So, this will be short, mostly because I'm still disgusted about what happened yesterday (it looks like perhaps the powerhouses are not letting the cinderella teams get away anymore):
Niigata - Sekine Gakuen v. Nihon Bunri
Ishikawa - Komatsu Ootani v. Seiryou
I'm lumping these together because I don't want to dedicate time to these games.
Sekine Gakuen led Nihon Bunri 2-1 going into the bottom of the 9th. Single, flyout, walk, 3-run gyakuten sayonara HR, Bunri wins 4-2.
Komatsu Ootani led Seiryou 8-0 going into bottom of 9th. They cannot record 3 outs as Seiryou scores 9 in a slow-motion collapse as they win 9-8.
You can see my twitter feed to see my feelings regarding this. I may even do a post about this before the finals today.
Gunma - Kendai Takasaki v. Isesaki Seimei
The score itself was close, but the game perhaps wasn't. Kawai, Takahashi and Matsuno combine on a no-hitter as they defeat Isesaki Seimei 1-0.
The only run was scored in the 3rd when after a double to LCF by then starter Kawai, Hoshino goes for a safety bunt with 2 out and brings the runner home.
Tochigi - Sakushin Gakuin v. Sano Nichidai
Sano Nichidai opened the scoring with a run in the first, but Sakushin Gakuin eventually wore down their opponents, scoring 7 runs in the 6th and 7th innings en route to a 7-1 win and their 4th consecutive trip to Natsu Koushien.
Saitama - Shiritsu Kawagoe v. Kasukabe Kyouei
Shiritsu Kawagoe and Kasukabe Kyouei did not have to play any powerhouse teams for the title, and avoided the pitfalls that are associated with playing in big prefectures such as this one. Both schools had been to Koushien before, Shiritsu Kawagoe as Kawagoe Shougyou back in 1971, and Kasukabe Kyouei 4 times, the most recent being in 2005.
The game was very close with the teams trading runs in the 4th and 5th ending with Shiritsu Kawagoe leading 2-1. It stayed that way until the 8th when Kamijyou couldn't hold the lead for Shiritsu. Kasukabe Kyouei would score 6 in the bottom half of the frame, leaving them with almost no time to respond. Kasukabe Kyouei would advance for the 5th time with a 7-2 win.
Nagano - Saku Chousei v. Nagano Shougyou
Nagano Shougyou had been a powerhouse back in the day, but has ceded way to the private schools such as Saku Chousei, Matsushou Gakuen and the like.
But they reached the final where they would have to exorcise the demon by defeating Saku Chousei to take the title. And when I saw them score 6 in the 2nd, I thought perhaps the trend of upsets would continue.
Sadly it would not be. A 4-run 7th was the key in Saku Chousei's comeback as they would win 10-9 to claim their 6th title.
Hyogo - Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku v. Sanda Shousei
Even though neither school had reached Natsu Koushien before, Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku had at least gone to senbatsu. So Sanda Shousei could have easily been called the underdog.
But the game was over early. 7 runs in the 3rd for Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku and that pretty much sealed things. Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku would go on to win 11-1.
Tottori - Yazu v. Tottori Jyouhoku
In recent times Tottori Jyouhoku has dominated the prefecture leaving schools like Yazu who used to go to Koushien behind. Yesterday was a chance for Yazu to perhaps claim something from past times.
Yazu would take an early lead when with the bases loaded and 2 out, Nishigaki would deliver a base hit to center scoring 2.
Kamatani for Yazu would hold off the Tottori Jyouhoku offense, but in the 5th he would cede a run due to a wild pitch. Later on, after an intentional walk to load the bases, he would get out of the jam with a fly to center.
Kamatani wouldn't let them get any closer as he gave up just the 1 run on 6 hit to win 2-1.
Okayama - Okayama Ridai Fuzoku v. Kanzei
There would be no Cinderellas in Okayama as 2 familiar foes met up for the title - though neither had really been to Koushien in a couple of years, as Kurashiki Shougyou had stolen the show for most part.
Kaznei would score early and often against Okayama Ridai, putting up all their runs before the break. It would be more than enough as they would win 9-4.
Hiroshima - Hiroshima Shinjyou v Kouryou
Kouryou and Jyosuikan have given up control of the prefecture to the masses the last 2 years, but Kouryou returned to the finals this year looking to reclaim the throne.
Hiroshima Shinjyou had gone to senbatsu earlier this year and was looking to perhaps make a return trip this summer.
Things looked good in the first, as Nishijima's timely triple gave them the 1-0 lead.
Kouryou would strike right back. 1 out, runners at the corners and cleanup batter Oota delivers a hit to left to tie the game. Kita would give his team the lead right after with a single to center.
That would be all the scoring in the game as Kouryou would go on to punch their ticket with a 2-1 win.
Kagawa - Sakaide Shougyou v. Ootemae Takamatsu
We really hadn't heard from either of these schools, though both are more than decent teams within Kagawa. Sakaide Shougyou time was in the 80s and early 90s where they went to Natsu Koushien 4 of their 5 prior times. Ootemae Takamatsu has been forever a Tier 3 school, but with none of the current powerhouses in the final (and having survived Jinsei Gakuen 8-7 in 13 in the semifinals), they had a chance to make their first trip.
Perhaps the extra inning game though hurt Ootemae Takamatsu, because despite going out to a 3-1 lead through 6, Saji couldn't finish it off. He would give up 2 in the 7th to tie the game, and then 2 more in the 9th giving Sakaide Shougyou the 5-3 win.
31 down, 16 to go.
Showing posts with label Tochigi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tochigi. Show all posts
Monday, July 28, 2014
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Aki Taikai Recap-to-date - Kanto ex Tokyo
Things get a bit more wacky as we start heading south and west...
Ibaraki
Regional play has been completed, and 29 teams moved on to prefectural play. Jyousou Gakuin got a free pass and is probably expected to go deep into the tournament. Kasumigaura, who was just 6 outs away from winning their first title, is also present - but the question will be has their time passed them by? If they do get their revenge matchup it will be in the finals, but in the haru format does not guarantee them a spot in Koushien.
However, the other seeded teams are Meishuu Hitachi, Suijyou and Fujishiro - the latter 2 being familiar names.
Tochigi
Tochigi has no such regionals, all 61 teams are just thrown into a bracket and they beat each other up. So far, Sakushin Gakuin looks to be the front-runner with mercy-rule wins in their first two games and advancing into the quarterfinals.
Joining them are 5 other "seeded teams" including Sano Nichidai, Hakuoudai Ashikaga and Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku. Only the former has had mercy-rule wins throughout.
Gunma
Sadly, when it comes to the one-time winners, it kind of follows that they are unable to follow it up.
Such was the case with Maebashi Ikuei, who couldn't get past their first game losing to Oota Kougyou 4-3...
As a result, the mainstays have been able to reassert themselves within the prefecture at least - sort of.
Kendai Takasaki has made the semifinals, in Kendai fashion, with not one, not two, but three 1-run ballgames. They will face Kitoku, who is definitely a solid C team, for an automatic bid into the Super-Regional.
On the other side, Kiryuu Dai-ichi is back once again and will face unknown Takasaki Shoudai Fuzoku.
Saitama
The struggles for Urawa Gakuin continue... Ojima cannot get them past their 2nd game of the prefecturals, falling to Honjyou Dai-ichi 3-2. They will face Yashio Minami for a spot in the semifiinals.
Elsewhere, familiar names Saitama Sakae and Hanasaki Tokuharu after eking out 4-3 sayonara wins will face each other... there's an all-Kawagoe matchup as Kawagoe Higashi and Shiritsu Kawagoe meetup...
...and can Kasukabe Kyouei finally get to Koushien please? Two shutout wins pit them now against Matsuyama for a spot in the semis.
Chiba
Kisaradzu Sougou had the unfortunate draw to face Toukaidai Bouyou right off the bat in the prefecturals... and lost 2-1. Oddly enough they then lost to unknown Abiko in the very next game 3-1!
There were even more early strong matchups as Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku defeated Toukaidai Urayasu 3-1. Senshuudai Matsudo has been given no favors having to face Chiba Keiai and now Narita.
Narashino is still alive, but two close games so far do not instill confidence in the team's strength early despite having an easy road so far.
And don't forget about Kashiwa Nittai, they're always in the mix and may not have a challenge until a possible matchup with Chiba Reimei in the quarterfinals.
Kanagawa
Toukou Gakuen look to make it back to the Super-Regionals having defeated Nichidai Fujisawa and Yokohama Sougakukan. They should have no trouble against a Nichidai squad despite them giving up their first runs of the taikai in the last round in a 5-4 win over Busou.
The bigger matchup is Toukaidai Sagami (who has just beat the heads in on all opponents - including Touin Gakuen) all without giving up a run, versus a Yokohama squad who once again does not look all that impressive though they did have to face Yokohama Hayato and Keio Gijyuku.
Yamanashi
We could be in line for a rematch of the natsu final as both Hikawa and Nihon Koukuu are on opposite sides of the bracket and are on a collision course. In their way immediately right now are Koufu Kougyou and Koufu Shougyou respectively. After that, it could be fellow powerhouses Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku and Toukaidai Koufu. So while the rematch may happen, there's still some obstacles left to go.
Ibaraki
Regional play has been completed, and 29 teams moved on to prefectural play. Jyousou Gakuin got a free pass and is probably expected to go deep into the tournament. Kasumigaura, who was just 6 outs away from winning their first title, is also present - but the question will be has their time passed them by? If they do get their revenge matchup it will be in the finals, but in the haru format does not guarantee them a spot in Koushien.
However, the other seeded teams are Meishuu Hitachi, Suijyou and Fujishiro - the latter 2 being familiar names.
Tochigi
Tochigi has no such regionals, all 61 teams are just thrown into a bracket and they beat each other up. So far, Sakushin Gakuin looks to be the front-runner with mercy-rule wins in their first two games and advancing into the quarterfinals.
Joining them are 5 other "seeded teams" including Sano Nichidai, Hakuoudai Ashikaga and Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku. Only the former has had mercy-rule wins throughout.
Gunma
Sadly, when it comes to the one-time winners, it kind of follows that they are unable to follow it up.
Such was the case with Maebashi Ikuei, who couldn't get past their first game losing to Oota Kougyou 4-3...
As a result, the mainstays have been able to reassert themselves within the prefecture at least - sort of.
Kendai Takasaki has made the semifinals, in Kendai fashion, with not one, not two, but three 1-run ballgames. They will face Kitoku, who is definitely a solid C team, for an automatic bid into the Super-Regional.
On the other side, Kiryuu Dai-ichi is back once again and will face unknown Takasaki Shoudai Fuzoku.
Saitama
The struggles for Urawa Gakuin continue... Ojima cannot get them past their 2nd game of the prefecturals, falling to Honjyou Dai-ichi 3-2. They will face Yashio Minami for a spot in the semifiinals.
Elsewhere, familiar names Saitama Sakae and Hanasaki Tokuharu after eking out 4-3 sayonara wins will face each other... there's an all-Kawagoe matchup as Kawagoe Higashi and Shiritsu Kawagoe meetup...
...and can Kasukabe Kyouei finally get to Koushien please? Two shutout wins pit them now against Matsuyama for a spot in the semis.
Chiba
Kisaradzu Sougou had the unfortunate draw to face Toukaidai Bouyou right off the bat in the prefecturals... and lost 2-1. Oddly enough they then lost to unknown Abiko in the very next game 3-1!
There were even more early strong matchups as Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku defeated Toukaidai Urayasu 3-1. Senshuudai Matsudo has been given no favors having to face Chiba Keiai and now Narita.
Narashino is still alive, but two close games so far do not instill confidence in the team's strength early despite having an easy road so far.
And don't forget about Kashiwa Nittai, they're always in the mix and may not have a challenge until a possible matchup with Chiba Reimei in the quarterfinals.
Kanagawa
Toukou Gakuen look to make it back to the Super-Regionals having defeated Nichidai Fujisawa and Yokohama Sougakukan. They should have no trouble against a Nichidai squad despite them giving up their first runs of the taikai in the last round in a 5-4 win over Busou.
The bigger matchup is Toukaidai Sagami (who has just beat the heads in on all opponents - including Touin Gakuen) all without giving up a run, versus a Yokohama squad who once again does not look all that impressive though they did have to face Yokohama Hayato and Keio Gijyuku.
Yamanashi
We could be in line for a rematch of the natsu final as both Hikawa and Nihon Koukuu are on opposite sides of the bracket and are on a collision course. In their way immediately right now are Koufu Kougyou and Koufu Shougyou respectively. After that, it could be fellow powerhouses Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku and Toukaidai Koufu. So while the rematch may happen, there's still some obstacles left to go.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Remaining prefectural titles recap (Part 3)
(My apologies to everyone reading the blog, I will probably not be able to finish these recaps before Natsu Koushien begins on Thursday. I was unusually busy during the prefectural taikai's and was not able to keep up as in past years. I will get to these when time allows, but I need to focus on Natsu Koushien itself.)
Gunma - Maebashi Ikuei (1st appearance)
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Tochigi - Sakushin Gakuin (9th appearance, 3rd consecutive)
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Saitama - Urawa Gakuin (12th appearance, 2nd consecutive)
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Kanagawa - Yokohama (15th appearance, 1st in 2 years)
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Aichi - Aikoudai Meiden (11th appearance, 2nd consecutive)
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Shizuoka - Tokoha Kikugawa (4th appearance, 1st in 5 years)
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Osaka - Osaka Touin (7th appearance, 2nd consecutive)
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Hyogo - Nishiwaki Kougyou (1st appearance)
Oh my god. First of all, can Hyogo figure out a better way to reschedule games than the current system? Teams were reassigned to different stadiums, some who were playing before other teams originally got rescheduled for after those same teams. It can't be that hard can it?
Yet despite rain-outs and bonkers rescheduling, 75% of the 16 block seeds actually advanced out of the block. The 4 that failed was Block 4 Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku (!), Block 9 Himeji Kougyou, Block 10 Houjyou, and Block 15 Kakogawa Kita (!). Of the seeds that advanced only Shiritsu Amagasaki and Yashiro actually blew through the block field. Everyone else seemed to struggle:
However, our first major casualty from the Round of 16 was Takigawa Dai-ni. They never led against Shiritsu Amagasaki, and despite a 2-run 8th fell 4-3. Houtoku Gakuen tossed a 4-hit shutout over Suma Shoufuu, and Touyoudai Himeji despite just 3 hits defeated Sanda Shousei 2-1 (How??!).
The other surprising things was that 3 of the 4 no-seeds to advance to the Round of 16 advanced to the Best 8. Though admittedly Block 4 Rokko Island has been an above average team.
The redraw for the Best 8 again had the powerhouse teams avoiding each other.
Mukonosou Sougou had the unfortunate draw of Houtoku Gakuen, and promptly were shutout - but not mercy ruled, which is good. Shiritsu Amagasaki's run ended at the hands of Touyoudai Himeji.
Rokko Island met fellow no-seed Ikuei... and were mercy ruled.
And then there was the curious case of Nishiwaki Kougyou. Never heard of them, never been to Koushien before.
In block play they started strong with a mercy-rule win over Aboshi. After that though, things got really hairy for them. Starting off with a 14 inning 4-3 win over Awaji Mihara, they broke a scoreless draw in the 7th over Ichikawa with 4 runs to advance out of the block. Then against Kakogawa Nishi, the fell behind 5-0, immediately clawed back to within 1, took the the lead late only to blow it in the bottom of the 9th - then won with 2 in the 10th.
If that wasn't enough, against Akashi Shougyou in the Best 8, they trailed 2-0 before rallying to win in the bottom of the 9th 3-2.
The cardiac kids decided comebacks were a bit too much, and while they gave up 2 runs in the first, quickly recovered and used a 5-run 7th to hold on for a 10-7 win. Quite nuts.
Meanwhile, Touyoudai Himeji and Houtoku Gakuen actually had a more normal game, but Houtoku Gakuen couldn't recover from a 2-run deficit falling 4-3.
So realistically, it looked like Touyoudai Himeji would ascend to the throne, because surely Nishiwaki Kougyou couldn't pull off the upset...
Right?
Not so fast there. In the 5th, Takami and Murakami would actually give Nishiwaki Kougyou a 2-0 lead. Ace Outa (翁田) would give up back-to-back timely hits to tie the game.
But bottom 9, LF Murakami starts off with a base hit to left center. He books it to 2nd and just beats the throw. After a sac bunt, Nishiwaki Kougyou has the sayonara run 90 feet away. They have no choice but to intentionally walk Nishizawa and Hieda to load the bases. That would bring up last batter Ishii. Nishiwaki would try the squeeze bunt, but Ishii popped it up and C Uraoka scampered back and made a great diving catch for two outs.
