Realistically, this game feels more like a Best 8 game or better in my opinion, and the fact that it's a 3rd round game is a shame really.
Because on one hand, you have the guy that broke and tied the old record for Ks in a 9-inning game in Matsui Yuuki of Toukou Gakuen (22 - 19), versus an Urasoe Shougyou squad who seems to do well at Koushien when they do actually qualify.
Toukou Gakuen (Kanagawa)
2B Suzuki Takumu
C Ukawa
CF Mizukai
RF Uekusa
LF Yamaguchi
1B Tanaka
P Matsui
SS Take
3B Nakano
Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa)
1B Agarie
CF Ooshiro Rishuu
P Miyazato
LF Goya
C Iraha
2B Touma
RF Teruya (#10)
3B Kise
SS Uchima
____________________________________________________________
10:16 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Takumu with a drive to right center!! Rishuu runnin back but gives up!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another leadoff homerun! This time by Toukou's Suzuki Takumu! Toukou leads 1-0!
Miyazato then strikes out Ukawa swinging, but then walks Mizukai on a full count, then turns around and strikes out Uekusa looking.
2 down and now Yamaguchi singles to center! Miyazato certainly looking a bit shaky in the early going.
He goes full on Tanaka before getting him to chase on a slider away to finally end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Agarie on an 0-2 pitch reaches out on a slider and pokes it to center for a base hit!
Rishuu not bunting, and flies out to right. Miyazato not bunting either, and he too flies out to right.
So Miyara-kantoku sends Agarie to 2nd, and no one's at 2nd for the throw from Ukawa! It's into center and Agarie into's 3rd!
But Goya grounds out to 2nd and the inning is over. Notice what's missing? Yep, a K.
Top 2nd
One down and Take singles to right center. Nakano going to bunt, and he's hit! Runners at 1st and 2nd as Takumu comes in.
After a ball, Miyara-kantoku calls for a conference.
Takumu is way ahead of a slow change and pops it up! Infield fly is called as Touma makes the catch.
And Ukawa can't hold off on a forkball and the side is retired.
Bottom 2nd
Iraha stands in and is very patient, taking some close pitches, including the 3-2 one that gives him the walk.
Touma tries the safety bunt up the right side, but Toukou's defense adjusts as Takumu tosses to Tanaka for the out.
Teruya being patient at the plate taking a lot of pitches. And once again, he holds off on the 3-2 pitch at the knees and takes the walk!
Kise up and he's just defending the plate. Down 0-2, he fouls one off before lining a soft one to 2nd! Takumu quick tosses to 2nd and they have the double play to end the inning!
Top 3rd
Mizukai with a drive to left! Goya running back to the fence!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Two HR's now for Toukou Gakuen and they lead 2-0!
Uekusa with a drive to right center! Rishuu sprinting over, dives, but misses it near the wall! Goya throws it in as Uekusa has a double!
Yamaguchi with a pop up! Uchima running back, gets turned around, but makes the catch! And Uekusa is caught way off 2nd and is thrown out! Bad baserunning there as he's doubled up. You prevent the out first and foremost, then take the base.
Tanaka pops out to Iraha in foul territory to end the inning, but Toukou has another run!
Bottom 3rd
But their strategy is clear. Make Matsui prove he's the K pitcher he is. Take as many pitches as possible, swing only when you have to. Make him throw strikes, and make him stay on the mound as long as possible.
In other words, it's a battle of attrittion.
After two more non-K outs, Rishuu singles to right! And on a pickoff move by Matsui, he's called for a balk! Rishuu advances to 2nd!
He wants more! He takes off on the 1-0 pitch and slides in safely! Their first run 90 feet away!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matsui finally records his first K on an inside slider!
Top 4th
2 down and Nakano singles through the middle to center and he reaches safely for the 2nd time.
But that's all they get as Takumu hits a comebacker to Miyazato to end the inning.
Bottom 4th
Goya falls behind 0-2, and grounds out to short.
Iraha works the count full yet again, but freezes on a slider.
Touma works the count full after going behind 0-2, but chases the slider for Matsui's 3rd K.
Top 5th
Ukawa tuns the tables on Miyazato a bit and works the count full, drawing a walk. Mizukai bunts him to 2nd.
But Uekusa falls behind 1-2, and flies out to center.
Conference on the mound as Yamaguchi stands in.
He hits a ball to shallow center! Goya running in, dives, and makes the catch!! Great diving catch by Goya saves another run from scoring and ends the inning!
Bottom 5th
Urashou's strategy might be unraveling here in the 5th. Teruya swings on the first pitch and grounds to short. Kise works the count full, but chases a slider again for a K.
And Uchima tries to bloop one over Takumu, but he makes a great leaping catch to retire the side!
We hit the break with 2 HR's from Toukou Gakuen being the difference in the game, but will Matsui be able to finish the game?
Top 6th
One down, Matsui hits a foul fly down the right field side, Teruya down the 1st base fence makes the leaping catch.
Take with a squibbler up the right side. Agarie fields it, but his toss to Miyazato is late!
Now Nakano follows that with a single to left! Small chance for Toukou as Miyara-kantoku calls for time.
Top of the order and Takumu steps in. Miyazato misses on the first two, and now Agarie goes to talk to him.
Pitch outisde, but Takumu swings! Now a change now at the knees for strike 2!
But Takumu drives a ball to the opposite field! Goya and Rishuu both try and chase it down in left center! No good! It falls in front of the wall! Take scores! Nakano from 1st, he comes around to score! Takumu slides in with a triple and it's now 4-0!!
And perhaps a batter too late, Miyara-kantoku sends in Teruya from the outfield to replace Miyazato on the hill. He gets Ukawa to groundout to 2nd to end the inning, but the damage has been done. Now Urashou faces a 4-run deficit.
I didn't think that when I was talking about a pitcher fatiguing, it'd be Urashou's ace.
Bottom 6th
It's really coming apart for Urashou now. Agarie swings on the first pitch and flies to center. Rishuu, behind 1-2, swings and misses on the slider. And Miyazato works the count full, but can only watch a fastball down the middle for strike 3.
Top 7th
Teruya doing what he can in relief. Mizukai fouls out to right, Uekusa drives a ball to deep left, but Goya is there in front of the fence for the 2nd out.
Almost gets a 1-2-3 inning, but "gently" hits Yamaguchi.
...Then walks Tanaka on 4 straight.
But Matsui grounds out to 2nd and no damage done.
Bottom 7th
With a 4-run lead, Matsui is attacking the zone more. Goya falls behind 1-2, flies to left. Iraha goes to 2-2 and flies out right. And Touma falls behind 1-2, grounds to 2nd.
Top 8th
After recording 2 outs Takumu is hit by Teruya. Doubt it's on purpose or frustration, just trying to pitch inside.
Ukawa flies to center and that's the inning.
Bottom 8th
Teruya with a drive to left! Yamaguchi running back to the fence!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well! Teruya gets a run back all by himself with a HR off of what may be considered the most dominating pitcher at Koushien so far! It's 4-1!
#15 Ooshiro Shou comes in to hit for Kise. He works the count full.
SANSHIN!!! Shou chases a fastball high and away for the first out!
Well, I think Matsui is just rearing back and throwing the fastball. Uchima is fed a diet of them and cannot catch up to a 145 and goes down swinging.
And Agarie cannot do much either. Down a quick 0-2, he chases a high fastball and goes down for the 9th K.
They get a run, but there's a long ways to go.
Top 9th
Shou stays in the game to play 3B.
One down and Uekusa checks in with his 2nd hit, a simple liner to right.
Yamaguchi hits a grounder to 2nd, but Touma double clutches and then thows it away! Everyone's safe!
Tanaka with a grounder to Touma again! He fumbles it again, but manages to make the toss to 2nd.
Uekusa not stopping is sent home! He tries to catch the Urasoe defense off-guard, but Uchima makes the throw home for the out.
Bottom 9th
Last ups as the oen-dan whistles Haisai Oji-san. Rishuu though goes down swinging.
Miyazato get a hold of a slider and drives it to left! Yamaguchi chasing it to the left field line, off the padding! He's in with a double!
Cleanup batter Goya standing in now. Behind 2-2, watches a fastball just miss outside!
Slider in the dirt! He walks! Now the douten run will be stepping into the box! Noro-kantoku will call time.
