Day 2 - Game 2 - Shimonoseki Shougyou vs. Riseisha Koukou

The 2nd game starts off pits Shimonoseki Shougyou of Yamaguchi prefecture in it's first return to Koushien in 29 years versus Riseisha, a recent comer to the tournament.

Shimonoseki gets out of the gates running against Riseisha ace Mimura. 3B Niita leads off with a single to center. After a failed bunt, SS Nishimura also singles up the middle. But they can't capitalize as cleanup batter Okada grounds into the 5-3 DP ending the inning.

Riseisha also gets things going early. Leadoff batter 2B Yoshida walks and advances to 2nd on a sac bunt. With one down, RF Yoshikawa grounds to short. However in his haste SS Nishimura one hops the throw and 1B Fujita can't handle it! Now there's runners at the corners, it's cleanup batter C Yamamoto's turn. First pitch, SQUEEZE! But it's foul. Looks like he won't be doing that again.

But he does! On a 1-1 count, he puts down the squeeze and it works! Shimada tries to go home, but Yoshida is safe! Riseisha gets out to an early 1-0 lead!

There's a scary moment in the bottom of the 2nd. With one down for Riseisha, SS Kariya drives one to the gap in LCF. LF Izumi and RF Takenouchi run for the ball. Takenouchi jumps, catches and collides with Izumi! He holds onto the ball, but Izumi stays down. It appears that he took the brunt of Takenouchi's force directly to the head. The medics have to be called out and Izumi is stretchered off the field. (Does anyone have info on how he's doing?)

Going back to the game, looking at the pitchers from both teams, neither seems overpowering, so it'll be up to the offences to set the tone. But neither team really does.

In the 3rd, another opportunity arises for Riseisha. Leadoff batter Yoshida hits a hard grounder to 3rd and Niita can't handle it! He's moved over to 2nd again on a sac bunt and is in scoring position. Yoshikawa can't deliver though as he grounds to 1st, so now with 2 down it's up to C Yamamoto again. With the count 1-0, he hits one past a diving SS Nishimura and Yoshida scores again, extending the lead to 2!

The offenses for both clubs continued to struggle, with no team making any tangible scoring opporunities until the 7th inning.

Top of the 7th, Shimonoseki down 2-0. Cleanup batter Okada takes the first pitch to LF for a single. But unfortunately for them, he's subsequently picked off on a move by P Mimura. Ace Shimada flies to center and now there's 2 down. But 1B Fujita send one through the middle. Then RF Shimose drives one to left for a double! With runners in scoring position and 2 down, this is the best chance Shimonoseki has had in a while. But LF Ishida, who replaced Izumi in LF, can't deliver and grounds to SS.

Riseisha looks to play add on in the 8th. With one down, C Yamamoto singles to left. But LF Motooka can't bring him over, bunt fouling a 3-2 pitch. 1B Hamano walks and then CF Otani is hit! Bases are suddenly loaded with 2 down! But Kariya, already 0-2 for the day with two flyouts to center grounds out to 2nd. New 2B Kawashimi makes a dubious throw to 2nd instead of 1st making the play closer, but nevertheless helps Shimada get out of the jam.

Top 9 now, and the last chance for Shimonoseki. SS Nishimura is up to bat, and with the count 2-2 hits a hanging fastball. It goes down the LF line, keeps going and is gone! Nishimura brings Shimonoseki within 1 with a solo HR! There's still some life over there in the Shimonoseki dugout!

Cleanup batter Okada up again. Fights hard against Mimura, but eventually flies to center. 1 down.

Ace Shimada now had a chance to help his cause. Mimura may be tiring as he's fallen behind 3-0. He comes back with a fastball to make it 3-1. He decides to challenge Shimada again with a fastball, but he makes contact! He's hit it well, LF Motooka runs back. Could it be?

IT IS! Shimada has tied the game with another solo HR! An offence that has looked lethargic has come to life at the most opportune time! 2 solo HR's have tied the game up and now you have to think the momentum is with Shimonoseki!

But Mimura settles down striking out Fujita, and after allowing a single by Shimose, gets Ishida to K looking.

So how is Riseisha going to respond? With one down in the 9th, Yoshida hits a scorcher to 3rd. This time it gets by Nitta and goes all the way to the wall and Yoshida cruises into 2nd! After a grodout by 3B Inagaki, Yoshikawa takes the first pitch to the left side! It's about to go through when SS Nishimura makes the game saving stop. He's unable to make the play at first, but he prevents Yoshida from scoring. Now C Yamamoto has a chance to end it here. With the count 0-1, he lines one to the left side, but Nishimura makes the grab to end the inning! We'll have our first extra inning game of the tournament!

Shimonoseki is unable to to anything in the 10th as they go down in order. So it's Riseisha's turn to see if they can end it.

#5 batter Motooka leads off with a single to left. Hamano follows by moving him along and there's a good opportunity for Riseisha. But CF Otani K's on three straight pitches, and now it's 2 down. SS Kariya is up again, 0-3. On a one ball count, he drives one to center again. CF Takenouchi runs back, seems to get under it, but he drops it! He drops it! And Motooka, running on contact scores from 2nd! The game is over! The game is over! Riseisha wins!

But what about Takenouchi? Ace Shimada motions for them to come in, but Takenouchi is kneeling in center unable to move because he is in such distress. Eventually his fellow teammates bring him in, but the look of grief on his face says it all. He had made spectacular plays throughout the game, but could not make the one that eventually counted. The audience applauds his efforts as he continues to be consoled by his teammates. Hopefully, he and the Shimonoseki squad will return to Koushien in the summer and leave with a better result.