That left it up to leadoff batter Imai who was just 1-4 on the day. Two foul balls meant he was behind quickly. But on the very next pitch he'd hit a blooper to the right side. 2B Nishida would scramble back, dive.. but it would just be out of his reach! It falls in for the sayonara RBI as Nishiwaki Kougyou heads to their first Koushien tournament!
Gunma - Maebashi Ikuei (1st appearance)
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Tochigi - Sakushin Gakuin (9th appearance, 3rd consecutive)
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Saitama - Urawa Gakuin (12th appearance, 2nd consecutive)
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Kanagawa - Yokohama (15th appearance, 1st in 2 years)
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Aichi - Aikoudai Meiden (11th appearance, 2nd consecutive)
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Shizuoka - Tokoha Kikugawa (4th appearance, 1st in 5 years)
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Osaka - Osaka Touin (7th appearance, 2nd consecutive)
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Hyogo - Nishiwaki Kougyou (1st appearance)
Oh my god. First of all, can Hyogo figure out a better way to reschedule games than the current system? Teams were reassigned to different stadiums, some who were playing before other teams originally got rescheduled for after those same teams. It can't be that hard can it?
Yet despite rain-outs and bonkers rescheduling, 75% of the 16 block seeds actually advanced out of the block. The 4 that failed was Block 4 Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku (!), Block 9 Himeji Kougyou, Block 10 Houjyou, and Block 15 Kakogawa Kita (!). Of the seeds that advanced only Shiritsu Amagasaki and Yashiro actually blew through the block field. Everyone else seemed to struggle:
- Block 2 Houtoku Gakuen? They had an 11 inning affair against Shiritsu Himeji.
- Block 5 Defending Champion Takigawa Dai-ni? Ooh, not so good. Two low scoring affairs versus Ikuno and Hyogo Shougyou.
- Block 8 Touyoudai Himeji? 2-1 over Touban Kougyou in their 2nd game.
However, our first major casualty from the Round of 16 was Takigawa Dai-ni. They never led against Shiritsu Amagasaki, and despite a 2-run 8th fell 4-3. Houtoku Gakuen tossed a 4-hit shutout over Suma Shoufuu, and Touyoudai Himeji despite just 3 hits defeated Sanda Shousei 2-1 (How??!).
The other surprising things was that 3 of the 4 no-seeds to advance to the Round of 16 advanced to the Best 8. Though admittedly Block 4 Rokko Island has been an above average team.
The redraw for the Best 8 again had the powerhouse teams avoiding each other.
Mukonosou Sougou had the unfortunate draw of Houtoku Gakuen, and promptly were shutout - but not mercy ruled, which is good. Shiritsu Amagasaki's run ended at the hands of Touyoudai Himeji.
Rokko Island met fellow no-seed Ikuei... and were mercy ruled.
And then there was the curious case of Nishiwaki Kougyou. Never heard of them, never been to Koushien before.
In block play they started strong with a mercy-rule win over Aboshi. After that though, things got really hairy for them. Starting off with a 14 inning 4-3 win over Awaji Mihara, they broke a scoreless draw in the 7th over Ichikawa with 4 runs to advance out of the block. Then against Kakogawa Nishi, the fell behind 5-0, immediately clawed back to within 1, took the the lead late only to blow it in the bottom of the 9th - then won with 2 in the 10th.
If that wasn't enough, against Akashi Shougyou in the Best 8, they trailed 2-0 before rallying to win in the bottom of the 9th 3-2.
The cardiac kids decided comebacks were a bit too much, and while they gave up 2 runs in the first, quickly recovered and used a 5-run 7th to hold on for a 10-7 win. Quite nuts.
Meanwhile, Touyoudai Himeji and Houtoku Gakuen actually had a more normal game, but Houtoku Gakuen couldn't recover from a 2-run deficit falling 4-3.
So realistically, it looked like Touyoudai Himeji would ascend to the throne, because surely Nishiwaki Kougyou couldn't pull off the upset...
Right?
Not so fast there. In the 5th, Takami and Murakami would actually give Nishiwaki Kougyou a 2-0 lead. Ace Outa (翁田) would give up back-to-back timely hits to tie the game.
But bottom 9, LF Murakami starts off with a base hit to left center. He books it to 2nd and just beats the throw. After a sac bunt, Nishiwaki Kougyou has the sayonara run 90 feet away. They have no choice but to intentionally walk Nishizawa and Hieda to load the bases. That would bring up last batter Ishii. Nishiwaki would try the squeeze bunt, but Ishii popped it up and C Uraoka scampered back and made a great diving catch for two outs.
That left it up to leadoff batter Imai who was just 1-4 on the day. Two foul balls meant he was behind quickly. But on the very next pitch he'd hit a blooper to the right side. 2B Nishida would scramble back, dive.. but it would just be out of his reach! It falls in for the sayonara RBI as Nishiwaki Kougyou heads to their first Koushien tournament!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Day 7 - Game 2 - Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi) vs. Naruto (Tokushima)
Our brunchtime game features a best 4 finalist last year, and a team that hasn't been here in 32 years.
Naruto survived their first round game against 21st century team Sumoto... just. A hit batsmen with a single was all the scoring in the game. And this was while Sumoto actually had more opportunities in the game than Naruto! So, for being the Shikoku champion, the prospects don't look to good.
Especially when they face last summer's Best 4 team Sakushin Gakuin.
But they did not have a smooth ride in the first game. In fact, Kurashiki Shougyou jumped out to a 3-0 lead on ace Ootani before the offense rocked Nishi for 4 runs in the second, never looking back. The team definitely had some hits, but was the beneficiary of bad defense too. Also, the top of the order was unable to produce much offense for the team either, which is concerning if you're depending on cleanup batter Takayama to drive in runs.
Naruto looks like they'll have a lot on their hands when they take the field today.
LF Haneishi Hiroki
SS Ishii Kazunari
1B Takayama Ryousuke (#9)
C Yamashita Yuuto
RF Fuse Kyouhei (#16)
3B Takashima Shouma
2B Asano Shouya
P Tsutsui Shigeru (#11)
CF Shimada Jyukito
LF Inaoka Kenta
2B Sugimoto Keita (#3)
RF Yamato Taira
3B Matsumoto Takanori
C Kusaka Hiroki (#12)
P Goutouda Shuusaku
1B Ise Hayato (#16)
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11:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
It's a relatively quiet inning for Goutouda to start. Sakushin's batters are going after the ball early in counts as Tsuruta and Ishii first pitch swinging in a 1-2-3 start for Goutouda.
Bottom 1st
Tsutsui on the mound instead of Ootani, but it wouldn't make sense in the handedness as both are lefties and the Naruto lineup today is right heavy.
One down Shimada draws a 4-pitch walk then Inaoka singles through the left side.
Control issues for Tsutsui as he can't find the zone and walks his 2nd batter on 4 straight! It's manrui with one down for Yamato!
Grounder to short! But Ishii doesn't field it cleanly! They get the out at 2nd, but the relay to 1st is late! Shimada scores and Naruto is on the board here in the 1st! 1-0!
Matsumoto grounds out to short to end the inning, but Naruto gets their first run this time much sooner!
Top 2nd
Takayama gets a good pitch at 3-2, but hits a hard grounder to 2nd.
Yamashita and Fuse are retired thereafter for a 1-2-3 inning, but Goutouda had to work a little harder for that one.
Bottom 2nd
Tsutsui appears to have a fastball in the high 120s with a slider in the mid 110s that he throws A LOT.
New 1B Ise, in the game today because Nakano has a injury to his finger, gets a 2-out single to right.
But Kawano grounds to a fielder's choice at short and the inning is over.
Top 3rd
Cameras go to the flags above the scoreboard and they're blowing as usual from RF to LF.
Sakushin's batters trying to work the count and get on, but Takashima and Asano fly out. It's Tsutsui who gets on with a little help from Matsumoto who can't field his grounder cleanly!
Hit-and-run by Kobari-kantoku and Tsuruta singles to right! Yamato is there quickly and keeps Tsutsui at 2nd.
Haneishi grounds into a fielder's choice at short, but Sakushin finally gets a baserunner on as well as their first hit.
Bottom 3rd
Another clean inning from Tsutsui. Two quick outs to 2nd, and a 3-2 knee buckler to Sugimoto to end the inning.
Top 4th
Chance for Sakushin as Ishii slices one down the left field line fair! He's hustles to 2nd and is in safely!
Takayama hits one down the right field line and that's fair! But Ishii think's it's foul and only advances to 3rd! Will that cost them later?
Well Yamashita gets under one and pops it up! Sugimoto secures it for the out!
But Fuse hits one to center! Shimada prepares to throw home, and Ishii takes off on the catch! The throw home is cut off, no! It bounces off Sugimoto and deflects to the 3rd base dugout! Kusaka gives chase but Takayama advances to 3rd! But anyways, Sakushin has tied the game at 1-1!
But no further damage is done as Takashima grounds out to short.
Bottom 4th
Tsutsui has settled down since the first as Naruto's batters can't make contact on his pitches. He racks up two more K's in a up and down inning.
Top 5th
Outside of that last inning, Goutouda has looked smooth as well, hitting his spots and if missing generally missing low. He too gets a 1-2-3 inning thanks to a nice backhanded stab by Ise on a scorching ball by Tsuruta.
Bottom 5th
Routine grounder to short by Goutouda and Ishii gets ahead of himself and allows the ball to deflect off of him!
Ise not bunting, swings and his a grounder to short! This time Ishii doesn't miss, starting the 6-4-3 double play!
Kawano reaches out on a ball and grounds out to short. We hit the break with some errors on both sides, a few hits and a 1-1 tie.
Top 6th
Haneishi turns on a ball inside and rips it down the left field line to the wall for a double!
Kobari-kantoku electing not to have Ishii bunt. Goutouda freezes him on a fastball on the inside corner! 1 down!
Cleanup batter Takayama up and Goutouda falls behind 3-0! But Takayama gets the green light, swings on a slider and grounds back to Goutouda! 2 down and Haneishi still on 2nd!
And Goutouda gets Yamashita to swing under one! Popup to shallow center, and Kawano makes a scary catch, reach up with his back turned. Makes the catch, but perhaps someone else should have had that?
Bottom 6th
Shimada tries for the safety bunt, but Takashima throws him out by a good margin.
Inaoka lines one over Ishii and into left for a single!
Kobari-kantoku calls time and that's the day for Tsutsui. But #10 Mizunuma comes in instead of Ootani.
Sugimoto greets him with a drive to left center! Haneishi and Tsuruta running back to the fence and it's Haneishi who makes the catch in front of the fence!
Mizunuma is a righty who appears to have a fastball that touches 130 with a slider in the mid 110s and some type of change in the 100s
Yamato with a hard base hit down the left field line! Haneishi up with it quickly to prevent the Inaoka from going to 3rd! Kobari-kantoku calls time again.
Matsumoto slices one up the middle! Inaoka getting the green light Tsuruta throwing home, but it's not in time! Naruto takes a 2-1 lead!
Now Kusaka with a first pitch single to left! Haneishi up with it and Yamato's being sent home! Throw is up the 1st base line and he scores! 3-1 Naruto!
Goutouda with a hard hit to 1st, but Takayama has it. Goes to 1st for the out, but Mizunuma's relief stint is anything but as he gives up both RBI singles!
Top 7th
3-1 count to Fuse and he's green-lighted. He singles past a diving Sugimoto into right.
Takashima takes a hanging slider and laces that to right! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Sakushin as Moriwaki-kantoku calls for time!
Now Kobari-kantoku is calling for the bunt. Asano lays it down, but it's right in front of the plate! Kusaka takes it and throws to 3rd, easily getting Fuse out!
Now #13 Wakui is PH for Mizunuma meaning his day is done. He may not have lasted long if he stayed.
But Wakui goes down swinging on an inside shuuto! 2 down!
And Tsuruta first pitch swings! Pops it up! Ise and Sugimoto converge and it's Ise with the catch! Sakushin's opportunity in the lucky 7 goes to waste!
Bottom 7th
As expected #1 Ootani takes the hill, but his team is behind with just 2 innings left.
Brimming with confidence, Ise takes the first pitch he sees and lines it to left!
Having done his job for the day, Muriwaki-kantoku sends in #17 Hayashi to run for him. Leadoff batter Kouno sends him on his way to 2nd.
Ootani gets Shimada to ground out to 1st and Inaoka to bite on a slider away. Naruto's been denied, but it won't mean anything if they can't score.
Top 8th
#15 Bandou comes in for PR Hayashi and takes over at 2B. Sugimoto goes back to his normal position of 1B.
Haneishi with a grounder to 3rd, that takes a high hop and almost hits Matsumoto in the face!
Naruto's looking for baserunners so no bunting here.
But they are sending Haneishi? Throw from Kusaka is barely not in time!
Ishii follows that up with a liner through the infield into left! Runners at the corners for cleanup batter Takayama!
Goutouda not giving in to Takayama and goes behind 3-1. And the curve for the outside corner doesn't get the call! Manrui for Yamashita as the Keio chance plays!
Goutouda tries to get Yamashita to chase with two balls away, but no dice! Fastball inside gets him to 2-1.
Another fastball in there and now he's ahead! Watch for the junk!
But Yamashita's able to lift one to center! Shimada catches it and they concede the run! They've narrowed the deficit to 3-2!
Fuse with a grounder down the 3rd base line, Matsumoto dives... FAIR! They call it fair as it goes down the left field line! Ishii rounds 3rd and he scores! DOUTEN! Fuse with his 2nd hit ties the game at 3-3!!
Takashima up and now a deep enough fly ball ties the game.
BUT THEY SQUEEZE!
Kobari-kantoku calls for the squeeze, but it's a ball away! Takashima dives, makes contact, but pops it up! Kusaka catches it and doubles off Takayama at 3rd to end the inning!
Sakushin ties the game, but they could have had more!
Bottom 8th
Ootani was about to get a 1-2-3 inning it seemed, but then wound up walking Matsumoto. Kusaka with a hard hit ball at Asano, but he's able to field it and make the out at 2nd! Ootani holds the line here in the 8th!
Top 9th
8-9-1 batters up for Sakushin. Asano and Ootaki should be focused on getting on base instead of just a hit.
But Goutouda doesn't allow that possibility, getting ahead of Asano 1-2. But two balls out of the zone and the count is full. Still Asano has to swings away at anything close, and ends up grounding to short.
Ootani's showing patience at the plate, getting ahead 3-1. Will he wait still? Nope, swings and fouls one away. Now it's a mind game, what pitch? Fastball, but Ootani hits a weak chopper back to Goutouda for the out.
Top of the order, but they're going to have to string together some hits.
Tsuruta with a gronder to the right side. Sugimoto makes the diving stop but Tsuruta beats out Goutouda to the bag! Man on!
Kobari-kantoku tries for the hit-and-run, but Haneishi hits a comebacker to Goutouda to end the inning! Now they have to hold for enchousen!
Bottom 9th
8-9-1 batters up for Naruto too. How will they approach it?
Goutouda tries to work the count, but is can't check his swing! One down. Bandou too falls on a fastball inside. And Kawano pops up to Asano and we're headed to enchousen!
Top 10th
One pitch, one out. Ishii pops it up to short.
Takayama with a blast to left!!! Inaoka running back to the wall....
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goutouda leaves a ball up in the zone and Takayama knows what to do with it! He gives Sakushin Gakuin their first lead of the game here in enchousen, 4-3!
Yamashita with a blast to center! Shimada running over, makes the running catch!
Now Fuse with a blast to center! That's over Shimada's head! He's rounding 2nd, going for 3! Throw is late and Goutouda's being shelled!
Moriwaki-kantoku sees that too and pulls Goutouda for #10 Kobayashi...
He retires Takashima on a comebacker, but Takayama gives his team the lead in a big way! Now can Ootani hold it?
Bottom 10th
2-3-4 batters up for Naruto. If Sakushin could do it, maybe Naruto can?
Shimada with a fly to shallow left. Haneishi calls off Ishii and makes the catch. One down.
Inaoka with a grounder up the middle. Ishii ranging over, can't field it! Then makes a terrible throw that misses everything and goes into the dugout! Inaoka at 2nd with one down! What a terrible decision by Ishii! He should have eaten that!
Kobari-kantoku calls for time.
Sugimoto with a liner to center! Tsuruta with it quickly and Inaoka has to hold at 3rd!
#14 Koari to hit for Yamato. And Ootani hits him! Manrui for Naruto! Kobari-kantoku has to call for time again!
#13 Koumoto runs for Koari.
