高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

Lucky Toyama Dai-ichi who managed just 2 hits, but the win, will face off against a Hiroshima Shinjyou squad who came back in the 9th and won in extras. I'm not sure Toyama Dai-ichi can survive another game like that.

Toyama Dai-ichi (Toyama)
CF Houdatsu Hiroki (宝達 洋樹)
SS Sasaki Hiromi (佐々木 拓海)
2B Iwaki Shunki (岩城 竣貴)
C Hazama Yuuki (狭間 悠希)
3B Kawahara Taisei (河原 大成)
RF Yamashita Ryuuya (山下 瑠也)
1B Matsui Taiga (松井 大駆)
LF Taniguchi Taisei (谷口 大成)
P Nakatsuhara Genki (中津原 元輝)
Hiroshima Shinjyou (Hiroshima)
2B Sugimura Hiroyoshi (杉村 泰嘉)
SS Tanaka Ryouta (田中 亮太)
RF Kitatani Shougo (北谷 奨吾)
LF Toyooka Takato (豊岡 稜人)
3B (14)Tanaka Masanori (田中 政範)
1B (5)Furukawa Tomoki (古川 智也)
CF Kawauchi Kyouei (河内 恭英)
P Hori Mizuki (堀 瑞輝)
C Furumoto Kouki (古本 幸希)

That first game had a lot of promise in the first half that wound up in the end wasted. Our last game of round 1 features to Hokushinetsu teams in Chuuetsu and Toyama Dai-ichi.

Chuuetsu (Niigata)
SS Saitou Takaya (斉藤 隆弥)
CF Oogoshi Akira (大越 晃)
RF Sakai Takuma (坂井 琢真)
1B Nishiyama Yuuta (西山 侑汰)
LF Kushida Daichi (串田 大地)
3B Sakagami Kenji (坂上 顕士)
P Imamura Gou (今村 豪)
2B Okada Takuma (岡田 拓磨)
C Hirokawa Kensuke (広川 健介)

Toyama Dai-ichi (Toyama)
CF Houdatsu Hiroki (宝達 洋樹)
SS Sasaki Hiromi (佐々木 拓海)
2B Iwaki Shunki (岩城 竣貴)
C Hazama Yuuki (狭間 悠希)
3B Kawahara Taisei (河原 大成)
RF Yamashita Ryuuya (山下 瑠也)
1B Matsui Taiga (松井 大駆)
LF Taniguchi Taisei (谷口 大成)
P Nakatsuhara Genki (中津原 元輝)
____________________________________________________________

11:55 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Nakatsuhara gets a bit of a bad break when Oogoshi's pop fly to shallow left is almost caught by a diving Taniguchi, but the ground causes the fumble and it shoots into foul territory for a double.

And while the control isn't there to start, he strikes Sakai and Nishiyama looking on two well placed fastballs. one away, and one inside (Nishiyama thought he had ball 4).

Bottom 1st
For his part, Imamura did very well hitting the edges of the zone (mostly away) and inducing 3 routine groundouts to start his game.

Top 2nd
Nakatsuhara is perhaps still leaving pitches too inside the zone because Chuuetsu is making hard contact.

Kushida almost sneaks a ball through the 6-hole until Sasaki runs it down and fires to 1st for the out.

Sakagami lines a ball right to Iwaki before Imamura singles through the left side.

However, Honda-kantoku sends the game in motion and Imamura is gunned down at 2nd.

Bottom 2nd
An error on Okada when he can't pickup cleanly a grounder gives Toyama Dai-ichi a leadoff runner.

But after a bunt, Yamashita chases a terrible fastball away, and Asama gets himself run down trying to steal 3rd of all bases.

Top 3rd
Not really super impressed with Nakatsuhara. Does throw hard, but locating an issue.

Still, he's not missing dead red, and gets his first 1-2-3 inning on 3 routine infield outs.

Bottom 3rd
Imamura looked as good of a pitcher so far, though perhaps a little of it is because Toyama Dai-ichi's offense isn't great. He's not hitting his locations consistently, but Toyama isn't making good contact either when he does miss. As a result, the bottom of the order is retired without much fuss.

4th-5th Innings
As the game continues it seems both pitches have a good hold on their game. They're not missing their spots (which is usually a ring inside the strike zone, and the batters are obliging by having to swing at pitches they don't look comfortable in hitting. And so 0's are put on the board all the way to the break.

6th Inning
Now Chuuetsu gets another opportunity to score after Okada gets a base hit to right and is bunted over.

Saitou has a chance to drive him in, but after several ball down and away, he gets tied up on one up and in and grounds out.

As for Oogoshi, he falls victim to a fastball right on the corner down and in.

On the flipside, Imamura continues to go along swimmingly getting his 4th 1-2-3 inning without issue. This includes getting PH #13 Motose out - who was hitting for Nakatsuhara.

7th Inning
In steps #10 Mori who immediately strikes out Sakai on 3 straight pitches. He had Nishiyama down 1-2 before he gets around an inside fastball, shooting it past Kawahara for a base hit.

But Kushida looks as silly as Sakai, chasing a ball clearly out of the zone.

And the half inning finally ends with a thud as Nishiyama is caught stealing 2nd on a delayed steal.

Kushida's AB must've been so bad, he was replaced by #16 Saitou in the field (kidding).

I still don't see the Toyama Dai-ichi batters having much of an idea what to do other than find the first pitch you like and swing away. That results in 2 quick outs before Imamura walks Iwaki.

Then he moves in the scoring position when a ball gets away from Hirokawa... who proceeds to draw his own walk.

