So after 48 games we are finally here. At a final that could have been predicted, and probably once we got to the Best 4, wasn't wanted.
Miyagi is looking for it's first ever Koushien title. Of course that means that this would be Sendai Ikuei's first as well. Only twice before has a team from Miyagi reached the finals. Ikuei was first back in 1989, losing to Teikyou 2-0 in 10. Then in 2003 with Tohoku and if you didn't figure it out already, yes - Yu Darvish.
Sendai Ikuei has had to come from deep in the field to get here. The good news was that their first game was relatively early, and they had no problems with Meihou. The closest games they had were in the Round of 16 when they edged out Hanamaki Higashi 4-3, and then the next round where Akita Shougyou put up a fight early before their ace broke down midway.
If we don't count the Meihou game, the team doesn't get extra base hits that often despite what you'd think. Only 11 of the 43 hits have gone for extra bases.
Also, with perhaps the exception of Sasaki Ryousuke, who has been fairly consistent, it is different people delivering each game. Which is good, because you're not overly reliant on one person like some other teams.
As for the pitching, there's Satou Sena, who I swear has been around for forever. He's not an power pitcher by most metrics, as when he's on he doesn't strike out a lot of batters. While his #10 Doumeki Yuuki spelled him for a bit against Hanamaki Higashi, Sena's last outing against Waseda Jitsugyou he struck our just 3, while walking/hitting 7 in all. Not a good sign going into the finals. Don't be surprised if Doumeki starts the game.
The last time a Kanagawa team was in this spot was with Toukaidai Sagami, facing Kounan and Yousuke Shimabukuro, and a revamped Hifumi Shinta who wound up being more wild than effective. Would you believe that the last time a Kanagawa team won a title was back in 1998 with Yokohama and... yep, Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Toukaidai Sagami has only been challenged once against of all teams Hanasaki Tokuharu. Outside of that their schedule has been rather soft, facing Seikou Gakuin, Yuugakukan and last time out Kanto Dai-ichi. They had 19 of their 52 hits go for extra bases, with their 2 key batters being their 3 & 5 hitters Sugisaki and Isoami.
As for the pitching, time is split between ace Ogasawara and #11 Yoshida who have been effective enough. Not dominating, but effective. What is concerning is the end of the semifinal against Kanto Dai-ichi. Yoshida was beginning to struggle late, and when Ogasawara came in, the batters had a bit of a field day. Of course they still won, but with 0 days rest neither pitcher will get themselves right for today. Will they have anything left today?
We're about to find out!
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
2B Chino Keijirou
CF Miyaji Kyouhei
SS Sugisaki Shigeki
RF Toyoda Hiroshi
1B Isoami Eito
C Nagakura Ren
LF Takeuchi Daiki
3B Kawaji Seitarou
P Ogasawara Masayuki
Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
3B Satou Shouta
CF Aoki Reima
SS Hirasawa Taiga
C Gunji Yuuya
1B Doumeki Yuuki (#10)
LF Kii Kaishuu
RF Sasaki Tooya
2B Yatsu Koudai
P Satou Sena
____________________________________________________________
13:02 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
They will go with Sena to start the game, but Doumeki is lingering at 1st.
First pitch forkball, swing over by Chino. He has to fight off pitches as his ouen-dan sings the school's theme.
And he successfully dumps a ball into left for a leadoff hit, and we're off and running.
After an attempt at bunting, they go for the hit-and-run instead, but Miyaji fouls it off. He does get it into play, and advances the runner with a 6-3 putout.
Sena leaves a ball up! Sugisaki drives one to deep center! It's off the top of the padding! He's in with an RBI double and Toukaidai Sagami is already ahead 1-0!
Toyoda a base hit through the left side! Sugisaki being sent home and the throw is much too late! 2-0 Sagami and it's a quick time-out called by Sasaki-kantoku.
Isoami grounds to 3rd for the 2nd out. And while Nagakura makes contact, it's a lineout to right. Inning over, but Toukaidai Sagami off to a strong start.
Bottom 1st
Ogasawara gets the inside strike on Shouta to start his final campaign.
Aoki hits a changeup off the end of his bat and it's a harmless groundout to short.
Hirasawa alsot gets the ball off the end of the bat, but it shoots through the right side for a base hit. And with 2 down, he'll try and steal 2nd! Nagakura's throw to 2nd is high and into center! Hirasawa moves to 3rd.
Ogasawara decides to hit 149 on the gun, which I think is the fastest we've seen, the result though is a walk to Gunji, bringing up Doumeki.
But he weakly grounds to 1st and the side is retired.
Top 2nd
Takeuchi gets a leadoff single and is moved along via out to 2nd and 3rd, flipping the lineup back over to Chino.
And Chino is being as stubborn now as he was in the 1st.
This time though he gets him on the fastball and the side is retired.
Bottom 2nd
Ogasawara effectively using the inside part of the plate against opposite handed hitters as he strikes out Kii looking
Tooya gets a base hit, but when Sasaki-kantoku puts on the hit and run, Yatsu swings and misses on a high pitch and Tooya is more than dead meat at 2nd.
Yatsu, after fouling off a couple of pitches, swings and misses on the changeup. Side retired.
Top 3rd
Sugisaki guides a ball back up the middle for a 1-out single. Toyoda with a grounder up the 3rd base line, Shouta with it in foul territory, but hesitates and his throw to 1st is late.
Isoami checks in with his hit, and that drives in Sugisaki without a throw. 3-0 as Sasaki-kantoku calls time yet again.
It's no help though as Nagakura lines one down the left field side. Another run scores and Toukaidai Sagami is trying to run away with it early now at 4-0.
Monma-kantoku calls for the squeeze, but Takeuchi misses. Isoami is run down for the 2nd out.
Takeuchi flies out to right, but Sagami has doubled their lead. Worse yet, Sena doesn't seem to be able to fix his control issues.
Bottom 3rd
Ogasawara looked to be heading for a clean inning, but on the 2nd groundball to Sugisaki he airmails the throw to 1st.
Aoki takes advantage stepping out and hitting a ball back up the middle! It's past Sugisaki and there will be no throw home! The error costs them a run as it's 4-1.
Hirasawa rips a ball to center! All Miyaji can do is block it and Hirasawa is in with a double! Monma-kantoku calling time now.
Gunji with a base hit! He singles past Chino! Aoki scores and it's 4-2!
Doumeki single to center! Hirasawa comes in! It's a 4-3 ballgame!!
Kii with a liner, but it's a soft one to Ogasawara! He goes to 2nd and that kills the rally! But not before we have a ballgame again!
Top 4th
But now it's a matter of pitcher attrition. Who can hold out?
Senda walks Kawaji to start the frame. Ogasawara bunts him over.
Sena finally retires Chino. Gets a big assist from Hirasawa on the short chopper, but there's 2 down.
Miyaji hits a ball to left, Kii turning around, sprints back! It's over his head! Kawaji can easily score and it's 5-3! Kii got fooled just enough there and Toukaidai Sagami pulls ahead just a little further again.
With 1st open, they are careful with Sugisaki, eventually issuing a walk.
Toyoda singles to left! Kii misplays the ball again! Miyaji definitely scores, and Kii throws to 3rd and gets an oversliding Sugisaki for the out.
But, 3 steps forward, 2 steps back. It's a 3-run lead for Sagami.
Bottom 4th
The bottom of the lineup for Sendai Ikuei though is unable to make headway as they go down in order.
Top 5th
Yamamoto comes in for Kii to start the inning. Probably due to the 2 plays he had last inning.
Sena gets his first 1-2-3 inning. He needs it, but what he needs more is the offense to get going again now that it's turned over.
Bottom 5th
Sugisaki with another error! Shouta gets on base thanks to the wide throw and Sendai Ikuei has a chance perhaps to cut into the lead again.
Sasaki-kantoku calls for the bunt, and Aoki is able to lay it down. But 1st is open as Hirasawa steps in.
Oooo.... And Ogasawara gets the outside strike to get Hirasawa out. 2 down.
Gunji pops out to 2nd and we're at the break. Sena certainly looks like the worse of the 2 pitchers so far, but Ogasawara is not without his issues as well. Still, Sendai Ikuei is chasing 3 with their offense only showing life in 1 inning.
Top 6th
Kawaji with a drive to right. Tooya running to the foul pole! Is this ball gone?
NO! It's an out! Tooya leaps, makes the catch as his back collides with the padding and hangs on! He's on the ground, but he has the ball!
And quickly Ogasawara flies out to left, and Chino strikes out on 3 straight.
Bottom 6th
One down and Yamamoto gets a 4-pitch walk.
#15 Nishimaki is hitting for Tooya! And he singles through the left side!
Yatsu with a single to center! Manrui for Sendai Ikuei for Sena!
But he goes down on 3 straight and it'll be up to Shouta to bring the runners home. Monma-kantoku calls for time.
Ogasawara not really pitching in the zone, trying to take advantage of Ikuei perhaps pressing. Shouta for his part is at least staying alive by fouling pitches off.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shouta, drive to center! Miyaji ranging over, now back! It's past him! Everyone's going to score! Everyone does score! Miyaji is in at 3rd and we're all tied at 6-6!!!!!
