We are halfway done with the 2nd round of the super-regionals and here's where we stand:
No surprise, Nichidai-san has just rolled through their two games so far, defeating Tokyo Sougou Kouka and (sadly the small island school) Oshima by a combined score of 35-0. At least both schools played 6 innings... Shouwa will look to slow down the behemoth next.
But some schools are already eliminated. Teikyou in a shocker was actually mercy-ruled 13-3 in 6 innings to Nichidai-ni. They will play Shiba next.
Nichidai Tsurugaoka was also mercy ruled in the first round, though it was against a known opponent Nisshou Gakushadai Fuzoku 10-3 in 8 innings. They barely beat Sundai Gakuen 4-3 in their 2nd round game and will face Toukaidai Sugao for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Kokushikan? Well, they lost to Houyuu Gakuin 2-1 in 11 innings in the first round. Houyuu will be challeneged yet again facing Kousei Gakuen.
Obirin (aka Oberlin) barely got by Higashi-Yamato Minami 2-1, but then lost to St. Paulo Gakuen 4-3. They will face Toukaidai Takanawadai next.
Hachiouji found a reply to every score that Shuutoku put up, but just fell as short as you can get, falling 7-6. Shuutoku faces Adachi Nishi next who have racked up 2 wins in the Super-Regionals so far.
Kanto Dai-ichi almost was eliminated in the first round, trailing Komagome 3-1 going into the bottom of the 9th before scoring 3 runs to advance and face Ouji Sougou.
Nittai Ebara had a good first test in Hiro-o, shutting them out 3-0. Shibaura Koudai will be on their docket next.
The notable team still yet to play is Waseda Jitsugyou whose first opponent will be Koyamadai.
In other areas of the bracket, Taisei outlasted Edogawa and will play Ooizumi next. Nichidai Buzan got past Rikkyo Ikebukuro and will play newcomer Seikei. And Musashi Murayama will play a Jyouhoku squad who led Komadai wire-to-wire.
Showing posts with label Tokyo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tokyo. Show all posts
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Monday, September 30, 2013
Aki Taikai Recap-to-date - Tokyo
Tokyo gets their own region and has 24 blocks which contain 2 brackets, all of which has finished. The teams to advance are as follows:
Block 1
Block 1
- Obirin (Oberlin) - Back to the super-regionals, but a 12-9 win against Waseda in the block final not very strong
- Toukaidai Takanawadai
- Ooshima - Good for the small island school. They defeated Teikyoudai and Nichidai Sakuragaoka(!) to advance.
- Horikoshi - No problems at all for them as they score 10 runs in all 3 games to try and get an invite to Haru Koushien.
- Hachiouji
- Nishhougakushadai Fuzoku - A strong win over Kokugakin Kugayama is promising.
- Tokyo Sougou Kouka
- Ouji Sougou
- Kokushikan - Perhaps they're back after 2 strong games early.
- Edogawa
- Setagaya Gakuen
- Teikyou - Strong early, but a 4-1 win over Nichidai-ichi doesn't look promising.
- Nichidai Tsurugaoka - Slow start versus Jyoutou, but picked up steam as they progressed.
- Machida - No problems at all for them as they score 10 runs in all 3 games to try and get an invite to Haru Koushien.
- Kanto Dai-ichi - Two mercy rule wins perhaps put them in good position.
- Shouwa
- Nichidai Buzan
- Higashi-Yamato Minami
- Kousei Gakuen - Needed 10 innings for a 1-0 win over Tokyo Jitsugyou in the final, but it's not a bad thing.
- Chitosegaoka
- Iwakura
- Shiba
- Rikkyo Ikebukuro
- Sundai Gakuen
- Shuutoku - Two mercy rule wins, including a 7-0 win over Kokugakuin is a plus.
- Komagome
- Komadai
- Jyouhoku
- Nittai Ebara - Will they finally find a way to break through?
- St. Paulo Gakuen - Always in the mix, but the test lies ahead.
- Kodaira Minami
- Adachi Nitta
- Taisei
- Waseda Jitsugyou - Totally annihilated their opposition.
- Shibaura Koudai
- Dai-yon Shougyou
- Musashi Murayama
- Toukaidai Sugao
- Ooizumi
- Musashigaoka
- Adachi Nishi
- Seikei
- Nichidai-san - Nothing to see here, just the usual blowouts.
- Hiro-o
- Nichidai-ni - Always in it, but never in real contention.
- Tanashi
- Oyamadai
- Houyuu Gakuin
Friday, November 9, 2012
Fall Taikai Update - Super-Regional Completion
All Super-Regionals are now complete, and there are a couple of surprises mixed in with some of the usual suspects:
Tokyo (1 bid + 1 floating with Kanto)
Nittai Ebara fired the opening salvo in the bottom of the 1st as Tomosato hit a 2-run HR to left. Back-to-back RBI hits by the battery of Kasahara and Minami no less made it a 4-1 game. And then ace Kasahara in his next AB would hit a home run of his own making it 5-1!
But after back-to-back walks by Kasahara, Motohashi-kantoku would replace him with Furukawa. Much to his dismay, Furukawa would hit cleanup batter Takami Shunsuke (深見 俊介) and then give an oshidashi walk to Koyama Shinjirou (小山 新次郎). He'd get out of the inning, but not after yielding another run to make it 5-3.
Things only got worse for Nittai Ebara as the pitching fell apart the very next inning as Yasuda would put a 5-spot on the board taking an 8-6 lead.
Nittai Ebara would mount a rally in the bottom of the 9th. PH Seki would walk, and Tanaka would hit a double to put the tying run in scoring position with just one down. Minami (now pitching) would hit a sac fly to make it a 1-run game.
That brought up Tomosato, who was 4-4 on the day. But Oogane Shintarou (大金真太郎) would finally retire him with a grounder to 2nd to end the game and give his team a chance at Senbatsu!
In the other semifinal Souka ace Uchino collapsed in the 5th inning, giving up 6 runs to Soujitsu. Those 6 runs would wind up being the final margin as they won 11-5.
So Soujitsu would be a likely candidate for the floating bid should they lose (as long as they had a good showing), while Yasuda Gakuen would in all likelihood need to win to get in.
In the 2nd inning of the final, Yasuda gets the benefit of good luck. Takami would reach 2nd on an error by Soujitsu's LF Suzuki. After a bunt and walk, Motomiya Keita (本宮 佳汰) would lay down a successful safety squeeze to give them the first run. They'd continue to press the initiative as Koyama Takuya (小山 拓哉) would try to steal 3rd. But the throw from Toshimitsu Kensaku (利光健作) would actually hit Takuya on the helmet and deflect into left, allowing him to score making it 2-0.
Toshimitsu would get a run back with a HR in the 5th, but that would be all the scoring they could muster as Oogane would shut Soujitsu down to earn Yasuda Gakuen's first ever title!
Kanto ex Tokyo (4 bids + 1 floating with Tokyo)
So when the draw came out, the 4 brackets were as follows (A & B, C & D)
The biggest upset was in block C where Kasumigaura (while not a slouch by any means) never trailed and defeated Toukaidai Sagami 5-3!
The quarterfinals went more scratch. Narashino, who barely got by Kiryuu Dai-ichi, suffered the same problems Yokohama Hayato faced, but were unable to rally at all, getting mercy ruled 12-0 in 6 innings! (awww....)
Sano Nichidai, down 5-0 to Jyousou Gakuin gets all of the runs back in the lucky 7 to send the game into enchousen. However, outside of that one inning outburst, they couldn't muster any other offense and lost 6-5 in 12. Kasumigaura tried to continue their cinderella run as it were, but after taking the 4-2 lead in the bottom of the 6th, relinquished it right back in the lucky 7 to Utusunomiya Shougyou, losing 5-4.
The games (final score-wise) were much closer, but were not competitive. Both Saitama schools advanced wire-to-wire, setting up a rematch of the prefectural final. In that final, a 4-run first gave Hanasaki Tokuharu all the cushion it needed.
This time around they did not get such a cushion, but did lead 2-0 going into the latter innings. But without the cushion, Urawa Gakuin's rally allowed them to tie the game in the 8th and send it into enchousen. One inning later, Urawa's SS Kigure Naito (木暮騎士) would hit a 2-out double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. After an intentional walk, C Nishikawa Genki (西川元気) would deliver the sayonara hit to give Urawa Gakuin their 3rd straight Kanto Fall title!!
With 4 bids, it seems apparent that the Best 4 participants will get the bids. Kasumigaura, the strongest team of the quarterfinalists will probably not get in because (a) the team they would replace would probably be Utsunomiya Shougyou who defeated them and (b) even if they wanted to make Kasumigaura the 4th team that would put 2 teams from Saitama and from Ibaraki into Senbatsu, which is highly doubtful.
And with Soujitsu losing in the finals to Yasuda Gakuen, the committee will certainly pick them as the floating bid. Had they won, the floating bid may have come back to Kanto.
As it stands, for Kasumigaura to get to Koushien, Yasuda Gakuen or Urawa Gakuin have to win the Meiji Jingu Fall Tournament (If Yasuda Gakuen wins, Soujitsu earns the Meiji Jingu bid and the floating bid shifts back to Kanto. If Urawa Gakuin wins, Kasumigaura earns the Meiji Jingu bid outright). But as you will see later, that will be difficult.
Tokai (3 bids)
And in fact, there was a possibility that neither team would make it as Tokoha Kikugawa had tied the game at 1 in the 8th. Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou though would guarantee that at least one team would make it, making a Tokoha-style finish in the bottom of the 9th to win 2-1.
Komono had done well to make it to the finals, but were boat-raced by Kengifushou falling quickly behind 6-0 and losing 9-3.
This normally would put Komono in a bad situation. As the runner-up, they are first in line to receive the 2nd bid. However, the poor showing would have given the selection committee pause. But with 3 teams advancing, they should be safe.
Kinki (6 bids)
In other games, Yamato Kouryou played Ryuukokudai Heian close, but couldn't get a run on the board losing 2-0. Osaka Shoudai Sakai lasted only 5 innings against Houtoku Gakuen losing 13-0. And finally, Riseisha was fighting for their lives against surging Kyoto Shouei down 1-0 late before tying the game in the 8th. The game would go into enchousen when reliever Sakamoto would finally fail, giving Kyoto Shouei the 3-1 win in 12!
That setup an all-Kyoto final on one side, and a powerhouse matchup on the other.
Kyoto Shouei and Ryuukokudai Heian were up first. Kyoto Shouei didn't have to face Heian in the prefecturals as Heian was paired with Fukuchiyama Seibi. Early on, the teams traded runs with Kyoto Shouei emerging with a 3-2 lead. It stayed that way until the 7th where Heian would get to Enomoto (who came in in relief) for a pair of runs to lead 4-3. However, their reliever Minami fell apart in the next half-inning. He hit back-to-back batters sending in a run, and then ace Enomoto would redeem himself, blasting a manrui home run to blow the game wide open.
Kyoto Shouei seemed to be in full control up 9-4, but Enomoto seemed to be out of sorts coming in relief. He struggled with his control as Heian came back to within 1 with a 4-run 8th! He'd somehow get in together just in time, closing the game out in the 9th to win 9-8!
In the other semi, it was a shocker in that Osaka Touin was not competitive at all against Houtoku Gakuen. In fact they were blanked 8-0 in 7 innings!
So Houtoku Gakuen and ace Inui Youhei (乾 陽平) were the final obstacle in Kyoto Shouei and Enomoto Kazuki (榎本 和輝) bid for their first ever fall title.
There were opportunities for both teams throughout the game as Inui yielded base hits almost every inning, while Enomoto's control issues persisted as he issued free passes. Yet the score was at 1-1 after regulation. Eventually it would become a matter of who would make the first mistake.
And that finally was made by Inui as he yielded 2 runs in the 13th. They still had the bottom half of the inning, and Enomoto was approaching his limit too. He would give up one run, but again found a way to shut the door, win 3-2, and claim Kyoto Shouei's first title!!
Looking at the field for the selection of the half-dozen bids, it almost winds up being as listed above by default. Kyoto Shouei is definitely in, as well as Houtoku Gakuen. While Heian is in the same prefecture as Kyoto Shouei, they didn't play each other in the prefecturals and held their own in the semifinals - so they're in. Those are the definites.
Osaka Touin was uncharacteristically blown out by Houtoku Gakuen. And their wins prior against Kousen and Tenri do not inspire confidence.
But then you look down at the quarterfinalists. Tenri was blown out by Osaka Touin. Daishoudai Sakai too was annihilated. That leaves Riseisha who played Kyoto Shouei close as well and should get in, and Yamato Kouryou who had a nondescript win over Shiga Gakuen before being shutout 2-0 to Heian.
So Osaka Touin now appears safe, as does Riseisha. The question becomes the last bid.
And that boils down to Yamato Kouryou and Tenri.
Tenri in name had the harder opponent in Osaka Touin, but Heian can easily be considered a quality opponent for Yamato Kouryou.
If the committee wants to go by name, then Tenri will go. But I think if they go by play, it may fall to Yamato Kouryou.
Chuugoku (3 bids)
It turns out that not just one, but two prefectures would be eliminated!
So, all else being equal, who has the advantage?
Well, the home team. And that happens to be Yamaguchi-ken.
In fact, all 4 entrants advanced into the second round. Iwakuni Shougyou, Iwakuni and Ube Koujyou all won via the shutout. Hayatomo was able to advance, but only after striking back for a pair of runs right after they gave up the lead in the 7th.
With that alone, Shimane was wiped off the board. Who would be the other prefecture?
In B quadrant, Tottori Jyouhoku started off well against Soutoku, but fell apart in the 2nd half of the game, losing 8-4. Yonago Kita went just 7 innings before they waved the white flag, losing 9-1.
That left 2nd place Yonago Shouin as the last representative. But against Kurashiki Shougyou, that was a tough task. They kept it close, even in fact tying the game at 1-1 in the top of the 5th. Kurashou struck back with 2 in their part of the frame and held on to the 3-1 win.
A valiant effort, but both Japan Sea prefectures were eliminated.
And what appeared to be a blockbuster matchup in the first round wound up being anything but. Jyousuikan would give up after 7 innings, losing to Kanzei 10-0!
This created a bizarre quarterfinal setup:
In the Yamaguchi matchups, Iwakuni Shougyou proved that they were the cream of the crop, as they defeated the only Best 4 team they haven't played - Ube Kougyou, in a shutout 5-0. Iwakuni showed that their 3rd place finish was a product of just being in the wrong half of the bracket. The struggling Hayatomo was unceremoniously upended in a 10-0 defeat in 5 innings.
Soutoku probably wasn't happy to see Kouryou in their crosshairs. They managed to avoid them in the prefecturals, but now when it really matters... it was all Kouryou in a 7-1 win.
That leaves the rematch of Kanzei and Kurashiki Shougyou. Kanzei wouldn't leave anything to chance, scoring 6 runs in the 3rd en route to an 8-4 win.
Another byproduct of the 1st round was that Yamaguchi pretty much guaranteed themselves a team at Senbatsu, especially since due to the 85th tournament, Chuugoku gets an extra bid.
And that would prove key this year as Iwakuni was routed 11-1 by Kanzei, and while Iwakuni Shougyou held with Kouryou, they still lost 2-0.
So we're left with Kouryou and Kanzei in the finals, two teams used to the big game. The game was a low-scoring affair early, then blown open in the span of 2 half-innings where Kouryou scored 3 in the 6th to lead 4-2, only to give up 5 in the lucky 7 to trail 7-4. They'd win 8-5 to take the title.
And on the basis of the semifinal matchups, expect Iwakuni Shougyou to receive the 3rd bid.
Shikoku (3 bids)
In the other games, Imabari Kougyou had a chance to survive as they were deadlocked 1-1 for a long time. Marugame though would bid sayonara to the Ehime representative 2-1. Kochi Shougyou was having a heck of a time in their game, but at 3-3 in the 7th Matsuyama Seiryou scored 6 to pull away. Kochishou would score 3 in the 9th, but it wasn't enough. And Ikeda finally made progress, winning 3-1.
With so many 3 seeds advancing, it would be expected that most if not all of the 1 seeds would advance. And in fact, all did... except for the one team that faced the only #2 seed left.
Nartuo and Kochi had no problems. Ikeda almost got to the semifinals and rallied late, but lost to Saibi 4-3. Tokushou was in another close game. They and Eimei were tied at 2 when Eimei scored a run in the 7th to take the lead. But in the bottom of the 9th they get to ace Akagawa scoring 2 runs for the gyakuten sayonara victory.
Tokushou would try to extend their run against Kochi, and early on the semifinals they held a 2-run lead, even after swapping 3-run innings. But Kochi would put up 2 runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings to win 11-7. In the other semifinal, Saibi was in full control, getting 2 insurance runs in the final 2 innings to lead 4-1. Saibi ace Anraku though didn't get the memo that he and his team needed to close out the game. Naruto would rally for 4 runs and win 5-4.
To the final where Kochi would try to preempt the deficit by getting ahead early. Naruto would have none of it and came back to level the score at 6 in the 6th. Kochi though would score 2 in the 8th giving Naruto no time to stage a rally.
The extra bid will probably go to Saibi, who had Naruto dead to rights, right until the bottom of the 9th.
Kyushu (4 bids)
Now all 8 top seeds would be in play, but by the end of the first round over half would go home. But not the half you may have thought.
Nagasaki Nichidai should have been dead to rights. Enchousen, tied at 1 in the 10th, Moji Gakuen scores 4 runs and should have the game wrapped up. Except they don't close it out! Nagasaki Nichidai scores 4 and extends the game further! I'd like to see what happened in that 10th inning. It wouldn't be until the 13th inning where Nagasaki Nichidai would score the sayonara run to win 6-5!
The only non-contested game was surprisingly Kurume Shougyou vs. Meihou. Kurushou scored 4 in the 1st inning and cruised to a 5-2 win.
The reprieve for the top seeds though wouldn't last. All 3 remaining would lose in the quarterfinals. Kurume Shougyou only went 7 against Souseikan losing 9-0. Kumamoto Kougyou had to face Okinawa Shougaku, and narrowly lost 3-2 in 10 innings. And Shoushikan used a 4-run 4th to defeat Nagasaki Nichidai 6-2. The fourth team to advance would indeed be Seiseikou as they shutout the last Nichidai team as Miyazaki would fall 3-0.
That put Souseikan in the crosshairs of Okinawa Shougaku, while Shoushikan and Seiseikou would square off in the other semi.
And neither game was close.
In fact, both would last just 7 innings and both due to a big inning. For Okishou, it was a 4-run 1st in an 8-1 win. For Seiseikou, it was a 5-run 6th in an 8-0 win.
So it'd be Okinawa Shougaku and Seiseikou in the finals, and both pretty much guaranteed a spot in Senbatsu. It would be just a matter now of who would represent Kyushu at the Meiji Jingu Tournament.
And boy was it a pitchers' duel. Seiseikou's Ootake Koutarou (大竹 耕太郎) versus the tandem of Ura Jyun (宇良 淳) and Higa Kenichirou (比嘉 健一朗). Okishou certainly had more opportunities throughout the game, but the game remained scoreless through 8. But in the top of the 9th, it all unraveled for Seiseikou. Okinawa Shougaku would put up 5 runs in the 9th and claim just their 2nd ever fall title!
Rounding out the projected 4 bids are in all probability the two semifinalists - Souseikan and Shoushikan. Yes, they still lost badly in the semifinals, but they had shutout their competition beforehand (though the quality of the opposition can be argued). Shoushikan defeated both Saga Kita and Nagasaki Nichidai and despite their blowout loss, should get in.
The only other team who could make a case would be Kumamoto Kougyou, who was the only team to actually play Okinawa Shougaku close. And bad news for Souseikan, they would probably be the team on the bubble if there were other considerations.
Tokyo (1 bid + 1 floating with Kanto)
- Champion - Yasuda Gakuen - Sumida-ku (First title!)
- Floating Bid - Waseda Jitsugyou
Nittai Ebara fired the opening salvo in the bottom of the 1st as Tomosato hit a 2-run HR to left. Back-to-back RBI hits by the battery of Kasahara and Minami no less made it a 4-1 game. And then ace Kasahara in his next AB would hit a home run of his own making it 5-1!
