高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

Well, after that, the games can only get better, right?

We can hope anyways.

So next up is Tenri and Souseikan.Tenri did about all they can do in-prefecture. They defeated Chiben Gakuen and Yamato Kouryou and gave up just 3 runs in all. But a 0.345 may not be good enough despite playing the two other strong teams in prefecture.

On the other hand, Souseikan put up 0.374 and their key wins were against Hasami and Kaisei. The overall level of competition is probably a little weaker than Nara, but their blowout wins should make them competitive.

Tenri (Nara)
CF Funabiki Kai
2B Maekubo Tomoya
SS Sadamitsu Hiroto
1B Sakaguchi Hiroya
P Tomiki Ryouga (#7)
3B Kawasaki Koudai
LF Saitou Yuu (#1)
RF Jinno Taiki
C Tsutsuda Reo

Souseikan (Nagasaki)
1B Torikai Ritsuki
RF Shimada Rkiya
CF Mine Shuuta
LF Washzaki Jyun
C Oota Keisuke
SS Uto Kenyarou(?)
2B Nakajima Takashi
3B Nakajima Kouki
P Fujisaki Mitsugu (#10)

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10:30 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Funabiki rings a ball through Fujisaki's 5-hole to open the game. After a bunt though, Fujisaki cleans it up for a scoreless 1st.

Bottom 1st
The reason Saitou is not starting is because of an injury. He cannot pitch, but can still play apparently.

Tomiki hits Shimada with 1 down, and Tsutsuda allows a passed ball, but here too, no damage done.

Top 2nd
Tenri struggling with Fujisaki's wide sidearm crouching delivery. Clean inning again and the game feels like someone told them they were behind schedule.

Bottom 2nd
The fact that Tenri still won despite losing their ace on the mound either shows how good the depth is, or how bad the prefecture is as a whole.

When Tomiki gives up a single to Uto, and then hits Takashi, you may have to wonder if it's the latter. He still gets the final 2 outs to end the inning, but you have to wonder how good the staff really is.

3rd Inning
Things look promising for Tenri when Tsutsuda hits a one-out double down the right field line. But again, that sidearm action is messing with the batters. Funabiki and MAekubo can't make solid contact and are retired to end the inning.

Torikai gets a single to start Souseikan's half, and is bunted over. Tomiki hits yet another batter, but then gets Oota to swing way in front and fly out to left.

4th Inning
Sadamitsu starts with a chopper over Kouki for the 1st out. Tenri's batters, given that they can't seem to figure out Fujisaki are being pore patient and looking for a pitch they can hit. Sakaguchi takes a walk.

Tomiki can't lay down the bunt and actually strikes out. Kawasaki comes through though with a single to left and the deadlock is finally broken. Tenri leads 1-0.

After yet another walk, they go for the contact play when Jinno hits a slow chopper. Kouki has not play at home and throws to 1st. 2-0 Tenri.

Tsutsuda grounds out to end the inning, but Tenri has finally opened the scoring here in the 4th

Souseikan striking back! Uto gets his 2nd single of the day. Takashi drives a ball deep to center! Funabiki looking, it's off the top of the fence! Uto has to hold up because he thought it might be caught and winds up at 3rd.

Kouki then hits a ball to 2nd, and it's slow enough that the runner can score, making it 2-1.

And with 2 down, Torikai hits a ball down the right field line fair! Takashi scores and we're all square at 2-2!!

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The game goes through the 5th without anything to note, so we enter the break back where we started. Neither team has shown a lot per se, but given the hits they've had Souseikan may have the advantage going forward.

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Post-break, the game has hit a lull period where neither team is really able to do much of anything at the plate. They'll get the occasional baserunner, but not much else. Souseikan though is making much the better contact when they do swing.

Bottom 7th
Souseikan has something going when after a HBP Oota singles though the left side.

Uto with almost the same base hit! They're sending Mine home! Throw from Saitou is in plenty of time and the runner is out and the inning is over! Boy, that's costly. The ball was in shallow LF and you were hitting the ball.

Top 8th
Tenri with a hit batter, and after a bunt Wasada-kantoku sends in ace Mizunaga. Which is puzzling given what we've seen.

He does get the final 2 outs, but the contact already seems better.

Bottom 9th
Given what little has happened, it feels like another enchousen game. Torikai though hits a ball to the left side. Kawasaki with the great diving stop! Throw to 1st... Torikai just beats it out! That was about as close as you can get.

Mine drive to deep left center! It's caught, but the runner advances to 3rd!

Up to Washizaki.

SAYONARA!!!!!

Washizaki clean hit to right and that'll do it! Souseikan does indeed go on to defeat Tenri 3-2!

You could see this coming of sorts. Tenri was having all kinds of problems with Souseikan's pitching and was only successful when they waited on counts. Souseikan were hitting the ball hard even if it was at Tenri's fielders. So it would be a matter of time before those fell in and they did.

I'd ask for a closer game next, but there's a hint of me that doesn't want it. Mostly because if that happens, chances are Tenri will find a way to screw something up. They always do. It generally involves a squeeze bunt that goes awry.

Not helping Tenri at all is that they're facing Kendai Takasaki. I wouldn't call them a giant killer per se, but they certainly make games annoying for the opposing team. That shouldn't change today.

Tenri (Nara)
CF Funabiki Wataru
P Saitou Yuu
SS Sadamitsu Hiroto
1B Sakaguchi Hiroya
RF Tomiki Ryouga
3B Kawasaki Koudai
2B Maekubo Tomoya
LF Mori Shunsuke (#15)
C Tsutsumida Reo

We are winding down the 1st round games, and the first is a matter of survival. Itoman has claimed the flag of Kyushu from Kyushu Sangyoudai Kyushu and is the last team standing. Should they lose to Tenri, Kyushu will be completely eliminated in the very first round!

As for Tenri, I've been overestimating them for years now, only in the last year or two finally ratcheting down expectation. Given who has advanced out of Kinki, and my original thoughts of it being a weaker region this year, I'm not sure what to expect from them. Thing is, Itoman doesn't really profile as a strong team, so even with conservatively estimating Tenri's chances, Itoman may have a heck of a battle on their hands.

Itoman (Okinawa)
SS Ikema Takato
2B Okada Tatsuki
CF Kinjyou Ryuuki
P Kinjyou Noa
LF Oota Takato
1B Kinjyou Akisada
RF Ganaha Yuuki
3B Kinjyou Shougo
C Higa Ryouhei

Tenri (Nara)
CF Funabiki Wataru
P Saitou Yuu
SS Sadamitsu Hiroto
1B Sakaguchi Hiroya
RF Tomiki Ryouga
3B Kawasaki Koudai
LF Hashimoto Kouki (#17)
2B Maekubo Tomoya
C Tsutsumida Reo

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09:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
As usual, lefty Saitou works his slider away against leadoff batter Ikema and records a K.

He leaves a pitch a bit over the plate and Okada sends it to right, but it's a lazy fly that Tomiki waits quite a time for.

And am I reading the gun right? His fastball barely touches 130??

Ryuuki grounds out to short. Sadamitsu with the easy play and the side is retired.

Really? Kinki champs with a pitcher who barely throws 130?!

Bottom 1st
Yes, you're reading the lineup right, there are 4 Kinjyou's on the starting roster. There are also 2 Higa's and 2 Ooshiro's on the team roster.

Funabiki grounder to 1st, Akisada runs to 1st, but flips to Noa. He barely beats Funabiki for the first out.

Saitou, as a pitcher, is batting 2nd. That's really rare. Either you see them as the cleanup batter, or buried deep in the lineup. Supposedly he has good speed which Hashimoto-kantoku likes to use.

He's a little early to a changeup and winds up weakly grounding to 2nd.

Sadamitsu flies out to center and it's a good start for the Okinawan representatives.

Top 2nd
Noa gets his offense started with a clean hit to left. Oota immediately sends him to 2nd.

Akisada looks for a pitch the other way and gets one. Sakaguchi fumbles with the ball, but still runs it himself to the bag for the out. Noa advances to 3rd.

Saitou jams him and he chops one to 2nd! Maekubo secures it, and throws to 1st to end the inning. Itoman with the early chance, but can't convert.

Bottom 2nd
Sakaguchi looking to get on base works the count, and takes a 3-2 pitch just outside for ball 4! Tomoki looks to bunt him over, but his first attempt looks shaky. His 2nd attempt he fouls back to the screen. Yikes, he bunts like an AL MLB player would.

He three bunts! And he lays it down! Wow, that's gutsy considering his 1st 2 tries.

Kawasaki also moves the batter over with a grounder to the right side. So it's the same situation as Itoman earlier.

But new starter Hashimoto swings at the first pitch and like Ganaha, grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.

Top 3rd
Shougo tries the work the count approach, but completely wastes it when he chases a fastball almost in the left handed batters box for the first out.

Saitou leaves a fastball over the plate and Ryouhei smacks it back up the middle for a base hit.

Ikema hits one back up the middle as well, but this time Sadamitsu is there! Runs it to 2nd for 1, throws to 1st to complete the double play!

Bottom 3rd
Maekubo with a ball to center. Ryuuki running back, still running, leaps! It's down and off the wall! Maekubo is in with a double and Tenri is in business! Tsutsumida bunts him over.

Infield is in for Itoman to try and throw out the runner.

But Funabiki just puts the bat on the ball and it goes through the infield for a base hit! Maekubo scores and Tenri leads 1-0!

Hashimoto starts the runners on the basepaths! Funabiki takes off for 2nd! Ryouhei's throw to 2nd... OUT! Ikema with the tag just in time for the out!

And that's too bad as Saitou hits a soft looper over Ikema for a base hit!

Now Sadamitsu with a smoker through the right side! Saitou takes the express to 3rd and the throw from Ganaha is late! Tenri still threatens!

Noa really trying to pound the outside to Sakaguchi, but he winds up walking him! Manrui for Tenri!

But Noa is quickly let off the hook! Tomiki goes after the first pitch and skies it to center! Ryuuki secures it for the 3rd out and Noa only gives up the 1 run!