Aoki with a blooper to right center! Everyone converging on it!
It's Toyoda! He has a long slide and makes the catch for the 3rd out!
Damage done! It's a 3 inning game!
Top 7th
Nishiwaki stays in at 1B, Doumeki to RF.
Quick flyout to center by Miyaji. Sugisaki soon follows with a grounder to short.
Toyoda liner to right! Doumeki charging! Dives... MAKES THE CATCH!!!!
That's balls right there. It gets past him, it's 7-6 for sure.
Bottom 7th
But with momentum seemingly with Sendai Ikuei, the middle of the lineup is falling flay. Hirasawa with a popup, and Gunji fly to center - suddenly there's 2 out.
Doumeki gets hit and the inning continues.
Sasaki-kantoku tries to send Doumeki.... But Nagakura just gets him with his throw! Side retired!
Top 8th
One down, Nagakura's grounder to Yatsu is muffed putting on the gyakuten run.
Takeuchi fooled badly on the forkball for the 2nd out.
And Kawaji down on the forkball! 3 out!
Bottom 8th
Perhaps they wanted to take the base so that Yamamoto could either drive in the run, or lead off the inning. However, he grounds out to 2nd.
Nishimaki makes good contact, but also grounds out to 2nd.
Yatsu gets hit, but he's called to be in the zone and not getting out of the way, and is therefore called out! 3 down and we're onto the 9th!
Top 9th
Ogasawara drive to right?? Doumeki going back?????
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where in the world did that come from! First pitch for Sena and it's gone! And Sagami has the lead! It's 7-6!?!!!
Uh oh...
Miyaji double down the left field line...
Sugisaki blooper also down the left field line, Miyaji in for 8-6...
Toyoda with a gapper to left center for a double, 9-6.
Isoami fly ball to right center. Doumeki dives... and makes the catch! But he forgets how many outs are there! Toyoda tags up from 2nd and scores for 10-6.
The bleeding finally ends there, but so does Sendai Ikuei's chance at the title.
Bottom 9th
Sendai Ikuei goes quietly in the bottom of the 9th and as Toyoda makes the final out, they win their 2nd ever Natsu Koushien title!
Man, it's a sad way to end such a great game. Satou Sena is understandably inconsolable, especially after holding out as long as he did. I don't know if you prefer losing like that or in sayonara fashion where it's closer. Perhaps if it was closer you could have though about doing something different. But perhaps like this you know you had nothing left... Perhaps if it was close, you'd look back on Kii's plays before he was pulled and wonder if he had played it right, would they have the lead instead of a tie game.
There's a lot of ifs, and it shouldn't take away from what Toukaidai Sagami did, especially Ogasawara who delivered the real final blow that would KO Satou Sena. Just a bummer way to end an exciting final.
Showing posts with label Toukaidai Sagami. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toukaidai Sagami. Show all posts
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Day 14, Semifinal 2 - Kanto Dai-ichi (Higashi Tokyo) v Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
So who will play X in the finals?
Will it be Toukaidai Sagami who had their biggest test last time out against Hanasaki Tokuharu? Or will it be Kanto Dai-ichi who has survived 3 close, and yet vastly different, ballgames?
In that game for Toukaidai Sagami, it wasn't until late, and with some help from the defense of Hanasaki Tokuharu that they were able to win. Outside of that 9th inning, they had 5 times when they had runners in scoring position, and converted twice and the on e in the 8th wouldn't have scored if the pitcher wasn't called for a balk.
Their offense literally lives and dies by the middle of the lineup, which was 19/33 in the last 2 games. The 8-9-1-2 batters were 2/30.
Kanto Dai-ichi lives at the top of the lineup. And from their games so far, can play any type of game that is needed and hang in there.
Kanto Dai-ichi (Higashi Tokyo)
CF Okoye Rui
3B Ihashi Toshiki
SS Itou Masato
1B Igarashi Yuuki
RF Nagashima Ryouma
2B Kuroda Shunta
LF Moriyama
C Suzuki Daichi
P Abe Takeshi (#10)
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
2B Chino Keijirou
CF Miyaji Kyouhei
SS Sugisaki Shigeki
RF Toyoda Hiroshi
1B Isoami Eito
C Nagakura Ren
LF Takeuchi Daiki
3B Kawaji Seitarou
P Yoshida Ryou (#11)
____________________________________________________________
13:22 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Well, much like last game, Okoye struggles in his first AB, succumbing to the slider in front of the plate.
Ihashi also goes down swinging.
But Itou draws a full count walk to keep the inning going...
That is, until he's caught stealing 2nd.
Bottom 1st
Chino first pitch swings, and lines a single to left.
Miyaji not bunting, lines a ball over Ihashi down the left field line! Chino given the green light around 3rd, and there's no throw! 1-0 Sagami just like that!
Make that 2-0! Sugisaki lines a ball down the right field line this time for another double!
Oh dear...
Toyoda hits a ball to deep left, that's going... going...
HAITAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tokaidai Sagami off to a dream start! It's now 4-0!
Isoami down the right field line again!! He's in with a double!
Now Abe is broken. He walks Nagakura, and Yonezawa-kantoku's seen enough. #16 Kaneko enters the game.
Top 2nd
Nagashima tries to start the long road back with a one out single back up the middle. They go for the hit-and-run, which saves Nagashima as he beats out Yoshida's throw to 2nd.
Moriyama gets plunked in the inner arm and is down for a little while. Seems ok now.
Suzuki flies out to center and the inning is over.
Bottom 2nd
While Chino gets his 2nd base hit of the game, and in as many innings, they go for the bunt.
With 2 down, it looks like Kanto Dai-ichi is going to get out of it, until Itou's pickof the ball goes off his glove and up his arm instead. It goes in the air and Chino can score making it 5-0.
The inning ends when Moriyama makes a leaping catch sprinting back to the wall on a ball hit by Isoami.
3rd Inning
Kaneko gets a base hit to lead off the 3rd, bit while there is no bunting, none of the top 3 of Kanto's lineup can do anything.
Kaneko is shutting things down on his end, but the offense needs to get going and quick.
4th Inning
Igarashi leads off with another base hit, and is moved over to 3rd with 2 outs.
Moriyama draws a walk, but Suzuki grounds out to 3rd to end the inning.
Meanwhile, Chino gets his 3rd hit of the game - all singles. 2 down and Sugisaki gets his 2nd double, somehow getting it past Sugisaki and again down the right field line.
Kuroda though is fooled and has to reach out to make contact. Flyball to center and Okoye has it for the 3rd out.
5th Inning
Kaneko gets a base hit to start the inning. But after he's moved to 2nd, Kanto Dai-ichi looks to hve gotten a break when Yoshida-Isoami-Chino all converge on a bunt by Isoami. With no play, Isoami fires to 3rd and they get Kaneko out at 3rd.
Isoami gets thrown out trying to steal 2nd, and Kanto Dai-ichi looks done.
Isoami got a single back up the middle. Nagakura bunts, and Ihashi throws the ball high. E5, runners at corners.
Another sac bunt, Yoshida gets to it, sees the runner isn't coming home, tries to fire to 1st, but that's off line too.
Kawaji singles through the right side, 7-0 and Yoshida hands the ball off to #11 Komatsubara. He quickly gets 2 outs, including Chino for the first time this game.
But now Miyaji gets his 2nd hit, and scores 2 more. 9-0.
6th Inning
Kanto Dai-ichi gets a chance to break the shutout, but with runners on 1st and 2nd, Moriyama can't pull the trigger on a slider and the side is retired.
Moriyama guesses wrong on a fly ball by Sugisaki an it falls just fair for a double. 2 flyballs later and it's 10-0.
Rest of game
In the 7th Kanto Dai-ichi as a 2-out single by Okoye comes around to score on a double by Itou. 10-1.
With Yoshida at 130+ pitches, ace Ogasawara takes the hill in the 8th.
And things aren't going as planned. Despite hitting 147, he gives up singles to Nagashima and Kuroda. After a K, Suzuki hits a ball back up the middle. Sugisaki makes the diving stop, finds no play at 1st, goes to 3rd. Kuroda is hung up, so he goes for home. The rundown breaks down immediately as Kuroda passes Nagakura and scores! 10-3.
Ogasawara does get the final 2 outs, but the performance this inning is concerning. I think Toukaidai Sagami's pitching is in trouble tomorrow.
Kanto Dai-ichi continues to get solid contact against Ogasawara, but it's more than too late for Kanto Dai-ichi as the game ends at that score. Still, for Kanto Dai-ichi it's an impressive run given the games they had to play - even though in the end they fell short.
Will it be Toukaidai Sagami who had their biggest test last time out against Hanasaki Tokuharu? Or will it be Kanto Dai-ichi who has survived 3 close, and yet vastly different, ballgames?
In that game for Toukaidai Sagami, it wasn't until late, and with some help from the defense of Hanasaki Tokuharu that they were able to win. Outside of that 9th inning, they had 5 times when they had runners in scoring position, and converted twice and the on e in the 8th wouldn't have scored if the pitcher wasn't called for a balk.
