高校野球 (Kokoyakyu)

Well, this was unexpected. So perhaps there's a chance for these teams. Maybe not. At the same time, I would have never expected to see Toukai Dai-yon in this spot. Not with Nishougakushadai Fuzoku, not with Tenri, and not with Kendai Takasaki.

And yet here they are. And I have no idea how they did it.

I mean the first game sure. Facing a 21st century school generally means success (sorry Nishougakushadai Fuzoku). But then you faced a Matsuyama Higashi team that for 7 innings dominated them - and then for no reason just tripped themselves up.

And then there's the Kendai Takasaki game. What universe were we in when that game was played? Kendai Takasaki by all metrics prolly had the advantage in pitching, speed, and with the bat. But for some reason they forgot all the rules about baserunning and their unforced errors resulted in an inexplicable 1-0 loss.

There's no way this continues against a team like Urawa Gakuin, right? Right?

Urawa Gakuin (Saitama)
3B Suwa Tadayoshi
2B Dai Kouta
SS Tsuda Shouki
1B Yamazaki Kouta
CF Kouki Yuushi
RF Takahashi Tsukasa
LF Araki Yuuya
C Nishino Shinya
P Eguchi Shouri

Onto our matinee games on the other half of the bracket.


Urawa Gakuin has played Ryuukokudai Heian close and took an opening volley from Oomagari Kougyou. For the Meiji Jingu runners-up, it's not very impressive. The one positive you can take is that they seem to be rounding into form. It's still not as dominant as you'd like, but they could still make the run you'd be expecting.

Kengifushou has had an easier time of things, easily handling both Matsushou Gakuen and Oumi. The games were close on the scoreboard, but they were anything but on the field. It also means that they have not been tested on the field yet. Urawa Gakuin will be by far their biggest challenge. Ace Takahashi could be up to the challenge, and with Urawa Gakuin's offensive production the way it is, we could be poised for another interesting game.

Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou (Gifu)
LF Murai Shouma
RF Hirose Masaru
3B Takegoshi Hiroyuki
LF Yamada Youta
C Katou Jyunya
1B Murahashi Kazuaki
SS Oono Rikuo
P Takahashi Shunpei
2B Sakashita Reon

Urawa Gakuin (Saitama)
3B Suwa Tadayoshi
2B Dai Kouta
SS Tsuda Shouki
1B Yamazaki Kouta
CF Kouki Yuushi
RF Takahashi Tsukasa
LF Araki Yuuya
C Nishino Shinya
P Eguchi Shouri

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14:05 - First Pitch

1st Inning
Eguchi cannot throw a strike! 4 pitch walk to Murai, and after a sac bunt, another 4 pitch walk to Takegoshi!

But ahead 3-1 Yamada swings away! WHY? Make him throw the 2nd strike! He pops up to 3rd.

And with Katou striking out, Eguchi gets away with a lot.

Dai gets a base hit for Urawa Gakuin, but Mori-kantoku's hit-and-run backfires when it turns into a strike em out, throw em out double play.

2nd-3rd Inning
And now we seem to enter the pitcher's duel. Eguchi has settled down after his very shaky 1st inning striking out 2 at the bottom of the order.

It continues to the 3rd inning where Eguichi racks up 2 more K's. And while batter are making contact off of Takahashi, he's probably having the better of it for Kengifushou because he's using less pitches.

4th Inning+
I'm just putting a plus in because this will just be running thoughts. Or a whole lot of nothing.

Which is what both teams are doing right now. Kengifushou can't hit the broad side of a barn against Eguchi, and while Takahashi is giving up the occasional free pass, it's nothing that isn't handled.

Sure, Kouki got a booming foul that ended up in the ouen-dan section, but it was still foul. And he still struck out.

Now, Urawa finally has something in the 5th when Takahashi gets a leadoff single. But weirdly, they don't bunt with the bottom of the order. See, I mind when teams over-bunt. This would not be such a situation because you know this is going to be a close game.

But Araki doesn't pull the trigger on a ball on the outside corner.

Nishino has a liner to right, but Sakashita makes a great leaping catch. And Eguchi can't help his own cause either.

So, at the break we're deadlocked at 0. Urawa Gakuin is having the better of it at the plate, as they're at least getting opportunities.

Urawa has another chance in the 6th. Suwa drops the safety bunt and though Takahashi barehands it, he still can't make the throw to 1st in time.

But after a sac bunt, Urawa Gakuin can't get that 2nd hit. Tsuda grounds to short, and Yamazaki just hits one back to Takahashi.

Huh, I was focused on the fact that neither team was really doing anything that I finally paid attention to the fact the announcers were saying Eguchi had a no-hitter.

And then Yamada drops one just inches in front of Kouki for a base hit. Heh.

Nishino snap throw to 1st... OUT!!!

Heh. The umpire takes his sweet time, but the call is emphatic. Yamada can only drop his head as he's picked off.

And then it becomes a 1-2-3 Lucky 7.

Uh oh. Takahashi might be cracking in Urawa's Lucky 7.

Back-to-back line shots to the outfield put runners at the corners and a timeout from Ogawa-kantoku.

Oh, Katou wanted that pitch. 0-2 to Araki gets no call.

And wouldn't you know it Araki takes the next pitch back up the middle past a diving Sakashita for a base hit. 1-0 Urawa Gakuin.,

Urawa tries the squeeze, but Nishino has to do all that he can just to foul off the pitch. He eventually strikes out, but it's a hit and run, so Araki takes 2nd with no throw (Takahashi is standing on 3rd).

Eguchi manages to hit a ball to left center that Murai runs down for a catch, but is in no position to throw home. Takahashi tags up, and it's 2-0.

Ace Takahashi has had it. Suwa singles to center and it's 3-0. Ogawa-kantoku calls time, but I Kengifushou might be on their last legs now.

Dai would have had a base hit had not Murahashi stopped the ball in front of him. Makes the tag and the side is retired. But 3 runs? Good luck with that.

8th Inning
Oh, and did I mention that they have 6 outs to make the comeback?

Takahashi gets the team's 2nd hit with a ball to right center.

And contrary to the official scorer, that wasn't an error on Kariya's ball to short. It was an irregular hop and should be a single.

And for the 2nd time, down multiple runs and 2 runners on base, with 1 out - they bunt. Oy.

Hirose hits a ball into the triangle in left center, but Tsuda makes the running catch. Down to their final 3 outs now. Still don't understand that strategy.

Back-to-back doubles for Urawa Gakuin just add to the sign that Takahashi should be humanely relieved. Yes, there's only 3 outs to go, but there's no character building in this.

Takahashi gives up 1 more run, but gets the 3 outs. Guess that's not too bad.

9th Inning
That's just not right. After a leadoff single by Takegoshi, Yamada lines out to Yamazaki who just moves his foot to the bag to double up Takegoshi.

Katou gets a base hit, but PH Makimura hits one back to Eguchi to end the game.

Takahashi did well to hold off Urawa Gakuin for 6 innings, but eventually the deluge came and he couldn't stop it. With just 5 hits they have a lot of work to do. But if Takahashi can improve his stamina, they'll stand a better chance.

Meanwhile, I have no clue what Mori-kantoku is doing over there at Urawa Gakuin, but he's making pitchers who throw average into staff aces - except for perhaps the 1st inning... and that Sendai Ikuei game. Still don't understand that crazy game.

Anyways, Eguchi will need that day off because in all likelihood it's Kendai Takasaki in the semifinals. Which coincidentally was when they played in the Kanto super-regionals. You know they've been circling this possible matchup as a revenge match.

And now to our final game of the day, the upstart Oomagari Kougyou facing the Kanto champions Urawa Gakuin. It looks like a David vs. Goliath matchup, but Urawa Gakuin has cracks in the armor, which was shown in their game against Ryuukokudai Heian. The question will be whether it's enough to make up the apparent gap.

Oomagari Kougyou (Akita)
RF Sasaki Shunichi
SS Akagawa Shun
2B Nakano Seiya
P Takeda Ryuusei
RF Nakamura Kazuki
LF Morisawa Kouyou (#17)
1B Okamoto Shuuma
3B Horie Jyou (#14)
C Suzuki Tairi

Urawa Gakuin (Saitama)
3B Suwa Tadayoshi
2B Dai Kouta
SS Tsuda Shouki
1B Yamazaki Kouta
CF Kouki Yuushi
RF Takahashi Tsukasa
LF Araki Yuuya
C Nishino Shinya
P Eguchi Shouri

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14:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
One down and Akagawa hits a ball to left. Araki going back to the fence, still going back! Looks up!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Akagawa spits in the face of being the underdog and hits a HR off ace Eguchi! Oomagari Kougyou leads 1-0!!

Nakano with a single to center! Takeda with a single to center!! What the heck is going on here?!

Nakamura grounds out to 1st, but the runners advance to scoring position.

Horie strikes out on a changeup, but Oomagari Kougyou has come to play right off the bat!

Bottom 1st
Suwa liner to left. Morisawa coming in, dives.. makes the catch!!!  Wow. They are on right now.

Dai slowing the pace down perhaps to get his team off the mat early. Works the count full but flies out to left.

Tsuda line shot, but Horie has it for the 3rd out!

Top 2nd
Okamoto with a single to left. They're really hitting Eguchi right now.

Morisawa lays down the bunt, but it's right at home! Nishino goes to 2nd for 1, relay to 1st in time! The first misstep by the Tohoku runner-up!

Bottom 2nd
Yamazaki goes down on 3 straight high fastballs.

Kouki finally gets something going with a single to center.

But Takahashi hits a grounder to Nakano! 4...6... 3... double play!

Top 3rd
Sasaki with a single to left and they have another leadoff runner on.

The 0-1 pitch gets away from Nishino and Shunichi takes 2nd! That changes everything as Akagawa bunts the runner now to 3rd.

Nakano can't bring him home as he swings and misses on a changeup.

Takeda pops one up. Takahashi running into foul territory, slides near the bullpen, and makes the catch! 3 out!

Bottom 3rd
One down for Urawa Gakuin and Nishino gets a base hit to left.