But after back-to-back walks by Kasahara, Motohashi-kantoku would replace him with Furukawa. Much to his dismay, Furukawa would hit cleanup batter Takami Shunsuke (深見 俊介) and then give an oshidashi walk to Koyama Shinjirou (小山 新次郎). He'd get out of the inning, but not after yielding another run to make it 5-3.
Things only got worse for Nittai Ebara as the pitching fell apart the very next inning as Yasuda would put a 5-spot on the board taking an 8-6 lead.
Nittai Ebara would mount a rally in the bottom of the 9th. PH Seki would walk, and Tanaka would hit a double to put the tying run in scoring position with just one down. Minami (now pitching) would hit a sac fly to make it a 1-run game.
That brought up Tomosato, who was 4-4 on the day. But Oogane Shintarou (大金真太郎) would finally retire him with a grounder to 2nd to end the game and give his team a chance at Senbatsu!
In the other semifinal Souka ace Uchino collapsed in the 5th inning, giving up 6 runs to Soujitsu. Those 6 runs would wind up being the final margin as they won 11-5.
So Soujitsu would be a likely candidate for the floating bid should they lose (as long as they had a good showing), while Yasuda Gakuen would in all likelihood need to win to get in.
In the 2nd inning of the final, Yasuda gets the benefit of good luck. Takami would reach 2nd on an error by Soujitsu's LF Suzuki. After a bunt and walk, Motomiya Keita (本宮 佳汰) would lay down a successful safety squeeze to give them the first run. They'd continue to press the initiative as Koyama Takuya (小山 拓哉) would try to steal 3rd. But the throw from Toshimitsu Kensaku (利光健作) would actually hit Takuya on the helmet and deflect into left, allowing him to score making it 2-0.
Toshimitsu would get a run back with a HR in the 5th, but that would be all the scoring they could muster as Oogane would shut Soujitsu down to earn Yasuda Gakuen's first ever title!
Kanto ex Tokyo (4 bids + 1 floating with Tokyo)
- Champion - Urawa Gakuin - Saitama-shi, Saitama (3rd consecutive title!, 4th overall)
- Runner-Up - Hanasaki Tokuharu - Kazo-shi, Saitama
- Semifinalist - Jyousou Gakuin - Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki
- Semifinalist - Utsunomiya Shougyou - Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi
So when the draw came out, the 4 brackets were as follows (A & B, C & D)
- A - Jyousou Gakuin (Ibaraki 1) vs. Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma 2)
- A - Sano Nichidai (Tochigi 1) vs. Toukaidai Koufu (Kofu 1)
- B - Narashino (Chiba 1) vs. Kiryuu Dai-ichi (Gunma 3)
- B - Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama 1) vs. Yokohama Hayato (Kanagawa 2)
- C - Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa 1) vs. Kasumigaura (Ibaraki 2)
- C - Hikawa (Yamanashi 1) vs. Utsunomiya Shougyou (Tochigi 2)
- D - Urawa Gakuin (Saitama 2) vs. Choushi Shougyou (Chiba 2)
- D - Maebashi Ikuei (Gunma 1) - Bye
The biggest upset was in block C where Kasumigaura (while not a slouch by any means) never trailed and defeated Toukaidai Sagami 5-3!
The quarterfinals went more scratch. Narashino, who barely got by Kiryuu Dai-ichi, suffered the same problems Yokohama Hayato faced, but were unable to rally at all, getting mercy ruled 12-0 in 6 innings! (awww....)
Sano Nichidai, down 5-0 to Jyousou Gakuin gets all of the runs back in the lucky 7 to send the game into enchousen. However, outside of that one inning outburst, they couldn't muster any other offense and lost 6-5 in 12. Kasumigaura tried to continue their cinderella run as it were, but after taking the 4-2 lead in the bottom of the 6th, relinquished it right back in the lucky 7 to Utusunomiya Shougyou, losing 5-4.
The games (final score-wise) were much closer, but were not competitive. Both Saitama schools advanced wire-to-wire, setting up a rematch of the prefectural final. In that final, a 4-run first gave Hanasaki Tokuharu all the cushion it needed.
This time around they did not get such a cushion, but did lead 2-0 going into the latter innings. But without the cushion, Urawa Gakuin's rally allowed them to tie the game in the 8th and send it into enchousen. One inning later, Urawa's SS Kigure Naito (木暮騎士) would hit a 2-out double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. After an intentional walk, C Nishikawa Genki (西川元気) would deliver the sayonara hit to give Urawa Gakuin their 3rd straight Kanto Fall title!!
With 4 bids, it seems apparent that the Best 4 participants will get the bids. Kasumigaura, the strongest team of the quarterfinalists will probably not get in because (a) the team they would replace would probably be Utsunomiya Shougyou who defeated them and (b) even if they wanted to make Kasumigaura the 4th team that would put 2 teams from Saitama and from Ibaraki into Senbatsu, which is highly doubtful.
And with Soujitsu losing in the finals to Yasuda Gakuen, the committee will certainly pick them as the floating bid. Had they won, the floating bid may have come back to Kanto.
As it stands, for Kasumigaura to get to Koushien, Yasuda Gakuen or Urawa Gakuin have to win the Meiji Jingu Fall Tournament (If Yasuda Gakuen wins, Soujitsu earns the Meiji Jingu bid and the floating bid shifts back to Kanto. If Urawa Gakuin wins, Kasumigaura earns the Meiji Jingu bid outright). But as you will see later, that will be difficult.
Tokai (3 bids)
- Champion - Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou - Gifu-shi, Gifu (4th title, 1st in 51 years)
- Runner-up - Komono - Komono-machi, Mie
- 3rd Bid - Tokoha Kikugawa - Kikugawa-shi, Shizuoka
And in fact, there was a possibility that neither team would make it as Tokoha Kikugawa had tied the game at 1 in the 8th. Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou though would guarantee that at least one team would make it, making a Tokoha-style finish in the bottom of the 9th to win 2-1.
Komono had done well to make it to the finals, but were boat-raced by Kengifushou falling quickly behind 6-0 and losing 9-3.
This normally would put Komono in a bad situation. As the runner-up, they are first in line to receive the 2nd bid. However, the poor showing would have given the selection committee pause. But with 3 teams advancing, they should be safe.
Kinki (6 bids)
- Champion - Kyoto Shouei - Uji-shi, Kyoto (First title!)
- Runner-up - Houtoku Gakuen - Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo
- Semi-finalist -Ryuukokudai Heian - Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
- Semi-finalist - Osaka Touin - Daitou-shi, Osaka
- 5/6 selection - Riseisha - Toyonaka-shi, Osaka
- 5/6 selection - Yamato Kouryou - Kouryou-machi, Kita-katsuragi-gun, Nara
- Other considerations - Tenri - Tenri-shi, Nara
In other games, Yamato Kouryou played Ryuukokudai Heian close, but couldn't get a run on the board losing 2-0. Osaka Shoudai Sakai lasted only 5 innings against Houtoku Gakuen losing 13-0. And finally, Riseisha was fighting for their lives against surging Kyoto Shouei down 1-0 late before tying the game in the 8th. The game would go into enchousen when reliever Sakamoto would finally fail, giving Kyoto Shouei the 3-1 win in 12!
That setup an all-Kyoto final on one side, and a powerhouse matchup on the other.
Kyoto Shouei and Ryuukokudai Heian were up first. Kyoto Shouei didn't have to face Heian in the prefecturals as Heian was paired with Fukuchiyama Seibi. Early on, the teams traded runs with Kyoto Shouei emerging with a 3-2 lead. It stayed that way until the 7th where Heian would get to Enomoto (who came in in relief) for a pair of runs to lead 4-3. However, their reliever Minami fell apart in the next half-inning. He hit back-to-back batters sending in a run, and then ace Enomoto would redeem himself, blasting a manrui home run to blow the game wide open.
Kyoto Shouei seemed to be in full control up 9-4, but Enomoto seemed to be out of sorts coming in relief. He struggled with his control as Heian came back to within 1 with a 4-run 8th! He'd somehow get in together just in time, closing the game out in the 9th to win 9-8!
In the other semi, it was a shocker in that Osaka Touin was not competitive at all against Houtoku Gakuen. In fact they were blanked 8-0 in 7 innings!
So Houtoku Gakuen and ace Inui Youhei (乾 陽平) were the final obstacle in Kyoto Shouei and Enomoto Kazuki (榎本 和輝) bid for their first ever fall title.
There were opportunities for both teams throughout the game as Inui yielded base hits almost every inning, while Enomoto's control issues persisted as he issued free passes. Yet the score was at 1-1 after regulation. Eventually it would become a matter of who would make the first mistake.
And that finally was made by Inui as he yielded 2 runs in the 13th. They still had the bottom half of the inning, and Enomoto was approaching his limit too. He would give up one run, but again found a way to shut the door, win 3-2, and claim Kyoto Shouei's first title!!
Looking at the field for the selection of the half-dozen bids, it almost winds up being as listed above by default. Kyoto Shouei is definitely in, as well as Houtoku Gakuen. While Heian is in the same prefecture as Kyoto Shouei, they didn't play each other in the prefecturals and held their own in the semifinals - so they're in. Those are the definites.
Osaka Touin was uncharacteristically blown out by Houtoku Gakuen. And their wins prior against Kousen and Tenri do not inspire confidence.
But then you look down at the quarterfinalists. Tenri was blown out by Osaka Touin. Daishoudai Sakai too was annihilated. That leaves Riseisha who played Kyoto Shouei close as well and should get in, and Yamato Kouryou who had a nondescript win over Shiga Gakuen before being shutout 2-0 to Heian.
So Osaka Touin now appears safe, as does Riseisha. The question becomes the last bid.
And that boils down to Yamato Kouryou and Tenri.
Tenri in name had the harder opponent in Osaka Touin, but Heian can easily be considered a quality opponent for Yamato Kouryou.
If the committee wants to go by name, then Tenri will go. But I think if they go by play, it may fall to Yamato Kouryou.
Chuugoku (3 bids)
- Champion - Kanzei - Okayama-shi, Okayama (6th title, 1st in 2 years)
- Runner-up - Kouryou - Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima
- 3rd Bid - Iwakuni Shougyou - Iwakuni-shi, Yamaguchi
- A - Hamada (Shimane 2) vs. Ube Kougyou (Yamaguchi 4)
- A - Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi 1) vs. Tamashima Shougyou (Okayama 2)
- B - Soutoku (Hiroshima 1) vs. Tottori Jyouhoku (Tottori 3)
- B - Yonago Kita (Tottori 1) vs. Kouryou (Hiroshima 3)
- C - Kanzei (Okayama 1) vs. Jyosuikan (Hiroshima 2)
- C - Yonago Shouin (Tottori 2) vs. Kurashiki Shougyou (Okayama 3)
- D - Hayatomo (Yamaguchi 2) vs. Shimane Chuo (Shimane 3)
- D - Masuda Shouyou (Shimane 1) vs. Iwakuni (Yamaguchi 3)
It turns out that not just one, but two prefectures would be eliminated!
So, all else being equal, who has the advantage?
Well, the home team. And that happens to be Yamaguchi-ken.
In fact, all 4 entrants advanced into the second round. Iwakuni Shougyou, Iwakuni and Ube Koujyou all won via the shutout. Hayatomo was able to advance, but only after striking back for a pair of runs right after they gave up the lead in the 7th.
With that alone, Shimane was wiped off the board. Who would be the other prefecture?
In B quadrant, Tottori Jyouhoku started off well against Soutoku, but fell apart in the 2nd half of the game, losing 8-4. Yonago Kita went just 7 innings before they waved the white flag, losing 9-1.
That left 2nd place Yonago Shouin as the last representative. But against Kurashiki Shougyou, that was a tough task. They kept it close, even in fact tying the game at 1-1 in the top of the 5th. Kurashou struck back with 2 in their part of the frame and held on to the 3-1 win.
A valiant effort, but both Japan Sea prefectures were eliminated.
And what appeared to be a blockbuster matchup in the first round wound up being anything but. Jyousuikan would give up after 7 innings, losing to Kanzei 10-0!
This created a bizarre quarterfinal setup:
- A - Ube Kougyou (Yamaguchi 4) vs. Iwakuni Shougyou (Yamaguchi 1)
- B - Soutoku (Hiroshima 1) vs. Kouryou (Hiroshima 3)
- C - Kanzei (Okayama 1) Kurashiki Shougyou (Okayama 3)
- D - Hayatomo (Yamaguchi 2) vs. Iwakuni (Yamaguchi 3)
In the Yamaguchi matchups, Iwakuni Shougyou proved that they were the cream of the crop, as they defeated the only Best 4 team they haven't played - Ube Kougyou, in a shutout 5-0. Iwakuni showed that their 3rd place finish was a product of just being in the wrong half of the bracket. The struggling Hayatomo was unceremoniously upended in a 10-0 defeat in 5 innings.
Soutoku probably wasn't happy to see Kouryou in their crosshairs. They managed to avoid them in the prefecturals, but now when it really matters... it was all Kouryou in a 7-1 win.
That leaves the rematch of Kanzei and Kurashiki Shougyou. Kanzei wouldn't leave anything to chance, scoring 6 runs in the 3rd en route to an 8-4 win.
Another byproduct of the 1st round was that Yamaguchi pretty much guaranteed themselves a team at Senbatsu, especially since due to the 85th tournament, Chuugoku gets an extra bid.
And that would prove key this year as Iwakuni was routed 11-1 by Kanzei, and while Iwakuni Shougyou held with Kouryou, they still lost 2-0.
So we're left with Kouryou and Kanzei in the finals, two teams used to the big game. The game was a low-scoring affair early, then blown open in the span of 2 half-innings where Kouryou scored 3 in the 6th to lead 4-2, only to give up 5 in the lucky 7 to trail 7-4. They'd win 8-5 to take the title.
And on the basis of the semifinal matchups, expect Iwakuni Shougyou to receive the 3rd bid.
Shikoku (3 bids)
- Champion - Kochi - Kochi-shi, Kochi (6th title, 1st in 6 years)
- Runner-up - Naruto - Naruto-shi, Tokushima
- 3rd Bid - Saibi - Matsuyama-shi, Ehime
- Kochi (Kochi 1) vs. Imabari Kougyou (Ehime 2)-Marugame (Kagawa 3) winner
- Eimei (Kagawa 1) vs. Tokushima Shougyou (Tokushima 2)-Tosa (Kochi 3) winner
- Naruto (Tokushima 1) vs. Kochi Shougyou (Kochi 2)-Matsuyama Seiryou (Ehime 3) winner
- Saibi (Ehime 1) vs. Takamatsu Shougyou (Kagawa 2)-Ikeda (Tokushima 3) winner
In the other games, Imabari Kougyou had a chance to survive as they were deadlocked 1-1 for a long time. Marugame though would bid sayonara to the Ehime representative 2-1. Kochi Shougyou was having a heck of a time in their game, but at 3-3 in the 7th Matsuyama Seiryou scored 6 to pull away. Kochishou would score 3 in the 9th, but it wasn't enough. And Ikeda finally made progress, winning 3-1.
With so many 3 seeds advancing, it would be expected that most if not all of the 1 seeds would advance. And in fact, all did... except for the one team that faced the only #2 seed left.
Nartuo and Kochi had no problems. Ikeda almost got to the semifinals and rallied late, but lost to Saibi 4-3. Tokushou was in another close game. They and Eimei were tied at 2 when Eimei scored a run in the 7th to take the lead. But in the bottom of the 9th they get to ace Akagawa scoring 2 runs for the gyakuten sayonara victory.
Tokushou would try to extend their run against Kochi, and early on the semifinals they held a 2-run lead, even after swapping 3-run innings. But Kochi would put up 2 runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings to win 11-7. In the other semifinal, Saibi was in full control, getting 2 insurance runs in the final 2 innings to lead 4-1. Saibi ace Anraku though didn't get the memo that he and his team needed to close out the game. Naruto would rally for 4 runs and win 5-4.
To the final where Kochi would try to preempt the deficit by getting ahead early. Naruto would have none of it and came back to level the score at 6 in the 6th. Kochi though would score 2 in the 8th giving Naruto no time to stage a rally.
The extra bid will probably go to Saibi, who had Naruto dead to rights, right until the bottom of the 9th.
Kyushu (4 bids)
- Champion - Okinawa Shougaku - Naha-shi, Okinawa (2nd title, 1st in 15 years)
- Runner-up - Seiseikou - Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto
- 3rd Bid - Shoushikan - Shibushi-shi, Kagoshima
- 4th Bid - Souseikan - Isahaya-shi, Nagasaki
- Other Consideration - Kumamoto Kougyou, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto
Now all 8 top seeds would be in play, but by the end of the first round over half would go home. But not the half you may have thought.
- Kagoshima Jyouhou probably lacked experience and became Souseikan's 2nd shutout, losing by the slim margin of 1-0. (who by the way is looking to get an invitation this year after being snubbed).
- Miyazaki's Nisshou Gakuen can't be faulted for losing their game, they had to play Okinawa Shougaku. Down 4-0, they rallied late but still lost 4-2.
- Saga Kita reached the Super-Regionals again, but Shoushikan picked up the flag for Kagoshima and used a 5-run 5th to advance 7-3.
- Seiseikou wanted to prove that their appearance last year wasn't just a fluke. To that end they struck early and pulled ahead late, defeating Oita's Youshikan 6-2.
- And Miyazaki Nichidai would pull the upset on Okinawa's Ginoza, shutting them out 5-0!
Nagasaki Nichidai should have been dead to rights. Enchousen, tied at 1 in the 10th, Moji Gakuen scores 4 runs and should have the game wrapped up. Except they don't close it out! Nagasaki Nichidai scores 4 and extends the game further! I'd like to see what happened in that 10th inning. It wouldn't be until the 13th inning where Nagasaki Nichidai would score the sayonara run to win 6-5!
The only non-contested game was surprisingly Kurume Shougyou vs. Meihou. Kurushou scored 4 in the 1st inning and cruised to a 5-2 win.
The reprieve for the top seeds though wouldn't last. All 3 remaining would lose in the quarterfinals. Kurume Shougyou only went 7 against Souseikan losing 9-0. Kumamoto Kougyou had to face Okinawa Shougaku, and narrowly lost 3-2 in 10 innings. And Shoushikan used a 4-run 4th to defeat Nagasaki Nichidai 6-2. The fourth team to advance would indeed be Seiseikou as they shutout the last Nichidai team as Miyazaki would fall 3-0.
That put Souseikan in the crosshairs of Okinawa Shougaku, while Shoushikan and Seiseikou would square off in the other semi.
And neither game was close.
In fact, both would last just 7 innings and both due to a big inning. For Okishou, it was a 4-run 1st in an 8-1 win. For Seiseikou, it was a 5-run 6th in an 8-0 win.
So it'd be Okinawa Shougaku and Seiseikou in the finals, and both pretty much guaranteed a spot in Senbatsu. It would be just a matter now of who would represent Kyushu at the Meiji Jingu Tournament.
And boy was it a pitchers' duel. Seiseikou's Ootake Koutarou (大竹 耕太郎) versus the tandem of Ura Jyun (宇良 淳) and Higa Kenichirou (比嘉 健一朗). Okishou certainly had more opportunities throughout the game, but the game remained scoreless through 8. But in the top of the 9th, it all unraveled for Seiseikou. Okinawa Shougaku would put up 5 runs in the 9th and claim just their 2nd ever fall title!
Rounding out the projected 4 bids are in all probability the two semifinalists - Souseikan and Shoushikan. Yes, they still lost badly in the semifinals, but they had shutout their competition beforehand (though the quality of the opposition can be argued). Shoushikan defeated both Saga Kita and Nagasaki Nichidai and despite their blowout loss, should get in.
The only other team who could make a case would be Kumamoto Kougyou, who was the only team to actually play Okinawa Shougaku close. And bad news for Souseikan, they would probably be the team on the bubble if there were other considerations.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Fall Taikai Update - Tokyo
Tokyo (1 bid, plus 1 possible floating)
Two more weekends of play have completed and we're down to our semifinalists.