Their offense literally lives and dies by the middle of the lineup, which was 19/33 in the last 2 games. The 8-9-1-2 batters were 2/30.
Kanto Dai-ichi lives at the top of the lineup. And from their games so far, can play any type of game that is needed and hang in there.
Kanto Dai-ichi (Higashi Tokyo)
CF Okoye Rui
3B Ihashi Toshiki
SS Itou Masato
1B Igarashi Yuuki
RF Nagashima Ryouma
2B Kuroda Shunta
LF Moriyama
C Suzuki Daichi
P Abe Takeshi (#10)
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
2B Chino Keijirou
CF Miyaji Kyouhei
SS Sugisaki Shigeki
RF Toyoda Hiroshi
1B Isoami Eito
C Nagakura Ren
LF Takeuchi Daiki
3B Kawaji Seitarou
P Yoshida Ryou (#11)
____________________________________________________________
13:22 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Well, much like last game, Okoye struggles in his first AB, succumbing to the slider in front of the plate.
Ihashi also goes down swinging.
But Itou draws a full count walk to keep the inning going...
That is, until he's caught stealing 2nd.
Bottom 1st
Chino first pitch swings, and lines a single to left.
Miyaji not bunting, lines a ball over Ihashi down the left field line! Chino given the green light around 3rd, and there's no throw! 1-0 Sagami just like that!
Make that 2-0! Sugisaki lines a ball down the right field line this time for another double!
Oh dear...
Toyoda hits a ball to deep left, that's going... going...
HAITAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tokaidai Sagami off to a dream start! It's now 4-0!
Isoami down the right field line again!! He's in with a double!
Now Abe is broken. He walks Nagakura, and Yonezawa-kantoku's seen enough. #16 Kaneko enters the game.
Top 2nd
Nagashima tries to start the long road back with a one out single back up the middle. They go for the hit-and-run, which saves Nagashima as he beats out Yoshida's throw to 2nd.
Moriyama gets plunked in the inner arm and is down for a little while. Seems ok now.
Suzuki flies out to center and the inning is over.
Bottom 2nd
While Chino gets his 2nd base hit of the game, and in as many innings, they go for the bunt.
With 2 down, it looks like Kanto Dai-ichi is going to get out of it, until Itou's pickof the ball goes off his glove and up his arm instead. It goes in the air and Chino can score making it 5-0.
The inning ends when Moriyama makes a leaping catch sprinting back to the wall on a ball hit by Isoami.
3rd Inning
Kaneko gets a base hit to lead off the 3rd, bit while there is no bunting, none of the top 3 of Kanto's lineup can do anything.
Kaneko is shutting things down on his end, but the offense needs to get going and quick.
4th Inning
Igarashi leads off with another base hit, and is moved over to 3rd with 2 outs.
Moriyama draws a walk, but Suzuki grounds out to 3rd to end the inning.
Meanwhile, Chino gets his 3rd hit of the game - all singles. 2 down and Sugisaki gets his 2nd double, somehow getting it past Sugisaki and again down the right field line.
Kuroda though is fooled and has to reach out to make contact. Flyball to center and Okoye has it for the 3rd out.
5th Inning
Kaneko gets a base hit to start the inning. But after he's moved to 2nd, Kanto Dai-ichi looks to hve gotten a break when Yoshida-Isoami-Chino all converge on a bunt by Isoami. With no play, Isoami fires to 3rd and they get Kaneko out at 3rd.
Isoami gets thrown out trying to steal 2nd, and Kanto Dai-ichi looks done.
Isoami got a single back up the middle. Nagakura bunts, and Ihashi throws the ball high. E5, runners at corners.
Another sac bunt, Yoshida gets to it, sees the runner isn't coming home, tries to fire to 1st, but that's off line too.
Kawaji singles through the right side, 7-0 and Yoshida hands the ball off to #11 Komatsubara. He quickly gets 2 outs, including Chino for the first time this game.
But now Miyaji gets his 2nd hit, and scores 2 more. 9-0.
6th Inning
Kanto Dai-ichi gets a chance to break the shutout, but with runners on 1st and 2nd, Moriyama can't pull the trigger on a slider and the side is retired.
Moriyama guesses wrong on a fly ball by Sugisaki an it falls just fair for a double. 2 flyballs later and it's 10-0.
Rest of game
In the 7th Kanto Dai-ichi as a 2-out single by Okoye comes around to score on a double by Itou. 10-1.
With Yoshida at 130+ pitches, ace Ogasawara takes the hill in the 8th.
And things aren't going as planned. Despite hitting 147, he gives up singles to Nagashima and Kuroda. After a K, Suzuki hits a ball back up the middle. Sugisaki makes the diving stop, finds no play at 1st, goes to 3rd. Kuroda is hung up, so he goes for home. The rundown breaks down immediately as Kuroda passes Nagakura and scores! 10-3.
Ogasawara does get the final 2 outs, but the performance this inning is concerning. I think Toukaidai Sagami's pitching is in trouble tomorrow.
Kanto Dai-ichi continues to get solid contact against Ogasawara, but it's more than too late for Kanto Dai-ichi as the game ends at that score. Still, for Kanto Dai-ichi it's an impressive run given the games they had to play - even though in the end they fell short.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Day 12, Quarterfinal 2 - Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama) v Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
Of all the teams I dislike in these matchups, Toukaidai Sagami probably is the one that I hate the least. They never really eliminated any of my favorite teams, and heck, they're not Yokohama.
And I didn't have anything against Hifumi Shinta. There were reports that he changes his delivery because he had hit someone in the head and didn't want that to happen again. Of course it meant he hit more people, but it worked.
I guess at this point they've had their title. Give Hanasaki Tokuharu and a oddly beleaguered Saitama prefecture a title.
The problem is that after annihilating Misawa Shougyou, they survived a 1-0 game over Tsuruoka Higashi managing just 6 hits. If that's is what they do against that team, then they'll have a tough time playing Toukaidai Sagami.
Toukaidai Sagami has not been challenged at all so far. Not that they've faced a team that could have presented a challenge (Sorry Seikou Gakuin and Yuugakukan, it's kind of the truth). But because of the competition there is little to gauge on other than the game on the jersey. Yet that might be anough for a school who can garner some of the best talent.
Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama)
LF Kuguu Ryuuya
2B Oota Kousei
SS Okazaki Daisuke
CF Ootaki Aito
RF Satomi Haruki
3B Kusumoto Kouki (#15)
C Sasaya Takumi
P Kamakura Tomoya
1B Kamimura Kouta
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
2B Chino Keijirou
CF Miyaji Kyouhei
SS Sugisaki Shigeki
RF Toyoda Hiroshi
1B Isoami Eito
C Nagakura Ren
LF Takeuchi Daiki
3B Kawaji Seitarou
P Yoshida Ryou (#11)
____________________________________________________________
10:23 - First pitch!
1st Inning
Yoshida on fire to start, striking out both Kuguu and Oota to start. Gives up a soft single to left, but gets out of the inning thereafter.
Kamakura about the same, gets a K and two weak groundouts to 2nd.
Top 2nd
Satomi reaches down and golfs a ball to left for a leadoff single. Kusumoto tries to lay down the butn, but Nagakura is quickly on the ball and fires to 2nd, just getting Satomi.
So Satomi makes up for it by stealing 2nd on the very next pitch!
Sasaya can't do much more than to move him to 3rd, but Yoshida strikes out Kamakura as he lunges for a ball on the outer half.
Bottom 2nd
Toyoda with a blast to right! Satomi headed towards the foul pole, leaps... and makes the catch right before the wall!
Isoami with a ball to right center, gets down for a single. He then tries to steal 2nd, but is thrown out by a strong throw from Sasaya.
Which is a shame because on the next pitch Nagakura goes down the right field line for a double.
And now Takeuchi singles to left! Nagakura scores as Takeuchi takes 2nd on the throw! 1-0 Toukaidai Sagami!
Top 3rd
Yoshida about to cruise through a 1-2-3 inning, but then with two down Oota bloops one in front of Toyoda, which would have still gone for a single had not Miyaji flubbed in his backup. Toyoda as a result of that goes all the way to 3rd.
And Okazaki gets his bat down, on a 3-2 pitch no less, and lines it to center! Toyoda scores and we're all tied at 1-1!
Now they're pressing the action! Okazaki goes for 2nd and he steals the bag!
And now Ootaki with a ball down the right field line.. fair!! Okazaki comes around and he scores!! Hanasaki Tokuharu answers big and takes the 2-1 lead!'
Top 4th
Kameya with a ball past Kawaji and into left! And Kameya books ito to 2nd! Kamkura moves him to 3rd.
AH!! A wild pitch from Yoshida! Kameya can come home and it's 3-1!
Hanasaki Tokuharu on the attach! Kamimura singles to left!
And now it's the hit-and-run! Kuguu hits it through the open left side and it's runners at 1st and 2nd!
That'll be it for Yoshida, Ace Ogasawara comes in to relieve him.
And first pitch he gets Oota to ground right to the bag at 3rd.
Bottom 4th
Sugisaki starts with a single back up the middle and is moved to 2nd.