Matsumoto up now, and he falls behind 1-2... SANSHIN! Fastball up and in and he can't catch up to it! 2 outs!
Kusaka up. Drive to left! Haneishi running back, running back...
CAN'T GET IT!
Inaoka and Sugimoto score on the sayonara hit bu Kusaka! Naruto comes back again in extra inning to defeat Kanto runner-up Sakushin Gakuin!
Two games now Naruto has won in sayonara fashion in extra innings! The baseball gods must be looking down on them this tournament! They find a way after giving up a 2-run lead, then giving up the lead in the 10th to come back and win!
Now, some of it was Sakushin lapses of judgement. The decision by Ishii to throw to first on that one out grounder was a big mistake. It may not have made the difference, but it may have given a different feel to the inning had it been an error with a runner on first rather than an error and a runner on 2nd. It may not have been as much pressure on Ootani to hit PH Koari if it was runners on 1st and 2nd instead of at the corners.
You have to play all 27 outs. Or in this case, all 30. And Naruto played to that saying more than Sakushin Gakuin here today, and they are the ones to advance to face Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi.
Naruto survived their first round game against 21st century team Sumoto... just. A hit batsmen with a single was all the scoring in the game. And this was while Sumoto actually had more opportunities in the game than Naruto! So, for being the Shikoku champion, the prospects don't look to good.
Especially when they face last summer's Best 4 team Sakushin Gakuin.
But they did not have a smooth ride in the first game. In fact, Kurashiki Shougyou jumped out to a 3-0 lead on ace Ootani before the offense rocked Nishi for 4 runs in the second, never looking back. The team definitely had some hits, but was the beneficiary of bad defense too. Also, the top of the order was unable to produce much offense for the team either, which is concerning if you're depending on cleanup batter Takayama to drive in runs.
Naruto looks like they'll have a lot on their hands when they take the field today.
Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
CF Tsuruta KouyaLF Haneishi Hiroki
SS Ishii Kazunari
1B Takayama Ryousuke (#9)
C Yamashita Yuuto
RF Fuse Kyouhei (#16)
3B Takashima Shouma
2B Asano Shouya
P Tsutsui Shigeru (#11)
Naruto (Tokushima)
SS Kawano YuutoCF Shimada Jyukito
LF Inaoka Kenta
2B Sugimoto Keita (#3)
RF Yamato Taira
3B Matsumoto Takanori
C Kusaka Hiroki (#12)
P Goutouda Shuusaku
1B Ise Hayato (#16)
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11:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
It's a relatively quiet inning for Goutouda to start. Sakushin's batters are going after the ball early in counts as Tsuruta and Ishii first pitch swinging in a 1-2-3 start for Goutouda.
Bottom 1st
Tsutsui on the mound instead of Ootani, but it wouldn't make sense in the handedness as both are lefties and the Naruto lineup today is right heavy.
One down Shimada draws a 4-pitch walk then Inaoka singles through the left side.
Control issues for Tsutsui as he can't find the zone and walks his 2nd batter on 4 straight! It's manrui with one down for Yamato!
Grounder to short! But Ishii doesn't field it cleanly! They get the out at 2nd, but the relay to 1st is late! Shimada scores and Naruto is on the board here in the 1st! 1-0!
Matsumoto grounds out to short to end the inning, but Naruto gets their first run this time much sooner!
Top 2nd
Takayama gets a good pitch at 3-2, but hits a hard grounder to 2nd.
Yamashita and Fuse are retired thereafter for a 1-2-3 inning, but Goutouda had to work a little harder for that one.
Bottom 2nd
Tsutsui appears to have a fastball in the high 120s with a slider in the mid 110s that he throws A LOT.
New 1B Ise, in the game today because Nakano has a injury to his finger, gets a 2-out single to right.
But Kawano grounds to a fielder's choice at short and the inning is over.
Top 3rd
Cameras go to the flags above the scoreboard and they're blowing as usual from RF to LF.
Sakushin's batters trying to work the count and get on, but Takashima and Asano fly out. It's Tsutsui who gets on with a little help from Matsumoto who can't field his grounder cleanly!
Hit-and-run by Kobari-kantoku and Tsuruta singles to right! Yamato is there quickly and keeps Tsutsui at 2nd.
Haneishi grounds into a fielder's choice at short, but Sakushin finally gets a baserunner on as well as their first hit.
Bottom 3rd
Another clean inning from Tsutsui. Two quick outs to 2nd, and a 3-2 knee buckler to Sugimoto to end the inning.
Top 4th
Chance for Sakushin as Ishii slices one down the left field line fair! He's hustles to 2nd and is in safely!
Takayama hits one down the right field line and that's fair! But Ishii think's it's foul and only advances to 3rd! Will that cost them later?
Well Yamashita gets under one and pops it up! Sugimoto secures it for the out!
But Fuse hits one to center! Shimada prepares to throw home, and Ishii takes off on the catch! The throw home is cut off, no! It bounces off Sugimoto and deflects to the 3rd base dugout! Kusaka gives chase but Takayama advances to 3rd! But anyways, Sakushin has tied the game at 1-1!
But no further damage is done as Takashima grounds out to short.
Bottom 4th
Tsutsui has settled down since the first as Naruto's batters can't make contact on his pitches. He racks up two more K's in a up and down inning.
Top 5th
Outside of that last inning, Goutouda has looked smooth as well, hitting his spots and if missing generally missing low. He too gets a 1-2-3 inning thanks to a nice backhanded stab by Ise on a scorching ball by Tsuruta.
Bottom 5th
Routine grounder to short by Goutouda and Ishii gets ahead of himself and allows the ball to deflect off of him!
Ise not bunting, swings and his a grounder to short! This time Ishii doesn't miss, starting the 6-4-3 double play!
Kawano reaches out on a ball and grounds out to short. We hit the break with some errors on both sides, a few hits and a 1-1 tie.
Top 6th
Haneishi turns on a ball inside and rips it down the left field line to the wall for a double!
Kobari-kantoku electing not to have Ishii bunt. Goutouda freezes him on a fastball on the inside corner! 1 down!
Cleanup batter Takayama up and Goutouda falls behind 3-0! But Takayama gets the green light, swings on a slider and grounds back to Goutouda! 2 down and Haneishi still on 2nd!
And Goutouda gets Yamashita to swing under one! Popup to shallow center, and Kawano makes a scary catch, reach up with his back turned. Makes the catch, but perhaps someone else should have had that?
Bottom 6th
Shimada tries for the safety bunt, but Takashima throws him out by a good margin.
Inaoka lines one over Ishii and into left for a single!
Kobari-kantoku calls time and that's the day for Tsutsui. But #10 Mizunuma comes in instead of Ootani.
Sugimoto greets him with a drive to left center! Haneishi and Tsuruta running back to the fence and it's Haneishi who makes the catch in front of the fence!
Mizunuma is a righty who appears to have a fastball that touches 130 with a slider in the mid 110s and some type of change in the 100s
Yamato with a hard base hit down the left field line! Haneishi up with it quickly to prevent the Inaoka from going to 3rd! Kobari-kantoku calls time again.
Matsumoto slices one up the middle! Inaoka getting the green light Tsuruta throwing home, but it's not in time! Naruto takes a 2-1 lead!
Now Kusaka with a first pitch single to left! Haneishi up with it and Yamato's being sent home! Throw is up the 1st base line and he scores! 3-1 Naruto!
Goutouda with a hard hit to 1st, but Takayama has it. Goes to 1st for the out, but Mizunuma's relief stint is anything but as he gives up both RBI singles!
Top 7th
3-1 count to Fuse and he's green-lighted. He singles past a diving Sugimoto into right.
Takashima takes a hanging slider and laces that to right! Runners at 1st and 2nd for Sakushin as Moriwaki-kantoku calls for time!
Now Kobari-kantoku is calling for the bunt. Asano lays it down, but it's right in front of the plate! Kusaka takes it and throws to 3rd, easily getting Fuse out!
Now #13 Wakui is PH for Mizunuma meaning his day is done. He may not have lasted long if he stayed.
But Wakui goes down swinging on an inside shuuto! 2 down!
And Tsuruta first pitch swings! Pops it up! Ise and Sugimoto converge and it's Ise with the catch! Sakushin's opportunity in the lucky 7 goes to waste!
Bottom 7th
As expected #1 Ootani takes the hill, but his team is behind with just 2 innings left.
Brimming with confidence, Ise takes the first pitch he sees and lines it to left!
Having done his job for the day, Muriwaki-kantoku sends in #17 Hayashi to run for him. Leadoff batter Kouno sends him on his way to 2nd.
Ootani gets Shimada to ground out to 1st and Inaoka to bite on a slider away. Naruto's been denied, but it won't mean anything if they can't score.
Top 8th
#15 Bandou comes in for PR Hayashi and takes over at 2B. Sugimoto goes back to his normal position of 1B.
Haneishi with a grounder to 3rd, that takes a high hop and almost hits Matsumoto in the face!
Naruto's looking for baserunners so no bunting here.
But they are sending Haneishi? Throw from Kusaka is barely not in time!
Ishii follows that up with a liner through the infield into left! Runners at the corners for cleanup batter Takayama!
Goutouda not giving in to Takayama and goes behind 3-1. And the curve for the outside corner doesn't get the call! Manrui for Yamashita as the Keio chance plays!
Goutouda tries to get Yamashita to chase with two balls away, but no dice! Fastball inside gets him to 2-1.
Another fastball in there and now he's ahead! Watch for the junk!
But Yamashita's able to lift one to center! Shimada catches it and they concede the run! They've narrowed the deficit to 3-2!
Fuse with a grounder down the 3rd base line, Matsumoto dives... FAIR! They call it fair as it goes down the left field line! Ishii rounds 3rd and he scores! DOUTEN! Fuse with his 2nd hit ties the game at 3-3!!
Takashima up and now a deep enough fly ball ties the game.
BUT THEY SQUEEZE!
Kobari-kantoku calls for the squeeze, but it's a ball away! Takashima dives, makes contact, but pops it up! Kusaka catches it and doubles off Takayama at 3rd to end the inning!
Sakushin ties the game, but they could have had more!
Bottom 8th
Ootani was about to get a 1-2-3 inning it seemed, but then wound up walking Matsumoto. Kusaka with a hard hit ball at Asano, but he's able to field it and make the out at 2nd! Ootani holds the line here in the 8th!
Top 9th
8-9-1 batters up for Sakushin. Asano and Ootaki should be focused on getting on base instead of just a hit.
But Goutouda doesn't allow that possibility, getting ahead of Asano 1-2. But two balls out of the zone and the count is full. Still Asano has to swings away at anything close, and ends up grounding to short.
Ootani's showing patience at the plate, getting ahead 3-1. Will he wait still? Nope, swings and fouls one away. Now it's a mind game, what pitch? Fastball, but Ootani hits a weak chopper back to Goutouda for the out.
Top of the order, but they're going to have to string together some hits.
Tsuruta with a gronder to the right side. Sugimoto makes the diving stop but Tsuruta beats out Goutouda to the bag! Man on!
Kobari-kantoku tries for the hit-and-run, but Haneishi hits a comebacker to Goutouda to end the inning! Now they have to hold for enchousen!
Bottom 9th
8-9-1 batters up for Naruto too. How will they approach it?
Goutouda tries to work the count, but is can't check his swing! One down. Bandou too falls on a fastball inside. And Kawano pops up to Asano and we're headed to enchousen!
Top 10th
One pitch, one out. Ishii pops it up to short.
Takayama with a blast to left!!! Inaoka running back to the wall....
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goutouda leaves a ball up in the zone and Takayama knows what to do with it! He gives Sakushin Gakuin their first lead of the game here in enchousen, 4-3!
Yamashita with a blast to center! Shimada running over, makes the running catch!
Now Fuse with a blast to center! That's over Shimada's head! He's rounding 2nd, going for 3! Throw is late and Goutouda's being shelled!
Moriwaki-kantoku sees that too and pulls Goutouda for #10 Kobayashi...
He retires Takashima on a comebacker, but Takayama gives his team the lead in a big way! Now can Ootani hold it?
Bottom 10th
2-3-4 batters up for Naruto. If Sakushin could do it, maybe Naruto can?
Shimada with a fly to shallow left. Haneishi calls off Ishii and makes the catch. One down.
Inaoka with a grounder up the middle. Ishii ranging over, can't field it! Then makes a terrible throw that misses everything and goes into the dugout! Inaoka at 2nd with one down! What a terrible decision by Ishii! He should have eaten that!
Kobari-kantoku calls for time.
Sugimoto with a liner to center! Tsuruta with it quickly and Inaoka has to hold at 3rd!
#14 Koari to hit for Yamato. And Ootani hits him! Manrui for Naruto! Kobari-kantoku has to call for time again!
#13 Koumoto runs for Koari.
Matsumoto up now, and he falls behind 1-2... SANSHIN! Fastball up and in and he can't catch up to it! 2 outs!
Kusaka up. Drive to left! Haneishi running back, running back...
CAN'T GET IT!
Inaoka and Sugimoto score on the sayonara hit bu Kusaka! Naruto comes back again in extra inning to defeat Kanto runner-up Sakushin Gakuin!
Two games now Naruto has won in sayonara fashion in extra innings! The baseball gods must be looking down on them this tournament! They find a way after giving up a 2-run lead, then giving up the lead in the 10th to come back and win!
Now, some of it was Sakushin lapses of judgement. The decision by Ishii to throw to first on that one out grounder was a big mistake. It may not have made the difference, but it may have given a different feel to the inning had it been an error with a runner on first rather than an error and a runner on 2nd. It may not have been as much pressure on Ootani to hit PH Koari if it was runners on 1st and 2nd instead of at the corners.
You have to play all 27 outs. Or in this case, all 30. And Naruto played to that saying more than Sakushin Gakuin here today, and they are the ones to advance to face Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Day 3 - Game 2 - Kurashiki Shougyou (Okayama) vs. Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
Next up for today are the runner-ups of the Kanto and Chuugoku regions, Sakushin Gakuin and Kurashiki Shougyou.
Sakushin Gakuin made the Best 4 at Natsu Koushien last year before losing to eventual runner-up Kousei Gakuin. In the fall, they defeated teams such as Hanasaki Tokuharu and Yokohama before being shutout by Urawa Gakuin in the championship.
Offensively, they look like they have some power through the lineup, but suffer the same issue that Kamimura Gakuen has - below-average contact. They have two speedsters at the top of the lineup, so expect them to try and run and run often when the order turns over.
On the mound is ace Ootani, another contact-type pitcher who doesn't strikeout a bunch of hitters (4.4 K/9), but counters it by limiting runners (1.11 WHIP).
Kurashiki Shougyou's keystone win was a 7-5 gyakuten win over Jyosuikan in the first round of the super-regionals. They would eventually lose 4-1 in the finals to Tottori Jyouhoku. They have almost the reverse problem Sakushin has, good contact, but little in extra base hits - which has been a recurring theme of a lot of teams which have played so far.
In addition, their ace Nishi allows a high number of baserunners (1.56 WHIP), and still doesn't strike out a lot of batters (5.29 K/9).
This game will probably be another one of those where the team from the more populous region will win out. I say this because the talent pool tends to be greater in more populous areas. It's just a general fact.
RF Harukawa Yasunori
CF Sakada Jyunichi
1B Okada Seiji
C Michishita Kouta
LF Yokota Yamato
SS Katayama Yoshiki
3B Shimizu Shigeru
P Nishi Ryuusei
LF Haneishi Hiroki
SS Ishii Kazunari
1B Takayama Ryousuke (#9)
P Ootani ShigehiroC Yamashita Yuuto
RF Fuse Kyouhei (#16)
2B Asano Shouya3B Takashima Shouma
__________________________________________________
Looks like the rain which was was though to have passed is back again. There was some rain near the end of the last game, and has come back before the start of the game. But it looks like it's cleared up enough and the players take the field! It looks like Shinohara may be injured so Takayama shifts to 1B and Fuse holds the fort in right.
11:45 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Fujii with a short liner over Takayama's head! Asano backing up the play throws to Ootani covering, but he can't hold on! Base hit!
Harukawa not bunting, and takes a ball away through the left side! No out, runners on 1st and 2nd for Sakada!
Sakada with the quick safety bunt! Takashima charges in but Sakada beats out the throw! Manrui immediately and Ootani in trouble!
But Okada swings at the first pitch and grounds it to Ishii! He steps on 2nd for one, throws to 1st for the double play! They concede the run for the 2 outs and Kurashiki takes a 1-0 lead!
The rain is coming down harder now it seems.
Michishita grounds out to 3rd for the third out and Ootani is fortunate to have given up just the one run.
