..
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
CF Kurihara Gen (栗原 健)
SS Akai Kensuke (赤井 啓輔)
3B Suzuki Ren (鈴木 蓮夢)
C Yonezawa Toshiki (米沢 利紀)
RF Sakamoto Akiyoshi (坂本 章善)
2B Hori Keiichirou (堀 慶一朗)
P Ochiai Ryuuto (落合 竜杜)
1B (14)Makino Fumiya (牧野 郁弥)
LF Yamamoto Yuudai (山本 雄大)
Shuugakukan (Kumamoto)
CF Harada Takumi (原田 拓実)
SS Matsuo Taiga (松尾 大河)
1B Kimoto Ryouga (木本 凌雅)
C Kuki Ryuuhei (九鬼 隆平)
2B Horie Kouhei (堀江 航平)
3B Hirobe Shuuhei (廣部 就平)
LF Amamoto Kousuke (天本 昂佑)
RF Kimura Yuuji (木村 勇次)
P (12)Kawabata Kento (川端 健斗)
____________________________________________________________
16:25 - First pitch!
Top 1st
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Showing posts with label Tokoha Kikugawa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tokoha Kikugawa. Show all posts
Friday, August 12, 2016
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Day 10 - Game 3 - Round of 16 - Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) vs. Naruto (Tokushima)
Wow, well did not expect those two results. What else do we have in store?
Tokoha Kikugwa had their first game against first timers Arita Kougyou. It was the bottom of the Tokoha lineup that provided the production for the team while Hotta toed the line with contact and being knocked out.
For Naruto, Bandou started fading in the middle to late innings allowing Shuutoku back in the game. Will stamina be an issue on just 1 days' rest?
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
CF Toji Keisuke
1B Sakakibara Takato
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
2B Kuwahara Tatsuki
RF Kaneko Hisashi
P Watanabe Ryuusei (#10)
LF Maekawa Naoya
Naruto (Tokushima)
2B Nakano Yuuki
CF Koumoto Yuujirou
SS Kawano Yuuto
1B Ise Hayato
RF Hashikawa Ryousuke (#11)
C Kusaka Hiroki
3B Matsumoto Takanori
P Bandou Yuugo
LF Narukawa Shuuji
____________________________________________________________
13:20 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Well, good start for Bandou as he makes quick work of Tokoha. Finishes the frame with a fastball that Endou can only stare at for strike 3.
Bottom 1st
Nakano quick out with fly to center.
Koumoto gets one off end of bat to Kawano. But he loses the handle and by the time he regroups, it's too late! E6.
Kawano hitting! Right to Sakakibara! Goes to 2nd.. AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He throws it away behind Endou! 2 errors, 2 men on base!
Ise looking for the timely...
SANSHIN!
Watanabe gets the 2nd out as Ise swings under a high forkball! He's almost out of the jam!
Hashikawa with the single through the left side! Koumoto holds at 3rd and it's manrui for Naruto!
Kusaka attacks early! Single to center! Koumoto in, Kawano being sent in! Throw for Toji...
It's high! Matsuki has to jump to get it and it costs the tag at home! 2-0 Naruto!
Oh, the hits are coming in for Naruto early! Matsumoto lines one over Oonishi's head and down the line! Hashimoto scores, 3-0 and there's runners at 2nd and 3rd!
Watanabe finally gets out of the inning when Bandou grounds to 2nd, but it's a terrible start for the Tokoha spot starter as he's not helped at all by his defense.
Top 2nd
Bandou once again sharp early on. Matsuki chases an outside forkball, while Oonishi looks at a fastball on the outside corner on a 3-2 pitch.
Kuwahara has a much better outcome on his 3-2 pitch as he draws a walk.
Morishita-kantoku sends him! Throw from Kusaka... High! And Kawano's arm hits Kuwahara and the ball goes to shallow left! Kuwahara goes to 3rd and Tokoha might get one back!
Kaneko also working the count, spoils pitch after pitch in the zone and works the count full...
But Bandou comes right back with a fastball inside and tie up Kaneko for the K!
Bottom 2nd
Narukawa getting his hits off of Watanabe as he singles to left. Nakano tries to bunt, but pops it up as Matsuki gets it for the 1st out.
Moriwaki-kantoku will play for the one-timer still as he will have Koumoto bunt as well. Despite falling behind 0-2 trying, he three-bunts and lays it down.
Watanabe gets his donut finally as Kawano hits it hard but right at Kuwahara for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Tokoha Kikugawa apparently is committing to the waiting game on Bandou as Watanabe draws the walk.
Of course I say that and Maekawa swings on the first pitch...
And the second....
And on a slider at the letters, he swings again, 1 down.
If you're going to play the patience game, the entire team has to be on board... *sighs*
But apparently, neither leadoff batter Toji or last batter Maekawa got the memo.
Toji uppercuts a ball, Nakano lets a kettle of water boil and makes the catch.
Sakakibara gets ahead 3-1, but at last minute decides to swing. Drives a ball deep to right...
...but Hashikawa is there right against the corner for the 3rd out.
I think waiting is the right thing to do, but all batters have to commit to drawing a walk until the last possible pitch.
Bottom 3rd
Watanabe has been doing well all things considered if not for the errors in the 1st.
Much more relaxed apparently, he gets Ise under a high fastball and flies to center.
He then gets the high strike to Hashikawa for the 2nd out..
And gets his 1-2-3 inning as Kusaka hits a silo HR to Sakakibara for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Looks like they've abandoned the waiting game...
Endou falling behind 1-2 hits a comebacker to Bandou.
Matsuki gets hit by Bandou to put a runner on, but when Morishita-kantoku puts on the hit-and-run, Oonishi swings and misses leaving Matsuki to be meat at 2nd.
Which is a shame because Bandou then walks Oonishi...
But Kuwahara is jammed on a cut ball inside and grounds to 3rd to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Matsumoto checks in with his 2nd hit of the day, a ball back up the middle. Bandou bunts him along.
But Watanabe can't find the plate on #9 batter Narukawa and walks him. Morishita-kantoku figures that's enough for Watanabe and in comes #11 Hodzumi.
But so far no relief! Nakano with a single through the right side fills up the bases for Koumoto!
Koumoto with a drive to left! Maekawa running to the line... but it falls in! 2 runs will score on the double and it's 5-0 Naruto!
Hodzumi's stint on the mound is short as ace Hotta enters the game.
The barrage continues though. Kawano singles to center and the runners move a station, 6-0.
Ise attacks the next pitch and singles through the left side, another station, 7-0.
Hashikawa grounder to 2nd... Kuwahara whiffs on the pick. Kawano scores to make it 8-0.
A visibly exasperated Morishita-kantoku calls another conference.
And a walk to Kusaka puts manrui for Matsumoto who's up for the 2nd time this inning.
Matsumoto grounder to 3rd. Oonishi goes home for one, Matsuki goes to 1st and just gets Matsumoto for the the 5-2-3 double play to end the inning.
But this inning and the desperation to find a pitcher means this game is probably over
Top 5th
It's a rather easy inning for Bandou yet again. Maekawa makes a bid for a hit with a sharp ball to short, but its right to Kawano who smothers it and goes to 1st for the 3rd out..
Bottom 5th
Hotta continues to have streaks on the mound. Foul out to Bandou, walks Narukawa. pop fly (admittedly with a basket catch by Kuwahara)from Nakano, walk to Koumoto.
But then it's all downhill. Ise singles under Oonishi's glove down the 3rd base line for an RBI. Hashikawa singles to right center, brings in one more...
Kusaka singles through the right side, scoring Ise. Kaneko throws out Hashikawa at 3rd to end the inning, but it's more damage to a surely derelict Tokoha Kikugawa ship. 11-0 Naruto as we hit the break.
Top 6th
One thing Tokoha's done right is get Bandou to 90 pitches through 5 innings.
One down for Tokoha and they finally collect their first hit. Sakakibara singles back up the middle past a diving Nakano.
Endou makes better contact, but flies out to Hashikawa in deep right.
And on a hit-and-run Matsuki flies out to center.
Bottom 6th
Kusaka with his 2nd hit a single to center. No bunt from Matsumoto, drives one to deep left... Maekawa makes the catch in front of the wall.
Bandou perhaps getting practice in bunts Kusaka to 2nd.
Narukawa meanwhile gets his 3rd walk of the game.
Nakano ball back up the middle, Nakano being sent home, gets around the tag of Matsuki and it's 12-0.
Koumoto liner laced back up middle, Narukawa holds at 3rd, manrui for Kawano.
He flies out to Toji to end the inning.
Top 7th
As I said in a tweet, it would behoove Naruto to (1) Pull Bandou. You can put him in a position, just not on the mound, (2) stop scoring. Generally teams that score a lot of runs fall a little flat in their next game. And considering they're either playing Hanamaki Higashi or Meitoku Gijyuku, this is a problem.
Case in point, Oonishi singles back up the middle. Kuwahara follows that up with another one to center this time on the fly.
Kaneko scoots one through the right side scoring Oonishi and Tokoha prevents the shutout.
Bandou goes back to retire the next 3 batters, but that small burst alone shows that Bandou might be fatiguing
Bottom 7th
With #15 Imasaka hitting for Hotta, #12 Watanabe Naoki comes in to pitch.
Ise welcomes him with what else, a base hit.
But he comes back to retire the next 3 batters and the game gets one half inning closer to its conclusion.
Top 8th
#10 Maegawa comes in for Hashikawa and takes over in RF.
With the shutout prevented, Tokoha Kikugawa goes back to doing a lot of nothing. Nothing to see here folks, carry on.
Bottom 8th
One down and Narukawa gets his 4th walk. His day ends as #15 Tanaka comes in to run for him.
Hit-and-run is put on and Nakano singles to right.
Koumoto singles through short, Tanaka scores, 13-1 and runners at corners.
Koumoto takes off for 2nd and gets there safely. Tokoha walks Kawano to create the force I guess.
Ise singles through the left side, scoring 2, 15-1.
Maegawa grounder up the 3rd base side, Oonishi can't get the glove on it and it's to left. to score 1, 16-1.
Kusaka hits one off the top of the padded wall, scoring 1 more. 17-1.
Naoki is pulled for #14 Amuro, though if I heard the positions earlier, he's a catcher. Well, it's junk time anyways.
Bandou in for his 2nd AB, pop up to Endou for the 2nd out.
PR Tanaka gets to bat and flies out so shallow left to end the inning.
Top 9th
Tanaka stays in the game at LF.
Oonishi, Kuwahara and #17 PH Hanadou go down in order and the game is mercifully over.
Naruto with the "impressive" win, but risk losing the war in the next game.
I'm sure it hurts for Tokoha Kikugawa losing by such a margin - you can see some players crying probably because of the score, but at some point you just have to shrug your shoulders and say that it really wasn't your day. They can at least say that they got to Koushien and had a victory (they can skip this part of the story).
Notable Players
Bandou Yuugo (Naruto) - CG, ER, 4 H, 8 K, 3 BB, HBP
Narukawa Shuuji (Naruto) - 1-1, 2 R, 4 BB
Ise Hayato (Naruto) - 4-6, R, 4 RBI
Kusaka Hiroki (Naruto) - 3-5, 2B, R, 3 RBI
Kaneko Hisashi (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 1-3, RBI
Oonishi Yuuki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 1-3, R, BB
Tokoha Kikugwa had their first game against first timers Arita Kougyou. It was the bottom of the Tokoha lineup that provided the production for the team while Hotta toed the line with contact and being knocked out.
For Naruto, Bandou started fading in the middle to late innings allowing Shuutoku back in the game. Will stamina be an issue on just 1 days' rest?
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
CF Toji Keisuke
1B Sakakibara Takato
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
2B Kuwahara Tatsuki
RF Kaneko Hisashi
P Watanabe Ryuusei (#10)
LF Maekawa Naoya
Naruto (Tokushima)
2B Nakano Yuuki
CF Koumoto Yuujirou
SS Kawano Yuuto
1B Ise Hayato
RF Hashikawa Ryousuke (#11)
C Kusaka Hiroki
3B Matsumoto Takanori
P Bandou Yuugo
LF Narukawa Shuuji
____________________________________________________________
13:20 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Well, good start for Bandou as he makes quick work of Tokoha. Finishes the frame with a fastball that Endou can only stare at for strike 3.
Bottom 1st
Nakano quick out with fly to center.
Koumoto gets one off end of bat to Kawano. But he loses the handle and by the time he regroups, it's too late! E6.
Kawano hitting! Right to Sakakibara! Goes to 2nd.. AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He throws it away behind Endou! 2 errors, 2 men on base!
Ise looking for the timely...
SANSHIN!
Watanabe gets the 2nd out as Ise swings under a high forkball! He's almost out of the jam!
Hashikawa with the single through the left side! Koumoto holds at 3rd and it's manrui for Naruto!
Kusaka attacks early! Single to center! Koumoto in, Kawano being sent in! Throw for Toji...
It's high! Matsuki has to jump to get it and it costs the tag at home! 2-0 Naruto!
Oh, the hits are coming in for Naruto early! Matsumoto lines one over Oonishi's head and down the line! Hashimoto scores, 3-0 and there's runners at 2nd and 3rd!
Watanabe finally gets out of the inning when Bandou grounds to 2nd, but it's a terrible start for the Tokoha spot starter as he's not helped at all by his defense.
Top 2nd
Bandou once again sharp early on. Matsuki chases an outside forkball, while Oonishi looks at a fastball on the outside corner on a 3-2 pitch.
Kuwahara has a much better outcome on his 3-2 pitch as he draws a walk.
Morishita-kantoku sends him! Throw from Kusaka... High! And Kawano's arm hits Kuwahara and the ball goes to shallow left! Kuwahara goes to 3rd and Tokoha might get one back!
Kaneko also working the count, spoils pitch after pitch in the zone and works the count full...
But Bandou comes right back with a fastball inside and tie up Kaneko for the K!
Bottom 2nd
Narukawa getting his hits off of Watanabe as he singles to left. Nakano tries to bunt, but pops it up as Matsuki gets it for the 1st out.
Moriwaki-kantoku will play for the one-timer still as he will have Koumoto bunt as well. Despite falling behind 0-2 trying, he three-bunts and lays it down.
Watanabe gets his donut finally as Kawano hits it hard but right at Kuwahara for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Tokoha Kikugawa apparently is committing to the waiting game on Bandou as Watanabe draws the walk.
Of course I say that and Maekawa swings on the first pitch...
And the second....
And on a slider at the letters, he swings again, 1 down.
If you're going to play the patience game, the entire team has to be on board... *sighs*
But apparently, neither leadoff batter Toji or last batter Maekawa got the memo.
Toji uppercuts a ball, Nakano lets a kettle of water boil and makes the catch.
Sakakibara gets ahead 3-1, but at last minute decides to swing. Drives a ball deep to right...
...but Hashikawa is there right against the corner for the 3rd out.
I think waiting is the right thing to do, but all batters have to commit to drawing a walk until the last possible pitch.
Bottom 3rd
Watanabe has been doing well all things considered if not for the errors in the 1st.
Much more relaxed apparently, he gets Ise under a high fastball and flies to center.
He then gets the high strike to Hashikawa for the 2nd out..
And gets his 1-2-3 inning as Kusaka hits a silo HR to Sakakibara for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Looks like they've abandoned the waiting game...
Endou falling behind 1-2 hits a comebacker to Bandou.
Matsuki gets hit by Bandou to put a runner on, but when Morishita-kantoku puts on the hit-and-run, Oonishi swings and misses leaving Matsuki to be meat at 2nd.
Which is a shame because Bandou then walks Oonishi...
But Kuwahara is jammed on a cut ball inside and grounds to 3rd to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Matsumoto checks in with his 2nd hit of the day, a ball back up the middle. Bandou bunts him along.
But Watanabe can't find the plate on #9 batter Narukawa and walks him. Morishita-kantoku figures that's enough for Watanabe and in comes #11 Hodzumi.
But so far no relief! Nakano with a single through the right side fills up the bases for Koumoto!
Koumoto with a drive to left! Maekawa running to the line... but it falls in! 2 runs will score on the double and it's 5-0 Naruto!
Hodzumi's stint on the mound is short as ace Hotta enters the game.
The barrage continues though. Kawano singles to center and the runners move a station, 6-0.
Ise attacks the next pitch and singles through the left side, another station, 7-0.
Hashikawa grounder to 2nd... Kuwahara whiffs on the pick. Kawano scores to make it 8-0.
A visibly exasperated Morishita-kantoku calls another conference.
And a walk to Kusaka puts manrui for Matsumoto who's up for the 2nd time this inning.
Matsumoto grounder to 3rd. Oonishi goes home for one, Matsuki goes to 1st and just gets Matsumoto for the the 5-2-3 double play to end the inning.
But this inning and the desperation to find a pitcher means this game is probably over
Top 5th
It's a rather easy inning for Bandou yet again. Maekawa makes a bid for a hit with a sharp ball to short, but its right to Kawano who smothers it and goes to 1st for the 3rd out..