Isoami gets a hold of one and drives it to deep center! It goes over Ootaki and that will score Sugisaki to make it a 1-run ballgame! 3-2!
Break for Hanasaki Tokuharu! Kamakura is able to field Nagakura's comebacker and he has Isoami in a pickle! He's run down and there's 2 outs! Takeuchi is retired thereafter and the side is retired!
Bottom 5th
Momentum seems to be shifting to Toukaidai Sagami now. Kawaji walks, but while Ogasawara can't bunt the runner over, Chino singles to left! Now the gyakuten runner is on base, and now #18 Takahashi enters the game for Kamakura!
Contact play! Kawaji comes home, but Miyaji hits it right to Kusumoto! He goes home and Kawaji is out! 2 down!
Sugisaki with a slow bounder back up the middle! Okazaki gets to it, but the throw to 1st isn't in time! Manrui for Sagami!
Did I forget that Takahashi can hit 145? He's pulling it out in trying to get Toyoda out.
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow!! Takahashi blows a fastball by him for strike 3!! He comes in relief and holds the lead for Hanasaki Tokuharu!
6th Inning
Despite the break Hanasaki Tokuharu is unable to get any momentum.
So Toukaidai Sagami continues to ratchet up the pressure.
Isoami a drive to center! Ootaki running back... leaps... AND MAKES THE CATCH!
Ootaki selling out on that play and gets rewarded!
Now Nagakura with a ball down the right field line... Oota dives this time... but he can't get to it! Nagakura at 2nd with a double and Toukaidai is in business!
Takeuchi singles to left! Nagakura has to hold at 3rd, but the offense is starting to roll now!
Kawaji without a hit, but behind 0-2 he continues to spoil pitches.
He puts it in play, but it's right to Kusumoto again! They throw home once more and Nagakura is out!! 2 down!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Takahashi gets Ogasawara swinging and Hansaki Tokuharu escapes again!!
Bottom 7th
Toukaidai Sagami is running out of time, and they may be running out of momentum.
Chino with a groundball up the 1st base line that stays fair.
Miyaji swings and misses on a slider...
And Sugisaki pops out! Clean inning from Takahashi and they're that much closer to a win!
Top 8th
Okazaki with a grounder to the right side. Chino runs it down, but the throw to 1st... not in time!
Ootaki another grounder to the right side! Isoami dives, but can't get to it! And with a bunt from Satomi, Kusumoto can possibly put this game away!
But Kusumoto's ball to left is too shallow! Takeuchi makes the catch and the runners have to hold!
Toukaidai Sagami calls time and they're going to take the bat away from Sasaya and pitch to Takahashi.
And it works! He hits a chopper which Ogasawara fields and goes to 1st for the 3rd out!
Bottom 8th
And with that half inning there's life again! Toyoda leads off with a clean single to right!
Despite the 2 doubles earlier, Isoami bunts the runner along!
BALK! Takahashi is called for a balk!
And that comes back to haunt him! Nagakura hits a fly to left, and that will get the run in! We're all tied at 3-3!
And now the gyakuten runner reaches after Takahashi walks Takeuchi! Hanasaki Tokuharu calls time.
Grounder to 2nd! Oota fumbles it, throws to 1st.... and just gets the 3rd out!
The score lines stand identical at 3-10-1 as we head to the 9th! Who will get that key run across?
Top 9th
Kamimura chopper up middle, Chino charging in! Throw across his body to 1st... beats a diving Kamimura!
But now Kuguu gets hit!
They go for the bunt, but Oota pops it up! Kawaji, crashing in catches it in foul ground for the 2nd out! And with Okazaki grounding to short, Toukaidai Sagami has a chance to walk off!
Bottom 9th
Ogaswara grounder up 1st base line, and Kamimura misses it? E3 and Toukaidai Sagami is in business!
But Chino bunt is right to a charging Kusumoto ! They go to 2nd for one, throw to 1st... AHHHHHHHH!!!
Throw to first is high and wide, and in the camera well!! So now it's like a bunt, but instead of Ogasawara, it leadoff hitter Chino!!
But Miyaji grounds to 3rd! Chino has to hold as Hanasaki Tokuharu gets the 2nd out!
GAME OVER!!!
Sugisaki lines the first pitch to deep left, and Kuguu won't get there! Toukaidai Sagami bids Hanasaki Tokuharu 4-3!
And I didn't have anything against Hifumi Shinta. There were reports that he changes his delivery because he had hit someone in the head and didn't want that to happen again. Of course it meant he hit more people, but it worked.
I guess at this point they've had their title. Give Hanasaki Tokuharu and a oddly beleaguered Saitama prefecture a title.
The problem is that after annihilating Misawa Shougyou, they survived a 1-0 game over Tsuruoka Higashi managing just 6 hits. If that's is what they do against that team, then they'll have a tough time playing Toukaidai Sagami.
Toukaidai Sagami has not been challenged at all so far. Not that they've faced a team that could have presented a challenge (Sorry Seikou Gakuin and Yuugakukan, it's kind of the truth). But because of the competition there is little to gauge on other than the game on the jersey. Yet that might be anough for a school who can garner some of the best talent.
Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama)
LF Kuguu Ryuuya
2B Oota Kousei
SS Okazaki Daisuke
CF Ootaki Aito
RF Satomi Haruki
3B Kusumoto Kouki (#15)
C Sasaya Takumi
P Kamakura Tomoya
1B Kamimura Kouta
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
2B Chino Keijirou
CF Miyaji Kyouhei
SS Sugisaki Shigeki
RF Toyoda Hiroshi
1B Isoami Eito
C Nagakura Ren
LF Takeuchi Daiki
3B Kawaji Seitarou
P Yoshida Ryou (#11)
____________________________________________________________
10:23 - First pitch!
1st Inning
Yoshida on fire to start, striking out both Kuguu and Oota to start. Gives up a soft single to left, but gets out of the inning thereafter.
Kamakura about the same, gets a K and two weak groundouts to 2nd.
Top 2nd
Satomi reaches down and golfs a ball to left for a leadoff single. Kusumoto tries to lay down the butn, but Nagakura is quickly on the ball and fires to 2nd, just getting Satomi.
So Satomi makes up for it by stealing 2nd on the very next pitch!
Sasaya can't do much more than to move him to 3rd, but Yoshida strikes out Kamakura as he lunges for a ball on the outer half.
Bottom 2nd
Toyoda with a blast to right! Satomi headed towards the foul pole, leaps... and makes the catch right before the wall!
Isoami with a ball to right center, gets down for a single. He then tries to steal 2nd, but is thrown out by a strong throw from Sasaya.
Which is a shame because on the next pitch Nagakura goes down the right field line for a double.
And now Takeuchi singles to left! Nagakura scores as Takeuchi takes 2nd on the throw! 1-0 Toukaidai Sagami!
Top 3rd
Yoshida about to cruise through a 1-2-3 inning, but then with two down Oota bloops one in front of Toyoda, which would have still gone for a single had not Miyaji flubbed in his backup. Toyoda as a result of that goes all the way to 3rd.
And Okazaki gets his bat down, on a 3-2 pitch no less, and lines it to center! Toyoda scores and we're all tied at 1-1!
Now they're pressing the action! Okazaki goes for 2nd and he steals the bag!
And now Ootaki with a ball down the right field line.. fair!! Okazaki comes around and he scores!! Hanasaki Tokuharu answers big and takes the 2-1 lead!'
Top 4th
Kameya with a ball past Kawaji and into left! And Kameya books ito to 2nd! Kamkura moves him to 3rd.
AH!! A wild pitch from Yoshida! Kameya can come home and it's 3-1!
Hanasaki Tokuharu on the attach! Kamimura singles to left!
And now it's the hit-and-run! Kuguu hits it through the open left side and it's runners at 1st and 2nd!
That'll be it for Yoshida, Ace Ogasawara comes in to relieve him.
And first pitch he gets Oota to ground right to the bag at 3rd.
Bottom 4th
Sugisaki starts with a single back up the middle and is moved to 2nd.
Isoami gets a hold of one and drives it to deep center! It goes over Ootaki and that will score Sugisaki to make it a 1-run ballgame! 3-2!
Break for Hanasaki Tokuharu! Kamakura is able to field Nagakura's comebacker and he has Isoami in a pickle! He's run down and there's 2 outs! Takeuchi is retired thereafter and the side is retired!
Bottom 5th
Momentum seems to be shifting to Toukaidai Sagami now. Kawaji walks, but while Ogasawara can't bunt the runner over, Chino singles to left! Now the gyakuten runner is on base, and now #18 Takahashi enters the game for Kamakura!
Contact play! Kawaji comes home, but Miyaji hits it right to Kusumoto! He goes home and Kawaji is out! 2 down!
Sugisaki with a slow bounder back up the middle! Okazaki gets to it, but the throw to 1st isn't in time! Manrui for Sagami!
Did I forget that Takahashi can hit 145? He's pulling it out in trying to get Toyoda out.
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow!! Takahashi blows a fastball by him for strike 3!! He comes in relief and holds the lead for Hanasaki Tokuharu!