Top 4th
Itoman looks to get that run back as Okada singles to center for a leadoff hit.

No bunting from Ryuuki, instead a hit and run! Ryuuki strikes out, but Tstsumida drops the ball on the transfer.

Noa looking to help his own cause hits a liner to left, but Hashimoto is there to make the running catch for the 2nd out.

Oota with a drive to left again! This time Hashimoto has to run back! He leaps, but he's not close! Okada walks home and we're douten at 1-1!

Haisai Oji-san plays as Itoman looks to take the lead with a base hit, but Saitou shuts the door! He strikes out Akisada to end the inning, but how bad does that wasted opportunity for Tenri look now?

Bottom 4th
Kawasaki playing the waiting game at the plate, but Noa puts a changeup at the outside corner and gets Kawasaki looking.

Hashimoto attacks said pitch and sends it through the left side for a base hit.

Maekubo with a ball to left center! Ryuuki takes a bad route and has to chase it to the wall! Hashimoto comes walking home on Maekubo's 2nd extra base hit and Tenri re-takes the lead at 2-1!

Tsutsumida can't bring the run home as he skies a ball in the infield. Akisada makes the catch for the 2nd out.

Funabiki does the same and the inning comes to an end. Tenri has the lead again, but are leaving runners in scoring position.

Top 5th
Saitou doing his best to place his pitches, but it can be inconsistent. He gets in on Ganaha and gets a weak grounder for the out.

But to righty Shougo, he seems to be missing wide at times, allowing Shougo to run the count full for cheap as well as knowing where to look for the ball.

And what looks like strike 3 on the inside is called ball 4! That looked good.

But a walk is a walk. Uehara-kantoku has Ryouhei bunt the runner along for a 1-timer from Ikema.

Saitou seemingly having problems finding the strike zone, falls behind Ikema 3-1. This time though Saitou wins as Ikema hits a weak grounder to 1st. Maekubo flips to Saitou and the side is retired.

Bottom 5th
Noa, desperate for an easy inning, strikes out Saitou on a slider.

Sadamitsu flies out to right, and Sakaguchi soon afterwards pops out to Shougo and we hit the break with Tenri narrowly ahead 2-1. The lead isn't safe by any means and Tenri could have scored more runs with their chances earlier. So it's still anyone's game.

Top 6th
Okada goes after the first pitch and hits one right to Sadamitsu for the 1st out.

Ryuuki works the count, but in the end is jammed and hits another grounder to Sadamitsu for the 2nd out.

Saitou sells the pitch as he hits the outside corner to strike out Noa looking for the 3rd out!

Bottom 6th
Tomoki reaching out and driving a ball down and away. But he lifts it to center, and Ryuuki has room to run it down for the 1st out.

Kawasaki goes for the blooper hit instead and Ryuuki can't reach that one.

Hashimoto with a drive down the right field line.. FAIR!! It falls in fair and Ganeha misplays it! Kawasaki comes home and it's 3-1 Tenri as Hashimoto comes in with a double/E9!

NO! It's a squeeze!

TENRI IS TERRIBLE AT THESE!

It's right back to Noa and Hashimoto is hung up. Maekubo, who had been 2-2 on the day with 2 extra base hits, ends up at 2nd.

Tsutsumida chops one back to Noa and the inning is over.

Ugh. IF there is a team that can't lay down a squeeze bunt, EVER, it's Tenri.

Top 7th
One down for Itoman in the lucky 7 and Akisada singles to center. Uehara-kantoku continues to play the small ball game as Ganaha bunts the runner over.

Shougo can't get the one timer though as he grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.

Bottom 7th
Funabiki, leading off for Tenri draws a leadoff walk. Saitou looks terrible trying to lay down the bunt.

He gets it down, Ryouhei fires to 2nd... SAFE!!!

It's a delayed call, but he is in safely! It's always an adventure when Tenri bunts.

This time there is no bunt (thank God), but Sadamitsu hits a grounder to 2nd! Okada goes to 2nd for 1, throw to 1st in time for a double play!!!

Well, that went bad. Now there's 2 outs with Funabiki at 3rd.

は。。。

So, Sakaguchi gets a hold of one to left center. Ryuuki sprinting back to the wall...

HAITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's that. Sakaguchi with his first hit of the game makes it count with a HR to make 5-1.

Tomoki flies out to left to end the inning, but Tenri extends their lead.

Bottom 7th
Looks like there's a delay as Funabiki for Tenri is getting some treatment for something.

Funabiki finally emerges, and just for a batsu game Ryouhei hits one to deep left-center that he runs down.

Unsatisfied with that result, Ikema drives one to deep center. Funabiki runs back, but has to play it off the base of the wall as Ikema comes in with a double. Ikema looks semi-pleased.

No bunting down 4, but Okada grounds out to 2nd. Ikema advances 90 feet.

And in a complete miss, Saitou flies open on a pitch to a lefty and hits Ryuuki in the elbow. Ow.

Noa with a ball up the 3rd base line!  But Kawasaki makes the stop and throws to 1st for the 3rd out!

Bottom 8th
Uh on. After a pop out, Hashimoto takes a swing and he's hurt. They way it looks like it's as if he hurt his shoulder or perhaps dislocated it?

So #18 Higaki comes in to hit with a 1-2 count.

And gets a base hit! It's a single through the left side!

That'll be it for Noa. He's sent to RF while  #16 Hirayasu comes in.

After a flyout by Maekubo, Hirayasu is pulled for #10 Adaniya. Might be Uehara-kantoku emptying the bench.

Tsutsumida takes advantage with his first hit to center.

Funabiki with a shot to right center. Noa has to chase it all the way to the wall. 2 more runs score and it's 7-1.

And Noa returns to the mound. #18 Ooshiro Shoutarou comes in for Adaniya and goes to RF.

The inning finally ends as Saitou grounds to 3rd.

Top 9th
#11 Moriura comes into the game to finish it out. He comes in for PH Higaki. It's a double switch as #7 Muneta comes in for Saitou to take over in LF.

Oota grounds out to 2nd for the first out. Akisada grounds one to 3rd, and Sakaguchi flubs the ball! It goes behind him and that's Tenri's 1st error.

Akisada is replaced at first by #14 Uehara.

Shoutarou in his first AB strikes out, but Uehara steals 2nd.

#14 Higa Kaito comes in to hit for Shougo.  He's not just hacking away though, he's fighting at the plate and taking close pitches. He even works the count full.

And he's rewarded! He takes a ball the other way for a base hit and Uehara scores to make it 7-2.

#12 Shimabukuro comes in to hit for Ryouhei.

And that should be the game. He grounds to 2nd and Maekubo takes it himself to the bag for the 3rd out! Tenri takes out the final Kyushu team, defeating Itoman 7-2!

Tenri gave Itoman some chances early, and kept them in the game leaving runners on base. But they were unable to capitalize, and eventually Tenri was able to pull away in the late stages to advance.

Again, not a very impressive performance by Tenri. The bunting as as awful as ever. The ace barely hitting 130 is a severe issue, and Hashimoto - who had some of the bigger hits, might be seriously injured. That's a lot of things going against them. But, they're moving on.

Itoman was eventually blown out, and certainly they're in the same range as the other schools in Kyushu. Unfortunately, there's going to have to be some marked improvement for them to be considered a contender in the summer.

Oh, the love-hate relationship I have with Tenri. When I first got into kokoyakyu, I cheered for them as they were a dominant team in a prefecture, plus one of my mom's customers was a missionary for the Tenrikyo Church and had let me use her dormitory room when I traveled there for the first time. The religion itself I admit is a bit odd, but I won't disparage it.

Anyways, as time passed I began to realize that Nara wasn't exactly a strong baseball prefecture, and that they - along with Chiben Gakuen, pretty much dominated the soft scene. Not only that, but the success didn't translate to Koushien.

So when I started to give up on Tenri, here they come again. They're still not reaching the top like they did before, so despite winning the Kinki tournament, it still feels like they're not a contender. But let's go to the data.

First, they got through the prefecturals defeating Chiben Gakuen in the semifinals, and then up-and-coming Naradai Fuzoku (who is trying to permanently breakup the duo monopoly). Note that Naradai Fuzoku has made the field as well.

The list of opponents they defeated in the super-regionals was a list of Koushien mainstays. Houtoku Gakuen, Osaka Touin (dear Lord I glanced at their numbers and I'm a bit worried they won't get their comeuppance), Ryuukokudai Heian and Ritsumeikan Uji.

Every game with the exception of 1 they won by 4 or more runs. The only game that wasn't? Osaka Touin in the quarterfinals, where despite 10 strikeouts, they advanced with a 3-2 win. And yet, they put up double digit hits in each of their games.

The problem with all this? In their very first game against Sendai Ikuei, they struck out 12 times, delivered only 6 hits, and lost 6-1.

Oy.

And this may be why I have to wonder if the Kinki region as a whole is perhaps weaker than you'd expect.

So, what is under the engine of this team that won the central region?

Hm... I don't really know.

The team batted 0.329, which given the competition seems to be good. 7 HRs in 11 games is also not bad - 3 of which came from cleanup hitter 1B Sakaguchi Hiroya (坂口 漠弥). Over 20% of their hits (24 total) went for extra bases, 4 of which came from their leading RBI guy SS Sadamitsu Hiroto (貞光 広登). And only two people in their lineup had a batting average of less than 0.300. Weirdly, one of those people is cleanup hitter CF Funabiki Wataru (舩曳 海), who made up of a 0.262 BA with 11 walks in 53 plate appearances and stole 11 of the team 16 bases - though a lot of those came early against weaker competition.

On the mound, ace Saitou Yuu (齋藤 佑羽) gets most of the work, but is generally spelled on a consistent basis by Moriura Daisuke (森浦 大輔). Another anomaly, he doesn't wear the traditional #10 the main relieve usually gets. Instead he wears #11 while another reliever, Ouji Shuu (王子 修), who was used sparingly instead received the #10.