#13 Kinjyou Kai will hit for Iraha.
Full swing fouls it off of Ukawa's mask!
Swings on a slider and is behind 0-2! Can you be that clutch cold against a guy like Matsui?
NO! He, like many before him, chase a slider in the dirt and goes down for the 2nd out.
One last out for Matsui. Another conference on the mound, as Touma steps in. He's 1-9. His only hit? A homerun.
Matsui falls behind 2-0. Takes a fastball outside for ball 3!
Takes a little off and catches the outside edge. And Touma chases a high fastball! Full count!
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Touma is ahead of a 136 kph fastball and Toukou Gakuen advances to the Best 8!
Urasoe's strategy was the best I've seen, and it almost worked even though it looked like all was lost in the late innings. They made Matsui work as hard as I've ever seen him work in the early innings. And near the end, he almost gave out. But they gave themselves a chance, and that's all you can ask for. Yeah, Miyazato taking it about as hard if not more than I've seen anyone. But you know what, you did very well, even if the score or the stats don't show it.
For Toukou Gakuen, Matsui will have to recover as they will have to turn around quickly as they will face a Kousei Gakuin team that is determined to make the finals more than I think any other team. Matsui has carreid this team further than any prior team, and he'll need to dig deep tomorrow.
Notable Players
Matsui Yuuki (Toukou Gakuen) - CG, ER, 4 H, 12 K, 3 BB
Suzuki Takumu (Toukou Gakuen) - 2-4, 3B, HR, R, 3 RBI
Mizukai Shouta (Toukou Gakuen) - 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB
Uekusa Yuuta (Toukou Gakuen) - 2-5, 2B, K
Teruya Hikaru (Urasoe Shougyou) - 3.1 IP, H, K, BB, 2 HBP
Miyazato Taiyuu (Urasoe Shougyou) - 1-4, 2B, 2 K
Teruya Hikaru (Urasoe Shougyou) - 1-2, HR, R, RBI, BB
Showing posts with label Urasoe Shougyou. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Urasoe Shougyou. Show all posts
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Day 8, Game 3 - Takigawa Dai-ni (Hyogo) vs. Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa)
Urasoe Shougyou did not disappoint me in their opening round game against Aikoudai Meiden. They jumped on ace Haamda very quickly for a 2-0 lead, then Meiden's defense helped them with 3 more. Now, both ace Miyazato and reliever Teruya had their own issues that day each giving up 2 runs apiece, and the fact that Urashou's offense stalled after going up 5-0 managing just 2 hits and 2 walks over the last 6 innings.
Takigawa Dai-ni played a level match against Kita-Ootsu, falling behind 4-1 before leveling the score before the mid-game break, and pushing through the winning run in the 8th.
Admittedly, I was concerned about the game for Takigawa Dai-ni because early on it didn't look good for them (I had favored them in the matchup). Kita-Ootsu had baserunners in scoring position in each of the first 7 innings so ace Satou was under some stress for a good portion of the game.
The fact that both teams played close games, but that Urasoe Shougyou defeated Aikoudai Meiden probably gives them an advantage. The question will be if the tandem of Miyazato/Teruya can hold up for the entire game.
Takigawa Dai-ni (Hyogo)
2B Matsuo
SS Mori
LF Fujikawa
1B Baba
RF Oshibe
CF Sawada
C Oosugi
3B Takeue
P Satou
Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa)
1B Agarie
CF Ooshiro Rishuu
LF Goya
P Miyazato
2B Touma
C Iraha
RF Tamaki Daijirou
3B Kise
SS Uchima
____________________________________________________________
13:25 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Miyazato starting off nicely with a flyout to right by Matsuo, and a foul fly near the camera well by Mori. Fujiwara making it a little difficult filling up the count and fouling off a couple before flying out to center to end the inning,
Bottom 1st
Agarie with a drive to left center that completely splits the defense ! Agarie flying around the bases and he slides in with an easy leadoff triple!
Rishuu up looking for a way to get the run in. Hits one to left center. Sawada running over and back, makes the catch, and Agarie scores without a throw to make it 1-0 Urashou right off the bat!
Goya goes down on the slider for the 2nd out, but Urashou still finding the bat on Satou's pitches as Miyazato singles to right.
Touma grounds into the fielders choice at short, but Urashou's bats look good early dealing the first strike in the battle!
Top 2nd
Miyazato fighting control issues? He walks Baba on 4 straight.
Oshibe not bunting here, falls behind 1-2. And gets rung op on a fastball on the way outside corner.
Sawada up and now Shibutani-kantoku calls for the bunt. He lays it down and it's up to Oosugi to deliver the hit.
But Oosugi is fooled as Iraha frames outside, but the fastball is over the plate for strike 3! Miyazato out of the inning.
Bottom 2nd
One down and Daijirou singles to right.
Miyara-kantoku with the hit-and-run! Kise delivers a single to center! Daijirou goes for 3 as Sawada tries to gun him down! Throw is just a little late and Daijirou is safe! Meanwhile Kise continued on to 2nd and reaches safely!
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uchima lays down the squeeze bunt! Satou there to field the ball, but has no play at home! Goes to first and Urashou has the 2-0 lead!
Agarie flies out to left to end the inning, but Urashou pings Takigawa Dai-ni for another run!
Top 3rd
After getting ahead of Takeue 0-2, he runs the count full before getting him to chase a high outside fastball for the K.
Satou a stubborn thorn for Miyazato at the plate, fouling off pitch after pitch. But on the 9th pitch he finally gets him to wave at a slider away for the K.
Matsuo with a shot past a diving Agarie into right for a single. He takes off on the 1-0 pitch and slides in under the throw.
But Mori gets under one and flies to left and ending the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Goya with a liner to left. Fujikawa running back, and it's off the end of the glove! He chases it to the foul pole and Goya's in with a double!
Miyazato with a drive the other way! Sawada running back, chases it, one bounds to the wall! Goya scores to make it 3-0 Urashou!
After a ball to Touma, Shibutani-kantoku calls for time.
Touma with a ball to center! Sawada running in, dives, and misses it!!!!!!!
The ball quickly heads to the wall as Touma flies around the bases! Oshibe with the ball and Touma's being waved home! Relay throw not in time and it's an inside the park HR! The gamble from Sawada does not pay off and now Takigawa Dai-ni is really behind the 8-ball as Urashou takes the 5-0 lead!
Iraha and Daijirou are quickly retired, but instead of just being pinged for one run, Takigawa felt the pressure, gambled and lost and now has taken a direct hit.
Top 4th
After two easy infield out for the defense, Oshibe reaches down and lightly singles to left.
Sawada patient at the plate, and draws the walk. Iraha goes to talk with Miyazato and then Miyara-kantoku makes it a full conference.
Miyazato continues to have control issues as he misses badly falling behind 3-1 before getting Oosugi to foul one off.
But Oosugi chases the slider and goes down, leaving a pair on base.
Bottom 4th
One down and Uchima singles to center. Miyara-kantoku tries for the hit-and-run, but Agarie misses and Uchima is thrown out by a wide margin for the 2nd out.
Agarie then replaces the runner back on the bases with a base hit down the left field line for a double.
But a liner by Rishuu is snowconed by Mori to finally put up a zero for Urashou.
Top 5th
Satou taking that outside slider the other way past a diving Agarie into right for a one-out single.
Matsuo with a pop just outside the infield in left, and Uchima going back makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Mori again takes a pitch the opposite way and now Takaigawa has runners on 1st and 2nd for Fujikawa, but with 2 down.
Miyazato wiggles out of this one with another swinging miss on a slider to Fujikawa.
Bottom 5th
Goya, ahead 3-1 lines one to right for a single.
After a flyout by Miyazato, Touma hits a grounder up the middle. Mori makes the short toss to Matsuo for the force, but can't turn the backend of the double play.
Iraha flies out to left to end the inning, and we head to the break with Urasoe Shougyou holding on to the early 5-0 lead it built.
Top 6th
It's a quick 1-2-3 inning for Miyazato after the break as he just needs 8 pitches to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
Field temperature has hit over 105F. That's hot.
One down, Kise checks in with his 2nd hit, a single to left. Uchima lays down the bunt again looking for a timely hit from Agarie - who already has a triple and double.