Bottom 1st
After Nishi records two outs to start the inning, he walks Ishii. Then on two consecutive pitches, one is blocked but still allows Ishii to steal 2nd, then a wild pitch sends him to 3rd.
Nishi loses Takayama on 4 straight and he doesn't look comfortable on the mound at all in the rain.
Ootani up and he's thrown two more balls before getting the outside corner. Ootani gets fooled on a screwball and the count's even at 2-2.
SANSHIN! Nishi gets it together, getting Ootani on a slider inside for the 3rd out!
Top 2nd
The rain may play a part in this game one way or another before it ends here.
And it already is as the grounds crew is called out to work on the mound. And it looks like the umpires have called in the players while they put some equivalent of diamond dry onto the field. The rain continues to fall though, but I think they're trying to get this game in one way or another having already lost a day.
After about a 5 minute delay, the players are out again and we're ready to start play again.
Yokota gets the Kurashou offense going with a single to right!
And Katayama on a bunt attempt hits him on his right hand, and Ootani is in a pinch again here in the 2nd!
Wild pitch from Ootani! Runners advance a base and now Kobari-kantoku calls time.
Another wild pitch from Ootani! Yokota scores and Kurashou is up 2-0!
Shimizu with a single to center scoring Katayama! No reprieve this time around as Nishi sacrifices the runner along. Fujii grounds to 2nd, but advances the runner to 3rd.
Harukawa K's to end the inning, but Ootani's mistakes cost them a couple more runs.
Bottom 2nd
Yamashita with a hard liner to left. Yokota trying to make the sliding catch, but instead it deflects off him! Yokota comes in with a double!
Fuse with a liner up the middle! Katayama just misses it, but Yamashita has to hold because he had to wait for the ball to get through first. Runners on 1st and 2nd as Morimitsu-kantoku calls time.
Asano tries to bunt the runners along, but fouls it off and now is down 0-2. He still manages to lay it down and advance the runners.
Now it's Nishi's turn to be in a pinch! He hits Takashima and its manrui as the lineup turns over!
But he doesn't panic and strikes out Tsuruta on a slider inside. 2 outs!
He continues aggressively, getting ahead on Haneishi 1-2. But Haneishi holds off on a slider outside and the count goes full. Everyone will take off on the next pitch...
Grounder to the right side... base hit! One run will score... 2 runs will score! Haneishi's timely hit pulls Sakushin within 1. It's 3-2!!
Haneishi takes off on the first pitch! No throw from Michishita! Now a base hit could give them the lead.
After getting ahead of Ishii 1-2, again the count runs full. There is an open base but would you really?
Nubber up the first base line. Okada with it, tosses to Nishi, SAFE?
The 1st base umpire calls him not touching the bag! He hurriedly throws home, but it's not in time! 2 runs score on the error and Sakushin Gakuin gets the gyakuten run, 4-3!
Takayama flies out to right, but the miss at 1st proves costly. Did he really miss it??
Top 3rd
The rain has returned again and it's coming down hard. Sakada pops out to short.
Ootani seemingly picking up the pace as a game after 5 is an official game and they're ahead.
Okada strikes out swinging on a high fastball and Michishita pops out to left. 3 outs and they're one step closer.
Bottom 3rd
Looks like the rain has stopped, but the errors haven't. Okada muffs the grounder from Ootani and Nishi is late in covering.
Yamashita swinging away, hits a liner to center that Sakada just gets to.
Fuse tries the surprise bunt, but Okada is there quickly. Fujii is a little tardy getting to 1st, but they get the out.
Asano goes down and hits one to center! Ootani scores and it's 5-3 Sakushin Gakuin!
Takashima strikes out to end the inning, but Sakushin extends their lead.
Top 4th
Ootani doing a decent job given the conditions. He appears to have a fastball in the mid 130s, a two-seamer, and at least a slider in the high 110s-low 120s.
Yokota and now Katayama both are frozen by fastballs from Ootani and there's quickly 2 down.
Shimizu lines out to 1st and Kurashiki has to head out to the field again
Bottom 4th
The camera points to the skies past right field, and there's clear blue skies, so I don't think there's much to worry about for a called game. Not sure who that would have wanted that when, but no matter anymore.
Ootani was on his way to a quick inning, but when Haneishi hit a grounder to short, Katayama airmailed the throw. Ishii's K would have been the 3rd out, instead it's the 2nd and Haneishi steals 2nd to boot.
Takayama makes Kurashou pay! He drives a ball over Yokota's head for a double! Haneishi scores to make it a 6-3 game!
But Nishi can't get the inning to end. He walks Ootani, then throws a wild pitch allowing the runners to advance.
Yamashita with a hard hit ball up the middle! Fujii with the diving stop, fires to first... in time! Nice play to prevent more runs for scoring! But they do fall one more run behind.
Top 5th
Kurashou's offense has stalled over the last couple of innings. None of Kurashiki's batters are making good contact and are retired in order.
Bottom 5th
Sakushin's batters are having about as much luck, but are getting breaks. One out, Asano hits a popup to shallow center, but no one can get to it and it falls in.
Now, Michishita throws him out trying to steal 2nd, but then Takayama gets a glancing blow to the head from a pitch and takes 1st.
But Kobari-kantoku rolls the dice again, and once again Takayama is thrown out on a delayed steal to end the inning. We get to the break with Sakushin doubling up Kurashou 6-3.
Top 6th
Okada finally breaks the hit drought with a one-out single to left.
Ootani then has a ball get away from him and he hits Michishita in the wrist! Runners on 1st and 2nd with one down as Kobari-kantoku calls for time.
Oof. Another ball gets away from Ootani and Yokota has to quickly duck away.
Yokota with a solid strike, but it's right at Tsuruta for the 2nd out. Katayama stands in, with Kurashou in no position to afford not scoring here.
But Ootani blows an inside fastball by him and Kurashou is denied!
Bottom 6th
Nishi takes the mound having thrown 124 pitches. He's got a lot more work to do to keep his team in the game.
As for Nishi himself, he throws in the high 120s-low 130s with a slider sitting in the high 110s-low 120s and a change in the 100s.
Tsuruta goes down for the 3rd time, this time looking at a fastball outside.
Nishi then finally stops Haneishi from getting on base getting a groundout to 2nd.
Ishii with a low liner to center. Sakada diving, makes the catch! Risky move there, but it pays off! Nishi gets a proper 1-2-3 inning but still finds himself trailing by 3 as they enter the lucky 7.
Top 7th
Still, the Kurasho batters are not making good contact. Shimizu flies out to right. Nishi gets under one behind 0-2 and flies out to center.
Oop. The rain is back...
But even in the rain, Ootani continues to exhibit very good control.
Fujii flies out to right and well, there goes the lucky 7. 2 innings left to mount a comeback.
Bottom 7th
Takayama gets another bloop hit as the ball falls in once again between Katayama and Yokota.
Ootani tries to bunt the runner along, but is called out when the umpire deems he wasn't able to pull back his bat in time. One down.
Yamashita though singles through the left side, putting pressure back on Nishi.
Fuse grounds into a fielder's choice at 2nd, which places runners at the corners for Asano.
(Zip-a-dee-do-dah? Really?)
Asano with a grounder past Katayama into left. Takayama score to make it a 7-3 ballgame.
Takashima with another short popup, this time to right. Harukawa charges in and uses the wet turf to make a great sliding catch!
Top 8th
Harukawa inadvertantly jumps into the path of the ball as it was thrown behind him. Oh well, man on!
Sakada swinging on the hit-and-run! Asano with the diving attempt but it goes through! Runners on 1st and 2nd with no down!
No bunting anymore - Okada's swinging away!
Count runs in his favor 2-0. Two seamer inside for strike 1. Another one jams him and he flies out to left. 1 down.
Michishita hits a slow grounder to 3rd. He's retired and there's 2 down. They need to score these runs to have any chance in the 9th.
The task falls to Yokota, 1-3 on the day.
But like Michishita, he bails on an outside pitch and hits a slow roller to 3rd. Takashima makes the play and Kurashou's opportunity is wasted.
Bottom 8th
Nishi retires the side in order, tallying his 10th and 11th K's of the game. Yet it'll go for naught if they can't come back in the 9th
Top 9th
Bottom third of the order up in Katayama, Shimizu and Nishi...
Katayama grounds out to 2nd for the first out... Shimizu trying to foul off pitches looking for a better one, pops out to 2nd.
#15 Oosugi comes in to PH for Nishi, but falls behind 0-2 quickly. He's jammed and Takashima makes the catch near the mound to end the game.
Kurashiki Shougyou was never able to recover after giving up the 4-spot in the 2nd. Despite 11 K's from their ace Nishi, the offense was never able to gain traction to close the deficit. Not a bad job done by the boys from Okayama, but their road ends here. As for Sakushin Gakuin, it's yet another win at Koushien. The offense did looks sporadic at times, but they did have plenty of opportunities. Next up will be Naruto.
Notable Players
Ootani Shigehiro (Sakushin Gakuin) - CG, 3 ER, 7 H, 5 K, 3 BB
Takayama Ryousuke (Sakushin Gakuin) - 2-3, 2B, R, RBI, BB
Shimizu Shigeru (Kurashiki Shougyou) - 1-4, RBI
Sakushin Gakuin made the Best 4 at Natsu Koushien last year before losing to eventual runner-up Kousei Gakuin. In the fall, they defeated teams such as Hanasaki Tokuharu and Yokohama before being shutout by Urawa Gakuin in the championship.
Offensively, they look like they have some power through the lineup, but suffer the same issue that Kamimura Gakuen has - below-average contact. They have two speedsters at the top of the lineup, so expect them to try and run and run often when the order turns over.
On the mound is ace Ootani, another contact-type pitcher who doesn't strikeout a bunch of hitters (4.4 K/9), but counters it by limiting runners (1.11 WHIP).
Kurashiki Shougyou's keystone win was a 7-5 gyakuten win over Jyosuikan in the first round of the super-regionals. They would eventually lose 4-1 in the finals to Tottori Jyouhoku. They have almost the reverse problem Sakushin has, good contact, but little in extra base hits - which has been a recurring theme of a lot of teams which have played so far.
In addition, their ace Nishi allows a high number of baserunners (1.56 WHIP), and still doesn't strike out a lot of batters (5.29 K/9).
This game will probably be another one of those where the team from the more populous region will win out. I say this because the talent pool tends to be greater in more populous areas. It's just a general fact.
Kurashiki Shougyou (Okayama)
2B Fujii ShouriRF Harukawa Yasunori
CF Sakada Jyunichi
1B Okada Seiji
C Michishita Kouta
LF Yokota Yamato
SS Katayama Yoshiki
3B Shimizu Shigeru
P Nishi Ryuusei
Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)
CF Tsuruta KouyaLF Haneishi Hiroki
SS Ishii Kazunari
1B Takayama Ryousuke (#9)
P Ootani ShigehiroC Yamashita Yuuto
RF Fuse Kyouhei (#16)
2B Asano Shouya3B Takashima Shouma
__________________________________________________
Looks like the rain which was was though to have passed is back again. There was some rain near the end of the last game, and has come back before the start of the game. But it looks like it's cleared up enough and the players take the field! It looks like Shinohara may be injured so Takayama shifts to 1B and Fuse holds the fort in right.
11:45 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Fujii with a short liner over Takayama's head! Asano backing up the play throws to Ootani covering, but he can't hold on! Base hit!
Harukawa not bunting, and takes a ball away through the left side! No out, runners on 1st and 2nd for Sakada!
Sakada with the quick safety bunt! Takashima charges in but Sakada beats out the throw! Manrui immediately and Ootani in trouble!
But Okada swings at the first pitch and grounds it to Ishii! He steps on 2nd for one, throws to 1st for the double play! They concede the run for the 2 outs and Kurashiki takes a 1-0 lead!
The rain is coming down harder now it seems.
Michishita grounds out to 3rd for the third out and Ootani is fortunate to have given up just the one run.
Bottom 1st
After Nishi records two outs to start the inning, he walks Ishii. Then on two consecutive pitches, one is blocked but still allows Ishii to steal 2nd, then a wild pitch sends him to 3rd.
Nishi loses Takayama on 4 straight and he doesn't look comfortable on the mound at all in the rain.
Ootani up and he's thrown two more balls before getting the outside corner. Ootani gets fooled on a screwball and the count's even at 2-2.
SANSHIN! Nishi gets it together, getting Ootani on a slider inside for the 3rd out!
Top 2nd
The rain may play a part in this game one way or another before it ends here.
And it already is as the grounds crew is called out to work on the mound. And it looks like the umpires have called in the players while they put some equivalent of diamond dry onto the field. The rain continues to fall though, but I think they're trying to get this game in one way or another having already lost a day.
After about a 5 minute delay, the players are out again and we're ready to start play again.
Yokota gets the Kurashou offense going with a single to right!
And Katayama on a bunt attempt hits him on his right hand, and Ootani is in a pinch again here in the 2nd!
Wild pitch from Ootani! Runners advance a base and now Kobari-kantoku calls time.
Another wild pitch from Ootani! Yokota scores and Kurashou is up 2-0!
Shimizu with a single to center scoring Katayama! No reprieve this time around as Nishi sacrifices the runner along. Fujii grounds to 2nd, but advances the runner to 3rd.
Harukawa K's to end the inning, but Ootani's mistakes cost them a couple more runs.
Bottom 2nd
Yamashita with a hard liner to left. Yokota trying to make the sliding catch, but instead it deflects off him! Yokota comes in with a double!
Fuse with a liner up the middle! Katayama just misses it, but Yamashita has to hold because he had to wait for the ball to get through first. Runners on 1st and 2nd as Morimitsu-kantoku calls time.
Asano tries to bunt the runners along, but fouls it off and now is down 0-2. He still manages to lay it down and advance the runners.
Now it's Nishi's turn to be in a pinch! He hits Takashima and its manrui as the lineup turns over!
But he doesn't panic and strikes out Tsuruta on a slider inside. 2 outs!
He continues aggressively, getting ahead on Haneishi 1-2. But Haneishi holds off on a slider outside and the count goes full. Everyone will take off on the next pitch...
Grounder to the right side... base hit! One run will score... 2 runs will score! Haneishi's timely hit pulls Sakushin within 1. It's 3-2!!
Haneishi takes off on the first pitch! No throw from Michishita! Now a base hit could give them the lead.
After getting ahead of Ishii 1-2, again the count runs full. There is an open base but would you really?
Nubber up the first base line. Okada with it, tosses to Nishi, SAFE?
The 1st base umpire calls him not touching the bag! He hurriedly throws home, but it's not in time! 2 runs score on the error and Sakushin Gakuin gets the gyakuten run, 4-3!
Takayama flies out to right, but the miss at 1st proves costly. Did he really miss it??
Top 3rd
The rain has returned again and it's coming down hard. Sakada pops out to short.
Ootani seemingly picking up the pace as a game after 5 is an official game and they're ahead.
Okada strikes out swinging on a high fastball and Michishita pops out to left. 3 outs and they're one step closer.
Bottom 3rd
Looks like the rain has stopped, but the errors haven't. Okada muffs the grounder from Ootani and Nishi is late in covering.
Yamashita swinging away, hits a liner to center that Sakada just gets to.
Fuse tries the surprise bunt, but Okada is there quickly. Fujii is a little tardy getting to 1st, but they get the out.
Asano goes down and hits one to center! Ootani scores and it's 5-3 Sakushin Gakuin!
Takashima strikes out to end the inning, but Sakushin extends their lead.
Top 4th
Ootani doing a decent job given the conditions. He appears to have a fastball in the mid 130s, a two-seamer, and at least a slider in the high 110s-low 120s.
Yokota and now Katayama both are frozen by fastballs from Ootani and there's quickly 2 down.
Shimizu lines out to 1st and Kurashiki has to head out to the field again
Bottom 4th
The camera points to the skies past right field, and there's clear blue skies, so I don't think there's much to worry about for a called game. Not sure who that would have wanted that when, but no matter anymore.
Ootani was on his way to a quick inning, but when Haneishi hit a grounder to short, Katayama airmailed the throw. Ishii's K would have been the 3rd out, instead it's the 2nd and Haneishi steals 2nd to boot.
Takayama makes Kurashou pay! He drives a ball over Yokota's head for a double! Haneishi scores to make it a 6-3 game!
But Nishi can't get the inning to end. He walks Ootani, then throws a wild pitch allowing the runners to advance.
Yamashita with a hard hit ball up the middle! Fujii with the diving stop, fires to first... in time! Nice play to prevent more runs for scoring! But they do fall one more run behind.
Top 5th
Kurashou's offense has stalled over the last couple of innings. None of Kurashiki's batters are making good contact and are retired in order.