Bottom 5th
Hotta continues to have streaks on the mound. Foul out to Bandou, walks Narukawa. pop fly (admittedly with a basket catch by Kuwahara)from Nakano, walk to Koumoto.
But then it's all downhill. Ise singles under Oonishi's glove down the 3rd base line for an RBI. Hashikawa singles to right center, brings in one more...
Kusaka singles through the right side, scoring Ise. Kaneko throws out Hashikawa at 3rd to end the inning, but it's more damage to a surely derelict Tokoha Kikugawa ship. 11-0 Naruto as we hit the break.
Top 6th
One thing Tokoha's done right is get Bandou to 90 pitches through 5 innings.
One down for Tokoha and they finally collect their first hit. Sakakibara singles back up the middle past a diving Nakano.
Endou makes better contact, but flies out to Hashikawa in deep right.
And on a hit-and-run Matsuki flies out to center.
Bottom 6th
Kusaka with his 2nd hit a single to center. No bunt from Matsumoto, drives one to deep left... Maekawa makes the catch in front of the wall.
Bandou perhaps getting practice in bunts Kusaka to 2nd.
Narukawa meanwhile gets his 3rd walk of the game.
Nakano ball back up the middle, Nakano being sent home, gets around the tag of Matsuki and it's 12-0.
Koumoto liner laced back up middle, Narukawa holds at 3rd, manrui for Kawano.
He flies out to Toji to end the inning.
Top 7th
As I said in a tweet, it would behoove Naruto to (1) Pull Bandou. You can put him in a position, just not on the mound, (2) stop scoring. Generally teams that score a lot of runs fall a little flat in their next game. And considering they're either playing Hanamaki Higashi or Meitoku Gijyuku, this is a problem.
Case in point, Oonishi singles back up the middle. Kuwahara follows that up with another one to center this time on the fly.
Kaneko scoots one through the right side scoring Oonishi and Tokoha prevents the shutout.
Bandou goes back to retire the next 3 batters, but that small burst alone shows that Bandou might be fatiguing
Bottom 7th
With #15 Imasaka hitting for Hotta, #12 Watanabe Naoki comes in to pitch.
Ise welcomes him with what else, a base hit.
But he comes back to retire the next 3 batters and the game gets one half inning closer to its conclusion.
Top 8th
#10 Maegawa comes in for Hashikawa and takes over in RF.
With the shutout prevented, Tokoha Kikugawa goes back to doing a lot of nothing. Nothing to see here folks, carry on.
Bottom 8th
One down and Narukawa gets his 4th walk. His day ends as #15 Tanaka comes in to run for him.
Hit-and-run is put on and Nakano singles to right.
Koumoto singles through short, Tanaka scores, 13-1 and runners at corners.
Koumoto takes off for 2nd and gets there safely. Tokoha walks Kawano to create the force I guess.
Ise singles through the left side, scoring 2, 15-1.
Maegawa grounder up the 3rd base side, Oonishi can't get the glove on it and it's to left. to score 1, 16-1.
Kusaka hits one off the top of the padded wall, scoring 1 more. 17-1.
Naoki is pulled for #14 Amuro, though if I heard the positions earlier, he's a catcher. Well, it's junk time anyways.
Bandou in for his 2nd AB, pop up to Endou for the 2nd out.
PR Tanaka gets to bat and flies out so shallow left to end the inning.
Top 9th
Tanaka stays in the game at LF.
Oonishi, Kuwahara and #17 PH Hanadou go down in order and the game is mercifully over.
Naruto with the "impressive" win, but risk losing the war in the next game.
I'm sure it hurts for Tokoha Kikugawa losing by such a margin - you can see some players crying probably because of the score, but at some point you just have to shrug your shoulders and say that it really wasn't your day. They can at least say that they got to Koushien and had a victory (they can skip this part of the story).
Notable Players
Bandou Yuugo (Naruto) - CG, ER, 4 H, 8 K, 3 BB, HBP
Narukawa Shuuji (Naruto) - 1-1, 2 R, 4 BB
Ise Hayato (Naruto) - 4-6, R, 4 RBI
Kusaka Hiroki (Naruto) - 3-5, 2B, R, 3 RBI
Kaneko Hisashi (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 1-3, RBI
Oonishi Yuuki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 1-3, R, BB
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Day 7 - Game 3 - Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) vs. Arita Kougyou (Saga)
And we are to our final team yet to play.
Tokoha Kikugawa faced a surprisingly weak schedule to the title. No Shizuoka, no sister school Tokoha Tachibana. Instead they had to survive teams like Itou Shougyou, Mishima and Kikugawa Nanryou to win the title. To be honest, not a really strong resume.
And this comes off a senbatsu where they won their first two games before losing to Kochi.
Ace Hotta returns and yes, if you see below he has a twitter account.
Anyways, he throws average velocity with 4 different pitches - slider, curve, change, fork. Will not strike out batters, and is just as stingy issuing free passes.
Arita Kougyou got the lucky draw (lucky in that they don't have to play Osaka Touin, that is.). They also got fortunate against Oogaki Nichidai when they were able to get to ace starter Takada and reliever Hashimoto. Because for the first 6 innings they didn't look good at all at the plate.
Ace Furukawa wasn't that bad on the mound, and did suffer from a small bit of bad luck. But if they're going to try and outlast an opponent, I don't think they can do that and be successful in the long run.
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
CF Toji Keisuke
1B Sakakibara Takato
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
2B Kuwahara Tatsuki
RF Kaneko Hisashi
P Hotta Tatsuya
LF Maekawa Naoya
Arita Kougyou (Saga)
2B Hyakutake Shoutarou
LF Kishigawa Yui
RF Senba Kouya
P Furukawa Yuri
1B Kawamoto Sora
SS Kuwahara Kousei (#5)
C Kusano Yoshihiko
3B Yamaguchi Yuuji (#14)
CF Fukuda Kousuke
____________________________________________________________
13:35 - First Pitch
Top 1st
Furukawa falls behind a bit to start, pumps in 2 strikes and gets Toji to ground to short.
Settles down quickly, has Sakakibara chase a changeup outside for the 2nd out.
Tries to work the outsides to Endou, but winds up walking him.
Morishita-kantoku sends Endou! Kusano fires to 2nd, and he's dead meat! Side retired!
Bottom 1st
Hyakutake with a liner to 2nd, Tatsuki shoestrings it for the first out.
Kishigawa with a liner to Maekawa for the 2nd out, and then Senba first pitch grounds to 3rd and the inning is over that quick.
Top 2nd
Matsuki gets another chance at the plate, but much like Sakakibara, chases the changeup away and heads back to the dugout.
Oonishi comebacker off of Furukawa and deflects to the left side. Kousei correcting but just gets the throw in late.
Apprently, Morishita-kantoku doesn't use signs? He's leaving it up to the players?
Tatsuki going after a changeup outside, but this time he pokes it through the left side for a base hit! Tokoha with a chance here in the 2nd!
But Furukawa uses the slider to get way ahead of Kaneko.
Hit-and-run!!
Kaneko singles past Kawamoto into right! Oonishi comes around to score, Tatsuki heading for 3rd as the throw comes in, and on the throw Kaneko takes 2nd! 1-0 Tokoha Kikugawa!
And now he hits Hotta to load the bases?! Uematsu-kantoku calls for time.
No help!! Maekawa with drive to right center! Fukuda back near the wall, falls in! Tatsuki scores! Kaneko scores! Hotta holds up at 3rd, whoops!!
Maekawa doesn't see Hotta at 3rd and had to turn tail! But it's too late and he's run down for the 2nd out. Still has a timely double to make it 3-0!
Furukawa gets Toji to chase a fastball outside this time and the side is retired. But early on, the movie looks awfully familiar...
Bottom 2nd
Furukawa sends a ball to center, Toji charging in, dives... and makes the catch! He flips the ball to his throwing hand as the umpire calls out!
Kawamoto inside outs a fastball and puts it into center for a single.
Bust-and-run! Kousei makes contact, but it's right to Kaneko! With Kawamoto running, he's easily doubled off to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Sakakibara deep bomb to center! Fukuda going back to the wall. Makes the catch right at the wall for the 1st out.
Endou taking an awkward swing on a slider low and pops out to Hyakutake.
Matsuki to give it a go, but has the same luck. Furukawa puts a changeup on the outside corner and the side is retired.
Bottom 3rd
Kusano with a grounder to the gap in short. Endou dives and cuts it down! Throw to first not in time, but good effort!
Uematsu-kantoku has Yamaguchi bunt the runner over.
And now Fukuda with a safety bunt! Oonishi charges in makes the throw to beat a diving Fukuda.
Hyakutake does it! Lines the slider back into center! Kusano scores and Arita Kougyou is on the board! 3-1!
Hyakutake presses the action going for 2nd, throw from Matsuki...
...
Out! The 2nd base ump takes an extra look after the dust has settled and calles Hyakutake out! Side retired!
Not sure what you'd be able to discern with an extra look, but ok.
Top 4th
OW.
Oonishi plunked in the shoulder blade with a fastball. Needs a moment, then heads to 1st.
No bunt from Tatsuki - just as I thought they don't bunt. Meanwhile, Tatsuki spoiling pitches.
Tatsuki with a big swing to right. Fukuda and Senba converging on it... heading to the fence... Fukuda tries to leap onto the padding..
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tatsuki booms a 2-run HR and Tokoha Kikugawa leads 5-1!
Furukawa trying to get back on track gets the 2-seamer back over the plate for strike 3 on Kaneko.
Maekawa with a drive down the right field line... just foul!!
He grounds to 2nd on the next pitch, but Tatsuki doubles his team's lead!
Bottom 4th
Kishigawa with a liner, but Endou makes a small leap to secure it for the out.
Senba with a chopper to 3rd. Oonishi there to field it, throw to 1st... Senba's already there! The throw was wide, but he probably wouldn't have gotten him anyways!
Furukawa with a drive to deep left center! Maekawa and Toji converging...
It's off the metal fence! The fielders have to run it down as it deflects back towards home! Senba scores on the RBI triple, it's 5-2!
SQUEEZE!!!!
Uematsu-kantoku goes for the squeeze immediately! Kawamoto lays down a beauty! Hotta goes home, but it's way too late! Matsuki goes to 1st and gets the out, but Arita Kougyou gets the 2-run HR back! 5-3!!
Kousei pops out to Hotta to end the inning, but this Arita Kougyou team is hanging in there!
Top 5th
Meanwhile Furukawa looks to run a quick inning to get the bats back up. Toji skies a popup that Hyakutake takes for the first out. Then he takes a grounder from Sakakibara for the 2nd out.
Furukawa wants in on the outs and as such uses a high slider to retire Endou for a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 5th
Hotta too looks to clamp things down after the 2-run inning.
Kusano with a soft liner that Oonishi fields for the first out
Yamaguchi tests him again with a grounder, and he's still probably feeling the effects of the deadball as he one bounds the throw to 1st.
Fukuda flies out to right and we hit the break with Tokoha Kikugawa holding a tentative 5-3 lead against a game Arita Kougyou!
Top 6th
Matsuki on his way to the golden sombrero. Looks silly swinging on slider buried by Furukawa.
Oonishi with his 2nd out, taking a slider outside the other way for a base hit.
Tatsuki takes another big swing, but this time it's just a towering fly to right.
Something brewing for Tokoha as Kaneko hits a hanging slider to left center for a single.
Hotta taking a ball the other way, but Senba runs it down near the pole for the 3rd out.
Bottom 6th
Hotta quickly working through the Arita lineup now as he just needs 10 pitches to retire the side.
Top 7th
Furukawa doing the same here in the lucky 7. Maekawa flies out to left, Toji just watches a fastball on the outside corner.
But not a 1-2-3 inning though as he winds up walking Sakakibara.
He takes off for 2nd, throw from Kusano... OUT!
Sakakibara seems to express displeasure on the call (and I think he may be right) in being called out. But he is and the side is retired.
Bottom 7th
Arita batters just flummoxed on the offspeed pitches from Hotta. Furukawa way ahead of a slider and grounds to short. Kawamoto tries to reach out, but can't reach the forkball for the 2nd out.
And perhaps in an attempt to hit anything that's a fastball, Kousei chases a high one and flies out to center.
Top 8th
Endou with a leadoff single to left, brings up Matsuki, who is not bunting and will swing away.
Makes contact! But it's right to Hyakutake! He starts the 4-6-3 double play!
Oonishi up, drive one to deep left, but there's room for Kishigawa for the catch.
Bottom 8th
Arita Kougyou running out of time, but unable to solve Hotta.
This time around he needs just 6 pitches to retire the side, including #15 Nagamatsu who hit for Fukuda.
Top 9th
#16 Sakamoto comes in for PH Nagamatsu and takes over in CF.
Tatsuki with a drive to left! Kishigawa back to the wall and has to play it off the padding! He's in with a double!
Now Furukawa hits Kaneko and they're in a bit of a jam late...
Hotta showing bunt for the first time for Tokoha Kikugawa! He lays it down and now a a base hit can add some insurance runs.
Maekawa though grounds to short! Kousei with the ball looks the runners back and goes to 1st for he 2nd out!
Toji up to try and get the runs in.
Liner, caught by Kousei!! Side retired!
Bottom 9th
Top of the order for Arita Kougyou..
Hyakutake behind 1-2 can only ground out to 2nd.
#13 Urano to hit for Kishigawa, but swings on the first pitch and grounds out to Endou.
2 down and Senba is their last chance. Hotta trying to get Senba to chase a ball outside, but Senba continues to make contact...
And now he hits one to the gap in short! Endou runs it down, but Senba quick as he is dives in safely!
Douten runner coming to the plate in ace Furukawa!
Hotta giving him nothing in the middle, getting called strikes on offspeed pitches at the edges.
Grounder up the middle! Endou there, flips to Tatsuki... game set!! Tokohawa Kikugawa holds on to defeat Arita Kougyou 5-3!!
Man, Arita Kougyou should get a lot of credit. For a first time team, they played with no quit, and a lot of fire. When it looked like it could be a blowout early they found a way to respond to stay in it. They may have lost, but they should be proud.
For Tokoha Kikugawa, it's pretty much status quo. A lot of swinging, quite a few Ks, but a lot of hits to go along with it. It's great to see the the bottom of the lineup performing, but perhaps a little concerning that the top of the lineup didn't really produce.
But that's for another game as they draw Day 10, Game 3
Notable Players
Hotta Tatsuya (Tokoha Kikugawa) - CG, 3 ER, 6 H, K
Senba Kouya (Arita Kougyou) - 2-4, R
Furukawa Yuri (Arita Kougyou) - 1-3, 3B, R, RBI
Hyakutake Shoutarou (Arita Kougyou) - 1-4, RBI
Tokoha Kikugawa faced a surprisingly weak schedule to the title. No Shizuoka, no sister school Tokoha Tachibana. Instead they had to survive teams like Itou Shougyou, Mishima and Kikugawa Nanryou to win the title. To be honest, not a really strong resume.
And this comes off a senbatsu where they won their first two games before losing to Kochi.
Ace Hotta returns and yes, if you see below he has a twitter account.
Anyways, he throws average velocity with 4 different pitches - slider, curve, change, fork. Will not strike out batters, and is just as stingy issuing free passes.
Arita Kougyou got the lucky draw (lucky in that they don't have to play Osaka Touin, that is.). They also got fortunate against Oogaki Nichidai when they were able to get to ace starter Takada and reliever Hashimoto. Because for the first 6 innings they didn't look good at all at the plate.
Ace Furukawa wasn't that bad on the mound, and did suffer from a small bit of bad luck. But if they're going to try and outlast an opponent, I don't think they can do that and be successful in the long run.
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
CF Toji Keisuke
1B Sakakibara Takato
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
2B Kuwahara Tatsuki
RF Kaneko Hisashi
P Hotta Tatsuya
LF Maekawa Naoya
Arita Kougyou (Saga)
2B Hyakutake Shoutarou
LF Kishigawa Yui
RF Senba Kouya
P Furukawa Yuri
1B Kawamoto Sora
SS Kuwahara Kousei (#5)
C Kusano Yoshihiko
3B Yamaguchi Yuuji (#14)
CF Fukuda Kousuke
____________________________________________________________
13:35 - First Pitch
Top 1st
Furukawa falls behind a bit to start, pumps in 2 strikes and gets Toji to ground to short.
Settles down quickly, has Sakakibara chase a changeup outside for the 2nd out.
Tries to work the outsides to Endou, but winds up walking him.
Morishita-kantoku sends Endou! Kusano fires to 2nd, and he's dead meat! Side retired!
Bottom 1st
Hyakutake with a liner to 2nd, Tatsuki shoestrings it for the first out.
Kishigawa with a liner to Maekawa for the 2nd out, and then Senba first pitch grounds to 3rd and the inning is over that quick.
Top 2nd
Matsuki gets another chance at the plate, but much like Sakakibara, chases the changeup away and heads back to the dugout.