He doesn't get to try and get one step closer to the cycle as he's hit.
Rishuu goes down swinging, and it's another 0 for Satou. But his offense needs to start narrowing the gap and quickly.
Top 7th
Oosugi with a slicer down the right field line fair! Daijirou with the ball, but Oosugi in with a leadoff double! Miyara-kantoku calls for time.
Takeue with a drive to right center! Rishuu running back, makes the catch on the fly! Oosugi tags up on the play.
Now #12 Abe comes to hit for Satou as his day is finished. He hits a grounder to short that bounces off and in front of Uchima! He gathers it in and throws to 1st for the out, but Oosugi held at 3rd!
Now there's 2 down and Matsuo needs to deliver the run here.
He does! He lines a single right and Oosugi walks in to make it 5-1!
Mori with a fly foul down the 1st base side. Daijirou runs over, leaps at the padding, collides with the fence, AND MAKES THE CATCH! Now that's selling out there because he jumped over the padding and collided with the fence.
Bottom 7th
#12 Ushio comes in for PH Abe and will take over in relief of Satou. He's a side-thrower with not much velocity.
Goya reaches out and pokes a ball back up the middle past Mori into center.
After a popout and a sac bunt, Miyara-kantoku sends in #13 Kinjyou Kai to hit for Iraha.
Kai with a drive to left center! Sawada chasing back after it, it's over his head! Goya scores easily as Kai slides in with a PH triple! It's 6-1 Urashou!
#16 Arazaki comes in to run for Kai.
But Daijirou grounds to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 8th
Pitching and defensive changes for Urashou.
Oshibe with a liner to right. Miyazato with a late break back, reaches up and makes the catch! Miyara-kantoku with the expression of "What were you doing??"
Fumika has to defend himself as Sawada hits one back to him. He makes the grab and toss to 1st to retire the side.
Bottom 8th
Kise draws a leadoff walk. Miyara puts on the hit-and-run and Uchima hits one into the hole in left. But Mori makes a great stop! And he throws to 2nd where Kise took too big of a turn and he's thrown out! One down.
The next two batters ground out and it's closing time for Urasoe Shougyou.
Top 9th
Oosugi with a groundout to short. #15 Enomoto in to hit for Takaue pops out to Touma in shallow center.
Last chance in #13 Tanaka Yuuji who is hitting for Ushio. But he grounds to short and the game is over.
Urasoe Shougyou right from the get-go put the foot on the gas putting Takaigawa Dai-ni down early. The pressure lead to a inside the park HR and a large uphill climb. Miyara-kantoku managed a good game in that he wanted to keep the pressure on, but wanted to shorten the game to rest his players, especially relieving his battery after 7.
So Urasoe Shougyou is again poised to make a deep run at Koushien and is one win away from the Best 8, though their sights are set just a little higher than that.
Takigawa Dai-ni just couldn't keep up with Urasoe Shougyou. But they had an impressive comeback win with against Kita-Ootsu, so on the overall while they didn't go as far as they'd like, they still made a good showing.
Notable Players
Miyazato Taiyuu (Urasoe Shougyou) - 7 IP, ER, 6 H, 6 K, 2 BB
Agarie Kyousuke (Urasoe Shougyou) - 2-4, 2B, 3B, R, HBP
Goya Yoshihiro? (Urasoe Shougyou) - 3-4, 2B 2 R, K
Touma ? (Urasoe Shougyou) - 1-3, Running HR, 2 RBI
Kise Yuuki (Urasoe Shouyou) - 2-3, K, BB
Matsuo Kouhei (Takigawa Dai-ni) - 2-4, RBI, SB
Oosugi Yuuto (Takigawa Dai-ni) - 1-4, 2B, 2K
Takigawa Dai-ni played a level match against Kita-Ootsu, falling behind 4-1 before leveling the score before the mid-game break, and pushing through the winning run in the 8th.
Admittedly, I was concerned about the game for Takigawa Dai-ni because early on it didn't look good for them (I had favored them in the matchup). Kita-Ootsu had baserunners in scoring position in each of the first 7 innings so ace Satou was under some stress for a good portion of the game.
The fact that both teams played close games, but that Urasoe Shougyou defeated Aikoudai Meiden probably gives them an advantage. The question will be if the tandem of Miyazato/Teruya can hold up for the entire game.
Takigawa Dai-ni (Hyogo)
2B Matsuo
SS Mori
LF Fujikawa
1B Baba
RF Oshibe
CF Sawada
C Oosugi
3B Takeue
P Satou
Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa)
1B Agarie
CF Ooshiro Rishuu
LF Goya
P Miyazato
2B Touma
C Iraha
RF Tamaki Daijirou
3B Kise
SS Uchima
____________________________________________________________
13:25 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Miyazato starting off nicely with a flyout to right by Matsuo, and a foul fly near the camera well by Mori. Fujiwara making it a little difficult filling up the count and fouling off a couple before flying out to center to end the inning,
Bottom 1st
Agarie with a drive to left center that completely splits the defense ! Agarie flying around the bases and he slides in with an easy leadoff triple!
Rishuu up looking for a way to get the run in. Hits one to left center. Sawada running over and back, makes the catch, and Agarie scores without a throw to make it 1-0 Urashou right off the bat!
Goya goes down on the slider for the 2nd out, but Urashou still finding the bat on Satou's pitches as Miyazato singles to right.
Touma grounds into the fielders choice at short, but Urashou's bats look good early dealing the first strike in the battle!
Top 2nd
Miyazato fighting control issues? He walks Baba on 4 straight.
Oshibe not bunting here, falls behind 1-2. And gets rung op on a fastball on the way outside corner.
Sawada up and now Shibutani-kantoku calls for the bunt. He lays it down and it's up to Oosugi to deliver the hit.
But Oosugi is fooled as Iraha frames outside, but the fastball is over the plate for strike 3! Miyazato out of the inning.
Bottom 2nd
One down and Daijirou singles to right.
Miyara-kantoku with the hit-and-run! Kise delivers a single to center! Daijirou goes for 3 as Sawada tries to gun him down! Throw is just a little late and Daijirou is safe! Meanwhile Kise continued on to 2nd and reaches safely!
SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uchima lays down the squeeze bunt! Satou there to field the ball, but has no play at home! Goes to first and Urashou has the 2-0 lead!
Agarie flies out to left to end the inning, but Urashou pings Takigawa Dai-ni for another run!
Top 3rd
After getting ahead of Takeue 0-2, he runs the count full before getting him to chase a high outside fastball for the K.
Satou a stubborn thorn for Miyazato at the plate, fouling off pitch after pitch. But on the 9th pitch he finally gets him to wave at a slider away for the K.
Matsuo with a shot past a diving Agarie into right for a single. He takes off on the 1-0 pitch and slides in under the throw.
But Mori gets under one and flies to left and ending the inning.
Bottom 3rd
Goya with a liner to left. Fujikawa running back, and it's off the end of the glove! He chases it to the foul pole and Goya's in with a double!
Miyazato with a drive the other way! Sawada running back, chases it, one bounds to the wall! Goya scores to make it 3-0 Urashou!
After a ball to Touma, Shibutani-kantoku calls for time.
Touma with a ball to center! Sawada running in, dives, and misses it!!!!!!!
The ball quickly heads to the wall as Touma flies around the bases! Oshibe with the ball and Touma's being waved home! Relay throw not in time and it's an inside the park HR! The gamble from Sawada does not pay off and now Takigawa Dai-ni is really behind the 8-ball as Urashou takes the 5-0 lead!
Iraha and Daijirou are quickly retired, but instead of just being pinged for one run, Takigawa felt the pressure, gambled and lost and now has taken a direct hit.
Top 4th
After two easy infield out for the defense, Oshibe reaches down and lightly singles to left.
Sawada patient at the plate, and draws the walk. Iraha goes to talk with Miyazato and then Miyara-kantoku makes it a full conference.
Miyazato continues to have control issues as he misses badly falling behind 3-1 before getting Oosugi to foul one off.
But Oosugi chases the slider and goes down, leaving a pair on base.
Bottom 4th
One down and Uchima singles to center. Miyara-kantoku tries for the hit-and-run, but Agarie misses and Uchima is thrown out by a wide margin for the 2nd out.