Bottom 5th
Sakushin's batters are having about as much luck, but are getting breaks. One out, Asano hits a popup to shallow center, but no one can get to it and it falls in.
Now, Michishita throws him out trying to steal 2nd, but then Takayama gets a glancing blow to the head from a pitch and takes 1st.
But Kobari-kantoku rolls the dice again, and once again Takayama is thrown out on a delayed steal to end the inning. We get to the break with Sakushin doubling up Kurashou 6-3.
Top 6th
Okada finally breaks the hit drought with a one-out single to left.
Ootani then has a ball get away from him and he hits Michishita in the wrist! Runners on 1st and 2nd with one down as Kobari-kantoku calls for time.
Oof. Another ball gets away from Ootani and Yokota has to quickly duck away.
Yokota with a solid strike, but it's right at Tsuruta for the 2nd out. Katayama stands in, with Kurashou in no position to afford not scoring here.
But Ootani blows an inside fastball by him and Kurashou is denied!
Bottom 6th
Nishi takes the mound having thrown 124 pitches. He's got a lot more work to do to keep his team in the game.
As for Nishi himself, he throws in the high 120s-low 130s with a slider sitting in the high 110s-low 120s and a change in the 100s.
Tsuruta goes down for the 3rd time, this time looking at a fastball outside.
Nishi then finally stops Haneishi from getting on base getting a groundout to 2nd.
Ishii with a low liner to center. Sakada diving, makes the catch! Risky move there, but it pays off! Nishi gets a proper 1-2-3 inning but still finds himself trailing by 3 as they enter the lucky 7.
Top 7th
Still, the Kurasho batters are not making good contact. Shimizu flies out to right. Nishi gets under one behind 0-2 and flies out to center.
Oop. The rain is back...
But even in the rain, Ootani continues to exhibit very good control.
Fujii flies out to right and well, there goes the lucky 7. 2 innings left to mount a comeback.
Bottom 7th
Takayama gets another bloop hit as the ball falls in once again between Katayama and Yokota.
Ootani tries to bunt the runner along, but is called out when the umpire deems he wasn't able to pull back his bat in time. One down.
Yamashita though singles through the left side, putting pressure back on Nishi.
Fuse grounds into a fielder's choice at 2nd, which places runners at the corners for Asano.
(Zip-a-dee-do-dah? Really?)
Asano with a grounder past Katayama into left. Takayama score to make it a 7-3 ballgame.
Takashima with another short popup, this time to right. Harukawa charges in and uses the wet turf to make a great sliding catch!
Top 8th
Harukawa inadvertantly jumps into the path of the ball as it was thrown behind him. Oh well, man on!
Sakada swinging on the hit-and-run! Asano with the diving attempt but it goes through! Runners on 1st and 2nd with no down!
No bunting anymore - Okada's swinging away!
Count runs in his favor 2-0. Two seamer inside for strike 1. Another one jams him and he flies out to left. 1 down.
Michishita hits a slow grounder to 3rd. He's retired and there's 2 down. They need to score these runs to have any chance in the 9th.
The task falls to Yokota, 1-3 on the day.
But like Michishita, he bails on an outside pitch and hits a slow roller to 3rd. Takashima makes the play and Kurashou's opportunity is wasted.
Bottom 8th
Nishi retires the side in order, tallying his 10th and 11th K's of the game. Yet it'll go for naught if they can't come back in the 9th
Top 9th
Bottom third of the order up in Katayama, Shimizu and Nishi...
Katayama grounds out to 2nd for the first out... Shimizu trying to foul off pitches looking for a better one, pops out to 2nd.
#15 Oosugi comes in to PH for Nishi, but falls behind 0-2 quickly. He's jammed and Takashima makes the catch near the mound to end the game.
Kurashiki Shougyou was never able to recover after giving up the 4-spot in the 2nd. Despite 11 K's from their ace Nishi, the offense was never able to gain traction to close the deficit. Not a bad job done by the boys from Okayama, but their road ends here. As for Sakushin Gakuin, it's yet another win at Koushien. The offense did looks sporadic at times, but they did have plenty of opportunities. Next up will be Naruto.
Notable Players
Ootani Shigehiro (Sakushin Gakuin) - CG, 3 ER, 7 H, 5 K, 3 BB
Takayama Ryousuke (Sakushin Gakuin) - 2-3, 2B, R, RBI, BB
Shimizu Shigeru (Kurashiki Shougyou) - 1-4, RBI
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
93rd Koshien Qualifying - Kanto Update
By the time I have come back to the Kanto region, we're pretty much approaching the finals in all prefectures. Such is the price of me trying to update every single bracket and trying to blog it while holding a regular 9-5 job. There's got to be a better way of doing it, but I need to book up on excel, access or something to figure out how...
Gunma
As the rounds progressed from the 3rd (which is what they were starting last I recapped), the lower seeded teams such as #7 Maebashi Ikuei, started falling by the wayside. In their case it was a shutout to Oomama (Please, no jokes here).
Also in the 3rd round, Shiritsu Isesaki, held scoreless for 6 innings and down 8, score 11 runs in the final 3 innings for the gyakuten win over Takasaki Keizaidai Fuzoku.
But the first real shoe to drop came in the quarterfinals. Top seed Maebashi Shougyou broke out to a 6-1 lead over Maebashi Kougyou before Maekou scored 4. Then when Maeshou extended the lead back to 3, Maekou got all those runs in the 9th to send it into extras. And in 12, Maekou would score the eventual winning run for the upset!
And if that weren't enough, in the very next game Takasaki Kenkoufukushi scores a run in the 9th to break a 4-4 tie with Jyutoku (who never led), to send the #2 seed home 5-4!
In a more milder upset, #5 Takasaki Shougyou scores 7 in the 8th to defeat #4 Takasaki 7-4.
The semis were not blowouts, but you seemed to know who was in control early. Takasaki Shougyou and Takasaki Kenkoufukushi advance to the finals, with one looking for their first Natsu Koushien appearance in over 2 decades, and the other looking for their first ever.
The final got off to a roaring start. Each team scored in the first two innings. The difference however is that Takasaki Kenkoufukushi continued scoring. For each of the next 5 innings. Takasaki Shougyou couldn't keep up with the scoring and as a result Takasaki Kenkoufukushi earns their first ever appearance with a 10-6 win!
Tochigi
Tochigi has gone from wrapping up the 2nd round to the semifinals (which is still going).
Finishing up Round 2, we had Ashikaga Minami scores 5 in the 8th to defeat Kurubane 5-3.
Round 3 saw another seeded team fall in Oyama who lost to Ashikaga Koudai Fuzoku 3-2 in 13.
But for the most part, things have gone as "planned" with the seeded teams advancing on. So the semifinals had Sakushin Gakuin defeating Bunsei Keidai Fuzoku 5-3 to reach the finals. But their opponent is not yet determined.
That's because the last remaining unseeded team in Utsunomiya Shougyou and Kokugakuin Tochigi battled to a 4-4 draw! This after Kokugakuin had to stave off elimination twice, down 2 in the 10th and down 1 in the 12th.
In the replay, seeded Kokugakuin Tochigi struggled. Despite giving up just 7 hits, Utsunomiya Shougyou made the most of those hits scoring 5 runs en route to a 5-1 win. So it's heavily favored Sakushin Gakuin versus the underdog Utsunomiya Shougyou, whose last Natsu Koushien appearance was in 1923. That's 88 years ago!
Ibaraki
Wrapping up the 2nd round, some of the seeded teams had trouble with their very first game. Tsuchiura Kohoku barely beat Tamataukuri Kougyou 1-0, and Mita Kiryou edging Ina 3-2 in 11.
Sadly for one of those teams, their run wouldn't last much longer. Mita Kiryou loses in the next round 6-4 to Tsukuba Shuuei.
In the round of 16 there were some close calls. #4 Fujioka almost got upset by Ishioka Dai-ichi, but won 2-1 in the bottom of 9th. Tsuchiura Kouhoku gets another scare as they were in a scoreless draw with Hasaki Yanagawa. In the 14th, Hasaki would score 2 putting a ton of pressure on the 7 seed. But I'm not sure how, but they found enough strength to rally for 3 runs and the win!
And finally there was Shimotsuma Dai-ni who had to stave off elimination in the 9th with 3 runs before defeating Tsuchiura Nichidai 8-7 in 12.
Remarkably, the entire bracket with the exception of Mito Kiryou went chalk. All higher seeds won their quarterfinal games and while not blowouts, they weren't in stressful situations either.
And yet for some reason, after going scratch for pretty much the entire tournament, it decides that the semifinals is a good time to turn everything on its head.
First, Fujishiro, despite being outhit 9-6 and committing 2 errors, find a way to upset top seed Jyousou Gakuin 2-0! Then Kasumigaura's ace Itou limits Suijyou to just 4 hits as they beat them 2-1!
So the top 2 seeds are gone, and it's the 4 and 6 seeds battling for the title! Kasumigaura had never been to Natsu Koushien (they did have a spring appearance in 1990), and Fujishiro went back in 2005 (plus 2 spring appearances in the early 2000's).
It was a back and forth battle as Kasumigaura came out to a 2-0 lead after 2, then Fujishiro came back with 2 in the next 2. Kasumigaura with 3 in the 5th retake the lead, but 2 in the 6th make the deficit 1. Fast forward to the bottom of the 9th, and Fujishiro is still down 1. #16 Yamaguchi had taken over for ace Itou on the hill and had gotten himself into some messes, including a bases loaded jam that he got out of with no damage.
3 outs to go and Fujishiro leadoff batter starts it off with a base hit. Needing only one run, they bunt the runner along. After a grounder to 1st, there were one out away. Cleanup batter Nakamura would step in. Yamaguchi gets strike 2 and gets excited. But on a full count, Nakamura walks! The sayonara run now was on base! Mitsu now stood in and once again Yamaguchi gets ahead 0-2, and again he's fired up. But then Mitsu hits one to left! The LF comes in but then pulls up! The ball falls in and Fujishiro ties the game! The LF didn't want to risk a miss on a diving catch and allowing the sayonara run to score! So it was now 5-5!
Satou up now and on any base hit they're sending the runner home...
2-0 pitch and the ball hits Satou. It's originally called a strike, but the umpire has to go over and call it a ball.
So 3-0 now and the risk of a manrui situation...
But Satou takes the pitch the other way into the right center field gap! Neither of the outfielders can get to it and it falls in! Nakamura scores as Yamaguchi falls to the ground. What was on the verge of excitement and joy was completely reversed for Yamaguchi and Kasumigaura... Whether it may have been the extra delay to get the count right, or the excitement that Yamaguchi may have felt being just 1 pitch away, it slipped away. And as much as we should congratulate Fujishiro for not giving up, Kasumigaura and more importantly Yamaguchi should be consoled for their loss.
Saitama
We were wrapping up the 3rd round in Saitama, and today are the finals.
Rounding up the 3rd round, Honjyou Dai-ichi down 3 scores 4 in the bottom of the 9th for the win over Fukaya Dai-ichi. They continued it in the next round winning in 10 over C seed (5-8) Shiritsu Kawagoe 3-2.
Kawagoe Higashi scores 4 in 9th reverse 2-run deficit to crush Kawagoe Nishi's hopes 4-2.
Just to show how hard it can be to win a prefecture, of the 16 seeds (2 A, 2 B, 4 C, 8 D), 8 advanced to the round of 16. 1 B seed , 2 C seeds and 5 D seeds all fell before then.
And just because you got here, doesn't mean you're there yet. Ageo though reaching the round of 16 was upset by Sayamagaoka 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th! Oomiya Higashi and Washimiya were fall here as well - along with powerhouse Seibou Gakuin who were defeated by Kasukabe Kyouei 4-2.
In the quarterfinals, all teams were in play on the 24th instead of on 2 separate days. Hanasaki Tokuharu, the only A seed remaining left, advanced without issue, much like the other games. Kasukabe Kyouei, thanks Sayamagaoka for defeating Ageo by letting them enjoy their summer with a 4-1 win. Urawa Gakuin, a faux D Seed mercy rules C Seed Oomiya Higashi. And unseeded Honjyou Dai-ichi upsets their 2nd seeded team in B seed Urawa Jitsugyou 4-2!
We had quite the semifinal battle early between Hanasaki Tokuharu and Urawa Gakuin. But tied at 2-2 after 5, Hanasaki pulls away with 4 runs in the next 3 innings for the 6-2 win. Battling them for the title would be Kasukabe Kyouei who had no trouble with Honjyou Dai-ichi 5-2.
The finals were set, and it slated to be a great matchup. And it was. The game was scoreless for the first 3 innings before C seed Kasukabe opened the scoring with a run. But an inning later, Hanasaki Tokuharu would respond with 2 runs to take the lead! It would be up to ace Kitagawa to hold it down for the top seed, and in the end he would, shutting down the Kasukabe offense and given Hanasaki Tokuharu their 2nd Natsu Koshien appearance, and 1st in 10 years!
Chiba
As Chiba was going into the Round of 16, when in theory all seeded teams could be remaining, we had our biggest upset of this tournament this year when Senshuudai Matsudo, an A seed, was upset by unseeded Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu 3-2!
More C & D seeds fell going into the round of 16, but in some cases it was unseeded vs. unseeded. Such was the case between Chiba Kokusai versus Chiba Shougyoudai Fuzoku. Shougyoudai had a 1-0 lead early, but the pitching couldn't hold Kokusai scoreless forever. As they started scoring from the 7th inning on, it seemed like Shougyoudai was lost. But they scored 4 in the 8th to comeback and win the game 5-4!
In another unseeded match last year's representative Narita went the distance against Tateyama Sougou before losing 3-2 in the bottom of the 15th.
Needless to say though, that the 2nd day of action to determine the round of 16 was much more kinder to the very top seeds. All in all, only 1 A seed (1-4) and 1 B seed (5-8), were lost.
In the round of 16, Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu in another unseeded game, fell behind 5-0 in the 1st 3 innings then came back to score a pair of runs in each of the next 3. Add an insurance run in the 9th and they were in the quarterfinals with a 7-5 win. Other than that everything went as expected though B seed Shigakukan was blitzed by C seed Kashiwa Nittai 6-1.
The quarterfinals began with an scare for A seed Narashino. Up 2 in the 9th against Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku, reliever Kimura squandered the lead allowing Keizaidai to tie the game! Luckily for Narashino though, they were able to regroup one inning later and score the sayonara run.
Toukaidai Urayasu though wasn't as fortunate. Takushokudai Kouryou would score 6 in the middle innings and take a commanding 6-0 lead. The A seed would try to make a comeback late, but there just wasn't enough time. 3 runs in the 9th were not enough as they fell 6-4!
And finally, Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu would upset their 2nd seeded team in Awa by a comfortable margin of 5-1!
The semifinals saw more of the usual with Narashino as Takushokudai Kounan was mercy ruled in 7. But the 2nd semifinal was another shocker in the making. Right out of the gate, Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu would build a 5-0 lead on the A seed Ryuukeidai Kashiwa. Ryuukeidai would score 4 in the 4th to pull within 1. They kept the deficit at 1 after trading a pair of runs later on. And then in the 9th, they'd finally pull level with Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu. It seemed like perhaps the tide was changing.
But in the bottom of the 9th, TGU would open the inning with a ball over the outfielder's head for a leadoff triple! Instead of loading the bases, they elect to pitch to the next batter... who hits a single for the sayonara walk-off! Unseeded Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu upsets their 2nd A seed this tournament and 3rd seeded team overall and found themselves in the finals!
In the finals though, stood a stout and formidable Narashino squad, who mercilessly opened the game with runs in the first 3 innings to get a 4-0 lead. TGU was unable to get any timely hits to narrow the deficit. While the relief staff was able to stop the bleeding, the offense was unable to make any ground.
Eventually the relief corps would break down, first with a run in the 7th, then 5 in the 8th and 4 in the 9th. And while Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu would prevent the shutout in the bottom of the 9th, Narashino would win their 8th summer title and go to Koushien for the first time in 10 years with a 14-2 win!
Nishi Tokyo
When it comes to prefectures, or in case part of a prefecture, where there are a lot of teams, it takes a while for the good teams to emerge. I always wonder if it's worth it to mention those teams that will in all likelihood never make it, but pull off comeback victories and the like because at that time it continues their summer.
For instance, Eimeikan versus Kodaira Minami down 3-1 tie the game in the 8th and go into extras. Threatened with elimination again in the 12th, they score a run to extend the game. Then in the final inning, the bottom of the 15th, they score the winning run to advance.