But let's see what happened to get there.
The 13th/14th saw the completion of the 2nd round and the whole 3rd round. And some of the big names were involved in wild affairs. At Akishima, Soujitsu (Waseda Jitsugyou) saw Hachiouji add an insurance run in the 9th to take a 3-1 lead. But Hachiouji couldn't close out the game, blew the lead and headed to enchousen... where they lost 4-3 the very next inning.
In Fuchuu, Souka gave up 2 runs in 3 consecutive innings to Toua Gakuen falling behind 6-2. But in the 7th and 8th they would rally for 5 runs to take a 7-6 lead. Once again, Souka would blow that lead, giving up 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th. Somehow, Souka would reply in the top of the 9th with 3 runs and finally complete the comeback 10-9!
And finally, Nichidai Tsurugaoka and Nittai Ebara were tied at 1 until 2 in the 6th and another in the 7th seemed to give Nichidai the runs they needed. But Nittai would respond with 3 of their own, tying the game and sending that game into extras! And without the benefit of an extra base hit, Nittai Ebara upsets Nichidai Tsurugaoka 4-3 in 10 innings!
For the 3rd round, of the teams that played the prior day, most favorites advanced - Seiritsu Gakuen's game was easy while Soujitsu and Souka struggled a bit against Tokyo Sougou Kouka and Meijidai Nakano-Hachiouji.
As for the teams that had the week off, Hino continued to look dominant mercy-ruling St. Paul Gakuen. Kokushikan plays catch-up the entire game and loses 4-2 to Yasuda Gakuen. Oberlin scores 4 in the 1st, but gives up5 over next the next 3 innings and goes down 5-4 to Takashima. And in another "what could be semifinal match", Iwakura held a slim 2-0 lead over Nichidai-san, but is outscored thereafter 5-1 and falls.
And oh boy, Nittai Ebara and Kokugakuin Kugayama were in a slugfest. Here's how the game went:
Here's where things get really wonky. This past weekend, Saturday's set of games had Souka up against the scary Sanko, while Hino would have to deal with the giant killers Nittai Ebara.
Souka took a 1-0 lead in the first, but saw themselves trailing 3-1 with just 3 outs to go. Somehow, they manage to pull a Sanko from last year as they rallied to tie the game and send it to enchousen. Souka couldn't immediately capitalize on the momentum and so perhaps the game would be lost. However, they do push ahead the gyakuten run in the 12th and hold on for the 4-3 win!
Then came Hino and Nittai Ebara. After trading a run in the 1st, Hino would jump out with 3 runs in the 5th. Nittai Ebara would pull within 1 in the 6th. 2 innings later, the game would collapse on Hino as Ebara would score 3 to take a 6-4 lead! Hino wouldn't be able to scramble together a quick rally and thus the Cinderella run continues!
Sunday's slate of games were nowhere near as exciting. Seiritsu Gakuen was boat-raced by Yasuda Gakuen(!) 7-0 in 7 innings, and Soujitsu never trailed defeating Takashima 6-2.
So our semifinals are set - Soujitsu and Souka will square off first, with Nittai Ebara and Yasuda Gakuen playing the matinee game.
For Nittai Ebara-Yasuda Gakuen, they will in all likelihood need to win out. Their names alone will not guarantee them the floating bid if they lose in the finals. On the other hand should they win, it's possible that the committee will look at Souka/Soujitsu as a viable candidate.
Two more weekends of play have completed and we're down to our semifinalists.
But let's see what happened to get there.
The 13th/14th saw the completion of the 2nd round and the whole 3rd round. And some of the big names were involved in wild affairs. At Akishima, Soujitsu (Waseda Jitsugyou) saw Hachiouji add an insurance run in the 9th to take a 3-1 lead. But Hachiouji couldn't close out the game, blew the lead and headed to enchousen... where they lost 4-3 the very next inning.
In Fuchuu, Souka gave up 2 runs in 3 consecutive innings to Toua Gakuen falling behind 6-2. But in the 7th and 8th they would rally for 5 runs to take a 7-6 lead. Once again, Souka would blow that lead, giving up 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th. Somehow, Souka would reply in the top of the 9th with 3 runs and finally complete the comeback 10-9!
And finally, Nichidai Tsurugaoka and Nittai Ebara were tied at 1 until 2 in the 6th and another in the 7th seemed to give Nichidai the runs they needed. But Nittai would respond with 3 of their own, tying the game and sending that game into extras! And without the benefit of an extra base hit, Nittai Ebara upsets Nichidai Tsurugaoka 4-3 in 10 innings!
For the 3rd round, of the teams that played the prior day, most favorites advanced - Seiritsu Gakuen's game was easy while Soujitsu and Souka struggled a bit against Tokyo Sougou Kouka and Meijidai Nakano-Hachiouji.
As for the teams that had the week off, Hino continued to look dominant mercy-ruling St. Paul Gakuen. Kokushikan plays catch-up the entire game and loses 4-2 to Yasuda Gakuen. Oberlin scores 4 in the 1st, but gives up5 over next the next 3 innings and goes down 5-4 to Takashima. And in another "what could be semifinal match", Iwakura held a slim 2-0 lead over Nichidai-san, but is outscored thereafter 5-1 and falls.
And oh boy, Nittai Ebara and Kokugakuin Kugayama were in a slugfest. Here's how the game went:
- Kokugakuin Kugayama 3-0 after 2,
- Nittai Ebara 4-3 after 3,
- Kokugakuin Kugayama 5-4 after 4,
- Tied after 5,
- Kokugakuin Kugayama 7-5 after 6,
Here's where things get really wonky. This past weekend, Saturday's set of games had Souka up against the scary Sanko, while Hino would have to deal with the giant killers Nittai Ebara.
Souka took a 1-0 lead in the first, but saw themselves trailing 3-1 with just 3 outs to go. Somehow, they manage to pull a Sanko from last year as they rallied to tie the game and send it to enchousen. Souka couldn't immediately capitalize on the momentum and so perhaps the game would be lost. However, they do push ahead the gyakuten run in the 12th and hold on for the 4-3 win!
Then came Hino and Nittai Ebara. After trading a run in the 1st, Hino would jump out with 3 runs in the 5th. Nittai Ebara would pull within 1 in the 6th. 2 innings later, the game would collapse on Hino as Ebara would score 3 to take a 6-4 lead! Hino wouldn't be able to scramble together a quick rally and thus the Cinderella run continues!
Sunday's slate of games were nowhere near as exciting. Seiritsu Gakuen was boat-raced by Yasuda Gakuen(!) 7-0 in 7 innings, and Soujitsu never trailed defeating Takashima 6-2.
So our semifinals are set - Soujitsu and Souka will square off first, with Nittai Ebara and Yasuda Gakuen playing the matinee game.
For Nittai Ebara-Yasuda Gakuen, they will in all likelihood need to win out. Their names alone will not guarantee them the floating bid if they lose in the finals. On the other hand should they win, it's possible that the committee will look at Souka/Soujitsu as a viable candidate.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Day 11 - Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo) vs. Kousei Gakuin (Aomori)
So Osaka Touin is in the finals. Who will they face?
Kousei Gakuin has been the favorite to win since the fall when they won the Meiji Jingu tournament. They hadn't lost a step after losing their seniors who led the run to the championship game last summer. After a bit of a slow start against Hokkaido champion Hokushou, they handled Oumi with ease, and then put no question who was the better team in the rematch against Aikoudai Meiden, winning 5-2 in much the same way as the fall. They are poised to win it all.
Standing in their way is a Kanto Dai-ichi squad that has clawed their way through all 3 stages. First, against a game Beppu Aoyama squad they eked out a 1-0 win. Then they held off Kinki champions Chiben Gakuen despite what seemed like a tired Nakamura.
And yet they threw him out there again against a strong Yokohama squad, and with the help of a crucial call in the 5th that took back a run, looked strong in a 4-2 win!
But the burden is squarely on Nakamura to stand and deliver the next two days. If he can't Kanto doesn't have a chance.
RF Kishi Naoya (#16)
2B Kiuchi Jyunshou
CF Akiyama Shouta
LF Itou Hiroki
SS Yoshie Masakazu (#5)
1B Anzai Kouyou
C Matsutani Tsubasa
P Daigo Shunpei (#10)
LF Murase Daijyu
C Tamura Tatsuhiro
SS Houjyou Fumiya
1B Takeda Toshiki
3B Oosugi Akinobu
P Jyouma Ryuuhei
CF Kimura Takumi
2B Kishigawa Kenta
__________________________________________________
13:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Isobe gets Kanto's offense going with a base hit in front of Ameku. Afer a sac bunt, Kiuchi gets ahead 3-0 but Jyouma manages to fill up the count. But he loses him a ball low! Runners on 1st and 2nd now as Kanazawa warms up in the bullpen!
But cleanup batter Akiyama swings on the first pitch and hits one to 2nd! Kishigawa starts the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning!
Bottom 1st
Well, as you can see, Yonezawa-kantoku is rolling with reliever Daigo to start the game. Can he give his team effective innings, or will it backfire?
So far so good. Ameku hits one to Anzai for the 1st out, Murase grounds one back to Daigo.
And Tamura grounds out to short for the 3rd out! Daigo gets the first inning under his belt with no hiccups!
Top 2nd
Hm. As Kanto takes their AB's, #11 Uehara is warming up in the bullpen. Looks like Nakamura may be a last chance option for Kanto.
After a quick groundout by Itou, Yoshie and Anzai go deep in counts against Jyouma, but he retires them both for a 1-2-3 inning. Despite perhaps not being a natural starter, he's been doing a great job on the mound.
Bottom 2nd
Oh? Daigo records his first K in Houjyou. I say that because Daigo's fastball touches 130. He has possible 3 change pitches, one sitting each in the 110s, 100s and 90s.
Takeda with a dying liner to left, but Itou makes a shoestring catch!
And Oosugi with a weak grounder to 2nd means he has another 1-2-3 inning!
Top 3rd
One down and Daigo hits a low liner past Houjyou! Isobe follows that up with a ball past Oosugi into left as well! Chance for Kanto!
Kishi after falling behind 0-2, takes some really close pitches and fills up the count!
Slicer to left! Murase charging in, but it falls in! Manrui for Kanto for #3 batter Kiuchi!
Jyouma once again gets ahead 0-2 on Kiuchi. Kiuchi fouls one off. Waste pitch, 1-2. Slider up and in, 2-2. Ball inside, fought off by Kiuchi. High slider, popped up! Kishigawa and Takeda converging in foul territory, both dive.. neither has it! Will that cost them?
NO! Kiuchi is caught looking for strike 3! 2 down!
Akiyama swings on the first pitch again! And he bails out Jyouma by flying to left! Big chance for Kanto goes begging!
Bottom 3rd
Jyouma goes full on Daigo before delivering Kousei's first hit, a liner to left.
Kimura lays down the bunt, but Daigo quickly picks it up! Yoshie saves the high throw and they get the lead runner. Nakai-kantoku has Kishigawa bunt as well, and this time they advance the runner for top batter Ameku.
But Ameku grounds out to 2nd and the inning is over. I'm surprised a bit that Daigo is doing this good of a job against the tournament favorites.
Top 4th
Itou grounds out to short for his 2nd time today.
Yoshie with a drive to center! Kimura running back, turning right, then back left! He's turned around as the ball falls in front of the wall! Yoshie in with a double!
Jyouma gets ahead of Anzai 0-2, and doesn't get a call on a ball at the knees. Anzai hits a chopper to short. Houjyou makes a great pick and throw for the out, but Yoshie advances to 3rd.
But #8 batter Matsutani is up, and he's had struggles at the plate. They continue as he flies out to right toend the inning.
Bottom 4th
Daigo falls behind Murase 3-0, gets one back, and almost gets the out when Murase hits a foul fly. Anzai doesn't sell out at the fence and it falls in.
Instead he hits a liner right at Isobe, who puts the glove in front of his face and makes the catch.
He falls behind Tamura 3-1 and..
Oh my....
He blasts one to left! Itou running back! Looking up!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That ball is easily 10 rows up in left as Kousei finally gets to Daigo! They open the scoring at 1-0!
And no Houjyou with a first pitch liner to left center for a base hit! And after Takeda hits a hard foul ball, Nakamura heads to the bullpen.
And Houjyou with a big lead takes off when the ball goes in the dirt! Matsutani can't get anything on the throw and he's in safely! Takeda walks on the next pitch prompting Yonezawa-kantoku to call time, perhaps to buy Nakamura time to warm up.
Daigo meanwhile gets ahead of Oosugi 0-2. Oosugi though takes on the other way! Itou up with it, but his throw home is cut off! Houjyou scores to make it 2-0!
Daigo still on the mound as Jyouma steps in. Can he perhaps deliver a crippling blow early? Not sure Daigo's going to let him as he falls behind 3-1. But Jyouma takes one over the plate to fill up the count.
He pops him up! Kimura in center makes the catch for the 2nd out!
And now Nakamura is being recalled to the dugout! But the crisis isn't over just yet as Kimura steps in.
But he hits a grounder to 1st. Anzai makes the out to retire the side, but Kousei gets to the relief starter!
Top 5th
Daigo with a swinging bunt! Oosugi charging in, but can't field the ball! Daigo gets his 2nd hit of the day!
Isobe 2-2 on the day, bunting??! He hits it too hard and Jyouma goes to 2nd for the force! Why was Isobe not swinging away there??
And now they send Isobe, but Tamura with a great throw to 2nd and they have Isobe for the 2nd out!
Kishi battles with Jyouma, but on the 10th pitch of the AB he's frozen for the K!
Bottom 5th
Kishigawa showing some power with a ball down the left field line! That goes all the way to the wall for a double! Ameku trying for a safety bunt still moves him to 3rd.
Murase with a ball to left! Itou camping under it, makes the catch, throws for home, but the relay is no good! Kishigawa scores to make it 3-0!
Cameras go to Yonezawa-kantoku who is telling Itou to move back for Tamura.
Tamura blasts one to left! Really? Is he really?? Itou running back and to his right, turns himself around going left, and makes the sliding catch at the wall for the 3rd out! Whoa that was a close one! Looks like the kantoku was right after all!
But Kousei adds on a run and as we hit the break Kanto finds themselves down 3-0!
Top 6th
Kiuchi leads off the inning with a single down the right field line. Cleanup batter Akiyama tries to bunt, but falls behind 1-2. Akiyama with a ball up the middle. Houjyou in front of it, but can't field it cleanly! He barely gets the toss to Kishigawa for the out.
Itou lines out to right for the 2nd out.
Akiyama takes off for 2nd! Throw from Matsutani is wide and goes into center and Akiyama eases into 3rd! Chance to narrow the margin for Kanto!
But Yoshie hits a grounder to 2nd! Kishigawa's throw beats out a diving Yoshie for the 3rd out!
Bottom 6th
Nakamura takes the hill now for Kanto. But is it too late?
Well, at least he holds down the Kousei offense. The 4-5-6 batters come and go as Kanto takes the sticks again.
Top 7th
Bottom third of the order up for Kanto. Anzai quickly grounds out to 2nd. Matsutani hits a foul fly to Houjyou.
Nakamura with a grounder to short, but it's off Houjyou's glove and goes to left! Still some life in the Lucky 7 for Kanto!
Isobe though, grounds to short. Houjyou goes to 2nd for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
On 0 days rest and in relief, Nakamura looks good! Jyouma with a grounder to short. He freezes Kimura on a fastball inside, and gets Kishigawa to swing on a fastball on the outside corner for the 3rd out!
Top 8th
Time quickly running out on Kanto. Kishi with a high chopper up the 3rd base line. Oosugi with it, but the throw is high! Leadoff man on from the error!
Kiuchi rightly hitting as they need 3 runs. But Jyouma pops him up! Houjyou in shallow left makes the catch!
Akiyama with a grounder up the middle. Houjyou there, but doesn't have it! It goes through! Kishi booking it for 3rd! Throw from Kimura, not in time! Akiyama going for 2nd, throw from Oosugi, not in time!!
Runners on 2nd and 3rd now with just one down!
Chance for Kanto as Itou steps in!
He hits a fly to right! Ameku ready for the throw home! He throws it as Kishi charges for home! It's a liner right to Tamura...
And they get him a the plate! Kishi is gunned down at home for the 3rd out! Great defensive play by Ameku denies Kanto a run!
Bottom 8th
Ameku with a blast to center! Akiyama running back to the wall, slides, but it bounces off the base of the wall! He's in with a double!
Murase trying to bunt him over instead free bunts and fouls off to Matsutani.
Tamura with a base hit through the left side puts runners at the corners for cleanup batter Houjyou!
WHOA!
Houjyou launches one to left! Itou climbing on the fence! FOUL!!!! Nakamura breathes a sight of relief.
But not for long! Houjyou shoots one up the middle, and its through to center! Ameku scores, Tamura being waved around! Akiyama throwing home... Cut off! Nakamura cuts the ball off and tries to get Houjyou at 2nd! Safe!! Houjyou's timely hit gives Kousei a commanding 5-0 lead!
Takeda goes down on a failed check swing for the 2nd out.
BAM!
Oosugi with a booming hit to right center! Akiyama running to the wall, and it's off the base! RBI triple for Oosugi makes it 6-0.
Jyouma grounds to short to end the inning, but Kousei appears to be on cruise control finally to a matchup against Osaka Touin.
Top 9th
#17 Sekiguchi takes over for Murase in LF.
Yoshie not giving up, ripping one into the right-center field gap for a standup triple!
Anzai follows that up lining one through the infield past Kishigawa into center! Yoshie scores to make it 6-1!
#6 Kishida comes to run for Anzai and #13 Hino hits for Matsutani.
Matsutani with a single to left! Runners on 1st and 2nd, no out!
What will Yonezawa-kantoku do? Will he leave Nakamura in to hit? He will! He won't gamble!
Nakamura falls behind 1-2, and holds off a borderline pitch. But he eventually goes down swinging for the first out.
Isobe to try and continue the momentum...
But he hits a grounds to 2nd! Kishigawa goes to 2nd for one, Houjyou's throw to 1st, in time! Kousei Gakuin wins!
Jyouma in a complete game effort gives up just the one run in the 9th as they advance to their 2nd finals!
And as I continue writing, the Kanto players are collecting the dirt from the grounds.
Kousei Gakuin has looked strong in all their games so far and ace Kanazawa will be rested for the championship game thanks to Jyouma. The offense continues to look strong as well, and it should make for a great game.
For Kanto Dai-ichi, Yonezawa-kantoku perhaps realized that they couldn't start Nakamura on 0 days rest. But Daigo couldn't prevent Kousei from getting on the board and playing from behind is not the place where they wanted to be.
But they played very well throughout the tournament, perhaps surprising some despite being the Tokyo champions. It'll be a hard road to navigate in the summer though. But they'll have time to work on the pitching before then.
Kousei Gakuin has been the favorite to win since the fall when they won the Meiji Jingu tournament. They hadn't lost a step after losing their seniors who led the run to the championship game last summer. After a bit of a slow start against Hokkaido champion Hokushou, they handled Oumi with ease, and then put no question who was the better team in the rematch against Aikoudai Meiden, winning 5-2 in much the same way as the fall. They are poised to win it all.
Standing in their way is a Kanto Dai-ichi squad that has clawed their way through all 3 stages. First, against a game Beppu Aoyama squad they eked out a 1-0 win. Then they held off Kinki champions Chiben Gakuen despite what seemed like a tired Nakamura.
And yet they threw him out there again against a strong Yokohama squad, and with the help of a crucial call in the 5th that took back a run, looked strong in a 4-2 win!
But the burden is squarely on Nakamura to stand and deliver the next two days. If he can't Kanto doesn't have a chance.
Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo)
3B Isobe Yuuta (#9)RF Kishi Naoya (#16)
2B Kiuchi Jyunshou
CF Akiyama Shouta
LF Itou Hiroki
SS Yoshie Masakazu (#5)
1B Anzai Kouyou
C Matsutani Tsubasa
P Daigo Shunpei (#10)
Kousei Gakuin (Aomori)
RF Ameku ShoutoLF Murase Daijyu
C Tamura Tatsuhiro
SS Houjyou Fumiya
1B Takeda Toshiki
3B Oosugi Akinobu
P Jyouma Ryuuhei
CF Kimura Takumi
2B Kishigawa Kenta
__________________________________________________
13:20 - First pitch!
Top 1st
Isobe gets Kanto's offense going with a base hit in front of Ameku. Afer a sac bunt, Kiuchi gets ahead 3-0 but Jyouma manages to fill up the count. But he loses him a ball low! Runners on 1st and 2nd now as Kanazawa warms up in the bullpen!
But cleanup batter Akiyama swings on the first pitch and hits one to 2nd! Kishigawa starts the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning!
Bottom 1st
Well, as you can see, Yonezawa-kantoku is rolling with reliever Daigo to start the game. Can he give his team effective innings, or will it backfire?
So far so good. Ameku hits one to Anzai for the 1st out, Murase grounds one back to Daigo.
And Tamura grounds out to short for the 3rd out! Daigo gets the first inning under his belt with no hiccups!
Top 2nd
Hm. As Kanto takes their AB's, #11 Uehara is warming up in the bullpen. Looks like Nakamura may be a last chance option for Kanto.
After a quick groundout by Itou, Yoshie and Anzai go deep in counts against Jyouma, but he retires them both for a 1-2-3 inning. Despite perhaps not being a natural starter, he's been doing a great job on the mound.
Bottom 2nd
Oh? Daigo records his first K in Houjyou. I say that because Daigo's fastball touches 130. He has possible 3 change pitches, one sitting each in the 110s, 100s and 90s.
Takeda with a dying liner to left, but Itou makes a shoestring catch!
And Oosugi with a weak grounder to 2nd means he has another 1-2-3 inning!
Top 3rd
One down and Daigo hits a low liner past Houjyou! Isobe follows that up with a ball past Oosugi into left as well! Chance for Kanto!
Kishi after falling behind 0-2, takes some really close pitches and fills up the count!
Slicer to left! Murase charging in, but it falls in! Manrui for Kanto for #3 batter Kiuchi!
Jyouma once again gets ahead 0-2 on Kiuchi. Kiuchi fouls one off. Waste pitch, 1-2. Slider up and in, 2-2. Ball inside, fought off by Kiuchi. High slider, popped up! Kishigawa and Takeda converging in foul territory, both dive.. neither has it! Will that cost them?
NO! Kiuchi is caught looking for strike 3! 2 down!
Akiyama swings on the first pitch again! And he bails out Jyouma by flying to left! Big chance for Kanto goes begging!
Bottom 3rd
Jyouma goes full on Daigo before delivering Kousei's first hit, a liner to left.
Kimura lays down the bunt, but Daigo quickly picks it up! Yoshie saves the high throw and they get the lead runner. Nakai-kantoku has Kishigawa bunt as well, and this time they advance the runner for top batter Ameku.
But Ameku grounds out to 2nd and the inning is over. I'm surprised a bit that Daigo is doing this good of a job against the tournament favorites.
Top 4th
Itou grounds out to short for his 2nd time today.
Yoshie with a drive to center! Kimura running back, turning right, then back left! He's turned around as the ball falls in front of the wall! Yoshie in with a double!
Jyouma gets ahead of Anzai 0-2, and doesn't get a call on a ball at the knees. Anzai hits a chopper to short. Houjyou makes a great pick and throw for the out, but Yoshie advances to 3rd.
But #8 batter Matsutani is up, and he's had struggles at the plate. They continue as he flies out to right toend the inning.
Bottom 4th
Daigo falls behind Murase 3-0, gets one back, and almost gets the out when Murase hits a foul fly. Anzai doesn't sell out at the fence and it falls in.
Instead he hits a liner right at Isobe, who puts the glove in front of his face and makes the catch.
He falls behind Tamura 3-1 and..
Oh my....
He blasts one to left! Itou running back! Looking up!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That ball is easily 10 rows up in left as Kousei finally gets to Daigo! They open the scoring at 1-0!
And no Houjyou with a first pitch liner to left center for a base hit! And after Takeda hits a hard foul ball, Nakamura heads to the bullpen.
And Houjyou with a big lead takes off when the ball goes in the dirt! Matsutani can't get anything on the throw and he's in safely! Takeda walks on the next pitch prompting Yonezawa-kantoku to call time, perhaps to buy Nakamura time to warm up.
Daigo meanwhile gets ahead of Oosugi 0-2. Oosugi though takes on the other way! Itou up with it, but his throw home is cut off! Houjyou scores to make it 2-0!
Daigo still on the mound as Jyouma steps in. Can he perhaps deliver a crippling blow early? Not sure Daigo's going to let him as he falls behind 3-1. But Jyouma takes one over the plate to fill up the count.
He pops him up! Kimura in center makes the catch for the 2nd out!
And now Nakamura is being recalled to the dugout! But the crisis isn't over just yet as Kimura steps in.
But he hits a grounder to 1st. Anzai makes the out to retire the side, but Kousei gets to the relief starter!
Top 5th
Daigo with a swinging bunt! Oosugi charging in, but can't field the ball! Daigo gets his 2nd hit of the day!
Isobe 2-2 on the day, bunting??! He hits it too hard and Jyouma goes to 2nd for the force! Why was Isobe not swinging away there??
And now they send Isobe, but Tamura with a great throw to 2nd and they have Isobe for the 2nd out!
Kishi battles with Jyouma, but on the 10th pitch of the AB he's frozen for the K!
Bottom 5th
Kishigawa showing some power with a ball down the left field line! That goes all the way to the wall for a double! Ameku trying for a safety bunt still moves him to 3rd.
Murase with a ball to left! Itou camping under it, makes the catch, throws for home, but the relay is no good! Kishigawa scores to make it 3-0!
Cameras go to Yonezawa-kantoku who is telling Itou to move back for Tamura.
Tamura blasts one to left! Really? Is he really?? Itou running back and to his right, turns himself around going left, and makes the sliding catch at the wall for the 3rd out! Whoa that was a close one! Looks like the kantoku was right after all!
But Kousei adds on a run and as we hit the break Kanto finds themselves down 3-0!
Top 6th
Kiuchi leads off the inning with a single down the right field line. Cleanup batter Akiyama tries to bunt, but falls behind 1-2. Akiyama with a ball up the middle. Houjyou in front of it, but can't field it cleanly! He barely gets the toss to Kishigawa for the out.
Itou lines out to right for the 2nd out.
Akiyama takes off for 2nd! Throw from Matsutani is wide and goes into center and Akiyama eases into 3rd! Chance to narrow the margin for Kanto!
But Yoshie hits a grounder to 2nd! Kishigawa's throw beats out a diving Yoshie for the 3rd out!
Bottom 6th
Nakamura takes the hill now for Kanto. But is it too late?
Well, at least he holds down the Kousei offense. The 4-5-6 batters come and go as Kanto takes the sticks again.
Top 7th
Bottom third of the order up for Kanto. Anzai quickly grounds out to 2nd. Matsutani hits a foul fly to Houjyou.
Nakamura with a grounder to short, but it's off Houjyou's glove and goes to left! Still some life in the Lucky 7 for Kanto!
Isobe though, grounds to short. Houjyou goes to 2nd for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
On 0 days rest and in relief, Nakamura looks good! Jyouma with a grounder to short. He freezes Kimura on a fastball inside, and gets Kishigawa to swing on a fastball on the outside corner for the 3rd out!
Top 8th
Time quickly running out on Kanto. Kishi with a high chopper up the 3rd base line. Oosugi with it, but the throw is high! Leadoff man on from the error!
Kiuchi rightly hitting as they need 3 runs. But Jyouma pops him up! Houjyou in shallow left makes the catch!
Akiyama with a grounder up the middle. Houjyou there, but doesn't have it! It goes through! Kishi booking it for 3rd! Throw from Kimura, not in time! Akiyama going for 2nd, throw from Oosugi, not in time!!
Runners on 2nd and 3rd now with just one down!
Chance for Kanto as Itou steps in!
He hits a fly to right! Ameku ready for the throw home! He throws it as Kishi charges for home! It's a liner right to Tamura...
And they get him a the plate! Kishi is gunned down at home for the 3rd out! Great defensive play by Ameku denies Kanto a run!
Bottom 8th
Ameku with a blast to center! Akiyama running back to the wall, slides, but it bounces off the base of the wall! He's in with a double!
Murase trying to bunt him over instead free bunts and fouls off to Matsutani.
Tamura with a base hit through the left side puts runners at the corners for cleanup batter Houjyou!
WHOA!
Houjyou launches one to left! Itou climbing on the fence! FOUL!!!! Nakamura breathes a sight of relief.
But not for long! Houjyou shoots one up the middle, and its through to center! Ameku scores, Tamura being waved around! Akiyama throwing home... Cut off! Nakamura cuts the ball off and tries to get Houjyou at 2nd! Safe!! Houjyou's timely hit gives Kousei a commanding 5-0 lead!
Takeda goes down on a failed check swing for the 2nd out.
BAM!
Oosugi with a booming hit to right center! Akiyama running to the wall, and it's off the base! RBI triple for Oosugi makes it 6-0.
Jyouma grounds to short to end the inning, but Kousei appears to be on cruise control finally to a matchup against Osaka Touin.
Top 9th
#17 Sekiguchi takes over for Murase in LF.
Yoshie not giving up, ripping one into the right-center field gap for a standup triple!
Anzai follows that up lining one through the infield past Kishigawa into center! Yoshie scores to make it 6-1!
#6 Kishida comes to run for Anzai and #13 Hino hits for Matsutani.
Matsutani with a single to left! Runners on 1st and 2nd, no out!
What will Yonezawa-kantoku do? Will he leave Nakamura in to hit? He will! He won't gamble!
Nakamura falls behind 1-2, and holds off a borderline pitch. But he eventually goes down swinging for the first out.
Isobe to try and continue the momentum...
But he hits a grounds to 2nd! Kishigawa goes to 2nd for one, Houjyou's throw to 1st, in time! Kousei Gakuin wins!
Jyouma in a complete game effort gives up just the one run in the 9th as they advance to their 2nd finals!
And as I continue writing, the Kanto players are collecting the dirt from the grounds.
Kousei Gakuin has looked strong in all their games so far and ace Kanazawa will be rested for the championship game thanks to Jyouma. The offense continues to look strong as well, and it should make for a great game.
For Kanto Dai-ichi, Yonezawa-kantoku perhaps realized that they couldn't start Nakamura on 0 days rest. But Daigo couldn't prevent Kousei from getting on the board and playing from behind is not the place where they wanted to be.
But they played very well throughout the tournament, perhaps surprising some despite being the Tokyo champions. It'll be a hard road to navigate in the summer though. But they'll have time to work on the pitching before then.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Day 10 - Quarterfinal #4 - Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo) vs. Yokohama (Kanagawa)
Finally, it's a battle of Tokyo Bay. Kanto Dai-ichi faces off against Yokohama for the final semifinal spot.
Yokohama looks like the team they were supposed to be last summer. A team with a very good offense, and more than passable pitching, Yokohama blanked Kochi 4-0 then Yanagi scattered 11 hits in a 7-1 victory over Seikou Gakuin. Nothing from last year that would seem to undermine their run.
Kanto Dai-ichi has had to survive two close games. First of all a 1-0 victory of Beppu Aoyama (though it seemed a little more bigger than that), then a 2-1 nailbiting win over Chiben Gakuen.
The biggest question mark with Kanto Dai-ichi lies with their ace Nakamura. He clearly showed signs of fatigue as a lot of his pitches were high and wide. And being on the last day of the 1st round, it'll only get harder for them as for them to win the title he'll have to had pitched on the 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th days of the tournament. Not an envious position to be in. And with Kanto's offense being the way it's been, they're going to have to find a way for the pitching to hold else they exit, and exit with a thud.
RF Kishi Naoya (#16)
2B Kiuchi Jyunshou
CF Akiyama Shouta
LF Itou Hiroki
SS Yoshie Masakazu (#5)
1B Anzai Kouyou
C Matsutani Tsubasa
P Nakamura Yuuta
3B Takahashi Ryouken (#6)
RF Tahara Keigo (#11)
1B Yamauchi Tatsuya
2B Higuchi Ryuunosuke
CF Haizaki Ryou
SS Aoki Rikito (#16)
C Ozeki Ikki
P Yanagi Yuuya
__________________________________________________
13:38 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Kanto's batters taking pitches trying to find any advantage to getting on base. While it is to no avail, Isobe goes to 2-2 before grounding out, and both Kishi and Kiuchi go the full count before striking out swinging and looking respectively.
Bottom 1st
Nakamura's first pitch runs in and hits Shishikura on the hands. Not a good start. Takahashi bunts him over into scoring position.
Nakamura's going after Tahara to try and get ahead of the pinch, goes up 0-2 on him. And Tahara goes down swinging on a change! 2 down!
Yamauchi swinging on the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd! Kiuchi there to throw to 1st and make the play! 3 outs!
Top 2nd
Akiyama starts off the inning with a ball back up the middle! Man on for Kanto. Itou bunting, has to get out of the way. Count 1-1, bunts it foul! Will he free bunt? He shows it. And puts it down!
Yonezawa-kantoku looking to Yoshie for the one-timer. Outfield playing in.
And Yoshie pops it up! Shishikura there to make the catch for the 2nd out. Anzai grounds out to Takahashi, and the inning is over.
Bottom 2nd
Higuchi with a ball back up the middle, but Kiuchi makes a great diving stop! Throw to 1st is wide, but Anzai makes a great pick for the out!
Haizaki fouls out for the 2nd out.
And the NHK announcers are talking about how many off-speed pitches Nakamura is throwing. I wonder if it has to do anything with the fact that his fastball may be a bit slower last game and Yonezawa-kantoku is asking him to throw off-speed stuff to Yokohama.
Aoki swings at another one and pops it up to 1st. Anzai makes the catch to retire the side.
Top 3rd
Meanwhile, the Kanto offense are trying to deal with Yanagi's fastball. Matsutani is frozen on one on the outside corner, Nakamura goes down on 3 straight, and while Isobe avoids 3 straight K's, he grounds back to Yanagi for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
Ozeki with a chopper to the left side, but Isobe does an ole on the ball missing it with his stab! Yoshie can't field it and it's a leadoff base hit! Yanagi bunts him over.
Shishikura chases one outside and softly hits one to 2nd. Kiuchi makes the putout and there's 2 down.
Takahashi pops it up! Matsutani off with his mask goes towards the back screen, leans back at the last minute and makes the catch! Nakamura looking a lot better than I was expecting.
Top 4th
Kishi trying for the safety bunt and misses. Swings at one low and is behind 0-2. But he comes back and works a walk!
And Kishi is caught off of 1st! Yanagi easily throws him out, but the home plate umpire calls balk! Kishi is awarded 2nd! What a break for Kanto! Kiuchi then lays the bunt down, advancing him to 3rd.
WHAT?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Akiyama just rips into one from Yanagi! Tahara doesn't even give chase!!!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Akiyama out of nowhere hits a homerun against Yanagi and Kanto Dai-ichi takes a 2-0 lead!!
Watanabe-kantoku calls for time...
Itou makes solid contact too, but flies out to right. Yoshie can't hold his swing and goes down, but I'm still in shock as Akiyama with a rare HR to right gives his team the lead!
Bottom 4th
Nakamura having trouble on the mound. His first two off-speed pitches are in the dirt, and the next two fastballs are high for a leadoff walk.
Yamauchi up and the outfield plays back. He gets under one, and Akiyama calls off Itou to make the catch.
Higuchi gets under one too and hits it to center. Akiyama going back.. going back??
Makes the catch in deep center. Wow, that carried further than I thought it would.
Haizaki grounds out to 2nd, and the leadoff walk goes for naught.
Top 5th
Yanagi almost with a 1-2-3 inning, but Nakamura bloops one just fair down the right field line before Higuchi and Tahara can get there.
But that lasts for one pitch as Isobe lines out to right.
Bottom 5th
Nakamura not letting Yokohama make good contact, but continues to give them free passes as he issues one to Aoki to lead off the 5th.
Ozeki trying to lay down the bunt, but instead gets ahead 3-1! And a pitch low puts 2 men on for Yanagi! Yonezawa-kantoku calls for time...
Yanagi lays down the bunt and now Yokohama threatens to tie with a base hit!
Top of the order and Shishikura. But Nakamura gets ahead 0-2. Fastball high, 1-2.
Chopper up the 3rd base line! Isobe charging in, looks up before making the pick and the ball deflects off his glove! Everyone's safe and Yokohama is within 1 at 2-1!!
Still one down for Takahashi.
SQUEEZE!!!
Takahashi lays down the bunt! Isobe's only play is to 1st and Yokohama ties the game! We're douten at 2-2! But Shishikura tries for 3rd and is thrown out by Anzai! Two down!
But what's this? Matsutani appeals something at home, and the plate umpire calls Ozeki out! Watanabe-kantoku is wondering what the heck is going on!
The plate umpire goes to the microphone, says the catcher appealed the runner not touching home, and Ozeki never touched home!
Watanabe-kantoku is furious! He is yelling at the plate umpire! I've never seen this before!
But the grounds crew comes out and that's the end of the inning.
Top 6th
One down and Kiuchi hits a single to left. But Akiyama strikes out and Kiuchi is caught stealing 2nd to end the ining.
Bottom 6th
Tahara with a drive to right center! Akiyama and Kishi running back to the fence. Still running back!!
And Akiyama makes the catch right in front of the wall! One down.
Yamauchi and Higuchi quickly fly out thereafter and it's a 1-2-3 inning for Nakamura!
Top 7th
One down, Yoshie lays down a bunt. Takahashi lets it go as it's rolling foul, but it straightens out enough to catch the corner of the 3rd base bag! Fair!
Takahashi can only give a wry smile as he gives the ball back to Yanagi.
But Anzai grounds into the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Kanto's lucky 7 ends quickly.
Bottom 7th
But will Yokohama be able to get the douten run after it was taken away?
Haizaki takes a full count pitch and hits it to right. Kishi running back, looking up, running back...
It's over his head! Haizaki rounding 2nd makes it into 3rd easily! Douten runner 90 feet away!
OY!!!
Nakamura almost sails one to the backscreen! Matsutani saves it!
Now a ball in the dirt and Matsutani blocks that one! 3-1 to Aoki.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!
Aoki makes contact, but it goes foul! Matsutani dives, but can't make the catch!
Full count, what will both sides do?
High and inside! Gyakuten runner on for Yokohama and still no down!
Ozeki lifts one to center! Akiyama with the catch and the ball is cutoff but bobbled by Kiuchi. He wouldn't have had a play anyways, and Yokohama indeed gets the douten run! 2-2!!
Yanagi lays down his 3rd bunt, putting the gyakuten runner in scoring position for Shishikura!
Shishikura fouls out to left and the inning is over. However, a leadoff triple leads to the douten run!
Top 8th
Kanto has been unable to do anything since the HR by Akiyama. And it continues into the 8th. Matsutani grounds out to 1st, and Nakamura flies out to left. Isobe grounds out to 3rd and Nakamura will have to hold the line.
Bottom 8th
One down and Tahara collects his first single, a ball back up the middle that Yoshie dives and just misses! #9 Nakase come in to run for him.
Yamauchi with a ball to shallow right center! Akiyama charging in, dives... and makes the catch! What a play by Akiyama!! 2 down!
And Higuchi with a ball to short! Yoshie with the strong throw to 1st and Yokohama is retired!
Top 9th
2-3-4 batters due up for Kanto.
Kishi looks at strike 3 on the outside corner for the 1st out!
Kiuchi with a ball to center puts the go-ahead run on base! Watanabe-kantoku calls time...
Akiyama showing bunt! They're going for the one timer! He takes strike 1.
Wait! He swinging away! He singles to center! Runners on 1st and 2nd with just one down! Itou stepping in, but he's 0-2 on the day.
He quickly falls behind 0-2 and starts defensively fouling off pitches... Gets one ball back.