Agarie then replaces the runner back on the bases with a base hit down the left field line for a double.
But a liner by Rishuu is snowconed by Mori to finally put up a zero for Urashou.
Top 5th
Satou taking that outside slider the other way past a diving Agarie into right for a one-out single.
Matsuo with a pop just outside the infield in left, and Uchima going back makes the catch for the 2nd out.
Mori again takes a pitch the opposite way and now Takaigawa has runners on 1st and 2nd for Fujikawa, but with 2 down.
Miyazato wiggles out of this one with another swinging miss on a slider to Fujikawa.
Bottom 5th
Goya, ahead 3-1 lines one to right for a single.
After a flyout by Miyazato, Touma hits a grounder up the middle. Mori makes the short toss to Matsuo for the force, but can't turn the backend of the double play.
Iraha flies out to left to end the inning, and we head to the break with Urasoe Shougyou holding on to the early 5-0 lead it built.
Top 6th
It's a quick 1-2-3 inning for Miyazato after the break as he just needs 8 pitches to retire the side.
Bottom 6th
Field temperature has hit over 105F. That's hot.
One down, Kise checks in with his 2nd hit, a single to left. Uchima lays down the bunt again looking for a timely hit from Agarie - who already has a triple and double.
He doesn't get to try and get one step closer to the cycle as he's hit.
Rishuu goes down swinging, and it's another 0 for Satou. But his offense needs to start narrowing the gap and quickly.
Top 7th
Oosugi with a slicer down the right field line fair! Daijirou with the ball, but Oosugi in with a leadoff double! Miyara-kantoku calls for time.
Takeue with a drive to right center! Rishuu running back, makes the catch on the fly! Oosugi tags up on the play.
Now #12 Abe comes to hit for Satou as his day is finished. He hits a grounder to short that bounces off and in front of Uchima! He gathers it in and throws to 1st for the out, but Oosugi held at 3rd!
Now there's 2 down and Matsuo needs to deliver the run here.
He does! He lines a single right and Oosugi walks in to make it 5-1!
Mori with a fly foul down the 1st base side. Daijirou runs over, leaps at the padding, collides with the fence, AND MAKES THE CATCH! Now that's selling out there because he jumped over the padding and collided with the fence.
Bottom 7th
#12 Ushio comes in for PH Abe and will take over in relief of Satou. He's a side-thrower with not much velocity.
Goya reaches out and pokes a ball back up the middle past Mori into center.
After a popout and a sac bunt, Miyara-kantoku sends in #13 Kinjyou Kai to hit for Iraha.
Kai with a drive to left center! Sawada chasing back after it, it's over his head! Goya scores easily as Kai slides in with a PH triple! It's 6-1 Urashou!
#16 Arazaki comes in to run for Kai.
But Daijirou grounds to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 8th
Pitching and defensive changes for Urashou.
- Miyazato moves from the mound to RF.
- #12 Kuninaka comes in for PR Arazaki and takes over at C.
- #11 Kinjyou (Fumika?) comes in for Daijirou and takes over on the mound.
Oshibe with a liner to right. Miyazato with a late break back, reaches up and makes the catch! Miyara-kantoku with the expression of "What were you doing??"
Fumika has to defend himself as Sawada hits one back to him. He makes the grab and toss to 1st to retire the side.
Bottom 8th
Kise draws a leadoff walk. Miyara puts on the hit-and-run and Uchima hits one into the hole in left. But Mori makes a great stop! And he throws to 2nd where Kise took too big of a turn and he's thrown out! One down.
The next two batters ground out and it's closing time for Urasoe Shougyou.
Top 9th
Oosugi with a groundout to short. #15 Enomoto in to hit for Takaue pops out to Touma in shallow center.
Last chance in #13 Tanaka Yuuji who is hitting for Ushio. But he grounds to short and the game is over.
Urasoe Shougyou right from the get-go put the foot on the gas putting Takaigawa Dai-ni down early. The pressure lead to a inside the park HR and a large uphill climb. Miyara-kantoku managed a good game in that he wanted to keep the pressure on, but wanted to shorten the game to rest his players, especially relieving his battery after 7.
So Urasoe Shougyou is again poised to make a deep run at Koushien and is one win away from the Best 8, though their sights are set just a little higher than that.
Takigawa Dai-ni just couldn't keep up with Urasoe Shougyou. But they had an impressive comeback win with against Kita-Ootsu, so on the overall while they didn't go as far as they'd like, they still made a good showing.
Notable Players
Miyazato Taiyuu (Urasoe Shougyou) - 7 IP, ER, 6 H, 6 K, 2 BB
Agarie Kyousuke (Urasoe Shougyou) - 2-4, 2B, 3B, R, HBP
Goya Yoshihiro? (Urasoe Shougyou) - 3-4, 2B 2 R, K
Touma ? (Urasoe Shougyou) - 1-3, Running HR, 2 RBI
Kise Yuuki (Urasoe Shouyou) - 2-3, K, BB
Matsuo Kouhei (Takigawa Dai-ni) - 2-4, RBI, SB
Oosugi Yuuto (Takigawa Dai-ni) - 1-4, 2B, 2K
Friday, August 10, 2012
Day 3, Game 1 - Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi) vs. Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa)
Yesterday was a mixed bag of games. You had a team finally complete a comeback win in Sakushin Gakuin, a closely contested match between Risshoudai Shounan and Moriokadai Fuzoku, records set by Toukou Gakuen's ace Matsui Yuuki, and the guilty blowout (sorry Kitsuki, I really wanted you to put up a good performance).
Today, we open the action with 2 teams who could be contenders to the title, and if nothing else are favorites to advance out of Block B - Urasoe Shougyou and Aikoudai Meiden.
Urasoe Shougyou is definitely more of the unknown quantity here in the matchup. Looking at their historical performance, they don't make it to Koushien as often as other schools, but they make their appearances count.
This year, they had 4 hotly contested games against Kounan, Kadena, a game Maehara squad, and finally Okinawa Shougaku to win their 4th ever summer title. In fact the total run differential between all 4 games was a mere 7 runs.
So carrying a 0.307 team batting average isn't necessarily as bad as it might seem. I don't have information on individual games, so I can't really key in on certain players to watch. As for the pitcher(s) on the mound, Miyara-kantoku uses a combination of ace Miyazato (who features a good curveball) and #10 Teruya (who can supposedly hit 150 kph) in all their games. It didn't work for Kitsuki, but no offense to Kitsuki, Urasoe Shougyou is no Kitsuki.
That's not to say the tandem doesn't have issues. Against Futenma, they gave up 7 runs. And in the final against Okinawa Shougaku they conceded 5 more runs. So it's certainly far from perfect.
And they'll be tested early as they face an Aikoudai Meiden squad looking to improve on the quarterfinal appearance in the spring when they faded late against runner-up Kousei Gakuin.
Meiden early on wound up drawing last year's Aichi representative, Shigakukan, and scored all their runs in the middle innings for an 8-5 win. After yet another scare against relative unknown Aichi Sangyoudai Kougyou, they eventually made it to the finals where they were 3 outs away from being eliminated by Touhou. That's when Touhou experienced an almost fatal self-destruction as they gave up both runs. The damage suffered would prove to be fatal 2 innings later, and thus Aikoudai Meiden finds themselves back at Koushien.
The offensive issues Meiden had in the spring still persist as they hit a sub-average 0.316. They'll need their 2-3-4 batters to step up and carry the squad as Hamada, though strong, may have issues with fatigue should they make a deep run.
Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi)
2B Kimura
3B Nakano
SS Satou
1B Torii
RF Matsuoka (#15)
LF Matsui
CF Araki
P Hamada
C Nakamura
Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa)
1B Agarie
CH Ooshiro Rishuu
2B Touma
P Miyazato
C Iraha
LF Goya
RF Teruya (#10)
3B Kise
SS Uchima
__________________________________________________
9:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Meiden's batters are making contact on Miyazato's pitches, but aren't making solid hits. Kimura and Nakano both softly fly out to center, and Satou grounds out to 1st.
Bottom 1st
Hamada with a quick inning. First pitch groundout to Agarie, Rishuu goes down swinging on 4 pitches, and Touma hits a routine grounder back to Hamada.
Top 2nd
Much of the same for Miyazato. Torii, Matsuoka and Matsui all ground out to the left side of the infield.
