Day 10 - Game 3 - Tokoha Gakuen Kikugawa vs. Nichinan Gakuen

As much as the extra inning games in the past have been exciting, this one has to top them all so far.

The Spring Koshien champs, Tokoha Kikugawa, would be facing off against Nichinan Gakuen who defeated Toko Gakuen of Kanagawa. It would be ace Arima-kun for Nichinan and ace Tanaka-kun for Tokoha.

Early in the game, it was all about Nichinan. In the first, they worked the bases loaded only to see 1B Sakai take a grounder into a 3-6-3 double play. In the third, with runners on first and third and 1 out, SS Ohshima decides to throw home. Hatenaka blocks the plate superbly and gets Tanaka out.

And in the fifth, Nichinan would explode:

With two outs Ohhara gets an infield single to SS as Hasegawa gets the ball in the gap, but the throw is too far to get him. Hatenaka sends one past the first baseman. Cleanup hitter Nakamoto gets beaned. Within 4 pitches, it has gone from 2 out, none on to 2 out, bases loaded!

Ohmatsu looked to put Nichinan ahead. He hits a blooper to left, it drops! Ohhara and Hatanaka score! Nakazaki comes up. 0-2 pitch, single through the right side! Nakamoto scores! Nishii's next. Single through the right side, bases loaded again! Ah~~, Arima pops up to second.

But with two outs, 6 batters reach base safely, 5 singles and 1 walk. More importantly, Nichinan is up 3-0.

And they continue to get opportunities. In the sixth, CF Mochida-kun hits a one out double. But neither Ohhara nor Hatanaka can get him in. In the seventh, Ohmatsu gets a one out double. Nakazaki lines to center, but it's too hard for Ohmatsu to score. With one out, Nishii puts on the squeeze! But it's popped up to the catcher! And what is Nakazaki doing running on the play? He's doubled up to end the threat.

And then things just went completely nuts.

Tokoha's Takano would lead off the inning with a double down the left field line. Machida hits one at the pitcher who stops it and prevents the runner from advancing. Arima would then get Hasegawa to ground out to first base. Two outs. Cleanup batter Sohma up. He's fighting, fighting with a full count, 8th pitch - just inside! He walks. Now runners on first and third.

Then Tokoha's manager decides to pinch hit for first year player Nakagawa. It's #15 Itoh-kun. In their first game against Nihon Yamagata, with the game already in hand, he pinch hit in the 9th and hit a triple to deep right field. They hoped that he could do the same.

But he falls behind early in the count 1-2. A low slider misses, and Sohma steals second! 2-2. Fastball, fouled off - still 2-2. Fastball down and in, he holds off! 3-2. Fastball inside, he hits it! Ohmatsu runs back, runs back, and it's gone! Itoh hits a pinch hit three run home run! The place is going nuts! A player who didn't even have an at bat in the prefectural tournament is now 2 for 2 with a pinch hit triple and game tying home run!

Tokoha has life! But the game is still precarious for them.

Top of the ninth. Ohhara up to bat. Grounder up the middle. Hasegawa makes a running grab, throw to first, too high! They've got the go ahead run on base! Hatanaka decides to swing away. Liner to first, Sakai's got it! Ohhara is doubled up!

Tokoha can't do anything in the bottom of the 9, so the game goes into extra innings.

Top of the tenth. Ohmatsu singles to right. Nakazaki moves him along, they've got the go ahead runner in scoring position! And what's this? Nichinan's manager is pinch hitting for P Arima! He's been 0 for 4 with a strike out, so they're playing for the run now. The pinch hitter is #10 Yuno. But he strikes out looking! Opportunity lost!

Bottom of the tenth. So who's coming in for Arima? It's Nakazaki. He pitched the majority of the game against Toko Gakuen. First batter, Takano-kun. He flies out to center. Machida's up next. It's a grounder to first. But it takes a weird bounce past first base and goes into foul territory! Machida breaks for second! He's there and Tokoha has the sayonara runner in scoring position! Hasegawa walks. Next up is Sohma. He flies to left. Two outs.

It's Itoh-kun again! The catcher goes out to meet with Nakazaki. Itoh steps up. The outfield is in a little. First pitch, foul. Second pitch, high but he swings at it. Looks like it's all off speed stuff. Third pitch, fastball away. Itoh doesn't chase. Fourth pitch, chopper to the left of the pitcher. He can't get it! SS Ohhara runs at it. He dives! Can't get it! Machida's rounding third! He scores! Itoh has done it again! He's single-handedly brought Tokoha from the depths of despair to victory!

And what a crushing defeat for Nichinan Gakuen. 4 outs from defeating the Spring Koshien champs, only to fall in 10 innings. Their facial expressions say it all. CF Mochida is on his knees. Many are already breaking down.

As they assemble at home plate the crowd is applauding. Not only for Itoh's efforts, but for Nichinan's players. Because for every winner in this tournament, there is a loser that has to go home. And for Nichinan, this will be a hard loss to take.