6th Inning
Despite the break Hanasaki Tokuharu is unable to get any momentum.
So Toukaidai Sagami continues to ratchet up the pressure.
Isoami a drive to center! Ootaki running back... leaps... AND MAKES THE CATCH!
Ootaki selling out on that play and gets rewarded!
Now Nagakura with a ball down the right field line... Oota dives this time... but he can't get to it! Nagakura at 2nd with a double and Toukaidai is in business!
Takeuchi singles to left! Nagakura has to hold at 3rd, but the offense is starting to roll now!
Kawaji without a hit, but behind 0-2 he continues to spoil pitches.
He puts it in play, but it's right to Kusumoto again! They throw home once more and Nagakura is out!! 2 down!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Takahashi gets Ogasawara swinging and Hansaki Tokuharu escapes again!!
Bottom 7th
Toukaidai Sagami is running out of time, and they may be running out of momentum.
Chino with a groundball up the 1st base line that stays fair.
Miyaji swings and misses on a slider...
And Sugisaki pops out! Clean inning from Takahashi and they're that much closer to a win!
Top 8th
Okazaki with a grounder to the right side. Chino runs it down, but the throw to 1st... not in time!
Ootaki another grounder to the right side! Isoami dives, but can't get to it! And with a bunt from Satomi, Kusumoto can possibly put this game away!
But Kusumoto's ball to left is too shallow! Takeuchi makes the catch and the runners have to hold!
Toukaidai Sagami calls time and they're going to take the bat away from Sasaya and pitch to Takahashi.
And it works! He hits a chopper which Ogasawara fields and goes to 1st for the 3rd out!
Bottom 8th
And with that half inning there's life again! Toyoda leads off with a clean single to right!
Despite the 2 doubles earlier, Isoami bunts the runner along!
BALK! Takahashi is called for a balk!
And that comes back to haunt him! Nagakura hits a fly to left, and that will get the run in! We're all tied at 3-3!
And now the gyakuten runner reaches after Takahashi walks Takeuchi! Hanasaki Tokuharu calls time.
Grounder to 2nd! Oota fumbles it, throws to 1st.... and just gets the 3rd out!
The score lines stand identical at 3-10-1 as we head to the 9th! Who will get that key run across?
Top 9th
Kamimura chopper up middle, Chino charging in! Throw across his body to 1st... beats a diving Kamimura!
But now Kuguu gets hit!
They go for the bunt, but Oota pops it up! Kawaji, crashing in catches it in foul ground for the 2nd out! And with Okazaki grounding to short, Toukaidai Sagami has a chance to walk off!
Bottom 9th
Ogaswara grounder up 1st base line, and Kamimura misses it? E3 and Toukaidai Sagami is in business!
But Chino bunt is right to a charging Kusumoto ! They go to 2nd for one, throw to 1st... AHHHHHHHH!!!
Throw to first is high and wide, and in the camera well!! So now it's like a bunt, but instead of Ogasawara, it leadoff hitter Chino!!
But Miyaji grounds to 3rd! Chino has to hold as Hanasaki Tokuharu gets the 2nd out!
GAME OVER!!!
Sugisaki lines the first pitch to deep left, and Kuguu won't get there! Toukaidai Sagami bids Hanasaki Tokuharu 4-3!
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Day 10, Game 3 - Yuugakukan (Ishikawa) v Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
It would seem this year we are lacking in overpowering pitchers, instead preferring those that pitch to contact. Because for as much as I though Toukaidai Sagami dominated their game, their pitchers did not strike out a whole lot of batters. Same goes for Yuugakukan though their game was closer in nature.
So with both pitching staffs on equal footing, you'd have to give the edge perhaps to Toukaidai Sagami with their potential for extra base hits. It's not a good leg to stand on though.
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
2B Chino Keijirou
CF Miyaji Kyouhei
SS Sugisaki Shigeki
RF Toyoda Hiroshi
1B Isoami Eito
C Nagakura Ren
LF Takeuchi Daiki
3B Kawaji Seitarou
P Ogasawara Masayuki
Yuugakukan (Ishikawa)
2B Tsuchikura Makoto (#5)
CF Iida Koujirou
1B Hirobashi Keita
C Takamoto Kouhei
RF Uchigata Ryouta
SS Nakamura Kouta (#4)
3B Fujiwara Ryou (#16)
P Komago Ryuuji
LF Matsuda Kazuki
____________________________________________________________
13:25 - First Pitch!
1st Inning
Komago not off to a good start as he hits Chino.
Miyaji a ball up the middle... past a diving Tsuchikura! 2 on already for Sagami!
Sugisaki liner down the left field line.. fair!! And that gets by Matsuda to the wall! Both runners will score as Sugisaki slides into 3rd! 2-0!
Toyoda shot to short, but Nakamura gathers it in. Throws to 1st for the first out.
Isoami with a single past a diving Nakamura up the middle scoring Sugisaki and making it 3-0.
Nagaya single to right and the hit parade on the Ishikawa champs continues!
Takeuchi takes a pitch too close and strikes out looking for the 2nd out.
Komago throws the ball away on a pickoff throw! Isoami being sent home from 2nd, and there'll be no throw! It's now 4-0!!
Kawaji strikes out looking as well and the inning is finally over. But Yuugakukan spots the Kanagawa champs a 4-spot early.
Bottom 1st
Pretty routine inning for Ogasawara, gives up a 2-out hit to Hirobashi, but nothing else.
Top 2nd
After the shaky 1st, Komago settles down, easily gets Ogasawara to ground out, strikes out Chino on a slider away, and gets Miyaji to fly to cener.
Bottom 2nd
After pumping 140kph fastballs, he throws in the slider and strikes him out looking.
After a flyout to center, Fujiwara prevents the clean inning with a 1st pitch single to right. Though Komago hits one back to Ogasawara to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Chance for Yuugakukan as Tsuchikura's grounder to 3rd eats up Kawaji and goes into left. Then on Iida's bunt, Ogasawara tries to throw to 2nd, but pulls Sugisaki off the bag. But Hirobashi pops out, and then Takamoto flies out to left, and quickly the threat is neutralized.
Top 4th
Takeuchi leads off with a single to right. He's moved over by a bunt and a grounder to 2nd.
Chino pays it off with a single to right scoring Takeuchi and making it 5-0.
Miyaji with a ball fair down the left field line. Matsuda misplays it off the wall and Miyaji heads into 3rd with an RBI and now a 6-0 lead.
That'll be it for Komago. He goes to LF while #11 Honjyuou takes the hill. He gets a popout and the inning is over.
Bottom 4th
Meanwhile Yuugakukan goes down in order and this game may be mentally done before we hit the break.
____________________________________________________________
And with 2 more runs for Toukaidai Sagami in the 5th, it's 8-0 and this game has the feeling that it's over already. As for the rest of the game, Yuugakukan got a pair of runs to prevent the shutout, but fell 11-2.
So with both pitching staffs on equal footing, you'd have to give the edge perhaps to Toukaidai Sagami with their potential for extra base hits. It's not a good leg to stand on though.
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
2B Chino Keijirou
CF Miyaji Kyouhei
SS Sugisaki Shigeki
RF Toyoda Hiroshi
1B Isoami Eito
C Nagakura Ren
LF Takeuchi Daiki
3B Kawaji Seitarou
P Ogasawara Masayuki
Yuugakukan (Ishikawa)
2B Tsuchikura Makoto (#5)
CF Iida Koujirou
1B Hirobashi Keita
C Takamoto Kouhei
RF Uchigata Ryouta
SS Nakamura Kouta (#4)
3B Fujiwara Ryou (#16)
P Komago Ryuuji
LF Matsuda Kazuki
____________________________________________________________
13:25 - First Pitch!
1st Inning
Komago not off to a good start as he hits Chino.
Miyaji a ball up the middle... past a diving Tsuchikura! 2 on already for Sagami!
Sugisaki liner down the left field line.. fair!! And that gets by Matsuda to the wall! Both runners will score as Sugisaki slides into 3rd! 2-0!
Toyoda shot to short, but Nakamura gathers it in. Throws to 1st for the first out.
Isoami with a single past a diving Nakamura up the middle scoring Sugisaki and making it 3-0.
Nagaya single to right and the hit parade on the Ishikawa champs continues!
Takeuchi takes a pitch too close and strikes out looking for the 2nd out.
Komago throws the ball away on a pickoff throw! Isoami being sent home from 2nd, and there'll be no throw! It's now 4-0!!
Kawaji strikes out looking as well and the inning is finally over. But Yuugakukan spots the Kanagawa champs a 4-spot early.
Bottom 1st
Pretty routine inning for Ogasawara, gives up a 2-out hit to Hirobashi, but nothing else.
Top 2nd
After the shaky 1st, Komago settles down, easily gets Ogasawara to ground out, strikes out Chino on a slider away, and gets Miyaji to fly to cener.
Bottom 2nd
After pumping 140kph fastballs, he throws in the slider and strikes him out looking.