And he drives one to left center! That's through the outfielders! Kiuchi scores! Akyama being waved around and he scores!! Itou with a 2-run triple and Kanto Dai-ichi takes a 4-2 lead!!
Watanabe-kantoku calls in #10 Souma. He comes in for Nakase and takes the hill. Yanagi goes to right.
Souma retires the next two batters to end the inning, but Kanto takes back the two runs it lost and are 3 outs away from a trip to the semifinals!
Bottom 9th
It'll be the 6-7-8 batters up for Yokohama to mount their rally.
First up is Haizaki who earlier had the triple. He gets ahead 3-1. More than anything Yokohama needs baserunners. He takes the pitch and the count goes full.
And Nakamura pops him up! Isobe under it for the first out!
Aoki, who had two walks on the day gives way to #13 Itou. He drives one to left! Itou running back, leaps backwards, and makes the catch!! WHAT???!!!!
Two down and the last chance in Ozeki. He quickly falls behind 0-2... Fastball up. And another one up, 2-2...
He hits one to right... Kishi there... makes the catch!! Shiaishuuryou!
Kanto Dai-ichi shocks Yokohama (and myself) and advances with a 4-2 victory!!
Hard to explain this one myself. Yanagi looked the better pitcher most of the game, and yet it was two mistakes that cost him the game. Meanwhile, Nakamura looked shaky at times as I expected, walked 4 and hit 1, and yet thanks to some amazing (at at times lucky) defense, plus a crucial call reversing a run, won the game!
Personally, the better team did not win the game, rather the better team today did.
And as I write this, there are several Yokohama players crying, and other looking out onto the field as if to say what did we do to deserve this?
Now, my personal feelings for Yokohama are neutral to a bit on the negative side. I don't hate them, but they are a powerhouse and I do like the underdogs. And in recent years I have been very critical of them. But you get to a point where you start feeling bad for them, and today's game might have been that point for me.
I do love the underdogs, but you have to start feeling bad for teams that are good, but just can't get over the hump (see Tenri). And despite what people may have said about Watanabe-kantoku and his work, I actually do hope that his team finds success.
Just not against my teams please.
So Yokohama will have to work hard during the spring and summer, and run the gauntlet that is the Yokohama qualifying to make it to Koushien. I hope this time they do make it.
Kanto Dai-ichi's senbatsu will continue, but they'll have to face off on no days rest against Kousei Gakuin. Not a promising proposition.
Yokohama looks like the team they were supposed to be last summer. A team with a very good offense, and more than passable pitching, Yokohama blanked Kochi 4-0 then Yanagi scattered 11 hits in a 7-1 victory over Seikou Gakuin. Nothing from last year that would seem to undermine their run.
Kanto Dai-ichi has had to survive two close games. First of all a 1-0 victory of Beppu Aoyama (though it seemed a little more bigger than that), then a 2-1 nailbiting win over Chiben Gakuen.
The biggest question mark with Kanto Dai-ichi lies with their ace Nakamura. He clearly showed signs of fatigue as a lot of his pitches were high and wide. And being on the last day of the 1st round, it'll only get harder for them as for them to win the title he'll have to had pitched on the 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th days of the tournament. Not an envious position to be in. And with Kanto's offense being the way it's been, they're going to have to find a way for the pitching to hold else they exit, and exit with a thud.
Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo)
3B Isobe Yuuta (#9)RF Kishi Naoya (#16)
2B Kiuchi Jyunshou
CF Akiyama Shouta
LF Itou Hiroki
SS Yoshie Masakazu (#5)
1B Anzai Kouyou
C Matsutani Tsubasa
P Nakamura Yuuta
Yokohama (Kanagawa)
LF Shishikura Kazuma3B Takahashi Ryouken (#6)
RF Tahara Keigo (#11)
1B Yamauchi Tatsuya
2B Higuchi Ryuunosuke
CF Haizaki Ryou
SS Aoki Rikito (#16)
C Ozeki Ikki
P Yanagi Yuuya
__________________________________________________
13:38 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Kanto's batters taking pitches trying to find any advantage to getting on base. While it is to no avail, Isobe goes to 2-2 before grounding out, and both Kishi and Kiuchi go the full count before striking out swinging and looking respectively.
Bottom 1st
Nakamura's first pitch runs in and hits Shishikura on the hands. Not a good start. Takahashi bunts him over into scoring position.
Nakamura's going after Tahara to try and get ahead of the pinch, goes up 0-2 on him. And Tahara goes down swinging on a change! 2 down!
Yamauchi swinging on the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd! Kiuchi there to throw to 1st and make the play! 3 outs!
Top 2nd
Akiyama starts off the inning with a ball back up the middle! Man on for Kanto. Itou bunting, has to get out of the way. Count 1-1, bunts it foul! Will he free bunt? He shows it. And puts it down!
Yonezawa-kantoku looking to Yoshie for the one-timer. Outfield playing in.
And Yoshie pops it up! Shishikura there to make the catch for the 2nd out. Anzai grounds out to Takahashi, and the inning is over.
Bottom 2nd
Higuchi with a ball back up the middle, but Kiuchi makes a great diving stop! Throw to 1st is wide, but Anzai makes a great pick for the out!
Haizaki fouls out for the 2nd out.
And the NHK announcers are talking about how many off-speed pitches Nakamura is throwing. I wonder if it has to do anything with the fact that his fastball may be a bit slower last game and Yonezawa-kantoku is asking him to throw off-speed stuff to Yokohama.
Aoki swings at another one and pops it up to 1st. Anzai makes the catch to retire the side.
Top 3rd
Meanwhile, the Kanto offense are trying to deal with Yanagi's fastball. Matsutani is frozen on one on the outside corner, Nakamura goes down on 3 straight, and while Isobe avoids 3 straight K's, he grounds back to Yanagi for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
Ozeki with a chopper to the left side, but Isobe does an ole on the ball missing it with his stab! Yoshie can't field it and it's a leadoff base hit! Yanagi bunts him over.
Shishikura chases one outside and softly hits one to 2nd. Kiuchi makes the putout and there's 2 down.
Takahashi pops it up! Matsutani off with his mask goes towards the back screen, leans back at the last minute and makes the catch! Nakamura looking a lot better than I was expecting.
Top 4th
Kishi trying for the safety bunt and misses. Swings at one low and is behind 0-2. But he comes back and works a walk!
And Kishi is caught off of 1st! Yanagi easily throws him out, but the home plate umpire calls balk! Kishi is awarded 2nd! What a break for Kanto! Kiuchi then lays the bunt down, advancing him to 3rd.
WHAT?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Akiyama just rips into one from Yanagi! Tahara doesn't even give chase!!!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Akiyama out of nowhere hits a homerun against Yanagi and Kanto Dai-ichi takes a 2-0 lead!!
Watanabe-kantoku calls for time...
Itou makes solid contact too, but flies out to right. Yoshie can't hold his swing and goes down, but I'm still in shock as Akiyama with a rare HR to right gives his team the lead!
Bottom 4th
Nakamura having trouble on the mound. His first two off-speed pitches are in the dirt, and the next two fastballs are high for a leadoff walk.
Yamauchi up and the outfield plays back. He gets under one, and Akiyama calls off Itou to make the catch.
Higuchi gets under one too and hits it to center. Akiyama going back.. going back??
Makes the catch in deep center. Wow, that carried further than I thought it would.
Haizaki grounds out to 2nd, and the leadoff walk goes for naught.
Top 5th
Yanagi almost with a 1-2-3 inning, but Nakamura bloops one just fair down the right field line before Higuchi and Tahara can get there.
But that lasts for one pitch as Isobe lines out to right.
Bottom 5th
Nakamura not letting Yokohama make good contact, but continues to give them free passes as he issues one to Aoki to lead off the 5th.
Ozeki trying to lay down the bunt, but instead gets ahead 3-1! And a pitch low puts 2 men on for Yanagi! Yonezawa-kantoku calls for time...
Yanagi lays down the bunt and now Yokohama threatens to tie with a base hit!
Top of the order and Shishikura. But Nakamura gets ahead 0-2. Fastball high, 1-2.
Chopper up the 3rd base line! Isobe charging in, looks up before making the pick and the ball deflects off his glove! Everyone's safe and Yokohama is within 1 at 2-1!!
Still one down for Takahashi.
SQUEEZE!!!
Takahashi lays down the bunt! Isobe's only play is to 1st and Yokohama ties the game! We're douten at 2-2! But Shishikura tries for 3rd and is thrown out by Anzai! Two down!
But what's this? Matsutani appeals something at home, and the plate umpire calls Ozeki out! Watanabe-kantoku is wondering what the heck is going on!
The plate umpire goes to the microphone, says the catcher appealed the runner not touching home, and Ozeki never touched home!
Watanabe-kantoku is furious! He is yelling at the plate umpire! I've never seen this before!
But the grounds crew comes out and that's the end of the inning.
Top 6th
One down and Kiuchi hits a single to left. But Akiyama strikes out and Kiuchi is caught stealing 2nd to end the ining.
Bottom 6th
Tahara with a drive to right center! Akiyama and Kishi running back to the fence. Still running back!!
And Akiyama makes the catch right in front of the wall! One down.
Yamauchi and Higuchi quickly fly out thereafter and it's a 1-2-3 inning for Nakamura!
Top 7th
One down, Yoshie lays down a bunt. Takahashi lets it go as it's rolling foul, but it straightens out enough to catch the corner of the 3rd base bag! Fair!
Takahashi can only give a wry smile as he gives the ball back to Yanagi.
But Anzai grounds into the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Kanto's lucky 7 ends quickly.
Bottom 7th
But will Yokohama be able to get the douten run after it was taken away?
Haizaki takes a full count pitch and hits it to right. Kishi running back, looking up, running back...
It's over his head! Haizaki rounding 2nd makes it into 3rd easily! Douten runner 90 feet away!
OY!!!
Nakamura almost sails one to the backscreen! Matsutani saves it!
Now a ball in the dirt and Matsutani blocks that one! 3-1 to Aoki.
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!
Aoki makes contact, but it goes foul! Matsutani dives, but can't make the catch!
Full count, what will both sides do?
High and inside! Gyakuten runner on for Yokohama and still no down!
Ozeki lifts one to center! Akiyama with the catch and the ball is cutoff but bobbled by Kiuchi. He wouldn't have had a play anyways, and Yokohama indeed gets the douten run! 2-2!!
Yanagi lays down his 3rd bunt, putting the gyakuten runner in scoring position for Shishikura!
Shishikura fouls out to left and the inning is over. However, a leadoff triple leads to the douten run!
Top 8th
Kanto has been unable to do anything since the HR by Akiyama. And it continues into the 8th. Matsutani grounds out to 1st, and Nakamura flies out to left. Isobe grounds out to 3rd and Nakamura will have to hold the line.
Bottom 8th
One down and Tahara collects his first single, a ball back up the middle that Yoshie dives and just misses! #9 Nakase come in to run for him.
Yamauchi with a ball to shallow right center! Akiyama charging in, dives... and makes the catch! What a play by Akiyama!! 2 down!
And Higuchi with a ball to short! Yoshie with the strong throw to 1st and Yokohama is retired!
Top 9th
2-3-4 batters due up for Kanto.
Kishi looks at strike 3 on the outside corner for the 1st out!
Kiuchi with a ball to center puts the go-ahead run on base! Watanabe-kantoku calls time...
Akiyama showing bunt! They're going for the one timer! He takes strike 1.
Wait! He swinging away! He singles to center! Runners on 1st and 2nd with just one down! Itou stepping in, but he's 0-2 on the day.
He quickly falls behind 0-2 and starts defensively fouling off pitches... Gets one ball back.
And he drives one to left center! That's through the outfielders! Kiuchi scores! Akyama being waved around and he scores!! Itou with a 2-run triple and Kanto Dai-ichi takes a 4-2 lead!!
Watanabe-kantoku calls in #10 Souma. He comes in for Nakase and takes the hill. Yanagi goes to right.
Souma retires the next two batters to end the inning, but Kanto takes back the two runs it lost and are 3 outs away from a trip to the semifinals!
Bottom 9th
It'll be the 6-7-8 batters up for Yokohama to mount their rally.
First up is Haizaki who earlier had the triple. He gets ahead 3-1. More than anything Yokohama needs baserunners. He takes the pitch and the count goes full.
And Nakamura pops him up! Isobe under it for the first out!
Aoki, who had two walks on the day gives way to #13 Itou. He drives one to left! Itou running back, leaps backwards, and makes the catch!! WHAT???!!!!
Two down and the last chance in Ozeki. He quickly falls behind 0-2... Fastball up. And another one up, 2-2...
He hits one to right... Kishi there... makes the catch!! Shiaishuuryou!
Kanto Dai-ichi shocks Yokohama (and myself) and advances with a 4-2 victory!!
Hard to explain this one myself. Yanagi looked the better pitcher most of the game, and yet it was two mistakes that cost him the game. Meanwhile, Nakamura looked shaky at times as I expected, walked 4 and hit 1, and yet thanks to some amazing (at at times lucky) defense, plus a crucial call reversing a run, won the game!
Personally, the better team did not win the game, rather the better team today did.
And as I write this, there are several Yokohama players crying, and other looking out onto the field as if to say what did we do to deserve this?
Now, my personal feelings for Yokohama are neutral to a bit on the negative side. I don't hate them, but they are a powerhouse and I do like the underdogs. And in recent years I have been very critical of them. But you get to a point where you start feeling bad for them, and today's game might have been that point for me.
I do love the underdogs, but you have to start feeling bad for teams that are good, but just can't get over the hump (see Tenri). And despite what people may have said about Watanabe-kantoku and his work, I actually do hope that his team finds success.
Just not against my teams please.
So Yokohama will have to work hard during the spring and summer, and run the gauntlet that is the Yokohama qualifying to make it to Koushien. I hope this time they do make it.
Kanto Dai-ichi's senbatsu will continue, but they'll have to face off on no days rest against Kousei Gakuin. Not a promising proposition.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Day 8 - Game 3 - Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo) vs. Chiben Gakuen (Nara)
We end the 2nd round with a high-profile matchup. Though several years ago you may not have been able to say that.
Chiben Gakuen had won the Kinki super-regional, and did defeat Hayatomo 5-2, but their offense was all generated in one inning. And outside of the 5-run 5th inning, they managed just one hit with 3 walks and a hit batsmen. Now, this was against Hayatomo, and for the most part against a pitcher who had only pitched a couple of innings. So perhaps their preparation for ace Aidzu threw them off when Horita started the game.
Kanto Dai-ichi was given a surprise when facing Beppu Aoyama. They scored just 1 run on 6 hits, and that run was in part because the Beppu defense failed to recognize the speed at the top of the order. And 7 K's against the Beppu pitching staff may not be a good sign either.
And yet, this was the team that wound up winning the Tokyo regional. So either Beppu Aoyama's pitching was above average or the Tokyo Regional was sub-average this year.
RF Kishi Naoya (#16)
2B Kiuchi Jyunshou
CF Akiyama Shouta
LF Itou Hiroki
SS Yoshie Masakazu (#5)
1B Anzai Kouyou
C Matsutani Tsubasa
P Nakamura Yuuta
CF Urano Jyunya
P Aoyama Daiki
RF Ono Youhei
3B Komeda Shintarou
1B Koike Masahiro
LF Uenishi Ryouki (#12)
2B Yamaguchi Yuuki (#6)
SS Takeda Ichiya (#13)
__________________________________________________
14:45 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
After two quick outs by the Kanto offense, Kiuchi hits a single through to left. Akiyama follows that up slicing a ball the opposite way to left.
But Itou winds up looking at a fastball on the outside corner to end the inning. May have been some framework there, but with the angle it's always hard to tell.
Bottom 1st
Nakamura looking sharp to start, getting Nakamichi to chase a slider inside for the first out. And after an Urano flyout, Aoyama goes down on 3 pitches, watching the last one hit the outside corner for strike 3.
Top 2nd
Aoyama's good control early hitting the outside corners are forcing the batters to chase the ball. And such was the case with Anzai for the 2nd out.
Matsutani scares the crap out of Aoyama by drilling a ball deep to left, but just is a little early. Instead he grounds out to short to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Ono starts the inning with a gapper to right center. Akiyama runs it down but not before Ono's in with a double. Komeda bunts him over for Koike.
And the oen-dan starts playing Jock Rock a lot sooner than usual.
Nakamura walks Koike and Yonezawa-kantoku calls for time.
Uenishi works the count full, but winds up chasing a fastball up and away for the 2nd out.
And Yamagichi too cannot hit Nakamura's fastball and Kanto is out of the jam!
Top 3rd
Nakamura with a popup to left. Takeda and Komeda run to get it, Komeda calls Takeda off, but makes a last second correction and misses the ball! E7 and Kanto has a runner on!
Isobe can't lay down the bunt, and winds up grounding one back to Aoyama! He goes to 2nd for one, but Takeda double clutches then sails the ball into the camera well! It winds up being just like a bunt as Isobe is awarded 2nd.
Aoyama winds up walking Kishi on 4 straight, prompting Kosaka-kantoku to call for time.
Kiuchi with a grounder up the 3rd base line, and Uenishi makes a great stop! He tags 3rd to get the force. 2 outs.
And Aoyama gets Akiyama to pop it up! Ono takes a bit of a circuitous route to the ball, but runs down the right field line to make the catch.
Bottom 3rd
Nakamura with a 5 pitch inning , retiring the side in order in part thanks to a great snag by Isobe and a nice reach on a high throw by Anzai.
Top 4th
Defensive change for Chiben as #5 Odahara comes in for Uenishi and goes to 3B. Komeda moves to LF.
Itou reaches out and hits a soft ball to the right side. Yamaguchi charges, tries to make the barehanded throw but throws it away! Infield single by Itou!
Yoshie lays down the bunt, Aoyama with it, but his throw to 2nd short hops Takeda and he can't pick it. All safe!
Anzai lays down a great bunt which advances the runners. It'll have to be up to Matsutani or ace Nakamura to get the runners home. Infield playing for a throw home.
Matsutani jumps on the first pitch and lines it to left! Itou comes home! Yoshie is right behind him! He chases him all the way home! Matsutani puts Kanto up here in the 4th, 2-0!
Nakamura follows that up with a single through the right side! Runners on 1st and 2nd with still 1 down!
Back to the top of the order and this could be bad for Aoyama.
Isobe with a slow chopper up the 3rd base side! Uenishi charges, throws to 1st, beats a diving Isobe!
[Insert rant here]
The runners advance so that a base hit almost guarantees 2 runs, but there's also 2 outs.
Kishi standing in falls behind 1-2, but takes a couple of pitches, works the count full, and starts fouling off pitches.
(And someone has a vuvuzela??!)
Sanshin! Kishi can't get around to the fastball and Aoyama is out of the inning! But Kanto strikes first for a pair of runs!
Bottom 4th
Aoyama hits a ball to shallow right trying to jumpstart the Chiben offense. Ono not bunting, but gets under a Nakamura offering and flies out to left.
Komeda scorches a ball down the 1st base line, but it just goes foul. He falls behind 1-2, but works the count full. Ball inside winds up high instead and now runners are on 1st and 2nd for Koike. Looks either like Nakamura is having control issues or is overthrowing the ball.
Ahead 0-2, Nakamura throws another one way high. And another high fastball. This could be concerning for Kanto. Outside, and now the count is full once again.
High fastball, but close enough that Koike swings and fouls it off. Fastball outside and it's manrui with one down.
Yonezawa-kantoku calling time, but he'd better be finding someone to warm up in the bullpen.
Odahara up to bat, and he bails Nakamura out by popping one up!
Two down for Yamaguchi and he's bailing out Nakamura by swinging at the high fastballs!
And he strikes out swinging! For some reason the bottom of the order didn't wait to see if Nakamura would continue throwing balls! Chiben wastes a great opportunity to tie or take the lead!
Top 5th
Kiuchi with a drive to left! Komeda running back, but it's over his head! He's in with a double! However, Akiyama can't advance him via bunt and grounds out to Aoyama.
Itou flies out to center, and it's deep enough to advance Kiuchi. Up to Yoshie to deliver.