Eguchi now with a ball to shallow right. Nakamura coming in slides... can't secure it! It sneaks away from him and Eguchi has a double! Urawa Gakuin threatens to tie the game here.

Suwa grounder to the right side, past a diving Okamoto, Nakano lays out... can't get there! It goes into right as Eguchi is being waved around! Nakamura throws home, but airmails everyone! Suwa takes 3rd on the throw! 2-1 Urawa Gakuin and threatening more!

Dai lifts a ball to left! Morisawa running back to the foul pole! Is it gone?

Morisawa makes the catch right at the padding! Suwa can walk home to make it 3-1!

Tsuda flies out, but Urawa Gakuin restablishes themselves and look to knock out the upstarts!

Top 4th
But they won't go away easily! Nakamura grounder to the right side, Dai is there, but stumbles when standing to throw and it goes under Yamazaki's glove.

Abe-kantoku goes and sends Nakamura! Throw from Nishino... in time! They got the jump on him once, but not this time!

Okamoto draws Eguchi's first walk, but is left stranded when Morisawa can't pull the trigger on a changeup.

Bottom 4th
Takeda would really like a quick inning to settle things down. The first two batters, Yamazaki and Kouki both fly out to center.

Takahashi is a bit more stubborn, but he eventually grounds out to 2nd for a 1-2-3 inning.

Top 5th
Taisei starts the inning by drawing a walk. That's 4 leadoff men on base. Shouta not bunting this time, but he pops it up! Tsuda has it for the 1st out.

2 down for Oomagari Kougyou, and Nakano gets his 2nd base hit! Taisei takes 3rd and they might get back a run.

But Eguchi jams Takeda! He grounds out to 3rd and the runners are stranded again!

Bottom 5th
Araki with ball down the right field line. Nakamura running over, dives.. but can't make the catch! Araki on his horse makes it all the way to 3rd!

Nishino drives him in! It's a single through the drawn in infield and it's 4-1 Urawa Gakuin!

Takeda able to get the next couple of outs to limit the damage, but as we hit the break, the good vibes we had for Oomagari Kougyou have all but disappeared.

Top 6th
One down, and Eguchi issues another free pass, this time to Horie.

But they can do little wit it. Okamoto grounds into a fielder's choice (barely beating out the double play).

Morisawa hits a hard ball to 3rd, Suwa drops it, retakes, spins and throws - and still get the out.

Bottom 6th
Urawa Gakuin gets a scare when a ball gets away from Takeda and hits Yamazaki in the head. He's stunned a bit, so the umpires take him to the dugout while an injury runner comes out.

He's not needed long though as Kouki grounds into the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.


Top 7th
One down for Oomagari and Shunichi hits a soft liner over Tsuda for a base hit.

Akagawa fighting tooth and nail at the plate as his team is running out of time. As the pitches increase, Abe-kantoku starts the hit and run over and over again.

Sanshin! Akagawa goes down swinging, and Nishino fires to 2nd! That's in plenty of time and it's a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play.'

Bottom 7th
8 pitches is all Takeda needs to retire the side. Urawa Gakuin content to finish this out and get some rest.

Top 8th
Oomagari Kougyouis probably realizing this run is coming to an end. The middle of the order gets their swings in, but are retired in order.

Bottom 8th
Eguchi gets his 2nd hit in. Suwa with a ball to deep left center that Shunichi makes a great running catch on.

After a sac bunt, Tsuda doubles to right to bring in Eguchi to make it 5-1.

Yamazaki with another deep ball, this time to left. Morisawa running back, leaps, tumbles... and makes the great catch!

Top 9th
Oomagari Kougyou is about to go quietly into the night when Morisawa gets his first base hit, a single to center.

That gives Abe-kantoku the opportunity to send in more people as #15 ishii comes in for Morisawa at 1B, while #7 Odajima comes in to hit for Taisei.

He's make the most of his AB, working the count instead of just swinging away. He gets ahead of a pitch, but keeps the swing alive long enough to poke the ball to right for a base hit.

The dream ends though when Shunichi grounds to 3rd to end the game.

Early on, I really thought that Oomagari Kougyou had a puncher's chance at defeated Urawa Gakuin. Getting a HR early, and 4 base hits in the first 2 innings, I'm sure it boosted their confidence. Sadly that feeling didn't last long as Urawa Gakuin took the lead in the 3rd and never looked back. Still, I think it was a good showing from the team from Akita.

Unfortunately, what this means is that in the span of 2 days, the entire Tohoku region has been eliminated. That's unfortunate.

As for Urawa Gakuin, Eguchi wound up settling down, but the poor start has to be of concern. That first inning could have been much worse had not he stemmed the tide then. He's still not striking out a lot of batters, and he's walking more than you'd probably like.

Offensively, the team got production from everywhere but the heart of the lineup which went 2-10 (2-13 if you count the 3-6 betters). You could say that it shows versatility of being able to produce runs, but it can also show that the meat of their lineup can be shut down.

They get the winner of Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou and Oumi. It's a better matchup than some of the alternatives, but the farther they go, those alternatives become your opponent.

And now our final matchup of Day 3. Can I please get a close game (before Tenri preferrably)? I'm not sure I'm going to get one here because Urawa Gakuin is also a serious contender, but I guess we'll see.

Urawa Gakuin (Saitama)
3B Suwa Tadayoshi
2B Dai Kouta
SS Tsuda Shouki
1B Yamazaki Kouta
CF Kouki Yuushi
RF Takahashi Tsukasa
LF Araki Yuuya
C Nishino Shinya
P Egichi Shouri

Ryuukokudai Heian (Kyoto)
CF Jyoujima Hiroki
C Yoshimura Hayate
2B Hashimoto Kazuki (#14)
RF Nishikawa Hirotaka (#9)
1B Masaki Tatsuya (#13)
P Takahashi Keiji
3B Horikita Akito
SS Jyougahara Kazuki
RF Ichioka Souma (#17)

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14:05 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
And before the siren finishes off, Suwa lines a ball back up the middle for a base hit. Dai moves him along into scoring position.

Despite the quick start from Urawa Gakuin, ace Takahashi is hitting the high 130s. Not sure if he goes to 140, but it's at least a tick higher.

Tsuda gets ahead of an offspeed pitch and rolls it to the left side. Horikita has to charge in so Suwa advances to 3rd.

The form looks like it could lead to walks as there is some extra motion I'm not used to seeing and as I think that he offers a pass to Yamazaki.

He also has several pitches including a changeup, splitter and slider. The splitter should be a key for him to be successful.

Kouki makes good contact, but lines out right to Hashimoto for the 3rd out. No damage, but it's a shaky start for Takahashi as well.

Bottom 1st
The only problem with Urawa Gakuin being a contender is the fact their ace doesn't strike out a lot of batters. For the Kanto region, it might be understandable, but his rates are really low.

Well, Jyoujima hits a soft looper to Dai to start, and then Yoshimura hits a slow dribbler to 3rd.

He's getting a lot of weak contact, works really quickly on the mound, but isn't really pinpoint accurate as he walks Hashimoto.

Nishikawa goes down and gets under a changeup and lines it down the left side! Araki runs it down, but Hashimoto advances to 3rd and Heian has a chance to get on the board first.

Nishino makes a snap throw to 1st and almost picks off Nishikawa. The 1B umpire was really close to calling that one.

But Eguchi gets himself out of it as Masaki swings and misses on a changeup in the dirt. Nishino goes to 1st and the side is retired. Not exactly a strong start either from the Meiji Jingu runner-ups.

Top 2nd
Keiji (there are two Takahashi's playing, one on each side) seems to be settling down. Tsukasa (the other Takahashi) grounds out right to 1st. He then pulls out the slider on Araki for his first K of the game.

Nishino breaks up the rhythm with a first pitch single to left. That will at least let the lineup turn over first thing next inning.

And it will as Eguchi flies out to left to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd
Eguchi though hasn't quite gotten himself straightened out yet. After a first pitch out to Keiji, he walks Horikita on 4 straight, and then hits Jyougahara on his first pitch!

Ichioka chases a ball outside, but dribbles it like a bunt to the left side! Suwa charges in, but his throw to 1st is late! All safe and manrui for Heian!! And it's the top of the lineup in Jyoujima!

Eguchi jams him! Jyoujima hits the ball right to Dai who starts the 4, 6, 3 double play to end the inning. Again Eguchi gets himself out of the jam with the help of good fielding behind him.

Top 3rd
One down for Urawa and Dai pokes a ball back up the middle and out of the reach of the infielders for a base hit.

Tsuda just golfs a ball inside in the air into shallow left. Jyougahara and Nishikawa converge, and it's Jyougahara that makes the catch - though just barely as he rolls over a ducking Nishikawa.

Keiji isn't quite out of the inning just yet, as cleanup batter Yamazaki battles for an 8 pitch walk.

But that effort winds up wasted when Kouki swings on the first pitch and pops out to Hashimoto to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd
Eguchi continues to miss the zone, going 3-0 to Yoshimura before throwing a strike. He gets the out though when he grounds out to 2nd.

Hashimoto quickly pops out to 1st, but after that Eguchi gets himself behind yet again, giving the batters something hittable. Nishikawa drives one to right, but Tsukasa is there to make the catch

Top 4th
If nothing else, Keiji has not only settled down, but his delivery perhaps now is throwing off the Urawa batters. Tsukasa and Araki both go down swinging on offspeed pitches.

Nishino is able to work the count in his favor and get a pitch to hit, but it's just a fly to right for the 3rd out. Keiji certainly is winning the battle on the mound even though the game is scoreless.

Bottom 4th
Masaki with a grounder to 3rd, but Yamazaki is off the bag for the play and Masaki winds up safe!

Harada-kantoku will play for the run as this appears to be a low scoring game. Keiji moves him along.

Horikita does the right thing, as he pulls the ball to the right side advancing the runner. Now it's up to Jyoujima to get the timely hit.

But he won't get a chance! Despite being up 0-2,. Eguchi hits Jyougahara to put runners at the corners! That'll bring up Ichioka who already has a hit on the day.

Eguchi gets him to be ahead of a cut ball and rolls it over the right side! Dai charging in, makes the pick and tosses to 1st for the 3rd out! Nice play by Dai to prevent the run from scoring!

