 1st and Toukaidai Koufu holds on for the win!  They're the first team to reach the 3rd round since Nihon Koukuu back in 2005, and the first team from Yamanashi to win 2 games since... Toukaidai Koufu did in 2004!

It was another relatively quick game (90 minutes) with ace Kanbara inducing a lot of contact while the offense did just enough for the win.

For Ryuukokudai Heian, it's another disappointing early exit.  They really didn't do anything wrong in the game, they were just outplayed.  For a team who scores as little as they did, they really kept the games close and did what they could to stay in games.  If they could just find a little more offense, they might have a good team on their hands.  But that will have to wait for the new team.

Toukaidai Koufu will advance to play a very game Ube Koujyou squad for the right to be in the Best 8.


Notable Players
Kanbara Yuu (Toukaidai Koufu) - CG, 2 ER, 8 H, 10 K, HBP
Watanabe Ryou (Toukaidai Koufu) - 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI
Yamamoto Shun (Toukaidai Koufu) - 4-5, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI, K
Tamura Yoshihide (Ryuukokudai Heian) - 8 IP, 4 ER, 10 H, 3 K, 3 HBP
Shimada Yuuki (Ryuukokudai Heian) - 2-4, 2B, R
Kimura Yuuya (Ryuukokudai Heian) - 2-4, 2B, RBI