Oonishi comebacker off of Furukawa and deflects to the left side. Kousei correcting but just gets the throw in late.
Apprently, Morishita-kantoku doesn't use signs? He's leaving it up to the players?
Tatsuki going after a changeup outside, but this time he pokes it through the left side for a base hit! Tokoha with a chance here in the 2nd!
But Furukawa uses the slider to get way ahead of Kaneko.
Hit-and-run!!
Kaneko singles past Kawamoto into right! Oonishi comes around to score, Tatsuki heading for 3rd as the throw comes in, and on the throw Kaneko takes 2nd! 1-0 Tokoha Kikugawa!
And now he hits Hotta to load the bases?! Uematsu-kantoku calls for time.
No help!! Maekawa with drive to right center! Fukuda back near the wall, falls in! Tatsuki scores! Kaneko scores! Hotta holds up at 3rd, whoops!!
Maekawa doesn't see Hotta at 3rd and had to turn tail! But it's too late and he's run down for the 2nd out. Still has a timely double to make it 3-0!
Furukawa gets Toji to chase a fastball outside this time and the side is retired. But early on, the movie looks awfully familiar...
Bottom 2nd
Furukawa sends a ball to center, Toji charging in, dives... and makes the catch! He flips the ball to his throwing hand as the umpire calls out!
Kawamoto inside outs a fastball and puts it into center for a single.
Bust-and-run! Kousei makes contact, but it's right to Kaneko! With Kawamoto running, he's easily doubled off to end the inning.
Top 3rd
Sakakibara deep bomb to center! Fukuda going back to the wall. Makes the catch right at the wall for the 1st out.
Endou taking an awkward swing on a slider low and pops out to Hyakutake.
Matsuki to give it a go, but has the same luck. Furukawa puts a changeup on the outside corner and the side is retired.
Bottom 3rd
Kusano with a grounder to the gap in short. Endou dives and cuts it down! Throw to first not in time, but good effort!
Uematsu-kantoku has Yamaguchi bunt the runner over.
And now Fukuda with a safety bunt! Oonishi charges in makes the throw to beat a diving Fukuda.
Hyakutake does it! Lines the slider back into center! Kusano scores and Arita Kougyou is on the board! 3-1!
Hyakutake presses the action going for 2nd, throw from Matsuki...
...
Out! The 2nd base ump takes an extra look after the dust has settled and calles Hyakutake out! Side retired!
Not sure what you'd be able to discern with an extra look, but ok.
Top 4th
OW.
Oonishi plunked in the shoulder blade with a fastball. Needs a moment, then heads to 1st.
No bunt from Tatsuki - just as I thought they don't bunt. Meanwhile, Tatsuki spoiling pitches.
Tatsuki with a big swing to right. Fukuda and Senba converging on it... heading to the fence... Fukuda tries to leap onto the padding..
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tatsuki booms a 2-run HR and Tokoha Kikugawa leads 5-1!
Furukawa trying to get back on track gets the 2-seamer back over the plate for strike 3 on Kaneko.
Maekawa with a drive down the right field line... just foul!!
He grounds to 2nd on the next pitch, but Tatsuki doubles his team's lead!
Bottom 4th
Kishigawa with a liner, but Endou makes a small leap to secure it for the out.
Senba with a chopper to 3rd. Oonishi there to field it, throw to 1st... Senba's already there! The throw was wide, but he probably wouldn't have gotten him anyways!
Furukawa with a drive to deep left center! Maekawa and Toji converging...
It's off the metal fence! The fielders have to run it down as it deflects back towards home! Senba scores on the RBI triple, it's 5-2!
SQUEEZE!!!!
Uematsu-kantoku goes for the squeeze immediately! Kawamoto lays down a beauty! Hotta goes home, but it's way too late! Matsuki goes to 1st and gets the out, but Arita Kougyou gets the 2-run HR back! 5-3!!
Kousei pops out to Hotta to end the inning, but this Arita Kougyou team is hanging in there!
Top 5th
Meanwhile Furukawa looks to run a quick inning to get the bats back up. Toji skies a popup that Hyakutake takes for the first out. Then he takes a grounder from Sakakibara for the 2nd out.
Furukawa wants in on the outs and as such uses a high slider to retire Endou for a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 5th
Hotta too looks to clamp things down after the 2-run inning.
Kusano with a soft liner that Oonishi fields for the first out
Yamaguchi tests him again with a grounder, and he's still probably feeling the effects of the deadball as he one bounds the throw to 1st.
Fukuda flies out to right and we hit the break with Tokoha Kikugawa holding a tentative 5-3 lead against a game Arita Kougyou!
Top 6th
Matsuki on his way to the golden sombrero. Looks silly swinging on slider buried by Furukawa.
Oonishi with his 2nd out, taking a slider outside the other way for a base hit.
Tatsuki takes another big swing, but this time it's just a towering fly to right.
Something brewing for Tokoha as Kaneko hits a hanging slider to left center for a single.
Hotta taking a ball the other way, but Senba runs it down near the pole for the 3rd out.
Bottom 6th
Hotta quickly working through the Arita lineup now as he just needs 10 pitches to retire the side.
Top 7th
Furukawa doing the same here in the lucky 7. Maekawa flies out to left, Toji just watches a fastball on the outside corner.
But not a 1-2-3 inning though as he winds up walking Sakakibara.
He takes off for 2nd, throw from Kusano... OUT!
Sakakibara seems to express displeasure on the call (and I think he may be right) in being called out. But he is and the side is retired.
Bottom 7th
Arita batters just flummoxed on the offspeed pitches from Hotta. Furukawa way ahead of a slider and grounds to short. Kawamoto tries to reach out, but can't reach the forkball for the 2nd out.
And perhaps in an attempt to hit anything that's a fastball, Kousei chases a high one and flies out to center.
Top 8th
Endou with a leadoff single to left, brings up Matsuki, who is not bunting and will swing away.
Makes contact! But it's right to Hyakutake! He starts the 4-6-3 double play!
Oonishi up, drive one to deep left, but there's room for Kishigawa for the catch.
Bottom 8th
Arita Kougyou running out of time, but unable to solve Hotta.
This time around he needs just 6 pitches to retire the side, including #15 Nagamatsu who hit for Fukuda.
Top 9th
#16 Sakamoto comes in for PH Nagamatsu and takes over in CF.
Tatsuki with a drive to left! Kishigawa back to the wall and has to play it off the padding! He's in with a double!
Now Furukawa hits Kaneko and they're in a bit of a jam late...
Hotta showing bunt for the first time for Tokoha Kikugawa! He lays it down and now a a base hit can add some insurance runs.
Maekawa though grounds to short! Kousei with the ball looks the runners back and goes to 1st for he 2nd out!
Toji up to try and get the runs in.
Liner, caught by Kousei!! Side retired!
Bottom 9th
Top of the order for Arita Kougyou..
Hyakutake behind 1-2 can only ground out to 2nd.
#13 Urano to hit for Kishigawa, but swings on the first pitch and grounds out to Endou.
2 down and Senba is their last chance. Hotta trying to get Senba to chase a ball outside, but Senba continues to make contact...
And now he hits one to the gap in short! Endou runs it down, but Senba quick as he is dives in safely!
Douten runner coming to the plate in ace Furukawa!
Hotta giving him nothing in the middle, getting called strikes on offspeed pitches at the edges.
Grounder up the middle! Endou there, flips to Tatsuki... game set!! Tokohawa Kikugawa holds on to defeat Arita Kougyou 5-3!!
Man, Arita Kougyou should get a lot of credit. For a first time team, they played with no quit, and a lot of fire. When it looked like it could be a blowout early they found a way to respond to stay in it. They may have lost, but they should be proud.
For Tokoha Kikugawa, it's pretty much status quo. A lot of swinging, quite a few Ks, but a lot of hits to go along with it. It's great to see the the bottom of the lineup performing, but perhaps a little concerning that the top of the lineup didn't really produce.
But that's for another game as they draw Day 10, Game 3
Notable Players
Hotta Tatsuya (Tokoha Kikugawa) - CG, 3 ER, 6 H, K
Senba Kouya (Arita Kougyou) - 2-4, R
Furukawa Yuri (Arita Kougyou) - 1-3, 3B, R, RBI
Hyakutake Shoutarou (Arita Kougyou) - 1-4, RBI
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Day 9, Game 1 - Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) vs. Kochi (Kochi)
Starting our last day of 3rd round action is Tokoha Kikugawa, who's finally back after a long hiatus, versus Kochi who is riding high after an upset of the Chuugoku champions.
Tokoha Kikugawa has not done all that poorly, outslugging Harue Kougyou in their opening game, then took advantage of a fading Inui to come from behind to defeat hometown team Houtoku Gakuen.
With the key for Tokoha Kikugawa being their offense (as their pitching is weaker than most depending solely on weak contact), the last game against Houtoku Gakuen isn't all that encouraging. 4 runs, but only on 4 hits.
Now, they will be facing Kochi, whose starter - 2nd year Sakai, has had command issues as seen in their game against Kanzei. But he time and again was able to get out of the jams he was put in. Tokoha Kikugawa is probably not the offensive power that Kanzei was, so Sakai may have a better outing this time around if Tokoha can't get their offense started once again.
As for Kochi's offense, it warmed up as the game progressed against Kanzei, eventually culminating in 5 runs. They were helped by walks and dead balls though, so it may not translate at all this time around since Tokoha's pitchers are so around the plate.
This has all the makings of a low-scoring game given the offensive strength and relative pitching style of both teams.
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) - Tokai 3 seed
CF Toji Keisuke
LF Maekawa Naoya
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
RF Kikuchi Shuntarou (#16)
1B Kuwahara Tatsuki
P Watanabe Naoki (#10)
2B Imasaka Ryousuke
Kochi (Kochi) - Shikoku Champions
2B Wada Yoshito
SS Doi Kouyou
3B Wada Ren
1B Ichikawa Gou
LF Matagawa Ryouyuu
CF Ueta Shunya
RF Sugimoto Daiki
C Maeda Ryuusei (#12)
P Sakai Yuuya (#10)
____________________________________________________________
09:01 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Toji with a ball off the end of the bat. Yoshito and Ueta converge on it in center, but it falls in for a base hit!
Morishita-kantoku not bunting as usual with Maekawa.
Instead Morishita-kantoku sends Toji to 2nd! Throw from Maeda not in time!
Count runs full on Maekawa. Grounder to 3rd, Ren with it! Looks Toji back and makes the play at 1st.
Endou swings on a shoulder high pitch and sends it to right. Sugimoto coming in, has it go off his glove trying to make a shoestring catch! Everyone's safe as Toji moves to 3rd!
Sakai not looking particularly sharp in the early goings, going deep and behind in counts.
Now Morishita-kantoku sends Endou to 2nd! Throw again not in time! Base hit could score 2 now!
Matsuki though settles for a sac fly as he hits one to left center. Ueta with the catch, but Toji tags up and comes in to score to make it 1-0 Tokoha Kikugawa!
What's this? Endou tries to sneak into 3rd after the throw home, but Kochi has none of it! They go to 3rd and get him for the 3rd out!
Sneaky, but thoughtful. Still, Tokoha Kikugawa has the early lead!
Bottom 1st
Yoshito working the count full flies out to right.
Doi pops it back in foul territory, Matsuki tries to chase it down, but slips and can't make the catch. Another foul ball and this time Kawahara goes near the camera well, but again can't make the catch. He almost bloops one into left, but Maekawa runs it down.
Ren is hit on the head with a curveball. It's a glancing blow, but the home plate umpire calls for an injury runner. Doi comes out to run for him.
Ichikawa with a grounder past a diving Oonishi for a base hit! Kochi threatening with 2 outs!
Matagawa with a ball to left! Maekawa sprinting back and to his left, makes the running catch to save 2 runs!
Top 2nd
Oonishi with a liner, but right at Yoshito for the out.
Kikuchi with a swinging bunt up the 3rd base line. Maeda fields it as it turns toward foul territory, and then falls down when he tries to spin around to make the throw! Infield hit for Kikuchi!
After two more balls to Kuwahara, Maeda goes out to talk to him.
Kikuchi takes off for 2nd! Throw this time is closer, and he's called out!
Oooo~ I don't know about that call. And on replay, it looks like he gets in before Doi applies the tag. Bad break for Tokoha.
And Kuwahara goes down looking on a fastball on the outside corner. Sakai has his 1-2-3 inning, kinda...
Bottom 2nd
Ueta starts off the inning with a fly to left.
Sugimoto with a ball to the right side, Imasaka over to field it, but it's off his glove and into right. E$ and Kochi has the douten runner on.
Maeda with a ball to the right side as well. Imasaka does field it cleanly this time, spins for 2nd, thinks twice and goes to 1st for the out.
And Sakai hits a routine grounder to 3rd. Oonishi goes to 1st and the side is retired.
Top 3rd
Sakai's pitch location looks a better to start the 3rd as he gets a fastball by Watanabe for the 1st out.
He's still missing high, but Tokoha's batter are chasing after it.
Imasaka skies one towards 3rd, Ren makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Toji also gets under one, but hits it deep to center. Ueta though has plenty of time to get under it near the fence for the catch.
Bottom 3rd
Yoshito puts up another fight at the plate, and this time earns a walk on the full count.
Watanabe doesn't look that bad on the mound. He's not accurate either, but not really missing badly either so far.
Doi with the push bunt up the 1st base line is retired 3-4, but advances Yoshito into scoring position. But Ren grounds to 3rd! Oonishi with the ball, looks Yoshito back and throws to 1st. It's up the line, but Kuwahara makes the tag for the 2nd out.
Ichikawa pops it up on his 1st pitch and Imasaka makes the catch for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Maekawa with a high swing somehow manages to line one into right for a leadoff hit. Endou not bunting flies out to right.
And he takes off for 2nd! Pitch from Sakai is in the dirt and Maeda has no chance!
Matsuki moves the runner along 90 feet with a groundout to 1st.
Sakai still having trouble with his control. On a waste pitch high, he actually misses down and away, and Maeda has to quickly reach down and stab at it to prevent a wild pitch. And then on a pitch that is supposed to be a little away, he misses by a wide margin.
No matter though as he gets Oonishi to swing and miss on a fastball to end the inning!
Bottom 4th
Matagawa working the count full, gets around on a ball inside and lines it into center for a leadoff hit! Ueta showing bunt, but winds up swinging away, grounds to 3rd! Oonishi goes to 2nd, but Matagawa is called safe as the throw takes Endou off the bag!
Sugimoto with the bunt to the left side. Watanabe quickly fields, spins, fires to 3rd for the out! Oonishi then fires to 1st... where they get Sugimoto for the 1-5-3 double play!!
Maeda grounds to 2nd for the 3rd out and a situation for Tokoha Kikugawa is deftly avoided!
Top 5th
Kikuchi with a blooper to right, Yoshito backing up, leaps and makes the catch for the first out!
Tokoha Kikugawa likes the high pitches as Kuwahara chases ball high for another K for Sakai.
#9 Sakakibara comes in to hit for Watanabe - his day is done. That means Hotta is coming in next half inning. Not sure I like the prospect of that...
Sakakibara does keep the inning going with a walk, Imasaka with a grounder up the 1st base line and it gets by Ichikawa!! Sakakibara winds up at 3rd on the base hit and it's another chance for Tokoha as Shimada-kantoku calls time.
But Toji chases after the first pitch and flies out to left! The opportunity is lost as soon as they get it!
Bottom 5th
Ace Hotta does come in for PH Sakakibara and takes the hill. He'll be tasked to go the distance now.
#17 Okuda comes in to hit for Sakai which means Sakai's day is done and Sakamoto will be coming in after the break. Okuda meanwhile pops out to 3rd.
Yoshito collects his first hit of the day with a lazy single to right.
Uh oh. Hotta misses inside on a full count pitch to Doi and Kochi is threatening with one out! And not only that, it brings up Ren!
Hotta and Matsuki are trying to be careful with Ren without walking the bases loaded. And gets what looks like a curve in to make it 2-2.
Fastball inside, goes behind Ren to fill up the count!
And Hotta can't get the call on a curve down in the zone and it's manrui for Kochi with cleanup batter Ichikawa up!
Ichikawa can't hold up on a buried ball and falls behind 0-1. To which Shimada-kantoku calls time and sends a message to Ichikawa.
Ichikawa with a blast to left center!! Toji running back to the fence, makes the catch! Yoshito easily tags up and we're tied at 1-1 with Kochi still threatening now with runners at the corners!
And Shimada-kantoku sends Ren to 2nd! The Tokoha battery isn't ready and there's no throw!
Now Hotta goes full on Matagawa! And Hotta walks him! It's manrui again for Kochi with Ueta stepping in!
Hotta having control issues all over the place as Matsuki has to leap to catch a pitch. He's high again on a curve, and another curve and he's behind 3-1!
#11 Hodzumi is warming up, but this initial pitching change seems to be rather blunderous!