He works a long AB but Aoyama finally gets the better of him on the 10th pitch inducing a grounder to 2nd to end the threat.
Bottom 5th
Takeda trying for the safety bunt, and while Anzai vacates 1st to field the ball, Kiuchi is there to cover just in time to record the out.
Nakamichi gets on base the old-fashioned way, he gets a hit (though the left side). Urano with a base hit the other way and now a situation is developing as Aoyama steps in.
But Aoyama is jammed and flies out to right. 2 down runners now at the corners for Ono.
The Kanto battery is being careful with Ono, and fall behind him 3-1. Nakamura doesn't give in, but he sails one high and it's manrui for Komeda. It's fine to walk Ono, but know that there's no room now for Komeda.
First ball from Nakamura goes high again.
But the next pitch Komeda flies to center! Akiyama there for the catch, and Kanto is out of the jam! Kanto Dai-ichi holds on to a tentative 2-0 lead. However, Yonezawa-kantoku should be concerned that Nakamura is tiring a bit and may be opening his body and leaving his pitches up in the zone. He's been lucky the last couple of innings, but it could come back to get them later. They may want to tack on a couple of extra insurance runs just in case.
Top 6th
Anzai takes the first ball and drives it to right! Ono sprinting back, but it's over his head! It goes to the wall as Anzai goes for 2! But Ono fumbles with the ball! Anzai heads to 3rd and is in easily! Chance immediately after the break of Kanto!
Matsutani works the count full and takes a ball down and away for ball 4. Runners now at the corners with no down for ace Nakamura.
Comebacker by Nakamura! But Aoyama gloves it, and re-secures it when it pops out! He goes to 2nd for the force and there's one down.
Isobe with a small chopper up the 1st base side! Aoyama hurries to it, throws home...
OUT!
Nakamichi blocks home as he makes the tag on Anzai for the out! 2 down! Kishi up, but he struck out last AB.
This time around, he softly lines out to short and Kanto's leadoff "triple" (it was a 2B + error) goes for naught.
Bottom 6th
One down and Odahara hits a fly to deep left! Itou chases it down as it hits the base of the wall. Odahara in with a double.
Nakamura is definitely in a pinch. If he tries to throw it his normal speed, he overthrows it. If he throws it with conrol, it's a tick slower than usual and can be hittable.
As a result he's behind 3-2 to Yamaguchi, and the pitch outside, while hitting the glove this time, is wide.
But instead of keeping the pressure completely on Nakamura, Kosaka-kantoku has Takeda bunt the runners over for Nakamichi.
Nakamura though manages to get ahead 1-2. But another pitch high and taking a change low fulls the count.
He hits a fly ball! Nakamura gets him to chase a high fastball! Akiyama under it and they get the 3rd out! Kanto continues to play with fire and not get burned!
Top 7th
Aoyama finally get an uneventful inning in the lucky 7 no less as he retires the 3-4-5 batters with almost no issue at all.
Bottom 7th
Oddly enough, with all the troubles Nakamura has had recently, he too gets a quiet 1-2-3 inning as he seems to be finally pitching instead of overthrowing.
Top 8th
Yoshie with a grounder to the right side, and it's off the glove of Yamaguchi as he dives for it! Leadoff man on for Kanto!
But Chiben gets a break when Anzai's bunt is mishandled by Aoyama! Yoshie thinks it's caught and he's easily thrown out at 2nd.
Aoyama gives it right back when he throws a wild pitch allowing Anzai to advance to 2nd. However, Matsutani swings up 2-0 and pop put to short, and Nakamura flies out to right to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
But the decreased velocity does allow for big hits! Komeda drives a ball to deep right! Kishi runs back as the ball hits the base of the wall! Komeda rounding the bases and he's in at 3rd with a leadoff triple!
Koike now with his own drive to right! Kishi running back again, leaps, and makes the catch! What a great catch by Kishi!
But that of course yields the run, and Chiben Gakuen trails by just 1! It's 2-1!
Odahara up now, and he strikes out looking on a 129 kph fastball! 2 down!
Yamaguchi trying to keep the inning going singles past Nakamura into center. Douten runner on base!
But Nakamura gets Takeda to pop it up. Matsutani secures it for the 3rd out. Chiben gets one back and now the deficit seems much more managable.
Top 9th
Two pitches, two outs for Aoyama as he gets a popup and a safety bunt attempt.
Kiuchi takes a little longer, but he fouls out to Koike near the camera well.
Bottom 9th
Nail-biting time if you're Kanto. Top of the order up for Chiben with a fatigued Nakamura on the mound.
Of course, the first pitch to Nakamichi is a 136 fastball down the middle. Natch.
He gets ahead 0-2, but throws two wide again and levels the count.
And Nakamichi takes the next pitch and returns it back up the middle for a base hit. Douten runner on, and Urano successfully bunts him to 2nd.
Aoyama up, and Nakamura gets him to fly out! Itou under it for the 2nd out!
It's down to Ono, and he fouls off the first pitch. 0-1... He pops it up! Anzai to the fence in foul territory and it's out of play. 0-2...
Overthrows high for ball 1... Overthrows high again for ball 2! High fastball fought off by Ono! Another letter high fastball fouled off! Outside fastball fouled off again! Fastball inside! Ono ducks but it goes off his bat! It pops and rolls down the first base line... goes foul before anyone can get to it! Fastball, this time fouled straight back! Does he have the timing down?
Fastball high again! Full count! High fastball fouled off one more time!!!
He hits it foul again! But this time is it playable? Matsutani running towards his dugout, running out of room...
MAKES THE CATCH!
Matsutani makes the catch! Ono fouls out to end the game! Kanto Dai-ichi holds on to a 2-1 victory over the Kinki champions Chiben Gakuen!!!
WHAT A FINISH!!!!!
Kanto Dai-ichi ace Nakamura finds a way to hold on despite showing obvious signs of fatigue and mechanics breakdowns in the middle of the game finds a way to make 2 runs stick!
Both teams had scoring opportunities throughout the game, but it was obviously in favor of Chiben Gakuen as the game progressed. But due to strategies or plain unluckiness, they were never able to take advantage of them. Aoyama only gave up the 2 runs when the bottom of the order delivered, but it proved to be enough.
A well fought game on both sides as Chiben Gakuen I think proves to everyone that they are power to be reckoned with going forward.
However, while Kanto Dai-ichi advances to face Yokohama in 2 days, they'll have to face the reality that Nakamura may not be 100 percent for that game. Such is the case when you pitch on day 6, then day 8, and now day 10. For them to win senbatsu, Nakamura will have to pitch on days 11 and 12 as well. This could prove to be too much for Kanto Dai-ichi to overcome.
Chiben Gakuen had won the Kinki super-regional, and did defeat Hayatomo 5-2, but their offense was all generated in one inning. And outside of the 5-run 5th inning, they managed just one hit with 3 walks and a hit batsmen. Now, this was against Hayatomo, and for the most part against a pitcher who had only pitched a couple of innings. So perhaps their preparation for ace Aidzu threw them off when Horita started the game.
Kanto Dai-ichi was given a surprise when facing Beppu Aoyama. They scored just 1 run on 6 hits, and that run was in part because the Beppu defense failed to recognize the speed at the top of the order. And 7 K's against the Beppu pitching staff may not be a good sign either.
And yet, this was the team that wound up winning the Tokyo regional. So either Beppu Aoyama's pitching was above average or the Tokyo Regional was sub-average this year.
Kanto Dai-ichi (Tokyo)
3B Isobe Yuuta (#9)RF Kishi Naoya (#16)
2B Kiuchi Jyunshou
CF Akiyama Shouta
LF Itou Hiroki
SS Yoshie Masakazu (#5)
1B Anzai Kouyou
C Matsutani Tsubasa
P Nakamura Yuuta
Chiben Gakuen (Nara)
C Nakamichi KatsushiCF Urano Jyunya
P Aoyama Daiki
RF Ono Youhei
3B Komeda Shintarou
1B Koike Masahiro
LF Uenishi Ryouki (#12)
2B Yamaguchi Yuuki (#6)
SS Takeda Ichiya (#13)
__________________________________________________
14:45 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
After two quick outs by the Kanto offense, Kiuchi hits a single through to left. Akiyama follows that up slicing a ball the opposite way to left.
But Itou winds up looking at a fastball on the outside corner to end the inning. May have been some framework there, but with the angle it's always hard to tell.
Bottom 1st
Nakamura looking sharp to start, getting Nakamichi to chase a slider inside for the first out. And after an Urano flyout, Aoyama goes down on 3 pitches, watching the last one hit the outside corner for strike 3.
Top 2nd
Aoyama's good control early hitting the outside corners are forcing the batters to chase the ball. And such was the case with Anzai for the 2nd out.
Matsutani scares the crap out of Aoyama by drilling a ball deep to left, but just is a little early. Instead he grounds out to short to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd
Ono starts the inning with a gapper to right center. Akiyama runs it down but not before Ono's in with a double. Komeda bunts him over for Koike.
And the oen-dan starts playing Jock Rock a lot sooner than usual.
Nakamura walks Koike and Yonezawa-kantoku calls for time.
Uenishi works the count full, but winds up chasing a fastball up and away for the 2nd out.
And Yamagichi too cannot hit Nakamura's fastball and Kanto is out of the jam!
Top 3rd
Nakamura with a popup to left. Takeda and Komeda run to get it, Komeda calls Takeda off, but makes a last second correction and misses the ball! E7 and Kanto has a runner on!
Isobe can't lay down the bunt, and winds up grounding one back to Aoyama! He goes to 2nd for one, but Takeda double clutches then sails the ball into the camera well! It winds up being just like a bunt as Isobe is awarded 2nd.
Aoyama winds up walking Kishi on 4 straight, prompting Kosaka-kantoku to call for time.
Kiuchi with a grounder up the 3rd base line, and Uenishi makes a great stop! He tags 3rd to get the force. 2 outs.
And Aoyama gets Akiyama to pop it up! Ono takes a bit of a circuitous route to the ball, but runs down the right field line to make the catch.
Bottom 3rd
Nakamura with a 5 pitch inning , retiring the side in order in part thanks to a great snag by Isobe and a nice reach on a high throw by Anzai.
Top 4th
Defensive change for Chiben as #5 Odahara comes in for Uenishi and goes to 3B. Komeda moves to LF.
Itou reaches out and hits a soft ball to the right side. Yamaguchi charges, tries to make the barehanded throw but throws it away! Infield single by Itou!
Yoshie lays down the bunt, Aoyama with it, but his throw to 2nd short hops Takeda and he can't pick it. All safe!
Anzai lays down a great bunt which advances the runners. It'll have to be up to Matsutani or ace Nakamura to get the runners home. Infield playing for a throw home.
Matsutani jumps on the first pitch and lines it to left! Itou comes home! Yoshie is right behind him! He chases him all the way home! Matsutani puts Kanto up here in the 4th, 2-0!
Nakamura follows that up with a single through the right side! Runners on 1st and 2nd with still 1 down!
Back to the top of the order and this could be bad for Aoyama.
Isobe with a slow chopper up the 3rd base side! Uenishi charges, throws to 1st, beats a diving Isobe!
[Insert rant here]
The runners advance so that a base hit almost guarantees 2 runs, but there's also 2 outs.
Kishi standing in falls behind 1-2, but takes a couple of pitches, works the count full, and starts fouling off pitches.
(And someone has a vuvuzela??!)
Sanshin! Kishi can't get around to the fastball and Aoyama is out of the inning! But Kanto strikes first for a pair of runs!
Bottom 4th
Aoyama hits a ball to shallow right trying to jumpstart the Chiben offense. Ono not bunting, but gets under a Nakamura offering and flies out to left.
Komeda scorches a ball down the 1st base line, but it just goes foul. He falls behind 1-2, but works the count full. Ball inside winds up high instead and now runners are on 1st and 2nd for Koike. Looks either like Nakamura is having control issues or is overthrowing the ball.
Ahead 0-2, Nakamura throws another one way high. And another high fastball. This could be concerning for Kanto. Outside, and now the count is full once again.
High fastball, but close enough that Koike swings and fouls it off. Fastball outside and it's manrui with one down.
Yonezawa-kantoku calling time, but he'd better be finding someone to warm up in the bullpen.
Odahara up to bat, and he bails Nakamura out by popping one up!
Two down for Yamaguchi and he's bailing out Nakamura by swinging at the high fastballs!
And he strikes out swinging! For some reason the bottom of the order didn't wait to see if Nakamura would continue throwing balls! Chiben wastes a great opportunity to tie or take the lead!
Top 5th
Kiuchi with a drive to left! Komeda running back, but it's over his head! He's in with a double! However, Akiyama can't advance him via bunt and grounds out to Aoyama.
Itou flies out to center, and it's deep enough to advance Kiuchi. Up to Yoshie to deliver.
He works a long AB but Aoyama finally gets the better of him on the 10th pitch inducing a grounder to 2nd to end the threat.
Bottom 5th
Takeda trying for the safety bunt, and while Anzai vacates 1st to field the ball, Kiuchi is there to cover just in time to record the out.
Nakamichi gets on base the old-fashioned way, he gets a hit (though the left side). Urano with a base hit the other way and now a situation is developing as Aoyama steps in.
But Aoyama is jammed and flies out to right. 2 down runners now at the corners for Ono.
The Kanto battery is being careful with Ono, and fall behind him 3-1. Nakamura doesn't give in, but he sails one high and it's manrui for Komeda. It's fine to walk Ono, but know that there's no room now for Komeda.
First ball from Nakamura goes high again.
But the next pitch Komeda flies to center! Akiyama there for the catch, and Kanto is out of the jam! Kanto Dai-ichi holds on to a tentative 2-0 lead. However, Yonezawa-kantoku should be concerned that Nakamura is tiring a bit and may be opening his body and leaving his pitches up in the zone. He's been lucky the last couple of innings, but it could come back to get them later. They may want to tack on a couple of extra insurance runs just in case.
Top 6th
Anzai takes the first ball and drives it to right! Ono sprinting back, but it's over his head! It goes to the wall as Anzai goes for 2! But Ono fumbles with the ball! Anzai heads to 3rd and is in easily! Chance immediately after the break of Kanto!
Matsutani works the count full and takes a ball down and away for ball 4. Runners now at the corners with no down for ace Nakamura.
Comebacker by Nakamura! But Aoyama gloves it, and re-secures it when it pops out! He goes to 2nd for the force and there's one down.
Isobe with a small chopper up the 1st base side! Aoyama hurries to it, throws home...
OUT!
Nakamichi blocks home as he makes the tag on Anzai for the out! 2 down! Kishi up, but he struck out last AB.
This time around, he softly lines out to short and Kanto's leadoff "triple" (it was a 2B + error) goes for naught.
Bottom 6th
One down and Odahara hits a fly to deep left! Itou chases it down as it hits the base of the wall. Odahara in with a double.
Nakamura is definitely in a pinch. If he tries to throw it his normal speed, he overthrows it. If he throws it with conrol, it's a tick slower than usual and can be hittable.
As a result he's behind 3-2 to Yamaguchi, and the pitch outside, while hitting the glove this time, is wide.
But instead of keeping the pressure completely on Nakamura, Kosaka-kantoku has Takeda bunt the runners over for Nakamichi.
Nakamura though manages to get ahead 1-2. But another pitch high and taking a change low fulls the count.
He hits a fly ball! Nakamura gets him to chase a high fastball! Akiyama under it and they get the 3rd out! Kanto continues to play with fire and not get burned!
Top 7th
Aoyama finally get an uneventful inning in the lucky 7 no less as he retires the 3-4-5 batters with almost no issue at all.
Bottom 7th
Oddly enough, with all the troubles Nakamura has had recently, he too gets a quiet 1-2-3 inning as he seems to be finally pitching instead of overthrowing.
Top 8th
Yoshie with a grounder to the right side, and it's off the glove of Yamaguchi as he dives for it! Leadoff man on for Kanto!
But Chiben gets a break when Anzai's bunt is mishandled by Aoyama! Yoshie thinks it's caught and he's easily thrown out at 2nd.
Aoyama gives it right back when he throws a wild pitch allowing Anzai to advance to 2nd. However, Matsutani swings up 2-0 and pop put to short, and Nakamura flies out to right to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
But the decreased velocity does allow for big hits! Komeda drives a ball to deep right! Kishi runs back as the ball hits the base of the wall! Komeda rounding the bases and he's in at 3rd with a leadoff triple!
Koike now with his own drive to right! Kishi running back again, leaps, and makes the catch! What a great catch by Kishi!
But that of course yields the run, and Chiben Gakuen trails by just 1! It's 2-1!
Odahara up now, and he strikes out looking on a 129 kph fastball! 2 down!
Yamaguchi trying to keep the inning going singles past Nakamura into center. Douten runner on base!
But Nakamura gets Takeda to pop it up. Matsutani secures it for the 3rd out. Chiben gets one back and now the deficit seems much more managable.
Top 9th
Two pitches, two outs for Aoyama as he gets a popup and a safety bunt attempt.
Kiuchi takes a little longer, but he fouls out to Koike near the camera well.
Bottom 9th
Nail-biting time if you're Kanto. Top of the order up for Chiben with a fatigued Nakamura on the mound.
Of course, the first pitch to Nakamichi is a 136 fastball down the middle. Natch.
He gets ahead 0-2, but throws two wide again and levels the count.
And Nakamichi takes the next pitch and returns it back up the middle for a base hit. Douten runner on, and Urano successfully bunts him to 2nd.
Aoyama up, and Nakamura gets him to fly out! Itou under it for the 2nd out!
It's down to Ono, and he fouls off the first pitch. 0-1... He pops it up! Anzai to the fence in foul territory and it's out of play. 0-2...
Overthrows high for ball 1... Overthrows high again for ball 2! High fastball fought off by Ono! Another letter high fastball fouled off! Outside fastball fouled off again! Fastball inside! Ono ducks but it goes off his bat! It pops and rolls down the first base line... goes foul before anyone can get to it! Fastball, this time fouled straight back! Does he have the timing down?
Fastball high again! Full count! High fastball fouled off one more time!!!
He hits it foul again! But this time is it playable? Matsutani running towards his dugout, running out of room...
MAKES THE CATCH!
Matsutani makes the catch! Ono fouls out to end the game! Kanto Dai-ichi holds on to a 2-1 victory over the Kinki champions Chiben Gakuen!!!
WHAT A FINISH!!!!!
Kanto Dai-ichi ace Nakamura finds a way to hold on despite showing obvious signs of fatigue and mechanics breakdowns in the middle of the game finds a way to make 2 runs stick!
Both teams had scoring opportunities throughout the game, but it was obviously in favor of Chiben Gakuen as the game progressed. But due to strategies or plain unluckiness, they were never able to take advantage of them. Aoyama only gave up the 2 runs when the bottom of the order delivered, but it proved to be enough.
A well fought game on both sides as Chiben Gakuen I think proves to everyone that they are power to be reckoned with going forward.
However, while Kanto Dai-ichi advances to face Yokohama in 2 days, they'll have to face the reality that Nakamura may not be 100 percent for that game. Such is the case when you pitch on day 6, then day 8, and now day 10. For them to win senbatsu, Nakamura will have to pitch on days 11 and 12 as well. This could prove to be too much for Kanto Dai-ichi to overcome.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Fall tournament recap and possible invitees (Kanto & Tokyo)
Moving on south, we hit the Kanto region where 4 bids are at stake, and Tokyo where they get a single bid.
First off, Tokyo.
Tokyo Super-Regional (1 bid + 1 floating bid w/Kanto)
Tokyo once again broke up into their 24 blocks, which probably reflects in some ways the 23 wards.
Except I looked up the schools in the first bracket of the first block... and that certainly wasn't the case.
Our qualifiers from block play were as follows:
Block 1
The draws for the super-regionals saw the following:
Their opponent in the semis would indeed be Kanto Dai-ichi. But they too were almost sent home. Their quarterfinal matchup was indeed Nichidai Buzan, who then took a 3-0 lead, and then a 4-2 lead. However, their pitching staff couldn't hold the lead and gave up 5 runs in the last 3 innings.
