Day 14 - Championship - Seibou Gakuen (Saitama) vs. Okinawa Shougaku

The Spring Koushien comes to a close today. After 2 weeks of games, we have come down to the championship game. Seibou Gakuen from Saitama - coming in on an amazing run... and Okinawa Shougaku who has been impressive throughout the tournament under their ace Higashihama.

The game on both sides revolve around the same thing – Higashihama. For Seibou, they must get to him. He’s been light out this tournament showing no weaknesses. They need to somehow get runners on and timely hits. And for Okisho, Higashihama just needs to continue doing what he’s done so far this tournament. After seeing his backup go against Tenri, he has to last 9 more innings to give them the championship.

Seibou Gakuen
CF Etou
SS Onagi
1B Kido
RF Sekiguchi
P Ootsuka
3B Shinozaki
C Haramo
LF Hamada
2B Takayama

Okinawa Shougaku
CF Iko
RF Ishimine
SS Nishime
2B Nakasone
1B Hateruma
C Minei
RF Aragaki
P Higashihama
3B Takaho

The opening can’t be any worse for Seibou. After going away quietly in the top of the first, Ootsuka serves Iko a triple to the right center field wall. Then, his very next pitch goes wild and Iko walks home. Ishimine draws a walk and is bunted along. Ootsuka does get out of the inning after Nakasone pops to Onagi at short who then doubles off Ishimine who inexplicably was not waiting for the ball to clear the infield. While the damage is only one run, it’s one more run that Seibou has to score against Higashihama to win.

Seibou once again goes in order in the 2nd. Hateruma gets a leadoff walk for Okisho. Immediately he goes and successfully steals 2nd base. Minei bunts him over to 3rd. And then Aragaki pulls a squeeze to score Hateruma! It would appear that the strategy of the Okisho’s manager is to pick at Seibou little by little knowing that each run they score can demoralize them and make it easier to cruise to victory.

Okisho doesn’t look to be done yet. Higashihama hits it to the left side. Etou makes a great stop, but has to eat the ball. Takaho does the same, and again Etou makes a great stop, and this time he tries to make the throw, but it’s not in time. So runners at 1st and 2nd looking to score, but Ootsuka gets Iko to fly to center.

The pressure is building quickly for Seibou. Behind 2-0 early, they need to get on the board now if they want a chance to stay in the match. While Takayama does draw a 2-out walk, that’s all Seibou gets.

Sensing the game could get away from them, Seibou’s manager makes a pitching change. Ootsuka moves to 1st base, displacing Kido to left, and Hamada is pulled for Ishida who comes in to relieve Ootsuka.

And unbenounced to me, I find out that Ishimine for Okinawa Shougyou is a switch hitter! I can’t remember seeing a switch-hitting batter in Koushien, so it’s a bit of a surprise. Irregardless, Ishida gets him to ground to 1st. But then Nishime drives one off the left field wall for a triple. And then Nakasone singles past Takayama at 2nd to score Nishime! Sensing an opportunity, Okisho goes for it. With Hateruma up to bat, Nakasone takes 2nd! Then Hateruma doubles off the left center field wall to score Nakasone! That’s 2 runs in and now a 4-0 lead. Ishida manages to get Minei to strike out, so he’s almost out of the mess. But then Aragaki shows his power hitting one into the right center field gap. What’s worse, the two fielders converging on the ball both take bad angles and the ball gets past both of them and to the wall for yet another triple and another run. Higashihama continues the hit parade, singling up the middleto score Aragaki. And after Takaho gets another single, it’s curtains for Ishida. He’s pulled for Satou who gets Iko to ground to short to end the inning. With a 6-0 lead after 3, the game is all but over for Seibou.

And while there is still a chance for a rally, Okinawa Shougyou closes any talk of that in the 5th. Aragaki singles up the middle to start the inning. Higashihama moves him over. Takaho hits one to Onagi at short, but his throw is off line and everyone’s safe. Iko delivers the final blow as he drives a ball again to right center, motors around the bases, and scores on an error by 2B Takaho on the relay throw. Now 9-0, Okisho is guaranteed of victory.

While Seibou loses in the championship by such a wide margin, they can’t be too disappointed. They reached the championship game, something not many schools can say. The players can hold their heads high knowing they played their best. But they just faced an opponent in Okinawa Shougyou who got stronger as the tournament progressed which culminated in this victory. Both teams once they reach home will most certainly work on winning their prefectural tournaments to return to Koushien in the summertime, under the beating sun, for another chance to play for the national titile.

Seibou Gakuin
Etou (8) RF - 1-4, K
Onagi (6) SS - 1-3, K
Kido (3) 1B-LF - 0-3
Yamazaki (13) PH 8th-1B - 0-1
Sekiguchi (9) RF - 0-4
Ootsuka (1) P-1B-P - 1-4, K
Shinozaki (5) 3B - 0-2
Murata (15) 3B 5th - 0-1, HBP
Andou (12) PH 9th - 1-1
Yoshida (16) PR 9th
Haramo (2) C - 1-4
Hamada (7) LF - 0-1
Ishida (10) P - 0-0
Satou (11) P - 0-2, K
Tanaka (17) LF - 0-1, K
Takayama (4) 2B - 1-1, 2 BB

Ootsuka - L, 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 0 K, 2 BB
Ishida - 0.2+ IP, 4 ER, 6 H, K, BB
Satou - 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, K, BB
Ootsuka - 1 IP, 0 ER, H, K

Okinawa Shougaku
Iko (8) CF - 2-5, 2 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, K
Ishimine (9) RF - 1-4, BB
Nishime (6) SS - 1-3, 3B, HBP
Nakasone (4) 2B - 3-5, 3B, R, RBI
Hateruma (12) 1B - 1-4, 3B, 2R, RBI
Kinjyou (3) PH 8th-1B - 0-1, K
Minei (2) C - 0-4, K
Aragaki (7) LF - 2-3, 3B, R, RBI
Uehara (15) LF 8th - 0-0
Higashihama (1) P - 3-3, RBI
Takaho (5) 3B - 2-3, RBI

Higashihama - W, CG, 0 ER, 6 H, 6 K, 3 BB