Ueta swings away, liner right to Endou for the 3rd out!
Hotta and Tokoha Kikugawa get out of the jam, but as we head into the break, the pitching situation for Tokoha is as feared. It's only 1 IP, but already he has an ER, H, and 3 BB's. It's not lost for them, but I think they've made it that much harder on themselves.
Top 6th
Kochi also has a pitching change with Okuda PH for Sakai. Okuda stays in the game at LF, Matagawa moves to RF, and ace Sakamoto Yuuta comes in at Sugimoto's spot in the lineup and takes over on the hill.
After retiring Maekawa 4-3, Sakamoto has some trouble locating his pitches and walks Endou.
He's still having some problems, but gets Matsuki to chase a sinker down and in for the 2nd out.
Endou takes off on the first pitch, and it's a curve in the dirt that Maeda has no chance to throw him out on!
Sakamoto looking just as bad on the mound, falling behind Oonishi 3-0. Gets a fastball in the bottom of the zone for strike 1. Pumps in another on the outer half to fill up the count. Oonishi just fouls off the next pitch.
And Sakamoto now walks Oonishi! That brings up Kikuchi. Sakamoto this time gets ahead 0-2, and gets him to chase a forkball for the 3rd out!
The pressure is mounting on the two aces now in the game. Both have come out to very shaky starts and need to settle down quickly or it could be game set soon enough.
Bottom 6th
New P Sakamoto up, and he flies out to left. Already there seems to be a difference on the mound as Hotta is firing strikes to the batters. He's ahead 0-2 to Maeda and he takes a defensive foul.
Maeda puts a charge into one! Maekawa, playing in, running back in left... makes the running catch for the 2nd out!
Okuda in for his 2nd AB, does no better grounding out to short to end the inning.
Hotta on the other hand, looks miles better in his 2nd inning of work. I'm still skeptical given the numbers, but we'll see.
Top 7th
Kuwahara leads off Tokoha's lucky 7 with a single to right! Not a bad location by Sakamoto, Kuwahara just took it the other way like he was supposed to on an outside pitch.
As expected, Hotta squares up to bunt, but fouls off his first attempt. He fouls off his 2nd attempt and Morishita-kantoku is backed into a corner.
And Hotta tries the three bunt, but can't pull it back in time and is called out!
One down for Tokoha as Imasaka steps in. Sakamoto can't find the zone again and falls behind 3-1. Just gets one in the inside corner to fill up the count.
Hit-and-run! But Imasaka fouls it off. Looks like Morishita-kantoku is being aggressive here.
And another one! Again, Imasaka fouls it off.
And one more time! Imasaka misses this time, but Maeda's throw to 2nd is late.
Lineup flips up back to Toji with a runner in scoring position.
Sakamoto gets Toji on 3 straight finishing him off on a slider away!
Bottom 7th
Yoshito with a pop up behind home plate. Matsuki up against the fence leans to his right and makes the catch for the first out.
Doi goes after the first pitch and flies out to center, and Ren on the very next pitch grounds to short! A quick Lucky 7 for Kochi.
Top 8th
Both pitchers seem to have settled down for the most part, but it's a tenuous 1-1 game.
Sakamoto ahead of Maekawa 1-2, but can't get him to case on two consecutive balls, but gets him looking on a pitch on the inside corner as Maekawa takes off for 1st!
Endou swings on the first pitch and it's a routine grounder to Ren.
Matsuki with a big wave on a forkball down in the zone and he K's for the 2nd time against Sakamoto.
That's 7 K's (!) for Sakamoto in just 3 innings of work!
Bottom 8th
Ichikawa with a liner back up the middle past Hotta for a base hit!
And a ball gets under Matsuki advancing Ichikawa to 2nd! Tokoha in trouble as Morishita-kantoku calls for time.
Hotta gets ahead of Matagawa 1-2 with some well placed balls. Tries to get him to chase away, no dice.
Hotta tries to climb the ladder, but Matagawa connects with it and hits a slow roller to the right side! Imasaka's only play is to 1st and the gyakuten run is 90 feet away!
Ueta steps in, 0-3 on the day. After a foul off, Shimada-kantoku sends him some advice.
Ueta turns on one! 3rd base umpire looking it down the left field line... FAIR!! Maekawa retrieves it at the wall, but Ichikawa scores to make it a 2-1 game! Ueta in at 2nd and Kochi threatens to extend the lead now!
Sakamoto goes down swinging for the 2nd out.
Maeda with a check swing ball to 1st... WHAT??!
Kuwahara just plain misses the ball and it goes into right??! Ueta running home, throw from Maekawa, not in time! Matsuki fires to 2nd and gets Maeda trying to take 2nd on the throw and the inning is over!
But a costly error by Matsuki gives Kochi a crucial insurance run! They now lead 3-1 with just 3 outs to go!!
Top 9th
Desperate times for Tokoha now as they need 2 runs instead of 1.
Oonishi trying to get one of those runs back with one of his swings. Gets ahead 2-1 but watches a fastball right down the middle for strike 2.
He lines a ball to left! Okuda charging in dives, misses it as he awkwardly tumbles over! Oonishi with a leadoff double and Tokoha is in business!
Kikuchi up next, 1-3 with a single back in the 2nd. But he aggressively goes after the first pitch and pops it up! Doi in shallow left secures the ball for the 1st out!
Kuwahara stepping in, perhaps trying to make up for the error he made last half inning.
Chases a sinker for strike 2...
He tries to poke down the left field line, but pulls it foul.
SANSHIN!!!
Kuwahara chases a sinker for the 2nd out! That's 8 K's for Sakamoto!
Down to their last out #17 Kaneko comes in to hit for Hotta. And he's quickly behind 1-2.
SANSHIN!! Sakamoto with his 9th K as Kaneko chases a slider down and away! Kochi advances to the Best 8 at Koushien since their Natsu Koushien appearance in 1979!!
Kochi hangs in there against Tokoha Kikugawa and comes through late for the victory! It certainly looked like that Tokoha had the upper hand early, but the pitching changes for both team seemed to turn the tide. For Kochi, going to ace Sakamoto helped shut down the opposition after a shaky first inning.
Alas, for Tokoha Kikugawa, going to Hotta early perhaps cost them the game. First it cost them the lead when he was shaky in his first inning, then it cost him late as Ichikawa and Hotta put some timely hits together to put Kochi ahead for good.
So Shikoku continues to make a strong showing here at Senbatsu while Tokoha will perhaps go back to the drawing board for the summer.
Notable Players
Sakamoto Yuuta (Kochi) - W, 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 9 K, 0 BB
Ichikawa Gou (Kochi) - 2-3, R, RBI
Ueta Shunya (Kochi) - 1-4, 2B, R, RBI
Watanabe Naoki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - ND, 4 IP, 2 H, BB, HBP
Endou Kouhei (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 1-3, BB, SB
Toji Keisuke (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 1-4, R, K
Oonishi Yuuki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 1-3, 2B, BB, K
Tokoha Kikugawa has not done all that poorly, outslugging Harue Kougyou in their opening game, then took advantage of a fading Inui to come from behind to defeat hometown team Houtoku Gakuen.
With the key for Tokoha Kikugawa being their offense (as their pitching is weaker than most depending solely on weak contact), the last game against Houtoku Gakuen isn't all that encouraging. 4 runs, but only on 4 hits.
Now, they will be facing Kochi, whose starter - 2nd year Sakai, has had command issues as seen in their game against Kanzei. But he time and again was able to get out of the jams he was put in. Tokoha Kikugawa is probably not the offensive power that Kanzei was, so Sakai may have a better outing this time around if Tokoha can't get their offense started once again.
As for Kochi's offense, it warmed up as the game progressed against Kanzei, eventually culminating in 5 runs. They were helped by walks and dead balls though, so it may not translate at all this time around since Tokoha's pitchers are so around the plate.
This has all the makings of a low-scoring game given the offensive strength and relative pitching style of both teams.
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) - Tokai 3 seed
CF Toji Keisuke
LF Maekawa Naoya
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
RF Kikuchi Shuntarou (#16)
1B Kuwahara Tatsuki
P Watanabe Naoki (#10)
2B Imasaka Ryousuke
Kochi (Kochi) - Shikoku Champions
2B Wada Yoshito
SS Doi Kouyou
3B Wada Ren
1B Ichikawa Gou
LF Matagawa Ryouyuu
CF Ueta Shunya
RF Sugimoto Daiki
C Maeda Ryuusei (#12)
P Sakai Yuuya (#10)
____________________________________________________________
09:01 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Toji with a ball off the end of the bat. Yoshito and Ueta converge on it in center, but it falls in for a base hit!
Morishita-kantoku not bunting as usual with Maekawa.
Instead Morishita-kantoku sends Toji to 2nd! Throw from Maeda not in time!
Count runs full on Maekawa. Grounder to 3rd, Ren with it! Looks Toji back and makes the play at 1st.
Endou swings on a shoulder high pitch and sends it to right. Sugimoto coming in, has it go off his glove trying to make a shoestring catch! Everyone's safe as Toji moves to 3rd!
Sakai not looking particularly sharp in the early goings, going deep and behind in counts.
Now Morishita-kantoku sends Endou to 2nd! Throw again not in time! Base hit could score 2 now!
Matsuki though settles for a sac fly as he hits one to left center. Ueta with the catch, but Toji tags up and comes in to score to make it 1-0 Tokoha Kikugawa!
What's this? Endou tries to sneak into 3rd after the throw home, but Kochi has none of it! They go to 3rd and get him for the 3rd out!
Sneaky, but thoughtful. Still, Tokoha Kikugawa has the early lead!
Bottom 1st
Yoshito working the count full flies out to right.
Doi pops it back in foul territory, Matsuki tries to chase it down, but slips and can't make the catch. Another foul ball and this time Kawahara goes near the camera well, but again can't make the catch. He almost bloops one into left, but Maekawa runs it down.
Ren is hit on the head with a curveball. It's a glancing blow, but the home plate umpire calls for an injury runner. Doi comes out to run for him.
Ichikawa with a grounder past a diving Oonishi for a base hit! Kochi threatening with 2 outs!
Matagawa with a ball to left! Maekawa sprinting back and to his left, makes the running catch to save 2 runs!
Top 2nd
Oonishi with a liner, but right at Yoshito for the out.
Kikuchi with a swinging bunt up the 3rd base line. Maeda fields it as it turns toward foul territory, and then falls down when he tries to spin around to make the throw! Infield hit for Kikuchi!
After two more balls to Kuwahara, Maeda goes out to talk to him.
Kikuchi takes off for 2nd! Throw this time is closer, and he's called out!
Oooo~ I don't know about that call. And on replay, it looks like he gets in before Doi applies the tag. Bad break for Tokoha.
And Kuwahara goes down looking on a fastball on the outside corner. Sakai has his 1-2-3 inning, kinda...
Bottom 2nd
Ueta starts off the inning with a fly to left.
Sugimoto with a ball to the right side, Imasaka over to field it, but it's off his glove and into right. E$ and Kochi has the douten runner on.
Maeda with a ball to the right side as well. Imasaka does field it cleanly this time, spins for 2nd, thinks twice and goes to 1st for the out.
And Sakai hits a routine grounder to 3rd. Oonishi goes to 1st and the side is retired.
Top 3rd
Sakai's pitch location looks a better to start the 3rd as he gets a fastball by Watanabe for the 1st out.
He's still missing high, but Tokoha's batter are chasing after it.
Imasaka skies one towards 3rd, Ren makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Toji also gets under one, but hits it deep to center. Ueta though has plenty of time to get under it near the fence for the catch.
Bottom 3rd
Yoshito puts up another fight at the plate, and this time earns a walk on the full count.
Watanabe doesn't look that bad on the mound. He's not accurate either, but not really missing badly either so far.
Doi with the push bunt up the 1st base line is retired 3-4, but advances Yoshito into scoring position. But Ren grounds to 3rd! Oonishi with the ball, looks Yoshito back and throws to 1st. It's up the line, but Kuwahara makes the tag for the 2nd out.
Ichikawa pops it up on his 1st pitch and Imasaka makes the catch for the 3rd out.
Top 4th
Maekawa with a high swing somehow manages to line one into right for a leadoff hit. Endou not bunting flies out to right.
And he takes off for 2nd! Pitch from Sakai is in the dirt and Maeda has no chance!
Matsuki moves the runner along 90 feet with a groundout to 1st.
Sakai still having trouble with his control. On a waste pitch high, he actually misses down and away, and Maeda has to quickly reach down and stab at it to prevent a wild pitch. And then on a pitch that is supposed to be a little away, he misses by a wide margin.
No matter though as he gets Oonishi to swing and miss on a fastball to end the inning!
Bottom 4th
Matagawa working the count full, gets around on a ball inside and lines it into center for a leadoff hit! Ueta showing bunt, but winds up swinging away, grounds to 3rd! Oonishi goes to 2nd, but Matagawa is called safe as the throw takes Endou off the bag!
Sugimoto with the bunt to the left side. Watanabe quickly fields, spins, fires to 3rd for the out! Oonishi then fires to 1st... where they get Sugimoto for the 1-5-3 double play!!
Maeda grounds to 2nd for the 3rd out and a situation for Tokoha Kikugawa is deftly avoided!
Top 5th
Kikuchi with a blooper to right, Yoshito backing up, leaps and makes the catch for the first out!
Tokoha Kikugawa likes the high pitches as Kuwahara chases ball high for another K for Sakai.
#9 Sakakibara comes in to hit for Watanabe - his day is done. That means Hotta is coming in next half inning. Not sure I like the prospect of that...
Sakakibara does keep the inning going with a walk, Imasaka with a grounder up the 1st base line and it gets by Ichikawa!! Sakakibara winds up at 3rd on the base hit and it's another chance for Tokoha as Shimada-kantoku calls time.
But Toji chases after the first pitch and flies out to left! The opportunity is lost as soon as they get it!
Bottom 5th
Ace Hotta does come in for PH Sakakibara and takes the hill. He'll be tasked to go the distance now.
#17 Okuda comes in to hit for Sakai which means Sakai's day is done and Sakamoto will be coming in after the break. Okuda meanwhile pops out to 3rd.
Yoshito collects his first hit of the day with a lazy single to right.
Uh oh. Hotta misses inside on a full count pitch to Doi and Kochi is threatening with one out! And not only that, it brings up Ren!
Hotta and Matsuki are trying to be careful with Ren without walking the bases loaded. And gets what looks like a curve in to make it 2-2.
Fastball inside, goes behind Ren to fill up the count!
And Hotta can't get the call on a curve down in the zone and it's manrui for Kochi with cleanup batter Ichikawa up!
Ichikawa can't hold up on a buried ball and falls behind 0-1. To which Shimada-kantoku calls time and sends a message to Ichikawa.
Ichikawa with a blast to left center!! Toji running back to the fence, makes the catch! Yoshito easily tags up and we're tied at 1-1 with Kochi still threatening now with runners at the corners!
And Shimada-kantoku sends Ren to 2nd! The Tokoha battery isn't ready and there's no throw!
Now Hotta goes full on Matagawa! And Hotta walks him! It's manrui again for Kochi with Ueta stepping in!
Hotta having control issues all over the place as Matsuki has to leap to catch a pitch. He's high again on a curve, and another curve and he's behind 3-1!
#11 Hodzumi is warming up, but this initial pitching change seems to be rather blunderous!
Ueta swings away, liner right to Endou for the 3rd out!
Hotta and Tokoha Kikugawa get out of the jam, but as we head into the break, the pitching situation for Tokoha is as feared. It's only 1 IP, but already he has an ER, H, and 3 BB's. It's not lost for them, but I think they've made it that much harder on themselves.
Top 6th
Kochi also has a pitching change with Okuda PH for Sakai. Okuda stays in the game at LF, Matagawa moves to RF, and ace Sakamoto Yuuta comes in at Sugimoto's spot in the lineup and takes over on the hill.
After retiring Maekawa 4-3, Sakamoto has some trouble locating his pitches and walks Endou.
He's still having some problems, but gets Matsuki to chase a sinker down and in for the 2nd out.
Endou takes off on the first pitch, and it's a curve in the dirt that Maeda has no chance to throw him out on!
Sakamoto looking just as bad on the mound, falling behind Oonishi 3-0. Gets a fastball in the bottom of the zone for strike 1. Pumps in another on the outer half to fill up the count. Oonishi just fouls off the next pitch.
And Sakamoto now walks Oonishi! That brings up Kikuchi. Sakamoto this time gets ahead 0-2, and gets him to chase a forkball for the 3rd out!
The pressure is mounting on the two aces now in the game. Both have come out to very shaky starts and need to settle down quickly or it could be game set soon enough.
Bottom 6th
New P Sakamoto up, and he flies out to left. Already there seems to be a difference on the mound as Hotta is firing strikes to the batters. He's ahead 0-2 to Maeda and he takes a defensive foul.
Maeda puts a charge into one! Maekawa, playing in, running back in left... makes the running catch for the 2nd out!