Bottom 2nd
Miyazato with a drive to right center. Araki running back to the wall!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ace Miyazato gets a hold of a hanger and drives it opposite field for a home run! Urasoe Shougyou takes the 1-0 lead!
Now with one down Goya hits a hard single back up the middle. Hamada getting hit hard here in the 2nd.
Teruya with a swinging bunt up the 3rd base line, Nakano takes his time to get to the ball, and his throw is late... and high! It gets past Torii and now Goya takes 3rd!
Kise with the squeeze bunt! It's perfectly placed and Torii can only go to 1st! Goya scores to make it 2-0 Urashou!
Uchima fouls out to right field and the inning is over, but not before Urasoe Shougyou gets to Hamada for a pair of runs!
Top 3rd
After 2 more routine outs, last batter Nakamura gets Meiden's first hit on a ball back up the middle past Uchima into center.
Kimura though flies out to right as Teruya makes a leaping catch while jogging for the 3rd out. Meiden missing on making good contact with the ball.
Bottom 3rd
Agarie leads off the 3rd with a roller that shoots through the infield into right. Rishuu bunts him along for Touma.
Hamada's numbers haven't changed really - fastball in the mid-upper 130s, slider in the high 120s and a curve in the high 100-low 110s.
Touma with a routine grounder to short, but Satou misses the ball! Everyone's safe, and Miyazato's coming to bat!
He hits a slow chopper back to Hamada, and now Hamada misses fielding it! It deflects to the left side and by the time he can get to it everyone's safe!!
Iraha tries the squeeze on the 1-1 count, but pops it foul. He'll have to swing away... and goes down swinging on a high fastball for the 2nd out.
Goya with a drive to right center! Araki and Matsuoka running back to the wall, still running!!
It's off the fence and bounces back to the infield! Matsuoka gets the ball in, but not before Goya clears the bases on a triple, giving Urashou the 5-0 lead!!
Hamada finally ends the inning by jamming Teruya, but Hamada is getting killed on the mound. A 5-0 deficit for Meiden will be hard to make up, but they do have time.
Top 4th
Nakano with a bid for a base hit to the right side, but Touma makes the great diving stop and throws him out!
Satou manages to scoot one past Touma this time and into center for a hit.
Torii connects hard, but hits a liner right at Rishuu for the 2nd out.
Matsuoka bloops one to right allowing Satou to advance to 3rd. Miyara-kantoku calls for time.
Matsui with a hard grounder to short. Uchima makes a diving stop, but can't find the ball! He finds it, makes a snap throw to 1st... but it's over everyone!! Satou scores! Matsuoka scores on the play and Meiden's on the board at 5-2!
There's time on the field as Uchima got dirt in his eye and had to get it cleaned out. He sprints out squinting a bit, but otherwise fine.
Araki with a grounder to 1st, Agarie gathers it on a tricky hop and goes to the bag for the 3rd out. Meiden cuts into the deficit, but there's still work to do!
Bottom 4th
Hamada settles down, at least against the bottom of the order, quickly retiring the 8-9-1 batters in order which included 2 K's. Now if only he can do that against the heart of the order.
Top 5th
Hamada leads off with a solid single back up the middle. Miyara-kantoku decides this is a good time and switches pitchers sending Teruya to the mound and Miyazato to right.
Nakamura despite getting a hit in his last AB bunts, but Teruya fields it quickly and guns down Hamada at 2nd!
Kimura hits a ball back up the middle, but right at Uchima! He underhands to Touma who fires to 1st for the double play!
Bottom 5th
Well, that's a first. 2 down, Miyazato up, he swings and loses the bat! It flies and lands in front of the Meiden dugout. Miyazato goes to gather it , then goes back to his dugout and changes gloves.
And then goes down swinging on the next pitch... Hamada has 6 K's, but more importantly has given up 5 runs and his team trails heading into the break,
Top 6th
One down and Satou draws a walk. Then Torii drives one deep in the left center field gap! Goya and Rishuu converge on the ball , but it falls in behind them right in front of the wall! Satou scores all the way from first and Meiden gets another run back! It's 5-3!
Teruya's problems continue as he walks Matsuoka, putting the douten runner on base! Miyara-kantoku calls for time, as the momentum is starting to swing to Meiden.
Matsuoka takes off on the first pitch and Iraha's throw is late! Now a base hit could tie the game!
And it's a wild pitch! No! The umpire (rightly) claims a dead ball! While it's manrui, the wild pitch would have scored a run! Will it be a good break for Urashou?
Araki hits a fly to center, but it's too shallow and Torii can't tag up! Teruya about to get out of the jam!
But he hits Hamada on the first pitch! Oshidashi dead ball as Torii finally comes home to make it 5-4!
Last batter Nakamura up to try and get the douten and perhaps gyakuten runner in.
SANSHIN!!! Teruya blows a high 147 kph fastball by him for the 3rd out! Meiden gets another pair of runs, but still finds themselves behind Urashou!
Bottom 6th
Well that was an uneventful half inning. Hamada still isn't looking sharp, but at least he's missing in the right places. He gets an easy popup (as long as Araki and Matsuoka don't collide), and 2 routine grounders.
Top 7th
So Hamada has settled down, and Meiden has scored 2 pairs of runs. Do they at least have one more run left in them?
One down and Nakano singles just in front of Goya. Satou showing bunt, but not offering so far....
Instead he swings away and is jammed! He flies out to left for the 2nd out.
Torii gets way under one and pops it up! Touma has plenty of time and secure the ball for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
After a long AB that saw C Nakamura get hit by another foul ball, Kise draws a walk.
Uchima lays a hard drag bunt to 2nd, and no one is there! By the time Kimura is there to field it, everyone's safe! Big pinch for Hamada!
But Nakamura catches Kise way off base on a bunt play, throws to 2nd and Satou makes a great diving tag to get Kise out.
Agarie, behind 2-2, thows his bat at the ball and it manages to hit it towards 1st! Torii makes the tag, but it advances the runner.
Rishuu gets around on a ball and hits a ball to shallow right! Matsuoka charges in but can't get to it! Uchima comes home as the throw is cutoff and Urashou leads 6-4!
Rishuu is subsequently picked off, but they get the insurance run!
Top 8th
Teruya's control problems persist as he walks Matsuoka on 4 straight. Miyara-kantoku elects to bring Miyazato back onto the mound to get the final 6 outs.
Matsui showing bunt down 2 this late? He lays it down, but it dies right in front of the plate! Iraha is able to fire to 2nd and cut down Matsuoka!
Now Oofuji-kantoku sends in #9 Touda in to hit for Araki. But he grounds to 2nd. Touma makes a great flip to 2nd for the 2nd out.
It's up to Hamada who drives one to deep center! Rishuu running back, still running back... stops in front of the wall and makes the catch for the 3rd out! Hamada hits it to the deepest part of the park and it just falls short. Miyazato breathes a sigh of relief as the side is retired.
Bottom 8th
Touda stays in the game in center.
Iraha draws a 2-out walk, but that's inconsequential Hamada get the final out.
Top 9th
#9 Tamaki comes in for Teruya and takes over in RF as a defensive replacement.
Meiden finds themselves down to their last 3 outs again down 2 runs, much like the Aichi final.
Nakamura first pitch grounds to 3rd. Back to the top of the order and Kimura.
And on a full count, he drives the ball into the right center field gap for a double!
Nakano with a hard hit to right, but Tamaki is there for the catch. Kimura advances to 3rd, but what matters is the run at the plate as that is the douten run.
It's up to Satou to keep the game alive.
But two swings and he falls behind 1-2! Down to their last strike!
Ball in the dirt for ball 2... Satou hits one to left center, but it hangs up! Goya running over makes the sliding catch and that's the ballgame! Urasoe Shougyou does indeed show their strength here in the first game defeating ace Hamada and Aikoudai Meiden! They stand poised now to be the favorite to advance out of Block B.
As for Aikoudai Meiden they only have to look at themselves for this one. There were mental erros made early on that cost the team several runs. Because of that, Hamada's final summer ends as quickly as it started here at Koushien.