Top 5th
Eguchi apparently trying to hit the ball the other way where there apparently are gaps, but he flies out instead.

Suwa seems to have a beat on Keiji though as he hits a slicing liner to left for a base hit, his 2nd of the day.

After a Dai flyout, Suwa is sent by Mori-kantoku! Yoshimura drops the ball on the transfer and Suwa is in without a throw. But like the batters before him, Tsuda is late to the ball and he flies out to right. Ichioka makes all 3 putouts.

Bottom 5th
Despite having success against Eguchi working deep into counts, the top of the order does the exact opposite. 7 pitches and the side is retired.

So we hit the break with the game deadlocked at 0-0. It's the second time we've had a close game where you feel that both teams are in it. Keiji is still having the better of it versus the competition, but Eguchi might finally be rounding into form - though not quite yet. Urawa Gakuin is certainly in the more precarious position, but it's not dire by any stretch.

Top 6th
Yamazaki looks to break the standoff as he singles past Horikita into left. Kouki bunts him along.

Tsukasa grounds out, but again moves the runner along. But now Araki needs a base hit to give his team the lead.

Araki chops one to the left side! Jyougahara runs it down in the gap, throws to 1st... and Masaki stretches for the out! Good defense from Heian keeps the game scoreless!

Bottom 6th
Nishikawa gets a hold of a changeup and sends it down the right field line! Tsukasa tries to run it down, but will have to play it on a hop! He quickly gets it in, but not before Nishikawa is in with a leadoff double!

Masaki squares to bunt him over, and somehow lays it down after he has to duck to avoid the ball hitting him! That's impressive (or lucky) no matter how you look at it.

And now it's Keiji's turn to help his own cause...

Grounder to 3rd! It's a contact play! Nishikawa breaks for home as Suwa throws home! Nishino make the tag... OUT!

They get him at home! I think. That looked like a quick tag and I'm not completely convinced he got him, but the umpire called it and that's all that matters!

Horikita grounds to short, and Tsuda goes the short way to end the inning. The game remains scoreless!

Top 7th
Will the lucky 7 prove to be for one of these teams?

Not for Urawa so far. Nishino and Eguchi both ground out before Suwa has a chance to hit. Suwa gets his 3rd single of the day to put a runner on, but Dai can't do much with it as he chases a ball low and pops it up to left. Nishikawa comes in to put it away and the side is retired.

Bottom 7th
Eguchi trying to hold serve, freezes Jyougahara on a fastball inside for just his 2nd K. Ichioka can fare no better, hitting a ball back to Eguchi.

Jyoujima send a ball to deep right, and while Tsukasa is backpedaling, he still makes the catch for the 3rd out. No dice for either side in the lucky 7.

Top 8th
Tsuda gets the Urawa offense going here in the 8th with a ball back up the middle and just past Keiji's glove into center. Despite the scoreless draw, Mori-kantoku is not going for a bunt (This is actually where I would consider laying one down - but with Yamazaki up, I can understand why not to as well though that is oddly MLB thinking).

Keiji wins the battle as Yamazaki chases a ball low and golfs it to center for the 1st out.

Kouki tries to get around on a fastball inside, but instead pops out to Jyougahara.

Desperate to get anything started #15 Araya comes in to hit for Tsukasa. But he too pops one up to short! Jyougahara camps under it and makes the catch!

Bottom 8th
Harada-kantoku tries the drag bunt for a base hit, and while Yoshimura lays it down, Yamazaki and Eguchi play it perfectly for the out.

Hashimoto's struggles at the plate continue as he's twisted on a fastball inside, and immediately knows it.

And Nishikawa goes after the first pitch, but it's a routine grounder to short. Tsuda makes the play to 1st and we head to the 9th still scoreless!

Top 9th
Urawa Gakuin gets another leadoff runner as Araki pokes a ball over Jyougahara for a base hit! Will Mori-kantoku call a bunt with the bottom of the lineup up?

Yes! BUt it's right back to Keiji! He goes to 2nd for one, throw from Jyougahara... OUT!!! Double play! Oh, the time they go for it late and it backfires!

Eguchi goes down swinging on three straight and Urawa will have to play for enchousen!!

Bottom 9th
Eguchi trying to lock things down, but Masaki isn't making it easy as he's fouling off pitches. But he can't hold up on the outside change for the 1st out.

Horikita is just trying to get the ball in play, defending the plate when he falls behind 0-2. Eguchi gets him though on an inside fastball for the 2nd out and back-to-back Ks and now 5 in all.

Horikita with a chopper up the middle, but Eguchi makes a spinning grab! Throws to 1st and we're headed to enchousen!!

Top 10th
Suwa finally gets a chance to leadoff again with no outs.

Chopper up the middle! Off Keiji's glove! But Jyougahara is there! Throw to 1st, OUT!!!

The throw beats out a head-sliding Suwa for the first out! (Ugh, the head-sliding thing again)

Dai with a slow chopper to the left side, Horikita gets rid of the ball quickly and just gets Dai for the 2nd out.

Tsuda goes for it all! He drives a ball to deep left! But Nishikawa is there near the fence to make the catch and the side is retired.

Bottom 10th
I barely have time to get the inning ready when it's already over. Eguchi needs just 4 pitches to retire the side. I think Heian may be pressing just a little.

Top 11th
Yamazaki having success of his own at the plate having drawn 2 walks. He works the count full, and gets his 3rd walk when Keiji just misses on the outside corner! He's nonplussed as the go-ahead runner gets on! Kouki lays down a good bunt and the runner goes on to 2nd.

Keiji looks to bear down now, as Araya steps in. He gets ahead 1-2.

SANSHIN!!!!!!!

Araya is all turned around on a fastball on his fists and he's gone for the 2nd out! That leaves it to Araki to get the timely hit that both teams have been lacking. He got a base hit in his last AB. Does he have Keiji figured out?

He's certainly fighting, that's for sure. Keiji is coming at him inside and he's fouling off pitches.

At the same time Keiji has to mind Yamazaki as they'll be pressing the action.

He takes off! Araki hits the ball to the right side.. and it's past Horikita!!! Nishikawa ready to fire home... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He muffs the ball and Yamazaki comes home without a throw! Araki scrambles into 2nd and Urawa Gakuin takes the 1-0 lead here in the 11th!!

Nishino with a scorcher up the 1st base line... FAIR!!!!!

Masaki can't make the diving stop and it goes into right! Araki rounding 3rd, he's sent home! Throw in is cutoff and it's 2-0 Urawa Gakuin!! That is a key insurance run for the Kanto champs!!

Eguchi pops out to Hashimoto, but Urawa Gakuin has taken the lead!

Bottom 11th
Eguchi has a chance to close out the game, but instead he walks Yoshimura! Now Hashimoto represents the tying run as he steps in.

But he hits a grounder to 3rd! Suwa goes to 2nd for one, throw from Dai... Double play!!!

The throw beats a seemingly slow Hashimoto and there's 2 out! Urawa Gakuin just one out away from advancing to the next round.

And Nishikawa hits a grounder to 3rd! Suwa flubs the ball, but stays with it. Throw to first and Yamazaki secures the catch and the game is over! Urawa Gakuin outlasts the reigning spring champs 2-0!!!

We finally get our first close game and it is one worthy of Koushien! Eguchi and Takahashi trade 0's for 10 innings, but Urawa Gakuin finally breaks the tie in 11!

The teams weren't great offensively, and the pitching certainly wasn't "dominating" by general definition. But the pitchers were hitting their spots and inducing poor contact all around. Eguchi certainly took more time to get himself started, but once he was on, Heian had little opportunity to score a run. Meanwhile Urawa Gakuin was starting to get hits off of Keiji and was getting closer and closer to breaking through.

Now, I had given the edge to Urawa Gakuin given the performances in the fall. The fact that Heian hung in so long against Urawa Gakuin is impressive, but this brings up an interesting problem.

Ryuukokudai Heian and Osaka Touin played Tenri in the super-regionals. Heian was defeated soundly, while Osaka Touin lost narrowly. But we've also seen Ritsumeikan Uji and Naradai Fuzoku defeated soundly. This could mean that instead of the entire Kinki region being weak, it was just the half of the bracket that Ritsumeikan Uji came out of, in which you have to reassess Tenri's chances (we've already done that with Osaka Touin). If Heian can do something about their offense, they may stand a chance in the summer.

As for Urawa Gakuin, it perhaps isn't a good sign when after 8 blowouts, your game is the only close one. The fact that Eguchi took a while to warm up isn't good either, but it's his first game in a tournament setting since the fall, so there can be some excuses there. As mentioned before, the bracket opens up from here, so perhaps he'll get more chances to shake the rust off, though 11 innings right off the bat probably isn't good. They still profile as contenders, but the offense will need to show something more next game.

I mentioned in a previous post that I thought Urawa Gakuin, given their recent performance, may be locked and loaded for a deep run at Senbatsu.

I say this because in their 14 games during the fall taikai, they gave up more than 1 run just 3 times.

Three.

And that includes the games they played at Meiji Jingu. That's mighty impressive no matter how you look at it. They also included teams such as Toukou Gakuen and Kisaradzu Sougou. Not top tier, but relative mainstays.

This was accomplished not only on the back of ace Eguchi Shouri (江口 奨理), but on 3 other pitchers led by Ogura Kyousuke (小倉 匡祐). Only one other has made the roster, and that was the next man down, Imamura Kazuto (今村 一登). Now, Ogura appears to be the clear #2 that Mori-kantoku goes to, sending him out to start the super-regional semfinals and finals as well as the Meiji Jingu final. Interestingly, they're both southpaws, so that should be interesting to see if lefty-righty matchups become a problem.

Offensively, the team posted good numbers despite the deep run. 7 of their 9 starters batted over 0.300. The only problem is that they had an ISO of 0.095, which is very low. So they can get on base at a good clip, but it looks like they need to string hits together to score runs - which for the most part wasn't too hard to do - though perhaps Toukou Gakuen had a new ace that stymied them to the tune of 2 hits.

