Day 7 - Game 1 - Chuukyoudai Chuukyou (Aichi) vs. Meitoku Gijuku (Kochi)

The final game before the round of 16 looks to two veterans - Chuukyoudai Chuukyou of Aichi making their 28th appearance, and Meitoku Gijuku of Kochi making their 13th appearance (defeating Kantou Daiichi 3-1 on day 1). But it's been a while since their last times in the Spring Koushien, so it's a first for all these players.

Chuukyoudai Chuukyou
CF Aratono
SS Yamanaka
RF Uendo
LF Itou
3B Yazawa
2B Kawai
1B Shibata
C Tanaka
P Takeuchi

Meitoku Gijiku
2B Ishibashi
SS Yasuda
C Matsumura
3B Taniguchi
1B Oozaki
LF Matsuda
RF Otoda
P Nouno
CF Tani


Chuukyou starts off quickly. With one down, Yamanaka lines one up the middle. Uendo then gets hit on a 3-1 pitch creating a quick scoring opportunity for their cleanup man Itou. However, he grounds into a 4-6-3 DP to end the inning.

Meitoku Gijuku is also running right out of the blocks. With one down Yasuda singles to RCF. After being bunted over, Taniguchi is hit by Takeuchi. Oozaki looks to drive a run home, but he strikes out to end the inning.

They come back in the 2nd. Two down for ace Nouno and he lines one up the middle. Tani earns a walk putting Nouno in scoring position for leadoff batter Ishibashi. He bloops the first pitch into LF and Nouno rounds 3rd for home! Itou comes up with the strong throw home, but Nouno gets in safe giving Meitoku the 1-0 lead!

Chuukyou responds right afterwards. One down, Takeuchi up to bat and he singles to LCF. Aratono grounds into a fielders choice. Then out of nowhere, Yamanaka drives the first pitch to CF for a double but Aratono can't score from 1st. No matter though, Uendo takes the 1-1 pitch to RCF. Both Tani and Otoda are running back, but the ball drops for a 2-run double giving Chuukyou the lead!

Chuukyou may have the lead, but the opportunities continue to come from both sides.

Top 4 - Kawai hits a one out double down the LF line and just in front of the wall. But Shibata and Tanaka quickly strand him.

Bottom 4 - Two outs, Nouno lines a single to center. Tani lines one high to Yamanaka. He leaps up and it's off his glove and deflected to CF putting runners at the corners! Ishibashi though strikes out to end the inning.

Top 5 - Aratono gets a one out single to the right side. With two down, Chuukyou's manager gets aggressive. 0-2 to Uendo, he steals second! But then on 2-2, he's subsequently picked off and the threat ends.

Bottom 5 - Yasuda leads off with a walk. Matsumura looks to move him along, but Yazawa makes a great charge and throw to Yamanaka at 2nd for the out! Then Taniguchi on the first pitch flies out to deep center leaving it up to Oozaki. He delivers with a single to RF. Yasuda rounds 2nd for 3rd, but Uendo makes a spectacular throw to Yazawa and he makes the tag to end the inning!!

Bottom 6 - Matsuda earns another leadoff walk. He's replaced at first by Umeki (#7). He's retired on a fielder's choice by Otoda. Nouno pops up to Tanaka leaving it up to Tani. He grounds one sharply to Shibata - it's off his glove and to Kawai. He recovers to make the grab, but it's too late and everyone's safe! Ishibashi works the count full, fights off a pitch, then walks for the bases loaded! A great scoring opportunity for Meitoku if Yasuda can deliver a base hit. Chuukyou's manager has seen enough from Takeuchi. Seeing their lead in jeopardy he brings out their ace pitcher Hosokawa.

Ball 1, 2... 3... and he walks on 4 straight!! Otoda walks home and the game is now tied thanks to 3 walks in the inning by Chuukyou! Hosokawa gets Matsumura to ground out, but the damage is done and the game is tied!

Top 7 - Chuukyou goes into rally mode. Shibata singles through the left side. Tanaka then follows Shibata with another hit to the left side. Yasuda makes the stop, but can't get a handle on the ball! But it's Hosokawa's turn to bat, and he bunts the runners along instead of swinging away. The strategy fails as Aratono flies out to LF ending the inning.

Top 8 - 2 out rally for Chuukyou. Itou singles to center. Yazawa then singles through the left side. But once again, a flyout to LF by Kawai ends the inning.

Bottom 8 - Nouno drives the 1-0 pitch to the RCF wall for a double! Like Chuukyou's manager, Meitoku's manager elects for Tani to move Nouno to 3rd. Ishibashi can't deliver again as he pops up to 3rd.

Now it's the 9th inning, and Chuukyou can't get anything going and so it's Meitoku to get a sayonara hit.

Yasuda walks for his third time on a full count. Matsumura does the same! Taniguchi bunts, putting the winning run 90 feet away! And instead of walking Oozaki, they pitch to him! He nubs the 0-1 pitch down the 3B line, Yazawa charges, gets the ball but bobbles it. Yasuda elected not to go and the bases are loaded for Umeki. But he's pulled for Sawahata (#14). Count 1-1, it's a grounder to Hosokawa! He goes home for one, Tanaka throws to 1st... double play! Inning over and Chuukyou gets out of the mess and goes into extras!

Once again, Chuukyou cannot do anything in the top of the 10th, so Meitoku can once again end it.

Two down, Tani grounds it to Yazawa at 3rd. His throw to first is wide and into the camera well! Tani goes to 2nd on the errant throw. Ishibashi is up yet again to try and get the run home. And he gets a hold of a hanging off-speed pitch and sends it down the RF line! Tani scores easily from 2nd and Meitoku gets the second walkoff hit of the day defeating Chuukyoudai Chuukyou 3-2!!!


Player Lines
Uendo (Chuukyou) - 1-4, 2B, 2RBI, BB
Hosokawa (Chuukyou) - L, 4+ IP, R, 0ER, 3H, 3BB
Ishibashi (Meitoku) - 2-5, 2RBI, BB, game winning hit
Yasuda (Meitoku) - 1-2, 3BB
Nouno (Meitoku) - 3-5, 2B, K
Nouno (Meitoku) - W, CG, 2ER, 10H, K, 2BB