Okuda in for his 2nd AB, does no better grounding out to short to end the inning.
Hotta on the other hand, looks miles better in his 2nd inning of work. I'm still skeptical given the numbers, but we'll see.
Top 7th
Kuwahara leads off Tokoha's lucky 7 with a single to right! Not a bad location by Sakamoto, Kuwahara just took it the other way like he was supposed to on an outside pitch.
As expected, Hotta squares up to bunt, but fouls off his first attempt. He fouls off his 2nd attempt and Morishita-kantoku is backed into a corner.
And Hotta tries the three bunt, but can't pull it back in time and is called out!
One down for Tokoha as Imasaka steps in. Sakamoto can't find the zone again and falls behind 3-1. Just gets one in the inside corner to fill up the count.
Hit-and-run! But Imasaka fouls it off. Looks like Morishita-kantoku is being aggressive here.
And another one! Again, Imasaka fouls it off.
And one more time! Imasaka misses this time, but Maeda's throw to 2nd is late.
Lineup flips up back to Toji with a runner in scoring position.
Sakamoto gets Toji on 3 straight finishing him off on a slider away!
Bottom 7th
Yoshito with a pop up behind home plate. Matsuki up against the fence leans to his right and makes the catch for the first out.
Doi goes after the first pitch and flies out to center, and Ren on the very next pitch grounds to short! A quick Lucky 7 for Kochi.
Top 8th
Both pitchers seem to have settled down for the most part, but it's a tenuous 1-1 game.
Sakamoto ahead of Maekawa 1-2, but can't get him to case on two consecutive balls, but gets him looking on a pitch on the inside corner as Maekawa takes off for 1st!
Endou swings on the first pitch and it's a routine grounder to Ren.
Matsuki with a big wave on a forkball down in the zone and he K's for the 2nd time against Sakamoto.
That's 7 K's (!) for Sakamoto in just 3 innings of work!
Bottom 8th
Ichikawa with a liner back up the middle past Hotta for a base hit!
And a ball gets under Matsuki advancing Ichikawa to 2nd! Tokoha in trouble as Morishita-kantoku calls for time.
Hotta gets ahead of Matagawa 1-2 with some well placed balls. Tries to get him to chase away, no dice.
Hotta tries to climb the ladder, but Matagawa connects with it and hits a slow roller to the right side! Imasaka's only play is to 1st and the gyakuten run is 90 feet away!
Ueta steps in, 0-3 on the day. After a foul off, Shimada-kantoku sends him some advice.
Ueta turns on one! 3rd base umpire looking it down the left field line... FAIR!! Maekawa retrieves it at the wall, but Ichikawa scores to make it a 2-1 game! Ueta in at 2nd and Kochi threatens to extend the lead now!
Sakamoto goes down swinging for the 2nd out.
Maeda with a check swing ball to 1st... WHAT??!
Kuwahara just plain misses the ball and it goes into right??! Ueta running home, throw from Maekawa, not in time! Matsuki fires to 2nd and gets Maeda trying to take 2nd on the throw and the inning is over!
But a costly error by Matsuki gives Kochi a crucial insurance run! They now lead 3-1 with just 3 outs to go!!
Top 9th
Desperate times for Tokoha now as they need 2 runs instead of 1.
Oonishi trying to get one of those runs back with one of his swings. Gets ahead 2-1 but watches a fastball right down the middle for strike 2.
He lines a ball to left! Okuda charging in dives, misses it as he awkwardly tumbles over! Oonishi with a leadoff double and Tokoha is in business!
Kikuchi up next, 1-3 with a single back in the 2nd. But he aggressively goes after the first pitch and pops it up! Doi in shallow left secures the ball for the 1st out!
Kuwahara stepping in, perhaps trying to make up for the error he made last half inning.
Chases a sinker for strike 2...
He tries to poke down the left field line, but pulls it foul.
SANSHIN!!!
Kuwahara chases a sinker for the 2nd out! That's 8 K's for Sakamoto!
Down to their last out #17 Kaneko comes in to hit for Hotta. And he's quickly behind 1-2.
SANSHIN!! Sakamoto with his 9th K as Kaneko chases a slider down and away! Kochi advances to the Best 8 at Koushien since their Natsu Koushien appearance in 1979!!
Kochi hangs in there against Tokoha Kikugawa and comes through late for the victory! It certainly looked like that Tokoha had the upper hand early, but the pitching changes for both team seemed to turn the tide. For Kochi, going to ace Sakamoto helped shut down the opposition after a shaky first inning.
Alas, for Tokoha Kikugawa, going to Hotta early perhaps cost them the game. First it cost them the lead when he was shaky in his first inning, then it cost him late as Ichikawa and Hotta put some timely hits together to put Kochi ahead for good.
So Shikoku continues to make a strong showing here at Senbatsu while Tokoha will perhaps go back to the drawing board for the summer.
Notable Players
Sakamoto Yuuta (Kochi) - W, 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 9 K, 0 BB
Ichikawa Gou (Kochi) - 2-3, R, RBI
Ueta Shunya (Kochi) - 1-4, 2B, R, RBI
Watanabe Naoki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - ND, 4 IP, 2 H, BB, HBP
Endou Kouhei (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 1-3, BB, SB
Toji Keisuke (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 1-4, R, K
Oonishi Yuuki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 1-3, 2B, BB, K
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Day 6, Game 1 - Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) vs. Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo)
It's a bit weird with the format this year (with the expanded field), that we're still having teams playing their first games, and we're on Day 6.
But, here we are with some of our opening round teams playing their 2nd game. In this case, it's Tokoha Kikugawa facing home team Houtoku Gakuen.
And I do mean home team - the school is about 20 minutes away by car!
Houtoku Gakuen had some hot and cold stretches during the fall taikais. They would win the Hyogo prefecturals by edging out Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku 2-1, then pretty much did the same against Fukuchiyama Seibi (the same team Kyoto Shouei blew out 22-3). Fast forward to the semifinal and they then mercy-rule current Haru-Natsu champs Osaka Touin before losing in the finals to Kyoto Shouei 3-2 in 13 innings.
Inui Youhei is still their ace, throws in the low 140s with the standard fare. Has average numbers - 5 K/9, 5:2 K/BB ratio, 0.95 WHIP. Yet he was able to 1-hit Osaka Touin, so it's a bit bizarre.
If we assume that Osaka Touin is significantly not as strong as last year (which is easily plausible since they lost Fujinami), then the story makes more sense in that Inui is like all other pitchers, and that the offense significantly takes a hit when facing Koushien-level competition.
It's probably why some of the starting numbers in the fall have been replaced. 2B Miki has been moved in favor of Yamaguchi Daisuke, and LF Arai has been replaced with Yokota Yuuka. They had hit 7 & 8 in the lineup.
Their best batter is at the top of the lineup in Katsuoka Shizuya, who batted 0.373 and half his hits went for extra bases. Direcly behind him is Kurino Wataru who led the team in steals (8), though if Katsuoka gets on base ahead of Kurino, how much will he be able to run?
Their first opponent will be Tokoha Kikugawa, who capitalized on errors made by Kyushu champions Okinawa Shougaku in order to win 9-5. The 9 runs belied the fact that they weren't able to get to Okishou's ace until the latter half of the game. Of course when they did, they showed the offense that they displayed during the fall - including 2 HRs.
The other problem is that Hotta looked rather hittable against Harue Kougyou. Reliever Hodzumi in addition was not effective either. And while Harue Kougyou isn't just some random team, it can probably be agreed that they're not top tier. So the offense will be hard pressed to deliver game after game. But if they can take it a game at a time, it might be possible.
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) - Tokai 3 seed
CF Toji Keisuke
LF Maekawa Naoya
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
RF Kaneko Hisashi (#17)
1B Kuwahara Tatsuki
P Watanabe Naoki (#10)
2B Imasaka Ryousuke
Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo) - Kinki Runner-up
RF Katsuoka Shizuya
CF Kurino Wataru
SS Kishida Yukinori
1B Katahama Daiki
C Matsutani Tatsuki
2B Yamaguchi Daisuke
LF Yokota Yuuta
3B Hagihara Mikito
P Inui Youhei
____________________________________________________________
09:00 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Toji swings on the first pitch and flies to left.
Inui firing strikes early, Maekawa swinging and missing on a fastball high for the out.
And Endou flies out to right and the inning is over in 7 pitches.
Bottom 1st
Watanabe getting the start instead of Hotta, perhaps to see how much they can get away with in resting their ace. As I mentioned before about Tokoha Kikugawa, I wouldn't trust the relief staff, but perhaps there's something I'm missing.
He goes full on Katsuoka before freezing him on a pitch inside.
Kurino tries a safety bunt, but Watanabe is there quickly and makes the throw for the 2nd out.
And Kishida goes full has to swing at the next pitch and flies to left. 1-2-3, but as noted he went full twice.
Top 2nd
Of course, I mention he's throwing strikes and he walks Matsuki on 4 straight.
Then he comes back and climbs the ladder on Oonishi for his 2nd K.
Matsuki tries to steal 2nd, Matsutani's throw seems late, but instead the camera shifts and Matsuki's out easily! That seems odd.
And Kaneko grounds to 3rd and the side is retired.
Bottom 2nd
Watanabe actually gets ahead of Katahama but runs the count full and walks him! Matsutani bunts him over.
And a curve gets bu Matsuki somehow! Now Katahama is on 3rd!
As expected, Houtoku punishes the strategy! Yamaguchi singles to center and Katahama easily scores to make it 1-0 Houtoku!
Watanabe gets Yokota and Hagihara to fly out to center and that ends the inning, but unless Tokoha plans to outscore Houtoku, they may have to call on Hotta's services early.
Top 3rd
It continues to be rather quick for Inui. Like the first, he requires just 7 pitches to retire the bottom of the order as a strikeout of Watanabe is sandwiched by two fly balls. Though to be honest, Katsuoka's backpedaling on Kuwahara's fly ball looked rather awkward and as if he wasn't an actual outfielder.
Bottom 3rd
Perhaps Watanabe heard me, because he's throwing strikes now.
Inui hits a comeback to Watanabe, and behind 1-2 Katsuoka grounds out to 2nd.
And apparently those strikes come in spurts as Watanabe goes full on Kurino before he grounds to 1st.
Top 4th
So for those that haven't read my prior game posts on Inui, he throws in the low 140s with a forkball to go with the standard fare.
Toji gets the bat around an inside fastball and lines it down the right field line... fair! Katsuoka runs it down and fumbles a bit with the ball! Still though, Toji winds up at 2nd with a leadoff double!
Maekawa tries to bunt Toji to 3rd, but he fails in his 2 attempts! Now he has to swing away!
And instead swings badly on a fastball way outside for the first out.
Endou with a grounder to left! They're sending Toji??!! That's really shallow!
But Yokota's throw is way up the 1st base line and Toji scores to tie it at 1-1! Either Morishita-kantoku has information or they like to press. Either way it works this time.
Matsuki is given the green light to swing, but flies out to center for the 2nd out. Oonishi grounds out to 2nd on the first pitch to end the inning, but some aggressive running and timely hitting give us a time game!
Bottom 4th
One down for Houtoku and Katahama with a base hit to left! He's moved over for a one shot from Yamaguchi, but he swings on the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd. As quickly as an opportunity presented itself, it disappeared.
Top 5th
Kaneko swings under a shoulder high fastball and pops up to Hagihara for the first out.
Kurihara with a grounder to 3rd, but Hagihara's throw is short and Katahama can't field it! E5 and Tokoha has another runner on!
#16 Kikuchi to hit for Watanabe, so that means Hotta will be entering the game.
Kikuchi though can't do anything as he swings on a slider in the dirt.
And apparently Houtoku Gakuen sees a weakness in Tokoha's they like the high pitch. Because Imasaka sees nothing except those and strikes out swinging to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
So ace Hotta actually comes in for Kaneko and takes the hill, Kikuchi moves to right.
And this game just whizzes along. Yokota gets ahead of a curveball and goes down. Hagihara follows that with a first pitch grounder to 3rd, and then Inui hits a high fly to Endou to end the inning!
We hit the break at a sub 2-hr pace, and for Tokoha Kikugawa, they got the innings they wanted from Watanabe as after a shaky first 2 innings, he settles down and hands the game over to his ace level.
For Houtoku, Inui has done fairly well against Tokoha's offense save for the score in the 4th. And I think they have something they can take advantage of.
Top 6th
And just as expected, Toji is behind 1-2, and they give him a couple of high fastballs which he manages to foul off. After laying off a slider in the dirt, he hits a pitch outside for a fly out to left.
Maekawa swings on a high pitch and hits a booming fly to right that Katsuoka secures.
And Endou chases a ball down and flies out to Yokota to end the inning.
I get it now! If Tokoha Kikugawa is a good hitting team, perhaps the idea isn't to go from side to side, it's to go up and down! If you miss side-to-side, you might leave one in their wheelhouse. If you pitch high and they swing, they can't drive through the ball, or they can't swing through it because it is high. If they swing low, they're reaching for it, and again aren't driving it and probably golfing it into the air!
Bottom 6th
Now it's Hotta's turn to nibble, working the outside and thus the count full. But he does eventually get Katsuoka to ground to 2nd.
And quickly thereafter, Kurino grounds to 3rd, and Kishida fies out to Toji near the infield and it's a quick inning for Houtoku!
Top 7th
I think the Tokoha batters are catching on, and thus waiting for a better pitch, but the results are the same. Matsuki grounds out to 2nd, Oonishi grounds out to 3rd, and Hotta in his first AB strikes out swinging on a fastball outside for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
One down for Houtoku, and Matsutani lines a curve back up the middle for a base hit!
And now Nagata-kantoku starts the hit-and-run! Yamaguchi grounds to 3rd, Oonishi charges in, throws and beats out a flopping Yamaguchi. (I don't know how better to explain it, he was completely horizontal about 4 feet off the ground like a belly flop.)
#13 Sakai to hit for Yokota.
Sakai drives the first pitch he sees! Maekawa running back, reaches his glove out and it's over him! Matsutani being sent home and Sakai delivers with a PH RBI double! It's 2-1 Houtoku Gakuen! He's given a warm welcome back in the dugout as he's replaced at 1st by #15 Sugiura.
Hagihara flies out to center to end the inning, but the Lucky 7 is lucky for Sakai and Houtoku Gakuen!
Top 8th
Sugiura stays in the game at LF.
AH! Kuwahara is sent to the ground after being hit by Inui! He's fine, but the douten runner is on base!
Kikuchi with a liner to right! Katsuoka gets it in quickly and Kuwahara has to hold at 2nd.
But with no out, Morishita-kantoku doesn't call for a bunt!
And Imasaka chases a fastball outside for the first out! One down, but that will flip the lineup back to the top and Toji.
Inui working from side to side now, but his control is not as good! He falls behind Toji 3-0 before fighting back to fill the count. But Toji doesn't chase on a ball way outside and it's manrui for Maekawa!!
Nagata-kantoku calls for time.
Fastball high and Maekawa fouls it off. And another foul! Will Inui take advantage of Maekawa's aggressiveness?
Well at 0-2 he throws a waste pitch, then another high pitch that Maekawa swings at, but grounds to Yamaguchi! He goes home for the force and there's 2 down!
Last chance in Endou to tie the game here in the 8th. Fastball on the outside corner taken for a strike. Goes there again and Endou fouls it off, quickly falling behind 0-2.
Another outside, and Endou emergency swings it foul! Pitch high, no swing!
Grounder to short! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ball 5-holes Kishida into left center!!!
Kikuchi scores! Toji scores!! Maekawa being sent home!!!!
Throw from Kishida... SAFE!!!!
Maekawa slides in ahead of the throw and Matsuki clears the bases on an unfortunate play for Houtoku Gakuen!! Tokoha leads 4-2!!
Matsuki pops out to 2nd, but Tokoha Kikugawa gets some lick in the 8th and now have a 2-run lead!!
Bottom 8th
The home team now has little time to regroup and mount a rally.
One down for Houtoku and Katsuoka goes down and guides a ball through to center for a base hit!
Nagata-kantoku hoping for some more luck as he sends ini #12 Arai to hit for Kuwano.
He hits a fly to right center! But Toji sprinting over makes the catch! Kikuchi points in and Toji fires it to 1st! Katsuoka scrambles back, but Toji's throw beats him for the double play!!
Nagata-kantoku isn't happy about that as now his team is down to their last 3 outs!!
Top 9th
It takes a little bit of work, but Inui retires the side in order. He's done what he could on the mound now. It's up to the offense to try and make a final rally.
Bottom 9th
3-4-5 batters for Houtoku up as well.
But Hotta goes right after Kishida with 2 strikes. But then two balls not close and the advantage is gone.
Kishida lines a shot past a leaping Oonishi down the left field line! He's in easily with a double!
I will never understand the "waste" pitches that aren't even close. You're just giving away pitches and any advantage you had as the pitcher.