Teikyou, for all the good teams in the bracket, actually had trouble against Houyuu Gakuin in the 2nd round - scratching together just 3 runs in an uncharacteristic 3-1 victory. Otherwise, they defeated Kokugakuin, Nisshou Gakushadai Fuzoku and Nichidai Tsurugaoka with little trouble.
Finally, the two incumbents in the final quadrant both fell in the round of 16. Toritsu Fuchuu Higashi outlasted Kokugakuin Kugayama scoring 4 runs in the last 2 innings to win 4-2, while Shuutoku was blitzed by Sundai Gakuen 9-0 in 7 innings. And in the matchup for a spot in the semis, Sundai was able to recover after relinquishing a 2-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the 8th. Ace Kitagawa was able to shut the door in the 9th for the win.
The semis though went scratch. Toua Gakuen still cannot break the ceiling into the realm of the contenders as Kanto Dai-ichi put them out of their misery winning 13-0 in 7. Meanwhile, Teikyou put Sundai Gakuen behind the 8-ball early with 4 runs on their way to a 6-1 win.
That put two familiar faces in the finals with Kanto Dai-ichi and Teikyou. Yet in the championship game, Teikyou experienced a power outage unseen for such a team. Ace Kitagawa held the offensive-minded team to just 1 hit in a CG shutout! That means that the Tokyo representative is:
Automatic Bid - Kanto Dai-ichi (2nd title, 1st in 3 years) - 4th appearance, 1st in 4 years
Kanto Super-Regional (4 bids + 1 floating bid with Tokyo)
Kanto's Super-Regional this year is being held in Yamanashi. As such, they will receive one extra bid to the Super-Regional this time around.
So, let's go backwards from Yamanashi and head northeast!
Yamanashi
My favorite team here is no secret, it's Nihon Koukuu (i.e. Japan Aviation Academy). I mean how often is it you have an aviation school actually decent in baseball? Ok, that's an obvious question, but you get my point.
Sadly, those days seem to be behind them. They fell 4-1 to Fuji Kawaguchiko in the quarterfinals.
The vacuum in the prefecture has been fought over in recent years. Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku laid claim to it for a while, but also lost in the quarters to Kofu Kougyou. The same fate (and same score) befell Fuji Gakuen as well to Kofu Nishi.
The team to carry the flag (for now anyways), is Toukaidai Kofu. They blanked Kofu Nishi 7-0 to claim their 7th title and 1st in 6 years.
Joining Toukaidai Kofu and Kofu Nishi would be Kofu Kougyou. They edged out Fuji Kawaguchiko 4-3 in the 3rd place game.
Kanagawa
Kanagawa has small round-robin play that sends players to the prefecturals. 89 teams plus the Natsu Koushien representative Yokohama would advance.
A lot of the usual subjects advanced into prefectural play, so let's head straight there.
The draw saw Yokohama occupied the upper left hand corner of the bracket. The only notable name in their bracket is Toukou Gakuen. Their only other competition in the other quadrant to Yokohama could be Yokohama Shoudai and Touin Gakuen. That meant a lot of the well known names drew themselves on the other half. And in the upper right quadrant, there were quite a few of them. Toukaidai Sagami, Nichidai Fujisawa and Yokohama Hayato. Finally, Keiou occupies the lower right part of the bracket.
As expected, Toukou Gakuen gave Yokohama a good run for their money, but Yokohama prevailed 4-3. They then breezed through to the semis. Also as expected Yokohama Shoudai advanced without issue, as Touin Gakuen fell 9-0 to Tachibana Gakuen (立花学園).
Toukaidai Sagami only had to face Nichidai Fujisawa and defeated them 6-2. Shounan Gakuen was the last line of defense before the semis, but they were shutout 4-0. Their opponent though would not be Keiou, They were breezing through the quadrant until they faced Busou. Someone actually put the game up here. Busou managed to pull off the upset 4-2 and advance to the semis!
However, their run would end there. Toukaidai Sagami would jump out to an early lead and not relinquish it. Busou fought back to make the score respectable, but they lost 8-6.
Their fellow finalist would be no surprise as Yokohama won 5-1 over Yokohama Shoudai. In that final, Yokohama would once again build an early lead, and almost like their game against Chiben Gakuen, almost gave it up. Sagami scored 2 runs before reliever Souma would record the final out to preserve Yokohama's back-to-back fall titles (15th overall).
Chiba
Summer representative Narashino would get a free pass to the prefectural brackets. Everyone else would have to qualify in pool play (Chiba has 1 round of pool play, and then a repechage between all pool non-winners).
Notable teams to advance in the 1st stage were Chiba Meitoku, Kei-ai Gakuen, Shiritsu Funabashi, Senshuudai Matsudo, Chiba Eiwa, Narita, and Kisaradzu Sougou.
Teams that advanced out of the 2nd stage included Shigakukan, Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku, Toukaidai Urayasu, Seibudai Chiba, Toukaidai Bouyou, and Chiba Kei-ai.
The draw for the prefecturals left some pretty barren areas. The only name in the upper left quadrant was Kisaradzu Sougou. Joining them in the lower left quadrant was Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku, Kei-ai Gakuen, Toukaidai Urayasu, Chiba Eiwa and Seibudai Chiba.
On the other side, Narashino would have to take the long road to the title, one that would have to include a 2nd round match with Narita. But if they were able to survive that, the road would get much easier.
Furthermore, only Toukaidai Bouyou and Senshuudai Matsudo remained in the final quadrant.
Despite having the quadrant all to themselves, Kisaradzu Sougou was unable to advance to the quarterfinals after losing to Matsudo Kokusai 12-7. That opened the door in the quadrant and Kashiwa Nittai flew right through leveling the aforementioned Matsudo Kokusai 10-0 to advance to the semis. Their opponent would be Chiba Eiwa who just got by Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku 3-2.
Unfortunately for Kashiwa Nittai, Chiba Eiwa's been looking for this moment to get to the finals for a while now and Nittai would never lead in the game, falling 6-1.
Meanwhile, Narashino indeed was in a dogfight with Narita but prevailed 5-4. However in the quarterfinals they struggled against Shiritsu Kashiwa. While apparently there is video of this game, I haven't watched it, but Narashino would wind up falling 4-3! Toukaidai Bouyou and Senshuudai Matsudo did meet in the quarterfinals and while Senshuudai appeared score-wise to be better, Toukaidai Bouyou won the game 4-2.
And in the semis, Toukaidai Bouyou continued their run with a slim 1-0 win over the upstart Kashiwa squad.
So the finals were between 2 teams that had been close before, but had been unable to break through in recent years. The game was scoreless for the first couple of innings, but Bouyou finally opened the scoring in the 5th and added an insurance run in the 6th. Satou was holding Chiba Eiwa scoreless, but when he gave up a 1-out double to Kimura, the ball would be handed to Noma who had helped in the 1-0 shutout.
That's when it went horribly wrong.
His first batter, Sekimoto, would single to left scoring Kimura to make it 2-1. Nemoto then singled back to Noma and Ogino would reach on an error to load the bases. Noma would only get out of the mess by getting the next 2 batters to ground out.
The 9th wouldn't give Noma any respite either. After retiring the first batter, he would give up a walk and 2 consecutive hits to load the bases. Sekimoto would once again be Noma's worst enemy, delivering yet another single scoring 2 and giving Chiba Eiwa the lead.
Noma would be eventually charged with 5 runs and Chiba Eiwa would win their 2nd fall title, and 1st in 18 years.
Saitama
Saitama still amazes me in that they seem to be a metropolitian prefecture, and yet they cannot for some reason produce a Koushien championship-type team. They give average teams, but not the calibur that we might think. Hanasaki Tokuharu, Urawa Gakuin, and Seibou Gakuen dominate the scene, only Seibou's championship run in the 2008 Haru Koushien stands out (which when I look back at it, they defeated Riseisha, Ryuukokudai Heian and Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku before losing to Higashihama's Okinawa Shoukagu.
So it's no surprise that all three made it out of pool play (Natsu Koushien representative Hanasaki Tokuharu has to qualify like everyone else). Joining them would be Kasukabe Kyouei, home of Lucky Star and a good baseball team that just can't get past the Big 3.
It's also no surprise that all 4 made it to the quarterfinals (being seeded and all). Only Urawa Gakuin though had no trouble in their games leading up to the Final 4 - Seibou Gakuin beat Oomiya Higashi 1-0 in their first game, Kasukabe Kyouei defeated Shouhei 1-0 in the quarterfinals, and Hanasaki Tokuharu beat Oomiya Nishi 3-2 also in the 1st round.
In the semis, Seibou Gakuen rallied in the 7th and 8th innings to take a 1-run lead over Urawa Gakuin. It looked like perhaps Urawa Gakuin's hard game may prove fatal.
But in the bottom of the 9th Urawa would come from behind and rally for a 5-4 sayonara win.
In the other semi, Kasukabe Kyouei's struggles continue. They spot 6 runs right off the bat to Hanasaki Tokuharu, and while they rally to within 1 in the 5th inning, it's wiped away in one fell swoop when Tokuharu scores 5 in the 6th. They'll have to wait for the summer once again falling 12-10.
The finals started out to be a closely contested match as Urawa would go up 3-0 only to see Tokuharu tie it up shortly thereafter. However, the pitching would fail them late as Urawa Gakuin claims their 3rd consecutive fall title and 12th overall with an 11-3 win.
Gunma
As much as I lament about Saitama, I think the same thing about Gunma as well. Taking it further I can only remember Kiryuu Dai-ichi and this past summer's representative Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi. Only after going back I am reminded that Tokyo Noudai-ni was from Gunma too (when an agricultural school makes it I tend to root for them as again, when do you see a school for agriculture developing a good baseball team?).
But outside of those 3, I couldn't name any other team without looking (Maebashi Ikuei for instance).
So when Kiryuu Dai-ichi lost to Maebashi Ikuei 9-0, who in turn lost to Takasaki 4-3 in the quarterfinals, it seemeed all but secured for Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi.
And in fact, with a 7-2 win over the aforementioned Takasaki, Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi secured their first ever fall title!
Tochigi
It's funny to think that I remember more teams from Tochigi than Gunma and Saitama, and yet I don't recall outside of Sakushin Gakuin this past summer any team really making any significant run once they reach Koushien. In fact when I looked it up, it was Kokugakuin Tochigi that made the last type of run in 2000 making it to the semifinals losing to Chiben Wakayama.
As of late, the teams competing for the prefecture include the aforementioned Sakushin Gakuin, Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku and Hakuoudai Ashikaga.
Now both Sakushin and Hakuoudai both breezed through the early stages setting up a semifinal match between the two. Meanwhile Bunsei Geidai had 3 tough games against Yaita Chuo, Oyama Minami and Utsunomiya Kita - not especially strong teams. They'd draw Utsunomiya Kougyou, a team that's been to Koushien before - just not in a while.
In that semifinal, Utsunomiya Kougyou was able to stifle Bunsei's offense early, but as they headed into the late innings, Bunsei Geidai was finally able to pull away in the 6th for a 6-1 win guaranteeing a spot in the Super-Regionals.
Meanwhile, Sakushin was getting all they could handle from Hakuoudai Ashikaga. After trailing 3-0 in the first, they quickly rally to take a 5-3 lead... only to see that evaporate just as quickly. And when they tried to pull away with a run in the 4th and 5th, Hakuoudai pulled within one again in the 6th. Finally Sakushin would close the door with a pair of runs late to reach the finals.
Now, despite the struggles for Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku, they proved to be a formidable opponent in the final. The teams continued to throw donuts onto the scoreboard inning after inning. It soon looked like we'd be headed into extras.
But in the top of the 9th, Takayama for Sakushin finally had enough. He blasts a 2-run homerun giving them the lead and most probably the win. Ootani would throw one more shutout inning his team's 15th victory and 1st since 2002.
Ibaraki
Despite having just 98 teams, Ibaraki elects to put their teams through pool play.
And until recently, the prefecture was dominated by Jyousou Gakuin. Fun fact, going through the history of Ibaraki's representatives, they actually had won a spring and summer title early in the 'aughties. I randomly picked the 2003 title and wouldn't you know, they defeated Darvish and Tohoku for the title!
What's happened since then to the prefecture? Jyousou has relinquished their place at the top to teams such as Shimotsuma Dai-ni and Suijyou (who showed so much promise, but now appears to have been a one-hit wonder despite continuing to be at the top of the prefecture).
Now all 3 teams made it out of pool play and were seeded along with Mito Shougyou. Other notable teams to have advanced included Kasumigaura (home to the Hiiragi shrine from Lucky Star, though their baseball team has gotten better in recent years - how come Nishinomiya Kita hasn't??), Tsuchiura Nichidai and Mito Sakuranomaki (that's Ken's team due to their uniforms). The latter two drew each other in the first round.
Not surprisingly, all 4 seeded teams advanced to the semifinals. Kasumigaura gave Jyousou Gakuin a scare in the quarterfinals, but ultimately fell 3-2 in 10 innings.
The semifinals though, were not as contested as I expected. Suijyou, despite not giving up a run to this point was instead shutout 5-0 to Jyousou Gakuin. On the other side, Mito Shougyou was outclassed by Shimotsuma Dai-ni 4-2. Despite the score, they were never in it.
So 2 chalk teams advance to the Super-Regionals. Questioin was, who would claim the title. Though Shimotsuma would make the first strike, it was Jyousou Gakuin who had the final laugh, winning 3-1. Interestingly enough, despite dominating the Natsu qualifying, it has been 11 years since they have won the fall title (5th overall).
Super-Regionals
So we had our teams, now came the draw. And again, the randomness comes into play. Upper left quadrant has teams the likes of Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma 1), Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku (Tochigi 2), Chiba Eiwa (Chiba 1) and Kofu Nishi (Yamanashi 2). Not exactly a list of champions.
Meanwhile in the lower left, Urawa Gakuin (Saitama 1), Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa 2), Jyousou Gakuin (Ibaraki 1) and Kofu Kougyou (Yamanashi 3) filled in the half. Much harder.
It got worse. Occupying the upper right was Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi 1), Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama 2), Yokohama (Kanagawa 1) and Shimotsuma Dai-ni (Ibaraki 2).
Finally, rounding out the field was Toukaidai Bouyou (Chiba 2), Takasaki (Gunma 2), and Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi 1). Certainly a weak quadrant that was already short of teams.
Unsurprisingly, quadrant 1 saw three shutouts. The winner was the team who was a summer representative, Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi as ace Miki threw back-to-back complete games.
Ibaraki's futility continues as Jyousou Gakuin was not competitive against the weakest team in the bracket, Kofu Kougyou losing 5-3. Toukaidai Sagami's offensive appears to have left them as Urawa Gakuin beats them in the middle innings 3-1.
Sakushin Gakuin successfully proved that their run in the summer was not a fluke as they not only defeated Hanasaki Tokuharu handily, but also defeated Yokohama 6-2! 6-2! Yokohama's troubles at the end of games continues as they gave up a pair of runs in the 8th and 9th innings in the loss.
Finally, Takasaki manages to defeat both Toukai schools, both by a score of 4-2, and both in the latter half of the game! Though they're not of the caliber as Sagami, it's still a good feat.
Semifinal action saw Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi unable to keep up with Urawa Gakuin, despite scoring 2 quick runs in the 1st. Urawa would score 7 unanswered runs and cruise from there winning 11-7. Takasaki too was outmatched by Best 4 Sakushin Gakuin. They lost 6-3.
This almost all but guaranteed that Urawa Gakuin and Sakushin Gakuin would earn Haru Koushien invites. But to guarantee themselves one, they had to win one more game.
The winner would be Urawa Gakuin. Though Sakushin's 4 different pitchers limited damage to 3 innings, they were not able to record a run against Urawa's triumvirate of pitchers. Urawa Gakuin would win their 2nd consecutive title (3rd overall) and another bid to Koushien!
Automatic Bid - Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) - 8th appearance, 2nd consecutive
Projected Bid - Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi) - 9th appearance, 1st in 8 years
Projected Bid - Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma) - 9th appearance, 1st in 8 years
Projected Bid - Takasaki (Gunma) - 2nd appearance, 1st in 31 years
First off, Tokyo.
Tokyo Super-Regional (1 bid + 1 floating bid w/Kanto)
Tokyo once again broke up into their 24 blocks, which probably reflects in some ways the 23 wards.
Except I looked up the schools in the first bracket of the first block... and that certainly wasn't the case.
Our qualifiers from block play were as follows:
Block 1
- Sundai Gakuen - An above-average team in recent years, Sundai had no trouble in their 3 games.
- Toua Gakuen - A solid team as of late, but stumbled a bit against Toritsu Kunitachi winning 6-4.
- Meisei - Much like Toua Gauen, they cruised early, but had to win a 9-7 shootout against Toritsu Matsubara to advance.
- Rikkyo Ikebukuro - Easily cleared their two matchups to advance.
- Toritsu Higashi-Yamato - Survived their first game against Senshuudai Fuzoku 9-6, but then was clear sailing afterwards.
- Toritsu Hachiouji Kita - No problems in their 2 games to advance.
- Ikubunkan - They perhaps had the upset of their school's history. Squaring off against Natsu Koushien champs Nichidai-san, their ace Tobayashi gave up 1 earned run and 5 hits, striking out 0(!) and walking 1 in a 4-2 upset of Sanko at their home field!! You can read a recap on their website here.
- Kokugakuin Kugayama - It seems that Block 4 was supposed to be the powerhouse block, but it looks like Kokugakuin Kugayama will be the only one advancing. They won their 2 games by a total of 34-1.
- Adachi Gakuen - Offensive showing on their part against Toritsu Sakuragaoka and Toritsu Mastugaya to advance to super-regional play.
- Toritsu Nerima - Nerima had a close call against Toritsu Machida Kougyou 3-2 before smoking Toritsu Musashi Murayama 12-4.
- Toritsu Adachi Nishi - Adachi Nishi was helped by a forfeit against Nihon Wellness, but then had to face Kokushikan. They were able to move on with a 2-1 win!
- Komazawa Daigaku - Komazawa University's high school shutout their 2 opponents in advancing out of block play.
- Teikyou - Teikyou as expected had no trouble in their 2 games, winning by the mercy rule each time.
- Kokugakuin - The parent school is able to join their sister school (Kugayama), though not without some difficulty. They just beat Toritsu Jyousui 2-1 in their first game, then edged out Waseda 4-3 to advance.
- Houyuu Gakuin - No issues with them, lowest margin of victory was 5 in their 3 games.
- Nittai Ebara - The home field in this block certainly helped Nittai Ebara in their 2 victories.
- Iwakura - They needed their home field advantage as they barely beat Toritsu Shouyou 5-4, then Setagaya Gakuin 4-3 to advance to super-regional play.
- Toritsu Kassai Kougyou - They needed a hard-fought win over Shiba (2-0) to advance out of their part of the block.
- Hachiouji - Combined score of 32-4 meant they breezed on through.
- Yasuda Gakuen - This part of the block all games were mercy ruled with the lowest margin of victory being 9 runs. Chuodai Suginami was the last team to fall at 10-0.
- Horikoshi - A solid team as of late, they edged out Aoyama Gakuin 4-2 in the block final.
- Toritsu Bunkyou - Bunkyou scored a minor upset when they defeated Toritsu Hino in the block final 4-3 to advance. Hino has been a perennial contender in the last couple of years, so this is a bit surprising.
- Meijidai Nakano-Hachiouji - Another solid school in Tokyo, Nakano-Hachiouji beat out Toritsu Higashi-Yamato Minami 3-1.
- Toritsu Momijigawa - Momijigawa was not threatened in any of their 3 games, defeated Tokyo Noudai Dai-ichi 6-3 in the finals.
- Oberlin - It continues to amaze me that a school more known for arts than baseball has a strong team. After starting slow against Toritsu Nagayama, they cleared their last 2 games with ease.
- Toritsu Kodaira - It was not so easy for Kodaira as they went to the limit against Ueno Gakuen in the block finals, eventually winning 7-6.