But as we approached the Best 8 is when the good teams (or perhaps lucky) started to shake out. 2 instances were Kokugakuin Kugayama blowing a 4-run lead in the 9th to Toukaidai Sugao before winning 6-4 in the 11th on a 2-run HR by ace Kawaguchi. The 2nd was Horikoshi who down 1 in the bottom of the 9th tied, then scored the sayonara run with 2 down.
Meanwhile Oberlin, despite 2 HRs from 3B Yamaguchi, were only able to hold the lead of a half-inning before Eimeikan took the lead for good winning 7-5. On a similar note, Shouwa, who may not be long for the tournament after this game (as they're facing Waseda Jitsugyou aka Soujitsu), down 1 in the 9th to Meijidai Meiji, scores 2 for the walkoff win.
And while I could say, "and so it was" since Soujitsu did indeed beat them, but despite getting 10 hits and 6 free passes, they managed just a 2-1 win. Nichidai-san (aka Sanko), had some trouble with Hino... for a while. Up 7-0, Hino started chipping into the lead. 2 in the 4th, 3 in the 5th, and one more in the 7th off Yoshinaga (who came in part-way through the 5th), meant that Sanko's lead was just 1!
Then Sanko decided to floor it. 8 runs later and Hino was threatened with the mercy rule. 3 runs against ace Yoshinaga in 1 inning was too much to ask, and that was that. Waseda Gakuin reached the round of 8 again, with a 9-7 win over Kougakuindai Fuzoku that was less competitive than the score indicated, and Kousei Gakuen who has submariner Mizoguchi.
In an odd turn, and I'm not sure if it was to prevent games possibly running late, or of it was due to not wanting both Waseda schools at the stadium, but Waseda Gakuin's game versus Nichidai Tsurugaoka was moved to Hachiouji Municipal. The game was close early, as Waseda quickly closed a 2-run deficit early. But Tsurugaoka started pulling away late, capped off with 4 in the 9th for an 8-2 win.
The other quarterfinals, were just not competitive at all. In fact, Soujitsu, Sanko and Kousei combined shut out their opponents to the tune of 34-0, and all but Kousei went 5 (Kousei played just 1 inning more).
Higashi Tokyo
Higashi Tokyo, also had similar stories. For instance, Nittai Ebara bids sayonara to Sumida Kougyou right after Sumida scored a run in the 9th to tie the game up. Nichidai Buzan rallied with 2 in the the 8th and 9th innings to wipe out a 3-run deficit incurred after giving up 7 in the 7th to Sundai Gakuen.
In what could be considered a quarterfinal-type matchup, Kanto Dai-ichi survives against Yukigaya in the 3rd round 3-2.
And in perhaps an example of needing those extra vowels, Shutoku wins their game over Tokyo Shidai Todoroki and will play Shuutoku (the more well-known school) who shut-out Shouin.
Going to the round of 16 we had teams like Nisshougakushadai Fuzoku who scored 3 in the top of the 9th to defeat Tokyo Jitsugyou 4-2 interdispersed with quite a few regulars.
I think what's been surprising about the Tokyo tournaments is that the quarterfinals have been so lopsided. All 4 games ended via the mercy rule. That leaves us Teikyou v. Seiritsu Gakuen, and Nishogakushadai Fuzoku v. Kanto Dai-ichi.
Kanagawa
Kanagawa had some good stories in the beginning. Yamakita scored 3 in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Seya 7-6. Course, they faced Yokohama next. But they put a good fight against Yokohama. In fact, ace Dotemoto limited Yokohama to just 3 hits. 3! And Yamakita out-hit Yohohama 5-3! But it's the final score that matters, and that was 2-0 Yokohama.
Keiou oddly had trouble with their 3rd round opponent Yurigaoka. The final score was 3-2 and they managed just 7 hits. Nichidai Fujisawa would be next. And in that game, Keiou just didn't look the same. No offense, no pitching, and no win. Nichidai Fujisawa moves on with a 5-2 win.
Chigasaki Nishihama had a sayonara homerun from no other than their ace Furumura to win 6-3! And in the next round they almost did the same thing against Touin Gakuen. Down 3-0 in the bottom of the 9th they once again made their push. But it fell one run short as they lost 3-2.
In a bit of a surprise, Hosei Dai-ni advances to the round of 16 with a 4-0 win over Kamakura Gakuen. I don't think I can recall a time when I really mentioned a Hosei team.
The round of 16 saw my dream of a back-to-back haru-natsu renzoku yuushou disappear. An early HR from Usuda wasn't enough for them as Yokohama scores 3 to end Toukaidai Sagami's bid. Next up would be Tachibana Gakuen (立花学園 - that one) who handled Nichidai 5-0.
Koujyou would have to wait one more day to figure out their opponent. Yokohama Sougakukan and Yokohama Ouyou both scored a run in the 6th, both aces - Sueyoshi and Sawada went the full distance, and the teams combined for just 11 hits in a 1-1 draw. Possible note for the replay, Ouyou batters struck out 19 times.
So onto the next day of games, and I don't think I had talked about Toukou Gakuen in years past, but here they are in the round of 16 beating Nichidai Fujisawa 2-1! Next up would be Hosei Dai-ni and ace Asano who shutout Sagamihara Sougou 1-0.
Touin Gakuen is looking to make a deep run yet again, and perhaps not get disappointed as in years past. They draw Busou next.
And finally, in the replay of the 1-1 tie, Yokohama Ouyou did indeed have problems, though they only struck out twice. Yokohama Sougakukan alone had 14 hits, more than the 1st game in total. And it would be Yokohama Sougakukan who would advance with a 3-0 win.
To the quarterfinals and Tachibana Gakuen gave Yokohama yet another challenge. Behind 3-0 they score 3 in the 7th to tie the game! Yokohama though would eventually win the game with a run in the 8th. But they've had some very close calls throughout the tournament. Yokohama Sougakukan would give it a crack next as Koujyou fell to them 5-1.
On the other side, Hosei Dai-ni's run ended rather flat against Toukou Gakuen 10-3 in 7. Touin Gakuen would be their opponent, though it required 12 innings to do so. One letter kanji difference between the two schools. Just a random observation.
To the semifinals and yet again, Yokohama gets a scare. Scoreless for the first 5 innings, they score 4 in the 6th. Despite that, Yokohama Sougakukan would start a comeback. Down 0-4, to 1-4, 1-5, 2-5, then 2 in the bottom of the 8th to make it just a 1 run ball game! Ace Souma retakes the hill in the 9th for the win, and they're in the finals - though perhaps not necessarily in the manner perhaps we were expecting.
And the other semifinal was a tug of war between Toukou and Touin, with neither side really able to break free from the other. That was until Kubota hit a 2-run HR in the 6th to give Toukou a 5-3 lead. But that wouldn't last either as Touin brought the deficit to 1 again. Though they had their chaces, Touin couldn't get that equalizer and as such Toukou advances to meet Yokohama!
Gunma
As the rounds progressed from the 3rd (which is what they were starting last I recapped), the lower seeded teams such as #7 Maebashi Ikuei, started falling by the wayside. In their case it was a shutout to Oomama (Please, no jokes here).
Also in the 3rd round, Shiritsu Isesaki, held scoreless for 6 innings and down 8, score 11 runs in the final 3 innings for the gyakuten win over Takasaki Keizaidai Fuzoku.
But the first real shoe to drop came in the quarterfinals. Top seed Maebashi Shougyou broke out to a 6-1 lead over Maebashi Kougyou before Maekou scored 4. Then when Maeshou extended the lead back to 3, Maekou got all those runs in the 9th to send it into extras. And in 12, Maekou would score the eventual winning run for the upset!
And if that weren't enough, in the very next game Takasaki Kenkoufukushi scores a run in the 9th to break a 4-4 tie with Jyutoku (who never led), to send the #2 seed home 5-4!
In a more milder upset, #5 Takasaki Shougyou scores 7 in the 8th to defeat #4 Takasaki 7-4.
The semis were not blowouts, but you seemed to know who was in control early. Takasaki Shougyou and Takasaki Kenkoufukushi advance to the finals, with one looking for their first Natsu Koushien appearance in over 2 decades, and the other looking for their first ever.
The final got off to a roaring start. Each team scored in the first two innings. The difference however is that Takasaki Kenkoufukushi continued scoring. For each of the next 5 innings. Takasaki Shougyou couldn't keep up with the scoring and as a result Takasaki Kenkoufukushi earns their first ever appearance with a 10-6 win!
Tochigi
Tochigi has gone from wrapping up the 2nd round to the semifinals (which is still going).
Finishing up Round 2, we had Ashikaga Minami scores 5 in the 8th to defeat Kurubane 5-3.
Round 3 saw another seeded team fall in Oyama who lost to Ashikaga Koudai Fuzoku 3-2 in 13.
But for the most part, things have gone as "planned" with the seeded teams advancing on. So the semifinals had Sakushin Gakuin defeating Bunsei Keidai Fuzoku 5-3 to reach the finals. But their opponent is not yet determined.
That's because the last remaining unseeded team in Utsunomiya Shougyou and Kokugakuin Tochigi battled to a 4-4 draw! This after Kokugakuin had to stave off elimination twice, down 2 in the 10th and down 1 in the 12th.
In the replay, seeded Kokugakuin Tochigi struggled. Despite giving up just 7 hits, Utsunomiya Shougyou made the most of those hits scoring 5 runs en route to a 5-1 win. So it's heavily favored Sakushin Gakuin versus the underdog Utsunomiya Shougyou, whose last Natsu Koushien appearance was in 1923. That's 88 years ago!
Ibaraki
Wrapping up the 2nd round, some of the seeded teams had trouble with their very first game. Tsuchiura Kohoku barely beat Tamataukuri Kougyou 1-0, and Mita Kiryou edging Ina 3-2 in 11.
Sadly for one of those teams, their run wouldn't last much longer. Mita Kiryou loses in the next round 6-4 to Tsukuba Shuuei.
In the round of 16 there were some close calls. #4 Fujioka almost got upset by Ishioka Dai-ichi, but won 2-1 in the bottom of 9th. Tsuchiura Kouhoku gets another scare as they were in a scoreless draw with Hasaki Yanagawa. In the 14th, Hasaki would score 2 putting a ton of pressure on the 7 seed. But I'm not sure how, but they found enough strength to rally for 3 runs and the win!
And finally there was Shimotsuma Dai-ni who had to stave off elimination in the 9th with 3 runs before defeating Tsuchiura Nichidai 8-7 in 12.
Remarkably, the entire bracket with the exception of Mito Kiryou went chalk. All higher seeds won their quarterfinal games and while not blowouts, they weren't in stressful situations either.
And yet for some reason, after going scratch for pretty much the entire tournament, it decides that the semifinals is a good time to turn everything on its head.
First, Fujishiro, despite being outhit 9-6 and committing 2 errors, find a way to upset top seed Jyousou Gakuin 2-0! Then Kasumigaura's ace Itou limits Suijyou to just 4 hits as they beat them 2-1!
So the top 2 seeds are gone, and it's the 4 and 6 seeds battling for the title! Kasumigaura had never been to Natsu Koushien (they did have a spring appearance in 1990), and Fujishiro went back in 2005 (plus 2 spring appearances in the early 2000's).
It was a back and forth battle as Kasumigaura came out to a 2-0 lead after 2, then Fujishiro came back with 2 in the next 2. Kasumigaura with 3 in the 5th retake the lead, but 2 in the 6th make the deficit 1. Fast forward to the bottom of the 9th, and Fujishiro is still down 1. #16 Yamaguchi had taken over for ace Itou on the hill and had gotten himself into some messes, including a bases loaded jam that he got out of with no damage.
3 outs to go and Fujishiro leadoff batter starts it off with a base hit. Needing only one run, they bunt the runner along. After a grounder to 1st, there were one out away. Cleanup batter Nakamura would step in. Yamaguchi gets strike 2 and gets excited. But on a full count, Nakamura walks! The sayonara run now was on base! Mitsu now stood in and once again Yamaguchi gets ahead 0-2, and again he's fired up. But then Mitsu hits one to left! The LF comes in but then pulls up! The ball falls in and Fujishiro ties the game! The LF didn't want to risk a miss on a diving catch and allowing the sayonara run to score! So it was now 5-5!
Satou up now and on any base hit they're sending the runner home...
2-0 pitch and the ball hits Satou. It's originally called a strike, but the umpire has to go over and call it a ball.
So 3-0 now and the risk of a manrui situation...
But Satou takes the pitch the other way into the right center field gap! Neither of the outfielders can get to it and it falls in! Nakamura scores as Yamaguchi falls to the ground. What was on the verge of excitement and joy was completely reversed for Yamaguchi and Kasumigaura... Whether it may have been the extra delay to get the count right, or the excitement that Yamaguchi may have felt being just 1 pitch away, it slipped away. And as much as we should congratulate Fujishiro for not giving up, Kasumigaura and more importantly Yamaguchi should be consoled for their loss.
Saitama
We were wrapping up the 3rd round in Saitama, and today are the finals.
Rounding up the 3rd round, Honjyou Dai-ichi down 3 scores 4 in the bottom of the 9th for the win over Fukaya Dai-ichi. They continued it in the next round winning in 10 over C seed (5-8) Shiritsu Kawagoe 3-2.
Kawagoe Higashi scores 4 in 9th reverse 2-run deficit to crush Kawagoe Nishi's hopes 4-2.
Just to show how hard it can be to win a prefecture, of the 16 seeds (2 A, 2 B, 4 C, 8 D), 8 advanced to the round of 16. 1 B seed , 2 C seeds and 5 D seeds all fell before then.
And just because you got here, doesn't mean you're there yet. Ageo though reaching the round of 16 was upset by Sayamagaoka 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th! Oomiya Higashi and Washimiya were fall here as well - along with powerhouse Seibou Gakuin who were defeated by Kasukabe Kyouei 4-2.
In the quarterfinals, all teams were in play on the 24th instead of on 2 separate days. Hanasaki Tokuharu, the only A seed remaining left, advanced without issue, much like the other games. Kasukabe Kyouei, thanks Sayamagaoka for defeating Ageo by letting them enjoy their summer with a 4-1 win. Urawa Gakuin, a faux D Seed mercy rules C Seed Oomiya Higashi. And unseeded Honjyou Dai-ichi upsets their 2nd seeded team in B seed Urawa Jitsugyou 4-2!
We had quite the semifinal battle early between Hanasaki Tokuharu and Urawa Gakuin. But tied at 2-2 after 5, Hanasaki pulls away with 4 runs in the next 3 innings for the 6-2 win. Battling them for the title would be Kasukabe Kyouei who had no trouble with Honjyou Dai-ichi 5-2.
The finals were set, and it slated to be a great matchup. And it was. The game was scoreless for the first 3 innings before C seed Kasukabe opened the scoring with a run. But an inning later, Hanasaki Tokuharu would respond with 2 runs to take the lead! It would be up to ace Kitagawa to hold it down for the top seed, and in the end he would, shutting down the Kasukabe offense and given Hanasaki Tokuharu their 2nd Natsu Koshien appearance, and 1st in 10 years!
Chiba
As Chiba was going into the Round of 16, when in theory all seeded teams could be remaining, we had our biggest upset of this tournament this year when Senshuudai Matsudo, an A seed, was upset by unseeded Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu 3-2!
More C & D seeds fell going into the round of 16, but in some cases it was unseeded vs. unseeded. Such was the case between Chiba Kokusai versus Chiba Shougyoudai Fuzoku. Shougyoudai had a 1-0 lead early, but the pitching couldn't hold Kokusai scoreless forever. As they started scoring from the 7th inning on, it seemed like Shougyoudai was lost. But they scored 4 in the 8th to comeback and win the game 5-4!
In another unseeded match last year's representative Narita went the distance against Tateyama Sougou before losing 3-2 in the bottom of the 15th.
Needless to say though, that the 2nd day of action to determine the round of 16 was much more kinder to the very top seeds. All in all, only 1 A seed (1-4) and 1 B seed (5-8), were lost.
In the round of 16, Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu in another unseeded game, fell behind 5-0 in the 1st 3 innings then came back to score a pair of runs in each of the next 3. Add an insurance run in the 9th and they were in the quarterfinals with a 7-5 win. Other than that everything went as expected though B seed Shigakukan was blitzed by C seed Kashiwa Nittai 6-1.
The quarterfinals began with an scare for A seed Narashino. Up 2 in the 9th against Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku, reliever Kimura squandered the lead allowing Keizaidai to tie the game! Luckily for Narashino though, they were able to regroup one inning later and score the sayonara run.
Toukaidai Urayasu though wasn't as fortunate. Takushokudai Kouryou would score 6 in the middle innings and take a commanding 6-0 lead. The A seed would try to make a comeback late, but there just wasn't enough time. 3 runs in the 9th were not enough as they fell 6-4!