Kawahara attacks the first pitch right after, prolly thinking "he's going to establish a strike here". And he's right...

But he lines out to Saitou and that's that.

8th Inning
Chuuetsu, for all Imamura is doing, is not helping him at all. Sakagami gets a base hit to center, but when they try the hit and run, Imamura strikes out, and Hazama throws out Sakagami for a double play of sorts.

And all Okada can do is stand there and then walk to the dugout after looking at a fastball down the middle.

One down and Matsui hits a ball to 2nd. Okada flubs it, and Matsui is on...

... via an error.

Taniguchi looks to lay down a bunt, but is patient and instead draws a walk! Big chance for Toyama Dai-ichi if they could just get a hit!

Mori perhaps a bit too eager, swings on the first pitch and pops out.

And now Houdatsu walks! It's manrui, and Imamura could give up a run without a hit. He could actually pitch a no-hitter and lose!

NOOOOO! ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!!!

Sasaki with a laser comebacker and somehow Imamura snags it out of the air!! 3 out!!!

The no-hitter lives!!

9th Inning
And yet, his offense quickly goes down in order and he has to preserve the draw. And if he wants that no-hitter, it'll have to be in enchousen.

One down, and Hazama drives a ball to right center! Oogoshi chases after it... but he won't get there! That'll fall in for a double!

Not only is the no-hitter gone, but now Imamura has to fight for his team's life!!

OH NO!!!!!

Kawahara takes a ball the other way to left center!! That's a base hit! Hazama is going to score, and just like that it's all over! Toyama Dai-ichi saves it 2 hits for last and wins 1-0!

Ugh, it's obviously crushing for Chuuetsu and Imamura most of all. There's no way you can put all that into words. All you can do is see Imamura rightly inconsolable. And even in the interview he's trying to hold the tears back.

There's just nothing you can do. These things are always bound to happen. Just do what you could. Give the guy a hand, and let him know you respected all he did.

Well, with that completely... um... conflicting end to that game, we come to our final matchup.

Toyama Dai-ichi has gotten here by defeating a weaker Akita Shougyou team, then routing Kisaradzu Sougou late.  Again though they did not pull starter Miyamoto for that game and as a result #10 Ishikawa will be starting.

Their offense seems to come in bunches as they can string hits together as if they can feel the momentum.

For Nobeoka Gakuen, they followed a close 4-2 win over Jiyuugaoka with a rout of first timers Seiai 10-0. The two pitcher system seems to be working for Shigemoto-kantoku, but Nasu went 8 innings and one wonders how many innings he can go before giving way.

Except that they too are changing pitchers. #11 Ide, who finished the game, will be starting this one.

But both teams are somewhere between their first and second games, I just don't know where.

Toyama Dai-ichi (Toyama)
CF Hirata Masazumi
RF Nishida Yuuki
3B Kuroda Masataka
LF Kouyama Kazuhiro
SS Nakamura Jyunka
1B Fujii Shintarou
C Takamori Hiroyuki
2B Terasaki Hikaru
P Ishikawa Tatsuya (#10)

Nobeoka Gakuen (Miyazaki)
2B Kajiwara Shouto
SS Matsumoto Masaya
CF Sakamoto Ryougo
RF Iwashige Akihito
LF Hamada Shintarou
1B Nozaki Kouji (#13)
3B Watarai Akihiro
C Yanase Naoya
P Ide Ichirou (#11)

____________________________________________________________

16:30 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Two quick outs from Ide as Hirata grounds to 2nd and Nishida pops up to Nozaki.

And Kuroda goes down on a well placed fastball inside by Ide!

Bottom 1st
Kajiwara with grounder up the middle, Terasaki is there, but he boots it and the leadoff runner is on.
Matsumoto bunts him along for Sakamoto.

Uh oh, he walks Sakamoto on 4 straight.

But Iwashige rolls one to 3rd!  Kuroda steps on 3rd, goes to 1st... double play! Nice work by Kuroda and the side is retired!

Top 2nd
Kouyama liner down the left field line fair! He's in with a leadoff double!

So about Ide, he's a sidearm pitcher with a fastball in the low 130s and a slider(?) in the 110s. He's been throwing predominantly fastballs, so I haven't really seen a whole lot.

Nakamura moves him to 3rd with a grounder to 2nd.

Fujii with a fly ball to left! Hamada under it as Kouyama sets to tag up.

Coming! Throw home... not in time! Toyama Dai-ichi leads 1-0!

Ah, now Takamori gets hit in his arm.  He's a bit hurt, but works his way to 1st.

Terasaki with a shot to the left side! Matsumoto ranging, makes the great diving stop! Throw to 1st...

Beats a diving Terasaki for the 3rd out!But a leadoff double by Kouyama gives the first timers the lead!

Bottom 2nd
Hamada on a full count, hits grounder past a diving Nakamura into center. No bunting from Shigemoto-kantoku.

That's fine as Nozaki gets ahead 3-1.

But he hits a fly ball to right which Nishida secures.

Now Shigemoto-kantoku has Watarai bunt him along for Yanase, who has quite a bit of success hitting in the 8-hole.

Ishikawa shuts the door though as Yanase grounds to 2nd to end the inning!

Top 3rd
Ishikawa probably not known for his hitting as he goes down on 3 straight.

Hirata grounder to right side, Terasaki makes a great diving stop and throw to 1st for the 2nd out.

And it's a quick inning fro Ide as he retires the side in just 6 pitches!

Bottom 3rd
Ide with a grounder past a lunging Kuroda for a base hit!