And now Hotta is trying to nibble or get the batter to chase and is getting nowhere! He walks Katahama on 4 straight! The douten runner is on for Houtoku!
Matsutani up and showing bunt, pitch inside - bunts it foul. Next pitch, buster shot! But he fouls it back! He's down 0-2, but still showing bunt!
Pitch way up and in for ball 1.
He goes for it! lays it down! Hotta goes to 1st and now the douten runner is in scoring position for Yamaguchi!
And Tokoha's defense is way in! Where is the "no doubles" defense??
Well, Hotta gets ahead of Yamaguchi 1-2.
Fly to right! Kikuchi with the catch, Kishida comes in to score, but Imasaka's throw home is high! Hotta backing up play retrieves it, and Katahama is caught off 3rd??!!
WHAT????!!!!!!!
Hotta starts the rundown, and 1-5-2-1 Hotta makes the tag and jumps in the air! Tokoha Kikugawa survives to defeat Houtoku Gakuen 4-3!!
Oh man, that's the second base running error in as many innings for Houtoku Gakuen and this one costs them the game!!
And you can see it as the players go out to the oen-dan, some of them are crying because the game was there for the taking, but unforced errors cost them.
So it'll be back to the drawing board for Houtoku Gakuen. They'll have the entire spring and summer to stew over that loss and to work their way back to Koushien once again.
For Tokoha Kikugawa, they get a lot of bounces their way - the 5-hole bases-clearing double, and the two baserunning errors mean that they advance on to play Kochi in the 3rd round. As much as perhaps their aggressiveness helped them in the past, they may need to be more disciplined lest they swing themselves out of Koushien instead of into the finals.
Notable Players
Watanabe Naoki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, K, BB
Hotta Tatsuya (Tokoha Kikugawa) - W, 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, K, BB
Endou Kouhei (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Inui Youhei (Houtoku Gakuen) - L, CG, 4 ER, 4 H, 8 K, 2 BB, HBP
Sakai Shuugo (Houtoku Gakuen) - 1-1, 2B, RBI
Katahama Daiki (Houtoku Gakuen) - 1-2, BB
Yamguchi Daisuke (Houtoku Gakuen) - 1-3, 2 RBI
But, here we are with some of our opening round teams playing their 2nd game. In this case, it's Tokoha Kikugawa facing home team Houtoku Gakuen.
And I do mean home team - the school is about 20 minutes away by car!
Houtoku Gakuen had some hot and cold stretches during the fall taikais. They would win the Hyogo prefecturals by edging out Kobe Kokusaidai Fuzoku 2-1, then pretty much did the same against Fukuchiyama Seibi (the same team Kyoto Shouei blew out 22-3). Fast forward to the semifinal and they then mercy-rule current Haru-Natsu champs Osaka Touin before losing in the finals to Kyoto Shouei 3-2 in 13 innings.
Inui Youhei is still their ace, throws in the low 140s with the standard fare. Has average numbers - 5 K/9, 5:2 K/BB ratio, 0.95 WHIP. Yet he was able to 1-hit Osaka Touin, so it's a bit bizarre.
If we assume that Osaka Touin is significantly not as strong as last year (which is easily plausible since they lost Fujinami), then the story makes more sense in that Inui is like all other pitchers, and that the offense significantly takes a hit when facing Koushien-level competition.
It's probably why some of the starting numbers in the fall have been replaced. 2B Miki has been moved in favor of Yamaguchi Daisuke, and LF Arai has been replaced with Yokota Yuuka. They had hit 7 & 8 in the lineup.
Their best batter is at the top of the lineup in Katsuoka Shizuya, who batted 0.373 and half his hits went for extra bases. Direcly behind him is Kurino Wataru who led the team in steals (8), though if Katsuoka gets on base ahead of Kurino, how much will he be able to run?
Their first opponent will be Tokoha Kikugawa, who capitalized on errors made by Kyushu champions Okinawa Shougaku in order to win 9-5. The 9 runs belied the fact that they weren't able to get to Okishou's ace until the latter half of the game. Of course when they did, they showed the offense that they displayed during the fall - including 2 HRs.
The other problem is that Hotta looked rather hittable against Harue Kougyou. Reliever Hodzumi in addition was not effective either. And while Harue Kougyou isn't just some random team, it can probably be agreed that they're not top tier. So the offense will be hard pressed to deliver game after game. But if they can take it a game at a time, it might be possible.
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) - Tokai 3 seed
CF Toji Keisuke
LF Maekawa Naoya
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
RF Kaneko Hisashi (#17)
1B Kuwahara Tatsuki
P Watanabe Naoki (#10)
2B Imasaka Ryousuke
Houtoku Gakuen (Hyogo) - Kinki Runner-up
RF Katsuoka Shizuya
CF Kurino Wataru
SS Kishida Yukinori
1B Katahama Daiki
C Matsutani Tatsuki
2B Yamaguchi Daisuke
LF Yokota Yuuta
3B Hagihara Mikito
P Inui Youhei
____________________________________________________________
09:00 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Toji swings on the first pitch and flies to left.
Inui firing strikes early, Maekawa swinging and missing on a fastball high for the out.
And Endou flies out to right and the inning is over in 7 pitches.
Bottom 1st
Watanabe getting the start instead of Hotta, perhaps to see how much they can get away with in resting their ace. As I mentioned before about Tokoha Kikugawa, I wouldn't trust the relief staff, but perhaps there's something I'm missing.
He goes full on Katsuoka before freezing him on a pitch inside.
Kurino tries a safety bunt, but Watanabe is there quickly and makes the throw for the 2nd out.
And Kishida goes full has to swing at the next pitch and flies to left. 1-2-3, but as noted he went full twice.
Top 2nd
Of course, I mention he's throwing strikes and he walks Matsuki on 4 straight.
Then he comes back and climbs the ladder on Oonishi for his 2nd K.
Matsuki tries to steal 2nd, Matsutani's throw seems late, but instead the camera shifts and Matsuki's out easily! That seems odd.
And Kaneko grounds to 3rd and the side is retired.
Bottom 2nd
Watanabe actually gets ahead of Katahama but runs the count full and walks him! Matsutani bunts him over.
And a curve gets bu Matsuki somehow! Now Katahama is on 3rd!
As expected, Houtoku punishes the strategy! Yamaguchi singles to center and Katahama easily scores to make it 1-0 Houtoku!
Watanabe gets Yokota and Hagihara to fly out to center and that ends the inning, but unless Tokoha plans to outscore Houtoku, they may have to call on Hotta's services early.
Top 3rd
It continues to be rather quick for Inui. Like the first, he requires just 7 pitches to retire the bottom of the order as a strikeout of Watanabe is sandwiched by two fly balls. Though to be honest, Katsuoka's backpedaling on Kuwahara's fly ball looked rather awkward and as if he wasn't an actual outfielder.
Bottom 3rd
Perhaps Watanabe heard me, because he's throwing strikes now.
Inui hits a comeback to Watanabe, and behind 1-2 Katsuoka grounds out to 2nd.
And apparently those strikes come in spurts as Watanabe goes full on Kurino before he grounds to 1st.
Top 4th
So for those that haven't read my prior game posts on Inui, he throws in the low 140s with a forkball to go with the standard fare.
Toji gets the bat around an inside fastball and lines it down the right field line... fair! Katsuoka runs it down and fumbles a bit with the ball! Still though, Toji winds up at 2nd with a leadoff double!
Maekawa tries to bunt Toji to 3rd, but he fails in his 2 attempts! Now he has to swing away!
And instead swings badly on a fastball way outside for the first out.
Endou with a grounder to left! They're sending Toji??!! That's really shallow!
But Yokota's throw is way up the 1st base line and Toji scores to tie it at 1-1! Either Morishita-kantoku has information or they like to press. Either way it works this time.
Matsuki is given the green light to swing, but flies out to center for the 2nd out. Oonishi grounds out to 2nd on the first pitch to end the inning, but some aggressive running and timely hitting give us a time game!
Bottom 4th
One down for Houtoku and Katahama with a base hit to left! He's moved over for a one shot from Yamaguchi, but he swings on the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd. As quickly as an opportunity presented itself, it disappeared.
Top 5th
Kaneko swings under a shoulder high fastball and pops up to Hagihara for the first out.
Kurihara with a grounder to 3rd, but Hagihara's throw is short and Katahama can't field it! E5 and Tokoha has another runner on!
#16 Kikuchi to hit for Watanabe, so that means Hotta will be entering the game.
Kikuchi though can't do anything as he swings on a slider in the dirt.
And apparently Houtoku Gakuen sees a weakness in Tokoha's they like the high pitch. Because Imasaka sees nothing except those and strikes out swinging to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
So ace Hotta actually comes in for Kaneko and takes the hill, Kikuchi moves to right.
And this game just whizzes along. Yokota gets ahead of a curveball and goes down. Hagihara follows that with a first pitch grounder to 3rd, and then Inui hits a high fly to Endou to end the inning!
We hit the break at a sub 2-hr pace, and for Tokoha Kikugawa, they got the innings they wanted from Watanabe as after a shaky first 2 innings, he settles down and hands the game over to his ace level.
For Houtoku, Inui has done fairly well against Tokoha's offense save for the score in the 4th. And I think they have something they can take advantage of.
Top 6th
And just as expected, Toji is behind 1-2, and they give him a couple of high fastballs which he manages to foul off. After laying off a slider in the dirt, he hits a pitch outside for a fly out to left.
Maekawa swings on a high pitch and hits a booming fly to right that Katsuoka secures.
And Endou chases a ball down and flies out to Yokota to end the inning.
I get it now! If Tokoha Kikugawa is a good hitting team, perhaps the idea isn't to go from side to side, it's to go up and down! If you miss side-to-side, you might leave one in their wheelhouse. If you pitch high and they swing, they can't drive through the ball, or they can't swing through it because it is high. If they swing low, they're reaching for it, and again aren't driving it and probably golfing it into the air!
Bottom 6th
Now it's Hotta's turn to nibble, working the outside and thus the count full. But he does eventually get Katsuoka to ground to 2nd.
And quickly thereafter, Kurino grounds to 3rd, and Kishida fies out to Toji near the infield and it's a quick inning for Houtoku!
Top 7th
I think the Tokoha batters are catching on, and thus waiting for a better pitch, but the results are the same. Matsuki grounds out to 2nd, Oonishi grounds out to 3rd, and Hotta in his first AB strikes out swinging on a fastball outside for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
One down for Houtoku, and Matsutani lines a curve back up the middle for a base hit!
And now Nagata-kantoku starts the hit-and-run! Yamaguchi grounds to 3rd, Oonishi charges in, throws and beats out a flopping Yamaguchi. (I don't know how better to explain it, he was completely horizontal about 4 feet off the ground like a belly flop.)
#13 Sakai to hit for Yokota.
Sakai drives the first pitch he sees! Maekawa running back, reaches his glove out and it's over him! Matsutani being sent home and Sakai delivers with a PH RBI double! It's 2-1 Houtoku Gakuen! He's given a warm welcome back in the dugout as he's replaced at 1st by #15 Sugiura.
Hagihara flies out to center to end the inning, but the Lucky 7 is lucky for Sakai and Houtoku Gakuen!
Top 8th
Sugiura stays in the game at LF.
AH! Kuwahara is sent to the ground after being hit by Inui! He's fine, but the douten runner is on base!
Kikuchi with a liner to right! Katsuoka gets it in quickly and Kuwahara has to hold at 2nd.
But with no out, Morishita-kantoku doesn't call for a bunt!
And Imasaka chases a fastball outside for the first out! One down, but that will flip the lineup back to the top and Toji.
Inui working from side to side now, but his control is not as good! He falls behind Toji 3-0 before fighting back to fill the count. But Toji doesn't chase on a ball way outside and it's manrui for Maekawa!!
Nagata-kantoku calls for time.
Fastball high and Maekawa fouls it off. And another foul! Will Inui take advantage of Maekawa's aggressiveness?
Well at 0-2 he throws a waste pitch, then another high pitch that Maekawa swings at, but grounds to Yamaguchi! He goes home for the force and there's 2 down!
Last chance in Endou to tie the game here in the 8th. Fastball on the outside corner taken for a strike. Goes there again and Endou fouls it off, quickly falling behind 0-2.
Another outside, and Endou emergency swings it foul! Pitch high, no swing!
Grounder to short! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ball 5-holes Kishida into left center!!!
Kikuchi scores! Toji scores!! Maekawa being sent home!!!!
Throw from Kishida... SAFE!!!!
Maekawa slides in ahead of the throw and Matsuki clears the bases on an unfortunate play for Houtoku Gakuen!! Tokoha leads 4-2!!
Matsuki pops out to 2nd, but Tokoha Kikugawa gets some lick in the 8th and now have a 2-run lead!!
Bottom 8th
The home team now has little time to regroup and mount a rally.
One down for Houtoku and Katsuoka goes down and guides a ball through to center for a base hit!
Nagata-kantoku hoping for some more luck as he sends ini #12 Arai to hit for Kuwano.
He hits a fly to right center! But Toji sprinting over makes the catch! Kikuchi points in and Toji fires it to 1st! Katsuoka scrambles back, but Toji's throw beats him for the double play!!
Nagata-kantoku isn't happy about that as now his team is down to their last 3 outs!!
Top 9th
It takes a little bit of work, but Inui retires the side in order. He's done what he could on the mound now. It's up to the offense to try and make a final rally.
Bottom 9th
3-4-5 batters for Houtoku up as well.
But Hotta goes right after Kishida with 2 strikes. But then two balls not close and the advantage is gone.
Kishida lines a shot past a leaping Oonishi down the left field line! He's in easily with a double!
I will never understand the "waste" pitches that aren't even close. You're just giving away pitches and any advantage you had as the pitcher.
And now Hotta is trying to nibble or get the batter to chase and is getting nowhere! He walks Katahama on 4 straight! The douten runner is on for Houtoku!
Matsutani up and showing bunt, pitch inside - bunts it foul. Next pitch, buster shot! But he fouls it back! He's down 0-2, but still showing bunt!
Pitch way up and in for ball 1.
He goes for it! lays it down! Hotta goes to 1st and now the douten runner is in scoring position for Yamaguchi!
And Tokoha's defense is way in! Where is the "no doubles" defense??
Well, Hotta gets ahead of Yamaguchi 1-2.
Fly to right! Kikuchi with the catch, Kishida comes in to score, but Imasaka's throw home is high! Hotta backing up play retrieves it, and Katahama is caught off 3rd??!!
WHAT????!!!!!!!
Hotta starts the rundown, and 1-5-2-1 Hotta makes the tag and jumps in the air! Tokoha Kikugawa survives to defeat Houtoku Gakuen 4-3!!
Oh man, that's the second base running error in as many innings for Houtoku Gakuen and this one costs them the game!!
And you can see it as the players go out to the oen-dan, some of them are crying because the game was there for the taking, but unforced errors cost them.
So it'll be back to the drawing board for Houtoku Gakuen. They'll have the entire spring and summer to stew over that loss and to work their way back to Koushien once again.
For Tokoha Kikugawa, they get a lot of bounces their way - the 5-hole bases-clearing double, and the two baserunning errors mean that they advance on to play Kochi in the 3rd round. As much as perhaps their aggressiveness helped them in the past, they may need to be more disciplined lest they swing themselves out of Koushien instead of into the finals.
Notable Players
Watanabe Naoki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, K, BB
Hotta Tatsuya (Tokoha Kikugawa) - W, 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, K, BB
Endou Kouhei (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Inui Youhei (Houtoku Gakuen) - L, CG, 4 ER, 4 H, 8 K, 2 BB, HBP
Sakai Shuugo (Houtoku Gakuen) - 1-1, 2B, RBI
Katahama Daiki (Houtoku Gakuen) - 1-2, BB
Yamguchi Daisuke (Houtoku Gakuen) - 1-3, 2 RBI
Friday, March 22, 2013
Day 1, Game 3 - Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) vs. Harue Kougyou (Fukui)
The final game of the day puts the Hokushinetsu region on the line as champion Harue Kougyou (a first timer no less), faces a team who is also making a return after a 5 year hiatus in Tokoha Kikugawa.
Tokoha Kikugawa earned their bid via a 2-1 loss in the super-regional semifinal to eventual winners Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou. They got there by basically outscoring their opposition. Ace Hotta Tatsuya throws a pedestrian 135, with a slider, curve and changeup combination that allows about 1 baserunner per inning while striking out one every 2 innings. #11 Hodzumi Taiga and other have been used, but are not nearly as effective as Hotta, which means you'd better hope you don't see them...
Offensively, the team basically walked and smashed their way through the field. The team posted an ISO of 0.245, while their OBP was 0.143 points higher than their BA. How much of that is due to their earlier round games is uncertain though, but carrying that through 14 games does count for something, if even just a little. Over 2/3 of the roster carries a 0.300+ BA, and everyone except for Hotta and new 1B Kuwahara tallied a double and a triple.