And finally, Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu would upset their 2nd seeded team in Awa by a comfortable margin of 5-1!
The semifinals saw more of the usual with Narashino as Takushokudai Kounan was mercy ruled in 7. But the 2nd semifinal was another shocker in the making. Right out of the gate, Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu would build a 5-0 lead on the A seed Ryuukeidai Kashiwa. Ryuukeidai would score 4 in the 4th to pull within 1. They kept the deficit at 1 after trading a pair of runs later on. And then in the 9th, they'd finally pull level with Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu. It seemed like perhaps the tide was changing.
But in the bottom of the 9th, TGU would open the inning with a ball over the outfielder's head for a leadoff triple! Instead of loading the bases, they elect to pitch to the next batter... who hits a single for the sayonara walk-off! Unseeded Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu upsets their 2nd A seed this tournament and 3rd seeded team overall and found themselves in the finals!
In the finals though, stood a stout and formidable Narashino squad, who mercilessly opened the game with runs in the first 3 innings to get a 4-0 lead. TGU was unable to get any timely hits to narrow the deficit. While the relief staff was able to stop the bleeding, the offense was unable to make any ground.
Eventually the relief corps would break down, first with a run in the 7th, then 5 in the 8th and 4 in the 9th. And while Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu would prevent the shutout in the bottom of the 9th, Narashino would win their 8th summer title and go to Koushien for the first time in 10 years with a 14-2 win!
Nishi Tokyo
When it comes to prefectures, or in case part of a prefecture, where there are a lot of teams, it takes a while for the good teams to emerge. I always wonder if it's worth it to mention those teams that will in all likelihood never make it, but pull off comeback victories and the like because at that time it continues their summer.
For instance, Eimeikan versus Kodaira Minami down 3-1 tie the game in the 8th and go into extras. Threatened with elimination again in the 12th, they score a run to extend the game. Then in the final inning, the bottom of the 15th, they score the winning run to advance.
But as we approached the Best 8 is when the good teams (or perhaps lucky) started to shake out. 2 instances were Kokugakuin Kugayama blowing a 4-run lead in the 9th to Toukaidai Sugao before winning 6-4 in the 11th on a 2-run HR by ace Kawaguchi. The 2nd was Horikoshi who down 1 in the bottom of the 9th tied, then scored the sayonara run with 2 down.
Meanwhile Oberlin, despite 2 HRs from 3B Yamaguchi, were only able to hold the lead of a half-inning before Eimeikan took the lead for good winning 7-5. On a similar note, Shouwa, who may not be long for the tournament after this game (as they're facing Waseda Jitsugyou aka Soujitsu), down 1 in the 9th to Meijidai Meiji, scores 2 for the walkoff win.
And while I could say, "and so it was" since Soujitsu did indeed beat them, but despite getting 10 hits and 6 free passes, they managed just a 2-1 win. Nichidai-san (aka Sanko), had some trouble with Hino... for a while. Up 7-0, Hino started chipping into the lead. 2 in the 4th, 3 in the 5th, and one more in the 7th off Yoshinaga (who came in part-way through the 5th), meant that Sanko's lead was just 1!
Then Sanko decided to floor it. 8 runs later and Hino was threatened with the mercy rule. 3 runs against ace Yoshinaga in 1 inning was too much to ask, and that was that. Waseda Gakuin reached the round of 8 again, with a 9-7 win over Kougakuindai Fuzoku that was less competitive than the score indicated, and Kousei Gakuen who has submariner Mizoguchi.
In an odd turn, and I'm not sure if it was to prevent games possibly running late, or of it was due to not wanting both Waseda schools at the stadium, but Waseda Gakuin's game versus Nichidai Tsurugaoka was moved to Hachiouji Municipal. The game was close early, as Waseda quickly closed a 2-run deficit early. But Tsurugaoka started pulling away late, capped off with 4 in the 9th for an 8-2 win.
The other quarterfinals, were just not competitive at all. In fact, Soujitsu, Sanko and Kousei combined shut out their opponents to the tune of 34-0, and all but Kousei went 5 (Kousei played just 1 inning more).
Higashi Tokyo
Higashi Tokyo, also had similar stories. For instance, Nittai Ebara bids sayonara to Sumida Kougyou right after Sumida scored a run in the 9th to tie the game up. Nichidai Buzan rallied with 2 in the the 8th and 9th innings to wipe out a 3-run deficit incurred after giving up 7 in the 7th to Sundai Gakuen.
In what could be considered a quarterfinal-type matchup, Kanto Dai-ichi survives against Yukigaya in the 3rd round 3-2.
And in perhaps an example of needing those extra vowels, Shutoku wins their game over Tokyo Shidai Todoroki and will play Shuutoku (the more well-known school) who shut-out Shouin.
Going to the round of 16 we had teams like Nisshougakushadai Fuzoku who scored 3 in the top of the 9th to defeat Tokyo Jitsugyou 4-2 interdispersed with quite a few regulars.
I think what's been surprising about the Tokyo tournaments is that the quarterfinals have been so lopsided. All 4 games ended via the mercy rule. That leaves us Teikyou v. Seiritsu Gakuen, and Nishogakushadai Fuzoku v. Kanto Dai-ichi.
Kanagawa
Kanagawa had some good stories in the beginning. Yamakita scored 3 in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Seya 7-6. Course, they faced Yokohama next. But they put a good fight against Yokohama. In fact, ace Dotemoto limited Yokohama to just 3 hits. 3! And Yamakita out-hit Yohohama 5-3! But it's the final score that matters, and that was 2-0 Yokohama.
Keiou oddly had trouble with their 3rd round opponent Yurigaoka. The final score was 3-2 and they managed just 7 hits. Nichidai Fujisawa would be next. And in that game, Keiou just didn't look the same. No offense, no pitching, and no win. Nichidai Fujisawa moves on with a 5-2 win.
Chigasaki Nishihama had a sayonara homerun from no other than their ace Furumura to win 6-3! And in the next round they almost did the same thing against Touin Gakuen. Down 3-0 in the bottom of the 9th they once again made their push. But it fell one run short as they lost 3-2.
In a bit of a surprise, Hosei Dai-ni advances to the round of 16 with a 4-0 win over Kamakura Gakuen. I don't think I can recall a time when I really mentioned a Hosei team.
The round of 16 saw my dream of a back-to-back haru-natsu renzoku yuushou disappear. An early HR from Usuda wasn't enough for them as Yokohama scores 3 to end Toukaidai Sagami's bid. Next up would be Tachibana Gakuen (立花学園 - that one) who handled Nichidai 5-0.
Koujyou would have to wait one more day to figure out their opponent. Yokohama Sougakukan and Yokohama Ouyou both scored a run in the 6th, both aces - Sueyoshi and Sawada went the full distance, and the teams combined for just 11 hits in a 1-1 draw. Possible note for the replay, Ouyou batters struck out 19 times.
So onto the next day of games, and I don't think I had talked about Toukou Gakuen in years past, but here they are in the round of 16 beating Nichidai Fujisawa 2-1! Next up would be Hosei Dai-ni and ace Asano who shutout Sagamihara Sougou 1-0.
Touin Gakuen is looking to make a deep run yet again, and perhaps not get disappointed as in years past. They draw Busou next.
And finally, in the replay of the 1-1 tie, Yokohama Ouyou did indeed have problems, though they only struck out twice. Yokohama Sougakukan alone had 14 hits, more than the 1st game in total. And it would be Yokohama Sougakukan who would advance with a 3-0 win.
To the quarterfinals and Tachibana Gakuen gave Yokohama yet another challenge. Behind 3-0 they score 3 in the 7th to tie the game! Yokohama though would eventually win the game with a run in the 8th. But they've had some very close calls throughout the tournament. Yokohama Sougakukan would give it a crack next as Koujyou fell to them 5-1.
On the other side, Hosei Dai-ni's run ended rather flat against Toukou Gakuen 10-3 in 7. Touin Gakuen would be their opponent, though it required 12 innings to do so. One letter kanji difference between the two schools. Just a random observation.
To the semifinals and yet again, Yokohama gets a scare. Scoreless for the first 5 innings, they score 4 in the 6th. Despite that, Yokohama Sougakukan would start a comeback. Down 0-4, to 1-4, 1-5, 2-5, then 2 in the bottom of the 8th to make it just a 1 run ball game! Ace Souma retakes the hill in the 9th for the win, and they're in the finals - though perhaps not necessarily in the manner perhaps we were expecting.
And the other semifinal was a tug of war between Toukou and Touin, with neither side really able to break free from the other. That was until Kubota hit a 2-run HR in the 6th to give Toukou a 5-3 lead. But that wouldn't last either as Touin brought the deficit to 1 again. Though they had their chaces, Touin couldn't get that equalizer and as such Toukou advances to meet Yokohama!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
93rd Koushien Qualifying - July 12th-15th (Kanto Region)
Covering Kanto will be tough considering the sheet number of games that will be played. But we got to cover them, so いくよ！
Gunma
Gunma actually gets a break after games on the 12th. Well, it was supposed to be anyways.
At Isesaki, Tsumagoi used a 4-run 8th to pull a reversal on Oota Kougyou 6-4. Nishioura held a 3-0 lead over Oota, but watched as the lead slipped away. Oota would tie the game and force extra innings. In the 11, Nishioura scored a run, but couldn't close out the game as Oota got a run on ace Morie. Onto the 12th and once again Nishoura scored a run, and once again Morie couldn't hold. But after that neither team could mount another charge. And thus the game ends in a 5-5 draw!
Moving on to Kiryuu, and Haruna uses a 4-run bottom of the 8th to beat Maebashi Nishi 5-2. Tatebayashi Shoukou scores 7 in the 6th to win 8-0 in 7 against Shibukawa Kougyou.
Takasaki Jyounan is our next stop and Oota Shougyou and Takasaki Kenkoufukushi advance via the mercy rule. In the 3rd game, Takasaki Higashi retakes the lead right after Annaka Sougou scores 3 to take a 1 run lead. They would go on to win 4-3.
Finally at Shikishima, Tokiwa has no problem with Maebashi Minami, while Maebashi Kougyou and Isesaki Shougyou throw 4-0 shutouts.
Nishoura and Oota would come back the next day for their replay, and both aces retook the hill. However, Oota's ace Tajima couldn't keep up the 2nd time around and was knocked out in just 2 innings. By that time, Nishioura was up 6-0 and went on to win by that margin at 13-7.
Tochigi
Tochigi is well into their 2nd round now. So let's see what's happened since the 11th:
Round 1
Ibaraki had completed 1st round play by the 13 and was off until the 16th.
Kasama
In notable games from the 2nd round:
July 12th
Kami-Yugi
Round 2
Edogawa-ku Stadium
Meiji Jingu Stadium
Edogawa-ku Stadium
Round 1 (July 12~14)
With all teams in play, games are generally played in twos with the winners at each stadium meeting up in the next round.
Gunma
Gunma actually gets a break after games on the 12th. Well, it was supposed to be anyways.
At Isesaki, Tsumagoi used a 4-run 8th to pull a reversal on Oota Kougyou 6-4. Nishioura held a 3-0 lead over Oota, but watched as the lead slipped away. Oota would tie the game and force extra innings. In the 11, Nishioura scored a run, but couldn't close out the game as Oota got a run on ace Morie. Onto the 12th and once again Nishoura scored a run, and once again Morie couldn't hold. But after that neither team could mount another charge. And thus the game ends in a 5-5 draw!
Moving on to Kiryuu, and Haruna uses a 4-run bottom of the 8th to beat Maebashi Nishi 5-2. Tatebayashi Shoukou scores 7 in the 6th to win 8-0 in 7 against Shibukawa Kougyou.
Takasaki Jyounan is our next stop and Oota Shougyou and Takasaki Kenkoufukushi advance via the mercy rule. In the 3rd game, Takasaki Higashi retakes the lead right after Annaka Sougou scores 3 to take a 1 run lead. They would go on to win 4-3.
Finally at Shikishima, Tokiwa has no problem with Maebashi Minami, while Maebashi Kougyou and Isesaki Shougyou throw 4-0 shutouts.
Nishoura and Oota would come back the next day for their replay, and both aces retook the hill. However, Oota's ace Tajima couldn't keep up the 2nd time around and was knocked out in just 2 innings. By that time, Nishioura was up 6-0 and went on to win by that margin at 13-7.
Tochigi
Tochigi is well into their 2nd round now. So let's see what's happened since the 11th:
Round 1
- At Kanuma, Utsunomiya Kita levels the score at 3 in the 9th then gets the gyakuten run in the 10th to beat Kaminokawa. The 2nd game on the 12th saw Hakuoudai Ashikaga slide by 2-1 on Seiran Taito. And in the last game scheduled for the stadium, Kanumi Minami goes the minimum on Nasu Kaijyou.
- Prefectural Tochigi saw seeded Ootawara have to rally from down 6-0 to Utsunomiya Shougyou to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th. All that work though went for naught when Utsunomiya scored a run in the 10th for the upset! Fellow seed Kokugakuin Tochigi proceeded to the next round though only by a 5-2 margin against Sano.
- Tochigi Municipal on the 12th had 2 blowouts with Kuroiso Minami and seeded Mooka Kougyou winning easily while Ashikaga Kougyou had to forfeit to Kanuma Shoukou. The next day was more competitive as Kurubane scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Utsunomiya Higashi 4-3 while Motegi survived a 9th inning rally to defeat Mibu 4-3.
- Utsunomiya Minami started off Round 2 with a 7-4 win over Tochigi Kougyou. Their next opponent will be Utsunomiya who beat Imaichi 14-2. Also at Prefectural Tochigi, seeded Sakushin and Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku both won by the mercy rule. Bunsei will play Sakura Seishuu after beating Mooka 4-2.
- Nasu Seihou will be Sakushin Gakuin's opponent in the round of 16 after just getting by Oyama Hokuou 2-1. Yaita Chuo and Kanuma will meet up in the round of 16 after both shut out their respective opponents, Sano Nichidai and Utsunomiya Seiryou.
Ibaraki had completed 1st round play by the 13 and was off until the 16th.
Kasama
- Tokiwadai scores the only run in its game against Koga Dai-san, while Yuuki Dai-ichi gets the last laugh with its 4 runs in the 9th reversing the 4 Sowa Kougyou scored in the 1st to win 6-5.
- Souwa and Ushiku Eishin will square off in their next round after winning their respective games. Hasaki and Ibaraki, who played on the 13th, will too face each other after winning their games, though Ibaraki almost blew a 4-run lead in the bottom of the 9th.
- Tamataukuri Kougyou's reward for beating Tsukuba Kouka will be a matchup against #7 Tsuchiura Kohoku while Ina will face #3 Mito Kiryou. Shimodate Dai-ichi after getting the sayonara victory against Ryuugasaki Minami will play Tsuchiura Dai-san.
- Midorigaoka led Katsuta Kougyou 3-2 before Katsuta scored 2 in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead. But then Midorigaoka scored 2 of their own to re-take it. And then Katsuta scored 2 more to... well... win. Mito Kougyou will meet #6 Kasumigaura after mercy ruling Hitachi Dai-ichi
In notable games from the 2nd round:
- Yashio scores 1 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th to beat Yashio Minami 5-3.
- Almost all seeded teams advanced with little opposition. 3-4 seed Okegawa gave up 4 runs to Matsuyama in the 5th to take a 5-2 lead. An insurance run in the 7th proved to be the difference as Okegawa would score 3 in the bottom half of the inning to close within 1.
- Fudouoka, down 7-4, rally in the last 2 innings to tie it at 8 versus Kawagoe. The game goes 5 more innings before Fudouoka completes the comeback to win 9-8 in 14.
- Unseeded Seibou Gakuen moves on with a 6-1 win over Hanyuu Jitsugyou.
- In the 11th, Oomiya Kita would score 2 right after Kitamoto scored 1. Of course that means that Oomita Kita scored the winning run.
- Honjyou Dai-ichi scores 3 in the bottom of the 8th to make a reversal on Koshigaya Nishi 4-3.
- Sakae Kita has a lucky 7 as 5 runs propel them to a 7-5 win over Kumagaya Nishi.
- Finally, Shiritsu Urawa and Wakou do all their scoring in the last 2 innings, but it was the 2-1 margin that Urawa had that was the difference.
- 9-16 seed Sayamagaoka shuts out Fukaya Shougyou 4-0.
- Omiya Prefectural is where the major seeded teams go. 1-2 seed Hanasaki Tokuharu and Rikkyou Niiza both win handily. However Ageo struggled with Kumagaya Shougyou. Only able to build a 3-0 lead, Kumashou mounted a 2-out comeback in the bottom of the 9th. They made a pitching change and recorded the last out.