Their cleanup hitter, Yamazaki Kouta (山﨑 滉太) does not profile as your traditional cleanup man. He did drive in 16 in his 14 games, and got 6 extra base hits in his 18, but they were all doubles. There's some XBH pop in the bottom of the lineup as well in the form of LF Araki Yuuya (荒木 裕也). He has a 3B and HR to his name as well as 15 RBIs. We'll see if he stays in the 7-hole or gets moved up.

The depressed ISO is a bit concerning, but the hits do seem to keep coming despite the competition. The inability to get a big hit though could prove to be their undoing like in the Meiji Jingu title game. Still, they have the resume to make a deep run, especially given their draw.

Well, with the new format, there were no guaranteed "blocks of death" as it were. That didn't mean however that the initial draw could create "deathmatches". Such is the case here ending Day 3. The Fall Meiji Jingu champions wind up playing the senbatsu champions in a doozy of an opening round matchup. The only question is whether Sendai Ikuei will be up to the task.

I say this because they didn't look all that impressive at senbatsu, and while they mostly swept through the Miyagi taikai, it took an unfortunate collapse by Shibata to allow Sendai Ikuei to reach Natsu Koushien.

Urawa Gakuin has been on some kind of roll. I shouldn't be surprised by ace Ojima anymore, but the results he and his team are producing are on a scale equal to that of the haru-natsu renzoku yuushou squads of recent years.  They have not lost in competition since the Meiji Jingu tournament.

And speaking of which, they are looking to be the 3rd team in the last 4 years to perform the haru-natsu perfecta.  

Urawa Gakuin (Saitama)
SS Takemura Haruki
LF Hattori Masamitsu
CF Yamane Yuuta
3B Takada Ryouta
1B Kigure Naita
RF Saitou Ryousuke
C Nishikawa Genki
P Ojima Kazuya
2B Tsuda Shouki

Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
SS Kumagai Takahiro
2B Kikuna Yuuki
LF Hasegawa Hiro
CF Uebayashi Seiji
1B Mizuma Toshiki (#9)
C Kobayashi Ryou
RF Kawashima Yuuta (#16)
3B Katou Naoya
P Suzuki Takato

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16:35 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
First pitch a popup to Kumagai behind 2nd base before the siren even finishes.

Hattori with a grounder to 3rd.  It's off Katou and goes towards 2nd!  He recovers, but instead of eating it, he airmails it out of play!  You could call that E5, E5 and Hattori is at 2nd!

Yamane makes him pay for the error!  He blasts one to left center that falls in for a double!  Hattori scores and it's 1-0 Urawa Gakuin!

Suzuki gets cleanup batter Takada to hit a foul fly to Kawashima, and Kigure to ground to short to end the inning, but Urawa Gakuin with the first strike!

Bottom 1st
Kumagai leads off with a single through the right side.  Sendai Ikuei looking to strike back.

Wild pitch for Ojima!  Douten runner in scoring position.

And now Ojima walks Kikuna!

AHHH!!!  Another wild pitch from Ojima!  Now 2 runners in scoring position!  And a walk to Hasegawa!!

What is going on??!!  Manrui, no out for cleanup batter Uebayashi!!

Count at 1-1 and Uebayashi gives Ojima a partial reprieve swinging at a pitch way up and in.

High inside again, and Uebayashi just fouls it off.

SANSHIN!!  Ojima gets Uebayashi to chase a slider down and in for the first out.  Ojima still not out of the woods just yet.

Yep, Ojima hits Mizuma and with 3 walks/hit batters, it's 1-1.

Ryou up, and Ojima runs the count full on him too.  This is the wrong time to start struggling.

Ojima hits the glove, but it's called a ball!  Oshidashi again and Sendai Ikuei takes a 2-1 lead.

Sensing blood perhaps Sasaki-kantoku PH for Kawashima right off the bat.  #15 Abe comes in to hit.

But he goes after an Ojima offering way too high!  2 out.

Katou up and Ojima still under red alert conditions.  But Katou bails him out twice, swinging on high pitches to put the count level at 2-2.

But Ojima is high again and now with 2 outs everyone's on the move.

He throws high yet again, and forces in yet another run.  It's 3-1 now and #11 Wakumoto heads to the bullpen.

Suzuki the 9th batter up, and he hits a curve to left!  It falls in!  Mizuma scores, throw home from Hattori late and Ryou scores to make it 5-1.

And so inexplicably, unbelievably, Kumagai is up AGAIN this inning.

Full count, Kumagai fouls off several before hitting one back up the middle scoring Katou and it's 6-1.

Ojima finally gets out of the inning when Kikuna grounds to 2nd.

But this has been a shocking disaster for Ojima right off the bat.  They still have 8 innings to go, but they've got a lot of work to do...

Top 2nd
Abe stays in the game at RF, and it turns out Kawashima may have had an accident crashing into the fence on a foul ball and had to be pulled.

The offense for Urawa Gakuin has yet to get started it seems.  Saitou grounds to short, and Nishikawa hits a deep drive but Hasegawa is able to park under it for the 2nd out.

Ojima grounds to Kumagai as well and the side is retired.

Bottom 2nd
Hard ball by Hasegawa to Kigure at 1st.  He blocks it, flips to Ojima, but he drops it and Hasegawa is safe.

Despite the lack of control, he gets Uebayashi to strike out as his ball outside is more inside and up.

Mizuma squares to bunt and manages to lay one down despite the ball almost at his chest.  2 outs, though I don't know why you'd bunt with an obviously struggling ace.  Ryou first pitch swings and grounds out to Takemura ending the inning with no damage.

Top 3rd
Tsuda with a blast to left!  That's over Hasegawa's head and to the wall for a leadoff double from the #9 hitter!

Oh, and now Suzuki hits Takemura!  Hattori up, and he's taking balls and getting ahead 3-1.  Suzuki fills up the count, and tries to go inside, but Hattori whips the bat around and actually pulls it foul!

Hattori with a ball to right, and Abe completely misplays it, letting it bounce under his glove and behind him!  Uebayashi alertly backed up the play and only Tsuda scored to make it 6-2.

Yamane earns a walk after a full count.  Manrui for Urawa Gakuin.

Wild pitch?!  Takemura comes in to score and it's 6-3.

Cleanup batter Takada looked awful swinging on that high outside fastball.  One down.

Kigure with a drive to left center, Hasegawa has to play it off the wall and now it's 6-5 Sendai Ikuei.

Still one out and Saitou up to bat.  Suzuki gets his 2nd out also via the K as Saitou chases a changeup down and in.

Nishikawa up to hit.

And that ball is crushed.  It goes off the wall as well for another double that scores Kigure to make it tied at 6-6.

Ojima with a grounder past a diving Kikuna and Nishikawa scores.  7-6 Urawa as now they have batted around.

That knocks Suzuki out of the game.  Or at least to RF.  #10 Baba comes in for Shutou and takes the hill, Suzuki goes to RF.

Baba starts off by walking Tsuda.  Back to the top of the order and Takemura.  Wild pitch sends both runners into scoring position.

Takemura singles through to right, Ojima scores to make it 8-6.  Hattori singles to center and Tsuda comes in to make it 9-6.

Yamane ends the inning unable to check his swing.  But inexplicably, Urawa Gakuin scores 8 to now take a 3-run lead.

I don't even know what's going on anymore. *flips table* *walks away*

Bottom 3rd
(Not really walking away.)

But perhaps we have some order back in the game.  For Ojima is throwing strikes and getting outs.  11 pitches, 3 outs against the bottom of the order (soft liner to Takemura, flyout to Yamane, dribbler up the first base line that Ojima flips to 1st).

Top 4th
Baba hasn't gotten the message as he hits Takada to start the inning.  Kigure bunts the runner along to play add-on.

Saitou looking for his 1st hit, still is looking as he goes down swinging for the 2nd straight AB.

Nishikawa though delivers yet again, this time a single through to left.  Takada aggressively sent home and a bobble by Hasegawa allows him to score putting Urawa in double digits at 10-6.

Ojima flies out to center to end the inning, but if we looked at the lead and not the actual score, it might have been more what we could have been expecting.

Bottom 4th
Because Ojima seems to have finally settled down (enough).

Kumagai grounds out to short, Kigure gets ahead but flies out to left, and Hasegawa looks just plain sill chasing a high ball for the 3rd out.

Top 5th
Baba settling down too it seems.  He finally retires Tsuda with a fastball down the middle, then freezes Takemura as well on a changes right at the bottom of the zone.

Finally, Hattori hits it hard, but right to Kator who goes to 1st for their 2nd 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 5th
Ojima somehow has Uebayashi's number despite the 1st inning.  He gets him to hit a routine fly to right for the firsr out.

Mizuma too falls victim grounding out to Takemura.

Ryou lines out to Kigure to end the inning.  And we finally hit the break with the game at a completely weird 10-6.

Top 6th
Baba has settled down too.  Though he accidentally goes up and in on Takada, glancing one off the helmet, he gets both Yamane and Kigure to fly out to center and records a 3rd strikeout on Saitou.

Bottom 6th
Baba for his 2nd AB singles to center.  Katou follows that up with one of his own, and Yamane's throw to 3rd goes over the moon and everyone advances a base.

Onodera to hit for Suzuki, but hits a hard ball to 2nd preventing the runners from advancing.

Kumagai with a ball to right center.  Yamane running over to field it AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

The ball goes off his glove and falls in!   Baba and Katou score and it's 10-8.

Kikuna with a blooping liner that falls in fair next to the right field line!  Kumagai scores and Kikuna takes 2nd!  It's 10-9!

I don't even think the players know what's going on anymore.  Hasegawa runs off to first thinking he has a walk when it's really 3-2.

It turns out better for Hasegawa as he singles back up the middle, Kikuna scores and it douten... at 10-10....

And Uebayashi has had absolutely NOTHING to do with it.  He is jammed and pops out to Kigure near the mound.

Mizuna strikes out to end the inning, and with 3 innings to go we have a new ballgame - or at least what is supposed to resemble one.

Top 7th
Onodera stays in the game at 1B, Mizuma goes to RF.

Baba looking the better pitcher right now.  He gets 3 routine groundsouts from the bottom of the lineup and gives his team a chance a the lucky 7.