Well, Ishikawa throws a fastball in the high 120s. There's also seeming something in the high 110s, a slider in the lower 110s, and then a slow curve in the 100s.

Kajiwara grounder to Nakamura! He goes to 2nd for one, but Kajiwara beats the throw to 1st.

Hit-and-run! Matsumoto bloops one to center! Hirata charging, but it falls in! Kajiwara only gets to 2nd worried about the catch.

Sakamoto singles back up the middle!  Kajiwara being sent home!! Throw from Hirata...

Apparently he has a direct line to home plate because that throw hits Takamori on a dime and Kajiwara is meat at the plate! 2 out!

Iwashige with a deep drive down the right side, but Nishida is there for the catch! Side retired with no damage!

Top 4th
Ide now showing off the slider to to the opposition as Kuroda and Kouyama become his 3rd and 4th K victims.

Nakamura, not wanting to suffer the same fate swings on the first pitch and flies out to center.

Bottom 4th
Meanwhile Ishikawa looks to be working up and down in the zone and it seems to be working as neither Hamada, Nozaki or Watarai can get the ball out of the infield.

Top 5th
#3 Tanaka comes in for Nozaki and takes over at 1B.

Fujii with a ball to deep right! Iwashige running back plays it off the wall! Fujii rounding 2nd, going for 3! Relay from Kajiwara...

OUT!!!!!

It's a perfect relay to get Fujii and prevent a good chance for Toyama Dai-ichi!

Takamori with a grounder to the left side, Ide lets it go! Matsumoto with it, but his throw is high!

Ah, Ide gets helped out as Terasaki flies out to center on the first pitch.

And it looks like ace Miyamoto will enter as #13 Sawamura hits for Ishikawa. He does down swinging and the inning is over.

Bottom 5th
Kouna comes in for PH Sawamura to take the hill.

Right off the bat Yanase can't check his swing and is called out by the umpire.

Ide too goes down to the slider.

Kajiwara with a soft liner, Terasaki stumbles, but makes the catch to retire the side.

We hit the break with both teams getting chances here and there but otherwise we're stuck in a pitching duel to end the quarterfinals!

Top 6th
One down and Nishida hits a ball to short. Matsumoto fields, throws to 1st... wide! It gets by Tanaka and Nishida is safe at 1st!

Eh? Shigemoto-kantoku decides now to put in ace Yokose. Seems a bit odd timing, as Ide didn't look like he was in trouble yet.

First pitch Kuroda liner to center! Sakamoto has to stretch up but he makes the catch.

But then Yokose walks Kouyama on 4 straight which gets Shigemoto-kantoku to call a quick conference.

That seems to help as he gets Nakamura to ground to short to end the inning.

Bottom 6th
Matsumoto with the drag bunt up the first base line! Fujii hast to charge in, goes for the swipe tag, misses! Leadoff single for Nobeoka!

Sakamoto groudner to 3rd! Kuroda goes to 2nd, but Terasaki stumbles covering 2nd and can't secure the ball! All safe!

Cleanup batter Iwashige bunts the runner along.

SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They go for the sqeeze but Hamada fouls it off!

Hitting!

Hamada with a ball to right that gets by the defense! It goes all the way to the wall as Hamada slides in with a 2-RBI triple! Nobeoka Gakuen takes the 2-1 lead!!

SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This time they do it as Tanaka puts down the safety squeeze! There's no play home and Nakamura has to go to 1st for the out! 3-1 Nobeoka Gakuen!

Watarai goes down swinging, but the 1st timers will have their work cut out for them.

Top 7th
Fujii with liner to left center, Sakamoto sprinting over lunges...

But he misses it as he tumbles! It goes to the wall as Hamada has to cover! Fujii's in with a double!

Now Yokose walks Takamori and there's 2 runners on now for Terasaki. He's not bunting.

Single through the opening in short! Fujii coming around and the throw home is cutoff! It's 3-2, runners on 1st and 2nd still with no out!

Miyamoto flies out to deep center for the first out, but Takamori moves to 3rd. Douten run 90 feet away.

Yokose gets key 2nd out as Hirata gets under a fastball and pops out to Kajiwara!

Nishida, ball to the left side will get through the infield! Takamori scores and we're all tied at 3-3!

Not for long! Kuroda lines a ball to left!  Terasaki rounding 3rd, throw from Iwashige... not in time! Toyama Dai-ichi has taken the lead back at 4-3!!

Kouyama goes down swinging on a full count fastball, but we're right back to where we started with Toyama Dai-ichi holding a 1-run lead!!

Bottom 7th
Hoping for a lucky 7 of their own, Miyamoto tries to squash it as Yanase goes down swinging on the slider for the first out.

Yanase chopper to short, Kouyama has to wait for it, throw to 1st... high, and it pulls Fujii off the bag!

Hit-and run! But Kajiwara misses! Takamori goes to 2nd and Yanase is out for the double play!

Top 8th
Tamura and Fujii are retired quickly enough, but Takamori works the count full before striking out swinging on the slow curve.

Bottom 8th
Things not easy for each pitcher as Miyamoto walks Matsmoto.

Shigemoto-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, and still manages to advance the runner despite grounding to short.

Down 1-2, Iwashige works count full, fights off 3 pitches..

Gets the slider and lines it down the 3rd base line, fair!! Matsumoto scores and we're tied once again this time at 4-4!

Wild pitch from Miyamoto and Iwashige takes 3rd! Now a sac fly can give Nobeoka the lead again!

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

Miyamoto goes inside on Hamada and gets the K!

Up to Tanaka now...