- Toukaidai Sugao - We finally see our first Toukaidai school here in block 14. A 4-2 win over Kinjyou Gakuen started their bid, then won their next 2 games 16-0 and 6-0.
- Toritsu Fuchuu Higashi - Fuchuu Higashi struggled in a 6-4 win against Shouwa Dai-ichi Gakuen before shutting out Kyouei Gakuen 4-0 in the final.
- Nichidai Buzan - No problems in their 3 games flying through block play.
- Toritsu Sougou Kouka - They had even less trouble at their home field winning all games via the mercy rule.
- Toritsu Adachi Niita - Hounan gave them a run in their first game falling 6-5, but it was much easier thereafter for Adachi Niita.
- Kousei Gakuen - Not to be confused with Kousei Gakuin, Kousei Gakuen had made a name for themselves with ace Mizoguchi. He's since moved on, and now Isozaki takes over. He wasn't worked hard in block play as his team won via mercy rule in all games.
- Nisshou Gakushidai Fuzoku - In another powerhouse block, Nishhou Gakushadai won 12-1 and 9-0 to advance.
- Kanto Dai-ichi - Joining them would be Kanto Dai-ichi who perhaps wasn't offensively dominant, but still limited opponents to 2 runs in 2 games.
- Toukaidai Takanawadai - Another Toukaidai school advances here in block 18 with a 17-0 combined score.
- Nichidai Sakuragaoka - They defeated home team Toritsu Fuchuu Kougyou on their way to super-regional play.
- Toritsu Yukigaya - Yukigaya has been one of the stronger teams in Tokyo (though never able to get over the top), and had no trouble in block 19.
- Shuutoku - Shuutoku falls in that category as well. But they almost lost to Toritsu Jyoutou 3-2.
- Seiritsu Gakuen - We see more solid teams advancing as both Seiritsu Gakuen...
- Souka - and Souka advance out of Block 20. Souka did get a scare against Nichidai-ichi but won 1-0.
- Nichidai Tsurugaoka - How did Nichidai Tsurugaoka, Meijidai Meiji and Waseda Gakuin all end up in one part of one block?? Tsurugaoka survived defeated Meiji 2-1, and then Waseda 3-2 in the final to advance.
- Toritsu Koyamadai - Koyamadai moves on with a good win over Toritsu Fujimori 5-1.
- Seisoku Gakuen - Seisoku almost didn't make it out of the first round, defeating Toritsu Arakawa Kougyou 4-3 before blitzing Seijyou 8-1.
- Toritsu Katakura - No problems for the host team here. 2 and on for them.
- Waseda Jitsugyou - Back to form in block play anyways, Soujitsu advances with ease..
- Toritsu Igusa - Igusa joins the ranks with victories similar to Soujitsu.
- Nichidai-ni - Well, Nichidai-ni once again advances into super-regional play, but still lives in the shadows of their brethren Sanko.
- Taisei - Rounding out the field is Taisei who without a field of their own, beat Tokyo and Jyuunten to move on.
The draws for the super-regionals saw the following:
- Toua Gakuen gets a quadrant mostly to themselves, but Waseda Jitsugyou and upset-minded Ikubunkan lurk in the bracket.
- Kanto Dai-ichi occupy the other quadrant on the same side. Nichidai Buzan and possibly Oberlin await, but it feels like smooth sailing to the semifinals.
- Teikyou seems to possibly have the hardest road with possible opponents along the way including Kousei Gakuen, Toukaidai Sugao, Nichidai Tsurugaoka, and Kokugakuin. To a lesser extent Toritsu Yukigaya and Nichidai-ni are present as well.
- Finally, Shuutoku and Kokugakuin Kugayama round out the last quadrant, though Nichidai Sakuragaoka and Sundai Gakuen could provide some added competition.
Their opponent in the semis would indeed be Kanto Dai-ichi. But they too were almost sent home. Their quarterfinal matchup was indeed Nichidai Buzan, who then took a 3-0 lead, and then a 4-2 lead. However, their pitching staff couldn't hold the lead and gave up 5 runs in the last 3 innings.
Teikyou, for all the good teams in the bracket, actually had trouble against Houyuu Gakuin in the 2nd round - scratching together just 3 runs in an uncharacteristic 3-1 victory. Otherwise, they defeated Kokugakuin, Nisshou Gakushadai Fuzoku and Nichidai Tsurugaoka with little trouble.
Finally, the two incumbents in the final quadrant both fell in the round of 16. Toritsu Fuchuu Higashi outlasted Kokugakuin Kugayama scoring 4 runs in the last 2 innings to win 4-2, while Shuutoku was blitzed by Sundai Gakuen 9-0 in 7 innings. And in the matchup for a spot in the semis, Sundai was able to recover after relinquishing a 2-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the 8th. Ace Kitagawa was able to shut the door in the 9th for the win.
The semis though went scratch. Toua Gakuen still cannot break the ceiling into the realm of the contenders as Kanto Dai-ichi put them out of their misery winning 13-0 in 7. Meanwhile, Teikyou put Sundai Gakuen behind the 8-ball early with 4 runs on their way to a 6-1 win.
That put two familiar faces in the finals with Kanto Dai-ichi and Teikyou. Yet in the championship game, Teikyou experienced a power outage unseen for such a team. Ace Kitagawa held the offensive-minded team to just 1 hit in a CG shutout! That means that the Tokyo representative is:
Automatic Bid - Kanto Dai-ichi (2nd title, 1st in 3 years) - 4th appearance, 1st in 4 years
Kanto Super-Regional (4 bids + 1 floating bid with Tokyo)
Kanto's Super-Regional this year is being held in Yamanashi. As such, they will receive one extra bid to the Super-Regional this time around.
So, let's go backwards from Yamanashi and head northeast!
Yamanashi
My favorite team here is no secret, it's Nihon Koukuu (i.e. Japan Aviation Academy). I mean how often is it you have an aviation school actually decent in baseball? Ok, that's an obvious question, but you get my point.
Sadly, those days seem to be behind them. They fell 4-1 to Fuji Kawaguchiko in the quarterfinals.
The vacuum in the prefecture has been fought over in recent years. Yamanashi Gakuindai Fuzoku laid claim to it for a while, but also lost in the quarters to Kofu Kougyou. The same fate (and same score) befell Fuji Gakuen as well to Kofu Nishi.
The team to carry the flag (for now anyways), is Toukaidai Kofu. They blanked Kofu Nishi 7-0 to claim their 7th title and 1st in 6 years.
Joining Toukaidai Kofu and Kofu Nishi would be Kofu Kougyou. They edged out Fuji Kawaguchiko 4-3 in the 3rd place game.
Kanagawa
Kanagawa has small round-robin play that sends players to the prefecturals. 89 teams plus the Natsu Koushien representative Yokohama would advance.
A lot of the usual subjects advanced into prefectural play, so let's head straight there.
The draw saw Yokohama occupied the upper left hand corner of the bracket. The only notable name in their bracket is Toukou Gakuen. Their only other competition in the other quadrant to Yokohama could be Yokohama Shoudai and Touin Gakuen. That meant a lot of the well known names drew themselves on the other half. And in the upper right quadrant, there were quite a few of them. Toukaidai Sagami, Nichidai Fujisawa and Yokohama Hayato. Finally, Keiou occupies the lower right part of the bracket.
As expected, Toukou Gakuen gave Yokohama a good run for their money, but Yokohama prevailed 4-3. They then breezed through to the semis. Also as expected Yokohama Shoudai advanced without issue, as Touin Gakuen fell 9-0 to Tachibana Gakuen (立花学園).
Toukaidai Sagami only had to face Nichidai Fujisawa and defeated them 6-2. Shounan Gakuen was the last line of defense before the semis, but they were shutout 4-0. Their opponent though would not be Keiou, They were breezing through the quadrant until they faced Busou. Someone actually put the game up here. Busou managed to pull off the upset 4-2 and advance to the semis!
However, their run would end there. Toukaidai Sagami would jump out to an early lead and not relinquish it. Busou fought back to make the score respectable, but they lost 8-6.
Their fellow finalist would be no surprise as Yokohama won 5-1 over Yokohama Shoudai. In that final, Yokohama would once again build an early lead, and almost like their game against Chiben Gakuen, almost gave it up. Sagami scored 2 runs before reliever Souma would record the final out to preserve Yokohama's back-to-back fall titles (15th overall).
Chiba
Summer representative Narashino would get a free pass to the prefectural brackets. Everyone else would have to qualify in pool play (Chiba has 1 round of pool play, and then a repechage between all pool non-winners).
Notable teams to advance in the 1st stage were Chiba Meitoku, Kei-ai Gakuen, Shiritsu Funabashi, Senshuudai Matsudo, Chiba Eiwa, Narita, and Kisaradzu Sougou.
Teams that advanced out of the 2nd stage included Shigakukan, Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku, Toukaidai Urayasu, Seibudai Chiba, Toukaidai Bouyou, and Chiba Kei-ai.
The draw for the prefecturals left some pretty barren areas. The only name in the upper left quadrant was Kisaradzu Sougou. Joining them in the lower left quadrant was Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku, Kei-ai Gakuen, Toukaidai Urayasu, Chiba Eiwa and Seibudai Chiba.
On the other side, Narashino would have to take the long road to the title, one that would have to include a 2nd round match with Narita. But if they were able to survive that, the road would get much easier.
Furthermore, only Toukaidai Bouyou and Senshuudai Matsudo remained in the final quadrant.
Despite having the quadrant all to themselves, Kisaradzu Sougou was unable to advance to the quarterfinals after losing to Matsudo Kokusai 12-7. That opened the door in the quadrant and Kashiwa Nittai flew right through leveling the aforementioned Matsudo Kokusai 10-0 to advance to the semis. Their opponent would be Chiba Eiwa who just got by Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku 3-2.
Unfortunately for Kashiwa Nittai, Chiba Eiwa's been looking for this moment to get to the finals for a while now and Nittai would never lead in the game, falling 6-1.
Meanwhile, Narashino indeed was in a dogfight with Narita but prevailed 5-4. However in the quarterfinals they struggled against Shiritsu Kashiwa. While apparently there is video of this game, I haven't watched it, but Narashino would wind up falling 4-3! Toukaidai Bouyou and Senshuudai Matsudo did meet in the quarterfinals and while Senshuudai appeared score-wise to be better, Toukaidai Bouyou won the game 4-2.
And in the semis, Toukaidai Bouyou continued their run with a slim 1-0 win over the upstart Kashiwa squad.
So the finals were between 2 teams that had been close before, but had been unable to break through in recent years. The game was scoreless for the first couple of innings, but Bouyou finally opened the scoring in the 5th and added an insurance run in the 6th. Satou was holding Chiba Eiwa scoreless, but when he gave up a 1-out double to Kimura, the ball would be handed to Noma who had helped in the 1-0 shutout.
That's when it went horribly wrong.
His first batter, Sekimoto, would single to left scoring Kimura to make it 2-1. Nemoto then singled back to Noma and Ogino would reach on an error to load the bases. Noma would only get out of the mess by getting the next 2 batters to ground out.
The 9th wouldn't give Noma any respite either. After retiring the first batter, he would give up a walk and 2 consecutive hits to load the bases. Sekimoto would once again be Noma's worst enemy, delivering yet another single scoring 2 and giving Chiba Eiwa the lead.
Noma would be eventually charged with 5 runs and Chiba Eiwa would win their 2nd fall title, and 1st in 18 years.
Saitama
Saitama still amazes me in that they seem to be a metropolitian prefecture, and yet they cannot for some reason produce a Koushien championship-type team. They give average teams, but not the calibur that we might think. Hanasaki Tokuharu, Urawa Gakuin, and Seibou Gakuen dominate the scene, only Seibou's championship run in the 2008 Haru Koushien stands out (which when I look back at it, they defeated Riseisha, Ryuukokudai Heian and Chiba Keizaidai Fuzoku before losing to Higashihama's Okinawa Shoukagu.
So it's no surprise that all three made it out of pool play (Natsu Koushien representative Hanasaki Tokuharu has to qualify like everyone else). Joining them would be Kasukabe Kyouei, home of Lucky Star and a good baseball team that just can't get past the Big 3.
It's also no surprise that all 4 made it to the quarterfinals (being seeded and all). Only Urawa Gakuin though had no trouble in their games leading up to the Final 4 - Seibou Gakuin beat Oomiya Higashi 1-0 in their first game, Kasukabe Kyouei defeated Shouhei 1-0 in the quarterfinals, and Hanasaki Tokuharu beat Oomiya Nishi 3-2 also in the 1st round.
In the semis, Seibou Gakuen rallied in the 7th and 8th innings to take a 1-run lead over Urawa Gakuin. It looked like perhaps Urawa Gakuin's hard game may prove fatal.
But in the bottom of the 9th Urawa would come from behind and rally for a 5-4 sayonara win.
In the other semi, Kasukabe Kyouei's struggles continue. They spot 6 runs right off the bat to Hanasaki Tokuharu, and while they rally to within 1 in the 5th inning, it's wiped away in one fell swoop when Tokuharu scores 5 in the 6th. They'll have to wait for the summer once again falling 12-10.
The finals started out to be a closely contested match as Urawa would go up 3-0 only to see Tokuharu tie it up shortly thereafter. However, the pitching would fail them late as Urawa Gakuin claims their 3rd consecutive fall title and 12th overall with an 11-3 win.
Gunma
As much as I lament about Saitama, I think the same thing about Gunma as well. Taking it further I can only remember Kiryuu Dai-ichi and this past summer's representative Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi. Only after going back I am reminded that Tokyo Noudai-ni was from Gunma too (when an agricultural school makes it I tend to root for them as again, when do you see a school for agriculture developing a good baseball team?).
But outside of those 3, I couldn't name any other team without looking (Maebashi Ikuei for instance).
So when Kiryuu Dai-ichi lost to Maebashi Ikuei 9-0, who in turn lost to Takasaki 4-3 in the quarterfinals, it seemeed all but secured for Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi.
And in fact, with a 7-2 win over the aforementioned Takasaki, Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi secured their first ever fall title!
Tochigi
It's funny to think that I remember more teams from Tochigi than Gunma and Saitama, and yet I don't recall outside of Sakushin Gakuin this past summer any team really making any significant run once they reach Koushien. In fact when I looked it up, it was Kokugakuin Tochigi that made the last type of run in 2000 making it to the semifinals losing to Chiben Wakayama.
As of late, the teams competing for the prefecture include the aforementioned Sakushin Gakuin, Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku and Hakuoudai Ashikaga.
Now both Sakushin and Hakuoudai both breezed through the early stages setting up a semifinal match between the two. Meanwhile Bunsei Geidai had 3 tough games against Yaita Chuo, Oyama Minami and Utsunomiya Kita - not especially strong teams. They'd draw Utsunomiya Kougyou, a team that's been to Koushien before - just not in a while.
In that semifinal, Utsunomiya Kougyou was able to stifle Bunsei's offense early, but as they headed into the late innings, Bunsei Geidai was finally able to pull away in the 6th for a 6-1 win guaranteeing a spot in the Super-Regionals.
Meanwhile, Sakushin was getting all they could handle from Hakuoudai Ashikaga. After trailing 3-0 in the first, they quickly rally to take a 5-3 lead... only to see that evaporate just as quickly. And when they tried to pull away with a run in the 4th and 5th, Hakuoudai pulled within one again in the 6th. Finally Sakushin would close the door with a pair of runs late to reach the finals.
Now, despite the struggles for Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku, they proved to be a formidable opponent in the final. The teams continued to throw donuts onto the scoreboard inning after inning. It soon looked like we'd be headed into extras.
But in the top of the 9th, Takayama for Sakushin finally had enough. He blasts a 2-run homerun giving them the lead and most probably the win. Ootani would throw one more shutout inning his team's 15th victory and 1st since 2002.
Ibaraki
Despite having just 98 teams, Ibaraki elects to put their teams through pool play.
And until recently, the prefecture was dominated by Jyousou Gakuin. Fun fact, going through the history of Ibaraki's representatives, they actually had won a spring and summer title early in the 'aughties. I randomly picked the 2003 title and wouldn't you know, they defeated Darvish and Tohoku for the title!
What's happened since then to the prefecture? Jyousou has relinquished their place at the top to teams such as Shimotsuma Dai-ni and Suijyou (who showed so much promise, but now appears to have been a one-hit wonder despite continuing to be at the top of the prefecture).
Now all 3 teams made it out of pool play and were seeded along with Mito Shougyou. Other notable teams to have advanced included Kasumigaura (home to the Hiiragi shrine from Lucky Star, though their baseball team has gotten better in recent years - how come Nishinomiya Kita hasn't??), Tsuchiura Nichidai and Mito Sakuranomaki (that's Ken's team due to their uniforms). The latter two drew each other in the first round.
Not surprisingly, all 4 seeded teams advanced to the semifinals. Kasumigaura gave Jyousou Gakuin a scare in the quarterfinals, but ultimately fell 3-2 in 10 innings.
The semifinals though, were not as contested as I expected. Suijyou, despite not giving up a run to this point was instead shutout 5-0 to Jyousou Gakuin. On the other side, Mito Shougyou was outclassed by Shimotsuma Dai-ni 4-2. Despite the score, they were never in it.
So 2 chalk teams advance to the Super-Regionals. Questioin was, who would claim the title. Though Shimotsuma would make the first strike, it was Jyousou Gakuin who had the final laugh, winning 3-1. Interestingly enough, despite dominating the Natsu qualifying, it has been 11 years since they have won the fall title (5th overall).
Super-Regionals
So we had our teams, now came the draw. And again, the randomness comes into play. Upper left quadrant has teams the likes of Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma 1), Bunsei Geidai Fuzoku (Tochigi 2), Chiba Eiwa (Chiba 1) and Kofu Nishi (Yamanashi 2). Not exactly a list of champions.
Meanwhile in the lower left, Urawa Gakuin (Saitama 1), Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa 2), Jyousou Gakuin (Ibaraki 1) and Kofu Kougyou (Yamanashi 3) filled in the half. Much harder.
It got worse. Occupying the upper right was Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi 1), Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama 2), Yokohama (Kanagawa 1) and Shimotsuma Dai-ni (Ibaraki 2).
Finally, rounding out the field was Toukaidai Bouyou (Chiba 2), Takasaki (Gunma 2), and Toukaidai Koufu (Yamanashi 1). Certainly a weak quadrant that was already short of teams.
Unsurprisingly, quadrant 1 saw three shutouts. The winner was the team who was a summer representative, Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi as ace Miki threw back-to-back complete games.
Ibaraki's futility continues as Jyousou Gakuin was not competitive against the weakest team in the bracket, Kofu Kougyou losing 5-3. Toukaidai Sagami's offensive appears to have left them as Urawa Gakuin beats them in the middle innings 3-1.
Sakushin Gakuin successfully proved that their run in the summer was not a fluke as they not only defeated Hanasaki Tokuharu handily, but also defeated Yokohama 6-2! 6-2! Yokohama's troubles at the end of games continues as they gave up a pair of runs in the 8th and 9th innings in the loss.
Finally, Takasaki manages to defeat both Toukai schools, both by a score of 4-2, and both in the latter half of the game! Though they're not of the caliber as Sagami, it's still a good feat.
Semifinal action saw Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi unable to keep up with Urawa Gakuin, despite scoring 2 quick runs in the 1st. Urawa would score 7 unanswered runs and cruise from there winning 11-7. Takasaki too was outmatched by Best 4 Sakushin Gakuin. They lost 6-3.
This almost all but guaranteed that Urawa Gakuin and Sakushin Gakuin would earn Haru Koushien invites. But to guarantee themselves one, they had to win one more game.
The winner would be Urawa Gakuin. Though Sakushin's 4 different pitchers limited damage to 3 innings, they were not able to record a run against Urawa's triumvirate of pitchers. Urawa Gakuin would win their 2nd consecutive title (3rd overall) and another bid to Koushien!
Automatic Bid - Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) - 8th appearance, 2nd consecutive
Projected Bid - Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi) - 9th appearance, 1st in 8 years
Projected Bid - Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma) - 9th appearance, 1st in 8 years
Projected Bid - Takasaki (Gunma) - 2nd appearance, 1st in 31 years
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