Back to Saitou, he carries a K/9 rate of less than 7, and a WHIP a tick over 1.10. But despite being the champs, there is little information about his pitching.

I really don't know what to make of this team - and they're the champions no less! The resume appears sound given the competition, but the sound defeat to Sendai Ikuei is a huge query. If they can handle Itoman, a possible matchup with Kendai Takasaki will be a great barometer of their chances.

With the draw up and the winner not having to face Kousei Gakuin, it's a fight now for the semifinals with a little more of a breather - though they will have to play tomorrow...

Osaka Touin is next up.  Interesting in that the draw had it so that the finals from the spring would have a day off if they both won.

Osaka Touin has pretty much done what they've needed to to advance.  They've displayed their offense in both games, they were able to rest Fujinami for the stretch run, and there doesn't seem to be any chinks outside of possible fatigue from Fujinami the deeper they advance.

Tenri too has done what they've need to as well.  None of their games have ever been dominating - as evidenced by the fact that Nakatani has struck out just 9 in 24 innings.  And against an offense like Osaka Touin, whom they haven't beaten this year, it's asking a lot.  And now #11 Yamamoto will start in for Nakatani who pitched yesterday.  We'll find out how deep the bullpen is for Tenri today.

Plus add in the fact that Tenri has no rest inbetween games, and it's not a recipe for success.  That and the draw now puts Osaka Touin and Kousei Gakuin on opposite sides of the semifinals, and well, it is fate?


Osaka Touin (Osaka)
C Mori
2B Oonishi
RF Mizumoto
1B Tabata
LF Yasui
3B Kasamatsu
CF Hakusui
SS Mega
P Fujinami

Tenri (Nara)
LF Hayata
CF Higashihara
2B Watase
3B Furuta
1B Inabetsu
SS Yoshimura
RF Kimura
P Yamamoto (#11)
C Funabiki

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11:30 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Oh, not good.

Mori with a drive to center!  Higashihara not giving chase...

HAITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the Osaka Touin power shows itself early.  1-0!

Yamamoto retires the next 2 batters via the groundout, but Tabata singles to center.  He does limit the damage striking out Yasui to end the inning, but as is with starting your non-ace, you generally risk going down early.

Bottom 1st
Well, Fujinami on rest is about what you'd expect out of the blocks.  Comebacker to Fujinami, and 2 Ks.

Top 2nd
Kasamatsu with a liner to left, Yoshimura climbs the ladder for the out (all 187 cm of him).

Yamamoto just about has a 1-2-3 inning, but Mega's grounder to short is flubbed by Yoshimura.  Take one, give one.


No harm done though as Fujinami pops out to Watase on the left field line.

Bottom 2nd
Well, Mega returns the favor.  Routine grounder to short, he throws it wide and pulls Tabata off the bag!

Bunt from Inabetsu, and it's right to Fujinami!  He throws to 2nd... WIDE!

Everyone's safe!

AH!  But now Mori catches Furuta off 2nd!  Furuta can only run to 3rd in vain as he retired 2-6-5!  Inabetsu goes for 2nd and slides in just safe.

Yoshimura grounds out to 2nd, moving Inabetsu to 3rd, but now Tenri needs a base hit.

Kimura can't deliver, and he grounds out to 1st to end the inning.

Against Osaka Touin, you need to take advantage of anything you're given.  Blowing that opportunity is not a good sign.

Top 3rd
Top of the order and Mori, and I'm not surprised that Yamamoto basicaly didn't pitch to him.

Hit-and-run from Nishiani-kantoku!  Ball back up the middle off the mound and high bounds into center!  Mori advances to 3rd and Tenri is in trouble!

Mizumoto pops it up!  Watase almost doesn't move as he makes the catch.

Tabata with a grounder to 3rd!  Furuta goes to 2nd for one, throw to 1st... SAFE!

Watase's throw just pulls Inabetsu off the bag and prevents the double play!  Osaka Touin leads 2-0!

Yasui grounds out to Yoshimura, but all Tenri can to is slow down the Osaka Touin offense.

Bottom 3rd
Yamamoto hits a single through to right on his first pitch!

And now Fujinami walks Funabiki on 4 straight!  Another chance for Tenri!

Hayata tries to bunt, but pops it up!  Mori makes a dive, and catches it for the first out!

Highashihara grounds to short!  Mega goes to 2nd for one, and that's all they'll get.

Two down and runners at the corners for Watase.

But Fujinami strikes him out to get out of the pinch!  Tenri wastes another chance as Osaka Touin is poised to continue slowly pulling away!

Top 4th
Kasamatsu with a sharp liner, but right to Hayata for the first out.

Hakusui also with a liner right at Kimura.

Mega walks to bring up Fujinami.  And he singles through the left side!  Two on now for leadoff batter Mori.  Funabiki rightly goes up to talk to Yamamoto.

They're careful again with Mori, but get him to fly out to left to end the inning,

Bottom 4th
OW OW OW.

One down and Inabetsu is hit on the back by a 148 kph fastball (~92 mph).

Wild pitch from Fujinami sends Inabetsu to 2nd!

Yoshimura with a base hit down the right field line!  Inabetsu holds up at 3rd.

Chance again for Tenri, but Kimura goes chasing and hits a comebacker to Fujinami.  He goes to 1st for the out.

Yamamoto with a drive to right!  But Mizumoto backs up and is there for the catch.  3 out.  Another chance wasted against an off Fujinami.

Top 5th
After a long AB with Oonishi, Yamamoto gets him to chase a high fastball for the K.

Mizumoto checks in with a hit as he singles to left.

Oy.  A ball goes up and glances off the logo of Tabata's helmet!  He immediately says he's fine, but per rules he's lifted for an injury runner.

Yamamoto goes 3-0 to Yasui and the announcers notice that he's got blood on his pants.  Perhaps a blister or cut fingernail of some sort.  Yet he's still pitching and fills up the count.

He loses Yasui though and it's manrui for Osaka Touin.  Hashimoto-kantoku calls for time, but keeps Yamamoto in the game, possible injured hand and all.

I don't like the looks of this.

Kasamatsu with a slow grounder to short!  Yoshimura goes to 2nd for one, throw to 1st, not in time!  The grounder was too slow to turn two and now Osaka Touin leads 3-0!

Hakusui flies out to right, but that's another step Osaka Touin has taken towards the semis!

Bottom 5th
Hayata with a comebacker, but it's off Fujinami'g glove and trickles to 2nd base!  Fujinami chases it down, but the throw isn't in time!

Fujinami though comes back to strike out Higashihara and Watase swinging to end the inning.

We hit the break with Osaka Touin methodically expanding their lead over Tenri, who has had chances, but just cannot capitalize on them.

Top 6th
As expected, ace Nakatani is in to take the mound in relief of Yamamoto.

One down and Fujinami drives a ball to left!  Hayata running back to the fence!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fujinami shows his display of power as he gives Osaka Touin another run!  It's 4-0!!

Mori meanwhile gets his 2nd walk of the day.  Nishitani-kantoku goes for the hit-and-run, and it advances the runner when Oonishi grounds to 2nd.

Mizumoto with a drive to center!  Higashihara running back, can only watch at it lands in front of him and into the wall!  Mizumoto's in with an RBI double to make it 5-0.

Tabata hits a can of corn that Inabetsu catches for the 3rd out, but 2 more runs almost make this a formality now.

Bottom 6th
Well, Fujinami, with a comfortable lead has shaken the cobwebs out.  Furuta goes down looking a slider, Inabetsu on a fastball.

Yoshimura makes contact, but grounds to 3rd for the 3rd out.

Top 7th
Yasui with a drive to center!  Higashihara running back, watches it bounce off the top of the padding and over the fence for a ground rule double!

Kasamatsu advances Yasui to 3rd with a ball to the right side.

Hakusui with his first hit (this Koushien!) as he singles through the right side!  Yasui scores to make it 6-0!

#13 Kinden to hit for Mega.  Nakatani walks him, and that's it for Nakatani. #13 Urushihara comes in out of the bullpen to take the hill.

Fujinami registers his 2nd base hit through the left side.

So now it's manrui for Mori.  Boy this could get ugly quick.

Count goes to 3-1 on Mori.  Will Urushihara give in and pitch the fastball?

Yes, but it's a comebacker to Urushihara!  He goes home for one, but that's all they get.

Still manrui with 2 down now for Oonishi.

Comebacker, through to center!  2 runs should and 2 score on the play, making it 8-0 Osaka Touin.

Urushihara finally ends the inning getting a comebacker from Mizumoto, but an 8 run lead should be comfortable (I see no Riseisha-type comeback coming).

Bottom 7th
#17 Kuroda to hit for Kimura, grounds out to 3rd.

Urushihara can only look up after he goes down swinging on an outside fastball.

And Funabiki chases a slider in the dirt for 3 outs.  Yep, its pretty much a formality now.

Top 8th
Kuroda stays in the game at RF, while #12 Yamagishi comes in for Funabiki at C.

Tabata with his 2nd hit, a single through the left side.  Urushihara next walks Yasui.  Kasamatsu tries to lay down the bunt, but goes down 0-2.  And takes a curve for strike 3.

Hakusui tries for 2 hits on the day with a line shot, but it's right at Inabetsu.

Mizuya in for his first AB, goes down swinging to end the inning.

Bottom 8th
Hayata watches a 147 kph fastball go by for yet another K. Higashihara, yep swings on a cutter down and away for strike 3.

And Watase hits a comebacker to Fujinami for the 3rd out.

Top 9th
Two down, and #12 Morishima hits for Oonishi.  He's retired 4-3, and while it's Tenri's first 1-2-3 inning, it's come way too late.

Bottom 9th
#16 Nishi comes in for PH Morishima and takes over at 2B.

Well, last hacks for Tenri.

Kumamoto up, grounds out to 3rd.

#10 Sekiya in to hit for Inabetsu.  Ks on the cutter.

Yoshimura last chance for Tenri.