Miyamoto gets out of it! Tanaka grounds to 2nd and we head to the last inning of regulation tied at 4-4!!

Top 9th
We're going back and forth here as Terasaki singles to left.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wild pitch from Yokose sends the gyakuten run to 2nd! Shigemoto-kantoku callse for time.

Miyamoto ball off end of bat, back up the middle past Yokose into center! Terasaki at 3B and Toyama Dai-ichi threatens again!

Fly to left! Hamada under it, caught, but Terasaki doesn't go!

And now Shigemoto-kantoku pulls Yokose for #10 Nasu!!

Grounder to 2nd! Kajiwara goes to 2nd for one, Matsumoto to 1st... Double play!!

Ah, what is this?!

There was a practice ball that went into the field of play. The LF umpire called time, but it wasn't seen by the home plate umpire! They discuss and call it a no play!

Count 2-0 to Nishida, Nasu fires one, two... and 3 strikes as Nishida swings and misses!

Nasu pissed throws 2 more strikes to Kuroda.

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

Nasu gets it all himself as he fires a pitch on the outside corner to retire the side!!

Bottom 9th
#14 Usuda to hit for Watarai, chops one back to Miyamoto for the 1st out.

Yanase grounder to the left side, Kuroda with a great diving stop, stands, fires to 1st... 2 out!

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

As pissed as Nasu is he still can't hit Miyamoto's slider! He goes down and we're off to enchousen... again!!

Top 10th
Nasu on a roll, Kouyama with a "I can't believe I swung at that" face as he chases the slider for out #1.

Nakamura with his first hit, a single back up the middle.

Fujii grounder back up middle. Matsumoto flips to Kajiwara for 1, but Fujii beats out throw to keep the inning alive.

Takamori grounder to 3rd! Usuda with the great stop, throws to 2nd... gets Fujii to end the inning!

Bottom 10th
Miyamoto matching Nasu batter for batter, induces Kajiwara and Matsumoto to ground out.

Sakamoto pops out to Fujii and we're to the 11th!

Top 11th
Nasu starts off by getting Terasaki to hit a comebacker for the 1st out.

Miyamoto with a deep drive to center! Sakamoto backing up, backing up!

Makes the catch right at the fence for the 2nd ou!

And Hirata lazily flies to left and now Toyama Dai-ichi has to hold serve!

Bottom 11th
One down, Hamada singles to right!

And now Tanaka singles through the right side as well! Shigemoto-kantoku calls time...

Grounder to 2nd! Nakamura goes to 2nd for one, NO! It's safe! Throw to 1st,

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nakamura throws it away at 1st! Hamada comes in to score and Nobeoka Gakuen has the sayonara victory 5-4 in 11 innings!!

But man, you see how hard Toyama Dai-ichi is taking it, and it's understandable. The team was in their first appearance at Koushien, they were the first team from Toyama to reach the Best 8 since 1973, and could've been the first team to reach the Best 4. They certainly fought the entire game and had like Nobeoka Gakuen left everything on the field. They were 6 outs away from moving on, and wound up on the wrong end. Sadly it was not to be - and it doesn't make the loss hurt any less.

For Nobeoka Gakuen, they certainly fought, and perhaps that reversed double play turned on a switch on both sides because both teams wanted to win this on their own merit. And they did.

So now they advance to the semifinals where they will face a game Hanamaki Higashi squad. Rest up boys, your job isn't done yet!

Well, that was unexpected. Maebashi Ikuei certainly looking like a strong team, but everyone realizing now that this half of the bracket could be had! And this winner doesn't have to face Maebashi Ikuei (yet).

Toyama Dai-ichi had a rather easy 5-0 win over Akita Shougyou, relentlessly bunching hits together to score their runs. Meanwhile ace Miyamoto scattering 7 hits while striking out 10 in a shutout effort. But Akita Shougyou easily looked like the weakest of the Tohoku teams this year and for most of the game you had the feeling that they were never quite in it.

For Kisaradzu Sougou they are now without ace Chiba having suffered an injury in the prefecturals, and could only pitch to one batter versus Nishiwaki Kougyou.

Fortunately for Gojima-kantoku, he has 4 pitchers left at his disposal. #10 Oikawa who relieved Chiba, #11 Aoki Kenta, #12 Nasu Yuuta and #13 Taguchi Kouichirou. He may need to call on all of them before time is up.

Another concern is the offense, 7 runs in one inning against Ueda Nishi, and then 3 runs early against Nishiwaki Kougyou and a decent ace in Outa.

Hopefully this will be a close game unlike the other ones so far.

Toyama Dai-ichi (Toyama)
CF Hirata Masazumi
RF Nishida Yuuki
3B Kuroda Masataka
LF Kouyama Kazuhiro
SS Nakamura Jyunka
1B Fujii Shintarou
2B Terasaki Hikaru
C Takamori Hiroyuki
P Miyamoto Kouji

Kisaradzu Sougou (Chiba)
CF Azuma Tatsuya
3B Okada Yuuhei
LF Saruta Mizuki
RF Tanida Ryou
SS Himura Atsushi
C Akiba Kouta
2B Sakasai Shou
1B Sagae Kaito
P Oikawa Shouta (#10)

____________________________________________________________

15:45 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
So I didn't notice this but Oikawa throws predominantly sliders! Almost 70%!!

Hirata late on a fastball after being fed diet of said sliders and grounds to 3rd.

Nishida waiting for Oikawa to put pitches in the strike zone, draws a full count walk.

Kuroda trying to pull an outside slider, has it get caught up in the hamakaze, Tanida has to charge in but makes sliding catch.