- 9-16 seed Kawaguchi needed runs in the 8th and 9th to defeat Shouhei 4-3.
- Tokorozawa Kita's advancement by forfeit showed a bit as they had to rally twice, once in extras, to defeat Namegawa Sougou 3-2 in 11.
- 5-8 seed Kasukabe Kyouei has a smoother 2nd round as they beat Kodama 10-0 in 6 innings.
- Seibou Gakuen faced their first tough game against Tokorozawa Chuo going 12 innings before winning 4-3.
- It was a crazy 11th inning between Sakae Higashi and Asaka. Sakae Higashi scored 2 and looked to advance, but it was Asaka who had the last laugh scoring 3 to finish the game!
July 12th
- Senshuudai Matsudo and Chiba Meitoku were involved in a late scramble. Down by 1, Chiba Meitoku scores 2 to take a 4-3 lead over the top 4 seed. Matsudo scrambling in the bottom of the 9th ties it up! And then in extras Meitoku once again puts the pressure on the top seed with 2 more runs! Yet Matsudo proves their mettle by once again scoring enough to tie the game! And after a scoreless 11th, the game is called a draw (much to my surprise).
- Toukaidai Bouyou, a strong non-seeded team was hanging in there against Ryuukeidai Kashiwa. But things went horribly wrong in the bottom of the 8th, and Kashiwa separated themselves with 4 runs for a 9-5 win.
- 5-8 seed Shigakukan had opportunity after opportunity against Kokubun. 9 hits, 16 walks, and yet it took until the bottom of the 10 for them to score the one and only run of the game.
- 9-12 seed Sakura Nishi was completely blindsided by Matsudo Kokusai, falling 8-0 in 8 innings.
- Yakuendai emphatically states it doesn't want to play extras, breaking a 4-4 tie with 4 in the top of the 9th over Mobara Shougyou.
- Chiba Kougyou blows a 2-0 lead to Tougane, but manages to tie it up and win in the bottom of the 10th.
- Nagasa shocks Shiritsu Matsudo as they score 4 in the top of the 9th. This after Matsudo had scored 2 the prior half inning to lead 4-2.
- 5-8 seed Kisaradzu Sougou in deep trouble against Kemigawa, score 6 in the bottom of the 8th to win 8-5.
- Narashino 3-hits Chiba Minami in 7, advancing with a 7-0 win.
- 5-8 seed Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku was in a lot of trouble against Chuo Gakuin. In fact after 5 innings they trailied 5-0! But Chuo Gakuin couldn't stand the pressure of holding the lead. Immediately they started giving back runs - 2 in the 6th, then 1... 2.... 3... 4 runs in the 7th meant that Chuo would have to come from behind. But as is generally the case you get one shot and Chuo sadly wasted it. 7-5 Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku advances.
- 9-12 seed Awa handles Chiba Kita easily in their 1st game 11-4 in 7 innings.
- And in the replay of the Senshuudai Matsudo-Chiba Meitoku game, Chiba Meitoku couldn't repeat their performance. Matsudo advances 5-2.
- 13-16 seed Keiai Gakuen in their first game manages just 3 runs, but shuts out Shuumei Yachiyo.
- 5-8 seed Takushokudai Kouryou goes into extras against Kisaradzu, and manages to win in the 10th inning 4-2.
- A lot of the lower seeds are having difficulties in their opening games and 9-12 seed Choushi Shougyou is no different, beating Shounan Takayanagi 3-0.
- 13-16 seed Makuhari Shougyou does fall, 4-1 to Chiba Shoudai Fuzoku.
- Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu is one of the teams to start 3rd round play and advance 6-3 over Funabashi Keimei.
- Ryuukeidai Kashiwa is taken to the limit against Funabashi Higashi, scoring the sayonara run in the bottom of the 9th.
- Narita moves onto the 3rd round, though by only a 5-1 margin over Nagareyama Ootakanomori.
- And in their 3rd game in 3 days, Senshuudai Matsudo moves on with a 6-2 win over Chiba Kougyou.
- Kisaradzu Sougyou is one of the first major teams to fall. Playing against Yachiyo, the teams plated at least 1 run in each of the first 3 innings. Combine that with a run for Kisaradzu and it was a 6-5 lead. But then in the lucky 7, Yachiyo scores 7 for a 12-6 lead! Then in the 8th, Kisaradzu fighting for its life scores 6 to tie the game! Surely this would break Yachiyo. But thir 5th pitcher, SS Nakayama couldn't build on the momentum. He gives up 3 runs in the 9th. Kisaradzu tries to make one more rally, but can only manage 1 as they fall 15-13!
- Meanwhile Awa has trouble of their own against Narita Kokusai. Down 3-1, they score 2 in the 8th, then down 4-3 they score 2 in the 9th for the win.
- 9-12 seed Kashiwa Nittai needed 2 in the 7th to beat Funabashi Futawa 6-4.
- 5-8 seed Shigakukan defeats Abiko Higashi, but only pulled away late with 8 runs in the last 2 innings.
- Former participant Yachiyo Higashi advances with a 6-4 win over Kashiwa, though the game was tenuous in the middle innings.
- Narashino up against Kashiwa Chuo in the 3rd round advances with a 6-2 win. And I can't tell what they were doing because they used 5 pitchers in the game!
- Kamagaya moves on, coming from down 4-1 to win 5-4 in the bottom of the 9th to send Oohara home.
- Toukaidai Urayasu also got a scare from Sodegaura. After falling behind 2-0, they score 4 in the 6th and eventually won 5-3.
- Tokyo Gakkan will be Awa's next opponent after shutting out Tsudanuma 3-0.
- Amaha tries to rally against Chiba Nishi, but falls one run short. Chiba Nishi will face Yachiyo who mentioned earlier defeated Kisaradzu Sougou.
- Yotsukaidou is the next 13-16 seed to fall, losing to Shounan 3-2.
Kami-Yugi
- 1st round - Kodaira Minami holds off 9th inning rally by Nerima Kougyou, win 2-1.
- Waseda Jitsugyou dispatches Keimei Gakuen 12-1 in 5.
- Meiji Gakuin Higashi-Murayama needs 10 innings to plate their runs, but beat Yamazaki 2-0.
- Meijidai Nakano-Hachiouji defeats Taisei 7-1. Y'know it's a wonder how the Big 6 schools aren't better represented here.
- Hino, who reached the Best 4 not too long ago, defeats Meisei 7-0 in 8.
- Chuodai Fuzoku had taken the lead 3-1 over Tanashi Kougyou with 3 in the 8th, but gave up 3 in the bottom of the 9th for the loss.
- In a bizarre called game, Touhou and Nerima were in a 10-8 game after Nerima scored a run in the top of the 7th. Three pitchers pitch the 7th for Nerima, but combined they cannot record 3 outs. Touhou scores 9 to call the game at 17-10!!
- Teikyou Hachiouji beats Fuchuu Higashi 3-1.
- Round 1 - Hinodai gets the go-ahead run in the 9th on Toyotama to win 4-3.
- Teikyoudai falls 7-0 in 8 to Mitaka.
- Souka easily beats Musashi Murayama 10-0 in 7.
- Round 2 - Toukaidai Sugao easily defeats Takushoudai Dai-ichi 13-4 in 7.
- Round 1 - Fuchuu and Kokubunji win their respective games via mercy rule and will play each other next round.
- Round 2 - Nichidai-ni continues their run with a 7-0 win over Kunitachi while Meijidai Nakano scored 4 in the 8th to separate themselves in a 7-3 win over Machida Kougyou.
- Dai-yon Shougyou rallies to tie the game against Tamadai Hijirigaoka, but can't respond when Tamadai scores the go-ahead run in the 8th.
- Kousei Gakuen (not to be confused with Kousei Gakuin), handles Mizuho Nougei 15-0 in 5.
- Machida can't erase a 3-run deficit to Higashi-Yamato Minami and fall 4-3.
- Hamura breaks the deadlock with Itsukaichi in the 10th to win 4-3.
- Wako did one better the next game (if you consider how long extra inning games a good thing) by going 11 after giving up a 2-ru lead to Tama Kougyou to win... yep 4-3.
- The next day Toua Gakuen had to rally down 3-0 to Jissen Gakuen and tied the game in the 8th. They scored the sayonara run in the 9th to win... 4-3.
- Kogakuindai Fuzoku allows Houseidai to get back into the game, but 2 runs in the 7th prove to be the final margin. The finals score is not 4-3. It's 5-3.
- Shouwa, down 3-0 to Hachiouji Kita in the top of the 9th finds a way to tie the game and send it to enchousen. There they score the winning run to win... 4-3. (Hah!)
- Waseda Gakuin, who seems to play 2nd fiddle to Waseda Jitsugyou when it comes to baseball beats Musashigaoka 5-2.
Round 2
Edogawa-ku Stadium
- In a matchup that I thought should have been later, it wound up being lopsided as Kanto Dai-ichi mercy rules Kokushikan 8-0 in 7.
- Some home-cooking does the trick for Edogawa as they score the winning run against Kaisei in the top of the 8th to win 7-6.
- Teikyou continues to plug along quickly with a 7-0 win over Shouwa Tetsudou in 7.
Meiji Jingu Stadium
- In another game that seemed a bit of a surprise, Shouin scores 10 in the 5th on their way to mercy ruling Kokugakuin 14-7.
- Nishogakushadai Fuzoku beats Sougou Kouka's 3 runs in the middle innings with 5 of its own in a 5-4 win.
- Tokyo Jitsugyou cancels a quick 2-0 lead by Keika Shouyou then scores 4 in the 8th for the victory.
- Kaijyou slops a little after building an 8-0 lead on Tsukubadai Fuzoku Komaba, but hold to won 8-5.
- Daidou Bunkadai Dai-ichi defeats Risshoudai Risshou 16-0 in 5.
- Kuritsu Kudan watches Itabashi level the score at 1 in the 6th, but replied with a run of their own to retake the lead. That would hold as they win 2-1.
- In almost a replay of the first game, Shibaura Koudai recovers after Higashi scores the equalizer in the 6th to win 2-1.
- Shinjuku was one step behind Ikubunkan the entire game, scoring runs the inning after they did. Sadly, they ran out of innings to come back and fell 10-9.
- Momijigawa tried to make a 2-run first stick, but Ryuugoku would scratch away to tie the game in the 8th. Momijigawa would have the last laugh though as they scored in the bottom of the 10th.
- Nihon Wellness jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, and led 5-3 after 4. 2 more in the 6th and they looked comfy over Tokyo Shidai Todoroki. However, Todoroki would score 5 in the bottom of the inning shocking Wellness. 3 more in the 8th spelled the deathknell for the team.
- Also showing the ranking on the totem pole (in baseball anyways), Waseda falls to Shuutoku 9-0 in 7 innings proving that yes Waseda may have the brains, but Waseda Jitsugyou has the balls. (Boy, that sounded wrong)
- And not to be mistaken for the aforementioned team, Shutoku edges out Tokyo Seitokudai Fuzoku 5-4.
- Earlier, I had mentioned that I thought I had seen the strangest called game. I was wrong. This one was. Kaetsu Ariake vs. Hinode. Hinode had just scored 3 in the 4th to take a 6-5 lead. Innocent enough. Then Kaetsu scores 7 and then 6 to take a commanding 18-6 lead. But before they could eliminate them, Hinode scores 3 to keept the game going, but just. After one run from Ariake in the 7th, Hinode needed 4 to avoid a called game. They scored 5 and were trailing 19-14! That's when Ariake stepped on the gas, scored 8 and seemed to put the game out of reach. In fact it was. Hinode could only muster 3 as they lose 27-17 in 8 innings!
Edogawa-ku Stadium
- Teikyou continues to cruise along defeating Jyoutou 14-2 in 7.
- Houyuu Gakuen gives up a 2-0 lead to Risshisha, but scores the sayonara run in the 9th.
- Hongou and Kinjyou Gakuen get involved in a barn-burner, though it didn't start out that way. Kinjyou led 4-1 through 5 before Hongou scored 4 in the 6th to take the lead. Kinjyou retook the lead one inning later with a pair of runs. Then after Hongou tied it at 6 in the 8th, Kinjyou once again took that run back. Hongou then tried to end it in the 9th with 5 runs, but then Kinjyou scored 4 and they went into extras tied at 11! It would be the 11th inning where Kinjyou would finally finish Hongou off, but not before the teams 37 hits and 13 walks in this marathon!
- Jyousaidai Jyousai staves off a rally by Koyamadai to win 4-3.
- Komaba's run to the title ends in the 3rd round to Adachi Gakuen when they score 3 in the top of the 9th to break a 2-2 tie.
- Adachi Gakuen continues to chug along with a 12-0 win over Oomori Gakuen.
- Tsukubadai Fuzoku stays with Katsushika Shougyou coming back twice before scoring the sayonara run in the 9th.
- Adachi Kougyou held a comfortable 7-2 lead heading into the late innings. But for some reason or another, the team imploded in the 8th. Shiba scores 7 runs to take a 2-run advantage. Adachi cannot rally and thus make an early exit.
Round 1 (July 12~14)
- Ayase and Zama Sougou were involved in a close match which went into extras. It continued as each team tallied a run in the 12th. But in the last inning, Zama broke through against Ayase's 3rd reliever Harada. 4 runs later and Ayase would be eliminated.
- Seya down 1 in the top of the 9th to Kanazawa Sougou ties the game, and like Zama scored 4 to win the game.
- At Yokohama Baystars Stadium, we had yet 2 more extra inning games. Kenritsu Shoukou let a 5-2 lead slip late to Tana, but win 6-5 in 10. Meanwhile, in the battle of "comprehensive" schools, Hadano Sougou was behind, took the lead, lost it, then won in 10 against Tsurumi Sougou 5-3.
- The first of two Tachibana Gakuen teams to play (立花学園) has no problem with Oohara 11-0 in 5.
- Koumyou Sagamihara and Shounan match each other inning for inning from the 4th inning on. Problem was that Koumyou scored 8 in the first 3, Shounan just 3. But to show how Shounan at least continued fighting, after Koumyou scored 5 in the 7th Shounan scored 5 of their own.
- Kanai breaks Kouhoku's heart by scoring 2 in the bottom of the 9th to win 2-1.
- Zushi scores 5 in the bottom of the 8th for a gyakuten victory over Yokohama Gakuen 6-3.
- The other Tachibana Gakuen (橘学苑) played at Yokohama Stadium on the 13th, and scored a run in each of the 6th-8th innings for a 4-3 win over Yokohama Shoukadai.
- The game after that saw Asahi do the exact same thing to Kanagawa Sougou Sangyou 8-5.
- As much as I rail on the university schools not doing well, I will give credit as Houseidai Dai-ni mercy rules Shounandai 9-0 in 7.
- Kanazawa makes a 1-0 lead stick defeating Hiratsuka Kouka.
- It'd be nice to see a school like Yokohama Science Frontier make a deep run, much like I like Nihon Koukuu (Yamanashi) because they're a pilot's academy, and they did rally twice to send it into extras, but Asano scores the winning run in the top of the 11th. Maybe next year.
- Miura Gakuen gives up a run in the 7th and 8th to Ebina tying the game, but scores 3 in the 9th for the win.
- Yokohama Hayato, the miracle from a couple of years ago begins their run on the 14th with a mercy win over Kashiwagi Gakuen at the scene of their championship, Yokohama Stadium.
- But Yokohama seems to have more close game than blowouts and Yokosuka Kougyou continues that trend with a 3-2 win in 10 over Odawara.
- Chigasaki Nishihama prevents extra innings with a run in the top of the 9th for a 2-1 win over Yamato Nishi.
With all teams in play, games are generally played in twos with the winners at each stadium meeting up in the next round.
- Yokohama starts round 2 play against Hakusan at Thirty-Four Sagamihara. Looks good for their first game with a 10-0 win in 6. Their next opponent would be Yokohama Shougyou who outlasted Yamato Minami 2-1 in 11.
- Seya and Yamakita won their respective games at Isehara and will play each other next round (you get the idea by now).
- Yokohama Hiranuma comes from behind with 2 in the 9th to defeat Fujisawa Nishi 6-5 and will play Nichidai next.
- Moto-Ishikawa, down 5-1 to Atsugi, scores 5 unanswered runs, 2 of them in the bottom of the 9th for the win.
- Toukaidai Sagami gets underway against Fujisawa Shouryou and actually found themselves behind 3-1. But a 4-run 7th helped given them the 6-4 win. Not very impressive to start their haru-natsu run.
- 立花学園 continues their run with a 7-2 win over Tourei Fujisawa, though only after score 5 in the 7th and 8th innings.
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