Bottom 7th
Ryou leads off the inning with a walk.  Baba lays down the bunt, Ojima fields it, throws to 2nd, wide!  Takemura has to leave the bag.  All safe!

Now Sasaki-kantoku has Uebayashi talk to both runners.

Next pitch, Nishikawa fires to 2nd and what is Ryou doing off 2nd!  He's run down 2-6-5, but Takada throws to 2nd as Baba slides and and the tag is made.

No call... still no call as the umpire comes in...

OUT!!!  He calls him out! It's a 2-6-5-4 rundown double play!

I don't understand, even...

what just...

um, you see... uh... there...

Katou walks and then Onodera pops out to Takemura to end the inning.

Top 8th
Takekura opens the 8th with a single to center.  Hattori behind 0-2 hits a bunt that looks more like a grounder to advance the runner.

And now a ball goes 5-hole on Kobayashi and Takemura heads to 3rd.

Yamane is called for not checking his swing (though it seemed like he did).  2 outs, go-ahead run still 90 feet away.

Takada with a blooper... Onoder backing up... falls backwards as he makes the catch.  3 out and still tied at 10 apiece.

Bottom 8th
Kumagai liner to center for a leadoff hit.  Kikuna looking to bunt, but Ojima winds up walking him to put the gyakuten runner in scoring again, again with no outs.

Hasegawa hit on the back, and we're back to the first inning again it seems.  Manrui, Uebayashi up at bat.

And Uebayashi still can't buy a hit.  Ojima gets him to chase a fastball low, and that's his 3rd K against Ojima.

Mizuma up.  And behind 1-2, he chases a fastball down and away for the 2nd out.

Ryou now trying to get just one run in, any way possible.

Falls behind 1-2 after a fastball on the outside corner.

SANSHIN!?!

Ryou swings and miss on a fastball on the outside part of the plate and all Ryou can do is look up.  Manrui, 0 out, 3 Ks. And Ojima at 170 pitches or there abouts.

Top 9th
Kigure up to start, on 1-1 pitch swings at a 55' pitch.  Waits one more ball, then swings at 60' pitch.

Saitou picks a good time to get his first hit, as he singles in front of Uebayashi in center.

Nishiyama up, he's frozen on a fastball on the outside corner.

Ojima up to help his own cause, falls behind 1-2...

Liner, right to Kumagai for the 3rd out!  Now Ojima has to play for enchousen!

Bottom 9th
173 pitches and counting for Ojima.

175 is a shot from Baba right to Takada who fires to 1st for the out.

And now Ojima seems to be having cramps or something like that as he's stretching out his foot.

Water is sent out to him, and it does look like it's cramps.  It's been even hotter than the hottest days today.

Ojima will press on, as the bullpen warms up.  There won't be much time to pull him with it being bottom 9 and all.

Katou with a blast to right center!  Saitou sprinting back, still going... Makes the running catch!

Onodera up now, and Ojima throws two fairly wide and falls behind.  Fires one in there, and he lines one to right.

That's it for Ojima. Mori-kantoku in this crucial time sends in #10 Yamaguchi to relieve Ojima and preserve the tie.

Perhaps with the top of the lineup up, and Ojima certainly not 100% in the legs, Mori-kantoku figured it was time.

But Yamaguchi is stepping into a fire here in the bottom of the 9th.  He gets ahead of Kumagai 2-2, and forces him to start swinging at anything close.

Drive to left!  That's easily over Hattori's head!  He quickly turns it around, but Onodera is heading home!  Throw is not in time and Sendai Ikuei bids Urawa Gakuin sayonara!

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Okay, I'm going to do a writeup on this game, because I know that there will be things said in the Japanese media that I don't think will be fair.

The biggest thing that will come to the forefront will be Ojima being relieved with 2 outs and a runner on 1st.  Yes, Ojima had been trying to stretch or do something with his heel or lower leg in the 9th.  And he did get the first 2 outs after all.  The Japanese way would be for Ojima to collapse on the mound and then replace him. (See games 1 and 2).  By pulling him out "early" and the game ending thereafter, the manager will get criticized, and IMO unfairly.

We really don't know if he was injured before the game either.  It's possible he was pitching with an injury - with certainly would explain his line today when you compare it to all the games prior.  So to throw 180+ pitches under some time of lower body injury would be herculean at best.  Considering how Ojima was apologizing to Mori-kantoku after the game, it's possible it was the case.

But if you add a possible injury to the ace, the pressure of a possible haru-natsu, and then for reliever Yamaguchi to not blow it for his ace?  I mean you couldn't see it coming, but in hindsight was a possibility.

And I know for a good more than half of the roster it's their last year.  But Ojima still has one year left.  Now, he won't have the same backup behind him but there's still in theory one more year.  Given the heat that Saibi took for working Anraku, Mori-kantoku - despite the 180+ pitches, could at least have been looking out for his ace a little.

The whole pitching deal with Urawa Gakuin will take away from the fact that Sendai Ikuei won the game.  And they should get credit for that.  But despite this winding up being a great game, it was still ugly on many levels.  It was a bear of a game.   A not-so-bad looking one at the end, but one nonetheless (I don't know if I used the right analogy there, but oh well).  I mean, if you look at the box score, only one batter for Sendai Ikuei had more than one hit.  And they scored 11 runs.  That was how nutty this game really was.


Notable Players
Baba Kousuke (Sendai Ikuei) - W, 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 7 K, BB, 2 HBP
Kumagai Takahiro (Sendai Ikuei) - 4-6, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Kikuna Yuuki (Sendai Ikuei) - 1-2, 2B, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
Hattori Masamitsu (Urawa Gakuin) - 2-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Nishikawa Genki (Urawa Gakuin) - 2-5, 2B, R, RBI

Well, at least as best as I can anyways:

Title Contenders
Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) - 2nd straight time a school goes haru-natsu?
Ok, I panned Uragaku for the longest time back in Senbatsu (Haru Koushien).  But Ojima Kazuya (小島 和哉) proved me wrong time and time again - and laughed all the way to the title.

As much as I still may have my doubts regarding him as an ace, you have to be special if you can throw a perfect game.  Yes, that's right, Ojima in the quarterfinals against Saitama Heisei went 27 up, 27 down.  That's saying something.

It looks like his stuff hasn't changed.  Still has a change and a screwball to go with the normal slider and curve.  Reports have him in the low 140s but I don't necessarily buy it especially since smaller stadiums seem to have faster radars.

And the team is on a roll - the last tournament game they lost was in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Meiji Jingu Tournament against Harue Kougyou.  The most runs Ojima's given up in a game during that timespan?  2 - against Toukaidai Bouyou in the Kanto Spring Super-Regional Tournament.

If he continues to pitch like this, despite not being a "fireballer", watch out.  We may have back-to-back Haru-Natsu Renzoku Yuushou (spring-summer champions).

Speaking of which...


Osaka Touin (Osaka) - 6th ever back-to-back Natsu champion?
Osaka Touin had a chance in the spring to be the first ever 3-time calendar consecutive Koushien champion.  But injuries to key players - Mori Tomoya (森 友哉) and Kinden Takuya (近田 拓矢) crippled their offense as they fell to Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou.

Now, both of the lynchpins are back, and the offense is chugging along as good as new.  Their weakness is probably back to where it was before Fujinami - their pitching.  Ace Kuzukawa Tomoya (葛川 知哉) and reliever Amimoto Kousuke (網本 光祐) are definitely above average, but nothing about either stands out.

But if one or both of them can be good enough, Osaka Touin may just defend their title.  This is a short blurb, on a title contender, but when you talk Osaka Touin, the story is generally the same - 打て、打て、打て!


Saibi (Ehime) - Can Anraku carry the team all the way?
The story of Anraku Tomohiro (安楽 智大) has been well heard of, 232 pitches in his first game, velocity dropped immensely by the final due to flat out fatigue.

Now it would be just a matter of if Saibi could give Anraku another chance at Koushien this summer this year.  And with the exception of a scare against Kawanoe which required a late-game comeback, Anraku pitched all but 2 outs in his team's run to the title.

Saibi has the opposite problem of Osaka Touin.  Great pitching, average offense.  We saw it at Senbatsu, the offense on average scoring 3-4 runs a game.  That's not bad, but it's not dominating either.  They will need to avoid the "bad day" as Anraku can't carry the team if the team can't score.

Which brings us back to Anraku himself.  Certainly he won't suffer the same workload early as he did at Senbatsu, but it's possible he could play 4 of the last 5 calendar days of the tournament.  He's throwing faster than ever, reportedly hitting 157 on the gun - but as perhaps he may have learned, hitting the high numbers on the gun doesn't mean a whole lot if you can't deliver when it really matters.  If Anraku's stamina can hold up under the summer humid heat, Saibi may just challenge for the title yet again - and this time win.


Potential Contenders
Nichidai-san (Nishi Tokyo)
For those that know me and my coverage, I really don't like Nichidai-san.  My fellow colleagues would say, "Why don't you like them?  I like X player, and Y player - they're really good".  Well, to be honest they ruined my 2011 Natsu Koushien trip by defeating both Kanzei and Narashino.

But before all that went down, Nichidai-san and Osaka Touin to me epitomizes the one thing about kokoyakyu I really don't like.  Strong teams with pedigrees will continue to accumulate talent at the expense of weaker schools.  There is no parity in kokoyakyu - quite the opposite in fact.

But regardless of my feelings toward them, Sanko I have to begrudgingly admit can be a title contender.  The only reason why I don't have them in the upper tier is two-fold.

First, the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the fall taikai to Souka (though they did avenge that with a 7-0 victory in the summer) and second, outside of Hino - and no offense to them it's a bit of a stretch - they did not face a quality opponent towards the title.  So the gaudy 75-9 score they accumulated is a bit inflated.

However, they did get a chance to play Urawa Gakuin in the Kanto Spring Super-Regionals, and though they lost 2-0, ace Ooba Ryoutarou (大場 遼太郎) limited Uragaku to just 4 hits while racking up 10 on Ojima.  The top half of the lineup is especially dangerous for teams that are not careful.