Notable Players
Miyazato Taiyuu (Urasoe Shougyou) - SV, 6 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 K, 0 BB
Goya Yoshihiro (Urasoe Shougyou) - 2-4, 3B, R, 3 RBI
Matsuoka Daisuke (Aikoudai Meiden) - 1-2, R, 2 BB, SB
Today, we open the action with 2 teams who could be contenders to the title, and if nothing else are favorites to advance out of Block B - Urasoe Shougyou and Aikoudai Meiden.
Urasoe Shougyou is definitely more of the unknown quantity here in the matchup. Looking at their historical performance, they don't make it to Koushien as often as other schools, but they make their appearances count.
This year, they had 4 hotly contested games against Kounan, Kadena, a game Maehara squad, and finally Okinawa Shougaku to win their 4th ever summer title. In fact the total run differential between all 4 games was a mere 7 runs.
So carrying a 0.307 team batting average isn't necessarily as bad as it might seem. I don't have information on individual games, so I can't really key in on certain players to watch. As for the pitcher(s) on the mound, Miyara-kantoku uses a combination of ace Miyazato (who features a good curveball) and #10 Teruya (who can supposedly hit 150 kph) in all their games. It didn't work for Kitsuki, but no offense to Kitsuki, Urasoe Shougyou is no Kitsuki.
That's not to say the tandem doesn't have issues. Against Futenma, they gave up 7 runs. And in the final against Okinawa Shougaku they conceded 5 more runs. So it's certainly far from perfect.
And they'll be tested early as they face an Aikoudai Meiden squad looking to improve on the quarterfinal appearance in the spring when they faded late against runner-up Kousei Gakuin.
Meiden early on wound up drawing last year's Aichi representative, Shigakukan, and scored all their runs in the middle innings for an 8-5 win. After yet another scare against relative unknown Aichi Sangyoudai Kougyou, they eventually made it to the finals where they were 3 outs away from being eliminated by Touhou. That's when Touhou experienced an almost fatal self-destruction as they gave up both runs. The damage suffered would prove to be fatal 2 innings later, and thus Aikoudai Meiden finds themselves back at Koushien.
The offensive issues Meiden had in the spring still persist as they hit a sub-average 0.316. They'll need their 2-3-4 batters to step up and carry the squad as Hamada, though strong, may have issues with fatigue should they make a deep run.
Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi)
2B Kimura
3B Nakano
SS Satou
1B Torii
RF Matsuoka (#15)
LF Matsui
CF Araki
P Hamada
C Nakamura
Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa)
1B Agarie
CH Ooshiro Rishuu
2B Touma
P Miyazato
C Iraha
LF Goya
RF Teruya (#10)
3B Kise
SS Uchima
__________________________________________________
9:01 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Meiden's batters are making contact on Miyazato's pitches, but aren't making solid hits. Kimura and Nakano both softly fly out to center, and Satou grounds out to 1st.
Bottom 1st
Hamada with a quick inning. First pitch groundout to Agarie, Rishuu goes down swinging on 4 pitches, and Touma hits a routine grounder back to Hamada.
Top 2nd
Much of the same for Miyazato. Torii, Matsuoka and Matsui all ground out to the left side of the infield.
Bottom 2nd
Miyazato with a drive to right center. Araki running back to the wall!!!
HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ace Miyazato gets a hold of a hanger and drives it opposite field for a home run! Urasoe Shougyou takes the 1-0 lead!
Now with one down Goya hits a hard single back up the middle. Hamada getting hit hard here in the 2nd.
Teruya with a swinging bunt up the 3rd base line, Nakano takes his time to get to the ball, and his throw is late... and high! It gets past Torii and now Goya takes 3rd!
Kise with the squeeze bunt! It's perfectly placed and Torii can only go to 1st! Goya scores to make it 2-0 Urashou!
Uchima fouls out to right field and the inning is over, but not before Urasoe Shougyou gets to Hamada for a pair of runs!
Top 3rd
After 2 more routine outs, last batter Nakamura gets Meiden's first hit on a ball back up the middle past Uchima into center.
Kimura though flies out to right as Teruya makes a leaping catch while jogging for the 3rd out. Meiden missing on making good contact with the ball.
Bottom 3rd
Agarie leads off the 3rd with a roller that shoots through the infield into right. Rishuu bunts him along for Touma.
Hamada's numbers haven't changed really - fastball in the mid-upper 130s, slider in the high 120s and a curve in the high 100-low 110s.
Touma with a routine grounder to short, but Satou misses the ball! Everyone's safe, and Miyazato's coming to bat!
He hits a slow chopper back to Hamada, and now Hamada misses fielding it! It deflects to the left side and by the time he can get to it everyone's safe!!
Iraha tries the squeeze on the 1-1 count, but pops it foul. He'll have to swing away... and goes down swinging on a high fastball for the 2nd out.
Goya with a drive to right center! Araki and Matsuoka running back to the wall, still running!!
It's off the fence and bounces back to the infield! Matsuoka gets the ball in, but not before Goya clears the bases on a triple, giving Urashou the 5-0 lead!!
Hamada finally ends the inning by jamming Teruya, but Hamada is getting killed on the mound. A 5-0 deficit for Meiden will be hard to make up, but they do have time.
Top 4th
Nakano with a bid for a base hit to the right side, but Touma makes the great diving stop and throws him out!
Satou manages to scoot one past Touma this time and into center for a hit.
Torii connects hard, but hits a liner right at Rishuu for the 2nd out.
Matsuoka bloops one to right allowing Satou to advance to 3rd. Miyara-kantoku calls for time.
Matsui with a hard grounder to short. Uchima makes a diving stop, but can't find the ball! He finds it, makes a snap throw to 1st... but it's over everyone!! Satou scores! Matsuoka scores on the play and Meiden's on the board at 5-2!
There's time on the field as Uchima got dirt in his eye and had to get it cleaned out. He sprints out squinting a bit, but otherwise fine.
Araki with a grounder to 1st, Agarie gathers it on a tricky hop and goes to the bag for the 3rd out. Meiden cuts into the deficit, but there's still work to do!
Bottom 4th
Hamada settles down, at least against the bottom of the order, quickly retiring the 8-9-1 batters in order which included 2 K's. Now if only he can do that against the heart of the order.
Top 5th
Hamada leads off with a solid single back up the middle. Miyara-kantoku decides this is a good time and switches pitchers sending Teruya to the mound and Miyazato to right.
Nakamura despite getting a hit in his last AB bunts, but Teruya fields it quickly and guns down Hamada at 2nd!
Kimura hits a ball back up the middle, but right at Uchima! He underhands to Touma who fires to 1st for the double play!
Bottom 5th
Well, that's a first. 2 down, Miyazato up, he swings and loses the bat! It flies and lands in front of the Meiden dugout. Miyazato goes to gather it , then goes back to his dugout and changes gloves.
And then goes down swinging on the next pitch... Hamada has 6 K's, but more importantly has given up 5 runs and his team trails heading into the break,
Top 6th
One down and Satou draws a walk. Then Torii drives one deep in the left center field gap! Goya and Rishuu converge on the ball , but it falls in behind them right in front of the wall! Satou scores all the way from first and Meiden gets another run back! It's 5-3!
Teruya's problems continue as he walks Matsuoka, putting the douten runner on base! Miyara-kantoku calls for time, as the momentum is starting to swing to Meiden.
Matsuoka takes off on the first pitch and Iraha's throw is late! Now a base hit could tie the game!
And it's a wild pitch! No! The umpire (rightly) claims a dead ball! While it's manrui, the wild pitch would have scored a run! Will it be a good break for Urashou?
Araki hits a fly to center, but it's too shallow and Torii can't tag up! Teruya about to get out of the jam!
But he hits Hamada on the first pitch! Oshidashi dead ball as Torii finally comes home to make it 5-4!
Last batter Nakamura up to try and get the douten and perhaps gyakuten runner in.
SANSHIN!!! Teruya blows a high 147 kph fastball by him for the 3rd out! Meiden gets another pair of runs, but still finds themselves behind Urashou!
Bottom 6th
Well that was an uneventful half inning. Hamada still isn't looking sharp, but at least he's missing in the right places. He gets an easy popup (as long as Araki and Matsuoka don't collide), and 2 routine grounders.
Top 7th
So Hamada has settled down, and Meiden has scored 2 pairs of runs. Do they at least have one more run left in them?
One down and Nakano singles just in front of Goya. Satou showing bunt, but not offering so far....