After a flyout to center, Fujiwara prevents the clean inning with a 1st pitch single to right. Though Komago hits one back to Ogasawara to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Chance for Yuugakukan as Tsuchikura's grounder to 3rd eats up Kawaji and goes into left. Then on Iida's bunt, Ogasawara tries to throw to 2nd, but pulls Sugisaki off the bag. But Hirobashi pops out, and then Takamoto flies out to left, and quickly the threat is neutralized.
Top 4th
Takeuchi leads off with a single to right. He's moved over by a bunt and a grounder to 2nd.
Chino pays it off with a single to right scoring Takeuchi and making it 5-0.
Miyaji with a ball fair down the left field line. Matsuda misplays it off the wall and Miyaji heads into 3rd with an RBI and now a 6-0 lead.
That'll be it for Komago. He goes to LF while #11 Honjyuou takes the hill. He gets a popout and the inning is over.
Bottom 4th
Meanwhile Yuugakukan goes down in order and this game may be mentally done before we hit the break.
____________________________________________________________
And with 2 more runs for Toukaidai Sagami in the 5th, it's 8-0 and this game has the feeling that it's over already. As for the rest of the game, Yuugakukan got a pair of runs to prevent the shutout, but fell 11-2.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Day 7, Game 1 - Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa) v Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
Today we will have the last of the 49 teams to take the field, and the start of some team's 2nd games.
First, we need to get the last couple to make their debut for 2015.
Toukaidai Sagami forced the early retirement (as in not reaching Koushien, he apparently had planned on retiring this year regardless) of Yokohama's Watanabe-kantoku. They were dominant throughout, the closest game being a 4-0 win over unknown Souyou, while blowing out Tier 3 schools such as Hiratsuka Gakuen and Nichidai Fujisawa. The team batted a mind-boggling 0.381 and 0.396 in their final 3 games.
Seikou Gakuin is making their 9th straight appearance, but it's much like Chiben Wakayama dominating a prefecture perhaps minus the track record at Koushien given their best result is the quarterfinals (4 out of 11 appearances). The run looks good until the final where they barely beat Nichidai Tohoku 3-2. They only batted 0.355 in their last 3 games, which is concerning considering how they dominate the prefecture in general.
I think Toukaidai Sagami has their act together this time around, and it'll be an uphill battle for Seikou Gakuin to get past the first game.
Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
C Satou Toshiya
CF Murasaki Ryuuma
RF Asami Takeshi
1B Nishiyama Shinnosuke
3B Kasahara Akira
SS Fujita Satoshi
LF Kamakura Makoto (#17)
2B Katsuma Takumi
P Morikubo Shouya
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
2B Chino Keijirou
CF Miyaji Kyouhei
SS Sugisaki Shigeki
RF Toyoda Hiroshi
1B Isoami Eito
C Nagakura Ren
3B Kawaji Seitarou
LF Takeuchi Daiki
P Yoshida Ryou(#11)
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First Pitch!
1st Inning
Seikou tries to get off to a good start with a 1-out single by Murasaki. But Asami grounds into the 3-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Morikubo was about to get a 1-2-3 inning until Sugisaki doubles to left. Toyoda follows that up with a single back up the middle. He steals 2nd without a throw and Seikou Gakuin already in a bind, but just needs one out.
Isoami zoomer past Kasahara and down the 3rd base line! That easily scores 2 on the double and Toukaidai Sagami is off and running.
After a walk to Takeuchi, Nagakura with a booing ball of his own to left. That's off the wall and 2 more runs score to make it 4-0 already.
In the end it's 8 batters, 4 runs, and perhaps another one-sided game from start to finish.
Bottom 3rd
Once again Toukaidai starting something with 2 down. Isoami beats Kasahara down the 3rd base line for yet another double.
Takeuchi singles to center and that scores Kasahara to make it 5-0 with Takeuchi taking 2nd on throw.
Nagakura singles past Isoami into left and that scores Takeuchi, 6-0.
They try for 7 when Kawachi singles to right, but Asami's throw is on the mark and Nagakura is thrown out.
To break
Toukaisagami is happy to speed up the game up 6. Seikou Gakuin is getting more and more baserunenrs, for instance when they had 1st/2nd with 1 out. But you just don't get the feeling they're going to score. It's probably because they have more free passes (3) than actual hits (2).
To end
There just was nothing there for Seikou Gakuin against relief starter Yoshida.If not for back-to-back hits from Katsunuma and Morikubo in the 8th, they'd be shut out.
After the 1st out in the 9th, Toukaidai puts in their ace Oagasawara. And goes 148 back-to-back. Fast yes, control? We won't get a big indicator unless it's really bad.
He gets the final 2 outs to finish the game. I'd have to look through and see if I can find records of who pitched the majority of time, but if Yoshida was sent out to save the ace, it worked.
First, we need to get the last couple to make their debut for 2015.
Toukaidai Sagami forced the early retirement (as in not reaching Koushien, he apparently had planned on retiring this year regardless) of Yokohama's Watanabe-kantoku. They were dominant throughout, the closest game being a 4-0 win over unknown Souyou, while blowing out Tier 3 schools such as Hiratsuka Gakuen and Nichidai Fujisawa. The team batted a mind-boggling 0.381 and 0.396 in their final 3 games.
Seikou Gakuin is making their 9th straight appearance, but it's much like Chiben Wakayama dominating a prefecture perhaps minus the track record at Koushien given their best result is the quarterfinals (4 out of 11 appearances). The run looks good until the final where they barely beat Nichidai Tohoku 3-2. They only batted 0.355 in their last 3 games, which is concerning considering how they dominate the prefecture in general.
I think Toukaidai Sagami has their act together this time around, and it'll be an uphill battle for Seikou Gakuin to get past the first game.
Seikou Gakuin (Fukushima)
C Satou Toshiya
CF Murasaki Ryuuma
RF Asami Takeshi
1B Nishiyama Shinnosuke
3B Kasahara Akira
SS Fujita Satoshi
LF Kamakura Makoto (#17)
2B Katsuma Takumi
P Morikubo Shouya
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
2B Chino Keijirou
CF Miyaji Kyouhei
SS Sugisaki Shigeki
RF Toyoda Hiroshi
1B Isoami Eito
C Nagakura Ren
3B Kawaji Seitarou
LF Takeuchi Daiki
P Yoshida Ryou(#11)
____________________________________________________________
08:00 - First Pitch!
1st Inning
Seikou tries to get off to a good start with a 1-out single by Murasaki. But Asami grounds into the 3-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Morikubo was about to get a 1-2-3 inning until Sugisaki doubles to left. Toyoda follows that up with a single back up the middle. He steals 2nd without a throw and Seikou Gakuin already in a bind, but just needs one out.
Isoami zoomer past Kasahara and down the 3rd base line! That easily scores 2 on the double and Toukaidai Sagami is off and running.
After a walk to Takeuchi, Nagakura with a booing ball of his own to left. That's off the wall and 2 more runs score to make it 4-0 already.
In the end it's 8 batters, 4 runs, and perhaps another one-sided game from start to finish.
Bottom 3rd
Once again Toukaidai starting something with 2 down. Isoami beats Kasahara down the 3rd base line for yet another double.
Takeuchi singles to center and that scores Kasahara to make it 5-0 with Takeuchi taking 2nd on throw.
Nagakura singles past Isoami into left and that scores Takeuchi, 6-0.
They try for 7 when Kawachi singles to right, but Asami's throw is on the mark and Nagakura is thrown out.
To break
Toukaisagami is happy to speed up the game up 6. Seikou Gakuin is getting more and more baserunenrs, for instance when they had 1st/2nd with 1 out. But you just don't get the feeling they're going to score. It's probably because they have more free passes (3) than actual hits (2).
To end
There just was nothing there for Seikou Gakuin against relief starter Yoshida.If not for back-to-back hits from Katsunuma and Morikubo in the 8th, they'd be shut out.
After the 1st out in the 9th, Toukaidai puts in their ace Oagasawara. And goes 148 back-to-back. Fast yes, control? We won't get a big indicator unless it's really bad.
He gets the final 2 outs to finish the game. I'd have to look through and see if I can find records of who pitched the majority of time, but if Yoshida was sent out to save the ace, it worked.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Day 6, Game 3 - Moriokadai Fuzoku (Iwate) v. Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
With conditions still sketchy, and the groundskeepers trying to dry the field as best they can, Moriokadai Fuzoku and Toukaidai Sagami take the field. Assuming we get under way...
Moriokadai Fuzoku didn't have to face anyone of note until the final when their rivals Hanamaki Higashi awaited. That game was the Matsumoto Yuuki show as he drove in 4 of the 5 runs and shut down the Hanamaki Higashi offense in a 5-4 win.
Surely he'll be the focus for the team, but the rest of the offense needs to step up if they want to make a deep run.
For Toukaidai Sagami, despite being in Kanagawa, their final happened in the semifinals where they defeated Yokohama 5-3 (for me ironically enough on the same day Nisshougakushadai Fuzoku won the Higashi Tokyo title).
With almost no competition to speak of, their numbers are severely inflated, something I would not think I would say for a metropolitan prefecture such as Kanagawa.
Does it mean that Moriokadai Fuzoku has a chance? Certainly, especially given the field conditions.
