(photo courtesy of Chunichi)
Moriokadai Fuzoku
Road to the title
- def Sakushin Gakuin 4-1
Moriokadai Fuzoku did what I thought they might do, catch Sakushin Gakuin flat-footed and defeat last year’s champs. Given, that team was arguably not as good as their title winner, but it was still strong nonetheless. With that win, the path to the Best 8 might get easier. I mean ace Hiramatsu did give up 9 walks, which is a lot. But he gave up just 2 hits in the game, and that’s no shakes there. But the problem is that despite the fireballers that they have, those walks mean that they at best are a poorer version of Shuugakukan.
Bottom of the order might be an issue, but given who they faced you might give them a pass. It will be interesting to see how they matchup against Matsushou’s Aoyagi Mashuu.
Matsushou Gakuen
Road to the title
- def Tsuchiura Nichidai (Ibaraki) 12-3
Matsushou Gakuen completely destroyed Tsuchiura Nichidai, ace Aoyagi Mashuu struck out 11, and the offense scored in every inning except the 3rd. That takes effort.
The question will be if they can avoid a letdown. Mashuu should be starting this game too I would think and they might get their fair share of walks again against Hiramatsu. But Moriokadai Fuzoku is probably on another level compared to Tsuchiura Nichidai and hits and runs could be much harder to get.
Lineups
Moriokadai Fuzoku
- LF Hayashi
- 3B Oosato
- CF Ueda
- SS Higa
- C Matsuda
- 2B Kobayashi
- 1B Sutou (#13)
- RF Usui (#11)
- P Miura Mizuki (#10)
Matsushou Gakuen
- RF Iryou
- 2B Watanabe
- SS Kikkawa (#16)
- 1B Fujii
- 3B Morita
- CF Motogi
- C Kasahara
- P Aoyagi Mashuu
- LF Kitahara
08:00 – First Pitch!
1st Inning
Well, a bit of an unfortunate pinch for Mashuu. One down, Oosato’s liner back up middle goes off his glove and dribbles for a base hit. That gets compounded with a walk to Ueda.
Now, he gets a strikeout and groundout and no runs are scored, but already he’s thrown 20+ pitches which will certainly hurt him in the later innings.
Miura Mizuki isn’t having an easy first inning either. A grounder/error by SS Higa put the leadoff runner on (He actually steals 2nd on the K to Watanabe). Then to cleanup batter Fujii he walks him. And on the 20th pitch he gets a groundout to end the inning.
2nd Inning
Mashuu getting no help from his defense. Kikkawa stops a groundball, but takes his time and his throw to 1st is late meaning a base hit.
Fortunately 2 batters later, Mashuu picks him off.
But he continues to struggle with his control walking #8 batter Usui.
I get the feeling the fielders just aren’t into it right now as Mizuki dumps a ball into shallow left center for a base hit. Not sure if Kitahara could have gotten there anyways, but his break there wasn’t fast at all.
And with that it was inevitable that Moriokadai Fuzoku would score. Hayashi reaches out and pokes a ball through the left side for a single scoring Usui for a 1-0 lead.
Mizuki on the other hand has a better time of things in the 2nd, dispatching the bottom of Matsushou Gakuen’s lineup without much trouble.
3rd Inning
Perhaps emboldened by that run, Moriokadai Fuzoku’s batters swing away and give Mashuu an easy inning.
Not that he wasn’t given a scare. Ueda blasted a ball to left, but the wind knocked it down and it was caught in front of the wall.
Matsushou Gakuen doing much of the same. Iryou after a long AB hits a grounder to 2nd that gets that Koushien bounce into right. He legs it out for a double.
But after a sac bunt, the 3-4 hitters just swing away in to 2 outs early in the count, not following Iryou’s lead.
4th Inning
More self-inflicted damage on Matsushou Gakuen’s part. Leadoff single to Kobayashi, bunted to 2nd and steals 3rd on ball in dirt.
Then Usui strkes out on a ball in the dirt that gets away from Kasahara and Kobayashi comes home for a 2-0 Moriokadai Fuzoku lead.
Matsushou Gakuen again gets a great opportunity in the 4th. Morita on with another leadoff hit. A bunt and a wild pitch get him to 3rd.