And wouldn't you know it, he drives a ball to deep left center!  Hakusui watches it as it hits the netting for a HR! 8-1! Wouldn't you know it, they avoid the shutout.

Kuroda goes down looking to end the game, and there you go.

So as the announcers have been saying all game, Osaka Touin "revenges" their 8-4 loss in the quarterfinals of the fall Kinkis Super-Regionals here at the quarterfinals of Natsu Koushien.

And so their quest to be the 7th haru-natsu renzoku yuushou (春夏連続優勝) continues.  That and a kesshou (決勝) matchup with Kousei Gakuin.

It's still hard for the Tenri players to lose to the hands of a rival in Osaka Touin, but if noting else they have a happy disposition about it.  Though that in part probably comes from the "Joyous Acceptance" in Tenrikyo teachings.  It's why some people might mistake their reactions and smiles for aloofness.

As expected, Tenri really had one hand behind their back playing on no rest.  But that's how Koushien goes unfortunately.   A Best 8 finish is still good and one they haven't had in years, so at least that is progress.  Or one would hope.

Osaka Touin, will get one days rest and face yet another team with no rest.  A spot in the finals might well be waiting for them.


Notable Players
Fujinami Shintarou (Osaka Touin) - CG, ER, 4 H, 13 K, BB, HBP
Fujinami Shintarou (Osaka Touin) - 3-5, HR, 2 R, RBI
Mori Tomoya (Osaka Touin) - 1-3, HR, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB

Yamamoto Tatsuya (Tenri) - 5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 K, 3 BB, HBP
Yoshimura Kousuke (Tenri) - 2-4, HR, R RBI

Well, with the draw out (see 2 posts prior), Tenri and Urawa Gakuin know what's at stake should they win - a matchup tomorrow against Senbatsu winners Osaka Touin.

Whee.

But, even though the matchup isn't ideal, you still want to be there because you want that chance.

For both schools, it's a batle of respect.

Saitama has experienced a drought at Koushien for 10 years and Seibou Gakuen.  For Urawa Gakuin, it's their first Summer appearance in the 3rd round since their first time in 1986.

For Tenri, they have not reached the 3rd round since 2004. Since then, the team has been mired a bout of medocrity, topped with the fact that Chiben Gakuen had surpassed them.

Both teams have looked good in their 2 games so far.  Osaka Touin can wait for later.  For now, it's a spot in the Best 8.


Urawa Gakuin (Saitama)
SS Takemura
C Rinzaki
CF Satou
LF Yamane
RF Sasagawa
3B Takada
1B Akashi
P Yamaguchi (#10)
2B Midorikawa

Tenri (Nara)
LF Hayata
CF Higashihara
2B Watase
3B Furuta
1B Inabetsu
SS Yoshimura
RF Kimura
P Nakatani
C Funabiki

____________________________________________________________

13:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Nakatani off to a smooth start.  Takemura strikes out swinging on an outside fastball.  Rinzaki hits an easy comebacker to Nakatani.  And Satou flies out to left.

Bottom 1st
Yamaguchi taking the hill instead of Satou.  I don't know if you set your lineups ahead of the draw or not, but this may be trying to rest him should they win.

Hayata, after fouling a couple of balls off, gets hit by a slow curve.

Higashihara not bunting, chops a ball up the 3rd base line.  Takada takes it fair and throws to 1st for the out.

Yamaguchi having a bit of trouble finding the zone, going 3-1 to Watase before having him chase a slow curve in the dirt.  He then gets under one and pops up to 2nd.

2 down for Furuta and Yamaguchi throws behind him.  Oy.  If Tenri picks up on this they should focus on the fastball and ignore the curve.

Yamaguchi behind Furuta 3-1 too.  Ball inside and that brings up Inabetsu as Rinzaki goes out to talk with Yamaguchi.

And now he hits Inabetsu!  Two down, manrui for Yoshimura!

Wild pitch!  Curve gets away from Rinzaki and Hayata scores to make it 1-0!

Yoshimura gets under another curve and Akashi is there at the 1st base fence for the catch.

So without a hit, Tenri scores a run.  For Urawa Gakuin, they should be happy it wasn't more.

Top 2nd
Yamane takes the first pitch from Nakatani and singles to left center.  Higashihara cuts it off quickly limiting it to a single.

Now Nakatani hits Sasagawa!  Now Urawa Gakuin has a scoring opportunity!  Takada bunts the runners into scoring position.

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

Akashi shows squeeze late, but lays it down!  Inabetsu's only play is to 1st, and Urawa has tied the game up at 1-1!

Yamaguchi flies out to left, but Urawa gets Yamaguchi's back this time around and responds quickly to the run from Tenri!

Bottom 2nd
Yamaguchi almost gets a 1-2-3 inning, but after retiring Kimura and Nakatani on 4 pitches, he issues a 4 pitch walk to Funabiki.

That flips the lineup back to Hayata.

He drives a ball to right center!  Sasagawa sprinting to his left, dives, but doesn't have it!  Nishioka chases it to the walll as Hayata winds up with an RBI triple!  2-1 Tenri!

Higashihara a scorcher down the 3rd base line, it bounces off of Takada and into foul territory!  Hayata scores as Higashihara takes 2nd!  3-1 Tenri!

Watase with a hard bounder to the right side.  Akashi can't get to it, but Midorikawa has it.  Has to wait a bit for Yamaguchi, but they retire Watase for the 3rd out.

But some hard hits from the top of the Tenri order give them back the lead!

Top 3rd
Midorikawa with a grounder to the gap on the right side.  Watase makes the great diving stop, but loses the ball when getting up to make the throw.

Takemura pops up his bunt!  Inabetsu charging in dives to his left, and makes the catch!  Wow!

But now Nakatani is called for a balk!  Midorikawa in scoring position.

Rinzaki grounds out to 1st, but does advance the runner.

But Satou, anticipating the fastball, is way in front of a slider, and pops it up!  Watase out in shallow center makes the catch!

Bottom 3rd
Pitching change for Urawa Gakuin.  But it's not what you think.

#14 Kojima comes in for Yamaguchi and takes the hill.

After Furuta can't get around an inside fastball, Inabetsu takes a ball the other way past Midorikawa.

#17 Wakumoto is warming up.  I think they're going to throw the kitchen sink of pitchers at Tenri to try and rest Satou.

Yoshimura with a liner up the middle, Midorikawa has a chance at that one, but can't backhand it and it's into center!  Inabetsu at 3rd, and it's runners at the corners for Kimura!

Kimura tries the squeeze, but it goes foul!

Instead he swings away and hits a ball to center!  Nishoka is there for the catch and Inabetsu tags up!  Throw in is cutoff and it's now 4-1 Tenri!

Nakatani inside-outs a fastball and sends it through to left!  Yoshimura advances 90 feet.

#9 batter Funabiki up, and now he takes one the other way over Takemura into left!  Manrui and the lineup turns back over to Hayata!

But he gets jammed and pops it up!  Yamane coming in, catches it on the foul line for the 3rd out.  But Tenri adds another run.

Top 4th
Yamane with a soft liner back up the middle, cues away from Yoshimura!  Goes into center for a base hit!

Sasagawa with a grounder to the right side!  Watase with the sliding pick, turns and throws to 2nd!  Yoshikawa with the ball, goes to 1st... double play!

Inabestu with the great pick at first finishes the double play!  But it was Watase great pick and throw, all in one motion it seemed, that started it.

OH BOY.

Takada just crushed a ball.  I mean you don't have to look to know, you just hear the sound and you're like, "That's gone."

Hayata gave it the token run, but I think he knew too.  It's now 4-2!

Akashi grounds to 3rd, but Takada no doubt about it HR gets a run back.

Bottom 4th
Higashihara opens the inning with a fly to center.

Watase cannot buy a base hit right now.  Hard hit ball right on the 1st base line it seems is dived for and grabbed by Akashi who tosses to Kojima for the out.

For that part, neither can Furuta.  He strikes out on a slider in the dirt and he's 0-2 on the day.

For Kojima, it's Urawa's first 1-2-3 inning this game.

Top 5th
After an excuse me swing that resulted in a comebaker to Nakatani, he freezes Midorikawa on a fastball.

Back to the top of the order and Takemura, he hits a grounds to 1st.  Inabetsu tosses to Nakatani who just beats Takemura to the bag.

Bottom 5th
Inabetsu with a hot shot that just eats up Takada and goes down the line to the wall.  He's in with a leadoff double.

Yoshimura with the bunt!  Both Kojima and Takada are late getting to the ball.  Throw to 1st, not in time!  All safe!

Yoshimura takes off for 2nd!  Rinzaki with the, WHAT THE??

Rinzaki throws the ball into the ground!  Worse it it goes in betwen Takemura and Takada into left!  Inabetsu scores and Yoshimura takes 3rd!  5-2 Tenri?!

I have to think he was either not going to throw him out, but then realized he had a chance and released it too late or he just couldn't hold on to it when faking the throw.  Either way a run scores.

Kimura looking to extend the lead, but he hits it to short!  Takemura looks down Yoshimura then makes the play at 1st.  One down.

Nakatani also grounds to 2nd!  And again Takemura checks Yoshimura and makes the 2nd out!

But Funabiki will have none of it!  He singles past a diving Midorikawa into center!  Yoshimura comes in to make it 6-2!

Hayata pops out to Midorikawa to end the inning, but a bizarre play resuls in two more runs for Tenri as we hit the break.

Top 6th
One down and Satou doesn't do too much with the outside fastball, taking it the other way for a base hit.

Nakatani get a little careful with Yamane (he is 2-2 on the day), and winds up walking him on 4 straight.  That gets Hashimoto-kantoku to call for a conference.

Sasagawa with a very hard liner to right.  Kimura running over makes the catch.

That brings up Takada who hit the HR in his last AB.

Nakatani being a little careful with him too, falling behind 3-1.  He walks him and it's manrui.  Funabiki goes out to talk to him as the douten run in Akashi steps to the plate.