Shuutoku (Higashi Tokyo)
Tokyo for as big as the field is was barely contested this year.  Shuutoku almost as easily blew through the field.  Their only close game was their 5th round game when they had to play Teikyou.  But as Teikyou is wont to do, their pitching failed them later allowing Shuutoku to tie and eventually win the game.  And while the score in the final versus Nishougakushadai Fuzoku looked rather ugly (13-6), the game was never really in doubt.

Looking at the pitching staff, there is ace Nishibayashi Kenshin (西林 賢人) and reliever Yusa Kazuki (遊佐 和輝).  Interestingly in that game against Teikyou, CF Iino Shouta (飯野 周太) started the game (not well mind you) with Yusa coming in relief for 7 innings.  That is an interesting call for a team to make knowing you're playing in a key game.  Does that mean that Shuutoku has two pitchers they can call on?  Not sure, but if they do it may help their chances.


Yokohama (Kanagawa)
I have to admit, Yokohama is kind of like the teams I described when talking about Nichidai-san.  They have represented Kanagawa 7 times (including this year) since 2000.  In their prior 6 Natsu appearances, they have reached the quarterfinals and semifinals 2 times each though recently they haven't been as successful.

Yokohama's road to Koushien at least by name was probably one of the hardest.  Starting from the Round of 16, they played in order:

• Yokohama Hayato - 2-run 6th gave them the final 3-2 margin
• Toukou Gakuen - Lack of offense plus pair of HR's from Takahama Yuuji (高浜 祐仁) and Asama Daiki (浅間 大基) spell doom for heralded ace Matsui.
• Toukaidai Sagami - Sagami's pitching has not been the same, and yielded all 7 runs in the 6-8 innings for the mercy-rule loss.
• Hiratsuka Gakuen - While not a powerhouse, Hiratsuka is actually one of the best "3rd tier"* teams out of Kanagawa and did only lose to Yokohama 3-0.

(*3rd Tier refers to teams that are above average, but have not yet broken through to Koushien.  Using Kanagawa as an example, 1st Tier would be powerhouses like Yokohama and Toukou Gakuen who have gone to Koushien regularly, 2nd tier would be teams like Yokohama Hayato, and Toukaidai Sagami who have been consistently above average in the prefecture and have broken through at least once to Koushien)

From my fellow kokoyakyu sources #3 and #4 batters Asama and Takahama were ironically labeled "Matsui-killers" and did in fact cause his downfall.  Who knows if the articles and discussion got to both sides' heads.

The only problem with Yokohama is that their offense looks a bit below average, despite the HRs in the Toukou Gakuen matchup.

On the mound is ace Itou Masashi (伊藤 将司), who apparently has a twitter account if you want to send him your best wishes.  A lefty, he apparently throws in the mid-130's which would put him in the Ojima range.

What seems to perhaps benefit Yokohama is that at least 7 of their starting 9 are 2nd years!  For a school such as Yokohama that has such a big pool of players to draw from, to predominantly use 2nd years means a lot.  And since they theoretically have one more year of chances at Koushien, they may be able to play with nothing to lose - because they don't.  That's scary - and something you cannot measure.

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To be honest, outside of these 6 teams I don't know who else could really be a challenger for the title.  Sure, there will be other teams who will go deep, but if they run into any of these teams they will certainly be an underdog.

So here we are, the 決勝 between Kanto champions Urawa Gakuin and the surprising Shikoku 3-seed Saibi.

Urawa Gakuin, for as many Koushien tournaments they've been to, this is their first championship game.  Their first appearance, the Natsu Koushien in 1968, they reached the semifinals.  The Haru Koushien in 1992 they also reached the semifinals before losing.

They had a renaissance last year having won 2 games before bowing out.  And now this year they are back in the championship game.

After seeing the competition they faced, I thought that their offense wasn't for real.  But while Kishimoto for Tsuruga Kehi was fatigued in the game, they roughed him up for 11 hits (including a HR) and 5 runs.

Meanwhile ace Ojima has continued to not be pressured at all.  Tsuruga Kehi's strategy of attacking Ojima basically failed.  He doesn't throw particularly hard, and perhaps people think that he should be hittable.  But I think the best way to deal with him is to back him into a corner.  By swinging early, Ojima can dictate the action and the pitches his opponents are swinging at.

Saibi has had a very short Koushien history.  But it's a very successful one:

• 2004 Haru Koushien - Champions
• 2004 Natsu Koushien - Runner-up
• 2005 Natsu Koushien - 2nd Round
• 2008 Natsu Koushien - 1st Round Loss

And here they are again at the championship game.

But Saibi has basically played close games throughout the fall taikai and the Haru Koushien.  Outside of the first 2 games in the Ehime taikai, 6 of their 8 games were decided by 1 run.  In fact, their largest margin of victory was 3 against Seiseikou and a battered Kenritsu Gifu Shougyou.

Unfortunately for Saibi, they will be without their leadoff batter Ueda as he injured his middle finger on his throwing/batting hand in the semifinals.  Yamashita takes over in the leadoff spot, with Oota moving up to #2 and Goutouji coming in as a starting member.  It's a shame almost that Yamashita is in the leadoff spot considering how he's hitting.  The bottom of the lineup needs to get on base ahead of him to really take advantage of his hitting.

But really, it's been Anraku who has been the one carrying the team.  Starting with his 232 pitch enchousen performance against Kouryou, he has basically put the team on his back to reach the final.  His pitch location has gotten worse in his last game, and he predominantly threw off-speed pitches early on.  This will be his 3rd game in 3 days, and the most important of them all.

Saibi (Ehime) - Shikoku 3 seed
CF Yamashita Takuma (#9)
RF Oota Yuuya (#5)
SS Usagawa Riku
P Anraku Tomohiro
3B Morita Shouhei (#15)
1B Fujiwara Kouki
LF Goutouji Shin
C Kaneko Kouhei
2B Machida Takahiro

Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) - Kanto Champions
SS Takemura Haruki
2B Nie Hayato
CF Yamane Yuuta
3B Takada Ryouta
1B Kigure Naito
RF Saitou Ryousuke
C Nishikawa Genki
P Ojima Kazuya
LF Hattori Masamitsu

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12:32 - First pitch!

Top 1st
Yamashita already making an impact!  He swings on the first pitch and grounds one past Ojima into center!

Oota pops up his bunt!  Ojima goes to field it, but drops it!  But Yamashita had to hold due to the possible catch and is easily thrown out at 2nd.

Usagawa tries to work the count, but falls behind 0-2.  He hits a towering popup that Hattori finally calls of Takemura and Yamane for.

That brings up cleanup batter (and ace!) Anraku.  He's certainly working the count versus Ojima, then goes and wastes the advantage on a shoulder high fastball.  2-2 count.

And then misses on a fastball on the outer half for strike 3!  Nice start for Ojima!  And I think Saibi is taking pitches when they can.

Bottom 1st
Anraku willing to throw more fastballs here, but the speed is still a bit slow in the mid-130s.

Takemura grounds out to 2nd for the first out.

Anraku's control still doesn't look good, and he's throwing slower to start.

Nie with a grounder up the middle!  Machida ranging over, makes the sliding pick, throws as he's going down to the ground and it gets to 1st in time!  Nice play and a strong arm from Machida!

And Yamane grounds to short.  Usagawa with the routine play and we're scoreless after 1.

Top 2nd
Morita with a ball to right center gives Uragaku another leadoff runner!

Fujiwara trying to bunt him along, fouls off his first attempt.  Lays down the push bunt to move him along for new starting member Goutouji.

Goutouji tries for a base hit through the left side, but Takemura makes a great sliding stop!  Throw to first is up the line, but Kigure makes the tag for the out!

Kaneko with a grounder to short!  Takemura dives, but this time the ball trickles past him into left!  Morita heads home without stopping and the throw is late!  Kaneko coming through with a base hit to give Saibi the first strike!  1-0!!

Machida working the count on Ojima, runs it full.

Single to right!  Kaneko on a dead run heads for 3rd and slides in safely!

With Yamashita coming up, Mori-kantoku calls time.

And Yamashita isn't swinging away, in fact he gets ahead 3-1!  Will they just walk him and deal with Oota?

No, they go inside and get him to groundout to 2nd for the 3rd out.  But Kaneko gives them the early lead!

Bottom 2nd
Anraku gets the ball he wants against cleanup batter Takada, but he's sluggish chasing the short blooper and it falls in behind him for a base hit!

Kigure bunts him along, but Saitou can't advance him at all as he flies out to right.

Nishiyama turns on one and lines it through to left!  Takada has to hold at 3rd.  There was a mistake by Anraku.

But Anraku gets Ojima to chase a ball outside and pops it up!  Usagawa turns his head away it seems as he makes the catch for the 3rd out!

Top 3rd
Oota not getting memo about working count, swings on first pitch and flies to shallow left.

Usagawa tries, but winds up getting behind 0-2 before chasing a ball away for Ojima's 2nd K.

Anraku is almost put in the same position, but guides a ball into center for a 2-out hit.

Morita up 2-1, can't check his swing, starts playing defensive.  Grounds to 1st to end inning, but they are playing it right in my opinion.

Bottom 3rd
Uragaku trying to work Anraku as well, but he continues to miss in the right places if he does.  As a result they are having trouble dealing with him.

Hattori chases a fastball away for the first out, Takemura behind 0-2 grounds to 1st, and on a full count Nie grounds to 2nd.

Top 4th
Fujiwara attacks Ojima and lines a ball down the left field line!  That goes to the wall for a leadoff double!

But Goutouji can't bunt him along!  He's forced to swing away and can't get around a fastball going down for the 1st out.

That brings up Kaneko who had the timely RBI single earlier.

But this time up 2-2, he handcuffs him on a ball inside and rings him up for his 4th K!

That leaves it up to last batter Machida to drive him in.  But he swings away early and grounds to Takemura for the 3rd out.

Ojima is certainly hittable, and it looks like most Saibi batters have a plan at the plate.

Bottom 4th
I have a feeling the tables have turned.  With Anraku not hitting his locations, I think Urawa is attacking earlier in the count.  What they don't understand is that he's not leaving them in hittable areas.

So in the span of 7 pitches, Anraku retires the 3-4-5 batters without a ball leaving the infield!