Kouyama also is patient at the plate, works the count full too. But he goes full extension to reach a slider outside and weakly flies out to right. It'll be interesting to see how throwing a lot of sliders will go on 1 day's rest.

Bottom 1st
Azuma slicer down the left field line, fair! Goes to the wall for a leadoff double. Chance for Kisaradzu early!

Ball gets away from Takamori a little, fires to 2nd??!

Azuma is caught off the bag looking at the play and is thrown out diving back to the bag! Oh, that's a brain fart in the opening frame...

Miyamoto taking full advantage getting Okada to chase a slider.

Saruta grounds to short on the first pitch and the side is retired!

Top 2nd
Tamura drawing already Oikawa's 2nd walk as Oikawa missing high with his sliders

Fujii showing bunt, but takes two more high sliders. Will he try to work a walk with Oikawa missing early?

Takes a slider down and in, bit of a delayed strike call. And another slider Oikawa puts in for a strike.

But he still winds up walking Fujii! 2 on, no down!

Takamori lays down the bunt this time and moves the runners along for Terazaki.

And now to Terazaki, Oikawa throws fastballs.

SQUEEZE!!!!

But Terazaki lines it right to a charging Sagae! He goes to 2nd and the inning is over!

Bottom 2nd
Miyamoto getting assists from the opposition. Tanida swings on first pitch, grounds to 1st.

Himura watches 3 pitches, gets behind 1-2, then swings at slider out of zone for K.

Akiba with a 2-out hit back up the middle, but Sakasai after also watching himself go down 0-2, chases fastball out of zone for the 3rd out.

Top 3rd
Looks like Oikawa is mixing in more fastballs to keep the opposition honest.

However, Miyamoto finds the gap through the right side and the lineup turns over to Hirata.

Hirata lays down the bunt, but a charging Okada elects to go to 2nd and he gets Miyamoto for the out!

Mixing the fastballs in for strikes in is helping as Nishida now chases the slider having 2 strikes on him.

Kuroda-kantoku pressing action, sends Hirata. But Akiba with strong arm guns him down and the inning is over. I think Toyama Dai-ichi perhaps missed their best chance to get to Kisaradzu Sougou until perhaps Oikawa tires.

Bottom 3rd
Sagae with a slow grounder up the 3rd base side, Kuroda charging, fires to 1st, but it's offline! Fujii has to go off the bag to secure it and has no tag on Sagae! E5.

Oikawa with the bunt, but Miyamoto fires to 2nd and gets lead runner Sagae!

Miyamoto flying open a little, walks Okada! Chance building for Kisaradzu!

But Saruta hits a grounder to 3rd, AH!!!!

For the 2nd time this inning, Kuroda makes an error! He can't field the hop and his throw to 1st is late! Manrui for Kisaradzu with only 1 out!

Miyamoto bearing down, gets ahead of Saruta on 2 sliders, but Saruta hanging in there..

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

Saruta chases another slider and there 2 out!

Now facing cleanup hitter Tanida, Miyamoto turning up the heat, hitting 145 on the gun! Gets ahead 1-2...

147! Tanida grounds to 3rd! Kuroda with it, goes to 1st....

3 out! Kuroda does not make a 3rd error and he recovers to get his ace out of the jam!

Top 4th
Yes, Oikawa settling down nicely after the shaky start.  Kuroda can only pull a high fastball in to 2nd for the first out.

Kouyama becomes another victim of the slider becomes Oikawa's 2nd K.

And Nakamura tries to drive a high slider, but gets under it and flies to left.

Bottom 4th
Himura chopper back up the middle, off Miyamoto's glove! Deflects to short, but Nakamura makes the adjustment and gets the out.

Gojima-kantoku seeing a low-scoring game (and perhaps a slightly skittish 3B) lays down the bunt in his direction. Kuroda makes the play and there's 2 down.

Sagae goes after a fastball outside, and it goes off the end of the bat to 2nd for the 3rd out.

Top 5th
Fujii with a sickly sounding hit, but it goes back up the middle past Oikawa and into center for a base hit. Takamori moves him over to 2nd.

After a lot of posturing by Oikawa, he gets Terazaki to foul out to Sagae.

And Miyamoto attacks the next pitch, but grounds out to Sakasai, 3 out!

Bottom 5th
Oikawa draws a 4-pitch walk from Miyamoto.

But no bunt, he takes for 2nd! Takamori fires to 2nd, it's on the 3B side of the bag, but Nakamura goes down and makes the tag for the out!.

Azuma soon thereafter swings on a fastball high and away for 2 outs.

Okada winds up getting hit by Miyamoto, but Miyamoto gets ahead of Saruta 0-2.

Delayed steal from Okada! Takamori throws, but this time they don't get him!

Now a base hit can score 1, and Saruta works count full.

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

Saruta chases the down and in slider and the side is retired!

After 3 blowout games, we finally hit the break in a true pitcher's duel with no team really getting any traction against the opposing ace!

Top 6th
Hirata flares one the other way into left and Toyama has a leadoff runner for the 2nd straight inning.

Nishida with a grounder to short, takes a high bounce and gets by Himura!

Hirata going for 3??!!

Throw cutoff at short and he's in! Oh, that is some aggressive baserunning on a shallow hit.

Kuroda up, and so far no squeeze as count goes to 1-1.

He awfully patient at the plate with their first real scoring opportunity. He gets ahead 3-1, but the home plate umpire gives an awfully high strike to fill up the count.

Kuroda has to emergency swing on a fastball to stay alive!