Instead he swings away and is jammed! He flies out to left for the 2nd out.
Torii gets way under one and pops it up! Touma has plenty of time and secure the ball for the 3rd out.
Bottom 7th
After a long AB that saw C Nakamura get hit by another foul ball, Kise draws a walk.
Uchima lays a hard drag bunt to 2nd, and no one is there! By the time Kimura is there to field it, everyone's safe! Big pinch for Hamada!
But Nakamura catches Kise way off base on a bunt play, throws to 2nd and Satou makes a great diving tag to get Kise out.
Agarie, behind 2-2, thows his bat at the ball and it manages to hit it towards 1st! Torii makes the tag, but it advances the runner.
Rishuu gets around on a ball and hits a ball to shallow right! Matsuoka charges in but can't get to it! Uchima comes home as the throw is cutoff and Urashou leads 6-4!
Rishuu is subsequently picked off, but they get the insurance run!
Top 8th
Teruya's control problems persist as he walks Matsuoka on 4 straight. Miyara-kantoku elects to bring Miyazato back onto the mound to get the final 6 outs.
Matsui showing bunt down 2 this late? He lays it down, but it dies right in front of the plate! Iraha is able to fire to 2nd and cut down Matsuoka!
Now Oofuji-kantoku sends in #9 Touda in to hit for Araki. But he grounds to 2nd. Touma makes a great flip to 2nd for the 2nd out.
It's up to Hamada who drives one to deep center! Rishuu running back, still running back... stops in front of the wall and makes the catch for the 3rd out! Hamada hits it to the deepest part of the park and it just falls short. Miyazato breathes a sigh of relief as the side is retired.
Bottom 8th
Touda stays in the game in center.
Iraha draws a 2-out walk, but that's inconsequential Hamada get the final out.
Top 9th
#9 Tamaki comes in for Teruya and takes over in RF as a defensive replacement.
Meiden finds themselves down to their last 3 outs again down 2 runs, much like the Aichi final.
Nakamura first pitch grounds to 3rd. Back to the top of the order and Kimura.
And on a full count, he drives the ball into the right center field gap for a double!
Nakano with a hard hit to right, but Tamaki is there for the catch. Kimura advances to 3rd, but what matters is the run at the plate as that is the douten run.
It's up to Satou to keep the game alive.
But two swings and he falls behind 1-2! Down to their last strike!
Ball in the dirt for ball 2... Satou hits one to left center, but it hangs up! Goya running over makes the sliding catch and that's the ballgame! Urasoe Shougyou does indeed show their strength here in the first game defeating ace Hamada and Aikoudai Meiden! They stand poised now to be the favorite to advance out of Block B.
As for Aikoudai Meiden they only have to look at themselves for this one. There were mental erros made early on that cost the team several runs. Because of that, Hamada's final summer ends as quickly as it started here at Koushien.
Notable Players
Miyazato Taiyuu (Urasoe Shougyou) - SV, 6 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 K, 0 BB
Goya Yoshihiro (Urasoe Shougyou) - 2-4, 3B, R, 3 RBI
Matsuoka Daisuke (Aikoudai Meiden) - 1-2, R, 2 BB, SB
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The field is set, who are the favorites?
With Fukui-ken qualifying the last team in Fukui Koudai Fukui, the field is set. Some teams such as Hanamaki Higashi (Iwate) and ace Hamada, Yokohama (Kanagawa), Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma), and Kyushu Kokusaidai Fuzoku (Fukuoka) are markedly absent.
Who's left, who's new, and more importantly, who can challenge for the title?
With the Haru Koushien champions qualifying, albeit with a late scare as they almost punted a 10-1 lead in the final against Riseisha, Osaka Touin has to be considered the front-runners to win and thus achieve haru-natsu renzoku yuusho, or spring-summer champions.
But the exact reason they almost gave up that lead, is the same reason they may not be able to win.
In the spring, Fujinami was able to hold out until the end. But I said back then that in the spring the weather is much, much more favorable. Come the summer, the heat and humidity would be much less accommodating.
And as mentioned, in the Osaka taikai he couldn't finish out the final game and had to turn it over to reliever Sawada to close it out. There's no doubt that they'll have to lean on Sawada more if they wish to be the 7th ever spring-summer champions.
Osaka Touin has been known for their offense. Nishitani-kantoku's management of the pitching staff will be key to victory.
Kousei Gakuin (Aomori) - 6th appearance, 2nd consecutive
While we're at it, let's look at the bridesmaids for the last two calendar Koushien tournaments - Kousei Gakuin.
When I saw them in person, there was nothing about the team that stood out, and when they were annihilated in last summer's final against Nichidai-san, I figured that'd be the end of that.
Instead, they replaced ace Akita with Kanazawa, qualified for Senbatsu this year, and reached the finals before losing to Osaka Touin 7-3.
Then came the Aomori taikai where they had 2 scares right off the bat against Misawa and former powerhouse Aomori Yamada. Once they cleared those two, the path to the final was much easier.
The pitching for Kousei Gakuin is deeper, but not as strong. 2B/P Jyouma has been used interchangably by Nakai-kantoku which will be a great help in keeping the arms fresh. The offense isn't as strong, but is still very solid. They have become a good all-around team from a prefecture not known for contending baseball teams.
Nichidai-san (Nishi Tokyo) - 15th appearance, 2nd consecutive
As much as I dislike Sanko, you have to give them their due - they were the dominating team last summer, and in the Nishi Tokyo final, they trailed 1-0 to Kousei Gakuen before Kousei crumbled giving up the game-winning double to the wall.
Sanko despite almost losing in the final, gave up just 3 runs in 7 games. Despite losing Yoshinaga, Saitou has taken over as the ace number, with Ooba as their main reliever and has done a great job.
Offensively, the first 4 games saw them post double-digit runs in 3 of them. But against the tougher competition - Hino, Souka and Kousei Gakuen, they won 3-0, 3-1 and 2-1.
So it will be interesting to see how the offense reacts to a good pitcher, especially if they draw one in the early going. But the opportunity to be a repeat champion is good motivation in and of itself.
Sakushin Gakuin was another, "Oh, that's nice they got to the semifinals" team before losing to Kousei Gakuin. They then made it to Senbatsu as well and got to the 2nd round before giving up a 1-run lead in extras to Naruto.
Sakushin profiles to be a poor man's Kousei Gakuin. Not as good of an offense, and a pitching tandem of Tsutsui and Mizunuma that is not as strong as Kanazawa-Jyouma. But with a rather weaker field then usual, a favorable draw could get them back to the semifinals.
Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi) - 10th appearance, 1st in 5 years
Aikoudai Meiden almost didn't make it like Nichidai-san. Down 2 runs to Touhou in the final, Touhou crumbled giving up the lead, the 2nd of which was due to a passed ball. Meiden would win in 11, and be yet another team to make both Senbatsu and Natsu Koushien this year.
Hamada is certainly more than an average pitcher, but he's almost all alone on the mound. Azuma is the reliever Kurano-kantoku would go to, but from his usage is not that trusted.
Meiden's offense is also a weakness. As witnessed against Touhou and earlier against Aichi Sangyoudai Kougyou, the offense can disappear leaving Hamada to try to carry the team - much more than the usual.
After 3 years of unable to reach Natsu Koushien, they finally book their tickets here in 2012. They were here in the spring, and reached the quarterfinals, and were 3 outs away from defeating eventual champion Osaka Touin, but ace Satou Takuya couldn't close the door.
Up until that moment, Urawa Gakuin was just like any other team in Saitama - underwhelming. For as big as Saitama is in population, it has NEVER won a Natsu Koushien tournament.
Never.
Why the heck is that? I mean, they have the 5th biggest population by prefecture. The 4 bigger ones - Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka and Aichi - all have won a Natsu Koushien, but Saitama has not.
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that Saitama is so close to Tokyo, so close to Kanagawa. If you were a good baseball player in middle school, you were probably recruited by teams down south. Why play for a team locally when you can go to a prestigious school such as Nichidai-san, or Waedsa Jitsugyou or Teikyou?
Urawa Gakuin in the Saitama taikai gave up just 2 runs. Ace Satou was responsible for one of the two (Yamaguchi Rui gave up the other). They did defeat Seibou Gakuen and last year's representative Hanasaki Tokuharu. But because it's still in prefecture, despite the impressive results, it doesn't prove anything.