Top 5th
One down and Ojima issues his first walk to Oota.  Jyoukou-kantoku will play for the one timer as Usagawa bunts him along.

But Anraku swings and misses on a fastball away and Ojima holds the line!

Bottom 5th
Anraku with a slow curve and Saitou grounds it past Fujiwara for a base hit!

Mori-kantoku electing to have Nishikawa hit.

And Nishikawa has Anraku's number!!  He hits one to deep center, and Yamashita leaps, but it's just out of his reach!  It one-bounds to the wall and he's in with a double!

Runners on 2nd and 3rd as Jyoukou-kantoku calls time.

Anraku going after Ojima, gets ahead 0-2, but Ojima fouls a couple off.  Another away, another foul.

Grounder to the left side!  Usagawa dives, but can't get to it!  Saitou comes in to score and Nishikawa advances to 3rd!  Ojima helps his own cause with a douten single!  It's 1-1!

Hattori up to give Uragaku the lead.

SQUEEZE!!!

Mori-kantoku puts on the squeeze, but the ball is above Hattori's head!  Kaneko holds the ball until Anraku points to 3rd!  Throw from Kaneko and they have Nishikawa picked off!  What a break for Saibi!

And Hattori grounds back to Anraku.  He goes to 1st for the 2nd out.

Takemura with a grounder to 1st, but Fujiwara can't get a hold of the ball!  By the time he does it's too late!  The inning continues dangerously for Saibi as Nie comes to bat!

Takemura takes off on the first pitch, but there's no throw from Kaneko.

And now Anraku hits Nie!  Manrui for Uragaku as Jyoukou-kantoku calls time...

Yamane attacks the first pitch and singles to center!  Yamashita bobbles the ball, but 2 runs score on the play anyways on the hit!  Urawa Gakuin now leads 3-1!

Takada driving the first pitch deep to left!  All Goutouji can do is play it off the wall for yet another double!  Both runners score and it's 5-1 Uragaku!

Kigure with a drive to left center!  Again Goutouji can only chase it as it lands at the base of the wall for another double!  3 straight hard hit doubles and it's gone from 1-1 to 6-1!!

Saitou up for the 2nd time, continuing to pour it on!  He singles to shallow right center and Kigure scores to make it 7-1!!

Nishikawa follows suit with another single to center and will Jyoukou-kantoku pull the plug?

It doesn't look like it as he leaves Anraku in, but he finally gets Ojima to pop out to Usagawa to end the inning.

But it looks like Anraku has just run out of gas and his team finds themselves with what seems like an insurmountable deficit as we hit the break!!

Top 6th
Morita driving a pitch into right center has a leadoff double!

But Fujiwara chases the first pitch and grounds to 3rd, unable to advance Morita.

A surprise as #8 Ueda comes in to hit, but he is just as unproductive, grounding to short on a 0-1 pitch.

Kaneko tries to find the right pitch, gets ahead 3-1 before Ojima puts one in on the outer half.  He grounds to short as well and Saibi is in deep trouble if not already lost.

Bottom 6th
Oota is staying in the game at CF!  Yamashita shifts to RF and Oota goes to LF!

After a K to Hattori, Takemura resumes the hit parade with a liner to right.  Mori-kantoku will still play for another run as Nie bunts him along.

And now Anraku hits Yamane!  Oy.

Mori-kantoku will not let up!  He starts the double steal and Kaneko's throw is not in time!

And now he hits Takada.

#10 Yamaguchi warming up, but putting him in admits defeat and the inability to have Anraku fight through the rest of the game.

Kigure with a ball to center.  It falls in front of Ueda who fires home as Yamane is waved in!  Kaneko with the tag, but not in time!  It's 9-1 Uragaku.

Saitou grounds to short to end the inning, but it's almost elementary now.

Top 7th
#11 Yamane comes in to hit for Machida, and takes a close pitch inside on a full count for a walk.  He's replaced by #13 Nakagawa.

Yamashita follows that up with a single to right.  2 runners on with no out, but a long journey to go.

Case in point, Oota grounds into the 6-4-3 double play, and Usagawa flies out to left to end the inning as quickly as it got started.

Bottom 7th
Jyoukou-kantoku has waved the white flag.  Anraku moves to 1st, #10 Yamaguchi comes in for Fujiwara and takes the hill, while #14 Hayashi Kanya comes in for PR Nakagawa to take over at 2B.

And while he gives up a walk to last batter Hattori, he retires the other batters without too much trouble.

Top 8th
It's really a formality now and the Saibi batters probably realize this too.  They go down in order - Anraku grounding back to Ojima, Morita and Yamguchi going down on strikes.

Bottom 8th
Mass changes for Saibi.

Oota comes in from LF to the mound.  #16 Tsunedzuka comes in for Yamaguchi and goes to LF.  Meanwhile, #18 Hayashi Kento comes in for Anraku and goes to 3B shifting Morita goes to 1B.  Anraku's day is officially done.

The extra runs Urawa Gakuin aren't necessary, but show respect to Saibi instead of easing up.

Nie singles to left, followed by a sharp grounder to right by Yamane.  Takada walks to put the bases loaded.

Kigure grounds to short and Usagawa goes home to cut down the lead runner.,

But a hit batter to Saitou brings in a run to make it 10-1.

Nishikawa then splits the outfield with a ball to left center for a bases clearing double, 13-1.

Ojima records the 2nd out on a grounder to 3rd.

But Hattori walks, Takemura blasts one over the drawn in outfield to score two more, 15-1.

Nie up for his 2nd AB this inning scorches one past Morita into right for a double, 16-1.

Yamane makes it 17-1 with a liner over Usagawa's head.

Takada flies out to center to end the inning.

Top 9th
Ueda up for his 2nd AB, grounds back to Ojima.  #12 Utsunomiya, hitting for Kaneko, also grounds back to Ojima.

Hayashi flies out to left, Hattori makes the catch and Urawa Gakuin wins their first ever Koushien title (Haru or Natsu)!!

Urawa Gakuin's players sprint to their oen-dan to celebrate, while Anraku's tears finally come out after the loss is finally realized.  He put up a great effort for as long as he could, but 3 games in 3 days was just too much to handle for the 2nd year fireballer.  It's always hard to see the losing team, especially in games like these, but here's to hoping Anraku gets another chance here at Koushien before his time is up.  He's earned it in my opinion.

Meanwhile Ojima, a 2nd year himself, masterfully worked through Haru Koushien, and while he never threw hard, he managed to deftly avoid big innings and keep his team always in it.  Do not be surprised if they may challenge in the summer, but again, the lack of a fireballer will always make it difficult in single-elimination scenarios.

But that's for a later time!  For only the second time in the prefecture's history, a team from Saitama wins Koushien!  And for Urawa Gakuin, they get to celebrate their first ever Koushien title!!  Enjoy it!  You've earned it!


Notable Players
Ojima Kazuya (Urawa Gakuin) - W, CG, ER, 8 H, 7 K, 2 BB
Nishikawa Genki (Urawa Gakuin) - 4-5, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI
Kigure Naito (Urawa Gakuin) - 2-4, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
Yamane Yuuta (Urawa Gakuin) - 3-5, 3 R, RBI, SB, HBP
Anraku Tomohiro (Saibi) - L, 6 IP, 3 ER, 12 H, 2 K, 0 BB, 3 HBP
Yamashita Takuma (Saibi) - 2-4
Morita Shouhei (Saibi) - 2-4, 2B, R, K

Well, I've missed quite a bit, and it looks like things have gone, well... not as expected.

Take semifinal #1.  I'm sure that if you had to compare Harue Kougyou vs. Tsuruga Kehi you probably had to favor Tsuruga Kehi just because of their experience.

Harue Kougyou and Tsuruga Kehi got the short end of the sticks.  Both had to start from the furthest depths of the bracket.  Harue Kougyou drew Tokoha Kikugawa and lost 9-5.  Tsuruga Kehi meanwhile has defeated 2 champions, and the Tohoku 2 and 3 seeds and has reached the semifinals.

What has shocked me has been the way they've done it.  In the fall taikais their offense was nearly non-existant.  Yet with exception of the Moriokadai Fuzoku game (where they probably on my suggestion took a "game off", they have done nothing but show offense.  With 2, 4, 2 and 5 extra base hits in their 4 games, they've shown they can hit the ball.

And yet, it's not like they've totally shutdown their opponent's offenses.  More often than not, they give up about as many hits as they get.  The difference is that their ace Kishimoto Jyunki has just limited the impact of those hits.

The problem for Azuma-kantoku is that in their last game against Seikou Gakuin, he tried to give his ace rest after giving him an 11-0 lead.  But out of the 15 batters his relief corps faced, 8 reached base via a hit or walk.  In fact Kishimoto had to come back in to clean it up.

So chances are that means that unless there is another blowout, it will be Kishimoto all the way.  Thankfully he has one day off before this start.

Their opponent is one of the two last champions that are left.

Urawa Gakuin won the relatively weak Kanto super-regional.  And so far, they haven't been challenged really this Koushien.  After taking it relatively easy on Tosa with a 4-0 win, they've blown out Yamagata Chuo and Hokushou.

Sure, give credit for Urawa Gakuin for doing everything they've needed to do to reach this point, but this will certainly be the biggest challenge ace Ojima will be facing.  If his line against Hokushou is any indication (1 H and 1 BB, but 1 K), he will be really hard-pressed to locate his pitches until the last out is recorded...

Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui) - Hokushinetsu Runner-up
CF Mine Kentarou
3B Yonemitsu Issei
1B Yamada Seiya
C Kita Ryouta
SS Asai Hiroya
LF Miyazaki Hiroya (#13)
RF Iwata Shinya
2B Yamane Takaki
P Kishimoto Jyunki

Urawa Gakuin (Saitama) - Kanto Champions
SS Takemura Haruki
2B Nie Hayato
CF Yamane Yuuta
3B Takada Ryouta
1B Kigure Naito
RF Saitou Ryousuke
C Nishikawa Genki
P Ojima Kazuya
LF Hattori Masamitsu

____________________________________________________________

11:00 - First Pitch!

Top 1st
Two quick outs from Ojima to start the game.  But Yamada singles to right to break up the fast start.