This time, both Kasahara and Mashuu work the count looking for a good pitch to hit. Unfortunately Kasahara fouls out to 2nd and Mashuu can’t catch up to a fastball up and in. 3 out and they’ll have to wait for the next inning.
5th Inning
More chances for Matsushou Gakuen as Kitahara leads off with a walk. They’ve had a runner on each inning, and in 4 of those get their leadoff runner on.
But Iryou who is swinging away strikes out, and that basically sets the tone for the inning. Watanabe fouls out and Kikkawa flies out to right. At the break they trail Moriokadai Fuzoku 2-0, but have had more than their fair share of chances.
Conversely Moriokadai Fuzoku should feel a bit fortunate to be leading as some wild pitches and defensive miscues have partially attributed to their lead.
6th Inning
PING.
Fujii tired with not getting the leadoff batter home decides to take matters into his own hands. Gets around on and inside pitch and drives it out to left! Matsushou Gakuen gets one of those runs back and trails 2-1. Can that finally get their offense started?
(By the way, that’s the 38th homer this Koushien tournament!)
And with 2 down Kasahara collects his 2nd hit, blocking a ball down the right field line for a double. It doesn’t amount to much, but considering that Moriokadai Fuzoku’s offense has fallen silent, the next inning could be key for them if they want to tie it up. Otherwise, they may change pitchers and Matsushou could be back on the wrong foot again.
7th Inning
But with the bottom of the lineup up, Sekiguchi-kantoku figures it’s a good time to PH for Mizuki, meaning a pitching change and the probable reset of the Matsushou Gakuen rally.
Not only that, but then perhaps that prospect deflates Matsushou Gakuen.
PH Nabana gets a base hit, and then Hayashi doubles down the RF line. And with Miura Shou running at 1st, he comes all the way home for a 3-1 lead. Oosato follows that up with a double of his own scoring Hayashi for a 4-1 lead.
Will that break Matsushou Gakuen?
Well, an interesting switch. I thought Usui was going to pitch, but instead Hiramatsu comes in for him and takes the mound.
Kitahara draws a leadoff walk (guess Hiramatsu isn’t invulnerable to that too).
Then on two consecutive pitches he steals 2nd and steals 3rd. And then Hiramatsu walks Iryou!
And right after a timeout, Iryou steals 2nd! Oh, that’s not good.
Watanabe grounds out and Moriokadai Fuzoku gives up the run for the out. Even with the runner on 3rd, they’d still lead by 1 if they traded again.
But unlike the first two batters, Kikkawa and Fujii are a bit more hasty. Kikkawa fouls out for the 2nd out and Fujii strikes out. Big chance missed to get back both runs.
8th Inning
Naoe fighting as best he can, but risks letting the game get away from him and his team.
Gives up a leadoff single, and after a failed sac bunt walks Sutou. Hiramatsu doubles to right giving the run they got right back. 5-2.
He comes back right when you think it could all be over to strike out Shou and then get Miura to ground out. Only 1 run, but at this point, down 3 with 2 innings to go might be a bridge too far.
Yet Hiramatsu is giving them chances.
Morita lines a ball to deep right for a double. PH Iidzuka is hit!
But again the batters wanting to swing away. Kasahara grounds to 3rd and it looks like a disaster for Matsushou Gakuen. Instead, Oosato throws it away at 2nd after getting the lead runner and now Iidzuka heads to 3rd.
And then of all things, Kasahara uncorks a wild pitch that Naoe swings at! The runners move a base and that means Iidzuka scores to make it a 5-3 game!
Kitahara does his best to find the best pitch, but strikes out on a 3-2 fastball to end the inning. Matsushou Gakuen will fall probably short, but they’re showing how vulnerable Moriokadai Fuzoku’s pitching.
9th Inning
PING.
Higa drives a HR to right and that pretty much ends it for Matsushou Gakuen. Moriokadai Fuzoku advances on with a 6-3 win, but it wasn’t without problems, almost all of it on the pitching side. They allowed runners each inning save for the last, and a better team could get those runners home. They’ve showed they can beat those who are of poorer quality, but what will happen when they face better competition?
Kokoyakyu (高校野球) 