Harue Kougyou won their first ever super-regional and earned their first trip to Koushien this fall. They did so avenging a loss to rival Tsuruga Kehi, while beating Matsushou Gakuen and Niigata Meikun along the way. In addition, they defeated Urawa Gakuin at Meiji Jingu before falling hard to Kanzei.
It looks impressive on the surface, but the underlying numbers paint a different picture. Despite going 9-2 in the fall, their two losses were by margins of 2-15 and 2-10. Ace Tsubota Kazuki is the first pitcher covered that has a WHIP greater than 1 (1.33 in fact), and only strikes out 5 batters per 9.
Their offense is heavily predicated on small ball. With an ISO of just 0.094 and a OBP just 0.021 higher than their BA despite averaging 3-4 walks per game, there is a lot of sacrifices to move runners over. As a result, they are generally involved in low scoring affairs. The lynchpin probably is their cleanup batter Kurihara Ryouta, who batted a scorching 0.513 as a rookie.
Note the bright orange knee-high socs they wear. Definitely a defining part of their unifiorm. And the oen-dan is in full force, even if the stands elsewhere aren't full.
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) - Tokai 3 seed
CF Toji Keisuke
LF Maekawa Naoya
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
RF Nakata Koushi (#13)
1B Kuwahara Tatsuki
P Hotta Tatsuya
2B Imasaka Ryousuke
Harue Kougyou (Fukui) - Hokushinetsu Champions
CF Nishi Keita
1B Kinoshita Keigo
LF Ono Shouta
C Kurihara Ryouta
3B Umemura Takumi
SS Nakajima Haruka
2B Hamade Shouta
P Tsubota Kazuki
RF Kotobuki Yuuta
____________________________________________________________
15:55 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Tsubota doesn't throw particuarly hard, but hides the ball behind his body for a long period of time. He gets Toji to hit a routine grounder to 2nd.
In fact Tsubota throws only in the high 120s, with a curve in the mid-100s.
Maekawa is fooled on a curve, but keeps the bat in the zone enough to poke it past Nakajima into center. Morishita-kantoku elects not to bunt (they are a hitting team after all it seems), but Endou gets under one and flies out to Kotobuki.
So instead Morishita-kantoku sends Maekawa on the next pitch! The throw would have had him, but Nakajima just can't hang onto the ball.
It looks like the Tokoha batters are having a hard time picking up the ball early. And Matsuki is also fooled and hits a lazy fly to right as well to end the inning. Not a bad start for the Hokushinetsu champions.
Bottom 1st
This could be a quick pace game as well. Hotta pitches at a rapid pace - maybe even faster than Takahashi. Hotta though gets a warning about his form, perhaps the hitch in his delivery?
Nonetheless, Nishi though gets ahead 3-1 but grounds out to 1st. Kinoshita though takes a hanging fastball and beats it over a leaping Maekawa and off the wall for a double.
And with Ono up, Matsuki can't secure a ball in the dirt and Kinoshita advances 90 feet! Ono then makes the battery pay by hitting a grounder through to right! Kinoshita scores to make it 1-0 Harue Kougyou!
Kurihara with another single just like Ono! Ono breaks for 3rd and the throw is cut off! Is the warning from the umpire affecting Hotta? Or is Harukou seeing the ball?
Umemura takes a big swing on a 111 curve to open. Then gets a 134 fastball right down the pipe for strike 2. And he watches a 135 fastball catch the bottom of the zone. Can't let that go on 2 strikes...
Nakajima grounds to 2nd to end the inning, and perhaps Tokoha Kikugawa is fortunate to have given up just one run.
Top 2nd
Kikugawa's batters are making good contact, but not solid contact. Oonishi flies out to deep right as Kotobuki runs it down near the line. Nakata does the same as this time Kotobuki backs up.
Kuwahara takes a big swing, but is way ahead of a Tsubota curve. And even with the big swing he looked like he was trying to take it the other way. But he's fooled again and this time grounds to 1st. Kinoshita beats him to the bag and it's a 6 pitch inning for Tsubota!
Bottom 2nd
Hamde gets around on a fastball and fists it over the infield into left for a leadoff hit. Tsubota lays down a bunt on the next pitch leaving it to last batter Kotobuki to try and get another run in.
Kotobuki tries a safety bunt! But he fouls it off.
He does it again! Hotta goes to 1st, but throws it high! Hamada scores from 2nd and Kotobuki replaces him there! It's 2-0 Harukou! Either Kotobuki really can't hit or they saw something in Kikugawa's fielding. Either way, it pays off!
Back to the top of the order and Nishi, but he flies out to left-center.
Hit-and-run!!
Kotobuki takes off for 3rd as Kinoshita hits a grounder to short! Endou has to backhand it, double clutches and that allows Kinoshita to dive in safely! (Stop diving!) Kawamura-kantoku is really putting the pressure on the Kikugawa defense!
That brings up Ono, who got a base hit in his 1st AB. This time Hotta wins, getting Ono to wave at a fastball at the bottom of the zone for the 3rd out. But Harue Kougyou tacks on yet another run!
Top 3rd
Hotta is a bit more patient to start the inning, probably because he can't hit well. But I think he's suffering from the same problem as the other batters. He can't pick up the ball and as a result chases a slider out of the zone for the first out.
Oddly, agains last batter Imasaka, Tsubota stars off with two slow curves before going to the fastball for a strike. Another cuve misses and it's a hitters count.
But still the batters struggle. Imasaka hits a chopper to Nakajima for the 2nd out.
And while Toji winds up to try and wait for the ball, he hits a grounder right to Kinoshita for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
Hotta doesn't particularly throw hard though his fastball is in the 130s. He still has a slider in the high 120s and a curve in the 100-110s.
Speaking of which, Hotta pulls the string on a curve to strike out Kurihawa to star the inning. Umemura immediately follows that up with an easy fly to center.
And Hotta finally gets a 1-2-3 inning as Nakajima lines to center to end the inning. Now can the bats figure out Tsubota?
Top 4th
Looks like Tsubota has the slider too that sits in the upper 110s. But he falls behind Maekawa 3-1 before filling the count at 3-2. Maekawa wins the battle hitting one back up the middle for a leadoff hit.
Endou swings away on the opening curve, but he pops it up. Kotobuki slips a bit, but Nishi is there for the catch. Quickly 1 down for Tokoha.
Matsuki with a drive to right! That's down the right field line and Maekawa easily scores from 1st on Matsuki's RBI triple! 2-1! Tsubota left that curveball up in the zone and Matsuki properly punished it!
Oonishi with an inside-out swing and lines that to right! Matsuki scores and just like that we're tied at 2-2!
And Morishita-kantoku sends Oonishi to 2nd on the 2-2 pitch! The throw from Kurihara, and safe?!? The umpire called him safe? I don't know about that... The replay sure looks like he was out.
Tanaka though can't get the timely hit and whiffs on a slow curve.
Now Kurihara is hit! Wait, is Kurihara arguing he didn't get hit? I think he is! I think he's arguing because he knows Hotta is up next!
And wouldn't you know it, Hotta swings away on the first pitch and fouls out to Kurihara to end the inning. But the offense for Tokoha Kikugawa shows up here in the 4th and levels the score!
Bottom 4th
Now it looks like it's Harukou's batters who are getting fooled and Tokoha's batters who are seeing the ball.
Hamade grounds out to 1st, Tsubota weakly grounds to Kuwahara at 1st. And Kotobuki makes to effort to run to first after waving on a curve that Matsuki can't field.
Top 5th
Imasaka with a towering fly to left center.. Ono is there, but has to make a last minute adjustment to catch the ball.
You know, I wonder if Tsubota is hiding the ball as effectively as he did to start the game. It looks like it peeks out behind him during his delivery.
Nonetheless he seems to be less effective. After the flyout, he walks Toji. And with Tsubota's slow pitches, Toji takes off and successfully steals 2nd!
Maekawa stands in and he gets his 3rd hit, Tokoha will probably have the lead. Tsubota gets ahead of him 2-0, but Maekawa stubbornly fouls off several pitches. And he shows a forkball that the announcers didn't know he had.
Meanwhile, Maekawa continues to foul pitches off while working the count to 1-2, then 2-2. Tsubota finally wins the battle, getting Maekawa to hit another towering popup, this time to Nakajima for the 2nd out.
That leaves it up to Endou, who finally takes a pitch. And another! At 2-1, Endou chases a curve in the left-handed batters box for strike 2.
But they go to the well one too many times! Tsubota tries to put a curve down and away, and instead Endou reaches down and pokes it to center! Endou gives Tokoha Kikugawa the lead here in the 5th at 3-2!!
Matsuki fouls out to Kinoshita, but the damage is done! Tokoha Kikugawa takes the lead!
Bottom 5th
Back to the top of the order and Nishi for Harukou, who now find themselves behind.
Nishi tries to play the waiting game at the plate, but has to swing away at 2-2 and flies out to left.
Kinoshita looks like he puts a charge in the ball, but Maekawa has time to go back and camp under it for the 2nd out.
And it's a 9 pitch inning as Ono swings on the first pitch and pops out to Endou.
So after a strong start by the Hokushinetsu champs Harue Kougyou, Tokoha Kikugawa strikes before the break and takes the lead. Will Harukou have a response or will the offensive output of Tokoha Kikugawa steamroll on?
Top 6th
Oonishi sizes up a Tsubota fastball and drills it to left. It one bounds to the wall for a leadoff double. It may be after all that Harue Kougyou is in trouble. I wonder if the hitch Tsubota his affecting his delivery.
Tsubot though isn't giving up just yet. He gets Tanaka to climb the ladder for the first out.
Kuwahara gets a hold of a ball! Nishi chases it back in center... Hits the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have our first HR of this Koushien as Kurihara hits a hanging slider to dead center! It's 5-2 Tokoha Kikugawa and the flood gates might be opening up on the Hokushinetsu champs.
Hotta even gets in on the act, hitting a blooper to shallow left center! Imasaka hits a solid single through the right side and it's gut check time for Tsubota. Kurihara goes out to try and settle him down.
Seems to work as Toji grounds into the inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
But Tokoha Kikugawa extends the lead and could be leaving Harue Kougyou behind.
Bottom 6th
Kurihara can't get the offense started as he nubs one up the 3rd base line. Oonishi charges in, makes a leaping throw to get Kurihara.
Umemura hits a ball back up the middle, that's deftly fielded by Endou who spins and makes the throw to 1st for the 2nd out.
Nakajima prevents the 1-2-3 inning by blooping a ball to center.
Wait! Hamade slices one past a diving Kuwahara into right! Nakata has to chase it down at the wall and Nakajima scores from 1st on the triple! It's 5-3!
Tsubota tries to bloop in another one, but leaves it up too long and Ono runs it down to retire the side. But timely hitting from Hamade allows Harukou to cut into the deficit!
Top 7th
Tsubota finally has a clean inning after giving up crooked numbers the last couple of innings. It's back to a 7 pitch inning to retire the side. But is it too late?
Bottom 7th
Kotobuki shows bunt again to lead off the 7th, but it looks to be just for show. Instead, he insides out a fastball and singles to left. Kawamura-kantoku has no hesitation in having Nishi bunt the runner along for Kinoshita nad Ono.
And what's this? Hotta can't find the strike zone and fall behind Kinoshita 3-0 before rifling in a fastball and a curve at the bottom of the zone for strike 2. Kinoshita strikes out, but the ball gets away from Matsuki! Kotobuki goes to 3rd, but Kinoshita fails to run to 1st! He's thrown out and there's 2 outs now!
That's the second time now that a runner has failed to take off for first immediately after a dropped strike 3.
No matter!
Ono insides out a ball and that bloops in down the left field line! Kotobuki scores as Ono takes 2nd, and now the deficit is at 1! It's 5-4!!
Kurihara though can't do the same and flies out to left. Still Harukou chips away another run off Tokoha's lead.
Top 8th
Can Tsubota continue to shut down the offense? The lights are on and we have umpires down the lines.
Oonishi leading off the 8th, and while Tsubota is keeping it down now, Oonishi isn't chasing.
However, the count runs full and Oonishi hits a hard grounder to 3rd. Umemura blocks it and makes the throw to 1st.
Morishita-kantoku brings out the big guns with #16 Kikuchi, and he does take a full swing, but hits a high fly to left for Kotobuki.
That brings up Kuwahara. Not a HR this time, but he scorches one to the right side. Hamade blocks it and keeps it in front of him, but that's all he can do.
With Hotta up, Tsubota's pitches start finishing high again. This could be trouble...
AHHH!!!
A pitch gets away from Tsubot and hits Hotta in the head! It's a glancing blow, but he is taken out for an injury runner so he can be looked at. Kikuchi comes in to run for him in the meantime.
That brings up Imasaka. Can Tsubota get out of this mess?
It's not looking good as he falls behind 3-1.
And Imasaka hits a hanging fastball the other way! Ono and Nishi run back to the ball, but can't catch up to it! Both Kuwahara and Kikuchi score bringing the lead back up to 3! It's 7-4!
Things get worse as a passed ball by Kurihara sends Imasaka to 3rd.
Tsuboto gets Toji to ground to 1st to end the inning, but the gains made by Harue Kougyou have been wiped out!
Bottom 8th
It doesn't look like Hotta is returning and #11 Hodzumi Taiga does replace him on the hill. Also #17 Kaneko comes in for PH Kikuchi and takes over in RF.
Umemura tries to restart the rally with a liner down the right field line for a leadoff double. Nakajima can't get a productive AB though as he hits one back to Hodzumi.
Neither can Hamade who hits a grounder to short that Endou field for the 2nd out.
Hodzumi isn't a hard thrower himself, reaching just the low 120s. But he gets the job done as Tsubota bends away from a slider that goes right down the middle to end the inning.
Top 9th
Maekawa records his 3rd hit, but this time on a nubber up the 1st base line that he beats Tsubota to the bag with!
Tsubota is probably fighting fatigue and form issues.
And as I say that, Endou takes a rising fastball and drives it to left! Ono runs to the wall, but knows it's no good!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a liner of a HR as Endo leaves no doubt with a 2-run HR to make it 9-4!
That'll be it for Tsubota. Nakajima takes over on the hill, Hamade slides to SS, and #12 Shimode replaces Tsubota in the lineup and takes over at 2B.
Wouldn't you know it, Matsuki hits a grounder to new 2B Shimode who promptly boots it. E4.
No harm done though as Matsuki tries to steal 2nd and Kurihara guns him down with time to spare. New P Nakajima has a fastball in the 130s with a curve in the 110s that I've noticed.
And while he gives up a single to Kaneko, he's thrown out trying to steal 2nd.
Bottom 9th
Last ups for Harue Kougyou as #11 Seki comes in to hit for Kotobuki.
Seki though fights off several pitches before taking one th other way for a base hit! That cycles the lineup back to the top and Nishi.
But Nishi's troubles at the plate continue as he flies out to center and is 0-4 on the night.
Kinoshita on the other hand finally gets his 3rd hit, a grounder past a diving Endou into left. That brings up Ono, but he won't be able to make up the deficit by himself.
Now a passed ball by Matsuki again lets the runners advance. Still not alarming yet for Tokoha. Count runs full as Ono fights off a pitch.
But Hodzumi will gladly trade a run in for an out as Ono grounds to 2nd. Just one more to go as Umemura steps in.
He makes a free swing at it, and it's an easy fly for Toji who runs it down for the final out.
Harue Kougyou just couldn't hold off the potent Tokoha Kikugawa offense and as a result bow out in the first round by the score of 9-5.
Give Harue Kougyou credit though, they did fight back after being countered by Tokoha in the middle innings. But Tsubota's inconsistencies cropped up again and cost them a chance for a gyakuten win. It was a good showing, but sadly not enough. It'll be hard to repeat the feat in the summer with many other competitive teams in the prefecture, but they might have a chance still.
Tokoha Kikugawa advances to face Houtoku Gakuen, but need to shore up some things before then. First of all, Hotta was not sharp to start the game, nor was the offense able to pick up on Tsubota's delivery until the middle innings. They may not have the same luxury against the hometown team. But they have 5 days to work on it.
Notable Players
Kuwahara Tatsuki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Endou Kouhei (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBI
Maekawa Naoya (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 3-5, 2 R, SB
Imasaka Ryousuke (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Kinoshita Keigo (Harue Kougyou) - 3-5, 2B, R, K
Ono Shouta (Harue Kougyou) - 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Hamade Shouta (Harue Kougyou) - 2-4, 3B, R, RBI
Tokoha Kikugawa earned their bid via a 2-1 loss in the super-regional semifinal to eventual winners Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou. They got there by basically outscoring their opposition. Ace Hotta Tatsuya throws a pedestrian 135, with a slider, curve and changeup combination that allows about 1 baserunner per inning while striking out one every 2 innings. #11 Hodzumi Taiga and other have been used, but are not nearly as effective as Hotta, which means you'd better hope you don't see them...