Kita up, works the count full.


Lines one down the left field line!  Hattori has to field it at the wall!  Yamada rounding 3rd, he scores!  Tsuruga Kehi with yet another extra base hit to get a 1-0 lead!

Asai grounds to 1st to end the inning, but already Tsuruga Kehi is flexing their offensive muscle!

Bottom 1st
Kishimoto not as off to a great start as he beans Nie with one down.  But after another popup to Takaki by Yuuta, there's 2 down.

Takada does down and drives a slider to left center.  Mine running back, running back... running back to the wall!  He leaps!!!

HAITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow!  Urawa Gakuin flexing their power with a ball that did not look like it was going to clear the wall, but just did!  Takada fires right back at Tsuruga Kehi giving Urawa Gakuin the 2-1 lead!!

Kigure with a drive to left!  Miyazaki running back to the wall has to play it off the wall!  He's in with a double!!

Saitou flies out to left to end the inning, but this is a surprise!

Top 2nd
Unlike the first inning, Ojima is handling the bottom of the lineup.  Iwata gives him a tough time in the middle, but he gets Miyazaki and Takaki on 2-pitch outs.

Bottom 2nd
Defensive change for Tsuruga Kehi!  #17 Kakutani comes in for Miyazaki to play LF.  Wonder what that is about.

Kishimoto not looking as sharp it seems.  Nishikawa goes full on Kishimoto and flies out to right after Iwata calls off Takaki.

Then after a quick groundout by Kishimoto, Hattori just bloops one over a leaping Asai for a base hit!

And now Mori-kantoku is pushing the action!  2-2 pitch to Takemura and Hattori takes off!  Throw to 2nd is late and now Urawa has a runner in scoring position!

But Kishimoto finally gets Takemura to groundout to short to end the inning.  He isn't looking as sharp this time around.

Top 3rd
Tsuruga Kehi is attacking Ojima early.  Kishimoto grounds out to 3rd, while Mine gets hit.

Issei hits a chopper up the 1st base line, basically advancing Mine.

And while Ojima makes a mistake leaving one over the plate, Yamada can only ground it to 2nd for the final out.

It doesn't look like either pitcher is on their game right now.

Bottom 3rd
After a first pitch out to Nie, Yuuta runs the count full on Kishimoto - who is missing locations by a good margin, before grounding to 3rd.

Takada, who hit the HR earlier, got hit by a Kishimoto offering trying to be inside.

But Mori-kantoku tries to push the offense again by having him steal on the first pitch, only to be thrown out by a country mile.

Top 4th
Again, Tsuruga Kehi attacking Ojima knowing he'll be in the zone with hittable pitches.

But they're not making great contact.  Curious.

Kita grounds out to 3rd, Asai fouls out to Kigure.

But new LF Kakutani with a hard grounder to 3rd!  Takada dives, but the ball isn't that far away and is actually behind his glove!  Takemura backs up the play, but Kakutani is easily safe.

Hit-and-run!!  Iwata lines one over a ducking Ojima into center!  Kakutani sprinting for 3rd, reaches without any issue!  Runners at the corners with 2 out!

But Takaki's hard hit to 2nd is smothered by Nie!  He goes to 1st and the inning is over!

Bottom 4th
Kishimoto beginning to look like his normal self, getting ahead of Kigure 1-2 before getting him to not hold up his swing on a slider away.

Of course I say that and he leaves a pitch high on Nishikawa who lines it down the right field line for a double.  Runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out!!

1-0 pitch to Ojima, Kita fires to 3rd!  Saitou is caught off the bag and is called out!!!  What a mistake by the Urawa Gakuin baserunners!  Now instead of 2nd/3rd with 1 out, it's 2nd with 2 out!  Kita was all setup for that too.  Pitch outside, but on the glove side so he could quickly fire it over.  That was planned all the way as Kita saw something.

And it is a big mistake as Ojima grounds to short to end the inning!

Top 5th
One down, back to the top of the order and Mine.  He gets on base again, but this time drawing a walk instead of getting hit.

And the first pitch gets away from Nishikawa!  Mine heads to 2nd on the passed ball!

But Issei with a grounder to short!  Takemura with a great running stop, throws across his body to 1st... makes the play!  Wonderful play from Urawa's SS!

And Yamane swings on the first ball and pops it up!  Yuuta under it and makes the catch for the 3rd out!

Bottom 5th
Hattori with a short blooper up the middle.  Takaki charging in, but by the time he gets the ball, Hattori's almost at 1st and there's no play!

Kishimoto struggling with control again, going 3-0 on Takemura before getting a generous inside call and a regular strike to fill up the count.

But Takemura just scorches one back up the middle!  Takaki has no chance at it as it goes to center!  Hattori running reaches 3rd with no problem!

Nie trying for a sac fly, swings and gets a pop fly!  Asai goes back towards the outfield grass and makes the catch for the 1st out!

Yuuta tries to hit a sac fly to right on a 1-1 pitch, but winds up fouling it off.  The Tsuruga Kehi battery tries the outside strike, but gets no bites from either Yuuta or the umpire.

And they try it again a bit more inside, but this time Yuuta does bite!  Same swing, and he bloops one into left!  Hattori with a big smile as he runs home giving Urawa Gakuin the 3-1 lead!!

Kishimoto is finally able to retire Takada for the first time inducing a grounder to short.  But it's slow enough that Asai's only play is to 1st, advancing the runners.

Kishimoto leaves one over again!!!  Kigure takes down the left field line once again to the wall!  It's an easy double and a 5-1 lead for Urawa Gakuin!!!

Uragaku's oen-dan playing Yankee Doodle Dandy as Saitou steps in.

Kishimoto gets him to pop out to Takada to end the inning, but Kishimoto does not look good at all in this game.  Worse yet, Azuma-kantoku knows he has no realistic options in the bullpen.  If he goes there he admits defeat.

As for Ojima he's giving up contact, but none of it has hurt him.  And for the most part, the balls hit are not hit hard.  Tsuruga Kehi's batters are helping him out too by swinging away early and not letting Ojima go deep into counts.

Top 6th
Kita swinging for the fences pulls one foul.  I don't think he's getting that pitch again...

Kita does make contact, and it is hard, but it's right to Yuuta in center.

Asai swings on the first pitch and pops out to Takemura.

Kakutani is the first one to work the count in a bit and while he goes 3-1, he grounds out to Takemura to end the inning.  Tsuruga Kehi is in all likelihood helping Uragaku out by swinging away early.

Bottom 6th
For the most part that's what Uragaku has done in the last 2 innings.

Nishikawa with his 2nd base hit, a shot past Yamada into right.  Ojima showing bunt, lays it down.

Hattori with a grounder to 3rd.  Yonemitsu stumbles, but makes the pick!  Throws to 1st a bit off balance, but Yamada makes a great catch to secure the ball for the 2nd out!

Back to the top of the order and Takemura.

Liner to right side!  Yamane dives to his right and makes a great catch!!  He had almost no time and yet he's still able to quick dive to save another run!

Top 7th
Tsuruga Kehi still attacking early in the count.  Iwata grounding to 2nd on a 1-1 pitch.

Yamane able to turn on a inside 2-1 offering from Ojima, but he flies out to right.

And Kishimoto this time works the count, but strikes out swinging to end the inning!  They're down to their final 6 outs!

Bottom 7th
The MBS feed totally conks out on everyone.

In the meantime, I can see from the Asahi site as Nie grounds out to 2nd after a long AB, Yuuta floes out to left and Takada goes down swinging on 3 straight.  Still, Kishimoto's being worked.

Top 8th
That isn't the case with Ojima who again works quickly.  Mine backed into a corner for one of the few times strikes out swinging.  Issei goes after a 1-1 pitch and flies out to center.

Yamada also attacks an early pitch, takes the 2-0 ball into left for a double.

But he's left stranded there after Kita grounds to short to end the inning!  They're down to their last 3 outs!

Bottom 8th
After a liner to 3rd by Kigure that Issei snags, Azuma sends in #16 Watanabe to hit for Saitou.  He promptly takes one the other way for a base hit.

And after a pitch to Nishikawa, Mori-kantoku sends in #15 Kubo to run for Watanabe.

Ojima with a blooper to left, Asai going back again and yet again it falls behind him for a base hit!  Now runners at 1st and 2nd for Hattori, but he flies out to right-center to end the inning.

Top 9th
It's already the 9th inning and Tsuruga Kehi needs 4 runs before they record 3 outs!

Asai grounds out to short and there's already one out!

Kakutani gets hit and they have a runner, but it's just 1 and they need 3 more in.  #14 Yonemitsu Nagi comes in to run.

Iwata with a comebacker to Ojima!  Goes to 2nd, and is taken out by Nagi preventing the double play!

But what's this!  The umpires call an aggressive slide and call the runner out at 1st!  Game set!

It's not the way Tsuruga Kehi would want to end a game, but unfortunately it caps off their loss to Urawa Gakuin!

Tsuruga Kehi got their first attack in right away, but was unable to do anything thereafter.  They tried to solely use their bats to put pressure on Ojima, and as a result played his game.  He was not under much stress for the majority of the game and cruised to the 5-1 win!

So Urawa Gakuin has reached their 1st ever Haru Koushien final.  Will they bring the title home to Saitama?

As for Tsuruga Kehi, Kishimoto probably under a day's rest and under the pressure to perform with no backup behind him probably spelled the death knell for his team.  Great run from the Hokushinetsu representative, but they'll have to work on their pitching depth come the summer.


Notable Players
Ojima Kazuya (Urawa Gakuin) - W, CG, ER, 5 H, 3 K, BB, 2 HBP
Takada Ryouta (Urawa Gakuin) - 1-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, HBP, K
Kigure Naito (Urawa Gakuin) - 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, K
Hattori Masamitsu (Urawa Gakuin) - 2-4, R, SB
Kishimoto Jyunki (Tsuruga Kehi) - L, CG, 5 ER, 11 H, 2 K, 0 BB, 2 HBP
Yamada Takaki (Tsuruga Kehi) - 2-4, R, 2B
Kita Ryouta (Tsuruga Kehi) - 1-4, 2B, RBI