Slider.. Check swing, the home plate umpire makes a late swing call! 1 down. Boy, that last AB does not inspire confidence in the home plate umpire...

Kouyama with a drive to left! Saruta going back, going back...

Makes the catch at the wall! Hirata can walk home and Toyama Dai-ichi leads 1-0!

Hit-and-run! Nakamura shoots through the right side and Nishida takes 3rd!

Wild pitch from Oikawa and Nakamura takes 2nd!

Fujii doesn't chase a slider and the count goes full.

Just makes contact, rolls it to the right side... just out of the reach of Sakasai! Nishida scores and it's 2-0 Toyama Dai-ichi!

That'll be it for Oikawa as #12 Nasu comes in.

Takamori with a hard single through to right! Nakamura scores! Fujii going to 3rd, throw from Tanida, not in time and now Takamori takes 2nd!

Is this going to be it for Kisaradzu?

Maybe not yet, Terazaki with a popup to shallow left center, Himura makes the sliding catch as Azuma charges past him for the 3rd out. It's 3-0, but not impossible.

Bottom 6th
One down for Kisaradzu and Himura gets Miyamoto's 5th walk.

Akiba with a hard hit to Kuroda, he makes the stop! Throws to 2nd... just gets Himura for the out!!

#14 Motoyoshi to hit for Sakasai

But he chases a fastball away and goes down swinging!

Top 7th
Miyamoto with a single to the left side. Himura makes a great stop in the gap, but forces the throw to 1st and it gets by everyone into foul territory! Miyamoto takes 2nd!

Hirata showing bunt, but gets ahead 3-0. After a strike, he tries the bunt anyways and now the count is full.

Winds up bailing on the slider and flying out to center.

Nishida flies out to right, and Kuroda goes down swinging on a fastball for the 3rd out.

Bottom 7th
Sagae leads off the lucky 7 with a single to right. Gojima-kantoku sends in #18 Hirasawa to hit for Nasu (his day's done).

However, Hirasawa succumbs to the slider and there's 1 down.

Azuma with the safety bunt to 3rd. Kuroda fields, throws it to 1st, Fujji makes the pick on the hop for the 2nd out.

Okada chopper up the 3rd base line, Kuroda with a great stop, throw to 1st, another pick by Fujii and the side is retired!

Top 8th
#11 Aoki takes the hill for Kisaradzu now.

Aoki gets 2 quick groundouts before a walk spoils a good inning. Followed by Takamori compounding it with a single past Okada.

But Aoki gets the donut as Terazaki hits it right to Okada who tags Fujii for the 3rd out.

Bottom 8th
It's a clean frame for Miyamoto as he retires the side in order thanks in part to an assist by Hirata on a dying ball by Himura.

Top 9th
One down, Hirata collects 2nd hit with grounder to left.

Hit-and-run and Nishida follows that up with his own single back up the middle! Runner at the corners for Toyama.

Kuroda liner back up the middle and Hirata coming home makes it 4-0!

Kouyama lines to left, easily over Saruta and one bounces to the wall. Kuroda holds at 3rd and it's 5-0.

That knocks Aoki out of the game as #13 Taguchi comes in.

Nakamura with a swinging bunt, Taguchi takes it ahead of Akiba, throws to 1st...

...but throws it away. Both Kuroda and Kouyama score to make it 7-0.

Fujii goes down swinging on a hit-and-run, but no throw to 3rd from Chiba.

Takamori hard grounder to Okada, deflects off of him for a base hit. Nakamura scores to make it 8-0. He then takes off for and steals 2nd for good measure.

Terazaki Ks to end the inning, and we finally head to the 9th

Bottom 9th
Kisaradzu Sougou goes quietly in 9th and we have our 2nd first-timers to reach the best 8!

Well, looks like we have 4 final blowouts, though at least in this one it only ran amok in the 9th.

The offensive woes did plague  Kisaradzu Sougou after all against ace Miyamoto, and while the pitching held up for a while, the loss of Chiba wound up being fatal for the team. Yeah, they lost, but in the end you probably can just shrug your shoulders and say "しょうがないな。。。"

Toyama Dai-ichi had more scoring opportunities than just the 6th and 9th, but it could have accelerated things had they gotten to Oikawa early on.

We will see tomorrow how (a) Miyamoto goes on no rest, and (b) how the offense will perhaps tighten up their scoring chances.


Notable Players
Miyamoto Kouji (Toyama Dai-ichi) - CG, SHO, 3 H, 10 K, 3 BB, 2 HBP
Takamori Hiroyuki (Toyama Dai-ichi) - 3-3, 2 RBI, SB
Fujii Shintarou (Toyama Dai-ichi) - 2-3, RBI, 2 BB
Azuma Tatsuya (Kisaradzu Sougou) - 1-2, 2B, BB
Akiba Kouta (Kisaradzu Sougou) - 1-3, HBP

We are closing out our first week of Koushien already, and we're also closing out the teams to debut.

Today, the last Tohoku school takes the field, hoping to preserve their perfect record so far - which is a complete shock considering Nichidai Yamagata defeated Nichidai-san yesterday.

Akita, after years and years of futility at Koushien (13 years!) where they couldn't win their first game, the last two years the representatives have won at least 1 game.

Akita Shougyou once again represents the prefecture. But the team has been completely changed from last year. The team is led by new ace Sasaki Yasuhiro, though I can't really find anything on him.  They did not have to play teams like Noshiro Shougyou or Meiou though, so I can't really say that they've been tested.

Offensively, it's obviously cleanup hitter Saitou Yuuya, but in the last two games the top of the order all hit.