Offensively, the team basically walked and smashed their way through the field. The team posted an ISO of 0.245, while their OBP was 0.143 points higher than their BA. How much of that is due to their earlier round games is uncertain though, but carrying that through 14 games does count for something, if even just a little. Over 2/3 of the roster carries a 0.300+ BA, and everyone except for Hotta and new 1B Kuwahara tallied a double and a triple.
Harue Kougyou won their first ever super-regional and earned their first trip to Koushien this fall. They did so avenging a loss to rival Tsuruga Kehi, while beating Matsushou Gakuen and Niigata Meikun along the way. In addition, they defeated Urawa Gakuin at Meiji Jingu before falling hard to Kanzei.
It looks impressive on the surface, but the underlying numbers paint a different picture. Despite going 9-2 in the fall, their two losses were by margins of 2-15 and 2-10. Ace Tsubota Kazuki is the first pitcher covered that has a WHIP greater than 1 (1.33 in fact), and only strikes out 5 batters per 9.
Their offense is heavily predicated on small ball. With an ISO of just 0.094 and a OBP just 0.021 higher than their BA despite averaging 3-4 walks per game, there is a lot of sacrifices to move runners over. As a result, they are generally involved in low scoring affairs. The lynchpin probably is their cleanup batter Kurihara Ryouta, who batted a scorching 0.513 as a rookie.
Note the bright orange knee-high socs they wear. Definitely a defining part of their unifiorm. And the oen-dan is in full force, even if the stands elsewhere aren't full.
Tokoha Kikugawa (Shizuoka) - Tokai 3 seed
CF Toji Keisuke
LF Maekawa Naoya
SS Endou Kouhei
C Matsuki Daisuke
3B Oonishi Yuuki
RF Nakata Koushi (#13)
1B Kuwahara Tatsuki
P Hotta Tatsuya
2B Imasaka Ryousuke
Harue Kougyou (Fukui) - Hokushinetsu Champions
CF Nishi Keita
1B Kinoshita Keigo
LF Ono Shouta
C Kurihara Ryouta
3B Umemura Takumi
SS Nakajima Haruka
2B Hamade Shouta
P Tsubota Kazuki
RF Kotobuki Yuuta
____________________________________________________________
15:55 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Tsubota doesn't throw particuarly hard, but hides the ball behind his body for a long period of time. He gets Toji to hit a routine grounder to 2nd.
In fact Tsubota throws only in the high 120s, with a curve in the mid-100s.
Maekawa is fooled on a curve, but keeps the bat in the zone enough to poke it past Nakajima into center. Morishita-kantoku elects not to bunt (they are a hitting team after all it seems), but Endou gets under one and flies out to Kotobuki.
So instead Morishita-kantoku sends Maekawa on the next pitch! The throw would have had him, but Nakajima just can't hang onto the ball.
It looks like the Tokoha batters are having a hard time picking up the ball early. And Matsuki is also fooled and hits a lazy fly to right as well to end the inning. Not a bad start for the Hokushinetsu champions.
Bottom 1st
This could be a quick pace game as well. Hotta pitches at a rapid pace - maybe even faster than Takahashi. Hotta though gets a warning about his form, perhaps the hitch in his delivery?
Nonetheless, Nishi though gets ahead 3-1 but grounds out to 1st. Kinoshita though takes a hanging fastball and beats it over a leaping Maekawa and off the wall for a double.
And with Ono up, Matsuki can't secure a ball in the dirt and Kinoshita advances 90 feet! Ono then makes the battery pay by hitting a grounder through to right! Kinoshita scores to make it 1-0 Harue Kougyou!
Kurihara with another single just like Ono! Ono breaks for 3rd and the throw is cut off! Is the warning from the umpire affecting Hotta? Or is Harukou seeing the ball?
Umemura takes a big swing on a 111 curve to open. Then gets a 134 fastball right down the pipe for strike 2. And he watches a 135 fastball catch the bottom of the zone. Can't let that go on 2 strikes...
Nakajima grounds to 2nd to end the inning, and perhaps Tokoha Kikugawa is fortunate to have given up just one run.
Top 2nd
Kikugawa's batters are making good contact, but not solid contact. Oonishi flies out to deep right as Kotobuki runs it down near the line. Nakata does the same as this time Kotobuki backs up.
Kuwahara takes a big swing, but is way ahead of a Tsubota curve. And even with the big swing he looked like he was trying to take it the other way. But he's fooled again and this time grounds to 1st. Kinoshita beats him to the bag and it's a 6 pitch inning for Tsubota!
Bottom 2nd
Hamde gets around on a fastball and fists it over the infield into left for a leadoff hit. Tsubota lays down a bunt on the next pitch leaving it to last batter Kotobuki to try and get another run in.
Kotobuki tries a safety bunt! But he fouls it off.
He does it again! Hotta goes to 1st, but throws it high! Hamada scores from 2nd and Kotobuki replaces him there! It's 2-0 Harukou! Either Kotobuki really can't hit or they saw something in Kikugawa's fielding. Either way, it pays off!
Back to the top of the order and Nishi, but he flies out to left-center.
Hit-and-run!!
Kotobuki takes off for 3rd as Kinoshita hits a grounder to short! Endou has to backhand it, double clutches and that allows Kinoshita to dive in safely! (Stop diving!) Kawamura-kantoku is really putting the pressure on the Kikugawa defense!
That brings up Ono, who got a base hit in his 1st AB. This time Hotta wins, getting Ono to wave at a fastball at the bottom of the zone for the 3rd out. But Harue Kougyou tacks on yet another run!
Top 3rd
Hotta is a bit more patient to start the inning, probably because he can't hit well. But I think he's suffering from the same problem as the other batters. He can't pick up the ball and as a result chases a slider out of the zone for the first out.
Oddly, agains last batter Imasaka, Tsubota stars off with two slow curves before going to the fastball for a strike. Another cuve misses and it's a hitters count.
But still the batters struggle. Imasaka hits a chopper to Nakajima for the 2nd out.
And while Toji winds up to try and wait for the ball, he hits a grounder right to Kinoshita for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
Hotta doesn't particularly throw hard though his fastball is in the 130s. He still has a slider in the high 120s and a curve in the 100-110s.
Speaking of which, Hotta pulls the string on a curve to strike out Kurihawa to star the inning. Umemura immediately follows that up with an easy fly to center.
And Hotta finally gets a 1-2-3 inning as Nakajima lines to center to end the inning. Now can the bats figure out Tsubota?
Top 4th
Looks like Tsubota has the slider too that sits in the upper 110s. But he falls behind Maekawa 3-1 before filling the count at 3-2. Maekawa wins the battle hitting one back up the middle for a leadoff hit.
Endou swings away on the opening curve, but he pops it up. Kotobuki slips a bit, but Nishi is there for the catch. Quickly 1 down for Tokoha.
Matsuki with a drive to right! That's down the right field line and Maekawa easily scores from 1st on Matsuki's RBI triple! 2-1! Tsubota left that curveball up in the zone and Matsuki properly punished it!
Oonishi with an inside-out swing and lines that to right! Matsuki scores and just like that we're tied at 2-2!
And Morishita-kantoku sends Oonishi to 2nd on the 2-2 pitch! The throw from Kurihara, and safe?!? The umpire called him safe? I don't know about that... The replay sure looks like he was out.
Tanaka though can't get the timely hit and whiffs on a slow curve.
Now Kurihara is hit! Wait, is Kurihara arguing he didn't get hit? I think he is! I think he's arguing because he knows Hotta is up next!
And wouldn't you know it, Hotta swings away on the first pitch and fouls out to Kurihara to end the inning. But the offense for Tokoha Kikugawa shows up here in the 4th and levels the score!
Bottom 4th
Now it looks like it's Harukou's batters who are getting fooled and Tokoha's batters who are seeing the ball.
Hamade grounds out to 1st, Tsubota weakly grounds to Kuwahara at 1st. And Kotobuki makes to effort to run to first after waving on a curve that Matsuki can't field.
Top 5th
Imasaka with a towering fly to left center.. Ono is there, but has to make a last minute adjustment to catch the ball.
You know, I wonder if Tsubota is hiding the ball as effectively as he did to start the game. It looks like it peeks out behind him during his delivery.
Nonetheless he seems to be less effective. After the flyout, he walks Toji. And with Tsubota's slow pitches, Toji takes off and successfully steals 2nd!
Maekawa stands in and he gets his 3rd hit, Tokoha will probably have the lead. Tsubota gets ahead of him 2-0, but Maekawa stubbornly fouls off several pitches. And he shows a forkball that the announcers didn't know he had.
Meanwhile, Maekawa continues to foul pitches off while working the count to 1-2, then 2-2. Tsubota finally wins the battle, getting Maekawa to hit another towering popup, this time to Nakajima for the 2nd out.
That leaves it up to Endou, who finally takes a pitch. And another! At 2-1, Endou chases a curve in the left-handed batters box for strike 2.
But they go to the well one too many times! Tsubota tries to put a curve down and away, and instead Endou reaches down and pokes it to center! Endou gives Tokoha Kikugawa the lead here in the 5th at 3-2!!
Matsuki fouls out to Kinoshita, but the damage is done! Tokoha Kikugawa takes the lead!
Bottom 5th
Back to the top of the order and Nishi for Harukou, who now find themselves behind.
Nishi tries to play the waiting game at the plate, but has to swing away at 2-2 and flies out to left.
Kinoshita looks like he puts a charge in the ball, but Maekawa has time to go back and camp under it for the 2nd out.
And it's a 9 pitch inning as Ono swings on the first pitch and pops out to Endou.
So after a strong start by the Hokushinetsu champs Harue Kougyou, Tokoha Kikugawa strikes before the break and takes the lead. Will Harukou have a response or will the offensive output of Tokoha Kikugawa steamroll on?
Top 6th
Oonishi sizes up a Tsubota fastball and drills it to left. It one bounds to the wall for a leadoff double. It may be after all that Harue Kougyou is in trouble. I wonder if the hitch Tsubota his affecting his delivery.
Tsubot though isn't giving up just yet. He gets Tanaka to climb the ladder for the first out.
Kuwahara gets a hold of a ball! Nishi chases it back in center... Hits the wall!
HAITAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have our first HR of this Koushien as Kurihara hits a hanging slider to dead center! It's 5-2 Tokoha Kikugawa and the flood gates might be opening up on the Hokushinetsu champs.
Hotta even gets in on the act, hitting a blooper to shallow left center! Imasaka hits a solid single through the right side and it's gut check time for Tsubota. Kurihara goes out to try and settle him down.
Seems to work as Toji grounds into the inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
But Tokoha Kikugawa extends the lead and could be leaving Harue Kougyou behind.
Bottom 6th
Kurihara can't get the offense started as he nubs one up the 3rd base line. Oonishi charges in, makes a leaping throw to get Kurihara.
Umemura hits a ball back up the middle, that's deftly fielded by Endou who spins and makes the throw to 1st for the 2nd out.
Nakajima prevents the 1-2-3 inning by blooping a ball to center.
Wait! Hamade slices one past a diving Kuwahara into right! Nakata has to chase it down at the wall and Nakajima scores from 1st on the triple! It's 5-3!
Tsubota tries to bloop in another one, but leaves it up too long and Ono runs it down to retire the side. But timely hitting from Hamade allows Harukou to cut into the deficit!
Top 7th
Tsubota finally has a clean inning after giving up crooked numbers the last couple of innings. It's back to a 7 pitch inning to retire the side. But is it too late?
Bottom 7th
Kotobuki shows bunt again to lead off the 7th, but it looks to be just for show. Instead, he insides out a fastball and singles to left. Kawamura-kantoku has no hesitation in having Nishi bunt the runner along for Kinoshita nad Ono.
And what's this? Hotta can't find the strike zone and fall behind Kinoshita 3-0 before rifling in a fastball and a curve at the bottom of the zone for strike 2. Kinoshita strikes out, but the ball gets away from Matsuki! Kotobuki goes to 3rd, but Kinoshita fails to run to 1st! He's thrown out and there's 2 outs now!
That's the second time now that a runner has failed to take off for first immediately after a dropped strike 3.
No matter!
Ono insides out a ball and that bloops in down the left field line! Kotobuki scores as Ono takes 2nd, and now the deficit is at 1! It's 5-4!!
Kurihara though can't do the same and flies out to left. Still Harukou chips away another run off Tokoha's lead.
Top 8th
Can Tsubota continue to shut down the offense? The lights are on and we have umpires down the lines.
Oonishi leading off the 8th, and while Tsubota is keeping it down now, Oonishi isn't chasing.
However, the count runs full and Oonishi hits a hard grounder to 3rd. Umemura blocks it and makes the throw to 1st.
Morishita-kantoku brings out the big guns with #16 Kikuchi, and he does take a full swing, but hits a high fly to left for Kotobuki.
That brings up Kuwahara. Not a HR this time, but he scorches one to the right side. Hamade blocks it and keeps it in front of him, but that's all he can do.
With Hotta up, Tsubota's pitches start finishing high again. This could be trouble...
AHHH!!!
A pitch gets away from Tsubot and hits Hotta in the head! It's a glancing blow, but he is taken out for an injury runner so he can be looked at. Kikuchi comes in to run for him in the meantime.
That brings up Imasaka. Can Tsubota get out of this mess?
It's not looking good as he falls behind 3-1.
And Imasaka hits a hanging fastball the other way! Ono and Nishi run back to the ball, but can't catch up to it! Both Kuwahara and Kikuchi score bringing the lead back up to 3! It's 7-4!
Things get worse as a passed ball by Kurihara sends Imasaka to 3rd.
Tsuboto gets Toji to ground to 1st to end the inning, but the gains made by Harue Kougyou have been wiped out!
Bottom 8th
It doesn't look like Hotta is returning and #11 Hodzumi Taiga does replace him on the hill. Also #17 Kaneko comes in for PH Kikuchi and takes over in RF.
Umemura tries to restart the rally with a liner down the right field line for a leadoff double. Nakajima can't get a productive AB though as he hits one back to Hodzumi.
Neither can Hamade who hits a grounder to short that Endou field for the 2nd out.
Hodzumi isn't a hard thrower himself, reaching just the low 120s. But he gets the job done as Tsubota bends away from a slider that goes right down the middle to end the inning.
Top 9th
Maekawa records his 3rd hit, but this time on a nubber up the 1st base line that he beats Tsubota to the bag with!
Tsubota is probably fighting fatigue and form issues.
And as I say that, Endou takes a rising fastball and drives it to left! Ono runs to the wall, but knows it's no good!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a liner of a HR as Endo leaves no doubt with a 2-run HR to make it 9-4!
That'll be it for Tsubota. Nakajima takes over on the hill, Hamade slides to SS, and #12 Shimode replaces Tsubota in the lineup and takes over at 2B.
Wouldn't you know it, Matsuki hits a grounder to new 2B Shimode who promptly boots it. E4.
No harm done though as Matsuki tries to steal 2nd and Kurihara guns him down with time to spare. New P Nakajima has a fastball in the 130s with a curve in the 110s that I've noticed.
And while he gives up a single to Kaneko, he's thrown out trying to steal 2nd.
Bottom 9th
Last ups for Harue Kougyou as #11 Seki comes in to hit for Kotobuki.
Seki though fights off several pitches before taking one th other way for a base hit! That cycles the lineup back to the top and Nishi.
But Nishi's troubles at the plate continue as he flies out to center and is 0-4 on the night.
Kinoshita on the other hand finally gets his 3rd hit, a grounder past a diving Endou into left. That brings up Ono, but he won't be able to make up the deficit by himself.
Now a passed ball by Matsuki again lets the runners advance. Still not alarming yet for Tokoha. Count runs full as Ono fights off a pitch.
But Hodzumi will gladly trade a run in for an out as Ono grounds to 2nd. Just one more to go as Umemura steps in.
He makes a free swing at it, and it's an easy fly for Toji who runs it down for the final out.
Harue Kougyou just couldn't hold off the potent Tokoha Kikugawa offense and as a result bow out in the first round by the score of 9-5.
Give Harue Kougyou credit though, they did fight back after being countered by Tokoha in the middle innings. But Tsubota's inconsistencies cropped up again and cost them a chance for a gyakuten win. It was a good showing, but sadly not enough. It'll be hard to repeat the feat in the summer with many other competitive teams in the prefecture, but they might have a chance still.
Tokoha Kikugawa advances to face Houtoku Gakuen, but need to shore up some things before then. First of all, Hotta was not sharp to start the game, nor was the offense able to pick up on Tsubota's delivery until the middle innings. They may not have the same luxury against the hometown team. But they have 5 days to work on it.
Notable Players
Kuwahara Tatsuki (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Endou Kouhei (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBI
Maekawa Naoya (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 3-5, 2 R, SB
Imasaka Ryousuke (Tokoha Kikugawa) - 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Kinoshita Keigo (Harue Kougyou) - 3-5, 2B, R, K
Ono Shouta (Harue Kougyou) - 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Hamade Shouta (Harue Kougyou) - 2-4, 3B, R, RBI
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