They batted 0.361 in the spring and 0.350 this summer, but the question will be whether they can string the hits together, or if Satou and Yamaguchi will can hold up if they don't.
And so Urawa Gakuin enters the 94th Natsu Koushien, with a good performance in the spring to perhaps portend things in this summer. But they'll probably need things to fall their way for it to happen.
Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa) - 4th appearance, 1st in 4 years
This is just Urasoe Shougyou's 4th ever Natsu Koushien appearance, but apart from their first appearance where they lost in the first round, they have reached the semifinals in 1997 (losing to Chiben Wakayama) and 2008 (losing to Tokoha Kikugawa - I remember that game and the 9-run 2nd by Kikugawa and how happy I was!).
The appearance had been somewhat in coming as outside of a surprising loss to Chuubu Shougyou last summer in the 3rd round, they had reached at least the quarterfinals in other taikais.
This time around, their road to the title saw them face such well-known schools as Kounan, Kadena and in the final - Urasoe Shougaku. And before that final against Urasoe Shougaku, they outlasted cinderella Maebara, who had their sights on their first ever title.
I don't have a lot of information on Urasoe Shougyou other than they faithfully use a tandem of pitchers - Miyazato ? (宮里 泰悠) and Teruya Hikaru (照屋 光). Teruya is a fireballer, able to hit 150+ on the gun. I can't find a whole lot on Miyazato, but the tandem seems to have worked.
It will be interesting to see what happens on the big stage. Will they be able to continue the successes at Koushien?
Who's left, who's new, and more importantly, who can challenge for the title?
Title Favorites
Osaka Touin (Osaka) - 6th appearance, 1st in 4 yearsWith the Haru Koushien champions qualifying, albeit with a late scare as they almost punted a 10-1 lead in the final against Riseisha, Osaka Touin has to be considered the front-runners to win and thus achieve haru-natsu renzoku yuusho, or spring-summer champions.
But the exact reason they almost gave up that lead, is the same reason they may not be able to win.
In the spring, Fujinami was able to hold out until the end. But I said back then that in the spring the weather is much, much more favorable. Come the summer, the heat and humidity would be much less accommodating.
And as mentioned, in the Osaka taikai he couldn't finish out the final game and had to turn it over to reliever Sawada to close it out. There's no doubt that they'll have to lean on Sawada more if they wish to be the 7th ever spring-summer champions.
Osaka Touin has been known for their offense. Nishitani-kantoku's management of the pitching staff will be key to victory.
Kousei Gakuin (Aomori) - 6th appearance, 2nd consecutive
While we're at it, let's look at the bridesmaids for the last two calendar Koushien tournaments - Kousei Gakuin.
When I saw them in person, there was nothing about the team that stood out, and when they were annihilated in last summer's final against Nichidai-san, I figured that'd be the end of that.
Instead, they replaced ace Akita with Kanazawa, qualified for Senbatsu this year, and reached the finals before losing to Osaka Touin 7-3.
Then came the Aomori taikai where they had 2 scares right off the bat against Misawa and former powerhouse Aomori Yamada. Once they cleared those two, the path to the final was much easier.
The pitching for Kousei Gakuin is deeper, but not as strong. 2B/P Jyouma has been used interchangably by Nakai-kantoku which will be a great help in keeping the arms fresh. The offense isn't as strong, but is still very solid. They have become a good all-around team from a prefecture not known for contending baseball teams.
Nichidai-san (Nishi Tokyo) - 15th appearance, 2nd consecutive
As much as I dislike Sanko, you have to give them their due - they were the dominating team last summer, and in the Nishi Tokyo final, they trailed 1-0 to Kousei Gakuen before Kousei crumbled giving up the game-winning double to the wall.
Sanko despite almost losing in the final, gave up just 3 runs in 7 games. Despite losing Yoshinaga, Saitou has taken over as the ace number, with Ooba as their main reliever and has done a great job.
Offensively, the first 4 games saw them post double-digit runs in 3 of them. But against the tougher competition - Hino, Souka and Kousei Gakuen, they won 3-0, 3-1 and 2-1.
So it will be interesting to see how the offense reacts to a good pitcher, especially if they draw one in the early going. But the opportunity to be a repeat champion is good motivation in and of itself.
Title Contenders
Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi) - 8th appearance, 2nd consecutiveSakushin Gakuin was another, "Oh, that's nice they got to the semifinals" team before losing to Kousei Gakuin. They then made it to Senbatsu as well and got to the 2nd round before giving up a 1-run lead in extras to Naruto.
Sakushin profiles to be a poor man's Kousei Gakuin. Not as good of an offense, and a pitching tandem of Tsutsui and Mizunuma that is not as strong as Kanazawa-Jyouma. But with a rather weaker field then usual, a favorable draw could get them back to the semifinals.
Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi) - 10th appearance, 1st in 5 years
Aikoudai Meiden almost didn't make it like Nichidai-san. Down 2 runs to Touhou in the final, Touhou crumbled giving up the lead, the 2nd of which was due to a passed ball. Meiden would win in 11, and be yet another team to make both Senbatsu and Natsu Koushien this year.
Hamada is certainly more than an average pitcher, but he's almost all alone on the mound. Azuma is the reliever Kurano-kantoku would go to, but from his usage is not that trusted.
Meiden's offense is also a weakness. As witnessed against Touhou and earlier against Aichi Sangyoudai Kougyou, the offense can disappear leaving Hamada to try to carry the team - much more than the usual.
Dark Horses
Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) - 11th appearance, 1st in 4 yearsAfter 3 years of unable to reach Natsu Koushien, they finally book their tickets here in 2012. They were here in the spring, and reached the quarterfinals, and were 3 outs away from defeating eventual champion Osaka Touin, but ace Satou Takuya couldn't close the door.
Up until that moment, Urawa Gakuin was just like any other team in Saitama - underwhelming. For as big as Saitama is in population, it has NEVER won a Natsu Koushien tournament.
Never.
Why the heck is that? I mean, they have the 5th biggest population by prefecture. The 4 bigger ones - Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka and Aichi - all have won a Natsu Koushien, but Saitama has not.
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that Saitama is so close to Tokyo, so close to Kanagawa. If you were a good baseball player in middle school, you were probably recruited by teams down south. Why play for a team locally when you can go to a prestigious school such as Nichidai-san, or Waedsa Jitsugyou or Teikyou?
Urawa Gakuin in the Saitama taikai gave up just 2 runs. Ace Satou was responsible for one of the two (Yamaguchi Rui gave up the other). They did defeat Seibou Gakuen and last year's representative Hanasaki Tokuharu. But because it's still in prefecture, despite the impressive results, it doesn't prove anything.
They batted 0.361 in the spring and 0.350 this summer, but the question will be whether they can string the hits together, or if Satou and Yamaguchi will can hold up if they don't.
And so Urawa Gakuin enters the 94th Natsu Koushien, with a good performance in the spring to perhaps portend things in this summer. But they'll probably need things to fall their way for it to happen.
Urasoe Shougyou (Okinawa) - 4th appearance, 1st in 4 years
This is just Urasoe Shougyou's 4th ever Natsu Koushien appearance, but apart from their first appearance where they lost in the first round, they have reached the semifinals in 1997 (losing to Chiben Wakayama) and 2008 (losing to Tokoha Kikugawa - I remember that game and the 9-run 2nd by Kikugawa and how happy I was!).
The appearance had been somewhat in coming as outside of a surprising loss to Chuubu Shougyou last summer in the 3rd round, they had reached at least the quarterfinals in other taikais.
This time around, their road to the title saw them face such well-known schools as Kounan, Kadena and in the final - Urasoe Shougaku. And before that final against Urasoe Shougaku, they outlasted cinderella Maebara, who had their sights on their first ever title.
I don't have a lot of information on Urasoe Shougyou other than they faithfully use a tandem of pitchers - Miyazato ? (宮里 泰悠) and Teruya Hikaru (照屋 光). Teruya is a fireballer, able to hit 150+ on the gun. I can't find a whole lot on Miyazato, but the tandem seems to have worked.
It will be interesting to see what happens on the big stage. Will they be able to continue the successes at Koushien?
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