Akashi swings on the first pitch and pop it up!  Furuta in foul territory waits for it, and makes the catch!  Big chance for Urawa Gakuin to narrow the margin goes begging here in the 6th!

Bottom 6th
Okay so it wasn't the kitchen sink.  Ace Satou takes the mound here in the 6th while #8 Nishioka takes his position in the lineup (for Kojima) and his position (CF).

Watase with a nubber up the 1st base line.  Satou goes to track it down, but misses the pickup with the glove!  He finally has his first hit of the day!  (Hurrah?)

Cleanup batter Furuta though is still hitless after he flies out to right.

Inabetsu up, but Watase tries to steal 2nd!  Throw from Rinzaki though is in time and the side is retired.

Top 7th
Nishoka with a ball to the right side.  Watase runs it down at the outfield grass and throws him out.

#12 Morito in to hit for Midorikawa.  Grounder to short and Yoshimura loses the ball!  Gets it back, but too late!

Takemura with a drive to center!  Higashihara running back, makes the catch!  2 down.

Rinzaki with a fly ball to shallow lefr center!  The middle infield and Hayata and Higashihara converge, but Highashihara calls all of them off to make the catch.

Bottom 7th
Morito stays in the game at 2B.

After a quick groundout by Inabetsu, Yoshimura fouls off pitch after pitch, and on the 14th pitch of the AB, draws a walk!

Kimura up, and he's without a hit on the day (him and Furuta are the only ones).

2-1, he almost takes off the head of his 3rd base coach.

Count full now, he grounds one to short.  No play on Yoshimura, so he throws out Kimura.

Nakatani goes down on 3 straight, so nothing for Tenri in the lucky 7.

Top 8th
Satou with a comebacker up the middle, snagged by Nakatani for the 1st out.

Yamane with his 3rd hit, a scorcher on the ground past a diving Watase.

Sasagawa with a grounder up the middle past Nakatani!  But Yoshimura is there to field it!  Takes it to 2nd for one, throw to 1st, double play!

Bottom 8th
Tenri is retired in order here in the 8th, so they're 3 outs away from closing out the game.

Top 9th
Last chance for Urawa Gakuin.

Takada flies out to right for the 1st out.

#18 Hattori comes in to hit for Akashi.  Ground to the left side, Furuta makes a good stop, throws to 1st for the 2nd out!

Last chance in Nishioka.  He hits one to left center!  That falls in for a base hit!  Higashihara is there to get it, but Nishioka has a double!

Morito steps in now.

Count goes to 3-1.  Morito swings and pops it up!  Watase at the right field line, makes the catch!  Tenri advances to the Best 8!!  8 years in coming for a school that had been good in years past.

For Urawa Gakuin, it's unfortunate as they rested Satou to start the game, and the gamble didn't pay off as they found themselves behind by the time he came in the game.  As a result, Saitama falls short of reaching the best 4 again.  And the realization of the end of the summer comes upon the Urawa Gakuin players and it's very hard - especially for ace Satou.  But they represented Saitama well in my opinion.

For Tenri, it's a surprise for me to see them reach the Best 8.  Perhaps I had lowered expectations, or the team is better than I think, but they've certainly earned their ticket.

But there's little time to rejoice.  Return to the the hotel, get some sleep, and wake up to face Osaka Touin in the quartefinals.


Notable Players
Nakatani Kenta (Tenri) - CG, 2 ER, 7 H, 2 K, BB, 2 HBP
Inabetsu Akira (Tenri) - 2-3, 2B, 2 R, HBP
Yoshimura Kousuke (Tenri) - 2-3, R, BB, SB
Takada Ryouta (Urawa Gakuin) - 1-2, HR, R, RBI, BB
Yamane Yuuta (Urawa Gakuin) - 3-3, R, BB

This is one of those games that makes me nervous in that I saw promising things from a team that I liked, but frustrated me to no end - but feel like I need to see another game to prove I believed what I saw.

Tenri, facing a Miyazaki Kougyou team that hadn't been to Koushien in 52 years, was in a dogfight for the first 5 innings.  Down 1-0 in the 6th, Tenri used a pair of effors to get ahead 2-1.

The knock I developed on Tenri was that they were too predictable.  You could bet that in a close game with a runner on 3rd, they'd squeeze bunt without fail.  That combined with other questionable managerial decisions made them a team that I thought wouldn't be good.  (Side note, I think much like the dormitories for the Tenrikyo church where the residence managers change every couple of years, apparently the manager does too as I believe they've had a different manager every year they've been to Koushien since I've been following it - which obviously hurts continuity).

But in this game, the errors were caused because they weren't predictable.  In that 6th inning, with runners on 2nd and 3rd, the Miyazaki infield was playing in expecting a squeeze bunt from Watase.  Heck, I was expecting it too.

He didn't.

Instead he swung away, hit a ball up the right field side.  Both the 1B and 2B went to the ball, then the 1B retreated back towards the bag.  When the 2B went to toss the ball towards 1st, both the P and the 1B watched it go right in-between them allowing the 2nd run to score.

That seemed to setup the 7th when after a leadoff double and sac bunt, they then decided to pull off the suicide squeeze which worked.

Sure, I may be looking into it more than I should be but it does seem like they're learning.  I hope.

It doesn't hide the fact though that Tenri managed just 5 hits in their game, which doesn't bode well for future games at all considering who they were playing.

On the mound, Nakatani was serviceable for his 6 innings of work, and while Hashimoto-kantoku probably made the right decision to relieve him, Yamamoto still made things interesting in the final 3 frames.  So even with a lead, unless it's a large one, it'll still be nail-biting time until the last out.

Tottori Jyouhoku took advantage of an error which would have ended an inning, and scored all their runs for a 3-1 win over Kagawa Nishi.  But 4 of their 8 hits came right after the error, and ace Hirata allowed several run-scoring opportunities in the final 3 innings not to mention that he went from 5 Ks the first time through the order to 2, 1 and 0 in the subsequent iterations.

This game may come down to late game pitching as both sides appear to be shaky in endgame play.  Whichever side falters first may the the one to go home.


Tottori Jyouhoku (Tottori)
SS Taniguchi
3B Abe
CF Kimura Tetsuya
RF Satou
1B Kawano
C Kinoshita
LF Kobayashi
P Hirata
2B Komai

Tenri (Nara)
LF Hayata
CF Higashihara
2B Watase
3B Furuta
1B Inabetsu
RF Kimura Hide
SS Yoshimura
P Nakatani
C Funabiki

____________________________________________________________

15:44 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Field temperature just a shade over 104F.  Oy.

After a 8 pitch at bat, Nakatani gets Taniguchi to roll one to Inabetsu for the out.

Abe hits a shallow pop to center, Watase running out makes the catch.

Kimura with a comebacker that Nakatani fields and tosses to 1st for a 1-2-3 inning.  But it took him 18 pitches to retire the side.

Bottom 1st
Hayata with good contact but flies out to left. Higashihara whiffs on a slider for Hirata's first K.

Hirata has a unique delivery in that he holds the ball directly behind him in the windup before going forward.

Watase with a hit though the right side for a base hit.

Hashimoto puts on the hit-and-run, but Furuta grounds to Taniguchi.  He beats Watase to the bag for the 3rd out.

Top 2nd
Satou with a quick liner to left which Hayata catches.  Kawano watches a fastball go by for strike 3 for the 2nd out and Kinoshita fouls out to Inabetsu to end the inning.  Much more efficient inning for Nakatani this time around.

Bottom 2nd
Inabetsu with a grounder to the gap in left.  Taniguchi with it, but has to hurry his throw and it goes wide.

Kimura with the bunt, Hirata grabs and fires to 2nd, but it's way wide and into center.  Fortunately, it's right to Tetsuya.

Yoshimura lays down the bunt.  Kawano charges in but passes it with no play at 3rd, allowing Hirata to go to 1st for the out.

Nakatani up and he's not showing bunt, but the infield is playing in. In fact he does swing away and falls behind 1-2.

Hot liner foul down the 1st base line!  Hirata goes inside and Nakatani fouls it off.

Hirata goes outside with the fastball and Nakatani is rung up for the 2nd out!

It's up to last batter Funabiki...  He goes down 1-2.  Waste pitch levels the count as Funabiki fouls off another inside pitch.  Next one high and in for a full count.

High and in again and it's manrui for Tenri with the top of the order and Hayata up.

Kinoshita goes out to talk with Hirata.

Hayata with a grounder throught left side!  Inabetsu scores!  Kimura being waved home as the throw is cutoff!  Hayata with a timely 2-out 2-RBI single gives Tenri the 2-0 lead!

Higashihara up for Tenri.  He calmly takes a ball to right!  Runners taking off on contact and Funabiki scores to make it 3-0!

Runners at the corners, still with 2 down for Watase. as Yamaki-kantoku calls time.

Watase turns on another one and singles through to right!  Hayata scores as Satou throws for 3rd!  The throw is offline and Watase thakes the opportunity to take 2nd!

Furuta the 9th man to come to the plate.  Hirata falls behind 3-1 and walks Furuta to load the bases.  That brings up Inabetsu again for the 2nd time this inning.

Hirata gets ahead on two sliders down and away that Inabetsu swings at.  He holds off on the 3rd one just outside.

But he can't resist swinging and strikes out to end the inning.  Tenri with a big inning early sending 10 batters and putting a 4-spot on the board.

Top 3rd
Kobayashi swings on the first pitch, but gets under it and flies out to center.

Hirata with a pop fly down the right field line (where the ABC graphic shows a high level headwind of 10 m/s coming in from RF), Hide, Watase and Inabetsu all converge on it and Hide makes the catch as Inabetsu dives out of the way!  Oy, watch out there.

And Komai goes down swinging on an outside fastball to retire the side.

Bottom 3rd
Kimura lays the safety bunt down!  Abe charging in, but his throw is too late!

Yoshimura up, but he's not bunting.

Kimura takes off for 2nd, but his jump isn't that great and Kinoshita had him dead to rights for out number 1.

