Day 1 - Game 1 - Seishou Koukou (Aichi) vs. Komdai Iwamizawa Koukou (Hokkaido)

(Apologies for getting this out late...)

After the procession that is the Opening Ceremonies, the opening game of the tournament has Jyouhoku from Kumamoto making their first appearance in 11 years against Komadai Iwamizawa.

Komadai would have an early chance in the bottom of the 1st. With 2 outs, #3 batter Kodaira would single up the middle. Oikawa followed with a blooper to center. Kodaira alertly running all out on contact, reaches 3rd base. But C Matsumoto would swing on the first pitch and ground out to 2nd.

Komadai's ace Idaki struggled with his control. After working the count to either 2-2 or 3-2 the first inning, he fared no better. Cleanup batter 1B Suzuki would walk on a 3-2 count. But deciding to press he goes for 2nd on the first pitch to Ogawa, and is thrown out. Ogawa then walks on 4 straight. Getting the picture, the batters start waiting. Kurauchi waits and also walks. Facing an early pinch, Idaki manages to buckle down, striking out C Maruyama and CF Miyashita to wiggle out.

Meanwhile, Komadai Iwamizawa was free swinging (like the Mariners, but I digress...) swinging early and often in counts mostly resulting in infield outs.

The top of the 3rd continues to see Idaki struggling. 9th batter Nakamura walks on 4 straight. But Jyouhoku would help him out again. With the count 3-1 on leadoff batter Nakagawa, Nakamura attempts to steal 2nd only to be thrown out. He would strike out one pitch later, and Tsuzuki would ground to 2nd on a 3-1 pitch.

Jyouhoku would finally open the scoring in the 4th with some help from Komadai. RF Nakao would ground to 3rd, but Kogawa would sail the throw over 1B. Kogawa however would snooze at first and be picked off by an 0-1 pitchout. 1B Suzuki would ground sharply to 2nd, but Takagi can't field the ball and it bounces off him and towards 2nd base. After Ogawa reaches on a FC, Kurauchi takes advantage of the extra out by lining a ball to LF past a running Kodaira, scoring Ogawa.

Wouldn't you know it though, Jyouhoku returns the favor. With 2 down, Kogawa singles up the middle. 1B Satou proceeds to ground to the SS, but Nakagawa too sails the ball over 1st allowing runners at the corners. P Idaki ties the game up with a liner to RF.

Komadai continues the momentum into the 5th. Aoyama draws a leadoff walk and is moved over. After Kodaira strikes out, Oikawa lines a ball right to the 3rd baseman. But Nakamura has no time to react except to block it. It bounces off him and into foul territory alolowing Aoyama to score.

Then the game stalls with both teams putting up doughnuts through the 6th and 7th.

Jyouhoku manages to get a runner on in the 8th with Tsuzuki singling up the middle. Representing the tying run, he's moved along into scoring position. Suzuki lines a single to right, but it's too hard and Tsuzuki has to remain at 3rd. Ace Ogawa would walk again on 4 straight to load the bases bringing up LF Kurauchi who delivered earlier in the 4th. And he would deliver once again with a grounder through the left side scoring one and tying the game. Maruyama now comes up with the ability to give Jyouhoku the lead. He grounds to SS who starts the DP, but Maruyama beats the throw and a run scores!

Unfortunately for Komadai, their sputtering offence just could not mount a rally and fall 3-2 to Jyouhoku.