Their opponent is first timers Toyama Dai-ichi.  Now, I haven't really noticed, but Toyama has been in a state of flux for the last decade. When Toyama Shougyou ceded the throne back in 2005, only one team has won multiple times - Takaoka Shougyou at 2.

This year Toyama Dai-ichi climbed over all the other competitors, including through former champions Tonami Kougyou and Sakurai to win the title.

Helping them get there is ace Miyamoto Kouji, a righty who throws upper 130s-lower 140s with the normal complement of a slider, curve, and changeup.  Won't strike out a lot of batters, and apparently suffers from a lack of control. Not necessarily a good combination.

But the offense wasn't that bad, with the bottom of the lineup perhaps a little stronger than most. Still weaker overall than most, but perhaps has more depth so you don't suffer empty innings.  Also, they don't seem to a bunting team, which will delight several people I know (myself included).

Opportunities appear to be had in this game, so it should be interesting.

Toyama Dai-ichi (Toyama)
CF Hirata Masazumi
RF Nishida Yuuki
3B Kuroda Masataka
LF Kouyama Kazuhiro
SS Nakamura Jyunka
1B Fujii Shintarou
2B Terasaki Hikaru
P Miyamoto Kouji
C Takamori Hiroyuki

Akita Shougyou (Akita)
CF Suzuki Yuuta
RF Saitou Daiki
LF Sugiya Taichi
3B Saitou Yuuya
1B Satou Takuma
SS Nara Naoki
2B Kikuchi Tomohito (#16)
P Sasaki Yasuhiro
C Miura Hiroki

____________________________________________________________

08:00 - First Pitch

Top 1st
Oh? Sasaki is a submariner?  Hirata struggles and chases a high pitch for a K.

Nishida going on first pitch grounds to short.

Kuroda gets one right in the heart of the plate and singles through the left side, but is stranded when Kouyama pops up to right.

Bottom 1st
Yep, Miyamoto does throw that hard. Suzuki finds out the hard way whiffing on a 142 fastball for the 1st out.

Odd, Daiki stands at home after a chopper goes to short, thinking it's a foul ball maybe?  He's thrown out 6-3.

Sugiya goes after the first pitch and grounds to 2nd for the 3rd out.

Top 2nd
Looks like he throws mid-upper 110s with slow pitches anywhere from high 90 to mid 110s.

Hm, a bit of sidehand delivery from Sasaki and he walks Fujii.  He's moved to 2nd when Terasaki hits a grounder in front of home.

Miyamoto struggling with Sasaki's delivery, grounds to 3rd for the out.

Bottom 2nd
Meanwhile, Akishou's batters just trying to catch up. Yuuya late on his swing grounds to 2nd. Satou just plain misses on a 143 fastball.

Nara finally with some success collects Akishou's first hit with a ball through the right side.

But he's stranded when Kikuchi watches a slider catch the inside part of the plate.

Top 3rd
Biggest problem I think for Toyama Dai-ichi's batters is getting a level swing with a ball that is rising, not falling.

Takamori and Hirata both find that out as both hit high popups.

Nishida gets the team's 2nd hit with a ball through to the left side, but again is stranded when Kuroda dribbles a ball back to Sasaki for the out.

Bottom 3rd
Sasaki doing the right thing, not doing too much with hard hit ball, taking it other way for a base hit.

Miura trying to bunt him along, almost keeps one fair down the 1st base line, but it goes foul at the last minute.

Instead he whiffs on his attempt with 2 strikes and goes down for the 1st out.

Suzuki swings, but flies out lazily to center.

Daiki steps in, looking for his pitch, and draws a walk when Miyamoto misses way outside on his full count pitch.

Sugiya with single to center! Sasaki being waved home!  Throw from Hirata... in time!  Sasaki tries to avoid the tag but is tagged out to end the inning!  Maybe he needed to jump or do something unexpected to avoid the tag.

Top 4th
But, we remain scoreless into the 4th.

Nakamura finally able to put a level swing on a rising ball and line one to right.

Fujii with a dribbler to the left side, past a diving Nara for a base hit!

Uh oh! Terasaki with a single to right and it's manrui as Oota-kantoku calls time. Have they finally figured it ou?

Sasaki really laboring now, Miyamoto spoiling Sasaki's offerings.

SANSHIN!!  Sasaki goes sidearm and gets him swinging on a ball outside!

Up to last batter Takamori. But Sasaki gets ahead 0-2!

He does it! Takamori hits a slow grounder to 2nd! Kikuchi goes to 1st and the side is retired!

Bottom 4th
Yuuya quickly retired on a pop up to Takamori at home.

Miyamoto goes 2 sliders to Satou then even slower getting him to chase a curve for the 2nd out.

But he's struggling a bit against LHB as he walks Nara.

No matter though as he gets Kikuchi to swing on a low fastball and ground out to short.

Top 5th
Wow, Kuroka-kantoku for Toyama Dai-ichi is 32. That's young for a kantoku.

Hirata with grounder to short. Nara with it, throws high! It clears everything and now Toyama Dai-ichi has a great opportunity with the leadoff runner at 2nd!

Nishida does the right thing, hits high chopper to short. Nara's only play is to first and the opening run is 90 feet away.

And with Sasaki's pitches the way they are, Kuroda can lift a ball to left!  Sugiya back to field it and Hirata scores to make it 1-0 Toyama Dai-ichi!

Kouyama looks like he puts a charge into one, but he merely flies out to left to end the inning. But a costly error will put Akishou behind the 8-ball.