Hirata hits Yoshimura, putting the runner back on base.

Natakani with a foul fly, Abe goes over the mound and stumbles into the fence as it falls in.  He's ok.

Taniguchi lifts another ball up, this time in fair territory.  Taniguchi drifts to the 1st base side of 2nd and makes the catch.

Down 0-2, Funabiki waits on two borderline pitches and fills up the count.

Hirata just misses with the 3-2 pitch and there's runners on 1st and 2nd for Hayata.  He falls behind quickly waving at two fastballs.  He's finally able to paint the corner with the fastball, retiring Hayata to end the inning.

Top 4th
Taniguchi leading off for Tottori Jyouhoku and he hits a high fly to left for the 1st out.

Abe with a ball past Nakatani, and past a diving Yoshimura into center for Tottori's first base hit!

Nakatani comes back and strikes out Tetsuya on a high fastball for the 2nd out.

Satou takes a Nakatani pitch the other way.  Hayata turns around and sprints back, but it's over his head!  He tracks it down at the wall, but by the time they get it in Abe scores all the way from 1st!  Satou puts Tottori Jyouhoku on the board at 4-1!

Kawano grounds out to short to end the inning, but Satou gives Tottori progess in cutting into Tenri's lead!

Bottom 4th
Highashihara with a ball to deep left-center!  Kobayashi running back to the wall, stumbles as it fall just in front of the wall. Higashihara running all the way, slides into 3rd with no throw!

Hayata having trouble with his control as he falls behind Watase before getting 2 strikes to fill the count.

Watase with a fly to shallow right.  Satou with it and Higashihara takes off for home!  The relay home is, way offline!  Higashihara scores easily getting back the run they lost. It's 5-1!

Cleanup batter Furuta can't seem to figure out Hayata as he swings on a high fastball for strike 3.

Inabetsu hit on the 3-1 pitch and goes to 1st (even if he wasn't awarded the HBP, it'd stil be ball 4.

First pitch ball to Hide sends Kinoshita out to talk with Hirata again.

After falling behind 2-0, Hirata puts two in the zone that Hide fouls off.  2-2 now and Hide swings and misses on the slider for the 3rd out.

Top 5th
Kinoshita reaches out and pokes one the other way, but Hide is there for the catch.

Kobayashi with a grounder down the 3rd base line.  Furuta makes a great stop, but the throw is up the right field line and past everyone!  Kobayashi takes 2nd on the error.

Hirata with a grounder to 3rd.  He looks Kobayashi back, except that Watase came in behind Kobayashi and he's suddenly caught in a rundown!  He goes down 5-4-6 and Hirata can't advance to 2nd!

Komai gets under one and it's an easy fly to center.  Higashihara there to field it for the 3rd out.

Bottom 5th
Yoshimura up to start for Tenri, and he falls victim to the slider for the first out.

Nakatani gets under one yet again and hits a can of corn to Taniguchi.

Funabiki work the count full for the 3rd straight AB, and again watches a ball just low for his 3rd walk of the game.

Back to the top of the order and Hayata.  He grounds out to 2nd and the side is retired.

Tenri heads into the break with the 4-run 2nd inning being the difference in the game.  Still, the second half will be the more important part as the pitchers go deeper into their pitch counts.

Top 6th
Taniguchi first pitch short chopper.  Nakatani runs it down and throws to 1st for the out.

Abe goes down on 3 straight, waving at an outside fastball for the K.

Kimura with a grounder to short, but Yoshimura short hops Inabetsu and he can't field it.  E6 and the inning continues.

Satou takes off on the 1-1 pitch, it's outide but Funabiki can't get a good hold of the ball and lets Satou take the base.

No harm done outside of more pitches as Satou grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.

Bottom 6th
Unlike Nakatani who was at 60 pitches at the break, Hirata sits at 112.

Defensive changes for Tottori Jyouhoku:

• #15 Hirayama comes in for Taniguchi and goes to 3rd.
• Abe goes from 3B to 2B
• Komai goes from 2B to SS

One down for Tenri and Watase hits a ground ball past Kawano fair down the 1st base line!

Watase running through 1st reaches 2nd.

Furuta's struggles at the plate continue.  He goes down swinging on 3 straight for the 2nd out.

And now #13 Urushihara hits for Inabetsu, but hits the first pitch to 2nd for the 3rd out.

Top 7th
Urushihara stays in the game at 1B.

Kawano with a good swing on the ball, but Hayata doesn't have to move to get the out.

Kinoshita with a hot grounder, but right at Yoshimura who goes to 1st for the 2nd out.

Kobayashi with a 2-out baserunner with a single past Furuta into left.

But Hirata hits one to Yoshimura.  He slides a little more than he'd like to field it, but is still able to flick it to Watase for the 3rd out.

Bottom 7th
Hirata finally gets a 1-2-3 inning as he just needs 7 pitches to retire the side.

Top 8th
Komai hits a chopper right in front of home.  Funabiki takes it and throws it to 1st for the out.

Hirayama with a grounder to Urushihara for the 2nd out.

And Nakatani catches the outside corner to strike out Abe to end the inning.

Bottom 8th
Funabiki wants to get in on the hits and hits one hard right between Hirata's legs and into center for a base hit.

Funabiki takes off for 2nd, Hayata with a single to center!  Funabiki rounds 3rd, but holds up as the throw comes in. Hayata though takes 2nd on the throw.

Higashihara not squeezing here it appears.  But he does go after two balls out of the zone... well, make that 3 now as he goes down swinging.

Watase lifts one to left center.  Tetsuya calls off Kobayashi to make the catch, but Funabiki still is able to come in to score making it 6-1.

Furuta looking for the base hit, gets hit instead.

Yamaki-kantoku decides now to send in #10 Nishisaka to relieve Hirata for the last out of the inning.

Urushihara goes down swinging and that's 3 outs.

Top 9th
Last ups for Tottori Jyouhoku.

Kimura with a base hit through the left side to leadoff the inning.

Satou with a liner right at Yoshimura!  He goes to 1st for the double play, but misses everyone and bounced off the camera well!  Kimura is awarded 3rd base!

Kawano with a single to right!  Kimura scores to make it a 6-2 ballgame!

Kinoshita to try and keep the momentum going, but he pops it up!  Funabiki against the backscreen, makes the catch!  2 down!

Kobayashi the last chance for Tottori.  Grounder to 2nd!  Watase flips to Yoshimura and that's the ball game!

Tenri uses a big inning early to get ahead of Tottori Jyouhoku while Nishitani got ahead of the Tottori batters and had relatively stressless innings to help advance his team tot he 3rd round.

For Tottori Jyouhoku it was an uphill battle from the start.  And with their batters continuously off-balance, it was just impossible to overcome.  But it was a good tournament as they earned their school's first win at Koushien, and it can be something they can build on for the future.


Notable Players
Nakatani Keita (Tenri) - CG, 2 ER, 5 H, 5 K, 0 BB
Higashihara Masashi (Tenri) - 2-5, 3B, R, RBI, 2 K
Watase Yuuya (Tenri) - 3-3, 2B, 3 RBI
Funabiki Kakeru (Tenri) - 1-1, 3 BB, 2 R
Satou Kouji (Tottori Jyouhoku) - 1-4, 2B, RBI

Our post-lunch game features a team that is a regular to Koushien - but has done little in recent years, versus a squad that hasn't been to Natsu Koushien in 52 years!

We almost had a completely new champion in Nara.  Only Kooriyama (3 times) has been able to break the duopoly that Tenri and Chiben Gakuen held in Nara since 1971.

And yet this year Tenri in the semifinals trailed Kashihara Gakuin 6-4 before rallying to win 7-6.  Chiben Gakuen did lose in the semifinals to Unebi 4-3 after they took back the run Chiben scored in their half of the lucky 7.

With one side out of the way, Tenri was free to claim the Nara title, which it did for the 26th time in school history.

However, you can throw Tenri's 0.359 team batting average out the window.  With 2 teams dominating the prefecture, statistics like that can only be taken with a grain of salt - if that.

What you can say is that the whole of the Tenri pitching corps giving up back-to-back 6 run games is disconcerting.  Given, ace Nakatani was responsible for just 4 of those runs, but that was in limited use.  That means that the relief corps cannot be relied upon and Nakatani is a bit on shaky ground as well.  The Tenri offense - whatever it may be, will need to put runs on the board as they cannot survive a low scoring game.

While Miyazaki Kougyou had gone to senbatsu 2 years ago, their last appearance at Natsu Koushien was 52 years ago when they were known as Ooyodo.  Yet, it was Iwakiri-kantoku's goal when he assumed the job in 2004 to get Miyazaki Kougyou to Koushien in 10 years.  He's taken them to senbatsu in just 6, and here to Natsu Koushien in 8 - well ahead of schedule.

This victory was not cheap in any way.  They defeated Miyazaki Nichidai, then Nobeoka Gakuen and then fought back after St. Ursula came from behind to take the lead, scoring 2 runs late for the title.

The team was not a very high scoring bunch, averaging a shade under 5 runs a game while holding a flat 0.300 batting average.  Of the players to watch out for is probably RF Doumen.

On the mound, it's ace Nagatomo for the most part with Iwakiri-kantoku willing to go to #10 Seki if necessary.  Neither will strike out nor walk many batters, so it'll be up to the defense to keep the team in the game.

The game should be close as Iwakiri-kantoku has done quite a lot in his tenure at Miyazaki Kougyou and are probably not the pushovers many people think they might be.  They'll stand more than a fighting chance in their opening round game.

Miyazaki Kougyou (Miyazaki)
SS Ukita
CF Shimizu (#15)
LF Kurogi Yuusuke (#8)
C Ibii
RF Doumen
1B Oota
2B Nomura
P Nagatomo
3B Yamaguchi

Tenri (Nara)
LF Hayata
CF Higashihara
2B Watase
3B Furuta
1B Inabetsu
SS Yoshimura
RF Kimura
P Nakatani
C Funabiki

__________________________________________________

13:06 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Ukita leads of the game with a solid base hit to right.  After Shimizu goes down swinging, Iwakiri-kantoku sends Ukita to 2nd.  But Funabiki makes a great throw and they get the out!