Moriokadai Fuzoku (Iwate)
LF Takahashi Ryou
RF Itou Wataru
CF Nabana Hiroki
P Matsumoto Yuuki
2B Endou Makoto
1B Makishima Kento
SS Tachinami Ukyuu
3B Shibuya Yuuya
C Kozaki Fuuga
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
LF Kusunoki Kenjirou
SS Sugisaki Shigeki
RF Toyoda Hiroshi
3B Hirayama Kai
1B Nanya Yuuki
C Nagakura Ren
2B Osakai Keiji (#13)
P Aoshima Ryouya
CF Miyaji Kyouhei
______________________________________________________
13:30 - Rain Delay
14:05 - Tarps come off
14:15 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
After that the inning stalls as Nakakura strikes out swinging and Osakai grounds to short for a 1-2-3 inning.
Top 5th
Moriokadai still struggling with Aoshima. Tachinami and Shibuya are out on 1 pitch each, with Shibuya hitting a hard liner to Nanya. Kozaki goes down swinging for yet another K for Aoshima.
Bottom 5th
Matsumoto yields his first walk to his counterpart to start the 5th. Miyaji doesn't bunt, but lines out to left.
And once again the inning stall. Kusunoki hits a ball back to Matsumoto who begins the inning-ending 1-6-3 double play!
So the game is moving fairly quickly, with teams picking off a run or two early on, but now the pitchers have taken the stage, and it'll be up to the batters to change that.
Top 6th
Aoshima too issues his first walk to Nabana with 2 down, which brings up Matsumoto.
He takes a ball the other way past a diving Hirayama down the line! Nabana heads to 3rd on the long single for Matsumoto and the douten run is 90 feet away!
Endou with a liner to left! Kusunoki has to leap to knock it down and Nabana scores to tie up the game at 2-2!
And now Aoshima hits Makishima to load the bases! Manrui for Tachinami!
Liner to right... over a leaping Makishima! Matsumoto will score! Endou right behind him! Tachinami with the gyakuten timely and Moriokadai leads 4-2!
And that'll be it for Aoshima. #10 Ogasawara comes in to relieve him on the hill, perhaps a couple of batters too late.
Ogasawara gives himself no room for error as he walks Shibuya to load the bases.
But thankfully for him he faces Kozaki, who winds up striking out for the 3rd time to end the inning. Damage done, could have been worse, but now Sagami will need to hit the sticks.
Bottom 6th
One down, Toyoda's hits a grounder to 3rd. Shibuya fires to 1st, but one hops Makishima and he can't make the pick! E5.
Monma-kantoku puts on the hit-and-run as Hirayama singles to left! Toyoda advances to 3rd and the douten runner is on base! Sekiguchi-kantoku calls for time.
Nanya grounder up midde! Tachinami takes it, runs to 2nd for 1, throws to first... double play! Just what the doctor ordered for Matsumoto and the side is retired!
That play was made even harder because Hirayama was just about in Tachinami's face as he was making the throw. Nice play!
Top 7th
Ogasawara trying to stabilize the situation retires the first two batters before a dribbler up the 1st base line by Nabana goes for a base hit as he beats the coverage. However, he comes right back to strike out Matsumoto to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
After 2 quick outs, Monma-kantoku decides to go with his next pitcher as #4 Chino comes in to hit for Ogasawara.
But Chino goes down on a slider and the side is retired.
Top 8th
#11 Yoshida will pick up the flag for Sagami on the mound. Throws just as hard as the others, but control has something to be desired.
Makishima's day is done at 1B as #15 Sasaki Akito hits for him, but goes down swinging in a clean frame from the 3rd reliever.
Bottom 8th
#13 Sasaki Yuuya come in the game for Akito to play 1B.
Sagami running out of time. Miyaji tries to work the count, but when backed into a corner pops up the curveball as Shibuya makes the catch.
Kusunoki tries to give a ball a ride, but instead flies out to center.
And Sugisaki having to swing the bat, instead watches the 3-2 fastball hit the inside edge for strike 3.
Top 9th
Shibuya lifts a ball to deep left. Kusunoki makes his way to the wall before making the catch.
Yoshida strikes out the next 2 batters to close out Moriokadai's ledger.
Bottom 9th
But now the offense needs 2 runs to keep their run alive.
Toyoda rolls a grounder to 3rd. Shibuya throws to 1st for the 1st out.
Hirayama swings at the first good pitch he sees, but lines it right to Takahashi for the 2nd out.
Last chance in Nanya....
He singles to center which at least brings up the douten run in Nagakura.
Matsumoto working in/out on Nagakura, but should be careful.
But not that careful! He's behind 3-1!
Gets strike 2 on outside corner....
BALL 4! Matsumoto nibbles too much and now the douten runner is on base, and the sayonara runner steps in in Osakai! #15 Kawamoto comes in to run for Nagakura.
Osakai liner to right! Nanya will score! Kawamoto held up at 3rd as the throw comes in! Matsumoto too predictable and now the douten runner in 90 feet away!
Monma-kantoku sends out #12 Nagai to hit for Yoshida. Can they complete the comeback?
Grounder to 2nd! Endou has it! Throw to 1st, out! Yuuya raises his arms in the air and Matsumoto gives a guts pose as another Toukaidai school falls! Tohoku power prevails as Moriokadai Fuzoku holds on for the 4-3 win!
It's strange to see Sagami using a battery of pitchers for their staff, but their problem is like the golf saying "drive for show, putt for dough"...
The combined staff struck out 15 batters on the day. Yet a lack of control led to the 3-run 6th and evenually a loss.
Throwing fast is fine, but you have to be able to control it or you're lost.
Matsumoto for most of the game was like that. But in the 9th, he started nibbling, trying to get the batters to get themselves out. If he wants to take that next step, he just needs to play his own game. Otherwise today's result could have been much different.
Moriokadai Fuzoku didn't have to face anyone of note until the final when their rivals Hanamaki Higashi awaited. That game was the Matsumoto Yuuki show as he drove in 4 of the 5 runs and shut down the Hanamaki Higashi offense in a 5-4 win.
Surely he'll be the focus for the team, but the rest of the offense needs to step up if they want to make a deep run.
For Toukaidai Sagami, despite being in Kanagawa, their final happened in the semifinals where they defeated Yokohama 5-3 (for me ironically enough on the same day Nisshougakushadai Fuzoku won the Higashi Tokyo title).
With almost no competition to speak of, their numbers are severely inflated, something I would not think I would say for a metropolitan prefecture such as Kanagawa.
Does it mean that Moriokadai Fuzoku has a chance? Certainly, especially given the field conditions.
Moriokadai Fuzoku (Iwate)
LF Takahashi Ryou
RF Itou Wataru
CF Nabana Hiroki
P Matsumoto Yuuki
2B Endou Makoto
1B Makishima Kento
SS Tachinami Ukyuu
3B Shibuya Yuuya
C Kozaki Fuuga
Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
LF Kusunoki Kenjirou
SS Sugisaki Shigeki
RF Toyoda Hiroshi
3B Hirayama Kai
1B Nanya Yuuki
C Nagakura Ren
2B Osakai Keiji (#13)
P Aoshima Ryouya
CF Miyaji Kyouhei
______________________________________________________
13:30 - Rain Delay
14:05 - Tarps come off
14:15 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
With a rain delay like this, I think it helps out the pitchers more, so it may take a little while for the offenses to warm up.
Aoshima just blows a fastball by Takahashi, follows that up by pulling the string on a 100s slow curve that Itou is way out in front of.
And Nabana goes down looking on a 3-2 fastball on the outside corner to strike out the side.
Bottom 1st
Grounder to 1st by Kusunoki goes off Makisima into right! Kusunoki runs into Makishima rounding 1st! He's calling for interference, the umpires confer, but do nothing.
Hit-and-run! Sugisaki grounds to 2nd, and Endou's play is to 1st. One down.
Toyoda drive to right! Itou running back towards the foul pole, but it drops in right near him! Kusunoki, having to wait to see if Itou would catch it goes to 3rd.
Grounder to short! Tachinami makes a great diving stop, throws to 1st... AHHHHHHH!!!!!
His throw is high and into the camera well! Kusunoki already scored, Toyoda is awarded home and it's 2-0 Sagami!
Nagakura goes down looking to end the inning, but the conditions possibly already playing a factor in the game.
Top 2nd
Matsumoto avoids the K, but flies out to left.
Endou with a drive to left. Takahashi running back towards the foul pole, running... jumps into the padding!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Endou cuts into the lead with a wind aided HR (aided as in blowing towards the foul pole) and Moriokadai cuts into the lead 2-1!
Aoshima proceeds to strike out Makishima and Tachinami to retire the side, 5 K's already, but also 1 HR given up.
Bottom 2nd
Osakai twirls and needs to catch himself after swinging and missing on a slider away for the first out.
And after Aoshima checks his swing into the ball and hits it back to Matsumoto, Miyaji strikes out swinging as well for Matsumoto's 3rd K.
Top 3rd
Aoshima though pulls away in that category with his 6th K, a curve that Shibuya is way out in front of.
Just to change things up, he throws the slider away to Kozaki and he has 7 Ks.