Bottom 5th
Oota-kantoku is 34 years old?! Wow, some real young managers today.

One down and Akishou catches a break when a grounder from Miura takes a high hop and bounces off Nakamura for a base hit!

Suzuki follows that up with a ball through the right side for a base hit! Akitashou threatening again!

Daiki hard hit ball, but right to 2nd! Terazaki starts the 4-6-3 double play and the inning is over!

It's a surprisingly low scoring game, but an error makes the difference here in the game. Can Akitashou finally get that timely hit, or will Toyama Dai-ichi start pulling away?

Top 6th
After yet another high popup, Fujii hits chopper in front of the plate. Miura scrambles to it, but the throw to 1st isn't in time!

Terasaki continues the high popup trend as he flies out to right.

Kuroka-kantoku tries for the hit-and-run, but Miyamoto flies out to center to end the inning.

Bottom 6th
Perhaps Akishou playing waiting game, Sugiya gets ahead 3-0, then 2 strikes from Miyamoto before he goes down on a slider.

Apparently not though as Yuuya singles back up the middle on a 1-1 count.

Oh? Now Miyamoto hits Satou, and Akitashou has another chance here in the 6th!

Nara with short chopper. Terasaki can only turn and spin to cut the runner down at 2nd.

2 out now and they need a timely from Kikuchi, who's 0-2 on the day but takes his share of pitches at the plate.

Pulls a ball down the line, foul!

SANSHIN!!!!!  Miyamoto gets him to chase after a fastball outside and he's out of the inning!!

Top 7th
Takamori still hasn't figured out Sasaki's delivery as he skies yet another one to left.

Hirata catches a rising fastball and shoots it past a diving Nara into center.

I think looking at it Sasaki has 2 deliveries.  One is the perceived underhand that rises.  The other is more of a sidearm, but from the low position. That way you get a rising ball, and a tailing ball.

EH?

While the camera shows the pickoff angle, Hirata takes off! But Sasaki is still holding onto the ball and he's run down! What happened there?

And then it's compounded by Nishida hitting a single past Nara for a base hit!

Hit-and-run! But Kuroda sends it just foul.

But Kuroda does get the base hit!  Runners Nishida going for 3rd, thrpw from Daiki, and Yuuya forgets to secure the ball first and Kuroda takes 2nd.

This looks bad, and it is as Kouyama drives a ball to deep center!  Suzuki back to the wall, gets turned around, and it falls in behind him as he reaches the wall!  Both runs will come in to score and it's 3-0 Toyama Dai-ichi.

Nakamura grounds to 3rd, but it doesn't look good for the Tohoku sweep...

Bottom 7th
And Akitashou trying to swing their way out of it.

Sasaki flies out to left on the first pitch.  Miura soon follows with a soft liner to 2nd.

Suzuki does collect a 2-out double on a ball over Nishida in left that one bounds to the wall, but Daiki spins around on a slider for the 3rd out.

Top 8th
Uh oh. Fujii with a drive to left center!  That'll go in for a double.

And now Sasaki hits Terasaki. He might be done.

Oota-kantoku thinks so too and sends in #10 Narita to relieve him.

Ah!  Wild pitch puts both runners in scoring position! Miyamoto doesn't have to bunt anymore!

But Narita gets him on a fastball outside for the first out.

Ah, but it's too late now for Akitashou it seems. Takamori singles through the left side and both runners come in to score. It's 5-0 Toyama Dai-ichi.

1st year Narita retires the next 2 batters, but I'm afraid it's too late...

Bottom 8th
Definitely looks that way. Sugiya and Yuuya both quickly retired and Satou fights hard, but goes down on the slider to end the inning.

Top 9th
Narita doing his best being pressed into service. Nothing special really from him in terms of delivery or velocity.

He walks Kuroda and then a bad hop on Yuuya pus him in a bind.

But he comes right back to get a 6-4-3 double play and strikes out Fujii on 3 straight!

Bottom 9th
Akishou at this point trying to avoid the shutout, but Nara grounds to 1st. Pinch hitter Tateishi (in for Kikuchi), misses on a slider for the 2nd out.

There's a small ray of hope when Narita's chopper up the right side can't be fielded cleanly by a charging Terasaki.

But Miura gets jammed and softly grounds out to 2nd to end the game. First timer's Toyama Dai-ichi win their first ever game at Koushien 5-0!

Sasaki and Akita Shougyou did give it a good run for 6 innings, but eventually Sasaki's control would wane, and for a submariner that is fatal. Toyama Dai-ichi takes full advantage pulling away for their first win.

That's not to say they didn't have their chances, They had chances to open the scoring, but were either too aggressive or just didn't get the timely hit.

Toyama Dai-ichi took a little time to get acclimated to Sasaki's pitching, but once they got their timing down, they continuously put pressure until Akitashou folded.

Miyamoto certainly looks good enough on the mound, but he seemed to struggle against LHB. Might be something to look for going forward.


Notable Players
Miyamoto Kouji (Toyama Dai-ichi) - CG, SHO, 8 H, 10 K, 2 BB, HBP
Fujii Shintarou (Toyama Dai-ichi) - 3-4, 2B, R, BB
Kouyama Kazuhiro (Toyama Dai-ichi) - 2-5, 3B, 2 RBI
Nishida Yuuki (Toyama Dai-ichi) - 2-3, R, BB
Suzuki Yuuta (Akita Shougyou) - 2-4, 2B
Nara Naoki (Akita Shougyou) - 1-3, BB
Sugiya Taichi (Akita Shougyou) - 1-4