Nakatani replaces the runner though as he plunks Kurogi.  Not a problem though as Ibii grounds out to short to end the inning.

Bottom 1st
Nagatomo's first inning goes fairly smoothly as Tenri's batter appear to be a bit on edge to start.  Higashihara strikes out badly between two groundouts and Tenri's 1st is over quickly.

Top 2nd
Both teams going at a quick pace as Miyazaki's batters are swinging early too.  Nakatani takes just 6 pitches to retire the side.

Bottom 2nd
I barely have time to note that Nagatomo throws in the mid 130's with a slider (120s) and curve (110s) it appears.

He games two quick groundouts, and Yoshimura after working the count full is fooled on yet another change to end the inning.

Top 3rd
One down, Yamaguchi hits a ball to shallow center.  Watase, Yoshimura, Higashihara all converge, but it just falls in between the for a base hit!

Iwakiri-kantoku tries for the hit-and-run, but the bal bounces right to Watase who goes to 1st for the 2nd out.

Shimizu first pitch singles to left.  And they're sending Yamaguchi???!!!!!!!!

Hayata throws him out by a very wide margin.

Bottom 3rd
I'm getting a feeling that the teams want to go somewhere quickly.  Kimura grounds to 3rd, Nakatani harmlessly flies out to right, and Funabiki goes down swinging.  We're averaging 10 minutes an inning right now!

Top 4th
Kurogi gives the ball a ride to center.  Higashihara runs back, then starts backpedaling and makes a dangerous catch.  Run to the the spot, turn around then go if you have to.  All this backpedaling stuff will get you into trouble and quickly.

Ibii meanwhile is early on a ball and grounds out to 2nd.

Nothing different with Nakatani.  Still throws in the low-mid 130's with a slider, curve and changeup.

Doumen swings at an outside fastball and grounds out to 1st.

Bottom 4th
Higashihara connects on a hanging slider and drives it over Kurogi's head and to the wall for a double!

Watase with a single through the right side!  Highashihara rounds 3rd, stops, but then sees Doumen kick the ball forwards!  He restarts home only to have Doumen make a great throw home to nail him!

Furuta on a hit-and-run, hits it back up the middle.  Nomura has no play at 2nd, and makes a great jumping throw to 1st for the out.  A great chance for Tenri evaporated just like that.

Top 5th
Oota swings on a 2-0 pitch and flies out to left.  Nomura works the count full but does the same.

And Nagatomo hits one to Inabetsu, who takes it to the bag for the 3rd out.

Bottom 5th
We are literally going at ludicrous speed here in the 3rd game of this set.

Inabetsu first pitch hits a single to left.  Yoshimura moves the runner over, and then Nagatomo hits Kimura!  Tenri with a good chance here to get a run in.

Nagatomo though gets Nakatani to fly out to right.  Inabetsu advances on the play as Iwakiri-kantoku calls for time.

Last batter Funabiki up.  On the 2-1 pitch Kimura takes off and there's no throw!

But Nagatomo gets Funabiki to swing and miss on a 3-2 curve to end the inning!  We hit the break averaging 10 minutes per inning and both sides free swinging away!

Top 6th
Miyazaki oen-dan playing Keio Chance. Anything to get the offense going.  Yamaguchi though grounds out to 2nd.

Ukita gets his 2nd hit reaching down and poking the ball to center.

Shimizu though first pitch swings and pops out to 2nd.

Kurogi with a first pitch single to right!  Ukita advances to 3rd on the play and now it's Nakatani in a pinch!

Ibii breaks the deadlock!  He hits a grounder through the left side! Ukita scores and Miyazaki Kougyou has the 1-0 lead!

Doumen grounds out to 2nd, but not before Miyazaki Kougyou strings 3 hits together to score the first run of the game!

Bottom 6th
Hayata bloops one to center to get Tenri's counterattack running.

Higashihara pulls back and swings away!  But it's right at AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The ball goes right under Ukita's legs and into center!  Hayata advances to 3rd on the error!

1-1 and they go for the hit-and-run again!  The pitch is wide and ther's no throw to 2nd.

Watase with a weak chopper to ther right side.  Miyazaki Kougyou, expecting a squeeze (because Tenri always did it at Koushien), was playing in.  Oota has to go field the ball, but can't cleanly pick it!  He has to go to 1st, tosses it... AND NO ONE GOES FOR THE BALL!!

Nagatomo makes a late stab, but the ball is way past by that point!  Hayata already in as Higashihara breaks and scores on the error!  Tenri mysteriously leads 2-1!!

Now they go for the bunt with no down as Watase heads to 3rd.

Inabetsu trying to keep the momentum going works the count full... but Nagatomo strikes him out looking on a borderline strike down in the zone!
Yoshimura grounds out to short to end the inning, but Tenri somehow has taken the lead here in the 6th!

Top 7th
Hm.  Hashimoto-kantoku decides now to pull Nakatani and put in #11 Yamamoto.  I really hope this isn't over-managing again (this after they finally decided not to do a squeeze bunt).

Well, to start he's not looking good at all bouncing balls way in front as well as not getting some calls (but it's really hard to tell with the camera angle).  He walks Oota to start the inning.  Iwakiri-kantoku replaces him with #11 Shiota.

Nomura then hits a hard single to right and the decision to relieve Nakatani may backfire!

With no down, Nagatomo goes for the sac bunt, but Yamamoto fields and fires to 3rd getting Shiota on the force!

Yamaguchi still with a chance to drive in a run, but he grounds to short!  Yoshimura calmly starts the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning!

Bottom 7th
#13 Ishiyama comes in for PR Shiota and takes over at 1B.

Kimura with a slicer down the right field line as he runs through 1st and is in with a double!  Looking for the insurance run, Hashimoto-kantoku has Yamamoto bunt.

Funabiki up and SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hashimoto-kantoku surprises me and the Miyazaki defense by calling for the squeeze bunt this time!

AND IT WORKS!!!!!

Ishiyama's only play is to 1st and Tenri plates the insurance run!  It's 3-1!!

Hayata strikes out to end the inning, but finally by not being predicatble, the predictable works!

Top 8th
Miyazkai Kougyou running out of time.  Ukita grounds out to start the inning.  #7 Kuroki comes in to hit for Shimizu, but strikes out.

2 quick outs for Yamamoto here in the 8th.

Kuroki hits a grounder to the gap on the left side.  Yoshimura runs it down, but his throw short hops 1st!  And so the inning continues.

But Yamamoto's control issues resurface!  He walks Ibii, and then plunks Doumen!  It's manrui for Miyazaki!

The moment though gets to Ishiyama as he swings on the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd to end the inning!

Bottom 8th
PH Kuroki goes into left, while Kurogi moves to his numbered position in center.

Higashihara works a 4-pitch walk, but when he tries to take 2nd is gunned down by Ibii.

Watase and Furuta go down quickly and now it's hold on time for Tenri!

Top 9th
Nomura goes down swinging on three straight.  #10, their captain Seki, comes in to hit for Nagatomo, but flies out to right, 2 down.

Last chance for Miyazaki as #16 Ikeda hits for Yamaguchi.

Yamamoto gets him to swing on a high fastball and Tenri wins the ballgame!

Well, color me surprised.  Tenri didn't get in it's own way in this game, and they even did things people weren't expecting!  Was it a great peformance, heavens no.  But the small things like not squeezing when the other team expects you to, then doing it later when they're not expecing it.  Perhaps the lifting of Nakatani knowing his limits. Either way, Tenri moves on.  They're still not favorites, but they seem to be learning.

For Miyazaki Kougyou, you can't be sad with their efforts, for the most part it was a well played game, just that some things didn't fall their way.  If nothing else they should be proud to have sent their school to Natsu Koushien after many years off.  If Iwakiri-kantoku stays I wouldn't be surprised to see the school challenge for the title in the future.


Notable Players
Nakatani Keita (Tenri) - W, 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 K, HBP
Kimura Hide (Tenri) - 1-2, 2B, R, HBP
Nagatomo Yuuki (Miyazaki Kougyou) - L, CG, 3 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 6 K, 2 BB
Ukita (Miyazaki Kougyou) - 2-4, R

Okay, now comes the test game for me.

Over the last couple of years, I made it no secret that Tenri was one of my favorite teams, if nothing else because I stayed there during my first and third trips there and they seemed like a powerhouse.  Yet, under closer inspection combined with recent results suggest that Tenri (and subsequently Nara as a whole) was a weaker prefecture that was dominated by 2 teams (Tenri and Chiben Gakuen).  Furthermore, Chiben Gakuen has supplanted Tenri at the top of the prefecture.

So Tenri has a lot to prove to everyone that they're still relevant (including myself).

Defensively, Tenri has always been solid.  Pitching has always been at least average, but offensively they seem to have issues.  Compounding the issue is that this team, despite being the Kinki Super-Regional runner-up, is more power starved than usual.  That'll definitely be a problem.

And they're facing Kanto quarterfinalists Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi.

Kendai broke through with their first summer appearance last year, and now have turned around and qualified for senbatsu.  Their watermark game was against Urawa Gakuin where they put up 7 runs.  However, they lost 11-7 and we don't quite know how good Urawa is just yet.

Kendai's offense numbers are better than that of Tenri, and even if strength of super-regionals are a push, that still gives an edge to Kendai.  On the mound, the teams appear to be a push with neither carrying a dominating ace.  Both Nakatani (Tenri) and Miki (Kendai) pitch to contact.

I expect this to be a close game, but the edge has to go to Kendai.