Takahashi is finally able to wait on the curve and poke it to left for Moriokadai's first base hit.
Aoshima throwsa a pitch towards the on deck circle on the 3rd base dugout. Yeah, probably slipped there.
Doesn't matter, Itou fooled, can't check his swing on the shoulder high fastball, and 8 of Aoshima's 9 outs have been via the K.
Bottom 3rd
Kusunoki with his 2nd hit in as many ABs with a liner to right. Sugisaki bunts him over.
This time though, Matsumoto shuts it down. Toyoda goes down swinging, and then Hirayama grounds back to Matsumoto to retire the side.
Top 4th
Nabana gets a hold of Aohima's curve and sends it to center ! Nabana running back, but it's off the fence! He's in with a leadoff double!
Matsumoto's timing off on Aoshima's slow curve and hit a sky high fly that Kusunoki catches for the 1st out.
Endou also looks to have gotten under a curve, but even then Miyaji has to go back to field it.
Makishima gives it one more try, but he flies out to Toyoda and they'll have to head back out to the field.
Bottom 4th
Nanya opens the frame with a single to center. But he tries to take off to center, and Kozaki fires to 2nd and guns him down.Aoshima just blows a fastball by Takahashi, follows that up by pulling the string on a 100s slow curve that Itou is way out in front of.
And Nabana goes down looking on a 3-2 fastball on the outside corner to strike out the side.
Bottom 1st
Grounder to 1st by Kusunoki goes off Makisima into right! Kusunoki runs into Makishima rounding 1st! He's calling for interference, the umpires confer, but do nothing.
Hit-and-run! Sugisaki grounds to 2nd, and Endou's play is to 1st. One down.
Toyoda drive to right! Itou running back towards the foul pole, but it drops in right near him! Kusunoki, having to wait to see if Itou would catch it goes to 3rd.
Grounder to short! Tachinami makes a great diving stop, throws to 1st... AHHHHHHH!!!!!
His throw is high and into the camera well! Kusunoki already scored, Toyoda is awarded home and it's 2-0 Sagami!
Nagakura goes down looking to end the inning, but the conditions possibly already playing a factor in the game.
Top 2nd
Matsumoto avoids the K, but flies out to left.
Endou with a drive to left. Takahashi running back towards the foul pole, running... jumps into the padding!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Endou cuts into the lead with a wind aided HR (aided as in blowing towards the foul pole) and Moriokadai cuts into the lead 2-1!
Aoshima proceeds to strike out Makishima and Tachinami to retire the side, 5 K's already, but also 1 HR given up.
Bottom 2nd
Osakai twirls and needs to catch himself after swinging and missing on a slider away for the first out.
And after Aoshima checks his swing into the ball and hits it back to Matsumoto, Miyaji strikes out swinging as well for Matsumoto's 3rd K.
Top 3rd
Aoshima though pulls away in that category with his 6th K, a curve that Shibuya is way out in front of.
Just to change things up, he throws the slider away to Kozaki and he has 7 Ks.
Takahashi is finally able to wait on the curve and poke it to left for Moriokadai's first base hit.
Aoshima throwsa a pitch towards the on deck circle on the 3rd base dugout. Yeah, probably slipped there.
Doesn't matter, Itou fooled, can't check his swing on the shoulder high fastball, and 8 of Aoshima's 9 outs have been via the K.
Bottom 3rd
Kusunoki with his 2nd hit in as many ABs with a liner to right. Sugisaki bunts him over.
This time though, Matsumoto shuts it down. Toyoda goes down swinging, and then Hirayama grounds back to Matsumoto to retire the side.
Top 4th
Nabana gets a hold of Aohima's curve and sends it to center ! Nabana running back, but it's off the fence! He's in with a leadoff double!
Matsumoto's timing off on Aoshima's slow curve and hit a sky high fly that Kusunoki catches for the 1st out.
Endou also looks to have gotten under a curve, but even then Miyaji has to go back to field it.
Makishima gives it one more try, but he flies out to Toyoda and they'll have to head back out to the field.
Bottom 4th
After that the inning stalls as Nakakura strikes out swinging and Osakai grounds to short for a 1-2-3 inning.
Top 5th
Moriokadai still struggling with Aoshima. Tachinami and Shibuya are out on 1 pitch each, with Shibuya hitting a hard liner to Nanya. Kozaki goes down swinging for yet another K for Aoshima.
Bottom 5th
Matsumoto yields his first walk to his counterpart to start the 5th. Miyaji doesn't bunt, but lines out to left.
And once again the inning stall. Kusunoki hits a ball back to Matsumoto who begins the inning-ending 1-6-3 double play!
So the game is moving fairly quickly, with teams picking off a run or two early on, but now the pitchers have taken the stage, and it'll be up to the batters to change that.
Top 6th
Aoshima too issues his first walk to Nabana with 2 down, which brings up Matsumoto.
He takes a ball the other way past a diving Hirayama down the line! Nabana heads to 3rd on the long single for Matsumoto and the douten run is 90 feet away!
Endou with a liner to left! Kusunoki has to leap to knock it down and Nabana scores to tie up the game at 2-2!
And now Aoshima hits Makishima to load the bases! Manrui for Tachinami!
Liner to right... over a leaping Makishima! Matsumoto will score! Endou right behind him! Tachinami with the gyakuten timely and Moriokadai leads 4-2!
And that'll be it for Aoshima. #10 Ogasawara comes in to relieve him on the hill, perhaps a couple of batters too late.
Ogasawara gives himself no room for error as he walks Shibuya to load the bases.
But thankfully for him he faces Kozaki, who winds up striking out for the 3rd time to end the inning. Damage done, could have been worse, but now Sagami will need to hit the sticks.
Bottom 6th
One down, Toyoda's hits a grounder to 3rd. Shibuya fires to 1st, but one hops Makishima and he can't make the pick! E5.
Monma-kantoku puts on the hit-and-run as Hirayama singles to left! Toyoda advances to 3rd and the douten runner is on base! Sekiguchi-kantoku calls for time.
Nanya grounder up midde! Tachinami takes it, runs to 2nd for 1, throws to first... double play! Just what the doctor ordered for Matsumoto and the side is retired!
That play was made even harder because Hirayama was just about in Tachinami's face as he was making the throw. Nice play!
Top 7th
Ogasawara trying to stabilize the situation retires the first two batters before a dribbler up the 1st base line by Nabana goes for a base hit as he beats the coverage. However, he comes right back to strike out Matsumoto to end the inning.
Bottom 7th
After 2 quick outs, Monma-kantoku decides to go with his next pitcher as #4 Chino comes in to hit for Ogasawara.
But Chino goes down on a slider and the side is retired.
Top 8th
#11 Yoshida will pick up the flag for Sagami on the mound. Throws just as hard as the others, but control has something to be desired.
Makishima's day is done at 1B as #15 Sasaki Akito hits for him, but goes down swinging in a clean frame from the 3rd reliever.
Bottom 8th
#13 Sasaki Yuuya come in the game for Akito to play 1B.
Sagami running out of time. Miyaji tries to work the count, but when backed into a corner pops up the curveball as Shibuya makes the catch.
Kusunoki tries to give a ball a ride, but instead flies out to center.
And Sugisaki having to swing the bat, instead watches the 3-2 fastball hit the inside edge for strike 3.
Top 9th
Shibuya lifts a ball to deep left. Kusunoki makes his way to the wall before making the catch.
Yoshida strikes out the next 2 batters to close out Moriokadai's ledger.
Bottom 9th
But now the offense needs 2 runs to keep their run alive.
Toyoda rolls a grounder to 3rd. Shibuya throws to 1st for the 1st out.
Hirayama swings at the first good pitch he sees, but lines it right to Takahashi for the 2nd out.
Last chance in Nanya....
He singles to center which at least brings up the douten run in Nagakura.
Matsumoto working in/out on Nagakura, but should be careful.
But not that careful! He's behind 3-1!
Gets strike 2 on outside corner....
BALL 4! Matsumoto nibbles too much and now the douten runner is on base, and the sayonara runner steps in in Osakai! #15 Kawamoto comes in to run for Nagakura.
Osakai liner to right! Nanya will score! Kawamoto held up at 3rd as the throw comes in! Matsumoto too predictable and now the douten runner in 90 feet away!
Monma-kantoku sends out #12 Nagai to hit for Yoshida. Can they complete the comeback?
Grounder to 2nd! Endou has it! Throw to 1st, out! Yuuya raises his arms in the air and Matsumoto gives a guts pose as another Toukaidai school falls! Tohoku power prevails as Moriokadai Fuzoku holds on for the 4-3 win!
It's strange to see Sagami using a battery of pitchers for their staff, but their problem is like the golf saying "drive for show, putt for dough"...
The combined staff struck out 15 batters on the day. Yet a lack of control led to the 3-run 6th and evenually a loss.
Throwing fast is fine, but you have to be able to control it or you're lost.
Matsumoto for most of the game was like that. But in the 9th, he started nibbling, trying to get the batters to get themselves out. If he wants to take that next step, he just needs to play his own game. Otherwise today's result could have been much different.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)