CF  Takeuchi Tsukasa
2B  Nakayama Keita
C  Nagasaka Kenya
3B  Uchida Ryouta
1B  Oosawa Yoshiyuki
RF  Kanbe Kazuki
LF  Kobayashi Ryuutarou
SS  Akiyama Kousuke
P  Miki Keita

CF  Higashihara Masahi
2B  Watase Yuuya
RF  Kimura Hide
SS  Yoshimura Kousuke
LF  Kuroda Kouta
3B Kumamoto Shuu (#14)
1B  Furuta Rui (#5)
P  Nakatani Keita
C  Yamagishi Masaki (#17)

__________________________________________________
11:15 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Takeuchi is a stubborm leadoff batter and takes 8 pitches before hitting a ball pas a diving SS.  He then proceeds to steal 2nd with little effort.  Tenri and Nakatani in a pinch early.

Nakayama tries to put the bunt down, but he free bunts foul and there's one out!

And now Takeuchi makes a mistake.  He's caught off 2nd when a ball goes in the dirt and is thrown out!  2 down!

Nakatani gets Nagasaka to strike out looking and the inning is over!

Bottom 1st
Higashihara with a walk to start the 1st!  Watase bunts him along and Tenri has a chance!

That gets compounded when Kimura's grounder to 2nd is booted and everyone's safe!

But now it's Tenri's turn to make a mistake as Kimura tries to steal 2nd and is thrown out easily!

Yoshimura strikes out looking to end the inning and it's missed opportunities on both sides!

Top 2nd
Nakatani goes back into the fire immediately as Uchida singles through the left side!  He steals 2nd easily, and now a single to right by Oosawa puts runners at the corners with no down!

Hashimoto-kantoku calls for time.

Tenri's pitching looks rather pedestrian right now.  Nakantani is hitting only the high 120s-low 130s along with what seems like a circle change in the high 90s-low 100s.

Kanbe gets the job done, and while he grounds into the 6-4-3 DP, Uchida scores and it's 1-0.

Oh?  Hashimoto-kantoku pulls Nakatani for #11 Yamamoto Tatsuya.  In looking at the conference plus the fast pull it looks like the team isn't quite sure of the game plan.  About the only thing that makes sense is that they're going with the righty.

But it seems to be of no use as Kobayashi drives a ball over Kimura's head and to the wall!  He quickly rounds the bases for a triple!

The announcers mention that he has a slow curve, and possibly a slider.  If his main secondary is a slow curve, I worry about Tenri's prospects.

Akiyama flies out to center to end the inning, but not before Kendai takes the lead!

Bottom 2nd
Miki continues to pitch well, recording two quick outs.  But Furuta puts an end to that as he takes one into the opposite field gap for a double!

From what I see, Miki has a fastball in the high 120s-low 130s, a slider in the low 120s and a change of some sort in the100s.

That's as much as they can get though as Tatsuya grounds to 3rd to end the inning.

Top 3rd
Quick inning for Yamamoto in relief.  Miki grounds to short, though he almost beats the throw while Takeuchi fouls out to 3B and Nakayama goes down on 3 straight.

Bottom 3rd
Last batter Yamagishi up, makes good control, but lines out to center.

Higashihara gets ahead 3-0, but allows Miki to pump in 2 strikes to fill the count.  Still, he manages to work a walk.  Wakase , unable to bunt hits the first ball back at Miki.  It deflects off his leg, but stays in front of him.  He throws out the runner at 1st and seems fine.

And Kimura, instead of testing to see Miki's delivery, swings at the first pitch and pops out to 2nd to end the inning.

Top 4th
Well, Tatsuya has settled down nicely.  He records his 2nd 1-2-3 inning against the heart of the Kendai order.  Location of pitches look good and the batters aren't making good contact.

Bottom 4th
Miki records his 2nd K of the game as cleanup batter Yoshimura swings on a letter-high pitch away.

Kurota lifts a ball up on the first pitch and Nagasaka barely moves to catch it.

And while Kumamoto hits a hard grounder that bounces off Uchida, his throw beats a diving Kumamoto (dang it, stop doing that!)

By the way, does anyone notice that Miki's pace seems faster than when the game started?

Top 5th
Tatsuya loses control of a pitch and hits Kanbe to start off the 5th.  But Aoyagi-kantoku doesn't have Kobayashi bunt.  Instead, he grounds to 1st, and Furuta goes to 2nd for the lead runner.

Instead, Akiyama bunts, but it's right at Tatsuya who goes to 2nd for the force again.

And this time, to eliminate the force, Akiyama immediately steals 2nd.  Meanwhile, Miki is patient at the plate and manages to earn a walk after the count ran full.  That means that we're back to the top of the order and Takeuchi.

But he grounds to 1st.  Furuta tosses to Tatsuya and the inning is over.

Bottom 5th
Furuta takes the first pitch through the left side and Tenri as their 2nd leadoff runner on.

And now Tatsuya is hit by a pitch!

Yamagishi lays down a bunt, Miki goes to cover it, but rolls over Oosawa and falls down!  His throw to 1st is late and everyone's safe with no down!

Higashihara lays down the squeeze!  The Kendai defense is off guard and Miki's only throw is to 1st.  Tenri gets their douten run out of the way!  1-1!

Wakase with a single to right!  Tatsuya comes home!  Yamagishi is WHY ARE YOU SENDING HIM HOME?????

The throw from Kanbe is in plenty of time to get Yamagishi... *sighs*

And Kimura flies out to left to end the inning.

Tenri does get their gyakuten run to lead 2-1, but with bases loaded with no out it seems like it should have been more.

Top 6th
Coming out of the break, Tatsuya walks Nakayama putting the douten run on immediately.

Nagasaka up now and, hey!  That's the Evangelion theme song again!  Whee!

Oh, Nagasaka strikes out swinging, but Nakayama makes it equivalent to a sac bunt by stealing 2nd.

Uchida with a single back up through the middle!  Higashihara with it but the throw home is cut off.  Kendai comes right back to tie the game at 2-2!

Oosawa with a drive to left center!  Higashihara back to the wall and makes the catch!  Could they be finally adjusting to Tatsuya?

Kanbe up and Uchida takes off for 2nd!  He's in safely!

But Tatsuya induces a groundout to 3rd from Kanbe to end the inning, but not before he gives up the lead they just got!

Bottom 6th
Yoshimura leads off the inning with a single back up the middle!  But Kurota isn't bunting and swings away!

However, he flies out to center.

And now Kumamoto grounds into the 5-4-3 double play to quickly kill the inning!

And does anyone notice that Miki is going slower now?

Top 7th
Kobayashi grounds one through the right side for a leadoff single.

Akiyama with a ball into the left center field gap!  Kurota over to field it and he bobbles it!  Kobayashi is heading to 3rd and now being sent home!  The throw home is late and he scores!  Kurota's bobble costs them as Kobayashi scores all the way from 1st!  3-2 Kendai!

Miki proceeds to bunt Akiyama along to try and secure an insurance run.

Tatsuya throws it away!  He throws it inside when Yamagishi was looking for something away and now Kendai leads 4-2!

Nakayama hits a grounder to 2nd, but Watase boots it!  He can't recover and the inning continues!

Meanwhile, Tatsuya appears to be laboring.  His balls are falling short, and now Nakayama steals 2nd!

Grounder to short and now Yoshimura misplays it!  Nakamura scores to make it 5-2!

Uchida with a solid shot through the left side and I think they've gotten to Tatsuya now.

The inning finally ends when Uchida grounds out to short.  But Kendai retakes the lead in their lucky 7 and now Tenri's offense must find a way to get those runs back.

Bottom 7th
Fortunate start for Tenri in their lucky 7 as a grounder to short by Furuta is mishandled. But Tatsuya swings away on the first pitch and fouls out to Oosawa.

And what seemed like a fortunate start goes kaput quickly as Yamagishi grounds to Miki who then initiates the 1-6-3 double play.

Top 8th
Tatsuya was about to have a quick 1-2-3 inning, but Akiyama got stubborn fouling off pitch after pitch before finally grounding to short to end the inning.  Still though, they hold the lead.

Bottom 8th
Tenri gets a baserunner as Watase hits a high chopper over the mound.  Akiyama goes to field it, but loses the ball on the transfer and Watase is safe on the infield hit.

However, Kimura grounds to 3rd.  Uchida throws to 2nd, Nakayama makes the turn and throw just as he's taken out and they get the double play!

Top 9th
One down and top batter Takeuchi tests the defense by laying down a bunt.  The throw from Kumamoto is late and he's on safely.

And now Takeuchi takes off for 2nd and just slides in safely!

Aoyagi-kantoku then starts the hit-and-run and Nakayama lines one to right!  Takeuchi easily scores to make it 6-2.

Hashimoto-kantoku pulls the hook on Tatsuya and puts in #12 Urushihara.

His first batter Nagasaka tries to lay the bunt down, but pops it up!  Urushihara runs to the first base line... and drops it!  It's fair, his throw is late, and everyone's safe!!

Uchida follows that with a single to right!  That scores Nakayama and it's now 7-2.

Oosawa with the squeeze!  Urushihara's only play is to 1st and now its 8-2!  The game has completely gotten away from Hashimoto-kantoku.

And with one strike on Kanbe, Aoyagi-kantoku sends in #16 Takasugi.  And he hits one through the left side!  Uchida scores and they're now ahead 9-2.

#15 Morinaga comes in for Takasugi, and steals 2nd!

But the inning mercifully comes to an end as Kobayashi flies to center.

Bottom 9th
#14 Kouno comes in for Morinaga and takes over in RF.

Yoshimura with a liner to center, Takeuchi dives and misses the ball!  It rolls out to the wall as Yoshimura comes into 3rd!

#10 Sekiya comes to PH for Kurota and drives one to left!  Kobayashi goes back to the wall and the field holds it in.  Yoshimura scores to make it 9-3.

#3 Inabetsu comes in for Kumamoto, but pops out to 2nd.  2 down.

And Furuta grounds out to short.  The throw from Akiyama is wide, but Oosawa makes the tag to end the game.

Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi wins in a runaway 9-3 over Tenri.  They dominated in just about every stage of the game, but most importantly, they dominated on the mound.  Tenri didn't have a solid ace on the mound, couldn't hit and even had troubles on the field.  That combined led to the eventual rout.